When My World Crumbles (Story 3 of the Survival of the Fittest series.)
Author: The Jedi Princess (AKA Robin)
Spoilers, mostly for the Jedi Apprentice series.
Disclaimers: The Boys belong to George, Bruck to Jude Watson, Darick Kint and anyone else you don't recognize are mine.
Summary: I wrote this series over 5 years ago, (damn, I'm old) and just rediscovered them and decided to repost them.
Obi-Wan passes from being a boy to becoming a man. He goes on a dangerous and deadly mission without the blessing of Qui-Gon.
Part 1 to Rebuild a Life
Obi-Wan Kenobi sat in his chair staring into the vastness of space. Not much to see while the ship was in hyperspace, but Obi-Wan was lost in his thoughts. He and his Master, Qui-Gon were on their way to their first mission since Obi-Wan's accident. Since Klea's death. Obi-Wan was well again, but his soul would carry the scars long after his body healed.
Obi-Wan really wanted to go to Thanills. That is where his best friend was. Bruck Chun and his Master, Darick Kint, were investigating a chemical warfare weapon that the Thanillians had developed. He wanted to go and back them up. The mission would have gone to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon anyway, but Obi-Wan's accident changed that.
The council did not want to give Obi-Wan such a difficult mission on his first assignment since the accident. Obi-Wan argued that he was strong, but everyone knew that his body still ached at night. And though he was walking again, he still was not as up to par as he could be. So it was off to Galania to witness the wedding of the crown princess. Galania was a peaceful world. No enemies, not weapons, no excitement, no nothing. It was so unlike the missions that Obi-Wan had grown accustomed too. But the council had made their decision. And Galania it was. It would only take about a day to get there.
Obi-Wan's thoughts then turned to Klea. It had been only six weeks since she died. So hard to believe. He let out an audible sigh.
Qui-Gon, who had been watching from the doorway, stepped into the room and took the seat next to Obi-Wan. He placed his hand on the teen's shoulder. The young man did not say anything, but he basked in the love and understanding of his master.
Two days later, the wedding took place. It was a beautiful event, and though he tried not to, Obi-Wan thought of Klea the whole time. Qui-Gon wanted to throttle the council. While he agreed that Obi-Wan needed a nice easy mission to get his feet wet, a wedding was not the best idea. Not after the teen had lost his first love.
That night, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meditated together and then did some of Obi-Wan's rehabilitation exercises. After that, the two shared a pot of tea. Obi-Wan was asleep as his head hit the pillow.
Qui-Gon stayed up a bit longer and compiled the field report to give to the council. Not much to report. The groom was dashing, the bride radiant. The ambassador had too much wine and danced on the tables. Obi-Wan performed well, as a Jedi.
The Master then turned off the light and went to bed himself. It was several hours later when a call came in on the comlink.
Qui-Gon was alert immediately. "Jinn, here."
The voice on the other end responded. "Apologies for waking you, Master Jedi. But we just received a call from the temple. There was an accident and you and your apprentice need to return immediately. They wish to speak to you right away."
Qui-Gon sat in a daze long after the com screen went black. The Jedi Master felt as though someone had kicked him in the gut.
Another one. Another padawan claimed. How was he ever going to tell Obi-Wan?
From what Mace had revealed. The negotiations had gone sour. And the Thanillians used their chemical weapon against the Jedi. Darick and Bruck managed to get to their ship and take off. They even made it back to Coruscant, but Bruck had breathed in to much of the chemical. Now his lungs were slowly shutting down. Subjecting the padawan to a long and painful death.
The healers had done what they could, but Bruck Chun's life force was fading. Bruck had asked for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to come home, so he could say goodbye. From what Mace said, there was not much time.
Qui-Gon said a calming litany in his head to soothe himself. He then ordered that their ship be readied. Then the master went to wake his apprentice and tell him the news.
Qui-Gon opened the door to Obi-Wan's bedroom and stood there for a moment looking at the sleeping form. He looked so young when he was asleep. Not like a boy who had seen enough death to last two lifetimes.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Qui-Gon gently shook Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan wake up. We need to get back to Coruscant."
After a few minutes, Obi-Wan opened his eyes. He knew at once something was wrong. "What is it, Master? What's wrong?" The padawan then braced himself for the worst.
There was a catch in Qui-Gon's voice as he tried to explain as gently as he could to his apprentice that his best friend was dying.
Obi-Wan was wringing the bed sheets in his hands without even realizing it. With tears in his eyes, he asked. "Are they sure they can't do anything for him? I mean, I have been on the brink of death a few times, and they always brought me back."
Wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon pulled him into an embrace. "This is different, Obi-Wan. We do not know what we are dealing with, so there is no known cure."
Unable to hide his distress, his pain, his anger, Obi-Wan shouted. "Sith Hells! Why Bruck? Why ANY Jedi. Don't they get it? Don't they get that we are trying to protect THEM? Why do we do it?"
Qui-Gon did his best to bring Obi-Wan's emotions under control. "Most people do get it, Padawan. Not all people are as unappreciative as the Thanillians."
Obi-Wan rested his head against Qui-Gon's shoulder for a moment. "I know, Master. It's just so...hard. I know my anger is wrong, I apologize."
"No apology is needed, Obi-Wan. I understand your pain." But Qui-Gon did not understand the pain of losing three friends so close together.
Obi-Wan then pulled away and began to get dressed. "We need to get back as soon as possible. I know Bruck would have done the same for me. I need to see him before..."
Obi-Wan's throat caught and Qui-Gon pulled him back into another hug. "The ship is ready. We will just get our things and we can leave."