Into the Gloaming

Rating: T+
Summary: In the growing darkness Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn have to deal with a political assassination.
Disclaimer: All cannon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled One, and now Disney. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Note: This is a sequel to The Winding Path

Timeline: 38 BBY

Speech: " "
Training Bond communications: /
Internal thoughts: italics

Chapter Five

"Did you watch the video I sent you?" Eira was propped up in her bed with her knees bent.

Obi-Wan sat at his desk in his room. Flimsi and datafiles, along with his reader were piled up on one side, and his portable comm on the other. "No, I haven't had the time." He sifted through the files for the one on advanced diplomacy. Finding it, he plugged it into the reader, but didn't start up the lecture. "Master Qui-Gon told me that he thinks I'm ready to lead a mission. If I'm successful, then I will be recommended for being promoted to senior level."

"What happens then?" She reached up a hand and scratched the back of her neck.

"I'll be allowed to do simple things without having any supervision. It's the final step before I prepare for my Trials." He glanced over to Eira and couldn't help but notice she was leaning her head against her headboard with her eyes closed. "Tired, dear?"

"Yes. It's been a very long day. Did you know that Papa wears a crown, on very rare occasions, that has a kyber crystal at its center?" She picked at the edge of the sheet. "There were legends from long ago that the crystal would glow when…," she shook her head. "It would just glow for the ones who wore it."

"Really?" Obi-Wan leaned forward and looked towards her. "Each time I found the right kyber crystal when I was building a new lightsaber it always had a blue glow. What about the one your father has?"

"I'm not sure. It just looks like a largeish many faceted, clear jewel." She looked away for a moment, then back to him, "Though I thought it was rather odd that I could hear a faint humming sound when in its presence."

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to think about that. "Were you ever tested?"

"What do you mean by being tested? Oh, I think I get it. You want to know if I should have been trained at the Temple?" At Obi-Wan's nod, she continued. "Yes I was, but I'm not sensitive enough."

"But enough to hear a crystal." Sitting back, Obi-Wan tapped his chin with a finger. "I would like to try something."

"Like what?" Eira pushed herself up so she sat a little bit straighter.

"Hopefully you'll know." Obi-Wan closed his eyes and reached for the bond they shared. When she was on Coruscant he was able to send his feelings through the link. He wasn't sure if it would happen now since she was on another planet. The link was faint, but there. It was obvious, though that it wasn't strong enough to send anything to Eira.

"Have you sent anything yet?"

"I can't," Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's there, but it's not strong enough for me to send anything through. I fear that if I tried, then it would break." For a moment it looked as if Eira clasped her hands together on her lap, but her knees were still bent.

"But it happened last time. Why not now?"

"My dear," Obi-Wan gave her an amused grin, "I suspect it's because now you're on Vasda, and not Coruscant."

"I never considered that." Eira looked off to the side, "it's hard to comprehend that we're on two different planets." For a moment she slumped and yawned.

"How late is it?"

"Too late."

"I don't want to keep you up all night." Obi-Wan drummed his fingers on the desk. "Before I go, how long is the video?"

"I sent an hours worth. It's the main part." Eira yawned again. "I don't think I'll be able to spend that much time anymore on Coruscant anymore."

"I know. We'll have to figure out how to deal with this, at least for now. I do love you, you know that?"

"Yes, I love you, too." she gave him a trembling smile. "Even though I wish you were here with me, it's best that you're doing what you've always wanted."

But I want to be with you now, though he never said that out loud.

Her image winked out and Obi-Wan sat there with his eyes closed. He hated to admit, but he thought of her more than ever. He had to force himself to pay attention to his lessons, or his mind would wander over to what she looked like when she was beneath him and breathing hard. Desire for her sparked, and he could feel the urge beginning to grow. Not now.

Taking another deep breath he forced his body to calm down. If it persisted, he would deal with it later. Turning to the reader, he started the lecture on diplomacy. Only when he was finished with the lessons would he watch what she sent. "Kyber crystal?" he muttered as Master Plo Koon began explaining the nuances of high level diplomacy. "And it would glow on occasion." He would have to see once again what the Archives had on Marlote, and prewar history of Vasda, especially when it came to that kyber crystal.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon opened the door.

Putting the lecture on pause, Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder, "Yes, master?"

Qui-Gon glanced over to the chrono. "Because of everything that's happened since Vasda, you've never been formally released from your probation."

"I haven't?" Obi-Wan frowned as he looked over to the side. This was something he had completely forgotten about. Qui-Gon was right in everything that happened in the past six to eight months.

"No." Qui-Gon turned to leave the room. "Come on."

Turning off the lecture, Obi-Wan reached for his cloak and pulled it on as he followed the older Jedi out of the apartment. Running a hand through his short hair made him realize that it was time for another cut. The lift took them up through the central tower and the council chamber. As the doors opened, Obi-Wan yawned.

/Padawan?/

"I'm fine, Master."

Qui-Gon glanced to him. Before he could say anything they were summoned into the circular chamber. A quick glance let Obi-Wan know that the full council was in session. They stopped in the middle of the chamber and bowed in respect.

"Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi," Yoda nodded as he tightened his grip on his gimmer stick.

