| Should As Strangers We Meet |
| The first thing he realized was that he couldn't move. As hard as he tried to will it, his body refused to acknowledge the command of his mind. Even his eyelids wouldn't do so much as blink as he strained to open them. He could hear the murmur of voices some distance away, smell the strong odor of disinfectant. A med lab, he thought. Then suddenly he remembered the shuttle and the large ship that had fired upon them. Danni! His mind panicked. Where was she? Was she alright? Obi-Wan tried locating her through their bond but even that proved fruitless, causing him greater concern. Reaching for the Force, he found a disturbing emptiness as if his connection to it had been severed. "Lord DeCrion’s been notified this one's awake." Obi-Wan heard, the owner's voice drawing nearer. "He's on his way." This one. That meant Danni must also be here. But where was here and why couldn't he sense her? Within a short amount of time Obi-Wan was aware of heavy, booted footsteps approaching. "Lord DeCrion," he overheard the previous voice greet in a tone that bordered on fear. "Remove the restraining field," an authorative voice commanded. An almost imperceptible weight was lifted and Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open on their own accord. The bright sterility of the room needled his eyes painfully and he drew his arm over his face to block out most of the light as they adjusted to the sudden change. Weakly he tried sitting up, only to feel a hand on his shoulder, holding him down. "The residual effects of the electro-pulse have yet to subside, my young friend," the smooth, friendly voice of who could only be Lord DeCrion said, "your body will be weak for a few hours, but you should recover fully in time. You should rest." Moving his arm slightly to gain of view of who spoke, Obi-Wan contemplated the man before him. Dark-haired and pale-skinned, the man had eyes so deep blue as to almost appear black, holding in them an unreadable intensity reminding Obi-Wan of the predatory birds of Alderaan. Mature, with a chiseled jaw, the man's flawless looks were marred only by a small circular scar on his cheek. "Where are my manners?" the man said with silken voice, "I am Xanatos DeCrion, Sovereign Lord of Telos." Offering a smile, he watched the young man's reaction as he introduced himself. Obi-Wan's eyes darted around the room. "Danni. Where is she?" "Ah, your female companion. Relax Obi-Wan, she's fine, though still unconscious." Obi-Wan's eyes widened at the sound of his name and he looked at Xanatos suspiciously. "Yes, I know who you are. I make it a point to know all who travel in the company of my greatest enemy," the older man said with unusual good humor. Gazing questioningly at Xanatos, Obi-Wan then recalled the third of their little group. "Qui-Gon Jinn?" he asked perplexed. A shadow passed over Xanatos' face at the mention of that name. "That, my young friend is a discussion for another time. I’m sure you'd much rather see your lady friend, make sure she's being well cared for?" Xanatos offered a helping hand which Obi-Wan took gratefully. Pulling himself up with assistance, Obi's head swam nauseously at the sudden movement. "Take it easy, there's no hurry. She's not going anywhere, the man chuckled. Glancing at his host sharply, Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder at the man choice of words. They seemed to prick the back of his mind, yet he could feel nothing distressing about the man at all. At this point he realized he could again feel the Force. Reaching out to the Force, using his limited and under trained abilities he came away with only what Lord DeCrion had shown openly, an honest, friendly demeanor. Helping a somewhat disoriented Obi-Wan to another part of the large room, Xanatos smiled benignly. "The electro-pulse is a non-lethal weapon created to disable electrical systems," he explained. "Unfortunately, the drawback is that anyone in close proximity to the blast may suffer a mild electrical shock. I'm afraid this was the case for you and you lady friend and I must apologize for your injuries." The question of why they were fired upon floated into Obi-Wan's mind then instantly faded as he caught sight of his beloved. Still and unconscious, Danni lay peacefully on a med-cart as if only sleeping. Her face serene, the only disquieting issue to disprove that illusion was a small cut just below her hairline. Reaching out to touch her, Obi-Wan's fingers were repulsed by an invisible restraining field. Soft and pliable to the touch it disallowed any direct physical contact. "It's a medical force-field," Xanatos explained seeing the young man's distress. "used to immobilize a patient in order to facilitate a faster recovery. And of course in her case, we wouldn't want her to further injure herself by attempting to move too soon once she regains