ANY Mothers reading? Happy Mother's Day. I myself am a mother of Gus, my daschund and now a very small tuxedo cat, Nessa Rose, yes named after the sister of the wicked witch of the west in Wicked, the prequel to the Wizard of Oz. If you haven't read it, let me recommend it!
My Nessa carries the name not because she is evil but because she is handicapped just like the witch who originally wore the red slippers until Dorothy's house fell on her.. My Nessa has only one eye and three legs but don't tell her that. She sees herself as perfect and so do Gus and I. ewen
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Xanatos stood on the bridge of his ship. He stared out the large front portal and gazed disinterestedly at the stars as his beyond the speed-of-light transport ship cut through and past them. The dark-haired moody former Jedi appeared to be nervous, very nervous. He was definitely moodier than usual, however moodiness was one of his inherent traits Qui-Gon had noticed first and had voiced his opinion that the then child "Little Xani" would never loose. Jinn's words as true now as when Jinn first spoke them fifteen years ago rang through his mind and to himself De'Crion mentally agreed with his former master.
"I have never lost my high-strung temperamental personality. S'ppose I never will. I personally think it is what gives me that added edge to keep one-step ahead of my enemies. And with Sidious it will be no different. I will remain ever ahead of him, no matter what his plans are for me later, when I am of no use for his purposes."
Xanatos had checked the radar screen so often his best friend, companion, and pilot, Derek Fazad shooed him away from the helm with instructions to watch out the large double paned window at the front the ship.
"Pretend to search for your former Jedi compatriots there. You wouldn't know if the Jedi ship came up on the radar screen with this new radar and tracking device anyway. I hardly know how it works and I installed it. You? HUH…you? Forgive me for saying so but you have no mechanical understanding of anything."
Xanatos smiled dully at his friend and with no desire to argue did just as his Fazad suggested and there he still stood though not really searching out the window but instead he searched mentally for what caused him to be so upset; unexplainable and elusive but no less upset. His overwrought feeling was more than even the threat of Jinn onarampage in search of himcould amass.
Sidious sidled unnoticed up behind De'Crion and the young former Jedi jumped nearly out of his skin, when he did realize he was no longer alone.
"Bit unnerved aren't you Xanatos? May I call you by your first name?"
"You just did. I don't know care what you call me and if you had more insight of Jinn's abilities you would be as nervous as I am. Maybe more so, maybe to the point of eliciting fear from you."
"How sweet. You still possess a firm respect for your former master after all he has done to you. And De'Crion if you take away in memory of anything during our dealings together, remember this, I "FEAR" no one."
"Don't ya now? We will see Dark Lord. We will see. As for respect for my former master, it is not respect the way you imply. I hold reverence, a great deal of it for his abilities as a Jedi master, not his lacking qualification as a human being."
Xani rolled his sleep brown eyes and returned to staring out the front of the ship.The last thinghe wanted to do wasto discuss his former master or to go into any detail about their life together. He feared that would be Darth Sidious' next line of questioning given an opportunity. In order to hopefully by-step that line of conversation he started one of his own.
"Where's the boy, Jinn's apprentice?"
"In back, safe and sound. That is something else I have noticed about you, my friend. You certainly hold a great deal of interest for Jinn's apprentice. Haven't gone weird on me have you? The Jedi padawan will remain with me, understand? I will not accept interference between him and I from anyone."
"It sounds as though you don't trust me. Just as well for I don't have any aligning conviction for you either. Oh and Lord Sidious as you have corrected me that you have no fear let me do the same; enlighten you on the fact that I consider no one my friend and am a friend to no one."
"Touché! Then we both agree to distrust each other, how's that?"
"Am I allowed to see the boy or not?"
"Yes, why not? Can't jump off your ship with him can you? Just remember he is mine and will remain so, Jedi master Jinn running interference to stop me or not…. Got it.?"
"Let me assure you the last thing I want or need is some runny nose kid hanging on my tunic. My concern for him is simply out of some misplaced loyalty for padawans, since I myself was once one."
