The Visitor Cheshire Cat and Mystery Jedi Part 6 & 7 Title: The Visitor - 6 Authors: Cheshire Cat and Mystery Jedi Authors' email: cheshire_cat78@yahoo.com and mystery_jedi@yahoo.com Rating: so far, PG Archive: sure, wherever - just tell us Timing: pre-TMP, Obi-Wan is 13 Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of George Lucas and LucasFilm entertainment. We make no money whatsoever. The Visitor Chapter 6 Obi-Wan felt sick. He swallowed. His head hurt too. Barely making it to the bathroom, he leaned over the edge of the waste-recycler and was violently sick. When he was finished, he rocked back on his heels and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "Feel better?" The concerned voice belonged to his Master. Obi-Wan nodded, blearily. "Do you want to go to the clinic?" He shook his head. He swallowed with effort. "I'll be okay." Qui-Gon lay one broad, callused hand against Obi-Wan's forehead in a surprising gentle manner, considering how angry he was. He sighed. "What did you have to drink, Obi-Wan?" "I don't know," he answered truthfully. "It was pink." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "If you're finished emptying the contents of your stomach, you may go back to bed." "Master, please don't be mad. I can explain." "Mad? Oh no, Padawan. We're way beyond mad." Obi-Wan wanted to curl up and die. "Master, I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say. "Go to bed, Obi-Wan. Just go to bed." _*_*_ The next morning, after having showered and changed, Obi-Wan stood before his Master. His knees trembled. He'd never been so scared - not even on some of the most harrowing missions. Qui-Gon stared down at his young charge. Only after hours of meditation had the Jedi Master been able to get his warring emotions under control. As was the Jedi way, he began the admonishment by laying the boy's sins out in the open. "Obi-Wan, you left here, left the Temple, in the middle of the night, without permission." "Yes," Obi-Wan answered. "Once out in the city, you went to a club - a nightclub." "Yes, Master." "Where you proceeded to use your Jedi powers to get you past the guards," Qui-Gon continued. Obi-Wan thought for a second. B'Jara had been the one to do that part. "Not exactly, Master." "Oh?" Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "I didn't use *my* Jedi powers. B'Jara used hers." "Padawan, we've been through this before. B'Jara was here all night." Obi-Wan sighed. "No, Master. She was with me." Qui-Gon held up a hand. "We'll discuss that part later. Where was I? Oh, yes, once you entered the club, you stayed for several hours and had an alcoholic drink." "Yes, Master." "Tell me again in case I missed it the first time - how old are you, Obi-Wan?" Obi-Wan flinched slightly. "Thirteen." "And how old does a Human on Coruscant have to be to drink alcohol?" "Eighteen." "Very good, Padawan," Qui-Gon stepped back, regarding the melancholy boy. Normally Obi-Wan was a quiet young man, and although he had his rebellious moments, Qui-Gon had never thought him capable of sneaking out to go to a bar - at least, not at thirteen. That was something he didn't think he'd have to face till Obi-Wan was in his late teens. And B'Jara. That was a conundrum. He was absolutely certain the cherubic Padawan had been sleeping in the room next to his own all night. Yet Obi-Wan was equally certain that she'd been out with him. He hadn't been lying when he'd said that. Qui-Gon could tell. Qui-Gon closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. He put his hand to his forehead. He supposed it was some sort of ironic twist of fate that he had to have an Apprentice as impudent as he had been at that age. Qui-Gon knew if he mentioned the fiasco to Master Yoda that the aged Jedi would only huff that he was getting just what he deserved. Obi-Wan stood staring at his boots. Qui-Gon was taking a long time. He ventured a look upwards. Qui-Gon's eyes were closed and he appeared to be meditating. "Master?" He asked hesitantly. Qui-Gon's eyes flew open. "Padawan, go sit in your quarters for now. Meditate on your actions. I, too, shall meditate on this and I will speak with you in a few hours." "Master? My room? B'Jara's in there now." Qui-Gon's eyes rolled heavenward. /What did I ever do?