############
Before they headed out to the hidden meeting place of the Aronites, Master Jinn excused himself to another room for privacy. He commed Master Yoda. Everything at the temple seemed normal and no, the wizen little green master had felt nothing staggering through the force to indicate any catastrophic happenings within the galaxy. Yoda himself blamed it on the extreme anxiety of his former apprentice over his abrupt dismissal of Obi-Wan to the temple, where Yoda would care for him.
"Worry you should not Master Jinn. Always focused and live in the now a Jedi must. You do the same for safe I want you to stay."
Those words were almost identical to the ones cantered to his son, Obi-Wan by Master Jinn, himself. That only reinforced his decision for sending Obi-Wan away. The little padawan had not been able to focus, had gotten himself in harms way, to the extinct of being injured, and in turn had caused Jinn to lose focus.
Qui-Gon knew he really couldn't blame Obi-Wan. It should have been within his Jedi tolerance and the guidance of the force to remain focused while in battle. The boy couldn't really be blamed for that. That fault lays entirely on my shoulders.
Master Jinn ended his conversation with his former master with a promise from Yoda that he would notify Qui-Gon just as soon as Obi-Wan reached the temple. He assured the big master he would care for Obi-Wan as he had cared for Qui-Gon when he was only a few years older than Obi. Qui-Gon had no doubt that Master Yoda would be more than kind. He would make Obi-Wan feel wanted and comfortable until he could get there and take the child.
############### Qui-Gon along with the king's guards surrounded the hide-out of the Aronites and stood sentry. He watched for the possible arrival of Senator Gerod, the head senator of the king's. If he should be caught entering the Aronite meeting place, Jinn's mission would be complete and he could return home and to his apprentice..
Qui-Gon could here soft groans of protest when he informed king's guards they would have to stay the night. They could not take the chance of missing the arrival of senator.. This was too important he told them. They all settled in for a long evening. Qui-Gon had his comm link and he notified the king of their plans. King Rozel mentioned no problems there and so the Jedi master assumed his son was still on his journey to safety.
###Back at the castle####
"Well Bella what should I do?"
"If it were my son missing I certainly would want to know immediately, but I can see you quandary of the situation. We aren't' quite sure Obi-Wan is actually missing are we?"
She looked to her husband for reassurance. Her heart ached of course for the little one, but as a parent she felt as much empathy for the father of Obi-Wan.
"Of course we don't know with certainty. I would have contacted Jinn earlier if I knew his son was out there some place missing. We have lost the ability to speak with them. That is all we know for sure. I knew I should have had that new comm radio put in instead of having that bumbling fool of a mechanic fix it. He assured me he had all the glitches out. I suppose he was wrong."
The king stopped talking with his wife for a moment as he thought through the situation with the ship, then continued.
"You see Love, the tracing indicator still relays the message that the ship is intact and safe. I think we will just have to wait for them to arrive at the temple. Then one of my guards will contact me and let me know it was just that stupid radio that caused the problem and nothing mechanical. Had they had a problem and had to land then they would have found a comm link and let me know. I am positive they are still on their journey to Coruscant. We will hear from them tomorrow by mid-day when they are due to arrive. If not, then will be the time to notify Master Jinn. He wants to finish this mission and get back with his son. Interrupting him needlessly would only increase his time hear. No, I am convinced we should say nothing about our concerns until or if we have a definite reason for concern. I suppose we as parents are as jumpy as Jinn would be about his son. Yes we will wait. The Master will be back here in the morning, hopefully."
"Might I remind you my king had you not been so obstinate and stubborn, Master Jinn would not have to have been separated from his son. You know Mason is more than capable of becoming the King. I just don't want our first son alienated because of your lack of trust in him. I also don't want a riff between the boys to form.'
The king ignored the last remarks about his own sons. He felt horrible about what he was doing and he hated to be reminded of it. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut and let Mason become the king. Even though Mason was not of his blood, the king knew in his heart he was as equal to the son with royal blood surging through his veins.
//He has been a good son, I only wish I could have been equally as good as his father.//
##########
Jinn sat leaned against a gritty cement wall, concealed by the darkness that surrounded him. He pulled his Jedi robe closer to keep the wind out that howled in the night like a wild beast. The rain stopped finally and that aided in less misery for him and the men who stood guard. Qui-Gon was offered food but declined. He felt the need to meditate.
Something in the force itself seemed to be off balance. It felt that way for the highly trained Jedi Master. Over the years he had acquired the ability by repetitive experience to read the what massages the force sent him. He was very in touch with the living force, but in this he could not get a grasp what its warning meant. He reached through the bond he and Obi-Wan had only to find it securely closed just as Obi-Wan said it would be.
That was an agreed to stipulation of Obi-Wan's, that Master Jinn now regretted having agreed too... He promised Obi he could wait to reopen their bond until he was certain of what he wanted. It would be so much easier to reach through the force and contact Obi-Wan, had there been a thriving working bond pulsating between he and his son. It would help if he could just feel the closeness of his son which he would be able to do had he not been shut out because the irrational insistence of Obi-Wan. He even tried to call, no, not call, literally scream through the bond with the added help of the force, but it was useless. The boy could not hear his master's desperate mental plea.
Still a nagging aura around the big master coupled with the thought of food kept him almost nauseous. He had never been so ill-at-ease before, ever.....
//I will certainly be glad when Obi reaches the safety of the temple with my old master. I think Obi-Wan will enjoy his time spent with my former master.//
Jinn looked for Master Yoda to help settle the boy's fears whatever they might be or how unfounded they were.
//My old master just has that knack with little ones. His visits to the crèche always leaves the crèche masters in a more pleasant mood because their charges always seem happier after a visit from Yoda.//
Qui-Gon never really slept any time during the night. He allowed himself a short period of trance-like meditative state that rejuvenated the master's strength and lessened his desire for sleep. He couldn't have slept for his apprehension anyway . He felt the meditative state would be more conducive to calming his frayed nerves right now. He still could not shake the worry for his son and it alarmed the master. He had never felt so out of control of a situation before. To begin with, he did not know what the "situation" was that he should be in control of. He could not figure out what the force was warning him about, if anything.
