Title:
The Quandary
Author:
BaBaKaNuSh13
Category: Action (an adequate amount, anyway), Angst, AU, (Age 13) (If only
'13' started with 'A', too!)
Summary:
AU to the ending of Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival. Qui-Gon
didn't take Obi-Wan as his apprentice after the incident in the
mine, and the young Jedi is faced with the task of trying to stay
alive as another prospective master takes an interest in him.
Rating:
PG/K+
Spoilers:
Minor ones for the JA books
Archive:
Yes, of course! That is, if anyone would want it. Just please email
me first.
Disclaimer:
The Star Wars universe belongs to George Lucas. I'm not making any
money out of this, so please don't sue.
A/N: Sorry for all of you who had read this when I first posted it – I was in a hurry and didn't get to check my post, so consequently didn't get to see that I'd lost vital information and all the breaks in the transition between my documents and the website. Anyway, please review. I know I sound like I'm review-mongering, but I would really like to know how to improve, and what people like, etc. Besides, it's the only payment I get for writing this :) … er, apart from the satisfaction of actually completing something that I started, of course.
Oh, and the jojubamt fish is mine. It comes from the watery world of Mon Calamaria, and is renowned for its particular slipperiness. I stole it from another JA fanfic that I'm writing at the moment, actually.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Chapter 3
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"What do you want, Xanatos?"
Xanatos let out a deep chuckle, eyes crinkling. "Who said I wanted anything, young Padawan?"
Obi-Wan ignored the title and tried not to flinch. "Then why set your blaster to stun? I doubt you followed me all this way just to kill me."
"True, true," Xanatos said, taking a step forward. His eyes darkened with greed. "I knew you were intelligent. I merely have an offer to make to you, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan took a step back. "There is nothing you could offer me that I would agree to, Xanatos," he spat.
"Oh, no?"
There was a noise behind Xanatos and Obi-Wan glanced around him to see Agri-Corps security guards rushing their way.
"I could teach you many things, Obi-Wan … I could teach you the ways of the Force. Isn't that what you want?" Xanatos asked silkily.
Despite the part of him that screamed out 'yes!', Obi-Wan knew better than to trust him.
"I doubt that I could use anything that you could ever teach me Xanatos, but I'll remember to look you up if Hoth ever melts."
Xanatos laughed outright this time. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you before then, Obi-Wan. I haven't finished with you yet.' He glanced to the oncoming hoard of guards, face neutral. "But I think it is time for me to leave for now. Think about my offer."
He leapt past Obi-Wan, bumping into his bad shoulder as he did so, forcing the boy to stumble back, and sprinted off between the rows, cloak billowing, as the security guards gave chase.
Obi-Wan turned away and bowed his head in thought. Why was Xanatos seeking him out to offer him tutelage? What was he really after? Questions clouded his mind, and he felt dizziness wash over his senses.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Obi-Wan winced and span around as RonTha hurried up to him.
"Look at the trees! Look at them! What has happened here?" the Meerian flapped his hands around wildly in agitation.
"There was–"
"All the work that has been put into those trees has been wasted. Look at them! If you weren't the only Jedi farmer here you'd be sent straight away … immediately! When–"
Obi-Wan sighed wearily and drowned out the sound of RonTha's voice, as he raved on in his monotonous drone. He instead turned his mind to the curiosity of Xanatos' appearance. It was up to him to find out about the former Jedi's motives, since, as RonTha had said, he was the only Jedi on Bandomeer.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Go on, jump!"
He looked down at the broiling sea so far below and made up his mind. He sailed over the edge of the cliff, his clothes whipping around him, both in the updraught from his fall and the stiff wind that crashed against the cliff face.
He was going to hit the water, so far below.
He knew the impact would kill him, but it was better, by far, than his other fate.
Obi-Wan sat up in his sleep-couch in a cold sweat and glanced around him. He still had another hour of rest before he was to be up.
The young Jedi rubbed his face wearily. The same dream had come to him last night, but he still couldn't figure out what was happening in it.
No, not a dream. A vision.
The Unifying Force being his strength, Obi-Wan had always been prone to premonitions and visions, and he had no doubt that this was yet another. He sighed. There was nothing for him to do about it, yet prepare himself for something to come. After all, that was the purpose of visions, as a prediction to learn by.
And there was something else that accompanied his vision, too … something elusive … but it slipped out of reach like a jojubamt fish.
Realising that he would not be able to fall asleep again, Obi-Wan swung his feet onto the cold floor and rested his chin in his palms, leaning his elbows on his knees.
He didn't even know who it was that had made the decision to jump in the vision. There was a possibility that it was he who had to make the choice, but he couldn't be sure. For all he knew, it could be anyone.
Obi-Wan stood up and changed into fresh clothes. He was not looking forward to the prospect of another full day of healing plants and encouraging them to grow. Having to reach out to the Force all day made him weary, but he anticipated being able to meet with his good friend, Si Treemba again.
The Arconian had volunteered to assist Obi-Wan in his daily work, and, strangely enough, his request had been approved. After all the mess that they'd been through together, and all the trouble that they'd caused, despite that fact that it hadn't actually been entirely their fault, he was sure that they would never work together again. Apparently he was wrong.
Splashing water on his face and clipping his lightsabre onto his belt, Obi-Wan was about to palm open the door to go smuggle some breakfast from the kitchens, when he felt a ripple's warning in the Force. He ducked instinctively as a blaster bolt smashed through the window and into the durasteel of his door. The smell of scorched material filled the air as his curtain smouldered gently from the passing blast.
Obi-Wan grabbed the hilt of his lightsabre from its place on his utility belt and rolled, from his crouched position, to the window. He peered over the sill. It was still dark outside, but lights soon turned on in the rest of the building, as annoyed patrons woke at the sound of the breaking glass of his window. The light from the building faintly illuminated a speeder bike down below, painted to camouflage in with the night, a familiar figure astride it.
Xanatos raised the lightsabre hilt he had gripped in one hand, and touched it to his head in a salute, grinning wildly before speeding off silently.
Obi-Wan rocked back onto his haunches and tugged on the short hair that flopped onto his forehead thoughtfully. Xanatos had managed to get past the Agri-Corps' increased security. Not that it surprised Obi-Wan, he'd just hoped that he wouldn't.
What puzzled Obi-Wan the most, though, was what Xanatos actually wanted with him. He knew that the shot had not been aimed to kill him, since it had thudded into the door so far above his head once he'd actually ducked under it, so what was he playing at?
Obi-Wan couldn't help but somehow wish that Xanatos would just do something, rather than toy with him as if they were playing some sort of game.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Please hit that little review button and tell me what you think.
Grazie a mille, amo tutti i recensori!
Sorry if my Italian's a little off, but I've just finished year 12 and as soon as I got out of my Italian exam, all my books went straight to the bottom of my cupboard, and everything I learnt promptly flew out of my head to join the growing mounds of dust bunnies under my bed. :)
BaBaKaNuSh13
