Finally! LOL the muse has cooperated enough to give me some help here. Thank you for being patient with me while she whispered "A Death Denied" into my ears… Hopefully a bit better balanced my time will be between these two tales. Enjoy!
SEVENTEEN
The predawn fog that clung to the world at this sleepy hour misted everything but Qui-Gon scarcely noticed it as he sat cross-legged on the balcony. The sun would rise and his meditation would rise with it. He hadn't slept much, there had only been scattered short dozes in the chair beside Obi-Wan's bed to try to hold exhaustion at bay. The Force was about all that held him upright at the moment as he sought its strength. But until his Padawan wakened in this existence, he must be watchful, must be vigilant…
He could not lose him to evil. Not when they had come so far.
Their bond, once established, had been almost immediate, very powerful, striking him with all the skill that Ina had said was inherent in the boy; he was strong in the Force. She had been certain that Obi-Wan would be involved in great things in the galaxy, a center-pin for the Force's purposes on history's wheel.
Despite the strength of destiny that seemed to have bound them together, though, those first days had been hard. Qui-Gon, struggling with his own private grief that establishing Kenobi's apprenticeship had reawakened, had been very reluctant to take on another emotional attachment in spite of what he'd promised Ina.
But Obi-Wan had been open and honest, wide-eyed and innocent even as Qui-Gon had held him at arm's length emotionally and somewhere along the line the boy had quite simply…stolen into his heart. He couldn't put a finger on the exact moment, but somehow Qui-Gon had come to the realization that this promise Ina had extracted from him was more than as simple charge to train Obi-Wan. It had been her way of taking care of his heart even though she was no longer with him; he thought somehow she had known her days in this present life were limited.
Their relationship had progressed as naturally as it should between Master and apprentice, and there was a fondness in their hearts for one another that transcended simple comradeship, even family. They were father and son in all but blood and it tore at Qui-Gon's heart to see his padawan precariously clinging to this world by a thread.
Quashing his worries forcefully he closed his eyes and set himself to meditate; he needed to gather together as much strength as he could in order to rescue his apprentice. However when he closed his eyes; his thoughts were drawn away to his daughter.
His daughter.
He had known that day as he'd buried Ina's ashes that the small two year old looking on was his without needing anyone to tell him. She had her mother's imprint upon her very soul it seemed. His heart had ached, longed to tell her but he'd known that if he had, everything for which Ina had given her life would have been destroyed. The sacrifice of her knighthood to save his, her vision for Obi-Wan, indeed her very protection of their daughter…all would have been in vain had he tried to convince the Council to accept Iya then.
She was so strong in the Force however that he did not think they would refuse her right to be with her father now. Too great a risk it would be to have a Force-sensitive of that power and ability unleashed on the galaxy without some sort of guidance, even if she was far too old to begin the training. At the Temple at least she would learn some control and perhaps a purpose for her gifts and that would be well for her.
Of course…it would be well for him too…
Qui-Gon had to smile at the things he saw in his girl that spoke so strongly of her mother and…oddly enough, spoke strongly of himself in her as well. In her eyes he saw a chance to heal a place in his soul he thought lost forever. That she had agreed to return with them had overjoyed his heart more than he knew how to express. Now he just had to get the Council to agree to it…
"Dajo?"
Iya's voice was soft but certain behind him, and Qui-Gon inclined his head a little but did not quite turn toward her, some semblance of meditation remaining in his posture.
"Yes, Iya?" He said gently, reassuringly. He certainly did not want to start off with her feeling unwelcome or intrusive by any means.
"I am ready." She affirmed. "And I think I may be able to take you with me…if you are willing to come, Dajo. Soul-walking can be difficult."
Soul-walking. So that was what she called it. Difficult or not, however, Qui-Gon knew he had to do all he could to retrieve his Padawan. Obi-Wan was as much family to him as this child of his own blood; he could not fail his apprentice now. He nodded, the early morning breeze lightly blowing aside strands of long hair.
"I am willing, Iya. Let's find Obi-Wan and bring him home."
Iya came around now to sit down in front of him, her own hair billowing around her face as the gentle breeze teased it with its ever-shifting touch. Qui-Gon opened his eyes and looked into hers; exquisite like her mother's and yet carrying a spark all their own. His expression softened for an instant, and curiosity touched Iya's face in response.
"What is it, Dajo?" She asked quietly. Qui-Gon smiled a little.
