Title: Broken Promises and New Beginnings
Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.
Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21. I thank Cynical21 for allowing me to reference her work. If you haven't read her story you are really missing out on a wonderful story.
Just to a little guide as to what things mean:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
**********************************************************************
Days became weeks, weeks turned into months until finally a year had passed since his knighting ceremony. The council had kept him very busy. With Qui-Gon out of the picture, Obi-Wan quickly became the lead negotiator for the council. He had felt uneasy at first traveling alone, sorting out the customs with no one else to bounce interpretations off of, not to mention the convenient excuse of a waiting Master when his company was requested for more intimate liaisons following late night meetings. In time though, he had grown if not comfortable at least accustomed to being alone.
It had been an exciting year with more than his share of close calls. He had managed to be in the bacta tank on only two occasions and neither had been truly life threatening. Mirilent, his favorite Healer, actually the only Healer he liked, had proclaimed it a record for him and had even teased that if he kept it up he might not need her anymore. He had been injured on so many missions as a padawan. It caused him to wonder if perhaps Qui-Gon had left him overexposed at times, or if in his desperation to please his Master he had sacrificed too easily his own well being. He pushed those thoughts away each equally painful and revealing.
Over the last year, he had hardly spent a standard week in his apartment on the knight level in the Temple. That fact was evident in the sparse furnishings and impersonal feel of the rooms. The place definitely didn't feel like home yet and he wondered if it ever would. Standing at the desk on the far side of the room he quickly scanned through his com messages. He was in a bit of a rush trying to get to the dining hall in time to say goodbye to Bant before she left for her mission to Tatis. Most of the messages were from friends trying to hook up with him during this rare appearance at the Temple. He decided that he would contact them later tonight. There was one message from Master Yoda inviting him to tea tomorrow. He smiled at the thought of having some time with his Master. Once his messages were checked, he click off his com unit and headed out the door. The knight quarters were located beneath the master level and therefore were further from the dining hall. This added time to his travels but glancing at the closest chrono he knew he would make it to the dining hall with a little time to spare. Rounding a corner his mind elsewhere he ran full force into a wall. Shaking his head he stared out in front of him to see what had leveled him so completely. The wall in question turned out to be Master Gallia.
"Master Gallia," he began as he jumped to his feet and rushed to the fallen master's side, "how clumsy of me. I was rushing and not paying attention as I should have been."
"Nice running into you Obi-Wan." She mused humorously as she felt his arms about her lifting her to her feet. He wiggled his head side to side in response to her comment and smile.
Once on her feet Master Gallia regarded Obi-Wan with a patient smile as he once more launched into a series of apologies. Finally he stood before her in silence.
"Are you finished?" She asked her expression unreadable but humor in her eyes.
"Yes?" Obi-Wan blushed looking down and then back up into her lovely blue gaze.
"Well first of all Knight Kenobi it is Adi not Master Gallia. Well at least not unless there is a padawan around. Second, I wasn't paying attention either or I would have avoided running into you as well. And third," she paused drawing out her voice playfully.
"Third?" Obi-Wan smiled and relaxed deciding that her expression had been playful.
"Third, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a drink tonight." She couldn't help but laugh lightly as a look of total shock crossed his face. She was impressed by how quickly he regained his composure. No doubt the ability to quickly suppress any evidence of emotion was a lingering tell-tale sign of Qui-Gon's teaching she mused.
"A drink?" He considered aloud his mind racing almost as quickly as his heart. Why was he reacting like this he asked himself as he drew his composure back around himself like a cloak.
"Yes. A drink." She began, "You know they come in glasses and usually taste good and make you feel even better." He felt drawn to her humor and confidence.
"Oh yes I think I have heard of those." He quipped back eyeing her curiously. He wondered for a moment why a Council member would want to have a drink with him. Surely if this concerned a mission he would be summoned to the Council Chambers. It was a bit unorthodox to discuss missions over drinks. Then again he was only a lowly knight and had little understanding as to the whys and ways of the Council. He smiled at her.
"Certainly I would love to join you for a drink. What time?"
"Come to my quarters at let's say 9:00?" She waited for his nod and then turned and headed back to the lifts. Now that they were headed in the same direction Obi-Wan feared that perhaps their collision had dazed her somewhat.
"Master?" He began. She sighed showing her exasperation. " I mean Adi." He quickly corrected himself. The word felt a little odd on his tongue. "Weren't you headed that way?" He asked pointing a finger in the direction he had been coming from when he had plowed her down.
"Yes. I had been. I was coming to your apartment to ask you out. You saved me some steps." She didn't seem to notice that his eyes widen a bit at her response.
