The many demands put on Qui-Gon the last few days had left him no time to catch up with things going on with his younger padawan, Obi-Wan. Xanatos not needing academic studies now was always with his master, but Obi-wan had been buried in saber testing and numerous finals and exams signal the ending of the quarter. Qui-Gon hoped that with the end temporarily of Obi-Wan's studies he could go on a mission with both padawans, thus possibly ensuring Xanatos' knighthood with the completion of the mission.
No, he had no real desire to lose Xani after just getting him back, but neither did he want Obi-Wan to sink back and think he was not as important as Xanatos. Of course that was not the case but Jinn being a man under control of his emotions when it came to training his current padawan, was determined not to let Obi-Wan know how much he really did care for the boy. He made that mistake with Xani and it was too late to correct it. He did not plan to make the same mistake with this padawan no matter how much he wanted too. Still Jinn felt obligated to let Obi-Wan know he was important, just as important to him as Xanatos was. When Jinn sat and thought about it Obi-Wan truly had stolen his heart, maybe even more than Xanatos had been able to do. But Jinn felt a certain loyalty to Xani and he did not want Obi-wan to know how much he meant to the big master. Jinn reasoned it would not give Obi-Wan the ammo to hurt him if he did not know how much he much he was capable of during just that.
Master Windu sat down beside the other master who had been deep in thought.
"I hear you are begging for a mission as soon as your padawan finishes with his exams."
"That's my desire , yes. Have they come up with something?'
"Well they have but I am not sure you want it. There could be a great deal of problems. You might want to leave Obi-Wan here at the temple. I would be more than happy to oversee him. For that matter I know Master Yoda would like a chance to visit with him. You know he has taken quite a liking to your padawan."
Jinn smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
"Yes unlike Xanatos, my old master does seem to care for Obi-Wan. What would make you think I can't take my apprentice with me?"
"Too many disagreeable people where you are going. They are holding their elections and there have been deaths threats made on the present chancellor. You are going to see that the elections proceed unimpeded and make sure no harm comes to the present chancellor. The only problem will be the possible assassin and the Libertarian army up in the foot hills. They would like to take over if the chancellor is done away with. The scenario is much like what Xanatos was involved in on his own home world when outside factions rid unsuccessfully to overthrow the government of Telos."
"Obi-Wan has faced many dangers on our missions in the last almost three years. This one sounds no different. His place is by my side Mace, unless you think I am not capable of protecting him?"
"Now Qui, don't start with me. But you will have your hands with Xani you know."
"Xanatos is almost a knight. He should already be one you know. He has done battles with me and on his home world. He does not need me holding his hand in battle. He is as qualified as my other padawan. Both will make great knights one day."
" I do not question that in the least. I just know that you will have to oversee how Xanatos reacts in an aggressive situation and Obi-wan might get in the way of your assessing your other padawan. Listen what ever you decide is fine with me."
"Meet the council in our chambers first thing in the morning and I think the mission will be waiting on you. Obi-Wan is finished with his testing after today is he not?"
"Yes. In fact I am looking for him now to find out how everything went."
"Well I can tell you his saber class was a perfect score. The seventh kata was executed by him and it was a pleasure to watch. You had several knights and masters cursing you for them not having a chance to acquire Obi-Wan as their apprentice.
Jinn beamed from ear to ear.
"Well we both know that Master Yoda had a great deal to do with that. He literally hid the boy until I could arrive and then at first he had to twist my arm to take him. I still can't believe how obstinate I was at that time. I have never regretted taking him. Not even.. Well even when we went through that small crisis when he confused by his loyalties."
Mace knew that the memories of Obi-Wan's almost leaving the Jedi were painful to Jinn so he tried to distract him.
"That is all behind you old man. You have nothing but clear sailing from here on out."
Mace did not want to tell Qui-Gon that some things had been brought before the council concerning how Xanatos had handled the prisoners on Telos. If it was the truth Xanatos would never be a knight. In fact he might have charges brought against him. The council would not past judgment on him until the truth could be found out with certainty. They did not exactly trust their source.
