Chapter 3
A Narrow Escape – Into The Fray.
Author note: To any Star Wars and Metroid Prime fans reading this, you'll find a surprise near the end of this chapter. ; )
Obi-Wan Kenobi's training was extremely vigorous during the next little while, doing nothing but vehicle training and force usage, for he was skilled in pretty much everything else. He never had a good stomach for flying, so he would never really make the most daring pilot, but that was why he was a Jedi, not enrolled in the Republic Pilot Academy.
On the eighth day, he experienced a coming of age. Qui-Gon had brought Obi-Wan away from Coruscant, taking him off to Demetris Prime, to search for the crystal he would use in his lightsaber.
It was a rocky planet, full of tricky and undulating ground. The sheer heat from the sun beat down on him, easily topping forty degrees. It was a dry, unforgiving heat, and Obi-Wan could almost feel the flesh on the back of his neck becoming burned.
After much cursing from the frequent falls on the rocks, the pants that came when he had to jump quickly, and the painstaking hard rocks that hurt his hands with each contact.
However, he was rewarded after a long day, with a large crystal that was an excellent find. It was green, and extremely tuned for lightsaber use. Finding it had been no easy task, but it was worth it in the end. The resulting lightsaber as light, and easy to move, but very strong, the perfect marriage of weight and power for young Obi-Wan.
Two days after he had gotten his lightsaber back from the sabersmith on hand in the lower levels of the Jedi Temple, that happened to be at the end of the ten day week, he got a small vacation, as he did every week. He however, had made plans for this one. Usually he merely relaxed around the grounds, but now, he would stay somewhere in the heart of the main city.
Before he left, he was approached by Qui-Gon with a request, one of the more unusual and insightful ones Obi-Wan would ever receive.
It had begun with Qui-Gon greeting him and asking where he would be going. When Obi-Wan answered his destination, (The Grand Hotel Of Coruscant.) Qui-Gon's brow furrowed, a sign Obi-Wan had learned to detect that his master was in thought, especially thought that could present danger, such as when he had attempted to face the combat simulator war games with the safety protocols that protected the Padawan from being killed disabled.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. "There is a shadow around that area now. A group has been recruiting member, but for what, I do not know. It is probably be a petty gang, but be safe. Take your lightsaber, and a remote. Keep your skills sharp. And don't spend too many credits."
"I won't master." Obi-Wan said. "Enjoy your rest period and may the Force be with you."
"Enjoy yourself, Padawan." Qui-Gon smiled. "May the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan arrived when the sun was setting. His thoughts wavered to Gillian as he looked on to the bright colors, but he also smiled for her. He had remembered what Yoda had taught him mere months ago, but seemed like a lifetime. "Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you, who have transformed into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not." Indeed, he had taken this advice to heart, and was living twice as much for both of them. How far he had come since those light spade and bucket days of their love, from the chocolate fizz and beach lines they visited, to her coveted seashell collections. ("No, Gillian. We'll have to leave that behind or we'll never get back to the temple in time.").
Obi-Wan arrived at his room shortly after watching the sunset. He put his case down and stretched. He had been so tense lately. Perhaps he would get a massage later on from one of the Twi'lek masseuses…
Dinner was always an adventure for Obi-Wan. Partially because of his four armed friend Dex, who always found some new muck to fry up with butter and salt and serve with fries and coleslaw. But it was also a pivotal point of his day, something to look forward to. He lived on minor meals at the temple, but always had a big dinner. Tonight was no exception.
After his meal, he took a Jawa juice at the bar when one hooded figure came up to him. "You wanna join the Dark Elite?"
Obi-Wan waved his hand slightly. "You don't want me to join the Dark Elite."
"Oh, yes I do." The man said, sickly. Obi-Wan could tell he hadn't showered or brushed his teeth in weeks. "You are strong with the force, and very young. You would make Overlord Sidious very happy."
Obi-Wan faced him, now impatient. "I said," He repeated. "You don't want me to join the Dark Elite."
The man frowned under his cloak. "Maybe you're a Jedi." He said. "My friend Aran doesn't like Jedi."
