Джуд Уотсон - Jedi Apprentice 7 - The Captive Temple

Without taking time to respond, Obi-Wan raced out of Tahl's quarters and headed for the lift tube. He reached the level where the students had set up sleeping areas and hastily scanned the crowd. He already knew who he would choose. Not only was his friend Garen Muln his size, but Obi-Wan trusted his abilities as well.

"Obi-Wan! Are you looking for me?" Bant ran forward from a crowd of students who were busy unrolling bedding.

Obi-Wan continued to scan the sea of students. "I'm looking for someone to help Qui-Gon and me," he said.

"But I can help!" Bant's silver eyes shone eagerly. "I'd be glad to help Qui-Gon."

The jealousy that Obi-Wan had tried to smother suddenly leaped inside him. The hurt and longing he'd been feeling turned into something uncontrollable. The open eagerness in Bant's face made him more furious than ever.

"Yes, I'm sure you would," he told Bant savagely. "I'm sure you'd take any opportunity to show Qui-Gon how valuable you are. How much he needs you."

The light in Bant's eyes dimmed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you want to be Qui-Gon's Padawan," Obi-Wan said fiercely. "It's obvious. You keep trying to impress him. You hang around him all the time."

Bant shook her head. "But I just wanted to help. I'm not trying to be his Padawan. You're his Padawan, Obi-Wan."

"No, I'm not. You made that clear to me. I let him down. So maybe he deserves you, instead."

Bant's eyes filmed over. "That's not so," she whispered.

Obi-Wan caught sight of Garen. He called his name and beckoned him over. "We need your help," he told Garen as his friend came up.

"Obi-Wan — " Bant began.

"I don't have time to talk," Obi-Wan said brusquely.

Bant nodded, her face full of hurt. Quickly, she walked away.

"What did you say to her?" Garen asked him, taking a step toward Bant.

"You hurt her feelings."

Obi-Wan grabbed his arm. "You don't have time to go after her now.

Qui-Gon needs you."

Obi-Wan led the way out of the dormitory. He felt guilty about his harsh words. Asking for Garen's help in front of Bant was a deliberate snub.

Garen's look of disapproval both irritated him and fueled his guilt.

His friend was silent as the lift tube hissed upward toward Tahl's quarters.

After this is over, I'll apologize to Bant, Obi-Wan thought. / let my jealousy take over. It was wrong. I'll make it right.

The lights in the hallway outside Tahl's quarters were still at half-power. Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon standing by Tahl's door, his back to them.

"Qui-Gon, I brought Garen Muln," he called to him.

The tall man turned, and Obi-Wan saw it was Ali-Alann.

"I apologize," Obi-Wan said. "I thought you were Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon stepped out from Tahl's open door- way. "That was exactly what you were supposed to think."

Qui-Gon studied Garen. "You'll do very well," he murmured.

"Qui-Gon, I am happy to help you, but what am I going to be doing?"

Ali-Alann asked respectfully.

"Not much," Qui-Gon answered. "You have to be me for a short time, that's all. And Garen, you will pose as Obi-Wan."

Garen nodded. Both he and Ali-Alann had caught Qui-Gon's seriousness.

"Obi-Wan and I will record a voice track," Qui-Gon went on. "You will activate it when you're sure that Tahl's personal navigation droid is nearby. Then you'll go on a search for the intruders. But you will not find them."

"Why not?" Garen asked.

"Because we will," Qui-Gon said, putting a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

His eyes glowed fiercely. "We will put an end to this."

Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder, his steady words, sent a shiver through Obi-Wan. He had been unfair to Bant. If Qui-Gon was encouraging to her, it was only because of his goodness. It didn't mean Qui-Gon wanted Bant as a Padawan any more than it meant that he still wanted Obi-Wan. It only meant that he was encouraging strength where he saw it.

Obi-Wan realized it wasn't Bant who stood between him and Qui-Gon. It was Qui-Gon's own feelings. He had known that. He just didn't want to accept it.

"We'll have to exchange tunics," Qui-Gon said. "Everything they wear and carry must be ours. We can't underestimate Xanatos. The match must be as perfect as possible."

Tahl suddenly came to the door. Her sightless eyes zeroed in on Qui-Gon exactly. Her ability to place people by their voices was exceptional.

"Qui-Gon, we could have a problem," she said. "Bant has disappeared.

She knows she's not supposed to roam the Temple without permission."

Garen and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance. They knew why Bant had left without permission.

Just then, Qui-Gon's comlink signaled. He activated it.

"What a pleasure to greet you again, Qui-Gon."

Everyone froze. The mockery that ran through the deep voice alerted even Ali-Alann and Garen that this was Xanatos.

"What do you want?" Qui-Gon asked tersely.

"My transport," Xanatos answered smoothly. "Fully fueled, on the spaceport landing platform. And no one around to follow me."

"Why should I give you this?" Qui-Gon asked scornfully.

"Hmmm. An interesting question. Perhaps because I have bumped into a friend of yours in the water tunnel. I think it might be a good idea if the fish-girl stays with me for awhile. Unless you object."

It took a moment, no more, for Obi-Wan to realize who Xanatos meant.

Bant. He had kidnapped Bant.

Qui-Gon squeezed the comlink so hard that Obi-Wan was surprised it didn't shatter. Tahl grabbed the doorframe. Garen took a step forward, as if he could reach through the comlink and grapple with Xanatos. Only Obi-Wan did not move. His blood had turned to ice, his muscles to stone.

"So do we have a deal?" Xanatos asked. "My transport, and I send the girl back to you. I'll give you fifteen minutes. That is all."

"How do I know you have Bant?" Qui-Gon asked.

Seconds later, a firm, high voice came over the comlink. "Qui-Gon, don't do it. I'm fine. I don't want you to — "

Bant's voice was cut off abruptly. The comlink went dead.

Qui-Gon went inside Tahl's quarters to confer with her. Ali-Alann and Garen followed. Obi-Wan still found himself unable to move.

It was as though his body had taken over, refusing to listen to his mind. No matter how forcefully he told his legs to move, they would not.

Never before had this happened, not during battle, not even when Cerasi had been killed in front of his eyes.

The words passed through his mind rapidly, like figures streaming across a data screen.

My fault. My fault. Bant will die. She will die. Xanatos is merciless.

She will die. And again it will be my fault.

Bant and Cerasi merged in his mind. His grief was a howl inside his body. It tore at his stomach, his throat, and yet he could not let it loose.

The loss of Cerasi rushed through him, as keen as the moment he had seen the life ebb in her crystal green eyes. She was gone to him forever. For the rest of his days, he would think of her, need her, turn to say something to her, decide to contact her.. and he would never be able to reach her again.

He loved Bant as he had loved Cerasi. How could he have spoken so harshly to her? How could he have suspected the most loving heart he knew of plotting against him? She would never have tried to take his place with Qui-Gon. He knew that as surely as he knew his own name. He had spoken out of bitterness, out of fatigue, out of his own shame, out of everything but truth.

Bant always spoke the truth. What a valuable friend she was.

And he would lose her. He would lose her forever.

My fault.

If Bant died, the grief would destroy him.

He bent over and stared at the floor, his heart racing as though he'd just fought a battle. He gulped down his panic, but he could not make it go away. Instead it rose in his throat again and again, choking him.