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After a quick shower, he donned his white bathrobe and went to the kitchen, where he found Obi-Wan sitting on the counter noisily crunching cereal. "Morning," Obi-Wan said casually between spoonfuls.

"You came back. I am glad," Qui-Gon said. Actually, relieved was more like it. For thousands of years the tradition of the Adajia had been preserved. He would not be proud of the fact that it took a Jedi to destroy it. More than his pride was at stake though; Qui-Gon was concerned about Obi-Wan's feelings.

Obi-Wan set his bowl in the sink and shrugged. "I had to."

Qui-Gon nodded. "You are honorable and take your commitment to your people seriously. That is commendable." He locked his gaze with the younger man, projecting sincerity with his eyes as well as his voice as he continued, "I wanted you to come back. I have terribly wronged you and I need to apologize. You deserve much better treatment than I have given you. You deserve it for saving me from the darkness of fear and anger, for making a tremendous sacrifice in your life to aid the Jedi and those we serve, for just being you. There can be no absolution for my words of yesterday morning. All I can say is that you overwhelm me, Obi-Wan, and I feel guilty that I may be using you. I do not think I am quite ready for you, but I would miss you if you were gone."

Smiling slightly, Obi-Wan reached out and clasped Qui-Gon's hands. The older man had been fiddling with the ties on the robe during his speech. It was an atypical show of nerves that spoke of how truly upset the man was about his words the previous day. Obi-Wan was still smarting from those words, but he would put that behind them. An apology as heartfelt as Qui-Gon's deserved an honest response from Obi-Wan.

He still admired Qui-Gon and desired him, as well. That last was quite clear to him as he watched the way the sunbeams brought silver shine to the man's eyes and accentuated the warm tones of his skin. Maybe Qui-Gon was not ready for them to be as intimate as they had been and he needed to work through his feelings of guilt. Obi-Wan knew what he wanted, knew when he was used and when he was not. In time, Qui-Gon would see the difference as well. "Do you want to start again?" Obi-Wan asked.

"All the way to the beginning? I'm not sure I could take that."

That brought a bigger smile to Obi-Wan's face. "Nor could I," he admitted softly. "So now what?"

"Now this," Obi-Wan said, as he slipped his arms around Qui-Gon's waist, pulling the man forward to stand between his legs. The touch of the young man's lips was soft, gentle and as sweet as a siren's song. Qui-Gon rested his hands on Obi-Wan's thighs, savoring the shimmering warmth of the moment.

When Obi-Wan pulled his lips away, he kept Qui-Gon in his embrace. "Good?" he asked.

"Very," came the murmured reply.

"See."

Qui-Gon pondered that cryptic comment for a while before understanding dawned. It was good, they both enjoyed it and that was all they needed to know. "It's that easy?" Qui-Gon asked with a chuckle.

"It's that easy."

While most beings believed the Republic to have been born on Coruscant, the current capital, the scientific and academic communities concurred that the founding principles of the Republic actually originated on lush, verdant Lenuen. At the height of their space age, explorers from Lenuen became the first off-worlders to arrive on Coruscant and they brought

their ideals with them.

However, after a flurry of exploration and knowledge sharing with the peoples they encountered, the novelty wore off and most Lenuens settled back into their agrarian lifestyle, quietly pursing advances in medicine and agriculture, as well as producing outstanding works of art. Rarely did anything startling occur there anymore. Those who knew Lenuen's history would be shocked to learn that the plans for the Republic's downfall were in motion on the planet that built it.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan received a summons from the Council while preparing breakfast one morning. Putting the food aside, they hurried to the central tower and arrived in plenty of time for their mission briefing.

It had taken awhile, but the two men had settled back into a comfortable friendship. Apart from a few casual touches and two brief kisses initiated by Obi-Wan, there had been no further intimacies between them as they struggled to rediscover their friendship. By unspoken agreement, they had decided to work on that before pursuing any other aspects of their relationship. It was difficult, for each had a burning desire for the other that had to be routinely suppressed. Obi-Wan was by far the more resilient of the two, confidently assuming his place at Qui-Gon's side and in his life. They entered the Council chambers side by side.

The Council chamber fascinated Obi-Wan. The room was circular; the Councilors sat along the perimeter of the room with windows behind them. During the daytime, the Councilors had full sunlight at their backs. Obi-Wan had noticed that this allowed the Councilors to assess the reactions of those within the circle more easily than their own expressions could be determined. He often speculated if this was a subtle way to judge the composure and purpose of those entering the room without the use of the Force. He silently approved of the tactic; a good strategist made use of every opportunity.

Mace Windu spoke first, nodding to each man in turn. "Greetings, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan. There is a curious situation on Lenuen we would like you to look into."

By now, Obi-Wan knew he did not actually need to acknowledge this statement verbally. The Councilors would reveal all that he and Qui-Gon would need to know at their own measured pace. He merely nodded and waited. Ignoring the urge to look out the windows, he tried to concentrate on the sounds in the room and Qui-Gon's warm presence next to him in order to stay focused. Patience was not something he had in abundance.

Qui-Gon sensed Obi-Wan's battle to maintain attention and sent a little spike of the Force in the younger man's direction that felt like a sharp poke in the ribs.

Obi-Wan yelped in surprise and Mace glared at him. "Problem, Kenobi?"

"Not at all. Just an annoying pain that bothers me at odd moments. Please excuse my lapse in decorum," Obi-Wan quickly explained.

Eeth Koth looked concerned and Obi-Wan felt a gentle probe of the Force searching him for pain or illness, "Are you sure it is nothing?" the Councilor asked.

"Nothing, I can't handle. I assure it will be dealt with. Continue, please." Interesting time for Qui-Gon's sense of humor to show up, Obi-Wan thought, as he gave the man a sidelong glance. The Jedi Master looked as he was always did in Council meetings, calm, serene and focused, but with two small differences. One corner of his mouth quirked up ever so slightly and there was a gleam in his eyes that seemed to say to Obi-Wan, "I got you this time." Perhaps, but next time the Jedi Master would be the one explaining away his embarrassment.

Mace gave Obi-Wan one final look of mild disapproval and continued his oration. "As I was saying, there have been some unusual deaths on Lenuen. Initially, hunters discovered a number of unmarked animal carcasses. Then a fair number of livestock were found dead in the fields. Most recently, fifteen people have died, all from the same cause."

"Which is?" Qui-Gon prompted. He knew Mace was about to tell them, but he felt like getting under his old friend's skin, especially after Mace's irritation with Obi-Wan over what was essentially Qui-Gon's fault. Besides, Mace's dramatic pauses annoyed him.

"Apparently, they all suddenly began to suffer from seizures that progressively worsened with each subsequent attack. Most of them mentioned an initial blackout. Known treatments gave no relief and within a few days they all died. The intensity of the convulsions led to heart failure."

"A Republic medical team has been unable to determine a cause. They have eliminated the possibility of allergens or an infecting organism," Ki-Adi Mundi added.

"Poison?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Likely, it is not," Yoda answered. "No evidence we have, but fear foul play we do. Reasons we do not know." The wise old Master's expression was grim, and his ears drooped in exhaustion. He had spent many hours searching the sweep of the Force for an answer and had found none. "Each day more cases reported are, but hope they have not."

Qui-Gon was regretting his earlier teasing of Obi-Wan for this situation warranted much more seriousness than he had given it. Still, Obi-Wan had needed his attention redirected, so he did not feel too guilty. Obi-Wan looked deep in thought; his lower lip caught between his teeth. No doubt he was running through the facts of the mission as well as putting his vivid imagination to work. Qui-Gon looked forward to hearing the younger man's thoughts after they had time to go through all the available information.

Wrapping up, Mace said, "A ship will be ready for travel to Lenuen in three hours. Reports from the local authorities and the medical teams will be accessible from the onboard computer. May the Force be with you."

Three hours later, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arrived at the windy landing platform. Mace and Yoda were waiting and approached Qui-Gon immediately. Adi Gallia rushed up breathlessly moments later and slipped her arm through Obi-Wan's, leading him aside for a private goodbye.

Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan and Adi huddle together. Their low laughter carried across to him on the same breeze that ruffled Obi-Wan's hair so enticingly. Adi bestowed a kiss on Obi-Wan's lips that he returned enthusiastically. The kiss ended when Obi-Wan pinched Adi on the behind and she jumped back a step, laughing and waggling her index finger at him in an obvious no-no gesture. Obi-Wan wrinkled up his nose at her then walked up the ship's ramp. At the top, he turned around and blew her a kiss.

The whole exchange unnerved Qui-Gon. He wondered just what went on between those two, but he had never asked and he was not about to now. Obi-Wan had the right to see whomever he pleased. Although, Obi-Wan might want to pursue a more intimate relationship with him, the young man had never claimed they would be exclusive. Unfortunately, deep down that was what Qui-Gon wanted. He wanted to be the only one. Forever.

Qui-Gon ceased listening to Mace and Yoda arguing about the speed of the transport he was about to board. Each one thought he knew more about spacecraft than the other and neither would concede defeat in these arguments. Clearly, they did not need or want his input, so he was free to consider the direction his thoughts were taking.

He was in love with Obi-Wan, probably had been falling in love with him for sometime. It had slowly built within him. When he had first laid eyes on him, there had been undeniable desire. Every moment in Obi-Wan's presence since then, Qui-Gon had found something new about Obi-Wan to admire and love. As he watched Adi approach, he wondered what sort of chance he had.

"Who's winning?" she asked in a dramatic whisper.

Before Qui-Gon could answer, "You are," he realized two things. One was that she was referring to Mace and Yoda's vehement discussion. The other was that he was seriously struggling with his self-esteem, which was ridiculous. He was in love with a much younger man who may not ever love him, but that certainly was not a fault in him.

"Winning, I am." Yoda's loud declaration interrupted Qui-Gon's thoughts.

Mace leaned down, nose to nose with the smaller being. "Winning, you are not." He stood and in a flurry of brown robes stalked away, the clop of his boot heels loud on the permacrete.

Yoda called after him, "Left you have. Concession to me it is." He looked over to his former student and said, "Argue with me like this, you used to."

Qui-Gon knelt down before his former Master and laid a hand on Yoda's shoulder. "I still do occasionally. You are incorrigible and I love you."

"Hmmph. Suppose, you do, he loves me to?" Yoda inclined his head in the direction Mace had gone.

"Certainly," Qui-Gon agreed instantly.

"Curious, I am. Argue with you, does Obi-Wan?"

"Often."

Yoda's ears twitched and he said almost to himself, "Thought so, I did. Good."

Qui-Gon studied his Master. The old troll was as cryptic as ever. "What is good about that?"

Sometimes Yoda thought his former apprentice was a little dim. He poked Qui-Gon in the chest with his gimmer stick, then narrowly missed giving the man a good thwack on his right knee. Qui-Gon managed to move out of range just in time. "Time to go. Away with you. Mission you have."

"Yes, Master. I am going." He bowed, smirked at Yoda and departed for the waiting transport ship.

Adi chuckled as she and Yoda turned away from the ship toward the Temple. "Quite the matchmaking fool you are, Master Yoda."

"Fool, am I? Better things to do have I, than matchmaking fickle humans. Galaxy to help keep at peace there is, no time for foolishness."

Bending at the waist, Adi leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the top of Yoda's head. His ears spasmed up and down and he turned a darker shade of green. He came very close to giggling before regaining a smidgen of his composure.

"Stop wasting kisses on me, you should. Better given to irritated Councilor who flounced down that hall, they are. Cheer him up, they will."

"Master Yoda, you truly are incorrigible," Adi said with true affection and a tiny hint of reproach.

Yoda lifted his stick and waved it at her. "Going are you?"

"As you wish, Master," Adi answered with playful deference. Then she hurried off with a bounce in her step, intent on catching up with Mace Windu.

Yoda watched her walk away then lifted his eyes skyward to catch a glimpse of the transport that was now a tiny silver blip in the sky. "May the Force return you safely. Together."

Some hours after takeoff, Obi-Wan knocked on Qui-Gon's cabin door, then peeked in without waiting for a response. He threw the door open wide when he did not immediately spot the Jedi Master. The cabin was exactly like his. For once he did not get the junior room.

