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Author	Topic: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Author's Note 07/03
ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 4/10/08 9:13pm Subject: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Author's Note 07/03 - Date Edited: 7/3/08 11:26am (12 edits total) Edited By: ZaraValinor
	Prologue “What are you doing?” Aiden Kenobi asked, flopping on his elder brother’s bed. Ben, formerly the Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan, eyed his brother with a look that told the boy it should be obvious. “I’m preparing for father’s ‘talks’ with Boss Unngol. I’m attending the meeting as security.” At eight, Aiden had not yet learned the fine art of sarcasm and missed the tone Ben applied to the word ‘talks’. “Are you going to fight, Boss Unngol?” “We’re hoping my presence will convince him not to cause any problems.” Since Ben’s return to his family, Aiden had taken to worshiping the ground Ben walked upon. The boy was not aware of their father’s illegal affairs and the fact that Ben had once been Jedi didn’t help matters. “Sit upright. You’re going to make all the blood rush to your head.” Aiden switched from his prone position on his back to lying on his stomach. He propped his head in his hand. “Boss Unngol isn’t going to be very pleased with father, is he?” “Most likely,” Ben answered. He sighed, half amused, half exasperated. “Was there something you needed, Aiden?” “Just bored,” the boy answered with a grin. It was at such times that Ben was struck by how similar Aiden looked to a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, despite the fact that they did not share the same mother. The same arresting blue eyes, the Kenobi dimple in the chin, and the ruddy brown locks. It made Ben miss the boy Obi-Wan had been. “When you’re done with the meeting will you come and play VirReal games with me?” Aiden was an addict of virtual games and had become so proficient that even with Ben’s training, the boy could give him a run in the gladiator arena. He nodded. “Of course, but after the meeting, which means I must get to my research, Aid.” The boy shook his head in exaggerated morose. “Research, study. Gads, Ben, you sound like my tutor.” “Speaking of which?” Ben said with a sadistic **** of a his brow. “I know. Homework.” He slid off Ben’s bed, threw his brilliant blue eyes to the ceiling, and stomped towards the door of his quarters. “Get Elli to help you,” Ben called after his sulking half-brother. “Sure. Sure.” The amused grin faltered as soon as the boy was out of his sight. Despite his previous words, he set aside his datapad that consisted of all the personality traits of those inside Boss Unngol’s retinue, and walked a circuit around his quarters. Seven times the space he’d had at the Jedi Temple, Ben often found himself bemoan the luxury. Where he’d always found his Temple quarters homey and warm, he found his home room empty and cold. Eventually, he stopped at his transparasteel viewport, gazing out at the stars beyond. He did not let himself think which one belonged to Coruscant. He made his choice, he’d left the Jedi once again and was now a part of one of the largest criminal organization in the galaxy. There was nothing he could do to change that now. Qui-Gon Jinn sat inside his cabin, distracted from his mission parameters by the dazzling starlines that represented space at lightspeed. The Council had been particularly cruel in their wisdom and he wanted to give himself a few moments distance before taking his lead in the mission. Apparently, Master Adi Gallia had been called away on important Council business just before she was to depart with her Padawan to the Noayt system, leaving the mission and the apprentice in Qui-Gon’s hands. His relationship with Siri Tachi, once one of respect and affection, had dwindled to awkward acquaintance since Obi-Wan had left the Jedi months after being told that he had to reign in his love for his fellow apprentice. Qui-Gon was sure that there was a fair amount of blame being directed on both sides, but each Jedi doing their best to maintain the honor and respect of their positions. The continued awkwardness was most likely one of the reasons the Council had deemed Qui-Gon the Master to attend this mission. Petty jealousy and unfounded blame had no place in the Jedi Order. It had been an uncomfortable flight and Qui-Gon was not looking forward to the landing and initiating