"You do remind me so much of your mother sometimes. I miss her still." Suddenly Qui-Gon stiffened a bit, his breath snagging in his throat and his eyes widening just the slightest bit.
"Dajo?" Iya shifted suddenly, bringing a hand up to his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
Qui-Gon nodded ever-so-slightly, closing his eyes and concentrating. Surely it couldn't be…It must be his imagination, hope working overtime… But no, there it was again, feather-faint and yet…somehow instinctively Qui-Gon knew it was not far off. Master! The call into his mind through the bond was both soft and yet a floodtide, a voice that he'd thought perhaps was lost to him forever.
"Obi-Wan…" He whispered softly in reply, and then reached out into the bond itself, repeating the name. Obi-Wan. I hear you…where are you? Qui-Gon waited a long moment, finally releasing the breath he'd been holding, waiting for a response. Obi-Wan? Can you hear me?
But there was no more response forthcoming, and Qui-Gon shook his head slightly.
"Soul-walking takes a lot of energy, Dajo, and this walk is not of his own will. I doubt he would be able to keep contact for more than a few seconds at a time." Iya had felt the slight ripple as well, even though she had not been discerning of Obi-Wan's voice; that had been projected simply to Qui-Gon alone.
"Take me on a walk, Iya." Jinn urged quickly. "He's out there and he's alone."
Iya nodded slightly and she laid a hand on her father's chest, closing her eyes and stretching out into the Force. Almost instantly Qui-Gon felt something akin to a small explosion of light in his mind; his daughter's powerful, undisciplined presence introducing itself to his mind with very little finesse. He barely had time to snap up some basic shields to keep from being overwhelmed as his padawan had before she was linking herself to him in a manner he had never felt before. Force, no wonder Obi-Wan collapsed.
Dajo…take hold of me now…and whatever you do, do not let go until I say…or I'll lose you and both of you will need rescuing. Iya's voice commanded and subconsciously Qui-Gon nodded, wrapping himself around her Force-signature much like a hand grasping a safety line. Follow me, Dajo…
There was another flash, something less brilliant than the first one, and Qui-Gon blinked. Only…he didn't blink. He felt nothing, not even his own breath.
When he looked down, he saw himself sitting there hand in hand with his daughter, her free hand still resting against his chest, the two of them frozen in time.
"Do you know where to begin?" Qui-Gon asked, finding it quite easy to speak despite his lack of a true voice. Or vocal chords for that matter. It must have been so confusing for Obi-Wan, finding himself suddenly wrenched out of his body into this strange existence.
"I have an idea, Dajo but I'm not sure it's a correct one. My last contact with your apprentice was there in the House Inais and he set off toward the city."
"Then…we'll go to Khuta En."
++++++
Obi-Wan waited in relative silence, his own thoughts his only company. He was unsure of just how much time had passed since his attempt to contact his master, and he was nearly too drained to care. Something had been taken from him in the attempt but he wasn't sure exactly what or how much it was.
Still…he was almost certain that he'd felt…something. A brief connection, a breath even, it was so light. Was he just hoping against hope that he had contacted Qui-Gon, and felt his master's presence in return? Luminous beings, like Yoda said…Obi-Wan could not give up the belief that he'd succeeded.
"I see nothing." A gruff voice startled him from his reverie, and he looked up wearily to see that Nacena had indeed returned and with her was a tall Bahreena male that bore faint resemblance to their host in the House Inais. Obi-Wan felt a slight shock travel through him until he realized that it was not the Roeh himself but possibly a lesser relative, a cousin perhaps? But the House resemblance was indeed stamped on the man's features and a brief anxiety swept over Obi-Wan as he thought again of his master. Was Qui-Gon safe? He hoped desperately that it was so.
"Concentrate, you fool. He's right in front of you." Nacena prompted, and she waved a hand impatiently. Obi-Wan sensed a sharp rise of darkness in the motion and suddenly the Bahreena was moving to stand mere inches from him, eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
"He's a stripling and barely that."
"He's the apprentice of that Jedi fool residing in your House." Nacena purred. "Surely you can see his potential for your purposes."
"They're looking for him." The man grunted, and Nacena's expression became one of disgust.
Looking for him...Master Qui-Gon was looking for him! Obi-Wan felt a surge of relief flood through him as he realized that he had indeed been successful in contacting his master. It was followed instantly by the chill realization that he was being sized up for something. Something that could not be good, and instinctively he tried to pull back, although he was still held fast.
"Then you'll just have to do something about that, now, won't you?"