Thank you, Athena. And yes, indeed, poor Obi-Wan. Guess you're going to say that a lot during this fic *makes an evil face*
Thanks, Farore. Who wouldn't want to hug Obi? :D I think you will read my suggestion on how Dooku turned – sooner or later.
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"Are you sure it is right to help this Sith or whoever he is? He uses us plainly." Gray splinted eyes followed Dooku as he moved around the spacious living room.
"Of course he uses us! But this way we are closer to finding out his identity, Brimar. See if I can play a double game against him. Besides, it is best to be as close to your enemy as possible." Dooku sat down into a large throne-like armchair that made him suddenly look royal and stared at his mate significantly.
"I believe the saying was different," Brimar quipped frowning, which brought his already bushy brows into a thick line. Not that he was so concerned with the phrasing – he could care less, in fact – but this whole situation was not to his liking and he didn't hesitate to point that out with both words and not-so-subtle hints.
"You're taking it all too close to heart. Relax. I wasn't the last person in the Order and I haven't lost my powers leaving it. If Kenobi was able to beat his apprentice I definitely can beat the Master." At this moment Dooku looked very much like his bust in the Jedi Temple Archives – a noble stature, a sure penetrating gaze. But the moment passed, Dooku glanced at his chrono. "It's almost time to call Fett. Wonder why did the Sith choose him – he's a parasite like all the bounty hunters. And the Sith is apparently going to make a bunch of cloned bounty hunters." Dooku's lips quivered in disgust. "Why increase their number? By the way, have you found any information on this Kamino system?"
"Not much. The planet is situated pretty far from Coruscant or any trade roots. It is rumored to have one of the best cloners' facilities. That's about it. Have you found anything?"
"I asked one of my former colleagues to look in the Archives, but there is no mention of it there."
"And here I thought the Jedi Archives were the fullest information database existing." Brimar's voice wasn't quite scornful, but Dooku frowned at the contemptuous notes underlying it.
"It is," he countered almost protectively. "Someone must have erased the information about this system. I wonder who could have done it and why?"
"Let the Jedi find it out on their own," Brimar suggested.
Dooku snorted, "Those fools won't probably notice the absence at all. But enough of this, I need to call Fett now. Hmm, I need a name to tell him…" the Count stared at the wall as though expecting a name to pop up there.
"Why don't you call yourself say… Tyrannus?" The twinkling in Brimar's eyes made the older man almost smile.
"What? Are you implying I'm a tyrant?" Dooku made a mockingly savage face.
"No, sir!" Brimar barked, and they both laughed. "No, really," the younger man continued when the laughter ceased. "A very nice name. Why not?"
"Indeed, why not?"
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Twist.
Run.
Duck.
Fire.
Stop. Perk up. Listen.
Run again.
Beep.
"What now?" Freezing the holo-picture in the room with a specially programmed gesture, Jango turned to the door just in time to see a shining silver protocol droid hobble in.
"I am sorry, Jango, but there is a call for you." The droid paused as though switching the programs, then said in a gruffer voice, "Nasty guy. Serious business, it seems."
The man smiled slightly at this. He had programmed this into the droid himself to add at least a bit of humanity to the protocol droid – even he, the unbending bounty hunter sometimes needed a little warmth, an illusion of it if nothing more.
Sighing, Jango walked to the door and took a towel from the wall. Wiping his forehead he hung the towel around his neck, not bothering to somehow cover his bare torso that was glistening with sweat from the exercises. At the door he paused to turn off the holo-projection, basking the room in darkness.
The 'nasty guy' was waiting for him; the holographic projection, reduced to a little over than half a meter, didn't spoil the powerful visage of the stranger. Jango's hands itched – the sure sign of a worthy opponent should they get into a fight. The man was dressed in a long black cloak that obscured everything, but his hood was down, revealing the noble face with keen dark eyes that seemed to look around with a lazy curiosity – but Jango would not be tricked with feigned indolence.
The bounty hunter stepped into the range of the holo-projector, and for a moment the two men stood silently as though measuring each other.
~Serious guy, apparently, with a serious business. Authoritative. Confident. Knows what power is. A politician? No, something else here.~ "I am Jango Fett," the bounty hunter finally said, satisfied with his observations.
"I am Tyrannus," the man replied in a deep cultured voice of a capital inhabitant.
~What kind of a name is that?~ Jango mentally snorted. ~Oh, well, you're using an alias. I'll play that game, Coruscantian.~
"I want to offer you a job." He stared at Jango pointedly, and the bounty hunter was hard pressed not to squirm under his stare – but he didn't.
"Killin' someone, eh?" he asked with a faked nonchalance.
"No." ~Hm, surprise here.~ "You are to be a host for cloning."
~What?!~ Jango shifted uncomfortably, though his face showed no emotions. He imagined a dozen of clones – his clones – around him, and a cold stab of fear shot through his stomach. But money… It would be just the right time to get some money. Speaking of which…
"What do I get for this?"
"Much money."
