AN: Heeeeeeey. I'm overwhelmed by how much positive reception this thing has been getting. Really, all of your support and comments have been so welcome and helpfulm, and I love hearing from you guys. That being said, we're going to have a few time jumps in the next few episodes as we start heading toward the endgame. Don't want to bog this down with monotony, we want to keep the shit rolling. So...let's get this shit rolling!
Chapter 24: Cato Neimoidia
For nearly a year, Obi-Wan and Quinlan had been hopping around the galaxy, systematically investigating the planets on the list and, occasionally, at the behest of the Council, they would be redirected to other planets. The missions were covert, and if not, they were diplomatic, and the two Jedi kept their promise to the Council to remain subtle.
Except for the fire fight on Akiva. But that wasn't their fault.
Above all else, the Jedi were bored. Most of the planets they visited were small, without major cities or ports, sparsely populated and governed by a small city that took direction from a larger, more populated planet in the sector. Once a month or so, they would be directed to major cities where they would refuel and Quinlan, gleefully, would drag the reluctant Kenobi to the nearest bar so the younger Jedi could watch the Kiffar make a fool of himself.
Despite his complaining, Obi-Wan didn't mind that much. Quinlan's nights of letting go gave Kenobi the chance to do the same. He'd sit back and watch the Kiffar drink himself into a stupor, drag women back to the rooms they would rent, and while the Kiffar was debauching himself, Obi-Wan would sit quietly in the next room over, eyes closed and breathing deep as he connected with the Dark Side.
All his free time was spent in deep study of the Force, practicing at any chance he got the strength and resolve of the light, and when Quinlan went off to find sexual release with as many women as he could find, Obi-Wan tested what he was learning on himself as he stirred the Dark Side awake. The smooth voice in the back of his mind rarely stopped, eating away at him and leaving him feeling empty and unbalanced until he let go his stubborn control and allowed the Dark Side to take him.
At first, his release was savage, uncontrolled as the Dark Side took him with a vengeance, hissing and roaring as if a dam had been broken, raging at having been contained. As he learned more, as he became stronger in the Force and more focused, his releases became more controlled, less violent, and more powerful, the Dark Side slowly submitting to the control of the Jedi. Before long, their monthly port visits became a time for Obi-Wan to experiment, releasing the Dark Side with little difficulty and allowing it to flood through him, making him stronger and more balanced than he was without it, the darkness slowly becoming one with him as Kenobi shaped it to fit his will.
With control in place, Obi-Wan began bringing people to his room as well, but while Quinlan was in the next room over moaning his release into a willing girl, Kenobi was commanding unwilling participants to do his bidding. The Jedi always had a talent for the Mind Trick, but with the Dark Side fueling him, an arsenal of new options and abilities opened up to him. The Force suggestion the Jedi practiced was a gentle suggestion that made the subject believe that the idea was theirs, a strong presence that convinced the individual that the Jedi was right. But the Dark Side made it a command, actively ignored what the subject wanted as it tore their will away and mentally slaved them to the Force user that was practicing it. Unlike the Jedi suggestion, which did not work on the particularly willful or intelligent, the dark counterpart could work on anyone, provided that the user was strong enough. It tore away will, intelligence, morality, and nothing else mattered but the will of the Dark Side that commanded them.
And Obi-Wan Kenobi was getting very good at it.
He did know, of course, that a Jedi could resist it, as could someone particularly strong in the Force, but beyond that, he could control anyone. And he did. Their nights in port was filled with release for the both of them, and Obi-Wan sat within him room with the people he commanded come with him, practicing his skills and ordering them to do...anything. He learned that he didn't need to savage the minds of people, as the Sith spirit had done to him long ago. One truly skilled in mind manipulation could simply command them to give him the information he needed, and as Master Yoda had done with him to see the vision he had, Obi-Wan slowly learned to command others to simply surrender information, memories, and thoughts, allowing him to rake through someone's mind without destroying them. Of course, mentally destroying a person was always an option...
