Consequences without Meaning: Chapter V

Disclaimer: If I owned Star Wars, Obi-Wan wouldn'tve been placed on the backburner in Episode I and he most certainly wouldn't be covered in shag in Episode II. I am simply an avid fan and a person with a vivid imagination.

Consequences without Meaning: Chapter V

Part I.

Following the path of his companions, Obi-Wan absorbed his surroundings as he passed through the darkened corridors. The spacecraft, having alighted on the surface of its destination a short while ago, was now in space dock and currently being attended by repair crews for basic post-flight maintenance.

The party was quiet and each person had drawn their respective hoods over their faces, reminding Obi-Wan of similar halls and similar experiences in the Jedi Temple.

Trista paused outside a large chamber door. She glanced at Rone and then rested her eyes on Obi-Wan.

"Here you will meet with our leader, and hopefully attain some answers to your questions." She turned and briefly closed her eyes, seemingly making mental contact with someone. After having acquired permission of the room's current occupant, she slowly pulled the heavy door open and stepped inside. Rone allowed Obi-Wan to step inside before him and then closed the door.

The room was vastly large, with vaulted chamber ceilings meeting in a pointed spire. The huge windows in the room were draped with heavy fabric, causing the large room to rely on dim candles to keep it from total darkness.

A hooded person sat kneeling in the center of a large brocade rug surrounded by small candles, apparently in the middle of a meditation ritual. Obi-Wan waited with his two companions quietly until the person finally stood up and faced them.

"I assume you are Ben…," The person drew back the hood guarding her features and fixed an even gaze at Obi-Wan.

She was neither young, nor old, and her face was framed with whispy golden hair and striking green eyes. The robe she wore was a rich black like the ones that Trista and Rone wore. Her face seemed to hold the wisdom of ages.

Pulling his own hood off his face, Obi-Wan peered back into her eyes. "I don't know who this 'Ben' is that you speak of, my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi." He motioned towards Trista and Rone as he continued. "I followed your representatives solely out of trust…," he glanced at the sleek young woman at his side, "and because of threat to my person if I were to object."

"Surely you could have resisted any harmful advance she could have made though," the leader said, "but instead you came. I think you are curious as to why we came to find you."

"Yes, a little." Obi-Wan watched her.

"Then I will be happy to oblige you."

Part II.

Amidala stepped out of her council chamber. It had been a tiring day, filled with several province disputes and budgetary meetings, not to mention the constant hushed whisperings about "the missing Jedi Knight" when her court members felt she wasn't listening.

She sighed and stepped silently down the corridor. After having a relaxing bath drawn and perhaps having a full body massage, maybe she would be able to get a few hours of sleep this evening.

Just maybe tonight she wouldn't have those recurring flashbacks of the incident on the balcony the other night.

Yes, yes, a bath would be most welcome.

Qui-Gon knelt beside his former padawan's padawan and assumed his meditation stance.

It had been an emotionally difficult week thus far. A full search was being conducted by the top minds on Coruscant and the Royal Investigators on Naboo as to the whereabouts of Obi-Wan, but nothing had yet been found.

Only once had Qui-Gon been separated from his padawan in all their years together, and that had not been nearly as painful as this experience was. At least the earlier separation had been planned and used in ritual when Obi-Wan was first becoming his padawan learner; now Qui-Gon had no knowledge whatsoever of where his friend was, or whether he was well.

Yes. He saw Obi-Wan as a friend…and sometimes more. They shared a bond deeper than any sexual relation could ever hope to achieve—even deeper than any familial relationship could produce. They shared their thoughts, their feelings, and their minds—their very essence.

He knew that he was still alive…that much he could feel. But beyond that, it was purely guessing.

Glancing at Anakin, Qui-Gon felt guilt. No padawan should have to be without his master for any duration of time. Right now he was getting the feeling that Anakin felt anger at master for leaving him, even though Qui-Gon knew deep down inside that Obi-Wan had not left for any reason linked to him.

Or did he?

