Trust in the Force

Part 5

The next day, the fever was still alarmingly high, and to make things worse, Qui-Gon had started to wheeze while breathing, and coughed occasionally. Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him another burst of strength to help the fight, as much as he could spare, and then some. As he did so, Qui-Gon murmured something that sounded like �An-Paj�, which made Obi-Wan worry even more. Feeling the will of the Force, he then made his way into the city again, running at Force-speed so as not to have to spend too much time away from Qui-Gon. Hopeful that the parts had arrived already, he entered Piniker�s Parts, coming forward and laying his hands flat against the counter without speaking first, as a sign of goodwill. His bruises had healed, and only the twinge in his elbow reminded him that anything had happened at all.

"Sorry, they haven�t come yet,� Piniker answered his inquiry. �Try again to-morrow. Or I could have them delivered straight to your ship when they arrive. One hundred dennars, cash in advance.�

"I�ll pick them up here,� Obi-Wan said, trying to hide his confusion. If it had been the will of the Force that he come to the city to-day, then why weren�t the parts here? Bowing, he exited and began to walk quickly back towards the bridge, only thinking of getting back to the ship as soon as possible, checking on Qui-Gon, and calling the Jedi Temple for help. In the same place where he�d been beaten the day before, he saw a figure huddled on the ground, trying to get up and falling back again. Two patrolmen went by, looking at the figure and shaking their heads, but making no move to help even when the young man put out his hand in an entreating gesture.

Feeling the Force swirl around him, Obi-Wan knew then why he�d been called to the city. The young man needed help, and it seemed that nobody else would give it to him. Even now, an older woman was just passing by, glancing down and then moving quickly away. Obi-Wan couldn�t help wondering if anybody would stop and help if the young man offered a hundred dennars, cash in advance. For himself, however, the prompting of the Force was incentive enough. Quickening his step, Obi-Wan came closer and was just about to squat down and offer assistance when he recognised the figure. It was the young man from the day before. Startled, Obi-Wan froze.

"Help me,� the man moaned, seeing only that someone was standing over him, but obviously not seeing who it was. Blood was trickling from his nose. �Please...just help me...get home...�

This was the will of the Force? Obi-Wan wanted to turn on his heel and walk away.

Why did the Force want him to help this--this snitch? This was the young man who�d falsely accused him of wanting to steal a child. He�d stood by and watched with obvious enjoyment as Obi-Wan was beaten--he�d even helped the Patrolmen get the better of Obi-Wan. He was indirectly responsible for the loss of one of the precious bags of saline solution which Qui-Gon needed so much.

Why was the Force compelling Obi-Wan to stop and help him?

Obi-Wan was sorely tempted to carry on walking and make the young man drag himself home, the same way he�d had to. He knew it was wrong, of course, to want revenge, especially on somebody who had acted out of ignorance, but that ignorance had endangered Qui-Gon, and that was something Obi-Wan found he couldn�t easily forgive. He also found himself begrudging this Otorian even a few minutes of his time, and tried to justify his feelings by reminding himself how sick Qui-Gon was and how he was getting steadily worse, how much more he needed Obi-Wan�s help than this snitch did.

As he stood there, clenching his fists in indecision, Obi-Wan was suddenly reminded of how he�d learned the hard way to follow the will of the Force, even when it seemed to be leading him in a different direction than he wanted to go. The consequences had been devastating. It took him a moment to apply the lesson to this situation, to remember his life-long training, but gradually, the temptation eased and he was able to let go of his desire for revenge and even some of his worry for Qui-Gon. Reaching into the Force to renew his trust in it, he went down on one knee and extended a hand to the young man. �Come on, I�ll help you up.�

Although he was as gentle as he could, the young man groaned loudly at each movement. �Hurts...ugh...it hurts.�

"Yes, I know.�

Twisting his head a little, the young man squinted up at Obi-Wan through a black eye and then sagged a little. With an effort, he said, �You...laughing at...me now...Jedi?�

"No,� Obi-Wan replied truthfully. �I�m not laughing. Where do you live?�

"Across...the...bridge...hurts...so much...�

Obi-Wan surrendered one of his last dennars at the toll gate and pulled the young man through, supporting him at each step and ignoring the twinge in his elbow. �What happened to you, anyway?�

"Told...my...girlfriend...couldn�t...marry her.� The young man moved his hand slightly, which he had pressed against his side, and grimaced. �Brothers...and...father...beat me...up.�

"Oh.�

"They�d...expected me...to make...them all...rich.�

"Ah.� Obi-Wan should have realised it would have something to do with money. �Now where?�

"That...house...over there.� The young man waved weakly at the grandest house making up one complete side of the Market Square. �Why�re...you helping me?�

"Because I�m a Jedi and I do the will of the Force,� Obi-Wan replied honestly.

As they moved across the Square, the young man became slower and slower, and leaned more and more on Obi-Wan. He was only semi-conscious when they reached the steps, and it was hard for Obi-Wan to hold him upright and press the buzzer at the same time. After a few moments, the door was opened by a short, snobby-looking Otorian whose hair had been braided on top of his head, from the middle of his forehead straight down his back.

"Yes?� he frowned disdainfully.

