Thank you, Athena, Farore.
********** **********
Night had stolen the last remnants of light from the lower levels of Coruscant when Balan-Tar approached the building where he might find the Holocron and possibly the mysterious person the cafe owner had spoken about. The air was soaked with chill, but the young knight felt none of it as adrenalin surged through his veins in faintly nervous anticipation.
His hands trembled slightly in near-excitement as he opened the rusty door. Stuffed gloom washed over him. A frisson of fear touched him ever so lightly, but he banished it hastily, never stopping to think if it was his fear or just probably someone else's. He scanned the obscure staircase with the Force and finding no threat present stepped inside.
He blinked, but it didn't help him see any better, and he regretted not bringing any kind of glow-rod with him. But how was he supposed to know he would need it? Though his Master - his former Master - always seemed to know what they might need beforehand. That, he supposed, was experience. Well, he would get it in time. And now he would keep on with his mission. He contemplated turning on his lightsaber and using it as a source of light but upon better thinking discarded the idea. He would only give out his location and blind himself with the light so close.
The Ishi Tib made a few careful steps, stretching out with the Force. Disgusting stink reached his nostrils and distracted the young knight for only a split second, but it was enough... Taking another step Balan-Tar tripped over something and promptly crashed to the filthy floor barely holding in a yelp of surprise. His hands landed onto the stairs, supporting his body, but the palms sunk into something glutinous.
What he had tripped over was simply the first of the stairs as he ascertained a moment later. He stood up and searched for something to mop his hands with, grimacing in disgust. Groping for a shred of cloth he wiped his hands, hoping the rag wasn't even dirtier.
Creeping shadows pressed down on him as he straightened, and he hurried up the stairs as fast as his Force-senses would allow him 'see'. A few minutes later he stopped, slightly out of breath as sudden light assaulted his eyes with intolerable brightness. His eyes adjusted quickly though, and he looked around, resisting the strong urge to close them again and pretend there was still no light.
The dirty staircase was in such stark contrast with the cultured purity of the Jedi Temple it made him uneasy. How could a sentient being live in such a mess? Balan-Tar didn't belong here, and he was suddenly grateful that he never had.
This was another world, mere miles away from the sparkling with cleanness and wealth upper levels and strict, enigmatic Jedi Temple. This world was alien for him, it had different rules and laws, different purposes. Acute longing to be back in the world he belonged to pierced the young knight's heart with ache so deep he newer knew possible. And his being here alone only made it worse.
But he was here, the Jedi cut his musings off abruptly afraid they would get too deep. He had work to do and he needed to act if he was ever going to move anywhere and learn anything. There would be time for reflection - later.
With the new, though already dimming, determination the Ishi Tib searched the row of doors for the number he needed. Finding it he frowned. The door was closed but not quite. A small creak showered that it wasn't locked. Cautiously he opened the door. Stretching out the invisible fingers of the Force he sifted through the apartment as he had been taught.
Squirming chill crawled down his spine, and he froze struck by tidal wave of dread that rolled over him. Death. Death had happened here, no more than ten minutes ago. But not just death - it was murder. Remainders of it swirled in the Force, troubling it, colouring it painful scarlet.
And yet there was something more. Something less obvious, more illusive. Something dark.
His legs trembling Balan-Tar made his way inside. The danger was gone, the Force told him, but darkness remained like stains on the clear fabric of the Force. The room he observed, standing in the hall, due to the absence of any shroud between the two parts of the apartment was a picture of such utter disorder that he could barely believe his eyes. Yet even he knew the disorder was natural - there were no traces of struggle or search. He had never thought possible an inhabited place to look like this. And still it did.
The place did not only look awful, it also smelled. Cooled odor of burnt food hang in the air, flowing around the room carried by almost non-existent surges of air. Foul stench of the staircase had crept into the apartment through the open door, fighting for its place in the stale air. Yet there was a note of something different, something as foreign here as flowers on Hoth. A tint of fragrance brought in spicy freshness. Perfume. Female perfume. Balan-Tar shook his head in wonder but forgot all about it as he proceeded from the narrow hall into the room.
The knight's eyes traveled over the variety of items to fall upon the lonely occupant of the room - a beheaded body. Breath caught in his throat, and he sucked the air in sharply. A girl, a little human girl was lying sprawled on the floor. Dead. Her head, cleanly cleaved from her neck lay next to the tiny body. Sightless glazed-over eyes looked at the young knight with something akin to reproach. Balan-Tar shifted slightly, and the eyes' expression shifted also, leaving them staring through the Jedi and into eternity. The knight leaned heavily against the doorframe, sick, unable to tear his gaze away from those empty eyes.
Time soundlessly passed - seconds or hours, he didn't know nor did he care.
A sharp sound came from the street, shattering the ominous spell of death that hovered in the room. Balan-Tar shook his head as though rising from deep leaden slumber. He picked his comlink and punched in the code with shaking fingers. He had to do it twice before he managed to enter the code correctly.
"Yes," the urgent, devoid of any emotion voice of Mace Windu came through the slight crackling of static.
The young knight outlined the situation, trying hard to keep his tone business-like and his manner strict, leaving out all the emotions that still boiled inside him. The Master listened to the report in grave silence.
"I sense the presence of a darksider here," Balan-Tar finished.
