Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, yeah, Let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, Let it be
There would be one more mission for Juliet. It was a simple enough. A planet near neither the Core Worlds nor the Outer Rim had contracted a sickness, which was quickly spreading. The germ agent was found to originate in a toxic pond polluted by a nuclear power plant. The pond was a major water source. The plant denied these charges of pollution. The Jedi were to act as mediators in a series of confrences. "They're just giving me an easy mission," Juliet said. "They act like I'm a child!" "And what are you acting like?" Qui-Gon asked. Juliet immediately blushed. Of course, she had been acting like a child. "We're landing," Obi-Wan informed them. The cargo ship that had given them passage would only stay for a few minutes, for fear of the disease. Once off, the Jedi were greeted by the planet's ruler, ChisTya. "I am glad you have come. There is a great threat to our planet," ChisTya said. "We are here only as mediators, not to solve anything," Qui-Gon said. Juliet was careful not to form an opinion. She was hoping to at least find out whether or not it was the plant that had polluted the pond. However, she was fully aware that Qui-Gon's statement was directed mostly at her. Since returning to the Order, she had looked for adventure or anything to take her mind off of her child. "Still, your very presence gives the people hope," ChisTya intoned. "Is there any cure for the disease?" asked Juliet. ChisTya shook her head. "If only we knew what had caused it, perhaps there would be." Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan glanced at each other. They knew Juliet would try to find out what had caused the disease. As ChisTya led them to where they would be staying, Qui-Gon reminded Juliet, "You had best not forget your place, Young One." When she was sure he couldn't hear, Juliet muttered, "And you yours, old man." Obi-Wan overheard this, and grinned before telling her off. Juliet didn't care. She would find out what caused that epidemic, she resolved. She had to.
Not a week after they had arrived, Juliet was caught "investigating" the power plant. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were rather angry about this. "I told you, remember your place," Qui-Gon said. "I didn't forget my place, I just.I stepped out of bounds." "Yeah, you did," Obi-Wan agreed. "And should such a thing happen again, you will be under constant surveillance." "What, by a camera?" Juliet asked. "No, by either Qui-Gon or myself. You won't be allowed to give yourself insulin injections, either." At this news, Juliet groaned. She was torn between her vow to herself and the idea of never being left alone. After many hours, she made a decision.
Juliet tiptoed towards the door. It had been a week since she was last caught going out. Not that she had stopped, she had just gotten careful. Every time she went out, she made sure Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were both asleep. Reaching the door, Juliet smiled and relaxed. Suddenly, she felt someone grab her wrist and spin her around. "Where did you go?" Qui-Gon asked. "I just needed to use the bathroom," Juliet lied quickly. "For an hour?" Qui-Gon asked. "Okay.I just needed to puke. I wasn't feeling so good," Juliet lied again. "Juliet, I know that isn't true." "All right, I'll tell you, but don't tell Obi-Wan, please!" "Why?" Qui-Gon was a bit surprised by this request. "I don't want to hurt him. I don't want him to be sad." "Juliet, where did you go?" "I met a pathologist. She's not that far--on a good day, I could get to our meeting place in about ten minutes.but I haven't been having good days. I met with her, she took some of my blood--we've been doing this for a few days. When I went snooping around in the power plant, I got sick. That's why you can't tell Obi-Wan!" "What are you talking about? I'm sure if you took enough bacta--" "Qui-Gon, I'm dying. Bacta cannot help me. This is why Obi-Wan cannot know. Please don't tell him, please!" Juliet begged. "All right. I won't tell him. But Juliet--you know you'll have to go AWOL, don't you?" Juliet swallowed and nodded gravely. "I know. I just don't want him to think that I'm de--that I'm one with the Force." "There's only one problem. No matter what you do, he will feel you die." Juliet had not realized this, but it was true--even if he was angry at her, if he thought she'd left the order, he would feel her leaving the Living Force. "Juliet, I promised not to tell him, and I will keep my promise, but he must know."
