Author's note: This chapter came out a bit longer than the rest as I'm pretty lazy when it comes to uploading chapters onto the document manager.

As she'd expected, Dex had lent Obi-wan a somewhat food splattered tunic that more or less concealed his outfit, though Kali did not miss the shrewd look of understanding that gleamed in the Besalisk's eyes as he took in her companion. He made no comment, however, just handed Obi-wan the garment and winked at Kalinda. Lirra made a place for him at the bar, where she promised to keep his glass of muja juice full, while Kali made her way back onstage.

Though she had played before him many times, something was different now and she felt oddly anxious as she considered what song to play. Finally, she settled on one of the older songs that she'd learned from studying the Archives, a fast paced and intricate melody with equally complex vocals. It got the crowd clapping along and she felt a little thrill of pride, as she often did, at the way some of the audience members responded to her music. She could feel their enthusiasm, a tangible ripple in the Force that encouraged her and added to her own delight in the music; that energy she focused back inward on the way her fingers slid over the gitar and the resonance of her voice.

As the final notes of the song faded, she couldn't help but grin at Obi-wan, who raised his glass to her before setting it down to applaud with the rest of the audience. Someone shouted out a request and several others seconded the motion, so Kali was happy to oblige.

Several hours later, when Dex shut down the kitchens and Lirra began to collect the scattered glasses, Kali realized that it was far past the time when she usually left. After stowing her instrument safely in the back, she met Obi-wan by the stage, who was looking at her with admiration.

"That was impressive," he said as she mopped at her forehead with the edge of her sleeve. "I've never heard half of those songs, but you were very good." He glanced at his chronometer. "Blast!"

"I know," she replied, waving goodnight to Lirra. "It's a lot later than I usually leave."

"Ah, I see you have an escort home, kiddo," Dex said as he shambled over to them. He looked at Obi-wan. "I worry about her sometimes, running around Coruscant this late."

"I-"

"I know," the Besalisk said, putting one of his large hands on her head. "You can take care of yourself. But I'm still glad that you have some company tonight."

Kali rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Dex. Tell Joyle I'm leaving, would you? I think she's in the back, counting stacks of credits. I don't want to disturb her from her favorite pastime." With a final wave goodnight to Dex, the Padawans exited The Chrysalis and headed out into the evening.

Generally, Coruscant was climate controlled, but the weather regulators liked to give the illusion of actual seasons; this night, the air had the barest edge of a chill to it, a sudden change from the heat that her body had gathered while she stood under the lights of the club, and Kali found herself rubbing her hands on her arms to warm them up. A moment later, she felt a spreading warmth across her shoulders as Obi-wan placed his cloak over her. She smiled at him.

"You're such a gentleman."

He shrugged. "You looked cold. I'm still a bit warm, to tell you the truth." An air taxi sped above them, and he glanced up, following its path with his gaze. "How do you normally travel? Do you walk every night?"

She shook her head. "The only money that I take from the tip jar is to cover the fare to and from the Temple. Come on, the best place to catch a taxi is around this corner." They headed towards one of the hubs where would-be passengers waited for taxis. Several minutes later, they were speeding home through the night. Coruscant was never really silent or still, and both Padawans gazed at the multitude of colorful lights sliding by beneath them as they rode. They reached Kali's normal drop off point and headed inside the Temple.

Obi-wan cast a dubious glance around. "It's easier than I thought."

"Getting back in? I know," she replied as they made their way to the stairs. "But it occurred to me...we're not prisoners. We're allowed to come and go. They trust us not to do anything wrong."

"Like sneaking out of the Temple and and carousing in bars?"

"I'm not 'carousing,' I'm providing music for the good citizens of Coruscant," she laughed, trying to ignore the jabs of pain that were streaking through her knee. Obi-wan, however, soon noticed the change in her gait, and stopped, putting a hand on her arm.

"Are you alright? Really?" He looked at her knee. "Does it still hurt you?"

She shook her head. "It's fine. It will get better; it's just going to take longer because I'm too stubborn to have a fake knee." His hand was warm against her bare skin and she felt a shiver run through her body. She thought that he felt it too, because he pulled away from her and cleared his throat.

"You shouldn't endanger your health like this."

