KEYnote: Sorry for the update warning, I separated the last chapter because of reviewers seeming jarred. 19.05.20. next post will be up by 21.05.20.

WARNING: If you don't know by now that my villains are horrid beings, you're going to relearn it in this chapter. Star Wars level of violence ahead. P.S. refer back to Chapter 26 - Moral Compass :D

Chapter 29 - Home Lost

Obi-Wan was pretty sure when Qui-Gon asked to meet him in the gardens that something was wrong.

He just had that feeling, some trembling in the Force that was warning him that all was not well.

But what Qui-Gon had to say was not urgent, yet that warning at the back of his head remained.

"I think Rey has taken a lover."

Obi-Wan snorted, "Oh no -the end of days are upon us."

Qui-Gon narrowed his gaze at him, "You knew?"

"If you're referring to Maul, they aren't lovers," Obi-Wan said. Rey didn't speak often of Maul, but he knew her tells, and she didn't see him that way.

Or at least it hadn't occurred to her to see him that way.

Obi-Wan, on the whole, so himself as a rule-code abiding Jedi, but in that area, Rey might have been an actual Saint. Many people thought that the way the Jedi were raised led to celibacy. But how Rey had been raised, with no bonds, family or friends, no examples of love or partnership, it didn't appear to be something she craved. And if love and lust were things she thought of, she kept it well hidden from him.

But Obi-Wan was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to hide that. Rey had been less-than subtle about her implications that he and Padme might be meant for each other.

He had dismissed that idea, Padme was family to him now, but she had also been his charge for four years. That was not a line he wanted to cross, especially as he promised his heart to someone.

"She spends a great deal of time with him," Qui-Gon said, unconvinced.

Obi-Wan shook his head, knowing now why they were in the gardens rather than either of their suits -he hadn't wanted Rey to hear them.

"I believe Maul is a mystic."

"Excuse me?"

"I think she's been training with him, possibly teaching him," Obi-Wan said, thinking of all the late nights she had come in sweating, her Force signature brighter -fuller somehow.

"She can't do that," Qui-Gon said, rubbing his beard.

Obi-Wan gave him a look.

"What?"

Obi-Wan shook his head, "Master…" he sighed, "Master, you did realize there would be differences between training a young teenager and a young woman who was forced to grow up early, correct?"

"I know that, but I fail to see what that has to do with her possibly training someone out of the Order."

"Probably because she doesn't know it's forbidden. Really, Qui-Gon, she isn't a child who will rebel against you. You aren't her father, and though she loves you, she will never see you as that. You are her mentor, she takes everything you say into consideration. But she is an independent adult and will make her own assessments of right and wrong."

"So she will go against the code if she reasons it's wrong."

"Qui-Gon, you haven't taught her the Code, you've taught her your impression of the Code and she has her impression on that. That's what she follows."

"Then why didn't you tell her?"

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, "I did, only for you to contradict me. The only other person she listens to so closely is Dooku, and he is just this side of being a Dark Sider himself. Rey is a good person, her own ideologies often align with those of the Jedi, but while her grasp of the Force is immense, her understanding of doctrine is laughable."

Qui-Gon sighed, "I thought she would at least pick up some things from Yoda."

Obi-Wan groaned, "She has. She hasn't started talking at you in riddles yet, has she?"

Qui-Gon's dark blue eyes widened in horror, "No-"

Obi-Wan shook his head, "I think he's grooming her to be a pain in the ass. Ahsoka thinks it's hilarious when she repeats my instructions back in metaphors."

"If she tries that with me, I'll have her doing my archive work for months."

Obi-Wan suppressed a smile, he had always disliked that assignment and his Master's once obsession with prophecies. And Rey had loved the archives when she first arrived, but she had been well and truly converted to the idea of the Living Force. People mattered more to her now than what she could learn from a book.

Qui-Gon sighed, "Why do you think her friend Maul is a mystic?"

