Chapter 8

Lovers and Tyrants

"Bartender?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I'd like a glass of Corellian rum, neat. Please."

"Coming right up, sir."

Obi-Wan felt the familiar Force presence again, next to him. He turned to see Siri had walked over to the bar and was sitting next to him.

"Siri. What would you like?"

"Kashyyyk whiskey, straight."

"One moment. I'll get the bartender."

Obi-Wan flagged down the bartender.

"Kashyyyk whiskey, straight, for the lady."

"Yes, sir."

Siri rolled her eyes.

"You didn't have to order for me, Kenobi."

Obi-Wan said nothing. It's just the gentlemanly thing to do. Of course, Siri isn't the type to appreciate it.

He sat there, taking her in. She looks stunning in that dress. She looks so womanly, now…she's certainly not the awkward sixteen-year-old I left behind five years ago. She's grown up, in more ways than one: that dress shows more of her curves than Jedi robes do.

The two looked at each other for several seconds, before Obi-Wan broke the silence.

"So, what are you doing over here?"

"Right back at you, Kenobi."

"I thought I'd sit down. Have a drink, and a break from that interrogation over at the dinner table."

"Same here."

"Kashyyyk whiskey? You certainly like your drinks strong."

"What can I say? It keeps me on my toes."

"Really? I thought it just curled your toes."

At this, both Jedi laughed.

"You're still as smooth as you've always been, Obi-Wan."

"And you're as intense as you've always been."

"Big words, coming from the stone-faced Obi-Wan Kenobi himself."

"Stone-faced? Who are you calling stone-faced?"

"You want a sparring match tomorrow, Kenobi? Like we used to do? That'll take the smirk right off your face."

"I'm not smirking."

"Yes you are, you nerf-herder," Siri said as she playfully pushed Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"Your drinks. Enjoy."

The bartender slapped down two glasses. Obi-Wan and Siri grabbed their glasses and took a sip. Siri reopened the conversation, a nervous look on her face and the slightest quiver in her voice.

"So, how long has it been? Four years?"

"Five."

"Five years. All the things we did as kids, and we haven't seen each other in five years…"

Siri's voice trailed off, her bright blue eyes suddenly losing their focus. Obi-Wan knew where her mind was. The Room of a Thousand Fountains. Back when we spoke about our feelings for each other, the last time we spoke until yesterday. That day, I promised never to remind her, but I don't need to. She remembers everything all too well.

Obi-Wan quickly tried to cheer her up.

"Yeah, all those crazy adventures. You remember the Benevolent Guides?"

"Oh, that mess. That weird school out in the middle of nowhere…I'm amazed we made it out. Still, we really gave them what-for, didn't we? And before that, the Temple break-in just after we first met, with Xanatos and Bruck…"

Obi-Wan's mind went again to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, to a much darker memory. He saw Bruck Chun's final moments, the terror in his eyes as he fell to his death on the rocks below. Even after all he did, he didn't need to die. And I killed him, no matter what anybody else told me.

Obi-Wan noticed Siri looking at him, concern in her eyes. She knows what happened.

"Oh…I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. Bruck was…is…a hard subject for you, I know…"

"Can we talk about something else, Siri?"

"Yes…yes, of course."

Anything but that terrifying trip through hyperspace five years ago, when we discovered our feelings for each other. Anything but that.

"What have you and Master Gallia been up to all these years?"

"The usual things: missions, training, a little girl time here and there. Probably not much different from what you and Qui-Gon have been doing. Come to think of it, what have you two been doing over the last five years, anyway?"

"Well, about a year after you and I last saw each other, there was a distress call from this liner called the Aurorient Express that had been hijacked by terrorists. Qui-Gon and I got sent out there, and…"

"Mandalore?"

"Yes. Qui-Gon and I spent a year there. We got back last year, and we didn't do much until Master Leet was murdered a few months ago."

"Why were you there, anyway?"

