" Darkest Hour, Brightest Hope"JA1**3/29*END OF BOOK 1 !!!!

I guess I set my hopes too high. My beloved Bruins are out of the tournament

But that means I will be here waiting for more posts and a chance for Qui-Gon to reddem himself. After you get a new stuffed teddy for Gus. My doggie likes his piggy(used to be mine) and his stuffed dinosaur.

 

Yeah Quigon you are you big cow!!!!

 

UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

K.K. I think you and Jedi_Suzuran might be guilty of giving Qui-Gon too much credit in seeing what's in front of him, and JJ Girl, as usual never gives him any. I guess she errs of the side of caution when it comes to Buckethead Jinn and rightly so!!!

Lazybones and Jedibear Don't worry when you don't have time to post I know you both read and post when you do have the time..

Aun I don't think I am any more guilty of making Qui-Gon a bumbling idiot than what you are in your stories. In that I think we are alike sometimes.

7 I can always depend on you to up and feedback,THANX!!!

Oh, one other thing,P.Kitara a stuffed pig as a sleeping companion!?!?! I'm gonna have to watch you real close!!!!!!{lol, lol}

Now to the post!!! ewen

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Obi-Wan didn?t feel too bad about being banished to the mesh net tent he and his master was to share.

At least I am a bit cooler and the bugs are on the *other* side of net. Master didn?t make such a big deal in front of the others when he escorted me to our tent. Of course I think his *look* probably told more than his words and I couldn?t *see* his look.

First day it was Master Jinn one and Obi-Wan nothing, if Obi-Wan was keeping score on his run-ins with his new master on their first mission. He sure didn?t score any *brownie* points with his master and may have lost a little ground as he tried valiantly to be some kind resemblance of a Jedi apprentice. However, Obi-wan thought with his handicaps he could never be the apprentice his master wanted, no deserved.

########

It required nearly half the next day to reach the little city not far from the farm land being sectioned out in small plots for the eligible less-fortunate were supposed to have first rights to claim it and farm it.

As soon as they reached their destination, a city not far from the Cavanaugh estate, the chaos could be easily seen and felt. As the group walked through the city escorting Senator Tory to his office, there were massive lines at the land claim office set up in the middle of the city. The Tulienze sect of nothing more than greedy nomads, stood in line with one of their sect being every other person to seek a title for a portion of land.

Tulienze had never been known to settle in one place. They were also known as Gypsies of the desert because of their nomadic traits. Their violence and barbarisms were as notable on this planet, Telos as the Hutts for known by the Jedi for about the same personas.

Qui-Gon had no doubt they meant to cash in on their good fortune of free land by turning their titles for the land directly over to the Cavanaugh family after waiting the mandatory thirty day waiting period.

Senator Tory hoped to stop the madness and put an additional clause in for claiming land. Not only would there be thirty day wait grace, there would be an entire actual farming clause. One had to produce an actual crop on their newly acquired free-land before it could be put up for resale.

Master Jinn and Xani had no doubt this would not set well with the Tulienze to know they would lose their quick access of a few credits. The Cavanaugh?s would also violently object to it and more than likely try to have it denied as part of the land-ownership clause by the city council.

?We do seem to have a mess here Master.?

Obi-wan stiffened with the title he should call Qui-Gon being used by a man who by now should be nothing to his master. Qui-Gon though,ignored misnomer slide as he surveyed the chaotic bustle of people throughout the center of the city. Small businesses and stores could not even carry on their own business and he watched as some of them hung signs to announce their early closing.

The Tulienze people also brought with them fights, arguments, and an overall assumption that every proprietor in the city owed them something. They would go to a restaurant eat but not pay. Collect what they needed in supplies to take back to their *tent* city j

 

I guess no one was expecting a post today.

Why are you being so mean to Hamlet? (I didn't name the pig that- he came pre-named) Galli thinks he's a really tasty treat- I have had to sew in 3 new sets of pink ears.

 

Uh oh, you had to throw that last line in there, didn't you? They still have a training bond buried underneath?? That's not good.

 

taps right foot rapidly on computer foot rest!!

Waiting patiently for everyone to catch up before I post again.

I won't be moving this story to the *new* forum for FF. If I write another I will put it on the new forum.

PEACE ewen

 

It wasn't that I wasn't expecting the post yesterday, it was just that I was completely swamped by c++ nightmares. Thankfully, the program is complete and running now, and my nightmares are starting to recede away.