Obi-Wan didn't take that option, though he knew he would if he was pushed. He was growing stronger, not just in the Force, but in the Dark Side as well, and as his control increased, he slowly allowed the darkness to sit in his mind on a regular basis, which left him centered and balanced, the steady release making him feel...liberated. He was not free, no, but he was getting there, and the constant presence of the Dark Side made him feel at ease, much more comfortable in his body, the sharp tongue he was often rebuked for coming much easier to him. He felt...truly himself for the first time in as long as he could remember.
However, despite their nights in port, the Jedi were otherwise bored out of their minds. This wasn't like the mission in Sith space. These were routine check-ups under the guise of Sith hunting. They sensed no Dark Side, no Sith, no sinister force. Just an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in the places they visited, which left the Jedi fielding the incessant complaints of the inhabitants of the planets. It was straining their patience, which left them here, on a ship headed to some little backwater planet that nobody cared about. It was just over a month since their last port visit, and tensions were high, especially now that, after a year of living together on a ship that was far too small for their conflicting personalities, Quinlan's careless personal habits were beginning to creep out of the comfort of his room. And Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't having any of it.
"Quinlan!" He howled as he entered the cockpit. All he wanted to do was run over the pointless data he's collected for the fifth time that day. Maybe analyze some of the flora samples he collected on their recent trip to Kiros. But no. Quinlan Vos had left food on the control console. "Quinlan!" he shouted again, reaching out with the Force and pulling hard on the Kiffar's consciousness, an action that was met with a loud crashing from the Jedi's room.
"Damn it, Obi-Wan, what!" Quinlan came out into the hall, rubbing his head and glaring at his fuming friend.
"You left food in the cockpit! How many times do I have to tell you, the control deck isn't a table!"
"I keep telling you, there's no view where we keep our actual table!"
"You don't need a view to eat!"
"Maybe you don't, but I do! For...meditative purposes."
"Oh, please, you don't meditate! You never meditate! If you're going to eat in the cockpit, at least clean up after yourself!"
Quinlan rolled his eyes. "Kriffing hell, Kenobi, if I wanted to listen to your nagging, I'd ask you to be my girlfriend."
"Well the joke's on you, Quinlan, because I wouldn't say yes, even if you asked nicely!" He crossed his arms, leaning against the smooth, cold metal of the wall. "And while we're on it, when are you going to clean your room, there's no room to even sleep in there."
"Now you're breaking the rules!" The Kiffar strode down the hall and stood right before the disdainful Jedi, face close to the bored, relaxed blue eyes of his friend. "We said that what happens in our rooms is our own business, so why do you care about my mess!"
"Because you do it specifically to irritate me."
"So? It's still in my room."
"Yes," Kenobi drawled, standing up straight so he was nearly the height of the Kiffar. "And now your mess is outside your room, which makes the whole thing my business."
"You know, we would be living in perfect harmony if you just relaxed, you uptight son of a bitch."
"No, you would be living in harmony. I would be driven to the sweet embrace of the Dark Side so I could cope with you and your mess."
The Kiffar leaned forward, their faces close, but Kenobi did not back away. "Oh, Obi, we can fix this. You clearly just need to be railed. Hard."
Obi-Wan's expression was deadpan; this was Quinlan's solution to basically everything. "Even if that were true, which it isn't, I fear you wouldn't be up to the task." The Jedi turned away from the sputtering Kiffar and went back to the cockpit, Vos following close behind him.
"You underestimate me, Kenobi," he purred, his long fingers reaching up and stroking the smooth, blond hair before Obi-Wan smacked his hand away. "We can do it right here. You can just bend over the control console here and I can drive the tension right out of you."
"You really need to get to a port, don't you."
"I really need to get to a port, Kenobi."
"Tell you what," the Jedi purred, drawing closer to the Kiffar and laying an elegant hand on his chest. "You clean up the mess you left outside your room, and I'll forget this conversation ever happened."
"...deal." Quinlan quickly scooped up his mess and left the cockpit, and Obi-Wan settled back into the pilot's chair, sighing in satisfaction as the ship hummed beneath him. A moment later, Quinlan came back and settled into his own seat, watching with a satisfied smirk as a plate drifted across the viewport.
