TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  9/36

AUTHOR: Cara & Quintus

E-MAIL:  [email protected]

RATING: PG-13

CATEGORY: Pre-TPM, Jedi Apprentice, Original Characters

ARCHIVE: Yes. Please keep headers intact.

DISCLAIMER: Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. No copyright infringement intended, no profit is being made from this fiction. All original characters and story belong to the authors. 

FEEDBACK: Constructive feedback appreciated.

TIME FRAME:  Pre-TPM @ 1-2 years

SUMMARY:  When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan join a diplomatic mission to the planet Sahmly II, they uncover a strange vergence in the Force, centered around a young padawan whose actions may determine far-reaching changes in the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan’s decisions about the padawan could save the boy's life, or drive him to the power of the Dark Side.

DARK SACRIFICE

By Cara & Quintus

Chapter 9

Obi-Wan approached the door to Remii and Master Dushiko’s quarters and hesitated. He cast his senses outward, searching for signs of the other apprentice- or his master. He found no trace of Ak’ra Dushiko, but Remii’s mental fingerprint reverberated strongly. Trails of colored music hung in the air. Remii must have been up very early and played his flute-pipe for hours to leave that kind of trace in the Force. Even now, the imperceptible comfort of the music surrounded Obi-Wan. He placed his hand firmly against the announcing panel. “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

An inordinately long time passed, and Remii didn’t answer the door. Obi-Wan reached out with his senses. The apprentice was there, in the room, but not answering. Obi-Wan pressed his hand to the panel again. “Remii... Are you okay? Answer the door.”

Again the silence.

Obi-Wan pressed the panel. “Remii, I know you’re in there. Please answer the door.”

Remii’s weary voice came back through the panel. “Go away, Obi-Wan.”

“I can’t do that, Remii. Not until you open the door so I can see you.”

“I’m fine. Now go away.”

“Remii...”

“Leave me alone, Obi. I’m not allowed out of the room.”

“So let me in.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Obi-Wan asked. “Did Master Dushiko forbid me to come in? Or just for you to go out?”

Silence.

Obi-Wan slapped the panel. “I’m not going away, Remii. Not until I talk to you face to face.” He waited. “I mean it, Remii. I’m going to wait right here until you open the door.” When nothing happened, he sighed, and sank down cross-legged in front of the door. He placed his mind in light meditation, prepared to wait all morning if necessary. Long minutes passed, and then time faded away as Obi-Wan concentrated on his meditation. Eventually, he felt the brush of Remii’s sense touch.

The door opened. “What do you want, Obi-Wan?”

Obi-Wan separated himself from his meditation by degrees, opening his eyes to look up at the resigned youth. He came to his feet in one graceful move, and smiled down at the unsociable apprentice. “I merely wanted to see how you were today.” Obi-Wan examined Remii’s face, suppressing a frown at the blatant evidence of yesterday’s run in with Dushiko. Remii’s left eye and cheekbone were bruised, and his lip split and swollen. Obi-Wan reached his hand toward the bruises, and Remii flinched. Obi-Wan's heart dropped to see the fear Remii tried so hard to suppress.

“What do you want, Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Remii demanded again.

“Why haven’t you done a healing trance?” Obi-Wan scolded in his best big brother voice. “It shouldn’t take much to help those injuries.”

“I was told not to heal."

“I’m sure your master did not mean for you to neglect yourself.”

“Not healing means not healing. Me or anyone else,” Remii replied, lifting his chin.

Obi-Wan bit back a sudden grin. Remii was a stubborn little brat. The amusement faded when Obi-Wan recalled how Remii’s defiance got him the bruises in the first place. “Well, I was not told not to heal,” Obi-Wan said. He walked past Remii into the room. “Get in here.” The table was strewn with lesson and data pads.

“What are you doing?” Remii shut the door and stared at him, wide eyed.

“I was not told to not heal. So I’ll fix your face, and your other injuries.”

“You’re not a healer.”

