Hey I'm back and school's out! Thanx to all who reviewed. Sorry for all
the errors but I have no beta-reader so I'm on my own. Thanx to Ginger
Ninja for posting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui-Gon stood before the twelve council members rigid and tense
with worry. He'd had to disclose the events over the last few weeks that had caused Master and Apprentice to drift apart, ending with the occurances of the present. In his hands he held Obi-Wan's lightsaber which hadn't moved since he found it.
"Send out search teams we will," Yoda said.
"I wish to help."
"No," Mace Windu said tonelessley. Qui-Gon was about to begin protesting, but the other Master beat him to it. "A mission of your own is being assigned. You will not be of any help to Obi-Wan if you cannot deal with your past."
"You must meditate on the past and your feelings that are blocking the two of you from bonding," added Depa Billipa.
"It is clear you both have issues you need to resolve together," Ki- Adi Mundi said.
"Handle the young one, the search teams will. Handle your feelings, you must." Yoda gestured to the door, "May the force be with you."
Qui-Gon's lungs inflated as he prepared to protest, but quickly deflated as he realized the pointlessnes of the argument. Nodding, he bowed and left the council chambers. . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan drifted back into the concious world. HIs first thought was one he had had once when he was in his quarters, 'Conciousnes is that annoying thing between naps.' Then he looked around and saw he was far from his quarters. It took a few moments to come to the conclusion that nothing had moved since the last time he was awake. Turning to the Ithorian, he asked, "What's your name?"
"We do not have names, only numbers," she whispered.
"But surely you have a name," the boy prodded. When no answer came, he sighed, "Alright. I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, so you know."
The Hammerhead stared at the thirteen year old for a long, quiet moment. Looking down, she said, "Thera." A quizzical look came upon her face, "You don't have a number?" She gave him a look of pity at the boy's shake of his head, "I hope no one remembers that you don't."
Dark shadows stopped in front of the pair. Three guards stood there, one holding a long shaft that on the end held a bright red piece of metal. Almost immediately Obi-Wan caught onto their intentions and made an attempt to struggle free when the first two hauled him up to his feet. They must've expected it, for their grip was extremely tight, and the boy found himself cursing at his lack of a lightsaber and the ability to use the Force. The boy grit his teeth and tensed up and his left sleeve was rolled up.
All of the efforts to remain silent were banished as soon as the scalding metal made contact with his forearm. With no Force to help him dull the effects, he was subject to the excrutiating pain of burning flesh. Dimly, he saw other captives give him looks of pity and cover their ears to muffle the boy's cries.
It seemed an eternity before they let him go. Obi-Wan sank to the floor, tears once again falling as he held his damaged limb to his chest. As soon as the guards left, Thera placed a comforting hand on the boy's back, but he didn't notice. The only thing he could feel was the burning in his arm. More tears made tracks upon his face as he glanced at where the metal had been and saw his new identity in the slave world: A070788
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wet drops interwove themselves with his beard as Qui-Gon sat in his and Obi-Wan's quarters. In order to meditate, he had to free his mind of all shields so he could concentrate on memories. It also included opening what was left of the training bond.
Even though it was weak, the older man still felt a great deal of pain from the non-shielding Obi-Wan. 'Oh Padawan, what's happening to you?'
Wiping his cheeks, Qui-Gon began to meditate, more determined than ever to rid of Xanatos' hold over his mind and get Obi-Wan home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ship was docking. One by one the prisoners were filed out and lined up so their hands could be put in shackles that were attached to one another. Boys and girls were separtated, and Obi-Wan suddenly felt lonely. Thera had been a great comfort during the last leg of the journey.
When it became his turn to be shackled, the guard had a surprise for him. Along with a nice backhand, a collar was slipped around his neck. The boy gasped as the small pinpricks of the Force he had felt earlier were torn away from him.
Before he could fully grasp the complications this new scenario would bring, he was pushed forward as the line marched on. Obi-Wan didn't know what ciry they were in, but the marched all the way through it. Ahead lay two large cages, already half full with slaves, one for males and females.
Obi-Wan's eyes went wide. he knew slavery existed in the galaxy, he had even been a part of it and was again, but he had never fully grasped how strong it's grip was. There were enough life forms here to populate a moderate sized ciry, and there had to be dozens of holding cells like these all over the planet, let alone the galaxy. That was also not including those who were already owned.
