Ascension (continued)

by Artemis ( jedilover99@hotmail.com )

Continued from part 3

Outside, Obi-Wan shivered as he walked back to his rooms. The morning was warmer than expected, but the chill that clung to him was a certain ominous feeling nipping at his heels. He wondered if it was a premonition concerning the meeting this morning... or something of a more personal nature.

"My secret love," Obi-Wan said softly.

It pained him to keep his love hidden, to feel so free and alive and yet have to guard those feelings against the world and against his master from ever knowing.

Silva is no fool, Obi-Wan thought, realizing that the chill was his conscience. Soon enough his love would be betrayed.

Knight Laren was already in the courtyard beginning her morning stretches. She saw Obi-Wan as he came round the corner.

"Morning, Padawan," she called as she stretched her arms over her head.

"Good morning, Master," Obi-Wan said, smiling at her. "Am I late or are you starting early this morning?"

"I was anxious to begin," she said, and stilled her body. "I didn't sleep well last night thinking of the negotiations."

Obi-Wan noted his master's unease. He walked over to her, but kept a couple paces away, self-conscious that he hadn't yet showered to remove the traces of his lovemaking. "I'm anxious as well... as if today will bring many changes."

Silva nodded. "Yes, change is close at hand." Affectionate as always, Silva reached her hand out to touch her padawan's braid and then noticed a red mark on his neck. "What's this?"

"Hmm?" Obi-Wan asked, raising his hand to his neck.

"So, the prince felt the need to claim you?"

Obi-Wan swallowed hard and brushed his fingers over his neck until he found the sensitive spot. "I hadn't realized..."

"You might want to heal that before our meeting with the Tracepians. It's quite noticeable."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, glad for Silva's assumption that it had been Rakta who had marked him.

He shed his robe then, deciding to join his master in her morning exercises. As he limbered his muscles and stretched he found himself remembering the moment Qui-Gon had marked him. It was early morning, they had already made love twice and were enjoying some fruit and wine when Qui-Gon decided he needed him again... badly. That last time, they went at each other hard and fast, needing to feel each other intensely. And when Qui-Gon came, he bit down on Obi-Wan's neck, sucking it possessively. It was a brilliant moment, one that sent Obi-Wan into his own ecstasy of orgasm and one that branded him to the man.

The memory made him touch the mark again and smile inwardly. If only he could leave it. If only...

"Padawan?"

Obi-Wan blinked out of his reverie. "Yes, Master?"

"I was just asking you if you'd like to begin with the third form this morning?"

"That would be fine, Master."

The master and her apprentice worked through three forms and then parted to shower and dress in fresh tunics and then share a light first meal. Just before 0800 hours, they met Qui-Gon at the entrance to the compound.

"Good morning, Qui-Gon," Silva said, nodding to the Jedi master. She thought the man looked remarkably relaxed this morning, but decided not to comment on it.

"Good morning, Master," Obi-Wan added, bowing slightly. He felt himself warm in the presence of his lover, but was careful not to show any outward devotion.

"Good morning," Qui-Gon replied, nodding to Silva and Obi-Wan. He too was careful not to show his young lover any special attention. "We should be on our way," he said and started to walk in the direction of the Archives, his fingers tingling with the desire to brush across Obi-Wan's lips.

In just a few minutes they were approaching the Archives by way of the wide boulevard. To their surprise, the boulevard was crowded. Over the past weeks, researchers and scientists had kept a vigil there, but they tended to be in small groups of only ten and twenty. This morning, the entire plaza was filled with hundreds of anxious faces. The collective murmur of their conversations eerily silenced with the arrival of the Jedi. The crowd parted to give them way.

"Why are they here?" Obi-Wan asked as he scanned the crowd, seeing hope and frustration in the eyes that stared back at him.

"They've heard about the meeting," Qui-Gon said as he too made eye contact with several in the crowd.

"Should we ask them to disperse?" Obi-Wan asked, worried that a crowd this large and desperate could turn violent.

"No, Padawan," Silva said mildly as she assessed the situation. "Let's hope their presence has a positive effect on Roja and Ranna. It may help them to see just how petty their dispute is."

Obi-Wan was not accustomed to this type of setting. The missions he and Knight Silva had been sent on tended to be focused on individuals... key players in whatever conflict they were thrown into. Obi-Wan shone in those situations... shone when he could use his charms and his gift of languages to persuade and to soothe. But standing among this large gathering he felt at a loss to address each individual's needs, and did not understand that perhaps there was only one need to be met. The Eratti were negotiators of an intimate nature... the Eratti were not like other Jedi.

Am I still Eratti? Obi-Wan wondered again. He looked between his master and Qui-Gon and felt the terrible chasm that had opened within him... a chasm he could not mend... a chasm that might very well destroy him and the two people he loved most.

A hand on his arm brought him back to the present. He looked over to see his master smiling gently at him. "You seem distracted this morning, Obi-Wan."

The young Jedi nodded, grateful for her observation. "I am feeling... overwhelmed by all this," he said and waved his hand to indicate the crowd.

"Yes, I understand," Silva said and sent calm energy through the Force to her apprentice. "Try not to think of them as individuals, but as one being... as you would in the Unifying Force."

Qui-Gon watched the master and padawan pair and felt a small ache deep inside him. It had been many years since he had felt the call to teach. But watching Silva and Obi-Wan... and wanting Obi-Wan the way he did... he realized the call had merely been dimmed and not extinguished. His last apprentice had fallen to the Dark, but Qui-Gon now knew he had not lost his Jedi spirit with him.

I still have much to give, Qui-Gon thought, observing the pair. Oh, that I could be more to Obi-Wan than his lover... that I could give myself to him as his teacher.

At the entrance to the Archives the usual detail of guards was stationed at the doors, but the Tracepian Royal families were not yet present.

"They're late," Silva said as she looked back down the long boulevard at the crowd of onlookers.

"Neither party wants to be first," Qui-Gon said.

"Why is that, Master?" Obi-Wan asked as he too looked down the boulevard.

"Pride. Neither wants to wait for the other to arrive," Qui-Gon said, only allowing himself a quick glance at his beloved.

