denotes mind speech or thought.
Jedi apprentice era. Obi-Wan is sixteen. Master Tahl is his master. Things happen and he is forced to become Master Jinn's apprentice.
" OUT OF DARKNESS "
Senior Padawan, I never thought I would make it and certainly not as quickly as I did; two years ahead of most padawans. WOW!
The apprentice to Master Tahl studied himself in the full length mirror that hung in the living quarters' fresher he shared with his master.
Obi-Wan had something to be proud of other than his good looks. He was made senior apprentice at sixteen, a full two years before most apprentices did at the age of eighteen and far ahead of some who could not master their beginner's apprenticeship until they reached twenty.
He adjusted his new tunic again and placed his braid up over in front of his right ear so as to hang in full view before he went to the celebration for the new senior padawans. This was the official dinner and initiation. The next two days would be filled with parties held for what the Jedi considered such a monumental advancement.
Seldom did a Jedi, from initiate status to the stature of master get to celebrate in gala regal such as the teen was about to experience. Obi-Wan could think of only two such times, advancing to senior padawan and becoming a knight did Jedi experience such an event.
Other steps up the Jedi ladder, from becoming an initiate, being taken as padawan even becoming a master were more private, less celebrated, but always impressed upon the younglings as no less important.
His master had congratulated him and attempted not to show pride but what was unseen to others had not gone unnoticed by her apprentice .
All around good day indeed. I don't think anything could bring me off this cloud I am on right now.
Obi-Wan made one more adjustment to his tunic and when he heard the door to he and his master's living quarters open, he hurriedly raced to the common room to greet Master Tahl.
His congenial smile was not met by so much merriment from his master. Padawan Kenobi could tell before he saw her face by the aura around her something was very wrong. Tahl was not in the airy mood she had been only an hour before when she was called to the council chambers.
"Master Tahl. Are you alright? Is something wrong? Of course there is I can see, feel it."
"No, no, what ever gave you that idea?"
"Because I am your apprentice. We share a bond and right now that bond is strumming with tumultuous emotions, something unlike you. What is it?"
"Can't hide anything from you can I, Padawan? As it should be I suppose but still annoying at times. Yes, I hate to spoil your day with news such as I carry but I find must because I can not think of a way around it. I won't be able to attend your senior padawan ceremonies. I plan to speak to Master Yoda before I leave, ask him to stand in for me in my minuscule part of the ceremony. After all, it is for your successes the Jedi honor this day, not mine."
Obi-Wan caught the word leave and it caused a shiver down his spine. He did not like what his master alluded too.
"Master, you know better. What I am, what I have been able to accomplish is due to you. I have learned a lot from the instructors here but more from you."
Obi-Wan could not hold his curiosity back any longer.
"What is this about leaving? You can't leave during my ceremony. If you have been given a mission then I must go with you, not stay and party to the wee hours. That would not be a very responsible apprentice, a senior apprentice at that to send his master into danger while I stay behind."
Obi-Wan hoped he covered the disappointment he felt. Not only did he want his master there to witness this occasion, but he had to admit he was looking forward to the rare party atmosphere he'd heard stories of.
"Don't underestimate yourself Obi-Wan Kenobi. Without your desire to be a Jedi, a very good Jedi, you would not be in the position you are in now; the first apprentice ever to become a senior padawan at the age of sixteen. No, you must take most of the credit. I just stand back and take the pats on the back for your accomplishments."
Tahl gladly spoke to Obi about his success. She so dreaded bringing up what they must discuss, what was truly bothering her at the moment.
"But Master is it something so important that it can't wait? I mean after the ceremony and dinner this evening I could pack and be ready to attend you while you go on this sudden mission. If you are going, then so am I."
"No Obi-Wan. Your next two days will be filled with ceremonies, Jedi traditions handed down from many years ago as many as Master Yoda has been a Jedi. NO, I can handle this without you."
The downtrodden aura along with the sadness in his master's hazel eyes made Obi-Wan more determined to lift her spirits.
Obi-Wan added a bounce to his steps as he made his way to their kitchen, whistled a ditty to cover his own sadness, and pulled himself up on the counter. Master Tahl sat in the kitchen chair staring sightlessly at her hands cupped together and laying in her lap.
Obi-Wan had one of the best masters in the Jedi but she was a blind master. Her other senses were so finely honed that many who met her did not realize immediately that she was blind. Obi himself forgot about it most of the time.
Padawan Kenobi had been her eyes since he became her apprentice a mere two years after the accident. Tahl had been blinded on a mission with her best friend, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi of historic acclaim with the order but a master Obi-Wan had never met and still held bitterness for over his master's accident.
Master Tahl had often lectured her apprentice to let go of the animosity he felt for her dear friend. She had repeatedly assured her apprentice that Qui-Gon could not have stopped the injury she sustained that blinded her.