"How much?" ~What kind of game is he playing?~
Jango didn't miss the slight shift in Tyrannus' posture and wondered if the man was nervous. If he was his face showed no sign of it – a stone mask. ~Who might he be? A Jedi? No, no, no, what would a Jedi want with me? No, he's not. Or…?~
"You will discuss the exact terms with the cloners."
~Nice!~ Jango tried hard not to let his sarcasm show on his face. "So, they will give me as much money as we shall agree on?"
"Money or whatever you might want… within reasonable limits and within their power, of course."
~Now this is interesting.~ Some vague thought whizzed in his head, and though he couldn't catch it just yet he suddenly had a strong feeling he needed to accept the offer. Slightly suspicious about this feeling, he voiced his acceptance.
"Very well. Go to a planet called Kamino." The hologram cracked in the air before disappearing.
Jango scratched the back of his head in confusion. He had had weird orders before, but this one was something special… Anyway what was this thought he had? He looked around, pretending to not seeking the thought, waiting for it to come on its own. And it did come.
~Cloners – they make clones – they will do clones of me,~ he shuddered but quickly pulled himself together. ~I can demand what I want – within reasonable limits,~ he smiled slightly, and if someone was there they would have been fairly surprised to see this smile – partly sly and partly gentle it was incredibly out of place on his battle-hardened face. ~I think one more clone is within 'reasonable limits'.~ He looked around the empty room, and a feverish desire to have someone near, someone precious made his fists clench. He was a bounty hunter – marrying wasn't for him. But now… Having someone who would be able to keep up with him, who would be just like him. It was incredibly simple and too good to be real.
He only needed to let them use him.
"What am I getting myself into?" he wondered, and the ringing silence was his only reply.
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A few days had passed since Obi-Wan and Anakin's arrival. The funeral – a beautiful though immensely sad ceremony – was now in the past, and the ashes of Tanarine Nobbs were buried in the ground so that, according to local legend, they could sprout as a wonderful flower later. By this time Obi-Wan managed to subdue his grief, to hide it under layers over layers of shielding and was once again, from Anakin's perspective, the stone Master of his.
Today was the good-bye ceremony where members of family and all the neighbours ate, drank, and drank a bit more in memory of beloved wife, mother and friend.
Of course, Anakin wasn't allowed to drink alcohol – he, as well as other children, could choose from a wide variety of juices and beverages, set out on numerous tables with food throughout the garden. But the Padawan had to drink one goblet of special ceremonial wine that made his head spin pleasantly and feel 'funny' as he had told Obi-Wan.
The guests were wandering the garden freely, mostly talking among themselves discussing local news, vegetables and cereals prices and whatever else the Philistines could find to discuss. Children had arranged some kind of a game and even managed to involve Anakin, who wasn't all that friendly at first, into it. Soon, however, he was one of the leaders, giving commands and actually attempting to use the Force from time to time. Smiling slightly at his Padawan's newfound joviality, Obi-Wan continued to study his surroundings lazily.
Soon enough he spotted a woman who was standing timidly aside. She looked a bit confused or, maybe, embarrassed. Her appearance was rather plain - a common farmer's wife in her forties. What made him curious were the wary yet somewhat inviting glances she threw his way every now and then. She didn't seem to be flirting though.
"Who is that woman over there?" Obi-Wan asked his brother. Owen stopped eating and looked in the direction Obi-Wan nodded at.
"Ah, that's Sagie," Owen waved dismissively. "She's Kaden's new wife. You do remember that Kaden is our neighbour, don't you? Please, don't disgrace us. He's an important figure here." Throwing one more look in Sagie's direction, Owen looked at Obi-Wan with a grin that looked almost out of place on his rough and tanned face. "Looks like she's as new here as you are. Why don't you make her a company?"
"Perhaps I will," Obi-Wan said, picking up a glass from the nearest table and making his way towards Sagie. He ignored Owen's deliberately loud snort.
"Would you like a drink?" he asked the woman, who suddenly blushed as though caught eavesdropping.
"Yes, thank you." She obviously tried to sound aristocratic, but all her efforts failed under the weight of her common upbringing. Even if he were not a Jedi Obi-Wan could have seen that she was as open and plain as a bench. And judging from what he knew and had seen of such people on his missions the kind of behaviour she demonstrated right now was highly uncommon for her. What made her stand rigidly, rolling the edge of her collar between her fingers nervously? Was she attempting to flirt or…?
"Are you Obi-Wan Kenobi?" she asked uncertainly when the silence stretched. Obi-Wan got an impression she was ready to bolt any moment.
"Yes, I am. How can I help you?" he replied in his best soothing voice. The voice that, unbeknownst to him, made women's hearts tremble like a leaf on the wind.
"I am Sagie Kaden. I have something for you. It's umm... Come with me, please..." She started to walk, checking if Obi-Wan was following her. Intrigued, Obi-Wan followed.
A few minutes later they arrived to the Kadens' residence. The large garden was now silent, safe for a dog's barking somewhere nearby. Obi-Wan and Sagie moved quietly through the garden, the hushed rustle of gravel marking their every step. Silence became inauspicious.
