Summary:

Obi-Wan and Jinn meet a duchess and an assassin.

8.

"Are you really going to read that report all day?"

Obi-Wan looked up from his data-pad and stared at Jinn. Obi-Wan had given him a copy of Ahsoka and Rex's report to get him up to speed. It appeared that Jinn had ready finished reading. Obi-Wan frowned and curiously considered his-he supposed temporary partner-true identity.

He was sure that Jinn wasn't his alternate self. He had been clear they were not the same man. He also dismissed the thought that Jinn was his alternate brother as Anakin had suggested. However, there was no denying there was a relation. There was clearly a family resemblance. Though, that was where the similarities ended. Jinn was proving to be impulsive, unconventional and enjoyed violence. Bizarrely, he realized he was describing Anakin.

"I suggest we go get something to eat. Or let's go get a drink? A glass of Jawa juice and some lively company?"

"No, really. I shouldn't."

Jinn smiled and said, "A little unwinding couldn't hurt. You've got to be mindful of the present."

Obi-Wan paused at Jinn's advice. It reminded him of something Master Qui-Gon had said to him. His Master used to tell him he had to be mindful of the present moment and not to dwell too much on the future. It was ironic to hear such advice from a time traveler.

"Alright, a meal would be nice."

Jinn beamed and said, "Good. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the night life. Oh, and don't worry about me. I can hold my liquor just as well as you can."

Obi-Wan frowned as he followed Jinn out the door. They left his quarters at the Temple and entered the hall. They silently walked side by side. He noticed that Jinn had "borrowed" one of his spare long outer robes. While he wore it, it was nearly impossible for anyone to tell them apart. The only outward difference was that they had different color eyes.

Yet, he wondered how he could possibly know how much he could drink. It sounded like Jinn knew him. He wondered perhaps he did in his own timeline. He gave him a curious sideways glance as they entered a lift.

He decided to fill the silence with some small talk and asked, "How are your Force-shields?"

"Better, but I plan to keep them lowered for now."

"Your Force-shields are quite impressive. How did you learn to do it so well?"

Jinn kept his gaze forward at the lift doors, but his expression became serious when he said, "I was being hunted by the Sith. I had to do it in order to survive."

Obi-Wan felt like an idiot for asking. If Jinn's timeline was anything like Ahsoka's then he must have endured a great deal of hardship in order to survive. Though, Jinn sensed Obi-Wan unease and turned to meet his eye.

He gave Obi-Wan a reassuring smile and said, "It's not what I choose to remember. The first time I learned to use Force-shield was when I was a child. I was playing hide-and-seek. It's the sort of game you can only play with other Force-sensitive children."

Obi-Wan said, "I don't recall Master Yoda teaching such skill to the younglings."

"I was never taught by Master Yoda."

The lift doors opened and together the two men stepped out into the lobby and down the Temple steps. Obi-Wan was surprised to learn that Jinn was never trained by Master Yoda. The Grand Master had taught all the younglings for many generations. He had never heard of any Jedi who didn't have any interaction with the Grand Master at some point in their life.

Obi-Wan hailed a transport and the two got in. He informed the driver that they wanted to go to the restaurant district. Obi-Wan noticed that Jinn had his leg crossed over his knee and his arm was leaning over the arm rest while his hand lightly stroked his bread. Obi-Wan realized he was sitting the same way. He consciously uncrossed his leg and changed his position.

An awkward silence fell between them. However, Obi-Wan sensed that Jinn was amused. Curious, he lifted his eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What is it?"

Jinn smiled and said, "Don't change your behavior on my count. I'm perfectly aware of our similarities and I know you're a smart man. I'm sure you already figured out we have some sort of relational. However, I don't think it would be wise for me to tell you what it is."

"Oh? Why not?"

"It will make you upset."

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to make of that. He couldn't think of any reason why Jinn's relationship to him would make him upset. He turned to ask him, but Jinn raised his hand to stop him and continued to speak.

"Let's just say that I'm your cousin."

"Cousin?"

"Yes."

Obi-Wan frowned and said, "And you just so happen to be a Jedi too?"

"Why not? Midi-chlorian can be traced through bloodlines."

"Then why haven't I known about you before? If you want to spin this fiction, then I'm sure someone would have pointed out our similarities before."

Jinn shrugged and said, "Well, I was away on a very, very long mission obviously. Besides, I doubt anyone would pry any deeper than that."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and said, "Obviously."

A moment later they arrived at their destination in the restaurant district. The sky was already dark, and people were walking around the colorful eateries. There were different aliens all around them who were out enjoying the night air. Jinn took a deep breath when he stepped out of the transport. The air wasn't clean, but the atmosphere was electric. It had been ages since he was in a city.

Then, to Jinn's misfortune, he spotted someone he recognized. A few steps away he saw the beautiful stranger he met when he first arrived. She was dressed in the same elaborate gown and head dress. She had stepped out of her car and was entering a restaurant, but to his horror, she stopped when she saw him.

