It had been a quiet month. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had time to
reflect on their true postion in the universe.
They were cuddling on their huge couch in the living room,
watching bad westerns again. Obi-Wan leaned into his love. He
sighed.
"Hmm?"
"What?"
"Oh. I thought you were going to say something" Qui-Gon was
sleepy.
Emerald eyes flashed at him. "You look great in that black
satin robe."
Gentle smile. "Thanks. I like the gift. But that isn't what's
on your mind."
Obi-Wan sidled up. "No. I still have so many questions about
hel. And about you."
Qui-Gon perked up at that. "Me? What more need you know?"
Green eyes darkened. "Weren't you an infant when grandmother
brought you to the Jedi? How could that be? In your dreams you
were considerably older, a teenager."
Knowing smile. "I wondered when you would ask about that.
Mother 'decelerated' my age and cast a spell upon my memory.
I'm even older than you know."
Obi-Wan stared at him. "How old are you?"
Qui-Gon was distant. "I'm not sure. Immortals have a different
rate of maturity. Even an infant could be fifty in mortal
terms."
"Incredible" Obi-Wan was impressed. "But wouldn't it have been
easier to raise you in hel? Why the elaborate scheme?"
"Actually it was fairly simple. Llane wanted me to understand
and experience the full range of existence, both mortal and
immortal. Because of my Guardian blood, being given to the Jedi
was a natural fit. Due to age restrictions regarding force
sensitives for training, she 'decelerated' me into infancy to
ensure my acceptance. Llane was ever cunning. She left nothing
to chance."
"Hmm. But I grew at a 'mortal' rate."
"Your mother was not immortal. However, her magic transformed
her essence, giving her immortal characteristics."
Obi-Wan eyed his father intently. "Through sorcery?"
Qui-Gon nodded. "It's fortuneate you did develop at a mortal
rate, Obi. Considering the atmosphere of your home world,
anything perceived as unnatural would be a death knell. It
ultimately proved the undoing of your mother when her practices
were discovered."
Obi-Wan smiled. "It's a good thing my aunt came to the rescue."
Qui-Gon stared at him. "Aunt? What are you talking about?"
Obi-Wan stared blankly. "I...I mean I think it was someone
close to me. A woman."
"Obi-Wan!"
Emerald eyes glowed now. "I know it sounds stupid, but I
vaguely remember a woman carrying me to the Jedi. Just jumbled
images. Can't process them, I was too young..."
Qui-Gon touched his temples. "Let me try something. I want to
tap your primal memories."
"You think there's some validity to my impressions?"
"The fact you recall this from infancy makes me suspicious.
There may be yet another twist to our personal drama."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. Qui-Gon made a gesture about his head.
A rainbow haze formed.
"Part sands of time within this mind. Show me all images
sublime."
Obi-Wan went back in time. The transformation.
"Further."
Obi-Wan trained in the Jedi temple with his fellow padawans.
A scene developed. A red haired woman, similar in coloring to
Tallandra. Yoda. Mace. And a small infant wrapped in blankets.
"Interesting. This occurred outside the temple."
A younger Windu looking down 'at him' in shock and dismay. More
words. The woman retreating, kissing the child. Mace and Yoda
arguing. The Masters bearing the baby back to the temple.
"Obi-Wan, awaken."
Obi-Wan blinked dully. "Well?"
"Observe" Qui-Gon pointed. Images shimmered and appeared in the
center of the room.
Obi-Wan watched in fascination the replay from the recesses of
his own mind.
"That's the woman! But isn't she related? A sister, perhaps?"
Qui-Gon frowned. "Tallandra had no sister. Something here is
very strange."
The glittering images disappeared. Obi-Wan was thoughtful.
Qui-Gon was silent a moment. "I wonder..."
Green eyes were wide on him. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking a not too subtle hand is involved here. The hand
of someone who wanted me to know of your existence."
Jade eyes flashed. "Grandmother!"
Qui-Gon pulled his goatee. "It does seem logical-"
The door bell rung.
Obi-Wan tightened the sash on his rust colored velvet robe.
"I'll get it. Boy, the hits just keep on coming, don't they?"
Qui-Gon brooded. "That's what bothers me-"
"Hello?"
Obi-Wan stared. A tall, middle aged man stood in the doorway.
He was quite distinguished looking and handsome, high
cheekbones over a full mouth and slim moustache. The gray green
eyes glinted brightly under heavy eyebrows. The reddish brown
hair was short with a wavy and shimmering texture. Obi-Wan
could have sworn it reflected every color in the light.
But there was something familiar he couldn't put a finger on.
"Umm. And who are you? A salesman?"
The man laughed. "Oh no. I'm here to visit. May I come in?"
Obi-Wan extended his senses. He was not deceived.
"Why certainly, sir."
Qui-Gon observed it all mutely, standing up. There was a beat
of silence. Obi-Wan grew annoyed.
"Oh give it a rest, grandmother. We know it's you!"
The man laughed again, a slight lisping sound. He approached
Qui-Gon, stroking his face and neck.
"Thee are well? Mortal living seems to agree."
Qui-Gon inclined his head slightly. "My thanks. Come, sit with
us a bit."
"Love to" the man removed his suit coat and sat on the couch.
Obi-Wan looked at them both in disbelief.
"Am I missing some inside joke? Grandmother, why the disguise?
Don't you think-"
"Look at my face, Obi-Wan. Do I look like Llane?"
Obi-Wan observed him. The coloring was different, but...
"You already know" his father told him.
Obi-Wan looked at them both, back and forth. The resemblance
was undeniable. The facial bone structure, shape of eyes. Those
cheekbones again.
Obi-Wan approached the man, touching his face. He traced the
outlines, ran fingers through the silky hair. He thumbed the
lips, teasing along the moustache.
"Are you done feeling me? Silly child!"
Obi-Wan noted a slight sound in his speech. A hissing sound.
Small grin. He looked at the hair again. Only once before had
he seen such a near rainbow of color reflected.
"Greetings, uncle."
Litthsyss smiled with perfect teeth. "Indeed. I haven't gotten
out as much lately. The gateway of souls gets a bit boring at
stretches."
Obi-Wan plopped down next to him. "Who's there now? Aren't you
worried about souls making a break for it?"
Gray green eyes flared brightly. "There are always stupid
souls. I've dispatched a few of my zombies about the borders.
Let them run if they want. It's difficult to do with a leg
chomped off."
Obi-Wan made a face. "Oh, that's sick."
Qui-Gon roared with laughter. "Uncle, your humor is as black as
ever. How fares the Queen?"
Litthsyss snickered. "The loose witch is fine. I saw your
scuffle with the Council. It was quite entertaining."
Obi-Wan was stunned. "You knew of that? I presumed that was a
closed session."
"Nothing escapes my eye. From the birth of infants to the death
of galaxies, I see all."
Obi-Wan stared in awe. "Who really is oldest elder?"
"Obi-Wan" Qui-Gon warned.
Eyes of green granite bored through emerald ones. "Know this,
Obi-Wan. Ere formless chaos existed without time or space, I
was there. Llane has vanity, but it means nothing to me."
Obi-Wan considered. "Grandmother says she was first."
"Let the debate rage, then. It has since the beginning."
"Uncle, would you care for some blood and wine?" Qui-Gon asked.
"We have some excellent vintage."
Litthsyss smacked his lips. "Anything in a bordeaux?"
"Of course. Brandy also."
"Then I'll take some of everything!" Litthsyss grinned. "Live
it up, I say!"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Uncle, you amaze me. You're so free
spirited, and grandmother is so..."
"Intense?" Litthsyss supplied with a smirk. "Aye, she comes on
like the storm, destroying all in her path. I am more like the
earthquake that strikes without warning, for I am doom itself."
Obi-Wan felt wild. He stroked the fine face again, touching the
neck and shoulders.
"Again with this?" Litthsyss grinned. "Does this old snake
fascinate you so much?"
"Yes!" sculpted hands ran along the moustache. "Uncle, I want
you to teach me, show me things-"
"I mentioned the need for you to regulate your impulses"
Qui-Gon told his son quietly.
"There is merit to what you father says" Litthsyss gently put
the probing hands down. "Perhaps your past Jedi training would
be useful. It's at odds with your dark nature I know, but one
must try."
Obi-Wan considered. "Admittedly, my controls have been more
erratic than usual, but-"
"You are adjusting to your immortality" Litthsyss told him.
"Your perceptions race ahead of your mind."
"True" Qui-Gon agreed, standing. "I'll get the drinks.
Meanwhile be at ease, uncle."
Litthsyss nodded, hair catching every reflection of light.
"I'll see if I can keep your son entertained."
Qui-Gon laughed, moving down the hallway. The monster braid
glimmered against black satin. "Just don't tell him anything
about me!"
Obi-Wan plagued his uncle with questions about existence and
the past. Litthsyss answered each question in turn.
Granite eyes sparked. "Force. Curtail this mad hunger for
knowledge, Obi-Wan. It is not good for one so young."
Obi-Wan leaned back into the soft cushions. "I'm no child. I
weary of these references about age."
Litthsyss regarded him with bottomless eyes. "Compared to the
tide of eternity, you are an infant. You are...twenty nine
now?"
"Nearly. Were I still Jedi, I probably would have been a knight
by now."
Litthsyss stroked his slim moustache. "No doubt. How old would
you say I am?"
"Based on your appearance, I'd say about forty or so. But if I
had to guess your actual age?" he shrugged, shaking his head.
Litthsyss smiled slowly. "I will use analogy. Say a grain of
sand is a century. Imagine every grain of sand on a beach."
Obi-Wan thought a bit. "Impressive, uncle. An indeterminate
amount?"
Litthsyss continued. "Now imagine an entire planet composed of
sand. This, in turn, is part of a solar system comprised of
nothing but sand planets-"
"Planets are different sizes, though" Obi-Wan surmised.
"True. But that isn't the point. Now, how many planets would
you say an average galaxy contains?"
Obi-Wan stretched his imagination. "Standard? Around seven
million."
Litthsyss gave a fanged smile. "Excellent! You now have my
age."
"oh" Obi-Wan squeaked.
"I posed this question to your father when he was very young."
Jade eyes went wide. "Really? What was his answer?"
"I won't tell you. What is your answer?"
Obi-Wan blanked his mind, expanding his senses. He touched the
full dimension that was Litthsyss.
"You're at least twenty billion years of age" Obi-Wan could
barely believe his own words. "The earliest known archives go
back that far in terms of known civilizations."
"A good start, Obi-Wan. But whose civilizations?"
"Why those that are..." his eyes blazed with awareness.
"Mortal!"
"Excellent, my kry'ka. Therefore?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "You truly have no age, for your existence
predates time itself."
To his startled amazement, soft lips brushed his. A warm hand
tugged his braid.
"So very clever. I'm not disappointed."
Obi-Wan felt hot from his insides out. He leaned forward, ruddy
lips plump.
"Hold. Before you make promises you cannot keep" the elder
warned him, sitting back.
Obi-Wan blinked. "What?"
"Shall I make the same mistake Llane made? Hardly."
Obi-Wan glowered at him. "The situation is hardly the same,
uncle!"
"SssssSS. Trust me, it is. And unless your home is extremely
sturdy, I have no want of battle here."
"There will be no battle" Obi-Wan snapped. "My father is hardly
so insecure. It is nonsense."
"Llane's ways are not mine, stripling. She relishes such
confrontations, I do not. Rather, I strike from behind."
"Treachery. Again, what has this to do with the situation at
hand? I just wanted to kiss you."
"And then what?"
"Then?? Whatever our desires incline us to do."
