Wow guys it has been a while! All right those who haven't read my updated profile yes I'm not gone just college is well college so yea. Thank you so so much for the awesome reviews they made me feel so good about myself, and well my writing:P So here you go feedback's appreciated and well hopefully I will have time for more updates, I don't know I really shouldn't have started so many different stories hehe ohh the price for too many plot bunnies! Alrighty but enough of me, points at chapter below. Enjoy!
CH30
He awoke two and a half hours later feeling better than he had in months. Whatever the healers did they knew what they were doing. He opened his eyes slowly feeling pressure on his right hand.
"Bant?" He reinforced his shields and sat up slowly.
"Obi Wan!" Her arms embraced him once more. He cursed under his breath. "Bant!" After a few more moments she released him her globular eyes meeting his. "Why didn't you come see me when you came back? Siri and Garen and Reeft we all thought you were dead! And when I heard you were alive I was so happy!"
This was not what he had wanted nor expected. He had wanted them to forget he had existed. That would have been best for the both of them, for all of them. But if she insisted on endearing herself to him he had to be both cordial and distant. She may have been his friend once, once when they were small and naïve. But he had been bereft of that honor all too soon. She knew nothing. She never would see the darkness he had seen. Witnessed the horrors he had been privy too. And if she found out what he was it was doubtful she would take his side. She would pity him that was a given. But she was a Jedi and he was not. "I… I did not know what to say…when I found out everyone thought I was dead. I was not sure whether you would want to see me."
He coughed politely his gaze holding the familiarity required but his haggard face had none of the warmth hers held. Her own face fell when he did not return her reassuring smile. He had changed so very much. He was no longer her Bibi Wan, her best friend, role model, annoying older brother that she apparently had somewhere on her home world, all in one. He was Obi Wan, Obi Wan Kenobi. And she did not know him nor his strange cyan eyes. His black hair replacing his chestnut and his well-defined features were a sharp contrast to the ruddy cheeks she remembered. He was foreign, she wanted to know him, wanted to be his friend again wanted things to go back to the way they once were. But she could sense the deep chasm between them. Like a knife of ice separating their beings. Like a stream separating two shores.
"Where, where were you?"
"After I came of age in the Agri corps I was allowed to leave. I shipped off to start a new life on Naboo."
"But now your back…" She trailed off.
"I, yes I'm back." She didn't want to press but she had to know. "How are you back? When I heard Master Windu took you on I, I couldn't believe it! Obi!" But the endearing name did not have the desired effect no eyes softened to let her see dimples and the smile she longed for.
"I exhibited certain qualities and the order felt it was best for me to come back to the temple."
"I…I see." She wanted to ask more, know more but she was not sure whether she wanted to know him. He was different. It hurt to look at him and know that this was Obi Wan but not the Obi Wan she knew. That Obi Wan was miles away.
"So where's the rest of the gang." He smiled a bit and she had to give him credit for trying at least.
"Garen's off world. He's a star pilot instructor now. He drills Padawan's in need of such training off world. Can't have the Coruscant airspace cluttered with star fighter's in training now can we?"
He chuckled at that bringing a warm smile to her face. "Reeft works in the judicial branch. Helps them bring criminals in and all."
"And Siri?"
"She was knighted a year ago. She's been sent to settle a dispute. I heard she may be back soon though."
Obi Wan sighed in relief. At least he wouldn't be crossing any of their paths anytime soon. Now all that was left was for him to see whether his elaborate ruse would work. It would take time. But the Jedi were exceedingly trusting. He could still use basic force so fooling them once he rested some more would not be easy but neither would it be difficult. The silence was now becoming quite awkward, what with one not knowing what to say and the other frankly not caring.
Vokara Che chose this moment to intercede on both their behalves this was a med ward and not a holo flic after all. "Take this, it will keep the fever at bay. You have a case of severe force exhaustion. More rest is needed. Force only knows what the council needs you for."
Obi Wan chuckled lightly. "They must be obeyed regardless the cost. We live to serve after all."
Master Che hughed. "They serve the force padawan." She bustled away as the Koran Master entered taking his ward before the council.
The illustrious council sat in a semi-circle several members being of world. On this eventful day it consisted of Tahl Uvain, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Yan Dooku, Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu and the grandmaster himself master Yoda. Each in turn was clouded with their own opinion on the matter at hand. Leaving Kenobi in the center of the room Mace Windu walked to his own seat and settled in it comfortably eyes drilling into his padawan and whatever else this dark Jedi could be.
"You have been brought before the council on serious charges. Tell us how you know the ways of the dark side. Tell us how you know Xanatos Du Crion."
The man standing before the council shifted his shields tightening a notch cold eyes looking at the floor not meeting the gazes of the others contrite.
He spoke at length after a pause that took the span of minutes. "I have not lied. Yet neither have I spoken the full truth."
