Rating: NC-17 (Yeah, I know; of all the places...)
Archive: Master and Apprentice, yes! Anyone else who would like
it, take it. Please leave my name on there. If you want, drop
me a note to let me know where it is.
Warning: I treated my screen saver like an epic miniseries. I
also set it to the weirdest color schemes and patterns I could,
so the Surgeon General should have given a warning of possible
epileptic seizures, which brings me to my own warning: I got
the idea for this from my screensaver after having four gallons
of sugar-infested coffee. Bail out now if this is liable to
dizzify you.
Summary: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan get lost - and dizzy, and
confused, and harassed and slightly short-tempered and...
Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time, a man named George Lucas was
born. He grew up, wrote down a really long, really wonderful
space saga, named it Star Wars, and put it on film and became
stinking rich. His fans fell in love with his saga, and so they
pandered to him and their own depraved imaginations and wrote
their own versions of The Way It Should Be (Namely, Qui-Gon
Lives.), but were very careful to say who actually owned the
characters of the saga. And the God-King of Star Wars was happy
(even if his lawyers weren't at being denied a sacrifice.). The
End.
Author's Note: Stalled on my other fic, At Your Side, so this
one got hatched instead. Reason for this one: see "warning."
Feedback: Short, sweet, and simple: GIMME!!!
rogue10@hotmail.com
"I think we've already been this way."
"How can you tell? Everything is glowing, gyrating, and
disorienting to the point of discomfort. I'm not certain I know
which way is up anymore," Obi-Wan grumbled.
Qui-Gon pointed at the partition in front of them. "Well, that
weird oscillating blue-turning-purple star-pattern is on the
left hand side, with that orange and red nova sparkler thing
above it. And on the floor is that curlicue pattern in
yellow-green."
The Padawan looked at his master for a long moment, decided
that trying to figure out his teacher's thought processes were
beyond him at the moment, and simply tried to follow along with
the older man's reasoning. "Okay, I think I understand. So, if
we go through that opening over there..."
"Then we'll go right back to hot pink and lime green starburst
on the ceiling, the orange and red curlicue on the walls, and
the yellow-green into turquoise sparkler thing on the floor,
which will eventually lead us to the giant mutant womp rat."
"But we killed that thing! Sure, it took us half an hour, but
we killed it!"
"True, but if we go through there again following this same
route, it will regenerate and attack again. If we go back the
way we just came and look for the side route we've obviously
missed, then it will stay dead."
"And wait for the next monster to pop out and attempt to
mutilate us."
"Precisely. But we are Jedi; using our skills and our
Force-sense, we'll eventually get out of here, my Padawan."
Obi-Wan resisted the urge to sigh and roll his eyes. "Yes,
Master," he replied neutrally. The raised eyebrow and knowing
look he received let him know he hadn't fooled his master at
all. Ignoring that telling sign, he gestured for the older man
to lead the way.
The two Jedi backtracked, and eventually, Qui-Gon smiled. "Aha!
I was right; we should have taken a left at this last
curlicue."
"We'll, let's go," the younger man muttered.
Hiding a smile for his student's impatience, the Jedi Master
moved on through the hallway. The two walked in silence for a
time, until...
Green and blue lightsabers flared to life in less than a second
as the two Jedi leapt back from their large, if lower to the
ground, assailant. The creature paused, semi-crouched to the
ground as it observed its prey. The Jedi took the opportunity
to observe back.
It looked like a cross between a Rancor and a Howling Fur-Duck
from Zynmaress, only it had the added option of a long,
reptilian tail that looked like a full grown jungle snake from
Yavin IV attached to its rear end. Its slitted yellow eyes
surveyed the two humans before it hungrily. Obi-Wan could
practically see the creature's thoughts, which consisted of:
YUM! Fetch the melted butter!
On the other side of it, backed against a purple and red
spiraling wall, Qui-Gon held a battle-ready stance, his face a
mask of concentration, his lightsaber unwavering. "Be calm, my
Padawan," he said serenely. "We can defeat this creature."
"Master, I do not doubt you, but may I point out that this
thing has way more teeth than necessary? It looks as though its
mouth contains the entire kitchen Ginsu set, including the
handy Decapitator Blade," Obi-Wan said.
"And this is a problem how, Obi-Wan? You are a Jedi, aren't
you?"
The younger man glared at his mentor. "Yes, Master," he grated.
He turned his attention back to the creature, who's snake tail
had begun to twitch ominously. "So, what would you suggest in
how to neutralize this thing?"
"First off, young Padawan, it looks to be somewhat intelligent,
so I wouldn't call it a 'thing' if I were you," Qui-Gon began.
