Again I am sorry for not answering each feedback. I noticed a couple of new readers. Thank You and I mean that sincerely. I have been fooling with this chapter, which I wanted to be special, let me know and it seems I have neglected my class work. I have three stories to read and evaluate, you know choose minor, major characters, then give my summation of each individual story.. All that has to be done Tuesday, late afternoon, after work. That my friends will take some doing so I am off to do it. Read this, let me know what you thought about Xani's develoing character,and hopefully a new chapter will be up by Thurs, or sooner. ewen
XOX At the dark lord's dwelling XOX
"You certainly didn't waste any time getting here. Two days; almost miracle record speed from Telos."
"Well like I said my mission is two-fold, it doesn't just benefit you but me as well. I don't' want Gunray on Telos stirring up trouble. I have already heard about that fiasco he created with the Jedi."
"Yes I know about that. I thought I might get the credit or blame for it."
"Well I am sure if you are not seen as the provocateur of the Jedi massacre on my home world, I will be. That is why I am here instead of at home where I prefer. I rarely leave anymore. Can't trust the Jedi not to drum up some bogus charges against me and I would wind up incarcerated for something. I am safer on my own turf."
"Speaking of Jedi, I have one I want you to meet."
Xani sucked in a deep breathe and held it before he finally gasped it out in surprise.
"Oh shit you are not messing with them as well. Had I known that I might not have come? I try to steer clear of all Jedi."
"This one might hold a certain interest for you. Apprentice Dyas bring the boy out."
"Boy, a youngling now I know I don't want involved. I am not keen on interfering with Yoda's younglings."
"He is not under Yoda. This one has his own master. He is a padawan not an initiate."
"No matter to that meddlesome little gnome, Yoda. Until they are knighted, he considers all younglings HIS."
"Still I think this one will produce a certain interest for you."
Sidious turned his hood-covered head and watched Kenobi be led in, still groggy and force hampered by the drugs used on him.
"Ah.. Here he is now."
"Allow me to introduce you to Obi-Wan Kenobi, new apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn, future apprentice to me, his even newer master."
Sidious had begun to believe there was nothing he could say to the young man before him that could render him speechless of his curt and self confident replies like the ones De'Crion had for him the first time they spoke. However, with the mention of his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn Sidious accomplished it.
Xanatos angrily began to walk away, out the door he had only minutes earlier entered. He threw his hands up in disgust and turned to face Sidious once more..
"You fool!"
Dyas released his grip on Kenobi and let Fett continue to tether the boy up in place with just one arm; lopsided and drooping down was his other half of his body. He then drew his double edged red saber lightening fast upon freeing his hands and would have used it, intended to kill Xanatos for his disrespectful remarks to his master.
Sidious threw his hand out to stop Syfo Dyas as he advanced toward De'Crion. Xanatos stood still. Fear had never been in his vocabulary. Sidious watched with growing interest Xani's cavalier reaction. The dark lord had been aware of the failed Jedi's own hand hovering cautiously over his own saber; Sidious supposed a left over souvenir of the Jedi no doubt provided unwillingly or unknowingly.
"The man has balls, gotta give him credit for that. His insolence might one day kill him but he is a brave one. Can't teach that at least the Jedi can't, that comes from good genes. This Xanatos might work well with me. Certainly could help me with a possibly unruly Jedi apprentice Kenobi. Yes, that I will discuss with him later. After this mess clears up."
Sidious continued to watch Xanatos for any reaction that would indicate he feared the predicament he was in, still nothing. The man had not moved his hand one inch closer to grasp his own weapon.
"Wait Dyas…. You know most would be gutted instantly for what you just said……. Mr. De'Crion is it?"
Sidious knew perfectly well his name. It was just to put Xani in his place, as if his title held no importance to him which was far, far from the truth. He had suddenly taken a deep nearly revered interest in the fallen Jedi.
"You still may die for it but first my curiosity has piqued. Why would you put yourself in a position of possibly being killed for what you said to me? Just why does the mention of Jinn's name root so much despair."
