Before Enemies Among Us - Obi/Qui, pre-TPM - Thank-you So Much To My Readers - Completed 2/3

Finally caught up!

Sorry I didn't comment earlier - I gobbled up the post when you updated, though.

>>>?When you have him figured out, be sure to contact the Jedi Council. Twelve of the wisest beings in the galaxy have been trying to understand him since he was a child. I?m sure they would be interested in your insights.? Obi-Wan said mockingly.>>>

Oh, loved that. So true, too.

So Athan knows the truth...I wonder how he and Qui are going to deal with this - and rescue Obi-Wan?

Hey there! I'm new to this board. I really love stories with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, and this is just wonderful. You've captured the characters very well, and the plot, so full of twists and intrigues, is interesting too. Keep it up! I look forward to more.

I am so sorry to not have posted in so long. Yikes! It's been about two weeks. I am going to try to post in the next couple of days.

Layren - Glad you liked that.

kma - Well, he's alert but still not in great shape. Phedra really bothers you when she does that, doesn't she?

Kynstar - Hands bound in front will only make things a little easier.

Shaindl - I really should start resolving some of this tension soon.

diane - Without family was nice! I think Obi-Wan is calmer just because he doesn't understand what's going on yet.

o_e - I would hope so.

VaderLVR - Thanks for hanging in there.

Kitara -

t_s - I think he handled himself well also. Thanks.

DarkDream - Thanks for reading.

sis - Don't worry about posting. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

The_Hutt - Glad you are enjoying this fic. Don't worry - Qui will do more soon.

ca_tron - yay!

P_A - Hang in there a little longer.

maychorian - Welcome!

Thanks everyone for waiting!!
****

Chapter 21

The speeder drew no attention as it blended into the busy traffic lanes of the Denuran capital. It approached a large domed building and easily made its way through security checkpoints, finally entering the building from a side entrance before stopping in an empty bay. The guards exited the speeder, motioning with their weapons for Obi-Wan to do the same. He slowly stepped out of the transport.

?Macres wants him up a few more levels. Come this way,? Damon said.

Damon moved ahead of the group, leading them through a maze of walkways and service lifts. Obi-Wan carefully made a mental map of the direction they were taking, hoping it would later prove useful. His questioning probes toward his mentor were still being met with shielded responses of encouragement and confidence in him. The frustration at not knowing what was going on was grating and he tried to push it out of his mind. Focus. He breathed in one more time, trying not to wince at the lingering pain in his chest. There was a subtle tension in the Force, but he somehow didn?t feel ready for whatever was about to happen.
__

Athan Marinou sat quietly at his desk with his eyes closed. The evening?s events would change the direction of his life and the future of those that had put him in his position, yet he was skeptical that the night would be uneventful.

He looked up as Sitara entered the office.

?I ran into Macres in the corridor. Do we have a few minutes to talk??

?Cyril is off to escort Master Jinn to the hangar. I told him that we would meet him there.?

?Not going to let him out of his sight??

?Apparently not.?

Sitara pulled a small metallic object out of his coat pocket. After flipping an activating switch, a hologram sprung to life in front of the two men.

?This is a map of the legislature building. We will obviously be up front right here,? he said. ?I?ve pulled my most trusted men from their usual assignments. I am leaving several here to secure the residence if needed. The rest will be dressed in civilian clothes and seated on the ends of the first four rows.?

?What?s the exit strategy?? Athan asked, accustomed to Sitara?s thoroughness.

?If anything happens, Master Jinn and I will escort you through these maintenance shafts to a speeder I will have waiting in this maintenance bay. I have instructed my men to take your wife and Macres into custody and bring them back to the residence for their protection.

?Of course,? Athan said smiling. ?I wish there were a way to let Master Jinn in on this.?

?Somehow, I think he?ll know what to do.?

Sitara looked at his friend, seeing through the confident exterior the man always seemed to project.

?Athan, it?s not too late to call this off.?

?No, I?m going ahead with it,? he said standing up. ?Shall we??
__

The group of guards and their captive made their way to yet another checkpoint, waiting as Damon chatted with an official. Obi-Wan looked around and noticed a young man in a security uniform watching him intently. Taking a deep breath, the young man made his way towards Obi-Wan?s nearest guard.

?Merk, is that you??

?Korridan. I never would have expected to see you here. You always seemed to like Marinou.?

?Yeah, well he should have stuck to teaching.?

