The next day started normal. Obi-Wan left the food hall, parting from Bant as she went one way for her class, and he started for the training room. He was looking forward to working with Qui-Gon again. He turned the corner and barely managed to keep from running into a tall Knight, and she regarded him with distaste. "You are Obi-Wan Kenobi," she said, and he took a second look at her, his mouth half open to apologize.
The expression of disapproval she aimed at him was familiar. It was a moment before he recognized her as the Foilani woman that had stopped at the table in the Food hall where he'd been sitting with Bant his first full day back at the Temple. "Yes, Master," he said. "I apologize for interrupting your walk." He felt uncomfortable, and longed to get out from under her gaze. He began to move around her. She grabbed his arm, pulling him around to face her.
"You will destroy us," she hissed at him, and Obi-Wan jerked back away from her, but he was unable to free himself. The Force began to swirl around them, dark and menacing, and he pulled harder, the familiar panic filling his mind again. Her grip tightened painfully, her face contorting into a snarl. "You should have remained useless. You should not be allowed to pass the trials, Obi-Wan. You will destroy the Jedi." She sounded so certain, so sure, but the darkness around them made him uneasy.
Obi-Wan continued to pull, trying to get away, eyes focused beyond her, looking for help. He could see Qui-Gon striding down the hall toward them, face set in anger, his hand on the hilt of his lightsaber. To Obi-Wan's surprise, the woman let him go then, and he stumbled away from her and went down. The next instant her lightsaber was ignited and sweeping down toward him. He managed to get his own lightsaber up to block hers, and he was actually afraid she would press them both into him. He wasn't strong enough to keep her blade off of him if she pressed it. He squirmed away when she increased the pressure on the locked blades, and tilted his lightsaber just enough so that her's slid down and gouged the floor to the left side of his face. The blades were near enough that his cheek burned from the heat. "I will make sure you do not destroy us," she hissed as she raised her lightsaber again, the Force swirling darkly around him even more, then someone hit him with a Force push and he slid down the hall away from her and away from Master Jinn. He hit something that stopped him, and he frantically deactivated his lightsaber.
Someone clasped his elbow and he glanced up to see that it was Master Windu helping him to his feet. Before he could even be surprised, the clash of blades brought his attention back to where he'd last seen the Foilani. Qui-Gon had gotten past the other Knight, positioning himself between her and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, still off balance from standing and leaning into the support on his elbow, could not see how the battle was going. Qui-Gon's broad shoulders blocked it from his view. He had enough sense to wonder how bad this really was, that Jedi had drawn on Jedi, and in the Temple. Then Qui-Gon stepped to the side to avoid a blow, and all of those thoughts fled Obi-Wan's mind until he realized that the Foilani was trying to kill Master Jinn. She was angry, and the resultant darkening of the Force was so strong that he could feel it from where he was.
Suddenly, she blocked Qui-Gon's lightsaber, knocking it high before her blade dove in and burned his shoulder. He flinched, the material where she'd hit him darkening, but the move cost her. With one hand, Qui-Gon used the Force to knock her feet out from under her just as his blade crashed into hers. She fell. When her arm hit the floor, her lightsaber was knocked from her hand and extinguished. With an absent gesture, Qui-Gon called her lightsaber to his hand.
Obi-Wan hadn't noticed that Master Windu had kept a hand on his elbow once he'd gotten his balance, but he did now as the taller man steered him down the hall toward the fallen Jedi and the man who stood over her. "Nicely done," the Council member said.
Qui-Gon tossed the captured lightsaber to Master Windu, who clipped it on his belt next to his own as they reached the larger man. "Thanks," Qui-Gon said, and shut down his own blade as he turned his attention to Obi-Wan. "Are you alright, Padawan?"
The question made him freeze. He stared in disbelief at the larger Jedi, only to be distracted by a cry of anger from the Jedi on the floor at his feet. Her fingers brushed Obi-Wan's boot as Qui-Gon pulled him roughly away from her, and he heard Master Windu's lightsaber ignite. Stumbling forward, he barely managed not to run into the man who had called him... "S-sir?" he stuttered, confused, not so sure he'd heard correctly.
"If you'll allow it," Qui-Gon said gently, "the correct term would be Master."
