Chapter 20 Strong Enough?

Klea ran down the halls of the temple. She turned a corner and ran smack into a large figure. The frightened girl let out a scream.

"Klea, its Master Jinn." Qui-Gon took her by her shoulders.

Shaking, Klea stated, "Master Jinn! Hurry, Ren and Obi-Wan are dueling."

Not knowing what to think, Qui-Gon, Mace, and An-Paj all followed Klea back down the hall to the room where Obi-Wan was.

Obi-Wan was tiring fast, he did not know how much longer he was going to last. But, if he died, he would die fighting darkness. Obi-Wan's exhaustion finally caught up to him, he fell to his knees. Ren laughed and dove for the killing blow, but Obi-Wan rolled away and Ren landed hard on the floor.

Ren was enraged, "I am going to enjoy killing you, Brat. I am going to enjoy the disbelieving look on your Master's face."

Obi-Wan muttered, "I'm sure you are, you lunatic."

That only enraged Ren even more, he lunged for the fallen apprentice once again, this time, he brought his lightsaber down onto the hilt of Obi-Wan's, splitting the casing, which caused Obi-Wan's hand to be burned as his lightsaber was essentially destroyed.

Obi-Wan shouted in pain, and tried to use the force to block it. But it was no use. He looked up and saw Ren with his blaster pointed right at him. Obi-Wan swallowed, determined to face death like a Jedi.

Ren cocked back the trigger, "Here we are once again, Young One. Except this time, there is no escape."

"REN, STOP!"

Ren turned his head to the doorway, "Ahhhh, Qui-Gon, just in time to see your apprentice meet the force."

Qui-Gon ignited his weapon, "I am warning you, Ren, you hurt that boy, you sign your death warrant."

Laughing, Ren responded, "I have already done that. But when I die, I will know that I destroyed you by destroying your apprentice."

Klea had been silently watching, she looked at Obi-Wan, who was nursing his injured hand and she saw something that frightened her as well as confused her.

Obi-Wan as an old man, in self appointed exile. Darkness had overtaken the entire galaxy, and he was the only hope.

Ignoring An-Paj's scream for her to stop, Klea jumped in front of Obi-Wan, taking two blaster bolts in her chest. Obi-Wan shouted, "KLEA! NOOOOOOOO!"

That gave Qui-Gon the distraction he needed, and with one swift arc of his lightsaber, Ren lay dead on the floor of the temple he once revered.

Qui-Gon powered down his blade and knelt next to his apprentice who was holding Klea, tears falling down his face, "Why, Klea, why did you do it?"

Not able to say much, the girl responded, "I...had...too. Saw...something...you...only...hope..."

With that, the girl passed into the force.

What happened next was all in a daze. He heard heavy crying. In the state he was in, he did not even realize it was him. Qui-Gon gently pulled him away, and An-Paj pulled his lifeless apprentice into his arms.

Qui-Gon felt a lump form in his throat. He could not imagine what the other master was going through, but he did say a word of thanks that Obi-Wan was still with him.

Obi-Wan leaned against the wall, drained. And all of his emotions started to assault him at once. He began to gag, and Qui-Gon rubbed his back as the young apprentice vomited.

Obi-Wan asked on question in a broken whisper, "Why?"

Qui-Gon did not have an answer.

The next few moments were full of activity. The council arrived, along with Leona. She left An-Paj alone to grieve for his apprentice and went to Obi-Wan. Gently she took Obi-Wan's hand into hers, "It is severely burned, but with treatment it should heal nicely."

Obi-Wan merely nodded. He then stood with his master's help and was led away. Qui-Gon felt guilty for feeling joy that his padawan was walking on his own, to have a miracle in the midst of tragedy was ironic.

It would not take more then a few days to get the temple back in order, but an innocent life was lost, and another would be haunted by it forever.
Obi-Wan leaned heavily on his Master. Qui-Gon reflected that this was the second friend his young Padawan had held as they passed into the force. So much for someone so young to handle. Qui-Gon led guided his apprentice to where a temporary hospital had been set up. There were not many casualties.