/ "Padawan, just go... somewhere." He waved his hand vaguely. Obi-Wan shuffled off. He wished he could just get this over with. The anticipation was killing him. _*_*_ Several hours later, the Jedi Master emerged from his quarters. Obi-Wan was sitting on the floor in the living room, staring at the wall, knees drawn up to his chest. He suddenly looked very young. "Obi-Wan, come here." Qui-Gon sat himself on the couch. "Sit down." Qui-Gon had managed to assuage the headache he'd had since the cabdriver had arrived at his door the night before, but it threatened to return at any moment. Obi-Wan came over timidly, sitting down gingerly on the edge of the sofa. "Relax, Obi-Wan. I'm not going to hurt you." Obi-Wan nearly fainted from relief. "But that does not mean you will not be punished, Padawan." The young man's eyes opened wide. "Master?" "Obi-Wan, you are confined to quarters for the rest of the century." He held up a hand as Obi-Wan started to protest. "Moreover, you will have no recreational time whatsoever. That includes any holo-vids and/or magazines that you have in your room. You will not be permitted to go *anywhere* without me or another Master. That includes class and meal times." "But, Master-" "I'm not finished, Padawan." Obi-Wan winced. "Yes, sir." "You are hereby assigned extra lessons and exercises. Any free time you have remaining will be spent scrubbing the infirmary on your hands and knees. Is that clear?" "Yes, Master." "And, since you have demonstrated a considerable lack of maturity, I think it advisable that you be left behind, should I be sent on a mission any time soon." Obi-Wan's eyes flew wide open. "Master?" He nearly gasped. "You heard me, Padawan." Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut. He suddenly felt very dizzy. He thought he might faint. His hand gripped the edge of the couch, and he tried hard not to fall off. "Obi-Wan, answer me one thing. Why?" The look of disappointment on his Master's face was enough to make Obi-Wan feel a thousand times worse than any punishment Qui-Gon could cook up. Obi-Wan took a deep breath. All his Jedi training had taught him that honesty was always the best policy. "You may not believe me, Master, but I went with B'Jara because she told me to." "B'Jara told you to? Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon began ominously. "Master, please believe me. She did. I know you think she slept here last night, but you're wrong. She was out with me in the city." Obi-Wan nearly wailed with despair. "Alright, Padawan, calm down." He turned to the hall. "B'Jara," he called. "Could you come out here, please?" "Yes, Master Jinn?" Qui-Gon motioned to a chair. "Sit down, B'Jara. The three of us need to have a little chat." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ B'Jara sat down on the edge of the couch, attempting to hide her nervous hands so not to give herself away. Qui-Gon watched the girl with a nod. He knew Obi-Wan was telling the truth. The boy has never lied to him before and he knew it. He wasn't about to accuse the girl outright; he had to wait for her to tell him. He had been waiting since she had arrived here. "Of course you both know that lying to a Jedi Master is one of the worse offenses," He started. They both nodded. He watched B'Jara glance downward as she nodded. "It is the first wrong step towards the dark side. Stirring up trouble because of one's boredom will always come back tenfold to the one who starts it." B'Jara fidgeted nervously, keeping an eye on the door. The Jedi Master watched both of them closely. Obi-Wan watched his Master unblinking. "Obi-Wan claims you were with him when you went to the dance club, yet you claim you were here all night. B'Jara, Obi-Wan has never lied to me so far and I would hate to think he has recently started. I seem to have a dilemma. Any suggestions?" Qui-Gon asked. When neither of them answered he said: "Well I guess I have no choice but to send you both before the Council. I'm sure Master Yoda