Published April 23, 2019
Author's Note: I began writing this immediately after re-watching The Phantom Menace.
"Obi-Wan's Master"
Obi-Wan did not know how long he stayed bent over Qui-Gon's spiritless body. He felt no danger nearby, but nevertheless the Force gently nudged him to think of what was happening outside and what he must do now.
He could not stay in the power plant. He needed to check on his allies' progress. And Anakin—he needed to make sure Anakin was alright. He was the only Jedi on this mission. He needed to step out of the role of apprentice and into the role of master.
He would have to report all this to the Jedi Council, he realized with dread.
Obi-Wan stood, then hesitated, not wanting to leave Qui-Gon's body. Carrying it would slow him down when he needed to be swift, and might alarm the others, especially young Anakin. Obi-Wan decided to leave it in the power plant for now and return for it when the battle was over.
Upon returning to the hangar, the first thing he discovered was that the ship Anakin had climbed into was gone. Obi-Wan's devastation suddenly made room for new emotions—anxiety, but of a different kind than he was used to, the kind one felt for someone in one's charge. Had Anakin flown away to escape danger, or to pursue it? Had Obi-Wan already failed Qui-Gon, losing the boy before he even had a chance to keep his promise?
In the palace, he found Queen Amidala and the Royal Naboo Security Forces had captured Viceroy Gunray. Captain Panaka only took his attention off the prisoner to ask about the enemy the Jedi had fought.
"He's dead," Obi-Wan said numbly. "So is Master Qui-Gon."
The queen heard this, and immediately left the viceroy to approach the Jedi padawan. The cool, commanding demeanor of Queen Amidala softened into the warm, compassionate gaze of Padme. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Obi-Wan," she said sincerely. "My people and I are indebted to you and your master. He will not be forgotten."
Obi-Wan bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Captain Panaka informed them that the Royal Fighter Corps was returning and had been successful in their mission. He accompanied Obi-Wan and Padme back to the hangar to await the pilots' return.
Ric Olié and his pilots were triumphant. "We did it! We destroyed the command ship." He turned to the other pilots disembarking their ships. "Who made the shot?"
The pilots only paused in congratulating each other to ask about the identity of their hero.
"Was it you?"
"No, not I."
"Pardon me," Obi-Wan said loudly, "but was Anakin with any of you?"
"No," Ric said, "we thought he was with you." He quickly counted the pilots and found them all accounted for. But a moment later, another fighter approached the hangar. R2-D2 detached himself, and an extremely short pilot got out of the cockpit.
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan gaped.
"Did you destroy the droids' command ship?" Padme exclaimed, incredulous and somehow delighted.
"Yup," Anakin said. His grin was smug, cheeky.
In different circumstances, Obi-Wan might have laughed indulgently, but after everything that had happened, the boy's nonchalance almost angered him. "You should have stayed put."
"Qui-Gon told me to stay in the cockpit, and I did. If I hadn't accidentally taken off, I wouldn't have been able to help, so the Gungans would still be fighting the droids, and they'd be losing." Anakin leaned to the side to look behind Obi-Wan. "By the way, where is Qui-Gon?"
Obi-Wan slid a hand over his mouth, trying to maintain peace within and a calm expression without. He knelt on one knee so he was at the same eye level as the boy. "Anakin … Qui-Gon was killed."
Anakin stared at him. R2-D2 made a most mournful mechanical sound.
"But … but … no one can kill a Jedi," Anakin said, trembling.
Padme knelt and hugged Anakin. He held on to her and cried. When he had calmed somewhat he turned back to Obi-Wan and asked, "What's going to happen now?
Obi-Wan put a hand on Anakin's shoulder, the way Qui-Gon would have. "We'll take Qui-Gon's body back to Coruscant. Then I'll speak with the Jedi Council. Before he died, Qui-Gon asked me to train you. I don't know if they'll let me, but I'll look out for you, as I know he would have."
Anakin still looked grieved and afraid. Padme squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure Obi-Wan will be as great a master as the one who taught him."
Obi-Wan did not know if those words were meant to reassure Anakin or himself. But he realized, at that moment, that the young queen may have understood the weight of responsibility that had suddenly been thrust upon him. Caring for one child was different from governing an entire planet, but both of them, and even Anakin, needed to take on new roles in order to care for each other and find their places in the galaxy.
As the years passed, Anakin occasionally asked about visiting Padme, who had said they would always be welcome on Naboo. Obi-Wan put off such a reunion, mainly because there was no practical reason to visit and Anakin needed to focus on his training. Besides that, it would have brought back memories of Qui-Gon's final moments of life. Obi-Wan would never be able to set foot on Naboo, let alone Theed, without remembering it as the place where his master died.