"Obi? Is that you?"

"Suns and moons."

Satine laughed and shook her head and said, "Well, that's a very odd expression. I didn't expect to see you here."

"Duchess?"

Satine looked over Obi-Wan's shoulder and was stunned to see a second Obi-Wan standing right behind him. However, as he drew near, she saw that the second man was the real Obi-Wan. The man in front of her was very similar, but it wasn't him. He was dressed in black robes underneath his brown outer robe and his eyes were amber.

Obi-Wan approached her and gave her a polite bow. He then turned to his companion and said, "Ah, I see you've met my cousin, Master Jinn. Jinn, this is the Duchess Satine of Mandalore."

The amber-eyed Jedi finally recovered and remembered his manners. He gave her a respectful bow, but then reached out to take her hand and give the back of it a chaste kiss.

"It is an honor to meet you, Duchess."

Obi-Wan was flustered by Jinn's behavior. However, Satine was even more dismayed. The gesture reminded her of the night before when she gave Obi-Wan a lift back to the Temple. She remembered how her heart thrilled at his kiss. It was so unlike the man she knew. She didn't realize he was really somebody else.

"I think we've met before, Master Jinn."

Jinn smiled cunningly at her and said, "I'm sure we haven't. I think I would remember meeting someone as beautiful as you, my dear."

Satine blushed at the familiar endearment. She was positive now that it was Jinn in her car that night and not Obi-Wan. She noticed that he was still holding her hand and she immediately snatched it back. She gave him a glare and took a step back.

"I don't like lairs, Master Jinn."

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what was going on and asked, "What did you do?"

Jinn turned to him and said, "Nothing really, the Duchess thought I was you last night and she was kind enough to give me a lift to the Temple."

Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head and said, "Why didn't you say anything about this before?"

"Well, I'm not in the habit of reporting in my every move. Besides, Obi it was an honest mistake." Jinn then faced the Duchess and said, "And I wasn't lying about your beauty."

"Jinn," scolded Obi-Wan.

The amber-eyed Jedi ignored his partner and offered Satine his arm and said, "If you'd like, my dear, we can accompany you to dinner? If you don't want to then I completely understand. Obi-Wan and I can go elsewhere."

Satine pressed her lips and stared at Jinn with suspicion. She was disappointed that it was him and not Obi-Wan that held her in his arms that night. He was kind and charming. It made her think that maybe, just maybe-Obi loved her.

Jinn immediately regretted lowering his Force-shields. He felt Satine's yearning twist inside him like a knife. She was in love with Obi-Wan. He could see it in her eyes. She was pinning for him. Jinn knew what it was like to long for the ones you love. To be so close, yet so far.

It took effort not to reveal himself to Obi-Wan. He wanted to tell him that in another life, he was the one who played hide-and-seek with him when he was a child. He was the one who taught him about Force-shields in order to survive the Purge. He wanted so badly to confide in him. To tell him how lost he had been and how he never gave up hope, but he wasn't his father. This wasn't his timeline and hope felt more like agony than despair.

"I'm sorry I wasn't the man you wanted me to be."

Satine heard the strain in his voice. She saw that his expression looked pained.

"Jinn."

"I won't trouble you any farther, Duchess. Like I said, trouble always seems to find me. Please, enjoy your evening."

"Wait! Master Jinn."

He started walking away. He didn't bother looking back. He had to get away. He had to collect himself. He had to pull himself together. He took a lift down to the lower levels. When he got off, he felt he had put enough distance between him and the Duchess. He leaned his back against any empty alleyway all and threw his head back with a sigh. He then lowered his head and covered his eyes with his hand.

XXX

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? If it isn't Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Jinn lowered his hand from his face and saw a strange looking bald woman standing in front of him. She was pale with markings, wearing a skintight suit and a mask was tucked on the top of her head. She had a pair of lightsabers clipped on her belt. Jinn tilted his head as he regarded her. She was Force-sensitive, but not a Jedi and not completely a Sith. He couldn't help but find her fascinating.

He stepped away from the wall and said, "Well, hello there."

Ventress raised her brow as he gave her a mischievous smile. She slowly began circling him, but instead of standing still, he started circling her as well. She noticed something wasn't right. She was expecting him to make accusations and start a fight. However, the man in front of her didn't even try to reach for his weapon.

"You're not Kenobi."

"Oh, I'm a Kenobi. I'm just not Obi-Wan Kenobi. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jinn. What's your name?"

"You can call me Ventress."

"It's a pleasure you meet you, Ventress."

"Charmed. I'm sure."

"Oh, very charmed. I happen to notice you have two lightsabers. Can I interest you in sparring match?"

Ventress narrowed her brow and stopped circling him and said, "I'm sorry, but didn't you know that I'm a Sith?"

