The Phantom Menace
Chapter 6: Ragoon VI Part 2
It had been two days since that fateful night in that tiny hole in the ground, the tangled roots the only barrier that gave them protection while they rested. Obi-Wan had made a swift recovery; which Keiris thanked the Force countless times, and was even able to remove the stitches from his forehead. Keiris, who had developed a mild fever from the night out in the cold and rain, believed that Obi-Wan should rest a day or two longer. He, however, would have none of that. Keiris would have protested, if not for the headache that seemed to continuously sap her body of energy. So, with only a smile and a half-hearted nod, they journeyed out of their little sanctuary and began their search for Bruck and Siri.
The suns rays were casting strange shadows along the world below as Keiris and Obi-Wan stumbled through the forest. Obi-Wan skillfully followed the trails that Bruck and Siri left not a few hours ago, his eyes scanning the forest floor. However, Keiris wasn't fairing all that well. The headache that pulsed within her skull was strong enough to send any Jedi to their knees. It caused her vision to sway, her senses to fail her, and her attention to waver. She pressed her palm to her face, rubbing the sweat that beaded on her brow. She stumbled forward, her teeth clenched as a pulsating surge of pressure pressed against her temples.
"Here, eat this."
Keiris blinked and lurched to a stop, glancing at the thing Obi-Wan held in his hand. It took her a moment to comprehend what exactly it was, but when she did she almost gagged. She eyed the swampy colored fruit warily, grimaced, before simply replying. "I am in no mood for games, Kenobi. You know that I cannot stomach the taste of Bun-Bun fruit."
"It will reduce your fever and ease your headache." Obi-Wan, ignoring the retort, stated coolly while peeling away the skin. The frown on Keiris' lips deepened as the murky green flesh of the fruit became visible. She shivered. "You took care of me. I owe you for that."
The young Padawan glanced up through her lashes, eyeing her companion with a callous gaze. Obi-Wan gave her a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling as if coxing her to do as he willed, while he held out the naked fruit. Keiris scoffed and snatched the fruit from his palm before walking in the direction they were heading. She heatedly bit into the fruits flesh, holding back the shiver that was threatening to run down her body when the salty juice touched her tongue. The corners of her eyes watered as she quickly chewed, swallowing before the flavor could completely envelope her taste buds.
"Besides," Obi-Wan said from behind her, smiling triumphantly at the back of her head. "that headache was causing you to act like a harpy. The fever definitely didn't help it either. You're no fun when you're out of sorts."
Keiris mockingly mimicked Obi-Wan's voice while she grudgingly shoved half of the fruit into her mouth; hastily chewing and swallowing it before the remains decided to travel back up. She knew what he said to be true, since fevers and headaches always set her in a mood that made her almost unapproachable. But, her blistering temper kept her from accepting that she was acting childish. Keiris reeled around and threw the rest at Obi-Wan, after hearing his chuckles derived from the sounds she was making while chewing the fruit.
"So uncivilized." He smoothly sidestepped just as the fruit flew passed his head, much to Keiris' dismay. "Now that your ailments will be gone at any moment, you will be able to help me watch out for their prints. Perhaps, we will be able to catch up with Bruck and Siri before nightfall. We can finally get off this blasted rock. Personally, I'm awfully sick of these daft Blood Bugs. They're doing a number on my neck."
The female Padawan rolled her eyes, ignoring the fact that her headache was beginning to subside and her skin felt less clammy. She, however, would not openly admit that she could feel her strength returning, little by little, since she knew it would only heighten Obi-Wan's ever growing ego. So, after closing her eyes and asking the Force to ease her incensed temper, Keiris continued forward.
They continued to silently traveled through the forest while, with the help from a strengthening Keiris, skillfully tracking the foot prints that led them further into the dense environment. Obi-Wan wandered a few paces ahead of the female Padawan, who walked off to the side to cover more ground. Keiris slowly knelt, crouching as her fingers ghosted along the forest floor. She gently brushed a fern aside, eyeing the medium sized boot print suspiciously. It was fresh, she realized after a moment, it was only a minute or two old. Suddenly, her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed just as a certain scent filled her nose. Vanilla. She suspiciously casted her gaze skyward, slowly eyeing the surrounding canopy.
Keiris frowned, jumping when Obi-Wan's voice caught her attention.
"Found something?" He called out from his position a few feet away.
