Master Apprentice Archive The Package Quick search:

Series: This is the end of the Myths. Phew!

Archiving: M_A please

Pairing: Qui/Obi

Category: Angst, AU, Qui POV

Rating: NC-17

WARNING! hint of self-mutilation (but not really gruesome or graphic), don't think this story will make much sense if you haven't read it's predecessors Playground and Paradise (you can find them at this URL) www.angelfire.com/ma3/padders first. But then again <g> even if you did, it still may not make any sense <eg>

Spoilers: None

Summary: A ghost leads a blind man to the completion of a fate bond.

Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything but my perversity, no infringement intended, no money made, no money anyways.

Feedback:  Oh would you? Would you please? obi_wan_kenobi69@hotmail.com Hate it or don't hate it, kindly help me with your feedback :)

Author's Note: The Myth stories can be read on their own, I pretty much used the AU as an opportunity to indulge in my confusing angst impulses. Please forgive me! <g> I think this conclusion in particular could be read like a ghost story, but then that's me typing at 11pm and exhausted from work LOL

Dedicated to my beloved Master Alaric, for courage and laughter.

Morning came, still and bright. No snow in the clear blue sky and it was easy to see the young man walking towards me. White upon white, holding a large bundle in his arms, he had a pale face and bandaged eyes behind the rim of his fur coat hat. Despite his obvious blindness he was quite beautiful, walking as if he could see as clearly as I did, and my first thought was that he'd make a fine companion for my journey.

Quickly I walked across the snow fields, it was surprisingly easy, the powder silent under my feet. I was in a great mood as everything about me was completely at peace. All except maybe the stranger. Smiling at him, I waved. Then remembering that he could not see, I called out. Startled, he turned his head my way as if to glance in my direction and then smiled back.
And came to me.

"Hi there," I beamed at him. "Where are you heading?"

"That way, I think," he spoke, a hint of surprise in his voice (guess he didn't expect to meet anyone on his way), then nodded towards the north.

"What a coincidence," said I. "So am I, would you like to walk together?"

He 'looked' down at his huge package, golden bangs dusting his marble white forehead, and thought about it for a moment.

"Oh, all right," he consented quietly. "We'll get there no matter which way we walk, round planet and all."

His strange sense of humour drew a chuckle out of me and I noted to myself with satisfaction that my instincts were right, not only was he an intriguing speaker, he had a most peculiar and attractive accent.

"Where are you from?" I asked, eyeing two somehow familiar cylinders hanging off his waist on the belt of his coat.

"Coruscant," he grinned at me, panting a little as we picked up our pace. "You know, Republic Capital."

"Coruscant!" I repeated with amazement. "My, what would a Central Rimmer like you be doing here? Last time I checked Hoth is not a holiday destination."

"You don't want to know," he smiled at me and shook his head slowly. "But if it makes you feel better, I can tell you that I am a Jedi Apprentice."

"Jedi!" I gasped again, then tapped my nose bridge with my index finger. "I see, exciting secret mission perhaps?"

"Jedi craves not these things." he raised his brows at me, his face suddenly radiant. "Aye, my Master used to tell me that."

I tried to remember as much as I could about the Jedi. Yes, Force adapts (no wonder he walked blinded but did not fumble), working in pairs, a Master and an Apprentice, rumours all around the galaxy about the implications of such a relationship. I looked at the young man from the corner of my eyes. His Master was a *him*, I began to colour slightly, picturing the young man living the sexual myths surrounding the Jedi. Strange rituals, fate bonds and mind blowing sex.so I heard.

"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?" he sounded suspicious.

I laughed, nervous that he was reading my lurid thoughts. I think he was, as he gave me a friendly 'glare' by turning his face at me, then he tilted up his chin and walked faster. How good he looked like that, face a translucent cream in the full sun, features delicate and stubborn. The bandage covered orbs of his eyes looked innocent and wide, framed by wicked brows. Unearthly. So beautiful I couldn't help but dog his steps like a ghost.

I reasoned that he was not offended, as he kept on making small talk with me during the next few hours, his conversation lively and about insignificant things as I led him on our way. Like the weather, which was always the same on Hoth, day in and day out. A clear morning, cool, a hot mid day with the sun directly over head and all the UV rays reflected off the snow, a clear
afternoon and a stormy night. Our progress slowed as the sun rose up, the cruel heat of its glare hurt his skin and he softly told me that he was hungry. I wished I had some foodstuff to share with him, but alas I was empty handed.

"What about this huge bag you're holding?" I reminded him. "Don't tell me that's not your survival gear."

He opened his lush mouth, lips now a little cracked by the extreme UV moved to tell me something, when suddenly a gigantic claw slammed across his back. I jumped back in shock and saw the monster descend on him in a growling frenzy. I cried, he was dead for sure!