Just before he felt warm lips brushing against his ear and a deep voice whispering, "Looking for someone?" he felt a tiny flicker across his consciousness. In the past few months, he had learned to sense the presence of others in the Force before his bodily senses told him. Some beings were easier to detect than others were. Although Master Yoda's stature was small, his place in the Force was quite large. For Obi-Wan, no one's presence was larger or brighter than Qui-Gon Jinn's.

Turning in the arms that now held him, Obi-Wan said, "I was checking out your cabin. My room is exactly the same for a change."

"Ah, good. I had mentioned to the Council that it was appropriate for us to be assigned rooms near one another as you are my servant-protector, but there was no reason that we should not have equally comfortable accommodations as befitted working partners."

"You asked for that? For me?" Obi-Wan asked, elated. Qui-Gon has always shown concern for him, usually treated him with the utmost respect, yet this was the first time he has referred to them as equals and partners.

"Of course. We are a team. According to Mace, quite a good one. He informed me that everyone we have served, other than a few miscreants we were forced to put in line, has had nothing but praise for you and our work together. We compliment one another well."

"I am pleased to hear that you think so," Obi-Wan said as he buried his face against Qui-Gon's neck, breathing in the man's spicy scent, pressing his lips to Qui-Gon's throat, nipping at the tender skin when he felt his pulse quicken.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon warned on a shaky breath, "I was talking about work."

Reluctantly, Obi-Wan disentangled himself from their embrace. "You do realize you started this when you entered the room?"

The older man sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yes, I am aware of that. I need to quit starting things I do not intend to finish."

"Someday, Qui-Gon, you will want to finish what you start with me."

Qui-Gon turned away to the desk across the room. Yes, indeed, he wanted his interludes with Obi-Wan to progress to ecstatic completion; he just did not want the time to come when there would be no more kisses, no more touches. Time and patience were required to see if Obi-Wan might someday desire the same things he did. Now, though, the mission took precedence. He beckoned the young man to come sit beside him. "Have you had the opportunity to look at the mission briefing?"

"Yes, I have. It is all very odd. Most of the reported cases appear to be in one small region, but several have occurred quite a distance outside that area and those persons affected had not been in contact with anyone else who has these seizures." Obi-Wan pointed to a series of amber flashing lights on the computer-generated map.

"I noticed that as well. I can find nothing in the reports to tie this all together, but then I suppose that is why they are sending us. We will be landing in the city nearest the major occurrences. Local authorities will bring us up to date and introduce us to anyone they feel may be of help. There is also a rather well known local scientist, Vaven Hayslet, with whom I would like to meet. I tried to contact him before we left, but he was unavailable."

"What is his field of study?" Obi-Wan asked rather absently as he continued studying the various reports and maps, flipping through screens at a rapid pace.

"Neuroscience." Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan, waiting for his reaction

The young man's head snapped up. "Why is that no one has talked with him, including the medical team that was already sent? It seems he would have a good deal to say." Certainly, it had occurred to someone to speak with this man.

"Perhaps he would, Obi-Wan, but the man is brilliant and..."

"Reclusive," Obi-Wan finished. "All the truly brilliant beings I have met have been completely withdrawn or excruciatingly extroverted. One or the other must be a requirement."

"You are stereotyping, Obi-Wan," the older man admonished.

Thinking about Master Yoda, his friend, mentor, and occasional confidant, who was perhaps the wisest being Obi-Wan knew, he had to agree. "Yes, I was, but your neuroscientist seems to fit that mold."

"He does at that. We shall have to draw him out. I know he will be able to tell us something." Yes, Qui-Gon thought, he could feel it in the Force; Vaven Hayslet was the key.

Lenuen was home to several thriving cities with modern spaceports, but the Jedi transport set down on a barren landing pad carved out of a field of emerald green merfay in one of the more rural areas. The stalks of hearty grain were nearly bent to the point of breaking by the turbulent gusts the landing spaceship generated. Despite this, and a multitude of pollutants such ships put out, it continued to thrive.

Pausing at the bottom of the ship's extended ramp, Obi-Wan dropped his pack and quickly scanned the surrounding area. The field of grain surrounded them, encroaching on the landing pad. A small gravel trail led toward a moderately sized stone building and the small village.

Beyond that, a grove sheltered a group of songbirds, a few species of which Obi-Wan could identify by their sweet trilling songs. Further on and to the east, a clear blue lake reflected the bright midday sunlight and the low swells of a mountain chain sheltered a large forest.

Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan's survey of the land. "What captures you attention so fully, my Adajia."

"I was just thinking how pleasant it was here. It reminds me of home," Obi-Wan answered a bit wistfully; eyes focused on a small farmhouse just beyond the merfay field.

That startled Qui-Gon, his remembrances of Nazanin were much different than Obi-Wan's.

The younger man chuckled, and adopted a chiding tone, "You did not see my homeland at her best. Truly, her beauty rivals any I have seen elsewhere. Sometime you must see my home in the fall; you might never care to leave. At the very least you would know why the Anin and the Naza are so protective of what is theirs."

"I am sorry that I have not seen it as you have. And I have been remiss in not asking you if you wished to visit. It has been three-quarters of a year since you were last home. Would you like to go when this mission is completed? It is a simple matter to arrange passage for you."

Obi-Wan shook his head, "I cannot. My place is with you. Of course, if you will be going as well..." He looked at Qui-Gon hopefully. "We could stay at the family ranch."

"I would be delighted to go with you, Obi-Wan. A ranch? I had no idea."

Lifting his face to the sun, Obi-Wan smiled peacefully, completely relaxed. "Surprised you again?" he asked. One eye opened to check Qui-Gon's expression.

"Yes, you have. You do it constantly. So tell me, if you are so fond of the land, why are you not working that ranch?"

Obi-Wan's expression clouded and he picked up his pack and began walking toward the stone building. Qui-Gon followed silently. Soon though the young man began to speak. "I am the second son, the property is given to the eldest son or daughter so the land is not split into many tiny divisions. I could have remained and aided my brother and father, but that did not seem to be enough to satisfy my need to be doing something valuable. As much as I love our home, it wasn't enough for me to work the soil and truly own none of it. So, I joined the military. It is an honorable alternative and I have the pleasure of protecting and aiding our people."

They had arrived at a heavy wooden door. Obi-Wan reached for the rough metal knob. Before he could grasp it and jerk the door open, a firm hand fell on his shoulder. Qui-Gon turned him around, sliding a finger under the younger man's chin to force him to look up. "I did not mean to upset you. I was not questioning your loyalty."

Obi-Wan felt pinned by the Jedi's inquiring gaze. A spike of heat radiated through him from the point where Qui-Gon touched him. He could deny this man nothing, would deny him nothing. Why wouldn't the other man ask for what they both wanted? Obi-Wan's mouth had suddenly gone dry as he stared into the depths of Qui-Gon's blue eyes. He swallowed hard before speaking, his voice sounding a bit husky. "It's not you, Qui-Gon. I have been starting to feel somewhat ambivalent about my home, my career, what I want. Sometimes I wonder where my place really is."

Qui-Gon released his hold on the younger man. "Your place is with me, my Adajia."

Oh, that sounded so right. Obi-Wan could almost picture it. He and Qui-Gon together, facing the challenges of the galaxy. And yet, there were too many obstacles. Qui-Gon's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the depth of feeling that had grown between them was not the least of these. If only... no, he could not force the man to love him or to make love with him. Well, he probably could accomplish the latter.

He shook off these thoughts and managed a small smile. "For two more years. Then what?"

"I would not force you out of my life, Obi-Wan. There will always be room for you." If he wanted it, Qui-Gon added mentally.

A brief nod from Obi-Wan was the only response he received before the door burst open and a woman greeted them enthusiastically. She was a few centimeters taller than Obi-Wan with sand colored hair in coronet braids atop her head. She wore a dark blue uniform with yellow trim, denoting that she was the local constable. A few strands of hair had fallen from the braids, marring her otherwise officious look. She appeared to be somewhere around thirty-five standard years.

She shook both men's hands and addressed them formally. "Greetings and welcome to Lenuen. Do please forgive my lapse in etiquette, I was detained by what I was told was an urgent call from the governor of the region. I am Nissa Pesti. I'm what passes as the law around here." The last was said with a guffaw.

Obi-Wan brightened; he liked this woman. She was not puffed up with self-importance as officials in small communities often were. She gestured them inside the terminal building that doubled as the town hall.

The rustic exterior of the building had given no hint to the modern amenities inside. Although everything was on a smaller scale, the facility contained a modern crime lab, a weather center, as well as health services. All the equipment was the latest model available. The constable caught Qui-Gon's visual inventory and commented, "As you can see, we do not lack for the tools to do a thorough investigation into this tragedy. The Republic investigation team turned up little we did not. Frankly, we are at a loss. The sector representatives were hoping the Jedi might have some means of solving this mystery that were unavailable to us. That's the polite way of saying that they hoped you had some Jedi magic trick up your sleeve that would solve this problem for us."

Qui-Gon chuckled and held out his arm. "Well, my good lady, despite the rather large sleeves, I assure you there is nothing up them. However, Obi-Wan and I may be able to turn up some new leads. The first thing we need is to meet with the Republic team and find out their latest findings."

"Certainly. Let's go to my office. And I will get you some security passes that will allow you into the labs whenever you want. Then you can head over to the hotel. The proprietor is expecting you. You can settle in and await the arrival of the Republic team. The should be returning from the field shortly."

"Excellent. " Said Qui-Gon. "Let us get started."

The hotel was filled with Republic techs. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arranged to meet with the group at dinner, then settled into their room. Deciding they would be here awhile, Obi-Wan unpacked all their things. Qui-Gon sent a brief message to the Temple then sat back to watch Obi-Wan. When the young man finished storing items in drawers, he looked at the Jedi and realized he was being studied.

"Why are you watching me like that?"

"Like what?" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-Wan flopped down in the other chair and gestured about vaguely. "Like you want to say something, but you aren't sure I'll like it, so you are waiting for me to make you tell me."

Qui-Gon barely suppressed a mirthless laugh at that. The young man was right. Time to plunge right in. "Obi-Wan, if at the end of your required time with me you find you do not wish to return to Nazanin, I am sure the Jedi would be happy to have you remain among us. I am sure that you would find something meaningful and challenging to do within the Order."

Leaning forward in his chair, Obi-Wan looked straight into the older man's eyes, hoping to plumb the depths for the answers he wanted. "And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Will I have a place with you?" the younger man implored.

"I told you that you would."

"And will that place be in your bed?"

"Obi-Wan, I would not be so presumptuous. Nor is that the sole reason I would value your company."

"Dammit, Qui-Gon, do you want me or not?" Obi-Wan demanded. He was feeling strangely unsettled since they had arrived here. He admitted to himself that he was tired of taking his relationship with Qui-Gon slowly. He had tried, but waiting was not what he wanted. He fervently wished he knew what in the galaxy was holding the other man back.

"You know that I do."

"And two years from now, it might be acceptable for us to be lovers, but not now?"

"It's complicated." He almost envied the young man his sexual freedom, that ability to have more than one lover at a time and think it of no consequence, but Qui-Gon could not live that way.

"Not really," Obi-Wan said. He deftly slid out of the chair and to his knees in front of Qui-Gon. He rested his cheek against the Jedi's knee.

Qui-Gon could not resist stroking the young man's hair. "Perhaps not for you."

Obi-Wan sighed and turned his face completely away from Qui-Gon. He did not know what to do. If Qui-Gon would not even accept him as a lover, how would he react when Obi-Wan told him that he loved him? That part of the reason he was feeling ambivalent about returning to Nazanin was because he wanted to stay with Qui-Gon permanently.

He was a confident man, sure of his skills and his intelligence. He even was aware that he was relatively charming and rather attractive. But he had never been in love before and he was most definitely in love with Qui-Gon, even though he was not sure when it happened.

Unfortunately, rather than making him feel powerful, this new feeling confused him, weakened him in a way he did not like and he felt at a loss for what to do. Qui-Gon liked him, respected him, even yearned for him physically, but still managed to keep some part of himself remote from Obi-Wan. Somehow Obi-Wan thought that if Qui-Gon would take him as a lover that eventually the older man would fall in love with him too. It sounded desperate even in his own mind.