//I know Obi-Wan is alright. Had anything happened, the king would have notified me . There is a very intricate tracking device on that little speed ship of the king's that prevents it from making a maneuver without King Rozel's knowledge. It is even programmed to send an alarm to the castle if it suffers s any true mechanical problems. I am being silly. I must listen to my own advice I gave my son and focus on the hear and now. Obi is fine. I feel no disturbance from him although it might be impossible to feel anything because of the closed bond on his side. I am being stupid. Yoda will tell me just that when he calls tomorrow with news of Obi's arrival. Maybe I shouldn't even tell Master Yoda how irrational I have been. Obi-Wan would certainly be smugly pleased at the knowledge of the un-Jedi like paranoia I seemed to have developed…………………….//
####
I have to make one observation about my little band of readers. I have tried to give Jinn a heart the best way I can. Nevertheless I think I could have him sprout wings and grow a halo and still some of you would find fault with him. I feel sorry for the Jedi master!!!!
Master Jinn had just come out of another period of meditation, when he heard whispers through the otherwise silent night. The wind had calmed and no rain made the pinging sounds on the tin roof, so the silence of the night made the words quite easy to pick up.
"Are you sure Gerod that the two captured revealed nothing?"
"Yes I am sure. The king is angry about it. He ranted all day of their captured about the men's belligerent attitude toward him."
The unnamed man laughed. "Well I have called all the others here. They will be here in half an hour."
Jinn smiled when he heard what an excellent acting job the king had done at fooling Senator Gerod. Now all they had to do was wait. When the others arrived and were involved in their meeting, the guards led by Jedi Master Jinn would barge in the meeting room and arrest all those there for conspiracy and treason against the king; including their ring leader. As suspected it was Gerod and the king would have him with all the needed evidence to send him to prison for a long time. The same would go for the rest.
Qui-Gon had to stay focused. Already since the men arrived he felt more slight rippling through the force again.
It was five in the morning when all the Aronites finally got to the meeting. The door was closed, After about fifteen minutes and no others showed up, Qui-Gon felt it was time to make their move and make a run on the meeting room.
There was no battle in the taking of the Aronites and their leader Senator Gerod. It had been quite easy. The guards barged through the locked door and handily rounded up the men there. Qui-Gon took the Senator personally under arrest.
"Master Jinn you have to see that the king is wrong. Why should he be allowed to disturb the succession of the monarch just because he feels like it? His son, Mason is more than worthy to be king."
"I have listened to your point. Senator and if you truly believed what you have told me about Mason's ability to be king there could have been a better way of making your views known without continual assassination attempts. Killing the king would not have accomplished anything. It might have created more problems had there been an unfinished issues as to who should be king. Take for instance if Queen Bella requested that the king's wishes still be carried out. Then where would you be? No, killing and violence is not the answer for any disagreement."
"Well maybe so, but I did what I thought I should. If you take me to the king I will be sent to prison for life."
"I was sent here not to judge anyone; neither you nor the king., The Jedi wanted King Rozel's life spared at all costs. He is a trusted and loyal alley in the war for the rights of all the citizens of the galaxy with all the other planets in the same allegiance. What the king does with you is not my concern. I only do my duty to him and to the Jedi order."
"No matter if you send an innocent man to prison for his entire life?"
Jinn handcuffed the Senator and then spun him around with a little touch of the force to accent his displeasure with this man before him.
"Innocent you are not. What ever your guilt is, will be exposed in the courts of law. I know the king to be a fair man and you will get an equally fair trial. Now I wish to go back to the castle shower and hopefully get there in time for break-fast and find out how my son is."
"Your son, where is here?"
"Not that it is any of business but Obi-Wan was sent back to Coruscant after he was slightly injured by one of your hired assassins. The king was gracious enough to send him on his personal ship. "
Jinn stopped for a moment as the force swirled seemingly angrily around him. Yes there was anger and a definite disturbance in the force but still Jinn could not pinpoint the reason for it..
"Here take this one with the others. The king can see to them in the cells once I have briefed him on what happened here.
"Your kid you say. You mean King Rozel's younger son, Emon wasn't being transported back to school; did not leave on his ship yesterday morning. I just assumed when I saw it being boarded for take off he was the young one to get on it. Interesting indeed!!!! Well Master Jinn I think I will be seeing you later maybe even before the day is out."
Qui-Gon let the words spoken by Senator Gerod go in part unheard. His thoughts were of his son and returning home. He did here the man tell him he would see him later just as he came back from his own thoughts.
"I doubt it. I plan to be on my way home after break-fast."
Jinn wheeled around to walk away. His robe, caught by a light breeze, bellowed dramatically as he made his turn. Qui-Gon was gifted so much with surprising eloquence in a man of his stature.
Senator Gerod silently welcomed the idea of bringing his captor down right to his knees. Soon Master Jinn would know how it felt to be at the other end of the capture. He would be captured by the knowledge and fear when he received the news Gerod had to deliver to him.
//No, now is not the right time. It will be so much more drastic later when they realize something is wrong and I can be the one to tell them what that something is. //
Qui-Gon hurried to his room for a quick shower. It was almost noon. Master Yoda would be contacting him very shortly with news that his padawan had safely arrived. Jinn wanted to give Yoda some pointers on what might make Obi-Wan happier and more comfortable. He was indeed glad that he would be immediately following his son home. Well not home, but he would go to Coruscant and spend a few days there before finally going back to their little temple.
The thought of the blood test came back but only as a fleeting thought. Jinn was just about convinced that Obi-Wan was his and that he would not really need a blood test. However with the knowledge of how corrupt Kaylin turned after their break-up Qui-Gon would not have put it past her that had Obi-Wan not been his, she would have doctored the tests.
//But then she would have had to been intimate with another force sensitive to have Obi-Wan, who is greatly blessed with the force.//
It was then he remembered, Delaney, a Jedi knight, but when Kaylin knew him he was only a failed Jedi, cast out of the order by the council members. A corrupt and evil man. It had been rumored that he was in the scam with Kaylin, but it could not be proven. Now worry piqued again in the master over his part in Obi-Wan's conception. He forgot for a while the nagging insistence by the force that in some way for someone danger lurked.
Jinn hurried his shower and tried to shake the memory of the red-headed, blue eyed Delaney out of his mind.
