Obi-Wan kept reliving the events of earlier. He could not believe his master capable of striking him so vehemently, but it happened. He also could not believe his reaction to it, but again that happened as well.

Every nerve, every muscle, every fiber of his being twitched nervously as he continued the search to find Bruck.

My chances of being a knight is nil to none now. What will Master Tahl think of me? Surely when she spoke or I thought she spoke to me through our once shared bond she did not mean for me to raise my saber against Qui-Gon.

Sidious heard every word Obi-Wan thought. He had come to realize that the DNA supplied by the dead Tahl had startling properties unknown to him until now. Sidious pleasantly discovered the imprint of the dead Tahl's shared training bond with Obi-Wan interwoven explicitly through it. Thus with his shields up or down, the clone Tahl knew every word Obi-Wan spoke, knew in advance which direction he planned to walk, and knew all his most inner secrets; some of them would prove not Jedi worthy. His Tahl was still in everyway bonded to Kenobi.

Oh the delightfulness of this. An added treat I did not know a clone could possess. I suppose it is because the DNA came from a Jedi, strong in the force.

XOXO

With the master and the apprentice not speaking, not even acknowledging the other was around Dorrie was able to focus solely on her apprentice. The wavering communication between her and Bruck seemed to have strengthened. She felt the training bond grow stronger and with its added strength she was able to pinpoint where she thought Bruck was.

There, not far from where the altercation between Jinn and Kenobi had taken place was a run down plant or storehouse, a building of some kind. There did not seem to be any lights on and the windows were boarded shut. Dorrie became excited and rushed forward to where Master Jinn had taken helm and walked alone.

"Psst…. Qui stop a moment." Her command was barely above a whisper and the tall master had to use the force to actually hear it.

"Yes? Are you on to something?"

She pressed her index finger to her lips.

"Maybe, but if I am, we must be quiet."

Obi-Wan reached the two masters just as Dorrie began to explain, still in very soft monotones.

"LOOK! There ahead. Yes that's the place... that old building. Bruck's connection with me has grown even stronger since we resumed our search. I was fairly sure that this general area was where we should search for him right before I broke up that…. that disagreement you had with your apprentice. Now though, as we have gotten closer I am positive. My padawan is in there."

Qui-Gon surveyed the area around them. He wanted to be sure that they were not being watched. He ducked his head back down so as to be able to speak to Dorrie quietly and she could hear him.

"Have you made verbal mind contact with him? Can you speak to him through your bond or him to you?"

"No, but that might not necessarily come back as quickly as our bond. And well…. Uhhh. If you must know our mind communication is at best weak. Yes, we do mind speak but not as profoundly as some masters and apprentice. Our bond, well our bond is not as tenaciously maintained as most. You know?"

A swell of regret permeated Doris's mental outer shields. Jinn felt her despair and regret over her and her apprentice's fledgling bond as if it had been his own suffering.

Jinn put his hand on Dorrie's shoulder. Yes, he did know. He was not a man incapable of compassion. He understood how difficult it was for Dorrie to speak of her bond with Bruck especially since that bond was premature and dwarfed in nature.

"I understand. No matter now Dorrie. Let us rescue that apprentice of yours shall we?"

Obi-Wan was mystified by the master's gentleness toward Master Dorrie's situation. It was the first time Obi-Wan had seen any compassion in the master except for his feigned compassion for Master Tahl.

Dorrie nodded her head gratefully.

"I know it would help us if we knew how many we are going against but I just can't help you there. "

"I said it would be fine and it will be. I think our best bet is to rush them. Don't give our enemies any time to wage a counter attack against us."

There was an old familiar twinkle in her eye and a little added zest to her step. She hated to do battle but when another master, one as capable as Master Jinn was coupled with her, it brought a little rush, added adrenaline to her with just the thought of a pending battle.

"Can you do this?" It was the first words spoken between Obi-Wan and his master and they were words questioning his ability.

"I am still a Jedi, Master Jinn. I will do as told by you and I will do it well."

Kenobi noticed that his title was inconspicuously absent. It bothered him more than he would have admitted but for now, speaking terms with the man who'd just broken his nose was enough.

"I didn't mean to question your ability. I questioned your recovery from your injury."

It wasn't an apology but it was something. Something other than a criticism which is what he had expected.

"Oh the nose, it is fine. I mean this not out of disrespect, however I think you underestimate my stamina or overestimate the strength of your blow. It will not be a hindrance to me. Tell me what to do and consider it done, Master Jinn."

"Atta boy Obi-Wan. I am with him Jinni my man. We are both up to what you have to command us to do."

"Well then let us do it."

If Obi-Wan thought the harrowing miff between them had been settled, he would later be sadly mistaken. He would need to learn that Qui-Gon Jinn was Jedi through and through. He knew what his priorities were and at the moment it was seeing out that an eighteen year old kid needed rescued.

Satisfied that the boy would do as he was told, not positive how well he would do it, Qui-Gon began to set into motion his plan.

"Very well, let us begin. Master Starworth, go to the back and find its entrance. Surely there is one. Kenobi stay close to me. Do as I do when I do it. Draw your sabers only when you breach the entrance. We don't want the glow from them to alert whoever is in there with Bruck. Once in, scan the building as we battle our way through it. Whoever finds Padawan Chun first is to go to him and get him out of there."

"But Qui what if the other two Jedi left there need assistance?"

"No matter. I am in charge here and I say that is how it is to be, understand Master?"