Mace could not tell his old friend until Xanatos was investigated and found innocent or guilty.
"Well I will see you first thing in the morning with both of my padawans. I think both of them will pleased to get a reprieve from the confines of the temple. To Obi-Wan a mission will be a break and to Xanatos it will be a chance to prove himself worthy of his knighthood."
Qui-Gon left Mace to find his padawan and congratulate him on his excellent score in his saber class and probably all of his other classes. Obi-Wan was quick with his books and never failed to be on top in his classes with his scores.
That evening at last-meal the chatter was about Obi-Wan's excellent grades and their upcoming mission. Xanatos seemed quite excited about their mission but the opposite was true when the conversation would switch toward Obi's scoring and acing his exams. Obi-wan noticed Xanatos not interacting when the discussion would switch to him, but he did not think his master noticed. If he did Qui-Gon did not give any indication of it. Qui-Gon kept trying to draw Xani in on the conversation, but the older padawan was having none of it where Obi-Wan was concerned.
The next day before the council Jinn got the distinct feeling something was wrong, but no one on the council alluded to that fact so the three received their mission and headed for the transport landing to take off.
Obi-Wan had told his best friends Bant and Garen goodbye. As for Xanatos there was no one so close to him that he felt he should need to tell them good-bye.
Jinn noticed that Xanatos had been acting distant since last night when they were celebrating Obi's success in his classes. Jinn thought that Xani was just feeling a little left out. He thought that once they were on their mission things would work themselves out with both padawans.
It was then he realized that both of them suffered jealousy over one another.
//There is really nothing I can do with Xani as long as he doesn't get out of hand, but Obi-Wan knows all too well not to let his emotions rule him. That is what got him in trouble the last time. He will be made to control his feelings and not let them take control. I will personally see to that.//
A week's travel on a cramped little transport was enough to make anyone antsy, but if you are a hyperactive fifteen year-old then it is much worse. Obi-Wan could not practice his saber drills or do any katas to release his excess energies. Qui-Gon stayed busy by reviewing the mission before them. Xanatos on the other hand had his head buried in some smutty adventure novel that Qui-Gon did not approve of, but the older padawan had completed the studies of the mission which had been assigned to him, so Qui-Gon let him stay buried in the book.
Obi-Wan was a different story though. Jinn did not like the boy having idle time and when he watched his younger padawan nervously pace back and forth in the small confines of the ship; he decided to assign the boy some studies and written work.
//That should keep him busy.//
Of course Obi-Wan was not happy about being assigned more work after having very successfully completed all his studies at the temple. He did not look at it as something to keep him busy, he looked at it as a punishment; something "Xani" was not required to do, but he was.
"I don't see why I need to study more master. I was quite successful in my studies during my exams."
"Then look at it as if you will be getting a jump on your studies for the next quarter. It is not for you to question the tasks I give you and I would not suggest you do it again. Now get to it."
Jinn sounded a little more cross than he had intended. In fact, he was not angry at Obi-Wan, but he was not going to allow the boy to get away with questioning something he had been instructed to do. A padawan never questioned the master, even if that said master told him to go out and stand in the rain for two hours. That was just how it was in the Jedi order.
Obi-Wan was steaming mad. He had never been angry with his master. It was a rare thing for him. His anger did not stem from being assigned the work, it was because "Xani" seemed to be allowed to do whatever he wished, even reading his smut and Obi-Wan was required to work.
It was also unlike Obi-Wan to actually to stomp away angrily showing his displeasure at being given work to do on the weeklong trip.
"Padawan come back here please."
Jinn saw the act of defiance in Obi-Wan and he was not going to allow the child to get away with it.
Xanatos peeked up from behind his book, trying not to let the master or apprentice know he was watching and listening to everything that was going on. It took all the self-control the older padawan had not to display the smile that he so wanted to display, but did not want Qui-Gon to see.
Obi-Wan made u-turn in the middle of the little isle of the ship and returned to his master. He knew that most probably he had pushed his master too far, but he was not going to back down now.
"I don't think I like your attitude. I think that after have you more appropriately walk to your cabin to study you will also meditate on your insolence toward being given an order. Later this evening I will talk with you again. Now try to walk out of here correctly please."