" Good... good I hope that is so and will continue to be. Visit all you want. Just make sure you don't consign loyalties for any other Jedi… oh say… Qui-Gon. I would hate to have a confrontation with you if your allegiance swayed from the dark side back to the Jedi."
"Yes, I agree… you certainly would regret a challenge brought against me …….. But for a different reason than you believe…… Now if you will excuse me."
Xani literally shoved the dark lord out of his way to go to the back of "HIS" ship to check on the well-being of the drugged apprentice.
XOXO Back with the Jedi, Jinn and Yoda XOXO
"I won't hear of it. I want to remain and contiue thismission until complete, no matter the dangers.Is it because I am a woman, or not as seasoned as Qui-Gon. Either reason is a lame one. I am trained to take chances, risk my life for others and in particular for Jedi. I insist my padawan Bruck and I be allowed to stay here and help."
" Insist nothing from me you will Master Starworth. Decision made it has been. Qui-Gon in control of this mission but has allowed me he has to interject my opinions and suggestions. Interject them I did, thought them allowable he has, and gone you will be when we have arrested Gunray. Until then you and your apprentice wait here you will. In case something happens others will be here until reinforcements to search for the Kenobi apprentice."
"Huh." was all Dorrie get out of her mouth as shestood with her hands on her hips, a typical woman's stance when angry, thought both Jinn and Mace and both had to smile.
They knew of Dorrie's testiness which nearly matched Yoda's very nearly, for she would not win this dispute.
"I refuse."
"Think of your apprentice you should if I am right in what I suspect. All is not out in the open about what went wrong here. Believe I can not Chun had not his devilish hand in this. Belittle Kenobi did he? Bring up the past possibly he did with him being the one demeaned and abused. Poppy cock it all is.. Shame on my former apprentice for listening and shame on you Dorrie Starworth for this to be allowed. Know the truth of what happened in this do you?"
"Yoda must know Chun very well He just repeated verbatim what happened with Chun and Kenobi. If he knows Bruck that well does he speak the truth of Obi-Wan? Am I wrong about what I think of him. Have I been blinded by the misery of Tahl's death so much so I took it out on an "innocent", on Obi-Wan."
Dorrie stilled and her quietness proved to Yoda his thoughts about Bruck layering on trouble for Kenobi who already had enough to carry,were justified. Bruck had instilled in Jinn's his point of view which bolstered and swayed thepentacle for how Jinn thought of Obi-Wan. His already out-of-balance feeling for his apprentice was reinforced by Bruck's lies about him. Dorrie knew of Bruck's meddling lies on Kenobi yet refused to make him guilty of anything.
"Discuss Bruck Chun and his actions on this mission back on Coruscant, we will. Now I am afraid he is not forefront in out troubles. Utter his name I do not wish to again and hear it I certainly don't want."
"Yes well… well… I assure none of this in my apprentice's fault. However I will honor you request. Bruck and I will do as you have instructed."
"Some reason I had, thought you would."
That is as far as Yoda would go with his reprimand of Dorrie until he knew exactly what the only female master with them was attempting to cover up.
XOXO Xanatos' ship
Fett had the door opened to the cabin he stood guard over with Obi-Wan in it.
"Let me know when you have finished your visit but please stay long enough for me to eat."
Xani looked at the hunter. "How… why.. Just how did you know to expect me?"
"My master commed me back here, said you were coming. Also said you could have some time alone with obnoxious Jedi brat. He bit the blood out of me last time I gave me the hypo. Next time I will make damnsure he receives it sooner before he has time to become alert."
That brought a smile to Xani; the thought of Jango nursing a bite to his hand.
"Careful with your injury. Human bites are said to be more dangerous than onefrom an animal."
"Yeah, well whatever, Just make sure you guard him well while I go fetch mid-meal. I missed break-fast this morning. Like Lord Sidious said the boy can't get off the ship but mind you De'Crion no funny stuff."
