A.N.: Ah, I was too into writing my other story that I haven't update for about half a week...Anyways.
Please review and enjoy!
P.S. happy chapter 10 and may the force be with you.
Chapter 10: Stalled
There wasn't much issues that needed to be solve, in fact, there weren't at all. Qui-Gon strode toward the hangar, suppressing a long sigh that is coming his way. What a complete time waster. For some reason, everything that happened today seems like the Force toying with him. First, he heard a scream while patrolling down some small alley and he rushed toward it. There was already a crowd and he had confidently called out that he was a Jedi and he will be able to solve the problem. He thought the woman lying in the middle was wounded but she was actually sobbing. When he asked what the problem is, she pointed at the sewage gate and told him that she had dropped a small coin in there and she can't get it out.
So he had wasted his time trying to dig through the sewage with the force but he couldn't get it out. And in the end, that woman told him that it was just a coin. She doesn't need it anymore.
He took another deep breath to calm himself down. Annoyance leads to frustration, frustration leads to anger and anger leads to the dark side. Master Yoda's irritating, no, calmed voice reached his ears. He sighed. He just can't get out of Master Yoda's teaching no matter what, can he?
He checked the time again. It is almost five. Why was the pilot so nervous? Qui-Gon wondered. Is something going to happen? Whatever it is, he came to a conclusion, as long as it doesn't interfere with his search for Obi-Wan, he will let it pass.
The hangar was busier than five hours ago. There were more workers. He stopped to see what they were doing. They were clearing a large space, ridding it of cargo boxes that seems to be everywhere. What are they doing?
He stopped one of the workers and asked him.
The worker smiled and pointed toward the space, "The Togashi Trading transport is going to land soon. We are preparing to unload the ship as soon as it come to reduce the time wasted."
With a small wave, the worker walked off.
"Togashi, huh…" Qui-Gon wondered.
It seems to him that ever since Obi-Wan had been capture, he had heard more and more mention of Togashi. He massaged his temple. It is probably because he didn't pay a lot of attention to these before. Will they know where Obi-Wan is if he ask them? Them? The workers? They probably don't know. The information he received was that the transport went to Cyril, not Tyvek-3. The chance of them knowing Obi-Wan is small.
He turned and headed toward his transport. Doesn't matter right now. He will just go to Cyril after a few more planets and ask them. Obi-Wan must be somewhere in Cyril right now. He wondered what is his padawan doing. Being held as a Jedi hostage? He doesn't think so. Enjoying himself? Does Obi-Wan still think about the Jedi Order?
He paused momentarily in his stride. Does Obi-Wan really want to be brought back? He said that he doesn't want Qui-Gon to look for him. He sighed at his indecision. Well, Obi-Wan is stubborn. He doesn't know when to ask for help and express his feelings until it is too late. Like himself, Qui-Gon thought. If he had paid more attention to Obi-Wan after the Melinda/Dann incident, he will not be here but instead, back in his small apartment with Obi-Wan.
Is this the work of the Force? Not for the first time, Qui-Gon wondered.
"Master Jedi!" He heard a voice calling for him.
Qui-Gon turned sharply toward the direction and relaxed when he realized that it was his pilot. The pilot stood in front of his transport, tapping his feet impatiently. Qui-Gon changed course and strode toward the pilot while checking the time. It is ten minutes passed five hours already. He wondered if that was the explanation as to the pilot's impatience.
"Thank you." Qui-Gon nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement.
The pilot merely shrugged it off and climbed into the transport, "Hurry."
Then he mumbled something furiously under his breath. Qui-Gon wasn't sure if he caught it alright but it sounded something like cutting too close. Qui-Gon raised one of his eyebrows. He probably wasn't supposed to hear that so he said nothing and strapped himself in. He will have time to ask the pilot later, after everything had returned to normal.
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"How long until we land?" Obi-Wan asked not for the first time and definitely not that last.
"Minus five seconds from the last time you asked." Mike called from the co-pilot seat.
Obi-Wan sighed and released his frustration into the force unconsciously. When he realized what he had done, he started. He was still following the way of a Jedi. Frustration leads to anger, and anger leads to the dark side. He groaned. He really wanted to get that mini green troll figure out of his head. It is really starting to annoy him.
Not knowing the cause, Sir Arcturus merely gave him a sympathetic smile and returned to his book. Obi-Wan spare him a glance before looking out the window again. His thoughts, not for the first time, landed right back onto the Jedi. Was it really the right thing to do to run away?
