Warnings: Spoilers to TPM for those that haven't seen it (as if!). First time writing. "Judge tenderly of me."-Emily Dickinson
Feedback: PLEASE! I wanna know how horrifying and cheesy this thing really is!
Disclaimer: ALL RIGHT LIST SIBS! LET'S SAY THIS AGAIN! THIS TIME WITH FEELING! "Lucas, you own All of Star Wars, don't sue us or glower. We're just having fun, though we wish they were ours!"
Rating: R
Summary: We all talk about them coming here, or us visiting them at any time but TPM. What if one of us landed right IN TPM? How would we affect the story?
Category: Angst, Romance, Comedy, it's got it all! We twist Kenobi's heart so badly we can smell the blood!
THANKS TO: Lynxcat and Libby for being Betas and sound boards at 4 AM! All mistakes are my own, don't crucify me! CP'S UNITE!!!

You crawl through the ventilation system, wanting to swear long, loud and creatively. Somehow, you thought it was necessary to go and see the Phantom Menace for the umpteenth time, and decided that it would be a good idea to bring the stuff you need for work into the theater with you. Suddenly, you feel dizzy and wind up in that trade Federation star ship. You leap into the ventilation system to avoid being caught.

Somehow, you think you are either crazy or stupid. Either way, you are not hanging around in open corridor to see what those battle droids will do.

Better crazy than dead. As far as you can tell, there was probably nothing wrong with you that some Prozac and a polo mallet wouldn't cure.

Your pack for work contains your laptop and everything including the kitchen sink if you count that bowl, packet of soap and bottle of water. It also is packed so well that nothing short of taking a sledge to it would hurt it. You decide that it would be a good idea if you tied the contraption around your ankle to free up your hands for climbing as you did with your pack during your caving days. You crawl to an open duct and hear

"...requests permission to land."

"Of course..."

This must be the bridge! You crawl to see TC-whatever-her-number-is walking away. You crawl off down the corridor she goes desperately trying to keep up.You hear echoing through the ventilation system the famous conversation. At Qui-Gon's "The negotiations will be short." You can't help but mouth the words then mutter "You ain't just whistling Dixie."

You crawl back to the bridge just in time to witness Sidious talking to the Neimiodians. You bite your lip and think. Moment of truth, warn 'em?

Cons: To other people foreknowledge and no Force sensitivity spells suspicious involvement, especially for Jedi. You would get shot at repeatedly, probably by both sides, with a possibility of your last sight being the business end of a lightsaber up close and personal.

Pro: possibility of getting off this ship before that Skywalker kid blows it to hell.

That clinched it. The ability to get off this death trap, even at the risk of suspicion from the good guys, is worth it. Besides, once on the planet, you can run like hell and let 'history' take its course. After all, you fuck up the time line, Luke might never be born and then where the hell would Lucas be?

You crawl back through the short distance and find yourself at the ventilation grate right above the negotiation table. TC- was serving drinks. You try to push the grate down with no success. You push withall your might and it suddenly gives loose, causing you to pitch ass over teakettle into the table. You land on your back and, just because the Force hates you today, your pack lands on your stomach for good measure.

"Ow-ee," you say weakly and a little pathetically.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" you hear Qui-Gon ask at your elbow.

You can't help but wonder... do Jedi always ask the moronically obvious?

"Oh yeah," you say sitting up shakily, "Clever of me to use my SPINE to break my fall." Then you suddenly remember why you are here. "They are going to kill you!"

"What?" Obi-Wan asks leaning closer to you on the table.

"They are going to kill both you and the pilots of the..." then you hear the fateful explosion rock the ship.

The two Jedi turn away from you and light their sabers. You leap from the table and put your pack on your back. TC apologizes.

"How did you.." you hear Obi-Wan start then you hear the hissing from the grate at the floor.

"Gas." Qui-Gon states blandly.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," you can't help but mutter. They both look at you sharply, then each takes in a deep breath. You hyperventilate a bit before taking yours; you've found it screws up your heartbeat and makes it easier to consciously control, and right now, you want it to slow down so you can survive this part. You have held your breath for one minute and forty-five seconds before.

You close your eyes and try to make your racing heart calm as you sense the yellow gas swallow you up. You hang on and hold. After what seems like aneternity, you feel as if your lungs are going to burst. Forced to by an instinct more primal than eating, you slowly exhale trying to hang on for a few more precious seconds...

Suddenly there is a mouth pressed against yours; guessing by the beard, you figure out who it is. Shock makes you freeze until your feel the gentle pressure of air slip through your lips! Oh, god, he is giving you a gift of a precious lungful of air! You accept it, cutting off from him when you have barely enough to get your burning lungs to their normal resting capacity. No way are you taking any more than you have to! If the man can read thoughts, you think a big thank you and let yourself feel a giant wash of gratitude.

<<You are welcome.>> You hear a gentle baritone from everywhereat once and nowhere at all. <<Hang on, they will open the door soon.When they do, exit behind us, breathe some good air and get ready to run.>>

Run. Okay, you're good at that - you run every other day at the gym.

You hear the door open and TC exit. Okay, six to eight guards wait here, more random ones in the hall. All right. Wait for it... You hear the sabers activate, but don't open your eyes. You have a feeling if you can SEE the damn gas, it can't be too healthy for optics. You hear the beginnings of afirefight and time your exit. You feel the door and a change in temperature to indicate you are out of the death trap.

You open your eyes and breathe. You get the tail end of a wisp of the gas in you and you choke, eyes watering but recover. You look up to see that the dynamic duo is even more amazing in person. Suddenly you feel like a wimp. Six years of karate did not teach you how to defend against battle droids. You will have a word - several, in fact, and none of them flattering - with your sensei when you get back about that gap in your training.

You grab a blaster, figuring that all those years of sneaking out to play with your brother's BB gun might pay off. You see a droid coming at you and before you realize what you are doing you have raised your arm, aimed and squeezed out a round, catching the thing square in the chest and causing it to fall.

*I guess there is something to be said for survival instincts.* That brings another thought. * Do these things run out of ammo?*

Guess you are going to find out the hard way. You feel a pluck on your sleeve and see that Obi-Wan is signaling that they are on the move.

You trail behind them, letting them plow the road while you check over your back for stragglers. When they come, you shoot them down as best you can while running at top speed. Your shots seem way too good for you, considering how your day has been going. So the Force is making up for trying to kill you with gas by letting you shoot good. You are not going to complain.

Damn, there are lots more droids than in the movie...

You reach the door and watch as Qui-Gon attempts to cut an opening. Well, better than trying to Han Solo it and end up closing the blast doors on yourself. This time there were no walkers and definitely no Chewie.

You take his left while Obi-Wan takes his right and you both guard him. After one particularly unnecessary showy move you shake your head at young male ego and mutter at him while shooting off a droid's head "You take way too much pleasure in your work."

He simply smiles slightly and blocks a blaster bolt so it hits the droid that fired it. You look at Qui-Gon's progress and look up the hall waiting...

Shit! Droidekas from all THREE SIDES! That was different. You immediately pick up a second blaster and shoot at the ones on the sides while they are still rolling as Obi-Wan shouts his warning. By the time you clear the sides, the two in the front hall have gotten their shields up rendering you useless. No way in hell are you talented enough to shoot a blaster while it pokes though a shield.

You feel yourself picked up by both shoulders and move faster than you imagined. Force speed, your mind provides idly. Then you are running with them to avoid being shot. You see a ventilation grate ahead of you and decide to be useful and take charge.

You shoot out the grate, sprint your tired legs ahead of the two men, grip a pipe in the ceiling and swing up into the hole. After a bit of a struggle, you manage to get in enough so that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon follow with an ease that both sickens you and makes your mouth go very dry.

"This way," you say and crawl towards that familiar docking bay you saw earlier.

You noticed that during the crawl through the ducts Qui-Gon had taken the lead and asked you for directions with Obi-Wan taking tail. They were putting you in the most protected spot of the middle. How considerate of them - now that no one was shooting at you.

Qui-Gon slides down the drop first. It was only twenty feet, but it could have been a mile for all you care. Obi-Wan is right behind you as you watch the man drop and land with ease.

