Official Disclaimer: No copyright infringement was intended in this fic and all the characters/places/things used here are property of Lucasfilm etc. I am not making money from this either. Darn.
Also, the quote used is from Jedi Apprentice; the Dark Rival and is the property of Jude Watson and Scholastic. I have no affiliation with them and no copyright infringement was intended.
Author's Note: Well, after insane amounts of schoolwork/finals, writer's block, one of the worst weeks of my life, and two vacations, I have returned. This is the last chapter of Exile and I'd like to thank all the reviewers for their great support and inspiration. Thanks to Spaz for putting up with proofreading and such, and jedilittlebee for jump-starting me into action after my stuff cleared up. Again, enjoy the last part and don't forget to drop a review on the way out. Thanks for waiting!
AN #2: The (...) indicates a dream sequence.
Anna Skywalker: Thanks! And I'll try to write another fic with someone to throw rocks at, so keep them ready. REALbluelightsaber: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the Boh-slaying. :) Agent Jaid: Yep, just finishing it off. Your answer's in this chapter. Master Elora Dannan: I'm writing, I'm writing! Jedilittlebee: Yep, I'm still here and now it's finished. ^_^ And thanks for the nice review for Quietus, I'm glad you liked it. In fact, I took your suggestion and I might be writing a new Obi/Qui fic which has something a little similar to the parts you liked in Quietus. And my e-mail's up on the author page now, so feel free to e-mail me anytime! Laurajslr: Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you like the fic!
Exile
Chapter 10
By Ender
Qui-Gon stood in front of the communicator, a small holo of the Council shimmering before him. Bowing slightly, he began his report, deep voice echoing in the empty metal room.
"We have been cleared of any blame in the political situation and Boh's death, Masters. The unrest has subsided and the peace accord has been accepted on both sides."
The tiny figure of Mace Windu leaned forward, fingers steepled as usual as his piercing gaze fixed on Qui-Gon.
"So it is done?" Qui-Gon inclined his head, heavy robes shifting slightly around him.
"Yes, Master. The nightmare is over." A small sigh could be heard over the communicator's intercom as the Council members all relaxed; the horrible event that had plagued them was complete. This had been one of the worst situations the Jedi had known, and Qui-Gon shared in their relief. A sense of calm seemed to fill the picture, with the exception of a frowning Yoda.
"And spoken to Obi-Wan, you have?"
Qui-Gon's spirits fell, as did his mental shielding; his tumultuous emotions were bared for all the Council to see, but at this point he didn't care.
"No, Master," he replied wearily, "I have not."
Yoda's tone shifted to one of great sadness.
"Do this, you must. Then up to him, it is."
********
Obi-Wan's intense blue eyes stared at a spot on his wall, a spot they had not left for hours. He had been sitting motionless in his room, his healing leg draped over the side of the chair as he tried to make sense of his thoughts. Even the ache that was setting into his stiff back not break his dark mood, a minor annoyance compared to the decisions that he had to make, and had already made.
A loud knock shocked him out of his brooding, forcing Obi-Wan to pry himself up from his chair and make his way slowly to the door. The door slid open as the Bevan hit the panel with a fist, revealing the familiar figure of Qui-Gon. The Jedi seemed almost as motionless as Obi-Wan had been minutes before, his voice coming out just a little too measured and forced.
"My transport leaves in an hour on landing pad sixteen." He paused for a second, clearly trying to maintain his calm. "If you would like to join us, we will wait for you. I will understand if you don't." Despite his best efforts, a bit of pleading could be heard in his voice. "But please, just consider it. That is all I ask."
"I will." Obi-Wan's voice was sincere as he nodded, but no hint of an answer could be seen in his guarded features.
"Goodbye, then."
"Goodbye."
********
The door hissed shut as Obi-Wan heaved a sigh and made his way over to his bed. He sat on the edge of the tan blanket, the mattress sinking under the man's weight as his muscled arms braced against the sides. The Bevan felt his eyes grow heavy as a wave of weariness settled over him, the pressure behind his eyes growing stronger in the precursor to a bad headache.
His eyes started to close involuntarily, but he did nothing to stop their descent. Obi-Wan mentally shrugged; a quick nap to clear his head wouldn't hurt. Swinging his feet up onto the bed, he propped his head up on the pillow and quickly fell asleep.
(It was black.
Darkness filled every square inch of Obi-Wan's vision, filling his with a disorienting feeling that made it seem like he was floating. Blue eyes looked down into the blackness below him; maybe he was floating.
