Part 2
Obi-Wan's surprise was mirrored by Bant, who was just as shocked. Qui-Gon smiled at his startled former apprentice. He had to admit, it had been a long time since he had seen Obi-Wan. After his recovery from the wound he had received from the Sith apprentice, he had gone in search of his padawan only to find out that he had already been knighted and on his way to his first mission with his new apprentice. Over the following six years, he had only seen Obi-Wan once in passing at the Temple. And even then the Jedi Master had not spoken with him.
The surprise on Obi-Wan's face quickly turned into the Jedi mask that he was so accustomed to wearing. He took his place in the center. Bant shook off her shock before followed Obi into the room.
Obi-Wan's thoughts were in turmoil. /What is he doing here now of all times?! After eight years of not even bothering to see me he chooses to show up finally./ He stood with his back stiff, his eyes fixed firmly on master Yoda, fighting the urge to stare openly at Qui. /NO!! Not now! Now is not the time for this. /
Bowing stiffly, Obi-Wan found his voice again. "Masters."
Qui-Gon frowned. He looked askingly at Bant, who shrugged. He thought that Obi would have been glad to see him. Apparently he was wrong. The minute Obi-Wan had walked into the chambers, the bond between them had flared back to life - until Obi-Wan's shields had slammed up. His eyes however told a different story. /He's angry with me./
He suddenly realized that Yoda was already speaking. He snorted mentally. So much for keeping focused on the 'here and now'.
".mission we have for you three.sensed a disturbance in the Force we have." Yoda leaned back in his seat; his gimmer stick lay across his lap.
Mace Windu spoke up from there. "We want you to go to the planet of Borleias. It has been determined that the disturbance originates from somewhere on that planet. This disturbance may be connected to the mystery behind the Sith."
It was Qui-Gon's turn to straighten. Bant glanced worriedly over at Obi- Wan to find that there was still no change in his expression.
"Healer Bant," Mace continued, "I have requested that you go on this mission with them because of your observation skills as well as you healing talents to monitor Master Jinn."
Bant nodded.
Obi-Wan stepped forward slightly. "Masters, I feel that Anakin should stay here for this mission. He is already behind in his studies, and this would further widen the discrepancy." He paused and warily closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "And he is very tired masters." He added almost pleading.
Master Yoda closed his eyes, tapping his gimmer stick on his knee. "Go Padawan Skywalker must."
Obi-Wan looked ready to jump into an argument when he saw the look on Yoda's face. He recognized the 'don't argue with the master, you will only be wasting your breath' look. He stepped back and bowed his reluctant acceptance.
Mace smiled slightly. "We understand and share your concern Master Kenobi. However, your padawan will greatly benefit from Master Jinn on this mission. Your transport leaves in two hours. May the Force be with you."
*****
The first person out was Obi-Wan, leaving both a bemused Bant and Qui-Gon behind. Before Qui-Gon could call Obi-Wan, Bant held him back.
"Master Qui-Gon, I think Obi-Wan needs some time alone right now."
"Do you know why he is acting so uptight now?"
Bant looked at the Jedi Master incredulously. "You don't talk to your former padawan for over eight years and you expect him to greet you as if nothing is wrong?!"
Qui-Gon flinched. "We were always on a mission. Whenever one of us came back to the Temple the other headed off." The excuse rang hollow in his own ears.
"You could have tried harder! Obi-Wan has had a very difficult time transitioning from being a padawan to immediately becoming a master to a young boy whom you dumped on him." Bant glared at the master. She was becoming just as angry as Obi appeared to be when he left. Where had the master been all these years when his padawan needed him the most? Before Qui-Gon could respond, Bant piped up again. "If you'll excuse me, I have a mission to prepare for." She brushed past Qui-Gon, justifiably upset with the rather thick headed master.