"This young man says he lives here,� Obi-Wan said.

For a brief moment, the young man lifted his head so that his face could be seen, then mumbled something incoherant and let it drop again.

"Indeed,� the older Otorian affirmed without changing his expression. �Bring him in.�

Obi-Wan dragged him inside, looking around for some place to set him down. They were in a large entry hall, with a mosaic on the floor, massive pictures on the walls, stairs leading to the next level, and corridors stretching away on both sides. Spying an ornate couch against the far wall, Obi-Wan steered his burden in that direction, but halfway across the hall, the young Otorian went completely limp and almost slipped from his grasp.

"I shall inform the Duke,� the butler announced, sounding even more displeased and not at all inclined to help.

Obi-Wan lowered the Otorian gently to the floor, then slipped out of his robe and tucked it around the unconscious form. At that moment, a group of Otorians came out of one of the corridors and entered the hall, then stopped when they saw Obi-Wan and the injured man on the floor. Their animated conversation turned to gasps of surprise, and Obi-Wan scrambled to his feet and bowed to them in greeting.

"My lord,� the butler began, but the tallest Otorian broke free of the group and came forward, then knelt down and gently touched the side of the young man�s face. There was no response, and the Duke lifted his head, looking around for the butler. �Get a Healer. Offer him five hundred dennars cash in advance and seven--no, eight hundred if he can be here within five minutes.�

"Yes, my lord,� the butler replied, still managing to sound disapproving. He walked with quick yet dignified steps towards a tiny door under the stairs which apparantly lead to his office.

"Who are you?� the Duke snapped, looking at Obi-Wan next.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Apprentice,� he said, bowing again, then kneeling down so that the Duke did not have to crane his neck to look up at him.

"You brought him here?�

"Yes, my lord.�

"Do you know what happened?�

"He told me that the father and the brothers of his girlfriend had beaten him up after he�d informed the girlfriend that he was unable to marry her,� Obi-Wan reported.

"Idiot,� the Duke sighed. When he spoke next, he seemed to be addressing the group of Otorians who were standing at a respectful distance. �You get what you pay for, I told him. Don�t expect something for nothing, I told him. She�ll be wanting some kind of recompense, I told him. Does the young fool listen? No, he just keeps going down the path of destruction.�

There were sympathetic murmurs from the other Otorians, which were abruptly silenced as the butler approached. The Duke looked up expectantly.

"The Healer is on his way, my lord,� the butler reported, twisting the word �Healer� disdainfully.

Only a few minutes later, a middle-aged, portly Otorian pressed the buzzer and came quickly into the hall as soon as the butler had opened the door, all the while staring intently at something in his palm. He knelt down across from the Duke and extended his hand so that the Duke could see the tiny device, then put it away again at the Duke�s irritable nod. By craning his neck ever so slightly, Obi-Wan was able to catch a glimpse of the timer that had stopped at just under five minutes. As the Healer reached into his bag and pulled out a medical scanner, Obi-Wan folded his cloak back helpfully.

Glancing at him once, the Healer returned his attention to the scanner, making �huh� sounds as each new diagnosis came up, but otherwise saying nothing. He let the scanner linger over the place on the young man�s abdomen where Obi-Wan remembered the young Otorian pressing his hand in pain, then reached into the bag for a comlink and ordered an emergency medical transport to report to the Duke�s Townhouse immediately.

"Bad?� the Duke asked as soon as the Healer had switched the comlink off.

"His spleen has been ruptured, it requires immediate attention,� the Healer reported.�It -is- bad, but it can be rectified if caught in time. I believe we still have that time.�

The Duke nodded, and they waited in tense silence until the transport arrived and the butler opened the door to allow the helpers to enter, moving a hover-stretcher between them. Obi-Wan retrieved his cloak as they carefully lifted the young man onto the stretcher. They used a bright blue blanket as a substitute, fastened the security straps loosely over it, then whisked the young man towards the door.

The Duke followed, and when he noticed that Obi-Wan was right behind him, pulling on his cloak and preparing to leave the house, he snapped, �You stay here, Jedi. I want to talk to you when I get back.�

"With all due respect, my lord, I must return to my ship--� "You. Stay. Here.� The Duke swept through the door and the butler closed it in Obi-Wan�s face, stopping him in his tracks with a withering glance. After making sure that Obi-Wan was not about to force his way out, the butler crossed quickly to his office and returned carrying a large piece of printed flimsy which Obi-Wan recognised as an archaic form of news page. He unfolded it while walking, then laid it over one end of the padded bench and indicated that Obi-Wan should sit on it. Ignoring the implied insult, Obi-Wan sat down and placed his hands in his lap, preparing himself for a long wait. The group of people who had come into the hall with the Duke began whispering to each other, then dispersed suddenly at a glare from the butler, and Obi-Wan was left alone.

Meditating, Obi-Wan was able to sense the rightness of his actions through the Force and manage to control his impatience and his worry, though with difficulty. He could feel through his bond with his master that Qui-Gon was still alive, but he was also aware that Qui-Gon was getting worse. It took all of his concentration to maintain his trust that everything was going according to the will of the Force, and not to leap up and race back to the ship.