#// me: goes on about how suspicious and likely nefarious luke is

[slainson]

RE :  LUKE   !  

so because obvi luke is incredibly suspicious , sometimes i will play connor as not having known luke prior to his murder & what he tells ambrose is lies. other times he WILL know and have dated luke for a while and because he’s still super fuckn suspicious , even when connor does know luke i’ll often suggest that luke wasn’t upfront with connor , ranging from just using him for some sort of project OR actually being involved in connor’s killing! ( in that case , maybe under the direction or manipulation of faustus blackwood , bc he is the MOST suspicious bitch ) 

NOW , if you happen to play luke or if it’s simply better for the plot or if canon explains luke’s general shadiness a lil more , this can totally change. 

but for connor’s relationship w/ luke usually won’t be anything sweet & simple , going off the vibe that canon gives me _____ 

the way luke talks about connor’s killing is just off yanno , even if they didn’t date long he seems anxious to avoid talking about connor 

zilla nameless iguana familiar is p much the same as we see him , then luke shows up , sleeps with ambrose , disappears the next morning & sure enough connor’s familiar has completely withered ( after ambrose suggest’s he will try to communicate with the familiar and try to find out what happened to connor ) 

then of course the news the kempers are dead happens when luke is with ambrose and w/e could be nO significance but i don’t trust dis bitch && , sidenote not actually to do with luke but , mrs. kemper was going to bring connor’s witchy things to ambrose JUST before she and mr. kemper die. something just ... continually stands in the way of finding out more about what happened to connor :eyes: 

anyway nuff of my conspiracy theories ( i have like six more btw that probably will one day get posts on this hell blog ) onto connor’s actual feelings about luke when he DOES know/date him. 

sO , when connor meets luke , it’s his first time meeting a witch , someone LIKE HIM ! it’s huge and connor very quickly feels a connection with him , trusts him , becomes quite smitten with him. yeh at first connor is a little cautious but luke is fun and charismatic and charming and WOW connor would be swept off his feet to at long last find someone like him , he’s captivated. and once he gets over his inital reluctance to show his magical side , he's eager to impress luke! the only witch he knows , he’d be over the moon when luke ( as with any witch he first meets ) compliments his magic or abilities.

[spikeface]

@momentofmemory asked for an AU about Scott, and my favorite friendship, so I combined them:

An AU I’ll probably never write but like thinking about is an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt AU, in which Scott is kidnapped at sixteen and held captive for years by some nefarious group of hunters who run a werewolf-fighting ring (though werewolves remain unknown in this AU). He escapes in his late twenties, and winds up in New York, where Stiles has been living in a rundown basement apartment, having given up on his dream of being a reporter, not doing anything and hating himself and hiding from the world and feeling like he’s missing something, like he’s always been missing something. All he’s got is his Jeep, which he dragged with him all the way from California. It’s the one thing he won’t give up on—he moves it constantly, intimately familiar with the labyrinth of NY parking restrictions, and dumps what little money he makes into making sure it can go. He never actually takes it anywhere, though. Where would he go? Who the fuck drives in New York? It’s stupid to keep it. He knows that.

He’s always felt like Han Solo, just waiting for Luke to show up, needing a ride to Alderaan—but he’s never come.

Then he gets a new roommate.

Scott’s weird. He’s the friend Stiles never had in high school—but, like, exactly the friend Stiles never had in high school. He wants to eat candy for dinner. He wants to stay up all night playing video games. He’s obsessed with how good graphics are these days. He wants to go run around in the park for hours and jump in a fountain, when Stiles has reached an age where that seems gross and unhygienic and now his shoes are wet.

It’s fun, though. Worth wet shoes. Scott makes him feel like a kid again, sometimes, in the best of ways. He just does things. He walks up and just talks to people—everyone, not just people with dogs, even though he pets every dog he sees.

Animals are weird about Scott. Every dog fawns over him, and somehow, all the feral cats in Stiles’ neighborhood shut the hell up at night as soon as Scott shows up. Stiles finds him feeding them, a couple weeks in, cooing over them while they purr and flop over.

Every single rat Stiles has been at war with since he moved in disappears the day Scott shows up. Probably coincidence. Mysterious, though.

Scott’s a mystery too. Mostly, he’s a cheerful guy, delighted by the tiniest things in a way Stiles doesn’t understand at all but finds himself getting kind of addicted to. Sometimes, Scott seems morose over tiny things too—movies he admits he hasn’t seen, food he’s trying for the first time. There’s a lot of stuff he hasn’t done, and Stiles suspects it’s not just because he’s from Nebraska. If he even is. Scott doesn’t talk about where he’s from. Never about his family. He says mushy things about being friends with Stiles that make it sound like he hasn’t had a friend before. At least, not in a long time. That doesn’t make any sense, though. Scott’s the nicest person Stiles has ever met. Everyone he talks to winds up friends with him.

