A/N: Well what do you know; I had time to write another chapter, lol. I am so not the mood to study, so here I am writing. I just couldn't leave the story hanging there for a week. It's getting to the juicy parts. Anyways, Obi and the rest of the gang ain't mine, but I claim Nyree! Now, she just needs to decide whom she loves, trust me it ain't easy: Obi-Wan the hottie and 'good' guy or Xanatos the dark and mysterious? Decisions. Lol.
Ch. 22 I want to playQui-Gon stood on the edge of the party, his nerves on overdrive. The Force was buzzing around him, warning him about all types of things that could go wrong. Mace Windu was talking to the old senator whom had invited them. It seemed that the senator had owned Mace something in return for his services and when he asked if they could attend the party to look for an old friend, she happily complied.
Watching the guests drink to their hearts content, blissful of the enemies that were lurking in their presence, Qui-Gon unconsciously shivered. Just now, he felt a coldness that went beyond cold enter his mind. Xanatos was here. But then why did he have the impression that Xanatos was not the one to be concerned with?
"Qui-Gon, whispered Mace as he stood next to his friend.
Qui-Gon looked into Mace's face, "Yes?"
Mace licked his lips, "It seems that that we'll have to be careful when we confront Obi-Wan. It seems that yesterday, there was a bank robbery and some of the guests here as well as the senator's granddaughter were held hostage. Obi-Wan was there and he protected the hostages and took out the robbers. This party is a way to honor him, so everyone here will be on his side."
Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes, "Maybe Obi-Wan didn't turn to the dark side."
"Or maybe he did it to promote his image. He might have sensed us coming and used the robbery to make sure this party was in his honor, making it harder for us to take him back," countered Mace, "He is a Saterine, Jinn. He is always a Dark Jedi if anything else and manipulation is his way now."
The maverick Jedi sighed. This was becoming too much for him to bear.
"Ah, there youare! Obi-Wan this is Jedi Masters Mace Windu—an old friend of mine—and Master Qui-Gon Jinn," chirped the senator.
Mace and Qui-Gon turned to look at the new arrival. Obi-Wan had his hands folded in front of him and was bowed, his face covered by the ginger hair. Rising, Obi-Wan extended his hand forward, "Please to meet you."
Mace took Obi-Wan's hand, "So, you're the hero? Congratulations."
Obi-Wan smiled, "Thank you."
The senator placed her hands on Obi-Wan's arm, "Honey, I have to go. The noble family from Biks is here. Oh and don't worry about the young ladies. I'll keep them distracted. I mean you've been busy dancing with all of them all night so far. You earned a rest. I mean you just got back from vacation…a much-needed vacation. You shouldn't work your self so hard! Oh my, I'd better!" The senator, with her vibrant energy, zig zagged her way to the other end of the room.
Turning his full attention on the Jedi, Obi-Wan flashed his charming smirk, "So, what brings you here?"
Mace narrowed his eyes, "You know why?" "This boy is too much like Xanatos."
"If you're looking for Xanatos, he disappeared somewhere."
"Probably with a girl, no doubt."
Obi-Wan's eyes hardened for a second but his cheerfulness soon returned. Mace might have overlooked it due to his attention being focused on avoiding a drunken partier. However, Qui-Gon caught that look and the coldness that he felt before returned full force.
"You are different," whispered the Jedi.
"Oh?" enquired Obi-Wan, those blue shards that sparkled with false happiness now on him.
"Older," the word slipped past Qui-Gon's lips. He hadn't meant to say that, he meant to say colder, but somehow this word fit Obi-Wan to the key. The bond between them flared slightly to life.
Mace frowned, "The Dark Side does that to its' followers. You become old and decrepit. Is that how you want to—"
"The Dark Side didn't do this to me. I did," rebuked Obi-Wan. Even though his voice still carried its pleasant tone, the sharpness hissed underneath the words. "That is the problem with you Jedi, you place the blame on something else, not on yourselves. Come, let us discuss this outside."