"That doesn't bode well for this meeting," Silva remarked and then squinted her eyes as she thought she glimpsed a swirl of red robes in the distance.

"Perhaps," Qui-Gon said simply, then he too noticed bright colors at the end of the boulevard. "It looks as though they've arrived."

All three Jedi watched as the crowd parted once again, this time for a group of thirty, consisting of the two royal families and their guards. It seemed they had timed their arrivals perfectly, coinciding so that neither waited. Each royal family wore red, orange and yellow robes and long tunics adorned with gem-encrusted gold jewelry. Their attire nearly outshone the early morning sun and Obi-Wan couldn't help but think how odd they looked among the relatively plainly dressed researchers that flanked them.

Some in the crowd boldly shouted their dissatisfaction at the rulers while others merely stared with contempt. Obi-Wan took a step forward, feeling the crowd's bitterness and the urge to send them away, but Silva held out her hand to stop him from going to the Tracepians.

"I do not believe these scientists would injure them," she said softly. "They only wish to share some of their frustration."

As Silva had predicted, the crowd's animosity seemed to unify the Tracepians, making the two royal houses feel united in this. They tightened their ranks though they did not speak to one another. By the time they reached the Jedi at the entrance to the Great Archives they were eager to go inside.

Queen Ranna and King Roja greeted the Jedi team. Ranna was the first to speak of her concern.

"I fear that when the doors open there will be a great press of bodies to get inside. What can we do to keep the crowd from overtaking us?" she asked, her eyes mirroring the worried tone in her voice.

"Have your guards form a line behind you. The crowd may still press, but they will not want any bloodshed," Qui-Gon said, and even as he finished his recommendation the King and Queen were nodding for it to be done. Then the Jedi master added, "It would be comforting to these people if you would both speak to them. Tell them of your negotiations."

Very clever, Silva thought as she looked at Qui-Gon. He was getting them to act as a unit... for the first time!

"Yes, reassure them, Majesty," Reva said, as she stepped forward from behind one of her mother's ladies-in-waiting.

"Majesty, speak to these people, please," Rakta said to his father.

Obi-Wan looked on Rakta and suddenly realized that he had not noticed the prince among the group from Tracep III when they had arrived. His absence hadn't been noticed because of the commotion of the crowd and the grand entrance of the two royal families, but now Obi-Wan was sure that Rakta had not been among them. Where had he been and when had he arrived? Even though there were dozens of people around them, Obi-Wan should have noticed this before.

The two monarchs nodded their acceptance of this wisdom and turned to face the crowd. King Roja gestured for Queen Ranna to begin.

"We, Queen Ranna, ruler of the House of Tracep II, wish to acknowledge your frustration with the closing of the Great Archives. Our eldest daughter's untimely death has thrown the two great Houses of the Tracepian Cluster into turmoil and grief, but we are working toward a resolution."

With a slight bow of the Queen's head, King Roja stepped forward to speak.

"As ruler of the House of Tracep III, we can say that this circumstance has never been faced before. The loss of the Supreme Archivist before the end of her term has indeed caused some confusion... but with the aid of this fine team of Jedi we are hopeful of a resolution very soon."

With that last statement some of the crowd cheered while others stood still oozing with contempt. The King turned to Qui-Gon and nodded that it was time to go in.

By order of the centuries-old treaty, the only person with security clearance to open the Great Archives was the Supreme Archivist, but there was a dual key system that could be employed in a time of emergency to open the main doors. Two keys, one held by each ruler, could be used in unison to de-activate the locking system. No one present could remember a time when this had been necessary.

Obi-Wan glanced at Rakta, remembering the secret passage they had taken. At first he thought it would have been easier if Rakta would have guided the royal families through the hidden passage, but then he realized the value of this cooperation. This was the first time the Tracepians had agreed on anything in weeks.

Roja and Ranna walked up to the fifty-foot tall doors, each taking out a cylindrical gold key from an interior pocket of their robes. Watching each other closely, the monarchs stepped up to the doors and inserted the keys, turning them in opposite directions for three rotations until the locking system could be heard clicking open. There was pleased murmuring within the elite grouping at that sound. Four guards stepped forward to push the doors open.

As feared, the crowd behind them became energized and rushed forward by the sight of the doors opening. But Qui-Gon's wise placement of royal troops kept them back.

The Tracepian rulers entered first, followed by their families, a half dozen guards and then the Jedi. Once inside, the great doors were closed again and the light bank activated.

As the room brightened, Qui-Gon inhaled a deep breath. He had not seen the Great Archives for several decades. It had not changed... physically... but in his heart he knew it had taken on a greater importance than it ever had before. The years had made his memories and his discoveries more sentimental, but his work in these negotiations had made his entire being ache to be within these walls again.

Obi-Wan seemed to sense the wave of emotion building within the Jedi master. Though he couldn't touch him, he stepped closer, to lend support in proximity. He watched as Qui-Gon subtly took in the space around them. The younger Jedi also looked at the main entry room with new eyes. When he had been here the previous morning, the building was dark... seemingly dead in its silence and lack of use. Now, even with this small group gathered within its walls, the place throbbed with life again.

As expected, Queen Ranna insisted that they begin by paying respect to her daughter, the late Supreme Archivist. The group moved forward as a unit as though they were suspicious that someone might wander off. Rakta managed to hang back and was soon walking beside Obi-Wan and pulling him aside to speak privately.

"You didn't come to me last night," the prince said, in a whispered accusation.

"I told you I could not promise that," Obi-Wan reminded him, all the while keeping his eyes forward.

Rakta narrowed his eyes on the young Jedi, even as he noted with much interest that Master Jinn glanced over his shoulder at them. "Yes, perhaps your meeting with your Jedi colleagues ran a bit late."

Obi-Wan did not want to lie to Rakta... or to his master. He didn't want his love for Qui-Gon to come down to lies, but he had to respond. "I'm sorry if you were disappointed."

"Somehow I doubt that... but what you don't realize is that you owe me a debt of thanks today," Rakta said a bit smugly.

"Oh?" Obi-Wan asked, now looking at the prince.

"My father was about to refuse Queen Ranna's request to meet here at the Archives... I had no doubt that you Jedi were behind that invitation so I persuaded him to accept."

