Chapter 7: Appealing a Verdict
"I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm, he came around like he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry
Well you couldn't be that man I adored
….Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn" – Torn (Natalie Imburglia)
At first, Qui-Gon had been frustrated with his current assignment. Walking through the dense forest for possible danger only kept him from staying with Obi-Wan and working things out. Adi's stern glares told him that protesting would be futile, so he had followed her during their trek. But as they ventured through the foliage, the Living Force soothed his tension.
For a while, neither spoke as they walked. They were busy sensing their surroundings for possible threats. Amazingly, the forest seemed serene even with the teeming indigenous life scurrying through it. The flora perfumed the air with a sweet and inviting smell. Before long the tall Master gave in to the tranquillity beckoning him. Occasionally, pausing to examine a bloom closer.
Pausing yet again, he glanced up at the warm yellow sun above. There was moisture in the air that reminded him of a planet just after a summer thundershower. The richly filled atmosphere could touch a soul with such a gentleness that it only forced the exasperated Jedi into the tranquility he did not seek. Sighing, he had lost himself in the beauty that surrounded him when Adi came up beside him, "I am pleased that you were able to find peace again, Qui-Gon."
The large Jedi regarded the Councilor for a moment before responding, "It was not what I was seeking at the moment, Master." He sighed softly while examining a vibrant lavender orchid. "But it is what I needed."
"The Force is greater than all of us, Qui-Gon. It knows what you need even if you don't agree with it." For a moment the firm woman took her time holding the same purple bloom Qui-Gon had been looking at.
Qui-Gon returned his attention to the woodland around him. "I don't sense anything threatening in these woods."
Adi considered the Knight as she too took in the wield surrounding them. "No, nothing that could be considered dangerous."
"In fact, Master, it is quite the contrary. As if the forest itself emits serenity. Perhaps if we could spare some time we should bring the students out here to meditate." Qui-Gon honestly believed that the students could benefit from a world bountiful in the Living Force. He also wished for his beloved Tahl to share this beauty with him.
In that instant he felt his heart constrict, and a sorrow cast down upon him in the shadows of the wood. This was the first time in five long years that he had the first real sense of peace in his heart. Ever since he had learned of Obi-Wan's apparent demise he had felt incomplete. Shortly after Obi-Wan's death, he had run into Tahl again. For a time, he felt alive when he was around her but the vacancy still nagged him in the back of his mind. And when she wasn't there, the emptiness could almost swallow him whole. He had always believed that it was because Tahl had not been in his life constantly.
It seemed the Council also recognized the change in the Jedi Knight, because they sent him on missions with Tahl and her Padawan more frequently. Yet during most of the missions he shared with his life-long friend, the feeling of emptiness remained. However the sensation seemed to dim somewhat whenever he was with her. That was when he asked the Council if he could move his apartment next to hers. And that he be allowed to share her missions and duties on a regular basis.
In the beginning, it was rough working out Tahl's teachings with Bant and their relationship to each other. But things eventually worked out. It was only now, that on rare occasions that either would be sent on a separate mission. And they were both able to teach Bant about many things in the Force. Tahl had told him recently, that her only concern about the Calamarian Apprentice was the inclination towards healing methods. Neither she not Qui-Gon were skilled healers and she was going to speak with Bant within the next month to determine if the young Jedi would be interested in special lessons taught by a professional Healer.
Qui-Gon concurred with Tahl's reasoning. They had both often wondered why Bant had been blessed by the Force with such a loving heart and delicate touch. And for a flash, his memory brought him back to the room when they were treating the boy's wounds. He had seen the concern in her large bulbous eyes. And he knew instantly it was not the first time the young girl had cared for Obi-Wan's injuries, big or small.
The Force planned for her to be there for him, the lost student, as she had been in the past. Planning and manipulating the universe to it's grand scheme. Setting each person on the course to his or her destiny. Plotting the significance of fate to guide it's chosen to the purpose it had planned. Suddenly, a realization hit the Knight; Obi-Wan was special to the Force. Feeling lightheaded, Qui-Gon placed a hand on the trunk of a tree to steady himself. The weight of such a profound recognition was almost crushing to the man.
Adi noticed the man's distress and came up beside him. "Are you alright?"
At first, Qui-Gon had not even heard the Master. When her words finally registered, he straightened himself up and pushed off the tree. "Yes, Master. I am fine."
