Series: no
Archive: Master And Apprentice, any others please ask
first
Spoilers: TPM and ANH?
Category: Angst
Rating: g
Warnings: none, save that this isn't beta'd
Feedback: Much appreciated, and might just encourage me:)
Summary: Little plot bunny bit hard on this one, it's my first
attempt at angst. It's a "missing scene" so to speak, from A
New Hope. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Owned by George Lucas, blah blah, no money made,
blah, blah, promise to put them back after a bad night's rest.
R2D2 beeped angrily when Ben Kenobi turned away and watched as
the Skywalker boy worked on the protocol droid. The boy looked
far too young as he concentrated on a particularly complex
piece of circuitry that was damaged by the Tusken raiders. 'How
old is he? 19? 20?' He wondered quietly but then R2 once again
interrupted him. Ben turned to the small droid and looked at it
inquisitively.
"What's the matter, little one?" Kenobi said, his voice soft
and slightly gravely from years wasted on the desert world.
R2D2's electronic voice chattered for a moment, repeating what
it had claimed before, that he was the property of Obi-Wan
Kenobi. Ben chuckled softly and a weathered, gentle hand
touched the very top of the persistent droid almost
affectionately. "Yes, you've already stated that you are my
property, though I cannot remember ever owning an astromech
droid" though the name was the same as a droid he briefly
encountered so many years ago, it couldn't be the same one, it
was too much of a coincidence. "Perhaps there is some
programing problem that I can solve for you so we may cure you
of such ramblings on". The old man bent slowly to see if there
was perhaps some chip lodged in the little droid's body that
made him so persistent. Or perhaps it was that the princess was
responsible for messing with the droid's programing, but he
doubted that she had the expertise. Moving aside the piece of
metal that had caused her troubled message to reach him, the
holographic projector suddenly came to life with a loud pop.
This forced Ben to step back, but not for very long as he
became mesmerized by what had happened. Luke, distracted by the
noise, turned to look quizzically at Ben, but the old man just
waved for him to continue working on the other droid. The boy
shrugged and devoted himself once again to taking care of
C-3PO. Ben's eyes were drawn to the image displayed on his
barren home's floor. He gasped, and found that his legs could
no longer support his weight. Kneeling on the floor, Ben
reached out to touch the blue image before him with trembling
hands.
"Qui-Gon..." he whispered, incredulous. Yet there he was, the
image of his best friend, Master, and lover standing before him
in the warm, soft, dark-brown robes he always wore.
"Hello, Obi-Wan..." the handsome face so long lost spoke once
again to a rapt audience. Ben Kenobi was dumbstruck.
"Master" Ben said as tears began forming in his hazel, heavy
lidded eyes. Force, has it been that long since he'd seen that
beloved face? Memories raced through his mind of the times he
spent with his mentor.
"I guess you must be pretty surprised to see me standing here
before you, a mere projection. My plan must have worked, though
I do regret having to deceive one of the queen's droids into
believing you were its owner..." Qui-Gon chuckled at his own
joke, and a small smile appeared on Ben's face, his eyes
riveted to the projection. Luke looked over his shoulder to see
what was happening and quickly snapped his attention back to
his repairs on C-3PO. The young man didn't expect to see Ben's
face streaked with tears, holding his hand out as if trying to
touch the handsome man's image. The old man's grief was a
palpable thing in the air around him and Luke was smart enough
to not interrupt Ben's remembrance. The man in the image
continued to speak.
"Obi-Wan, you were always the wisest of us both, I always
treasured our time together, never forget that you were the
best thing to happen to me. When we were first stuck in that
damned Trade Federation's ship, you said something...I remember
it all too clearly, it was 'I have a bad feeling about this'."
Qui-Gon Jinn's shoulders shook slightly, he was laughing softly
to himself. "I was all too ready to believe that this would be
another mission, one amongst many, both before and after Naboo,
but I have lost that confidence after the appearance of that
tattooed monster" Qui-Gon spat out the last 2 words as if it
were distasteful to even mention their attacker, and old man
remained kneeling, too many emotions hitting him all at once
for him to do anything but memorize this small, intimate
speech. Qui-Gon's gaze grew soft, and he looked straight
forward, Ben could see straight into those beautiful,
passionate eyes.
"If we are separated during this mission, Obi-Wan, I just want
you to know how very deeply I love you. If something should
happen to me, do not despair, for as Master Yoda always tells
me, 'There is no death, there is the Force' and that is where I
will remain ever watchful, waiting for you." Qui-Gon's eyes
showed immense sadness as his uncharacteristic speech closed.
Ben couldn't believe that his Master could have known about his
fate during that mission, but he must have in order to stop and
make this private message for him. It touched him deeply that
Qui-Gon's devotion extended into rewiring astromech droids. A
great gift it was indeed, to see Qui-Gon again, even though it
brought him so much grief at the memories of his loss.
"You always say I like to have the last word, Obi-Wan, so here
it is. Take care, I will always be at your side, and I love
you," Qui-Gon smiled. "Goodbye, my only one, my Obi-Love" and
with those last, intimate words of parting, Qui-Gon Jinn's
image faded to nothing, Ben Kenobi remained still and stared
into the dusty floor of his small home. Luke turned once again
to see the old man huddled, his face held in shaking hands and
Ben was obviously weeping.
"Ben," Luke said, his voice soft as if he didn't want to
interrupt the man in his sorrow. There was so little that he
knew he knew about this odd loner, and yet he felt a closeness
to him as well. He walked over to Ben, his feet barely making
any noise as he stood by the old man's side and then he knelt
next to him. Luke draped an arm over him, a light, comforting
touch and Ben looked at him with gratitude. It was obvious that
the one in the holograph meant so very much to Ben, he burned
with curiosity to know who it was. "Was...was that your lover?"
He asked softly, and immediately regretted his actions the
instant painful memories crossed Ben's face. Ben reached up and
wiped away a few tears that had escaped his weary eyes. He
almost found it amusing, that he still had some left after all
he'd been through. Then the edges of his lips curled up
slightly in a small, reluctant smile. "No, Luke. That man was
everything to me" was his only answer. Just as quickly as the
moment of retrospection and grief had come over Obi-Wan, it
fled, carried away by the dust-filled winds of Tattooine. After
all, he now had another Skywalker to train, an apprentice of
his own choosing, and it left no time for anything else.
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