"You did?"

"Don't sound so surprised, Obi-Wan. You've been working on me ever since you got here. Or didn't you think I'd been paying attention?" The prince gave a wink before walking ahead to rejoin his royal party.

Obi-Wan's steps slowed. Had the prince concluded that the sexual favors were tied to requests for access to the Archives? It would be unfortunate if he had, because it might make him spiteful. Somehow Obi-Wan believed that Rakta wouldn't hold it against him. He had made full use of Obi-Wan's body and had nothing to complain about.

In the sanctuary with the remains of the Supreme Archivists, the group gathered around the unmarked stone under which Rence rested. There was a moment of silence and then Queen Ranna spoke... her voice echoing the coldness of the room.

"In our selfishness we have not properly honored you my dear, Rence, for your devotion to the Great Archives."

"Perhaps we should do so now," King Roja suggested.

"How can we?" the Queen said, her eyes moist with grief. "It is the duty of the successor to lead the ceremony of honor."

"Rakta is ready to accept that duty," Roja said proudly.

"Rakta?" the Queen spat back. "He has no right to complete her term... that is for the House of Tracep II."

"It is his birthright to succeed Rence," Roja argued.

"Maybe so, but it is not his right to take her life!" Reva shouted as she stepped forward. "I know he killed Rence!"

"There is that ridiculous accusation again," King Roja said, throwing up his arms. "You had better have proof to back your words."

All eyes were on Reva now as she looked around the room at those gathered. "I'm hoping the Jedi will help me find proof."

"The Jedi!" Roja turned a fiery gaze to Qui-Gon. "You've chosen to believe this child's word over mine?"

"Your majesty," Qui-Gon said, bowing. "Princess Reva spoke to us of her concern, but we have made no judgments on the matter. However, the accusation should be addressed... an exhumation may be in order."

"Then do it!" the king bellowed. "The proof will free us from these ridiculous accusations."

"But we haven't even honored Rence and now you want to shame her by desecrating her tomb!" Ranna said, pulling angrily at the train on her long gown.

Reva put her hand on her mother's arm to calm her. "No, majesty... it wouldn't be a desecration. It's the only way the Jedi can prove the cause of her death. Rence would want us to research her death. Then she can rest and be honored."

Obi-Wan noticed that the word 'research' seemed to strike a chord in the Queen as well as the other Tracepians. They valued the sharing of knowledge above all else and research was key in that mission.

"Research her death?" the Queen asked, repeating her daughter's suggestion. "And you believe that would settle all this?"

"I do," the young princess said confidently.

Her mother considered this only a moment longer and then nodded. "Yes, I will consent to an exhumation."

"Very good, your majesty," Silva said, stepping forward. "We can make the arrangements immediately."

"That won't be necessary," Prince Rakta said, lifting his chin proudly.

Silva raised an eyebrow at the young man. "You have some new information for us?"

"Yes, I have evidence that will show Supreme Archivist Rence was murdered by her own sister, Princess Reva."

"What?" came the collective and shocked outcry from the Tracepian delegation.

None were more surprised than Reva. "What game is this?" she asked, tossing her head in indignation.

"I didn't want to do this, Reva," Rakta said, bowing respectfully to her. "But I've kept silent too long. Queen Ranna is right that it would be a desecration to exhume Rence's body. I can prove you murdered your own sister without having to disgrace Rence further."

"There can be no such evidence! I didn't kill Rence!" Reva screamed.

The group began to argue back and forth and Obi-Wan shivered from the falseness he could feel in the air. But it was impossible to determine who was being false. Everyone was agitated and speaking at once, except for Prince Rakta. The prince's demeanor was calm. He stood silent and humble with his head down and his eyes fixed on Rence's grave.

Is he the false one? Obi-Wan wondered and looked to his master and Qui-Gon to see their reactions to this scene. Both Jedi looked concerned, but it was Qui-Gon who spoke first.

"Tell us what evidence you have," Qui-Gon said, speaking loud enough to be heard over the frenzied chatter of the Tracepians, and looking intensely at the prince.

The group quieted for Rakta to respond. "It's all on tape," he said, lifting his head slowly to meet the master Jedi's gaze. "The Great Archives has an extensive security monitoring system...."

Obi-Wan nearly gasped at the words 'security monitoring system' and then didn't hear the rest of what Rakta had to say. Why had the prince not mentioned this before? During their tour of the Archives, Obi-Wan had seen the security access panels, and assumed there were other security measures such as motion detectors, but Rakta had never mentioned them or anything about hidden cameras. Did he withhold that information to ensure that Obi-Wan would allow an encounter within the Archives?

"And you can show us the relevant portion of the tapes?" Qui-Gon asked, relieved that they seemed to be moving forward in solving this problem, but unhappy with Rakta's timing.

"Yes, I can show you now," Rakta said, and then gestured for the group to move back into the main room.

As the others filed out, some seeming stunned and others belligerent, Rakta caught Silva's arm and pulled her back to speak with her privately.

"I believe you are aware that Obi-Wan and I have shared... intimacies," he said, quietly.

Silva looked at the prince and then back to the delegates filing out of the sanctuary. "Yes, I am aware of this," she said calmly, though she was puzzled by the topic of conversation at so critical a time.

"We have become rather fond of each other... which made it all the more surprising when he did not come to see me last night as we had arranged."

The knight turned fully to Rakta, her gaze narrowing on him. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry," Rakta said, bowing his head slightly in apology. "I do not mean to tell you Jedi how to conduct your business, but I had no idea your meeting would take so long last night. Perhaps you could allow Obi-Wan some free time this evening..."

Silva held up her hand to stop the rush of words. "Your highness," she said, outwardly calm. "Obi-Wan has my permission to spend his free time with you." And with that she nodded and went on ahead of the prince.

From that moment on Silva's mind was a whirl. Where was Obi-Wan last night if not with Prince Rakta? Her eyes quickly fell on the back of one rebel Jedi master, Qui-Gon Jinn. She could feel her calm slipping as her suspicions churned inside her. Qui-Gon was attracted to Obi- Wan... Obi-Wan wanted to be friends with Qui-Gon. What if Qui-Gon had found the opportunity to speak with Obi-Wan alone? What if he had seduced Obi-Wan? Had Qui-Gon compromised years of training and centuries of tradition for one night of passion with her Eratti apprentice?