consciousness." Obi-Wan nodded in understanding. If Danni was half as weak as he upon waking the last thing he wanted was for her to try bolting from the cart as he knew she would do. Bending forward, he placed a kiss on the force-field above her cheek. As he rose a wave of dizziness came over him, enough to cause him to stagger. Behind him Xanatos snapped a finger and one of the med techs that had followed at a discreet distance stepped forward. "I'll have one of my men escort you to a state room I've assigned you." he said, holding an unsteady Obi-Wan up. "No, I want to stay here, be here when she wakes." Obi-Wan protested. "I assure you she's in capable hands. My healers are the finest in the system," Xanatos stated assisting him to the hover-chair brought by the med tech. "She's hasn't the Force abilities you have and may not awaken for hours." Obi-Wan glanced up in surprise at the statement. "Yes, I'm very aware of who you are and I can provide answers to all your questions," Xanatos' face grew serious, "I too have questions of my own in need of answers. Might I suggest you allow me to show you my hospitality. I promise the moment your friend wakes you'll be notified and brought to her side." Hesitating momentarily to study the man, Obi-Wan finally assented when he could sense nothing but sincerity from the man. "Wonderful!" Xanatos clapped his hands together with a pleased smile. "I have a small matter of business to attend to and then I shall join you. We can hold palaver then and ease both our minds" Xanatos strode anxiously down the corridor, his long black cloak fluttering out behind him. Approaching a closed door, he flicked his wrist and it opened at his command. Entering silently, his eyes sought out the med tech as he stopped beside a cart. "What have you learned?" he asked the man whose back was to him. Hearing no sound at Xanatos' approach, the small, frail man startled violently at the voice. "Lord DeCrion." he bowed nervously, " ah, I've, ah, all the tests have come back negative." "There's no chance that he's a clone then?" Xanatos asked. "No, M'lord, definitely not a clone." A tight, vicious smile crossed Xanatos face, causing the med tech to cower with fright. Allowing himself to glance down, Xanatos stared at the large figure that was strapped down to the med cart. Instantly his mind filled with rage and hatred. His body tensed, his fists clenched tightly, painfully at his side. Taking a deep breath, he reveled in the dark emotions, drawing strength from them as they consumed him. His malevolent grin widened at the feeling of dark power that coursed through him. Xanatos closed his eyes, his head rolling on his shoulders. He trembled deliciously with the swirling surge of darkness. "Ahhh", a gurgling breath escaped his lungs. Invigorated and renewed, he opened his eyes. "It is really you Master," he said to the unconscious form of Qui-Gon Jinn. "I don't yet understand how this can be," he reached down to the Jedi. Placing a hand on his forehead, he stroked the man's head almost reverently. Bending down, bringing his face closer to that of Qui-Gon's, Xanatos grasped the Jedi Master's long hair, wrenching his head toward him. "Rest assured master, I will find out." he whispered venomously into the unconscious man's face. "And then I'll deal with you in good time." Inundated with disgust, he released his grip. Standing upright, he glared down at his former master. When first seeing the holovid from the planet all he had wanted to do was kill this impostor and those with him. The plan had been to locate the intruders, capture this Qui-Gon look-alike and dispose of the other two. He had learned the identity of the young man and the woman. Even Kenobi's history as a former Jedi initiate had left him unconcerned and unimpressed. Xanatos saw him as nothing more than a nuisance, that was until he had boarded the disabled shuttle. Upon entering it, he was greeted with the site of the psuedo-Qui-Gon wounded and bound. Apparently by the very person he had accompanied when rescuing the girl. Through the dark Force, his doubts of this Jedi Master had almost been erased, for except for the long ago severed training bond he had once shared with Qui-Gon Jinn, this man had almost the same exact signature in the Force as his former Master. This piqued his interest, that and the fact that this man had been so neatly bound and drugged, just waiting for him to be plucked from the small ship. Perhaps the boy was more useful than first anticipated. He would wait and see. Patience was a hard lesson drilled into him by Qui-Gon, one that he had found quite beneficial over the years. I wonder if Qui-Gon would appreciate knowing how well his training has served me, he thought mockingly. "I may have to make a point to thank him," he said aloud as he left the room. In his weakened state, Obi-Wan could hardly do more than sit in the chair he