Lillafiore – I think there would be a lot less of all this falling to the dark side nonsense if there were less repressed emotion in the GFFA.

Furionknight –Thanks

Odele – It would be nice to see peace between the three of them. We will have to see what the muse has in store.

Incognito12 – That is Xanatos' problem. He loves Crion, just like he loved Mia. But, he has this tendency to think of what he wants but not at how it will affect those he loves.

Chapter 22

With hesitant fingers Crion brushed against where his padawan braid had hung not long ago. It was definitely gone. This wasn't some sort of horrid nightmare he was going to wake up from and have to explain to his master. Taking a deep cleansing breath, Crion dropped his hands back in front of him as he shrugged deeper into his robe. He felt shaky and wasn't used to having such tenuous control over his emotions.

The thought that he was winding through the corridors of the Nustar facility with little knowledge of where he was or where he was going suddenly struck him. He returned his attention to his guide realizing that he knew very little about him except that Xanatos had called him Soren and apparently trusted him, which seemed significant.

The man was powerfully built. A slight bulge in his jacket from a shoulder holster pointed to the fact that he was at least armed with a blaster. He was possibly part bodyguard, though Crion wasn't really certain what Soren would be protecting a former Jedi from. At least he sensed no malicious intent, really nothing other than excitement and a strong sense of pride.

The object of his observation turned, a smile breaking out across rough chiseled features as he stopped. "So … do I pass?"

"Pass?"

"You've certainly had time to dissect me by now and I am wondering if I passed inspection."

"Oh, was I that obvious?" Crion asked. Usually he had everything he needed to know and the subject was none the wiser.

"No, but I have gained some understanding into the behavior of Force-sensitives," he said with a chuckle. "I have worked for your father going on 20 years now."

"Then I suppose you know him pretty well," Crion suggested, deciding to test the man's loyalty. It was usually exuberant subordinates who gave the best information.

"I know as much as he trusts me with," Soren replied with a curt nod of the head. "Your father is a very private person."

"I see," Crion mumbled as they started down the corridor again.

"I will tell you that since you landed here, he has been happier and seemed more at peace than he has in a very long time."

Crion let out a humorless chuckle. "Well, I am glad that completely disrupting my life has brought him so much joy."

Soren stopped and slowly turned back to face him. "He loves you."

"He has a funny way of showing it," Crion shot back.

"If you understood even half of what he's gone through to find you …"

"I didn't ask him to come find me."

"He didn't ask for you to be taken away." Soren let out a deep sigh. "I have three children of my own. And if I ever lost any of them, I would do no less than your father has done to find you."

Crion realized that he was a jumble of emotions again and his frustration at his situation was getting the best of him. He should be able to sense his master but Obi-Wan was strangely shielded. Glancing back toward where he knew his master to be, the sudden worry that perhaps he had given in for nothing – that Xanatos was taking his master into custody or worse.

"My master …" Crion began.

"You father is a man of his word," Soren assured him. "Master Kenobi will be allowed to leave safely as promised."

Crion hadn't even realized that they had made their way into a hangar. Sitting in the middle was a sleek ship, a latest cutting-edge design he vaguely remembered Anakin rattling on about. In fact, if Anakin were here he would think he had died and joined the Force.

They made their way up the landing ramp. Apparently this was an entrance just for passengers as it led into a lounge area of sorts. Crion had only once in his apprenticeship, when escorting a senator, traveled in a ship so lavish. Soren led him to a door.

"You can wait in the lounge area or here in your room. Your father will be along shortly," Soren said. "I am going to see that the ship is prepped and ready."

Crion hurried into the room. The door slid shut leaving him alone, feeling as though he was drowning in uncertainty. He sat down on the sleep couch before stretching out, suddenly feeling as though he was 14 years old again. That was the first time he had been separated from his master on a mission.

Suddenly warmth and reassurance permeated his bond with Obi-Wan. It helped to settle him. Crion held onto his master's presence as he felt the first vibrations of the ship's engines and it began to lift off. It slipped away like sand through his fingers, evaporating as the ship entered hyperspace.

It wasn't long before he sensed Xanatos approach. His father paused outside his door. There was something jittery about the fierce Force presence he had sensed earlier – almost like nervousness. Crion was surprised to hear an actual knock, assuming his father would disregard his privacy as easily as he had everything else.

"Come in."

The man who entered his room seemed quieter and more composed. He approached and sat down in a chair across from Crion. It was eerie to look into his own face in a way. Crion's eyes were briefly drawn to the scar that marred his father's cheek and he remembered Qui-Gon's account of that day.

"It was brave of you to agree to come," Xanatos began.

"It's not like you really left me much choice," Crion shot back.

