Official Disclaimer: I am using all characters, places and things in this fic without permission, they belong to Lucasfilm. No copyright infringement is intended and I am not making money off of this fic.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, but the last two weeks have been really busy with late-night play rehearsals and lots of homework. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it; expect another one on the way soon as four's almost done. Reviews are still appreciated, as well as any plot suggestions you might have. Thanks, and here's a translation thing for this chapter if anyone needs it.
Exile
Part 3
By Ender
~~~
The next day, following another fruitless search of the widespread city, Qui-Gon entered the restaurant, immediately searching out Tox. The aging man was sitting at the same table, the questionable lighting casting shadows across his tanned skin. A datasheet and piece of flimsy sat in front of him, sparking Qui-Gon's curiosity. He sat down, again across from Verta, silencing feelings of eagerness not appropriate for a Jedi. Tox started right into it, his voice soft.
"I got your match. Says this Kenobi was last employed at Froerco's downtown." Qui-Gon's urgency to get there was obvious with the flash in his ice-blue eyes and Tox cut in quickly. "He hasn't been seen around there in eight months. But," the older man continued, taking in the Jedi's deep frown, "I talked to the owner of the place. Says Kenobi left to join the Tora in Friec. He can be found at these coordinates."
The informant pushed over the sheet of flimsy with a callused hand. Qui-Gon quickly scanned the data, then folded the flimsy and placed it in his tunic. This was adequate, but there were still some details that needed to be addressed.
" What is this Tora? And why would he join it?" Tox leaned forward and picked up his drink, sloshing the orange liquid around before taking a swig.
"Have you seen those people in the leather and armor with swords and blasters? They stand on the street corners."
"Yes," Qui-Gon answered simply, projecting his curiosity with a low tone.
"That would be the Tora. They adhere to ancient ideals of honor from the days when Ruida was separate from the galaxy and space travel was not possible."
Qui-Gon sat back and rubbed his chin, thinking of the millennia that had passed since those days. It was a feat that they had survived that long.
"That is a remarkable amount of time for one system to remain a part of society. They are the same as they were back in those days?"
"Relatively, yes, though they have taken steps to become less primitive. The most sacred ways have been kept, especially the elaborate sword fighting and apprenticeships with rights of passage. The Tora are warriors, with a code of honor and service lasting millennia that all follow to improve society. I've been told their system is almost exactly like that of the Jedi." He paused to take another swig, then continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Without the Force, of course."
Qui-Gon sucked in a breath of air as realization dawned on him. Of course Obi-Wan had joined them. At the core the former Padawan was righteous and noble, and if he could not help the galaxy as a Jedi he would as the next best thing.
"Yes," the Jedi finally answered, slowly letting the words roll off his tongue, "it does sound like the Jedi." Qui-Gon stood up and changed the subject, dropping Tox's payment on the table. "Thank you for your help. I am indebted to you."
"No problem," Verta answered, picking up the credits and depositing them in his frayed pants pocket. "Just take a transport to the location I gave you. Oh, it may be better if you tell them that you're coming first."
"Yes, it would," Qui-Gon answered him. Personally, he wasn't quite sure if alerting Obi-Wan to his presence would make things easier. With this information about the warrior clan, the Jedi thought to himself, things were going to get infinitely harder.
~~~
Qui-Gon looked up at the building in front of him, craning his neck to look at the tall towers reaching into the crystal-blue sky. This was the largest primitive building he had ever seen, though the Jedi Master had not seen many up close because they had been considered outdated for hundreds of years. It was modeled after the planet's ancient and not demolished castles with banners containing the symbols of age-old orders littering the upper level and flapping softly in the slight wind. The gray stone of the walls was not dull, but possessed a polished sheen that radiated the feeling of the old meeting the modern.
Reaching out with the Force, Qui-Gon could feel a calm mood drifting from the castle, a feeling not unlike the one he felt when he spent time in the Jedi Temple. This order was definitely similar to the Jedi, the differences slim and barely noticeable. Except for location on one planet and small details like clothing, they were essentially the same. Qui-Gon wondered why he had never heard of the Tora's warriors before, if they were so closely linked to the Jedi. The Master headed into the arched entrance, wistfully thinking about how much Obi-Wan would enjoy this place.
The master made his way into the main portion of the building and met a Tora member in polished leather that led him to a waiting area.
