Chariot's of 'Ire'…
PART TWO: Embarrassment
(With thanks to JJ for letting me borrow An-Paj)
*******************************
Here we go again, thought Qui-Gon Jinn.
He'd seen Yoda shuffling his way across the floor towards him, tapping the floor with his stick with every step he took. Another lecture, he guessed. Yet one more futile attempt to persuade the tall Jedi that now was the right time to take another padawan. Another young life to shelter, and nurture and teach the ways of the force.
Another Xanatos.
Qui-Gon had just completed his enforced half yearly visit (certainly not a pilgrimage) to watch the young initiates training and showing off their prowess with the lightsabre, knowing fine well that whilst he was watching the combatants, Yoda would be watching him. His former master knew exactly how Qui-Gon felt about the idea of taking a new padawan.
It was NOT an option.
He couldn't risk it. Xanatos had betrayed him. He'd chosen to overlook the faults that his former apprentice had, and in hindsight there were many, with the result that the once promising young student had turned. It had been his fault, Qui-Gon reflected. He'd spoiled him, cosseted him. Ignored the devious and manipulative side of his personality. Invested so much time and love. Instead of correcting him for his mistakes, Qui-Gon praised him. Everyone had seen it except for him, and now he felt the shame so deeply that he could never take the risk that a further apprentice might not let him down in the same, heart-crushing way. Yoda could nag until he turned blue in the face. Qui-Gon would not be dissuaded.
There had been one boy, a near thirteen-year-old youngster that had somehow caught his eye even though he had refused to let himself be swayed. His rejection of the boy had pained him, but it had to be done. Better the Agri-Corps on Bandomeer than a clouded, uncertain future with a master who might fail him. It was easier and less traumatic to refuse him as a padawan now.
And yet the boy stayed in his mind.
Obi-Wan. That was the boy's name.
He received Yoda's expected lecture without really listening. He knew that they were considering making him take another padawan, and by announcing the intention they hoped it would force Qui-Gon's hand into choosing for himself. Well, he would not be blackmailed
I can't chance it, Qui-Gon thought. I can't set myself up for another fall.
He shook his head, and looked at Yoda.
"I shall NEVER take another padawan."
*********************
A YEAR LATER:
"Master!" Obi-Wan yelled excitedly as he ran through the doorway of the apartment. "We've been invited to take part in the annual Master/Padawan sports day!"
Qui-Gon Jinn's head snapped up so swiftly that Obi-Wan was surprised that his master's neck hadn't broken. Blood seemed to drain from his face at an appalling rate, leaving the young padawan wondering what he could possibly have said to cause such a drastic reaction. He did not want to offend Qui-Gon, especially as events in their not too distant past had put a considerable amount of strain on their bond, and Kenobi hoped he hadn't said anything that would prove detrimental to their re-established relationship.
Jinn stared off into space, seemingly in a world of his own. Although Obi-Wan could not understand, he was in fact reliving the last ghastly time he had participated in the sports day. Xanatos had done him up like a Corellian Kipper…
"Master?" Obi-Wan swallowed, timidly trying to reassure himself that he was not going to be on the next flight to Bandomeer, "I'm sorry if…"
"That's alright." Qui-Gon nodded, switching his attention back to his concerned apprentice. "I think it's a perfectly reasonable suggestion." Obi-Wan didn't think his master looked too convinced but said nothing. "You might want to invite Jemmiah. I'm sure she would like to watch. It might make her feel less intimidated with her new surroundings."
"Yes, master." Obi-Wan bowed slightly. "Most of the other masters and padawans have been invited, too. Menali-Jay Abran and his master, Kryztan Harkley and Master Berlingside, Ambianca Machie'ak and Master Sal-Fina…"
Obi-Wan's voice trailed off as he realised that once again he had managed to say something that perhaps he shouldn't have. Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow.
"So," he asked as nonchalantly as he could manage, "Master Sal-Fina and her padawan are taking part this year."
"Y-yes?" Stammered Obi-Wan in confusion. "They're the hot favourites according to all the temple gossip."
