A/N: The title of the part comes from Nirvana's song "Dazed and Confused." I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Kurt Cobain wrote it. Give the guy credit; Nirvana has some of the best lyrics.

Thanks for the reviews. Ninety and counting! Whew, that's more than I ever thought possible. Here goes the list: thanks to all the people who leave nice reviews, thanks to all the people who leave flames (hey! Everyone gets their own opinion!), thanks to the people who leave long reviews and finally… thanks to everybody! There…that about covered it. J

Be warned that there is a flair of romance in this part. I'm not proud of this one, so bear with me. The romance thing isn't pivotal, but it's a bit important. If you don't like it I'll top myself, okay?

~Blazer~
July 25, 2002

BREATHE

PART EIGHT:

BEEN DAZED AND CONFUSED FOR TOO LONG

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan returned to camp to find it in turmoil. All of the guards looked sick and worry was in all their eyes. "What is it?" Obi-Wan said, pushing past Qui-Gon to stand next to Lieutenant Kikerio. Even she looked distraught.

"There's no answer at the safe-hold," she said, her face white.

"What?" Qui-Gon gasped, coming up. "Are you sure?" Obi-Wan was surprised to hear concern in his voice.

"I'm positive," Kikerio said. "We all tried it with our commlinks. Oh," she added, "by the way, here." She handed Obi-Wan a commlink. "Always keep an extra," she said, smiling a little. He nodded at her gratefully.

Qui-Gon had already ripped his commlink out and was punching in numbers. "Anakin?" he barked. "Anakin, where are you?" Obi-Wan heard shuffles and shouts from the other side.

"A Corporal suggested we move, Master," Anakin said, his voice angry. "He got here with the Queen's clothing and he said there were droids chasing him. We're going through bush and heading to the Queen's sister's house. It's ten hours from here."

"Ten hours?" Qui-Gon asked, flabbergasted. "You can't travel ten hours on foot."

"It appears to be the safest place right now, Master. It's in a city called Ramirl."

"Ramirl?" Obi-Wan repeated. He blinked for a second, a wondering look on his face. "Ramirl is closer if you go over the mountains."

"The mountains?" Qui-Gon said skeptically. "Is there even a road through there?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said immediately. "Walking, it takes about six hours."

"Six hours!" Qui-Gon exclaimed.

"On speeder bikes, however, it takes only about three."

Qui-Gon turned his attention back to Anakin. "Keep going. The droids are coming. Get the Queen to a safe place to spend the night. Even a cave if you have to. I'll talk to you in a few minutes. Hurry." He cut out and turned to Obi-Wan. "Where you propose we get speeder bikes?"

Kikerio answered for him, catching onto Obi-Wan's idea. "There are speeder bikes in the palace," she said.

"Too dangerous," Obi-Wan said quickly. "I have a few at my apartment…"

"I have one at my flat," Kikerio said.

"I have some at my house," someone said half-heartedly. Obi-Wan glanced around. No one else volunteered any. He counted them and added the Queen and the rest. "I have three," the same guard who had spoken said.

"We'll need twenty," he said.

"Twenty-six," Qui-Gon said. "There are five injured people we picked up at the infirmary and then that Corporal Anakin mentioned. "

"And we have about seven," Kikerio said, looking distraught.

"All right," Qui-Gon said. "The Queen and her sister will go. I have to protect her, so my Padawan and I will go with her as well. There is an injured man that needs medical attention immediately. That's five right there."

"I'll go," Kikerio said.

"I'm not," Obi-Wan said. He leaned against a tree, his arms folded across his chest. Ramilion looked at him in horror. The medic was worried about the fact Obi-Wan had not yet received enough blood…and his worry was condemned when Obi-Wan looked at him as if he could tell what he was thinking.

Kikerio swung around to face him. Qui-Gon looked almost amused. "You're hurt, you need rest," Kikerio said in a patient voice. "You've proven yourself enough for today. You're coming with us. The Queen would want you to go anyway."

Obi-Wan ignored Kikerio's outburst and looked at Qui-Gon. "We need to lay low until we figure out who's attacking and why," he said urgently. "The Queen understands she needs to stay safe. And it's not safe here for any of us. I have a friend…I know someone who lives on the outskirts of Theed about two hours away. She sells speeder bikes. She'll lend us some."

