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only thing we starving artists get paid.
Disclaimer: Not only do I not make money off of these guys, I
don't have any money to give if anyone sues me, so just letting
you know that the Mighty Lucas owns these guys and not me.
Author's Note: This is a far cry from my usual smut, it is very
emotional and angsty, so you've been warned. I was also far too
impatient to have it beta-read so all the mistakes are my own.
The suns were just setting over the central part of Coruscant,
casting the Council Chamber of the Jedi in a soft, reddish
glow. They were listening to a representative of the
Telkarian's plead for their intervention. Telkar was an outer
rim planet, not under the Jedi's jurisdiction, and so careful
consideration must be taken before the council decided to take
action.
Off to the side, standing respectfully quiet to watch
proceedings, were one Jedi knight and his apprentice. The fact
that they had been invited to this meeting meant that if the
council decided to act, Qui-Gon and his Padawan would be sent
to deal with it.
Obi-Wan resolutely pushed aside his excitement at the thought,
knowing it would earn his a reproving glare from his master.
Adventure, Excitement, a Jedi craves not these things, he
recited mentally.
Qui-Gon must have picked that much up, because he sent his
Padawan an amused glance before returning his attention to the
more important matters.
The Telkarian's were a humanoid species, with pale green skin
and luminescent yellow eyes. The representative was a young
woman, with a shock of white hair that hung shaggily around her
face.
It was a species Obi-Wan had never seen before, their planet
was not a part of the Republic and the Telkarian's themselves
were not force-sensitive, so none of them had trained at the
Jedi Temple.
"...so you see, we are in desperate need of your help, there is
no one else for us to turn to." The representative bowed low
before the council and waited.
Not a word was spoken, but nonetheless, the council debated the
situation. Telkarian's were not only Force-blind, but they were
not easily probed either. What little could be felt from the
representative indicated her sincerity and her fear for her
people. Her people were battling among themselves and a civil
war seemed inevitable. Still, there was a chance that proper
negotiations could avert the crisis.
"Very well," Mace Windu spoke then. "We will send assistance to
your planet."
Not quite an hour later, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice
boarded the Telkarian ship. The ship's captain greeted them.
Aside from the much shorter length of her hair, she could have
been the representative's twin.
"It is an honor to have you here, sirs." She bowed to them and
turned. "Come, I will lead you to your quarters." Walking
through a corridor, the entire ship rocked as it took off,
knocking them all off-balance. A mental warning shifted inside
him and Qui-Gon whirled, reaching for his lightsaber. A second
too late. The stun bolt caught him in the chest and knocked him
backwards. He barely had time to see his student fall before
unconsciousness overcame him.
It was the pain that woke him; his brain was trying to pound
its way out of his skull. Qui-Gon made to move but every nerve
in his body shrieked in protest. An after- effect of the stun
he realized. He opened his eyes, and immediately closed them
again as a wave of nausea came over him. He calmed himself,
reaching out to the Force to assist in his healing, as he had
done hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times before.
He felt nothing.
His eyes snapped open at this, shock pushing aside sickness.
His mind searched frantically for the familiar touch that had
surrounded him, like a protective parent, his entire life.
Nothing.
"Don't bother with your little Jedi mind tricks, we've taken
care of that little problem." The statement was punctuated by a
low chuckle; Qui-Gon forced his head to turn, despite his
protesting nerves. The Telkarian captain was seated nearby.
As his vision cleared he realized he was in the ship's sickbay.
Another Telkarian approached him holding a hypodermic. He
struggled weakly but she overpowered him easily, injecting him.
"Don't worry." The Captain spoke again, "It's to counter the
effect of the stun. They hit you harder than they were supposed
to, but they didn't want to take a chance." She seemed to find
this amusing and chuckled at her own words.
She stood then and walked over to him. "You were much easier to
capture than I had thought. The rumors about you Jedi must be
exaggerated." She traced a finger down the side of his face,
lightly stroked his beard. Qui-Gon flinched back, and she
laughed. "Of course, this helped as well." Her finger trailed
its way back upwards and lightly touched his temple.
He managed to raise his own hand, at least the hadn't lied
about the injection, and touched his temple. He found a smooth
metal bump imbedded in his skin.
"It dampens your mental abilities, or so I'm told. Since
objects aren't flying about the room, I'll assume its true."
"Why..." Qui-Gon rasped, the muscles in his throat were so
tight it hurt to speak.
"Why did we do this?" the captain finished. Her face took on a
grim cast, belying her earlier amusement. "We didn't lie about
the war. Unfortunately, I don't need a Jedi as a mediator as
much as I need one as a bargaining tool. My...benefactor, is
willing to pay a hefty price for a Jedi Knight, unharmed. And
with that kind of money we have a good chance to win the war."
The cheery light came back to her face, "And by a remarkable
piece of luck, I got not just a Jedi Knight, but a Jedi Master
and his apprentice."
Qui-Gon went cold at the mention of his apprentice. The boy was
nowhere in sight.
"Where. Is. He." He managed to grit out.