"Nothing of use to us at the moment." Keiris distractedly called out, squinting slightly. She remained rooted in the spot, her attention still focused on the canopy above. "How about you?"
"Same. They shouldn't have gotten too far ahead of us. Unless they procured speeders…even though the terrain wouldn't allow them much passage on one. Blast." Keiris heard Obi-Wan grumble, finally allowing his frustration to show. "Keiris, I'm going to go….well…..you know. I'll be right back."
She could almost sense the blush rising to his cheeks, this made her tense expression crack as a smirk appeared. "Don't worry, I'll be able to take care of myself while you're gone."
Obi-Wan ran off into the forest, Keiris watched him from over her shoulder as he disappeared behind the maze of trees. She exhaled and straightened, rolling her sore neck in an attempt to stretch the taught muscles. She closed her eyes as she arched her back, sighing as a small crack sounded from her spine. The heavy brown Jedi cloak drifted from her shoulders as she rolled them, pooling around her in a large heap. Keiris opened her eyes, smiling impishly as a ripple in the Force touched her conscious. Her fingers drifted towards her lightsaber that sat harmlessly at her hip, finger tips resting against the metal.
Keiris swiftly turned, activating her lightsaber just in time to block a crippling blow to her shoulder. She immediately rolled into a crouch, her violet blade parrying another strike to her side. Pushing back, she gained enough distance to identify her opponent. Blonde hair framed blue eyes that burned with an intense hatred, their own violet blade held tightly in their steady hands.
"Siri." Keiris said composedly, while lowering her saber in a loose one-handed grip. "What were you thinking? I could have been seriously hurt! I'd expect that from Bruck, but not you."
"What's the matter, Keiris? Afraid that you couldn't take me? " Siri sneered, spewing the name from her mouth as if it were poison. She cocked her head to the side, looking her opponent up and down before scoffing. "Then again, you never could. Could you?"
Siri unexpectedly jumped forward, her saber coming down in a powerful two-handed swing. Keiris skillfully blocked, blade held horizontally over her head. The sheer force caused her knees to buckle slightly but she pushed Siri's blade away, twisting into a sideways slash to the arm. Siri leapt back, hissing in pain as the tip of Keiris' saber hit her arm.
"Someone got lucky." She said through gritted teeth. Allowing herself a momentary glance at the singed fabric and the small line of parted flesh.
With fierce growls and swift movements, the two Padawan's clashed together. Keiris found herself faltering just as two stinging blows were sent to her thigh. While she recovered somewhat, her body still wasn't up to the strain of such intense combat. Her body, still recovering from the sickness that plagued her, was weak.
'I have to gain some ground'. She thought while hastily moving to a low crouch, dodging a slash that would have cut her chest wide open.
Keiris pushed forward a step, throwing Siri off balance for a moment with a strong thrust. Using the temporary distraction to her advantage, she aimed an intense slash at Siri's left side. When Siri solidly blocked the attack, Keiris used the Force to help give her extra momentum as she instantly spun in place, her blade lowering into a thrust faster then Siri could block. The tip of the blade connected with her side, causing Siri to take a step back in shock while the air rushed from her lungs. The sides of her robes were seared, revealing the newly damaged skin below. It wasn't a fatal blow, Keiris made sure of that, but it caused a gash that would hurt for some time.
Deciding to use the momentary lull to gain some distance; Keiris lithely flipped backwards, using the Force to help her land in a low-hanging branch. Siri hastily followed, gawkily landing on the narrower end of the branch. Keiris smiled impishly at Siri as she watched her try to correct her balance.
"What's wrong?" Keiris feigned worry while she stood unwavering on the branch. "Can't stand up? Would you prefer to have your feet on the ground? Here, let me help you!"
Keiris lunged forward, a horizontal slash forcing Siri to block too solidly to keep her footing. Siri slipped, yelping just as she caught the branch with her left hand. Her grip loosened and she plummeted to the ground, landing hard on her feet with a soft whimper. Keiris, attempting to keep any advantage she had, flipped out of the tree while using the centrifugal force to add power behind a two-handed slash. Siri's block barely held before she was driven to her knees, rolling away while slashing blindly at Keiris to give her some room to breath. Rising, she pressed Keiris with another quick succession of blows, forcing her back on the defensive. Keiris held up somewhat better this time, until Siri suddenly switched to a one-handed slash to her right shoulder. Knowing the next slash would aim for her left thigh, Keiris swiftly moved her blade into a blocking position.