Tahl Uvain's face softened as the boy raised his head to face the other masters. She had heard the full report from Mace. Whatever had happened on Almas Obi Wan had proved himself to be of the light.
Master Yoda harrumphed as he alighted from chair and made a circuit around the swaying man.
"Kneel you will, before fall you do, hmmm?"
"Yes Master." Obi Wan knelt on one knee as was customary to knights or those far taller than Yoda who wished to speak face to face with the Grandmaster.
"Truth then what is young one, hmmm?"
Obi Wan's gaze fell back to the mosaic on the floor eyes idly tracing the pattern as he smiled inwardly unbeknownst to the masters. "I was trained… or forced to." He trailed off.
"By Xanatos?" Tahl gasped.
Obi Wan's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "He taught me much or as much as I was willing to learn. In time I grew stronger, then I fought him."
"In anger?" Mace asked face even a hand running over his scalp.
"As one who wants their freedom from the oppressor master," Obi Wan's hard eyes met Master Windu's. He could feel the Korun Master through the force, a churning storm ready to alight at should the need arise.
Ki-Adi-Mundi frowned. "And why is it that you did not see it fit to tell us of this?"
Obi Wan's eyes fell to the floor, he let some shame leak through his shields. A small portion of the terrible shame he had felt when he was disowned by the Jedi order. "I, I should have….."
"But?" Luminara Unduli's sharp eyes met Obi Wan's narrowing in suspicion.
"I was afraid." The smile inside him grew, this card always work with the council. Fear was a good excuse, one they would buy well.
"Of what?" The mirialan Jedi did not seem to like him all that much and with good reason. He chuckled to himself. The order to its credit was not as gullible as he had made them out to be.
"I am aware of the fate of those fallen to the dark side. I feared my fate would be the same as theirs."
"You are aware that they are given a chance to redeem themselves." Luminara pressed.
"Yes." He whispered closing his eyes leaking out the pain he was feeling from an oncoming migraine.
"But?"
"I had been forced into the darkness. I feel as if nothing can erase what I was forced to become." The room was suddenly filled with Kenobi's shame, and the fear of rejection. The force shifted around the masters the light causing him to real in nausea. Not good, he needed to get out now!
"But you have redeemed yourself Obi Wan." Tahl smiled down on the boy gracing him with one of her most compassionate looks. "The council has heard of how you saved Almas."
"That is not the question." Ki-Adi-Mundi interrupted Tahl. "The question is the breach of trust. He kept vital information from the order."
"That is where you are wrong my Masters." The serene voice of Yan Dooku drawled. "Kenobi discussed his ah dilemma with myself."
Obi Wan's eyes met Dooku's but years of Sith training prevented him from showing his surprise and confusion.
"Why not with his Master?" The mirialan Jedi's displeasure could be felt in the force.
"You are well aware of my delving's into the forbidden arts, to better protect ourselves from them of course. However it was a most logical choice. He came to me and I agreed to observe him. Be his ah watcher of sort. If he faltered, which he has not I assure you, or he would not have been allowed to venture out so far from the temple halls."
The council members looked at each other. Mace Windu laced his fingers together. "I see." His frown grew pronounced. "In light of all this I believe we should further investigate this matter without Kenobi's presence." His eyes relaxed a fraction as they settled on Kenobi. Curse you all Masters I'm sick because of you he seethed behind closed walls. Releasing the anger a quickly as it came. Force not now! Leave I don't want you, they will see me!
Yoda chuckled. "Still, unsure are we hmm? Forget when you yourself came to me with Vapaad hmm? Unprecedented it was not hmm? Turned to the light sith have hmm?" He made another circuit across the mosaic floors. "Talk to him myself I will hmm? Put this to rest we shall. Agree you do Masters?"
Tahl nodded a compassionate smile on her lips. "Yes he has proven himself."
Ki-Adi-Mundi nodded in assent his force presence dissipating to surround only himself displeasure forgotten. Tahl was about to rise to assist Obi Wan in returning to the healers ward but Dooku was swifter a viselike grip on Obi Wan's shoulder. "Come Kenobi, I must have a more detailed report of what occurred."
"He should be resting, not being interrogated," Tahl interrupted.
"We live to serve Masters," Kenobi whispered his face now colorless. Not good please force, stop the light.
"Indeed," Dooku drawled.
He stumbled out of the room half leaning on Dooku. "It will help if you concentrate on your pain." Came a harsh whisper from the sentinel his eyes angled at a camcord at the bend of the hall.
Obi Wan closed his eyes as he entered the lifts leaning heavily on the railing. "Where…"
"My room padawan, I believe we have much to discuss." Obi Wan bowed his head his mind a whirl of horror, just how in the karking universe did Dooku know what he was? And why in the name of the accursed force was he helping him."