"So, is that a no?"

Ventress laughed and unclipped her lightsabers and leaped to attack him. Jinn drew his lightsaber and sword. Sparks flew as her red lightsaber grazed his steel. She took a step back and watched as Jinn smirked at her while he changed his stance. She sensed a great deal of chaos warring inside him. His emotions didn't feel like a Jedi. She sensed that he was enjoying their fight.

"You're a strange Jedi."

"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. You're not so bad yourself, nightingale."

Ventress scowled at the nickname. She did not like to be mocked. She attacked him again, but Jinn easily blocked and parried her back. Ventress didn't let up. She attacked him with more and more power behind her thrusts and swings. She pinned him against the wall in the alleyway with a Force-push. She sneered as she drove one of her lightsabers into the wall and dragged it dangerously closer to his head.

"Don't call me nightingale, Jedi."

"You're magnificent."

Ventress growled and kneed him in the stomach. She backed away from him as he bent over with a huff. However, instead of wiping the grin off his face, he started to laugh. Ventress moved to cut him, but he blocked her double downward swing and swept her right foot. She went down on one knee, but before she could recover, he Force-pushed her against the opposite alley wall and dropped his sword to grab her by the throat.

His grip was firm and unyielding. His amber eyes glowed with a strange dark power that made her shiver with fear. She thought he was about to end her, but instead he let go and took a step back. He bent down to pick up his sword and moved into a fighting stance.

"Shall we dance again, nightingale? We're even, one to one."

Ventress was confused. This Jedi was mad. He was seriously sparring with her. They were supposed to be enemies. They should be trying to kill each other. He shouldn't trust her enough to spar.

"What is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?"

Ventress shook her head and said, "You're not acting like a normal Jedi at all."

Jinn lowered his sword and saber and said, "I had no idea you were the authority on normal Jedi behavior."

The assassin deactivated her lightsabers and clipped them back onto her belt. She was done being toying with her. She didn't understand this Jedi at all. She wondered if maybe this was some twisted play at redemption. She wondered if he was only pretending to be harmless. Yet, conversion usually required conversation, but he wasn't interested in talk. If anything, he seemed more interested in fighting.

"You don't make any sense. Don't you want to arrest me? Or something?"

"I told you that I wanted to spar. If this is boring you, then we can stop." He then leaned in close to whispered, "Can I tell you a secret? I like strong women. You are by far the strongest woman I've ever met, nightingale."

Ventress shivered at the touch of his warm breath against her skin. She didn't like liars. His false compliments and endearments were insulting. Enraged, she shoved him back and slapping him across the face. The sound of the slap echoed inside the alleyway. His face was forced to the side.

Jinn's amber eyes flashed dangerously with power. His blood ran hot with adrenaline. He was eager to finally let loose and have a match that demanded his potential. For years he had been confined and constrained. Always hiding. Always running. Never getting close. Never staying in one place. He was tired of it. The battlefield was his only escape. It was the one place he could be himself and not think about his loneliness.

Ventress was a challenge. She was both beautiful and deadly. She was a real femme fatale, but the slap made him realized he had gone too far. He clipped his deactivated lightsaber back onto his belt and sheath his sword. He took a step back from her and drop down to one knee.

"I apologize for overstepping, Miss Ventress. Please forgive me."

Ventress was speechless. She never thought she'd hear a Jedi apologize to her of all people. She didn't know what to make of him. Luckily, she didn't have a chance to figure him out because a second later Obi-Wan came running towards them. Ventress took his appearance as her cue to leave. She turned away from him and leapt up towards the rooftops and disappeared into the night.

Obi-Wan reached his companion and said, "Jinn! What happened?"

Jinn replied, "I just met the most extraordinary woman."

Obi-Wan noticed that Jinn was down on his knee and said, "That was Asajj Ventress. She's an assassin. She's works for Count Dooku. What are you doing on the floor? Are you hurt?"

The amber-eyed Jedi got up and said, "I'm fine. We had a good spar, but I spoiled it by being rather rude. It's a shame really. We were just getting to know each other."

Obi-Wan was dumbfounded. Jinn made it sound like he just had tea rather than fight off an assassin. Yet, he couldn't figure out how Jinn in his situation to begin with. He noticed they didn't look like they were fighting, and their weapons weren't drawn.

"Do I even want to know why you we're kneeling?"

"I was apologizing for being rude."

Obi-Wan couldn't believe he was worried about Jinn. When he ran off, Satine insisted that he go after him. She was sure she had offended him somehow. Though, Obi-Wan was positive that it was Jinn who was wrong to begin with for impersonating him. He didn't think he'd get into a fight with an assassin or absurdly try to make amends with an assassin.

He pressed his hand over his face in exasperation and said, "Well, since you're alright, let's go. The Duchess is waiting."

XXX

TBC

XXX

Note: More Rex x Ahsoka next chapter.