Obi-wan looked at the two masters. "It's not good is it?" Mace shook his head. "No Obi-wan. The council wants us to reveal who has the visions. They want to take you off active duty and train you as a council prophet." "A what?" Obi-wan interjected. "A council prophet is an adjunct to the council. They would have you look into the future to find missions and have you decide who should go on missions. In effect they would make you a slave to their whims." Obi-wan shuddered. "I will not let that happen. I am not going to let them put me in a position where they could blame me for any failing."
Mace and Yoda looked up startled. They had never even thought of that. Though in retrospect they realized that is exactly what they should have thought of. If the council ever got their hands on Obi-wan they would stop consulting the force and just speak to Obi-wan. And then they would blame any mistake or unpleasant encounter on him. Yoda looked at the boy. "Let them rule you I will, not. But hide this from them forever we cannot. Hope we must that when find out they do, that strength you have to resist or ability to depend on your master." "Even if I can't resist their demands as a Jedi I will not be a party to it Masters. I will leave the order first. The force does not want me in a position of slavery. I think that if they tried, they would not like the consequences." He paused a moment. "Do you have any ideas on how to stop them, or do we just wait and see?" Yoda sadly shook his head. "Wait we must. Always in motion the future is." Obi-wan snorted "It may be in motion but there are only so many possible out comes. And forgive me master but I've seen them all. If I become a slave...well it won't last for long. And neither will the Jedi." Obi-wan shivered. He hated it when the force decide to put words in his mouth like that. If it wasn't enough to give him visions it just had to occasionally manipulate him in others ways.
He looked at Yoda. "I'm sorry Master. I didn't want to say that." He looked down a second in contemplation. "Do you have something else to tell us Obi-wan?" Mace asked when he realized that Obi-wan wasn't speaking up. "Yes Master Windu. I don't think my shields will last much longer. They are already starting to leak. I think Master Qui-gon will find out about my visions soon. He already suspects something." "Slipping have you been?" Yoda put in. "No Master. I don't think so. But I do think that the force is trying to make him see. When I Look at him I can See the Unifying Force berating him. And while he's been able to suppress it I don't think he will have a choice in the matter much longer. And I am apprehensive of his reactions. When I look to the possibilities-" **Aha** Yoda thought. **I knew he walked the webs** "-I see very few positive out comes. In the majority of them he pulls away from me more. I remain his Padawan in name only." Yoda looked at the boy who was desperately releasing his fear into the force. He felt sorry that such a burden had been placed on one who glowed so brightly. And the worst part was that Yoda knew as did Obi-wan that this was only the beginning. Obi-wan would have no peace until the day he died. And he was slated for a very long life. "Sorry I am, Young One, that this burden falls to you. Know that I would change it if I could." "As would I." Mace chimed in. "Remember Obi-wan, that we will always be available to you. No matter what happens in the future." The boy looked up. "Yes I know you will be." And they masters realized that Obi-wan most likely did.
Some time later Obi-wan left the private chamber and headed down to the roster room. He intended to look and see if any of his friends were on planet so that he would not have lied to his master. A few moments later he left and headed to the gardens to meditate for a while. None of his friends were on planet. He was not surprised. Their paths very rarely crossed anymore.
Obi-wan made his way to his favorite garden. I was one of the more structured gardens. While the majority of the residents of the temples preferred the more natural and untamed gardens Obi-wan preferred structure. In actuality he was not the only one. All those strong in the Unifying Force found the structured gardens more peaceful. It was just that there were every few of them so there were only two 'unifying gardens'. Obi-wan settled him down in one of the niches set aside for meditation and allowed himself to drift in the force. As he sank further down he felt at peace for the first time in weeks. But deep in a corner of his mind he knew his serenity could not last. It never did.
*****
Obi-wan came out of his meditations slowly and reluctantly. The only time he ever felt at peace was in deep meditation. But is internal clock(not to mention his stomach) reminded him that it was dinner time. He sat for a moment more to review what he had learned from him meditations.
1) the force was getting annoyed with Qui-gon(was that possible? He wondered)
2) the force needed Qui-gon to know about Obi-wan's visions.
And 3) Obi-wan was not to tell Qui-gon about the visions. He was supposed to figure it out on his own. That worried Obi-wan. In his experience when people ignored the will of the force it made it self rather rudely and forcefully known. And Qui-gon's small connection to the Unifying Force was all that was needed to allow the force to manipulate him. Obi-wan pitied Qui-gon for that. He knew precisely what it was like to be manipulated by the force. Though he envied Qui-gon, because Qui-gon would never be used the way Obi-wan was. He just didn't have enough of a connection.