"You can wait here until they arrive. Caedmon Tiernan has been notified of your arrival and will inform Obi-Wan that you wish to see him. It is up to Bevan Kenobi if he will see you."
Qui-Gon nodded to show he understood, the command, but frowned at the man's terminology.
"What exactly does this Bevan mean? I am not well acquainted with your order."
"You said you are a Jedi, correct?" The Tora asked, eyeing the lightsaber hanging from Qui-Gon's belt. "Our structure is like yours in many ways. We are raised and taught here, then taken under an apprenticeship that ends when the apprentice is ready to advance in a series of trials. The word Caedmon is the equivalent of your Jedi Knight, one who has passed these trials and is a full Tora. Those who have not yet joined the order are referred to as Bevan. Obi-Wan is being taught our ways by Payton Tiernan, so that he may join us in our duties."
The lesson over, the guide inclined his head, then straightened and went back to his post. Qui-Gon was too stunned to register the fact that the man had left, sinking into a nearby chair. His heart clenched in bitterness that was just barely tinged in the Dark Side, despair cluttering his thoughts. Obi-Wan had found another worthy, if not worthier, cause. Why the Force would he ever want to come back?
Qui-Gon banished his self-defeating thoughts and released them to the Force, imagining a wave moving through his now worn out body. Never give up, he reminded himself, but he tasted acrid bile flood his mouth as he remembered the quote was one of Obi-Wan's favorites, used to annoy his Master to no end. The Jedi realized how much he missed the boy's quick wit and easy-going nature. Force, he missed his Padawan.
Pondering what he was going to say when he met Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon lost track of the minutes which passed. Wanting to get his mind off of his worries a short time later, the Jedi stood up and strode over to the doorway. Sounds of battle and instructors training students in fighting stances drifted down the hall lazily, pausing a bit for what sounded like a short water break.
Interested and thankfully distracted for once, Qui-Gon rounded the corner. He usually did not give into his curiosity like this, but he desperately needed to think of something else. A distraction was essential to calm his shaking nerves. As he walked along, other noises echoed down the corridor, voices bouncing around the thick stone walls. A deep voice was clearly audible.
"Obi-Wan, I need to tell you something." Qui-Gon froze at the mention of the name, standing dead center in the middle of the stone hallway. When the soft accented voice replied, he found he couldn't force himself to move.
"What, Payton?"
"There's, uh, someone here to see you." The reply came quickly, reverberating in the high arched ceiling.
"Who? I didn't know anyone was coming." A pause, then an answer.
"I didn't either. I was just told that-"
The Jedi Master watched in slow motion as the source of the conversation rounded the corner in front of him and came into plain view. Obi-Wan caught sight of his former Master and stopped, his disciplined posture becoming even more rigid with shock. The man next to him stopped as well, seemingly confused at the young man's reaction.
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan, noting the former Padawan had changed greatly in the past year and a half. He wore rugged, worn-in pants and firm boots reminiscent of those he had worn as a Jedi. A rough wool tunic, its color contrasting his pale skin, was apparent underneath the heavy leather jerkin he wore. The leather had carved symbols decorating its shoulders, swirls and spirals, and acted as a form of armor, covering much of his torso. Its color was offset by the dark leather gauntlets that Obi-Wan wore around his wrists. A plain, dull sword hung at a jaunty angle from his side, pulling his belt slightly down to the left.
His clothes weren't the only change, Qui-Gon noticed, now face to face with Obi-Wan. The 21-year-old had grown out his hair and its shaggy strands were dangerously close to falling into his face. A silver hoop adorned his ear, flashing as the light from overhead caught its shiny surface. His face was still the same, though, the measured look that masked his joking personality still prominent. But now Qui-Gon could find no humor behind the crystal blue eyes, the still-boyish features betraying no feeling. The Jedi could only feel hostility and pain radiating from the young man in front of him.
The source of the other voice stood beside Obi-Wan, slightly taller than the compact younger man. He was wearing generally the same wardrobe as Obi-Wan, the only changes being his different designs on the armor, silver gauntlets, and a beautifully polished sword with a hilt shaped like an animal with wings. The man, in his early thirties and clearly a senior member of the Tora, as shown by his beautifully polished armor and elaborately decorated silver sword. He futilely tried to break the silence which had descended on the room, finishing his previous sentence lamely.
