Ch. 17: "I Won't be Caught Between" - Queensrÿche, Best I Can

Theela released Obi-Wan the next morning with a warning to be careful. She pulled Qui-Gon aside while Obi-Wan dressed, and asked him to keep a record of everything that happened, and to report any oddity immediately.

Even though the dining hall served something throughout the day, Qui-Gon directed Obi-Wan to their quarters. He felt Obi-Wan needed the peace, and even with his shields locked so tightly, he could feel Obi-Wan's exhaustion. He picked at the food Qui-Gon made, looking like lifting the fork to his mouth took more energy than he had. He didn't each much. Qui-Gon cleaned up, keeping all his senses on his Padawan, trying not to show his concern.

"You have some time before your appointment with Master Satoru," Qui-Gon said, resting his hand gently on Obi-Wan's sagging shoulder.

Obi-Wan straightened, but not as much as he usually did. "Yes," he said. "I think I'll lay down before then."

Qui-Gon backed off as Obi-Wan climbed to his feet. "Would you like me to accompany you to your session with Satoru?"

Obi-Wan glanced at him, startled, and Qui-Gon barely registered the suspicion on his face before it faded, replaced by shame. "I… would rather go alone," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon nodded, not surprised. Obi-Wan went into his own room, and Qui-Gon retrieved a data-pad from his, checking for any possible medical records on erratic shields. Ignoring the pull of the files about the Chosen One already on the data-pad, he did a search of the electronic archives, only to find a note that the search had to take place in the physical archives. Qui-Gon glanced toward the door, then turned to tap quietly on Obi-Wan's door. It opened, and Obi-Wan looked up from the gaudily-cased dream data-pad he studied under the light at the head of his sleep couch. His blankets had twisted around him, although they didn't look binding. "I think I'm too tired to sleep," Obi-Wan said into the silence between them. Exhaustion laced his words.

"I'm going to the archives," Qui-Gon said. "Would you like to come?"

Obi-Wan hesitated, then shook his head. "No, but thanks," he said. "I'll try to rest some more."

"Let me know if you need me. I have my comm on me."

Obi-Wan smiled wearily. "Yes, Master."

Qui-Gon left their quarters, musing darkly on what might have caused Obi-Wan's shields to behave so erratically.

Distracted by those thoughts, Qui-Gon lost track of where he'd gotten to until a half-familiar Force signature alerted him to someone's presence. He slowed and looked around. He found himself in the entrance hall. As an initiate, he'd taken every chance he could to go through there as he traveled around the Temple. He'd never lost that habit, or his love of the place. Now, he stopped and cast about to find the Force signature, matching it with a knight leaving in the company of elderly Master Tuun. The Master spent his days serving in the lower levels of Coruscant. Qui-Gon didn't recognize the younger knight with him, so he continued on his way to the archives, his mood improved by the light and space of the entrance hall as usual.

He'd nearly reached the Archives when he realized who he'd seen, and he pulled up short in surprise. It couldn't be. They'd promised. His mission to the Archives forgotten, Qui-Gon stalked back through the entrance hall to the lifts that would take him to Mace's quarters, struggling to release his rising fury into the Force. The door opened at his knock, and behind Mace, Qui-Gon could see Yoda as well. Good. That would save him a trip. He let the door close behind him before he spoke. "Masters," he said, less calmly than he would have liked. "What is Denk doing here?"

"Sit down, Qui-Gon," Mace said, indicating one of the meditation cushions on the floor. Qui-Gon sat down as asked.

Yoda met Qui-Gon's gaze calmly. "Why ask you this?"

"Why do I ask?" Qui-Gon asked, his fury gone cold inside him. "Please explain to me how at least one of my Padawan's former Masters is still in the Temple, after Obi-wan and I were both assured they were all gone."

"Denk's situation did not call for banishment."

Qui-Gon stiffened. "What?"

"Regret he did, what to Obi-Wan was done," Yoda explained.

"He had Obi-Wan for so short a time because he could not stomach what Di'ona had asked him to do for longer than that," Mace continued. "He told you how to remove the bombs in Obi-Wan's head."