However, Keiris realized it was a feint a moment too late. Siri fluidly brought her blade in from the opposite side, striking her lightsaber forcefully. Keiris lost her grip on the hilt of her saber, which flew out of her hand to land a few feet away. Desperately raising her hand to call it back to her with the Force, she rolled as Siri brought down another two-handed blow. Keiris barely avoided it by rolling to the left, at the same time, pulling the saber to her hand.
Just as she activated the blade to block another blow, she felt a powerful surge in the Force. Keiris swiftly looked up just in time to catch Siri flying through the air before colliding forcefully against a tree, her saber falling out of her hand and her eyes widened in shock. Keiris panted heavily as she watched Siri from her position on the forest floor, who remained pressed against the tree and completely dazed.
A hand, gentle yet firm, rested on Keiris' shoulder. "Are you hurt?"
Keiris nearly jumped at the sudden contact but instantly relaxed when she found Obi-Wan crouched beside her, his forehead creased and his expression stony. She gave a feeble nod. "Yes. I'm fine."
He gave a curt nod before standing, wandering over to a recovering Siri. He quickly looked her over, his eyes lingering on the opens wounds present on her arm and side. "How about you? Are you hurt?"
"No." Siri picked up her lightsaber from the ground, attaching it to her belt. "I'm fine."
Keiris, who was now brushing off her robes after reattaching her own lightsaber to her belt, silently scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Now what in the blazes happened here?" Obi-Wan firmly asked, his voice rising as he looked between the two women. "When you said that you could take care of yourself while I was gone I didn't doubt you. But, apparently, you felt the need to prove it."
"It was just an innocent, fair, spar between two women. Nothing more." Keiris simply shrugged her shoulders after a moment of tense silence. She arched her back and ran her hands through her scarlet tresses, picking out pieces of debris that were tangled within. Obi-Wan's expression wavered as he watched Keiris play with her hair, his hard brow softening. "Oh, speaking of fair,where's your partner, Siri? Or is he about to ambush us too?"
Siri crossed her arms and glared at Keiris, her nose wrinkling in evident disgust.
"Yes, why aren't you with Bruck?" Obi-Wan asked and turned to the other Padawan.
"Well isn't the answer obvious?" Siri asked, her eyes softening as she stared innocently up at Obi-Wan. "After he let slip what he had done to you, I left. I couldn't stand being with him for another second-"
"Oh, please."
"-knowing what he had done to you. How far he had gone to cause you harm. It was against the rules."
Keiris grumbled incoherently as she gently removed a piece of blue fabric from her Padawan braid, placing the fabric between her teeth as she began to gather her hair in her hands. Keiris watched the two with disdain as she took the fabric from her teeth and began to skillfully tie her hair up.
"Well, you can thank Keiris for saving my hide that night." Obi-Wan glanced away from Siri, giving Keiris a gentle smile while he watched her tighten the band around her messy ponytail. "Without her, I would probably be in a tight spot or not even here at all. The latter would be the most accurate guess."
Keiris pressed two fingers to her forehead and gave a mock salute. She reached out with the Force and called her cloak to her, catching it with one hand before quickly dusting it off. "Do you know where Bruck might be?"
"No clue." Siri stated shortly, cocking her hip to the side.
"Of course." Keiris muttered loudly to herself, impatiently pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. The headache was slowly returning, causing her temper to rise. "Useless kriff."
"How da-"
"Is there a place where Bruck really enjoyed being the most?" Obi-Wan quickly interjected, eyeing Keiris warningly before he returned his attention to the other female Padawan. "A place where he suggested you two set up camp and happened to stay longer then usual?"
Siri thought for a moment, rubbing a hand through her disheveled blonde hair. "Now that I think of it. We settled near a lake for a few nights. Bruck seemed the most relax near there. He would usually meditate on this huge waterfall for hours at a time. It's actually a days walk from where we currently are."
"Alright, let's try there. If we're lucky, he'll be there waiting for us to arrive. Perhaps he'll have some Tarine tea prepared." Obi-Wan said in an attempt to lighten the mood but his attempt at lighthearted conversation was futile. With an uncomfortable cough, he quickly gestured to Siri. "Lead the way."
