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Chapter 10: A whisper in the dark

Qui-Gon was called in the Council chamber as soon as he arrived. He walked in and bowed respectfully at the Masters.

"Masters." He formally greeted them.

"Qui-Gon" Mace said in return. "We would like to know why you left so abruptly…"

"Know, you do, that permitted it is not." Yoda added.

It was not an accusation, just a comment.

"Yes Master, I do know that it is not permitted. However, I sensed a great disturbance in the Force, and I knew I had to go to Melida/Daan right away."

"Melida/Daan?" Mace said calmly. "That is where your former apprentice decided to stay"

Qui-Gon cringed inside at the word "former", but did not let it show.

"Yes. The Force was screaming to me that something was very wrong with him."

"Find him, you did?"

Yoda seemed worried. His sleepy eyes held some apprehension. He always had a special place in his heart for Obi-Wan.

"Yes, I did."

"How is he?" Adi asked.

"Dead." He answered simply.

Obi-Wan heard the door's chime but he didn't want to answer it. His head was lying heavily on his knees, his hood still up. He was sitting in the dark, not moving at all. The noise of a door opening came to his ears.

"Obi?"

It was Bant's voice. Obi-Wan was almost happy to see her, but he didn't want to frighten her with his ghostly appearance. He didn't want her to see him like that.

And he didn't want her to see the shame on his face.

"Obi?" She said again, peaking in his bedroom, filling it with the apartment's light as she opened the door. "Siri said she saw you… I didn't think you were back…"

Obi-Wan didn't move a muscle.

"She said that you looked like a ghost…" She laughed nervously "That can't be true…right?"

Bant was looking at her friend's very still form on his bed. Why wasn't he answering?

"Obi?"

Nothing.

"Obi, you're scaring me…"

A soft voice came out.

"I'm sorry."

Bant sighed with relief and went to sit by her friend.

"I know that there had to be a good reason for you to leave the Order… If you could just explain, I know everybody will understand."

He was still hiding under his hood, but the Calamarian girl knew he was listening.

"I-I didn't have a good reason Bant. I let everybody down, even those for whom I left the Order."

"Oh Obi, that's not true!"

"Yes it is! Siri was right… I deserved to be punished. I don't deserve any sympathy."

"Obi, stop that!"

Bant wasn't angry at Obi-Wan, she was angry at Siri. How could she have said all those awful things to her best friend?

"I'm sure the Masters will give you another chance" She said softly.

"But I can't…I already paid the price Bant… I already paid…"

Confused, Bant put a hand on his shoulder.

"What do you mean, you paid?"

Obi-Wan whispered something she could not understand.

"What was that Obi?"

He lifted his head up, revealing his ethereal face glowing with tears from under the hood of his cloak and saw her gasp.

"I said… I paid with my life."

TBC