"That's all well and good for you, Jedi, but how is a mere mortal like me supposed to get down?" you ask him, pointing to the enormous drop.

He smiles, and if he weren't a Jedi, you would swear it was sadistic. "The same way. Don't worry, he will catch you."

You look at him as if he has just lost his marbles. "You have got to be kidding." After looking for a bit longer at his amused face you sigh, "No, you are not kidding. I can't jump this! Are you crazy?"

"I am a Jedi - most say there is no difference between that and being crazy. Now trust us and jump." He punctuates his sentence with a shove, and even if you wanted to, you couldn't stop your fall. Instead you relax your body and pray that you will end up only damaging something not vital to your ability to walk. You land right in Qui-Gon's arms like a child jumping into the water for the first time and touch the ground without so much as a thud.

You are amazed to find you are in one piece.

You hear Obi-Wan drop softly behind you and pull you with him behind a box. He hovers just over you protectively. Not that you mind; it's not often a handsome man is close enough where you feel his warmth at your back and his breath at your ear. Hey, any enjoyment you can derive out of this hellish situation, you are going to take.

"It's an invasion army."

"We have to warn the queen and contact the senate."

There goes Captain Obvious and his sidekick No Shit Boy again.

You tune out until..."You were right about one thing Master, the negotiations were short!" Obi-Wan says.

Qui-Gon smiles as you reach behind you without even looking and smack Obi-Wan upside the head.

"No one likes a smart ass, braid boy!" you hiss at him with a smile to take the sting out of your words.

He rubs where you smacked him and grins impudently.

"You are coming with me." Qui-Gon says, looking pointedly at you.

You can take a hint. You nod and follow him as he sneaks into the ship with you. You take one look back to see Obi-Wan getting ready to get onto his own ship. He sees you and winks before sneaking aboard.

Qui-Gon leads you to the ventilation system. Oh no, not again! You shiver as you lie against the cold metal but bite your lip, determined death will come before you showed discomfort. You close your eyes to try and calm yourself again. While this was strangely exciting, you distinctly did not like the sensation of waiting to see if anyone finds you.

You feel a warm hand clasp your icy one as the ship takes off. You look over at him to see him smiling encouragement with a bit of concern. He then tosses his cloak to cover over you, and you feel much warmer immediately.

*Note to self: find warmer clothes fast. Shorts and t-shirt not good for lying on metal.*

"You are a good shot," he says. At your concerned look for the noise he is creating by talking, he smiles. "The droid ships set their sensors on for take off and landing only. They are shut off for the trip."

"Oh," you say cleverly, and then smile. "Thank you for saving my life... Hmm. It seems so empty to just say 'thank you,' so let me try to do better. I am eternally grateful for the preservation of my measly carbon atoms that have had the misfortune to be arranged into my living person. I fervently hope that one day I will be able to return the favor and that you get, not what you deserve, but your heart's desire."

He gives a deep rumbling chuckle. "That is by far and away the best thank you I have gotten in a long time. My name is Qui-Gon Jinn. My apprentice - the one who you smacked upside the head - is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

You pout, "He deserved it. We shoot people for telling bad jokes where I come from."

* Well, maybe not really shoot them, but now would be a good time to start,* you think to yourself.

The amused smile does not fade, it deepens into his eyes. You hope to make him laugh again. You really liked that sound.

"I am not saying he didn't deserve it. He does that all the time."

You groan. "Your loss, you picked him! But I guess I shouldn't complain, I make bad puns."

"Everyone must have a redeeming vice." He chuckles. "So what is your name?"

You tell him, and he cocks his head. "That is an unusual name, pretty though. Rolls easily off the tongue."

You chuckle, "A HUTT'S name rolls off the tongue. Jabba, for instance."

He shakes his head. "True, but yours is better. So, how did you come to know of the impending attack?"

Okay, half truth time.

"I sort of fell into it. I saw the Neimoidians talking to a hologram of a guy in black who seemed to be their leader. They called him my lord and were told by the guy in black to invade the planet and to eliminate the Jedi. I heard that and went to you. The rest you know."

He smiled "I am grateful you did."

"Yeah, right lot of good it did you," you mutter. "Got there just in time to let you know, but not enough time to do anything useful with it. I felt as if I was just stating the painfully obvious."

"It is one thing to be attacked, it is another to be the victim of a mishap. You did us the service of letting us know that it was an attack and not a mishap." He said softly "It was very brave of you. You realize now that the Neimoidians probably know who you are, and are going to attack you."

You let your head thud onto the metal and make a sound somewhere between a moan and a whimper of pain. "Just what I need, mortal enemies I have never met. And at my age!" you sigh. "I left to find a happy place for just a little while and now I am stuck here all alone, a million miles from home."

He grows serious. "Are you afraid?"

"Yes. I'll be honest. If I hadn't been sweating all the water out of my body, I probably would have wet myself by now."

"What are you afraid of? A fate worse than death?"

"No, just death, isn't that enough?" You hold up your finger to forestall him. "And if you say there is no death, only the Force, I will give you the same treatment I gave Obi-Wan. But now that you mention it, yeah, a fate worse than death does frighten me as well, because it's amazing what you can live through."

He cocks his head to one side examining you as if weighing you against some unknown standard. You sigh and match his look, staring deeply into his cobalt blue eyes, and let him take his measure; you are too tired and weary of being in danger to care. Finally he blinks, as if surprised, but not entirely, and pulls back. "We are landing."

<<Break for Commercials>>

Ok, so you said you could run, but running was on a tread mill, not on swamp ground. You manage to keep up, but barely. Suddenly you see Qui-gon get stopped by something and you see the face and arms of Jar-jar Binks. Sighing, you continue your headlong charge until you reach them.. You push on Qui-gon's back knocking him over as you fall to the ground yourself as the ship passes over you.

You stand up and he looks at you "I guess you have repaid the favor, and very quickly, I might add."

You smile "I hate building up interest on a loan."

Jar-jar proceeds to thank the Jedi and Qui-gon tells Jar-jar in polite terms to take a hike.

"The ability to speak does not denote intelligence." He says flatly.

"Takes one to know one." You say sharply. You always felt that he was being excessively cruel. He looks at you sharply and you meet his gaze full on with one of your own. Jedi or no, there is no reason for insulting someone who doesn't deserve it. None.

He stares at you for a while then the shots to the left are heard. It's Obi-wan getting shot at. While Obi-wan and his master talk about Obi-wan's lack of foresight in his lightsaber's care and maintenance, you decide it is time to take an exit stage left.

"Well it's been nice knowing you all, and great fun but I am going to be in your way, so I am just going to go now... BYE!" You turn to run, only to find two clasps of iron on your shoulders.

"You, are not going anywhere." Obi-wan says simply "If you leave, you are in severe danger. I wouldn't put it past them to use torture , if they catch you ."

Your eyes widen as you stare into his aquamarine eyes. You can see he is dead serious.

"Torture did you spake?" Jar-jar asks and looks at you. "Might youza be tortured? Why? What youza do makum Mechanics torture?"

"I warned the Jedi that the bad guys were going to try and kill them." You reply

"Oh, maxi brave you are!" he chortled "First save the Jedi, now save Jar-jar! Oh you a brave lady!"

You smile and shrug "Brave isn't what I would call it. There is a thin line between bravery and stupidity. I think I am the second."

"Come on, we haven't much time!" Qui-gon says to you as he and Obi-Wan start running. The conversation about Gungan City comes up and it is decided that you will all go to Gungan city.

You reach the water's edge and sigh. Oh dear. Forgot about this bit. Suddenly a breather is in front of your face. You jerk back a step and take it and turn to see who is the owner. You look to see Obi-wan smile as he pulls out a second and says to Jar-jar "Oh don't worry, this hasn't been our day for warm welcomes."

You give him a gentle kick to his shin. He seems to just barely hold in his laughter as you do this. A fiery laughing tenor voice echoes in your head <<Oh you are cute when you are angry!>>

You look to see that Qui-gon is looking at the both of you with the same mock-stern look your father always gave you and your brother when you were teasing each other; one that says 'children!' You look at Obi-wan sheepishly as you put in your breather to find he is returning the glance with a wink.

