It's been a very busy week so I apologise this hasn't been up sooner! Hope you all enjoy the next instalment and thanks again for the interest and feedback in this story!
YumikoWantsCake - Once again my faithful reader thank you for your feedback :D Ah yes it was meant to be a bit ambiguous as to who the actual employer was! Obi-Wan gets some much needed rest in this chapter! Sorry about the wait since the last one hope you enjoy this chapter!
Annie Walker - Thank you for your response :D Really glad you're enjoying the story! Ah yes that would have been the problem with using Sideous and nobody wants Obi-Wan to die! haha. Dooku was partly establishing a connection to ascertain the damage and see for himself what had been occurring on their journey to him. All will become clear in regards to your questions, well at least clearer anyways! Sorry I haven't been able to update until now I've had a hell of a lot of assignments and work due at uni! Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Francine - Thank you very much for your feeback :) Glad you are enjoying the story, and yes it is now the weekend! so here ya go!
Obi-Wan lifted his head from his hands as he heard the footfall of a figure approach. He was back in the room of a thousand fountains, back at the Jedi temple and was enjoying immensely the calmness and peace the setting evoked. He glanced up at the figure that looked like Qui-Gon and sighed heavily, he was sick of arguing with his mind it was ridiculous!
Qui-Gon held up his hands in mock surrender and plastered a grin on his face that very effectively disarmed Obi-Wan, 'his Qui-Gon had done that too…' The bitter reminder forced a sad smile to tug at his lips, taking solace in the happier memories of his past.
"May I?" The figure asked indicating the empty space next to the bench in which Obi-Wan was perched.
"By all means." Obi-Wan nodded indicating the man was okay to proceed, he chuckled even his own mind was so darn polite.
Qui-Gon drifted over slowly and plopped himself down onto the seat beside Obi-Wan stretching out his long legs as they were too bunched up under the low seat. 'My Qui-Gon did that too…' He shook himself mentally as the familiar movements and characterisations were played out so realistically before his own eyes that it could really have been Qui-Gon sat beside him.
They both sat in content silence for some time, eyes closed almost in meditating states listening to the rhythmic fall of the water crashing in the distance. The familiarity of the situation threatened to engulf Obi-Wan in heartache, how many times had he and Qui-Gon sat here and meditated too? Steeling himself he almost angered again at his own mind for invoking such emotions, the feelings he felt over his master definitely had never been resolved, and having them brought to the surface so vividly was almost too much.
"Is there a reason you didn't scamper away from me this time?" Qui-Gon asked calmly his eyes remaining closed and head leant back.
"I could use the company, even if it is with my own mind. Anything I do here obviously isn't going to change my situation so I might as well just accept it, besides I am quite an agreeable person so it shouldn't be too much of a problem," Obi-Wan replied nonchalantly a smirk spreading across his face.
Qui-Gon snorted and let out a howl of laughter into the room which echoed through the space, this really was getting too much. The more he spoke to the figure the more he started to feel as if he wasn't talking to himself, this man was just as Obi-Wan remembered. Quickly dismissing the thought as impossible he looked away from the impending figure determined to not let his emotions get the better of him. The deep baritone chuckle continued as Obi-Wan closed his eyes reveling in the sound again, it felt like a millennia had passed since he had heard it.
"Only 'you' would say your own company is agreeable, Padawan, I know how you brood." Qui-Gon spoke making sure to emphasise the word you, not realising the effects of him using the term padawan.
That was the tipping point, Obi-Wan couldn't hold back the flood gate over his emotions anymore, that word with so much meaning so much affection made all of the memories of his master's demise spring to the forefront of his mind. Clutching his head he tried to think of something else, anything else rather than having to relive that harrowing memory of Qui-Gon perishing in his arms. He shook with sobs hunching forwards nearly losing purchase on the seat, his cries and screams of unburied emotions filled the previously peaceful air.
Strong arms grabbed his, he didn't resist as Qui-Gon embraced him with such ferocity they both almost fell off of the bench. Obi-Wan flung his arms around the older man's neck and sobbed uncontrollably into his chest, the images of the moments just before Qui-Gon's impalement still vividly playing back in his mind.
"No please no, I can't watch this," He muttered almost incoherently.
