This week, the Fan Fiction Archive adds a new story by Quiller. For the Record is an Episode II era speculation, containing some mild spoilers, that puts Obi-Wan through a gruelling investigation.

Summary

• For The Record by Quiller:
  Obi-Wan in disgrace. When I first saw that haunting E2 picture of Obi-Wan, head down, cloak pulled close, I wondered what could possibly bring him to ruin, if indeed, that is what the picture suggests. Though Obi-Wan's fate in this story is entirely my own creation, it is set solidly in E2 and hints strongly of E2 storylines. With the trailers now released, this story has already vaulted to the status of AU. Some people would ask, "Why bother?" I can only reply that the story demanded to be written.

For The Record by Quiller

A whisper of disapproval brushed Obi-Wan's mind. Master Tiin exercising his telepathic abilities, no doubt. Obi-Wan stared at Mace while he decided how to proceed. "This Council sent me, along with my Padawan, to the Duro system to investigate odd rumors about a factory - rumors about evil experiments and unusual sightings. I found the rumors to be ... substantiated." He paused. "As you all know, the factory turned out to be a cloning facility."

"Had you ever seen a cloning facility before this?" Master Tiin asked.

"No."

"Then how could you know what you were looking at?" Tiin challenged.

"I understand the principles. I understand incubators. I understand row upon row of what looked to be modified bacta tanks occupied by human males that all had the same look about them. It wasn't difficult to reach the obvious conclusion."

"A lot of races bear the misfortune of 'all looking alike' to outsiders. You could have simply been standing in a medical research facility."

Obi-Wan felt a rising ire, which he easily dampened. He turned his head to address Tiin where he sat, two chairs from Yoda. "I am a human male, Master Tiin. I am able to differentiate amongst members of the species."

Tiin's leathery faced looked carved from stone. "Did you run a genetic sample? Did you ascertain that the beings were truly human, and not humanoid?"

"There was no need."

Obi-Wan snapped his gaze forward as Rancisis broke in. "Where there is room for error, there is need."

The Jedi clenched his fingers tightly once again. He would not rise to the bait. He would not give them the satisfaction of seeing him lose his composure. He could sense Anakin behind him, struggling to control himself, and longed to comfort his Padawan. The Council was too focused on him to notice Anakin. They should never have insisted the boy stand beside him through this. Maybe they were being kind. Maybe they were allowing him one ally in a hostile setting.

Mace's voice was quiet. "Why was there no need?"

Slowly, Obi-Wan replied, "You read my report."

"Why?"

The insistence of that soft voice drew Obi-Wan's gaze. He stared at Mace for a long time, then finally replied, "I stood in the presence of some of those men from the tanks. They were not human." He flexed his cramping fingers. "They were an abomination to the Force."

A ripple of disquiet ran through the circle of Jedi masters. It was Adi Gallia who put voice to what Obi-Wan suddenly knew every member was thinking. "You can't mean that sentient beings who are not human are ... abominations?"

Frustration was beginning to stir. Obi-Wan fought to keep the hard edge from his reply. "Of course that's not what I mean. They were like ... droids in casings of flesh. They did not register in the Force the way anything natural does. Their signatures were twisted somehow - completely unnatural, and tainted by the Dark Side."

"What do you know of the Dark Side?"

Obi-Wan shifted to face the Twilek master who had taken Ki-Adi-Mundi's seat on Council. "To my knowledge, I am the only one in this room who has been face to face with a Dark Side adept. I know exactly what it feels like."

A wave of compassion rolled over Obi-Wan, followed by Yaddle's quiet voice, "Perhaps, made you too eager to see the Dark Side, your encounter with the Sith warrior did. Perhaps, see darkness, you do, where exists, it does not."

The sight of Qui-Gon being run through by a red blade flashed across Obi-Wan's mind. Churning emotion forced him to take three calming breaths. The pain abated, but not before it was noted by every being present, he was sure. His voice was hoarse. "No. I know what I felt. Ask Anakin. He was there. He felt the same thing."

Reviews

• Hidden Agendas by Quiller
  (Click here to read Valeda Kor's review)

• Whispers of Betrayal by Quiller
  (Click here to read Valeda Kor's review)

• Night Watch by Quiller
  (Click here to read Valeda Kor's review)