"Deep in the Night" part 4

Finished Story

Qui-Gon was always telling Obi-Wan to have patience, but at the moment he was finding it difficult to have any himself.

Mal'ah pulled herself out from under the panel she had been working on for more than an hour. Tossing her tools aside in disgust she rubbed her stiff neck. She felt Qui-Gon's eyes on her, seeming to ask, "Well?"

"Sorry," she shook her head, sending her head-tails bobbing. "One of those hits we took getting out completely fried the communications circuits. There's nothing I can do to fix it, they're just gone."

"If you can't fix it, no one can," Depa came up behind them.

Mal'ah glowed slightly at the praise. "They'll have to pull the whole thing out and install a new one," she agreed, her tone sobering once more.

"So there's no way to contact Coruscant?" Qui-Gon asked the obvious, hoping against reason for a different answer.

"Not a chance, I'm very sorry Master Jinn," Mal'ah repeated.

"Don't worry," Depa laid one slim, pale hand on his strong shoulder. "We'll be there soon, and you can speak with the Council in person. I'm sure they'll be able to help you get this all sorted out."

Qui-Gon laid one of his large hands over hers. "I hope so Depa. I hope so."

Obi-Wan placed the last rock on the pile, without touching it.

"Good," Vu Kaa approved. He could sense Obi-Wan's boredom. These were after all rudimentary things that he had been able to do since he was a little child. "It is so easy to maneuver inanimate objects, yet it is an important basis, a basis of control," he explained. He had his reasons for what he was doing. "But what about animate ones? That of course, must be handled differently. I believe you know about this. Watch." He drew Obi-Wan's attention to a small, horned lizard basking on a rock. Suddenly, the lizard jumped up and began running in a circle. "You know of course, how this is done?"

Obi-Wan nodded. He knew about mental suggestion and mind control. He had used it himself on more than one occasion when it had been necessary. He knew that the Force could have a strong influence on people, especially the weak minded, but it's use only as a last resort was always stressed and Obi-Wan had always been careful.

"Sometimes, we must do this to protect others from harm, such as dangerous animals, or to secure the help of creatures too mindless to reason with. And sometimes it is necessary to influence sentients to the actions we need them to take. Let's see you do it."

It felt like Vu Kaa was going somewhere with all this, but where? Something about it troubled Obi-Wan, but he tried to ignore the nagging in the back of his mind and concentrated on the lizard. After all, it was hardly the first time he'd done something like this, although he had never done it without great need. He felt Vu Kaa release the creature's mind into his hands.

Obi-Wan touched the small mind gently. "It's all right little friend," he soothed the frightened, uncomprehending animal softly, petting it with his thoughts. "Would you do something for me?"

The lizard paused, then executed several flips in the air.

"Thank you," Obi-Wan released it, allowing it to return peacefully to its rock.

Vu Kaa nodded approvingly. Obi-Wan's mind was strong, just as he had felt. He was a prime candidate for what Vu Kaa wanted to teach him. "Very good, only you left it too much room to refuse, you must command, not ask."

Obi-Wan almost said that that was not what he had been taught, but kept himself from doing so. That would accomplish nothing but to make Vu Kaa upset. "I am doing the teaching now," he could just hear Vu Kaa scold.

Vu Kaa was looking intently at the Padawan. "I have so much to teach you Obi-Wan," he said, as if sizing up the boy's readiness.

Obi-Wan had heard him say this many times, but now, it seemed as if he meant something more by it.

"But I wonder if you are ready? Are you ready Obi-Wan?" he asked searchingly.

"For what Master?"

"For what I can teach you, for the next step. It's not easy, but once learned, there will be nothing you can't do. Are you ready to advance that far? I think you are, you are strong Padawan, you will do well."

"If you think I am ready Master, then I am, and I will do my best," Obi-Wan agreed, although he was not yet sure what exactly it was that Vu Kaa was going to teach him.