"Well, first, he is Dathomirian. Second, Rey once told me he reminds her of you."

Qui-Gon raised a brow.

"Oh, come on, Master. How many Jedi have sought and received teaching from the Whills?"

"Is he a Dark Sider? It is atypical for Nightsisters to teach the Nightbrothers their ways with the Force."

"According to Mor and Mace, he wasn't."

Qui-Gon sighed, "I suppose I'll just have to come to terms with her closest friends being bounty hunters, Mandalorians, and Council members."

"And younglings and Wookies," Obi-Wan said with a smile, "Really, Master, we should throw a party. Entertainment would be provided."

His Master laughed.

A laugh that was cut off abruptly they both turned to heavy footfalls of someone running toward them.

Garen Muln, a dark haired, dark eyed Knight came to halt before him, his expression was pinched. Garen and Obi-Wan had been close friends in youngling and initiate years.

"Siri," Garen gasped.

Dread filled Obi-Wan's mind, the warning he had felt from the Force intensifying, even as her name tugged at his heart.

Master Siri Tachi, the Jedi Obi-Wan had been rekindling a relationship with over the last four years. Dating her as he had been, he finally understood why Qui-Gon had been able to hide his own relationship with Tahl so well. As Jedi Masters both training Padawans, they didn't have a lot of personal time. And the moments they had both been free were rare and had become treasured and private.

Not even Rey knew of their entanglement.

But Qui-Gon undoubtedly did, seeing as the first time Obi-Wan had fallen in love with her had been early on in his Padawan years. Just as Garen likely knew as Siri had a habit of confiding in him.

"Obi-Wan," Garen said, his voice pained.

His heart clenched, the world seeming to darken around him as his thoughts tried to deny whatever it was his old friend was about to tell him.

"Obi-Wan," he repeated, clearly fighting with himself to get the words out, "Obi-Wan… Siri is dead."

His knees went weak and Qui-Gon caught him around the waist. His mind just kept saying, "No, no, no, no..." when he realized he was speaking allowed, he forced himself to stop.

He had to get a hold of himself, to control the power rising in him. He knew this going in. That what the Jedi did for a living was dangerous and that following one's heart could result in extremes of emotion which could lead to lost control, which could lead-

He tried to breathe, to centre himself, but he couldn't breathe.

Qui-Gon pulled him close. Putting one large hand to the side of his head and holding him to his just, "Breathe, Padawan mine, breathe. She's with the Force now and the Force is with you."

It was what Obi-Wan needed to hear, and he sucked in a gasping breath. The power that had been rising in him he let go to the Force. The fear, the anger, the regret passing on, leaving behind pain.

But pain was not inherently bad. To feel pain from love was a sign of compassion.

So for a brief time, Obi-Wan let himself break against that pain, trusting that his Master would catch him and that his friends would be with him.

Siri Tachi was with the Force, and the Force was with him.

Obi-Wan cried as he had never remembered crying before. Qui-Gon held him together and Garen put a steadying hand on his shoulder, giving him strength when he was at his weakest.

oOo

By the time Obi-Wan made it to see Siri's funeral, the tears had tried, and he had one single question on his mind.

"How had she died?"

The answer: She had been murdered in the Temple, a lightsaber wound through the heart. There had been no signs of a struggle. There were no leads.

Obi-Wan could hardly feel anything but numbness as Adi Gallia, who had been Siri's Master, lowered the torch to the prye.

For a moment he could almost imagine she was still alive, Siri's beautiful face was wreathed in a halo of her golden hair, her eyes closed as if she were merely asleep, she bathed in the warm light of the fire's glow. But then the fire engulfed her and she did not rise from the flames. Her arms remained still where they were folded over her chest, her lightsaber hilt at her centre.

