Master Apprentice Archive Riding the Wheel of If: Episode Eight Quick search:
Riding the Wheel of If:
Episode Eight
by MrsHamill (thamill@mgfairfax.rr.com)
Riding the Wheel of
If
Episode Eight
Obi-Wan Kenobi walked slowly,
at the same pace as Master Yoda did beside him. "I've been to only one
other reality where my Qui-Gon was female," he
was saying as they strolled down the nearly deserted corridor. It was
mid-afternoon; Obi-Wan had not had a lot of sleep in the reality before this
one and was still a bit tired. Forcing two people who
loved each other desperately to acknowledge that love was tiring.
Although the Force was not
jangling along his nerves like it had been in realities where much was wrong,
he knew there was something here he needed to do. Yoda had insisted on their
meeting Mar-Gon Jinn for dinner, and Obi-Wan had
agreed, hoping to discover why the Force had sent him to this place.
"A good Padawan was Mar-Gon," Yoda
was saying thoughtfully. "Great Jedi is she. Requested
she is frequently by the Supreme Chancellor." Obi-Wan frowned, an
idea nudging the back of his brain.
"Master, do you have a
Trade Federation here?" he asked.
Yoda sighed. 'Trade
Federation," he grumbled. "Thorn in side of Senate they are. And so as well thorn in our side. Involved in trade route
dispute is Mar-Gon at present. Why ask you?"
"Ah," Obi-Wan said
thoughtfully. Although the time - the date and year - were the same as when he
left, apparently there might be some leeway on exactly WHEN the events on Naboo could occur. "I'll have to talk to Mar-Gon about it then, I think."
They reached the door and at
Obi-Wan's ring, Master Jinn opened it. Obi-Wan
marveled anew how much alike - and yet unlike - this female version of his
Master was to his Qui-Gon. The aura of calm control
and certainty was unlike any other.
Obi-Wan let Yoda do most of
the explaining this time, choosing to simply bask in the aura of Mar-Gon Jinn and enjoy his tea. Her incredulity was
astonishing, she kept throwing him looks and blinking. "Yoda," she
finally said, "This is absolutely flabbergasting. This young... man... is Padawan.. I mean, Knight Kenobi?
But... but..."
Before anyone else could
speak, the door opened and a young woman with a Padawan's
braid stepped into the room. Her red-gold hair was a bit shaggy and in need of
a cut, and her gray-green eyes widened to see the company her Master kept. Her
arms were full of datapads. "I'm sorry,
Master," she said, her voice a lovely, cultured soprano. "I didn't
realize we were entertaining..."
"That's perfectly all
right, Sil-Wan," Mar-Gon
said, blinking at her Padawan as if she had never
seen the girl before. "Drop those pads and join us please. I have someone
here for you to meet."
Obi-Wan couldn't take his eyes
off the girl. When Yoda had informed him that Mar-Gon
Jinn's Padawan Learner was a female, he nearly fled
the reality then and there. But to meet her... a female version of himself... Slowly, he stood, and the two stared at each
other, one set of eyes puzzled and the other nonplused.
Yoda had been looking between
the two of them, and suddenly he laughed. "Like twins they are! See it do
you, my Padawan?"
Mar-Gon's
mouth was open as her eyes went between the two Jedi. "I would not have
believed it if I hadn't seen it, Master," she finally managed to croak
out. "It's... it's incredible."
Sil-Wan Kenobi looked
at the handsome young man who stood opposite her. He was dressed as a Jedi
Knight, though he seemed no older than she. There was something so familiar
about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Do... do I know
you?" she asked slowly.
He grinned, and it was a smile
she had seen hundreds of times... in the mirror, in holos...
and she gasped. "Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said, sticking his hand out to
her. "And by the Force have I got a story to tell you."
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Dinner was a lively affair,
once everyone got over their shock. Obi-Wan and Sil-Wan
found themselves staring at each other frequently, to the delight of their
elders, cataloging differences and similarities. Obi-Wan helped the Padawan clean up after dinner, and their conversation over
soap bubbles was wide-ranging and filled with laughter. Although Obi-Wan had
been half-expecting to meet a female version of himself
for some time, he was still a bit overcome by the reality. He had to admit,
finally, that he made an absolutely exquisite female, though, not knowing that Sil-Wan had come to virtually the same conclusion about
him.
After dinner and clean-up they
talked. Obi-Wan quickly ascertained that Mar-Gon was
about to be sent to Naboo, within at least the next
few days, and he spent quite a lot of time telling them about his problems on
that world. Yoda frowned disbelievingly at his mention of the Sith, until Obi-Wan told them all
of the many realities he had visited where the Sith
were virtually in control. Sil-Wan was
intent on the horned warrior who had killed Obi-Wan's
Master.