But sometimes, he gets really still. Like he hears something—something that makes him tense. It’s worrying. Scott’s not a nervous guy. He goes anywhere, anytime, fearlessly, like he’s not afraid of a fight. Stiles thinks it’s naïveté until a bunch of dudes—all enormous—randomly come up and try to start something with Scott in the park one day. It’s one of the most intensely bizarre experiences of Stiles’ life, which is saying something after years in New York. Scott goes really still and just stares at the guy in charge, the tension so high Stiles almost panics—until the guy averts his gaze. He and his asshole friends leave.

It’s awesome.

So when more people show up out of the blue, and keep showing up, all over the place, not doing anything but vaguely threatening—one of them might even have a gun—and Scott keeps getting that nervous look on his face, Stiles pays attention. He gets suspicious. He does research—the kind he hasn’t done in years, not since he thought he’d be a reporter. He looks some of these people up. He finds some interesting things, theories on dark parts of the internet.

He thinks about Scott. How strong he is. The way dogs show him their belly. The way the rats disappeared. Those guys in the park—the pack of them. How interested all these shady people are in Scott, and how nervous they make him look. Hunted.

In the end, Stiles isn’t surprised at all when Scott bursts into the apartment one night, holding a bloody hand over his side, which is also covered in blood but not, Stiles notes, bleeding anymore. The wound healed.

Scott is panicking. “Stiles, I’m so sorry, there’s a lot I can’t explain right now but we need to get out of here. I don’t—I know this is crazy and I didn’t mean to drag you into it, I don’t know how they found me and I promise I’ll protect you but we have to go.”

Stiles grabs his keys in one hand and Scott’s shoulder in the other. He’s been waiting for this moment his whole life.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I’ve got the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs.”

[esonetwork]

Timestamp #SJA19: The Gift

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/timestamp-sja19-the-gift/

Timestamp #SJA19: The Gift

Sarah Jane Adventures: The Gift (2 episodes, s03e06, 2009)

Eat your vegetables before they eat you.

The Bannerman Road Gang chases a disguised Slitheen with a stolen matter compressor into a warehouse. The plan is to compress the planet’s carbon into a giant diamond. When the Slitheen gets away, Sarah Jane calls K9 to act as a bloodhound.

The gang ends up in a standoff with the Slitheen agents, but the world is saved when two orange-skinned Slitheen materialize and apprehend the bad guys.

It turns out that they are Blathereen, another family from Raxacoricofallapatorius. The planet holds many families, but only the Slitheen are criminals. These two Bathereen, Tree and Leef, wish to show their appreciation with a dinner party, and Rani offers her home as a host.

The dinner party goes off without a hitch. The Blathereen talk about Raxacoricofallapatorius and how it was once the jewel of the Raxas Alliance until the Slitheen destroyed the reputation. They offer a gift, a pot of rakweed, which is supposedly a staple food on Raxacoricofallapatorius. They want Sarah Jane to act as an ambassador to end starvation on Earth with this single plant.

Sarah Jane and Rani are skeptical, and Clyde is suspicious. After the dinner, Sarah Jane asks Mr. Smith to analyze the plant but he finds nothing harmful. The gang heads to bed to prepare for their upcoming biology test. Clyde hasn’t studied, so he hatches a plan to borrow K9 to cheat on the exam.

The next morning, Luke searches for his tie in the attic and discovers that the rakweed has released harmful spores into the atmosphere. When he inhales the spores, he gets sick. That’s a first since the Bane made him the vision of perfect health. 

Luke stays home from school while Rani heads in and discovers Clyde’s plan. He has K9 transmitting him answers via an earpiece, and the plan makes Rani furious and fearful.

Sarah Jane and Mr. Smith discuss the rakweed’s mutation. The plant hunts its victims and drains their energy. The plant is spreading, and reports indicate that people are collapsing with black and red marks on their skin. At the current rate of propagation, the plant will have seeded the whole of London within hours, and the Earth within a week.

The rakweed issues another burst of spores and Mr. Smith saves Sarah Jane by using his cooling fans to divert the spore cloud. His energy is depleted as a result, but he’s still able to commence work on an antidote. Unfortunately, it won’t be ready in time. Sarah Jane puts the plant in her safe to block any further spores.

The rakweed spores infect Clyde and Rani’s teacher, sending the students into a panic. Clyde, Rani, and K9 are trapped in the school. By chance, while trying to escape the school, they determine that the sound of a bell causes the plant’s destruction.