Regarding the taller man for a moment longer, Adi began to move along. "Well, let's get back to our patrol." It was then that Qui-Gon felt a creeping anxiety slowly edge up his spine. He simply nodded as they worked their way through the forest. Gradually, their pace increased in correlation with the steady rising of disquiet that filled the air.
**
Carefully she followed the Padawan, her curiosity had gotten the better of her judgement. The drowning emotions in the Force made it easy for her to mask her presence with very little effort. She watched as the older girl turned down a corridor. Vaguely, she could hear the sounds of what she thought was someone working out. As she grew closer, the grunts and soft cries of a shattered spirit echoed through the hall. When she reached the doorway, the scene that she was greeted with was more than just disturbing.
Immediately, she recognized Bant standing only a few paces in front of her in the room, obviously shocked into stillness from the sight before them. The human pirate was beating his pain into the punching post. Each sickening smack made the young girl cringe. And the waves of anguish emitted from the crushed soul rolled over them. Forcing them to be drug down into the undercurrents of misery, leaving them gasping for air. The two females remained frozen during their emotional struggle to regain some semblance of composure.
At last, when his hand slipped and he slid down the pedestal, they mirrored his slide to the ground. They were so transfixed by the pain and misery that permeated the room, that neither could force themselves up to comfort the distraught form. It seemed like ages had passed when Bant finally managed to gain her footing again. The young girl watched as the Padawan approached the pirate. To her amazement, the pirate encircled the Padawan when he saw Bant there.
The quiet moments during the embrace made the apprentice's whispered words that much louder. "I missed you so much." And suddenly, the girl realized that the two had been close friends before the events that led them here. But the comforting words seemed to drive the young man away. Something trembled in the Force, like there was a shuddering as it was being closed off from something. "Please. Please don't leave me again." And the clenching sensation stopped.
There was a moment delay as she struggled to hear the young man. "Alone." She could not believe how much one word could carry. But to her it was as if the word held a century of meaning, transcending the simple definition to reflect something much deeper and older. Her own heart ached in response to the admission.
Slowly and with much care and thought, the two spoke to each other. The Padawan doing her best to comfort and soothe a distraught rogue. The young man, trying to convey the wealth of information about his current life and past without revealing himself too much. Touched by the Calamarian's attentiveness to the corsair, the young girl watched as his wounds were cleansed and he was provided a new tunic.
But nothing could prepare her for the ugliness of plain animosity. When he removed his soiled shirt and moved to place it down, the vicious scars were clearly visible. A hand quickly rose to cover her gasp. Her young mind reeled at who could have inflicted such pain to one who could only be in their teens. The marks were undoubtedly old but she could not tell how long ago the punishments were dealt.
In her classes, they were often taught about the evil and wickedness of some cultures and people. But a life in the Temple is a sheltered one and initiates were usually protected from seeing it. Nauseated, she turned away to gather herself back up when she heard the clicking of boots coming down the hall. Worried that it was one of the Masters, she glanced around for a place to hide. She saw an indent in the bulkhead and darted to press herself in it. She pulled in what Force she could to add to her concealment.
She listened as the small group came closer and stopped outside the Rec Room. "I told you I saw him running through the hall," a crewman declared.
"I didn't doubt your eyes, Maad. I just can't believe that we had not been informed of his capture." Griven replied, slightly stunned to confirm what his fellow shipmate had said.
"He doesn't look like he's a prisoner, Mort," another crew added.
"No, he doesn't. Maybe we should apprehend him." There was a sinister tone to his comment that frightened the young initiate. She could hear them move into the room. Her heart was pounding in her chest and ears. Then the chaos began as the group beat their prisoner into submission and Bant cried out frantically, pleading for them to stop. When they paused for a few minutes, the youngster managed to gather enough courage to approach the doorway again.
Her legs almost buckled under her when she saw the bloodied form of the young pirate. Tears welled in her eyes, at the sight of the agony he was in. It took a few more moments to register their conversation. "It was an accident. We do not wish to harm anyone and any loss of life is regrettable." The young man's tone reflected the torment in his soul.
But anger answered his sorrow, driving it further down into the abyss of despair. "Regrettable?! Was it regrettable to his wife? Or how about his children?" The little initiate flinched when the rogue was struck again.
Unable to contain her tears any longer, they fell when she heard his reply, "If it's justice you want, then take it." Her hand grabbed at her heart and she took a step back in disbelief. The young man had accepted his fate, even welcomed it. She heard Bant scream out what she longed to voice. She knew that this conviction was wrong. But she didn't know what to do. Then the thought struck her, Qui-Gon! Quickly, she fled down the hall to locate the only man she believed could stop this revolting judgement. The last thing she heard was the man saying, "That is exactly what I intend to do boy."
