Chapter Three
They ate a light lunch, in quiet. Xanatos, in turmoil, and Obi-Wan in subdued wonder. Obi-Wan had never thought that Xanatos' unusual status stemmed from attempted suicide. Now that he knew, it still didn't make sense. Xanatos shouldn't have done anything like that, no matter what the circumstance. Obi-Wan had believed that suicide was the most unhonorable death.
But, things change.
They had meditated before their lunch, in separate rooms. It didn't feel right, to be apart, but he had some respect for Xanatos privacy. But, during his meditations, Obi-Wan found that he was starting to feel attached to his new Master. He was starting to fell comforted by Xanatos presence. The Force was drawing them together, and Obi-Wan could feel it, but just for a moment.
He still felt like he was fighting the bond. Something inside of him was fighting it. His meditations had left him confused, but somewhat enlightened. The enlightenment left him feeling comfortable, and relaxed. And, to his satisfaction, the confusion was easy enough to ignore.
When they left for their fate, Xanatos looked distant and was silent until they were about to enter Jericho's office. "Don't worry Obi-Wan. I trust Jericho with my life, nothing will go wrong."
Obi-Wan, although knowing that Xanatos was reassuring mainly himself, nodded.
The door swished open. Jericho was sitting at his desk, his eyes closed in preparation. There were two other healers there, as well, for precautions. Obi-Wan felt himself go numb.
"Xan, I'm sorry I had to rush you, but you can't dodge this forever." Jericho smiled softly, "Obi-Wan, if you could remove your boots, I need to speak to your Master before we begin."
After a frozen second, Obi-Wan undid the clasps on his boots. As he removed them, he tried his best to look serene, and prepared. He settled onto the floor, and watched Xanatos and Jericho as they exited out into the hall.
He blinked, then looked at the healers. He didn't recognize either of them. They smiled at him, and nodded in greeting. He looked away from them. He was beginning to dislike the constant presence of healers and their attendants.
"How could you have only have seen it now? You've had several sessions with him, and you, you…" Xanatos trailed off. He took a deep breath, then looked back to Jericho.
"I have only made the conclusion now, Xan. I had made some observances. I'm not completely blind, you know." Jericho, his arms folded, watched Xanatos' rant with a cool head.
Xanatos, still somewhat confused, waved his hand absently. "Explain it to me. Again."
"They took his memories. They were Force sensitive, and invaded his mind. Before they released him, they took memories he had of them. That's why he has never been able to tell us anything. We thought he didn't want to, but he just can't! It's amazing. Whoever did it, must have impeccable abilities." Jericho watched Xanatos' expression.
Xanatos pursed his lips. "You speak about like it's no big deal."
Jericho sighed. "I was trained as a scientist, Xanatos. Just as you were trained as a Jedi Knight, and not a spineless throw rug."
"I'm sorry," Xanatos replied, "but this is hardly scientific!"
"Yes it is." Jericho nodded. "Now we know it was one of us."
Xanatos cocked his head, "What would a Jedi have to gain from killing a master and mentally scarring a learner?"
"Perhaps everything. There have been prices put on our heads before." Jericho saw Xanatos' mouth open, and raised a hand. "Just admit, Xan, there could be a chance that this is all possible. Just admit that something that you do not know about could be real."
Xanatos ran a hand through his hair. "I can."
Jericho nodded. "That is all I ask. We can investigate my findings together. You in your way, here at the temple, and me in my spare time, off planet."
"Should we tell Obi-Wan?" Xanatos quietly asked, the information finally registering. Obi-Wan's actions, his quietness, and change, was not his fault. None of his new circumstances were under his control.
Jericho blinked. "You surprise me, Xan. I never thought of that."
"That surprises me," Xanatos bit his bottom lip, "But not in a good way."
"Let's see how the bond affects him. Maybe we can recover the memories. But in the mean time, let's keep this information between us. If there is a memory thief at the temple we should be cautious. Especially…"
"Healers." Xanatos quickly put in. "Mind healers. They would have the most training."
"I know, I know." Jericho quickly nodded. "I'll dismiss them."
Xanatos studied him for a moment, weighing his thoughts on the other man.
"Don't think that way, Xan." Jericho replied. "I've been on planet for the past year."
Xanatos gave a small smile. "Ah, right."
"Come on." Jericho returned the smile, and lead Xanatos back inside.
