The Marionette's Dance
CHAPTER FIVE
Disclaimer: As before, I don't own em and I'm just playing with em. Don't think about suing me, I don't have anything and what little I do have, you can't have. :P
Takes place 9 years before TPM (Obi is 16)
Special thanks to my sisterS/beta readerS, Debbie, Jane, and Jessica. Special thanks goes out to all my friends and family that encouraged me to keep writing and helped me with their feedback.
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Obi-Wan's unconscious form slumped to the floor, leaving a small trail of blood down the wall. The council members sprang up from their chairs and immediately converged on the two. Master Windu called for healers to come to the council chambers while several members forcibly held Qui-Gon down, others attending the downed padawan.
Yoda stood in front of his former apprentice, concern written on his ancient features. "Attacked your padawan for what reason? Harmed him you did. Unacceptable this is."
Qui-Gon blinked several times, as if coming out of a hypnosis, "What? Its just all the stress I've put up with over the past week has taken its toll on me. I lashed out of anger and fatigue. I promise you master, it won't happen again. I just need rest. I wouldn't hurt Obi-Wan intentionally."
Yoda stared at Qui-Gon, "Hiding something you are. Allow me to see will you?"
"NO! I said its just fatigue from our perils on Belarius. I will be fine with lots of rest and some decent food. Please master, just let me sleep and when I recover, I'll be more than willing to give you a full report, in as many details as you want." Qui-Gon sank back against the wall, with the help of five council members.
"Was informed you did not report to healers when you arrived. Why?" Yoda questioned.
"I was covered head to toe in some sort of slimy substance and the only thing I wanted to do was to soak in a tub and scrub all that disgusting stuff off." Qui-Gon said making a face.
Several healers entered the chambers and went directly to Obi-Wan. He opened his eyes, stunned and confused as to what transpired. "Master? What happened?"
Qui-Gon was still in the grip of several council members and called over, "I am sorry Obi-Wan. I let my weariness and exhaustion overcome me and I struck you down. Will you forgive me?"
Obi-Wan nodded affirmative as the healers helped him to his feet. One smiled and said, "He probably has suffered a mild concussion, and that gash on the back of his head will need attended to."
Master Windu spoke up, "I want Master Jinn thoroughly checked. If he is fine, then he may have leave for a week to recuperate. If there are ANY abnormalities, alert us immediately, and keep padawan Kenobi away from his master."
The healers nodded and helped Qui-Gon to his unsteady feet. Several council members escorted master and padawan to the healers and upon confirmation that everything was safe, left to allow the healers to do their work.
Obi-Wan was taken into a room across the hall by one healer. She smiled sweetly and began healing the abrasion and concussion, using small talk to help the time pass by.
When the healer finished, Obi-Wan thanked her and left to see how his master was. He was surprised to see Qui-Gon standing outside his door, waiting for him. Qui-Gon nodded to the healer as she left and began walking down the hall to return home.
"Master? Are you feeling better?" Obi-Wan asked, falling into step behind his master.
"Yes. The healers decided that I just need some sleep and rest. You're well, I hope." Qui-Gon said, entering the lift and designating the level for their quarters.
Obi-Wan stood behind his master in his usual stance, "Yes master. I am feeling a lot better."
"Good. Then you can run some laps and do some kattas, after that, you can have a few hours of meditation."
"Master? Why would I have to do such a workout?" Obi-Wan's suspicions were back as he eyed his master, a barely noticeable ripple of darkness crossed his senses.
"For questioning me and speaking out of turn at the council chambers. Did you think you'd get out of your punishment that easily?" Qui-Gon turned to stare at his apprentice.
Obi-Wan lowered his head, "Forgive me master. I shall return shortly to begin my meditations." Obi-Wan punched in a new destination and exited the lift.
"You have several hours to get a decent workout, don't come back too early or else I'll know you have been incomplete in your workout. I'll make you come back again and again until you get it right." Qui-Gon said, watching for Obi-Wan's reaction.