Whatever assurances he gave Anakin, Qui-Gon could not mend the rift that had grown between the two. The two men had fallen in love with one incredible woman, and neither one was willing to step aside. Qui-Gon might have to approach the Council and ask for a new master for Anakin soon if the relationship did not approve—and this he dreaded.

For not only had he gone against Master Yoda in choosing to train Anakin, but he had given the young man to his newly knighted padawan, a decision visibly frowned upon by the Council. Asking for a new master would only prove that Qui-Gon had been wrong.

Qui-Gon closed his eyes and attempted to focus on the Force. Setting aside his pain would not help—only making use of it would bring Obi-Wan back to him.

Part III.

"We are an order of Jedi Knights ourselves, in a way. We have chosen to channel the Force with much more focus than the traditional Order.

"For instance, …I see the future. Rather than spread my energies by using the Living Force as well as the other channels, I use my whole being simply in seeing visions. This way my contribution is more useful, and when several of us use our respective energies, we become more powerful, and more constructive."

Obi-Wan studied the woman before him. "But that is like weakening the individual…how do you work alone to help others?"

"We don't. We simply work as a unit. For example, Rone here uses the Physical Force, while Trista is a master of the Living Force. There are many, many others with other very unique gifts. When we work together, we have the potential to do so much more than an individual Jedi."

She looked down at her hands with a grave look on her face.

"The Jedi are facing a dark, dark future, Ben. Others in the Order refuse to see this. They feel that what is important now is to follow the rules they have set for themselves and carry on as usual. They do not see that strengthening ourselves now is the only way to prevent our entire destruction.

"We have broken away to create our own Order, …one that will survive the demise of the rest. One that will allow for Jedi Knights to continue on and live for several more millennia."

She arranged her robes and stepped closer to Obi-Wan. Her penetrating eyes bore down on his own. "We have been watching you since you became a Knight, and we feel that you have the focus we cherish in our Order. You see things. And you have an immense capacity for growth and for learning."

"What exactly do you want from me?" Obi-Wan glanced at Rone who was looking straight at him. "If you're asking me to defect from the Temple, I will not."

The older woman smiled peacefully at him. "We do not wish for you to leave the First Order. We simply need your gifts. There will be days of destruction ahead of us, and we want you to survive with the rest. To prevent the deaths of thousands."

"How would I be able to do that? I'm only a single Jedi Knight…no different from any others."

"You forget what I disclosed…I see the future. And I know that you are the one we need. You are the only one who can save us all."

Part IV.

Amidala lay serenely as the masseuse deeply kneaded her aching muscles and spread warm and soothing oils upon her back. For the first time today she felt at complete peace.

Before retiring to her chambers she had encountered Master Qui-Gon in the corridor. Informing her of the measures he was taking to find Obi-Wan, he let her know that he was taking a ship out tomorrow morning to find some trace of his former padawan. The pain he was feeling at Obi-Wan's disappearance was so evident on his face that it caused her own pain to resurface.

A massage had been just what she needed.

"Mmm," very good Mirndan. "Please, a little lower." She smiled and rested her head back on the pillow underneath her, her eyes closed and relaxed.

The hands continued their magic as she rested for a long while. They seemed to be everywhere at once, deeply kneading one moment, softly stroking the next—causing her skin at times to tremble and shiver. If Mirndan were a more attractive man, she might even consider fantasizing about him. Not being one who cared to waste time on fantasizing on things not to be, she simply laid back and enjoyed the experience.

When his hands finally withdrew from her body, she sighed. "Thank you very much, …I needed it. And you have seemed to improve, if that was at all possible, since the last time I visited you."

"Thank you…I try to please you, My Queen."

The silky and sensual voice caused Amidala to flinch. Alarmed, she pulled her towel even tighter around her body and stared up at the owner of that voice.

Anakin was standing there wiping off his hands with a conceited look on his face.

Amidala screamed.

I'm getting better at writing in more frequent intervals!!! This is to be continued very shortly, …if the Force allows J

Please, please read and review. It only takes a moment...and if you want the next story to be just as good or better it really helps J Thanks!! ~blondi