He should just tell him, he thought. It might hurt to hear, "No, Obi-Wan, I do not love you as well," but then he could quit agonizing over the possibilities and deal with the reality. He resolved to do that after this mission. It would not do to drive a wedge between them in the middle of a mission. Duty first.

Easing away from the other man, Obi-Wan sat back on his heels and regarded the other man. Qui-Gon looked wary. Obi-Wan had no wish to cause any more tension. He smiled brightly, perhaps, a bit too brightly, and said, "Don't worry, my Sytra, I will not mention this again."

He stood and walked to the door, intending to explore the small community beyond the hotel walls. Just as he closed the door, he said, " At least not for a day or two."

They met up outside the dining hall an hour later. Introducing themselves to the Republic techs, they sat down at separate tables to talk to the workers who had been assigned to Lenuen. Halfway through the meal, Obi-Wan noticed a strange look cross Qui-Gon's face. It was quickly masked and the Jedi continued conversing with his tablemates. Once he had finished with his food, Qui-Gon crossed the room and joined the group at Obi-Wan's table.

He casually picked up a piece of dessert bread from a basket in the center of the table and took a bite. Looking to the woman next to him, he asked, "So have you been in contact with Vaven Hayslet?"

The woman looked surprised. "The neuroscientist? No, I haven't talked to him."

"Why not?"

Confusion registered on the tech's face. For a moment she actually looked frightened before her face smoothed out and she answered in a monotone, "He was not available."

Qui-Gon looked down the length of the table. "Have any of you talked to him?"

The responses were all negative.

"I see," the Jedi murmured as he rose from the table. "Thank you for your help. Good evening. Obi-Wan, I should like to have a word with you outside."

They walked silently to a small side garden and sat on a bench listening to the buzz of chatter from the dining room. Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon had discovered something and he waited for Qui-Gon to reveal what he had learned. That was a difference between the two. Obi-Wan was always bursting to share his news; Qui-Gon liked to ruminate on what he discovered, deciding its relative significance before sharing.

Finally Qui-Gon spoke, "What did you learn?"

"Very little that we didn't already know. And you?"

"One interesting thing kept coming up or more specifically did not come up."

"Spit it out, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said, sounding mildly aggravated.

Qui-Gon pursed his lips, holding back a smirk at Obi-Wan's impatience. "None of the Republic personnel has spoken with Vaven Hayslet and not a one of them can come up with any reason other than he was unavailable. Every single one of the techs I spoke with seemed incredibly distressed when I first spoke about Hayslet, and then they answered emotionlessly."

"And you suspect them of being involved? Or being paid off?" Obi-Wan ripped a leaf off a nearby bush and began systematically shredding it, watching the pieces float to the ground.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "No, I do not believe either of those things. Bad as they are, it just might be worse. The techs all show signs of having their memories tampered with."

Obi-Wan looked up, surprised. "Is that possible? And by whom?"

"It is most certainly possible. It would take someone with strong persuasive powers."

"Like a hypnotist?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Or a powerful Force user."

Obi-Wan let the last few pieces of the leaf drift to the ground. Several of the Republic techs were leaving the hotel for an evening stroll. What did they know that they could not remember? He glanced back at Qui-Gon. "The situation has become a lot more complicated."

Very early the next morning, the pair borrowed a speeder from Nissa Pesti and headed to Hayslet's compound. Though it was still dark when they left, by the time they arrived at their destination the sun was beating down between thick heavy clouds. Morning dew was quickly turning to steam. The day was going to be stifling hot until the rain fell.

Hayslet's compound consisted of three buildings. One was obviously his home, another was a garage, and the final large windowless building contained his laboratories.

Obi-Wan parked the speeder in the shade next to the garage. He could not resist peeking inside. A sleek T-11 Skyhopper was housed there along with several ground vehicles.

Although quite new, the hopper was covered in a greenish dust. Upon closer inspection, Obi-Wan discovered that the dust was actually a silvery-green, most likely beelnix, a valuable mineral. There were no beelnix quarries in this area. However, there was one on the other continent, practically next door to the residence of one of the seizure victims.

Obi-Wan left the garage to find Qui-Gon. The older man was at the back entrance to the lab. Obi-Wan pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, indicating the garage behind him. "I think the Skyhopper back there has been near one of the victim's homes. It's covered in beelnix dust."

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "That is very intriguing. I am sure Vaven Hayslet could enlighten us. That is, if he would talk to us."

"Gone to ground again?"

"Perhaps quite literally. A good deal of this laboratory appears to be underground. I sense Vaven's presence here, but it is distorted."

"How do you know it's him?"

Qui-Gon was pacing back and forth, trying to think of the best way to enter the lab without sending Hayslet into a panic. "I have worked with the man before. He can be a bit high strung."

"So, are we just going to let ourselves in? As I said before, I have a way with locks or you could do some sort of Force thingy." Obi-Wan grinned and waved his hand through the air.

Qui-Gon laughed and waved his hand as well. "Yes, I was planning on doing some sort of Force thingy. If that proves insufficient, we shall try your way." Before he could begin work on the door's lock, the relative quiet was shattered by the sound of dozens of birds rising into flight from the nearby woods. As the sound of their flapping wings faded, a deep thrumming took its place.

Against the still rising sun, two small personnel transports appeared, roaring toward the compound. Rather than passing by, they hovered over the area. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon took shelter against the wind and dust in the small alcove of the door.

Shielding his eyes, Obi-Wan chanced a glance at the nearest transport. The smaller of the two, it was projecting an eerie orange light at the house and the garage.

"Qui-Gon, " Obi-Wan yelled over the wind, "I don't think we should stay here."

The Jedi looked up. He had felt a distinct chill when the birds had taken flight, which had intensified when the transports arrived. The orange light, whatever it was, could only be classified in the "very bad things" category. He did not wish to come in contact with it. Obi-Wan indicated a nearby copse of trees and they scrambled to shelter among them.

The transport changed position to project its mysterious light over the lab. It shone for nearly to a minute and then stopped. The transports landed and a dozen heavily armed men spilled out.

Definitely a very bad thing, Qui-Gon thought. He ran to the lab's door as soon as the troops disappeared from sight. He drew and ignited his lightsaber making short work of the lock. He and Obi-Wan entered cautiously. There were no lights in the building; even the emergency lights sat dark.

Using Qui-Gon's lightsaber for illumination, they hurried down the hallway. Most of doors along the corridor were locked and the few that were not were nothing but storage rooms or unused laboratories. They reached the front of the building without having seen any sign of the invaders.

"Must be downstairs," Obi-Wan surmised indicating a stairwell on the left.

Once at the bottom of the steps, they were faced with the choice, head left or right. The subterranean level was maze-like. Hayslet obviously had many projects in the works to require all this space. Sound echoed strangely and it was difficult to determine from which direction it was coming. It was likely the invaders had split up in search of Hayslet. Qui-Gon tried to center on Hayslet's presence. It was still quite faint, but he could tell which direction to head. They went left.

After several turns, Obi-Wan stilled. He grabbed Qui-Gon's free hand and pulled him into a crouch. Suddenly, there was a resounding boom followed by a rolling cloud of dust and shards of glass and metal.

"We are definitely going the right way," Qui-Gon said, jumping up and rushing down the hall with Obi-Wan at his heels. They paused at a partially open doorway to listen.

Previously indistinguishable voices separated into individual ones. An older man was protesting in a wavering voice, "What have you done? I have given you everything."

A man with a deeper voice spoke, "We are here for the rest. Don't play games, old man. You've been holding back. Perhaps your granddaughter might like to see your new invention up close and personal. Hmm?"

"There's nothing, I swear," the older man cried out. "I swear."

The second man spoke again, "You three, come with me. The rest of you stay here and watch him, although I doubt he'll be going anywhere. Ever." The man cackled maliciously.

There had to be an alternate exit, for the man and his compatriots did not leave by the doorway monitored by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan edged closer to the entrance and peeked around. Portable lights illuminated the room. Two men with blaster rifles guarded an old man seated on a high-backed stool. Both of the man's arms were wrapped around his midsection and he swayed woozily. Shifting to maintain his balance, one arm slipped away from his middle to reveal an oozing blaster wound.

Obi-Wan informed Qui-Gon of the situation swiftly. "We will have to be quiet so as not to draw the others back to this room," Qui-Gon said looking pointedly at Obi-Wan's blaster.

"Don't shoot anyone. Got it, " Obi-Wan said, but he did not holster his weapon.

Qui-Gon looked into the room. He spotted a tray of small electronic parts well within view of the two guards. Four of the small parts flew from the tray, traveling around the room at high speed. The guards stood gaping at them, unsure of what to do. As soon as the parts settled back on to the tray, they tentatively approached it.

Obi-Wan darted into the room and cracked the butt of his blaster against the head of the nearest guard. The man collapsed and Obi-Wan eased him to the ground noiselessly. When he turned around, he saw that Qui-Gon had taken care of the other guard and was now attending to the old man, who had fallen onto the floor unconscious.

"How did you take out the other guard?" Obi-Wan asked. He started searching the room for medical supplies. There was not much to be found.

The Jedi Master accepted Obi-Wan's finds and started packing the old man's wound. "Very much like you did. I struck him on the head with my lightsaber. Sometimes the basics are the best."

"Is this Hayslet?"

The man in question was coming around and he answered, "Yes, and I'll be damned for it." He looked straight at Qui-Gon. "Maybe not, after all. Help me. Protect my granddaughter."

"We must get you away from here."

Hayslet shivered. "Too late. I will die from the wound. The seizures would kill me in three or four days anyway."

"Seizures?" Qui-Gon asked.

The elderly scientist struggled to sit, resting his back against a cabinet. He fought for breath, shaking with deep wracking coughs when the effort was too much for him. "I was developing a device to stimulate brain activity, hoping it would aid coma victims or those with seizures. I ran out of funding. An agent of an unknown benefactor approached me offering anything I needed to finish the project.

"I was elated. I should have tried to discover where the money came from, but it was too late. They threatened to harm my granddaughter, Nadyne, if I did not turn the device into a weapon. It causes a disruption in electrical flow that renders electronic equipment useless. Unfortunately, living beings also have an electrical component and the weapon disrupts normal brain function causing seizures and death. They have used it on me."

Hayslet wheezed. There was a wet, sucking sound when he took a breath, a burble of blood collecting in his lungs. He pulled a fastener from the top of his coat and handed it to Qui-Gon with a shaky hand. "There is a miniature data disk in there, it contains all the vital information about the device. Take it. Find a way to reverse the effects. I beg you to find a way to redeem my foolishness."

With a final gasp the man died. Qui-Gon closed Hayslet's lifeless eyes. He pulled out his lightsaber, running his fingers along the hilt. Obi-Wan felt a tiny flicker of the Force and then a compartment appeared beneath the smooth surface of the lightsaber's hilt.

"How did you do that?" Obi-Wan asked, bewildered.

"It's Force guarded. Only a Force user could open it. You could open it if need be." Qui-Gon slipped the tiny disk into the compartment and resealed it.

"A perfect hiding place." Obi-Wan looked over at Hayslet's dead body. "He was only trying to help people. It's..." He stopped, tilted his head to the left, listening. "The other searchers are returning. We'd better go."

Qui-Gon shook his head, "No, I believe it is time for us to be captured."

It was easy enough to get captured. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan simply went to another lab and proceeded to make a tremendous amount of noise pretending to search. Six guards arrived in short order.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were disarmed and led to the larger transport. Just as Qui-Gon had predicted, most of the weapons and the attention were aimed at him. He had told Obi-Wan, "I stick out like a big Jedi sore thumb. You, they will underestimate. Good for us; bad for them."

They stood docilely in the office of the "head bad guy," as Obi-Wan had dubbed the tall, dark-haired, hawk-faced man who stood raging before them. He had introduced himself as Cantril, although that was most certainly a pseudonym. Obi-Wan was fairly sure that this man was not the mastermind behind the operation. He was too blustery and Obi-Wan could sense nothing about Cantril that would lead one to believe the man had the ability to manipulate the minds of the Republic techs.

