Chapter 3
"My people have nothing against the Jedi! You're clearly mistaken!" Forrester leader, Tiff Magin said sternly.
Qui-Gon had no time for this. "Perhaps you have some that are against us that you just don't know about!"
"Impossible!"
"And it just may be impossible that my Padawan is in the next room dying with a Forrester poison? I need an antidote and I need it now!"
Tiff rolled his eyes. "Do you have proof that it is a Forrester poison?"
"Take a look for yourself! Qui-Gon muttered as he showed Tiff a sample of Obi-Wan's blood in the microcomputer. The sample matched with the poisons sample.
Tiff stared at it in disbelief. "I don't understand, my people..."
"I need the antidote." Qui-Gon pressed firmly.
"I must know what stage he's in for the antidote to be successful."
"What do you mean?" The Jedi Master questioned. "What are the stages, explain it."
Tiff nodded. "The poison is an old ancient one used much before our time. It was made by our elders and was thought to be unknown to our people now, it's forbidden to be made. It was a substance of pure trickery so the victim doesn't even know that he's been poisoned until it's too late."
"What are the stages?" Qui-Gon pressed.
"The first stage begins rather quickly, it causes the victim to believe they are drunk, it causes unsteadiness, blurred vision, slurred speech... the next stage makes the victim think they have the flu, fever, vomiting, headache, body aches and I've seen some pass out."
Qui-Gon's heart dropped as he heard this.
"The third stage is said that the victim feels better that they are believed to be well. By this stage if the antidote is taken, the drug will dissolve and be no more."
"And if not?" Omar asked.
"The last stage occurs, more vomiting, fever that rages through the body, passing out. It is said that it's the fever that causes the death. What stage is your Padawan in, Master Jedi?"
Qui-Gon stared bleakly at the Forrester leader. "He's in the last stage. The poison has incubated, is there anything else I can do?"
Tiff looked down. "The stages have already passed for a successful antidote. There is no way to stop it, Master Jedi. You're Padawan will die within hours, he's in its last stage. There's nothing more left to do. I am sorry."
Qui-Gon's heart sank at the thought of allowing Obi-Wan to die. "I won't let this happen! I won't let the boy die. Get me a holocam."
Moments later, Master Yoda stood before Qui-Gon on the holocam.
"Master Yoda, is the boy to die?" He asked.
"See it, do you?" Yoda asked him.
"I don't know what to do. You said you would come, can you save him?"
"Come we will, save him, I cannot see. But this poisoning will not go unsaid. Not happened, it should have. Weak, was the boy in a time when strong, he should have been."
The riddles were driving Qui-Gon crazy. "Will you be here in time?"
"When the time is right, Master Qui-Gon, the time shall be right." The holocam ended.
Qui-Gon stayed at Obi-Wan's side. He attempted to reach him with the Force, but to no avail. The boy fell into a deep unconscious state.
Master! Master! Qui-Gon looked up, as his young Padawan came running into his arms, he was barely seven. His boyish features were filled with enthusiasm as Qui-Gon continued to tell him the wills of the Force, the boy seemed to listen intently...
"Master..."
Qui-Gon lifted his head as he heard Obi-Wan's weakened voice. "Yes, Obi-Wan?" He asked gently.
"I'm so cold, Master...and it hurts to breath..." He groaned.
"I know, it'll be all right. Just try to sleep." He didn't even know if Obi-Wan heard his last words as his head sunk back onto the pillow. He passed out again.
Qui-Gon sighed worriedly, though he was glad his young Padawan had passed out, so he didn't have to endure anymore pain. He looked at the monitors that were hooked up to Obi-Wan, his heartbeat was slowing and his temperature was getting higher, it was nearly one hundred and four degrees with an ice blanket.
As the hours lingered by, Qui-Gon wondered whether or not the Jedi Masters were really on their way to heal his young Padawan. If they didn't get here soon, Obi-Wan was sure to die...or become one with the Force.
"Master Qui-Gon." Yoda's voice came out of nowhere, as the Jedi Master opened his eyes.
Yoda sat beside him along with Mace Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi, who were all looking over the young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Masters", Qui-Gon said as he stood and bowed. "Can you save him?"
"The boy is very ill," Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed, "but we shall see."
"Leave us, Master Qui-Gon." Mace told him.
Without any further questions, Qui-Gon bowed once again and left the Masters to work a miracle. He stayed in a waiting area with the two leaders of the planet. Hours went by with no word on Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon's own exhaustion had caught up with him and he had fallen asleep.
"Master Qui-Gon." Ki-Adi-Mundi's voice eased.
Qui-Gon awoke with a jolt as he stood. "Master, how is he?"
"He'll survive. He's very weak, but the worst has passed. The fever has broken and he's asking for you."
Qui-Gon sighed in relief, he still had his Padawan. He quickly made his way to Obi-Wan's room. When he arrived, Yoda was counseling him, but stopped when Qui-Gon entered.
"Master..." Obi-Wan said, his voice was just above a whisper.
Qui-Gon looked down at his young Padawan and smiled gently. "You see, Obi-Wan, I was right. I told you, that you would be fine."
"I'm sorry, Master, I messed up you're meetings."
Qui-Gon smiled, "you haven't messed up anything. You're illness has seemed to bring the Forresters and the Citizens together, they are in the waiting area as we speak, talking things out."
"Talk with you upon you're return, I will, Obi-Wan." Yoda cut in.
"As will the rest of us. Have you learned anything from this, young Padawan?" Mace asked.
"Not to take drinks from strangers?" Obi-Wan asked with a sheepish grin.
Qui-Gon smiled, he was thankful to the Force to once again have his Padawan out of danger and soon continue with his training. A lot would be said of this near death experience, an experience Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan was not likely to forget.
The End.