Sarah Jane traces the Blathereen teleportation trajectory to Antarctica and follows them to their ship where they are gloating about their conquest of Earth. The trip is a one-way event, but Sarah Jane takes a Super-Soaker filled with vinegar and demands their help.

Unfortunately, the Blathereen trick and restrain her. She finds out that the rakweed is addictive and the Blathereen intend to use Earth as a farm to corner the galactic market. Leef and Tree reveal that they are descended from both the noble Blathereen and the criminal Slitheen, products of an interclan marriage. 

Sarah Jane learns that the plants require communication to survive, then escapes and teleports home. While she checks in on Luke, K9 amplifies the school bell and eradicates the plants within the school building. Clyde connects with Mr. Smith via K9 and shares their knowledge. Mr. Smith uses every electronic device in the affected area to transmit a signal at 1421.09 Hertz. The plants are destroyed and the infected are cured.

Saved by the bell, eh?

Furious, the Slitheen-Blathereen teleport to the attic and prepare to murder Sarah Jane. Mr. Smith activates the signal again, causing the rakweed in the alien stomachs to react quite negatively. The aliens explode in a burst of orange goo, covering the entire attic.

Thank goodness that this is the season finale. Cleaning that set is going to be a pain in the ass.

Clyde cleans the attic and the gang settles in for a nice picnic lunch and Sarah Jane muses on the possibility that one day some alien races will want to help humanity. That through friendship, the Earth could become a shining example to the entire universe.

The idea of breaking the Raxacoricofallapatorian monoculture is great. All too often in science fiction and fantasy, the cultures that we meet are one-note. Doctor Who is no exception. The big failing here is that we don’t break that tradition, and while we see an open door for non-villainous Raxacoricofallapatorians to exist, we continue the stereotype that all of them are nefarious.

That’s a lot of lost potential. The story could have been a great analogy for accidental introduction of invasive plant and animal species, cultural miscommunication, or even imperialism and colonial politics. The Blathereen gift could have been a legitimate olive branch given Sarah Jane’s galactic reputation, a miracle for any other planet but Earth, and the door of friendship could have been opened by having these two disparate groups working together.

Alas, no. Instead we have the evil aliens trying to take over Earth and our heroes finding the solution completely by chance.

The story does play with established mythology again, introducing the Raxas Alliance with Raxacoricofallapatorius, Clom, Raxacoricovarlonpatorius, and Clix. We also get mentions of several UK locales including Ealing (first mentioned in Ghost Light and Survival, but returning throughout Series Four), Perivale (from Ghost Light and Survival), and Chiswick (first seen in The Runaway Bride, but featured in Series Four).

The discussion of Sarah Jane Smith’s tendency to improvise was a nice callback to the Third Doctor in The Five Doctors, as was her lament that there should have been another way aside from violence to save the world, ala Warriors of the Deep. A fun (but disgusting) callback was Clyde’s “why does this always happen to me” when splattered with goo, which happened twice in Revenge of the Slitheen and Enemy of the Bane.

Finally, I find the K9-Mr. Smith rivalry to be pretty humorous. Two supercomputers who cannot stand one another… wacky fun.

But really, this story ends up fairly average and a little disappointing given its lack of original thought the pure amount of luck involved. It could have been so much more.

Rating: 3/5 – “Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow.”

UP NEXT – Sarah Jane Adventures: Series Three Summary

The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.

[lurkingcrow]

As promised here's the unfinished and unlikely to ever be finished part of a Time Travel AU I was playing with. I've put what I have first, with an explanation and outline of where it was going to head at the end 😊

The first time they see him Qui-Gon Jinn is far more focused on working out how he and his Padawan are going to get out of this mess. Behind them lies the council chambers, and the security force attempting to detain them - he doesn't know how they managed to frame poor Obi-Wan for the theft of classified documents, but he was not about to stand by and allow them to use him as a political hostage. In front lies the marketplace, with, he notes with a silent groan, checkpoints at each exit.

 A quick brush out with the force reveals that this ambush has been better planned than he thought. Honestly, Yinchorri mercenaries? Given their belligerent nature and the ongoing territorial disputes, the locals must have been very concerned about their Jedi guests escaping to hire the Force-resistant species. There goes his plan of mind-tricking his way out of the city.

 If he were not a dignified Jedi Master Qui-Gon would scream. He and his Padawan may have had their fair share of close calls in their time together, but the past few weeks had been ridiculous. From the unknown sniper on Tanosia to the fuel explosion on Anaxes it felt like the universe was doing its best to ensure they wouldn't make it back to the Temple in one piece. Under the circumstances he should have expected this mission to be no different.

"Master" Obi-Wan whispers, clearly having taken in their perilous situation. "What will we do?"