Padawan Ferus Olin looked worse than Obi-Wan felt as he stood lost in between Garen and Bant Eerin. Garen had a hand on Ferus's shoulder, he would be the brown haired boy's Master now. Bant was in tears, her large silver eyes were overflowing with them. Reeft was holding onto her webbed hand, Jape and Prie were holding onto each other. Obi-Wan knew he should be comforting them, but it was all he could do to watch the flames and not race off to scour the Temple to find any shred of evidence, any scrap of information that might lead him to the killer.

Whoever it was was going to find themselves in dark prison never to see starlight again.

Master Ali-Alann touched a gentle hand to his wrist.

Ali-Alann, the man that had raised them offered no word or metaphor, just a soft sad smile and his presence.

oOo

After the funeral Garen, Ferus, Bant, Reeft, Prie, Jape, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka sat together in a private meditation room. Aside from the two Padawans, they had all grown up together with Siri, no more than five years separated them. Quinlan Vos was the only one missing from their group, having been still on a mission.

The air in the room was thick with grief and of them all, Bant was the most affected.

Bant's tears from the funeral had yet to abate, and she was growing more hysterical by the minute.

Obi-Wan had never seen the Mon Calamari like this, and Bant had lost people close to her before. She hadn't reacted this badly even when Tahl, her first Master, had died.

Ahsoka, who had joined Obi-Wan for moral support, was trying her best to comfort Bant. Ahsoka was by far the most articulate among them right now as she hadn't known Siri well.

Finally, Obi-Wan reached out, putting his hand over Ahsoka's where she held Bant's hand, "Bant, what is wrong?"

Beyond Siri being murdered in the Temple, that is, but he didn't say that out loud.

Between gasping breaths, Bant managed to say, "I just-" sob, "can't be-" sob, "believe," wail, "could do such a thing!"

Obi-Wan exchanged a look with Garen. Bant was a Jedi Knight well on her way to becoming a Master. After Tahl, Master Kit Fisto had taken over her training. This behaviour was… unsettling.

Sure, Obi-Wan had broken down before the funeral, but Bant had been crying for hours now.

Garen shrugged.

What were they supposed to do, tell her to suck it up? That seemed callous.

Padawan Farus looked as if he was about to, however. They had gathered to tell stories and meditate together. To give and receive comfort, but Bant's behavior was making this time, this space about her rather than Siri, rather than the group of them.

And Obi-Wan hadn't believed Bant had been that close to Siri, creche mates or no.

"Perhaps," Garen ventured, "Padawan Ahsoka can take you back to your suit, Bant, so you can get some rest?"

Bant jerked back from Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, curling in on herself as she let out another sobbing wail.

At this point, Obi-Wan's concern for Bant was surpassing his grief.

Reeft their Dressellian friend, spoke softly, "She just came back from a mission. She hasn't even had time to report to the Council yet."

A knock came at the door, they all turned round to see Rey hesitating by the door, her face grim. "I'm sorry to interrupt, the Council is asking for Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan rose, he looked to Ahsoka who shook her head, "I'll stay, Master Kenobi." She gave Bant a worried look.

Obi-Wan almost smiled. Many would have run in the face of such grief, but Ahsoka was stronger and more compassionate than that. She wanted to help.

He tugged on the newly forged training bond between them in a silent thank you.

Ahsoka didn't smile, but her eyes showed that she had felt his message.

Obi-Wan went with Rey to the Council who asked him detailed questions about Siri, which he gave in detail in hopes that it would help shed a light on who could possibly have killed Siri in her own home.

oOo

Obi-Wan felt Ahsoka's panic through the bond, as the warning in the Force grew almost definitely.

He almost lost his mind when Ahsoka's call for help was abruptly cut off.

"No!" he shouted, racing from the room. Rey and several Council members followed behind him.

He couldn't lose Ahsoka, he couldn't, he did not know how he could survive it.

He shouldn't have left her when there was a killer on the loose.

At a cross, their group split, Obi-Wan, Rey, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto toward the mediation rooms, and the others who had followed raced down toward the younglings and initiates; if the Temple was under attack, they were the first priority.