Bile rose in his throat, and dizziness swept over him as he entered the cage. The place smelled worse than Bantha fodder and eveyone was cramped together. Hands, elbows, knees, and other body parts jabbed into him from all directions. Everyone but some of the recent additions into this life were dressed in dirty, torn, and rotted rags. Everyone, especially young children and the elderly looked dangerously thin and malnourished. Dark scars marked the various colors of skin from teh many beatings slaves were given by previous owners. The sight made Obi-Wan sick, partly because of the vision of the people suffering, and partly because it would happen to him too.
Shifting to the other foot and hands fidgeting, he took a deep breath and prepared himself for a long wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breathe in, breathe out. The closed eyes flutterd as a mind holovid played before the man. All of Qui-Gon's memories of his former Padawan flashed in bright imagry before him. Xanatos' thirteenth birthday; Qui-Gon had given him a braid kit that held beads and ties from when the older man was an apprentice, who had gotten them from Yoda, who had gotten them from his Master. The first time Xanatos showed signs of anger; Qui-Gon ignored it, believing it to be the result of stress. The betrayal, and the hurt that followed. Every sight, smell, taste, and emotion that he felt then, he did now.
The broken circle. The Offworld logo, the key to the door that held him and Obi-Wan trapped in the underground mines of Bandomeer, the symbol of Xanatos' hatred toward him. To a regular being it was just an image, but to Qui-Gon it meant so many undescribable things.
A long forgotten life was re-lived, a lind dividing the past an present dissapeared, allowing them to converge. Accept the past, it's failures and successes, and move on to the future with experience and clarity.
Opening his eyes and, all problems momentarily forgotten, Jinn half smiled. He had confronted his memories and faced them, coming out stronger for it. For a brief moment, he was at peace; only for a moment. The remembrance of a missing Padawan jolted him out of his serenity.
Qui-Gon stood up and headed for the door to the quarters, comepletely bypassing his robe due to his mission. The assignment: find Yoda and convince him of his change of heart, then get out into the galaxy and find Obi-Wan.
Now where was that little green troll?
TBC
Sorry I don't make these longer, but I don't give myself enough time.
Next one will be longer, I promise.
Review you will. Mmmm : ) Bye!
the errors but I have no beta-reader so I'm on my own. Thanx to Ginger
Ninja for posting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui-Gon stood before the twelve council members rigid and tense
with worry. He'd had to disclose the events over the last few weeks that had caused Master and Apprentice to drift apart, ending with the occurances of the present. In his hands he held Obi-Wan's lightsaber which hadn't moved since he found it.
"Send out search teams we will," Yoda said.
"I wish to help."
"No," Mace Windu said tonelessley. Qui-Gon was about to begin protesting, but the other Master beat him to it. "A mission of your own is being assigned. You will not be of any help to Obi-Wan if you cannot deal with your past."
"You must meditate on the past and your feelings that are blocking the two of you from bonding," added Depa Billipa.
"It is clear you both have issues you need to resolve together," Ki- Adi Mundi said.
"Handle the young one, the search teams will. Handle your feelings, you must." Yoda gestured to the door, "May the force be with you."
Qui-Gon's lungs inflated as he prepared to protest, but quickly deflated as he realized the pointlessnes of the argument. Nodding, he bowed and left the council chambers. . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan drifted back into the concious world. HIs first thought was one he had had once when he was in his quarters, 'Conciousnes is that annoying thing between naps.' Then he looked around and saw he was far from his quarters. It took a few moments to come to the conclusion that nothing had moved since the last time he was awake. Turning to the Ithorian, he asked, "What's your name?"
"We do not have names, only numbers," she whispered.
"But surely you have a name," the boy prodded. When no answer came, he sighed, "Alright. I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, so you know."
The Hammerhead stared at the thirteen year old for a long, quiet moment. Looking down, she said, "Thera." A quizzical look came upon her face, "You don't have a number?" She gave him a look of pity at the boy's shake of his head, "I hope no one remembers that you don't."
Dark shadows stopped in front of the pair. Three guards stood there, one holding a long shaft that on the end held a bright red piece of metal. Almost immediately Obi-Wan caught onto their intentions and made an attempt to struggle free when the first two hauled him up to his feet. They must've expected it, for their grip was extremely tight, and the boy found himself cursing at his lack of a lightsaber and the ability to use the Force. The boy grit his teeth and tensed up and his left sleeve was rolled up.
