"There are rumors of the black smoke seen in the Brux City of Canter."
Obi-Wan felt himself stiffen, though hid it carefully. He glanced at his Master and saw Qui-Gon's jaw tightened. "Rumors? Nothing solid? No deaths?"
"Do not speak to the Council in that flippant tone, Master Jinn," Mace said stiffly. "As for your question: no. There are the usual cases of missing people and murders, but nothing too unusual to stand out."
"Then where did the rumor come from?"
"Knight Shoures. Ever since Lin, we have given warnings to every Jedi across the Republic to keep an eye out for this infamous smoke. Knight Shoures reported this morning of seeing such. We may be jumping at shadows, but we're not taking any risks."
Obi-Wan could sense Qui-Gon didn't like this as much as he did. They were going into a mission half-blind and very unprepared. "And what are we to do, if we engage the smoke? Fifteen Masters couldn't keep this thing down and I'm not sure if one Master, a Knight and a Padawan can hold their own against it."
"Engage, you will not," Yoda stated. His tone was low. "Distance, you will keep. Observe, you will do."
"Forgive me, Master Yoda, but I don't think we may have a choice if this thing decides to fight."
Yoda's large green eyes turned towards Obi-Wan. "Padawan Kenobi, this chant, remember do you?"
"No, I am afraid not, Master," Obi-Wan bowed his apology. "It might be triggered again, but there's no guarantee."
"This has too many risks," Qui-Gon stepped forward, his anger unsheathed. "I do not believe the Council is thinking clearly, sending only three Jedi after this… demon, all the while, depending only on one to keep it at bay!"
"We understand the risks, Qui-Gon," Mace suddenly growled, his patience at its end. "But we have no choice. You will go and you will investigate. I believe I do not have to stress the importance of keeping a low profile while you are there. This is a fact finding mission, nothing more."
"And if this 'mission' finds us?"
Mace was cold. "Kill it if you have to. Injure it, if you can. Running is your first opinion."
()
Qui-Gon was not happy.
Even without the Force, that was evident. This mission, Obi-Wan thought, was stupid. They were going on a wild goose chase, improperly equip, and everyone was relying on the off-chance that Obi-Wan will remember the chant if push comes to shove.
However, they knew the Council could not provide more Jedi on this mission. A great famine had broken out in the Soone system and Jedi were sent to keep peace and order and protection while the Republic responded. And in a mission where silence was key, less Jedi the better.
Still, Obi-Wan thought as he steered the ship into the planet's cold atmosphere, this was such bull.
The Force swirled around them and it spoke in hushed anxiety. Not exactly a warning, and Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon could feel it too. Something was going to happen on that planet.
They docked the ship. As Qui-Gon reached up to switch off the power, he said, "Be on your guard, Obi-Wan."
Like he needed reminding.
Knight Shoures greeted them as they exited the ship. He was a rather short human, with almond shaped eyes and deep black hair. He was not dressed as a Jedi, his identity hidden from public view. Only the silver saber hanging off his hip gave any indication who he was.
Obi-Wan was relieved to feel no danger from him, no hint of evil. There was, however, a tiredness in his eyes. "Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi," Shoures bowed to them.
"Knight Shoures," Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed back.
Shoures sighed. "I must apologize immediately to the both of you. I am afraid I brought you two here on false pretenses." He looked around the bustling landing strip, wary of the walking passengers and working crews. "May we speak in a much more private setting?"
()
The boy was perhaps only seven years old. He ignored the Jedi in the room and kept his whole attention on the coloring utensils before him, and scribbled on the giant sheet of paper before him. His mother looked on from another room, quietly watched him play.
"His name is Ah-pril," Shoures explained to Qui-Gon. "He is eight. He likes to draw and play with his stuffed animals. His father was killed a few months ago by drug raiders and hasn't spoken since. Healers can't find what's wrong with him."
Cute kid, Obi-Wan observed. His heart went out for the boy.
Shoures pulled out a folded piece of paper and gave it to Qui-Gon. "I'm not the one who saw the smoke. Ah-pril did."
The yellow piece of paper was full of black lines and circles, but it was obvious what the drawing was. A stick figure was in the corner of the paper, his mouth opened, blackness spewing from inside.
"Why did you not tell the Council the truth?" Qui-Gon asked as he passed back the drawing.
"Ah-pril does not do well with strangers," Shoures explained. "I was afraid the Council, in fear of this smoke, would force my hand to interrogate this child." He shook his head. "Ah-pril has been through so much already. I will not force any mind scans on him."
"Your protection of the boy is commendable," Qui-Gon chastised softly. "But the Council will not look upon your lying lightly."
Shoures pleaded, "Master Jinn, please. I know what I did, but that's neither here nor there. I was hoping you could help him without resorting to the Force."
Qui-Gon observed Ah-pril. The boy kept drawing, oblivious to the serious discussion about him less than fifteen feet away. Qui-Gon then turned to Obi-Wan, smirked, clapped a hand on his shoulder and said, "Go talk to him."
Obi-Wan didn't care much for children and he absolutely hated crèche duty. So he wasn't really surprised that Qui-Gon passed this over onto him. His Master had a dry sense of humor.
Taking a breath to calm himself, Obi-Wan walked into the play room. He watched Ah-pril draw for a few seconds and then sat down across from him.
"Hi there," Obi-Wan said softly. "I'm Obi-Wan. Nice to meet you."
Ah-pril didn't even look up.
"Don't want to talk? That's cool. I understand that. Do you mind?" Obi-Wan reached over and took one of the blank pieces of paper and one of the coloring utensils. "I used to draw a lot when I was a kid but I was never very good at it."