"I can't live my life that way," she replied, opening the door that led to the corridor where the Padawan quarters were located. "I have to do what is right, not what is easy." Like caring for you, she thought. They reached her door, and she turned to look at him. "Thank you, Obi-wan. I had a good time tonight; I hope it wasn't too loathsome for you."

Instead of answering her immediately, he ran his hand through his hair. "What did you mean, the other day," he said slowly. "About the Force and love being one and the same?"

She hesitated. "'The Force is an energy that surrounds us, and binds us all together,'" she recited after a moment. "So is love. Love makes the galaxy turn, for good or for ill. There is a light side and dark side to the Force, as love can bring you to the greatest heights of joy or the deepest pits of despair." An image of Jonas lying in her arms sprang to her mind and she was startled by the tears that did not fall. "I am young, I realize, and I don't know many things; but this I know to be true." She faced him. "Love is the law of all beings, love is the will behind the Force. It can help or hurt; it's all in how you act on it. In fact-"

His mouth was on hers before she had finished speaking and she found herself unable and unwilling to resist. It was not like the other times they had kissed; there was a certain edge of desperation in his movements that she had never felt before. She put her hands on his cheeks, felt his arms wrap around her. It was another few moments before they fell into her quarters, fumbling for the latch that would lock the door before they were approaching her bed, their clothing piling in heaps around their feet.

It was not awkward, like she'd always heard it would be, nor was it painful; the only problem that they had was that it was over too quickly, though it was a simple matter to begin the process again and again and again. By the time the sun began to trickle through the window, Kali was certain that they'd become quite proficient in the act of love and expressed as much to Obi-wan, who, in response, nuzzled her neck and inhaled deeply.

"That tickles," she said, her voice breaking into laughter.

"That's the point." His reply was muffled by her skin before he looked up and smiled at her.

"What is it?"

"You're so beautiful," he replied, reaching up to touch her cheek. "I always wanted to tell you, but..." A quiet beeping sound from her desk made them both start. "What time is it?" he asked, turning to look for his chronometer that had most likely been displaced on the floor with the rest of his clothes.

Kali had slipped out of the bed and opened her calendar, her stomach dropping when she saw the time. "Blast it! We were supposed to be in morning meditation an hour ago!" They exchanged one frantic look before they fell into a flurry of clothes-gathering; there was concern over one of Obi-wan's boots that they couldn't locate, but soon enough they were each as presentable as they were going to get. Kali poked her head out of her quarters first, once the coast was clear, she waved Obi-wan out. "We shouldn't arrive together,"she said. "You go first and I'll come later-I'll say that my knee was acting up or something."

"You are remarkably adroit at this kind of deception," he remarked before he entered the corridor. She frowned but he shook his head and kissed her once more. "Just a joke, calm down," he said with a grin just as he slipped out.

"Arrogant," she hissed at him, though she felt an idiotic grin split her face as she watched him hurry off. It was well enough that she would come after him, as she still had to find her Padawan clothes and put away her "civilian clothes," as she had taken to thinking of the garments she wore at the nightclub. Luckily she had some clean robes and her boots weren't scuffed too badly; she considered taking the crutches, but decided that would be pushing her luck, as she hadn't needed them in a while. Hopefully it will be someone like Master Torren, or Master Ro leading the mediation, she thought as she hurried to the chambers. They're both pretty laid-back. However, when she reached the area where the session was taking place, she saw with dismay that it was Master Windu who was leading the group of Padawans and initiates. As she took her place in the back of the group, she could almost feel the waves of disapproval radiating off of him.

Suffice it to say that she was unable to focus properly for the duration of the session; eventually she gave up and simply tried to relax and still her mind, hoping to quell the thoughts and recent memories that kept surfacing. When the session finally ended, she dawdled for a moment with her knee, rubbing it in small, circular motions that sometimes helped the pain. It was not exactly a lie that it had been bothering her, so she hoped that the Master wouldn't see right through her. Part of her brain noted that Obi-wan slipped out of the room without a reprimand, which gave her some hope.

"Padawan Halcyon," Master Windu's voice resonated in the room. Kali rose to her feet and went to stand before him,her heart threatening to hammer through her chest.

"Yes Master?"

His dark eyes regarded her for several long moments. "Is your knee still not healed?"

