"All right, reach out, Meira. The Force is all around you. Try to feel it so you'll know that it is part of you, and that you can work with it."

So far, Obi-Wan had kept his daughter calm by reassuring her and trying to point out the Force's benefits. He was unsure if she understood what he was saying; he'd have been the first to admit that. He hoped that the words would be enhanced by the feelings they exchanged through their bond. He also knew that he was dependant on Sabé to help make up the difference later.

When the wave of disturbance erupted, it hit him hard. The comforting connection with Sabé was violently ripped from him. A bitter taste and a burning sensation started in the back of his throat. Meira lost her composure again and started screaming. "No," he moaned. He centered himself, then put Meira in a light trance so he could handle her. After that he was able to receive Anakin's sending.

//Master, come at once!//

When Obi-Wan arrived on the scene, the emergency workers were trying to lift a clinging Anakin off of Sabé's bloody unconscious form. "Let her go, we'll get her into the ambulance. She'll be all right," a large rough man insisted.

"No," Anakin shouted, his hands on her face. "If you take me off, she'll die!"

"The boy's right," Obi-Wan yelled, running towards them. "He must maintain contact until she's stabilized."

At the sight of her mother, Meira fought off the earlier spell, and began reaching towards her and calling. "Maa! Maaa!." She balled her little hands into fists. "Bad Jeddi! Go away," she shouted, reaching toward Anakin with every intention of beating him off of Sabé's battered form.

Obi-Wan admired the girl's strength. It was seldom that small children could overcome a trance on their own. This time, he put her into a deep sleep. Fighting his own concern, he called on all his training to maintain detachment as he moved close to Anakin.

"Remember one of your earliest lessons, Ani. It was first aid in the field," Obi-Wan told him calmly.

"That wasn't for this kind of trauma, Master. What do I do?" Anakin faced Obi-Wan, a plea for assistance in his eyes. He was anxious and sweating, tension in his tight-knit brow.

"Her vitals seem to be stabilizing, Jedis," said a woman who had placed some monitors on Sabé. "We should get her to a hospital and begin with bacta."

Obi-Wan placed his hand on the boy's shoulder to comfort him. "Anakin...reach out with your feelings. What do you sense? Does it seem safe for you to break contact yet?"

After a moment, the tranquil padawan answered. "No, Master, not yet. I need a little more time to help her body survive. And Master, we have another problem. I can't find *her* in here."

Obi-Wan glanced up at the medics. "You'll have to move them together for the time being. He's doing well, but he needs to keep at it."

They nodded and tranferred Sabé with Anakin still on her, into a transport. Obi-Wan jumped in and continued counseling his padawan.

"Anakin, listen to me. I know she will be trying to get back to us. I believe it's not her time yet. She'll need your help, so be patient and persistent. She's in a peaceful place right now, so you must be calm and serene to be able to call to her. You will also have to form a healing bond...here's how you do it..."

****

When Sabé finally saw something other than blackness, she was surprised at how pleasant it was. The air seemed a perfumed blue mist. Ahead, there was a spot of light and there looked to be a tall male figure near it. Curiousity drew her closer.

The light appeared to be a small flickering fire, like those her father made when they went camping together years ago. She gasped when the cloaked figure turned and drew back the hood.

"Greetings, Lady Sabé. I did not expect to see you here this soon," Qui-Gon said cordially.

"Master Jinn! What are you..and what am I...doing here?"

"You are suspended between two worlds at this moment. I am here to guide you toward the one you choose. If you wish to continue on a different plane than where you came from, you may do so. However, I think it would be best for all concerned if you were to return to your corporeal form on Naboo. There is much left for you to accomplish there."

"Of course! My baby needs me!'

Qui-Gon smiled. "That's what I thought you'd say. But let me tell you this; that's only part of why you should go back. Obi-Wan and Anakin need you just as much, if not more." His look turned a bit more serious. "Sabé, you should know that I pushed things along between you and Obi-Wan. If Meira had not been created, I foresaw the strong possibility that the two of you would go your separate ways and never see one another again. The results of that were too sad to speak of. Please forgive me for my manipulations."

Puzzled, she asked,"What are you saying, Master Jinn?"

"When I saw how you and Obi-Wan seemed to be attracted to each other, I began to study you. I sensed that you weren't the Queen, but I also saw strength and a wisdom that was beyond your years. I was happy that my Padawan had perhaps found a young woman that would be good for him. He was close to his trials; the timing seemed perfect. At first, I was content to let the situation run its own course. I believed that Obi-Wan would see what was so obvious to me. But after Tatooine, my visions started."