"Your former Master is here."
~~~
Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan clenched his fist and inhaled deeply, then released the breath and relaxed. The only outward sign of the former Padawan's struggle was the fact that his clenched knuckles were drained of color, slightly shaking down at his sides. The Jedi admired his control, Qui-Gon was not able to do anything remotely calming at this exact moment. He was so stunned that the moment was finally here that his mind went into a lock down, waiting for someone to break the deafening silence.
Finally Obi-Wan spoke, Qui-Gon hanging on every word. The younger man gave a short bow as he opened his rigidly closed mouth.
" Hello, Qui-Gon. I'm surprised to see you here." Obi-Wan threw a heated glance towards the Caedmon out the corner of his eye. Qui-Gon was at a loss on how to reply, then let his instinct and well-practiced diplomacy take over.
"I came to talk to you about a matter of grave importance." Obi-Wan gave the slightest nod of recognition, then let the conversation pause again. He seemed to consider something, then decided against it, instead changing the subject. Stepping gracefully to the side, Obi-Wan motioned to the man standing quietly beside him.
"This is Payton Tiernan, a Caedmon of this order." He motioned to his former Master with indifference, turning his head to look at Tiernan. "Payton, the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
Both men gave a small bow at the introduction, then turned their attention back to the young man in their midst. Qui-Gon would've liked to talk with Payton alone, but needed to relay his purpose to Obi-Wan as soon as possible. The Jedi breezed through his greetings.
"It is an honor to meet you," Payton said confidently, giving Obi-Wan a concerned look.
"And you," Qui-Gon answered just as quickly. He plunged ahead, worried that he would lose his nerve---for the first time in years---before the conversation was over. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could speak to Obi-Wan in private for a few minutes."
Obi-Wan seemed to stiffen even more at the request, if that was humanly possible, but Payton answered for him.
"Of course. I will leave you for the moment." The Tora spun around and strode away without a backward glance. Qui-Gon could tell from his posture that the man wanted to stay. Obi-Wan simply walked into the nearby waiting area with hollow steps, seeming to have no drive to his motions. Qui-Gon followed him, then shut the door to give them some much-needed privacy. As he turned back around, he saw his former Padawan watching him.
"What do you want, Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan's voice seemed filled with exhaustion, enough to last him for the rest of his life. He rubbed his temples, as if he had a bad headache. Qui-Gon was astounded at the emotion spilling from the tiresome words.
"I came to tell you that the perpetrator was caught." Qui-Gon's next sentence was cut off by Obi-Wan's hurried reply.
"That's good news. Now the Temple is truly safe. Thank you for telling me," Obi-Wan turned to the door in a jerky motion, his control starting to slacken, emotions breaking through his tight grip. Qui-Gon's deep voice stopped him before he could grab the door handle.
"The Council says that you are allowed to return. They want you to come back." Emotion clouded Qui-Gon's next words as well, his voice perilously close to cracking. "I want you to come back."
Obi-Wan let his breath out slowly and looked back at Qui-Gon, lines of pain now apparent on his face, destroying his boyish looks. Now he looked years older, too old for someone whose life was just beginning.
"So they want me to return," his voice was soft, then grew louder as he continued, "after completely obliterating my entire life, years of training and work. They ripped me from the only home I've ever known, destroyed my hopes of being a Jedi. And now, they want me to give up the new life I've fought so hard for? Just drop my life and start a new one, because it's convenient for them? I think not. Not after what they...and you...did."
He was almost yelling now, almost two years of pent-up emotion coming out in a torrid rush of words. Qui-Gon had no answer, knowing in his heart that Obi-Wan was right. They had no valid reason on why he should return, with a betrayal that big. Qui-Gon couldn't give up, though; he wouldn't give up. He couldn't imagine the Jedi, or his life, without Obi-Wan, even though he had lived a year with the abominable fact.
"That's true," Qui-Gon agreed, meeting Obi-Wan's eyes. The younger man was clearly startled by the answer, his eyes widening slightly. "We made the worst decision of our lives. I'm just asking you to consider it." His tone turned to pleading, a last ditch attempt to get through to Obi-Wan. "Please."
Obi-Wan stood there for a moment, then softly answered in barely audible words.
"Fine. I will consider it."