Obi-Wan fell into step beside her as they both made their way towards the lifts. He felt his mind tripping over her choice of words 'ask you out'. Had he just been asked out? He had assumed it was council business. He stole a long gaze at the Master standing next to him as they entered the lift. She was indeed beautiful and he felt sure that with little to no encouragement he could feel attracted to her, but she was a master. She was older and wiser and more experienced. He swallowed hard as the final thought played out in his mind. He wondered what he had just gotten himself into. Her voice jarred him from his thoughts.
"So where were you headed in such a hurry?" She asked as she indicated her floor.
"Dining Hall. Bant is leaving and I am trying to catch her before she goes." He wondered now whether he would or not. The lift stopped and Adi stepped out.
"I won't keep you then." She smiled, "Until tonight?" She asked staring up at him before stepping out through the door.
"Until tonight." He said feeling a strange tingling up his spine. The door closed and he exhaled loudly.
What had just happened? He had a date with Master Gallia-Adi,he corrected himself again, or did he? He had always thought that she was beautiful but had never even considered that she would want to be seen with him. Before he could ponder further the lift doors opened and Bant's brilliant smile met his eyes.
"There you are." She began stepping onto the lift. "I was afraid you had forgotten." He reached his arms around her waist giving her a big hug.
"No way! You know better than that. I had a bit of a mishap on the way. When does your transport leave?" He pulled away and lovingly squeezed her hand between his.
Bant indicated the travel pack she was carrying. "Right away. I waited until the very last moment." They smiled at one another knowing that she had probably waited a little past the very last moment but knew the transport wouldn't leave without her.
"I will miss you. I am so sorry we didn't have more time together." He took her travel pack and slung it over his own shoulder.
"Me too, but I will be back. By the way what mishap did you have?" The lift opened and they both exited and started towards the transport station.
"Oh nothing." He began searching the screens to locate the departure bay number. Bant could tell from his desperate attempt to play it down that it had been more than nothing.
"So are you going to tell me or am I going to spend the next three days in hyperspace going mad trying to figure it out?" She too was scanning the screens but from time to time glancing at her friend to gauge his reaction.
Obi-Wan shook his head and smiled over at her. "I am really not sure. I either have a mission briefing or a date tonight and I'm at a total loss as to which one it is. Am I really that thick?" He asked rolling his eyes in frustration and placing his arm around her shoulders.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" She smiled then waited patiently for the explanation she knew would be coming. He had located the bay number. They made their way through the crowded station.
"I ran into Master Gallia today."
"So?" Bant asked.
"No, I mean I literally ran into her. I knocked her down."
Bant laughed at the image that formed in her imagination. "Clumsy you are. Slow down you must or injure masters you will?" She teased.
"Yea yea ha ha ha very funny." He played along good naturedly.
"The weird thing happened after I knocked her down." She could tell from his tone he was still trying to sort things out.
"Quit teasing and spill your guts. I have to leave in a matter of minutes." With the transport in sight she stopped and turned to face her friend.
"Well Master Gallia-Adi- I mean-"
"Adi?" She asked one eyebrow lifting in interest.
"Yeah well that is what she asked me to call her." He seemed hesitant and pleased at the same time. Bant smiled knowingly and gestured for him to continue.
"She asked me out for a drink." He blurted it out then stood staring at Bant waiting for her to tell him what it meant.
Bant furrowed her brow as if in deep concentration and nodded wisely. "And you are wondering if this is a personal or professional engagement?" Obi- Wan nodded seriously. Being a female he assumed that Bant would know and understand Master Gallia's intentions better than he could.
"What time?" She asked innocently.
"Tonight at 9. I am to meet her at her place." They made their way over to the waiting ship.
"Tonight at 9." She replied as if examining evidence. "At HER place." She emphasized the word "her" sighing deeply.
"Yes yes at 9 at her place. What do you think?" He was growing impatient.
"I think you had better take a bath because you have a date tonight with a master." She jabbed him in the ribs and made a grab for her travel pack. He held it just out of her reach.
"Do you really think so? She is a bit older than me and she is a master." His face was marked by concern. It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself that it was professional and not personal. They began moving again towards her waiting ship.
"She isn't THAT much older. I mean lots of knights think she's pretty hot. I also bet there are real advantages to dating masters. Are you going to sleep with her?" Bant asked reaching out she stopped Obi-Wan just out of ear shot from the transport.
"Bant! How can you ask that? We are just having a drink. For all I know it is purely platonic. You're assuming something that may not be true." He paused bringing his breathing back under control. He hadn't really thought about what might happen after the drink. Feeling his heart begin to race again he decided he definitely wasn't ready to think about that.