"It isn't that… Well maybe it is. Jinn and I parted on less than friendly terms but I hold no animosity for him now. I just want to reap my financial rewards from the mines I inherited from my father."
"A father your own Jedi master killed isn't that right?"
"I don't wish to discuss it. Let it rest, I have.I know what happened that day as does Qui-Gon. No one else needs to know anything about my father's death other than he is dead and by Jinn's hand."
Xanatos sent one quick glance toward the apprentice who seemed to have come to life a little. The pastel blue eyes, so painfully confused looked at him in awe. Xani guessed Obi-Wan heard enough to know who he was.
"After all I am a legend in my own rights at the temple among the padawans."
"Look if you don't plan to kill me with that double blade of your apprentice's, I am going to turn and walk out that door. If you do happen to sic him on me, we will just have to see who comes out the victor. I want nothing more to do with the Jedi, especially the harming of a youngling."
Xanatos turned to go a second time and hesitated yet again. He looked back up at Sidious whose gaze had not left De'Crion, though he turned his back on the dark lord, twice now.
"Why any way? Just answer me that before I go."
"Oh now, now calm down. You really should stay and not just for the answer to your question; longer than that, much longer. I want to take you up on your offer to aid me setting Gunray on his way."
"Yeah, well let me reiterate my stance on this. I don't want trouble with the Jedi and I am not into abusing kidnapped little boys, "ain't" my thing, all right?"
"Neither is it mine I assure you. Had I been anyone else I would be offended by your words. Words that make me sound like some dirty old letch. Would it surprise you to know I don't plan to bring Jinn's apprentice any more harm than is absolutely necessary to keep him under control. I want him at my side always; healthy, strong, and protecting me one day?"
"Just why is that? This is the second time I have asked and still I have not gotten an answer. Are you avoiding telling me why you chose Jinn's apprentice out of all the other Jedi padawans in the galaxy you had to choose from? He will never go for it anyway. He is Jedi. If he is Jinn's apprentice, he is true Jedi. Master Jinn is not one to make a mistake two-fold. NO he chose this one because he is a polar opposite of me. Another thing, why did he become Qui-Gon's Padawan so late in life?"
"His first chosen master was killed regretfully or not so regretfully by one of battle droids. It was not intentionally it just happened. Another thing don't be so sure the reason for Jinn's chose in Kenobi. From what I have gathered Kenobi was only taken under his tutelage out of some grandiose respect for Kenobi's dead master. "
"You might possess more insight behind Jinn's reasoning for training Kenobi but I doubt he is a potential follower of the dark side no mater the reason. Doesn't happen that often that a Jedi turns like I did. Who was his first master anyway? Maybe I know him?"
"A her and you might have known her if you knew Jinn's only love."
Xani grew weak in the knees. There was only one person he left respecting in the Jedi order and that was his former master's lover, Tahl. He respected and in a way loved her as a son his mother.
"Tahl, you killed Tahl. Why… What did she do to you? Now I am positive I don't want to be around when Jinn gets his hands on you. You murder the only one true love of his life and snatch his apprentice from him. How much to you expect a man even an emotionally controlled male Jedi to take before he snaps and goes on a rampage, with you as his intended target of that rage?"
"I or should I say my battle droid was not sent to kill her, she got in the way. She met with Jinn. Kenobi wasn't with her and here we are. I have him now. Simple as that."
"And may I ask just what is so special about HIM, Jinn's apprentice? This is my third time asking, plan to answer me now?"
"He is the Chosen One or so I suspect."
"Now I am really going to walk out this door or attempt it. You are insane if you think that scrawny little freckled faced boy is the Chosen One, No way. The aura around him, if he was the Chosen One would be more powerful than what encircles you. Have your dark apprentice take his best shot, if you plan to kill me. I am leaving."
A battle droid that just entered the room interrupted their conversation.
"My lord there has been an unknown ship land not far from here."
"And you interrupt a private discussion to tell me that?"
"No sire. I interrupt your meeting to tell you it carried on its side an emblem, an official one."
