Hey! I thought I would post now because I'm going on a trip this
weekend. Thanx to Ginger Ninja for posting. I guess that's it, no news.
. . "You will read this story. You will read this story."
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Dirt crumbled and flung through the air as Obi-Wan stumbled down the makeshift dirt streets to the infirmary. He didn't even have to think about where he was going, so he focused on something else. Qui-Gon was here! Even without the Force and with his Master's appearance changes, the boy would reconize that Jedi Master anywhere.
As he made his way into the infirmary, the healers led him to a bed. They didn't even have to ask what happened, only one person would be so cruel. Obi-Wan remained silent as they applied bacta to his cuts and supplied a fresh tunic. After recieving a hypo spray to relieve his pain, he started back to his job and the long hours that awaited. By the looks of the sky, he would be lucky to make it back by sunset. He groaned; the night hours were the worst. Guards were usually tired and cranky and Roon's wildlife tended to hunt at night.
The image of Qui-Gon floated arond in his head. Did th man know what the boy had been through these past two months? Did he care? 'Of course not, you idiot! Remember why you had to run away?!' But then, did Qui-Gon even know that was him? The man could've thought he was sending Force waves to some poor, unfortunate slave. And why was Qui-Gon here anyway?
When he reached the warehouse, he was directed to the group of boxes for the night shipment. According to the guard's logs, he had seven hours to make up. Sighing, he hefted a box onto his shoulder, wincing as the sunburn made it's presence known. Obi-Wan began to trek up the road once more, wary of midnight predators.
A rustle in the surrounding trees stopped the young one halfway there. Quickly spinning on his heel, the boy scanned the area. Nervousness rose in him when he cuoldn't see anything. Shaking his head, he began to jog to where he was going.
Much of the night passed this way. After a while, Obi-Wan became relaxed enough to walk instead of run, convinced that whatever was there was gone. Now he was just bored.
'Oh Stih.' Stopping, he heard footsteps approaching. Obi-Wan turned around and gasped, stumbling backward. A Nashtah stod in front of him. All the boy knew was that they were native to Dra Three, and all he saw was the spiked tail, triple rows of jagged teeth, and razor sharp claws. Credited with being stealthful and agile, ver few ever escaped it's deadly hunting.
Six legs carrying a massive body approached, snarling viciously. Ob-Wan rose to a crouch and reached for the nearest thing to throw: a small stick. He looked at it, then the beast, and immedietly dropped the twig and ran. 'Okay, I have about ten seconds to come up with a plan. . . .'
While he tried to think of a non-existant way out of his mess, he failed to see the big rock in his path until he was falling to the ground. 'Good Kenobi, great plan.'
The Nashtah stopped chasing him and approached slowly, showing all of it's teeth in a smile. Obi-Wan scooted backward while facing it, his brain telling his diobedient body to get up and move it. The boy gasped when his body rammed into a tree. 'This is not good.'
Rasing it's claw, the beast prepared to strike. Obi-Wan raised hs arms in protection and prepared for the blow. The hum of a weapon, cries of pain, then silence. The boy opened eyes he didn't realize were tightly shut. A form stood over the crumpled body of the Nashtah, green lightsaber in hand.
"Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan said in disbelief.
The Master spun around and powered down his lightsaber. Holding out a hand, he helped the boy up, "Are you alright?" At the boy's nod, he pulled him to his chest, sighing, "Thank the Force."
Confused at the elder's actions, Obi-Wan asked, "Qui-Gon?"
Qui-Gon puled away and held the boy at shoulder's length. "I'll explain. For now, just know that I'm sorry, so sorry. Come on, it's not safe here." Holding the boy's arm, he led him through the woods to a mini camp that was set up halfway between the warehouse and the small city.
The Master went over to the tent and pulled out Temple tunics. Obi- Wan accepted them enthusiastically and changed faster than he ever had before. Then Qui-Gon led them to a nearby tree and sat down, leaning against the trunk.
"Thank you for saving me," Obi-Wan said timidly.
"Obi-Wan look at me," Qui-Gon took a deep breath and looked into the young one's eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry I hurt you the way I did. I caused you to run away and then you were captured. . . ."
"Why? Why were you treating me the way you did?"
"Oh Obi-Wan, it was just me and my stupid insecurities. After you came back from Melida/Daan, I failed to give you a second chance. The Xanatos came and made things worse. I never took time to get over it and embrace the now. Do you forgive me?"
The boy nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. Qui-Gon gathered him in his arms and murmured soothing things in the young one's ear. "How did you find me?" he whispered.
"I didn't know you were here, little one. We all thought you were dead." He then proceeded to tell the boy about the mission, and everything else that happened in the last couple of months.
Tear filed words left as Obi-Wan as he told his own story, while absently rubbing his wrist. Qui-Gon picked up the arm and rubbed his thumb over te offending number. Closing his eyes, he sent healing waves to the marred skin and didn't open them until he heard Obi-Wan's soft gasp.
