Chapter Fourteen
The heat was intense, causing what she was sure would be a permanent furrow where sweat was running between her shoulder blades, down her spine and soaking into the waistband of her pants.
A blaster hit close to her face as she peered around a corner, peppering her with dirt and debris. The sweat mixed with it as she swiped an arm over her eyes, making a gritty paste.
"It's fine… We'll be fine."
The words were her own but sounded hollow.
Grief and fury warred a battle that threatened to tear her apart from the inside out. The body in her arms was warm but still.
Too still. And so small. She clutched him to her and cried.
Yellow eyes stared into her own. A dark fury that had become a familiarity rolling beneath the surface. She waited to see if death or salvation would follow.
Darkness. Suffocation. Claustrophobia.
Can't breathe can't breathe can't breathe
Buffy came out of the dream like she'd been drowning – jackknifing upwards with stuttering gasp. The bed's delicate balance was lost with the sudden weight shift and, still floundering from waking, she found herself dumped over the closest side.
Right on to Obi.
But as she floundered to get off of him, still half asleep and disoriented from her dream, she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her close, holding her tight as she gasped for air.
It was then she realized that it wasn't just her heart thundering in her own chest she was feeling – his was pounding at a frantic pace as well. And his grip was too tight to be teasing, or flirting, or just comforting – there was a desperate edge to the way his fingers were bunching fabric and forearms pressing too firmly.
She stopped struggling and just laid there, face uncomfortably pressed to his collarbone, but a feeling of safety and security slowly chasing away the lingering sense of loss and fear. Slowly, she felt both their hearts and breathing even out.
"Bad dream?" She asked, surprised at how rough her voice came out. Feeling his chin brush the top of her head in a nod, she answered it with one of her own. "Me, too."
Both of them seemed to stop breathing for a second and she jerked up to look down at him. The look of questioning intensity on his face probably matched her own.
"Do you, like, maybe have dreams that sometimes show the future?" She asked hesitantly .
He sat up quickly, forcing her to shift so she was kind of provocatively straddling his lap – but that was just a passing "ohmygod" flash in the back of her mind.
"Prophetic dreams often come with being in tune to the Force the way Jedi are," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. "But you…"
"Yeah, not so in tune with the Force," she said awkwardly. "But still with the prophetic dreaming…"
"This isn't something new to you," he observed, not asked.
She shook her head. "Not something that happens all the time, but it does happen occasionally."
"Would you like to tell me why?"
His voice wasn't the gentle prodding of before when he'd asked questions about details of her life, the dream had apparently stripped away some of his zen attitude.
"Not really," she huffed, climbing off of him to pace the floor at the foot of her bed and the foot of his… floor space. She'd already told him she was from a different dimension and he'd been cool with it, could she tell him about being the Slayer? One look at him told her that yes, she could tell him – but could tell him and want to tell him were two totally different things…
"Okay, so this sort of goes in hand with the weirdness of me being from another dimension," she said, having made her decision. "Kind of hard to swallow and will probably make more questions than it answers."
"I'm fine with that," he said, crossing his legs and folding his hands neatly in his lap.
Somehow that relaxed posture helped put her at ease somewhat. This was Obi Wan, he wasn't going to freak out or anything. She almost laughed at the thought, she didn't think it was in his DNA to freak out…
"Where I'm from is a lot different than here."
"That much is obvious," he said dryly with an eyebrow raise.
After a slightly dirty look, she went on. "We only live on one planet. Space is… not really off limits but we just kind of lightly poke around up there."
"There's no travel between planets?" He asked in surprise. "Is it possible it's the past instead of another dimension?"
"While I give you props for suggesting time travel without batting an eye, no I don't think so. While I'm no space expert, I did learn where the planets are when I was in school and it definitely doesn't mesh up with anything I've seen here."
"How does- Nevermind, we're getting off course. You were explaining your prophetic dreams."
"Right, thanks for reminding me," Buffy said insincerely before plopping down on the floor across from him. "So, we don't have aliens there. Just humans. Or at least that's what most people think. We also have demons."
"…demons…"
"Yes, demons. Sorry, I was never the best student, so bear with me on the history lesson. A long time ago the planet we live on had a bunch of really huge, powerful demons called The Old Ones. When humans started showing up a lot of the Old Ones left for other dimensions and some stayed and… mixed with the humans," she said, with a face – Xander had brought up the "how" of that one time and it wasn't a mental picture she wanted to revisit. "Long story short, we have a lot of demons that are able to hide easily because they're not gigantic anymore, so most people don't even know they exist – or deny that they do, at least."
