Nightshift 38: M41-M50 Hallway
After dinner Depth Charge had drifted over to his bed and collapsed onto it, feeling disturbingly fragile, as if a strong breeze could shatter him and blow away the pieces like they were nothing but dust. Matsuda’d tried to help, but the human had no idea He’d never felt so helpless, so useless, so slagging vulnerable. What was he supposed to do
( Read more... )
Qui-Gon didn't wait: he began changing immediately, pulling the dull gray shirt over his head and changing into his robes and tunic, tugging on his boots. Buckling the utility belt around his waist, Qui-Gon checked to make sure it was snug and secure. It was. He retrieved his knife before heading over to the desk to get the cobbled together commlink, only to make a discovery. His journal?
It was gone.
So he'd been gone for longer than a few hours, it seemed. At least one day, perhaps more, because he had entrusted the journal and its information to his roommate in the event that he didn't return from the basement that night. Vlad had done as he asked. Perhaps he had given it to Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon paused, his hand on the desk as it sank in. He wasn't ashamed of what he wrote, not when he'd always intended that Obi-Wan eventually would read it. But this was sooner than he'd thought. He was still working out just what it meant in this day and galaxy to be attached to a certain Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had kept his feelings to himself, kept his friend at a reasonable distance, knowing full well the danger. But now Obi-Wan would know the extent of his attachments, which went beyond just being good friends, being Jedi, being partners.
Qui-Gon saw his choice before him. But right now, it wasn't appropriate to make it. There was the mission. There was still the North Door, with whatever answers it might hold, and if they needed to talk about what was in the journal, it would have to wait until afterward. Qui-Gon reached into the drawer and pulled out the makeshift commlink, thumbing it on.
"Obi-Wan, are you there?"
Reply
Qui-Gon's voice was distinct, despite the less-than-stellar quality of the device.
"Qui-Gon." He spoke swiftly as he held the commlink close to his mouth, though he couldn't hide the concern in his voice. Obi-Wan knew it was too early to let himself feel relieved, but he couldn't deny how light he felt upon hearing his former Master right then. "Where are you? Are you hurt?"
Reply
"I'm not hurt," Qui-Gon said. If they had done something to him, he didn't remember it. "I'm in my room now, but I woke up near the east end of the Main Hall. How long have I been gone?"
It was a distressing question, he knew, but it had to be asked. Despite missing a questionable chunk from his memory, Qui-Gon was determined to fill in the gaps and move on. No doubt the same questions running through his mind - had he been taken, changed, experimented on? - were running through his friend's mind and asking Obi-Wan how long he'd been gone would only cement the fact he was missing time now. At least he knew Obi-Wan was alright and here. The tightness in his chest eased a little, though he knew very well that they were not out of danger. There was still the basement and the north door.
Reply
"Nearly 24 hours," he replied, his mouth tightening into a thin frown. "Qui-Gon, what happened to you? Should I come over to your room?"
Right now, making sure his former Master was all right was his highest priority. The basement could wait. His personal feelings could wait.
Reply
Qui-Gon's voice was calm. Level. "I don't remember, Obi-Wan. But our plans are still the same, despite my...absence. I'll meet you in the west end of the Main Hall. We need to keep going; I'll be in contact."
He made sure the knife was on him, as well as the Earthian medicines he had picked up several nights ago with Leon. He was as ready as he was going to be, short of having his lightsaber and his usual connection with the Force. Qui-Gon sought to center himself. Though he presented a stable front for his friend, he could not lie to himself: there was fear, doubt, and it didn't help that he had a day missing in his life and no idea where he had gone, what had happened in those twenty four hours. Qui-Gon couldn't allow these emotions consume him. There was work to do, there was the mission. Despite his opinion about attachment and what it meant to love, he still considered himself a Jedi.
As prepared as he was going to be, Qui-Gon tucked the commlink in his utility belt, opened the door, and left the room. This might possibly be the last time he would see it, perhaps this time for real. He didn't have any misconceptions about the basement and the North Door. It was possible both of them might be killed.
Reply
Reply
He hoped it was the latter. Even so, the fact his former Master had been missing, and with no recollection of where he'd been before, was more than a little disconcerting.
There wasn't much time to speculate on that, though. Obi-Wan quickly collected his knife and flashlight before tucking his commlink away. With those things done, he headed out of the door.
((Off to here.))
Reply
Leave a comment