"And who gave you leave to listen to temple gossip?" asked Qui-Gon with a slight smile on his face. He watched his padawan squirm for a moment.
"I didn't. Jemmiah told me she heard it from Master Windu."
"She HAS settled in quickly." Muttered Qui-Gon. "I was told she had managed to make a special friend of Master Yoda. That's a rare talent. Now it seems she's got Mace on a line. At least according to Depa Billaba."
"Now who's been listening to temple gossip." Obi-Wan dared to reply.
"Do you want to take part in this tournament or do you not?" Frowned Qui-Gon.
"Sorry master." Obi-Wan mumbled an apology.
If that had been Xanatos, Qui-Gon thought, he would have covered his cheeky remark with more impudence. At least he didn't have to worry about that. Obi-Wan had a dry sense of humour but was also serious and attentive. Xanatos had been neither. The more Qui-Gon thought about it, the more his dread began to leave him. A chance to prove something to Sal-Fina…
"Well, padawan, if we are going to do this then we are going to do it properly. How many days until the sports day?"
"Seven, master." Obi-Wan blinked.
"A whole week." Qui-Gon ran a hand through his long hair, deep in thought. "I'm sure we can put those seven days to excellent use, what say you padawan?"
"Master?"
Qui-Gon gathered up his cloak from the hook on the wall. "To the training rooms, Obi-Wan." He gestured his astonished apprentice out of their apartment.
We'll show Master "Hot-shot" Sal-Fina and her nose-in-the-air padawan just who is best, Jinn thought. Qui-Gon was beginning to relish the contest. This time, Xanatos' spectre would be erased forever. Practise made perfect, after all.
And Qui-Gon was about to make sure that they both got plenty of that.
***********************
"Master Jinn?" The barely ten year old Jemmiah Gleshan sat cross-legged against a wall in the training area, "Don't you think you've done enough sit-ups for today? You're going an awful funny color."
Qui-Gon paused during his eighty-fourth sit-up. " It pays to take these things seriously."
"I'm sure you're right." She nodded. "I just wouldn't want you to do your back in, or somethin'." Her young voice was heavily accented with a Northern Corellian twang. "Otherwise the only event you'll be fit for is the bath-chair race."
"I'm sure I'll be fine." He reassured her, looking around. "Where did Obi-Wan go?"
"He's away to find a support for the double hernia he picked up." She sniffed. "Are you certain you're not, how shall we say, over doing it?"
"Why don't you go back to the skipping ropes?" Qui-Gon suggested hopefully.
She made a disparaging sound with her lips. "Nope, no more jumping about for me. Exercise leads to the dark side of the force." She closed her eyes, trying to paraphrase Yoda. "Exercise leads to pain, pain leads to suffering, suffering leads to the healers." She stopped to examine his face once more. "As no doubt you're going to find out soon enough."
He just looked at her.
"Fine." She shrugged. "Don't listen to me. I just don't want you to die." Jemmiah picked up her bag and walked towards the door. Qui-Gon returned to his sit-ups.
"I'll tell An-Paj to have a bed with some oxygen on stand-by, shall I?"
"SCRAM." Qui-Gon glared.
As Jemmiah exited she passed Obi-Wan on his way in. "Why does he NEVER listen to me?"
"Don't take it personally," Obi-Wan said, rubbing the small of his back in discomfort, "he never listens to me either." He looked at her in puzzlement. "Where are you off to?"
"I'm going to see a man about a wreath." She grumbled, glancing over her shoulder at Qui-Gon. "I'll make it a big one so I can put both your names on it."
"Corellian wit." Kenobi acknowledged dryly as he hobbled his way over to his master.
Qui-Gon sat up. "Ah, there you are padawan. You can start on those squat thrusts. Sixty or so of those should suffice…"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"…And then fifty chin-ups to finish with."
Yes, thought Obi-Wan darkly, but will I finish with them before they finish me?
*********************
"He's putting so much effort into this." Mace Windu shook his head. "All because of what happened with Xanatos all those years ago."