Obi Wan didn't say anything, just kept staring at her.
"You okay?"
"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I was just wondering if such a possibility was actually a reality here. We have our own demon myths and stories…"
Buffy shrugged. "Possible, but I haven't come across any. A lot of the aliens I've seen could definitely pass as demon back home in the looks department, but they don't give off any evil vibes."
"'Evil vibes'?"
"Right, you'll get that in a little bit, it has to do with what I'm about to tell you," she said, trying to organize things in her mind. "So demons are all over, and these demons are mostly a lot stronger and faster than a human - some even have special powers – and they're pretty much all about evil and mayhem. So, people aren't really a big threat to demons, what with the selective vision and being small and weak and all. Mostly they're a snack or just something fun to bat around for a while."
Obi Wan looked horrified and she nodded. "Yeah, it's sucky."
"How have humans kept from going extinct in such circumstances?"
"Well, there are people that know about demons and fight them," she said, swallowing hard because they were getting to the more awkward explanations now. "My group of friends was like that."
"You and your friends banded together against the forces of evil?" He asked, eyebrows raised before a look of dawning came over his face. "Your fighting skills… Were you all trained as such? I have to say I don't see demons having much of a chance then."
His smile was teasing but apparently how uncomfortable Buffy was feeling was showing on her face because the smile melted away quickly.
"They each had their strengths," she said softly, looking away before he could see how much remembering her friends still hurt. "But no, they weren't… like me."
Taking a deep breath, she met his eyes again. "This next part I'd really rather stay between us. I don't blame you at all for what happened with the mind reading thing and my dimension secret, but this… I'd really rather not anyone know about this right now…"
"You have my word," he said seriously. "I swear not to betray your confidence so carelessly again."
Buffy nodded, and shifted slightly on the floor. Just as she was about to get up and start pacing again a warm hand settled over hers.
"Okay," she said, bolstering herself by gripping his hand back. "Another group of people that know about demons is a called The Watcher's Council. Your Council reminds me of them – sitting around having meetings about the best way for things to be done by someone else."
"They direct people in the fight against the demons? Such as you and your friends?"
"Yes and no… They direct one person."
"Just one?" He asked, tilting his head.
Buffy nodded. "The Slayer."
His face, already intensely curious, kind of froze before his focus sharpened like a laser on her.
"And what exactly is the Slayer?"
"Into every generation, there is a Chosen One," she intoned, ignoring his widening eyes. "One girl in all the world. She alone will wield the strength and skill to stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. To stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer."
Obi Wan stared intensely for a moment before standing, the loss of his hand leaving her feeling a little lost for a second before she clenched it in the fabric of her pants.
"You are your world's Slayer," he said, taking up her pacing path of earlier.
"Yeah. It kind of gives me some extra oomph to fight evil. Stronger, faster, able to leap small buildings in a single bound. Okay, you don't get that, and it's not really true anyway. But it also comes with being able to kind of sense evil. Along with the occasional fun Slayer dream."
"One girl…" He stopped his pacing and squatted down next to her, the sympathetic look on his face surprising her. "The weight of that-"
He stopped then and she waited for the other shoe to drop, for the disappointment and anger to come forward. But it didn't – and she should've known better, this was Obi after all…
"That's why you spoke as you did on the ship about the Prophecy of the Chosen One. The weight being too much for-" He shook his head and suddenly he looked scared. "The Chosen One. You are the Chosen One. You, not Anakin."
"I don't know," she said, standing quickly because she felt like she'd explode if she didn't move around. "I'm not- I mean- I shouldn't be here. This isn't my dimension, so I can't be your Chosen One, right? I'm not even a Jedi! The Force ignores me, remember?"
Obi Wan stood as well, running a hand over his short hair as he shook his head. "We can't know all of the workings of the Force. And we can't know that your arrival here wasn't fated."
Buffy slumped and turned away. "I know. Prophecies suck. And I just sat there and let Anakin shoulder the weight. I wanted to say something, but-"
"No," his vehemence startled her into looking at him again. "The Council cannot know of this. Not yet, at least. I need to meditate, find answers in the Force."
"You're not sure what they would do…"
"I've spent my whole life putting my trust in the Jedi code and the Council, but with you…" He shook his head, that fear still lurking in his eyes. "I'm not sure how they'd react – what they'd expect of you and how they would accept any denial you gave them. I'd trust them with my life, but I don't trust them with yours."
