Well, its been a while since I last posted a chapter of The Greatest
Force. Why? The story seemed to be drifting away from the idea I wanted
and I needed time to think it through. But here I am, ready to share
the continued adventure and hopefully, you'll like it. Not a lot of
action happens in the story, but it setting the scene for the rest of
the story. Trust me...or, ya know, bombard me email with hatemail. (I
was kidding just then). Also, if you haven't, please read/ review one
of my other star wars stories posted at fanfiction.net (provided you're
reading this from fanfiction.net) They're feeling a little deprived of
reviews. ;) Please review this chapter too, or email me at
Eileenblzr@yahoo.com. (Pretty please with a Ewan Mcgregor on top?)
Chapter 5: In Retrospect
Obi-wan kneeled in the corridor for a long time, and eventually people
stopped wondering why he was there or asking if he need any help.
Sometimes, a guard would give him a weird look and shake his head,
secretly thanking the Elders that *he* was never chosen as a Jedi. They
were such an odd breed. An occasional maid would stare longingly,
wishing she could be the one to lift him up and reopen his eyes.
The Jedi ignored all of them; his mind was otherwise occupied. No
answer came from the fallen mentor, but Obi-wan began to recover,
regardless. First came the easy breaths, so neccessary for serenity,
then the feel of the Force all around him. He let its strong waves
bathe him, cleanse his confused soul. Submerge yourself in the Living
Force, Qui-gon used to say, and nothing can touch you. Obi-wan made
sure he did just that.
Next, the Jedi re-thought his encounter with the dark side. How easily
the evil had crawled beneath his skin and shaken a lifetime of
learning. It was disturbing, to realize what a weakness his affection
for the queen really was.
Or did the weakness lie within himself?
The frothy bitter taste was more than alluring, it was *familiar*. He'd
buried the hunger for it weeks before, back when it came to him like a
surge of energy. He hadn't known where it originated, nor had that
mattered. Destroying the enemy was too important. And in the aftermath
of Qui-gon's funeral, he'd cast it away. But now, here it was again,
offering itself to him like a free whore, ready and willing to be used
and dominated. Only one question remained: was he strong enough to
refuse it?
Obi-wan opened his eyes and took in the scene around him. Silver walls,
plants, blue mats in front of plain black doors. Behind him-
"Are you all right?" He turned and found the plain-clothed queen,
supporting herself with a foot against the wall, arms folded, face
nearly expressionless. Her clear voice showed little sign of concern,
her entire attitude appearing unconcerned. Anyone observing would've
said she didn't care about his response; Obi-wan knew better. Amidala
prided herself on her empathy, this nonchalance was obviously an act.
Interestingly, the Jedi couldn't read her true emotions.
"How is it the Council missed you." He murmered quietly, running a hand
through his messy hair and readjusting the saber at his side.
"Pardon?"
"I am well, M'lady." She nodded and raised herself to full height.
"That's good to hear, Master Kenobi. The Jedi Council told us not to
disturb you during your...meditation...but left specific orders for you
to contact them at soon as possible."
"Thank you, Majesty," Obi-wan said.
Amidala looked away. "We'll be arriving in the B'lanni system within a
few days. It will be a rest stop."
As her figure dissapeared around the corner, Obi-wan wondered at her
behavior. Why the cold fascade? But, he reminded himself, there were
more pressing matters at hand. If he remembered correctly, the Council
had requested his attention just after the incident. Had Yoda, in all
his greater knowledge and experience, detected the foe pursuing
Obi-wan? Would they pull him away from his current mission?
The Jedi entered the veiwing room and turned on the holo-image. Master
Yoda appeared, with his scrunched face and pointy ears, and Obi-wan
instinctively took a knee.
"Padawan learner, you are not, Master Kenobi. Rise, you may."
"If its all the same, I'd feel more comfortable like this." Obi looked
up and found a dismayed wrinkle the Great One's nose. Yoda sighed.