"I don't see why I am given extra studies and Xanatos is allowed to keep his nose buried in some cheap novel. That is not fair."
"No one ever promised anything in life would be fair, especially a padawan's life. It is not like you to argue with me and I have to say I am not happy about it. I also am not going to discuss my actions with you. You might want to walk yourself right back into your cabin and start studying. I am not happy about this conversation and I certainly don't plan to continue it. Now for the last time do as you are told."
Obi-Wan was careful not to stomp away as he had the first time, but he was still not happy with his master. He felt he was being punished and Xanatos was being given full rein to do whatever he wanted. He felt that just maybe Xani was the favorite padawan of the two.
Qui-Gon watched his younger padawan walk to his room and still could feel the anger rolling off him. He looked over to see a sheepish smile form on Xanatos' face.
"You should wipe that silly smile off your face, Xani. He is absolutely right you know. You shouldn't have your nose buried in that book."
"Master don't get on to me because you are upset with Obi-Wan. I didn't know he could act like a spoiled child."
"Is that what you think Xanatos? He's not you know. It's just that he sees me let you get by with things I would never allow him to get by with."
"He does realize doesn't he, that I am a grown man who has been out on own for a couple of years before returning to the Jedi. I don't need a babysitter."
"No but you do need to become a knight and sometimes I think you do not take that serious enough."
"Why? Should I live and breathe Jedi 24 hours a day just to prove my worthiness. I am reading a book Master, that it is all. It just does not happen to be on the reading list of the Jedi for proper reading. It is not a crime."
Jinn could see his point, but he could see his younger padawan's point too. Obi-Wan felt he was being treated more unfairly than Xani.
While Qui-Gon felt somewhat bad for Obi-Wan, he would not step down on his decisions when they came to Obi-Wan or Xanatos. He would not allow Obi-Wan to dictate to him by throwing a temper tantrum just because he did not approve of the difference of the two and their treatment.
Obi-Wan sat in his cabin and tried to study. He just kept going over in his head what had just happened and in no way thought he was too blame.
//It's clear that Master favors him over me. Why else would he pile all this added work on me after I did so good on my test scores. Xanatos does not even have to work at becoming a knight. I guess my master is just going to deem him worthy no matter what he does.//
Obi-Wan was acting more like the spoiled child that Xanatos described than a padawan of almost 16.
Jinn went to the autopilot to check on the coordinates he had computed and implimented earlier to keep the ship on course while on autopilot.. The ship seemed to be drifting out of orbit and he wanted to readjust the settings.
When he sat down in the pilot's seat and starting going over the settings of the autopilot, he realized they had drifted off course. There was some kind of gravitational pull pulling the ship in the direction the Jed did not plan to go.
"Xanatos notify the temple that we are in some kind of force field and being pulled exactly where it wants us to go. The best I can get from my navigation map is that we are headed straight for the Zarconian quadrant."
"We are not permitted in their quadrant master. We will be shot out of the air. "
Xanatos tried to do as his master said, but the communication link to the temple was jammed.
Both Jedi could feel the pull of the ship as the speed increased. The ship was clearly out of control hurling faster and faster toward the planet.
"At this rate we will crash land into the planet Zarcon in a little over five minutes."
A look of horror crossed Xanatos' face. He was not quite as stoic as his master. He had no wish to be "one with the force" on a dusty little planet, noted for nothing but the barbaric beings that lived on it.
Obi-Wan was beginning to feel the increase of the speed of the ship. He could also feel the apprehension of his master through their shared bond. He came out of the little cabin he had been studying in to find out what was going on.
Master Jinn was busy trying to override the autopilot and get the ship back on course out of the path of the planet. It was hopeless. He was fighting a losing battle..
His first thought was for the safety of the younger padawan. He looked up to see Obi-Wan standing, confused in the middle of the ship. He knew that their ship would make impact with the planet in just a few seconds.