He opened the door, and with a ghostlike swish of air he disappeared down the hall, leaving Qui-Gon in the room, alone.
Alone.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, but the last two weeks have been really busy with late-night play rehearsals and lots of homework. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it; expect another one on the way soon as four's almost done. Reviews are still appreciated, as well as any plot suggestions you might have. Thanks, and here's a translation thing for this chapter if anyone needs it.
Exile
Part 3
By Ender
~~~
The next day, following another fruitless search of the widespread city, Qui-Gon entered the restaurant, immediately searching out Tox. The aging man was sitting at the same table, the questionable lighting casting shadows across his tanned skin. A datasheet and piece of flimsy sat in front of him, sparking Qui-Gon's curiosity. He sat down, again across from Verta, silencing feelings of eagerness not appropriate for a Jedi. Tox started right into it, his voice soft.
"I got your match. Says this Kenobi was last employed at Froerco's downtown." Qui-Gon's urgency to get there was obvious with the flash in his ice-blue eyes and Tox cut in quickly. "He hasn't been seen around there in eight months. But," the older man continued, taking in the Jedi's deep frown, "I talked to the owner of the place. Says Kenobi left to join the Tora in Friec. He can be found at these coordinates."
The informant pushed over the sheet of flimsy with a callused hand. Qui-Gon quickly scanned the data, then folded the flimsy and placed it in his tunic. This was adequate, but there were still some details that needed to be addressed.
" What is this Tora? And why would he join it?" Tox leaned forward and picked up his drink, sloshing the orange liquid around before taking a swig.
"Have you seen those people in the leather and armor with swords and blasters? They stand on the street corners."
"Yes," Qui-Gon answered simply, projecting his curiosity with a low tone.
"That would be the Tora. They adhere to ancient ideals of honor from the days when Ruida was separate from the galaxy and space travel was not possible."
Qui-Gon sat back and rubbed his chin, thinking of the millennia that had passed since those days. It was a feat that they had survived that long.
"That is a remarkable amount of time for one system to remain a part of society. They are the same as they were back in those days?"
"Relatively, yes, though they have taken steps to become less primitive. The most sacred ways have been kept, especially the elaborate sword fighting and apprenticeships with rights of passage. The Tora are warriors, with a code of honor and service lasting millennia that all follow to improve society. I've been told their system is almost exactly like that of the Jedi." He paused to take another swig, then continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Without the Force, of course."
Qui-Gon sucked in a breath of air as realization dawned on him. Of course Obi-Wan had joined them. At the core the former Padawan was righteous and noble, and if he could not help the galaxy as a Jedi he would as the next best thing.
"Yes," the Jedi finally answered, slowly letting the words roll off his tongue, "it does sound like the Jedi." Qui-Gon stood up and changed the subject, dropping Tox's payment on the table. "Thank you for your help. I am indebted to you."
"No problem," Verta answered, picking up the credits and depositing them in his frayed pants pocket. "Just take a transport to the location I gave you. Oh, it may be better if you tell them that you're coming first."
"Yes, it would," Qui-Gon answered him. Personally, he wasn't quite sure if alerting Obi-Wan to his presence would make things easier. With this information about the warrior clan, the Jedi thought to himself, things were going to get infinitely harder.
~~~
Qui-Gon looked up at the building in front of him, craning his neck to look at the tall towers reaching into the crystal-blue sky. This was the largest primitive building he had ever seen, though the Jedi Master had not seen many up close because they had been considered outdated for hundreds of years. It was modeled after the planet's ancient and not demolished castles with banners containing the symbols of age-old orders littering the upper level and flapping softly in the slight wind. The gray stone of the walls was not dull, but possessed a polished sheen that radiated the feeling of the old meeting the modern.
Reaching out with the Force, Qui-Gon could feel a calm mood drifting from the castle, a feeling not unlike the one he felt when he spent time in the Jedi Temple. This order was definitely similar to the Jedi, the differences slim and barely noticeable. Except for location on one planet and small details like clothing, they were essentially the same. Qui-Gon wondered why he had never heard of the Tora's warriors before, if they were so closely linked to the Jedi. The Master headed into the arched entrance, wistfully thinking about how much Obi-Wan would enjoy this place.
The master made his way into the main portion of the building and met a Tora member in polished leather that led him to a waiting area.
