Qui-Gon felt disorientated, as though he were in a dream. At one point in time the figure in his arms had been Tahl. That has changed but the situation had not. He had thought that the previous vision was his biggest fear. He thought he had known desperation in that vision, but this reality was far, far worse.
Obi-Wan's eyes closed and he slumped against the solid form of his Master. "You should leave me," he whispered. "I don't have long…"
The tall Jedi bent his head down and spoke softly in Obi-Wan's ear, "No. It is not too late. You never give up. The Force is still with you. I am with you. You cannot leave me. Not Now. I need you."
At his Master's plea, Obi glanced up and saw the sincerity in the man's cerulean eyes. How he had longed to hear those words from his mentor. Was it truly fair that he hear them now? Instead of dwelling on hopes and dreams, he simply said, "I… will try, for you." Then his eyes drifted closed again.
A slender hand came to brush back the russet spikes on the young Jedi's head. "We must go," Tahl urged. The strain in her voice was evidence that Obi-Wan's condition was affecting her as deeply. Most likely due to the fact that she knew all too well that if things had gone differently, their roles would have been reversed.
Nodding, they headed down the tunnel. Fissures had opened in the ceiling and water streamed in from above. The cave was slowly collapsing. Water poured out of the side tunnel where Balog had left. As they walked, Tahl commented, "The entrance is most likely blocked."
"We will need to find another way out."
"There is another… exit," Obi said. Qui-Gon had to lean down to hear him. "To the underwater base."
"We need to find that exit."
"And Eritha?" Tahl questioned. They still had to find the girl.
Qui-Gon was torn. He desperately wanted to get Obi-Wan out of this place yet he could not leave the girl behind. He felt his Padawan shift in his arms. The captivating aquamarine eyes were open once more but they were not looking at either Jedi. Rather they were looking at something far beyond. As if something had triggered a forgotten memory. "Eritha? The children… you saved the children… didn't you?"
Looking to Tahl, her expression mirrored his own surprise. His Padawan surely couldn't have known about the Rock Workers plight, could he? "You stopped the Absolutes, right? The children…."
"Yes, they are all safe. We made it back in time to protect the children and the remaining Workers."
Relief flooded the small figure. Slumping once more into the comforting embrace, Obi-Wan smiled. Qui-Gon was about to ask how he knew about the Workers but the sound of someone sloshing through water alerted them that they were not alone. Now on guard the Jedi waited as a figure emerged from the smoke. It was Eritha, her braided hair now loose and wet.
"They left me! They forgot about me!" she screamed, falling into Tahl's arms. "They set off explosives. The cave is collapsing!"
"It's all right," She soothed. "We'll get you out of here." Tahl kept an arm around the girl as she turned back to Qui-Gon. "Now we have to find that entrance. The Underwater base is our only option."
Back in the company of the Jedi, Eritha calmed. She had caught sight of Obi-Wan resting in Qui-Gon's arms and paled. He barely looked alive. She vaguely caught what Tahl said, but when her mind registered the words she quickly snapped back to reality. "I saw it!" She looked up at Qui-Gon anxiously. "A door back there, labeled as a base entrance. That must be it."
Qui-Gon gratefully nodded to the girl. "Lead the way."
Eritha ran ahead guiding them. Allowing the others to lead, Qui-Gon once again looked over his apprentice. The boy looked at peace. And if not for a small vein throbbing at the temple, he would have thought it an eternal peace. The fear that such a possibility still existed gripped his heart. He could not let that happen. Clutching the fragile body closer, he hurried along.
By now they had gotten into the Underwater Base and were at the ramp that led outside. Here they stopped. "How do we get outside?" The young girl asked.
Qui-Gon examined the ramp control panel and noticed an electroscope. Quickly, he glanced through it. Frustrated by what he saw he said, "We cannot go out this way. There are too many. We are sure to be spotted." The surviving Absolutes were gathering on the shore just outside. If they went down the ramp they would come out right in the middle of them all. Hastily he made a decision. "We have to swim. If we swim far enough away, we can skirt those boulders and pass through the canyon to our vehicles." He hesitated and glanced down at Tahl's leg.
"I'll be fine, Qui-Gon. We need to get Obi-Wan help." He didn't even say a word but she assured him anyway. He had to smile at that, if only briefly. She handed Eritha the breather from her belt.
Nodding, the tall Knight gently lowered Obi-Wan to the ground. "Young one." The boy's head turned slowly. It broke Qui-Gon's heart to see how lackluster the motion was. "We must swim. Can you use your breather?"
There was a quirk at the edge of his lips. Almost a smile. "Bant is my best friend." For the Jedi that was enough of an answer. After all Bant was Tahl's apprentice. Both Knights knew that as Mon Calamarian, Bant often needed moisture and frequently swam. As friends they could often be found in the Room of a Thousand Fountains taking a dip. At one point Bant had even commented that Obi was a Mon Cal at heart – feeling more at home in water then not. A sad smile crossed the Jedi's stern features as he fit the tube on the boy.
