When God made me a writer, he cursed me with a Mac. If you breifly set you computer using Edit (I think) so it can read Mac text, you will be able to read the apostropheÕs, quotations marks, commas... etc. IÕm working on this problem as you read this... Spooky, huh?...
HIS SUNSHINE
by Vicki Vance
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and his first love, a nice lady and original character of mine. SheÕs not me, in case youÕre wondering. This is my first story online, so please be nice.
Rated PG for mild language and themes.
Takes place a little bit before and after TPM.
Romance/Angst: This isnÕt ÒPassionÕs Torn SkirtÓ if youÕre into that kind of romance.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. I am not making any profit off of this.
Notes from me: Anything between these thingys ** are in italics. You know, all slanty-like.
The sun began its steady rise over the silvery horizon of Coruscant, yellowing the polluted sky with morning rays. The city was stirring, taxis were running, night lamps were being turned off and shades being opened. The light eased across the city, toward the large, elegant Jedi Temple that sat in a rather newly made area of the city. It set itself apart from the rest of the city by keeping itself looking traditional and old-fashioned on the exterior, but as up-to-date on the interior as the Galactic Senate of the Republic; the two worked hand-in-hand.
Sunlight streaked through the unshaded windows, casting light into the dim rooms. A patch of light steadily fell on Obi-Wan KenobiÕs face. He finally woke from the warmth and light and got up from bed, looking over the endless sea of city that stretched out before him. You could spend all your life on Coruscant, constantly moving from apartment to apartment, looking at as much as you could, and still not see all the city had to offer before you died. It was truly awesome, but so was the rest of the galaxy.
Obi-Wan turned to look at Anakin Skywalker. The boy was still asleep, one arm flung across his face, effectively shielding the light. He pondered for a few moments on whether or not he should wake his Padawan learner. He decided not; as soon as the boy was awake, he was wild, unpredictable, and much too energetic for Obi-WanÕs liking. Obi-Wan thought it would be better to give his tired nerves the rest they so deserved.
He went to the refresher unit to brush his teeth, with some diffeculty because his right hand was still in a cast and his left was as unruly as a toddler being dragged out of a candy shop. As he wiggled the electirc cleaner in his mouth, he glanced at his dresser and saw the few pictures he had, the holograms unactivated, the ones printed on paper slightly faded. He saw the printed picture of himself grinning to the camera, his cheek pressed against the cheek of another young person, also grinning to the camera. She was a girl of twenty-six with pale hair and bright hazel eyes. So beautiful and so young.
He finished brushing his teeth and walked past the dresser, plucking up the picture as he walked by. He stared at it, as he had so many times before, and thought. It had all seemed like a dream when it was happening. It was too good to be true. Or rather, too good to last. Now when Obi-Wan looked back on the time he spent with Gyp Sinter, he felt a sting of sadness and a yearning for reconciliation.
He remembered first meeting her, eight or nine years ago, back when Qui-Gon was still alive. It was an uneventful first meeting. HeÕd been in the library studying the historical holocrons when the pale-haired girl had asked if she could watch the holocron also. She too was studying the ancient Jedi and their defeat of the Sith. So they sat together in complete silence, taking notes and drawing conclusions, niether one helping the other. It was only when he saw her that evening in the dining hall with her friends that he gave her more thought. HeÕd walked by the group of girls to sit with his friends when he heard them whispering about a topic that seemed to be his thighs and giggling madly. Feeling himself blush, he sat next to Kikel Manhal and TiacÕh Burrnech and tried to focus on his food.
ÒWhy must females reside in packs?Ó TiacÕh hissed softly to Obi-Wan, trying to comfort him. ÒThey are more fierceful that way. Why are they never solitary?Ó
ÒThat way they can easily attack a lonesome male,Ó Kikel said, grinning at Obi-Wan. ÒIsnÕt that right, Ken?Ó
ÒShut up,Ó the disgruntled teen muttered and chewed on his bread.