The boy looked at him with love and gratitude, "Thank you, Qui-Gon."
Sighing, the older man grasped the young one's smaller ones. "Obi- Wan, I know I don't deserve you. But I want to try this again. Will you be my Padawan agani?"
"I would love to. . . . Master." That was al he had to say for Qui-Gon wrapped te boy in a hug and rested his head on top of the boy's peach fuzz. They stayed like that, until both fell asleep, content to where their lives were now.
***
Specks of light filtered in through trees awakened the pair the next morning. Obi-Wan was the first one up, the regimen of litle sleep triggering his body to come alive after his usual amount of time sleeping past. Qui-Gon awoke soon after, smiling down at the bundle on his chest. "Today I'm supposed to tour the warehouses with Kit. Something's not right, a tremor in the Force."
"I wish I could feel the Force," the boy mumbled, briefly touching his collar.
The Master took one look at the boy's neck and mentaly slapped himself. 'How could you have forgotten the collar, Jinn?! That's exactly why you haven't been able to sense the boy these last two months?!' Closing his hands on the item, he sent neutral waves to make the machine stop working and gently unclasped it. As son as the felt the Force rush back to the boy, he accessed the far too long silent bond.
// Obi-Wan? //
// Master! I've missed the bond. //
// So have I, young one, so have I. //
"Now," Qui-Gon said. "I want you to stay here while I'm gone."
"But what about Kit? You said something was wrong, and now I feel it too."
"Which is exactly why you're not going," the Master replied. His face immediately softened, "I don't want to lose you again."
"What about you?" Obi-Wan protested. "You think I'll just sit here and wait to hear if you've been captured or not when I could be watching your back?! I know I can't be out in the opne because of my status here, but I can hide and keep my eye on you. I'm going."
Qui-Gon sighed, "This is not a good idea. Alright. We're supposed to be touring around midday. The mission is to bring Kit to Coruscant for trial and then Republic Aid can come and free everyone here."
Obi-Wan looked briefly at the position of the sun before answering, "I'll go now. The shifts should be changing soon, and the guards are probably looking for me. It will probably be my only chance of finding a place to hide."
The Master noded, "And I need to head back to Kit's. Oh, you might need this," he said, producing the boy's lightsaber from a pant pocket. "I've had it sense you were kidnapped."
"Thank you Master." Standing up, Obi-Wan began to head back to the warehouse, "May the Force be with you, Master!"
"May the Force be with you! Keep the bond open at all times!"
"Yes sir!"
TBC
Sorry I ran out of time. Hopefully my next post is my last.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dirt crumbled and flung through the air as Obi-Wan stumbled down the makeshift dirt streets to the infirmary. He didn't even have to think about where he was going, so he focused on something else. Qui-Gon was here! Even without the Force and with his Master's appearance changes, the boy would reconize that Jedi Master anywhere.
As he made his way into the infirmary, the healers led him to a bed. They didn't even have to ask what happened, only one person would be so cruel. Obi-Wan remained silent as they applied bacta to his cuts and supplied a fresh tunic. After recieving a hypo spray to relieve his pain, he started back to his job and the long hours that awaited. By the looks of the sky, he would be lucky to make it back by sunset. He groaned; the night hours were the worst. Guards were usually tired and cranky and Roon's wildlife tended to hunt at night.
The image of Qui-Gon floated arond in his head. Did th man know what the boy had been through these past two months? Did he care? 'Of course not, you idiot! Remember why you had to run away?!' But then, did Qui-Gon even know that was him? The man could've thought he was sending Force waves to some poor, unfortunate slave. And why was Qui-Gon here anyway?
When he reached the warehouse, he was directed to the group of boxes for the night shipment. According to the guard's logs, he had seven hours to make up. Sighing, he hefted a box onto his shoulder, wincing as the sunburn made it's presence known. Obi-Wan began to trek up the road once more, wary of midnight predators.
A rustle in the surrounding trees stopped the young one halfway there. Quickly spinning on his heel, the boy scanned the area. Nervousness rose in him when he cuoldn't see anything. Shaking his head, he began to jog to where he was going.
Much of the night passed this way. After a while, Obi-Wan became relaxed enough to walk instead of run, convinced that whatever was there was gone. Now he was just bored.
'Oh Stih.' Stopping, he heard footsteps approaching. Obi-Wan turned around and gasped, stumbling backward. A Nashtah stod in front of him. All the boy knew was that they were native to Dra Three, and all he saw was the spiked tail, triple rows of jagged teeth, and razor sharp claws. Credited with being stealthful and agile, ver few ever escaped it's deadly hunting.
Six legs carrying a massive body approached, snarling viciously. Ob-Wan rose to a crouch and reached for the nearest thing to throw: a small stick. He looked at it, then the beast, and immedietly dropped the twig and ran. 'Okay, I have about ten seconds to come up with a plan. . . .'
