Sorry for the late update! Here's Chapter Two. Once again, I ask all die-hard Star Wars fans to point out any canonical errors or inconsistencies. Any tidbits from canon that you think may be helpful to the story and that I may not know would be most welcome.
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The Depths of the Mind
Chapter 2: Into the Labyrinth
Obi-Wan shook his head in confusion and denial, and took a few rushed steps in the direction of the area where the figure had been. "Master, did you not see it!"
Qui-Gon calmly walked over to stand beside his flustered apprentice. "See what, padawan?"
"The man! There was a man there..."
"I see many men. Of which do you speak?"
Obi-Wan's voice lowered in dismay as he realized that his master had not seen it. But how could something so real have been a hallucination? This place was desert-like, so illusions of the mind were quite possible, but normally those of sane mind did not have them. "It was a Jedi, Master."
At this, Qui-Gon squinted, looking off into the distance. Obi-Wan wished that the speculation and doubt would disappear from his master's eyes. "Can you be certain at this distance?"
"Yes, Master."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Very well, then. Perhaps you did see what you think you saw. At any rate—" The Jedi Master paused as his apprentice began to move forward quickly, a purposeful look in his young eyes and his hand wrapped around his lightsaber. "Obi-Wan!" he said sternly. "Where are you going?"
The padowan looked back in confusion, his gaze shifting from the empty land to Qui-Gon and back again. "I am going to look for him, Master!"
"Look for him? And what shall you do if you find him?" Qui-Gon was not angry as he walked forward a few paces to again be at Obi-Wan's side, but there was a stern look in his eyes that told the young apprentice to listen to reason. "Neither of us knows of any Jedi in this part of Coruscant, but that may be because higher-ranking members of the Jedi Council do not wish for us to know. If that is the case, he has every right to be here and we should not meddle in his affairs."
"But what if that is not the case?" Obi-Wan looked at his master pleadingly, knowing in his heart that something was amiss. "Master, I know what it is I saw. If he was not a Jedi...well, then we know what he is. He could not have been an imposter, for he carried a lightsaber. What if this could be a lead in the search for the whereabouts of Sith lords? What if the horrors that have been inflicted upon this land are because of their cruel intent? As Jedi, are we not expected to fight for the innocent and champion their right to life?"
Qui-Gon sighed. Reaching out, he put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I am wondering about the same questions, my apprentice. But if this man you saw is a servant of darkness or a Sith lord, then there is no knowing how dangerous he is. What if he has followers? Two Jedi are a formidable opponent, but you are only an apprentice, still young in the ways of war. We would be outnumbered. This, Obi-Wan, is why it is seldom wise to run off into the desert to chase a phantom."
Obi-Wan hesitated before replying. The thought of leaving that haunting figure here, where it could put the lives of innocents at risk if it really did have evil intent, was appalling to him. But he could not doubt the truth in Qui-Gon's words. "We just leave, then?"
"Yes. But do not fret; when we arrive at headquarters, we can present our suspicions to the council and ask for an investigation. Does that put you a little more at ease?"
No, thought Obi-Wan. He could not say it, however. He did not want to disappoint his master so early in training, nor did he want to seem brash or impulsive, for neither of those was a desirable trait for a Jedi. "Yes, Master. I will go where you bid me to go. Forgive my impetuous actions; they were driven by curiosity."
"Driven by curiosity...and fear, perhaps?" Obi-Wan simply gaped, stuttering incoherently. Qui-Gon gave a strange smile. As he spoke, however, it was obvious that he spoke of something quite serious. "You are still learning. Do not give in to your fear, apprentice. Master Yoda often says that fear is a path to the dark side."
The Dark Side...
Obi-Wan glanced back at where the figure should be. "I apologize for my fear, Master."
As they boarded the shuttle again, Qui-Gon noticed how his apprentice gazed out the window, seemingly entranced by the vacant landscape. Obi-Wan was an inquisitive youth. Even so, it had been obvious from his first days of training that he was strong, and would make a good Jedi someday. Qui-Gon had been glad to be appointed Obi-Wan's master. He had not thought that the council would trust him to take another apprentice so soon after the incident...
It does me no good to dwell on the past.
He started the shuttle, looking back at Obi-Wan every now and then, hoping that his apprentice wasn't too disappointed in their inability to act on his suspicion. It will pass. More experienced Jedi can come and look into the matter if it is a legitimate threat.
The shuttle was soon hovering about ten feet above the ground, and Qui-Gon used the throttle to send it forward. Obi-Wan stopped looking out the window; he had never liked flying.
As they began to gain speed, Qui-Gon spoke to the machine, requesting auto pilot mode. He could operate it manually, but he would have time to think without the risk of distraction if the auto pilot was on. His request was greeted by a pause...and then a robotic response in the monotone of the computer's "voice".
"AutoPilot disabled."
Qui-Gon frowned, quickly revoking the request.
"Master," asked Obi-Wan. "Did you disable the auto pilot before we left the shuttle?"