She shook her head. "It is still in the healing process, Master Windu. I suppose it is taking longer than it should-though I am doing my physical therapy every day." To illustrate, she lifted her leggings out of her boot and showed him the bright pink scar, shiny with the new skin that had at last grown over the wound.

Master Windu nodded. "Keep it up." Hoping that a dismissal was forthcoming, Kali nodded, but he continued to look at her. "I have some potential candidates for you," he said after a moment. "For your new Master."

It was not what she had expected, so she was temporarily stunned into silence. Though he must have sensed her thoughts, he continued as if he had not. "I have a mission coming up, but I expect to have a decision in the next two weeks. You will be notified." With this he nodded again, a real dismissal that made her turn and exit the room silently. "One more thing, Kalinda," he said as she reached the door. "You will report to Quartmaster Berrick for your detention, and you are not to be late again. Is that clear?"

Kali turned and met his dark gaze. "Yes, Master."

Obi-wan had been given the same punishment, so it appeared that their ruse had worked, as she was certain they would not have been put together if anyone knew of the Padawans' connection. As far as detentions went it was fairly painless; Berrick was grateful to have help sorting and organizing the vast array of supplies that he kept on hand, so grateful, in fact, that he left the two of them to themselves while he checked his logs-or something, as Kali had not paid much attention to the elderly Jedi as he shambled out of the room. The work that should have been tedious and unpleasant was made much more interesting with the addition of a few games friendly competition; presently, they were racing each other to finish sorting the standard equipment that each Jedi had to take on every mission.

Obi-wan was winning.

"Done!" he crowed, gesturing to the stack of rebreathers, neatly gathered and organized, the shelf dusted. Kali glared at him and looked at her own stack of comm units, still scattered and messy. "Don't worry," he said, moving over to where she sat. "I'm sure that you'll be done soon enough."

"We can't leave until it's all done," she pointed out. "Since this is the last of it, maybe you should help."

He flopped down next to her and began picking through the comms. "It would go faster if you wouldn't listen to the recordings on each blasted one, you know."

She shrugged. "It's interesting. I mean, it's not like there's anything sensitive on one of these-just notes and things-Berrick is supposed to erase them anyway." To illustrate her point, she hit the playback button on the comm in her hand. Master Yoda's voice sounded tinny coming from the device.

"Inform the Council, I must, of this most recent development on Mandalore. A Jedi team, we should send."

"Mandalore," Obi-wan said, wrinkling his nose. "I hope they don't send me and Qui-gon."

Kali dropped the comm in place with the others. "That reminds me," she said. "Master Windu told me that they have some candidates in mind to be my new master."

Obi-wan looked at her, excitement on his features. "But that's wonderful! You were worried about it, as I recall..."

"He didn't say who, though," she replied, toying with another comm.

"Well, I'm sure he had a good reason, Kali," Obi-wan said, setting another three comms in the holder. "Come on, there's only that one left."

Absently, she flipped the playback switch to "on."

"I am afraid."

It was Jonas' voice. Every muscle in her body grew still; she was barely aware of Obi-wan sitting beside her, of the uncomfortable way her boot rested below her thigh, or the sweat that had started to form in her palm. "Non is vicious, cruel, and utterly unpredictable. I asked the Council to let me leave Kali behind, but they have said that she should come along-they do not believe the mission will end badly, as I do. My only consolation is the presence of Qui-gon and his Padawan; hopefully they will turn the odds in our favor. But despite this, I am afraid, for the one thing that I cannot lose is the one thing that I must bring." The recording ended abruptly, the silence that ensued was marred by the increasing pace of her heartbeat that drummed in her ears.

Obi-wan's hand on her arm startled Kali out of her reverie. He said her name hesitantly, gauging her reaction; a look of relief crossed his face when she nodded to him and gave a faint smile.

"I'm fine," she said, getting to her feet. "Come on, we only have that one area to go through before we're done."

Later that night Kali lay in her bed, unable to quell the restlessness that seethed within her body. A dozen times she got up, paced to the window, to the door, to the 'fresher, before falling back in bed, attempting the sleep that refused to come. Finally she gave up on the pretense altogether and tried to absorb herself in one of her datapads, but that offered little distraction from the thoughts circling in her mind. The datapad clattered to the floor as she slipped out of her door and tiptoed down the corridor.

