PART 2
Obi-Wan sat outside the door waiting for Qui-Gon and Lex. A moment later Lex emerged, gave him a sad look, then walked on. A few minutes later Qui-Gon walked out, his face was a mask of calm but Obi-Wan could tell that whatever Lex said rocked him to the core.
"Master," began Obi-Wan, "What happened?"
Qui-Gon considered the question for a moment. "I'll tell you later, Padawan. It will not compromise the mission if you do not know."
Obi-Wan nodded, while trying to keep his frustration under control as he and Qui-Gon walked up to the others. Qui-Gon had kept things from him before and had told him in due time, Obi-Wan believed that Qui-Gon would tell him when the timing was right.
They approached Jaim and Sandretta where they expressed their condolence. Lex arrived with her daja slung across her back.
"Where we are going," she stated, "is known as the 'home of evil.' You will be faced with things you do not understand, you will have contact with the otherside."
Lex turned away for a moment and Obi-Wan caught his Master rolling his midnight eyes in annoyance. Obi-Wan nudged him.
"Jaim, Sandretta," Lex continued, "No one had more reason that you not to return to the castle. If either if you wish to remain, please say so now."
Not a word was said. Lex nodded in approval.
"Very well. We leave at 21:00hrs."
* * * * * *
Landspeeder
Airenéan fields
21:30hrs
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Sandretta and Jaim sat in the back of Lex's landspeeder, which she was driving. The two mourners did not feel much like speaking at the moment and Obi-Wan was taking a nap.
Qui-Gon was still attempting to digest what the young girl had told him. He glanced at Obi-Wan, still sleeping. He ran his fingers protectively through his Padawan's hair, no ghost was getting Obi-Wan without a fight.
An hour or so later Qui-Gon felt a very large, dark presence overtake him. He shuddered and Obi-Wan woke up shaking also. They both looked up.
A large castle loomed over them, it was made of stone and was covered with moss and cobwebs. Lex stopped the speeder by a path that led up to the castle. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exited the speeder and exchanged a look of caution, something was not right.
Lex activated her pocket light and led the way down the path. There wasn't a sound, no animals, birds or wind for that matter. It seemed that everything stayed away from this place.
After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the front door. The young Sanderai pulled out a keycard, ran it through a slot and pushed open the door. Jaim and Sandretta followed their guide in, Qui-Gon took a step forward but he noticed something.
His feet would not move. It was like there was a wall in front of him, holding him back. The sensation quickly passed and he continued forward.
He noticed that Obi-Wan was not beside him, and he had not gone in ahead of him. Qui-Gon turned around and saw his Padawan sprawled out on the dirt path, his skin had gone completely pale and his eyes were wide open in shock.
The Jedi Master wasted no time in racing to Obi-Wan's side, he could hear the footsteps of the others behind him as he ran but didn't care. He dropped next to his Padawan and gently shook his shoulders. "Obi-Wan, snap out of it!"
The teen slowly closed his eyes and shuddered.
"Obi-Wan, please!" begged Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered open and he gave his Master a quizzical look, like he couldn't remember who Qui-Gon was.
Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hand in his and lowered his voice. "Obi-Wan, it's me. Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes again, shook his head and squeezed his Master's hand. With his
Master's help, he sat up and looked at Qui-Gon. "Master...what the hell was that!?"
Qui-Gon gave a small smile and helped Obi-Wan up. The teen looked ready to fall over so Qui-Gon threw his Padawan's arm over his own shoulder and helped him back to the castle.
Jaim, Sandretta and Lex had looks of relief on their faces as they returned inside the castle and
Lex closed the door tight behind them.
Qui-Gon found a chair for Obi-Wan, sat him down and asked what had happened.
"I saw a man," said Obi-Wan, "he had a limp. He stared at me and yelled 'if you have any sense
Jedi, leave while you still can! Don't wait for me to kill again'"
Obi-Wan sighed. "That's all I can remember."