"The same, it is not. Ready to accept your standing in the Jedi Order,
you must be. Inappropriate, these Padawan-like actions are."
Obi-wan stood and continued listening. This was sounding a lot like a
lecture, the kind of tired-voiced, head-shaking speeches Yoda had so
often delivered to Master Qui-gon. In a way, it was a comfort, a
compliment. Qui-gon was a great man and an even better Jedi. To be like
him was an honor. In another way, it added to his problems. Were his
struggles so visible to the world?
"Master Yoda," Obi-wan interrupted, purposely changing the subject.
"How is Anakin?"
"A fast learner, the young boy is. Already surpass his peers in
understanding, Anakin does. Join you as an apprentice, he soon will."
"That's good to hear. Is that all?"
The head of the Council let out another small sigh. Leaning forward on
the cane, he said, "Obi-wan, confident in your abilities, you must be.
Prey upon you if you are not, others shall. Very strong with the force,
you are. Losing you to the dark side, I would like."
The younger man bowed. "I assure you, Master Yoda, everyday I grow more
and more assured of my place as a master." Then he severed the
connection before anything else could be exchanged.
Yoda seemed to know. Which meant the important thing now was to solve
all the problems before he intervened.
Simple, right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The doors swished closed and Amidala knew relief. The rapid beat of her
heart slowed as she dropped onto the bed. Oh, if only he'd known how
good it felt to see his aqua eyes again, to hear the steady pattern of
his voice. She'd wanted so badly to rush into his arms and hold him
close, to inhale that spicy scent, and bury her face against his chest.
She doubted he knew just how long he'd been gone, adrift in his own
world. But she knew it to the exact second. It'd been *days*, two point
fifty-seven to be more precise. Days of watching him, sitting beside
him but never speaking, tracing the contors of his face with an
invisible hand but never touching, reaching out for him in some other
plane but finding it vacant.
He'd been gone, to wherever it was that Jedis retreated to. And in his
absense, she'd been alone. The only kindred spirit she'd ever known had
vanished and she didn't know why.
It occurred to her that she may be the problem. Imagine, him present
only because the Jedi Council ordered it so and her, fawning over him
like a silly, stupid girl instead of acting like the monarch her people
elected. So what if she loved the sight of him practicing with a saber,
grinning at her from behind a pot of flowers, and him in general? He
was a Jedi, for goodness sake, how had she ever deluded herself into
believing he might love her in return? All that useless hoping had
gotten her was worried and frustrated. Hell, it'd forced him to go on
a voyage of the mind, to flee from her attentions.
Amidala made up her mind then. She knew the diplomatic way; it had been
programmed into her since youth. If and when he awoke, she'd go out of
her way to keep her distance and not bother him. Soon enough they'd
reach Naboo and he would leave her. His actual awakening hadn't changed
her determination. Stiff jawed and formal, that was her new approach to
the man. Even when he looked to her, expecting the same comfortable
chatter, she had ignored every urge in her soul.
But why it have to hurt so much?
*************
The hands folded over themselves, just inches away from crooked, pale
lips, falling still and lifeless. Their owner watched a man approach,
cautiously.
"Master, our plans have failed. He has not turned."
Idiot. Simple minded, brainless, idiot. How was it that such fools
always surrounded him, attempting to feed off of his intelligence and
cunning. "Our plan is going well. He is bevaning exactly as I intended
him to."
The man's mouth fell open, confusion contorting his old face. "You
wanted this to happen? But Yoda sensed something. He felt us *and* the
Jedi we want is no closer to being ours."
"Perhaps it seems so to your inferior understanding. Yoda doesn't
matter, he's just a neccessary annoyance. The Jedi now anticipates our
attack in one way, we shall approach him in another. Thus, he will be
unguarded and easy to turn." The hands changed places and shifted
awkwardly in front of a twisted smile.
**********
AN: remember to review! Please?! Stay tuned for the next exciting
chpater of The Greatest Force!