the mission. He took a deep breath and with the exhalation let out much of his anxiety. The here and now, he reminded himself as he’d often reminded Obi-Wan. It was difficult to live in the moment when so much of the past shadowed his future. With another breath drawn and released, he pushed himself to his feet. Stop dwelling, Jinn. Things had gotten better just recently. Questions that had been swirling in his head for so long were beginning to slow their violent maelstrom. The ache in his head where he’d always felt Obi-Wan so prominently and brightly was beginning to be assuaged. And Qui-Gon Jinn was an old hat at feeling the absence to his right and just a step behind. He did not feel the same bitterness he had with Xanatos, just a deep and lingering sadness and longing. As slow as he’d been to realize that Obi-Wan was meant to be a Jedi, he felt the absence of that destiny keenly and the boy attached to it doubly so. The Force was telling him that something was terrible wrong. He agreed wholeheartedly but for the life of him could not figure out why or how it had come about, no matter the hours he spent on his knees in meditation. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock on the door and the bright if hesitant presence of Siri behind it. “Come,” he called. Siri entered, she was not overly tall, at least by Qui-Gon’s standards, with long straight blonde hair, the tale tell Padawan braid woven into its shimmering locks, and eyes the color of sapphires. She bowed low to him, the epitome of a Jedi apprentice. “The Captain says we will be landing on Da’cargen soon, Master Jinn,” she said. He returned the bow with a nod of his head. “Thank you, Padawan Tachi. I’ll be out in just a moment.” Bowing again, Siri left, unspoken questions and accusations as unseen as the Force but just as prevalent. Qui-Gon repressed a sigh and turned back to reviewing his datapad, dashing unhappy thoughts and unfulfilled dreams. He was a Jedi. His life, above all, was given to service. With a critical eye, Raith Kenobi watched his son prepare the seating arrangements for his meeting with Unngol. Unlike Devid, Ben’s older brother, Ben had a flare for this type of work. He knew when to be intimidating and when to be cordial. At first Raith had found it too much of a coincidence to have Ben returned to him just as Devid was proving to be difficult. But his son had proven his loyalty and as the seasons past into years, he’d trusted that Ben had come to him on his own and not as the puppet of outside influences. “You will sit at the end of the table opposite of the door,” Ben narrated. "I will have your lieutenants, gan Dral and gan Aussier, on either side of you. Boss Unngol will sit on the end opposite you. Are you sure you want his whole entourage?” Raith nodded. “Yes. I want him to feel as if he has an unfair advantage. I want him to feel powerful.” “Before you crush him?” “That remains to be seen,” Raith answered. “Unngol has not been careful and he has drawn untoward attention to us from the Senate and the Jedi.” Ben’s Jedi braid swung down as he leaned over the dinner table and made a tiny alteration to a piece of silverware. “I thought you had people inside to help diver that attention.” “Men can only be so blind, Ben. Besides my reach extends only so far and until the day that changes, we have to be careful,” Raith explained. “I will only force my hand if Unngol refuses to take it.” Nodding, Ben continued to make small alterations. That thin line of ruddy brown hair brushing against the table. Raith watched it for some time, only knowing something of what the braid meant. Ben had been free with any questions his father had asked, answering any and all without pause. The braid was a symbol of his apprenticeship. Ben straightened, finally satisfied, and came to stand next to his father. Raith nudged the braid delicately with a finger. “When will you get rid of this?” “When it stops being useful,” Ben answered, giving him a wry smile. The older Kenobi gave a gentle chuckle and wrapped an arm around his son’s broad shoulders. “Oh, Ben, the Jedi’s loss is my gain. I do not know how I could have let your mother talk me into giving you to those heartless monks.” The thought gave Raith a moments sad pause. Devid had been every inch his mother’s son, where Ben had been all but a holocopy of Raith, Devid was his last reminder of Caeli Kenobi. Towards the end of her life, they hadn’t seen eye to eye and had argued more than