Here it is! Last chappie! enjoy, an ending is never to EVERYONE's liking, so I won't mind if some are a little disappointed, and don't woory, I never had any intention of discontinuing something, even if everyone said it was bad, which none of you lovely people have lol, I woulden't have discontinued it, I don't like to give up mwhahaha!
enjoy!
soph xox
"Master Kenobi?"
He nearly jumped, when had she come in? Obi-Wan turned to face the woman who stood nervously at the door.
"Sorry, you startled me. Yes?" Ketra took one shaky pace forward, why was she so twitchy all of a sudden? Why did he appear so scared of him?
"The head priestess will see you now." Obi-Wan was taken aback. That was unnervingly easy, he hadn't even had to ask.
"Did she give a reason." Ketra shook her head.
"None that I'd need to hear." Obi-Wan snorted, automatic response, sounded like many Jedi younglings he knew, speaking without necessarily believing. He gave the young woman a friendly smile, and with an outstretched arm, indicated the door by which she stood.
"Then lead the way." Ketra inclined her head, and walked swiftly through the open door, Obi-Wan close behind in her wake. Obi-Wan could not help but stare hopelessly about him in awe. Despite the simplicity of the rooms, these people obviously took great pride in their hallways and public spaces. The roof reached up in a titanic arc that rolled about 50 feet above Obi-Wan's head, gigantic statues clung with vast claws to all sides of the building, eyes wide, evil and staring, gargoyles, Obi-Wan thought, something he'd never seen in a place like Couruscant.
"Please, this way." Obi-Wan looked back down, the small woman was shuffling around nervously, did he often have this effect on people? Obi-Wan let an internal shrug, and continue to walk a few paces behind the young woman. She led him up, a numerous amount to say the least; of staircases, each as wide, and as vastly decorated as the next, wall paintings, banister carvings, each telling their own tale of the lives of these people. Obi-Wan smiled to himself, this place, was almost the assigned opposite to the Jedi temple. One planet was a primitive, hostile wasteland, the other was the centre of the Republic, a bustling city of all species, The Jedi Temple was anything but decorated, but it was immensely beautiful all the same, the lake rooms, the meditation chambers, the map rooms, all held a quiet charge that created a beauty within itself, whereas this place, really preferred to show it with a more visible charge.
The hallway narrowed down until it led to a narrow passageway, this passageway smelled of damp, and small insects scuttled over the interior walls.
"Why the change in scenery." Ketra sighed, as if scolding him for asking a question he should already know the answer to.
"The head priestess likes the passage to her quarters to reflect the struggle her people endured to find and create this holy place, she prefers to show her humility." Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, unseen by the younger woman who walked swiftly before him. Well above all things this certainly was not a struggle, and he'd very much like to see this humility for himself, to feel you have to build a hall based on your own personal sacrifices and pains, seemed a rather egotistical feat to Obi-Wan. The hall continue to diminish in size until Obi-Wan almost had to hunch over to fit below it's lowering ceiling. With an echoing crack, Ketra pushed open a small, wooden door, leading to yet another vast, highly decorative room beyond it's frame. Ketra stood to one side and stretched out one arm.
"You must go in alone." Obi-Wan shook his head slightly, this certainly was all very dramatic, she'd spoken as if he was to endure one of the hardest of tasks. He took the few paces towards the slight and spindly door frame, where he turned to face Ketra, he bowed respectfully, as was the Jedi custom, and somewhat taken aback by his action, Ketra returned the gesture.
"Thank you miss."
"I'll be here to lead you back master Kenobi, she'll send for me." Obi-Wan swallowed, this sounded unnervingly structured, what was it the head priestess had in mind exactly. Well, Obi-Wan thought, as he slowly entered the grand chamber, it was something he'd most likely have to change, for he had no intention of either he, or his Padawan staying much longer.
"Stand over there, by the desk, where I can see you." The voice was sudden, but not surprising, Obi-Wan had assumed that this 'head priestess' would want to seem elusive or divine in his presence. He complied with the request, or order, and stood by the desk, taking a brief moment to scan the odds and end that littered it. A holoscreen, several disorganised papers, an open data pad, nothing Obi-Wan was not meant to see. He looked up again, and followed the room with his eyes.
"Obi-Wan is it?"
"Yes…."
He wanted to say more, but couldn't help but feel he should break off, he kept his gaze on the room, trying to seek out she who spoke.
"You won't see me Jedi, but I can see you and that is what matters. Obi-Wan wanted to groan aloud, no matter how different he'd perceived these people to be, the arrogance of both their leader and that of the tribe who'd held himself and Anakin captive were no different. Obi-Wan breathed a sigh in exasperation, and folded his arms within the sleeves of his cloak.
"When you and your Padawan arrived in out care, we were asked to make you well, then make you leave, as soon as possible." Obi-Wan didn't appreciate having to be made to do anything, but let her continue.
"Come midday, both Yourself, and young Skywalker will be far away from here. This was it, Obi-Wan's chance.