"Yes," Qui-Gon said, and looked at Yoda, unwilling to calm down, as Mace tried to get him to do. "You told us they'd all left the Temple. That you'd banished them all."

"We didn't think Obi-Wan would react well to finding him here," Mace said. "He wished to stay. He spends his days with Master Tuun, under observation. He may never go anywhere else."

Qui-Gon took a deep breath and released his fury and frustration into the Force, only to find it wouldn't go. He'd have to meditate extensively to get rid of it. "The faith my Padawan has in the Jedi Council amazes me," he said, "considering what it has done to him." He glanced around the room to try to calm down even a little, before looking back at Mace and Yoda. "He had three masters who abused him. It took him years to recover from that. Before he could get over it completely, he felt he had to leave because the Council either didn't know they'd lost Toman, or knew and said nothing.

"Qui-Gon," Mace said.

"And then, when he was at his most vulnerable," Qui-Gon went on, ignoring the warning in Mace's voice, "the Council pulled a trick, using him as bait to bring Toman in, without asking his permission." Or mine, although he didn't say that aloud.

"Necessary it was," Yoda said calmly.

"So you said at the time," Qui-Gon barely kept from pacing. "Do you know where Di'ona and Sorin are?"

"Knights there are who check for discrepancies in tracers," Yoda said.

"The tracers are still active," Mace said. "We'll know if they remove them."

"Thank you," Qui-Gon said with a stiff bow.

"Qui-Gon," Mace said as he stood up to leave.

"Tell your Padawan of this you should not," Yoda said gravely. "Know it he does not need."

Qui-Gon swallowed his anger and resolved to calm down when he had a moment to himself. "Yes, Master," he said. "What do I tell Obi-Wan when he does meet Denk?"

"To us send him," Yoda said. "Explain we will."

Qui-Gon nodded and swept from the room. No matter what explanations they gave, it would not atone for the lies they'd told his Padawan.

He stopped in one of the smaller meditation rooms to calm himself, and then continued on to the Archives to do the research he wanted. He'd gotten a fair amount done when one of the messenger Initiates found him. "Master Jinn," the girl said, barely out of breath, bowing when she reached him. "Master Satoru would speak with you in his office."

Qui-Gon stood. "Thank you," he said.

The secretary ushered Qui-Gon in immediately, and it surprised him only a little to find Obi-Wan stretched out on the couch, asleep. Master Satoru stood to greet him. "Master Jinn," he said, bowing.

"Master Satoru." Qui-Gon bowed as well. "What is it?"

Master Satoru gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and Qui-Gon sat down. Master Satoru sat back down behind his desk. "Obi-Wan's shields are very…." He paused a moment, his mouth twitching as he thought. "He has no control over them," he finally went on. "Any friendly approach makes them go up, and an attack on him lays his mind bare. Nothing else works. Nothing we've tried so far has revealed the cause."

Qui-Gon turned to look at Obi-Wan. Even in sleep his Padawan gave off an air of someone exhausted. "What do you have planned next?" he asked, turning back to Satoru.

"I will continue to work with him. Until the cause for this loss of control is discovered, he must remain in the Temple."

"The Council knows we are not available for missions until this is resolved."

Obi-Wan stirred, and Master Satoru moved around his desk to keep him from sitting up yet. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better." Obi-Wan blinked slowly, then rubbed his eyes and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the couch. "My shields are still up for now."

"Good," Master Satoru said. "I will see you tomorrow after mid meal."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, got to his feet, and bowed.

Qui-Gon could feel the emotions that filled Obi-Wan; frustration, fear, shame and an incredible weariness leaked through the block on the bond between them. He stood and walked toward them. "Come, Padawan. Let's get you back to our quarters."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, but Qui-Gon didn't turn to go. He set his hand gently on Obi-Wan's shoulder, then tugged lightly on his braid. Obi-Wan smiled, his eyes lighting, and Qui-Gon smiled back, relieved to see that smile. Only then did he turn to leave, hyper-aware of the young man following him as they left. He didn't know what he'd do if they couldn't get Obi-Wan past this trial.