But no, he was truly a Jedi, I watched as he held his burden (for if it wasn't survival gear, what else could the cumbersome bundle be but a burden?) tightly against his chest and rolled swiftly out of the way. Placing it aside with care (how could anyone but a Jedi show care towards possessions at such a dire moment?) he flipped over the head of the un-intelligent Snow Wookie and I heard a crackle of energy, a fearsome blade ignited in his hand, and with a raised knee, in a graceful arcing leap he drove it effortlessly through the animal. A spray of blood coloured his face. Ouch! I winced at the deadly display of power and finesse, surly glad that we were friends. He landed on one knee and deactivated his lightsaber with something akin to pain on his face.

"Are you all right?" I was able to move at last and eagerly enquired.

He licked his lips out of habit and made a disgusted face as he tasted the blood.

"Ah-well," I said. "Now we have lunch."

Maybe it was watching him rip through the animal and take out it's heart to eat raw as there was no fire that made me less than hungry when he offered me a share of the kill. Instead, I watched him eat and sneaked glances at the bundle by his feet. Unable to repress my curiosity, which burned in me, I tested him again at last.

"So." I politely waited for him to give me his name.

"Obi-Wan," he mumbled between mouthfuls of meat, scowling as if he did not want to share it.

"Obi-Wan," I noted his reaction and continued. "Where did you set off from?"

"From where I was last night," he grumbled impatiently.

"Last night during the storm?" I would not give up. "Where did you seek shelter? I mean you've no equipment on you."

".all right!" he stood up abruptly. "I don't like nosiness! What are you? Jedi Internal Investigation?"

Waving his hand in my face he said in a soothing tone "Stop.Asking.Me."

I crooked my eyebrow at him, then added for the benefit of his blindness a snort. His frown deepened and he muttered something under his breath about 'strange Hoth native immune to Force suggestions' Whilst I cheerfully waited for his answer. His lips thinned. And I was annoyed. Secrets ruin so many things. I hate secrets.

"Fine," I said, making a lot of noise to indicate that I was turning. "I'll leave you alone if you wish, Jedi."

He shuddered. And suddenly I realised I'd hit his insecurity because I ached too, along with him.

"No, please," he weakened. "I'll tell you where I came from, just, don't leave me please."

I nodded and came back to him.

"All right," I said. "Tell me what happened and in the meanwhile you can start digging a snow hole too, the sun's just about directly up, nothing can survive under a direct Hoth sun, let's get some cover over us."

He smiled at the closeness of my voice and began to dig earnestly with his hands.

"I came from the villa," he said. "A few miles from here, I guess."

"The Republican's Villa?" I repeated. "Of course. I think I know the man who owns it, can't recall his name, but.tall fellow, long hair, works for the.Jedi."

He grinned warily. "No, Councillor Palpatine's villa."

"No!" I was insistent, my voice proud. "No! A Jedi owns it, a Jinn!"

"Pardon?" his voice trembled and he dug faster, we had a snow cave that would fit about a whole person now.

"The Jinn are long time inhabitants on this planet, quasi-aristocratic here, wealthy old family. The last of them.Qui Gon.owns that villa," I supplied, the name striking something in my mind, something I ought to remember.

The snow hole was about done, and I watched with interest as Obi-Wan stored the bag inside it first, even though the sun was already burning his skin badly. Then we squeezed in together.

"That package seems awfully important to you," I said pointedly. "What did you do, Jedi, stole Jinn's treasures and ran away?"

"No," he smiled secretively. "I.stole Jinn."

The comment sent shivers up my spine, I looked at the package again and blinked. Is that *blood* on the white sheets? I shook my head in disbelief, must have been stained in the struggle with the Snow Wookie, I told myself.

"No, your instincts are right. It's a corpse," he corrected me. "It's Qui-Gon Jinn, my Master."

I jumped to my feet in horror and thought about running away there and then, so what that I'd be fried to a crisp soon as I got out of the protective layer of reflective snow. But as the day had started strangely for me, an aimless walk turned into a strange encounter with this young man, I found I was compelled to be more calm than usual.

"Why?" I heard myself ask as if in a dream.

"Because," he crawled towards the sac and curled himself around what was now to my eyes blatantly a crouched human body. "I hate him most of all in the world and I love him most of all too."

I blinked, feeling sore in my middle at the sight of him burrowing his weary face into the contour of dead arms.

"I thought he was marrying me to Palpatine," he said, caressing the bundle. "When it was him all along."

"Why do you think he never made it explicit that it was him who was intended for you?" I whispered.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan said in a sleepy slur. "Probably cos my feelings aren't important enough Hell, he wouldn't even touch me with his bare skin when he had sex with me."

"Maybe he thought himself unworthy," I croaked.

"What?" he smirked. "Right, so he raped me."

"He desired you too much," I rebuked. "I think he felt guilty, for dragging you into a fate bond, you know, the kind you only achieve after near death experiences. A lot like a soul bond, only soul bonds happen inevitably and fate bonds perish more often then they are made."