"He fought with a double
bladed 'saber?" she asked. "Can you describe it? Was it like a
staff?"
"Yes," he told her. "A long, red staff. Qui-Gon
and I fought it together, two on one, and it still managed to hold its own.
Mar-Gon," he said, turning to the Master,
"while I'm here, I could demonstrate the move that... that..."
"That killed your
Master?" Mar-Gon said gently, smiling kindly.
"That would be a help, Obi-Wan, thank you." She took a sip of her tea
to allow the young man to regain his control. "How long can you stay,
Obi-Wan?"
"As long as you want me
to, I suppose," he answered, shrugging. "This reality is not to be my
home. But that doesn't mean I won't work to see Palpatine
overthrown."
Yoda was shaking his head. His
ears drooped almost to his collar in despair. "Senator Palpatine,"
he muttered. "Believe it I cannot. Senator Palpatine..."
Mar-Gon reached across the cocktail table and touched
her Master's knee. "There's no guarantee, my Master," she murmured,
looking at Obi-Wan for confirmation. "It's probable but not an absolute.
We shall be patient, and determine what to do."
"And with my 'twin
brother's' help," Sil-Wan said firmly,
"I'll make sure nothing happens to you, my Master."
Mar-Gon
smiled and squeezed her Padawan's shoulders.
"It's getting a bit late, I think. Obi-Wan, you're welcome to stay here
tonight."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to
put you out," he said, smiling.
"It's no bother," Sil-Wan said. "You can have my bed. I don't usually
sleep there any... I mean..." she looked at her Master and blushed. Mar-Gon just laughed.
"What she means is we
have an extra bed. You are welcome to it, Obi-Wan. Master, will you be all
right?" she asked Yoda, who was looking very grim.
"All right I will
be," he confirmed, hopping down from his chair. "Sleep here you will,
Kenobi? Good. Then away I will be. For dinner I thank you, Padawan.
Sleep well."
Mar-Gon
saw her Master out, then returned to sit next to her Padawan, draping her arm around the girl's shoulders again.
"You are tense, my Padawan," she said
quietly, touching her head to Sil-Wan's.
"I-I must confess,
Master," Sil-Wan said, her eyes never leaving
Obi-Wan's, "What Obi-Wan has said has frightened
me. You must promise me..."
Sighing, Mar-Gon gave her an extra squeeze. "Forewarned is
forearmed, love," she murmured. "With Obi-Wan's
help, we'll manage. Right Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan blinked. His brain had
gone into overload - again - when he figured out that the Master and Padawan were lovers. Despite the control he had gained and
growth he had undergone, he still felt a slight surge of anger and despair
knowing he should have had what they had. He took a deep, shaky breath,
re-centering himself, and found Mar-Gon's eyes on him
sympathetically.
"You haven't told us why
you continue to travel or what you're looking for, Obi-Wan," she said
softly. "But I think I can make a guess. You're looking for your Master,
aren't you?"
"Yes," he said
simply. "I want... I want what you have. What I - what we - did not. The
Force has all but promised me... I will have it. Someday.
But I can't help but feel..."
Eyes narrowing, Sil-Wan said, "You and your Master weren't lovers?
Why?"
Shrugging, Obi-Wan said,
"I was going to approach him. On my Knighting day.
But when that day finally came, he was dead."
They sat together in silence
for a while then, until Mar-Gon slapped her thigh and
rose. "Early start tomorrow, my children. Sila, why don't you get Obi-Wan settled. I've got a few
reports to skim and I see my message light blinking."
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As it turned out, one of the
messages for Mar-Gon was from Chancellor Valorum. They were to leave the day after next for Naboo, which added some urgency to the situation. Obi-Wan
spent all the next day in a gym with the two of them, all three beating each
other black-and-blue with a staff and practice 'sabers. During their infrequent
breaks, Obi-Wan spoke of the other aspects of the mission; the droid armies,
the Gungans, and Anakin. Mar-Gon
grew very quiet when he told her how Qui-Gon had all
but shoved him aside for Anakin, and Sil-Wan kept
throwing her little glances.
Shortly after that, Obi-Wan
moved to get a clean towel and a new bottle of water. When he turned back, he
found the two of them locked in a passionate embrace, kissing languorously. He
couldn't turn away for a moment, basking in the love and happiness rolling off
the two women in waves, letting it overcome what small
jealousies he had over their having what he had not.
