Ch. 27: "Lookin' for a Friend to Borrow" - Hanson, Song to Sing
Obi-Wan wondered where he'd fallen asleep. This sleep couch felt comfortable enough, if softer than his own. But he still had to get up.
Familiar and long missed warmth tinged with amusement touched his mind, and he forced his eyes open. "Master?" he mumbled groggily, and the blurry shape next to him slowly resolved in to the tired face of his Master. "The block is gone," he said, surprised, and Obi-Wan could feel his Master's relief as clear as his own. He'd missed that!
Qui-Gon moved, reaching for something beyond him. "Tell Master Ashthoret that Padawan Kenobi is awake," he said, then turned back to Obi-Wan. "How are you feeling?"
"A little fuzzy," he mumbled and struggled to sit up, only to have Qui-Gon push him back down.
"I don't think you should get up yet," Qui-Gon said gently. "At least wait until Theela returns."
Obi-Wan nodded, staring at the ceiling, fighting the fatigue that urged his eyes closed. "Whatever Di'ona did, it took a lot out of me," he said.
"Are you in control of your shields?" Qui-Gon asked.
Obi-Wan raised and lowered his shields a few times, but that tired him out more. "Yes, Master. What happened?"
Before Qui-Gon could answer, the door slid open and Theela stepped in. "Padawan Kenobi. How are you feeling?"
Obi-Wan thought about that, then realized the silence had gone on too long. "Tired," he said finally. "But I have control of my shields."
"Tired is acceptable." Theela said, and Qui-Gon moved out of the way as she checked Obi-Wan over. "In fact," she added as she finished, "tired is normal. I expect you to sleep as much as you need to."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan mumbled. A blissful lethargy enveloped his arms and legs, and he didn't think he could move them if he wanted. His lethargy reminded him of a planet he'd visited once, with heavier gravity than he was used to. Movement was slow, as if he moved in a heavy gel, and even speaking had been difficult. The gravity didn't affected his thoughts like this, though. His eyelids slid shut. The last thing he heard was his Master's gently laugh, but even that could not keep him from slipping under again.
Obi-Wan walked into the opulent building from the speeder park, spotting the young Jedi he sought immediately. He stood talking to a beautiful woman near the lifts by the back wall. The woman wore a dark green dress, elegant and simple as befitting her station. She listened to what the Jedi had to say with her complete attention. Obi-Wan strode over and touched the Jedi's shoulder. "Excuse me, Senator," Obi-Wan said, directing his words to the woman. "We need to go, now."
The young Jedi turned, and Obi-Wan felt a shock of recognition that he dismissed. Of course he knew this Jedi, he'd been Obi-Wan's Padawan. "Yes, Master," he said. "Until we meet again, Senator." He bowed to her. She nodded regally and turned to call the lift.
Obi-Wan led the way back out to the speeder park where he'd left the small, two person flyer. He got into the pilot's seat, much to the other Knight's dismay. "You still don't trust my flying, Master?" he asked, amused, as he climbed in.
"You're too reckless," Obi-Wan responded automatically and even absently.
"That means no," his friend said, and the two of them shared a grin. "Where are we going?"
Obi-Wan started the flyer. "The Supreme Chancellor has called an emergency meeting for the Senate. He wishes the Jedi to be there."
I have a bad feeling about this, Obi-Wan thought as he piloted the small craft away from the Senator's apartment building and toward the Senate building. Searching the Force for more information turned up nothing, which frustrated him. Taking a deep breath, he released his frustration into the Force - a much-used exercise - which had the effect of easing whatever bad feeling he'd had. He turned his attention to the flight. He'd never seen the traffic this bad. It seemed that everyone headed in that direction, and accidents or something else blocked every level he could see. The sun hadn't sunk yet, and he hadn't heard that they'd scheduled rain storms, so that cut out reason for the accidents. Obi-Wan swerved sharply to keep a large Senate transport from clipping him, and nearly hit a flyer the same size as his.
"Master, are you sure we have to go?" The Knight sounded as if he'd rather be somewhere else, anywhere else, perhaps back with the Senator, who, Obi-Wan realized now, hadn't received the summons to the special council meeting. He assumed the Knight's reluctance had nothing to do with Obi-Wan's flying.
"I am sure," Obi-Wan said. "Yoda feels we need to be there, that something important will happen that we need to witness."
The other Knight had nothing to say to that, but Obi-Wan knew the silence that followed Yoda's name with this friend of his.
When they arrived at the Senate, Obi-Wan parked the flyer and they walked inside together, joining the crush of beings that passed through the foyer. Obi-Wan turned as the other Jedi hesitated. "I have a bad feeling about this," he said.
Obi-Wan moved them out of the way, into a corner of the lobby, then paused, testing the Force. Nothing felt wrong. His brow furrowed. "What is it?"
The Knight shook his head. "I don't know. I should go back." He paused. "So should you, Master. I really don't like this."
Obi-Wan thought a moment. Nothing felt wrong, but still…. He knew how strong this Knight was in the Force, stronger than he himself. Had it not been Yoda who said they needed to be there, Obi-Wan would have let the other Jedi go, and he expressed that to the younger man. The Knight sighed but said nothing, and they plunged back into the stream of beings moving toward the senate chamber.
The Chancellor had started before they arrived, an older man positioned on a raised platform in the center of the chamber. Representatives still arrived, speaking softly so that under the Chancellor's voice they heard a soft susurration of noise. Obi-Wan lost sight of his former Padawan in the crowd on their way in, only to spot him up near the speaker. Even as Obi-Wan stared, surprised at this twist and wondering how he got up there, he could see the shadow of a dark helmet and black cape around the other Jedi.
