26.

Obi-Wan was surprised to receive a message from Master Qui-Gon. It was a coded message sent to him from R2. He was waiting for it to be de-coded. He only knew he was to return to Coruscant. He had completed his mission and escorted Duchess Satine back to Mandalore. However, he only wished his fondness for Lady Thrice hadn't been so obvious.

Though thankfully Lady Nina decided to remain on Mandalore in order to gain transport back to Blackswan. He didn't know what spurred the white-warrior to leave so soon, but he had a feeling Thrice would inform him after she departed. Obi-Wan observed that the two women had a great deal of respect for one another and to his great discomfort they had no problem openly displaying it to each other. The warriors stood face to face and each raised their hands and laced their fingers as they clasped hands and dropped their Force-masks.

Obi-Wan only knew all too well what it meant for warriors to touch without masking their presences. He knew if Thrice did that every time they parted ways he wouldn't be able to leave her side. Though, his train of thought was broken by Commander Cody.

"General, the ship is refueled. What is our next destination?"

"Set a course with the hyper-drive back to Coruscant."

"Yes, Sir."

"How long will it take for us to return?"

"Not long at all, Sir. After we plot our course it should only take us only a matter of hours to return to Coruscant."

"Good, please inform me when we've arrived."

"Yes, Sir."

Obi-Wan left the bridge and saw that Thrice had fallen in step beside him. He also noticed that Coil was following behind her. He was curious to know what she said during her report to Lord Blackswan. He couldn't help but noticed she and Lady Nina had kept to themselves after their report. He thought it might be best to approach the subject over a meal.

"Milady, would you like to dine with me?"

"Yes, Sir Knight. That would be lovely."

Obi-Wan than gave Coil a pointed look. The clone had the good sense to catch on what his look meant and politely gave Thrice a bow and stepped back.

"Oh, you two go on without me. I just remembered I wanted to discuss something with one of my brothers."

"Are you sure, Coil?"

"Yes, absolutely sure, my Lady. Please go enjoy your meal."

Thrice was not convinced. She knew very that Obi-Wan had done something to drive her disciple away. However, she was not in the mood to argue. She was famished and there were a few things she needed to discuss with her knight.

"Very well. I'll see you later, Coil."

The clone was relieved and made a hasty retreat. He did not want to get on the bad side of a Jedi Master. Besides you could cut the tension between them with a knife. Though, Coil could understand. Lady Thrice was a good looking woman. Master Kenobi probably wanted to spend some alone time with his lady. Coil had no interests being a third wheel. He sighed after the two left the corridor and decided to go find the galley.

Obi-Wan had informed one of his officers in passing that he and Lady Thrice would be taking their meal in his quarters. The clone obediently left with his orders and promised to return shortly. He was surprised to see a bowl of decorative fruit on the table. He picked up a small red fruit tossed it up in the air once before taking a bite.

Thrice moved into the room and stood beside the window. They were stationed in orbit as they waited for the computers to plot their course through hyper-drive.

The war-maiden broke the silence and said, "Blackswan has been attacked."

"Is he all right?"

"Yes, Lord Blackswan and the Clan were able to escape. However, I am sure it was the work of the Dark Lord. He is on to us. The clones are the key. He will use them to overthrow all that oppose him. Creating panic over reason. He will rule with fear. It may already be too late."

"Is that why Lady Nina left in such a hurry? To return to her master's side?"

"Yes. I've also sent word to ship met with us before we reach Courscant. We can't wait a moment longer. I'm taking my warriors to slay the Dark Lord. I don't care if we have to do it in the middle of the Senate."

Obi-Wan shook his head. He put the fruit down and rubbed his beard. He didn't like it. Bringing the fight to the Sith in the middle of the Senate would not go over well with the people. Especially when they had no hard evidence against the Chancellor expect Jinn's word. If the Clan did attack and were not able to kill the Sith than they would be branded as traitors and hunted down. The alliance between the Clan and the Jedi would fall apart. Even after the Dark Lord was dead there was no guarantee that the fighting would stop. The Separatist could decided to keep on fighting.

"Its too risky. Let me contact the High Council. Perhaps if we work together we could come up with a better plan."

She shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan but it's too late. Lord Blackswan has given me his orders. My warriors and I are ready to hunt."

He said, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I am telling you, but only under the condition that you not inform the High Council. The Jedi must remain ignorant of our actions."

"If you and your warriors fail then the whole Clan will be branded as traitors."

"You think I care about the High Council or the Senate? My loyalty has always been to my Clan. I thought you understood that."