"You can wait here until they arrive. Caedmon Tiernan has been notified of your arrival and will inform Obi-Wan that you wish to see him. It is up to Bevan Kenobi if he will see you."
Qui-Gon nodded to show he understood, the command, but frowned at the man's terminology.
"What exactly does this Bevan mean? I am not well acquainted with your order."
"You said you are a Jedi, correct?" The Tora asked, eyeing the lightsaber hanging from Qui-Gon's belt. "Our structure is like yours in many ways. We are raised and taught here, then taken under an apprenticeship that ends when the apprentice is ready to advance in a series of trials. The word Caedmon is the equivalent of your Jedi Knight, one who has passed these trials and is a full Tora. Those who have not yet joined the order are referred to as Bevan. Obi-Wan is being taught our ways by Payton Tiernan, so that he may join us in our duties."
The lesson over, the guide inclined his head, then straightened and went back to his post. Qui-Gon was too stunned to register the fact that the man had left, sinking into a nearby chair. His heart clenched in bitterness that was just barely tinged in the Dark Side, despair cluttering his thoughts. Obi-Wan had found another worthy, if not worthier, cause. Why the Force would he ever want to come back?
Qui-Gon banished his self-defeating thoughts and released them to the Force, imagining a wave moving through his now worn out body. Never give up, he reminded himself, but he tasted acrid bile flood his mouth as he remembered the quote was one of Obi-Wan's favorites, used to annoy his Master to no end. The Jedi realized how much he missed the boy's quick wit and easy-going nature. Force, he missed his Padawan.
Pondering what he was going to say when he met Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon lost track of the minutes which passed. Wanting to get his mind off of his worries a short time later, the Jedi stood up and strode over to the doorway. Sounds of battle and instructors training students in fighting stances drifted down the hall lazily, pausing a bit for what sounded like a short water break.
Interested and thankfully distracted for once, Qui-Gon rounded the corner. He usually did not give into his curiosity like this, but he desperately needed to think of something else. A distraction was essential to calm his shaking nerves. As he walked along, other noises echoed down the corridor, voices bouncing around the thick stone walls. A deep voice was clearly audible.
"Obi-Wan, I need to tell you something." Qui-Gon froze at the mention of the name, standing dead center in the middle of the stone hallway. When the soft accented voice replied, he found he couldn't force himself to move.
"What, Payton?"
"There's, uh, someone here to see you." The reply came quickly, reverberating in the high arched ceiling.
"Who? I didn't know anyone was coming." A pause, then an answer.
"I didn't either. I was just told that-"
The Jedi Master watched in slow motion as the source of the conversation rounded the corner in front of him and came into plain view. Obi-Wan caught sight of his former Master and stopped, his disciplined posture becoming even more rigid with shock. The man next to him stopped as well, seemingly confused at the young man's reaction.
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan, noting the former Padawan had changed greatly in the past year and a half. He wore rugged, worn-in pants and firm boots reminiscent of those he had worn as a Jedi. A rough wool tunic, its color contrasting his pale skin, was apparent underneath the heavy leather jerkin he wore. The leather had carved symbols decorating its shoulders, swirls and spirals, and acted as a form of armor, covering much of his torso. Its color was offset by the dark leather gauntlets that Obi-Wan wore around his wrists. A plain, dull sword hung at a jaunty angle from his side, pulling his belt slightly down to the left.
His clothes weren't the only change, Qui-Gon noticed, now face to face with Obi-Wan. The 21-year-old had grown out his hair and its shaggy strands were dangerously close to falling into his face. A silver hoop adorned his ear, flashing as the light from overhead caught its shiny surface. His face was still the same, though, the measured look that masked his joking personality still prominent. But now Qui-Gon could find no humor behind the crystal blue eyes, the still-boyish features betraying no feeling. The Jedi could only feel hostility and pain radiating from the young man in front of him.
The source of the other voice stood beside Obi-Wan, slightly taller than the compact younger man. He was wearing generally the same wardrobe as Obi-Wan, the only changes being his different designs on the armor, silver gauntlets, and a beautifully polished sword with a hilt shaped like an animal with wings. The man, in his early thirties and clearly a senior member of the Tora, as shown by his beautifully polished armor and elaborately decorated silver sword. He futilely tried to break the silence which had descended on the room, finishing his previous sentence lamely.
"Your former Master is here."