"You know now that I think about it I did help her translate a communiqué the other day. She probably just wants to thank me." He was feeling relieved and disappointed at the same time.
"Yeah Obi I am sure that's it. Yeah she's going to thank you alright." Bant's voice was thick with sarcasm. She shook her head and stared into his eyes in amazement. Could he really be this oblivious? "Oh and I am also sure that when she said you had the nicest butt at last year's Temple celebration, she meant it in a purely platonic manner. It was merely a master's objective observation on your muscle tone." She patted the butt in question to emphasize her point. He jumped and squirmed away from her touch. She winked snagging her pack from his hand. Her words had shaken the Jedi serenity that he had been struggling to reconstruct.
"She said that?" He asked not quite able to picture the serene master actually forming those words.
Bant wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"That's not funny." He said with mocked sternness in his voice. He wanted to be offended but found himself flattered instead.
"Mace didn't think so either. He was her date." With that Bant leaned it for a quick kiss on his cheek and headed up the ramp. As she reached the top she turned back, "Be mindful of your thoughts Knight Kenobi. Fear leads to the dark side." He blushed and gave her a warning glare. She mouthed her love for him. He mirrored her action and waved.
Obi-wan stood there watching until she disappeared. He couldn't quite shake the thought of Adi commenting on his butt. He started to glance over his shoulder in curiosity but shook off the ridiculous idea. Thinking back he remembered her from the Temple celebration. She had been drunk that night. Drinking usually caused him to say and do things that he wished he hadn't. The same must be true for everyone. Listening to the engines power up on the transport he turned to make his way back to the lifts. Suddenly it dawned on him that he and Adi would be drinking tonight. Anxiety and excitement rose within him.
***************
"Very well executed Padawan Skywalker." Mace Windu's voice resonated off the walls of the practice arena on Lustar.
Qui-Gon met Mace's eyes and refused to hide the pride he felt at all that Anakin had accomplished. He had been surprised when Mace had contacted him requesting a visit to evaluate Anakin's progress. He hadn't been surprised that the Council knew of their whereabouts. He had suspected that they would have kept up with someone of Anakin's potential even if they had just turned the boy out onto the streets to fend for himself.
Anakin came over to his Master. Mace noted the calm manner in which he did so.
//Odd/ he thought to himself, //the boy is only ten and yet he is acting with the reserve of a much older Padawan. // Mace kept his own council, but his mind kept coming back to the word 'acting' over and over again.
"Master Windu." The boy bowed to the man before turning to his own Master. "If you don't mind Master I would very much like to spend the remainder of my afternoon studying my astronavigation. That is if Master Windu doesn't have more tests for me." At this Anakin turned back to Mace awaiting his response.
//Laying it on a little thick kid.// Mace thought holding his face unreadable as he stared down upon the boy before him. As he stood there waiting he couldn't help but enjoy the discomfort the boy was starting to exude. It was obvious that the boy was both impatient and angry, but struggling hard to mask this from the master before him.
Finally Anakin sighed as his eyes bore down a bit. That was Mace's cue.
"Be mindful of your thoughts Anakin. Your thoughts betray you." He hadn't been able to read the boys thoughts but the look on Anakin's face had revealed everything that Mace had suspected.
Qui-Gon's own frustration with the situation was evident in his tone, "Anakin, you are excused. We will see you at dinner this evening. The King has invited us all to dine with him." Anakin bowed and was gone.
"Was that necessary?" Qui-Gon whirled on Mace protectively.
"Yes it was." Mace replied calmly as he took a position on the mat beneath him.
"For what purpose?" Qui-Gon asked settling down across from his old friend. It felt odd to be so close and yet so far from each other in their beliefs.
"To show that upstart that he is not as smart as he thinks he is. He can't out smart a Master. He isn't fooling anyone with his Padawan of the Year routine. " Mace gestured in the direction the boy had disappeared.
"He has progressed very well in his studies. His control of the force is far beyond his age mates back at the temple." Qui-Gon argued defensively skirting the point.
"But his control of his emotions is far behind that of his age mates. I still sense much anger in him. Surely you felt it rolling off of him when he left?" Mace furrowed his brow exasperated that Qui-Gon could miss something so obvious to even the casual observer.
"Can you blame him? You have put him through test after test. He knows that with each one there is the chance that you find him unworthy. " Qui- Gon argued struggling to maintain some façade of control.
"Would you have let Obi-Wan get away with that?" Mace knew the answer before he even spoke the question. //You didn't seem to mind that Obi-Wan felt unworthy.// He thought bitterly as he regarded the man across from him. Sometimes he hardly recognized him as the padawan he had been friends with and the knight he had served along side of.