"Good, good." Vu Kaa was pleased. "Come," he crooked his finger at the young Jedi, leading him up to the crest of the hill. "Do you see down there?" he asked, pointing down into the valley. Below them some Syridian herdsmen watched over their flocks. "Sentients are harder to persuade. Most of the time, direct physical proximity and vocal input is required to direct actions. Perhaps you have done this?"

Obi-Wan nodded. He had.

"Good," Vu Kaa seemed pleased. "Try doing it, the way you know, from here, without any of those things to aid you. See if you can get the reed player to change his tune." Vu Kaa indicated one of the Syridians which half sat on a stone, playing a reed instrument with his long, limber fingers, his light green skin reflecting the sun.

Obi-Wan hesitated. To broach someone else's mind for no reason...

"It's not for no reason, it's training. If you don't practice something, you will never be able to do it when it is needed. It won't hurt him. He'll never even know, that's the beauty of it, he'll think it's his thought." Vu Kaa spoke excitedly.

Obi-Wan still was not sure, but it all sounded harmless, and surely Vu Kaa would not tell him to do anything that was wrong, so... Obi-Wan reached out, attempting to find the Syridian's mind, to gently plant the suggestion of changing the song he played. He concentrated hard, perspiration caused by the sun, and his efforts rolled down his collar, but it did not work. He could feel the Syridian's presence in the Force, but his mind was well ordered and not easily penetrated. The green-skinned herdsman played on, unchanged.

Obi-Wan gave up with a sigh. "I'm sorry Master, I can't do it," he admitted defeat.

Vu Kaa however, did not seem disturbed. "I know you can't. You cannot do it that way, the way you have been taught. When a mind is strong, or the distance great it must be done, differently. I will show you." Vu Kaa reached out, and this time, he was careful not to hide from Obi-Wan what he was doing as he sought out the reed player's mind. Once he found it he wormed his way in a little and then gave a thrust, like using a can opener, he forced his way into the being's mind.

Obi-Wan was shocked, but the herdsman did not even seem to notice the invasion that was taking over his mind. His tune changed suddenly and he hopped up, dancing about like one gone mad. Vu Kaa grinned; he enjoyed doing this.

It was a comical sight, but Obi-Wan was not laughing. How could Vu Kaa do this?!

The reed player spun into one of his companions who tried to catch him, wondering what in the world had possessed his friend. The reed player suddenly broke his instrument over the other herder's head and punched his friend in the face. Vu Kaa grabbed hold of a few more of them and a fight broke out among the usually peaceful beings, beings that had been good friends only moments ago.

Vu Kaa smiled in amusement, losing himself in his enjoyment of controlling his living puppets.

Obi-Wan's jaw dropped in horror.

"Now you try," Vu Kaa broke himself away from his game and turned, only to find Obi-Wan staring at him, wide-eyed.

"No," Obi-Wan refused, backing away without meaning to. He had influenced minds before, and had seen Qui-Gon and others do the same, but not like this. Vu Kaa forced his way into people's minds, bending them to his will in a way Obi-Wan knew he dare not copy. "No, that's not right! Mind control is a last resort, only to be used in very great need. Never on a whim, and never to cause harm!" Obi-Wan knew he should not lecture his Master, but he could not believe what he had just seen! It went against everything he had ever been taught, in the Temple, by Yoda, by Qui-Gon, everything! "Those men were friends, you know the stubborn quality of these people. After this, they will probably never speak to one another again!" Obi-Wan's heart hurt for the damage that had been done.

"You speak as you have been taught, but I am teacher now," Vu Kaa reasoned sternly. "I will teach you new things, open your mind to new experiences, new knowledge, new power! Now do as I say!" He took hold of Obi-Wan's shoulder, carrying his words into Obi-Wan's mind, just as he had carried his command into the Syridian herdsman's. But Obi-Wan's eyes were opened now, and he could tell that that was what Vu Kaa was doing, what he had been doing all along.