"Xanatos?" Jemmiah asked, blinking large copper colored eyes at the shiny headed Jedi in her best effort to wheedle more information out of him. It worked.
"Xanatos was Qui-Gon's last padawan learner. Unfortunately, things didn't work out…"
"Oh." She scrunched up her face. "So what's this Xanatos character got to do with the sports day?"
Windu sighed, and led her out into the gardens. It was turning into a beautiful evening, and the setting sun was casting a reddish glow all over the extensive grounds of the temple.
"Qui-Gon and Xanatos were on the verge of winning the event a good few years back, except that Xanatos cheated and got them both disqualified. Qui-Gon was so embarrassed. He couldn't look anyone in the face for weeks after. Especially as Master Sal-Fina and her padawan were awarded the over-all contest."
" Doesn't he like her, then?"
"Well," Mace hedged, wondering how much of Qui-Gon's past was suitable to reveal to a child that had only recently turned ten, "Let's just say they have frequent disagreements about things."
"What things?" She asked.
"Everything." Mace smiled. "So it's small wonder if he wants to win. I'm just surprised he's taken it as far as he has."
"Tell me about it." Jemmiah groaned. "It's all I ever hear. It's "sports day" this, and "sports day" that."
"That's Qui-Gon. Once he gets an idea in his head, there's little point trying to dissuade him from it. You are a case in point."
"Me?" She wondered.
"Yes. The council gave him your temporary custody, but he would have fought them tooth and nail if they hadn't. Qui-Gon can be very persuasive. He's grown fond of you."
"Well," she replied, "in that case I should really be supporting him, shouldn't I?"
*************************
The big day dawned sooner than Qui-Gon would have liked.
If only we had more time to work out, he thought to himself. Oh, well. Destiny, and a historic victory beckoned, force willing.
He saw Obi-Wan enter the kitchen looking tired and in considerable disarray.
"You look shattered." Qui-Gon frowned. "Didn't you get much sleep?"
His padawan yawned so hugely that it could have blocked out the sun. Rubbing bleary eyes, Obi-Wan replied "I slept very well, master. All things considered."
"All what things considered?" Jinn enquired.
"That I was up until five hours ago doing split-leaps and press ups."
Qui-Gon grimaced. Maybe he had let things get a little out of control.
"Are you ready to do battle?" He tried to lighten the conversation.
"If by battle you mean "Are we going to go out and get slaughtered," then yes." Kenobi sat down with his glass of high-energy juice.
Qui-Gon tutted. "This defeatist attitude is most unlike you padawan. We are going to have to do some serious meditating on positive thinking, aren't we?"
Kenobi pulled a face.
"If you're still not feeling too bright, I suggest you go down to see An-Paj. I ordered a prescription of energy tablets that should see you through today."
"It'll take more than tablets to see us through today." Muttered Obi-Wan. He caught sight of Qui-Gon giving him "that look."
"I'll go and see him." Conceded Kenobi.
"Smart thinking, padawan. Better not leave it too late either." He rubbed his hands together. "Soon be time to see off the opposition."
Jemmiah entered the kitchen. " Good morning, Master Jinn."
"Good morning to you too, Tangles."
"Good morning Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan grumbled something about unnecessary cheer.
"I'm afraid my padawan is not a morning person." Qui-Gon winked as Obi-Wan downed his drink and turned to make his way to the fresher. "As a matter of fact, I've never managed to work out what time of day person he is."
Kenobi disappeared from sight, and shortly afterwards the door was slammed loudly behind him.
"My, he's a happy little Ewok, isn't he?" Smiled Jemmy.
"Probably got out of bed the wrong way." Qui-Gon apologised for his padawan.
"Hmmm." She twisted her hair for a moment. "For someone to get out of bed the wrong way, you should really allow them to get in it in the first place." With her words of wisdom hanging in the air, she left to pour herself a drink. Qui-Gon sighed, and decided that now would be a good time to start some peaceful meditation…
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Obi-Wan breathed out. He hated going to the healers. Even for something that didn't involve blood or needles or pain. It wasn't as if he didn't like An-Paj. Some of the apprentice healers were his friends, like Bant for example. But the whole place just set him on edge.