"When we get to the beach, we'll have a short way to walk. I'll carry you. Our transports are not far." Qui-Gon explained. Obi-Wan nodded slightly. It was heartbreaking but he knew his Padawan was trying to conserve strength.
Qui-Gon motioned to the emergency exit lever. Eritha put on the breather and accessed the door, which opened into a small chamber. There was a panel in the ceiling. Slowly, the chamber began to fill with water. The water was cold, and Qui-Gon felt Obi-Wan's involuntary shiver. They floated up toward the ceiling. Qui-Gon and Tahl took deep breaths before they were completely under. The panel slid open and they swam out.
The swim up was longer and harder than they expected. There was no gradual rise to the surface, as this was a pit dug for mining purposes. Before long they touched bottom. Checking to make sure they were clear, they quickly got out of the water and headed down the path to their transports.
"Almost there," deep baritone whispered in Obi-Wan's ear. They found their transports where they had left them. Relief flooded the tall Knight. There was always an underlying fear that they would have been found. The swoops and landspeeder were undisturbed.
"Take my landspeeder, Qui-Gon," Eritha offered. "It is faster than yours."
"Thank you." Qui-Gon gently placed Obi-Wan in the companion seat. He swung into the pilot seat and glanced over. And felt utterly and completely lost. He stretched out and slicked back the copper bangs from the boy's face. The tender touch roused Obi from his rest.
"I'm still here." Obi managed to say.
"I know. It will not be long before we are back in New Apsolon." Obi-Wan gave a slight nod. Qui-Gon called up the Force in the air around them. He felt Obi-Wan join him, but only barely. They were running out of time.
"Go directly to the Supreme Governor's residence," Eritha instructed. She had come up alongside the speeder while they spoke just before. "I will call ahead and have med care waiting for you."
Qui-Gon nodded his thanks and activated the engines. Hesitantly he glanced back at Tahl who stood just behind Eritha. He did not want to leave her behind but knew that attempting to carry a third passenger would only slow them down, he knew he must.
As always, she could sense when he was looking at her. And as always, she could read his mood. "I'll be fine. And so will Obi. Now go."
He knew better than to argue with her. "I will see you in New Apsolon."
"Safe journey," she said as steadily as she could to Obi-Wan. She squeezed his shoulder lightly.
"Thank you for finding me." The Padawan's eyes fluttered open for a moment to look at her. There was a small smile on her concerned face that touched him deeply.
She called out as Qui-Gon started prepping the engines, "May the Force be with you."
"It is," Qui stated confidently and raced off.
There was a long journey ahead of them back to New Apsolon. Qui-Gon had no intention of stopping. Even still it would take them the rest of the day and night to get there. Thanks to the extra power and speed of Eritha's speeder they should arrive just past dawn.
Obi-Wan slid into a deep sleep. The elder Jedi pulled out a thermal cape and covered his apprentice. Now that the suns had fallen, the temperature quickly dropped. As he drove, he noticed the beauty around him for the first time. Triple crescent moons gave off a soft blue glow that made the world look ethereal. He stole another glance of his Padawan and couldn't believe how young and innocent the boy looked.
Jedi have a hard life, full of danger. They are brought up knowing that the path they walk is full of hardship yet still they follow. He can recall some of the trials he had gone through when he had become Dooku's apprentice however they had been easy compared to Obi-Wan's. This child had dealt with harder choices and treacherous outcomes and still came out on top. Yes, he may have left the Jedi order for a time but he never faltered from the will of the Force. Obi-Wan would make a great Jedi Knight. Of that Qui-Gon was certain.
Hours later, as Qui thought, Obi-Wan slowly came back to the conscious world. He cautiously pulled himself up in the seat. Qui-Gon was relieved to see that his apprentice was more alert. After a few moments, Obi said, "It's cold."
At that, Qui-Gon frowned. He had closed the protective shield and already turned the heat up. In fact he thought it was too warm. Still he put the unit to maximum heat. "What happened?" He brushed the back of his hand against a bruised cheek.
"When Balog figured out I had tricked him, he got angry. I was already drugged so I made an easy target." Qui-Gon nodded, already having figured that as the cause. Still it was only another reason to make Balog pay for his crimes.
The pair sat in companionable silence for a while before Obi-Wan found the strength and courage to speak. "Thank you for rescuing me. I know I have often been a burden to you and did not want to cause you further trouble…"
"You were never a burden. If anyone was the burden it was me. I should have trusted you more. Listened to the Force more closely. In the end I have only caused you pain."
"That isn't true, Master. You have done so much for me and I thank you for that. I only wish I could have done more to make you happy."
