Summary: Fic inspired by the JA#8 cover seen at
www.jedinet.com/literature/images/ja8.jpg
Archive: Yeah, right! :)
Warnings: My first-ever fic. Wise list sibs will now run
screaming. :) I will openly admit that I am a reader, not a
writer, but this picture just couldn't be ignored! I'm sure
this really stinks compared to all of our wonderful m_a
writers, but I wrote it anyway. My apologies beforehand! Also
very minor spoilers for the JA books, but I think everyone
knows the basics by now.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. We all know who does. Also, major
kudos to Jude Watson for the wonderful world of JA, which I
adore, and also to the incredible JA artist Cliff Nielsen.
Feedback: Sure, I'd love it, but please be gentle. It is my
first (and probably last) ever fic. You can pick apart my
grammar if you'd like, though. I'm sure it would help me in any
future work-related writing I have to do. And yes, I am well
aware that the fourth sentence of the story is way too long.
Off to a good start!! <G>
It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
Of that Obi-Wan Kenobi was certain. This mission was supposed
to be a peaceful one. Benign trade negotiations had been
scheduled to take place between newly allied factions on a
world that had already come almost full circle in its quest for
planetwide armistice. The Jedi were there only to assure smooth
arbitrations and to show Republic support.
It was supposed to be an ideal situation for Obi-Wan to observe
and learn from his master, as Qui-Gon Jinn tended to excel at
ambassadorial-type duties. His powerful presence and strong
connection to the Living Force made the Jedi Master a natural
choice for such missions.
Therefore, Obi-Wan was at a loss to explain their current
condition.
Suspended high above the ground in an alloy cage, Obi-Wan
grasped the bars of his prison and gazed out at the vast
temple-like room beyond. He turned for a moment to look back at
his master. The tall Jedi was sitting on the floor of the cage,
either sleeping or meditating. Obi-Wan couldn't tell which
without disturbing the man, which he was loathe to do. If
Qui-Gon was in fact sleeping, Obi-Wan wanted him to get as much
rest as possible. The events of the last several hours had been
exhausting and showed no signs of improving any time soon.
As he stared across the room, Obi-Wan tried for what seemed
like the thousandth time to grasp the Force. The drug Xanatos
had given him was still very strong in his system however, and
he felt his control slip through him like water through a
sieve. Despite his resolve, a small sound of frustration
escaped him.
"Obi-Wan."
A hint of disapproval darkened Qui-Gon's voice, and Obi-Wan
turned to face him.
"Yes, Master?"
Qui-Gon sighed and opened his eyes.
"Sit down, Padawan, and stop expending your energy."
"Yes, Master."
Obi-Wan obediently moved to settle down next to him. He could
feel the warmth radiating from the larger man, and it suddenly
made him notice how chilled he felt in comparison. As if
reading his thoughts, Qui-Gon moved closer to his apprentice
and wrapped the excess of his robe around the boy.
"Better?" he asked with a small smile.
Obi-Wan smiled back, but it was a strained expression, devoid
of true feeling.
"Yes, thank you," he replied, allowing himself to nestle closer
to his master and settle his weight against the large man's
body.
Qui-Gon responded by wrapping one arm around the boy, and
Obi-Wan was overcome by a sudden feeling of security, even in
this dark, awful place. He sighed, allowing himself to relax
for the first time since they'd been brought here.
"What do you think his plans are, Master?" Obi-Wan asked. He
was speaking more or less just to pass time and fill the
silence, rather than a true desire to know. Both he and Qui-Gon
were well aware of Xanatos' intentions.
Death. As slow, painful, and meaningless as possible.
"I don't know, Padawan," Qui-Gon replied quietly. "But whatever
it is, we will not allow it to happen."
"Can you sense the Force yet?" Obi-Wan asked after a few
moments, already knowing the answer.
Qui-Gon sighed. "No. But I'm working on it. And if you'd try to
get some sleep, I think I'd be able to focus better."
It was said gently, without admonition, and Obi-Wan acquiesced
without protest.
"I will try, Master," he murmured, leaning in closer and
closing his eyes.
