This particular story is where my series began. Enjoy!
Choices
Rating: T+
Summary: Obi-Wan has a major decision to make concerning his future either with or without the Jedi
Disclaimer: All cannon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled One, and now Disney. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Note: This is a sequel to The Crucible
Timeline: 40BBY
Speech: " "
Training Bond communications: /
Internal thoughts: italics
Chapter One
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn looked at the screen that depicted a glowing brownish blue globe. Planets always looked peaceful from outerspace. "Padawan?" he turned while calling towards the cockpit of their transport. For the past month Obi-Wan Kenobi had been accompanying him several minor missions. This time it was different. When this mission was completed, Obi-Wan would be released from his probation and be able to participate fully in any and all future endeavors.
Qui-Gon was glad to have Obi-Wan with him once again. Up until the past year he never realized just how much he had come to rely on his apprentice until he wasn't standing there beside him.
"Master?" Obi-Wan muffled voice came from the cockpit.
Getting to his feet, Qui-Gon moved to the smaller space. On the viewscreens before before them there was a clear view of the planet.
It was rather unusual for a single Jedi team to have sole use of a Jedi transport. Normally they traveled with other members of the Judiciary, along with their own pilots. This time Obi-Wan was tasked with that particular duty. Qui-Gon put the strangeness out of his mind. Now? He would enjoy not being crowded. "I hope you did your research," he said as he sat in the co-pilot's seat.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Yes, Master. I did."
"Good."
Sometime in the distant past the planet below them had suffered such a cataclysmic war that anyone that could flee, did leaving the poorest of the poor to eek out some sort of living. With such devastation, the planet was thrust into such a dark age of sorts that it only regained space travel in the past few centuries. At least a third of the plant was uninhabitable. Over a century earlier Republic scientists arrived and looked to see what, if anything they could do in the realm of terra-forming. It was soon realized that the worst areas could never be restored. Most, if not all, thought it was just a hopeless cause.
With the slow growth of technology once again, and the low population, the inhabited regions slowly coalesced into two political entities that now vied for dominance. This caused a fractured nature of government, which there really wasn't one that controlled what could be controlled. The Galactic Senate wasn't one to get involved if there were any calls for help, for there was no way to tell who was in control, for it could flip at any time.
With the heightened tensions, the Viceroy from the more powerful nation, or country, personally contacted the Jedi High Council in hopes that something could be done to keep things from spiraling out of the tenuous balance the two sides had with each other.
"This is Vasda Planetary Control; please state the nature of your business," a voice came across the speakers.
Obi-Wan glanced over to Qui-Gon. /Should I?/
Qui-Gon shook his head. /Not yet. I'm pushing the bounds by letting you fly here./ He reached for the communication controls and turned the microphone on. "We are representatives from the Jedi High Council. Viceroy Pedar requested a meeting with us."
As the minutes began to drag out Qui-Gon wondered if they would even be granted permission to enter the planet's airspace. Reaching out with the Force he focused on the planet below. Under the calm exterior he sensed something off.
/I feel it, too,/ Obi-Wan's voice whispered through their still intact training bond.
"Be wary, Padawan," Qui-Gon vocalized. His words were for Obi-Wan as much as they were for himself.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan's voice echoed his own wariness.
Several more minutes passed before a brief burst of static over the communications channel, and the initial voice came back, "Permission granted. Please proceed to the coordinates that are being transmitted to your ship."
As if in answer, the navigation computer beeped. Obi-Wan turned his attention to it and nodded. "Mater, we have the coordinates."
Qui-Gon reached over once again and reopened the communications channel. "Coordinates have been received. We are proceeding towards the landing area." He turned his attention to the navi-computer and then back to Obi-Wan. At the Padawan's hesitation he nodded.
The unspoken thought was received and Obi-Wan sat back and let the computer take over. The upper wisps of the atmosphere gave everything a bluish haze. The lack of air traffic at this altitude actually made Qui-Gon wonder if things had grown worse since their initial call, or was it always like this?
This all made Qui-Gon think once again of the reason they were called for in the first place. In the past century they had only begun reaching out to the stars once again and the Republic was waiting for them. The problem was, there was no centralized government. Because of that the Chancellor had no idea who to speak with. At this point in time the Republic couldn't send help, though they wanted to. And then there was the growing dissent that only created more chaos. Someone was taking advantage of the current situation.
"Old against new, modern against ancient traditions," he mused.
"What?" Obi-Wan looked at him in confusion. "Can't they do both? We do."
"Padawan, it's called greed. The more power one has, many times the more power that person wants." Qui-Gon glanced over the instrumentation before continuing, "It also looks as if you didn't do your research."
Obi-Wan had the decency to flush in embarrassment. "But I did," he gave a stubborn answer. "This is why the Viceroy called for our assistance. He wants to see if we can negotiate some sort of agreement between the two sides."
The cockpit grew quiet as the transport dipped into the upper edges of the atmosphere almost as if it had a purpose. As they descended deeper it became noticeable where the areas that were uninhabitable. The air traffic was non existent as they moved over what looked like a desert covered in craters. Eventually the ruins of a large city emerged out of the desert. It was nestled against what turned out to be one of the oceans. The empty city and the desert were the last vestiges that showed that there had been some sort of conflict. Now crossing the water, air traffic began to increase.
The next city they came across was much smaller than the sprawling ruins they traveled over. The coordinates in the computer were now taking them towards a large cluster of buildings. They flew over a large green area in the middle of the buildings that was large enough to land a decent size ship.
