I've been very busy, but wanted to post a chapter. Its short, but hopefully the next one will be longer, thanks for reading and as always look forward to comments and reviews.
000
Bruck could barely contain his elation, finding out that his nemesis was finally dead. It took all his resolve to act like the grieving padawan at a service held in memory of all the Agri-Corps workers who died including Kenobi.
Bruck had the master he'd always wanted, but the master in question didn't live up to Bruck's expectations and as the months dragged past he grew dissatisfied at the thought of being a Jedi apprentice and obeying Jinn's rules.
He became bored with the training and Qui-Gon's penchant for discipline. All Qui-Gon spoke about was living in the moment and serving the force, but Jinn dwelled in the past and Bruck felt his resentment grow and laughed at Qui-Gon's attempt to make him into a prim and proper Jedi.
He spent his spare time in the archives learning about his hereditary and found that his Father was a wealthy official on Telos his home planet. Wealth and power; that scenario agreed with him more than serving the republic and the Jedi council.
The archives not only held data about the galaxy, but the blueprints and diagrams of every room and corridor of the temple.
Holodiscs and rows of computers were there for any Jedi's use, but Bruck was more interested in the secret storage rooms holding valuable holocrons and artefacts that if he could get his hands on them he'd sell them.
His thirst for wealth saw him break into the lower levels to access the vaults where the Jedi valuables were stored. He thought it would be easy to open them, but the codes were too hard for him to break.
While researching his own files he discovered a contact number for his father Treasurer Chun. Bruck sent him messages, but his father wouldn't take his calls and delving deeper into the family history he found out his cowardly father used his mother as a shield in a burglary of their home and in consequence she was killed.
His rage caused him to feel nothing but contempt for the man and swore that when he went home to Telos he would kill his father.
Bruck couldn't control his impatience and decided to use explosives to open the vaults where the Jedi treasures would be easy pickings. He set a plan in motion and had a speeder hidden in the lower levels. All he had to do was steal the valuables and load them in bags attached to the speeder and flee the temple.
However, sensors in the archives and corridors activated an alarm when the explosives failed to detonate properly.
When they discovered it was Bruck, they chased him through the tunnels into the city and into a deserted factory not far from the temple.
Bruck knew this part of the city well as he'd spent many hours exploring all the tunnels. He'd ridden his speeder through them many times and assumed he had the perfect escape plan, but first he wanted to lure Qui-Gon into the factory and kill him.
As Qui-Gon approached he knew he'd failed Bruck, but he certainly didn't want him to blow himself up. He noticed more explosives lying all around the walls and he called out to Bruck to surrender.
"Bruck let me help you, why are you doing this? What do you hope to achieve with all these explosives. Put them down and come back to the temple with me. Don't throw your life away."
Bruck laughed. "Ha, I don't need your help, and I hope to achieve my goal with these explosives and rid myself of you. I don't want to serve the republic and my plan is to be powerful and succeed where Kenobi didn't and I'm going to make sure you join him!"
Qui-Gon felt a warning as Bruck threw the sticks of dynamite as he drove the speeder further into the factory. Qui-Gon knew he couldn't save him and he used the Force and hurried out of the building as it exploded.
The building shook as Qui-Gon rolled across the ground. Glancing back the whole factory lit up in flames as gas lines underneath ignited; adding to the inferno. Several factories behind burst into flames and collapsed as a hole in the ground swallowed them.
It took several days to sift through the rubble, as most of the factory collapsed into the underground storage tunnels and the only thing they found was Bruck's melted light sabre next to melted pieces of the speeder.
Qui-Gon couldn't sense Bruck's aura and after extensive searching he was declared dead, as his body would have disintegrated in the heat that followed the explosion.
000
Master Durron felt rejuvenated having such a willing student who settled in to his new position with vigour and excitement.
He enjoyed teaching this young Jedi and he knew without a doubt that Obi-Wan was a Jedi whether the order thought so or not.
He gave him instructions and demonstrated the moves slowly as he was unable to perform them himself due to his age and then Obi-Wan practiced with guidance from his master.