A moment later, he was proved correct as, fast as a striking
snake, the tail whipped forward and around the startled
apprentice before Obi-Wan could use his Force-instincts to get
him out of the way.
"Ah, yes, Master, I see what you mean," he said tightly as the
muscles in the tail began to constrict, putting pressure on his
skeletal frame. He'd dropped his lightsaber when the tail had
wrapped around him and squeezed, so cutting himself loose was
out of the question.
"Perhaps I could use a Suggestion, plant a soothing tune in its
mind to lull it to sleep?" Qui-Gon pondered aloud.
WHAM!
Obi-Wan gasped after his hard impact against an oscillating
green and orange wall and cast a jaundiced eye at his teacher.
"Master, I think he's more of a head-banger."
Qui-Gon merely smiled at this remark, then stared silently at
the creature. Obi-Wan could feel the Force flowing from his
teacher, knew the older man was trying to mind whammy the
thing, but was obviously meeting with no success. Finally,
Qui-Gon stopped and simply stared. Meanwhile, the pressure from
the snake tail was becoming quite painful to the apprentice.
"Master, if I may ask a teensy favor from you?" young Kenobi
grated out.
"Yes, my Padawan?" Qui-Gon invited.
"Do something to get me loose, and do it now, please."
Qui-Gon sighed and shook his head. "Young people today have no
patience. It seems that I shall have to assign you extra
patience meditations when we get out of here, Padawan." So
saying, he leaped forward before the creature could react and
swiped his lightsaber across its eyes.
With a reverberating howl, the monster reared back, clawing at
its ruined eyes. It thrashed its tail convulsively, flinging
Obi-Wan from its grasp.
Qui-Gon glanced at the crumpled heap that lay upside down
against a pulsating wall in concern, then jumped aside to avoid
the vicious swipe from the claws the creature slashed toward
him. A moment later, Obi-Wan joined the fray, leaping forward
past his master to slash at the creature's hind legs, then up
behind its forelegs.
It howled and crashed to the floor, unable to support itself.
It growled and twitched violently, its jaws snapping and
snarling as it glared its fury at the two humans in front of
it. The Jedi traded glances with each other, then Obi-Wan
leaped over the fallen creature to confront the whipping tail
while Qui-Gon moved forward and plunged his lightsaber between
the thing's eyes. The Padawan removed the thrashing tail a
second later.
The creature shuddered and died quickly with a final gurgling
yowl. Obi-Wan regarded it for a long moment, then walked a few
feet down the tie-dyed hallway and slumped against a wall,
panting as he regained his composure. He opened his eyes when
he felt his master's presence in front of him.
The dark blue eyes were warm as the taller man smiled down at
him. "Very good, my Padawan," the deep voice rumbled smoothly.
"I felt no anger or need for vengeance in you when you attacked
the creature. And I am pleased with your short recovery time."
Obi-Wan smiled back. "With all due respect, Master, nothing
motivates me to get my ass in gear faster than seeing you in
danger."
The blue eyes hooded slightly as they swept down Obi-Wan's
body, apparently gauging his status. The gaze made the younger
man's skin feel scorching hot as he waited.
Eventually, Qui-Gon nodded and gestured along the hallway.
"Shall we continue?"
Obi-Wan nodded wearily and said, "Of course. Though, if I may
be frank, Master?"
Qui-Gon nodded permission.
"This test sucks."
One eyebrow went up and suddenly, pure mischief blazed in those
blue eyes as a sensual grin shaped the beautiful mouth. Obi-Wan
suddenly felt as though he were a mouse that had stepped
straight into the middle of a rattlesnake den.
"Not quite yet, my Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said quietly, stepping
forward quickly, "but if you wait just a few moments..."
Before the younger man could say a thing, he found his mouth
captured in a sweltering kiss. Moaning low in his throat, he
opened his mouth as his hands lifted to fist in his lover's
hair. A hot tongue stabbed into him, tasting and stroking him
wildly, and he closed his lips around it, sucking hungrily on
the sweet taste of his beloved. He heard an answering moan, and
then that mouth pulled away from his, leaving him gasping. Two
seconds later, he trembled hard as he watched Qui-Gon drop to
his knees in front of him, reaching up and pulling his sash
aside, baring the ties of his trousers to the large hands that
reached for him.
"Qui-Gon, you can't be serious!" Obi-Wan hissed frantically,
reaching to stop his lover as the older man swiftly undid his
lover's trouser fastenings, baring Obi-Wan.
"Oh, but I am, my love," Qui-Gon rumbled, licking his lips,
then leaned forward.