On the edge of the city they found themselves in a holding pattern, waiting for their turn to land at the local space port. "Apparently Viceroy Pedar thinks it's important for us to be here," Qui-Gon mused as he made sure he was buckled in securely before landing. He left that particular job to Obi-Wan.
They exited the transport once they were firmly on the ground.
Being a Jedi, it wasn't that uncommon for them to walk or take public transport to their destination. While leaving the terminal, several humanoids wearing light colored trousers and long shirts of the same color that reached down to the middle of their thighs approached them. Their dark skin only made their clothing look even lighter. On either side of them were two heavily armed guards. Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow as he glanced to Obi-Wan.
When they stopped in front of them, one spoke, "Jedi."
Qui-Gon bowed his head before making the introductions. "I am Jedi Master Jinn, and this is Padawan Kenobi. We are here on behalf of the Jedi High Council. Viceroy Pedar requested our presence."
The one in the middle frowned. "We were informed that two Jedi were coming, not a child."
Qui-Gon glanced over to Obi-Wan before bringing his attention back to the men before him. "Padawan Kenobi is fully trained. Wherever I go, he comes with me."
The representatives were quiet for a moment before taking a step back. With low voices they discussed whatever it was until there was some sort of consensus. Eventually he came back, "Follow me," he ordered.
The two Jedi locked eyes before they followed their escort out of the spaceport and into a waiting transport. Qui-Gon felt growing frustration coming from Obi-Wan's side of the training bond. For the time he waited, hoping that the younger Jedi would deal with his emotions in an appropriate way. When it was becoming obvious that it wasn't happening, he sent a tendril of thought through their training bond, /Don't worry./
There was a mental sigh. /I know, Master. It just gets on my nerves./
The bond remained quiet until they approached heavily fortified gates. Once admission was gained, they emerged into a large grassy area and buildings off to the side that somehow looked as if they grew out of the ground. Those ended up being the same buildings that they saw from the air. The structures were imposing in their own right, and with the addition of more heavily armed guards made it feel almost like a prison.
Inside what turned out as the main building, the decorations were as elaborate as the outside was imposing. It was magnificently furnished like some of the high Senatorial apartments on Coruscant. At each turn they were greeted by swirling forms and sculptures.
As they continued to move through the different room, Qui-Gon felt Obi-Wan's growing difficulty in keeping his mind focused. /Remember to keep your attention on the here and now./
/Sorry, Master,/ Obi-Wan sent back immediately. /I will do better./
Instead of giving Obi-Wan a verbal answer, he sent his approval through the bond along with the paternal affection he felt towards the young Jedi.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan answered, his voice soft but infused with a smile.
Eventually they found themselves in a hallway lined with doors on either side. Their guide stopped and pulled out a card and unlocked two doors. "These will be your rooms for the duration of your stay. Should you require anything, let the servants know and it will be supplied."
Their guide turned and as he passed them Qui-Gon asked, "When are we to see the Viceroy?"
He stopped and turned back, "You will be summoned in due time."
This time Qui-Gon frowned.
/Hurry up and wait,/ came through the training bond. Even though he understood Obi-Wan's complaint, it was not becoming of a Jedi. Truth be told, he was just as frustrated, but he refused to let his emotions color his thoughts. So for now they would wait.
As soon as the servant disappeared around the corner Obi-Wan shook his head. "Why is it taking so long, Master?"
Qui-Gon looked down both sides of the corridor. "That is something we should not question, at least at the present time, Padawan."
Obi-Wan nodded. When Qui-Gon felt his Padawan was ready, he turned his attention to one door.
Obi-Wan reached out a hand to push the door open, not even bother to 'see' what was behind it. With a hand Qui-Gon stilled the younger Jedi's movements. The Padawan looked up, confusion playing across his face.
"Have you checked the rooms?"
The confusion on Obi-Wan's face disappeared to reveal embarrassment. "Sorry, Master. I wasn't thinking." He pulled his hand back and waited while taking a step back.
Perhaps this is all because of the past year being confined to the Temple. Deciding to give Obi-Wan the benefit of the doubt, he only nodded. This time he could sense the younger Jedi gathering the Force and send a probe into the room beyond and then withdrawing it.
"The room is empty, Master."
"Good, Padawan." Yet with caution Qui-Gon pushed the door open while keeping his lightsabre just within reach. With all the danger and tension emanating from the planet, it bothered him that there could be spies within the walls of the large building.
What they found behind the door was very different from their shared quarters within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Instead of a common room, there was only the large open space with two doors on opposite ends. One door ended up leading to a small refresher, while the other opened into a closet. On a third wall was another door, but it was locked from the other side. On the final wall was a window that had heavy draperies on either side. Moving across the room Obi-Wan looked out only to find that the view was of the large green space they saw when they first arrived. The heavy draperies hid a holoscreen that was bolted to the wall, while another disguised a second window.
Before leaving the room Obi-Wan placed his traveling bag on the large bed that was set in the middle of the space. If the bag was stolen, all they would get was an extra tunic and his study materials. There was always time to read and study, but not at the moment.
Qui-Gon moved out of the room with Obi-Wan following him and they repeated the process with the other door. That room ended up being similar in size, but the overall color was different. This one also had a table off to the side. On the flat surface was a vase of local flowers giving off a light floral scent while brightening the area with its color. Leaning against the vase was a small card. Picking it up, Qui-Gon read the simple message written on the opposite side. "Apparently we are to meet with the viceroy tomorrow after breakfast."
TBC….