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The black speeder shot back into the clearing, the unconscious figure of Benjamin Lars slung over the front of the rider's seat. The figure in black dismounted and easily pulled the young man off the bike only to toss him to the ground.

"What of the Jedi?" came the sharp question directed to one of the mercenaries. The man stiffened at the tone but answered.

"We have one collared and the other is being chased down."

"Which one is collared?"

The man looked blank at the question and stepped back at the cold glare he received. The black-robed being pulled out a comm link.

"Lioni, which Jedi have you collared?" the Sith asked flatly.

"The one you called Chun," came the man's response. "We are tracking the other now."

The Sith cursed and fingered the lightsaber held tightly in hand. "I will find the Jedi. I'm sending the boy to you. Be ready to go when I arrive." The comm was switched off before Lioni could even answer and the black-robed form turned to the mercenaries. "Take the boy and go to Mojere. Damage him and I'll cut your hearts out slowly."

Without another word, the Sith mounted the black speeder and disappeared into the trees. The mercenaries eyed the unconscious young man for a moment. They knew from personal experience that the black clad monster did not make idle threats. Finally, one man stepped forward to shoulder Ben's form and they moved back down the path.

Owen moved silently as he approached the clearing where the mercenaries - the ones not currently tracking him, that is - were gathered along with the unconscious form of his fellow Jedi. The knight had been able to lose the men chasing him in the growing darkness. It worried Owen that the men seemed to be familiar with the tactics a Jedi used to avoid pursuit but it was something he refused to consider now. Now, his primary concern was finding his brother and freeing Bruck.

He could sense them just ahead and used the Force heavily as he masked his sound and movement. He also sensed mercenaries moving along the edge of the clearing, looking for any signs of himself, he guessed, and marked their location as he carefully crawled forward to get a better look at the situation below.

Floodlamps lit the entire site so he spotted Bruck immediately, bound hand and foot with a collar securely fastened around his neck. The knight didn't seem to be conscious but two men stood nearby, blasters ready and watching him carefully. The rest of the men were nearby, leaning casually against small airbikes but they, too, were watchful of the prisoner. These men were taking no chances and it made Owen wonder how often they ran into Jedi.

There was a sudden flurry of movement and voices on the other side of the small area as another group of men appeared. Owen cursed silently as he noted the limp form of his brother that one of the mercenaries carefully settled next to Bruck. Benjamin was unconscious as the man bound his hands but Owen could see no visible injuries.

The knight inhaled slowly and released his intense worry to the Force as he started to put together a plan to rescue Ben and Bruck. His eyes widened slightly as he realized the perimeter guards were leaving their posts around the clearing and converging around Bruck and Benjamin. Owen pressed forward a bit, trying to see the mercenaries' movements.

He only had an instant of screaming warning from the Force before he rolled to the side just as a blood red blade sliced into the ground where he'd been lying. He had barely gained his feet before the attacker lashed at him again but his own pale green saber deflected the blade with a harsh crackle of energy. In the darkness, the Jedi could barely see the tall form of his opponent but he could feel the waves of dark Force swirling around even as he concentrated on the Light.

"Sith!" he hissed as he parried another blow. His opponent didn't respond but stepped up the attack and pressed the Jedi backwards. Owen cursed as he realized there was no way the mercenaries were missing the flares of the two sabers as they collided. The noise and the sparks off the weapons increased as the Sith picked up the pace aggressively and pushed him backwards.

The knight, however, set aside his worry and tightened his focus on his opponent, finding his center to deflect the dark warrior's attack. Bringing all his hard won skills to bear and sinking himself into the Force, the Jedi soon began pushing the dark form of the Sith back step by step. Owen could feel the rising anger and frustration from his opponent as he tried to press forward, its red blade flashing in the darkness faster than the mercenaries could see. The battle seemed evenly matched but Owen steadily wore down his opponent until with a feint to the left and a slash to the right, the knight scored a hit to his opponent's arm. A scream of rage and an overwhelming wave of hate poured off the Sith and directly through the Force pointed at him.

The knight staggered briefly allowing the Sith to advance before the Jedi strengthened his shields and tried to focus again. It was difficult, though, as images and emotions whirled through his mind. The Sith knew him - knew him and hated him personally. Rage and loathing rolled like a wave before the dark warrior and as Owen again pressed forward, the hate became more intense. In defense, the Jedi sank deeper into the Force, trying to shield his mind from the piercing hate and using every trick he'd every learned to counter the enraged strikes of the Sith warrior.

Finally, with a feint and a last parry, the Sith disengaged and jumped several feet back. The red blade swung mockingly as Owen moved forward to continue the battle.

"Surrender, Jedi," the creature grated. Owen didn't move or respond as he waited, lightsaber raised and ready. His opponent merely chuckled through the darkness, a rasping sound that sent chills through the Force. "Surrender or Chun dies slowly and then the boy."

Owen bared his teeth as his hands clenched around his lightsaber for a brief moment. But there was nothing to consider as he powered down his weapon and tossed it away. Before it even touched the ground, a low intensity stun bolt blasted into his back, tossing him forward into the dirt as his body briefly lost all feeling. Vaguely, he was aware of a swarm of mercenaries around him and his hands being cuffed behind his back. A hand around his neck pulled him to his knees, his body held against a mercenary behind him.

The Sith approached slowly, a collar held in his hands. Despite himself, Owen struggled against his captor. The dark warrior laughed as it leaned forward and snapped the collar into place. The Jedi couldn't help the strangled moan that slipped out as he was cut off completely from the Force.

The Sith roughly grabbed Owen's chin and jerked his head up. Even now, so close to his enemy, Owen couldn't see the Sith's face through the darkness and the haze in his eyes.

"My master was worried, Jedi," the warrior growled, the voice deep and distorted but Owen could hear the disdain. "Obviously without need."

Exhausted and in pain, feeling the darkness roll over him, Owen's response slipped out though he knew he should keep silent.

"Couldn't do it yourself," he taunted in a slurred voice as he glared. "Had to have hostages."

With a curse, the Sith backhanded the prisoner and Owen hit the ground hard, barely holding on to consciousness.

"I only have to deliver you in one piece, Jedi," the being hissed at the fallen Jedi as it gave Owen a vicious kick in the side hard enough to lift him briefly off the ground. "I shall enjoy our upcoming trip."

A moment later, two mercenaries grabbed Owen's arms to drag him toward the clearing. Despite the collar he wore, the Jedi felt his enemy close behind him. Pain was pulsing in his side where the fighter's foot had connected with his ribs and he could feel his face swelling from the warrior's strike but Owen's primary worry was for his brother and Bruck. He forced himself to try and concentrate, to try to formulate some plan but the collar was buzzing painfully around his neck and the effects of the stunners were scattering his thoughts even more.

The men who were dragging him had hardly taken a few steps down the hill when they stopped again. Above him, Owen heard one of the men hissed. "What the hells...?"

"What is it?" the Sith growled but the only answer was a blaster bolt that sliced out of the darkness, striking one of the men holding Owen and flinging him backwards into the warrior. The knight grimaced as another bolt took out the second mercenary and his body dropped to the ground again, jarring him painfully. His precarious hold on consciousness wavered as he heard the flaring of a lightsaber just above and behind him and the unmistakable sounds of ricocheted blaster bolts. He heard the hum of the saber along with the curses of the Sith warrior even as the blaster fire increased dramatically. There was another round of curses and then the hum of the saber was gone.

Owen drifted for what seemed a long time before more blaster fire and a strong odor rolled over him as his hands were suddenly freed.

"Jedi, get up!" A low, nasal voice, familiar but unidentified.

Owen forced his eyes open and he groaned as his body was rolled over. He met the piecing blue gaze of one of Benjamin's friends. The soldier was glaring at him while he replaced the cap on an extremely vile smelling substance.

"Get up now, you will, Knight Lars," snapped an impatient voice from around the vicinity of his ear.

Owen's body jerked, responding to years of obedience to that tone. Owen made his body to move but he didn't get very far before Ben's friend cursed under his breath and jerked Owen into a sitting position. The knight groaned again.

"Go, we must," Yoda said urgently as he pressed his claw against Owen's arm and even through the collar, the knight felt the sudden influx of the master's gentle Force touch.

"Sith!" Owen stated as he got his breath back and felt Yoda's strength filter through his body. He met the small Jedi's gaze. "I was fighting a Sith."

"Know, I do," the little master replied. "Go, we must. Stand, Knight Lars."

"Where is Ben?" Owen demanded as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Ben and the other Jedi are safe for the moment," Erro snapped. "My partners are keeping those mercs pinned down but we need to move!"

The knight nodded and leaned down to allow Master Yoda to ride his shoulder. The master, however, shook his head as Erro picked him up without a thought. "Carry me, this one will. Conserve your strength, you will."

"My saber-," Owen began but Yoda held out the weapon and the knight took it, grateful to feel it in his palm again.

A sleek black transport with no identifying marks waited among the trees. Owen could just make out the form of Benjamin's Orian friend at the controls through the thick glass shields. Maxim was helping a dazed Benjamin into the transport as Erro ghosted out of the darkness, carrying Yoda and followed by a limping Owen. Ben looked up and paled even more as he saw his brother's face. He tried to break away from Maxim but the soldier held him fast as the trio approached.

"Report!" Erro snapped as he gently helped the little Jedi into the transport.

"Trisan and Rebeirba are headed this way, most of the mercs are down but a few are still running about."

"The warrior who fought Lars?"

Maxim shook his head. "Unknown."

"Damn it!" Erro hissed. "Load up," he growled as Ben reached out to help his brother into the transport. "Feilan, take off in one minute!"

Already inside, an equally bruised Knight Chun helped his friend into a seat as Ben settled beside them.

"What about the other two?" Bruck asked even as the black clad forms of Trisan and Rebeirba hurtled through the door and it slid shut behind them. The lock slid into place and the whine of the engines increased as power channeled into them. Blaster bolts were heard on the outside, pinging against the door and Feilan slammed the transport forward. All the passengers jerked back as the speeder slashed away into the darkness.

Owen couldn't help the moan that slid past his lips as his body was jerked back. Ben leaned over to get a good look at his brother's bruising face. "You need a medic!" he stated but the knight shook his head.

"We need to get off planet first," he replied thickly. His lips were swollen and the right side of his face was bruising vividly. His fingers were twined around the collar fastened to his neck. "And I need to get this damn thing off," he growled.

"To the spaceport, we are going," Master Yoda agreed and Bruck leaned forward.

"Vellen?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Syn Lars has been escorted to the space port," Erro replied flatly. "She will be waiting for us when we arrive."

Benjamin looked at his friends for a long moment before he reached out to grab Maxim's arm. "Thank you," he said. The young soldier beamed.

"No worry, Benji! Haven't had that much fun since the time we blew up that terrorist base in the Yoloni territory," he said brightly. Then he gave his friend a serious look though his eyes still gleamed. "Don't forget the Y'sang Tournaments though."

Qui-Gon paced across his office and back, his expression worried. He knew there was something wrong, he just knew it. Something was happening to Benjamin but he'd had been unable to contact his lover directly. No one was answering at Ben's home.

The Chancellor had immediately contacted his Primary to see if Owen had checked in within the last few hours.

"No, Chancellor," Khamier had replied, his golden eyes hard. "Is there a problem?"

Qui-Gon wanted to say yes but all he had to go on was a feeling of something terribly wrong. After a moment of uncharacteristic indecisiveness, the politician nodded sharply. "See if you can get a comm through to Benjamin. If not, contact Knight Lars or Master Yoda. I have been unable to reach any of them in the past half hour."

That had been two hours ago and still no word from Callis. Qui-Gon glared out the windows of his office, flexing his hands uselessly as he willed his communicator to chime.

A moment later, the door slid open and Khamier strode in. "Incoming call from Callis, Sir," the Primary stated as Qui-Gon turned to seat himself at his desk. Khamier stood just behind the Chancellor as a screen slid up from the desk and lit with the emblem of the Chancellor's office. A moment later, an image of a ragged Jedi took its place. Owen was looking off to the side, unaware that his connection had finally been made. His lips were pressed together in a rare show of anger and a painful looking bruise marked the left side of his face.

"Knight Lars," Qui-Gon's voice seemed to startle the Jedi and he turned sharply to face the screen, his dark eyes burning for a long moment before his customary mask slid into place.

