The sullen face of the Jedi Healer that approached Obi-Wan and Yoda outside of the treatment room told Obi-Wan what he didn't want to know.
The report was not going to be good.
"There is a dark presence consuming her. I cannot penetrate it. Her life force is dwindling. She'll be lost to us within a day. I'm sorry."
The long arm reached low to comfort Obi-Wan who had dropped to his knees on the floor. He did not see Yoda motion the Healer away with a slight nod.
"There has to be something you can do!" Head hidden in his hands, his words were directed at Yoda. Panic was gripping Obi-Wan's mind and heart. Without Padmé, the insanity would take over. He would lose himself again. He needed her. He wouldn't live without her. One way or another.
"It is not I with the power to save her."
"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan looked straight across meet Yoda's gaze.
"The Chosen One, only the power he has."
Obi-Wan sat silently, staring into the eyes of Master Yoda. Eyes that were conveying a message beyond comprehension. He found himself shaking his head in denial.
"Not possible. I had a father. My midi-chlorian count is too low."
"Files can be altered, can they not? Protect you, we did, or else lose you to the Dark Side before you were ready."
"But..." Obi-Wan stammered, struggling to accept the Master's words and finding it almost impossible to do so. "But why do I feel so helpless? I don't know how tohelp her."
"Not ready are you. Something else you need to do."
Eyes squinting, Obi-Wan waited for Yoda to explain.
"Reconcile your past, you must. Only then, the power you shall have, to save the one you love."
"My past? I don't understand..."
Yoda's eyes then focused above and beyond Obi-Wan's head and as he turned to follow their direction, he could see the slowly focusing spirit of his dead Master -- Qui-Gon Jinn.
Obi-Wan's heart rate increaseddramatically and the adrenaline shot through him. Involuntarily, he scooted backward away from the apparition. The hurt look on Qui-Gon's face was not enough to stop his repulsion.
Yoda stepped in front of him, blocking his view, grasping him firmly by the shoulders. "Knight! This Qui-Gon, the one who haunts your dreams, itis not. The one who tortured you, it is not. This Qui-Gon, his life he gave. Save you, he did. Listen to him, you will or the senator will die."
Those final words stunned Obi-Wan back to reality, away from the torment of his imprisonment on Mustafar, away from the nightmares that plagued him. He closed his eyes and focused on the Force, drawing it to him. It came to him readily, surrounding him, supporting him, calming him. He immediately found his center and re-opened his eyes.
He found himself face to face with the kneeling spiritual form of Qui-Gon Jinn, his former Master and friend.
"Obi-Wan. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to..."
"Listen to me. Please don't interrupt. We don't have much time."
Obi-Wan simply nodded.
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you all those years. I kept you at a distance. I thought it was best. I was afraid." He held up a ghostly hand when he thought Obi-Wan would interrupt. "I was afraid I would fail you. You were the Chosen One! I was not worthy."
A small smile appeared on the blue apparition.
"I am so proud of you Obi-Wan. I always have been. I should have told you more often. I loved you. You were the son I would never have. I'm sorry I left you behind on Naboo, but I was protecting you. The Force had shown me that one of us would die at the hands of the Sith that day. I wasn't about to let it be you."
Tears of forgiveness coursed down Obi-Wan's face, washing away all the regret, all the anger and hurt he had felt because of his Master. Years of disappointment and grief soon dissipated along with the apparition before him.
But before Qui-Gon completely disappeared, a ghostly blue hand caressed a younger, scarred face, his whispered words floating away on a mist of blue. "Now go padawan. Save her."
Obi-Wan's eyes closed once more, acceptance, love, and confidence building and flooding his senses, along with a great power filling him, being drawn from several sources, near and far, light and dark. It was unfathomable and he felt suddenly amazingly invincible.
He opened his eyes to see Master Yoda looking at him, understanding and determination in his gaze. "Go. Face him you must. Only by destroying the Master, will you save the senator."