Suddenly the lights came on. Everyone turned to see Lex standing by a panel. "You have just had
a run in with John Sage," she confirmed, "One of the most infamous torturers of Chillingham."
A thought crossed Qui-Gon's mind, he turned back to face Obi-Wan. "Did he..."
His apprentice put a hand on the Jedi Master's shoulder. "No. If he had I would have known, so
would you."
Lex returned to the group and looked at Qui-Gon. "Now do you believe?" she asked.
Qui-Gon looked at the psychic, at Obi-Wan, then back at Lex. He was unsure of what to make of
it. It could have been a great many things. Why was it so hard for him to believe in ghosts when
he had proof sitting right in front of him.
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF THE SITH!" cried Jaim. "Your apprentice has just been attacked by a
man who has been dead for centuries! Juliet said she saw a man like that approach her shortly
before she was stolen from me!" Jaim looked at Obi-Wan and back at Qui-Gon. "Keep your eye
on him Master Jedi! I wouldn't wish this grief on my worst enemy."
He ran off, followed by Sandretta. Lex stood there for a moment then ran after them, while
suggesting that they get some sleep. Qui-Gon sat down on the floor.
//Master, I don't think any of us are going to be able to sleep in this hell hole//
Qui-Gon gave his Padawan a glare. //Now is not the time for profanities. I think we dealt with
Kyra a bit to much, her way with words has rubbed off on you//
Obi-Wan slid himself off the chair and onto the floor next to Qui-Gon.
//At least Lex has better control then her cousin does//observed Qui-Gon.
The sound of glass breaking filled the hall, followed by the sound of a girl cursing in Sanderai.
Qui-Gon sighed. //I stand corrected//
Chillingham Castle
Great Hall
04:35hrs
Obi-Wan was right. No one slept long in this place. Qui-Gon was the only one awake currently,
it was impossible for him sleep with the sensation of hands grabbing him.
As he sat against the wall his thoughts returned to Lex's question: "Do you believe?"
Qui-Gon was still not entirely convinced, even though his own apprentice had been attacked by a
dead man. It also offered an explanation of why he didn't sense anything from Obi-Wan.
But this whole ghost idea was not something he was going to swallow right away...but he was
not willing to rule it out.
The Jedi Master heard Sandretta toss in her sleep, moaning her fiance's name. Across the room
Jaim was doing the same.
Qui-Gon tore his eyes away, he knew he could not begin to comprehend their grief...and he
never wanted to.
He could make out the silhouette of Lex asleep on a chair by the door, her daja across her lap.
Qui-Gon turned back towards Obi-Wan, everything seemed fine with him.
Except that his legs were fading into thin air.
Qui-Gon thought back to what had happened to Sandretta's fiancé, he had faded away into
nothing.
The Jedi Master grabbed his Padawan's boot, what he could see of it, and shook him awake.
Obi-Wan grumbled at sat up, then noticed his legs. The fear in his eyes was undisguised.
"Obi-Wan! Hold onto me!" shouted Qui-Gon ad he grabbed his Padawan's hands tightly in his
own.
There was no way Obi-Wan was going to be torn from him like this. He knew what he had to do.
And Obi-Wan knew as well.
"No Master don't!" begged Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon blocked out his Padawan's plea and pulled the force around him, trying to pull the
fading towards himself.
It was working, he was fading and Obi-Wan was becoming clearer.
Obi-Wan began screaming for the others, as they woke up and ran to the Master/Padawan team,
they found that they could not touch them. Something was blocking them.
Qui-Gon met Obi-Wan's eyes. "Forgive me Padawan." he whispered.
His Padawan tensed as he tried to fight the force suggested unconsciousness that his Master sent
to him.
The last thing Qui-Gon was aware of was Obi-Wan screaming a final phrase. "NO!! YOU WILL
NOT HAVE HIM! YOU"LL HAVE TO KILL ME!"