Disclaimer: Dear George Lucas, while you will probably never read this lovely little note, I was wondering if you would be okay with me owning Star Wars from now on. No? Didn't think so. Just thought I'd ask. Thanks anyway. You heard it people. I just write for fun. No point in throwing any hissy fits.
Authors Note: First off, I would just like to dedicate this story to Cattiechaos for the extremely appreciated review she gave me on another one of my stories. It's fans like you that make writing worth as much as it is to me. Secondly, while I have already written ways that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon meet, I like to play around with the idea. So, here is another way I'd like to believe they met.
~ Aiden Skywalker
The sound of water flowing filled the grand expanse of the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Being the largest of the gardens located on the grounds of the Jedi Temple, it was a place many a Jedi found solitude from the stresses of their lives. Some Jedi Padawan's came to the garden to study, and while Qui-Gon Jinn tended to prefer the Archives, today he was in the gardens for another reason entirely. Dooku, being the ever non-present master that he was, had summoned his apprentice to meet him in the sanctuary, and Qui-Gon, being the ever punctual Padawan he was, came to the predetermined meeting spot early.
The student took the time that he had alone to appreciate the flora and fauna that populated the room. While everything in the room was imported or otherwise relocated to said spot, the padawan often had to remind himself that the nature he saw wasn't as natural as it seemed. It was always easy to forget that this room had been created to make its patrons feel as though they were off planet and far away from the city life outside the Temple. With faux waterfalls and streams that were created by systems of pumps and piping, it was hard to believe one really wasn't on a planet without an ecosystem.
Any other student would find themselves lost in the beauty of the garden around them, but Qui-Gon was fully aware when he sensed his master come in from the South entrance. Seated on a bench near the North-side waterfall, Qui-Gon's back was to his master when he finally approached. Not bothering to turn around, Qui-Gon waited for his master to address him. And as always, Dooku would simply stand there as if not aware of his apprentices presence at all.
Qui-Gon hated the game that Dooku would play with him, mostly because it was a training exercise that Qui-Gon could never seem to get a hold of; if it was a game at all. The boy never seemed to understand why his master did half of what he did. However, assuming it was another one of his mentors odd teaching techniques, Qui-Gon simply played along. Assuming it was a game in patience or something of the like, Qui-Gon simply waited for his master to address him.
Sometimes the game would go on to the point where he would forget about his masters presence and just enjoy the garden. Other times Qui-Gon wondered if Dooku expected him to fail, that he would get frustrated and turn-around before his master acknowledged his presence. If only his master would choose a place that the boy wasn't so at peace. It was hard to get impatient when he was in a place that felt so alive. Everything in the garden called to him, from the grass at his feet to the moss on the rocks, everything had its own voice, and they all called out in unison.
While Dooku had never verbally expressed it, Qui-Gon knew that his master never really cared for nature. The boy often wondered if his master would call him to such a place because he knew how Qui-Gon felt. Then again, it was always hard to know what Dooku picked up on, and that of which he simply ignored. Already used to the idea that his master wasn't a very involved mentor, Qui-Gon could accept that Dooku simply didn't care. Or at least that's how he seemed. Dooku didn't seem to care about anything.
Qui-Gon's mind continued to wander until his masters voice pulled him back to the present.
"The council is sending me on a mission off planet, Padawan."
Another thing the boy never understood. His master would always state facts and leave nowhere for Qui-Gon to comment. So, Qui-Gon prodded his master.
"Where to?"
"No where important."
Of course. Another dead end.
"I see."
"I have decided that while in my leave, you would need something to preoccupy your time here."
"And that something would be?"
"How do you feel about younglings, Padawan?"
Like Dooku really cared. Suddenly Qui-Gon's stomach dropped. While Qui-Gon thought to ask why his master wanted to know, the boy knew better than to avoid his mentors questions. He took a moment to pause and think of a respectable answer, only because he knew that his master wasn't curious as to his actual opinion.
"Younglings are the next generation of Jedi. They are important to the future safety of the Republic."
"Good, then you won't mind taking crèche duty for a week, now will you?"
It was all Qui-Gon could do to keep himself from psychically grimacing.
"No, master," the apprentice paused, "It would be an honor," he added begrudgingly.
Standing up to finally face his master, Qui-Gon turned around and bowed from his waist, only to be met by the slight decline of his masters head before his master pivoted and turned away. How Qui-Gon didn't sense that his master would be baring bad news, the boy wasn't entirely sure.