"Now," Jericho began, speaking to the two other Jedi sitting with him on the floor mats. The healers had been dismissed, with little suspicion on Jericho's part, "This is going to be a little rough on the both of you, because you're last training bonds were not properly...dealt with."
Obi-Wan felt a bitter comment spring to his lips at the euphemism, but bit it back.
Jericho continued, "Let me describe what I'm going to do. I'm going to reach inside your minds, and artificially start the necessary training bond. Unfortunately, this will leave me partially connected to you. Until your bond strengthens, naturally, I cannot remove myself. Your minds must be willing to be free, and the Force must guide you to being a perfect team.
"Okay, then." Jericho looked up to his desk, and levitated an object off of it into his hands. It was a blue colored box, and when he removed the lid, produced a Force-focusing crystal. The pale pink of the crystal shimmered in the light, and Obi-Wan could feel the Force eddies surronding it, and inside of it.
"Follow my instructions, but alert me if you feel serious pain. Some can be expected, but keep your judgment about you. Close your eyes, and open your minds. I'll do the rest." Jericho put the crystal in the center of the triangle they formed.
Taking a fleeting glance at Xanatos, who was looking at him with some reassurance and fear, then went into closing his eyes. Obi-Wan did the same, and felt the same. His mind remained unwilling to open for a moment, and his mental shields wouldn't fall to the anticipated invasion. He worked passed it, and with much focusing, let his mind be open. All of them fell into combined meditation, and Obi-Wan let himself drift.
Obi-Wan woke up in his bed, with a slight fog surrounding his memory. He remembered little of the previous evening as he sat up. The sun ran in through his window, and glinted in his eyes. He blinked, trying to steady himself.
It was odd. He could feel it in the corner of his mind. Other presences; Xanatos' and Jericho's. Xanatos' was stronger, but he could feel them both. He suddenly felt angry at the link. They could hear his thoughts now. He would need stronger shields.
//Good morning.// Came a soft mental voice. He winced at it. //I'm sorry. I should have waited.//
//No, it's okay.// Obi-Wan shook his head, trying again to steady himself.
//Good. Breakfast is ready.//
//Okay.//
Obi-Wan felt the link fade a little, and was glad. Xanatos' new presence in his mind was leaving him uncomfortable, which was puzzling. He should have welcomed the new appearance that would fill that dark void in the corner of his mind. The Force did feel a little stronger now.
It's going to help me. He thought with some contentment. This shouldn't be so bad…
He entered the main quarters. Xanatos looked up at his entrance, and gave a small smile. He was sitting at the table, and waiting patiently. Obi-Wan saw the look of renewed alertness on his face. Xanatos had needed this more than he, Obi-Wan suddenly thought.
"How do you feel?" Xanatos asked as Obi-Wan took his spot at the table.
"Better." Obi-Wan replied.
"Jericho said we should meditate together for the next few weeks, to help strengthen our bond. After a while, you'll loose the discomfort that comes with the mental communication." Xanatos served himself from one of the pan at the center of the table.
"You felt that?" Obi-Wan tentatively asked.
Xanatos smiled lightly. "Not much of it, but it makes me feel about the same. I don't really enjoy it."
Obi-Wan nodded, then filled his own plate. He gingerly avoided Xanatos' eyes the rest of the meal, and didn't speak. He did sense Xanatos looking at him now and again, but he wasn't going to address it. Obi-Wan was glad that Xanatos wasn't going to push him.
But it was hard to keep quiet when they were both finished eating. Obi-Wan saw Xanatos about to rise, but quickly stood instead. "I'll clear."
Xanatos blinked. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan removed the plates, and put them in the washer. He was familiar with Xanatos' apartment, and knew where everything went. He had helped with a lot of the organization. It made him comfortable, also, to be doing task for another.
"I'll dry, if you like." Xanatos stood next to him by the sink counter, as Obi-Wan started to run warm water to wash the pans that wouldn't work in the machine.
Obi-Wan looked at him, and nodded. "If you want."
The sink filled, Obi-Wan went to his work. He soon fell into the calm that came with the simple chore. It reminded him of the countless times, not to long ago, when he would've done the same for Qui-Gon and himself.
At his thoughts, Xanatos reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "I used to do those things too."
Obi-Wan nodded. "It feels like a lifetime ago."
Xanatos let out a low sigh, then smiled. "We wont forget him, or those times, Obi-Wan."