"Chancellor Jinn, Commander Sarin," he began with a slight bow as his eyes shifted briefly to Khamier. His tone was unemotional and formal as his gaze returned to Qui-Gon. "I'm officially reporting an attack by unknown parties against Benjamin Lars, Knight Chun and myself. It is believed at this time that the primary target was Benjamin but the mercenaries seemed to have orders - and the ability - to take all of us. Further details will have to wait until we reach Coruscant. Currently we are aboard Master Yoda's ship, the Antediluvian, and about to make the jump to hyperspace."

"Is Benjamin all right?" Qui-Gon's asked harshly and the knight nodded as he gestured to someone offscreen. A moment later, Ben stood just behind his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Qui-Gon," he said firmly. He looked rumpled and his eyes held an angry light but he didn't seem to be hurt. Qui-Gon breathed a sigh of tremendous relief, surprised at exactly how tense he'd become over the past two hours.

"Chancellor Jinn, we will be arriving on Coruscant in approximately three days," Owen continued with no expression, "It is imperative that you meet us at the Temple rather than arrange Benjamin's arrival closer to the Senate buildings."

Qui-Gon's blue eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Owen's eyes flickered to Khamier for a brief moment. "I assume Commander Sarin has informed you of the conversation I had with the Council two weeks ago?"

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed as he glanced back at his Primary with a glare. For the first time ever, Owen actually saw Khamier look flustered. It was only for a moment, however, before the Commander shook his head.

"I have not yet had the opportunity to detail that conversation, Knight Lars."

"Then do so, Commander Sarin," Owen stated. "Councilor Gallia will have further information for him on the relevant issues of that conversation including the reasons for a meeting between him and Benjamin at the Temple rather than before the media of Coruscant."

"We will arrange it, Knight Lars," Khamier said, still not quite meeting Qui-Gon's laser gaze. His eyes were glued to the already vivid bruising evident on Owen's face.

Owen's face was expressionless as he nodded at the zabrak. "Councilor Gallia will brief you on what to expect upon our arrival."

The Chancellor finally turned back to the Jedi on-screen, his expression blank and his gaze wary. His eyes sought out Ben's even as the picture fuzzed slightly, indicating that the ship was about to jump into hyperspace. Benjamin reached over his brother's shoulder and touched the screen.

"We'll be there in three days, Qui-Gon," he said.

"I'll be waiting," Qui-Gon replied as the picture completely faded out. After a long moment of silence, the Chancellor turned to his Primary.

"What conversation did you neglect to inform me of?" he asked calmly. "And why did you agree to meeting at the Temple?"

Khamier glared at the lowering screen for a long moment before he turned his golden eyes to the Chancellor. "The majority of the information from that particular conversation you were already aware of save for the last part which is the reason we must meet with Councilor Gallia. As to why I agreed to your meeting Benjamin at the Temple, Knight Lars seemed concerned about the separation between you and Benjamin and how the bond will react," the bodyguard stated as he finally turned away and stalked around to the front of Qui-Gon's desk.

The Chancellor stared at his Primary. His voice was very low as he asked, "What bond?"

"Knight Lars is of the opinion that you and Benjamin share a mental bond," Khamier explained as he met Qui-Gon's narrow eyes. "He was uncertain as to the exact nature of the bond. Evidently, the Council must have a better idea if Councilor Gallia has more information and is willing to share it."

"And why did you not inform me of this?"

The Primary thoughtfully dropped his gaze for a moment before he stepped forward and leaned over the desk. "Qui-Gon, you know I rarely act on anything without research, without knowing and understanding something as much as I possibly can." The Primary waited for a nod of affirmation before he continued. "You also know that when I have acted on instinct alone, I have never regretted it." He held the Chancellor's gaze as he straightened. "I had every intention of informing you of the possible bond until you shared with me your concerns of Senator Palpatine."

The Chancellor leaned back and observed his Primary. "Continue."

"You obviously suspected him of far more than just being in collusion with the Trade Federation." Qui-Gon didn't reply and Khamier crossed his arms. "You know my history, Excellency. I have more than a passing knowledge of the concept of the Sith."

"I am aware of that, Khamier."

"Once I understood your suspicions, I deemed it safer for you to be unaware of the bond until we understood it better and could conceal it from the prying mental gaze of the senator."

Qui-Gon's stern expression didn't change. "You withheld this information because you were concerned with my safety."

"Yours and Benjamin's," Khamier corrected. When Qui-Gon didn't reply, he continued. "You hired me to be concerned with your safety and you've never had cause to question my decisions or my loyalty."

Finally, Qui-Gon dropped his cold eyes and rubbed his forehead. "You are correct, Khamier. I have never regretted placing my life in your hands and have no qualms about continuing to do so." Khamier slowly released a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. "But I disagree with your handling of this matter with the bond. I need more information, immediately."

"Knight Lars had no further information other than there was a bond," Sarin noted. "Shall I arrange a meeting with the Councilor this afternoon?"

"Yes," the Chancellor nodded. "And as to Benjamin's arrival, I'll want a full compliment of guards waiting with us. I don't care if the Jedi are offended, Commander, I want Ben protected by people you know and trust."

"I have already selected his bodyguards, sir," Khamier replied as he gave his friend a slight bow. "They will be ready for their new post when he arrives."

Qui-Gon nodded. Then his blue eyes hardened to diamond brightness. "Palpatine did this, Sarin," the man stated his voice completely toneless, completely merciless. "Find me proof so we can make so thorough an example of him that no one else will even contemplate tou

ching my Benjamin again." "As you command, Excellency," the zabrak's replied, his words cold with promise as he left the office. In his mind's eye was the image of Owen's dark, angry eyes and the vivid mark bruising his cheek. His fist flexed as he murmured, "My Owen."

Owen stared at the stars sliding by as he tried not to dwell on the fact that his body ached fiercely and his head was throbbing with a steady beat. He had tried to meditate in the quiet of the cockpit but he was been unable to still himself enough to do so. Too many thoughts were racing through his mind to settle on any single one. After a while, he'd given up and just relaxed in the pilot's chair with a bacta pack carefully placed on his deeply bruised cheek. Damn, but that creature must have used the Force behind it's fist to backhand him so hard.

A noise behind him alerted the knight to a new arrival. He sighed to himself when he realized he hadn't even known Bruck was there until the younger man had keyed the cockpit door open. His shields had slipped to an alarming degree but Owen was too tired and too sore to care.

Owen glanced over as Bruck carefully slid into the co-pilot's seat. The younger Jedi held a bacta pack to the side of his head where he had been injured when he'd crashed headfirst into a tree after his airbike exploded beneath him.

The older knight leaned his head back again and stared at the ceiling. "Good thing you hit your head," he noted, unable to achieve a truly teasing tone. "Otherwise you might have been hurt."

Bruck's ice blue eyes moved to meet his though his head remained still. "Ha ha. I'm sure your thick head wouldn't have felt a thing," he grumbled back. Owen snorted and then winced.

"You would be wrong," he stated as he gingerly moved his bacta pack a little to the left.

Bruck glanced at him again and sighed. "We look like we've been tossed around by rabid tyncors."

"I feel like I've been playing tag with them," Owen replied. "How's Vellen?"

Bruck reached up absently to twine his braid around his fingers only to remember it wasn't there any longer. "She's calmed down quite a bit and is resting after the fright Ben's friends gave her. She keeps checking her hair color for some reason."

Had Owen not been so very sore, he would have chuckled. He settled for a long sigh. "Vellen has always been strong, she'll be all right. Ben will be hearing about it for the rest of his life, though."

"How is Benjamin?" the white-haired knight asked.

"Sleeping. I don't know what that Sith did to him but Yoda was concerned enough to look into Ben's mind after he was out again."

Bruck slowly turned his head to meet his friend's worried gaze. "You really think it was a Sith?"

"It that wasn't a Sith then I don't want to think of the possibility of something worse." Owen leaned his head back again as he continued, "I've dealt with evil beings, Bruck, evil that I understood for the most part. But this...thing..." The knight sucked in his breath slowly, "It just was evil. Darkness. And it hated me. The Sith knew me and it hated me personally."

"It knew you?" Owen nodded tersely. "Why do you think that?"

"I felt the hate pounding against my shields." The older man felt the nausea he'd pushed down after the fight return as he rubbed small circles on his temple with his free hand. "I could feel it trying to get past my shields."

Bruck stared at his companion before he turned back to the viewport. "Yoda asked me to request you stop by to see him later when you get a moment," he said. "I'll stay here if you want to go speak with him now." Bruck glanced at him once more. "It sounds like you need to," he finished gently.

Owen carefully pulled the bacta pack away from his cheek and set it aside. "Thank you, Bruck," he said. He was glad at least the swelling of his lips had been aided by the bacta and he could speak without pain. His face, however, still felt like a cruiser had hit it.

He stood carefully and gave his friend a small smile. Bruck blinked as he got a full view of Owen's face for the first time since the ship had taken off from Callis.

"Maybe after you speak with Yoda you should spend some time in the med bay with a full bacta treatment," Bruck suggested tactfully.

"Maybe," Owen said as he moved out of the cockpit. "Maybe then my teeth would stop rattling."

Despite its name, the Antediluvian was a well-crafted and sleek vessel that Master Yoda had had for many years. It boasted three cabins, a small medical bay and an even smaller eating area. It also had a room in the very back that Yoda called his meditation chamber. It had a long, wide window that looked out onto the infinity of space. Owen's master had once told him that Yoda liked to spend time there whenever they were traveling because it reminded him of how infinite the Force really was.

This was where Owen found the old Jedi, seated against the backdrop of stars, his large green eyes closed and a serene expression on his face. Owen moved into the room and then lowered himself to sit onto the only other meditation mat besides the one Master Yoda currently sat on. Again, he tried to still his mind and match the master in meditation but again he was unable to calm himself enough.

The airbike ride, the furious chase and the run through the forest all kept repeating themselves in his mind. And the fight with the Sith - he shuddered mentally as he replayed it in his memory. He just couldn't still the frantic thoughts running through his head. Most of all, he knew it was because of an error in his judgment that his brother and fellow knight had gotten into a situation where they could have been killed. This was not the action of a seasoned Jedi knight.

And if that weren't enough, the situation had brought to light that the Sith were not quite as extinct as the Jedi might like them to be.

"Troubled, you are," Master Yoda interrupted Owen's thoughts as he opened his eyes and gazed at his padawan's padawan.

Owen nodded, his eyes closing briefly. "Yes, Master."

"Fought a Sith, you did," the Jedi continued. "Troubled, you should be."

Owen looked surprised that Yoda agreed with his own thoughts. Fighting a Sith was not something a Jedi ever considered since the Dark Ones did not truly exist. So, while he'd maintained his center during the vicious fight with the creature and its aftermath, Owen was finding it difficult to accept that he'd actually fought...a Sith.

"But that is not the only thing that troubles me, Master," he said. "I should not have allowed Benjamin..." Yoda held up one small claw as his ears lowered sternly.

"No, Knight Lars. Allowed this to happen, I should not have," the old master stated. "Senior mission knight, I am. Mine, the responsibility is."

Owen stared at the little being with a rather stunned expression. He hadn't even considered that Yoda was part of the mission much less the senior member, yet the logic of the old Jedi's statement couldn't be argued with. Not that logic stopped Owen in this instance.

"But Master Yoda, I should have seen the possibility of the attack," he insisted. "The whole reason I remained on Callis was to defend Ben against what I Saw. I should not have agreed with Bruck when he suggested that Ben be allowed out."

"Perhaps," Yoda said as his ears raised slightly. "Ordinarily, you would not have, hummm?"

Knight Lars placed his hands carefully on his thighs as he took a deep breath, trying to keep his center. "Do you think I was influenced?"

"Touched Benjamin's mind, I did. Strong was the presence of the Sith there."

Owen felt a stirring of panic. "Will he be all right?" he asked and Yoda nodded.

"Already, the presence is fading. Hastening that, I am." Yoda looked away as he continued. "A similar mark, does Knight Chun carry. Influenced he was. Very skilled the Sith is to accomplish such a thing," he noted softly. "Or know Bruck well, it does."

The knight stilled completely as he considered the master's words. He knew Bruck had very strong shields. Over the past years, he and Bruck had often sparred physically and mentally to strengthen their skills.

So if it were not skill alone that allowed the Sith to influence Bruck and himself...

"Master, the creature...it knew me," he finally admitted.

The little master turned back and met Owen's eyes again. "Knew you, it did. Touched and marked you, it did. Forever will that be with you. Better able, will you be to see the dark in others." Yoda's eyes focused on the bruise marring Owen's face. "But defeated it, you did and kept to the Light. No small thing, is this."