"Qui-Gon - no, don't - wait - oh, gods!" the younger man
groaned. His cock, already semi-hard, went instantly erect when
that hot, wet mouth closed over him. He buried his hands in his
lover's long, silky hair and hung on as his hips moved
instinctively while that talented mouth moved on him hungrily.
Experiencing a short-term neuron failure, Obi-Wan could do
nothing to stop the debilitating pleasure that scorched his
nerve endings. Not that he wanted to, anyway. His mouth opened
and he gasped for air as he babbled helplessly. "Qui-Gon ...
Oh, gods, yes, please, Qui-Gon please, yes, oh yes, please,
gods, Qui-Gon, please, please! Yes, please! Yes! Qui-Gon!
Aaaaaaahh!"
Qui-Gon rumbled happily and swallowed his lover's seed,
flicking his tongue teasingly over the sensitive underside of
the younger man's shaft. Finally, it was done, and he stood and
leaned into his trembling young love, holding him and stroking
him soothingly. He pressed a kiss to the soft, spiky-haired
head and then nuzzled at the younger man's ear, murmuring,
"Better?"
Obi-Wan mumbled something as he shivered with the last of his
orgasm. Moments later, he settled his head on the larger man's
shoulder and sighed.
"I'm going to get you for this, Qui-Gon."
The Master grinned. "I sincerely hope so. We still have to
finish this course."
The Padawan groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, burying his
face in his lover's tunics.
Qui-Gon sighed as he stared at the nightmarish, pulsating
colors in front of him and around him. He slanted a sideways
glance at his apprentice.
An accusing glare with a mutinous frown in place met his gaze.
The Master sighed again. "It's a dead end. I thought I took us
the right way. I guess I should've-"
Obi-Wan lost his temper. "Guess?" he snapped. "Guess?
You're guessing?! That does it! From now on, I'm taking
us through this nightmare of a hellhole! Come on!" So saying,
he turned on his heel, strode off, and promptly walked smack
into a wall.
Qui-Gon bit his lip and narrowed his eyes. I will not
laugh. Force help me, I can't laugh. Obi-Wan will kill me if I
do. But if I don't laugh, I'm going to burst!
The younger man opened his eyes. After falling onto his butt,
he'd flopped over backwards and now lay with his arms stretched
out and his fingers clenched, digging into the floor as he
struggled to retain his temper. Struggling, he focused on his
anger and finally released it to the Force. Once that was done,
his gaze sought and found the extremely tall man who stood over
him, looking down at him with a tight jaw, compressed lips, and
narrow eyes.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Go ahead, Master, let it out before you
explode."
Dark blue eyes squeezed shut and a tight, fast grin suddenly
stretched the sensual mouth wide as the broad shoulders
trembled. Seconds later, the Jedi Master sat sprawled against
the opposite wall, his knees drawn up and his arms draped over
them as he continued to laugh uproariously.
Shaking his head, the apprentice sat up, then scooted backwards
until he sat next to his master and waited for the older man to
get himself under control.
Finally, Qui-Gon calmed down and wiped the tears from his eyes.
He closed them and with a lazy smile, he reached over and
pulled the younger man against his side, tucking Obi-Wan
beneath his arm. "Obi-Wan," he murmured.
"Yes, Qui-Gon?"
"Please don't walk into anymore walls, love; I don't think my
stomach muscles can take it."
The Padawan grumbled as he rested against his lover. "I'm never
going to hear the end of this, am I?"
"Of course you will. However, you know it will be fair game to
bring up again once you have a Padawan of your own," replied
the Master.
"What?! What for?" Obi-Wan demanded.
"Didn't you know? It's required for all former masters to tell
embarrassing stories to their former apprentices' Padawan.
Let's the new student accept the idea that their master is just
as fallible as they are."
"In that case, I need to make a social call on Master Yoda at
some point when we get out of here," Kenobi stated.
"Oh, my Obi-Wan, if you still think me infallible, then there
is a definite problem."
"It's not the infallibility factor, Master. I simply haven't
heard any embarrassing stories about you from your former
master," Obi-Wan clarified.
"Ah, well, then, you should-" Qui-Gon halted that train of
thought and began a new one. "Wait, if you haven't heard them
from Yoda, then who-"
Obi-Wan grinned and got to his feet, holding his hand out to
the other man. "Come along, Master. We need to get out of here,
and I'm still leading the way from now on."
The Master sighed and let himself be pulled up. "Alright,
Padawan." He paused a moment, then smiled. "But please, don't
lead the way into anymore walls?"
A moment later, the Master went running down the hallway,
laughing as his indignant student chased him.
