Archive :yes to master_apprentice, Temple Library and my
homepage only
Category: Q/Y, Hurt/Comfort, POV , AU
Rating: PG
Warnings: Well, not the ones you expect.... READ AT YOUR OWN
RISK!
Spoilers: None
Summary: Qui-Gon returns home from a difficult mission. (Part
of "The Master's Pathway" Series, currently under private
development.)
Feedback: yes, e-mail only
DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognizable characters,
names and references, etc are the sole property of George
Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, Lucasarts Inc and 20th Century Fox.
Aren't we glad he created such wonderful things for us to play
with and enjoy? This fan fiction was created solely for
entertainment purposes and no money was made from it. Any
similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and
not intended by the author.
MASTER YODA
It is an absolutely impossible, suicidal mission - and yet it
must be done. The Force screams out for it to be done.
Thousands trapped on a war torn planet - many - so many
innocent children. It was their parents who somehow managed to
get a plea for help smuggled off the planet and into the
Council Chamber. When will mankind ever learn the folly of War?
Jedi are not warriors. We will not raise an invasion army to do
this. But - as the brilliant military strategist once said:
'Either send a large enough of a force to outnumber and
overwhelm them - or send one man alone'.
The many have the strength of numbers to their advantage. The
one alone has surprise and secrecy as his advantage. Even today
it is known as the "Lone Ranger" tactic.
I blanched when I saw who's name they had matched for this
mission. As did he. Yet, calmly did he listen - and at the
images from the planet, I saw that ever-burning fire blaze up
in his eyes... even as my heart seemed to sink to the bottom of
my being.
Yes he is strong - capable - has the experience. Confident in
the Force is he ... but he is also my student - my friend. How
does one send a loved one off to what seems to be certain
death? Yet again? At least we all agree that HIS learner shall
stay behind.
It was reported today that the embassy was shattered as a bomb
planted by militant terrorists exploded - with no survivors.
The Council was stunned. My heart broke in a private place and
the sun seemed to dim for my eyes. I felt for him in the Force.
But could not find him. Wrong - something is wrong. I would
feel him there if he has gone into it.
We have asked that his remains be returned for burial - and
have been told that identifications are not possible on all
victims. We have asked that his lightsaber be returned, and
have been told that it was destroyed in the explosion - not
even broken parts can be found. We have asked that his extra
clothing be returned - and were told that it was already
redistributed to the needy refugees of the city. We wanted to
send a team to the site of his death, to investigate and sense
what they could - and were told it was too big of a risk now.
Wrong - something is very, very wrong - the Force is telling me
in no uncertain terms.
An ancient radio signal claiming to be a derelict freighter
bearing the last of the refugees from the planet has just ended
it's communication with us. The radioman had said that 'Master
Jinn asks that the refugees be allowed to land at the Temple
and processed from there.' Great Moons of Kaligati! I KNEW he
had not merged with the Force!
Hurt you are my Padawan ... This I can sense even before you
come to the door of the transport. Cold ... far too cold are
you. In dazed shock, lips blue even, you pass by unsteadliy in
the line. Your friend Mace I do send. Fight the healers I know
you would until all others had been treated first ... and this
you cannot afford I am afraid. Not this time Qui-Gon Jinn.
I cannot help but wince as you fall against the wall. Your pain
echoes up my spine ... Your confusion I sense ... and your
weakness. I cannot relax until I feel your friend very close to
you as you wearily break from the line and trudge unsteadily
down the hall. Do you sense the strenghing of our bond this
last year I wonder at times? I can see in my mind, the
indulgent smile you would give me if I spoke of it with you ...
but it reassures me to have allowed it to renew rather than
fade as it was doing before.
Not long later my breath catches as I feel you lose
consciousness ... but sense I do that peacefully did you go,
and being comforted and cared for already you were. // Much too
cold he is. // I try to impress into your friend's mind even as
I sense that you rest limply in his arms.
Soon it is Obi-Wan I feel with you ... and a great surrounding
warmth. Did I not tell you a blessing that boy would be Jinny?
