Category: AU. Waaaaaaaaay AU. Don't ask me exactly where this
idea came from, I have no idea! OK, yes I do, actually. But
I'll save that for later :-)
Summary: A master finds his new padawan, but in a universe
where things are somewhat different than the one we know...
Feedback: Yes, please! If there's any interest in this idea as
it stands now, I might go further with it.
Spoilers: None for TPM; it does involve Xanatos from the Jedi
Apprentice books, but it's even a bit AU where that's
concerned...
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just this little story.
Warning: not beta'd. I'll probably fuss with it some more
before archiving.
Archive: m_a, my homepage only
(http://members.aol.com/amyaallen/sidewinder.html)
The Jedi master entered the battle arena, glancing around the
assembled crowd for a familiar face and somewhere to sit. A
wave of a dark hand caught his eye, and he smiled as he spotted
his good friend in the second row of seats surrounding the
circular stage.
"Thanks for saving me a place," he said to Mace Windu after
making his way across the room, through mingling Jedi knights
and young children rushing about and arguing over which of
their friends would win the competitions today.
"No problem, friend. I heard you were in a meeting with Master
Yoda and figured you might be late."
He nodded. His former master had asked to see him to discuss
the finer details of his upcoming mission to Ancona. And,
unsurprisingly, to once again inquire if he had made a decision
about choosing a new apprentice yet.
"Not yet, my master."
"Choose soon, you should," Yoda had insisted. "Good master you
are; good teacher. Benefit from your guidance, many students
here would."
He had nodded and accepted the compliment, and promised
sincerely that he would put serious thought to the matter soon.
His first apprentice, Kawin, had been a remarkable girl, a
blessing for a young Jedi Knight to have as his first padawan.
Attentive, bright, supremely modest and strong in the Force,
she had progressed smoothly through her training with
relatively few difficulties. Their relationship had been strong
and a friendship remained, but they rarely crossed paths these
days. She had chosen a bondmate ten years back, a Jedi she had
known since childhood and who had never been far from her heart
since they had first met. They worked together on most missions
and spent little time on Coruscant since then.
Things had been different with his second apprentice, Crix
Da'el. Crix had been no less bright or strong, but their
relationship had been much more...intense. Never
inappropriately so, but the Jedi knew he had not been the only
one of them who had entertained such ideas, from time to time.
Crix was gone from him almost three years now, and a part of
his heart still ached a little to think upon his loss. Crix
would have passed the trials by now...if he lived. A damn
tragic accident no one could have foreseen nor prevented had
taken his life before that had been possible.
The Jedi master sighed and tried to let go of the feeling of
sorrow brought to him by the memory. The pain had faded with
time, with the help of his good friends and with counseling,
but it never completely left him. Neither did his lingering
guilt, his feeling that somehow he could have prevented the
young man's death, no matter how many times others told him
there was nothing he could have done.
He had imagined that perhaps they could have had a relationship
beyond that of master and apprentice, after the trials. A
relationship that could have lead to an even deeper bonding
between two individuals...but fate--and the Force- -had
apparently decided otherwise.
To consider taking on another padawan had seemed an unthinkable
thing for a long time after Crix's death. He had spent as much
time as possible away from the temple in the months and then
years that had followed, taking assignments to Outer Rim worlds
for long periods of time, using the isolation to try to heal
the wounds inside him. But he knew the training of the next
generation was part of the duty expected of all Jedi who passed
into knighthood. The order had to go on; the elders had to
teach the young. He could not put off taking on another
apprentice forever. He just waited now for the right one to
come along, knowing this was not something to be rushed or
forced.
And so he came to watch the young children today, to observe
them fight, exhibit their skills in everything from
hand-to-hand to lightsaber combat. The fights were a frequently
scheduled event, one that any and all Jedi were invited to
attend, just like the other demonstrations of temple-instructed
skills: artistry, Force-manipulation and debate among them.
He watched with muted interest through the various rounds,
younger children then giving way to the older, more advanced
students. Truthfully he spent more time chatting with Mace and
catching up with his old friend than paying attention to the
battles and the different students. Occasionally he would take
note of a particularly impressive move made by one of the
children, or lightly touch upon one's presence in the Force,
yet none resonated strongly enough with him to make a lasting
impression or pique his interest.
"Have you decided on a new padawan yet, Mace?" he asked his
friend as one match finished and the stage was cleared for the
next. Windu's second apprentice had just recently passed the
trials.