###########at the dining table#########
There was a bustle of activity and teetering around the table. The king had invited his head body guards and along with his wife, sons, and Master Jinn, break-fast was more like a celebration. It was late to be eating first-meal however, when the king found out that Jinn captured his nemesis, Gerod, he held up the time of the meal especially so Qui-Gon and the others could be present and enjoy it
Jinn went over for the second time how easily the group was captured brought in, then set to eating his first-meal in ravenous haste. He had not eaten since the morning before. That was when he ate with Obi-Wan before sending him back to the temple. Qui-Gon kept checking the time. In all excitement the king had virtually forgotten about the communiqué systems of the ship being fried. He assumed one of his men would be calling any time now and let him know of their arrival of Coruscant.
After the conversation about Gerod's capture died down and everyone seemed content on eating their meal, Master Jinn ventured to question King Rozel of his men's trip to Coruscant with Obi-Wan. He knew someone at the castle would have spoken the ones abroad during their journey.
"King Rozel, how has the trip been for Obi. Did your men say if they ran into any turbulence during it. I know when you pass Alpha Triad Quadrant, the hydrogen oxide put off from there can make waves of turbulence through the atmosphere surrounding it. We had to go around that planet a couple of years ago because of it."
The king hesitated and looked at his wife. Although he was still relatively sure that the ship was on course and had probably arrived there still had been no communication between the king and his pilot on the ship. His wife seemed to look up, worriedly, then back down at her plate. She was confused as to what should be told to Master Jinn as her husband was.
"Well Master Jinn…Qui-Gon there seems to have been a glitch in the communication panel onboard. I have not actually spoken with anyone on the ship since their departure yesterday morning. However I feel we should hear from them very soon now. It is a little past their arrival time.
The admission of the king that no radio contact had been successfully established since they left made Jinn shiver.
"You mean the ship is lost?"
Panic welled to enormous proportions as Qui-Gon sat there letting his mind visulize every possible scenario of the news that was just delivered him by the king.
"No, no we have had problems with that radio panel since got the ship. I am sure that the is the reason for the lack of dialect between the ship and our man who handles the radio here at the castle. The tracking device still shows there is no mechanical problems with the ship."
Jinn allowed himself to relax a little. His jaw muscles clinched enough to talk without pain.
"Oh, so the ship's locator coordinates matched the coordinates of Coruscant?"
"Well you see the radio panel is directly connected to the tracking mechanism. While I am not sure where the ship is, I know is not down some where in distress. The device would have immediately alarmed us had there been an attack on the ship or if it had problems and… well and…"
The even more worried Jedi master filled in the last words for the king who seemed almost afraid that saying them would make them so.
"You mean if it had problems and crashed somewhere ?"
Now Jinn was recaptured by his fear.
"I wish I had been notified of this sooner. I could have had Yoda send out a ship to find them."
Bella reached over to where Jinn sat and covered his hand with hers in a sympathetic reaction from one parent to another.
"Master Jinn, the king just told you there is nothing to worry about. If it would make you feel better, I will have one of servants bring a comm link to the table and you can contact your Master Yoda right now. I am sure he has heard from them by now. He might be busy acclimating your son to the temple again."
Jinn could see that both the king and queen thought he was overreacting, but at this point the didn't care.
"No if you will show me to your comm system, I won't interrupt you break-fast any further.
"King Rozel put down his napkin.
"Nonsense Jinn, you are interrupting nothing. We as parents understand your concerns and the sooner they are done away with the sooner we can get back to the celebrating of your very successful mission.. I will personally show you where you can contact your temple."
The king got up from the table along with Qui-Gon and they headed for another room. Just as they started to go enter the communication room to make their call, a servant came with a note and handed it to the king.
"I don't have time for this now."
He attempted to wave the servant off.
The servant seemed ghostly pale. His hand trembled as he almost forcibly handed the note to the king. He dared one glance to the big Jedi before he lowered his eyes once again to the floor.
"I was told by the guard down at the prison holding cell to see that you get this., that is important. The Senator Gerod wrote it."
"For the "sake of mankind" man what is wrong with you? Let me see that."
The king ripped the note out of the servant's hand, confused by the way he was acting,
King Rozel read the note and then a second time, slowly reread it. Qui-Gon stood there and tried to be patient in his wait for the king to direct him to the communications' room. Before they had chance to make another move the radio controller for the castle came tearing out of the radio room . Jinn noticed he too had that same scared and shocked look on his face.
"I think you should come and contact the temple Master Jinn, King Rozel. A Master Yoda called and I sensed an urgency for the Jedi master to reconnect with him. An ion storm in the vicinity of here broke our communication up. However, what I was able to get from the contact from the temple was the importunacy of it."
The communiqué officer before them still seemed as terrified as the servant who brought the note.
Jinn spoke next.
"Your man here can direct me to where I can make my call to the temple King Rozel. There is little need for you to further interrupt you meal."
Jinn started to follow the soldier in charge of communications back to his radio room. His fear and worry heightened as each moment passed and by the way both deliveries of news seemed to overwhelm its messengers by whatever was in both messages.
"No, Master Jinn it won't be necessary to contact the temple, at least not immediately. Here read this. It will explain where my ship and most importantly your son is.……………………"
Qui-Gon Jinn knew he could not let his emotions rule him now. It was imperative more than ever to stay focused on the matter at hand.
He did what the King had done, he slowly reread the note Senator Gerod sent the king. He wanted to decipher any hidden meaning.
No there is not threat in it of the death of Obi-Wan yet in the beginning of the skyjacking, my son was not thought to be on there, King Rozel's son was.
"Master Jinn I am so sorry. I never even thought something like this could happen, a sky jacking because of the wrong assumption that my son was on my ship. How could I have known?"
"Please King Rozel, it is not your fault. I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself. Now what is important is how we plan to get Obi-Wan out of their grasp. We will have to have a little talk with Gerod. It is easy to see what he wants. Before he would have bargained for you to stop the succession change but now maybe he will be willing to barter for his freedom, although we couldn't in good conscience give it too him. We can't not give in to him."
"Maybe you can't Master Jinn, but if it means the secured life of your son I am certainly willing to listen to him. You should be too. If he is capable of killing me I don't think he would stop at the murder of one little Jedi. We don't even know who he hired to do his dirty work for him."
"Well there are many cut-throats in the galaxy that for just a few credits would kill their own mother."
Rozel turned to look into the eyes of the Jedi master. He wanted to see if there was in any change in the physical reaction of the Jedi master for this was certainly the first time he had ever spoken against any living being that existed.
