AN: A new chapter is up. What do you guys think?
Chapter 5: A Simple Morning for a simple day.
Waking up in the morning, or what could be considered morning in a spaceship, Qui-Gon checked the chronowatch on the bedside table as he did every morning. He frowned slightly. His internal clock did not match the numbers displayed next to him.
Inspecting the watch more thoroughly, he saw that the planet cycle that it was based on was Coruscant. This, in itself, was surprising for the cycle change should have been done today at midday so that everyone would know. If he didn't knew better, he would say that somebody ordered the cycle change last night for an additional guest.
Obi-Wan was going to be so pleased to sleep a bit more than usual. He always complained when QUi-Gon would drag him out of bed "at the break of dawn, Master!" for an early morning meditation. In addition to the fact that he will be having another thing to tease his master about in their game-like banter.
Qui-Gon rued the day he decided to teach the finer points of diplomacy to Obi-Wan. He now trembled slightly as to when the student will surpass the master. Qui-Gon will never be able to get his way again if the Council sicked Obi-Wan on him. Maybe that was the main reason for Yoda to encourage this pairing so long ago? He should thank the Grandmaster for that.
Glancing at the bed next to his, Qui-Gon stopped suddenly. The bed was empty! Worse than that, it's covers were rumpled, thrown to the side as if the previous occupant had jumped out swiftly for a reason.
Worried that his apprentice might be in danger, Qui-Gon tried to feel his errant Padawan's location. Tried being the keyword for he could not sense anything at all. Obi-Wan wasn't dead since the link was still alive, thrumming with more energy than he had ever seen, but the other end of the link had into Force knows where.
Could there be a traitor on board? But then, why attack now and not Qui-Gon himself directly? Something was up. He changed his clothes rapidly, comb his hair barely before tying it back in a lazy semi-ponytail. Using the Force that he would normally cringe to do, he made the backs while boots sailed the room towards him. Putting them on, he set off in hasty strides to locate the missing Padawan. All while trying to maintain the dignified Jedi calm image that the ship's inhabitants needed to see in order to not worry. If there was danger on board, he would make sure that it was taken off.
Checking discreetly every room he met, it took him two whole hours before he finally located Obi-Wan. Two whole hours filled with worry, despair and fear that barely got released to the Force. Qui-Gon will have to meditate later in order to regain his inner balance.
The queer thing about his apprentice was that the Jedi Master could not sense any Force-signature that he knew belonged to Obi-Wan. He could see the auburn-haired man, but could not feel him. Quite peculiar.
But not as peculiar as the scene he was treated to in front of him. Obi-Wan laid uncomfortably on Anakin's bed with said boy on top of him, sprawled limbs that fastened the Senior Padawan to the bed. Both of them were in a deep sleep, creating a peaceful ethereal portrait of youth and innocence for the one who entered the room.
'Obi-Wan will be having a crick in the neck, with that position.' Mused Qui-Gon, sniggering mentally. 'And he claims that I always take care of pathetic life forms. Well, the joke is on you, my Padawan.' But that still didn't answer as to why Obi-Wan's Force-signature had disappeared from space.
Loathing to break this tranquil scene, but having no other choice for answers, the older Jedi strode towards the slumbering duo. Hand reaching out to shake his student gently awake, he was surprised by a sudden furry of mouvements as a shadow leaped out from the bed and pinned the Jedi on the floor.
The mouvements were blurry, but Qui-Gon had registered that the assailant had twirled him in a half-circle — as if the Jedi Master was a rag-doll — pinching a nerve bundle that rendered him paralyzed for a brief moment, all while forcing him towards the floor, loosing his lightsaber in the process that re-appeared at the base of his throat, ready to be activated at a moment's notice.
"Did you really think that an assassin could kill me? Especially as one who isn't hiding his Force-signature like you are right now. I should feel insulted that Ventress only sent a feeble apprentice." Hissed a cold voice that could not belong to his beloved Padawan.
"Padawan?" He tried to speak out. "What are you doing?"
