Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.
A/N: Here's chapter twenty-one! Yes, terribly late, I know and a little shorter as well, but it felt like a good stopping point and the next chapter was and continues to be... a bit draining on me to write. Good for you the reader, stress on me the author, but I suspect the final product will be sufficient reward for my efforts. Also, I believe I am officially back on schedule so updates should continue to post each Monday. Enjoy!
A/N 2: Italics indicate emphasis, visions, personal thoughts and flashbacks. Context should illustrate which device is being used. / / indicates mindspeak.
Thanks:
Capurnia: Thanks for the well wishes. I am feeling much better. As for Qui-Gon, he probably needs his friends right now as much as Obi-Wan needs his. Thankfully, they both have some good ones!
Anon: I glad you're enjoying the story! As for the constant shift in tense, you are absolutely correct, but there is a method (I think) to my madness. This story, in that regard, is an experiment. Since it shifted quite frequently in the beginning from past to present, everything that happened from day 0-98 is written in past tense while days 99 onward are written in present; though occasionally slipping into past when recollecting past events even if only a few seconds or minutes prior. At least, this is my intent. If this approach is too confusing or distracting, please let me know. Like I said, this is an experiment so tell me if it's not working!
Please R&R!
Chapter 21 – Minding the Gap
Day 121
Tahl took in a deep breath and allowed her senses to immerse her fully within the moment. The various fragrances of the vibrant and verdant life around her wafted gently through the air carried on subtle, but pleasant breezes that tickled her skin and lightly lifted the occasional errant wisps of hair that framed her face. There was a delicate sweetness in the air that danced across her lips and tongue with each soft stir of the qualla tree blossoms behind her, but the most pleasing gift to her senses laid several meters before her. The sight of four smiling young faces, the peals of laughter in high pitched adolescent tones, the cradling currents of the Force binding the four together in joy, those were all wondrous to behold and Tahl reveled in the serenity of the moment.
It was peaceful.
It was normal.
And naturally, it was short lived.
Tahl was pulled from her quiet enjoyment as her comm. beeped insistently. She activated the small device hoping the tiny tendril of fear that spiked in her mind was unwarranted.
"Uvain."
"Tahl? Oh, thank the Force!"
"Vresh? What's going on? Are you okay?" she asked standing up and moving further away from the group of Jedi youths.
"That's what I was going to ask you," Vresh's voice answered over her comm. His voice was even, but Tahl knew him well enough to hear the undercurrent of worry in his strong tenor.
"Is Obi-Wan..."
"Obi-Wan is fine. What's going on, Vresh?"
"Are you certain?" he continued, ignoring her question entirely. "Be certain, Tahl."
"I'm certain," she replied slightly annoyed at the continuing lack of information. "I'm looking at him right now. He's sitting and talking with his friends. Now, tell me what the hell is going on? What did," she stopped and the pause caused the tension in Vresh's voice to become nearly palpable.
"What? What's happening? Tahl!"
"Hush. Give me a sec," she answered and the she promptly put her friend on mute as Master Windu and Master Rhara hastily approached her. Mace's scowl was at its finest.
"What happened?" he asked skipping all attempts at pretext or pleasantries. Both masters were anxiously surveying the scene, scrutinizing the group of four carrying on obliviously some meters away. Tahl placed her hands on her hips.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Nothing's happened here," she said then she glanced at Clee Rhara and back to Mace. "Why don't you tell me what's supposed to be happening."
Mace turned to Clee who nodded and relaxed. Slightly. He then turned his attention back to Tahl.
"For a moment, Clee lost all bond contact with her padawan, Muln," he replied gesturing subtly with his chin toward the group of friends. Out of the four, only one other was a padawan like Obi-Wan and that was Garen Muln. The others, Reeft and Bant Eerin, were still initiates though Tahl suspected that wouldn't be true for either of them much longer.
"And now?" Tahl asked the fiery haired master.
"It's back to normal. I don't even think he noticed," Clee answered. Tahl thumbed the mute on her comm.
