| Title: One Apprentice, One Pathway #1: Brewing (Part Four) Author Ginger Ninja ****** Why are we So blind to see That the ones we hurt Are you and me... ***** The dark man and his group stood hidden behind a grate that opened up onto a corridor deep inside the Temple. He turned to his fellows. "You know the plan. Get to your places and get ready for my signal." They all nodded. "And remember," the dark man added. "If you find the man I want, bring him to the Council Chambers where I will be." Again the group nodded. The dark man reached into a pack hidden deep within his black robes. He pulled out small, handheld com units and strange looking field generators and handed one each to his group. "Move out," he ordered and they all went their separate ways. ***** The first thing Qui-Gon was aware of was a very hard pounding in his head. Then he could feel the unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. Then he was throwing up...or at least trying to. He was lying on his back and choking. Mace Windu jerked out of his nap just in time to see Qui-Gon's struggle. Without a thought, he grabbed Qui-Gon and rolled him onto his side. As soon as Qui-Gon had quite finished, Mace hit the button that would set off an alarm and bring the healers running. "Wh...where?" Qui-Gon managed to splutter. "The infirmary," Mace explained. "I found you this morning. Qui-Gon what the hell..." But before he could finish the question, a pair of healers entered the room and ordered Mace out. ***** Obi-Wan shivered and sneezed a little. Rubbing his itchy eyes, he continued to hug himself tightly. /I can't stay here forever! Where am I going to go?/ Numerous possibilities flooded through Obi-Wan's mind but all were dismissed as impossible. There was little that he, a thirteen-year-old child, could do without raising some suspicion. /Just go back/ a voice whispered in his mind. /They can send you packing./ Obi-Wan nearly let out a sob when he thought that but determinedly swallowed it down. No, no more crying. He'd got himself into this mess and he would get himself out. /Somehow. I...I just don't think I could stand to look at the disappointment on everyone's faces when they decide Agricorps really is the best place for me.../ Obi-Wan shivered again. He needed to make a decision fast. He was already starting to feel the effects of one long night in the rain. As rain slowly began to spatter on him again, he knew he wasn't going to feel more comfortable any time soon. His wet clothes stuck to his body and made him terribly itchy. He longed to be back in the Temple where it was warm and where he could sleep on his warm sleepcouch. A ghost of a smile touched Obi-Wan's face briefly before he sank once again back into his brewing thoughts. /I am an idiot. I never should have done this./ /But,/ a voice in the back of his mind piped up again /How long would it have been if you had of stayed? Qui-Gon probably would still be in his weird mood and you would be going out of your mind./ And, in a sad way, that one little statement was absolutely true. There was no way Obi-Wan could've gone on like that anymore. If he had waited any longer before he left, Obi-Wan suspected he would have simply exploded with pent up rage and confusion. /And I would no doubt be in even more trouble if that had happened./ *** Kyrana made her way through the crowds as best she could. Her Master was still calling to her but after she told her Master that she was sorry for disobeying an order, she blocked the link and concentrated on her search. So far she had visited holo-game arcades, the large multi-screen cinema, various caf�s that appealed to the younger generation but to no avail. Obi-Wan Kenobi remained stubbornly missing. She sighed and contemplated returning to the Temple. But the Force told her not to give up so she carried on searching. /I've checked everywhere I thought he might be!/ she thought in exasperation as she headed towards nowhere in particular. /How hard can it be to find one boy!?/ Kyrana found herself standing in front of a large park. Gently, the Force hinted at something and Kyrana nodded to herself. /He's here./ Kyrana stepped into the park and then stopped, hesitating. What was she going to do when she saw him? Drag him all the way back to the Temple? Demand to know what was wrong? Why would he tell her anything? She had already made him angry once. Kyrana chewed on her lip nervously, realising how little thought she'd put into this. She slowly walked through the park, keeping an eye out for Obi-Wan while she thought about what she could do. When he eyes finally fell upon the curled up figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi, she knew she couldn't handle this alone. All but trembling with nerves, Kyrana called out to her Master. ***** Nearly an hour passed before Mace was allowed back in to see Qui-Gon. During this time he contacted the Council and informed them of what had happened. A search team was being organised and Yoda was hopeful that Obi-Wan would be found. When a healer finally emerged from Qui-Gon's room, Mace was warned to keep his voice down. Qui-Gon had a monster of a hangover and the effects would probably last for some time yet. Mindful of what he had been told, Mace stepped into the darkened room of his friend. He noticed that Qui-Gon was wearing his robes and a loose fitting pair of trousers instead of the usual medical issue gown as he had been wearing before he's vomited everywhere. Looks like Qui-Gon did have some dignity that even the Healer's weren't going to disagree with. "Qui-Gon?" he called to his friend quietly. Qui-Gon turned his head slowly, so he wouldn't make his head pound any worse. "Mace." Mace frowned at the emptiness of Qui-Gon's voice. "What happened?" the councilman asked. "Mace I'm not feeling well enough to explain things to