The thought nearly tore a scream from her lungs. If true, she would need to act quickly. She would have to begin the Cleansing Ritual and contact the Jedi Council to file a complaint against Qui-Gon Jinn. But there was no time to take Obi-Wan aside and inquire to his whereabouts the night before. Rakta had taken center stage at the reception desk and was keying an access code into the computer.

"I am cuing the security recordings to show only Rence's office during her mid-day meals," he said, as he continued to input data into the machine. "The date stamp will be visible in the upper left of the screen... here." He pointed to the screen as the first recording began. "This recording was made just one week prior to Rence's death."

The conversation in the room lowered to a hush as those gathered strained to get a good view of the monitor. The images played out. Rence was sitting at her desk looking over some paperwork and then Reva came into her office, bringing a hot meal for her sister.

"This is insanity. I often had mid-day meal with Rence," Reva said, but was hushed by one of her sisters. She shook her head in frustration.

The majority of those gathered stood on the outer perimeter of the reception desk, while Rakta, the king and queen, and the Jedi team stood within. They all watched in silence as the recording showed Reva clearing a place on Rence's desk and then setting out the steaming food and tea. The sisters conversed pleasantly and even shared a joke, and then Rence was called out of the room for a few minutes. While she was gone, Reva took out a vial from inside her tunic and poured the powdery substance into Rence's drink.

"There," Rakta said in accusation. "She poisoned her!"

"I did no such thing!" Reva cried out, her eyes wide with horror.

"What were you putting in her drink?" Qui-Gon asked legitimately.

"A vitamin supplement," Reva said, but her cheeks pinked as though she was lying... badly.

Qui-Gon turned to Silva to get her read on the situation and Silva nodded, knowing that there was only one course of action they could take.

"We would like to ask you some more questions," Qui-Gon said to the princess.

"Arrest her!" King Roja shouted to his guards, taking matters into his own hands.

"No, you can't!" Reva cried, looking frantically around the group for support. "I would never harm Rence!"

"This is not right," Queen Ranna was saying, but even as she protested the guards moved in on her daughter.

"No, mother! Don't let them!" Reva screamed as one of the guards took her by the wrist. She twisted and struggled and then finally broke free, running from the building.

"After her!" Rakta shouted, and several of the guards were immediately in pursuit.

"Let her go," Qui-Gon said, quietly. "She is frightened and will not go far."

"He's right," the Queen said. "We all need to calm down."

"You just want to give your daughter time to hide," King Roja accused.

"And where would she go? This is her home," Ranna said, her brow tight with the mix of emotion she was feeling.

As the volley between the king and queen continued Rakta turned his gaze to Obi-Wan, hoping to catch the young man's eye. Instead he found Obi-Wan looking on Qui-Gon with what could only be described as admiration and... love? The thought tightened Rakta's chest. Is that who Obi-Wan bedded the night before when he was supposed to be with him?

"There is more evidence," Rakta said suddenly, cutting into the argument boldly.

The others quieted at his announcement and when Silva nodded to him to begin again he set about the task of cueing the recording. But this time he leapt ahead in the database to the day before. The reaction to this segment would prove or disprove his suspicion about the two Jedi.

Without a word, Rakta pressed start and stepped back from the view screen. The recording showed the main room of the Archives and in the upper right corner of the screen the figures of himself and Obi-Wan could be clearly discerned.

"What is this?" Silva asked, staring at the image. "This doesn't show Rence or Reva..."

But before she could inquire further it became very clear what they were watching. Rakta had cued the recording to begin during his sexual encounter with Obi-Wan the previous day. Before everyone's widening gaze, the two young men fucked and grunted and moaned.

"No!" Obi-Wan said, gasping in a combination of shock and outrage. He reached forward and after several frantic attempts stopped the recording, but not before everyone had gotten an eye and an ear full. He turned to Qui-Gon. "I can explain..." he began to say, desperate for Qui-Gon to understand, but the betrayal had already registered on his lover's face.

Before Obi-Wan could find his voice again, Qui-Gon turned from him and looked to the delegation who were arguing again about Reva's possible poisoning of Rence. The sexual display seemed not to have affected them, though Qui-Gon could not say the same for himself. He was shaken... badly shaken. How could Obi-Wan give himself to another only hours after their first encounter in the ruins? And then come to him last night eager to make love?

He had to set his feelings aside for the moment. The peace was deteriorating around them and he could not allow his own turmoil, his own breaking heart, to interfere with the purpose of this mission.

"Please," he said, holding up his hands to calm the Tracepians. "We will need time to review more of the security recordings."

Silva stepped forward. "We will examine the recordings closely and then contact you to discuss our findings."

The arguing didn't stop, but the group understood the need for the Jedi to study the recordings more closely. Everyone was unhappy, but they slowly filtered out of the building, leaving only Rakta.

"Let me show you how to access the security database," Rakta said as he looked at the Jedi.

Qui-Gon nodded curtly at the young man. An uncharacteristic feeling of jealousy clenched in his belly as he looked at the fair-haired prince. The thought of him having Obi-Wan was almost too much to bear.

"I'm sorry I cued the wrong recording," Rakta said, now looking at Obi-Wan. "I was a bit nervous and in a hurry..."

"You knew what you were doing," Obi-Wan said, sharply.

"Padawan," Silva said in a firm voice.

Obi-Wan turned away, flushed. How would he ever set things right with Qui-Gon again? How could he convince him of his love now that he had witnessed the betrayal with his own eyes?

"I'll write the access code down," Rakta said, turning away from them. He jotted down the code and the computer path to the security database. "I'll make sure the doors are locked from the outside so that when you leave the Archives is secure," he said and then without looking at any of them, left.

When they were alone at last Silva turned to confront Qui-Gon. "How dare you," she said in a venomous tone.

"Master, please..." Obi-Wan said, turning back around, surprised by her attack.

Qui-Gon's eyes shot a look at his lover and then back at the knight. "What are you accusing me of, Knight Laren?" he asked, unhappy about where this conversation was leading.

