Jaeger (German): Hunter
When I was a kid, whenever I'd felt small or lonely, I'd look up at the stars and wondered if there was life up there. Turns out I was looking in the wrong direction. When alien life entered our world it was from the deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, a fischer between two tectonic plates. A portal between the dimensions, a breach. I was ten when the first Sith landed in San Francisco.
By the time tanks, jets and missiles took it down, six days and thirty five miles later, three cities were destroyed. Tens of thousands of lives were lost, including my parents.
We mourned our dead, memorialized the attack, moved on. And then, only six months later, a second attack hit Manila.
And then the third one hit Cabo, and then the fourth. And then we learned, this was not gonna stop, this was just the beginning. We needed new a weapon.
The world came together, pooling its resources, throwing aside old rivalry for the sake of the greater good. To fight monsters we created monsters of our own. The Jedi program was born. There were set backs at first, the neural lobe interface proved too much for a single pilot. A two pilot system was implemented, left hemisphere, right hemisphere, pilot controlled.
We started winning, the Jedi stopped invasions everywhere. But the Jedi were only as good as their pilots. The Jedi pilots turned into rock stars, the danger had turned into propaganda, Sith into toys. We got really good at it…winning. Then…then it all changed.
Obi-Wan was peacefully sleeping when the alarms started ringing through the barracks. He immediately groaned, it was too early for this. He didn't understand why the Sith always seemed to insist on coming through the breach at ungodly hours in the morning.
"Get up Obi-Wan, we are needed" came the warm voice of Obi-Wan's mentor as his large hands came and shook his shoulders.
Obi-Wan groaned and tried to bat the hands away. The Sith could wait another five more minutes.
"Come on Little One" urged Qui-Gon pulling the covers off the sleeping form, causing Obi-Wan to immediately curl into himself from the sudden chill. Alaska was so cold all the time, so different from what he had been used to in his youth, the sunny beaches of California.
But Obi-Wan had to admit defeat as the cold air sucked the warmth left in his sheets. With a huff he sat up in bed, and watched Qui-Gon gather his cloths. He never understood how he always seemed to be awake in the mornings, no matter when the alarm was sounded. Qui-Gon apparently was tired of Obi-Wan sitting there as he began to flap a shirt in Obi's way. Obi-Wan shivered as the cool air washed over him.
"Sadistic old man" Obi-Wan grumbled under his breath as he finally dragged himself out of bed and began to change into the cloths Qui-Gon threw at him. Qui-Gon did nothing but chuckle.
But both knew he didn't mean it. There was no secrets between them, could not with the drift. It was impossible to explain what it felt to drift with someone who never experienced it. But it was like being laid bare and your very soul was read. 2 bodies but one mind. Qui-Gon had seen who Obi-Wan was inside and out, just like Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon inside and out. They both knew that while Obi-Wan didn't like being reminded how small he was compared to Qui-Gon, he didn't mind the nick name.
Their partnership had gotten off to a rocky start, but now they had the strongest drifts bonds in the entire Jedi program. And one of the longest partnerships. For ten years the Jinn/Kenobi team had been fighting against the Sith invasion. The attacks never stopped, in the beginning. A Sith would appear once every six or so months.
But in the past two years, the Sith were now coming almost every other month with no end in sight. But still the Jedi prevailed, stopping Sith before they could make landfall.
So used to the routine of Sith attacks, it didn't take neither long to appear fully armor to the connection point where tech scurried around them connecting them to their jaegar with the two top ranking Commanders briefing them.
"Mission, guard your area of coast you will" ordered Yoda practically glaring at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
"No side trips" warned Mace actually glaring at the two pilots as the doors closed and the head was lifted to place on top of the Phantom Menace.
"I have a feeling that Mace doesn't trust us" joked Qui-Gon.
"I wonder why" said Obi-Wan. "One would think that we didn't follow orders or something."
Qui-Gon grinned. "Of course we would not do something like that."
"Try not to lay it on so thick guys, I can smell your bull from here" came Padme's voice through the comms.
"Everyone seems to be against us" grumbled Obi-Wan playfully.
"For good reason, I think you guys hold the record for the most chew outs by both Commander Yoda and Windu.
"Slander" accused Qui-Gon as he settled in.
"Riiight" drawled Padme, Obi-Wan could hear the smile in her voice. "Alright boys, initiating drift sequence in five, four, three, two, one."
With a familiar jolt Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were connected as close as humanely possible. During the first few times, this feeling had been so overwhelming and a little painful. Qui-Gon had been caring a lot of pain and grief during their first drift and Obi-Wan had been sucked into the painful memories. It had taken a lot of work and a lot of trust, and many missions later for them to become a formidable pair.
Now the sensation of being connected was a comfort. It made Obi-Wan know for real that he wasn't alone in the world. And as long as Qui-Gon was by his side, he felt that they would survive this war.
