THE HARDEST PART IS LETTING GO

Author: KrystalBlaze

Title: The Hardest Part is Letting Go

Age: 21

Summary: Senators and Ambassadors are being murdered without a cause. It has to be a bounty hunter. Desperate, the Supreme Chancellor appeals to the Jedi for help. The Jedi devise a plan: one of them must infiltrate the ranks of the bounty hunters. The Jedi turns out to be Obi-Wan.

/ / = italics

PART THREE

DEPARTURE

"You understand what you must do, Obi-Wan? You understand that you cannot contact Qui-Gon? You understand we do not know how long this will take?"

"Yes, Master, I understand it. I will find the identity of this bounty hunter and the cause for his killing. I can do this, Master Windu."

"We have much faith in you, Obi-Wan," Adi Gallia said. "But we're throwing you somewhere no one has been."

"I will be fine, Masters. I'll do this to the best of what I can."

"We have no doubt of it," Mace said, giving a rare smile. "Qui-Gon has the credits. It is enough. After you meet with Chancellor Valorum, everything is up to you."

Obi-Wan nodded.

"May the Force be with you, young Kenobi," Yoda said gravely. "Be safe."

"I will, Master Yoda. May the Force be with you."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed, then left the Council Chambers. They were silent as they rode the lift down.

"Master, I want to thank you."

Qui-Gon turned his head and peered at his apprentice. "For what, Padawan?"

"Thank you for trusting me with this. It's a real honor."

Qui-Gon allowed himself to smile. "You have been an ideal apprentice, Obi- Wan. I couldn't ask for a better Padawan. You've grown so much in the last seven years."

"Yes, you're right. I have grown taller." Obi-Wan smirked.

They both laughed.

"Not only that, Obi-Wan. You're loyal and you're dedicated."

A warm feeling spread through Obi-Wan's heart. It felt so good to hear Qui- Gon say that.

"Thank you, Master."

~*~

Supreme Chancellor Valorum eyed Obi-Wan with what he perceived as surprise. Obi-Wan didn't find that interesting. He was, after all, very young and he saw the edginess in which the Chancellor walked. /He thinks I'm inexperienced,/ Obi-Wan thought. /I don't blame him./

"It is an honor to finally meet you, Supreme Chancellor," Obi-Wan said after a time.

"And it is to meet you, Padawan Kenobi," Valorum said, taking a seat. He gave Obi-Wan a long, measured look. "You know what you have to do. I'm not sure what I can tell you except I am putting all my faith in you. You carry my hopes and the hopes of all the politicians fearing for their lives. The only thing I can tell you is that I pray you'll live up to what I've put you to."

"Supreme Chancellor," Obi-Wan said with ease," I will not let you down."

"Then I have your word," Valorum said. "Good luck."

~*~

"I thought he would say more, Master."

"There's nothing to say, Obi-Wan. It's up to you now."

Obi-Wan gave another glance towards the Senate Building as they walked away. "I don't want to let him down."

"You won't," Qui-Gon said sharply.

They were headed towards a docking bay.

"You understand you can contact me if something happens? I know the Council said not to, but if you are captured or in anyway feel you're in danger, contact me."

Obi-Wan gave Qui-Gon a side glance. "I don't want to go against the Council, Master."

"I'm not afraid to," Qui-Gon said fiercely. "I'm responsible for your life, not the Council."

"Well, then, thank you for caring," Obi-Wan said, smiling as they reached the docking bay. The pack settled on his back suddenly became a lot heavier. "We have to make this convincing," he said uneasily.

"We will," Qui-Gon assured him, falling in a bad mood at once.

"All right then." Obi-Wan strolled forward on the bay. "I will not, Master!"

Qui-Gon looked around quickly. "Keep your voice down, Obi-Wan!"

"I will not, Master! This is the life I've always wanted. Always! How can you cut me loose without knighting me? I've served you in every way possible!"

"It doesn't matter," Qui-Gon hissed. "The anger is too great inside you. I'll give you enough to start a new life, but after that all contact with the Jedi is gone!

"Especially after that show yesterday! I've never felt so much anger!"

"I can't believe you!" Obi-Wan strained with the pack. "I just cannot believe you're letting me go!"

"It's not that hard, believe me!" Qui-Gon said, throwing the packs of credits at Obi-Wan's feet.

