Witch's thoughts : before anybody gets excited, I'M NOT BACK. I mean, yet. because it's closer and closer to that, so be patient a little more and stay put - I haven't lost interest in SW and I'm tapping my toes in anticipation, when I finish my MA thesis and be free to write whatever I want. the only exception was that I participated in a contest that had one of the prizes a contract that would be signed with me, so I really made my best. but aside that, I'm writing my thesis with my nose in a dictionary :sigh: anyway, for those who actually went through my rambling, one important thing. this chapter is only a TEASER, as I didn't have time to finish it, but I haven't posted anything for so long, that I got tempted ^^' sorry ^^'

AND! I have to say that not so long ago I met in real life of my precious friends and also critics, FelesMagica and I have to announce it here because I had a wonderful time, it is a really sweet memory and I beg of you my dear Feles, forgive me for not contacting you for so loooooong. and looooooooooooooooong. sorry!

as for the chapter, you have to forgive Edi, she has foul mouth. ^^


Qui-Gon finished folding his robe and looked at his former Padawan with worry.

Sitting on their bed as he was left some time ago, Obi-Wan covered his face with hands and stayed this way. He must have cried, Qui-Gon knew he heard a sob, quiet little sound of someone so deep in despair that they see no way out. But there was a way out and both of them knew it. the problem was, Obi-Wan had to mentally go back where he came from and, frankly speaking, it scared lights out of him.

"Obi-Wan?" the man whispered standing before his lover, but gained no response. Qui-Gon gathered his wits, trying not to think about how much it must hurt Obi-Wan to actually be indifferent for a person he loved dearly not so long ago, and his old man's jealously was of no significance compared to young man's suffering.

"Please, look at me." He tried again and this time, even if only a little, Obi-Wan moved. Placing his hands in front of himself, he pinched the bridge of his nose in tired gesture.

"What is happening to me, Key?" he asked, quietly, calmly, but with a chaos in his head, so easily detected by other, loving and caring mind. "I didn't want to be so cruel. But they think I was, don't they?" Obi-Wan sighed, squeezing his eyes firmly shut, as if trying to prevent crying again. Instead of tears, more words flowed from his mouth, floating in the air like lazy and slow dragonflies.

"Quella thinks that if I wasn't so hot-headed all of that would not have happened… and Koga blames me for everything bad that happened to Ba.. Shakti." He seemed not to notice that Qui-Gon sat down beside him, carefully trying not to disturb young man's train of thoughts. Not knowing what to do, the man started to gently massage Obi-Wan's arms, to relax muscles clenched so tightly, that his back was as stiff as a board. Usually, Obi-Wan would straight himself right away, move more comfortably into his lovers' hands and nearly purr with pleasure, but now, he didn't seem to care. Actually, he didn't seem to notice that someone touched him, in opposition to first days in Temple after he came back, when he was jumping into defending position at every quicker movement. In a different situation Qui-Gon would be pleased that his boy finally regained enough trust to remain inattentive around him, but right now, he started to worry even more. Not that it concerned him that Obi-Wan didn't react to him….

His attempt to calm down Obi-Wan through Force and their bonds was met with nervous shrug. Obi-Wan jumped from the bed, grabbing his tunic and dressing quickly.

"Is there anything…"

"I have to go. I… I need to talk and… I mean…" Obi-Wan closed his eyes in irritation, drew a deep breath and tried again, fighting his nervousness. "I want to talk to a professional. I'm sorry, Qui-Gon, but I need to talk to Ceho."

Obi-Wan turned around and left quickly, as if afraid that if he did look at his lover, his heart would shatter from unexplained grief. He stormed outside, barely palming the door, not seeing that Qui-Gon slouched on the bed, now alone.

/

Taceho sighed and composed himself, setting aside all personal matters that unfortunately got interrupted. His mind used to deal with diplomats of all races and temperaments worked fast, easily finding a way to avoid nearing crisis. His voice was firm, even though his heart bled.

"Padawan, leave."