His feelings were echoed by Qui-Gon. To Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan was the son he never had the chance to have. He had been a lost kid, that joined the Jedi Corps too young. But the older man did not think that he would still be alive if this bright young man hadn't entered his life in that crucial time. The death of his mentor/ drift partner, and his wife all in the same month. At first Qui-Gon hadn't wanted a new drift partner, had actively fought against it with Yoda and Mace. He had almost resigned from the Corps altogether. But Yoda had convinced him to just try one tournament to find another partner.
Qui-Gon had been ruthless in that tournament, his deadly artua style had dominated everybody that had stood in his path. Everybody except the young scrawny kid that had stood nervously on the mat. No matter how Qui-Gon attacked, the boy was able to repel the attack. That in fact had frustrated Qui-Gon even more, and he had attacked even more viciously. His friend Mace told him afterwards that he had attacked the boy like a man possessed.
But it was a combination of the boys short stature, and the quickness of youth that had let him dodged the bone-breaking blows. Qui-Gon had been so focused on trying to hit the young man, that he let himself open to attack. An attack that the boy had taken full advantage of and the next thing Qui-Gon knew he was flat on his back with a training saber at his neck. The hand that held the saber was trembling, and Qui-Gon followed it up to meet scared eyes, eyes that seemed to change color with every blink, from blue to grey to green.
How young was this boy, fourteen? Fifteen? Qui-Gon wondered how he even managed to get into the tournament. As Qui-Gon lay on the floor looking at the frightened boy, he felt an immense guilt for having caused that expression on the boy's face. Of course later during their drift, he had seen that his eyes had been full of grief, anger, and despair.
Neither had known but together they would heal the wounds that the world had left on them, each filling a hole they had in their hearts. They had become Father and Son, closer than that with the drift.
Both were pulled out of these thoughts as their jaegar was dropped down on their section of the coast. Though they were not supposed to be actively hunting the Sith, they kept a sharp eye out. Of course like most things to happen to the Jinn/Kenobi team trouble seemed to seek them out.
"There's a fishing trolley still out there" said Qui-Gon as he studied the radar images that was coming in. Obi-Wan didn't even argue that they were supposed to be guarding the coast like Grand Commander Yoda had ordered them to.
"You're going to be the one who tells Yoda why we ignored orders" warned Obi-Wan rolling his eyes.
Qui-Gon flashed a grin at his partner. "Of course my rule abiding Padawan"
"You and your Star War's references Master" muttered Obi-Wan though smiled back at the man and played along. The Star Wars books were not a widely known story. They had been out of print since the 70's, but they were Qui-Gon's favorite trilogy and one that he had forced Obi-Wan to read.
If as if knowing that they had decided to disobey orders, the comm crackled to life.
"Your orders are to patrol the shore line" came Mace Windu's voice over the comm. "That does not include going off and helping that fishing trolley. Am I understood Jinn, Kenobi?!"
Obi-Wan could feel his partners frustration through there bond. "Understood Mace" finally ground out Qui-Gon.
A flash of thoughts rushed through the bond, Qui-Gon felt that if they could do something, that they should. The whole point of the Jedi Program was to save lives. Yet here the higher ups were preventing them from doing their job.
"What do you want to do?" asked Obi-Wan quietly. Though they might be partners, Qui-Gon was the one in charge. He had more experience with jaegars and was Obi-Wan's senior. Though they both knew if Obi-Wan was against it Qui-Gon would not push the issue.
"We're going after them" said Qui-Gon finally looking at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan nodded his acceptance of the plan and as one they began to walk. The further they went into the surf, the higher the water rose. Neither Qui-Gon nor Obi-Wan talked as they concentrated in moving the jaegar through the waves.
When they began to drawl close to the ship, the monitor screen on Obi-Wan's side lit up. Obi-Wan grinned as information began to appear on his screen, God-bless Padme. His pseudo sister knew exactly what the Jinn/Kennobi team was doing and sent them all the information they had on the Sith that had appeared out of the breech. "We got Sith inbound couple clicks away, codename Darth Maul."
Obi-Wan watched as the radar began to show the Sith getting closer to the trolley. "That Sith is almost on top of them" said Obi-Wan watching on his radar as the Sith picked up the speed heading towards the small fishing trolley.
Qui-Gon nodded but said nothing, Obi-Wan could feel it through the bond and he prepared for emerging from the water. They emerged practically on the ship itself, and in the same time as the Sith stood up out of the water also. As a well-oiled machine, Obi-Wan reached for the ship as Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber. Before fully turning their attention to the Sith.
This Sith was mostly red, in the shape of a miss-proportion T-Rex, but with a head full of horns.
"They keep on getting uglier, wouldn't you say Qui-Gon" stated Obi-Wan looking at the thing.