With that said, Obi-Wan lead the way out onto the grounds. The moonlight fell onto the rich green lawns in broken rays. Dark clouds contrasted the happy atmosphere inside the mansion and seemed to threaten to let the rain break free from their dams. Obi-Wan was a couple steps ahead of the pair, his hands clasped behind his back. Qui-Gon's eyes widened as the figure before him grew a little taller and wore the dark brown cloak of Jedi. The figure moved his head to the side and Qui-Gon regarded the profile of a Jedi Master, whose eyes were ancient and grieving. Those particular eyes moved with such slow grace and narrowed into slits as they descended upon Qui-Gon's face. And then he was back into the present with Obi-Wan's eyes locked onto his dull blue ones.
Mace felt a tension rise and knew that neither Qui-Gon nor Obi-Wan were listening to his ramblings on why Obi-Wan needed to return. A gust of wind blew between the group, reminding the mortals that winter was near and all life ends in some point in time.
"We have a Saterin chip in the Temple. If you come quietly, I'll try and let you grant access to study the chip," whispered Mace, afraid that he would shatter the delicate balance. Drawing upon the Force, the Jedi Master felt that this moment would be the shatterpoint in the crystal structure that had formed the moment Obi-Wan stepped upon the Monument back when he was merely a 12 year old whose hopes of becoming a Jedi Knight had been shattered.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and turned to face forward again. He had sensed the Force shift around Qui-Gon. Watching him and scanning the tiny bond he shared with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan could sense that a vision just graced the mental eyes of the elder. Stretching out silently as to not stir any panic, Obi-Wan searched Qui-Gon's mind and caught a glimpse of the vision. With his back to the Jedi, Obi-Wan opened his eyes and frowned mentally, keeping a stoic expression on his face. That vision was him in the future. So, he would go back to the Jedi.
Mace's words seeped through his thoughts. Obi-Wan smirked, closing his eyes and resumed his walk, "Such temptations won't win me over easily, Mace. I am no longer obsessive over such material objects."
The dark-skinned Master growled and reached out to grab Obi-Wan by the arm. Yanking the younger man to him and spinning so the two were face to face, Mace hissed, "Don't act all-mighty, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You might be a Saterine, but you are still just an 18 year-old boy. You ARE returning to the Temple where your punishment will be dealt with in attacking two Jedi Masters and other countless Jedi you have encountered on your journeys."
Qui-Gon stepped forward, "Obi-Wan, please. You said that you would return when the time was right. The Force, our bond, tells me it is the right time." Qui-Gon continued, not allowing Obi-Wan to interrupt, "Padawan, it's time to come home."
"Qui-Gon," Mace regarded his friend. He could feel Qui-Gon's torment and the declaration was right from his soul. If Obi-Wan rejected him, Qui-Gon would be crushed. And that was something, Mace would not allow. He had watched Qui-Gon go through hell when Xanatos left, he wouldn't let it happen with this brat.
Obi-Wan sighed and gently yanked his arm out of Mace's grip. Walking over to the stone bench, Obi-Wan hopped onto it and stretched out his arms.
"It was a night like this when I contacted you. But it wasn't so cloudy, unsteady. It is funny how sometimes nature fits the mood of an event so perfectly." Obi-Wan spun around and watched a group of small children run out into the lawns, chasing the large fireflies.
A distant look encompassed Obi-Wan's eyes. Qui-Gon took a step forward and held Obi-Wan's hand, "Padawan, what do you see?"
Obi-Wan's shoulders sagged and the boy looked down at Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon gripped the boy's hand harder. He looked so young in the moonlight. He looked like a lost child who needed to be held and hush away the nightmares.
Obi-Wan moved his other hand and covered Qui-Gon's hand with his own. "Master Jinn, we were not meant to be. Even though this bond exists, I cannot acknowledge you as my Master. He needs you more than me."
"He?" Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes. Behind him, Mace frowned.
"Yes the one I told you to be strong for." A mocking chuckle escaped Obi-Wan's mouth, "You haven't found him yet. I would have thought that Yoda would have sense his birth, but then again I did not sense his presence till…my vacation." No, Obi-Wan would not tell them about the incident. Qui-Gon needed to be strong, not to worry about his health but focus on the one that Obi-Wan had foreseen. "Go to Tatooine. The Force will guide you from there. You have to train him, Qui-Gon."