"...don't answer me right now, I swear I will reach through this comm. and,"
"Qui-Gon, shut up. I've taken you off mute," she said then she paused to make certain he was listening. "Now tell me, did you lose contact with Obi-Wan?"
"Yes. Is he alright?"
"He's fine," Tahl answered quickly. "And now? Can you sense him now?" Tahl felt the Force stir silently around her. She gave a quick shake of her head and the Force settled once again. More security had arrived.
"No. I still feel nothing. It's almost like... Tahl, tell me you have him, that he's okay, that he's,"
"Qui, would you like to speak with him?" Tahl inquired knowing he could hear the smile and gentle teasing in her voice.
"I..." a long pause followed before Qui-Gon spoke again. "No, if he is... I won't alarm him," he said finally. Mace stepped forward so he could be plainly heard over the small device.
"Qui-Gon, do you have him?"
Another long pause.
"No," was the clipped response that followed then there was a brief rustling as the communication unit changed hands.
"Mace?"
"Vresh," the Councilor responded. "I want you two back at the Temple as soon as possible. There are... things we need to discuss."
"Alright," Vresh agreed cautiously, "but first you should send a team or two here. We found where Xanatos was keeping him."
"I'll dispatch two teams immediately. May the Force be with you."
"And with you, my friend."
"I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry, Reeft," Bant sighed amusingly as she lay on her back and stared at the artificial sky above. All four friends had adopted similar poses choosing simply to lie down, relax, and enjoy one another's company, but one of the four had become disturbed despite the languid peace of the afternoon. It did not go unnoticed.
"Garen?" the Dressellian called, his wrinkled visage furrowing even more in his frown. "Is something wrong?"
The dark haired human was sitting up, his gaze directed to a small corner of the placid lake front.
"Huh?" he answered distractedly. "I... uh... What is my master doing here with Master Windu and Master Uvain?" he spoke to no one in particular. Obi-Wan rocketed to his feet. Instinctively, he reached across the bond and was greeted with a cold and familiar void. Bant was on her feet in the next instant as she watched her friend go very pale.
"Obi?" her soft, worried tone captured the attention of the remaining pair. Garen, who was closest to him, could see the fine tremors that began to rock his friend's frame. He reached out a steadying arm and clasped Obi-Wan by his bicep. Reflexively, Garen called out to his master though the bond they shared. He then returned his attention to the tremulous form of his best friend.
"Obi-Wan, what's wrong?"
The only answer the padawan gave was the panicked laden mantra repeated in barely whispered breaths of "not again not again not again not again."
"None of this makes any sense," Mace grumbled, his frustration leaking uncharacteristically into his voice. "How is Xanatos affecting the training bonds and why Padawan Muln? How does he fit into all,"
/Master! Something's wrong with Obi-Wan!/
"Something's happened," Clee Rhara interrupted as she pushed past the two masters and made a hurried beeline for the three youths who now stood huddled around the fourth; their fear and concern fairly rippling through the Force. Despite Clee's head start, Tahl was the first to reach the group. She immediately fell to one knee, grabbed Obi-Wan by his shoulders, and spun him around to face her. All she saw was abject terror in those saucer wide, blue-gray eyes.
"Obi-Wan, what is it? What's wrong?" Tahl asked then she hesitated and unconsciously tightened her grip. "Obi-Wan, do you sense him? Is Xanatos here?"
"No," he answered shaking his head, but the motion was jerky and automaton like.
"Then what is it, young one?"
"I can't feel him. I can't feel my master. It's happening again," he whispered and Tahl could feel his body shudder under her hands.
"No, Obi-Wan. It's not happening again. You're here with us and you're safe," she replied. Tahl paused for a moment, a smile creeping across her face. "Would it ease your mind if you could speak with him?" she asked and, if it were possible, the boy's eyes grew even wider, but this time they shined with hope and not fear. He nodded quickly. Tahl pulled out her comm. and punched in the familiar sequence.