Owen dropped his eyes. Trust Yoda to move to the very center of Owen's disquiet.

"Master, I...." The knight's voice stopped as he took a deep breath. "I do not feel as if I defeated it," he continued.

"Defeat it, you did, Owen Lars," Yoda stated with no doubt in his tone. "Of the Dark, are you?"

"No but I lost...."

"Yield, you did, to save Knight Chun's life. An act of the Light, that was, despite the hate and anger the Sith was spilling." Suddenly, Yoda's gimer stick was in his hand and he poked the knight with it sharply. "Padawan are you, that I need to show you the difference between Light and Dark?"

"Ow!" Owen grunted before he could stop himself. He rubbed his knee and muttered under his breath. "No, Master Yoda."

"Good. Strong you are in the Light, my padawan's padawan," the master said with a note of finality, his green eyes sharp. A moment of silence and then the master continued softly, "Proud of you, am I, Owen Lars. Shine brightly, you do, in the Force."

Owen stared at Yoda was a long second before he slowly knelt, his forehead touching the cold floor between them. "Thank you, Master," he replied almost reverently. He had never received such a straightforward compliment from Yoda in his entire life. For a moment, he felt the small claw of the Jedi master touch his hair in a fond gesture.

"Now, other matters, I wish to discuss," the little Jedi went on and slowly Owen raised himself to once more kneel across from Yoda. "Spoken to Benjamin, you have not, concerning his bond with Jinn. I would know why."

Absently, the Jedi rubbed his knee as he sighed. "Because, Ben is so reluctant to believe that Qui-Gon Jinn truly cares for him, I didn't want to give him any reason to think the Chancellor was being forced into the relationship by an outside influence."

Master Yoda pondered Owen's words for a time before he nodded. "Correct, you are, but Benjamin will find out when we arrive at the Temple."

"Yes, but I am hoping once the link is fully formed, he will be able to tell how much Jinn cares for him." Carefully, the knight rubbed his temples. "Benjamin truly loves the Chancellor but he refuses to believe Qui-Gon Jinn could return his regard wholeheartedly."

"Blind as a mynoch, he is," Yoda noted, staring hard at Owen.

The knight merely nodded. "Completely oblivious to the hold he has over his lover."

"But tenacious, a lover can be, with proper motivation."

"Jinn will certainly need to be so," Owen said, slowly realizing that Yoda's hard gaze on himself was implying more than what he thought the topic of conversation was.

"Unwilling to admit, he is, that what he feels is becoming the center of his life, hum?"

The knight glared at Yoda. "Is this going somewhere, Master?" he finally asked though he was certain he probably shouldn't.

"Tell you, I will, when we get there," the master replied smugly, "if figure it out for yourself, you cannot."

"Thank you, Master," Owen responded with a very wary look.

24968.05.29

During the three days of travel between Callis and Coruscant, Ben rarely left the small room he shared with his brother. He spent most of his time either sleeping or typing furiously on the small comp-pad his brother had found on Yoda's ship. Benjamin had always used the old-fashioned keypad rather than the voice activated comp pad and he had found early on that writing helped to distract the intense longing he felt for Qui-Gon, if only for short periods of time. Owen had quickly grown used to the clacking of keys even at the oddest hours of night. The closer the transport came to Coruscant, the stronger Ben's longing to see his lover grew and the less he was able to focus on the reality outside his story. Vaguely, Benjamin knew this book was going to be his best to date if only because he was sinking all of the emotion and longing from the last weeks into every page he wrote. It was going to put all his other books to shame.

He wasn't even aware when the door to the small room slid open and his brother walked in. Owen sighed to himself as he watched Ben hunched over the comp-pad and glaring at it with a focus many a Jedi would envy. He knew exactly what his brother was doing and he could feel the stress the fledgling bond between Benjamin and Qui-Gon was causing Ben. He also knew the only cure for his brother was proximity to Qui-Gon Jinn.

"Benjamin," Owen said as he stepped forward and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. Ben jumped and glared at the Jedi, his green eyes narrow and cold.

"What, damn it?" he snapped and Owen couldn't help but chuckle, to himself anyway. He didn't think Ben would find his amusement funny.

"We'll be dropping out of hyperspace within the hour," Owen responded with a half-smile. "I thought you'd like to know."

The change in his brother's expression was awe-inspiring. His eyes widened and a smile gleamed across his face.

"Thank the Force!" Ben breathed as he leaned back, still more caught up in Obi-Wan than in the real Jedi standing before him. "I thought we would never get here!"

Owen said nothing as he watched Ben bask in the knowledge that they were finally approaching their goal and his lover. Then his younger brother leaned forward and tapped a few more keys on the comp-pad before he snapped it shut and jumped to his feet.

"You don't think Master Yoda will mind if I take this, do you?" he said, the words falling rapidly from his lips as he shoved the small computer into his shoulder bag. "I'll send it back to him as soon as I download its memory."

"I don't think he'll mind," Owen said with a snort. Yoda wouldn't object at all. The Jedi Master already thought of Benjamin as one of his own anyway and a borrowed comp-pad was one more reason Ben would have to come back to see him.

"Good," Ben mumbled as he pulled out another bag and started rummaging through it. "I need to find something attractive to wear." He pulled out shirts, pants and assorted items, throwing them all over the bed. "I knew I should have packed more clothes!" he grumbled as he glared at the offending bag. His gaze glanced briefly at his brother's cream and brown robes before he sighed and dug deeper into his luggage. There would obviously be no help coming from his brother's wardrobe so he just had to find something worth wearing for Qui-Gon here.

"Don't worry, Ben, you've got plenty of time. It'll be some hours before we actually land on Coruscant. I'm sure we can find something for you to wear."

Ben looked up at his, his smiled falling away. "I thought you said..."

Owen shook his head slowly. "You must remember what kind of transport traffic we'll be coming into. Getting a landing pad will take time, even for the Jedi."

Ben chewed on his lower lip for a moment before he dropped to the bed. "Damn. I want to be there, already!" he sighed as he hugged himself. He suddenly felt so cold. It seemed he would never get to Qui-Gon. Never feel those strong arms around him nor those lips against his throat. Benjamin started shaking as dark thoughts tumbled through his head. Never...never....

And then his brother's strong arms were around him and he was warm again. "Benjamin, it will be all right," Owen said in his ear as he hugged his brother close. "We'll be there very soon and Qui-Gon will be waiting for you. No doubt he'll be pacing back and forth, as impatient to see you as you are to see him."

Owen continued speaking in a low soothing tone until his brother stopped shaking and relaxed against him. The Jedi cursed to himself as he realized the bond was obviously under more stress than he had estimated. He had been foolish to raise Ben's hopes and then dash them so quickly.

"Owen, you're squishing me," Ben mumbled from within Owen's robes and the Jedi immediately loosened his hold on his brother.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly as he held his brother's eyes.

"Yes," Ben sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I just want to be there already." The younger brother scooted back to lean against the bulkhead, one knee pulled up to his chest where he perched his chin.

"I know. And the time will pass quickly," Owen reassured his brother. He gave the author a brief grin. "I could always show you how to meditate the time away."

"Like you did at school?" Ben asked with a snicker. Owen looked surprised. "Oh I noticed you weren't always there even if your body was."

Owen looked somewhat sheepish. "I never was one for Yothin poetry."

Benjamin chuckled as he turned away. After a thoughtful moment, he turned back to look his brother in the eyes. "Since you're here anyway, I need a favor, Owen," he said, his words rushed, as if he wouldn't say them if they didn't all come out at the same time. The older man gave his sibling a curious look.

"Anything within my power, Ben. You know that."

The writer hesitated a moment before he chewed on his lip again. "It is kind of embarrassing, actually."

Owen raised his brows but said nothing, waiting on his brother to elaborate.

"You see, I have this...problem."

After a moment of silence, the Jedi motioned Ben to continue. Ben chewed on his lip a while longer.

"Okay. I have this problem. And I know it's going to happen when I see Qui-Gon again. And you have to help me."

"All right." His brother didn't say anything further and Owen sighed. "Ben, you're going to have to tell me what I'm supposed to help you with if you want me to help you."

Ben flicked his glanced sideways to meet his brother's eyes before he took a deep breath.

"YouhavetohelpmenotstareatQui-Gon."

Owen blinked. He tried to run that sentence through ears trained to distinguish words from the most mumbled voices and still he could barely make it out.

"You want me to what at Qui-Gon?"

"You have to help me not stare at Qui-Gon!" Ben said again, his words still falling all over each other but at least Owen could understand them this time. He looked at his brother, completely at a loss.

"I'm not sure I understand."

Ben huffed and glared. "I stare at Qui-Gon every time I see him. I can't help myself. It's like he's the only being in the universe at that moment. He's just so breathtaking!" Benjamin's words broke off as he went into a world of his own. "His eyes are so blue and his face is beautiful and you know the soul inside is so brilliant and his body is just so..."

Ben's words were lost in the purring sounds that started coming out of his mouth and Owen felt the need to interrupt his brother's reverie.

"Ah-hem. Yes. So you want me to do what?" he asked his brother as he elbowed Ben. The author straightened suddenly and winced.

"See? I do it even when he's not here! Owen, you have to help me!"

"So what do you want me to do?"

"I don't know!" Ben grumped. "You're the Jedi! Just try to help me from looking completely besotted!"

"But you are completely besotted," Owen pointed out reasonably.

"But I don't want just everyone to know that!" his brother bleated. "He's the Supreme Chancellor! I don't want anyone thinking he's Committed himself to an idiot!"

Owen started chuckling and his brother slugged him on the arm. Hard.

"Ow! Ben!"

"It's not funny, Owen!" Ben snarled. "I need you to help me!"

"Believe me when I say this, Ben. People will not think you are an idiot." Ben snorted and glared as Owen held up his hand. "I've seen this phenomenon you're speaking of and let me tell you, neither of you looks like an idiot. If anything, the pair of you practically glow with the feelings that run between you."

The younger man shook his head. "But he doesn't-"

"Yes he does, Ben," Owen corrected his brother. "He stares at you just like that and I do not think he would appreciate it if I stepped between you at a moment like that."

"Oh." Benjamin glanced down at his fingers, a pleased smile on his face as he sighed. "Well then." He glanced back up at his brother. "Just help me not to stare at him in public then." Owen looked as if he might object and Ben poured on the green-eyed pleading gaze. "Please Owen! It's a private thing and I don't want just everyone to see me turn into a puddle at Qui-Gon's feet."

Knight Lars tried to resist. He truly did. But his brother knew him far too well. "All right," Owen finally capitulated. "I'll see what I can do." He glared at his brother. "But after this first meeting, you're on your own. I won't be around to help after that."

Benjamin looked surprised. "Why not?"

"I'm sure there's a mission already waiting for my return," Owen said as he leaned against the wall beside his brother. "I've rarely been on Coruscant for more than a few days at a time in the last three years."

"But Master Yoda didn't mention anything about a mission for you," Ben said. "He implied you'd be around for awhile.

Owen glanced at his brother sharply. "Did he?"

"Yes," Ben replied as he met Owen's dark eyes. There was silence for a moment before Ben's lips curved up in a rather wicked smile. "Besides, I can think of at least one other person who'd be mightily disappointed if you weren't around for a while."

His brother's response to the teasing comment surprised Benjamin completely. Owen's face went blank as he stood and straightened his robe.

"I just wanted you to be aware that we are approaching Coruscant, Benjamin," Owen said as he turned for the door. "So start packing. You've made a mess in here."

Ben looked at his brother sharply. "Owen, are you afraid of him?" he asked and he watched his brother pause in the doorway. He briefly saw Owen's profile as the knight glanced back at him.

"I don't know," he responded softly before he stepped through the door and it slid shut behind him.

Less than an hour later, the Antediluvian dropped out of hyperspace and immediately found itself escorted by four class one Republican fighters.

"This is Atson One, Commander Osirus reporting. Temple landing Bay 001 is ready for you, Antediluvian," the leader said after Bruck hailed the quartet. "We're to escort you down to the planet immediately."

The young Jedi glanced with wide eyes at Owen, who was looking clueless in the co-pilot's chair. "Thank you, Atson One. I'm setting the coordinates now. Temple Landing Bay 001."