"The ruler of the planet, she's a pacifist. After the Battle of Galidraan, the Mandalorians were thrown into chaos. The new ruler, Duchess Satine, was in danger from the old Mandalorian warriors that hated the idea of a pacifist ruling them, and Qui-Gon and myself got called in to protect her."

"The ruler of Mandalore…that's incredible! You sure get interesting assignments, Obi-Wan. What's she like?"

Of all the people that could ask me that, Siri has to.

"She's a lot like you. Blonde hair, blue eyes, impetuous, somewhat hard-headed…"

"Watch it, Kenobi. I'm still thinking about that sparring match."

At least Siri wasn't there. She doesn't need to know what transpired between Satine and me. That woman drove me to the breaking point: I almost left the Jedi Order for her.

Obi-Wan could tell that Siri had again noticed that he was lost in thought. Again he saw the playfulness in her eyes begin to turn to concern.

"It was an…enlightening assignment. It's always a valuable learning experience to see how different parts of the galaxy operate."

Something in Siri's face told Obi-Wan that she suspected he knew more than he was letting on. Still, he could tell she wasn't willing to press the matter further. Good. I don't need any more romantic tension tonight. I've had enough already over the past 24 hours.

Obi-Wan took the last sip of his drink. Siri had finished hers not a minute earlier. "So, what now, Kenobi?" "I don't know. Maybe we should go back to the dinner table, see what the Masters have managed to pry out of Lok'ayy."

Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw a figure approaching the two. He turned to see Nurkkis approaching the bar. "Am I interrupting something?" "No, not at all." Nurkkis turned to Siri. "Well then, Miss…"

"Siri."

"The floor is open; may I have this dance?"

Siri nervously stood up and offered her hand to Nurkkis. "Okay, sure."

She glanced at Obi-Wan as she followed Nurkkis onto the dance floor. Obi-Wan's eyes followed the two of them, until the bartender snapped him out of his trance. "You want another drink, sir?" Something in the bartender's voice told Obi-Wan he had just witnessed Nurkkis' intrusion.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you."

The bartender turned to serve another customer as Obi-Wan scanned the dance floor. He quickly picked up Nurkkis and Siri, now gently swaying in each other's arms to the music. Across from them, much to his surprise, he saw Qui-Gon and Miss Hux'ter following suit with Adi and Lok'ayy across from them.

Stang…everyone but me. Now I wish I had ordered that other drink.

Obi-Wan was drumming his fingers on the bar, looking at nothing in particular, when he noticed Siri's Force presence approaching him. She sat down next to him, crossing her legs demurely. "So, how was Security Man?" "Not bad, all things considered. Not my type, though."

And what is your type?

Obi-Wan quickly restrained himself before he could ask that question aloud.

Don't remind her, Obi-Wan. You promised her you never would, and you'll keep that promise because you still love…no, don't remind yourself, either. Not when she's this close to you.

Suddenly, a reckless idea popped into Obi-Wan's mind.

No, you can't. But…but what? What are you so worried about? The Code? The Masters? Her? Just do it!

Obi-Wan sat and thought for a moment, and then decided to take the plunge.

"Siri?"

"Yes?"

"You care to dance?"

She paused, looking at Obi-Wan with wide eyes. Her face was a mixture of bewilderment, excitement, and fear. After a few seconds, she responded, a hint of a thrill in her voice.

"Yes. Yes, I would."

Obi-Wan stood up, taking Siri's hand in his. The touch of her skin against his awakened his old feelings: he buried them as best he could as the two walked onto the dance floor. He placed his hand on her waist: she placed hers on his back. He could feel a slight tremor in her as the two began swaying to the music.

"Well, out of all the things we've done, this is a first for us, Obi-Wan."

"It's certainly an unconventional first. Still, you dance well."