had been placed in by the med tech. His mind whirled with concern for Danni, only made worse by his inability to reach her through their bond. Then there was, of course, the question of his host, Xanatos. Host, he thought. Was that really the term for a person who stuns and kidnaps you, which was in essence exactly what the man had done. He had no idea if the man could be trusted. There was something about him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Part of it was that he couldn't get a read on the man in the Force. Granted, he wasn't the most skilled at using the finer nuances of the Force, but almost every living thing registered some type of signature, at the very least identifying it as a living organism. The problem was, when he directed his mind at Xanatos, it was if he was buffeted against an unseen wall. Not mental shields, per sec, something more obscured, illusive. It was like a smooth wall of ice that only allowed his mental probe to slide powerlessly around the man's mind, unable to gain access. Still, whatever Xanatos was, he had the feel of a strong Force user. This only intensified his unease even though the man had shown only the most amiable of intentions. But Obi-Wan was no fool, he was aware of the deception of appearance, how in the extended hand of friendship could be hidden a lethal blade. At this thought a sliver of guilt crept into his mind. Isn't that just what you demonstrated to the Jedi, who had only done no more than uphold his end of your bargain by rescuing Danni, a faint, indistinct voice asked inside him. No, Obi-Wan pushed the voice away, not wanting to listen to its errant ramblings. There were reasons for what he'd done. The man misled me, he justified. And all you did was leave him wounded, bound and in the hands of his self-proclaimed worst enemy, the reminding voice piped in again, now sounding suspiciously like Danni's. Frowning with distaste, he forced the voice shut. He had more pressing matters to consider then the Jedi. Presently the cabin door opened and Xanatos stood just outside the entrance holding a tray. "I thought I'd stop by with some tea. I figured there'd be too much on your mind to get any rest," he said pleasantly, not moving. "May I come in?" he asked after a moment of waiting for some acknowledgement. "Oh, sorry, of course." Obi-Wan answered, impressed by the man's polite consideration. "I find this particular blend helps to energize me," he said crossing the room and placing the tray on a table set in front of Obi-Wan, "no chemicals, mind you, strictly a natural blend of herbs." Pulling another chair in front of the table, Xanatos set about pouring the steaming tea into two mugs. Reaching across the table, Xanatos offered a mug to his guest. Dubious of the tea, Obi-Wan hesitated before accepting the tea. "A slight distrustful?" Xanatos sat back in his chair with his mug, sipping it slowly. “I suppose that under the circumstance I would be no different. But let me assure you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you have nothing to fear from me. Quite the opposite in fact. I believe I may be of considerable benefit to you." Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed skeptically at Xanatos remark. "And why would the Lord of Telos wish to help the likes of a vagabond gypsy?" "Ah, suspicion," Xanatos laughed aloud, "a very healthy emotion to have in such an uncertain galaxy. Let me tell you Obi-Wan, we are far more alike than you have any idea." Obi-Wan cocked a queried eye at the man's statement. "Let me ask you one question," Xanatos aid, "then I'll reveal why we should perhaps be working together." Obi-Wan considered the request, then nodded in agreement. "How is it you came to be in the company of Qui-Gon Jinn?" Relating his chance encounter with the Jedi Master at the cantina, Obi-Wan explained the bargain made with the man, expounding on the band's harmless reasons for being at the transport factory in the first place. Xanatos sat motionless, elbows propped on the arms of the chair, his hands interlaced, index fingers lightly resting on his full lips. Staring out blankly, he appeared in deep concentration. "So you had no idea who he really was?" Xanatos asked, his eyes fixated on Obi-Wan's. "Not until I saw him in action at the constable's office." Obi-Wan admitted, truthfully. "You have no idea how very fortunate you are," Xanatos reflected, "that man is perhaps the single most dangerous being you'll ever come across." Xanatos sat forward, his hands resting on his knees. "And I should know, I was once his Padawan learner." Obi-Wan tried valiantly to hide both his shock and disbelief, only the most minute of arching eyebrow exposing him. A surprise to be sure , came the truth-laden statement across a Force wave that revealed depths of incredible power to an already stunned Obi-Wan. Opening himself to the Force, in a