Qui-Gon hums softly and quietly steals a bundle of clothing from an unattended stall before pulling them both into a quiet alleyway to examine his haul. The plain blue tunic is small but should cover Obi-Wan's teenage frame, and the green patterned headscarf should help hide that distinctive auburn hair. Unfortunately his own options are rather limited. Qui-Gon stares the rather garish poncho covered in brightly coloured patterns featuring local fertility symbols. He winces. At the very least it will make him look far less like a Jedi on the run...

Obi-Wan is looking at the garment in disgust, nose screwed up in a most adorable fashion and despite the looming danger Qui-Gon can’t help but feel fond. Perhaps the poncho does have its uses after all. Shrugging on his new attire Qui-Gon leads them back into the fray. "Don't worry Padawan. We will find a way out of the city. We just need a distraction." 

"I...  I could lead them on a chase back towards the central plaza, that should give you enough time to get back to the ship and call for help." And allow himself to get captured no doubt.

Qui-Gon imagines Obi-Wan locked in a dim cell, alone and vulnerable to whatever nefarious plans their hosts had up their sleeves and he holds back the growl that forms deep in his chest.

"Absolutely not. We will be leaving this city together or not at all. Do I make myself clear Obi-Wan?" he says, his voice allowing no room for argument

His Padawan's face is disturbingly grateful. "Yes Master."

"Grandfather!"

The call cuts across the crowd, and Qui-Gon idly raises his head to find its source.

"Grandfather! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

It takes everything in him not to flinch as they are accosted by an enthusiastic young man dressed in a similar, is slightly more subdued, fashion to their hash disguises. As the stranger reaches up to engulf him in a familial embrace, Qui-Gon feels him whisper urgently into his ear.

"Play along. From now on you’re my grandfather ok?"

Sensing that their opportunity to leave may just have arrived the Jedi Master quickly whispers back “Understood.” He stands straight and smiles broadly before continuing in a much louder tone. "My apologies. It seems we got a little lost."

"That's ok. I found you in the end - seriously that top? I know you're only visiting but you don't have to dress like a tourist all the time, I mean..." The youth draws both the Jedi close and begins to usher them in the general direction of the exits. He  keeps up his patter as they walk towards the checkpoint, his accent slowly broadening until he is the very image of an Outer Rim local showing around visiting family members. Every so often Qui-Gon responds with a general expression of interest - Obi-Wan on the other hand stays silent, casting occasional judgemental looks at their newfound guide. 

Qui-Gon would worry, but a few offhand comments about sullen teenagers make their way into the conversation and he approves of how easily their new friend adapts their cover to suit their needs. Still, it is one thing to keep the attention off them in a crowded marketplace, it is quite another to convince the local guard and his reptilian offsider to let them through. And speaking of...

"Stop. Identify yourselves!"

The checkpoint guard appears remarkably unconcerned about the possibility of being accosted by rogue Jedi. If anything he appears rather smug, secure in the presence of the hired help to prevent any Force related trickery as he keenly scrutinises them for signs they don’t belong. Just their luck! This is no sloppy backwater security guard, but one who is obviously alert to the potential for subterfuge. And they are rapidly running out of time before the alarm is raised and the checkpoints will be closed completely... 

Their guide however appears unperturbed and barely blinks before engaging the security officer in conversation.

"Sorry sir! My name's Luke, I'm here to pick up my grandfather - he just got in you know, and managed to get lost between here and the spaceport and I promised to make sure he was ok and ..."

"Luke's" earnest explanation clearly bores the guard.

"Shut up. Just tell me clearly who you are and where you are headed." The man says, rolling his eyes. "And don't try to lie - I’m well trained to spot suspicious folk and my friend here will know if you try any funny business."

The reptilian guard grins widely, showing off a mouthful of sharp teeth. The young man grins back, bright and honest and Qui-Gon  wants to applaud him for his feigned sincerity even as he braces himself for the inevitable conflict.

“Like I was saying, I’m Luke, I travel a bit nowadays but I started out a farmer and just I’m here to pick up my grandfather for a quick family visit. My transport’s parked outside the city, and it’s a bit of a walk so we’re in a bit of a hurry, sorry to be a bother and…”

The guard sighs heavily. “Yes, yes, and what about this young man hm? Your brother I suppose?”

Luke appears to perk up. “Oh no, That’s Uncle Ben!”

The guard looks between the obviously teenage boy at the older man’s side and the clearly adult young man in front of him. His expression is doubtful.

“Your Uncle?”

“Yeah, Grandfather adopts all sorts of strays, it’s kind of the reason for I’m here, have a bit of a family get together, make sure my father gets the chance to properly meet his brother and forge a bit of relationship you know? I know it can look a bit weird but family comes in all shapes and sizes and ours is...”