Ah-pril did not respond.
Something about this was all so very familiar. Obi-Wan couldn't place his finger on it.
"You know, Ah-pril, I heard you saw something. Something bad. And I know it must be hard for you talk about it out loud. You don't have to, y'know? You can draw me a picture."
When Ah-pril didn't acknowledge him, Obi-wan shrugged. "I guess my drawing skills still suck. Wanna look?" He gently pushed the drawing towards him. He pointed. "These are my friends. This is Bant, my best friend. Garen, my other best friend. And-"
Sammy. My geeky little brother.
"-Qui-Gon, my teacher. That's me in the middle."
Nothing. Not even a twitch. Even more, the drawing was crap. Ah-pril drew better than him.
"Consider my drawing a gift," Obi-Wan said as he stood up. Though he really didn't expect Ah-pril to talk to him, it still felt like a kick to the gut that the kid didn't even acknowledge his presence. Obi-Wan hoped his Master had a better go at it.
He turned when he felt a small tug on his cloak. Ah-pril's head was down, said not a word as he passed Obi-Wan one drawing. Before Obi-Wan could even voice his thanks, Ah-pril sat back down in his chair, as if nothing had occurred.
Obi-Wan looked at the drawing. Held it up so Qui-Gon and Shoures could see. "Do you know where this place is?"
The drawing was of a building. The only thing that was distinctive about it was the blue neon sign in the top right corner.
Shoures nodded. "It's in the middle of low level markets. Ah-pril passes this area everyday to get to school."
()
Obi-Wan felt a little weird to be out of his usual Jedi garb. The thick cloak and black boots he wore was heavier than he was used to and he wondered if the cloak would interfere with him grabbing his saber.
Shoures wore goggles that covered most of his face as he navigated through the crowd. Up ahead, Obi-Wan could see the blue neon sign from Ah-pril's drawing. He shared a glance with Qui-Gon and with a nod, moved closer to Shoures, kept their guard up.
They stopped in front of the building with the blue sign, the smell of cooked meat wafting from the restaurant inside. "There's too many people here out on the street," Shoures pointed down the alley. "Ah-pril might've seen the smoke coming from the alley."
Obi-Wan wondered what happened to the possessed person in Ah-pril's drawing. Was (s)he dead? Did anybody report a missing person and if the victim lived, where did (s)he go?
The alley opened into the back streets of the market, where workers dropped off their trash from the buildings. Beyond a few stray animals, the alleys were empty and devoid of any sign of evil. "For Ah-pril to have seen anything, it should be near the street. Do you see any blood?"
"Just trash," Qui-Gon said, pushing aside a few trash cans to look at the walls. "I sense nothing here."
Obi-Wan kicked an empty can out of his way. He sensed nothing too and wondered if Ah-pril lied to him. He was about to make that suggestion to the others when something on the ground caught his attention.
Obi-Wan pushed away a sloshed rag away to get a better look. It looked like a constellation was hastily scratched on the ground. It was probably only chicken scratches but now that his curiosity had been peaked, Obi-Wan began to clear away the surrounding area.
Lines grew bigger, connected to other lines, other symbols. Most of it was faded, washed away, but there was enough to give Obi-Wan a general idea what it looked like before.
"What is that?" Shoures breathed as Obi-Wan stepped back, tossing aside the last bit of garbage.
An elaborate five pointed star had been scratched onto the ground. A large circle ensnared the star while small unknown sigils were in between the spaces.
Obi-Wan traced the symbols with his fingers, frustration boiling inside of him. I know this. I know this, I know this, I know this…
He waited for something to happen. A vision, a voice, anything to stop this irritable familiarity. It was right at the tip of his tongue, at the edge of his consciousness, and it was just right out of his grasp.
"Calm yourself," Qui-Gon commanded.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I've seen this before," he muttered once he was calm. "I just don't know where."
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon squatted down next to him and asked softly, "Is this connected to the smoke?"
He didn't know how he knew. "Yes."
"How do you know that?" Shoures demanded.
Qui-Gon held up a hand, silencing him. "Do you know it is called?"
Obi-Wan licked his lips. It was called… it was called… "Devil's trap."
Qui-Gon's voice was low and smooth and commanding. He asked and Obi-Wan responded. "What's it used for?"
"Trapping demons. Keeping them stationary until exorcism." He spoke not of his own accord and he allowed it. He needed to know, despite how terrified he felt.
"Do the victims live?"
"Only the strong ones."
Qui-Gon lowered his voice almost to a whisper and asked, "What is your name?"
It was on that question that broke the soft spell over Obi-Wan. He gasped, and jerked away from the trap, falling back on his behind. "Holy crap!"
Qui-Gon raised his eyebrow at this and said nothing as he helped Obi-Wan back onto his feet. Shoures stepped forward and took a picture of the trap. "So now we have two people to find," he said. "The one who was trapped inside, and the one who drew it."
"Three," Qui-Gon said. "The person who is channeling this information through Obi-Wan. Whoever he is, I don't think he means harm." The last bit he said mostly to Obi-Wan, to reassure him.
Obi-Wan didn't feel reassured. Because it didn't feel like someone from the outside was feeding him mental clues. He had experienced that before, he'd knew what it felt like. This was different. It was inside of him, deep and buried.
It was time to have a serious discussion with Qui-Gon.
()
A/N: Writing Yoda is such a pain. Not because writing how he talks is hard, but because he is wise and mystic, trying to keep something mysterious from a guy who apparently knows everything is a little hard to get around. Ah well…
I am so surprised by how many people is digging this fic! Hee hee hee! R/R, peeps!