"Worried about him?" The Captain stroked his cheek again and
this time he managed to pull back. She laughed quietly at his
response. "He's fine, he just woke up before you did. In
fact..." She glanced at the chronometer. "You should be well
enough to join him now. Come on."
Again, he was led down a corridor, but this time with an
entourage of guards. The walk helped clear his head and by the
time he was thrust into a darkened room, he was feeling almost
normal. Except for his severance from the Force. It was like a
raw wound inside him and he shivered, the room feeling suddenly
cold. This was unlike any situation he had ever dealt with
before and he had to force aside tendrils of fear that were
rising up in him. No. He was a Jedi Master and he would -not-
give into to fear. Ever.
A soft whimper caught his attention and he turned to discover
his apprentice huddle in a corner, his cloak wrapped tightly
around him. The young man was visibly trembling and any
residual fear vanished in a wave of concern for his student.
"Obi-Wan? Are you hurt?" He knelt next to his Padawan and
rested a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"N-n-no, I'm just s-so c-cold. I'm s-s-so c-cold." Saying that
he was cold was like saying that space was big, but there was
no other word to explain how he felt, that icy void that was
inside him. Never had he felt so alone, cut away from
everything, he felt as if the entire universe had died and
nothing around him was real. He knew his master was sitting
next to him, but that was a cheat, a lie, it wasn't -real-,
their link was gone. Tremors were racking his body now, his
teeth chattering loudly.
Qui-Gon was now truly afraid for his student. Touching his face
revealed clammy skin and the younger man's eyes were dilated so
much that only a thin rim of color showed around his pupils. In
shock, he realized. Being stunned and then abruptly cut off
from the Force had traumatized him. He pulled Obi-Wan into his
arms, practically into his lap as if he were still a child, and
wrapped his own cloak around them both.
"Shhh, it's all right." He rocked his Padawan gently and the
tremors eased. Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around his master and
clung tightly. The Jedi master began pressing soft kisses to
young man's hair, making soft, meaningless sounds of comfort.
Later, neither of them would clearly remember how it began,
when the soothing caresses changed and the gentle kisses turned
to passion. But the change was swift and in moments they were
kissing frantically, clothes tugged back to reveal soft skin.
Obi-Wan fumbled with his master's clothes, wanting, needing to
touch smooth skin and warm flesh, to prove that he wasn't
alone, that this was real. Finally, the robes were pushed aside
and he could bury his face into that warmth, that reality. He
inhaled deeply, absorbing the clean scent that was his master's
alone.
Qui-Gon was lost, lost to the need to touch, to be. His own
separation from the Force stripped away his control and he knew
only that he needed to be with this young man, to feel his body
as he couldn't feel his mind. He jerked open Obi- Wan's tunic,
dimly hearing the fabric tear through the roaring in his ears.
They both tore away the offending fabric that separated their
bodies, both only half naked when Qui-Gon jerked his
apprentice's knees apart and up, his cock felt like iron and
all he could think of was being inside the tight heat of the
body beneath him.
Obi-Wan cried out when his master found the entrance of his
body and without preamble, thrust inside. It hurt, by the Force
it hurt, but he wanted it, needed more, needed to fill the void
inside him. He strained towards that hardness that was plunging
inside him and begged in strangled whispers for more.
Those pleas swam in Qui-Gon's mind and he strove to give more,
all conscious thought replaced be driving need. The younger man
beneath him stiffened suddenly and nearly screamed, his hands
knotting in Qui-Gon's hair as he reached his peak, the warm
wetness of his release coating both their stomachs. Qui-Gon
thrust one final time, the muscles surrounding his cock
tightened almost painfully, forcing his release and he
swallowed his own scream of pleasure as he collapsed onto the
other man, both sticky with sweat and semen.
The next morning the Captain went to check on her captives and
found them both sitting quietly on the floor. They both were
completely cowed, she noted with scorn. Some warriors, but she
had expected little less from men. On her planet, women were
the rulers, strong warriors who did not step back from battle.
That was the problem right now, a few men had gotten the idea
somehow that they were equals of the women and were fighting
against the ruling class. Fools, all of them.
She leaned forward to touch the older man, and it was here that
her over-confidence failed her. Faster than she would believe
possible the weak man moved in a blur, grabbing her blaster and
yanking her to him. She felt the tip of the blaster under her
chin and froze.
Her guards stood uncertainly, blasters pointed at them but they
didn't fire for fear of hitting their captain. Qui-Gon
tightened his grip on the slim woman.
"I want these devices taken off of us, now! His first, then
mine." The blaster dug into the soft flesh under her jaw and it
took a bit of effort on her part to laugh.
"Please. You're a Jedi, you aren't about to shoot an unarmed
captive, even to save your own skin." Before anyone could
react, the Jedi Master calmly shot one of the guards before
returning his aim to the captain.
"My own skin, perhaps not," he hissed in the Captain's ear, the
words unheard by the others over the fallen man's screams, "But
I'm not the only one here and I suggest you don't test what
lengths I'm willing to go for him."