you..." "Qui-Gon you could be delirious and hallucinating but I would still get answers out of you. You *will* tell me what happened!" "Mace..." Qui-Gon's tone was one of warning. "No!" Mace snapped and Qui-Gon winced as the sound sent pain through his pounding head. "Not only do I find my friend passed out after a drinking binge, I have a missing thirteen-year-old boy who could be wandering around the streets of Coruscant alone!" Qui-Gon blinked, the only expression of shock that slipped past his control before his face became an uncaring one. "I don't know where he is," he muttered sullenly. Mace looked ready to explode. "Qui-Gon! Why are you being like this? Obi-Wan is far too young to be walking around the streets of Coruscant alone! The weather out there is awful as are some of the people moseying around out there! He's a child! Force knows what could happen!" Qui-Gon's eyes darkened. "If you're so concerned about him, why don't you go and find him?" It was all Mace could do to not punch some sense into Qui-Gon's thick skull. "You are one cold man," he finally managed to say. Anger and disbelief was choking his words. "I'll tell you this. Obi-Wan is nothing but a problem. I would not be lying on this bed if I had not have taken him as my Padawan," Qui-Gon snapped. "Well, you're right about one thing," Mace said as he headed towards the door. "You wouldn't be lying here. You'd probably be long dead by your own hand if not for Obi-Wan. I don't think you realise what that boy's done for you." And with that Mace swept out of the room. "Maybe I'll return later Qui-Gon, when you aren't in such a foul mood," Mace said from the hallway before he walked away. Qui-Gon just gazed at the door, surprise finally registering on his face. ***** Lena sighed in relief when she finally got a call from her Padawan. She had been looking through the vast Temple for any trace of the missing boy and coming up with nothing. She was currently standing in an empty classroom. //Are you alright Kyra?// //Yes Master and I found him! But...I don't know what to do now.// //What do you mean Padawan? All you have to do is speak to him and tell him to come back.// //Master I made him angry once remember? I don't think he'll listen to me. And besides, what if he really doesn't want to come back? I doubt there's anything I can say that will change his mind.// Lena sighed, rubbed her eyes and took a seat. Her young Padawan was talented, yet overly sensitive to not only those around her, but herself too. She had clearly taken the slight disagreement between herself and Obi-Wan to heart and was not about to forget it. //Well Padawan I suggest you return here and we get someone else along there to talk to him// she suggested. //I can't just leave him now I've finally found him!// Kyrana replied. //What happens if he just gets up and goes? I have to do something!// Lena groaned. //Kyrana please don't contradict yourself like that. You sound too much like Yoda.// //Master!// Lena paused to think for a moment. //Fine. Pull up your hood so he can't see your face, change how your voice sounds with the Force and do your best to convince him to return! Where are you?// Kyrana told her Master her exact location. //Right. I'm on my...// A hand dropped on to Lena's shoulder and the Master gasped in shock. Before she could turn around, a heavy weight collided with the back of her skull. Someone slipped an arm around her waist, keeping her from hitting the floor. She could hear Kyrana's calls but could not respond. Darkness claimed her just as her attacker threw her over his shoulder. ***** Kyrana took a deep breath as she pulled her hood up. The Force was crackling, telling her that something was *very* wrong back home at the Temple and her Master was involved. /Lena is a Jedi Master. I'm sure she can take care of herself. I have to do this./ She cleared her throat and with the Force, deepened her voice considerably. When she was calm enough, she called out to Obi-Wan. "Shouldn't you be back at the Temple?" a gruff voice rumbled from her throat, surprising her and Obi-Wan. The boy's head jerked up. Kyrana looked at him, her eyes welling with tears of pity. Obi-Wan's eyes were red and puffy, his hair was in a mess and he was shaking like leaf caught in a gust of wind. "Who are you?" he asked, sniffing and wiping his nose on the back of his hand. "A friend," Kyrana said, stepping slightly closer. "Tell me, why did you run away? Everyone at the Temple is very worried. Your Master must be beside himself with worry." Obi-Wan flinched at the word 'Master.' The boy peered closely at her, trying to get a glimpse at her features but Kyrana had pulled her hood up over her face. "It wouldn't matter if the entire galaxy was worried about where I was. There's one man who'll never care." "Who?" Kyrana asked, even though she had a fairly good idea who it was. Obi-Wan frowned, mild anger creeping on to his face. "Why should I tell you? I don't even know who you are!" Kyrana gulped. /I have to do something! He's going to leave if I don't./ Taking a deep breath, she said: "Maybe...maybe he does care but he...just doesn't know how to...um...show it." /Oh that was lame!/ But her words seemed to have some kind of affect on Obi-Wan. All the doubt that had been circling round his mind seemed to clear for a moment. /Could that really be it?/ he thought. /Does Qui-Gon look like he dislikes me because he doesn't know how to show his feelings?