"Are you kidding?" Kikerio broke in. "Thea hates you."

His face flashing in anger, Obi-Wan jerked around to her. "I don't care what she thinks of me. She won't turn us down. She knows the Queen will need help and she'll help."

"The droids probably took the bikes," Kikerio said, her emerald eyes pleading.

"You've never been there," Obi-Wan countered. "They wouldn't have gotten there."

"She hates you," Kikerio said again, now desperate.

"Take Ramilion," Obi-Wan said, turning back to Qui-Gon. "If that man needs medical attention, he'll do good. He's a medic," he added, seeing Qui-Gon's confused expression. "He's not trained."

Kikerio looked as if something was suffocating her inside. Her lips trembled and her face was as pale as Obi-Wan had ever seen it. He didn't want to show his concern, but he reached out and squeezed her hand, silencing Qui-Gon with a look.

"We need to go now," Qui-Gon said. "We'll need to sneak into the city to get the speeder bikes. I'll comm Anakin and tell him the plan. Obi-Wan, Lieutenant, you'll need to show me your apartments." He glanced at the guard who had volunteered his bikes. "You too. We'll need just seven to come and ride the bikes. The others will meet the Queen. " Qui-Gon stepped away to comm Anakin.

Obi-Wan pulled Kikerio into a shelter of a bunch of trees and shrubs. He held her wrist in his hands. "Kikerio, please," he whispered. "Listen to me. I'll be fine. You need to protect the Queen. Thea will only listen to me and you know it. Kikerio, please."

The Colonel shook her head. "No, Obi-Wan, please. I've lost Jinra already…"

"I'm not going to end up like Jinra," Obi-Wan said gently, referring to Kikerio's late husband, killed in his act of protecting the Queen many years ago. "Don't worry. I'm hurt enough already; it's not going to make any difference if I get hurt some more."

"Thea hates you," Kikerio whispered. "I'm afraid if she does something stupid…"

"Since when have you been so afraid for me?" Obi-Wan asked.

Kikerio lost all her rough and tough composure and sort of fell against Obi-Wan. He hugged her hard, aware that all the toughness was forced and aware that Kikerio was really just a young woman still mourning for her decreased husband. "You're all I have…" Kikerio whispered against his chest.

"I know," Obi-Wan whispered back lightly. He glanced around and was pleased to see Qui-Gon was still talking to Anakin and the guards were talking amongst themselves. "You're all I have, too." He held and rocked her gently as a shake hit her. He knew she was struggling to not break down completely and brawl, so he whispered words of understanding.

Kikerio moved her arm and encircled his neck. She slightly tipped her head up to him and looked at his eyes through her own tear filled one. She slowly rose up a bit and leaned in, her eyes never leaving his. She slowly closed her eyes as she moved her lips to meet his.

Obi-Wan didn't think. He was too confused and too pent up with emotion for Qui-Gon and worry for Naboo and the Queen that he needed Kikerio and her comfort right now. He needed her almost as much as she needed him. This felt so right and felt so good. There was nothing wrong with this.

So he didn't think when he bent his head and met her lips with his.

~*~*~*~

Silence. It was nerve-racking, but Obi-Wan had gotten used to it. He laid down in the darkness, curling in the fetal position and hugging his shoulders. He was so cold. He shivered and the ice that froze his bones crackled. His teeth clattered and he blew out his breath. He was surprised a white cloud didn't appear in front of him.

How long had he been in this dark cave? Had it been a day? Had it been a year? He had stopped trying to count them a long time ago. He was never hungry and he couldn't see any light. Maybe this was just one tremendously long night, although Obi-Wan seriously doubted that.

Strangely, he felt no hunger or thirst. In fact, his stomach felt full. He knew for a fact he had not eaten since meeting wit that… man whose warning still hung in Obi-Wan's ears. The picture was always in his mind and the pain always seemed new. He tried to banish it from his thoughts, but he could not.

Suddenly, he sat up straight. He felt something. It was like a call or something. He stood up. "Hello?" he called. By now he had gotten used to the shaking whenever he walked. "Who's there?" He wasn't surprised when no one answered but he was surprised when he felt something like a wave in the Force that told him that Enhrida was coming.