?True. He was good at that.?

As the friendly chat continued, Obi-Wan noted a steady increase in the anxiety rolling off of the young man. He was also getting closer, only stopping when he was practically brushing up against the Jedi with his shoulder. Obi-Wan noticed the young man take another deep breath a moment before he felt a cold, metallic object placed in his hands. He didn?t need to see the object to know the familiar feel of his lightsaber. He grasped the hilt firmly and discreetly pushed the weapon up under his tunic, making sure it was secured under his sash, knowing it still not the time to make a move towards freedom.

?Well, looks like you are moving again. I better get back to my post, Merk

>>>P_A - Hang in there a little longer>>>

I'm hanging, I'm hanging for all it's worth - and here's another...cliffie!

Excellent. I could practically sense the tension of events about to happen.

>>>Qui-Gon marveled at the tenderness Athan showed his wife despite knowing about her deception and hate towards him. They were a perfect picture>>>

Admire Marinou, really - the man's a tower of strength - especially knowing what's to come. It must be horrible, knowing Phedra's deceit.

Obi-Wan's determined, Qui's anxious...how's it going to turn out? How???

**[Note to self]: Be. Patient.**

Argh.

Here Princess, you can use one of my bungee cords- they age great when you get caught hanging off the edge of a cliff

[scrabbles madly around cliff-face] Thanks, PK! [ties cord around waist, and hangs in company of fellow - er - cliff-hanger] - hmm, this feels comfortable...

Oh evil author! Cliff hangers are evil You know that right?

Let the games begin.

The stage is definately set.

As for Phedra, she really bothers me, period! (But especially when she puts her hands all over Obi-Wan. )

Excellent! This is going to be good, I can tell. I'm glad Obi-Wan has his lightsaber, but I can't help feeling a little worried for him. There's an awful lot arrayed against them. Can't wait for more!

A definite cliffie Can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm glad Obi has his saber, but I have a feeling he's in for trouble. And Qui that feeling he has in the Force, definite trouble ahead!

P_A - Well, glad you're settled in with bungee cords. you probably aren't going to like where I leave this post either.

Kitara - Thanks for giving P_A a hand.

Layren - They are?

o_e - [face_grin[/b]

Jedikma - Now we just have to set everything into motion!

maychorian - He's going to need his lightsaber.

t_s - trouble?

Oi! Coming down to a smackdown! Let's get ready to rumble!

Can't wait for more! Glad to see Obi get his saber Qui does have confidence in the youth and that in itself will prob help Obi

Great work!

Kynstar - Well, here we go.

Chapter 22

Obi-Wan watched as a uniformed guard sat at the sniper rifle in front of him. Damon stood beside, hands resting on the railing, and leaned forward slightly as the small group watched Minister Marinou approach the podium.

?People of Denura,? Minister Marinou began. ?We come here today to start a new journey together, one that will lead us from war to hope, and from fear to our place in the galaxy,? he said as he dropped his gaze to the legislators and advisors seated before him.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses. He knew he didn?t need to warn Qui-Gon ? the tones of warning in the Force were unmistakable, but he could at least give a possible direction of attack. Obi-Wan also sensed a danger to him personally. He began to slowly slide forward in his chair to give some bend in his knees, making sure his feet were firmly against the floor.
__

Minister Marinou finished his address to a standing ovation and motioned for Qui-Gon to come forward, making eye contact with the Jedi master as he passed. Qui-Gon approached and affixed an official stamp for the Republic to the flimsiplast sheet ? his cue. He moved to the side of the podium, doing nothing but give Cyril Macres and Phedra Marinou a defiant gaze. Athan Marinou then stood, taking a deep breath, and approached to seal his side of the treaty

As Minister Marinou began to affix his seal, Damon?s comlink gave three beeps ? a pre-planned signal. The sniper manning the blaster rifle squeezed the trigger. The one shot fired in silence at the First Minister was immediately deflected in a whirl of emerald green.

Damon turned from the railing, leveling his blaster at Obi-Wan. As he fired off a shot, Obi-Wan sprang up, flipping and landing away from his guards, only to duck and roll out of the way of a second shot. Stretching out his hands, he drew on the Force to pull the blaster from Damon?s hands. Jumping once again to avoid yet another shot, he made his way to the door and exited. As the door hissed shut, he fired the blaster at the control panel, jamming the door.

