A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I really appreciate them. :)
Chapter 2.
One year later.
'I don't care what they say,' Anakin thought bitterly. 'This is child abuse.'
The eleven year old Padawan learner sighed heavily and readjusted his position so he could stretch out his aching back. He rolled his shoulders and heard a faint popping noise; he grimaced. He was way too young for this kind of labor.
He sighed again and glanced up at the chronometer on the wall. Just five more minutes and he could return to the small apartment he shared with his Master and relax for the rest of the day. The speculation made him smile. His back ached in places he didn't think was possible and his fingers were stiff from being in the same position for such a long period of time. Nothing would please him more than to just plop down in the big, cushiony sofa and munch on a snack cake or two.
He focused his attention back onto the dirty floor below him and scrubbed furiously at it with the small toothbrush Master Yoda had given him. Not much progress was being made with the little tool, but he supposed he deserved it after the unnecessary prank he played on Mace Windu.
He stifled a laugh that threatened to erupt when he thought of the dark skinned Jedi. The joke had been uncalled for, but it was still humorous. He wouldn't have done it if the boy from his saber class hadn't bribed him with a pouch of Republic credits. He had always been easy to convince when it came to pranks.
It had been funny; the Council should have at least granted him that, but they didn't. If there was one thing Mace Windu could have possibly learned from his ridiculous prank, it was to always look at your chair before sitting down. Two weeks of scrubbing the Temple floor with a toothbrush seemed to be the only suitable punishment the Council could think of, that and a month of extra meditation. Anakin had vowed to never again play a prank on anyone – unless someone else came along with a pouch of money in their hand.
The chronometer signaled that he was able to quit for the day. He slowly got to his feet and shoved the grimy toothbrush into his pocket. After stretching his back and legs, he began to walk in the direction of the housing level. It didn't take him very long to get there since it was only two floors down. He entered the living quarters he shared with Qui-Gon and kicked off his boots at the entryway.
"Hello, Master." Anakin greeted as he shrugged off his robe and draped it over his arm.
"Padawan," Qui-Gon acknowledged with a nod. "Did you have a good day?"
Anakin stared at him. "Master, you know how much I hate this."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "Perhaps you should have thought of that before placing that whoopee cushion on Mace's chair."
"It was a wookie cushion, Master." Anakin corrected. "The blast is ten times louder than a normal whoopee cushion."
"It doesn't matter what kind of cushion it was. My point is you need to be more mindful of the consequences of your actions, Padawan." Qui-Gon pointed out, but was smiling nonetheless. "Besides, the first day is always the hardest. You've only got thirteen more to go."
Anakin paled slightly and released his frustration into the Force. He had thought being a Jedi would be much cooler than this. Not once had he expected a grumpy council and a small green troll who took pleasure in whacking you in the shin every time you said something wrong. But he knew from experience that every good thing in life had some sort of downside to it.
He dismissed himself curtly and scampered off to his room. He shuffled over to the small closet where he normally hung his robe and other garments. He frowned when he saw that Qui-Gon had forgotten to leave a coat hanger within his reach. Usually the Jedi Master would leave one or two hanging on the doorknob of the small storage space since he couldn't reach the bar at the top. For some reason, Qui-Gon had forgotten to do that this time.
Anakin stood there for a moment trying to decide how to go about the situation. The coat hangers were far beyond his reach and his cloak needed to be put away. He looked around the room and spotted a chair sitting by his desk. He quickly dragged it over to the closet and climbed on top of it. Reaching forward, he grabbed the copper coat hanger and slid his brown robe onto to the wired frame and hung it on the metal bar.
He grinned at his success and was about to hop down when something caught his eye. High up in the top shelf of the closet, something grey protruded from the far corner. He stood on his tip toes to get a better look and nearly toppled over when he saw what it was.
Buzzing with excitement, he pulled it down from the shelf. He was even more astounded by it once it was in full view. It was a model of a BARC speeder. He had never been able to get his hands on one until now. As a kid he had always wanted to put one together himself but never got the chance to do so. He turned the craft over in his hand and gazed at it in wonder.
