Whoo- hooo, another postie.
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Part Three
Water, it has something to do with water. Someone is calling me to the sea; someone wants me to go. I wouldn't be having these dreams if they weren't; it has to be something that happened on one of the missions.
Obi-Wan practically ran to the Archives, nearly running over a young initiate in his haste. The girl's Master opened his mouth to say something, but he issued a quick apology and continued his trot towards the Archives. His missions passed through his mind as he struggled to remember all the planets he had ever been to with Anakin that were mostly water.
"Can I help you, Master Kenobi?" Jocasta Nu, the Archivist, asked has he came in, his robe swirling around him. "The night clerk is coming on if you need help."
"No, please, Madame," Obi-Wan said. "I need to see the files of the missions."
"Oh?" Jocasta asked. "Well, then, your missions with your apprentice, I suppose?"
"Yes, Madame," Obi-Wan answered, glancing out towards the darkened Archives. The computer consoles were still on, and despite the late hour, Jedi Knights were prowling the aisles, searching for resources to help them in their missions. Obi-Wan noticed Bant at a computer console, no doubt looking up information for the children she cared for in the crèche. He moved his head away so she didn't see him. "His name is Anakin Skywalker."
Jocasta's smile was genuine. "Well, I know that, Master Kenobi. Follow me." He followed her past the reference desk and down aisles towards an alcove tucked deep in the corner of the Archives. There were at least three other Knights there, and each nodded their greeting as they strode past. Jocasta led him to a bookcase that spanned two of three walls.
"Well, here you are, Master Kenobi," she said, handing him a thick holo-file. She pointed towards the spot she had gotten it from. "Please return it when you're done; I'm sure you know the drill. May the Force be with you and whatever you need."
"Thank you, Madame," Obi-Wan said, bowing. He read the name on the cover.
Obi-Wan Kenobi- Anakin Skywalker (MA-8997)
He took the file and set it upon a vacant table in the corner with a computer console. Seating himself, he paused before opening the file, almost dreading what he would find. He wanted the dreams to stop; they were hurting his training time with Anakin and that was something Obi-Wan refused to stand for. If he followed the voice and listened . . . he could end the dreams. Someone wanted him.
He scanned through the file, stopping each time to struggle and remember the planet's layout. When he couldn't recall, the computer was called in. He researched the planet, looking for any hint of an ocean, lake, or even a river. It was possible erosion had engulfed the planet with water, but so far none of the ones he checked were water-worlds.
He checked the file all through the night. He didn't feel the hours slip away, or the rising of the sun as dawn drew near. By the time he set it down and rubbed his temple, the three Knights were gone and first light was setting in through the shades. Yawning, he went and opened them, wincing when the glare met his world-weary eyes. He sat back at the table in frustration, kneading his temple with his fingers.
Was his logic misplaced? Were the dreams not premonitions, but his own dark fears? Were the dreams only that- dreams? Did they mean anything at all? He wanted to shout in frustration. He had gotten his hopes up because he thought the dreams were connected to a mission with Anakin, and they had nothing to do with them. He could not recall for the life of him a mission to a world covered with water.
Perhaps Anakin remembered. But that was silly. If there was no world filled with water, then it didn't happen with him. He wouldn't remember-
Obi-Wan's fingers stopped kneading. He closed the file and slipped it back in its place. He began searching for a name, but was surprised when he found that the files were coded. He rushed to the desk sitting in the corner and pressed the button that signaled Jocasta.
She came in a few minutes later to find Obi-Wan restlessly pacing in front of the bookcase. "Master Kenobi, I'm surprised you're still here!" she said, stunned.
"I had a lot of work to do," he said, smiling. "I put the file back. When were they coded?"
She appeared miffed. "They've always been coded, Obi-Wan," she told him. "You've just never stopped to ask."
"Oh." He looked away. "My apologies."
She smiled at him kindly. "No one does; it's quite all right. What can I help you with?"
He glanced towards the files. "I'd like the file on Master Qui-Gon and myself, please."
The older Jedi clicked her tongue; whether in pleasure or displeasure, Obi-Wan didn't know. Jocasta scanned the datapads thoughtfully, running her finger along them. She was humming something, and then stopped abruptly. Sighing, she reached and pulled a pad from the rest of the mass, stopping to read the cover. She held it to her chest.
"Your Master was a wonderful person, Obi-Wan," Jocasta said respectfully. "He was a skilled Jedi and one of the most generous people I knew. I know you probably all ready know this and certainly don't need me to tell you, but he was proud of you." With that she gave him the pad and fled the alcove quickly.
He looked down at the pad.
Qui-Gon Jinn (deceased) - Obi-Wan Kenobi (MA-1729)
He went back to the table and set the pad on it, but did not sit. He paced the length of the table, spinning on his heel when he wanted to turn. He didn't want to think about the dream, but now that he did. . .
The voice that begged him to stop had not been his own. He stopped pacing and stared down at the file in shock. The voice had been so familiar, and it came from the light. It urged him to not stop fighting, urged him to never stop. The voice knew him, and it sounded familiar. . .