"Yes but I don't like it. Don't like it at all. The other two could be left open for a wide range of problems."

"Maybe, but if my suspicions hold up, two Jedi can handily eliminate whatever or whoever is with Bruck. The important thing is to recover your apprentice safely, agreed?"

"Yes, but not at the cost of another Jedi's life. I still don't like it."

Dorrie's whispered voice was anxious with anticipation. She wanted her apprentice brought out alive but she wanted all the Jedi, herself included to remain safe.

"You don't have to like it just do it. Follow what I tell you and it will be fine."

Obi-Wan didn't know how "fine" it would be. Seemed dangerous to allow one Jedi even two, if you counted the captured Bruck, to leave while the other two fought what lay ahead of them. However, he would not question Master Jinn.

Obi noticed when Jinn spoke to him he did not tack on the customary "Padawan" to his name. Oh well he couldn't have it both ways. He couldn't share the mutual disrespect they had for each other and expect Jinn to show him any kind of reverence. Yet in spite of that joint disdain, he knew he would be expected to do so.

XOXO Sidious XOXO

The dark lord sat his desk, leaned back in his overstuffed and overly comfortable chair and picked at a delectable plate of exotic fruit. Even as he sat in the comfort and seclusion of his own dwelling he chose to remain covered and cloaked; his hood over his head, the layered dingy deep gray cowl of his tunic pulled up to his chin as if to hide from whoever would care to gaze upon him, dastardly looking as his appearance was.

He had put aside the clone Tahl's mechanical intelligence gathering devices in favor of listening to Darth Dyas recant what was going on at his end of the plan.

"Yes Master Sidious. The venerated Jedi Jinn thinks he is successfully mounting a sneak attack on Fett. The "Hunter" has been warned his droids are not to injure or maim the Jedi, only to appear to be doing battle to keep the padawan."

"Did you figure out how to get Fett out of there alive?"

"Hopefully I have, yes sir."

"For your sake I hope so. I did impress upon you before you left how important it was that Fett remain alive. I need him."

The merriment in Sidious' voice was replaced with a sinister growling tone. Dyas knew how fast his master's moods could change. He also knew his place with that unpredictable master.

"In this, I will not fail you Master."

XOXO

Inside the run down building was a bound, gagged, and blindfolded Bruck. His disheveled appearance would have no doubt shocked his master. He could not fathom how he must look, and with a quick whiff of his own body odor, what he smelled like. The force inhibitor drug, combined with his capture had tempered the young man's vile personality. You might call him somewhat humbled by the experience. Nevertheless, the real Bruck Chun quickly started to come back when the drug was slowly withdrawn from his system.

His arrogance began to return; only he kept it hidden. He would certainly never do anything to risk his own life. He thought of every nasty accusatory thing he could say when he was rescued. He would blame Obi-Wan for his taking. That brilliantly childish idea had popped into his head first and was the one thing that helped keep the terror of his capture out of his mind. He elaborately schemed to make Kenobi the fall guy. Of course he also thought of ways to make his master guilty for her part in not protecting him. He reasoned if he did make it out of this alive, Dorrie would be even more lenient on him than she already tried to be.

I will tell my side of the my capture and tell Master Dorrie and Master Jinn it was Kenobi who practically gave me over to whoever has me.

He hadn't learned who his captors were, nor did he want too. He only wanted his freedom and safety. Bruck Chun was not the normal Jedi. There wasn't an ounce of bravery or righteousness for others in his soul. He was a selfish, self centered kid who had clouded his master's mind with visions of a totally different person.

He didn't know what was going on around him. Low voices mumbling undistinguishable phrases were the only way he knew he was not alone. Yes, he knew he had been moved but he didn't know by whom, why, or where.

Bruck was also aware of the awakening of his training bond with his master, though it was only held together with a thin tendril of a connection. He wished now he'd worked on strengthening the mind communication between him and Dorrie. He used the time that should have been for working on it, for pranks and bullying the younger padawans.

My master and I can normally mind speak a little. Maybe the drug is not out of my system. Let me think. It has been nearly twenty-four hours since they gave me a hydro spray of it. I wonder how long it takes to shake it off entirely.

He could feel his master through their bond and in return he attempted to send her frantic pleas for help through it. The mental message sent might be garbled and the exact message might not get through but he could tell by the sudden awakening bond that they both had established a tentative connection again.

Qui-Gon was to signal Dorrie through her comm. When the red light on it blinked twice she was to rush the back door.

Bruck felt a small nudge through the force just before the Jedi broke through the doors. It was enough of a warning for him to take cover. He slid down off the chair he sat on and blindly groped his way around on the floor until he found an unknown piece of furniture to tuck his body tightly under.

The droids circled Bruck Chun as per programmed to do. Fett stood to the side, in darkened corner by an opened window. His only reason for being there was to make sure the Jedi "rescued" Bruck.

Once the Jedi were completely in the building he would be gone, leaving the expendable four battle droids to fight unsuccessfully against the Jedi.

Qui-Gon had instructed Dorrie to go in the building making as much noise as possible. He wanted the captors to be confused as they were attacked by two entrances instead of one.

As Dorrie waited to be commed, she contemplated Jinn's last and odd order to her. She shook her head and smiled as she remembered the request which was such a peculiar one from someone as serious as Qui-Gon.

His exact words to her had been;

"Go in like a trampling hoard of wild and ravenous banthas chasing a juicy fat Hutt………."

T.B.C.

XOXOX

You guys getting bored? My feedback has slacked off

ewen