Of course, appearances could be deceiving. While Qui-Gon stood serenely before Cantril, Obi-Wan did his best to look unassuming. Feigning shocked nervousness, he adopted a wild-eyed look as he surveyed the room.

Windowless, with little adornment, the room was strictly utilitarian. There was the desk, a bank of computer terminals, several chairs, and a large cabinet. Besides Cantril, there were four guards in the room, one to each side of them and two behind. The room was soundproofed, probably so no one else had to listen to Cantril's tirades. Or hear the results of any zealous interrogations. Obi-Wan returned his full attention to Cantril.

"Tell me what you found," the man snapped.

"And if I say we found nothing?" Qui-Gon said coolly.

Cantril sneered. "Then I will be forced to take out my dissatisfaction on your little friend here. And I assure you it will be painful."

Little friend? Obi-Wan seethed inwardly. Now that was a bit much, but it meant the plan was working. He backed up half a step. It was time to act. Cantril was a waste of time, no doubt a middleman with high hopes.

Obi-Wan held up his right hand and the room went dark. Yoda had been working with him on improving his skill with fine manipulations of the Force, such as dousing the lights. The little Master would be delighted to hear his teachings had been beneficial.

The guards and Cantril panicked. Three guards reached for Qui-Gon, but he was no longer where he had been when the lights went out. Obi-Wan quickly dispatched the fourth guard by throwing him against the wall. Cantril frantically tried to restart the lighting system, but Obi-Wan maintained control of it through the Force.

"The door is locked," one of the guards shouted.

"Stun them," Cantril bellowed.

Not a good idea, Obi-Wan thought, as he dived behind the desk, bearing Cantril to the floor along with him. Stun blasts lit up the room for a few seconds and then nothing.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon called.

"Here."

"Could you turn the lights back on?"

"Oh. Sure."

The lights came back up and Obi-Wan surveyed the room. All four of the guards were passed out on the floor, as was Cantril. "What happened?"

Qui-Gon smirked and pointed to three of the guards. "When you put the lights out I made sure the door could not be opened. Those three stunned each other. With a little help from me. I suggested to them where they should aim. I see you knocked out our host."

Obi-Wan knelt down next to Cantril, "Sorry about this. We could have questioned him. He will be out for a while. I took him down when I dove for cover."

Qui-Gon waved a hand dismissively. "Not important. He is not the brains behind this operation." He sat down at a computer terminal, "Let us see what we can find out here."

Qui-Gon's fingers flashed over the computer's keypad. "Interesting. Look at this."

Besides their operation here, which apparently was limited to manufacturing and testing Hayslet's weapon, their captors were also involved in illegal mining on a dozen worlds, some piracy, and a few nasty assassinations. Free lance bad guys.

"There is no mention of to whom they report, just some copies of messages about their progress addressed to 'My Lord.' They were all sent through a Hutt relay station." Qui-Gon was frustrated; the messages were untraceable. There were no copies of incoming messages, they had probably been sent with a timed erase. Whoever was pulling the strings here did not want his identity known.

"Should we comm Nissa? Let her know what's going on?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We can not. It looks like our would be captors have been electronically monitoring all calls to the government offices from a remote location."

"Lovely. We had better get a move on before they realize we have been subjected to an exceedingly long interrogation."

Qui-Gon pushed a few more buttons, popped a data disk out of the terminal, and stashed it in a pocket of his robe. "We should see about retrieving my lightsaber, then we need to destroy that manufacturing plant."

Obi-Wan snagged a blaster and a keycard off one of the stunned guards. "That's only a temporary fix. They can always make more."

"Maybe not." Qui-Gon replied. He cautiously opened the office door and peeked out. No one was about yet. "One of the messages I read indicated that the plans they had were apparently incomplete. They only have as many weapons as Hayslet himself completed. The rest did not work properly and are awaiting adjustments."

"Hayslet was holding out? No wonder they strong-armed him today. Shall I lead the way?" Obi-Wan asked, stepping out into the hall.

"I presume you took the opportunity to memorize a map of the facility."

A wide grin from the younger man was all the answer Qui-Gon needed.

Obi-Wan directed them to a small workroom room on the opposite side of the building. The pilfered keycard unlocked the door. "Luck is with us so far."

Sitting on a workbench was Qui-Gon's lightsaber, thankfully undisturbed. A message cube sat next to it. Qui-Gon depressed the button that played the message. "Rital, thought you might enjoy taking this one apart. Have fun. And let Cantril know if we can duplicate it."

"How did you know it would be here?" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-Wan picked up the lightsaber, turning it over in his hands several times before answering, "I have often wanted to pop the casing on one of these and poke the wires. It would seem obvious that someone here would too, considering these guys are already involved in weapon manufacturing."

Qui-Gon accepted the lightsaber from Obi-Wan, weighing it in his palm. " It has not been tampered with. It is a good thing this Rital was otherwise occupied. He could have taken it apart, but unless he is a Force user he would never have gotten it back together. It requires a good deal of patience even for a Jedi Master to realign the crystals inside."

Qui-Gon turned to the door, but Obi-Wan forestalled him with a hand on the shoulder. "Wrong way."

"That is the door, Obi-Wan."

The younger man pointed to the back wall of the workroom, "Uh-huh. And that is the way out."

"A wall?"

"Master, didn't anyone ever tell you to think outside the box?"

"I believe I have heard that rather annoying phrase, yes."

Obi-Wan ignored Qui-Gon's comment and explained his plan, "That wall is an outside wall, on the edge of the forest. There is probably no one out there unless someone decided they needed to take a piss. And you, my friend, have the door opener..." Obi-Wan stood back and gestured for Qui-Gon to proceed.

Reaching for his lightsaber, Qui-Gon looked at the younger man with admiration. "You are a sneaky fellow."

"I know," Obi-Wan said proudly.

The wall was no match for Qui-Gon's lightsaber blade; a man-sized piece fell away with a muffled thud. Fortunately, no one was on this side of the building, and they hurried through the opening. They crouched down at the corner surveying the other buildings. Few beings were about; most were probably having a noon meal. Obi-Wan indicated the largest building and said, "That is the hanger and the building to the left of it is the manufacturing and storage facility."

"We need to destroy the transport ship with the weapon on board, and the storage facility. Blowing things up seems too extreme." Qui-Gon pondered four or five possibilities before settling on a plan he liked. It had a rather ironic twist to it as well, which made it all the more perfect. He briefly outlined his plan to Obi-Wan.

They sprinted across a long walkway to the hanger, narrowly avoiding a mechanic who had stepped out for a smoke. Qui-Gon doubted very much that the man's chosen indulgence was a legal substance. The mechanic was already glassy-eyed. Obviously, this was not his first break of the day. It was quite likely he would not return to his duties for some time.

Once inside the hanger, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan quickly disabled all the vehicles. Qui-Gon severed important connections with his lightsaber, while Obi-Wan pulled out a few small but necessary parts and threw them in a recycler. Only one vehicle remained unscathed, the personnel transport with Hayslet's deadly weapon. Obi-Wan climbed aboard and slid into the pilot's seat. He ran a quick preflight as Qui-Gon kept guard. Giving Qui-Gon a ready signal, Obi-Wan started the engines.

The vehicle was hovering about a meter above the ground by the time Qui-Gon jumped aboard and settled into the co-pilot's seat. He raised his voice to be heard over the sound of the vehicle's engine. "Cantril has recovered, I just saw him. They are searching for us."

"We aren't going to be hard to find," Obi-Wan replied as he piloted the vehicle out of the hanger. The craft was not particularly maneuverable and he was forced to circle wide before he had the ship in position above the weapons facility. He flipped a few switches and orange beams shot out from the ship's underside, blanketing the building.

"How long to completely disable the weapons and machinery?" Qui-Gon asked.

"About forty seconds," Obi-Wan shouted back. Armed men started spilling out of various buildings, taking aim at the transport. "Damn, there's no shielding when the weapon is active. Can you do anything about our unwanted company?"

Qui-Gon nodded, sprang out of his seat, and went to open a side hatch. Igniting his blade he diverted as many energy blasts as he could away from the ship. His reach was not long enough to prevent all the beams from getting though his guard.

Obi-Wan considered aiming the transport's weapon at the shooters, but he knew Qui-Gon would rather they did not cause any unnecessary deaths. It was not his way, but his master's, so he behaved as Qui-Gon would want.

Cantril was yelling and men scrambled to do his bidding. He looked up at Qui-Gon and smiled predatorily. His men brought him a weapon and he aimed it straight at the their ship. It had to be one of Hayslet's.

A volley of shots from other weapons left Qui-Gon unable to prevent several of the ones Cantril aimed at the transport. It wobbled and Qui-Gon could tell Obi-Wan was trying to compensate for the damage that has been inflicted. At last a blaster beam came to Qui-Gon at the perfect angle and he reflected it back to Cantril. The weapon dropped from the man's hands billowing noxious smoke.

"Done!" Obi-Wan called from the cockpit. "There's too much damage to the electrical system. We aren't going to get far. The systems are shutting down."

Qui-Gon re-entered the cockpit and took in the control panels crackling with electricity. A spark from an overhead panel landed on Obi-Wan's arm, burning through his sleeve, and he winced in pain. "I'll take her as far as I can over the forest, but we are going to have to jump clear. See if you can find any survival gear."

A quick search revealed several fully stocked survival packs. Qui-Gon slung two over his back and waited for a signal from Obi-Wan. A tiny push from the Force urged him to the hatch. He took a deep breath and jumped.

Using the Force as he levitated down, he was able to avoid the trees. He looked skyward and saw the little ship listing severely, trails of greenish smoke following it. A noise like a large animal choking spewed from the ship's engines and it fell into the trees ahead of him.

Qui-Gon ran to the crash sight, praying that somehow Obi-Wan had been able to get out of the dying craft. He was relieved to find that Obi-Wan was not trapped in the fiery tangle. Circling the smoldering remains of the transport, he eventually heard muttering.

He followed the voice and found Obi-Wan sitting on the forest floor impatiently trying to extricate his legs from a mass of flowering vines. The muttering turned out to be a few interesting curses that were probably never heard beyond Nazanin. They petered out into, "Let go of me, you wretched plant, before I hack you to bits and leave you to rot."

"Insulting the plant life will not get you too far. I doubt that vine is sentient," Qui-Gon mused. "Although, there is a species on Ultaxa 6..."

Obi-Wan looked up sharply. When he spoke he sounded like a cranky five-year-old, "I don't care. It makes me feel better."

Qui-Gon knelt down next to the younger man and methodically unwound the vines. "Are you going to tell me how this happened?"

"Nope." Obi-Wan shook his head, dislodging several dried leaves that had gotten stuck in his hair. "Too embarrassing. Remind me when we get back to the Temple to tell Master Windu that he's a crummy teacher."

Qui-Gon's lips twitched. He could well imagine how well Mace would take that. Of course, if anyone could get away with it, it would be Obi-Wan. "I'll make note of that and I certainly hope I will be allowed to be present when you tell him."

Once free of the vines, Obi-Wan bounded up and took one of the packs from Qui-Gon. "We should get going. We will likely be followed and we are a long way from anywhere."

Obi-Wan struck out deeper into the forest. Qui-Gon quietly followed, trusting that his Adajia knew the way to civilization.

The pair had not been hiking for long when Obi-Wan felt a peculiar prickling at the base of his neck. It was odd, but he had felt something similar before. Where? Then he realized where it had been. The mines on Aktar.

He dropped to the ground and rolled left. A blaster bolt that had been aimed for his midsection scorched a tree behind him. He squeezed off two shots into the trees from his borrowed blaster. A body fell forward out of the bushes.

A second attacker stepped from behind a tree and aimed at Qui-Gon. He was quickly disarmed by his own energy bolt, which Qui-Gon ricocheted back to his weapon. Dropping the smoking laser rifle, the gunman sprinted back into the forest. Qui-Gon chose not to follow.

Across the small clearing, Obi-Wan was dusting off his clothing. Qui-Gon strolled over and smiled at his young companion. "You seem to be playing in the dirt quite often on this mission," he observed, reaching out to pluck a pine needle from Obi-Wan's collar.

