The Jedi continued their over two hour trek to Gunray's mines. The female master, very attuned to the feelings of the young, felt Obi-Wan's misery. No it did not bleed through her mind, she observed it visibly, the old fashion way. The dejected hunched over swagger, with the head hung down, yes Obi-Wan Kenobi was less than thrilled at being forcibly and so totally bound to Jinn.

Dorrie had figured out by now that neither the master nor the apprentice really wanted the bond. Jinn had done it principally for her apprentice and for that she was thankful. Obi-Wan had finally gone along with it for the same reason and she was gratefully thankful for his resign to bond with Jinn.

She told herself the unwilling completed bonding of Jinn and Kenobi was right to save her apprentice. However, deep down she knew she might have forfeited two very competent Jedi when not put together for the sake of one, Bruck Chun.

The mines

"Honorable Jedi to what do I owe this visit? Surely Chancellor Valorium still does not seek our joining of the Federation. I thought that had been a moot issue since the last Republic Senate meeting."

"No, that is not why we have come. You had to have heard of the incidence that happened to me and another Jedi a few weeks back. You being viceroy of Neimoidian would give you privy to all things concerning your world would it not?"

"Rumblings Sir Jedi, only rumblings of something that transpired on our fair city's streets. Was the Jedi involved, how tragic. Attacked to be robbed no doubt. Had you come to me when you arrived I could have offered protection from such low-life, Unless perhaps your visit was not to be publicized to me."

The viceroy of Neimoidia paced the floor and cast a look of suspicion Qui-Gon's way. A smirk formed on his face, one Jinn did not take kindly too especially since they had just been talking about Tahl's demise.

Qui-Gon stepped forward and pulled the viceroy to him by the front of his robes. Dorrie stepped up to intercede. However, with the look Jinn cast her, the low growl, and the tumultuous aura that radiated from him, she stepped back immediately. It was not a good time to interrupt the infuriated master.

For the first time Obi-Wan reacted to his new master's conversation. He jerked his head up with the mention of Tahl and all the raw emotions of losing her flooded out. His master glanced over at him momentarily enforcing the boy's shields then continued with the viceroy.

"You know very well a Jedi died here on your planet. NO I didn't check in with you when I arrived. In fact the reason I was here was because of you and your mine dealings."

Dorrie was the one shocked. She did not think Qui-Gon had the authority to admit why he was sent there by the Jedi and Valorium to investigate the viceroy of Neimoidia.

"Oh so you were here snooping. Just as I suspected, Valorium set his little guard dogs on me. Did you find anything to convince you my dealings in buying the mines were anything less than proper? Of course not. Now just what is it you want this time? If it is to complain about your attack on you previous visit here, take it up with the proper authorities. I can point you to the city constable. He handles things like that, not me."

Gunray pulled himself out of Jinn's grip.

"Tread lightly Jedi. You are not welcome here, you or your other guardians of peace. Be aware that I will see to it that every move you make is closely monitored."

The viceroy accented the words "guardians of peace" as if they sickened him.

"Yes, well you should be aware that I know you have as your property, droids; droids identical the ones that killed Master Tahl. Advanced battle droids bought on Geonosis and those droids mirror the ones Jango Fett owns or controls. I believe it is the Dark lord that owns them. I also believe you and he have some type of working agreement going on. It could be that it was Sidious and you that sent the droids after Tahl and I that night. And if what suspect, for it is only suspicion now, is true you will come back to Coruscant and stand trial."

"I will attribute your ridiculous accusations to being in the throes of grief for your companion. That is the only way I could allow you to speak to me in such a manner."

"Look my apprentice was taken on Geonosis and we have it on good word who took him."

"Certainly not me."

"No, we can't connect you with any wrongdoing yet. If you want to know who we suspect took Padawan Chun it is the dark lord Sidious. We just want to make sure you have no dealings with him. That would make you as guilty as he and his henchman Jango Fett."

