Obi-Wan Kenobi Book II

Chapter 24 The Test

Qui-Gon walked slowly through the temple halls and down the stairs to his rooms. He hated the thought of putting Obi-Wan through such an emotional test but he had to do what was best for his apprentice in the long run. Thoughts of him turning reminded Qui-Gon of Xanatos and how he should have seen it coming. Xanatos was so arrogant and proud of the simplest things. That was not Obi-Wan. The boy he trained now was, to an extent, proud of his accomplishments but he didn't strut around talking to anyone who would listen. Obi-Wan was much better than that.

Approaching the door Qui-Gon shook his head, all he could think about was how ridiculous it was. He felt Obi-Wan's presence when he walked in the door. His apprentice was looking out the window at the traffic, his eyes narrowed.

"Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon, his expression never changing.

"Padawan, what is it?"

Qui-Gon watched as he took a breath and lowered his gaze to the floor.

"Nothing."

This was it, Qui-Gon was hoping he would find the right moment to test Obi-Wan, and it was now.

"He got to you didn't he? Xanatos."

Obi-Wan kept his gaze to the floor.

"The council sensed it in you. The dark side. They said you would have turned against me, that you have."

Obi-Wan looked up sharply. "And you believe them? They don't know me."

"Master Yoda said so, he knows all of us. The dark side only clouds his judgment, it does not destroy it."

"I am not on the dark side!"

"You will be won't you? Xanatos has entered your mind, he gave you a taste of what powers you can have with the dark side, and you want more!" Qui-Gon said, raising his voice. The battle in Obi-Wan's mind was clearly displayed on his face.

"No! That's not true, it can't be. I'm a good person." Obi-Wan looked like he was close to tears.

"Believe it or not Obi-Wan, Xanatos was also a good person before he couldn't get enough power being a 'normal' jedi."

Obi-Wan's face switched to anger as he looked at his master. "You lair! Xanatos turned because you killed his father. You are the reason he turned to the dark side!"

Qui-Gon's test forced him to test his own abilities. Obi-Wan had just told him that what he feared most in his life was real. He was the reason Xanatos turned. It was no one else's.

"You know nothing of what happened. Turning to the dark side is one's choice. Xanatos made his decision, just as you have made yours."

"What, my master, do you think my decision is?"

"The dark side."

Obi-Wan's face was a storm of emotions. His eyes seemed to grow in intensity and the mirrors and windows started to break. Qui-Gon felt the presence of evil and watched as glass objects all around the room started to shatter at his apprentice's freed emotions. Suddenly it was over and Obi-Wan was unnaturally still.

"Obi-Wan?"

Suddenly he shifted his eyes and spotted a window that did not shatter. He pushed his fist through the glass and Qui-Gon flinched.

"I will not turn. I will not turn." Obi-Wan said, speaking the sentence over and over again as he collapsed to the floor and clutched his bleeding hand and wrist.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked again approaching him cautiously. Placing a hand on his shoulder Qui-Gon felt the evil pass and it left Obi-Wan shaking.

Sitting down on the floor Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's injured hand and cleaned the glass away. "It's okay Obi-Wan, your safe now."

The apprentice didn't say anything he simply shifted so he could rest his head on his master's strong chest.

"I have failed?"

Qui-Gon smiled, no matter what was happening or what was being done around him, Obi-Wan was always very observant. He knew he was being tested.

"No my Obi-Wan, you have passed. Everything is alright now, everything has been healed."

The young boy cuddled closer to his master and Qui-Gon put his arms around him. "I am very proud of you Obi-Wan. Not a lot of people could resist that evil."

"It was a terrible feeling, being controlled by hate and bitterness. I'm sure, if people were more aware of the terrible and empty feeling evil gives you, no one would turn to the dark side."

Qui-Gon smiled slightly. "If only people were as aware as you, my Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan just looked straight ahead, as if in a deep meditation.

Qui-Gon was about to move when Obi-Wan spoke.

"Thank you master. No one else could or would take such good care of me."

"I'm afraid you won't be so thankful when you learn that you have to go in front of the council and get tested by them also."

"That's okay master. I'm sure I'll do a lot better."

Qui-Gon smiled and pulled his apprentice into a hug. "I know you would never let me down. Such little faith the council has."

Obi-Wan laughed slightly at his master's impression of Yoda before falling asleep. His sleep wouldn't be disturbed as it had been. Everything was alright now. Qui-Gon was safe.

TBC