He remembered just a few months ago, when Master Jinn had accepted him as his padawan deep in the mine. Master Yoda had told him that it was the Will of the Force that tied the two of them together. So if Force is the fate, is it telling him that it was the right thing to do to run away? Or is the Force going to drag them back together again?
Tell me, Force! Obi-Wan called into the air silently. Of course, the Force merely stirred and brushed the edge of his conscious slightly as if laughing at his silliness.
He stared at the planets floating in the space. Where is Master Jinn, no, Qui-Gon right now? Back in Corruscant, reading the archives and having sparring sessions? Having an afternoon chat with Master Windu? He groaned again at his choice of words. Master this, Master that. He just can't get rid of the code in his head. That is fine, he thought to himself. As long as I don't depend on the Jedi anymore. Well, other than his friends of course. He banged his head against the window and groaned loudly the third time. He is getting nowhere by thinking about this. He wasn't sure how many times he had thought about the Jedi and eventually leading to his friends. Every little thoughts always leads to Jedi this and Jedi that.
"You seem to groan a lot on this trip, Obi-Wan." Bastien stated.
He looked up to find Bastien looking at him from across. Obi-Wan sighed and placed a hand under his chin.
"Just thinking about bits and pieces of everything and anything." Obi-Wan muttered.
"Ah, very detail descriptions." Bastien nodded mockingly, "So, what specifically?"
"The Jedi." Obi-Wan answered after a moment of hesitation.
"And?" Bastien asked, "What about the Jedi?"
Obi-Wan was surprised. He had thought that Bastien will probably hesitate and drop the topic. He wasn't sure if he was glad that he had chosen to continue asking or not.
"If running away was the right thing to do." Obi-Wan mumbled.
He felt Sir Arcturus tensed next to him and pretended that he hadn't.
Bastien merely smiled, "Well, what do you think?"
Once again, the transport was silent as everyone waited for his answer. Obi-Wan closed his eyes.
"I am not sure." Obi-Wan confessed, "I think I am running away from my fear. I am not sure if that is cowardice or merely retreating when needed. I think it is cowardice. But I am not sure what to do right now. I am not sure what my destiny is. What is it that I have to do? Why was I born a force-sensitive? What is my path?"
"No one can answer that question, Obi-Wan." Bastien replied almost immediately, lacing his fingers together like a counselor, "You and only you can answer those. As you know, paths are created by man. They were not created by god or the Force. Where you want to walk to is entirely up to you. There are unlimited amount of pathways you can take, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan felt silent at the reply he received, not sure what to do or think. For once, his mind was quiet.
Bastien observed him for a moment and smiled, "As for your destiny. I am sure you are destined for something great and fascinating. I am not sure why, but that is what my instinct is telling me ever since I met you."
Obi-Wan glanced at Bastien, "How can you say something so cheesy with a straight face?"
"Oh, practice, Obi-Wan." Bastien winked, "Whenever Mike felt down or unhappy, I have to cheer him up by informing him that he is the best in the galaxy. You might be surprised at how miraculous that work."
Obi-Wan laughed and Mike yelled from his seat, "Did not!"
"So, are you calmed now?" Sir Arcturus asked him as he snapped his book shut.
"Mostly." Obi-Wan said and leaned his head against the window, "I felt tired."
"Ah, such bad timing." Sir Arcturus replied, "We are landing in ten minutes, Obi-Wan. You can go use the fresher to wake you up or whatever you might do to deal with this. If not, get ready for landing."
With that, he clapped his hands together, getting the attention of the three guards, "Mike, take over the control. Guren, Bastien, and I will go prepared the cargo."
He glanced at Obi-Wan, "And Obi-Wan, get a cup of ice water."
"Yes, sir." Obi-Wan smiled and watched the four of them went to their stations before getting up and got himself a cup.
He choked as the transport angled dramatically, "Mike!"
"Sorry, sorry!" He received a string of apologies.
Supporting himself with the wall while trying to stay upright in Mike's driving, he went to the cockpit.
"What are you doing here?" Mike asked, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"Trying to not die from your skills." Obi-Wan said as he plopped down in the co-pilot seat.
"And how are you going to do that?" Mike wondered.
"Taking over your job." Obi-Wan stated and floated his seat in front of the second set of steering wheels.
The temple had taught me pretty well on the flying of all kind of speeders. He was pretty sure that he can handle this. Reaching out, he flipped opened a safety cap.
