Title: Twisted Hope

Author: Arldetta

Timeframe: This replaces parts of JA books 14 and 15. This is in response to a challenge posted at wwwDajourneythroughDmysitespaceDcom/1hDhtml (A journey through a galaxy far, far away) in which you had to re-write "The Death of Hope."

Summary: While on New Apsolon, the events leading to Tahl's death take a definite twist as new decisions are made.

Disclaimer: As mentioned this is an AU to Jedi Apprentice books 14 and 15. Some scenes have been kept virtually intact from the original storyline. As such those sections are from the mind of Jude Watson and I happily and humbly take no credit for them. However, the alterations to the original storyline are my own which I hope you all enjoy.

Author's note: That having been said, please forgive me the fact that some of this fic will be recognizable. I admit I was a tad lazy but I felt that those scenes used were enough to be kept in this little re-write. And please forgive all my nervousness, as I mentioned I haven't been to the Star Wars section for quite a while. And it's been even longer since I actually posted a fic. So I'm getting those 'exposed' jitters again like I was a newbie only worse. I'm not the most regular of posters anymore, erratic at best but I do plan on having this fic done over the next week and a half as that is the deadline. I'll try and post again in the next few days. I'm not planning on this fic being long. (Yeah, but not long for me usually ends up anywhere between 20-50 pages.) I hope you all enjoy it and please reply with your thoughts. I am such a feedback addict that anything will do, even flames! Well, here goes nothing...

- S – W – S – W -
Twisted Hope
Part 1

Standing in the hall, he was confused and tense. The air was full of the residual emotions of the two people who had just stepped into the next room. He wasn't certain as to the cause but his defenses did little to protect him from it. In fact it was all he could feel. The tension, the strain that was wound so tight it was liable to snap at any moment. As a result he was restless and anxious.

Without even knowing why, he knew that this moment was pivotal. His life, the lives of those around him, perhaps even the fate of the galaxy would be affected by the decisions made here in this moment. His patience was quickly waning and he found himself pacing back and forth. The strain must break soon he decided or something disastrous could occur. Or maybe something horrible was coming and that was for the reason for the uneasy feeling.

Then suddenly the Force shifted. There was an overwhelming wash of deliverance and love and joy rippling out from the room behind him. It was such a welcome reprieve from his high strung nerves that he almost cried out in relief. Even his body was affected, falling back against the wall for support. If only it could last.

Relaxing into the Force, allowing it to wash over him and through him only opened him up for the assault of images that bombarded him. They came so fast and so quickly that it left him breathless when it finally ended. His mind couldn't comprehend the images at first. Everything was so convoluted and muddled that deciphering the images seemed almost impossible.

But with all visions comes eventual insight. One may not figure out every intricate detail but the concept and overall gist of what was happening would become clearer. As such, Obi-Wan Kenobi slowly managed to figure out what it all meant. This vision he knew was different than most since this wasn't his first time experiencing such a phenomenon. This one showed him two paths, two outcomes, two possible futures that would result by decisions made here this day. And one of those key decisions would be his and his alone.

Glancing back at the door that separated him and his Master the weight of such a decision rested heavily on his shoulders. Almost heavy enough to bring him to his knees. But he refused to give in. Internally, he debated the issue desperately playing out the what-ifs to make the best decision possible. It wasn't a long battle. He knew the right choice no matter the consequences. However knowing what was right didn't make the pain in his heart any less. How he wished it didn't have to be this way but it was for the best. For him, his master and most importantly the rest of the galaxy.

Steeling himself for what was to come; Obi-Wan took a deep breath. Staring at the door hard, he wanted so desperately to tell his Master what he saw and how to set things in motion but to do so would only bring about the wrong outcome. No, he could only hope that his Master would understand. Time was quickly speeding past and he no longer could afford to lose any more. He squared his shoulders and gathered his courage. Before he turned and left he whispered, "Forgive me Master."

Then he was off stretching out with his senses to locate the one person he needed. Fortunately for him, Balog was already heading back to them and was easily intercepted. "May I speak with you a moment, Balog?"

The man recognized him immediately and asked, "Is Master Tahl ready? It is almost time."

"A moment please. When you approached us earlier, you said that a Jedi Representative must be present for these talks, did you not?"

