Disclaimer: The Star Wars characters and the Star Wars universe that I borrow from, belong to George Lucas. You can use my story on your site if you want, just let me know first.

Author: Peggy Schultz

Email: www.ajourneythrough. A Padawan No More

Characters: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Tahl, Nield, Roenni, Mace, Yoda, and more.

Timeline: Obi-Wan is 13. AU that takes place from JA #1- JA#8.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: AU. Qui-Gon changes his mind and takes Obi-Wan as a Padawan before he goes to Bandomeer. Months later, many problems, including an AU Melida/Dann, interfere with the apprenticeship. This is an Obaona plot idea story.

Author's Notes: This story is a combination of a plot bunny from Obaona, and an idea that I had for an AU of JA #6. After starting to write it, this story took on a whole plot of its own, and barely resembles the plot bunny anymore. Obaona's plot idea was: What if Qui-Gon gave into Yoda and took Obi-Wan as his apprentice immediately? What if, then, Qui-Gon resented Obi-Wan and treated him coldly, even cruelly? And what if Obi-Wan was taken away because Qui-Gon was essentially emotionally abusing him?

Copyright © 2005 PS Schultz

A Padawan No More

Prologue
The Will of the Force

Master Qui-Gon Jinn stood patiently in the lift tube on his way to the Temple's cafeteria. His stomach growled in anticipation of a good hot meal. He had plans to meet his good friend Tahl in the cafeteria, eat second meal together and catch up on the news since he was last home. Nearly six months had passed since he was last at the Temple, and that was only for a couple of days. Qui-Gon regretted his long absences from the Temple, and often missed his friends while taking on mission after mission. Some times he felt lonely.

His thoughts were interrupted as the lift slowed to a stop before his destination to pick up another occupant. The doors slid open and Master Yoda hobbled into the lift, relying heavily on his gimmer stick for support. Master Yoda's continued attempts to convince him to take another Padawan were one of the main reasons that he avoided the Temple. The smaller Master had tried to convince him to take an initiate named Obi-Wan Kenobi as an apprentice. Qui-Gon had finally agreed to watch the boy duel and then let Yoda know that he was not interested, despite the boy's skills. When he did not choose the boy, he thought the meddlesome Master would finally leave him alone. Apparently, he was wrong.

"Master Jinn," Yoda nodded in greeting.

Qui-Gon nodded in return. When the Councilmember did not immediately say anything further, Qui-Gon spoke. "Master, are you here to try and convince me to take the Kenobi boy as my Apprentice again?"

"No," Yoda said looking up to him. "Returning from saying goodbye to Initiate Kenobi I am. Going to the Cafeteria now I am."

"Goodbye?" Qui-Gon questioned. He wondered if another Master had chosen the lad, and he was leaving on his first mission already. He hoped it were so.

"Yes. To Agri-Corps young Kenobi must go. On his way to board the transport to Bandomeer he is."

Yoda's words surprised Qui-Gon. "I thought he had four weeks or so until his thirteenth birthday?" He had not expected they would send the boy away so soon.

"Before his birthday, come no other Knights will to look for a Padawan Learner," was YODA'S simple reply. "Better to send him away sooner rather than later it is."

Qui-Gon thought, "How could it be better to send a boy to Agri-Corps before his 13th birthday?" He had sensed great potential in the boy, but he just didn't feel he could give the youngster the training he deserved. He did not want to see him sent away though. "Do you know for certain that no one will come to the Temple in time to choose him?"

"Matters not it does," Yoda said as the lift stopped on the cafeteria level. "The Master he was meant to have refused him. Ignored the bond beginning to form between them he did. Take him now no other Knight will." Yoda then exited the lift tube walking toward the cafeteria. Qui-Gon could hear his gimmer stick tapping on the floor as he walked away.

Qui-Gon Jinn stood silently in the motionless lift that sat on the floor of the cafeteria waiting for him to leave, choose another destination, or for someone else to call it. For the first time in a long time, he did not know what to do. Could Yoda be correct? Was it his fault the Initiate was being forced to give up his dreams? Bandomeer, he suddenly remembered with wide eyes; he had received word that his presence was requested on the planet to aid with a mining dispute. He, however, had refused the mission in hopes of getting some rest. Was he meant to take the boy as his Padawan and go to Bandomeer with him? Or perhaps on the planet he would change his mind about the boy.