Windu was quick to give orders, "Get out of there and return to the Temple immediately. Your mission is over. Windu out."
~Over?!~ A bitter resentment rose in him. ~But I didn't do anything yet! I've only found a dead girl. It's not fair! I can do much more. I can trace the darksider and bring him to the Council. Yes, and they will see how good I am!~
Balan-Tar left the apartment and paced the staircase in growing excitement. Suddenly something occurred to him, and he halted in mid-step frowning.
~What if I can't defeat this darksider? What if I am not good enough?~
He looked at the wall as though searching for answers there. But he only saw an indecent word scribbled on filthy surface.
~But if Kenobi could kill a Sith being a mere Padawan, surely I can defeat a darksider.~
He straightened, assuming a classic Jedi posture with his hands draped over his chest.
~Of course, I will bring this darksider - whoever he is - and the Holocron to the Council. And success is never blamed. They'll forgive me my disobedience when I come back with my trophies.~
With that he took off down the stairs.
*********** **********
"Trouble I sense," Yoda shook his head sadly, his citrus eyes fixed somewhere on the end of his cane. "Too reckless young Balan-Tar is."
"I gave him strict order. He will return to the Temple," Mace disagreed.
"So sure are you?"
Green eyes finally moved away from the cane to fix their gaze on Mace. The gaze seemed to burn through any barrier the younger Jedi might have put up to look straight into his soul. The power those eyes held was almost more than Windu could stand. He cleared his throat but not finding a suitable answer the swarthy Master chose to change the subject.
"If Knight Balan-Tar correct it could be the work of the Sith. The second one. And only Kenobi can tell for sure. We need to summon him now."
He looked expectantly at his counterpart, waiting for the diminutive Master's reaction. Yoda inclined his head in silent assent.
*********** **********
That day Obi-Wan informed his Padawan that they were to return to the Jedi Temple immediately as was Master Windu's order. The knight had been given no information as to what all the urgency was about and so he could not give any explanation to the immediately saddened boy - though the usually dead-calm councilor's nervousness and discontent hadn't gone unnoticed, giving Obi-Wan a fair idea that it was indeed something out of ordinary. Anakin met the request with displeasure he made no attempt to hide or even disguise in the slightest.
The boy put his puffy lips into a half-pout and looked up at Obi-Wan with wide begging eyes. Obi-Wan was loath to see such a distraught look on his Padawan's face. Anakin's expression, though, quickly switched to mild surprise as he suddenly found himself in his Master's strong arms. The man rarely hugged him, and Anakin was slightly stunned in the face of this show of affection.
"I'm sorry, Anakin, that we have to leave now." Obi-Wan now held the boy at an arm's length, looking directly into his eyes. "I know you like it here and I promise we will come back as soon as we have some time off."
Anakin's bewilderment grew, and he swallowed around a lump in his throat. The gentleness of the voice, the kindness in those eyes were almost like Qui-Gon's. And suddenly as the feelings flooded him, Anakin hugged the older Jedi tightly. The bond between the two Jedi soared to the heights unknown to it before.
The tender moment didn't last long - as everything wonderful in this life - but this was one of those moments Anakin would treasure for the long years to come.
"Now," Obi-Wan nudged the boy. "Go pack your things."
Dar'Yana showed at the door, obviously unhappy. She didn't hesitate to voice the reason of her unhappiness.
"So, you're leaving? That dumb Master 'I-am-the-ruler-of-everything' made you go after all?"
Obi-Wan frowned at her. It won't do to address the Council member like that, especially in front of Anakin. Never mind that his own opinion of the venerable Jedi Master treaded the same areas, though sometimes leaning treacherously close to a more rude definition.
But the girl didn't seem to be fazed by his frown as she grabbed Anakin's hand. She whispered something to the boy, and a huge grin spread on his face. Obi-Wan only shook his head.
Anakin had become good friends with Dary over the past few days, and the two had spent most of the time together near the river swimming, fishing and Force knows doing what else. It never ceased to amaze Obi-Wan how the boy seemed to be drawn to water. He who had been born on Tatooine where water was as rare as birds on Coruscant, he who had been scared out of his mind when Bant had splashed some water onto him in the Temple Gardens, the apprentice had spent these last days virtually soaked in water all the time.
Trusting that the Padawan would get himself ready in time Obi-Wan went to pack his own things - which proved to be rather few. Having finished with that in a matter of minutes he went to say farewell to everyone he had gotten to know during their short stay.
Sadagail, whom he found reading an ancient manuscript, bid him good luck with a warm smile.
"Know this," she said in a way of parting words, "whenever you need help or refuge, or just a quiet place to stay you are a welcome guest here."
Her eyes sought his and seized them in a magnetic lock before she buried herself in her manuscript once again, waving at him to get out.
Others were friendly and saddened by his and Anakin's departure, and Obi-Wan felt warmth well in his heart.
The sun had just risen over Nardiss, washing the tall yellow-stone towers in lavender and gold. The morning fresh air was filled with birds' melodious singing and gentle rustling of trees. The river seemed to say good-bye, touching the people's faces with humid surges of air as the two Jedi started on their way back to Nartala spaceport. Both Telliko and Dar'Yana offered to walk them to the town. And now the four of them were walking the ground road in comfortable silence.