would know who's telling the truth and who's not." "NO!" B'Jara yelled out suddenly. "I ... uh...mean that's not necessary." She stuttered when they both looked at her curiously. "Do you have a better idea how to solve this then?" He asked again. "All right then, let's go..." He started when she didn't answer. "No, wait.... please." She pleaded softly. Qui-Gon turned to the reluctant girl who couldn't seem to meet his gaze. B'Jara glanced over at Obi-Wan, who had a pleading look in his eyes. "Oh stop it, Obi-Wan. Don't give me that heartbreaking look." She snapped. "B'Jara?" Qui-Gon asked. B'Jara flopped down on her back covering her face. "B'Jara..." The Jedi Master urged. She got up suddenly, turning her back to them, lowering her head. Qui-Gon gently spun her around, lifting her chin and forcing her to look at him. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, dear?" He asked softly. Qui-Gon watched as B'Jara's chin quivered slightly. "I ...I lied to you." She whispered, looking down again. "I know, B'Jara. I know." He told her reassuringly. She glanced up at him surprised. "Huh?" "Now, what else do you have to tell me?" The Jedi Master asked. B'Jara swept a piece of hair from her eyes, attempting to speak. "I told Obi-Wan to go to the dance club with me." She glanced over at Obi-Wan again who smiled at her. She rolled her eyes at him continuing. "He didn't even want to go, he complained practically the whole time." "I see." "I also started the food fight." She finished. "Well, young lady, I'm glad you have decided to speak out. Now, for the remaining two and a half weeks you are here, you shall have the same punishment as Obi-Wan." "Yes, sir." She sighed. "But Master!" Obi-Wan protested violently. Qui-Gon closed his eyes for a long moment before saying, "Yes, Padawan?" "Now that you know it wasn't my fault..." He trailed off, uncertain of how to ask his Master to alleviate his punishment. "Obi-Wan, are you suggesting that I lower your punishment because this was all B'Jara's fault?" Obi-Wan nodded. "Padawan, did you or did you not allow B'Jara to talk you into doing something you *knew* was wrong?" "I did, Master," Obi-Wan nearly whispered. "Then you have your answer, Padawan." "But-" "No buts, Obi-Wan. I don't want to hear another word." He turned towards B'Jara. "From either of you." "Yes, Master Qui-Gon," both of them chorused. "Obi-Wan, I believe I said you were to have extra lessons." Obi-Wan winced. "Yes, Master." "Very well. Go get your texts." Obi-Wan sighed dejectedly, but obeyed. Qui-Gon looked at B'Jara. "Did you bring any lessons with you?" She nodded. She was afraid to open her mouth for fear she'd lose her composure. She did *not* want Qui-Gon to see her cry. "Very well. Go get them." She nodded again and walked down the hall to Obi-Wan's room. _*_ Obi-Wan looked up as she entered. He was digging through his closet, looking for the data pad that contained his astro-nav text. "This is all your fault," he hissed at her. "Shut up, Obi-Wan." "No, I will not shut up! I wouldn't even be in this mess if it weren't for you." "Look, okay, I told you I was sorry." "You are not sorry. I'll bet you did this on purpose, but now that you've gotten caught, you're not so high and mighty any more, are you?" A cough from the doorway made them both turn, startled. "I believe I said I didn't want to hear another word from either of you." Both Padawans blushed a deep red. Qui-Gon stood aside and they filed out of the room. Qui-Gon pulled back a chair from the kitchen table. "Obi-Wan, sit here." "Yes, Master." Qui-Gon walked across to his desk, which sat against one wall. "B'Jara, I want you to sit here." "Yes, Master Qui-Gon," she said quietly. "Now," said Qui-Gon. "You will sit and you will study. If you have questions, you may ask me, otherwise, I don't want to hear a single word. Is that perfectly clear?" His voice was mild, but held a note of iron that brooked no argument. Obi-Wan had come to recognize it in the short time they'd spent together. He heard it often. Both Padawans nodded, for once struck dumb by the sheer power emanating from the Jedi Master. TBC~~