He could feel Obi-Wan flinch at the sound of his voice. "how dare you take my master's voice and body! Did you think that I would falter? Make a mistake perhaps? Well? Answer me?" The tone was still hissed as a shower of icy fragments hit Qui-Gon's heart. What had happened for Obi-Wan to be this way.
"Stop this at once, Obi-Wan. I am your master. If you want to be sure, check our bond through the Force." His voice had to remain calm in order to not provoke his Padawan even further. He will be getting at the bottom of this.
"Master?" Came suddenly a horrified voice. "Oh Force, I'm so sorry master." Qui-Gon felt his body returning to normal as Obi-Wan pinched quickly another nerve-point that countered the first one. His padawan helped him get up and returned the lightsaber.
Turning to see why Anakin hadn't awoken up amidst the mouvement and noises, Qui-Gon was surprised to see the boy floating gently over the bed in a Force-bubble. Something a Master learned to do when he was to get a small padawan or when he had to retrieve a Youngling from a war-torn planet. How could Obi-Wan have learned this? It was not common information that could be accessed by Padawans, unless a master-padawan pair had to go pick up a Youngling. Something that Qui-Gon had never done which should indicate the knowledge Obi-Wan should have on the matter.
The bubble started to softly lower itself on the bed before popping quietly. Anakin hadn't even stirred from the mouvements.
Obi-Wan approached his master. Fear, sadness and terror exuding from him. What had he done? It was instinctive, the Clone Wars being the reason of his actions. Why hadn't his master wake him up via the usual way? "Are you alright master? I didn't hurt you?"
Qui-Gon's previous terror turned to anger in the blink of an eye. He forced himself to calm down, regaining his mental balance before answering his Padawan. Obi-Wan should not bear the brunt of his anger for something 'trivial' as being attacked after searching for a missing Padawan of whom he feared the worse.
Taking a deep breath, he said evenly. "No, I am not alright, Padawan. Care to explain what just happened, for a start?"
Obi-Wan paled a bit more but he remained straight and tall as a true Jedi would. If he wasn't preoccupied by the current matter, Qui-Gon would have been extremely proud at how his pseudo-son was acting."Well?" He pressed on, an eyebrow arched in a perfect position to make his student squirm even more. "I'm waiting for the explanation and it should be coming now."
"I don't know master!" Burst out the auburn-haired man. "One minute I was asleep, the next I was over you ready to kill at a moment's notice. I have no explanation master. If you have it, than I would be glad for it." Obi-Wan thanked the Force for granting him the perfect acting skills. Myriam in particular for he could sense her manipulating Qui-Gon into believing that he was terrified at what he had done. Now, time to bring the scene up a notch so that his master wouldn't suspect anything.
"It was horrible master. I wasn't even aware of my actions. It was like being a spectator in my own body." Ok, maybe he was laying a bit thicker than usual. Maybe he could blame it on those so-called visions he had received? That could explain his change of character. Inner Obi-Wan weeped at how low he had stooped to avoid his master's suspicion. He will be making up for it, in a discreet way of course.
Qui-Gon stepped forward, all negative feelings fleeing at the sight of his distressed Padawan. Even if it was out of character of the usual stoic man, Qui-Gon felt that it must be because of those visions that he recently saw. He hugged the Senior padawan. "All right. I believe you. But visions can't be the explanation for that Force-bubble you created around Anakin."
"A Force-bubble, Master? When did I do one?"
"Just a couple of minutes ago, when you attacked me, you also protected Anakin."
Obi-Wan gaped at the information while simultaneously acquiring a magnificent red hue on the face. He had done it without a thought, seeing in his mind the equation : Anakin (Youngling) + Danger = Protect at all cost. "You remember my friend Bant?"
"The Mon Calamari training to become a Healer? Yes I do. Is she the reason for this knowledge?"
He nodded. "She coerced my friends and I to learn the Force-bubble as soon as she learned of it's existence. It would help us in case we have to save a Youngling for some reason or another. She made us practice so much that we would react without a second thought." Shivering slightly, he stated. "I pity her Padawan."
