Padawan Sydney Bristow- thanks for being so constant with your posts.

Amber 75- hope you keep reading. Rough road for ahead for our dynamic Jedi duo.

Jkay- Keep coming back, and I will try to be prompt with my posts and finish the story.

Meretsegern- Same goes for you. Seems we both still share the enjoyment of Q/O stories

Jedi Kelium Kenobi- You've posted a couple of times and I am grateful.

Shadows Run- Cool name hope to see it on my feedback list again.

Jo- Don't let your one time be your only time. Come back!

Spencer Brown- Rocky road ahead for both Qui and Obi stick around!

Hakkai - Gojyo - Goku - Sanzo- Your looooong name keeps popping up Pop back again!

ewen

"Master Jinn…. Qui-Gon…."

His name was not being called; it was literally shouted by the other master with him.

Dorrie rushed out of the small second bedroom in a hysterical tizzy.

"Is something wrong Master Starworth?"

"No, on the contrary it is absolutely right. I felt Bruck through our bond. Yes it was fleeting, not more than a flutter through the force but it's there. It's finally really there."

By now Dorrie had reached Qui-Gon, latched onto his arm, and jumped up and down in ecstatic jubilation. Her unbraided long brown hair whipped from side to side making herappear as crazed as she sounded and acted.

"Don't you understand what this means Jinni ole boy?"

"Well it could mean his captors waited too long between medicating Bruck or that they have completely stopped using the inhibitor drug. I suspect the last suggestion is not necessarily a viable one."

"OH Jinn quit being so sterile. However you want to phrase it, it can only mean that I can now trace him."

"It was enough of a touch through your bond with your apprentice that you know where he is?"

Obi-Wan had sat lifelessly on his bed of their rented cottage since returning from their meeting. The two masters had decided to strategize what to do next.

Since officially being bound with his new master his mood could only be described as stubbornly silent. The news that Bruck had made some kind of mental contact did bring him into a more alert but no less depressed state.

"Padawan prepare yourself. We will leave in search of Padawan Chun, as soon as Master Starworth feels she has something to go on as to where he is."

The only inkling he had that his reluctant padawan heard him was watching the teen rise to do as he was told. Kenobi did not even nod his head to acknowledge Qui-Gon.

Master Jinn knew he should reprimand the boy for actions unbecoming an apprentice. Never should the master direct his apprentice without a return "Yes Master " out of courtesy. Jinn reasoned he would accept the discourteousness from his apprentice for now with so much on the line. Finding Bruck was the first priority, his new apprentice would have to come second.

Three hours of searching and nothing. Every time Dorrie thought she had a FIX on her apprentice it turned out to be not so. Qui-Gon had even accused her of having them run around in circles and upon looking at the path that had just taken she reluctantly agreed.

"I know he is somewhere around here Qui."

"Maybe we should go back to the cottage and retire for the night, resume our search tomorrow morning fresh and rested. It is dark now. Could be hard finding Bruck and even harder rescuing him in the darkness coupled with this heavy veil of fog."

"NO!" You go back if you are that tired. Take your apprentice with you."

"No Master Starworth, I am not Master Jinn. I can handle a little exertion to save a Jedi. Maybe just maybe if more effort had been expended on saving Master Tahl, she would have been here now with us."

Obi-Wan slammed his opened palm over his mouth. He could not see his master's face because of the darkness and he was behind him, but if he could he would have looked away.

Whatever brought that on? Yes, I have thought it but today… Wow why would I just up and say that. I don't know anything factual about the mission Jinn and Master Tahl was on.

The cloak of night prevented the padawan from seeing what was happening but nothing kept his ears from hearing the whooshing sound of his master's robe as he wheeled around to confront Obi-Wan.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY. TO. ME.?"

His wish had been that maybe he hadn't spoken loud enough to be heard over the whishing and swirling wind around them. Obi-Wan now knew that was not the truth. Jinn had evidently heard every word Obi-Wan meant to think and not say.

Stand up to him Padawan. I taught you a fight worth fighting is a fight worth finishing. Now do it, answer Master Jinn. Tell him you did not speak your words to him.

"I don't believe I spoke to you Master Jinn."

Even as he said what was directed by his thoughts he wandered where they came from. Worse than where they came from was the realization that he knew the speaker of those words. The voice in his head sounded like his former master, his now dead master.

Obi-Wan's knees began to knock to together, his skin became bumpy with goose flesh. He thought, no he knew he must be out of his mind to say what he just said to a Jedi master, his Jedi master, the most revered master next to Yoda in the Jedi order, but how could he not? It was a direct order from someone who he'd always followed their command loyally. He would not revoke that loyalty now.

Tell him you directed your comments to Master Starworth not to him. Tell Jinn also your statement is no less true no matter to whom they were directed.

"My words were in reply to Master Starworth not directly to you. Nevertheless, it does not diminish the truth of them."

The quick succession of the litany coming through his mind came from one person he thought he would never here from again, at least while still alive. Master Tahl driveled out every word she wanted Obi-Wan to say and in turn he said them.

It happened so quickly and without forethought. Obi-Wan waited in the darkness for what would surely be the most scathing verbal rebuke, possibly coupled with some physical reaction to what he had just spewed venomously out to his new master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

Master Jinn was so taken aback at what his new apprentice said that he lit the emergency light. The one all Jedi carried with them on their utility belts.

The beam from the small lantern cut a barely visible path through the murkiness that was created by the darkness of night mixed with the dewy moist mist that rolled off the river, not twenty feet from them.

Obi-Wan was now finally able to see the master coming his way. The light cast an eerie haze as it mixed with the fog. Jinn moved as if in slow motion, step by agonizingly slow step toward Obi-Wan. The apprentice was unable to distinguish where Jinn's silhouette began and ended. The fog that surrounded them seemed to cling to the already large Jedi master making him appear to be an unnatural manifestation that was twice as big and thus twice as menacing.

Obi-Wan told himself that between the fog and the small light around it, what he was seeing was only an optical illusion. His master could not possibly be as threatening looking as he appeared.

Pearly white droplets of sweat covered his face, Obi rubbed his hands against the sides of his robe to relieve himself of the clammy and sticky residue his own sweat had produced. His respiration came in quick little inhales, exhales that caused him to hyperventilate until he was immobilized in a dizzy-like trance. If he had wanted to run away, he couldn't have. His congealed form wouldn't have allowed it.

Padawan Kenobi knew that running from this predicament was not an option. Between his new master that looked to be headed for him in nothing less than an incensed rage and his former dead master who mind spoke to him in what could only be described as Sith bourn syllables, it all suddenly almost became too much for the young man to handle…ALMOST…..

ewen

XOXOXOXOXO

Teaser for next post. Be warned it deals with abuse of sorts. If that bothers you, don't read any more posts after this one.

Sidious sat at his desk listening to everything that his clone was saying to Obi-Wan. Sidious "rigged" the clone Tahl so what she saw and heard would be sent to him. He could enjoy the torment of master and apprentice while it was happening.

This is lovely all so lovely. I can't wait for MY Tahl to begin interjecting thoughts to Master Jinn's mind. Wait till I tell Darth Dyas about the added ruse I have concocted. Not only will Tahl interfere with Obi's mind, she will be conjuring up all kinds of negative thoughts of his newly acquired apprentice for Jinn to contemplate. This added deception should bring me an abundance of amusement as I await the delivery of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi to me.

TBC

Thanks to Kyer I corrected a sentence in the teaser. It was confusing. I used "He" when I should have a name.

ewen