"I asked you to keep away from my padawan," she said, her tone remaining even, but forceful. "I saw the look in your eyes as you watched this recording. You've had him... haven't you?"

"It would seem that Obi-Wan doesn't lack for partners," Qui-Gon said coolly, though his heart was breaking.

"Then you admit it?" she asked, wanting Qui-Gon to confirm what she already knew instinctively.

"He came to me willingly, but had I known I was not the only one I would have turned him away."

"No, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said, stepping forward and reaching his hand out to touch his lover, but the Jedi master stepped away. "Please, I love you..." Obi-Wan said, knowing full well the consequences of admitting that love before his master, but hoping that it would ease Qui-Gon's pain.

Silva snapped. "You let him seduce you and now you admit your love for him? You shame me, Padawan!"

"There is no shame in love," Qui-Gon said, softly. He was horrified to discover that Obi-Wan had been with another, but he still loved him.

"No? You won't even let him touch you now... He has shamed you as well."

"I am hurt by his actions," Qui-Gon admitted. "But in time I hope to forgive him."

"Forgive him for performing his duty? I think not! The only forgiveness he needs is from me. He'll have to begin the Cleansing Ritual immediately."

"No, Master..." Obi-Wan pleaded. The Cleansing Ritual would wipe out all his memories of his encounters with Qui-Gon. It would be as if they had never fallen in love, never found each other.

"Are you telling me that you wanted Obi-Wan to have sex with Prince Rakta?" Qui-Gon asked, puzzled by Silva's sense of duty.

"Of course I wanted him to. How else do you think we got access to the Archives? Your way certainly wasn't working."

"My way? The Jedi way is negotiation and patience..."

"There are other ways," Silva said, allowing a small smile to curve at the corner of her lips. Her apprentice had been compromised and she wanted to show her pride and strength in the heritage she represented.

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes on her, unsure of what she was trying to tell him. "Are you renegades going against the Jedi Code?"

She knew she had to tell him. It was the only way he would see that what he had done with Obi-Wan was wrong. That the boy now had to be cleansed and Qui-Gon would have to be punished for interfering.

"Please don't tell him," Obi-Wan said, putting his hand on Silva's forearm. "He doesn't need to know."

"Of course he needs to know," she said, her tone flat as she glanced at her padawan and then back at Qui-Gon. "He's going to be punished and he should understand why."

"Punished?" Qui-Gon asked, sounding amused. "Why? Because I didn't ask your permission before bedding your padawan?"

"Because he is an apprentice of the Eratti. You have shamed the traditions which we uphold."

Silva's words struck Qui-Gon as if a physical blow. He felt breathless, dizzy. Had she really said Eratti? Surely that sect of the Jedi Order no longer existed. The Eratti ways were scorned by the Jedi... their sexual maneuverings tarnished the good that the Jedi strove to achieve.

"There are no more Eratti," Qui-Gon said finally, not wanting to believe the young knight. "Using sex as a means to manipulate negotiations would've destroyed the Jedi centuries ago."

"Oh, we are among you," Silva said proudly. "We have learned to keep a low profile."

Qui-Gon steadied himself by placing his hand on the reception desk. "No," he said shaking his head in disbelief. Then he looked at Obi-Wan, searching the young man's eyes for answers. "Tell me you're not Eratti."

Obi-Wan could see the turmoil plainly in his lover's eyes. This, more than anything, would destroy Qui-Gon, would destroy their love. "I... can't," Obi-Wan stuttered out and then trembled visibly as he watched Qui-Gon's gaze slip away from him. "Please... it doesn't change how I feel about you."

Shaken to the core of his being, Qui-Gon turned his back on his lover. He couldn't bear to look on Obi-Wan again. "It changes everything," he said, and wrapped his arms around his chest, hugging tightly against the pain of this revelation.

"Don't say that!" Obi-Wan said in a panic. "We shared so much... don't turn your back on me!"

"Obi-Wan!" Silva said harshly. "Do not demean yourself further. I will be contacting the Council immediately. There will be consequences." She nodded for Obi-Wan to follow her back to their quarters.

Obi-Wan felt his world collapsing in on him. Qui-Gon wouldn't have him and if he went back with Silva she would begin the Ritual. His head was spinning with the loss before him and he did the only thing he could do... he ran. He tore out of the Archives as fast as his legs would carry him.

"Padawan!" Silva called after him, but to no avail. The knight turned back to Qui-Gon, looking on him with deep contempt. "You'll pay for this Qui-Gon Jinn," she said and then turned away in a swirl of robes and walked out of the building.

Qui-Gon stood unmoving and unfeeling long after the ringing of boot heels had faded in the hall. He felt empty, a shell of what he had been only an hour ago. What hurt the most was the fact that he had truly fallen in love with Obi-Wan. He had felt an immediate connection to the young man and had fallen in love. He had given everything of himself to Obi-Wan and now he was left empty... used; his heart torn out, his mind shattered, his body numb, his soul lost. What was left was hardly worth saving. Silva's threat of punishment and consequences meant nothing to him. He had let himself be seduced by an expert. He had been manipulated by an Eratti apprentice.

No wonder they're so successful in their negotiations, he thought derisively. He remembered the perfect record this Jedi team brought with them and realized now he had never stood a chance.

After some time had passed, Qui-Gon forced himself to return to the present. He turned to the computer and willed himself to concentrate on the mission. He would need to continue investigating Rakta's claim against Reva. He was back to working alone.

Tears streamed down Obi-Wan's cheeks, blurring his vision as he ran from the Archives. Though he had no destination in mind, his legs and his heart took him back to the ruins, to the place where he had first made love to Qui-Gon. He rushed into the ancient structure and stumbled onto the ground where they had lain in each other's arms. Out of breath, and now sobbing with grief, Obi-Wan bowed his head low, touching his forehead to the moss and stone beneath him.

The previous morning was so clear in his mind, but bittersweet now for all it meant to him. He breathed in the scent of soil and green and remembered how at peace he had felt in his lover's arms.

From o'er the fortress walls
The wind would brush his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
Caressed my every sense it would allow

Obi-Wan had given himself completely to Qui-Gon. He had held nothing back of himself... save for his oath to the Eratti. Why couldn't Qui- Gon see this? Now that the Jedi master knew of his Eratti training, surely he could see that Obi-Wan had sacrificed everything for love.