"Master, what is the Living Force?" Juliet asked. She had asked him this, once, years ago, and not been satisfied with his answer, so she had spent hours mulling over what it was. Finally, she had realized that the Force is something different to everyone. "It is the fabric of life which connects us all," Obi-Wan answered immediately. "I mean, what is the Living Force to you?" Juliet asked again. Obi- Wan paused. "I don't know." "What do you think happens to us when we di--become one with the Force? What happens to our conscious mind?" Juliet asked. "I don't know," Obi-Wan said. "Well, what do you think it feels like to become one with the Force?" "I don't know," he said again. "If someone suicides--" "Stop!" Obi-Wan said. "What's going on, Juliet?" "I'm curious," Juliet answered. Obi-Wan took a long time deciding what to say next. Finally, he asked, "Isn't it about time for your injection?" "Oh, right," Juliet said, "I'll go do that." She slipped away from the room, and then ran. "Qui-Gon, I know you know what's going on." Obi-Wan said. "This is between you and your Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "Has she spoken to you?" Obi-Wan asked. "Has she told you what's going on?" "Yes," Qui-Gon said. "Yes, she has." "What is it?" "She will tell you." "Oh, you've just got some new-found faith in her?" "One might say so." "Why won't you tell me what's going on?" "I swore I wouldn't." "Why won't she tell me?" "She will. She's scared." "Of what? Has she been breaking rules again?" "No, she hasn't." "Then why is she scared? What is she afraid of?" "Hurting you. And I will say no more!"
"Padawan." Juliet stiffened at the word. Obi-Wan sat down next to her and put his arm across her shoulders. "You can tell me." "You don't understand," she said, and he realized she had been crying. "It's okay, really, I understand." He assured her, hoping that he did understand. He knew, at least, that he understood her fear. "Just tell me, because I already know," he lied, hoping this would make her tell him. "Really?" she asked weakly. "How?" "Qui-Gon told me," Obi-Wan lied. "But if you tell me, it will help you accept it." "He broke his promise?" Juliet asked meekly. Obi-Wan heard the pain in her voice. "No. I lied. You don't have to tell me, whatever it is."
"Qui-Gon, do you know where Juliet is?" Obi-Wan asked. "She's gone to talk to ChisTya," Qui-Gon replied. "I told her she could." "Okay," Obi-Wan said. Knowing she was out, he opened the door to her quarters. Carefully, he searched through her things, until he came across what he was looking for.sort of. A cardboard box was hidden under her bed. Inside Obi-Wan found a lot of small, paper cranes and a book. "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes? What is this?" Obi-Wan took the book and sat down on the bed. It didn't take him long to complete it. Of course, he figured out immediately what was going on. "Thousand paper cranes.she must have at least that here!" He counted, and found nine-hundred sixty-four. Following the directions in the back of the book, he began to fold. Soon, he had made enough that Juliet had 1000. "I have to make them," a voice said from the doorway. Obi-Wan looked over and saw Juliet, watching him. "It's only thirty five more." "Why didn't you tell me?" Obi-Wan asked. "I was scared. I didn't want to hurt you. I thought that.the cranes would make me better." Juliet walked slowly forward and picked up one of Obi-Wan's cranes. "This is a mountain fold, not inside-reverse. Look," she inside-reverse folded the crane's head. "You cranes are all dead. Their necks are broken." A tear slid down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that." She started crying. "I don't wanna die," she admitted, sitting next to Obi-Wan. "I know," he said, taking her on his lap as one might a small child. "I know."
