Futures Past
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Chapter 22- Bounty
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A.N: Hey all, thanks for coming to read this thrilling *snort* instalment of Futures Past, lets go to the reviews!
VTEEN: I agree with you completely, and Palpy will someday get his comeuppance, we'll just have to be patient, thanks for the review, glad you like it!
REALBlueLightsabre: I know, I know, that Obi Wan, always getting into trouble, its appalling isn't it? I wouldn't worry about 'talking' to Obi Wan, I do it all the darn time, we must be geniuses, who else talks to Obi everyone? Of course Yoda knows everything, he's infullable… infallible! PLUG ALERT (Go read my new Yoda comedy 'Agony Yoda' to find out more about this) well, enough plugging, thanks for the review, it made me smile! :D
RLB21: I'm glad you have your bitterness to get you through the day. An Obidala is an opinion, NOT FACT, we never presume to call it fact, about two characters, it is our imagination and creative spark, that makes us want to portray these characters in this way, we do not go around criticising Ani/Ami fics by their complete lack of originality, or how they all say how perfect and destined Ani and Padmé's love is, because we respect other peoples artistic ideas, and I have read many great Anakin/Padmé stories which I very much enjoyed, I am an avid Star Wars fan and can appreciate everyone's opinions and can accept that people don't share my opinion and those who are not Obidala fans should afford us the same courtesy, let us write what we want to write hassle free, and we do the same to you, if you don't like the premise, why do you seek out stories to slate? Last I heard we were allowed freedom of speech and opinion on this site and in this world, so do us a favour, if you don't like it, why go to the hassle of finding and bashing it, we all have better things to do with our lives, and I would much rather write about my delusions than listen to you whining how out of character they are. Oh and if you think that what GL wrote in Episode 2 constitutes falling in love, then you've obviously never been in true love- or a relationship where anyone can talk romantically- because if talking about how kisses turn into scars and how sand is coarse and gets everywhere constitutes love in this world, then I am certainly not the deluded one. Just because the two of them had to screw to bring about Luke and Leia, doesn't mean George can write love scenes to save his life in Episode 2. As the great Harrison Ford once said, "You can write this shit George, but you sure can't say it." Let us get on with our writing what we want to write without hassle, and you can do the same. (Sorry if I offended anyone in this, I was just at the end of my tether about the closed minded flames, I didn't mean it, I'm still lovely, just call it hormones ^^)
Kathryn Riddle: Sorry you had to follow that long annoying rant in response to a flame, I was just in an anger letting mood right then *angel face* Anyway, Thanks so much for those flattering remarks (You really know how to massage my ego dontcha :D) it makes my day when people like my story, (they like it, they actually like it?! *tears of joy*) ahem, I love writing Obi Wan, he has so much depth that's still to be explored and I love exploring it (who wouldn't love exploring Obi Wan/Ewan peeps?) So thanks for that lovely review. Oh and the names of the stories I recommend, the authors I particularly love when it comes to Obidalas are anything by Eowyn or Brown-Eyes, I especially recommend Brown Eyes' finished Sweet Sorrows for lotsa Obidala angst, as well as her reeeally angsty Tales of the Brokenhearted, and Eowyn's finished Children of Destiny and the sequel (work in progress) Ashes of the Phoenix, all four are amazingly good Obidalas (Much better than mine *cry*) so if you want a good read, go for those. Thanks for the support!
LauraCeleste: Thank you for being open minded and considering the Obidala relationship, after all it is just fanfic, not really harming anyone. I'm glad you're looking forward to the next chap, I just hope I don't disappoint any of you, thanks for the review.
Aiska Kenobi: You're darn right he won't be able to get rid of him that easy, have you noticed how resilient Obi is in this fic? He just won't stay down! Thanks for the review!
Obi-WansPadawan: Thanks for the comments, tell me when you've finished writing yours and I would love to see how it turns out, sorry about the long rant ^ I am usually good at ignoring flamers (god knows I have to be!) but sometimes, I just gotta rant, it's a sounding board I guess, but ignore my rants, they are usually pointless and a product of sleep deprivation, don't we all have days like that. I can't stand closed minded people, its like my number 1 hate, but never mind, good luck with your fic, let me know how its going! Thanks.
KenobisChick: *Basks in the glow of compliments* ah, makes such a change from flames, may the sun shine on you and yours my dear, all of you reviewers (well not ALL obviously, but you nice ones) your lurvely, I am so thrilled when people like my ickle story, it makes my writing worthwhile, and believe me there are so many better than me out there, so this is even nicer, I love writing Obi Wan, as I've said, I add more humour to his wit than George Lucas explores in the movies, I always consider him to have a very dry wit, I just wish I was better at writing it lol. Thanks for the thanx, I appreciate it, hope you like this chap.