Healer Leona had taken over the temporary hospital in An-Paj's absence. He would be planning Klea's funeral for the next couple of days. Leona gasped at the thought of never seeing the lively girl again.

She came out of her revelry when she saw Obi-Wan limp in. Trying to smile reassuringly, she said, "Obi-Wan, its going to be all right. I just want to check your hand and run some tests."

When the padawan did not answer, Leona looked to Qui-Gon who nodded. Obi-Wan climbed on the bed and Qui-Gon sat next to him. He had his arm around the young Jedi's shoulders and Obi-Wan leaned his head onto Qui-Gon's chest. There the young man began to cry again. And both healer and master knew it was not from physical pain.

Leona took out a syringe and injected it into Obi-Wan's arm, he fell into a deep sleep. Looking at Qui-Gon she explained, "He has been through a lot, his body needs rest. And I want to check his legs, back, and spine, as well as heal his hand."

Settling his padawan gently onto the bed, Qui-Gon said, "Its a miracle in the face of tragedy. I feel guilty for being glad that Obi-Wan is still with me and whole again when..." His voice trailed off.

Touching his shoulder, Leona tried to comfort him, "Don't feel guilty, Qui. You feel no different then how any master would feel."

Qui-Gon gently touched Obi-Wan's face, even in sleep, contorted with pain, "This is the second friend who has died in front of him. The second one he held as they died. How will he get through this?"

Leona started to heal Obi-Wan's hand and said, "With the help of those who love him. He still has you. Still has Darick and Bruck, even though they are away. And his other friends, and me, and An-Paj."

Several hours later, Qui-Gon was asleep in a chair next to Obi-Wan's bed. Obi-Wan was not asleep, he was wide awake staring at the ceiling.
Every time he closed his eyes he was assaulted by visions he would rather not see.

He bit back a deep sigh, so he would not wake up his Master, who most assuredly needed his rest. Tears came to his eyes again, first Cerasi, who he missed terribly. Now Klea, who he would miss no less. He remembered all the fun they had, and smiled in spite of himself. He remembered their first kiss, on the balcony the night of his sixteenth birthday. Was it only a few months ago? It seemed like a lifetime ago.

"But it wasn't, was it Obi?"

Obi-Wan jumped up and turned his head. He then blinked a few times to make sure he was not dreaming. There before him stood a shimmering Klea!

"Klea, Oh force, I am so sorry..." Obi-Wan started to say.

But Klea's spirit held up her hand, "You have nothing to be sorry for, Love. It was the will of the force."

Obi-Wan tried to argue, "No, it wasn't. I can't believe that."

"Obi-Wan, I haven't much time, but I don't want you to blame yourself. I have no regrets in my choice. I am at peace, and I would like you to be at peace as well."

Not knowing how to respond, Obi-Wan asked, "Why, Klea? Why did you do it?"

Klea's form started to fade, "I can't explain it all, Obi-Wan. But someday, you will be the only hope. Be well, Obi-Wan. Do not mourn me, but don't forget me either. We will meet again."

Obi-Wan shouted, "NO! Klea don't leave me! Don't go Klea! I love you! Stay!"

But Klea faded away still, but before she was completely gone, Obi-Wan heard a whisper, "I love you too, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan began to cry again, and was aware of Qui-Gon's arms around him. Qui-Gon allowed the boy to cry for as long as he needed, offering quiet strength. When Obi-Wan had the tears under control, he said, "I saw Klea, and don't say it was a dream. I really saw her."

Resting his chin on Obi-Wan's head, Qui-Gon continued to soothe him, "I would never say that. I believe that Klea did appear to you. She wanted you to feel peace in her choice. In the will of the force."

Thinking for a minute, Obi-Wan replied, "I can accept her choice and the will of the force, but I still don't like it. I don't have peace with it. I miss her."

In full Master/parent mode, Qui-Gon said, "And you will always miss her, but the pain will fade."

Obi-Wan did not answer, he merely nodded against Qui-Gon's chest. Using the force, Qui-Gon sent suggestions of sleep over the bond and continued to hold onto his apprentice long after sleep claimed him.