Torli: Thanks for the comments. I do like the idea of Assajj and Obi, but it's unlikely to happen in this story. I have another monster of an AU that I am contemplating posting which has a A+O pairing, but that needs a lot of work before I'll start that one. Just from checking the site today there were three new A+O stories, so I'll be keeping an eye on those! I was concerned that the humor would come across as a little too slapstick, but it seems to be working! And have no doubt, they will meet again! (Da-da-darr!)

Kenobi continued to race off away from Ventress and Maul, who he was sure would run him down at any moment. He deactivated the blade in his right hand and threw it back the way he had come, bile rising in his stomach at the thought of handling the blade carried by his master's murderer. He had been desperate at the time and his own self preservation had kicked in, but now that he had the chance to think about it, all he saw was Master Qui-Gon being skewered by the red beam and it was no longer acceptable to allow Maul's tainted blade to rest in his hands. A foolish move, perhaps, but there were limits to his desire to escape and the memory of his beloved master was not something he was willing to compromise for a mere weapon.

As he kept going through the complex, he realized the emptiness of the corridors he was racing through was purposeful, his path had been cleared. Before he could focus on this realization he seemed to pass into a section of the complex that seethed with new life and the living force seemed to literally envelope his being, lifting his shields with a gentle weightlessness and release that had him breathing heavily as though he had just fought off the entire Trade Federation droid army. He felt exhausted and invigorated at the same time and he doubled over, his hands on his knees.

After composing himself, he was able to look up and out at the rows and rows of incubator chambers that rotated through the chamber. All thought of Ventress disappeared from his mind as he was transfixed by the site of the tiny living clones floating in the artificial amniotic fluid, their limbs mere stubs in this area of the development cycle. He couldn't turn away, the force calling him to see the life here.

"My sons," the voice drifted to Kenobi through his force haze, "each and every one of them. Do you have any idea the burden of responsibility that's been placed on me?"

Kenobi turned slowly to face Jango, who was out of his armor and without his helmet, suddenly looked terribly human.

"He'll destroy them. He doesn't care about any of them. He will sacrifice my sons to attain his goal. And there is nothing I can do about it. But you can."

"By working with him? Is that what he wants you to suggest to me?" asked Kenobi in horror. How could he possibly think aiding Maul's aggression in anyway was a good thing?

"You misunderstand me," began Jango, "You can destroy him."

Kenobi chuckled darkly to himself, this just another surprise to rack up for the day! What could have given the bounty hunter the impression Kenobi could defeat the sith lord? The euphoria of his connection to the living force after years of suppressing his abilities was rapidly disintegrating as his own self doubt at facing Maul again and his inevitable defeat.

"And you greatly over estimate me," he said dejectedly. "There's no way I can defeat this sith. I can barely remain on my feet long enough in his presence to last a simple conversation!"

"I'm not expecting you to defeat him alone, but you have allies you are not even aware of."

"With all due respect, bounty hunter, you've tried to kill me and mine a little too often of late for me to think that's even plausible." He raised himself into a defensive stance, ready to push the man out of his way with a force shove. Jango moved back a step, reading Kenobi's body language as aggressive and he almost looked afraid but Kenobi quickly dismissed that as part of his act.

"I don't mean me," said Jango suddenly sounding desperate, which further confused Kenobi but again he considered this to be Jango's act continuing. "I mean another lost Jedi."

"What are you talking about?" asked Kenobi intrigued by Jango's statement and once again off balance. He was finding it increasingly difficult to focus on the conversation with the living force continuing to swirl around him and draw his attention in a million different directions. He realized that each new mind in its development was contributing to the cacophony and it was all becoming increasingly chaotic around him.

"Sure the name of Count Dooku means something to you?"

Brought back to the present, the name of his Master's Master caused him to gasp and he clutched his chest as the pain of remembering his heart breaking at the moment of Qui-Gons death overwhelmed him. All memories and old pains from that moment became like open wounds. His eye socket seemed lanced with pain and he cried out and clutched at the eye patch. Jango was at his side immediately and swept him through the chamber.

Recovering, Kenobi pulled away from him as they left and he realized they were almost at the bounty hunters ship.

"What would you know of Master Dooku?" he spat at Jango, remembering his callousness towards Nawe.

"I've walked across this galaxy, it's my job to find the lost. I can take you to him and together you can defeat the sith." He seemed to beckon the former Jedi towards the door leading to the ship that was outside being pounded by the storm.

A skeptical Kenobi paused and Jango moved back to him.

"Look, at least I'm offering you a way off this planet. Could it be worse than staying here?"

Kenobi shuddered at the thought of encountering either Maul of Ventress again right now. But this all seemed too convenient, for him to be presented with such an obvious way out.

"And you would abandon your 'children', just like that?" He eyed the bounty hunter who sighed heavily, looking back towards the clone development chamber.

"I have a chance to free them from him and I'm going to take it, even if that means leaving them in his care at this moment." He turned back to Kenobi to get in his face. "I will be back and they will have their freedom from his destructive plans."