Litthsyss folded his arms. "What happens when your father
returns with the drinks?"
Obi-Wan frowned. "Come to think of it, he's been gone an
awfully long time."
"Even I am not inclined to battle him here, and over you. It is
poor family buisness."
Obi-Wan threw his hands up. "I don't understand at all. Let me
explain a few simple truths here. One, I am not a possession.
Two, Qui-Gon is the love of my life. Forever. Three,
this does not preclude pleasure with other family."
"SSssss. Pleasure is fine. It's the pain I'm not interested
in."
"Why do you insist there would be a fight?"
Granite eyes flared brightly. "I know Qui-Gon, e'en better than
thee. Llane thought to control him and could not. She would
tame you as well, were your mind not strong."
"Father says I have his temper."
Long fingers brushed his forehead. "Aye, true enough. But yours
is more explosive and spends itself quickly. Your
father...smoulders with rage. In that he is most like me,
although my anger tends to be more contained."
"He told me he had a short fuse as a child."
"True. E'en as the heir apparent, his temperament was nigh
unbelievable. Our mystics did often examine him, and the
concern was that his heritage was too volatile. His sanity was
a concern. I recommended to Llane he be trained as Jedi. She
reluctantly agreed."
"He..." Obi-Wan stammered. "Recently he told grandmother his
sanity would suffer if he ruled hel. I thought at the time he
was exaggerating, but if that's true..."
"SSSsssSSSS. What is true now is false a hundred years hence.
Ultimately all immortals are true to essence. He was born and
bred to rule."
"Hmm. This sounds like a conversation I had with grandmother
about behavior. It's a miracle father is sane at all, then.
Didn't she consider the dichotomy of a union between such
opposite beings?"
Eternal eyes glimmered. "Thy insight is deep. And yea, the
fates warned her. But ever was Llane ambitious. She thought to
create the perfect child, one with the power of hel and the
freedom of all existence. For a bit I did take thy father with
me, under coil."
"He would never share this with me."
"You underestimate him. Only but recently did he recover his
memory, no?"
"True, uncle. Sometimes I get the impression he doles out
information as he wishes. But I want to know more."
"Not all at once. I warn thee again, thy hunger and youth will
cause calamity ere you are not careful."
Obi-Wan sighed. "I'll consider your advice. And perhaps find my
crafty father, who has conveniently disappeared."
"Me, crafty?"
The muscled figure rippled into view, black satin hugging every
bulge. He carried the drinks while cradling a large bottle in
one arm.
Both Obi-Wan and Litthsyss watched him move appreciatively.
Litthsyss purred softly. "Methinks I need that drink, to set my
mind on different matters. Else who knows? Many things have my
coils held."
Obi-Wan stared. "Not you too!"
"SssssSSS. All in the family."
"Enough, uncle" Qui-Gon grinned. "And don't think I didn't
catch your earlier conversation." he placed goblets on the
glass table.
"One you conveniently weren't a part of" Obi-Wan noted.
Qui-Gon filled the goblets. Litthsyss picked up one first,
settling back into the plush sofa.
"Methinks your son suspects your motives."
Obi-Wan also took up a goblet. "To put it mildly."
Qui-Gon sipped his own goblet, sitting down. "I don't know what
you mean. Didn't you wish to talk?"
"Now that's funny. As if you couldn't join the conversation."
"Perhaps I will. How do you like the wine?"
"Delicious" Litthsyss stated. "And fresh."
"Very" Obi-Wan agreed, rolling his tongue along the edge of his
goblet.
Qui-Gon watched him heatedly. "Sssss."
Obi-Wan returned the stare. Jade eyes glowed through red
lashes.
"OWW!"
Litthsyss yanked on the thin braid. "Make goo goo eyes later.
Sssss. For now, we talk and reflect."
Qui-Gon yawned widely, exposing his fangs deliberately. "And
you tell my son tales of the past now, uncle?"
Litthsyss eyed him low, looking over the sculpted chest.
"Excellent cleavage. One thing is evident, there are no dogs in
this family, all puns aside."
Qui-Gon purred. He felt mellow. "So what news of the would be
war, uncle?"
"Strange to say the least" Litthsyss replied. "There was much
outrage, particularly in the lower circles at the continued
abduction of demons for questioning."
"Did the guardians find out anything useful?" Obi-Wan was
curious.
"Aye, but the guardians were wasting their time if you ask me.
Those questioned only knew of the event but not why when thee
did crash heavens' gates."
"A blunder that could cause an escalation" Qui-Gon sighed.
"This was a cycle of relative quietude in the balance."
"Was is the operative word" Litthsyss told him. "Now,
everyone is in uproar. The guardians demand to know if the
ancient pacts have been violated. The darklords demand the
guardians cease their border patrols. As always, the fates are
neutral. They will not give their take on the outcome of this
conflict."
Qui-Gon steepled his hands. "Are tensions high?"
"Very" Litthsyss gulped his drink. "Both sides are scrambling
for accusations."
Obi-Wan sat forward. "Is it war?"
A long finger traced the edge of his goblet. Full lips pouted.
"Unclear. A primal tribunal may be convened, in neutral
territory."
"Has it truly gotten so out of hand?" Qui-Gon was amazed.
"Since hel has not followed up with any formal hostilities,
you'd think they would reconsider the need for a tribunal."
"I would scarce have believed it myself, Qui-Gon. Such a
tribunal is extremely rare as well you know, and only under the
most dire of circumstances."
"The fates will attend, of course."
Litthsyss nodded. "They must, or all will be undone."
"Wait a minute" Obi-Wan fought to keep up. "Why do the fates
have to be there? Can't such advanced beings handle their own
affairs?"
"We do, but that isn't the point" Litthsyss stated. "The
guardians despise us and we loathe them. We are so opposed in
essence, there is no common ground. Someone of equal stature
must mediate. The fates are unique in that they are neither
dark nor light, but neutral."
"Like the cosmic police?"
"None dictate terms to the Darklords or Guardians. But the
fates have ways of circumventing our purposes."
"Have there been confrontations with them?"
"Many" Qui-Gon interjected. "Both Guardian and Darklord have
clashed in the past with the weird sisters. We dislike being
interfered with."
"Why do they interfere anyway? Can't they mind their own
buisness?"
"That's precisely the problem" his father told him. "That
is their buisness. But immortals take such intrusions
poorly."
"Were they not around to moderate matters, war would ever break
out" Litthsyss added.
Obi-Wan was astounded. "Why?!"
Litthsyss snarled softly. "Such opposite beings in the same
proximity is disastrous. We set each other off. Even the first
tribunal of powers went poorly, back in antiquity. Much of
reality was shredded, and many souls were lost to both sides."
Qui-Gon brooded. "Uncle, this must not be. The Queens' position
on this matter?"
"She convened with the inner circle last week. The guardians
contacted them through their own council. The agreement is
tenuous: should there be no further assaults on their realm,
they will withdraw all angels."
Obi-Wan took a quick gulp on his drink. "Now hold on. We
haven't attacked anyone, that was over a month ago. They still
have the gall to send border patrols!"
Litthsyss steepled his fingers. His shimmering hair glimmered
in the light.
"The lords of light are ever brazen. But true to their word,
they have pulled back. In the last few days no angels have been
seen along our borders."
Qui-Gon sighed, leaned back. "That's a relief. For now at least
war is averted."
Litthsyss smiled at him. "Aye. But the thought of conflict
doesn't fire your blood?"
"No, uncle. The timing is wrong. And I for one don't see the
advantage in such a cataclysm. Let the balance continue."
Litthsyss eyed him closely. "Rediscovery and recent battle has
sapped thy strength. It follows your fire would suffer."
"Perhaps. But I'm a weary host now. Shall we talk in the
morning?" his eyes were closing.
"Father you're out on your feet" Obi-Wan sidled next to him,
lifting him up. "Uncle, make yourself at home in the guest
room. We will talk more tomorrow."
Litthsyss stood also, flashing perfect fangs. "Certainly, Obi.
I welcome a soft bed."
Obi-Wan guided his father up the stairs. It wasn't an easy
task. Qui-Gons' weight and bulk were considerable.
"Force" Obi-Wan complained as they approached the bedroom.
"There are times I could swear you weigh a ton."
"No I don't" Qui-Gon griped, sleepy. "Stop calling me fat."
"I didn't call you fat!" Obi-Wan dragged him through the
bedroom door. "Now come on."
The lion head leaned into him. "Sssss. You smell wonderful."
"Thank you. Now get on the bed!"
"Yes master" Qui-Gon flopped on his back. Heavy eyelids
drooped.
Smiling, Obi-Wan looked down at him. The chest cleavage heaved
through black satin, clinging fabric emphasizing strained
nipples.
Obi-Wan rolled him on his side, pulling the braid loose.
Qui-Gon purred softly as he lay still. Obi-Wan stretched out
alongside, nuzzling his face into the mat of hair.
My blanket. Obi-Wan thought groggily as he drifted off
to sleep.
Obi-Wan felt cramped. He tried to turn over but couldn't.
Father? No, the scent was all wrong. More like pine wood than
spice...
What the Sith??
He opened an eye. Then another...
"UNCLE!!"
Litthsyss had squeezed in between them, holding Qui-Gon in his
arms. He was nude.
"SSSSSS!!!"
Litthsyss yawned lazily, perfect fangs gleaming. "Oh do stop
all that noise, boy. No harm no foul."
Obi-Wan sat up abruptly. Qui-Gon continued to sleep in
Litthsyss' arms.
"Are you insane? I told you to use the guest room!"
Litthsyss gave him a wounded look. "I was cold, and needed to
warm these old bones."
Obi-Wan pointed at the door. "Out!! Warm your bones at the
fire. Not in our bed!"
Litthsyss eyed him, granite eyes flickering. "Sssss. Why should
you have all the goodies?"
"Because they're mine in the first place!! Now beat it!"
"SSssuch a lack of respect" Litthsyss looked at him hard.
"Fortuneately, I am not easy to anger. But beware."
"Don't think to threaten me in my own home. I didn't back down
from grandmother, and I won't back down from you!"
"You aren't too old to spank, boy. Perhaps a coil across your
backside will improve your attitude!"
"SSSssss. What's all the noise?" Qui-Gon pushed up blearily. He
stared at Litthsyss. "What the frack are you doing here?"
Litthsyss gave a slow smile. "I thought perhaps to bounce thee
on my lap."
"In my sleep, no doubt. Well are you a snake, uncle."
Obi-Wan stood up, emerald eyes flashing in the dim light. "Is
this whole damn family crazy? Why don't we just call
grandmother and have everyone pile on?!!"
Litthsyss slinked to a sitting position, the moonlight
sculpting his lithe body. His tongue coiled out. "Excellent
suggestion, my youngling."
"The only thing worse than a young pervert is an old freak!"
"Experience should count for something" Litthsyss retorted.
"You yourself made a pass at me not an hour ago. And seeing as
how your sire is your mate...how am I a freak?"
Obi-Wan glared as Litthsyss laughed at him.
"You walked right into that one" Qui-Gon stood, putting his
robe back on. "In any case, I'm going to the guest room.
Enough of this nonsense."
He stalked out regally, hair trailing everywhere. Obi-Wan
glowered at Litthsyss.
"See what you've done? A nice night, wrecked!"
Litthsyss gave him an innocent look. "Who, me??"
Obi-Wan decided to stay with Litthsyss to ensure he didn't pay
Qui-Gon any more nocturnal visits. Not that his father needed
any protection.
Light danced in the elder gods' eyes. "Perhaps we can spend the
time appropriately now?"