Gunray nearly stumbled and fell with Jinn's threat of bringing charges against him.

"Look I don't even know if Sidious is here. If so, what he does is in no way linked to me."

Jinn noticed beads of perspiration pooling on the scaly frog-faced leader and the corner of his mouth twitched nervously.

Yes, we definitely have his attention. From the looks of it, he is nervous.

"Don't let me find out you had anything to do with Master Tahl's death or the kidnapping of Master Starworth's apprentice."

"Why or you would have the federation troops put on me, you and Valorium? I do not fear your threats."

Hatred for Valorium could clearly be heard in Gunray's voice.

Jinn pulled his apprentice to him and motioned for Dorrie to follow…….

Once at the door, Qui-Gon spoke without ever having turned to face the oily slime bag of a viceroy.

"No it has nothing to do with Chancellor Valorium or the trade Federation."

Qui-Gon turned so quickly on the viceroy that he jumped from fear. The Jedi stepped forward, right up in front of Gunray's face.

"I will kill you with my bare hands should I find you had a hand in all this……."

XOXOXOXOOX

Still in a weakened state from his previous injury and infection it took all of Obi-Wan's energy to catch up with his new master. Once he walked right beside him, Obi spoke. He slipped back behind his master and continued walking.

" STAY OUT!"

Jinn slowed his step and lowered his head so as to better hear the boy.

"Excuse me, what. Did. You. Say. To. Me.?"

"I felt you back there… in my mind. I said STAY OUT!"

"I assure you I was not "in" your mind. I only boosted your shielding. Your thoughts are your own. I attempted to insure they stayed that way."

This was not exactly true. Qui-Gon got glimpse of the teen's memory when his shields did slip but he made every effort to give Obi-Wan his mental his privacy. In fact he feared to "see" Obi-Wan's thoughts of Master Tahl. He did not want to be reminded of her at the moment when another Jedi, under his direction was in harm's way.

"Listen MASTER Jinn, I have decided I don't want to be your apprentice but of course you knew that as you forced me to complete this training bond with you. And I won't be once this mission is over. I plan to ask the council to have the healers break it even it means I must leave the Jedi. "

"Well at least we agree on something? We agree this bond was forced on both of us. It was for Master Starworth's apprentice that I agreed to it and forced it on you.."

Obi-Wan stopped and stared up into his master's face.

Dorrie slammed her shields up. She didn't want to feel the anguish that was floating from Obi-Wan's mind. Jinn was overwhelmed with the teen's psychological suffering. He strengthened his own shields as he battled furiously to keep Obi-Wan's in tact.

"So I was right. You didn't want me as your apprentice. I don't know why you stepped up to claim me. What… to exact some revenge on me for my master's death? I don't need you to blame me Master Jinn I do that quite well without you……."

Obi-Wan continued walking leaving the master confused to the point of anger. Jinn hastily caught up with his apprentice. He refused to allow Obi-Wan to have the last word.

The master had to get in front of Kenobi to block his path. He reached out, grabbed Obi-Wan's arm, and had that hand violently knocked away.

He ignored the apprentice's evident venomous reaction to his touch.

"Look Padawan Kenobi, it is not only my right
but my duty to…."

The enraged apprentice launched to a tirade contradicting Master Jinn's words.

"Your right? You presume to have the right to invade my mind without my permission and to form a bond with me before I was afforded my right as a Jedi apprentice to refuse it. When a master and apprentice come together they test their compatibility, decide conclusively if they want to bond, and proceed accordingly per agreement of master and apprentice. I did not get to do that."

Obi-Wan's jaw muscles quivered, and worked feverishly in a gnarring motion with his mouth clamped shut; all signs of fighting to control his anger. His breath came in little puffs as he attempted to regulate his emotions.

"And don't even talk about duty. You don't even know the meaning of the word. If you felt it your duty to train me as you promised my true master, Tahl, you would not have desecrated her memory by being less than an honorable master to me. You know MASTER Jinn you are not like Master Tahl, not in any way. You know nothing of duty and should not be given any "rights" over another human being."