Sabé nodded, wishing to let Qui-Gon tell the story as he saw fit.

He crossed his arms and looked down, his manner pensive. "I saw Obi-Wan as an old man...older than I was when I passed. I had seen his face and the place where he would be before, but there was more this time. I sensed a great air of tragedy about him. He was alone and had been for a very long time. When it ended, I couldn't bear to think of him coming to that, so I thought to encourage the relationship. But I did more than that. When you came with me for the backrub, I used the Force to prepare you for fertility. I didn't ask you or Obi-Wan about that. I knew you would have refused, and rightfully so."

"It's worked out wonderfully, Master Jinn. Any earlier, and I might have been terribly angry with you, but I can't regret Meira. I can't even think of life without her now. And Obi-Wan and I are having a wedding at last! Or at least we were before this happened. I do forgive you. I even thank you."

Qui-Gon looked up, gratitude in his eyes. "I should be thanking you. You'll be looking after all my charges!" He nodded at her. "Your wedding will take place, it will just be delayed." He began to lead her on the way back to her world.

As they walked along a narrowing corridor, Sabé spoke. "Master, I have something to ask you, while we have the moment...What is it to balance the Force, and how can we help Anakin to achieve it?"

"Well Sabé, you've studied my writings. Why don't you tell me what your conclusions are?"

She hesitated, then chose her words carefully. "With all the different philosophies concerning this issue, naturally there are conflicting opinions. Some seem to think it boils down to numbers. Two Jedi to two Sith. I don't agree with that. Others want to believe that it's a blending of the light and dark sides to a grey side, if you will. I don't think that's it either."

"Rather, what I see, and what your studies led to, was a balance of the living and the unifying sides of the Force, heart and intellect. The Council has diminished their awareness of the Living Force to concentrate on politics. One sign of their focus was the hasty rejection of Ani after the first interview. It was a foolish move, meant merely to put you in your place. You did the right thing, Master. Common sense dictates that it's essential for a child with the potential for such power as Anakin wields to be guided in the benevolent use of it. Perhaps this is a crude analogy, but it's like one doesn't leave a blaster out in the open for just anyone who comes along to pick up and use."

The Jedi Master looked at her with approval and respect. "Very good. Given that premise, how would you think Ani can fulfill his destiny?"

"Using nature as a model since the Force is of life and nature, I've thought of two ways. Take a forest. When there is old growth that inhibits the new, how does it balance itself? Sometimes, it takes several lifetimes, but the old dies off, and is gradually replaced. It works fine. But other times...," she hesitated. "Other times, the change is sudden and violent. A forest fire occurs, destroying old growth, turning plants, animals, everything in its way, into ashes. But within a season, maybe two, the new has taken hold." She felt her soul shudder. "I would think that perhaps we could encourage Anakin to work within the system, and push for gradual change. If he could get a seat on the Council at a young age, that would be an ideal place for him to orchestrate balance. How am I doing, Master?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "I see that my faith in you was well placed. It will take much strength and hard work. But it is the way you can fulfull your dream of seeing a new academy for Force sensitives on Naboo, so they can stay with their families and defend their own system."

"You know about that?"

"I've been keeping watch on you and your daughter the whole time. I saw the first stirrings of that vision when you were wondering if you should give Meira to the Temple. It's a fine ambition and one that you can realize in time. Don't give up."

With Qui-Gon's endorsement, her idea seemed like something that could be real one day, and not just a personal pipe dream. As she was about to converse further, she felt a nudge.

//Sabé! Come back--please!//came the voice. For a moment, she didn't recognize it, but then she realized it was Anakin calling.

She turned to Qui-Gon. "It's time I returned, I think."

He smiled. "Yes. Allow Ani to complete the bond. A word of advice--and you don't have to tell Obi-Wan or Anakin I suggested this--you might not want to sever the healing bond with Ani. It could be useful later." He bowed to her. "Take care, Lady. We'll meet again, but not too soon, Force willing."

Sabé let Anakin complete the healing bond. The power of the Force flowed through him and began repair on her damaged bones, muscles and nerves.

//Anakin--thank you...thank you for giving me the chance to return.//

//Welcome back, Sabé,//came the tired mental voice. //I'm going to release you now. You'll feel pain, but you're in the hospital. They'll take care of you...// Anakin withdrew from her mind and rolled over. He fell off the bed and hit the floor with a thud, too exhausted to get up.

The pain hit Sabé like a brick wall and she cried out. Attendants rushed to them, some putting Anakin on a stretcher and taking him to his own bed. Others dosed her with a sedative and she fell into a merciful sleep on the way to the bacta tank.