"Jinn," came an immediate baritone response and just as speedily Tahl could feel a bit of the tension in the frame under her remaining hand ease ever so slightly.
"Qui, it's Tahl. You have someone who would like to speak with you," she stated then she passed the comm. to Obi-Wan who took it so gently the motion was bordering on reverential.
"Master?"
"Padawan?"
"Are you alright?" / "Are you alright?" both asked simultaneously. It took all of Tahl's years of training for her to stifle the chuckle that surged from inside her chest. The master recovered first.
"I'm fine, Padawan. Is everything alright with you?"
"Master," Obi-Wan started meeting with some minor success at calming his voice. "I can't feel anything through the bond. It feels like before..." The battle for calm was lost as a sudden tightness claimed his throat cutting off the fearful words before he had chance to speak them.
"Padawan, close your eyes."
"Master?"
"Close your eyes, Obi-Wan," his master repeated gently. The apprentice obeyed and closed his eyes, his hands now holding the small communication device in a white knuckled death grip.
"Reach out, Obi-Wan. Can you feel the Force around you?"
"I..." he began as he stretched forward with a tentative tendril of his mind to touch the Force around him secretly afraid that he would not find the great majesty his had lived in all his life, but instead find the void that haunted him during his time with Xanatos. Still, he obeyed his master, he reached out and touched... the warm currents that had cradled him from his earliest memories... and yet something was... wrong.
"Yes, Master, I can feel the Force, but..."
"But what, Padawan?"
"But... things are," Obi-Wan paused, his youthful brow creasing beyond his years as he searched for the right words. "Things are missing."
"Missing?" Qui-Gon repeated. "Missing how?"
"Dear Force, he's right!" Clee exclaimed. "How did we not notice that?"
"Not notice what? What's happening," Qui-Gon barked out over the comm., the tiny speaker doing nothing to mask his exasperation and concern. This time Tahl answered him.
"We can't sense anything beyond this room, Qui-Gon. None of us can."
"If there is some sort of Force shield in place... it is very subtle. I sense nothing out of the ordinary..."
"Other than the fact that we can't sense what we should," Clee amended. Mace nodded.
"Though it would explain the bond interruption of both padawans," Mace offered, speaking his mind, but clearly still deep in thought.
"Vresh and I will arrive at the Temple shortly."
"We are at the lake, Qui," Tahl spoke into the comm. though she left the device in Obi-Wan's hands.
"Padawan?"
"Yes, Master," he responded, his eyes glued to the technology held tightly between his fingers.
"It's not the same. Remember that."
"Yes, Master."
The flight back to the Temple was a hurried one, but not nearly as frantic as the trip out, a distinction for which Vresh's stomach was immensely grateful. The trip was also an exceedingly quiet one, excluding Obi-Wan's call, for which Qui-Gon was immensely grateful. Far too many unnamed, unsettled emotions dominated the master's mind allocating only a precious few resources towards safely steering the two Jedi home.
When he finally returned the air-car to the vehicle bay, Qui-Gon's dismount was only marginally slower than his debarking at Xanatos's den. Only when the pair entered the Temple proper did the dark haired master slow his pace to something more resembling Jedi serenity. The two masters conducted themselves down the long and winding halls unhurriedly, but with long and ardent strides that fairly broadcasted their attention to a singular purpose leaving them assiduously unmolested as they traveled towards their destination. Still, Qui-Gon felt something was off as they passed near several of the more populated areas of the Temple. He was still trying to pin down the "off-ness," when Vresh grabbed his arm pulling him abruptly to a halt.
"I wasn't sure before, but I'm sure now," Vresh started, answering the question Qui-Gon had no chance to voice. "There are... holes in the Force here. Gaps. A lot of them. What in the Seven Sith Hells did that prissy little bantha shit do?" he asked looking to his friend for answers he was quite certain the man didn't have.
"I don't know… This," Qui-Gon gestured vaguely. "None of this is like him… He does not seem like the same man I encountered on Bandomeer."