She blushed and nervously laughed at the compliment. Obi-Wan could notice their bodies growing ever closer with each movement. His old feelings became harder and harder to suppress. He thought of kissing her, of just letting go and losing himself in her embrace in front of everyone else. He could feel her trembling becoming stronger and stronger. He could sense her desire, that she could barely keep a hold on her own old feelings for him. Now, she was resting her head on his shoulder, their bodies tight against one another.

This is heaven…please, nobody let it stop. Let us stay here in each other's arms, forever.

Obi-Wan then noticed the music stop, and saw the various couples return to their seats. Siri raised her head from Obi-Wan's shoulder, looking into his eyes longingly.

"Obie…"

He felt a sudden urge to kiss her, then and there. Then, out of nowhere, he regained his self-control. What are you doing? Wake up, you fool, wake up!

"That was a great dance, Siri." She paused, and Obi-Wan could feel her regaining control of her own passions. "It was, Obi-Wan."

"I need to use the fresher, for a moment."

"Got it. I'll be back at the bar."

The two gradually broke their embrace and went their separate ways.

Nurkkis stood at the bar, finishing his drink as he watched the two Jedi walk off the dance floor. I saw how close they were: looks like I found a weakness. One's heading back to the bar, but the other one's going to the fresher, isolating himself away from any witnesses. I'll be there to greet him when he comes out.

Nurkkis walked towards the dark corridor where the fresher was, gesturing to several of his guards along the way. The guards met in a huddle outside the fresher, with Nurkkis explaining their plan. "Alright, here's what we'll do. That Jedi is in there, and we're going to grab him the minute he walks out. Once we have him, we'll drag him into the supply room back there and get some answers out of him."

"What about the others, Boss?"

"We might need one of them. The girl."

"The blonde? We'll need her as well?"

"I didn't say we would. I said we might. Even if our man won't yield to our pressure, he will yield once we put the pressure on her."

"Oh…heh. I like the way you think, Boss."

"Just don't grab her unless I tell you to."

"Got it, Boss."

Obi-Wan walked out of the fresher, still trying to collect his thoughts. Without warning, he felt something slam into his stomach. He doubled over in pain, and then felt strong arms restraining his. Before he could act, someone threw something over his head. Obi-Wan tried to clear his mind and concentrate, but he was suddenly unable to feel the Force.

A Sith torture hood…what's going on?

The assailants dragged Obi-Wan back down the hallway, away from the countless would-be witnesses in the main hall. Through the slits in the hood, he could see that he was being dragged further and further backwards, until he saw a doorway pass his vision. A hand shut the door, and then Obi-Wan saw the first of his attackers. Nurkkis came into view, his electrobaton now in his hand. The two unseen guards behind Obi-Wan forced the Jedi to his knees.

Have they found us out? Master Qui-Gon, Master Gallia…what happened to them? And Siri…is she…

"We know who you are, Jedi."

Obi-Wan's blood ran cold at Nurkkis' revelation. So they know who we are… His thoughts turned to Siri. They can do whatever they want to me, but Siri…I couldn't bear anything happening to her.

"Tell us why you're here, and we will show you leniency." Obi-Wan didn't respond. Nurkkis swung his fist, and Obi-Wan felt it slam into his gut. He doubled over, the guards holding him fast. "Again. Why are you here?" Obi-Wan calmed himself as best he could, and then responded to Nurkkis, grinning under the Sith hood.

"Okay, you've got us. Master Yoda found some odd rocks in the Jedi Temple gardens, and he thinks they might be valuable. He's sent us to ask what you're willing to pay for the mineral rights."

"You're a funny guy, Jedi. Wrong answer."

Nurkkis drove his fist into Obi-Wan's gut, harder this time. Obi-Wan doubled over, gasping for air as the guards pulled him upright again.

"I'll ask again. Why are you here?"

Nurkkis activated his electrobaton, the weapon coming to life with its distinctive electrical buzz. Obi-Wan braced himself for what he knew was coming. After several seconds without an answer, Nurkkis dug his electrobaton into Obi-Wan's chest. Obi-Wan felt his whole body violently convulse as he screamed in agony. "Why are you here? Tell me!"

