[Jedi Apprentice] - 18(6)

Obi-Wan had felt frustrated lately, yes. But he did not wish to leave the Jedi path. He had done that once - and it had turned out to be the biggest mistake of his life. Still, there were times - especially when he felt he was not progressing - that he wondered where all of this hard work was leading him.





CHAPTER 4


Chairman Port led the Jedi into a building a short distance from his house. “This is our retirement complex. My mother lived here after she retired. Now she is dead. The room is empty,” he said. His voice registered no feeling.

“I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s passing,” Qui-Gon said gently. “Was it recent?”

“One month ago,” Port replied.

Qui-Gon noticed that Chairman Port’s antennae quivered slightly. “It is difficult to lose a parent.”

“Laborers do not last without work,” Port replied steadily. But he stopped outside the retirement complex, as if he were reluctant to go in. “Second floor. Third door on the right,” he said.

Pressing a key pass with access codes into Qui-Gon’s hand, he turned to go. “Tomorrow we will contact Vorzyd 5. Work must go on.”

As the door slid shut behind them, Qui-Gon heard a tapping in the corridor. Door lined halls stretched in all directions, and to the left a figure struggled toward them using a support. He waved to attract their attention. It was an elderly Vorzydiak.

“To work,” he called in a raspy voice. “Is the shuttle here? To work. ” Obi-Wan started toward the nearly crippled being, but Qui-Gon put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. The Vorzydiak turned and walked in the other direction, still rambling. He had not been talking to them. He was raving to no one in particular, and Qui-Gon knew there was nothing they could do to help.

Port’s mother’s room was as gloomy as the rest of the complex. But it held two sleep couches, and was certainly adequate for the Jedi. Obi-Wan paced the small space between the couches. Qui-Gon knew he had been waiting for a chance to speak. A year ago he would have shared his thoughts by now. But his Padawan was growing older, wiser. He was becoming a Jedi.

“Master, I do not think that Vorzyd 5 is responsible for today’s… mishap,” Obi-Wan said. “I do not know who is responsible, but we must not contact Vorzyd 5 until we have a clearer sense of what is going on.”

“Of course.” Qui-Gon nodded.

“I feel… I feel that all is not right on Vorzyd 4,” Obi-Wan continued. “There’s something more here, there’s some sort of… well, secret.”

Qui-Gon nodded again. He had sensed it, too, but had not realized it until Obi-Wan said it aloud. There was a secret on Vorzyd 4. They would have to proceed very carefully.

Qui-Gon lay down and breathed deeply. Beside him, Obi-Wan did the same. It had been a strange day and Qui-Gon looked forward to meditation. But even after several minutes of trying to relax, the deep calm that usually filled him did not come.

Instead his mind was filled with images of Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan as a boy in a practice duel with Jedi student Bruck Chun, letting his anger rather than his instincts direct him. Then an image of Obi-Wan when he had gone to help him on Melida/Daan, wounded, humble, and brave enough to face his mistakes - even if doing so meant never becoming a Jedi. The boy had grown so much in the last four years. More than getting stronger and taller, he was learning to trust himself, his instincts, and the Force.

Another image of Obi-Wan flashed in Qui-Gon’s mind. An older Obi-Wan, ready to begin the intensive path toward the trials. Soon he would be more man than boy. He would take the leap toward becoming a Jedi Knight.

Pride and sadness flooded Qui-Gon as he pictured Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. He looked forward to the day that the two of them would work side by side as Jedi Knights, but with this thought no image came. Qui-Gon’s chest tightened. He was so proud of Obi-Wan’s path, of his achievements. Why couldn’t he see him as a Knight? Perhaps I do not want to see the boy grow up, he thought.

The whir and click of the door forced the thought from Qui-Gon’s mind. His eyes flew open. Immediately he saw that the room was empty. Obi-Wan was gone.





CHAPTER 5


Obi-Wan moved silently down the hall toward the exit. Unlike his Master, he had been too restless to meditate. Though he sometimes wished he had Qui-Gon’s ability to calm his mind, he had learned when it was impossible and to simply accept it. There were times when it was best to put his energy to more active use.

The corridor in the retirement complex was dim and quiet, and Obi-Wan was almost through the door when a sound broke the silence. Startled, he turned on his heels. Was that laughter?