They hardly spoke on the way back to Coruscant. After tending
to the wounded man, it had only been a flesh wound, as Qui-Gon
had intended, Obi-Wan joined his master, who was piloting the
craft. Obi-Wan settled into the co-pilots seat and they both
sat there in the almost palatable silence. He wanted
desperately to talk to his master, to discuss what had
happened, to say -something- but the older man's shields were
up so tightly he might as well been a million light years away
instead of sitting not a meter from him.
Never since they had been come Master and Padawan had he been
so closed off from the man and now he was experiencing it twice
in one day. He shivered unconsciously, remembering that
coldness, that emptiness and wrapped his arms around himself,
seeking warmth. He wondered if he would ever be warm again.
Qui-Gon didn't look at his apprentice but saw that shiver
anyway and something inside him twisted as it struggled to
respond to that pain. He crushed it ruthlessly and concentrated
on piloting.
Qui-Gon stood before the council alone, relaying the
information from their mission. He left nothing out, not the
fact that he had all but raped his apprentice, not his shooting
of the guard. The council listened in silence as Qui-Gon spoke,
eyes fixed forward and his tone completely dispassionate. He
may as well have been a droid for all the emotion he displayed.
The council was not fooled. Tight as Qui-Gon's shields were
they could not withstand the probing of so many Jedi- trained
minds. He fell silent as he felt their explorations, allowing
them access. He didn't always agree with the council, but this
might be the last time he stood before them. He at least owed
them his honesty.
It was Master Yoda who broke the silence. "Speak to the boy on
this, we must."
The first flicker of emotion since he'd entered the chambers
flashed over Qui-Gon's face. "Surely that isn't necessary, he's
been through a great deal of trauma and..." Mace Windu held up
a hand and he stopped. Of course the council would want to
speak to the young man, he had already known that but he'd
hoped to spare him any more pain.
"We will see your apprentice and then we will make our
decision."
Obi-Wan stood perfectly still, trying not to visibly react to
the sensation of nearly a dozen minds touching his own. He'd
been told that the council needed to speak to him but aside
from a brief greeting no one had said a word, instead they'd
moved on to a more direct manner of approach.
Keeping his mind clear to assist their probing wasn't an easy
task. A thousand questions were echoing in him, questions that
he dare not ask. He wondered where his master was; they'd
separated upon their landing at Coruscant, and what he had told
the council. A wave of despair that he couldn't quite dampen
washed over him. Most likely he had told the council that his
apprentice was unsuitable. He could hardly believe what he had
done, practically attacked the older man. It was one thing to
have private imaginings about such things but quite another to
force them onto a vulnerable partner.
The tightness in his chest grew. He would probably never see
Qui-Gon again; he'd never even get a chance to apologize, to
beg forgiveness for his thoughtless actions. Wrapped up in his
own thoughts, he almost didn't hear Master Windu speaking to
him.
"You may go, Obi-Wan. Thank you." he said gently. Obi-Wan bowed
low to them and left.
Again, Qui-Gon Jinn stood before the council. He idly wondered
if this were the last time he that would be permitted to stand
here. A bender of the rules, he had been quite often, but never
a breaker of them and what he had done was a most serious
violation of the code.
He waited politely for the Council to begin, mentally wishing
that they would just get it over with. The soft whoosh of the
door surprised him and he turned just in time to see Obi-Wan
enter. It was the first time he'd seen him since their arrival
days before and deep inside, in a hidden place, his heart ached
for the young man. He looked haggard and pale, a testament to
all he'd been through recently.
He tore his eyes from the younger man even as he felt the
weight of Obi-Wan's eyes upon him. It would all be behind them
soon and the young man would recover in time. If only he could
say the same of himself.
Before the Council began, Qui-Gon committed a grave breach of
etiquette. He spoke before the Council addressed him.
"Masters, I would rather that these proceedings occurred
without the presence of Obi-Wan." He felt a wave of disapproval
from the Council members at his boldness. Ah, well, a rebel to
the end, Qui-Gon thought wryly.
Obi-Wan. Not, my Apprentice or my Padawan, just his name
nothing more. Obi-Wan's heart constricted further. He committed
his own breach then.
"With all due respect, I wish to be here. I will stand for my
own misbehavior." At his words, Qui-Gon finally turned to look
at him.
"You are my Padawan, I am responsible for your actions. And
aside from that, you have no crimes to answer." The older man's
tone was ice cold, but it fanned flames inside Obi- Wan, who
tamped the anger down with some effort.
"I am here to stand with you and accept whatever punishment we
receive."
"I do not need or want you to be here!" They both stood glaring
at each other before another voice broke through their
antagonism.
"Are you both quite finished?" Mace Windu asked dryly. Both men
had the grace to blush and straighten into a posture of
respect. "Thank you. Master Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan is here at our
request and he will remain." A muscle twitched in Qui-Gon's
cheek but he said nothing. "As to the... situation, it is the
decision of the Council that there was no one responsible and
that you handled a difficult predicament to the best of your
abilities. Obi-Wan will remain in your care, Master Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan almost sagged to the floor in his relief. The tension
of the past few days drained away, leaving him weak. He was
just about to bow to the Council and depart when he heard his
Master speak again.
