yay for time to post another chapter. story is starting to draw to a close...but its not over yet. thanks to all those who read & review!

same warnings & disclaimer apply

Chapter 11: Another simple task

Nothing beats the warmth, soothing and cleansing of a long fresher shower. And even for someone as cold-natured as Katarin, it felt wonderful. But her rapidly pruning skin was clearly an indication she needed to move on.

Quickly she dressed in loose pajamas and fell back on her bed, letting her eyes sink shut. 'Thank the force Gitan is away on assignment.' That meant she could take the whole day to laze around, meditate, submerge everything about the previous day and night, however much she did not want to. Had Gitan been there—he would have kept her working, constantly trying to improve. 'Or even worse, if Setti was here….' Her thoughts suddenly dwelled on her true master.

Over a month had passed since her last meeting with Setti and she'd heard nothing since. This, she figured, was working to her benefit. Especially since her relationship with Obi-Wan was now on a whole new level.

What she had been so unwilling to give Deacon, she gave freely to Obi-Wan. Never had she wanted anything more. And never had anything felt so right—his kiss, his touch—and she loved him in return with all she possessed.

And for that, Setti would torture her. Course pain through her every nerve, instructing her and bringing her to the point of death before releasing her. That's why he could never know. She sighed heavily, closing her eyes and bringing a hand to her head. That was all much easier to say than it was to do. Especially since the feelings were so new and wonderful all at once.

Hell, it was hard enough keeping the Black Moon and Deacon from Setti—and somewhere she was sure he knew about it. But Katarin had just not bought into the tradition of finding a man on a certain night, the night of the Black Moon, and falling into bed with him. Even though Deacon Zann—one of the more handsome men she'd met—had been most willing to join with her, Katarin still had turned from it. The only purpose of Black Moon was to expose students to the experience, so that it could not be used against them as a disarming weapon, leading to their downfall later on—and to Katarin, it seemed pointless.

She could only guess if her relationship with Obi-Wan was destroying everything she'd spent her life working towards. She would have to see Master Setti and return back under his watchful eye to know just how much she had slipped. Inherently she knew she should not love him, nor want to love him—but she had made her resolve this morning, and felt certain she could stick to it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

1600. 'Did I really sleep for that long?' she groggily wondered. Slowly she eased off her bed and staggered out into the main living room, fighting back a long yawn. She found her lenses on the table where she'd left them and snapped them in place, furrowing her brow. Another black data pad lay on the clear tabletop. 'From Setti no doubt—what does he want next?'

"

Atrides—

Another data pad is to be switching between Masters and will lay unattended for a time. Create a duplicate of it and report to transport pad C21 at 2100 two days from now.

"

Perfect. Setti must have known, for already there was another assignment. He'd give her anything to distract her from herself and Obi-Wan.

But still the thrill of her mission and excitement she felt at sneaking around under the Jedi's noses broke through her hazy, heartfelt feelings. And what a better way to do it than to get back to work.

Again, the data pad had been right where she knew it to be. And again, it was easier than sparring to get a duplicate made. It was amazing that for all the Jedi's wisdom and cautionary acts, they still would leave things so important so unattended. Must be the ever growing arrogance of the Jedi…to believe they have such a firm handle on things that items of importance require no guarding.

"You look guilty." Katarin stopped in her tracks at Lenia's cold, accusing voice.

"And just what would I be guilty of?" Katarin asked, hoping she sounded innocent enough.

"Whatever it is you Sith feel guilty about in the Jedi temple." Outwardly Katarin couldn't help but laugh, and inwardly, marvel at how perceptive and smart Lenia was despite her outward appearance.

"You really should let that go…if I were a Sith, then what could I possibly have to learn here?"

"You sound just like one—so full of confidence and absolutes. Just listen to yourself." Lenia stared back at Katarin in complete disbelief. "You have a pretty weak disguise…an all-powerful Sith can't even pull off a simple Jedi disguise?"

"What would we have to learn from you anyways…if I was one?" She quickly added, hoping she hadn't fully given herself away.

"Well I'm on to you—even if I can't prove it now…someday I will." Lenia challenged as Katarin's eyes narrowed in a determined smile.

"I wish you the best of luck." Katarin turned on her heels and continued on to return the data pad, ignoring the hard feel of Lenia's eyes on her retreating form.

'Let Lenia think what she wants. She has no proof…and she never will.' The door slide open and she walked through the dimly lit room, skirting the sharp table edge. She set the pad back on the table, grazing another hand unexpectedly. Surprise filled her face as her head shot up. 'Obi-Wan!'

"Katarin, what are you doing?" He calmly asked, a smile spreading across his face, light entering his eyes a curious tone to his voice.

"Just returning something that I found lost." She hoped that sounded sincere enough.

"Then what is that?" He asked more seriously, motioning to the identical pad in her hand as his smile started to fall away. "Surely you did not 'find' two lost?"

"Just what am I being accused of now?" She bristled, a flicker of anger surfacing in her heart.

"You do know what this is?" Obi-Wan asked, holding the data pad in hand. She said nothing, resisting the dark urge to tell him it was a data pad. "It's a list of all the Jedi assignments, and their locations." He narrowed his eyes, watching a most impenetrable, defensive look cross her face; hurt filling his heart, disbelief and even anger creeping to his mind. "How stupid do you take me for Katarin? Clearly you hold a duplicate copy." She met his gaze, stone cold, unyielding.

"So it is." She simply answered, voice laced with deep rooted coldness.

"You should have no need for it," he said softly, a stoic calmness replacing his earlier, content smile across his handsome face, "please hand it over Katarin." She kept her eyes locked with his, surfing through her options. Silently, she took a step backwards, slipping the pad deep in her robe pocket, her decision clearly made.

Obi-Wan stood in lost, confused shock. This was it. Suddenly she let every shield and barrier fall completely away, exposing everything, crushing all Jedi training. It took no effort for Katarin now—and it felt so amazingly liberating to be herself again.

She raised her now dark green eyes to Obi-Wan's. The look on his face would have been heart wrenching if she let herself consciously care. The coldness and hatred had hit him like a wall—and all of it suddenly streaming from her.

A Sith spy in the Jedi temple…no wonder he had been so tempted to break the rules and love her. She had deceived him, and tricked him into falling away from the Jedi code. Anger at himself, at her, began brewing in his heart, as did hurt and disbelief. The longer his eyes lingered on hers, the more he felt a desire to kill her…her or himself.

Without a sound, she suddenly took off around a corner, Obi-Wan quickly following her. She had to be stopped—if the information she carried fell into more powerful hands, it could spell disaster for the Jedi.

Suddenly he stopped—he'd lost all sense of her presence. 'Damn you Obi-Wan Kenobi…no where near fast enough—and you're a fool! A blind ignorant fool!'


i feel like singing the Doors' song "this is the end/ beautiful friend, the end." it just seems fiting to me. anywho, leave a review if'n ya want. if not, check back in a week or so. thanks!