"I was a padawan once and I know that if you and your master had not been in agreement, he never would have allowed you to walk out of that room, no matter the consequences."

"And it would have been yet another instance of Jedi masters killing fathers for our family history book."

The words rolled off Crion's tongue without a second thought. A sick feeling settled in the boy's stomach at realizing that he had lashed out wanting to wound the man sitting before him and apparently had done a good job.

A flare of hurt surfaced in Xanatos Marojni's eyes. It was quickly buried but the tense motion of his throat as he swallowed betrayed that the remark was not forgotten. Xanatos rested his chin on his fist, focusing on his son's eyes.

"Are you that certain I would lose?"

It really required little thought to answer. "My master killed a Sith lord when he was still a 25-year-old padawan – one I might add, that left Master Qui-Gon nearly dead." He felt his hands trembling and looked away, finally putting a name to his inner foe – anger. "Trust me, by coming I saved your life. A little gratitude …"

He turned back to find Xanatos in his face. "I understand this is very difficult for you, but you will control your anger as you have been trained," his father said very sternly. "I will not have you flirting with any dark emotion while in my care."

"I get it," Crion snapped back. "Do what you say, not what you do?"

"And I will not tolerate disrespect. You have been taught better," Xanatos continued.

Crion bowed his head. Xanatos was right. He was not acting very much like a Jedi at the moment. "You're right. I would not want to dishonor my master's teachings." Still, a part of him refused to lose the argument. "I promise to be more courteous, but respect is earned and you still have a long way to go."

His father took a deep breath before offering a forced, "fair enough." Another deep breath and Xanatos smiled. "Tell me, what does Master Kenobi think of his apprentice's sharp tongue?"

"My master has never asked me to be someone I am not, and I don't intend to start now," Crion replied defensively. He wrapped his arms around his body, still a jumble of emotion. Finally, he said, "I could really use some time alone right now."

"Crion …" Xanatos began gently.

"I don't feel like myself right now and really need to sort out …"

"Let me help you," Xanatos offered, placing a hand on his son's shoulder and offering a reassuring squeeze. Crion didn't miss the brush against his mind and hastily threw up strong shields.

"Please," he asked softly. "Just give me the trip to … to wherever we are going to pull myself back together."

"Of course." Xanatos stood to leave, stopping at the door only to say, "And we are going to Telos. We are going home."

The starfighter sat down on the landing platform at the Jedi Temple. As Obi-Wan hurried to climb out of the cockpit, he noted the tall figure standing waiting for him.

"I thought you and Anakin were leaving on a mission," Obi-Wan said as Qui-Gon approached.

"I requested reassignment when I heard what had happened." The Jedi master's lips twisted into a sad smile. "For once, the Council appears to have agreed with me. I did not even have to ruffle any feathers."

Qui-Gon draped his arm over his former apprentice's shoulders; the younger man instinctively fell into the embrace.

"I need to see the Council," Obi-Wan said.

"You look awful. When was the last time you slept?" Qui-Gon asked. "Did you rest at all on your trip back?"

"I have found rest elusive," Obi-Wan mumbled. "Instead, I have been meditating on my failure as a master."

"Failure?" Qui-Gon said in that way he always spoke when fishing for elaboration.

"Did I not just leave my apprentice in the custody of a known Dark sider?" Obi-Wan offered, taking a deep breath to make sure there were no cracks in his façade. The grief reminded him too much of those days after Naboo and the uncertainty of not knowing what would happen to Qui-Gon.

"The Council has reviewed the document you sent and had various legal experts review it as well. Xanatos outdid himself this time. You had no choice," Qui-Gon assured him.

"I had a choice," Obi-Wan protested. "I had the choice to protect my padawan."

"I sometimes wonder which is stronger – the master's desire to protect the apprentice or the apprentice's desire to protect the master," Qui-Gon murmured.

"Master?"

"Crion would have never allowed you to get yourself in trouble and you know that."

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said softly, reaching up to rub his eyes. "I just need to speak to the Council. They should have reached Telos by now."

"You need sleep."

"Xanatos may contact the Council," Obi-Wan continued in protest.

"I will stay in contact with the Council and wake you immediately if anything important happens."

Two able negotiators accustomed to getting their way could go around in circles forever, but Obi-Wan was too tired to argue with Qui-Gon anymore.

"I can't go to my quarters … not right now," Obi-Wan finally admitted. The thought of returning there knowing that Crion would not be joining him just added to how weary he felt.

With his arm still draped over the younger man's shoulders, Qui-Gon began to lead Obi-Wan away from the hangar.

"Then you will stay with Anakin and me for the time being, and when you are rested we will face this together."