"No," answered the older Jedi. He was frustrated at his own confusion, but answered calmly enough so that it would not show. "Somebody tending it must have—"
Qui-Gon was not able to complete his thought, for the computer began to speak again.
"Engine malfunction. Firing backup boosters now."
Qui-Gon looked at all of the controls in utter bewilderment, and his frustration was now evident in his light eyes. Who could have tampered with the shuttle in the brief time of their visit?
"Master, what should we do?"
Qui-Gon sighed, and used the manual throttle to start a descent. "We have to find out what exactly is wrong with it. I am going to land."
"Do you think there is anyone near here who could fix it?"
"I doubt it. We will have to fix it ourselves."
It was Obi-Wan's turn to sigh as they landed once more on the sandy ground and the tiny particles again swirled intensely in the air around them. "This is one of the reasons I do not like flying, Master."
Despite himself, Qui-Gon chuckled softly.
Obi-Wan found himself horridly bored as Qui-Gon examined the shuttle. He knew nothing about the parts of this ship, so he could be of no help at all. For probably an hour, he leaned against its side, covering his eyes against the sand and dust with one hand until his arm would begin to tire and he would replace it with the other hand.
Finally, his master slid out from beneath the vessel. Obi-Wan looked down as Qui-Gon mopped sweat from his brow and looked at his work in a scrutinizing way.
"Just a matter of replacing some basic parts," murmured Qui-Gon. "Then it should be in fine working order."
Obi-Wan felt his heart sink. If the parts needed replacing, they would have to be out here for ages longer while Qui-Gon went back to the sad excuse for civilization and bought them. He wondered briefly if it truly was possible to die from boredom.
Patience. Jedi learn patience. I have been taught to meditate if boredom grips my mind.
But he had tried meditating. With the natural disturbances of the outside world, it proved impossible. Though Obi-Wan imagined that Qui-Gon could do it easily.
"Master," asked Obi-Wan. "Where will you get the parts? I highly doubt there are working shops in the area we just came from."
Qui-Gon smiled patiently. "Believe it or not, there were. I saw one. As small and simple as the homes were, a few had some old shuttles. A shop was necessary. Worry not, apprentice—I will be able to find us these parts. It is not a long walking distance; I will be back shortly. You may sit in the shuttle while you wait, for I have noticed that the wind and sand are quite an annoyance."
Obi-Wan nodded gratefully, and gave a small bow as his master departed. For a few moments, he watched Qui-Gon's retreating form as it was swallowed into the haze of the desert, as though wondering if he truly would return.
He finally looked away and stepped back into the small vessel. Once inside, he leaned against the window, absentmindedly wiping grainy particles from his robes and fingering the burnt-out controls. He longed to get back to the modernized part of Coruscant...something about this place was decisively unnerving. Perhaps it was the fact that the view did not change for miles in every direction. He glanced around at the monotony.
It did not change...
The same pattern of movement repeated itself...
The sand had no distinct shape...unless you counted the way the particles seemed to shift in the area in front of Obi-Wan, and swirl around into an abstract shape.
Or was it abstract?
He blinked hastily, suddenly unsure. Was it his imagination, or was there a black form standing there? His heart began to race as he squinted, leaning so far forward that the top of his head bumped against the glass of the window. But no...he was not mistaken. There it was; an indistinct silhouette.
Obi-Wan began pointing it out aloud before remembering that Qui-Gon was no longer there. He glanced quickly at the empty seat beside him, and then turned his attention back to the black shape that was now more and more defined with each miniature sandstorm that passed. It was long. It narrowed towards the top. It kept moving and yet not moving—like a banner attached to a blow that billowed in the wind while its anchor remained still. Then he realized why he saw such a likeness...the black was fabric.
The black was fabric, and the fabric was of robes billowing around the form of a man.
He's here again.
It was the same man who had eluded Qui-Gon's eyes and been the object of obsessive thought of Obi-Wan's part. Obi-Wan was certain of it now. He even saw the same glint of metal beneath the robes when he looked hard enough.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan's eyes went wide because of a sudden onslaught of light that sliced through the miasma. They remained wide in shock when he realized that the glint of metal had become a lightsaber, and the slight disturbances in the Force grew in intensity. He felt the sudden urge to draw his own lightsaber. Just has his hand touched the metal hilt, however, the figure began to walk away.
It's time to trust my instinct.
Perhaps it was simple curiosity that drove Obi-Wan to step out of the shuttle and begin following this unknown form. Perhaps it was the sense that something was terribly, terribly wrong with a Jedi being there. Or, perhaps it was youthful longing for adventure and importance. Whatever the reason, Obi-Wan began walking into a labyrinth that contained mazes more complex and intricate than he ever could have imagined, and he subconsciously drew forth his lightsaber so that its familiar, pulsating warmth was beside him to act as protection to a lone padawan. It was a simple act...and years later, Obi-Wan would still not know if he truly regretted it. Meanwhile, however, a confused Jedi Master would arrive back at his shuttle only to find it empty.
The figure's face was shrouded, but Obi-Wan could make out dry lips exposed at the bottom of the hood as it looked back over its shoulder. He thought he saw those lips curl into a smile.
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