Dorrie lay on the bottom bunk. Before her were several data pads with information about Master Jinn's last mission. She wanted to make sure she didn't miss anything. Bruck sat in a chair across from her and cleaned his saber. She looked up from reading when her apprentice spoke.

"Master that is not the way I remember Master Jinn. Something quite distinctive has changed, though I can't tell what."

"If it was so distinctive you should remember. That is something we always teach Jedi. You must have a good recollection to what is around you, the people, the terrain."

"I know but it has been nearly five years since I saw Master Jinn. I am eighteen now. I was thirteen in search of a master last time I remember seeing him."

"Very well, I will tell you this time, his hair. Those Dred locks are not the norm for Qui-Gon. He had them during his undercover mission and just kept them."

"Why, he doesn't look very Jedi-like."

"Yeah, well tell that to Quinlin Voss. He has them."

"Yes but he is like a.. a rogue Jedi, nothing like the norm."

"Well ever how Master Jinn looks, his before appearance or his present one, make no mistake my padawan, Master Jinn is not the norm for a master. He is quite unique and best you remember that."

"And Oafy-Wan is his apprentice. I can't believe that. I never thought if he lost his master another would be dumb enough to take him."

"Padawan, curtail that kind of talk now or your knees will be raw from meditations young man. I don't care how old you think you are. You must not speak that way against another Jedi. Obi-Wan is a far superior to other apprentices his age. He made senior padawan two years ahead of most."

As soon as she said it Dorrie regretted it. The gossip around the temple had told her that the boy had his senior apprenticeship taken back.

"Don't say it Bruck. I know, it was taken away but there was extenuating circumstances. Obi-Wan has had to deal with a large hurt in his life. It is very traumatic to lose a master, both physically and mentally awful. Let's cut him some slack and let's not refer to him Oafy-Wan in front of me or him, got it? Mind your P's and Q'S or your own senior apprenticeship might be questioned."

Bruck knew his master meant what she said about teasing Oafy but he also knew he had wrapped around his little finger. She would never think of demoting him with a serious thought.

"Don't worry Master. I have outgrown whatever was between Kenobi and me. Can I go get something to eat? You hungry?"

"You know I don't like to eat last meal too early. If I do, I will be up eating all hours of the night. You go ahead. I want to research this data from Master Jinn's last mission. Maybe you will run into to Master Jinn and Obi-Wan. Get the right foot forward and make amends. Offer to spar with him or something… Be kind!"

Bruck leaned over the lower bunk and planted a light kiss on his master's forehead.

"Anything for you my dear master, expect perfect behavior from me. I will be the proverbial gentleman to Obi-Wan when I see him. Sure you won't eat now?"

"Does it look like I have missed any meals? Now off with you and let me get this done."

Bruck spotted Obi-Wan at a small table by a portal. He seemed consumed with watching the stars pass. Master Jinn wasn't hard to spot either. He stood out in the crowd not just because of his size but his hair. Bruck loaded his food tray up in the cafeteria style line, paid for it, and had to decide which one of the Jedi he should ask to sit with.

He wasn't in the heckling mood and he also had in his mind fresh the statements from his master warning him not to start on Obi-Wan. Bruck hadn't had time to plan how to handle Kenobi yet. Master Jinn seemed like a perfect person to speak with right now.

Maybe I can learn more about how Kenobi is now.

Bruck weaved his way through the crowded cafeteria until he'd reached Master Jinn's table.

"May I sit down?"

Asking permission was just a formality for Bruck because before the master could even answer he plopped down in the chair right across from Qui-Gon and began preparing his food to eat.

With a raised eyebrow and an odd look, "Please take a seat Padawan Chun."

Master Jinn nervously tapped his fingers on the table. After that he moved around restlessly in his chair. He wanted nothing to do with this child before him and although Bruck was eighteen, a full two years older than Obi-Wan, Jinn considered him a child.

"Master Jinn if you would rather I leave for another seat.."

"No, no how inconsiderate of me. No, I just have things on my mind that keeps me preoccupied."

Qui-Gon dared a glance at the boy. He seemed very Jedi apprentice-like in appearance and calm aura around him. His snow white hair neatly groomed, his face radiated a clean sheen to it. Chun was a good four inches taller than his apprentice. A very strapping good looking young man, ran through Jinn's mind.

Jinn remembered how well Padawan Chun executed the kata he and his master were doing together.

Bruck Chun smiled sheepishly at the master.

"I guess Master Dorrie told you about Obi-Wan and I?"

