A few deep-cleansing breaths as Obi-Wan tried to meditate. Frustration welled in him, as he was tired of trying and failing at every attempt he had made in the last few days. It seemed that every time he entered a meditation, he was immediately ripped out of the peace and calm by the raging headache.
Every instinct told him to contact Yoda and request another Jedi to be sent in his place. Logic always won out, knowing none would arrive in time. Still, the way he was deteriorating he knew he would not survive the next few days if something didn't change. He was failing on so many different levels it was not even funny.
He buried his face in his hands. "I need help, Master," he whispered, hoping just this once Qui-Gon would answer him.
With each passing moment he sank deeper into despair. The mission was slowly being forgotten.
The assignment.
No, he wouldn't fail that even if everything else were falling apart around him. All he had to do was keep it together long enough to get through the ceremony and then he could happily go crazy and there would be nothing to stop him.
Take care of the assignment.
That comes first.
Wrapping himself in the layers of the long cloak, Obi-Wan stalked through the guest apartment to the door. His footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as he wandered past the familiar sights of the grand palace and disappeared into the deeper, darker parts of the former temple.
A moment of hesitation as he thought he should have left Anakin a note or something, just to let the boy know that he was wandering aimlessly about. The thought was not enough for him turn back to the apartments so he kept walking toward an unknown destination.
Friendly handprints chased along the walls after him, but he paid them little attention. Their alien voices sang to him.
No glow rods illuminated the long hall that Obi-Wan found himself walking in. In fact, this part of the palace looked as if it had not been used in ages. He paused, glancing back down the handprint warmed corridor.
Alone.
He found himself several levels below the guest quarters. The rooms were far from the noise and the constant din of a thousand life forms milling about the sprawling structure. Another hallway opened up to him and he found himself standing in a large room. At the center stood a stone altar that demanded his attention.
Obi-Wan slowly approached the altar . The stone felt cold and dead under his fingertips. The life had been driven from the masonry. Beyond that stood a balcony overlooking the city below.
The people of the city were enjoying the celebration as a sea of brightly colored lights swirled and moved through the distant streets. Music wafted along the cool evening breeze up to the balcony.
Obi-Wan leaned heavily against the sturdy stone railing as he watched the twinkling lights dance about below. Slowly the headache subsided a little, but the illness left in its wake remained. His senses came back as he lightly brushed against his bond with Anakin. Everything seemed fine. The boy seemed less tense for the moment.
Sand.
The Jedi straightened slightly.
Sand.
Scanning the immediate area, Obi-Wan sensed he was alone save for the walls.
Betrayal.
Obi-Wan spun round, automatically reaching for his lightsaber. Still he was alone.
Glowing, happy handprints covered the walls around him, illuminating the altar.
Death.
Sand.
It was fine when the whispers were an unknown language, but understanding them If it was they, it did not set well.
He grimaced and slowly backed away from the balcony.
Sand.
It just sounded like a word he understood.
Darkness.
He turned back into the room but stopped. His stilled features betrayed no surprise.
The Cere stood there silently.
He hadn't sensed her approach.
"I can hide myself even from you, Jedi," Thesia hissed softly. Carefully she pulled her hood away to reveal the iridescent glow of her skin even in the pale light. A shock of white hair fluffed up, free from the binding of the hood. A smile crossed her thin lips as she noticed the lights shifting away from where she stood. They quivered and glowed behind Obi-Wan, leaving her in near darkness. "You are strong." Her voice was soft, kind. "It is good that you have survived. Jedi rarely do for long."
Obi-Wan stared silently at her, the painful roaring in his head drowning out all thought.
Gliding over the stone, past the altar Thesia approached him. Her gloved hand floated on the chilled air, brushing along his cheek. In an instant, her wrist was trapped in Obi-Wan's vice-like grip before being roughly shoved away.
Sand.
Thesia stopped. Her black eyes reflected none of the ethereal light emanating from the walls. The smile returned.
"I am only offering you relief," she said softly as she reached up again and unimpeded brushed a fingertip down the knight's right temple. Instantly the headache disappeared. "Of course it will return sooner than later, but I am offering you a little reprieve." Her covered fingers lingered over his cheek.
Pushing her hand away, Obi-Wan whispered, "haven't you done enough damage?" He was surprised that he had been able to speak at all.
Thesia frowned. "I could have easily killed you as I have done so many others."
"Maybe you should have," he responded calmly.
A frown graced her dark lips.
Betrayal.
Again Thesia froze and stared at him.
The ancient voice of the walls reached out to Obi-Wan. The words made no sense but the urgent tone in the whispers kept his guard high.
Thesia drew herself close to the knight, her face inches from his.
Purge.
The Cere stepped back and stared at Obi-Wan curiously.
He wondered if she could hear the voices too.
A growl escaped the woman as she turned and dragged her covered fingertips over the smooth stone.
The whispers cried out in fear.
Obi-Wan didn't look her direction but spoke on the stone's behalf. "They are afraid of you."
Agitation fluttered over her features. "They all fear me," she clarified. Then she laughed darkly. "As they are in awe of you."
Thesia smiled slightly as she moved around to face the young Jedi Knight again. "Once upon a time, we were not so different. Powerful creatures, made to be feared and revered by weaker minds."