"And how could putting yourself at risk make me happy?" There was no accusation to his voice, just baffled curiosity.
"You love Tahl. And Tahl loves you. I was just in… I couldn't let anything happen to her or you."
"Is that why you did it? Is that why you took Tahl's place? How did you know that the meeting was false?"
Obi-Wan offered a wry grin. "I didn't know exactly what would happen just that if Tahl went everything would change for the worse."
"And yet you went?"
"It was either me or her. I made the choice that was best for everyone."
"How can you determine what would be best?"
Sighing, Obi-Wan leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. Talking was tiring enough as it was and the topic had veered down a path he wished he could avoid. "You always say I should listen to the Force. That it will guide you down your path. But no matter the path offered there are still choices I must make. The Force offered me a choice, showed me two paths. And I made a decision. I do not regret it."
"A vision? What did you see?"
"A world full of fear, guilt, pain, betrayal and regret. And a world full of light, joy, happiness and hope. The details are not important right now, but I knew that to walk the first path would be hard on many. I could have done it but that would be selfish of me. The second was the harder choice but the correct one. One day, when the time is right I will be able to share it with you."
"Look," Qui-Gon said, "The lights of the city are ahead." It was still dark. The city lights on the horizon seemed to merge with the stars. Looking his Padawan over, he could see the toll their brief talk had taken on the boy. He instructed, "Rest. You need your strength. We are almost there."
Obi-Wan merely nodded and did as he was told. Soon he was drifting on the wings of sleep as Qui-Gon raced against time.
Before long, they had navigated the streets and were pulling up to the Governor's residence. A figure came running out and hurried down the steps to meet them. It was Manex, Alani and Eritha's uncle and Roan's brother.
"Eritha contacted me to say you were arriving," he said. "I have arranged the finest med care in the city for Obi-Wan. It is a short distance away. If you'll follow me." Manex pointed to his own landspeeder.
Qui-Gon hesitated. It was odd that Manex had met them outside. Eritha promised them access to her own med care, which was in the residence itself.
Manex took note of his hesitation. "You must trust me. Did I not tell you that I have the best of everything? My med care is exceptional. The med squad once worked on victims of the Absolutes. They had the greatest success. The doctor knows Obi-Wan's condition. He can help."
It was the compassionate, worried look in his eyes more than his words that made Qui-Gon nod. His instincts told him that Manex was sincere. Obi-Wan needed the best care.
"Good," Manex said at Qui-Gon's nod. He sprinted toward his landspeeder, jumped in and took off. Qui followed closely. Manex pulled up in front of a gray stone building a few blocks away. Immediately the doors opened and a med team rushed out. A doctor bent over Obi-Wan and applied a diagnostic readout to the side of his neck. The man frowned at the results.
"Will he be all right?" Qui-Gon couldn't help but ask.
The man answered flatly, "We will do the best we can." With that, the med team transferred Obi to a stretcher and rushed him inside. Qui-Gon didn't even get the chance to speak with his charge before he was gone.
Qui-Gon was still waiting when Tahl and Eritha burst into the small waiting room. "Any news?" the Jedi asked anxiously.
He shook his head. "They are still with him."
"Have you seen him?"
"Not since we arrived. Soon, they say."
Eritha paced in front of him. "I don't understand why Manex had you bring him here. Well, I do. He always thinks he has the best of everything. Where is he?" She looked around quickly.
"He waited with me for some time. He left to attend to some things at his home. He said he would be back." Qui-Gon offered as explanation.
They sat in anxious silence for some minutes. Restlessly, Eritha got up. "I need some air. Will you contact me as soon as we know something?" The Jedi nodded and she left.
Tahl plopped down in a seat next to Qui-Gon and wrapped her arms about herself. Qui-Gon noted the concerned expression on her face. "Obi-Wan will be fine." He assured her. Honestly he had been repeating that over and over in his own mind, willing it to happen. Whoever said, 'No news is good news' was deluding himself, Qui decided. He couldn't help but feel that time was against them.
"Of course," she answered absently. Leaning over, she rested her head on his shoulder. "Still I can't stop the feeling that our places should be reversed."
Qui-Gon didn't know how to feel about that comment. On one hand he knew that she was right. But on the other he didn't know if he would handle that situation any better. As it was he was barely keeping himself from going mad with worry and anger and the pain in his heart. "He had a vision."
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes. That is why he took your place. He said that if you went that everything would change for the worse."
"And this is much better?" Tears rimmed her bright green and gold eyes. She was frustrated and angry, but she couldn't decide if it was because Obi-Wan acted so foolishly or because he acted so selflessly and saved her.
