i've been told to put a small warning on this chapter: one of my "editors" (as they so like to be called) gave me the Mary-Sue warning flag on this chapter. i didn't think it was so bad...but she said it smacks of being Mary-Sue-ish.
thanks to all readers--reviewers & silent ones (i'm mostly a silent one myself...so i understand completely). anywho, enjoy!
same warnings & disclaimers apply.
Chapter 6: Surprising freedom
'WHAT!' Coruscant had no sky diving! Katarin knew she hated the city planet for some reason. Well, here it was. She shook her head, suddenly feeling lost and pressured under the city buildings.
How did Setti expect her to do this? He knew of that spontaneous, need-to-be-free streak of hers…so he sent her to a city-planet without much hope of escape. 'What a better place to kill that streak…or sink into depression.' Katarin suddenly smirked mischievously. She would do neither.
A speeder was the next best option. She flew to her quarters, quickly shedding her Jedi clothing in favor of something more befitting a race around the city. And, of course it was black—fairly form fitting black pants, black semi-off-the-shoulders cap-sleeved shirt and a dark green jacket that matched her eyes almost perfectly. Plus, it made for a nice contrast with her hair, which she took the time to straighten for her first time since arriving at the Jedi temple. For the first time in a long while, she started to feel like the Katarin Atrides she was beneath the Jedi-fake-front. Pleased with her outfit, she pulled her Jedi robe tight around her as she left her quarters.
She headed straight for the hanger in which the speeder Mater Gitan had procured waited. 'Thank the force!' Her face lit into an even more anxious smile at seeing no one else in the hanger. She shimmied out of her Jedi robe, the slight heel of her boot echoing louder as she fixed her jacket collar and flipped her hair back.
'Should I come out now?' Obi-Wan silently wondered from where he crouched, watching Katarin, having ducked from the speeder he was repairing. What was she doing—she wasn't licensed was she? He moved out from the crates, un-dampening his force aura as she mounted the bike. The breath almost caught in her throat at his sudden appearance, but she let nothing more of her reaction show.
"Katarin!" He called out over the engine in a curious greeting. 'I know you heard me.' 'I know.' She turned to him and smiled innocently with a seductive edge to it as she pressed the accelerator, racing out of the hanger.
It felt great. And that look on Obi-Wan's face had been priceless. Coruscant streets at midday were near to deserted, giving Katarin plenty of freedom to fly faster then legally allowed…and much more carefree. Just how she loved. Considering she raced the things with Setti's approval, strangely enough—this was pretty lame. But freeing nonetheless. She sailed around a turn, only pausing a second to brake and shift gears before accelerating away.
A speeder came into view over her shoulder. Curiously she squinted in the mirror, having already thanked the force for no flashing lights. A challenging, determined smile graced a most handsome familiar face in the mirror. 'Well, well, well…,' she thought almost wickedly. She never knew Obi-Wan had it in him. It just didn't fit his golden-boy image. She pressed the accelerator harder to get further in front of him—determined to lose him.
She turned the speeder upward, darting through the traffic lanes, dodging other speeders. Surprisingly, he kept right with her. 'He's pretty good.' She turned her speeder straight down, kicking it into fourth gear, accelerating faster, the hum of the engine like music to her ears. She glanced for a second over her shoulder…sure enough, there he was. 'Take this Obi-Wan.' She pulled up hard, running parallel to the ground, just a few inches above it. She threw on the brake, halting to a stop, watching as he instantly pulled up to avoid hitting her. She watched him fly over her, and land in front of her. She hopped anxiously, excitedly off the speeder.
"Well, well, well," she said, clearly impressed, "who knew golden boy had it in him?" she said playfully.
"Don't call me that," he said, exasperation on his voice, "I hate when the others call me that…."
"But until now it seemed true." She said, her eyes alight behind her thin lenses.
"How can you judge that off speeder skills?" He asked, a knowing light in his eyes.
"Well, I'm nowhere near 'golden' and 'perfect'—"
"And you have reckless speeder skills to show for it?" He said walking closer. "So what brings you here?" He quickly asked, looking around suspiciously. He knew this neighborhood well.
"Heard there's a good club around the corner; thought I might try it out. So, if you want to head on back before I get you into trouble…feel free. Oh, and I don't care if you tell anybody…." She brushed aside that smile and light in his eyes and turned from him.
"Ravenknight…I've been there—it's not too good," Obi-Wan caught up to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her in another direction, "but we'll go somewhere else instead."
"You've been there…somewhere else? Obi-Wan…," she said mock-scolding, "now don't tell me you've actually acted as a—you're how old…24-25 year old, and had some fun." He fought back a laugh as they rounded a corner.