“Ok, Ok.” The guard looks at his Yinchorri companion who hasn’t so much as blinked through Luke’s enthusiastic diatribe. “Fine, you seem to check out. Just to confirm, you are not a Jedi or affiliated with the Jedi in any way?”

Behind him Qui-Gon can feel Obi-Wan tense. He sends a wave of reassurance across their bond, even as his own trepidation reaches fever pitch.

Luke looks astonished.

“Me? A Jedi? I’ve never even been to Coruscant!”

The guard looks at him sternly. Luke appears to wilt.

“Fine. I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Jedi Order.”

The guard eyes him carefully and turns to his colleague. The Yinchorri looks disappointed at the lack of action, but nods, and the guard sighs as he waves them forward. “Ok then. Enjoy your visit. I’d advise you stay out of the capital for a while though - things could be a little messy around here for a while.”

Luke turns and waves as they pass through the gates “Thank you officer! We will!”. 

He grabs their hands and begins to lead them through the narrow streets and laneways until they are well out of eyesight of the guardpost. Even then it is not until they have reached the outskirts of the city that Luke takes a deep breath and collapses against a wall. He shakes out his shoulders, and straightens his back and the remnants of the naive young farmer fall off him like a discarded cloak.

“Whew! That was close.” He turns to retrieve a small bag from where it has been hiding behind a pile of disused machinery. “How did he get the lizards, shouldn’t their system be interdicted by now?” he mutters under his breath.

Qui-Gon remains alert, unobtrusively placing himself between the stranger and his frowning Padawan. He clears his throat to gain their unexpected helper’s attention.  “Indeed it was. Forgive me my friend, but I would appreciate an explanation before progressing any further.”

The young man stands up straight to look at them face on.“Huh? Oh sorry. Like I said, my name’s Luke, and you both looked like you needed a rescue” He looks decidedly sheepish, idly running a gloved hand through blond strands of hair.

Qui-Gon raises an eyebrow. “And that was enough for you to risk being associated with a pair of wanted individuals?”

Something about that statement makes their new acquaintance choke and those vivid blue eyes shine with mirth even as he waves off the Jedi’s glance of concern. “Let’s just say that’s not something I have much of a problem with. Look, my reasons are my own, but believe me, I have absolutely no intention on bringing harm to either of you. Kind of the opposite in fact.”

Qui-Gon’s desire to get some clarification of that last statement is interrupted by his Padawan.

“And why should we trust you?” he asks, suspiciously. “Given how easily you got us through the checkpoint - how do we know you're not lying now?”

Qui-Gon must admit that he is more than a little curious himself about how their guide had managed to convince the guards to let them through.  

Luke’s face remains impassive, but there’s amusement vibrating through his frame. “ Because I never lied.”

Obi-Wan rolls his eyes.

“Of course. We’re meant to believe a stranger who we’ve never met before is actually a long lost family member who just so happens to be in a position to take us to meet the rest of the clan.” he says sarcastically, full of teenage bravado. “Why are you helping us? What do you really want?”   

Their new friend laughs, perhaps a bit too loudly, and reaches into the bag to pull out a strange device that he promptly straps onto his wrist before looking Obi-Wan straight in the eyes.

“At the moment I don’t want anything more than to help you both get safely off this planet. As for why, is there any reason I shouldn’t want to help a pair of Jedi in need?” He pauses. The twinkle in his eye intensifies. “And nothing I said wasn’t true.  Not from a certain point of view anyway.”

At Obi-Wan’s dubious look he continues, unable to hide his silent amusement. “Your Master agreed to be my Grandfather, which given the nature of your relationship can be reasonably interpreted as making you my Uncle. And if you did happen to end up stuck here your chances of ever meeting my father are definitely diminished wouldn’t you say? So everything I said was perfectly valid.”  

It’s a bit of verbal trickery that even Qui-Gon admits is rather ingenious, and he hides his own smile at his padawan’s put out expression.

“That’s not the point!” he grumbles. “Besides, where did you get “Ben” from anyway?”

There’s an odd look to Luke’s face, something fond yet infinitely sad “There was a good man I knew by that name.You remind me of him a bit. Anyway, I could hardly use your real name could I?”

With a start Qui-Gon realises they never did make their introductions. With no sign that he means them harm, and his apparent sincerity shining in the Force it seems safe enough to share their true identities.  “My apologies Luke, it seems I have been remiss. I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn, of the Jedi Order and this is my padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi.” He bows, as does Obi-Wan, albeit somewhat reluctantly. “ You have my sincere thanks for your assistance. Unfortunately it appears that our mission here is no longer sustainable.” Behind him Obi-Wan snorts. It is something of a large understatement after all. “ We would be most appreciative to take you up on your offer of transport. I believe you mentioned something about a ship?”

