TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  6/36

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

DARK SACRIFICE

By Cara & Quintus

Chapter 6

Dushiko unfolded himself from his position, which indicated to Obi-Wan the man had been there a while.

The two youths turned off their sabers and hung them on their belts. Obi-Wan could feel Remii's apprehension. Obi-Wan looked into Dushiko's piercing black eyes; the master seemed frustrated and worried, nothing more, although the Jedi robes did little to disguise the Force power that radiated from the man.

"Leave us, Obi-Wan," Dushiko said quietly.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied with a short bow. He gathered up his things. Before leaving he turned to face the older man. "I asked Remii to come practice with me, Master Dushiko. I meant no harm."

"I understand, but this matter does not concern you, Apprentice Kenobi. Leave us."

Obi-Wan nodded. He tried to catch Remii's eye as he walked by, but the youth had his gaze fixed on the ground in front of him. Obi-Wan fully intended to walk away as he had been told, but a crushing sense of foreboding caused him to change his plans. The minute he stepped outside the entry hedge, he stopped, and leaned against it. Closing his eyes, he used the Force to enhance his hearing.

"I am very disappointed in you, Remii," Dushiko said.

"Yes, Master."

"I gave you explicit orders to stay in our rooms, did I not?"

"Yes, Master."

"This world is dangerous! The Dark Side taints it. I have enough to worry about without wondering where my padawan is and what trouble stalks him. Do you want to jeopardize this mission?"

"No, Master."

"They why did you not stay in our rooms as I instructed?"

"I only wanted to do some light saber practice with Obi-Wan, Master! So I could get better!"

"I am not a good enough teacher that you must seek out a mere apprentice to train you?"

"No, Master... I mean... It's not like that!"

"Why do you insist on defying me, Padawan?"

"I don't defy you, Master!"

"You do. You defy me at every turn."

"I don't!"

"You do! What of the saber practice yesterday? And the scene in the spaceport when we arrived? The minute I leave you on your own, you get into trouble." Dushiko sighed heavily. "You've defied me since the day I got you. Why, Remii? Why?"

There was a long silence, finally broken by Dushiko's angry rumble. "I asked you a question, Padawan. Answer me! Why must you continually defy me?"

"I don't!" Remii shouted. "You just hate me!"

"I don't hate you!"

"You hate me! You wish I were dead so you can be free of me!"

Obi-Wan heard the sound of something solid meeting flesh.

"Never say that! I would never wish you to die. I do not hate you, Remii. I only hate your persistent defiance. You can die without control. You must learn discipline! You will learn discipline!"

"Master…please…"

"You will learn to obey!"

"Y-Yes, Master."

"You were told not to heal without my supervision, were you not?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then why did you do it, Remii? Why? Is our relationship that unimportant to you? Did you think I would not notice?"

"I had to do it! I had no choice. I had to!"

"No, you did not have to do it. You had a choice. You chose to disobey me yet again. When will it end, Remii-san? Haven't the returns taught you anything? Do you want to go back to the Temple?"

"Please don't send me back, Master, please!"

Obi-Wan could hear Remii sob, and felt some of the boy's panic hit him in the pit of the stomach.

"Please, Master… I'll try harder."

"You will not try! You will do! No… more… healing. Until you prove to me you can discipline yourself, healing is not allowed. Do you understand me?"

There was silence. Obi-Wan reached out again with his senses toward Remii, and found pain, and fear.... and defiance. Obi-Wan could feel tendrils of Darkness gather. Emotions in a whirl, he peered around the entry hedge.

Ak'ra Dushiko stood over Remii, hands on hips. Blood trickled from Remii's nose and lip, and a red handprint was visible on his face.

"I asked you a question, Padawan," Dushiko said in a dangerously calm voice.

"Yes, Master..." Remii choked out.

"Are you going to defy me again, Padawan?"

Remii looked up, agonized expression on his face, and whispered so quietly Obi-Wan almost didn't catch it. "Probably, Master..."

As if Remii's answer released a demon, Dushiko proceeded to beat the apprentice with his fists until Remii cowered on the ground, arms covering his head, pleading.

"Please, Master, stop... Please. I'll try harder! I'll listen! I will! Please... don't send me away!"

Obi-Wan could take no more. He fled down the stone paths, getting hopelessly lost until he stumbled on an exit. He made his way to the front doors of the Residence and ran up the stairs to his room. He palmed the door lock, burst inside, and hurled himself on one of the beds. His thoughts were so confused it took him many long minutes to seek comfort in meditation. Obi-Wan pulled at the Force like a lifeline, desperate to control his turmoil. It didn't work. He could still hear the sound of fist hitting flesh, and feel the despair as Remii pleaded with his master. Please don't send me away… Obi-Wan nearly jumped out of his skin at the touch of a hand on the back of his neck. He rolled over and sat up.

Qui-Gon stood over Obi-Wan, concern on his lined face. "What has got you so upset that I could feel your distress three floors away, my young padawan?"

"I'm sorry, Master, I didn't mean to disturb your concentration."

"That is neither here nor there. What is wrong?"

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, unsure. "I am not sure how to say."