**
The sense of uneasiness grew into a consuming anxiety until something in the Force finally snapped. Both Masters stopped abruptly and stared at each other. "Something's wrong." But Qui-Gon almost had not heard her as he took off toward the ship. As they drew closer to the downed vessel, the feeling of pain and an overwhelming despair crashed into them. It was as if they could hear the desperate cries of someone faltering out in a deep ocean. From the shoreline, they ran into the crashing waves to rescue the drowning soul. But with each trudging step, the raging waves slowed their progress.
They could see the captain helping his crew and rushed up to him. He must have heard their hurried approach because he turned to greet them. "What's the matter? Have you found something?"
"Is everything all right, Captain?" Adi asked huskily, their quick return left them huffing for a moment.
His brow furrowed in confusion, "As far as I know, Master Jedi. Do you sense something?"
In response to his question they heard a young voice call from the hatchway, "Master Qui-Gon!! Master Qui-Gon!!"
The trio ran around to meet the youngster. Adi was surprised to see the young girl alone, "Tola, what's happened?"
Tola ignored the Councilwoman and ran straight for Qui-Gon. The tall Knight felt his heart begin to race and he feared the worse. "What's wrong, little one?"
Catching her breath, the young girl managed, "Bant…. The pirate, …. Obi-Wan …. Attacked.… Help please." Qui-Gon did not wait to hear more. Dashing inside he sought out the source of the problem. Tola kept up with the large man very well, staying right along side of him. Subconsciously, she led the way to the Rec Room. But once they got close enough to hear the sounds of flesh meeting flesh, the Knight burst forward.
When he entered the gym, Qui-Gon quickly drank in the scene. Bant was screaming and struggling with her captor to stop the beating. Two crewmen surrounded Obi-Wan, one holding his arms back and the other punching the rogue relentlessly. To his dismay, Obi-Wan looked barely conscious and apparently did not even struggle. Before he knew what was happening, he had come up behind the crewman and grabbed his arm as the man swung out again. "You will stop, sir." The commanding tone did little to hide the roaring anger underneath.
Startled, Griven looked over at the man who denied him his retribution. Slightly breathless from his exertion, Griven responded harshly, "He is a criminal, Jedi. And I am his executioner." He was about to pull his arm away when he gave a startled cry. The Knight crushed the man's forearm in a vice-like grip until they heard bones creak.
"I say again, you will stop." A hard cerulean glare met the anger-pained pale blue eyes of the crewman. Once he knew his point was made, Qui-Gon released the arm in his hand and thrust it back toward the man. Next the Knight turned to look at the man holding Bant. The Padawan was released instantly. He then turned to glare at the man holding Obi-Wan. "Let him go." The man's gaze narrowed before he withdrew his hands and raised them in surrender, a malicious smirk on his face.
Without support, Obi-Wan abruptly slumped to the ground and let out a weakened cry. He was a mess. One eye was puffed to a sliver and his bottom lip was swollen and cut. His chest and ribs begged for relief. His vision blurred and spun around him, causing a nauseating dizziness. He had hoped that the crewman/executioner would have finished him off already, but that had not happened. His punishment ended before the last blow could be dealt and his body suffered for it. With death there was no pain, no despair, no false hope to deal with. Only eternal calm and darkness. But he would take the darkness over the red fire of agony that now lapped at his being.
Vaguely, he became aware of Bant's presence. The Padawan had rushed to his side as soon as they let her go and was now trying to assess his condition. When she placed a hand on his arm, he let out a soft moan and her heart skipped a beat. The captivating blue-green eyes were barely visible due to the wide dilation. Yet the pain in them was clearly readable. Bant glanced up at Qui-Gon with worried eyes.
"What is the meaning of this Mr. Griven?" Captain Lessik demanded from his pilot. He and Master Gallia finally made it to the Rec Room. Tola clung to the doorway hoping that the lynching was over. The older man strode in confidently, showing the commanding nature that led him to his position.
Griven tried to salvage the last of his dignity by manipulating the facts. "Captain, we discovered this pirate roaming the ship. We were in the process of capturing him…"
"Capturing him?" The Padawan asked incredulously. "You mean beating him to death." The Calamarian had glanced up at the pilot when she heard his feeble explanation. Now, she added, "Which was totally unnecessary because he was already in Jedi custody."
