Memories From Afar

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the Star Wars characters. George Lucas does. I do, however, own the original characters (if any) and the fic all of this is in. That is all.

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CHAPTER SEVEN:

Obi-Wan Kenobi walked slowly towards the entrance of the Temple, his arms at his side. He stared straight ahead, confusion still lingering in his crystal blue eye's. A emotion that would not go away any time soon. There was nothing he could do about it since the three Masters behind him would not say anything thing concerning what was going on at the moment. In fact, they didn't even talk to each other for the last few moments as the four reached the glass doors that showed the outside world to them.

He sighed, taking a small glance up at his own Master's face. There was a cold, dead hardness to his Master's face. A look that the boy had seen many times and did not forget. But, this time, it was different then the other stone cold expressions that he had seen Jinn wear many times before. One that showed a set determination that would not give up.

Knowing that a set of young eyes was upon him, Qui-Gon looked down at his Padawan. Their eyes locked for a moment in time, both wondering what was going to happen. Then, a smile came upon the Master's lips, almost breaking that coldness that was on his face. Neither had to say anything to understand what the other was thinking as the four walked out of the now opening glass doors and into the heat of the Courscant air. There was nothing waiting for them as they stepped out into the sunlight, a bleakness to the lightness.

"Where are they?" Obi-Wan asked, looking around. Before anyone could answer that question, the roar of a approaching ship followed by several gusts of wind enveloping the area answered it for him. The three Master's placed their hands on their lightsabres, their eyes narrowing as a small ship came into view.

As the ship came closer to the ground, Obi-Wan could feel more then just gusts of wind coming from the ship. The sense of a pure hatred emitted from inside the metal bearings and pasts experiences told them that it was not coming from Master Yoda. Sure, the little green Jedi got angry at times and the anger from him was not that strong. No, the anger was coming from something different. Something that was telling him to stay away from it. The boy started to back up, wanting to go back into the Temple and into the quarters. But, instead, he backed up into Qui-Gon who, in turn, placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Be calm, Padawan. Nothing in there will hurt you. I will make sure of that." He said, not even looking down at him. Suddenly, there was a sense of calmness going through the boy's body that he had never felt before. At that instant, the ship had landed onto the ground in front of the Temple and the tension seemingly started to crackle around the area.

It took several moments for the ship's ramp to open up in a gust of steam and hot air. Once the ramp landed onto the ground, a single figure stood in the mists. It did not wait for it to clear as it started to walk down to the ground, a aura of darkness shifting around it. The figure stepped onto the paved ground, now reveling to be a hooded figure dressed in all black. Obi-Wan took in a deep breath, his heart beating fast. What's going on? Is that a Sith or another Jedi?

The figure walked towards the Jedi as two more robed figures came down the ramp, the mists of steam vanishing from the ramp. Yoda was the last one to get off but he did not go down the ramp. Instead, he lingered at the doorway of the ship, his eyes locking into Mace Windu's. There seemed to be a silent conversation going on between the two as they finally broke off the look, thus ending whatever they were telepathically thinking to each other.

"I see you have brought the boy with you. Good. That leaves the problem of having to search for him inside the Temple." The first robed figure said as he stopped several feet in front of the four Jedi, the other two stopping directly behind him.

"We may have the boy with us but we are not going to let him go." Ki-Adi Mundi said, not even looking at the figures.

"There was a agreement between the Council and us. It stated that...."

"I know what it stated. But the whole Council did not agree on it. You jumped in too fast. We were not ready to fully give him up nor are we now."

"You Jedi's take too long to get things done. That is why we are here. To get things moving more then the pace it was going at before. It was going too slow."

"No. We are not going to give up the boy. We have not decided." Mace replied, becoming somewhat agitated with the conversation. One of the figures behind the main one leaned over towards him, whispering something into it's ear. There were a few brief moments of silence as a small conversation went on between the two. Finally, they looked in the direction of the boy, a hint of what they were going to do.

"If you are not going to give up the boy, then we are going to have to take him by force." He snapped. With those words, the two behind him advanced past him and towards Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon quickly unclipped his lightsabre and ignited it, the blade sizzling to life. Mace and Ki-Adi did the same, getting into the traditional defense stance. But the figures kept moving, not even caring what the other's had done. One suddenly reached out to grab the boy once he was in grabbing distance but Jinn reacted to it. He held up his sabre, moving it down in a slashing mode. But the figure drew back his arm from the child. Instead, he used it to hold the Masters hand back, keeping it from bringing the blade down any further. Qui-Gon tried to move his arm but the other kept it in his vice like grip.

