* * * * * * * * * * * *
Pity? Yeah right! Master Retsam had been angrier than the night before and
things were only getting worse for Obi-Wan. Each time he got into trouble
things just become more and more unbearable. At least twice a week, if not
more, he found himself being thrown over the arm of the couch for another long
and painful beating. In reality he was actually starting to believe that he
deserved a beating for every infraction. On Na'em's good days Obi-Wan often got
off with just a couple of swats or a slap to the face and Obi-Wan began to feel
that he was lucky because of it.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When Na'em
returned to their quarters a little while later Obi-Wan was hiding in his room.
He heard his Master enter their quarters and immediately curled into a ball
behind his sleep couch. His back still ached from the night before and somehow
he didn't' think today was going to be any better.
"Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan
come out here!" Master Retsam called. A few seconds later the boy came timidly
out of his room.
"Yes sir?" His
voice wobbled and his hands shook.
"I spoke with
Master Jinn today and he told me why you were late to training. Because it
wasn't completely your fault and I'm in a good mood I've decided not to punish
you for it. But don't let it happen again! Understood?" Na'em was very
intimidating and Obi-Wan knew that he was extremely lucky.
"Yes sir, thank
you sir." Obi-Wan stammered.
"Don't thank me,
thank Qui-Gon. Now, because of this incident you missed a great deal of
training. So, in order to make up for it…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For some strange
reason the next few weeks were good ones. It wasn't until two months later that
anything else happened. Obi-Wan had to admit though; it was partially his
fault. If only he hadn't been passing notes in class perhaps his Instructor
wouldn't have decided to contact Na'em…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Obi-Wan sat in
the empty classroom, staring at his hands. He was being forced to remain for
several hours after class for passing notes. The biggest problem wasn't staying
in the classroom but was the fact that this was his third infraction. Truly he
didn't start it this time, Bant had passed him a note first and he was just
replying. But his Instructor, Anteles, hadn't seen it that way. Bant, because
she had another class, would spend several hours of her free time in class
later on. Unfortunately Anteles had decided that three times was three times
too many and she was contacting Na'em Retsam.
At the moment
Master Jinn was talking with Anteles so the boy didn't have anything to do but
look at his hands and hope today was one of his Master's good days. If it
wasn't, well he probably wouldn't be participating in his acrobatics class
tomorrow.
The boy was so
lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the door to the classroom sliding
open until his Master's presence filled the room and he was ordered by a rather
irate Master to wait outside. Obi-Wan stammered a 'yes master' before hurrying
out. A few seconds later Qui-Gon followed, his meeting finished.
"Are you okay?"
Obi-Wan looked up
from the bench where he sat, "At the moment." Was his blunt reply.
Qui-Gon looked at
the boy curiously. They both knew he was in trouble but from the Padawan's
actions this were apparently more serious then everyone thought.
"Something's
troubling you." It wasn't a question and both knew it but Obi-Wan answered
anyway. "Yes sir. I'm in quite a bit of trouble. My Master doesn't think that
receiving three warnings is acceptable and he's right. After the first one,
well – let me just say that I don't usually get in trouble for the same thing
more than once if I can help it."
"It was only a
minor infraction. It warrants nothing more than a light punishment." Qui-Gon
responded. He was just a little worried about the boy.
"Even light punishments
aren't pleasant Master."
Qui-Gon didn't
get a chance to reply because Na'em came out about that time.
"Come with me
Obi-Wan." He said, his voice iron hard.
"Yessir." The
boy answered, "Thank you for your concerns Master Jinn." He whispered before
hurrying away.
As Qui-Gon
watched the child walk away a vision flashed before his eyes. He heard sobs and
saw red. Everything was red and the sobs were accompanied by words. He couldn't
make out what was being said but the voice seemed to be begging, begging for
mercy. The sobs grew louder until suddenly they were silenced and then all was
black.
As quickly as
it had come it disappeared and all was normal, but Qui-Gon still couldn't shake
the scene and feeling of dread from his mind…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Once back in
their quarters Na'em turned to the boy but before he could say anything Obi-Wan
cut in, "Please sir, all I did was reply to Bant! I didn't do anything! Please
don't be angry with me." He begged, his eyes full of fear.
"You have been
in trouble several times already and I have no choice but to teach you a
lesson." Na'em relied in low tone that scared the boy even more than his
yelling.
Obi-Wan backed
away, shaking his head, "No." He whispered.
"What did you
say to me?" Na'em growled.
"I…I said…no."
He stammered, trying to gather strength to stand up to his Master.
"Wrong Answer!"
Before Obi-Wan
could blink his eye Na'em brought the back of his hand across the boy's cheek.
The blow was so hard that it caused him to fall onto the floor. As his head
smashed into the floor he gave a small cry but Master Retsam didn't seem to
notice. A few seconds later he was jerked to his feet, only to be knocked down
again. Several times this was repeated before Na'em finally stopped slapping
him.