"No!" Obi-Wan refused again, pulling out of Vu Kaa's grip. "It is not right Master!" he implored Vu Kaa to understand. "To do this thing would violate my conscience, everything I believe in!"

"You dare to tell me what is right and what is wrong?" Vu Kaa's voice rose dangerously. He would not tolerate the same condemnations from this boy that he had had to endure from his own peers and Masters. "You walk a dangerous line Padawan," Vu Kaa warned.

"No, Master," Obi-Wan corrected softly, but clearly. "You do."

Vu Kaa struck him violently for that, knocking him to the ground. "I will not tolerate such behavior. I give you one last chance Kenobi, obey me right now, or you will be sorry," he promised.

Obi-Wan's mouth felt dry, but there was no option for him in this. He could not do what Vu Kaa required of him. Perhaps he was wrong, his mind was so confused he didn't know, but he did know that if he went against what he believed, then he lost everything he was, everything that mattered.

Vu Kaa's thoughts were so mixed with his that he could hardly tell them apart, that was the confusion that had been growing in him these past weeks, and now it kept him from being able to see clearly what Vu Kaa was.

What was part of him and what wasn't? It was now almost impossible for Obi-Wan to say. Maybe he was wrong, but maybe that was Vu Kaa's thoughts, he didn't know and couldn't find enough quiet, enough truth, to remember who he was, to separate himself.

"I cannot, Master, don't ask me to!" Obi-Wan cried unhappily, rising to his feet, only to be sent back down to his knees as an intense wall of pain slammed into his mind, making thought nearly impossible.

"All right then Obi-Wan, it seems you must do everything the hard way," Vu Kaa snapped. Grabbing Obi-Wan by the shoulder and arm he hauled him to his feet, nearly dragging him back the way they had come.

Obi-Wan stumbled along numbly, his mind reeling. He barely remembered a thing until Vu Kaa palmed open the ship's hatch and shoved him roughly through the entry. Throwing him against the wall of the cabin, he struck the boy repeatedly in the side and stomach until Obi-Wan doubled over, the blows forcing him to his knees.

Obi-Wan had no will to fight what was being done to him, or even to see it as something he should fight. Too long Vu Kaa had been an unknown guest in his mind, too long implanting the subversive message that he deserved what he got.

Strangely, even as provoked and violent as Vu Kaa's actions were, there was still no out-right anger behind them. Instead, he seemed distant, cold and contained.

Vu Kaa's fist cut Obi-Wan's lip, making the familiar taste of blood wash around the inside of his mouth. Obi-Wan was on his hands and knees on the floor, gasping for breath and still in a state of unreal shock and confusion.

Vu Kaa picked up the flexi-steel ribbing he had used on Obi-Wan before.

Obi-Wan looked up...

Qui-Gon's eyes sprang open and he sat bolt upright, breathing heavily. The cry that had jerked him from his meditation still rang in his ears.

"We're getting ready to put down now," Depa came out of the cockpit to inform him. "It was a little difficult working the landing out without communications, but we..." her words trailed off. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

"Everything," Qui-Gon said quietly. "I must see the Council at once."

Obi-Wan reached out to the Force, clinging to it as the one last thing that gave him any comfort or that made sense. "Help me," he pleaded silently to the cold darkness around him. "Help me."

He hurt everywhere, mind, body and spirit. He was drowning in an ocean of despair and loneliness and he could not find the surface.

He did not know what was part of him and what was not. He could seem to strike upon no clear way to discern. No light to illumine his darkness.

"I am your Master, you will obey me! I am your Master!" Vu Kaa's words pounded relentlessly through his brain. He leaned his aching head against the wall of the small storage closet that Vu Kaa had locked him in after he beat him. It would be a simple thing to undo the lock with the Force and get out, but why? Vu Kaa had commanded him to stay there, and he had no right to disobey, did he?

His heart rebelled inside him. It was Vu Kaa who had no right to do this to him! Or did he? Oh, if only he could be sure of anything! If only it would all make sense!