"Of course not. Obi-Wan and Anakin are very different. Anakin was a slave and was rejected by the council. He has reason to worry about not being seen as worthy." Qui-Gon shook his head resenting Anakin's comparison to Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan had been rejected by someone more important than the council. He was rejected by you time and time again and I never felt such anger from him. He would never have allowed it. He would have recognized his anger and released it. Anakin holds to his and lives off of it. Can't you see that?"
"So you've come all this way to tell me once again that I am dead and Anakin is dangerous?" Qui-Gon stared disbelieving into Mace's eyes.
Mace paused considering his answer. He knew what the force was leading him to do. He knew that he had agreed with the rest of the council including Yoda on what had to be done concerning the boy. He knew what he had been assigned to do here on Lustar, but now he wondered if he needed to meditate more on the matter. Somehow he knew meditation would not change the answer only postpone it.
"Actually I was sent here to review the situation and if I discovered what was expected I was to reinstate you to the Order and invite you and your Padawan back to the Temple to complete his training. ' His eyes never left Qui-Gon's.
Qui-Gon's mouth dropped open in spite of himself. "Are you serious?" He really couldn't believe it. Mace made no response to the question either physically or vocally. Qui-Gon knew the offer was genuine, but why? It seemed the logical place to start.
"Why Mace?" His question was heavy with suspicion.
Mace sighed as though he were carrying a great weight. When he spoke there was resignation in his tone, "There is a darkness growing. Only a year ago Yoda and Obi-Wan confronted the Sith that you fought on Tatoonine."
Qui-Gon went pale. So the evil warrior had been after the Queen and Obi- Wan had had to fight him without Qui-Gon by his side. For a moment Qui-Gon feared that young Padawan was dead. He hadn't accessed their bond since he felt it turn cold on the transport to Lustar. He had always tried to comfort himself believing that he would somehow know if Obi-Wan had become one with the force. He was lost in thought. Mace had noticed and was waiting patiently for the Master to turn his attention back to the matter at hand.
"Are you ready?' Mace asked. Qui-Gon nodded.
"The Sith was defeated but he was highly trained. It is our belief that he was the apprentice based solely on his age. There are others we feel certain. It is vital that we keep our numbers strong and our enemy weak. " Mace paused to take a breath.
"Anakin would be a great asset to the Jedi." Qui-Gon spoke in the silence.
"Or a powerful enemy." Mace's tone was grave and he waited for the realization to fully sink into the other Master before continuing. "In order to insure that he doesn't find himself at the mercy of the darkness we propose that you be reinstated to the order and Anakin be officially enrolled as your Padawan learner at the Temple."
Mace rose and looked down upon his old friend. "I will await your answer. I am leaving tomorrow morning. If you have made your decision by that time you are welcome to join me on my ship." He bowed and made his way out of the practice arena.
Qui-Gon sat speechless. He was lost in thought. He had missed his friends at the temple. He had missed the fellowship of other force sensitives as well as the camaraderie of his fellow masters and the knights. Home, the mere word overwhelmed him. It was a thought that was too good to be true. He felt a rush of emotion and fought to hold the tears at bay. He hadn't dared hoped that he would ever see the Temple again. He only then realized how lonely he had been on his own without his beloved--. He caught himself before his thoughts could reveal the one he missed most of all. Of course it wasn't solely his decision as to whether they would return or not, but Anakin would follow his direction. He would have to go find the boy and they would meditate together on the matter.
He had wanted to ask Mace about Obi-Wan. He had wanted assurance that the young man had indeed survived the battle with the Sith, but in the end he had lack the courage to ask. He would know soon enough if they decided to return to the Temple. He felt a giddy joy growing inside.
Qui-Gon rose and made his way to the library laughing to himself at the thought of Anakin voluntarily studying astronavigation. When he wanted to Anakin could really pile it on thick. Turning his thoughts back to his conversation with Mace he found himself haunted by one question. "Would you have allowed Obi-Wan to get away with that?" It was a question Qui-Gon refused to answer.
***********************************************************************
Well I decided to stick with my original plan for now. I was going to hang out in the past for a little while longer but really felt that it was best for the pace of the story to go ahead and move forward. I am sure I will add more as we go along though. It seems you all enjoyed the gala and transport chapter and that was new so my goal is to be flexible and go where the story leads me. I know the Adi Gallia twist is new to everyone. I just thought it would be interesting. She seemed so compassionate in Untimely Frost when she offered to take Obi-Wan if she could as her padawan. I wanted to explore that a little bit more. Anyone who has had the privilege of reading Cynical's An Untimely Frost knows that Mirilent is her character. So on we go..Thanks again for all the reviews!! I have much to learn.
Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.
Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21. I thank Cynical21 for allowing me to reference her work. If you haven't read her story you are really missing out on a wonderful story.
Just to a little guide as to what things mean:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
**********************************************************************
Days became weeks, weeks turned into months until finally a year had passed since his knighting ceremony. The council had kept him very busy. With Qui-Gon out of the picture, Obi-Wan quickly became the lead negotiator for the council. He had felt uneasy at first traveling alone, sorting out the customs with no one else to bounce interpretations off of, not to mention the convenient excuse of a waiting Master when his company was requested for more intimate liaisons following late night meetings. In time though, he had grown if not comfortable at least accustomed to being alone.
It had been an exciting year with more than his share of close calls. He had managed to be in the bacta tank on only two occasions and neither had been truly life threatening. Mirilent, his favorite Healer, actually the only Healer he liked, had proclaimed it a record for him and had even teased that if he kept it up he might not need her anymore. He had been injured on so many missions as a padawan. It caused him to wonder if perhaps Qui-Gon had left him overexposed at times, or if in his desperation to please his Master he had sacrificed too easily his own well being. He pushed those thoughts away each equally painful and revealing.
Over the last year, he had hardly spent a standard week in his apartment on the knight level in the Temple. That fact was evident in the sparse furnishings and impersonal feel of the rooms. The place definitely didn't feel like home yet and he wondered if it ever would. Standing at the desk on the far side of the room he quickly scanned through his com messages. He was in a bit of a rush trying to get to the dining hall in time to say goodbye to Bant before she left for her mission to Tatis. Most of the messages were from friends trying to hook up with him during this rare appearance at the Temple. He decided that he would contact them later tonight. There was one message from Master Yoda inviting him to tea tomorrow. He smiled at the thought of having some time with his Master. Once his messages were checked, he click off his com unit and headed out the door. The knight quarters were located beneath the master level and therefore were further from the dining hall. This added time to his travels but glancing at the closest chrono he knew he would make it to the dining hall with a little time to spare. Rounding a corner his mind elsewhere he ran full force into a wall. Shaking his head he stared out in front of him to see what had leveled him so completely. The wall in question turned out to be Master Gallia.
"Master Gallia," he began as he jumped to his feet and rushed to the fallen master's side, "how clumsy of me. I was rushing and not paying attention as I should have been."
"Nice running into you Obi-Wan." She mused humorously as she felt his arms about her lifting her to her feet. He wiggled his head side to side in response to her comment and smile.
Once on her feet Master Gallia regarded Obi-Wan with a patient smile as he once more launched into a series of apologies. Finally he stood before her in silence.
"Are you finished?" She asked her expression unreadable but humor in her eyes.
"Yes?" Obi-Wan blushed looking down and then back up into her lovely blue gaze.
"Well first of all Knight Kenobi it is Adi not Master Gallia. Well at least not unless there is a padawan around. Second, I wasn't paying attention either or I would have avoided running into you as well. And third," she paused drawing out her voice playfully.
"Third?" Obi-Wan smiled and relaxed deciding that her expression had been playful.
"Third, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a drink tonight." She couldn't help but laugh lightly as a look of total shock crossed his face. She was impressed by how quickly he regained his composure. No doubt the ability to quickly suppress any evidence of emotion was a lingering tell-tale sign of Qui-Gon's teaching she mused.
"A drink?" He considered aloud his mind racing almost as quickly as his heart. Why was he reacting like this he asked himself as he drew his composure back around himself like a cloak.
"Yes. A drink." She began, "You know they come in glasses and usually taste good and make you feel even better." He felt drawn to her humor and confidence.
"Oh yes I think I have heard of those." He quipped back eyeing her curiously. He wondered for a moment why a Council member would want to have a drink with him. Surely if this concerned a mission he would be summoned to the Council Chambers. It was a bit unorthodox to discuss missions over drinks. Then again he was only a lowly knight and had little understanding as to the whys and ways of the Council. He smiled at her.
"Certainly I would love to join you for a drink. What time?"
"Come to my quarters at let's say 9:00?" She waited for his nod and then turned and headed back to the lifts. Now that they were headed in the same direction Obi-Wan feared that perhaps their collision had dazed her somewhat.
"Master?" He began. She sighed showing her exasperation. " I mean Adi." He quickly corrected himself. The word felt a little odd on his tongue. "Weren't you headed that way?" He asked pointing a finger in the direction he had been coming from when he had plowed her down.
"Yes. I had been. I was coming to your apartment to ask you out. You saved me some steps." She didn't seem to notice that his eyes widen a bit at her response.