Obi-Wan was
crying silently as Na'em pulled him towards the couch. To resist would be
futile and the boy knew it. So he went without fighting and prepared himself
for the beating that was to come…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
That was how Obi-Wan
had ended up here – beaten, bruised, bloody, and covered in welts. If only I
had listened to my feelings so many months ago! Why was I stupid?
Obi-Wan wanted
to move to his sleep couch but he was in too much pain. His legs and his back
were burning, as though they had been lit on fire, and his whole body ached.
Na'em had
really gone off on him this time and at the moment he wished his Master had
gone a little but further and left him unconscious. At least if that had
happened he wouldn't be feeling any of this severe pain at the moment. But his
Master was that kind and didn't have that much pity in him. Na'em wanted
Obi-Wan to know the consequences of disobeying and he was going to make sure
that it never happened again, no matter what the result.
Finally, after
much debating Obi-Wan decided it would be easier, and much less painful, if he
just stayed where he was for the night. Carefully he stretched out on the
floor, whimpering as his back bumped the wall. After several minute of careful
adjusting he lay down and closed his eyes, preparing himself or a restless and
painful night.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next
morning Obi-Wan stayed in his room. Na'em had told him after the beating the
night before that for he next two days he was restricted to their quarters. He
would be allowed no communication with anyone outside their quarters and wasn't
even permitted to go to class.
Yeah but all he wants
is to keep people from seeing my bruised face…
The words, his
very own thoughts, both shocked and scared the thirteen-year old boy. The
feeling that he had, this feeling of dread, was so very real that it had to be
true.
For the next
two days Obi-Wan remained in his room, hiding in the corner behind his sleep
couch. Really, it didn't offer much protection but it seemed to make him feel a
little more secure, so that is where he stayed. The only time he left the
corner was to eat and that only took a few minutes. This corner was becoming
his security corner; his "safe place" and it would be the corner that he would
retreat to for many months to come…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Finally, on
the second day, Na'em came into Obi-Wan's room. The Master hadn't spoken to his
Apprentice for nearly forty-eight hours and Obi-Wan was truly afraid of what
his Master wanted him for. Another beating would be too much and the boy was
sure he would die during the next one.
"The Council
is sending me on a mission. Because of the danger level they have ordered me to
leave you here. Because of your obedience, or lack of, they have chosen another
Jedi Master to stay with you while I'm away. I expect you to be obedient and
compliant. When I return I don't want to hear of you causing trouble. Am I
clear on this?" Na'em asked, his tone hard and unforgiving.
Obi-Wan
nodded, frightened by the tone, "Yes sir. I will be on my best behavior."
"Good. Master
Jinn will be arriving in a few hours and then I will be leaving. You may want
to get yourself cleaned up." The Master said, eyeing the boy's rumpled and
blood-stained tunic.
The boy could
only nod and hurry to obey. Master Jinn? Staying with me? I don't know if
this is necessarily a good thing… He was jerked out of his thoughts by the
agonizing pain he felt. Although he had been applying bacta every day he wasn't
completely healed, and the scars were still there. Because of the tenderness of
his back Obi-Wan hadn't taken a shower since the beating. Now, however, the jet
stream of water hit painful spots on his body, causing jolts of pain to shoot
through him.
After several
seconds of fighting with the faucet he was able to lower the water pressure and
continue with his shower. Now the water felt good on his raw back. Truly, he could have stayed here forever if
Na'em hadn't chosen that moment to bang on the door and yell for him to get out
and get ready.
Twenty minute
later the teen was washed and dressed in fresh, clean clothes; his bloody tunic
in a hamper under his bed. Obi-Wan was just about to ask his Master about the mission
when someone knocked on their door. He answered it and was somewhat surprised
to see Master Jinn there already.
"Hello
Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon smiled, "Is it okay if I come in?"
Obi-Wan
stepped back quickly with a respectful bow, "Hello Master Jinn. My Master is in
his room packing the last of his things."
"I just
finished actually." Na'em said with a smile as he stepped into the room. "Hello
Qui-Gon, I'm glad you could come. Obi-Wan is on his last day of restriction so
he is to remain in our quarters until tomorrow, unless he's at class or
training. After that it's up to you whether or not he can go anywhere. My
Apprentice knows the rules but you must keep an eye on him, the boy is always
in trouble as I'm sure you know. "Na'em gave Obi-Wan a look before glancing at
his chrono, "My star cruiser leaves in a couple of minutes so I should be
going. I'll see you in a couple of months." He looked back at his Apprentice,
"Behave." He said quietly before leaving.
Qui-Gon
watched the exchange curiously. This wasn't a normal Master/Padawan goodbye.
Usually there was more of a caring exchange. Instead Na'em was very cold
towards Obi-Wan. It was as if the man didn't even want the boy around… The Jedi
Knight shook his head, that couldn't be true. Master Retsam was probably just a
little irked with the boy for his actions from the previous day, he was sure it
was just a misunderstanding. But Obi-Wan's fearful look told him otherwise…
