CHAPTER TEN
Chae continued to wipe tables, but felt a presence in the Force. She looked up, locking her gaze with Obi-Wan's eyes. His were compassionate and somber, but in hers he saw no regrets, only the strength to do what she must. Although the establishment's door sign read "Closed", Chae walked over and unlocked the door for him.
"The cook already went home, but I can fix you a drink if you want," she said, turning to retrieve some glasses from behind the bar. Obi-Wan caught her wrist and pulled her back to face him.
"Would I like a drink? Is that all you have to say to me?" he asked her incredulously. She broke free of his grasp and backed up a step.
"What else is there to say?" she snapped. She put on a false smile and made her voice all high and giggly. "Jeepies, Obi-Wan, how are the Jedi Council now that they're rid of their biggest pain in the butt? Things are A-Okay here! Cleaning up after the sloppiest eaters in the galaxy is really the career for me!" The smile dropped and it was clear that Chae was in no mood to be patronized.
"There's a lot more to say. Like 'I'm not going to give up', 'we'll get you back in to the Order' and….." he put his arms slowly around her, " 'I'm always going to love you' ".
Chae pushed out of his embrace. "Don't do this, Obi-Wan. My life as a Jedi might be over for a long time, it might be over for good, but don't try to be a martyr to impress me!" She turned a cold shoulder to him and continued to wipe tables.
"I don't understand you. I've thought about you for every second since you walked out of the Jedi Council room. Your father let me come here against regulations, and now you act like it's all a big bother to you!"
Chae's brow furrowed as she turned back around to face him. "That's exactly the attitude that's going to get you kicked out of the Order too! What I did was my decision. It's over. Done with. I don't want my father pulling special favours. I don't want you stepping out of line for my honour! Just go back to your life like it was before you ever knew me!"
"But I wasn't really living until I met you," Obi-Wan protested. He touched her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her. Chae's guard fell, and she let herself go for a moment, but the moment was all too brief and she pulled away from him.
"Don't come here again," Chae said quietly.
"Chae…. I--"
"Don't come here again," she repeated. Obi-Wan opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it without a word and left Dexter's Diner. Chae continued wiping tables. Only this time she had some tears to wipe away too.
--------
Jordi opened the door to see the tall Jedi Master and his sister, Asia, beside him.
"Master Zorro, this is Jordi, my brother. Jordi, this is Master Zorro." Zorro bowed with the introduction. They stepped in as Jordi closed the door behind them.
"You are the one who teaches my sister?" Jordi asked in awe. Zorro nodded. "Then I am forever grateful to you," he smiled.
"Jordi, who's at the door? Is it Asia?" Keturah called. Asia led Master Zorro to her mother's bedside.
"Yes mother. It's Asia and this is Master Zorro."
Keturah reached up with an aged hand until she felt the cloth of Zorro's robes. Zorro allowed her to feel his pointed, Elvin ears. "Ah-ha! It is you!" Keturah confirmed, "the Jedi that saved my child from slavery. Jordi! Make tea! Show the Master Jedi some hospitality!"
Asia smiled at her mother's new found strength to give orders. Keturah continued to talk. "Abbas os out finding my other two children, twins actually. Oh, and Asia, your father told me to tell you he took that Antilles fellow with him. The twins were on the other side of Mos Ettro apprenticing at a butcher's shop. They should be back by tomorrow morning though. Then we'll all be together again…. Well, most of us," she said softly.
--------
Obi-Wan returned to Qui-Gon in a fouler mood than when he had left. After entering the sparring court, he slammed the door shut and threw his outer robe violently into the corner. It landed under Qui-Gon's, which hung neatly from the pegged hanger.
"You wanted to train, Master? Then let us train." Obi-Wan said sharply, igniting his lightsaber.
Qui-Gon looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I take it Chae wasn't as pleased to see you as thought she would be."
"I don't want to talk about it," Obi-Wan answered crossly and gestured to the shelf of training droids. With the Force he activated one. It began hovering in front of him, sending out tiny bolts for Obi-Wan to deflect or dodge. Obi-Wan deflected a few bolts then cut the droid in half with a bitter stroke. He called another droid and was in mid swing when it suddenly shut down and recoiled into Qui-Gon's awaiting hand.
"No padawan of mine will be responsible for destroying good droids. I suggest you meditate. Go calm down in other less destructive ways," he said kindly. Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. He fetched his robe and left in a huff.
Qui-Gon looked out of the window to the vast architecture of Coruscant. Dearest Fyre… he thought fondly, remembering the beautiful woman who had given him his daughter …I never knew raising our daughter included something like this.
TBC…..