"If you like the outfit so well why don't you wear it? I am not going to put it on. I'd rather wear my Jedi clothing until they fall off rather than put your symbol of darkness outfit on, you have laid out for me?"

"That may well happen with as long as I plan to have you by my side. It makes no difference to me if you choose to walk around naked, and then by all means do so. I do not plan to put up with that awful stench coming from you. Yes, you have bathed but when you put the same odorous clothing back on over and over, it defeats the purpose of the bath. I have nothing other than this black tunic and leggings and you are going to put it on or as you say, you can walk around naked. Besides this very outfit will soon enough become your customary dress, your signature identity of wardrobe.

Xanatos could hear the shouts from the hallway as he walked toward Obi-Wan's assigned room in his home. He knew exactly the content of that discussion because it had escalated into a full blown argument with shouting carrying Sidious and Obi's words ringing throughout the upper floor of his mansion..

Xanatos could make out most of what they were saying and rushed toward Obi's door. Just from the words De'Crion knew that this verbal outburst, unless brought to an immediate halt could advance to something Obi-Wan could not handle.

The silence of the verbal disagreement startled even scared Xanatos. His heart beat nearly out of his chest with fear. The apprehension he felt for Obi-Wan only mounted with each step he took. He raised the issue mentally that the boy was nothing to him and why should he care if the disagreement got out of hand and did indeed end with Kenobi being physically reprimanded by his new master?

However,Xani could not finish his thoughts as to why he felt so concerned because he felt through the tiniest of force link with Kenobi he learned he possessed with their first meeting, a nagging warning. It made Xanatos breathlessly hastened his speed more than the near run he was already in. All he could think was Obi-Wan's safety as he unlocked Kenobi's door and rushed in without knocking or alerting anyone he was coming.

The droids with Sidious immediately turned their blasters to the intruder, Xanatos.By the time Xani took the few steps needed to reach Sidious and Obi-Wan he had reduced the droids to tiny little metal heaps on the plush rich brown carpeting that covered the floor of Obi-Wan's room.

The former Jedi apprentice didn't event think of the consequences of his interference between Sidious and the dark lord's new apprentice potential. All he thought of was the sight before him. Obi-Wan had fallen to his knees; a result of being beaten down physically by the dark lord. When Sidious saw Xani he went to help the boy up but not in the manner Xani would have preferred Obi-Wan to be helped.. Darth Sidious reached out and grabbed Kenobi by the neck and pulled him up off his knees whilst choking him.

Sidious didn't allow Xanatos to reach him. He used his free hand to shoot out a powerful dark force hold straight to the former apprentice.

"You lousy son of a bitch, let me out of this. You macabre disgusting coward, that is all you are. Got droids to protect you and then this…. this dark force hold. Release me from your force hold attempt to fight me like a real man, if indeed you can count yourself a man, a human. Right now your actions resemble a serpent that crawls cowardly on its belly until its sneaks up on his enemy only to make a strike deadly and hidden."

"Why should I unbind you? You come in here, render my guards useless and attempt to accost me. Should I stand here and idly allow you to do to my person as you so wish? No, that does not make me cowardly, just astute to a fellow dark sider that is all."

Sidious released his hold on Xani but not on Obi-Wan, he loosened his iron choke hold but did not totally suspend his attack on the teen.

"I am a guest here at your home Mr. De'Crion and you did help me escape, though now I am wary of your reasoning behind helping me. However you are to stay out of my business? Was that not our agreement?"

"Yes and I said you could carry on your dark business as long as Kenobi was not injured in my home. I don't need the Jedi on me for the maiming or death of another of their own."

"If you truly felt that way you would not have helped me off Gunray's world. No I suspect there was something in this for you. Tell me Xanatos De'Crion is it the boy that piques your desire to aid me and nothing more, or possibly the protection I could provide against your former Jedi master. Truthful now, cautiously truthful for I recognize lies. Yes I am very inept at recognizing mistruths spoken to me."

"Don't be ridiculous and while we discuss this could you allow him to breathe a little easier."

Though Obi-Wan was getting oxygen to his previously air starved lungs, it wasn't enough to do away with the ashen pallor his appearance had taken on since the earlier complete oxygen deprivation caused by Sidious' hand.

What's the matter De'Crion, grow a heart since leaving the Jedi or is it fear to face your former master that makes you so concerned for Obi-Wan' well being? Afraid maybe if he is damaged in some way and his master does get him back, Master will blame you and thus exact his revenge solely on you for his injuries?"

"Look Lord Sidious be reasonable. Give the boy some time to acclimate to his new station along your side. Maybe it won't be as difficult as you or he makes it out to be."

Obi-Wan made two small steps away from both the dark master and the fallen apprentice. The incredulous look he cast Xanatos did not go unnoticed but Xani said nothing just flashed his pearly white teeth by way of most enormous smile possible.

"What do you mean Xanatos? Are you a part of this? Of course I am such a fool to fall for your lies. You knew all along what Sidious planned to do with me, why he wanted me here and you you never said a word. How about that camaraderie you said we shared as Jedi apprentices? Did it fall by the way side to do your dark lord's biding?"

"Listen kid, Sidious is not my master. No offense directed to you, Lord Sidious." Xani acknowledged the dark master with a slight nod before he continued speaking to Obi-Wan.

"I am in all this for myself. Yes I do feel camaraderie for you. I don't want you tortured or maimed while in my home and not just because of what Jinn and the Jedi would do to retaliate for your injuries. Believe it or not I do have genuine concern for you."

"Sure it all fits now!" Obi-Wan slapped his forehead with his opened right hand in a gesture of understanding everything now.

"I am such a gullible fool. I had begun to think you did feel some sympathy for me, enough maybe to help me get away. But I see it all very clearly now. You are in this for you and your gains nothing more."

"I am a business man now Kenobi not a Jedi. Yes I do look for profit gains both financial and personal gratifying ones.. But I do not want you harmed. The best thing you can do is whatever Sidious here tells you. I assure you even Master Jinn aided by Yoda and his immense and impressive gallery of Jedi trickery can not get you from him."

Sidious seemed satisfied with Xani's words and nodded a smug approval of what the former Jedi to Qui-Gon had just said. Obi-Wan on the other hand did not find Xanatos words comforting.

"You are good Xanatos. Is this how you tricked our master; made him believe you wanted to be a Jedi, you were loyal to him much as you tricked me into believing you cared for my well being and that we shared a connection. Yes, you are sly. Then what did you do next, pull the rug out from under him. Jinn found out how dastardly disloyal you were. You entire persona is an illusion, a façade and I fell for it. You, Padawan De'Crion are as evil as "Him"."

Obi nodded to Sidious.

"And I want nothing more to do with either one of you… EVER"……………………………...

XOXOXOOXOXO

Sorry so short. I have been working on term papers. Finished now all except for the results on those papers. Will have a longer post next week!

ewen