Obi-Wan looked him over. Similar in height to Qui-Gon, firm in
musculature but built more towards athleticism than power. The
skin was soft and silky in texture. His eyes roamed low.
Litthsyss waited expectantly. "How now, does this old snake
fare in thy eyes fair one? Verily, I see you take note of my
unusual endowment."
Obi-Wan did. It was very long and not especially thick.
Reminiscent of a...coil.
He lifted his eyebrows. "I would imagine you get into all types
of nooks and crannies with that."
Litthsyss grinned. "Oh, if it could talk, the tales it would
tell. I have special talents with it. Methinks you would enjoy
them."
Obi-Wan felt a surge of heat, and not from embarrassment.
"Perhaps...another time, uncle."
"Then sit there. I will entertain you with it."
"What!!"
"Watch" Litthsyss sat crosslegged, curving his cock into
impossible positions. It twisted in the air and curled in on
itself.
Obi-Wan was fascinated. "Does it hurt to do that?"
"Oh no. Actually some positions feel quite good due
to...pressure" Litthsyss kinked his cock into a zig zag.
Obi-Wan laughed, clapping at the show. It would be a long
night.
Qui-Gon awakened to sounds of laughter down the hallway.
Curious, he went to the master bedroom. His jaw dropped.
Obi-Wan and Litthsyss sat across from each other, nude. They
were bending their cocks into ridiculous shapes.
"Remember. Concentrate."
"Got you. How's this?"
"Not bad. Now go for the 'S'"
"Excuse me??"
Litthsyss and Obi-Wan looked up. Obi-Wan laughed.
"Good morning, father. Did you rest well?"
Qui-Gon stared at his son. "I may never rest again. What in
force are you doing?!"
"A gentle corruption" Litthsyss purred. "Obi-Wan has great
appetite."
"I know first hand" Qui-Gon told him. "Immortals with too much
time on their hands are truly frightening."
Obi-Wan straightened out his cock. "Uncle told me quite a bit
about you as a child."
Qui-Gon threw Litthsyss a look.
Litthsyss shrugged innocently. "I didn't reveal anything
secret. He needed to know."
Qui-Gon showed his teeth.
"I have warned him about his hunger and impulses."
Qui-Gon sat next to them, looking at his son. "It has merit."
"Don't worry about me, father. I have plenty of time to learn
whatever I need to know-"
"You have immortal perceptions but use them with mortal range.
That must change."
Obi-Wan glanced at Litthsyss. "Uncle can train me to-"
"Not unless all agree" Litthsyss interrupted.
"Excuse me? It's my decision" Obi-Wan was irritated. "I hardly
need permission-"
"Prince, your father is ascendant to the throne" Litthsyss told
him. "You still think like a mortal."
"I don't understand."
"I cannot presume upon his authority."
Obi-Wan looked at them both. ":Are you serious? You expect me
to ask permission?"
Qui-Gon smiled at him strangely. "You fought over me like a
possession in hel, did you not?"
Obi-Wan was defiant. "So? Llane had no right to claim
anything-"
"Yet some part of you acknowledged her right as my mother. How
did you know?"
Stunned, Obi-Wan realized he hadn't thought about the
why.
"I'm not sure...it just seemed natural to think that without
conscious thought."
"Your immortal knowledge is at odds with mortal experience. And
you were correct. Though she can never be my mate she will
always have certain rights. Just as I have."
"Your kingship" Obi-Wan stated.
"Now I want you to stop thinking based on what you knew before.
What do you sense?"
"Sense about what? You're losing me."
"Sense the knowledge in your mind that comes automatically,
like memories."
Obi-Wan thought about everything and nothing. Impressions.
Emerald eyes glimmered.
"I sense...your rulership takes precedence over many personal
decisions, even with a mate."
"SSSssss. The boy reads his instincts well" Litthsyss noted.
"He always has" Qui-Gon agreed. "I've been negligent in
beginning your new training. The scope of it will shock you."
Obi-Wan was eager. "I look forward to it. When do we begin?"
Litthsyss shook his head. "This burning appetite is never good.
Nearly did it cost thy father-"
"Uncle, please. That is in the past!" Qui-Gon warned him.
Obi-Wan watched the two of them. "Father" he began slowly, "you
craved experience as well, didn't you?"
"I did, and it nearly caused a war escalation between the
forces of light and dark. Now you know why the guardians
reacted so strongly to our assault at their gates a month ago."
Obi-Wans' eyes went wide. "You mean you attacked heaven as a
child!?"
Litthsyss jumped in. "He did, and I-"
Qui-Gon snarled at him. "Be silent, Litthsyss! I will tell my
son."
Obi-Wan stared at them both. "But what did you do?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "I was...ambitious. I assumed I had to make a
trophy of the guardians to impress my future kingdom."
Obi-Wan sat back in awe. "Is that all?" he squeaked. "You
certainly aim high."
Litthsyss again. "Too high. Madness it was, and only fueled
speculation about instability-"
"I was a child" Qui-Gon scowled at him. "This is my
tale, uncle."
"Aye, a tale of the near decimation of reality. And you know
the Guardians have ever watched your development since. They
thought to warn the Jedi that raised you."
Qui-Gon looked at him. "Oh? I was unaware of that."
Litthsyss nodded. "Yea, and so they would have. A few of them
did breach the mortal plane and approached Coruscant."
Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow. "Something happen, uncle?"
Litthsyss snickered. "It's hard to talk with a coil around your
throat. The work of the Darklords would not be undone."
Obi-Wan laughed.
Qui-Gon grinned. "Uncle, you're impossible!"
"My serpent form does tend to intimidate" Litthsyss continued.
"Especially when I'm hungry."
"They retreated, then?"
"Aye, back to heaven. But they still kept watch. I cared not,
as long as they didn't interfere."
Qui-Gon looked at his son again. Arctic blue eyes glimmered.
"My youthful ambition nearly destroyed me."
"How?!" emerald eyes blazed.
"I went to the nexus of reality, where the fates live. They
weren't too happy to see me."
"What is the nexus of reality?"
"The realm of the fates. They reside where all reality
converges to a point, supporting neither heaven nor hel."
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin. "I would see this place."
Qui-Gon nodded. "All in due time. The fates warned me not to
attempt to create a gateway between heaven and hel, for the
results would be catastrophic. I disrespected them and laughed
at their concerns."
"You were insolent" Litthsyss supplied.
"Very. Gathering my power about myself, I concentrated on
creating a rift. The fates attacked me. I sealed them inside
their castle and bound them in their own webs of destiny. The
nexus split into the maw of eternity, and I could see heaven's
gates on the other side. The denizens of light rushed to the
opening, raising a war cry."
Litthsyss. "And the madness began."
A sigh. "True enough, uncle. Guardians and angels of every
description poured through the dimensional rift. I panicked and
raced southward. On the other side of the rift was a black hole
that widened and split. Hel broke loose there. Demons and
devils raced to my aid."
Obi-Wan sat in stupefication. Litthsyss tapped his shoulder.
"And I was there as well, for the strength of all was needed."
Obi-Wan found his voice. "Grandmother was there also?"
"A great black wolf bounded from the maw into the fray, hel in
her eyes" Qui-Gon continued. "And from the north, a golden stag
did charge from the ranks of the guardians. They battled across
the grim landscape of the fates."
Litthsyss hissed. "The serpent did fight also, entertaining the
bright tigress. Many were injured that day."
"What of the fates themselves? What happened?" Obi-Wan wanted
to know.
"With the fates imprisoned within their own castle, time and
space ceased to exist. The battle would continue indefinitely
and reality would dissipate. Our kingdoms would be lost."
"How lost?"
"How to rule with no subjects? Souls claimed by both light and
dark would soon dissipate in the void."
Obi-Wan thought that over. "So the battle needed to be resolved
as soon as possible."
"Yes. Fortune and circumstance, the servants of the fates,
turned the tide."
"What did they do?"
"They slipped unnoticed through the battle, in the form of
ravens. Flying to the castle they freed the fates. The weird
sisters stood tall and demanded a cease to hostilities."
Obi-Wan pulled at the monster braid. "What a mess."
"I was brought before the guardians. Their ruler Alfaa examined
me."
"The lord of heaven? Was it intimidating?"
"Somewhat. I was so young, and the enormity of it all
overwhelmed me. But Llane stood at my side, for she would never
submit me to the enemy. The examination took place for all to
see."
"So none could claim foul on the results" Litthsyss added. "I
was nearby in case of treachery."
"What was it like?" Obi-Wan was amazed.
"He encircled me in white flame. The pain was nearly
unbelievable, and I screamed. Llane nearly attacked again. The
fates stood fast and warned her that should war continue, both
kingdoms of heaven and hel would be lost."
"A mad moment in the balance" Litthsyss told Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon
continued.
"Llane took pause, and the examination continued. My soul was
rent open for all to see."
The blue eyes darkened to black. He went silent a moment.
Obi-Wan nudged him.
"Father, if this is too painful-"
"No, you need to know. Within the circle of fire a small dragon
curled in anger, for the flame of truth bares all secrets. It
was determined that there was no declaration of war by hel. The
possible dissolution of reality could be attributed to the
madness of my childish ambition. And on that day the fates did
acknowledge me."
"As?" Obi-Wan was very quiet.
"The destroyer. And none have completely trusted my motives
since. The fates repaired the threads of destiny and reality
was restored. As a result of the near cataclysm, the borders
between heaven and hel were forever sealed by the weird
sisters. There would be no repeat of my escapades, regardless
of intent."
Obi-Wan nuzzled him. "I trust you, father."
Litthsyss sniffled and honked. He pulled out a tissue and
dabbed his eyes.
"Oh, true love. It's beautiful."
Qui-Gon laughed. Obi-Wan looked up, shaking his head.
They spent the next afternoon watching more bad westerns.
Litthsyss decided to change his attire. He replaced his
tailored outfit with a gold lame' suit and red sequinned shirt.
"Isn't that a bit loud?" Qui-Gon asked him.
Litthsyss grinned. "Well, the sequins remind me of my scales."
Obi-Wan eyed his outfit with distaste. "You look like a gigolo,
to tell the truth."
Litthsyss preened. "Really? It's been awhile since I've used my
charms in such a manner" he eyed Obi-Wan. "Thee are quite
comely. Perhaps I can practice?"
Qui-Gon clicked his fangs.
"Or not. Have you any plans for the rest of the day?"
"Nothing special" Obi-Wan answered. "Are you always so horny,
uncle?"
"Of course. Aren't you?"
Qui-Gon stood, stretched. "An adventure? What do you have in
mind?"
Litthsyss stood next to Obi-Wan, tugging the thin braid.
"Obi-Wan hasn't been to Limbo yet. I would show him."
"Is it set up like Hel?"
"Well, it isn't as exciting. But it does have unusual
denizens."
"Sounds good to me. Let's go."
Litthsyss eyed them. "You plan to go wearing robes? Methinks
you are not attired appropriately."
Qui-Gon folded his arms. "And you are, dressed like a walking
tinsel tree?"
"So we'll all change." Litthsyss grinned.
The three dark gods flew across the void, approaching the
gateway of souls to the south. Obi-Wan found he could see it
easily now, whereas before it merely looked like a black hole
in the fabric of space.
Qui-Gon gleaned the thought. //You see it now with your true
perceptions.//
/I'm beginning to understand now. It's quite a crowd there./
//Hmm. A few would be escapees, I see// Litthsyss commented.
They alighted at the cave entrance. It seemed much larger to
Obi-Wan now, almost miles wide. Thousands of souls were about,
shouting and cursing, pushing and shoving.