Qui-Gon?
He sat down and began tearing through the file, carefully bypassing the Naboo incident. He shoved that one away, unable to look at it. Naboo wasn't the answer to his dream. If he had ever dreamt of Naboo, it had been in the days following Qui-Gon Jinn's death, and in those dreams he dreamt of falling into the darkness and the face of the Sith who killed his Master. No. It wasn't Naboo.
Obi-Wan flew through the other files, suddenly energized. Most of the time he had merely to glance at the files (Nyodine; Nutu; Candalas, i.e.…) to know that there was no connection whatsoever. As he reached the file for Textri, however, his mind suddenly drew a murky picture of waves. Slowly, he keyed in the planet and waited for a return answer.
When the screen filled up, Obi-Wan's breath left in a hiss, and he leaned back, staring.
He glanced back down at the file, anxious. He didn't want to read it suddenly. The Force urged him too; he could feel it whispering across his skin and pushing him to read. As a Jedi Knight, he had been taught since birth to never doubt the will of the Force and to follow it in whatever it wanted him to do. As a Jedi Master, he was supposed to pass on these things to his Padawan be setting a good and fine example.
He stared at the file.
I cannot lead by example when the fear inside me is too great.
He looked up at the timekeeper above the bookshelf opposite him, and suddenly he had his way out.
It was 0700 hours. Anakin was expecting him for the first meal. He looked down at the file in his hands, suddenly sick. A wave of nausea passed through him, and he groaned against the rush of fear and uncertainly that spread throughout his body. He wanted to throw the file away and declare he would never look at it again, but it wasn't right. His sleeplessness was affecting Anakin and that was his main job in life. He mustn't let anything interfere. He had to drivel through and find the reason of the dreams.
But not now.
He would come back to the file later, while Anakin slept. He wouldn't disrupt the boy when he was supposed to be training. He resolved to come back that night and roll through the file. The day would give him time to think, to feel. He didn't want a weight on his shoulders while training Anakin.
Tiredness beat behind his eyes as he took the file and exited the alcove, blinking at the brilliant rays of sun coming from the sun roof. The night had passed in a haze, and he could barely remember what he had even looked at. Everything now resolved around Textri and his mission there. There was just something about that world…
He stumbled to the mess hall in a tired daze, startled at his sleepiness. The night had been too full of history and facts he didn't wish to remember. Too full of surprises. His tired mind pounded at his eyes lids, and he groaned at the overhead lights. Migraine. No Temple Healer could bid them away. He ached when reliving his mission with Anakin. The boy was moving too fast for him to keep up.
The mission to Candalas…
No, that didn't happen then, it happened on Naboo…
No, that was before then, it must have happened on…
When he reached the mess hall, his commlink sounded. Starting, he answered, moving off to a side of the crowded corridor. He peered through the doors and tried to spot his apprentice.
"Obi-Wan," said Mace Windu's voice. "Your presence in required in the High Council Chambers immediately. Bring your apprentice."
He glanced once more through the doors and saw Anakin, talking with another apprentice.
I cannot go on like this.
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Part Four
"Welcome, Master Kenobi," Mace Windu told them solemnly. "Padawan Skywalker. We have a mission for you."
Obi-Wan's breath hitched. Anakin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan's edginess poking through their training bond. His Master refused to look at him or even acknowledge him. He heard Master Windu clear his throat, and looked at him, annoyed.
"The government from-"
"I have a request."
Mace raised an eyebrow from the datapad he was reading. Anakin looked wildly at his Master, stunned. He had never heard of an instance in which someone interrupted the Council. It was disrespect in its highest form. He had never expected his Master to be the first one to interrupt a Council member. It was almost amusing.
"Yes, Master Kenobi?" Yoda said after a beat of silence.
"I cannot accept this mission."
Anakin started, amazed. Obi-Wan was such a conservative Knight. He couldn't recall a single occasion in which his Master had disagreed with the will of the Council. After being brought to the Temple, Anakin had researched all he could on his Master and Qui-Gon Jinn, wishing to learn more about who they were. He had asked other Knights, and each had told him one thing: Qui-Gon was the rebel who disagreed with the Council, and Obi-Wan was pulled along for the ride as his apprentice. No one had ever told him of Obi-Wan disobeying the Council.
Well, now the roles are reversed.
Yoda hummed. "Why?"
"I request to be sent to the planet Textri. It's a planet on the Outer Rim world."
"Why?" Yoda asked again. His ears were flattened against his head, and his silver eyes were wide and thoughtful. He appeared more curious than disturbed.
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin. "Padawan, would you excuse us for a moment?"
The boy's eyes widened, and he looked at Obi-Wan through hurt and torn eyes. "But-"
"Please, Anakin."
Anger leaked into his heart as he stared at the man before him. How could he ask him to leave? What exactly did he have to tell the Council that he didn't want his apprentice to hear? Where in the gods was Textri; they'd never been there. Why was he asking him to leave? There was no reason for this! A Master-Padawan team required trust; the katas were supposed to teach that! Obi-Wan had just pounded the lesson into him yesterday! Why was he turning his back on his own lessons from only a day before?