Then the words the Chancellor spoke sank in, and Obi-Wan knew that the Republic and the Jedi would not survive this.
With a gasp, Obi-Wan woke, disoriented as he struggled to get out from under the blankets, to go and warn Yoda. Then he realized he couldn't remember anything except a feeling of impending doom.
A hand gripped his shoulder gently. "Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan stopped moving, looking up at Qui-Gon, who stood over him, worry on his face and, now that Obi-Wan had gathered his senses, coming through the bond. He took a deep breath. "Sorry, Master. Bad dream," he said, and his voice rasped in his throat.
Qui-Gon looked concerned. "What kind of dream?" he asked. He let Obi-Wan go and poured a cup of water, then helped his Padawan sit up enough to drink it.
"Thank you. I don't think the dream was one of Di'ona's," Obi-Wan said slowly. "It wasn't a memory."
"How many of them weren't memories?" Qui-Gon asked, helping Obi-wan lay back and pulling the chair closer so he could sit down.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I don't know. I'd have to look."
Silence hovered between them. Obi-Wan meditated lightly to help him to relax, feeling much better than he had the night before, although the dream hadn't left his mind even without remembering the details.
"I almost forgot," Qui-Gon said awhile later. "Master Windu gave me this to give to you." He held out Obi-Wan's lightsaber.
Obi-Wan took it and examined it carefully. "Someone went back to get it, and Di'ona, didn't they."
"And you," Qui-Gon said. "When I couldn't raise you, Mace went to find out what happened."
"She threw my comm unit away," Obi-Wan said, his brow furrowed, then he remembered what had happened. "The staff," he said with a sigh. "I'll have to explain to Merrick."
The door slid open to let Theela in. "I see you are up," she said, and moved to study the monitors by Obi-Wan's sleep couch.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she looked at him.
"Much better," he said after a short pause. Answering too quickly put her on guard, and he really wanted to get back to his own quarters. Besides, he didn't lie. He felt much better.
"But not back to normal." Theela said. "Still…." Whispers of the Force examined his body, but did not bring up the memories he half expected. It would take some time to get used to this, he figured. They'd haunted him for a long time. "I believe I can release you into your Master's keeping.h I want you to take it easy for the next few days. Don't exert yourself," she added with a warning glance at Qui-Gon.
"Yes, Master Ashthoret," Obi-Wan said eagerly, and started to get off the medical couch. Theela caught him and steadied him as he nearly fell, then smiled fondly at him and ruffled his hair. Her fingertips brushed the back of his neck. Obi-Wan flushed at his clumsiness. "Thank you, Master."
"You are welcome, Padawan Kenobi," she said, nodded at Qui-Gon, and left the room.
Qui-Gon helped Obi-wan with his boots, then assisted him when he stood up. Obi-Wan's limbs still felt heavy, and he stumbled as they left the room. Qui-Gon steadied him, and as soon as Obi_wan had caught his balance, they started out of the Healer's Wing.
When they got back to their quarters, Obi-Wan sank down on the couch in the common room. Just that walk had exhausted him, and he wondered how long it would take to get everything back to normal. "Are you hungry?" Qui-Gon asked.
Obi-Wan nodded and started to get up. Qui-Gon shook his head. "I'll get it. You rest."
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said, and tried to make sure his Master knew he meant for all that had happened.
The soup tasted delicious, and best of all, didn't take a lot of energy to eat. Obi-Wan felt much better after he'd finished it. Qui-Gon cleared up, and Obi-Wan stared at the floor, still to exhausted to do much more. And then, he got an idea.
"Master," he said, and Qui-Gon turned to him. "Would you please meditate with me?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "Yes," he said. They knelt together, and Obi-Wan sank into the trance, enjoying the open bond Di'ona had denied him for so long.
The next morning, Obi-Wan decided to figure out the answer to his Master's question. Unwilling to spend the time alone and aware of his Master's interest, he settled down on the couch in the common room. As he studied his dreams, determining which came from Di'ona and which hadn't, he began to notice a pattern. He got up to get the data-pad he kept a record of his missions on, then sat down and began to compare them. "Strange," he murmured.
Qui-Gon looked up from his own work in the overstuffed chair he preferred. "What is strange, Padawan?"
"I had more memory-dreams here in the Temple," Obi-Wan said. "That doesn't seem right."
"Why not?"
"Well, because…." Qui-Gon's curiosity through the bond distracted Obi-Wan, still not used to the connection between them. "Because I would have thought she'd have found it harder to reach me here. Don't you think?"
Qui-Gon nodded. "That is a good observation."
"Am I wrong?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know," Qui-Gon said. "But I do know who might answer your questions."
"Master?"
"Kalifa Sendar is still here. I will ask if we may visit her, and we can see if she is willing to answer your questions."
"Oh," Obi-Wan said, and looked back down at the data-pads in his hands without really seeing them.
"Is something wrong?" He asked the question casually, but Obi-Wan could feel the concern in the bond between them. Qui-Gon must have felt some of his confusion.
"No," Obi-Wan said slowly. He didn't know what made him hesitate, although if Kalifa were anything like his former Masters, he could only expect abuse from her. She wouldn't have the insight to him the other's did, thought, since she'd never trained him. He didn't want to face any of Di'ona's former Padawans. Then again, he did want answers.
"Do you want to speak with Kalifa Sendar?"
Obi-Wan sighed and looked up at his Master. "Yes," he said. "And thank you for all you've done." Even if he had things he wanted to keep from his Master, he preferred to have the bond open. He'd missed having it.