“Well, neither are you,” Obi-Wan retorted. “You’re a padawan learner just like me. So sit down, shut up, and learn something.”

Remii stared at him, then slowly sat in the chair by the table. “Okay... now what?”

“Now you tell me how to do it.”

“Do what?”

“Heal you.” Obi-Wan rubbed a hand over his head, embarrassed. “I know how to heal myself somewhat... most of us non healer padawans start learning that when we gain more control over our Force abilities. I also know that what real healers do is far different, and that if it could be easily taught, we would have a horde of Jedi Healers in the Temple instead of the few that are there. So I want to know... how do you do it?”

Remii frowned, and reached up to tug on his padawan braid. “I don’t think it’s much different than healing yourself... just... reach for the Force, and make it right...”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Obi-Wan said.

"You just make the injury right…" Remii repeated.

"I know what's right with me, but how do I know what is right for others?" Obi-Wan asked.

Remii tugged on his braid again. "Maybe that's why I am a healer. I just know… when it's right. Or wrong."

"I'd say you're on to something. I don't even have a clue as where to start on others. But it's worth a try." Obi-Wan approached the youth, and reached a hand towards Remii's face.

Remii flinched again.

“It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.” Obi-Wan reached slowly, and rested his hand on Remii's shoulder, then gave it a light squeeze. "It's okay…"

“Sorry...” Remii avoided Obi-Wan’s eyes. “Maybe you better start on an easier area... faces can be tricky.” He shrugged out of his under tunic. Bruises covered his ribcage and sternum. Additional bruises were scattered over Remii’s biceps and shoulders.

Obi-Wan opened his mouth.

Remii raised a hand. “Don’t. It is not your concern. What happened is between my master and me.”

“Remii... I was responsible. I talked you into sparring outside.”

“I knew the risks of disobeying. I accepted them, and I accept the consequences.”

“He shouldn’t have done it,” Obi-Wan said firmly. There was no way he would condone this. “It wasn’t fair punishment.”

Remii gave him a small smile. “Master Dushiko agrees with you. He says he has no idea what came over him, and his conduct shames the Jedi Masters. He apologized." Remii rubbed his eyes. "He hugged me and said he was sorry and it wouldn't happen again."

“Oh...” Obi-Wan wrestled with this new information.

“He has been upset and on edge ever since we set foot on this planet,” Remii said with a small shrug. “He hasn’t been himself.”

“Master Qui-Gon also seems more pensive than usual. I can sense him searching the Force... but for what, I don’t know.” Obi-Wan frowned. “Even when we interviewed the Screes, I could sense something not right. Did you feel that from the Screes also?”

“I...I didn’t get to go with my master on the interviews,” Remii replied.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. Master Dushiko just said it wasn’t safe.” Remii shook his head. “He’s been keeping a close watch on me since we came on this mission.”

“Is this your first mission together?”

“No. I’ve been with him on other missions, and he let me help. Some. It’s just this one. And ever since he talked with Master Yoda when we returned from our last mission, he’s been keeping watch on me.” Remii threw the shirt in his hand to the floor. “I don’t understand! Master Dushiko told me I did well on our last mission. Why would he tell me one thing and Master Yoda another?”

“How do you know he told Master Yoda differently?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Because ever since we left the Temple after our last mission, Master Dushiko has been on my case.   ‘Be careful, Remii, be attentive to the Force, Remii, beware the Dark Side, Remii, do not wander so far, Remii, something may happen.’ I am not a child!”

“Well... technically, you are,” Obi-Wan said slowly. “I looked up Ashokia in the planetary database. According to my calculations... you are a child, Remii Hajradurama. You are barely fifteen. Why did you lie to me?”

“I...I didn’t lie...not really...”

“You lied, Remii. Planetary age alignment calculations aside, you are not what you said you are.”

Remii looked down. “I’m sorry, Obi-Wan.”

“Why didn’t you just say you were younger? Jedi do not lie.”