Jinn stood there with his mouth hung opened in disbelief until Dorrie caught up with him. She hooked her arm through one of his and literally dragged him with her.

"Come on Qui-Gon we have a mission. Obi-Wan's words come from fear and hurt that is all."

"I don't care where they came from. When we successfully recover your apprentice, that boy up there and I am going to have it out, all of it from his master's death to his disrespectfulness."

XOXOXOX Sidious XOXOXOXOXO

"They didn't waste any time did the Jedi?"

"No M'Lord. They are here and they assume it is the dark who lord responsible for the kidnapping of their apprentice."

"Well I suppose we will have to confront them won't we?"

Jango Fett nervously shifted his weight from one foot to other. He was not gifted with the force of the dark side and thus in no real hurry to meet up with Jinn and the others. Syfo Dyas seemed excited at the prospect of the challenge of confronting the Jedi.

"Have we learned anything from the other Jedi apprentice?"

Sidious turned his attention to Syfo Dyas, totally ignoring the Hunter.

Dyas bowed. "Yes Darth Sidious."

"Did it require much torture to drag the info out of him?"

"Humph what do you mean torture? I didn't even have to threaten the boy. He opened up like a rain cloud and showered me with what I believe to be everything his low rung on the Jedi ladder allowed him knowledge of."

With his lips pressed against his steepled fingers, the dark lord feigned a stifled chuckle.

"Not so brave was he?"

"Not so brave would not be a phrase to describe this one. Totally unlike any Jedi I have ever met. Made my job of interrogating him easy but with no torture involved all so boring."

Sidious now laughed out laugh.

"Yes I do seem to remember how much exhilaration it gives you to use torture on your captives."

Dyas looked up and returned the evil smile to his dark master who in return, laughed out loud; something very unusual for him. Darth Dyas saw his words amused his master and continued to explain what happened when he spoke with Bruck Chun.

"You might say he turned into a proverbial babbling brook. He kept talking until I actually had to stop him."

"And did he tell you anything useful."

"Just that Master Jinn has now taken the Kenobi apprentice under his wing. New master needed to replace the dead one, you know."

"Humm… that only strengthens my opinion of the Kenobi Jedi and his powers possessed. Master Jinn is considered one of the most prestigious and mighty masters today in the Jedi order."

Syfo Dyas nodded his head in agreement.

"From what I understand yes he is, Master."

"Stands to reason the best would train the one that has the potential the to be the strongest in the future."

"Ahh… I see what you mean. Kenobi was given to Jinn because of his Jedi powers, yes?"

" Could be.. Could be."

Jango stepped forward. He wanted to waylay the praise he saw Syfo Dyas receiving that he did not feel the dark apprentice deserved.

"Excuse me, as I understand it Jinn was once Kenobi's master's lover. I can see that might have had something to do with him taking Kenobi."

"The High Master Yoda does things for reasons.. Not because of an old love affair. No Jinn has Kenobi for stronger reasons within the force than a failed love affair. Now all we have to do is get the other apprentice and decide what to do with this one."

Sidious pinched his lower lip with his forefinger and thumb. He sat there thinking for a good five minutes and his apprentice and the bounty hunter stood in silence.

"Bait?"

Syfo Dyas got what the dark lord meant immediately. Jango, slow at understanding things did not.

"Yes, oh Sidious what a wonderful idea. I can get on it right away. Set it up. We can have Kenobi very soon in our grasp. "

"I hope so. I go weary of Fett's bumbling attempts."

Sidious tossed a look over his shoulders at the "Hunter".

"How many does it make you now. Two attempts and two failures at bringing me who I want. Not a good record is it Fett?""

The angered Hunter stepped forward. He ignored Sidious' count of his failed missions he'd been sent on.

"Could you explain just how Syfo Dyas, with all his great wisdom plans to secure the Kenobi boy? Like you said the Jedi will be on guard this time."