Obi-Wan fell into step beside her as they both made their way towards the lifts. He felt his mind tripping over her choice of words 'ask you out'. Had he just been asked out? He had assumed it was council business. He stole a long gaze at the Master standing next to him as they entered the lift. She was indeed beautiful and he felt sure that with little to no encouragement he could feel attracted to her, but she was a master. She was older and wiser and more experienced. He swallowed hard as the final thought played out in his mind. He wondered what he had just gotten himself into. Her voice jarred him from his thoughts.
"So where were you headed in such a hurry?" She asked as she indicated her floor.
"Dining Hall. Bant is leaving and I am trying to catch her before she goes." He wondered now whether he would or not. The lift stopped and Adi stepped out.
"I won't keep you then." She smiled, "Until tonight?" She asked staring up at him before stepping out through the door.
"Until tonight." He said feeling a strange tingling up his spine. The door closed and he exhaled loudly.
What had just happened? He had a date with Master Gallia-Adi,he corrected himself again, or did he? He had always thought that she was beautiful but had never even considered that she would want to be seen with him. Before he could ponder further the lift doors opened and Bant's brilliant smile met his eyes.
"There you are." She began stepping onto the lift. "I was afraid you had forgotten." He reached his arms around her waist giving her a big hug.
"No way! You know better than that. I had a bit of a mishap on the way. When does your transport leave?" He pulled away and lovingly squeezed her hand between his.
Bant indicated the travel pack she was carrying. "Right away. I waited until the very last moment." They smiled at one another knowing that she had probably waited a little past the very last moment but knew the transport wouldn't leave without her.
"I will miss you. I am so sorry we didn't have more time together." He took her travel pack and slung it over his own shoulder.
"Me too, but I will be back. By the way what mishap did you have?" The lift opened and they both exited and started towards the transport station.
"Oh nothing." He began searching the screens to locate the departure bay number. Bant could tell from his desperate attempt to play it down that it had been more than nothing.
"So are you going to tell me or am I going to spend the next three days in hyperspace going mad trying to figure it out?" She too was scanning the screens but from time to time glancing at her friend to gauge his reaction.
Obi-Wan shook his head and smiled over at her. "I am really not sure. I either have a mission briefing or a date tonight and I'm at a total loss as to which one it is. Am I really that thick?" He asked rolling his eyes in frustration and placing his arm around her shoulders.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" She smiled then waited patiently for the explanation she knew would be coming. He had located the bay number. They made their way through the crowded station.
"I ran into Master Gallia today."
"So?" Bant asked.
"No, I mean I literally ran into her. I knocked her down."
Bant laughed at the image that formed in her imagination. "Clumsy you are. Slow down you must or injure masters you will?" She teased.
"Yea yea ha ha ha very funny." He played along good naturedly.
"The weird thing happened after I knocked her down." She could tell from his tone he was still trying to sort things out.
"Quit teasing and spill your guts. I have to leave in a matter of minutes." With the transport in sight she stopped and turned to face her friend.
"Well Master Gallia-Adi- I mean-"
"Adi?" She asked one eyebrow lifting in interest.
"Yeah well that is what she asked me to call her." He seemed hesitant and pleased at the same time. Bant smiled knowingly and gestured for him to continue.
"She asked me out for a drink." He blurted it out then stood staring at Bant waiting for her to tell him what it meant.
Bant furrowed her brow as if in deep concentration and nodded wisely. "And you are wondering if this is a personal or professional engagement?" Obi- Wan nodded seriously. Being a female he assumed that Bant would know and understand Master Gallia's intentions better than he could.
"What time?" She asked innocently.
"Tonight at 9. I am to meet her at her place." They made their way over to the waiting ship.
"Tonight at 9." She replied as if examining evidence. "At HER place." She emphasized the word "her" sighing deeply.
"Yes yes at 9 at her place. What do you think?" He was growing impatient.
"I think you had better take a bath because you have a date tonight with a master." She jabbed him in the ribs and made a grab for her travel pack. He held it just out of her reach.
"Do you really think so? She is a bit older than me and she is a master." His face was marked by concern. It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself that it was professional and not personal. They began moving again towards her waiting ship.
"She isn't THAT much older. I mean lots of knights think she's pretty hot. I also bet there are real advantages to dating masters. Are you going to sleep with her?" Bant asked reaching out she stopped Obi-Wan just out of ear shot from the transport.
"Bant! How can you ask that? We are just having a drink. For all I know it is purely platonic. You're assuming something that may not be true." He paused bringing his breathing back under control. He hadn't really thought about what might happen after the drink. Feeling his heart begin to race again he decided he definitely wasn't ready to think about that.