Kikel laughed loudly, so he would catch the attention of the girls at the nearby table. ÒAww,Ó he said. ÒThe pressures of being attractive. Now you know what itÕs like for me.Ó
ÒOh, yes. You work quite well with the opposite gender, donÕt you Kik?Ó Obi-Wan said savagely. ÒIf one even lets eyes on you, itÕs off to your quarters for a quick-Ó
ÒShut up,Ó it was KikelÕs turn to mutter threateningly.
TiacÕh made a sound like chuckling and murmured, ÒDo you realize they can hear every word weÕre saying?Ó
Kikel, far more accustomed to females, turned and grinned widely at them. The girls waved back, smiling and flirting. Obi-Wan, unable to stare at his food any longer, glanced briefly at the table of no return and saw the professional-looking pale-haired girl. She wasnÕt giggling. She offered him a weak, apologetic smile and shrug of her thin shoulders. He stared at her. She stared back, until she became too embarassed and looked down at her plate. Obi-Wan did the same, thinking of her with new interest.
The next time he was in the dining hall for breakfast he saw her with her friends. Their topic of the day seemed to be KikelÕs biceps and Obi-Wan passed them unnoticed. But the pale-haired girl saw him. She gave him an ecouraging smile. He smiled back.
When he was there for lunch, she wasnÕt there. He felt faintly disappointed, like some part of his day had gone wrong. She wasnÕt there for dinner either. Or breakfast the next day. Or lunch. But she was there (thank the Force!) for dinner.
Alone.
By herself.
Solitary.
*Oh boy.*
Uncertain whether or not he should be nervous or not, but being nervous none the less, he walked over to her table with his food tray. She looked up at him, face expressionless, as if she werenÕt expecting him, but really was.
ÒAre you waiting for anyone?Ó he asked.
ÒNo,Ó she said. He thought she had a pretty voice.
ÒWould you mind if I sat with you?Ó he asked.
ÒGo ahead,Ó she said, a small embarassed smile crossing her face.
He sat down, but before he did he became suddenly very self-conscious. His legs and arms felt heavy and clumsy. He worried if he had good table manners or not. He usually wasnÕt bothered by this sort of thing, being a Jedi. But girls seemed to affect everyone, even Jedi.
ÒIÕm Gyp,Ó she said. ÒGyp Sinter.Ó
ÒObi-Wan Kenobi,Ó he said.
She grinned. ÒNice name,Ó she taunted.
ÒYou too,Ó he said.
ÒThen weÕre even,Ó she said, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back slightly.
ÒWhoÕs keeping track?Ó
She blushed and didnÕt look at him, trying hard not to smile.
ÒMy friends think youÕre hot stuff,Ó she said, then looked up. ÒI donÕt.Ó
ÒWhy not?Ó Obi-Wan asked.
ÒIÕve seen hotter,Ó she growled softly.
ÒOh yes?Ó he said.
All this was pure flirting. If Obi-Wan had his sense instead of raging hormones he wouldnÕt have behaved like this. There was something he liked about this girl, the way she challenged him and how he challenged her back.
Their conversation turned from fellow teenagers to Masters to missions. It was late in the evening and the sun had set by the time they were getting up to leave. TheyÕd gone their seperate ways with a promise to see each other come morning.
When Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon about the pale-haired girl named Gyp Sinter, he regarded it as if it was all a beautiful game of lust.
ÒYouÕve finally gotten your nose out of those datapads and into some girlÕs face, Obi-Wan,Ó he said. ÒIÕm proud of you. YouÕve become aware of the fact youÕre growing up.Ó
ÒI have noticed their presence before, Master,Ó Obi-Wan said, annoyed.
ÒOh, youÕve always known they were there. You just now realized that theyÕre *girls*.Ó
Obi-Wan didnÕt want to continue the conversation any longer and had to endure listening to Qui-Gon speak uninterupted for quite a while on the subject. Obi-Wan wasnÕt sure anymore if he wanted to see Gyp Sinter anymore if it meant he had to be put through all this unnescassary embarassment.
Fortunately for Obi-Wan, he and Qui-Gon were assigned to a mission early the next morning. They traveled to an industrial planet to investigate the possibility that slaves were being used in factories. The rumors were true; theyÕd found a massive slave operation. The slave populus was made up entirely of illegitimate young women. They were all young because those whoÕd hit puberty were being raped to produce more little workers. The boys who were good became wardens and managers and the boys who were bad were killed.