The whole situation didn't seem to want to penetrate. First, he'd been so sure he'd never be chosen Padawan again. Second, that Qui-Gon, who he knew didn't want a Padawan, had chosen him... But the hope he thought he'd lost leaped into his throat suddenly, and he felt his heart pounding. "Yes," he said. "Yes, Master." Qui-Gon smiled with what Obi-Wan, had he not been so stunned, would have called relief.
"Qui-Gon," Master Windu said. "Yoda would like you and Obi-Wan to meet with him in the Council chamber now, please." He grimaced. "I was on my way to find Di'ona, and decided to stop by your training room to let you know of Yoda's summons as well."
Still reeling, Obi-Wan fell into step behind Qui-Gon, returning his lightsaber to his belt, and followed him past the downed Knight. He watched the woman warily, almost afraid that she'd try something else. "You will destroy us," she hissed again, but didn't move, probably because Master Windu's purple lightsaber rested too near her throat.
The Council chamber was not empty. In fact, it appeared that the Council was in full session, with the exception of Master Windu. Master Yoda seemed to smile at Obi-Wan before turning his attention to the three men standing to one side, watched over by Master Saesee Tiin and most of the rest of the Council, none of them in their seats except Master Yoda. Obi-Wan recognized the Knights and had to fight not to cringe under their combined glares. As it was, he slowed, hesitant to come too close to them. "Undo you must, what you have done," Yoda said, his attention on Obi-Wan's three former Masters. It was all Obi-Wan could do not to start shaking, and he gripped his sleeves in his hands to keep it from being obvious.
"It's not possible," Master Sorin said angrily.
"I will not," Master Toman said, and there was so much animosity in the glare he shot Obi-Wan that Obi-Wan reflexively recoiled and half raised one arm in defense.
Yoda hit the edge of his chair with his gimer stick; the sound caused all three to start. "Antagonize the Padawan you will not," he said severely. "Proof of Di'ona's claim have you not. Undo what you have done."
In the silence that followed, Obi-Wan let his arm fall again, but he did not move any closer to his new Master. He glanced at Qui-Gon, afraid that something his former Masters might say would change his mind, and his own hopes would be dashed again.
"It's not possible without a training bond," Master Denk said finally, and flinched as the other two glowered at him.
"Tell the boy's new Master you must, what he should do."
The three Knights started and stared at Qui-Gon. "Did you doubt he would be taken again?" Qui-Gon asked softly, stepping toward Obi-Wan. "There is nothing lazy or disobedient about Obi-Wan. He works hard and has done everything I asked of him. He is slow to trust, yes, but that is more your fault than any fault of his own. He is my Padawan, and I will see him knighted." When he finished, he put a hand on Obi-Wan's right shoulder.
Obi-Wan stared up at his new Master, relieved at the weight on his shoulder. ‘Nearly certain,' he'd said earlier. Did that mean he'd become completely certain it was nothing he'd done? It seemed so; Qui-Gon had asked him to be his Padawan. It still amazed him. It had been clear for as long as he could remember that the Master was not interested in taking a Padawan.
"It should have been Di'ona," Toman spat. "She would have kept him from destroying everything."
The gimer stick slapped against the chair again. "Proof you have not," Yoda said evenly.
Obi-Wan grew more and more confused. He felt that there was information he'd missed, and it was vital if he was to understand. He was also dismayed to realize that his shields had decayed again, and that everyone - including his former Masters - knew exactly how frightened he was. There was no way he was going to let any of his former Masters into his head, even if Master Yoda ordered him to, even if it meant he had to live with whatever bombs were left in his head. They would not get in. They'd done enough damage.
"Master Yoda," Qui-Gon said suddenly, and he gently squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulder. "If I may?"
"Yes, Master Qui-Gon."
"My Padawan is growing more and more confused, and he is... uncomfortable in the presence of these men. It may take some time before he is comfortable enough to be around them. May he be dismissed?"
Yoda nodded slowly. "In the antechamber he may wait."
Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. "It will be okay," he said. "They will not hurt you again."
Obi-Wan nodded, his mouth dry, and bowed to the remaining council members. Then he left the chamber. He was old enough not to need that kind of reassurance, but he was glad of it anyway.
As soon as the door shut, he sagged weakly against the wall. It had all happened so fast, and he wasn't even sure what exactly had happened. Well, okay, he knew he'd become Padawan to Qui-Gon Jinn. He'd focus on that, and worry about the rest of it later.