For some reason Fett's threat to him, aformer Jedipossessed with the "power" beyond the Hunter's comprehension, seemed absurd and in some ways hilarious. He retorted back mainly because of those thoughts.
"Funny as in "Ha ha" or funny as in… I don't know… takethe boy and run where, off the end of the gang plank of my ship out into opened space?. Go on.. eat then return. Upon your return, I will have finished here."
When the cabin door closed behind Jango Fett, Xanatos rushed to the small cot and knelt down. The teen Jedi looked sickeningly pale, no doubt thought Xani from the effects of being force bound over twenty-four hours. He appeared to be in a restless state of sleep. Yet when Xani reached over to touch him awake, Obi sprung up with as much energy as he could muster and attempted to block Xani's touch.
"NOOOOOO…. please. When you touch me I feel your force, only makes me pain more when you so suddenly withdraw from me.. Please without the force to aid me I can not stand this and just knowing that itis within my grasp but unattainable is wretched."
Obi-Wan wanted the opposite of what he requested. He wanted, needed Xani's healing properties but dreaded when they would be pulled back away from him later.
"At least allow me to use a healing touch, maybe that would ease your pain."
Obi-Wan hated like hell to allow Xanatos to see him like this; weak and in need of assistance. Although he and Jinn had never truly bonded he felt jealously for this apprentice, former one; the one called Xanatos who as rumored through the temple and words spoke by Tahl to Jinn which were meant to be private, Obi-Wan knew Xanatos had held a raised spot in Jinn's heart, no matter how badly their connection was now..
The betrayal of Qui-Gon by De'Crion had nearly killed the most unemtional Jedi in the order. Obi remembered that much because his former master spent much time away fromhim to be with Jinn while he wrestled with his misery and loss, caused by his most cherished apprentice.
Yes to once again have a master who cared for him as Tahl had and Jinn had for Xanatos would be a welcoming factor in his life. He mentally prayed to see his Tahl if only once more.
Obi-Wan flinched at the sudden touch of Jinn's former wonder boy apprentice turned adult and dark.. The burn from Xani's gift of the force being sent through his body felt immaculately cleansing. He was nurtured and rejuvenated by Xanatos' gift of the force as it was fed through him with just the lightest touch of the dark Jedi's hand.
The heady air around him was charged by power that came from the point of all beings' origination, the force, but felt by so few. Itswirled around both Xanatos and Obi-Wan before it shot directly through the "youngling" to soothe each and every little nerve ending he possessed. It felt good, too good to demand De'Crion stop, quite the opposite. Padawan Kenobi wanted to beg him not to withdraw the waves of force being sent to him and he was not above begging at this point. Obi just laid there and excepted what was offered for he knew his pain would eventually come back. He didn't know how long it would be but since Xani would have to surely break their connection it would happen.
Kenobi never thought to wonder why it happened as it did. Xanatos knew something odd was going on. Yes, Obi-Wan should feel a certain reaction to his touch with the force but in turn Xani should feel nothing from this force inhibited child but he did. It was a casual familiar feeling at first, comfortable to say the least, like the consoling their connection brought both of them was right. The more he directed his healing to Jinn's apprentice the more he was unable to stop. Was he unable or had no desire to do so? He didn't even know the answer. It felt as good to give healing solace as it did for Kenobi to receive.
Something came to Xanatos just then. Something he ignored the last time he aided the boy with the pain inflicted by the force-inhibited drug used on him, sprung to his conscious memory now; an emptiness that should not have been in Obi-Wan's subconscious.
Xanatos had overlooked it the first time they connected but not this time. During their first joining Xani made very sure to shield from possible recognition by his former master when he touched the mind of his present apprentice. This time he tentatively opened his bond, ever cautious of possible bombardment of Jinn's bond to his mind, NOTHING.
Xani reasoned he hadn't wanted to feel the glowing residue of his training bond with Qui-Gon but that would have been a lie. He secretively hungered for even a small sentiment of he and Jinn's training bondto flow once again through him but it was not there. Xani returned to Obi's problems and searched through his mind for a remant of the boy's bond with Jinn. There should be something in Obi's mind that Xanatos could recognize as Jinn's signature.
