Chapter Four Saying Goodbye

Siri Tachi sat at a table in the cafeteria with Bruck Chun and Niela Anta-Sheck eating first meal.

As they ate Bruck told the two girls about his sparring match that he had the day before, in which, he had nearly beat a student that was older. Siri only partially listened to his tales, as her mind drifted to Obi-Wan laying in the recovery room of the healer's wing.

When she heard about what he had done to Qui-Gon on Melida/Dann, she had tried to hate him for it. She told her self that if someone could just leave the Jedi order like that without caring about how his decision would effect anyone else, that he wasn't worth a second thought, but her heart told her other wise. She had ignored her heart, which told her that Obi-Wan would not act that way without good reason. But as she sat listening to Bruck's account of the sparring match which changed every time he told it, she wished she could sit along side of Bant, Reeft, and Garen, and find out how Obi-Wan was doing.

Suddenly a loud buzzer sounded over the noise of the students, knights, and masters who were engaged in various conversations in the cafeteria. The buzzer was used to get the attention, of the knights, and students and let them know that an announcement would follow the buzzer, over the comm unit.

Most of the noise in the cafeteria died down immediately as the voice of Docent Vant drifted through the cafeteria. "May I have your attention, please, would initiates Bant Eerin, Reeft, and Garen Muln please report to the healer's ward, I repeat would Bant Eerin, Reeft, and Garen Muln please report to the healer's wing immediately."

Silence filled the cafeteria as everyone in the room, turned their gazes to the three initiates that had just been called. Siri had a feeling that something had happened; it was too much of a coincidence that the three friends would have to report for a physical at the same time, and day, when their friend happened to be laying in a recovery room in the healer's wing.

Siri watched as the three friends shared a concerned glance amongst each other and then slowly got out of their seats, disposed of their trays of food, and left the room.

"Sounds like they're in trouble," Bruck smirked, as the conversations in the cafeteria began to resume. "They were probably causing trouble in the healer's wing, when they were visiting Obi-Wan last night."

"Yeah, I heard that the healer's had to kick them out of the recovery room," Niela agreed.

"Siri, you're awfully quiet today, how was your morning?" Bruck asked, taking a bite of a piece of fruit.

"It was fine, nothing really exciting happened, although I must admit that your sparring match with Padawan Aalto, yesterday was quite interesting to watch," Siri said after taking a sip of juice.

Siri smirked when Bruck frowned; Siri's sparring class had ended early, and they were aloud to watch some of the other classes that were going on at the same time. Before Bruck could make a comment to her, the buzzer again rang indicating that there would be another announcement.

"May I have your attention please," Docent Vant's voice again said, "As I am sure you are most likely already aware, the other day padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi was involved in a lift tube accident, and then had been trapped in the fire in the healer's wing." Siri's stomach suddenly began to twist into knots as Docent paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "Early this morning, due to complications from his injuries, Obi-Wan Kenobi died and is now one with the force.

"The death of Obi-Wan Kenobi will come as a shock to a lot of us, so all initiate and padawan classes will be postponed for today, and Masters Adi Gallia, Even Piell, Ki-Adi Mundi, Tahl, and Depa Billaba will be available to speak with anyone who feels that they need to speak with someone about this matter. Services for Obi-Wan will be announced after his master Qui-Gon Jinn is found and notified."

The cafeteria had become eerily quiet since the announcement ended, and Siri felt her stomach lurch as if someone had just punched her in the stomach. She wanted to scream, to run out of the cafeteria, and run to the healer's wing to see for her self that it was true, but her legs felt as if they were frozen to the floor. She had risked her life crawling through the ventilation shafts to save his; he couldn't just suddenly die after they were told that he would be all right, could he?

"Master," Siri called to Adi Gallia through the bond that they shared.

"I am here, Padawan. Are you ok?" the councilwoman asked over the bond.

"Is it true master? Is he really dead? Please tell me that he is not dead?"

"I am very sorry Siri, but I can't tell you that," Master Adi said somberly through the training bond.

Niela looked at Siri with concern in her gray eyes and asked, "are you all right Siri?"

"Come on Siri you can't seriously be upset over Oafy-Wan. You two weren't exactly the best of friends you know," Bruck taunted.

"Bruck give her a break," Niela said, "none of us especially liked him, but it is still terrible that he died."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Bruck smiled, "I would have much rather of seen Oafy-Wan get sent back to the Agri-Corps again."

"You're rotten," Niela laughed along with him, "truthful, but rotten."

Siri could feel her anger build as the two students sitting across the table from her teased a boy who would never again get the opportunity to defend himself. In the past Siri had found it easier to join Bruck, Niela, and their other friends in taunting Obi-Wan, instead of admitting that she had a crush on him. She had longed to be a true friend of his, as good of a friend as Bant and he were. But now she would never get that chance.

As she stared at her friends who were still chuckling over Bruck's comment, she felt disgusted by them, and stood up no longer wanting to share the same table with the two of them.

"Are you going to go and talk to your master about poor Oafy-Wan?" Bruck asked.