"So what emblem, you say a diplomatic one? Just whose space craft is it?"
"The Jedi, I suspect at least one high ranking Jedi is aboard. It carries on its side the crossed sabers insignia as do all official transports of the Jedi, Coruscant branch."
"Reinforcements? Maybe Jinn have launched an all out search for Kenobi. Prepare my ship. We will have to leave immediately."
"Don't be stupid Sidious."
"Tsk… Tsk …I have gone from being a fool, to insane, and now I am stupid. You do sorely test my patience."
Xani seemed pensive and deep in thought for a moment before suddenly as if a light had gone off in his head he changed his mind about aligning himself with the dark lord.
"Look, it seems I have been thrown in this mess of yours whether I want to be or not. If Jinn comes here and finds me, he won't believe I had nothing to do with the kidnapping of his apprentice or possibly the murder of his beloved. If we know the Jedi are coming, do you think them so derelict in their duties not to know if you leave on your ship? They may have even planted some tracking device on it by now as you dallied with a child. Look, come with me. My ship is unmarked and devoid of any identifying crests. I have to get back to Telos anyway and plan to leave immediately. You can come. We may still be able to do business, but only from my home world where I feel safer. One condition though, I won't allow you to abuse or debase the boy in any way, shape, or form while you are my ship or to do it in my presence once we are on Telos. I am not too pleased that that he is force suppressed. I am sure you know how painful that is if inflicted on him for long periods of time."
"Painful yes and as I understand it, excruciatingly so. Necessary though to have him force suppressed for his own good and ours as well. I give you my word that is all the harm that will come to him; unless he should become obstinate. Your idea for us to escape with you is brilliant and appreciated. Your gracious help will not go without its rewards."
Xanatos walked back to where Fett still had an almost awake Kenobi tightly in his grasp. He angrily used the powers of his still existing force to peel away one by one Fett's fingers that gripped bruises into Obi's right upper arm. Xanatos sickeningly watched as black and blue marks replaced each of Fett's fingers after the bounty hunter was thrown violently across the room. Only a warning glare by Sidious told Fett to remain there and leave De'Crion alone. The dark lord wanted to see the interaction between Jinn's former apprentice and soon to be former one. Obi-Wan was eased down to the floor and into the lap of Xanatos De'Crion, most notorious former Jedi in the galaxy.
Xan bent his head over the teen and as gently as he would have handled a fine piece of china, he cupped the boy's chin in the palm of his gloved right hand. He then turned Obi's face from side to side to study the damage done by a sound beating to it. Once finished he put his hand to his mouth and with his teeth pulled the black glove off. His left arm and hand was in use nestling the boy close to his chest as if Obi-Wan was a very young one to be consoled over a childhood injury.
Obi-Wan tried weakly and in vain, with his one free hand to bat away Xani's now bare one when it returned to his face. However, when their eyes met and locked he stopped his struggle against Xani's physical contact, tilted his head to the side in quizzical wonder, and allowed Jinn's first apprentice to continue his survey for injuries. The younger man/boy was instantly wrapped in a calming cocoon of Xani's own aura reinforced with comfort and solace. Obi's hand ended up resting limply on Xani's and the skin to skin contact shot a hot flash of the energy straight through to every bone in De'Crion's body.
"Yes, even with the force dulled this one possesses some kind of mystical influence as robust as I have ever witnessed from anyone, even my former master, Jinn."
Remnants of abrasions and bruises hurriedly and improperly healed by someone of little prowess of the force of healing were evident.