Just then the doors slid open. Slowly the med team emerged and the doctor walked purposefully toward them. The Jedi stood and waited. The doctor stopped directly in front of Qui-Gon. "His vital signs are dropping. We did everything we could do. The damage to his internal organs was severe. You may see him now."
Qui-Gon searched the doctor's face. "So he will recover."
"His damage was severe," the doctor repeated. His weary eyes were full of sadness as he looked at Qui-Gon.
"He will recover," Qui-Gon stated, this time there was certainty in his voice. Then he strode past the doctor and into Obi-Wan's room. Tahl only a few steps behind him. Obi-Wan lay on a diagnostic bed with readouts all around him. Qui-Gon ignored them and went to his apprentice. He immediately took the boy's hand in his. His heart broke when there was no responding pressure. And the hand was so cold he could have mistaken it for ice.
This could not be his apprentice. His apprentice was all warmth and passion and life. This pale cold creature could not be the boy he knew. Slowly, murky sea-mist eyes fluttered open and all his doubts were shattered. Those eyes were unmistakable no matter how dull they may be. This was indeed his apprentice. The look in the young boy's eyes tore the last remaining shreds of hope from him. He almost cried out at the pain of it.
A soft smile curved Obi-Wan's lips. "I have dreamt of being a Jedi for so long. I had hoped one day to stand by your side as a Knight."
"And so you will, my Padawan." His voice wavered slightly. He just couldn't believe how brave his charge was. Unwittingly, a tear broke free and traced a line down his cheek.
With great effort, Obi-Wan reached up to wipe it away. "Don't cry for me Master. I will soon be one with the Force. Is that not what we are taught?"
"But you still have so much life to live. By my side."
Obi-Wan's smile grew broader. It was words he had longed to hear for so long. He was grateful to hear them before the end, but no matter what he knew that this was indeed the end. "That is no longer my path. I will wait for you, Master. We will meet again someday. In the mean time, cherish the time with Tahl that I have given you. You two were meant to be together." He looked to Tahl now, "And thank you Master Tahl, for believing in me when others did not."
"They only needed a little more time to see what was always there. A true Jedi." She said with tears streaming down her face.
"Tell Bant and the others, I will miss them."
"I will."
"You cannot leave me Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon couldn't bare this any longer. "Not now. Please."
"I must. This is the path I chose. And even though I am no longer here, I will always be with you. When you decide to take another Padawan, and you will, tell them that I said they were lucky to be with you. As I was. I shall never forget you. Thank you, for everything." With each word his voice grew weaker. And each breath seemed harder to take than the one before.
Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around the boy, unwilling to let go. He felt Obi-Wan take in a breath and let go. Then it didn't resume. It took only a moment for the realization to sink in before he cried out at the loss.
It was as if a gentle breeze snuffed out the flickering light of a candle, leaving nothing but a dark void. A whole deep in his heart. A soul half empty. This boy had engrained himself in Qui-Gon's life so swiftly and securely that the sudden vacancy would forever be etched in his world. He wept uncontrollably.
It did not take the two determined Knights long to bring Balog to justice. And if not for Tahl's constant presence, Qui-Gon was certain he would have succumbed to the dark side. The pain was so great that had they not shared it, consumed him entirely it would have. Justice was served but it did not fill the emptiness Obi-Wan's absence left behind.
Mace Windu and Bant came to New Apsolon to help them. Manex made arrangements for mourning on Obi-Wan's behalf. Many at the Temple mourned as well. They all knew it would be a long time for them to overcome his death.
- S – W – S – W -
There's still one more chap! I know I originally said it would be 4 posts but my muse got away from me, as usual and now it's 5 chaps long! So enjoy thereward of my over zealous muse! Please stay with me for just a bit longer. Thanks!
Also, I want to apologize for not posting replies yesterday. I was rushing to post the chap since I knew more was coming today. So I will post replies to all that I have received up to this point. Remember, only anon replies will be done here. Signed in reviews will be done individually. Thanks again for reading!
Misty – I'm sorry to say I didn't do much from Obi's POV but if I did it would have revealed too much too soon. There's still more to say so please stick with me for just a little longer. And thanks, It really makes me happy to hear that people enjoy my writing. It makes the effort worth it. . ;)
K-rock – Thanks miss! I'm ecstatic to know that I may actually pull this little ficcy off. I thought about it for a while before I finally decided to sit down and write it. I'm glad you like it. And definitely send me SD. I'm really trying to get my muses going again. Hey, I am not and evil Witch, just the Queen of Cliffies. . ;p Sorry about that, like I said I was rushing to get the post up Sunday. The last chap will be tomorrow night. So you won't have to worry too much about it. Yeah, Obi, um I think I'll stop for now. Yeah, good idea. Bye! . :D
Tomorrow, the final chapter will be posted! So please come back and tell me what you think of the end! I would appreciate it! Thanks to everyone! Luv ya all!
Ari :D