Nightstalker
By Jemmiah
Same disbelief. Same life and death situation. Same faces as before…save that this time there was no Evla in attendance. Qui-Gon didn't know whether he should be pleased she wasn't there to witness that which had befallen her daughter or distressed. Before, when Jemmiah had miscarried, he had found himself being the anchor - the cliché rock to which everyone had turned. This time when it was he who needed a shoulder to lean on there was nobody. Now he felt alone…
Obi-Wan had remained silent and cold, yet strangely optimistic that this time things would turn out alright. Something in his padawan's resolute, calm conviction had lifted Qui-Gon's spirits for a while…yet as always there was a flip side of the coin, and as he looked across at the other side of the waiting room he could see that doubt locked deep within the shining eyes of Rela Quinn. Next to her, looking equally fearful, sat Geraldine Pippage - Jemmiah's oldest friend next to Obi-Wan himself.
"…Absolute carnage." The girl with the bi-coloured hair was whispering beneath her breath. "I've never seen anything like it. All that debris flying everywhere…and that headless body…" She shuddered so severely that Qui-Gon could almost feel it himself. "It was so…horrible."
"I've seen death before." Rela replied, her voice equally guarded. "In many different guises. But somehow, when it's your friend caught up in all the carnage…" She let her words trail away, before finally venturing to speak once more. "Even when you think that nothing can touch you anymore, that's when it hits you."
Qui-Gon could understand that. As he watched Rela hug her arms to her body, her fingers pinching down hard against the flesh to hold back any tears that may suddenly steal upon her unawares, the jedi master was left to reflect upon the nature of the force and the way it had seen fit to bind them all so closely together. Rela and Jemmiah were more like sisters than friends…which was as it should be, he thought with an ironic twitch of his eyebrows. Obi-Wan and Rela shared a bond that was deepened by past adventures. Together the four of them formed a fellowship not easily broken. Apart from now…
It was not Leona who finally opened the door to give them the much-awaited bulletin but rather An-Paj, a fact that caused Qui-Gon's heart to momentarily freeze. Beside him Obi-Wan's posture automatically stiffened, yet somehow his eyes still managed to convey the same insane optimism they had moments before. He was perhaps the only one amongst them who held any real hope…
"Qui-Gon," An-Paj beckoned the master to his feet with a rather curious expression, "could I speak to you a moment?"
His manner wasn't sombre, nor did it convey any sense of despondency. Inspite of his initial dread Qui-Gon found himself somewhat reassured, following the master healer over to the corner of the room, aware that three sets of eyes were very much trained upon his back. Why call him over? Why just him? Surely that was what they must be thinking as they sat there, gathered together in the hope of some sort of miracle.
It was after all exactly what Qui-Gon was wondering himself.
"We've been here before, haven't we?" The healer treated Qui-Gon to a melancholy smile. "On at least one occasion. But at least this time I have some good news to give you."
Instead of appearing relieved Qui-Gon found himself tensing, his breath catching in his throat.
"She's absolutely fine." An-Paj continued, shaking his head as if to express his own sense of disbelief. "There's virtually nothing wrong with her at all."
The healer studied Qui-Gon's shocked face for a moment, letting his words sink in.
"Nothing?" Echoed Jinn in surprise, folding his arms defensively across his chest. "Nothing, you say? But how can that be…"
An-Paj's antennae quirked upwards. "You sound almost disappointed! Surely you should be happy! To walk away from an accident of that magnitude is nothing short of miraculous in my opinion."
"That's just it." Qui-Gon risked a swift look over his shoulders at the anxious faces waiting further down the room. Rela was chewing fitfully at one of her curls. Miss Pippage, the colourful girl known otherwise as 'Spider', was playing with one of the many bangles adorning her wrist. And Obi-Wan: what of he? The padawan remained as still and as immovable as a carved marble sepulchre…waiting. Always waiting.
He continued; "I was called away in the middle of the night to be informed that Jemmiah had been involved in the most horrific swoop accident imaginable. I asked every one of those who witnessed the incident," he waved in the general direction of the fearful collection of faces, "precisely how bad the smash was. What they told me led me to believe that we shouldn't be optimistic as to the outcome. And now," Qui-Gon's voice wavered for the merest second before automatically regaining his customary calm, "you say that she's unscathed? How can that be?"
"I never said," An-Paj held up his hands, "that she was unscathed. A high-speed accident is always going to result in some damage. She has sustained a bad whiplash to the neck and bruising to her stomach, but these are trivial matters in the scale of things. "My friend, I shan't mince words. By rights Jemmiah should have died in that crash. I was at the scene - I saw the wreckage. That was a high impact incident and no mistake. I also saw the remains of the two others involved. One of them came disassembled." An-Paj made a swift cutting motion to his neck: his voice, whilst dry, emphasising his distaste. "Somehow your young lady managed to survive the carnage. And I'm curious enough - in a medical capacity - to want to know why, precisely."