"I understand, but I don't just serve the High Council. I serve the people. I know you care about beings outside of the Clan. If not you would never have agreed to an alliance. Fighting isn't the answer."

"I'm a warrior, Sir Knight. Fighting is what I do."

"It isn't all you are."

"If you can see another way then I would gladly take it, but I can't. If your High Council brands me a traitor-if they judge me-execute me for slaying the Sith-then it would be a small price to pay for peace. I'm not afraid. I've died before."

He grabbed her arms and said, "You're not invincible."

Suddenly, his computer in his quarters began to sound. The coded message from Master Qui-Gon had finally been decoded. He moved to his desk and played the video. The blue ghostly image of his former-master appeared in miniature on the table.

"Hello, my old friend. I have unfortunately only sad news to report. Master Jinn is dead. He was kidnapped by a bounty-hunter and was set to be killed by the Sith Lord's apprentice, Lady Shade. However, during the encounter Master Jinn was killed by friendly-fire by accident from Miss Padme. I have with me the Sith Lord's apprentice. She is Master Jinn's younger sister, Padawan Kiya. She was no doubt manipulated by the Sith to kill her own brother. It is important that you return to Coruscant immediately so that the Blackswan can take Kiya into their custody. Given the reach of the Sith, I do not believe she is safe. I will rendezvous with you once you arrive."

Obi-Wan paused for a moment and said, "I can't believe that he's dead."

Thrice narrowed her brow and said, "I can't believe it was the little Senator that killed him."

"What makes you say that?"

The war-maiden stared at him perplexed and said, "Oh, come on. Jinn is a Jedi Master and Warrior of Blackswan. He gets shot by a blaster and dies at the hand of Senator Padme Amidala, a civilian? He could have easily disarmed her ,but instead he chose to take the blow. My guess is that he didn't have time and didn't want to hurt her. She meant something to him."

"Padme and Jinn have known each other for years. They are good friends. I can see why he wouldn't want to do her any harm."

"I will have him restored."

Obi-Wan was shocked and said, "What? You mean bring him back from the dead?"

"Yes, the Clan has the technology and he is Clan."

"Would Lord Blackswan agree?"

"He'd jump at the chance. Even if Jinn is a hybrid, he'd love to get his hands on Jedi DNA. And now there isn't just one, there are two. Kiya Kenobi."

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard and said, "It was hard to believe that Jinn was the son of our other-selves, but now a daughter?"

"Yes, she was taken by the Sith. He made sister fight brother."

Thrice balled her hand into a fist and dropped her Force-mask and grabbed the hilt of her black sword. Her shoulders sank and she lowered her gaze as rage urged up inside and leapt like flames. Obi-Wan rushed to her side and grabbed her hand over her sword.

"Milady."

She straighten up and closed her eyes and felt Obi-Wan's concern and warmth. She let him in and heard him gasp and shatter as her emotions flowed through him. Loneliness. Sympathy. Grief. Yearning. Rage. He was surprised at how deeply she felt about Jinn's death. They hardly knew each other.

She rested her head against his shoulder and softly said, "Somewhere a mother has lost her son."

Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He closed his eyes and said, "You're wondering what you'd feel if you lost a child."

"If its anything like how I feel about you than I would tear out the black heart of the Sith with my bare hands."

"That is by far the most romantic and violent thing anyone has ever said to me."

"I'm serious."

He smiled and said, "So am I." He raised his hand to brush away the hair away from her eyes. "Promise me, whatever you plan that you include me."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to jeopardize your position at the High Council."

"This situation is more important than my standing at the High Council. I fear the Jedi have been in the dark for too long. I think we should meet Master Qui-Gon as quietly as possible until we make our next move."

"As you wish, Sir Knight."

"You do know that I'm a Jedi Master, not a Jedi Knight."

"Of course I do, but knights are more romantic."

He gently lowered his hand to brush her braids off her shoulder to expose her throat. She tilted her head to the side and allowed him to caress her pulse. He shivered when he touched her and felt her delight like it was his own. He realized with her Force-mask down it was hard to distinguish where his feelings began and her feelings ended. He had never felt more complete. It was intoxicating. He didn't think he would ever grow tired of how she made him feel.

"I had no idea you were so sentimental."

He closed the distance between them and gave her a soft kiss. When he opened his eyes he saw her eyes were half-lidded and dazed. She then ran her tongue over her top lip. He followed the path of her tongue with his eyes. He closed the distance between them and followed her tongue back into her mouth.

The kiss was different. Her lips tingled. He was sweet and tart like the fruit he had eaten. He kissed her again and the more he kissed her, the more she tingled. She felt flush with desire. She was on fire. She wanted more.