"You're going to be sorry!" Obi-Wan screamed. People were staring. "I swear, I'm going to hurt you in a way you've never been hurt!"

"Go ahead and try, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon sneered. "Go ahead and try." He suddenly came in close to Obi-Wan, grabbing his shoulders and shaking the younger man. He put his face close to the man's ear. "Be careful," he whispered "Be careful!"

With that he pushed him away and turned his back.

"You wait, Qui-Gon!" Obi-Wan shouted after him. "You just wait!"

With that, the angry man picked up the credits, shoved them in his pockets, and stalked towards a ship.

~*~

PART FOUR

UPROAR

By the time Qui-Gon returned to the Temple, it was in a quiet sort of uproar. He was heading towards his room when the first shocked student attacked him. It was Bant Eerin, Obi-Wan's best friend since long ago. Her Mon Calamari face was puzzled and sad, but also tinted with anger.

"Master Jinn," she said, giving him a small bow," I don't mean to intrude, but tell me, is it true that you. is it true that you set Obi-Wan free?"

Qui-Gon regarded her with a quiet look of surprise. "Where did you learn that information?" he asked.

"Master Jinn, there's gossip in the halls. I know I shouldn't ask and believe it, but Obi-Wan's my friend." She just then seemed to notice Obi- Wan wasn't around. She narrowed her eyes. "Please Master, did you?"

Qui-Gon sighed deeply. "You understand, Bant, that as his Master I had to do what I thought best. He could no longer learn anymore from me, yet he. I'm not trying to sound sardonic here, Padawan Eerin, but he danced with the Dark Side. I couldn't teach him any longer under that and I could let another Master have him. He was dangerous, Bant. You understand."

At that Bant reeled back. She looked at Qui-Gon through angry silts. "I do not understand, Master Jinn. Obi-Wan would never hurt anyone. You know that, Master Jinn. I know that. I cannot believe you set him free."

It was Qui-Gon's turn to be angry. For real. "Watch yourself, Padawan."

Bant blinked and seemed to remember who she was talking to. She gave a bow to the point where she almost touched the floor. "I apologize, Master Jinn. Excuse me." She turned and stalked down the hall. Qui-Gon watched the eighteen-year-old girl until she was out of sight.

"This is harder than I thought," Qui-Gon said, unlocking his room and going inside.

He saw the comm unit blinking. Sighing, he pressed the button.

"Master Jinn," said a hurried voice," this is Padawan Offee. I just wanted to know if it's true that Obi-Wan-"

He deleted the message and another one came one.

"Sorry to disturb you, Master Jinn, but this is Padawan Tachi and I wondering if Obi-Wan-"

He deleted the message.

"Master Jinn! Is Obi-Wan there? This is Padawan Reeft! Is it-"

He deleted that one and listened to three other messages requiring information on "Padawan Kenobi's Status." He made a clicking sound with his tongue and punched in the numbers to the Council Chambers. He waited as he was connected impatiently.

"Master Yoda," he said," every Padawan in the Temple is inquiring about Obi- Wan's "status." Is there anyway you can send around some kind of announcement?"

"You need to let this fire fade, Qui-Gon," Mace Windu said. "Of course there will be some aftershock. Go ahead and explain how we told you to. It is fine how it is. If we send something around, it might draw suspicion. The key to Obi-Wan's success is secrecy."

"Yes, Mace," Qui-Gon sighed. He replaced the comm unit.

The moment he turned his back he heard a ringing noise. He threw a look to the comm unit.

It was blinking.

~*~

Obi-Wan was going to hyperventilate. He held the dagger above his braid, breathing hard. His face in the mirror was pale and tired. He lowered his eyes to the sink, then looked to the dagger. /Just one quick swipe./ he thought.

He couldn't do it.

He chastised himself. Qui-Gon had told him to cut the braid. He needed to look the part. He needed to show that he was forever cut away from the Jedi. He had to show he showed no remorse for leaving them. He had to, he had to! The mission depended on it.

But it was so hard! He didn't want to cut the braid. That much was obvious, but it burned inside him like a coal. He gritted his teeth, pressing the dagger a little further into his braid, but not cutting it. If he cut it he would be cutting a hole through his heart.