Obi-Wan breathed in the crisp, full of sweet flower fragrance air, trying to seize the moment, to memorize the feeling of this land - the land that was remotely a part of him. Although he hadn't ever give much to blood relations, or anything concerning these relations, he now felt himself connected to these fields and forests in a way he never felt before. Perhaps, he decided, there was such a thing as genetic memory after all.
He looked at Telliko who was walking quietly beside him and was struck by how her simple yet exquisite beauty appeared to be in harmony with the nature all around. She was truly the daughter of this land, he suddenly thought. What surprised him even more, though, wasn't coming from what lay around but rather from the inside of him. A feeling rose inside him, a vague tremulous growing wish - a desire to see her again, to not leave her now.
The thought was so unexpected, so abrupt in its growth that his steps faltered for a second. Anakin shot his Master a curious glance which Obi-Wan chose to ignore. This was something new.
He had had a few crushes in a course of his life, of course, but seeing as Padawans weren't allowed to indulge into such affairs, needing to concentrate on their training instead, it hadn't ever gone anywhere - it could never go anywhere under the watchful eye of Qui-Gon Jinn. But now... Now everything was different. With gaining the status of a Jedi Knight he had also gained an official ability to marry should he desire. And it was suddenly unsettling - very unsettling. He had not considered it before. More, he had forgotten about such a possibility entirely.
Thrown off balance, Obi-Wan took a deep breath in an attempt to clear his mind. He examined his feelings carefully, needing to determine if it wasn't simply a spell of the moment. He studied himself meticulously from the outside. And found that what he felt had been slowly developing for some time now.
All those soft-voiced talks under the tall leaning trees at the river when breeze threw fine droplets of water into their faces, covering their skin with a finest sheen of pearly glittering beads. All those open-air meals, filled with tasty foods and merry laughter. Occasional brushing of hands... How could he not notice it earlier?
~Good going, Kenobi!~
Had he been so preoccupied with himself that he missed what had been right under his nose?
Lost in his reverie Obi-Wan didn't notice as the ground path gave way to paved streets of Nartala. Anakin was discussing something with Dary animatedly. The spaceport's tall building loomed ahead, towering over the surrounding buildings like a tree over bushes.
A few minutes later they entered the spaceport's building. Dar'Yana immediately offered to go get tickets for them and left, dragging Anakin with her into the crowd. Obi-Wan and Telliko were left alone in a somewhat secluded corner.
A feeling of moment rose in Obi-Wan. This was it. Time to choose. Time to act or leave it forever and, perhaps, torture himself with what-ifs for the rest of his life. He looked at the girl - no the young woman - next to him. She wasn't looking at him, but as if sensing his gaze upon her raised her eyes to meet his. Aquamarine eyes locked with violet ones in a deep gaze conveying questions and hopes, uncertainty and wishes...
The spaceport's large hall, its metal walls and stands, the bustling crowd shifted to the background, Telliko's lovely face filling Obi-Wan's sight, capturing him. He gazed deep into her sparkling amethyst eyes searching for the same feelings that made his throat tighten...
With a catch at his heart he saw a smile in her eyes. He never knew eyes could smile like that, shining with warm affection... They drew closer to each other never breaking the eye-contact. Obi-Wan felt her hand brush against his hair lightly. He put his larger hand over hers, feeling the velvet skin under his fingers and stoked her slim palm. They leaned even closer, their mouths met almost against their will.
The kiss they shared was light and sweet, devoid of passion, almost innocent - almost but not quite. Their mouths tasted each other delicately, exploring, wondering...
"Master!"
Both Obi-Wan and Telliko jumped at the exclamation. They quickly drew back in embarrassment, girl straightening her tunic.
"Ah, Anakin." The Knight cleared his throat, avoiding looking at her. "What is it?"
"The ship's leaving in five minutes. We've got the last tickets."
~Force hates me!~ Obi-Wan groaned inwardly. "Let's hurry up then," he said aloud, trying to keep a straight face.
Anakin nodded and started to show the way. Out of the corner of his eye Obi-Wan caught a sly and disgruntled look on Dary's face.
Five minutes later, hasty good-byes being said, the two Jedi found themselves seated in a transport that was bound to get them to Coruscant. Obi-Wan stared out the window, trying to quell the disappointment that surged inside him, trying to quiet his heart that was beating with a question - would he ever see her again? His heart contracted painfully at the thought that it was the end of their...
He almost wished the ship would be delayed so that...
So what?
So that he could pursue his desires?
Duty before the pleasure, he reminded himself striktly. Duty before everything. Obi-Wan turned away from the window. The transport rocked, marking the take off. Anakin scowled at the ineptness of the pilot. The spaceport fell down, drowning in greens and blues of the planet.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. They had several hours of flight ahead. Why not use it for sleeping?
*********** ***********
Humid forest clustered around him, welcoming him as an old friend. Obi-Wan smiled at the friendliness, touching him like the slightest of winds. Yet something... something imperceptible, hovering just beyond his senses bore a tint of aggression, of faint warning, not large enough to trigger an alarm in his mind yet but large enough to unsettle him, make his glances sharper, his movements alert.
The skies above wore a striking division of shining blue framed with tree-tops, dark green foliage touched with golden sun, and of bubbling ominous raven-black thunderstorm approaching. A few feathery clouds lined the light side of the sky - the harbingers of a storm never seen before. Thick heavy air forced its way into his lungs. It was harder to breathe now, as the air seemed to have multiplied its density tenfold.