#########
Inside a tiny cabin in the middle of a dense almost tropical forest a man dressed in elegant silks of white instructed one of his men to sit the child down opposite him. The man with shoulder-length red hair wore a top tunic that came very close to reaching the floor when he walked. His under tunic had a layered cowl rimmed in tiny jewels of some kind. Obi-Wan could not begin to describe what or how many jewels ladened the man's clothing. He looked strange to Obi-Wan, yet there was a sense that he knew this man. Maybe long ago, but he had seen him before: had seen his sinister smile and matching evil smirk that seem to stay on his face even as he spoke harshly to the little boy.
"A Jedi apprentice?!?! I suspect, Senator Gerod is not going to like the news I have for him. Although I suppose you have come missing by now haven't you boy?"
"Obi shrugged his shoulders and dropped his eyes. He didn't like the way the man looked at him.
"Don't get any ideas boy to contact your master. through your bond. I am quite inept in the powers of the Jedi. In fact I was one once before… NO matter. The important thing I will know if you attempt any contact with your master and you will be in for it understand?"
Obi-Wan shook his head yes, still not willing to look at the man before him. He searched through his memory back to when he was only a small boy. He tried separately to put a name to the face that terrified him so much. What confused the little boy so much was that he could not remember meeting any Jedi until he was sent to the temple, after his mother's death. Master Mace and Master Yoda were the first Jedi he met, or so he thought.
#####Back with Jinn and the King#####
"There you have it Master Jinn. That are my conditions if you wish to get your son back to you in one piece."
"Well have no choice Master Jinn. I will not allow you to jeopardize your sons' life for me. Maybe I have been bull -headed."
He shot a glaring look at his once friend, Senator Gerod.
"Of course just because I am admitting I am bull-headed Gerod, still gave you no reason to attempt to take my life. That crime by all that is right should be dealt with. However if we can make deal in some way that would get you out of prison but would keep me from ever worrying about your attempting death every time I do something you don't care for."
"As you know King Rozel I have already contacted Master Yoda. I am uncertain if the Jedi would even allow you to barter away you monarchy rights for this man's demands. That being said, I would not be disinterested in some plan similar to one you mentioned for the senator. Yet I am not the one to make the final decisions for the Jedi."
"Are you saying , you would let you son die to do as your council masters tell youJinn I thought I knew you and now I am not so sure."
"See my old friend even he has his quirks just as I do. If it would make you feel better Rozel, I did not instruct them to actually kill you. My intent was to scare you into letting the people vote or for you to decide that Mason should take his rightful place as king once you are gone. Actually Master Jinn I will let you off the hook. The man I hired is not an Aronite and he has been instructed not to harm who he assumes is the king's son. I am to call him later."
"For what you have told me I am grateful. However you will not contact him later,but now. You will follow the king and I to the radio room and talk with your man immediately. I want more assurance that my son is well."
####Back with Obi and his captor####
"I will be commed very shortly to find out what I should do with you. Well it was not to be you, so things have changed. What is your name?"
Obi-Wan was hesitant to tell him but the little one was too afraid not too.
"Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The man dropped the glass of wine to the floor. It barely missed his luxurious outfit of white.
"Kaylin's son?"
Obi-Wan knew now where he had met this man. He stayed with he and his mother from time to time. Mom always referred to the man as her companion. Obi-Wan didn't know what that meant but as he grew older and from eavesdropping at night he soon found out.
Now he was even more terrified. He knew Delaney didn't like his dad or for that matter himself. He had a way of sometimes being mean and spoke cruelly to him when his mom wasn't around.
Neither recognized the other because of the years it had been. Obi-Wan was no more than five and when Obi knew Delaney he was less rough looking. The clean shaven face that Obi-Wan would have remembered was covered by covered with a thick heavy bright red/gold beard with an even burlier-looking long mustache that curled on the ends.
"So that means your father is you master?"
Obi refused to answer that one for the same reason he answered the previous question, he was scared.
Delaney slapped his hands together in glee. The sudden ring of the noise startled Obi-Wan and he jumped almost out of his chair.
"I am right. Just by your silence I know. The great Qui-Gon Jinn stole his son and has made him a Jedi against your mother's wishes no doubt?"
"He didn't steal me."
Obi's anger for this man and for his statements against his dad enticed him to speak out no matter how fearful he was.
"He didn't steal me. I live with him now that momma is…"
He didn't know if he should tell this man of his mother's death. He and Momma had a big argument and finally broke up, before I ever started kindergarten. He did know the fight was all about him and his father, although he did not know the particulars of it exactly.
A sudden look of sadness fell over Delaney's face. It replaced the smirk that had been there all along.
"It's true, my Kaylin is dead. As the Jedi would say, "one with the force" but we both know that isn't so, don't we child?"
Obi-Wan looked back at the face of Delany to see the normal smirk replace the sadness. His grief for Obi-Wan's mom only lasted seconds. He was so in thought now how to reap revenge on the man that stopped him from marrying Kaylin.
She never stopped loving the great Master Qui-Gon Jinn no matter what she tried to tell me.
#########At the castle############
Qui-Gon, King Rozel, and Gerod headed to make a link up with Obi-Wan and his captor. Jinn assumed it was only one man or least one man leading a few that helped commandeer the ship.
"Gerod you said you hired someone who was not a Aronite to do this, why?"
"No one was willing to bring harm or even to pretend to bring harm to one of the king's children. We truly aren't barbaric you know Jedi. I had to get someone not under the king's monarchy for that."
"Who did you choose? What kind of scum was willing to kidnap a child?"
"I met him through a friend, through another more corrupt friend. He is not from here."
"Well… tell me his name. I have had to deal with a great many criminals through the galaxy during my tenure as a Jedi master. Maybe I would know this man, know where he is from."
"I know his name. Let me see. This day has been very upsetting, so you have to forgive an older man's memory under such pressure. Oh, yes, now I remember, at least part of his name. It was Morrow. Let's see, he stood a couple inches shorter than you and he had long-flowing shocking-red hair. What was his first name? Let me think."
Master Qui-Gon Jinn moved his mouth but only a whisper barely audible came out.