While he tried to think of a non-existant way out of his mess, he failed to see the big rock in his path until he was falling to the ground. 'Good Kenobi, great plan.'
The Nashtah stopped chasing him and approached slowly, showing all of it's teeth in a smile. Obi-Wan scooted backward while facing it, his brain telling his diobedient body to get up and move it. The boy gasped when his body rammed into a tree. 'This is not good.'
Rasing it's claw, the beast prepared to strike. Obi-Wan raised hs arms in protection and prepared for the blow. The hum of a weapon, cries of pain, then silence. The boy opened eyes he didn't realize were tightly shut. A form stood over the crumpled body of the Nashtah, green lightsaber in hand.
"Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan said in disbelief.
The Master spun around and powered down his lightsaber. Holding out a hand, he helped the boy up, "Are you alright?" At the boy's nod, he pulled him to his chest, sighing, "Thank the Force."
Confused at the elder's actions, Obi-Wan asked, "Qui-Gon?"
Qui-Gon puled away and held the boy at shoulder's length. "I'll explain. For now, just know that I'm sorry, so sorry. Come on, it's not safe here." Holding the boy's arm, he led him through the woods to a mini camp that was set up halfway between the warehouse and the small city.
The Master went over to the tent and pulled out Temple tunics. Obi- Wan accepted them enthusiastically and changed faster than he ever had before. Then Qui-Gon led them to a nearby tree and sat down, leaning against the trunk.
"Thank you for saving me," Obi-Wan said timidly.
"Obi-Wan look at me," Qui-Gon took a deep breath and looked into the young one's eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry I hurt you the way I did. I caused you to run away and then you were captured. . . ."
"Why? Why were you treating me the way you did?"
"Oh Obi-Wan, it was just me and my stupid insecurities. After you came back from Melida/Daan, I failed to give you a second chance. The Xanatos came and made things worse. I never took time to get over it and embrace the now. Do you forgive me?"
The boy nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. Qui-Gon gathered him in his arms and murmured soothing things in the young one's ear. "How did you find me?" he whispered.
"I didn't know you were here, little one. We all thought you were dead." He then proceeded to tell the boy about the mission, and everything else that happened in the last couple of months.
Tear filed words left as Obi-Wan as he told his own story, while absently rubbing his wrist. Qui-Gon picked up the arm and rubbed his thumb over te offending number. Closing his eyes, he sent healing waves to the marred skin and didn't open them until he heard Obi-Wan's soft gasp.
The boy looked at him with love and gratitude, "Thank you, Qui-Gon."
Sighing, the older man grasped the young one's smaller ones. "Obi- Wan, I know I don't deserve you. But I want to try this again. Will you be my Padawan agani?"
"I would love to. . . . Master." That was al he had to say for Qui-Gon wrapped te boy in a hug and rested his head on top of the boy's peach fuzz. They stayed like that, until both fell asleep, content to where their lives were now.
***
Specks of light filtered in through trees awakened the pair the next morning. Obi-Wan was the first one up, the regimen of litle sleep triggering his body to come alive after his usual amount of time sleeping past. Qui-Gon awoke soon after, smiling down at the bundle on his chest. "Today I'm supposed to tour the warehouses with Kit. Something's not right, a tremor in the Force."
"I wish I could feel the Force," the boy mumbled, briefly touching his collar.
The Master took one look at the boy's neck and mentaly slapped himself. 'How could you have forgotten the collar, Jinn?! That's exactly why you haven't been able to sense the boy these last two months?!' Closing his hands on the item, he sent neutral waves to make the machine stop working and gently unclasped it. As son as the felt the Force rush back to the boy, he accessed the far too long silent bond.
// Obi-Wan? //
// Master! I've missed the bond. //
// So have I, young one, so have I. //
"Now," Qui-Gon said. "I want you to stay here while I'm gone."
"But what about Kit? You said something was wrong, and now I feel it too."
"Which is exactly why you're not going," the Master replied. His face immediately softened, "I don't want to lose you again."
"What about you?" Obi-Wan protested. "You think I'll just sit here and wait to hear if you've been captured or not when I could be watching your back?! I know I can't be out in the opne because of my status here, but I can hide and keep my eye on you. I'm going."
Qui-Gon sighed, "This is not a good idea. Alright. We're supposed to be touring around midday. The mission is to bring Kit to Coruscant for trial and then Republic Aid can come and free everyone here."
Obi-Wan looked briefly at the position of the sun before answering, "I'll go now. The shifts should be changing soon, and the guards are probably looking for me. It will probably be my only chance of finding a place to hide."
The Master noded, "And I need to head back to Kit's. Oh, you might need this," he said, producing the boy's lightsaber from a pant pocket. "I've had it sense you were kidnapped."
"Thank you Master." Standing up, Obi-Wan began to head back to the warehouse, "May the Force be with you, Master!"
"May the Force be with you! Keep the bond open at all times!"
"Yes sir!"
TBC
Sorry I ran out of time. Hopefully my next post is my last.