Part Five: I Will Find You

A speeder entered the valley and headed our way. Now's my chance. Hang on, Sabé. I will find you.

"Jar Jar, do you know these cliffs well?" I asked, quickly.

"Mesa know dey lead to Otoh Gunga. Bad tings goen dere. Loss for days mahbeh months."

The Queen was approaching the speeder. It was Captain Panaka and several other guards. Her feelings still showed, even behind the cloak she wore.

I quickly headed up the muddy path, dragging Jar Jar along before anyone noticed.

A long silence came over us.

"Whysa yousa comen back, Obi?" Jar Jar broke the silence.

I stopped to look the Gungan in the eye. My eyes showed nothing but guilt. "I know it's wrong and forbidden for a Jedi, but I think I'm in love, Jar Jar. I've never felt this way before about anything. This feeling inside of me is stronger than the Force."

"Mesa no nutten wrong with dat."

"I see a million things wrong with that." I said more to myself.

"Love forbidden for Jedi?"

"Yes, Jar Jar. It's forbidden in the Code. But ever since I laid eyes on her, I can't get her out of my head. She just brings comfort that nothing else could ever bring. She is beyond the call of the Force."

"But yousa human? Love not forbidden for a human."

I sighed and looked down. "Can we please get off the subject?"

"Mesa no talk. I can do dat instead. You seem like you don't want to talk," he understood the hurt in my voice.

After a long hesitation, I nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Jar Jar."

We continued in silence. The ledges were getting smaller and gripping the wall was getting harder. Even if I called on the Force for support, it didn't help. Jar Jar was having just as much problems as me. After a while, we finally came to a giant waterfall. The mist sprinkled us with its cool contents. We ducked underneath it to be met with several cave openings.

"Wow! Mesa see everything." Jar Jar was astonished.

So was I. But the feeling of darkness was eating at me slowly. The Dark Side is near by. But why? Anger rained through my veins. I knew Sabé was in one of those caves, somewhere. I could feel her, closer than ever. I started for the biggest one, but Jar Jar pulled me back, holding me down.

"No. Do not go. Mesa don't want you to go, Obi. Goen in. Never comen out."

I saw the concern in his eyes. He showed seriousness. But the cave was drawing me to it. I had to go and there was no way I was going to fail again. I couldn't accept saying good-bye to someone else. No. I won't give up. I don't care what you're telling me, Force. I will find her. I will save her. I had to do this. It was the Force vs. my personal feelings. The light vs. the dark.

"Stay here, Jar Jar. I'm going in, but if I'm not out here in 30 minutes go for help." I stood my ground.

"But yousa cood die in there."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," I replied with no hesitation.

"No, Obi. Many Gungans go in, long ago, never comen back. No one goen there and come back alive. Do not go, Obi. Please."

"It's something I must do, Jar Jar." I walked in.

Jar Jar followed, but stopped at the entrance. He called out. "Obi? Obi, comen back. Yousa don't know wat you will find. Obi?"

There was no reply and Jar Jar was left alone.

to be continued...