Disclaimer: Alas, I cannot be the lucky person named George Lucas to go around the universe proclaiming that I own Star Wars. But if he would ever like to give me Obi-Wan, I'd be more than grateful.
Summary: In an alternate universe where Qui-Gon lives, what else could change…? Obi-Wan tries to deal with feelings of jealousy, Anakin struggles with love, and Qui-Gon begins to doubt the Republic. A look at how the series could've turned out, starting with AotC.
Author's Notes: Be very thankful for this four-day weekend. It got you guys a quick update! Wooooo! As a side note, I own Juke Halar, but if anyone wants to use him just ask.
Darth Vengeance - Well, Anakin does get angry...but that's all I'm saying! Enjoy your Obi-filled chapter!
Doreenthatshot - Teehee...you'll just have to read to find out.
Ally127 - Don't worry, there's more than plenty Obi-Wan in this chapter. As for the second thoughts...my lips are sealed - at least until the next chapter!
Katieelessar - I'm not saying anything involving Anakin or the dark side. Hey...your Obi? Dude, you gotta share him with me! But anyway, there's plenty of him in this chapter to make up for the lack of him in the last.
Jedi Ha'Li - I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for the review!
Jealousy, Love and War
By Kekelina
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Chapter Nine: Whispers
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If Coco town was run-down, then the underbelly of Coruscant was completely deteriorated. Buildings leaned to one side, held up by single poles of rusted durasteel. Windows had no transparisteel on them, just layers of durasheet to keep the rain out. Roofs were caved in; bugs ate away at the molded insides of the unkempt buildings. The air smelled of garbage and felines searched for their next meals in the even darker alleys of the underbelly. Any way it was looked at, the underbelly of Coruscant was not a pleasant place to be. Most inhabitants of Coruscant made it a habit not to go there at all. All except one.
Obi-Wan was far too familiar with the back streets of the majestic planet-sized city of Coruscant. For one standard week, he had been working the streets, hoping to come up with any information at all for his investigation. He had been there day and night, bad weather and good, seeking out various sources that had helped him in the past. And for what? Nothing. He had found absolutely nothing to help him. Not even a single whisper of something suspicious.
Now, however, he had something specific to ask. He had a description, thanks to Qui-Gon. He could actually ask questions that might provide him with some answers. After all, news of an armored bounty hunter would travel quickly in this disgusting hole of life. He just needed to ask the right people.
Obi-Wan cursed as his right foot fell into a calf-deep hole filled with sewer water. He quickly retracted his leg and tried to shake off the excess water…and other things. The smell was horrible and he noticed some suspicious lumps flying off his shoes and hitting a nearby building.
Wonderful.
He grimaced and kept walking. He didn't want to be late to his next appointment, for he considered it a very important one. His next source had never failed him before and he was confident that he would know exactly what Obi-Wan wanted. But because he was so good with the gossip of the galaxy, everyone from black market traders to galactic pirates wanted to talk to him, which made getting an appointment to see him very hard to do. But he and his source went a long way back, and he had cleared everything else away just to see Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan checked his chrono and picked up the pace. Five minutes… His traditional Jedi robes whipped in the wind as he walked, his hood almost flying off his head several times. Among many things, that would not be good. It was dangerous for a Jedi in the underbelly, even more a danger than Coco town could ever be. To be spotted would not only mean he would be delayed in meeting his source, it would also mean the bounty hunter would be tipped off. In other words, not good.
Loud music and laughter greeted Obi-Wan's ears and he turned a corner sharply, coming to a halt in front of a large cantina. It was just as run-down as the rest of the buildings around it, but it did have a bright, neon sign in front flashing its name in Basic. The Blaster. Aptly named, Obi-Wan thought wryly, for every patron that walked into the cantina had a blaster or two strapped on them somewhere. It was necessary to carry a blaster in the underbelly. Those that didn't carry them didn't live very long. Obi-Wan, however, would not be bringing a blaster in with him, but his Jedi weapon – his beloved lightsaber.
Obi-Wan followed a pair of dirty humanoids into the cantina and peered around through the smoke-ridden atmosphere, searching for his contact. He spotted him sitting at a table for two in a shadowed corner and couldn't help but grin. He always seemed to be in some sort of trouble that required him to stay hidden most of the time. Obi-Wan just wondered what he had done this time, but knew he probably didn't want to know.
He wove his way around the loud crowds of shady people, making it look as though he were simply wandering. This was done to ensure that no one had followed him, even though he hadn't felt anything suspicious through the Force. Finally, he managed his way over to the small table in the back and sat down silently, the shadows from his hood and the corner shielding the large smile on his face.
"Well, well, well…" a voice said from the shadows. "Look what we have here." Obi-Wan's source moved half an inch to the right so that the dim lights in the cantina outlined his blue, reptilian face. It was smiling. "Ben Kenobi."
"Juke Halar," Obi-Wan greeted in return, removing the hood from his face.
Juke was a blue-skinned, low-life Neimoidian that Obi-Wan had had the pleasure of knowing for many years. He had first met him on a mission to Corellia, where Obi-Wan had been going by the alias of Ben Kenobi because Corellians, like the inhabitants of the underbelly, didn't trust Jedi at all. Juke had been in a spot of trouble with CorSec, Corellia's security team, and Obi-Wan had been able to help him out in exchange for information. Yes, Obi-Wan did lots of business with the riffraff of the galaxy.
"What can I do for you, Jedi," he said good-naturedly. Because Obi-Wan had saved his neck on Corellia, he had pledged to help the Jedi Knight whenever he needed it. And right now, Obi-Wan needed it.
"I need information about a bounty hunter," Obi-Wan said quietly, getting straight to the point.