"I know." Obi-Wan said.
Xanatos returned a pan to a cupboard. "I'll finish cleaning up. You can take a shower, if you would like. Then we can get started on the meditations, all right?"
Obi-Wan gave a nod, then left for the washroom. He gave a small glance over his shoulder at Xanatos. His back was turned, as he dried one of the smaller pans. Suddenly, it slipped out of his hands, but quick reflexes saved it from falling. Obi-Wan heard a mild curse, and then some low talk, but turned and leaned against the hallway wall.
He's still nervous. I know all about him now, and he can't avoid me. What more does he have to hide? Obi-Wan twirled his fingers around his Padawan braid, then pushed away from the wall.
"Cursed clumsiness. I remember when I wasn't so clumsy…" Xanatos mumbled to himself. He wanted to throw the pan across the room, but thought better of it. After putting the pan away, he closed his eyes, and released his anger at himself to the Force.
He drifted into the calm of the Force, and felt the reassuring connection that linked him to Obi-Wan. He happily fazed out and hovered around the link. The Force was finally becoming more helpful. Blinking, he came back to himself, and blocked out the link. Obi-Wan would think even more ill of him if he barged in during his personal time.
The bleep-bleep of the table communication brought reality down even more. He threw the towel over his shoulder, and strode over to his desk.
"Hello Xan. How are you faring?" Jericho's cool expression beamed from the flat screen.
"Fine," Xanatos replied, "But you know that that is a lie."
Jericho grinned in satisfaction. "You are fine on some levels. Physically, and partly mentally. How is Obi-Wan? And don't say he's fine, because his shields leak a little more than yours."
"I haven't asked him, but he didn't look that uncomfortable. I did scare him a little. I should have been more careful." He clenched the towel in his hand, then looked back to Jericho as he let it go.
"I've told you before to be less critical of yourself. But that's not why I contacted you. I've found the list of Jedi who were off planet during the time period we were looking for. It's a long list, but I've narrowed it down to those I know to be capable of pulling anything like this off." He paused, looked off screen and then back. "You should have it in a second."
"I'll download it into my reader, and do some research into it." He paused, then grinned. "Quietly."
"Don't doubt yourself I…" Some erratic beeping took Jericho's attention away from Xanatos. "Hold on." He disappeared, and made a call onto another comm unit. He came back, with an annoyed crease on his brow. "We've encountered a problem. I…" The ship shook. "I have to go, Xan. Be sure to take care. I'll contact you when we get in the clear."
"No, wait. What is it? Jericho." The comm blinked out, leaving Xanatos to stare at the blank screen. "I know everything is not fine. I can feel it!"
"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan's voice drifted over the expanse of the living quarters. Xanatos moved from the desk, and turned to face him.
"Jericho's transport has encountered some problems." He answered, then looked back to the screen. "Unfortunately, he didn't leave much to go on." He saw he reader blink, registering the download was finished. He clicked it off as Obi-Wan crossed the floor.
Obi-Wan was dressed in a light tunic and fresh leggings, and approached slowly.
Xanatos returned his focus to the screen. "He's shut off his comm."
Studying the screen, Obi-Wan ran his hand along the smooth surface. "Can you feel him through the bond?"
"No," Xanatos replied. "He's shielding, so there must be something wrong."
Obi-Wan nodded, but said nothing. Xanatos stared blankly at the screen, until Obi-Wan spoke again. "I'm going to go finish dressing."
Xanatos finally looked away from the darkened comm screen. "Maybe we should…"
A blinding shot of light knocked the words off of Xanatos' tongue. He stumbled, but braised himself on the table. His stomach lurched, and he groaned as his head pounded. The light came with a hum, but the hum was growing into loud scream. A loud bang, like a shot of thunder, knocked him off of his feet. His balance lost, he fell to the floor, smacking his head on the table on the way down.
The light dimmed, and the pain of his head took over. He moaned, and tried to roll over. He lifted a hand to his head, and gazed at his newly bloodied fingers when he brought it to his eyes. Xanatos coughed, and his eyes drifted across the room. Obi-Wan lay there, unconscious. Xanatos' mind tried to ponder what had happened, but it didn't fight long.
"Obi-Wan?" He asked. No response. The bond, when he touched it, made him wince. His head ache renewed, and his eyes sagged shut, and everything faded to black.
End Chapter Three