The Eratti guarded against love as if it was of the Dark side of the Force. Obi-Wan had believed his teachers and had always thought himself safe from that temptation. On missions he never allowed himself to get emotionally connected with the beings he had bedded. He followed the traditions of the Eratti perfectly. So how had love come into his life? How was it that Qui-Gon had drawn him in and opened his heart? And why did love feel so wonderful when it was supposed to feel so bad?

"Why?" Obi-Wan asked through his sobs. The sound of a twig snapping stunned Obi-Wan out of his grief. His head shot up. "Qui-Gon?"

"No... it is I, Reva," the young princess said gently as she appeared from behind one of the half fallen walls.

Obi-Wan turned his face away, the tears coming anew. For a brief second he had hoped...

"What has happened that is so terrible?" Reva asked as she stepped closer. Her heart pounded in her chest seeing the young Jedi so distraught.

Obi-Wan wiped his tears with the sleeve of his robe and took a deep breath before facing her. "I don't wish to trouble you, princess."

Reva tilted her head, curious of his behavior, but sympathetic of his pain. "I didn't know Jedi cried.... You were hoping I was Master Jinn, weren't you? Something has happened between you?"

Obi-Wan inhaled a shaky breath and then stood, brushing the leaves from his robe. There would be no getting around telling Reva what had happened. "After you left, Rakta continued with his show. He played a recording of an encounter I had with him yesterday..."

He didn't need to finish, Reva could read the results of this display plainly on his face. "Qui-Gon was hurt by this." She knew the games the prince liked to play, but she had hoped the Jedi were beyond his reach. "You must have done something to anger Rakta."

"It doesn't matter now. I've lost... Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said, and as hard as he tried he could not stop a tear from falling down his cheek.

"I know of your love for the Jedi master. And I saw his love for you as well. He won't let this game keep you apart."

"Thank you, princess," Obi-Wan said bowing his head. "But there is more you do not know." He felt exhausted, as if all his energy was being drained away, he had to sit down. He chose a pile of fallen stones.

"I know I'm young, but please tell me..." Reva said, feeling a kinship with Obi-Wan. It was comforting to be here with him and to know that he was not here to retrieve her. It had taken all her strength and wits to outrun the guards.

"I am of an elite sect of Jedi... a sect that many wish did not exist." The girl sat down beside him on the stones and nodded for him to continue. Somehow he felt he could open up to her, trust her with these intimate details of his life. "I am Eratti... we are not only trained in the Jedi arts, but also in the art of sex to achieve balance within the Force."

"No wonder I'm so attracted to you!" Reva giggled, but her effort at levity was not successful. Obi-Wan was truly suffering. "Master Jinn learned you are Eratti and does not approve?"

Obi-Wan nodded, but did not speak.

Reva patted his knee. "You think he believes you used him...?"

"No, I would never do that!"

"Of course, not," the princess said, sighing. "It seems we both have insurmountable problems."

The young Jedi put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head and then looking up at her again. "It's not right for me to burden you like this. It is the Jedi way to put others first. Your problem is much more urgent than mine."

The girl lowered her head and stared at her lap. "I didn't kill Rence," she said softly. "I was only trying to make her well."

"Rence was ill?" The information surprised Obi-Wan. No one had said anything about the Supreme Archivist having an illness.

Reva nodded. "Yes, but she didn't want anyone to know. She was only eighty and she knew that Rakta would not be ready to take her place for another twenty years. Most Tracepians live to be well over one hundred years old... Her illness was very frightening to her."

"Why didn't she ask for help?"

"She did. She asked me. She was afraid that if others learned of her illness it would cause a panic... that the Royal Houses would argue over succession... and of course that's exactly what happened." The princess clenched her fists, frustrated that she had not been able to help Rence or to prevent the civil war that had erupted after her death. "She was frantically searching the Archives for a solution to the problem of succession. The day she died she called me to say that she thought she had found the answer... but when I arrived at the Archives I was told she was dead."

"But why didn't you tell us all this at the Archives?" Obi-Wan asked, realizing the information was critical, but not understanding why Reva had kept silent.

"I had no proof... and I couldn't let them all know Rence was ill. It would shame her memory."

Obi-Wan nodded sympathetically. "Then you believe Rence didn't want Rakta to succeed her?"

"She never said that to me... but she didn't seem comfortable with him taking over the Archives so early in his training."

"Did Rence leave you a file or a written message?"

"I don't know. I haven't been able to get into her office since her death. The Archives has been closed," Reva said, beginning to cry. "I really thought she had more time."

Obi-Wan caressed her back, seeing now that this young woman's problems far outweighed his own. For the briefest moment he regretted his love for Qui-Gon, regretted how that love distracted him. "You believe Rakta killed her?"

"Yes," she said, sniffling back the tears. "Somehow he must've known she was ill... and maybe even that she had discovered something that would compromise his succession. I think he made that accusation against me today to stop the exhumation. He knows an examination of her body would reveal traces of whatever substance he used to kill her."

The young Jedi leaned back against the wall. It all rang true to him... in thought and in the Force. If the princess was being truthful then the false one must be Prince Rakta.

"Did you notice if Rakta was with his family when they arrived at the meeting this morning?" Obi-Wan asked, wanting to confirm or disprove the nagging feeling he had felt.

"With his family? Now that you mention it... no. He wasn't with them."

"I thought not," Obi-Wan said, getting up from the stones. "I think he was inside the Archives... and if what you're saying is true he may have been tampering with evidence. But we'll need our own to prove that."

"But all the evidence is locked away in the Archives."

"I know a way we can get in," he said, deciding they should use the secret entrance.

"Then you'll help me?" she asked, brushing the drying tears from her cheeks.

"Yes, but I'll need to inform my master..."

"Oh, please don't do that, Obi-Wan," Reva said, standing. "What if she doesn't believe me? What if she won't let me have access to Rence's office?"

Obi-Wan was about to assure her that Knight Laren would be objective and fair, but the look on Reva's face told him that he should not take the chance. What if his master asked them to wait? What if she disapproved of searching the Archives?

