Chapter 18 The Enemy Returns
The next week passed like a whirlwind. Obi-Wan improved with leaps and bounds in his physical therapy. It was strenuous, and at times painful, as Obi-Wan tried to retrain his muscles to listen to the messages his brain sent. He was glad to be out of the hover chair, banishing it from the apartment. He used his crutches, no longer worrying about what people thought. And better yet, he had returned to class.
Thanks to Bruck, Obi-Wan was not too far behind. He was able to catch up in no time. Obi-Wan was thrilled to be back in class. There was only one thing missing, he wished to continue with his lightsaber training. That made Obi-Wan work all the more on his therapy. He wanted to walk on his own--without the crutches.
All too soon, the day for Bruck and Darick to leave on their mission came. Obi-Wan was disappointed for two reasons. One, Bruck and Darick were leaving the temple and he would miss them both. Two, he and Qui-Gon would have been the ones to go had it not been for Obi-Wan's injury. Obi-Wan was not jealous, but he wished he was able to go on a mission as well, he missed them.
Qui-Gon seemed to read his thoughts, "Once you are well, Obi-Wan, the council will send us on many missions. You will get tired of them and beg to stay at the temple."
Obi-Wan grinned, "I don't think you want me to debate that point, Master."
Qui-Gon laughed, "Most likely not, Padawan. Come, let us go and see Darick and Bruck off."
Bruck and Darick were on the landing pad, outside the republic cruiser. Bruck smiled when he saw Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan, I am so glad you came." Bruck exclaimed.
Obi-Wan grinned, "Of course I came to see you. You are my best friend."
The boys continued to converse, as their Masters did the same.
Qui-Gon said, "I wish you luck on your mission, Darick. May the force be with you."
DDarick bowed, "Thank you, Qui-Gon. I hope Obi-Wan gets well soon, so you too may go on missions. The council seems to have lost their best field man."
Qui-Gon laughed at the compliment, "Hardly, you and Bruck are a formidable team." Qui-Gon then took on a concerned look, "But be careful, Dar. These chemical weapons can be deadly, and we do not know who our adversary is here."
Darick shook Qui-Gon's hand, "I will, and thanks, Qui-Gon. You are a good friend."
Qui-Gon gripped Darick's hand," I will say the same about you." Then looking over where their padawans were standing, he said, "We are both lucky to have such fine young men to call our padawans."
Darick nodded, "The force has blessed us indeed. But it is time for us to leave my friend. May the force be with you."
That's it, Obi-Wan!" The exuberant voice of An-Paj rang out. Obi-Wan's physical therapy was going more quickly and more smoothly then anyone had anticipated.
Obi-Wan was breathless, but exited. His legs were getting stronger. He knew that he was getting better.
An-Paj finally said, "OK, Obi-Wan, that's enough for today."
Obi-Wan was exhausted, but he said, "Are you sure? I can go another hour, if you can."
An-Paj laughed and shook his head, "I am tired just watching you. Go home and get some rest."
Obi-Wan nodded, "I think I will. Master Qui-Gon is in meetings at the senate hall with Chancellor Valorum. He won't be home for hours."
An-Paj replied, "Well, stay out of trouble."
Obi-Wan returned home and pulled out his astro-physics disk, he popped it into his data pad, and tried to study it. But the long session of therapy had drained the boy. He lay back on the couch and closed his eyes.
Some time later, he woke with a start. The force was warning him of something wrong. Obi-Wan realized then, that it was dark outside, and Qui-Gon was not home yet. Obi-Wan used deep calming breaths to keep cool-headed.
The com unit going off in the apartment made him jump, finding his crutches, he made his way over to it. He sighed in relief when he saw his master's image come up, "Master, there is a disturbance, what is it?"
Qui-Gon fought to remain calm, "Obi-Wan, I need you to get out of the temple and to the senate hall as quickly as possible."
Obi-Wan was confused, "Yes, Master. But what is wrong?"