loved, but there was mistaken that he had loved her and that her memory remained with him. “Will Devid ever return?” Ben asked, no doubt sensing the change in his father’s thoughts. Raith sighed. “I hope so for both your sakes.” “I didn’t get much of a chance to know him,” Ben said, turning his eyes to the ground. There was still a touch of shyness between them on Ben’s end. Raith hoped that his proposal would help to let Ben know that he belonged here. “Even if Devid were to return, I fear that we will not share the same connection that you and I do, Ben. Dev was never as apt or as suited to this line of work as I would have liked. In fact, I would like to start grooming you to take my place once I retire.” Happy surprise flashed in his son’s bright eyes. He faced his father head on, eye to eye. “Father, I don’t know what to say.” “Say you’ll be my heir,” Raith said simply. “Of course.” The streets of Da’cargen were crowded, littered with children with dirt smudged faces and threadbare rags. Women and men lined the streets, selling something that could not be offered at the local markets. There was an air of despair, a rancid sweet taste, bile in the back of Siri’s throat. The reality of the situation of Da’cargen’s citizens helped focus her thoughts on the mission and her unhappiness with being paired with the Jedi Master. These people were suffering from the criminal cartels that waged war on this area of the galaxy. It was fast becoming as dangers as Hutt space on the outer rim. And the Senate was nervous. Siri and Master Jinn had been sent to help the local government find some solutions to the growing problem. They were also in a prime location if the Senate decided that it was called for Jedi interference. Either way, it seemed to Siri that it would be a long term assignment. Now seeing how much these people needed them, she could let go of her own discomfort and do what was required. “We’ll need transportation to the State building,” Qui-Gon said. Siri looked at him, confusion marring her brow. “We aren’t walking?” From past missions with Qui-Gon, she knew that he always made his own way to the Jedi’s contact. He liked to gather a sense of the planet and the people that inhabited it. He also tried to keep every mission on a balanced plain and even a simple ride could be used against their favor. “I cannot trust that you will not be accosted, if we do.” Just when Siri was about to question this, she felt a hand at the small of her back, poised to make a downward slide to the more curvaceous flesh below it. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the wrist of the Falleen and side stepped and twirled the arm behind the man’s back. She nuzzled her mouth next to his ear. “Spread the word, I’m only nice once. The next time, you’ll be missing a limb.” Violently, she pushed the Falleen away and gave her head a shake to clear the lingering pheromones. Even that brief contact with the cold blooded humanoid had left her cheeks flushed. Chagrined, she gave a nod to the Jedi Master. “I take your point.” A ghost of a smile flitted on his severe features, there and gone in a blink of an eye. He’d almost looked just as he had before Obi-Wan left. And he’ d nearly smiled at her. Maybe he did not blame her as greatly as she imagined, as greatly as she blamed herself. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
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azizah Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 4/10/08 9:47pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Obi-Wan’s in the mob! You have me hooked. I loved all the detail, that Obi-Wan kept his braid, how he straightens the silverware. Lovely. And the ending… A ghost of a smile flitted on his severe features, there and gone in a blink of an eye. He’d almost looked just as he had before Obi-Wan left. And he’ d nearly smiled at her. Maybe he did not blame her as greatly as she imagined, as greatly as she blamed herself. I can already tell I am going to love it.
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Gkilkenny Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 4/11/08 3:38am Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Now this is different, Obi-Wan living with the mafia. He has brothers too, how old is Obi-Wan? Has he really left the Jedi order Keep writing -----signature----- Padawan to p_stotts Peace over anger - honour over hate - Strength over fear. Links to Stories in my Bio. Obi-Wan forever.