We don't have time, he decided and turned off his comlink to be sure they wouldn't be disturbed. "All right. I'll wait to contact her until after we've found what we're looking for."

Reva smiled brightly at the young Jedi and held out her hand to him. "Thank you."

The two allies made their way to the Archives, circumventing the guest quarters to avoid Knight Laren, but also to avoid any of King Roja's guards who had not stopped looking for the young princess. They slipped into the woods, undetected, and it took Obi-Wan only a few moments to locate the hidden entrance to the Archives within the circle of stones.

"Here? But this is sacred ground," Reva said, stepping back from the circle.

"Then the stones are a decoy... a deterrent," Obi-Wan said, as he stepped inside the circle and began removing the forest debris. "This is the hidden entrance."

Reva nodded, it was a clever ploy since no Tracepian would desecrate sacred ground by stepping on it, much less disturbing the soil. She knelt with Obi-Wan and helped clear the spot.

"I'm surprised your sister didn't tell you about this entrance."

"I know very little about the operations of the Archives. Only the Supreme Archivist knows everything."

"Rakta said that all the information passed to him on Rence's death. Is that true?"

"It may be... but usually the Supreme Archivist is still living when the transition occurs."

Obi-Wan looked at the girl for a moment. Again he felt only truth in her words. He had the urge to contact his master, but they had yet to gather any evidence. It would be better to wait.

Once the heavy durasteel door was lifted, Obi-Wan descended first into the dark passageway, igniting his lightsaber for illumination.

"The passage descends for several meters," he told Reva as he led the way. "It narrows at one point, but then opens up again just before we come to the secured entrance."

"How will we get in? I don't know the codes..."

"Don't worry. I memorized the tones the access code made when Rakta input it."

"The tones?"

"He blocked my view of the access panel, but each key had a distinct tone. I'm sure I can recreate the code he used."

"I'm impressed," Reva said smiling.

Obi-Wan blushed at the compliment and continued down the passageway without another word. In just a few minutes they were at the secured entrance. He deactivated his lightsaber and took a breath before touching the glowing green panel.

"If I'm correct, the system will allow me three tries before setting off an alarm."

"Will you need three tries?"

"I'll need at least two," he said and began by pressing each key on the panel to hear its tone.

"Well?" the princess asked nervously.

"Shh..." Obi-Wan said, holding up his hand to quiet her. He closed his eyes and reached out to the Force. At once he felt its familiar energy swirling about him, making his memory of the tones as clear as if he had heard them every day for years. Now confident, he entered the code, and the door slid open.

"Wonderful," Reva said, amazed at the Jedi's abilities.

"Now, which level is Rence's office on?"

"The main level. She always wanted to be close to the researchers."

Obi-Wan directed the way out of the sublevels to the main floor. When they came out of the lift, Reva took over and led the rest of the way to Rence's office. The young woman was discomfited by the quiet and near darkness. When she had visited her sister, nearly everyday for the last several months of Rence's life, this wing of the Archives had always thrived with activity and the gentle hum of lowered voices.

"She would've hated to see the Great Archives like this," she said, pulling her long tunic closer to her body for comfort.

Obi-Wan placed a hand on the princess' shoulder and gave a light squeeze. "But she would be glad to see your efforts now."

Reva turned to look at Obi-Wan and smiled. "Thank you."

In several more meters they were at the door to Rence's office. To their surprise it was unlocked. Reva pushed it open and was the first to enter. Obi-Wan hesitated as he felt a whispering in the Force. He looked back over his shoulder, but saw nothing. The feeling dissipated as quickly as it had formed, and so he followed Reva inside. The office was as large as the Royal library on Tracep II, and similar to that room it was lined with ancient texts.

"She loved to read," the princess said as she took in the familiar surroundings. Her eyes fell to Rence's desk, the place where she would more times than not find her sister sitting. "She was always so busy... evaluating new acquisitions to the collection, monitoring conservation efforts, developing new finding aids to make research easier..."

The list of her sister's accomplishments stopped suddenly as Reva realized something was missing. "The Code of Ethics... is gone!" She clasped her hands to her mouth as she gazed wide-eyed at the empty spot on her sister's oversized wooden desk.

Obi-Wan followed her gaze to the right corner of the desk. He stepped closer and saw the telltale signs that something had indeed gone missing. Whoever had taken the book must have been in a hurry, because its cradle had been pushed aside so hard it had left a deep scratch on the desk's polished surface.

"Tell me the importance of this book," Obi-Wan said as he examined the entire desktop.

"It held the Code of Ethics for the Supreme Archivist and the original charter of the Great Archives. It is precious. It is our sacred text."

"And it was not secured?"

Reva shot him a hard look. "Knowledge is to be shared. It is precious, yes, but it is also our belief that the Code should be seen by all... touched by all. Everyone who entered this room would lay their hand upon it. There had never been any fear of it being taken."

"So who would want it enough to break this tradition?"

"Rakta. He believes he is the Supreme Archivist already. He believes all this is his."

The venom in her voice surprised Obi-Wan. Though Reva had been persistent and forceful about her claims against the prince, he had never detected such a deep level of contempt.

"I think you may be right about Rence... she may have discovered a portion of the text in the Treaty which disputes Rakta's claim to succession."

The Treaty was hundreds of pages long. Obi-Wan had reviewed only a small portion of it before arriving on Tracep I. In it, he had found a lot of unfamiliar and sometimes vague terminology which made it difficult to interpret. It was no wonder that the two Royal Houses were in such great disagreement on what should be done.

"If Rakta stole the Code of Ethics there may be other items missing as well," Obi-Wan said. "You should examine Rence's desk."

Reva nodded and went quickly around the desk, scanning its surface for anything unusual or missing. "Can we get into her computer?"

"We would have to know her password," Obi-Wan said, frowning. "But if we could find any information disks then we could examine those on a datapad."

The pair opened desk drawers and files searching for any disks. It looked like files were missing and Obi-Wan was growing more convinced that Rakta was responsible. At last, as Reva sat down in her sister's chair and leaned back in frustration, a small shiny object under the desk caught her eye.

"What's this?" she asked and bent forward.