"...Quinlan? Did you throw your plate out the airlock?"
"Yup. You might be able to get me to clean up my mess, but there's no way I am going to be washing a dish. Ever."
Kenobi groaned, rubbing hit temple. Between his restriction of the Dark Side, the smooth, compelling voice whispering at the back of his mind, and the continuous antics of Quinlan Vos, his mind finally had enough and began to throb with pain. Like Quinlan, Obi-Wan also needed release.
The com began to flash, and Kenobi didn't move, leaving the Kiffar to lean over and answer the call, the hologram of Mace Windu standing before them. "Please, please tell us you have something exciting," Quinlan drawled. "It's been so boring. All Kenobi does, all day, is molest me." Mace looked at the Kiffar skeptically, then looked to Obi-Wan, but the young Jedi didn't move. Without any denial or outcry, the Kiffar threw his arm over his face. "It's true and it's awful! All the time, in the middle of the night, in the shower, against walls, bent over tables." He looked out from under his arm. Neither of the Jedi had moved or reacted at all. Frowning, he quickly cried, "There is no end to his lust, Master Windu! I have been ravaged!"
Finally, Windu sighed. "Do you know how I know none of that's true, Quinlan? This whole tirade began with how bored you were, and if any of this was actually happening, you wouldn't be bored. You'd be thrilled."
"...I just want something to happen around here! I'd rather be fighting the Sith!"
"Well, you're in luck then. The Council is sending you to Cato Neimoidia."
"We've been there," Obi-Wan drawled, looking with bored eyes at the hologram. "There wasn't anything there either. Just a lot of frustrated locals."
Mace shook his head. "Not anymore. Viceroy Nute Gunray has returned."
That got the Jedi's attention, and both men shot up, sitting straight in their seats, their eyes sharp and focused. "Is the trial over?" Kenobi said swiftly "What was the outcome, why was he released? Did you talk to him?!"
"Patience, Obi-Wan," the Master said softly, holding his hand up. "He underwent four trials in the Galactic Senate, but he was released and he returned home."
"How," Kenobi snarled, feeling bitter rage rise up in him. "How could he have done what he did and not be imprisoned for it!"
"I don't know," Mace said softly, observing the angry Jedi. "We weren't able to talk with him either. The Senate wouldn't allow it. After his trials, he was allowed to return to his position as the Viceroy of the Trade Federation."
"How is this possible?! What is wrong with the Repbilic!"
Quinlan reached out to his friend. "Obi-Wan, calm down..."
"No! I won't! This isn't justice! Where is the justice for what happened on Naboo?! Where is the justice for Padmé Amidala?! Where is the justice for what happened to Qui-Gon?! Where is my justice?!"
"Obi-Wan!" the Master snapped, cold and hard, and Kenobi glared at the man, but slowly calmed. "I understand. The Council understands this as the will of the Force, but many of us were angry as well. For thousands of years, the Jedi Order has stood for peace and justice. We will not abandon that now."
He took a few deep breaths, and slowly, Obi-Wan suppressed the rage, molding it into fierce determination. "What will you have us do, Master?"
"You are headed to Cato Neimoidia as representatives of the Republic. You are to meet with Senator Lott Dod, but you are really there to find and question Nute Gunray. The Senate wouldn't let us question him, but he isn't in Republic custody anymore."
Kenobi grinned. "I can do that."
"Learn everything you can, Obi-Wan. We can't allow this opportunity to pass us by. But try not to make a mess," Mace drawled, and the other two Jedi scoffed.
"Oh, please," the Kiffar laughed. "We have been on our best behavior for a really long time now."
"We won't disappoint you, Master Windu." Mace nodded, and the hologram shut off as the call was cut. Both Jedi looked at each other and grinned.
"Hey, Quinlan."
"Hey, Obi-Wan."
"You thinking what I am?"
"Were you thinking that Cato Neimoidia has a major city with a major port?"
Obi-Wan's grin widened. "I was."
"Thank the Force!" Obi-Wan smirked at his companion as he punched in the coordinates for the Corellian Run, the route that would take them into the Colonies, which was the closest they had been to home in a year. "How long before we're there!"