Giving his trousers a final brush, Obi-Wan grinned at the older man. "It's all part of the service; we get dirty so you don't have to," he said and then swaggered into the trees leaving Qui-Gon to admire the young man's retreating form. He wondered if Obi-Wan considered that sexy walk as part of the service.

He jogged to catch up with the younger man, thinking that perhaps he might walk a pace or two behind. A brief blur of motion to his right caused him to turn his head. He heard Obi-Wan shout a second before an orange beam erupted from the undergrowth. Obi-Wan leaped in front of him, catching the beam in the center of his chest. He crumpled to the ground.

Qui-Gon charged into the underbrush, brandishing his lightsaber, sending every orange beam that came his way back to its origin. He was coldly precise in his movements. He had to remove the threat and return to aid his companion.

The shots ceased. Qui-Gon swept aside some low branches and looked upon their attacker. She was roughly the size of a tall human, but with a shorter torso and longer limbs. Her body was covered with small grayish-purple scales. A Garicu, lying dead in a pile of dead leaves, her system overloaded by the multitude of beams her body had absorbed.

No wonder they had been unaware of her presence. Garicu were notoriously good trackers and had a unique characteristic, they had no presence within the Force. Jedi scholars had been postulating on why this was so for a millennium, but could come up with no solid conclusions. Many opportunistic Garicu used this anomaly to their advantage, becoming thieves, killers, and in some cases, Jedi hunters.

Qui-Gon shuddered. He hoped she was the only one. They would not survive the journey if there were more of her kind hunting them.

Making his way back to the clearing, he saw that Obi-Wan was waking. He was shaking quite a bit. Qui-Gon sat down beside him.

"Looks like I ended up in the dirt again," Obi-Wan mumbled, attempting a watery smile. He knew what he had just done.

Qui-Gon laughed a little because if he did not he knew he was going to cry. Obi-Wan, his Adajia, had sacrificed himself to protect Qui-Gon, and had sealed his own fate. Unless they could find a way to reverse the weapon's effects he would suffer and die like the others. Hopefully, the key to Obi-Wan's survival was in the information Hayslet had provided. They had to get back to civilization soon.

The Jedi gathered the trembling younger man into his arms, holding him close and stroking his golden hair. "It is not over. We will find a way. We will."

Qui-Gon gently rocked Obi-Wan as it began to rain.

The cave they found was dry, but not particularly warm. The gentle rain had turned into a steady downpour that had not abated. After the sun went down it had become quite chilly. They had been slogging through the pitch black forest in ankle deep thick brown mud, when Obi-Wan stopped Qui-Gon.

"It's too dark and too exhausting to keep on like this. We should rest for the night and start again in the morning."

Obi-Wan had seen the sadness is Qui-Gon's eyes. They both knew stopping now would delay analyzing the information they had obtained, would delay any possible treatment for Obi-Wan, but it could not be helped. The weather was against them.

Qui-Gon also had been aware that Obi-Wan had suffered the first of the convulsions that would wrack his body as time went on. The young man had tried to cover it up by turning away and coughing, but Qui-Gon knew. The seizures would only worsen and increase in frequency. It pained him to think about what Obi-Wan would suffer for his sake, yet he was honored by Obi-Wan's commitment to protect him.

They had unpacked the emergency packs, pleased to find a small supply of field rations as well as two self-inflating pads and two thermal blankets. Travelers had obviously used the cave before; a small supply of firewood was stacked to one side of the cave. They had removed their mud-covered boots and wet socks and laid them out to dry. Qui-Gon's robe hung from a slight outcropping on the cave wall.

Obi-Wan had occupied himself with all these small things to keep his mind off the other thing, his mortality. While he was in the military, death was always something to be considered, and yet he had never thought it might be like this. On the surface he was perfectly fine. No one looking at him would think anything was wrong, but on the inside he was slowly dying. No, not slowly, he thought. It would be a matter of days. Moments of perfect clarity would be mingled with excruciating pain.

He stood at the mouth of the cave, staring out into the darkness and listening to the steady fall of the rain. Curling his toes beneath his cold feet, he willed his mind to blankness. Consequently, he was startled when Qui-Gon clapped a hand down on his right shoulder.

"I wish there was something to be done about the weather," Qui-Gon said with a sigh. "There have only been five or six Jedi who could actually affect it, and none at all for the past two hundred years."

Obi-Wan turned around and looked the Jedi Master deeply in the eyes. "I regret nothing, Qui-Gon. Nothing at all. I know you feel some guilt about this, but don't. I made my choices, knew my responsibilities and I would do it all again. I can't say I look forward to what awaits me, but there is no turning back." He looked a way for a moment, gathered his thoughts and returned his gaze to Qui-Gon. "I don't think there ever was."

Qui-Gon tried to understand what Obi-Wan was saying and was not making much sense of the final statement. There was, however, no misunderstanding the intent of the soft lips that pressed against his. No miscommunication in the body that pressed tightly against him, the arms that wrapped around his neck tugging him closer and closer still. He answered by threading his fingers through Obi-Wan's still damp hair, tugging the young man's head back to reveal the long line throat. He pressed his lips to the side of Obi-Wan's neck. Obi-Wan moaned and ran his hands restlessly over Qui-Gon's shoulders.

"Obi-Wan, your clothes are wet," Qui-Gon murmured against Obi-Wan's warm skin. It was an inane comment, but he was already beyond intelligent discourse. Obi-Wan was in his arms, and oh, it felt so good. So very, very good.

Between panting breaths, Obi-Wan whispered, "Then take them off." He took a step back, leaving his hands at Qui-Gon's shoulders, allowing the older man room to maneuver.

The Jedi obeyed the command and slowly began undoing the fastenings on Obi-Wan's damp shirt. He watched Obi-Wan's face as he worked. The younger man's eyes were bright with desire in the firelight, the color shifting between blue and gray.

When the buttons were undone, Qui-Gon peeled the shirt away from Obi-Wan's damp skin, tossing it near the fire. He drank in his fill of the smoothly muscled chest revealed to him, lightly running his hands over the firm flesh, flicking his thumbs over the hardening nipples, watching them peak.

Obi-Wan sucked in a breath, and tried to draw Qui-Gon back against him. Qui-Gon shook off Obi-Wan's hands. "Keep them at your sides," he whispered. Obi-Wan nodded and closed his eyes. A kiss was dropped against his shoulder and a hand slid down the center of his chest, tickling through the coarse hairs, coming to rest at the waistband of his trousers. "More wet clothes to deal with," Qui-Gon said as he undid the snaps on the garment.

"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed quietly before shouting, "Oh, yes," when Qui-Gon slid his left hand down the front of Obi-Wan's trousers and stroked his cock. The right hand worked its way into the back of the pants and teased small circles at the base of Obi-Wan's spine.

The hand on his cock tightened minutely sending blissful spasms throughout Obi-Wan's body. He moaned again, clenching his fists. "Please," he begged. "Please, let me touch you."

"Not yet. I want to see you, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's voice rumbled against Obi-Wan's ear. "Will you finish undressing for me?" Obi-Wan nodded eagerly and Qui-Gon disentangled himself from the other man.

Obi-Wan smiled seductively and without any embarrassment slowly pushed his pants down over his erect penis, past well-muscled thighs, letting them drop to the floor. He kicked them away and stood quietly while Qui-Gon admired him.

What a treasure, Qui-Gon thought. The few brief glimpses he had seen of the young man's form may have been enticing, but seeing him now, like this, was mesmerizing. Obi-Wan was beautiful. And he was waiting. For him.

"Oh, Obi-Wan, you are incredible."

Obi-Wan's smile widened. "I am yours, if you want."

"I want."

"Just one minute," Obi-Wan promised. He searched briefly for his discarded utility belt, removed something from a pouch then stood before Qui-Gon, holding the item out in his hand. It was a tube of lubricant.

Qui-Gon's eyes widened and he turned away swiftly. The cave was suddenly too small. He could not get away, could not hide his shame. He sat down hard on the makeshift bed. "Have you been carrying that with you all along? Since you became my Adajia?' he asked.

"Of course." Obi-Wan answered, confused as to what was bothering Qui-Gon.

The Jedi lowered his head, but before he did Obi-Wan saw the anguish in his eyes. He could barely hear Qui-Gon when the man finally spoke. "All along, waiting for the day when I could no longer control my lust for you." Qui-Gon buried his head in his hands, long hair obscuring his face.

"Qui-Gon, no. That's not it at all." Obi-Wan tried to explain. If the other man would not even look at him, how could they talk? He insinuated himself into Qui-Gon's lap, straddling the Jedi's legs, pressing his fevered body against Qui-Gon. He placed his palms on Qui-Gon's neck, urging the man to face him.

"Listen to me," Obi-Wan pleaded, dropping kisses onto Qui-Gon's forehead, his beard-roughened cheeks, and his tightly closed lips. "I am your Adajia, right?"

"Yes," Qui-Gon answered sounding pained.

"I have to do what you command me to do, yes?"

Another anguished, "Yes."

Obi-Wan cupped Qui-Gon's face in his hands, forcing the Jedi to meet his eyes. "Then ask me for the truth, Qui-Gon. Ask me to tell you the truth. Ask anything you want to know. Don't believe the worst until you know what's in my heart."

Hope flared in Qui-Gon's heart. Maybe, just maybe, he could have his heart's desire without guilt or fear. "Obi-Wan, would you be my lover, even without the Adajia vow?"

"Absolutely, Qui-Gon. I am sorry my intentions were not obvious. Although," he ground his erection against Qui-Gon's belly, "my body is being quite obvious."

Qui-Gon groaned at the contact, itching to throw the other man down and devour him, but he had to know more. "You are a young man, Obi-Wan, perhaps too young for me. I am old-fashioned. I could not stand to share you with anyone." He looked expectantly at the younger man.

He was startled by a sizzling kiss that somehow managed to warm him from the inside. Obi-Wan buried his head in the crook of Qui-Gon's neck, nuzzling his shoulder. "There hasn't been anyone else since I met you. No one at all. I only wanted you," Obi-Wan said punctuating his words with soft licks against Qui-Gon's skin.

"But Adi..."

Obi-Wan interrupted, "Not even Adi. Oh, I might have, if she hadn't sense enough to know that it was someone else I wanted."

"Bright woman," Qui-Gon said. He felt free, freer than he ever had and his arms went around Obi-Wan's waist, hugging the young man tightly.

"Very," Obi-Wan agreed, "But enough about her. This is about us and I want you naked now." He toppled Qui-Gon over onto the pallet and followed him down. He yanked at belts and sashes and tunics, all the while muttering something about, "damned Jedi wrapping paper."

Qui-Gon allowed Obi-Wan to do what he wanted with him and what Obi-Wan wanted was bare skin and lots of it. The young man worshiped every inch of flesh as it was bared, kissing, nipping and licking the most interesting parts. Nipples were explored with teeth and tongue until Qui-Gon arched upward, mutely begging for more, more of the same, more of something else, just more.

Teasing ended when Obi-Wan pulled off Qui-Gon's trousers. He grasped the waistband and pulled them off swiftly, Qui-Gon aiding by lifting his hips. His body was fully revealed to hungry eyes.

"You are beautiful to me, Qui-Gon, in every way. I want so much from you this night."

"Anything you want, Obi-Wan."

"Ah, good," Obi-Wan said. He smiled wickedly, then lowered his head and licked the tip of Qui-Gon's penis. After two or three more licks around the crown, he gently took the head into his mouth and sucked, tasting the tiny bit of fluid gathered there. He remembered that taste, it was full and warm and very much Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan wanted to bring Qui-Gon to completion to hear those small moans turn to fuller, throatier ones, to hear the man demanding release. It would be so easy, just a few swipes of the tongue along the underside where a long vein throbbed, then drawing Qui-Gon's cock deeply into his throat and sucking hard, maybe a tiny scrape of teeth at an unexpected moment, but Obi-Wan wanted something else. He dropped one last small kiss on the tip of Qui-Gon's cock and pulled away. Qui-Gon groaned in frustration.