He knew it was a dream. He had come here to see and he was determined to remember as much as he could because - and he harbored no doubt of that - this dream held all the answers. The Force, he reasoned, gave him this dream to provide him with knowledge he would need. But in order to get that knowledge he needed to carefully sift through the dream to find the truth behind the obscurity of visions. And so he memorized every single detail to store it into his memory and thoroughly analyze later.
Silence held him in its tight embrace, but even silence was troubled. Fear floated in the air - fear of unknown and premonition of danger.
And then the silence tore, and sounds filled his ears. He flinched as the deafening roar reached his ears, but it abode quickly, falling apart into ringing sounds that eventually faded into common noise of forest life. Obi-Wan sighed and wiped his forehead. He looked around once more, making the perfect mental picture for future reference when his eyes fell onto a silent figure next to him.
"Anakin?"
The boy tore his gaze from scrupulous contemplation of his own boots and lifted his thoughtful eyes at the older Jedi.
"Hello, Master."
Obi-Wan smiled, trying to guess if it was he who had placed the Padawan here, the Force or the boy himself. Relinquishing his attempts for the time being as they gave him nothing but a headache, the knight put a hand onto the boy's shoulder. Anakin smiled back, but the smile never reached his eyes. They were still serious - much too serious for a boy his age - and they held worry.
"What is it?" Obi-Wan asked gently, trying to overcome the growing feeling this wasn't Anakin at all.
"You're in trouble," the boy stated matter-of-factly. "Again."
"Well, I suppose it's quite typical for me," Obi-Wan laughed in surprise.
"Yes, it is. Still you are in danger - possibly more than usual."
Obi-Wan squatted before him and looked straight into his eyes. "Then will you protect me?"
"Me?!" Surprise flared in Anakin's eyes, but was quickly replaced with sadness. He averted his gaze. "No one can protect you," he said barely above a whisper.
"Why?"
"The danger is a part of you. The choice is yours. You fight for you."
"What about you?"
"I will fight for you too. But I will fight for what is mine."
The conversation was making no sense to Obi-Wan, unsettling him. Perhaps the answers were here, and all he needed was to figure them out. Sometimes they seemed so close, just a moment and he would grasp them, but the moment passed, and still he grasped nothing but empty air. Frustrated he stood up.
"What are we going to do now?" he asked no one in particular.
The answer came from the direction he least of all expected - the skies. No, the heaven didn't fall down on him, and didn't open to pour answers he sought, but a flock of birds did fall down from seemingly nowhere to bury him in thrashing, screeching and squirming mass. Bright feathers slapped him on the face, sharp claws seemed to tear his tunic in an attempt to snatch a piece of him.
The attack was so sudden, so unforeseen that he had lost an ability to move for a split second. He tried to chase the birds off, waving his arms like a windmill, but the squealing mass didn't seem to mind his actions in a tiny bit. His arms ached from colliding with the birds' compact and amazingly hard bodies.
He was ready to lower his arms in defeat when suddenly a new noise cut the air. The swishing sound repeated and the birds shrieked in alarm. Next second they flew up, crying in indignation but making no efforts to return. Surprised at their sudden retreat, Obi-Wan barely had time to flinch away from a wide swing of the thick branch Anakin wielded with an unpredicted ease.
"Sorry," the boy threw, driving away the last of the birds.
Yet a couple of them remained. A black and a white bird lowered themselves onto each of Obi-Wan's shoulders, sinking their claws into his tunic and the skin beneath it.
"Hey, get off!" Anakin cried and made an effort to drive them away as well.
Obi-Wan wasn't elated at the perspective to be smacked with the stick which seemed to be rather harmful in the boy's hands so he caught the swig and took it out of Anakin's hands - ripped might be a more appropriate word since the Padawan had no desire to give up his makeshift weapon.
"Stop it." The older Jedi made his voice sound stern.
"But they shouldn't sit there," Anakin protested.
Obi-Wan squinted at him, trying but failing to understand what had gotten into his apprentice. "What is wrong with you, Anakin? They are only birds. Let them be."
The boy opened his mouth to reply when something shifted in the scene around them, in the Force itself. It was a barely perceptible shift Obi-Wan registered on the very edge of his consciousness.
And then he came...
The knight was convinced it was a 'he' though how he had gotten to know this he had not the barest idea. The figure before him was wrapped up in darkness as much as it was in its midnight black cloak. The only visible parts were a chin and a scornful curve of the mouth.
Cold crept down Obi-Wan's spine as he studied the silent eerie figure. Knowledge flowed into his mind, and he took an involuntary step back.
Because this was Darth Sidious.
Standing before him.
Watching him.
Two eyes glowed from under the lowered hood, observing the Jedi.
Should he say something to his father? Should he run? Or should he fight?
"Fight?!"
The word, spoken with a sneer, hung in the air between the two. Force swirled, coiling around the Sith. Then it uncoiled and lashed out at the Jedi like a whip. Anger, hatred, pain mixed in one stinging blow. Obi-Wan flinched but refused to do anything else.
What should he do?
Something made him look down, and he gasped slightly at the sight of not one but numerous paths running from under his feet. Choose now? But he wasn't ready!
Obi-Wan looked up again, but Sidious was nowhere to be found. And the forest was now not a forest but... a Coruscant street.