"With pleasure." Siri stated charmingly, a smug smile pulling at the corner of her lips.
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"What are you making, Keiris?" Obi-Wan asked, staring at his friend through the dancing flames that separated them both.
Siri glanced up from her data pad when the silence was broken, watching the two mutely from her position a foot away. A twig snapped as she shifted with unease, wincing slightly as the injury under her bandaged side screamed from the small movement.
"Hold on, you'll see in a moment. I'm nearly finished." Keiris mumbled as she carefully dug her daggers tip into the soft flesh of the yellow-tinted bead, carving a small pattern into the delicate rounded object. She placed the dagger next to her after completing the intricate pattern around the bead and held it up to her eye, examining it critically in between her thumb and forefinger. Smiling brightly before jumping to her feet, she proudly announced. "Alright, it's done."
Keiris gracefully dashed around the fire to where Obi-Wan sat, well aware of Siri's bitter gaze watching her every move.
'Miserable kriff'. Keiris thought angrily before she quickly ignored the girls entire presence. A skill she had learned to do exceedingly well.
"Why am I slightly scared?" Obi-Wan asked, smiling amusedly as Keiris took a seat facing him. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he watched her give one final critique of her work. "Alright, lets see it."
Keiris handed him over the bead with a flourish, placing it gently in his outstretched palm. A light smile passed over her lips as she watched him study her handiwork, his eyes remembering every detail and grain of the bead as he examined it.
"It's made from the bark of the Lo'Ragoo. It's said to bring a person-"
"Luck." Obi-Wan interjected quietly as he turned his head to glance at his friend. The smile slowly disappearing from his lips, his face becoming emotionless as his cerulean eyes gazed into Keiris'. He swallowed hard then when he noticed how close their bodies really were, his eyes lingering on her lips for a heartbeat, "It's quite beautiful." His voice nearly a murmur before he nervously cleared his throat.
"Thank you." Keiris whispered as a thick, warm, invisible liquid seemed to wash over her whole body, causing her limbs to feel heavy as they began to tingle. She began to knead her Jed robes nervously between her fingers. "I made it for, um, you actually."
Obi-Wan raised his brow, his forehead wrinkling. "Really?"
"Of course. Luck is the one thing you need Obi-Wan. Especially when I'm not around."
He scoffed. "Name one time when you, milady, saved my hide from certain peril."
"Well, besides what happened a few nights ago, I have so many to choose from. But, I guess I'll just settle for one." Keiris smirked and held up a finger. "Your run in with that Reek."
His eyes widened and his arrogant expression wavered, leaving behind a look of panic and horror at the mention of his time spent with a certain animal. "Well played."
"Sometimes I wonder if you purposely forget the things I do for you." She chucked before gesturing to his plain Padawan braid. "May I?"
Keiris scooted closer to Obi-Wan and gently unwound the band that held his braid in place when he nodded, running her fingers through the silky strands when it came undone. She felt his eyes on her face when she began to braid the hair, causing her fingers to tremble and a blush to rise to his cheeks. After a few braids in, Keiris carefully slipped the yellow bead onto the braid, momentarily studying the intricate bead in its new home with a slight tilt of the head.
Obi-Wan chuckled deeply.
"What?" Keiris asked while pouting her lips, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable, her fingers continuing to twist the strands of his hair.
"Nothing." He whispered, shaking his head with a knowing smirk.
"You really shouldn't poke fun at the person who's braiding your hair." Keiris warned through a smirk, her eyes flashing up to meet his before returning to her handiwork. "I could be a complete ass and braid your hair into a pretty little bow."
"Please don't."
"Why not? All the girls will be jealous-"
Keiris laughed as he promptly yanked his head away, dragging the unfinished braid out of her fingers. When he motioned to get up, she quickly grabbed his shoulders and yanked him back onto the ground. Her hand found his smooth cheek and turned his face so he was looking at her.
"I would never do such a thing, Obi-Wan Kenobi." She chuckled lightly, her palm still on his cheek.
A small electric charge began to envelope between the two of them, Keiris could feel it surging and growing in volume. Whether or not Obi-Wan too felt the electric charge she didn't know; his face remained impassive while some unknown emotion began to form within his sapphire eyes.
Passion? No. Longing? No, definitely not. Desire? No….no….couldn't be.