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ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 4/14/08 11:01am Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) - Date Edited: 4/14/08 11:02am (1 edits total) Edited By: ZaraValinor
	azizah posted: Obi-Wan’s in the mob! You have me hooked. I loved all the detail, that Obi-Wan kept his braid, how he straightens the silverware. Lovely. And the ending… A ghost of a smile flitted on his severe features, there and gone in a blink of an eye. He’d almost looked just as he had before Obi-Wan left. And he’ d nearly smiled at her. Maybe he did not blame her as greatly as she imagined, as greatly as she blamed herself. I can already tell I am going to love it. I wanted to do a family story for Obi-Wan, but I wanted it to be a bit different. So thanks for reading. Gkilkenny posted: Now this is different, Obi-Wan living with the mafia. He has brothers too, how old is Obi-Wan? Has he really left the Jedi order Keep writing Brothers and a sister, though we haven't been formally introduced yet. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 4/14/08 12:50pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Well I can already tell that I'm going to love this! Please PM me when you update! -----signature----- Someone who loves me carries an M16. My baby boy wears combat boots.
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Quigonjecca Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 4/14/08 1:33pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Cool story! I like this approach. Please PM me when you update! -----signature----- Voted Best New Author in the 2008 Saga Awards! "Dark Child" http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27658856/p1/?14
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obsessedwithSW Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 4/14/08 7:47pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Obi left because of the attachment rule but Siri didnt? I assume they will meet again. Pm me when you update Zara. -----signature----- Yes Darth Maul -bring sexy back! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW8kOYvwVng Avid SiriWaner ! Stories in Bio
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ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 4/16/08 2:56pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	VaderLVR64 posted: Well I can already tell that I'm going to love this! Please PM me when you update! Wow, thanks. You're on the list. Quigonjecca posted: Cool story! I like this approach. Please PM me when you update! I will indeed. obsessedwithSW posted: Obi left because of the attachment rule but Siri didnt? I assume they will meet again. Pm me when you update Zara. You are very smart. Thanks for reading. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
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ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 4/16/08 10:35pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs)
	Chapter 1: Boss Unngol arrived late. Ben watched his father for any signs of displeasure, but saw none and felt only a vague sense annoyance. Ben had not met the crime boss before, but in this instance he was grateful for his Jedi training. Unngol’s carapace had been shined to an ebony that in the right light, looked to hold a swirling mix of color. His limbs in contrast were crimson, knobby and joined. Four he planted firmly on the ground and four he kept at his side, one set just below the first where the shoulder line would have been on a human. The head was seed shaped and planted on a long stem of a neck in the same hue as his hard midsection. Unngol had no teeth, but a large beak-like mouth that he used to chop his food in half before swallowing it whole. And if that did not help, the double set of pincers, each honed to a edge of a nanometer, at the end of his arms would take care of anything that meant to put up a fight. Ben had researched Araknians but the visuals did little for the live sample before him. Every angle of the crime boss was hard, sharp, and dangerous. Raith embraced Unngol as though they were long friends instead of wary competition. One of the first rules Ben had learned after returning to his father was that everyone was family under the Kenobi cartel until they weren’t. Resting a hand on Unngol’s ridged spine, Raith directed the Araknian’s attention to Ben. “Unngol let me introduce my son and the future of my Empire, Ben Kenobi.” Ben dipped a bow in favor of shaking the vicious claw. “Boss Unngol, a pleasure.” “I did not know you had another son, Raith.” Unngol’s voice was a rising and falling hum, like a bow string against the cords of an out of tune lute. It was oddly beautiful and