He nodded to on man behind Obi-Wan. He was a big man, probably very strong and dangerous if it came to hand to hand combat. He was covered in hair, and at first glance, Obi-Wan thought he was a Wookie. Naked, he thought. He would be an obscene object. There was a DDC Enforcer blaster pistol at his hip, with his right hand at it.
"Now," The hooded man said, holding a very old blade to Obi-Wan's middle, concealed by the folds in his black cloak. "You sure you don't want to join us?"
"No." Obi-Wan said, firmly. He sensed the man going to thrust the blade into him. Obi-Wan's lightsaber came out, slicing the man's arm clean off, the saber neatly sealing the wound so that no blood escaped.
Aran's Enforcer came out and spat red bolts at the young Jedi. Obi-Wan deflected the shots, one of them penetrating Aran's chest. He fell, and more of the men came out, armed with old metal blades. Obi-Wan got into his fighting stance, the saber activated and drawn back in his right hand to back behind his ear, with the blade pointed at the enemy, while his left arm was fully outstretched, a fist made with his fingers, save for his index and middle fingers, which pointed out in a V-shape formation. He sliced through all of them with a few quick leaps to the side, out of the range of their blades when they got too close.
As he dealt with the men, the ringleader, the hooded one who's arm Obi-Wan had claimed rushed off to the docking ports. Obi-Wan slashed through one more goon and ran after him. The man had got away in a speeder, but there was one more left. Obi-Wan took it and followed him at breakneck speed.
The cars and lights of the nighttime Coruscant traffic flew by Obi-Wan in a whirlwind Technicolor blur. Obi-Wan's reflexes were the only thing that allowed him to take the controls in time to avoid the oncoming traffic, for he knew that he was going in the opposite direction.
Two speeder bikes came up alongside him. The got off a few rounds with their DC-8s, which Obi-Wan ducked to avoid. He led them on a merry case throughout the entertainment district, close to the ground, until he made a daring bank between two skyscrapers, which the bikes were not fast enough to turn, both exploding on contact and falling to the ground in a blazing maelstrom of twisted, flaming wreckage and whatever was left of the pilots.
Obi-Wan kept on the tail of the armless man. For only one arm, and the pain he must be under, it was amazing he could keep this up. The traffic was now heavier, Obi-Wan barely avoiding some of it.
The ma dived and a car collided with Obi-Wan's, causing him to leap off and land on the escapee's. There was a brief struggle before Obi-Wan's lightsaber came out, penetrating the man's middle.
Obi-Wan piloted the craft back to the hotel, now handing the corpse over to the police, but getting a blood sample from him before he turned it over completely.
Upon returning to his room, he got out a small communicator, which he kept at his belt, beside the grappling hook and the three spots for a few thermal detonators. He activated it and patched into the frequency he knew was Qui-Gon's.
The sleepy voice on the other end answered. Obi-Wan felt a pang of guilt. "Did I wake you, master?" He knew Qui-Gon was able to function for days, weeks on end without sleep, but that sleep was very welcome where he could get it.
"Oh, heavens no, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon's voice became livelier. "I was merely meditating. What compelled you to call me at this late hour?"
"I'm sending over a blood sample to you." Obi-Wan said. "I require a DNA check, if that would be possible, Master."
"Yes, of course, Padawan." Qui-Gon said. "Go ahead."
Obi-Wan sent over the sample by connecting the small data wafer into the port at the bottom of the device.
"Received." Qui-Gon replied. "I shall tell you the results tomorrow. Where did you get this, if I may ask."
Obi-Wan knew that it was not a request. "I picked it up from someone who tried to kill me when I refused to join them. Might be those guys you warned me about earlier, but I'm not sure."
"I'll get back to you with the results tomorrow morning." Qui-Gon spoke. "Good night, Padawan."