Keiris shook her head and abruptly removed her palm from his cheek. Without another thought, she took the undone strands of his Padawan braid and began to re-braid them.
"In all my sixteen years…I have never met someone quite like you, Keiris." Obi-Wan whispered while he watched the flames of the fire.
"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."
He replied dryly. "Take it anyway you like."
Keiris smirked as she braided the last few bits of hair before she wrapped the band around it to complete the Padawan braid. She tilted her head to the side, admiring how the organic yellow stood out against his strawberry blonde hair.
"How does it look?" Obi-Wan inquired, sounding paranoid.
"Relax Kenobi, it looks fine." Keiris gave him a playful shove, earning a mischievous smirk that sent her insides reeling and her mind tottering on the brink of insanity.
He reached out and ran her Padawan braid through his nimble fingers, lightly touching the various colored beads and threads that were woven into her scarlet hair. "I'm not sure if this is appropriate for Padawan protocol."
Keiris swatted his hands away, frowning. "I would have you know, Kenobi, that Master Yoda compliments me on my creativity and Master Zeshi encourages it."
"Master Yoda always tells me to be mindful of creativity and what the brain makes up on its own." Obi-Wan said flatly, his fingers involuntarily touching the new ornament within his braid.
"Creativity has been around since the first age of beings. It would be a pity to lose such an amazing ability just because some people think it's…dangerous." She stretched out her neck and held her chin high, boldly looking towards the flickering fire that continued to burn with a fierce passion. "It's not dangerous. I think it's rather helpful and useful to Jedi, if they just hadn't learned to suppress their creativity when they were younglings. One day, Obi-Wan Kenobi, I'll show you how affective creativity can be when it comes to dangerous situations."
"Oh, you will?" He asked, suddenly amused. His forehead wrinkling as his brow rose.
"And I'll remind you of this day and what you said to me-" Keiris glanced back at Obi-Wan, whose grin only widened. "-that way you can tell me how I was right all along. On that day I get to tell you 'I told you so'."
They both stared at each other then, unblinking and faces completely emotionless. Tension began to grow heavy around them as the seconds flew by. Suddenly, they laughed then, heartily, clutching their stomachs as the mirth shook their bodies. Keiris placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, steadying herself as she wiped a tear from her eye. When her vision cleared and laughter turned to giggles, she involuntarily glanced towards where Siri had been sitting against the tree. The space was chillingly vacant.
xxx
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Keiris could sense something strange as they walked through the trees. The feeling started small, acting as if it were an annoying mosquito buzzing around her ear, but as they walked further and further into the forest the presence within the Force grew to the point of being intolerable. Keiris frowned as she lithely leapt over a fallen tree, her brow creasing in concentration as she searched curiously through the Force. Intense emotions unexpectedly bombarded her mind, almost sending her to her knees from the sheer power of the feelings.
Anger. The anger burned passionately within the Force, overriding anything else that drifted through the swell of energy.
"Are you alright?"
Withdrawing, Keiris blinked rapidly and shook her head. She found herself staring at her booted feet, unaware that she had stopped walking until then. She glanced away from her feet and looked to her side, finding Obi-Wan staring at her apprehensively while Siri drifted curiously a foot away. Keiris looked away, puzzled, and stared unseeingly into the dense trees ahead.
"Do you feel that?" She asked suddenly, her voice strained.
Obi-Wan stood silently by her side. His breathing slowed as he stood still, feeling through the Force. Out of her peripheral, Keiris saw his body grow rigid.
He sighed, staring off in the same direction Keiris was. "Yes, I feel that."
"The falls should be just behind those set of trees." Siri interjected from behind Obi-Wan. "Whatever Bruck is doing…it's obviously making him angry."
Keiris turned and stared at Obi-Wan. A frown pulled at the corner of his lips and his forehead creased; an expression, she noted, she was now used to seeing on her friends face. "Should we really go confront him when he is in such a venomous state of mind?"
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin in thought, pondering over the many possible outcomes while making up a plan in his intuitive mind. He shook his head after a moment and said. "No, there will be no we, only I."
"What are you talking about?" Keiris asked, bewildered.
"You and Siri will stay right here. I will confront Bruck by myself."
"Are you daft?" Keiris screeched, eyes widened in shock.
"In this state, Obi-Wan, he will tear you to shreds." Siri anxiously pointed out. "He's in a condition that he can't easily be pulled out of."