The matter became galaxy-wide news. Much needed help was sent in along with more Jedi to arrest wardens and managers and integrate traumatized and battered women into a gentle society; Alderaan being a primary location. It was several months before Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon returned to the Jedi Temple and by then Obi-Wan had nearly forgotten about the pale-haired girl with the odd name.
He didnÕt see her at the Temple for quite a while, a little over three years. Obi-Wan, fresh in his twenties, was now very aware of the presence of females and payed them gracious attention whenever he could. Qui-Gon wasnÕt amused anymore. He signed up for long-distance missions so Obi-Wan could Òlearn to focus again.Ó
It worked. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon became engaged in a very grueling war that nearly killed Qui-Gon. The near-death experience affected Obi-Wan far more than Qui-Gon. He felt slightly guilty for not being able to prevent his MasterÕs being wounded and learned to treasure life more than he had ever thought possible. It settled him down, calmed his energetic soul, changed him permanantly. They returned to the Temple, Obi-Wan a mature young man at twenty-two, intense and observant.
Many beings noticed the change and observed it with content pleasure that Obi-Wan was growing. Kikel, his best friend for as long as the two could remember, noticed it very easily and was first to question him.
ÒHey, Ken,Ó he said one day in the ever-popular dining hall. ÒWhatÕs up with you? You havenÕt been your usual flirtatous self. So many hot bods, just waiting to be cuddled... You want them to go to waste?Ó
ÒKikel, there is more to existence than women,Ó Obi-Wan said simply.
Kikel cackled like a lovable maniac. ÒOoo, what ripped your brain out of you head and put it back inside out?Ó
ÒDo you know where Qui-Gon and I went?Ó he asked softly and cooly, a manner completely alien to Kikel.
ÒNo,Ó he answered, stuffing a chunk of fruit into his mouth and chewing noisily. Obi-Wan was annoyed by his manners; they hadnÕt changed at all and he noticed for the first time how bad they were.
ÒGamorr.Ó
Kikel nearly choked on his fruit. He swallowed it, staring wide-eyed at Obi-Wan.
ÒGamorr? You were on Gamorr? You mean, *the* Gamorr that just had that planetary battle with the Gelpha Clan?Ó
Obi-Wan nodded grimly.
ÒStang! How come youÕre still alive?Ó he asked, shocked.
ÒYou mean, how come Qui-GonÕs still alive? Do you know what happened to him?Ó he asked. Kikel shook his head no. ÒLetÕs just say it involved a spiked club, a particularly large Gamorrian warrior, and Qui-GonÕs chest.Ó
ÒDag *stang* it!Ó Kikel breathed. ÒIs he all right?Ó
ÒHeÕs still in the infirmary recovering. The healers inflated his lung and sealed the internal bleeding. TheyÕre worried heÕll suffer from spontanious hemorraging in the lungs.Ó
Obi-Wan spoke about it smoothly and easily, like it was simple daily news. Kikel just stared at him, mouth hanging open, totally speechless. Obi-Wan didnÕt look at him as he ate his rice.
ÒHey, are you all right, man?Ó Kikel asked, putting his hand on Obi-WanÕs arm. ÒI mean, will you need anything?Ó
ÒI think IÕll be fine,Ó Obi-Wan answered, finishing his food and getting up to leave. Normally before he left the dining hall, his eyes would rake through the crowd in search of an attractive female to wink at. But he only departed away through the door, missing the pale-haired girl, who was talking to her friend about the lesson her Mistress had in store for her that night.
He was up before the sun the next morning and in the infirmary to see Qui-Gon before breakfast was being served. As he sat waiting, he saw a girl hunched by the corner. She clutched a bloody napkin to her nose, looking exhausted and broody. Obi-Wan subconsciously reached for the Force and sensed worry, anger, and... was that shame he felt? She was deeply troubled, and it wasnÕt about her bloody nose.
Sensing he was looking at her, she glanced at him and flashed him a grumpy, hateful face. She did a double take and removed the napkin from her face, revealing the slightly bruised face of the pale-haired girl heÕd met years ago.