Again, the jolt came.

"Tell me!"

Another came.

"TELL ME!"

Another came, this one longer.

"TELL ME, JEDI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" An even longer jolt came. Obi-Wan steeled himself for a potentially fatal jolt.

Five or more seconds will stop your heart. Just remember, there is no death, there is the Force…the Force you can't even feel right now.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? TELL ME! TELL ME! TELL ME!" Nurkkis punched Obi-Wan with every shout, his rage growing in intensity with every blow. For a moment, Nurkkis paused to catch his breath, seemingly worn out by his own anger. Then, Nurkkis raised the electrobaton, and Obi-Wan prepared for the end.

Siri…I should have kissed you back there. I would have, if I knew this was coming. I love you.

The jolt came, and Obi-Wan felt his body convulse, the seconds seeming like hours.

This is it.

Out of nowhere, Obi-Wan felt the flow of electricity stop, and his body hang limp, only held up by the strong grip of the guards. He began to violently cough, a charcoal taste in his throat.

I'm alive…how can that be?

"Forget it, Boss. He won't talk. We'll just kill him if we keep going at him like this."

"No problem, boys. We'll just go to our contingency plan."

Contingency plan?

"I think the girl's at the bar. You two stay with the prisoner. You, with me. We'll go get him some company."

"Wha…What are you talking about?"

"Ah, you're still conscious. You're a tough bastard; I'll give you that. But even you have your weaknesses."

Obi-Wan quickly registered what this "contingency plan" was.

Siri…no! They'll bring her in here…torture her in front of me…I can't…

"Your feelings, boy. I can sense them."

Obi-Wan looked at Nurkkis, now kneeling in front of him.

"That's right. You're not the only one here with a connection to the Force. I'll bring your girlfriend in here, and have the boys go to work on her. In less than a minute, you'll be singing like a bird."

Obi-Wan felt the fury building inside of him, the Sith hood stripping him of his connection to the Force and his ability to control his emotions. He suddenly lunged toward Nurkkis, snarling at him in rage.

"Don't you touch her!"

"I'll do more than touch her, boy. Just you wait."

I can endure this, but Siri…if they bring her in here and torture her…I can't endure that. I'll betray everything…betray us all.

Obi-Wan felt a tear running down his cheek as Nurkkis and his henchman left the room. No…when I see them drag her through that door, I'll give up. I'll tell them everything. I can't bear to watch them hurt her.

Qui-Gon sat at the dinner table, trying to reach out to his apprentice through their Force bond. He could feel nothing except for a dark cloud, which fed his anxiety even more. Neither he nor Adi had seen their Padawans in a worrying amount of time, and Adi had just run off to search for Siri at the bar. Lok'ayy had come back to the table after the Padawans left, but Nurkkis had not. Lok'ayy had claimed that Nurkkis had a problem he needed to deal with, but the Jedi Masters suspected something more sinister.

"Qui-Gon?"

"Adi?"

Adi walked up to the table, Siri right behind her.

"Did you find Obi-Wan?"

"I didn't. Siri said he was in the fresher."

Qui-Gon felt his anxiety slip away into the Force.

Still, there might be something sinister at work here. I should go search the fresher.

"If you'll excuse me, Mr. Lok'ayy, I'll be right back. I need to find my secretary."

Lok'ayy didn't react, but Qui-Gon saw his fur stand on end ever so slightly as he watched the Jedi Master leave the table. He's hiding something, isn't he? Qui-Gon walked into the corridor for the fresher, only to see Nurkkis and a guard moving in his direction. "Ah, Mr. Nurkkis. Just the man I wanted to see." "Mr. Ero. What do you need?"

"I was looking for my secretary, and I heard he was in the fresher. You haven't happened to have seen him anywhere, have you?"