They wore their 'Darklord' attire. Obi-Wan dressed in
glimmering red and green with climbing serpents about his arms
and legs, set off by gold cowl and crimson cape. Qui-Gon was
clad in his purple dragon design bodysuit, with angled leg
boots and gold dragon tail in his braid, topped by black cape.
Litthsyss wore a green scale body suit with partial armor and
deep green cape.
They cloaked their presence from the damned. Obi-Wan observed
the obnoxious crowd.
"What a group. See what happens when you miss a day at the job,
uncle?"
Litthsyss shrugged. "So sue me. I don't punch a clock."
"The ranks swell" Qui-Gon observed. "See how they try to escape
and fight!"
Litthsyss snickered. "No doubt the Queen is anxious to
entertain them. All in good time" he made a gesture.
The mob immediately backed away, gasping in shock at their
sudden appearance.
"Devils!!" one screamed.
"Run for your lives! They've come for us!!" yelled another.
In frenzy, souls raced in every direction away from the three
darklords.
Litthsyss gave a booming laugh. His voice rocked the endless
caverns.
"Doomed ones, run and run again. You do nothing but run
to the pits that await thee!!"
"Obi-Wan, to the bridge, quickly!" Qui-Gon yelled above the
din. "You'll see him toss souls there."
They flew above the frenzy. Litthsyss shifted, growing into a
gigantic serpent. The rainbow hued snake god towered over the
hysterical mob, his coils clutching hundreds of wayward souls
at a time. He spat boiling phlegm, scalding those who would
escape.
In desperation a few misguided souls attempted to attack,
kicking and punching the huge coils. They were swallowed whole.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon flew out the back passageway, into the
yawning chasm behind the mountain. They landed on a nearby
mesa.
"Watch the backside of the mountain" Qui-Gon told his son.
Obi-Wan did. Moments later a gigantic serpent tail lashed out
of the mountain. Thousands of souls went flying everywhere in
the mists.
"Amazing" Obi-Wan watched in fascination.
"Very. Look, it's practically raining souls!"
It was. Several more times the mighty tail heaved clusters of
souls everywhere. They disappeared screaming into the maw of
eternity. Some even dropped nearby. Obi-Wan could see the
terror in their faces as they fell to the unknown.
"Heads up!!" Qui-Gon shouted just in time.
A huge soul plopped down almost on top of them. He appeared to
be a middle aged man, extremely heavy set. Dark eyes were wild
as he looked around at his surroundings. Climbing slowly to his
feet he stared at the Darklords.
Qui-Gon moved toward him. The soul backed up.
"Listen" he panted, terrified. "I didn't think this could
happen. I mean, I know I didn't go to church much..." he
glanced at Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon observed him quietly, eyes aglow. "Greetings, Mr.
Torrell. You were a successful buisnessman?"
The soul gulped, pulling at his heavy beard nervously. "Yes, I
was a corporate giant. But you don't understand. I can't stay
dead."
Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Are you...him? Listen, don't burn me. Those apartment
buildings, the fires...they weren't my fault."
"Didn't your partner live there? The one that could prove you
were embezzling funds from the company?"
Black eyes glinted with madness. "It wasn't like that. Me and
Gary came up through the buisness together. I tried to be
reasonable, buy him out-"
"Ssssss. And when that didn't work, you decided to burn him
out. So what if innocent people perished in those fires? The
insurance more than paid for it, right?"
The fat soul fell to his knees in front of Qui-Gon. "I'm
begging you, let me go back. I can make it right. I'll take
care of those families-"
Qui-Gon snarled, fangs lengthening. "Will your money buy those
lives back? You think public relations can repair the damage of
their loss?"
The black eyes went hard. "If I didn't have a generous heart I
wouldn't even bother. It's the least I can do."
"What you have is a black heart" Qui-Gon snapped. "I
will help you."
And with that he pushed the soul off the ledge.
They watched as Torrell faded into the eternal night, bouncing
off canyon walls. Eventually his screams died out.
"He was some piece of work" Obi-Wan noted.
"The fool. He goes below for a reason. Come, to the bridge."
For the first time Obi-Wan noticed the split in the helbridge
Litthsyss mentioned. From the back of the mountain one span
went to the east and 'up' into mists. The western span they
walked before went 'down' into the gloom.
"Why didn't I see the split before?"
"Your perceptions are expanded with knowledge of Limbo."
The chasm was now quiet. Litthsyss stood at the split in the
helbridge.
"I see you were detained. Another entry pleading for mercy?"
Qui-Gon smiled softly. "Of course. They live any way they damn
well please when alive and then think to be angels at the mouth
of hel. It's hilarious."
Litthsyss laughed. "Ever has it been thus. When confronted with
the truth, wicked souls always think to repent for expediency."
Obi-Wan looked about in the mists. "Uncle, how do you know what
circle to toss the souls into? They seem to go everywhere."
"As I hold them in coil I see their sins and mark them. Thus,
when I hurl the fools they automatically land where their sins
are received."
"Fascinating. Now this upper span on the helbridge goes to
Limbo?"
"Aye. Come along, both of you."
The three Darklords strutted along the upper helbridge through
the mists. Soon they came upon an endless flat plain. The skies
were a monotonous and monochromatic grey. Swirling winds were
everywhere, and misting rain came down in icy sheets.
Obi-Wan pulled his cape about himself. "A dreary place, but not
gloomy like hel."
Litthsyss nodded. "Indeed. Everything is the same everywhere."
"The forgotten ones are here" Qui-Gon added, holding his own
cape close.
"Who are the lost ones again? I forgot" Obi-Wan looked askance.
"Sssssss" Litthsyss replied. "Mummies, zombies, suicides and
the cursed are among those who reside here. Witches and
warlocks who turned away the dark are also imprisoned in my
dank realm."
"They sought absolution for black magic?" Obi-Wan was
fascinated.
Litthsyss nodded as they walked the plain. "Aye, but heaven
sees them as tainted. Yet they betrayed hel also, and thus
reside here. Their final fate may yet be decided."
"So there are those whose fates are yet to be truly
determined?"
"Yea, for such is the way of Limbo. Look about now, Prince."
Obi-Wan stared against the misting rain. Off in the distance he
saw tattered beings walking in mindless processions. Mummies.
"Can they speak?"
"Yes, for their souls are bound within. All have tales to tell,
and some are not necessarily evil. Still will I hold them in
coil."
"Mighty coils they are, uncle" Obi-Wan walked over to them. Up
close the beings were dried and withered beneath tattered rags.
But the eyes lit with an unholy fire as he approached. Their
dusty odor was strong.
"Ho there, denizens of limbo. Have you tales to tell this day?"
They broke ranks and shuffled to him. One spoke first.
I am Wuru, king of my majority. You are of royalty to be
certain.
Obi-Wan was gratified by the acknowledgement. "Your eye is keen
Wuru, for I am indeed a Prince. What brings you to Limbo?"
I am not sure. Wealthy I was, with many children and lovely
wife. War broke out among our regions, and I led an attack.
"Many kings have fallen in battle."
True enough. But I had the choice of staying with my family
or leading the war. As ruler, I made the choice only a king
could. My family perished from treachery in the outcome as I
battled far away.
"An impossible decision to live with."
I blame myself, but it was done. I prayed to end up in
heaven, but I was held accountable for their lives. Hel turned
me out for saving the lives of hundreds instead of a few.
"I see your dilemma."
I know not how long I have been here. Maybe someday I will
go to a brighter place.
Obi-Wan felt a pang. "Perhaps someday you will. Farewell."
He rejoined his father and uncle who waited patiently. The
mummies disappeared over the horizon into the deep mist.
Qui-Gon watched him with concern. Obi-Wan looked miserable.
"Obi-Wan?"
Emerald eyes were suspiciously bright. "It's sad. He made a
choice a king would make. Why should he suffer!"
Long fingers stroked his face. "The pain of his loss makes him
suffer."
"Youngling, his fate is yet to be decided. Conclude nothing
from what you see here" Litthsyss added.
Obi-Wan leaned against his father. "So you're saying final
outcomes are in a state of flux?"
"They always are in Limbo. Those you see here may or may not
spend eternity."
Qui-Gon kissed moist eyelids. "This is the gift of our
heritage, Obi. Dark though we are, compassion still touches our
hearts."
"In a Darklord a prescription for madness" Litthsyss warned.
Obi-Wan made a visible effort to calm himself. "Let's move on."
In Limbo, 'moving on' was easy. As Litthsyss said, everything
was the same everywhere. Non stop flat plain, perfectly smooth.
Obi-Wan wondered at the perfection of monotony.
"Does it always look the same everywhere?" his hair was
plastered from the constant rain.
"Didn't I say as such?" Litthsyss asked. "Look further out."
More figures moving about. They were as numerous as grains of
sand.
"See how they shamble?" Obi-Wan asked his father. "There's a
mindlessness to their gait."
"Those are the zombies. You won't get much useful conversation
out of them."
Litthsyss snorted. "Aye, look at them if you want. They are of
little use to me other than as soldiers. Their souls are
destroyed, and they talk with no knowledge of anything because
of it. Approach one and see."
Obi-Wan walked toward the grotesque creatures. Some had missing
body parts, or eyes hanging loose. A few were missing a hand or
foot.
"OOooooOOOOooo...."
Obi-Wan stood off a bit. The creatures stumbled and shuffled
around him. A few walked right into him as if he weren't there.
Irritated, he shoved them off. They hit the ground like sacks
of cement.
"OOooooOOOOooo..."
"Why do you make those stupid noises?" he glared at them. They
were even worse up close, the odor of rotting decay following
their passage.
Another one walked right into Obi-Wan, bouncing off. An arm
cracked free from the impact, thudding as it hit the ground. In
disbelief Obi-Wan stared.
"Pot sun flies shirt bird."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
The zombies continued to stagger about in a haphazard manner.
"Loose at up."
"Be of off go."
"Dull mock wild."
Obi-Wan had enough. He pushed through the creatures and
returned to his fathers' side.
"I see what you both mean. They're worse than those dolts in
the eighth circle. They just say words like objects that have
no meaning. Besides, they stink."
Litthsyss laughed. "At least the denizens of the eighth circle
still have their souls, though blunted. But these morons make a
perfect army. They obey without question, need no replenishing,
and have no brains for rebellion."
"I noticed how numerous they are" Obi-Wan stared at the horizon
now covered with zombies.
"Like cockroaches" Litthsyss replied.
Obi-Wan wondered about something as they walked again. "Uncle,
hel has circles. I sense heaven does as well. What about
Limbo?"
Qui-Gon beamed with quiet pride. His son was learning to trust
his immortal knowledge more and more.
"True, Obi-Wan" Litthsyss answered. "Whereas the circles in hel
move downward and those in heaven move upward, the circles in
Limbo move outward."
Obi-Wan nodded. "It makes sense. Your realm is completely
flat."
"As we go from circle to circle, the further out we walk."
"Do you have limbo lords?"
"No. It is different here, because all of these beings are
incomplete or soulless. Some are still partially alive."
"I suspected as much! I nearly doubted my senses when I was
around the mummies."
"Some of them were buried alive. Their souls do not rest."
The three of them were soaked from the constant downpour and
drizzle.
"I see movement again" Qui-Gon shielded his eyes in the rain.
"And look at how they run around!" Obi-Wan noted.
"The cursed are in this ring" Litthsyss supplied. "Those who
were given ill fortune by will or sorcery. This circle has the
most variety of any in Limbo."
It did. Werewolves ran about, fighting amongst themselves.
Others appeared to be unnatural mortal beings, belonging in no
species category. Some were stitched together. Still more were
lurching, misshaped creatures with fur, scales, or smooth skin
in no particular order.