Obi-Wan attempted many times to disperse his ill feelings for the master through the force but had never truly been successful. Nevertheless, he was successful in masking and in part completely hiding his disdain for Master Jinn. He found it easy to do down through the years. Because of Jinn's own guilt over Tahl's blindness and his failed mastering of Padawan Xanatos, the mysterious and as of yet unmet master was never physically around to cause Obi-Wan added concern.
"But Master it is my duty to go into battle with you, every battle."
"It is also your duty too obey and I have given you a command now abide by it."
"Where and what is wrong that is so very necessary to leave right now?"
Obi-Wan hopped off the kitchen counter and bent down on one knee in front of his master.
Tahl reached out, found Obi-Wan's padawan braid and rolled it lovingly between two fingers. Her eyes glistened with tears.
"I remember all too fondly and clearly the day I plaited this braid. Don't do any disservice to it by not obeying me in this Obi-Wan."
Obi pulled his master's hands from his braid and nestled them in his larger ones. Though still a teen and still had not gotten his growth spurt yet, Obi's hand managed to cover his master's. Tahl was in all ways petite but in no ways fragile.
"Master please, you have always told me that to side-step the truth is the same as a lie. To my knowledge you have never lied to me."
"Of course I haven't and I am not now."
Forgive me my Obi-Wan. I do lie but only for a very good reason. The force tells me this mission will turn out poorly. For who I don't know but I don't plan it to be Obi-Wan's life that is jeopardized. Not when I am getting such a fierce warning of caution from the force itself..
Tahl forced herself to stare directly at her apprentice, but only after she had stilled her tears.
Obi-wan pulled his master's hands to his lips and pressed a kiss on top of them.
"Then do not begin by not telling me what is going on. I get the feeling that you almost don't want me to go. Is this a dangerous mission?"
"Obi-Wan…. nonsense. I will not begin to lie to you today. How can I answer a question like that? All missions have an element of danger to them or the potential to be so. I honestly don't foresee any more danger in this mission than I do any we go on."
"Then, as any other mission, dangerous or not, you will need me. When do we leave?"
Tahl drew extremely subdued and stared at her padawan. Obi-Wan, at that very moment could have sworn her eyesight was as clear as his.
"Obi-Wan, I ask you this one thing. Allow me this mission alone. I need it. Qui-Gon needs me to show him I am capable."
Tahl breathed in a long fresh breath of air. At least she had finally told him who she planned to meet for the mission. Another master and one Obi-Wan did not care for.
"Did he ask you to come alone? Is that it? He is so selfish in his blame for your injury he wants you to prove yourself. WHY? so he can take away his guilt?"
Before she could even think of what she was doing Master Tahl drew back the hand that only moments before caressed Obi-Wan so tenderly and slapped him across his left cheek. It stunned both the master and apprentice; Tahl that she actually struck her apprntice and Obi-Wan that she actually had.
"I told you to let go of blame. I have no blame or regrets and neither should you or Master Jinn. Do this for me Obi-Wan, stay here. Qui-Gon has no reason to blame himself as you have no reason to blame him for my blindess."
She did not apologize for striking her apprentice nor did she plan too. Nothing she had ever done in the way of discipline had ever been taken back and today would not change things.
"Very well Master. If you would rather be with Master Jinn than with me, then who am I to complain."
Obi-Wan had been so hurt he hadn't bother to find out more about the mission. He "assumed"; something a good Jedi should never do, that the mission was most likely just to visit with her dearest friend.
Jealously reared its ugly green head and Obi-Wan refused to want to ask more questions about the mission. Or as he now thought of his master's elusive mission as, a Lover's Rendezvous.
Obi-Wan gingerly rubbed the sting from his cheek.
It all fits now, why she is in such a hurry to get rid of me; to be with the love of her life. Does the Great Jinn want her back? Does Master Tahl have thoughts of dumping me planning on dumping me to travel with…… that rogue Jedi, Master Qui-Gon Jinn?
All kinds of horrid possibilities passed through Padawan Kenobi's mind. None of them were good for him.
"Go on your mission. I will remain here. Maybe the days apart could do us both good."
Tahl's heart wrenched in pain. She knew now that not only did Obi-Wan hold blame against her best friend Qui-Gon Jinn but by his words and the venom in them, he was angry at her as well for leaving him.
From behind them, unbeknownst to either master or apprentice, Master Yoda had entered their quarters unannounced. He had missed the argument. Something else he missed was more important though; the reason Obi-Wan did not push to go with his master.
"Master Yoda, don't you believe in knocking?"
Tahl had wished to settle this between her and her apprentice without added distraction by the kindly but very opinionated little council master.
"Knock I did, no answer. Voices I heard, enter I also did. Simple it is."
Master Yoda tapped his gimmer stick and for the first time, EVER Obi-Wan witnessed a hint of anger or despair from the normally good-natured master.
"Padawan Kenobi hope I do that convince your master that this trip will need two it will, the master and the apprentice."
