Bound

Demands

Some spoilers from Jedi Apprentice.
No betas, therefore the mistakes are all mine.
See chapter one for disclaimers.

Obi-Wan brought his borrowed speeder to a stop outside a place he had once hoped he would never return. Still, he didn't quite experience the sense of anxiety he had expected as he approached the mine entrance. Things were different now. The place that had been the literal stuff of his nightmares had actually been the catalyst that was going to make his dream, his only dream finally come true. Master Jinn had asked him to be his padawan. More than that, the master had nearly lost his life saving him. That's what Jedi did after all, save people. Master Jinn was doing his duty in investigating that man from Offworld, the man who had kidnapped him because the man thought Obi-Wan was already Master Jinn's padawan. And Master Jinn had come for him at great risk to himself and suffered for it. Obi-Wan had been able to give something back though—not saving the master's life, he was the cause of the man's jeopardy after all—no, Obi-Wan had found the crystal, the crystal Sair had told him would unravel the mystery of Offworld's operations on Bandomeer. That little rock that Obi-Wan had accidently discovered had in very short order become key to Master Jinn's investigatory efforts. Then it was stolen. Taken right out of an Agri Corps laboratory. Sair had told him of the theft, had explained the crystal's import to Jinn's work, and significance to Offworld's dealings. He did not need to speak with the Master Jedi to know what needed to be done. Obi-Wan was a padawan now, a Jedi. His duty to the investigation, to the Order, to his master was clear.

He had to go back. He had to get another crystal.

Obi-Wan lifted the nearly empty satchel he carried over one shoulder and fingered the holo-recorder in his trouser pocket. It was his hope that when he left this place the satchel would be full of more crystals for his master. He hoped for many, but he would settle for one.

Obi-Wan entered into the mine, his eyes moving in a constant and meticulous scan of the tunnel's interior. He would settle for one. Is that what Master Jinn had thought as well, that he would settle? Indeed, Obi-Wan was under no illusions that he was a prize padawan for the esteemed Master Qui-Gon Jinn to take on. Obi-Wan reached down and sifted through a pile of rubble with his fingers. In fact, the Jedi Master hadn't spoken at all to any worth he associated with taking him as an apprentice, only that he had to do it because of the bond they shared. Obi-Wan frowned as he let the bits of rock and earth fall loosely from his fingers. He had taken him because he felt he had to, because he was forced to.

Apparently, this was another thing duty demanded.

Obi-Wan walked further down the mining shaft. He knew he should be letting the Force guide his search as he had done before, though not intentionally, yet he couldn't bring himself to open up to it. Where once all he ever wanted was to feel the Force again, to be considered a Jedi again, now... now it felt... less, cheap, and undeserved. He wasn't wanted, only tolerated. Wasn't chosen, only accepted. Wasn't appreciated, only pitied.

But there was nothing for it, so Obi-Wan did his best to push it from his mind. He cleared his racing thoughts, pulled his awareness closer to his skin, and focused his attention on the few palm-sized rocks at his feet. He toed one of the larger rocks with his boot and a gleam caught his eye. He reached down and picked up the shabby bit of earth, turning it over in his hand and smiling. Perhaps he could prove his worth to his master after all.

* * * * *

Qui-Gon eased his speeder to a graceful halt as he came to the entrance of the main southern mine. He closed his eyes before debarking, stretching his awareness across the nascent bond he shared with his padawan. New as it was he couldn't hear the boy's thoughts and only had the barest of impressions of his feelings, which were more or less positive and pleasant at the moment. But the master could determine the child's location, his Force presence both a bright spark and shinning tether leading him to his apprentice. Qui-Gon's hand slid over an empty notch on his belt and again he let himself feel a pang of displeasure at his lightsaber's absence. With an exhale he let the feeling go and headed into the mouth of the mine. He traveled the tunnels at a steady pace, sure of his path and his destination, but as he drew deeper into the labyrinth a sense of wrongness struck him.