"Yes, that is what I said."

"This meeting would not be long and if you only need Jedi presence to mediate, then any one of us would be sufficient to assist you, is that not also true?"

"Of course, but Master Tahl did bring up a good point about the Absolutes. She would be a better choice for this task. Now I must go…"

"Balog, there has been a change of plans. I will go on behalf of the Jedi while Masters Tahl and Qui-Gon will tend to the twins. They are very familiar with each other and would be much more at ease in their care."

"But you are a mere child. What good could you be?"

"I may be a child as you say but I am still a Jedi." Obi-Wan could see the protest coming and hastily did the only thing he could to ensure his victory. With a slight wave of his hand he said in a strong and steady voice, "I am capable of mediating your negations."

"Yes, of course. You are capable of mediating these negotiations. You are a Jedi after all. Shall we go then?" And together the pair walked out.

At last the door opened. Qui-Gon stepped out into the hall and found it dauntingly empty. Glancing back and forth worriedly, he turned to Tahl and noted her concerned expression. "He's probably just wandered off, Qui." He nodded absently as he pondered the shift he felt. He must have had some sort of expression that caused her to immediately add, "He'll probably be back any moment."

"We should go look for him."

"I can't leave right now. Balog should be back any minute now for the meeting. I need to stay where he can find me. He may have gone to check on the twins. If you want, you can go."

"No. I will stay with you for now. I don't want to leave you alone yet. I'll search for him once Balog has come." And together the pair went back to the room to wait.

Each second felt like a minute and every minute seemed like an hour. The previous calm created by their declaration was swiftly dying. Qui-Gon could feel something nagging his mind but all he could focus on was the visions he had seen of him and Tahl. But something was different, something was off. When he tried to bring up his visions, they no longer were clear. Before they had been vivid and encompassing that he would have thought they were the reality if not for his Padawan and the people around him that pulled him back out.

Now as the images flittered across his mind's eye, they had lost much of their luster. It was as if they were ancient holovids now faded and aged. But how could they have changed so drastically? His mind mulled over and over again. And in so short a time? Is it possible that our vow could have altered what was to come so much? He wanted answers that no one could provide. The uneasy sensation in the pit of his stomach though did hint that something else was the cause. He just didn't know what.

"Where is Balog? He should have been here by now. At this point we won't make it on time. I can only hope our delay doesn't cause too many problems." Tahl finally broke the silence between them.

Before either could address the issue further some noise could be heard out in the hall. A loud voice carried into the room. "Take your hands off me, you slimy space lizard! Let me see them! Bring them my name! They will see me!" Qui-Gon strode to the door and opened it. Irini stood, her arm in the grip of a security guard. "Tell them to let me go! I have come for talk, not conflict," she said furiously.

Qui-Gon nodded at the guard. Irini gave him a baleful look as she brushed past him. "What right do they have to abuse me? I'm not a criminal. I'm a citizen." She glanced sharply at the pair. "And what do you need security for? You're Jedi. A neutral party, isn't that right?"

"Maybe we need security because people send probe droids after us and shoot at us in alleyways," Qui-Gon pointed out.

Irini looked blank. "Are you saying I did this?"

"We found your insignia on the ammunition." Qui-Gon gestured to the necklace she wore.

"This is the insignia of the Workers. It isn't mine alone. I didn't shoot at you, Jedi. I admit, I wasn't happy to learn you were on our planet, but violence is not my path. Neither is it the path of the Workers. I do not think it was any of us who tried to harm you. Perhaps it was someone who wanted you to think so."

Neither Jedi said anything in response to that because it could be a very real possibility. Both had been sent to war torn planets before and it is one of the oldest tactics warring factions use. Instead, Qui-Gon decided to get to the purpose of this unexpected visit. "What brings you here, Irini?"

"I am concerned about the unrest on New Apsolon. We wanted change, but not like this. Not with another assassination and the kidnapping of children. I have some information that might be useful to you – if you really are here to guard the peace. Since we do not know who in the government to trust, we took a vote and decided to trust the Jedi." She frowned at them. "I hope you will prove worthy of our confidence."

"If you do not trust us, you will not be convinced by our assurance. It is up to you to make that choice."