Obi-Wan scooted up Qui-Gon's long body, rubbing sinuously against him, gently kissing the way as he went. He reached Qui-Gon's mouth and they leisurely kissed, tongues sliding slickly together, relishing the tastes and textures of one another. After long minutes, Obi-Wan regretfully pulled away. "Qui-Gon, take me, please."

"Oh, yes, my Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon replied rolling the young man over. Obi-Wan parted his legs and lifted his knees planting his feet firmly against the bedding.

Encouraging whimpers greeted Qui-Gon's touches. He continued his caresses, gently rolling Obi-Wan's balls in one hand before dipping lower and brushing two fingers against Obi-Wan's opening.

Obi-Wan nearly screamed with frustration. "Qui-Gon, please. I want you, in me, now."

"Patience, love."

Exasperated, Obi-Wan scooped the tube of lube up off the mattress and thrust it under Qui-Gon's nose. "Now," he growled.

Qui-Gon chuckled and accepted the tube, opening it up and liberally coating two fingers. He placed one of them at Obi-Wan's entrance.

Obi-Wan lifted his hips and braced his hands on the mattress. "Both of them," he insisted.

"I'm not sure that is..."

"Do it," Obi-Wan demanded and Qui-Gon complied, gently easing one in first and then the other, stroking in and out while Obi-Wan chanted, "Yes, yes, oh, there. Yes!" His face was alight with desire and lust, eyes glazed, everything given over to the sweet urgings of his body.

Qui-Gon removed his fingers and lifted Obi-Wan's hips to rest on his thighs. His cock pressed against the ring of muscle he had just loosened. Obi-Wan squirmed, trying to draw Qui-Gon's cock into his body. Their eyes locked and they stared into each other's eyes for several seconds, churning emotions heating the air between them, until their bodies took over. They both pressed forward until they were completely joined, Qui-Gon deep with Obi-Wan's tight heat. Obi-Wan was filled completely, feeling like every inch of him was consumed by Qui-Gon.

Then Qui-Gon thrust and it was more than words could describe. Finding a rhythm, they strained against one another, knowing that no matter how wonderful this was there was more, much more. Qui-Gon reached for Obi-Wan's cock and stroked it in time with their thrusts.

"Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan repeated over and over, tossing his head from side to side. He was so close, so close.

"Yes, Obi." It was agreement, not permission, and yet it was what Obi-Wan was waiting for. He shuddered and came, body tightening in ecstasy.

Qui-Gon's control was lost, watching the tides of pleasure wash over his partner he found his release also, pumping his seed into Obi-Wan's willing body. When he had caught his breath, he pulled out of Obi-Wan and collapsed next to him.

Obi-Wan rolled over to face his lover. Lover. Finally, and it had felt so right. He pushed Qui-Gon's sweaty hair away from his face and caressed his cheek. "You called me Obi."

"Sorry."

Obi-Wan smiled dreamily, "No, don't apologize. I liked it. You will be the only one who can call me that, though."

"Like a pet name?"

"Eww." Obi-Wan screwed up his face in distaste. "It sounds hokey that way."

Qui-Gon laughed. "All right, not a pet name. Just a special thing, between us."

"That sounds better."

"Would you like to call me Qui?"

Almost shyly, Obi-Wan answered, "Yes, I'd like that."

"Good." Qui-Gon opened up his arms. "Now come here and sleep in my arms, Obi."

Obi-Wan snuggled into the embrace. "I thought you'd never ask, Qui."

Hours later, Qui-Gon was awakened by the storm. He lazily stroked Obi-Wan's body, his fingers encountering the scar on Obi-Wan's right upper thigh. He traced it several times before he realized the young man was awake and watching him questioningly, blue-gray eyes glittering in the dim light of the dying fire.

"I was just wondering how you got this scar."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes briefly, reliving the incident vividly behind the closed lids. He opened them slowly, letting the full weight of his gaze rest on his lover as he spoke. "I got it when I was a teenager, climbing over the fence to sneak in a visit to the twins who lived on the next ranch."

"Twins?" Qui-Gon asked lifting an eyebrow.

"A boy and a girl about my age."

"And which did you like better?"

Obi-Wan leaned up and kissed Qui-Gon. "The boy, of course."

"I thought so." Qui-Gon continued his caresses. "Did I tell you that you were beautiful?"

Pretending to think about it, Obi-Wan waited to answer. "You may have, but then again, maybe not."

"Then I was remiss. You are beautiful, Obi. I think perhaps you are the most beautiful man I have every seen." Qui-Gon nuzzled the young man's neck, teeth gently nibbling on the sensitive skin.

"You know, you already got me in bed, well," Obi-Wan gestured around them, "sort of a bed. You don't have to lay it on so thick."

Qui-Gon shifted his attention to Obi-Wan's ear, swirling his tongue along the outer curve. "But it is true. I happen to know that half the Temple is jealous of the fact that I have your company."

Obi-Wan snorted. "I know that Drayson and that Devorian Knight are part of the other half."

"No, I think the Devorian wants you too. It is just that you can never manage to pronounce his name correctly. When one's name is shouted out in wild passion, one hopes it is said right."

Obi-Wan giggled. "I guess it's a good thing that your name isn't too difficult."

"Very," Qui-Gon agreed, dropping a kiss on Obi-Wan's parted lips. The young man deepened the kiss, clutching Qui-Gon to him, anticipation making his heart race. He dragged his mouth from Qui-Gon's, but could not endure the separation for long. He nibbled on Qui-Gon's succulent lower lip, licked at the corners of the man's mouth, before pulling away with a serious look on his face.

"Qui, remember how I said I wanted many things from this night?"

"Yes, I do."

"I want to make love to you."

"But, you did. I don't...oh, " Qui-Gon said, understanding dawning. "Obi-Wan, I will admit that it has been some time since I have made love like that, but I very much would like to."

"How long exactly?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon thought for a moment, and then shrugged his shoulders. "So long that I do not remember exactly how long."

Obi-Wan sat up and ran a hand through his already tousled hair. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea."

Now that he thought about it, Qui-Gon very much wanted what Obi-Wan suggested. Convincing his lover with words might prove difficult. Deciding on a course of action, he sat up, wrapped a hand around Obi-Wan's neck, bringing their lips together. Their mouths clung, sharing sweet heat. Drawing away, Qui-Gon whispered, "Take it slow." He lay back down and carefully rolled over, resting his head against his crossed arms.

What a gift of supreme trust, and it was offered so sweetly, Obi-Wan thought. He reverently trailed a single finger down Qui-Gon's spine. Qui-Gon shivered slightly then stilled. "More."

Obi-Wan complied, repeating the gesture, dipping lower this time, grazing the curve of Qui-Gon's buttocks. Again, Qui-Gon asked for more.

"No," Obi-Wan said. He pushed Qui-Gon's hair to the side and placed his lips on the throbbing pulse at the man's neck. Then Obi-Wan licked the spot and continued swiping his tongue all the way down Qui-Gon's back, his hands brushing delicately down his lover's sides.

Qui-Gon bit his lip to keep from crying out too loudly, but if the young man continued, Jedi dignity be damned, he might possibly scream. He was incredibly hard and aroused, unable to prevent the moans that welled up out of his chest.

Sensing Qui-Gon was close to a breaking point, Obi-Wan climbed over Qui-Gon's body, one knee on each side of his ankles. His hands massaged the firm globes of Qui-Gon's ass. "Do you like this?" he asked.

"Oh, yes."

"The you're going to love this," Obi-Wan stated, dipping his head down to lick the warm crevice between. He repeated the move over and over, starting a bit lower each time. Qui-Gon was nearly senseless with need and when finally Obi-Wan touched his tongue to the entrance to Qui-Gon's body, he did scream, lifting his hips off the mattress as he came.

Obi-Wan soothed him with soft touches and warm kisses on his back and neck. At long last, Qui-Gon's breathing evened out. "Are you okay?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon turned his head to see the young man looking at him with such genuine concern that he had to laugh. "Okay? I do not think I have ever been this okay. I may never be this okay again."

A wicked gleam lit Obi-Wan's eyes, "Oh, you will. Definitely." He leaned down and kissed Qui-Gon. "Can you get up on you knees and elbows for me?"

Obi-Wan took his time slowly preparing his lover. Soft words and tantalizing brief touches to Qui-Gon's shaft distracted Qui-Gon from any discomfort and shortly he was pushing himself back onto Obi-Wan's fingers, trying to get them to brush that one place that made him quiver. Qui-Gon had forgotten how good it could be to be touched like this, to trust like this.

The sensations he was experiencing were so glorious that Qui-Gon did not even pause to think when the fingers were replaced by Obi-Wan's cock. He groaned when he felt the fullness within him, pleaded for movement when Obi-Wan held still, thrust with his lover, and cried out in joy when he felt his own orgasm followed so sweetly by Obi-Wan's.

Twined together, they feel asleep peacefully. The demons were not in the night, but waiting for them with the coming of the dawn.

Unfortunately, an hour before first light, Obi-Wan suffered another seizure. Qui-Gon held him tightly, tried to ease Obi-Wan's pain with the aid of the Force, but it was not enough. The young man was suffering and there was little Qui-Gon could do about. He urged Obi-Wan back to sleep and started packing up their gear.

They simply had to get back to civilization and get the information they carried analyzed. Would that be enough? Could Obi-Wan survive long enough for them to find a cure? Qui-Gon dearly hoped so.

Obi-Wan woke slowly. His eyes looked tired and semi-circular bruises were beginning to show beneath them. He appeared paler, too. This was what the last seizure had done to him. What changes would the remainder of the day bring?

Qui-Gon managed a small smile. "Good morning." He pulled an energy bar from one of the packs and tossed it to Obi-Wan. "It is not very exciting, but it should suffice."

The young man dressed and ate in silence. He could not think of what to say. Last night had been wonderful, amazing even. Today, though, was another story. He did not regret a moment of last night. The problem, as near as he could figure, was that there were not going to be any more nights like it.

He was going to die and that was that. He nearly choked on his breakfast with the effort it took to not let Qui-Gon see him starting to fall apart. He would not fall apart, he told himself. Even if there was not much hope for him, they might be able to keep the same fate from befalling another. And they had to see to Hayslet's granddaughter. He straightened himself up. He still had a duty. Until the end, he would do what he had to, what he had promised. Quickly, he packed up the last of the gear and then he and Qui-Gon were on their way.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped in the middle of the night and the ground was not as swampy. It was still a little slow going, but much better than the before. Eventually they found a road. They followed it from the cover of the trees. There still might be people looking for them.

Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan closely, fearing he may be due for another seizure. It did indeed seem that the seizures were coming closer to together; they definitely were worsening.

They walked until midday, eventually sighting a small village. They followed the line of trees for a long as they could, attempting to minimize the amount of time they would be exposed in the open. Qui-Gon spotted a tavern that would likely have some sort of comm facility.

The pair was within ten meters of the tavern door when a blaster shot whizzed by hitting the tavern door, splintering the wood. They split up, running in opposite directions around the tavern.

"So much for our nice quiet walk in the country," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon was glad to see Obi-Wan's smart-alecky humor return. It was a vast improvement over the quiet reserve of the morning.

Several of the tavern's patrons had parked their speeders in the back. Obi-Wan choose one at random, tossed his pack in, climbed in and started it up. Qui-Gon tumbled into the back as Obi-Wan took off.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon shouted. "The seizures could return any time. It may not be wise for you to be driving."

Pulling out onto the main road, Obi-Wan spared a glance back at Qui-Gon. "Ever piloted one of these?"

"Of course."

"While someone was shooting at you?" Obi-Wan asked as blaster bolts skimmed by the speeder.

"No."

"Then shut up and let me drive," he snarled, returning his attention to the road, dodging another speeder, before continuing, "You could wave that lightsaber of yours around and make sure they don't hit anything vital."

Under normal circumstances, which these definitely were not, Qui-Gon would have been appalled by Obi-Wan's lack of respect. Looking at it from Obi-Wan's perspective, though, it was the young man's duty to protect Qui-Gon, and himself, and he would do whatever was necessary to assure Qui-Gon's safety. Politeness was likely to be way down on Obi-Wan's list of necessities.