You are beginning to relax a bit. You admit, you would rather be in the company of someone who cracks bad jokes than someone who was in hysterics. The trip to the city and the meeting was as it was in the movie. While waiting for the Bongo to be made ready, you pull out your laptop and make sure the damn thing still works. Thank goodness you bought that super-duper water-proof case for it last month! And it's passed it's warranty! You are definitely going to write a letter to the company about this.

"What is that?" You hear Obi-wan walk up behind you and ask as you fire it up.

"My personal computer. I know, it doesn't look like much, and you would probably think he is as slow as snot in midwinter, but he does what I need him to do." You reply and the opening wave file plays.

He raises his eyebrow and repeats it "What is thy bidding Master?"

You rock your head back and laugh "I always thought that it was vaguely appropriate. Wanna see what I have on here?"

He nods and you open your sound file collection. He laughs outright at the -Space Balls- 'Asshole' Scene. You play a few more sound files for him, mostly some of your more funny quotes. When Qui-gon walks over and asks what is going on, you play the Asshole Scene again. He starts to drink some water while listening to it, and ends up spewing it all over when he hears "that is his name sir, asshole, major asshole." They both wander off laughing and as you close up and climb into the Bongo.

***

"..leaking and no power, when yousa gonna say wesa in trouble!" Jar-jar whines helplessly. You look at Jar-jar from the back seat where you sit next to Qui-gon.

You turn to Qui-gon and say "You know, he has a point." He looks at you with one of those penetrating gazes that make you feel as if he is trying to rip through and see your soul. You simply ignore him with a chuckle and let it slide right over you.

<<And you called ME a smart ass!>> comes that fiery tenor in your mind...

***

"You know," you comment to Obi-wan under your breath as you walk to the hangar bay, and shoot a droid that threatens to attack with as much regret as the droid itself was capable of. "This is getting monotonous. Is your life as a Jedi normally this exciting?"

He slices through two droids and twirls his saber with an impish grin. "Thankfully, no. Normally we show up, fight for a little bit and everyone surrenders. These people are either abnormally stubborn or stupid." You have taken rear guard duty with Obi-wan out of default. While walking there you two fell into an easy pattern. You pick off everyone at a distance that you can, he slices down whoever is moronic enough to get close to a Jedi. You figure that if you die, nothing really matters. You find a part of yourself that is willing to devote your very life to justice and is truly willing to die for it. What really gets you, is that you are not surprised by this fact.

"Yeah, killing a Jedi is not a wise. You people tend to get right touchy about that sort of thing," You reply as you kneel and pick up a new blaster since the old one looks like it is running out of power. He looks at the blaster you hold for a second, then reaches over and flips a switch. You look at him in askance. "That was the Safety. It was on. Shooting would have been abnormally difficult if left that way." He says with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

You sigh and shake your head "May you become a hermit so no one has to hear your wise ass comments."

He sticks his tongue out at you, and you giggle as you both continue on your way. When you reach the hangar bay and Obi-wan says he will free the pilots, you don't even think twice about following him. When you both make short work of the droids surrounding the pilots, you smile at him. "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.," you say.

He smiles, and pushes the top of your head down to slice at a droid coming in behind you. You fire a round between his legs to get one coming in from behind him. Looking up, you see his shocked face staring at you. You allow a grin to appear on your features, and he returns it with an impish smile of his own. Then he helps you up, and pushes you toward the ship. Time to make another run for it.

***

You look out at the sand and heat, and now thank God that you are wearing a T-shirt and shorts, albeit burned a bit from blaster bolts you didn't know that got you until after the adrenaline rush. You stare at the burns clipping your shoulders and legs; you see that the one on your thigh is bleeding again. Swearing you simply tear a strip off from the bottom of your shirt which states proudly "I don't have an attitude problem. My attitude is YOUR problem." turning it from a tee to a midriff and bandage up the wound.

"We do have a med kit here." Obi-wan says amused at your shoulder as you watch Qui-gon and crew walk off. He holds up said med kit, and starts to clean and repair your injuries. Blowing errant strands of hair out of your eyes you look back at him. "NOW you tell me."

He continues to dress your wounds with a care that is surprising. You are shocked at how gentle he is. When he finishes, he sits back on his heels and gives you a once over. At your questioning gaze his eyes fix on your shirt, and he leers a bit. "I like your ensemble. Gives you a wild barbarian look."

You look down to see what he is staring at, and purse your lips "So I have nipples, get over it."

His head rocks back in laughter that vibrates every muscle in his body. "Let it never be said about you that you don't speak your mind."

You tilt your head at him. "I have found in my life that if I don't do something,I will regret it more than if I do something."

Kenobi stands next to you as you stare at the desert. He offers you a canteen of water, which you gratefully take a swing from. You are sweating more than a Jazz clarinetist at an all night cafe in Florida. "I was born here." He comments.

"Really?" you ask, interested.

"I left when I was only a year old, to study at the Temple though. But I do remember my brother Owen, my mother, and my father when I visited. I remember this place as hot and dry." He says as Captain Obvious again.

You can't resist quoting MST3K. "Welcome to the Tatooine weather channel. Today will be hot filled with periods of very hot with a brief period about noon of DAMN hot. Oh and don't bother going to the beach, the beach will come to you if you know what I mean."

You are rewarded by the deep vibrating laugh again. You could happily tell jokes all day, just to hear it. So you continue to try and crack jokes. "I am half way tempted to strip down into a bathing suit, lie on a towel and soak up some rays."

His eyes gleam at you with amusement. "Why?"

"Because there really isn't a hell of a lot we can do here and now. Why not enjoy ourselves while we wait. Life is too short not to." You reply with all honesty. "Can't you easily see everyone on the ship laying out here on lawn chairs with a cold drink in one hand, de-stressing?"

He cocks his head "In your own words, that idea seems vaguely appropriate. I am half way tempted to suggest this to the Queen."

You pump your fist in the air "Yes! I have corrupted a Jedi! My life is now complete!" Then you think about it. "We better not suggest it to the Queen, she is likely to look at us as if we have grown horns and say that we don't care about her people. It's the whole, 'why should I enjoy myself when my people are hurting.'"

"I thought that you said you regret it if you DON'T do something."

"Use my own words against me eh Braid Boy?" you shake a finger at him and pass him the canteen back. At your nickname for him he raises a single eyebrow and half his mouth lifts to a smile. "No, I ALSO believe that begging for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission. I say we strike a middle road. Sit here in our normal clothes and pretend to be deep in discussion about something important, when we are really swapping the latest toilet humor. You know, what you and your master probably do when you don't want to talk to people."

He laughs hard enough to spew the water he is in the middle of drinking. "How do you do it?"

You blink. "What?"

"Live in the moment as you do," He says simply "My master is constantly trying to get me to live in the here and now."

You lean back and think about your answer. Honest question deserves an answer in kind. He simply waits for it. "The past helps us to prepare, the future is what we prepare for, but the moment now is a gift which is why we call it THE present," You reply "Life is so short it's sadistic. Then again you probably know that better than I do."

He cocks his head "Yes, but it bears repeating and you honestly LIVE it. May I ask you a few questions and get honest answers?"

"Yes, and if I don't want to answer it I won't." You reply

"How will I know if you aren't answering it?"

You look at him over your nose "My communication style has all the subtlety of hitting someone on the back of the head with a board. You will know."

"Have you ever been in a fire fight before?"

"Nope, thank god and if I never see one again it will be too soon. But if I have to, I will fight."

He nods seemingly satisfied with that answer "Where are you from?"

You look up and say "Wow, what big weather we are having."

"Let's try this again, How did you become involved with the Nemodians?"

"This weather is amazing, it fills the whole sky."

"Do you have any family? Friends?" he asks

You sigh."Yes, but there is no way I can contact them, they aren't reachable. They might as well be dead, worse, not even born."

He lowers his head "I am sorry."

You shrug. "Not your fault I am here cut off from Kith and Kin, why are you apologizing?"

He shakes his head, "You aren't angry?"

You smile "What's the point? True anger is hatred, and it takes up way too much energy and turns me into someone I don't like. Might as well be mad at the sun for being so fardling bright. No point in being upset about the past. It happened, deal with your problems now."