Qui-Gon gazed down at the boy nestled against him and felt a
small smile play across his lips despite the circumstances. To
think that he once hadn't wanted this amazing creature, that he
had feared darkness in this young one who was so obviously
overflowing with Light. How wrong he had been to turn the boy
away. Perhaps if he had not been so stubborn and had opened
himself earlier to the bond that had existed between the two of
them, Xanatos could have been contained on Bandomeer. There
would have been no need to rescue Obi-Wan from the mining
platform, and Xanatos' link to Offworld could have been exposed
sooner. Then perhaps they would not be in this situation now.
Perhaps he would not be in danger of losing Obi-Wan.
No. Qui-Gon shut his mind to such ideas. Xanatos would not win.
Whatever his former apprentice had planned, it would not come
to pass. He would not allow his dark past to overshadow his
bright future. The future that was Obi-Wan.
Closing his eyes, Qui-Gon Jinn sank into a light healing trance
as he attempted to purge Xanatos' Force-inhibiting drug from
his body.
"Master!"
The voice was urgent, an undercurrent of distress detectable
even in that one word. He noticed it, but it seemed so far
away, so incredibly distant...
"Master, please!"
Fear now, not dispersed into the Force, and that was enough to
grab his attention. Qui-Gon woke suddenly from the deep
meditative state he had achieved sometime during the night. The
shock of surfacing that quickly was severe, and he experienced
several long moments of disorientation before he was finally
able to assess the circumstances.
Obi-Wan was crouched next to him, shaking him desperately.
Qui-Gon reached out a hand to steady his apprentice.
"Easy, Padawan," he murmured, bringing his other hand up to rub
his aching forehead.
"Thank the Force," Obi-Wan breathed, noticeably relieved but
still trembling a little.
It was then that Qui-Gon noticed they were not alone.
A crowd of villagers had gathered in the temple beneath them,
brandishing torches which cast a shadowed illumination to the
dank room. These were the very humanoids whom the Jedi had been
sent to serve, to ensure that trades went well between the
previously warring groups. Those groups who seemed to be
getting along just fine now that they'd decided that the Jedi
were their common enemy.
No, Qui-Gon thought, his gaze narrowing. Not decided.
Convinced. Tricked.
Betrayed.
He heard Obi-Wan's soft gasp from behind him, and turned to
find the source of his apprentice's dismay.
On the holo-screen behind them, a transmission of Xanatos had
begun, the video link activating before the audio had a chance
to catch up. It was only a few heartbeats later that the sound
did in fact kick in, and Qui-Gon felt an irrational anger surge
within him upon hearing the dark Jedi's voice.
Obi-Wan seemed to sense his master's feelings and moved closer
to him, offering his support.
My Light, Qui-Gon thought. The boy's courage served to
strengthen Qui-Gon's resolve, and he easily let his anger
dissipate into the Force.
The Force.
It was no longer beyond his reach. The Jedi Master could feel
his control returning and with it his sense of the Light. He
could once again sense his link to the small but powerful
bundle of Force-energy that was his padawan beside him. Even if
Obi-Wan did not have his own Force control back, he could be
tapped into to aid Qui-Gon's own strength.
Qui-Gon's mind only briefly acknowledged what the holo of
Xanatos was saying. Something about Offworld and continued
support in exchange for the execution of the Jedi. The crowd
was growing more hostile by the moment, but the Jedi Master did
not require his hearing to discern such things. He could feel
the anger building in the Living Force around them, and he knew
they did not have much time.
Obi-Wan was observing his master with wide-eyes. He suspected
that Qui-Gon had purged the Force-inhibitor from his system,
but there was no way of knowing without asking, and they were
too short on time for such things.
"Master, our lightsabers," Obi-Wan whispered.
Qui-Gon's piercing blue gaze fell upon the weapons. They had
been taken from the Jedi when the drug had finally accomplished
its goal, and were now located upon an alter at the farthest
aspect of the temple. Obi-Wan's sharp young eyes had easily
spotted them, and Qui-Gon had only a moment to mourn the
passing of the days when he would have seen them just as easily
as his padawan had. Then he was using all of the advantages of
being a full Jedi Master, feeling the Force sing within him as
he called his saber to his outstretched hand. He ignited it the
instant it hit his palm, and the beam sliced through a cage bar
above Obi-Wan's head. His padawan grinned at him and he smiled
back.
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