"I copy that, Antediluvian," the leader replied as the four fighters fell into formation around the Jedi transport

"Force, it must be good to be the Chancellor. Docking in the primary Temple landing bay," Bruck said as he leaned back and watched the traffic fly by under the escort of the fighters. The Jedi could practically hear the screams of disgust coming from the ships they left behind still circling in orbit. "I've never returned from a mission to that bay. I need to escort Ben more often."

Owen leaned forward and touched the still colored area around his friend's eyes. Even their Jedi healing plus the bacta packs hadn't completely erased the bruises there. "I don't think it would be the healthiest thing for you, Bruck," he noted wryly. The knight grinned.

"Probably not," he agreed. "But I'd never be bored."

"That will not be a problem, Knight Chun. Just wait for the Council to get a hold of you," Owen pointed out.

As soon as the Antediluvian settled quietly onto its landing pad, Benjamin was standing before the airlock, waiting anxiously for it to cycle open.

"Open. Open damn it!" he muttered under his breath and Owen gently took hold of his arm.

"Benjamin," he said quietly. "I know you're eager to get to Qui-Gon but remember, the entire Temple will be watching you along with Qui-Gon's assistants and whatever holocams the media have been able to slip in. So have a care with your reactions."

Ben paled at the knight's words and Vellen slapped his arm. "Don't tell him that, Owen!" she snapped.

"He has to know, Vellen," Owen said in a gentle tone as he turned back to his brother. "You wanted help with that problem of yours, Ben. Just keep in mind the possible millions of beings just on Coruscant who will want to know why the Chancellor has come to the Temple to welcome someone to the planet personally."

Benjamin stared at him and then angrily pressed his lips together. "Thank you very much, Knight Lars!" he growled.

Owen grinned back at him. "You're welcome, of course."

"What's the hold up there?" Bruck called from behind them. "The airlock is cycling."

Ben turned to find the door before him cycling open, letting in the warm air and light of the Temple docking bay. All that remained was for him to walk down the ramp into the huge bay and see Qui-Gon again. He gave his brother one last measuring glance before he moved down the ramp.

The steady presence of his brother at his side was reassuring especially when he reached the bottom of the ramp and spotted Supreme Chancellor Qui-Gon Jinn waiting for him, surrounded by Republic bodyguards and a few floating media holocams the Jedi had been unable to keep out. Qui-Gon waited with the patience of a star while beyond him, various assistants craned their various body parts to catch a glimpse of the new arrival that rated Qui-Gon Jinn's personal reception.

For a moment, Benjamin froze. This scene, more than any other, brought home to him just who his lover was. Qui-Gon Jinn was one of the single most powerful men in the galaxy. Here in his own element, Qui-Gon was a far cry from the relaxed man Benjamin had come to know on Callis.

Who was he, a mere teacher, to make a claim on Qui-Gon Jinn?

A moment after that thought passed through his mind, however, Ben met his lover's blue eyes across the docking bay and he couldn't help the brilliant smile that flashed across his own face. It was suddenly as if he could feel his lover's overwhelming relief and affection pouring into him. If he hadn't been staring straight at the Chancellor and known that Jinn had said nothing, Benjamin would have sworn he'd heard Qui-Gon's voice sighing his name, relief evident in his smooth tones.

Benjamin's feet were moving before he realized it, following the half-smile on Qui-Gon's face.

"You're staring," Owen said with a quiet chuckle and Ben jerked slightly.

"Damn it," he muttered although he didn't take his eyes off of Qui-Gon as he moved forward. He couldn't have if he'd tried.

"Try not to fall off the walkway. It's a long way down."

"Shut up," Ben replied, a dreamy smile growing on his face as he moved closer to Qui-Gon.

"It's actually rather cute," Owen commented casually. "He's staring at you too. Oh look. Now he's drooling."

"He is not," Ben sighed happily. "I hate you, Owen."

Owen dropped back somewhat, keeping his eyes focused on the Chancellor as Benjamin approached his lover. Owen was the official representative of the Jedi and since guarding Benjamin had initially been his mission, he was the one to officially hand his brother over to the security of the Chancellor's guards.

In doing so, however, the knight also made a credible attempt at not staring at Qui-Gon's primary bodyguard who stood silently beside the Supreme Chancellor. Khamier had no problem staring at him though, he noted grumpily.

Stupid zabrak.

Turning his attention back to Ben, Owen observed that as far as Ben was concerned, there was no one else in the docking bay. As his brother approached the Chancellor, Ben's hands automatically reached for Qui-Gon's and then he was pressing his body against his lover's, his arms winding around Qui-Gon's waist. The Chancellor responded by wrapping his arms around his lover and holding him tightly. Owen noted the various expressions of amazement on Jinn's usually stoic guardsmen as well as the murmurings of complete surprise by the Chancellor's assistants.

Owen was feeling a little amazement himself though he hid it perfectly. He could actually feel the Force moving along the bond between his brother and Qui-Gon Jinn. Already the knight could tell the bond between them had strengthened though the pair had been a galaxy apart.

Watching them closely, Owen was willing to bet that while Qui-Gon had been prepared mentally for the feeling of the bond reestablishing itself, emotionally, the Chancellor probably hadn't had a clue as to what he was in for. Master Gallia had more than likely briefed him extensively on bond mechanics but until he again held Benjamin in his arms, he could not have understood just how big a part of himself had been missing.

Noting the nearly white-knuckled grasp that Jinn had on his brother, Owen thought that the Chancellor probably understood now.

As for Benjamin, his brother was very likely experiencing something similar to Jinn but had no idea that a bond was building itself between them. In any case, he didn't seem like he would be letting go of Jinn any time in the near future.

"Never again," Owen's Jedi hearing picked up Qui-Gon's soft murmur in Ben's ear. "I'll not be separated from you like this again."

"Never," Benjamin breathed and if possible gripped his lover tighter. After a long moment, he stepped back and stared into those blue, blue eyes. "Chancellor Jinn," he sighed.

"Master Lars." Qui-Gon's eyes traveled over Ben's entire face several times before he finally raised his gaze to meet Owen's. "My thanks to the Jedi, Knight Lars," he said, noting the faint bruising still evident on Owen's face.

The knight bowed to them both. "My duty to you, Chancellor," he replied with the formal phrasing. "And to you, Master Lars."

"I want a full report given to Commander Sarin after you meet with your Jedi Council. Whatever happened, I want to know the whole of it," the Chancellor continued before his eyes returned to Benjamin. He did not notice the Jedi knight stiffen nor did he see the smirk that appeared on Khamier's face.

"It wasn't that bad, Qui-Gon," Benjamin said softly, twining his fingers around his lover's and leaning closer.

"We'll talk about it later, Benjamin," Qui-Gon replied as he nodded at Khamier before he sought out Councilor Gallia. "Just now I want to get you somewhere very private."

The younger man grinned as he tightened his fingers around his lover's hand. "I think that is a very good idea."

Councilor Gallia stepped forward, a slight smile on her face as she observed the pair before she led them from the docking bay. Owen watched his brother and his bondmate disappear into the Temple proper, escorted by the Chancellor's guards as well as some discreet Jedi knights whom he knew were well trained in the art of shielding. Jinn's assistants watched them go with rather stunned looks before they, too, were led away, in the opposite direction, by other Jedi.

Before he could truly relax, however, Commander Sarin sauntered towards him. The zabrak's expression was almost bland though his golden eyes were hard as they swept over the bruising still evident on Owen's face.

"You've had an interesting few weeks, Knight Lars," he noted as he stopped just in front of the Jedi. "I look forward to hearing your report."

Owen crossed his arms in front of him and clenched his hands around his arms underneath his long sleeves. He mentally recited the Mantra of Star Serenity. It wasn't working. "I should have it for you by tomorrow afternoon, Commander Sarin," he said in a steady voice. "I will have to present it to the Council first."

"Of course," the Commander nodded absently as his eyes moved over Owen's face again. "I want you to know that I'm going to find out who did this and kill them slowly," Khamier said softly as he reached out gently to touch Owen's bruised cheek. His teeth gleamed briefly in a silent snarl before he turned towards the Temple. "Tomorrow afternoon, Knight Lars," he called back. Then he too was gone and Owen was left standing alone with his mouth hanging open, Jedi serenity be hanged.

Damned stupid zabrak.

Councilor Gallia led Chancellor Jinn and his bondmate through the quiet Temple hallways. She watched them carefully though she didn't give any indication of her observations. Chancellor Qui-Gon Jinn and Benjamin Lars were singularly unique in that neither was a trained Force sensitive yet a Force bond of amazing strength had ignited and flourished between them. Adi Gallia had rarely seen a bond of such depth and intensity within the Order of the Jedi much less between two beings who were not even trained.

There was no doubt that both were strong with the Force. The Council had accessed the records of their midchlorian counts since the Temple had, at one time, considered both as possible trainees. It was an amazing fact to Adi that with mid counts that would be considered in the top ten percent of the order, the Temple had claimed neither man. She had noted the intervention of their parents as the reason they hadn't been sent to the Jedi but it made her wonder how many other children might be out in the galaxy with such potential, lost to the Jedi.

Councilor Gallia pulled her focus back to the Moment and spared another glance to the couple slightly behind her. As far as Jinn and Lars were concerned, they might have been walking the halls alone instead of with a High Councilor, an escort of four senior knights and the usual sextet of Republic guards for the Chancellor.

She felt a brief smile come and go. Considering that the pair had only been bonded for four weeks and had been separated from each other for two of those weeks, she was grateful they had not indulged in more than just an extensive hug. She did note that they had yet to draw more than six inches away from each other since they'd left the docking bay.

Finally, the Councilor came to a door she keyed open with a security code known only to her and the four knights accompanying her. The door slid open as she turned to her companions.

"Your Excellency, Master Lars," she said with a nod. "This suite will be available to you for as long as you need it."

"Thank you, Master Gallia," Chancellor Jinn said curtly as he escorted his lover through the door. He waved off his guards before he nodded at the Councilor. "You have been most kind." Then the door slid shut in her face and the lock engaged from the other side.

Councilor Gallia felt her smile come and go again as she glanced at the surprised expressions of the knights behind her and the baffled looks of the Chancellor's guard. Her blue eyes gleamed as she calmed her expression again.

"No one is to enter," she instructed the knights as the Republic guards ranged themselves along the corridor. "Should the Chancellor or his guest need anything, provide it. Are there any questions regarding your assignment?"

"Master Gallia, their bond is very strong," one of the knights noted in a soft, inquiring tone. The Councilor merely nodded.

"It is. Should you feel the need to contact me for any reason, please comm me at once," was all she replied. Then she turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving behind four curious knights and six stoic but baffled republic guardians.

Once he had engaged the lock, Qui-Gon turned to capture his lover in his arms only to find Ben across the room, standing next to the door leading into the suite's bedroom. With a low growl, Qui-Gon stalked towards Benjamin with a purposeful look in his blue eyes as soon as the door shut behind them. Before Ben could do anything more than smile, the Chancellor pressed him against the wall with his body and kissed him hard.

Benjamin opened his mouth and welcomed his lover's tongue inside, finding the addicting taste of his intemi again and amazed at the burning tingle that quickly spread through his body, making his blood run faster wherever Qui-Gon's hands wandered.

Finally, the Chancellor forced his lips away just far enough to whisper roughly, "I missed you, my Benjamin." He stared into the teacher's eyes as his hands moved to caress Ben's face. His lips followed the path his fingertips took, kissing forehead, eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, nose, lips and lingering to inhale his lover's breath slowly.

"Qui-Gon," Ben said in a ragged tone as he moved against his lover, feeling Qui-Gon's body tall and strong against his own. "The next time I suggest something so stupid as a separation, just kiss me like that to remind me what an insane idea that is."

"No more separations allowed, my Ben," Qui-Gon stated and pulled his lover close, growling under his breath as their arousals met resulting in a long, hiss from the teacher.

"Right!" Ben agreed before he grabbed Qui-Gon's hand and dragged him into the nearest bedroom. As the pair approached what Ben vaguely noted was an indecently large bed, the Chancellor pulled him close again and kissed him with a rising urgency, deftly pulling Ben's tunic over his head in a smooth move that barely parted their lips. Benjamin responded with an equal intensity, as he felt the burning sensation along his skin growing steadily stronger wherever Qui-Gon touched him.

He ran his hands through Qui-Gon's silver-brown hair before his fingers slid down to undo the clasps on the Chancellor's tunic. Ben pulled it off tossing it aside as his lips followed the curve of Qui-Gon's neck and shoulders.