Obi-Wan showed no emotion, like he was taught, and bowed to his master and started down the hall to begin his workout.
All during his workout he couldn't shake a bad feeling in the back of his subconscious. Something was definitely not right with his master, and why the healers didn't find anything was at a loss to the padawan. The workout seemed to take forever without a counterpart, and Obi-Wan fumbled several times on his routine. His agility suffered due to his pre-occupation of his masters health and sudden change in personality. He exhaled slowly and willed the force to guide him, allowing it to flow freely through and around him.
After several hours of exertion, a sweat soaked padawan made his way back home. This was the first time he ever recalled where he dreaded seeing his master. He entered a lift and once inside, sighed heavily and leaned against the back of the lift, resting his head against the cool metal. He couldn't let his master sense his distress and suspicion, so he called upon the force to calm his mind and center him.
Soon the lift got to its destination and the doors slid open. Obi-Wan made his way down the hall, feeling the apprehensive to see his master return again. When the padawan entered the quarters he noticed a strange feeling wash over him.
It was like a phantom memory. First a strong sense of something dark and foreboding, then a complete reversal of light and purity. Almost as if two beings, one of light, one of dark, we're battling within close proximity, trying desperately for their side to be the victor.
Obi-Wan searched around the living area, and headed towards his masters room. He whispered, "Master are you here?"
Obi-Wan found his masters bedroom door slightly ajar. He was about to knock, when he caught a glimpse of his master in the crack of the door.
Qui-Gon had just emerged from the refresher, halfway dressed and reaching for clean clothes. He was unaware that Obi-wan was seeing his reflection in a mirror against the far wall. He was pulling a shirt over his head, covering something that Obi-Wan couldn't believe he was seeing.
A small, almost completely transparent creature was attached to Qui-Gon's chest, directly over his heart. Long spindly legs, wrapped around the masters midsection and implanted themselves along his spine. In horror and semi-shock, Obi-Wan took an unconscious step back, and banged into a small table, knocking all the contents to the floor with a loud crash.
Upon hearing the commotion, Qui-Gon came storming out of his room. His eyes automatically fell upon the hapless padawan. Qui-Gon reached out, grabbing Obi-Wan by his collar and nearly lifting him off the ground, "Where you spying on me?"
Obi-Wan stammered out, "N-No master. I swear, I... "
Qui-Gon interrupted Obi-Wan with a violent shake, "WHAT DID YOU SEE?"
Obi-Wan played dumb, "I don't understand what you're talking about master. I just came to see if you were in your quarters, and before I could knock, I tripped and knocked over the table. Are you ok master?"
Qui-Gon stared at Obi-Wan, and began to use the force to search the young Jedi's mind. He met with resistance and snapped at Obi-Wan, "You WILL open your mind up to me!"
Obi-Wan knew how to create a false wall and hide his true feelings and emotions behind it. He easily erected a false shield around his thoughts, and allowed his master to see only what he allowed. The front worked and Qui-Gon released his near strangling apprentice.
"You finished your workout I trust?"
Obi-Wan gasped and grabbed the wall to steady himself, "Yes Master. May I take a shower before I begin my meditations?"
Qui-Gon huffed and went to the couch, propping his feet up and looking at a datapad like nothing had happened, "Yes, just be quick about it. I have some other things I want you to do."
Obi-Wan nodded and went to his room. The shower felt good to his overused muscles, they ached and seemed difficult to manipulate. Perhaps he overdid it, the padawan smirked to himself. Not wanting to upset his already overtensed master, he made the shower quick, and his body protested the ending of the relaxing water and he painfully exited the shower. He dressed somewhat slowly, due to his fatigued body and quietly made his way to his comm panel, which was beside the door. He peeked quickly in to see his master sitting on the couch, still reading the datapad.