"No, no, he ignored me, he didn't love me," Obi-Wan yawned.

"Did you ever tell him you loved him?" I hissed.

"No, he *ought* to know I did," Obi-Wan said flatly.

"No, *you* ought to know he did," I said. "And what did you do when he told you about the bonding ceremony? You attempted suicide. Sure, you thought it was Palpatine, but he didn't know that. He didn't! And Palpatine, he was nothing more than a political witness to the whole thing, how the Sith did you think he was your intended? The Sith was always our own blindness."

As the torrent of strange facts that I half knew and half was astounded to hear come from my mouth poured forth, I realised that Obi-Wan was already asleep. When noon passed, I tried to wake him up.

"Obi-Wan, get up, we have a long way to go," I urged.

"Mm?" he mumbled.

I was disturbed that his fingers and lips were lightly blue. He can not sleep any longer, if he did, he'd freeze.

"Up Padawan!" I commanded.

"Master?" he sighed, hugging the corpse closer to him.

"No, it's just me," I softened my tone. "Your travelling companion. Please Obi-Wan get up, get up or we'll never make it."

"I don't really want to go anywhere," he argued with me, but I was pleased that he sounded more coherent, waking up despite his despair. "In case you haven't noticed, I was walking to find death."

I smiled at him. He couldn't see it. So I added in a sigh "I know, so was I."

"But," I continued. "Instead I met you, now we must go on."

"Oh, all right," he shuffled reluctantly to his feet, hefting the body sac over his shoulder. "But I only go with you because there is nothing you can do to keep me from dying of exhaustion."

I couldn't help but laugh at his sardonic yet sincere tone, my laugh came out like relieved sobs.

"Obi-Wan! Faster!" I shouted against the wind. "The storm is closing in!"

It was near dark all around us, and the blizzard billowed through the fabric of Obi-Wan's package, making the shape of Qui-Gon underneath more vivid, as if it was coming alive.

"Aye, I will!" Obi-Wan yelled back at me, half laughing half singing, my concern seemed to amuse him. "Death, you Master-fucker, here I come!"

"Faster! So.little.time." my voice was torn to bits by the wind.

"Where do you think you're leading me?" Obi-Wan laughed through the snow, falling so heavy it was coming upon us like drowning waves. "What's the difference? Get buried here, or a bit further up? But you've been a good friend, stranger! So I'll humour your good intentions and walk a bit more yet!"

"Just a bit more, and faster, please!" I pleaded with him, standing beside him as he clumsily made his way through the thigh high snow. "I know you're tired and I know it hurts to go on, but please, for Force sake walk faster Obi-Wan!"

We made another half mile and Obi-Wan stopped dead in his tracks.

"What is that?" he gritted through his teeth, furious. "Where have you led me, you Sith spawn!"

"Back," I tried to calm him with my voice.

"We've been walking in a circle. This is the villa!" he cried.

"No," I corrected him. "This is the Stigmua, parked half a mile from the villa."

"The Stigmua with a newly installed, state of the art bacta tank," I added.

"I'm not going back," he said, unmoved. "My Master is dead, I killed him, what use is a bacta tank?"

"Your eyes," I urged. "Fine, if it's all the same to you where or how *you* die, blinded or otherwise, doesn't your Master still deserve a proper cremation on Coruscant?"

"Send him back, Obi-Wan, you owe that to him," I urged, desperate that he should get out of the deadly storm and get inside the Stigmua.

At last he listened and palmed open the landing pad. The moment we were inside the ship, I let out a pained yelp.

"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan scrambled towards me with concern.

"I.I don't know!" I cried, it hurt, everything hurt, especially my heart. "Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan!!"

"Master!" I heard his hushed scream and my eyes snapped open, only to find my vision whited out.

My throat croaked and a breath rattled horribly (but haven't I been speaking to him for hours?) it was extremely hard to reach up and realise the whiteness was the death shroud that covered my face. Obi-Wan frantically pulled away the sheet that covered me and I gasped at seeing him again through real eyes and not the sight of a Force spirit.

"Loved you," I sobbed. "Sorry."

"Master, Qui-Gon, Master!" he trembled as he kissed my bloodied mouth and leaned me against the inside of the bacta tank. "Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon, you bastard, I love you!"

Then he was laughing and filling the tank with bacta and I cried and he wept as the bacta came over my chest wound and I sighed with relief. As the liquid filled my nostrils and eyes, I smiled at him, looking into his eyes the while. Eyes covered by bandage, pink at the corners where tears leaked out, the eyes he had blinded with grief for not seeing it was me all along.
And eyes that will soon see again, as he slid into the tank beside me, setting the ship on autopilot with a flicker of the Force and we sighed as we slipped into healing. The bond was always there, it was always well and indestructible, the men tied by it however had much loving and recovering to do. And I look forward to doing it with you, my Obi-Wan.