Chapter 4:
It was already night-time on Coruscant and the city burst to life with its many multi-colored lights. A festive atmosphere. Yet, amongst the tall skyscrapers, one stood out magnificently like a watchful beacon of light.The Jedi Council Chamber.
Qui-Gon strode through the empty hallways leading to the Jedi Council Chamber. Mace Windu, his long time close friend, had called him about an urgent meeting, just moments ago. It was particularly strange, even given his many years as a Jedi Master to attend such secret meetings, especially those deep in the night.
Nothing good ever came out of them. He knew that well.
Qui-Gon reached out to open the articulately designed, yet elegantly simple doors leading to the Chamber that now stood before him. He hesitated momentarily as a strange feeling elusively brushed by him. Though it was transient, it didn't make him feel any better. There was so much coldness and emptiness in that momentary slip of reality that it made him shiver inwardly.
He quickly cast his queries aside. This wasn't the time for contemplation, perhaps later, but not now.
The doors swung open in gentle sweep of motion. All around the circular room sat twelve distinctive figures, their eyes all upon him.
"My Masters, you wish to see me?" Qui-Gon bowed reverently as he took his place at the center of the circle.
"Ahh.Late it is we know, but most important this mission is."
Qui-Gon turned to face the diminutive Jedi Master. "You wish to send me on a mission?"
There was a hint of shock in his voice.
"Sensitive this mission is. In need of your negotiation skills it does."
"Do you know of the planet Tarsha?" Mace Windu quickly added.
"Tarsha?" Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows. "If I'm not mistaken, it has been the talks among many recently due to its warring potential."
"Yes, to put it simply. The planet's in strife. A group of rebels want to overthrow the quasi monarch democracy. Prince Aras, the acting heir of Tarsha has asked for Jedi intervention. He wishes to settle the conflict peacefully without much blood shed." Mace Windu added.
"The negotiations will be difficult. The rebels aren't known for patience much less cooperation." Plo-Koon interjected. "This is why we wish to send you to oversee the process if you wish the mission to be yours."
"With all due respect my Masters, I feel there are others much more capable of handling this sensitive assignment" Qui-Gon quickly replied. It wasn't that he doubted his ability to carry out the mission successfully, he was only concerned that his mental instability may hinder the mission. Obi- Wan's death had been most painful and he had yet to be able to forgive himself.
Perhaps he may never be able to.
"Others capable there are, but specifically asked for you were."
Qui-Gon remained silent.
"Ready you may not think so, but foresee much good in it I do." The diminutive Jedi Master continued. Yoda studied Qui-Gon carefully. "Wish you to accept this mission is?"
Qui-Gon wanted to say no, but he knew that once the green little troll had his querky mind set on something, it would be pointless to refuse. Somehow, some way, Yoda was sure to get him to accept the mission. It would be much simpler to accept the mission now then to go through all of Yoda's hoops. After all, one good thing did come out of his former Master's repetitive coercion.
Obi-Wan.
"Yes Master Yoda, I accept" Qui-Gon said indifferently. "When shall I leave?"
"A transport is being prepped as we speak. It will leave at 0900 hour." Mace Windu promptly replied.
Qui-Gon couldn't help but feel like a puppet. Apparently they all knew that he was going to accept the mission. Or perhaps more accurately put, they knew they would eventually persuade him accept the mission. There really weren't much point in dragging him here in the middle of the night to ascertain something they knew the results of beforehand. The outcome would have been the same if they had knocked on his door early in the morning to inform him that he had a flight to catch.
In fact, they had done so many times in the past three years in hopes to divert his attention from the gloom and despair that he let engulfed him after Obi-Wan's death. He was annoyed and grateful at the same time. Annoyed that they couldn't just stick their business elsewhere. Grateful that the missions kept him busy.
Somehow, this particular mission to Tarsha gave Qui-Gon a sinking feeling.
He smiled at the thought. At least now he could understand the "bad" feeling Obi-Wan had referred to numerous times.
If only his Padawan was here to share it with.
******
On the planet Lakka.
A young man walked through the dense swampy forest. His boots covered up in green mosses and molasses. The rhythmic swoosh of his feet as they travel through overgrown vegetative paths were the only sounds in the forest.
Swoosh. Swoosh
The man ducked his head down to avoid a half-fallen tree obscuring the pathway.
Swoosh. Swoosh
He rounded the corner of a small creek.
Swoosh. Swoosh
He entered a small clearing. There in the center of the clearing, beneath an old Yarrow tree, known for its beautiful flowers' scent, was a small gravestone.
The young man quickly walked up to it. He bent down on his knees before the gravestone. His fingers gently caressed it.
"Ciera, I'm here." His voice was full of emotions.
The young man sat there on his knees in front of the headstone in silence. He didn't say anything, but the emotions in his blue-grey eyes painted his words vividly.
He remained there, staring unblinkingly at the headstone.
"I've missed you."
Tears brimmed in his eyes.
Beep. Beep.
Something on his side began to vibrate. His fingers quickly reached for it. It was a comm link. Damn it. Why couldn't he just be left alone? He quickly turned it off.
"Well Ciera, I believe that's my cue to go, but don't worry, I will be back soon. You know I always will."
He leaned forward and laid a small kiss on the gray headstone.
Beep. Beep.
Damn it. They are too relentless. He stood up and left the clearing.
Beep. Beep.
His hands grabbed the comm link in a flash.
"What?" He said angrily, obviously annoyed.
"You better be back soon or the ship's leaving without you buddy." A voice gargled back over the comm link.
The young man sigh. "Tell them I'll be right there. Ben out."