Obi Wan knelt on the floor near the room's one window, letting the weak light filter on to him and imagining it warming the coldness that had settled in him. The silence seemed odd now - how quickly the comfort it usually offered had been replaced by Buffy's laugh or chatter or just breathing. But, as much as he wanted her to stay, he'd felt she would be an easy distraction. Seemingly knowing without being told, Buffy volunteered to go out and resume the bed search and pick up some food.
So, here Obi Wan sat, breathing deeply and opening his mind and heart to the Force in hopes of finding some desperately needed guidance. Buffy had given him what he'd wanted – more insight into her and the world she'd come from – but, as the old saying went, "Be careful what you wish for".
Her world sounded fascinating, but dark and dangerous. And her path as The Chosen One… Did it end when she left her world for his or was it just beginning?
Part of him selfishly wanted to believe that it was only a coincidence of wording, that Anakin really was The Chosen One, as Qui Gon believed. But there was no denying Buffy was special, and the wording…
If she were really the Chosen One of the prophecy, what would that mean? Maybe it was the simplicity of her message, the one that had made him change his path, that would be the "balance" the Chosen One would bring to the Force – the message that opening one's self to attachments and feelings could be good instead of detrimental; that living a life devoted to helping all instead of the greater good could be just as fulfilling if not more so – but part of him knew it would not be so simple or safe.
It was the part that had caused a spike of alarm in the thought of the Council knowing. The Chosen One was always thought to be good, but the Council neither liked nor trusted Buffy, with the possible exception of Yoda – how would they interpret the prophecy if they thought it pertained to her? The Sith had been gone for a long time and peace had reigned. The return of them coinciding with her arrival would make them consider the possibility that "balance" would not be in their favor.
And then there was the dream…
The memory of it made him lose his concentration for a moment, the focus he'd just started to attain slipping away frustratingly. He hadn't asked for the details of her dream for fear she would do the same – for he knew that though their dreams may have been similar, they were not the same, or else he would have been the one with explaining to do.
Obi Wan brought forth the images he'd been avoiding, hoping that the Force would guide him to some answers or explanations for what he'd seen. What he'd felt…
Despair; loss; emptiness.
He felt hollow. Like he'd been gutted but more was missing than just physical parts.
That hole was filling with something new, though. Something opposite of the warmth he could barely remember. Coldness; a goal; a need.
Vengeance.
The Tusken Oasis loomed in front of him.
Anger like he'd never felt rushed through him. But instead of calming it, he welcomed it. He felt powerful. His light saber burst into life.
"She's mine and you will return her!"
The voice was his own but the fury distorted it until it was almost alien to him.
Blinding green clashed with red.
Yellow eyes filled with hate stared into his own.
Blood soaked hands clenched the basin of sink.
Shock stole his breath as he looked up to find those evil yellow eyes observing him again.
They came from the mirror.
The electrobinoculars were beyond frustrating in this setting – too many buildings and too many beings packed into tight spaces. Even the most careful of personal positioning didn't guarantee loss of his target in a few scant moments. But he didn't dare get closer yet as he was well aware of her strange ability to sense his presence. How was a mystery, as was everything else about her, but one he intended to find answers to.
As he'd pulled himself out of the bowels of Naboo, he'd at first thought his reluctance to return to Coruscant stemmed from the knowledge his Master would not abide by a third failure. His life would likely be forfeit, and if not there were other… unpleasantries, certainly waiting. Not that he feared anything his Master could dole out. But, the more he thought on it, the more he realized his unrest was more deep seated.
Honestly, he'd grown tired of the political games - skulking in the darkness while Sidious shifted pieces around like a game of holochess. They were so much more powerful than the simpering Jedi – he knew that and his Master had been enforcing that thought since he was small. Between the two of them they should have destroyed the Order by now. If it had not been for the girl, he had no doubt their numbers would be two less right now.
But there was the girl.
She was an anomaly. There was no question that his training and skill were far superior to hers, yet still she bested him. Twice. She stolen his 'saber in their first encounter – something he'd never even thought Sidious capable of. And she'd very nearly killed him in Naboo. No doubt most of her victories could be attributed to his own underestimation, yet there was still something unexplainable about her. Something powerful.
His comment about all he could teach her had not been a lie. And from there, had grown a new thought…
Perhaps it was time for the Apprentice to become the Master, and with what he could teach her… they'd be unstoppable.
After a few days of watching her he was almost ready to approach her. There were a few lingering questions though that he'd like answered first – most importantly was why there was almost always a Jedi apprentice with her.