Qui-Gon had obviously heard his desperate plea as he gripped Obi-Wan tighter and rubbed his back soothingly, just as the Sith was about to impale Qui-Gon he felt a hand on his head and the memory abruptly stopped. In its place a flicker of memories played through his mind at alarming speed, the moment Qui-Gon had plaited his learner braid for the first time, dinner visits with Jedi master Tahl, sparring with his master, messing around in the fountains with his friends and being caught by Qui-Gon who proceeded to pummel him with waves of water! Cooking alongside his master whilst enjoying banter in their quarters…
The flashes of happy times continued to hurtle through his mind at an alarming speed until his grip loosened slightly on Qui-Gon and his tears had transformed into cries of joy and laughter over the particularly humorous memories, especially the very vivid image of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan being chased by some very disgruntled tribe members on one mission and falling down a very muddy hill, the striking image of the two Jedi caked head to toe in filthy dirt nearly had him in hysterics. The hand pulled away finally and settled on his shoulder.
Obi-Wan pulled away from Qui-Gon's chest sniffling slightly, he looked up into the kind eyes of his master and saw a faint sadness creeping at the edge of his features.
"Thank you." That was all he could say, all that needed saying. Logically his mind was telling him that none of this was real but for once Obi-Wan ignored the logic and just simply enjoyed the moment.
As if Qui-Gon had picked up on his inner thoughts a broad grin plastered itself on Qui-Gon's face and he squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulder affectionately.
"My pleasure, Obi-Wan."
He laid his head back against Qui-Gon's chest and closed his eyes, content with living in the moment without the implication of consequence or anguish. He listened to the steady heart beat radiating from Qui-Gon's chest and breathed in rhythm with it. Gradually a similarly rhythmic beeping sound started to seep into his mind, slowly but surely the surroundings of the gardens faded away…
A steady beeping harassed his hearing when he finally returned to the corporeal world, the next thing his senses were assaulted with was the overwhelming stench of bacta. Obi-Wan cracked his eyes open slowly anticipating blinding white lights, as his eye sight adjusted his worst fears were realised. I'm in a med bay… He groaned at the thought, Obi-Wan had always hated med bays ever since he was an initiate. Force knows he'd spent enough time in them, far too much. He didn't know if it was the smell of medical ointments, the sight of surgical machines or just the association with pain that made him hate them so. Thinking back on that probably a mixture of all he mused.
Just as he had finished adjusting to the light levels in the room was his vision assaulted by a flash light held by a very over eager droid. Obi-Wan went to bat the thing away when horrifying realisation dawned on him, he was very thoroughly restrained so subsequently the droid was allowed to continue its examination.
The light was shone in both eye's whilst the droids mechanical fingers held his eyelids open, he knew the thing was checking for lasting effects of concussion but he could have done with a warning before the wretched thing was shoved in his face!
"Slight sluggish reactions to both pupils, prognosis: likely after effect of severe concussion patient was admitted with earlier," The droid mechanically droned as another across the room noted down the observation.
That's when it dawned on him, his head was no longer pounding. He had become so use to waking up to the misery that he hadn't even had it in his thought process to check on the banging in his skull, but his head felt relatively clear. Well except for the remaining fogginess the drugs caused, the lack of the usual agony had Obi-Wan in a far better mood even if he was still in a med bay.
The droid continued to prod him, evoking reactions as it tested pressure points and reflexes and jabbed previously damaged areas, eliciting only slight winces from Obi-Wan each time. The areas were all slightly tender, but bones did not seem to jostle and his insides actually felt intact. It proceeded to explain that Obi-Wan had been placed in the bacta tank situated across the room for several hours, that explains the smell, and then also how he had spent several hours in the bone knitter machine, he had also been given a blood transfusion to replace the large amount he had lost at the hands of Skepaf. The brutal murder of the captain replayed vividly in his mind, shuddering he shook himself out of it, Here and now.
Satisfied with its assessment the droid wheeled away leaving Obi-Wan to take in his surroundings. He witnessed the droid press some buttons on a control panel and send a communication, to presumably Dooku, that Obi-Wan was awake.
He could only see so much with the way he was restrained, thick sturdy metal bindings snaked over his arms, wrists, legs, ankles and chest leaving very little room for maneuvering at all. He craned his neck to take in the full contents of the room and was disappointed when nothing stuck out that he could try and use to his advantage. He would have to wait on his captor then…
Obi-Wan looked down at his body again but this time observed that he was dressed in different clothes, they were actually identical to his Jedi tunics, but these didn't include a gaping hole and weren't splattered with his blood. It seemed Dooku had gone to some trouble then.
He tried stretching as best as he could in his current predicament, aiming to put a bit of strain on his newly healed injuries and test his limits. Other than a few twinges of pain they didn't seem to bother him that much, the bacta tank and bone knitter had done a very good job of fixing his broken body by the looks of things.
