TEN

Qui-Gon glanced over at the small rustle of movement, watching as his Padawan turned over fitfully in his sleep, one hand falling to trail closely to the floor, fingers curled loosely. The blanket was off him totally now, and his padawan's braid fell from his shoulder to dangle as well. He frowned a little; Obi-Wan's sleep had hardly been restful as intended.

Like Master, like Padawan. He reflected bleakly. He hadn't even attempted to sleep again himself, his mind occupied with the many things placed before it, his Padawan's recent disturbing experiences and their ill effects not the least of them.

However as he'd stated to Obi-Wan earlier, he had also been aware of a new factor, a disturbance in the Force that was elusive yet dark. Dark enough to interfere momentarily with Qui-Gon's sense of the moment; which was a rare thing indeed. Unlike his apprentice, who seemed to be finely attuned to the Unifying Force and sensitive to its nudges of the future or even the past, Qui-Gon Jinn had always been sharply defined in his Jedi skills by the Living Force, its deep thrum in the life around him directing his choices. This…dark presence had carried with it an implicit future threat; although what exactly that threat was he could not say just yet.

Obi-Wan murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, drawing Qui- Gon's attention yet again. The hand that hung from the edge of the sleep couch tightened briefly then loosened again. The Jedi Master watched a moment longer until he was certain the younger man was still indeed asleep, his thoughts drawing him to wonder if there was some sort of connection between this dark touch and Obi-Wan's recent encounters. Still…the one thing Obi-Wan had been truly able to describe to him made him think they were two separate, distinctly different issues. Withdrawing the holopic generator from his tunic, he flicked it on and watched her face appear. She…she's the woman from my vision…

He doesn't even remember you, but yet he sees you in his dreams. Qui-Gon thought wistfully. Snapping off the small unit, he replaced it inside the folds of his tunic…and felt a strong impulse from the Force. Closing his eyes, he sought out his center, settling down to listen to whatever guidance he might receive for the problems at hand.

"You…want to take me as your apprentice?" Obi-Wan's eyes widened. In all his time as an initiate he had never dreamed that the respected Master Qui-Gon Jinn had even taken notice of him, much less desired the responsibility of taking him on as Padawan. He was nearly fourteen now, past the "usual" age of apprenticeship, but that had been more Qui-Gon's doing than Kenobi's. Unbeknownst to the youngster he had been established early on as Qui-Gon's responsibility with the Council although that had never been spoken to Obi-Wan, and therefore no other Knight had taken him as their Padawan.

Qui-Gon merely nodded his head; they were about to approach the Council, and this was not a time for many words. Obi-Wan hunched his shoulders once; he had only been before the Council twice, once at his testing for training at age three and once at his formal Initiation not quite a year later. Now he was about to face them again, this time to apprentice himself to Master Qui-Gon.

The doors before them were opened, and Qui-Gon motioned for the younger man to precede him inside. Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan Kenobi squared his shoulders, exhaled into the calm of the Force, and walked into the Council's audience chamber.

The memory flashed within Qui-Gon's mind like a saber cutting through the weave of time itself. Jinn turned abruptly to look at his Padawan- learner, almost as if to reassure himself that he still indeed had an apprentice. Obi-Wan still slept; although slightly curled up on his side now, wrapped oddly around his pillows and his braid hanging right in his face. Qui-Gon closed his eyes momentarily, feeling the tiredness creeping up on him.

"Eight years…" He murmured softly.

"Eight…years, Master?"

Qui-Gon's eyes snapped open to find his apprentice raising his head sleepily from the pillows, looking ill at ease and a little disoriented.

"Mmm. Eight years ago you became my Padawan." He stood up, intending to prepare for their formal welcome by the House that was due to begin in a little under two hours' time now. "The charge to train you has not been in vain."

Obi-Wan smiled outright at that; it was spare praise but a high compliment, coming from Master Qui-Gon. The smile, however, was short- lived; it was quickly replaced by a curious frown.

"What brings this to mind?" He asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position on the sleep couch now, rubbing at eyes that felt like sandpaper.