Force. Why? The story seemed to be drifting away from the idea I wanted
and I needed time to think it through. But here I am, ready to share
the continued adventure and hopefully, you'll like it. Not a lot of
action happens in the story, but it setting the scene for the rest of
the story. Trust me...or, ya know, bombard me email with hatemail. (I
was kidding just then). Also, if you haven't, please read/ review one
of my other star wars stories posted at fanfiction.net (provided you're
reading this from fanfiction.net) They're feeling a little deprived of
reviews. ;) Please review this chapter too, or email me at
Eileenblzr@yahoo.com. (Pretty please with a Ewan Mcgregor on top?)
Chapter 5: In Retrospect
Obi-wan kneeled in the corridor for a long time, and eventually people
stopped wondering why he was there or asking if he need any help.
Sometimes, a guard would give him a weird look and shake his head,
secretly thanking the Elders that *he* was never chosen as a Jedi. They
were such an odd breed. An occasional maid would stare longingly,
wishing she could be the one to lift him up and reopen his eyes.
The Jedi ignored all of them; his mind was otherwise occupied. No
answer came from the fallen mentor, but Obi-wan began to recover,
regardless. First came the easy breaths, so neccessary for serenity,
then the feel of the Force all around him. He let its strong waves
bathe him, cleanse his confused soul. Submerge yourself in the Living
Force, Qui-gon used to say, and nothing can touch you. Obi-wan made
sure he did just that.
Next, the Jedi re-thought his encounter with the dark side. How easily
the evil had crawled beneath his skin and shaken a lifetime of
learning. It was disturbing, to realize what a weakness his affection
for the queen really was.
Or did the weakness lie within himself?
The frothy bitter taste was more than alluring, it was *familiar*. He'd
buried the hunger for it weeks before, back when it came to him like a
surge of energy. He hadn't known where it originated, nor had that
mattered. Destroying the enemy was too important. And in the aftermath
of Qui-gon's funeral, he'd cast it away. But now, here it was again,
offering itself to him like a free whore, ready and willing to be used
and dominated. Only one question remained: was he strong enough to
refuse it?
Obi-wan opened his eyes and took in the scene around him. Silver walls,
plants, blue mats in front of plain black doors. Behind him-
"Are you all right?" He turned and found the plain-clothed queen,
supporting herself with a foot against the wall, arms folded, face
nearly expressionless. Her clear voice showed little sign of concern,
her entire attitude appearing unconcerned. Anyone observing would've
said she didn't care about his response; Obi-wan knew better. Amidala
prided herself on her empathy, this nonchalance was obviously an act.
Interestingly, the Jedi couldn't read her true emotions.
"How is it the Council missed you." He murmered quietly, running a hand
through his messy hair and readjusting the saber at his side.
"Pardon?"
"I am well, M'lady." She nodded and raised herself to full height.
"That's good to hear, Master Kenobi. The Jedi Council told us not to
disturb you during your...meditation...but left specific orders for you
to contact them at soon as possible."
"Thank you, Majesty," Obi-wan said.
Amidala looked away. "We'll be arriving in the B'lanni system within a
few days. It will be a rest stop."
As her figure dissapeared around the corner, Obi-wan wondered at her
behavior. Why the cold fascade? But, he reminded himself, there were
more pressing matters at hand. If he remembered correctly, the Council
had requested his attention just after the incident. Had Yoda, in all
his greater knowledge and experience, detected the foe pursuing
Obi-wan? Would they pull him away from his current mission?
The Jedi entered the veiwing room and turned on the holo-image. Master
Yoda appeared, with his scrunched face and pointy ears, and Obi-wan
instinctively took a knee.
"Padawan learner, you are not, Master Kenobi. Rise, you may."
"If its all the same, I'd feel more comfortable like this." Obi looked
up and found a dismayed wrinkle the Great One's nose. Yoda sighed.