Yoda had done a quick change in his opion of the mission. He first thuoght it would be a very good idea for Tahl to go alone. He was a match maker in his own right .
Tahl was not too surprised by Yoda's decision whether she should go alone or not. She suspected Yoda himself had felt something rumbling in the force to warn against her going without her apprentice. However, she was determined not to be swayed by the loving little troll of a master.
She didn't have to confront Yoda's abrupt change of attitude because her apprentice her angry apprentice at the moment burst forth with his commments before she could say anything.
"No, on the contrary Master Yoda. I see no reason for me to go. After all, when Master Tahl arrives at her destination, she will have Master Jinn by her side during the mission, and we all know how expertly he did on the last mission in protecting my master. No, I would sooner stay here and party than go watch the two former love birds talk about the old times. I would just be the third wheel."
Obi-Wan left the room immediately. He did not want his master nor Master Yoda to see him cry. Master Tahl followed suit. She sidestepped Yoda and hurried past him to her room to pack.
Yoda left shaking his head. He was perturbed that Tahl insisted on going without her apprentice but most of all he was a bit put out, almost angry that her usually concerned, dutiful padawan refused to insist that he go.
Bad feeling I have about this. Bad feeling Master Tahl has also I fear or insisted she would have that her apprentice go with her. Worries me most though that her padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi would not demand to go with her. Question now I do whether made too early a senior padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi has been...…
Tahl was jarred out of her sleep by the sudden jerk of the public transport as it landed at its destination. Her thoughts were not of the mission at the moment. The only thing that ran through her head was how her hair must be messed up, her tunic wrinkled, not a stitch of glow on her cheeks or coloring on her lips.
Qui will take one look at me and run the other way. Maybe RG can help me look presentable once I get off this bucket of rust and find temporary housing while here.
"RG look out on the landing port and tell me if you see Master Jinn. He didn't say he would meet me then again he didn't say he wouldn't."
RG was her personal droid that had been with Master Tahl since she became blind. It had been Master Yoda's idea and at first she bulked on it. She'd explained to the troll of a master she didn't need a babysitter just because she was blind. Master Tahl never admitted it to anyone, especially to Yoda but she valued having the neon green and white mechanical droid assistant. She eased Tahl's anxiety and apprehension during the adjustment period of her handicap. Tahl no longer considered her blindness a handicap, more like an annoyance occasionally. RG had become her trusted companion even a friend during that trying time of adjustment and had thus remained her trusted companion and confidant.
The Jedi master heard the familiar whistling sound as the droid extended her sensors and searched for Master Jinn while they were still on the ship. He treasured droid friend took only a few seconds to make her evaluations of the crowd.
"Sorry master, I did not sense Master Jinn's force signature among the crowd. Possibly he will comm you. That should give you time to freshen up in your own room." The droid had been made with the specification of entirely female humanoid and was finely attuned to Tahl's roller coaster emotions. Right now RG knew how important it was for Tahl to look her best. Tahl often thought the engineer who designed RG had found a way to install human emotions, compassion, and love in her personal droid.
This morning Master Tahl was particularly glad that RG was with her to instruct her on appearance and aid her in correcting anything about it that needed honestly.
"Come RG we have to find a room. I will need to freshen up. You are right. I am sure that within a couple of hours I will hear from Qui...err... Master Jinn."
Another whining sound and Tahl knew RG was right in front of her to gently guide the way.
"Look terrible you do. Meet that Master Jinn of yours then I suggest you start in as soon as we get to your resting place and attempt repair on your person. Hair stands up like you have stuck your hand in an electric transference case."
Tahl rolled her sightless eyes as she descended from the ship.
"Thanks! You know I can always send you back and have your specs adjusted, make you a droid that can not talk, just print out info to me."
"Then my opinion of your looks would be far less difficult to handle. A mess you are but I will have that corrected soon. Now let us be on our way with no more talk of your vainness."
RG knew well of Tahl's vainness and expected it with who she planned to meet. Deep in the recesses of the droids circuits were many long talks hidden there. Talks of private things Tahl would never tell a living soul. However, her droid was a walking source of her past accomplishments and heartbreaks. Out of them all, missing Qui-Gon reigned most as the hot topic.
back on Coruscant
ME…. Master Yoda, you can't be serious."
Mace hoped Master Yoda hadn't noticed his voice shot up an octave higher as he started to plead his case.
As if Yoda might not have heard his first response, Mace repeated it again.
"YOU can't be serious. That is the principle reason I became a council member. I loved the Jedi field work but after my experience raising a child, my one pad wan, I chose the council over missions tugging a kid along with me.
"Do justice to your position you do not. Tell me now after all these years, Council was not your destiny, just a bad second choice over being around a young one? Fear you need not have of Padawan Kenobi. Senior padawan he is. No need to worry about childish antics on his part."
Mace could almost see the smirk in the old master's face when he realized the irony in his own words.