He focused on a table to his left as something caught his eye, a medical instrument seemed to move slightly. Frowning he looked around the room again making absolutely sure he hadn't missed any one entering, glancing back down at the table realisation dawned on him as he could sense the object in the force! Giddily he reached out to the item and confirmed his suspicions by hovering the instrument slightly, it swiftly fell back to the surface again however as Obi-Wan lost control. Okay so he could barely access the force but the drug was starting to wear off definitely.
With anew determination he scrunched his eyes up and reached out into the force scouring his mind for his training bond with Anakin, excitedly he could now sense the bond but tragically it was greyed out and any attempts Obi-Wan made with connecting to it were rebuked. He wasn't strong enough yet, even that very small task seemed to make him feel exhausted so he pulled out of the state and decided on saving his energy before trying that again.
His thoughts drifted back to his young apprentice, he hoped Anakin was coping well enough without him, it had been hours since they were ripped apart from another. The boy must be scared, Obi-Wan only hoped he was having an okay time of releasing his fears and anxiousness into the force without his master there as a guide.
Obi-Wan's thoughts then started to mull over the events of the last day, he still couldn't puzzle out Dooku's motives when it came to them. He and Anakin were specifically targeted but why? The only connection Obi-Wan had to Dooku was that he was Qui-Gon's master, he knew his master would be appalled with what Dooku had turned into if he was still alive.
He had heard the rumours in the temple when Dooku had left, he had never met the man personally but he was a well-respected council member and Jedi master what could have possibly caused him to fall so far? The timing couldn't have been a coincidence, losing a previous apprentice must have been tough, Obi-Wan knew from Qui-Gon's tales that they weren't as close as he and Obi-Wan as Dooku frowned upon attachment. That did not mean it would not have hurt when Dooku had learnt of Qui-Gon's death however, Obi-Wan wasn't so naive to believe that the count had no feelings for Qui-Gon. When you spend that many years with somebody, training them teaching them everything you know it was impossible to stay truly detached the master/padawan relationship relied too much on trust for that.
Obi-Wan was brought out of his reverie when the door to the medbay hissed open and the looming figure of Count Dooku strode into the room, with a flick of his hand the droid was dismissed from its station leaving the two lone figures to study each other.
"Where's Anakin?" He was pleasantly surprised with the strength in his unwavering voice.
"You'll see him soon enough," Dooku quickly dismissed whilst taking a few more steps into the room.
Obi-Wan felt he was being scrutinised again and he did not like it, concentrating extremely hard he managed to throw up enough mental shields in his mind so as to not be a complete open book to Dooku. He didn't want him realising the force inhibitor seemed to be wearing off and shielded that particular stray thought very heavily.
After minutes of nothing but silence, where the sole purpose had been to size up their opponent so to say, Dooku at last sliced through the tension building with an opening move that Obi-Wan had not been prepared for.
"It is a great pity that our paths have not crossed before Obi-Wan". A controlled first attack, leaving open all of his options a skilled duelist in this arena, Obi-Wan mused.
Dooku paused taking a few steps towards Obi-Wan, resting his hand on his trapped limb seeming to chuckle with delight at the discomfort he was causing. Obi-Wan wanted nothing more than to rip his arm away from the grip but due to the clamps there was no where he could go so settled with just cursing to himself. It need not have mattered however as Dooku released his arm mercifully and started to circle the table Obi-Wan was unceremoniously bound to.
"Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I wish he were still alive, I could use his help right now." Delivering a stunning attack that threatened to knock away Obi-Wan's defences, he was going to play dirty so it seemed.
Fury flared up inside Obi-Wan and his rage threatened to spill over into his voice as he retorted violently and swiftly.
"Qui-Gon Jinn would NEVER join you." Obi-Wan was also an accomplished duelist and rose to the challenge, slashing away Dooku's last attack at his defence and parrying with a thrust of equal magnitude of his own.
The emphasis on the word did not escape Dooku's notice who once again to the great annoyance of Obi-Wan smirked and shook his head slowly.
"Don't be so surem my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his". A forceful block followed by a substantial strike, projecting Implications and insinuating that he knew Qui-Gon just as well, if not better, than Obi-Wan had.
Obi-Wan reeled, taking centered breaths determined to not let Dooku get to him. He prepared his next thrust however it was sloppy at best, his anger seeping into the strike unbalancing the effectiveness.
"What do you want from me, Dooku?" Obi-Wan shot back fed up with the indirect approach the count was taking ever since he had entered the med bay.
Dooku stopped in his tracks all humour and mirth in his gaze dissipating as it transformed into a leering glare before quickly being replaced by anguished features. The change of emotions displaying on the counts features had altered so swiftly that Obi-Wan had to carefully consider if he had been imagining them. Dooku didn't break his gaze with Obi-Wan, his entire posture emitting seriousness. A lesser man may have been intimidated by the look and turned away but Obi-Wan held the gaze until Dooku answered his loaded question.
