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Obi-Wan couldn't bear the thought of leaving. He didn't want to die. Not while his family still needed him, needed his help.
But it wasn't like he had a choice. He heard the doctors: internal bleeding, damaged organs, broken bones, cracked skull… even if he did live, he'll probably be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, eating through a tube.
Even more, he certainly can't bear the thought of having another hunter down the line, coming to salt and burn his bones. He killed ghosts, not become them.
Obi-Wan wanted to say goodbye, tell them something to reassure them, but Tessa's hand was becoming insistent. He had to make a decision now.
He was never given a chance.
Tessa's eyes went wide with fright and she screamed, "No! You can't do this!"
Black smoke entered the small hospital room and shoved its way into Tessa's mouth. Obi-Wan jumped back in fear.
Tessa twisted around. Her eyes were yellow. "Kid," she sneered. "Today is your lucky day."
Obi-Wan woke with a start. He looked at the time and saw he was barely out for an hour and he let his head dropped.
What the hell was that?
Did he just see someone, this Tessa, be possessed? Even more, who was she talking to? To him?
Suddenly Obi-Wan was second-guessing himself. He'd been toying with the idea that these were repressed memories. Maybe he saw or read something and in fear, locked it away inside his head. He wasn't always protected by Jedi and it was a real possibility he could've learned that exorcism chant and the devil's trap from somewhere, from someone.
But now this… vision? This memory? He certainly wasn't hospitalized on the brink of death, nor did he know anyone by the name Tessa.
Then there was the possession. Lin's eyes were black, not yellow. And this demon knew him. Or at least knew of him.
Exactly what was he seeing? His memories, or someone else's? Is it really deep inside of him, or was there another force, someone or something out there, feeding this to him? And for what?
Two knocks on his door interrupted his thoughts. "Obi-Wan, you're awake?"
Qui-Gon. "Yes, Master."
The door slid opened and Qui-Gon raised his hand to halt Obi-Wan's movements to get off the bed. The young Jedi sat back down, moved over to give room. Qui-Gon sat down next to him. "How do you feel?"
Confused out of my damn mind, is what he wanted to say. Instead, he admitted, "Tired."
Qui-Gon cocked his head at him. "That's not all, is it?"
"Conflicted," he admitted. "Confused."
"Conflicted?"
"Master, were there other Force users in my family?"
"You believe these visions are coming from someone you're related to?"
"They're not visions," Obi-Wan stated. They weren't his own memories, but he wouldn't dare call them visions. "They feel too… personal to be visions. I believe they're memories of a family member."
"Interesting theory," Qui-Gon moved more onto the bed, draped an arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Of course when the Jedi collected you from your parents, they did the usual background check. Mostly for medical reasons, but I don't believe there is anything in your records stating you have a relative with Force abilities."
"An obscure aunt? A great-great grandfather who ran off with the maid?"
"I do not know, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "Perhaps. It's not as if we checked every possible relative you have. It is something to inquire about."
"Were you able to get in contact with Coruscant?"
Qui-Gon shook his head. "Canter is infamous for its unpredictable electrical storms. It may be days before we can get in contact with the Council."
And as if on cue, the lights above them flicked on and off.
Qui-Gon chuckled. "You see?" He frowned suddenly and turned his head back towards the door. He pulled his arm away from Obi-Wan.
"Master?" Then Obi-Wan smelled it. Sulfur.
Shoures' Force signature was screaming in distress.
Saber in hand, Qui-Gon opened the door just in time to watch the remains of black smoke force its way down Shoures' throat.
Qui-Gon didn't hesitate. He turned on his saber and launched himself at Shoures, intent to kill. Before Qui-Gon's blade could even connect, Qui-Gon was sent flying and he slammed into the walls. He did not collapse to the floor. Instead, he remained on the wall, a good five feet above the floor, his arms and legs pinned. "Obi-Wan, run!"
"Nuh-huh!" Shoures switched on his saber and pointed it at Qui-Gon's throat. "Run little Jedi and your Master dies."
Obi-Wan held his saber at the ready, waiting desperately for that chant to come to him. He kept repeating omnis over and over again, hoping it'll spark something. Nothing happened. "You will let us go."
"Not until I get some answers," Shoures sneered. "And don't act so superior towards me. You know I could kill both of you in a blink of an eye."
He could. Obi-Wan knew he could. "I have nothing of value to give."
"Do you?" The demon said, his hold on Qui-Gon unwavering. Qui-Gon struggled against his invisible bonds, unable to do no more than twitch and jerk. "That exorcism chant back on Coruscant. How do you know it?"