He stares at you for several long moments. "You are too quick for your own good."

Silence while you sit there, and stare at the desert sunset passing the canteen back and forth. You steal a glance at him. There are hair-thin scars running across his neck at such even lengths they look like claw marks. There is also a tiny scar just inside his hairline. The boyish and innocent face he presents to the world is only a veil. His eyes tell a different story. They remind you of a statue you once saw of the angel of truth, the one that convinced you that knowing too much can drive you mad. He's a good person with a strong heart and a moral code that probably is better than your own. The words "old Soul" come to mind for some reason. He is old and wise far beyond his years. Next to him you feel very young, like an ordinary soul. Nothing bad, nothing great, just ordinary.

You bite your lip and think for a while as you stare at the reds and oranges painting themselves for you on the desert sands. His life is pivotal, he does great things and wields a power you can't even begin to understand. He uses his abilities for the greatest good often putting himself at risk. He is also a bit more than pampered, having all his needs taken care of by the Temple. What wonderful things he is and the wonderful friendships he has with Yoda and Qui-Gon are no compensation for the risks he takes and trials he goes through.    

Maybe being ordinary wasn't so bad...

Then again, you can easily see yourself falling very deeply in love with someone like him. Even though you know you will always come in second to his duty, that will be one of the reasons you care. Care, hell, if he ever made one move to place his duty second, you would cheerfully beat him with his own FM boots until he saw sense.

Bury your feelings deep down girl. Won't do you any good mooning over him like a love struck wench. Besides, he needs someone different than what you are, someone who can be his equal. Someone who will back him up when he needs it, take him down a peg when he deserves it and will expect the same treatment in turn.

You are struck with the urge to sing for some reason. Probably the sitting in nature thing is triggering a Pavlovian response built in from Girl Scouting. Just as the last of the sun dips down, you belt out Taps.

"Beautiful." You hear him murmur beside you when you finish.

You flush slightly and avoid looking at him to recover your few wits. You lift your nose in the air and smell dinner wafting from the open bay doors. "Come on slow poke! I haven't eaten since this morning and I am starving! Race you to the grub!" you say jabbing his ribs with your elbow.

You had gotten your food and sat down quickly on the floor in a corner. All the tables were full since the Handmaidens ate together. They managed to find room for Obi-wan though. You laughed inwardly as they flirted with him and he was polite and gracious in return, but not returning their somewhat obvious advances. He looks at you, casting a plea for help.

You take pity on the poor man. You wink at him, walk out of the room for a few minutes. You come back and wink at Kenobi and sit down to eat again. Then there is a small crackle, and Captain Panaka barks over the loud speaker. "Handmaidens, report for weapons practice immediately." They run out of there so fast, their dishes clatter to the floor.

Obi-wan kneels on the floor across from where you sit Indian style. "What did you do?"

You grin at him. "They are to protect the queen right? Captain Panaka is also their trainer in self defense. You can't have fat guardsmen so I simply told him how much they were eating. He's going to be running them around the practice ring until they collapse!"

He shakes his head "Remind me never to anger you."

"I said before I don't get angry. I do I get even."

"So, what's the name of your planet." Obi-wan asks

You look up at him and grin. "Have you heard the difference between what a girlfriend, a mistress and a wife will say while making love?"

He sits down giving an exasperated sigh. He hasn't been able to worm your past out of you yet! "No I haven't. New joke?"

You nod. "A girlfriend will lie on her back and scream. The mistress will look at you and ask "Was it good for you too?" You pause.

"And the wife will say?" he asks, leaning forward giving you a real nice close up of those sapphire orbs. Last time you saw living blue like that, you were in a field of cornflowers in bright sunlight.

You fight your rising libido by looking at the ceiling, and saying "Beige. I think I'll paint the ceiling Beige."

He looks at you blankly for a second then laughs heartily. "I must say, you have a vibrant sense of humor. I like it." You notice then the he has laid one hand on yours. You then look up to notice he has leaned in even closer. You can almost see the primal heat rolling off him.

You let out a breath and lean back to give yourself some space. "Damn, Kenobi! do they give lessons at that Temple of yours in how to turn a member of the opposite sex into a trembling puddle of goo? If they do, you must have been in the top of your class."

He simply smiles sheepishly. "That obvious was I?"

You thank God he didn't take offense to your statement, and pull away from under the warm prison of his hand with the deepest regrets. "I'm 'fraid so."

"I hope I didn't offend you.," he says softly. "I am not used to being in the position of suitor"

Yeah, he probably has females flinging themselves at him. Why should he ever HAVE to court someone? "No no!" you say hastily "I just wasn't expecting it. I am rarely on the receiving end of a seduction attempt. It was nice. A good solid attempt, that if given to any other woman, they would be attempting to find the nearest safe place to rip your pants off."

He smiles "If it was so nice, why aren't you responding?"

You grunt "and I thought bluntness was MY besetting sin!"

"Two can play at your game, and you are avoiding the question."

You sigh, and really want to cry. You can't do something major like that and upset the timeline any more than it already is. You know that once you get to Coruscant, you are going to have to disappear into the millions that live there. You don't think it will be easy for you to let go if you did anything with Kenobi. That 'you can't afford to f*&% me' smile was there for a reason. You were in serious risk of loosing your heart if you did. You had to be honest with yourself. You wouldn't just want a one night stand with him. You finally give him an answer.

"I am not responding because ... It's way too complicated to go into, but just leave it as it's not that I don't want to, it's just I can't." You look into his eyes. "Please accept this. It would be best for all involved if I didn't."

He gives you a long searching look. "You aren't going to tell me any more are you?"

You shake your head. To go with him would be like asking for the doomsday orgasm.

He sighs "Can we at least be friends?"

You bite your lip "I would like that very much and would be honoured if you consider me one."

You shake hands, and to prevent the situation from getting awkward again, you launch into a speech telling him some of the wildest jokes you ever heard. Soon you have him clutching his sides lying on the floor shaking with silent laughter. You are collapsed next to him in violent laughter and do your damnedest to ignore that voice inside you telling you to strip down and have your wicked ways with each other. You know if you don't get away from him permanently, and soon, you won't be able to ignore it for very long.

<<Break for Commercials>>

"We need more money." Kenobi says

"We all need more money," you reply, laconically blinking at him with sleep puffy eyes. He woke you up from a sound sleep for THAT! "Everyone in this universe is on a search for more money. May I assume there is a reason for you telling me this other than the obvious? Otherwise, I don't care how much the force is with you, I am now required kill you for waking me up from a sound sleep."

He wisely ignores your comments. "The prize money, even if won, will not be enough. There is more extensive damage to the ship. What's more, I have no idea how we are going to earn it."

You bite your lip and feel a plan hatch in your psyche. "Can... you make some speakers so you can play my music? And can we ransack the queen's wardrobe?"

He looks up at you, startled. "Yes to both questions. Why? Do you have a plan?"

You nod at him. "I think so. Most of it is hazy right now. It all hinges on the fact the only person with that kinda cash that can drop it on something random is Jabba. From what I understand he has a weakness for dancing girls..."

His eyes go wide. "Are you saying that..."

You nod. "I did it for a while when I was in desperate need. I didn't LIKE it, but it got me and my best friend out of one hell of a tight spot. I suggest we make it appear as if you are a wealthy slave owner and I am your slave and main source of income. If we give off the impression we do this normally and are damn good at it, we are more likely to get a shot at going in for Jabba. A wealthy slave owner who brings his best slave out to dance for Jabba to earn some quick cash to fix his ship is NOT so unusual to raise questions. Plus the story is close enough to the truth for a moron like me to keep it straight."

He frowns at you. "Obi-wan, you said it yourself, we don't have much time and we need the money. Can YOU think of anything better?"

"I don't like it." He replies flatly.

"I am not ASKING you if you like it. I am asking if you will do it."

***

You are carrying a case of your equipment and dancing gear you rummaged from the closets of the queen. You insisted on being the one to carry things, it was more realistic. He simply tightened his jaw and went silent but you refused to let him have his way. The outfit you are wearing looks reminiscent of what Carrie Fisher wore in Return of the Jedi. You take a glance over at Obi-wan who is dressed in a rich black vest and white shirt, tight black pants and black boots. You feel a sincere need to drool. You feel pity for him having to wear black in the hot desert sun.. Even with just your skimpy nothing on you're sweating.