Obi-Wan curled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around and resting his forehead on them.

If only Qui-Gon had not died...

"Qui-Gon, wait up, wait!" Depa called after him, but he wouldn't wait, he had waited too long already.

Depa glanced at her Padawan. "That Mal'ah," she said in mock exasperation, "Is Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Well, let's catch up!"

Obi-Wan had no idea how much time had passed, but he could tell that Master Vu Kaa was asleep. Perhaps that was why he found it easier to think.

The situation as it was could not go on. Perhaps he was wrong and misguided, but if so, he needed to know that so he could correct himself. He needed to speak to someone, someone he respected and trusted. Yoda. He needed to talk to Yoda.

With a twinge of guilt, he used the Force to unlock the closet. Was he wrong? Was it a misuse of his powers to use them to disobey his Master? No matter what Vu Kaa did, or had done, he was his Master and deserved his respect and obedience. Obi-Wan knew that misuse of the Force led to the worst possible consequences.

He hesitated, but at last pushed the door open and slipped silently out. If he was wrong, then he was. If he was hopeless, then he needed to know that and he knew Yoda could tell him.

"Qui-Gon! It's good to see you!" Mace Windu greeted his friend in surprise.

"Even if, unconventional your entrance is," Yoda added, referring to the way Qui-Gon had burst in, completely unannounced into the middle of their meeting.

"I am sorry for that Masters," he bowed respectfully. "But I could not seem to make the attendant understand that it was urgently important that I see you right away."

Qui-Gon had interrupted the Council mid-session, but they did not seem too put out.

"You return to us from the dead Master Jinn," Eeth Koth welcomed, his hairless eyebrows raising. "You must have quite a tale. We were told-"

"That I was dead, yes, I know," Qui-Gon respectfully interrupted. "But I am not." He was getting tired of having to explain that to people. "Neither is Obi-Wan, although I do not know where he is. My story can wait, it is imperative that I find Obi-Wan as soon as possible."

"Slow down a little," one of the Council members interjected gently.

"Act we will, but not without knowing the facts. Tell us what happened you must, not long will it take," Yoda instructed.

"Yes, my Master," Qui-Gon bowed his head, calming himself. It would do no good to get out of control. He did tell them, everything, and they in return told him all they knew, which, to Qui-Gon's frustration, was not much.

"Vu Kaa lied to us," Mace said gravely.

"Feared it I did, too near the edge was he," Yoda shook his head as if he was sorry to be proven right.

"What do you mean Master Yoda?" Qui-Gon inquired.

Yoda sighed. "Problems he had since a student. Great mind has he, very strong, but always is he looking for more. More everything. Mind control he mastered to a fine art, but more he wanted. Dangerous was his desire, too near the Dark Side."

"We had him before the Council several months ago," Mace picked up the narrative. "It was decided that he would be given another chance, under supervision."

"Was that the last time you saw him?" Qui-Gon pondered. The pieces did not quite fit.

"No, he came before us just last month," Mace admitted.

"Requested permission to take a padawan to train he did," Yoda put in.

"We denied his request because we were not yet sure of his rehabilitation, although he is no longer required to perform frequent check-ins," Mace continued. "He was supposedly traveling to Daimaru after the destruction of the Reliant. We shall check to see if he ever arrived."

"Doubt it, I do," Yoda shook his head.

Qui-Gon had the same feeling. A cold, hard knot was forming in his stomach and he had to struggle to remain calm. Obi-Wan was stuck somewhere that nobody knew with a paroled Jedi that nobody trusted and probably thought that Qui-Gon was dead. If Vu Kaa had lied to everyone else, it was a safe bet he had lied to Obi-Wan as well.

"That's what he wants Obi-Wan for then? As a trainee?" Qui-Gon shook his head. "Obi-Wan would not go along with him. He knows the feel of the Dark Side."

