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Chapter 10. Doubts

Obi-Wan was sitting on the floor, tightly hugging his knees. It was so… unexpected and confusing. He had been a Jedi, then a slave, and now… Did he really want to become a Dark Jedi? A Sith, possibly? But it was ridiculous, they disappeared long ago. Though he had a strange feeling, not a warning from the Force, of course (he was still wearing Force-inhibiting collar), just a bad presage.

One the one hand, there was the Jedi Temple, his only home, there were his friends—Bant and Garen, the Council. There was his former Master.

He leaned on the wall and closed his eyes. He had been Master Jinn's padawan for almost thirteen years.

He remembered his days as a Youngling, his first studies, the first training lightsaber with white-blue blade, meditations. Then, he recalled fighting with Brook for being Qui-Gon's Padawan. His refusal. Bandomeer. Master Jinn accepted him as padawan. The rock from the Master's home planet for his first birthday as a Padawan. He had left it on the board of the Royal sheep, but he was sure he would return it. Their fist missions together as Master and Padawan team. Qui-Gon was quite cold in the beginning, especially after Melida/Daan. Qui-Gon's former Padawan, Xanatos, became a Dark Jedi and fell from grace. His death. But then everything seemed okay. Qui-Gon finally accepted Obi-Wan. They had a lot of missions; most of them were very dangerous. Qui-Gon always had been caring about his young apprentice, protecting him, sitting in the Healer's Ward by his side. Obi-Wan did the same. And then their last mission. Why?

It was another "simple diplomatic" mission as the Jedi Council had informed them. Obi-Wan was fifteen. They were supposed to attend the negotiations on the war-torn planet called Otese. People were about signing peace, but something went wrong. As it always did. The group of terrorists, they called themselves Dark Lai'mi'tus, blew the building up.

Obi-Wan was buried under ruins of the collapsed building. Qui-Gon didn't give up and had been searching for his apprentice for almost three days, when even the Council believed he was dead. He said "I can never leave you behind."

There were tears in his eyes now. Then, he remembered Baal's words: "Just imagine your revenge. Your raise. Your victories. Your power." These words sounded very wrong, but definitely had something in them.

Baal returned to the cockpit and settled the course to the planet called Matan. He had a mansion on that planet and had been heading there after finishing his Master's task.

The Matan was a small planet, famous for its animals—cho-cho ainter'greilosis They were clever riding animals, with long necks and thick tails. They had short black fur and were very rare on other planets. He had personal stables with some beautiful animals.

Then, Baal remembered the conversation with his Master a day ago.

"Greetings, my young Apprentice."

"My Master," he respectfully went on the one knee in front of the blue holographic image of a man in the hood.

"I have some news. They say, Master Qui-Gon had lost his padawan on the Tatooine. Young Kenobi was shot by some street gang. A poor thing!" His Master laughed. "But this Jinn already has taken another one. He must be in a deep grief now. I'll talk with him soon. He can be a very powerful ally."

"Yes, My Master. Do you need me to do something?"

"Yes, Darth Maul. Just check it, I have a strange feeling that it is not all the truth. Then… consider it as a little vacation."

He bowed and turned the image off.

Now, it was even more interesting. Young Kenobi was alive, sitting in the cell of his own ship. He guessed that Qui-Gon had left Kenobi on Tatooine as a slave. He could sense young man's doubts through the Force.

He smiled.

Former Padawan can be easily turned to the Dark side. And he, Darth Maul, perhaps, could take him as an Apprentice. Together they could change many things. To kill Palpatine, for example. Darth Maul could become a Master himself. He smiled. Of course, when this happened, he would kill the "apprentice", too.

He took his comlink and dialed to his Master.

"Good day to you, my Master," he respectfully bowed his head.

"Darth Maul? What's hap… happ'ned?" It was something wrong with Darth Sidious' voice, but apprentice decided not to question.

"Master, I've already been on Tatooine. There are no trails of this Kenobi."

"Oh? Poor boy… His Master's so-o upset! G-good work, Maul!"

Then, he was out.

Maul blinked. It was very strange.

Another option, he could tell his Master that young Kenobi was alive. He… mmm… discovered it later. So, they could blackmail Qui-Gon and turn him to the Dark Side (as Darth Sidious wanted to do). Also, the Chosen One could be trained by a Sith. Anyway, it would be a great loss for the Jedi Order—Kenobi or Jinn with young Skywalker—and his Master would be very happy. He set the ship on autopilot and went to the cell.

"So, what have you decided? A pathetic death or unlimited power?"

Kenobi stared at him but said nothing.

"Well, you have some more time to think before we will reach Matan. Just remember that you will regret, if you chose the wrong side. And also, remember that, anyway, you will never return to the Temple. At least, alive."

Maul was sure that young former Jedi would choose the right thing.