The top of the speeder was open to the air. Qui-Gon crouched down and ignited his saber, cleared his mind, and welcomed the flow of the Force. His moved without thought, deflecting energy bolts, sending many of them back to the seven speeders that chased them. Several speeders took hits in vital spots and dropped out of the chase.

Four speeders remained, trying to outflank them. There was nowhere to hide now that they had been forced from the town.

"We aren't going last long like this," Obi-Wan yelled over the din of straining engines and sizzling blaster bolts. "Strap in and be ready for anything."

He headed the speeder straight for an enormous tree. Yanking the controls as far back as he could, he sent the speeder into an improbably steep climb. The repulsors continued to work, cushioning them against the surface of the tree. The drivers of the two vehicles following the closest could not adjust for Obi-Wan's sudden move and they both lost control, crashing into the forest.

Gravity took over, dragging the speeder back down. Obi-Wan adjusted the controls, sending all the repulsor power to the back end of the speeder. Rather than hitting hard against the ground, the speeder bounced on its tail and then fell to its side. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan threw all their weight against the upper side and the vehicle righted itself. Obi-Wan corrected the repulsor field and gunned the engine, heading the vehicle directly toward the two remaining speeders.

Holding the controls tightly with one hand, Obi-Wan reached for his knife. He concentrated and let it fly. It hit the driver of the nearest vehicle in the shoulder. The speeder plowed into the dirt road.

Qui-Gon loosened his containment straps and leaped from their speeder into the last of the others, deflecting laser bolts as he sailed the distance. He kicked the gunmen in the chest and the man tumbled from the speeder. The driver was attempting to bring a blaster to bear when Obi-Wan slammed sideways into the vehicle knocking the weapon from the man's hand. Frustrated, the driver powered the vehicle up and sped off with Qui-Gon still captive in the back.

The Jedi jumped, cushioning his landing with the Force as best he could. His momentum caused him to roll into a ditch.

Since the last of their pursuers had abandoned the chase, Obi-Wan drove over to where Qui-Gon had landed. He stopped the vehicle and hopped out. Peering down into the ditch, he saw Qui-Gon sitting cross-legged at the bottom, looking like he had decided the muddy ditch was a good place to meditate.

"Need a hand?" he called down.

Qui-Gon stood, gathered his robes around him with utmost dignity, and climbed up the bank, "Of course not."

"You meant to do that, right?"

"Of course." Qui-Gon answered with s broad smile. He gathered Obi-Wan into his arms and hugged him fiercely. He brushed a smudge of dirt from the young man's cheek and lowered his head to kiss slightly parted lips. They held each other, prolonging the kiss as the sun beat down on them and the wind rustled through the trees.

Qui-Gon pulled away from the embrace, tapping Obi-Wan on the nose. "I meant to do that, as well."

Obi-Wan beamed at him. "Of course."

They strolled back to the speeder together. Obi-Wan was climbing in when he felt a now familiar tingling sensation. Please no, he thought. He had allowed himself to forget just for a little while, but here was his reminder. His time was running out. His body began to shake and he fell to his knees.

Qui-Gon raced around the vehicle and pulled the younger man into his arms, willing the seizure to stop. "Obi-Wan, my Obi, let me help. Please. We'll find a way. This is my fault."

The pain was so intense; it quickly overwhelmed Obi-Wan. He wanted to tell Qui-Gon that he was not to blame, but he could not. He nerves were on fire. He hurt everywhere; even his teeth ached. . It was too hard, too much effort just to stay conscious. The danger to his Sytra was over; he did not have to remain alert, he could rest. So he gave up the battle and slipped into blissful nothingness.

Five Months Later

As soon as he got back to the Temple, no fewer than six Temple residents told Qui-Gon that Yoda wanted to see him as soon as he arrived. He felt like making his former Master wait, but whatever Yoda had in mind for him would only be worse if he procrastinated.

Qui-Gon had spent the past month detailing various galactic health organizations and anti-terrorist groups about Hayslet's weapon. Hopefully, no one would ever suffer again as Obi-Wan had.

The Jedi Master and the Consulate tried to locate the men who had killed Hayslet and who still possessed a number of the frightfully dangerous weapons, but they had disappeared. Fortunately, Hayslet had built a fail-safe into each weapon. If they were altered in any way they would self-destruct. They could not be taken apart and duplicated and the only construction plans were now in the hands of the Jedi. As for Hayslet's granddaughter, she was unaware that her life had been threatened, although she could recall a few instances when she thought she might have been followed. Upon learning of her grandfather's fate she agreed to protective surveillance.

After Obi-Wan's collapse on Lenuen, Qui-Gon had rushed him back to the command center. He had reluctantly turned the young man over to the doctors and healers there, but there was little they could do and not enough time to analyze the information they had retrieved. The only way to save Obi-Wan was to place him a stasis field until a treatment could be found. The Temple staff managed to locate a medical transport with one and rerouted it to Lenuen, but it was nearly a day before it reached the small planet. During that time, Obi-Wan drifted in and out of consciousness, occasionally mustering a small smile or a few comforting words for Qui-Gon.

There was irony in that, Obi-Wan slowly dying yet trying to comfort Qui-Gon. Drugs eliminated some of Obi-Wan's pain, but the seizures took their toll on his body. By the time, the transport arrived his skin was sickly white and he barely slept. Qui-Gon rarely left his side

Before entering Obi-Wan into the stasis field, Qui-Gon made the young man a promise, "I will be with you when they wake you."

And he had been there, as he had been for the better part of the last several months while Jedi healers and Republic doctors struggled to find a way to reverse the process that had ravaged Obi-Wan's nervous system. Qui-Gon blamed himself everyday. An endless line of "if only's" paraded through his mind.

The day Obi-Wan was cured was perhaps the happiest day of Qui-Gon's life. Still very weak and somewhat confused by all the missing time, Obi-Wan smiled up at him from his bed in the infirmary. "You still here?" he had asked.

"Still here," Qui-Gon murmured reaching out to take Obi-Wan's hand, to feel the warmth and to know he lived.

"Who's been taking care of you?"

Yoda answered then, "No one, slept here he did. Annoyed the staff. Needs you back he does."

"I will do my best to be up to the task again soon, " Obi-Wan vowed.

Qui-Gon squeezed his hand. "Just be well again, that's all I ask." Then Qui-Gon had left the room. He never went back. He had jumped at the chance to go with several of the doctors to spread the information about the weapon's destructiveness, and the cure for the seizures it caused.

Avoiding the young man had been painful, but not nearly so painful as it had been watching all those months, seeing Obi-Wan suspended so close to death. If he could, he wanted to release the young man from his vow. It may be possible. There would hopefully never again be need of the Adajia.

During the time Obi-Wan had been in the stasis field, Republic negotiators had been successful in bringing the Naza and the Anin people together. The planet would be united at long last. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had been invited to attend the unification ceremonies. Qui-Gon had declined due to his schedule. He informed Obi-Wan, via a disgruntled Yoda, that if he had fully recovered that he should most certainly attend. Reluctantly, Obi-Wan went.

Qui-Gon was not yet ready to face the young man who had given him nearly everything. Despite being raised without benefit of Jedi instruction, Obi-Wan had more strength and honor than anyone Qui-Gon had ever met. He was humbled by Obi-Wan. And he had taken him for granted. Obi-Wan's presence at his side had been a joy. As much as he had originally balked at the idea of having him around, he had come to expect him there, not really believing he would every leave or be taken away.

The experience on Lenuen brought that home to him. Obi-Wan would leave either when the three years was up, or he would die protecting Qui-Gon. It was easier to make him go. There was no reason for him to stay now that Nazanin was whole. No reason other than the fact that Qui-Gon loved him desperately.

Shaking off his reverie, Qui-Gon knocked briskly on Yoda's door. It was flung open immediately by the diminutive Master. He looked, in a word, disgusted.

"Hmmph, came right away you did. Good. Hope there is for you yet. Sit."

"Yes, my Master." Qui-Gon bowed his head and entered Yoda's quarters. Looking about the living area, he realized there was no chair for him.

Yoda followed him into the living area, tapping his walking stick hard against the floor as he did. "On the floor you will sit."

Well then, Qui-Gon thought, he was definitely in for a tongue-lashing. He knelt down on the hard tiled floor.

Yoda settled his diminutive frame into an equally tiny chair. Before he was completely seated he began to remonstrate his former pupil. "A fool you are, Qui-Gon. Hard to believe it is, that notice this I did not."

"Pardon me?" Qui-Gon asked petulantly.

The old master produced a long-suffering sigh. "Sent Obi-Wan away, you did. Go after him you should."

Qui-Gon shifted on his knees. No one could make him squirm quite like his former Master. "I think it is best if I just let him continue on with his new life."

"His new life, this is!" Yoda bellowed, thumping his stick for emphasis. "Not allowed him to save you yet, have you."

Wrong, thought Qui-Gon. "I can recall at least three occasions he saved my life." There was the near explosion at the mine, the attack from the dark power here at the Temple, and most recently, Obi-Wan taking the blast of deadly energy intended for him on Lenuen.

"Said I did that he would save you. Did not say it was your life he would save. To save your heart from loneliness, that is his destiny." Yoda dared to look smug.

"This destiny you foresaw for us was, was about our love lives?" Qui-Gon sputtered.

"Not just that, but yes. Together you should be. Miserable without you he has been. Nearly refused to go to Nazanin without you he did. Persuaded him to make the journey, Adi did."

Qui-Gon hoped that while he was back on his home planet Obi-Wan would come to some decisions about what he wanted for his future. "I am glad he went. He should participate in the reunification."

"As should you."

Qui-Gon shrugged. "He should follow his own path without my influence. The reunification has nothing to do with me. "

"Everything it had to do with you. Important it is to Obi-Wan. Important it should be to you as well. Loves you he does. Wants you with him." Yoda knew the truth of what he said, he just wished Qui-Gon were not so thickheaded and difficult to convince.

"He does not love me. Indeed, he may be fond of me, but I assure you that he has been merely making the best of the situation he found himself in"

"Doubt your Master, do you? Want you that I should have Adi come up here and knock some sense into you? Enjoy it she would. Upset with you for abandoning Obi-Wan she is."

"Obi-Wan is too young for me," Qui-Gon argued. It sounded lame even to his own ears. Why was it so hard to believe that Obi-Wan could love him? Perhaps because Qui-Gon was nearing fifty and had finally found someone to love. Someone almost half his age. He felt foolish and as the saying went, there is no fool like an old fool.

"Age matters not," Yoda said as if following Qui-Gon's train of thought.

"I put him in danger."

"Dangerous his existence has been before. New to him danger is not. Think you that he cannot handle it?"

"Obi-Wan is more than capable," Qui-Gon said defensively.

"More arguments, have you?"

Qui-Gon sat stubbornly silent. Love. Of course, he loved Obi-Wan. Enough to let him go.

Yoda knew his student well, knew how he thought. Qui-Gon was proud and in Yoda's own considered opinion, something of a martyr. "Change Obi-Wan's feelings you cannot. Loves you he does. Want to see him suffer do you?"

"No," Qui-Gon whispered. He would do anything to prevent Obi-Wan's pain. Anything, even if it meant looking like a blubbering idiot if Yoda was wrong.

"Then go to him you will." Yoda said with finality.

As Qui-Gon was leaving he heard Yoda call out, "Tell him right away that you love him you will, or come back to the Temple you should not."

Soft purples and pinks mixed with fiery oranges and reds to create a spectacular Nazanin sunset. Sights such as this were rarely seen on Coruscant and yet that was where Obi-Wan wished he were, at the Jedi Temple getting some answers.

Obi-Wan had awakened after three months of enforced sleep to find Qui-Gon waiting by his bedside. Lines that spoke of worry and weariness had been etched on the older man's face. Obi-Wan had been overjoyed to find him waiting there. He had known he was going to live and Qui-Gon had waited just as he had said he would.

Everything had worked out perfectly. So why had Qui-Gon suddenly disappeared, pleading the need to go provide information about the new weapon they had encountered? Why after having made love, passionately and tenderly, was Qui-Gon avoiding him? And why was he standing alone on this damn hill on Nazanin watching the sunset?