"Master," Qui-Gon nodded in answer, "We are here because my Padawan has not been formally released from probation."

Several masters looked at each other then over to Yoda. It was obvious that somehow that bit of information had slipped through the cracks, or at least it looked like it.

"I believe it is because of everything that my Padawan," Qui-Gon indicated Obi-Wan by tipping his head in the younger Jedi's direction, "had dealt with in the past six to eight months, that it was looked over. And if the probation is still in effect, he should not have been at the opera gala."

"Unfounded your fears are, Master Qui-Gon," Yoda gave the two Jedi a hint of a smile. "The probation ended when arrived you did back at the Temple, or to the gala you would not have gone."

The growing anxiety Obi-Wan felt melted away. He bowed his head while closing his eyes. It was one of the most freeing feelings he had in a long time. It's finally over with. The only thing that could even come close to matching it was when Qui-Gon accepted him as his padawan learner. His eyes flew open. I never mentioned this to the detective. Not good. Obi-Wan didn't pay that much attention to anything when they left the chamber and took the lift back down to the residential levels. With his anxiety rising once again, he tried to control it, but it didn't work that well. "It is nice to know that's over with," he spoke when he felt he could without giving anything away.

"I suspect it is, Padawan." There was nothing else said until they stepped inside the apartment, "And now you need to finish up with your diplomacy lecture." Qui-Gon indicated the door into Obi-Wan's personal room.

Instead of letting the door close, Obi-Wan kept it open. He did want to prove to Qui-Gon that he was working hard on his lessons. He did have something to look forward to, and that would only happen after he passes his Trials. Sitting down at his desk, he started the lecture once again, this time he actively listened to what Master Plo Koon was telling him.

Obi-Wan stood on a gantry in an eerily familiar room, breathing hard. He had just managed to get back to his feet. A quick glance over the edge told him that it was a long way down to the bottom. That's not what was drawing him. At the far end of the room was an opening that had a forcefield that oscillated on and off.

Tightening his grip on his lightsaber, he ran across the gantry and to the opening. At the last minute he skidded to a halt when the forcefield closed in on him. There were two figures beyond. One was lying on the floor with another leaning over the prone form. Blood was pooling beneath both of them. "No," he called out, then came forward when the forcefield opened up and knelt down beside the two.

"Papa, please," Eira leaned over the still form, a hand pressed to the abdomen of what looked like her father.

"Too late—" Tomas disappeared and Eira sat there now with her hands wrapped around her midsection as she leaned over. Her face was scrunched in pain while the blood continued to pool around her.

"Eira?"

Everything changed and he was now standing in a dark place that was lit only by a bonfire. It took him a moment to realize that it was a funeral, but not just any funeral. It was a Jedi Master's funeral. He looked around for Master Qui-Gon, but he wasn't there. In the gloom he could see other forms that he knew were members of the high council. He turned to look at the unsure youngling that stood next to him. "You will become a Jedi, that I promise you."

Obi-Wan bolted upright, breathing hard. He leaned forward and rubbed his face with his hands. "What was that?" he kept his voice low, though he wasn't sure if he had said anything to draw his master's attention. A quick glance to the chrono let him know that it was either ridiculously late, or extremely early. Laying back down he tried everything he could to get back to sleep, but it ended up being a loosing battle. With a sigh, he climbed out of bed and headed into the common room where his meditation cushion was. Maybe he should bring it into his room to make it more private. He pushed the thought out of his mind when he found that his master was not there. Most likely he was sleeping.

Kneeling down, Obi-Wan positioned himself for meditation and reached out for the Force. He hoped that this would help him calm his now frayed nerves. The vision, if that what it was, was very unsettling. He had been thinking of Akilza more and more lately. To top it off, Qui-Gon's off hand comment of her possibly becoming his padawan learner was growing on him. But who was that youngling in the dream? He certainly wasn't a Mirialan. Not only that, but he acted like the boy was his responsibility…his padawan.

"Couldn't sleep, Padawan?"

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked around the room. Qui-Gon stood in his doorway wearing a robe. "What time is it?"

The older Jedi looked towards the chrono that was on the wall behind Obi-Wan. "Seven."

It took a moment for Obi-Wan to realize that he had been meditating for several hours. With a groan he stood up while massaging stiff muscles so he could get back to his room.

"You're not old enough to make those kinds of sounds, Padawan."

For a moment Obi-Wan had no idea what Qui-Gon meant, until he saw the amused look on his face. "Whatever," he gave Qui-Gon an offhanded wave before heading into his room to dress for the day. As he came out, Obi-Wan went into the kitchen to look for something to eat.

"Why don't you go down to the refectory?"

Obi-Wan paused as he was pulling out a plate. "I might." After another pause, he put the plate back in the cabinet. "Yesterday, I realized that I didn't tell the detective about the probation."

"I assumed that you had mentioned that to him."

Obi-Wan glanced over at a very confused Jedi master. "It had actually slipped my mind until we were standing before the council concerning my probation."

"Well then, that would be wise, Padawan."

Which is where Obi-Wan now was after breakfast.

"Padawan Kenobi, is there anything I can do for you?" the detective came out into the foyer with a confused look on his face.

"There is something I had inadvertently forgot to mention when I was here last time."

TBC….