"I'm afraid that won't be acceptable." The entire Council froze
at his words, a soft murmur going through the room.
"Not acceptable? No longer do you want Obi-Wan Kenobi as your
Padawan apprentice?" Sheer disbelief colored Master Yoda's soft
voice.
Silence rose stiflingly in the Council Chambers as they waited,
all eyes but Obi-Wan's on the man standing center. A moment or
an eternity later, Qui-Gon finally spoke.
"No."
The flame of hope that had risen in Obi-Wan at the Council's
decision was abruptly extinguished. Before the entire Council
the light in his eyes died and he stood, an empty shell. He was
dimly shocked that so much pain could be caused by one tiny
word.
Yoda broke the stunned silence once again, speaking slowly, "A
mistake this is, but pressure him on you we cannot. Another
master will be found."
And without another word Qui-Gon bowed low to the Council and
left the room, not even sparing a glance toward his now-former
apprentice.
Qui-Gon Jinn was a Jedi Master, had achieved that level years
ago. He knew every meditation technique taught as well as a few
that he had created himself. And not one of them was working
for him tonight.
He couldn't get Obi-Wan's face out of his mind. The look on his
face that Qui-Gon had only seen out of the corner of his eyes,
that...emptiness.
He ignored the echoing emptiness inside himself. He had made
the right choice, the only choice.
It wasn't because of what had happened. He could admit to
himself now that it had been no one's fault, not really, just a
reaction to being abruptly severed from the force. No, that
wasn't the reason he could no longer teach Obi- Wan, his
reason's were infinitely worse.
He wanted it to happen again. Not just wanted, craved it,
needed it. If he closed his eyes he could see that beautiful
young man beneath him again, face sweat-dampened and the soft
sweet sounds of pleasure that he had made...No! No, he could
not, -would- not accept that. He could not force his student
that way, not Obi-Wan.
"Seeking peace, you are. Regretting your decision." Qui-Gon
started at the quiet voice, so caught up in his thoughts he
hadn't felt the other approach. Yoda stood at his elbow,
leaning on the cane he always carried.
"Whether or not I regret it is irrelevant," Qui-Gon said,
resolutely staring straight ahead, refusing to look at the
elder master. "It was necessary, the boy deserves better than I
have given him, he needs a new master." Yoda was shaking his
head sadly before Qui-Gon finished.
"No new master will be needed." Qui-Gon took a deep breath but
his protests died unspoken as Yoda continued. "No master at all
will be needed. Obi-Wan has left the temple, know not where he
has gone." Nearly a full minute passed before Qui-Gon exploded.
"What! How could he do that, how could he just throw aside his
training..." Yoda's soft, child-like voice broke through his
tirade.
"Easy it is to throw away training, when his master has thrown
him away."
Qui-Gon fell silent. He sat, motionless until with a slight nod
he stood and left the room. Yoda watched him go, his lips
curved into a faint smile.
"No new master will be needed," he murmured. Then his smile was
replaced by a frown. Now that he had dealt with this the
Council had more important matters to worry about. Like who was
trying to capture a Jedi and for what purpose.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath of fresh air as he stepped out of
the transport. Looking around, he smiled as he realized that it
was just as beautiful as he remembered. He had been to Aldeeran
years ago on a mission with his ma...with Qui-Gon, he corrected
mentally, and had been fascinated then by its beauty and
tranquility. Tranquility that he desperately needed right now.
He smoothed his hands uncomfortably over his clothes. After so
many years of wearing Jedi robes it felt strange to wear
anything else. But he had left the temple and no longer had the
right to wear the robes. He'd left his lightsaber as well and
he ached over its loss. Having built it himself it had been
special to him. The only thing he'd retained from his previous
life was his Padawan braid. He couldn't let go of it, not just
yet. Resolutely, he pushed those thoughts aside. That was the
past and now it was time to look forward.
He wandered aimlessly for a time, taking in the scenery before
he stumbled over a small park. Complete with a running stream
and a group of teenagers playing ball in one corner, it was a
perfect picture of serenity. He found himself drawn in before
he even realized what he was doing.
He settled himself on the soft grass beneath a tree and in
moments was deeply into his meditation, tension that he'd been
carrying for what felt like years easing.
He had been sitting, perfectly still, for well over an hour
when he felt a faint ripple in the Force, a warning. Acting on
sheer reflex he plucked the ball out of the air barely a moment
before it would have struck him in the head.
The teenagers' cries of warning died on their lips as they
stared at him in wonder and shock. One of them finally gathered
himself enough to jog over to where Obi-Wan was still sitting.
"Are you all right?" the young man panted, "That was
incredible! How did you -do- that?" Obi-Wan shrugged off the
praise, handing the ball to teenager.
"Good reflexes I guess," Obi-wan said. The other man grinned.
"I guess! Hey, you want to play, uh,"
"Ben. My name is Ben." The lie came to him uneasily. He wasn't
exactly hiding, but the fewer people who knew his identity the
better.
"Ben, good to meet you. I'm Bail, Bail Organa. So, Ben, you
want to play?" Bail's cheerfulness was infectious and Obi- Wan
found himself smiling unwillingly.