History: Thanks for the review, unfortunately there isn't much Obidalaness in this chap, there are little hints of course (no don't leave now! Read the chap its…adequate I promise!) of course as the path of true love never did run smooth, there will of course be more angst in the story (isn't that half the fun!) and I'm quite enjoying writing Anakin's fall to the dark side (I'm writing a few chaps ahead you see, don't think you're just having memory lapses!) you'll see around chap 24, in fact I think the chap is basically about that, with little side plots of course! I hope you like it all!
Lia: I am glad you refound this too. More compliments *sigh of contentment* thank you much, I'm glad you like it so much, capturing even a fifth of their romance is what I strive for, I'm glad I fulfilled your needs for last chap, I'll make sure to have more Obidalaness in later chaps just to make it all up to you guys, thanks for the support, I love you all!
Thanks also to Liquidiamond and Mydogisfudge for their great reviews, thanks! On to the chapter!
*
Obi Wan spun his lightsabre around in a wide arc, the sound of its low hum filling his ears. He closed his eyes dancing an intricate dance to which only he knew the steps and felt with the Force anticipating blows before they came. He twirled it in his hand then turned and drove it backward and heard the satisfying fizzle and spark of electricity he was waiting for. Opening his eyes again he turned to face the heap of metal that was a training droid and deactivated his lightsabre with a whoosh.
He saw two young Padawans watching him in awe and smiled reassuringly at them before stepping over the carcass of the droid and leaving the lightsabre training area.
I want to do something for Padmé and I certainly don't want to leave her now Palpatine knows I know. Did I make a huge mistake going to him? Did I put Padmé in more danger? By the Force how stupid was I? I did not take this through to conclusion, I feel I have made a grave error, but for I must meet with Senator Organa about this damned war. What fun!
Obi Wan sighed tiredly and made his way into the Temple's transport area, hopping into one of the air taxis waiting in the bays. The Temple had a few of these taxis at their disposal for getting around places on Coruscant that the public transports could not.
The open air vehicle pulled out of the Temple and whizzed through the streets at a dizzying speed.
"Could we by any chance go any slower?" Obi Wan felt his stomach lurch with another bend.
"Sorry Master Kenobi, we are being followed, I'm tryna shake 'em." The driver, a small Sullustan turned to him and reassured him.
"Oh." Obi Wan said in mild surprise, "And how long would you say they've been following us?"
"Since we left the Temple Master Kenobi."
"Curious. Take this bend here and down by that fuel duct."
"If you say so Master." The Sullustan dropped the taxi into a steep dive and Obi Wan gripped the seat and was glad for the tractor field around him that held him in. He watched their stalker do the same dive and follow them persistently down the obscure and narrow sky lane. That confirmed his suspicions, no person would take this route to reach a destination, so it was definitely following them. But why? Suddenly he felt a disturbance in the Force.
"Take a hard right!" He cried and the driver did so as a volley of blasts ricocheted off the force field they had dodged behind.
"Whoa! You offend somebody lately?" The driver asked him weaving in and out to avoid any more shots.
"You might say that, but I'd say those shots are a bit too accurate, if my suspicions are correct that's a bounty hunter on our tail."
"A BOUNTY HUNTER?!" the Sullustan squealed. "Look Master Kenobi, I like you Jedi and all, but I don't wanna be involved with no bounty hunters. And I especially don't wanna get into a shooting contest with a bounty hunter!" He ended on a note of desperation and Obi Wan looked sympathetically at the being.
"I completely understand, not many people would ever want to fly against a bounty hunter, except maybe Anakin, but at the moment Im afraid you don't really have much choice. Do you by any chance have a blaster in here?"
He was handed a small blaster and Obi Wan turned and fired it at the pursuer's fuel tank and engines. The fuel spurted out and the bounty hunter's ship spiralled out of control and down into the bustling city walkways below.
"Follow it!" Obi Wan commanded and as soon as they were near enough to the walkway, Obi Wan leapt from the side of the transport and landed in a crouching position on the ground as the pursuers ship exploded fifty metres above in the air. Obi Wan felt a shift in the Force and dodged round a corner as another blast exploded into the wall behind where he had been.
He heard screams and commotion as the public bustling through the walkways realised a shot had been fired from within their group, some scattered, others stood screaming, others carried on as normal, just another indication of the diversity on Coruscant. Obi Wan scanned the crowd, seeing a fleeting shadow disappearing into the rabble.
He was rather unnerved at this point but centred on the Force and reached out, trying to identify this threat. He felt a disturbance and propelled himself backward, crashing through a window into a darkened room.
The room was deserted and dust gathered over the floor. Obi Wan ignited his lightsabre, feeling for his attacker. He made his way into a darkened hallway.
