THE HIDDEN MESSAGE

Timeline: Post-TPM

Genre: Angst

~*~

Obi-Wan flopped on the bed and buried his head in the pillow barely suppressing a groan. It had been a trying day and now that it was over, the Jedi was exhausted both physically and emotionally. He and his newly acquainted Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, had returned to the Temple early in the morning from Naboo after that disaster of a mission. For the next fifteen hours, Obi-Wan had been explaining the events on that planet to at least ten Jedi every hour.

And each time he was forced to tell of his Qui-Gon's death, the young man felt his heart tear just a bit more. Each time he was forced to tell of his Master's dying words in explanation to Anakin; he felt his soul die.

No words were ever expressed by the Jedi he told the story to, but their eyes said enough. They all were wondering why Qui-Gon never said good-bye to his Padawan.

Truth be told, Obi-Wan would not be able answer that unasked question. He did not know why his Master's dying words were of a boy they had only met days before. Every night, since that life-altering battle, Obi-Wan heard the words over and over again in his head.

Train the boy.

He is the Chosen One.

There was no good-bye, no I love you's- nothing. The young man turned himself over and stared at the ceiling. He loved his Master and could never hate him for the promise he had Obi-Wan make, yet he could not help but feel cheated somehow.

He had lived with, learned with, and fought with this man for over a decade. He considered him a friend, a teacher and, more importantly a father. But in his dying words, Qui-Gon never expressed any of this to him.

Obi-Wan knew he was acting like a little child. Why did he need reassurance from his Master about his feelings? He knew his Master cared for him and loved him.

Didn't he?

The young man blocked out that last thought and rubbed a hand over his face; there was no need to question his Master's feelings. The man loved him like a son; he had said so before.

Then why did he disregard you in front of the Council for the boy?

Obi-Wan did release a groan at this mental question that he could not block from entering his thoughts. He had no answer for that question either. Perhaps, Qui-Gon did know something about this boy that he and the Council did not.

Perhaps.

The young Master stood up from the bed and headed towards the bathroom that adjoined the room. Only once he was half way there did he realize he had been going the wrong way. He comprehended, with a small laugh, that he was heading towards his old bathroom. He was in his Master's room now- his room. Forgetting that he wanted to clean his face, Obi-Wan moved back towards the bed.

On his way back he noticed his Master's robe lying over a chair and moved to it. Picking up the soft fabric he relished the smell and feel of it. Since the battle, he kept the robe close to him in remembrance of his beloved Master. Now, as he stood hugging the robe, and noticed something odd about it.

It was heavy.

Curious, Obi-Wan felt around in the many pockets of the robe until he found what was weighting it down.

A holovid.

Funny, he thought, that he had not realized the holovid before. Wondering where it had come from, the Jedi moved back to the bed and sat down holding the small object. Without a second thought, he to played it. The sight that greeted him made the young man feel dizzy, yet joyous at the same time. Before him stood, though in smaller form, his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan realized he was holding his breath waiting for his Master to speak.

His wait was not long.

"Padawan, if you are listening to this then I realize I am not beside you and am one with the Force. I know I could tell you not to grieve for my death, but I also know you will not listen. You were always emotional and headstrong. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved you for that." Qui-Gon smiled up to where he thought his Padawan would be standing while watching the video.

"However, I am not hear to speak with you about your personality. I am hear to make closure and perhaps explain. I made this holovid the last night that we were on Coruscant. I made it because I knew of my doom. Yes, my Obi-Wan, I knew I was going to be killed.

"You may be wondering why I continued with this mission then and I knew if I had told you, you would have tied me to a chair and never let me leave the Temple. But I had to do this, Padawan, believe me. This boy, Anakin will bring balance to the Force. I know it. I also know that you are the only one who can train him. I wish I could be there to help you, I but cannot. This is your journey, my apprentice. You must see it was the will of the Force that it was my time to die. It just happened that I had a small glimpse of this before hand, perhaps to make this holovid.

"However, once again, I did not make this holovid to explain why I made this holovid. I know I have already told you about the boy and I do believe you are training him now. I came here to tell you good-bye. I know that I may not say what needs to be said when the time comes.

"I want to tell you that I love you with all my heart. You are my son and always will be. You were there when I needed you the most and helped me through my toughest times. I am so proud of you, my Obi-Wan. You were always my light in the dark. You keep me going when I thought I could not.

"I wish I could see you Knighted and see you be a Master, yet even if I'm not there physically, I will be there in the Force. I will never leave you, Padawan. Of that you can be sure. I love you with all my heart and wish you the best in life. You are forever in my heart, my son."

Obi-Wan was not been aware that he was crying until the holovid flickered and then died. He let out a gasp as his Master's body faded, leaving him alone again.

However, this time he realized, he was not as lonely. His Master had said his good-bye. And with that short message, the Jedi had finally found peace.

Obi-Wan picked up the 'vid and placed in on the dressed beside his Master's- his bed. The holovid was the most precious thing to him now; it was truly the last thing his Master had said to him. The young man laid down in his bed, using his Master's robes as a blanket.

Tomorrow would be a new day and he had a Padawan to train.

The End