Obi-Wan could not comprehend what he saw in the room, could not put sense to his friends who had been left bisected and cut to pieces on the floor.

Only one figure was still moving.

Garen was on the floor shaking the still body of Ferus, he was calling out in a weak groan, "Ferus- Padawan Olin! Answer me!" he shook the boy's body, "Answer me, Padawan, pleas-"

Plo Koon knelt by Garen's side, "He's gone, Knight Muln. He's gone."

Garen looked up at them, his face scared, where his eyes should be were a terrible burn where a lightsaber blow had been taking across his face. Obi-Wan couldn't even discern his eyelids.

It was a horrific wound, worse even than the scars that had blinded Tahl.

"Where's Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan asked, not finding her among the bodies of his friends.

"Bant took her," Garen moaned. "She wanted you, Obi-Wan."

Kit Fisto let out a sound as if he himself had been gutted, "Bant did this? No..."

Prie who had lost both her legs below the hip, a slash running across her just, opened her eyes where she had been laying slumped across Reeft. "Hurry, Obi-Wan, hurry…"

Kit went to her, trying to do what he could to keep her alive.

Rey grabbed Obi-Wan's arm, blowing the bond between them wide, "Obi-Wan."

He took in a breath, and with the bond wide, he found Ahsoka, she wasn't conscious, but she was alive.

He and Rey ran as one, up and up they went. Until they had to find an access door to the top of one of the Temple buildings.

The night was lit by the traffic, yet the stars still glittered above them.

They paused a moment to take in their surroundings, on the edge of the building, Bant stood tall, Ahsoka slumped at her side, held up by a single wrist.

As Rey and he approached, their sabers sheathed, Bant called out to them in a high voice, "My Master sent me to destroy you, Obi-Wan!"

He approached slowly, without speaking, hands held up as Rey stood ready at his side, allowing him to take the lead.

Rey would kill Bant if she had harmed Ahsoka.

Obi-Wan might too if he had to, but Rey… well, she wasn't a vengeful person by nature, but there was a hardness in her, a hardness that had been forged under a desert sun and years of slavery and fighting to survive. All he had to do would be to give the signal and Rey would slay Bant.

Obi-Wan really didn't know how much more he could take this day. His voice was calm, reasonable, even light hearted as he said, "Bant, Master Fisto is with Garen."

Bant laughed, "That weak fool is not my Master." Her laugh was sharp, her voice sing-song, the Force screamed at him. And he finally saw it, the Darkness wrapping around her like the vines of some thorned and invasive plant.

So much had gone wrong.

"My Master is stronger than you can possibly imagine! Join us, Obi-Wan!"

She is actually insane, he thought as he said, "Alright, Bant, we can discuss this-"

"No! Where is your passion, Kenobi! Where is the boy who left the Order all those years ago for the love of a girl? I killed Siri, I knew you loved her. Yet still, there you stand, as bright as ever. Where is your rage, Obi-Wan Kenobi, where is your hate?"

His heart was breaking, he had lost nearly all his friends this day, Bant -it would seem- included. "Please, Bant, this isn't you."

She screamed at him, a full throated, ear piercing scream that could have travelled through water like a crisp bell. The sound left his ears ringing. "You must turn, Obi-Wan! You must! You must destroy who you are or I will."

"Bant," he said, voice breaking, "Bant, I don't know what has happened to you, but you're safe now. I can help you, please, just let me help."

She laughed that wrong laugh again, the one that was nothing like the warm and kind Mon Calamari he knew, "You help me!? Ha! You know not the power of the Dark Side." She showed all her teeth then, in a mockery of a smile, "But you will learn."

Bant yanked on Ahsoka's arm, throwing his young charge over the edge of the roof.

His heart lurched, and he had only managed a staggering step forward by the time Rey had taken to quick bounds across the divide between them, diving off the Temple.

Bant laughed, "And now you have lost them both."

Obi-Wan had his lightsaber in his hand and ignited as his heart went cold. "No, Eerin, I have not lost my Padawans."