Obi-Wan preferred to call him The Man. He liked that. The Man. So much power…yes, Obi-Wan thought, I've been in here too long.

The Man came and stopped a few feet short of Obi-Wan. The Jedi Padawan just looked at him without and emotion on his face. "It's been a month and a half, Jedi," the Man suddenly spat. Humbled, Obi-Wan did not speak. "It's about time I released you, isn't it?" The Man clearly didn't expect a reaction because he rambled on. "Yes, I'll release you."

Obi-Wan hid his gasp with a cough, but Enhrida wasn't fooled. He laughed. "Yes, I know the torture this has been for you. But do you want to know something?" He dropped his voice to a whisper. "This isn't over. I am going to come back for you. And if you tell a single soul about what I've done to you…" The Man raised his arm. Instantly, Obi-Wan tried to shrink back.

Enhrida was pleased. He turned away. "Tell no one, Obi-Wan," he called.

And then the blackness began to shake. He watched as it turned from the black into a deep blue. A high-pitched ringing sound filled his ears and his throat went hard. He started a slow fall, his abdomen beginning to ache dully. He wanted to gasp but something was in his mouth.

Dots spread in his eyes and light blinded him. He began to jerk, struggling against whatever was in his throat and whatever was in his arms. He thrashed helplessly from side to side, kicking his legs and pounding on whatever was beneath him with his arms. He could feel someone reach out to grab him but he lashed out with his foot and caught the person somewhere along his body.

He forced his eyes to stay open. Shapes were blurry around him and he felt more confused than ever. He pounded his head back against the bed, headache attacking him. He tried to scream but all that came out was a funny gurgle.

"Obi-Wan!" someone shouted. "Master Dirmond, help!"

Wait a second. He was Obi-Wan. Where was he? Why the brightness. He stilled his body and blinked unhappily, confusion licking at his mind.

Suddenly someone's face floated over him. A cool hand pressed against his cheek and then took his hand. The same person ran a hand through his hair. He blinked at the man above him and then felt out with the Force. He was met with kind and warm feelings. He shot his feverish eyes up to the man and his parched lips tried to smile.

"Welcome back." Qui-Gon Jinn's voice was close to the verge of collapsing and Obi-Wan could hear the break in his Master's voice. He squeezed the older Jedi's hand. Qui-Gon's voice was still weak and filled with relief. "Welcome back."

~*~*~*~

"They'll probably be patrols," Obi-Wan whispered urgently. He looked behind him back at the others. "My apartment is near the back and one exits into an alley. I have a small extra area that faces the alley. The bikes are there. We can come in through the door and exit through the apartment."

"We can get the bikes from the alley," Qui-Gon said. He glanced back at Kikerio. It was just the three. They had gotten the other four bikes with ease. The four guards riding the bikes were on their way to the cave Anakin had hid the Queen in.

Obi-Wan rose his eyebrows. He wanted to snap at Qui-Gon, but he kept in mind his pact and held his tongue. "To get to the alley, you need to go down a main street," he said. "One end exits to the main street and the other to a side street. The side street is too far away to get to unless you go through the building."

Qui-Gon contemplated what Obi-Wan had said with a furious eye. Obi-Wan recognized the problem: two leaders with hot heads were never a good predicament. But Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon would see the logic in his words and concede, and sure enough, Qui-Gon said quietly, "yes."

Nodding, Obi-Wan peeked behind the corner. They were staged across the street from the apartment behind a warehouse. It was dead dark because the streetlights had not lit up. It seemed deserted. Obi-Wan scouted around quickly, then looked behind and said, "I'm going to run across and break the window to get in. I'll-"

"Break the window?" Qui-Gon and Kikerio repeated at the same time.

Groaning, Obi-Wan blew out a breath. "My key is in my office at the palace," he explained.

"Then how-" Kikerio started.

"There's a window by my door," Obi-Wan said. "It'll be fine. I'll run over, bust open the window, jump in, and open the door. I'll flash my rod once to give the signal to come over. One of you at a time."

Checking the street once more, Obi-Wan ran/limped across the street and ducked into the doorway. He checked the street again and backed up against the window, keeping his eyes on the street and his hand on his blaster. He used his good arm and with his elbow lashed it back and broke the stained glass window.

