Disclaimer: This is a Fan Fiction, witch uses Charters, People, and Places copyrighted to Gorge Lucas and Lucas Arts. No money was made from the writing of this story. There is no intent to plagiarize or steel charters, people, or places copyrighted to Lucas.
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Raitings/Warnings:R - violence/slash
Summery: After an explosive fight, Obi-Wan stormed off broken hearted and left Qui-Gon's world in shambles. They have sense come to terms with what happened as they both came to the realization that Xanatos was behind it all. Obi-Wan has been captured by Xanatos, who has taken him to the "bridge world" one of the Nenoidan "Purse Worlds". Qui-Gon is in pursuit along with a young Knight, Jaren, who the Council has appointed to accompany him. They should arrive in the Nemoidan Star System in just over a day, thought they do not know which planet Xanatos is taking Obi-Wan to.
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Qui-Gon's POV:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I rolled over in bed. "Qui-Gon, we're coming up on the Nemoidan Star System."
"Thank you, Jaren," I said sitting up and pulling on my boots. I smoothed out my clothes and headed to the cockpit.
I looked at the computer and reached out to the force wondering witch planet we should land on.
Just then two Nubian fighters buzzed us on either side. The com. light flashed, "You will follow us to Cato Neimoidia and land of platform three," the leader said as the two ships circled back and flanked our position.
"I copy, we'll follow you in," I answered reducing speed and changing heading to Cato.
"What is your cargo and complement?" the leader asked as we neared the landing platform.
"Personal cargo and a complement of two," I answered.
"Land and report tot he Guest Register," the leader directed us, "Enjoy your stay on Cato Neimoidia."
"Thank you, we will," I answered. The fighters circled one more time while we landed before continuing on. After finishing landing procedures Jaren and I picked up our packs and stepped off the ramp. A tall Numoidian met us as we stepped onto Cato.
"Welcome, visitors," he said in a lively voice as he extended his hand to us, "if you'll come with me I will get you on our visitor's register and you can be on your way."
"Thank you," I said pleasantly as I shook his hand, then Jaren shook his hand and we followed the green man off into the building to the east of the platform.
"Here we are," the man said as we entered a building and walked passed a sentry, he gestured to a computer terminal, "We need only your names and your ship's designation." It took only a moment.
"Can I help you with anything before I send you on your way?" the man asked.
"Are there any hotels near here?" I asked flatly.
"Ahh... Yes, you can pick up an air taxi at the front of the building. The Dosech is six blocks from here," he said waving a hand toward the maine entrence, "just head that way and wait out side, the taxies come along every ten minutes or so."
"Thank you," I said as we walked toward the doors.
Once outside I made a left and kept walking, Jaren walked beside me, "Why do I get the feeling we're not going to a hotel?"
I stifled a laugh, "Pleas tell me it didn't take you this long to figure that out."
"No," Jaren answered, "but were are we going?"
"At the moment-" I paused and froze, I felt cool as if there were a breeze, but the air was still. I turned my head, I swear I almost heard a whisper. "This way," I said flatly and began to walk quickly.
I stopped and turned toward Jaren. He was looking at me quizzically. "Its Xanatos, he's calling me into his trap," I explained. "I'm not sure where he's trying to get me to go though. Any ideas? I don't know this planet well enough to know were he would be. He likes to hide in plain sight, some were he'll be naturally over looked because people assume he just belongs there. Another thing about Xanatos, he always leaves himself at least one back door, if not several. He's a thinker, a planer, and a damn good one at that. On the other hand, he also knows me very well, and he knows how well I know him also. That's the most dangerous thing about this hole affair."
"I don't know any thing about this planet," Jaren said softly, as I started walking again. He followed, and continued talking, "I've never been to this system or interacted with its enhahbatents, and I don't know anything about... Xanatos, not more than I've read on official mission reports and such. Most of those as classified thought."
"I've only been to this system once," I answered rounding a corner and heading for a bridge to the east, "and never to this planet."
"One thing," Jaren said with a smile, "it's beautiful here."
"Obi-Wan would agree with you," I said with a sad smile, "but for me there isn't enough life. I fell a lack of the Living Force here, well not a lack, there's plenty of sentience, but nothing natural... No forests or grasslands, hell not even many gardens. This world is far too much like Corsaunt for my taste. I'm sure that's part of Xanatos' plan though, naturally he would bring me to a place I felt less, if not entirely uncomfortable. Like I said, he knows me well, but... He also won't expect the stubborn rogue Qui-Gon Jinn, as he so often put it, to come with help, he'll expect me to be alone."
We crossed the bridge quickly. I paused, reached out to the force, touched along that tentative strand that led to Xanatos, and turned left to the north. "We're getting closer," I said in a half whisper, not really worried about being over heard, just that I was still concentrating on where to go next.
We walked north for over an hour before I felt Xanatos again. //Starting to feel lost, are you?// The mocking voice of Xanatos echoing through my head was unmistakable. I froze, searched the surrounding area with my eyes, ears, and the force.
//We're close, Jaren, *very* close. Be on your guard.//
Jaren nodded his understanding, his left hand straying automatically toward the lightsaber that hung ready on his hip.
For the briefest moment I felt Obi-Wan's presence in the force shine out like a beacon in the night. Then all at once it was gone again. 'So, the trap's bated now,' I thought to myself, 'damn him for knowing that I will follow whatever hints of Obi-Wan he gives me.'
Jaren even noticed the brief entrance and exit of Obi-Wan's force signature, "Was that-?"
"Yes," I cut him off in a whisper that hardly passed my lips, "we're going to walk strait into his trap. I sense no other way."
//He doesn't know you're here yet.// I glanced over to Jaren. //Keep your distance, and try to mask yourself in the force. You staying hidden to him may be our only advantage.//
Jaren nodded and hung back for several moments while I pressed on, heading strait toward where I had felt Obi-Wan's signature emanating from. As I slipped further away I felt Jaren's presence in the force dwindling. It wouldn't be long now before he started shadowing me.