ÒYouÕre Obi-Ken, right?Ó she asked.
ÒObi-Wan.Ó
ÒRight, sorry. ItÕs been a while.Ó
ÒSure has,Ó he said, keeping a pleasent look on his face as he desperately tried to remember her name. ÒGyp Sinter. Is that right?Ó
ÒUh-huh,Ó she said, smiling slightly. She pinched her nose again and looked uncomfortably away.
ÒWhat happened to you?Ó he asked.
ÒI, uh,Ó she said testily. ÒMy Mistress and I were training, and there was sort of an accident. I kind of tripped and broke her leg. It was my fault.Ó
ÒAccidents are accidents.Ó he said comfortingly. ÒThey are nothing more.Ó
ÒBut I wasnÕt paying attention,Ó she said sharply. ÒAnd look at what happened, a broken leg and a bloody nose.Ó
ÒYou admit you made a mistake?Ó
ÒOh, yes. A big one. I mean, it was me who fell on her and knocked her onto the rocks.Ó
ÒDo you know why we make mistakes?Ó he asked. He didnÕt wait for her to answer. ÒWe make mistakes so we can learn from them. Remember first picking up a lightsaber? Remember all the burns you got, every time the thing flew out of your hands and hit the kid next to you in the head? You learned to control it better, hold onto it better. Just apply the same idea here and learn to watch your footing more closely when youÕre fighting.Ó
She looked at him and nodded, relieved. During the brief silence, he shifted awkwardly and twiddled his thumbs as he remembered that she was a girl and had all the girl-parts and they were nicely shaped.
ÒWere you training this morning?Ó he asked.
ÒNo,Ó she answered. ÒIt was supposed to be a fourty-eight hour training session in the multi-terrain room. We started last night and it barely lasted twelve hours.Ó
ÒLack of sleep can fog concentration,Ó he said.
ÒBut I have been trained not to let physical limitations distract my focus,Ó she said.
ÒSo you messed up once. Big deal. It happens. DonÕt let it get you down.Ó
She looked at him, and although her face was covered, he could tell she was smiling.
ÒSo, um, why are you here?Ó she asked quietly.
ÒMy Master was injured off-planet and heÕs recovering here,Ó he said.
ÒHeÕll be okay?Ó
ÒWeÕre not sure yet,Ó he said softly.
ÒOh, IÕm sorry,Ó she said, just as softly.
ÒWell, letÕs just say it involves a lot of blood and a possibility of chronic bleeding.Ó
ÒGoodness,Ó she said. ÒI hope he gets better.Ó
ÒThanks,Ó he said. ÒThatÕs very kind of you.Ó
Qui-Gon was interested when Obi-Wan told him about his conversation with Gyp.
ÒWell handled,Ó he said weakly. ÒCouldnÕt have done better myself.Ó
Obi-Wan smiled at his MasterÕs compliment.
ÒYou like her, donÕt you?Ó
Obi-Wan was taken aback by the unexpected statement and blinked once in silence. Qui-Gon waited patiently for Obi-Wan to answer, which he did.
ÒI guess,Ó he said, unsure why Qui-Gon had asked him or how to answer. ÒShe seems nice enough.Ó
ÒWhile IÕm in bed, I want you to make some social advances.Ó Qui-Gon said.
ÒWhat?Ó Obi-Wan asked, his voice raised slightly. ÒWhat do you- You canÕt just tell me to go out and get a girlfriend.Ó
ÒNo, I donÕt mean that,Ó Qui-Gon said patiently. ÒI want you to apply your maturity to the environment around you, not to keep it bottled up inside you. ItÕs healthier to have friends, Obi-Wan. Go meet some people without the burden of me.Ó
ÒIÕve got friends,Ó Obi-Wan protested. ÒAnd youÕre not a burden,Ó
ÒNow I am,Ó he said, with a quick glance down at his immobile body. ÒIf the doctors want to keep me here, fine. But you are free and should behave that way. You shouldnÕt put your life on hold because IÕm injured.Ó
ÒAll right,Ó he said, nodding. ÒIÕll do as you say, Master.Ó
To Be Continued...