Both of the other Jedi attempted to come in for assistance but the other advancing figure jumped in front of them, bringing out his own sabre, which had been concealed in the folds of his own robes. He ignited the blade, which was a dark forest green, unlike most of the blades that were used by those not of Jedi blood. Like dancers on a stage, the three started to move their sabres in twists and turns, breaking away from the other figure and Qui-Gon. They started to move down the small courtyard, each keeping up with the other. Even though there was two against one, the dark one seemed to be keeping his own. He managed to deflect each of Ki-Adi's and Mace's attacks, pushing them back with each thrust.

"Nice, for a Jedi." The figure spat out, moving forwards as he swung his sabre close to Ki-Adi's stomach. The Jedi dodged it, the tip of the blade just touching his robes, singeing it.

"You're not bad your self." Mace growled, barely even keeping up with the figure. The three continued to clash, totally forgetting about what was going on near the Temple and moved farther away.

Qui-Gon, on the other hand, was still in the third figures grip, trying to get out of it. Yet, it would not let go as he stared down the Jedi. Obi-Wan stood there, in shock for a moment. He watched as a few beads of sweat went down his Master's face, a look of pure hatred still there. Something made him turn away from Jinn and look directly at the figure, a pissed off expression now forming on his own face.

"Leave my Master alone!" He cried out, kicking him hard in the stomach. That small attack didn't topple over the figure in pain but it did allow him to release his grip on the other's arm. Qui-Gon quickly removed his hand from the grip then grabbing his Padawan's arm as he pulled him away from the figure. They stopped when the first figure stepped in front of them, blocking their escape, his own uninvited sabre in his hand.

"No. He's ours now." He replied coldly, hissing out each word as he took several steps forwards. Qui-Gon then pulled Obi-Wan close to him, putting the blade of his sabre close the boy's neck. The child looked down it barely, fear now replacing the hatred.

"Come any closer and I will kill him." The Master challenged. The figure took several more steps towards the two, the Jedi pushing his blade closer to the boy's neck.

"I dare you."

"I remember this."

"Remember what?"

"I believe this happened when we took Obi-Wan from you the first time. I told you I'd kill him if you came any closer and you dared me. Or something close to that."

"It was you." The figure hissed, stopping. "You were the one that took him."

"Ah, you finally figured it out."

"This time it won't work. You will give him up. Now."

"Never." Qui-Gon snapped, not relaxing his stance. Obi-Wan was now becoming worried that his Master would do just that. Kill him. Please, Qui-Gon. Don't do this.

"Let him go." A voice breathed from behind him. There was a snap hiss of a blade being ignited and the heat from it as it was placed at Qui-Gon's back. The Master did not flinch as he looked over his shoulders just slightly.

"You put that in my back and I slice his throat."

"Not if you are dead you won't."

"Master, please. Just....let me go." Obi-Wan pleaded. The Master turned his attention to his Padawan, his breath becoming short. He saw that the boy had placed a hand onto his and was looking up at him with his eyes. There was no words that were spoken for a single moment as the Jedi slowly brought his blade down away from the child's neck, pushing him forwards just a bit from his body. He could not look at the boy as he walked towards the first figure, hoping that there were no tears forming at the base of his eyes.

"Good boy. You are smarter then I thought." The figure said once Obi-Wan walked to him. He turned around to face his Master as the other placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now, Jedi, look at the child who you took away from me. He's gone back to his old life."

Qui-Gon slowly turned his eyes to the boy, a small yet noticeable hint of sadness and failure going across it. As he did, he noticed the boy was silently bringing out a long metal object from a small pocket on the right side of his robes. The Master did not give away his secret as he looked Obi-Wan over, hoping to figure out what he was trying to do. What are you trying to pull, Padawan? What is going through your mind?

"It is time to go. " The figure said, taking his hand off of the boy's shoulder. He turned his body to the side, ready to leave. "Are you ready to see your home world for the first time in eleven years?"

"I think that....." Obi-Wan started, a bit of a smile showing on his lips. "..... I am not."