"You know now that I think about it I did help her translate a communiqué the other day. She probably just wants to thank me." He was feeling relieved and disappointed at the same time.
"Yeah Obi I am sure that's it. Yeah she's going to thank you alright." Bant's voice was thick with sarcasm. She shook her head and stared into his eyes in amazement. Could he really be this oblivious? "Oh and I am also sure that when she said you had the nicest butt at last year's Temple celebration, she meant it in a purely platonic manner. It was merely a master's objective observation on your muscle tone." She patted the butt in question to emphasize her point. He jumped and squirmed away from her touch. She winked snagging her pack from his hand. Her words had shaken the Jedi serenity that he had been struggling to reconstruct.
"She said that?" He asked not quite able to picture the serene master actually forming those words.
Bant wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"That's not funny." He said with mocked sternness in his voice. He wanted to be offended but found himself flattered instead.
"Mace didn't think so either. He was her date." With that Bant leaned it for a quick kiss on his cheek and headed up the ramp. As she reached the top she turned back, "Be mindful of your thoughts Knight Kenobi. Fear leads to the dark side." He blushed and gave her a warning glare. She mouthed her love for him. He mirrored her action and waved.
Obi-wan stood there watching until she disappeared. He couldn't quite shake the thought of Adi commenting on his butt. He started to glance over his shoulder in curiosity but shook off the ridiculous idea. Thinking back he remembered her from the Temple celebration. She had been drunk that night. Drinking usually caused him to say and do things that he wished he hadn't. The same must be true for everyone. Listening to the engines power up on the transport he turned to make his way back to the lifts. Suddenly it dawned on him that he and Adi would be drinking tonight. Anxiety and excitement rose within him.
***************
"Very well executed Padawan Skywalker." Mace Windu's voice resonated off the walls of the practice arena on Lustar.
Qui-Gon met Mace's eyes and refused to hide the pride he felt at all that Anakin had accomplished. He had been surprised when Mace had contacted him requesting a visit to evaluate Anakin's progress. He hadn't been surprised that the Council knew of their whereabouts. He had suspected that they would have kept up with someone of Anakin's potential even if they had just turned the boy out onto the streets to fend for himself.
Anakin came over to his Master. Mace noted the calm manner in which he did so.
//Odd/ he thought to himself, //the boy is only ten and yet he is acting with the reserve of a much older Padawan. // Mace kept his own council, but his mind kept coming back to the word 'acting' over and over again.
"Master Windu." The boy bowed to the man before turning to his own Master. "If you don't mind Master I would very much like to spend the remainder of my afternoon studying my astronavigation. That is if Master Windu doesn't have more tests for me." At this Anakin turned back to Mace awaiting his response.
//Laying it on a little thick kid.// Mace thought holding his face unreadable as he stared down upon the boy before him. As he stood there waiting he couldn't help but enjoy the discomfort the boy was starting to exude. It was obvious that the boy was both impatient and angry, but struggling hard to mask this from the master before him.
Finally Anakin sighed as his eyes bore down a bit. That was Mace's cue.
"Be mindful of your thoughts Anakin. Your thoughts betray you." He hadn't been able to read the boys thoughts but the look on Anakin's face had revealed everything that Mace had suspected.
Qui-Gon's own frustration with the situation was evident in his tone, "Anakin, you are excused. We will see you at dinner this evening. The King has invited us all to dine with him." Anakin bowed and was gone.
"Was that necessary?" Qui-Gon whirled on Mace protectively.
"Yes it was." Mace replied calmly as he took a position on the mat beneath him.
"For what purpose?" Qui-Gon asked settling down across from his old friend. It felt odd to be so close and yet so far from each other in their beliefs.
"To show that upstart that he is not as smart as he thinks he is. He can't out smart a Master. He isn't fooling anyone with his Padawan of the Year routine. " Mace gestured in the direction the boy had disappeared.
"He has progressed very well in his studies. His control of the force is far beyond his age mates back at the temple." Qui-Gon argued defensively skirting the point.
"But his control of his emotions is far behind that of his age mates. I still sense much anger in him. Surely you felt it rolling off of him when he left?" Mace furrowed his brow exasperated that Qui-Gon could miss something so obvious to even the casual observer.
"Can you blame him? You have put him through test after test. He knows that with each one there is the chance that you find him unworthy. " Qui- Gon argued struggling to maintain some façade of control.
"Would you have let Obi-Wan get away with that?" Mace knew the answer before he even spoke the question. //You didn't seem to mind that Obi-Wan felt unworthy.// He thought bitterly as he regarded the man across from him. Sometimes he hardly recognized him as the padawan he had been friends with and the knight he had served along side of.
