Culf: I'm updating! I'm updating! You should be pleased to know that i'm over my cold! (i nearly passed out in a lesson yesterday!). Qui will find him soon....soon my child!
Remnants: Hahaha! Yep, after i read your review i got off my arse and wrote some more!
Amy: Theres actually no more torture! That was the worst chapter and you've already read it!
Tinkerclaire: *wails* SOMEBODY LOVES ME!!!
Hope you enjoy this chappie!
****Obi-Wan groaned from his place on the ground. He couldn't quite remember the next bit. It was all a confused memory of shining metal, a collection of arms and legs, being whirled through the air like a rag doll and painfully returning with a vengeance to the concrete.
It had been a bad hit. And the driver didn't even bother to slow down or stop.
Obi-Wan moved slightly and bit his lip to stifle a cry of pain. He didn't have the energy to Force-access his injuries but he could tell that it was bad.
Possibly even mortally bad.
There were sharp stabbing pains all over his body. They came from losing half of his skin and the various deep cuts and bruises he had sustained. That didn't worry him. It was the deeper, slower, ache that scared him.
The ache was throughout his whole body, his insides felt like they were liquid, breathing was a battle and every time he tried to breath, his chest felt like someone was jabbing him consistently with white hot needles.
He could move his toes, which meant his legs weren't broken but it felt like everything else had just snapped.
The Jedi-haters had returned but after they took one look at him, they had laughed and left him. Obviously they thought that he didn't stand a chance.
As time went on, it was becoming painfully evident that they were right. Instead of his body starting to heal itself – it was becoming worse.
The ache grew, deeper and stronger. Breathing was getting harder and it felt like he was trying to swim through a lake, trying to breathe through the torpid water.
Obi-Wan knew that he was dying but he didn't care about it anymore. No one cared about him, so why should he? He knew that his lungs were slowly filling up with liquid. With his blood that his heart was oh so helpfully pumping through the punctures caused by the jagged ends of his broken ribs.
It was a race to see what would fail the little Initiate first. Would he drown or would he bleed to death?
The only thing that Obi-Wan knew for certainty was that he desperately wanted a painkiller. The acceptance of death wasn't meant to hurt this much.
****"Mace! Wait up!" Qui-Gon called to his long time friend as he jogged to catch up to the dark-skinned man.
"Hey! Qui-Gon! Long time no see buddy! Sorry, that I haven't had time to see you since you've been back but you see things just blew up." He waved his hands for emphasis at the paired teams spreading out to start searching.
"Sure, we all get bad days, but this is just unbelievable. No sane Jedi would go this crazy over things so trivial." He turned to face his friend and stopped in his tracks as he looked deeply in the tall Master's eyes. "Jeez, Jinn! When was the last time you slept properly? You look terrible!"
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, slapped his friend on the back and replied good-humouredly, "Thanks for your vote of confidence friend!"
"Sorry! But I mean……When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror?"
Qui-Gon inclined his head in submission, "A fair while. But as you said – things just blew up."
Mace's face softened, he had heard about the truly unfortunate issue with Qui-Gon's ex-Padawan. "You do know that it's not your fault Jinn. It could've happened to anyone. Hell, it could've even happened to Yoda!"
Qui-Gon dropped his head and stared at the ground before gathering the courage to look his friend in the eye, "I know it's not my fault. Many a time, by many a person, I have been told this. But……"
"But…….? Tell all to your long-time friend!" Mace tried to lighten the atmosphere.
Qui-Gon grinned dryly, "I can't help that feel that some part of it was my fault. I can't help but think that I could've prevented it. After all, I was Xanatos' Master. We're meant to know each other intimately and deeply. We're not meant to have any secrets from each other. I thought I upheld my end of the bargain but obviously—"
Mace abruptly cut him off, "You did uphold your end of the bargain my friend. Don't forget that I saw you and your Padawan often. And I can truthfully say that the fault lies with Xanatos. Not you. You are a wonderful Master and you gave him everything. Xanatos was the one that let you down. Remember that well friend." He stopped and looked anxiously at the tall Jedi, trying to gauge his reaction to his little speech.
Qui-Gon sighed and closed his eyes. What Mace said was true but it was just so hard to accept. Easier to accept that he was the one at fault. He opened his eyes so that he could continue the argument but Mace read his mind and quickly changed the subject of the conversation.
"So what do you want? Are you going to help in the search?" Mace quickly ran the words together, giving Qui-Gon no time to retort.
The tall Master just snorted in laughter and replied, "Yes. I wish to help in the search." He then looked carefully around him and whispered into Mace's ear, "Don't tell this to anyone, especially Master Yoda, but I felt something strange with this boy. It was incredibly weird. I mean, his performance today was lacking everything! Style, grace, thought, skill - he did everything that a Jedi is specifically taught NOT to do! But still, something bothered me." He looked at his friend, scared to see Mace's reaction to his confession but the look he received was just full of interest and deep concentration.