He had no time to yell a warning and with a sudden jerk, the ship hit the atmosphere of the planet and their crash landing was imminent. Obi-Wan knew they were just about to make a crash landing and dived for the nearest seat to buckle in. The other two Jedi were safely buckled in their seats, Obi-Wan was not.
The last thing Obi-Wan heard was the sound of metal on metal as the ship ripped apart and glass shattered.
The world for Obi-Wan Kenobi silenced into black oblivion.. The boy landed outside of the ship; his body became a human projectile as he was hurtled through the front window of the transport ship………..
PEACE ewen
No, he had no real desire to lose Xani after just getting him back, but neither did he want Obi-Wan to sink back and think he was not as important as Xanatos. Of course that was not the case but Jinn being a man under control of his emotions when it came to training his current padawan, was determined not to let Obi-Wan know how much he really did care for the boy. He made that mistake with Xani and it was too late to correct it. He did not plan to make the same mistake with this padawan no matter how much he wanted too. Still Jinn felt obligated to let Obi-Wan know he was important, just as important to him as Xanatos was. When Jinn sat and thought about it Obi-Wan truly had stolen his heart, maybe even more than Xanatos had been able to do. But Jinn felt a certain loyalty to Xani and he did not want Obi-wan to know how much he meant to the big master. Jinn reasoned it would not give Obi-Wan the ammo to hurt him if he did not know how much he much he was capable of during just that.
Master Windu sat down beside the other master who had been deep in thought.
"I hear you are begging for a mission as soon as your padawan finishes with his exams."
"That's my desire , yes. Have they come up with something?'
"Well they have but I am not sure you want it. There could be a great deal of problems. You might want to leave Obi-Wan here at the temple. I would be more than happy to oversee him. For that matter I know Master Yoda would like a chance to visit with him. You know he has taken quite a liking to your padawan."
Jinn smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
"Yes unlike Xanatos, my old master does seem to care for Obi-Wan. What would make you think I can't take my apprentice with me?"
"Too many disagreeable people where you are going. They are holding their elections and there have been deaths threats made on the present chancellor. You are going to see that the elections proceed unimpeded and make sure no harm comes to the present chancellor. The only problem will be the possible assassin and the Libertarian army up in the foot hills. They would like to take over if the chancellor is done away with. The scenario is much like what Xanatos was involved in on his own home world when outside factions rid unsuccessfully to overthrow the government of Telos."
"Obi-Wan has faced many dangers on our missions in the last almost three years. This one sounds no different. His place is by my side Mace, unless you think I am not capable of protecting him?"
"Now Qui, don't start with me. But you will have your hands with Xani you know."
"Xanatos is almost a knight. He should already be one you know. He has done battles with me and on his home world. He does not need me holding his hand in battle. He is as qualified as my other padawan. Both will make great knights one day."
" I do not question that in the least. I just know that you will have to oversee how Xanatos reacts in an aggressive situation and Obi-wan might get in the way of your assessing your other padawan. Listen what ever you decide is fine with me."
"Meet the council in our chambers first thing in the morning and I think the mission will be waiting on you. Obi-Wan is finished with his testing after today is he not?"
"Yes. In fact I am looking for him now to find out how everything went."
"Well I can tell you his saber class was a perfect score. The seventh kata was executed by him and it was a pleasure to watch. You had several knights and masters cursing you for them not having a chance to acquire Obi-Wan as their apprentice.
Jinn beamed from ear to ear.
"Well we both know that Master Yoda had a great deal to do with that. He literally hid the boy until I could arrive and then at first he had to twist my arm to take him. I still can't believe how obstinate I was at that time. I have never regretted taking him. Not even.. Well even when we went through that small crisis when he confused by his loyalties."
Mace knew that the memories of Obi-Wan's almost leaving the Jedi were painful to Jinn so he tried to distract him.
"That is all behind you old man. You have nothing but clear sailing from here on out."
Mace did not want to tell Qui-Gon that some things had been brought before the council concerning how Xanatos had handled the prisoners on Telos. If it was the truth Xanatos would never be a knight. In fact he might have charges brought against him. The council would not past judgment on him until the truth could be found out with certainty. They did not exactly trust their source.
