A/N: The last chapter... Sorry for the lag, as well. :|

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"Succumb Intoxication"

x . c h a p t e r s e v e n

; the melancholy

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He was at the heel of his master once more. It was quite a peculiar planet they were at. Nar Shaddaa—a smuggler's joint—was the location of Mikal Rela, Obi-Wan's degraded master. At first, Obi-Wan was confident that he and Qui-Gon would successfully take Rela into custody, but, with every step the boy took, his doubt increased.

And what would happen if something drastic took place that would cause him and Qui-Gon to...

Blocking the thought of his mind, Obi-Wan quickened his pace so he walked right beside Qui-Gon. He looked up to his master hopefully.

"Master," Obi-Wan said quietly, "all we have to do is take Master Rela—um, Mikal Rela, into custody, right? Bring him back to the Jedi Temple and interrogate him?"

"If the Force wills it, padawan. The Force, I sense... it's behaving strangely. I can't—quite put my finger on it. The future of this is clouded. So we will just have to stand by, padawan."

Obi-Wan nodded. His thoughts came swirling back, no matter how much he tried to block them out.

The two Jedi were not exactly camouflaged with their settings, but they still went unnoticed. Obi-Wan knew what kind of people and aliens lurked on Nar Shaddaa. They were pirates, smugglers or any kind of villain or rogue—and Mikal Rela was one of them. Obi-Wan shivered somewhat. He was taught, loved, by such a terrible man. And he... he... he looked towards Rela as his master—his father.

The padawan turned to look up at Qui-Gon Jinn.

But that's the past. Focus on here. Focus on now. Focus on Qui-Gon and focus on putting Master Rela into custody... That's all. That's all.

Qui-Gon looked down at the boy, but the padawan quickly turned his head to the floor.

Pushing open a door to a pub or club of some sort, Qui-Gon let his thoughts wander for a short second. This boy is so insecure. But, then, he quickly minded himself of the present and sat down into a seat at the bar. Obi-Wan sat beside his master and his eyes couldn't help but wander over the people shyly.

Obi-Wan was about to ask a question through their training bond, but found Qui-Gon's shields were up. The boy turned to his master and said quietly, "What if he's... not here?"

"He is. We are not here to catch the fly—it will come to us."

A fly... He was never a fly before, Master, Obi-Wan thought dryly.

Seconds passed. Those seconds turned into minutes. Those minutes eventually turned into an hour.

"You're quite sure he's here?" Obi-Wan asked quietly under the pumping music.

"Positive. And he's right over... there," Qui-Gon stated as he stood up, igniting his light saber in a split second.

Obi-Wan turned as well, igniting his blue light saber. His gaze immediately locked onto a pair of dark eyes.

Mikal Rela was holding a blaster to a man's neck, and, in the other hand that was extended out into the air, held a remote.

With the sound of the light sabers igniting, the entire club went silent.

"... If you come at me, I'll blow this whole place to the Dark side."

"Don't come at him! Please!" the man in Rela's grip wailed as he stood completely still.

"I knew you were following me, Jedi," Rela snarled, pressing the blaster into the man's neck even harder. Rela's grin stretched from ear to ear as he narrowed his eyes—looking straight at the boy beside Qui-Gon. "I knew you were going to come after me, my Obi-Wan. But do you think that you can catch me before I blow you—and everyone here into oblivion? I don't think so."

Obi-Wan clenched his teeth hard, biting back the urge to step back. But Qui-Gon stepped in front of him.

"The boy has nothing to do with this. Surrender—or we'll have to take you by force."

"Oh, but the boy does have something to do with this. He will be the cause of the explosion in nothing but a few moments. Yes, I've foreseen it."

"Put the blaster down."

Mikal Rela froze for a moment, before he pulled the trigger on the blaster. It was not set on stun. The hostage in his grasp crumbled to the floor, dead.

"I don't think so."

As Mikal Rela had said that, Obi-Wan yelled, "Master! Please!" And the boy grabbed onto Qui-Gon's sleeve and began running out of the club. Qui-Gon knew as well just was about to happen.