"I appreciate the offer, Bail, but not right now. Perhaps some
other time?"
"Sure, another time," he said agreeably. "Well, catch you
later, Ben." With a wave he turned and raced back to his
friends and the game quickly resumed.
Obi-Wan tried to sink back into his meditative trance, but his
concentration was broken and with a sigh he stood. He needed to
find a place to stay for the night anyway.
He was scarcely out of the park when he rounded a corner and
ran smack into a wall. At least it felt like a wall. Looking
upward revealed an extremely large, extremely ugly, and now
extremely annoyed humanoid. It wasn't a species Obi-Wan had
seen before with large, yellowish tusks and beady red eyes.
"Watch where you're going, you oaf!" The humanoid pushed him
and, already off balance, he nearly fell but managed to catch
himself.
"I beg your pardon," he said politely and moved to step aside
before he realized that the creature wasn't alone. A rough
circle of about five similar humanoids had formed around him.
He groaned silently, this was not good.
The first one chortled, "I beg your pardon?" he mimicked. "I've
never seen you around here before pretty boy." He leaned
forward and Obi-Wan could smell the stink of his breath. "I
like pretty boys, maybe you'd like to be my pretty boy
tonight?"
Worse and worse. Obi-Wan took a careful step backwards. "Look,
I apologize for running into you, but I'm in a hurry, so..."
Laughter ran through the circle around him. "In a hurry, well,
well, I'll speed up for you then, pretty." Obi-Wan sensed the
fist coming at him before he saw it, but didn't block. He
didn't need to, he simply stepped aside and let the behemoth's
own weight topple him to the ground.
At that sight the group around him suddenly decided that this
wasn't so funny anymore and Obi-Wan realized he was in real
trouble. He could beat them all easily, he knew that wasn't a
problem, but it probably wouldn't be good to end his first day
here by trouncing the locals. Although allowing them to beat
him to a bloody pulp didn't exactly appeal very much either.
Before he could decide on a course of action, he heard someone
calling him.
"Ben! Hey, Ben, there you are!" Bail Organa sprinted over to
him and, to Obi-Wan's surprise, the others stepped aside
uneasily, allowing Bail near him. "Hey Ben, we're going to be
late for dinner. You know how much my father hates that. C'mon.
Oh, hi Ohog," The huge male was just pulling himself to his
feet, glowering at them both, but he said nothing. Obi-Wan let
himself be pulled away by the cheerful teenager, not speaking
until they were out of earshot.
"Thank you," he murmured. Bail grinned.
"Not a problem, my friend. Those guys are trouble. My father's
the ruler of Alderaan, "he continued, blithely ignoring
Obi-Wan's startled look, "And he'd be upset if I let a newcomer
get clobbered." He was still practically dragging Obi-Wan with
him. "I wasn't kidding about being late though, we better
hurry."
"Oh, I couldn't..."Obi-Wan stammered, but Bail cut him off.
"It's OK, my parents won't mind."
Won't mind was something of an understatement. The Elder
Organa's, who turned out to be just as friendly and easygoing
as their son, were delighted to have a guest for dinner. He
answered their questions politely, but carefully, not wanting
to reveal too much. Upon hearing that he didn't have a place to
stay, they immediately insisted that he stay with them for a
time. He protested weakly, protests that they brushed aside
and, somewhat bemused, Obi-Wan found himself in their
guestroom.
Staying with the Organa's seemed to be just the balm his
wounded soul needed. Bail and his father were gone during the
day, performing their political functions and Dala Organa,
Bail's mother, left their guest at peace. She saw him in the
gardens often, deep in meditation, and her sympathetic heart
ached for the young man, who seemed far too young for the
burden that he appeared to carry.
Other times, Obi-Wan helped Dala with the chores that she
insisted upon doing, despite the servant droids in the
household. The two quickly formed a bond; both charmed by the
other. Obi-Wan wondered fleetingly at what he had missed by
being at the Jedi Academy, but pushed the thought aside firmly.
It had been worth it, for although he would now never be a
Jedi, he had memories to carry him through his life, wherever
the future took him.
If there was one dark spot in his contentment, it was Qui- Gon.
That was a wound that he didn't seem to be able to heal. It
only took one word, or a fleeting thought for the entire memory
of his rejection to flood back to him and rip the wound open
again.
He had been at the Organa's home for nearly one standard month
before that hurt was finally dealt with. One evening, he was
sitting in the garden after dinner, as was his habit, when he
heard Bail approach. The younger man settled himself
comfortably on the bench next to him and they sat in
companionable silence.
The two young men had become good friends. Actually, it would
be difficult for anyone -not- to like Bail, Obi-Wan thought
ruefully, he would be an excellent politician. The niggling
guilt he felt at lying to the younger man pushed itself to the
fore again. As if he could hear Obi-Wan's thoughts, Bail
settled a gentle hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, the soft touch
finally pushing through Obi-Wan's reservations.
"Bail, I wanted to tell you that...I lied to you about who I
was when I first met you." They didn't look at each other, both
still watching the sunset, but Obi-Wan saw Bail nod, much to
his own surprise.