Qui-Gon's feelings were mixed. There was confusion in his mind where there should be joy. He should have been ecstatic at that point…begging An-Paj to let he and the others see her for a few minutes before they wound their weary way home, safe in the knowledge that Jemmiah would be fine. But An-Paj's suspicions had somehow set him on edge. There was caution instead of delight…worry instead of reassurance.
"I feel as if you've punctured my lifejacket." Qui-Gon muttered, quoting Jemmiah at what seemed a rather relevant moment in time.
"Hmm?" An-Paj frowned in reply. "You should be happy! Better to have a mystery than a tragedy on your hands."
"One that I'd best reveal to my fellow worriers, yonder." Qui-Gon turned, nodding in the direction of the young people who were furtively looking back at him, searching his face for clues as to Jemmiah's fate. "If I do not tell them the good news soon then I fear that Rela will either end up completely bald or with a hairball in her stomach that would make a Togorian proud. And of course I should thank young Simeon for all the assistance he gave Jemmiah at the scene of the accident…" Qui-Gon looked about him as if suddenly noticing Simeon's absence for the first time. "Where is he, by the way?"
An-Paj paused for a moment. "Ah, yes. Simeon…infact it's because of my padawan that I began to consider this matter of Jemmiah's miraculous escape in the first place."
"What do you mean?" Jinn felt the same creeping unease he had earlier beginning to spread throughout his body.
"It was something he said." An-Paj spoke slowly, trying to remember Simeon's precise words. "That even whilst the crash was in the process of happening…even although it occurred so quickly it felt like slow motion…and then he said he could feel something through the force…"
"Something?" Qui-Gon asked sharply.
"Something trying to slow down the crash. And conversely something trying to speed it up." Replied the healer gravely. "I can offer you a theory as to what happened but I do have to reiterate that it is just that - a theory."
"Go on." Qui-Gon insisted.
"Well," he continued, running his hand over his chin, "Simeon said he felt certain the secondary use of force energy came from Obi-Wan."
"Slowing down the swoop?" Wondered Qui-Gon aloud. "That might account for why Jemmiah suffered so few injuries."
"My thoughts precisely." Agreed An-Paj. "Although it would take a great deal of power to slow down a swoop travelling out of control like that. But desperation - and the force - can lend a person the strength required. And Obi-Wan does seem very much attuned to Jemmiah, so for the sake of a better explanation I say we accept Simeon's judgement as to what averted potential disaster."
"Two other people died." Qui-Gon murmured bleakly. "I'd say it was disastrous enough."
"Which brings me neatly to the other matter." An-Paj's voice became grave, almost sonorous. "And why I think this case bears investigation by the council." He saw Qui-Gon's eyes widen, startled by his words. "Because Simeon thinks that whilst Obi-Wan attempted to stop Jemmiah's swoop impacting against the wall, it is also his opinion that somebody else caused the crash in the first place."
"Another force user?"
"It would account for the initial force usage that Simeon sensed." Agreed An-Paj with skilful delicacy. "And I'm sure that Simeon would not say such a thing unless he felt it likely. Somebody deliberately caused that crash. I can't think it would be one of the jedi…"
"We said that about Kryztan." Qui-Gon replied icily. "How wrong could we have been then?"
"But then given what has subsequently befallen Jay Abran and Amu-Ned Sequedes, do you not think there's cause for concern?"
An-Paj let his words hang in the air. The idea of a rogue force user wandering the streets of Coruscant was not something to be entertained lightly, even if it was a theory much bandied about in recent times. Perhaps in the end it was just so much hot air, like many theories. Perhaps…it simply didn't bear thinking about.
"I might have to speak to Simeon at some point." Qui-Gon said quietly. "Infact if what you say is true then a lot of people will be wishing to speak to your padawan. But," he observed, "first things first. I think that I…we…" he amended swiftly, smiling gently at Obi-Wan, "have some things to discuss."
"You're not angry with me?" Obi-Wan asked when safely back at their own apartment. He watched Qui-Gon carefully remove the standard jedi brown robe, hanging it against the disastrous wooden coat stand that Jemmiah had once made in her woodwork class at school. His master's hands seemed to dwell there for a moment, and Obi-Wan couldn't help but imagine the man recollecting the circumstances in which it had first appeared in the apartment. At times like this remembering was a pertinent thing to do.
"No." Qui-Gon answered eventually. "No, I'm not angry with you."
"Even although I disobeyed you and accompanied Jemmiah and Rela to the track?"