Juke shook his head. "There are a lot of bounty hunters in the galaxy, Ben."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what Juke was after. Juke's information didn't always come without a price. "What do you want this time?"
Juke shrugged lightly. "I'm just a common thief trying to make my way in the universe, Ben…"
"Yes, and if I hadn't come along and rescued you, you'd be a common thief under the watchful eye of the CorSec prison system," Obi-Wan countered. Working with criminals wasn't always the easiest thing to do.
Juke looked at Obi-Wan evenly, appraising the situation. "Fifty-five."
"Fifty-five!" Obi-Wan exclaimed at the price. "For a bounty hunter?" He shook his head.
"Like I said, there are a lot of them," he shrugged.
Obi-Wan gave a grunt of annoyance. Fifty-five was an outlandish price for him to even think about, but he knew Juke was from the greedy Trade Federation and, like all Neimoidians, loved money. It didn't help matters that he was a thief as well. Any other time, Obi-Wan would have refused to pay that money, but he was desperate for some answers. With a grunt, he fished out the correct amount of credits.
"This better be the only time I pay you tonight," he grumbled, scattering the credits on the table between the two.
Juke just laughed as he eyed the money. "That's what I love about you, Ben," he said. "You're not like the other Jedi."
Obi-Wan didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not, but either way, Obi-Wan knew what he meant. No other Jedi would've threatened the Neimoidian like he had only a moment ago. It was not befitting of a Jedi to threaten. Obi-Wan chastised himself.
"So, to business," Juke said, breaking Obi-Wan's mental punishment. "This bounty hunter…do you have any specifics?"
Obi-Wan eyed the lowlife sitting in front of him for a moment, then sighed, casually leaning back in his chair. "Body armor, including a bucket-shaped helmet and a rocket-pack." He picked up a credit with the Force, twirling it in the air. "Sound familiar?"
"Hmm…" Juke pondered, stroking his chin with one of his long, blue fingers. "I've only heard of a couple bounty hunters with rocket-packs. One, though," he said, waving his hand in the air. "He died a long time ago."
"And the other?" Obi-Wan prompted.
"I haven't heard much about him, just whispers at the capital." He shrugged. "You know how it is."
Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully. "And what did these whispers say?"
"I don't know. Something about a rocket-man on Kamino, I think."
"Kamino?" Obi-Wan inquired curiously. "Where's that? Is it in the Republic?"
Juke shook his head. "I've never heard of it before in my life. I couldn't tell you where it is even if you paid me a thousand credits. Which you are welcome to do," he added with a sly smile.
Obi-Wan sighed. He'd never heard of Kamino before either. Where was it? He was sure he knew most, if not all, the names of the systems in the Republic. So that meant it was not in the Republic. It would be a perfect place for a bounty hunter to hide without fear of being caught by the Jedi or Republic Security Forces. But exactly where was Kamino anyway?
"Do you know anyone that might be able to tell me?" he asked.
Juke, not to his surprise, nodded. "Dexter Jettster. He owns a diner up in Coco town."
Obi-Wan nodded. Dex. Why wasn't he surprised? "Yes, I know it well." He sighed and stood, putting his hood back over his face. "Thank you for your time, Juke."
Juke grinned. "Don't let it be five years before we talk again."
Obi-Wan smiled, not sure if Juke actually wanted to talk to him or he just knew that he could make Obi-Wan pay a higher price than most other beings without being shot at. "I won't," he said, then made his way swiftly out of the cantina.
He was going to pay Dex another visit.
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The diner was no different than when Obi-Wan had visited it earlier, except for the fact that it was busier. Beings of all shapes and sizes tried to fit into the small place, eager for a meal. Obi-Wan admitted that Dex's cooking was good…but it wasn't that good.
Obi-Wan waited patiently for Dex to get an opening. He sat at the counter while he waited, sipping on a steaming glass of ardees. He tried to tune into the various conversations bubbling around him, hoping to get some clues, but all he received was a minor headache.
"Hey, ol' buddy!" Dex greeted, waddling out of the kitchen and coming to rest across the counter from Obi-Wan. Thankfully, neither of the two seats beside Obi-Wan were occupied, so he was able to talk to Dex where he sat.
"It's good to see you again, Dex," he said with a smile.
"Good to see ya too. Now, what can I do for ya?" Dex asked.
Obi-Wan looked at his friend seriously. "Have you ever heard of a planet called Kamino?"
Dex thought for a moment. "Why sure I have! What's it to ya?"
"I'm tracking a bounty hunter and one of my sources say he might be on Kamino," he said softly, trying not to attract attention to himself. "I've never heard of the planet and I thought maybe you could give me the coordinates."
Dex gave him a nervous look, a look Obi-Wan had never seen on his friend's face before. It spooked him, but he also noticed that Dex looked a little spooked himself. His eyes darted around nervously, checking all the patrons in the diner. Obi-Wan glanced around briefly, then looked back at the alien.
"What is it, Dex?"
"I – "
"Better get over here, hunny," the waitress droid from Obi-Wan's earlier visit interrupted. "We got a problem."
Dex gave Obi-Wan an apologetic look. "Sorry, my friend. I can't talk to ya right now." He glanced around nervously. "Come back tomorrow before we open. I'll explain everything then." With that, he took off towards the source of the aforementioned problem, leaving Obi-Wan alone to ponder his friend's strange behavior.
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The Other Author's Notes: So, next chapter we will find out exactly what happens to Anakin and Qui-Gon... There will be plenty of anger, grief and maybe a confrontation or two! Did I just say that? Whoops. Next chapter title is Anger and Blame. Don't forget to review!