"Some of these things are created from science" Litthsyss told
Obi-Wan. "They may or may not have souls, each case is
different. A lot of these were built from dead bodies and
infused with false life. They make reasonably good soldiers but
are notoriously unstable and prone to treachery."
"No time like the present" Obi-Wan strutted towards the
menagerie.
"He'll find this ring most entertaining, I think" Qui-Gon told
Litthsyss.
The snake god nodded. "No doubt."
Obi-Wan had barely gotten within fifty yards of the locals when
he was attacked. A werewolf of considerable size jumped him
from behind, howling in his ear.
He shifted, rolling the werewolf off. Strong jaws cracked over
a leg. The creature howled, begging for mercy.
"Stop, Stop!! You are cursed, as well? Spare my leg."
The red wolf let him up. "Fool. Why did you attack me?"
"I thought you were going to attack me first."
"Idiot! Why would you think that? I was just standing
here!"
The creature rubbed his leg. "Everyone fights around here. You
can't turn your back."
The red wolf walked past him. "You have a name?"
The werewolf nodded. "Name's Jason Dupree. Until them damned
experimenters got ahold of me."
"How was your life spent?"
"My life? What's that got to do with anything? I want revenge
for what they did to me!!"
"Do you now?" Obi-Wan shifted. The werewolf fell back.
Emerald eyes glinted brightly. "You fear me?"
A hairy hand pointed. "Yeah, something ain't right here. I
didn't get a good look at you in the mist, but..." the animal
eyes were wild.
"No way, man. You're bad news!"
Obi-Wan smiled sharply. "Oh? Perhaps you're right. What brought
you to this dreary place?"
"I attacked some people. Couldn't control myself. Killed some.
They tried me and sentenced me to death, called me a missing
link and stuff. But I couldn't die. Then they voted for
perpetual imprisonment. I broke out and escaped off planet."
Obi-Wan found himself curious despite the annoying rain. "How
did you come to Limbo?"
"Got caught in a big firefight on Barsus 13. I was hurt bad,
real bad. I remember layin' in a bunch of rubble with my lungs
busted, wishin' I was dead. Next thing I knew I was in this big
cave with a buncha losers. A giant snake crushed some of 'em
and threw others out the back way. I tried to make a break for
it and ran up a bridge. Everything was all gray and misty. I
never could find my way back. Been here ever since."
"Hmm." I'll have to ask uncle about this one.
"RUARRRGHGGH!!!"
A giant creature lumbered at Jason, swiping out with a huge pan
sized hand. It ignored Obi-Wan.
"FRANKIE CRUSH YOU."
"Frankie?" Obi-Wan muttered, trying not to laugh. The flat
headed thing was nearly eight feet tall, with a square jawed
head sporting a huge jagged scar. Metal bolts attached the head
to the neck. The body was wide and square with huge feet. It
wore a dusty hair shirt and raggedy pants.
The two unnatural beings squared off. Obi-Wan left them to
their own devices. Their battle touched off a rash of fights
among bizarre creatures.
Obi-Wan approached the foreboding figures standing tall in the
misting rain. "Uncle, I have a question about Jason-"
Litthsyss grinned. "He all but delivered himself to me, Obi. I
thought initially to cast him into upper Hel, but his case had
mitigating circumstances."
"He thought he had escaped to freedom."
"Ha! He escaped on the wrong side. And well might he
have made it, for I was occupied at the time. I saw no reason
to obstruct his run once he raced to Limbo of his own free
will. Of course once there he could never get back."
"Couldn't he retrace his footsteps?"
"No mortal can. Once in Limbo, everything is Limbo. How
then, to get out?"
Obi-Wan wrapped his cape tighter. "Let's press on, uncle. I'm
soggy enough as it is."
Litthsyss eyed him slowly. "Be not concerned. Thee are most
lovely when wet."
Obi-Wan blushed. Qui-Gon finally spoke.
"Perhaps for the last ring we should change to wolf. The
witches and warlocks will respect us most that way."
Litthsyss snorted. "I don't look too good as wolf. But you have
a point."
"I don't see the connection" Obi-Wan was confused.
"Tradition" his father told him. "Sorcerers are idolaters, and
worship animal forms the most. They believe it the superior
state of being, the most 'natural' state. You will see."
They walked for quite awhile in the driving rain in silence.
"Uncle, your realm doesn't seem overly crowded. No offense."
Litthsyss smiled. "None taken, stripling. You see an illusion
of the mist. Limbo always changes though it looks the same. Hel
on the other hand stays the same, though it changes from circle
to circle."
Obi-Wan smiled back. "I'm beginning to understand."
"The mist conceals a great deal and visibility is low"
Litthsyss continued. "And a region that is crowded one minute
is desolate the next. Ever shifting, ever changing is Limbo.
But trust me when I say it is well populated."
"I did see a lot of the zombies."
"The clods cluster all the time. They're too stupid to
disperse."
"Oh" Obi-Wan muted a chuckle.
They walked on. The winds picked up, plastering their soaked
capes against their bodies. Obi-Wan noticed his fathers' braid
swaying heavily down his back. He squeezed water from it.
"It looked a bit heavy sogged down like that."
"It was, but I was managing. Better now thanks to you" Qui-Gon
pecked his cheek.
"Don't I get a kiss too?" Litthsyss complained.
"Uncle, you're ridiculous" Qui-Gon pecked him also.
Litthsyss sighed. "You must rest with me afterward, so my bones
aren't cold."
"Uncle you always complain about your bones. Are they ever
warm?"
"In this wet and drizzling place? Are you kidding!"
Obi-Wan laughed. He turned and looked around...
...at a horizon covered with lost souls. He couldn't begin to
count them all.
"What?! There wasn't anyone there a moment ago!"
"It is as I told thee" Litthsyss emphasized. "How many would
you say there are?"
Obi-Wans' jaw dropped. "Millions. But...where did they come
from?"
"They were always here. These are the sorcerers."
"We'd best change" Qui-Gon reminded them.
"Oh...very well" Litthsyss agreed reluctantly.
"Stop being so vain, uncle."
"I'm not vain" Litthsyss complained, then shifted. Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan shifted also.
Litthsyss made a rather lanky wolf. His fur was silvery grey,
making him nearly invisible against the landscape. His head was
somewhat angular, the muzzle long and snippish. He had a
very long tail.
Granite green eyes flickered at Obi-Wan. "Stop looking at me
like that!"
"Hee. Just checking you out, uncle."
The grey wolf nosed him. "Pretty firebrand."
"OOff!!"
A massive gold wolf head butted the grey one. "Enough,
uncle. Let's go meet the remaining members of limbo."
Litthsyss shook his head. "Now I've got a headache. Perfect.
In this rain, it will throb for hours."
Qui-Gon shook his pelt free of water. "Good. It will give
you something else to concentrate on."
Obi-Wan paced ahead of them, anxious to meet the sorcerers. A
thick red tail waved in the air.
"Come on, you two, before they're gone again."
A gasp and hush greeted them as the masses of lost souls looked
at the three approaching wolves. They were sitting about the
land.
"A providence!" shouted a witch. "Perhaps now we will be freed
from this accursed realm of nothing!"
A burly man stood up, blue hair braided tightly. He wore a
brocaded robe.
"Then we will test this providence. My magic can break
anything!"
The warlock pointed a gesture. Loops of blue flame left his
fingertips, encircling the wolves.
A thundrous sound as thousands of pairs of hands clapped at the
spectacle.
"Obloron shows his might. Will the creatures speak the truth?"
"Our might can free us. Let the gods fear!"
"But how to escape limbo?"
"SNNRRLLL!!!"
The three wolves looked to spring from within the flames,
hackles up and tails stiff. Fangs bared.
The grey wolf leapt through the flame, bowling over the
warlock.
Granite eyes flecked red as Litthsyss snarled over the shocked
Obloron.
"You do nothing I don't allow. Pathetic fleas. For I am he
that rules this realm. Bow to your master!"
The fire ring died down. The other witches and warlocks stood
abruptly, rushing forward to attack.
"Growrrrr!!!
They backed away, put off by the sight of the two other wolves.
"Don't be stupid" Qui-Gon cracked powerful jaws at them.
Obi-Wan had his back. He snapped at the others.
"You heard the command. Bow down!"
"And if we don't?!" another witch was defiant. She had spiked
red hair and a nose ring. Her robes clung in the rain.
"This" Qui-Gon went for her legs. She attempted a
counterspell of force. It didn't even slow him down.
His jaws closed over her thigh. "Shall I continue?"
Fear contorted her features. "No! We will...comply."
Qui-Gon didn't move off. "Then do so. Now."
As one, the plain of sorcerers dropped to one knee.
"Much better" Litthsyss said. He padded in a wide
circle. "Your lords are here to review and observe. Sit
while we mediate on the state of your miserable lives."
The mass seated themselves across the plain like a gigantic
congregation. The red haired witch spoke.
"But lords. We have been here indefinitely. No answers are
given as to our ultimate fate. Yet we are not truly dead. This
dank and wet realm drives us mad!"
"Too bad" Litthsyss told her. "You await our
pleasure, Gara. Not the other way around."
The rattled Obloron found his voice. "But lords, we await
judgement. One way or the other!"
"Have a care what you wish for, Obloron" Qui-Gon told
him. "Before this night is done your fate may indeed be
complete."
"What is night in this infernal nothingness?!" still another
warlock demanded. He was thin, clad in pseudo body armor and
cape. Curly brown hair fell to his shoulders. "Day, night, it
is neither. There is no hope and no despair. A plague on it!"
Obi-Wan looked into his mind. "So you would have a
definitive fate, Ernyis?"
"Anything is better than this perpetual bog!!"
"Hmm" Litthsyss considered. "I'm sick of your
bitching and moaning. To hel with you."
Ernyis disappeared in a column of flame. The others fell to
silence.
"If I may be so bold, lord" a fat old witch lifted a withered
hand. Scraggly white hair clung to her wet cloak.
Litthsyss sat patiently, tail tucked around himself. "Speak,
Ursuloo."
"What happened to Ernyis? He was not judged for hel."
Litthsyss gave a toothy grin. "He has been now. But my mood
is gentle today, so I placed him in the first circle. He can
whine there forever. His new friends will seal his mouth shut
soon enough!" he laughed, howling against the wind and
rain.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon joined him in laughter. It was terribly
funny to them, really.
The denizens of limbo shivered and huddled on the ground. A
warlock possessing a long shaggy beard addressed Litthsyss
next.
"You mock us, as is your right. But we turned away from the
dark. This is hardly a fitting end."
"And you've decided that now have you, Murlenn? I weary of
such mortal arrogance. You play with the primal forces and
presume to know everything."
Obi-Wan padded forward, glancing at his uncle in askance.
"Go to, prince." Litthsyss told him.
"Prince!! The Prince of Darkness?!" Murlenn was shocked. He
stood abruptly. "Did ye all hear? The Prince of Darkness
himself bears witness to us this day!"
Gara took a breath. "No wonder my spells had no effect! Then
truly our fate is nigh."
"Not so fast, woman" Qui-Gon told her.
"All of you turned from the dark?" Obi-Wan asked,
surveying the crowd. "Who among you joined the dark of their
own free will?"
Ursuloo answered. "We all did, o Prince. But much cause did we
have to regret it later. In my case it caused calamity and ruin
for me and all I held dear."
"And so you rescinded?"
"Yes, when I was believed to be dying. I thought to commend my
soul to the heavens."
"And now?"
"If I could break out of here using sorcery I would. I was
poisoned, and my would be murderers would pay dearly for their
mistake."
The powerful head canted to one side. Ears pricked. "And
then. What would you do?"