He took out his blaster and used the muzzle to break off the any loose pieces. He took the top and swung himself through and onto the tiled floor. All the lights were off. He was about to open the door when a beep from his borrowed commlink startled him. He answered it with it very quietly, crouching down against the door.

"Get out of there," Qui-Gon said. "There are droids coming down the street and I know they're heading to your complex. There's a couple men following them and they look in charge. They just turned the block. They'll be there in less than a minute."

Obi-Wan sprang up and felt his way down the hall towards his room. "I can't go out the front; they'll see me. Don't be seen. Hide and if I don't meet up with in a few, run. It looks like we're going to have to do without these speeder bikes anyway. "

He got to his room and didn't even break the window. He spun around and kicked the door open with a grunt, his kidney stinging. He glanced back and was horrified to see the door kick open and two men come in. He ducked into his room and shut the door. He heard shouting and knew he had been seen. He went to his desk, grabbed the chair, and jammed it under the doorknob. He knew that wouldn't last, but he needed just a few seconds…

~*~*~*~

Kikerio let out a low high-pitched cry when the droids neared the door of the complex. Qui-Gon gritted his teeth. He had to hope Obi-Wan got out through the alley he had mentioned, although it wasn't looking good. The droids had just not given him enough time.

"We have to do something," Kikerio whispered, her eyes fearful. "He's a sitting duck in there. His room is the last one down the hall. We can make a distraction or something-"

"No," Qui-Gon said. "We're going to hide and watch what happens. If we're caught, the Queen will be without protection and she won't even know what's happened to us. And there is also a good chance of being killed if we do anything. They'll call reinforcements and we'll be overcome." He looked apprehensively down the street.

"Obi-Wan has a good chance of being killed!" Kikerio spat. She gave a strangled cry as the two men at the back of the patrol went to the front and started to kick the door open.

No matter how hard he tried, Qui-Gon knew that Kikerio was right. He glanced at the complex again and he saw in his mind's eye Obi-Wan glancing around and then being shot down…

"I have a plan," he said grimly.

~*~*~*~

Obi-Wan quickly went to his desk and pulled out a second blaster and a detonator and a charge. He went quickly to the door and slammed the charge a few feet in front of the door. He pressed the button and then ran/limped to the sliding doors that led to his small porch area.

The door barked. Obi-Wan kicked and broke the glass sliding doors. He darted around the room and grabbed a few things, then raced back to the broken sliding doors. He glanced up as the lights suddenly went on and he realized they had found the power grid.

A blaster bolt ate through the door and a second later the chair went clattering across the room. Obi-Wan made sure the charge was in a reasonable place and leapt through the sliding doors just as blaster bolts sailed in through the open door. He saw the two men.

Grimacing, Obi-Wan pressed the button on the detonator and a second later a huge blast echoed through the room. He leapt over the rail and rolled into the alley wall. He watched smoke billow through the room and realized everything he had owned was now destroyed. He watched the flames lick over the rail with a detached rage.

Shaking his head and clearing his mind, Obi-Wan jumped up and went to the rail. He tried to peer into the flames but it was apparent to him: the bikes were now destroyed. The bikes that he had worked so hard to keep in good condition and keep so nice were now charred or destroyed. He hated making sacrifices as great as these did in his line of work, but he supposed losing his life could have been worst.

Obi-Wan knew in a second they would be down the alley and he would be killed. He glanced up and measured the distance. He reached into his belt and found his cable launcher. He launched the cable and checked the hold. It was good. He attached the end to his belt and launched himself up, his kidney hurting.

Halfway up, however, he felt something jerk his cable and a second later he saw a dark flash and he was falling.

~*~*~*~

Qui-Gon heard the explosion before he saw anything. Kikerio gave a yelp and he grabbed her. He hurled her behind her and they ducked into a doorway. "We have to wait," he said, his heart pounding. He knew that it had come from Obi-Wan's apartment without even thinking about it. What he didn't know was why and if Obi-Wan had been caught in the blast or if he had set it.

After a couple of minutes of Kikerio's intense worry, Qui-Gon let her out of the doorway. They ran lightly towards the alley. Qui-Gon reached out into the Force and to his surprised relief, he found that Obi-Wan was alive, but he was hurt. Snapping, Qui-Gon clamped shut his worry.