"And there might be hope for all of us," continued Obi-Wan in his mind. In the darkness, he felt another presence search him out, the master of the Sith. He caught glimpses of his plans and knew that the only one who could thwart them or aid the plans was the boy.
Qui-Gon backed away from Obi-Wan as if he was some bringer of doom.
Obi-Wan allowed a frown to appear on his face, "Forgive me Qui-Gon, but I have to do what is necessary. It is not time, but soon."
Mace stepped up and stepped in front of Qui-Gon, "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Showing his lightsaber, he continued, "I don't know what your plan is, but you will be returning with us."
"Is that so wise, showing violence in front of the guest of honor," Obi-Wan mocked, bringing forth his charismatic façade.
It was time to play.
Drawing upon the Force, allowing the darker aspect to be more dominant, Obi-Wan sneered as he jumped down off the bench, "I defeated you once. Do you really think you can overpower a Saterine in his prime? Do you even know the reason why there is a chamber on the lowest level of the Temple that contains Saterin artifacts?"
Mace unhooked his saber and drew upon the Force. Sending a powerful Force suggestion, Mace commanded, "You are coming with us, Obi-Wan. We will try and save you from the Dark Side, even though you went freely."
"Avoiding the question means denial, Windu," hissed Obi-Wan, eyes narrowing into slits.
Unconsciously, Mace and Qui-Gon ignited their sabers and took a step back. The aura around Obi-Wan had darkened and the voice that emitted from the boy's mouth was not that of the young man whom was basking in his glory. It was a voice that dripped with an ancient rage and stung like poison upon the Jedi's ears.
The dark voice continued, "Oh my, I'm scared. Drawing upon an unarmed man plays against you, Jedi."
"You. Are. Not. Unarmed," stuttered Qui-Gon, trying to keep his voice calm. Where did his precious Obi-Wan went? This creature in sheep's clothing smirked as if reading the maverick's thoughts clearly.
"This is my true color, Jinn. Want me to be your Padawan still, Master?" The thought slithered through the natural bond. Qui-Gon gritted his teeth, anger rising from the intrusion.
Obi-Wan smirked, glee entering his eyes.
"Obi-Wan, what is going on here?" The senator's old, feeble voice from the entrance reached the trio.
Mace and Qui-Gon quickly deactivated their lightsabers. They couldn't force Obi-Wan right now with all the guests watching their 'hero' being lead away like a criminal. That would mean terrible relationships between Telos and the Temple, not to mention political chaos.
Qui-Gon widened his eyes, his mouth slightly ajar. Obi-Wan transformed from being a creature of darkness back into the chipper young man earlier before.
"Oh, nothing senator to worry about," reassured Obi-Wan, his eyes closed and a pure, kind smile blooming over his face. "The Jedi were demonstrating some lightsaber moves. I've always been captivated with their sword fighting."
Mace frowned slightly as a thought was locked away for further analysis, "He sure does know how to tell the truth from a certain point of view."
Qui-Gon stepped forward, "Yes Senator. We were showing Obi-Wan here a defense move, just in case he gets caught in another robbery."
The senator's face beamed, "Oh that's so sweet! But never mind that, I came to get you all because we are now going to offer Obi-Wan a gift for his heroics!"
"Oh senator, you didn't need to do that," voiced Obi-Wan, concern evident in his tone. "I don't—"
"Hush push, Kenobi! Now come along," ushered the senator as she waltzed back in.
Obi-Wan laughed happily whilesending a cold glare of warning at Mace before following the senator. Mace muttered a curse under his breath and entered close behind. Qui-Gon began to follow, when something told him to look up. Gazing upwards, the Jedi Master caught a young woman staring down back at him. Nyree glared at Qui-Gon before turning and disappearing back into the party. Jinn frowned and made his walk back into the mansion that was buzzing with happiness, countering the regret he felt inside.
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A/N: Well that was fun to write. I hope I didn't make Obi-Wan too dark for you guys. I'm trying to display him as one who now walks that line, one minute he's all Sith like, the next the perfect example of a Jedi. If that didn't come across in this chapter, hopefully it will in later ones.