The Marionette's Dance
CHAPTER SEVEN
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.
Denotes creature speaking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Qui-Gon!" several of Jedi gasped.
"Master!?" Obi-Wan was at his master's side in a heartbeat, holding the elders hand. "Tell us how to help you."
L'Tash grabbed Obi-Wan, hauling the padawan away from the potential threat and making him stay at a safe distance. "Not to close Obi-Wan."
Qui-Gon gasped a few times, his teeth began to chatter and the medtable began to beep loudly. His head fell back against the table, his breathing becoming more erratic. His chest shuddered, sucking in air as if he were suffocating. "Water" He gasped. The skin began to crack around the creature attached to his chest.
A healer rushed in with a glass of water, trying to give the master a drink, but he shook his head, constantly repeating. "Water" in the creature's voice.
Obi-Wan thought for a moment, then interrupted, "Healer L'Tash, every time that I have seen Master Jinn, he has been in the refresher and spends hours in there. Maybe he needs the water ON him, not to drink?"
Healer L'Tash shrugged, "I have never dealt with this type of situation before. I guess it's worth a try."
Healer L'Tash left in a hurry and returned a few minutes later with several towels soaked with water. He placed them over Qui-Gon's chest, neck, arms and stomach, and the Jedi master responded almost immediately.
Qui-Gon's breathing became more evened and he stopped trembling. The towels began to dry, and several healers rushed to keep the towels moist and piled them on Qui-Gon's body. Healer L'Tash watched in amazement when Qui-Gon's body seemed to absorb the water in the towels. He opened up to the force, scanning and sensing the creature and Qui-Gon's vitals.
Healer L'Tash spoke to the surrounding Jedi, "The creature needs a lot of moisture to survive. Qui-Gon's body isn't high enough in fluids, that's why he needs the water. The creature is drawing the moisture from the towels to compensate."
"We have to get that thing off of him!" Obi-Wan was nearly panicking.
"I need to run some tests before I even attempt to formulate a course of action." Healer L'Tash put a reassuring arm around the padawan's shoulders.
"Let the healers do their job, we will. Be waiting in the council chamber. Inform us immediately you will." Yoda ordered and began to motion for everyone else to vacate Qui-Gon's room.
Healer L'Tash nodded, assembling as many senior healers as possible to assist him. The council members had to basically drag Obi-Wan out of the room, assuring him that things will be find and the creature will be gone soon. Obi-Wan wanted to stay close by, but Yoda knew that as soon as the healers left Qui-Gon's side, Obi-Wan would be at his masters side, endangering both their lives.
The council members filed into the chamber, took their seats, and began finishing up the business that was delayed with Qui-Gon's condition. Obi-Wan paced the floor nervously.
"Calm yourself you must. This worry helps no one, only clouds your mind it does." Yoda chided the young charge.
"I've been trying master. It's so hard to sit back and watch, knowing that at any moment, the most important person in my life can be taken away." Obi-Wan was on the verge of crying. His voice cracked and dropped to barely a whisper, "I don't like being so helpless."
"You aren't helpless." Mace Windu spoke softly, knowing the young Jedi was at his breaking point. "You can be there for Qui-Gon and support him. He'll need you to be strong for him, for when he recovers."
"I just feel like I've failed him." Obi-Wan sighed.
"Failed no one you have." Yoda motioned for Obi-Wan to stand before him. He waited until Obi-Wan knelt down, becoming more eye level and continued. "Been a great padawan you have. Ask for a better student he could not."
Obi-Wan bowed his head, "And I'm acting like a spoiled child, and not supporting him like I need to do. I should be down there now, showing him I'm still here and won't leave him."
Yoda shook his head no, "In the way you would be. Be no help to him or anyone else. Best if you allow the healers to do their job."
Obi-Wan ran his hand through his short hair, suppressing a yawn. "You are right. I'm just so worried and so scared."
"When was the last time you slept padawan?" Mace asked.
"I think since our trip back to the temple after the fiasco on Belarius. I was going to sleep after our report to you, but Master Qui-Gon made me run laps, do kattas, and then I've been at the healers……." Obi-Wan answered, looking bewildered and completely exhausted.
