Chapter 8
The Way Back
Obi-Wan stood perfectly still with the exception of his slight wavering. The muzzle was pressed deeper into the young man's back. Dek was savoring this moment. He finally had Kenobi in a situation that he couldn't get out of—not in his condition anyway.
"Well, well look to where all this has led us. Such a shame for it to end this way." Dek mocked.
"Yes it will just prove how much of a coward you truly are by shooting a man in the back, Dek." Obi-Wan replied. "And what of Runihura what will she say when she finds out that you killed me?"
"I'm sure she'll be angry that I didn't let her finish you off. She most likely had her most malevolent means of torture saved for just an occasion." Dek paused for a moment as if considering something. "You know you really should be thanking me that you don't have to find out what She had in mind. I'll let you die with little suffering."
"You're a true mercenary Dek."
"I do my best." Dek said then his finger tightened on the trigger. Obi-Wan heard the sound of the blaster bolt emitting from the muzzle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Qui-Gon hurried and took Bant and Tahl to the Ship where Jet waited. The two were weak and injured and Qui-Gon didn't know what he would face when he found Obi-Wan but the Jedi Master knew he didn't want to endanger Tahl and Bant any further and that way they had a chance to leave if he didn't make it back, which he wasn't without Obi-Wan.
Jet had questioned Qui-Gon when she saw him coming with the two other Jedi. She had an idea that Kenobi's cargo wasn't run of the mill but she didn't think he as crazy enough to try and smuggle prisoners out!
"Where's Kenobi?" She asked the tall Jedi as he helped the blind one and the fish girl into the ship.
"I have to go back for him." Qui-Gon said hurriedly. He then turned to the woman. "If I am not back in ten minutes leave without me." With that said Qui-Gon turned and ran back to the courtyard where he had last seen Obi-Wan. Leaving Jet staring after him.
The tall Jedi came to the courtyard it was empty except for the bodies of the guards whom Obi-Wan had taken out. The Jedi master tried to search for his padawan through the force but the boy was still closed off to him.
The feeling of urgency welled up in him again. He had to find Obi-Wan before it was too late.
~*~*~*~*~*~
He had heard the shot but felt no pain. Judging from where the muzzle was positioned in his back this it would have been impossible for him to feel no pain. Then he heard a soft thump from behind him.
Obi-Wan turned cautiously and say Dek on the ground, dead. The young man looked up and saw Runihura standing a few meters away. There was a blaster in one hand and a lightsaber in the other. She looked up at Obi-Wan and smiled.
"Poor Dek he never saw it coming." She laughed slightly. "He actually believed that I didn't know of his master plan." She threw the blaster down next to Dek's body. And began to walk forward speaking as she did so. "He should have known by now that I am omnipotent. I know all and see all."
"If you know all. Why have I gotten this far?" Obi-Wan challenged.
"I wanted to see if you would come to your senses. I put a lot of blood and sweat into making you what you are today and now you turn your back on me and help my enemies. I should give you a long and painful death but I think it would be more fun for me to kill you myself." She ignited her lightsaber. The lavender blade glowed brightly. Obi-Wan just stood there his gaze was becoming fuzzy. "Come on Obi-Wan. You wanted so much to cut me down all those years ago. Now is your chance." Runihura prompted with a wicked grin.
Obi-Wan drew in a deep breath and raised his lightsaber ready to fight. Runihura lunged toward the injured young man. Obi-Wan blocked her blow with his own lightsaber and then whirled to the left away from her. During this Runihura brought the blade of her lightsaber down and as Obi-Wan turned the blade cut into his side. It wasn't a deep cut; Runihura was just playing with him now. Once she became bored with the game she would administers the killing blow.
The crime boss smiled at Obi-Wan as the boy now stood further away bleeding and breathing heavily. Obi-Wan was outraged by her smug arrogance. He felt his rage fill him, taking control. All those years of pain and suffering she had caused not only to him but also to anyone and everyone who got in her way.
Obi-Wan was suddenly filled with a burst of energy and he attacked Runihura with everything he had. The crime boss was caught off guard by Obi-Wan's sudden viscous attack. The young man took advantage of this--as she had taught him take every advantage you can--and managed to back Runihura in to a corner. He roped down and kicked Runihura's feet from under her. She crashed to the ground, her lightsaber flying from her grasp and landing a few feet away.
He now stood over her his was lightsaber raised, to administer the final blow. Obi-Wan stood there taking in the scene. As he did the anger in him began to drain and his rational thinking returned.
"Well aren't you going to do away with me?" Runihura asked still maintaining her aloof attitude. Obi-Wan lowered his lightsaber and shook his head.
"No, that would make me like you and I refuse to be you." Obi-Wan said and then turned to leave hoping that he could make it to the transport before Qui-Gon told Jet to leave.
"Very noble little Jedi." Runihura said as she called on the force and retrieved her lightsaber. "Noble but stupid." She lunged towards Obi-Wan who still had his back turned. At the last possible second Obi-Wan turned blocked her oncoming blow and used his body weight to push her away. Far enough to bring his blade down and close enough to drive it through her midsection.
