The Strength of the Jedi

Author: Laura Kenobi

Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Star Wars. I do, however, own any original characters, planets, etcetera that I created for this story.

Archive: Please contact me first!

Comments/Reviews: You can email me through my profile, and you can always leave a review!

Author's Notes: ((italics)) represents thoughts and / italics / represents communication through the Force.

This story was first published in its original version beginning on September 3, 2001. In July 2005, I decided that since four years had passed and my skills as a writer had undoubtedly improved since this story was first written and posted, it might be refreshing to return to this story and give it a fresh look and an update. For the most part the overall story remains the same - my goal has been to improve on and expand on the original, so I hope the result will prove enjoyable to all of you who are wonderful enough to read and review. The version of this story below is the updated version. Call it the "Special Edition" version of this story.

Summary: A mission to Alderaan takes a wrong turn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn must rely on their inner strength and determination to survive.

Chapter Nine

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Obi-Wan Kenobi was in immense pain. He felt as though his whole body was on fire, and his head swam with muddled thoughts.

He watched as his Master stood to look for whoever had saved him, and he let his eyes drift slowly around at the trees surrounding them, hoping to see for himself. All he remembered was a flash of purple...

A small flash of gold shimmered through an opening in the trees, and then as quickly as it had come it was gone. There was a sudden malice in the air, and Obi-Wan couldn't figure out why. All the Tsargne were dead, and Qui-Gon was here...

Mazanig.

The word came to his head quickly. He had run away, to tell the others, no doubt! And now he was back to finish the job they could not.

Reaching into the Force, Obi-Wan determined that it was indeed Mazanig. And there was a definite emotion that filled the Tsargne's mind. Anger.

Mazanig was going to try and kill him. Self-doubt poured into Obi-Wan's soul. He had actually trusted that foolish beast! It was an obvious trap and he had fallen right in.

Suddenly, he felt the anger in Mazanig shift to a new target – Qui-Gon. An obviously larger and more filling meal.

((Oh no you don't...))

Obi-Wan was not going to let that monster harm even a hair on his Master's head. Not for anything. Qui-Gon Jinn meant more to the young Jedi than everything in the entire galaxy.

As the angry, hungry, animal leapt into the clearing behind Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan sprung into action, trying his best to ignore the searing pain that ripped through him and the way his vision was clouding.

Calling his fallen lightsaber to his hand, Obi-Wan struck out at the golden giant, attempting to strike a fatal blow. He only succeeded in grazing the top of Mazanig's skin.

But it was enough to make the Tsargne forget Qui-Gon Jinn and turn all of his attention on the injured young Jedi. Obi-Wan felt a surge of relief at this turn of events, and also a great surge of fear.

Suddenly, the teachings of Master Namala returned to him in a rush.

(("The Tsargne are Force-eaters. They ea' the Force instead of food. But, like beings that eat food, they can only hold so much. Reach 'into' the animal's mind and fill it with more Force than it can handle..."))

He had the solution. A way to kill the monster. Reaching out with the Force, Obi-Wan made a connection with the mammoth creature's mind. He began to feed it the Force as fast as he could. The Tsargne latched onto his bond and accepted the Force. Obi-Wan had a feeling that he couldn't keep it up for long – the ground seemed to tilt at random...

snap-hiss

A blade of green flew through the air, and suddenly the connection to Mazanig was gone. Obi-Wan realized with a start that Qui-Gon had killed the creature.

With a sigh of relief, the young Jedi watched as the world gave a massive jolt, and as the ground was suddenly getting closer, and closer...

Blackness.

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Qui-Gon ran the giant creature through without a second thought. Anything that had its mind set on killing Obi-Wan Kenobi did not live if Qui-Gon had any say in the matter.

Obi-Wan looked surprised for a moment, and then greatly relieved. Suddenly, the teen swayed on his feet, and pitched over toward the ground. Leaping forward, Qui-Gon caught him just before he would've landed hard on his broken arm. He slowly lowered the young man onto his back on the floor. Obi-Wan did not look well. He was pale as a sheet, and his breathing was shallow.

((Where is that blasted team of healers?))

From behind the pair of Jedi, a figure stepped out of the foliage. The Jedi Master and apprentice took no notice. The younger was unconscious and the elder was too concerned for his Padawan to care about anything else.

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End Chapter 9.

One chapter left. Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! - Laura