Disclaimer: all hail almighty Lucasworld and its attendant
minions. And also please note: this story is not for profit,
only written for the satisfaction of my readers.
Archive: MA archive?, personal homepage.
Category: AU, implied violence.
Rating: PG with implications of NC-17.
Warning(s): Speculative fiction. Post-TPM.
Summary: Winter solstice approaches. So does the hunting.
Brief outline: The series "The Watcher and The Watched" is a
sequel to the "Lycanthrope" series where Qui-Gon becomes
infected with lycanthropy. In this alternate universe, Qui-Gon
doesn't die. Instead, he and Obi-Wan become co-Masters to
Anakin Skywalker. Insofar, Qui-Gon has managed to control his
lycanthropy and has suggested Bonding with Obi-Wan.
In "Trial", Obi-Wan takes his Knighthood trials and is later
traumatized by it. "Dreams and Nightmares" is where Obi-Wan
recovers and tries to make sense of his Trials. Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan goes through Bonding in "Ceremonies and Masks".
The months passed by quickly, like the fleeting wings of a
sunbird. Like a river, the lives of the Coruscant folk flowed,
eddied and ebbed. To the keen observer, the fluidity of their
lives was almost hypnotic. People moved, traveled off planet
and newcomers would arrive, bringing with them a new set of
ideas and habits. It was a period of calm, like the gentle
stream before it turned into a thundering waterfall.
Young Anakin Skywalker trained under the joint supervision of
Masters Jinn and Kenobi. Under their watchful eye and their
combined Jedi training, the boy from Tatooine blossomed
rapidly, absorbing all the new teaching eagerly and easily. He
began to excel at 'saber fighting, a talent he was proud to
show off. He was brilliant at challenges and riddles. His young
mind took in everything. Even Yoda was surprised at the speed
at which he learned and the old wizened Master nodded in
approval, even though he still felt a niggling suspicion like
the sharp nip of a small canine.
As for Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, their relationship
deepened. It strengthened as the months flew past. Their Life
Bond was the talk of the Jedi Temple for a while but the furore
died down, to the relief of Obi-Wan. As they trained Ani, they
also concentrated on curbing Qui-Gon's lycanthropy, the 'Alter'
within him. They pushed the creature back until it lurked in
dreams, a menacing furred wolf-like beast that snarled its
defiance and demanded release. It frightened Qui-Gon initially
as the wolf --him-- was made manifest in those nocturnal
episodes. But Obi-Wan calmed him, gave him will and strength.
The end of the year crept up like a burrow-rat. It was soon
winter solstice. All the households prepared the month-long
celebrations. Womenfolk from both the upper and lower stratas
of the Coruscant society began to procure the glutinous dough
and sweet paste filling so that they could make the traditional
round sweets to be eaten on the day of the solstice itself.
The Jedi Temple, the heart of Coruscant, brimmed with life as
it soon celebrated Winter Solstice. It was a day of fasting and
meditation for the Knights and the initiates. Yet, as an act of
charity and generosity, the Jedi kitchens made enough of the
round dumplings to be given to the poor.
It was cold, the weeks leading up to the Winter Solstice. Poor
Ani, used to the dryness and heat of Tatooine, shivered in his
blankets and craved warmth. His only source of relief was Padme
who came and visited him, giving him a nice beige wrap-around
made of the finest Naboo wool.
It was a time for the hunting to begin. Senator Palpatine
watched, with hooded eyes, at the imposing figure standing in
front of his desk. Silent, clad in armour and cradling a rifle
in its arms, the hunter gazed back fearlessly. Bounty hunters
like him were used to people like Palpatine; aristocrats were
often unscrupulous and the hunter was used to it.
He earned his keep from these rich folk.
"These are the data-chips you have requested, sir." The voice
of the hunter was metallic for his face was covered, leaving
only a slit for vision.
"Good," Palpatine nodded.
The hunter inclined his head back slightly, as if he
acknowledged the implicit praise. He was the best of his kind,
an alpha-hunter. The Outer Rim gangsters and the Hutts sought
him out to do their dirty work.
He had seen everything in his career and he feared nothing now.
Hunting was his job and he did well. He seldom discussed his
hunting techniques, even to his fellow colleagues. In this
business, it was every man for himself. He was mildly surprised
to find Senator Palpatine requesting information on
snow-wolves.
Well, aristocrats and politicians were baffling creatures
sometimes.
The hunter could hear the hum of the transporters flying across
Coruscant. It was a cold winter's night and he was glad for his
thick covering. He held onto his rifle tightly. Winter Solstice
was coming soon. Families would get together and celebrate this
festival. It was supposed to be the darkest and longest day of
winter.
It is a cruel world, thought the hunter to himself as the
steward showed him the way out.
Only hunters will do anything to survive winter.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan's soft voice had the force of a whip. "Stay
awake. You can't sleep during your Evening Meditations."
The blonde-haired lad jerked awake and looked up, red with
embarrassment, seeing only the stern expression of his Master
who stood thin-lipped. Anakin quickly bowed, knowing how
irascible Master Kenobi was these days. He didn't want to be at
the receiving end of a lecture.
