Chapter 1
Qui-gon Jinn stormed down the High Council Hallway with a fake purpose in his step. To be honest, he pulled it off; it really looked like he had somewhere to go. But in all actuality, he could have been moving slower than a snail if he wanted. Qui-gon's face was fixed with such a hard scowl it looked as though you would break your fist if you were to punch him in the face. The proceedings of the Council meeting he had just quitted made his cheeks burn with rage:
"Qui-gon, concerned we are. Disturbing your actions have been and..."
"Master, there has been nothing worth conc..."
"... And," Yoda had continued raising his voice, "decided we have that confined to the Temple you will be." Well, that had been plenty embarrassing enough. But, as always, Qui-gon was going to fight this and make an even bigger scene.
"My Master, this is outrageous! Surely there has been some strong misunderstanding here." Qui-gon's tone was angry. Yoda just shook his head and sighed with disappointment. Qui-gon always pushed buttons where he shouldn't; it was his defiance and as much as it made the Council agitated Yoda had always admired it. But the situation was different. This was life and death.
"Alone we should speak perhaps." The old master nodded at Mace Windu in the next chair. The Council quietly left the chamber, leaving a seething Qui-gon and a determined Yoda.
"Qui-gon stop this must. Understand I do how terribly Xantos hurt you
but..."
"It wasn't his fault!" Qui had snapped. "It was mine."
"Wrong you are, "Yoda replied. "In this case, it was not the teacher who failed. Know how hard it is I do, but gone too far you have."
"Master, nothing is wrong. I've dealt with it. There are no grounds which should lead to my confinement."
"No. Dealt with it you have not. Found you unconscious we did from wounds you did not tend to. Most dangerous missions you take. Against my judgment it was but listen you would not. Threatening your life you are."
"Master Yoda, please,' Qui-gon had pleaded, his voice strained. ' It's not that I deliberately let myself bleed—I did not honestly know the extent of my injuries. That was just an accident."
Yoda stopped him through the force telling him his attempt to be convincing was useless. Qui-gon had known perfectly well he had needed medical attention but he had been shutting himself up so much, he wouldn't seek it. Qui-gon had stood silent then. Yoda finished aloud.
"Confined to the Temple you are" His actions were not worth what you are giving them. Stop honoring them by hurting yourself. Please. Perhaps taking another Padawan...Yoda stopped. Qui-gon shook his head, and left the room in fury without so much as a bow.
Now as his steps left a cloud of dust behind him, he realized how badly Yoda wanted him to take another apprentice. That had been the twentieth time in the last two months Yoda had suggested it. Every time it made Qui- gon fume. It was stuck in his head that he would never teach again. Deep down, he knew Yoda was correct. He was giving Xantos' actions far too much recognition. But it hurt. The pain was devastating but his stage of grief had passed. Anger at himself for being so careless consumed him now, ruled his mind.
Strike 2: Yoda was right once more. Outwardly, he would not admit it but alone with his own thoughts, he knew what he was doing was crazy. The most dangerous missions? Why? Dangerous—an empty word poorly used to describe the reality of what he had seen.. So it was true. He had locked himself up, refused help, rejected taking another Padawan and had let himself almost bleed to death. Yoda knew it; Qui-gon knew it. Yoda thought he could fix it; Qui-gon knew he never could, not till it killed him. Nothing would stop him. Nothing would restore his trust. Not even the innocence of childhood...