"Yes, said you and he didn't get along. Anything you'd care to add?"

"Well I don't know if it is that simple. Of course that was a long time ago.. We were both vying for a master. I was taken right after Obi-Wan was chosen. Before though…."

Jinn hadn't been very interested in what caused the boys' riff but now he wanted to know more. He thought he could get more understanding of Obi-Wan if he did.

"Well?"

"Well what. I don't wish to speak about it behind your apprentice's back. I suppose though maybe you should be aware…."

Jinn waited. The boy had drawn him past curiosity and now he wanted more.

"You suppose what? I give you leave to speak freely about my apprentice."

"I suppose Obi-Wan had a lot of pent-up anger that's all. He certainly exhibited but I am sure Master Tahl got a lot of that out of him."

"So his anger was a problem for you, how so?"

"Master Jinn, I do not like to spread rumors and especially since they can't be collaborated. Master Yoda always chose not to find the wrongness or rightness in our arguments."

Jinn leaned up and over the table and placed both elbows on either side of his body to hold his weight.

"Just what is that suppose to mean?"

"It means we usually both received some kind of demerits or extra meditations. I told my side of the story and he told his."

"And Master Yoda believed my padawan over you?"

"Well not exactly he didn't say that, but the person in the wrong was not the only one punished, I was as well. You might as well know Master Jinn. Kenobi attacked me in the hall from the back. There was no obvious proof and Yoda didn't say I lied he just didn't say I didn't."

"Oh, so are you saying it was entirely Kenobi's fault for the ruckus brewed between the two of you?"

Chun looked down at his plate and let out a long sigh.

"Like I said Master Jinn, I don't wish to dredge all this up again or bring harm to your apprentice's stature now. I was attacked from the back, injured to where I needed medical attention, and still was not believed. I don't expect you to believe me now. Yes I got in a few knocks on Kenobi and he too had to seek medical assistance but I was blameless in all of it except to defend myself."

There was a bit of anger in his voice, yet a certain innocence came out too. Bruck had become very good at telling his side of the story.

"If that is true, you had every right to protect yourself."

Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and closely studied the boy for any reaction. He considered himself a pretty good judge of character and could tell when another was lying by direct eye contact.

Bruck is not lying in this. It was Kenobi. Why did Tahl ever take him as her apprentice? His true personality must have laid and smoldered. Until he became the uncaring padawan that he was when he allowed Tahl to trek alone on a mission.

Bruck seemed excited that Master Jinn would not necessarily blame him. Bruck was a very good actor and even better liar.

"Yes, exactly that is what I thought, but I suppose I was wrong. In some ways I felt the council masters tended to side with Obi-Wan. I heard that he was and always had been one of Yoda's favorite."

That inflamed Jinn even more. He was not aware his master had taken such an interest in the boy and in some ways was jealous of it. He studied Bruck more after the conversation died down. There was part of him that would have wanted nothing better than to take a good and worthy apprentice like Bruck Chun, for the right reason; to actually train. Now though he knew he was stuck with this low-life of an apprentice at least until he could get Kenobi drummed out of the Jedi.

Maybe after all this is settled and Obi-Wan Kenobi is out of my life I can seriously consider taking an apprentice, one that I will sincerely want to mentor to knighthood. One just as exceptional as Padawan Chun appears to be.

In the cafeteria

Obi-Wan had been so busy with his thoughts as he stared out the portal that he didn't even notice Bruck Chun. His master had told him about the other Jedi team but he hadn't told him which team it was. Now as he got up to leave the cafeteria he saw the other apprentice.

Bruck Chun, I can' believe it. And I thought my luck couldn't get any worse. Why didn't Master Jinn tell me who it was? Does he know Bruck and I don't get along? Look pretty chummy together. Master Jinn is all smiles with him. He has barely graced me with a hint of a smile, let alone all out laughing as he is now.

Obi-Wan couldn't explain it. He knew he would never be a true apprentice to Jinn, he didn't want to be. However, he didn't suspect for a minute the evil plans his new master had for him. He would never have dreamed a Jedi master was capable of plotting what Jinn did to drum him out of the Jedi corp.

Qui-Gon felt the fiery questioning eyes of his new apprentice baring down on him as Padawan Kenobi tried to make his exist out of the dining area. He couldn't avoid his master and his arch nemesis, Bruck because the only way to exist the dining hall was to walk right by the table they sat at.

"Padawan, come here please."

Jinn's tone was sharp, the stern threatening stare he cast Obi told the teen to hurry and do as he was told. The master did not seem a very good mood.