"But that's just it," Mace shook his head. "He does not feel like one turned to the Dark Side. That is why we only put him on parole rather than barring him from the order. We had hoped he was merely young and over-eager. Now, it seems we may have been wrong."

May have been! Qui-Gon repressed indignation. "Considering he has kidnapped a fourteen year old boy and held him for nearly a month with who knows what purpose, I would be forced to agree," he said quietly.

"Understand you must Qui-Gon Jinn," Yoda cautioned, Qui-Gon's inner agitation not lost on him. "Not hasty did we wish to be."

Qui-Gon nodded. Yes, he understood. "Of course, forgive me Masters."

"Besides," Mace pointed out. "We don't actually know that he kidnapped Obi-Wan. We are not even certain that they are together at all. Yes, I know," he hastened to add when Qui-Gon looked ready to argue. "The circumstantial evidence is great, but we must never judge without facts."

The door opened and an aide entered, respectfully waiting for their attention.

"Yes?"

"Forgive me for intruding, but master Yoda, you have a call. Normally I would not have bothered you while in session, but the transmission seems to be coming from a long way away and well, it sounded like it might be important."

Yoda nodded. "Take it here, I will."

The aide nodded and left. A few moments later, the grainy blue holo-image of a teenage boy appeared in front of Yoda. All in the room could see him, but the transmission was fixed so that he could only see Yoda.

There was a silent gasp of recognition from all present.

"Master Yoda," the familiar accent made Qui-Gon's heart flip-flop strangely.

"Forgive me for interrupting you Master," the boy apologized. "But I must talk to you. I must talk to someone." Obi-Wan's voice was plaintive and heavy. Even in the fuzzy holo-image the pain in his face was clear. Two ugly looking dark lines that must have been either welts or cuts, traced across his left cheek and his lower lip was three times its right size. He held his hands as if they hurt him.

"I don't wish to question your wisdom, or Master Vu Kaa's," he shook his head sadly, although it was evident that the motion was painful.

"Obi-Wan! Glad to see you I am! Worried about you we have been! Where are you? What has happened?" Deep concern was written in his wise eyes.

Confusion spread over Obi-Wan's face. "But I thought, I mean, he told me that – " the boy never got to finish his sentence. He seemed to hear, or sense something behind him, because he turned his head abruptly. The picture fuzzed out and a half cry of either fear or pain was cut short as someone terminated the audio signal as well.

"Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon cried, moving forward as if he could catch the image and make it stay. But the picture was gone, leaving Qui-Gon with only the pain of the haunted look he had seen in his Padawan's normally bright eyes. It took several moments for him to calm himself; to rid his mind of the specter of Obi-Wan's obviously abused countenance so he could think rationally again.

"See if you can trace that transmission!" he heard Mace calling urgently to the aide, who flew to obey.

"Well," Qui-Gon said when at last he had control of his emotions once more. "I think we have our facts now."

"Indeed," Yoda nodded gravely, his wrinkled green face looking very sad. Qui-Gon knew that Yoda seemed to take special interest in his Padawan, he had championed his cause more than once when others thought him too full of fear and anger, including Qui-Gon. "Master Vu Kaa he calls him. Taken him as his apprentice against our orders, he has." There was visible displeasure that almost bordered on anger in the revered Jedi Master's voice.

"Yes, but it's obvious Kenobi thought he had our permission," Eeth Koth put in.

"A Master he is not, and has never been," Qui-Gon's old friend Plo Koon added. "He is but a Knight, and has never taken, much less trained a Padawan."

"That makes another thing he lied to us about," Qui-Gon noted mentally. "Indeed," was all he said to the Council. "Before the Reliant incident he told both Obi-Wan and I quite clearly that he was a Jedi Master."

"That is what he seeks to be, but for all the wrong reasons," Yoda shook his head. "Right you are Qui-Gon Jinn, found the boy must be, immediately."

"Let's just hope he does not pay too dearly for contacting us," Mace murmured under his breath, not wanting Qui-Gon to hear.