Mace could not tell his old friend until Xanatos was investigated and found innocent or guilty.
"Well I will see you first thing in the morning with both of my padawans. I think both of them will pleased to get a reprieve from the confines of the temple. To Obi-Wan a mission will be a break and to Xanatos it will be a chance to prove himself worthy of his knighthood."
Qui-Gon left Mace to find his padawan and congratulate him on his excellent score in his saber class and probably all of his other classes. Obi-Wan was quick with his books and never failed to be on top in his classes with his scores.
That evening at last-meal the chatter was about Obi-Wan's excellent grades and their upcoming mission. Xanatos seemed quite excited about their mission but the opposite was true when the conversation would switch toward Obi's scoring and acing his exams. Obi-wan noticed Xanatos not interacting when the discussion would switch to him, but he did not think his master noticed. If he did Qui-Gon did not give any indication of it. Qui-Gon kept trying to draw Xani in on the conversation, but the older padawan was having none of it where Obi-Wan was concerned.
The next day before the council Jinn got the distinct feeling something was wrong, but no one on the council alluded to that fact so the three received their mission and headed for the transport landing to take off.
Obi-Wan had told his best friends Bant and Garen goodbye. As for Xanatos there was no one so close to him that he felt he should need to tell them good-bye.
Jinn noticed that Xanatos had been acting distant since last night when they were celebrating Obi's success in his classes. Jinn thought that Xani was just feeling a little left out. He thought that once they were on their mission things would work themselves out with both padawans.
It was then he realized that both of them suffered jealousy over one another.
//There is really nothing I can do with Xani as long as he doesn't get out of hand, but Obi-Wan knows all too well not to let his emotions rule him. That is what got him in trouble the last time. He will be made to control his feelings and not let them take control. I will personally see to that.//
A week's travel on a cramped little transport was enough to make anyone antsy, but if you are a hyperactive fifteen year-old then it is much worse. Obi-Wan could not practice his saber drills or do any katas to release his excess energies. Qui-Gon stayed busy by reviewing the mission before them. Xanatos on the other hand had his head buried in some smutty adventure novel that Qui-Gon did not approve of, but the older padawan had completed the studies of the mission which had been assigned to him, so Qui-Gon let him stay buried in the book.
Obi-Wan was a different story though. Jinn did not like the boy having idle time and when he watched his younger padawan nervously pace back and forth in the small confines of the ship; he decided to assign the boy some studies and written work.
//That should keep him busy.//
Of course Obi-Wan was not happy about being assigned more work after having very successfully completed all his studies at the temple. He did not look at it as something to keep him busy, he looked at it as a punishment; something "Xani" was not required to do, but he was.
"I don't see why I need to study more master. I was quite successful in my studies during my exams."
"Then look at it as if you will be getting a jump on your studies for the next quarter. It is not for you to question the tasks I give you and I would not suggest you do it again. Now get to it."
Jinn sounded a little more cross than he had intended. In fact, he was not angry at Obi-Wan, but he was not going to allow the boy to get away with questioning something he had been instructed to do. A padawan never questioned the master, even if that said master told him to go out and stand in the rain for two hours. That was just how it was in the Jedi order.
Obi-Wan was steaming mad. He had never been angry with his master. It was a rare thing for him. His anger did not stem from being assigned the work, it was because "Xani" seemed to be allowed to do whatever he wished, even reading his smut and Obi-Wan was required to work.
It was also unlike Obi-Wan to actually to stomp away angrily showing his displeasure at being given work to do on the weeklong trip.
"Padawan come back here please."
Jinn saw the act of defiance in Obi-Wan and he was not going to allow the child to get away with it.
Xanatos peeked up from behind his book, trying not to let the master or apprentice know he was watching and listening to everything that was going on. It took all the self-control the older padawan had not to display the smile that he so wanted to display, but did not want Qui-Gon to see.
Obi-Wan made u-turn in the middle of the little isle of the ship and returned to his master. He knew that most probably he had pushed his master too far, but he was not going to back down now.
"I don't think I like your attitude. I think that after have you more appropriately walk to your cabin to study you will also meditate on your insolence toward being given an order. Later this evening I will talk with you again. Now try to walk out of here correctly please."