By the time they broke for
air, he was doing slow katas in the salle, stretching overworked and stiff muscles gently. The
two women watched him for a moment, then turned back
to each other speculatively.
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"The key is not to get
separated," Obi-Wan reminded them after dinner that night. The three of
them had taken turns massaging each other's shoulders out, but they were
bone-tired. "If you allow that thing to separate you, one of you will die.
That's been the pattern so far, anyway. DON'T separate."
"We won't, Obi-Wan,"
Sil-Wan said, grinning. "I've promised you that
on my 'saber, my first born and Yoda's big toe, what else do
you need?"
He laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry. I-I just don't want to happen to you..."
"...what happened to you,
I know," Sil-Wan finished for him. She looked
lovingly at her Master as the woman puttered about the kitchenette. "It
won't," she whispered fiercely. "I'll die first."
"NO, Sil-Wan,
no," Obi-Wan said firmly. "Don't even think like that. I did... and
that kind of-of despair and futility is wrong." He pulled the girl in for
a hug abruptly. "It won't happen here. You love each other...and
sometimes, I think the reason it happened to me is that we did not share that
love. Not openly." She pulled back and looked at him curiously, inviting
without words for him to continue. "We went into the fight angry. At each
other, at ourselves... just, angry. It was not conducive to proper teamwork, I would
think. You... you won't have that anger. As long as you stay together, as long
as you continue to love each other, you'll be fine."
Mar-Gon
emerged from the kitchenette, a cup of tea in her hands. "Yes, we
will," she said, obviously having overheard at least part of the
conversation. Setting the tea down on the table, she put her arms around both
young people. "Obi, Sila and I can't thank you
enough. You've probably saved our lives."
"Yes," Mar-Gon said, retrieving her tea and sitting down on the sofa.
"The Chancellor has provided us with a shuttle and it leaves at first
hour."
"Just like ours,"
Obi-Wan muttered. "The parallels here are frightening. Promise me..."
"Obi-Wan!" Sil-Wan's voice was exasperated. "You've told us
everything. We're as prepared as we can possibly be. We'll be fine. I'm sure of
it."
"All right, all right,"
he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'll trust in the Force.
And I'm going to bed. I'll leave after you do, I guess."
"I'm going to catch a
shower then go to bed myself," Sil-Wan said,
smiling shyly at her Master. She walked over to Obi-Wan and grabbed his ears,
pulling his face down the few inches to her lips, kissing him hard. "Thank
you, my brother," she whispered. "We'll be fine. You be fine too...
Find your Master."
"Thank you, my
sister," he answered, touching his forehead to hers. He was reluctant to
admit - even to himself - how much her kiss had aroused him, so he said nothing
more. She left the room towards the 'fresher in her Master's room.
Mar-Gon
stood at that moment, coming to him as well. "Thank you, Obi-Wan,"
she said seriously, kissing his forehead gently in benediction. "Sleep
well." That was all she said before moving to her bedroom.
That night, Obi-Wan lay on the
familiar yet strange bed in the familiar yet strange apartment, and wondered if
he had done all he could. Over and over again he replayed the events on Naboo, desperate to ensure that he had told Mar-Gon and Sil-Wan about them.
As he tossed and turned, brain
too rattled for sleep, the door to his room quietly opened. It was Sil-Wan, ghosting across the floor to kneel at his bedside.
She was naked and quite took his breath away.
"Obi-Wan," she
whispered, leaning up to kiss him gently. "Master and I would consider it
an honor if you would share our bed with us tonight. Please?"
"I-I..." he could
not think what to say or what to do. His confusion must have been clear to her,
for she chuckled softly and kissed him again.
"Master says to tell you;
feel, don't think. She's always saying that. Will you?"
Nodding mutely, he followed
her out the door and across the apartment.
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The next morning, Yoda and
Obi-Wan saw them to the landing pad. Yoda said nothing to the rather passionate
kisses the three of them exchanged before Mar-Gon and
Sil-Wan boarded the shuttle, but his eyes missed
nothing and his ears were perked straight up.
"Helped, you have,"
Yoda said approvingly as they moved to the garden after seeing the shuttle off.
"Averted much tragedy as well, you have. Thank
you, we all do."
Composing himself in his usual
sheltered corner, Obi-Wan pulled out his 'saber and looked at it, then up at
the little green Master. "I hope so, Master, I hope so. I-I couldn't bear
it if..."
"Happen it will
not," Yoda insisted. "Worrying about it futile is. Go now, you must,
to next place where needed you are." Reaching one hoary old claw out, Yoda
rested it gently on Obi-Wan's head, blessing him.
