Author's Notes: AAH! AN UPDATE! *faints from the shock* The idea for the story was one that my friend and I had...oh...four years ago. Except for the Obi getting hitched part. That's all new. So, now that my memories are returning, I guess maybe I can update more often...? If I'm not stuck in Tolkien-Land, that is.
Qui-Gon groaned as the cottony fog of sleep drifted away, taking with it the relief from his pain.
He was certain his ribs were broken. Meditation just before he had fallen asleep had shown him the internal bleeding; he wished he could slide back into a healing trance, but the Force floated only on the edges of his grasp. Which meant...
"Hello, Master Jinn." That voice. So full of contempt and pleasure, so soft it was soothing. She let the Force flutter closer to his reach, yet it was tugged away again when he unconsciously grabbed for it. He still didn't know how she could do that; subdue his Force powers.
At least his thoughts were safe.
She crouched down at his side. "I have friends coming. So if you promise - and I mean /promise/ - to use the Force only for healing, I'll leave you alone."
"I thought..." Qui-Gon grunted "That you didn't trust me."
Her pretty, cruel, heart-shaped face was thoughtful. "Do we have a deal?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
Obi-Wan found the two guards where they had said they'd be. They were relaxed, sharing jokes and laughing, until they noticed him. Immediately they straightened and took on a stern military attitude.
"Nice to see you again, nearly on time, Mister..."
"Kenobi." Obi-Wan forced himself not to cringe. /And I had to give them my real name.../
"Kenobi." the taller guard nodded. "Well, our Master would like to see you. I'll take you up to him." He led the way to the lesser Senate head quarters and the three hopped on a turbo lift.
"It's been a while since anyone's been in a position to help us out." the smaller guard watched him shrewdly. "Where are you from?"
"Here, originally," Obi-Wan answered, trying to sound natural and unconcerned. He had a suspicion that they would know. No matter what he said, they would know... "But I live off planet with my wife now."
"She's your wife?" the guards exchanged a glance and seemed to relax after a moment. "Congratulations."
Uneasiness stirred in Obi-Wan again as the turbo lift glided to a halt. The guards stood just a little straighter, looked just a little more menacing;; yet they said nothing.
The door swished open.
Qui-Gon had his strength back. The woman had given him back full use of the Force, and it was a relief from the frustration she'd tormented him with for weeks on end. Although the thought of 'friends' of hers arriving ruined the sense of freedom.
Would they be any worse than her? Qui-Gon sighed. Well, someone had to have taught her.
"Come, Master Jinn," she said. "I think you should know the grounds a bit before we get started. Here's the map; for...ethical purposes, I can't have you outside. Sorry."
"When your friends get here, what will you tell them?"
Her bright brown eyes turned to him. "About what, dear heart?"
"About all of this. About what you are doing with the Jedi. Or do they condone your actions?"
She smirked and settled herself on a nearby desk. "Of course they 'condone' it. Why wouldn't they? How do you think I got the resources and manpower? Other than from people like you, of course. And if that was what you were hinting at, yes, they already know about you. They're pleased that you helped us; they are more pleased with me, naturally, for convincing you to help us."
Qui-Gon glared at her, clenching his jaw to keep from saying something he would regret. Her com beeped, startling her. Calmly, she reached over and flipped it onto speaker, blatantly not caring if Qui-Gon listened. It was a slap in the face; proof that he was powerless to do anything, no matter what he learned from her conversations with whoever else was behind this.
"Sharick here," she said, leaning back on her hands.
"Sharick, good to hear your voice again.. I believe we may have found the last of the hidden Jedi. He'll know where to find the others."
"Are you going to interrogate him, or send him to me?"
"I don't see that my methods would help him; he doesn't seem to know what to think of us. Sugar coat his perceptions, make sure that he agrees with us."
The woman grinned up at Qui-Gon. "I can do that. Send him with the next boat over, will you?"
"Of course. We've been ordered to; I just thought you needed the heads-up."
"Much appreciated, love. Sharick out."
"Mister Kenobi, is it?" The voice spoke the instant the turbo lift doors swished open. Obi-Wan had hardly taken a step.
"Yes," Obi-Wan answered, taking in the office space as quickly as possible without seeming nervous. "And you are?"
"Ulic. Ulic Qel-Droma," the dark-haired man answered easily.
Obi-Wan frowned. "You are? But..."
"It's quite a long story," Ulic waved away the questions. "Perhaps I can tell you sometime. In the meanwhile, have a seat."
One of the guards stepped forward and gave Ulic a data pad. He studied it as he sat down across from Obi-Wan, then tossed it back to the guards when he was finished. "Where are you from, Mister Kenobi?" he settled back in his chair, watching Obi-Wan as closely as any Sand Panther.
"F-From Coruscant, originally," Obi-Wan answered, deciding the shorter replies he gave the better.
"Oh? But you don't live here now, I'm sure of that."
"Why is that?"
"Because if you do, I'll have to have you arrested for tax evasion." Ulic smiled shrewdly.
"Well, then you were right the first time. I live on Melida/Daan now."
"Don't tell me they still haven't settled on a name."
"In all honesty, it has been the least of our problems."
Ulic's pale eyes sparkled, despite his sober mood. "I'll bet. What made you decide to go to that Force-forsaken rock? And more importantly, what made you decide to stay there?"
"I got married. I can't think of a better reason," Obi-Wan said, watching him closely. "Can you?"
Ulic's reaction was half bland, half full of newfound respect. "No, I can't, either. But you already knew that, didn't you?"
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to answer, explain about Jedi History lessons, but a thread of apprehension tied the words back. He and Ulic regarded each other in tense silence. At last, Ulic said, "I don't think I can explain about these changes on Coruscant; it wasn't necessarily my idea, so I've decided to send you to the person who was in charge." His hand hovered over a com. "If you agree, that is."
"By all means, I would love to meet..."
"Sharick," Ulic filled in, and pressed the button. He spoke in a coarse language, and when the conversation was over he sat back, pulled up two glasses, filled them with a dark liquid, and offered one to Obi-Wan. "It's all set. A transport should arrive from refueling in an hour or so."
The liquid was neither warm nor cold, but pleasant and thick, and it tasted mildly of a fruit that Obi-Wan could not remember having tasted before. "Thank you," he said, meaning as much for the transport as for the drink.
Twenty minutes later, the transport arrived. "Go quickly; I can deliver the message to your wife, but it's rather urgent that you take off soon."
And so, without a word to Cerasi, Obi-Wan grudgingly boarded the black ship and left Coruscant for the first time in over a decade.