"I haven't seen him anywhere, Mr. Ero. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's some important business I…"

The whole time, Qui-Gon could feel something radiating off of Nurkkis, much as Obi-Wan could. Now, he realized what it was.

The dark side…he's a Miraluka. A Miraluka with a connection to the dark side. That explains the blast shield, and the odd reaction to our arrival. He knew who we were from the moment he saw us.

Qui-Gon blocked Nurkkis as he tried to leave.

"Sir, step aside, or I'll have my men…"

"Don't play games with me, Miraluka. I know what you are, and I know you're up to no good here. You know where my man is, and you're going to tell me."

"Or what, Jedi?"

Qui-Gon felt a sudden burst of anger as he spoke.

"Show me to my apprentice. Now."

Nurkkis remained silent. He and Qui-Gon stood in the hallway, looking intently into each other's eyes. After several moments, Nurkkis relented.

"Wait here," he said, gesturing to the guard beside him. The guard stepped up and blocked Qui-Gon's path as Nurkkis walked towards a door at the end of the hallway. He walked in and closed the door behind him.

Obi-Wan heard footsteps outside the door, and any moment he expected Nurkkis to enter, with a terrified Siri in his grip. The door began to open, and Obi-Wan braced for what he was sure he was about to see. In his mind's eye, he could already see Siri, her eyes filled with terror as Nurkkis eyed her with a sadistic grin on his face and his electrobaton ready to sink into her flesh. Sure enough, Nurkkis came through the door, but Siri was nowhere to be seen.

They haven't found her. Good. As long as she's safe, I'll take whatever they throw at me in here.

"It's your lucky day, Jedi. Get up."

The guards pulled Obi-Wan to his feet, and Nurkkis pulled the Sith hood from Obi-Wan's head. Obi-Wan felt the Force flow through him once again, gasping in air as he tried to purge the trauma of the past few minutes from his mind. Nurkkis manhandled Obi-Wan through the door, and at the end of the hallway Obi-Wan could see Qui-Gon, with a guard blocking his way. "Obi-Wan!" "Master!" Obi-Wan stumbled to his Master's side as Nurkkis stepped towards Qui-Gon. "Let this be a lesson. From now on, stay out of our affairs, Jedi." "Then stay away from my apprentice, Nurkkis." Without saying anything else, Qui-Gon turned to leave.

Come, Obi-Wan. We're getting out of here. Us and the women.

They're all right, Master?

Yes, they are. You should thank Siri later. She helped us find you.

Obi-Wan felt a rush of relief, knowing that Siri was safe.

She saved me there. I owe her one. And…and I still love her.

"How did he know who we were, Master?"

"He's a Miraluka, Siri. They have no eyes. For cultural reasons, they always cover their empty eye sockets, thus the odd helmet he was wearing. They see using the Force. Given that this is their only sense of sight, though, it is far more developed than what most Jedi can achieve. The Miraluka can sense the Force radiating from Force-sensitive beings. Our cover was likely blown the minute Nurkkis met us."

"So we never had a chance, then."

"Unfortunately, yes."

The four Jedi sat in the speeder, headed back to the Temple as the Coruscant night continued around them. Obi-Wan ached all over from the beating he received, and he knew an appointment with Bant was inevitable tomorrow.

She won't be happy to see me come back with yet more "souvenirs" from another mission gone wrong. I'm up for another lecture.

As the lights of the traffic illuminated the speeder's dark interior, Obi-Wan felt something touch his hand. He looked over and saw Siri, looking at him with concern in her eyes. He laid his hand out, and she quietly took it. Obi-Wan turned his gaze back to the skyline, savoring the enjoyment of her hand in his.

She knows you've been through a lot tonight. Just enjoy the moment, and be glad Qui-Gon was there to prevent your feelings from ruining you.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stood before the Council, chastened by the failure of the previous night. Between the aches in his body and his thoughts of Siri, Obi-Wan could barely concentrate. The Masters of the Council simply stared at the two Jedi with barely concealed annoyance, even Sifo-Dyas. Only Adi had the slightest hint of sympathy in her eyes. Mace Windu cleared his throat and broke the silence.

