Author's Note: Chapter three.
"Firmus sent letters, Master."
Obi-Wan didn't look up from his reading.
"That's nice, Anakin."
"You're not interested?"
"Not really. He's your brother."
The Padawan smirked.
"So I guess that means I can read the one he sent you."
The Knight looked up abruptly and flew at his apprentice, who laughed and held out the datapad in self-defense. Obi-Wan snatched it then swatted Anakin with it for good measure.
"Cheeky brat."
"Aww, you love it, Master. I make life interesting."
"You certainly do that, my apprentice."
They both settled down to read their letters.
Dear Obi-Wan, thank you for the pictures. Mom used to describe him to me, but seeing him is something else. I can't wait for the stories you'll send me in the next letter like you promised. I really hope I get to meet you someday. You looked nice in your pictures with Dad. I hope when we meet Anakin is there, too. He was really nice to me but really sad about Mom. I'd like to see him be happy. If it's not too much to ask, if he's still around, maybe you could ask Dad's teacher, Master Dooku, for some stories too. I bet he has some you don't know about. I want to learn all that I can about him. May the Force be with you. Sincerely, Firmus Skywalker
Obi-Wan snorted, making Anakin look up from his letter.
"What?"
"He thinks Dooku is still a Jedi and wants me to ask him for stories about Qui-Gon."
Now Anakin snorted.
"Yeah, like that would ever happen."
"A letter for you, sir."
"Thank you, Terra. You may go now."
The maid bowed and left his study. Count Tyln Dooku picked up the datapad.
Count Dooku, it's rather strange writing to you after Geonosis, but I feel I must. If you care about Qui-Gon at all, it might interest you to know that shortly before he died he fathered a son.
Dooku stopped reading and reread that line. He reread it a second time and then a third time. Qui-Gon had a son?
The boy's name is Firmus, but for his safety I will not tell you his last name or his home-planet. Anakin discovered him and revealed him to me. I wrote to him and sent him pictures of Qui-Gon, some of which were from his Padawan days and included you. Firmus wrote back to me requesting stories since he knows next to nothing about Qui-Gon. He wanted me to ask you to write more stories, stories that even I would not know. I dismissed the idea at first, but I realized that it wouldn't be fair to the boy. If you choose to do this, send your letters to me on Coruscant, and I will send them to Firmus with my own. I will read your letters and erase anything I do not think he should know or any questions that answering could put him in danger. This boy is Qui-Gon's legacy, he deserves to know of the father who never got to know about him. Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Count reread the letter once more then sat thinking. A son. Qui-Gon's son. Conceived just before his death. That would make the child recently ten standard years. No doubt the child was strong in the Force, and since he had obviously been unknown to the Jedi, he was not living on a Republic world. However, since he hadn't known about the child, he wasn't living on a Seperatist world either.
Kenobi had refused to tell him the boy's last name, which meant that he did not have Qui-Gon's name. He scanned the letter for his first name. Firmus. He ran the name through his mind over and over. Had he lived and discovered his child, Qui-Gon no doubt would have left the Order to help the woman raise his son. His thoughts hinged on the woman, the mother. He wondered just what kind of woman she was to have captured Qui-Gon's attention so.
"Firmus, the letters are here," Owen called.
Firmus was practically a blur as he snatched the three datapads and a small package from his stepbrother and charging back into his room. Leaping onto his bed, he turned them on and found the unfamiliar writing first.
Firmus, I am Tyln Dooku, your father's Jedi Master. While I am no longer a Jedi, Master Kenobi contacted me about you. I will admit that learning about you was a shock. Your father was my first apprentice, and though I have many regrets, training him, knowing him was not one of them. Your father left as much of an imprint on me as I did on him. I know that had he lived to know you he would have loved you. It was his way. He had a big heart, one that I cautioned him to guard, but you no doubt would have dominated a vast part of it. In the package is something Qui-Gon gave me long ago on the day he was Knighted. When he was still my apprentice we went to his homeworld, and he took two stones from a river there. One I believe is now in Master Kenobi's possession, but the other he had made into two pendants for necklaces. On the day he was Knighted he gave me one of the necklaces and kept the other. His was cremated along with him. Upon learning about you, I finished mine from my closet, as I think you should have it. Take good care of it, and I promise to have some stories for you in my next letter. May the Force be with you. Count Tyln Dooku
Firmus opened the package, and inside lay a silver necklace with a teardrop shaped pendant. It was deep, vivid blue. The boy admired it then put it on. It hung very low, but it had been made to be long even on a fully grown man, so he didn't think much of it. He went on to read Obi-Wan's letter, which told him the story of how the Jedi had become Qui-Gon's apprentice and their first few missions together. Anakin's letter told him of how he and Qui-Gon had meet in Mos Espa and he had offered him and his companions shelter from a sandstorm.
Firmus drank it all in, his fingers occasionally straying to the stone pendant. A generous, thoughtful gift from a man he didn't even know. Each story was a gift, and he would never tire of these letters.
End Note: Dooku makes his appreance, and it seems he still cares for Qui-Gon. I always got that feel whenever I watched 'Attack of the Clones' that when he mentions Qui-Gon there's just something sad about Dooku. Please Review.