Juliet died ten days later. In those ten days, she had hardly come to terms with things. She still wanted to live. Obi-Wan hadn't come to terms, either. He hardly had let her out of his sight, and couldn't stand the thought of her death. She vowed to herself to show no pain and be strong for him. "Please don't be sad," Juliet said. "Everyone has to die. Please. I can't go in peace if you're sad. I heard, on Earth--remember Earth?" "Yeah," Obi-Wan said. Juliet smiled. He was usually pretty uptight about grammar. "Well, I heard that when you die, you become an angel. An angel is like.when you're an angel, you have wings. And you can fly. And you don't have any worries. Romeo called it the sunflower palace. Robin's friends called it heaven. They said no lawyers went there. I don't know what that means, but they all laughed. One of Robin's friends said you get to ride winged horses, and there's lots of clouds, so when you fall of, it doesn't hurt. And Robin's friend said you get to eat caramel in heaven, which is really good. The best part is, you can still go back home sometimes--you can visit people in their dreams. And when you're an angel, people can talk to you, and you can hear them. Every word they say." "I'll talk to you every day," Obi-Wan promised. He could feel her Life-Force leaving. "Please, read what's on my datapad. The password is 'Swordfish'." "I'll read every word," he swore. She nodded. "I know, now, what Life- Force is. It's what makes us who we are, how we are, our flaws and accomplishments. It's our soul." Juliet nodded. "Good." She said. "Hey, who's the Master here?" he joked. "Me," she joked. "Obi-Wan," she said, serious again. "One more promise?" he nodded in agreement. "Look after Esperanza for me." "Of course," he said. "Juliet? Juliet?" She didn't hear. She was already gone.
To Obi-Wan, the idea that Juliet was one with the Force was inconcievable. She was gone from him, and for years he would feel a hole in his heart. As her body was consumed by flames, along with one thousand useless cranes, he cried silently, tears that failed to obscure his vision of his burning Padawan. After the ceremony, he slipped away to be consumed by his sorrows. Qui-Gon finally found him, red-eyed but no longer sobbing. "Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan asked. "I want to finish my training." "What are you talking about? The Council--" "I don't care. I was not ready to have a Padawan." "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said gently, putting his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault." "Qui-Gon, please. If I had just--if I hadn't been so stupid." he broke off as a new wave of guilt overtook him, and again he broke into uncontrollable sobs. It occurred to Qui-Gon in a split second that, had it not been for Juliet, he would not have known what to do just then, but she had taught him, and perhaps, he thought, she had known. It was the first time in nearly ten years that he hugged Obi-Wan. "All right. You can finish your training." Qui-Gon submitted, for Obi- Wan's self esteem. For his soul. So that one day he might meet his Padawan again. In the sunflower palace in the sky.
There would be one more mission for Juliet. It was a simple enough. A planet near neither the Core Worlds nor the Outer Rim had contracted a sickness, which was quickly spreading. The germ agent was found to originate in a toxic pond polluted by a nuclear power plant. The pond was a major water source. The plant denied these charges of pollution. The Jedi were to act as mediators in a series of confrences. "They're just giving me an easy mission," Juliet said. "They act like I'm a child!" "And what are you acting like?" Qui-Gon asked. Juliet immediately blushed. Of course, she had been acting like a child. "We're landing," Obi-Wan informed them. The cargo ship that had given them passage would only stay for a few minutes, for fear of the disease. Once off, the Jedi were greeted by the planet's ruler, ChisTya. "I am glad you have come. There is a great threat to our planet," ChisTya said. "We are here only as mediators, not to solve anything," Qui-Gon said. Juliet was careful not to form an opinion. She was hoping to at least find out whether or not it was the plant that had polluted the pond. However, she was fully aware that Qui-Gon's statement was directed mostly at her. Since returning to the Order, she had looked for adventure or anything to take her mind off of her child. "Still, your very presence gives the people hope," ChisTya intoned. "Is there any cure for the disease?" asked Juliet. ChisTya shook her head. "If only we knew what had caused it, perhaps there would be." Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan glanced at each other. They knew Juliet would try to find out what had caused the disease. As ChisTya led them to where they would be staying, Qui-Gon reminded Juliet, "You had best not forget your place, Young One." When she was sure he couldn't hear, Juliet muttered, "And you yours, old man." Obi-Wan overheard this, and grinned before telling her off. Juliet didn't care. She would find out what caused that epidemic, she resolved. She had to.
Not a week after they had arrived, Juliet was caught "investigating" the power plant. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were rather angry about this. "I told you, remember your place," Qui-Gon said. "I didn't forget my place, I just.I stepped out of bounds." "Yeah, you did," Obi-Wan agreed. "And should such a thing happen again, you will be under constant surveillance." "What, by a camera?" Juliet asked. "No, by either Qui-Gon or myself. You won't be allowed to give yourself insulin injections, either." At this news, Juliet groaned. She was torn between her vow to herself and the idea of never being left alone. After many hours, she made a decision.