"Talk to me Obi-wan. This silence is not comforting my nerves any."

His jaw tightens "I don't like this. This could get you seriously hurt."

"You are a slave owner, you aren't supposed to care about me other than the fact if I get hurt, it's lost income." You reply flatly "You never said anything about how I look?" you try to tease by stopping and posing, plastering an idiotic smile on your face.

He simply glowers down at you "You look like a mindless pleasure slave."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." You chuckle at him. He lowers his eyes to the sand and stands rock still. You sigh and walk up to him. "I'll be fine! I have a high regard for my skin. First sign of a firefight I will dive behind you or the nearest piece of furniture. Whichever I favor at the time provided I can tell the difference."

He points a finger at you "I've seen how 'cowardly' you are when in danger. You are just as likely to try and take out a few guards with your bare hands."

You put a hand on his shoulder and ignore his comment. "Come on, the sooner we get there, the sooner we are through this. I don't enjoy being stared at by greasy gangsters any more than you like the idea of me in that position. The important thing is the mission, Obi-wan. What would you be doing, should our sexes be reversed?"

He sighs and takes your neck chain. "Let's get this over with."

***

The two of you gain entrance into Jabba's palace by simply walking up and demanding it. You try to become to epitome of the vapid ho that Obi-wan called you. You dull your eyes, constantly fuss with your hair and clothing (what little there is), and generally don't look as if you have a thought in your head aside from the pleasures you provide. Obi-wan meets with one of Jabba's henchmen, the guy that had the long head tail, and they are gone for near an hour.

When Obi-wan comes back he simply says. "We've got the job, if you prove good enough. It's up to you."

You place the speakers on the ground and start to play El Farol by Santana. Men are used to fast paced strip shows, they aren't used to a slow seduction. You twist and move at an agonizingly slow pace into positions that show off your assets best and rival a contortionist. You know a good strip show is not in what you reveal but in what you DON'T. All the while you are slowly dropping veils and getting closer to your victim. The man's breathing hitches and by the time you are done, a crowd of twelve had gathered and all were glassy eyed with lust.

You get up, giggle, and bound back to your 'master,' as eager as a puppy for approval. He stares at the floor for a few seconds, breathing heavily, before he spears you with an electric stare. You stop breathing yourself, and barely hear the next exchange.

"Do we have a deal?" He all but grinds out

***

You see Obi-wan's look of shock as he hears that the Anakin kid won the race.

You merely smile slightly, then turn to Obi-wan, "Jabba will be here any minute."

He nods. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine, never felt better!" You try but can't resist teasing him with a saying you learned from a person in Jedi Apprentice. "Not SO! I lie! I have never been more nervous in my life."

He finally turns to look you in the face. "You know Paxxi and Guerra?!"

You raise your hand. "By reputation only I assure you!"

"Which is quite formidable," He chuckles.

"Actually infamous is more like it!" you laugh. You hear your name being called to perform. Deciding you might not have the chance again, you kiss his cheek, whisper "Wish me luck.," and bound off before he can say a word.

***

You bow low to Jabba, and nod for your music to start. You have selected three songs, and each is the background music without the words; the words, you will sing. You learned long ago a voice can be as seductive as a body. The first of these was 'Golden Eye,' by Tina Turner. You don't drop costume, and you don't loose anymore clothes than you have in the Carrie Fisher ROTJ outfit. You simply belt out the tune while taking slow seductive poses. You impress yourself, which usually isn't hard to do. Jabba seems interested and the others are enraptured.

The next song you sing is 'Color of Night,' by Lauren Christy. You come out dressed in a virginal white outfit, the room pitch black except for the white spot on you. The virginal white outfit is as 'virginal' as a new bride's lingerie; Loose, somewhat transparent, and flowing it accents all the right places. You figure this will please the "Want to defile a virgin" crowd.

The last song you sing is Tina Arena's 'Chains'. Here you are dressed in Obi-wan's own brown cloak. He had looked at you strangely as you ransacked the ship, then focused on his discarded cloak and asked "Can I borrow that?" The smell of the ocean and musk rises from the fabric, temporarily distracting you into daydreams that are not healthy for your sanity

The only thing you let people see of you is your hands. At the final verse, you finally drop the cloak revealing a skimpy slave outfit, your hands, feet and neck are bound in chains. While In the chains, you twist like you are trying to get out of them, and incidentally striking some highly provocative poses.

At the end there is a wave of applause and Jabba says something you can't understand but from the color Obi-wan turns, you don't think it's good. Obi-wan steps forward to speak with Jabba.

"She's not for sale." He states.

Uh oh.

This was NOT GOOD!

Jabba speaks again, this time imperiously, and a droid translates. "His worship appreciates your attachment to a fine treasure such as her and understands the hard work you put in to train her. However, he insists that is what you contracted for."

You walk up to Obi-wan and touch his sleeve. You think very loudly *DON'T YOU DARE SCREW THIS UP! WE NEED THE MONEY FOR PARTS MORE THAN WE NEED A FIGHT WITH THIS GANGSTER! THE LESS RIPPLE WE MAKE, THE BETTER CHANCE SHE HAS OF GETTING TO THE SENATE ALIVE! STOP ACTING LIKE A MALE, AND START ACTING LIKE A JEDI! *

You see his jaw tighten. "May I have a few moments with her alone to think about this? I am not sure I wish to give her up."

Jabba motions to a room and the droid leads you both to it. Once inside, he leans against the door and stares at the floor. After a few moments he speaks "I have deactivated all the listening devices in this room. We may speak freely. Which leads me to... what the HELL are you thinking?!" he hisses quietly.

You tighten your jaw "Getting her off this planet alive, what are you thinking?!"

He stares at the floor, fists in tight balls. "This isn't right."

"There is no other way!" you hiss. "You know it!"

He looks up into your eyes, and you are frozen by the sheer power you see held in very careful check. Those blue spotlights pin you like a bug to a corkboard.

"You knew this would happen." He stated accusingly

You shake your head. "This exactly? No. Something like this, yes. Obi-wan, I am not important to this mission no matter which way you slice it. Of all the people to end up in this position, I am the best. I have no family, no ties. If I disappear, the universe won't even take note." He continues to stare into your eyes, the expression is slowly softening from battle hard to something more reasonable. You continue. "Please see reason. You desperately need the money more than you need me there blocking up the scenery. The lives of everyone who takes off from here in that ship are worth fifty of me put together, and you damn well know it! If our positions were reversed, you would be telling me the same things I am telling you now! Let me do this Obi-wan, it's my time."

He looks down and leans against the door arms folded... again. Finally, he croaks out hoarsely, "You are the equal of anyone on the ship. In those respects you are wrong, but why do you have to be so RIGHT about everything else!"

You smile slightly. You've won. He looks up, and to your surprise, you see redness there, as if from half shed tears making his eyes all the bluer. "We are each free to make our own choices, braid boy." You say softly "Those choices we make dictate the life we lead, nothing else. Destiny is only for those who have not fought the Winds of Fate. I choose this destiny, for the sake of everyone else on that ship."

Speaking of which... You take a deep breath and plow through your next speech before you can stop yourself. "Now listen to me quickly: what ever you do, don't get far from your master in a fire fight, and for the love of your chosen deity, have medical droids with shield generators to protect the ones that have fallen behind every fighting team."

"What?" he looks at you, puzzled.

"Don't argue with me, you'll understand later. Just do it!" you say, grabbing both his hands and shaking them. He simply stares at you, bewildered, and nods.

Just then the door opens and the droid says "Jabba wishes for your answer."

Without looking away Obi-Wan says bitterly. "He may have her, provided she is well cared for."

The droid says "Oh yes she will be, she will be considered his favorite pet."

Obi-Wan takes one last long look into your eyes. You try to show him you are unafraid and will face your life here with the same fortitude you do elsewhere. In reality, you are less sure about this than he is. The only thing you are certain of, is the fact you have probably just signed your death warrant. For some reason, this doesn't bother you, you feel strangely calm.