When the two Jedi tumbled out, as well as a few others who had taken the hint of danger and ran out, a huge force of an explosion made Qui-Gon jump on his apprentice, covering the boy up with his body from the wreckage that was going to fly.

There were screams—then cut short.

Muffled by his master's cloak, Obi-Wan cried, "This isn't right! It wasn't supposed to happen this way! He's—not supposed to die! No one was."

Qui-Gon stood up a few moments later after the debris stopped flying. He looked up at the scorched building, that was still on fire, and was, possibly, still active.

"This mission was doomed from the start, Padawan. Mace had sensed it—I had sensed it, as well. But I didn't know this would happen."

Obi-Wan stood up shakily.

"There were so many—people in there. I—what... All dead? Murdered?"

"Possibly. I'll inform the Jedi Council of what just happened."

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly, taking a few steps forward. His voice was a whisper. "Should I go—in? And see—if—he's alive?" His voice cracked slightly, but not enough for Qui-Gon to notice and Obi-Wan was thankful for that.

"If Rela is? I suppose. But, Padawan, if he is—tell me. Do not try any heroics."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said quietly as he clutched the hilt of his unlit light saber and walked as slowly as he could, which was pretty quickly and unsteady. His mind was cluttered. He didn't know what to think.

Had he just murdered Rela? Was he responsible? He wasn't able to save him, save all the people...

As he ran deeper into the rubble, he moaned, feeling his knees getting weak. He stared right in front of him. Yes, that was he.

He recognized the man's eyes.

Obi-Wan felt his knees buckle out as he stumbled towards the bloody heap of skin, clothing and bones. His eyes trailed up and down the man's body—still alive! But his whole right arm's skin was singed off and he could see the bare bone.

"Master Rela... I'm sorry," he cried softly as he stared down at the face of his master—the face that was his master. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to. I didn't—I'm sorry. Please, be all right." He sobbed for a moment before he clenched his hands, trying not to cry when he spoke, "I just saw you a few days ago—alive, well... We can go back to how we were—if you just—don't... no..."

"Silence, Obi-Wan," the voice croaked as Rela turned his scorched head the slightest. "You were my son, and you always were. But I was forced to try and kill you. I did not. I've failed."

"Master Rela, you can still come back—with me! I..."

Obi-Wan choked on his last word, realizing that the man lying before him was dead. Finally, the recognition of reality struck him. He tore his gaze away from Rela and stared around. The explosion had most people scorched to the bone—or just blown away completely.

Looking at his Rela's singed arm solemnly, he closed his eyes.

He sat there, beside the scorched body of the master whom had deserted him years before. He didn't know for how long he sat there.

- - -

"It seemed like a suicide attempt, Master Yoda," Qui-Gon explained as he stood before the council in the middle of the circular room. His padawan stood beside him, grave, but dignified—and silent.

Qui-Gon knew that seeing so many people murdered and having to see them was more than a person could take. But Obi-Wan was old enough—wasn't he? Yes, Qui-Gon convinced himself. And, so, earlier that day, they had to take the dead body of Mikal Rela to Coruscant. And Obi-Wan had watched dejectedly. Qui-Gon knew that his padawan had to get over his emotions and get on with the job, and was glad that his apprentice did so.

Yoda nodded, wiggling his fingers as he sat in the chair, Mace Windu beside him.

"Attempt of suicide, most likely. Regretful, we are for not noticing the disturbance within the man earlier—before his turn. Understand, also, we do, that Rela was master to young Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan had nodded sternly, keeping his gaze fixated on the floor. "Yes, Master."

"Glad that you are not corrupt, our padawan Kenobi. Master Jinn..." Yoda turned to Qui-Gon and nodded. "Wise, you are for keeping this boy as your apprentice. Much help you will be."

"Padawan Kenobi," Mace said loudly, allowing Obi-Wan's gaze to shift to Mace Windu. "You are dismissed as of the moment, we must speak with your master."