"Recognizing what Xanatos is and is not has never been one of your strong suits, Qui," Vresh retorted. Qui-Gon shook his head.
"I already underestimated his need for vengeance and the depth of his cruelty," Qui-Gon sighed. "Now it seems I have underestimated his abilities as well."
"Stop it," Vresh snapped. He gripped the arm under his fingertips so hard he knew he would leave bruises. To his credit, Qui-Gon did not respond to the pain, instead he glanced at his friend in confusion.
"Stop what?"
"Stop blaming yourself for what's happening. This is Xanatos doing what he does best."
"And that is?" Qui-Gon asked warily. Vresh let go of his arm and tapped a solitary finger against Qui-Gon's temple.
"Getting in here and mucking about until you lose yourself to his madness," Vresh answered as he stepped in closer to his friend, his voice lowering significantly as he continued. "We lost you to that quagmire of guilt for eight years, Qui-Gon, and I'll give up my lightsaber before I watch that happen again. So you make a choice and you make it right now. Either you live for Obi-Wan here in this moment or you live for Xanatos and continue to mourn the man you thought he was. What will it be?"
He was right, damn him. Vresh was right and Qui-Gon knew it as he stared into the hard, silvery eyes of one of his best friends. How much of himself had he already given over the years to the memory of a padawan he no longer had, whom he never had really? Vresh had named it exactly. He still mourned and in that mourning he also held stubbornly to the guilt of his failure. Almost a decade later and the pale skinned, blue eyed man he once thought of as a son still commanded him, still had power over him, but now it had to stop. Qui-Gon knew in his heart that he could no longer afford the indulgence of his self-imposed penance.
He had Obi-Wan now and Obi-Wan deserved better than half a master.
With only a breath, Qui-Gon felt the subtle shift within himself as he finally followed his own oft repeated mantra. He chose to live in that moment and in that moment Xanatos was no more than a monster; a dangerous animal that must be put down. Nothing more or less. The master was surprised when that thought was not accompanied by the usual sharp, sudden stab of pain. He only felt a twinge of regret, but even that feeling was surrounded by an overwhelming sense of calm resolve.
Vresh easily noted the change in his friend's Force aura. He allowed himself a smile as he stepped back from his friend while still regarding him thoughtfully.
"I'm glad you made the right decision because if you hadn't, I would have had no choice but to take your lightsaber and stab you squarely in the balls."
Qui-Gon's face remained carefully neutral save for a single quirked eyebrow.
"And may I ask why my lightsaber and why my balls?" he asked his manner surprisingly dignified despite the subject matter. Vresh gave an expression of feigned incredulity.
"If you think I would allow my lightsaber to come anywhere near your testicles you are quite mistaken, my friend, and as for why stab you in the nuts to begin with?" Vresh replied with a shrug. "It seemed to be the sufficiently ill-mannered choice."
"Ill mannered indeed," Qui-Gon responded dryly. "Shall we proceed to my padawan or do you have more threats of a rather intimate nature to cast my way?"
"Lead on, oh supremely uncastrated one," Vresh answered with a sweeping bow. Qui-Gon rolled his eyes as he turned to resume their trek to the Temple's lake room.
When the two masters entered the area, Vresh immediately noted that the two initiates, the Mon Cal female and the Dressellian male, were gone and in their place there were four new Jedi, in addition to the three masters already present. Vresh felt a slight prickling at his Force sense. He leaned his head nearer to Qui-Gon's.
"Shadows," he whispered conspiratorially, but Qui-Gon wasn't listening. His entire attention was focused on the bright flame of his padawan's presence that sparked to life the moment he crossed the threshold to the scenic area.
At the same moment, Obi-Wan looked to see his master's approach and what Jedi decorum frowns on physically, the master and apprentice engage in mentally as the two minds met each other in a crushing embrace.