"I was wondering when you'd say. I knew you were a Jedi when I
saw you catch that ball." He chuckled, "Only someone with Jedi
training has reflexes that good. I didn't recognize you until a
few days later though." Words failed Obi-Wan and he sank back
against the bench. "I saw you here before, years ago, with your
Master, Qui-Gon, I believe his name was." They were both silent
for a moment, then Bail asked gently, "Obi-Wan, what happened?"
Slowly, painfully, Obi-Wan told him. Bail said nothing, passed
no judgments, simply nodding encouragingly whenever Obi-Wan
stumbled or emotion overcame him. The outpouring seemed to
cleanse something within him in a way that meditation hadn't.
And finally, exhausted, he finished.
"Thank you for telling me, my friend." Bail was quiet, his
normally cheerful face pensive. "I don't think that Qui-Gon
meant to hurt you, I..." the abrupt ripple in the force came
too late, there was no time for defense. Bail and Obi-Wan both
collapsed, unconscious.
Bail Organa Sr. was pacing the floor nervously, hoping he had
made the right decision. His wife clearly didn't think so and
had been regarding him as the worse kind of traitor since he
had told her what he had done. The door chime made him jump and
he composed himself quickly before answering it.
"Thank you for coming. I contacted you the moment I realized
who he was." The tall figure at the door stepped inside.
"I appreciate that very much. I've been searching for him for
weeks." The tall man lowered his hood and Qui-Gon Jinn surveyed
the elegant home. "Where is he?"
Obi-Wan woke to the sensation of nerves he didn't even know he
had throbbing in agony. And something else, something...he
closed his eyes in despair as he felt an all-too familiar
pressure at his temples and the aching void inside him.
"Well, well, pretty boy decided to wake up" Obi-Wan's eyes
snapped open in disbelief.
"Ohog? What the hell do you think you're doing?" The large man
moved into Obi-Wan's line of vision.
"I got offered a pretty hefty price for a living, breathing
Jedi." He gave Obi-Wan's Padawan braid a painful tug. "You
aren't a full Jedi, but I figure I can get -something- for
you."
Obi-Wan scanned the room. "Where is Bail?" Ohog scratched his
nose and snorted.
"He might be worth money, but I'm not taking a chance on
ransoming a King's son, so he's useless to me. We're -
disposing- of him." He grinned at Obi-Wan's horrified
expression. "Don't worry about him, pretty boy, if I were you,
I'd worry about myself.
Bail Organa was not a religious man. Alderaan was very liberal
in its beliefs, with several mainstream religions as well as
smaller groups. Bail had studied several and had decided to
simply leave his options open until something appealed. Right
at this moment, however, he was praying to every God, Goddess,
Deity, Spirit, whatever, he could remember. Not wanting to
shoot him and arouse suspicion, they had decided to simply
pitch him out the hatch when the ship was airborne.
Bail wasn't sure why they thought -that- wouldn't be
suspicious, like his family would just think he'd decided to
try flying without a jetpack, but he wasn't about to argue. At
least they hadn't just blasted him. So he sat and waited one of
Ohog's friends standing nervously nearby blaster in hand. He'd
be lucky if the idiot didn't shoot him by accident, Bail
thought sourly. He wondered where Obi-Wan was. Wherever you are
my friend, I hope you're doing better than I am, he thought
silently.
He nearly screamed at the sudden thump behind him, thinking for
an instant that the crazy bastard had shot him. Then, he peeked
over his shoulder to see a stranger standing over the
unconscious body of his former guard. No, not a stranger, Bail
realized, eyes narrowing.
"Qui-Gon Jinn," he guessed. The other man knelt behind him and
untied him.
"Where is Obi-Wan?" he said by way of greeting. Bail shook his
head.
"I don't know, I...hey wait." Qui-Gon stopped and turned back
to the young man.
"Stay here, you'll be safer." Then he turned away and was gone.
Bail stared after him for a moment before grabbing the
ex-guards blaster and following.
"Like hell I'll stay here."
Qui-Gon made his way down the corridor silently. He couldn't
sense exactly where Obi-Wan was, but he knew he was on this
transport and there was no hiding on a ship this small.
The first two rooms yielded nothing. He keyed open the third
door and sight before him froze his blood. A huge, bloated
creature stood there, a Freelian, his mind supplied. He was
pressed into a corner, Obi-Wan dangling limply on one of his
arms. The other hand held a blaster, pressed to the back of the
young human's head.
"Let him go." He let the Force weight his words, using its
influence to manipulate the Freelian. His only reaction was to
tighten his grip on Obi-Wan.
"Oh, I don't think so. I'm the one with the bargaining chip
here." The larger man was panting heavily, nervous. Sweat was
running down his face. "Now, put down your little toy and I
won't hurt pretty boy here.
Qui-Gon's mind raced, finding a rejecting several
possibilities. Any kind of attack would be too risky. If he
went along with the Freelian they might at least have a chance.
Carefully, he bent down and place his lightsaber on the floor."
"Kick it over to me."