It was already night-time on Coruscant and the city burst to life with its many multi-colored lights. A festive atmosphere. Yet, amongst the tall skyscrapers, one stood out magnificently like a watchful beacon of light.The Jedi Council Chamber.
Qui-Gon strode through the empty hallways leading to the Jedi Council Chamber. Mace Windu, his long time close friend, had called him about an urgent meeting, just moments ago. It was particularly strange, even given his many years as a Jedi Master to attend such secret meetings, especially those deep in the night.
Nothing good ever came out of them. He knew that well.
Qui-Gon reached out to open the articulately designed, yet elegantly simple doors leading to the Chamber that now stood before him. He hesitated momentarily as a strange feeling elusively brushed by him. Though it was transient, it didn't make him feel any better. There was so much coldness and emptiness in that momentary slip of reality that it made him shiver inwardly.
He quickly cast his queries aside. This wasn't the time for contemplation, perhaps later, but not now.
The doors swung open in gentle sweep of motion. All around the circular room sat twelve distinctive figures, their eyes all upon him.
"My Masters, you wish to see me?" Qui-Gon bowed reverently as he took his place at the center of the circle.
"Ahh.Late it is we know, but most important this mission is."
Qui-Gon turned to face the diminutive Jedi Master. "You wish to send me on a mission?"
There was a hint of shock in his voice.
"Sensitive this mission is. In need of your negotiation skills it does."
"Do you know of the planet Tarsha?" Mace Windu quickly added.
"Tarsha?" Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows. "If I'm not mistaken, it has been the talks among many recently due to its warring potential."
"Yes, to put it simply. The planet's in strife. A group of rebels want to overthrow the quasi monarch democracy. Prince Aras, the acting heir of Tarsha has asked for Jedi intervention. He wishes to settle the conflict peacefully without much blood shed." Mace Windu added.
"The negotiations will be difficult. The rebels aren't known for patience much less cooperation." Plo-Koon interjected. "This is why we wish to send you to oversee the process if you wish the mission to be yours."
"With all due respect my Masters, I feel there are others much more capable of handling this sensitive assignment" Qui-Gon quickly replied. It wasn't that he doubted his ability to carry out the mission successfully, he was only concerned that his mental instability may hinder the mission. Obi- Wan's death had been most painful and he had yet to be able to forgive himself.
Perhaps he may never be able to.
"Others capable there are, but specifically asked for you were."
Qui-Gon remained silent.
"Ready you may not think so, but foresee much good in it I do." The diminutive Jedi Master continued. Yoda studied Qui-Gon carefully. "Wish you to accept this mission is?"
Qui-Gon wanted to say no, but he knew that once the green little troll had his querky mind set on something, it would be pointless to refuse. Somehow, some way, Yoda was sure to get him to accept the mission. It would be much simpler to accept the mission now then to go through all of Yoda's hoops. After all, one good thing did come out of his former Master's repetitive coercion.
Obi-Wan.
"Yes Master Yoda, I accept" Qui-Gon said indifferently. "When shall I leave?"
"A transport is being prepped as we speak. It will leave at 0900 hour." Mace Windu promptly replied.
Qui-Gon couldn't help but feel like a puppet. Apparently they all knew that he was going to accept the mission. Or perhaps more accurately put, they knew they would eventually persuade him accept the mission. There really weren't much point in dragging him here in the middle of the night to ascertain something they knew the results of beforehand. The outcome would have been the same if they had knocked on his door early in the morning to inform him that he had a flight to catch.
In fact, they had done so many times in the past three years in hopes to divert his attention from the gloom and despair that he let engulfed him after Obi-Wan's death. He was annoyed and grateful at the same time. Annoyed that they couldn't just stick their business elsewhere. Grateful that the missions kept him busy.
Somehow, this particular mission to Tarsha gave Qui-Gon a sinking feeling.
He smiled at the thought. At least now he could understand the "bad" feeling Obi-Wan had referred to numerous times.
If only his Padawan was here to share it with.
******
On the planet Lakka.
A young man walked through the dense swampy forest. His boots covered up in green mosses and molasses. The rhythmic swoosh of his feet as they travel through overgrown vegetative paths were the only sounds in the forest.
Swoosh. Swoosh
The man ducked his head down to avoid a half-fallen tree obscuring the pathway.
Swoosh. Swoosh
He rounded the corner of a small creek.
Swoosh. Swoosh
He entered a small clearing. There in the center of the clearing, beneath an old Yarrow tree, known for its beautiful flowers' scent, was a small gravestone.
The young man quickly walked up to it. He bent down on his knees before the gravestone. His fingers gently caressed it.
"Ciera, I'm here." His voice was full of emotions.
The young man sat there on his knees in front of the headstone in silence. He didn't say anything, but the emotions in his blue-grey eyes painted his words vividly.
He remained there, staring unblinkingly at the headstone.
"I've missed you."
Tears brimmed in his eyes.
Beep. Beep.
Something on his side began to vibrate. His fingers quickly reached for it. It was a comm link. Damn it. Why couldn't he just be left alone? He quickly turned it off.
"Well Ciera, I believe that's my cue to go, but don't worry, I will be back soon. You know I always will."
He leaned forward and laid a small kiss on the gray headstone.
Beep. Beep.
Damn it. They are too relentless. He stood up and left the clearing.
Beep. Beep.
His hands grabbed the comm link in a flash.
"What?" He said angrily, obviously annoyed.
"You better be back soon or the ship's leaving without you buddy." A voice gargled back over the comm link.
The young man sigh. "Tell them I'll be right there. Ben out."
