Chapter 6
Obi-Wan sat with his arms folded. Just waiting for the hour that had barely begun to pass. "Tell me what happened again." The man sitting opposite him stared at Obi-Wan waiting for a response and when Obi-Wan sighed he started tapping on his datapad, taking notes. Obi-Wan's patience was getting very close to its limit, this was the third time here since his panic attack, and the mind healer asked him the same question each time. He was glad that the healer didn't find it necessary to do anything more than talk. And he was also very grateful that Ben never made an appearance during one of the sessions. But if he wasn't already, these sessions would drive him insane.
"During my duel with Master Qui-Gon Jinn, I saw a vision or something, where he battles a Sith and is killed. I saw it play out from the Sith's point of view, that's why I stopped fighting." Every time he told the story, he made it shorter. The healer gave a thoughtful "mhmm" as he took notes. Obi-Wan glanced at the datapad wondering what he could possibly be taking notes of. "And why do you think you saw this from the Sith's point of view?" He asked. Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed minutely as he answered. "I wasn't the Sith, if that's what you're asking." Again, the healer's hand darted across the screen. "Then to some extent you must blame yourself for your Master's death. In this… vision" Obi-Wan considered for a moment "I suppose so".
. . .
When the hour was up Obi-Wan didn't wait for another second before leaving the room. Strangely Qui-Gon was waiting for him. Having to see a mind healer was bad enough, but his Master seeing him there made him feel like he had reached a new low. "Master?" he inquired. "Padawan, how are you?" Qui-Gon said with a smile. But Obi-Wan found no warmth or reassurance in it, not like he usually would when his Master smiled. No, this was a smile he had adopted recently just for him. A smile that said "Are you alright? Let me help you." And Obi-Wan didn't appreciate it. It made him feel broken.
Obi-Wan sighed, 'that is a question I am getting very tired of answering' he wanted to say but instead he just answered, "Never better". The first signs of a genuine smile appeared briefly on Qui-Gon's face. "So, what brings you to this part of the temple?" Obi-Wan asked. "The council is sending me on a mission." Obi-Wan's face lit up. A mission? Finally, he could leave the temple again. But then his face fell. Qui-Gon had said 'me' not 'us'. "You're leaving without me?" he said, his voice not revealing the disappointment he was feeling.
Qui-Gon hated leaving his Padawan behind, even if it was only for a few weeks. But he and the council had agreed that Obi-Wan wasn't ready to go a mission at the moment. He just hoped that Obi-Wan would be back to normal when he returned.
. . .
Obi-Wan walked Qui-Gon to the hanger. When they got there Qui-Gon placed his bag by his feet and turned to his Padawan. "I'm sorry to leave you like this Padawan. Will you be alright?" Obi-Wan couldn't help smiling "I think I'm old enough to take care of myself for a few weeks, Master." Qui-Gon smiled back and grasped Obi-Wan's shoulder affectionately "I know" He considered for a moment, then pulled Obi-Wan into a brief hug "just take care of yourself Obi-Wan". He then picked up his bag and made his way to the waiting transport. "I will if you do" Obi-Wan called after him. Qui-Gon glanced back one last time before getting on the ship. Obi-Wan just watched as his Master took off, leaving him behind.
. . .
"What are you doing?... Obi-Wan… Obi-Wan?... Obi? ObiObiObi…" "What?" Obi-Wan opened his eyes to find Ben kneeling in front of him, mimicking his meditation pose. "I'm bored! You've been sitting there doing nothing for hours." Ben replied, sounding like a child. "I was meditating. Just because Qui-Gon isn't here, doesn't mean you can be more annoying than usual." He got up and stretched his legs. "I'm so bored though. Just talk to me" Obi-Wan rubbed his face in resignation "fine." "Great!" Ben jumped to his feet and stared at Obi-Wan in anticipation. "Why are you here?" Obi-Wan asked. It's a question he's wanted answered for a very long time and now seemed the right time to ask. Ben's eyes narrowed as he carefully considered his reply.
Then he shrugged innocently. "That is something I cannot tell you" "Why not?" "because I don't know" Obi-Wan looked at Ben in exasperation "How can you not know?" Ben folded his arms "Because you don't know. I'm most likely a figment of your imagination, I can't know anything that you don't know" Obi-Wan raised a questioning eyebrow. "You do that all the time…" Ben laughed "I don't. I just point things out that you haven't taken notice of. There's a difference."
Obi-Wan massaged his temples "I really have lost my mind. I have to tell someone…" "Tell them what?" Ben challenged "You know you can't tell them about your vision and if you tell them about me, they'll lock you up in some asylum." "Well if that's what it takes to get rid of you." Obi-Wan said sounding confident. Ben shook his head in resignation "do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you." He was about to leave but then hesitated "Not that my opinion matters, but I think you were shown that vision so you could do something about it…"
Obi-Wan stared at the now empty space before him. Just when he thought he had Ben figured out, he would do something unexpected.
. . .
"Obi-Wan, you seem distracted today." Obi-Wan refocused his gaze on the mind healer sitting opposite him "hmm?" "My point exactly" Obi-Wan shifted, repositioning himself on the chair he was sitting on "I was just wondering about my Master" he lied, but the healer didn't notice. "Ah yes, he left on a solo mission yesterday, didn't he?" Obi-Wan nodded. "How does that make you feel?" he asked and Obi-Wan had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. "I understand why he didn't take me with him, but I wish he had" "Are you afraid that your vision might come true on this mission?" Obi-Wan shook his head "No" "How come?" Obi-Wan shrugged, "I'm not sure whether what I saw as a real vision. Besides visons are just possible futures and I don't believe what I saw during my panic attack will come to pass." The healer's eyes widened slightly "you sound sure about that" "I am" 'because I'll make sure of it'.