*********** **********
********** **********
Night had stolen the last remnants of light from the lower levels of Coruscant when Balan-Tar approached the building where he might find the Holocron and possibly the mysterious person the cafe owner had spoken about. The air was soaked with chill, but the young knight felt none of it as adrenalin surged through his veins in faintly nervous anticipation.
His hands trembled slightly in near-excitement as he opened the rusty door. Stuffed gloom washed over him. A frisson of fear touched him ever so lightly, but he banished it hastily, never stopping to think if it was his fear or just probably someone else's. He scanned the obscure staircase with the Force and finding no threat present stepped inside.
He blinked, but it didn't help him see any better, and he regretted not bringing any kind of glow-rod with him. But how was he supposed to know he would need it? Though his Master - his former Master - always seemed to know what they might need beforehand. That, he supposed, was experience. Well, he would get it in time. And now he would keep on with his mission. He contemplated turning on his lightsaber and using it as a source of light but upon better thinking discarded the idea. He would only give out his location and blind himself with the light so close.
The Ishi Tib made a few careful steps, stretching out with the Force. Disgusting stink reached his nostrils and distracted the young knight for only a split second, but it was enough... Taking another step Balan-Tar tripped over something and promptly crashed to the filthy floor barely holding in a yelp of surprise. His hands landed onto the stairs, supporting his body, but the palms sunk into something glutinous.
What he had tripped over was simply the first of the stairs as he ascertained a moment later. He stood up and searched for something to mop his hands with, grimacing in disgust. Groping for a shred of cloth he wiped his hands, hoping the rag wasn't even dirtier.
Creeping shadows pressed down on him as he straightened, and he hurried up the stairs as fast as his Force-senses would allow him 'see'. A few minutes later he stopped, slightly out of breath as sudden light assaulted his eyes with intolerable brightness. His eyes adjusted quickly though, and he looked around, resisting the strong urge to close them again and pretend there was still no light.
The dirty staircase was in such stark contrast with the cultured purity of the Jedi Temple it made him uneasy. How could a sentient being live in such a mess? Balan-Tar didn't belong here, and he was suddenly grateful that he never had.
This was another world, mere miles away from the sparkling with cleanness and wealth upper levels and strict, enigmatic Jedi Temple. This world was alien for him, it had different rules and laws, different purposes. Acute longing to be back in the world he belonged to pierced the young knight's heart with ache so deep he newer knew possible. And his being here alone only made it worse.
But he was here, the Jedi cut his musings off abruptly afraid they would get too deep. He had work to do and he needed to act if he was ever going to move anywhere and learn anything. There would be time for reflection - later.
With the new, though already dimming, determination the Ishi Tib searched the row of doors for the number he needed. Finding it he frowned. The door was closed but not quite. A small creak showered that it wasn't locked. Cautiously he opened the door. Stretching out the invisible fingers of the Force he sifted through the apartment as he had been taught.
Squirming chill crawled down his spine, and he froze struck by tidal wave of dread that rolled over him. Death. Death had happened here, no more than ten minutes ago. But not just death - it was murder. Remainders of it swirled in the Force, troubling it, colouring it painful scarlet.
And yet there was something more. Something less obvious, more illusive. Something dark.
His legs trembling Balan-Tar made his way inside. The danger was gone, the Force told him, but darkness remained like stains on the clear fabric of the Force. The room he observed, standing in the hall, due to the absence of any shroud between the two parts of the apartment was a picture of such utter disorder that he could barely believe his eyes. Yet even he knew the disorder was natural - there were no traces of struggle or search. He had never thought possible an inhabited place to look like this. And still it did.
The place did not only look awful, it also smelled. Cooled odor of burnt food hang in the air, flowing around the room carried by almost non-existent surges of air. Foul stench of the staircase had crept into the apartment through the open door, fighting for its place in the stale air. Yet there was a note of something different, something as foreign here as flowers on Hoth. A tint of fragrance brought in spicy freshness. Perfume. Female perfume. Balan-Tar shook his head in wonder but forgot all about it as he proceeded from the narrow hall into the room.
The knight's eyes traveled over the variety of items to fall upon the lonely occupant of the room - a beheaded body. Breath caught in his throat, and he sucked the air in sharply. A girl, a little human girl was lying sprawled on the floor. Dead. Her head, cleanly cleaved from her neck lay next to the tiny body. Sightless glazed-over eyes looked at the young knight with something akin to reproach. Balan-Tar shifted slightly, and the eyes' expression shifted also, leaving them staring through the Jedi and into eternity. The knight leaned heavily against the doorframe, sick, unable to tear his gaze away from those empty eyes.
Time soundlessly passed - seconds or hours, he didn't know nor did he care.
A sharp sound came from the street, shattering the ominous spell of death that hovered in the room. Balan-Tar shook his head as though rising from deep leaden slumber. He picked his comlink and punched in the code with shaking fingers. He had to do it twice before he managed to enter the code correctly.
"Yes," the urgent, devoid of any emotion voice of Mace Windu came through the slight crackling of static.
The young knight outlined the situation, trying hard to keep his tone business-like and his manner strict, leaving out all the emotions that still boiled inside him. The Master listened to the report in grave silence.
"I sense the presence of a darksider here," Balan-Tar finished.