"Focus Obi-Wan" said Qui-Gon, but through the bond Obi-Wan felt Qui agree with him.
The Sith roared and prepared to charge, Obi-Wan pushed the ship towards the shore as gently as he could and prepared himself for the attack.
It was a violent fight. The Sith slammed into the jaegar with the force of freight train. It was easily one of the strongest Sith the pair had ever taken on. The horns were the most wicked part of the Sith, they were long and very wicked. The horns could dig under the plates on the armor and rip them off. Pain sensors began to go off as each piece was ripped off.
But the team ignored it with practiced ease. Obi-Wan distracted the beast as Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and moved in for the kill. But the Sith was quick and was able to dodge the strike of the green blade. From out of the water a spiked tail appeared and struck out at the Phantom Menace .
It became a deadly dance as beast and machine struck and dodged. Qui-Gon was able to land a big victory by managing to slice both arms off the beast, leaving only it's horns and spiked tail. But it was short lived as the spike at the end of the tail cleaved Qui-Gon's lightsaber in two.
Obi-Wan was shocked, never had a Sith managed to cleave a lightsaber in two. But this moment of distraction cost Obi-Wan greatly as the Sith followed the motion of its tail to swing around and ram it's horns through Obi-Wan's arm. Obi-Wan couldn't help the scream of pain that left his lips as the horns tore through his arm, ripping some of its major armor off. Parts of his arm went numb as a result of this attack. As Obi-Wan struggled to block the pain to re-engage, Qui-Gon brought his fist down repeatedly on the Sith's head. Trying to distract it long enough for Obi-Wan to continue. Finally Qui-Gon was able to grab one of the horns and use it to toss the Sith away from them.
"Are you alright!" demanded Qui-Gon his eyes still on the Sith, but most of his focus on his young partner.
Obi-Wan was breathing through clenched teeth, trying to manage the phantom pain. "I'm alright" gritted out Obi-Wan reading the damage flashing on his screens. "But he's damaged the casing to my lightsaber, it's unable to engage."
"We will make due with the blaster" returned Qui-Gon, keeping his voice calm. Even though the Sith had regained itself and was lowering his head in preparation of a charge.
It didn't need to be said that Obi-Wan thought it would not be enough to take down this monster. But they had been faced with worse challenges earlier in their career, and they had overcome it all. After ten years on the job, they had quite the experience with bad encounters with Sith.
"Here and now" reminded Qui-Gon gently as he slammed his fist onto the charging Sith's head, breaking one of the horns in the process.
The battle was a trade of blows as Obi-Wan struggled to get a clear shot of the beast. Finally Qui-Gon was able to knock the beast far enough back that Obi-Wan was able to shot the thing in the chest repeaditly. The Sith let out a finally bellow as it landed beneath the waves and did not rise up again.
For a minute neither Obi-Wan nor Qui-Gon did anything but pant, trying to regain their breath. Finally regaining enough of his breath, Obi-Wan reached up and pushed the comm."Yoda, mark down another kill for Phantom Menace" commed Obi-Wan grinning at Qui-Gon.
"Come in you will, much explaining you have" sighed Yoda voice through the microphone. The Commander did not have the energy to berate the two over the channel. Instead he choose to save his energy to yell at them once they came back to the compound
"Yes Sir," said Obi-Wan signing off, before looking at his mentor.
"Well that was exciting" laughed Qui-Gon.
Obi-Wan smiled at his mentor, not knowing that this would be that last time as mere seconds later the Sith emerged from the water and tore through the Phantom Menace armor, it's barbed tail slicing open the cockpit and dragging Qui-Gon out with it.
The bond between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon was snapped, and Obi-Wan was left reeling at the sudden emptiness. "NOOOOO!" he screamed.
Obi-Wan felt that someone was stabbing a knife into his brain, a brain that was suddenly half empty. There was sudden silence and Obi-Wan's confused thoughts tried to travel to a now dead bond. Obi-Wan could barely feel his body, as blackness closed around him. It was only the sound of the Sith roaring that brought Obi-Wan back from the edge.
Obi-Wan shook his head, there was no time to mourn or process his shock of his sudden detachment from Qui-Gon. The Sith was still out there and was preparing another attack. Knowing it was suicide he engaged both hemispheres of Phantom Menance, and fell into a fighting stance. The Sith lowered its great horned head for another attack. Obi-Wan saw red as it came closer, and with a savage war cry as he launched forward.
Later, Obi-Wan could never remember just how he was able to kill the Sith. He just knew that a red curtain had descended over his mind and when he regained himself he was at the torn in half remains of the Sith sinking through the waves. Obi-Wan stumbled back from the carnage, but he couldn't deny he had did it. The Sith's black blood covered both of his hands.