A cool breeze ruffled his hair, drawing his attention to a silvery mist appearing in the distance. It seemed to be calling to him, swirling in patterns that he couldn't break his gaze from. He began to walk towards it, feet hitting an invisible ground of shadows.
It seemed like hours passed as Obi-Wan strode in the mist's direction, but fatigue didn't overcome him. Instead, only a sense of purpose filled his mind, spurring him on further. As he drew closer, he could make out a silver path concealed under the twisting mists. Through an irrational leap of faith that could be only accepted in a dream, he realized that it was the path he was looking for.
His desire to reach the path growing, he increased his pace, but after a while he noticed it was getting no closer. Frustration rushed through his veins and he began to jog, then sprint, all to no avail. Now he became tired, the ever-distant path glittering, mocking him with its remoteness.
Exhaustion overtook him and he sunk to the ground, struggling for breath. All he could do was watch the taunting vapor curl around itself in an almost-circle.
A broken circle. Memories. A voice echoed in the emptiness.
"I would be honored to accept you as my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The words left the same sense of accomplishment, of rightness as they had the first time. He knew he had found who he was. Filled with renewed energy, he opened his mouth to answer...)
And then it was over.
Obi-Wan jolted up into a sitting position, heart racing. Sweat clung on his brow, and he drew up a shaky hand to wipe it away. His body was shivering, but he knew what he had to do, what the Force was willing him to do. A glance at the chrono jolted his heart again; his hour was almost up. Obi-Wan jumped off the bed, stopping quickly to grab his cloak before bolting out the door.
He skidded around the hall's corner, bringing him right into the path of an oncoming Payton. The Tora grabbed the younger man's shoulders with a firm grip, keeping them both from falling over. Payton broke into a grin.
"Hey, where are you going so fast?" His warm tone filled Obi-Wan with so much guilt about his decision that it made him remain silent. Payton's grin faded as the Bevan failed to answer. "You've decided, haven't you?"
"Yes," Obi-Wan answered simply.
"And you haven't chosen the Tora, I take it."
"No."
Payton sighed, his face twisting into a frown. "I see."
Obi-Wan could hear the regret in his friend's voice and tried to explain. "I'm sorry but it...it just feels right." The older man cut off the rest of his answer.
"It's all right, Obi-Wan. I can't say that I'm not disappointed," he paused, a small smile starting to hint at the corner of his mouth, "but I'm not surprised." Obi-Wan's features twisted in confusion.
"You're a Jedi to the bone, Obi-Wan; I could tell ever since Qui-Gon arrived. You lapsed into Jedi habits like you were born to it. And you were. You can't fight it." Payton placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Go. You have my blessing...though you would've made one hell of a Tora."
Both men grinned at that comment, but Obi-Wan's soon faded.
"I'm sorry I have to leave you like this." He started to unbuckle his sword belt. "Please, take this back for one of your students."
"Keep it," Payton smiled, "As a memento of your Caedmon. Maybe it'll remind you to check back now and then."
Obi-Wan broke into a genuine grin. "You can count on it." He glanced at a chrono on the wall. "I'm sorry, but I have to get going." Smiling wistfully, he gave a ceremonial bow.
"Until we meet again, Caedmon Tiernan."
"Until then, Padawan Kenobi."
********
Qui-Gon stood on the ship's loading ramp, tensely leaning against the wall as he stared at the road leading to the shipyards. Checking the time once more, he was filled with dread; Obi-Wan showed no signs of coming and the transport was leaving soon. The Jedi hadn't considered, hadn't wanted to believe that his former Padawan would not come, but it looked like that was the harsh reality. With a look of utter pain, he turned and began to board the ship.
A roar of a motor behind him gave Qui-Gon a shock of hope and he forced himself to turn around, jaw clenched with nervousness. A figure jumped out of the speeder and Qui-Gon knew that walk better than any being alive. He couldn't help smiling at the man as pure joy relieved the anxiety he had felt for months. The younger man jogged up to the ship, his leg clearly better than it had been, and stopped in front of the Jedi Master.
"Sorry I'm late," Obi-Wan gave a sly grin that Qui-Gon hadn't seen in over a year.
"No, you're just on time," Qui-Gon grinned back, then become aware of his situation and grimaced, "Obi-Wan, I'm sorry-" Obi-Wan cut in in a calming tone.
"You are forgiven. What you did was wrong, but I can see now why you did it. No matter what has happened, I am a Jedi and I cannot ignore my duty to the Order and my Master...if you'll have me again."
"Of course." Qui-Gon wrapped his arm around the younger man's shoulders and smiled. "Of course."
Dropping his arm, they silently walked onto the ship as they had done hundreds of times before, after the successful ends of countless missions. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, sensed the Force flowing around him, and smiled.