“I wanted you to like me. I never get to play with other padawans. Master Dushiko says it is undignified and I must concentrate on my lessons.” Remii looked up, golden brown eyes wide. “You are almost a Knight. I was afraid you wouldn’t want anything to do with me if you knew I was so young.”

“First of all, what kind of Jedi would I be if I judged people solely by age, or looks, or ability? Master Qui-Gon tells me constantly to be mindful of the Living Force... and of others.” Obi-Wan paced. “I am not a Knight yet, even if I was, why in the worlds would you think I wouldn’t like you?”

Remii stared at him. “You’re Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the most promising Jedi among the padawani. My master knew who you were. He was eager to work with you...” Remii stared at his hands. “As you noticed, my master is not proud of my weapons abilities.”

 “Be mindful of your attitude, my friend. Jedi are also not jealous... or envious.” Obi-Wan sighed.

Remii gave him a small smile. “Yes, Master...”

Obi-Wan grinned. “Jedi also respect their elders, brat.” He ruffled Remii’s short spiky hair. “Now, let’s see if I can figure this healing thing out...” He placed his hand over the largest bruise on Remii’s shoulder. “Now what?”

“Now concentrate on the Force, gather it as you ‘feel’ the wound with your senses...”

Obi-Wan concentrated. “And then?”

“And then... you fix it,” Remii said. “You make what is wrong, right again. Just like you do on yourself.”

“It is easier on myself...”

“Of course it is, you know yourself, your mind instinctively wants to make things right.”

Obi-Wan reached with his senses, and tried to will the bruise to go away.

“Ow!” Remii jerked away from his touch and cowered back.

“What? What did I do?”

“It hurt. I think you concentrated too hard. Healing requires a delicate touch.”

“I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do.”

Remii chewed his lower lip in frustration. “You just... make it right. Make the cells and muscle the way they are supposed to be. Disease and injury are wrong. And the body knows it. So you have to find what’s ‘right’ and use the Force to make the right... right.” He shrugged helplessly.

“What do you mean by right?”

“It’s when you are one with the Force... You, the patient, the injury... and the Force are all in harmony. It’s like the music when the notes all fall together.” He sighed heavily. “I can’t explain it. I’m not good enough yet to explain how I do what I do. My Master doesn’t even know how I do healing. And I can’t tell him. I’m a lousy student.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Obi-Wan said. “And get over the idea you have to be perfect for your master. It will only make you crazy.”

“But I have to be perfect for Master Dushiko.”

“Or he’ll send you back to the Temple?”

Remii’s face drained of color. “How did you know that?”

“I was listening yesterday. How do you think I figured out your master hit you?”

“So now you know...” Remii hung his head. “I am such a bad padawan that nobody wants me. Master Yoda had to make Master Dushiko take me.”

“Master-padawan pairings are by mutual consent, Remii. The Council only approves them as a formality.”

Remii shook his head vigorously. “Master Dushiko had to take me because the Council said so. Master Yoda said the others couldn’t handle me, I overheard them talking when I was with the Healers. I don’t know why they said that, I’m not a bad person, Obi-Wan…”

"I know you aren't, Remii. Maybe you just misunderstood?"

The youth looked at Obi-Wan through narrowed eyes. “Master Yoda told me to stay out of trouble. He said he didn’t want to see me at the Temple again until I was ready for my Trials. Do you know what it’s like to find out even the Council doesn’t want you around?”

“Remii, I-”

“Don’t say you understand, Obi-Wan Kenobi! You can’t possibly understand!” Remii glared at Obi-Wan, eyes dark, and leapt to his feet. “You do everything right! You can be anything you want! All I could do was some healing, and now my master took that away from me, too. I hate it here! I wish I’d never come to this stupid planet!” Tears welled, and Remii dashed at them with the back of a hand, then kicked the chair and knocked it over. He kicked the chair again, and with the sweep of an arm knocked his data pads to the floor, then looked around for something else to strike. The very air vibrated with Force energy.

