You Can't Hide From Destiny - JA, Obi/Qui angst, h/c, Please Read!

ooooooo..that was good! More!!!!!

 

Congratulations Obi the Kid! You got the 200th post! Hey, I've never gotten 200 post before! Final installment tomorrow evening!

 

Thanks Healer L! I appreciate you guys not saying who you think the bomber is. You've probably figured it out, but thanks for not spoiling it for others!

 

WOOHOO!! 200!!!!

 

I think I'll go ahead and post the final installment this morning since a lot of people are doing things on Friday night other than sitting at their computers. I'm glad you've enjoyed the product of my fevered imagination. This is the first "mystery" I've ever attempted, but it was fun to write. Of course, I always enjoy writing about our "boys." And now...the conclusion:

Part 14

Obi-Wan sat on the edge of Qui-Gon?s bed, his back to the Jedi master. ?I can?t believe this is happening,? he said numbly.

?Padawan,? said Qui-Gon softly, laying his hand on the boy?s shoulder. ?You understand why Master?s Windu and T?rokai have to do this, don?t you??

The young man slowly nodded his head, too shocked to speak.

?Obi-Wan,? said Mace from the doorway, ?it?s time to go.?

Looking up at the Councilor, Obi-Wan shook his head. ?I want to stay with my master.?

?You know you can?t do that,? Mace responded in a sympathetic voice. ?You?re going to have to stay in your quarters for the time being.?

?Master?? pleaded Obi-Wan, turning to Qui-Gon.

?Go on, Padawan,? said the Jedi master. ?Everything will be all right.?

*****

The man stood down the hall from Qui-Gon?s room, blending in yet not really belonging there. For the past two days he?d been observing the routine in and around the Jedi master?s room. He also noted that Padawan Kenobi had been confined to his quarters with one of the other two Jedi masters with him at all times.

Nodding his head in satisfaction, the man smiled. /Tonight. Tonight I?ll do it, and with Ben confined to quarters, there?s no way they can pin it on him. He?ll be in the clear, and with Master Jinn dead, he?ll have no reason to return to the Jedi./

*****

Obi-Wan stood by the window in his quarters, his eyes closed as he attempted some form of meditation to calm his nerves. He?d been in this small suite of rooms for two days now...waiting.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he spun around to see Master T?rokai making her way to the door, indicating with her head that he should go into the bedroom. With a sigh and a nod, Obi-Wan complied.

?Mr. Prime Minister,? greeted T?rokai as she opened the door, ?won?t you come in??

?Thank you, Jedi Master,? nodded Palentine as he stepped across the threshold and looked around. ?Where?s Ben??

?Obi-Wan!? the female master called as she closed the door.

?Your Lordship!? greeted the young man with a smile as he exited the bedroom.

The Prime Minister?s face broke into a wide smile as looked at the young man. ?Ben! My boy, you look every inch a Jedi in those clothes.?

Obi-Wan ducked his head in embarrassment. When he?d first been escorted back to his quarters two days ago, Mace had insisted he change into his padawan attire. The Jedi master?s meaning was clear...no matter what the outcome of the next few days, Obi-Wan would be returning to Coruscant when the Jedi left. The only question was...what would he be returning to? Putting on his uniform had given him a sense of completion, a sense of...coming home. He knew the feeling wouldn?t last very long if things didn?t work out, but he was trying not to think about that right now.

?Thank you, your Lordship.?

?If you gentlemen will excuse me,? said T?rokai, ?I sense my padawan in the hallway. I?ll only be a moment.?

?Ben, I?m sorry I haven?t come to see you sooner,? said the Prime Minister once T?rokai had left. ?I don?t want you to think it?s because I haven?t wanted to.?

?I know that, Sir,? murmured Obi-Wan, taking a seat across from his employer. ?You still have a planet to govern, despite the tribulations of your security chief.?

Palentine nodded and smiled. ?How are you doing, Ben? Really??

Obi-Wan closed his eyes with a sigh. ?Truthfully? I feel like I?m waiting for the ax to fall...only the wrong head is on the block.?