hypnotic. Ben tightened his mental shields and placed a layer of protection over his father. “Been hiding him have you?” “Ben was taken away from us for many years, he only found his way back two years ago. Yet he has already proven to be a valuable asset.” The pride in Raith’s voice was unmistakable and Ben felt all the eyes in the room fall upon him. Before, he had only been Raith’s son, the muscle of his father’s arm. Now in just a few words, he’d become more than competition, he was their future boss. Both gan Dral and gan Aussier had been vying for the position. In one swift move, Raith had taken the two divided entities and had united them against him. What did Raith have in mind? “A difficult position, young Kenobi,” Unngol hummed. “Are you up to the task?” “I will not let my father down,” Ben answered. “But that is all in the future, Boss Unngol, and tonight is about the present. Shall we sit?” Raith gave him an approving nod and led the Araknian to his place at the table. Ben pulled the chair for his father and gave a nod to the caterer to bring in the dinner. The diner itself went smoothly, though tension built with every mouthful of the species inclusive grains and vegetables. Gan Dral was a Corellian with skin the color of creamed cocoa. When he smiled, he flashed his teeth, white and stark against his skin. He was handsome the same way a sculpture was, chiseled out of cold rock. And shared about the same mentality. Raith kept him at hand because he could make a kill mark with any blaster, at any distance. As per orders, he didn’t speak unless spoken too, and tried to get by with a shake and nod of his head in all the right places. The younger Kenobi was surprised on how well it worked. The ability to speak does not mark intelligence, his former Master’s words came out of the recesses of his mind before he could remember to shutter them. He closed his eyes and worked on keeping his breathing even. Perhaps gan Dral showed a type of wisdom by keeping his mouth shut. On the other hand, there was gan Aussier, gan Cordala Aussier. Everything about her spoke of high breeding, from her sunlight shimmersilk hair, to the jewels that decorated her feet. She’d married into royalty and had taken the family name before her husband had died mysteriously. There had been a trial, many believe that she’d bribed and blackmailed the members of the judicial council, but she had been exonerated. She had left Caldinya of her own accord. Many of Unngol’s entourage were Araknians, but to those who were vaguely humanoid, gan Aussier did her best to show an expanse of smooth thigh and calf through the slit of her dress. Sweet, seductive, and venomous. When dinner was over, Boss Unngol turned his multifaceted eyes on Raith and folded his upper pair of arms over his carapace. It was time for business and Ben brought all his senses up from observance to alarm. “The dinner has been delicious, Raith, but I do not believe you invited me here to prove your culinary staff’s expertise.” “I do have some concerns, Unngol,” Raith said. “Your pleasure dens have been raided six times in the last season.” “We believe there is an informant. My people are looking into the snitch,” Unngol assured. Raith nodded. “That’s good. But then there is that Mon Cal child who died do to a glitterstim overdose.” “The dealer has been decommissioned. He will not be able to testify.” ‘Decommissioned’ could mean a number of things, many of them had nothing to do with death but left you nearly as incapacitated. Unngol had a certain reputation for it, to him he it was an art form. “Still, I am concerned, my friend. Such difficulties do not just shine poorly on you but on my organization as well. I hear they have sent for a Jedi team on Da’cargen,” Raith informed. “I would like to help.” “And what would your help entail?” Unngol was no fool. Despite the nonchalance in Raith’s voice, in this business one did not make a generous offer without an accompanying vibroblade to the back. “Stabilizing your companies, rooting out your malcontents and replacing them, with my own staff if need be,” Raith made this seem like a gift as grand as corusca gems. Unngol gave a discordant chuckle. Even without the Force, Ben could sense the Araknian’s unease. “I can hardly accept such a gracious gift.” “You can hardly afford not to.” Raith’s affable nature narrowed to a pinpoint of durasteel. A stillness fell over the dining room and the short silence that followed it rushed in Ben’s ears. Unngol made a show of adjusting his upper arms. “That sounds like you’re trying to usurp me.” “Greed has caused you to become reckless. You have left yourself open to prosecution and I cannot afford that. You can either fall into step and I will make you one of