They stopped at the entrance to the alley again. They strapped on their night-vision goggles and peered down the alley.

Kikerio cried out, but Qui-Gon was too baffled to feel anything.

Through their goggles, they saw Obi-Wan sprawled out on the ground on his back, his cable launcher rolled up and off his belt at his side. Qui-Gon could tell he was unconscious and he had somehow injured himself, although Qui-Gon couldn't see how. Qui-Gon felt through the Force to find out Obi-Wan's injuries, but he was too distracted by Obi-Wan's apartment.

There was black smoke coming from Obi-Wan apartment. There was no movement from anywhere, so Kikerio ran down the alley and Qui-Gon had no choice but to follow, covering her flank. He got ahead of her, just in case. She didn't seem to mind, however, as all her attention was on Obi-Wan rumpled body and the cable.

Movement! Qui-Gon spied it from the other exit of the alley. They were ten meters from Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon stopped, spun, grabbed Kikerio, and hustled her against the wall. He felt ahead and to his relief found another doorway. He slammed into the doorway and dragged Kikerio with him, keeping his hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out. She struggled, then realized what was happening and stilled.

They heard shouts and yells and some blaster fire that sailed past the doorway. Willing to take the risk they didn't have night-vision goggles, Qui-Gon released Kikerio and peered out from behind the corner.

Someone was kicking Obi-Wan savagely in the sides. Qui-Gon could hear someone else laughing. He zoomed in and saw Obi-Wan jerking with each kick. He heard Obi-Wan's soft whimpers. Someone suddenly yelled and the kicking stopped. He watched a man come up and talk to some others. They heaved Obi-Wan up and threw him against the wall.

Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan sagged and began to fall. Someone grabbed his shoulders and held him against the wall forcefully. They began to search Obi-Wan, taking off his belt and patting his body. A man took the utility belt and began to paw through it, stuffing into his pockets mostly everything except some food capsules and rope.

A hush suddenly fell and a large woman spun Obi-Wan around to face her. She used a glow rod to shine in his face and in the new light Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan bruised face and his bleeding lips and cheeks. He could see the labored way in which his former apprentice was breathing and that startled him.

"Are you General Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Naboo Security Force?" asked the woman.

The dazed Obi-Wan shook his head. "No," he said. "My name's Sigir Ogliner."

The woman slammed a fist into Obi-Wan's face and the man's head cranked back into the wall with a painful crack. "How old are you?" she asked.

"Twenty-eight," he gasped, his nose starting to bleed.

A man pushed forward and handed something to the woman. Another fist pounded Obi-Wan's face. The woman held something up. "This says you are Obi-Wan Kenobi," she said savagely. "You live here, and you just cost two soldiers their lives! I have an order to arrest you, General. My boss won't be pleased about this."

"By who?" Obi-Wan spat. Qui-Gon felt sick. Obi-Wan had blood trailing down his nose and his face. Qui-Gon could see the effort it was taking Obi-Wan not to cough and spatter the woman with his blood. He wondered if the blood might come from Obi-Wan's throat as well if he coughed. He had no idea of his former Padawan's internal injuries.

He was treated to another fist. "No questions, scum," snarled the woman. She nodded forward a man who came carrying something. The woman looked absolutely delighted as she stepped back and to the side, allowing the man full access to Obi-Wan vulnerable body. "Have a great sleep," she laughed, keeping one hand on Obi-Wan's injured shoulder to make sure he didn't fall.

The man held the thing to Obi-Wan's head and Kikerio gasped. The man smiled at Obi-Wan, then quickly brought the blaster like thing down to his stomach. Obi-Wan could only look at him drunkenly with almost glazed eyes. A second later there was a crack and a blue flash erupted from the object. The young man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

They watched as Obi-Wan was turned on his stomach and cuffed at the wrists and the ankles. Someone strapped a belt around Obi-Wan's middle and two men heaved him to their land speeder. They dumped Obi-Wan roughly in the back seat. Someone clipped the belt to a hook in the back. The woman and another man sat in the front seat and they watched as the speeder began to zoom away.

Qui-Gon grabbed Kikerio's arm. "We need to follow them," he whispered.