Wonderful post, ewen, or as wonderful as your posts ever get when I'm entertaining Sithly thoughts of frying Qui-Gon using Palpatine's Dark energy. Dear Lord, what is wrong with him? He's either marginally good or deliberately evil, and either way he's stupid.

Aunecah

 

where's my post,ewen. need it now.
been shopping all day. looking forward to
reading the post. please???. :>)

 

Wow! sorry just heard of this story and did I say wow? please tell me more!!!?!!!!! I was on another site when someone asked about this. WOW!!!!!

 

Qui-Gon sat up late into the early morning hours thinking of at least three problems he had. One was the detonator sent to him by someone who wanted to rightly incriminate the Crions or to falsely accuse them of wrongdoing where the mine cave-in was concerned.

If the detonator had been given to Jinn before he had time to reacquaint himself with his former padawan he wouldn?t have thought twice, he would have *assumed* Xani and his father were guilty and work from that assumption. Now however things had changed drastically. He had reacquainted himself with his former padawan and he liked the adult man Xani had become outside the temple. He knew Xani still possessed a certain amount of greed but to harm someone, Qui-Gon just didn?t think Xani had it in him. He wanted whoever sent that switch to be wrong about the Crions, Xani in particular.

Of course there was still the problem with Cavanaugh family that he would have to address, maybe forcibly tomorrow.

Yes, tomorrow if Senator Tory announces the new rules to acquiring land, a blood bath may erupt right in the middle of the streets. I don?t think the true farmers who really want the land will mind, but the Tulienze who hope to get the land in each of their names and then sell it in a month to Cavanaugh family, will be in a very unpleasant and maybe combative mood.

Then Qui-Gon thought of his last and third problem. He rubbed his forehead as he stared into the darkness of the room. He didn?t have a headache, he was trying to soothe himself a little. It seemed he hadn?t even had time to meditate since Obi-Wan had been injured.

Last but not least is the boy. I know he felt left out today when I was laughing and talking with Xani. He felt Xanatos was an intrusion of his apprenticeship to me and I am afraid he might be right. I can feel the bond Xani and I had pulsating again but this time with the power of the force behind it . I thought I had it under control. However, if I had to be really truthful with myself, I would say the bond is stronger now than when we were master and apprentice. I am sure Xani feels it too although he hasn?t brought it up. He maintained a tendril of bond to begin with. I hope I am not doing something subconsciously to reinforce the old bond with him..Tragic?. I can?t have two bonds, can?t have two apprentices, and Xani will never be allowed to return to the Jedi no matter how much I champion his cause to do so.

Jinn stopped and drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, hoping to cleanse himself on undue stress. He tried to understand what he just said.

Why did I say that? I have an apprentice and Xani can never be one. Why would I think he might even consider coming back?

Qui-Gon was beginning to think he was suffering from sleep depravation until he heard a noise in the dark room and out of that dark walked Xani still dressed in his all black outfit.

?I know master. I feel our bond reverberating throughout my mind with more force than when we were both Jedi. I can?t explain it, didn?t intentionally try to initiate it, and I am sure neither did you. It is there master and we can?t deny it. Maybe the force will guide us in this, but I don?t have a clue what it means. I know if Obi-Wan feels that added bond in your mind it will startle the boy and bring him more worrisome things to think of.?

Xanatos thought knew his master?s very thoughts on the reforming bond. He didn?t have to be told of them.

Qui-Gon started to continue with their conversation when a rustling noise came from the other side of the room where Obi?s lay asleep in his bed.

Both master and former apprentice stilled their words as they listened for signs of Obi-Wan being awake. They heard nothing more. Jinn tested along he and Obi-Wan?s bond to see if the boy was still asleep. He signaled to Xanatos reassurance that his apprentice was indeed in a sound sleep.

The continuance of the conversation was done in lowered voices. Unbeknownst to them, the damaging discussion had already started to eat away at Obi-Wan as

 

Back again, with lots of catching up to do! Looks interesting, I'll start reading right away.

 

A most excellent question from Xani. He's probably the only one who has any sense right now.

 

Good question Xani, I wonder if even Qui-Gon will know the answer, at least not without some serious thought. The man really needs to meditate and get in tune with himself and those around him. He can be so self centered.

 

hurray Xanatos- get right to the heart of the issue!