Juliet tiptoed towards the door. It had been a week since she was last caught going out. Not that she had stopped, she had just gotten careful. Every time she went out, she made sure Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were both asleep. Reaching the door, Juliet smiled and relaxed. Suddenly, she felt someone grab her wrist and spin her around. "Where did you go?" Qui-Gon asked. "I just needed to use the bathroom," Juliet lied quickly. "For an hour?" Qui-Gon asked. "Okay.I just needed to puke. I wasn't feeling so good," Juliet lied again. "Juliet, I know that isn't true." "All right, I'll tell you, but don't tell Obi-Wan, please!" "Why?" Qui-Gon was a bit surprised by this request. "I don't want to hurt him. I don't want him to be sad." "Juliet, where did you go?" "I met a pathologist. She's not that far--on a good day, I could get to our meeting place in about ten minutes.but I haven't been having good days. I met with her, she took some of my blood--we've been doing this for a few days. When I went snooping around in the power plant, I got sick. That's why you can't tell Obi-Wan!" "What are you talking about? I'm sure if you took enough bacta--" "Qui-Gon, I'm dying. Bacta cannot help me. This is why Obi-Wan cannot know. Please don't tell him, please!" Juliet begged. "All right. I won't tell him. But Juliet--you know you'll have to go AWOL, don't you?" Juliet swallowed and nodded gravely. "I know. I just don't want him to think that I'm de--that I'm one with the Force." "There's only one problem. No matter what you do, he will feel you die." Juliet had not realized this, but it was true--even if he was angry at her, if he thought she'd left the order, he would feel her leaving the Living Force. "Juliet, I promised not to tell him, and I will keep my promise, but he must know."
"Master, what is the Living Force?" Juliet asked. She had asked him this, once, years ago, and not been satisfied with his answer, so she had spent hours mulling over what it was. Finally, she had realized that the Force is something different to everyone. "It is the fabric of life which connects us all," Obi-Wan answered immediately. "I mean, what is the Living Force to you?" Juliet asked again. Obi- Wan paused. "I don't know." "What do you think happens to us when we di--become one with the Force? What happens to our conscious mind?" Juliet asked. "I don't know," Obi-Wan said. "Well, what do you think it feels like to become one with the Force?" "I don't know," he said again. "If someone suicides--" "Stop!" Obi-Wan said. "What's going on, Juliet?" "I'm curious," Juliet answered. Obi-Wan took a long time deciding what to say next. Finally, he asked, "Isn't it about time for your injection?" "Oh, right," Juliet said, "I'll go do that." She slipped away from the room, and then ran. "Qui-Gon, I know you know what's going on." Obi-Wan said. "This is between you and your Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "Has she spoken to you?" Obi-Wan asked. "Has she told you what's going on?" "Yes," Qui-Gon said. "Yes, she has." "What is it?" "She will tell you." "Oh, you've just got some new-found faith in her?" "One might say so." "Why won't you tell me what's going on?" "I swore I wouldn't." "Why won't she tell me?" "She will. She's scared." "Of what? Has she been breaking rules again?" "No, she hasn't." "Then why is she scared? What is she afraid of?" "Hurting you. And I will say no more!"
"Padawan." Juliet stiffened at the word. Obi-Wan sat down next to her and put his arm across her shoulders. "You can tell me." "You don't understand," she said, and he realized she had been crying. "It's okay, really, I understand." He assured her, hoping that he did understand. He knew, at least, that he understood her fear. "Just tell me, because I already know," he lied, hoping this would make her tell him. "Really?" she asked weakly. "How?" "Qui-Gon told me," Obi-Wan lied. "But if you tell me, it will help you accept it." "He broke his promise?" Juliet asked meekly. Obi-Wan heard the pain in her voice. "No. I lied. You don't have to tell me, whatever it is."
