And finally, the breakthrough that everyone has been waiting for!
Anna: If you thought that was scary, keep watching. I'm afriad it gets worse for Obi. I'd have to agree, Orcs are probably nicer. Uhm, broadly speaking she will run into Obi again. You'll see in this chapter. Well, River does get the last say in Caleb's demise. But since River follows Qui he would uphold the Jedi code, even though he is not a Jedi.
To break a Jedi, is like breaking a person - you just need time. But will Caleb have enough time? I'm sorry that that chapter was short, this one is short too but everything happens to quickly and it's hard to sort them out. Enjoy school!
Culf: I never said they were sadistic. I'm not sadistic (i hope!). But the strange thing is that it's peoples fave character that ends up with all the torture - have you noticed that? It's weird huh? When you find the answer, tell me!
bored2death: Yeah, trust me, i know it's long!! I wrote it - it took me like 2 months to write. But once i started, i couldn't finish it quick enough. It is the longest thing i've ever written. I'm sorry for all the pain i put Obi through. I know he's only a kid, but I don't know....It is really mean of me and I apologize.
Yeah, I notice the spelling mistakes too but most of the time I"m too late to rectify them. Now, i proof-read the chapter twice. Thanks for your review!! Hope you continue to like the story!
Now, I know that this chapter is pretty short so I decided to put two up together. That okay by everyone? Let's begin!
****Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently through space
- The Windmills Of Your Mind
****River paused before heading up the ramp to give Qui-Gon the bad news. (Nothing once again. This would have to be the worst part – having to be the messenger of doom. Just once, you know, just once I would like something to go the right way. Would it be so hard? Would it really be too hard? Just once.) How many planets would he go to just to deliver the same news? Rhyuakl had turned up nothing. Just like Y'lk and Jahsl and Hwalk and the countless other planets that they had gone to. And now K'ejuk had given him the same answer. It was just so infuriating. The young man sighed and continued on his journey.
Qui-Gon was sitting where he had left him earlier that morning. The man was getting worse everyday. The bags under his eyes and the hollows in his cheeks were more pronounced. The general air of defeat and despair floated around him and River couldn't help but swallow nervously before approaching the man.
"Yes River?" The man's voice echoed around the room and River unconsciously jumped. (The boy really needs to keep his thoughts quiet. Obi-Wan was pretty good at that……..at times…..)
River jumped, startled, "Er, Qui-Gon. Bad news." (How does he bloody do that?)
The older Jedi seemed to sink even lower, "No sign of him?"
"No. But I think that we should eat on this planet before we leave. We need the rest and you need the food. I'm afraid my cooking isn't all that great and you wouldn't be all that great a help to your Padawan if you died of malnutrition along the way…" River played for time, he knew the man was near breaking point and needed time to recuperate.
Qui-Gon ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply, "I understand your concern River but—"
River cut him off, "No buts Qui-Gon Jinn. You will eat first."
Qui-Gon turned to look at the young man and smiled grimly (I'll never be able to get over the fact how much River looks like Obi-Wan.) He glared at River for a full five minutes but with River showing no signs of backing down he crumpled, "Okay then. Fine. We eat first. Where?" The tall man stood up to get his robe but River handed it to him.
"Take this robe Qui-Gon. It is raining heavily outside. There is a bar not far from here. I hear that they make good food and the entertainment is even better." River led the way out and both men put their hoods up for the futile protection it offered against the torrent of rain.
Five minutes of walking in silence found them at the entrance of a bar. There was light and life inside and it as soon as River opened the door both men were struck at the noise coming from within and how quickly it stopped as the patrons watched the newcomers enter.
"Uh…..hi." River waved his hand lamely and watched with relief as the customers returned to the meals and drinks. He turned to Qui-Gon to say something but just the expression on the big man's face stopped him.
Qui-Gon turned slowly, his face full of emotion. Amazement, disbelief, horror, terror, anxiety and hope all flew across the man's face and finally settled on neutral.
"Qui-Gon? Qui-Gon? Hello….?" River nudged the man gently, afraid that he was going to fall over. Qui-Gon snapped out of his trance and sat down heavily on a chair near the bar.
"River. I think I…." The older Jedi stopped, uncertain how to continue on.
"Yes?" The young man pressed.
"I can feel a trace of my Padawan's signature."
"WHAT?" River was amazed then hopeful for the older man. (Yes! Thankyou!! THANKYOU!! Just one thing! One thing!)
"It's not strong though. It's---" The older man stopped to watch a young woman walk pass holding several piles of plates.
River watched the young woman pass as well, entranced by her beauty. (The entertainment…….Oh. I get what the men mean now…….) She was slender but not skinny. Long hair fell to the middle of her waist, black fading to brown. Her dark brown eyes were framed by thick, long black eyelashes. Although she wore no makeup she was stunningly beautiful. Just as the girl walked past River she caught sight of him and stared.
Her eyes flashed with something close to recognition and her lips opened. She half turned towards him, and then tripped over, her plates and cutlery crashing to the ground around her.
Before he knew what he was doing, River had leapt up and was helping the girl gather up her fallen load. He grabbed her gently by her arm and she turned swiftly on him. Before the young man could do anything, she had grabbed his head in a firm grip and kissed him on the forehead. River was stunned and just mutely sat there as the girl gabbled.