"Not yet. Perhaps after the New Year--I'd like a little time to
relax first. Gareth was...a bit of a challenge, as you know."
"Oh yes, so I heard from you many times," he laughed in
response.
"Yes, well...needless to say I need a little recuperation time
before taking on another. Though I'm keeping an eye on a few
students who may be ready soon."
"Xanatos, perhaps?"
Now it was Mace's turn to laugh. "Force, no! Gareth was a
challenge enough. Besides, you know that child only has eyes
for you. He's turned down three other offers for masters this
past year, and don't tell me you don't know it's because he's
waiting for you to be ready to take him on." Before he could
comment further, two new combatants stepped into the arena and
Windu said, "Speak of the Sith, look who's up now."
The Jedi master watched the boy enter the arena and bow before
the gathered audience. As he rose his head, he cast a look
toward the Jedi master, a hint of a smile on his lips, a look
of cool confidence on his face.
Xanatos. The boy he himself had discovered on a mission many
years past and brought to the temple for Jedi training. He was
recently turned twelve, ready to be taken into
apprenticeship--almost past ready. If not chosen by a master by
the age of thirteen, a Jedi student was reassigned for training
as a healer or to the agricorps, to use his Force- sensitivity
as would best serve the Galactic Republic--but not as a Jedi.
Though honorable positions, few Jedi students actively sought
such paths, instead striving to be chosen as a padawan and one
day to become a full knight.
Xanatos had been an exceptional student at the Academy; the
Jedi master had kept an interested eye on his progress over the
years, and occasionally met with the boy whenever he was on
Coruscant and not busy with other matters. If he announced
officially that he had intentions to take the boy as his new
padawan, there would be little surprise nor any objections
raised, he was sure.
Yet he was, for some reason, uncertain. There was something
about the dark-haired boy that--despite his obvious potential
and skill--left the Jedi feeling uneasy. It was a feeling that
had increased over the years, as the child had grown and become
stronger in the Force...yet remained unable to completely let
go of his past. Most children were found and brought to the
academy as infants; it was best that way, usually, for both the
child and his family. Xanatos had been older, nearly five, when
he'd been found--almost past the age when he would be
considered for training. His family had been rich and had
spoiled Xanatos since infancy. The boy knew it, remembered it,
and occasionally flaunted his heritage, unwilling to fully
submit to the idea that a Jedi had no use for wealth and was
expected to be modest in both demeanor and lifestyle.
A small problem, perhaps--after all, no student was without
flaws, personality quirks which needed to be corrected or kept
in check. Yet still...looking into the boy's eyes, he could not
feel the certainty he had felt looking at Kawin or Crix, that
this child could successfully be trained as a Jedi, at least
not by him. When he tried to concentrate on his future and this
boy's place in it, there was a cloudiness to the visions, a
dark thread winding through them which disturbed him.
Soon another boy stepped into the ring to face Xanatos. The
Jedi only vaguely recognized the tall child, for he did not
spend much time in general around the young students,
particularly in recent years as he spent most of his time away
from Coruscant. "Who is Xanatos' opponent in this match?"
Mace answered, "Qui-Gon Jinn. Should be an interesting fight;
they're two of the best in their age group in lightsaber
combat."
He studied the boy with some curiosity. Light brown hair framed
a face that reminded the Jedi master of the large, deadly
felines of Icaria--strong features softened slightly by an aura
of unusual serenity. Jinn's expression revealed no clear
excitement about the fight, none of the sure confidence in
Xanatos' sparkling blue eyes, the slight grin that was trying
to escape the boy's lips. There seemed to be a hint of sadness
about the child Qui-Gon, yet the Jedi was not given a chance to
focus on it as the bell chimed, announcing the start of the
match.
Lightsabers flashed to life, Qui-Gon's green blade slicing up
through the air to meet Xanatos' violet beam immediately. The
two boys launched into the battle, a match that would last for
five minutes or until one of the boys was clearly defeated by
the other. Raised platforms at various heights gave them
opportunity to showcase their balance and acrobatic abilities,
and the audience watched in appreciative silence as the two
boys pursued each other, seeking advantage, searching for their
opponent's weakness.
It was indeed a curious display to watch. Though young and not
instructed in the advanced techniques of lightsaber combat yet,
both children showed unique styles of fighting that illustrated
rudimentary knowledge of their particular physical strengths.