"Maybe I am, or maybe I am going to go to the healers ward." Siri yelled, "and stop calling him that! His name is Obi-Wan! If I'm not mistaken your thirteenth birthday is approaching and no one has chosen you for a padawan. Maybe you're the one who should go to the Agri- Corps, and not Obi-Wan," Siri told him, before turning, and then quickly leaving the cafeteria. She knew that nearly everyone in the cafeteria had heard her out burst, and were probably staring after her, but she didn't look back. She quickly headed out of the cafeteria, as tears began to slide down her cheeks.

*** * ***

"Unsure of this plan of yours, I am," Yoda said to Mace Windu as they sat in one of the meditation rooms.

"What choice do we have, we have to find out who was trying to kill Obi-Wan, and why. They may try to go after other padawans, or initiates."

"Hmm, unknown the culprits motives are, but sense danger to other students I do not."

"I tried to contact Qui-Gon, but I could not get through to him," Mace said.

"Keep trying you will. Informed of this situation he must be." "I will," Mace nodded.

* *** *

Qui-Gon Jinn gave the pilot that had brought him to the temple his thanks, and then quickly exited the vessel. He saw Knight Cal-I-Vaun, and Hoola standing near the exit. He was not surprised to see the two security officers in the hangar.

"Master Qui-Gon, Master Mace has been trying to reach you," Cal-I-Vaun said.

Qui-Gon did not like the sadness that he saw in the man's eyes, and felt an ache begin to burn in his chest. "Is the temple on lock down, because of an intruder?"

"Yes. There may be an intruder inside the temple," Hoola said.

"No, there is an intruder. He is very cunning, and will be hard to catch. He always has a back up escape route," Qui-Gon told them.

"Thanks for the advice," Cal-I-Vaun said. "Master Mace and Yoda wish to speak with you in the council room. They thought that you might return."

"Tell them that I will speak with them after I see my padawan in the healer's wing."

"I think that is why they want to see you first sir," Hoola said.

Qui-Gon looked at the man's eyes he could see a sadness that was not usually found in the older man's eyes, just like Cal-I-Vaun. Hoola is normally a jovial person, always trying to find the good in people and trying to look at the bright side of things. After looking into the man's eyes Qui-Gon felt a sense of dread wash over him, and said, "I have to see Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon then quickly made his way out of the hangar, and headed towards the healer's wing. Once outside of the entrance he stopped. His feet suddenly felt heavy, and he was afraid of what he would find when he entered the healers wing.

Through the glass of the doors, he could see the area that had been blocked off do to the damage caused by the fire, and began to berate himself for not being there to help his padawan, when he needed him the most, and now he feared that it would be too late.

"Qui-Gon," Adi Gallia said stepping off of the lift tube.

"He didn't survive did he?" Qui-Gon asked quietly, almost too quietly for the councilwoman to hear him.

"Qui-Gon, why don't we go and speak with Mace and Yoda?"

"No, I need to see him first. I need to say goodbye. I didn't get to say goodbye to him before I left."

Adi sighed and nodded her head before saying, "his friends Bant, Garen, Reeft and Siri are saying goodbye right now. The mindhealer thought it might help for them to say goodbye to him."

Qui-Gon nodded and slowly started walking down the hall. The glass doors slid open to let them through, and they could then hear the sound of voices coming from a near by room.

Qui-Gon could not believe that Obi-Wan was really gone. He had remembered how hard the boy had fought to become his apprentice, and how he had continually pushed the boy away, refusing to take him as his apprentice. Now he could not imagine not having the boy at his side.

Qui-Gon stopped outside of the room that he had heard the voices coming from and looked inside. Obi-Wan's friends were standing in the room, along with Tahl. Garen Muln stood closest to the sleepcouch where Obi-Wan's motionless body rested. Tears slid down the boy's cheeks as he spoke to his fallen friend.

" . . . I will miss you Obi, you were a great friend." The boy said and then put his hand on Bant's shoulder for a moment before he walked to the other side of the room where the others were standing.

"Obi-Wan," the young Mon Calamarian began, her face was streaked with tears. "I don't know what to say. The temple will not be the same without you. I just can't believe that you're gone. You were fine the other night after the fire; they said that you were fine. Why did you do this to me? Why did you leave us? I didn't even get to tell you that I was sorry for assuming you knew that the lift was malfunctioning. I'm sorry Obi-Wan," she whispered. "I'm sorry," she said louder, "Do you hear me? I'm sorry! So you can open your eyes now Obi-Wan. Wake up!" she yelled as she began to shake Obi-Wan's limp body.

"Bant," Tahl said, grabbing the hysterical girl by the arm and leading her out of the room. Under different circumstances, Qui-Gon might have been somewhat amused to see the sightless Master leading the young girl out of the room.

Siri, Reeft, and Garen followed them out of the room; each one looking up at Adi and Qui-Gon as they left.

For a few moments Qui-Gon remained in the hall staring at Obi-Wan. From the doorway, his padawan appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Finally after taking a deep breath, Qui-Gon slowly stepped into the room and walked up to the sleep couch. He could see bruises on Obi- Wan's pale face. They were most likely from the malfunctioning lift tube.

Although he knew what he would find, Qui-Gon reached out with the force to search for the boy's life force. "Obi-Wan," he choked, and turned to look behind him at Adi. Mace Windu now stood beside her in the doorway. "Why?" Qui-Gon asked as a tear slid slowly down his cheek.

To Be Continued . . .