"Yes Master?"

"Bruck has just been enlightening me on your falling out with him. Anything you care to add?"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and hid his clenched fists up his robe sleeves. He didn't need to know what Bruck Chun said. He knew it was the same old same old just by the anger his master exhibited for him. Bruck always claimed to be blameless in any argument or actual fight they were in, and he couldn't imagine Chun had changed all that much.

"It's unlikely I could give you more insight. It seems you have already formed your opinion of what happened and what didn't just by your tone."

"So you don't choose to deny ANY of what Bruck has told me? Do you not wish to know what Master Starworth's apprentice said about you?"

Bruck waited nervously to see if Obi-Wan would indeed refute his story.

"It has been many years Master Jinn. I have been cleared of any wrong doing and I don't wish to rehash the past. "

Jinn waved Obi-Wan off with his hand.

"Very well. Just go to your room and meditate on your anger."

"Excuse Master Jinn. I certainly don't mean to contradict you but I have no anger."

"YOU. HEARD. ME. PADAWAN!" Qui-Gon was so loud he drew the attention from some of the passengers nearest him.

"Or would you rather I write you up and let the council handle your disrespect?"

Kenobi couldn't imagine what the master referred too. He knew though that he did not want to do anything that would tarnish the memory of his master. Getting written up on the first day with his new master would, Obi thought, damage Tahl's memory. He sucked up his anger and bowed as gracefully as he could. As he arose he noticed the smirk on Bruck's face before the other apprentice quickly turned his head so as not to allow Master Jinn to see it.

"As you say M.A.S.T.E.R." Obi-Wan turned to go.

"Hey Kenobi wait up. I have to go back to my room to study. I will keep you company on your trip back to your room. I am fairly sure Master Jinn wants some time alone."

"Well thank you Padawan Chun, how considerate. Yes, I would like some time to think about the mission. Run along Kenobi. You and I will discuss your rudeness when I return to our room."

On the harsh rocky world of Geonosis, a ringed planet beyond the borders of the Galactic Republic, business transactions were taking place that the Jedi would have liked to have been privy to, but were not. In the middle of the cloning factory stood Poggle the lesser, archduke of Geonosis. Beside him, lavishing praise on him was his newest and best customer at the present, Syfo Dyas.

Poggle was not sure who funded the project Dyas had given him in mass producing so many extra heavy duty battle droids and the archduke of Geonosis could have cared less. This customer clearly had unending resources and Poggle made sure his request all and any of them were completed on times with the best possible mechanical beings his plants could produce.

However, what he received such praise for right now was not due to the thousand of super droids mass produced, it was one sole clone worked on tirelessly, made in such exquisite detail the arch duke had promised Syfo Dyas no one would know the difference.

"And to think you did this with just a minute splatter of blood. I am impressed Poggle."

"It does not take much DNA for my doctors to simulate a clone, nearly nothing at all. With the hyper chamber to speed the growth of the cells, we have almost the person that once was, only this one is yours entirely yours ; at your beck and call, whatever reason you wish to use it for."

The archduke walked up close to the glass and Syfo Dyas followed.

Sidious' apprentice traced an outline in the glass of the figure behind it.

"Well, we shall soon see if it is as good as you say. Have the clone packaged and ready. I want to leave by nightfall. And remember not a word. My anonymity is of the utmost importance. This clone is not to be duplicated nor is it to be discussed with anyone."

Poggle bowed.

"As you wish m'lord. Everything is done to your specifications and wishes."

Obi-Wan had been on his knees meditating for over three hours. He did this penance not for his master, but for himself. His guilt for wayward thoughts against both Bruck and his new master would not let go of his mind. Although Bruck had not said much on their return to their rooms it was just the sneering and sniggering he did that worried Obi-Wan. He suspected Bruck Chun had not changed much in the last five years and that he would if he could cause innumerable problems for Obi-Wan. Those problems would only be exacerbated by his new master's belief that Chun had told him the truth about their past disagreements.

Qui-Gon entered the cabin. The only light was a dim beam from the fall of dusk that came through one of three portals in the cabin.

He sensed rather than saw the apprentice that knelt deep in meditation right in the middle of their cabin.

The words to his new apprentice rang just as true with the venom that his words earlier were coated with.

"Very good. Glad to see you are capable of following orders, my orders. Now you are excused for bed."

Obi-Wan got up and bowed to his master. He was all so glad the room was darkened by night. Or else, Master Jinn might have seen the sheen of unshed tears that threatened

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