"Don't!" Mike yelped, "I don't even know what that button is for!"
"Do you not know how to steer?"
"No!" Mike hissed as he swirled the transport to avoid a particular large and high tree.
"Doesn't Sir Arcturus know?"
"He never asked me to drive until today!" Mike yelled as he pulled up suddenly.
Obi-Wan sighed, strapped himself in, and pressed the button. Suddenly, the transport stopped moving and Obi-Wan took over using the second set. The button had disabled the first set and enabled the second. He watched out of the corner of his eyes in amusement as Mike rotated his set in confuse. Then, Mike realized what had happened and stared at Obi-Wan unhappily.
"Now Sir Arcturus is going to get mad at me again." Mike sighed at got up, walking toward Obi-Wan, "Doesn't matter, it looks like that you are better."
Mike leaned down and pointed at one of the holomap. He tapped the screen and showed Obi-Wan.
"We are landing right here. Remember the signals for landing, okay?" Mike told him, "If you messed up, Sir Arcturus will be beyond mad."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Got it."
With that, Mike exited the cockpit and went to help Sir Arcturus. Obi-Wan wasn't sure if he enjoys steering or not. The last time he had steered was when they had arrived on Melinda/Dann. Ugh. There he goes again. His thoughts always spread out everywhere and landed back on the same one. Jedi. He was getting tired of this.
Luckily, a sudden exclamation from the back got his attention, "You let Obi-Wan steer?!"
Obi-Wan sighed. He wished that they can have a higher expectation of him. He focused back on the screen. He is getting close to the landing and he slowed down. It went smoothly, unlike Mike's jerky manner. Flickering off a small switch, he turned down the power. The large transport was similar to the small speeders and starfighters, except slightly heavier.
He heard feet stomping toward him from behind and was alert. Knowing that he couldn't turn around, Sir Arcturus sighed.
"I never know you can drive." Sir Arcturus told him.
"Jedi training." Obi-Wan told him as he flashed the signal absently.
"Ah." Sir Arcturus nodded and placed his hand on his, "Slow down a bit."
"Why?" But Obi-Wan did anyways.
"Oh, nothing really." Sir Arcturus shrugged unconvincingly and removed his hand, "Just don't like it too fast."
Obi-Wan accepted the answer without complain. If he didn't want him to know, it is fine. Besides, it is not his nature to pry into other's business.
"Did you see that small ship?" Sir Arcturus pointed toward the screen.
Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes."
"Let it depart first, then we land." Sir Arcturus told him.
"Alright."
So they waited. But the transport doesn't seem to be wanting to depart. Or rather, it is waiting for something. Obi-Wan was confused. Why did Sir Arcturus want him to wait until that ship departed? There are other spots too.
He heard Sir Arcturus muttered something like 'that idiot' under his breath. Finally, giving up, Sir Arcturus told him the land. Careful to stay exactly within their lot, Obi-Wan piloted the transport down. He deactivated the transport and under Sir Arcturus's command, he opened the hatch.
As soon as he unstrapped himself, Sir Arcturus dragged him toward the exit.
Guren and Bastien smiled at Obi-Wan as soon as they saw him, "Nice steering skills. Better than Mike's at least."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan laughed.
"Shh." For some reason, Sir Arcturus was very tense.
Closing his mouth, Obi-Wan obeyed, wondering what is bothering him. The hatch was opened fully and several workers climbed up the ramp to unload. Sir Arcturus walked out and glanced toward the small transport. He cursed quietly but loud enough for them to hear anyways. Something must have happened between that small transport and Sir Arcturus.
"Sir Arcturus." Obi-Wan whispered quietly, "Who is in that transport?"
Sir Arcturus seemed startled by his question and he answered too quickly, "Someone I don't want to meet right now."
"Oh."
Sir Arcturus pushed Obi-Wan further into the transport at that moment. Obi-Wan was beyond confused at his behavior. If it is someone Sir Arcturus doesn't want to meet, why does it concern him? Maybe it is someone who wants to kill Sir Arcturus? Someone who want the company down? Or what?
Then his eyes widened and he tugged Sir Arcturus's sleeve gently, "Arcturus, is it…?"
The reviews are getting lesser and lesser. Until one day, I dropped the story. JUST KIDDING! Well, reviews will be nice, because after all, reviews are what drives an authur's passion, isn't it?
But anyways, I planned to finish this story no matter what! Well, maybe I will just drop the sequel because I am not really interested in writing for Jedi's Apprentice right now.