Xanatos was fast, sharp, relentless in his attacks, with a
flair for leaps and spins that were more showy than most Jedi
would consider appropriate, yet they kept him out of striking
distance. Qui-Gon attempted to use his height and long reach to
his advantage, defending and staying clear of Xanatos' blade,
then switching into an attacking posture and lashing out with
the power of his larger body. Some of his steps were still
awkward and he almost tripped several times, but his recovery
was quick, one time preventing at the last instant a heavy blow
aimed for his right shoulder that no doubt would have brought
the match to an early end.
"This Qui-Gon has much potential," the Jedi remarked, quite
impressed by what he was seeing. There was an innate grace to
the child's movements, something that suggested he was clearly
in touch with the Force and how to use it in combat, feeling
instead of thinking about his strikes.
"Yes," Mace agreed. "A shame that he probably won't have the
chance to realize it."
"Why is that?"
"His temperament. He likes to question authority a bit too much
for any knight's comfort. Y'rel was bitching constantly about
having him in her history class last semester, and he's always
getting into trouble. Were it not for Master Yoda's insistence
that there was still some hope for him, he would have been
thrown out of the academy more times than I can recall." Windu
shrugged. "Not that it matters now. His thirteenth birthday
will be here before the next new moon and he'll be given an
agricorps assignment...not that I expect he'll stay there for
very long."
So there was a defiant streak beneath that cool exterior? The
Jedi Master was more intrigued. He'd been more than a handful
himself, back in his youth. Only Master Yoda had possessed the
patience to deal with him...perhaps there was a kindred spirit
here in this child worth investigating.
The fight continued, the bell chiming to announce the fourth
minute had passed. Xanatos seemed perturbed that he hadn't
soundly defeated his opponent yet, and began to use enhanced
speed to lash out at his opponent. Not an illegal move, but not
one most students his age would attempt. Despite the advantage
enhanced speed granted, it was easier to misstep, send oneself
flying into an opponent's blade instead of dodging it.
But Xanatos didn't slip. Instead, the Jedi caught the flash of
the boy's boot as it caught Qui-Gon's, kicking out and sending
the taller child falling from a platform about ten meters from
the ground. Xanatos leapt down to meet him on the battle floor.
Qui-Gon landed on his feet yet did not recover fast enough to
block a strike of Xanatos' lightsaber to his right arm. Even
though the beams were set at training level, the blow was
strong enough to cause the boy to cry out and fall to his knees
from the pain. Xanatos did not get time to launch in for a
"fatal" blow, however, as the bell then chimed to mark the end
of the fight just as Qui-Gon managed to get to his feet.
"Looks as if your Xanatos has won again," Mace said as the
crowd began politely applauding and the winner was announced.
"So it seems," the Jedi master agreed, catching Xanatos'
brilliant blue eyes meeting his, followed by a small smile of
triumph. He nodded in acknowledgement, even as his attention
lingered over the other child, who was standing straight
despite the injury to his arm. His tunic's sleeve was singed
through and there was the faint odor of burned flesh in the
air, yet his face did not reveal the pain he was surely
feeling.
After they left the stage, Qui-Gon met by a healer and quickly
escorted off to the infirmary, the lights were lifted to signal
the end of the afternoon's event. "Well, that was at least more
interesting than the poetry recitals last week," Mace remarked,
cringing at the memory. "So when are you leaving for Ancona?"
"Not until the day after tomorrow. I still have some research
to finish before I go."
"Then you could be persuaded to join me for the evening meal
tonight, Ben?"
Obi-Wan Kenobi smiled at the old nickname, and the invitation
beyond dining that lay in his friend's voice. "I don't need
much persuasion to join you, Mace, you know that. In three
hours time?"
"My quarters," Windu agreed, stealing a brush of his hand
against the other man's thigh before standing.
Yes, it would be nice to catch up on old times, the Jedi Master
thought to himself as he left the arena. Though first, he had
some other matters to investigate.
The infirmary was quiet, save the few children suffering minor
injuries and bruises from the afternoon's exhibition. Obi-Wan
found the boy Qui-Gon in one of the treatment rooms, a med-tech
droid tending to the burn on his right arm. Qui-Gon glanced up
at Obi-Wan's approach, his eyes going wide with surprise for a
moment before regaining his composure and bowing his head in
respect for his superior.
"Hello there. How are you feeling?" the Jedi asked.
"Fine, Master Kenobi. It was only a minor injury."
He didn't know the boy, but apparently the boy knew him.
Obi-Wan nodded. "I wanted to tell you that I found your
performance this afternoon quite impressive."
Again, surprise filled the deep blue eyes, but his voice
remained cool and cautious. "Thank you, Master, although I must
say your compliment confuses me. I lost the match."
