Marked

Rain pattered against the large window that span all the way around the council chamber. As Qui-Gon Jinn told the council about their last mission on Jarica his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi simply watched the raindrops glide down the transparisteel. The words Qui-Gon was saying simply became a noise in the background as Obi-Wan let his mind drift. He knew that he shouldn't have but he couldn't stop himself. His mind was trying to figure something out and he didn't even know what.

He had the strangest feeling he was being watched and not by the council. Someone - something else was watching him. He shifted uncomfortably. The Force was trying to warn him but something about it felt strange. The warning was so vague, he couldn't quite understand it.

He stared aimlessly out the window at the skyline in the distance. Occasionally he caught a shadow moving out of the corner of his eye but if he moved to see what it was, it was gone.

He then suddenly realised that the room had gone silent and quickly snapped his attention back to the council members who were all staring at him. His cheeks flushed scarlet and he noticed that Qui-Gon was staring at him as well.

"Are we boring you Padawan Kenobi?" Mace Windu asked with a stern look on his face.

Obi-Wan swallowed hard and then bowed low. "My apologies Masters. I let my mind drift. It won't happen again."

"Thinking of what were you? Hmm" Yoda inquired.

Obi-Wan was unsure what to answer. Out of habit he glanced to his Master for advice. Qui-Gon looked annoyed by the interruption but seemed intrigued nevertheless.

"I sensed… something. I'm not sure what it means. I can't really describe it…" Obi-Wan realised how pathetic that must have sounded and blushed again.

The council members all looked at each other as if leading a silent conversation. Finally, someone spoke up. "We didn't sense anything Padawan."

Obi-Wan couldn't believe it. None of the council members had sensed anything? He looked at Qui-Gon but he was just looking at him questioningly.

"Worry you should not. Mhm, safe you are." Yoda said.

"Yes Master" Obi-Wan said as he bowed to the council again. He was now thoroughly embarrassed.

Mace turned his attention back to Qui-Gon and asked him to continue his report.

Obi-Wan concentrated making sure to catch every word his Master said. The shadows moving on the edge of his vision caught his attention again but he quickly ignored them.

Slowly he felt a tightness spread through his chest. At first, he thought it was nothing but when it wouldn't go away he reached up with a hand as if that would make it stop. He was all over the place and he knew Qui-Gon would reprimand him for his behaviour later.

For the second time Mace turned his attention to the unfocused Padawan in annoyance. "Padawan Kenobi. If you can't keep still then…" The sentence died on his lips as Obi-Wan cried out and fell to his knees.

Out of nowhere Obi-Wan was hit by a searing pain above his heart. It was like someone was holding a branding iron to his chest. Black spots filled his vision as pain coursed through his body. "I can't breathe" he gasped.

The whole council jumped to their feet. Ki Adi Mundi was the first to react and called for a healer.

Qui-Gon was kneeling next to his Padawan in a heartbeat. Obi-Wan was panting heavily and the tremors that ran through him were unmissable.

Qui-Gon grabbed the boy by the shoulders to stop him from falling forwards. He then carefully helped him so he was lying on his back. He didn't need the Force to know that his Padawan was in pain, it was written across his face.

"It's alright Obi-Wan. Just breathe." Qui-Gon tried to assure the boy.

"I can't. It hurts"

Qui-Gon wiped a stray tear from his Padawan's face. He had no idea what to do.

Suddenly the room went dark as if it had been swallowed by a shadow. A cold chill filled the air.

As quickly as it had come it disappeared again. Qui-Gon looked at the council members but they were as puzzled as he was. But yet they didn't say a word. The whole room was silent. Too silent. The council just stood there with their heads bowed.

That was when Qui-Gon finally understood. He almost didn't dare to look down, when he did it felt like his heart had stopped.

Obi-Wan lay completely still staring sightlessly into the distance.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon's voice was small and uncharacteristically fragile. He got no response. He could barely move but he turned pleading eyes to the council. "Help him. Please, do something."

Mace was the only one who dared to step forward.

Qui-Gon felt like he was in a dream, this couldn't be happening.

Before he knew it, Mace was kneeling opposite him and taking Obi-Wan's pulse and Qui-Gon heard the words he was dreading.

"I'm sorry, Qui-Gon. He's… dead."

Flashback

"Obi-Wan?"

The ginger-haired Padawan turned away from the view of the capital of Jarica. He had been watching as from far and wide people were arriving and started gathering in the capital. He wondered what the occasion was. Perhaps a festival?

"Yes Master?" He asked as he faced the older Jedi who had called him.

"You seem distracted." Qui-Gon said with a frown.

"I was merely wondering what was going on in the capital." Obi-Wan replied, glancing back at the crowd that was forming. He could sense both anticipation and trepidation resonating from the people.

"A festival of sorts I suppose." Qui-Gon said with a shrug. "But come now, our transport is waiting."

Obi-Wan bowed his head respectfully and followed as his Master made his way further into the hanger towards the waiting ship.

As Qui-Gon boarded the ship Obi-Wan found himself glancing back again. Something didn't feel right. As he saw the sun begin to rise he felt a slight ache in his chest. He winced slightly and reached up but the pain soon vanished.

He turned away again and boarded the ship. It would be a day's journey back to Coruscant, hopefully that would be enough time to sort through his jumbled thoughts.