Griven could not tolerate being admonished by a mere apprentice, quickly turning to shoot a warning glare at her. "He is a criminal!"
"You are an animal!" Her silver eyes returning the harsh look. She couldn't stop her own tormented heart from blurting out her thoughts. In her apprenticeship, Bant had witnessed enough cruelty to know pure vengeance when she saw it. Since the raid, her world had turned upside-down and back again and her heart could scarcely take anymore. Her dearest friend had suffered so much over his life and this did little to remedy that.
Lessik stepped into their line of vision to break up the verbal fight. "Please, please, stop this pointless bickering. It will not get us anywhere." The Captain regarded each one for a moment before settling on his co-pilot. "Mr. Griven, from what I can see, it appears you have taken it upon yourself to administer punishment to one who did not deserve it."
Unable to believe what he had heard, Griven took a threatening step toward his commander. From what he could gather, his Captain was agreeing with the Jedi, and that rubbed him the wrong way. "What?! He is a thief and a murderer!"
"A thief he may be," Fen admitted, "but what do you mean a murderer?" This new allegation piqued the newcomers' interest.
Griven took another step forward as he uttered through clenched teeth, "He killed my brother, Captain." The large pilot rubbed his arm continuously.
Disturbed by the ferocity of the allegation, Qui-Gon could read some truth into what the man claimed. However, he could not believe Obi-Wan could have killed anyone. He demanded, "What proof have you to back this accusation?"
The pilot spun to stare down the tall Jedi. They were almost the same size and were easily able to look each other in the eye. Advancing toward the Knight, his eyes narrowed and an evil smirk graced his features. "He confessed."
The Padawan could not stand the manipulation of truth and immediately voiced her opinion, "But, he said it was an accident."
"Like I care if it was an accident. My brother is dead!" barked the angered crewman. For an instant, he shot a deadly glare at the Padawan before returning to burrow the Knight with his fury.
"Mr. Griven, that does not give you the right to attack someone, no matter who they are." Lessik stepped into the path between his crewmen and the Jedi Knight. Fen knew that the Master could single-handedly take out his men without even lifting a finger so he thought it wise to intercede, "We are a civilized people and this action will not be tolerated. I want you, Mr. Maad, and Mr. Chuss to return to your cabins and wait for me to contact you."
The self-proclaimed mercenaries protested, "What?! You can't be serious! This is outrageous!"
But the Captain stilled them with a hand. "We will discuss the penalties for such misconduct later. Now get out of here." Griven motioned for his companions to leave and amazingly, complied, but before he left he stopped for a moment in front of his Captain and a longer moment in front of Qui-Gon. Once they were gone, Lessik went to Qui-Gon. "I am sorry for my men's behaviour, Master Jinn. I had no knowledge of this."
Qui-Gon's voice trembled with agitation that he was still trying to retain. Somehow he managed to remain polite in his response, "I know you didn't, Captain." His gaze moved from the doorway, from which the trio left, to the Captain and then down to Bant checking on Obi-Wan. At the mere sight of him, Qui-Gon felt that this had been partially his fault. He knew he should never have left the boy alone, that there was still so much that had to be worked out. But he was overruled and forced from the young man's side. Now he wished he had fought harder. "But I can not help feel that this could have been avoided." He turned toward the Councilwoman with a hard stare. She sensed his growing anger and looked up to meet it head on with her usual calm exterior
Easily slipping into the Council Member role, she responded matter-of-factly. "I had no way of knowing that some of the crew would react like this. Nor did I suspect he would have left his room this soon." She knew exactly what Qui-Gon implied by his last remark and she would not be the blame of this situation.
"That matters little now, Master." The deep cerulean eyes flickered from the turmoil within. In all truth he was still trying to determine whom he should lay blame; Adi, Griven, Lessik, or himself. His voice gruff from emotion, "I should have been with him." Slowly, his gaze drifted downward, "but since I was not, I have to accept what has happened." Suddenly, his tone hardened and he looked back up at the Councilwoman to reveal a new conviction, "But this will not happen again, Master. I will see to it."
The stern visage knew that this had gone too far. They all needed time to work out everything that transpired over the past few hours. And the emotional charge that electrified the interior of the ship had overpowered even the best of them. She had to stop it here and now. "Qui-Gon, you can not allow your personal feelings to take over your judgement."
The Knight was quick to react, "Do not patronize me, Master. I know what the Force has commanded me, and you should be supportive of it's will."
"Do not jump to conclusions too hastily, Qui-Gon Jinn." Her tone becoming heated in response to the accusation, "You already know the consequences to such actions."