Obi-Wan frowned at him. "How did-"
"Our lines of communication are better than yours. I know for a fact that out of the dozens and dozens of Jedi that were there, you were the only who was tapped. Why?"
"I don't know."
Shoures growled and jerked his saber towards Qui-Gon's arm. "Lie to me again and I'll start chopping off limbs. How did you know that chant?"
"I'm not lying. I don't know."
The demon narrowed his eyes at him, assessing him. "And your friend? Where does he fit in all of this?"
Qui-Gon had his eyes closed. From behind Shoures' back, a large piece of furniture was slowly rising off the ground.
Obi-Wan was confused. "Friend? Who are you talking about?"
"Don't play stupid, kid! I'm talking about that blue-eyed freak with-"
He grunted as the large dresser drawer slammed into him, sandwiching him against the wall. Qui-Gon dropped immediately, summoned his saber to his hand and both he and Obi-Wan took off running.
They burst out the front door, and went straight for the emergency exit. From behind, Obi-Wan could hear the demon screaming at them. "Where are we going?" Obi-Wan said as they threw themselves over the edge of the stairs.
"We must draw the Devil's Trap and lure him in!"
They dropped down eight floors. They scared the pants off a poor old woman when they landed and Qui-Gon screamed at her, "Get inside your apartment!"
They dashed out the exit door and into the back alleys. They didn't slow in their running, hoping to put distance between them and the demon to give them enough time to draw the trap.
"Here!" Qui-Gon halted and turned on his saber. He swirled, cutting a circle into the ground. Obi-Wan began to draw the sigils surrounding the circle as Qui-Gon drew the pentagon inside.
They finished just in time to jump back and watched the demon comically run right into the trap.
Shoures struck an invisible wall and fell back. He stared dumbstruck at the floor, then shifted his black gaze to them, his nostrils flaring. "I'm going to gut you two for this."
Qui-Gon was not intimidated. "Release Shoures. Now."
The demon grinned. "No."
Obi-Wan stepped forward. "Do it now or else I begin chanting."
"You don't remember it."
"It'll come to me. And then I'll send your worthless ass back to hell."
He had to fight to keep the shock look off his face. He wasn't expecting to say that. He didn't even know what it meant.
Shoures bared his teeth at him. "You little liar!" He snarled. "Tell me, Obi-Wan, how much do you know? No, here's a better question: how much are you aware of? Because it looks to me, all the information I need is simply locked away in that little mind of yours. I'm going to enjoy making you scream."
"Christo!"
The demon flinched. "That's not very nice."
"Does it look like I care?"
"Obi-Wan, calm down!" Qui-Gon grabbed his apprentice by the shoulder and pulled him back. "Do not forget, Shoures is still inside of him."
The demon began giggling. "Oh, so now you care what happens to this meatsuit? I recall only a moment ago you throwing a dresser at me. You broke seven of Shoures' ribs and his arm."
Obi-Wan looked down at Shoures' arm and though it was hard to tell through his clothing, indeed Obi-Wan could see the arm bent at an angle. "You're not in pain?"
"I'm not. He is."
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged uneasy looks. Shoures will understand it was necessary what they did, but the idea of one of their own in such pain because of them…
"You want to know another secret?" Shoures said softly. "The trap only works if it's unbroken."
The ground suddenly shook violently beneath them. Windows from all sides shattered, grime filtered down on them, and at the height of the shaking, a large ordained crack split the pentagram down in half.
The shaking stopped abruptly and before either of them could make a move, the demon shot up his hands.
Both Jedi flew back, slamming into the sides of the building. Qui-Gon cracked his head against the stone walls and when he crumpled to the floor, he did not get back up.
Stars exploded in Obi-Wan's vision and he fought to keep his eyes open. Dazed, he watched Shoures step out of the trap with ease. "Points for effort," he grinned.
A fist connected with Obi-Wan's jaw and he felt his lip split, tasted blood. He tried to brace for the onslaught, get his bearings long enough to concentrate on summoning his saber. He cried out when Shoures leaned over him, sunk his teeth in and ripped out a chunk of flesh.
"Tasty!" Shoures giggled, blood dripping down his front. "Oh, don't fall unconscious now. We've just barely started!"
Weary, Obi-Wan lifted his head.
A man was standing right behind Shoures.
Black hair, blue eyes, was all Obi-Wan's mind could register when the man's hand clamped down on Shoures' shoulder.
Shoures threw his head back and screamed, a bright white light erupting from his eyes and mouth. The light ended and Shoures dropped to the floor.
Darkness was edging on Obi-Wan's vision. "Who are you?" He demanded.
The man said nothing. He was too busy staring at the broken Devil's Trap and threw Obi-Wan a curious look.
"Dean," he said.