The Temple was so quiet at night; it was one of the things that she loved about the night, the fact that there was no one around, how it felt like she was the only person left in the entire place. When she reached his door she did not even pause to knock, she simply let herself in-like most of the others, he didn't keep his door locked, though she rectified that-and stripped off her robes, climbing in beside him before he was fully awake and aware of her presence.

"Kali?" His words were punctuated by a yawn. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't sleep," she replied, resting her head against his warm shoulder.

He said something else, intelligible, as her ear was pressed against his skin, and ran his hand across her back.

"What?"

"I said I'm glad to see you," he said, smiling at her. "Even though you're going to get me in so much trouble for this."

"Because you're clearly against it," she replied, nestling closer, feeling the heat from his body spreading to her own like a balm; sooner than she would have anticipated she let out a yawn and felt her eyelids dropping down.

The next week or so continued on in a much similar fashion, though Kali was unable to push the recording from her mind. Her days she spent in the proper, segmented order of training, meditation and other classes, playing the part of dutiful Padawan and wondering if a new Master would ever be assigned to her.

As for her nights...

Well.

At first Obi-wan did not frequent the Chrysalis, as he did not like sneaking out of the Temple, but by the third night she was pleased to see his familiar face in the crowd that had gathered to hear the music; that night was also the first night with the Wookie keyboard player, who was surprisingly talented, more so than Kali or Dex had realized. The crowd loved her, and Kali found that Lirra was starting to warm up to the idea of performing on a regular basis. Soon they won't need me at all, she thought as she sat at the bar with Obi-wan about a week later, watching the others perform. The thought gave her a small pang.

During one of the breaks, before she was scheduled to go on next, Kali felt an odd trickle of apprehension behind her; a darting look at Obi-wan showed that he felt it too. Glancing around, she saw a tall, slender Nemoidian step into the club and approach the stage, his eyes darting around furtively.

Lirra, who had returned to her post behind the bar, offered him a solicitous smile. "Welcome to the Chrysalis, sir. Can I get you something?" He approached the bar and spoke with the Twi'lek; after a moment of hushed conversation, she glanced over at Kali, confusion on her violet features. Kalinda took that as her cue and headed over to the pair, Obi-wan beside her.

"Kam," Lirra said, a tremor in her lilting voice. "This gentleman has a message for you."

Kalinda fixed her gaze on the Nemoidian. "Yes?"

"You are Kamala?"

"Perhaps," she said, crossing her arms. "Who wants to know?"

"I have a message for you," he said, holding out a holochip in a trembling hand. "Please...take it."

She glanced at him, but made no move to take the small object. "From whom? You?"

"I'm just the messenger," he whispered, shaking his head. "Just take it, please! You'll find out what you need to know, I promise. I just don't want to be involved anymore!"

Lirra glanced at Kali, worry written plainly across her face, but Kalinda kept her expression cool. "I'm sorry, I need more information..." At her words, he squeezed his eyes shut, and dropped the device to the floor, turning to race out the door in the next instant; Obi-wan almost followed him, but Kali stopped him with a touch on his arm, unwilling to blow their cover by using the Force to catch up with the surprisingly swift Nemoidian. Instead, she bent to retrieve the holochip from the ground, studying it carefully.

"What was that all about?" Lirra said, her lekku twitching with agitation.

Kali shrugged. "Who knows? Probably spice-addled." She pocketed the chip and smiled at the Twi'lek. "Still, better see if he needs help. You think Joyle will mind if I cut out early tonight?"

Several minutes later, Kali and Obi-wan left the club and headed into the night. The Nemoidian had long since fled and it was another hour or two before the Padawans gave up trying to not track him down. "We should go back," Obi-wan said at last as they watched rows of Coruscant citizens pass below then from their perch on the ledge of a building. "I don't want to push our luck any more than we already have."

Kali frowned, but nodded. They began to make their way back to the Temple, realizing too late that neither of them had any credits to get a taxi; it was a long walk. By the time they reached the Temple it was well past midnight and the streets were silent and calm, as they usually were in the hours before dawn. "I'm too tired for the stairs," Kali said, pointing to the turbolift. "Come on."

"But what if someone sees us?"