Suddenly with a short menacing roar a heavy black bulk sprang at them from the bushes. A dog! Only Obi-Wan's Jedi reflexes saved him from being buried under the huge animal as he twisted out of the harm's way. Sagie gave out a startled cry.
The dog landed gracefully onto its feet and turned quickly to regard the two people who had refused to fall its prey. Big yellow clever eyes were burning with almost humane anger. Prime animal strength was radiating off the lean muscled figure of the dog, its short black hair shining in the sun rays.
"It's Aadno," Sagie said quietly to Obi-Wan. "He hates everyone. Only his owner - my husband - can come close to him without a risk of being torn into scraps." Obi-Wan heard a good deal of fear in her trembling voice.
As usual in such situations, Obi-Wan wished Qui-Gon were there. His former master could have easily calmed the dog down. With the connection the great Qui-Gon Jinn had to the Living Force he would have had no trouble linking to the dog - as he had never had with any other creation of nature. He had tried to teach his apprentice, but could something like that be taught? Wasn't it a gift that came from birth? Obi-Wan knew he had been a disappointment for his master in this particular area. He could almost hear Qui-Gon's deep voice telling him to concentrate, to feel the Force around him… But he knew it was only his memory, Qui-Gon would never come to guide him. Never again.
Shaking himself forcefully out of his painful thoughts, Obi-Wan summoned the Force. Focusing on the dog's yellow eyes, he sent calming waves of Force into the dog's mind. He felt the world around him change, become brighter with the colours the Living Force produced; cool breath of soothing wind against his cheek, the tender warmth of sun – all his senses became sharper, more clear. At such moments he understood how Qui-Gon had always seen the world and felt pity for himself for he was unable to see it this way. Sometimes his deep connection to the Unifying Force, shutting the Living Force out, seemed more like a curse to him.
The dog blinked, looking into the deep eyes of the human. No threat. Calm. Friends. Muscles relaxing. Aadno sat, then laid down onto the low grass still looking into the overpowering blue-green eyes. Something inexplicably sad flowed in the air, and Aadno gave out a high-pitched whine as though sensing the human's woe.
Sagie stared at both the dog and her companion in awe, apparently not knowing who to fear more – the animal she thought to be the most wild thing she ever met or the man who managed to submit this animal with sheer power of his gaze.
Obi-Wan looked up as though waking from a deep slumber. The dog was looking at him with something close to reverence. Sagie took a small step back when Obi-Wan turned to her. Clearly she was even less comfortable around him now than before. What kept her from ordering him to go away?
Without a word they continued on their way to the house. In silence they reached the wide stone steps that let to the main entrance of the big building. Tall glass doors opened smoothly, letting the two people inside. The large hall that opened up before them was a mixture of different pieces of art, presenting a horrible lack of any order or taste.
Obi-Wan, having gotten one of the best educations in the Republic – the Jedi always gave best to their students – and being a person of high aesthetical taste, cringed at the sight. Catching his disapproving glance, Sagie shrugged as though to say: "It's not my fault he made all this mess here."
She quickly led her guest to one of the rooms that stretched through the building in a set. She shut the door behind her back, leaving Obi-Wan to wonder what all this was about. Glancing around nervously Sagie made a few steps across the room and stopped in front of a large wooden carved sideboard. Whispering something under her nose the woman started to rummage through it. Ob-Wan stood in the center of the room, watching her with a straight face. He suddenly had a gnawing feeling this was something important.
"Ah, here it is!" Sagie triumphally held up a piece of paper. "This is for you." She handed him what turned out to be a sealed letter. It was addressed to him.
A warm sensation arose in the tips of his fingers. He opened the letter carefully and unwrapped a list with handwritten message. The handwriting was small and round, almost copybook. It read:
My dear son,
I know I will not see you again, not in this life. I know I am dying, though Parel and the doctor try to hide it from me. I see it in their eyes. I wish I could see you once again, just once. To see how grown up you are.
There is also something I need to tell you. I have been keeping it in secret for many years, fearing. I have been fearing not for myself, though I don't know what could have happened to me if my secret has come out. I have been fearing for Parel and Owen. But most of all for you.
When you visited home for the last time you were too young to know the truth. Or maybe you weren't. Perhaps the Jedi could have protected you. But I was afraid that even they would not be able to save you.
But now you need to learn the truth. Gods help me! I don't know if it would become your strength or your weakness, if it will make you stronger or destroy you. I can only hope that the Force those Jedi Masters were talking about would protect you.
Please, my son, come to Nartala, my homeplanet. Go to the Temple of Nardiss, ask them to perform a ritual of Kanitola. Show them this letter. There I will be able to tell you the truth that had been lying as a stone on my heart for so many years.
With love,
your mother.
Slowly Obi-Wan raised his head to look at Sagie.
"Where did you get this from?" he asked in a suddenly hoarse voice.
"Tanarine gave it to me while I tended to her during her illness. She told me to give it only to you and not ever mention it to anyone else. Is it important?"
"I need to go," Obi-Wan told her, turning on his heels. "Thank you," he added around his shoulder and was gone in a blur.
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