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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Rating/Warnings: R; Violence; slash (Obi/Qui;Qui/Xan); possible death of a character
Summery: After an explosive fight, Obi-Wan storms off broken hearted and leaves Qui-Gon's world in shambles. Both struggle to come to terms with what's happened and the "deeper meanings" behind Qui-Gon's dream of Xanatos.
Qui-Gon's meditations on this have left him with the sinking suspicion that Xanatos is behind everything. Now Qui-Gon can no longer sense Obi-Wan's force signature and Obi-Wan has been captured! Qui-Gon is relentless however and will chase Xanatos to the ends of the galaxy to find Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan has found himself captured by Xanatos and is helpless in his turmoil.
Please direct feed back to: marjorievonnordeck@yahoo.com It’s all so very welcomed... Remember it’s the only way I’ll get better. (So bring it on, all of it! Comments, concerns, suggestions - good, bad, or otherwise; they’re always welcome.)
Thank you so, so much sue for all of the help beta reading!
Qui-Gon's POV:
When I arrived back at the temple I went straight to one of the star-map rooms. I placed my map in the reader and walked around the galaxy. The systems swirled around me and I reached out to the force, and there it was; the living force. I felt it's ebb and flow, felt it sweep around me, penetrate me, bind me to the universe. Even as my eyes came to rest on each of the star systems I felt the trails of golden light that connected me to them as a physical sensation. Then I stretched out further, outside of myself, I sought out Xanatos.
I reached out and picked a system that seemed to pulse with an unusual rhythm, I felt drawn to it and followed my own often given advice, 'Feel, don't think'. Even so I was tempted to ask the question; why The Neimoidian Purse Worlds? But there was no time to question it, 'if that's where the force says he is, then there I shall go.' I picked up my star map, a remarkable, smooth little ball with a galaxy in it and contemplated briefly whether I could get to Obi-Wan quickly enough.
I activated my communicator as I left the star map room and headed toward my apartment. "On duty transportation clerk, Knight Jaren speaking. How may I help you?"
"This is Qui-Gon Jinn," I answered increasing my pace, "has my transport request gone through?"
"Um...Yes. Master Jinn," I sensed the slightest hesitation in his voice.
//What is it Knight Jaren? // I reached out to him, and it seemed to me that the canter of his voice was a bit hesitant for such a simple answer.
"I know you requested solo trans. but the Council... they had other ideas. No one else could be found on such short notice, so I have been informed that I will accompany you."
I shook my head and almost laughed aloud. "Don't worry Jaren; I'm not displeased with you. Now the council and I, well we've always disagreed. It’s just another thing for me to add to my list of grievances. I'll be there in just a moment." I picked up the bag from by the front door that I always kept packed and then hurried off to the *hanger bay.
I spotted Knight Jaren as soon as I entered the massive open space. He was talking to his Padawan, a dark skinned human with gentle features and surprisingly fiery green eyes. "I've left you a work out schedule and lesson plan for the next week. While I'm gone you'll have my duty as the third shift transport clerk, Kafa, and don't forget your classes. I will be checking in with the Masters when I return," he said with a hint of teasing. The boy nodded obediently.
"If I'm not back in a tendays time you are to report to Master Yoda for further instruction," Knight Jaran finished giving his Padawan his instructions.
"Do you really think you will be gone that long, Master?" the boy's voice was etched with unchecked concern. I smiled, he reminded me of Obi-Wan at that age; he was at that awkward stage between boyhood and manhood, always so worried. I drew nearer, but stayed out of the way. A few moments for them to say good-bye would do no harm.
"Do not worry yourself over me, Padawan," Jaren smiled at his apprentice and tousled his hair, "I'll be fine and I have the utmost faith in your abilities to carry out your duties while I'm away. I'll be back as quickly as I can. Now, move along, my young one, you have duties to attend to."
"Yes, Master," Padawan Kafa gave a proper and respectful bow to his Master, and then seeing me, he bowed in my direction as well. I acknowledged him with a gentle nod. Kafa turned back to his master and embraced him in a sturdy hug before going off to his duties.
"Master Jinn," Knight Jaren gave me a proper bow.
"Knight Jaren," I nodded politely and offered him my hand. His hand shake was firm.
"Has the council... briefed you?" I asked hoping he hadn't been told all of the details of my distasteful behaviour.
"They've told me that you're going after Xanatos, and that he may have Obi-Wan," he said his words obviously cautious, apparently hoping not to upset me.
'So they did tell him then,' I thought to myself, 'his actions seemed a little too careful and calculated for casual conversation’. "Yes, shall we then?" he followed me onto the transport. It was a small ship, easily piloted by one, but now we were two and at least it meant I'd be able to sleep. I set the co-ordinates and took us out of the hanger bay. Once we where out of Coruscant's atmosphere I entered in the calculations for the Neimoidian system and we soon made the jump into hyper space.
"I know it’s not my place to ask, Master Jinn, but…"
"Jaren, call me Qui-Gon," I smiled, "and yes, you may ask. We're going to the Neimoidian Purse Worlds." I let out a mental sigh, it was not what had happened that troubled me so much any more, but how Obi-Wan, and I had reacted to it. The loss of control... Jaren was speaking to me again, so I pushed my questions aside and paid him a little more attention.
He smiled, "I hope Obi-Wan's OK," Jaren spoke more casually now, "I heard…" he stopped, he must have seen me flinch, "I'm sorry, you don't want to talk about it."
"No need to apologise," I reassured him, "but, if you don't mind taking first shift, I'm going to get some sleep. I've been up for over twelve hours now."
"Of course," he said with a nod of his head. I got up and walked out of the cockpit. Thank the force this ship was big enough to have a captains cabin separate from general quarters. I took off my socks and boots, putting them and my bag down beside the end table and I smiled to see a lightsaber waiting for me on its glossy surface.
//Jaren, what's this for? //
//Obi-Wan; I stopped by the armoury while you where milling over your maps. //
//Very considerate of you, Knight Jaren. Wake me in six hours then you can get some sleep. //
//Of course, Master Qui-Gon.// He answered.
I stripped down to my trousers and snuggled down into the sheets on the bed. 'Force, I missed Obi-Wan's warmth beside me. Obi-Wan, my love, just hold on, wherever you are I'm coming.' //Can you hear me Obi-Wan? // I tried our bond again, there was little hope he would hear me since I couldn't even sense him, but I felt I needed to try at least once more.
I still couldn't feel him. In his place was left such a *wrong* feeling. Even if he had died (which of course I didn't believe for a second this was a possibility) I should have been able to feel him in the force. No, he had to be alive... somewhere.
My tears started, but I didn't fight them this time. They were not the bitter tears of anger at myself that I had wept earlier. Now they where tears of stress and regret and pain. I let them fall and with them I released into the force all of my negative energy and I soon settled into rejuvenating sleep.