"Ravenknight was part of an assignment," he admitted, almost embarrassedly, "and where we're going, I have an old friend."
"Only you Obi-Wan." She laughed good-humoredly, surprised to find she didn't mind him holding her hand. "Only you." He glanced over at her, smiling as they came to the doors of a diner. 'Dex's Diner'. She had to admit the place caught her interest, and she let her eyes roam freely over Obi-Wan's shoulder as they came through the doors.
"Grab a seat hon's!" A high-pitched, nasal voiced droid on one wheel directed them with a nod. Obi-Wan quickly nodded before glancing back to the kitchen.
"Dex!" He called out warmly, catching Katarin's attention.
"Obi-Wan!" Came an equally jovial call from behind the counter. "And a lady-friend too…." At that moment did they both remember their enclosed hands.
"Of course, Dex," Obi-Wan smoothly, playfully answered, "why not?" effortlessly he brought the backside of their enclosed hands to his lips for a quick kiss. Katarin eyed him almost bug-eyed. 'Where's the real Obi-Wan?...or are you him?'
"He's not that lucky." She quickly called back to Dex, a playful note to her voice as she brushed by Obi-Wan over to a booth, having read that all too-knowing look in Dex's eyes.
She let the rest of Obi-Wan and Dex's conversation go, quickly scanning for traces of anyone who would recognize her. Fortunately, the circles she ran in stayed relatively isolated. She dropped her shields, exposing everything for but a nanosecond as she searched deeper. …still nothing. 'Thank the force.' Just Obi-Wan.
She opened her eyes and watched him where he stood, still talking to Dex…and she caught herself sighing. 'Well who wouldn't…?' a feminine voice in the back of her head justified. As if Obi-Wan didn't even have to try to look handsome, everything else just added to it. There was such an inherent sexiness about him, that at times he seemed unaware of—which just made him all the more attractive. And today, even in chocolate brown pants, smudged with grease, and a dark-blue, slim-fitting shirt—he was certainly catching more than just Katarin's eye in the diner.
Suddenly he started for the table and unintentionally she let her eyes trail up his form to meet his eyes. Of course, he noticed.
"See something you like?" He asked alluringly as he slid into the booth. 'Damn him.' 'I've told you before—that's not nice.'
"Yeah—the Gatorin moon pie sounds good." She answered, looking at the menu. 'Sneaky minx.' 'That's right.'
"It is very good—although the Corellian mousse is the best." He answered.
"Really?" she said, mock-doubt in her voice. 'To each his own.' 'Unless two both want the same thing—then what?' 'Neither get it.'
"Really, it is. I've had it before." He said. 'That's a dark view Katarin—doesn't give me much hope for us.' 'Aw, I'm sorry—I'll send you some tape.'
"Hmm…pie still sounds better." She smiled, warmly, playfully, laughingly. 'Tape?' 'To mend your broken heart.'
"What can I get yous two?" The nasal-voiced waitress droid was back, ready and waiting.
"All on one check—a slice of Gatorain moon pie, please and Corellian mousse. With water to drink and—" Obi-Wan turned to Katarin, "drink?"
"Water's fine." The droid rolled off back to the kitchen, order in hand. "Obi-Wan, you don't have to pay for me." She said almost embarrassedly.
"I want to more than need to, but I still need to—"
"No, please—"
"Chivalry is written in the Jedi code, so I must." He said, fake seriousness to his voice.
"Ah, so what's the protocol when you lunch with another Jedi who should also be chivalrous?" She fought back a wince—she had just called herself a Jedi.
"Gentleman should always treat ladies." He said, his eyes locking with hers again. She shook her head, finding a surprising lightness entering in her heart.
"Thank you." She said sweetly, tearing her eyes from his, glancing around the diner. "So how do you know Dex?" She asked interestedly, registering the almost embarrassed look on his face.
"We met through a friend, years ago—we've been good friends since then." 'You're lying Obi-Wan Kenobi—it's not very becoming.' A slight smirk came to her. 'Yeah I am lying. I'm not allowed to say how we met…it could put him at risk.' 'Sorry I asked.'
"Well, he seems like a nice guy." She suddenly said, knowing others might be suspicious about the silence between them.
"He is—and a great help." Help…that's it. He's something of an informer for the Jedi she guessed. Katarin smiled and nodded, looking up to see the one-wheeled waitress droid return with their order.
They made it back to the Temple a few hours later, neither too anxious to get back. But soon they parted ways with plans to meet tomorrow in the archives in a group to study. They were students after all.
Katarin then found herself alone with a smile on her face. She used to never smile—she just could not recall it ever. And now here she was. She had had a wonderful afternoon…oddly enough. 'I love spending time with him.'
'Or is it,' a darker voice whispered, 'that I love him?'
