Chapter Two
The Healer�s Wing
Obi-Wan Kenobi felt pain. He could hear voices speaking nearby as he began to regain consciousness. His head throbbed as he tried to concentrate on the voices, and his entire body seemed to ache.
� . . . Concussion, two cracked ribs, a broken nose, a dislocated shoulder, a hyper extended knee, numerous bruises, and he is malnourished,� reported a voice that
Obi-Wan recognized as Healer Wealy.
�Will he make a full recovery?� another female voice asked. Obi was uncertain, to whom that voice belonged.
�Yes, he will fully recover from all of his injuries. He will be in some pain for a few days, and will need to use a cane to walk for the first three to four days after he is released from here. He should not participate in any rigorous physical activities like sparring or katas for about three days after he is released. This will give his knee a chance to heal properly.�
�And when will he be released?� the unmistakable voice of Master Mace Windu inquired.
�I would like to keep him over night for observations. I think if he does not develop any complications, then he can go back to his apartment tomorrow afternoon.�
�Very good, may we speak with him now?� Mace asked.
�As soon as he fully regains consciousness,� Healer Wealy informed them.
�I�m awake,� Obi-Wan admitted, his voice sounding weak from lack of use, as he slowly opened his eyes, and winced at the light in the Healer�s room.
�Obi-Wan, how do you feel?� the female voice spoke. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he was able to recognize the woman as Master Adi Gallia.
�Like I was run over by a speeder,� Obi-Wan answered.
�You got banged up quite a bit in the lift tube,� Healer Wealy explained.
�Yes, you were very lucky that Cam and Master Windu were walking down the corridor and saw you enter the malfunctioning lift,� Adi told him.
�Why did you enter the malfunctioning lift tube? You had to have walked right past the operational lift tube.� Mace inquired. Obi-Wan, for the first time since regaining consciousness, thought he saw disappointment in both Council Member�s eyes.
�No,� the young teenager began, �The one closest to my sparring room was the one with the malfunction. I saw the sign on it that said out of order, so I used the other lift tube instead.� Obi-Wan could feel the lure of unconsciousness beckoning him to sleep, and he fought to keep his eyes open.
�No, Obi-Wan,� Adi began, sounding calmer, and somehow less stern than Mace had, �We talked to all the other students from your sparring class and they all told us that the lift you used was the one that had the out of order sign on it. Your sparring instructor and Master Yoda also rode in the other lift tube because of the sign posted on the lift that you rode in.�
�Obi-Wan, I need you to tell us the truth; if you lie to us you will only get yourself into more trouble than you already are. I doubt that I need to remind you again that you are on probation.�
Obi-Wan�s eyes opened wide at the man�s accusations.
�Obi-Wan, please tell us the real reason. We really don�t want to have to send you back to Agricultural Corps,� Adi told him.
�I did, I told you the truth. I saw the out of order sign on the other lift tube. I walked down to the other lift tube. There was no sign on it, so I entered my destination to go to the cafeteria, and then it went crazy. I�m not lying. If I had known that the lift was malfunctioning, I would have taken the stairs instead, I promise.�
�Obi-Wan,� Mace began, but Obi-Wan�s temper took control, and he cut the Master off.
�I told you the real reason, Master Windu, but you don�t want to believe me! I already know that you�re going to send me away. Master Qui-Gon will never take me back as his apprentice, and I am too old to stay here now. So since you don�t want to believe me Master, maybe you should just arrange for me to leave tomorr-�
�That is enough Obi-Wan!� Adi interrupted raising her voice for the first time since the young teen awakened, �Your fate has not yet been decided, and you should not jump to conclusions,� She then turned to Master Windu. �Mace, the boy has given us his account of the events and is obviously standing by it. We need to concentrate now on finding out if what he says is true, and Obi-Wan needs to rest.�
�Ok,� Mace agreed, and then turned to look at Obi-Wan. �I�ll be back later, and I�ll let you know what we find out,� The Master then turned and left the room without another word.
�Obi-Wan, you get some rest and later when you are awake again, perhaps Healer Wealy will let your friends come and visit you. They were all very worried about you,� Adi told him.
Obi-Wan nodded feeling even more certain, after the way that he had just raised his voice to a Master, that he would be sent away from the temple for good this time.