Irini stared at both Jedi hard, contemplating her next move. Guardedly she said, "That choice has already been made by committee. I am the emissary. I must tell you that the Workers have been blamed by the Civilized for both the murder of Roan and the kidnapping of the twins. I am here to tell you that the Workers were not involved in either."

"You can speak for the Workers as a whole?"

"Yes. We are highly organized and speak as one bloc. If there were violent factions, we would know it."

"Even if your ways are not violent, would you betray those in your group even if you knew of violent factions?" Tahl inquired.

Irini sighed, "It has come to this. We know we are on the brink of civil war again. No one wants this. So, yes, we would be frank if we thought there were outlaw Workers who were willing to kidnap young girls and murder a governor to get what they wanted. But we do not believe this."

"You said you had information," Qui-Gon said.

She leaned forward. "We know that someone in Roan's inner circle was behind both the kidnapping and his death. Someone important. Someone who wants more power."

"But who?" Tahl wondered.

"This we do not know."

"How can you be so certain that this informant is correct?" Qui-Gon asked.

Irini hesitated. "Because we have a spy in this house. Someone to watch the twins, to protect them."

"Well they didn't do that well of a job since I'm here," Tahl pointed out.

"No," Irini admitted. "That is because the security procedures were violated at the highest level. As you know, this place uses top security. It could only be infiltrated by someone who knew it intimately. Someone who had the key to the code. Someone who knew exactly how to overpower the guards, and exactly how long it would take the second force to arrive."

"Who is your spy?" Qui-Gon asked.

"One of the security guards. That is why we know so much about Roan's security."

"Then it is still very possible that the Workers could have kidnapped the twins," Tahl stated.

"No. We know the procedures but not the code. Only a handful of people have that information."

"Who?"

She shook her head in frustration. "We don't know that for sure. We just know they are close to Roan."

The trio sat quietly for a time in contemplation. Each one searching through the events in their mind to figure out who this threat could be. Qui-Gon went back to when they arrived and took each event in turn. One memory suddenly rushed forward. It was when they first saw the twins. "Our security is in the hands of the top security officer, Balog himself…"

"Balog."

Irini glanced up at the two Jedi, shocked for two reasons. First that the two spoke simultaneous saying the same thing. And second because the idea was both absurd and obvious at the same time. She was too stunned to speak and she doubted it would have made a difference anyway. The other two quickly followed the same line of thought.

"It makes sense," Tahl started. "And if that's the case then he may try to sabotage this meeting. He must have some sort of hidden agenda. We must figure out what it is."

"The chance for peace may be compromised." Turning to Irini, Qui-Gon said, "You must be aware that Balog may be playing false in peace negotiations. We do not know for sure, but we need to consider this. This meeting is too important to risk."

"Perhaps he is already trying to thwart the peace efforts by leaving me here. We don't have much time. Dawn is approaching and we need to get there as quickly as possible." Tahl's voice was strained. And her friend already could guess that she was berating herself for not realizing the deception sooner.

"Yes, we should go, but…"

"I'm sure he's fine Qui. But we no longer have the time to wait for him. We should go now."

"Of course. I will have security keep an eye out for him."

Tahl frowned suddenly. "Irini, if you speak for the Workers, shouldn't you be at the meeting already?"

Irini looked puzzled. "What meeting?"

The uneasy feeling in the pit of Qui-Gon's stomach flared. He glanced at his dearest friend noting the equally unsettled expression on her face. She asked, "If there is no meeting then he was trying to lure us into something. But why?"

"And why isn't he here? There was ample time to set his plan in motion, yet his delay has only given us cause to distrust him. We would not fall into his trap now. The question is what made him not come?"

"It's obvious he was trying to separate us, but we're both here so that has failed." Tahl was still trying to reason out what went wrong when she felt a dark tremble come from her lifelong friend. "Qui?"

All the blood in his face drained away. He had been so concerned about Tahl this whole time that he didn't even realize that the anxious feeling he had been sensing was no longer directed at her. Before he knew what he was doing he had run out into the hall and stopped dead. A whisper in the Force almost brought him to his knees.

"Forgive me, Master."

"Obi-Wan, what have you done?"

- S – W – S – W -

So there it is. I hope you all liked it. Please review if you have a moment, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks again for reading!

Ari :D