This must be one of the abandoned buildings that all the drifters use on occasion, I expect this is the one that was declared unsafe but is too big to be destroyed. How comforting, I need to get in touch with the Temple somehow…
He held his lightsabre up which spread some light through the suffocating blackness. The dust swirled around him and the corridor was narrow with debris so dust-covered it became a part of the floor. He sensed the danger and raised his lightsabre as the bounty hunter aimed a blaster at him, he deflected two shots and aimed them deftly back, one hitting the bounty hunter in the leg. It screamed and fled, limping down a dusty corridor. Obi Wan sighed,
"Why do you people always have to make life so difficult!?" He followed in annoyed exasperation and was leapt on by a hidden creature that had been lurking on the ceiling. He lost his composure for a moment and clawed at it with a spare hand while trying to deflect more blaster shots from his mysterious attacker.
The creature finally detached from the Jedi Knight's back and fluttered round above him unnervingly for a few seconds, which was rather distracting. The bounty hunter was particularly adept at disappearing tricks and surprise attacks and was now somehow behind Obi Wan and knew exactly where to strike, his back was still injured from the encounter with Dooku, and his chest still damaged from Rishi, the attacker knew that and went straight for his weak areas.
Another two of the creatures dove down and attacked him, a barrage of hits, bites and a storm of fluttering wings rendered him helpless and the bounty hunter took advantage of this. Obi Wan felt a sharp sting in his side and collapsed to the ground, his consciousness leaving him.
*
"Sabé, will you please stop fussing? I'm fine!" Padmé insisted as Sabé bustled her back to her chambers.
"Senator, never in all my days have I been so worried! Those insufferable Jedi wouldn't let me in, anything could've happened to you, why didn't you contact us, you've had me Dormé and Versé running ragged all week trying to get to you! Anyone would think you were avoiding us!"
"Now why would I want to do a thing like that?" Padmé rolled her eyes, she always got a similar lecture from Sabé any time she cut loose for a few days, she knew that her handmaidens meant well and she loved them dearly, but Sabé liked to control her, she thought it was for Padmé's own good.
"Well at least you're back now, and I can keep you in check young lady. Been spending too much time sipping from the cup of Anakin?" Padmé shot her a horrified look and Sabé smiled devilishly.
"I know what you can be like." Sabé reasoned. "So what was it like, spending time in a temple full of sexually frustrated, cute Jedi men?" She grinned.
"Sabé! Anyway there are women there too!"
"Yeah but there are more men, and more hot Jedi Knights, I wouldn't expect you to be after the Padawans…anymore."
Padmé shook her head in disbelief. "Oh how I've missed your humour."
"Who said I was joking?"
"OUT!" Padmé tutted. "I need to prepare for today's meeting in the senate."
"Need help?"
"No I can dress myself thank you Sabé, I don't want to hear anymore of your juvenile perversions about the male species thank you, I've only just eaten."
"Spoilsport. I hear you've seen Master Kenobi naked?!"
"Goodbye Sabé." Padmé slid the door shut and smiled, she did miss Sabé, when she wasn't mad at her.
Then she felt something inside her, her stomach lurched and her head spun, she crumpled to her knees clutching at her bed sheets for meagre support.
"S…Sabé…" She wheezed, closing her eyes and curling into a foetal position on the floor. She saw flashing images, like a bad holo-film.
Obi Wan struggled in the darkness against winged attackers, then a blue blast illuminated the dusty corridor and he fell, darkness engulfing the scene.
Padmé gasped as the vision ended and Sabé came running in.
"What happened, by the Force Padmé are you alright?"
"Obi…Obi Wan, hurt. My head, it's all so blurry… Sabé?"
"Here let me help you up, I'll get you a drink, take deep breaths. R2 contact the Jedi Temple immediately and get Dormé up here."
The little droid hurried out into the main room as Sabé poured the senator a drink.
"Thank you Sabé."
"No problem milady, now lets make sure the Jedi know what you saw, what happened?"
"I was just getting ready and then I started feeling queasy and then fell and saw whatever that just was."
"Lets see what the Jedi have to say about it okay?" Sabé said while R2 came back and projected a hologram of Mace Windu in front of them.
"Senator Amidala? What seems to be the trouble, are you alright?"
"I had…a vision I suppose, it was of Obi Wan."
"Describe what happened before you had it and what it involved." Mace asked gently.
"Well I was just getting ready and then I suddenly felt quite sick and dizzy and then before I knew it I was on the ground, I saw Obi Wan, he was in a dusty old corridor and some creature with wings were attacking him, then he was shot by a laser blast and that's all I saw. The place from what I recall resembles the old abandoned Holocom tower that was declared unsafe, it seemed the same structure, if it isn't then it is one of those abandoned skyscrapers."
"Thank you senator, we will send someone to check it right away, it is probably nothing but we will check into it for you. Don't worry Obi Wan will be fine."
"I hope so Master Windu, thank you."
*
Hiya again all, crappy icky awful chapter that's a bit fragmented, it may seem like im jumping around a bit this will all lead into something, it's just getting there that's the problem, ideas? Comments? Anything just review and tell me if you like it!
Thanks
xXx