 

The three Jedi didn?t have far to walk to reach the senate office. The apartment they stayed in was in the back of the senate building. Obi-Wan never confronted his master last night. He feared his very station as Jedi apprentice could be threatened..

Maybe Qui-Gon will seek from the council Xani?s reinstatement and I will be sent away somewhere.

That was the boy?s thoughts as he followed his master and Xani to the senate hall. No he would remain silent and hope his master would not grow any more disappointed in him than he was already?.

Qui-Gon felt along their bond only to find it barely opened. He knew something must be bothering his apprentice but he no idea his padawan heard what he and Xani discussed last night. It wasn?t like the child didn?t have things on his mind. His blindness and weak arm muscles were enough to keep him depressed and closed off within himself. Maybe that was why he closed the bond considerably.

Determined not to pry, Jinn did to mention his awareness of the bond or the feeling of despair and ebbed over into his subconscious from Obi-Wan. He knew had he wished, he could have nudged the shields of his apprentice just slightly more forceful and they would have opened freely for him. At that time Obi-Wan had them up, but not fortified with resistance from the force.

No the boy doesn?t need me to pester him today. Maybe a little solitude and privacy would do him good. I know it would me.

What Qui-Gon failed to understand, because he was not aware of the boy?s knowledge of their discussion last night, was that he very much needed the reassurance of his master today; more now than ever .

While Qui-Gon couldn?t breach his real apprentice?s mind because of his shields, he was more than aware of Xani?s ever presence in his mind with their training bond pulsing and sharing thoughts with each other. It was truly annoying and made it difficult for the master to concentrate on the true problems at hand. He had to continually remember to keep Xani?s bond from being found out by Obi-Wan.

As long as Kenobi kept his shields up and didn?t get too inquisitive over his master?s partial shielding, Qui-Gon would be alright. However one slip by Qui in controlling the secret of Xani?s bond and Obi-Wan would feel it and know without a doubt his master shared two training bonds, one legitimate and one he had no idea why it had embedded its self in his mind so possessively again..


Inside the meeting hall, the Jedi took their assigned seats. Mr. Cavanaugh looked over and gave Master Jinn a searing look as if to dare bring up the idea of holding the land for a year and actually farm it before it was sold.. Never the less once everyone was in place Qui-Gon was the first to stand up and suggest the plan over jeering shouts from the public viewers; a great many of them packed in there personally by Cavanaugh to cheer on his plan to leave things as they were.

The city council feared the Tulienze and knew how overbearing Mr. Cavanaugh could be. Anyone against the Tulienze?s and Cavanaugh?s plot to control all the farm land knew they couldn?t allow the man to take over all the area of land around the city.

Once both sides argued their point, the senator along with the city council members broke for mid-meal. After that they would go into private chambers and vote on what should be done. If anything was taken away from the meeting, it was that the vote would more than likely go the Jedi?s way because it was fair and with the Jedi there and promise to send more if need be, once the storm broke, the council would rule in favor of Qui-Gon?s ratifying the proposition bill to more demanding stipulations of ownership in the bill.

Before Jinn Xani and Obi had a chance to leave the hall in search of a café close by for mid-meal they were waylaid by Mr. Cavanaugh with a couple of thug-looking hired hands with him.

?Well Master Jinn I have to say it would have been far better had you been able to leave and they sent another Jedi team. I think *any* other Jedi team would ha

 

You know, of course, ewen that I don't utter any kind of curses - including the pseudo-curses that everybody is so fond of saying.

But - DAMN Qui-Gon to hell along with his new apprentice. I don't care if they are completely ignorant of Obi-Wan's emotions - which, Mr. Insensitive Buckethead is NOT supposed to be since he is Obi's master - and I couldn't care less if they didn't mean to hurt Obi-Wan, but the point is that they *did* hurt Obi-Wan.

This is getting ridiculous. If it goes on for one more post, I'm seriously going to be scrounging Earth for the materials to build a lightsaber.

Aunecah

 

*looks at Aunecah's reply*

Whoa. But I agree. What is up with Qui, being even denser than usual (and that can be hard to do sometimes )

Geez!

 

I'll just go ahaed and agree with the other two replys.

 

Getting feedback today from you guys has been harder than Obi-Wan trying to convince Qui he is the best apprentice for him.

Is there something about this story some of you don't like just P.M. and let me know nicely.

PEACE ewen

 

Maybe Qui-Gon will actually hear what Obi-Wan is askings??? I hope so, the poor kid is suffering on so many levels and really needs the oh so dense one to really hear and understand. What Qui-gon really needs to do is start thinking of someone other then himself!!!