Another thing that worried Obi-wan was the fact that he knew exactly how stubborn his master could be. If Qui-gon did not want to see something, He wouldn't see it. And the force, well the force was the essence of the universe. And when the immovable object met the unstoppable force it was the common ground they stood on that gave. And that worried Obi-wan because HE was the common ground. Looking at the wall chrono he realized he had jut enough time to make it back to his quarters. He was thankful for that. He really, really, didn't want to be late and tick off Qui-gon. He doubted he could handle a lecture on top of all the information he had absorbed today.
He quickly walked back to their quarters. His steps quickened as he came closer. Not because he was worried but because of the wonderful aromas floating down the hallway. He entered the quarters and looked around. **Ohh goulash and dumplings! I'm in heaven!** he thought as he surveyed the table. Qui-gon looked up. "Sit down Padawan. I will be there in a moment." "Yes Master." Obi-wan Looked at his master and almost winced. **Soon then. The currents have all but cracked his shield. I think that once they do I'm gonna get thrown into prophecy.** The boy sent a silent plea to the force. **At least wait till after dinner! I'm hungry. He's hungry. The chances of a good reaction are small if we are both battling low blood sugar!**And to his relief he felt the force brush his mind in reassurance. Slight though it was. **Oh joy. Now I get to deal with him finding out after dinner. I guess this makes this my last meal.** He snorted to himself. ** Well at least it's something we both like**
With that Obi-wan accessed the force in able to enhance his memory. He wanted to be able to remember this last peaceful meal together for years to come. He knew that moments like this would be few and far between. This would also be his last memory of his master before he knew. And Obi-wan knew that Qui-gon's having that knowledge would change everything.
****
After finishing dinner Qui-gon looked at Obi-wan. Though outwardly he appeared calm he could feel the unease radiating from him. He spoke up. "Shall we mediate after dinner Padawan?" Obi-wan looked up and internally screamed. **No I won't! You can't make me go through with this!** What he said was. "Certainly Master." Qui-gon nodded and said "I think tonight you will lead us into meditation. You have become proficient enough to do so" Obi-wan looked a him startled. "Thank you Master." He then stood up and began cleaning. All the while he was worrying. He knew that there was no way Qui-gon was going to miss a vision in shared meditation. Especially if Obi-wan was leading. Qui-gon would be sucked in right along with Obi-wan. After the dished were done Obi-wan settled down with trepidation on his meditation mat. Qui-gon carried his in and set it down across from his padawan.
"Alright Obi-wan. Lets get started." And with that Obi-wan let him self slip into the familiar embrace of the force. Qui-gon followed him in and felt their training bond open fully. He was actually rather amazed at how easily Obi-wan sank into the force. Qui-gon had not been able to sink in that easily until he was much older. As he drifted deeper he noticed something odd about the force. It felt different than what he was used to. But looking at Obi-wan through the training bond he saw that the boy was not at all concerned. In fact he was incredibly relaxed. It dawned on Qui-gon. He was in tune with the Unifying Force. When Obi-wan led them in, he reached for the aspect of the force he was most in tune with.
Qui-gon was amazed. He had never realized that the two aspects of the force could feel so different. The Living Force was always focused on the moment. It was chaotic and difficult to grasp. There was little patter to it's movements. The Unifying Force was almost the exact opposite. The moment was only seen in perspective of the past or the future. I was organized. The patter was both obvious and subtle, and very intricate. You could spend a lifetime trying to unravel it an never succeed.
Then he felt something through the open bond. It seemed to be coming from Obi-wan. And then before he had a chance to figure out what happened, it hit. He felt the force grab him and drag him along one of the threads. Then he began to see images playing out in front of him. There was darkness. An all encompassing darkness. And a fading light. And lights shifting from dark to light and back again. And the blood it was all over. Qui-gon recoiled from the image and tried to block it. He succeed partially. Oddly enough he could feel Obi-wan memorizing every detail. And then he started awake. Obi-wan along side him. He just sat there looking at him.