"What?" The figure barked, snapping his head down to the boy. Like he was taught only weeks earlier, Obi-Wan whipped around, ignited his lightsabre, drawing it close to the figure's body.

"You heard me. I am not going anywhere. This is my home world, not that place which you talk about."

"Bastard." The figure brought one of his hands out, slapping the boy in the face. This brought the Padawan off guard, sending him backwards. Qui-Gon hissed several silent swears out, about to jump to the child's defense. But the third figure used the metal end of his lightsabre to hit the Jedi upon the head with it. The Master did not feel the blow for a moment before it registered in his mind and the pain started to snap him into reality. He staggered for a moment as he put a hand up on the back of his head then bringing it forwards only to see blood on it. There was a dizzy like feeling going through him as he tried to regain his balance yet he did not black out. Instead, the world around him became a blur as he tried to focus on his attacker. He fell to his knees in a dizzy spell, hoping to regain what he had before.

Obi-Wan regained his footing as he placed a hand on his cheek. He stared at the robed figure with hatred, his eyes gleaming with a full force behind them. He had smacked him and he didn't like that. Now they dared to hit his Master and that pissed him off more. Now, all of that seethed inside of him as he rushed towards the figure, the blade of the sabre raised. Instead of getting any closer to the other, the figure pushed him back with a wave of his hand, sending the force out to greet the boy. The Padawan was thrown back and pushed onto the ground with a thud, sliding several feet on the pavement.

"Uh....." Obi-Wan gasped out, the landing taking the breath out of him. He could feel some of his skin being rubbed away as he came to a halt, the pain searing in his body. The sabre had dropped from his hand and fell onto the concrete ground, disigniting with the impact he had taken. The figure started to move towards him, a hidden smirk on his lips.

"Boy, you shouldn't have challenged me. I am stronger then you will ever be." He said as he hovered over him, staring down at him intently. "Now you are coming back with me."

"No...no he isn't....." Qui-Gon stuttered out, trying his best to keep from falling to the wound that caused him to fall. "I....I....I'll be damned.....if....you are.....going to do anything....."

"Never thought I'd hear a Jedi swear." The third figure said mocking, now practically hovering over the fallen Master. "But, there are always firsts to everything."

"You know, boy." The first figure said, tilting his head down at Obi-Wan.

"What? I know many things." The child grumbled, not even attempting to stand or get up.

"I think I will let you see the end to your Master."

"NO!" Obi-Wan shrieked out, his eyes going wide. He then tried to lift himself up from the ground but the figure placed a foot onto his stomach. He pushed down on the child's abdomen, making him wince in pain and fall back down onto the ground. "You can't....do this...."

"Yes I can. I am in complete control now. Your destiny awaits."

"Control of what?" A chorus of voices chimed together. The two figures looked up, towards, the Temple, to see a mass of Jedi's and Padawan's coming from inside. Most of them had their lightsabre's drawn, ready to defend what was theirs.

"You're too late. We have the boy."

"Tough luck. He's ours. You can't have him." One Padawan said.

"Wait. How'd you know what was going on?" The third figure asked, confused yet he did not move from his spot next to the fallen Qui-Gon.

"We felt something wrong in the Force. It was close and we figured that we should investigate. So, here we are." Another answered. As the two figures stared down the growing group of Jedi, Obi-Wan took this time to put his hands onto the figure's booted ankle. Before the boy could do anything more, the figure looked down at him, a hidden snarl on his lips. With the metal end of the lightsabre he carried, he wiped it across the boy's forehead. Obi-Wan let out a scream of pain as the metal hit his skull, a hard structure against another hard structure. The boy's vision started to blur as cries went out around him. He couldn't tell if he was crying or other's were as blood mixed with tears.

The last image he saw was the figure backing up as he fell into the darkness of sleep.

Two weeks later

Light played in his mind. Winds whipped around the void of the darkness. There was nothing but a sea of shifting images that played over and over again. There was a sound coming from somewhere but it was all mumbles and whispers. He could not make out anything that was being said. Hell, he didn't even know who was talking or what music was being recorded. But there was one name he could get out of the scramble. A familiar name.

"Obi-Wan.....Obi-Wan....." The voice purred softly to him. He knew the name. He knew the voice. Everything else was a jumble of words that did not make sense to him. But, he was going to find out.