"I am sorry, Master."
The blue eyes flashed once. "Good. Don't you dare be lazy,
Padawan Skywalker. Or I will send you off to Master Fabian."
The mention of the Temple's harshest disciplinary master made
Ani shudder and turn redder still. He found himself wishing
that Master Jinn was the one supervising his Meditations
instead. At least, he won't get threatened.
"Don't you start comparing me to Master Jinn," Obi-Wan had a
ghost of a smile on his lips. "Continue your Meditations."
The brown robes rustled and Obi-Wan was gone, leaving Anakin
flustered.
He closed his eyes once more, folding his legs under him. He
cleared his mind of any distractions and began his meditations
... He started dreaming of ... fresh haroun bread, hot and
fragrant from the oven ...his mother's gentle loving smile as
she kneaded dough with her sturdy nimble fingers ... as she
rolled the solstice dumplings between her palms ... as she sang
to him as they made the sweets together ...
Of Kit and his steadfast loyalty ... sharing the solstice
dumplings together under his Pod-racer ...
Of a tall man clad in black, his head a shiny black helmet ...
holding a red lightsaber ...Of an exploding planet and the
horrified shrieks of a million souls ... before they were being
...
Anakin screamed too, feeling his mind-shields crumble at the
sound of the soul-shriek.
"Anakin!" Strong hands steadied him and the boy sobbed
hysterically, numbed from the vision. "Anakin. Open your eyes
and focus on me." Anakin shook his head, terrifed. "Anakin!
Now!"
He obeyed and Master Jinn was looking worriedly at him. He
gladly focussed his attention on the Jedi Master, immensely
relieved at the sight of his mentor. The regal face looked so
comforting. The eyes were gentle and they blotted out the
shrieks in his mind.
"Is he alright now?" Obi-Wan said quietly as Qui-Gon stepped
out from the bedroom. Anakin was so catatonic with fear that
Qui-Gon had to carry him back to his room. The healers were
called in and for a while, the two Masters worried.
"He's sleeping now," Qui-Gon placed a hand on his Bondmate's
arm. "But I got a fright ..."
"So did I ..." Obi-Wan murmured as they walked to the main
sitting area where they sat sorting out their thoughts. The
younger man rubbed his face, trying to eradicate the images
from his mind. Images transmitted by Anakin ...
Qui-Gon reclined on the wooden chair, flexing his arm. He had
suddenly become restless and he felt himself going tense ...as
if he had scented danger. "When he wakes, I will ask him ... "
He sighed heavily and Obi-Wan walked over, standing behind the
older Master. Silently, he massaged the taut shoulders,
pressing the hardness away.
They didn't speak, content to stay silent. Obi-Wan continued
massaging Qui-Gon's shoulders and back until the older man
groaned with pleasure. He kept his own thoughts under tight
control. He kept seeing the diseased heart, the glossy healthy
organ interlaced with Darkness so great ...
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes?"
"It's the solstice tomorrow ..."
"And?"
"We should try some of the kitchen's dumplings ..."
"Ah." Obi-Wan had to smile. "Didn't I recall someone talking
about over-indulgence a while ago?"
"You're becoming like Anakin. Impertinent."
"Oh. I thought I was impertinent a long time ago."
Qui-Gon laughed.
A cold draft made Obi-Wan shiver. It was cold outside and he
hated the internal heating system of their quarters. But at
least, it wasn't snowing like the planet Hoth. Winter solstice
... A faint memory of a kind voice and a bowl of steaming sweet
dumplings came to mind and he smiled.
At least, he won't be sleeping in a cold bed tonight.
It was indeed chilly outside the Jedi Temple. Cold winds blew
in strong gusts and the transporter pilots cursed as they
shivered in their ships. The wealthier folk retreated indoors
and only the poor huddled together in the Coruscant slums. The
seamier side of the city-planet was shrouded in fog and many
cursed the weather for thieves and cutthroats took the
opportunity to steal and kill.
Some of them, garbed in patched garments, hunched around a
steaming pot of water in which a few round dumplings bobbed up
and down. They had managed to steal them from a merchant who
now cursed his misfortune. It was a feast for these beggars and
they were going to enjoy the sweets while they lasted. While
rich bureaucrats became sleek with good food and gourmet
dumplings, the beggars counted their meager blessings.
One, a toothy old crone, scooped a soft dumpling with a spoon
and tasted it tentatively at first. Satisfied, she put the
whole sweet into her mouth and she chewed with pleasure. She
swallowed, coughed and choked.
In front of her shocked friends, the crone turned blue and
collapsed, quivering. Her sightless eyes stared straight into
the uncaring Coruscant sky. It was much later in the morning
when the morgue assistants came to collect the body. The
dumpling was lodged in her throat.
As the beggars wailed and sobbed, a shadow watched in the
alleys. They didn't see him smile.
The hunter padded away to his ship.
Only the strongest will survive in this concrete and metal
jungle.
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