Chapter Five

Qui-Gon jerked his head up in the darkness of his—and Obi-Wan's—room. He had been sound asleep, finally dozing off as he read over historical pieces about the Penne't people.

Had he heard something?

His eyes scanned the dark cloak of his borrowed room as his ears strained for a sound—any sound.

He heard nothing, but the drip of water in the refresher from his earlier shower some hours ago.

So what had startled him out of a deep sleep?

He drew the Force to him, exploring his surroundings with eyes that were not physical. Even in the Force, he felt no one near him. He quested out farther—and felt the echoes of a disturbance. The echoes had no specific source, yet he was sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Obi-Wan. He couldn't feel his padawan, but he knew Obi-Wan wasn't dead—he'd feel Obi-Wan's death. It was more as if Obi-Wan had tried to contact him—and was blocked. But who could block his strong and talented padawan? Another Force user? Yet he had felt no one else, no other Jedi light or dark, on planet.

He tried to contact Obi-Wan through their bond, but it was if whatever was blocking his padawan from getting to him through the Force was also hindering Qui-Gon from reassuring Obi-Wan. All he could sense was something humongous and sentient and he thought he heard a single word that was whispered to him:

Mine.

Then he was blinking, breathing heavily as if he'd run too far, and sweating in the dark of the room. It had been years since someone, or something, else had forced him to break contact with another Force user when he did not wish to.

Something wanted Obi-Wan, but for what?

It was clear that whatever wanted Obi-Wan did not want his master to interfere in any way, and it was powerful enough to keep Qui-Gon from his padawan.

For the first time in the two days since Obi-Wan had been taken by Zodek, Qui-Gon began to wonder if he'd ever get him back.

Wake.

No.

Do you enjoy pain, Obi-Wan?

No. The word this time was said in exhaustion.

Then waken.

I will do nothing that you want, Obi-Wan determined in his mind. He would have spoken out loud to prove his point, but he was still swimming of the unconsciousness of his mind and could not find his way to consciousness again.

The Mother Planet did not seem deterred. Thou wilt in time. The other did as well. Though, now She sounded amused, thou art more stubborn than he. After two days with me he was willing to do anything I wished.

I am not he.

There was a chuckle in his mind. Thou art correct in that, Obi-Wan. Thou art stronger. I will enjoy breaking thee. Thou wilt see, in the end, that there is no pain with me and thou won't fear it so.

Obi-Wan was so very tired, but he felt that he must make it perfectly clear that he had no intentions of ever giving in. Kill me now to save yourself the time of breaking me. I will not break.

There was a pause of which he could feel Her contemplating his words.

Finally, She responded, No. I do not need thee to break to be absorbed into my power to balance. Know this, Obi-Wan: breaking or not, willing or not, thou wilt be with me for eternity.

As he fought for consciousness, he thought he heard the echo of a man screaming—a man that was not he. It almost sounded like a warning, but he could not hear the words. Was it the other Jedi?

A pressure was building inside his mind again, and he knew if it happened again he might very well not be able to resist what the Mother Planet wanted. He gathered the Force to him—he could touch its power again! He built a shield around his mind, forcing Her out of it. She shrieked, but could not break down his defenses this time.

Satisfied, he finally was able to truly rest.

"Our Mother says that the Jedi child is proving very difficult," Triandeena quietly told Chieftain Zodek in their musical language as they watched Obi-Wan's tense body relax onto the floor of the tramshen.

Zodek barely glanced at the Speaker. "And what does She want now? Is he still to be the one?"

Triandeena let a smile touch her lips. "He is still to be the one. He is very powerful. He will restore balance. She knows now that She will have to force him, which She was hoping not to. There is not time to wait for him to be broken."

"When will She start?"

Triandeena narrowed her eyes at the limp form in the tramshen. "Next tide cycle. He has to be fully cleansed."

"But that is a full two weeks away!" Zodek protested, facing the Speaker fully. "The Master is searching and is resourceful. Will She have enough time?"

Triandeena shook her head. "You do not understand. She will begin the process soon, but it will be prolonged because of his power. It will take until the next tide cycle to be fully completed." Her golden eyes gleamed in the dark of the water. "Once the process begins tomorrow, not even his 'Master' can save him."