He walks forward and captures your head in both his hands <<I WILL come back for you.>> you hear firmly in your mind. His fiery tenor brands the words into your brain.

You smile sadly, and slip away from him to follow the droid who now holds your chain. Turning back to look at him before you round the corner you say softly, "Not so, my friend. You lie."

<<break for commercials>>

Obi-wan Kenobi wanted to scream in frustration. He held the small bag of jewels in his hand in a grip so hard those hard lumps dug painfully into his palms. The girl had traded her life and freedom for a few paltry stones. She was worth far more than her weight in these hunks of crystallized carbon.

He had never felt a presence in the Force like her. It was bright, vibrant, but most of all, so alive she practically glowed from the inside. All that was now to be caged. He wanted to charge back in there and get her out. He reached for her mind to see where she was, her reasoning be damned. She was being led directly to Jabba, and being fitted for new chains. As twisted and sadistic as Jabba was, he was telling her what she was sold for. He felt her smile slightly with satisfaction. So far as she was concerned, she has just purchased the lives of everyone on Naboo. He heard her distinct thought of a wave of triumph *The needs of the many, out weight the needs of the few... or the one*

He was shocked at that. He saw the ship up ahead and quietly thought. *What would you tell me if our positions were reversed?* she had said. He hated to admit it, but everything she said and did, he would have done himself. Was there some other way?

Bartering was the only way things worked here. Surely if they ransacked Mos Espa they could have made enough connections to supply and demand links they would eventually trade up to the parts they needed. The both of them together were clever enough to do that. Then he ground his teeth. No, that would take far too much time. Time they didn't have.

Every idea he came up with only proved how right she was. He walked inside the ship, and handed the jewels to Captain Panaka. Qui-gon was back with the supplieshe was able to purchase. The queen and handmaidens were nearby discussing Padme's adventure quietly. "Go to Mos Espa, purchase the rest of the supplies we need with this."

Captain Panaka looked at the small bag and opened it. "This is more than enough. Where is..."

Obi-wan glared at Panaka. "Jabba tricked us. Instead of paying for a dance, he paid for her." At his words everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen to him.

Panaka's eyes went wide "Why.."

"She felt it was best if she went along. For the sake of everyone on Naboo." He said, tightly holding on to control by the thinnest of veils. "If you will excuse me, I must start on the repair of the ship," he knew everyone was staring at him. He met his master's gaze evenly.

"Well Obi-wan, it seems that our friend has once again saved us." He said, sitting on a local pack animal.

"Yes, Master." He replied softly.

His master examined him carefully. "She has rare courage. We must respect her decision."

"Yes, Master."

Qui-gon leaned back in the saddle thoughtfully. "I have some business to finish up."

"Master, why do I have the feeling we have picked up another Pathetic Lifeform."He says tiredly.

Qui-Gon eyed his apprentice sternly. They both new that the girl was probably more noble than most Jedi and was a far cry from the 'pathetic lifeform' Obi-wan described. Obi-Wan, chagrined by his own thoughts and speech, barely hears the rest of Qui-Gon's words.

<<DAMN YOU!>> he thought at her, <<WHY do you have to be so RIGHT! One of these days you are going to be wrong, and I am going to be there to prove it!>> Though he knows it was impossible for her to hear him at such a distance, he still thought he heard her silvery laugh saying *I am looking forward to it...*

<<break for commercials>>

"This," you say, as you walk to the front of the room to dance over the rancor pit, "is getting monotonous."

You have been in Jabba's palace for two weeks now. You knew that it took a few days to get to Coruscant and back, then the battle of Naboo would take a while...

You can't help but wonder what happened. Will Anikin be trained? Was your warning enough to keep Qui-gon alive? What was happening to Obi-wan? All you know was that you hated the life of a slave. You have learned what it truly means to have no freedom. The beatings, the food, the treatment, the attitude of those around you that you were just an object of pleasure, and not a person, did nothing to break your spirit or make you loose hope. You felt the stirrings of your American ancestry; within your soul, the echo of the old battle cry over and over; "LIVE FREE OR DIE!"

Freedom has never meant so much to you. Jabba takes a twisted pleasure in your fighting for freedom. He thinks it ineffectual and non-threatening. What he doesn't realize [was](is) two things: First, through your years in the Dojo, you are a trained martial artist. Second, he is rising the ire of a liberated woman, not one that has already been broken to the life of a slave.

Your ineffectual attempts were really probes to see how good a force he really has. Obi-wan has to have assumed you were as good as dead by now and most likely has his hands full doing Jedi things. Does he miss you? You shake off that thought quickly. He probably has forgotten all about you, and only said those things to make you happy before he left. You dance around in the room; Jabba is as pleased as punch.

You have always been good at puzzles. Your chains are merely that. If you can twist the chains just right, you will be able to get them off. You twirl and twist until you feel a small snap and want to sing in unholy glee! You continue to dance until you are near a guard. So far, you have made your attempts in the night with few guards. He isn't going to think you insane enough to try during broad daylight.

He is dead wrong. You stop by a guard and smile sweetly, holding up your chains, revealing your freedom. You watch as everyone freezes in shock. Before they can unfreeze, you grab the blaster from the holster of the guard next to you, run for the door, and start shooting anything standing between you and the way out.

You run hell for bent for leather down the halls barefoot. One of Sensei's cardinal rules of battle, never look back. There may be a bolt waiting to get you. You shoot anything that tries to get in your way and looks deadly. You reach a dead end with a window and leap out of it, not caring if it was an eighty-foot drop.

Your instincts and reason blend to create an awareness of the world around you that you thought impossible. Your reactions are quicker and your strength feels nearly doubled.

You land in a tumble on the floor of... Oh blessed God, in the speeder hangar bay! You leap onto the closest, and after a few seconds of deciphering, you manage to rocket out of the bay before they close the doors.

There is a shot off your bow, and you look to see three sleds giving chase with Ion cannons. You look at your speeder, it looks like what Darth Maul had to travel the desert in only brown. Sleek, highly maneuverable, fast. Defenseless.

Crap, gonna have to do this the hard way. You swerve into a canyon and try to loose them in there. You are smaller, maybe you can slip someplace narrow they can't go. You pour on the speed and hear almost an ironic echo "We are going in and we're going in full throttle; that ought to keep those fighters off our backs."

Slipping through the canyons takes every ounce of skill and concentration you can muster, and you thank God for those hours you spent playing PodRacer with your roomies. You manage to come in from a blind turn and make a 90 degree angle down a side canyon. You hear a satisfying explosion, look back and see only two sleds.

A sled comes to run along side of you, and it tries to ram you into the side. You manage to slow your speeder, cut behind the sled trying to ram you and make another 90 degree turn into another side canyon. You hear another explosion, look and see only one sled.

You lick your lips and concentrate on the 'road'. You hear some shots and one grazes your arm. You hiss in pain but refuse to give up. You weave from side to side, speed up and slow down, avoiding the bolts. You turn a corner, and your speeder hits a rock, causing it to careen out of control around the corner, throwing you off, before it finally crashes into the canyon wall. The third speeder sees this crash, and tries to make the turn, and doesn't.

You lower your head, and pray shrapnel doesn't hit you. But your luck has run out, and you feel searing pain in your left calf. When all is over, you look up and see the dead bodies, and choke. The other battles, they were bloodless; it was only droids you killed. Here you killed people! You sit up, lean over a rock , and retch until your stomach is empty.

Calmed down considerably, and reminded of your condition by your pain, you twist to see the piece of metal in your leg. Stealing yourself you grip it and pull. You scream, and black out for a second. After letting it bleed for a while, you take one of your veils, and tie up the wound as best you can. You then try to stand. As long as you keep the weight off that foot, you are fine. You lean your back against the canyon wall and look around.

There is a piece of wreckage about fifteen hops over that looks like it can be used as a crutch...

<<Break for Commercials>>    

Obi-wan stared at his master , watching as Qui-Gon went through his breathing. Full of mixed feelings, Obi-Wan let his mind think over the past two weeks. He had obeyed HER orders, and got the med droids rigged. One followed Qui-gon into the laser walls. When his master was injured, the droid had simply protected him with its shield, and went to work. After Obi-wan defeated the Sith, he found his master passed out but not dead.