With a barely noticeable hiss, the lift doors slid shut seconds before it began to move upward. Someone else had summoned it. As he rode the lift, he could not help but contemplate what he should do. He knew he should do something, but it was already too late wasn't it? Qui-Gon realized that he had once again doomed a promising student to failure. Obi-Wan Kenobi would never be a Jedi Knight. The thought of training the boy himself, had crossed his mind several times since Yoda told him of the boy's fate. But what if he did train Obi-Wan? What if the lad turned like Xanatos did? It would be best, then, for the boy to go to Bandomeer after all. But what if he didn't turn, what if he did become a great Knight as Qui-Gon had sensed the first time he saw him?

The lift tube stopped again and Qui-Gon stood motionless, lost in thought. His tremulous emotions were not betrayed by his calm and relaxed façade. The lift tube doors slid open revealing the subject of his thoughts. Unlike himself, Obi-Wan Kenobi was not as successful at keeping his surprise and sudden trepidation from briefly showing before he quietly entered the lift. The boy carried a single travel bag slung over his shoulder. Qui-Gon thought the youngster had already left. Was this a sign? Was the Force telling him, he still had a chance to prevent the lad from leaving? He watched Obi-Wan carefully as the boy pushed buttons on the control panel; he had chosen the level of the landing platform.

Qui-Gon could sense the defeat the youngster felt. Sadness, disappointment, and an overwhelming feeling of failure swirled through the Obi-Wan's emotions like a plague ravishing a city full of sentient life forms. The boy tried to shield his feelings from him, but Qui-Gon had sensed them through his weak shields. The initiate obviously did not want Qui-Gon to know how upset he was. Qui-Gon knew, however, that the boy had every right to feel those emotions.

Too soon the lift came to a halt and the doors slid open to reveal the landing platform. Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon for the first time since entering the lift. The boy's eyes were red and puffy, he had been crying. It appeared as if the Initiate was about to say something, but then changed his mind. Instead, he turned away from Qui-Gon and left the lift tube without comment. Qui-Gon felt the wrongness of the boy's departure like a slap across the face. "Wait," he whispered and stepped off the lift for the first time in what seemed like hours.

Obi-Wan was nearly to the transport where an annoyed looking man stood at the bottom of the ramp waiting impatiently. The man was obviously the pilot of the vessel named The Monument. "You're late kid," the pilot grumbled, "Knight Jadu was here fifteen minutes ago."

"Sorry, my friends came to say goodbye at the last minute," Obi-Wan explained.

"How nice," the man sarcastically replied. "We're ready to leave, get on."

"Wait," Qui-Gon called as he quickly walked toward them. "I know you are running late sir, but I must speak with Obi-Wan before you leave." As he reached them, he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. He could feel the lad tense underneath his touch.

"Make it quick, we have a schedule to keep."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon began taking a deep breath, "would you do me the honor of becoming my Padawan Learner?" The youngster just stared up at the taller man standing beside him. Qui-Gon could feel the boy's surprise and fear, although he did not understand why he sensed fear.

"Really?" Obi-Wan finally inquired lowering his gaze to study the various scorch marks and stains that marred the surface of the floor. Suddenly it made sense, the youngster was afraid to hope and have those hopes shattered for a second time.

Without hesitation, Qui-Gon knelt in front of the boy and gently lifted his dimpled chin with two long fingers. When Obi-Wan's blue/green eyes met his sapphire ones, he answered him. "Yes. Obi-Wan Kenobi, would you be my Padawan?"

Obi-Wan could not stop the grin that formed on his face as he replied. "Yes Master Jinn. I would be honored to be your Padawan."

Qui-Gon nodded and stood up. "We should go and inform the Council then," he told the boy as his stomach protested the change of plans with a loud growl. Tahl would understand his tardiness, they had been friends long enough that she was used to it.

"Kid, are you coming or not? I can't wait for you to talk to your Council," the pilot looked from the Master to the Initiate waiting for an answer.

"No, he is going to stay here in the Temple where he belongs," Qui-Gon replied and led his new Padawan back to the lift tube they had exited moments ago.

To be continued...