Once out of the Council rooms, Qui-Gon ran. He had no idea what do next; only a vague idea of what his goal was. To kill that evil - - - - Balog. Part of him was surprised that Yoda had let him go. The other part of him was simply hell bent on that one goal.
Ahead of him, he saw a familiar boy. Obi-Wan. Force, no, Qui-Gon pleaded. He had enough time trying to wrestle with what remained of his conscience; he didn't need Obi-Wan questioning him as well. He started to adjust his path to avoid Obi-Wan, but the boy had already seen him.
"Master - Qui-Gon, wait!"
Qui-Gon turned and ran. He made it to the docking bay before the Jedi Knight recording departures stopped him. "Master Jinn, where are you going?"
Only Qui-Gon's years believing that courtesy was a necessity caused him to slow. "My apprentice will handle the departure," he said shortly. "May the Force be - " Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan appear at the end of the hallway. "With you!" he shouted running towards a ship.
"Master! Qui-Gon, wait!"
Qui-Gon redoubled his speed, leaping into the open doors of a small freighter. He lit the engines up immediately and swung the ship around. The ramp was slowly closing.
The last thing Qui-Gon sensed through their bond before he shut it off was Obi-Wan's feelings of hurt and confusion.
***
Obi-Wan stopped, running his hand through his hair. Qui-Gon's ship was moving out of the bay. He could still make it onboard if he jumped . . . Obi-Wan bent his knees and gathered the Force to him. It was coming, three seconds before his jump . . . two seconds . . . one second . . .
JUMP! Obi-Wan sprang - and hit Eritha straight on. Both of them went flying to the ground in a tangle of hands and feet. Qui-Gon's ship roared out into the Coruscant space just as Obi-Wan scrambled to his feet. Furious, Obi-Wan whirled on Eritha. "What did you do that for?" he shouted.
Her lower lip trembled slightly. "I - "
"Padawan Kenobi," the Jedi Knight spoke up softly. "Remember where the path of anger leads."
Obi-Wan looked away from Eritha, blinking repeatedly in an attempt to remove the red hazy film that appeared before his eyes every time he looked at her. A moment later, he succeeded enough to calm down. Qui-Gon had done well in teaching him to control his anger.
Obi-Wan shook his head, trying to get Qui-Gon out of his mind. Thinking of his Master would only inflame his temper again and he definitely was not in the mood to get dragged in front of the Council and lectured. "I'm sorry," he said slowly, keeping his temper in check.
Eritha looked guilty. "No, Obi-Wan, it's me who should be sorry. I thought that you were planning to jump in the path of the ship and I didn't want to see you get hurt."
"It's okay," Obi-Wan said, his tone returning to normal. He faced the Jedi Knight. "Where is my Master headed?"
"I don't really know," the Knight said, frowning. "He said you would take care of this formality."
Obi-Wan blinked, staring at the open docking bay doors where Qui-Gon had just been a few minutes ago. If only Eritha hadn't gotten in his way, Obi-Wan knew he could have made it onboard. But what if he had? Would Qui-Gon slow and let him in? Or would Qui-Gon . . . shake him off?
Do not focus on things that would have been. Keep your concentration in the here and now where it belongs. Obi-Wan frowned one last time before turning to Eritha. "I need to go to the Council immediately."
***
It was probably the first time Obi-Wan had ever looked forward to a Council meeting. But as the doors swished open, Obi-Wan felt relieved. Finally he could be with people who could help him sort out the situation. Eritha . . . he disliked her for messing with his head, disliked her for preventing him from saving Qui-Gon from himself, and yet - why did he feel so happy whenever she shot him an apologetic smile?
The scratchy voice of Yoda interrupted his thoughts. "So, left has Qui-Gon?"
"Yes, Master."
"Attempt to stop him, did you?"
"Yes, Master."
"Failed, didn't you?"
Obi-Wan felt a surge of both guilt and annoyance. "Yes, Master," he agreed slowly. Now that he was actually inside the Council Room, his happiness at seeing the doors open was but a memory.
A moment later, Eritha stepped forward, eyes flashing. "It was my fault, not Obi-Wan's!" She ignored the dark look Mace Windu shot her. "I stopped him from catching Qui-Gon. He would have caught Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan would never fail anything." She smiled slightly at Obi-Wan.
Inspired by her defiance, Obi-Wan stepped forward. "I did not come before the Council to debate what I could have done and the possible futures it could have brought. I came here to inform the Council that I will be searching for Qui-Gon."
"Not the only reason you came," Yoda said, his ears tilting backwards as his eyes looked deep into Obi-Wan.
"No," Obi-Wan agreed. "I also have recently had - conflicts within myself."
The Council members exchanged a look. Master Yoda paused before saying, "Ask we do, Eritha leave to wait outside for you as discuss the matter, we shall."
Obi-Wan took a moment to sort out Yoda's words in his mind. Eritha translated faster than he did and bowed to the Council shortly before leaving.
The moment the doors hissed closed, Yoda spoke. "Sorry, I am, for saying my earlier words. But necessary they were to get daughter of Roan away."
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, confused.
"Obi-Wan, your inner dilemma is serious, yes. But important news you must hear. New Apsolon, in a state of rebellion, it is. In danger, Qui-Gon may be."
"Why?" Obi-Wan asked, feeling fear shoot through him. "Why would he be in danger?"
"Turned the planet against all Jedi, Balog has," Yoda said. "Hopes to build a strong nation, he does. One day, he believes, rule the galaxy, he shall. Sees Jedi as the obstacle, he does."
"Everybody is ordered to shoot on sight of Qui-Gon," Master Windu said. "If Qui-Gon is so much as seen . . . the entire planet and many neighboring planets know his face. There is a large bounty on him, enough to tempt anyone good."
"But the Workers - "
"They are not evil, yes, but they will give in to a large sum of money. They need that money to build a new future. Balog offers them an excellent way out." Plo Koon shot a look at Obi-Wan. "We need someone, someone who knows Qui-Gon very well, to go after him."