Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or its characters.

Nothing to Rejoice Over

by: firewingz

Chapter 7


Masters Qui-gon Jinn and Mace Windu had searched all night, all over the outer rim of the city, stretching out their force senses in an attempt to pick up any traces of a force signature. The sun had risen just a few minutes ago. They arrived at the same time, with the same sad expression. They couldn't find him. Where could a young child with no money, with no connections, frightened, and alone go?

Suddenly, the two masters looked at each other. Of course. Obi-wan was afraid of interacting with humans. Especially potentially hostile people. The only place humans don't reside in, is in the forest. Without needing to communicate, the two masters immediately looked up to the sea of green in front of them. They pulled their hoods tighter, and started walking into the forest.

"Qui-gon." That was all Mace had to say. They could both just barely sense Obi-wan's force signature. But they also sensed another presence beside him. It was so faint. If they weren't looking, they wouldn't have picked it up at all. It was an unfamiliar presence, yet something was familiar about it. And they couldn't be sure whether this person was a friend or foe to the temple.

But they were still both relieved. At least Obi-wan was still alive. Qui-gon allowed himself a moment to relax and thank the force. "Thank you Mace. For coming with me."

Mace took this chance to look at Qui-gon. It's been years since he remembered Qui-gon expressing anything beside sadness and duty. It was a relief to Mace's ears. "You're welcome, my friend. It was the least I could do."

Qui-gon grinned. He suddenly remembered a time long ago when he and Mace were still Jedi Knights, on a mission. It was one of their first missions together as newly-minted Knights. The negotiations went smoothly, until the celebration. Qu-gon had gotten himself in a rather sticky situation (as if often the case), his enemies outnumbering him, and his strength slowly leaving him. It was at that precise moment that Mace came to the rescue. It almost made Qui-gon smile at the memory. Mace always had an innate sense of when Qui-gon was in trouble, and at what precise time to rescue him, every since childhood. Kind of like now. Qui-gon spared a glance at Mace while they walked briskly to the forest.

"Mace..." Qui-gon started to say.

But Mace interuppted him. "Do you remember the time you sneaked out of the creche to swim in the temple gardens?"

Qui-gon looked surprised but quickly hid it with a little grin. "Yes, I do."

"I thought you were crazy to sneak out, but the crazier idea was going swimming at such an hour! Master Yoda was so amused."

"If it weren't for you coming to get me before the Master did, I would have been assigned to washing the temple floors with a toothbrush."

At that, Mace laughed out loud, the mirth in his eyes clearly showing in Qui-gon's. Yes, it has been years, too many years since then. Too many pranks and tricks and jokes had passed between them and Tahl. Qui-gon suddenly realized that he is extremely lucky to have such friends, especially through so many years of neglect. He will have to thank them someway. For showing him the light. But it's not just them, it was also Obi-wan who jolted him out of his senses, so to speak.

They finally reached the forest and tredged their way through the thick greenery. Suddenly, Qui-gon jerked his head down, a sudden shot of pain echoing in his head. Mace stopped and looked at his friend. "What's wrong, Qui?"

"...pain...but I don't know from who..." Suddenly Qui-gon looked up. "It's Obi-wan. He's getting hurt!"

But just as suddenly as the pain came through, there was nothing again. It was then that both Jedi Masters felt a dark push of the force. Qui-gon and Mace immediately took off, the force bombarding them with signs of danger.

When they finally arrived, three teenage boys lay sprawled on the forest floor. They were just knocked unconscious, and will soon come to. But no sign of Obi-wan--literally physically or through the force.

"What happened? We just sensed his signature..." Mace muttered.

"...Xanatos..." Qui-gon's mind raced with all the possibilities of seeing his former apprentice again, and what he could possibly want with Obi-wan.

"That wasn't his force signature though..."

"But he had to be nearby. If he's on planet, he must be hiding somewhere..." Qui-gon tried to think, his former apprentice was always a crafty one. "That other force presence must be in league with him somehow. They both used the dark side of the force. Obi-wan is with them..." The implications almost too unbearable to speak aloud.

Qui-gon paced back and forth on the dirt floor, while Mace checked the teenagers on the ground one last time to know they were okay, before joining Qui-gon.

"If we suddenly can't sense their force signatures," Mace surmised, "there must be somewhere nearby that hides them. There's no way that figure, sith or not, could hid such a force signature from both of us, especially if we're so nearby." Mace was just about comm Master Yoda, when Mace realized something.

"Qui, you just sensed Obi-wan's pain didn't you?"

Qui-gon nodded. "But I'm not sure how..."

Then it hit him. Of course! At the hospital, he and Obi-wan had a tendril of a bond forming. Qui-gon may have tried to close it off on his side, but Obi-wan didn't even know a bond had been formed, albeit a very small bond. With all the efforts of finding Obi-wan, Qui-gon must have slightly opened it unconsciously. If he opened his side of the bond fully, they could track Obi-wan with or without his force signature. "Mace, I knew you had to have gotten on the Council for a reason."

Mace smirked. "You would be on the council yourself, if you weren't constantly bending the rules." Fresth waves of memories of the small banter.

With that said, Qui-gon took a deep breath. Mace put a hand on his shoulder to ease his apprehension. Opening the bond meant an acknowledgement of it forming, and a padawanship under his care. "Don't worry, my friend. You're ready. We all have confidence in you."

Qui-gon nodded and understood. At the hospital, he already knew he wanted to have Obi-wan in his life. The bright force signature of the boy seemed to be his only calming and forgiving force angel. He just needed to trust himself. Qui-gon closed his eyes, and dropped his shields around the bond.

He quickly opened his eyes. "Mace, he's nearby, still in the forest."

"Lead on, my friend," Mace said, immediately following Qui-gon deeper into the forest, while sending a quick message to Master Yoda about their actions and findings.

---

Master Yoda received the message from Mace with an apprehensive air. They needed Obi-wan to return to the temple. Not just Qui-gon, but the entire order needed Obi-wan. Only Mace and himself knew who Obi-wan truly was, if the sith finds out, or if the sith already knows, then the order itself may be in danger. He knew Masters Mace and Qui-gon could handle the situation. However, just in case things get messy, as is what tends to happen when anything involves Mace or Qui-gon, Yoda needed to be ready.


To be continued.

Thank you so much for those who reviewed and those who read this story. Reviews are such joys to receive! Please review so that I know you are enjoying this story, or have opinions about it. Please give me any suggestions on how you would like this to continue/end. There'll probably be at least another three to four more chapters. I already have a vague storyline planned out. But any and all suggestions or comments are welcomed!

Kyer: Obiwan didn't chose to run through the city, he was sort of in a frieghtened daze when he ran through the city the first time. Hope this helps! I'm going to go through the story again and go through the spelling, thank you so much! Hoped you enjoyed this!

dimyavie: What do you think of this little twist? Hope you liked this!