"A few hours. We can take the Corellian Run most of the way, but we'll have to jump to smaller routes once we hit the Colonies."
"I get the shower first!"
"You're welcome to it, I was going to meditate anyway."
Quinlan rolled his eyes and rushed to his room, leaving Kenobi alone to formulate a plan and sink himself into the Force.
"Alright, listen," Obi-Wan said softly as they walked away from their ship on the landing dock of the opulent bridge city. "We need to keep a low profile tonight so we don't scare Gunray away."
"Uh huh, low profile."
"Quinlan, are you even listening?" His hand shot out and grabbed the other Jedi and they stopped, Quinlan's eyes anxious and eager, and Obi-Wan could sympathize. The sun was setting, and the lights of the city were flickering to life, and both Jedi were nearly coming out of their skin. They had been cooped up in their ship for a long time, the monotony of the mission giving them less excitement than they had arguing with each other on the ship. They needed this mission, and what was even better was that the Neimoidians were expecting a Republic delegation to arrive as a good-will gesture. They weren't expecting Jedi, and the ship they flew in on wasn't the ship they were expecting. It gave them complete anonymity, at least until they announced themselves, and while that made Quinlan bold, it made Obi-Wan cautious.
"They don't know we're here, we need to keep it that way."
"Obi-Wan, relax! They don't know we're here, that's the point. We can do what we want!"
"I know, just..." He sighed, pulling his hood up and drawing his cloak closer to him. "Just don't go too crazy. We need to be in perfect form tomorrow."
"I'll be fine tomorrow. But tonight, I'm going to get trashed."
"Quin..."
"More trashed than you got."
"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Not a chance." He grinned at his friend, the younger Jedi looking at him with vast irritation, and they walked together to the nearest bar. Cato Neimoidia served as the headquarters of the Trade Federation, which made the entire planet vastly wealthy, and it's capital was a major hub of trade that brought hundred of different species to it. The wealth and diversity of the bridge city was reflected in the bar they entered, with several species milling about the smooth, well-kept room, and the bar sported the widest selection that the Jedi had ever seen. And much to Quinlan's delight, there were many females, a good deal of them wanton and under-dressed.
"Looks like it's going to be a good night for you," Kenobi purred, and Quinlan nodded absently, brown eyes raking over a group of very attractive women.
"Oh, it is. I can feel it."
"I'll come get you in the morning, and you better be ready to go when I do."
Quinlan flashed him his most charming smile. "You got it, boss." And then he was gone, weaving through the bar and grabbing a drink, easily flirting with a very receptive Twi'lek. Obi-Wan smirked and looked at the occupants of the establishment, but his sharp blue eyes were looking for completely different things than Quinlan, settling on two very well-dressed Neimoidians sitting next to a large, armed guard that Kenobi recognized as a Zabrak. The Jedi smirked as he approached the bar, sliding into the seat next to the smooth-skinned female Neimoidian. The guard snarled and laid a hand on his weapon.
"Well, hello there!" Kenobi chirped, good natured and friendly, and the slit eyes of the Neimoidians narrowed suspiciously. "I couldn't help but notice that you seem out of place here."
"Mind your own business, human," the guard growled, and Obi-Wan put his hands in the air.
"Now, now, don't be hostile!" He laughed when he said it, smiling, but the weight of the Force was behind his words, and the guard seemed to sway in his seat, his hand dropping from his weapon. "Why are we here tonight?"
"Celebrating," the female said smoothly. "The Trade Federation is back to business."
"The Viceroy has returned," the male drawled. "Trade nearly stopped without him, but it can continue now. His plan will make it more lucrative than before."
"Are you involved in this plan?" Kenobi asked the Neimoidians softly, and they nodded.
"Rune Haako and I come from the same clutch," the female said proudly.
"He is the second in command to the Viceroy, so we will benefit greatly from this."
His blue eyes narrowed, a faint smile playing on the Jedi's lips. "Yes, I know who Rune Haako is." He leaned in, looking the two over. "I think we have a lot we could discuss. I have a room very close to here, we should all go!"