"Use my sorcery for the good. Restore my youth. And then live a
normal life!"
"Ha." Obi-Wan paced around the sitting witch slowly. The
others retreated back a bit.
"I see. First you pursue a life of the black arts. You
turned away because you thought you were dying. Now here in
limbo you seek revenge. Add further insult by wanting to use
black magic for the good, which is impossible. You top this off
by believing you can then live a normal life by using more
black magic to achieve your aims. You think to insult my
intelligence with this nonsense?"
Ursuloo waved her hands about aimlessly, babbling now. "Surely
you mistunderstand, o Prince. Never would I insult thee. It's
just that sitting in this dreary land for so long...surely my
abilities would be of better use elsewhere."
"True" Obi-Wan gave her a fanged smile. "Your own
pursuits are what matters most. I will reward you" he
flicked a bushy tail.
The old witch vanished in a puff of smoke. Obi-Wan howled with
laughter again.
"Come, all of you. I will judge each in turn. Does anyone
else have a problem with limbo?"
No one did.
Murlenn pulled his beard. "The fool. She should never have
revealed her true intent."
Obi-Wan yawned, impressive fangs gleaming. "Don't be
concerned. She's in a place more suited for her talents. Her
friends in the sixth circle understand revenge and deceit quite
well. And it's warmer, too. No rain, just soothing lava
pitch!"
The lost souls began to move away, shifting from their sitting
positions.
"Excuse me? None are permitted to leave yet!" Litthsyss
told them, jaws cracking together.
The hordes of limbo froze. Silence, save for the ceaseless
beating of wind and rain.
Litthsyss stood on his haunches slowly. His ears flattened as
if to attack.
"Those of you discontent with your lot step forward, and I
will judge you fairly. Everyone else get out of my sight. You
have one chance" he finished his statement with a snap.
The thundering herd raced in every direction over the horizon,
shaking the ground with the force of an earthquake. Obi-Wan
could scarce believe his eyes. Moments later they sat on a
barren plain.
Litthsyss sniffed himself. "Oh dear. My best friends won't
even tell me."
Qui-Gon shook excess water from his pelt again, baying with
laughter.
"An altogether satisfactory outing, wouldn't you say?"
Obi-Wan stared at the limitless horizon, completely empty now.
His tongue flapped in the wind. "Damned craziest thing I've
ever seen. It's worse than cattle call for lunch at the
temple."
Litthsyss sat at his side. He groomed the crimson coat damped
with moisture.
"Limbo is a crazy realm, my kry'ka."
The wolves cantered at a measured pace in the downpour. Obi-Wan
couldn't tell one circle from another in limbo, save for the
denizens.
Litthsyss stopped abruptly. "Now you will rest with me.
These bones are still cold."
Obi-Wan looked about. "But why not find someplace dry and
warm?"
Qui-Gon sat, tail sodden with water. "If you know of such a
patch in limbo, let me know."
Litthsyss lay down. "Come, both of you. Enough debate."
Qui-Gon sighed. "Very well, uncle. It is your right" he
sidled down alongside Litthsyss.
Obi-Wan still hadn't joined them. "Sleep out in the open
rain? Isn't that a little silly?"
Qui-Gon leaned his muzzle out. "Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan padded over, touching noses. He curled up alongside
them both.
"I still feel ridiculous" he complained. But his eyes
began to close.
"Excellent" Litthsyss lay his grey head across crimson
furred shoulders. Qui-Gon tucked his great golden head next to
Obi-Wans' from the other side. The three curled together and
slept in the center of limbo.
Obi-Wan blearily looked about in the perpetual rain and cold.
Cuddled in tight against the elements felt good, actually. And
he was warm despite the icy wind and drizzle. He licked the
golden head then nuzzled the grey one. Yawning in content, he
snuggled in close. Soon he was asleep again.
Later they awakened and resumed their trek. The wolves
repeatedly stopped and shook water from their pelts.
"We'll certainly be clean if nothing else" Qui-Gon noted
with a grin.
Obi-Wan slapped his tail on the ground to rid it of excess
water. "It's a miracle we aren't washed white. Uncle is
nearly there now!"
Litthsyss yowled with glee. "Are you calling me old? I'm
silver, not white!!"
Qui-Gon snickered. "Uncle, you are old. Still
sensitive, are we?"
"Bleached dog" Obi-Wan teased.
Litthsyss gripped a red tail in his teeth. "Oh, let's see
how you run without this!"
Qui-Gon playfully bowled him over. Litthsyss lay on his back.
"I'm dead. Better send me straight to hel."
"Crazy screwball!" Qui-Gon nosed him up.
Obi-Wan pranced about, racing in circles. He felt feisty.
Running full speed he crashed into his father who fell into
Litthsyss.
The grey wolf panted, tongue wagging. "Goodness. All this
weight. It's a miracle I'm not crushed. Thee are a bit on the
hefty side, Qui-Gon."
"Are you calling me fat!"
"There is fat, and there is big. Now what did I say?"
Litthsyss pretended to drag his haunches on the ground.
"I'm squished."
Qui-Gon lowered his head again. "I'll give you
squished!"
He didn't get the chance. Obi-Wan ran full speed into him
again. Qui-Gon went rolling head over tail. Litthsyss laughed,
still laying on his belly.
"A good one, Obi! Most near the only way to move him, I
think."
THUMP!
Litthsyss went rolling next as Obi-Wan blind sided him as well.
"Treachery!" Litthsyss wailed. "Oh, the shame."
Qui-Gon lay flat, tongue flopping. "Hee. Can dish it out and
not take it, uncle?"
Obi-Wan contined to pace wildly, tail up.
Qui-Gon let him get close. "Time for a trick."
Litthsyss grinned in conspiracy. "Agreed."
Obi-Wan sped at them again. But this time they had him. Qui-Gon
and Litthsyss waited to charge, cracking into him from both
sides.
"Ughhhh" Obi-Wan wobbled and flopped over, spent.
Qui-Gon roared. "Now that's funny!"
"No it isn't" Obi-Wan squeaked, out of breath.
Eventually the mists thinned out a bit. They could see the
outline of the helbridge winding west.
"Almost there" Obi-Wan was nearly cheerful.
"Once we reach the bridge I'll have to return to the
gateway" Litthsyss told them.
"We've enjoyed our visit, uncle" Qui-Gon said.
Litthsyss grinned as he loped along. "I enjoyed mine as
well. See now, we're here!"
The edge of limbos' plane merged into the helbridge. The wolves
padded across it.
They shifted to human form as they walked, wringing their
capes.
"Now we can dry out" Obi-Wan paused and stretched.
"True" Qui-Gon flapped his cape in the air in an attempt to dry
it.
"It's a good thing we can't catch colds" Litthsyss stated.
"Else I'd be perpetually sick."
They heard a commotion about a mile off. Souls were racing out
the back of the mountain towards the helbridge.
Litthsyss shook his head in disbelief. "These idiots are
unclear on the concept, don't you think? They're running the
wrong way!"
"It would be funny if it weren't so tragic" Qui-Gon was amused.
Obi-Wan giggled. "I think it's both. Why don't we play a joke
on them?"
"Like what?" his father asked.
"They think they're escaping. Let's give them some helpful
hints."
Moments later three bedraggled old souls sat on the helbridge
facing west. A berserk herd of souls raced their way.
"Ask them, they might know!" shouted one.
"Man, they look wore out. Maybe they know the way outta here."
"Hey, you. Old guy! How do we get the frack outta this burg?!"
A bald, withered soul answered. He pulled at a stringy beard.
"Well, we found this bridge here. Leads out to the other side.
We came back to tell others who were lucky enough to come this
way."
A freckled red haired man spoke next. "Yeah? So why ain't you
guys running? Don't you know that demons will catch you?"
"We know, but we're so tired" another old soul told them. His
wild white hair shagged in all directions. "Are any others
coming? Maybe by the time they get here we can regain our
strength."
"They should be headed this way soon, pops" a rough looking
female said, jerking a thumb back up the passageway. "Some
fright show creeps tried to keep us from running. Good thing we
made it this far."
She had barely spoken when another mob of souls raced towards
them.
"We'd better help you guys" the redhead said. His partner
nudged him.
"We ain't got time, Rook-"
"They old, man. Hell, if we don't help em' we won't find the
way out!"
"We'd best hurry" the third old soul said. His face was
hollowed out, thick stubble lining his face.
"For sure" the woman looked back up the passage. "Hey, this
way!" she shouted at the oncomers, waving them over.
"Freesa, dat you?"
"Yeah, these old dudes gonna show us the way out."
"So why ain't they gone?" A fat thug wondered suspiciously.
"Look at 'em. They can barely move!"
The hollow faced old soul looked at the crowd. "We'll show you
the way out."
"Let's go then!!" a tall blonde shouted. "The sooner we escape
this rathole, the better!"
"You got it" the old souls sprinted away at full speed.
"What the frack?!"
"Lookit them old dudes go!"
"Somebuddy musta put somethin' in their oatmeal."
"Well come on, you asses" the redhead yelled. "Move it!!"
The herd raced across the helbridge, following the three old
ones.
The wild white haired soul yelled out. "Come on, everybody!
This is the quick way out."
The rough looking woman shouted back as they followed. "Sounds
good, pops! Lead on."
The wild stampede wound further down the helbridge.
"Damn! Them old dudes are pulling away from us?!"
"How?"
"Hey! It's getting darker!"
The ground suddenly gave way. The three old souls bounded into
the air as the helbridge broke.
Hundreds of bad souls fell into the chasm screaming.
"We've been haaaaaaaaaaad...."
"Noooooooooo..."
"You muthafuggaaaaaaaassss..."
The old souls landed on the other side of the bridge, laughing.
They watched as the remaining souls tried to race back the
other way, in vain. The bridge collapsed behind them as well.
They went shrieking to their doom.
In grim delight they waited for the last to disappear into the
deep. Their screams faded and were gone.
"Did you see their faces?!" Obi-Wan laughed as they shifted
back.
Qui-Gon made a mock salute. "So long suckers. To the stupid and
the wicked go the fire."
Litthsyss crouched at the ledge. "The Queen will give us all a
wet kiss for this!"
"Scuzzy old freak" Qui-Gon told him. "I should tie your tongue
around your neck and hang you with it."
Litthsyss snorted. "Mind your manners, boy. For I could be your
father as well."
Obi-Wan covered his eyes, shook his head. "As well as
what? Force, is there any combination we haven't covered
yet?"
"What nonsense is this, uncle?" Qui-Gon stared.
Litthsyss gave an elaborate shrug. "It isn't nonsense, my
sweet. Merely a week before Llane consumated her marriage with
that guardian..."
"I don't think I want to hear this" Obi-Wan complained. He
looked at Qui-Gon. "Are you my brother now?!"
"No" Qui-Gon said in exasperation. "You exaggerate as always,
uncle."
"I think you should know, Qui-Gon. You're certainly old
enough..."
"No one's old enough for your stories!"
"I merely thought to comfort the Queen. She was uncertain if
the guardian would marry her..."
"Grandmother had wedding jitters!" Obi-Wan cracked up.
"Hard to believe, isn't it? It's true, though. So much
planning, and to be so close to her goal...even an immortal can
be overwhelmed at times."
Qui-Gon watched the helbridge reseal itself. "Uncle...I don't
know where you're going with this."
Litthsyss pulled his chin. "Llane had a backup plan, in case
the guardian turned her down."
"You were going to marry her?!" Obi-Wan stared in
disbelief.
"Don't be silly, Obi-Wan. But an heir was still to be..."
Qui-Gons' eyes refused to believe. Obi-Wan moved to his side.