"So, you were detected. There's not much else we can get out of Lok'ayy, now that he knows who you are."

"Unfortunately, that is true, Master Windu."

"Then what do you propose, Qui-Gon? We can't simply let Lok'ayy run amok. From what you, Master Gallia, and your Padawans were unable to uncover it seems that Lok'ayy is hiding something. All this is to say nothing of his head of security's possible connection to the dark side."

"He mentioned a mining operation on Vodran, Master Windu. Perhaps we can investigate there."

"Vodran?"

Sifo-Dyas cut in.

"It's a swamp world out in Hutt Space, Master Windu. Home of the dianoga. The Hutts actually hunt them for sport there…"

"Wait, Master Sifo-Dyas. What did you just say?"

"About dianoga hunting?"

"No, about the Hutts."

"Vodran is a popular hunting ground for the Hutts. They go out into the swamps and hunt dianogas for sport."

"The Hutts…that's it."

"What are you talking about, Qui-Gon? You're not making sense."

"Ni'Pa. The whole reason we discovered Lok'ayy was because of Ni'Pa's operation on Kessel."

"So what are you proposing, then? That we focus on Ni'Pa? We don't even know what his role in this smuggling ring is yet, or what his connections to Lok'ayy are. We don't even know if he ordered the assassination of Master Leet."

"We don't. But I know someone who does."

Obi-Wan could sense the exasperation in Sifo-Dyas as he tried to make sense of Qui-Gon's thinking. Even I can't understand it. What is Master Qui-Gon getting at?

"And who is that, Qui-Gon?"

"Vick Reego."

The Council Chamber went silent, the Masters clearly at a loss for words.

"Qui-Gon, he's already behind bars. What more use could he be?"

"We never learned who hired him. Given his current situation, he has nothing to lose. If we could interrogate him, we could possibly find out who hired him to kill Master Leet. If we can tie Lok'ayy to this…"

"Wait, wait, wait. You think Lok'ayy ordered the assassination?"

"He certainly could have, Master Sifo-Dyas. His company's logo on that crate demonstrates that he likely has at least some knowledge of the smuggling ring, and if he had links to Ni'Pa, he could have leveraged those to eliminate the threat Master Leet posed to his artifact smuggling. If we can find evidence tying him to the ring and the murder of Master Leet, we can pursue a deeper investigation of LMC, without having to worry about Lok'ayy's newfound wariness."

The Council remained silent, clearly processing what Qui-Gon had just suggested.

"If you wish to interrogate Reego, the Council will allow it."

"Where is he now, Master Windu?"

"After his sentencing, he was sent to GRP Oovo IV. The Council can contact the warden and arrange an interrogation of Reego. You and Master Sifo-Dyas can work out the specifics of the mission."

"Master Windu, if I may."

"Yes, Master Gallia."

"Given that my Padawan and I have as of the last few days taken part in the investigation, I request that we be detailed to join Master Qui-Gon and his Padawan in the investigation until this matter is resolved."

Mace paused, thinking the matter through before he spoke.

"I have no objections to this. Master Yoda?"

"No objections do I have. Granted, your request is."

"Thank you, Masters."

"I will speak with you later about the details of our visit to Oovo IV. We can discuss that tonight."

"Very well, Master Sifo-Dyas."

"Are there any other questions?"

Once again, the Council was silent.

"Then you are dismissed."

"Yes, Master Windu."

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon back to the turbolift. He stepped in as Qui-Gon pressed the button to return to the Temple's main level. The doors closed, and the Council once again disappeared behind them.

"We keep investigating, Master, and all we get is more questions. When will we get answers?"

"Patience, Obi-Wan. We must keep going if we want those answers. They will come, in due time."

Here's hoping they come soon.