"If Master Tahl's apprentice is so mature as it was presented to us when he was made senior padawan, why is he now in the healer's ward being treated for what can only be described as an alcohol overdose? Now if that does not prove his maturity level, I can't think of what might."
Yoda knew Mace's words were true, but he also knew some of why Padawan Kenobi had imbibed in the mind altering drink a little too much, knew why Obi-Wan wanted to drown his misery. The only thing he really did was to make himself extremely sick.
"Overlook his error this time we we.. might. Take on a padawan in my home, too old I am. Qui-Gon Jinn proved to me he did, last apprentice for me he should be. One apprentice you have had and so another one you will oversee until Master Tahl finishes her mission."
Mace grumbled under his breath.
"That is another thing. Why did we allow a master with a padawan, a senior padawan at that go out on a mission alone?"
"Meet Qui-Gon she will. Need not an apprentice Master Thal assured me. Though wish her apprentice had gone."
"Well I agree with Obi-Wan, less a mission more like a lover's rendezvous."
Yoda tilted his head to the side and slowly stared up at Mace.
"Told you he did of his suspicions, mission this was not but a lovers meeting taking place it is?"
"Told me.. Told me. He told anyone and everyone who was within fifty feet of him last night. He was an angry Jedi. His anger alone should worry you if his drunken stupor has not put doubts in your mind about Master Tahl's apprentice. It does me."
"Know better Kenobi should and better in particular you should. Spread gossip through the temple a Jedi council master should not be guilty of. Rendevous out of love this is not. Needed she was or my padawan not called upon her. Now retrieve your ward and settle him into YOUR living quarters."
"My quarter. Why? .. He is old enough to stay in his own quarters. It will be bad enough having him tag along with me all day. Must my evenings and nights be interrupted as well?"
"Proven he has, not as mature as any of us thought. No doubt when bring him before the council his master does upon her return, heavy restrictions leveled him for his actions. Even so far as to say resend his senior apprenticeship we may have too. Already caused himself to miss the rest of the senior padawan celebrations he has. Shamed himself and his master he also has. No, allow him full reign of his quarters we must not. Need you 247 I think he does and have you he will…."
Mace stomped out of the head council master's office accenting each drop of his foot to make even more noise than usual. Any one who witnessed his abrupt and loud departure form Master's Yoda's office would have said Master Mace Windu was now acting as immature as Obi-Wan Kenobi had done the night before.
Med floor of the Jedi temple, Coruscant.
Obi-Wan raised his head up from where he had it hung nearly in the fresher bowl.
Jeez, I think I might die from this. Yet again, I fear I might not. Oh man what have I done?
He splashed more water on his face after reaching for the vanity. He had to use one hand to splash the water and one hand to stable himself while standing.
Master Tahl will be so upset with me. I can forget about the other parties. Master Yoda might never let me out of my room after this.
Thoughts of his master brought back a flair of anger and jealousy again. His master had chosen Qui-Gon over him. That was how Obi-Wan looked at his master's departure during his senior padawan celebrations.
Obi-Wan was no longer worried about is master's safety because in his mind he truly believed Tahl had gone not for a mission as was told to him but to meet up with an old friend; not just an old friend. Then again not just an old lover, a man who caused her blindness.
In Obi-Wan's opinion his master had never let go of the love she held for Qui-Gon, not for a minute.
"Well I see you have made it up off the bed without the help of a med droid or healer. Now see if you can get out of those sleep pants and to my quarters. I wish to lay down some rules. Rules that will be obeyed young man."
Obi-Wan wheeled around to see the owner of the voice although he knew instantly whose voice it was. MASTER WINDU!
What I don't know is why Master Windu would be here leveling orders to me.
"Master Windu, are you addressing me?"
Mace turned around twice and made a visual survey of the entire room as he feigned a deep search for someone.
"I see no one else in this room Padawan and I don't have an imaginary friend. So yes, I addressed you."
"But you must be mistaken. I am to be under Master Yoda's instructions while my master is away."
"Not anymore you're not. I have been given that honor." Punishment is more like it. Slow festering, torturous agony the next few days, with you by my side.
"Oh I suppose you haven't been told… That has all changed since that immature stunt of getting drunk last night. You are not even old enough to drink."
Of course Master Yoda didn't tell Obi-Wan, the coward that he is. That little gnarled troll just dumped the entire mess in my lap.
"I am a SENIOR padawan. I hardly think I need someone to hold my hand all the time."
"A senior padawan, who under the age of consent to imbibe in alcoholic beverages did so with no conscious concern of the consequences.. Sounds like you need to be watched a little more closely than your master or Yoda first assumed. Look.. get dressed. Master Yoda has instructed me to take you to my quarters. You are to be under my supervision until your master's return."
Obi-Wan knew Mace did not lie. What he had relayed to Obi must be the truth but that brought out more anger in the teen. In fact Obi-Wan had been angry more in the last twenty-four hours than he had in his entire lifetime. He wanted nothing better than to lash out at someone; the only someone around was Mace, but stopped himself.