Deciding it was time for more action than observing, he abandoned his stalking for the moment. He let himself into the Tusken Oasis before the crowds descended on it for the night, seating himself at the desk of the Hutt he'd killed who'd owned it. Just as he started to sense the increase in bodies arriving at the Oasis, the door opened to let the new proprietor in.
He froze in the entry, his face paling drastically.
"You know who I am?" Maul asked.
Dahl nodded, looked like he was contemplating running, then something odd happened – he smiled and fully entered the room, taking the seat across from him.
"I saw what you did to Yanth. If you wanted me dead, I would've been the moment I laid eyes on you if not before."
"I'd prefer answers over your death, but that is still an option."
"Answers and information is what I'm best at," he answered, leaning back in his chair looking annoyingly confident. It made Maul want to kill him just out of principle.
"Are you aware of the information that the Hutt had that was responsible for ending his life?"
"You and I both know that I wouldn't be here if I did. Though I can't help but be curious."
"Then I propose a trade. The information is yours with no reprisal from me in exchange for information you have on a certain individual."
"No reprisal from you, huh? I'm thinking there's a big loophole there. I didn't stay alive this long by stepping in traps like that."
Maul tipped his head in concession. "The information is very dangerous. The person it regards would kill you in an instant if they were to know you possessed it. I suggest you use it very carefully and only to those that may be able to offer you protection."
"The Black Sun is smoldering ashes thanks to you-"
"Something you're working on changing, from what I understand."
Dahl looked uncomfortable for a moment, before going on. "-and the Hutt's are obviously not a threat if Yanth's end is anything to judge by. So who exactly do you think could protect me from whatever information it is you're offering."
"The Jedi," Maul answered. "Now, tell me what you know about the girl they call The Slayer."
Dahl looked shocked for a moment – whether by the thought of working with the Jedi or by the mention of the girl, he wasn't sure – but then a slow smile appeared.
"I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"I disagree. Now talk."
"It could've been Alec! I have to find him!"
"And if finding him is what puts him in danger?"
"What?"
Obi Wan sat down the food he'd been unpacking to give Buffy his full attention. She'd come back moments ago (sans any beds, he might add), her patience for his meditation gone and her panic climbing in its place - her babble enabling him to piece together what she'd seen in part of her dream that had her so worked up.
"Rushing off to try to prevent what you've seen could be the catalyst that sets it in motion. If you don't know where Alec is then you can't be close to him for that vision to become reality, correct? But if you run off to find him…"
"What if it's Anakin? Does that mean that we should avoid him and Qui Gon, too?"
"It means that we should be mindful of the present and not let the dream affect our decisions," he said, the familiar words sounding more confident than he felt about them. "Because that could be what brings it about."
"How can you say that? How can we just ignore what we just saw? There could be a clue there to help us stop it!"
"I'm not saying we ignore what we saw," he said with a sigh. "I'd like nothing more than to prevent it as well. That's why I'm going to the Temple, to see if I can gain some insight into how to proceed. I'm saying that we move forward cautiously because the events we saw could be triggered by the fact we saw them in the first place."
"You're starting to sound like the little green guy," she huffed, but he got the feeling she understood his point regardless.
"You're sure you don't want to come," he teased, hoping to lighten the mood somewhat. "I'm sure he'd like to see you again."
"Um, yeah, really sure," Buffy replied dryly. "I don't think I can handle the fun of meeting the Council again so soon."
He caught her arm before she could do another round of pacing and guided her into one of the two small seats in the room – planting her with two hands on her shoulders and a stern look which was answered with half pout, half glower.
"Sit down and eat," he said, then added, "Please. You're making me dizzy with your pacing. We'll figure it out. I don't want anything to happen to Anakin or Alec or any other child either."
She slumped in her chair, then grudgingly pulled her food close to her. "I know. I'm sorry… It kind of sounded like I thought you didn't care about them and I know that's not true."
"Thank you," he said, sliding into the other seat.
Truthfully, he was very disturbed when she'd revealed the addition of the injured or dead child in her arms in her dream. He'd selfishly avoided asking for details in the fear she'd glean the fact that his dream had been different from hers.
He needed guidance.
His first instinct was to go to Qui Gon, but, while his shielding was strong and he was working on strengthening it more, he was frightened that he would slip in the comfortable presence of his former Master and the bond they shared would easily allow him access to information he'd rather not reveal yet. He and any other Knight or Master wouldn't share that bond, so he was going to go to the Temple in search of some answers regarding prophetic dreaming and what could be done.