?I know, I know,? clucked Palentine sympathetically. ?But, this will all be over soon. I can feel it. Things are going to come to a head, and soon.?

?I know...I feel it too,? ag

 

Not bad, not bad! I was wondering if it could be Rupert, but I couldn't discover a motive, so I didn't say anything. The presentation of the light saber was the perfect way to end this!

 

Thanks Jane Jinn! Glad you liked it.

 

Great ending! Rupert did it...i had a sneaky feeling about that.

Now...a sequel? with Obi readjusting to life as a jedi???? hmmmmmmmmmm?

Wonderful work!!!!

 

Thanks everyone! Yes, I have been pondering a sequel, but you know how it is...so many ideas, so little time. I may get a chance to do some writing, but for the next two weeks I have to work on a paper on Japanese culture for my Cultural Anthropology class. It's just 6 pages, but I want to get it out of the way. But, I do have ideas churning around in my brain for this and other stories. Funny how that happens.

 

*wail* Its over already!

Beautiful ending though. I started to suspect Rupert too, but until the last few posts, it seemed impossible. It looked more to me that Obi-wan leaving was to his *advantage*, so I went looking for someone else. Very nicely done, Peggy. You had a realistic crime, villain, and skillful reader-suspense. You should write another mystery sometime. (hint, hint)

 

Thanks Julie. You know I didn't set out to write a mystery, or to even focus on the bombing. I initially just used the bombing as a means of bringing Obi and Qui together, but then it started taking on a life of its own, and I realized I had to address that part of the story. Glad you liked it.

 

great story Peggy!

I suspected Sade, believe it or not, after that comment about Obi having to stay...i thought up some wierd obsession scenario...

<shrug> oh well, I've been wrong before...

I love the way it ended, with Qui presenting Obi with his saber...lovely!

 

I don't know whether to cheer or cry! Cheer because it all worked out- although it was kind of sad to see Rupert as the guilty party, that he didn't trust Ben quite enough to come forward and ask for help waaay earlier. Cry because it's all over! I enjoyed the whole thing, especially the way everything slotted into place at the end there. Nicely handled.

 

WOW! Oh how I hope you make a sequel! I know you said you might not be able to start for a while but when you do, you can count on me being there to read it!

As for the ending: I had *no* idea it was Rupert! You did a great job with that. He was the last one I would have suspected.

Anyway, cheers to you for the great story!

 

Beautiful! I'll be waiting for more of your fine stories!

 

Thanks you guys! Yes, I'll post another story when I get a chance. I've had several story ideas in my head for awhile now that I've been wanting to get down on paper. And, hey...I'm always up for writing some Obi-torture.

 

It's over??? What am I going to read now??


That was a wonderful story!! Now, don't torture us for too long! Get that paper out of the way and start thinking up a new story!! Please!!

 

Great reading! This stuff just keeps one coming back for more. This is indeed one of my guilty pleasures that I enjoy alone. Thanks for the wild ride.

 

Once again, I'm very sad to see one of your stories end . I enjoyed this one tremendously, and I didn't suspect Rupert until the second to last post. A sequel exploring how Qui and Obi rebuilt their relationship would make me an extremely happy fan fict addict. Is there any hope?

Hannah

 

Awww.. it's over! Lots of nice mush though to make up for it. I almost felt sorry for Rupert, but then I thought of how he tried to kill Qui-Gon just for his own selfish reasons and any sympathy went right out the window. Did I hear the word "sequel?"

 

Thanks for all the generous feedback you guys! I will definitely think about a sequel...after the Japanese culture paper and the story I've had waiting in the wings for quiet awhile. For those of you who've read my story "A World Away," it's a continuation (though not near as long) of that where Obi-Wan comes face to face with a painful episode of his life that he thought he'd laid to rest as he helps someone else through a similar trauma. So, I guess you could call that Obi-torture/angst. Anyway, this is fair warning...to truly understand the story you should read "A World Away" before hand. It's at: http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=1810193 Look for me soon!