"Well could you hurry a little? I still have my council duties to attend too."
"Yes Master Windu. I will make haste if I could get a little privacy to dress. You do trust me here alone to dress don't you?"
A bit of a barb could be heard laced in Obi-Wan's voice but in Master Windu noticed he didn't mention it.
"A tight reign on you was advised."
And no I don't trust you from here to that door. You, Obi-Wan Kenobi have given me no reason to after that fiasco last night.
"And just who suggested a tight reign be placed on me? I have never done anything to warrant such action taken against me. Well until last night."
" Exactly! However, once was enough. You must do everything BIG. You have managed to get yourself in more trouble than most Jedi do in their entire lifetime in only one night..BIG indeed... Master Yoda…"
"Excuse me?"
"You asked who suggested a tight control of you. It was Master Yoda. Now.. Satisfied?"
It alarmed Mace to realize he had gotten a sort of rush, a macabre, sadistic satisfaction in telling Obi-Wan Yoda's trust in him had waned because of the apprentice's drunken antics.
"Not even Master Yoda thinks you can be trusted any more. Now I plan to step outside of this room and you have five minutes to be dressed. I will be back within that time frame. I would suggest you not dally. You might be extremely mortified when I return and you are standing half dressed or worse, nothing on at all."
Obi-Wan had a sudden vindictive desire to unleash the most unnatural vocabulary for the normally well behaved padawan and tell Master Windu just what he thought of him, but luckily he stopped himself.
Master Tahl will correct this mess I have made if she ever gets Master Jinn out of her system and returns.
Obi still held out a hidden hope that his master really hadn't just dumped him for Qui-Gon. However with Master Windu's next words Obi-Wan understood all too clearly how much damage he could have done not only to his but his master's permanent Jedi records as well.
The Padawan teen's face paled and he felt sicker than even the alcohol had made him with Master Windu's next comments.
"Maybe in your view my actions are a bit harsh. However, I don't think I can be harsh enough with someone like you. You see Padawan Kenobi, I have no intention of allowing an apprentice, one that is not even mine, blemish my permanent Jedi records, like you have yours and your master's….."
It was the second time that day Master Tahl changed her clothes. The first time she was breathless with anticipation of meeting up at last with her oldest and dearest friend, Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Her excitement was heightened by the fact that this old and dear friend had once been the man she thought would become her life-mate.
Qui-Gon Jinn had yet to show up and she thus far had received no communication from him nor could she send one to him. This time as she changed, Tahl was not as excited. A fierce case of melancholy had settled over and in her.
Her emotions had gone from anger in the afternoon to worry for the big Jedi master when he hadn't shown up by dusk. Night descended on the city and Master Tahl still waited for her former love. With the total night skies, numerous unexplained shots could be heard and were accompanied with a growing number of government guards out patrolling the streets, armed with blasters. Her worry was now replaced by sheer terror for her friend.
What is going on around here? Does the commotion outside have any link to the reason Qui sent for me? If there is some potential overthrow of the government….. No no, Qui wouldn't get in the midst of some political shenanigans. Why wasn't I told more? Did not Yoda know the importance of anonymity for me, if it is so for Qui-Gon?
Tahl thought maybe she'd stumbled onto what might be happening. She wandered if Qui had been sent to Neimoidia, an infamously known hideout; a sort of waylay station for every thief and low-life scum throughout the galaxy, to investigate a very privately kept rumor of who else had taken up residency there. It was secretly worded among the Jedi, the planet was the hidden lair of the new resurrected Sith master, Sidious, his apprentice, Darth Maul, and his loyal followers.
Maybe Qui was given instruction to keep his Jedi identity a secret?
Tahl stopped a moment and pulled back the curtains to her cozy but tacky decorated room. She peered out as if to look for something but she looked with her sightless eyes, a habit of years gone by with eyes that could see. More importantly, she felt nothing. She knew that if Qui-Gon had been close to her, she would have felt him through the force. The bond once shared by them still had an ember of survival in it.
Then why would he send for me but not warn me to conceal my Jedi status? This is all so confusing. I am going to kill that man when he arrives.
Tahl crawled between the cool sheets of the bed. To quell her anxiety for Qui-Gon, she chose happier thoughts to help lull her to sleep. Sleep did not come immediately because her sweet memories turned to thoughts similar to night terrors. She went from remembering the time Qui-Gon was not tormented with blame over her accident, to that sullen day they had made their separation complete as Qui severed the marriage bond that had started to form between them.
RG stood steadfast by her door. Tahl could occasionally here the droid's sensors go out with that familiar whine and bleep as they did. Something had caused the droid to be in a more alert state. However, whatever created the over cautiousness in the droid, RG chose not to say.
QGJ
Master Jinn made his way through dimly little streets and covertly dark alleys. He slipped into the major streets only when necessary and then made sure he entered it from the alley in a darkened spot; an occasional light out on the lamp pole.