"Humph seems Fett here got a little vigorous in subduing the boy. How do I know it was he who put these marks on the Jedi's apprentice's face? Because the Hunter is not force sensitive and had it been done before he relieved Obi-Wan of his power, Fett's hand would have not gotten close enough to this young one's face to cause this much damage. First thing Jinn teaches to all his apprentices is how to protect themselves. No, Jango took an unfair advantage of him by inflicting injury not only while force deprived but nearly in an unconscious state. Your apprentice, Syfo Dyas is not above doing something so lowly as to attack a child impeded by drugs but his reverence for you prevented him from inflicting physical damage. Before you ask how I know all this, it's simple. Doesn't take a genius, one look at the boy and anyone can see his capture went beyond sedating him to render him helpless…"
Fett looked nervously to Syfo Dyas. Sidious had already reprimanded Fett for his brutal action on an unconscious Kenobi but as long as he didn't impose mortal injury to him Sidious hadn't really cared that much. In fact it was not uncommon for the dark master himself to use punishment instead of reward, condemnation replaced praise when training a new and younger dark apprentice.
Xanatos turned his gaze to Syfo Dyas, the one who wanted only moments earlier to kill him. Xani nodded from Dyas to Obi-Wan.
"I suppose it was by your hand that Jinn's padawan was so haphazardly healed. Good thing I came along or he would be left horrendously scared no thanks to you and your ineptness in the power of healing. Your master must not have yet trained you on the medicinal powers of the force. Your dark side healing is much as the force of light's remedial techniques. Maybe if you ask me nicely, I can school you on its art. Might come in handy one day. Particularly so if you plan to continue traipsing the galaxy abducting the Jedi's future, Master Yoda's younglings."
"Look I said there would be no more abuse and there won't be. Fett understands that more clearly now don't you "Hunter"?"
Fett refused to even acknowledge the dark master.
"We really should leave at once if we are to make our escape a successful one."
Sidious seemed nervous and Xani seemed to love his nervousness.
With his right hand still tilting the boy's face up to view the damage done to it, Xanatos caressingly ghosted his hand across the many small but irritating injuries on Obi-Wan. As he lovingly traced over the boy's abrasions, he would stop at the more intrusive marks and administer a healing convergence through his fingertips; fingertips that magically mended with a touch; so reminiscence of the gentle fluttering of silken butterfly wings batting against the quiet calm skies.
Sidious watched in wonder as the bruises that had nearly disappeared but not completely so by Dyas' failed attempt to cure them melted away from the boy's face until they were rendered non existent, totally. Indeed this sinister Jedi by all accounts, also had a touch of compassion in him so profound it puzzled Darth Sidious. What confused the dark lord most was who Xanatos held so much empathy for, his replacement; a member of the "Guardian of Peace", the Jedi;
"A theocratic-based order of do "gooders" that threw him out with no reflection to the misery it caused him. Nevertheless, Xanatos De' Crion was taught the properties of the healing force and used them quite admirably on my future apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yes, he could be very useful to me later on.
Obi-Wan had the strength to open his eyes again but only about half way. When Xani saw the glint of blue peeping through mere slits where Kenobi's eye sockets should be it startled him. So much so he stopped sending the healing balm so abruptly, it jolted the younger apprentice and caused more pain than the dark Jedi intended. As the creamy bronzed eyes of Xani locked with Obi-Wan's cerulean colored orbs neither uttered a sound but in some weird way experienced a shared camaraderie all padawans do young or old, present or past. The link grew stronger without a word spoken between them.
De'Crion was the one to break the mesmerizing hypnotic joining of sight and mind with Obi-Wan.
Upon release of the youth to Fett, who this time held him properly and more gingerly for fear of another attack by Xani if he didn't, the failed apprentice made his way back to the exist. He tossed Sidious and his cohorts a seriously long and hard stare.
Suddenly, his devil may-care-attitude turned dark. Xani's sultry chocolate eyes and deep rich coffee colored hair that hung to and over his thick eyebrows made him appear even more threatening. His tumultuous aura matched the malevolence of the dark lord's own signature indelibly planted by the force of the dark side.
"Very well, ready yourselves for your journey. Just make damn sure the "Hunter" or your dark apprentice over there doesn't conjure up a false reason to physically molest or abuse Jinn's apprentice any more than has already been inflicted.. If one of them touches him in a manner I deem inappropriate they will deal with me and be damn with what you have to say about it Lord Sidious."
T.B.C.
ewen