Thrice raised her arms and wrapped them around his broad shoulders as the kiss deepened. She racked her nails over his nape and fisted his robes. Obi-Wan moved her towards the window and pressed her back against the glass. Thrice broke the kiss with a gasp when she felt the cold surface against her back.

Obi-Wan moved to kiss along her ear and down her throat. He pressed himself flush against her body to let her feel how much he wanted her. Her fire filled him. He let his own Force-presence fill her. It was intoxicating. He would never get tried of sharing his feeling with her, but it felt different. The churning and the flames were there, but now there was something else. It tingled. It ached. It called to him. He was on fire. He began to pull his brown robe off his shoulders. He needed to feel her. He needed to make her his. He bent down and possessively bit her throat. She gasped and moaned loudly into his ear. Her sounds were exhilarating. It made him want more.

He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head against the glass. He then resumed kissing her rough and hard.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "General, the meals you requested are ready."

Obi-Wan broke the kiss and released Thrice's hands. He then raised his hand and used the Force to lock the door.

"Now, where were we?"

"Sir Knight!" she exclaimed in surprise.

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers and began to toy with the fastenings on her collar. He shivered when he touched the bruise he left on her throat. He reached up and slowly began to undo the fastenings. He paused for a moment to see what she'd do next.

"Thrice, is this what you want?"

She reached up and kissed him and said, "I want you."

He returned her kiss. He then picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. No matter how thrilling it might be to make love against the window with the vista of space, he was certain it would not be comfortable. He wanted her to be comfortable. He wanted to take his time and learning all her secrets.

XXX

Location: Coruscant

Obi-Wan and Thrice kept the battleship in orbit and used a smaller vessel to go the rest of the way. Obi-Wan had contacted Master Qui-Gon to met them in a dock away from the public eye as to avoid the Order and the Senate.

With their hoods up, they met Master Qui-Gon discreetly in a transport. Once they were inside the transport the occupants removed their hoods.

Master Qui-Gon smiled and said, "It's good to see you, my old friend."

"And you, Master Qui-Gon."

The elder Jedi paused when he saw the clone trooper sitting beside his former-apprentice. He wondered why Obi-Wan would bring along a clone.

"Who is this?"

"Oh, my wife."

Qui-Gon raised his brow as he stared at the white helmet. Obi-Wan noticed and turned to his companion and said, "Milady, you can remove your disguise."

She raised her hands to take off the helmet and shook out her hair. Her red eyes glowed in the dimly lit transport. She placed the helmet on her lap and rested her arm over the top of it.

"Its hard to see anything in that helmet. Greetings, Master Qui-Gon."

The elder man noticed that the war-maiden had a love-bite on her neck. He turned and coughed into his hand. It appeared that Obi-Wan had uttered failed to keep his vow of non-attachment. He couldn't help, but feel disappointed in his former-apprentice. Obi-Wan had proven himself to be a great Jedi. He was level-headed and a good negotiator. His skill had granted him a seat on the High Council. He had experience choosing the Code over his personal feelings. He didn't think he'd succumb to his carnal desires. Obi-Wan was now open to the influence of the Dark Side of the Force.

When they reached Padme's apartment, Qui-Gon paused in the hall and said, "Obi-Wan, may I speak to you for a moment?"

"Of course, Milady please go on ahead."

The war-maiden nodded and proceeded down the hall towards the apartment. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan turned to face his former-master. He folded his arms into his sleeves and followed him towards the pillars.

"Obi-Wan, I didn't think I would have to remind you of the Code of non-attachment."

"Master?"

"I know you've grown attached to Lady Thrice."

"I'll admit that I find her attractive."

"You love her."

Obi-Wan paused. Qui-Gon wondered if he would deny it. He knew Obi-Wan was a good man. He would never enter a physical relationship with a woman without having feelings for her first.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Not exactly, but you should be more careful where you leave your marks."

The elder Jedi pointed to his collar. At first Obi-Wan was confused by the gesture, but then flushed when he realized what he meant. It was strange. Even now he could still feel her even with her Force-mask up. He still desired her and felt her fire in the back of his mind.

"Yes, well, it wasn't my idea to take a wife. If you recall it was the High Council who decided."

"Yes, I suppose if anyone is to blame its them. However, I fear your love for wife will lead you to the Dark Side. Remember that love leads to jealousy, anger and hate."

Obi-Wan smiled and said, "Oddly enough, Milady has promised to end my life if I should ever stray to the Dark Side."

"Your wife is a formidable woman."

"Oh, don't I know it."

XXX

TBC

XXX

Thank you for reading.