Learn the hard way sometimes you insist on though. Heal your
heart he has my young one, and for that he has my eternal
gratitute. Open you again to love and trust he has. May you
never lose that again my Padawan. I do not think I could stand
to see you suffer such heartbreak ever again. Fortunate it is
that his feelings for you are just as deep as those feelings
for him which you still mostly hide from.
Difficult it is to even let you out of my sight after the near
tragedy of Naboo. Too send you on this mission took more of my
courage - than it did yours I think ... And it is definately
why the later details I did not share with Obi-Wan. I have seen
his eyes when you suffer even the most minor of injuries since
the battle with the Dark One in Theed. Haunt us all those
visions will I am afraid... at least for awhile.
Lock you up in a safe circle of love and protection for the
rest of all time Qui-Gon Jinn ... We would if you would let us
- Obi-Wan, Mace, myself ... The only dissention in that is from
you, my stubborn one. Now it is us you make stretch to the
limits. These lessons you could have spared me young man, and I
would not have minded at all! And yet every day I see you, I
count the blessings of the Force in my life and am more
grateful than I will ever let you know that the lesson of your
death was allowed to pass us by.
For four days now it has been nothing but an endless stream of
refugees across the floor of the Council Room, telling us the
sad tale of the final destruction of their society, and the
miracle of their rescue ...
"And then Qui-Gon Jinn had us organize like this and such
..."
"And then Jedi Jinn arranged us into food scavenging teams and
directed us to ..."
"And then Master Jinn divided us into hidden camps like this
and these so we would not be found by the extermination teams
or the others ..."
"And then the Master Jedi showed us how to make or do this and
that"
"Then Jedi Master called down the Force itself and saved us
from such and such...."
For four solid days of testimony... from over 100 witnesses by
the end of it..
Yoda stood beside the dark blue velvet upholstered couch in the
Master's Quarters area. There on it lay one still-pale Jedi
Master, his eyes closed as he lay on his side with a pillow
from the bed cushioning his head. A blanket of fuzzy light blue
lay over him to his chest, him being clad in the black night
robe over a white under tunic, the dark circles just fading
from under his eyes.
Gently Yoda smoothed down the long hair and swept it away from
the one's face, smiling as now eyes of cobalt blue half opened
to blink at him wearily. "Master - please - I am fine," he said
almost pleadingly and Yoda smiled at him fondly. "No - a skull
fracture you have had... minor or not does not matter... and
even with that - still managed you to do so much. Proud of you
I have right to be my Padawan." He said very appreciatively,
and the Jedi sighed at him, then half rolled onto his side and
propped himself carefully up on one elbow - as now Obi-Wan came
around to sit in a nearby chair.
Obi-Wan had to smile as Yoda now perched there on the couch,
gently rubbing the Jedi's back even as he stifled a deep yawn
with one fist, then blinked up at Yoda heavily as now he laid
back down.
"I barely even remember it Master." he said softly and Yoda
nodded with a sigh. "Not unusual it is to forget a few days
right around the time one incurs a fractured skull Qui-Gon.
Especially for humanoids. But it does not change in the least
what you did - nor the direct impact you have had on thousands
of lives. Well you did young man.. Thankful I am that the Force
saw fit to let you return to us." He said and the one gave him
a shy look as Obi-Wan nodded as well.
"Thankful enough to authorize a little R&R time Master
Yoda?" Qui-Gon asked hopefully, and Obi-Wan quickly frowned.
"Now wait a minute Master, our vacations always turn out to be
just as, if not MORE stressful than staying HERE! I'm not so
sure you are up to a 'vacation'... not anytime in the near
future!" he exclaimed dourly, and the sleepy Jedi Master just
smiled and seemed amused. "Now Obi-Wan.... We cannot stay
locked in the Temple for the rest of our lives... I know a
perfectly quiet, peaceful little planet that I am sure we would
enjoy. Master Yoda and Mace can even come with us if it will
make you all feel any better... " he started with a purr of
persusion.....
The End ?
(Yoda's Note to readers - read part 1 you will, read parts 2
and 3 you will. Each alone tells a story... or together they do
also tell one... Ah, but read part 4... and now you see that
things there are in parts 1,2,and 3... that hint at a different
story than the one you thought the FIRST time around! Strange
are the ways of the Force indeed....... )
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