highly controlled fashion, Xanatos allowed Obi-Wan insight into the abundant power at his disposal. "They said you had turned to the dark side, that you had slain your master," Obi-Wan muttered, recognizing the Jedi-trained signature that overwhelmed his senses. The power he felt was an indisputable testament to his words. "Yes, well, anything can be believed when looked at from a certain point of view." Xanatos observed morosely. "But as you yourself can attest to, Qui-Gon Jinn lives and do I appear the demon they would paint me?" Bowing his head in contrite resignation Xanatos paused, collecting his thoughts before commencing to weave an intricate web of deception. "I was apprenticed to Qui-Gon for over a decade," he began with sincerity, "soon to go before the High Council for the trials of knighthood. And I was ready too. For ten long years I toiled at the tremendous task of performing my responsibilities according to the dictates of the Jedi Code, trying to please a hard, demanding master. Even when I was a child, Qui-Gon was viewed with awe. An apprentice of the illustrious Master Yoda himself, I considered myself Force-blessed when chosen as his Padawan Learner. Little realizing what lay behind the facade of stoism. His carefully cultivated image of reserve merely veiled a cold, unfeeling heart. I was never good enough, no matter how hard I tried. And yet, I always did my best, struggling without praise or recognition of any kind, believing that the master always knew what was best." Xanatos broke off, his voice void of emotion. Obi-Wan studied the man before him. Reaching out for the Force, he tried to assess the man's disposition, but found only the same cold wall as before. In light of the personal account he was relating, it was more than understandable that he would shield his emotions, certainly to a stranger. Glancing at Obi-Wan, Xanatos released a deep sigh, offering a small uncertain smile. "We were sent on a mission to Telos, my home world were my father ruled. We were to oversee negotiations between my father's government and a dissident group unhappy with the governing body. I hadn't seen him since coming to the temple. As you're aware, contact with our families, though not expressly forbidden, is looked down on for many reasons, and of course, Qui-Gon whole-heartedly agreed. Upon meeting with my father, I was overwhelmed by the warmth and affection he showered on me. Here was a man I hadn’t seen in nearly two decades, one I didn’t even recognize, treating me with more love and compassion then I’d ever known in my lifetime. More than I ever thought possible. It was then I noticed the change in my Master’s attitude. At first it was just strange looks and odd questions about time spent with my father. Then during mediations with opposing faction, he openly blamed my father for the planet’s troubles, causing negotiations to falter. All the while my father and I had grown considerably closer. I never had a real relationship with Qui-Gon, ours having remained strictly that of Master/Padawan. My father had been trying to convince me to stay on Telos, give up the heartless Jedi Order and reclaim my birthright as his son. This confused me because as much as I had spent my life in the pursuit of only one goal, that of becoming a Jedi knight, I saw with my father a whole new world open up to me. One without the unattainable task of trying to please a cold-hearted Master. My father loved me, wanted to make up for the years spent apart. How could I deny him or myself this grand opportunity? With the talks stalled indefinitely we were ordered back to Coruscant. On the day we were to leave I informed Qui-Gon of my decision to stay with my father. Silent at first as I explained my reasons, he quickly grew angry, screaming that he would never allow me to turn my back on the Jedi, that he’d spent far to much time in my training to let me leave. How my desertion would look like a failure on his part.” “Do you see it?” Xanatos questioned his lone listener, “it was always about him. He never cared for me beyond what my passing the trials meant to his own career. “When it finally became apparent that I would not change my mind, he told me I’d live to regret my decision and left. I never dreamed his anger would extend beyond my own person, but soon I learned to my utmost regret how very wrong I could be. I went to find my father, I knew I had to warn him of Qui-Gon, alas when I found him he had been confronted by my Master who accused him of turning me against him, causing me to betray him. Qui-Gon was beside himself with rage, frighteningly so. Out of fear my father pulled a weapon, out of defense mind you. He knew with even that he was no match for a great Jedi warrior. By the time I arrived Qui-Gon had his lightsaber ignited, using it to terrorize my father. He asked me once again if my decision stood. Though my senses