He was almost certain the answer would be to trust in the Force and not allow the dreams to color his decisions, but what he saw and what Buffy apparently saw, was too important to not seek out more than just the typical Jedi response.
"Sorry about the beds. Again."
"Don't be. I'm not hoping for a repeat of the cause, but the result of you falling on top of me was more than welcome," he said, pulling his own food toward him. "Or if you'd just like to use bad dreams as an excuse to lay on me again at any time, that's perfectly fine as well."
At the silence that greeted his teasing, he looked up – anxious that maybe he'd taken it too far and made her uncomfortable. Instead, he found her fighting off a smile and looking at him curiously.
"Are you sure you grew up all monk like? Because you sound a little more pervy each day."
He shrugged. "Extended periods of suppression, maybe?"
She laughed and he felt part of him lighten a little at the sound. They finished their meal in companionable silence but the tension returned when he went to the door.
"Be careful."
"Careful?" He echoed in surprise. "I know you don't care for the Jedi, but I think the Temple is the one place I need not worry about being attacked."
"I know," she shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. "I don't like them, but I don't think they'd hurt you – physically at least. I just… I just have a bad feeling. That sounds stupid… Sorry…"
"Not at all," he said, not being able to resist touching her by gently tucking some hair behind her ear. "I appreciate your concern. You be careful as well."
"Me? I'm not even planning on going anywhere."
"I know, but trouble seems to find you regardless of your plans."
Her defensive grumble was lost as the door closed behind him. He'd been teasing, but…
She wasn't the only one with a bad feeling.
The Council of Idiots was hiding something…
They'd been so insultingly distracted during his meeting with them he'd had a short daydream of zapping them to attention with a little Force lightning.
Or just killing them, that would've been pleasant as well.
No matter. He'd find out what they were hiding. They were embarrassingly inept at keeping secrets. The thought that he'd have to do it himself was somewhat vexing, though. Although he could sense his wayward apprentice was still alive, he'd yet to return from his mission in Naboo. He should have spared both of them the trouble and just died there…
And speaking of Naboo… As he exited the lift he found himself face to face with the Padawan that had been with the Knight, Jinn, there.
And something about him was very different.
"Sen- my apologies, it's Chancellor now. Congratulations on the new position," he said, but Palpatine couldn't tell if the words were sincere or not as the boy had erected some very solid shielding. Why would he need such in a building full of fellow Jedi? The Council, he could understand, with their silly notion of mission authorization clearance, but a Padawan feeling he needed to protect his mind and thoughts that strongly was odd indeed.
"Thank you very much, Padawan Kenobi. In case it hasn't already been relayed to you, I'd like to offer my appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the Jedi in resolving this matter, along with that of the Queen and the people of Naboo. I will certainly be requesting your assistance in any future matters."
The boy gave an uncomfortable smile, but his shields stayed firm.
"The confidence is flattering, but I'm afraid I'm no longer part of the Order, so I won't be taking any more missions at their request. Nor should you address me as Padawan – Obi Wan would be fine."
"My, that is certainly unfortunate," he said, his surprise actually genuine. "Surely they wouldn't be so foolish as to dismiss someone with so much potential?"
"It was a personal decision."
"Certainly a loss to the Republic," Palpatine said, outwardly saddened but inwardly growing more and more curious.
"I hope not," Kenobi said, with a quick smile. "I still intend to dedicate my life to helping others, just… not the way that was originally envisioned."
"Well, that sounds interesting. And promising. As the newly elected Chancellor I would very much like to hear any thoughts on ways to make the Republic stronger and safer. Would you care to join me for a meal, discuss your thoughts on ways to help in other ways than the Jedi can offer?"
Surprise flittered through the boy, and Palpatine smothered a victorious smirk – his guard was already weakening within moments. Perhaps this was his key to finding this secret the Council was hiding. But then there was something much , much more interesting that flittered through those shields - something that sharpened his interest in the boy tenfold so that he almost forgot about that insufferable Council.
A faint ripple of opportunism and manipulation.
"Actually, that would be quite welcome. I did have some concerns about the slavery still in effect that we witnessed in the outlying areas while guarding the Queen."
Suppressing an eye roll was difficult, but Palpatine managed. He couldn't care less about some worthless slaves on the outer rim. But he was interested in what the Council was hiding.
And he was now even more interested in finding Obi Wan Kenobi's secrets. He was in need of a new apprentice after all. It was possible a new candidate had just been dropped in his lap…
