Friends Like These

Part 5

From one moment to the next, Obi-Wan became aware of somebody shaking him, and the pain that shot through his torso and hand was excruciating.

"Stop,�he managed to croak, and to his surprise, his tormenter did.

"You�re alive! Thank the Force!�

Opening his eyes, Obi-Wan looked up to see Senator Yirrit bending over him, and could not suppress a groan of dismay.

"I thought you were dead! You weren�t breathing, I couldn�t feel your pulse.�Senator Yirrit stopped and looked at him.�But you�re all right.�

"Yes, I�m fine,�Obi-Wan affirmed. Being diplomatic never counted as lying.

"Here, let me help you sit up,�the Senator offered, seeing that he was trying to move.

"No, thank you, I can manage,�he said hoarsely.

The Senator put his arm around him anyway and pulled, then let go again quickly as Obi-Wan screamed.

"Sorry, I seem to have hit a sore spot,�he said.

Obi-Wan waved his good hand weakly to indicate he accepted the apology, and waited until the explosion of agony had slowly died away before unclenching his jaw.

"Can I get you anything? Some water?�

Astonished that the Senator was actually offering to do something for him, instead of demanding that Obi-Wan get up and get -him- something to drink, Obi-Wan managed to answer,�Yes, please.�

The Sullustan pressed the button that left the door in an open position as he went out, and Obi-Wan could hear him call down the corridor,�Master Jinn! Bring me that bottle of water and a cup, will you? Our little padawan is awake.�

Obi-Wan cringed at the phrase. A moment later, Senator Yirrit came back with a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other, stopping halfway across the room to pour a generous amount. Obi-Wan took it carefully in his left hand and drank deeply, feeling vaguely tempted to spit it out and exclaim,�This isn�t the kind of mineral water I usually drink!� just to see how the Senator reacted to getting a taste of his own medicine. But when he lowered the cup, he saw Qui-Gon standing in the doorway and was glad he hadn�t really considered being so rude.

"Thank you, Senator,�he said.�Master? I thought you were going to fly our own ship back?�

"I traded places with the co-pilot from this ship.�Qui-Gon came into the room.�How are you feeling, padawan?�

"He�s feeling fine now, all things considering!�Senator Yirrit answered before Obi-Wan could even open his mouth.

"All things considering?�Qui-Gon asked mildly.

"Really, Master Jinn, I thought you would have taken better care of him! You kept telling me he was fine,�Senator Yirrit said accusingly, rounding on the Jedi Master,�but when I came in here just a minute ago, he was only a whisker�s breadth away from certain death!�

"He was?�Qui-Gon looked wonderingly over to Obi-Wan, who rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I couldn�t see him breathing, I couldn�t find a pulse. Thank the Force I managed to shake him back to life!�

"I thank you for your concern about my padawan�s wellbeing,�Qui-Gon said, looking him in the eyes with complete sincerity. Obi-Wan wondered just how long the Senator had waited while trying to feel his pulse, maybe as long as one second. While a healing trance did slow the heartbeat, it was nowhere near as reduced as in a hibernation trance.

"It�s the least I can do for what he�s gone through for me.�Senator Yirrit said.�Now why don�t you tell him what you told me?�

"About what, Senator?�

"About what will happen to Jerrup. I�m sure our little padawan will be as happy to hear it as I was.�

Qui-Gon did not look convinced, but replied patiently,�No doubt Jerrup will experience the natural consequences of his actions, though the Force has not revealed to me whether Sullustan Security or his employer will reach him first.�

"His employer. Definitely. He�ll be stringing Jerrup up and putting nails though both of his hands and beating the kriff out of him...�Senator Yirrit sighed contentedly at the thought, then pulled out his handkerchief to pat delicately at his lips.�Would you like some more water?�

"Senator?�he asked.�Could you ask the pilot how many more hours before we reach Coruscant?�

"I just did,�Senator Yirrit beamed, happy to be of help so promptly.�He said ten hours and forty five minutes.�

Obi-Wan tried not to grimace visibly, but Qui-Gon seemed to realise what was needed. Crossing the room, he sat down on the bunk, turning slightly to face Obi-Wan, and said,�Senator, would you excuse us, please? I need to initiate a special Force technique to ensure that my padawan really is all right--after what you told me.�

"Special Jedi stuff, huh? All right.�Senator Yirrit walked to the door, then turned around.�I�ll be back later to check on him again, though.�

Force forbid, Obi-Wan thought fervently as the door swished open, but Senator Yirrit didn�t exit completely.�And when you�re done with that Jedi stuff, go get our little Padawan something to eat. He must be starved!�

When the Senator had finally gone and they were alone in the small cabin, Qui-Gon laid his hand on Obi-Wan�s head and sent him a steady, concentrated stream of healing power through the Force, diminishing the pain at the same time.