my gans or you will fall.” Laser fired abruptly filled the room and the snap of a lightsaber fought to overpower it. Raith pushed away from the table, falling to the ground and was quickly covered by gan Dral and gan Aussier. Meanwhile, Ben had leapt to the spot his father had previously occupied, his lightsaber batting away blaster fire like a hand swatted gnats. It bounced into the walls, table and chairs. Occasionally, it struck at the heavy carapace of one of the Araknians. It did little to the spider- like creatures, nothing more than what Obi-Wan had experienced from a low-powered lightsaber. Taking advantage of this, Unngol rushed forward, leaping onto the table and heading for Ben at a speed that his four legs accommodated. Occupied with blaster fire, Ben had left his right side open to attack. Unngol took advantage, opening his razor pincer and jabbing it at Ben’s side. The edge slashed through the thin layer of his tunic and into the density of his flesh. He bit down on the cry that rose in his throat and spun on his heel, sending the other foot into a roundhouse to the Araknian’s carapace. Under his own strength, Ben’s kick would have done nothing but perhaps wobble the sturdy Unngol. He fueled it with the Force and let its energies take the Araknian and throw him into the table. He landed on his back, arms and legs flailing for purchase. Ben came to stand behind him and raised is lightsaber high enough to be threatening but low enough to evade the blaster fire. “Order them to cease!” he bellowed over the repeated pops of energy. When the Araknian hesitated, Ben made a decisive swing of his blade and the four legged creature was bereft an appendage. “Cease fire,” Ben ordered again. This time the Araknian repeated the order and the dining room fell silent again save for Ben’s ragged breathing and Unngol’s gasping whimpers. “Now tell them to drop their weapons,” Ben continued, keeping his lightsaber in position. “Do as he says,” Unngol gave a sharp wheeze. Ben didn’t let Raith rise until he was sure that all the blasters had been dropped. He walked around the table to the side Unngol’s people had been seated and picked them up, tossing them at gan Dral and gan Aussier. “Traitor,” Unngol hissed. “You sold us out to the Jedi.” Raith brushed himself off as he came to stand next to Unngol’s prone form. “Not the Jedi. My son is man of talent, Unngol. He will now be in command of your organization.” He turned his head to face Unngol’s entourage. “Any of you wish to make yourselves an example? Or are you willing to follow under my son’s rule?” No one objected when Raith had Unngol taken away to be decommissioned. “Good,” Raith stated, giving his tunic one last tug. “Now return to Da’cargen my son will follow you shortly.” Once Unngol’s, wait Ben’s, men had left, Raith waved to gan Dral and gan Aussier. “Leave us. I will speak to Ben alone.” Dral and Aussier exchanged murderous looks. “And tell Grais that Ben needs medical attention.” Raith sat Ben down once the room had been completely emptied of all save the boy and his father. “How are you?” Ben had often marveled how quickly Raith could change from cold, ruthless crime Lord to concerned father in a blink of the eye. He wondered if both were a facade or a facet of the man. “I have had worse.” “I did not expect him to charge you,” Raith said. He wrapped his hand into the other sleeve of his tunic and gave a violent jerk. He pressed the torn sleeve to Ben’s side. “I knew this step was necessary but I would not have your life at risk.” “The danger was minimal. Besides, as you said, it was necessary.” Ben caught his father’s eyes. “I heal quickly. I’ll be back to defend you in no time.” His father shook his head. “I did not lie. I want you to straighten out Da’cargen. It is partially our mess to clean.” Ben breathed out a sigh and winced as the motion pulled at the wound. “Master Thagger. But what else could be done?” “Only what you did, Ben. They could still hurt you. Until you are Lord Kenobi, we must keep you masked.” “Then I need you with me,” Ben said. “I will do all the work, prepare everything as I did tonight, but I need you to be my face.” Admiration worked to mingle with Raith’s joy in his son. “Of course.” Ben had been patched up by Grais, his side covered in bacta gel and synthiflesh. Still he held his side as he made his way to his quarters. An evening spent with Aiden and Elisa and the virtual gaming room had left him sore. His two younger siblings bounced alongside of him, a young and vibrant light in the Force. Elisa slowed down and lopped an arm through his free one. He smiled down at her. At sixteen she was just beginning to show the maturity of womanhood in her features. She mostly took after her mother