"Yes, Master."

He bowed deeply to the council and made his way out. As the doors shut behind him, he could hear the murmurs of speech, but he kept on walking. He made his way out onto the balcony and leaned against the wall, staring up into the orange sky of Coruscant—dusk.

He still had the memory implanted in his mind—perfect. He remembered staring down at the bloody corpse of his master.

Why did he have to do it?

Obi-Wan looked towards the floor, tapping his feet. No, he wouldn't let this get to him. He had far too much to worry about at the moment, anyway. He was padawan to Qui-Gon Jinn. He didn't have the time to worry of trivial things like this.

What's done is done.

And he didn't want to dwell on the death of his master—the master whom abandoned him.

It was just a trick, he convinced himself. He didn't mean it when he said… No. He didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. I can't love. The end.

Letting the memory, the dwelling thoughts, fade away from his mind completely, he began to feel somewhat calm—at peace. He felt himself lean against the wall in an even more comfortable position and he just stared forward.

Nice sunset. Qui-Gon would have liked it, I think.

Obi-Wan smiled faintly and folded his arms over his chest. Feeling warm, he brought his arms around himself completely, holding himself tightly. He was where he belonged. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath of the pure Coruscant air and then let out a content sigh.

He let his eyes flutter open again and he just stared at all the ships as they fly by.

- - -

"Obi-Wan," muttered a voice in the padawan's ear. The boy furrowed his brows, but opened them reluctantly to see Qui-Gon hovering over him. He noticed he was sitting on the floor, still out on the balcony, with his knees tucked in under his chin and his arms wrapped around himself. Slightly embarrassed, he began to stand up.

"Hello, Master. I must have—dozed off..."

Obi-Wan leaned against the wall, looking up at his very tall master. Qui-Gon noticed there was something different in the boy's eyes. Determination, a huge feeling of determination—but, yet, the boy was seemed melancholy.

Qui-Gon gave the boy a soft smile. Obi-Wan's eyes quickly gazed to the floor.

"You must be cold, Obi-Wan. Let's go back to our quarters and you can rest there. It's far much more better than out here."

Obi-Wan nodded, feeling his master's hand grip his shoulder and gently shove him towards the door that led into the temple.

As the two walked down the hall, Obi-Wan with his arms folded in front of his chest, but he was still holding onto himself inside his cloak, looked towards the floor the whole time.

But it was Obi-Wan's voice that broke the silence, "Master?" He looked up, due to respect. It was not polite to stare at the floor while speaking. He did not want to disappoint his master at all.

"Yes, Padawan?"

"Thank you."

Qui-Gon smiled, placing a hand on the boy's head. "For what, Obi-Wan?"

"For keeping me." He looked downwards again.

Qui-Gon paused for a moment, but kept his walk at a calm pace. "For keeping you? I'm sorry I've been treating you like a mere object. You are a person, Obi-Wan. It was not right of me to do that. Or to have... hit you, Padawan."

"That's all right, Master. I very well deserved it."

Qui-Gon stopped walking and looked down at the boy with soft eyes. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon locked eyes and stared at each for a long moment. The boy seemed jaded and indifferent. Qui-Gon was the one, this time, to stare at the boy sadly.

"You did not. You did not."

"Thank you, Master. I will be a great padawan." Obi-Wan bowed gently.

"Yes, you will be."


Qui-Gon began to stand and Obi-Wan began to walk.

"Thank you, Master."

"You're welcome, Obi-Wan. You are very welcome."

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A/N: I know what you're thinking. D Something's wrong here! Obi-Wan? Jaded and indifferent? This isn't done! But, by George, it is. I'm working on sort of a ... side story to this. But the plot is done. Mikal Rela is dead. But Obi-Wan is now melancholy, hoping to please his master in every way. While Qui-Gon here is the work-o-holic. I sense a disturbance in the Force... coming in the next story... Look out for it on ff.net! —Andrea (ieiahasradhair@aol.com [yes, that is an i in leia: ieia.])