Title: Shrouded by Darkness
Author: Erika
Series: The story stands on its own and is completely understandable even if you haven't read the other stories in the series but it is story #6 in Rebuilding the Bond.
Rating: Mostly PG but PG13 in some parts (Obi-torture and Qui-angst)
Summary: A mysterious and brutal attack leaves young Obi-Wan Kenobi's life hanging in the balance and threatens to throw another devastating loss at his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Many questions are left unanswered. Who attacked the boy and how did he get in and out of the Temple unnoticed? When the Padawan finally wakes up it seems like all of his Master's questions will be answered, but why does Obi-Wan refuse to speak and what is he so afraid of? Will Qui-Gon ever find the truth, or will the answers he seeks remain…shrouded by darkness?
Time Frame: After JA8.
Spoilers: For my other stories and for JA
Category: AU, H/C, non-slash, POV, Obi-torture, Obi-angst, Qui-angst. Major angst!
Disclaimers: The Star Wars universe and all of its characters belong to George Lucas, I'm only borrowing them to have a little fun and I promise to return them unharmed (well, at least mostly unharmed). I'm making no money off of this and this is written for entertainment purposes only. Any characters that are not recognizable as being part of the SW universe belong to me, but you guys probably figured that out, right?
Feedback: Both positive feedback and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated and will be cherished! (firedrake88@yahoo.com)
Archive: Jedi Apprentice, Early Years, Wolfie's Den, JAFD, The Guardians of Peace, The Temple Library, Telly, and anyone who has any of my other stories. Anyone else who wants this, please ask and send me a link to your site so that I can check it out =D
Things enclosed in 's are telepathic communication through the Master/Padawan bond.
Things enclosed in // //'s are //visions//
Things enclosed in / /'s are /memories/
Shrouded By Darkness
~ Part One: Prisoner 19347-21192 ~
Obi-Wan:
Journal Entry; March 6th, 0700 Hours
For what seems like the millionth time in my life, I don't know what to do. Before I always had someone to turn to for advice; Yoda, Bant, Cerasi, and finally Qui-Gon, but now there's no one who can help me. Qui-Gon, the person I trust the most, is the one who simply cannot know. My Master's been through so much already. He's experienced so much pain and I don't want to add to it, not now, not when we're finally getting close to each other. I know he wouldn't blame me, it's not that that I'm afraid of. I just don't want to cause him any more pain. I don't want my lips to be the ones that tell him of yet another betrayal that will scar his soul.
I was planning to tell him, once we got closer. After we discussed our relationship and vowed to start over I thought that I finally would be able to tell him but then…then he almost died and I found out something about him that still chills me to think about. It fascinates me to think that such pure evil could spawn the goodness in Qui-Gon's soul, but now that I know it all makes sense.
I'm stupid for not having seen it before! It was the one missing link to solving the puzzle and I had the answer in front of me for so long and didn't even realize it. I always thought that he was crazy; I never bothered to think of what it would mean if he wasn't. Maybe that's why I never saw what was right in front me. Oh well. There's no changing the past. What's done is done and there's nothing I can do now. All I can do is move on…and pray that Qui-Gon never finds out. I don't even want to think about what will happen if he realizes or if the Council decides to tell him. It would just add another scar to his tattered soul. I can't let that happen.
What will happen if he ever does find out? The thought sends chills down my back. It would hurt him, I know it would. He's already been through so much. Would he push me away? I fear greatly that he would. I know he would. He was afraid to trust me from the beginning because of Xanatos and if he ever found out about this…it would rip away the trust and security he's managed to get back from my predecessor. I don't want him to push me away…I can't stand the thought of things being like…before. I can't lose the closeness we have, I need our friendship so badly. The thought of losing it scares me more than any amount of torture ever could.
Thank the Force that Yoda always advised me against telling Qui-Gon. I never understood until I was kneeling there, desperately trying to find a way to save both my father and my Master. Now that I know I'll have to remember to thank Yoda, the Force only knows how badly I would have hurt Qui-Gon if I hadn't listened…
I signed off of my journal and double checked the password protection device before setting the datapad under the mattress of my bed. I had always kept my journal hidden but now that I knew about Qui-Gon I couldn't risk him accidentally finding out by reading it and so I password protected it just to be safe.
Determination surged through me and I reached out to the Force to calm myself once more. I had to do this. This was the final thing that was haunting me; this was the last thing that prevented me from having closure. Time had passed and I was strong now. I had to use that strength to throw away the last of the binds that were holding me captive. I had healed long ago and now I had to look into the face of my fears and show myself that I wasn't afraid anymore.
I reached out to the Force and let it wash over and through me, allowing it to soothe away the last of my doubts and fears. Then I grabbed my comlink and contacted the high security prison on Perelious Prime.
"How may I help you?" a deep male voice reached my ears a moment later.
"I am Benjamin Kenobi," I said in a loud clear voice, "and I wish to speak with prisoner 19347-21192."
"Hold on a moment sir and I will connect you to his Prison Center."
"Thank you."
A few seconds passed and then a woman with a sharp voice and deep accent said, "This is Dala Melo, head security agent at the Methos Prison Center, how may I help you?"
"I wish to speak with prisoner 19347-21192, please," I said almost impatiently. Qui-Gon would be up soon and I needed to get this over with.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Tell him that it's Benjamin Kenobi," I spoke through clenched teeth.
"Please wait a moment while I locate him."
The instant her voice faded from the comlink I knew something was wrong. I couldn't explain it, it wasn't a tremor in the Force, it was just a deep sick feeling in the pit of my stomach…
"Mr. Kenobi?" the woman said, sounding rather agitated.
"Yes?" Force, what was wrong?
"Yesterday morning there was a...unexpected power outage and in the confusion several of the prisoners escaped. I regret to inform you that prisoner 19347-21192 was among them. Do no worry, a search has already been organized and is well under way. Four of the seven prisoners who escaped have already been recaptured and I am sure that the others will be found soon. Would you like me to contact you when the prisoner you wish to speak with has been found?"
"N-no, th-thank you," I said shakily, cutting off the transmission before the woman could respond. Fear shot through me like lighting and my hands shook almost uncontrollably. There was no way the man would be recaptured, he was already far, far away from that planet…
TBC…