He did as the Freelian asked. The creature laughed then, great
snorting guffaws and Qui-Gon realized his mistake. "It's too
bad I only had the one disrupter device," Ohog said as he
brought his weapon to bear on the Jedi Master. An instant
before Qui-Gon would have reacted, used the Force to yank his
lightsaber back and deflect the blow the best that he could, a
blaster fired. Ohog looked down at himself in disbelief, at the
charred hole in the side of his tunic before he collapsed;
Obi-Wan slumped boneless next to him.
Bail Organa stood at the open side entrance; a wisp of smoke
drifting up from the blaster still clenched tightly in his
hand. He stood frozen as Qui-Gon quickly went to his student,
his arm dropped limply to his side and the blaster clattered to
the floor.
Carefully turning the young man, Qui-Gon pressed a hand to his
forehead trying to scan him but the disrupter device still
attached to Obi-Wan's temple distorted any information he could
glean. He lifted Obi-Wan into his arms as easily as if he were
a child and turned back to Bail. The Aldeeranian was the color
of oatmeal, still staring at the fallen Freelian.
"Bail." The young man blinked at the sound of Qui-Gon's voice,
he focused his attention on the Jedi. "You did what you had to
do," Qui-Gon said quietly. Bail took a deep breath and nodded
and they both turned and walked out without looking back.
The darkened room was quiet and still, the silence broken only
by an occasional soft sound from the bed, whimpers that were
quieted as large hands gently soothed the bed's sole occupant.
Qui-Gon was hunched in a chair next to the bed, fighting
exhaustion. He had spent hours with Obi-Wan, healing his
injuries from both the implant and repeated stuns. Obi-Wan was
finally sleeping instead of simply being unconscious. The
occasional muscle spasm still racked him but not painfully
enough to wake him. The Freelian had stunned him again after
he'd lost radio contact with his cohort. There wouldn't be any
permanent nerve damage, Qui-Gon had made sure of that, but he
would be sore for a few days.
He heard the door open and close behind him and knew without
looking who it was.
"He told me what happened, why he left."
Qui-Gon said nothing.
"He thinks it was about him, you know. He didn't leave because
he blamed you or hated you. He left because he thought you
hated him for what he did."
Qui-Gon took a deep breath, held it, let it out. "Is that what
he told you?"
Bail shook his head. "He didn't have to. When he first got here
the guilt was killing him. I think...I think he's managed to
forgive himself."
Obi-Wan jerked and made a soft sound of pain. The Jedi Master
lightly stroked his face, easing the spasm and young man
relaxed again into sleep. Long moments went by before Qui-Gon
spoke again. "But he hasn't forgiven me."
The young man smiled at that. "No, he hasn't forgiven you," he
said, "To him, you haven't done anything that needs forgiving."
They sat in silence; both studying the face of the sleeping
Jedi and both were struck by how young he looked, the lines of
his face relaxed in slumber.
"You love him," Bail said quietly. Only the slightest tensing
betrayed the Jedi Master. "Not as parent or a teacher but as a
man. You do."
"And what makes you think that?" Qui-Gon finally asked. Bail
laughed at that, softly so as not to wake Obi-Wan. He squeezed
Qui-Gon's shoulder gently and the older man looked up, meeting
Bail's eyes for the first time since he had entered the room.
For the briefest of moments Bail looked far older than his
years, there was maturity behind his eyes and in that moment
Qui-Gon saw a great leader. And then it was gone and the only
thing behind those eyes was a strange sadness.
"Qui-Gon Jinn, who wouldn't love him?" The hand on his shoulder
tightened. "You both need to talk and stop taking blame for
something that wasn't your fault. You should tell him how you
feel, Qui-Gon. Somehow, I get the feeling that he might
surprise you." As quietly as he had come, the young man left
and Qui-Gon was alone again with his apprentice and his
thoughts.
Obi-Wan woke slowly from a dream about floating in a vast ocean
to the reality of sunlight on his face. His hand was halfway to
his face, intent on rubbing his eyes when he remembered Ohog.
He jerked upright, adrenaline throbbing through him, to
discover he was in his room at the Organa's. And next to him,
sound asleep in a cramped chair, he saw a man he never expected
to see again.
He looked thinner, his cheekbones a little sharper, as if he
hadn't been eating properly. A sharp edge of guilt went through
Obi-Won. This was likely his fault as well, and he berated
himself again. If only he had controlled himself better, if
only he hadn't been so weak...and yet, if Qui-Gon did hate him
for what had happened, why was he here now?
He wanted to wake the older man, to ask him. The words came to
his lips and stopped there, and he realized he'd been about to
call Qui-Gon 'master'. His voice failed him at that memory and
instead he simple sat and waited for the other man to wake.
He didn't have to wait long. The older man stirred only a
moment later, his senses warning him that Obi-Wan was awake. He
opened his eyes and met Obi-Wan's stare. They sat there like
that, eyes locked, until finally Obi-Won broke the silence.
"Why are you here?"
Qui-Gon exhaled loudly, Obi-Wan always did like to get straight
to the point. "I came to take you home," he replied.
"No."
"Obi-Wan..."