"I pity your friendship." The flat tone of his master broke something in Obi-Wan, he started laughed.
"Obi-Wan?" Came a sleepy voice from the cot. "Why are you laughing?"
Qui-Gon chuckled at the timing of the former-slave boy. "When did you wake up Anakin?"
"At the moment Obi-Wan stated that he pitied the Pa, … Pa, … what I am suppose to become to train as a Jedi."
"Padawan?" Proposed Obi-Wan.
"Yes! Padawan. When you said you pitied the Padawan of her. Obi-Wan, who's her?"
"One of my best friends and a tyrant when it comes to learn how to heal people. You might meet her at the Temple if she isn't to swamped with work."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'll try to make her your Healer for your check-up, does that sound fine?" Obi-Wan remembered that it was always a chore to get Anakin to have a physical since the boy had to overcome nine years of extreme dislike to doctors that overcharged everything and would kill a person if they did not pay enough. A droid doctor was cheaper, but they were faulty on Tatooine, making numerous mistakes.
Fidgeting, Anakin hesitated. "Do you trust her?" Obi-Wan had been nothing but nice during the initial meeting. The older man had even stayed last night to protect him from the dark after his nightmare.
"I trust Bant with my life. You have nothing to be afraid of."
That settled the matter. If Obi-Wan trusted this person, than Anakin will too. He nodded towards the two men. "I'll like to see Bant for my check-up, please."
Qui-Gon was quite amused at the situation. Here they were, his son and the boy talking at each other, ignoring the elderly master completely. Clearing his throat, he got their attention.
"Not that this conversation is extremely fascinating. Mind clarifying two thing for me Padawan?"
"If I can, Master."
"Why were you shielding your end of the bond? Shields that I haven't taught you?"
"Shields, what shields?" Diving into his mind, Obi-Wan cursed violently in his head. He had forgotten to lower his shields that hid him from enemy eye. How could he have forgotten to lower them? Especially since he had a couple of days to remember to do that. Time to do some damage control. Why was it so complicated?
"I don't understand. How can these shields be there?"
Pondering in the question, Qui-Gon was beginning to wonder if those thrice-damned visions weren't a punishment from the Force for him while his Padawan suffered from them. "Can you bring them down?"
Of course he could. He was the one who developed them with Master Windu and Master Yoda! "I think so, master." Pretending to be in extreme concentration, Obi-Wan lowered the shields.
Relief flooded Qui-Gon as he could feel his danger-prone Padawan through the Force once more.
Meanwhile, Anakin looked worriedly at both of the occupants in the room. "Is Obi-Wan in danger?"
"No. He had disappeared from his room and I couldn't feel his location. I was just worried." Turning to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon asked. "What were you doing last night by the way?"
Not wanting to spill Anakin's secret, Obi-Wan waved a hand, replying nonchalantly. "Oh, you know me Master. I had a difficult time falling asleep and started to walk around the ship. Anakin, who had woken up because of me, offered to keep me company until I started to get heavy-eyed. Being the gallant boy he is, we shared the bed and I must have fallen asleep with Anakin."
Said boy shot a grateful smile at Obi-Wan. He didn't want to appear weak in front of the man who had rescued him from slavery. Obi-Wan winked discretely back.
"Hmmm. I can accept that." Looking at the clock on the wall, Qui-Gon decided to leave the conversation be for the moment. "Anyone hungry?"
"Starving!" The two boys replied in unison.
Chuckling, the Jedi Master strolled down the corridor as two walking-stomachs raced towards the Mess Hall. His Padawan leading the way for the young boy.
Entering the Hall, Qui-Gon heard his Padawan say to the blond boy. "Go get some tables, I'll bring the food. Anything you like or don't like that I should be aware of?"
"I trust you Obi-Wan. I'll eat anything."
"Ok then. Now go find three places for my master and me. Two if it's too full for the both of us, ok?"
"Roger that boss." Anakin mocked saluted. He sped off into the Hall to find two seats or three.
