"He can't survive," she whispered. "The acid will strip the flesh off his bones."
Obi-Wan shuddered. He had seen what the pool could do. Xanatos was pure evil. But he was a living being, and he had gone to a horrible fate. Qui-Gon seemed frozen, staring at the murky, stinking pool.
Slowly, something stirred in the water, spiraling upward. It was a black cape. As they watched, it disintegrated before their eyes.
Xanatos was dead at last.
Chapter 18
Den stretched his arms over his head and smiled. "Whoever would have thought that a thief and a dinko would be the grand heroes of Telos?"
Andra threw a pillow at him. "I'm glad all the attention hasn't gone to your head."
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon smiled, used to Den and Andra's squabbling by now. They knew a deep affection was growing between the two.
Their return to Telos had brought everything Andra had wanted for so long. UniFy had been exposed as a front for Offworld. Their treacherous activities had come to light. The government had apologized to the people, then called for special elections. Investigations had begun into payoffs to various government heads. The governor who had turned a blind eye had resigned. The treasurer, Vox Chun, was in jail.
And Katharsis had been stopped. The citizens of Telos were horrified that they had been hoodwinked by greed. Mass delirium had taken over, they claimed. Scores of citizens had contacted Andra, hoping to join the POWER party. A new patriotism had flared on Telos, one based on commitment and stewardship of the land they cherished and had almost lost forever.
"So what kind of governor do you think I'd make?" Den asked. "The people love me."
"That's because they don't know you like we do," Andra said with a grin. "You're no politician, Den."
"Hey, you yourself said I was good at lying," Den protested, pretending to be hurt.
"There will be no more lying by a government on Telos, ever again," Andra said seriously.
"I'd take that bet, but I don't like the odds," Den added more cynically.
Qui-Gon rose. "I wish you both luck. And we thank you for helping to clear up those charges."
"You're free to go, but must you?" Andra asked. "We'd love you to stay for a few days. Let me show you the beauties of Telos. The Sacred Pools will take time to clean up, but there are other places."
"Some other time. We must return to the Temple."
Obi-Wan rose and thanked Andra and Den. He was sorry to say good-bye. He admired Andra's commitment. He had been suspicious of Den, but he had come to appreciate him, too. He knew that in their different ways, they would work to restore Telos to the busy, peaceful, blooming world it had been.
"I know we're leaving Telos in good hands," Obi-Wan told them. He grinned at Den. "I'd say the odds are definitely in your favor."
Obi-Wan walked with Qui-Gon down the wide boulevard toward the spaceliner that would take them back to Coruscant.
"Was Xanatos your biggest failure?" he asked tentatively. "Will his death haunt you, as he hoped?"
"Does Bruck's death haunt you?" Qui-Gon asked softly.
"No," Obi-Wan said slowly. "But I carry it here." He touched his chest.
"It is the same for me, I think," Qui-Gon said. "It will not haunt me? not the way Xanatos hoped it would. Xanatos chose death. It was his nature to choose the dark path. But it will take some time for me to feel peace about it. I cannot help feeling that if I'd been a better Master, he wouldn't have turned to the Dark Side. Yoda would tell me that as a Master, I cannot make a Padawan a success or a failure. I can only guide."
And me? Obi-Wan wanted to ask. How do you see me, Qui-Gon? success, or failure?
Qui-Gon didn't speak for a few minutes. He seemed to devote himself to enjoying the beauty of the day, as though he needed it to chase away sorrow.
"You are just beginning your journey, Obi-Wan," he said at last. "Do not concern yourself with success or failure. If you act rightly, those words lose their meaning. There is only the good that you do."
"It's hard not to think of failure, considering I've been put on probation," Obi-Wan said.
"That has nothing to do with failure," Qui-Gon said gently. "You must not think it does. The Jedi path is a difficult one to walk. The Council knows this. If someone strays, especially at a young age, they understand. But still they must be certain of your commitment. You will have to meet with them, spend time at the Temple renewing your dedication. It will be a good thing for both of us, I think. There is a time for missions. And then there is a time for meditation and study."
"You will be at the Temple too?" Obi-Wan asked.
Qui-Gon nodded. "It is time for reflection for me as well. And I will help you with the Council. They must understand why you made the decision to leave. I have come to understand it."
"You have?"
"I was slow to do so, I admit," Qui-Gon said. "But yes, I have." He paused. "I know you are on probation and can't be my official apprentice. But you are my Padawan, Obi-Wan. I do not need the Council to tell me so."
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "Then you'll take me back?"
"We will take each other back," Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan had hoped for this. He had tried to control his impatience for it. Now here it was, and he found he had no words. He was too deeply moved to form them.
"I fought our bond from the first," Qui-Gon said. "But you knew something I didn't. You knew that some things are meant to be. Now I know it, too. You will make a fine Jedi Knight. I would be proud to continue the journey we started together."
Obi-Wan lifted his head. Now he, too, saw the beauty of the day. The sky was dazzlingly clear. For the first time in what felt like a long while, the future was clear as well.
"I am not saying the way will be easy," Qui-Gon added. "We have different temperaments. No doubt we will clash. You will come to challenge me again."
"I will try not to," Obi-Wan told him earnestly.
"You don't understand, Padawan." Qui-Gon gave the smile he gave so rarely, a full smile that lit up his blue eyes and caused them to sparkle with warmth. "I look forward to it."