Master Qui-Gon Jinn stood before the council and plaited the braid for Bruck Chun. Deep seeded in Qui-Gon was desire to keep Bruck Chun as his padawan. He hoped once they returned from this mission, he could officially declare the boy his padawan. At that time a strand of his hair would be woven with Bruck's braid and he would officially declare the boy his apprentice. In reality, he did like the opportunity of this mission first. It gave him time to truly assess Bruck's abilities and demeanor outside the temple and taking commands from just one person. In the white haired boy's case, Qui-Gon did not feel he would be disappointed.
Xanatos was still standing before the council trying to braid the other little initiate's hair. Obi-Wan Kenobi was not good at standing still, especially when he was going to be paired with the most cruel Jedi he knew of, Knight Xanatos Crion. It frightened the little boy. He did not feel at all less apprehensive just because Qui-Gon was with them. He trusted the master with no less faith than he of "Xani".
Mace was noticed rolling his eyes with impatience over it taking Xanatos so long braiding the child's hair.
Qui-Gon looked over at Xani and smiled. Xani's former master did not seem as anxious as the council to have this done. He was finding it amusing to see "his" Xani struggle with the child's symbolic plaiting ceremony. For in truth this was not official. The official ness of a braiding would only come when the master's hair was woven with the padawan to form one lasting braid that would remain until knighthood. Qui-Gon knew without a doubt that Xanatos would never offer a strand of his hair to be braided with Obi-Wan's. The little boy would not be chosen because there was no master left to choose him.
//Probably the best for the little one. He can get a cushiony job farming on Bandomeer. They will see that the small one will necessitate a "small" job to suit his stature and abilities.//
Qui-Gon could not help but notice the wince of pain that was on Kenobi's face, but he had no idea why.
Had Master Jinn been on the other end of that braid, he very well would have known how hard Xanatos pulled Obi-Wan's hair. It was hard enough cause the boy pain. While not life threatening, it was a warning to Kenobi more would come.
If the knight was brazen enough to inflict pain right before the council, Master Jinn and even Master Yoda, what would he do when Jinn's back was turned or he was away? There would be no stopping the knight from viciously abusing Obi-Wan away from the watchful eye of Qui-Gon Jinn..
By the time they had boarded the transport ship Obi-Wan knew deep down that if he was asked to speak then he would surely stumble and sputter over his words. He could feel it, feel the anticipation of being controlled by the same man that had broken his arm, beaten him, and dislocated his shoulder.
//Master Jinn will not be able to protect me. He may not wish too, he might just join in.//
Qui-Gon walked to the back of the transport to show Chun were to store their gear. He had no sooner turned his back twhen Xanatos very roughly shoved Obi-Wan down into a seat next to the pilot's chair.
"I would suggest you sit there and be very quiet or the night will not be a pleasant one once we have retired to the privacy of our shared sleeping bay. Is that understood?"
Obi-wan sat very still and said nothing.. It was then that Xanatos gripped him by his little dimpled chin and jerked his head up to look directly into his eyes.
"Make that the last time you do not answer me when I ask you something."
He immediately released the grip on the boy's face when he heard a noise behind him signaling Master Jinn's return.
Jinn sat down beside little Obi-Wan and started the ship . He would activate the auto-pilot for the trip until landing.
Kenobi sat with his feet planted soundly on the seat; his arms circled his legs as he hugged them closely to his chest. He rested his still quivering chin on his knees. He tried very hard to keep looking out the window on the pretext of watching the skies pass by him. He had no wish for Master Jinn to see his terror-filled eyes, pooled with tears
Jinn was not without feelings of discomfort of his own. Even with trying to shield from the bond threatening to form, he could feel the emotional turmoil of the little initiate that sat beside him. It was actually painful for Jinn to be so close to the boy even though he was still trying to squash the bond.
After having set the control of the autopilot on the necessary co-ordinates, Jinn returned to the back of the ship with Bruck and Xanatos. Obi-Wan could here their discussion of the mission, but in truth, he had no idea what they were to do, but neither did he care or want to know.
This mission was a quite a simple one.
A group of Hutts who had broken away from their cruel and ruthless counterparts had settled in a small patch of land of Cirrus. The people of Cirrus willingly gave them land, but they had no governing body for their little settlement. The Jedi were called there to assist in setting up a body of government that the Hutts wanted. Jinn would show how democracy was carried through. The mission, a simple one without to much chance that the children would need to be put in harms way. Although when Kenobi and Chun became apprentices there would be a time when the perils of the Jedi would be placed before them.