He whispered more to himself than to the boy with closed lids in a very nearly catatonic state.
"You my boy have no viable and true training bond with my master, but why?"
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open with the shock and despair of the truth being found out.. He had done what he hoped he would not. He allowed Xani delve deep enough in his mind with the healing that he now knew the truth or at least suspected it. Kenobi possessed no true bond with anyone.
When he saw the dull gray eyes peering up at him, Xan realized what he meant to think was voiced. It startled De'Crion and he committed the same mistake he made earlier; he pulled abruptly out of Obi-Wan's mind and stopped the shared touch that brought so much solace to the boy.
As before the abruptness of halting the healing force brought instant excruciating pain. It was Obi-Wan who spoke now for he knew Xani suspected something was out of keel with his bond with Qui-Gon.
"I don't know what you have already learned or suspected but please I need the force and I find that if I can not reach mine, yours through your touch will suffice. It eases everything wrong "in" me.."
What prompted Xanatos De'Crion to feel so much compassion for the young man who was by only six years shy of being his age when he left the order? He couldn't think through that question now, He only knew insurmountable compassion rolled out of him through him and around the both of them until it indelibly imprinted itself in Obi-Wan's very soul.
He could do no less as if forced to aid this fellow padawan who shared the tutelage of his former master.
"Does he also share the rejection and discord Qui-Gon and I had for each other?"
He made one last attempt to pull away from the Jedi youngling so desperate for him not too
Obi-Wan reached out, grabbed his hand, and begged, with eyes so dulled by pain Xani immediately returned his connection with him.
"Please…continue don't stop. I will tell you the reason for the emptiness in my mind, why there is a void where the training bond with Master Jinn, by right should be. But please don't squander this time of healing you allow me with questions about him. For now, I will ease you curiosity and tell you it might be unlikely that you will be followed. Aside from my former master Tahl who is now with the force but returns to only me occasionally, there might not be anyone in the galaxy who cares that I have gone missing."
As Xani continued his misery easing administration to the padawan he could only stare in disbelief with Obi-Wan's last words. He assumed Obi-Wan had lapsed into some form of delirium unfamiliar to him with the loss of the force.
And so with unanswered queries on his mind and a loosely clasped hand of Kenobi's on his own arm; as a plea, not a demand to continue, Xanatos resigned himself to aiding the boy at least until Jango Fett returned.
"Delirium is the only logical explanation for Kenobi to discuss his dead master Tahl as if she were alive or had returned in some magical spiritual form."
He eased himself to sit as comfortably as the metal cabin floor would allow, right up against the small cot, and settled in to continue giving what Obi-Wan seemed to adamantly crave, not so much the healing palliative but the actual force that radiated from Xani and into Jinn's kidnapped apprentice.
Xani used his free hand to wave the light dimmer with a touch of the force. He did it not for his comfort but for Obi-Wan's. He had already decided he would use a bit more of his force power to gently nudge Obi-Wan over the edge into oblivion of sleep when Jango Fett arrived. Really just right before he felt the "hunter" coming, for he would use his powers granted by the force to do that as well in order tostop any possible agony for the teen.
The fallen Jedi didn't even stop to think that he had begun to use his powers for more good reasons than bad ones as of late, a trait so totally unnatural to him. Xanatos might have overlooked the amazing fact that he did more good than evil things since meeting Kenobi , but he did not fail to see he was willing confront anything or anyone who attempted to bring the teen harm including Darth Sidious or even their shared master, Qui-Gon Jinn.
"This is not right. What is happening here? How does this pup of an apprentice hold so much attraction for me and much worse, command this daunting connection I feel for him. "
T.B.C.
XOXOXO
Sorry guys I thought the fight between Yoda and Gunray would be in this post but…not so. I promise in the next chapter Yoda will slice the shi? out of Gunray's knees and then some. LOL
ewen