Before - Legends Should As Strangers We Meet- JA repost Epilogue

Kynstar - Heh, glad you enjoyed the surprise.

Layren - When will we ever find out why Obi did this?? Probably real soon.

Jaxx - Welcome, and yep, he shot him! LOL! *helps Jaxx off floor*

Diane -Thanks, you can understand why I just had to end the post there. It's just so fun!

Athena - I love the reactions, especially when people say it's great, and I understand exactly how you mean! LOL!

Arwen-Jade, it's only been a couple days and being a sort post I'll add more right now.

Kitara - Not to bad though huh?

Ish - It's so fun to really surprise people.

Miana - Thanks!

Mouse - Well, she has once, guess it just didn't take.

Okay, bacause it was short and I cliffie I'll put up the next part.

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Danian watched as the Jedi opened the door, heard the discharge of a blaster accompanied by a bright flash of light, then suddenly the large man was flung into the wall.

"Obi!" she screamed wildly, having no idea what had happened, her priority of concern being her mate.

Instantly, Obi-Wan stepped through the door, rushing to where the Jedi had fallen.

"What are you doing?" Danni asked in shock as Obi-Wan rummaged through the downed man's clothes, a determined look on his face.

"Here, take this," he passed the lightsaber to her.

"Is he dead?" she stammered, gazing sickeningly at the Jedi's chest. His shirt and jacket were still smoking from where the energy blast had burned them away, leaving a large blistered wound.

"I only stunned him, but I had to use a strong setting to make sure he?d be incapacitated.? Obi-Wan started checking for any other weapons hidden among pockets.

"But he's injured." she reasoned.

"He'll survive," came the indifferent answer.

Danian stared at Obi-Wan in disbelief. She had never seen him so cold. And to act so seemingly out-of-hand. She may have only met the man hours before, but she had always had a keen sense of people. There had been nothing she sensed to warrant such abnormal behavior from Obi, such downright maliciousness. The man had only moments before shown her compassion, offered her comfort, and now here she stood back in paralyzed shock while her mate rifled the man's pockets.

Obi-Wan looked up from his position over the fallen man seeing the stricken look on Danni's face, sensing her thoughts. "Danni, you don't understand," he said mournfully. The appalled look in her eyes sent a stabbing pain to his heart.

"He's not who he says. I don't have time to explain. Please Danni," he implored humbly, "trust me."

Torn by what her mind told her was wrong with what she felt in her heart, that Obi would never do something like this without good cause, she hesitantly nodded in agreement.

"Find me something to tie him up with and a med-kit," he directed hurriedly.

Danni quickly searched the cabin. Finding a coil of rope, she tossed it to Obi and continued her search for a med-kit. By the time she found one hidden under the control panel in the cockpit, Obi had the Jedi's legs tied together and his arms secured behind his back.

Opening the med-kit, Obi dumped the contents out, grabbing each item and examining it closely.

"What are you looking for?" Danni inquired, still somewhat disturbed by his behavior.

"Something to keep him sedated," he answered holding up a vial.

"Is that really necessary. He's injured and you've got him restrained. I wouldn't think he'd pose too much of a problem," Danni couldn't help but feel a measure of sympathy for the man, who moved slightly, moaning in the process.

"Believe me, you have no idea what this man is capable of. I've witnessed his Force abilities and even without his weapon or use of extremities he could be a considerable threat."

"But if he isn't a Jedi?" Danni questioned.

"I don't know what he is, but he's been trained as well as any Master from the temple." Obi stated, glancing worriedly at the man.

Moaning in obvious pain, the Je

 

I had planned to update earlier, but many crazy things going on. Least of them getting a phone call from my son asking for a plane ticket to come visit for a week. He's lived in Florida almost three years and after Hurricaine Charley he wants to escape Frances... willing to comeover his fear of flying just to get away.

Sorry I don't address each of you seperately, you are all so wonderful to read and comment and I appreciate it more than you can know!

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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

 

Ish - Nerves is that?? Okay, I'll believe that for now!

Shaindl - I can so relate to RL. These last couple days have been relentless. Just saw my son off on his way back to Florida. Perhaps now I'll have some me time again. LOL! Thanks for sticking around!

Mouse - Hope your son makes it home safe and sound. Two hurricanes back to back does not sound like fun. -- Thanks and now of course there's Ivan right around the corner.

Arwen-Jade - Yep, time for a little talk between Obi and Xan....

AthenaLeigh - still a bit before Qui wakes up.

Indra - Xanatos is fun to play with. And you're quite right about Obi.

{b]Lilith[/b] - Aww, thanks Lil!!

Layren - Just wait till Qui-Gon wakes up! LOL!

Jeday - Thank you, and here's more right now.

Kynstar - I'll admit, you are so right about Qui-Gon's prblems being compounded with this Xan... lol! Soon enough, but not quite yet.
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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 mu