"Changed this old mind you have. Not easily done is this. May the Force be
with you."
Smiling, Obi-Wan watched Yoda
step away from him, claws crossed on his gimmer
stick. Nodding once, Obi-Wan pressed the power.
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The bang of displaced air was
once again lost in a sea of noise; raucous, hammering music with a heavy bass
line and inarticulate lyrics. Several people, most with Padawan
braids, wandered about the garden, some dancing, some kissing and groping, some
apparently meditating. All of them wore colorful
tunics... well, colorful wasn't exactly the right word, Obi-Wan reflected.
Gaudy might have covered it better. Some of it was downright shocking. And
everyone wore makeup... thick, bright, glittery makeup.
Blinking, Obi-Wan climbed to
his feet and slowly made his way inside. // Not that the music is bad, // he
thought to himself, fingers unconsciously twitching in time. // But in the
Seeking out and meeting with
Yoda took only a few moments. Over the ubiquitous tea, he explained who he was
and Yoda explained what was going on.
"Order of Glitter, it
is," the little green gnome explained happily. "Too bland and boring
are old clothes. Variety, the order needs. Looks good in gold
lame does Mace Windu."
There was really nothing to
say to that remark, so Obi-Wan just blinked. After a moment, he asked,
"So, do Qui-Gon and this reality's Obi-Wan
follow the new order?"
"Bah," Yoda said,
hopping down from his low chair and walking into his bedroom. His voice floated
out, muffled, as though he were changing. "My Padawan
does, always a wise one he has been. Dropped trou he
did at the Padawan Ball last week. Qui-Gon is much sought after by all in
The rustling noises continued,
as did Master Yoda. "Obi-Wan follows it not, and
many arguments they have had. Needs to listen to his Master does
young Obi-Wan. Look good in green eye shadow he would."
After a few moments, Yoda
returned from his bedroom and Obi-Wan gaped in shock. Yoda had caked on hot
pink eye shadow and lipstick, and was in the process of pasting on fake,
hot-pink nails over his claws. He had a pink feather boa slung around his neck,
which trailed on the ground behind him, and somehow had found fishnet stockings
to fit his tiny legs, which were a tad longer now that he had four inch spike
heels on his feet. He was struggling to get into a floor-length vinyl trenchcoat over his pink bodysuit. "Help me, you
will," he demanded, and a numb Obi-Wan hurried to obey.
"There. Look hot do I?"
At a loss for words, Obi-Wan
struggled to speak, finally just gave up and nodded. "Good. Fashion show
there is tonight, and Council Meeting in five minutes.
Stay, do you intend?"
"Actually," Obi-Wan
said slowly, "I don't think there's anything here for me to do. I wouldn't
want to interfere between what's happening between your Qui-Gon
and Obi-Wan, so I'll just be moving on."
"Yourself you should suit,"
Yoda replied, shrugging as he admired himself in a mirror. "Dye my hair, I
think I should," he mused. Obi-Wan fled.
The garden was still loud, and
there were still glitter Padawans all over it as
Obi-Wan took his seat again. Shaking his head gently, unconsciously in time to
the music, he pressed the power on his 'saber.
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// One more cup of tea and I
might explode, // Obi-Wan thought to himself, as he sat in Master Yoda's humid
quarters, enjoying - of course - tea, this time with cookies. As usual, Yoda
was able to parse his story quickly and completely so that he could ask about
Qui-Gon, who in this reality was still Master to
Obi-Wan.
"Not together they
are," Yoda said, frowning. "Broke up, they did. Last week it
was."
"Not together?"
Obi-Wan repeated stupidly. "Then they WERE together at some
point...?"
"Yes. Fight they had.
Obi-Wan another is seeing, a neighbor it is, some little Sith chippie."
"A SITH? In
the
Yoda stared at him. "Calm
down you should. Have Prozac if need it you do. Not in
"The Sith... the Jedi... I don't..." Obi-Wan was at a loss. Pulling on his ear in confusion, he launched
into the story of Qui-Gon's death and the many worlds
he had seen where the Sith
had defeated the Jedi. "Senator Palpatine..."
he finished, but Yoda was nodding.
"Yes, Senator Palpatine is Sith.
Headmaster, he is, of Sith Academy. Good, it is, to
keep enemies where they can be seen."
Rubbing his temples, Obi-Wan
winced. "I have a headache."
Nodding wisely, Yoda said,
"Drugs I have for that. Better stash than Qui-Gon.
Old I may be, but know I do when cut weed is." As Yoda puttered back to
his bedroom, he said, "Wear more plaid you should. Hot Kenobi looks in a
kilt."
MrsHamill