"The same, it is not. Ready to accept your standing in the Jedi Order,
you must be. Inappropriate, these Padawan-like actions are."
Obi-wan stood and continued listening. This was sounding a lot like a
lecture, the kind of tired-voiced, head-shaking speeches Yoda had so
often delivered to Master Qui-gon. In a way, it was a comfort, a
compliment. Qui-gon was a great man and an even better Jedi. To be like
him was an honor. In another way, it added to his problems. Were his
struggles so visible to the world?
"Master Yoda," Obi-wan interrupted, purposely changing the subject.
"How is Anakin?"
"A fast learner, the young boy is. Already surpass his peers in
understanding, Anakin does. Join you as an apprentice, he soon will."
"That's good to hear. Is that all?"
The head of the Council let out another small sigh. Leaning forward on
the cane, he said, "Obi-wan, confident in your abilities, you must be.
Prey upon you if you are not, others shall. Very strong with the force,
you are. Losing you to the dark side, I would like."
The younger man bowed. "I assure you, Master Yoda, everyday I grow more
and more assured of my place as a master." Then he severed the
connection before anything else could be exchanged.
Yoda seemed to know. Which meant the important thing now was to solve
all the problems before he intervened.
Simple, right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The doors swished closed and Amidala knew relief. The rapid beat of her
heart slowed as she dropped onto the bed. Oh, if only he'd known how
good it felt to see his aqua eyes again, to hear the steady pattern of
his voice. She'd wanted so badly to rush into his arms and hold him
close, to inhale that spicy scent, and bury her face against his chest.
She doubted he knew just how long he'd been gone, adrift in his own
world. But she knew it to the exact second. It'd been *days*, two point
fifty-seven to be more precise. Days of watching him, sitting beside
him but never speaking, tracing the contors of his face with an
invisible hand but never touching, reaching out for him in some other
plane but finding it vacant.
He'd been gone, to wherever it was that Jedis retreated to. And in his
absense, she'd been alone. The only kindred spirit she'd ever known had
vanished and she didn't know why.
It occurred to her that she may be the problem. Imagine, him present
only because the Jedi Council ordered it so and her, fawning over him
like a silly, stupid girl instead of acting like the monarch her people
elected. So what if she loved the sight of him practicing with a saber,
grinning at her from behind a pot of flowers, and him in general? He
was a Jedi, for goodness sake, how had she ever deluded herself into
believing he might love her in return? All that useless hoping had
gotten her was worried and frustrated. Hell, it'd forced him to go on
a voyage of the mind, to flee from her attentions.
Amidala made up her mind then. She knew the diplomatic way; it had been
programmed into her since youth. If and when he awoke, she'd go out of
her way to keep her distance and not bother him. Soon enough they'd
reach Naboo and he would leave her. His actual awakening hadn't changed
her determination. Stiff jawed and formal, that was her new approach to
the man. Even when he looked to her, expecting the same comfortable
chatter, she had ignored every urge in her soul.
But why it have to hurt so much?
*************
The hands folded over themselves, just inches away from crooked, pale
lips, falling still and lifeless. Their owner watched a man approach,
cautiously.
"Master, our plans have failed. He has not turned."
Idiot. Simple minded, brainless, idiot. How was it that such fools
always surrounded him, attempting to feed off of his intelligence and
cunning. "Our plan is going well. He is bevaning exactly as I intended
him to."
The man's mouth fell open, confusion contorting his old face. "You
wanted this to happen? But Yoda sensed something. He felt us *and* the
Jedi we want is no closer to being ours."
"Perhaps it seems so to your inferior understanding. Yoda doesn't
matter, he's just a neccessary annoyance. The Jedi now anticipates our
attack in one way, we shall approach him in another. Thus, he will be
unguarded and easy to turn." The hands changed places and shifted
awkwardly in front of a twisted smile.
**********
AN: remember to review! Please?! Stay tuned for the next exciting
chpater of The Greatest Force!