Star Wars: Dark Empress
A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I'm glad you liked the first chapter even if it was short.
Spoilers: There might be somewhat of a spoiler for Jedi Apprentice #15. In my version, Tahl doesn't die and she is married to Qui-Gon.
Chapter 2
Qui-Gon sighed as he watched Obi-Wan hurry out and away from him yet again. It was a rather common thing now, but the Jedi Master couldn't help but feel hurt by the gesture. He and his former Padawan had drifted apart far too much for the breach in their relationship to be fixed. It unsettled Qui-Gon quite a bit.
"Upset, you are," a wise voice remarked from behind him. Qui-Gon turned to find Yoda sitting down onto a bench, watching him with calm eyes.
"I always knew that he'd become a knight one day and that our relationship would change, but…" Qui-Gon drifted off thoughtfully.
"But…" Yoda prompted gently.
Qui-Gon sighed. "I never expected it to be like this."
"Qui-Gon, a knight Obi-Wan is now. Changes, things do with every action. Not like you it is to dwell on past mistakes. Forward, life only moves, not backwards," Yoda said.
"And friendships die. People go away," Qui-Gon murmured quietly, thinking about the current state between him and Obi-Wan.
He hadn't noticed then, but the rift that had come between them had started when Qui-Gon married Tahl. It had been a few months since they'd returned from New Apsolon where Tahl had been captured and almost died due to injections of a lethal drug. Luckily, she had pulled through even though it had cause permanent damage and now she stayed at the Temple all the time.
Qui-Gon and Tahl had gone to the Jedi Council and requested permission for their union, determined to spend their lives together even if it was denied. Surprisingly, their request had been granted and shortly after, they were married. He had formed a new type of intimate bond with her that had swept him up so much that he hadn't noticed how it dampened the one he shared with his Padawan. And yet, Obi-Wan had never complained, not wanting to ruin his happiness with Tahl.
"Giving up are you?" Yoda asked.
Qui-Gon turned to look at the small Master almost despairingly. "It is already too late, I fear. The damage has been done beyond repair."
"So sure you are?" Yoda cocked an eyebrow at him. Qui-Gon didn't answer but stared off into the glistening surface of the lake instead. Yoda's comlink beeped and he turned to answer it. After a few words, he tucked it away again and turned back to their conversation.
"Must remember one thing you must, Qui-Gon," Yoda said as he stood up from his seat suddenly.
"And what is that Master?"
"Never too late for friendship, it is. Talk to Obi-Wan, you must. Understand only then you will."
With those final words, Yoda walked away. Qui-Gon thoughtfully watched as he left. Yoda's words echoed in his head as most of the Master's advice always did. Only this one, Qui-Gon hoped with all his heart was right. Maybe then, could he and Obi-Wan truly be friends again.
Obi-Wan's stride was quick as he made his way through the Jedi Temple halls. He nodded greetings to some fellow knights and friends that he knew as he passed by. Behind him, he heard the shuffling of feet as they struggled to keep up.
"Obi-Wan, as much as I like a good walk, I'm not sure Honi's legs are long enough to keep up with you yet," a friendly voice twisted with sarcasm remarked.
At this comment, Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks and turned a bit. He grinned at the other Jedi Knight a bit sheepishly. "Sorry ladies, I guess I'm concentrating on our mission a little too much."
Jedi Knight Nya Reyune just smiled in response as she and her fourteen-year-old Padawan Honi Merra wove their way around the students and Knights passing by towards Obi-Wan. For this particular mission, Obi-Wan would be working with Nya and Honi.
Obi-Wan hadn't known Nya very well growing up at the Temple, but she'd been in his class and a year younger than him. They had worked together on several missions when they had both been Padawans yet he really had never had anything more than a working relationship with her. She stood up to his shoulder and was a full head shorter than him. Long jet-black hair streaked with brown was wounded tightly into a tight braid and hung down her back. Bright, piercing silver eyes looked at him with amusement and a slight smirk played across her lips.
As for Nya's Padawan, Obi-Wan remembered meeting her once when she had only been two years old. She had been one of the children stuck in the Temple's broken turbolift when Qui-Gon's former apprentice Xanatos had sabotaged it. Obi-Wan would not have recognized her had he not looked into her serious brown eyes. She had grown up to be a pretty girl with a serious, almost emotionless face. Her wavy red hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail and kept neatly swept out of her face, enhancing her unique brown eyes.
"Obi-Wan, the mission hasn't even started and already you are ready to jump ahead!" Nya commented as they began walking. Mace Windu had already arranged for a transport for them and it sat waiting at one of the spaceports.
"As you'll soon find out, I can live up to my reputation quite well," Obi-Wan replied wryly. He'd heard some of the ridiculous descriptions that flew around the Temple of him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he remembered the most chilling one Sith Killer but paid little heed to it.
Nya cocked an eyebrow at him. "As a loner? A solitary warrior? Which one, Obi-Wan?"