His quarters were small, but that didn't bother him. He had a 'fresher, and he supposed that was what really mattered. The transport wasn't very luxurious, but it would deliver him to Nutu, where the bounty hunter was heading.

From the information he had gathered, Nutu was a prime world for bounty hunters. Apparently there was a district there with trimmed with them. It a world within a world. Bounty hunters lived there and trained there under other's guidance. He figured if there was any place for the hunter to go, he would go there, where he thought he would safe.

Obi-Wan was looking to pose as a hunter in response to Qui-Gon's decision to release him. After all, what better way to strike back at his hated Master than by doing so with what the Master had released him for? He thought it best to waltz in like he owned the district. He would soon get a lesson from more experienced hunters and was bound to stir up some trouble once they learned he had been a Jedi.

Which brought him back to his predicament. Save the mission or lose the braid. He didn't like the deal at all.

Obi-Wan slammed the dagger on the counter and stormed out of the 'fresher. He went to the sleep-couch and sat on it, letting his head fall into his hands. He sucked in a breath and kept his gaze focused on the rust colored floor.

/Just do it/, he told himself angrily.

But of course he couldn't.

/He ordered you to,/ he told himself.

And with that he went skidding back into the 'fresher and chopped the braid off.

~*~

As Obi-Wan's feet touched the ground of Nutu's capital city, Baith. He immediately sensed a chill of uneasiness stalk through him. He didn't believe in superstition, but he had learned from Qui-Gon to trust his instincts and go on what he believed. He sighed, swung his pack over his shoulder, and started off, pushing his way through a small thong of people as they milled about the port.

Nutu was mostly a black market world and had a dense population living in slums. Obi-Wan wasn't surprised as he passed the homeless, and children ran around him, barefoot, asking for money. Obi-Wan ignored them, although he hated that the government did little to help the people.

The world was made up of thousands of different kinds of species. Obi-Wan passed a Bith who growled at him. He saw many Humans walking around in tattered clothing. He looked up from the pavement to the high tower towering over him. Beyond that he saw many other high towers. They were apartment buildings meant for the true born citizens of Nutu, even though there weren't many of them around anymore.

Obi-Wan knew he couldn't ask for directions. It would make him suspicious. He stopped in front of what he hoped was a map. He found the Bound District easily. It was the largest one, and as he read the excerpt underneath, his heart fell.

A person entering the district needed permission from the ruler of Nutu, who resided in Baith. When Obi-Wan had asked Jacinda Nu, the Temple Archivist, about Nutu, she had remarked the ruler was caught up in black market deals and cared only about making himself rich. Obi-Wan imagined that the Bound District was profitable, since the hunters probably paid Nutu's ruler a fee every month or so.

Obi-Wan took directions from the map to the King's office. It was two blocks away and hardly looked like anything a King would use. He smiled ruefully. Even the King couldn't make himself rich enough to afford a palace.

There was a front desk in the building and the Human at the desk was female. She smiled at him disdainfully. "How may I help you?" she asked.

"I request an audience with the King, please," he said humbly.

She gave a small laugh. "I'm sorry, the King isn't seeing anyone now, but you have to have an appointment, sorry."

"He's not seeing anyone?"

"I just said that," the female said in a sing-song voice.

Obi-Wan glanced around and saw no one. "You will let me see the King," he said, waving his hand.

"Yes, I'll take you to see the King," the female responded. "This way."

Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile a little at the dazed look on her face. She led him down a hall which was packed with fans. His cloak billowed around him. "Why all the fans?" he asked.

"His Majesty much enjoys air when he walks down the halls," she replied nicely as he took him to a door.

"You will say I had an appointment," the Jedi said.

"I will tell the King you had an appointment," the female said and smiled charmingly as she opened the door.

The room was nothing more than a bedroom, and it wasn't very large. There was a sleep-couch and desk, a bookcase and table, but it wasn't what Obi- Wan expected, although the rich carpet did make up for some of that. At the desk was a middle-aged human male with raven colored hair tinted with white. Obi-Wan couldn't see anymore of his face.

"Your Majesty, you have an appointment," she said humbly.

"Dedira! You said I wouldn't have an appointment today. I'm busy."

"But he does have one, sir!" Dedira smiled at Obi-Wan.

The King sighed. He turned in his chair and surveyed Obi-Wan with distaste. Obi-Wan gave an uneasy smile.