"Thank you, master,�Obi-Wan sighed.

Qui-Gon helped him to the refresher and back, then guided him back to sit down on the bunk once again.�Will you be more comfortable on your front or on your back, Obi-Wan?�

"It all hurts the same,�Obi-Wan frowned, but decided to try it on his back this time. The bacta salve and the healing trance had taken the sting away from the welts, and it was no more uncomfortable than lying on his stomach.�Master?�

"Hmm?�

"Will you stay with me? Or at least make sure Senator Yirrit--�he stopped, making doubly sure that he did not say "yirritating�, then continued--�doesn�t shake me again?�

Qui-Gon smiled slightly and glanced around for the single chair in the cabin, then pulled it closer.�Of course, Padawan.�

Relaxing a little in the assurance that he was truly safe, Obi-Wan said,�Master, do you know what really hurts?�

"Jerrup tortured you half to death for information and then Senator Yirrit voluntarily told him everything he wanted to know.�

"Yes. Exactly. I almost feel like all this was for nothing!�

"If Jerrup had got the rest of the proof that the Senator is carrying, then it would have been for nothing. But you managed to stop him, and so it was all right.�

"No, I didn�t stop him. I came into the house, that�s all I did. Senator Yirrit was right, I let him get away. I didn�t fight back.�

"Senator Yirrit told me you saved his life by distracting Jerrup just at the right moment.�Qui-Gon transferred something from his belt to Obi-Wan�s.�And he was so distracted he dropped this.�

"When did he say that? I only remember hearing something about me being incompetent,�Obi-Wan protested, touching his light saber possessively with his left hand.

"�That was before. After he got over the shock of it all, he started to see things differently,�Qui-Gon explained, but Obi-Wan had no doubt that his master had helped the process along quite vigourously.

"Oh, so that�s why--�Obi-Wan struggled to find words for the things he had perceived instinctively but was only now consciously realising.

"That�s why he worries about you now. He has become very protective of you.�

Protective? Despite the pain that Senator Yirrit had caused him, Obi-Wan supposed that Qui-Gon was right.�That�s a very diplomatic way of putting it, master.�

Qui-Gon smiled.�Yes. I�ve had a bit of practise over the years. Did you want something to eat, by the way?�

Obi-Wan shook his head slightly.�No, not really.�

"The Senator won�t be happy to hear that. He already thinks I don�t appreciate you.�

"What?�Obi-Wan was shocked.�Master, how could he think that?�

"He�s accused me of trying to get rid of you,�Qui-Gon reported with a hint of amusement in his voice.�He�s threatened at least three times to report me to the Council for leaving you in danger twice on Sullust, and for not checking up on you every ten minutes here on the ship, and now here I am, not forcing a three-course dinner down your throat. A clear case of Padawan abuse. No wonder he felt obliged to sneak in here as soon as my back was turned.�

Obi-Wan smiled weakly, but then something occurred to him that made his skin crawl with horror.�You don�t think Senator Yirrit will come in here and insist on feeding me, do you?�

At Qui-Gon�s thoughtful expression, he exclaimed,�Quick, master, help me back into that healing trance! No, a hibernation trance, a really deep one! Don�t wake me up until we�re back at the Temple and Senator Yirritating is--somewhere else--forever!�

"Obi-Wan. Is that any way to treat a friend?�

"Master! Shouldn�t you be asking him that? Friends like these are worse than enemies! I obviously didn�t know what torture was until Senator Yirrit--�At Qui-Gon�s frown, he stopped just short of saying �yirritating� again, then continued,�tried to help me sit up just now.�

"He means well, Obi-Wan. He is just...eager. And impatient.�

"I know. I just don�t think I�ve ever met anybody who�s done so many wrong things for the right reasons.�

"This might be the first time for you, but it will definitely not be the last. Jedi meet many kinds of beings who do things for many different reasons. You must learn to deal with all of them diplomatically and without prejudice. Trust in the Force. Remember this experience, how everything almost went wrong and yet turned out all right in the end.�

"Everything, master?�Obi-Wan asked.�Oh, well, I suppose you�re right. The healers can always break my ribs again and set them properly, and the harm won�t be permanent. At least they use anaesthetics.�

Qui-Gon chuckled and reached out to place his warm, comforting hand on Obi-Wan�s head.�Go to sleep, Obi-Wan. Senator Yirritating will be gone when you wake up, I promise you.�

"Master!�Obi-Wan exclaimed, trying not to laugh. The pain caused by the convulsive movement of his chest drove tears to his eyes.�You said �yirritating�!�

Qui-Gon looked surprised for a moment and then he smiled.�I�ll have to ask the Healers to let you stay an extra day or two in the infirmary. You�ve got Foot-In-Mouth Disease and it�s contagious!�

The End
written January-March 2001

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