Qui-gon spoke up. "What was that!?" He all but yelled. Obi-wan shrank into himself. Qui-gon could feel the fear radiating off of the boy through their bond. **Wait a minute. The bond isn't supposed to stay that open after meditations!** He tried to shut it back down but was unable to. He eventually resorted to just shielding heavily at his end. He looked at Obi-wan. "Well? Speak up! What in the name of the force was that?" Obi-wan looked up. "That was a vision." "A what?!" Qui-gon yelled "A force vision." Qui-gon stood up and began pacing in frustration. "Why would the force start sending you visions now? It never had before." At his Obi-wan wrapped his arms around himself. "It's not new. I've been getting force visions for as long as I can remember." Qui-gon stopped and stared at that boy. "You mean to tell me that you have been having visions for as long as you have been my apprentice, and you NEVER TOLD ME?!!" He roared. Obi-wan hid his face in his knees. "Yes Master. But Master Yoda and Master Windu told me..." He never finished the sentence Because his master had grabbed him by the shoulder. "Mace and Yoda know about this?!" Obi-wan nodded. Qui-gon dropped him.
He visibly pulled himself together. He took a deep breath and turned to Obi-wan who was curled up on the floor. "I am very disappointed in you Padawan. You kept information from me. I am your Master. You have all but lied to me. I don't know if I can forgive you for that." He turned and walked to the door. "I am going to take a walk and possibly try to meditate. I suggest you retire to your rooms and meditate on your actions." He then walked out of the room leaving a shattered apprentice on the floor.
Qui-gon stormed down the hallway. He had direction in mind, he just wanted to get away from his apprentice. His apprentice who had lied to him all the times he said nothing was wrong. How could he do that? If there was nothing wrong he wouldn't be having those visions! As he slowed down to think he realized that he was outside Yoda's quarters. All his anger came rushing back. He walked to the door and keyed it open. He rarely played on the fact that he was Yoda's former apprentice, but this time he used it to his advantage. All of Yoda's Padawan's were keyed to his door.
Qui-gon stormed in and was even more annoyed to see Mace sitting next to Yoda. With out even a moments thought he began yelling. "Why did you keep it from me?! How could you keep something of this magnitude to yourselves?" He raged. Mace and Yoda exchanged startled looks. But their looks soon changed to understanding as they realized what Qui-gon was talking about. "So, know you do of Obi-wan's visions?" Qui-gon looked down his nose at his master. "Yes I know of his visions. I was sucked into one! Why didn't you tell me? I could have made sure he had stronger shields. He could have been blocking the visions! But if I did that you wouldn't have pet seer for the council would you? How could you do this to me?" His rant was incoherent at best. But through the whole thing Yoda and Mace stared at him in absolute shock. "Well have you nothing to say for your selves? Or are you to petty to even answer my questions?"
And then it happened. Mace, the most even tempered and un-judgmental member of the order, snapped. He grabbed Qui-gon by the collar and threw him to the floor. "To you?! How could we do this to you?! That's all you can ask? You don't care about what this has been doing to Obi-wan? All you want is to make it go away! Well news flash Qui-gon, Obi-wan will NEVER stop having visions. They will come till the day he dies!" Qui-gon attempted to get up. "If you had told me I could have taught him to block the Unifying Force. I managed to block my ability it would have been no problem to teach-" "SHUT UP!" Mace roared. He threw Qui-gon back down on the floor. "Now stay down or by the force I will MAKE you stay down." Mace growled at him. He began pacing back and forth trying in a vain attempt to work off some of his anger. **I can not kill Qui-gon. I can not kill Qui-gon....** He looked down at the simmering master. "I think it is time we cleared up a few things. And if you want to have any idea what your apprentice is dealing with you will stay quiet and listen."
Qui-gon stayed seated, but made it very obvious he was not happy to do so. Mace looked away for a moment. He stated talking. "You said you experienced a vision along side him. I take it you were meditating at the same time?" At Qui-gon's nod he continued. "Well then you saw a prophecy. That is not all that Obi-wan sees. He is almost completely in tune with the Unifying Force. It is beyond me as to why he doesn't glow with power he is so in tune. And he is a true seer. He gets force shoves to be at a certain place in time. And he is comforted by the force. He is played and used by the force. But he's not just a pawn. He is an instrument of the force. And you would do well to remember that when you are blathering about blocking his ability. Not only would Obi-wan not let you do such a thing, the force would stop you before you tried. And with how you have treated Obi-wan, the forces chosen voice, at times I doubt it would be ...pleasant." Yoda spoke up then. "Walks the Web's Obi-wan does. Can see all things past and future if he wants. Think what would happen to such if away his sense was taken." Yoda paused at looked at one horrified dark face and one bearded confused face. "Destroyed he would be. Driven to insanity, and then death. Want that do you for your apprentice?" The look of horror on Qui-gon's face was enough of an answer. For know. Yoda settled himself more comfortably on the cushion. "Now answer questions we will. Speak."