�Obi-Wan are you alright?� Healer Wealy asked.
�Do you believe me?�
�Well Obi-Wan, you�ve been a patient of mine on a few occasions, and I�ve never known you to lie before. You were always very honest in your dislike of the Healer�s wing, and I�m sure you were telling the truth when you complained constantly that you wanted to leave,� Wealy smiled. �I do have a feeling that I will be seeing you a lot more in the future. Now sleep,� The Healer ordered. She put her hand on the boy�s forehead and gave him a force suggestion to sleep. Obi-Wan immediately fell into a peaceful, and dreamless sleep.
* *** * *** *
Qui-Gon sat silently in the Schumson conference room partially listening to the negotiations taking place around him. He could not get the image of his battered and unconscious padawan out of his mind.
The Jedi Master wondered why he would dream about the boy? Maybe because he was afraid that the council wouldn�t let Obi-Wan become a Jedi again. He did not believe that it was a vision. Qui-Gon normally did not experience visions of the future since he was more attuned to the living force.
�Master Jinn,� A Senator sitting next to him asked, �Are you going to stay here?�
�What?� Qui-Gon asked, looking up at Senator Pencile, the man from the Eastern quadrant of Schumson.
Senator Pencile sat back down beside the Jedi Master, and sighed. �It is our lunch break. You seem distracted, is there anything wrong?�
�It�s nothing really,� Qui-Gon said.
�You know my people have a saying: When you are bothered by something, talking with someone, even a stranger may help. Tell me Master Jedi, what troubles you and perhaps just speaking of it will help ease your troubles.�
Qui-Gon sighed knowing that it could not do any harm to tell the man about his dream, so he told the Senator of his dream the night before.
�You obviously care a great deal about this Padawan of yours, if a mere dream could upset you so much. Is he your son?�
�No,� Qui-Gon told him. �He is a boy that I had chosen as my Padawan learner. I will teach him to be a Jedi Knight one day.�
�Oh,� Senator Pencile nodded, �I can tell that he is, in your heart, much more than a mere student to you, or the dream would not bother you quite this much.�
�Yes, I guess he is,� Qui-Gon admitted, suddenly realizing that despite the boy�s good intentions, that he had believed the force had guided him to do it and the reason he was so upset was because he really did care for Obi-Wan. In such a short time the teen had claimed his Master�s heart, and Qui-Gon had been too blind to realize it sooner.
�Why don�t we go and get some food Master Jinn, and perhaps later after the negotiations end for the day, you can contact your Padawan and make sure that he is ok.� Qui-Gon nodded and went out of the conference room with the senator to eat, although he knew until he spoke with Obi-Wan, he would not have much of an appetite.
* *** * *** *
�Obi-Wan are you alright?� Bant asked her friend, as she entered the recovery room where Obi-Wan lay on a sleep couch. Garen and Reeft followed Bant into the room.
�Yes I�m ok Bant. Just a couple bumps and bruises,� Obi-Wan smiled trying to relieve the worried expressions on his friend�s faces.
�This is not funny Obi-Wan,� Garen reprimanded. �You had us all scared. There are rumors that they are expelling you from the Jedi order over this.�
�How could you ride in a lift that was out of order? You nearly got yourself killed, and if there would have been any one from maintenance working in the lift tube shafts, they could have been hurt or even killed,� Bant asked.
Obi-Wan sighed, �Not you too.�
�Do you have a death wish or something? And what do you mean �You too�?�
�I mean that you are just like Master Windu. Actually you are worse; at least Master Windu gave me a chance to explain what happened before refusing to believe me. Maybe I do have a death wish. I know I no longer have any friends or a Master, and soon I won�t even have the Jedi order,� He told them.
�Obi-Wan,� Bant protested.
�No, I just want to be left alone. When they ship me off to the Agri Corps this time, don�t even bother to come and say goodbye to me.� Obi-Wan fought back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
�Obi-Wan don�t say that. If you�.� Bant began.
�No!� Obi-Wan yelled cutting her off, his voice radiating outside of the room and down the hallway. �I want to be left alone. Just get out, and leave me alone!�
�Obi-Wan calm down we just�� Reeft began, but he was interrupted as Master Adi Gallia entered the room.
�What is going on?� Adi demanded.
�I want them to leave,� Obi-Wan growled angrily.