"But T… Master!" Bruck stopped strangling Obi-Wan with his eyes and turned around. However, before he managed to voice more of his objection, strong mental suggestion, along with pained look of the man caused his to lose his harsh posture.

"Please, leave." Taceho's voice was gentle as usual, but there was something to it that Bruck couldn't actually pinpoint, making the Master seem upset or shaken. What could that be? Surely not that hypocritical bastard Kenobi! They left him with Master Jinn some time ago and he still was impertinent enough to come here! As if Taceho was his personal psychologist, having to hear whatever and whenever mighty Kenobi had to say… Bruck felt anger boiling in him, inhibited by his tightly controlled shields and emphatic training that his Master taught him. He saw that Taceho was tired, really tired after long-term mission, but he couldn't rest even a little since Kenobi came back with all that fuss about himself.

But he was obedient. Stripped from his pride and forced to build up his self-confidence once again in the past, Bruck Chun understood what it meant to be dedicated to one's mission. As a result, that and only that caused him to swallow up his irritated words, bow quickly and march out of Master Raksion's chambers, throwing him last, hot gaze.

Taceho shuddered slightly seeing it, but in next second his attention jumped to his friend and he became serious again.

"What troubles you, Obi-Wan?" Taceho asked in gentle voice. Sitting down, he gestured the other to do the same, but to no avail. Freed from presence of someone he thought he had to guard against, Obi-Wan started to pace around the room, nervously looking around like a scared animal.

"I feel like I'm going insane." He blurted out, turning to the other man, his face twisted in emotion. But it lasted just a split of second; Obi-Wan drew in a shaky breath, diving into welcoming embrace of the Force stabilizing his presence easily thanks to that. As a well-trained Jedi, he composed himself even quicker than it took him to panic. But Taceho wasn't fooled.

"You seem fine to me, Obi-Wan." He said calmly, leaning backwards to support his back. "Tired and stressed, but fine. What is the matter then?"

"Ceho…" Obi-Wan sang with a warm note in his voice. Walking quickly closer, he sat down beside his friend. " I know they blame me for everything, but why?" he came even closer, made a move as if he wanted to be hugged, touched… but he didn't do it.

"You mean… Quella and Knight Kunein? Well, I guess that's how they are… different way of thinking, if you want." Taceho said carefully, tensing, when he felt Obi-Wan closer, but embracing him nonetheless. That's how he was, always the one to comfort others. "But mainly because you hide something and they know it. just not sure what can it be… you know Quella, she is so insecure that she becomes violent faced with a secret. And mind you, that involves her sisters."

Taceho's gentle, not pushing voice seemed to work on Obi-Wan. He leaned into Master's touch, at first reluctantly, but later with much eagerness, with a sigh setting his body into comfortable position. He didn't notice that Taceho encircled him with his arms in a way that made the Knight unable to escape.

"Will you tell me what had happened to you, Obi-Wan?" the Master asked, after a moment of silence prolonged. Young man twitched, but then relaxed, feeling warm, familiar body next to himself, one of the few people he felt secure with. But even so, his voice came out quiet and unsure.

"I… I don't remember well."

"But, you know. How?" Taceho started to comb Obi-Wan's loose hair with his fingers, massaging his scalp. He felt the other relax even more and he smiled. However, the smile vanished, when he heard the answer.

"I know what happened. Edi told me."

Princess Endavi of Alberona. The Lady. Taceho felt his lips twist at the mention of Quella's youngest sister. They've never met, yet she was well-known for the emphatic Jedi. He had to deal with her ghost, memories that haunted Quella mercilessly, denying her any sleep. Sometimes she managed to put up with it herself; for majority of the time however, she went to Taceho, who allowed her to forget. To pick up the memory and temporarily pretend it didn't exist. These were all about Endavi.

"You believed her?" Taceho asked, instead of all curses that tried to get out of his mouth. His usually pacifistic self gave in to the part of his soul he was deeply ashamed of; that part of him worshipped Quella as his benefactor and very first friend, setting her the priority and as much as he wanted to follow such an urge, he squashed it down and remained calm enough to listen to Obi-Wan.

