Siri: Yeah, well you're becoming quite legendary for those unique abbreviations ;)
Emmithar: You do ask a lot of rhetorical questions. But that's okay ;)….I'm not gonna answer any of them, but that's okay =D As for Obi-Wan 'knowing' she did it when he hadn't actually 'seen' her do it, you assume that he found out when he got back. News apparently travels fast on this planet and he probably got back from following Kadiri to find out from security that she'd been accused of murder again. Not exactly the most pleasant way to return home.
Nope! That Obi-Wan can't EVER stay out of trouble ;)
Hmmm…interesting theories but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait ;)
Okay! Next post! : )
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Kuro-N: Chapter 5
Please see Chapter 1 for details
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"Master, why didn't you wake me?" Obi-Wan asked the next morning.
"No need, Padawan, but now we know that Kadiri must be innocent." Obi-Wan nodded.
"Well, Master we know she's innocent of this crime, but what about the others?" Qui-Gon smiled at his apprentice.
"She's innocent Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon that he had seen a report of that 'Obi-Wan' being seen again, on the streets of Alasar. Qui-Gon shook his head. "There must be someone out there that looks just like you Padawan." He shook salt onto his garlak bird and suddenly he dropped it.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"Why didn't I see it before?" Qui-Gon shook his head in wonder.
Obi-Wan looked confused. "What?"
"Nothing Padawan, nothing." Qui-Gon got up from the table. He had to speak with Masao.
***
"Master Jinn, there you are,"
"Masao, I must speak with you about your brother."
"Yes?"
"At any time did you or your brother deal with cloning cylinders?" Masao looked shocked.
"Qui-Gon, really, there is little or no chance that those things work."
"Yes, but did you ever?" Masao glanced at Qui-Gon, then let out a sigh.
"Never with clones, but we did deal a little in DNA fluids."
"DNA fluids?"
"Well you know to create a clone you need a DNA sample. Ken-Jun had discovered a liquid substance that you will find in cloning cylinders, called DNA fluid, and it causes them to be able to read your DNA sample. But I told Ken-Jun to give it up, he was getting a little dangerous with them. Why do you ask?" Qui-Gon sighed.
"Masao, I believe there is a clone of your niece going around killing people and Kadiri is taking the blame for it."
"What?" Masao rose from his chair, anguish and anger hanging in his eyes. "Why do you say this?"
"Because it is the only reasonable explanation. I know for sure that Kadiri is innocent, so how many other options are there? Which is more likely, a girl that looks exactly like your niece, or an exact duplicate?" Masao shook his head.
"This is impossible, who would be doing this?"
"Someone who wants those DNA fluids, to kill the people in their way and distract the people with killings and destroyed buildings."
"But I just told you, I told Ken-Jun to drop the experiments."
"It's beginning to look as if he didn't." Masao was in shock. "Now do you have any idea where Ken-Jun might have put them?" Qui-Gon pressed.
"Well, he had one underground warehouse, but only a very few people know where it is."
"Where is it?" Qui-Gon asked.
"It's on the edge of the Red Hills to the north." Qui-Gon nodded.
"I think it's worth checking into Masao."
"I cannot do that." Masao shook his head. "I have commitments here."
"Then Obi-Wan and I will." Masao nodded in agreement. Qui-Gon left the room quickly. His mind flashed back to the 'Obi-Wan' who was seen on two other planets. Was it possible that there a clone somewhere of Obi-Wan? He could only hope not.
***
On his way back to the room Qui-Gon heard heated voices beyond the Emprincess's door. He could hear Kadiri and another voice, Donitel.
"You didn't tell me where you went you stupid girl, you could have been killed!" Qui-Gon slid the door open and saw that Kadiri was across from her councilor, fear in her eyes.
"I was really all right, Master Qui-Gon--"
"Shut up, you are a foolish child and you will pay for your stupidity."
"No." Kadiri shook her head. "I have someone to protect me now, I don't need you to tell me what I can and can't do!" There was a sharp crack as Donitel struck Kadiri's cheek with the back of his hand. Kadiri's head jerked to the side.
"Excuse me," Qui-Gon walked into the room as though he hadn't been standing there. "Is there a problem?"
"I was having a private conversation with the Emprincess." Donitel said acidly. "It does not concern you."
"It does if you are hurting her," Qui-Gon said coolly. "I am protecting her for a time."