�Master Adi, we didn�t want to upset him we just,� Bant broke off as she looked at Obi-Wan's eyes that were filled with pain.
�I think you should go now, and give him a chance to calm down. It can�t be good for him to get upset like this,� Adi calmly explained.
Reluctantly the three initiates left the room, each looking back at their friend before they exited.
�Obi-Wan,� Adi said, �are you alright?�
The boy nodded, but he could no longer hold back his tears and a droplet of moisture slid down his right cheek.
Adi sat down on the couch beside Obi-Wan, �What is the matter Obi-Wan?� Adi asked in a gentle tone, as she watched him turn his head. He could not even hide his emotions, how did he ever think that he would one day be a Jedi Knight. �Please tell me what is wrong, I would like to help you,� The Council Woman assured him. �Tell me what has upset you, and I promise that I will do my best to help in what ever way that I can.�
�I didn�t mean to hurt Master Qui-Gon. I�m so sorry; please let me talk to Qui-Gon before you send me away. I need to tell him that I�m sorry and that��
�Slow down Obi-Wan. Who told you that you were going to be sent away?�
�No one believes me. Even Bant thinks I entered the lift tube purposely, knowing it was malfunctioning. They are going to send me back to Agri Corps,� The young teen sobbed, still looking away from Adi.
�Obi-Wan the Council has not decided to send you away. I for one believe that you did not know that the lift was malfunctioning. You are on probation; you have not been expelled from being a Jedi. When Qui-Gon returns from his mission in a few days, you can tell him what you just told me. Now I want you to rest, you have had a terrible accident and getting yourself so upset is not going to help. I�ll check in on you later.�
Adi gently touched the boy�s forehead and gave him a force suggestion to sleep, in view of the fact that she assumed he would not easily fall asleep on his own. Obi-Wan immediately fell asleep. Adi sat and watched the boy sleep, wondering if Qui-Gon would be able to help the child ease his tormented mind.
* *** * *** *
Qui-Gon entered his guest room with a yawn after a long boring day of negotiations. He had tried to contact Obi-Wan and find out if the boy was all right after the dinner break. When he contacted the temple and asked to speak with Obi-Wan, he was informed that Master Adi Gallia was speaking with him. Qui-Gon was relieved, assuming that since he was speaking with Adi, that Obi-Wan was ok. Adi was probably talking to him about his class work, since Mace and Adi had both agreed to look in on the boy while Qui-Gon was away.
His worry over Obi-Wan now at ease, he was able to concentrate on the negotiations. The day had been very long though and Qui-Gon was eager to get some sleep.
After using the fresher and changing his clothes, Qui-Gon lay down on the sleep couch and immediately drifted off to sleep, with the dim light of Schumson�s two moons shining through the window.
Qui-Gon had been asleep for what seemed like mere minutes when he again awoke to the same beeping sound as the previous night. He looked at the screen on the nearby monitor and again he pushed a button on the keypad. The screen came to life with an image of Obi-Wan lying on a sleep couch in one of the recovery rooms in the Healer�s wing.
His nose was obviously bruised, possibly broken, and his bottom lip was swollen. Any other injuries were hidden beneath the blanket that covered him. Obi-Wan stared across the room and out the window at the Coruscant traffic that continuously flew past the window. He looked bored. Qui-Gon smiled remembering Healer Wealy telling him about all the times that the boy had argued with her to get out of the wing, when he had escorted Obi-Wan to the healer�s for a routine check up after they returned to the temple from Melida/Dann. Healer Wealy had teased the boy that it was the first time that he went to see her without a complaint.
Suddenly Obi-Wan turned his head toward the doorway, seconds before a loud explosion from outside the room sent the boy flying off the sleep couch. He crashed onto the floor, as pieces of burning debris showered the room through the door that had been blown away.
Obi-Wan slowly and carefully began to get up as alarms started to ring. Qui-Gon watched the boy and he noticed that Obi-Wan was limping, and held his left arm tight against his chest. His Padawan looked around the room in an attempt to assess the situation; Qui-Gon did not need to see the grim look on his face to know that the situation was bad.
The burning debris brought flames inside the doorway. Small areas of the room began to burn and the fire retardant systems did not activate like they should have. Qui-Gon�s heart began to race as he watched the fire rage and his Padawan started to cough. Each cough seemed to cause the boy pain, and Qui-Gon wondered if he had broken ribs.