He walked up to a counter and looked about. There seemed to be nobody around…and then suddenly there came a loud bang from underneath the counter, and a small whimper. Emerging slowly from where she had been concealed, a small dark haired child of maybe about twelve years or so pulled herself up into view, rubbing her head. Obi-Wan thought she looked vaguely familiar, from his crèche days perhaps…
"Hello." She said dazedly. "Can I be of any assistance?"
"I wanted to collect a prescription that my master ordered this morning."
She offered him a shy smile. "Can you bear with me for a bit. I've only just started as an apprentice healer and I'm still not very sure of my way round things." She looked him up and down. "What's your name, please?"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Kenobi…Kenobi….erm…hang on. I'll go check for you."
She wandered away from the counter, leaving Obi-Wan to twiddle his thumbs whilst he waited. He hoped she wouldn't take too long. Not that he was terribly keen to get back. His master probably had a last minute exercise routine all mapped out for him…
"Here we are," she beamed, handing him a small plasti-tube containing the energy tablets he was after. "Are you in the sports day events?"
Kenobi nodded.
"Well, good luck then, er…"
"Obi-Wan." The boy reminded her.
"Oh, yes." She looked flustered. "Of course. I'll be hoping you do well."
"Thanks." He smiled. He gave her a small wave goodbye. "You never told me what your name is."
"Me? Oh, my name's Dimallie."
He grinned to himself. Now he remembered her. An image of a forgetful, clumsy, awkward scrap of a child with two left feet popped unbidden into his mind. He was left wondering how on Coruscant she had been picked as an apprentice healer.
Perhaps it would be quicker to give the patients a blaster to shoot themselves with.
************************
The events had gone even better than Qui-Gon had anticipated. It was exactly like all those years ago with Xanatos, except for the small, niggling worry that instead of being ten points ahead going into the last event, they were ten points behind.
And the team ahead was Sal-Fina and Ambianca.
Qui-Gon did not panic. He rarely did. He felt so calm and at peace. The living force surrounded him, pulsing through him. And as for Obi-Wan, he had put in the performance of a lifetime. He had been consistently brilliant in every discipline so far, and Qui-Gon felt justifiably proud. Mace Windu and Jemmiah Gleshan were also there voicing their support. Somewhat colorfully in the latter's case, and Qui-Gon supposed he would have to talk with her later about her vivid Corellian terminology.
But what had surprised Qui-Gon the most had been the sheer energy that his padawan seemed to have acquired in the last hour. Those tablets he had ordered from the dispensary seemed to have done the trick in pepping him up. As he stood contemplating this, he saw his padawan popping yet another one of the little orange lozenges into his mouth, and for some reason he couldn't understand, Qui-Gon began to feel just a little uneasy.
"Go carefully with those, Obi-Wan. They're not sweets or candy."
Kenobi just smiled an enormous smile. He felt as if he could turn continual summersaults, or hand springs, or even fly…
The last event was, of course, the infamous sack race. Qui-Gon reached over at the start line to pick up the sack, but before he could manage it, his padawan had already jumped in.
"C'mon master!" Grinned Kenobi. "We're gonna have to be real fast to beat the other two."
"Don't be so hasty," muttered Jinn, wondering what had come over his apprentice all of a sudden.
"I wouldn't worry about a thing." Obi-Wan said confidently. "We are going to kick their little Jedi butts all the way to Alderaan and back."
"Obi-Wan!"
"Get ready master!"
"What?"
"Get ready! We're going to start in a minute."
"Oh.." Qui-Gon shuffled to the back of the sack, holding the edges. Something didn't feel right here. He couldn't place it, but he had a very bad feeling…
"GO!" Shouted Kenobi as the race started, and began hopping like a vrelt with its tail on fire. Qui-Gon tried to keep up with him, but it was proving difficult. Obi-Wan was working at his own speed, which was to say, very fast indeed."