Litthsyss clicked his fangs, granite green eyes blazing with a
strange intensity.
"I have rights, as well. Damn Llane and her secrets. The
guardian may not be your only father, Qui-Gon."
There was a beat of silence, as Qui-Gon stared into nothing.
Obi-Wan held him.
"It's all the same, father" he whispered. "Don't you see?"
Qui-Gon abruptly sat down on the red earth. Litthsyss placed a
hand on his shoulder.
"It's only a possibility. But you needed to have knowledge of
this."
Qui-Gon spoke mechanically. "If that is so, why the secrecy?
When I asked you as a child you said nothing."
Litthsyss sat alongside as Obi-Wan massaged the broad shoulders
in comfort.
"Even the council are unaware, for their knowledge would be an
admission of failure on her part. It was a weakness Llane dared
not show."
"So even the lords of treachery have secrets from each other."
"A necessary evil, no pun intended. It was spontaneous,
Qui-Gon. We-"
"You don't need to paint me a picture" Qui-Gon leaned into his
son. "I'm ready to return home, in any case."
Obi-Wan kissed his cheek. "We will. But what about you?"
Litthsyss nodded. "I too would know your feelings."
Qui-Gon sighed. "I don't know. It shouldn't matter, and yet it
does. But I don't know why or how."
"Concealment was our aim, not deception. And again I tell you
it is but a possibility. It isn't necessarily true."
"Then why tell me!!" Qui-Gon blasted. He stood abruptly. "This
is useless information, uncle. Either way we are blood."
Litthsyss was keen. "Is it important that you have guardian
blood?"
"I...no more so than my dark lineage."
The ancient one stared into the gloom. "Come, Qui-Gon. Back to
the gate. It is time you went home and reflected. I do not
disillusion you, merely offer information that may prove vital
someday."
Obi-Wan hugged him. "He is wise in this, father."
Ice blue eyes glimmered. "Perhaps you're both right. And I look
forward to the comfort of our home on Urus."
They stood at the gate entranceway. Beyond was the universe.
"Let fortune favor you both, children" Litthsyss told them.
"Qui-Gon, look at me."
He turned. "Yes, uncle."
"Lineage is what you make of it. Remember an immortal is always
true to essence."
A sigh. "I know, but-"
"We are related regardless. Do you see yourself as merely a
reflection of bloodlines?"
Qui-Gon considered. "Of course not."
Litthsyss kissed him. "A difference which makes no difference
is no difference. Be not in turmoil over the truth. For
you are unique among immortals with the ability to roam all
realities. Such a blessing is not to be tossed aside, be it
light or dark."
Slow smile. "Some might call it a curse."
"A matter of perspective, father" Obi-Wan told him.
Litthsyss nodded. "True, Obi-Wan. And consider, Qui-Gon. Who is
to say what part of blood enhances the essence? Think, my
kry'ka."
Brilliant blue eyes lit with understanding. "I thank thee."
"What is yours to control, you will. Does an immortal jump and
hide from shadows of ignorance?"
Qui-Gon stood tall, his presence commanding. "Uncle, you are
truly the wisest of all. I made the mistake of assuming my
guardian heritage was solely responsible for the ability to
roam freely about the mortal plane."
Litthsyss sat upon his throne seat at the edge of the cave.
"Immortals are not infallible. And we too can be guilty of
buying the 'party line.'"
Obi-Wan stood at his throne. "Truly is Litthsyss the most
amazing of Darklords."
The dashing features winked at him. "I've been around, boy.
It's easy to be a sage when you're older than dirt."
The three shared a good laugh. Litthsyss waved at the exit.
"Begone, both of you. Go frighten some mortals. I have more
idiots to toss."
Qui-Gon kneeled in front of Litthsyss. "As regent of the
dark, I do commend thee. Ever am I grateful."
Litthsyss eyed him with pride. "Your grace serves you well, as
always. Rise, o King. Return to your other realm with your son.
And know that Litthsyss sees all."
Obi-Wan kneeled as well.
Litthsyss smiled widely, eyes flashing. He gestured. The portal
to the universe widened.
Qui-Gon stood, gathering his son with his eyes. "Come,
Obi-Wan."
Emerald eyes blazed with pride. He joined his father as they
flew into reality.
Two streaks trailed across the void.
/Are their other pathways about the universe?/
//It is rumored so. Supposedly dimensional walkways were
created in the beginning, but I've never seen one.//
/We'll have to explore that someday./
//Agreed. We'll need to set up a psychic web about the universe
in order to establish contact points.//
/Sounds good. Look, Urus beckons./
They approached the purplish blue nightworld planet. It was
cast in a great deal of shadow by its twin in nearby orbit. The
proximity of the two accounted for the severe weather patterns
in addition to a predominance of darkness in the day cycle.
Moments later the continental land masses were in view. Obi-Wan
grabbed his father as they decelerated.
They kissed and kissed, dropping through the atmosphere at the
rate of a thousand feet per second. Their hel lord garb ripped
away as they continued to fall.
Qui-Gons' impossible mane trailed everywhere in the wind.
Obi-Wans' braid whipped about as spiky hair swirled insanely.
Lips locked as muscled bodies tightened from friction. Qui-Gon
pulled the golden thighs open and plunged inside. Obi-Wan
roared his pleasure against the wind. He wrapped around his
lover. Soon, very soon.
Qui-Gon sipped sweet blood from the silky neck. Obi-Wan arched,
clawing the broad back as they trembled in free fall. The
sensations were exquisite, heat burning them in the chest and
groin. Obi-Wan began to spasm as he gripped the throbbing cock
inside him. They were only a hundred feet up now. An abandoned
farm lay below.
Powerful hips jerked as Qui-Gon began to spurt. The devil gods
crashed through the roof of an old farmhouse.
Those hips continued to move as they landed in a mound of hay.
"YESSSSS" Obi-Wan screeched, bouncing and heaving as Qui-Gon
pounded him. Silvery nails lengthened as wet flesh slapped
together. An aching cock burst between their bellies, lathering
creamy thickness.
Qui-Gon cat-roared, arching and spewing thick cum up the lush
ass. Sweat slicked hair and hay clung to hot bodies. The heavy
thighs twitched and yanked as Qui-Gon spent himself,
splattering sloppily between the lovely legs.
They slow kissed, looking into each others' eyes. Obi-Wan
lunged, returning the love bite. He sank into the powerful
throat, suckling blood. The lovers slithered together in bliss,
squirting again as flame danced in their vision. Overcome, they
collapsed into the soft hay.
It began to rain. Lightning flashed through the torn opening in
the farmhouse roof. The hay smelled fresh from moisture.
The lovers curled together in the wild grass as the storm
illuminated them, casting wild light and shadow.
"Love you" Obi-Wan purred, emerald eyes aglow.
"Love you too" Qui-Gon nuzzled the fine neck. He tweaked a
plump nipple.
"Oh! Stop it."
Hot tongue along smooth jaw. "This weather is beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as thee, father. We return home and bring the
storm with us."
A crash of thunder. Qui-Gon stretched to his full length.
"It would seem so. Force, it has been days since I made love to
you properly. I could bear it no longer."
Obi-Wan grinned softly. "Nor I, beloved. So many times during
our journey in limbo I wanted to grab you and taste your skin."
Qui-Gon sighed in content, the deep eyes lidded. "I could lay
here for a year under the storm. With this" he stroked and
teased fat nipples.
Obi-Wan groaned, twitching up as Qui-Gon licked his chest
thoroughly.
"Ahhh...fatherrrr...that feels so wonderful" jade eyes rolled
back. Nails scrabbled in the tousled hair.
"I will please thee more" the deep voice was muffled against
soft skin. "For this body tastes sweeter than the finest
honey."
"Oh!" muscled legs flew open as the lion head moved lower,
teasing with coiling tongue. The tip taunted the thatch at the
groin, curling around the soft sacs.
Obi-Wan watched his lover work him with lidded eyes. Heat
pricked his skin as hair tickled his torso and arms. The lion
head was lost beneath the blanket of hair, lifting and lowering
as hot lips suckled.
"Gaghhhh!!"
Obi-Wan bucked as Qui-Gon fanged his testicles. Sweet pain
stabbed fire up his cock.
Qui-Gon released him, eyes dark with lust. He licked his
fingers erotically before plunging them up the soft opening.
Obi-Wan squirmed as Qui-Gon wiggled hot fingers inside the
plump cheeks, hooking and pulling. Hips flew up as a sweet
tickle danced in his backside.
"SSsssSSSSsss" Obi-Wan threw his legs up, tongue curled over
ruddy lips. Plush nipples strained, moist and needy. He was
ready.
"SSssssssss" Qui-Gon yanked his hand out, climbing over him.
The heavy cock swayed, draining at the tip. He flipped Obi-Wan
over, plowing into the tight heat.
Inhuman roars filled the night as thunder pealed outside. Rain
blew through the roof over them as they climaxed, shrieking and
thrashing.
The droplets sizzled against their skin from the heat. Qui-Gon
nipped the nape of Obi-Wans' neck as they trembled in
completion. Another pearly stream spurted from Obi-Wan as big
hands reached around, pulling his nipples. Exhausted, he slid
forward into the hay.
Qui-Gon fell over him, growling. The big body covered him like
a blanket.
"Put your arms around me" Obi-Wan purred.
A lick in his ear. Muscled arms held him crushingly tight.
Another purr. "Oh, that's good" he wiggled in closer.
Qui-Gon rubbed his head along the smooth cheek. "You are
beautiful, Obi-Wan. The storm light dances on your cheekbones."
Obi-Wan rolled over slowly. "A family trait" his voice was
gentle as he looked through red lashes. He stroked the soft
goatee.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes, sighing and rolling on his back.
Obi-Wan plumped hay behind them. He sidled up, cradling his
fathers' head against his chest.
Hands slipped through the ridiculous mass of hair. Obi-Wan
pulled it over both of them, making a blanket.
Regal features regarded him softly. "Are you warm enough now?"
Obi-Wan smiled down at him. "I always am when you're near. You
tell me constantly that I'm beautiful. Well, guess what? So are
you."
Qui-Gon blushed. "Obi-Wan-"
"Your eyes remind me of the Sardaki seas. Clear and fathomless.
And bluer than the brightest sky."
The deep voice dropped. "My son-"
"Eyes that see into the soul. The body of a god and a mind as
deep as mystery itself. Just listening to you makes me melt.
Your touch drives me insane."
Soft lips brushed. Obi-Wan cradled the strong head again. Those
eyes bored into him.
"Wherefore all this, my wa'bee?" softly now.
Obi-Wan kissed his fathers' forehead. Pattering rain now
replaced the sounds of thunder outside.
"I remember holding you like this years ago, when life was
simpler."
"Hmm."
"It seems like an eternity ago. So much has happened to us
both. In my wildest dreams I would never have guessed we
were...darklords."
Cerulean eyes burned on him. "The fates weave an intricate web.
But destiny is often writ large, Obi."
"Ever since the night we changed to dragon and serpent I've
felt different...it's hard to explain."
Knowing smile. "Tell me."
"Almost as if...something has broken open and the real me is
out" he looked down at his father in confusion. "Am I making
sense?"
Moist kiss. "A great deal. For your spirit form is the essence
of your soul. In freeing it you freed yourself."
Obi-Wan held his love tightly. "It's as if I just 'know' things
without consciously thinking about them."
"As time passes you will understand your perceptions better.
Immortals are born with the knowledge of eternity. Each
individual develops according to time and experience. Their
personality provides the template. Some have greater capacity
to access their knowledge."