"You wouldn't believe me If I told you," The count started after the stretched silence had got too much for both of them, he had raised his eyebrows daring Obi-Wan to challenge him. Yes a very accomplished duellist, he had thrown Obi-Wan off guard again seeming to play with the Jedi waiting for his impatience to rise.
"You couldn't shock me anymore, Dooku, out with it." Obi-Wan barked out the request, done with diplomacy and small chit chat. A competent if uninspiring attempt at meeting the previous challenge.
"Don't be so sure, my friend." Quick block followed by delivering a teasing blow with ease.
At Obi-Wan's exasperated roll of his eyes Dooku continued noting he was losing the interest of the Jedi Knight.
"I need your help, Obi-Wan, the whole galaxy does." A formidable unforeseen parry leaving Obi-Wan completely disarmed.
Well Obi-Wan had to admit when he was wrong, he had been astounded by Dooku's latest outburst, he felt shock canvas his features and for once in his life he was purely speechless. Then he did something which made Dooku extremely irate, he threw his head back and burst out laughing. His cackled guffaw echoed throughout the med bay, stopping even the distant droids in their tracks as his heart rate increased along with the volume of the roaring. Eventually Obi-Wan was able to control his hacking howling and went to wipe away the tears glistening in his eyes, before being painfully reminded his limbs were clamped down to the surgical table.
Even though Obi-Wan had been the first disarmed, he at least had solace that Dooku had soon followed in his footsteps. Obi-Wan's unexpected defence ruffled the counts feathers and Obi-Wan was satisfied with feeling Dooku's exasperation rise leaving his defence wide open.
"When you are quite finished." Dooku's tone was silkily dangerous, the fire rekindled in his eyes burning brightly directed towards Obi-Wan.
This battle was far from over, the counts strikes seemed to be enhanced by the fury, which left Obi-Wan reeling.
Obi-Wan's snickering stilled enough for him to choke out his next response, he wasn't usually so dire at keeping his emotions in check but what Dooku had said really set him off! It had definitely been a shock when Dooku had requested his help, he didn't know what he was expecting the count to say but it certainly wasn't that!
"I'm ever so sorry, did you really expect me to fall for that?" Humour still seeped through his even tone as he tried not to allow his mirth to overtake him. A forceful blow to the count weakening his defences further as his rage grew.
Dooku gracefully blocked the parry, leaving Obi-Wan disappointed as he released his anger and centered himself back on his main task.
"Qui-Gon knew all about the corruption in the senate but he would have never gone along with it if he had learned the truth as I have". Nothing more than a teasing attack, calling to be answered Obi-Wan did not disappoint.
"The truth?" Swift block.
"The truth." Steady strike.
"What if it told you that the republic was now under the control of the dark lord of the Sith." A foolish attempt at barging through his opponents defences, who was having none of it.
"No that's not possible, the Jedi would be aware of it." The attack was met with a sure footed block stopping the advancement of Dooku yet again.
"The dark side of the force has clouded their vision, my friend." Another desperate lunge.
"Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith lord called Darth Sidious" A more controlled slash at his opponents unprotected side.
"I don't believe you." A quick readjustment to block.
The accusation should have been incredibly easy to shrug off as the manipulations of a mad man, but something nagging in Obi-Wan's mind warned him to look deeper. His conviction in the statement must have been less than he had first thought as Dooku raised his eyebrows proud over the blow he had struck. Without further time to deal with the smarting in his mind Obi-Wan's attention swiftly returned to the present conversation, all attention once again on the drawling words of Dooku. I can't show him he's getting to me, Sith deal in deceit. Lying and trickery are there ways…
"The viceroy of the trade federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious, but he was betrayed 10 years ago by the dark lord. He came to me for help he told me everything."
"Do you see now why the Jedi need to help? The galaxy is at a dangerous crossroads." A last attempt at defeating the Jedi Knight, sloppy careless blow easily deflected.
"I see now that you're even more delusional than I first thought." Stunning parry returned with extra emphasis on the sarcasm, not enough to disarm but certainly enough to rattle his opponent.
Dooku inhaled sharply, seething. Closing his eyes briefly to recompose himself he started to move away from Obi-Wan's side to the door controls. Closing a hand around the control, the door to the med bay slid open once again and at his beckoning two guards trotted in obediently.
They were armed with blasters and held a whole array of grenades and percussion weapons adjoining their belts, unkind empty eyes stared out of from each of their skulls. Just hired muscle.