Sensing no immediate danger, he slid down to sit by the door, dropping the blaster to the ground. He drew in a deep breath, wincing at the pain that now shot through his chest. He could here tapping on the door and a few muffled blaster shots, then silence, until he heard Damon?s voice through the door.

?I had hoped you would escape, and you didn?t disappoint me.?
__
Qui-Gon adopted a defensive stance in front of Minister Marinou, deflecting two more shots, as the legislature chambers erupted into chaos with masses of previously cheering people now rushing to exit. Several men in civilian clothes charged onto the stage, and began to hurry Macres and Lady Marinou away. Qui-Gon noticed that no more shots had been fired.

?Is that all they were planning?? Sitara asked, equally confused.

Qui-Gon paused for a moment once again reaching out with the Force. The danger was shifting locations.

?We need to go, but with caution. There is still great danger!? he ordered.

Sitara nodded an affirmative and smiled as Athan pulled a small blaster from his coat.

?I have a speeder secured in a maintenance bay two levels up. We should stick to maintenance passages and stairwells; the main walkways are going to be chaos.?

Qui-Gon began to back the first minister out of the open. He could sense that Obi-Wan was on the move, and hoped that meant he had successfully escaped.
__

Obi-Wan looked towards the door, still taking shallow breaths as breathing deeply hurt.

?The entire security force is looking for you,? Damon taunted. ?It seems a young Jedi matching your description was seen at the location the attack came from and is believed responsible for attacking the minister. I wouldn?t trust all of them to ask before they shoot.?

The voice fell silent again. Obi-Wan pulled at the chain that bound his wrists. It didn?t give him much of a range of motion, but at least they were bound in front. Reaching up

Woohoo! Smackdown!! hehehehe

Uh oh he's planning on framing Obi? Hmmm could be interesting Loving the action!! Tense for sure! Can't wait for more! hehehe

Sitara turned his back to Minister Marinou, quickly pushing him up behind Qui-Gon. Too quickly. Qui-Gon swung his saber to deflect another shot, halting the blade with quick reflexes as it stopped a fraction from Marinou?s head.

?I need a little more space than that, Minister,? he said, swallowing hard. A shot came from below them screaming past Sitara?s head.

Hehehe I can almost imagine the poor guy's face! Eyes bulging as the green blade nearly gave the guy a hair cut!! *snrk* hehehe great work!!

Always nice to see Obi in action. Regardless of his age.

Yay! What? Wait! Huh. Hehe. Go Qui-Gon! Go Obi-Wan!

Just my various reactions.

Nice chappie!

Trying to frame Obi-Wan? That doesn't sound very friendly to me!

Can't wait for more.

Talk about being behind...

Ch. 14-- So Lady Marinou comes to apologize for her lusting after Obi... Qui-Gon probably wishes that were the worst of his concerns. She has given him lots of background info though.. hope it helps.

Ch 15 -- OOhhh, what does she know?!? Okay, very glad here I'm about to find out quickly.

Ch. 16-=- Must say I was very surprsied to see Phedra was behind Obi's abduction... didn't see that coming. A nice twist to her being infatuated...

Ch 17 -- ?Your manners have diminished Master Jinn. You would usually meet me at the door and at least offer me a seat.? -- That's when he thought you somewhat human!

Ch 18 -- LIke all others the reminder to the master is not going to be good for poor Obi-Wan. I knew they would try to set the apprentice up.

Ch. 19 -- Athan knew enough that he should have informed the Jedi when they arrived... forewarned is forearmed and it might have saved OBi-Wan being abducted.

Ch.20 -- They do seem to be able to keep Macres?s offguard with their knowledge.
?When you have him figured out, be sure to contact the Jedi Council. Twelve of the wisest beings in the galaxy have been trying to understand him since he was a child. I?m sure they would be interested in your insights.? -- superb line! LOL!

Ch. 21 -- I am so hoping this is going to work out.

CH 22 -- Grrrr, all caught up and still not satified here!! I want more.

Absolutely superb story !!

And now a word from our mods....

Sorry to hijack the thread, but everyone, please be aware b*itchslap is a demeaning, foul and misogynistic word. It has been added to the forbidden list and removed from the numerous replies on this thread. (hopefully I've caught them all)

What an exciting post Noi! Obi-Wan was awesome, Qui-Gon has every right to have faith in him But I am scared for him! More soon!

Always good to see Obi-Wan in action. Hope he doesn't get hurt in his escape.