It was as if time stopped then. It dragged on forever as Obi-Wan saw the look of utter shock and pain come over Runihura's face. And maybe it was just his imagination or the light-headedness he was feeling but in her eyes he saw regret.
Her body then slumped to the ground. Obi-Wan staggered back until he hit the wall and slide down to the ground. He could feel Runihura's presence leaving his mind. A smile crossed Obi-Wan's face. He was free. A few tears ran down his cheek.
Then another presence entered his mind. But he didn't try to shut the person out. He was too exhausted to begin with but also he knew who it was. It was Qui-Gon.
A few seconds later Qui-Gon entered the room; he stopped dead in his tracks when he took in the scene before him. Runihura and Dek lying dead on the ground and Obi-Wan sitting against the wall breathing heavily and looking as though he were about to go to sleep.
Qui-Gon passed the two other bodies and went over to Obi-Wan. He kneeled down next to the younger man. Obi-Wan turned his gaze to Qui-Gon the smile still on his face.
"I'm free." He said his voice barely above a whisper. Qui-Gon nodded in agreement. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Tired." He mumbled as his eyes began to close. The same feeling Qui-Gon had was returning, with vengeance.
"Obi-Wan, Stay with me!" Qui-Gon said firmly. Obi-Wan opened his eyes as far as he could and shook his head.
"Go." He said. "Just go. It's better this way." Qui-Gon would not accept this.
"No Obi-Wan it's not!" Qui-Gon wanted to tell Obi-wan everything that he had thought of earlier but now when he was faced in the actual situation the words were gone. Obi-Wan's eyes began to close again. "Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon called hoping to rouse the young man but Obi-Wan didn't awaken. "Obi-Wan!"
They made it back to the temple in three days. During the entire trip Obi-Wan had remained unconscious. Jet was at the controls of the ship while Tahl and Bant rested which left Qui-Gon alone to tend to Obi-Wan. The Jedi Master was using the force to keep a hold on Obi-Wan's life force, which seemed to slip a bit through his fingers every so often the longer it took them to reach Coruscant. Once they arrived a team of healers had been ready to take Obi-Wan.
Now Qui-Gon sat in the waiting room beside him was Tahl and Bant anxiously was pacing the room. Qui-Gon was leaning forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees and fisted hands against his mouth, staring into nothingness. Tahl placed her arm around him in a comforting gesture.
"He'll be alright Qui-Gon you made sure of that." She spoke softly. Qui-Gon continued to stare into nothingness but spoke.
"It's like a dream." He said. "I've been searching for five years and now I found him but I can't believe that everything is okay."
"That's because it's not. He still has a lot of healing to do." A silence filled the room again and they waited and waited and waited. Then one of the healers came into the waiting room. Qui-Gon immediately went to his feet and approached the healer. He opened his mouth to ask the obvious question but the healer cut him off.
"He is okay Qui-Gon." She said. "There was a lot of blood loss but we've worked on him and he will be okay. He's in the Bacta tank right now when he is done there we will take him to a room. All he'll need after that is rest." Qui-Gon smiled in relief and thanked the healer who then returned to her work.
"Come on Qui-Gon. You need rest." Tahl said as she led him out of the waiting room.
Prologue
It is time
Seven days later they all stood on the Jedi temple landing platform. Saying good-bye as Obi-Wan prepared to take Jet back to her home world and then Obi-Wan was off to search for himself. The young man had decided that he couldn't heal properly in the Temple. Not with the questioning eyes of the others and there was the fact that he wasn't the same as when he had left here.
Qui-Gon didn't like the idea of Obi-Wan leaving just when he had found his padawan again but it was Obi-Wan's decision and Qui-Gon respected that.
"Come on Kenobi. I ain't got all the time in the universe." Jet said as she waited for Obi-Wan finish saying goodbye to everyone. Obi-Wan ignored her comment and turned to the three Jedi who stood in front of him.
"Do you know where you will be heading?" Tahl asked. Obi-Wan shrugged.
"After I drop off Jet the galaxy is the limit." He replied.
"Well were ever your journey may lead you let this pray be your guide: though it may take you so far away always remember who you are and who are the ones who love you." Tahl said reciting a common farewell from her culture. Obi-Wan smiled.
"I will." He said and bowed slightly, some old habits die-hard. Tahl and Bant moved away a bit as Obi-Wan faced Qui-Gon. The two just stood there neither knowing exactly what to say.
"While I was in the healer's ward, Bant told me that you had been searching for me all these years." Obi-Wan began. "Thank you for not giving up on me."
"I would never give up on you Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said then offered his hand to Obi-Wan. The younger man accepted it and then Qui-Gon pulled him into a hug. Obi-Wan remained rigid at first not really used to being hugged but he soon relaxed and returned the hug. The two then separated and Obi-Wan began to walk towards the ship were and impatient Jet waited. The two boarded the ship and the engines started. Qui-Gon then watched with a heavy heart as the ship took off.
-Lost in the darkness silence surrounds you Once there was morning now endless nightIf I could reach I'd guide you and teach you
To walk from the darkness back into the light-
-Lost in the Darkness
by Frank Wildhorn & Leslie Bricus