Several times he thought to contact Tahl but feared his call would be intercepted.
I have to reach her. I won't jeopardize letting her be harmed. Had I known this mission would turn so treacherous, I would not have sent for Tahl. What was the little troll thinking of when he suggested Tahl come here? Thankfully though she will have her apprentice…… What is his name.. oh Obi Keno something…doesn't matter now. Now what matters is that Tahl's padawan and her trusted droid, RG will be with her. Now that my cover is blown and they know I am a Jedi, if anyone noticed Master Tahl's arrival, she will be connected with me. Must reach her soon. I can't allow more harm to come to her because of me like…. Like the loss of her eyesight.
Qui-Gon ducked back into the darkness of a the nearest alley when he saw soldiers approach. He held his breath and remained very still until the small group passed.
Must be out for a bite to eat and a stroll afterward to work it off. They certainly didn't look like they were searching for someone.
He leaned against the cinder-block wall for a well deserved and welcomed rest. He had been on the run all day since the break of dawn, since the bounty hunter, Jango Fett sent by the Sith lord Sidious had found his hiding place. It did not help that for some reason, the government had also put out an all-points bulletin for the master.
While savoring the brief break of from being stalked like an animal, Master Jinn allowed himself the luxury of conjuring up visions of his perky little ex-love. His memories of Tahl collected and stored, rushed to the forefront of his thoughts.. Like a dam's rupture gushing water over its walls; so did his thoughts of Tahl pour from the deep, secret, and private recesses of his mind. He allowed all the good, bad, and horrific past times to flow welcomingly, and sometimes very unwelcomingly.
Luckily the master was alone. No one witnessed the parade of emotions that were expressed on his face. They swiftly changed from pure glee, remorsefulness, downright sadness, to outraged anger; depending on which particular reminiscences of the past flowed by.
The Jedi master, supposedly devoid of emotions, unconsciously exhibited such a wide and diverse variety of sentiments so raw and tender he would have probably alarmed his former master and teacher Yoda with his thoughts of them. Jinn allowed tears to freely flow when remembrances as dark as the alley he'd sought refuge in, surfaced.
In particular, the mission that took Tahl's sight and broke their lover's bond weighed heavy both physically and mentally; a burden to profound and burning when realized again in his thoughts.
As quickly as the thoughts made Jinn think he could not bear another, a sweet remembrance of his once beloved Tahl brought and instant twinkle to his eye, a balm to his aching heart where only moments before had been filled with hurt. It brought a chuckle that danced mentally in his head. Though faced with danger and threat of being caught was still very much there, Qui-Gon became all tingly and happy inside.
If Tahl could see me right now, she would reprimand me for may scrubby appearance, my untrimmed beard and mustache and oh what she would think of these dreaded locks threaded through my hair. I look more like Knight Quinlan Vos than I do me. She will probably keep me an arm's length away when I do reach her just from the reeking stench of someone who has not bathed in.. let me see… Oh yea in four days.
His mind had been ravaged with his thoughts for only moments and not hours as it felt. Qui-Gon quickly came back his problems at hand when he realized too late he no longer stood in the darkened dank alley alone.
"Master Jinn, are your Jedi senses slipping? Never before have I been able to get so close to a Jedi, let alone a Jedi supposedly trained and notorious for their abilities as you are. Just maybe Master Sidious has overestimated your talent he has so often and abundantly tried to impressed up on me you possess."
No need for darkness now. The hand that had always remained on the hilt of his saber moved with lightening speed in response to the man's voice behind him. With one swift motion the Jedi activated his glowing green saber. Jinn relished the feel of the surge of power gifted to him and his weapon by the force of good. It always felt as if the saber had suddenly taken on a life of its own. The power surge from the weapon's activation was akin the racing heartbeat that now grasped Jinn's chest. He stepped away from the wall that had given him the rest he would need to do battle with Jango Fett.
"Now I don't know if all you have said is exactly true or not Fett. Let's see how much your master exaggerated my talents or if I truly DO possess all the Jedi prowess and stealth Sidious has evidently so graciously bestowed on my shoulders. Wouldn't want to disappoint him, would we?"
Jinn's face donned an instant sly smile as he leveled his deadly Jedi weapon directly at the bounty hunter
If Fett feared the Jedi, he did not show it as the famous Jedi master made the first move into what could be described as pitting the strong against the stronger, good versus evil.
Fett was no match for the Jedi and his saber. His blaster, set or rapid-fire only staved the master from actually killing him. Qui-Gon used the thin laser blade of his saber to ward off shot after shot. He was unable to strike Fett down as was Jango unable to fire a blaster shot that successfully reached the Jedi master.
As the bounty hunter battled his way forward, he also crept backward. Finally he spotted an alley way, a possible escape route. The rapid succession of not one but a second blaster sprayed bullets toward Qui-Gon Jinn. He was forced to take cover in a doorway. That was just enough time for the hired assassin to disappear down the alley and around the corner.