Luke nods sharply.

“Of course. This way” he says as they resume their journey out towards the fields  surrounding the city proper. “It’s not much, but it should get you back Coruscant without too much hassle.”

Indeed, as they arrive it is obvious that the ship, suspiciously similar to the local transports used by one of the feuding parties, is more than a little worse for wear. The blaster scores and lack of personal items suggest that their new friend may not have come to acquire it through necessarily legitimate means, although at this point Qui-Gon is willing to overlook anything if it means getting safely back to the temple. As they step on board Luke hands him a datapad.

“Here - the ID shouldn’t trigger any alarms, but just in case I’ve loaded a couple of the Agricultural Minister’s codes. Given his links with the local smuggling rings no one should look too hard at your departure. After that I’m afraid you’re on your own.”

Qui-Gon raises an eyebrow “You’re not coming with us?”

Luke looks taken aback. “Um. Oh, no. No, I’ve got some business to take care of here.” he says, rather unconvincingly.

Ah. No doubt some form of less than legal endeavour. While he doesn’t have the typical appearance one would expect of the local smugglers, Luke wouldn’t be the first to take advantage of a youthful face and guileless demeanor in order to divert suspicion. And while no doubt the ongoing situation provides plenty of opportunities for profit, the arrest and imprisonment of Jedi representatives  would bring unwelcome attention to the resident purveyors of black market goods. It makes sense then, the offer of a (stolen) ride off planet, and Qui-Gon makes a note to turn this into a learning experience for Obi-Wan once they are safely out of danger.

His padawan has apparently determined that while suspicious, the blond man is not a threat, and thus apparently deserving of his concern. “Then how do you intend to leave? Once they realise we’ve escaped the city they’ll start searching for whoever helped us - you won’t be safe for long.”   

Luke shakes his head looks at the strange device on his wrist. Qui-Gon doesn’t recognise it, but it would not surprise him in the least if it is some form of locator beacon. “Oh don’t worry about me. I can make my own way. You two need to get going.”

“If you’re sure…” A firm nod sets Obi-Wan at ease and Qui-Gon takes the opportunity to move things along. “In that case, thank you again Luke. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

“You too Grandfather. Take care of my little uncle, he seems like the type to end up in all sorts of trouble”

“Hey!” Despite his apparent outrage Obi-Wan is smiling slightly. “I’m not that bad!” He stops and thinks for a moment. “Most of the time anyway. It’s not usually my fault.”

Luke grins widely and reaches out to ruffle copper coloured locks before quickly stepping back to avoid an elbow to the chest. “I know the feeling. May the force be with you Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“May the force be with you too … nephew!” With that last retort Obi-Wan scampers on board, presumably to start pre-flight checks, leaving a quietly amused Qui-Gon to wave farewell to their unlikely saviour. In the bright sunshine Luke almost seems to glow.  Qui-Gon turns to close the hatch, and by the time he looks again the blond man is gone, not a trace to be seen. Just another brief acquaintance made and lost in the span of a mission.

Their trip back to Coruscant is uneventful. Just as Luke predicted, their departure went unnoticed, and while the navigation system required a certain amount of calibration it was nothing they couldn’t handle. As he settles back into the comfort of their quarters in the Temple Qui-Gon Jinn sighs in gratitude, and takes a moment to bless the intercession of their unlikely assistant. He will have to remember to thank him should their paths ever cross again, hopefully under less stressful circumstances.

*******************

The second time they see him they are running for their lives against an oncoming avalanche triggered by an explosion on the valley walls above. As they race for what little shelter is available at the base of the jagged cliffs Qui-Gon is not hopeful. While the rocks may offer some protection, the sheer amount of material hurtling toward them makes their survival more than a little precarious.

“Master! Over there!”

Obi-Wan frantically gestures towards what appears to be a small opening in the cliff face. Together they move as fast as they can, but the flow behind them is relentless. They’re so close, within a few body lengths, but they’re not going to make it.  

Except. For just a moment the onslaught seems to slow, and out of the corner of his eye Qui-Gon can see a cloaked figure with hands raised in a very familiar manner and the Force sings with power. There’s no time to think about it though, and he rushes forward, pushing Obi-Wan into the dim safety of the cave. Behind him he can feel another body backing through the opening before a suffocating darkness envelops the cave.

They are trapped.

Qui-Gon calls out. “Obi-Wan! Are you alright?”