However, Obi-Wan simply shrugged his shoulders and began to walk in the direction where the emotion was concentrated the most. "This is something I need to do. You two stay here, keep each other company. Please don't kill each other while I'm gone."
Obi-Wan quickly took off into the forest, not looking back when Keiris frantically called out his name. Her fretful gaze followed his figure until it disappeared behind a dense grouping of trees, vanishing from view. She stared into the empty forest for a moment, her chest heaving as her lungs began to strain. Keiris didn't comprehend the snapping of twigs under feet, nor did she regard Siri's presence when she came to stand next to her.
Siri sighed and spoke directly to the other female Padawan for the first time, her words strangely deprived of abhorrence. "I say we give him ten minutes before we go in after him."
For once, Keiris couldn't have agreed more.
xxx
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Obi-Wan could feel it getting stronger as he swiftly ran passed trees and dodged the low hanging branches. It was a minor ripple in the Force at first, a slight disturbance of the natural flow in the planet. But as he got closer, he could feel the difference more distinctly - frustration, anger, and determination. Whatever Bruck was doing, it was obviously roiling him. He picked up his pace, hoping to get to Bruck before he did something foolish in his rage.
He heard a muted, yet thunderous, hissing sound ahead. The sound was familiar, yet different to him, impossible to place for some reason. Obi-Wan noticed that the trees began to thin, allowing more sun to poke through the holes in the dense canopy above. He raced to the thinning tree line, noticing that the ground was getting increasingly more solid underfoot. He allowed a swift glance downward for a moment, finding that the ground was gradually turning into a stonier terrain.
The trees gave way quickly, revealing a somewhat-smooth path of rocks and dirt. It had obviously once been more trafficked, but not for a few years, given the sparse planet growth. Obi-Wan also noticed that the sound he couldn't place grew clearer, and he recalled it: water hitting stone. There was a waterfall nearby, just as Siri had said there would be.
Obi-Wan slowed and hovered over the dirt covered path. His midnight gaze surveyed the ground more closely, instantly noticing the recent scuffing and disturbance to the ground. The distance between disturbances indicated to him that Bruck passed through, not worried about being followed. The feeling of anger spiked again, and he promptly took off at a steady run.
After a good twenty minutes of running up the increasingly rocky path, the sound of the falls became almost deafening. Obi-Wan took a moment to catch his breath, sitting to keep his muscles from stiffening. He didn't know what he was going to say to Bruck, or what was going to transpire, he only knew he had to keep his temper reined in. He rose after a few minutes and began the final trek upwards at a cautious pace.
As he crested the trail, he was suddenly dwarfed by a massive waterfall. The water cascaded down the edge of the waterfall and barreled into the large lake below; the sheer force of the surging water caused a vicious rainbow-tinged mist to form just at the bottom of the falls. Obi-Wan furrowed his brow as he spotted Bruck standing on the rocks at the top of the waterfall, his white hair billowing from the swell of wind created from the rush of the water. Bruck held his saber in a one-handed grip that seemed unfamiliar to the younger Padawan.
Bruck sucked in a breath before running towards the edge of the falls. Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force as Bruck leapt into the air, his body twisting sideways. As he tumbled down, the rotation never slowing, he tried to bring his saber out further but his arm seemed to be resisting the movement. Obi-Wan paused for a moment, wondering where he'd seen that similar move before. After a second, he remembered watching Masters Drallig and Yoda demonstrating the more advanced and finer points of the Ataru style.
"This makes no sense." Obi-Wan said to himself as he watched Bruck attempting to morph his body into a traditional styled pose. "Why would he be attempting an Ataru form, and one so advanced, at that?
As Bruck got closer to the ground, Obi-Wan noticed that the other Padawan wouldn't pull out of the spin in time. He swiftly ran forward, using the Force to give him the speed he needed to make it before Bruck collided fatally with the rocky earth below. Obi-Wan crashed mightily into Bruck, narrowly avoiding contact with the saber's blade. As both boys rolled apart, Bruck quickly rose; his anger was almost a physical presence as he laid steely blue eyes on Obi-Wan.
"What were you thinking?" Bruck yelled viciously as Obi-Wan rose to his feet. The blade of his lightsaber disengaged but he held it readily at his side. "I had that landing!"
Obi-Wan felt the blood rush to his head as he squared his shoulders and tensed his jaw.