"Xani don't you think it would be wise to have Kenobi sit in on this discussion? The Hutts while of a peaceful faction of the original Hutt sect, still have some unusual customs. Bruck and Kenobi need to know them."
"Qui-Gon, I do not know why we must pretend, while not in front of the council, that Obi-Wan is going to be anything more than a farmer. The less he is around us the less problems we have."
Jinn did not like hearing Xani talk that way about the child.. Jinn was respectful always of the council even though many times he did not agree with them. This was one of those times, but he planned to do the bidding of the council without reserve. Any Jedi would do no less.
"We must honor the council instructions. We do not have to agree with them, but we came on this mission under their direction and I plan to honor what they have told us to do."
"Very well Qui, but remember Kenobi is my responsibility. If I am to prove myself to you then you must let me handle the child the way I see fit."
Jinn did not like the touch of raw anger that laced Xanatos voice as he basically told Jinn to mind his own business.
Xanatos looked at his former master and knew deep down that Jinn must have noticed the touch of anger he had when spoke. He tried quickly to disperse any unwanted, undesirable thoughts that Jinn might have had of him.
"I am sorry master. This is just very trying, being tested once again by the council. Of course I will go get the child."
Xanatos headed for the front of the ship to bring back Obi-Wan to talk with them.
Jinn instantly felt guilty for having any bad thoughts about his former padawan.
//The boy is dealing with a lot of stress over the council testing him yet again. I should be more cautious on how I speak to him. I would not want him to think the council has managed to turn me against him, for that is far from the truth.//
Just as Jinn had that guilt feeling, a sudden jab of pain hit him in the ribs. He did not know what it was at first then realized it was coming from the child.
Jinn rose quickly and headed to where the Kenobi child was; alone up front with Knight Xanatos.
Xanatos had no way of knowing about the fledgling bond trying to form. He did not realize that any pain inflicted on Obi-Wan would in turn be relayed through the bond to Master Jinn.
Qui-Gon would not to have to see Xanatos in the act of abuse, he would feel the emotional and physical pain of Obi-Wan Kenobi..
The bond was growing without the help of either the master or the "possible" future apprentice.
Master Jinn would no longer be able to entirely shield himself from Obi-Wan now. The bond and the force would not allow it.
PEACE ewen
Xanatos was still standing before the council trying to braid the other little initiate's hair. Obi-Wan Kenobi was not good at standing still, especially when he was going to be paired with the most cruel Jedi he knew of, Knight Xanatos Crion. It frightened the little boy. He did not feel at all less apprehensive just because Qui-Gon was with them. He trusted the master with no less faith than he of "Xani".
Mace was noticed rolling his eyes with impatience over it taking Xanatos so long braiding the child's hair.
Qui-Gon looked over at Xani and smiled. Xani's former master did not seem as anxious as the council to have this done. He was finding it amusing to see "his" Xani struggle with the child's symbolic plaiting ceremony. For in truth this was not official. The official ness of a braiding would only come when the master's hair was woven with the padawan to form one lasting braid that would remain until knighthood. Qui-Gon knew without a doubt that Xanatos would never offer a strand of his hair to be braided with Obi-Wan's. The little boy would not be chosen because there was no master left to choose him.
//Probably the best for the little one. He can get a cushiony job farming on Bandomeer. They will see that the small one will necessitate a "small" job to suit his stature and abilities.//
Qui-Gon could not help but notice the wince of pain that was on Kenobi's face, but he had no idea why.
Had Master Jinn been on the other end of that braid, he very well would have known how hard Xanatos pulled Obi-Wan's hair. It was hard enough cause the boy pain. While not life threatening, it was a warning to Kenobi more would come.
If the knight was brazen enough to inflict pain right before the council, Master Jinn and even Master Yoda, what would he do when Jinn's back was turned or he was away? There would be no stopping the knight from viciously abusing Obi-Wan away from the watchful eye of Qui-Gon Jinn..
By the time they had boarded the transport ship Obi-Wan knew deep down that if he was asked to speak then he would surely stumble and sputter over his words. He could feel it, feel the anticipation of being controlled by the same man that had broken his arm, beaten him, and dislocated his shoulder.