The male glared and he stood up from his seat, stance aggressive. "What are you trying at, human? If you want a companion, there are lots of others here that would stoop that low."
Obi-Wan laughed loudly, leaning against the bar and completely un-threatened when the guard snapped to and stood, looming tall over the Jedi. "Oh, sweetie, I wasn't asking. The three of you are coming with me." The slitted Neimoidian eyes immediately slid out of focus, and the female stood, the two ready to obey, but the Zabrak struggled, jaw clenched and beginning to sweat. The sharp blue eyes fell on him. "You too. I won't ask again."
This time, the guard did not resist, and Obi-Wan could feel his submission through the Force. The Jedi rose to his feet and gestured for them to follow him, and the four silently left the bar. The streets were crowded with nightlife, with people advertising their business, with young adults exhibiting their various mating rituals, with drunken bar patrons stumbling around with large groups of friends, and it made for a slow, easy walk to the hotel, the Jedi smiling and breathing in the temperate air. It was going to be a good night.
They walked in silence until they arrived at his room, and the Jedi opened the door, directing them into the large, spacious area. He made certain to pull the right mental strings to get the biggest space available, and the hotel delivered. He gestured to the couch, and his three companions sat, eyes snapping into focus as Kenobi lifted his control over them. They were disoriented, confused, and the Jedi breathed in deep, exhaling slowly as he let go of his carefully placed control, allowing the Dark Side to swell within him, filling him with power and warmth as the tamed beast swirled around him.
"What have you done!" the male Neimodian cried, standing and reeling on his captor, and the Zabrak drew his weapon, aiming the blaster at the Jedi, but Kenobi just smirked and lowered his hood.
"I'd prefer to play nice, boys," he quietly drawled, extending his hand and the Zabrak dropped to his knees, the weapon falling to the floor as the bodyguard clutched his head. The Neimoidian's eyes widened in fear, and he quietly sat next to his companion, hands folded in his lap.
"What do you want..."
"Information," he drawled, coming around to stand in front of the couch, yellow eyes running over them. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt any of you." He used the Force to move the dropped weapon, placing it on a high shelf and smirking as the already wide eyes of the Neimoidians grew wider. "I just needed to get to know your species, since I'm going to be dealing with one tomorrow, and I really don't like going into a situation without having as much information as possible at my disposal."
"What do you need to know?" the female said softly, reasonably, and without the overwhelming fear the male was exhibiting.
"I've come to understand that your species is greedy, weak-willed and fearful, and that does seem to be true, based on your companion here." Her eyes narrowed defiantly, and Kenobi laughed, completely amused by the creature. "See, usually when I do this, I just take what I want. But it is true you are weak-willed. I barely had to do a thing to get you to come with me. So this is turning out to be less exciting than I hoped."
"Please," the male said swiftly, and the bright yellow eyes shot to him, narrowing in irritation. "Just say what you want, I-"
"Shut up." The man fell silent immediately, and his female companion looked at Kenobi with large, interested eyes.
"You're a Jedi," she said softly. "I have heard the Jedi can do what you just did."
"I am."
"So what is it you need to know?"
Kenobi smiled. "I need to know the mind of your people."
The red eyes narrowed, her smooth, gray head nodding to the male next to her. "Take him."
Kenobi grinned wickedly, yellow eyes burning as he extended his hand and dove into the man's mind. It opened up before him with no resistance whatsoever, and the Jedi frowned in disappointment. This was far too easy, and while he did gain useful information on the Neimoidian mind, he wasn't feeling the wash of excitement he usually felt when he tore into the minds of other creatures. It was like asking Master Windu to complete the youngling lightsaber practice. It was...insulting. Growling in frustration, he released the male.
"Did you find what you needed?" the female asked, her large red eyes interested, fascinated by what was happening.