"You were going to hurt yourself, Bruck! You know you never took well to Ataru, and that particular form was for an adapt!" Obi-Wan hissed furiously at his rival. "I saved you, which is more than you would have done for me! I've come to expect things from you Bruck, but that was beyond what I would have ever expected. Even from you. It wasn't just foolish, it was dangerous. I could have died! If it weren't for Keiris' connection to the Force, I doubt I'd have made it. Did you even think of that?"
Bruck's face flushed for a second, Obi-Wan could almost see the veins in his arms bulge as he gripped his saber's hilt tighter. "And here is the lecture from the great, Master Kenobi. Tell me, if you're so wise and brilliant, why did you even allow yourself to be caught in such a situation? You're so great, remember? The great Oafy-Wan Kenobi, chosen Padawan to one of the greatest Jedi Masters in the Order. Dealing with a little scratch was too much for you, eh? I still cannot understand why he chose you."
"Boldly spoken by a dealer of cheap tricks." His eyes flashed dangerously from under his furrowed brow. "You're still a child in the worst of ways, Bruck. You pout and throw a tantrum when things don't go your way, you try to make everyone else around you miserable to feel better about yourself while trying your hardest to bring us all down with you. However, I don't hate you for it. I pity you for it. I feel sadness for the man you could be, if only you left all of that nonsense in the past and moved on."
The only warning Obi-Wan had was the surge in the Force as Bruck reignited his saber and rushed at him. Obi-Wan swiftly grabbed his lightsaber and engaged it, just in time to block the powerful overhead strike that nearly forced his own blade onto his left shoulder. He mustered the strength and pushed back; Bruck charged immediately after recovering, his blade becoming a wall of blue. Obi-Wan skillfully parried for a few moments before spinning away and leaving Bruck slashing at air. He tried to press the advantage, using Bruck's slower timing against him, but Bruck's anger gave him new speed and strength. He found himself quickly on the defensive again; Bruck's vigor pushing him back, the mist from the falls beginning to soak his back.
As Obi-Wan took another step back, Bruck's plasma blade singed his sleeve. The Padawan hesitated for a moment, leaving Bruck an opening he couldn't resist. Obi-Wan hastily reached out and used the Force to lend him the speed and strength to jump over a blow that would have bisected him if their lightsabers had been set at full strength. Before he landed, he was forced to parry Bruck's vicious backswing in midair, the force of the blow pushing him sideways. Bruck gave him no chance to recover when his feet found the rocky landscape, instantly resuming his fierce press. Several times, Obi-Wan found himself twisting or bending in ways that made him grateful for his Ataru proficiency; many of the blows would have resulted in the loss of limbs or worse.
Bruck clumsily slipped on the muddied ground, giving Obi-Wan an opening to finally take the offensive. He aimed a powerful slash at Bruck's leg, using the distraction of the block to quickly bring his blade around in an opposing blow to his right shoulder. The sting of the blade caused Bruck to bellow like a wounded animal, but Obi-Wan knew better than to let it distract him - Bruck was still a formidable and dangerous opponent. He pressed his advantage; trying to keep his blows heavier on Bruck's injured right side, where his reaction time would be slowest. He managed to score fleeting hits to his ribs and upper arm, but neither blow was decisive enough to effectively end the fight.
Bruck's anger pushed him past the pain and he adeptly parried Obi-Wan's next horizontal slash with one hand, which threw him off balance. The rival Padawan brought his blade back down in a fierce diagonal blow to Obi-Wan's now-exposed left shoulder, the power of the blow driving him to his knees.
Bruck took a moment to grin wickedly while their clashing blades sparked and screeched. "Not so great now, are we? I guess this means Siri and I win this little game. After all, Siri has probably captured your loyal dog while you've been here with me."
Obi-Wan fluidly rolled to the side as the powerful blow carved a trench in the ground where he knelt not a moment ago. "Sorry to spoil it for you but Siri didn't exactly get that far. She underestimated Keiris, the same way you're underestimating me."
The Padawan rose swiftly, using his left hand to strike at Bruck's injured side. Bruck's parry was slow, and Obi-Wan used the opportunity to leap forward and kick him into the falls. Bruck crashed backwards into the cold water, his lightsaber slipping from his fingers before plunging into the water as well. The lightsaber fizzled and sparked as it made contact with the water, a puff of smoke rising from the hilt. Bruck looked at it in shock for a moment before glaring daggers at Obi-Wan.