We were never alike, Obi-Wan thought to himself.
"You would like to believe that, wouldn't you?"
"Stay out of my head."
Calmness exuded from her voice again as she frowned. "I never meant to hurt you."
Again the walls cried out with her touch.
"You shouldn't have fought me," she hissed.
War.
"Shh," she whispered to the walls. "He doesn't deserve your prophecy. His kind killed the Cere. Murdered your makers."
Alone.
"Stop whispering to him," Thesia demanded.
Betrayal.
"No."
Sand.
"Be quiet." The serenity of the Cere's voice had faded into near panic.
Betrayal.
Anger.
Hate.
Obi-Wan listened and watched Thesia try to silence the whisperings. "What are they saying to you?"
"They are not speaking to me," she hissed, glaring at him. "I hear them whispering to you. They're whispering to you, Jedi," she spat. "You have poisoned my temple." Rage radiated off her. "You see this?" Thesia asked as she moved to the altar. "For thousands of years the Cath sacrificed your kind to me."
"You were never worshipped."
"Blasphemer!" The Cere drew her hands over the smooth surface of the altar. "I would enjoy seeing your blood spilled. It would bring back the glory of the Cere."
"It will never happen," Obi-Wan said coldly.
Her expression immediately softened, but the sharp look in her black eyes never faded. "The Lady requests my assistance." She turned to walk away, pausing to watch the lights cowering behind Obi-Wan. "Enjoy it, you will not hear them for long."
________
"Life was easier when I was a slave," Anakin said plainly to the small Dilurian as he leaned against the stone wall.
Te-Hut laughed, patting Anakin on the shoulder. "In all my life, and I have been alive a very long time, I have never heard such a statement."
For a moment Anakin considered how silly his remark had sounded but shook his head sadly. "When I was a slave, I did what Watto told me to do. And when I was finished for the day I could do what I wanted. I had to be good for my mom, but that was it. As long as I showed up at Watto's shop the next day, nothing else I did mattered.
"Life in the temple isn't anything like that. I'm expected to be a Jedi all the time." He stared right at the Dilurian and dropped his voice an octave to imitate one of a thousand voices in his head. "You can't pod race, that's unbecoming of a Jedi."
Te-Hut laughed. "So you don't want to be a Jedi now that you know there is work involved?"
Anakin frowned. "Is that what I sound like?"
"You sound like youth. Of which I have often dealt with and can tell you with great authority you are no different than any other young man out there." He brushed back his blue hair from his gray forehead. "You are a pilot, are you not?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes, he says!" Te-Hut chuckled as if speaking to a third party in the conversation. "The hero of Naboo says he pod races and is a sometimes pilot. Were you as good a pilot the first time you tried as you are now?"
"Well of course not."
"You worked hard to become good, right?"
"Yes."
"Did you want to be a pilot?"
"More than anything."
"Do you want to be a Jedi?"
Anakin smiled and glanced away as a blush leapt to his cheeks. "More than anything."
Te-Hut laughed.
"I just wish there were fewer rules—"
"We all have rules, my honored friend. If we didn't there would be chaos. What would happen if you were allowed to run free, wielding your powers without any rules to control your actions? Anarchy. Total anarchy."
"I would fall to the dark side."
Silence reigned as the Jedi stared at the small dignitary.
Somberness graced Te-Hut's face as he spoke softly. "I sense in you a powerful need to protect those you care about."
Anakin stared at the short figure next to him.
"No, it does not take Jedi powers to see that. A Jedi would not be if they didn't believe in what they were doing. They are mortal and flawed like all living creatures. I see it in your eyes, boy. There is something powerful that drives you to follow this path."
"My mother. Padmé." He frowned. "Obi-Wan would say I was too single minded. He would tell me being a Jedi is all about the Force. To protect those who cannot protect themselves. It's not just about one person. My heart's desire. It's about a greater place in the universe."
"Sounds like a wise man."
"High minded Jedi philosopher is more like it."
"Hmm," Te-Hut thought quietly not really offering to interrupt Anakin's train of thought.
"I mean what would he know? He never knew his family. He's never had to give that up. His life has always been in the Jedi temple."
"Seems to me, your dilemma has little to do with you being a Jedi and more to do with your relationship with your Master."
Anakin bristled at the insinuation.
"Why do you react so? That's all you have talked about in one form or another. You are angry with him."
"No," Anakin said quickly. "Yes." He buried his face against his folded arms.
"All problems can be worked out."
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Qui-Gon wouldn't have closed me out like Obi-Wan does."
Te-Hut remained silent.
"He resents me. It took a long time to get the training bond established. He kept blocking me. Some things he still keeps blocked, not trusting me enough to release his shields. I've gotten used to that. We've got a fairly strong bond now. I can sense him through it. He's walking around the palace, making his presence known." Anakin couldn't help the weak laugh that escaped. "This is as strong as it has been in nearly a week. Mostly he keeps me out now. It's like he's hiding something from me."
"It might be for your own good."
"I doubt it. Things haven't quite been the same since the mission to Yinid. I messed up big time. I don't think he is willing to put much trust in me right now."
"What happened?"
"I almost got the Yinid ambassador killed." The youth huffed loudly as he quickly dismissed the thought.