With another grin, Anakin held the model protectively against his chest and scurried off to find Qui-Gon. The elder Jedi was in the kitchen brewing a hot cup of tea. Anakin approached him and tugged on his robe impatiently.
Qui-Gon turned around and Anakin practically shoved the speeder into his face.
"I found this in my closet!" Anakin cried out happily. "Where do you think it came from?"
Qui-Gon furrowed his brow and studied the model speeder carefully. Anakin watched, his excitement slowly dimming when he saw a brief flicker of pain flash over his Master's eyes. He swallowed and waited for Qui-Gon to say something.
Qui-Gon smiled sadly and ran his thumb over the exterior of the model. Anakin frowned but remained silent. He'd wait for his answer all night if he had to.
"Well?" He prodded after a long period of stretched silence.
Qui-Gon still didn't answer right away. Instead he continued to stroke the metal craft with his thumb and forefinger; Anakin quirked an eyebrow.
"Obi-Wan made this." Qui-Gon finally answered.
Anakin's eyes grew wide. He had forgotten that his room had once belonged to Obi-Wan.
"Did he leave it here on purpose?" Anakin asked carefully, still detecting a hint of sadness radiating from his Master.
"I don't know." Qui-Gon continued to stare at the model.
Anakin chewed on his bottom lip. "Do you think he wants it back?"
"I doubt it. He quit building these things once he turned eighteen."
Anakin thought for a moment. "Would he let me keep it, do you think?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "I'm sure he won't mind."
Anakin grinned and hugged the speeder close to his body, as if someone was suddenly going to take it away. He gave Qui-Gon a peculiar look.
"Do you think he's doing okay on his mission? I mean, it's been a whole year."
Qui-Gon took his time before answering. "Yes, I'm sure he's doing very well."
--
Obi-Wan glared at the man standing before him. Setzer Vosa was quite possibly the most stubborn man he'd ever laid eyes on. He rarely gave a satisfying answer to a simple question and his logic made no sense at all. He was one complicated man, Obi-Wan was sure of that. He'd been trying to negotiate with him for over a year, as well as Setzer's fellow businessmen, but he was getting nowhere.
Obi-Wan retained his professional posture. "Your people are killing each other without reason." He said evenly, hoping the man before him would understand. "If it does not end, the entire population will be wiped out.
Setzer chuckled softly and stood in front of a large window. "I'm well aware of the situation, Master Jedi, but there is nothing I can do to stop it."
"So you're just going to stand by and watch?"
"I'm afraid there's not much else I can do." Setzer turned to face him. "It is only a matter of time before my people's lust for blood makes its way to the government buildings. I, along with everyone else who holds power on this planet, will be killed slowly and painfully."
"You've been in control of this planet for over a decade. There must be something you can do."
Setzer chuckled again. "Come here, Master Jedi. Take a look at the outside world."
Obi-Wan hesitated briefly before crossing the room to stand next to Setzer in front of the window.
"Ignore the bile in the back of your throat and look at them closely."
Obi-Wan obeyed and watched the creatures outside carefully. Hundreds upon hundreds of men, women, and children ran in different directions, attacking anyone in their path. A small child leapt forward and tackled a grown man to the ground. The child then began to claw at the older being furiously, ripping off chunks of flesh as he did so. The man under attack snarled and bit down into the child's arm. Obi-Wan cringed when another man came up behind the two and swiped at the little boy. The boy fell to the ground and almost immediately the two older men began to feed off the child's flesh.
"They hate each other." Setzer began. "Yet they work together to get what they want. Once they are finished devouring the boy, they will mercilessly attack each other."
Obi-Wan averted his gaze from the feasting men and the defenseless child. It sickened him to see such behavior.
"Do you know what made them this way?" Obi-Wan asked softly. Part of him didn't want to know the answer.
Setzer shrugged. "I suspect it has something to do with the chemicals we added to the air processors. It was supposed to calm everyone down, weed out aggression. I'm afraid it had the opposite effect, however."
Obi-Wan took an audacious chance and looked back out the window. Everywhere he looked there was some form of abuse taking place. Whether it was murder or torture, it didn't really matter. These people, in Obi-Wan's opinion, were sickening. With lack of a better word, they reminded him of the living dead in the holovids he had watched in his teenage years. They even looked a little bit like them, although he had come to the conclusion that the living dead on the holovids were more appealing to look at.