I don't know if I have said this enough yet, but I love Xani in this story. I hope the character continues on the right path. I really don't want him to be a "bad guy" in the end of this.

Edit: Ewen, just read your message. Weekdays tend to be very (understatment of the century there)for me. I often times have only enough time to read the several stories I am reading at any given time. I try to post more on the weekend, but don't look for much from me during the week! Just know I am reading and loving every word!!!

 

i agree with other posts. but i feel that ewen should hide. lol. maybe find a place to hide qui-gon too. i hope that qui-gon wakes up soon. ********looking for sabers again******** think i will join the
hunt. ******sneaks up behind qui and
xani with saber drawn.********

 

Here's a little *bait* to nibble on until tomorrow.

Obi-Wan shows his master he doesn't need eyesight to throw a few *verbal* punches at him.

Well more than a *few*.

Let's just say Jinn gets put in his place by a twelve-year-old blind but very very cute apprentice, our little Obi!!!!!!


PEACE ewen

 

Can't wait for that!

 

Of course Qui-Gon would want an explanation for horrific display of displeasure that passed from apprentice to master. Obi-Wan regretted his actions but only for a moment.

He had a right to know what was going on. He didn?t care one bit about some stupid diplomatic proceedings on this side of Telos. Padawan Kenobi needed to know where he stood with his master and needed to know now.

?Obi I think you and I have some things that need to be discussed later, after we leave here. I think you have misconstrued what you think you have found through our link, nestled in my mind. Nothing was done behind your back or intentionally by myself or Xani. *We* can not explain it nor do *we* wish too right now. I ask you to set aside your disdain of me until I have told you entirely what happened as *we* know it.?

Qui-Gon had been more than aware of Obi?s knowledge of the bond he and Xani had forged. Not just from the scream that ripped through Jinn?s mind sent to him by his apprentice, just as Obi-Wan delivered the painful scream to his master, Qui-Gon felt the presence of his current padawan almost side by side with Xani?s bond in his subconscious link with both.

*We*? What do you mean *we*? Have you and Xani become *we* behind my back so quickly as to preclude me as any part of this bonding , with *you* two instead of the three of *us* involved? Did you falsely promise me a destiny to knighthood then so quickly pull it back when another more promising apprentice comes and becomes a viable replacement for the damaged apprentice you no longer want to deal with. And why shouldn?t Xanatos be promising, he was trained by you, can mimic, and counter your every saber move. You trained him that way. You trained him to be you. I would go so far as to wager Xani is so in tuned with *my* master that he could synchronize his breathing to match yours. All this he can do because you and he have bridged some bizarre bond that negates my bond now because I am less than what I was. Like Xani said, I am *helpless* and *handicapped*. Is that how you see me too Master? Why else would you be willing to take a padawan back that you once told Master Windu couldn?t be trusted, lurked on the very side of darkness of which you fight, but now you claim the opposite.. In your eyes Master Jinn, he is more worthy than me only because I suffered an injury that I no control of.?

? That?s enough Padawan. There are others around and I have no wish for them to know of our private affairs. Right now you are bordering on insubordination. Your comments need to be reigned in now.?

Jinn tried his disciplinary ruse of control on Obi and just as quickly backtracked on that road to put himself in command of the situation.. He abruptly decided a more calmer decorum would be the best in the situation between he and Obi.

?Listen Obi-Wan, you have everything exaggerated and I can sort through all of it with you in the privacy of our rooms this evening. Right now we need to find a café, eat, and return. I am needed here this afternoon.?

? That?s right everyone gets your attention, everyone *needs* you, and you see to their needs. That is except when it comes to something I, your true apprentice *needs*. It doesn?t matter now does it master? He is planted so securely in your mind that my bond will be strangled by his.?

Obi-Wan nodded his head to where Xani stood. Well he nodded toward the sound of Xani?s last words.

?That is truly what you want don?t you, an apprentice who can see, fight with the sureness and expertise you have trained him in, and one that would do justice to your mentoring of him. I can?t fill the mold of perfection you want in an apprentice but you know from past experiences he can. I am not good enough to be the apprentice of the *GREAT* Master Qui-Gon Jinn with the physical flaws I suffer from. Nothing but the best will do for you and I am far from the best but Xanatos very well could have been your best had he not left the order. Is it your wish to put your faith in wh