Qui-Gon knew precisely what she was referring to, but he just could not let himself fall from the Force's graces again. If it was the will of the Force that they should be together, then he would not leave the young man's side. "I will be staying with Obi-Wan until we return back home to the Temple. If you have a problem with that, you can address it with the Council after we return."
The two Jedi Masters were locked in a contest of wills. Fen Lessik had been a Captain for many years, and even after the debacle of his crewmen, he knew the passion that drove men. What he saw displayed in the large Jedi at the moment told him of a bond, a link, a connection between the Knight and the wayward pirate. It was a reflection of the kind of passion a father would have when protecting their child. Unable to curb his curiosity any longer, Lessik asked tentatively, "Is he a relation of yours, Master Jinn?"
Finally, breaking the standoff, Qui-Gon regarded the Captain for a moment before answering. "No." That part of the reply was easy compared to what he was about to convey, "But he should have been …. my apprentice."
And by that admission, everything suddenly became clear to the Commander. He realized that this perplexing young man, that had become the center of their world, had been a Jedi. And not just any Jedi but apparently one that these particular Jedi had cared for and knew well. It explained how the rogue had known so much about the passengers. It explained how the Knight had known the boy's name in the bridge after they landed. But most of all, it explained why they all cared so much what happened to the young man.
When Griven and his henchmen left, Tola moved in toward the Jedi for protection. She didn't trust the crewmen anymore, so she kept her eye on them as they exited. Once they were gone, she watched as the Masters argued. The dispute had taken her by surprise. In the short span of her life at the Temple, she had never ever seen a Master get angry. It was always something that they taught would lead to the darkside and the emotion had always been frowned upon. It was almost shocking for her to see Bant become curt and the two Masters fight.
Still remaining silent in the background of the scene, Tola also heard the man's confession. Being a Jedi initiate, she understood more than the Captain. It's a constant desire for a young initiate to want to be taken as a Padawan. Now she was curious as to what happened between the Knight and the pirate that prevented them from teaming up. Her lilac gaze dropped to fall upon the beaten form of Obi-Wan. A soft gasp escaped her as she whispered, "Bant."
The Mon Calamarian had stopped her examination when she heard Qui-Gon and Adi argue. She had seen some debates between her own Master and the Knight. But this was the first time she witnessed a Jedi defying a Council member openly. Despite the fact the Adi Galia was a Jedi on a mission with her own Padawan, it was always hard for anyone to ignore the fact she was also a Council member. In awe of the bravado Qui-Gon had in challenging Adi, she did not notice the change in Obi-Wan's condition until Tola spoke. Glancing down, she could easily see it now. His skin was clammy and ashen, he trembled slightly and his breathing was shallow and quick. "Oh, Force. He's going into shock! We must do something quickly."
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Thanks everyone for your patience! I really, really, appreciate it! Don't forget to submit a review if you have a moment. I look forward to hearing from you all. Thanks again for reading. And if I make any updates to this chapter, I will try to let you all know. ; ) Sorry about any formatting issues, I saved it as an HTML file because I was lazy. *blush*
meere – Thank you very much. Glad you are enjoying it!
Liyanette – Thanks. I am endeavouring to really keep the angst going. ; )
Ewok Kid – Gosh, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate you saying so. I just hope I don't disappoint anyone. I have a lot planned and am anxious to get there, but I don't want to rush things. I'm trying to keep the integrity I have going with the racing emotions and steady progress. Hope this was good for you.
remnants-2011 – Sorry for the delay. I hope this was a good chapter. I know I was not entirely happy with it but I didn't want to keep you all waiting anymore.