"This must end." Obi-Wan said after a minute.
Setzer turned to him calmly. "But it won't. I know you want to help, Master Jedi, but your attempts are futile. I think it would be best if you returned to your home."
Obi-Wan felt a queasy feeling settle in his stomach when he saw a woman behead a child out of the corner of his eye. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. The action did not go unnoticed.
"Repulsive, isn't it?" Setzer inquired. Obi-Wan nodded. "That is the very reason I want you to leave as soon as possible, otherwise your fate will be the same as theirs." He gestured to the hundreds of mangled bodies lying about the ground in heaps.
"Leaving this planet the way it is would haunt me for the rest of my days." Obi-Wan responded with a shake of his head. "I have to at least try."
"You fail to realize that the situation is invariable."
"Have you considered fighting fire with fire?"
Setzer gave him a sharp look. "I would never do that. They may be vicious and absurd but they're still living creatures."
"They are doing more harm than good." Obi-Wan countered.
"Which is why I advise you to leave immediately." Setzer looked at him defiantly.
"I will not leave until I am absolutely certain there is no hope left for this planet."
"I admire your boldness, Master Jedi, but it will not help you here. If you refuse to leave, then the most I can offer is a small room in the back you can use as shelter."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan nodded; grateful he had won the small argument.
"I suppose you would like to speak with your people." Setzer eyed him cautiously.
"Yes, I should like to inform them that my stay will be extended."
Setzer led him to the far corner of the room and pointed to a small device Obi-Wan was not at all familiar with.
"This is the only form of communication we have left. It's quite old, but it serves for good use. Just key in the desired planet's area code and hold down the grey button. There should be enough power left for one last call, so make it count."
Obi-Wan nodded and Setzer left his side to allow him some privacy. He did as Setzer had instructed and before too long, Master Yoda and Mace Windu appeared before him in holographic form.
"Knight Kenobi." Mace greeted formally.
"Masters." Obi-Wan bowed slightly and tucked his arms into the sleeves of his robe.
"How is the mission fairing?" Mace questioned without hesitation.
Obi-Wan waited for a minute when the connection seemed to flicker. He then relayed all of the information he had gathered from his mission so far before the two Council members, including Setzer's disobedience in ending the massacre of Morte's citizens. When he finished, the two holographic Jedi were lost in contemplation.
"Have the natives shown any hostile actions against you?" Mace inquired finally.
"No, Master. I received a few minor scratches from crossing the terrain to enter the government building but after that my presence has gone unnoticed."
"I fear that is only temporary." Mace said. "You must be careful, Obi-Wan. The circumstance seems to be more than what we first thought."
"Yes, Master."
Yoda let out a sigh and shifted his position to the other side of Mace's body. "Disturbing, this is. Very careful, you must be."
"And do not underestimate the inhabitants." Mace warned. "They seem to be aggressive towards anything that moves."
"Yes, Master. I'm sorry to say that this will be my last report. The communication system's have been destroyed save for this one, which has very little power left."
Mace nodded. "Good luck, Obi-Wan, and may the Force be with you."
"And with you, Masters." Obi-Wan bowed courteously and waited for the two holographic Jedi to disappear.
Setzer was looking at him when he turned around.
"I'm going to offer you transportation one more time. If you choose not to take it, fine, but I seriously suggest you get far away from here."
"I'm not leaving." Obi-Wan gave the man a steady look.
"You Jedi are dependent on the Force. I pray it will save you." Setzer said with a grave tone. "Your room is down the hall and to your right."
Obi-Wan gave a respectful bow and turned to leave the conference room. Setzer's demanding voice made him stop in the doorway.
"They will kill you, Kenobi. Do not doubt that for a second."
Obi-Wan ignored him and continued walking to his newly assigned room.
To be continued.
A/N: Short, rushed, poorly written, and to the point. But it gives you a little insight on what poor Obi's up against. Also, the whole "adding chemicals to the air to calm everyone down" is taken from the movie Serenity.
Don't forget to review. I need to know if this is worth continuing at all. :)
