The Way Things Are Now: Troubled Stomachs
By: Alyssa
Disclaimer: I don't own Obi-Wan or any of the Star Wars characters
Summary: Obi-Wan angst. He is being stifled by Qui-Gon's grief and goes out on his own only to find trouble.
Comes after Book 16 of the Jedi Apprentice series, A Call to Vengeance


Obi-Wan was utterly alone. He tried to reach out to Qui-Gon, Bant, or anything, but the bracelet restricted everything. He wondered what his master was doing; everyone must have heard by now. Obi-Wan's leg hurt, and there was nothing he could do. He couldn't retreat into the force, and he couldn't meditate. The man had only given him a small bacta patch to hold him over until they reached a hospital. Suddenly Obi-Wan realized that they had stopped. Obi-Wan held his breath, waiting for the crate to open; waiting to discover his future.

The man smiled down at him, "Welcome to my office." He stepped away so Obi-Wan could step out of the crate. Obi-Wan quickly took in his surroundings. It wasn't an office. It looked like a large warehouse. There were boxes and cages, some filled with species Obi-Wan had never seen before, and there were people milling around. At the very end of the warehouse, small and very far away from where Obi-Wan was standing, there was a large metal cage reaching from floor to ceiling, with stands aligned on either side. "Ah, yes; the ring. You'll become very familiar with it in the next few days." The man smiled down at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's gut wrenched. He wouldn't do it; he would never fight for this man.
"Is this him, Mirko?" a voice came from behind them. Obi-Wan and the man both turn.
"Yes it is. What do you think Nehasy?" the evil man, Mirko, asked. Obi-Wan looked at the Bith standing, nose slightly held upward. He seemed to be appraising Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan quickly wondered if this was the brain behind Mirko's operation.
"He's small, don't you think Mirko?" Nehasy finally asked.
"I wouldn't trust him without the bracelet." Mirko simply answered.
"Very well, then we'll test him out today." Nehasy said impatiently. "Pliny is bringing a vornskr." With that Nehasy left.

Mirko looked down at Obi-Wan. "A vornskr should be nothing for you, right? Well, let's hope. I would hate to have wasted all this time for you to die the first day."

~~~

Qui-Gon was growing impatient. They were still there, the lower levels of Coruscant, and they had only gotten one lead: an illegal sabacc house.
"I have a feeling he was here." Qui-Gon spoke more to himself than to Mace. Mace followed Qui-Gon up to the door of the building.
"Why would he come here?" Mace asked finally.
"I don't know, but he was here." Qui-Gon walked in and headed straight to who he sensed was the owner.
"There was a boy in here earlier where did he go?" Qui-Gon demanded. The man looked at him.
"What's it worth to you?" He asked.
"You will tell me where the boy went!" Qui-Gon was losing his patience.
"I'll tell you where he went. He left after some people accused him of cheating. They chased him outside with blasters."

Qui-Gon's stomach churned, and he felt Mace stiffen behind him. Qui-Gon couldn't think; his brain refused to process anything at a normal rate. Obi-Wan was gone, hurt, or possibly dead. He had disappeared, and it was all Qui-Gon's fault.

Qui-Gon flew past Mace and out the door. He distantly heard Mace follow him but didn't care. He flew down the streets. Yes, this was the way Obi-Wan had gone. Never had he felt so connected to Obi-Wan. Even though he couldn't sense him, he knew that he had run down this street earlier, and he was able to track him.

Mace was surprised when Qui-Gon suddenly turned down an alley. He ran to keep up with the frantic master. Mace felt strangely out of place. This was Qui-Gon's mission; Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon's padawan. Mace didn't know how to help and stay out of the way at the same time. He shook the thought away and turned down the alley where Qui-Gon had disappeared. He stopped as he saw Qui-Gon hunched over, his back to Mace. Mace wondered briefly if this was it; wondered if Qui-Gon had found Obi-Wan.

"He's not here." Qui-Gon answered for him. He stood and turned to face Mace. He held up a piece of cloth so Mace could see the dried blood that stained it. "He's gone."

~~~

Obi-Wan was in the medic ward. It was very big, and it was crammed with beds. There were beds of all sizes for all types of creatures. Only half a dozen of the beds were currently occupied.
"He needs to be ready to fight tonight." Mirko was telling the medic.
"Bacta takes a certain amount of tell to work." The medic complained, obviously tired of Mirko asking for the impossible.
"But he will be well enough to fight." Mirko stated more than asked. Obi-Wan didn't need the force to see the evil that lingered around this man. He didn't care about anything, except the profits that were to be made.
"If you say so." The medic answered contemptuously. Mirko left Obi-Wan with the medic. Obi-Wan watched him recede and wondered what Mirko was leaving to do.
"What are you facing?" The medic asked.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked uncomprehending.
"What are you fighting?" the medic cleared up.
"A vornskr." Obi-Wan answered.
"You're a jedi right?" the medic asked. Obi-Wan merely nodded. "Than I'll be seeing you tonight."


A/N

Another short chapter to hold you over. Tell me if you would rather have longer chapter not updated as often, or still short fast-posted chapters. Thanks and review!

p.s. I know exactly where this was going! hee hee. Anyway, e-mail suggestions to me at yellowbrick_1@hotmail.com