Obi-Wan squatted next to her and saw that a silver data disk had been taped to the underside of the desk.

Reva peeled the disk off and held it up. "This is it. I'm sure that whatever she found must be on this disk."

In her excitement, she got up from the chair to hand the disk and a datapad to Obi-Wan. She trusted his Jedi training to discover and interpret any sensitive materials held within the disk. Obi-Wan activated the datapad and inserted the disk... there were over one hundred files contained on the disk.

"What could be in there?" Reva asked, disappointed the task was not going to be as straightforward as she had thought.

"We don't have time to look at them all," Obi-Wan said, and then looked up toward the door.

"What is it? Is someone coming?"

He shook his head. "I felt something..."

"Felt?"

But again the ripple dissipated. "I guess it was nothing."

Obi-Wan returned his attention to the list of files and started by opening the first one, named 'Treaty Excerpts.' As expected it contained relevant passages on the issue of succession. Obi-Wan scrolled through the text, page after page, and both he and Reva sighed at the quantity of information.

"There's so much here! If this is what all the files are like it could take days or weeks to come to any conclusion," Reva said, sounding defeated.

"Let's look at another file," Obi-Wan said and this time they scanned the list until they found one named 'Economic Disbursement.'

The file was a graph showing the growth of the economy on Tracep III over the last year. "The Royal Treasury has been taking in large sums of money," Obi-Wan said as he drew his finger along the line on the color graph.

"That's not right. Tracep III's treasury should be shrinking. They were responsible for the maintenance and operations of the Great Archives while Rence was Supreme Archivist."

"Right, whereas the treasury of Rence's home planet would be gaining... benefiting from her position as Supreme Archivist."

"That's why each planet shares the burden of maintaining the complex and each shares the reward... but in 100-year cycles."

Obi-Wan sat down in the chair. This was starting to make sense. What if the treasury on Tracep III was so depleted that the planet could not sustain itself? Could the Royal House have mismanaged their responsibility of taking care of the Archives? Would that drive Rakta to such desperation that he would kill the Supreme Archivist in order to shorten her term and switch the flow of money into instead of out of Tracep III?

"Open another file," Reva prompted as she nudged the Jedi's shoulder.

Obi-Wan closed the graph and then scanned the disk's files again. "'Missing Collections'? That doesn't sound good."

"Rence never mentioned anything to me about..."

Just then Obi-Wan felt a hard wave from the Force. It was a warning. Someone was coming and with malicious intent. He ejected the disk, tucking it inside his tunic and then stepping from behind the desk. Just as he activated his lightsaber, Rakta appeared in the doorway. The two young men glared at one another and then Rakta stepped into the room.

"Why couldn't you have left well enough alone, Obi-Wan? I liked you... and I was giving your Jedi friends enough evidence to convict Reva of murder," Rakta said with decided pleasure. "You would've been heading back to your Temple by this evening."

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it on his belt. "The only evidence we're finding is against you, Rakta."

"You're a traitor!" Reva shouted as she shook her fist at him.

"The traitor here is that ancient Treaty which binds us all to this place like slaves," Rakta snarled.

Reva gasped. It was sacrilege to say such things.

"You had a promising future ahead. Why would you risk it by selling off the Archives' collections to replenish the Treasury on Tracep III?" Obi-Wan asked, truly not understanding this young man's actions.

Rakta jutted out his chin in contempt. "My planet could not have sustained itself another five years, let alone 20, living under the hardships of the Treaty."

"But that is the way of things," Reva said, perplexed by his rejection of their ancient ways. "It has been so for a thousand years."

"Then it's time for change," Rakta said, tapping the blaster he had hanging from his belt as if to say 'just try and stop me'.

"Change can be negotiated," Obi-Wan said, still feeling a heaviness within the Force. Rakta meant to do them harm.

"You saw how the Royal families cannot agree. There is no compromise, no negotiating with them. I had to take things into my own hands. And now, in order to complete my plan, I'll remove you both from the equation."

"You'd kill us?" Reva asked shocked. "Everyone will know you're to blame..."

"He doesn't care, Reva," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head. "Either way his game is over."

"Not so, Jedi," Rakta sneered. "I plan on making it look like Reva killed you and in the process accidentally killed herself." As he spoke, Rakta pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and carefully opened it to reveal a vial containing a clear liquid. "This is what I used to kill Rence and it should do nicely for the both of you."

"You can't make us drink that!" Reva said, feeling panic rise within her.

"I won't need to. All I have to do is pour the liquid onto the floor and within sixty seconds it will have replaced all the oxygen in the room with carbon dioxide. Without air I doubt you'll live more than a couple of minutes," Rakta said and smiled.

Obi-Wan's mind raced. How could he stop Rakta from releasing the poison? If he rushed toward him surely Rakta would just throw the vial, breaking it.

"No use thinking about it, Obi-Wan. There's no way out of this. I've made certain that the ventilation system is not working."

"We wouldn't have found any traces of poison in Rence's body," Obi- Wan said, trying to postpone the inevitable. "Why did you stop the exhumation?"

"Because it would have been a desecration of her resting place."

Both Obi-Wan and Reva were surprised to hear this. "You can't be entirely bad if you believe that," Reva said, sounding almost forgiving.

"What I do is for the well being of my planet and my people. You may not agree with my methods, but that does not make me bad, Princess Reva." Rakta raised the vial before him. "I suggest you pray to whatever gods you believe in."

Obi-Wan took a step forward, needing to find a way to stop this from happening. Now he wished he had contacted his master.

"Don't come any closer, Obi-Wan," Rakta warned, and pulled the blaster from his belt, aiming it at the princess. "I doubt you're fast enough to stop both the poison from being released and the blaster fire from killing her... and don't worry, if I have to shoot her, I will. I can make this look like an accident, too."

The Jedi froze, seeing no alternative but to let Rakta proceed with his plan. He watched helplessly as the prince pulled the stopper out of the vial with his teeth and then slowly poured the substance onto the floor. The liquid seemed to burn the stone floor beneath it as it sizzled and sent a white smoke up toward the vaulted ceiling.

"Remember... in sixty seconds you'll be out of air," Rakta said and then quickly backed out of the room.

Continued in part 5