"Go you your quarters and sleep. There is no room for argument." Mace ordered. He cut off Obi-Wan before he could protest, "We will alert you to your masters condition as soon as the healers contact us."
Obi-Wan began to bite his lower lip, and his breathing became heavier. His eyes darted across the floor as panic set in.
Yoda picked up on the padawan's distress and overrode Windu's orders. "Padawan Kenobi can rest here until the healers call. Look after him we will. Ensure he gets rest."
The other council members looked stunned, but then realized that Obi-Wan would be a nervous wreck and would need support when the news comes through. They all nodded in agreement. Yoda concentrated on Obi-Wan's mind, the council members adding to the force suggestion.
Obi-Wan eyes began to get heavy, his breathing slower, his energy drained from his body. He relaxed, lowering himself to the floor and unconsciousness claiming him quickly. A deep sleep allowed the padawans body its much needed rest, while the Jedi in the room kept watch over the troubled teen.
* * * * *
After several hours, the council's private channel beeped. Yoda roused the now more rested padawan up, and opened the channel to receive the message.
Healer L'Tash spoke in an exhausted voice, "Masters, I'm afraid I have bad news. The creature can't be removed. Several of the senior healers have been working with me to try to remove it, but we can't."
"WHAT?" Obi-Wan shouted.
"Kenobi, settle down." Mace warned, his posture showing there was no room for argument.
"Explain to us you will as too why you cant remove the creature." Yoda ordered.
"Well masters, you already know the creature is controlling master Qui-Gon's autonomic functions. We attempted several times to sever the legs that are embedded into his spine, but as soon as one of the healers begins to support his bodily functions, the creature makes his vitals fluctuate wildly. We just can't keep up." Healer L'Tash paused. "We nearly lost him on several occasions. It won't allow us to remove it, at least, not without taking Qui-Gon with it."
"What is his condition right now?" Mace asked, his worry starting to show.
"We have him stabilized, but his vitals are declining. It's still trying to draw out more moisture from his body, causing his kidneys to fail." L'Tash sounded like he was going to burst into tears. "The creature said when he dies, he will take another host, and will do whatever is necessary to get back to Belaruis. I have ordered that no one can go into the room until they pass on."
Obi-Wan fell to his knees, crying hard, rocking backward and forward. "No. Please tell me that I can be there with him. If it will save Qui-Gon, then I will allow the creature to take me as a host."
Yoda was out of his chair and at Obi-Wan's side as soon as L'Tash finished his report. "Allow that we can not. Allow this creature no more power over us. End this on our terms we will."
"What do you mean, master?" Obi-Wan asked, wiping his eyes.
"Controlled and manipulated us it has. Knows that we will not harm Qui-Gon, playing on that knowledge it is. Stop it we must." Yoda said, emphasizing his words with a tap of gimer stick.
"What do you have planned master Yoda?" Healer L'Tash asked over the comm channel.
"Take over his body functions you can, after creature dies?" Yoda inquired.
"The creature is in total control, and there just isn't enough healers to support every function of his body. The human body is just too complex and intricate. When the creature dies, he will go with it. I'm sorry." Healer L'Tash responded sadly.
"What about only his major bodily functions? Like heart, mind, and other major organs? Can't some of them be supported with machines to allow the healers to concentrate on other systems?" Mace interrupted.
"I don't know. I suppose so. But his health has regressed greatly because of the creature. I just don't know how he will be effected. His systems may be too far gone." L'Tash answered.
"Kill the creature we will. Hope Qui-Gon is strong enough to survive." Yoda watched Obi-Wan's reaction.
L'Tash's voice came though sadly, "I'm doubtful he'll survive either way."
"Has a better chance if the creature is gone, he does. Kill it we will. A knight will cut the creature from him." Yoda said as a matter of factly.
Obi-Wan stuttered out, "No. If he is to die, then it will be by my hand. He is my master, and I would rather he die with me at his side, then alone with a stranger."