Saint – Well, I am a charter member of Obi-Torture Anonymous, so it wouldn't be proper for me to write a story without some kind of Obi-Anguish. ; )
Lighted eagle – Is it as good as 'From the Ashes, Grow the Roses'?? I hope the next chapter will not take as long to write, but that also means, I need to kill DRL to ensure that. Oh well, keep your fingers crossed and thanks for reading and reviewing!! : D
Banshee Fay – Thanks, this is my 'Emotional' fic. I really like emotion and wanted to see how well I could get it out. Glad to see that I'm doing a decent job. : D
Heidi M – Thanks, And it's funny, so many people worry about Original Character Mary-sues, my problem is that I feel more like Obi than my OC's. So I find it very easy to get 'into his head.' ; ) Um, sorry, but I don't there will be a scene like that in here. But I hope you won't be disappointed with what I do have in mind. Thanks for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate your thoughts. : D
grab-ur-lightsaber – Wow, tanks, I will treasure this award by giving you all more wonderful cliffies! ; p I'll post that next chap to 'Catch me' today as well. : D You have no idea how much your kind words mean to me. I have been going through a rough time recently, with my own emotional struggle, and have often wondered if I should even bother continuing. It's one of the reasons I crave feedback so much. But when I see that my efforts are appreciated I realize that I might be missed if I simply disappear. Thanks for letting me know I'm wanted. It means the world to me. : D
Peggy – Aww, thanks. I just hope I can keep it up. Thanks for reading and reviewing! : D
Culf – Well, I thought so too. His char plays too the side of us that wants to be daring and dangerous outside the 'law' so to speak. But I have to admit, I have always been fond of the Obi char since Alec Guiness. The sad way he's had to live, his self-sacrifice to allow the others to escape and then now his hardships in getting to the status he was as a Knight. To me Han is great, but Obi is just a part of my heart. I can't help it. I feel very in tune with Obi, and I guess that's why I like him so. (And it's not just Ewan's influence, although it did help. ; ) ) Thanks for reading and reviewing!! : D
lillian jinn – I appreciate you taking the chance on reading it. And I am most definitely happy that you are enjoying it as well. Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it! : D
JCslilangel1425 – Yes, I am a cliffie master!!! Ahahahahaha. ] : ) OH, um, well, I wanted to make sure you came back. ; ) And yes, our Obi is realizing much, but it's even harder, because of what has happened in his life. The others have kept on living a Jedi life, but he has become someone else. The turmoil between what he wants and what he is, is what is happening now. And I don't that will be ending for some time yet. ; )
Meggie – I wish I could have gotten this chap up by Christmas, but DRL is a vicious person. I hope it was worth the wait. And I've already begun working on the next chap so hopefully that will not take as long to post. Thanks for reading and reviewing!!! You know how much I love it. ; ) : D
Sinister Papaya Fondue – Oh, The song quote is from the Song 'Oh, Father' which was sung by Madonna and was one of the songs on her 'Like a Prayer' album. I have a habit of putting the song title and the artist along with any additional info such as album, when I know that too. Sorry for the confusion. But I appreciate you letting me know.
Ciria – Awwwwwww!!! :8} Gosh, thank you so very much!! : D LOL, yeah, I wrote 'Ashes' too. : D That was my other baby. ; ) But now this story has taken precedence over everything else I'm doing. That was put under a different name as a experiment and it proved something to me. But that's a whole other story. Now for the story, yes, Bant and Obi have always had a connection of some kind, almost like a brother and sister. As for Yoda and the rest, nope. They have no idea he's alive yet. That will be something for another chapter, once comms are back up. ; ) OH, yes, there will be a meeting, not just with Yoda but others as well. Just something for you to keep in mind. I just hope I can live up to any expectations that are set from my mentioning it. It was a twist that I knew no one would expect but something I had planned since like chapter 2, so I've really been anticipating that chapter and the reactions I would get. : D And don't be too hard on yourself, there were plenty of other people who didn't see it coming either. ; ) I'm sorry for the delay in posting but I hope it wasn't too disappointing. Thanks for giving me your wonderful thoughts, and I look forward to your review. : D
Shan – I hope it wasn't too horrible. I know I didn't like it all that much, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You have such wonderful insight and I have come to value it! : D Wow, I'm the Angst Princess, I'm so touched. : _ ) *sniff* I have to say, I really enjoyed writing chapter 6. I don' know if I'll ever get any better. But I have that at least for me. Chapter 7 was a little tougher to get out, but I hope it wasn't that bad. Yeah, I really wanted people to be off guard when the attack came, I'm just so happy I was able to accomplish that. : D Yes, it was either stop the gunner or watch as Tuuvu was shot, and who would not attempt to save their 'father' or 'mother'? And don't worry, I agree with you. Obi is second to no one. ; D Thanks again for everything!!!! : D : D : D
Artemicion – Don't worry, I haven't mentioned our bargain publicly, Yet. ; ) So no one will be chasing until then. Sorry for the delay in my posting, but I hope it was too much of a let down. Thanks again for reading and reviewing!! : D : D
Death Rider – LOL, a person after my own heart! : D Maybe you should join Obi-Torture Anon too. ; ) I'm sorry this one wasn't so Obi filled but that it still managed to keep your interest. I'll try and do better next time. Thanks for reading and reviewing!! : D I really appreciate it!!