Through the hole in the helm, Obi-Wan could see the sun rising over the horizon. In a haze he began walking towards the shore. He was completely unaware of the comms going off and the concerned voices of Yoda, Windu, and Padme demanding answers. But he heard none of that, Obi-Wan struggled further, lifting one foot over another back to the shore. He was past the point of thinking, he was just driven by instinct. Some part of him knew he couldn't leave the jaegar in the ocean, that he had to bring it back to shore. So he kept going one foot in front of the other. Dawn was truly breaking when Obi-Wan caught sight of the shore line and he felt bone deep relief.
As soon as his feet reached the sandy shores of beach, Obi-Wan let himself fall. He seemed to fall for a long time before his Jaegar slammed to the ground, almost ejecting him out of the Phantom Menace. But the harnesses that saved him from many Sith's attacks had saved him from ejecting from the cockpit.
Obi-Wan struggled out of the rigging and crawled out of the shattered helm. He almost didn't notice the man that had come running up to him, asking him if he was okay. Obi-Wan wanted to tell him no, as he looked downand was surprised to see blood streaming down his side. He did not feel it at all, all he felt was the emptiness inside his head.
"Qui-Gon" he breathed, "Qui-Gon." But only his voice echoed in his head, and what had happened came crashing down on him. His legs gave out from under him, and he found himself on his back staring up into the sky.
As the blackness over took him, he found himself wishing he would never wake up.
-o-o-o
Grand Commander Yoda leaned heavily on his cane as he stared through the window, at a patient that had yet to wake up. A man who's life was now in his hands. The Doctor stood off to the side waiting for his answer.
"Wait, we will" finally decided Yoda.
"Perhaps you should reconsider Commander Yoda" said the Doctor. "It is highly likely Mr. Kenobi will have major brain damage if he should wake. It might be kinder to let him go now."
"You know for certain of this?" asked Mace as he also stared into the room that housed the young man.
The Doctor hesitated, "In my professional opinion I say that it is highly likely. Though with such little research in the drift technology, we have no way to be certain."
"But there is a chance he will be able to function normally?" questioned Mace when Yoda remained silent.
Once again the Doctor hesitated, "Yes. But we have no way of knowing, until if he wakes up."
Yoda closed his eyes, Obi-Wan was like a grandson to the old Commander. He had known the boy since he was a child, and when the boys real parents died Yoda had taken the boy under his wing. Had enrolled him in the Jedi Corps, and had set up his partnership with Qui-Gon. As he had predicted Qui-Gon had taken Obi-Wan under his wing. Had raised Obi-Wan into a fine young man Yoda always knew he would be. Though he knew that he had condemned Obi-Wan into a dangerous life when he allowed him to join the Jedi Corps, he never thought this would happen.
The Sith he had confronted, this Darth Maul was different from any other Sith. The armor on the chest was twice as thick as any other Sith, which was why it got back up when they thought it was down. Qui-Gon had paid the price for this mistake. The search teams had been able to recover his body, and tomorrow he would be buried with full Jedi honors. Yoda regretted that Obi-Wan would not be able to attend. Because there was no doubt in Yoda's mind that Obi-Wan wouldn't wake up. When he was ready, Obi-Wan would wake up.
Yoda showed this by leaving the doctor in the hallway without another word. He had already given an answer and he wasn't going to change his mind. The lights in the room were dimmed as if Obi-Wan was merely sleeping instead of being in the third day of a coma.
Obi-Wan had never been a large man, he looked even smaller when he stood next to Qui-Gon. But looking at him in the hospital bed, Yoda saw only the boy he once was. The small fifteen year old that had looked at the old Commander with wide eyes.
It pained Yoda to see that boy hooked too so many machines, to have a machine breathing for him because he wasn't taking in enough oxygen by himself. But despite the grim outlook, Yoda had no doubt that Obi-Wan would wake up.
"He will be different when he wakes up" said Mace coming to stand beside Yoda.
"Suffered a great loss" commented Yoda. "Lost half of his soul when their bond snapped. Be more worried that if he acted the same as before"
Mace looked knowingly at Yoda, there was the reason why the old Commander talked the way he did. Though only a select few knew the reason behind it.
Yoda looked down sadly at Obi-Wan. Perhaps it was a blessing that he was not awake. Yoda knew all too well the pain that would follow when he woke up. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a river stone. A river stone he had went to the Jinn/Kenobi residence to get. It was a highly polished stone that Qui-Gon had given Obi-Wan after their first successful mission.
Yoda gently placed the stone in Obi-Wan's slack hand and closed his fingers around him. Hoping that it would bring the young man some small comfort in the times to come.
Yoda reached out and brushed his hand over Obi-Wan's hair, preparing to leave when he stopped, looking at Obi-Wan's face. Slowly he reached out and brushed Obi-Wan's check, brushing away the tears that were slowly falling from beneath his closed eyes.
Even in a coma, Obi-Wan was grieving the loss of Qui-Gon.
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