“Yes Master! Just let me…”

With the sound of a lightsaber igniting, the cavern is faintly illuminated in pale blue light. It is not large, the narrow entrance widening somewhat into the small alcove in which they stand before disappearing back into the rock behind. It appears to be stable, which is just as well given the large mass of snow and ice packed against the opening, and a cold draft of air suggests there is some form of external ventilation. At least they probably won't suffocate. 

Obi-Wan appears relatively unharmed, a minor scrape on his forehead the only visible sign of their recent distress. Assured of their immediate survival Qui-Gon turns his attention to the other being in the cave with them.

The cloaked figure is standing just in front of the blocked entrance, panting with exertion. A gloved hand reaches out to press against the icy barrier before the figure rises and turns towards them, the few stray pieces of snow falling from their shoulders as they lower the hood.

“Well that didn’t go as planned.”

“Luke?!” Obi-Wan’s cry of surprise is uncomfortably loud in the confined space. “What are you doing here?”

“Evidently getting trapped in an icy cave.” The supposed smuggler winces. “Again. Leia is never going to let me live this down.”

The appearance of their unlikely acquaintance half the galaxy away from where they last saw him is surprising enough, but there is something more immediate on Qui-Gon’s mind.                                                              “You’re a Force-user.”

Luke cocks his head to one side, consideringly. There is something in his eyes that makes Qui-Gon feel as if he is being carefully judged. He may not know exactly why, but Qui-Gon is not considered and experienced negotiator for nothing, and so he takes a chance to lower his shields slightly, radiating calm serenity into the Force.

It seems to do the trick. Luke nods, and suddenly the Force is alight with his presence.

“Yes. The Force is strong in my family.”

It’s definitely an understatement. The young man shines like a beacon. Whoever he is he is powerful. But firmly light. Qui-Gon feels himself relax slightly. His reaction must be more obvious than he thought because Luke smiles back at him.

“No kidding.” mutters Obi-Wan, still reeling from the sudden shift in atmosphere.

“Padawan.” Qui-Gon admonishes. For all that Luke appears to mean them no harm there is no need to be rude and risk antagonizing a potential ally. Speaking of. “It seems I must once again thank you for your intervention Luke. I am not sure we would have made it had you not helped.”

And wasn’t that in itself a dead giveaway - How many Jedi could claim to successfully slow thousands of tons of rapidly moving avalanche -even for such a short period of time? How had he avoided their notice for so long? The Rim was large but surely such a powerful Force user would leave rumours in his wake?

Luke’s expression turns rueful. “ I'm just sorry I wasn't able to stop it in the first place. That way we wouldn't be stuck here for the foreseeable future.”

Before Qui-Gon can question him further Luke reaches into his belt, pulling out what appears to be an emergency torch and handing it to Obi-Wan. “Here. It won’t help with the cold, but it’s probably safer than your saber.”

“Thank you” the padawan says, flicking his weapon off after lighting the torch. With the additional light the line between his brows becomes readily apparent “Wait, “stop it”? The explosion wasn't an accident!?”

Obi-Wan sounds surprised but Qui-Gon had already assumed as much. According to the records all the mining sites on that part of the mountain should have been abandoned decades ago. Combined with the timing,  this was far too neat a set of circumstances for it not to have deliberate.

Luke’s answer matches  his suspicions. “No. Definitely not an accident. Someone wants you out of the picture.” Qui-Gon can’t be sure, but something about that statement seems to be directed at Obi-Wan in particular.

“One of the local factions? I know the stakes are fairly high but I didn’t think they’d progressed to outright murder.” he asks mildly. It does seem rather far fetched - while the export of  tiberium is of major economic concern to loyal populace the sums involved are hardly enough to justify the assassination of the Jedi mediators sent to resolve the issue.

“Maybe” Luke answers, somewhat cagily. “It’s definitely a possibility.”

He’s lying. For all that he seems to mean them no harm this strange Force-user knows more than he’s letting on. Part of Qui-Gon wants to pick up the smaller man and shake him until he tells them what danger stalks them, but he is not considered one of the Order’s finest negotiators for no reason. Patience may reveal more than interrogation ever will.

“What are you even doing here?” Obi-Wan butts in. “This is a long way from where we left you.”

One day Qui-Gon will succeed in teaching his Padawan the art of subtlety. This is not that day.

Luke shrugs. He tries to look nonchalant, but to Qui-Gon’s well trained eyes fails miserably. “Oh, I go here and there, wherever the Force leads me. I heard a rumour that a man I’ve been chasing might have planned on stopping here for a bit so thought I’d check it out. It just so happened I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He furrows his brow. “Story of my life really.” That at least seems heartfelt. And it has confirmed Qui-Gon’s gut feeling. Luke’s presence is no accident.    

...

And that's all I have! Sorry!