And of course, that led to the question of his Master's absence after Anakin awoke him. The boy had gone to sleep in an empty apartment and had awoken in an empty apartment. Where had Obi-Wan been all night? Looking at his Master, he could practically see the weight on his shoulders. His eyes were red and tired.
Serves him right for making me leave.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly.
Smoldering, Anakin left the room with a bow or parting word. Obi-Wan registered the fact with annoyance.
"I'll speak to him about his behavior," he told the Council. No one made a sound, and he went on. "Masters, I apologize for interrupting your counsel, but I cannot take this mission. I need to go to Textri."
"Explain," Mace barked.
He looked beyond Mace and out into the pale sky. "I have been having dreams every night for the last half year. They were- they are, interfering in the training of my Padawan. I have reason to believe that someone wishes my presence on Textri- a psychic, if I am correct."
For a long moment no one spoke, and then Depa Billaba said, "What do you know?"
Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest. "When I was an apprentice, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and I were sent to Textri. I don't recall that mission, but Textri- I'm sorry, Masters, I haven't told you about the dream."
"Is it a premonition?" Mace asked.
"I think so," Obi-Wan said softly. "A voice is calling me to an ocean. It wants me to come. I can't sleep. I go days without it because I don't want to have the dream. It's interfering with Anakin's training."
"Scared of it, you are?" Yoda asked.
You good for nothing, stinking-
Then he chastised himself.
"Yes, Master, I am," Obi-Wan replied.
"You can see a Mind Healer," Adi Gallia said.
"No," Obi-Wan said sharply. He softened his tone. "I don't wish to, Master. I don't believe that he can help me. I believe the dreams will stop if I just go to Textri. The dreams are about the sea. When I checked in the Archives, I found that the planet has been engulfed by water in the years since I have been there. The citizens built an air-bubble around the city and live there now. Someone there must need my help."
"So sure?" Yoda grumbled. "Unwise choice, this would be."
"Master, I am going to Textri."
Silence again.
"Master, I think this is the best," Obi-Wan said. "I don't see any other alternative than to go to Textri."
"If you go, you go without the permission of the Council,"
Mace warned.
For a moment, Obi-Wan was swayed in his decision. What if Yoda was right? He could sense the words the wizened Master would not say: he sensed danger. He saw disaster. What if he went and was injured somehow? Who would take Anakin?
I'm doing this for Anakin.
"I'm going, Masters," he said.
"Your Padawan will stay here, then," Adi said dangerously. "He shouldn't be punished for your mistakes."
She could have least said it tactfully. He chuckled. "I don't believe he'll stay, Masters."
"May the Force be with you, then," Mace said, glancing once at Yoda.
"I have to do what I think is right," Obi-Wan told them. He bowed. "May the Force be with you, Masters."
His cloak billowing behind him, he left the room and was immediately confronted by Anakin's angry eyes. He held up a hand and sighed. "Listen, Padawan, I apologize for this. I didn't want to burden you with my worry, that's why I asked you to leave." He gave his Padawan a long and hard look. "Don't you ever walk out on the Council like that again, Anakin. That was disrespect and I won't stand for it."
Anakin followed his Master towards the lift. "You're not being open with me."
Obi-Wan padded open the lift door. "Did you just hear me at all, Padawan? Because it doesn't seem like you did."
The boy clenched his fists inside his cloak as he stepped into the lift. "I did, Master. I won't do that again, but what were you talking to them about? I don't understand why you can't tell me. And what is that?" Anakin pointed to the file under Obi-Wan's arm. "And where were you last night? I woke up and I was worried!"
Obi-Wan punched in the number for their floor. He glanced outside at the dreary pale sky. "I'll tell you everything in due time, my young apprentice. For now, I'd like you to arrange transportation to Textri. It is your choice if you choose to go. I don't want you to, know that. I don't know how long this will take."
Anakin blinked at his Master. "Why, Master? Why is Textri so important? Why don't you want me to go?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "I need to read this file. It will answer many questions that I don't know yet. I do not have the Council's permission to leave on this mission. They don't see a valid reason for me to go. That's why I wish for you stay. I don't want you punished for my errors in judgment."
Annoyance spread throughout Anakin's limbs. Obi-Wan wasn't answering his questions! Why was he hiding information? He felt so flustered.
"I'm going, Master, of course."
A tired smile appeared on Obi-Wan's face. "Okay then. Please arrange transport for later today or tomorrow morning. I'm going to read this. I'll be in our quarters." The lift came to a halt abruptly and the doors slid open. Obi-Wan exited the lift, but Anakin stayed put. "You coming?"
"No, Master. I have... things to attend to."
"Of course." Obi-Wan turned and started for the apartment, clutching the file as if it were a lifeline to the Temple. He closed his eyes as he walked down the corridor, his mind floating back to his earlier concerns.
Don't think about that now.
Shaking his head, he entered the apartment.
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