"456! 456! You made it out!! How did you do it?? How did you get here? OH MY GOD!! You're here, you're here. I can't believe this, you're really here. I had thought that I had lost you; I'd that I'd never see you again. Don't scare me like that again. Don't you ever do that to me again. Ever! Do you understand?" The girl twisted his head so the light fell onto River's features and the girl gasped, dropping her hands as if it physically hurt to touch the young man. She stepped back, horror clearly written on her face.
"No! No…. it's ok, just relax." River tried to calm the young girl as she inched backwards – getting ready to run.
"You're not 456…..you're……not……him….." Billy was terrified. She turned and started to run but smacked solidly into a tall man who had taken place behind her.
"I think we need to talk young lady."
****Yoda sleepily opened his eyes and his ears twitched. Getting up from the meditation mat that he had been kneeling on he ambled over to the comm.-link on his desk. Pressing a button he spoke quickly into it.
"Master Mace, send me."
The answer was garbled but seemed to please the ancient master.
A couple of minutes later Yoda's door whooshed open and a dark-skinned human entered.
"Master Yoda." Mace bowed and stood before him, "You requested to see me?"
"That I did. To the planet named Jabez you will go. Take my ship you must, also take skilled healers you will. Bacta tank, make sure the ship has."
Mace's forehead wrinkled as he tried to work out the reason behind such a command, "No offence Master Yoda but why?"
"Tell me the Force did. When you arrive, the Force follow you must." Yoda's answer was simple but meaningful. Mace bowed and took his leave.
"Depend on him, so much does." Yoda murmured and took back up his position of meditation.
No matter what the small master did, he could not find his centre.
****Billy put her head in her hands and sobbed miserably. River inched over and hugged the girl close. Everything had moved too fast.
"---therefore you must understand why I need your help." The Jedi called Qui-Gon finished and looked awkwardly at the crying girl. "Billy? Do you understand what I'm saying? I know that this is hard on you but it's hard on me too….." Qui-Gon leaned closer to the young woman and gently placed a large hand on her shoulder, his fingertips coming to rest on the white bandage hiding her tattoo.
"Ease off Qui-Gon. Can't you tell that she's shocked? Give her some time!" River snapped while holding the fragile girl close to his breast.
"No…..no, he's right." Billy sniffed and pushed herself away from River.
"Yes, I do know what planet Obi-Wan was on. It's two days travel away from here. It's called Ladle-ere." Her eyes snapped up and locked on the older Jedis. "We need to go now. 456, I mean, Obi-Wan was caught while trying to escape. I'm afraid unless the Juanks didn't rip him apart, he would've been executed for his attempt."
"No." Qui-Gon's voice was firm. "My apprentice is alive. The Force would've told me if he had've died."
"The same Force that told you that I knew Obi-Wan?" Billy inquired, her brown eyes lit with curiosity.
"Er…..yes. Broadly speaking." Qui-Gon waved his hand.
The feeling of his Padawan's signature was unfortunately not his Padawan itself but the residue of his Padawan's touch on Billy's mind. Qui-Gon had found out that while Obi-Wan had been coercing Billy, Obi-Wan had unwittingly left his mark on her. It had been the breakthrough that both men had been hoping for.
It had been a learning curve for Billy. She had found out that the boy that she had worked beside and become firm friends with was actually a Jedi. (Well, that would explain the mind trick) She thought wryly. In the matter of an hour she had found out all about 456's previous life and she had found out his name. Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan" Billy tried the word and liked it. (It suits him. In some strange way – I think it suits him.) She glanced at River sitting protectively close to her. It was amazing how close he resembled the boy that she had left behind. It was downright creepy.
"What are we waiting for?" The girl demanded. "You want to find him, I know where he is. Let's go."
Qui-Gon nodded in assertion, "Yes. Let us go."
River grinned from ear to ear and looked at Billy with a expression akin to worhip in his eyes, "Yeah. Let's get going. We didn't get to eat, but after finding you, I don't think we need to bother!"
Billy blushed but didn't shy away. Qui-Gon hesitated and smiled uncertainly as River's thoughts broadcasted themselves to the world. (Something about a pretty young girl on the same ship as him…….) His grin grew wider as he heard Billy's. (Something about a handsome young man on the same ship as her……...)
He left the table whistling softly and smiling. (Things are certainly looking up for us. Soon, maybe soon we will find him.)
****(Right. That's it. Patience – gone. Anger – high. Anger – forbidden. Impatience – high. Diplomacy – out the window.)
Qui-Gon slammed his hands down on the master's desk and looked deep into the man's terrified face. "I am a Jedi Master. No doubt you have heard of us since you arranged such a welcoming committee for us." The older man let his eyes sweep over the ravaged room, dead and unconscious guards included and trained his eyes back onto the master.
"I will ask you one more time. Where is slave 456?"
River smirked. (That's more like it. Actions speak louder then words.) He easily held in one hand a vibro-blade and in the other – a blaster. He had been with Qui-Gon when the welcoming party had…..er……. 'welcomed' them. It had been a short party to say the least.
"He…..he…..he isn't here anymore." The master stuttered.
"We know that. Where is he?" The Jedi Master's voice dropped and the tension in the room rose dramatically.
"He….h-he….Caleb took him!!" The master's eyes darted everywhere but at the Jedi in front of him and his voice grew higher in pitch as fear overtook him.
"Caleb?"
"Yes Caleb! Caleb is one of my clients. He heard about the boy and what he was and he wanted him."
"Where is he?"
"J-Jabez."
Qui-Gon nodded then docilely placed his hands into his sleeves, "Thankyou for your time and help today. The Senate appreciates it, just as I do."
Then just like that, the two men left.