"Do not get caught up in the details. Simply tell me what upset you, to start." Qui-Gon waited patiently.

"I... I saw Master Dushiko strike Remii."

Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "I see."

"He did it more than once. He beat Remii. With his fists."

"And this upsets you?"

Obi-Wan stared at his mentor. "Yes, of course it does!"

"What did Remii do to provoke his master?"

Thoroughly confused, Obi-Wan lifted his hands. "He disobeyed."

"Does disobeying your master not deserve punishment, Obi-Wan?"

"It does not deserve punishment like that!" Obi-Wan stared at Qui-Gon defiantly. "Remii did not deserve to be beaten."

"Are you privilege to what previous actions Master Dushiko has taken to correct his padawan?"

"No, Master."

"Then how do you know what was appropriate in this instance?"

Obi-Wan stopped his reply and thought a moment, before saying slowly. "I don't. But I do know that it's wrong, Master. I feel it inside."

"Whether I agree with you, or not, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, "It is not my place to correct another master concerning his padawan."

"Why not? Aren't we Jedi supposed to be protectors?"

"Calm yourself, Obi-Wan. Think about what you are saying."

"But-"

Qui-Gon held up a hand. "Calm," he repeated. He shrugged off his cloak and draped it over a chair, then sank cross-legged to the floor and closed his eyes.

Obi-Wan slid off the bed and mirrored his master's position. He felt the wave of composure Qui-Gon sent his way, and wrapped it around him like a blanket. After a few minutes, he felt better. He opened his eyes and met Qui-Gon's smile.

"Now. While I admire your willingness to fight injustice, my young padawan, you must never let your passion get in the way of your responsibilities. Do you understand?" Qui-Gon stared at him intently.

"Yes, Master, but-"

"But you still disagree," Qui-Gon finished for him. He sighed. "Obi-Wan, do you think I'm perfect?" At the look on Obi-Wan's face, Qui-Gon chuckled. "Answer honestly, Padawan. You will not offend me." He paused. "Am I perfect, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan fought the urge to wiggle. "No, Master, you are not," he finally answered. "But-"

Qui-Gon held up a hand. “No, I am not perfect, despite the fact perfection is what we Jedi strive for. The important thing is that we never stop striving. What I am trying to tell you, my young apprentice, is that Jedi Masters... are... not... perfect. But most of us have reached a state where we take things in stride. That is why we are allowed to train padawans, because we have demonstrated our reliability over the years." Qui-Gon paused.

"But-"

"Master Dushiko has trained other apprentices into fine Guardians and Weapons Masters also. Do you not think he knows how to handle things?"

"Remii does not want to be a Weapons Master-"

"If padawans were allowed to only do what they want, then they would play with light sabers all day and race speeders all night. Sometimes others know what is best for us, Obi-Wan. The Masters are Masters because of their years of wisdom. Do I not follow the will of the Council? Even though I might disagree with their decision?"

"Usually, Master..." Obi-Wan chewed his bottom lip.

Qui-Gon watched him silently, slight smile on his face. "I can almost hear you thinking, padawan. Ask. An answer, even if it is one you do not like, is better than not knowing."

Obi-Wan nodded and looked into Qui-Gon's calm blue eyes. "Master, has anything I've ever done made you want to hit me?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you?"

Qui-Gon sighed. "Because I am older, Obi-Wan. I understand things now that I didn't years ago. This is why one is not given a padawan learner as soon as they complete their trials. Jedi Knights need time to mature, to understand themselves before we ask them to understand others."

"Master Dushiko is older."

Qui-Gon sighed again, and unfolded himself from his sitting position. He stood, and looked down. "Your stubbornness is both an asset, and a burden, Obi-Wan. While I commend your willingness to defend your friend, Master Dushiko is still a Jedi Master, and has earned the benefit of the doubt." Qui-Gon rubbed a hand across his face. "I wonder how much our short tempers are being caused by this planet. We are all testy, even in negotiations. I cannot shake the feeling that the Dark Side has much to do with this."

"You think Master Dushiko was influenced by the Dark Side?"

"Ak'ra Dushiko abhors the Dark Side." Qui-Gon looked pensive. "Even more than most. He should be well aware of its effects on his thoughts and actions."

"What if he doesn't realize it?"

"I'm sure he does."

"But what if-"

Qui-Gon held up a hand. "Enough. Do not question another Master in my presence, Padawan. Not now."

"Then may I ask another question, Master?"

"Yes."

"Did you ever want to send me back to the Temple when I became your padawan, Master?"

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "No, Obi-Wan. The Force paired us for a reason; it would be arrogant of me to reject its wisdom because of some initial problems in our relationship." He gave Obi-Wan a curious look. "Did you ever wish that I had returned you to the Temple, my young padawan?"

"No, Master! Never!"

Qui-Gon nodded, slight frown still on his face. He rubbed a hand over his beard and gave Obi-Wan a quiet smile. "I am happy to hear that."

Obi-Wan came to his feet. "So what about Remii, Master?"

"I will not lecture another Master on his apprentice, Obi-Wan. But if the opportunity presents itself, I will discuss the subject of padawans." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Obi-Wan bowed his head. "Yes, Master..."

--Continued in Chapter 7--