"Woooo-Hooooo!" Yelled Kenobi in joy as they surged clear. "Goodbye kiddies! We are FLYING!!!"
"Obi-Wan, slow down!" Qui-Gon shouted in concern and disbelief. "They were well ahead of the rest of the field as they started towards the finish line. But instead of slowing down, Obi-Wan speeded up. It was all Qui-Gon could do to stop himself from tripping over. He couldn't believe how fast his apprentice was going!
"YESSSSSSSSS!" Screamed Obi-Wan in delight. "Who's the best now, huh! Bruck Chun, you can stick your disapproval up your…"
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon raged. He was so taken aback by his padawan's outburst that he hadn't even realised that they'd crossed the line.
They'd won. And Sal-Fina was nowhere in sight!
His immediate joy was tempered when he caught sight of his padawan doing a lap of honour round the grounds. On his hands.
Sith!
Qui-Gon did not know what was wrong with Obi-Wan, but he knew it wasn't good. A tendency towards hyperactivity did not explain this away. He was leaping and soaring and singing and turning hand stands without pause for breath. He caught sight of Yoda staring at him, and did not much care for what the look seemed to suggest.
Qui-Gon ran after his errant padawan, finally catching up with him after he'd tried to dive into the nearest fountain.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon caught hold of the boy's shoulders.
"We WON! Master, we won! Isn't that just fantastic! I could just FLY!" He laughed, his eyes far too bright. In the distance, Jinn saw An-Paj running across the grass towards them, and Qui-Gon swallowed.
Oh, Obi-Wan, he thought. What HAVE you done?
The deliriously happy padawan seemed to halt his jubilation suddenly, looking dangerously unsteady. "M-master?" He blinked, his vision going tunnel shaped; "I really don't feel…"
He pitched forwards, and Qui-Gon caught him before he fell onto the ground.
An-Paj hurried to Qui-Gon's side. He took a quick look at the boy, and then caught sight of the small plasti-tube that was hooked inside Kenobi's tabard. Examining it, and the contents, An-Paj's lips thinned into a straight, thin line.
"Can we have a stretcher, please?" He called into his com-link.
***********************
"Disqualified? Again?!" Qui-Gon's voice soared in shock.
"Your padawan was on a no-return trip to uncharted space. He was so high you could have used him as a kite! What else did you think would happen?" Windu asked his friend.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes. "This is a nightmare." His eyes widened as a thought occurred. "What did Yoda have to say?"
"Let's just say he wasn't too impressed. And the press is having a field day. They've come up with some interesting and imaginative headlines for the pair of you."
"I can imagine."
"Especially after they found out about Xanatos all those years ago…"
Jinn hid his face with his hands.
"How's Obi-Wan?" Mace asked.
"Well, I'm not sure An-Paj is his favourite person at the moment. It might be wise to lay off the stomach pump gags as well for the time being. It seems that the new apprentice healer made a bit of a mix up with the prescriptions."
Mace snorted. "Healers, huh? Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em."
"Very funny."
Jemmiah entered the room outside the ward Obi-Wan was staying in. "I ran into your friend Sal-Fina."
"Oh?" Qui-Gon said darkly.
"Yeah. It looked like she and that blond, retarded thing she calls a padawan were out celebrating. At least that's what I thought. She looked very rough. That's what I said to her, anyway."
Mace and Qui-Gon exchanged amused glances.
"You said that to her?" Windu laughed.
"Uh-huh. Just before I told her that if she wanted a prescription for the headache, she should go see Master Jinn, seeing as how he's so good with drugs…"
"Jemmiah!" Warned Qui-Gon.
"I'm just telling you for your own good. They're calling both of you the biggest cheats in the history of the Jedi order." She looked at Qui-Gon. "Especially you."
As Qui-Gon watched her walk away, he felt the shame he had experienced with Xanatos flood him once more, only this time it wasn't the same. This time he felt embarrassment.
"Mace," he growled bitterly, "I am NEVER taking part in this thing again. EVER. May the Sith strike me down if I do!"