He just gave her a half grin and decided not to respond. The easy small talk with Nya unsettled him a bit. Maybe it was because for the last few months, he had kept those close to him at a distance. It had started after his separation from Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan had learned to keep his emotions out of his way.
They had reached the spaceport. Obi-Wan quickly glanced around the busy area as ships landed and took off all around them. Knights, Masters, and Padawans were scattered across the large spaceport, some boarding ships to leave while others returned tiredly from one.
"Master, Knight Kenobi, I think that's our transport," Honi spoke up suddenly, pointing out a small ship near the end of the spaceport. No one boarded or exited it and everyone seemed oblivious to it. A man- the pilot Obi-Wan assumed- stood nearby talking to another pilot.
"Hmm, that's Wengle. Master Windu assigned him to take us to Neven?" Nya asked.
Obi-Wan looked at her. "A friend of yours?"
"Sure is. We used to get in trouble together back in our Padawan days," Nya answered, smiling a little. Obi-Wan resisted the urge to grin when he saw Honi looking up at her Master with a surprised expression. It must have been a new concept for the girl that her own Master had once been a Padawan.
"Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan, wait."
Obi-Wan turned as the voice called out to him from behind. The voice was familiar but hard to decipher out of the noise filtering around them. His sharp eyes did a swift scan over all the beings crowded in there. After a moment, he identified who was looking for him. He'd recognize the green and gold striped eyes anywhere as they gazed at him sightlessly. Tahl.
"Obi-Wan," Tahl said as she smoothly slipped through a group of people and sidled up to where Obi-Wan, Nya, and Honi stood. Nya and Honi bowed a little.
"Master Tahl," they said in unison.
"Hello Nya, Honi. I'm sorry to stop you but I would like a few words with Obi-Wan before you leave," Tahl stated, her sightless eyes scanning Obi-Wan's face.
"Then we'll give you a few minutes," Nya said and looked at Obi-Wan. "We'll see you at the ship. Come on Honi."
Tahl waited for them to leave before she spoke. Even in old age, Tahl was still very lovely. She had few wrinkles on her richly dark skin and her eyes still held the familiar fire Obi-Wan had seen in the younger Tahl when he had first met her. Even though her body had become frail after the mission to New Apsolon, she still remained at the Temple as a teacher. Her presence was still strong despite her body's fragile state.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Tahl?" Obi-Wan asked politely even though he had a feeling that this would have something to do with Qui-Gon.
"How have you been Obi-Wan? It's been such a long time either Qui-Gon or I have spoken to you," Tahl began.
"I spoke to Master Jinn a few hours ago," Obi-Wan answered, revealing nothing.
Tahl tilted her head a little and gave him a look. "I'd hardly count a few words as talking, Obi-Wan. And Master Jinn? It's Qui-Gon, it always has been." She paused. "You know, he misses you."
Obi-Wan was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the direction in which their conversation was turning. "I'm sorry to be abrupt, Tahl, but I have a mission to get to. Nya and Honi are waiting. I guess this conversation will have to take place another time. Good day."
He turned to leave. Of course, Tahl still had something to say, "He does miss you Obi-Wan. He's sorry that it ended this way."
"He and I both, Tahl. He and I both…" Obi-Wan murmured to himself as he continued to walk towards the ship. Uncomfortable feelings rose up in him. Again, Obi-Wan did what he had done for the last few months. Pushed them away. He'd worry about them later; he had a mission that needed his focus right now.
Nya and Wengle were talking when Obi-Wan strode up to join them. Nya looked up, scanning his face with her strange silver eyes.
"Wengle Bertoli, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi," Nya introduced.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi? You wouldn't happen to be a friend of Garen Muln would you?" Wengle asked cheerfully as he shook Obi-Wan's hand.
"Yes. Do you work with Garen?" Obi-Wan replied.
"Garen and I trained together when the Jedi starfleet was still around. I haven't talked to him for a few weeks. He's told me a lot of stories about you, Reeft, and Bant," Wengle said.
"It's nice to meet you," Obi-Wan said, politely indicating that he was anxious to get on with the mission.
"And I you. Well now, shall we? The trip from Coruscant to Neven is rather far and I'm sure you want to get there as soon as possible," Wengle motioned for them to follow him as he walked up the ramp.
Honi sat waiting for them, looking bored. She looked up at her Master as they entered and sat down in their seats. Wengle started up the engines. Within minutes, they were smoothly pulling out of the spaceport and on their way away from Coruscant.
After they jumped into hyperspace, Nya leaned forward, "Okay. Let's review the mission so we're all sure what will be going on."
Honi put her full attention on her Master. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and pushed away the troubling thoughts that Tahl had stirred up with their talk. He concentrated on Nya's words, suddenly wondering why he had a bad feeling about this mission.
A/N: In case any of you recognized her, Honi is from the JA series. She's the little girl Obi-Wan rescued first in JA#7 Captive Temple. I don't know why but I thought she was cute so I decided to make her Nya's Padawan. And before you all start flaming away, Nya WILL NOT be a Mary Sue. I'll do everything in my power to prevent it, promise! I hoped you like it. R/R!