"My Ben," the big man breathed as Ben's lips curled around a hard nipple and sucked hard. He inhaled sharply, feeling the tingling sensation Adi Gallia had warned him of spread outward along his skin from wherever his lover touched him. The feeling was especially intense where Benjamin was diligently tonguing the dusty brown skin on his chest before moving to give the other hard brown nub the same treatment. Qui-Gon curled his hands into Benjamin's long hair, reveling in the pleasure of his lover's lips against him but finally guiding Ben's head upward, wanting to taste the tingling fire on his lips.

The sensation only grew stronger as Qui-Gon kissed his lover with an intense focus he'd never used on any other. Ben groaned as Qui-Gon ground their arousals together again and his knees buckled; the sensations too strong for him to stand.

Qui-Gon caught him and a moment later the Chancellor was laying him on the thick blankets covering the bed. The big man wasted no time in removing the rest of Ben's clothes, kissing the skin he exposed and laving the hard nubs on the teacher's chest with an eager tongue. Benjamin panted as he arched into Qui-Gon's touch and pulled the Chancellor closer. Qui-Gon resisted only long enough to remove the rest of his own clothes before sliding his body against the warmth of his lover's with a low groan. Ben echoed him with a moan of his own as hard muscles met lithe, sinuous curves that wound about each other. The tingling sensations in their skin were slowly turning to a burning rush as skin rubbed against skin.

Again, Qui-Gon's mouth found his lover's nipple as his palm circled the other. Benjamin moaned with entreaty as his strong legs slid up and over Qui-Gon's hips, feeling each sensation burn as their erections rubbed against each other.

Qui-Gon's lips merely switched to Ben's other nipple and his fingers traveled down along his lover's flank and between them to caress Benjamin's hard shaft. The teacher arched against his fingers with a harsh, needy cry as Qui-Gon moved his lips against Ben's throat and nipped before sucking hard to bring the blood to the surface and mark his lover again. It had been too long since he'd marked Ben's throat and the Chancellor didn't want anyone mistaking his lover as anything but completely taken.

Benjamin tried to hold on as Qui-Gon licked and sucked at his throat and his large hands slid around to part the firm cheeks of his rear and caress the entrance waiting there. One hand disappeared for a moment, only to return slick and warm, large fingers caressing his entrance again and this time pushing inside him. Ben's mouth dropped open in a faint keen and his hands curled around Qui-Gon's shoulders as he shuddered with pleasure.

"Qui-Gon, please!" he cried out and Qui-Gon moved his mouth up to take his lover's lips in a fierce, burning kiss. Benjamin couldn't press his skin close enough to his lover. "Please!" he cried out again as the bigger man released his lips.

"Are you ever going to stay behind again?" Qui-Gon demanded in a harsh tone as he leaned back and pushed his lover's knees forward. He ran his fingers roughly down the length of Ben's arousal, gripping it and running his thumb over the tip.

"Never!" Benjamin gasped as he bucked up into that grip.

"Swear it, Benjamin!" Qui-Gon commanded as he placed the tip of his erection at his lover's entrance and pushed in only a small bit while he held Ben's hips still. "Swear you will stay with me!"

"I swear, Qui-Gon! I promise!" the smaller man panted as he stared up into his lover's blue eyes. "Gods, I missed you so much I could hardly breathe for wanting to be with you again!"

Qui-Gon thrust deep inside his lover and Benjamin screamed. The Chancellor tried to hold still but his lover jerked sharply and wrapped his legs around Qui-Gon's hips.

"Benjamin, don't-!"

"Hard, Qui-Gon!" the teacher cried as he felt his lover split him in two. "Make me forget the last two weeks of hell without you!"

Qui-Gon caught his lover's hips and thrust again, holding Benjamin's green eyes as he sank into the teacher's body again and again. Ben arched against him, crying out with pleasure, his hands fisting in the blankets beneath them as Qui-Gon pounded into him. The tingling burn built between them almost like a current rising higher and higher as the two rushed towards their release. As Qui-Gon wrapped his slick fingers around his lover's shaft and pumped, Benjamin lifted off the bed and exploded with a scream of overwhelming pleasure, his body clamping down on his lover's and dragging him into the infinity of orgasm.

Benjamin awoke in the dim light of an unfamiliar room with Qui-Gon wrapped around him. One of the Chancellor's long legs was between his own and his back lay snuggly against Qui-Gon's chest; an arm was wrapped around his waist, one large hand just beneath a still sensitive nipple. Ben sighed with pleasure as he stretched slightly against his lover.

"Are you uncomfortable, my Ben?" Qui-Gon rumbled softly as his fingers began to move in circles against his stomach.

"Not at all, Qui-Gon," he breathed and moved backwards against him. "I missed waking up with you almost as much as I missed making love with you." He moved a leg restlessly against Qui-Gon's, as his lover's fingers moved in wider circles, coming just beneath his nipples. "I'm feeling more comfortable by the moment."

Qui-Gon pulled Ben completely against his chest and Ben's body began to tingle again as he felt Qui-Gon rock against his back. His face turned slightly towards him.

"How long have you been waiting for me to wake up?" he asked as Qui-Gon's leg slowly moved up the inside of his thigh.

"A light year, it seems," Qui-Gon breathed as he moved to kiss Ben's throat where the skin was darkly bruised. Qui-Gon gently licked it and Ben shivered. He wound his fingers with Qui-Gon's and guided them up to his lips for a kiss.

"I missed having your mark there," Ben whispered as their twined fingers caressed the bruise on his throat.

"I won't let it fade again," Qui-Gon assured him as he licked the mark.

Ben sighed and ran his hand along Qui-Gon's hip and then down between them to lightly caress his lover's manhood. Qui-Gon inhaled as he ran his long fingers along the shaft. After a moment, Ben turned to face him and rubbed the palm of his hand fully against that hard length.

The Chancellor groaned and pressed himself against Ben's agile fingers as he pulled Ben's swollen mouth to his own. The teacher responded by wrapping fingers around his hardness and squeezing, fondling the tip of Qui-Gon's erection with his thumb, round and round until he felt liquid seeping out.

"Benjamin," the larger man growled as he pulled Ben's hand away. Roughly, Qui-Gon pulled Ben's leg over his hip and entered him in one sure thrust, which triggered a starburst of flames inside both of them. Benjamin cried out as Qui-Gon rolled on top of him, pulling his legs up higher and sliding deeper inside him. The Chancellor pulled Ben hands over his head and held them there as Qui-Gon began a long slow in and out rhythm. Benjamin tried to quicken his pace but the Chancellor held steady with long, slow thrusts as he watched the expression of intense pleasure cross his lover's face.

"Qui-Gon please," Ben begged as he tried to make his lover move faster.

"I dreamed of this while we were apart," the Chancellor said in a low, intense voice as his body continued its long, slow thrusts. "While I was reading those damned love scenes you wrote, I thought of being inside you like this."

Benjamin arched against him. "Stars yes! Please, Qui-Gon!"

"What do you want, my Benjamin?"

"Faster, please," he panted as he pressed upwards against him. "Deeper."

"As deep as I can, my intemi," Qui-Gon promised as he stroked deeper. "But I want you to do something for me."

"Anything, my Qui-Gon," Benjamin replied breathlessly.

"Show me what you want," Qui-Gon stated as the big man rolled over onto his back, pulling his lover with him. Benjamin suddenly found himself perched above his lover, Qui-Gon's shaft sliding even deeper inside him. He looked down at Qui-Gon with a fuzzily surprised expression that quickly changed to one of feral lust as he lifted up and slammed back down with a pleasured cry.

"YES! Show me what you want, Benjamin!" Qui-Gon commanded as reached out to pump his lover's length.

Benjamin cried out his lover's name as he shoved down onto Qui-Gon and soon Qui-Gon was the one urging his lover to a faster pace. Ben's head was thrown back in ecstasy, his throat curved and his back arched as he rode his lover with abandon, forgetting everything but the feeling of Qui-Gon inside him at last.

Qui-Gon stared up at him as he felt his body tingle and burn with the power of his desire and the force of the link between them. Suddenly, his body jerked and he slammed up inside Benjamin as his fingers gripped his lover's erection, bringing the younger man to an immediate climax. Benjamin cried out as his nails dug into Qui-Gon's shoulders. Qui-Gon pressed high inside him, spilling his seed deep as Ben shuddered around him.

Slowly, Ben lowered himself onto his lover's chest, panting even as he took deep breaths. His cheek lay against Qui-Gon's fiercely beating heart.

"Qui-Gon," he finally said as he smiled against his skin. "I never believed there was this kind of pleasure in the world until you."

The Chancellor's hands pressed briefly against his back before they continued their long, soothing strokes.

After a long silence between them, Ben pulled back enough to take a long breath, sliding his cheek against his lover's.

"Qui-Gon, I missed you so much!" he whispered into his lover's ear as his hands gently roamed. "Two weeks seemed like a damn eternity without you!"

Qui-Gon heard a rising hysteria in his lover's tone and shivered as Ben's palm pressed against his chest. He ran his hands up Ben's back again, this time in a soothing gesture and he focused his thoughts on the calm assurance that they were together.

"We're together now, my Benjamin," he murmured as he laid his lips gently on his love's forehead. "Don't fret on what is past. Think of our future together."

Curled around him, Benjamin stilled, listening to Qui-Gon's whispered words as he pressed his body as close to Qui-Gon as he could get. He buried his face in his lover's neck while his arms tightened around his lover's body.

"Qui-Gon," he breathed in a voice that was breaking.

"Benjamin?" The Chancellor felt the younger man's body trembling and concern for his lover overtook his rising desire in an instant, something he vaguely noted that had never happened before. His emotions were in such turmoil that he couldn't help but think part of it was from Ben's wild emotions leaking over the unfamiliar link inside his head. His arms tightened on the shivering form wrapped around him as he listened to Ben's ragged breaths. "My Ben, what is it?"

Some faint, muffled words floated up from Qui-Gon's neck as the teacher burrowed closer and the Chancellor's lips quirked for a moment as his hands automatically rubbed up and down his lover's back. After a few minutes, the younger man's trembling faded and Ben leaned back just enough to meet his lover's blue eyes. His hands gripped Qui-Gon's shoulders tightly before his fingers relaxed and moved up to caress the older man's face softly.

"Qui-Gon?" he whispered as his fingertips wandered across the planes of his lover's face.

The Chancellor gently kissed the tips that ghosted over his lips. "Yes, Benjamin?"

"I love you." The words floated from Ben's lips as if he were surprised about it himself.

Qui-Gon's arms tightened their hold as his blue eyes darkened with emotion. He reached up to catch Ben's hand and pulled it aside as he leaned forward to kiss his lover hard, his hands threading into Ben's tawny hair. He delved deep into the warmth of Ben's mouth, wanting to imprint this moment in his mind as deeply as possible.

Finally, he pulled back, but only so there was enough space between their mouths to breathe.

"And I love you," he sighed against his lover's lips as he reached down to twine his fingers with Ben's left hand and pulled it up to his lips. His thumb caressed the smooth metal surrounding Ben's middle finger. "Nothing is as important to me as you, my intemi."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before you left Callis," Ben said as he looked at his lover, studying Qui-Gon intently as though he were memorizing each feature. "I should have. I knew then but...."

The Chancellor raised Ben's hand to his lips. "Don't worry yourself, my Benjamin," he murmured as he held his lover's green eyes. "It's all right."

"No, it's not all right! Qui-Gon," he whispered raggedly, "I thought I'd never see you again. All I could think of was that I hadn't told you how much I loved you."

Qui-Gon pulled Ben close again, breathing in the scent of his tawny hair. "Benjamin, listen to me. I knew when you took my ring how you felt," he said with no doubt in his tone. "I was just waiting for you to admit it."

"Oh, I admit it," Ben said wryly as he looked into Qui-Gon's eyes. "I love you, Qui-Gon Jinn. I'd sing it from the top of the Temple spire if I didn't have a singing voice like a dying pothar beast. I'd be tossed off the planet."

The Chancellor raised his brows as his fingertips traced Ben's face. "I doubt that very much, Benjamin," he stated firmly. "Anyone tossing you off the planet would have to go through me first and they wouldn't get very far."

Benjamin blinked at Qui-Gon's serious reply to his teasing comment. The Chancellor gently leaned forward and placed a kiss on his bonded's slightly parted lips.

"You are everything to me, Benjamin," Qui-Gon stated as he looked directly into Ben's eyes. "I will tell you that again and again until you don't even make teasing comments about it."