"My apprentice is in no fit state to hike anywhere, and our ship was destroyed somewhere deep inside the Jungle, far from here, we'd highly appreciate, if you could lend us any means of transport to send us on our way."
A silence, and the soft tremor of footsteps, Obi-Wan pretended not to here, and did not turn to face the sound from behind him.
"You arrived to settle the lengthy dispute between Derrus 4 and Caversa didn't you?"
"Yes."
Another pause, Obi-Wan could here the footsteps drawing in closer and closer behind him, still he did not turn, he would not do anything that she hadn't requested, not wanting to offend or displease her, for they really needed that ship.
"Turn Master Jedi." Without hesitation, Obi-Wan about-faced. Before him, stood a slight, silver haired woman, with a thin face and small narrowed eyes, she looked somewhere in her 60's, but she showed none of the fear, or nervousness, as the others had done so before her. Even at her height and physique, Obi-Wan still found her immensely overpowering.
"Then your cause is a noble one, Kenobi, that war has been allowed to continue for too long without intervention, and the people of Derrus 4 heartlessly dragged us into it's midst, we are a peaceful people, war and suffering does not play to our advantage as it does to some, some like your friend, Chief D'agri." Obi-Wan nodded, he liked the way this was going at the moment.
"We can give you a ship, it's small, and fast, but has very little weaponry, and seeing as you are about to enter a war zone, it's a space I would not dare to cross in that ship, I'm sorry but it's the best I can offer."
Obi-Wan smiled and inclined his head gratefully.
"My Padawan is a skilled pilot Ma'am, it'll be nothing we can't handle." The head priestess offered him a warm smile, and took his hand between hers.
"Then go, and I wish upon you a safe journey, I'll have the ship readied for your departure." Obi-Wan returned the smile.
"We are grateful, and I hope you can accept my gratitude for your wonderful care of us over the last few days, I know I can not repay you for your hospitality, let us hope that maybe an end to your war will be payment enough." The woman nodded.
"As it shall." she released Obi-Wan's hand from her strong grip, and he took a pace back, before bowing to the elderly woman, and turning to leave.
He returned to his temporary quarters and restocked his small pack, and Anakin's, and took one last final gaze out at the wonderful setting upon which this temple stood, he'd certainly miss the view, it was somewhat different to that of Croissant's. He made one last final check for the paper's in his inner pocket, they were still there, he'd keep them for now, Anakin had suffered enough o their behalf already, though the worry of keeping them there safely was enough to drive him mad. He snapped closed the last pack and made towards the door, where outside, Ketra waited patiently.
"Your Padawan will meet you at the hangar, everything is set for you to go. I wish you luck Jed." Obi-Wan nodded slowly.
"Thank you for you kindness and hospitality, I'm eternally grateful to you." The young Woman blushed.
"No thanks necessary Master Kenobi, the Hangar is at the end of the hall, I shan't accompany you, I have duties to attend to elsewhere, but safe journey, and good luck." Again, Obi-Wan nodded his thanks, and made to meet his Padawan in the Hangar.
The hangar was large, and wide, only a portion of space filled by the one tiny ship they were to use. Anakin was already there, fiddling with a small vent flap on the starboard wing, it was lose, wouldn't do much good in a dog fight, the whole thing would probably come off. He heard the familiar footsteps of his Master and looked up. Obi-Wan smiled in greeting.
"You certainly look better." Anakin grinned.
"With that I wish I could say that for you Master." Obi-Wan sighed, something he seemed to be doing often with beings now.
"When will I ever cease to be the victim of your relentless bullying?"
"As soon as I cease to be the victim of yours."
The pair laughed, then stood quietly for a while, each surveying the small, and run-down ship. Obi-Wan was the first to speak.
"So, give me your expert opinion Anakin, is she flyable?"
"By flyable you mean can I get her off the ground?"
"In one piece yes."
A pause.
"Yup." Obi-Wan nodded, then patted his Padawan's shoulder.
"Then let's not wait until you can't." He slid one pack off his shoulder and handed it to Anakin, then unclipped his Padawan's lightsaber from his belt.
"You'll be needing this." Anakin took the weapon and laughed.
"For the time being, I hope not."
"So let's get these blasted things safely to Caversa then go home." Anakin nodded, he still looked painfully tired, his face pale and wan. The boy ran a hand through his short-cropped hair.
"Good to see you again by the way master." Obi-Wan laughed, and hit the activation switch on the ship's sliding door.
"You too my young apprentice." The door hissed upwards and inwards, and Obi-Wan indicated for Anakin to go first."
"Your driving."
"Wouldn't have it any other way though would you." Anakin muttered in mock bitterness, as he climbed stiffly aboard the rusted ship.
"Never!" Obi-Wan replied as he lumped into the co-pilot's seat. The last sounds of the temple hush were drowned out, as Anakin fired up the engines, and the ship left the silver-gleamed hangar bay in a roar of sound and smoke.
Good? not good? tell me what you think!
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed, I'm gonna go and think of some more stories I can write for this! It's a good lark!