Like it so far? If it seems unxciting, thatÕs because it is. ItÕs only introductions right now.
HIS SUNSHINE
by Vicki Vance
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and his first love, a nice lady and original character of mine. SheÕs not me, in case youÕre wondering. This is my first story online, so please be nice.
Rated PG for mild language and themes.
Takes place a little bit before and after TPM.
Romance/Angst: This isnÕt ÒPassionÕs Torn SkirtÓ if youÕre into that kind of romance.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. I am not making any profit off of this.
Notes from me: Anything between these thingys ** are in italics. You know, all slanty-like.
The sun began its steady rise over the silvery horizon of Coruscant, yellowing the polluted sky with morning rays. The city was stirring, taxis were running, night lamps were being turned off and shades being opened. The light eased across the city, toward the large, elegant Jedi Temple that sat in a rather newly made area of the city. It set itself apart from the rest of the city by keeping itself looking traditional and old-fashioned on the exterior, but as up-to-date on the interior as the Galactic Senate of the Republic; the two worked hand-in-hand.
Sunlight streaked through the unshaded windows, casting light into the dim rooms. A patch of light steadily fell on Obi-Wan KenobiÕs face. He finally woke from the warmth and light and got up from bed, looking over the endless sea of city that stretched out before him. You could spend all your life on Coruscant, constantly moving from apartment to apartment, looking at as much as you could, and still not see all the city had to offer before you died. It was truly awesome, but so was the rest of the galaxy.
Obi-Wan turned to look at Anakin Skywalker. The boy was still asleep, one arm flung across his face, effectively shielding the light. He pondered for a few moments on whether or not he should wake his Padawan learner. He decided not; as soon as the boy was awake, he was wild, unpredictable, and much too energetic for Obi-WanÕs liking. Obi-Wan thought it would be better to give his tired nerves the rest they so deserved.
He went to the refresher unit to brush his teeth, with some diffeculty because his right hand was still in a cast and his left was as unruly as a toddler being dragged out of a candy shop. As he wiggled the electirc cleaner in his mouth, he glanced at his dresser and saw the few pictures he had, the holograms unactivated, the ones printed on paper slightly faded. He saw the printed picture of himself grinning to the camera, his cheek pressed against the cheek of another young person, also grinning to the camera. She was a girl of twenty-six with pale hair and bright hazel eyes. So beautiful and so young.
He finished brushing his teeth and walked past the dresser, plucking up the picture as he walked by. He stared at it, as he had so many times before, and thought. It had all seemed like a dream when it was happening. It was too good to be true. Or rather, too good to last. Now when Obi-Wan looked back on the time he spent with Gyp Sinter, he felt a sting of sadness and a yearning for reconciliation.
He remembered first meeting her, eight or nine years ago, back when Qui-Gon was still alive. It was an uneventful first meeting. HeÕd been in the library studying the historical holocrons when the pale-haired girl had asked if she could watch the holocron also. She too was studying the ancient Jedi and their defeat of the Sith. So they sat together in complete silence, taking notes and drawing conclusions, niether one helping the other. It was only when he saw her that evening in the dining hall with her friends that he gave her more thought. HeÕd walked by the group of girls to sit with his friends when he heard them whispering about a topic that seemed to be his thighs and giggling madly. Feeling himself blush, he sat next to Kikel Manhal and TiacÕh Burrnech and tried to focus on his food.
ÒWhy must females reside in packs?Ó TiacÕh hissed softly to Obi-Wan, trying to comfort him. ÒThey are more fierceful that way. Why are they never solitary?Ó
ÒThat way they can easily attack a lonesome male,Ó Kikel said, grinning at Obi-Wan. ÒIsnÕt that right, Ken?Ó
ÒShut up,Ó the disgruntled teen muttered and chewed on his bread.
Kikel laughed loudly, so he would catch the attention of the girls at the nearby table. ÒAww,Ó he said. ÒThe pressures of being attractive. Now you know what itÕs like for me.Ó
ÒOh, yes. You work quite well with the opposite gender, donÕt you Kik?Ó Obi-Wan said savagely. ÒIf one even lets eyes on you, itÕs off to your quarters for a quick-Ó
ÒShut up,Ó it was KikelÕs turn to mutter threateningly.