"Get out Jinn, I'm telling you this does not concern you." He grabbed Kadiri's arm so as to pull her away from Qui-Gon and twisted her arm sharply at the same time. Qui-Gon came close to the man.
"Step away, Donitel."
"Leave this instant." Donitel shot back.
"I'm not going to say it again." Qui-Gon warned.
"Get out!"
Qui-Gon made no move to get out, but he struck Donitel in the face, sending the man staggering back a few paces and dropping Kadiri's arm.
"Now leave," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Or I will inform Masao and *he* can make you leave." Donitel took the hint and walked away, his deep blue eyes on fire. Qui-Gon turned to Kadiri. He looked her over to make sure she was all right. "Kadiri, I believe I know who murdered your father, and those other men." Kadiri's eyes were wide.
"Who?"
"A clone of you." Qui-Gon explained what he had discovered about the DNA fluid. Kadiri sat down slowly.
"So that's why my father's dead, because he wouldn't destroy the DNA fluids." Qui-Gon nodded slowly.
"But what I still don't know is, who is making these clones?"
"It could be anyone."
Qui-Gon stared at the door."Yes, and right now, I am not excluding Donitel."
***
Donté burst into the room, he had been staying in this place for too long, but he knew it was going to be worth it. He walked to the wall and turned on the recorder, he listened to the voices of Masao and Qui-Gon speak to one another.
*"It's beginning to look as if he didn't. Now do you have any idea where Ken-Jun might have put them?"
"Well, he had one underground warehouse, but only a very few people know where it is."
"Where is it?"
"It's on the edge of the Red Hills to the north."
"I think it's worth checking into Masao."
"I cannot do that. I have commitments here."
"Then Obi-Wan and I will."*
Donté flicked off the recording. "So, you and Obi-Wan are coming to see me." He laughed. "Dead Emprincess, dead Master, dead apprentice. It is better than I could have hoped." Donté laughed out loud. "You don't know what you are getting yourself into Qui-Gon Jinn, you have no idea at all!"
***
"We'll leave tomorrow Obi-Wan."
The boy nodded. "Yes master, I'll be ready."
Qui-Gon had decided that he would go to the warehouse. His worries for Obi-Wan tried to creep into his mind, but Qui-Gon brushed them away. He would protect Obi-Wan at all costs, and he would be careful.
A strange noise woke Qui-Gon. A sound like someone moving up the hall and sneaking across the wall. He thought that maybe it was Kadiri, but she wouldn't be sneaking towards her room. Qui-Gon moved to the door, and suddenly felt someone at his elbow.
"Obi-Wan."
"Master, did you hear that?" Obi-Wan whispered.
"Yes, come on." Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon out into the hall, there was a dark shadowed outline sneaking towards Kadiri's room. Obi-Wan pulled out his lightsaber and snuck close next to Qui-Gon. When they reached the door to Kadiri's room, Qui-Gon motioned for Obi-Wan to fall back a ways. Suddenly Kadiri's voice cried out.
"Qui-Gon!" Qui-Gon jumped around and pressed on the illuminator. He was shocked to see Kadiri pressed against the back board of her bed her eyes filled with terror, and *Kadiri* holding a dagger to Kadiri's neck. Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber.
"Move away!" The clone warned, and Kadiri shook her head in disbelief at this person that sounded identical to her. Qui-Gon took a step back. Obi-Wan didn't seem to know what to do.
"Padawan, move around to her other side, while I distract her, try to get Karidi away." The boy nodded and Qui-Gon started around turning the clone's attention to him. Obi-Wan moved around towards Kadiri. Qui-Gon approached the clone.
"Step away." She said in a hissing tone. Qui-Gon suddenly reached out and grabbed the clone's arm yanking her forward.
"Obi-Wan!" The apprentice started to pull Kadiri away, but the dagger slashed her arm. She screamed in pain and fell against Obi-Wan. Then she and Obi-Wan ran down the hall. Qui-Gon brought up his lightsaber, Kadiri's clone threw the dagger towards him. And almost as quickly as it had begun, the fight ended, Qui-Gon dodged the dagger and brought his lightsaber to bear on her. She let out a chilling scream as he cut her down. Then she fell into nothing but ashes. Qui-Gon stepped away and ran back down the hall. Obi-Wan was already bandaging Kadiri's arm.
"Is it dead?" Kadiri whispered.
"Yes," Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes Kadiri, it's gone."