| Title: One Apprentice, One Pathway #2: Hidden Author: Ginger Ninja Rating: PG13 Summary: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan find something that doesn't want to be found... Spoilers: None I think. Obi-Wan is 15 in this story. The characters in this that sound familiar belong to that rich guy George Lucas and he's the one making the moolah, not me *sniff*. The others belong to me but I'm still not making any money. Feedback: That would be nice... Order of series: Brewing (WIP) Hidden Twisted Changeover (WIP) ***Part One*** Obi-Wan Kenobi engaged the ship's hyper-drive and allowed himself a sigh of relief. Along with his Master Qui-Gon Jinn and another Master/Padawan pair, Lena and her apprentice Kyrana, he had spent over a month on the most boring planet in the galaxy sitting through the most boring bio-weapons negotiations of all time! Why it took so long was beyond him. Obi-Wan simply wasn't used to long, boring missions. He was now back on his way to Coruscant to the Jedi Temple and would hopefully be assigned to something slightly less mind numbing. He suppressed another sigh as his master entered the cockpit. "Is everything all right Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon inquired. "Yes Master," Obi-Wan replied. "When can we expect to land on Coruscant?" Obi-Wan checked a few read-outs. "Same amount of time as it took Master," Obi-Wan said. "A week." Qui-Gon nodded and sat down in silence. Not that Obi-Wan expected anything more from his master. That simply wouldn't be Qui-Gon like. Presently Qui-Gon sent Obi-Wan to fetch Master Lena. He didn't mention why but Obi-Wan sensed discomfort within his master. Obi-Wan himself couldn't feel anything particularly wrong but upon feeling his master's emotions and then seeing Master Lena's discomfort when he called upon her, he was certain something was up. Master Lena was a tall muscular woman with dark skin and black hair that was restrained in a tight bun. Obi-Wan knew she was half human because her slim, curvaceous body was like that of a human but her eyes, nose and ears looked feline. Plus she had a tail, which twitched underneath her cloak. Coupled with her amazing gymnastic talents, Obi-Wan was certain that she was half feline, half woman. An interesting mix. "Hey, do you know what's wrong?" Kyrana asked in a quiet voice. Kyrana was Master Lena's Padawan. She was a human girl with waist length braided red hair. Obi-Wan's hair had a ginger tint that was visible in brightly lit areas but Kyrana's hair was a deep dark red that was obvious anytime anywhere. Her Padawan braid rested lightly on her shoulder. She had dark greeny blue eyes that were perhaps her most beautiful feature, Obi-Wan thought to himself. She wasn't a tall person and her small frame and large eyes made her look a lot younger than her fifteen years of age. 'Makes her look cute,' Obi-Wan thought and felt a little heat on his cheeks. Recently Obi-Wan had begun to notice the females around him more and more. Despite being a Jedi, he was still a victim of teenage hormones, just as Kyrana was. Clearing his throat, Obi-Wan said, "I'm not sure really but our Masters' definitely felt something and I feel...odd." Kyrana nodded. "Hmm," she said. "Maybe we could find out." "How?" Obi-Wan asked, all ears now. "Ever heard of eavesdropping?" the girl asked with a devilish grin on her young face. ***** "I don't know what it is exactly but it feels as though something bad is about to happen." Qui-Gon nodded to Lena. "I know. It feels almost as if something just...appeared." Outside the cockpit, Obi-Wan and Kyrana shared a glance. Now they knew why their Masters were acting strange and why they themselves had a strange yet implacable feeling. "Has anything appeared on sensors?" Lena asked. "A ship maybe?" Qui-Gon shook his head. "Actually I was scanning for planets." Lena's dark eyes met Qui-Gon's. "Planets?" Qui-Gon nodded. "I felt as sudden surge in the Force as if millions of new people had been placed in the galaxy in the same place. Too many people for a ship but more than enough for a planet." Lena nodded. "Yes, that does explain this feeling but how could a planet just appear?" "Maybe it didn't just appear. Maybe it's always been there..." Qui-Gon trailed off. Then he spoke up, "Obi-Wan I know you're there." Lena smiled a little as she felt her own Padawan's surprise. "You too Kyrana." Qui-Gon opened the cockpit door and allowed the two sheepish Padawan's to enter. "Sorry Master," Obi-Wan said, his head bowed. "Forget it." "So what do we do about this...occurrence?" Lena asked. Qui-Gon was thoughtful for a moment. "We could investigate this area of space I suppose," he said while rubbing his beard. "We wouldn't have a great deal of time but if we worked together we might just be able to solve this mystery." And within a very short space of time, the ship had dropped out of hyperspace and was just cruising. "Anything on sensors?" Lena asked. "Nothing," Kyrana replied. "But I can still feel it out there," Qui-Gon said. "It's stronger now." Obi-Wan nodded. "I feel it too. Something, or someone, is trying to hide something." Kyrana looked up from the sensor display. "Is it possible that there may be a planet that can hide itself from sensors?" That gave everyone something to think about. If there was a planet in hiding out there, maybe they needed help. Or maybe they just wanted to be left alone. "Perhaps we should contact the council and see if they know of this," Lena said, mainly to Qui-Gon who agreed. "Yes