So, the story is that in the aftermath following ROTJ an Imperial Mad Scientist™ finds a way to change the past. The only downside is that due to paradoxes you can't go back to any point in which you already existed - you have to go back past the point of your own birth. Which means that for our Time Travelling Badguy (unsure if it's the Mad Scientist themselves or an Inquisitor so TTB is is) saving their beloved Emperor and preventing the rebellious filth from destroying his legacy requires a more  indirect approach, as they were born approximately 34BBY - just before Naboo.

 There is however one clear option.

Kill Obi-Wan Kenobi before he becomes a threat.

No Kenobi means no legendary Jedi general mucking up the then Chancellor's plans. No Kenobi means Lord Vader at full capacity. No Kenobi means young Skywalker will never become a Jedi. 

No Kenobi means a stronger Empire.

Thankfully Luke has something to say about this and manages to follow after TTB (the devices enable a series of hops through time, with a limited time, possibly a week or so in each stop) making it his job to protect the timeline by thwarting  TTB and ensuring Obi-Wan lives.

From Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's perspective, these are their first two meetings - before that Luke had managed to keep under the radar. 

The unfinished second chapter with them stuck in a cave was meant to give them a chance to talk - Luke's unique understanding around emotion and attachment meeting Qui-Gon's deep understanding of the Force. They both learn a lot.

The third time was during the memorable year on Mandalore. Luke gets to meet Satine (she reminds him of Leia in so many ways, and the galaxy should probably be grateful they never got the chance to know one another) and more pondering over the nature of bonds occurs. 

The fourth fifth and sixth times establish the pattern. Every so often something will go wrong on a mission, Obi-Wan will be placed in danger, and then when they least expect it Luke will show up, often battered and bruised, but always with a bright smile and warm laugh as he helps them out of the mess they’re in. As time goes on it also becomes apparent that beyond his secrecy and unexpected talents, something is not quite normal about Luke. 

It has been years now. Obi-Wan has grown from an awkward teenager into a strong young man, almost ready to be knighted and yet Luke remains unchanged. Combined with his almost preternatural predictions about galactic events, Qui-Gon is convinced there is more to him than it seems. But he has never done anything to betray their trust, and the Force practically hums with approval when they meet, so Qui-Gon keeps his thoughts to himself.  

A side effect that has gone unnoticed is that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are closer than ever. Some of Luke's points about attachment have found root and generally they have been better about communicating and admitting how much they mean to each other. Luke's quips about them being father and skn are less jokes and more truth by now.

Then comes the final showdown where TTB shows up, separating them and immobilising Obi-Wan. Lots of angst. Just before he strikes Luke shows up and ends up blocking his shot. TTB is ranting and raving  "Why do you keep trying? There's no going back now. You could be a prince, with the galaxy at your feet! You'd never know differently! Just let me kill the boy" etc etc. Luke of course says no, and battle ensues. Qui-Gon, who is unable to reach them throws Luke his lightsaber, which after a moment where Luke looks at it with surprise (so that's where the crystal came from), he defeats TTB.

Time is running out - the device is indicating they will disappear shortly. Luke heads back Qui-Gon's lightsaber and tells them to look out for each other -it's what family is for after all. Just before he faces he tells Obi-Wan to "Give my love to your brother when you meet home. He'll need every last bit he can get".

And he's gone.

But Luke has failed in a way. Because the future has been changed. The mention of a new brother makes Qui-Gon wonder about the possibility of him taking another padawan in the future, and more importantly makes him realise that Obi-Wan is ready to stand own. After some emotional constipation (it is still them after all) he admits as much to Obi-Wan as well as his own selfish desire to keep him close for a bit longer yet. But something in the Force tells him it's time. They agree that Qui-Gon will notify the council of his intention to nominate Obi-Wan for the trials after they return from wherever they're being sent off to this time.

The council accepts and gives them the details of their last mission together - negotiating an end to a trade dispute turned blockade in the Mid Rim. 

It's 33BBY, and the Naboo crisis begins. 

The ship lands on Tatooine and Qui-Gon seeks parts in Most Espa while Obi-Wan stay aboard. And when Qui-Gon sends him an impossible blood sample his thoughts turn to Luke's parting words.

There is an attack, but both his Master and the boy are safe. And then there are those infamous words:

"Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."

This time there is no confusion, no fear, no uncertainty. 

And Obi-Wan smiles and hugs his new brother to welcome him to the family. Anakin clings back.

And the future shifts.

So there you go @jahaliel and @calyssmarviss ! (The Cody fic is coming @aifsaath I promise!)

Also tagging @albaparthenicevelut and @resistancepilots because they were interested in this the last time I mentioned it and I am sorry I couldn't finish it for you. 😥