Obi-Wan Kenobi Book II
Chapter 25 Alone
"Master, I realy don't think there was anything anyone could do. Those people simply didn't want to be helped." Obi-Wan told his master as they walked toward the temple.
"There has to be something else behind all of this Obi-Wan. They asked for our help but when we got there they didn't need us?"
Obi-Wan shrugged, "People change their minds. Besides, it was only a sickness, it was stopped before we arrived. There is no conspiracy I'm sure."
Qui-Gon looked at his apprentice now twenty-four years old, wasn't it only yesterday Obi-Wan was born? The master smiled at the thought of Obi-Wan running around the temple stumbling every once in a while.
"Perhaps you're right Obi-Wan."
An evil grin spread across the younger jedi's face. "Of cource I'm right master. How could you doubt such logic?"
Qui-Gon smiled in reply and the two walked into the temple.
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"That is very unusual. We will leave it closed however. Unless of cource there is another outbreak. How many people died?"
"At least five thousand. I'm not sure if anyone who had contracted the virus even survived." Qui-Gon said looking at Master Windu.
"So it's contagious?"
"Me and Obi-Wan got a full examination before we left."
It wasn't exactly the answer Mace was looking for but he nodded and looked to Obi-Wan.
"Padawan Kenobi we need you to get another examination as soon as possible. Healer Zen will look you over." He said and gestured to the door.
"Yes master, should I bring the results to you?"
Mace nodded and Obi-Wan bowed, after a quick glance at his master he left.
"Your apprentice, very stong in the Force he is. Become a great knight he will. The time it is." Yoda said when Obi-Wan had left.
Qui-Gon tried not to let his emotions show on his face. "If I may my master, I want to request one more mission with Obi-Wan so I can evaluate him."
Yoda looked to Mace who didn't give his opinion.
"Granted your request is. After your next mission, become a knight young Kenobi will."
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Obi-Wan reached the healers and asked for healer Zen immediatly, he wanted his examination to be quick and painless.
"Well, Padawan Kenobi, I wasn't expecting you so soon." Healer Zen said as he readied the examination table.
"Trust me, I wasn't expecting to be here so soon. The council requested that I get examined again." Obi-Wan said and shrugged. "I think they just needed an excuse to get me out of their hair."
Zen laughed. "I hope you don't mean Mace or Yoda's hair."
Obi-Wan looked up with forced shock. "They have hair?"
"Barely any Master Yoda has." Zen said and watched as Obi-Wan sat on the table, obviously annoyed that he had to be there. "Look Obi-Wan, I'll just let you go. I examined you not twenty hours ago."
"That won't work Master Zen but thanks. The council wants the results."
Zen went over to his tables and got the things he would be using. Obi-Wan could almost name all of them and he wouldn't doubt that he would be a fairly good healer, considering all the time he spent there.
"Okay, first we will start with your blood. You know, this disease is so noticable you wouldn't need an examination."
"Why is that?"
"If you had it, your blood would be black." Zen said off-handedly.
"Well, is there any early warning signs?" Obi-Wan asked, now getting a little anxious.
"Not that I know of. But don't worry I was one-hundred percent sure that you didn't have it earlier, and I am one-hundred percent sure that you don't have it now."
Obi-Wan physically relaxed but jumped a little when the needle was put in his arm.
'This is so stupid.' He thought to himself.
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Qui-Gon sat in his apartment feeling like the whole galaxy just fell on him. 'They want Obi-Wan to become a knight.' The words were jumbled around in his mind and Qui-Gon knew he had to accept it. Obi-Wan didn't need him anymore, he hadn't needed him in a long time.
"I'm holding him back." The jedi master said to no one.
The more he thought about it the more it was true. Obi-Wan should have been a knight a few years ago, the mission on Malistare was enough proof that his padawan was capable of handling a diplomatic situation and himself. Something always held Qui-Gon back, always holdng on to him, telling him Obi-Wan wasn't ready. 'He's too young.' 'He's too arogant.' 'He was defeated in his last lightsaber duel. What if it was real?'
Then there was the voice of reason. 'Obi-Wan is strong and powerful. He needs to be let go.'
Qui-Gon felt the loneliness already. Obi-Wan would be his last apprentice, what could he possibly do with all that time.
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"Well Kenobi I have some news. You are not infected. However, your blood samples won't come back for a few more hours so I'll have to send the results to the council later. Go home and do whatever you do in your spare time."
Obi-Wan hopped off the table. "What? No, stay in bed, drink lots of fluids, and listen to your master?"
"Nope not this time."
"Okay, I'll make sure that whatever trouble I get into will fall back on you then. Thanks Master Zen!"
"Wait. What?"
Obi-Wan was already gone.
TBC
The next chapter will be the last. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon will go through one more round of heavy angst before the mission on Naboo and the tango with Maul.