TiacÕh made a sound like chuckling and murmured, ÒDo you realize they can hear every word weÕre saying?Ó
Kikel, far more accustomed to females, turned and grinned widely at them. The girls waved back, smiling and flirting. Obi-Wan, unable to stare at his food any longer, glanced briefly at the table of no return and saw the professional-looking pale-haired girl. She wasnÕt giggling. She offered him a weak, apologetic smile and shrug of her thin shoulders. He stared at her. She stared back, until she became too embarassed and looked down at her plate. Obi-Wan did the same, thinking of her with new interest.
The next time he was in the dining hall for breakfast he saw her with her friends. Their topic of the day seemed to be KikelÕs biceps and Obi-Wan passed them unnoticed. But the pale-haired girl saw him. She gave him an ecouraging smile. He smiled back.
When he was there for lunch, she wasnÕt there. He felt faintly disappointed, like some part of his day had gone wrong. She wasnÕt there for dinner either. Or breakfast the next day. Or lunch. But she was there (thank the Force!) for dinner.
Alone.
By herself.
Solitary.
*Oh boy.*
Uncertain whether or not he should be nervous or not, but being nervous none the less, he walked over to her table with his food tray. She looked up at him, face expressionless, as if she werenÕt expecting him, but really was.
ÒAre you waiting for anyone?Ó he asked.
ÒNo,Ó she said. He thought she had a pretty voice.
ÒWould you mind if I sat with you?Ó he asked.
ÒGo ahead,Ó she said, a small embarassed smile crossing her face.
He sat down, but before he did he became suddenly very self-conscious. His legs and arms felt heavy and clumsy. He worried if he had good table manners or not. He usually wasnÕt bothered by this sort of thing, being a Jedi. But girls seemed to affect everyone, even Jedi.
ÒIÕm Gyp,Ó she said. ÒGyp Sinter.Ó
ÒObi-Wan Kenobi,Ó he said.
She grinned. ÒNice name,Ó she taunted.
ÒYou too,Ó he said.
ÒThen weÕre even,Ó she said, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back slightly.
ÒWhoÕs keeping track?Ó
She blushed and didnÕt look at him, trying hard not to smile.
ÒMy friends think youÕre hot stuff,Ó she said, then looked up. ÒI donÕt.Ó
ÒWhy not?Ó Obi-Wan asked.
ÒIÕve seen hotter,Ó she growled softly.
ÒOh yes?Ó he said.
All this was pure flirting. If Obi-Wan had his sense instead of raging hormones he wouldnÕt have behaved like this. There was something he liked about this girl, the way she challenged him and how he challenged her back.
Their conversation turned from fellow teenagers to Masters to missions. It was late in the evening and the sun had set by the time they were getting up to leave. TheyÕd gone their seperate ways with a promise to see each other come morning.
When Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon about the pale-haired girl named Gyp Sinter, he regarded it as if it was all a beautiful game of lust.
ÒYouÕve finally gotten your nose out of those datapads and into some girlÕs face, Obi-Wan,Ó he said. ÒIÕm proud of you. YouÕve become aware of the fact youÕre growing up.Ó
ÒI have noticed their presence before, Master,Ó Obi-Wan said, annoyed.
ÒOh, youÕve always known they were there. You just now realized that theyÕre *girls*.Ó
Obi-Wan didnÕt want to continue the conversation any longer and had to endure listening to Qui-Gon speak uninterupted for quite a while on the subject. Obi-Wan wasnÕt sure anymore if he wanted to see Gyp Sinter anymore if it meant he had to be put through all this unnescassary embarassment.
Fortunately for Obi-Wan, he and Qui-Gon were assigned to a mission early the next morning. They traveled to an industrial planet to investigate the possibility that slaves were being used in factories. The rumors were true; theyÕd found a massive slave operation. The slave populus was made up entirely of illegitimate young women. They were all young because those whoÕd hit puberty were being raped to produce more little workers. The boys who were good became wardens and managers and the boys who were bad were killed.