"I saw it… in her memory. Our bond enabled me to." Taceho didn't recognize himself anymore. Usually he didn't have problems with hearing about other people's troubles, accidents. Now, he suffered with every word Obi-Wan said. Maybe that was his nature, but maybe he was already aware of everything these words would change or cause?

"Please, tell me." He whispered.

/

Endavi tripped on the carpet with her high heel and cursed violently. Gathering fabric of her rich dress, she started to run, accompanied with two small, grey, intelligence cats and monotonous alarm signal in military base under Alberona city.

Storming into the proper room, she marched forward.

"What's the meaning of this? I'm busy! You can't call me anytime you want, dammit!"

Kodachi just looked at her with blank face, which was distorted strangely. Thinking that it was quite some time since she saw her sister neglect herself and her morphing so much, Endavi was seconds from rude barking, when she saw pictures of sonar on a near screen. First, she didn't understand. Next, she nearly ripped the screen with cables.

"Fuck" she screamed. "It's my ship! What's Moonstar doing here! ?"

Kodachi sighed and freed guiltless equipment from her sister's claws. She would rather have that screen serve her in future too.

"We received an mayday signal from this ship some time ago, but I decided to observe its movements before telling you. The message wasn't coded and I think it's not Nadi…

"The hell I care about her! Why is my ship this damaged? What happened! I'll kill her, I'll fucking kill that bitch!" Edi shouted, stomping around in fury. her sister, who spent a considerable part of her life in army, only grimaced at those words.

"Endavi!" finally, Dai lost her patience. She felt the others anger alright, but there was no time for it. "Listen to me! Can this ship go through the atmosphere? I mean, in state it is now?"

It seemed that an accusation that something she made would not withstand any of the planet layers offended the youngest of Alberona sisters. She pouted.

"Of course" Edi said, now slowly and with consideration, as always when something involved machines. "Who do you think I am? And who do you think she is? I knew that bitch isn't going to take care of my ship, so I made it as resistant as they come. Why?"

The older princess looked as if she had already a long day and her sister wasn't making it any better. She pointed with her claw at the screen and whispered.

"Look for yourself. The trajectory will end near Alberona, but the ship is going through the space posts in straight line. As much as I suspect Nadi is on board, she must be injured or hibernated, because nobody is answering the line and ship seems to be on autopilot."

Edi shrugged. "So?"

"The way it is aimed" said Dai through clenched teeth "it is impossible to intercept. It will crash in fifteen minutes."

Blinking, Edi had on the end of her tongue that she didn't care, but a horrid thought made her nearly jump in place.

"My ship!" she yelled in high voice, already running away, not remembering to close the door behind herself, her heels clicking quickly on the corridor, when she was shouting orders. Kodachi sighed yet again, thinking she was doing that awfully a lot during last few hours. Her head started to hurt and she didn't have any motivation left to keep morphing. Her features changed completely to feline, before she turned to surveillance staff that who were lurking in shadows, not wanting to disturb their princess.

"Go after her and keep an eye that she would not kill anyone on her way" she ordered weakly, going out herself. Marching towards the speed-boat platform, she thought that the ship is easy; harder would be making her sisters not kill each other.

/

Endavi nearly ripped the metal with her bare claws, now in pilot's outfit and high boots, but still an unnerving princess. Looking at a mountain of junk that used to be her masterpiece, she first paled, turned green, red and now violet in seconds, yelling at the top of her lungs a lot of curses and swearing.

Sighing a countless time today, Kodachi left her to her anger and ordered her guards to remove the hatch carefully, as at least should be someone there. Expecting a bloodied but alive body of her older sister, Dai got alarmed, when tigers paused longer than needed in taking out the person. She jogged there quickly, elbowing taller soldiers.

What she saw made her sharply draw in a breath. In the cockpit, on pilot's seat, there was no Shairaani. There was a human and she sure as hell knew him!

Endavi got through the guards with her usual, proud attitude of a princess, before Dai composed herself and forbade her. However, when the general was frozen in amazement, she only needed a short glance, before jumping inside with a cry.

"Obi-Wan!"