"Morrow…. Delaney Morrow…. The former lover and cohort of my son's mother…………"//And possibly Obi-Wan Kenobi's real father.........…//
##
Hope that piqued your interest enough to give me just a couple of words in feedback!! If I get several posts in words of encouragement, I might post again this week!!!!! BLACKMAIL?, not really wishful thinking on my part!!!!!
PEACE ewen
"Worry you should not Master Jinn. Always focused and live in the now a Jedi must. You do the same for safe I want you to stay."
Those words were almost identical to the ones cantered to his son, Obi-Wan by Master Jinn, himself. That only reinforced his decision for sending Obi-Wan away. The little padawan had not been able to focus, had gotten himself in harms way, to the extinct of being injured, and in turn had caused Jinn to lose focus.
Qui-Gon knew he really couldn't blame Obi-Wan. It should have been within his Jedi tolerance and the guidance of the force to remain focused while in battle. The boy couldn't really be blamed for that. That fault lays entirely on my shoulders.
Master Jinn ended his conversation with his former master with a promise from Yoda that he would notify Qui-Gon just as soon as Obi-Wan reached the temple. He assured the big master he would care for Obi-Wan as he had cared for Qui-Gon when he was only a few years older than Obi. Qui-Gon had no doubt that Master Yoda would be more than kind. He would make Obi-Wan feel wanted and comfortable until he could get there and take the child.
############### Qui-Gon along with the king's guards surrounded the hide-out of the Aronites and stood sentry. He watched for the possible arrival of Senator Gerod, the head senator of the king's. If he should be caught entering the Aronite meeting place, Jinn's mission would be complete and he could return home and to his apprentice..
Qui-Gon could here soft groans of protest when he informed king's guards they would have to stay the night. They could not take the chance of missing the arrival of senator.. This was too important he told them. They all settled in for a long evening. Qui-Gon had his comm link and he notified the king of their plans. King Rozel mentioned no problems there and so the Jedi master assumed his son was still on his journey to safety.
###Back at the castle####
"Well Bella what should I do?"
"If it were my son missing I certainly would want to know immediately, but I can see you quandary of the situation. We aren't' quite sure Obi-Wan is actually missing are we?"
She looked to her husband for reassurance. Her heart ached of course for the little one, but as a parent she felt as much empathy for the father of Obi-Wan.
"Of course we don't know with certainty. I would have contacted Jinn earlier if I knew his son was out there some place missing. We have lost the ability to speak with them. That is all we know for sure. I knew I should have had that new comm radio put in instead of having that bumbling fool of a mechanic fix it. He assured me he had all the glitches out. I suppose he was wrong."
The king stopped talking with his wife for a moment as he thought through the situation with the ship, then continued.
"You see Love, the tracing indicator still relays the message that the ship is intact and safe. I think we will just have to wait for them to arrive at the temple. Then one of my guards will contact me and let me know it was just that stupid radio that caused the problem and nothing mechanical. Had they had a problem and had to land then they would have found a comm link and let me know. I am positive they are still on their journey to Coruscant. We will hear from them tomorrow by mid-day when they are due to arrive. If not, then will be the time to notify Master Jinn. He wants to finish this mission and get back with his son. Interrupting him needlessly would only increase his time hear. No, I am convinced we should say nothing about our concerns until or if we have a definite reason for concern. I suppose we as parents are as jumpy as Jinn would be about his son. Yes we will wait. The Master will be back here in the morning, hopefully."
"Might I remind you my king had you not been so obstinate and stubborn, Master Jinn would not have to have been separated from his son. You know Mason is more than capable of becoming the King. I just don't want our first son alienated because of your lack of trust in him. I also don't want a riff between the boys to form.'
The king ignored the last remarks about his own sons. He felt horrible about what he was doing and he hated to be reminded of it. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut and let Mason become the king. Even though Mason was not of his blood, the king knew in his heart he was as equal to the son with royal blood surging through his veins.
//He has been a good son, I only wish I could have been equally as good as his father.//
##########
Jinn sat leaned against a gritty cement wall, concealed by the darkness that surrounded him. He pulled his Jedi robe closer to keep the wind out that howled in the night like a wild beast. The rain stopped finally and that aided in less misery for him and the men who stood guard. Qui-Gon was offered food but declined. He felt the need to meditate.
Something in the force itself seemed to be off balance. It felt that way for the highly trained Jedi Master. Over the years he had acquired the ability by repetitive experience to read the what massages the force sent him. He was very in touch with the living force, but in this he could not get a grasp what its warning meant. He reached through the bond he and Obi-Wan had only to find it securely closed just as Obi-Wan said it would be.
That was an agreed to stipulation of Obi-Wan's, that Master Jinn now regretted having agreed too... He promised Obi he could wait to reopen their bond until he was certain of what he wanted. It would be so much easier to reach through the force and contact Obi-Wan, had there been a thriving working bond pulsating between he and his son. It would help if he could just feel the closeness of his son which he would be able to do had he not been shut out because the irrational insistence of Obi-Wan. He even tried to call, no, not call, literally scream through the bond with the added help of the force, but it was useless. The boy could not hear his master's desperate mental plea.
Still a nagging aura around the big master coupled with the thought of food kept him almost nauseous. He had never been so ill-at-ease before, ever.....
//I will certainly be glad when Obi reaches the safety of the temple with my old master. I think Obi-Wan will enjoy his time spent with my former master.//
Jinn looked for Master Yoda to help settle the boy's fears whatever they might be or how unfounded they were.
//My old master just has that knack with little ones. His visits to the crèche always leaves the crèche masters in a more pleasant mood because their charges always seem happier after a visit from Yoda.//
Qui-Gon never really slept any time during the night. He allowed himself a short period of trance-like meditative state that rejuvenated the master's strength and lessened his desire for sleep. He couldn't have slept for his apprehension anyway . He felt the meditative state would be more conducive to calming his frayed nerves right now. He still could not shake the worry for his son and it alarmed the master. He had never felt so out of control of a situation before. To begin with, he did not know what the "situation" was that he should be in control of. He could not figure out what the force was warning him about, if anything.