"What in the - Master, what do you suppose this is?"
"An obstruction, clearly, Padawan."
"Clearly. However, how do you suppose we get past it? It takes
up most of the hallway... Except for that space up at the top,"
Obi-Wan murmured.
Qui-Gon tilted his head slightly as he studied it. There was
enough space at the top providing they moved through it at a
horizontal angle. He pointed this out to his student.
Obi-Wan frowned slightly. "So, how do you suppose we get up
there?"
Jinn glanced at his apprentice. "I'm open to suggestions, my
Padawan."
The younger man thought about it, then said, "My best
suggestion is for us to climb up using the Force. We could do
it so that I'm standing on your shoulders, crawl through, then
pull you up and over with me, but that would take more time and
expend more effort than if we do it together using the Force."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Good, Obi-Wan. Very good. Well, let's get to
it."
Gathering the Force, the two men reached out and touched the
lumpy, floating, rock-like obstruction that hovered before
them, intent on using the object's surface and the Force like a
magnetic grappling hook.
That was the plan, at any rate. The instant they touched
the roadblock, however, things changed drastically. The Jedi
felt the floor jolt beneath their feet and then their
surroundings began to rotate, throwing them off balance. The
hallway tilted and turned until one wall became the floor and
the other wall became the ceiling, but the movement didn't stop
there. Moments later, the two Jedi tumbled over onto the
ceiling-turned-floor and clung to each other and the surface
they lay upon.
Moments passed, but no further motion occurred. Master and
Apprentice looked at each other and exchanged amused and
exasperated grins. Then Qui-Gon signaled for his student to
continue on, and the two of them crawled on their bellies
beneath the rock-like barrier that now floated above them.
Once they had crawled far enough, they got to their feet.
Obi-Wan turned to look at the rock-thing behind them, then
blinked when he discovered it gone. He sighed and rested his
head in his hand briefly, then looked at his master. "Like the
other things, right? If we go back through, for whatever
reason, we have to do it all over again?"
Qui-Gon nodded, smiling. "Correct. You have recognized the
pattern, Obi-Wan; this is good. Have you recognized enough of
the maze pattern to determine where the exit is by now? I
admit, I am well and truly sick of this place and would like to
end it."
The younger man frowned slightly and then gave a mildly
inquisitive glance to his teacher. "Master, if I may have a few
moments to meditate upon it? Everything has been turned upside
down, and I want to be certain that I am leading us in the
correct direction."
The Master nodded permission. "Take the time you need, my
Padawan. I will stand watch for any mischief heading our way."
Obi-Wan didn't object to this. As it was his duty to guard his
master, so was it his master's duty to protect his Padawan. It
was part of their agreement as a Master/Padawan team, and one
that they had used since the early days of their relationship
that began five years ago.
Settling down into a lotus position, the Padawan clasped his
hands together in his lap and closed his eyes, relaxing and
recalling what he had learned so far in the maze. Starburst
patterns, especially in a blue/purple color combination on the
wall, usually led the way toward an opening, but the starburst
patterns must be connected to what his master termed "sparkler
things". And those in turn must have curlicue patterns
connecting them. Each pattern had a different resonance in the
Force, and he could recognize them when he reached out with his
senses. However, they now had the fact that everything was
turned upside down, so it would all be backwards now.
Let's see... There's the starburst pattern timbre down the
hallway and off to the left. Just faintly, I can feel the
sparkler thing after it, but it's too vague to really determine
where it is. If I simply "sniff" out the trail like a hunting
hound... he thought to himself.
Nodding, he opened his eyes and got to his feet. "This way,
Master," he said, and set off down the hall.
Quietly, Qui-Gon followed, trusting in his apprentice's
judgement.
Down the hallway, left, forward a few feet, right, left, right,
forward, left, left, right, left, forward. A long hallway, then
right, left, right, forward a few feet, right again, left, and
they entered into a short hallway.
Qui-Gon smiled as, at the end, he could see the faint shimmer
of a hologram. "Well, done, my Padawan. We have reached the end
of the maze."
Obi-Wan bowed slightly. "Thank you, my Master. Let us finish
this thing and get out of here."
In total agreement, the two men walked forward until they
paused in front of a large, holographic smiley face that beamed
yellowishly at them.
The two men looked at each other incredulously, then gathered
Force until their hands tingled with it. Reaching out, they
brushed their hands through the hologram and everything began
dissolving around them.
When it was done, they were faced with a blank gray wall. A
moment later, a door slid open soundlessly in front of them.
Blinking against the bright light, since they'd been in
near-gloom for a long while, the two Jedi stepped through the
door.