If she hadn't warned him...

He didn't want to finish that thought.

Anikin was now at the Temple, learning the basics. After that he was to go with Qui-gon for one-on-one advanced study. Since Ani was so powerful, and so late into his studies, a regular class was not right for him. Ani needed a tutor, Qui-gon was to be that tutor until Ani was chosen as a Padawan.

Obi-wan self-consciously rubbed the spot where his braid was. There's another thing he had to thank her for. Not just his master's life; but because of her, his master was there to cut his braid. True, because of Qui-gon's condition, it was held in the Temple Medical Facilities instead of the council chamber, but that didn't matter. Obi-wan would have gladly had his ceremony in the midst of Degobah so long as his master was there.

She'd saved the Queen, fought in battle as bravely as any knight he has seen, she'd saved his master, she'd saved the Naboo, she'd faced death... and was now in a fate worse than death.

He would have gone back for her long ago, but two things stopped him. His former master was gravely injured, and Obi-Wan wanted to make sure Qui-Gon was alright. As soon as he was better, Qui-gon had told Obi-Wan point blank that he was not to go get her alone. He would need help. Trying to convince Jabba to give up his favorite slave girl would require the most delicate diplomacy. Diplomacy that Qui-Gon alone was adept at.

After healing trance today, Qui-gon would be well enough to go get her with him.

If she was still alive...

Another thought he didn't want to contemplate.

She had to be alive! She must! Otherwise...

By force of will,Obi-wan forced himself to shut off that train of thought, and set himself to count the breaths Qui-gon took, while the clock ticked by precious seconds. One hour, then they would go.

<<Hold on...>> he thought to her, even though she was far out of his range. <<I am coming...>>

***

You sigh as you gather anything from the wreckage that could be used, which isn't much. A blaster, two canteens, and a ration pack. You limp out of the wreckage area as fast as possible, find a cave that is deep enough to be shady, small enough not to attract attention, and clean enough not to have any current residents. You don't know if Tatooine canyons have creepy crawlies that eat humans, but you don't want to find out by inviting yourself into their den.

You sit there and consider your options. With this leg, that blazing sun, and your current state of exhaustion, you won't get far now. You decide to rest in the shade, and wait until nightfall. At nightfall you wake up chilled, and discover your leg has stopped bleeding, but it is swollen and hot to the touch... FUCK!

You start swearing, long, loud, and creatively. When your own language doesn't seem adequate, you start on the Huttese expressions you learned in the palace. Finally, you tire yourself out, and settle to your fate of waiting. Gods above and below, you hate waiting. You down some water and eat the ration pack. You aren't going anywhere, period. Besides where would you go? You are in a canyon, in the middle of the desert, and have no clue which direction to go. With the lid of the now empty canteen, you scratch two things into the wall: "LIVE FREE OR DIE" and "NO FATE." Both reflect your rebellious attitude, and the reasons why you did this, and are in the situation you are in now.

You scootch over to look at the beautiful stars in the night sky. You wonder what is going on, which one Jinn, Kenobi, and Skywalker are at. You bet if more than one is alive, they are together. Time slows to a crawl, and you think about everything and nothing. You know that, given the heat, you won't live much past two sunrises. You entertain yourself by singing every song you know, studiously avoiding Sarah McLaughlin. Save her for the end. You discover you do a decent rendition of "World is not Enough", "Unforgiven II" and "Rainbow Connection," but your "I'm too sexy" is horrifying.

At sunrise, you watch the canyon turn beautiful shades of pinks orange and reds. You sleep during the day, only waking at noon to down the contents of your last canteen before falling asleep again. You wake to see the reds and oranges of sunset. Now you sing your Metallica, REM, and Dave Matthews... finally ending with Sarah. When you finish at sunrise the next day , the heat wears on you as you begin to think about everyone. You miss your family and friends, but are eternally grateful that their lives aren't interesting. They are safe and happy. You wonder about Anikin, is he okay and happy? You wonder about Qui-gon Jinn, is he alive? You hope so. Obi-wan deserves to have his master there at his knighting after all he has gone through. Obi-wan. You bite your cracked lip and sigh as you lay down.

You know he will probably feel guilty about something. Either his master's death, or possibly your fate. He said he would come. He didn't. It's sad, but you really didn't expect him to. You hope he doesn't dwell in it. He's a good person, and you forgive him. You pinch your skin, and see that it stays molded up like clay. Oooh, dehydration, not good.

You feel consciousness slip away, and think one final thought before it goes.

Why is there no light at the end?

<<Break for commercials>>>

Obi-wan fought the urge to pace the street. Qui-gon had entered Jabba's palace to bargain for her. Obi-Wan couldn't help but think that it should be HIM in there. But, as his former master pointed out, Jabba would recognize him. If something had happened, Obi-Wan would be in greater danger than Qui-Gon. Anger burned like a rolling fire in his belly. Part of it was directed at Jabba for treating her as an object. How could you treat or even think of that girl as anything but a vibrant individual? The rest was directed at himself. It came down to only one thought:

He never should have left her.

He heard from Ani how Jabba treated his slaves. Everything he heard made him cringe. The groping, the beatings, the 'beauty treatments' which were simply painful massages to get the woman's body looking perfect by making the body swell in the right places. Jabba's pets have been known to slowly die from internal bleeding...

STOP IT! He told himself. This was getting him nowhere. *True anger is Hatred. It wastes too much energy and turns me into someone I don't like* came her voice from his memory. He leaned back against the building and desperately tried to center himself. Then he caught the scent of her in his robe from the time she wore it. Centering didn't work.

He saw Qui-gon's figure come up the lane. The Jedi Master's posture gave nothing away, and his face was covered by his robes. Desperate to ascertain why she wasn't with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan waited as patiently as he could as Qui-Gon silently led them back to the ship.

When on the ship, Qui-gon finally spoke. "She wasn't there."

Obi-wan felt the world drop out from under him. "Is she dead?" he asked, his voice a harsh whisper.

Qui-gon blinked. "I don't know. All I could gather from those present was she was killed in an escape attempt but none of them can agree on how she died."

Obi-wan blinked in turn "What are the theories?"

"They all agree she managed to escape her chains and then fight her way out of the main chamber. Few say she got just out of the palace and was gunned down. Those are very few. Others tell she got out of the palace by way of stolen speeder bike and grave sleds gave chase. Where she was shot down was sketchy."

Obi-wan felt his heart lift slightly. Many stories meant no one really knew. She might be alive yet! She might even be making her way to Coruscant now, or be in disguise in Mos Espa or Mos Eisley! "What direction was she heading master?"

"Towards the Waste lands." Qui-gon replied. They called up a map of the area and Obi-wan stared at it.

"Master, did you say, Speeder Bike?"

"Yes."

"That is highly maneuverable and small. Grave sleds were chasing her. She's a clever girl. She might decide to lead the chase into these canyons." Obi-wan said softly.

Qui-gon called up a image of the area, taken by a satellite. After some study, they found the three crash sites....

<<Break for commecials>>    

Obi-wan and Qui-gon decided to go to the furthest crash site from Jabba's palace first. Upon arrival, they saw shrapnel pieces from a grav sled and a speeder bike... but not her body. Obi-wan got out and tried to reach for her through the force. Her beautiful, vibrant, alive presence would lead him like a homing beacon...

A flicker. The barest of flickers, so small he thought at first it was far away. Then he realized, she was close...but dying.

Oh dearest of the gods no.

He was running down the canyon before he realized it, his master hard on his heels. He cast about again, it was leading him to a small shadow... not a shadow, a CAVE!

As he got to its mouth, he saw a pale figure lying unconscious inside.

No.

He crawled in, pulled her out, and had to take a deep breath. It was her. Green- yellow of old bruises and angry red and purple of fresh ones were like patches on her body. She was wearing the metal Bikini with silk scarves Jabba favored. He saw that one leg was bandaged as well as could be done under primitive circumstances but was infected. Her lips were parched from dehydration. She looked barely recognizable.

No.

What was worse, the vibrant personality that was housed in the broken body in his arms was gone.