"Qui-Gon, do you know where Juliet is?" Obi-Wan asked. "She's gone to talk to ChisTya," Qui-Gon replied. "I told her she could." "Okay," Obi-Wan said. Knowing she was out, he opened the door to her quarters. Carefully, he searched through her things, until he came across what he was looking for.sort of. A cardboard box was hidden under her bed. Inside Obi-Wan found a lot of small, paper cranes and a book. "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes? What is this?" Obi-Wan took the book and sat down on the bed. It didn't take him long to complete it. Of course, he figured out immediately what was going on. "Thousand paper cranes.she must have at least that here!" He counted, and found nine-hundred sixty-four. Following the directions in the back of the book, he began to fold. Soon, he had made enough that Juliet had 1000. "I have to make them," a voice said from the doorway. Obi-Wan looked over and saw Juliet, watching him. "It's only thirty five more." "Why didn't you tell me?" Obi-Wan asked. "I was scared. I didn't want to hurt you. I thought that.the cranes would make me better." Juliet walked slowly forward and picked up one of Obi-Wan's cranes. "This is a mountain fold, not inside-reverse. Look," she inside-reverse folded the crane's head. "You cranes are all dead. Their necks are broken." A tear slid down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that." She started crying. "I don't wanna die," she admitted, sitting next to Obi-Wan. "I know," he said, taking her on his lap as one might a small child. "I know."
Juliet died ten days later. In those ten days, she had hardly come to terms with things. She still wanted to live. Obi-Wan hadn't come to terms, either. He hardly had let her out of his sight, and couldn't stand the thought of her death. She vowed to herself to show no pain and be strong for him. "Please don't be sad," Juliet said. "Everyone has to die. Please. I can't go in peace if you're sad. I heard, on Earth--remember Earth?" "Yeah," Obi-Wan said. Juliet smiled. He was usually pretty uptight about grammar. "Well, I heard that when you die, you become an angel. An angel is like.when you're an angel, you have wings. And you can fly. And you don't have any worries. Romeo called it the sunflower palace. Robin's friends called it heaven. They said no lawyers went there. I don't know what that means, but they all laughed. One of Robin's friends said you get to ride winged horses, and there's lots of clouds, so when you fall of, it doesn't hurt. And Robin's friend said you get to eat caramel in heaven, which is really good. The best part is, you can still go back home sometimes--you can visit people in their dreams. And when you're an angel, people can talk to you, and you can hear them. Every word they say." "I'll talk to you every day," Obi-Wan promised. He could feel her Life-Force leaving. "Please, read what's on my datapad. The password is 'Swordfish'." "I'll read every word," he swore. She nodded. "I know, now, what Life- Force is. It's what makes us who we are, how we are, our flaws and accomplishments. It's our soul." Juliet nodded. "Good." She said. "Hey, who's the Master here?" he joked. "Me," she joked. "Obi-Wan," she said, serious again. "One more promise?" he nodded in agreement. "Look after Esperanza for me." "Of course," he said. "Juliet? Juliet?" She didn't hear. She was already gone.
To Obi-Wan, the idea that Juliet was one with the Force was inconcievable. She was gone from him, and for years he would feel a hole in his heart. As her body was consumed by flames, along with one thousand useless cranes, he cried silently, tears that failed to obscure his vision of his burning Padawan. After the ceremony, he slipped away to be consumed by his sorrows. Qui-Gon finally found him, red-eyed but no longer sobbing. "Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan asked. "I want to finish my training." "What are you talking about? The Council--" "I don't care. I was not ready to have a Padawan." "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said gently, putting his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault." "Qui-Gon, please. If I had just--if I hadn't been so stupid." he broke off as a new wave of guilt overtook him, and again he broke into uncontrollable sobs. It occurred to Qui-Gon in a split second that, had it not been for Juliet, he would not have known what to do just then, but she had taught him, and perhaps, he thought, she had known. It was the first time in nearly ten years that he hugged Obi-Wan. "All right. You can finish your training." Qui-Gon submitted, for Obi- Wan's self esteem. For his soul. So that one day he might meet his Padawan again. In the sunflower palace in the sky.