Official Disclaimer: The characters and places in this fic belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm. Payton is mine. No copyright infringement was intended and I'm still never going to receive any money from this. As usual.

Author's Note: Okay, the reviews have spurred me on to update a little sooner, so here's the next chapter. Thanks to everyone for reading! Reviews are encouraged! *Hint, hint, nudge, nudge* And some comments to my reviewers...
Jules: Your wish is my command. I'll try to update sooner from now on.
Death Rider: Yes, a little Obi-torture always adds to the mix!
Jedi Ha'li and Culf: Thanks. More has arrived. :)
Anna Skywalker: You'll find out!
Spazoid: Ha! *Gives her a chibi Merry Brandybuck doll to make her calm down*

Exile

By Ender

Part 6


He could fell the rampant flame as it licked at his leg in bursts of pain, stinging worse than any lightsaber burn he had ever encountered before, while causing vivid colors to flicker in the darkness surrounding him. A floating feeling engulfed his body; he could only feel his throbbing leg, the rest of his body strangely absent. Fleeting visions of water flashed past his eyes as he slowly opened his eyelids and suppressed a groan.

Disoriented, Obi-Wan blinked up at the lights that temporarily blinded him, looking for something to focus on. Something moved in his peripheral vision, but as he turned to look at the shape a sharp tug pulled at his leg, and the blaze swiftly transformed into an inferno. The young man gave a strangled scream as his body jerked on reflex, his jaw locking tight and his nails cutting into his palms as his fists clenched.

"Hold him," he heard faintly, a whisper behind the dull roar in his ears. As the sunspots in his sight slowly disintegrated, the worried face of Payton emerged. The older man put a broad arm across his friend's chest, bracing him until the spasms stopped.

"Sorry," he said with an apologetic grimace. "We had to get your boot off to see the damage."

Leaning his head up weakly, Obi-Wan could see Qui-Gon gently pushing up his pants left leg, a small emergency kit beside him. He dropped his head with a lifeless thud as another swell of pain tensed his body.

"Blaster wound," he heard his former master say. "It went right through the calf. Is there bacta in this?" Payton's face, hovering above him, nodded as Qui-Gon pointed towards the kit.

"Yes, in the second compartment." He leaned over to study the wound. "It must have come from the speeder as it left."

"No," Obi-Wan managed to choke out, gritting his teeth together. "My leg went forward. It hit me from behind."

He could feel both men's gazed on him. "Are you sure?" asked Qui-Gon.

"Yes," he replied, his quiet accent seeming very hoarse in the silent din of the room. Suddenly he remembered what had gotten them into this mess. "What about the ambassadors?"

Payton's face grew dark as he stared at something across the room. "Dead. They were shot by one of their own before he incapacitated our vehicle and jumped in the speeder. He must have blasted you as he ran."

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's cultured accent started to fade away as the young man started to drift back into hallucination. "I'm going to put the bacta on now." He simply grunted, black slowly replacing yellow as he stared at the ceiling. Qui-Gon's voice melted into the oncoming silence, but for the barest moment as he sunk in delusion, Obi-Wan could swear that everything was back to normal, and his Master was taking him home.

************

"The search for the sniper goes on as the wariness of the planet greatens at the continuous threat of war..."

The pronounced voice of the news reporter pierced Obi-Wan's eardrums as he woke up on the hard floor. Rolling his head to the side, he glimpsed Payton and Qui-Gon watching Ruida's holonet on a small projector. Gathering his strength over the next few moments, the young man bent his uninjured right leg up and grabbed it, pulling himself upright with a groan.

"How long have I been out?" he muttered as they turned to look at him with startled looks.

"Almost a day," Qui-Gon answered finally, his concern guarded, but showing through his defenses. "How's the leg?"

Probing the injury with the Force, Obi-Wan was surprised to feel that it was much better, the swelling and ache down to a minimal, and somewhat tolerable, level.

"Better," he said as he lightly pulled his pants leg up and ran a hand over the rough, tightly wound bandage encompassing his lower leg. Looking up, he held his former Master's gaze. "Thank you." The older man simply nodded.

Payton rose and walked over, taking Obi-Wan's hand and pulling him up in one fluid motion. "You should be able to stand on it," he told his charge. "We used the fastest-healing bacta on the market."

Obi-Wan carefully put his left foot on the floor and slowly put pressure on his leg as Payton put a supporting arm around his shoulders. Soon he was standing tall, his full body weight on the wound with only a mild ache. With a nod from Obi-Wan, Payton released his hold.

"You're right." Obi-Wan gave a tiny grin as he took a step forward. "That was some good bacta." He bounced a bit, testing his leg's limits, and nearly stumbled, catching himself on the wall.

"But you still need to give it some rest." Payton maneuvered him over to a nearby chair and the former Jedi sank into the large piece of furniture. Obi-Wan looked over to the glimmering picture, following the commentary. The three men became silent as they watched the threat of war build on both sides, the reporting beings showing the armies massing on both planets.

Minutes later, the person from before returned, his voice echoing in the silent safe house after a lengthy pause. Obi-Wan felt a shiver travel down his spine; somehow, he had a bad feeling about that uncharacteristic pause.

"A statement from police has just been released. The chief suspect in the sniper incident is a man named Obi-Wan Kenobi. Recordings have been found of the suspect speaking with the alleged leader of the attacks, Payton Tiernan. Both are allied with the well-known Tora, who are currently denying the allegations. More on this as the police reveal further evidence."