"Uh....." He mused out loud, his eyes blinking open. The darkness disappeared from around him but the light got brighter. The images started to fade somewhat as he struggled to regain his sight as he slowly opened his eyes.

Everything was a blur to him as he attempted to move his head. But a pain went through the back of his neck, forcing him to keep it still. The blur was still there but there was several images that he could barely make out. He tried to focus on them but nothing registered in his mind. Then, he closed his eyes again and fell into the darkness.

~~~~

"At least he opened his eyes this time, Qui-Gon. That's more then what he has been doing in the last several weeks." Mace Windu said as the two walked away from the small hospital that was several blocks away from the Temple. The day was coming to a close as everything started to settle down.

"I know." Qui-Gon Jinn whispered, looking down at the ground. "I feel like it is my fault that Obi-Wan is like this."

"It's not your fault. You did more then you could do. In fact, if you hadn't regained your stance, the boy would have died then. You are the one who took the time away from the fight to rush Obi-Wan to the hospital."

"I know." He grumbled, taking a few deep breaths.

"Look." Mace said, stopping and turning towards the other. He stopped to and looked up at him. "I know we have been hard on you since your last Padawan turned. I, we, should have been more considerate with Obi-Wan's stay here at the Temple. If we had not made a agreement with the small group, this wouldn't have happened. It's our fault that this happened."

"I don't want to think of what might of been. As long as Obi-Wan gets better and he stay's my Padawan, I don't care about anything else."

"Got it." Mace said, smiling. The two walked back to the Temple, the sun reflecting off of their faces.

EPILOGUE:

A Month Later

Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed as he sat on the bed in his own quarters, his back on a pillow and a data pad in his hands. Covers were up to his waist as his blue eyes looked over the things that he was reading. He had a white bandage over his forehead, a small hint of blood on them. He had only recently come back to the quarters that he shared with Qui-Gon after a month and a half of being cooped up in a hospital bed. There was no conflict between him and his Master that he had some reading to do. Jinn said that his physical training would have to be put on hold until the boy got better.

He looked up as the two metal doors opened and Qui-Gon stepped in. He had a emotionless expression on his face as he had his hands behind his back. He did not look at his Padawan as he walked in, going to the small nightstand that was by his bed. The child's eyes followed him closely, concern and fear in them.

"What did the Council say? What is going on?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Well, the rest of the group still wants you back. The Council didn't agree with them this time. The group rebelled against the decision and threatened to send another three to retrieve you." The Master said, still staring at the lamp that sat upon the table. "Of course, Ki-Adi and Mace threatened that if they did, there would be a repeat of what happened a month and a half ago. I don't think that the group wants to lose three more of their members. So, they came up with a agreement that you will stay here in return for us not ever going back to the planet, or the system, again. That was the end of that." He took in several breaths. "And, they have decided on you."

"Oh." Obi-Wan said blankly, looking down at the data pad. He stared at it as he blinked back the tears. I guess I won't be needing this anymore. My training for the last six months has been for nothing. I will be leaving this all behind now. "What is going to happen to me?"

"It didn't take them long to decide. In fact, I think it was the easiest and quickest decision that they came up with."

"So, where will I be going? Kessel? Tatooine?"

"No, you will not." Qui-Gon turned his attention to the boy and set his eyes upon him. "You will stay here. Until you are totally healed, you will not be doing any training. Instead, you will be reading most of the time until then. But, I will have to leave some of the reading out until you get better. I can't give you something to look up if I can't train you in it."

"Huh?" Obi-Wan demanded, looking up at the Master. Now his expression was soft with a hint of happiness in his gray blue eyes. "I thought...."

"I know." He said, walking to the boy's bed and kneeling down next to it. "If they had decided differently, I'd be the first to argue it."

"I'm glad." The two embraced in a hug, Master and Padawan. "But, I have another question."

"Yes?" Qui-Gon asked, not breaking the hug.

"After I blacked out, what happened?" The older Jedi broke the hug, looking into the boy's eyes. "I mean, I know we won but I want to know how."

"I'll tell you another time. Right now, I think we had enough of this for a while." The two did not say anything as they went into another hug, their bond now becoming complete.

The End

Is this crying for a sequel or just wanting an ending to it?