and Ben’s step-mother, long chestnut colored hair, pale blue eyes, and skin smooth and supple, like cream. Although Aiden was his shadow, Ben often felt the closest to Elisa. She had a measure of Force sensitivity and in that way she was already linked to him on a deeper level than the rest of the family. The four year difference in the age did not seem as large as the two years that separated him and Devid. “You’re wincing?” she said. “Ran into something sharp,” Ben replied, smiling down at her. “And Aiden is psychotic.” “Father likes it that he clings to you so. He will one day be your lieutenant,” Elisa reminded him. “When you become Lord Kenobi.” The thought set Ben’s head swirling. So many things had changed in his life in such a short time. He was now Boss of the Da’cargen operation. Just a few years ago he hadn’t even known who his parents were, let alone any of his family. He’d been a Jedi apprentice, bound to rules and regulations, a life of duty and service. “It seems outrageous, Elli,” he told her. “I still feel like I’m catching my breath.” She nodded, but then her gaze turned down, thoughtful. “Do you miss it?” “What? The Jedi?” He was fairly certain that his voice did not prove as nonchalant as he hoped. “It was your life for eighteen years,” she added quietly. Ben sighed. “It is hard to explain. Sometimes I do miss it, like a comfortable tunic. Everything is changing so fast, and for a long time the Jedi were my constant. But I can’t go back. And I have made my life here.” “But is it what you want?” “It is what I chose,” he assured her. “Wants are like dreams, insubstantial. We get what we garner for ourselves.” She looked up at him with a face that matched his seriousness. Then broke out into giggles. “Gads, Ben, we’ll work that stiff tunic out of your eventually.” He smiled and hugged her too him. “That is easier said then done, sister mine.” They reached his quarters and as a group the three of them paused outside the door. He kissed Elisa on the forehead and accepted the rib cracking hug that somehow didn’t reopen the gash above his right hip. “Goodnight,” they crowed to him, before Elli grabbed Aiden’s hand and led him down to where they were quartered with their mother. He signaled his door open and the Force warned him moments before the vibro ax made a long arch towards his neck. Dropping to the ground, he leaned his weight forward on his arms and threw out his legs in a circle, cutting through a steady pair of legs. A heavy weight hit the floor and sent tremors back to Ben. The air sung as the vibro ax swung through the air once again. Force, he was dealing with a professional assassin. He reached for his lightsaber and found it missing from the holder he had inside his tunic. The leg sweep must have sent it scattering to the ground. You forgot to turn the charge off, didn’t you? The water shorted the cell, a voice from the past broke into his thoughts. If you insist on being so reckless, Obi-Wan, we must teach you to be imaginative. His desk lay not to far away. He rolled and dunked as the vibro axe hummed angrily through the air. Ben’s questing fingers hit the soft skin of his conforming chair. Reaching out to the Force, he simultaneously searched for his fallen lightsaber and trailed the path of the biting vibroblade. In one smooth motion, Ben leapt to his feet, grabbed the conforming chair in his hands and threw it into his assailant. With a burst in the Force, his lightsaber flew threw the air. A shaft of blue light shot out from the pummel and illuminated the room in sickly light. And Ben found himself face to face with a Togorian. “Oh, not good,” he murmured. Time for diplomacy. “Whatever you’re being paid, I’ll double it.” “Not for sale, Kenobi,” the voice growled out, the sound of rock and metal grounding together. The Togorian rushed forward, axe held high. Ben dodged smoothly, wanting to find out more information before he signaled security. “Who are you?” “One of many who do not like your quick rise to power,” the Togorian answered. So he had unsettled more then just the higher echelon of Lord Kenobi’s domain. Any number of the other Lords could be after him. He knew the Hutts had a particular dislike of Raith and an idea of his formerly-Jedi-son holding so much power, probably did not sit well in their overly large stomachs. Ben spun the lightsaber in his hand and caught the ax as it tried to sink its teeth into his flesh. They sparred as such, the Togorian trying to tangle the lightsaber out of Ben’s hands. But Ben had crafted the handle himself, matching it to his own unique grip. As the Togorian tried once more, Ben reversed the angle of his blade and severed through the handle of virbro ax. The blade thunked into the floor, cutting