"Two hours, seventeen minutes, and forty-three seconds," stated
a voice both Master and Apprentice knew well. Turning, they
found Mace Windu standing nearby, his hands tucked into his
sleeves as he stared at them calmly.
Obi-Wan bowed to the Council member while Qui-Gon grinned and
bowed his head. "Greetings, Master Windu. How'd we rate?"
"The time was not too bad, Qui-Gon. You both did very well, in
the top five percent of Master/Padawan pairings, as usual."
Then Mace gave his old friend an exasperated look and said,
"You would have come out ahead of everyone else if you could
keep those incendiary passions of yours under control!"
"I'm sorry, Master Windu," Obi-Wan began. "I-"
Mace shook his head. "No, Padawan Kenobi, I didn't mean you; I
was talking to your Master. I'm quite familiar with his antics
by now."
"Oh, come now, Mace, that's hardly fair," Qui-Gon admonished
lightly. "I did the best I could in the given situation. We
were to treat the test as though it were a real life situation,
so I went with the moment. I was merely following the rules."
"Hah!" Mace snorted. "Pull the other one, O Maverick
Master." He shook his head. "All in all, Qui-Gon, you both did
well, there's no denying that. But come on, Jinn; you did so
much better when you went through it the last time."
Obi-Wan's eyes flared wide, then narrowed as he turned to look
at his master. "You knew where to go?" he hissed.
Qui-Gon sighed and glared at Mace. "Cute, Windu, real cute," he
muttered, then turned to mollify his apprentice. "Not
precisely, Obi-Wan. The maze is different each time for
everyone who uses it. The last time I took the test, the entire
thing was made up of gray. More often than not, I walked into
walls myself. And there were no creatures to battle, either.
But I knew what to expect on how to find the way out, yes."
"So why did you lead us into dead ends most of the time?" the
apprentice demanded.
The Master raised an eyebrow. "Which one of us is the Padawan,
Padawan? I had already learned how to navigate in the Force
Maze; you had not. This was as much to teach you how to find
your way through it as to refresh what I already knew. And in
my professional opinion, my student, you did quite well for a
first timer. You still need to go through those patience
meditations I mentioned earlier, but overall, you did a
satisfactory job." Qui-Gon tilted his head to look at Mace,
inviting the Councilor's comments.
Windu nodded. "A commendable job indeed, young Kenobi. You are
an apt pupil, and a good partner for Master Jinn. It is
pleasing to know that you are a most worthy student." The
Master smiled at them both then a little wryly. "I, however, am
going to go off and seek my own entertainment, now that your
test is over with. May I suggest that you two return to your
quarters before you, ah, work off your tension? I don't feel
like shielding your antics anymore today."
Obi-Wan blushed, but he bowed politely. Qui-Gon echoed him,
only without the blush. Instead, he gave his old friend a dirty
grin as he reached out to pull his young lover closer to his
side.
Mace sighed, rolled his eyes, and walked out of the chamber
muttering, "I give up..."
Chuckling, Qui-Gon pressed a kiss to Obi-Wan's temple. "Come
along, my love. He's correct; we should seek our quarters for
some rest."
Nodding quietly, Obi-Wan turned slightly and let his master
lead the way.
Safely in their quarters, the two men shucked off their robes.
Qui-Gon handed his to his Padawan and smiled his thanks when
Obi-Wan moved to go hang up their garments. The Master was
halfway across the common room, heading toward the kitchen to
make some tea when he found himself tackled off his feet to go
sprawling length-wise over the sofa.
Shaking his head slightly to clear it, he looked down to find
his lover settled atop his legs and belly, staring at him
intently with the corners of his mouth tucked up in a very
tiny, near-infinitesimal smile. The blue-gray eyes were
simmering with banked rascality.
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "May I help you, Obi-Wan?" he asked
calmly.
Staying silent, Obi-Wan serenely lifted up on one elbow and
began to unbuckle his master's belt one-handed. Quickly, the
sash followed, and the tunics were loosened and opened.
Directly following that, the younger man began working on the
trouser fastenings. As he opened the clothing, baring his
master's sex to open air and his avid gaze, he smiled. Lifting
his head again, he grinned wickedly at the prone man beneath
him.
"Yes, Qui-Gon, you may help me. You may do so by being nice and
accommodating in letting me get you back for bringing me to
that mind-shattering orgasm in the maze."
"Let you get me back?"
"Yeah. With interest."
As the spiky head lowered towards his groin, Qui-Gon let his
head fall back with a smile. "This should be ... interesting,"
he murmured.
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