He wanted to scream his defiance into the uncaring sky. Instead he sat there, numb with shock cradling the broken body. Qui-gon, however, was busily gathering things from their grav sled. Qui-gon knelt down and wrenched Obi-wan's face to his. "SHE LIVES!" he said flatly. "If we do nothing she WILL die, but now she lives!"

Obi-Wan looked again; the presence was there. Tethered there by only the thinnest of threads, but there. He sprung into action with his former master. He helped to place her on the IV drip for water, clean and bandage her wound and get her into the grav sled. Obi-Wan held her, still pouring energy into her, trying to keep that small flicker of life inside alive as Qui-gon rocketed them out of the canyon.

Once they were settled on the ship back to Coruscant, Obi-Wan let himself worry again; she looked like death warmed over. He and Qui-Gon settled into trances, sending healing energies to her over-taxed body. Slowly, her systems started working again. But color did not return to her face, and her eyes stayed closed.

"She is away from herself, Obi-Wan."

"What?"

"Her spirit has wandered away from her body, thinking it was dying." His master said gravely.

Obi-wan felt a spark of rebellion. She was backing DOWN. He had a feeling she had never backed down for anything in her life! It just wasn't in her nature to give up...

Unless she felt there was nothing more worth fighting for...

"Is there any way we can help her?" he asked, trying not to choke on his own guilt. *The past has happened. Can't do anything about it, deal with the now* her voice echoed clear as a bell.

Qui-gon sighed "Her to journey back to herself is her own decision, she must make the trip herself. All that we can do is give her the energy and show her the way."

Obi-wan nodded, and slipped into healing trance again. He and his master made a bright path of light for her to follow, as well as sent her the energy to travel its path. By the time he and his master were done, they were both sweating and exhausted.

"Now, it is up to her." Qui gon said softy.

***

You float in icy darkness. No thoughts, no feelings, just numbness. You sense a bright flicker of light behind you. You see it is tiny, and back the way you came. Only darkness ahead of you. Which way? Back or forward?

Forward calls you, The blackness is pulling you. The white light , tiny as it was simply calls asking you to come back. The dark is tugging insistently...

Leading...

BLOODY HELL! You will not be ushered anywhere. If you go anywhere, it will be your own damn choice! You catch hold of that spark of rebellion and energy, hold it close and feed it till it flames bright.

You try to go to the light, but the blackness increases it's pull on you greedy for you. NO! You will not go! You fight with everything you have, trying desperately to break free of the hold. You have no clue what you are fighting.

Then you hear that laugh...

<<Break for commercials...>> Qui-gon stared at his former apprentice. The young man had not left that chair since they got to the temple. He slept in the chair, ate in the chair, and would not leave. The healers tried to make him leave, but the words "visiting Hours" held no apparent meaning for him. He simply glared at them; the young ones would back down, the older ones, who knew better just left him.

Qui-gon put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "I never should have left her." Obi-wan said brokenly

"It was her decision to make Obi-wan. It was the best possible path for us to take." He replied.

Obi-wan simply claimed her hand, and laid his head next to it. Suddenly, the young man sat up. "Master! She is fighting to come back!" his look of triumph was suddenly superceded by one of worry. "And something is going wrong."

Qui-gon stretched out his senses, and felt it as well. It wasn't the normal pull of the Force calling the dead to return. It was something... malignant and dark.

Obi-wan looked prepared to dive into trance and save her, but Qui-gon stopped him. "You can't help her Obi-wan, this is HER fight."

Obi-wan did not look happy about it. He looked down right stricken as he realized Qui-gon was right. He simply turned back to her. He whispered "I can't loose her. She's special to me."

Qui-gon simple smiled "She's special to me as well Obi-wan. For entirely different reasons. She will win."

"I hope you are right."

"I know I am right."

***

"You are ours," came that voice. As a child, you had nightmares about it after every time you saw one of the movies. In this place, if you were in a real body it would have broken into a cold sweat by now. You aren't a Jedi! How in the name of all that is holy are you supposed to fight this thing?

"You belong to me" it said triumphantly

No! You belong to no one but yourself!

"Come to us. We belong. Your anger and power is great, together we could be invincible."

Bull shit! The universe was not enough to convince you to join him. You found he roused nothing but disgust in your soul. That got you thinking instead of fearing. There is a difference between righteous anger at evil and injustice, and hatred. You don't hate! You feel your spirit grow and burn with the first.

Fire purifies. You imagine it growing hot as a flame and burning the dark away!

You feel the grip on you weaken as if you were too hot for it to handle and you break away. "Come back!" he calls "Go to a window, open it as wide as you can, and plunge screaming to your death, Sidious!" you fire back as to fly as fast as you can to that white light.

Coming closer you see it's not a prick, but a path! A path to where? Who cares? It's a direction to go and it glows a healthy vibrant silver, blue and green. Nothing evil about it's feel. Blue and green? You feel your spirit crow in triumph and start running full tilt down the path, the blue and green giving you the energy you need to fly.

***

You blink awake. You are not in the cave. The place you lie is too comfortable to be the rock of the cave. As your eyes adjust to the pale light you see it looks something like a hospital room or sorts. Guessing by the color arrangement you think this was the Temple Hospital.

How many freaking shades of "Off-white" are there? Egads, the Jedi had a tendency to earth-tone abuse don't they? Note to self :Call the fashion police on the Jedi.

You are not thirsty, thank god. You look to your side and see that Obi-wan Kenobi is sitting in a chair, pitched headfirst into the bed, asleep. He holds your hand in a gentle grip. You look to the other side and see that Qui-gon and Yoda are there.

<<Congratulations little one.>> you hear the gentle baritone rumble approval <<You made it back. Not often a non-Jedi manages to attract the attention of the Dark Side, fight it and win.>> His mind voice glows with pride.

*Thanks... I think. But my life would have been complete even if I hadn't *

<<No doubt>> came a gravelly voice << Much we have to discuss later. Now rest.>> With that, Qui-gon helped Yoda down from the table he was standing on and they walked out.

You turn to look at Obi-wan. The movement makes your hand move slightly. He jerks awake and sits up.

"Obi-wan..." You croak, voice harsh from disuse. "You look like hell." How long have you been out of it?

It was true. His hair was the epitome of Bed Head. His face was pale and thin and there were dark smudges under his eyes.

"I will never leave you again." He says flatly as he reaches up to stroke your face.

"Never is an awfully long time Obi-wan Kenobi. You don't know what the future holds," You say softly. "But I do."

He tilts his head "What does it hold?"

"YOU!" you say, jabbing your finger into his chest. "Need sleep. I see a bed and a long nap in your future. Go."

He shakes his head. "I am not leaving."

You shake your head. "How long have you been in that chair?"

"Uh," he replies intelligently.

"Too long then," you reply. "You need a BED! Go get one!"

He simply smiles, and stands up. He makes a funny motion with his body, and it isn't until you hear the thunk that you realize he is taking off his boots. As he takes off his utility belt, you stare at him like a German Shepherd searching for a phantom tennis ball. Then dawn breaks for the thickheaded, and you move over to allow him room to climb in with you. Admirable problem solving skills Obi-wan has. You wanted him to find a bed, he didn't want to leave you. With a smile, he pulls you close so your head is pillowed on his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around you. Oh my, this is nice.

"Comfortable?" he asks pulling you a little closer

Comfortable is not the word for it. Heavenly and perfect are more like it. Do Jedi pick out their fabrics based on how much it makes them feel like you are hugging a giant teddy bear? Addendum to previous note: Call fashion police and suggest their punishment. You are to be notified when one of the Jedi wears their uniform and you are to latch onto them like a burr on a sheep until they agree to take it off. "Oh yeah, I could easily spend the rest of my life here."

You reach up sleepily to put your hand on his shoulder, and have the distinct impression that you should be feeling something there, but aren't.

"Obi-wan?" you ask, dangerously mild.

"Hmm?"

"Where is your braid?" you ask, with hysteria rising in you.

You hear his chuckle in his chest. "Go to sleep. Ask Qui-gon to explain it to you in the morning."

With that, you have to be content. After all, you are fardling grateful there will BE a morning.

Finis!