Qui-Gon and Vresh approached the group of Jedi. Clee and her padawan, Garen Muln, Mace, Lo-Cha, Tahl, and Obi-Wan all stood in a semi-circle waiting patiently for the newcomers to join them. Obi-Wan crossed over to his master who pulled the boy to him, turning the teen's back to his chest and placing his hands on his shoulders in a clearly protective stance.
"Your bond?" Mace asked.
"Back to normal," he answered, but before he could continue Vresh took a small step forward.
"But there's more," he started waiting for acknowledgement from Mace before proceeding. Mace gave him a nod and Vresh began to recount his earlier observations. "As we moved through the Temple just now, Qui-Gon and I encountered other... gaps in the Force."
"More shielded areas?" Mace inquired. Vresh nodded.
"That's my thought. The gaps seem to be in the most populated areas as well."
"That would make sense," Lo-Cha began as he absently tapped the tip of his left cranial horn in thought. "If Xanatos doesn't actually know where to locate Kenobi within the Temple then placing Force shields at specific popular locations would greatly increase his odds of catching the boy within one of the zones. Depending on the number of locations, such a plan could prove reliable though not fool-proof."
"Not to mention that the lack of Force awareness outside of the given zone would be more difficult to notice in high traffic areas," Clee added.
"Have we confirmed the shield theory?" Qui-Gon asked. Lo-Cha turned to greet an approaching young Cathar knight.
"I think that Knight Vor may have your answer, Master Jinn," Lo-Cha said as he gestured to the knight in question. "You've found something, Taylen?"
"Yes, Master Lo-Cha," the Jedi purred as she handed the master a small rectangular device. "This is a Force shield generator though I've never seen one quite like it. It's omnidirectional and Force camouflaged. This is a piece of highly sophisticated equipment," the knight said.
"That means it's not cheap. Only a few people could make it and even fewer could afford to buy it," Garen interjected then suddenly flushed when the eyes of six masters and one knight all fell on him. "Sorry," he mumbled. Tahl smiled.
"Don't apologize, Padawan. That is a very astute and likely very correct observation," she said and instantly the dark haired boy was beaming though he was trying very hard not to show it.
"Master Rhara's cub is right. Oh I bet Acks'na can't wait to get his hands on this baby; all six of them. I'm sure he'll get us some answers regarding the manufacturer," Taylen said as Lo-Cha passed the small, flat device to Mace who turned it over several times in his hands before returning it to Lo-Cha.
"Give to Master Ortan before you let Bin take it apart. Her skills in psychometry may yield some information of its own," Mace stated. Lo-Cha nodded and placed the unit back in Taylen's furry hand.
"I'll see to it, Master Windu," she replied then she bowed respectfully to the group. "Master Lo-Cha, Masters," she said in parting then she turned and left to see to her task.
"Did you note which areas of the Temple had the gaps you experienced?"
"Out of the areas we passed, the lower salles, the main refectory, and the junior padawan lounges," Vresh answered. Lo-Cha tapped something into the small datareader he produced from his belt.
"I'll add all but the private salles and masters' retreats. That leaves the archives, Healer's Ward, main meditation gardens, the pools, and the master/padawan residenence," Lo-Cha listed as he gestured to a nearby knight and handed him the newly issued orders. Only Qui-Gon noticed the sudden tension in Obi-Wan or heard the small, sharp intake of breath the boy gave at the Security Master's list of locations.
/Padawan?/
/Sorry, Master. I just don't like the idea of him being in our rooms... again./
Qui-Gon gave the slender shoulders under his hands a reassuring squeeze.
/I know, Padawan. I dislike the notion as well, but forewarned is forearmed./
/Yes, Master./
"Qui-Gon," Mace called as he waited for the tall master's attention. "I do not believe it wise to wait any longer."
Qui-Gon sighed heavily.
"I know," he said. "We will do it now, I just need a few moments to... prepare," he answered and Mace nodded knowingly, his expression a mixture of pertinacity and sorrow. Qui-Gon glanced down at his apprentice.
"Come, Padawan. We have much to discuss."
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