Though he knew that it was inappropriate for a padawan to summon the council, he sighed, remembering the "out of character" physical punishment his master had recently put him through. He punched in the code to direct the transmission to Yoda and waited patiently for the green master to appear.
After a few seconds, Yoda's face greeted him, "Padawan Kenobi? Important this better be to interrupt a council meeting."
Obi-Wan bowed his head and looked pleadingly at Yoda, "Master, there is a situation I must discuss with the council. If you could please...."
Obi-Wan glanced up to see Qui-Gon standing in the doorway, and jumped away from the comm.
Upon his notice, Qui-Gon stormed into Obi-Wan's room, slamming his fist down on the comm panel and terminating the transmission. He turned around and glared at Obi-Wan, his eyes menacing and cruel. His hand came flying, striking Obi-Wan across the cheek.
As children, Jedi are taught to avoid a confrontation and to NEVER question a master, especially their own. That seemed irrelevant to the struggling padawan, who was now receiving blow after blow from a clearly angry master. After a few strikes, Obi-Wan's right eye and bottom lip were cut, blood snaked its way down his face and dripped on his clothes and floor.
Qui-Gon balled his fist, preparing to punch, but Obi-Wan's Jedi reflexes served him well, and he avoided contact. The aversion only made Qui-Gon more angry and he faked a blow to the head, and swiped Obi-Wan's legs out from under him. The much smaller Jedi went crashing to the floor, but quickly bounced up again, only to find a master coming for him.
Qui-Gon advanced upon the padawan, grabbing his wrist and jerking Obi-Wan around to get him in a vulnerable position. He succeeded and pressed Obi-Wan's face against the wall, with his arm contorted behind him and held into position by a much larger hand.
Qui-Gon pressed Obi-Wan hard into the wall and snarled in his ear, "I warned you once about overstepping my authority. Evidently you need a more direct punishment to understand my meaning."
Qui-Gon spun Obi-Wan around and put his hand around the apprentice's throat and began to squeeze.
CHAPTER FIVE
Disclaimer: As before, I don't own em and I'm just playing with em. Don't think about suing me, I don't have anything and what little I do have, you can't have. :P
Takes place 9 years before TPM (Obi is 16)
Special thanks to my sisterS/beta readerS, Debbie, Jane, and Jessica. Special thanks goes out to all my friends and family that encouraged me to keep writing and helped me with their feedback.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan's unconscious form slumped to the floor, leaving a small trail of blood down the wall. The council members sprang up from their chairs and immediately converged on the two. Master Windu called for healers to come to the council chambers while several members forcibly held Qui-Gon down, others attending the downed padawan.
Yoda stood in front of his former apprentice, concern written on his ancient features. "Attacked your padawan for what reason? Harmed him you did. Unacceptable this is."
Qui-Gon blinked several times, as if coming out of a hypnosis, "What? Its just all the stress I've put up with over the past week has taken its toll on me. I lashed out of anger and fatigue. I promise you master, it won't happen again. I just need rest. I wouldn't hurt Obi-Wan intentionally."
Yoda stared at Qui-Gon, "Hiding something you are. Allow me to see will you?"
"NO! I said its just fatigue from our perils on Belarius. I will be fine with lots of rest and some decent food. Please master, just let me sleep and when I recover, I'll be more than willing to give you a full report, in as many details as you want." Qui-Gon sank back against the wall, with the help of five council members.
"Was informed you did not report to healers when you arrived. Why?" Yoda questioned.
"I was covered head to toe in some sort of slimy substance and the only thing I wanted to do was to soak in a tub and scrub all that disgusting stuff off." Qui-Gon said making a face.
Several healers entered the chambers and went directly to Obi-Wan. He opened his eyes, stunned and confused as to what transpired. "Master? What happened?"
Qui-Gon was still in the grip of several council members and called over, "I am sorry Obi-Wan. I let my weariness and exhaustion overcome me and I struck you down. Will you forgive me?"
