Obdurate Heart – XXI

Again, thanks so much to you reviewers. No way in Hell would I still be writing this one if I didn't know people liked it. Also, even if I don't stay in one fandom long, if anyone's interested, I do have a livejournal account which I pretty much just use to write updates on what fan fictions I'm writing. That way if I stop a fic or start a new one, you'll know. A link is in my bio, or you can search for morning(underscore)hell. (Underscores don't show up when I post this. Or links. Why is that?) Thanks again—enjoy.

"You can't give up hope just 'cause its hopeless! You gotta hope even more, and cover your ears and go BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!"

-Fry, from Futurama

Positive madness. That's all this was. Obi Wan was fraught with both an anger he could not dismiss and an exhaustion that threatened to bring him to his knees from yet another sleepless night over his priority of guarding Maul. He rubbed his hands over his face harshly and stared out over the balcony at the city lying below, trying to bring himself to a calm. There was no sense in getting so upset over these things. He should have suspected that Maul would find a new way to get under his skin once found that Obi Wan would not be baited in by insults. Had he actually been so dense as to place standards when it came to a Sith Lord? Well, if Maul thought he'd gotten the better of him, he was sorely mistaken to do so.

He half-consciously wiped at a corner of his mouth with a sleeve, still somehow convinced that he could taste whatever Maul had been eating the previous day. The very thought made him sneer inwardly, tapping his fingers in some nonsensical impatience against the railing before him. He couldn't help but think ruefully that in some way, Maul had produced his desired effect. He didn't think he would ever be able to shake the feeling of that horrible…No, it was foolish just to dwell upon the act itself without adding in the babbling words leading up to it. Positive madness. That's all this was.

"You appear troubled, my apprentice."

Obi Wan turned quickly over a shoulder to see his master, blinking a couple of times in surprise and embarrassment that he had been too distracted even to register the presence of he to whom he was closest. "Master, I apologize, I didn't…"

"No need." Qui Gon waved a hand, casually approaching to stand at his side. "How is your head?"

"…It doesn't bother me." Obi Wan said, straightening up. "Is there any news?"

"Yes, actually." Qui Gon nodded, glancing around for a brief moment as though to ensure no prying passerby was listening in. "It seems as though your attacker was no independent after all."

"Really?" Obi Wan perked a little in interest, momentarily forgetting his inner worries enough to ponder this.

"Yes, I was quite surprised myself. I was recently met by an ambassador of their people who came to retrieve the corpse. It turns out that he was a part of an autonomous organization centralized on the outskirts of Tatooine. Mainly it is comprised of those who have been devastated by any sort of Sith destruction, or so it is to the best of my knowledge. A charitable community, of sorts."

"And this is the organization that sent us an assassin?" Obi Wan asked, pointing out the obvious irony.

"He was sent under his own power, as it was explained to me. I don't believe I have any reason to suspect otherwise."

"I have not heard of this community."

"They have no political power, nor any authority, really." Qui Gon rubbed his beard for a moment and chuckled. "Though you wouldn't know it from a few minutes with Ambassador Dulan. Quite the pious fellow."

"I see. But why an ambassador, Master?"

"At first I thought it was only to issue a proper apology. However, it appears that his motive was a bit different than I had supposed." Qui Gon glanced back in the direction of Maul's chamber. "As can be understood, Dulan and the people he represent highly advocate the execution of Darth Maul."

Obi Wan felt his stomach drop. "…What?"

"Well yes." Qui Gon turned back to him. "I can certainly see it from their viewpoint, whether or not I agree. Maul has given enough death for it to be returned to him."

"Killing him would be a drastic measure." Obi Wan insisted.

"Perhaps." Qui Gon nodded. "They will be sending a representative to the Council to make their case. It might even be Dulan himself. I suppose it is only fair hear their side of—"

"The Council is willing to indulge this nonsense?" Obi Wan interrupted sharply in disbelief. "An eye for an eye? Has that ever been an operative method? The Council cannot simply destroy such an integral component based purely off the outrages of the public—what would we be then but showmen acting to appease blind belligerence?"

"Don't lose your head, Padawan." Instructed Qui Gon with a slightly bewildered look. "I'm only saying that they have a right to be spoken for and heard."

Obi Wan gaped numbly for a moment before putting a hand to his head and leaning back against the rail. "No, I…apologize again, th-that outburst was completely…" he gazed up at Qui Gon with a guilty expression. "Am I being childish?"

"You are being passionate." Qui Gon smirked. "I can sense that you have not slept, Obi Wan, I don't blame you for being a tad on edge."

"That's hardly an excuse." Obi Wan uttered, still rather surprised he had been so inclined to snap when speaking to his own master.

"It's alright." Qui Gon offered an affectionate pat of the shoulder, smiling at him with that ever-present understanding. "How is our prisoner as of late?"

Obi Wan felt his stomach wrench suddenly. "…He…is well, I think." He replied slowly. "He seems to be recovering. I plan to have the medic check in on him soon to confirm."

"Very good." Qui Gon approved.

"And…how is Anakin? I haven't seen much of him at all as of late." Obi Wan realized that it had been days since the boy had even crossed his mind.

"He's doing quite well. He's made friends, and he's managed to show the other children a great deal about mechanics. Not that they always share his interest." He chuckled, moving to gaze over the edge of the balcony for himself.

"He does have charisma."

"Yes. He still asks about you, you know." Qui Gon turned over a shoulder slightly and raised an eyebrow at his apprentice as though to say, 'what do you think of that?'.

"How much of this incident have you told him?"

"I did not tell him about the assassin. I think such things would only worry a child." Qui Gon admitted. "But if I know Anakin, I'm sure he'll somehow learn of it on his own."

"Hm." Obi Wan nodded, though his thoughts parted easily with the child and went back to his more pressing quarrels. "…Master…do you really think that we, or the Council, will be at all successful in drawing any answers from Maul?" he couldn't help but return to the subject.

Qui Gon thought for a moment, studying the younger man as though the answer was written on his face. "Truly, I do not know." He said mysteriously. "I would think only you could know the answer to that."

Obi Wan's shoulders sank a little, and he pushed back a sigh. That really didn't help him any.

Sensing his Padawan's troubled state, Qui Gon sought to remedy, again resting a hand to his shoulder. "You are so concerned with likelihood and practicality. You depend on them more than you should." He said, almost in sympathy.

Obi Wan met his eyes in confusion. "…What else am I to depend on?"

Qui Gon laughed aloud, squeezing his shoulder once, and Obi Wan was tempted to feel rather stupid. Qui Gon shook his head and removed his hand. "Hope, Obi Wan. Have you forgotten that?"

"Forgive me, Master, but I am almost certain that my methods have thus far been hopeless."

"That's no reason to give up. And let's not exclude the possibility of miracles, hm?" Qui Gon looked over the city once more with a knowing smile. "Most things are not as rigid and solid as you believe them to be."

"Then I suppose that's one thought towards your cause." Obi Wan sighed softly, following his master's gaze. "Because I hope you're right."