"Let me ask you a question in return," Qui-Gon replied. "Why is it that you are so unable to accept my words as the truth? Because you really don't believe I'm not angry or," he turned to look his padawan in the eye," because you feel you don't deserve any clemency?"
To that Obi-Wan could only offer a thin little smile.
"You've been going to the track because you've wanted to protect Jemmiah should anything happen, is that not right? And unfortunately tonight you got your chance." Qui-Gon walked slowly over to his favourite chair and gently lowered himself into the seat, feeling it conform itself around him. At times like this little luxuries such as this chair became all the more special. How many times had Jemmiah, as a child, attempted to race him for the privilege of sitting in it? Happier memories always comforted him in moments of stress…and there were always such memories to be rediscovered if one only looked hard enough. That was something Jemmiah had taught him.
"And," Qui-Gon added, making a careful study of his padawan's face, "tonight you also saved her life."
To this Obi-Wan shrugged.
"Did you not?" Prompted the master.
"I wasn't really aware of it at the time." Obi-Wan admitted a shade reluctantly, clasping his hands infront of him. "To be honest I was in a state of panic to start with. Simeon sort of took charge and I just…stood there unable to do anything. I was useless…"
"Not so very useless, as it turns out." Qui-Gon admonished him softly.
Once more Obi-Wan offered up a small shoulder twitch. "It was only after we returned in the transport with An-Paj that I thought about it…and then my mind unfroze itself somewhat. I realised that I'd tried to stop the swoop from hitting the wall."
"And you weren't aware of it at the time?" Qui-Gon asked quizzically, adding a reserved; "I am most impressed."
"She still hit the wall." The padawan shuddered, remembering the impact.
"That was inevitable given the speed Rela and Miss Pippage were discussing. Yet you still used the force to cushion the blow. I don't think you have anything to reproach yourself with, Obi-Wan. In truth I think we have much to thank you for. Pulling swoops or speeders out of the grasp of a propulsive force isn't an easy task. I know - I've tried it." He paused, remembering his own attempt some seven or so years before whilst attempting a rescue of his own. A speeder hurtling towards a force barrier…two fugitives riding pillion…desperate to escape the inevitable disintegrating impact.
The boy Riarda had been killed in the process. Even to that day he could still see Jemmiah's haunted face.
"You know about it." Obi-Wan stated, unsurprised. Little escaped his master's notice after all.
"You sensed another…out there somewhere. Propelling the swoop onwards." Suggested Qui-Gon, trying to make it easier for his padawan. "Didn't you?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "I don't think it was specifically after Jemmiah."
"You don't?"
"I think it could have been any one of us. Simeon, me, Rela…" Continued Obi-Wan, interlacing his fingers so tightly that the skin became pinched and white. "Jemmiah was a soft target. That's why it went for her. Too good a chance to pass up."
"Somebody using the force." Continued Qui-Gon, still finding it too distasteful to consider. "A jedi? Or someone with force powers. Untrained, perhaps? Striking out blindly?"
"Somebody with a reason." Obi-Wan shook his head. "I got the feeling of…dispassionate resolve. I know, it makes little sense but it was the only thing I could pick up on. At first I thought that somehow, in trying to stop the swoop I'd made things worse…that maybe I had done it."
"You?" Qui-Gon gave a small gasp of disbelief.
"We'd argued. That's nothing new, I know." Replied Obi-Wan uncomfortably. "She'd wanted to go to the track and I had wanted to stay. It irked me to think that she knew that I'd be forced to go with her because I'd be obliged to keep her safe. I felt manipulated. And I was seriously irritated." He admitted, shame faced. "I began to wonder if somehow I hadn't wished it upon her because I was subconsciously frustrated with her behaviour."
"You would never do that." Qui-Gon replied adamantly. "No matter what provocation Jemmiah offered - oh, yes I know exactly what she can be like sometimes - you care for her deeply. No matter what she does. Or what she WILL do. You'll always forgive each other. I think that it's written in the force." He laughed, acknowledging the strange manner of the tie between the two of them.
Obi-Wan somehow managed a smile in reply. "Something is after Jemmy. It's after me. It's after Simeon and Rela…and you." He looked up at his master, his blue eyes shining. "It killed Jay. It killed Ned. Somewhere we've met it before. And it…" Obi-Wan corrected himself, struggling to hold onto the fleeting contact he'd made with the being's mind, "…HE won't stop until he's finished. There's a secret vendetta here. I get a sense of waiting in the shadows…watching in the night."
"You know that this person is responsible for killing Padawan's Abran and Sequedes?" Qui-Gon urged Obi-Wan, begging him to be certain in his own mind. "How do you know?"
Obi-Wan shivered.
"It touched my mind." He answered, placing his fingers to his temples. "And inside…just briefly…"
"Yes?" Qui-Gon's eyes became steely, unblinking.
"I heard Jay scream."