Windu was quick to give orders, "Get out of there and return to the Temple immediately. Your mission is over. Windu out."
~Over?!~ A bitter resentment rose in him. ~But I didn't do anything yet! I've only found a dead girl. It's not fair! I can do much more. I can trace the darksider and bring him to the Council. Yes, and they will see how good I am!~
Balan-Tar left the apartment and paced the staircase in growing excitement. Suddenly something occurred to him, and he halted in mid-step frowning.
~What if I can't defeat this darksider? What if I am not good enough?~
He looked at the wall as though searching for answers there. But he only saw an indecent word scribbled on filthy surface.
~But if Kenobi could kill a Sith being a mere Padawan, surely I can defeat a darksider.~
He straightened, assuming a classic Jedi posture with his hands draped over his chest.
~Of course, I will bring this darksider - whoever he is - and the Holocron to the Council. And success is never blamed. They'll forgive me my disobedience when I come back with my trophies.~
With that he took off down the stairs.
*********** **********
"Trouble I sense," Yoda shook his head sadly, his citrus eyes fixed somewhere on the end of his cane. "Too reckless young Balan-Tar is."
"I gave him strict order. He will return to the Temple," Mace disagreed.
"So sure are you?"
Green eyes finally moved away from the cane to fix their gaze on Mace. The gaze seemed to burn through any barrier the younger Jedi might have put up to look straight into his soul. The power those eyes held was almost more than Windu could stand. He cleared his throat but not finding a suitable answer the swarthy Master chose to change the subject.
"If Knight Balan-Tar correct it could be the work of the Sith. The second one. And only Kenobi can tell for sure. We need to summon him now."
He looked expectantly at his counterpart, waiting for the diminutive Master's reaction. Yoda inclined his head in silent assent.
*********** **********
That day Obi-Wan informed his Padawan that they were to return to the Jedi Temple immediately as was Master Windu's order. The knight had been given no information as to what all the urgency was about and so he could not give any explanation to the immediately saddened boy - though the usually dead-calm councilor's nervousness and discontent hadn't gone unnoticed, giving Obi-Wan a fair idea that it was indeed something out of ordinary. Anakin met the request with displeasure he made no attempt to hide or even disguise in the slightest.
The boy put his puffy lips into a half-pout and looked up at Obi-Wan with wide begging eyes. Obi-Wan was loath to see such a distraught look on his Padawan's face. Anakin's expression, though, quickly switched to mild surprise as he suddenly found himself in his Master's strong arms. The man rarely hugged him, and Anakin was slightly stunned in the face of this show of affection.
"I'm sorry, Anakin, that we have to leave now." Obi-Wan now held the boy at an arm's length, looking directly into his eyes. "I know you like it here and I promise we will come back as soon as we have some time off."
Anakin's bewilderment grew, and he swallowed around a lump in his throat. The gentleness of the voice, the kindness in those eyes were almost like Qui-Gon's. And suddenly as the feelings flooded him, Anakin hugged the older Jedi tightly. The bond between the two Jedi soared to the heights unknown to it before.
The tender moment didn't last long - as everything wonderful in this life - but this was one of those moments Anakin would treasure for the long years to come.
"Now," Obi-Wan nudged the boy. "Go pack your things."
Dar'Yana showed at the door, obviously unhappy. She didn't hesitate to voice the reason of her unhappiness.
"So, you're leaving? That dumb Master 'I-am-the-ruler-of-everything' made you go after all?"
Obi-Wan frowned at her. It won't do to address the Council member like that, especially in front of Anakin. Never mind that his own opinion of the venerable Jedi Master treaded the same areas, though sometimes leaning treacherously close to a more rude definition.
But the girl didn't seem to be fazed by his frown as she grabbed Anakin's hand. She whispered something to the boy, and a huge grin spread on his face. Obi-Wan only shook his head.
Anakin had become good friends with Dary over the past few days, and the two had spent most of the time together near the river swimming, fishing and Force knows doing what else. It never ceased to amaze Obi-Wan how the boy seemed to be drawn to water. He who had been born on Tatooine where water was as rare as birds on Coruscant, he who had been scared out of his mind when Bant had splashed some water onto him in the Temple Gardens, the apprentice had spent these last days virtually soaked in water all the time.
Trusting that the Padawan would get himself ready in time Obi-Wan went to pack his own things - which proved to be rather few. Having finished with that in a matter of minutes he went to say farewell to everyone he had gotten to know during their short stay.
Sadagail, whom he found reading an ancient manuscript, bid him good luck with a warm smile.
"Know this," she said in a way of parting words, "whenever you need help or refuge, or just a quiet place to stay you are a welcome guest here."
Her eyes sought his and seized them in a magnetic lock before she buried herself in her manuscript once again, waving at him to get out.
Others were friendly and saddened by his and Anakin's departure, and Obi-Wan felt warmth well in his heart.
The sun had just risen over Nardiss, washing the tall yellow-stone towers in lavender and gold. The morning fresh air was filled with birds' melodious singing and gentle rustling of trees. The river seemed to say good-bye, touching the people's faces with humid surges of air as the two Jedi started on their way back to Nartala spaceport. Both Telliko and Dar'Yana offered to walk them to the town. And now the four of them were walking the ground road in comfortable silence.