"Well, Qui-Gon, Kenobi is a superb student! I know for a fact that certain people have kept an eye on him ever since he turned 10! Personally, I don't understand why he hasn't been chosen yet. Even I've thought about choosing him but his skill! It is truly amazing."
"Why didn't you choose him?" Qui-Gon was puzzled about this.
"Because I didn't think I had it in me to teach this boy. He is brilliant, one of the best students to be trained in the Temple so far, and I didn't want to disappoint him. He deserves the best teacher. I am not that teacher. I cannot teach such, such - ," Mace stumbled for a word, " – such genius! In fact, now that I think about it, I think that is the reason why most people have backed away from training him. We think ourselves not worthy of teaching him. But you!" He turned sly eyes to Qui-Gon and the tall Master found himself backing away by the intensity deep in their depths.
"You! You would be the boy's perfect teacher! You have a reputation that precedes you my friend. Even if you don't know it yourself!" He winked at his friend but his face screwed itself up into a frown as he noticed Qui-Gon backing hurriedly away.
"You are mistaken Mace! I cannot teach this boy! I, also, am not worthy! I could not give this boy everything he needed. You know this Mace!" Qui-Gon spread his hands in front of them and was surprised when Mace suddenly turned his back.
In a hard voice Mace replied, "Let's not worry about that now. We have to find the boy first. If he is alive."
Qui-Gon nodded, glad that the heat was off his back, "Yes. His signature grows weaker with each passing second."
"Good. Lets go. We're going down through the Coruscant levels. Be wary Jinn! There are many people who are not welcoming to our sort. I just hope that Kenobi hasn't met any of them while on his descent through the core."
Qui-Gon stepped up beside his friend and lifted his head as the wind swept his hair back and ruffled his robes. He murmured softly to himself, "Yes, I also hope that Kenobi hasn't gotten himself into trouble."
****The rain had stopped. Obi-Wan just realised it. But in reality the rain had stopped hours before.
Failure.
Even while the boy was so badly injured, the hurting word wouldn't stop haunting him.
He was a complete failure. He had failed his friends, failed his teachers, and failed the Jedi code. There could be nothing worse. Living would be a nightmare. Death would be welcomed with open arms.
Obi-Wan realised that doing so would be giving up, but fighting on just hurt too much. He closed his eyes but before he could stop it, a single tear slipped out and slid down his cheek. Then just like a dam bursting, the boy couldn't hold it in.
The tears of pain, frustration, confusion, inner turmoil, jealousy, envy, shame washed down his cheeks. They were silent tears, but his chest heaved and hurt with every painful breath that he took.
He opened his mouth to sob but all that came out was a frothy cough and the boy shakily wiped his mouth. He gazed without interest at the red smear on his hand.
It appeared that drowning would conquer him first.
****The day was getting long, and the sun was beginning to set in the sky. Not that it mattered down in the lower levels.
The place was making Qui-Gon and Mace edgy. Everywhere they went, eyes appeared to watch them, glinting red from within the shadows of the buildings, their spiteful gaze just wishing the Jedi a painful end.
Qui-Gon and Mace stiffened, both of them feeling the warning that the Force had given him. The boy didn't have much longer to last. His signature was getting too dim. Too dim for someone who wanted to stay in the land of the living.
Mace paced around on the spot trying to locate a tendril of the Force that would give him some information to where the little Initiate was. Nothing helped the dark-skinned Master. Everything was too confused, too jumbled, too dense.
Qui-Gon also paced, but not on the spot. Something was calling him. Something beckoned. It was a strange feeling – something deep in his mind, called him closer. Closer. As he took a step closer in the direction that his mind told him to go, it grew stronger and with a flash of insight he knew what was going on.
"Mace! Quick! This way!" Qui-Gon flung back over his shoulder before sprinting off.
Mace didn't even question but followed obediently on Qui-Gon's heels. He did ask several questions, each punctuated with a knowing smile.
"So, you've felt him?"
"Yes."
"Is he close by?"
"No."
"Is he in a good way?"
"No."
"Do you like this boy?"
The question caught the tall Jedi off-guard and he skidded to a stop, Mace slamming into his back with a muffled, "Oof!"
"What makes you ask?" Qui-Gon suspiciously questioned his friend.
"Nothing! It's just a simple question. Do you like the boy?"
Qui-Gon looked down at his hands before answering. "Yes. I do. There is something about him that beckons me. I do not wish him to die for such a stupid cause. I do not wish that upon anyone."
"Yes but is this boy more special to you then any other boy in this position?"
"No! No! Of course not! Any person in this position deserves my help!" Qui-Gon hotly denied the blasphemous thought.
"Peace friend! I am merely asking you – is this boy more special to you then any other boy?"
Qui-Gon thought deeply, knowing how much the answer could and would affect his life. "Yes. This boy is special to me."