"Of course not. Obi-Wan and Anakin are very different. Anakin was a slave and was rejected by the council. He has reason to worry about not being seen as worthy." Qui-Gon shook his head resenting Anakin's comparison to Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan had been rejected by someone more important than the council. He was rejected by you time and time again and I never felt such anger from him. He would never have allowed it. He would have recognized his anger and released it. Anakin holds to his and lives off of it. Can't you see that?"
"So you've come all this way to tell me once again that I am dead and Anakin is dangerous?" Qui-Gon stared disbelieving into Mace's eyes.
Mace paused considering his answer. He knew what the force was leading him to do. He knew that he had agreed with the rest of the council including Yoda on what had to be done concerning the boy. He knew what he had been assigned to do here on Lustar, but now he wondered if he needed to meditate more on the matter. Somehow he knew meditation would not change the answer only postpone it.
"Actually I was sent here to review the situation and if I discovered what was expected I was to reinstate you to the Order and invite you and your Padawan back to the Temple to complete his training. ' His eyes never left Qui-Gon's.
Qui-Gon's mouth dropped open in spite of himself. "Are you serious?" He really couldn't believe it. Mace made no response to the question either physically or vocally. Qui-Gon knew the offer was genuine, but why? It seemed the logical place to start.
"Why Mace?" His question was heavy with suspicion.
Mace sighed as though he were carrying a great weight. When he spoke there was resignation in his tone, "There is a darkness growing. Only a year ago Yoda and Obi-Wan confronted the Sith that you fought on Tatoonine."
Qui-Gon went pale. So the evil warrior had been after the Queen and Obi- Wan had had to fight him without Qui-Gon by his side. For a moment Qui-Gon feared that young Padawan was dead. He hadn't accessed their bond since he felt it turn cold on the transport to Lustar. He had always tried to comfort himself believing that he would somehow know if Obi-Wan had become one with the force. He was lost in thought. Mace had noticed and was waiting patiently for the Master to turn his attention back to the matter at hand.
"Are you ready?' Mace asked. Qui-Gon nodded.
"The Sith was defeated but he was highly trained. It is our belief that he was the apprentice based solely on his age. There are others we feel certain. It is vital that we keep our numbers strong and our enemy weak. " Mace paused to take a breath.
"Anakin would be a great asset to the Jedi." Qui-Gon spoke in the silence.
"Or a powerful enemy." Mace's tone was grave and he waited for the realization to fully sink into the other Master before continuing. "In order to insure that he doesn't find himself at the mercy of the darkness we propose that you be reinstated to the order and Anakin be officially enrolled as your Padawan learner at the Temple."
Mace rose and looked down upon his old friend. "I will await your answer. I am leaving tomorrow morning. If you have made your decision by that time you are welcome to join me on my ship." He bowed and made his way out of the practice arena.
Qui-Gon sat speechless. He was lost in thought. He had missed his friends at the temple. He had missed the fellowship of other force sensitives as well as the camaraderie of his fellow masters and the knights. Home, the mere word overwhelmed him. It was a thought that was too good to be true. He felt a rush of emotion and fought to hold the tears at bay. He hadn't dared hoped that he would ever see the Temple again. He only then realized how lonely he had been on his own without his beloved--. He caught himself before his thoughts could reveal the one he missed most of all. Of course it wasn't solely his decision as to whether they would return or not, but Anakin would follow his direction. He would have to go find the boy and they would meditate together on the matter.
He had wanted to ask Mace about Obi-Wan. He had wanted assurance that the young man had indeed survived the battle with the Sith, but in the end he had lack the courage to ask. He would know soon enough if they decided to return to the Temple. He felt a giddy joy growing inside.
Qui-Gon rose and made his way to the library laughing to himself at the thought of Anakin voluntarily studying astronavigation. When he wanted to Anakin could really pile it on thick. Turning his thoughts back to his conversation with Mace he found himself haunted by one question. "Would you have allowed Obi-Wan to get away with that?" It was a question Qui-Gon refused to answer.
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Well I decided to stick with my original plan for now. I was going to hang out in the past for a little while longer but really felt that it was best for the pace of the story to go ahead and move forward. I am sure I will add more as we go along though. It seems you all enjoyed the gala and transport chapter and that was new so my goal is to be flexible and go where the story leads me. I know the Adi Gallia twist is new to everyone. I just thought it would be interesting. She seemed so compassionate in Untimely Frost when she offered to take Obi-Wan if she could as her padawan. I wanted to explore that a little bit more. Anyone who has had the privilege of reading Cynical's An Untimely Frost knows that Mirilent is her character. So on we go..Thanks again for all the reviews!! I have much to learn.