~~~
Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan clenched his fist and inhaled deeply, then released the breath and relaxed. The only outward sign of the former Padawan's struggle was the fact that his clenched knuckles were drained of color, slightly shaking down at his sides. The Jedi admired his control, Qui-Gon was not able to do anything remotely calming at this exact moment. He was so stunned that the moment was finally here that his mind went into a lock down, waiting for someone to break the deafening silence.
Finally Obi-Wan spoke, Qui-Gon hanging on every word. The younger man gave a short bow as he opened his rigidly closed mouth.
" Hello, Qui-Gon. I'm surprised to see you here." Obi-Wan threw a heated glance towards the Caedmon out the corner of his eye. Qui-Gon was at a loss on how to reply, then let his instinct and well-practiced diplomacy take over.
"I came to talk to you about a matter of grave importance." Obi-Wan gave the slightest nod of recognition, then let the conversation pause again. He seemed to consider something, then decided against it, instead changing the subject. Stepping gracefully to the side, Obi-Wan motioned to the man standing quietly beside him.
"This is Payton Tiernan, a Caedmon of this order." He motioned to his former Master with indifference, turning his head to look at Tiernan. "Payton, the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
Both men gave a small bow at the introduction, then turned their attention back to the young man in their midst. Qui-Gon would've liked to talk with Payton alone, but needed to relay his purpose to Obi-Wan as soon as possible. The Jedi breezed through his greetings.
"It is an honor to meet you," Payton said confidently, giving Obi-Wan a concerned look.
"And you," Qui-Gon answered just as quickly. He plunged ahead, worried that he would lose his nerve---for the first time in years---before the conversation was over. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could speak to Obi-Wan in private for a few minutes."
Obi-Wan seemed to stiffen even more at the request, if that was humanly possible, but Payton answered for him.
"Of course. I will leave you for the moment." The Tora spun around and strode away without a backward glance. Qui-Gon could tell from his posture that the man wanted to stay. Obi-Wan simply walked into the nearby waiting area with hollow steps, seeming to have no drive to his motions. Qui-Gon followed him, then shut the door to give them some much-needed privacy. As he turned back around, he saw his former Padawan watching him.
"What do you want, Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan's voice seemed filled with exhaustion, enough to last him for the rest of his life. He rubbed his temples, as if he had a bad headache. Qui-Gon was astounded at the emotion spilling from the tiresome words.
"I came to tell you that the perpetrator was caught." Qui-Gon's next sentence was cut off by Obi-Wan's hurried reply.
"That's good news. Now the Temple is truly safe. Thank you for telling me," Obi-Wan turned to the door in a jerky motion, his control starting to slacken, emotions breaking through his tight grip. Qui-Gon's deep voice stopped him before he could grab the door handle.
"The Council says that you are allowed to return. They want you to come back." Emotion clouded Qui-Gon's next words as well, his voice perilously close to cracking. "I want you to come back."
Obi-Wan let his breath out slowly and looked back at Qui-Gon, lines of pain now apparent on his face, destroying his boyish looks. Now he looked years older, too old for someone whose life was just beginning.
"So they want me to return," his voice was soft, then grew louder as he continued, "after completely obliterating my entire life, years of training and work. They ripped me from the only home I've ever known, destroyed my hopes of being a Jedi. And now, they want me to give up the new life I've fought so hard for? Just drop my life and start a new one, because it's convenient for them? I think not. Not after what they...and you...did."
He was almost yelling now, almost two years of pent-up emotion coming out in a torrid rush of words. Qui-Gon had no answer, knowing in his heart that Obi-Wan was right. They had no valid reason on why he should return, with a betrayal that big. Qui-Gon couldn't give up, though; he wouldn't give up. He couldn't imagine the Jedi, or his life, without Obi-Wan, even though he had lived a year with the abominable fact.
"That's true," Qui-Gon agreed, meeting Obi-Wan's eyes. The younger man was clearly startled by the answer, his eyes widening slightly. "We made the worst decision of our lives. I'm just asking you to consider it." His tone turned to pleading, a last ditch attempt to get through to Obi-Wan. "Please."
Obi-Wan stood there for a moment, then softly answered in barely audible words.
"Fine. I will consider it."
He opened the door, and with a ghostlike swish of air he disappeared down the hall, leaving Qui-Gon in the room, alone.
Alone.