"Wheareas mortals are born a blank slate" Obi-Wan supplied.
Qui-Gon nodded. "Their lives are limited and so is their
knowledge. They are finite beings whose souls have the freedom
of choice."
Obi-Wan stroked the strong face. "Ironic, isn't it? The
infinite beings are bound by their essence. Mortals can be
whatever they wish."
"The balance of existence, my Obi. There are concessions for
all."
They were silent for a bit, listening to the rhythm of the
rain. Obi-Wan rubbed his nose against Qui-Gon, inhaling the
spicy scent and musk.
"May I ask a question?"
"Anything."
Emerald eyes glowed down at Qui-Gon. "Does it bother you
knowing that Litthsyss could be your father as well as uncle?"
Qui-Gon sat up slowly. Hay clung everywhere to his back and
hair.
"It would be impossible to determine the difference in any
case. But my wise son once told me it makes no difference."
"But how does it make you feel?"
"Who selects parents? He has loved me my entire life. And there
was a time he took me from Llane for a bit."
"He mentioned that. Did you never suspect?"
"I wondered a great deal, particularly since Llane protected me
so fiercely."
"Did you ever ask grandmother?"
"I did when I was very small. She called me insolent and
refused to answer. She swore my only father was a guardian."
Obi-Wan gave a sly grin. "Maybe she told a partial
truth."
Crystal blue eyes sparked against the night. "I remember even
broaching the subject with Litthsyss himself. He merely held me
in grim silence whenever I asked about it."
"Didn't his silence tell you volumes?"
"Not necessarily. I thought so at first but later believed it
to be a confidence between the two of them."
Obi-Wan made a face. "I'll say."
A sigh. "I was not adverse to the possibility. In any case it
was out of my control since I was not 'completely here' you
might say" he laughed at his own joke.
Obi-Wan stared at him. "Maybe we are twisted. All of
us."
"Perhaps. Definitely to mortals and guardians. What do you
expect?"
"I don't know. Doesn't it...screw the gene pool or something?
Cause defects?"
Qui-Gon was annoyed, leaning back on an elbow. "You still
reason like a mortal! Essence takes precedence over
genetics."
"I see no evidence of dominance."
"Then you are blind. For the final time, Obi-Wan. Immortals are
a different order of being. The gene pool becomes more
pronounced from such unions, not defective."
"Guardians would never do it!"
"Of course not. It's not in their essence and morals to try
such behaviors. But they are physically capable of it, and the
results would be the same."
"Sounds like a cop out, father."
Qui-Gon snorted. "Do I look or act defective to you?"
Long pause. "No, but your temper growing up...weren't they
worried about your sanity?"
Qui-Gon clicked his fangs. "So everyone with a bad temper is a
product of incest?!"
"Didn't uncle take you for a while to calm you?"
"I wasn't unstable!!"
Another pause. "He wouldn't have told you if it wasn't true."
"Probably not. And your point?!"
Obi-Wan sighed. "I'd better quit while I'm ahead."
"You started it" toothy snarl. Qui-Gon flopped back into the
hay.
"Hey" Obi-Wan touched his face. "Sorry. I don't want to fight.
It's such a beautiful night for making love..."
"We did that already" Qui-Gon was calmer.
"Why are you angry at me?"
"I'm angry at your inconsistency. You enjoy being what you are,
yet are troubled by the implications of what that means."
Obi-Wan folded his arms, stubborn. "You'll have to forgive me.
I don't have a great deal of experience being a devil god!"
"SSSSssssss."
Obi-Wan lay down in the hay. The mood was ruined now.
"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." he rolled over on his side.
Qui-Gon watched him for awhile. Silence, save for the
continuous pattering of heavy rain.
"Obi-Wan."
No response.
"Obi-Wan, I know you aren't sleeping. Look at me."
Disgusted noise. Obi-Wan turned to face him, jade eyes eerie in
the night.
"What is it, father. We both need rest."
"I must show you something."
"Can't it wait?"
"No. I should have done this earlier."
Curiosity cut through anger. "What are you talking about?"
emerald eyes were bright. He sat up.
"Now what is it I need to see so much it can't wait until-"
"Your birthmark."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Oh, that's important. Father,
I know about the birthmark behind my neck. Mother had one that
looked just like it."
"That is just a genetic skin coloration. I speak of the
signature you bear that proclaims your heritage and power."
Obi-Wan looked away. "I don't want to hear this-"
The blue eyes flecked with red now. "Are you afraid?"
"Is this necessary, father?" Obi-Wan found his voice rising. "I
know I'm your son. Displays and proof are not needed. Besides,
there isn't anything on me. Don't you think I'd know?"
The handsome face was feral now. "Allies and enemies use
it as an identifier, a means of contact and to invoke
power..."
Soft snarl. "I tell you there's nothing!" Obi-Wan declared.
"What do you see?!"
Qui-Gon traced a long finger over his sons' face, across his
chest, down his arm.
"What I see is in plain sight, that mark which you did
get from me."
"Not myth. Reality!" Qui-Gon gripped his left
wrist crushingly tight. In shock and horror Obi-Wan watched his
hand burst into flame.
"See with your knowledge, not just your eyes!"
Qui-Gon challenged.
Obi-Wan did. Eyes wide in disbelief as the flame roared high
from his hand, illuminating the darkness. But it did not burn.
The flame curled in on itself, disappearing. In its wake was a
mark. Just below the palm, in the center of the wrist. A coiled
serpent.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I...no. I don't like this" he
whispered.
His father was surprisingly gentle then, releasing his hand.
"Look, my wa'bee."
Subdued, Obi-Wan stared at him as he tilted his head back.
"On my left shoulder."
Near the collarbone Obi-Wan saw a dragon.
Cold realization hit him. "Is this why...Yani said my heritage
was written across my face and soul? He saw this?"
"Any and all with mystic ability can see this."
Obi-Wans' head dropped. Qui-Gon gathered his son in his arms.
"You must accept this as well, Obi-Wan."
Emerald eyes were dull as he shivered. "To be marked so...what
about you?"
Qui-Gon nuzzled him. "My situation is different. I was raised
in hel and taught to have pride in my heritage. Granted, those
memories were stripped later, but when I recovered them they
remained intact."
Obi-Wan was silent a bit. "Is everyone in the family marked?"
"All primal beings have a symbol of power, the representation
of their soul."
"The ruler of the guardians...the mark?"
"A fierce stag. The one you battled."
Obi-Wan nearly fainted. "You mean...that was him??"
He fell heavily against his father again. "I need to sleep now"
a thought struck him.
"What about grandmother?"
Qui-Gon kissed him slowly. "Mother is a three headed wolf."
Obi-Wan pulled off a little, curious. "And uncle, or could I
say grandfather?"
"He would answer to either. His symbol is an extended serpent,
whereas yours is coiled."
"Ghods!!" Obi-Wan lay his head against his fathers' chest.
Qui-Gon pulled him down into the hay, cuddling.
He stroked the spiky hair. "It is no shame, Obi. All beings are
bound by something, be they mortal or immortal."
Obi-Wan curled in. "Grandmother told me as such. The legend of
the three headed dog of hel?"
"In some mortal circles she is called Cerebus. And 'dog' is not
accurate, for mortals are not known for consistency. One day
you must ask her about this, for many names have been ascribed
to her across eternity. As time passes legends will grow in
your name as well."
"All infamous, no doubt."
Qui-Gon smiled. "No doubt."
Obi-Wan felt calmer, more at peace then. The rain was soothing
with the thunder gone. And the arms around him were warm.
"I love my family" he could admit it then, regardless of how it
sounded.
Qui-Gon lapped his ear, goatee tickling. "They love you as
well." he suckled along the golden neck.
Obi-Wan sighed in bliss, complete at last. He lay limp as a
wicked red tongue claimed him, tickling tender nipples. They
poked.
Brilliant green eyes closed over ruddy cheeks. His hands
clutched at the mat of hair fanning over his legs as a hot
mouth closed on his cock. The tongue tip slipped inside the
soft slit. Obi-Wan moaned, hips twisting in the hay.
"Aaaahhh. Father, please."
Red eyes were hot on him as powerful jaws pulled over the
velvet head.
//Your darkest desire.//
Red lashes fanned. "Make me crazy..."
Qui-Gon slopped wet tongue over the muscled thighs, slap
lapping heavy sacs at the groin. He chewed them roughly in his
fangs. Big hands slapped the lush ass as he lifted his lover up
off the hay. Obi-Wan groaned, begging for more.
He got more. Qui-Gon swatted the plump cheeks and thumbed the
soft opening before plunging inside. Obi-Wan arched and moaned,
the fine face flush with heat and desire. Qui-Gon wiggled
slowly inside him, plucking and tweaking plump teats. A golden
cock drained as Qui-Gon pushed in deeper, slow stroking the
sweet spot as his hips ground side to side.
Sweat covered them both now. Qui-Gon swore, head thrown back in
delightful agony as his cock throbbed with need. Heaving and
slick with heat, powerful thighs slammed together.
Obi-Wan screeched, hips jerking as cream splattered everywhere.
Qui-Gon yanked over him, drinking his lover as he came,
swelling and bursting.
Vision blazed in fire, dotted in colors. They collapsed, wet
and spent.
Obi-Wan wondered how long he had passed out, blinking in the
dark farmhouse.
"Father?"
The big body was still over him, hair on them both like a
bedsheet. He shifted a little.
"Ughhh. Ghods, Obi...I think I've blown my balls out."
Obi-Wan smiled in the dark, licking his lips. "A good blow, I
think. Damage control may be in order" he slid out from
underneath carefully. Rolling Qui-Gon on his back he gently
massaged the sticky sacs.
"AAhh!"
"Like that?" jade eyes were hot over flush cheekbones. Obi-Wan
rubbed the sacs together, faster and faster. He pinched the
thick cock head.
It was too much. Roaring, Qui-Gon shot all over the fine face,
splattering thick streams and thoroughly coating Obi-Wan.
A wanton tongue curled out, licking the slop that dripped from
his chin. "Hmm. Well popped."
"Wench" Qui-Gon gasped, eyes lidded. He heaved, sated.
"Eternity is ours, my Obi. There is much for you yet to see."
Obi-Wan lapped cum from the thick thighs. "Getting there is
half the fun."
"Mmmm. Agreed."
Obi-Wan climbed into a tight embrace. He was too quiet all of a
sudden.
"Something serious is on my mind, though."
Qui-Gon sensed his emotion. "The king, Wuru."
Obi-Wan sat up. "He made a decision based on rulership and it
cost him his family. I need to know..."
Qui-Gons' gaze bored into him. "If forced, would I make
such a decision?"
"Yes. Would Qui-Gon the King sacrifice all to preserve the
realm?"
Blue eyes burned in defiance. "Qui-Gon the father could not
sacrifice the child of his body. Qui-Gon the lover could not
sacrifice the heart of his soul. Both heaven and hel would
tumble into abyss before I would do so!!"
Obi-Wans' eyes were wide on him. "You are crazy."
"What is a realm with no subjects, no rulers? Nothing. And
despite your compassion, Wuru does belong in limbo. No
worthy ruler resorts to such extremes in preservation of his or
her dominion."
Obi-Wan snuggled back down. "I didn't look at it from that
perspective."
"He may have been king, but he wasn't a very good one. So be
it."
They nuzzled a bit. Obi-Wan glanced above through the jagged
tear in the farmhouse roof. The twin moons of Urus now made an
appearance, casting bright beams over them.
"I look forward to future events."
"As do I. There is so much to explore, and I would roam the
universe with my son at my side."
They kissed under the moonglow, soft stroking. "Ever and
always, father."
Archive 