//Master Jinn will not be able to protect me. He may not wish too, he might just join in.//
Qui-Gon walked to the back of the transport to show Chun were to store their gear. He had no sooner turned his back twhen Xanatos very roughly shoved Obi-Wan down into a seat next to the pilot's chair.
"I would suggest you sit there and be very quiet or the night will not be a pleasant one once we have retired to the privacy of our shared sleeping bay. Is that understood?"
Obi-wan sat very still and said nothing.. It was then that Xanatos gripped him by his little dimpled chin and jerked his head up to look directly into his eyes.
"Make that the last time you do not answer me when I ask you something."
He immediately released the grip on the boy's face when he heard a noise behind him signaling Master Jinn's return.
Jinn sat down beside little Obi-Wan and started the ship . He would activate the auto-pilot for the trip until landing.
Kenobi sat with his feet planted soundly on the seat; his arms circled his legs as he hugged them closely to his chest. He rested his still quivering chin on his knees. He tried very hard to keep looking out the window on the pretext of watching the skies pass by him. He had no wish for Master Jinn to see his terror-filled eyes, pooled with tears
Jinn was not without feelings of discomfort of his own. Even with trying to shield from the bond threatening to form, he could feel the emotional turmoil of the little initiate that sat beside him. It was actually painful for Jinn to be so close to the boy even though he was still trying to squash the bond.
After having set the control of the autopilot on the necessary co-ordinates, Jinn returned to the back of the ship with Bruck and Xanatos. Obi-Wan could here their discussion of the mission, but in truth, he had no idea what they were to do, but neither did he care or want to know.
This mission was a quite a simple one.
A group of Hutts who had broken away from their cruel and ruthless counterparts had settled in a small patch of land of Cirrus. The people of Cirrus willingly gave them land, but they had no governing body for their little settlement. The Jedi were called there to assist in setting up a body of government that the Hutts wanted. Jinn would show how democracy was carried through. The mission, a simple one without to much chance that the children would need to be put in harms way. Although when Kenobi and Chun became apprentices there would be a time when the perils of the Jedi would be placed before them.
"Xani don't you think it would be wise to have Kenobi sit in on this discussion? The Hutts while of a peaceful faction of the original Hutt sect, still have some unusual customs. Bruck and Kenobi need to know them."
"Qui-Gon, I do not know why we must pretend, while not in front of the council, that Obi-Wan is going to be anything more than a farmer. The less he is around us the less problems we have."
Jinn did not like hearing Xani talk that way about the child.. Jinn was respectful always of the council even though many times he did not agree with them. This was one of those times, but he planned to do the bidding of the council without reserve. Any Jedi would do no less.
"We must honor the council instructions. We do not have to agree with them, but we came on this mission under their direction and I plan to honor what they have told us to do."
"Very well Qui, but remember Kenobi is my responsibility. If I am to prove myself to you then you must let me handle the child the way I see fit."
Jinn did not like the touch of raw anger that laced Xanatos voice as he basically told Jinn to mind his own business.
Xanatos looked at his former master and knew deep down that Jinn must have noticed the touch of anger he had when spoke. He tried quickly to disperse any unwanted, undesirable thoughts that Jinn might have had of him.
"I am sorry master. This is just very trying, being tested once again by the council. Of course I will go get the child."
Xanatos headed for the front of the ship to bring back Obi-Wan to talk with them.
Jinn instantly felt guilty for having any bad thoughts about his former padawan.
//The boy is dealing with a lot of stress over the council testing him yet again. I should be more cautious on how I speak to him. I would not want him to think the council has managed to turn me against him, for that is far from the truth.//
Just as Jinn had that guilt feeling, a sudden jab of pain hit him in the ribs. He did not know what it was at first then realized it was coming from the child.
Jinn rose quickly and headed to where the Kenobi child was; alone up front with Knight Xanatos.
Xanatos had no way of knowing about the fledgling bond trying to form. He did not realize that any pain inflicted on Obi-Wan would in turn be relayed through the bond to Master Jinn.
Qui-Gon would not to have to see Xanatos in the act of abuse, he would feel the emotional and physical pain of Obi-Wan Kenobi..
The bond was growing without the help of either the master or the "possible" future apprentice.
Master Jinn would no longer be able to entirely shield himself from Obi-Wan now. The bond and the force would not allow it.
PEACE ewen