The young boy turned, and placed his hand into the outstretched
one offered. Obi-Wan froze as sudden, brutal images assaulted
him. The swing of a red beam toward him, slashing at him
through the air, his distress as palpable as reality. He saw a
dark cloak, a black armour of rubber and metal, and a helmet,
large and empowering. And again he saw the beam of deadly light
swing across his body, connecting this time with his soul....
Breathing rapid, Obi-Wan pulled back, wide eyes staring at the
innocent child before him. His master was asking something in a
tone of part concern, part anger. The anger lanced across their
bond, making Obi-Wan look up momentarily in confusion. And what
he saw in Qui-Gon's eyes frightened him more than any vision.
He stood and turned, hurrying out with as much grace as he
could while his world shattered around him.
They did not speak until they reached Coruscant. As soon as
they disembarked, Qui-Gon requested an audience with the
council. Obi-Wan stood at his side, unusually subdued and
tightly shielded against his master's probing gazes. Qui-Gon
told them of the Sith, and they were rightly concerned. But the
master's greater obsession was with the boy he had freed from
slavery on Tatooine. As Yoda and Qui-Gon spoke, Obi-Wan could
feel the images once more trying to push through his mental
blockade. He swayed slightly, dizziness and nausea rising from
nowhere and swamping him. He blinked, trying to bring himself
back into balance, but to no avail.
Desperately, he dropped his mental shields as his body finally
collapsed.
Qui-Gon felt the stab of fear and pain and turned to his
Padawan in shock as Obi-Wan crumpled. With lightening speed,
the Master caught him, lowering them both gently to the floor.
Yoda was with them in a moment, touching his fingers to
Obi-Wan's forehead. The young apprentice was oblivious to the
shallow probing of his mind as Yoda found the source of the
young man's upset.
Wide, bright, alien eyes fell on Qui-Gon as the Jedi Master saw
for the first time what his student had read in Anakin. "This
boy, deadly he is." The usually soft spoken voice was hard,
angry that a Padawan had had to come close to collapse before
his master saw a problem. "Blinded you have been."
"Obi...." Qui-Gon shifted his student in his arms, stroking his
fingers over the pale face.
"Seen his own death he has. Die he will, at the hand of your
discovery." Qui-Gon could feel Yoda's anger. The council had
always treasured Obi-Wan, for reasons Qui-Gon did not fully
understand but would willingly accept. He too treasured his
beloved Padawan. By the Force, what had he been about to do?
"I would have abandoned Obi-Wan to train the boy," Qui-Gon
admitted quietly, hardly able to believe his own words. "I
don't...."
"Powerful, the boy is. Train him we must, but not you. Obi-Wan
you must remain with. Protect him you must, a destiny he has.
Train the boy the council will, as one. Rein him in we might."
Qui-Gon nodded, his eyes not leaving Obi-Wan's face. "I must
take him to our quarters."
Yoda nodded. "Recover quickly, he shall. Concerned for you he
was."
The Master lifted his student easily in his arms and stood,
nodding respectfully as he took his leave of the council. With
dark eyes, Mace Windu watched him go.
"Started, it has." Yoda stated sadly.
"It cannot be stopped." Windu shook his head. "Kenobi must be
protected."
Yoda nodded thoughtfully. "A painful journey ahead of him there
is."
"Qui-Gon will be there for him."
Yoda's ears lowered in the sadness of foresight. "As will I."
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