The matter became galaxy-wide news. Much needed help was sent in along with more Jedi to arrest wardens and managers and integrate traumatized and battered women into a gentle society; Alderaan being a primary location. It was several months before Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon returned to the Jedi Temple and by then Obi-Wan had nearly forgotten about the pale-haired girl with the odd name.
He didnÕt see her at the Temple for quite a while, a little over three years. Obi-Wan, fresh in his twenties, was now very aware of the presence of females and payed them gracious attention whenever he could. Qui-Gon wasnÕt amused anymore. He signed up for long-distance missions so Obi-Wan could Òlearn to focus again.Ó
It worked. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon became engaged in a very grueling war that nearly killed Qui-Gon. The near-death experience affected Obi-Wan far more than Qui-Gon. He felt slightly guilty for not being able to prevent his MasterÕs being wounded and learned to treasure life more than he had ever thought possible. It settled him down, calmed his energetic soul, changed him permanantly. They returned to the Temple, Obi-Wan a mature young man at twenty-two, intense and observant.
Many beings noticed the change and observed it with content pleasure that Obi-Wan was growing. Kikel, his best friend for as long as the two could remember, noticed it very easily and was first to question him.
ÒHey, Ken,Ó he said one day in the ever-popular dining hall. ÒWhatÕs up with you? You havenÕt been your usual flirtatous self. So many hot bods, just waiting to be cuddled... You want them to go to waste?Ó
ÒKikel, there is more to existence than women,Ó Obi-Wan said simply.
Kikel cackled like a lovable maniac. ÒOoo, what ripped your brain out of you head and put it back inside out?Ó
ÒDo you know where Qui-Gon and I went?Ó he asked softly and cooly, a manner completely alien to Kikel.
ÒNo,Ó he answered, stuffing a chunk of fruit into his mouth and chewing noisily. Obi-Wan was annoyed by his manners; they hadnÕt changed at all and he noticed for the first time how bad they were.
ÒGamorr.Ó
Kikel nearly choked on his fruit. He swallowed it, staring wide-eyed at Obi-Wan.
ÒGamorr? You were on Gamorr? You mean, *the* Gamorr that just had that planetary battle with the Gelpha Clan?Ó
Obi-Wan nodded grimly.
ÒStang! How come youÕre still alive?Ó he asked, shocked.
ÒYou mean, how come Qui-GonÕs still alive? Do you know what happened to him?Ó he asked. Kikel shook his head no. ÒLetÕs just say it involved a spiked club, a particularly large Gamorrian warrior, and Qui-GonÕs chest.Ó
ÒDag *stang* it!Ó Kikel breathed. ÒIs he all right?Ó
ÒHeÕs still in the infirmary recovering. The healers inflated his lung and sealed the internal bleeding. TheyÕre worried heÕll suffer from spontanious hemorraging in the lungs.Ó
Obi-Wan spoke about it smoothly and easily, like it was simple daily news. Kikel just stared at him, mouth hanging open, totally speechless. Obi-Wan didnÕt look at him as he ate his rice.
ÒHey, are you all right, man?Ó Kikel asked, putting his hand on Obi-WanÕs arm. ÒI mean, will you need anything?Ó
ÒI think IÕll be fine,Ó Obi-Wan answered, finishing his food and getting up to leave. Normally before he left the dining hall, his eyes would rake through the crowd in search of an attractive female to wink at. But he only departed away through the door, missing the pale-haired girl, who was talking to her friend about the lesson her Mistress had in store for her that night.
He was up before the sun the next morning and in the infirmary to see Qui-Gon before breakfast was being served. As he sat waiting, he saw a girl hunched by the corner. She clutched a bloody napkin to her nose, looking exhausted and broody. Obi-Wan subconsciously reached for the Force and sensed worry, anger, and... was that shame he felt? She was deeply troubled, and it wasnÕt about her bloody nose.
Sensing he was looking at her, she glanced at him and flashed him a grumpy, hateful face. She did a double take and removed the napkin from her face, revealing the slightly bruised face of the pale-haired girl heÕd met years ago.
ÒYouÕre Obi-Ken, right?Ó she asked.