indeed. We don't want to overreact to something that has a perfectly reasonable explanation." Just as Qui-Gon went to the com system, a sharp gasp of surprise came from Obi-Wan. "What is it Padawan?" Obi-Wan was studying the sensor read out in disbelief. "I don't know exactly. I might have been imaging things but I am certain the sensors just picked up a planet but it suddenly disappeared." "Disappeared as in you just can't see it?" Lena asked. "Yes," Obi-Wan nodded. "It wasn't destroyed. I saw what I thought was a planet and then the image waved like when you disturb a calm pond and then it was gone." "I think it's safe to say know that there is something out there," Qui-Gon said. "And whatever it is, it wants to remain hidden." "So do we just go?" Obi-Wan asked. Qui-Gon paused for a moment. He was still wondering what would cause a planet to hide itself from the rest of the galaxy. He wondered if the Jedi Council knew of this. He shared his thoughts with Obi-Wan only through their bond. Obi-Wan wanted to go down there. What if they needed help? Lena too was silent. She remembered stories from her youth about a hidden planet with untold riches but she had never taken them seriously. And Jedi were not interested in such things. She had told Kyrana of these tales years ago. She made sure her young Padawan still remembered that these were just children's stories. Kyrana looked at Lena and spoke aloud. "Maybe we're all getting a little carried away." Everyone looked at the girl in surprise. She meant their gazes calmly. "Why do you say that?" Qui-Gon questioned. Kyrana shrugged. "We still haven't contacted the council. Before we do anything, we should see what they think." "A very good point Kyrana," Lena said and turned her attention to Qui-Gon. "Do you agree?" "Indeed I do," he said and then began to set up the comm. system. Obi-Wan had been studying the sensors once again. They had picked up another ship. "Master, perhaps you should look at this." Qui-Gon abandoned the comm. system and looked at the sensor display. "A ship? Where?" Obi-Wan looked and sounded a little confused. "Right in front of us but..." "But you can't see anything," Qui-Gon concluded. "Are you sure?" Lena enquired. Before anyone could respond, the ship was hit by several blasts. "Well whatever it is out there, it doesn't seem to like us!" Kyrana pointed out as she held onto the pilot's chair for dear life. A voice came over the active comm. system. "You have entered our space without permission. Prepare to be boarded." Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon who was now seated in the pilot's chair Kyrana gripped. "Now what do we do?" "We do as they asked," Qui-Gon replied calmly. "We should try and clear up this mess before getting into any more trouble." Obi-Wan didn't feel his Master's calm. "And if they won't listen?" "Do not centre of your anxieties Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said sternly. 'How many times have I heard that?' Obi-Wan thought. 'How many times will I hear it in the future?' The Jedi prepared for the arrival of their mysterious antagonists. Lena sent out an emergency beacon but it was unfortuantly in intercepted by the other ship. "You will pay for that," a low, gravely voice threatened. The sounds of blasters came from the lower decks of the ship. "They've boarded," Lena said quietly. Kyrana looked at her Master. How could she not be in the least bit apprehensive about this? Kyrana kept her emotions below the surface but her Master didn't seem to fear anything. //I suggest you take Qui-Gon's advice Padawan// Lena Force-spoke to Kyrana. When a group of heavily armoured soldiers crashed into the cockpit, the Jedi all looked at them calmly. "You will come with us," one armoured man ordered. Their armour was blue and it hid their bodies. There were logos on the arms and chest but they meant nothing to the Jedi. "If you attempt to escape we will not hesitate to shoot," the man rattled off the obviously rehearsed speech. "We do not want to a conflict over this," Qui-Gon said. "We believe there has been some kind of misunderstanding," Lena said. "We are Jedi returning to Coruscant. We did not intend to violate your space. If we could speak to your leaders then perhaps we could clear up this..." "Silence!" the man ordered. He pointed at the two youths. "Hand them over. They will be ours until you have cleaned up...mess'." Both Padawan's gave their Masters fearful glances but quickly covered them up. "What will happen to them?" Lena asked. "That is unimportant," the leader said, sounding vaguely amused. "hand them over or you will all die." As if to prove his point, the team of soldiers aimed their weapons at the Jedi. //Master I think we should go. Like you said we don't want a conflict// Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan. The boy had a resolved look on his face. He found the same look on Kyrana's face. //It'll be all right,// Kyrana assured her Master. //You'll sort it all out and then we'll be able to go home.// Both Masters nodded and the Padawan's walked to the soldiers. To Qui-Gon and Lena's horror, they were both shot immediately. "They are just stunned, do not overreact," the leader said with sarcasm. "Now move." Qui-Gon and Lena did not even make it as far as the door until they too were unconscious beside their Padawans'. Qui-Gon's last thought was of fear. This situation was now completely out of hand. And then the darkness engulfed him ***End Part One*** |
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