That's Where I Went Wrong
From where he sat in the council room, Yoda, felt a disturbance flow through the force.
"Hmmm" The ancient Jedi Master, closed his eyes feeling as the ripples of sorrow washed over him, and listening to what the force was telling him.
"Master Yoda..?" Mace, another council member asked. He had been sitting next to him, when Yoda had suddenly gone silent. He felt the force shifting in the room, the air seemed charged,...different...something had happened. "What is it...?"
The small alien, only muttered faintly, shaking his head. "Much pain I feel......much...sadness..I sense..." his brows knitted together in concentration.
Windu waited, sure that the old Master was going to say more, the explanation was hardly complete.
But the old Master, stirred from his trance, and got up to leave.
"Master Yoda....?" Mace asked "What....has happened....?"
"Always in Motion the future is......always." Yoda replied.
"But.."
"Need to meditate I do !..." The old Master interrupted, cutting Mace off . "Yes...Always changing the future is,......changed again it has..."
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The ship landed with a low whine on the landing strip. Pilot checking in with the landing crew, and accessing the ship. Nobody was the wiser of a stow away on broad.
Obi-wan glanced through the grate of the air duct. The coast was clear. He jumped off the ramp to the ground and hurried quickly from the ship. He hid amongst some thick shrubs surveying the area, and getting his senses focused.
// This planet is rather remote.. // Obi-wan noted. Aside from the large expanse of dark forest, he couldn't see much in the way of a town or city...or anything at all.
// There's nothing here....// Obi-wan realized. He stepped forward, intending to get back onto the transport and wait until it landed on another planet, but ducked back down as the hulking pilot came back out of the hangar, and boarded the shuttle.
Obi-wan watched with disappointment as the ship lifted into the air and sped away into the stars.
"I guess I'm stuck here.....where ever here is..." he sighed. He really should have checked the ships navigation computer, before jumping off the ship.
"I haven't been thinking to clearly.." he confessed to himself. "Come on get your head together, Obi-wan...." he shook his white locks hoping to clear some of the clutter from his mind.
Turning towards the hangar, Obi-wan decided he might as well meet up with the locals sooner as opposed to later.
The hangar was small and run down, the door to the office hung crookedly by a single rusty hinge.
"What have I got myself into..?" he breathed. It wasn't doing him any good to just stand there and stare. So stifling a groan he pushed the door open.
All at once several pair of eyes where on him. Several rather inhospitable pairs of eyes..
Obi-wan felt his skin crawl, at some of the looks he was getting. Leering, angry....suggestive....
"Hello.." he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm Obi-wan Kenobi....I...un. ..was..." he back up slightly, from the intense glares, it was all to obvious they didn't care who he was, or what questions he had to ask .
One of the group, a large rugged humanoid stepped forward, "We don't like visitors on this world.." he hissed
Obi-wan took a step back, from the creature, as his foul breath invaded his lungs. "I..I assure you it was a mistake,.." he said. "If you would tell me when the next ship is due, I will go, and all problems will be solved.
The large alien coaked his head, "Hmmm, I don't know... why should we let you go.....you could be a spy. "
//Oh Force...// Obi-wan sighed // Spying on what ?? //
"I'm not a spy..."
"No....then why you here...?" The alien gestured "What's here for you....?"
"I'd rather not talk about it..." Obi-wan mumbled as pain seeped into his heart once more.
"WELL I SAY WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT !!" the large alien roared.
Obi-wan almost jumped out of his skin, at the alien's outburst. He glanced at the other two glaring at him, as he was roughly thrown into a chair.
He hoped this talk would be civil. Though looking at the group didn't quell his fears.
// I'm sure this well be fine, just fine...they just want to have a little chat,.... no problem...unless of course their idea of a pleasant chat might involve ripping my still beating heart from my chest and eating it !!!!//
Obi-wan gulped. He had to get out of here.
Using his force ability Obi-wan concentrated on a small vibro blade on one of the tables. Keeping his gaze steady he slowly rise the blade into the air to hover above the heads of his captors.
"Ahhhghghr!!!! Look !!" Cried on the guards.
"A ghost...!!!....it's possessed !!!!!!" the other screamed.
The large alien ducked as the blade flew near his head, dropping to all fours and covering his face.