All of the efforts to remain silent were banished as soon as the scalding metal made contact with his forearm. With no Force to help him dull the effects, he was subject to the excrutiating pain of burning flesh. Dimly, he saw other captives give him looks of pity and cover their ears to muffle the boy's cries.
It seemed an eternity before they let him go. Obi-Wan sank to the floor, tears once again falling as he held his damaged limb to his chest. As soon as the guards left, Thera placed a comforting hand on the boy's back, but he didn't notice. The only thing he could feel was the burning in his arm. More tears made tracks upon his face as he glanced at where the metal had been and saw his new identity in the slave world: A070788
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wet drops interwove themselves with his beard as Qui-Gon sat in his and Obi-Wan's quarters. In order to meditate, he had to free his mind of all shields so he could concentrate on memories. It also included opening what was left of the training bond.
Even though it was weak, the older man still felt a great deal of pain from the non-shielding Obi-Wan. 'Oh Padawan, what's happening to you?'
Wiping his cheeks, Qui-Gon began to meditate, more determined than ever to rid of Xanatos' hold over his mind and get Obi-Wan home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ship was docking. One by one the prisoners were filed out and lined up so their hands could be put in shackles that were attached to one another. Boys and girls were separtated, and Obi-Wan suddenly felt lonely. Thera had been a great comfort during the last leg of the journey.
When it became his turn to be shackled, the guard had a surprise for him. Along with a nice backhand, a collar was slipped around his neck. The boy gasped as the small pinpricks of the Force he had felt earlier were torn away from him.
Before he could fully grasp the complications this new scenario would bring, he was pushed forward as the line marched on. Obi-Wan didn't know what ciry they were in, but the marched all the way through it. Ahead lay two large cages, already half full with slaves, one for males and females.
Obi-Wan's eyes went wide. he knew slavery existed in the galaxy, he had even been a part of it and was again, but he had never fully grasped how strong it's grip was. There were enough life forms here to populate a moderate sized ciry, and there had to be dozens of holding cells like these all over the planet, let alone the galaxy. That was also not including those who were already owned.
Bile rose in his throat, and dizziness swept over him as he entered the cage. The place smelled worse than Bantha fodder and eveyone was cramped together. Hands, elbows, knees, and other body parts jabbed into him from all directions. Everyone but some of the recent additions into this life were dressed in dirty, torn, and rotted rags. Everyone, especially young children and the elderly looked dangerously thin and malnourished. Dark scars marked the various colors of skin from teh many beatings slaves were given by previous owners. The sight made Obi-Wan sick, partly because of the vision of the people suffering, and partly because it would happen to him too.
Shifting to the other foot and hands fidgeting, he took a deep breath and prepared himself for a long wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breathe in, breathe out. The closed eyes flutterd as a mind holovid played before the man. All of Qui-Gon's memories of his former Padawan flashed in bright imagry before him. Xanatos' thirteenth birthday; Qui-Gon had given him a braid kit that held beads and ties from when the older man was an apprentice, who had gotten them from Yoda, who had gotten them from his Master. The first time Xanatos showed signs of anger; Qui-Gon ignored it, believing it to be the result of stress. The betrayal, and the hurt that followed. Every sight, smell, taste, and emotion that he felt then, he did now.
The broken circle. The Offworld logo, the key to the door that held him and Obi-Wan trapped in the underground mines of Bandomeer, the symbol of Xanatos' hatred toward him. To a regular being it was just an image, but to Qui-Gon it meant so many undescribable things.
A long forgotten life was re-lived, a lind dividing the past an present dissapeared, allowing them to converge. Accept the past, it's failures and successes, and move on to the future with experience and clarity.
Opening his eyes and, all problems momentarily forgotten, Jinn half smiled. He had confronted his memories and faced them, coming out stronger for it. For a brief moment, he was at peace; only for a moment. The remembrance of a missing Padawan jolted him out of his serenity.
Qui-Gon stood up and headed for the door to the quarters, comepletely bypassing his robe due to his mission. The assignment: find Yoda and convince him of his change of heart, then get out into the galaxy and find Obi-Wan.
Now where was that little green troll?
TBC
Sorry I don't make these longer, but I don't give myself enough time.
Next one will be longer, I promise.
Review you will. Mmmm : ) Bye!