The Hall was full of people, being mid-morning to nearly lunch time, according to the Coruscant cycle. It would be a miracle if Anakin found three seats together for all of them. Knowing that the two boys would prefer to eat together, Qui-Gon followed his Padawan in the line. He marveled at the grace Obi-Wan was displaying by balancing two trays at the same time on one arm while scooping out various different foods with the other. The Jedi Master suspected the use of the Force to be able to do that.
Looking out across the room, a tray on each hand, Obi-Wan searched for Anakin. Unconsciously, he sent out the Force to locate him like when he was his Padawan.
"Over here Obi-Wan. I found three seats." Came the clear loud cry of the boy, much to the amusement of the pilots that were on the same table. Anakin was jumping up and down from the bench while waiving his hands excitedly.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan went towards the table. The seats were well placed. Anakin and Obi-Wan could sit next to each other and talk without having to shout, while Qui-Gon sat in front of Anakin.
The whole table was filled with pilots. Something that amused Obi-Wan a lot. Qui-Gon was sending him questioning waves of his sanity at the glee he could feel coming from his Padawan. It was un-usual to see Obi-Wan act like this or to even let someone in as easily as Anakin had. Maybe it was due to those visions or maybe the Force had a direct hand in it. All that the Jedi Master knew was that a bond was forming between Obi-Wan and Anakin. A Master/Padawan bond to be more exact. The Council will have to try and counter that argument. They wouldn't dare go against the Will of the Force.
When breakfast was finished, Qui-Gon left to report to the Queen while Obi-Wan and Anakin left to their own devices.
"Even if you aren't allowed to train as a Jedi, I can start to teach you some simple meditation techniques if you want."
"Meditation?" The skepticism could be clearly heard.
"It is an essential part of a Jedi's training. Don't worry, it can be quite fun. Let's go back to your room to get comfortable."
They went towards the room. Settling down in his preferred meditation pose, Obi-Wan started to instruct Anakin on how to meditate.
"First thing is to sit down comfortably." When it was obeyed, he continued. "Alright, now, close your eyes and start imagining yourself fixing a giant droid. Can you see it clearly in your mind?"
"Yes." The boy's brows were furrowed in concentration.
"Very good. Let yourself go as you repair the droid. Feel, don't act, just feel. Let your senses go one by one as you repair the droid. Everything is calm. You are feeling peaceful."
The instructions lulled Anakin into a trance. Both of them started to meditate together.
After an hour had passed, Obi-Wan brought Anakin back from the Force. "So? How was your first meditation?"
"Awesome! Was that the Force?"
"Indeed. A Jedi must meditate in order to keep balance within himself. What I showed you was a simple exercise that I learned as a Youngling. If you had been trained at the Temple, by the time you had reached this age, you would have been able to meditate easily. Not that you have to like it of course."
At the mention that he may be behind others, Anakin started to be a bit fearful. What if the others didn't like him? After all he was an outsider. He didn't want to be an outcast in a place where most kids his age knew each other from birth. And they must be way ahead of him in schooling. He could read and write a bit but not in Basic. It was in Huttese due to the Hutts that ruled the place.
"Anakin? What's the matter?"
"What if the others don't like me?" That was the most pressing question, in Anakin's opinion.
"I doubt that they would. Jedis are taught to be compassionate. They will want to befriend you. I know a couple of Initiates that are your age that you might be interested to meet. They formed a secret mechanical club."
"Really?" Was it possible that he, a former slave, could fit in with other children, Jedi-in-training to be exact?
"Really." Obi-Wan confirmed. It was true what he said. He didn't how he knew this. It would seem that some memories were different than before. Why hadn't he realized that? Tonight, he would try to speak with Myriam to view the memories that were different. He didn't want to appear suspicious.
"Wizard!" The cry startled Obi-Wan from his thoughts. Smiling at the boy, he decided on what they could do today to entertain themselves. Not forgetting that he had a training session with his Master around dinner time. He was sure that their was a droid or two that Anakin would like to work on. Now, to only find them.
AN: Review please?