ÒObi-Wan.Ó
ÒRight, sorry. ItÕs been a while.Ó
ÒSure has,Ó he said, keeping a pleasent look on his face as he desperately tried to remember her name. ÒGyp Sinter. Is that right?Ó
ÒUh-huh,Ó she said, smiling slightly. She pinched her nose again and looked uncomfortably away.
ÒWhat happened to you?Ó he asked.
ÒI, uh,Ó she said testily. ÒMy Mistress and I were training, and there was sort of an accident. I kind of tripped and broke her leg. It was my fault.Ó
ÒAccidents are accidents.Ó he said comfortingly. ÒThey are nothing more.Ó
ÒBut I wasnÕt paying attention,Ó she said sharply. ÒAnd look at what happened, a broken leg and a bloody nose.Ó
ÒYou admit you made a mistake?Ó
ÒOh, yes. A big one. I mean, it was me who fell on her and knocked her onto the rocks.Ó
ÒDo you know why we make mistakes?Ó he asked. He didnÕt wait for her to answer. ÒWe make mistakes so we can learn from them. Remember first picking up a lightsaber? Remember all the burns you got, every time the thing flew out of your hands and hit the kid next to you in the head? You learned to control it better, hold onto it better. Just apply the same idea here and learn to watch your footing more closely when youÕre fighting.Ó
She looked at him and nodded, relieved. During the brief silence, he shifted awkwardly and twiddled his thumbs as he remembered that she was a girl and had all the girl-parts and they were nicely shaped.
ÒWere you training this morning?Ó he asked.
ÒNo,Ó she answered. ÒIt was supposed to be a fourty-eight hour training session in the multi-terrain room. We started last night and it barely lasted twelve hours.Ó
ÒLack of sleep can fog concentration,Ó he said.
ÒBut I have been trained not to let physical limitations distract my focus,Ó she said.
ÒSo you messed up once. Big deal. It happens. DonÕt let it get you down.Ó
She looked at him, and although her face was covered, he could tell she was smiling.
ÒSo, um, why are you here?Ó she asked quietly.
ÒMy Master was injured off-planet and heÕs recovering here,Ó he said.
ÒHeÕll be okay?Ó
ÒWeÕre not sure yet,Ó he said softly.
ÒOh, IÕm sorry,Ó she said, just as softly.
ÒWell, letÕs just say it involves a lot of blood and a possibility of chronic bleeding.Ó
ÒGoodness,Ó she said. ÒI hope he gets better.Ó
ÒThanks,Ó he said. ÒThatÕs very kind of you.Ó
Qui-Gon was interested when Obi-Wan told him about his conversation with Gyp.
ÒWell handled,Ó he said weakly. ÒCouldnÕt have done better myself.Ó
Obi-Wan smiled at his MasterÕs compliment.
ÒYou like her, donÕt you?Ó
Obi-Wan was taken aback by the unexpected statement and blinked once in silence. Qui-Gon waited patiently for Obi-Wan to answer, which he did.
ÒI guess,Ó he said, unsure why Qui-Gon had asked him or how to answer. ÒShe seems nice enough.Ó
ÒWhile IÕm in bed, I want you to make some social advances.Ó Qui-Gon said.
ÒWhat?Ó Obi-Wan asked, his voice raised slightly. ÒWhat do you- You canÕt just tell me to go out and get a girlfriend.Ó
ÒNo, I donÕt mean that,Ó Qui-Gon said patiently. ÒI want you to apply your maturity to the environment around you, not to keep it bottled up inside you. ItÕs healthier to have friends, Obi-Wan. Go meet some people without the burden of me.Ó
ÒIÕve got friends,Ó Obi-Wan protested. ÒAnd youÕre not a burden,Ó
ÒNow I am,Ó he said, with a quick glance down at his immobile body. ÒIf the doctors want to keep me here, fine. But you are free and should behave that way. You shouldnÕt put your life on hold because IÕm injured.Ó
ÒAll right,Ó he said, nodding. ÒIÕll do as you say, Master.Ó
To Be Continued...
Like it so far? If it seems unxciting, thatÕs because it is. ItÕs only introductions right now.