~*~*~*~

He was on something cold and hard. He groaned and his throat felt hard and groggy. His tongue was parched. Gingerly, he opened his eyes and found himself in a cell with a single light outside down the hall. His head was aching and in the dim light he saw an armed man sitting outside his cell, his back to him.

Obi-Wan incoherently muttered. He cleared his mind and slowly raised his head. The cell was clean with a cot in the corner opposite Obi-Wan. He glanced around and saw four twisted screws and some skid marks. The heavy steel bars were black and rusted. He guessed the room was maybe five meters in length and maybe three in width. The floor on which he lay was pebbled and cold. The walls were smooth and black.

He could have laughed if he had felt better. He had been here many times. This place was three levels below ground level. This place was under the palace. He was in the Naboo dungeon. Judging by the pebbled floor, he was in the third level of the dungeon. It amused him slightly. The third level was where most serious prisoners were held.

Silently, Obi-Wan rolled over on his back. He could feel dried blood all over his face. His lips were torn open and his cheeks were ripped. He touched his nose and was grateful to find it wasn't broken. His back felt strained and his legs hurt badly. He sat up slowly and rested against the cell wall. His abdomen ached.

He took his tunic in his hands and wiped away some of the blood from his face. He glanced down and wasn't surprised to see his utility belt and lightsaber gone. He looked across the room at the twisted screws in yearning. They had ripped out the sink. He tried to frown, but it just hurt his lips.

He did a scan of his body. Some bruised ribs and a concussion, a torn calf, another twisted ankle, and numerous lacerations and cuts were on his list. It hurt to breathe so he wasn't surprised his breath came in short and ragged pants. So I'm basically a mess, he thought grimly.

Okay, okay. He had been captured by the beings invading Naboo. He thought it was Nakor. Nakor was a human moon. Okay, okay, so far so good. Whoever was invading had found out he was Naboo's top security official. Even that wasn't too surprising. Everyone in Theed knew who he was and his name wouldn't be hard to find on official documents.

And then everything went bad.

Obi-Wan had never given his address to anyone. Only Kikerio and that girl Thea knew where he lived. Not even the Queen knew. He had done it for privacy. He used the name Sigir Ogliner when he paid his rent.

The more Obi-Wan thought about it, the more he found it hard to believe. How had they found out his apartment complex and how had they known he had broken into the apartment in the first place? Actually, the more he thought about the second question he realized they had rigged up a silent alarm and maybe a hidden camera.

What made him mad was that they had signaled him out. They knew was Naboo's main security official and they probably assumed he would lead them to the Queen. Whoever they were, they had done their homework.

At least he had escaped with his life. He was lucky to have that charge and detonator. But with a frown he recalled something…

Someone had unhooked his cable. If he had made it up to the roof he would have been able to escape. The fall had given him a concussion and had bruised his ribs along with his strained back. It had happened to quickly for Obi-Wan to think. With a glower, Obi-Wan cursed the building for being ten flights high.

Had it been an invader? Obi-Wan highly doubted that. That meant they would have had to get on the roof the moment they entered the building and even then, Qui-Gon would have seen them…

Qui-Gon! Kikerio! Had they run like he had said? With a grimace, he knew they hadn't. Kikerio wouldn't have left there under normal circumstances and he knew Qui-Gon's sense of duty was too high for anything like leaving someone to be killed, even if it was someone he hated.

His legs shaking, Obi-Wan stood up. He lifted his tunic and was angered to see burns marks on his bandages. That blasted man had stunned him! If Ramilion had not bandaged him so tightly, he would have been missing some skin. And now because that man had stunned him, his legs felt wobbly and his arms were heavy to move. He swore silently and staggered towards the bars, collapsing against them and holding them for support.

"So you wake," the guard said with a smirk. He stood and looked at Obi-Wan and laughed.

"Who are you?" Obi-Wan croaked. "Why am I here?"

"Let's just say you're important," the man said cheerfully.

"How long have I been here?" Obi-Wan asked, leaning against the bars.

"For about five hours," said the man.

Obi-Wan held in his groan. "What do you want?" he asked in a whisper. "Who are you? Why am I so important?"

"Can't say, can't say, you're General Obi-Wan Kenobi, the former Jedi who left the Order two days after he had been Knighted and two weeks later killed his best friend in cold blood and then disappeared without a trace."

And then Obi-Wan did collapse.

~*~*~*~

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