Obi-Wan nodded affirmative as the healers helped him to his feet. One smiled and said, "He probably has suffered a mild concussion, and that gash on the back of his head will need attended to."
Master Windu spoke up, "I want Master Jinn thoroughly checked. If he is fine, then he may have leave for a week to recuperate. If there are ANY abnormalities, alert us immediately, and keep padawan Kenobi away from his master."
The healers nodded and helped Qui-Gon to his unsteady feet. Several council members escorted master and padawan to the healers and upon confirmation that everything was safe, left to allow the healers to do their work.
Obi-Wan was taken into a room across the hall by one healer. She smiled sweetly and began healing the abrasion and concussion, using small talk to help the time pass by.
When the healer finished, Obi-Wan thanked her and left to see how his master was. He was surprised to see Qui-Gon standing outside his door, waiting for him. Qui-Gon nodded to the healer as she left and began walking down the hall to return home.
"Master? Are you feeling better?" Obi-Wan asked, falling into step behind his master.
"Yes. The healers decided that I just need some sleep and rest. You're well, I hope." Qui-Gon said, entering the lift and designating the level for their quarters.
Obi-Wan stood behind his master in his usual stance, "Yes master. I am feeling a lot better."
"Good. Then you can run some laps and do some kattas, after that, you can have a few hours of meditation."
"Master? Why would I have to do such a workout?" Obi-Wan's suspicions were back as he eyed his master, a barely noticeable ripple of darkness crossed his senses.
"For questioning me and speaking out of turn at the council chambers. Did you think you'd get out of your punishment that easily?" Qui-Gon turned to stare at his apprentice.
Obi-Wan lowered his head, "Forgive me master. I shall return shortly to begin my meditations." Obi-Wan punched in a new destination and exited the lift.
"You have several hours to get a decent workout, don't come back too early or else I'll know you have been incomplete in your workout. I'll make you come back again and again until you get it right." Qui-Gon said, watching for Obi-Wan's reaction.
Obi-Wan showed no emotion, like he was taught, and bowed to his master and started down the hall to begin his workout.
All during his workout he couldn't shake a bad feeling in the back of his subconscious. Something was definitely not right with his master, and why the healers didn't find anything was at a loss to the padawan. The workout seemed to take forever without a counterpart, and Obi-Wan fumbled several times on his routine. His agility suffered due to his pre-occupation of his masters health and sudden change in personality. He exhaled slowly and willed the force to guide him, allowing it to flow freely through and around him.
After several hours of exertion, a sweat soaked padawan made his way back home. This was the first time he ever recalled where he dreaded seeing his master. He entered a lift and once inside, sighed heavily and leaned against the back of the lift, resting his head against the cool metal. He couldn't let his master sense his distress and suspicion, so he called upon the force to calm his mind and center him.
Soon the lift got to its destination and the doors slid open. Obi-Wan made his way down the hall, feeling the apprehensive to see his master return again. When the padawan entered the quarters he noticed a strange feeling wash over him.
It was like a phantom memory. First a strong sense of something dark and foreboding, then a complete reversal of light and purity. Almost as if two beings, one of light, one of dark, we're battling within close proximity, trying desperately for their side to be the victor.
Obi-Wan searched around the living area, and headed towards his masters room. He whispered, "Master are you here?"
Obi-Wan found his masters bedroom door slightly ajar. He was about to knock, when he caught a glimpse of his master in the crack of the door.
Qui-Gon had just emerged from the refresher, halfway dressed and reaching for clean clothes. He was unaware that Obi-wan was seeing his reflection in a mirror against the far wall. He was pulling a shirt over his head, covering something that Obi-Wan couldn't believe he was seeing.
A small, almost completely transparent creature was attached to Qui-Gon's chest, directly over his heart. Long spindly legs, wrapped around the masters midsection and implanted themselves along his spine. In horror and semi-shock, Obi-Wan took an unconscious step back, and banged into a small table, knocking all the contents to the floor with a loud crash.