"True, but that does not diminish the skill you exhibited. You
made a few mistakes anyone your age would make-- and with your
height and build." Obi-Wan was not particularly tall, but he
recalled the awkwardness of his youth, when his body seemed to
be growing faster than his sense of himself could adjust to.
"When I was younger I was always tripping over my feet--do you
know what the other children called me?"
"No, Master."
"Oafy-Wan. I much preferred the nickname 'Ben' but only my best
friends ever listened to me regarding that fact."
They shared a smile. Qui-Gon remarked, "Everyone's always
asking me how the weather is up here, or if I have to duck to
avoid passing transports."
"It's hard to be different when you're young," Obi-Wan agreed.
"But when you're older, you'll find your size will put you at
quite an advantage against your opponents. Further training,
and time, and you'll learn how to avoid the mistakes you made
today."
The child's smile faded at that. "I do not believe I'll have
the opportunity for that, Master."
"So I've heard. Considered a bit of a trouble-maker, are you,
Qui-Gon Jinn?"
A slight shrug was his answer. "I suppose. I just..." he
trailed off, biting his lip.
"Go on," Obi-Wan encouraged.
Qui-Gon looked at him uncertainly, then apparently decided he
had nothing to lose at this point by talking. Obi-Wan could
practically hear the boy's thoughts--I'm not going to find a
master now anyway, so why not speak my mind?
"I just don't always understand the rules we're supposed to
follow, and why they're so important, Master. I know the Dark
Side is bad, and that these rules are supposed to keep us from
turning that way...but I don't always understand why,
and I want to know that. And the teachers always seem to get
mad at me for questioning things so much. They say I shouldn't
question the Code like I do, that I should just accept it. But
it's hard for me to follow something I don't
understand...especially when I get the feeling maybe the
teachers and other masters don't understand it, either. They
just follow it 'cause that's what they were told to do."
Obi-Wan remembered when he was younger, how there was so much
about the Code he had not understood, either. "Understanding
comes with time, Qui-Gon, and experience." He sat down in a
chair near the child's bed and added, "The Code has existed for
so long, you're right, most Jedi never question why we must
follow it. We simply accept the wisdom of those who came before
us and who established the Code in darker times."
"But time changes things," Qui-Gon argued, his eyes lighting up
as he warmed to his subject. "The universe isn't like it was
thousands of years ago. Perhaps the Code needs to reflect those
changes."
"Or, perhaps the Code does not change because it is timeless,"
Obi-Wan argued back. "The universe may change, but does the
Force?"
"I don't know..." Qui-Gon wondered, frowning slightly as he
concentrated on the subject. "But I think it has to," he
decided. "The Force is a living thing, isn't it? And living
things all evolve with time. Why shouldn't the Force? Why
should we put all our faith in rules set up in the distant
past, so much so that we ignore what we see in the present?"
"That's a good question, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan told him.
"Really? When I asked Master Y'rel that she just looked at me
really funny and made me write the Code on the scriptboards 100
times."
Obi-Wan chuckled at that, then sat quietly for a moment,
studying the boy who was distracted as the droid began
bandaging his arm. The Jedi knight was sure of it--he felt
something, some stirring in the Force drawing him toward
this child. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the feeling,
trying to follow it and what it was telling him. The answer
came in a series of images, flashes of a possible future, much
clearer and brighter than the images he saw when he tried to
look into a future with Xanatos at his side.
Yes, he thought to himself, coming to a decision and
finding a sense of peace filling him that had been missing
inside him for years.
Opening his eyes, he stood, touching the top of the boy's head
lightly as he said, "Well, I should leave you to rest, young
man, instead of arguing philosophy with you."
"Thank you, Master Kenobi. I...it was nice to talk to you."
"Then perhaps we will continue this discussion some other
time." Obi-Wan headed for the door, then paused to turn back to
the child. "Oh, and if you are feeling up for it tomorrow,
might you be interested in joining me in the practice rooms
after your classes? I could show you a few maneuvers that ought
to help you in your next fight. I think you'll find you're
mistaken about what opportunities lie ahead for you, Qui-Gon
Jinn. "
Surprise, then hopeful excitement surged through the Force,
through the first tendrils of the bond reaching out and growing
between the knight and the child. Obi-Wan sent back
affirmation, and the boy smiled broadly. "Yes, Master. I would
like that very much."
Obi-Wan left then, to find Yoda and tell his former master the
good news.
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