"No," Kenobi snarled, extending his hand toward her. She was clearly more intelligent, and her mind might prove a greater challenge. The red eyes widened, and she made to move away for just a moment before the Force grabbed her, and Obi-Wan combed through her mind, and nearly snarled in frustration when she offered no more resistance than the male. She didn't have any information that could be considered useful either. He released her, and she fell back on the couch, limp and dazed like her companion. With a wave of his hand, Kenobi released the Zabrak, and the large creature coughed, breathing hard to catch his breath. The Jedi flopped on the bed, huffing in frustration and closing his eyes, feeling the Dark Side thrash and rage.
"What are you doing?" the Zabrak growled, cautiously approaching the bed where the Jedi lay.
"Wasting my time, apparently. The Neimoidians are useless."
"They are weak," the Zabrak growled in agreement. "That's why they need the strong to defend them."
Obi-Wan scoffed. "You're wasting your time. If you're so much stronger than they are, why aren't you ruling them?"
The Zabrak shrugged. "They pay me."
"And that is why they are stronger than you. It's pathetic." Obi-Wan smiled as he watched the guard bristle. "You might have what I need." The Zabrak's face contorted in rage, but only for a moment, and then a haze settled over his mind as the Jedi reached out to him. He shook his horned head, trying to clear his mind and focus, but Kenobi was grinning maliciously as he quickly tore down his resistance and sapped away his will to fight. The Zabrak dropped to his knees, eyes blank and dazed.
"This is more fun already," Kenobi purred sitting up on the bed and watching the last shreds of resistance disappear from the man. "You will obey me, understand?"
"Yes, Master..."
Kenobi hissed as pleasure shot through him, the Dark Side purring in satisfaction, powering the Jedi and waiting for his command. "Are you a mercenary?"
"No, Master. A guard at Lott Dod's Palace."
"The Senator? What are you doing away from the Palace?"
"I guard the family of Rune Haako. He is important to the Senator."
Kenobi leaned back again, his mind turning, concentrating on connecting all the information he had gathered on the extended mission, trying to make a cohesive story of it all. His yellow eyes narrowed as he heard the door to the room behind him open, and he heard the low, easy laugh of Quinlan Vos and at least three girls. He growled as the laughter and whispers quickly became loud, passionate moans, and he got off the bed, eager to put distance between himself and the Jedi in the room next-door. He strode to the bed and pointed to the dazed Neimoidians. "You two. Go to the room next to this one. My friend is in there, and you will pleasure him." The red eyes looked up at him, blinking slowly in understanding. "Both of you. Go now."
The two rose from the couch and left the room, and Kenobi threw himself on the vacant couch. "Come here, Zabrak." The guard did as he was commanded, coming to kneel before the Jedi. "Here's what I'm thinking. Tomorrow, I'm supposed to meet with Senator Dod, which isn't going to happen, since I'm actually going to find Viceroy Gunray. Is he in the Palace?"
"Yes, Master..."
"Where?"
"He has taken the Royal Chambers."
"And those are..."
"...in the Palace, Master." Kenobi groaned, sitting up and closing his eyes.
"Open your mind to me, I need to see the Palace." The Zabrak did as he was told, but deep within him, the creature still resisted, and Kenobi grinned. He truly did appreciate the challenge. He sent the Dark Side into the man's mind, not to tear into him, but to gently coax him to relax, submit, yield to his Master, and with a groan, the Zabrak slowly complied, his resistance melting away into blind obedience to the Jedi in his mind. The memories were hazy and unfocused, and it took a moment for Kenobi to find images of the palace. He watched carefully as he ran through the memories, laying out a mental schematic of the large building in his mind, taking in the detail of every room, every corridor, every secret passageway until he knew the palace as if it was his own.
The Zabrak whimpered as Kenobi left his mind, leaving him feeling empty and yearning, and the Jedi laid back, eyes closed and trying to tune out the rhythmic pounding on the wall coming from the other room. "You've been useful." The guard purred in satisfaction, and Kenobi smiled lazily. "I can find use for you tomorrow as well. I'll need you in the palace in the morning."
"As you command, Master..."
"Glad to hear it." Obi-Wan closed his eyes and breathed deeply, releasing himself completely and feeling the Dark Side wash over him, comforting and stable and making him feel relaxed and complete.
