Okay this chapter was the last half of the other one, posted on its own. I’d planned on making it longer but decided to keep it short, so the next chapter would start off where I wanted it to.

Sleepless

Chapter 6

Of Things To Come

Life had never been fairly kind to Mirtha, though that was to be expected for someone such as herself. Her culture demanded that people like her be tightly controlled – every word, every movement. She knew little of the world outside of her shrine and even less of the worlds beyond the night sky.

But she could still See. That was her gift or curse, depending on who you were. Mirtha could pick through the various strings of fate and find the one that was to come to pass. That was why they kept her around, her predictions had rarely been wrong. Sadly, the things that Mirtha Saw were never pleasant things. Unlike her sister she could barely remember, her predictions never brought happiness. Only fear and sadness.

She was the Prophet of Destruction and destruction was all that she ever Saw. Death, pain, illness, strife…the images flashed through her mind at all times. And though Mirtha had valiantly tried several times in her short life to block them she found she could not. Nor could she keep her mouth from speaking what she Saw. Terrible, terrible things that made those around her wither and make old signs against evil.

And so they had locked her up here, attended by two deaf mutes who washed her and fed her and were the closest thing Mirtha had ever had to family. She had never seen their faces – her eyes perpetually bound in darkness that accompanied her Sight. She never spoken to them (and she wished to, even though she knew they could not hear her) as Mirtha had had her lips sealed as well. Thick leather laces sown through her lips kept her silent.

Only when the Temple Master came were they loosened and she was free to ramble of what dark things she’d seen. She was not surprised when she felt the strange pulling feeling that accompanied the movement of her laces. The smell of Hithaline oil was strong in the air and she knew that the Temple Master had come to seek her words.

And today she knew her words would not disappoint.

“The moons are red in the day sky, Mirtha.” The deep voice of the Master was grave. The laces were loosening. A dry tongue darted across equally dry lips. “Tell me what you have Seen.”

And then – there. Freedom to speak the words that bounded in her skull.

“ – awakened from his sleep, he rages for all to know. His anger will lead him on a twisted path to this world. His bloody footsteps will burn into the soil until the very earth screams. He will come for those who guided him to death once – and all shall fall in his revenge. Violet blood will flow from the Thrown of Felamore and once more fill the streets of the Blue City. From the west he will come and with his blade he will bring the Scared Family to its very knees.”

The laces were being tightened again, pressing her lips together.

“The Betrayers will fall and he shall feast upon their flesh until th – mpp.”

And then once again silence ruled her world.

Obi-Wan stared at the group of Masters that stood before him before glancing nervously at his own Master. It seemed so strange to him, so utterly incomprehensible that at first he’d honestly thought the older Jedi had been joking with him. A part of him had still felt so when he had brought along the slender device that grew and braided the signature padawan braid.

Unexpected but most certainly not unwanted.

He had no idea why Master Jinn had wanted to take him as his apprentice, especially with all that had been going on. Obi-Wan was practically insane for Force sake! When he had pointed this out, Qui-Gon had simply shrugged and told him they were all insane in their own way. And so he’d become a padawan. He was so distressed about the going ons that Obi-Wan barely felt the joy that had taken him at the news. What good would he be as a padawan if he was crazy?

The Masters before them had taken the news with a set of smiles that had him suspecting they may have somehow foreseen this happening, though Obi-Wan had no idea how. It certainly had caught him off guard. Master Billaba sat next to him on the bed, giving him a reassuring smile. He tried to give it back the best he could. Master Yoda was perched precariously on a stool the Master Healer had brought him to his right, watching Obi-Wan with thoughtful eyes.

Behind them stood the ever intimidating figure of Mace Windu and to his left was Qui-Gon. His Master gave him a tight smile. Though the Masters had fought over when to try and contact his other again his Master had in the end bowed to Master Yoda’s wishes. And so, here they were.

“Obi-Wan,” He shot his attention back over to the Master before him. She smiled softly, reaching out and brushing a cool hand across his forehead. “We’re going to begin now.”

Obi-Wan nodded mutely, staring down at his clenched hands. He really, really didn’t want to do this. They were going to try and bring out whatever was in his mind again. He didn’t relish the complete loss of control that was undoubtedly going to follow. Master Billaba rested her hand upon his twitching one and Obi-Wan closed his eyes obediently, waiting for the feather light touch of the Master’s force signature.

‘Why in the name of the Holy would you let that bitch rummage through our mind a second time?’

Obi-Wan’s head snapped to the left so quickly he felt his neck pop. The translucent figure from before was standing next to him, watching the group of masters with a bored look on his face. Obi-Wan glanced back at the Masters and gasped. They were completely frozen, Master Windu’s hand half way up to rub at his forehead. He reached out to shake the still woman in front of him.

“Master Billaba? Ma’am?” Nothing. Panicked, Obi-Wan looked to the small green Master at his side only to find him unmoving as well, a doopy looking grin frozen on his face.

‘Calm down.’ The man said after a moment.

“What did you do?” Obi-Wan asked, turning to look at the figure fearfully.

‘We need to have a little talk.’ The man said as he sat rather gracefully on the bed next to him. Obi-Wan moved until his back was pressed against the headboard, trying to put as much distance between himself and the other man as he possibly could.

‘Oh will you stop that!’ The man snapped, ‘If I wanted to hurt you, I would have by now. Moronic child.’

His words did little to comfort though. Obi-Wan took a deep breath, trying to banish the fear that was in his breast. How was he supposed to be a Jedi if he couldn’t function every time he was terrified? He released the breath and for the first time truly looked at the translucent man before him. He was a human, at least he looked human and despite the fact that he was see through, Obi-Wan was able to distinguish a mop of dark hair and piercing eyes. His expression was sharp with disgust as he watched his quivering form.

And suddenly the man was moving, throwing himself at the headboard. His hands went through Obi-Wan completely, his sneering face an inch away from his own. Instinct had Obi-Wan pressed against the window opposite his bed before he’d had a chance to really register what happened. The man was crouched on his bed, staring at him with something completely unreadable on his face. Something inside Obi-Wan shuddered at it though, something inside him instinctively screaming that it didn’t mean well for him.

‘It’s time to go home.’

Those words were his doom. He knew it somehow, completely and utterly. The feeling so complete that it robbed him of his ability to stand. He squeezed his eyes shut, sliding down until he was on the floor, face buried against his knees.

Another short chapter, I know. Tell me what you think. Next chapter you will have more Obi/Qui bonding and the starts of a trip off planet.