Obi-Wan looked around the room frantically, still coughing, as the flames became visible through the monitor seconds before the screen erupted in static. The fire had gotten to the camera, leaving Qui-Gon to wonder if the flames had overcome his young Padawan learner.
* *** * *** *
�Did you get every one out?� Mace Windu asked Healer Marroil, as he stood watching the other Jedi trying to put out the fire that raged at the far end of the Healer�s wing.
�No. The explosion happened right outside of Obi-Wan Kenobi�s room. There is no way to get him out until they put the fire out.�
�What about the ventilation shafts?� Siri Tachi suggested as she walked up behind them.
Mace looked at the young girl then at the Healer beside him.
�Padawan Tachi, you should not be here,� Healer Marroil chastised the young girl.
�Hold on a minute,� Mace turned to the healer. �Where is the closest ventilation shaft to get to Obi-Wan�s recovery room?�
�The closest room that is not still burning is in the surgical area in surgical room 1a, but I�m afraid you are too large to fit into a ventilation shaft. Perhaps��
�I can fit,� Siri interrupted the Healer.
�No, we�ll find another way,� Mace told her.
�Please Master Windu, I can help him. I�ve gone into the shafts before, and you�ll waste too much time trying to find someone who can get into the shaft, and get through it quickly,� Siri reasoned with the dark skinned Master.
�That�s very brave of you Padawan, but it�s not safe for a girl your age to��
�I know,� Siri again cut the Healer off. �I�m willing to take that risk. Please Master Windu I can do this.� Siri pleaded.
�Very well, but you must take a breath mask with you so that you are able to breathe. The shafts are full of smoke,� Mace told the blonde haired girl hoping that it was not a mistake to send her after Obi-Wan.
�Yes Master Windu,� Siri said and ran quickly down the hall toward a storage cabinet to get a breath mask, before she ran into the surgical area, followed by Mace and Marroil.
* *** * *** *
Obi-Wan looked around frantically for a way out of the fiery room. In a few minutes the fire would engulf the entire room, and he was quickly running out of a clear area to stand. He could not jump out the window; he would not survive the fall. He could not risk running through the flames to get to the doorway. He had already used the force, and had determined that the flames would burn him severely before he could make it up the hallway to where there wasn�t any fire, especially with his injuries.
Suddenly he remembered a conversation that he had overheard between Siri and Bruck Chun a few years ago about the two of them using the ventilation shafts to sneak out of their rooms in the cr�che to go to the gardens.
Looking around, Obi-Wan saw the grating that covered the ventilation shaft, in a section of the room that had already begun to burn. Having no other choice, he called on the force to remove the grating letting it drop to the floor with a loud clang. Sweat ran down his face and he wiped his forehead off on the sleeve of his shirt.
Obi-Wan had been holding his breath, now opened his mouth and took a breath of air, and immediately began to cough. He quickly took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself as best he could for what he was about to do. He started to run as quickly as he could with his injured knee, through the flames, and leapt up to the ventilation shaft opening.
�Sith,� Obi-Wan grimaced, as he felt his entire body scream in agony as he pulled himself through the opening of the shaft. Using his right hand to pat out the flames that began to burn his legs, he started to crawl through the shaft very slowly. He tried to ignore the protests that his body screamed at him with each movement he made.
It felt as if he had been crawling for hours, although he knew that it had only been minutes. With each agonizing movement, he felt himself growing weaker and weaker. He could barely see where he was going and his eyes had begun to water as the smoke became almost unbearable. {Master�help me�please,} Obi-Wan begged through his bond with Qui-Gon, which was now closed. No longer able to hold his breath, Obi-Wan was forced to breathe in the smoke that filled the shaft. Each breath caused even more pain in his chest, and he felt lightheaded. He had to force himself to move forward, and not give in to the darkness that called out to him, like a mother looking for a lost child.
Obi-Wan knew that if he lost consciousness, he would die of smoke inhalation because no one knew that he was in the shaft. After a few more minutes of crawling, his fatigue finally overtook him, and he began to drift asleep. As he fought to keep his eyes open he murmured, �Sorry Master,� before he fell into the sweet and painless abyss of unconsciousness once again.
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