She sneered at him, "No one could survive a drop from this height." She ignited her own lightsaber.

It was red.

Obi-Wan let all his excess emotions go to the Force as he opened himself further to it. He was a Master.

Bant was not.

There was a reason for that.

His voice was light as he quipped, "Rey has an interesting relationship with gravity."

"She's dead, Obi-Wan. Palpatine and Tano are dead."

As he could feel them both, Rey's thoughts whispering in the back of his mind as she cradled Ahsoka in her arms, her feet gently touching the stone far below before she ran toward the medic wing. They let the bond close between them so he could remain focused.

"On the contrary, Rey is taking Ahsoka to safety as we speak."

Bant screamed at him, launching forward with a flurry of blows.

Form VII? Who had taught her Form VII?

She wasn't perfect at the Form, Mace would have swept the floor with her, but her own Form before had been Form IV, and Ataru was a close cousin to Juyo.

Not that either helped her, the duel only lasted as long as it did because Obi-Wan didn't want to hurt her. Nevertheless, he had disarmed in a few short minutes, her red lightsaber, the kyber crystal she had tortured into submission, skittered off the side of the Temple.

Obi-Wan punched her, and Bant dropped with a thud.

The fear she looked up at him with nearly stilled his heart as he deactivated his own lightsaber. "Bant, it's over."

She shook her head, her body posture showing her defeat as she began to shake. "He told me to kill you, but I couldn't. Not you, Obi-Wan, not you."

This brought him exactly zero amount of comfort, "Oh, but killing our friends, my lover, and attempting to murder my Padawan, that's alright?" He softened his voice as he brought out a pair of cuffs from his belt. He offered her a hand up, "Who did this to you?"

Silver eyes touched with yellow and red, like the innards of some fruit. "I couldn't- Not you, anyone but you."

She put her hand in his and cuffed that wrist, "You need help, Eerin. But first, you need to tell me who did this to you? Who turned you against us?"

Her pupils spiralled, the yellow eating away at the silver as he felt her terror grow in the Force. "You don't know what my Master will do to me."

He cuffed her other wrist, pulling her to her feet, "Just tell me, Bant. You know you can trust me. I'll keep you safe from him. Just tell me who he is?"

He felt her pull on the Force, a split instant before he could react.

His lightsaber ignited.

The blue blade piercing her heart.

Her eyes cleared to the pure silver he had always known, "Never you, Obi-Wan…"

"No!" He shouted, pulling his blade back, deactivating it and throwing it away from them as he dropped to his knees with her still held in his arms.

But he was too late.

Bant Eerin was already gone. Leaving him on the roof of the Temple, alone, despite the thousands of beings soaring above him.

Garem and Ahsoka were the only ones to survive Bant's attack. Garem's vision could not be restored, though Obi-Wan thought Ferus's death, his Padawan of all of a few hours had done more harm than scarring on his face.

Ahsoka, aside from the bump on the temple, was completely fine.

Master Kit Fisto who had sustained no physical injury was the farthest thing from fine.

And Obi-Wan?

Obi-Wan found sleeping difficult. Usually, he was out like a light, having what Qui-Gon considered a gift, to be able to sleep almost anywhere.

But now he laid awake into the long hours of the night, listening to the sound of Rey's tossing and turning before she finally found rest. Her soft breathing the marker of when it had grown truly late. He would lie on his back communing with the Force, always aware of the Padawan and Master bonds that connected him to Ahsoka, Rey, Qui-Gon, and Dooku.

Aware and trying not to dwell on easily they might have been taken from him.

Months passed and his grief eased, yet Obi-Wan had finally been made aware of the Darkness in the Temple that Rey and the Shadows had identified. A Darkness that once acknowledged could not be forgotten. And it was like the safest place in the world he had ever known had become a prison.

The Temple would never again be his home.

AN: Thoughts, reactions, or feedback, please?