"The Force, but for what purpose, young Padawan, I am not certain." Qui-Gon turned the sudden Force-flash of memory over in his mind. It had not been unlike future casting in its sensation; the ripple of the Force through time was as constant as ever. But instead of probing the mystery of the future, the Force had brought him a crystal-clear reminder of the past. Why that should be, I haven't an idea. Almost instantly, Qui-Gon smiled to himself that Yoda was always saying that in the Force, there was no "why." He would have his answers soon enough. However brief, the thread of memory from the Unifying Force took up a back seat in his mind, close at hand but not receiving his full focus as the present moment in the Living Force tickled his consciousness with awareness. "It is nearly time for us to present ourselves to the House Inais and her guests." Qui-Gon motioned vaguely to his disheveled Padawan. "You'd better make yourself a bit more presentable than that."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan yawned tiredly, suddenly wishing for a little more time to stay on the sleep couch. Not a very likely occurrence. He got to his feet and headed for the 'fresher, wanting nothing more than to dunk his ginger-haired head under the water and soak himself for awhile.

Abruptly his knees gave way and he staggered a step, catching himself on the edge of a nearby table awkwardly, grabbing it for support as an uncontrolled shiver shot straight through him, making his hands shake and his breath come in a startled gasp. At once Qui-Gon was on his feet, coming to his aid and steadying him.

"What is it?" He asked. Obi-Wan looked up at him now as his trembling stopped and he could straighten to full height.

"It's not…It's gone."

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed slightly; even though the brunt of it had passed, he noticed that Obi-Wan's right hand continued to tremble. Time to contact Obuk back on Coruscant, he decided grimly as he watched his Padawan regain his composure and head back toward the 'fresher to prepare for the evening.

And still the Living Force tingled in his mind with the warning of darkness rising…

Obi-Wan felt it too. Like a black fingerprint pressing against the current landscape of his thoughts. He turned on the water and waited for it to be at "Force, that's hot!" level before allowing it access to his tired body. Thankfully it was also strong, pummeling his sore shoulders and back with a rhythm that was at once soothing and relaxing, even as his mind restlessly roamed around. Tilting his head, he felt the water rush over his cropped spiky ginger locks, nearly strong enough to undo the braid that hung wetly over his back.

His eyes open as water streamed past his face, he looked at he hands pressed against the wall. His right one continued to shake, the muscle spasms persisting beneath the massage of hot water and he pursed his lips tightly. Obi-Wan struggled to control it; he knew Master Qui-Gon was extremely worried about him. And yet he also felt that there was something looming, bigger than this mission that would require him to be at his master's side. He couldn't afford to allow himself to be sidelined while Qui-Gon faced this danger alone. No, he had to be here. And ready.

Some minutes later he was finished and clothed in a fresh tunic and pants, barefoot and rapidly re-plaiting the somewhat water-abused braid when another train of thought began to carry him along. One that centered on his Master and the thick robe of the past that seemed to be blanketing him, something unusual for a Jedi whose constant admonition to Kenobi was to "keep your mind on the here and now." He had the uncanny sensation that his Master had been here once before, and realized with a certain embarrassment that he was intensely curious about it.

When Obi-Wan stepped out of the 'fresher, he found his Master awaiting him, pulling on the brown outer robe and he hurried to dress his feet and follow suit, pushing aside his own concerns to focus himself on the mission at hand, to center himself as his master had taught him and to listen to the Living Force.

A small handed knock at the door informed them that their presence was now requested, and so it was that Master and Padawan, hooded and alert followed after their guide to the welcome of their hosts.

++++++

"I told you to return to Coruscant." An ominously deep voice chastised her over the holo-link, and Nacena had to control herself from shrugging rebelliously. For all his sway over her, he had not fully broken her independence and somehow she knew she needed to keep that for a little longer at least. At least until she had fully dealt with Qui-Gon Jinn that is.

"I know, my Master." She replied, keeping her voice properly respectful. "But you also told me to mind my duties and they have taken me to the border world of Bahreen." The disgust in her master's expression, even hooded, hidden and holographically displayed, was clearly seen.

"Bahreen is the sister world to the Jedi, the one place where they are welcome without disdain or mistrust."

"I promise, my master that will not be so for long." She promised, licking her lips tantalizingly, knowing that he would not refuse her the chance to throw the Jedi into further disarray. "Would that not help further your designs?"

"It would." Her master's hooded head bobbed once in affirmation. "I give you three days' leave to accomplish your purposes on Bahreen. Who is the Jedi you have chosen?"

Nacena smiled serenely, her eyes somehow both beautiful and malevolent in the same instant.

"The Padawan of the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn."

"Excellent!" Darth Sidious actually almost smiled now. For he knew, as she did that if one could be destroyed, so would the other, and the repercussions would most definitely be felt throughout the Jedi Order. "You may proceed."