"It won't be entirely Syfo Dyas. I am not the dark lord because I sit back and await for things to happen. I make them happen. I myself am capable of a little force manipulation. A few mind suggestions placed carefully so as to avoid the bond in his head with his master, and I can maneuver the boy away from the Jedi. Fett, you can ready a small but inconspicuous troupe of a couple of droids heavily armed and yourself. Meet Darth Dyas and I back here in an hour.""

Syfo Dyas glanced at Fett. His face alit with humor.

"Yes excellent. You are just brilliant."

Sidious was a man who endeared himself to praise.

A angry Jango Fett continued to voice his disagreement.

"Just how do you plan to get close enough to put these thoughts in the Jedi apprentice's mind. Your safety could be jeopardized if you move in too close on them."

"Well I would certainly be in danger if I had to depend on you doing your duty and protecting me. Luckily I have Syfo Dyas here; one who I trust with my life. Besides I don't intend to get close enough for the Jedi do wrought me harm."

Sidious nodded to Syfo Dyas, who in turn went to the closet door. It was really just plain closet but what walked out was nothing plain.

It was the clone Jango Fett had been sent to Geonoisis to pick up. It was the perfect image of Tahl, from her soft subtle skin to her sightless eyes. Someone, Jango Fett reasoned it was Dyas, had fashioned a working saber just like the one the real Jedi master Tahl had carried when she was killed. It too was as precise in detail and appearance as her person was. Jango had to nod his agreement. The Kenobi Jedi would not know this clone was not the real Tahl.

Jango remembered getting the clone but he did not know how the dark lord planned to use the droid until now.

"Oh so I see. You plan to let the droid get close enough?"

"Well, it won't be that easy. She will be my messenger; her voice in Kenobi's mind. She will be the one who will draw the boy out for us. Once he is far enough away from his new master and the other one, we can nab him. By the time we have this Tahl programmed; she will be so convincing Kenobi will be near insanity in his belief that this clone is really his former master. I suspect we might even get the boy to side with us willingly and maybe even help with the demise of the other Jedi. We might just have to have our Master Tahl suggest to Kenobi that it ws the cowardly Jinn who caused her injury. We will have her convince him she is speaking to him from the beyond the realm of the living, a ghost as it was."

Sidious laughed again. He was becoming more and more pleased with his plan as he shared it with Jango Fett and Syfo Dyas.

"That still doesn't explain what you want me ultimately do with the other apprentice."

Syfo Dyas had been listening to Fett ramble. Now he wanted to voice his idea.

"Master Sidious." He politely bowed as he stepped up in front of Sidious.

"If I may make a suggestion?"

"Yes what is it?"

"I think maybe we should give the other apprentice back. Not just "GIVE" him back, make it look like they, the Jedi successfully rescued him from us."

The scowl on Sidious' face told the indifference he felt for Dyas' idea. However, he did not wish to censure him in front of Jango."

"And just how may I ask would the apprentice's faked rescue advance our cause?"

"They would be more relaxed, the Jedi I mean. They would be feeling a little arrogant, proud of themselves. We could let Fett pretend that he is ambushed. That way, the Jedi will not be in such pursuit of us."

Sidious' eyebrows rose with excitement.

"AH… dear apprentice I see your point. It would do what they say... Take the heat off of us a trifle and we could focus on Master Tahl beckoning Kenobi to us."

"Very well Fett, see to what I told you earlier. Syfo Dyas prepare our sabers. I have some programming to do on this little missus here. I need to program in her how to mentally trap the Kenobi boy

XOXOXO

Thank you for the feedback.. It fuels my desire to write.

Hold onto your hats and watch for another post over the weekend. The "FUN" will begin!

Although be warned there will be abusive issues to deal with in later chapters. Bother you? Then maybe you won't want to read it but remember Obi-Wan is sixteen. He can hold his own against an enraged master or can he?

ewen