Upon hearing the commotion, Qui-Gon came storming out of his room. His eyes automatically fell upon the hapless padawan. Qui-Gon reached out, grabbing Obi-Wan by his collar and nearly lifting him off the ground, "Where you spying on me?"
Obi-Wan stammered out, "N-No master. I swear, I... "
Qui-Gon interrupted Obi-Wan with a violent shake, "WHAT DID YOU SEE?"
Obi-Wan played dumb, "I don't understand what you're talking about master. I just came to see if you were in your quarters, and before I could knock, I tripped and knocked over the table. Are you ok master?"
Qui-Gon stared at Obi-Wan, and began to use the force to search the young Jedi's mind. He met with resistance and snapped at Obi-Wan, "You WILL open your mind up to me!"
Obi-Wan knew how to create a false wall and hide his true feelings and emotions behind it. He easily erected a false shield around his thoughts, and allowed his master to see only what he allowed. The front worked and Qui-Gon released his near strangling apprentice.
"You finished your workout I trust?"
Obi-Wan gasped and grabbed the wall to steady himself, "Yes Master. May I take a shower before I begin my meditations?"
Qui-Gon huffed and went to the couch, propping his feet up and looking at a datapad like nothing had happened, "Yes, just be quick about it. I have some other things I want you to do."
Obi-Wan nodded and went to his room. The shower felt good to his overused muscles, they ached and seemed difficult to manipulate. Perhaps he overdid it, the padawan smirked to himself. Not wanting to upset his already overtensed master, he made the shower quick, and his body protested the ending of the relaxing water and he painfully exited the shower. He dressed somewhat slowly, due to his fatigued body and quietly made his way to his comm panel, which was beside the door. He peeked quickly in to see his master sitting on the couch, still reading the datapad.
Though he knew that it was inappropriate for a padawan to summon the council, he sighed, remembering the "out of character" physical punishment his master had recently put him through. He punched in the code to direct the transmission to Yoda and waited patiently for the green master to appear.
After a few seconds, Yoda's face greeted him, "Padawan Kenobi? Important this better be to interrupt a council meeting."
Obi-Wan bowed his head and looked pleadingly at Yoda, "Master, there is a situation I must discuss with the council. If you could please...."
Obi-Wan glanced up to see Qui-Gon standing in the doorway, and jumped away from the comm.
Upon his notice, Qui-Gon stormed into Obi-Wan's room, slamming his fist down on the comm panel and terminating the transmission. He turned around and glared at Obi-Wan, his eyes menacing and cruel. His hand came flying, striking Obi-Wan across the cheek.
As children, Jedi are taught to avoid a confrontation and to NEVER question a master, especially their own. That seemed irrelevant to the struggling padawan, who was now receiving blow after blow from a clearly angry master. After a few strikes, Obi-Wan's right eye and bottom lip were cut, blood snaked its way down his face and dripped on his clothes and floor.
Qui-Gon balled his fist, preparing to punch, but Obi-Wan's Jedi reflexes served him well, and he avoided contact. The aversion only made Qui-Gon more angry and he faked a blow to the head, and swiped Obi-Wan's legs out from under him. The much smaller Jedi went crashing to the floor, but quickly bounced up again, only to find a master coming for him.
Qui-Gon advanced upon the padawan, grabbing his wrist and jerking Obi-Wan around to get him in a vulnerable position. He succeeded and pressed Obi-Wan's face against the wall, with his arm contorted behind him and held into position by a much larger hand.
Qui-Gon pressed Obi-Wan hard into the wall and snarled in his ear, "I warned you once about overstepping my authority. Evidently you need a more direct punishment to understand my meaning."
Qui-Gon spun Obi-Wan around and put his hand around the apprentice's throat and began to squeeze.