Mace grinned, a smile wide enough to disconcert any shark. "Good! I'm glad we got that sorted out. Now lets get moving. How far away is he?"
Qui-Gon started straightened suddenly and sprinted off again, "QUICKLY MACE!! HE'S FADING!"
****Obi-Wan tried to draw in a breath but couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, his chest and lungs just wouldn't co-operate.
It was the end.
The pain was fading and with it was coming relief mixed with resignation.
No one will notice me gone. The boy thought as his vision started fading. He was feeling sick. Funnily enough, the illness was only just hitting him. It made him shivery and made him wish that the actual dying process would hurry up and do its stuff.
Failure.
He noticed two figures blurrily running towards him but paid them no attention.
It was only when the tall one grabbed him roughly by the arm that Obi-Wan looked at them. Pain and the shadow of death smeared his vision but he had enough wits to realise that the person holding him was Qui-Gon Jinn.
Out of all the people to find him in this state, it had to be Jinn. The interminable, strong, fearless Master Jinn.
Failure.
Jinn grabbed him around the middle to heave him into a sitting position. The boy let loose a gurgled cry of pain and fell unconscious. He couldn't take anymore of the abuse and the touch to his tortured chest was enough to send him graciously welcoming the grey angel of unconsciousness.
Oblivion felt good.
****Master Jinn gasped as the boy fell limp in his arms and Master Mace hurriedly ran his hands over the boy's body.
"Jinn! Quickly. We don't have much time. The boy's body is failing. We should be able to get it under control. Relieve the pressure off the boy's lungs and together lets enter a healing trance and heal the boy of some of his wounds."
Qui-Gon stared down at the pale face and muttered something unintelligible.
"JINN! Concentrate! Entire the trance with me now!" Mace commanded and Qui-Gon obediently fell in line.
Throughout the trance both Mace and Qui-Gon were absolutely silent and didn't move.
The sun had long gone past the horizon when the two Jedi relaxed and lifted their heads to look at each other.
Mace was the first to speak. "He will be alright. He is strong - his body will heal. Admittedly, we were almost too late but he will recover. His wounds were severe. There was deep bone structure trauma in the bones of his arm and he had many superficial cuts and bruises, this being one of the more disturbing ones." The dark Jedi gently caressed the cut on the boy's throat and continued in his observation.
"It appears that the worst of his injuries stem from him impacting solidly with some sort of speeding vehicle."
"Huh?" Qui-Gon was tired, his brain wasn't functioning properly, the boy had been quite near death and the healing trance had taken more out of him then he liked to admit. "What?"
Mace laughed, the gay sound echoing strangely out of place in the dark, damp lower levels. "In simple terms, I'd say he was hit by a speeder."
"Oh." Qui-Gon nodded slowly, "So, that means that he'll be fine?"
Mace sighed and threw his hands into the air, "Did you not listen to a word of what I just said? He will be fine."
"Good." Qui-Gon said the word a bit more firmly then he intended and both men looked surprised at the intensity of feeling in the tall Jedi's voice.
"Yeah. I don't like it down here, so lets get the boy out of here and back up to the Temple. The Healers will be able to finish off the healing and tie all the loose ends together." Mace went to pick up the boy but was stopped by a hand on his robe. He looked questioningly up into his friend's face.
"Yes?"
"Do you mind if I take the boy?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice tinged with an anxious overture.
Mace laughed even louder, "Take him by all means Qui-Gon!" He gently picked the little Initiate up and placed him in the tall man's arms.
Qui-Gon Jinn carefully cradled the small head against his chest and marvelled, "How can a mere boy mean so much? I didn't even know he existed two days ago."
Mace shrugged and led the way back to the Temple. "I don't know Jinn. The Force works in strange and mysterious ways. Who are we to question it?"
Qui-Gon looked down at the fragile bundle in his arms and realised with sudden clarity and fierceness that he didn't want to let go. The boy had touched him. And touched him deeply.
"Mace?"
"Yes Jinn?" There was a touch of impatience in the voice that made Jinn smile impishly.
"What would you say to me taking this boy as my Padawan?" The question was made to stun.
And stun the Master it did. "WHAT?? Qui-Gon! Are you serious?" Mace swirled around; his dark eyes wide open with disbelief and happiness.
Qui-Gon sighed and dropped his eyes back onto the top of the Initiate's head, "Yes Mace. I am deadly serious." He snapped his eyes back up and locked them onto his friend's, "What would you say?"
Mace grinned and slung an arm over his friends shoulder and across his back, "I'd say it'd be a perfect duo. Obi-Wan Kenobi needs you just as much as you need him. I give it my highest approval."
Qui-Gon smiled a deep, happy, sincere smile and continued on his journey with a smirky, satisfied look on his face.
He didn't notice the time as they journeyed back to the Temple.
****I'm sorry but i didn't have time to spell-check this one!
Be heartened, this is not the end.