MUSH

by ardavenport

- - - - EPILOGUE


A fat blue julaberry threatened to roll off one of Obi-Wan's laden plates. Qui-Gon snatched it from the air just as it escaped. Sitting down, Obi-Wan put down first the large plate and then the plate and bowl balanced on his other arm.

"Thank-you, Master," Obi-Wan said, looking a little embarrassed.

Holding the julaberry between thumb and forefinger, Qui-Gon surveyed the various salads, fruits vegetables, seeds, spicy casseroles, protein spreads, crackers, mini-muffins, rolls and desserts. Each portion was very small, but Obi-Wan seemed to have sampled nearly everything from the buffet. Still recovering from his injury, Qui-Gon had only modestly filled his plate. If he wished, he could go back for more. The YoozEatzAllz Buffet allowed for unlimited refills (for Humanoids) for a flat price.

Qui-Gon had never been to the YoozEatzAllz before; it was located on the far side of the Senate complex from the Jedi Temple. But Obi-Wan had been there a few times with other Padawans. When Qui-Gon had been released from the Temple med-center and he suggested that they share a meal in the city, Obi-Wan had chosen the YoozEatzAllz.

Sitting across from each other at a small wall booth, they could see most of the main room with the buffet pit in the middle. They were between peak eating times, so the place was only about a third full. Qui-Gon noted that most of the other patrons appeared to be Republic government workers.

He popped the julaberry in his mouth. It was firm and sweet and ripe.

"I am given the impression, my young apprentice, that you felt deprived on our last mission?"

Obi-Wan, whose mouth was already full, had to chew and swallow before answering.

"I apologize for being so obvious. On our mission." He took another bite.

Qui-Gon laughed and sampled his own food.

"A Jedi makes many sacrifices," he reminded. "Though I do believe that the medicinal nourishment was more appetizing than the poisoned fruit that Minister Urideni offered."

Obi-Wan grimaced as if this was not such an obvious choice and Qui-Gon smiled again.

"Will Urideni die for the Monarch-presumptive?" Obi-Wan asked, putting down his eating scoop, his expression serious.

Sighing, Qui-Gon shook his head.

"I cannot forsee that. He had feelings for Rladar. He admired her. He lusted for her. But I cannot say if there was any love for her. At least the kind that would lead him to sacrifice himself for her. Though he was quite willing to sacrifice us for her. My death in particular would have allowed her to be spared. I can only presume that he planned to attribute my death to complications from my injury.

"You did well to deny his medical droids access to me," he said, nodding. "They would not have been programmed to improve my health. Your intuition about them was true. The Force is with you."

Obi-Wan smiled back, his blue-gray eyes glad. "And with you Master. I could not have done as you did. Take Rladar's pike."

"Skill, Obi-Wan. And discipline. Which you will learn." Qui-Gon's mouth quirked into a half-smile as he watched Obi-Wan take another bite from one of his plates.

"I believe that we should work on some of that discipline when we return to the Temple. Control of the body, of its functions is a discipline that you have already mastered to some degree, but we shall work on your inward focus. The flow of the Force inside the body, connecting all the parts within is the same as it is for all living things, but still unique."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied eagerly. He was still a few years from Knighthood, but Qui-Gon had confidence in his ability and his keenness to learn. "I shall look forward to it." He bit into a juicy filled roll.

"Well, we can begin already. At least in preparation for manipulating the inner body. And with reviewing the elementary skills that you already know. Certainly with not being distracted about minding the odd noises that it might make."

His mouth full, Obi-Wan looked back, surprised and blushing a little bit. His Master held up a cautionary finger.

"We'll start with not eating too much for lunch," Qui-Gon instructed with a smile.

oooo(((oooooo((( – END – )))oooooo)))oooo

(This story was first posted on tf.n: 2-Mar-2008)

Disclaimer: All characters and situations belong to George and Lucasfilm; I'm just playing in their sandbox.