Warning: The following story contains explicit depictions of a
homoerotic context. If you are easily offended by
homosexuality, please delete the entire thing from your memory.
Disclaimer: all hail the mighty Lucasworld. I don't earn any
profit from my writing because I am not a Ferengi.
Archive: personal homepage, the M_A archive.
Pairing: Qui/Obi.
Categories: POV.
Brief outline: "Prelude to A Storm" begins the second half of
the series. It was a moment of peace and tranquility in the
Republic and the lives of the Jedi. But was it going to last?
The Beast within seemed to have returned, stronger than ever.
The two men had given a new mission.
Summary: Mace Windu ponders on his friendship with Qui-Gon.
Dedicated to ui and all the folks who have given me
encouragement.
Rating: PG-13.
There was a light fragrance drifting in the gardens, hinting of
musk and sandalwood. Master Windu strode along the path, head
lowered in silent contemplation. His brown robe rustled softly,
like dried leaves, as he stopped beside a medium-sized bush,
laden with white blossoms. A group of young initiates greeted
him respectfully and he nodded, smiling slightly. They were
dressed in the off-white tunics denoting their junior status in
the Temple. Most of them were in their early teens, their faces
glowing with health.
Windu sighed, gazing at the sky. It was evening. Faint thunder
rumbled in the distance. The lines of cruisers moved
continuously, reminding him of rivers in his home planet. The
memory of himself, stripped to his waist and standing in
deep-green water, whispered across his mind before it
disappeared. He was Jedi now.
He stretched out his feelings, tapping into the Force around
him. It sang and his bones resonated with a tuneless music.
Even as his awareness branched out, something burst into the
invisible fabric that was the Force. Something resembled the
explosion of some nebula. It flared up in his consciousness, a
white star sending off tendrils of energy.
Embarrassed, feeling as if he had chanced upon a secret tryst,
the Jedi Master backed away 'mentally'. But he could feel his
lips curling with amusement. He recognized the
Force-signatures. Every Jedi had his or her own distinct aura,
a Force 'birth-mark' so to speak. Qui-Gon's Force-signature was
strong, like the pulse of a beating heart while his bond-mate's
was more subtle, a steady hum with an undertow of strength.
Mace drew up the hood and continued on his way. He couldn't put
his finger on it but there was something nagging at the back of
his mind.
He had been feeling nervous for a while now. Nervous and
restless. At first, Depa suggested a good 'saber match to work
out the excess energies in his system. He worked himself into a
find sweat and the feelings of nervous restlessness went
away...only to return with a vengeance. He spoke to Yoda but
the ancient Master was oddly uncommunicative.
Somehow...somehow, everything linked back to Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon.
His friend was turning into an enigma. The man had convinced
the Council that he had managed to get the Alter under control.
For a while, Mace believed him. Everything was back to normal.
They had the Bonding. They started to train Anakin Skywalker.
Qui-Gon was the normal venerable Jedi Master respected by the
Temple. Any trace of the Beast seemed to have faded away.
Force, Mace worried. He worried for Obi-Wan, for
Anakin...especially Anakin. The boy was still oblivious. He was
living in deception and every Jedi instinct in Mace reacted
immediately. He wasn't sure about the consequences, the damage,
if ...if the secret was ever exposed to the child. Trust would
be destroyed and Mace found the thought distasteful. Anakin
looked up to Qui-Gon, not only as a teacher but a father as
well.
A bell rang softly. It was dinner soon. The smell of stew
mingled with the fragrant musk of the gardens.
And Obi-Wan....
The Bonding was one of the rarest in the Temple's history. He
was taught in his youth that the Jedi had abandoned the
extravagance and decadence of the Republic in exchange for
simplicity and chastity. Corusant's past was colorful. People
married. There were joinings of many sorts. But then, that was
the past. So when Qui-Gon declared his decision to initiate a
Life-Bond with Obi-Wan, everyone was decidedly shocked.
He had personally watched Obi-Wan mature. The boy grew from a
gangly youth to manhood, shedding his impulsiveness for
discipline. Obi-Wan had been through a lot with Qui-Gon and
their early relationship was stormy. In fact, it was downright
unstable. Yoda had volunteered to take over the training once
but Obi-Wan stuck to Qui-Gon with a fierce loyalty that
surprised Mace. The news of the Bonding came as a surprise.
Of all the people directly affected by Qui-Gon's lycanthropy,
Obi-Wan was most vulnerable. Mace couldn't sleep for a few
months; he kept seeing gruesome images of gore, death and rape.
Obi-Wan was a very gifted Jedi but Qui-Gon was more powerful.
He could easily kill the younger man. The Bonding was a
mistake. A bad mistake.
Yet...yet, Qui-Gon seemed to have mellowed a lot under
Obi-Wan's care. The man had a stabilizing influence on his
bond-mate's life. Mace often saw them walking down the Temple's
corridor, deep in conversation. Anakin would be close beside
them. They looked content. Happy. How could Mace dispute that?
There were still misgivings in him.
He happened to walk past the training room one afternoon. He
could hear the sounds of 'sabers clashing against each other
and he peered, seeing Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sparring away. It was
pure joy watching the Temple's best duelists in action and Mace
simply admired the fluid movements, the dance-like beauty.
Qui-Gon's long hair was unbound, dripping with perspiration.
His skin glistened and his chest heaved as he circled around
the room. Obi-Wan had a half-feral grin on his face. Mace
gasped as the two men attacked each other, drew past and
clashed once more. The floor was slick with their perspiration
but they didn't seem to care.
As Mace watched in fascination, Qui-Gon grabbed his younger
partner forcefully and planted a bruising kiss on his lips.
Mace saw that split-second flicker in Qui-Gon's eyes. He was
chilled by its ferocity, its predatory nature. It was as if
Qui-Gon was someone else. No, wait. It was as if
someone...something else had taken over Qui-Gon's consciousness
even in that split-second.
Qui-Gon was his friend, his colleague...
But would he himself recognize that friendship? Was he going to
abandon years of friendship, trust and understanding... just
because of one single flaw? He had differences with Qui-Gon and
he was not always happy with Qui-Gon's headstrong nature. Yet,
they had managed to overlook that and instead, worked together
as Jedi Knights and Masters.
"Master Windu?" A girlish voice broke his reverie and Mace
turned around sharply. The thirteen-year old padawan bowed
quickly; she was holding a sealed container in her hands.
"Yes?"
"Soup from the Dining Hall, Master. Master Yoda sent me..."
Mace chuckled. "Return my sincere thanks, padawan."
The girl blushed and scooted off. Mace broke off the seal and
sniffed at the savory aroma appreciatively. He took a few sips,
feeling its warmth seeping into his joints.
Something rippled in the Force, another white-star disruption.
The taste in his mouth suddenly turned to ash.
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