. . .
"So, this is fun" Ben said as he watched Obi-Wan scour the library for everything he could find on 'Tatooine', 'Naboo' and the name 'Palpatine'. "I take it your session with the mind healer went well then?" Ben inquired. "You could say that" Obi-Wan whispered after making sure no one could hear him.
'Sheev Palpatine is the senator of Naboo' Obi-Wan gathered as he read through one of the only files that mentioned his name. Studying the image of him, he somehow found it hard to believe that this man would destroy the Jedi and plunge the galaxy into years of darkness. "So that's him, huh?" Ben asked. He got the subtlest of nods in reply. There wasn't much else about the senator.
Tatooine was an Outer Rim planet, ruled by the Hutts. 'No wonder the shop keeper wouldn't accept republic credits' Obi-Wan thought. Obi-Wan gathered the files he found important and left.
. . .
Back in the apartment Obi-Wan turned to Ben "I realised that you were right. This vision is just eating away at me. I tried to hide from it, and then I tried ignoring it, but I can't. I have to do something about it. If I don't… I don't think I could live with myself" Ben smiled and patted him on the back "that's the spirit. So, what's the plan". "I… don't really… have one yet" he said uncertainly. Ben sighed disappointedly "you'd better think of one then."
"I just need to stop Palpatine gaining power." Obi-Wan said but Ben shook his head "It's not that simple." Obi-Wan let himself fall on to the sofa "I know".
"Alright, I'll help you then." Ben said and Obi-Wan gave him a questioning look. "You need to think of the bigger picture. What was Palpatine's game changer?" Obi-Wan barely had to think about it before he said "Anakin". Ben nodded excitedly "now work from there".
Obi-Wan stood up and started pacing, Ben pacing in the opposite direction. His eyes were screwed shut as he desperately tried to remember every detail of his vision. "Padmé" Obi-Wan wasn't sure where the name had come from, but he felt a few more facts fall into place with it. She was the young woman he had seen, the queen of Naboo. And Anakin's… wife… "He used her to get to him." Ben nodded, "But how are you supposed to stop that?" "Stop them from meeting in the first place?" Obi-Wan suggested. "Alright, but I'm sure Palpatine will find a different way…" Obi-wan rubbed his face tiredly "I thought you might say that".
"Maybe you should stop Qui-Gon from meeting Anakin." Obi-Wan looked at Ben sadly "I can't do that. I'd be robbing him of his future, of his freedom." "But just think what you would be saving him from. And he'll be able to stay with his mother…" "he'll still be a slave". Ben studied Obi-Wan for a moment. "He'll be a slave either way, it's just a question of whose." "But if we stop Palpatine…" Ben shook his head "You saw what the kid becomes even before he becomes a Sith. He has an ego the size of Coruscant, and he will always have that anger in him, he could never truly fit in as a Jedi and you know it." Obi-Wan sighed in defeat. Ben was right.
"So, what's next?" Ben asked. Reluctantly Obi-Wan continued that train of thought. "We expose Palpatine as a Sith and I stop Qui-Gon from dying" "Right. Well if that's all…" "If I train enough, I'll be able to defeat the Sith who attacked us without Qui-Gon getting harmed" Ben raised his eyebrows "Well look who decided to gain some self-confidence".
. . .
"Alright I've got it." Obi-Wan jumped up from where he had been sitting on the floor studying multiple data pads. Ben raised an eyebrow, this must have been the 1000th time in the last 2 weeks that Obi-Wan had said that.
To Obi-Wan's surprise, the mind healer had decided that he didn't need to see him anymore. Causing Ben to comment that he clearly wasn't very good at his job. So, with Qui-Gon still away, Obi-Wan had a lot of time on his hands, which he spent either training or going through every scenario of the future, trying to find the perfect outcome. So far, he hadn't been able to find it. And every night plagued him with nightmares, that made everything harder.
Ben crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. "Go on then". "Alright. I pilot the ship from Naboo and avoid it getting damaged, so we don't go anywhere near Tatooine…" Ben nodded slowly "So, no Anakin." "yes, then I confront Palpatine, before he gets elected Chancellor." Ben didn't look impressed. "You're forgetting about the other Sith…" Obi-Wan fell on to the sofa and stared at the ceiling. "Why is this so difficult?... Fine. We do go to Tatooine, but I make sure Qui-Gon has credits that the Toydarian will accept. So, he doesn't need Anakin's help. When the Sith attacks us there, that's when we defeat him, and then we go back to Coruscant to expose Palpatine before he's elected." Ben blinked "Actually, that could work…"
Obi-Wan turned his head in surprise, "really?" Ben nodded. "No Anakin to worry about, the Sith is out of the way, if you do it right, Qui-Gon won't die, Palpatine is revealed as a Sith and without his backup the Trade Federation ends their blockade on Naboo… Now you just need to think of how to expose Palpatine…" "But I already have that…" Ben shook his head disapprovingly "Think of one that won't definitely get you killed."