Obi-Wan breathed in the crisp, full of sweet flower fragrance air, trying to seize the moment, to memorize the feeling of this land - the land that was remotely a part of him. Although he hadn't ever give much to blood relations, or anything concerning these relations, he now felt himself connected to these fields and forests in a way he never felt before. Perhaps, he decided, there was such a thing as genetic memory after all.
He looked at Telliko who was walking quietly beside him and was struck by how her simple yet exquisite beauty appeared to be in harmony with the nature all around. She was truly the daughter of this land, he suddenly thought. What surprised him even more, though, wasn't coming from what lay around but rather from the inside of him. A feeling rose inside him, a vague tremulous growing wish - a desire to see her again, to not leave her now.
The thought was so unexpected, so abrupt in its growth that his steps faltered for a second. Anakin shot his Master a curious glance which Obi-Wan chose to ignore. This was something new.
He had had a few crushes in a course of his life, of course, but seeing as Padawans weren't allowed to indulge into such affairs, needing to concentrate on their training instead, it hadn't ever gone anywhere - it could never go anywhere under the watchful eye of Qui-Gon Jinn. But now... Now everything was different. With gaining the status of a Jedi Knight he had also gained an official ability to marry should he desire. And it was suddenly unsettling - very unsettling. He had not considered it before. More, he had forgotten about such a possibility entirely.
Thrown off balance, Obi-Wan took a deep breath in an attempt to clear his mind. He examined his feelings carefully, needing to determine if it wasn't simply a spell of the moment. He studied himself meticulously from the outside. And found that what he felt had been slowly developing for some time now.
All those soft-voiced talks under the tall leaning trees at the river when breeze threw fine droplets of water into their faces, covering their skin with a finest sheen of pearly glittering beads. All those open-air meals, filled with tasty foods and merry laughter. Occasional brushing of hands... How could he not notice it earlier?
~Good going, Kenobi!~
Had he been so preoccupied with himself that he missed what had been right under his nose?
Lost in his reverie Obi-Wan didn't notice as the ground path gave way to paved streets of Nartala. Anakin was discussing something with Dary animatedly. The spaceport's tall building loomed ahead, towering over the surrounding buildings like a tree over bushes.
A few minutes later they entered the spaceport's building. Dar'Yana immediately offered to go get tickets for them and left, dragging Anakin with her into the crowd. Obi-Wan and Telliko were left alone in a somewhat secluded corner.
A feeling of moment rose in Obi-Wan. This was it. Time to choose. Time to act or leave it forever and, perhaps, torture himself with what-ifs for the rest of his life. He looked at the girl - no the young woman - next to him. She wasn't looking at him, but as if sensing his gaze upon her raised her eyes to meet his. Aquamarine eyes locked with violet ones in a deep gaze conveying questions and hopes, uncertainty and wishes...
The spaceport's large hall, its metal walls and stands, the bustling crowd shifted to the background, Telliko's lovely face filling Obi-Wan's sight, capturing him. He gazed deep into her sparkling amethyst eyes searching for the same feelings that made his throat tighten...
With a catch at his heart he saw a smile in her eyes. He never knew eyes could smile like that, shining with warm affection... They drew closer to each other never breaking the eye-contact. Obi-Wan felt her hand brush against his hair lightly. He put his larger hand over hers, feeling the velvet skin under his fingers and stoked her slim palm. They leaned even closer, their mouths met almost against their will.
The kiss they shared was light and sweet, devoid of passion, almost innocent - almost but not quite. Their mouths tasted each other delicately, exploring, wondering...
"Master!"
Both Obi-Wan and Telliko jumped at the exclamation. They quickly drew back in embarrassment, girl straightening her tunic.
"Ah, Anakin." The Knight cleared his throat, avoiding looking at her. "What is it?"
"The ship's leaving in five minutes. We've got the last tickets."
~Force hates me!~ Obi-Wan groaned inwardly. "Let's hurry up then," he said aloud, trying to keep a straight face.
Anakin nodded and started to show the way. Out of the corner of his eye Obi-Wan caught a sly and disgruntled look on Dary's face.
Five minutes later, hasty good-byes being said, the two Jedi found themselves seated in a transport that was bound to get them to Coruscant. Obi-Wan stared out the window, trying to quell the disappointment that surged inside him, trying to quiet his heart that was beating with a question - would he ever see her again? His heart contracted painfully at the thought that it was the end of their...
He almost wished the ship would be delayed so that...
So what?
So that he could pursue his desires?
Duty before the pleasure, he reminded himself striktly. Duty before everything. Obi-Wan turned away from the window. The transport rocked, marking the take off. Anakin scowled at the ineptness of the pilot. The spaceport fell down, drowning in greens and blues of the planet.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. They had several hours of flight ahead. Why not use it for sleeping?
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Humid forest clustered around him, welcoming him as an old friend. Obi-Wan smiled at the friendliness, touching him like the slightest of winds. Yet something... something imperceptible, hovering just beyond his senses bore a tint of aggression, of faint warning, not large enough to trigger an alarm in his mind yet but large enough to unsettle him, make his glances sharper, his movements alert.
The skies above wore a striking division of shining blue framed with tree-tops, dark green foliage touched with golden sun, and of bubbling ominous raven-black thunderstorm approaching. A few feathery clouds lined the light side of the sky - the harbingers of a storm never seen before. Thick heavy air forced its way into his lungs. It was harder to breathe now, as the air seemed to have multiplied its density tenfold.