Ben dropped his eyes for a moment and then squirmed off his lover to stand. He moved across the room to where his leggings had ended up, leaned down to rummage through the pockets before he returned to the bed. Gently, his fingers followed the contours of Qui-Gon's face before he straddled the big man again. Carefully, he took the Chancellor's hands and pulled his lover into a sitting position so that the pair was eye to eye.

For a long moment, Benjamin studied his lover. Then he held up a ring that was an exact replica of the one on his own finger, only sized for a larger hand.

"Will you wear my ring of Commitment, Qui-Gon Jinn?" he asked softly, his voice shaking only a little.

Qui-Gon stared at the ring for a long moment before his eyes met Ben's. "Are you certain, Benjamin?" he asked softly. "Once I have your ring, I will never return it to you." He moved his hands, caressing his lover's skin lightly but possessively. "You will be giving yourself to me."

"As you have already given yourself to me," Benjamin replied, his hand steadily holding up the ring. "And I am very certain, Qui-Gon. Will you accept my Commitment?"

"I would be honored, my Benjamin," he said softly as he held up his hand. Benjamin slowly slid the ring into place. "And now you will never be rid of me."

"Thank the stars," Ben breathed and leaned forward to kiss Qui-Gon, a lingering meeting of mouths. Ben leaned back and slowly released a long breath. He felt as if an immense weight had been taken from his mind and he felt almost giddy as he reveled in feelings of love that seemed to be growing stronger. "I love you so much," he murmured against his lover's lips.

Qui-Gon's hands skimmed lightly down the skin of Ben's back, circling and feeling each bit of skin before pulling him closer, brushing their groins together. The Chancellor couldn't believe he was still burning for his lover after taking him twice already but the desire was rising within him again and Benjamin was already hard and waiting.

Councilor Gallia had mentioned this might be one of the effects of the bond but Qui-Gon didn't realize - couldn't have realized - just how much he would burn for his lover until his skin was once again pressed against Ben's.

But now, all he could think about was claiming his lover again. And again.

Benjamin groaned as Qui-Gon's lips began to travel along the shell of his ear, nibbling and tasting, moving slowly down Ben's throat. The teacher arched his neck slightly to allow his lover better access as one of Qui-Gon's hands moved between them to run a gentle thumb along Ben's hardness. The teacher's body reacted with a jerk.

"I want you, please," Benjamin whispered as his own hands started to explore but Qui-Gon stopped and placed Ben's hands back on his shoulders.

"Let me show you how much I missed you," Qui-Gon breathed against Ben's lips as his thumb continued to caress and tease, "How much I love you. Let me relearn your body and hear your pleasure, my Benjamin."

Qui-Gon's lips moved down Ben's throat and settled on the bruise at its base as his hands skillfully sought out Ben's arousal, finding again all the sensitive spots that he knew so well on his intemi's body. The teacher's hands tightened on Qui-Gon's shoulders as his lover's fingers slipped along his body.

"Qui-Gon!" Ben gasped as the man's lips moved down his chest to lave a hard brown nipple while his fingers kept a slow, steady pace, alternating soft caresses and firm strokes that carefully drove his lover again to incoherence. After nipping almost sharply at Ben's left nipple, Qui-Gon moved to the right one, giving it as much attention as the first while his other hand slid absently down to brush across his panting lover's opening.

Benjamin jerked upwards before he pressed back against that hand. A soft keening sound worked its way from his throat and resolved itself into a deep, "Please!"

A moment later, the Chancellor's hands returned and warm fingers firmly stroked down Ben's shaft, accompanied by another soft brush against Ben's tender opening.

Qui-Gon leaned back to study the expressions of desire that crossed Ben's face as he pressed a finger inside his lover. At the same time, he engulfed the teacher's shaft in his oiled palm and swept smoothly upwards. Benjamin's head fell back as and his eyes closed as a panting cry erupted from his lips. Ben's voice was back in his mind, pleading.

Please, Qui-Gon, please, please, now now now now!

The vivid images and emotions that accompanied Ben's words almost made the Chancellor come at that moment. He grabbed for more of the warm oil that he'd left beside the bed, spilling most of it on the blankets before he slicked himself enough. Then Qui-Gon pulled Ben close for another deep kiss as he maneuvered his lover above him. With a sigh of pure bliss, Ben began to slide down the Chancellor's thick erection.

Yes, oh yes, missed this, missed you, love you, love you, love you.

The words echoed in Qui-Gon's mind as Ben's mouth attached itself to his own and the Chancellor could not help but return his own words of love and longing the same way, filling his lover's mind even as he filled Ben's body.

Love you always, my Benjamin, my one, sighed into Benjamin's mind though the teacher hardly realized that his lover's mouth was not moving with the words. The long, slow slide he was making down Qui-Gon's body absorbed his entire being and seemed to take an eternity before Benjamin was seated completely on his lover's lap. He took deep breaths against Qui-Gon's mouth as he adjusted to the feeling of complete fullness he only found with Qui-Gon Jinn, fullness of body and mind and emotion. No one else had ever affected Benjamin in such a way.

I love you, Benjamin Lars, Qui-Gon's thought filled his lover's mind and Ben leaned back to meet his eyes.

"Qui-Gon, my home," Ben replied with a heavy breath, not yet understanding that his lover's words were in his mind as he lifted his body almost completely from his lover and then thrust himself back down.

More silent words were sent between them along the link, passing emotion and desire back and forth, building again slowly as Benjamin set a steady hard pace, impaling himself again before his lover grabbed his waist and angled him, thrusting up hard even as Ben pressed down. The teacher screamed as Qui-Gon's shaft stoked directly against his deep pleasure and a warm slick palm gripped Ben's erection.

The combination of a fierce ecstasy and the presence of so many emotions swirling through his mind brought the young man to a third intense climax as he shouted Qui-Gon's name. His body shuddered and squeezed his lover inside, bringing Qui-Gon to the same pinnacle and pushing him over to follow his lover.

Benjamin slumped against Qui-Gon's body, his arms wrapping around the larger man's shoulders. Qui-Gon pulled him close and buried his face in Ben's neck breathing in the younger man's scent and trying to calm his body.

After a long moment, Ben started chuckling tiredly as his fingers stroked Qui-Gon's hair. The Chancellor leaned back just enough to catch his eyes.

"What is funny, my Benjamin?" he asked as his hands moved up his lover's back, arranging Ben more comfortably on his lap. Benjamin gave him a smirk as he pressed his hands onto Qui-Gon's chest.

"I never thought I'd be saying this, but I think I might have had enough sex for awhile," he sighed with a sated smile.

"Have you, indeed?" Qui-Gon asked as his eyes roamed along Ben's sleek body. His hands smoothed down Ben's flanks and then along the thighs spread on either side of his lap. His thumbs then ran along the inside of those strong thighs, making Benjamin shiver as Qui-Gon leaned forward with a short thrust.

"Qui-Gon!" Ben exclaimed in a laughing tone. "Don't tell me you want to - "

"As I said, I missed you very much, my beautiful Benjamin," Qui-Gon purred as his warm hand engulfed Ben's quickly hardening length.

"Have you been at the Abinstin again?" Benjamin gasped before he chuckled breathlessly.

Qui-Gon smirked as he listened to his lover moan his name softly. "I considered it but with you I don't need such things," he murmured and pulled Ben's head back gently, baring his throat again.

Meanwhile, across the planet, another reunion was happening in a place of Darkness.

"You have failed me, Venom," Darth Sidious stated, his pale eyes glared at the kneeling form before him.

"I had the boy and the Jedi," Venom ground out. "Mojere's people are to blame for their loss."

"For which he has paid with his life," the master sneered and flicked his wrist. Searing pain jolted down the apprentice's back and beneath the black clothes the mark of a whip lashed into the skin. "Another mark in your disfavor, my apprentice. He will be difficult to replace."

"His own fault, Master," Venom seethed, hands curling into fists. "He should have been prepared for-"

"Enough!" Sidious snapped and gestured, his voice echoed by his apprentice's rising cries of racking pain. A benevolent smile appeared on Sidious' face as he clenched his fingers, directing the Dark Force to vent his own anger on the body of his apprentice. He felt his apprentice's pain and fury exploding into the Force; Venom's hate so profound and deep that it impressed even the darkness of the Sith master.

"You have failed me, my apprentice," Sidious continued, his voice harsh as he absorbed the waves of anguish and loathing washing over him. "And you will pay the price. I will make sure this is the last time you cost me so much!"

Then only the cries of a Sith apprentice echoed off the walls.

Later, Darth Venom collapsed at the small apartment Darth Sidious kept close by, breathing heavily and trying to control the pain. Oh, Sidious would pay for this, the thought ran through a mind seeped in darkness. The Sith master would die slowly and beg for release by the time Venom finished the work.

And that Jedi...Owen Lars. The rage and hate Venom felt overflowed and strengthened the body so racked with pain. Imaginings of what Venom would do to Owen once the knight was captured - Jedi pain, Jedi fury, Jedi blood flowing into Venom's hands - gave the Sith even more power to heal the damage caused by his master.

Venom knew why Lord Sidious wanted the Jedi. Sidious never said outright but Venom knew Lars was to be a new apprentice of the Sith. And since there could be only two, the current apprentice had no illusions about what the Sith master would do then.

The obvious solution was the kill Lars, preferably as slowly and messily as possible, depriving Sidious of what he wanted most. And then Venom would take great pleasure in turning all the rage and pain of the last years on the Sith master and then Venom's own revenge would begin.

Early that evening, Khamier approached the suite the Jedi had set aside for the Chancellor and quickly glanced over the guards there. His second in command, Kiers A'larni, along with the other guards assigned to Jinn for the afternoon were stationed just across the hall. Opposite them were four Jedi knights two on either side of the door.

Glancing quickly over the Jedi, Khamier was amused to find they had far from the usual emotionless expressions on their faces. On the contrary, they seemed to be fidgeting somewhat and the two nearest the door were actually sweating.

The Primary didn't speak to them as he motioned his second to join him and they moved further down the hallway. He knew the Jedi could, and probably were listening to their conversation but he ignored them completely.

"A'larni, you will be in charge for the rest of the evening. I will be available should you need to comm me for emergencies but otherwise I will be incommunicado."

The tall second nodded shortly. "I will be wary, Primary," he stated in his flat tones.

"I don't anticipate that the Chancellor will want to return to the Senate until tomorrow morning but call me immediately if he does." The second nodded again and Khamier glanced back at the fidgeting Jedi. "I understand from Master Gallia that you and the others may eat in the dining hall here. Make sure everyone gets a break. The Jedi will be able to point you in the right direction."

A'larni nodded again and then noted, "The Jedi seem to be rather nervous, Commander."

Khamier smirked before he glanced back to his second. "Nervous isn't what they are, Kiers," the Primary commented. "I suspect they are picking up what's going on inside the suite. And you know Qui-Gon almost as well as I do. When it comes to his pleasures, he is not exactly subtle."

Kiers looked a bit surprised and then studied the knights again. They were starting to look a bit worked up. He wondered why they were so affected by the Chancellor this time since he'd never seen this effect on the Jedi before.

"Should we request replacements, Commander?" he asked in a thoughtful tone. Khamier shook his head.

"No, let the Jedi deal with their own," he stated firmly. Then he smirked again. "But if you feel the need to send the guards on breaks at the same time as the Jedi, let them know a little stress relief for both would not be a problem. We're going to be here all night."

A'larni gave his commander a quick nod. "I'll pass that along, sir," he said as Khamier moved away from him and disappeared down the hallway. Kiers then returned to his place across from the suite where the Supreme Chancellor was entertaining the love of his life. He didn't think he imagined the calculating looks he was now receiving from both sides of the hallway.

Owen sighed as he soaked gratefully in a tubful of hot water. The healers had done a thorough job on his various aches and pains but he still felt like a two-ton Lophant had run him down. Probably the cumulative result of the string of stress-filled missions he'd indulged in before this last one. Given the emotional and physical stress of his time on Callis, however, Owen decided that he would much prefer having to fight his way off Congressional floors rather than bodyguard his brother again.

And then there was the Council scene this afternoon. He'd been interrogated for two hours straight concerning Benjamin, his bond with Jinn and of course the Sith, though none of the Councilors quite came out and called the Dark warrior that. The questions the Council members asked were even irritating Yoda by the time he was released for the afternoon or rather evening.

Owen sighed as he strove to push the Council meeting from his mind. It was, by far, the worst session he'd ever been involved in. Had his master been there, he felt sure she too would have been ready to rise up and slay the Council. Or at least give them a few choice words.