Obi-wan smiled thankfully. These guys weren't to bright. A simple trick seemed to do the job. He quickly jumped from the chair and raced out the door.
"Hey Get him !!!" One of the aliens roared.
Obi-wan took off racing into the dense forest, he didn't know which way he was going and at this moment he didn't much care, so long as it was away from them. He kept running until their shouting voices no longer echoed through the trees. Exhausted he flopped down on a soft mossy glade.
"...t....thank...g.....goodness..' he panted. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair. "What a way to start...attacked by the natives, lost in the woods...and" Obi-wan's eyes widened and he groaned "I left my pack in the bushes...Damn it !!. He got up dusting himself off.
// Well it's safe to assume that the locals are not friendly......Still .I have to get off this planet.... there must be a city a little ways from here I'm sure...." Obi-wan look one way then the other, before hanging his head and sighing in frustration, he was surrounded by the same dense forest every which way he looked.
His stomach growled, and he felt a twinge of annoyance once more at losing his pack. He was getting hungry. He hadn't eaten before running from the temple, and the several hours on the ship.
// perfect... empty stomach,....empty soul //
It was true, he felt hollow, weightless...in a sense. His hear was bleeding the life from him, pouring the joy he once radiated with out on to the murky ground at his feet and leaving an emptiness in its wake.
// I 'm lonely....// Obi-wan looked bleakly up into the heavens, but was sadly dismayed. There where no comforting stars to gaze at, and seek comfort from. Only the dull grey, and unfriendly sky looked down upon him.
With a heavy heart Obi-wan picked a course at random, and began to slowly walk through the endless forest. The dreary, wretchedness of this place pulled at his sprits persistently , wearing him away, fogging his senses.
He looked with meek silence at the dark foreboding trees, as he trudged past.
//What's this place, I'm so far from my home and I'm tired..............I don't want to be alone.//
Listening to the eerie quietness of the place, as it almost grew unbearable around him. Suffocating and squeezing against him. Obi-wan found himself wishing for a companion, anyone .....to keep him company.
// Oh I need someone to comfort me...................cause the one who use to comfort me................................well he don't want me...//
His heart ached with the certainty of that statement. How could Qui-gon do that to him...?
"huh..?" Obi-wan stiffened. He had been so lost in thought that he'd failed to notice his surroundings until he had heard a sharp snap. Now he hung in the darkness listening and peering intently in the gloom.
"Who's there..?" he demanded.
No answer.
// maybe it was just my imagination....? // Obi-wan glanced nervously into the darkness. The shadows gave a frightening effect to the forest, and he couldn't help but cry out and bolt a few feet when a twisted old tree branch caught his rode.
He turned ready to attack when he realized his error. "Oh boy.." he chuckled "Obi-wan the mighty tree killer......Oi...get a grip old Boy.." he gazed up at the dull sky, wishing that there were stars to see. The pain in his heart welled up and sang sharply into his mind.
" Bant....I'll never see you again.....I'm sorry.......I tried......" he eyes felt heavy as continued on his way. Heart lurching, overburdened with Emotion. As a fountain of memories poured over him. Drowning him in a life time of experiences.
Happy times with Bant, Reeft and Garin. as they talked and played by the lake. ..Sad times fighting with Bruck,...watching the other boy die...... Many times being held in awe by the teachings of Master Yoda, ....Quiet times in the fountain room...where he usually found Siri.
He stood in a daze, as the memories flowed past, smiling... laughing.....crying..
His mind came to the memories of his time with Qui-gon.
A young boy, trying so hard to please his Master...a gawky youth earning his Master's approval.... becoming a slim and graceful young man, worthy of fighting along side his Master... Falling in Love... a first kiss.... a being bonded as close as two souls could be...........and.......
Obi-wan closed his eyes, stopping the memories and returning to the dark forest. As sadness once more engulfed him. He did not wish to think about Qui-gon..........Those memories no longer brought him happiness.
Obi-wan continued until he found a large tree. With great roots along the ground.
Here he dropped. Curling tightly against the trunk to keep warm, he tried to push the memories out of his head and get some rest.
// this place is awfully cold ...I've walked so many miles.........Force please let me go to sleep and forget him....for awhile. I know it's not his fault ....I've know it all along..................................//
Obi-wan let out a shuddering breath as a tear slid down his cheek.
// I was the one who trusted him................That's where I went wrong. //
To be continued..........