He knew it was a dream. He had come here to see and he was determined to remember as much as he could because - and he harbored no doubt of that - this dream held all the answers. The Force, he reasoned, gave him this dream to provide him with knowledge he would need. But in order to get that knowledge he needed to carefully sift through the dream to find the truth behind the obscurity of visions. And so he memorized every single detail to store it into his memory and thoroughly analyze later.
Silence held him in its tight embrace, but even silence was troubled. Fear floated in the air - fear of unknown and premonition of danger.
And then the silence tore, and sounds filled his ears. He flinched as the deafening roar reached his ears, but it abode quickly, falling apart into ringing sounds that eventually faded into common noise of forest life. Obi-Wan sighed and wiped his forehead. He looked around once more, making the perfect mental picture for future reference when his eyes fell onto a silent figure next to him.
"Anakin?"
The boy tore his gaze from scrupulous contemplation of his own boots and lifted his thoughtful eyes at the older Jedi.
"Hello, Master."
Obi-Wan smiled, trying to guess if it was he who had placed the Padawan here, the Force or the boy himself. Relinquishing his attempts for the time being as they gave him nothing but a headache, the knight put a hand onto the boy's shoulder. Anakin smiled back, but the smile never reached his eyes. They were still serious - much too serious for a boy his age - and they held worry.
"What is it?" Obi-Wan asked gently, trying to overcome the growing feeling this wasn't Anakin at all.
"You're in trouble," the boy stated matter-of-factly. "Again."
"Well, I suppose it's quite typical for me," Obi-Wan laughed in surprise.
"Yes, it is. Still you are in danger - possibly more than usual."
Obi-Wan squatted before him and looked straight into his eyes. "Then will you protect me?"
"Me?!" Surprise flared in Anakin's eyes, but was quickly replaced with sadness. He averted his gaze. "No one can protect you," he said barely above a whisper.
"Why?"
"The danger is a part of you. The choice is yours. You fight for you."
"What about you?"
"I will fight for you too. But I will fight for what is mine."
The conversation was making no sense to Obi-Wan, unsettling him. Perhaps the answers were here, and all he needed was to figure them out. Sometimes they seemed so close, just a moment and he would grasp them, but the moment passed, and still he grasped nothing but empty air. Frustrated he stood up.
"What are we going to do now?" he asked no one in particular.
The answer came from the direction he least of all expected - the skies. No, the heaven didn't fall down on him, and didn't open to pour answers he sought, but a flock of birds did fall down from seemingly nowhere to bury him in thrashing, screeching and squirming mass. Bright feathers slapped him on the face, sharp claws seemed to tear his tunic in an attempt to snatch a piece of him.
The attack was so sudden, so unforeseen that he had lost an ability to move for a split second. He tried to chase the birds off, waving his arms like a windmill, but the squealing mass didn't seem to mind his actions in a tiny bit. His arms ached from colliding with the birds' compact and amazingly hard bodies.
He was ready to lower his arms in defeat when suddenly a new noise cut the air. The swishing sound repeated and the birds shrieked in alarm. Next second they flew up, crying in indignation but making no efforts to return. Surprised at their sudden retreat, Obi-Wan barely had time to flinch away from a wide swing of the thick branch Anakin wielded with an unpredicted ease.
"Sorry," the boy threw, driving away the last of the birds.
Yet a couple of them remained. A black and a white bird lowered themselves onto each of Obi-Wan's shoulders, sinking their claws into his tunic and the skin beneath it.
"Hey, get off!" Anakin cried and made an effort to drive them away as well.
Obi-Wan wasn't elated at the perspective to be smacked with the stick which seemed to be rather harmful in the boy's hands so he caught the swig and took it out of Anakin's hands - ripped might be a more appropriate word since the Padawan had no desire to give up his makeshift weapon.
"Stop it." The older Jedi made his voice sound stern.
"But they shouldn't sit there," Anakin protested.
Obi-Wan squinted at him, trying but failing to understand what had gotten into his apprentice. "What is wrong with you, Anakin? They are only birds. Let them be."
The boy opened his mouth to reply when something shifted in the scene around them, in the Force itself. It was a barely perceptible shift Obi-Wan registered on the very edge of his consciousness.
And then he came...
The knight was convinced it was a 'he' though how he had gotten to know this he had not the barest idea. The figure before him was wrapped up in darkness as much as it was in its midnight black cloak. The only visible parts were a chin and a scornful curve of the mouth.
Cold crept down Obi-Wan's spine as he studied the silent eerie figure. Knowledge flowed into his mind, and he took an involuntary step back.
Because this was Darth Sidious.
Standing before him.
Watching him.
Two eyes glowed from under the lowered hood, observing the Jedi.
Should he say something to his father? Should he run? Or should he fight?
"Fight?!"
The word, spoken with a sneer, hung in the air between the two. Force swirled, coiling around the Sith. Then it uncoiled and lashed out at the Jedi like a whip. Anger, hatred, pain mixed in one stinging blow. Obi-Wan flinched but refused to do anything else.
What should he do?
Something made him look down, and he gasped slightly at the sight of not one but numerous paths running from under his feet. Choose now? But he wasn't ready!
Obi-Wan looked up again, but Sidious was nowhere to be found. And the forest was now not a forest but... a Coruscant street.
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