//I know Obi-Wan is alright. Had anything happened, the king would have notified me . There is a very intricate tracking device on that little speed ship of the king's that prevents it from making a maneuver without King Rozel's knowledge. It is even programmed to send an alarm to the castle if it suffers s any true mechanical problems. I am being silly. I must listen to my own advice I gave my son and focus on the hear and now. Obi is fine. I feel no disturbance from him although it might be impossible to feel anything because of the closed bond on his side. I am being stupid. Yoda will tell me just that when he calls tomorrow with news of Obi's arrival. Maybe I shouldn't even tell Master Yoda how irrational I have been. Obi-Wan would certainly be smugly pleased at the knowledge of the un-Jedi like paranoia I seemed to have developed…………………….//
####
I have to make one observation about my little band of readers. I have tried to give Jinn a heart the best way I can. Nevertheless I think I could have him sprout wings and grow a halo and still some of you would find fault with him. I feel sorry for the Jedi master!!!!
Master Jinn had just come out of another period of meditation, when he heard whispers through the otherwise silent night. The wind had calmed and no rain made the pinging sounds on the tin roof, so the silence of the night made the words quite easy to pick up.
"Are you sure Gerod that the two captured revealed nothing?"
"Yes I am sure. The king is angry about it. He ranted all day of their captured about the men's belligerent attitude toward him."
The unnamed man laughed. "Well I have called all the others here. They will be here in half an hour."
Jinn smiled when he heard what an excellent acting job the king had done at fooling Senator Gerod. Now all they had to do was wait. When the others arrived and were involved in their meeting, the guards led by Jedi Master Jinn would barge in the meeting room and arrest all those there for conspiracy and treason against the king; including their ring leader. As suspected it was Gerod and the king would have him with all the needed evidence to send him to prison for a long time. The same would go for the rest.
Qui-Gon had to stay focused. Already since the men arrived he felt more slight rippling through the force again.
It was five in the morning when all the Aronites finally got to the meeting. The door was closed, After about fifteen minutes and no others showed up, Qui-Gon felt it was time to make their move and make a run on the meeting room.
There was no battle in the taking of the Aronites and their leader Senator Gerod. It had been quite easy. The guards barged through the locked door and handily rounded up the men there. Qui-Gon took the Senator personally under arrest.
"Master Jinn you have to see that the king is wrong. Why should he be allowed to disturb the succession of the monarch just because he feels like it? His son, Mason is more than worthy to be king."
"I have listened to your point. Senator and if you truly believed what you have told me about Mason's ability to be king there could have been a better way of making your views known without continual assassination attempts. Killing the king would not have accomplished anything. It might have created more problems had there been an unfinished issues as to who should be king. Take for instance if Queen Bella requested that the king's wishes still be carried out. Then where would you be? No, killing and violence is not the answer for any disagreement."
"Well maybe so, but I did what I thought I should. If you take me to the king I will be sent to prison for life."
"I was sent here not to judge anyone; neither you nor the king., The Jedi wanted King Rozel's life spared at all costs. He is a trusted and loyal alley in the war for the rights of all the citizens of the galaxy with all the other planets in the same allegiance. What the king does with you is not my concern. I only do my duty to him and to the Jedi order."
"No matter if you send an innocent man to prison for his entire life?"
Jinn handcuffed the Senator and then spun him around with a little touch of the force to accent his displeasure with this man before him.
"Innocent you are not. What ever your guilt is, will be exposed in the courts of law. I know the king to be a fair man and you will get an equally fair trial. Now I wish to go back to the castle shower and hopefully get there in time for break-fast and find out how my son is."
"Your son, where is here?"
"Not that it is any of business but Obi-Wan was sent back to Coruscant after he was slightly injured by one of your hired assassins. The king was gracious enough to send him on his personal ship. "
Jinn stopped for a moment as the force swirled seemingly angrily around him. Yes there was anger and a definite disturbance in the force but still Jinn could not pinpoint the reason for it..
"Here take this one with the others. The king can see to them in the cells once I have briefed him on what happened here.
"Your kid you say. You mean King Rozel's younger son, Emon wasn't being transported back to school; did not leave on his ship yesterday morning. I just assumed when I saw it being boarded for take off he was the young one to get on it. Interesting indeed!!!! Well Master Jinn I think I will be seeing you later maybe even before the day is out."
Qui-Gon let the words spoken by Senator Gerod go in part unheard. His thoughts were of his son and returning home. He did here the man tell him he would see him later just as he came back from his own thoughts.
"I doubt it. I plan to be on my way home after break-fast."
Jinn wheeled around to walk away. His robe, caught by a light breeze, bellowed dramatically as he made his turn. Qui-Gon was gifted so much with surprising eloquence in a man of his stature.
Senator Gerod silently welcomed the idea of bringing his captor down right to his knees. Soon Master Jinn would know how it felt to be at the other end of the capture. He would be captured by the knowledge and fear when he received the news Gerod had to deliver to him.
//No, now is not the right time. It will be so much more drastic later when they realize something is wrong and I can be the one to tell them what that something is. //
Qui-Gon hurried to his room for a quick shower. It was almost noon. Master Yoda would be contacting him very shortly with news that his padawan had safely arrived. Jinn wanted to give Yoda some pointers on what might make Obi-Wan happier and more comfortable. He was indeed glad that he would be immediately following his son home. Well not home, but he would go to Coruscant and spend a few days there before finally going back to their little temple.
The thought of the blood test came back but only as a fleeting thought. Jinn was just about convinced that Obi-Wan was his and that he would not really need a blood test. However with the knowledge of how corrupt Kaylin turned after their break-up Qui-Gon would not have put it past her that had Obi-Wan not been his, she would have doctored the tests.
//But then she would have had to been intimate with another force sensitive to have Obi-Wan, who is greatly blessed with the force.//
It was then he remembered, Delaney, a Jedi knight, but when Kaylin knew him he was only a failed Jedi, cast out of the order by the council members. A corrupt and evil man. It had been rumored that he was in the scam with Kaylin, but it could not be proven. Now worry piqued again in the master over his part in Obi-Wan's conception. He forgot for a while the nagging insistence by the force that in some way for someone danger lurked.
Jinn hurried his shower and tried to shake the memory of the red-headed, blue eyed Delaney out of his mind.
###########at the dining table#########
There was a bustle of activity and teetering around the table. The king had invited his head body guards and along with his wife, sons, and Master Jinn, break-fast was more like a celebration. It was late to be eating first-meal however, when the king found out that Jinn captured his nemesis, Gerod, he held up the time of the meal especially so Qui-Gon and the others could be present and enjoy it
Jinn went over for the second time how easily the group was captured brought in, then set to eating his first-meal in ravenous haste. He had not eaten since the morning before. That was when he ate with Obi-Wan before sending him back to the temple. Qui-Gon kept checking the time. In all excitement the king had virtually forgotten about the communiqué systems of the ship being fried. He assumed one of his men would be calling any time now and let him know of their arrival of Coruscant.