"No!" he said forcefully. "You aren't my master anymore, I
don't..." He fell silent as Qui-Gon lifted his hands to Obi-
Wan's face and gently held it.
"Hush, Padawan." And he let his shields drop, opening himself
to Obi-Wan for the first time since the incident on the
Telkarian ship. Their link blazed open, emotions built up from
their long separation engulfed them both and Obi- Wan forgot
any protests and simple basked in the sweet bliss of that link.
Finally, the connection died down to tolerable levels and they
both pulled back slightly into their own minds.
A hundred apologies came to Obi-Wan's lips, for his actions on
that horrible mission, for leaving the academy but Qui- Gon
gently pressed a finger against his lips, preventing him from
speaking.
"It wasn't your fault Obi-Wan. No," he said when Obi-Wan made
to speak, "Listen to me. The Council was right, it was not any
fault of ours." Qui-Gon pulled back and leaned back into his
chair, resting his forehead on his hand. -Tell him- Bail had
said. Was it really that easy? Life had taught him otherwise,
that things worth receiving often had to be worked for. Then
again, this wasn't exactly easy. And he still owed the young
man an explanation, that much was clear.
"Obi-Wan," he began slowly, "I've been a Jedi, in one form or
another for my entire life. I began my training as a young
child, as you did, as all Jedi do. And in all that time, I have
walked the light path and not strayed. On that ship..." his
voice faltered, then strengthen, "On that ship, I lost control
so completely that I...I just...I have never lost control like
that, in my life. Ever," he said finally. Obi-Wan was
completely focused on him, sensing that something was
approaching.
Focus, he told himself and when he was calm, Qui-Gon continued.
"I hurt you," he held up a hand when Obi-Wan would have
protested. "No, let me speak. I hurt you and I shot that guard
and I think, maybe, I would have shot the ship's captain if she
hadn't cooperated. When they took that disruption device off me
and I could think clearly, I was horrified by what I had done.
It wasn't my fault, I can see that now, but then..." Again,
calm, deep breathing, relax, he told himself, quieting his mind
before speaking again.
"Obi-Wan, I released you from my apprenticeship because I
thought you would be safer away from me." Qui-Gon sighed and
shook his head. "I was trying to protect you but it seems I
only managed to hurt you worse. I can't bear to hurt you,
Obi-Wan." His eyes lifted and met Obi-Wan's, the cerulean orbs
searching the young Jedi's face. "I can't bear to hurt you,
Obi-Wan," he repeated quietly, "Because I love you."
Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan released a shaky breath. Those hands,
callused and familiar, touched his face again. He leaned into
the touch and one hand lightly stroked his cheek.
"Don't, love," he heard Qui-Gon plead, "Please, don't." And
only then did Obi-Wan realize that warm tears were seeping from
underneath his lowered eyelids. He opened his eyes and looked
into the tear-blurred face of his master, so close to his own.
Qui-Gon wiped a tear away with his thumb, "Please..." His words
were cut off by the press of Obi-Wan's lips against his own. He
drew in a startled breath before he responded, hesitantly,
tasting salt and wetness.
They made love there for the first time, on the soft, cool
sheets in the Organa's guestroom. It was a complete bonding of
mind and body as they merged together. And when Qui-Gon entered
his beloved's body he knew this time there was no pain or fear,
only a sense of completeness as they moved together as one,
joined by themselves and by the Force which flowed between them
and through them. And as they reached their peak and both were
lost in the brightness of pleasure, their bodies separated but
not their minds, and the rested there, each within the other
and each comforted with the knowledge that they were loved.
There was more than one set of damp eyes on the transport pad
the day Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were set to return to Coruscant.
Dala openly cried, declaring that Obi-Wan was a son to her and
welcome to return at any time. Her husband warmly agreed with
the sentiment even as he was pleased that things had worked out
well between the two men.
Saying goodbye to Bail was the most difficult. "I can't begin
to thank you for everything you've done," Obi-Wan said, "But,
thank you so much, Bail. Thank you, my friend."
Bail gave the other man a somewhat watery grin, "Hearing you
call me friend is more than enough." He gave the young Jedi a
hard hug before turning his attention to Qui-Gon. "You take
good care of him, hear?"
Only Qui-Gon Jinn heard the underlying sadness in that voice
and he nodded before saying, "I will, I promise you."
"Don't be too upset, Bail," Obi-Wan teased, "I'm sure you'll be
seeing me again sometime." Qui-Gon squeezed his shoulder and
they both departed then, amidst tears and called good-byes, for
Coruscant and their future, wherever it would lead them.
A dark hooded figure stood, gazing out into the night at the
soft glow of the city. The plan to capture a Jedi had so far
been unsuccessful, but he was patient. Perhaps he needed to
change his strategy. It may not be necessary to capture a
prisoner if he could just get a sample of their blood. He
wouldn't -need- a Jedi then, he could create his own. He nodded
decisively, yes, that plan would be far easier and less costly
to implement. Soon, he told himself, soon. His patience would
have its reward.
End
Questions, comments, Qui-Gon and/or Obi-Wan, naked and wrapped
in cellophane, to keelywolfe@aol.com
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