Their was a powerful surge in the Force as Bruck used it to launch Obi-Wan backwards, causing him to land hard on his back while he gave a pained yelp. As he stood up, Bruck kicked dirt into Obi-Wan's eyes before tackling him to the ground. Between the pain from his stinging eyes and the ruthless jabs to his ribs, he felt his lightsaber slide out of his hand. Obi-Wan used the Force to act as his eyes before striking out with his fist. Fist collided powerfully with soft cheek, stunning Bruck long enough for Obi-Wan to get his feet under Bruck's chest and heave mightily. A surprised howl erupted from Bruck as he flew through the air and landed hard on his back, the air rushing from his lungs as he collided with firm rock.
Rubbing his eyes in a desperate attempt to rid the dirt from them, Obi-Wan heard the snap of a lightsaber activating. He looked up just in time to see his own blade coming down on him. Obi-Wan tensed, preparing to roll to the side and somehow take cover, but before he could a violet blade appeared, skillfully parrying Bruck's strike. Obi-Wan squinted and glanced to his side. His eyes widened as the form of Keiris filled his vision, a determined look in her eyes.
"Get away from him." Keiris growled viciously, her lightsaber humming dangerously close to Bruck's chest.
Bruck made to strike at her but froze when a second snap sounded, he glanced over his shoulder to find another purple blade aimed at him.
"Bruck," Siri warned as her eyes narrowed, "this isn't the way. What you put Obi-Wan and Keiris through that night was wrong. Teammate or not, I will not condone your actions. Do you think the council will take this lightly? You knowingly injured another Padawan on a mission that was not supposed to entail combat. Yes, I broke the rules as well, but you purposely hurt Obi-Wan. If it wasn't for Keiris, things could have gone much worse. Did you even think of that? Or were you too busy with your stupid childhood rivalry?"
After a tense moment, Bruck mutely lowered the lightsaber. Reluctantly, he deactivated the weapon and heatedly threw it to the ground. Obi-Wan, Siri, and Keiris tensely watched Bruck stalk towards the edge of the lake, trudging calf deep in water while he searched for his wrecked weapon. Obi-Wan looked away from Bruck and carefully glanced up at Keiris, whose expression was terrifyingly placid as she rigidly deactivated her lightsaber and placed it at her hip. Her Jedi mask wavered as an incensed tempest brewed within her brown irises, making it perfectly clear how she truly felt about the whole situation.
The Padawan closed her eyes and inhaled a lung full of air, slowly releasing it in a heavy sigh. When she opened her eyes, Keiris slowly turned her attention to Obi-Wan, who continued to stare up at her from the ground. He was stunned into silence at the sheer intensity that seemed to radiate from her entire being. She looked so regal, so composed; and yet, so dangerously beautiful. She looked like a Jedi Knight, silently scolding Obi-Wan as if he were nothing but a mere Youngling.
As her scarlet curls drifted in front of the eyes that burned into his own, detached from the world around her, Obi-Wan lowered his gaze towards her booted feet. For the first time ever, Keiris made him feel embarrassed by his boyish actions.
Keiris stiffly reached inside her robes and pulled out a holoprojector, studying the spherical device for a moment before tightly stating. "It's time to go home."
Obi-Wan simply nodded.
xxx
(A/N): See, HinataElyonToph, told ya I was gonna finish the flash back! OH! HAPPY BELATED STAR WARS DAY! I was hoping to have this out by the 4th but that didn't go as well as I had hoped. BUT! Here it is! Part 2 of the Ragoon VI mission. I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter but I can't really take all the credit. My bestest friend and bruddah, SeteshSuperbia6266, helped me with the fighting scenes since he's a skilled martial artist. So, with the help of my dear bruddah and some tweaking to make it my own, I give you the epicness that is above! Now I just owe him "the biggest most awesome hug in the history of hugs". I also want to thank everyone who reviewed and pressed 'add to favorites', it really means a lot.
The next chapter will be continuing with the main story ark, no more flash backs. It's about to get interesting! Review!
Oh, I wasn't sure if you just noticed but I put up links on my profile that shows pictures of what I envisioned Keiris and Master Zeshi to look like. They're still there if anyone's curious. Anyway...REVIEW PLEASE!