warned me otherwise, I told him yes. Then he said I would get a final lesson in disobedience and before I could do so much as move he struck my father down, murdering him in front of my very eyes.” Xanatos hung his head, resting it in his hands. This time a quick scan revealed emotions emitted from him that were easy to read...grief, guilt and anger. Obi-Wan’s mind reeled from the story, and yet so much of the Jedi’s actions and words seem to now fall into place. His overt secrecy, mental shields that hid intentions, intentions that Obi-Wan had from the very beginning thought suspect. Still, he would have never imagined it was something as ominous as the great Qui-Gon Jinn going rogue. “Hard to believe, I know.” Xanatos raised his head. “Why didn’t the Council do something?” Obi-Wan asked, disturbed by the implications it raised of the Jedi Order. “I can’t presume to know the mind of the High Council,” Xanatos shook his head sadly with a shrug. “All I know it that once it was known I had no intentions of returning to the Order it was I who was branded traitor.” “How could the Council lie, everyone believes it was you that turned and killed him,” Obi-Wan’s voice rose with indignation. Xanatos held back a smile. It was proving far easier than he anticipated to manipulate this young man into twisting his views of the eminent Jedi Order. “I suppose in order to save the reputation of the Order it was less damaging to sacrifice a mere apprentice to scandal than a Jedi Master. And I can’t blame them, Obi-Wan,” Xanatos sympathized, “better a small indiscretion on their part then the total ruination of the Jedi honor.” “But that goes against everything being taught there,” Obi-Wan stated flatly, surprised that Xanatos could even attempt to defend the Jedi after what was done to him. “Sometimes it’s necessary to accept a small evil in order to preserve the greater good,” Xanatos offered with a sad smile. “Qui-Gon himself had earned the title of maverick due to his sometimes...unorthodox interpretation of the Jedi Code.” “It sounds more like he was on a slow but steady descent to the dark side,” Obi-Wan commented gruffly, his opinion of the Jedi Master dramatically changed. “Yes well, I wouldn’t be the one to deny it.” Xanatos commiserated. “I’ve spent the last ten years living with his threat of making me pay for my betrayal.” A low beeping permeated the quiet room as Xanatos reached fro his commlink. “Yes.” he answered the call. “M’lord, the girl is waking.” a voice informed him. “Very good, we’re on our way.” Xanatos stood, replacing his communicator. “Come my friend, enough of morbid conversation. Your lady friend awakes and it would be prudent for her to see a friendly face.” Danni lay frozen in place, unable to will herself to move. Encased in darkness, the only sounds around her were the low whirls of machinery and the throb of her own aching head. The last thing she could remember was being in the cockpit of the shuttle while Obi made to interrogate the Jedi Master, then the huge star ship appeared and Obi was pushing her through the door as it fired on them. Battling in vain against an invisible blanket that held her down, she was forced to cease her struggles when she felt what little strength she had drain away with her effort. Pained and weak, her entire body tingled to an aching vibration as though attached to a live wire. On top of that her head resonated with a dull, throbbing pulse, filling it with a tremendous pressure that felt as if her brains were seeping from her ears. Concentrating on the Force as her mate had taught her, Danni felt panic rise as she reached blindly into the darkness encountering only emptiness around her. There was nothing to grasp on to, no flowing waves of warmth and light permeated the cold blackness and she pulled back in dread. A wild thought struck her, born of the growing fear that made itself known, invading her thoughts. Have I died and gone into the Force? Is that why I can't feel it anymore, because I've become part of it? Obi had told her many times, there was no death, only the Force. Enveloped in blackness, her mind slowly overcome with the numbing tendrils of fear, her imagination began working in earnest. Fear turned to terror as her mind pulled out early recollections of stories she was told as a child of the places between life and death, dark places where demons haunted the lost souls who had the misfortune of dying too soon, too suddenly. Figures swirled in the darkness behind her closed eyes, taking shape of the monstrous beings she had been told about. Footsteps echoed in her ears and a voice, soft and familiar called out to her as the demons formed. Rational thought disappearing under the weight of countless nightmares, Danni began thrashing and screaming incoherently in her mind to ward off the approaching demons. |
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