After the conversation about Gerod's capture died down and everyone seemed content on eating their meal, Master Jinn ventured to question King Rozel of his men's trip to Coruscant with Obi-Wan. He knew someone at the castle would have spoken the ones abroad during their journey.
"King Rozel, how has the trip been for Obi. Did your men say if they ran into any turbulence during it. I know when you pass Alpha Triad Quadrant, the hydrogen oxide put off from there can make waves of turbulence through the atmosphere surrounding it. We had to go around that planet a couple of years ago because of it."
The king hesitated and looked at his wife. Although he was still relatively sure that the ship was on course and had probably arrived there still had been no communication between the king and his pilot on the ship. His wife seemed to look up, worriedly, then back down at her plate. She was confused as to what should be told to Master Jinn as her husband was.
"Well Master Jinn…Qui-Gon there seems to have been a glitch in the communication panel onboard. I have not actually spoken with anyone on the ship since their departure yesterday morning. However I feel we should hear from them very soon now. It is a little past their arrival time.
The admission of the king that no radio contact had been successfully established since they left made Jinn shiver.
"You mean the ship is lost?"
Panic welled to enormous proportions as Qui-Gon sat there letting his mind visulize every possible scenario of the news that was just delivered him by the king.
"No, no we have had problems with that radio panel since got the ship. I am sure that the is the reason for the lack of dialect between the ship and our man who handles the radio here at the castle. The tracking device still shows there is no mechanical problems with the ship."
Jinn allowed himself to relax a little. His jaw muscles clinched enough to talk without pain.
"Oh, so the ship's locator coordinates matched the coordinates of Coruscant?"
"Well you see the radio panel is directly connected to the tracking mechanism. While I am not sure where the ship is, I know is not down some where in distress. The device would have immediately alarmed us had there been an attack on the ship or if it had problems and… well and…"
The even more worried Jedi master filled in the last words for the king who seemed almost afraid that saying them would make them so.
"You mean if it had problems and crashed somewhere ?"
Now Jinn was recaptured by his fear.
"I wish I had been notified of this sooner. I could have had Yoda send out a ship to find them."
Bella reached over to where Jinn sat and covered his hand with hers in a sympathetic reaction from one parent to another.
"Master Jinn, the king just told you there is nothing to worry about. If it would make you feel better, I will have one of servants bring a comm link to the table and you can contact your Master Yoda right now. I am sure he has heard from them by now. He might be busy acclimating your son to the temple again."
Jinn could see that both the king and queen thought he was overreacting, but at this point the didn't care.
"No if you will show me to your comm system, I won't interrupt you break-fast any further.
"King Rozel put down his napkin.
"Nonsense Jinn, you are interrupting nothing. We as parents understand your concerns and the sooner they are done away with the sooner we can get back to the celebrating of your very successful mission.. I will personally show you where you can contact your temple."
The king got up from the table along with Qui-Gon and they headed for another room. Just as they started to go enter the communication room to make their call, a servant came with a note and handed it to the king.
"I don't have time for this now."
He attempted to wave the servant off.
The servant seemed ghostly pale. His hand trembled as he almost forcibly handed the note to the king. He dared one glance to the big Jedi before he lowered his eyes once again to the floor.
"I was told by the guard down at the prison holding cell to see that you get this., that is important. The Senator Gerod wrote it."
"For the "sake of mankind" man what is wrong with you? Let me see that."
The king ripped the note out of the servant's hand, confused by the way he was acting,
King Rozel read the note and then a second time, slowly reread it. Qui-Gon stood there and tried to be patient in his wait for the king to direct him to the communications' room. Before they had chance to make another move the radio controller for the castle came tearing out of the radio room . Jinn noticed he too had that same scared and shocked look on his face.
"I think you should come and contact the temple Master Jinn, King Rozel. A Master Yoda called and I sensed an urgency for the Jedi master to reconnect with him. An ion storm in the vicinity of here broke our communication up. However, what I was able to get from the contact from the temple was the importunacy of it."
The communiqué officer before them still seemed as terrified as the servant who brought the note.
Jinn spoke next.
"Your man here can direct me to where I can make my call to the temple King Rozel. There is little need for you to further interrupt you meal."
Jinn started to follow the soldier in charge of communications back to his radio room. His fear and worry heightened as each moment passed and by the way both deliveries of news seemed to overwhelm its messengers by whatever was in both messages.
"No, Master Jinn it won't be necessary to contact the temple, at least not immediately. Here read this. It will explain where my ship and most importantly your son is.……………………"
Qui-Gon Jinn knew he could not let his emotions rule him now. It was imperative more than ever to stay focused on the matter at hand.
He did what the King had done, he slowly reread the note Senator Gerod sent the king. He wanted to decipher any hidden meaning.
No there is not threat in it of the death of Obi-Wan yet in the beginning of the skyjacking, my son was not thought to be on there, King Rozel's son was.
"Master Jinn I am so sorry. I never even thought something like this could happen, a sky jacking because of the wrong assumption that my son was on my ship. How could I have known?"
"Please King Rozel, it is not your fault. I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself. Now what is important is how we plan to get Obi-Wan out of their grasp. We will have to have a little talk with Gerod. It is easy to see what he wants. Before he would have bargained for you to stop the succession change but now maybe he will be willing to barter for his freedom, although we couldn't in good conscience give it too him. We can't not give in to him."
"Maybe you can't Master Jinn, but if it means the secured life of your son I am certainly willing to listen to him. You should be too. If he is capable of killing me I don't think he would stop at the murder of one little Jedi. We don't even know who he hired to do his dirty work for him."
"Well there are many cut-throats in the galaxy that for just a few credits would kill their own mother."
Rozel turned to look into the eyes of the Jedi master. He wanted to see if there was in any change in the physical reaction of the Jedi master for this was certainly the first time he had ever spoken against any living being that existed.