Qui-Gon answered, "I will tell you when you arrive, Padawan. Now, please listen to me and get out of the temple."
Obi-Wan stared at the screen, wondering why Qui-Gon did not come home to get him. Qui-Gon, reading his thoughts said, "I can not come for you myself, because the temple is being evacuated. Now, hurry. I will wait for you at the grand entrance at the senate."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, Master." The screen went black, and Obi-Wan went towards the door, he focused on the force and the strength that the force gave him.
Qui-Gon waited impatiently at the grand entrance of the hall. Even with Obi-Wan's injury, he should have made it to the Senate Hall by now. Worry was deeply etched in the Jedi Master's face.
Mace came up behind him, "The temple should be empty by now, and the droids are sweeping it for the bomb."
Qui-Gon nodded, "I have to go back."
Mace shook his head, "They are not letting ANYONE near the temple. They will use whatever means necessary. You will not get in."
Qui-Gon lost his war with patience then, "What about Obi-Wan? I need to get to him. What if the suspicions were correct? What if Ren has returned to do what he set out to do."
Mace could not find the words to
answer his friend.
Obi-Wan
was almost out of the temple, but the sound of muffled tears at the
end of the hall stopped him. He turned and found a little boy about
three huddled in a closet. Obi-Wan arranged his crutched so he could
kneel, "Hey, shh, it's ok. Don't cry."
The little boy looked up, "I'm lost." Tears again began to fall.
Obi-Wan replied, "Let's say, I get you unlost. I need you to stand and hold tight onto my robe, can you do that?"
The boy solemnly nodded, "I think so."
Obi-Wan smiled, "Good, you need to be brave now. What's your name?"
The boy took hold of Obi-Wan's robe, and sniffed, "Kire."
Obi-Wan smiled, "Nice to meet you Kire, we will go and find my master and then get you back to the crèche master."
Kire nodded and they started down the hall together. Obi-Wan had a nagging feeling, the forced warned him of something, and he shouted, "Kire! GET DOWN!"
Kire did as he was told, and he dropped to the floor behind a heavy statue. Obi-Wan dropped as well, covering the child with his own body as an explosion ripped through the hall.
It seemed like an eternity before the Temple became still again. Obi-Wan opened his eyes with caution, taking in his surroundings, he saw that the exit was no more. Debris and stone covered it.
Obi-Wan bit back a groan, no sense in frightening the child more, "its ok Kire, we will just have to find another way out."
Kire removed his hands from his ears, "OK."
Obi-Wan looked for his crutches, sighing in relief when he noticed them not far away, Kire saw them too and handed them to his protector. Obi-Wan stood up. Thankfully, the explosion did not do any harm to him or Kire. Obi-Wan looked up at the statue that blocked them both from harm.
Obi-Wan smiled at the statue of Jedi Master Thon, "the next time the Jedi History master lectures on you, I promise I will not doze off."
Kire looked around confused, "Who you talkin' too?"
Obi-Wan replied, "No one, Kire. Let's continue on."
Qui-Gon heard the explosion. It was impossible not to hear. And from where he stood at the senate hall, he could see that the temple was still standing, but the entrances were blocked.
His hand went to his mouth, "Obi-Wan! NOOOO!"
Mace came up behind him, "Qui, Qui?"
Qui-Gon searched the force, and found Obi-Wan's force signature, "He is still alive. But I am not waiting here."
Mace did not make any move to stop his friend, instead he looked as though he was going to join him. Mace turned to an aide near by, "Have all the Jedi been accounted for?"
The aid consulted his data pad and shook his head, "No, Master Jedi. Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, Initiate Kire Vant are missing, along with Master Healer An-Paj and his apprentice, Klea."
Qui-Gon whispered, "It's a trap! We have to move NOW Mace!"
Mace could not agree more.
Obi-Wan and Kire walked on with caution. Obi-Wan felt darkness about the temple that he never expected to feel inside its walls. Kire shivered and moved closer to Obi-Wan, "I no like this. Cold and creepy. Want my master."