Master Jinn knew that with Jango Fett following him, his cover had been blown. If it hadn't been, it surely was now. Qui-Gon had had no choice but to pull his light saber, the one signature piece of Jedi equipment that could not be overlooked.
If you had one in your possession, it was a 99.9 percent certainty you were a Jedi. Seldom did it happen that a Jedi surrendered his sword unless dead and had no say so in the matter..
Yes and if Fett was sent here for me, no doubt he knows Tahl is here also. I wish now I had told Yoda to relay to her the importance of keeping her Jedi identity concealed.
At the temple Coruscant.
Obi-Wan had been uneasy all day. He hadn't received anything dastardly through he and his Master's bond, but neither was it seemingly dormant as it had been since Tahl's abrupt departure.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure if Master Tahl had been on good terms with him when she left or not. However, with the sudden shut down of their bond not thirty minutes after her transport ship left the landing port, Kenobi suspected the worse; that his master was indeed angry or short tempered with him in some way.
He even suspected that their bond might have been tamped down because Tahl would not want him to know of the emotion that would pour from her through the bond with her apprentice when she saw HER Qui-Gon again.
Master Windu noticed Obi-Wan's increased nervousness that day. It didn't help the padawan any with the extra saber drills and katas given him by his substitute master.
Padawan Kenobi resented Mace's interference with his thoughts of his master. He made the sorry mistake of showing his disdain for the added work and now found himself in the kitchen of the temple peeling potato after potato. He had also been warned by Thal's replacement not to use even the tiniest of assistance from the force in handling his menial labors that evening. After the spud detail, he was to go to the upper level of the temple to mop, wax, and buff every hall floor.
Tahl and her trusted companion, RG threaded through alleys, ducked in small stores, anything to avoid the massive search that had begun. She watched as the battle droids owned by who-knew-who went door-to-door in search of someone. She had the feeling that "someone" was her.
If only I could get in touch with Qui-Gon, set up another meeting place. He must be aware of what is going on in the city now. I suspect the surrounding settlements have some kind of search mission going on, much as it is in the city.
Qui-Gon managed to make his way to where he thought Tahl would be. There was a part of him that wanted Tahl as far away from the hostel as she could get.
If Fett is aware Tahl got off the ship and that she was a Jedi, hostels and hotels will be the first place he or his battle droids bullies will look. For all I know they could have her.
Jinn reached out through the force to see if he felt any kind of disturbance. Tahl had vacated all bonds with others when she took her apprentice to train, but still there was an aura of the bond they once shared. Nothing seemed amiss and that gave Jedi master renewed hope that he would find Tahl in time to get her to safely. He had not known until his confrontation with the bounty hunter, Jango Fett that his identity was blown.
Had I known Jango was after me, I certainly would not have brought Tahl here. This was to be a simple mission. I am not even sure why Master Yoda insisted she come. I could have finished up and been gone within a twenty-four hour period. Now. Now, I have her safety to worry over. I suppose Yoda himself never suspected I would run into to Jango Fett here. Last time he had been heard from, he was way out on the outer rim looking for a ship to carry him to the next quadrant of the galaxy. Someone or something must have paid him mightily to risk being caught by the Republic for his last transgressions.
Then again, there was a part of him that hoped against hope Tahl would be there in her room waiting safely for him.
If I can just get to her, I can keep her safe.
He winched visibly with the thought. He remembered another time he wanted to keep her safe but in his view he had failed.
That is why she is blind now. Oh Tahl please be here safely. We can get off planet just as soon as I find you. I will return but I must get her away from all this.
Jinn asked the night desk clerk of the hostel and yes he remembered renting a room to a blind woman and even he suspected she was a Jedi, though he had not seen her weapon.
Jinn was alarmed when he had learned that there were not two humans but one, Tahl and her private droid.
Where in the sith-spit is that padawan of hers? Surely he would not allow his master to come alone? What could he have been thinking? It is a padawan's duty to keep his master safe as it is hers to see he is cared for. What kind of padawan would allow his master, a blind one, to come alone. I know Tahl is more than capable, even with her blindness to care for herself but her apprentice should have not allowed her to go on a mission alone, no matter how safe it was deemed.
Jinn hurriedly searched the hostel, just in case Tahl had taken cover in the boiler room or one of the many storage areas. As he did, he practiced a litany of things he thought of to say to Tahl about her incompetent padawan.
That is exactly how I will describe her padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, an incompetent apprentice which she should take a serious look at possible relinquishing her hold on. I know she is a still a good Jedi master, sight or sightless, but she should not be hindered with a poor excuse of an apprentice. If she does nothing when I return to Coruscant with her, I will address the council about Padawan Kenobi's dereliction of duty to his master... That brat, never did care for him. Too much uncontrolled anger, too much like another too much like Xanatos.