He had never felt anything more right in his life.
Also, the quote used is from Jedi Apprentice; the Dark Rival and is the property of Jude Watson and Scholastic. I have no affiliation with them and no copyright infringement was intended.
Author's Note: Well, after insane amounts of schoolwork/finals, writer's block, one of the worst weeks of my life, and two vacations, I have returned. This is the last chapter of Exile and I'd like to thank all the reviewers for their great support and inspiration. Thanks to Spaz for putting up with proofreading and such, and jedilittlebee for jump-starting me into action after my stuff cleared up. Again, enjoy the last part and don't forget to drop a review on the way out. Thanks for waiting!
AN #2: The (...) indicates a dream sequence.
Anna Skywalker: Thanks! And I'll try to write another fic with someone to throw rocks at, so keep them ready. REALbluelightsaber: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the Boh-slaying. :) Agent Jaid: Yep, just finishing it off. Your answer's in this chapter. Master Elora Dannan: I'm writing, I'm writing! Jedilittlebee: Yep, I'm still here and now it's finished. ^_^ And thanks for the nice review for Quietus, I'm glad you liked it. In fact, I took your suggestion and I might be writing a new Obi/Qui fic which has something a little similar to the parts you liked in Quietus. And my e-mail's up on the author page now, so feel free to e-mail me anytime! Laurajslr: Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you like the fic!
Exile
Chapter 10
By Ender
Qui-Gon stood in front of the communicator, a small holo of the Council shimmering before him. Bowing slightly, he began his report, deep voice echoing in the empty metal room.
"We have been cleared of any blame in the political situation and Boh's death, Masters. The unrest has subsided and the peace accord has been accepted on both sides."
The tiny figure of Mace Windu leaned forward, fingers steepled as usual as his piercing gaze fixed on Qui-Gon.
"So it is done?" Qui-Gon inclined his head, heavy robes shifting slightly around him.
"Yes, Master. The nightmare is over." A small sigh could be heard over the communicator's intercom as the Council members all relaxed; the horrible event that had plagued them was complete. This had been one of the worst situations the Jedi had known, and Qui-Gon shared in their relief. A sense of calm seemed to fill the picture, with the exception of a frowning Yoda.
"And spoken to Obi-Wan, you have?"
Qui-Gon's spirits fell, as did his mental shielding; his tumultuous emotions were bared for all the Council to see, but at this point he didn't care.
"No, Master," he replied wearily, "I have not."
Yoda's tone shifted to one of great sadness.
"Do this, you must. Then up to him, it is."
********
Obi-Wan's intense blue eyes stared at a spot on his wall, a spot they had not left for hours. He had been sitting motionless in his room, his healing leg draped over the side of the chair as he tried to make sense of his thoughts. Even the ache that was setting into his stiff back not break his dark mood, a minor annoyance compared to the decisions that he had to make, and had already made.
A loud knock shocked him out of his brooding, forcing Obi-Wan to pry himself up from his chair and make his way slowly to the door. The door slid open as the Bevan hit the panel with a fist, revealing the familiar figure of Qui-Gon. The Jedi seemed almost as motionless as Obi-Wan had been minutes before, his voice coming out just a little too measured and forced.
"My transport leaves in an hour on landing pad sixteen." He paused for a second, clearly trying to maintain his calm. "If you would like to join us, we will wait for you. I will understand if you don't." Despite his best efforts, a bit of pleading could be heard in his voice. "But please, just consider it. That is all I ask."
"I will." Obi-Wan's voice was sincere as he nodded, but no hint of an answer could be seen in his guarded features.
"Goodbye, then."
"Goodbye."
********
The door hissed shut as Obi-Wan heaved a sigh and made his way over to his bed. He sat on the edge of the tan blanket, the mattress sinking under the man's weight as his muscled arms braced against the sides. The Bevan felt his eyes grow heavy as a wave of weariness settled over him, the pressure behind his eyes growing stronger in the precursor to a bad headache.
His eyes started to close involuntarily, but he did nothing to stop their descent. Obi-Wan mentally shrugged; a quick nap to clear his head wouldn't hurt. Swinging his feet up onto the bed, he propped his head up on the pillow and quickly fell asleep.
(It was black.
Darkness filled every square inch of Obi-Wan's vision, filling his with a disorienting feeling that made it seem like he was floating. Blue eyes looked down into the blackness below him; maybe he was floating.
A cool breeze ruffled his hair, drawing his attention to a silvery mist appearing in the distance. It seemed to be calling to him, swirling in patterns that he couldn't break his gaze from. He began to walk towards it, feet hitting an invisible ground of shadows.