Finally, Owen resorted to a light meditation to relax, feeling the warm water still around and over his body. As his thoughts drifted aimlessly, Owen found himself remembering his arrival this afternoon and a brief touch on his cheek, an unexpected flash of heat when Khamier calmly announced he was going to kill whomever it was that had hurt him.

Owen snorted, releasing the meditation as he reached for the soap. He was a Jedi and could very well take care of himself!

After a long soak in the tub, Owen pulled himself out of the water. He quickly dried himself off and rubbed the worst of the water out of his hair before he pulled on his sleeping pants and his most comfortable tunic. He briefly considered a much-needed meditation but he found all he cared about now was getting something to eat and climbing into his bed.

Wouldn't it be nice if your bed wasn't empty? the thought wandered through his mind as he stopped in front of his cooler and jerked open the door, looking for something sweet to drink. Wouldn't it be nice to curl up next to a warm, hard body, one that would -

"Damn it! Stop THINKING!" Owen snapped out loud. Obviously, his brother's strong bond with Qui-Gon was affecting him as well. Owen had never worried about having an empty bed before. Despite his avocation as a Jedi, he rather preferred an empty bed.

Your bed has never been empty until this last mission...

Owen leaned his head against the cooler with a thump. "Force, just shut up. I'm tired. I'm achy. And all I want is sleep. I don't care if it is in an empty bed."

The silence in his mind wasn't nearly as comforting as he would have hoped.

With a sigh, Owen flipped off the lights in the kitchen and the living room before he headed for his bedroom. He was almost there when the door chimed. Owen stopped and stared across the room at the door, considering if he could ignore the chime. He carefully extended his senses beyond the door and froze when he identified who was on the other side. Unable to quite believe what his senses were telling him, Owen crossed the room and palmed opened the door.

Khamier Sarin leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, his golden eyes thoughtful. He met Owen's surprised gaze for a moment before he brushed by him and walked into the apartment.

"I wondered if you would answer the door, Jedi," he said, his smooth voice soft.

Owen stared at him, still doubting his eyes. "How did you get into the living quarters?" he asked vaguely. Khamier flashed him a grin.

"I called in some favors," he said as he prowled through the living room, into the kitchen, into the bathing room, and finally into the bedroom, looking at everything, trying to understand Owen through his surroundings. Finally, he moved back into the living room. "Not much in the way of comfort here," he stated.

"Usually, I'm not here long enough to care," came the flat reply as Owen watched the zabrak stop beside a table and pick up a holo cube. He flipped through the pictures as if he had a right to be looking at them.

With a growl, Owen stalked across the room and jerked the cube out of Khamier's hands before he sat it carefully back on the table.

"What are you doing here?" he asked barely maintaining a polite tone.

Khamier looked the Jedi up and down, taking in his damp hair and his sleeping attire. Then he smiled. Owen backed up a pace without even thinking.

"We have unfinished business, Jedi," the bodyguard said as he moved forward, pacing after the retreating knight.

"I told you I'd have the report for you tomorrow, Sarin," Owen stated as he forced himself to stand still and meet the oncoming zabrak. Of course, the wall he bumped into behind him helped.

"That is not the business I referred to," Khamier purred as his arms came to rest on the wall on either side of Owen's body. He leaned up and carefully ran his cheek up the knight's neck to his ear, breathing in his unique scent.

Owen turned his head slightly, allowing the zabrak to taste the skin just beneath his ear. His breath left him all at once along with most of his upper brain functions before he forced himself to place his hands on Khamier's chest and push him away. The bodyguard looked at him in surprise that melted into calculation almost immediately.

"Khamier," Owen said, holding up his hands. "Please listen to me," he asked as Khamier moved closer again. The zabrak stopped, his golden eyes questioning and Owen took his lack of forward motion as assent to speak. "We've been playing this game since we left on the Chancellor's Tour," the knight said, his voice almost unsteady. "But right now, I'm too tired to play. I'm just...tired."

Khamier looked as if he doubted the knight's words and Owen sighed as he rubbed his dark eyes. He winced as he fingered his still tender cheek.

"I know you don't understand but Callis took a lot out of me. The emotions racketing up and down Benjamin's bond rattled my teeth more often than not. He needs to be trained to shield. And then there was Bruck and Yoda. Stars only know what Yoda was looking for! He's always had his own agenda and even my master didn't understand him most of the time. And then those damn mercenaries and that Sith - "

Khmaier backed away a step and studied the Jedi. Owen's babbling convinced Khamier more than anything else did that the knight wasn't exaggerating his exhaustion. Owen hadn't said this much to him during the whole of the Tour and the weeks afterward on Callis.

" - I hope that whatever caverns they came from are where they crawled back to. And what the Sith hells are you doing?" Khamier had taken Owen's arm and was pulling him towards the bedroom.

"Bed, Jedi."

"Sarin, I said I was tired." Owen said in a tone almost approaching a whine. He nearly bit his tongue off.

"I heard you," the zabrak replied as he pulled back the covers and pushed the knight onto the bed. "Lay down," the zabrak commanded. Owen leaned back warily and watched in confusion as Khamier quickly stripped off his shirt and carefully set his comm unit and his ever-present blaster on the table beside his bed. Then he pulled off his boots and turned off the lights before he crawled into the bed and settled beside Owen. He pulled the knight's back to his chest and wound his arms loosely around Owen's body. "Now, sleep Jedi."

Owen could hardly believe what was happening. He'd watched the zabrak undress and crawl into bed beside him but he still couldn't believe Khamier was there. His thoughts were whirling at lightspeed even as Khamier pulled him closer.

"Relax," the zabrak said, his honey-dark voice soft. "Sleep."

"Force!" Owen sighed as he suddenly felt all resistance drain away and he went completely boneless in Khamier's arms. "I don't understand you, Sarin," he grumbled.

Behind him, the zabrak chuckled. "Good."

Owen fell asleep to the feel of Khamier Sarin gently nuzzling the back of his neck.

Commander Sarin woke several hours later as Owen stretched against him, murmured something unintelligible and then sighed. Carefully, Khamier reached forward to push the dark hair from the knight's eyes. Sometime during the passing hours, the Jedi had turned and was now facing him, one arm curled under his pillow and the other laying between them with Owen's hand curled against Khamier's chest.

Khamier watched the man for a while, noting the relaxed expression on his face which was far more becoming than the expressionless mask he favored when on duty.

In his capacity as Primary Guardian to the Supreme Chancellor, Khamier had met many Jedi in their roles of negotiator or bodyguard on various missions for the Senate. He had even found a Jedi Padawan in his bed once or twice after a long, boring Senate reception. But he had never found himself as intrigued by anyone, much less any Jedi, as he was by Knight Owen Lars.

He remembered running into Owen several years ago when, as a padawan, he was on Senate rotation. Khamier knew from Owen's records - which the Primary just happened to run across after he returned from Callis - that Owen had had an unusually short term at the Senate, supposedly due to his Master's busy diplomatic schedules. Senators had never overly favored the padawan though Chancellor Jinn had requested Padawan Lars' company more than once, which was unusual for Qui-Gon Jinn.

During his search for information, however, Khamier noted that Senator Palpatine had requested Owen's service towards the end of the padawan's rotation and shortly after the request, Padawan Lars had reported to the Temple Medical Wing. Nothing was recorded about the padawan's reasons for reporting for healing but shortly thereafter the Temple had sent an official, harshly worded reprimand to Senator Palpatine and had revoked his privileges for six months afterward. Despite this, there was a record of another request made by Palpatine for Owen's company but by then, the Temple had pulled Padawan Lars for yet another mission with his Master and had never returned him to active Senate duty.

In all his searches for inconsistencies in Senator Palpatine's behavior, his actions towards Owen were the only thing Khamier could find that might be questioned. Amazingly enough, once Palpatine's privileges were restored, the Temple had invoked its right to monitor his use of the rotation padawans and knights, an action that Khamier had rarely heard invoked against any senator. Even to this day, the Temple monitored the senator's requests and the status of the requested Jedi afterwards. Whatever Palpatine had done to Padawan Lars must have been harsh to provoke such action from the Temple.

Just thinking of Palpatine touching Owen made Khamier tense and bare his teeth. Just thinking of anyone touching the Jedi made Khamier growl under his breath and he pulled the knight close. Beside him, Owen shifted restlessly in his sleep and the zabrak forced himself to relax. The Jedi stilled again and Khamier allowed himself to stroke Owen's dark hair.

As a knight, Owen Lars was one of the most independent and self-reliant Jedi that Khamier had seen but unlike many of the Order, he didn't go out of his way to attract sexual attention. He was calm and serene - typically irritating Jedi traits - but he was also private and tended to discourage general flirtations. On the transport during the recent Educational Tour, Khamier had seen many of the crew interested in the Jedi when it became obvious that Chancellor Jinn was not going to avail himself of the Jedi's services. Owen deflected all attempts to lure him into bed and still the crew chased him. At least until Khamier had signaled his interest. At that point, crew offers across the ship had dropped to zero and Khamier had begun his game of "Stalking the Jedi".

The zabrak was distracted from his pleasant thoughts by his companion's sleepy words. Owen seemed to be speaking clearly though Khamier couldn't understand a single word the man spoke. The bodyguard watched the Jedi thoughtfully. Owen must be deeply exhausted if he was babbling even in his sleep.

Khamier had almost decided to pull Owen close and allow himself to fall asleep again when the younger man sighed and moved closer, pressing his whole body against his bedmate, almost purring as he ran his fingertips up the zabrak's chest. Khamier stared down at the Jedi who still appeared to be asleep but who was rapidly causing his blood pressure to rise along with certain parts of his anatomy. The bodyguard felt himself hardening as Owen's fingertips lingered over his nipples, caressing and gently scratching. The knight suddenly pressed closer, letting the zabrak know that he wasn't the only one in this bed who was painfully aroused.

The bodyguard released an explosive breath as Owen pressed his lips to Khamier's neck and nibbled.

"Jedi," he growled as he tried to keep his hands from roaming as freely as Owen's were. "You said you wanted to sleep."

"Mmmmmmm," Owen murmured against the zabrak's throat. His voice was deep and rough with sleep and at that point, Khamier Sarin decided that he'd question his ethics later since Owen seemed quite determined and who was he, a simple bodyguard, to question such determination?

Owen knew he was dreaming. No one could feel so good and taste so sweet as Khamier Sarin. Somewhere in the back on his mind, the Jedi knew that Khamier was hard and rough, not gentle and sweet, and not oh so smooth when Owen rubbed his body against him. Khamier's hands against his skin might leave bruises but not this tingle of fire that grew with every passing moment as the zabrak trailed fingertips down his chest. And Owen's voice would certainly never produce the kind of whimpers and moans that poured forth as Khamier wrapped strong fingers around his cloth-bound erection.

No, this had to be a dream as one phantom hand massaged his hardness with an exquisite touch and the other was helping him pull off his sleep shirt. He tried to strip off his pants as well but his lover kept him still.

"I like the feel of silk against you," he whispered as he stroked long sure fingers down the now damp cloth and then squeezed. "Silk and steel."

"Force!" Owen hissed as he arched into that touch. His hands closed around hard, muscled arms as he felt a swift nip on his neck. He raised his chin and felt an approving hum as those lips sucked on the tender skin just below his jaw. "Please," the knight moaned.

"Slowly," the honey smooth words whispered in his ear as the fingers slowed and tightened against the cloth which still hid the Jedi's hard flesh. Owen pressed upwards into that demanding hand.

"Khamier, Please!"

"Slowly, Owen," Khamier's voice breathed as he nipped an ear and flexed his fingers. Owen moaned and arched again. "I want you to come when you're inside me and not one heartbeat before."

Owen's dark eyes snapped open to find Khamier's wicked smile beaming down on him and Khamier's skillful fingers bringing him just to the brink again and then backing him away as Owen cried out.

"Force damn it, Khamier!" he snarled and the bodyguard kissed him hard and deep as he pressed his own naked body against Owen's. His leg wound around the knight's hip and pulled the Jedi hard against him as his hands scraped down Owen's back. He pressed his erection against Owen as he nipped at the knight's neck again.

"Don't you want to be inside me, Owen?" he asked, rubbing himself in a long, slow stroke against the Jedi, growling at the feel of silk and steel.

"Yesss," Owen hissed into the zabrak's mouth as he pressed closer, still not quite believing this was happening.

"Don't you want to take me?" Khamier whispered as his hands slid down the curve of Owen's ass and he ground their groins together.