Faced with the unusual task of calming a padawan in the throes of a meltdown, Obi-Wan reached for the one example he knew would not fail him. What would Qui-Gon do in this situation?

He could feel the tenuous hold Remii had on himself; the young padawan was about to explode. Obi-Wan shielded as Remii’s emotions seesawed. The Force shimmered with tension.

Obi-Wan did the one thing he was certain Qui-Gon would have done in his place. He projected a wave of calm and love and soothing at the upset boy. He took the Force and surrounded Remii with it like a Jedi cloak. He could feel the younger apprentice’s anxiety, and disconnectedness, and a trace of something wild and dark. It alarmed Obi-Wan. Still radiating a soothing calm, Obi walked over and dropped his hands to Remii’s shoulders.

The Force emotion that leapt from the boy shocked Obi, he almost jerked away and fought the urge to shake the padawan to his senses. Obi-Wan thanked the Force Qui-Gon had taught him such potent- and automatic- shielding techniques. He wasn't arrogant enough to assume he could calm Remii with words alone, but he needed an opening to get through to the boy. Qui-Gon often told him touch was one of the most powerful and basic of human emotions.

Obi-Wan split his perceptions between quieting the youth, and keeping Remii's raw Force energy from singeing his senses. He pressed his hands down on Remii's shoulders. At Obi-Wan’s renewed touch; the wildness leapt against his shields, then receded. Obi-Wan continued to knead the boy’s shoulders, attempting to send Remii calm through physical contact.

 “You are not attuned, Remii. Center yourself in the Force.” Obi-Wan drew on his store of memories of Qui-Gon’s strength and composure, and projected them towards the other padawan. “Calm... find your center.” He continued to rub his hands over Remii’s tense shoulders, thinking that if he removed them before Remii gained control, the boy would shatter into a million pieces. He felt Remii begin to draw on the Force, and helped the youngster by directing positive Force energy his way.  Calm, you are in control, believe it…

After a few minutes, Remii began to take deep breaths. “I’m sorry, Obi-Wan. I don’t know what came over me. I usually can handle things...” He rubbed his eyes and sniffed, and shrugged out from under Obi-Wan's touch.

Obi-Wan dropped his hands. “We are all a little stressed of late, my friend. Think nothing of it.” Obi-Wan could feel Remii’s mortification at the loss of self-control. He turned away to give the boy time to compose himself. Obi-Wan reached down and picked the data pads up off the floor and placed them on the table. “How much schoolwork do you still have, Remii?”

“I need to finish a paper in my Sector History class, then I'm caught up. I just don’t understand the incident that they use as a basis for comparison.” Remii picked his crumpled under tunic up off the floor and wiped his face with it, then tugged it over his head. “It is the Saktarian Problem.”

“I can help you, if you like,” Obi-Wan offered.

“I would appreciate it,” Remii replied. He looked Obi-Wan in the eye a long moment then gave a formal bow. “I thank you for your assistance, Apprentice Kenobi.”

"You are most welcome. You may ask me for help anytime you need it, Remii. Remember that."

"I will try." Remii gave a small smile.

Obi-Wan nodded, drew two chairs up to the table, and soon they were engrossed in a discussion of trade imbalance and its ramifications on the planets involved. That Remii was intelligent was not a question, it was his dogged persistence that impressed Obi-Wan more. As Remii reached a conclusion, and began to write it up, Obi-Wan pulled the other data pads to him and paged through. The ones on alien anatomy gave him pause. They looked complex, far above the level of even a very bright youngster. The pad held a database of Sahmlian anatomy based on Remii’s observations. Obi-Wan was embarrassed that Remii observed ten times what he had about the natives, when Obi-Wan met more Sahmlians than Remii had even seen. Before he could ask the other apprentice about it, Obi-Wan heard the door to the quarters slide open. Obi-Wan felt Remii's surge of fright, and was astounded by its depth. How can a padawan fear his master? Something is very wrong.

--Continued in Chapter 10--