Ch. 6: "I'll Wait it Out" - Winger, Down Incognito
Midmorning on the public transport stop meant few others waiting with them. Obi-Wan breathed in the still-cool air, tinted with moisture from the rain that morning. A light breeze ruffled his hair. He couldn't help smiling at the prospect of a visit to Bel Meridah. In spite of the reasons that had driven him there five years ago, he'd been happy.
"Looking forward to this trip?" Qui-Gon asked, a teasing note in his voice.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said.
The wind picked up briefly as the public transport pulled up to the platform, strong enough to blow Obi-Wan's braid off his shoulder. He picked up his pack from where it sat at his feet and followed his Master onto the transport. They easily found a couple of seats together near the back door. Obi-Wan's thoughts turned to his meeting with Master Satoru that morning. It had gone well, even if he only had a dream of Master Denk to report.
He hadn't dreamed much about Denk lately, not like he dreamed about Sorin and Toman. Maybe because he'd been apprenticed to Denk for such a short time. The mind healer hadn't known, either, and they hadn't discussed the dream extensively. Obi-Wan was glad for both. Nightmares about the worst time with two masters was enough.
The dream he'd had the night before was not as disturbing as the one in which Sorin spoke with Master Jinn's voice, at least, but few of them were. This one had taken place during a mission, a negotiation - he no longer remembered the details - from which Master Denk had expelled him for asking too many questions. Denk told him to find a place to wait for him and to meditate on what he'd done wrong. Once he found a place, he wasn't to move until Denk came to get him. Obi-Wan found a bench in the sprawling, beautiful flower garden, and had made himself comfortable. The warmth of the sun and the bench, the intoxicating smell of the flowers, and droning of small insects made the place all the more pleasing. Before he started his meditation, he sent out tendrils of the Force in all directions. His Master had a habit of sneaking up on him, and punished him severely when he caught Obi-Wan unaware.
Someone he didn't know beckoned to him from across the garden, and Obi-Wan stayed resolutely where he sat, as his Master had directed. He closed his eyes to continue his meditations. Moments later, a headache exploded behind his eyes, a clawed hand gripped his shoulder, and Master Denk demanded to know why Obi-Wan had ignored him. Confused and in pain, he couldn't for an answer before Denk pulled him to his feet. He'd explained in a cold voice that the mission had ended and had stalked toward their transport. Barely able to see from the pain, Obi-Wan had followed slower than usual, barely reaching it before his Master wanted to take off.
"We are here, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. His voice broke the memory/ dream into fragments. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and let his surroundings ground him back in the present. He followed Qui-Gon off the public transport and into the port.
It took them a while to find the ship to take them to the Maitrevah System, and then to settle into the area where the lower class berths were.
"You were deep in thought on the way from the Temple," Qui-Gon said after the ship had left Coruscant. The other beings with lower class tickets had all found places to spend the trip, and a low buzz of conversation filled the area.
"I was thinking about my meeting with Master Satoru this morning," Obi-Wan explained. "I had a dream about Master Denk last night." Irritation flashed down the bond from his present Master, quickly repressed and released into the Force, at the mention of Obi-Wan's former Master. He looked at Qui-Gon in curiosity. Surely Qui-Gon had never really met Denk before the time in the Council Chamber?
"Oh?" Qui-Gon asked, an invitation to elaborate. But only an invitation, not a demand.
"Yes. A memory of a mission I went on with him. The negotiation failed, and he told me it was my fault."
"What do you think?"
Obi-Wan touched his lightsaber briefly, reassured by its presence. "I don't know. I can't imagine the questions I asked had any bearing on it; I made sure to ask them in private, where no one else could hear. I never checked when we got back, either, because of course he was right. I'd forgotten all about it until I had the dream."
"It will be a matter of public record. Perhaps you should look into it."
Obi-Wan stifled a smile. "Another assignment, Master?"
Qui-Gon smiled, then reached over and gently tugged on his braid. "The more I give you, the longer until I can allow you to take the trials. You can't take your trials with assignments pending."
The familiar, gentle teasing banished the last of the tension from the memory dream, and Obi-Wan relaxed. They lapsed into a comfortable silence until Qui-Gon unpacked as simple meal from his bag. After they ate, they meditated, and then slept.
The plain was dark, flat, featureless, and felt like ground that had been prepared for winter under his boots. The sky, too, was black, starless, with the line of just set sun illuminating the horizon that seemed to pulse, like measured breathing. To one side stood a small house. It looked like something he might have drawn as an initiate. It felt like home, like the Temple as he approached it after a long mission.
Next to the house, stretching back as far as he could see, was a field of crosses holding stuffed men he'd seen on many planets with agriculture. They were to scare away the various predators from the fields. They were of differing sizes and shapes, but he could not make out any other details.
From the Temple strode a dark figure, floor-length black cape billowing out behind him. He carried something to an empty cross and began to hang yet another stuffed man. There was just enough light to glint off the figure's helmet.
Obi-Wan inched closer to the person, trying not to draw attention to himself. There was no where to hide, and the person in black had only to turn around and see him. But he - Obi-Wan couldn't have said why he thought the figure in black was a he - was intent on his work.
Finally, the man in black stepped back, surveying his work, and Obi-Wan froze, surprised to find his lightsaber in his hand. Abruptly the scene shifted, as if it came into focus, and he saw what - who - hung on the crosses.
Jedi. Mace Windu, Adi Gallia, Siri, Garen, Bant, Padawans he knew and didn't know, Knights and younglings hung crucified, dead and dying. Before that horror had completely sunk in, the house - the Temple - burst into flames and crumbled to the ground. He gasped in horror and shock, too loudly, and the figure in black turned slowly to face him.
Obi-Wan took an unsteady step back. The helmet was a mask with dark eyes and a square cut, harsh mouth. The two stared at each other, then Obi-Wan stepped back again as the other pointed a menacing finger at him.
Obi-Wan jerked awake, eyes wide, and glanced at Qui-Gon. His master slept on. Obi-Wan looked around the wide area they'd bunked down in, but all the other beings appeared to be sleeping as well. After a moment lay back down, trying to dismiss the dread, carefully hiding it from Qui-Gon. It took a while for him to get back to sleep.