Qui-Gon nearly tore the hostel door from its hinges. Something powerful through the force called to him. He raced down back alleys ignoring the droids set to find him and no doubt had already found Tahl. That was the feeling coming through the force.
MY TAHL is in trouble… Please hold on I am coming.
At the temple
Mace walked in the kitchen just in time to see Kenobi not doing what he should be.
"Padawan, last meal is in less than an hour. Finish up."
Obi-Wan did not want to admit to Mace that he felt unwell, absolutely ill. Instead, he picked up the vegetable peeler and another potato. He offered no excuse for being caught in the act of NOT doing what he should have been, just continued with his work. He fought off the growing fear, even pain that now came through the bond he shared with Tahl.. Obi-Wan would not admit to Mace he felt something wrong because he thought Mace would cast blame on him for not being with his master.
And I should be there. I should not have allowed her to convince me to stay. Yes, I wanted to attend the senior padawan party, just not at the expense of my master's safety. Where in the Sith is the almighty Qui-Gon Jinn? Shouldn't he be with Tahl by now? She should be safe, right? It must be my guilt eating at me, making me feel as though something is wrong. Master Tahl PLEASE be alright.
Jinn's eyes sparkled when he realized that just ahead of him out from the darkness of the alley he stood in was Tahl and her droid. His happiness was short-lived when a sudden shower of blaster shots rained down on his love.
"Tahl, this way... this way. It is I, Qui-Gon."
In that split second when her droid, "RG" knew Qui-Gon was there to protect her master, she went the other way to act as a decoy to draw Tahl's battle droid assailants away from where she and Qui-Gon were.
Tahl had the same glint of happiness in her eyes when she felt Jinn's presence. Had she been able to see the Jedi master she would not have recognized him with the long dreads and just as long raggedly beard. However, had she had her sight, she would have recognized him by his ever powering presence of his enormous height.
Another shower of blaster shots aimed right at her and as hard she tried to avoid the line of fire, she did not.
Tahl collapsed right into the arms of her only love of her life.
As soon as Qui-Gon wrapped his arms the already falling master, he felt and saw the warm blood oozing from at least two large gapping blaster wounds in her back.
Master Tahl reached up and traced with the tips of her fingers Qui-Gon's lips. Those lips pressed a kiss to her already cooling finger tips. He wasn't sure if it was her body or his that caused them both to tremble so violently.
"Oh my beloved Tahl, I have failed you yet again."
"Hush Qui.. Ugh… You never groan betrayed me the first time and now, now, it is a failed mission, a mission gone bad. There is no blame. But…. please listen.."
"No, you listen don't speak I have so much to say."
"You feel it too…ugh don't you Qui, my life force…. is ever ebbing away. I know you can feel it shutting down, as do I. I have something I must tell you."
"Please Tahl, I want to tell you, I LO"
"NO, don't say it Qui. I can't bear to here IT now, now that nothing can be done… I have one last request…"
"Yes, my beloved we have wasted a lifetime. I can do nothing but grant you anything. Anything you ask is done."
Blood trickled out the corner of Tahl's mouth.
"Train my apprentice. Take Obi-Wan as yours…"
Tahl's voice was barely audible. Her inevitable death had taken her last bit of air from her lungs. With what strength she still possessed she gripped the front of Qui's shirt and stared directly in his eyes.
"What?"
His one word question would never be answered though he already knew what Tahl had requested of him.
Before Qui-Gon could get another word out, Tahl was gone, One with the force.
Master Jinn's raw pulsing hatred for the boy he'd just promised to train piqued to its utmost highest before he put it aside to grieve his loss. In part, he blamed the apprentice as much as he did himself for Tahl's death.
Cheeks pressed together, the tears of Master Jinn and Master Tahl mingled while through Qui-Gon's mind passed all the good times he and Tahl had ever shared but would no more, as he had hoped and planned.
At the temple
Obi-Wan clung fearfully to the sink's rim. A blinding pain tore through his very soul, dizziness compounded with nausea was as sudden as it was debilitating. His knuckle-white grip did not break his fall. A blood curdling scream tore from the apprentice. The terror-filled shriek was silenced only when Obi-Wan landed with a hard thud on the tiled kitchen floor.
Mace raced to Obi-Wan's side, at first unsure of what had happened to the boy. The Jedi council master thought he had fallen and smacked his forehead on the porcelain sink. That would have accounted for the blood that gushed from Obi-Wan's mouth, ears, nose, just everywhere.
He reached down and drew the fallen apprentice to him.
"Master Windu…. it is my…. My… master. Master Tahl."
The apprentice stumbled over his words several times until he finally got the sentence out.
Mace looked up at the cook droid that stood just in front of him, over Obi-Wan.
"Call a Healer NOW, immediately. The boy has suffered a death-severance of his training bond. Quickly now before we lose the apprentice as we have lost the master."
PEACE ewen