"Maybe some time mulling it over will make you come to your senses." The duel was over, both opponents unable to reach a satisfactory outcome which left a bitter tang in the air.
"I wouldn't count on it." Obi-Wan retorted, tongue swifter than a speeding blaster bolt.
With a dejected sigh and a challenging raised eyebrow Dooku lifted his hands and the clamps strapping Obi-Wan's body to the table snaked away, allowing Obi-Wan to stretch his unused limbs and try and breathe some life back into them.
He noted when he shifted his chest there wasn't the pure agony of loose bones jostling anymore, only a dull ache around the muscles. His head felt clearer than ever as he experimentally, tentatively placed his feet onto the ground and stood deliberately slowly. He had experienced the anguish previously with rushing upwards onto broken and damaged limbs and didn't want his head swimming again.
Gently he leaned off of the table and put his full weight on his previously fractured leg, no agony as he experimentally shifted his weight from one side to the other, again just a dull ache and the occasional jolt if he stepped too rapidly. The medics had done excellent work he had to admit, it exceeded all of his expectations. Yes he had woken up to nearly no pain, but straining and putting pressure on the still healing wounds was a very different thing to just lying back on a medical table.
Glancing upwards his attention snapped back to Dooku as it dawned on him he hadn't been rushed yet, he was met with the other seemingly scanning and observing the effectiveness of the healing that had been carried out. A small smile tugging at the corners of the count's mouth was the only indication of his assessment of his condition, he was evidently pleased Obi-Wan was back on his feet again, well so was Obi-Wan.
Keeping his thoughts very guarded Obi-Wan stretched his arms upwards, testing out any weakness in the now closed knife wound. His set of new tunics weren't splattered with blood like the others, as if the wound had never been there. He felt a slight twinge of pain as he fingered the scar, it would eventually disappear with multiple bacta bath's however that wasn't the main thing on Obi-Wan's mind right now.
Obi-Wan discreetly reached out with the force, trying to grasp anything and was rewarded with sensing the force presence of Dooku in the room. Not wishing to alert the man to his new revelation Obi-Wan threw up every kind of mental defence he could around that nugget of information and withdrew from the force.
Satisfied with his testing a realisation dawned on him, with his newly found health and connection to the force, albeit weak, he could really give Dooku a run for his money. Patience. That was the one law Obi-Wan always endeavoured to stand by, it had aided him hundreds of times in the past and it would aid him again now. This was not the time or place to try anything so foolish and reckless, Obi-Wan wasn't an initiate. No, he would bide his time and attack at the opportune moment, that promise seemed to glint from his eyes as Dooku's relaxed posture went rigid hand flying to rest on the curved hilt of his light saber, returning the challenging gaze with his own devoid dark eyes.
Obi-Wan didn't move an inch, arms held out in a non-threatening manner. He needed Dooku to not be on edge, that may damage his chances.
With a nod to the guards they cautiously approached Obi-Wan's position, one held his blaster straight at Obi-Wan's chest as the other pulled out a set of restraints. He never dropped his stare with Dooku as his arms were pulled behind him and his hands restrained yet again, mirth glittered in his eyes alongside a dangerous promise of challenge that unsettled Dooku greatly. Okay I shouldn't be antagonising him, but he makes it too easy…
Raising his eyebrows in humour and projecting the image he was seeing back to Dooku he was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath and if possible Dooku's eyes narrowed even further until they were just slits. The picture of Dooku rattled and actually close to pulling his light saber with Obi-Wan restrained and drugged seemed to hit it's mark, the count became aware of the source of Obi-Wan's amusement as the depiction reached his mind, Dooku was afraid of what he might do even in this state.
"Most amusing, Kenobi, shall we?" The hand moved from the hilt of the light saber but still rested dangerously close, he signaled to the door way with his other arm posture reeking of barely controlled rage, clearly not entertained by Obi-Wan's attempts of incapacitating him.
At the hint Obi-Wan chuckled to himself and started to walk forward shrugging off the supporting hand that tried to close around his left arm, he could proceed by himself. He managed a few steady steps before the offending hand tried to grip his arm again this time more forcibly, just as Obi-Wan sensed the hand nearing his limb did he spin round glaring at the guard the promise of a challenge swimming in his eyes.
At Dooku's slight shake of his head the hand returned to hold a blaster and this was then shoved into his shoulder instead effectively twisting him back to face the door way. Obi-Wan followed Dooku out of the medbay into the unknown, helpfully being jolted along with a blaster jabbing into his side.
And that's it for this week!
I am working on the next chapter as I type :) It is scheduled to be ready for next weekend!
Until next time...