Qui-Gon's sad eyes followed the angry healer's departure. /She's right you know. I'm the master. I should have made the effort to see him at least once./ He sighed. /Oh come on Qui-Gon, you know the real reason you didn't keep contact with him./
Obi-Wan's surprise was mirrored by Bant, who was just as shocked. Qui-Gon smiled at his startled former apprentice. He had to admit, it had been a long time since he had seen Obi-Wan. After his recovery from the wound he had received from the Sith apprentice, he had gone in search of his padawan only to find out that he had already been knighted and on his way to his first mission with his new apprentice. Over the following six years, he had only seen Obi-Wan once in passing at the Temple. And even then the Jedi Master had not spoken with him.
The surprise on Obi-Wan's face quickly turned into the Jedi mask that he was so accustomed to wearing. He took his place in the center. Bant shook off her shock before followed Obi into the room.
Obi-Wan's thoughts were in turmoil. /What is he doing here now of all times?! After eight years of not even bothering to see me he chooses to show up finally./ He stood with his back stiff, his eyes fixed firmly on master Yoda, fighting the urge to stare openly at Qui. /NO!! Not now! Now is not the time for this. /
Bowing stiffly, Obi-Wan found his voice again. "Masters."
Qui-Gon frowned. He looked askingly at Bant, who shrugged. He thought that Obi would have been glad to see him. Apparently he was wrong. The minute Obi-Wan had walked into the chambers, the bond between them had flared back to life - until Obi-Wan's shields had slammed up. His eyes however told a different story. /He's angry with me./
He suddenly realized that Yoda was already speaking. He snorted mentally. So much for keeping focused on the 'here and now'.
".mission we have for you three.sensed a disturbance in the Force we have." Yoda leaned back in his seat; his gimmer stick lay across his lap.
Mace Windu spoke up from there. "We want you to go to the planet of Borleias. It has been determined that the disturbance originates from somewhere on that planet. This disturbance may be connected to the mystery behind the Sith."
It was Qui-Gon's turn to straighten. Bant glanced worriedly over at Obi- Wan to find that there was still no change in his expression.
"Healer Bant," Mace continued, "I have requested that you go on this mission with them because of your observation skills as well as you healing talents to monitor Master Jinn."
Bant nodded.
Obi-Wan stepped forward slightly. "Masters, I feel that Anakin should stay here for this mission. He is already behind in his studies, and this would further widen the discrepancy." He paused and warily closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "And he is very tired masters." He added almost pleading.
Master Yoda closed his eyes, tapping his gimmer stick on his knee. "Go Padawan Skywalker must."
Obi-Wan looked ready to jump into an argument when he saw the look on Yoda's face. He recognized the 'don't argue with the master, you will only be wasting your breath' look. He stepped back and bowed his reluctant acceptance.
Mace smiled slightly. "We understand and share your concern Master Kenobi. However, your padawan will greatly benefit from Master Jinn on this mission. Your transport leaves in two hours. May the Force be with you."
*****
The first person out was Obi-Wan, leaving both a bemused Bant and Qui-Gon behind. Before Qui-Gon could call Obi-Wan, Bant held him back.
"Master Qui-Gon, I think Obi-Wan needs some time alone right now."
"Do you know why he is acting so uptight now?"
Bant looked at the Jedi Master incredulously. "You don't talk to your former padawan for over eight years and you expect him to greet you as if nothing is wrong?!"
Qui-Gon flinched. "We were always on a mission. Whenever one of us came back to the Temple the other headed off." The excuse rang hollow in his own ears.
"You could have tried harder! Obi-Wan has had a very difficult time transitioning from being a padawan to immediately becoming a master to a young boy whom you dumped on him." Bant glared at the master. She was becoming just as angry as Obi appeared to be when he left. Where had the master been all these years when his padawan needed him the most? Before Qui-Gon could respond, Bant piped up again. "If you'll excuse me, I have a mission to prepare for." She brushed past Qui-Gon, justifiably upset with the rather thick headed master.
Qui-Gon's sad eyes followed the angry healer's departure. /She's right you know. I'm the master. I should have made the effort to see him at least once./ He sighed. /Oh come on Qui-Gon, you know the real reason you didn't keep contact with him./