"Fine, fine. Leave us, Dedira."

"Yes, King Myguel." She backed out of the room and the King stood up.

"Sit," he said, motioning the Jedi into a chair at the table. The King sat opposite him. "What is your name and what do you want?"

"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, sir," Obi-Wan said neutrally. "I wish to enter the Bound District."

The King regarded him with surprise. "You want permission?"

"Yes, sir," Obi-Wan said.

"You don't seem like a hunter," Myguel said.

"Sir, something terrible happened to me. I need revenge."

"And bounty hunting is the way to get it?"

"He hated bounty hunters."

"I see."

Obi-Wan hadn't expected a King who wasn't full of himself. He didn't seem obsessed with money. He seemed normal. He didn't seem like a King.

"You understand the payments you must give me."

"I do not, sir."

"Right now," Myguel said, "you will pay me fifty credits for two months. After the two months you will return here every month to pay me another fifty credits. You will get the money from whatever hit you have; I honestly don't care how you get it. With the fifty you pay me now you'll get a room in a sleeping lodge for a month. If you wish to keep that room for the time you spend there after the first month you must pay me twenty credits and the lodge ten. You understand?"

"Yes, sir, I understand." It was a rotten deal, but yes, he understood.

"Well, then, good. You're willing to pay?"

"Yes, sir, I am." He pulled out the wad of credits and handed him fifty.

Obi-Wan suddenly knew the Master Nu had been right. Myguel practically glowed as his hand touched the bills. His eyes sparkled and he looked at Obi-Wan through fevered ones. He smiled happily and tucked the bills away.

Myguel went to his desk and took out two sheets. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, correct?"

"Correct, sir."

He filled the forms out and handed them to the Jedi. "Give this one to the guard at the entrance. Give this one to the lodger. Good? Good. Now leave."

Obi-Wan was at the door when Myguel's voice filled his ears again.

"And just to let you know, don't think about slipping away. It won't work. And by the way, I know you're Jedi. Your story is half way across the galaxy now."

Obi-Wan just stared at the King.

"You must know a planet such as mine must keep track of things like this," he said with a sly smile.

Obi-Wan turned and started for the Bound District.

~*~

PART FIVE

THE QUALITY OF LIFE

After Obi-Wan presented the slip of paper to the guards at the front gate, he entered the Bound District.

He was amazed to see the quality of life. It was a breath of fresh air from the rest of Nutu, although it was tainted with a fear and darkness that unnerved him. He strode through the street, looking at the buildings were clustered the sidewalk. He watched speeders drive past him as he walked. He wasn't surprised to see they were very expensive models.

He watched the faces of the people he passed. Most of them were male humans or resembled male humans. Most of them weren't shaven and were rough housing with the people they were walking with. Some walked along quietly, keeping their faces down and minding their own business. The street wasn't very crowded, but it was noisy.

He checked the name on the slip of paper. The name of the lodge was /The Lucas/. He made a face. It was very much out of the times, almost as out of the times as was the name George. He shrugged it off. It wasn't his job to question names. He had something much more important to do, and he began skimming the buildings for the lodge.

He turned down a street and saw it. Once he was inside, he was shocked to see that it was very lavish and looked expensive. It was two stories and the lobby was deserted. He went to the front desk where a woman was standing. She looked at him and her look of pain and suffering rocked him to the core. He couldn't imagine why she was here; she didn't give the presence of a hunter.

"Hi," he said in a friendly way.

She wouldn't meet his eyes. "Hello."

"What's your name?"

She closed her eyes, as if in pain. "Tycri Nujarbi."

He smiled at her gently and put the paper on the desk. "What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.

"I work here, sir," she said, taking the paper with trembling hands. She looked to her computer and typed something in. His name, he guessed. "Thank you, Mr. Kenobi. Here is your key. Your room is B121."

"Thank you." As much as it bothered him, he couldn't press her. He wanted to help her. He sensed fear and devastation from here, but there was nothing he could do and he tried to shrug it off. Something held him back, and he asked her one more time, "what are you doing here?"

She met his eyes. "It is my duty."

He nodded. He knew a lot about duty.

"Thank you," he said again, and went towards the turbo-lift. He had a feeling. She would mean something later. Something much later.