through several centimeters of the deck. “This isn’t worth your life,” Ben breathed, surprised that he was actually winded. He needed to get back to his workout routine. He kept his lightsaber in front of him, ready for a surprise attack. “Stop now and we can come to some sort of agreement.” The Togorian gave a huffing laugh. Then cast himself on Ben’s lightsaber. Ben fell to the ground under the abrupt, dead weight of the Togorian. He switched his lightsaber off and gave a groan as he pushed the Togorian over to the floor. For several long moments, Ben lay on his back staring up at the ceiling, trying to collect his thoughts. He longed for a meditation cushion and losing himself in the cleansing waves of the Force. Instead he pulled the comlink from his tunic and thumbed it on. “This is Ben Kenobi. There was an assassination attempt. I’ve dealt with it, but I need pick up for the body.” “Yes, Boss Kenobi.” He rolled to his feet, running down to the family quarters that housed his father, step-mother, and sister and brother. If he had been a target any one of them could be in danger as well. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
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Gkilkenny Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 4/16/08 11:56pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Updated 04/16 - Date Edited: 4/16/08 11:57pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Gkilkenny
	This is good and I love it that Ben doesn't try to kill everyone he meets but I did not understand this next remark Ben breathed out a sigh and winced as the motion pulled at the wound. [b]“Master Thagger. But what else could be done?” [/b] “Only what you did, Ben. They could still hurt you. Until you are Lord Kenobi, we must keep you masked.” Who is Master Thagger? Ben is in danger Excellent story. -----signature----- Padawan to p_stotts Peace over anger - honour over hate - Strength over fear. Links to Stories in my Bio. Obi-Wan forever.
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 4/17/08 4:31am Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Updated 04/16
	Raith sat Ben down once the room had been completely emptied of all save the boy and his father. “How are you?” Ben had often marveled how quickly Raith could change from cold, ruthless crime Lord to concerned father in a blink of the eye. He wondered if both were a facade or a facet of the man. “I have had worse.” “I did not expect him to charge you,” Raith said. He wrapped his hand into the other sleeve of his tunic and gave a violent jerk. He pressed the torn sleeve to Ben’s side. “I knew this step was necessary but I would not have your life at risk.” Loved the whole post, but this part in particular stood out for me. -----signature----- Someone who loves me carries an M16. My baby boy wears combat boots.
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Quigonjecca Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 4/17/08 5:12am Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Updated 04/16
	This is really great. I love how vividly you paint these pictures. I also love how Ben is still acting like a Jedi (well, somewhat) even in a different situation. I do wonder though, who is this "Master Thagger?" (Or was it Thaggar?) Anyway, I hope you update soon-- I want to read more! -----signature----- Voted Best New Author in the 2008 Saga Awards! "Dark Child" http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27658856/p1/?14
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obsessedwithSW Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 4/17/08 2:11pm Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Updated 04/16
	Excellent action! It's hard to believe that Obi-Wan would be ok with organized crime. I am glad he goes by Ben now to separate the two. I think a little bit of conscience shows up in the form of Qui-Gan's words. What will happen when the two are on opposite sides? -----signature----- Yes Darth Maul -bring sexy back! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW8kOYvwVng Avid SiriWaner ! Stories in Bio
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jedidas3 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 4/18/08 10:33am Subject: RE: Nothing As It Seems (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Siri, OCs) Updated 04/16
	WOW! A truly excellent story. I can't wait to see how this unfolds! -----signature----- The Past Revisited http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28440949 Lessons Learned http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28580784 Remembrance http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28009025 Padawan to dianethx
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azizah