One Day Remains
By Rhi
Chapter 6 – Let Me Go
Sorry about the shortness of this chapter. And there's only one more chapter of this story to go…
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Two standard hours later, Obi-Wan, Tahl and Remy were in the waiting room of the hospital. Laini was still in the bacta tank, and although Tahl had done all the Force healing she could, the young girl's life still hung in the balance, and it would be a little while longer before the doctors would know for certain what the outcome would be.
Obi-Wan had grown bored of sitting still in a chair, and had taken to walking around the room in an effort to pass the slow-moving time. Tahl had entered into a light meditation, and Remy was sitting in the corner of the room, watching young Obi-Wan.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan's parents burst into the room.
"Come on, boy. We're leaving." Kovi said.
Obi-Wan looked at his father with a confused look on his face. "I can meet you at home later." He said.
"No, you bantha-brain. We're leaving the planet. And we're not coming back." Kovi said. He crossed the room and grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm roughly.
Obi-Wan stood his ground and tried to pull his arm away. "I'm not going." He said firmly.
"You insolent little brat. Where would you go? You've got nowhere to go but with us." Kovi said, pulling Obi-Wan towards the door.
"That's not true." Remy spoke up, startling Kovi, who had not noticed the youth sitting in the corner.
"And where would you take him? The Jedi temple?" Kovi mocked.
"Actually, we would." Tahl spoke up, having broken out of her light meditation. "Your son has Force abilities, as I'm sure you're aware, and he would be accepted into the temple for training."
There was a brief silence.
Cada spoke up from where she'd been watching by the door. "Perhaps we should let him go." She said to Kovi.
Kovi looked stunned at his wife's comment. "But you hate the Jedi." He protested.
"No, Kovi. You hate the Jedi." She corrected. "I think our son deserves to live the life he was obviously destined for. And if that is with the Jedi, then so be it."
Kovi looked torn, he looked from Obi-Wan, whose arm he was still gripping, to his wife. Finally, he released Obi-Wan's arm. Obi-Wan pulled his arm into his body and rubbed the area where it had been gripped.
"So be it." Kovi echoed his wife's last words, a rare sound of defeat in his voice.
Kovi and Cada turned to leave, but before they could walk out the door, Obi-Wan called for them to stop. The young boy ran across the room and wrapped his arms around the waist of the only mother he had ever known. Unused to the show of affection, Cada hesitantly returned the embrace.
"Thank you." Obi-Wan said, pulling from the embrace. He turned to his father and repeated the embrace.
"Goodbye…Dad." Obi-Wan said once he'd pulled away, using the familial title for his father that he had never used before, his forgiving nature shining through.
"Goodbye…Obi-Wan." Kovi returned hesitantly, using Obi-Wan's name, rather than just 'boy'.
Then they were gone.
Tahl and Remy stood in the same private room that they had before, a hologram of the Jedi Council spread over the table before them.
Tahl had just finished briefing the council on the events that had just transpired, including Obi-Wan's parents giving him up to the Jedi Order.
Yoda looked pleased when he replied. "Good, this is. Bring Obi-Wan back, you must."
The other council members nodded at what Yoda said.
"We are scheduled to arrive at 1500 standard hours tomorrow. Please inform the authorities so they have further transportation for Ris Threm." Tahl notified the council.
"We shall do that. Is there anything else?" Mace Windu said.
"No, Masters." Tahl said, she and Remy bowing before signing off.
Later on that evening, the doctor stepped into the waiting room to inform the three that Laini had come out of the bacta tank, and she was awake.
Remy woke Obi-Wan, who had fallen asleep, and the three followed the doctor down the corridor, into the room where Laini was.
They entered the room and Obi-Wan ran straight over to the bed where Laini was lying. He immediately started apologising for what happened.
"Stop." Laini said weakly. "It's not your fault, Obi. I'm fine, so stop worrying."
Obi-Wan smiled weakly at Laini. "But I still feel bad."
"That's a good thing." Laini said, wise beyond her few years. "I would be worried if you didn't."
Obi-Wan reached up and wrapped his arms around his best friend, who returned the hug gratefully. "My family has left." He told her. "They've left the planet forever."
Laini looked shocked. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going back to Coruscant with Tahl and Remy. They said I'm going to be a Jedi." Obi-Wan said, the reality of what was happening beginning to sink in.
Laini grinned. "That's so cool." Her smile faltered. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning." Obi-Wan said.
"So soon." Laini said quietly. "I'm going to miss you, Obi."
"And I you." Obi-Wan returned.