She sighed. "At this point, all I want to do is get to my room and fall into bed." Obi-wan followed her to her door, pausing before it for a moment, looking uncertain. "What is it?" she asked.

"I just...wanted to tell you, how much I've enjoyed this past...well...time." He frowned at the awkwardness of his words. "Blast it, Kali. You know I'm not good with...around you, I just feel like I'm all knees and elbows, you know?"

"Well, you do a good job of hiding it," she replied, trying not to smile. "But I feel the same way."

He nodded, looking a bit more relaxed. "I think that you're right, about the Force and love. This," he took her hands in his, met her eyes with his own. "This feels right somehow. I feel passion for you, yes, but I am not blinded by it-it gives me strength." He moved closer to her, put his hands on either side of her face. "What I'm trying to say is that I love you."

She felt her throat tightened even as a grin came across her face. "I love you too, Ben."

The kiss was gentle and strong and unlike anything else she'd experienced, and Kali felt like she could disappear in the happiness of that moment.

Suddenly, a throat cleared behind them and they broke apart instantly, their faces red and flustered. Qui-gon stood behind them, arms crossed, with a disapproving look on his already serious face. He activated the door to Kali's quarters and gave them a silent signal to enter, which they did. The door hissed shut and there was absolute silence for several heartbeats while the two Padawans awaited Qui-gon's words. After a moment he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I don't know what to say," he said with a shake of his head. "What are you doing? Both of you?"

"It's my fault," Kali and Obi-wan said simultaneously, glancing at each other in surprise.

Qui-gon gave a bitter laugh and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, regarding them. After a moment Kalinda spoke first. "I was out past curfew, Master. Obi-wan came to find me, to bring me back to the Temple, and we..." She frowned. "I know that it's against the Code, but the Force-"

"I heard much of what was said," the Jedi interrupted. "We'll discuss that later, have no doubt. Obi-wan, what have you to say?"

"When I realized that she wasn't here, I went to find her and return her to the Temple," he replied, his voice wavering slightly under the force of Qui-gon's ire. "I...I know I shouldn't have snuck out. I'm sorry, Master."

Qui-gon sighed, his eyes closing for a moment. "You both have been warned about this behavior in the past-Obi-wan, you most recently-and yet you continue to defy one of the most basic, fundamental principles of the Order to which you have both sworn your lives. I do not understand..." He trailed off and looked pensive. Kali was desperate to look at Obi-wan, but decided that it would be best to keep her gaze locked on the edge of Qui-gon's tunic, which was fraying slightly. After a long moment he sighed again, ran his hand through his hair. "Kalinda, I realize that you are going through a difficult time, but you must think about your actions, about how they could affect you and Obi-wan. My Padawan, you must also do the same. I'm not going to say anything about this...indescretion, for now." He looked at them both. "But if I catch either of you in such an embrace again, I will inform the Council. Is that clear?"

"Yes Master," Obi-wan said with a nod.

Kalinda nodded but made no response. Qui-gon glanced at his apprentice. "You should try to get a few hours sleep-you'll need it for the day ahead." Obi-wan grimaced, but slipped out of the room without another look back, leaving the Qui-gon and Kali to observe one another. After a moment, Qui-gon spoke. "Where were you?"

"The Chrysalis." Qui-gon cocked his eyebrow and Kali sighed. "It's a restaurant downtown. I was performing." She raised her chin and tried to slow the frantic thrumming of her heart.

"Performing?"

"It...helps," she said, spreading her hands when at a loss for a better word. "I'm not hurting anyone, Master. Nor am I breaking any part of the Code, as far as I know." She met Qui-gon's gaze.

"Be that as it may," he replied. "Sneaking around in the middle of the night, going to a bar to play music in front of seedy characters...none of it looks good, Kali. The Council must be informed." He raised his eyebrows and she thought that she detected a trace of sorrow in his eyes. "It helps you?"

She nodded. "I feel...sometimes I can't breathe in the Temple. I can't think. But when I'm onstage..." A smile toyed with her corners of her mouth. "It's better...I don't know. None of them know I'm a Padawan," she added. "And I donate my portion of the money to charities-anonymously."

"Kali," he said, "You must understand...I cannot keep this from the Council. I will come get you tomorrow morning and we will go to them together. Is that clear?"

Again, she nodded. "As you wish, Qui-gon."