He did not know the answer to a single one of these questions. Thinking about the first baffled him and pondering the second made him angry. His immediate reaction was to feel used, but he knew that was untrue. Qui-Gon had made it quite clear that he had no intention of treating Obi-Wan as a plaything. So what had happened?

His duties in the day's festivities were complete, and he no longer felt like facing the throngs of celebrants down in the valley. Giving the sunset one long last look, he set out on the gravel trail to his tent.

The next day was the last day of the celebration. After that, he would need to decide what to do. He knew things about himself now, knew that he was different in ways he had never suspected. He was not sure he wanted to go back to his former life. Would his comrades understand his differences and accept him again or would they distance themselves from him? The new president of Nazanin had made it clear that Obi-Wan was more than welcome to continue his career in the combined military. His friend, Cizo Kedar, had been named commander of the force.

Obi-Wan had asked Kedar about the Adajia vow. What would be come of the prize now that the hostilities were permanently over? Kedar had told him there was no shame in Obi-Wan returning home to Nazanin. There was no longer any need for such a tradition.

And just like that, Obi-Wan was obsolete. A tradition that had lived on for generations was finished. He was happy there was no more need for the Adajia; his planet was united. Still, he could not justify concluding his time with Qui-Gon early. He had vowed to be Qui-Gon's servant-protector for three years and he was determined to do just that, if Qui-Gon would allow it.

There was nothing to be done about it now. He might as well sleep. Perhaps tomorrow he would find a clear way to deal with the whole mess. He unstrapped his baldric and laid his sword next to his pallet; weapons were always to be placed within reach of a soldier's hand and ready for use, in case danger awakened him. Obi-Wan smiled at the old habit. He was hardly in any danger here. Or so he thought. Looking up, he saw Qui-Gon Jinn, who had slipped through the entrance to his tent. Obi-Wan refused to react; he crossed his arms, pasted a disinterested expression on his face and waited for the man to speak.

Qui-Gon was awestruck. Time had suddenly reversed and it was one year ago. Standing there in the lamplight, Obi-Wan looked nearly the same as he did then. His clothes were just as Qui-Gon remembered. Perhaps they were cleaner this time. There were no telltale signs of dirt and grime on the kilt, the white shirt had obviously been pressed, and the boots were shined to a glossy black. The light brought out the red highlights in Obi-Wan's golden hair. He was heart-wrenching beautiful, even more so than before because now Qui-Gon looked on the younger man with love.

Unable to bear Qui-Gon's silent scrutiny any longer, Obi-Wan asked, "What are you doing here?"

Remembering Yoda's threat, Qui-Gon took a deep breath and said simply, "I am here because I love you."

If Qui-Gon had not strode quickly across the tent and taken Obi-Wan in his arms, the younger man might have fallen over in shock. He certainly had not heard correctly.

"Love me?" Obi-Wan whispered against Qui-Gon's ear, before rubbing his smooth cheek against Qui-Gon's soft beard.

Qui-Gon leaned back to look his beloved in the face. "More than anything or anyone," he replied dropping a kiss on startled lips. Love and affection glistened in his azure eyes.

"Oh," was all that Obi-Wan could say before he wrapped his arms around the Jedi and kissed him fiercely, thrusting his tongue into Qui-Gon's mouth, forging a deeper physical connection.

There was forgiveness in the kiss, but Qui-Gon needed to hear the words. "Obi-Wan, I am sorry I have ignored you and run away from you. I was protecting myself from being hurt. I never thought I would love anyone as I do you. Remember when I told you before that you overwhelm me?" Obi-Wan nodded. "That was an understatement. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? Can you possibly love me as I do you?"

Obi-Wan tried to look stern and unforgiving, but a huge smile could not be held back. "I should make you beg or prove yourself by making you take on some impossible task. Lucky for you, I can't seem to bring myself to do that. It would keep us apart longer and I have waited long enough. Say it again."

Qui-Gon did not need to ask what he was to say. "I love you, Obi."

"And I love you, Qui," Obi-Wan answered. His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Now take off your robe."

"What?"

Obi-Wan repeated his words slowly, "Take off the robe Qui-Gon. I have changed my mind about the begging." One side of his mouth quirked up charmingly as he watched Qui-Gon remove the robe and toss it aside. With a single finger poking into Qui-Gon's chest, Obi-Wan backed the other man across the tent. He then pushed and, with a little aid from the Force, had Qui-Gon sprawled across his pallet.

"You have been practicing your Force control, " Qui-Gon observed, raising himself up on his elbows.

"It's not my control that is in question at this moment," Obi-Wan countered. He leaped on the other man, forcing the air from Qui-Gon's lungs. Obi-Wan swooped in for a scalding kiss. He proceeded to delve into Qui-Gon's mouth with his tongue. Qui-Gon reciprocated and they both moaned deep in their throats. By the time Obi-Wan released his mouth, Qui-Gon was light-headed and decidedly aroused.

"Read to beg yet?" Obi-Wan asked. He wantonly thrust his hips against Qui-Gon's.

Qui-Gon swallowed hard. "You'll have to do better than that."

Obi-Wan arched on golden eyebrow. "A challenge. I like that."

Nimble fingers quickly divested Qui-Gon of layers of Jedi tunics. Qui-Gon shifted his body to aid the younger man in their removal. He shivered when Obi-Wan's slightly rough palms ran over his chest. "Such a strong body, so beautiful, " Obi-Wan murmured appreciatively.

Obi-Wan pressed his lips against Qui-Gon's neck and began worrying the skin there with his teeth and tongue. A rosy red mark appeared on Qui-Gon's pale flesh. Obi-Wan soothed the mark with a swipe of his tongue. He placed nibbling kisses along Qui-Gon's collarbone. All the while his fingers roamed freely across Qui-Gon's chest, pausing occasionally to twine in the light sprinkling of hair they found there.

Off in the distance, fireworks exploded and the people of Nazanin cheered. The lovers took no notice. All they heard were pounding hearts and breathy sighs that gave way to deep, gratified moans. Obi-Wan teased his lover mercilessly, circling his fingers just centimeters away from Qui-Gon's nipples, spiraling inward. He removed his hands from Qui-Gon's body altogether, slipping away to rummage through various packs and a small trunk.

"What are you doing?"

Obi-Wan grinned. "Don't worry. I'm not done with you yet. You still haven't begged."

"Obi-Wan?"

The young man turned around. "Yes?"

"Look in the utility pouch on my belt."

Retrieving the belt from across the tent, Obi-Wan found the item he had been looking for. He tossed the tube in the air and watched it spin before catching it easily. He looked at Qui-Gon with amusement. "I see you were prepared."

"Hopeful," Qui-Gon corrected.

Obi-Wan nodded, and knelt down by Qui-Gon's feet. Quickly he pulled off the Jedi's boots and socks. Leaning forward, he slowly pulled one of the strings at Qui-Gon's waist. The second string he pulled even more slowly, his eyes never leaving Qui-Gon's for a moment. Slipping his hands inside the loosened trousers, he efficiently pulled them off.

Gliding his hands up Qui-Gon's corded thighs, Obi-Wan straddled the long body, partially resting his weight on Qui-Gon's legs. He lifted himself up, rearranging the kilt so it fanned out slightly and draped over Qui-Gon's legs.

Qui-Gon's pupils narrowed and he gulped in air. Obi-Wan was not wearing anything under that kilt. There was another bit of interesting information about Nazanin traditions that was not found in the official reading. Obi-Wan was hard and hot and Qui-Gon itched to touch him. Starting at Obi-Wan's knees he eased his palms over Obi-Wan's thighs beneath the kilt, enjoying the strength of the solid muscle. Continuing upward, he rubbed his palms over the slim hips, tugging Obi-Wan forward until their cocks touched. Obi-Wan hissed in response to the erotic contact.

There was no holding back now. "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon rasped. "Please, now. I am begging. Do what you will with me."

To his credit, Obi-Wan did not gloat. Smiling radiantly, he tangled one hand in Qui-Gon's hair, bringing their mouths close together, their breath mingling. Qui-Gon leaned up and pressed his lips to Obi-Wan's. He teased apart the younger man's lips by gently sucking on the lower one. With a groan, Obi-Wan succumbed and allowed Qui-Gon in. Their tongues sought the slickness of the other, pressing together, and then sliding apart to initiate tingles and cause shaky breaths and eager moans.

Obi-Wan managed to draw away first, staring down at his lover with undisguised passion and pleasure. "Yes, Qui-Gon, that's what I wanted, for you to admit how much you want me."

He snapped open the container of lubricant and squeezed a generous amount on to his hand. Reaching beneath the kilt he coated Qui-Gon's erection. He enjoyed the slippery heat throbbing in his hand, turning a necessity into a prolonged tease. The insistent pressure of Qui-Gon's fingers bruising his hips finally forced Obi-Wan to act.

He rose up on his knees, guiding Qui-Gon's rampant reaction with his hands. The tip was pressed gently to his opening. Obi-Wan threw back his head, closed his eyes, and eased his body down onto the throbbing heat.

Tight, hot, sweet, passion, love, mine. Words thrashed around in Qui-Gon's brain, no single one staying for more than a second. The feeling of Obi-Wan above him, holding him within, obliterated all language. Qui-Gon knew this was love even if he could not grasp the words.

Obi-Wan rode Qui-Gon's cock mercilessly, controlling the rhythm, never allowing Qui-Gon to take over. Unable to control the pace Obi-Wan was setting, Qui-Gon fumbled with the edge of the kilt, tucking it up into Obi-Wan's belt. He grasped Obi-Wan's erection and began pumping it, at last able to choose the rhythm.

Looking at Obi-Wan awash in their shared pleasure, Qui-Gon had one clear thought; they should always make love face to face. Obi-Wan was beautiful in the throes of passion. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed. Dark lashes brushed his pink cheeks. Deep exhalations issued from his open mouth, and his chest rose and fell. But the sweetness of all those combined did not compare to the look in Obi-Wan's eyes when they flickered open and pierced Qui-Gon with all the love he felt.

"Obi," Qui-Gon whispered.

"Qui, " Obi-Wan answered, voice shaking with passion. His eyes continued to hold Qui-Gon's until his orgasm overtook him and they drifted closed. Qui-Gon held his hips tightly as the young man's body convulsed around him, warm fluid bathing Qui-Gon's belly. Free to move, Qui-Gon thrust several times into his lover before finding his own release.

Warm and sated, Obi-Wan collapsed against Qui-Gon's side, letting Qui-Gon's spent cock slip from his body. He snuggled into his lover's arms, sighing deeply. The Jedi stroked the younger man's back until their breathing returned to normal.

Qui-Gon chuckled, the motion of his chest causing Obi-Wan to raise his head. "There really shouldn't be anything funny right now," Obi-Wan chided.

"Sorry, Obi, but I have to say, if you want to continue to cuddle, you are going to have to take off your boots at the very least. I am in for some series bruises otherwise."

"Oh, sorry," Obi-Wan apologized. Sitting up to remove his boots, he found a cloth and cleaned them both up before pulling a blanket over them.

"Better?" Obi-Wan asked, burrowing into Qui-Gon's embrace once more.

"Much." Qui-Gon rubbed his hands over Obi-Wan's back and shoulders. They held one another quietly for a while, basking in their newly voiced love. Qui-Gon broke the silence by asking, "What will you do now, Obi? Do you want to stay with me? I will not prevent you from seeking out new avenues."

Reaching out to stroke Qui-Gon's beard, Obi-Wan poured all his sincerity into his words, "I am your Adajia, regardless of the new government. That is a vow I will keep. In two years, I shall see what I want to do. I do know that I do not want to leave you."

Qui-Gon held Obi-Wan tighter, "And I do not want you to leave."

Obi-Wan repeated the words from the Adajia ceremony from a year ago, "I am your Adajia. To you, my Master, I give all I can give."

Qui-Gon replied with the expected response, "I will accept your gifts, my Adajia," and then added, "and will share with you all that I have."

They fell asleep then, the Jedi and the last Adajia, wrapped in vows of honor and love.

THE END