It seemed like hours passed as Obi-Wan strode in the mist's direction, but fatigue didn't overcome him. Instead, only a sense of purpose filled his mind, spurring him on further. As he drew closer, he could make out a silver path concealed under the twisting mists. Through an irrational leap of faith that could be only accepted in a dream, he realized that it was the path he was looking for.
His desire to reach the path growing, he increased his pace, but after a while he noticed it was getting no closer. Frustration rushed through his veins and he began to jog, then sprint, all to no avail. Now he became tired, the ever-distant path glittering, mocking him with its remoteness.
Exhaustion overtook him and he sunk to the ground, struggling for breath. All he could do was watch the taunting vapor curl around itself in an almost-circle.
A broken circle. Memories. A voice echoed in the emptiness.
"I would be honored to accept you as my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The words left the same sense of accomplishment, of rightness as they had the first time. He knew he had found who he was. Filled with renewed energy, he opened his mouth to answer...)
And then it was over.
Obi-Wan jolted up into a sitting position, heart racing. Sweat clung on his brow, and he drew up a shaky hand to wipe it away. His body was shivering, but he knew what he had to do, what the Force was willing him to do. A glance at the chrono jolted his heart again; his hour was almost up. Obi-Wan jumped off the bed, stopping quickly to grab his cloak before bolting out the door.
He skidded around the hall's corner, bringing him right into the path of an oncoming Payton. The Tora grabbed the younger man's shoulders with a firm grip, keeping them both from falling over. Payton broke into a grin.
"Hey, where are you going so fast?" His warm tone filled Obi-Wan with so much guilt about his decision that it made him remain silent. Payton's grin faded as the Bevan failed to answer. "You've decided, haven't you?"
"Yes," Obi-Wan answered simply.
"And you haven't chosen the Tora, I take it."
"No."
Payton sighed, his face twisting into a frown. "I see."
Obi-Wan could hear the regret in his friend's voice and tried to explain. "I'm sorry but it...it just feels right." The older man cut off the rest of his answer.
"It's all right, Obi-Wan. I can't say that I'm not disappointed," he paused, a small smile starting to hint at the corner of his mouth, "but I'm not surprised." Obi-Wan's features twisted in confusion.
"You're a Jedi to the bone, Obi-Wan; I could tell ever since Qui-Gon arrived. You lapsed into Jedi habits like you were born to it. And you were. You can't fight it." Payton placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Go. You have my blessing...though you would've made one hell of a Tora."
Both men grinned at that comment, but Obi-Wan's soon faded.
"I'm sorry I have to leave you like this." He started to unbuckle his sword belt. "Please, take this back for one of your students."
"Keep it," Payton smiled, "As a memento of your Caedmon. Maybe it'll remind you to check back now and then."
Obi-Wan broke into a genuine grin. "You can count on it." He glanced at a chrono on the wall. "I'm sorry, but I have to get going." Smiling wistfully, he gave a ceremonial bow.
"Until we meet again, Caedmon Tiernan."
"Until then, Padawan Kenobi."
********
Qui-Gon stood on the ship's loading ramp, tensely leaning against the wall as he stared at the road leading to the shipyards. Checking the time once more, he was filled with dread; Obi-Wan showed no signs of coming and the transport was leaving soon. The Jedi hadn't considered, hadn't wanted to believe that his former Padawan would not come, but it looked like that was the harsh reality. With a look of utter pain, he turned and began to board the ship.
A roar of a motor behind him gave Qui-Gon a shock of hope and he forced himself to turn around, jaw clenched with nervousness. A figure jumped out of the speeder and Qui-Gon knew that walk better than any being alive. He couldn't help smiling at the man as pure joy relieved the anxiety he had felt for months. The younger man jogged up to the ship, his leg clearly better than it had been, and stopped in front of the Jedi Master.
"Sorry I'm late," Obi-Wan gave a sly grin that Qui-Gon hadn't seen in over a year.
"No, you're just on time," Qui-Gon grinned back, then become aware of his situation and grimaced, "Obi-Wan, I'm sorry-" Obi-Wan cut in in a calming tone.
"You are forgiven. What you did was wrong, but I can see now why you did it. No matter what has happened, I am a Jedi and I cannot ignore my duty to the Order and my Master...if you'll have me again."
"Of course." Qui-Gon wrapped his arm around the younger man's shoulders and smiled. "Of course."
Dropping his arm, they silently walked onto the ship as they had done hundreds of times before, after the successful ends of countless missions. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, sensed the Force flowing around him, and smiled.
He had never felt anything more right in his life.