Obi-Wan answered, "So do I. I will get you to your Master. I promise."
Kire was a little boy with a strong force signature, Obi-Wan felt this and used his own signature to create warmth around them. Obi-Wan hoped to reach his master through their bond. But the dark side seemed too thick.
Finally, a trickle got through, MASTER!
A calm but worried voice came back, Obi-Wan! Thank the force. Where are you?
The south hallway. I found a little boy, Kire.
Qui-Gon was relieved that his padawan was safe, Well done, Padawan. Now I need you to follow my signature. I am not far. The others will continue searching for Klea and An-Paj.
Obi-Wan's heart dropped, Klea? Master An-Paj? I have to find them.
Qui-Gon panicked, No! Obi-Wan, it is too dangerous. It is a trap, you must continue on. We will find them, I promise.
But Obi-Wan had stopped listening, he leaned down to Kire, and "You need to follow this hall all the way to the end. Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Master Mace Windu are there using their sabers to cut through the stone wall."
Kire looked afraid, "I want to stay with you, come with...come with."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I can't. I have to help my friends. But you be sure to tell the masters how brave you were. Now, hurry. Go."
The little boy obeyed. He turned and ran down the hall. He stopped when he got to the dead end. A bright green and bright blue glow were flooding the hallway as the jedi Masters on the other side melted away rock and steel to gain entrance.
In awe, Kire watched. Finally, the two Jedi Masters stepped into the temple. Now Kire looked at them in awe. They were both men of imposing height. But Kire felt safe in their presence.
Qui-Gon kneeled, "You must be Kire," he said gently, when the child nodded Qui-Gon asked, "Where is Obi-Wan?"
Kire shivered, "Went back to the bad hall."
Mace was confused, "Bad hall?"
Kire nodded and visibly cringed, "Cold and dark. Not warm and safe like it was. But I was brave. Even Obi said so."
Qui-Gon scooped Kire up, "I am sure you were little one. Let's get you back to the crèche master. And then Master Mace and I will fine Obi-Wan."
Kire rested his head against Qui-Gon's shoulder, "K. But, you find Obi, right?"
Qui-Gon nodded, "I promise."
Then at the other end of the hall another explosion went off.
Qui-Gon wasted no time. He returned Kire to the crèche and into the caring embrace of the crèche master, Ali-Alan, who was grateful to have his ward back, "Kire, I was worried about you."
Kire nodded and hugged his master back. He was too tired to speak. Ali-Alan picked him up and turned to Qui-Gon, "Did you find Obi-Wan?"
Qui-Gon shook his head, "He made sure that Kire got out, but he went back to find Klea and An-Paj. I need to get back there, I need to see if I can help him."
Qui-Gon was leaving the temporary haven set up for the youngest of the Jedi. Mace called to him, "Qui, come here. You need to see this."
Qui-Gon walked over to the office in the senate hall that the Jedi council was using, all twelve members were around a holo screen.
Ren's face came up, it was filled with hate, "I see my plan has worked well."
Qui-Gon answered, "Your plan will fail, the way all your plans fail."
Ren laughed, "I think not Qui-Gon, not this time. I managed to trap a lone apprentice in a vast temple. With explosions going off in the most delightful game of cat and mouse."
Qui-Gon was having trouble maintaining his control, "Ren, he is just a boy. Let him go."
Ren only laughed again,
"I don't think so. I am going to enjoy this. Though I must say I
am surprised. Who would have thought that you would not be with your
crippled apprentice." At that time another explosion went off.
And Ren laughed even harder. The screen went black, leaving the room
echoing in Ren's laughter.
The third explosion jolted
Obi-Wan. He was clearly un-nerved, but he fought to keep his focus.
Who thought wryly, whoever is doing this,
does not seem to want to kill me. That's comforting, I
think...
Obi-Wan's legs were starting to ache, but the
ache felt different. Obi-Wan ignored the ache and went deeper into
the temple.