Obi-Wan pushed away from the wall and sank down in one of the seats that lined both sides of the room. He figured it would take a while before Qui-Gon - his Master - came out of the Council chambers, and so he closed his eyes and meditated, working to calm the fear that still raged in him. He'd reached an acceptable state and was working on rebuilding his crumbled shields when he heard someone call his name. Working his way out of his trance, he opened his eyes to see his Master, who smiled gently at him. He stood, wavering on unsteady legs, and Qui-Gon took his arm to keep him from falling over.
"Obi-Wan. This is going to take longer than we thought. Go and pack your things, then go to housing to be reassigned to my quarters," Qui-Gon said. "I will join you there as soon as I may."
"Yes, Master," he said.
Qui-Gon let him go and turned back to the Council chambers, and as soon as he was gone, Obi-Wan left the ante-chamber and made his way, dazed, to his own room.
He didn't get there before Bant and Garen cornered him. "You didn't meet us for dinner," Bant said as she fell into step on his right side.
"My Master heard you were fighting in the hallway this afternoon," Garen said. "Bant doesn't believe it."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I was."
Bant grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. "What?" she demanded. "Obi-Wan, if you were serious about being sent to the Agri-Corps, that's one way to get sent there!"
"Remember that Foilani woman at lunch the other day?" Obi-Wan said.
"Yeah," she said warily.
"She attacked me." He gripped his sleeves again. "Can I explain when we get to my room? I have to pack, and I might as well do that while I'm trying to explain what I don't even understand that much."
Bant's large eyes filled with tears. "You have to pack?" she asked. "Are you going away?"
He smiled slightly. "No, not really." He took her arm and pulled her into step beside him, continuing their walk. "Don't worry, Bant. It all worked out." But he shuddered.
"Are you sure?" Garen asked from his other side. "You look spooked."
"I am." And he said no more until they were in his room, the door firmly shut, and he was carefully packing his clothes. While he did, he told them what had happened.
With interruptions.
"She said you'd destroy the Jedi?" Garen demanded.
"She drew on you?" Bant said at almost the same time. Obi-Wan paused, turning to face them.
"Before either of you ask, no, I don't know why. I didn't understand what was going on in the Council room after...." He suddenly grinned. "I forgot the most important part," he said, almost shyly. "I'm Padawan again, and the Council approved."
"To whom?" Bant demanded, but Garen just smiled huge.
"He did it. My Master said he would, eventually. Qui-Gon Jinn took another Padawan."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I never thought...." he started, but whatever words he might have found were drowned out by the shouts of enthusiasm from his friends.
They remained enthusiastic, although quieter, as they accompanied him to the housing office. Bant was practically glowing, she was so happy, and Garen couldn't stop talking about how wonderful it was. They both quieted, though, when Obi-Wan stepped hesitantly into housing, pushing him in when he paused. "May I help you?" a Knight asked, appearing from another room.
"I was told to be reassigned to Master Jinn's quarters," Obi-Wan said in the voice that shook. Fear gripped him again - what if it had been a ruse? But it couldn't be; his Master said nothing he did not mean. He held onto that thought for dear life.
The Knight stared at him. "I got that message," he said, "but I know Qui-Gon and I thought...." He shook his head. "Well, then, come with me, Padawan. Leave your friends here. The doors must be keyed to you."
Obi-Wan followed him into the other room, where that particular operation was quickly completed. When he returned to the waiting room, he thanked the Knight, then hesitated. "My Master... is rather busy right now," he said. "He didn't tell me where the quarters were."
The man laughed. "Busy. I thought I heard Master Yoda in the background when he commed me. Residence level 34, apartment 47. I hope you like it, Padawan Kenobi." He winked and left the room.
Obi-Wan didn't move for a moment, but then Garen bumped him with his shoulder, giving him a knowing look, and he blushed. "I know exactly where that is," Garen said. "Come on."
They went through the hallways, Garen excitedly telling Obi-Wan and Bant - who'd heard it already - how he'd been chosen, and how different his life was now. Obi-Wan slowed as they neared the door to his new quarters, then stopped before it, taking a deep breath. Reaching forward, still afraid of a trick of some sort, he touched the pad near the door. It slid open silently.
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