/ Obi-Wan shook his head. No, that couldn't be it. What a stupid idea! Qui-Gon certainly had no trouble showing Obi-Wan how angry he could get. "He sent you here didn't he?" "Excuse me?" "Qui-Gon. He sent you here! To make me go back." Obi-Wan walked right up to Kyrana, twisted her around and gave her a little shove. "You can go right back to the Temple and tell him if he wants to talk he can drag himself here. I'm not listening to any messenger." "But I wasn't sent by him! I..." Kyrana tried to speak. "I said go!" Biting her lip, Kyrana turned and ran. Obi-Wan stood there for a minute, his fists clenching and unclenching. All the anger seemed to drain from his body, leaving him absolutely exhausted. A stray tear trickled down his heated cheek. ***** Qui-Gon had been sick several more times and had allowed the healers to administer painkillers for the migraine that was throbbing throughout his entire brain it seemed. He now sat in his bed, gazing out at the sheets of torrential rain that struck the streets of Coruscant. Qui-Gon knew, from the lack of news from anyone and the hushed whispers of healer's that looked in on him from the doorway, that Obi-Wan was still out there missing. Qui-Gon sighed and closed his eyes. Guilt was rapidly replacing the anger he felt towards Obi-Wan. Last night tempers had been frayed and neither of the two had spoken calmly. They may have gotten pent up feelings out in the open after Force knows how long but it had not been the time or the place and both had ended up hurting only themselves and each other. A resolve built up inside Qui-Gon. As soon as he could get out of bed and walk around without feeling the sudden urge to run for the nearest 'fresher, he would get out there and find the boy. They needed to speak with cool heads if they were going to resolve any problems. /And I need to decide whether or not I want him to remain as my apprentice once and for all./ A sudden screech of terror rang out from the corridor. At first Qui-Gon thought it was simply a distraught child but his hazy senses mutely told him that this was not the case. It was something far more sinister. And it was heading in his direction. "Well, well, lookie who we have here bro." Qui-Gon turned his head to the doorway and saw a massive man standing there. The man came into the room just as another man of the exact same proportion appeared. "If it ain't the 'great' Qui-Gon Jinn," the first of the two sneered sarcastically. "Is the poor Master sick?" the second mocked. The first ripped the IV out of Qui-Gon's arm, leaving a thin trail of blood. He grinned at the Master before his fist came out of nowhere and clouted Qui-Gon over the head. Not giving the hung over Master a chance to recover, the second giant lifted Qui-Gon out the bed. "Let's take 'im to the Council." "Right." And Qui-Gon struggled to not throw up again as he was taken from the Infirmary. ***** The dark man got confirmation from all his people that they were in position. With one single word, he gave them the signal for them to switch on the small generators they each had. He switched on his own and a pleasant hum sound filled the quiet air. A twisted smirk touched his face. His plan was in its next stage. He had rendered the Jedi incapable of using the Light Force. His own power was untouched. The Dark Side wasn't was weak as the Light Side. /Let's see the Jedi stop me now./ ***** Kyrana could feel something was wrong. The closer she got to the Temple, the more certain the feeling grew. With the lack of response from her Master and the dull sense of life she got overall from the Temple, Kyrana knew something was very wrong. Her spine tingled as she stepped through the gates and into the Temple. The gateman wasn't there to check her ID as he usually was and this didn't settle well with Kyrana. The tension was palpable and she shuddered. She pulled her rain soaked hood down and looked around. There wasn't a soul in sight. She held back from calling out. Everything about the situation around her screamed "Something is wrong!" Behind her, the doors slammed shut and locked automatically. The hallway became dark and all Kyrana could hear besides her slightly panicked breathing was the pitter-patter of rain on the roof high above her head. Kyrana's hand hovered over her lightsaber. "Excuse me!" Kyrana's blade was in her hand and blazing. She gasped as she saw a figure of someone her age approaching from the hallway that led further into the Temple. She thumbed her blade of and met the eyes of the boy. "Do you know what's going on?" she called to him. He nodded, a white ponytail bobbing up and down at the back of his head. "The Council's ordered everyone to go to the gyms. You'd better come with me." The Force remained silent, offering no reason for Kyrana not to go with the pale boy. "OK." Kyrana jogged over to him and walked with him towards the gym. Still no one approached them. "I don't like this," she told her companion. "Good," he said. "Wha...?" Before she could fully turn to speak to the boy, a stun bolt caught her in the stomach. Kyrana crashed to the ground. "Things are about to get worse, believe me," the white haired boy said, grabbing the unconscious girl's legs and dragging her the rest of the way to the gym. ***** Obi-Wan jerked out of his nap, breathing unsteady and eyes wide with surprise. /Something's wrong at the Temple!/ Through the Force, he could feel the difference. The Temple was teeming with life and positively glowed in the Force despite Coruscant's overall lack of natural beauty and living Force. But now Obi-Wan could feel none of that. It was as if they Temple suddenly ceased to exist. He sprung to his feet, ready for action. He blinked rain out of his eyes and started walking towards the Temple as fast as he could. /Wait! I can't go back there! What about Qui-Gon? I'll be in so much trouble.../ Obi-Wan hesitated for only a moment longer. /No, I have to go. This is no time to be selfish. Something is clearly wrong./ Shoving all his fears and hesitation aside, Obi-Wan continued to run toward the Temple. Something was very, very wrong and he was determined to do all he could to put it right. ***End Part Four*** |
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