"Skies, YES!" the Jedi growled as he rolled Khamier onto his back and covered him with his own body. Owen's lips took his lover's mouth in a furious kiss as the bodyguard opened his legs and wrapped them around Owen's hips. Khamier arched up underneath the knight as he pushed Owen's sleeping pants down until they disappeared. Then he ran the soles of his feet up the back of the knight's legs, opening himself to Owen as he pressed up against his lover.

"Then take me, Jedi," Khamier commanded, his eyes practically glowing in the dim morning light seeping in from the windows. "Take me now!"

"YES!" Owen's hands dug into Khamier's upper arms and the zabrak suddenly felt the influx of erotic power he'd felt briefly before on Callis. His whole frame shuddered as Owen's power flowed from one body to the other at the points where they were touching, racing back and forth as they arched against each other. Then Khamier felt a cord of power coalescing and caressing his opening.

"Ancestors, YES!" Khamier gasped and his eyes widened as he felt the power slip inside him, stretching and moving as Owen leaned back and watched, his eyes narrow and gleaming with arousal. Owen's power moved within him to caress that deep part inside him that had rarely been touched in his long lifetime. "Jedi!" he shouted in surprise as he arched almost instinctively.

"I am going to take you, Khamier," Owen stated as he watched and waited, unbearably aroused by the zabrak's body writhing beneath him. "But I won't hurt you."

Another long, undulating movement within him and Khamier screamed. "NOW Owen!"

The Jedi didn't wait any longer. He pushed Khamier's legs up and pressed his erection against the zabrak's stretched opening. Slowly, he pushed inside, feeling each inch pulling and pressing him further into the heart of Khamier's pleasure.

Khamier almost screamed again as he felt the intrusion as the Force still inside him raced back and forth between him and Owen. He threw his hands above his head, grabbing the headboard before he arched, snapping his legs around Owen's hips and pulling the Jedi all the way inside him.

"Khamier!" Owen cried out, torn between the ecstasy of being buried in his lover and worry over possibly having hurt him.

"Hard, Jedi!" Sarin seethed as he arched again. "Hard and fast!"

Owen gave over his concern as he pulled out and slammed back inside his lover. Using every skill he'd ever learned growing up and training in the Jedi temple, Owen made fierce, passionate love to the man beneath him. He could feel Khamier's cries of pleasure vibrating through his body as well as hear his own echo through the room. The power he had called flew back and forth between them as the rhythm Owen established became faster and faster. Khamier's legs tightened around his hips as Owen reached between them to wrap his fingers around the bodyguard's straining erection.

"Not yet!" Khamier cried out as his hand covered Owen's. "Harder!"

Owen slammed deeper and harder into his lover, using all his skill to hit that pleasure center he'd found that made his lover scream.

"Now, Khamier?" A curse and a question as his fingers tightened around his lover's shaft.

"Deeper!"

"NOW!"

"MORE!" The zabrak was almost hoarse from shouting.

"NOW DAMNIT!" Owen demanded.

"YES!"

Khamier exploded with a cry, his seed spraying against Owen's chest even as the Jedi rocked violently inside him, loosing a torrent of his own. Owen froze for a long moment, almost hovering above the zabrak, suspended by the currents of the Force he'd called. Finally, he slowly lowered himself to curl up beside his lover.

There were long minutes of silence. Neither man moved as they struggled to remember how to breathe.

"FORCE!" was Owen's final comment as Khamier reached out to press his hand against the hot surface of Owen's chest and rub the semen there slowly over skin. It was an iridescent color and Khamier focused intently on his slowly moving hand, covering every inch of his lover's chest with the smooth liquid.

After a while, when his brain started functioning again, Owen realized that Khamier was not rubbing the semen off but rubbing it into his skin. "What are you doing, Khamier?" he asked, vaguely curious.

"Just marking my territory," Khamier replied in a husky tone.

Owen caught his hand and Khamier looked up at him with narrowed eyes. The knight pulled his lover's hand to his lips to taste. The zabrak watched closely as the Jedi's lips closed over his fingers. Khamier's seed tasted like no one he'd tasted before.

"Sweet, like honey," Owen murmured as he pulled Khamier closer. "You realize that you're marking Republic Held territory, don't you?" he teased in a low tone.

Khamier's gold eyes flared and he growled deep in his throat. "Not anymore," he snapped as he leaned forward and bit the hell out of Owen's shoulder, ripping skin and drawing blood.

"OWWW! Damnit Sarin!"

The knight didn't have time for more than a few expletives before the zabrak leaned back and coated the bite with the remaining semen covering Owen's chest. The fluid immediately seeped into the wound, mixing with Owen's blood and burning its way through the knight's veins with a power that had Owen screaming, arching upwards in overwhelming pain and pleasure. Vaguely, Owen felt Khamier clamp down on the bite with teeth and tongue as the knight came again, the hardest he could ever remember coming in his life.

The last thing Owen heard before everything faded to black was Khamier's dark honey voice hissing "MINE!"

24968.05.30 - Late Afternoon

Owen moved through the halls of the Jedi Temple, his mind struggling to focus on his upcoming mission assignment rather than the evening before and the way in which he had awakened late this morning: in an empty bed, completely clean and no sign whatsoever that Khamier had been there. No sign except for the brutal bite on his shoulder and an immensely sated feeling he'd rarely achieved in his lifetime of training as a Jedi.

The Jedi knight picked up his pace a bit as he moved towards the Council Chamber. He had had to stop at the healers' wing briefly. The apprentice healer had looked at the bite wound with a curious gaze but said nothing as she noted his files and then healed the wound. He supposed she had seen worse love-bites in her time but he couldn't imagine them.

Thoughtfully, Owen rubbed at his shoulder. It still burned and tingled, reminding him of last night again in vivid detail. The knight was still surprised at the severity of the bite Khamier had inflicted. And Owen couldn't even excuse it as his lover being lost in passion. Khamier had bitten him after the fact.

Pushing his thoughts aside for the moment, Owen tried again to focus on his upcoming meeting of the Council. Despite his stop at the healers, he was still on time so why was he feeling so nervous?

The door to the Council Chamber opened silently and he moved forward, sensing almost immediately that his master waited within. Yinyan greeted him with a serene smile and a nod as he moved to stand beside her in the center of the chamber.

"Masters," he said with a half-bow.

"Knight Lars," Yoda replied, his green old eyes sharp on the young knight. "Late, you are."

Owen tilted his head curiously. "Master Yoda, I only received the summons an hour ago," he said.

"The gift of prescience you have. Know already you should," the little master huffed.

The knight looked slightly confused at Yoda's unusual scolding.

"Master," Yinyan interrupted gently. She knew her master was worried though he would never admit such a thing. "Knight Lars has arrived promptly. Perhaps you should tell us of the mission."

"Know already you do," Yoda said as he settled deeper into his chair. "The Chancellor has requested intervention. To Naboo, you will go. Negotiate an end to the blockade, you will." The little Jedi stared up at his former padawan. "Brief Knight Lars completely on the transport."

Yinyan nodded slightly as her eyes moved to the Jedi at her side. While he had his serene expression firmly in place, she could feel Owen's confusion at Yoda's words through their faint link.

"Master, forgive me for asking but does the Chancellor know who you are sending on this mission?" she asked as her former padawan glanced at her in surprise.

"The best, he asked for," Yoda said almost testily. "The best will we send."

"But Master, the Chancellor will be angry-"

"We are aware of the risks, Master Yinyan," Knight Mundi interrupted softly from his seat next to Yoda. "You are the pair to go on this assignment. There is no other pair we could send to complete the mission."

Yinyan was aware of a heavy curiosity coming from her former padawan as well as a sense of purpose coming from the Councilors around them. She sighed inwardly and bowed.

"Very well, Masters," she said as she shared a glance with Owen.

"Masters, I was requested to file a report of the Callis mission with Chancellor's Jinn's Primary this afternoon," Knight Lars noted carefully. He couldn't decide if he was relieved or disappointed that he wouldn't be able to keep his appointment with Khamier.

"Make the report, Knight Chun can," Yoda said in a final tone.

"Thank you, Master," Owen said with a bow before he and Yinyan turned to leave until another voice spoke.

"Just a moment," Eeth Koth said. Yinyan and Owen glanced back before they moved again to the center of the room. "Knight Lars," the zabrak Councilor began, his nostrils flaring slightly as he tilted his head as though catching a scent. "Have you been intimate with a zabrak within the past few days?"

Considering his training and the fact that sex was an everyday facet of his life as a Jedi, Owen Lars was amazed to feel his cheeks flush before he was able to overcome the sensation. Images of the past evening flashed before his eyes before he took a moment to calm himself. He cleared his throat and nodded.

"Yes, Master Koth."

Eeth Koth narrowed his eyes. "Did he, by chance, bite you? Here?" The Councilor reached up to touch his own shoulder in the precise place Khamier had bitten Owen. The young knight restrained himself from reaching up to touch the healed wound. The burning sensation seemed to worsen as he remembered the evening before.

"Yes, Master Koth. Last night-"

"Padawan!" Yinyan gasped in an appalled tone.

"Master?" Owen gave his former teacher a surprised look.

"Have you not got the sense that Zomm gave the dweebles?" she snapped, losing the professional serenity she'd always held before.

Surprised at her tone, the knight glanced back to Councilor Koth and then around the chamber. They were staring at him with various looks of disbelief.

"I-"

"What possessed you to allow such a thing?" Yinyan asked. She was obviously trying to control some strong emotions as she glared at him.

"Well-"

"Did he seal the bite as well?" she snapped impatiently.

"Seal it?" Owen asked rather breathlessly as his hand clenched in the sleeves of his robe. His eyes glazed slightly as he suddenly remembered hard fingers passing over the bite, rubbing in the iridescent liquid that has tasted so sweet.

His flushed face was all the answer Master Yinyan needed. "Padawan!"

"What?" Owen finally demanded, still feeling the burning flush spreading from his shoulder. "I don't understand what the problem is."

"Did you never take Zabrakian Physiology and Mating Habits, Knight Lars?" asked Ki-Adi Mundi in a soothing tone though his red eyes were almost as accusing.

"No Master," Owen replied hastily as he glanced around again. "Whenever I was slated for that class, Master Yinyan and I were off-planet on a mission or I was recommended to another course."

"Recommended by whom?" Master Adi Gallia asked, her elegant eyebrows raising even as she turned her eyes to another. Yinyan was already glaring at her former Master, obviously trying to spear him with her eyes alone.

"Master Yoda," Owen said faintly as all eyes in the room turned on the short Head of the Council. Yoda was studying his gimer stick intently.

"Important, it was, that he study microbiology and reproductive systems of Tethem plants," Yoda stated calmly.

"Master!" Yinyan snapped in stunned awe. "How could you do this?"

"Do what?" Owen finally asked. He knew there was a reason he had never liked addressing the Council and this was it. He felt as if he were six years old and completely confused by whatever the Council seemed to understand perfectly.

Yinyan turned to him, her lavender eyes wide. For the first time in all the years he had known her his master seemed completely speechless.

"Now is not the time for this," Master Gallia interrupted as she leaned forward. "Leave this issue for when you return, Master Yinyan. We can take up what is to be done at that time."

"Done about what?" Owen almost shouted. His master shook her head sharply before she bowed briefly again. Then she gestured for him to follow her. Owen quickly fell into step beside her and as the Council Room doors shut behind them, he was amazed to hear the most inventive curses flowing from her lips. All concerning Master Yoda though a few were spared for the "Zabrak Menace" who had obviously compromised her former padawan.

"Master, what is it?" the knight nearly wailed and then shut his mouth. The last time he had wailed like that, he'd been sixteen years old.

Yinyan stopped and took a long, deep breath before she turned to her former Padawan. "Owen, we have a hard mission ahead of us and I have much to brief you on. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to address this issue right now. But I will make sure this is corrected when we return."

"But what is wrong, Master?" the knight said from between gritted teeth.

His former Master stared at him before she turned and walked down the hallways. "We have a mission to attend to, Owen. We can discuss this on the transport."

Owen watched his master walk away, his hands fisted in his sleeves and his jaw clenched tightly. After another moment, however, he consciously released the strain in his body and moved to follow her. They did have a mission to complete. But Coruscant's Primary Star would freeze over before he'd allow this subject to drop once they were in space.

Carefully, he ran his fingertips along his shoulder and breathed deeply as the healed wound tingled again. Damn that stupid zabrak! What the hells had he done?

The End, For Now....