#########
Inside a tiny cabin in the middle of a dense almost tropical forest a man dressed in elegant silks of white instructed one of his men to sit the child down opposite him. The man with shoulder-length red hair wore a top tunic that came very close to reaching the floor when he walked. His under tunic had a layered cowl rimmed in tiny jewels of some kind. Obi-Wan could not begin to describe what or how many jewels ladened the man's clothing. He looked strange to Obi-Wan, yet there was a sense that he knew this man. Maybe long ago, but he had seen him before: had seen his sinister smile and matching evil smirk that seem to stay on his face even as he spoke harshly to the little boy.
"A Jedi apprentice?!?! I suspect, Senator Gerod is not going to like the news I have for him. Although I suppose you have come missing by now haven't you boy?"
"Obi shrugged his shoulders and dropped his eyes. He didn't like the way the man looked at him.
"Don't get any ideas boy to contact your master. through your bond. I am quite inept in the powers of the Jedi. In fact I was one once before… NO matter. The important thing I will know if you attempt any contact with your master and you will be in for it understand?"
Obi-Wan shook his head yes, still not willing to look at the man before him. He searched through his memory back to when he was only a small boy. He tried separately to put a name to the face that terrified him so much. What confused the little boy so much was that he could not remember meeting any Jedi until he was sent to the temple, after his mother's death. Master Mace and Master Yoda were the first Jedi he met, or so he thought.
#####Back with Jinn and the King#####
"There you have it Master Jinn. That are my conditions if you wish to get your son back to you in one piece."
"Well have no choice Master Jinn. I will not allow you to jeopardize your sons' life for me. Maybe I have been bull -headed."
He shot a glaring look at his once friend, Senator Gerod.
"Of course just because I am admitting I am bull-headed Gerod, still gave you no reason to attempt to take my life. That crime by all that is right should be dealt with. However if we can make deal in some way that would get you out of prison but would keep me from ever worrying about your attempting death every time I do something you don't care for."
"As you know King Rozel I have already contacted Master Yoda. I am uncertain if the Jedi would even allow you to barter away you monarchy rights for this man's demands. That being said, I would not be disinterested in some plan similar to one you mentioned for the senator. Yet I am not the one to make the final decisions for the Jedi."
"Are you saying , you would let you son die to do as your council masters tell youJinn I thought I knew you and now I am not so sure."
"See my old friend even he has his quirks just as I do. If it would make you feel better Rozel, I did not instruct them to actually kill you. My intent was to scare you into letting the people vote or for you to decide that Mason should take his rightful place as king once you are gone. Actually Master Jinn I will let you off the hook. The man I hired is not an Aronite and he has been instructed not to harm who he assumes is the king's son. I am to call him later."
"For what you have told me I am grateful. However you will not contact him later,but now. You will follow the king and I to the radio room and talk with your man immediately. I want more assurance that my son is well."
####Back with Obi and his captor####
"I will be commed very shortly to find out what I should do with you. Well it was not to be you, so things have changed. What is your name?"
Obi-Wan was hesitant to tell him but the little one was too afraid not too.
"Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The man dropped the glass of wine to the floor. It barely missed his luxurious outfit of white.
"Kaylin's son?"
Obi-Wan knew now where he had met this man. He stayed with he and his mother from time to time. Mom always referred to the man as her companion. Obi-Wan didn't know what that meant but as he grew older and from eavesdropping at night he soon found out.
Now he was even more terrified. He knew Delaney didn't like his dad or for that matter himself. He had a way of sometimes being mean and spoke cruelly to him when his mom wasn't around.
Neither recognized the other because of the years it had been. Obi-Wan was no more than five and when Obi knew Delaney he was less rough looking. The clean shaven face that Obi-Wan would have remembered was covered by covered with a thick heavy bright red/gold beard with an even burlier-looking long mustache that curled on the ends.
"So that means your father is you master?"
Obi refused to answer that one for the same reason he answered the previous question, he was scared.
Delaney slapped his hands together in glee. The sudden ring of the noise startled Obi-Wan and he jumped almost out of his chair.
"I am right. Just by your silence I know. The great Qui-Gon Jinn stole his son and has made him a Jedi against your mother's wishes no doubt?"
"He didn't steal me."
Obi's anger for this man and for his statements against his dad enticed him to speak out no matter how fearful he was.
"He didn't steal me. I live with him now that momma is…"
He didn't know if he should tell this man of his mother's death. He and Momma had a big argument and finally broke up, before I ever started kindergarten. He did know the fight was all about him and his father, although he did not know the particulars of it exactly.
A sudden look of sadness fell over Delaney's face. It replaced the smirk that had been there all along.
"It's true, my Kaylin is dead. As the Jedi would say, "one with the force" but we both know that isn't so, don't we child?"
Obi-Wan looked back at the face of Delany to see the normal smirk replace the sadness. His grief for Obi-Wan's mom only lasted seconds. He was so in thought now how to reap revenge on the man that stopped him from marrying Kaylin.
She never stopped loving the great Master Qui-Gon Jinn no matter what she tried to tell me.
#########At the castle############
Qui-Gon, King Rozel, and Gerod headed to make a link up with Obi-Wan and his captor. Jinn assumed it was only one man or least one man leading a few that helped commandeer the ship.
"Gerod you said you hired someone who was not a Aronite to do this, why?"
"No one was willing to bring harm or even to pretend to bring harm to one of the king's children. We truly aren't barbaric you know Jedi. I had to get someone not under the king's monarchy for that."
"Who did you choose? What kind of scum was willing to kidnap a child?"
"I met him through a friend, through another more corrupt friend. He is not from here."
"Well… tell me his name. I have had to deal with a great many criminals through the galaxy during my tenure as a Jedi master. Maybe I would know this man, know where he is from."
"I know his name. Let me see. This day has been very upsetting, so you have to forgive an older man's memory under such pressure. Oh, yes, now I remember, at least part of his name. It was Morrow. Let's see, he stood a couple inches shorter than you and he had long-flowing shocking-red hair. What was his first name? Let me think."
Master Qui-Gon Jinn moved his mouth but only a whisper barely audible came out.
"Morrow…. Delaney Morrow…. The former lover and cohort of my son's mother…………"//And possibly Obi-Wan Kenobi's real father.........…//
##
Hope that piqued your interest enough to give me just a couple of words in feedback!! If I get several posts in words of encouragement, I might post again this week!!!!! BLACKMAIL?, not really wishful thinking on my part!!!!!
PEACE ewen