"Good night, master." Obi-Wan said and deactivated the communicator. What in the name of the Force was going on? He'd nearly been killed several times tonight, but for what? Obi-Wan did not want to know now. His body and his mind were tired. He rang for the masseuse and let her work her wonders on his tortured muscles, saying thank you afterwards and giving her a handsome tip as she left, beaming. Afterwards, he drifted off into a light sleep. Who knows what tomorrow might bring…
Obi-Wan was awakened as the sun was peeking up by the beeping of his communicator. He reached into the folds of his robe that had been neatly folded on the bedside chair and retrieved the offending device that was shrilling loud enough to waken the inhabitants next door. "Yes?" He said, rubbing his eyes.
"Good morning, Padawan." Qui-Gon said. "I have the results back from the lab. I'm sorry, but I require you to report back to the temple. this is more serious then I thought."
"Something wrong, master?" Obi-Wan was now wide awake. Was he in trouble for killing the man? Had he killed an innocent?
"Probably nothing, but I just want to be sure." Qui-Gon said. "Me and the rest of the Jedi Council. We shall be expecting you in two hours."
"Very good, master." Obi-Wan said. He closed the channel and packed his things. He was not angry as other Padawans might be at having their leave disrupted, for he had had plenty of relaxation and was ready to work again. He had a quick breakfast of K'Tarian eggs and prepared whole meal bread at a local eatery before he set off for the temple. He met Qui-Gon outside the council chambers where his master led him inside.
Obi-Wan's stomach lurched. The entire Jedi council was here! His palms began to sweat. Already, he hoped not to make one single mistake for he did not want to anger the elder Jedi. Qui-Gon guided him to the center of the chamber and stood against a pillar.
Newly appointed master three cycles ago, Mace Windu asked many questions of the young Padawan. Mostly for descriptions of the men, their attire, the details of the pursuit, and whatever feelings he got from them, given to him by the Force, as well as any names. Here, he had Obi-Wan.
"Oh, I'm not sure…" Obi-Wan said, trying to remember. Think, Obi-Wan. He willed himself. THINK! Then, it clicked. "I do remember two. One of them, the man who first fired on me was called Aran, and the one who talked to me made reference to a certain Overlord Sidious."
There was a bit of commotion from the council. Windu spoke again. "Are you sure of this?"
Obi-Wan nodded. Windu spoke again. "I am sure you are familiar with the tales of the Sith War."
"Yes," Obi-Wan said. It was standard Padawan reading material, but he read them for pleasure as well, for one Jedi known as Ulic Qel-Droma was somewhat of a role model of his. Until his final assignment, of course, when he attempted a daring mission to infiltrate and "conquer the Dark Side from within." However, the allure of the dark side was too strong, even for Droma, who then assembled a weapon of mass destruction with the Sith and was eventually captured by the Jedi and stripped of his connection to the Force. His tomb was on some remote planet in the Digolli region, which Obi-Wan never found out.
"Well, during the Sith War, the opposing Sith forces took orders from a ruler they had stood by for thousands of years, known as Darth Sithious." Windu said.
"Well known, the story of the Sith War is among the youth of the Republic." Yoda said. "Perhaps a headstrong youth with illusions of power, it is."
"However," Windu said. "Because of your talent handling this gang leader and his thugs, the council agrees that you are ready for field work."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened, though his face betrayed little emotion. Field work now! No more training, but actual assignments! He was now well on his way to becoming a full fledged Jedi!
"Your first assignment will be on a planet that had recently joined the Republic." Windu spoke. "It is called Aether, but they have a big problem with many of the locals rejecting our presence, and it is on the brink of a civil war. We require you to put an end to the hostilities."
Qui-Gon came to Obi-Wan's side. "We shall go this planet Aether and deal with the proposition. You may have faith in my Padawan."
"Very well, master Jinn." Yoda said. "May the Force be with you both."
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon bowed and left, heading for the hangar, where a Republic cruiser whisked them away from the safe confines of Coruscant and pout into the strange and dangerous paths that lay ahead of the new apprentice and his master.
End of chapter.
Okay, a new chapter up, and the end of this section, or book I'm calling them. The next chappy will start the new book. Anyhoo, please review. It would be most greatly appreciated. Ciao!