For two years Obi-Wan, worked hard and became quite proficient with a sabre and with a blaster and in between flying the Sun Seeker, training and study, Master Durron had time to tell Obi-Wan stories of his younger days as a Jedi.
"We travelled the galaxy righting wrongs and preventing cruelty. In those days the Jedi were revered, they were looked upon as saviours. However, times have changed and the Jedi have become puppets to the politicians. Many Masters argued that we were losing our identity, and forsaking the innocent people of the republic."
"Is that why you left the temple Master?"
"Yes, when I finished training my sixth padawan, I decided it was time to retire and I told Master Yoda I was leaving. He knew I was dissatisfied with the direction the order was taking, however he convinced me to accompany him on a training vessel for six months hoping that I'd change my mind."
"You worked with Master Yoda?"
"I wouldn't call it work Obi-Wan, it was very similar to my position here on the Sun Seeker. I piloted a Jedi cruiser called The Discovery. Yoda and I chaperoned young knights with their first padawan's to uninhabited planets to explore and spend time alone getting to know each other and commune with the Force."
"What did you and Master Yoda do while they were on the planets?"
"We spent time in meditation, sparring and reminiscing about our previous padawan's."
"Master Yoda said he is eight hundred years old, he is a great teacher I suppose he had lots of padawan's?"
"You're right Obi-Wan, and I once asked him if he remembered all their names. He proceeded to name them all, beginning with his first; I believe she was his favourite, her name was Olean Marajo, who went on to train three her self."
"Master Yoda said that I was destined to be a Jedi, and I asked him if he would take me, but he said I was meant to be trained by another."
"Yes, I'm sure you don't understand why he said that yet, but when you have a greater understanding of the Force you will feel a connection and know when an initiate is intended for you."
Obi-Wan nodded, and wanted to tell him that he had felt a connection with Master Jinn, but he really didn't want to talk about how that turned out.
"When you finished your assignment on The Discovery, did you take another padawan?"
"I did Obi-Wan, and that apprentice gave me a renewed zest for life and convinced me that there is hope for the future; he is my legacy."
"May I ask what his name is?"
"His name is Obi-Wan Kenobi; 'you' give me hope for the future Obi-Wan. I know it and one day the Jedi order will know it too."
A blush rose to colour his cheeks. "I am grateful that you believe in me Master, and I will always be indebted to you for your kindness." He said and smiled.
"You have come a long way since that first day when I saw you and realised that you weren't meant to be on Thyferra. Are you happy that you came with me?"
"I am and I know in my heart and soul that I want to be like you described, 'a servant of the people'. I've met so many beings in our travels that don't know what its like; who haven't been blessed with the force. I'll never believe that I was given this gift; to do nothing with it." Obi-Wan admitted.
000
Their final destination was Chandrila. A lush picturesque world, committed to growing crops to feed the entire planet and it was also the home of the largest ship refitting plant in the sector.
The Sun Seeker was being refitted and it would be out of action for a year on Chandrila and all the exploration students were disembarking there and were being assigned to other vessels and most of the crew were joining other ships as well.
"Obi-Wan, we will arrive on Chandrila in a week and I would like to know your thoughts on returning to the temple with me, how would you feel about that?"
Master Durron was planning to contact Yoda, and request for he and his padawan to return to the temple to complete Obi-Wan's training.
He was old and nearing the end of his life, but before he returned to the Force he wanted to make sure Obi-Wan realised his dream of becoming a knight.
He knew that once Obi-Wan was a registered padawan they would make sure his training was completed even if he couldn't finish it.
"To Coruscant; they won't accept me back will they?" Obi-Wan asked in a withdrawn voice.
"I am a Jedi master and you have been with me for two years, I will register you as my apprentice when we reach Chandrila. I have accepted you and they will accept you too."
A smile lit up his young charge's face, and Master Durron had his answer.
"I would be honoured to return with you Master."
"Excellent, I will contact Master Yoda when we reach Chandrila and make the arrangements Padawan."
Tbc…