"I don't see why I am given extra studies and Xanatos is allowed to keep his nose buried in some cheap novel. That is not fair."
"No one ever promised anything in life would be fair, especially a padawan's life. It is not like you to argue with me and I have to say I am not happy about it. I also am not going to discuss my actions with you. You might want to walk yourself right back into your cabin and start studying. I am not happy about this conversation and I certainly don't plan to continue it. Now for the last time do as you are told."
Obi-Wan was careful not to stomp away as he had the first time, but he was still not happy with his master. He felt he was being punished and Xanatos was being given full rein to do whatever he wanted. He felt that just maybe Xani was the favorite padawan of the two.
Qui-Gon watched his younger padawan walk to his room and still could feel the anger rolling off him. He looked over to see a sheepish smile form on Xanatos' face.
"You should wipe that silly smile off your face, Xani. He is absolutely right you know. You shouldn't have your nose buried in that book."
"Master don't get on to me because you are upset with Obi-Wan. I didn't know he could act like a spoiled child."
"Is that what you think Xanatos? He's not you know. It's just that he sees me let you get by with things I would never allow him to get by with."
"He does realize doesn't he, that I am a grown man who has been out on own for a couple of years before returning to the Jedi. I don't need a babysitter."
"No but you do need to become a knight and sometimes I think you do not take that serious enough."
"Why? Should I live and breathe Jedi 24 hours a day just to prove my worthiness. I am reading a book Master, that it is all. It just does not happen to be on the reading list of the Jedi for proper reading. It is not a crime."
Jinn could see his point, but he could see his younger padawan's point too. Obi-Wan felt he was being treated more unfairly than Xani.
While Qui-Gon felt somewhat bad for Obi-Wan, he would not step down on his decisions when they came to Obi-Wan or Xanatos. He would not allow Obi-Wan to dictate to him by throwing a temper tantrum just because he did not approve of the difference of the two and their treatment.
Obi-Wan sat in his cabin and tried to study. He just kept going over in his head what had just happened and in no way thought he was too blame.
//It's clear that Master favors him over me. Why else would he pile all this added work on me after I did so good on my test scores. Xanatos does not even have to work at becoming a knight. I guess my master is just going to deem him worthy no matter what he does.//
Obi-Wan was acting more like the spoiled child that Xanatos described than a padawan of almost 16.
Jinn went to the autopilot to check on the coordinates he had computed and implimented earlier to keep the ship on course while on autopilot.. The ship seemed to be drifting out of orbit and he wanted to readjust the settings.
When he sat down in the pilot's seat and starting going over the settings of the autopilot, he realized they had drifted off course. There was some kind of gravitational pull pulling the ship in the direction the Jed did not plan to go.
"Xanatos notify the temple that we are in some kind of force field and being pulled exactly where it wants us to go. The best I can get from my navigation map is that we are headed straight for the Zarconian quadrant."
"We are not permitted in their quadrant master. We will be shot out of the air. "
Xanatos tried to do as his master said, but the communication link to the temple was jammed.
Both Jedi could feel the pull of the ship as the speed increased. The ship was clearly out of control hurling faster and faster toward the planet.
"At this rate we will crash land into the planet Zarcon in a little over five minutes."
A look of horror crossed Xanatos' face. He was not quite as stoic as his master. He had no wish to be "one with the force" on a dusty little planet, noted for nothing but the barbaric beings that lived on it.
Obi-Wan was beginning to feel the increase of the speed of the ship. He could also feel the apprehension of his master through their shared bond. He came out of the little cabin he had been studying in to find out what was going on.
Master Jinn was busy trying to override the autopilot and get the ship back on course out of the path of the planet. It was hopeless. He was fighting a losing battle..
His first thought was for the safety of the younger padawan. He looked up to see Obi-Wan standing, confused in the middle of the ship. He knew that their ship would make impact with the planet in just a few seconds.
He had no time to yell a warning and with a sudden jerk, the ship hit the atmosphere of the planet and their crash landing was imminent. Obi-Wan knew they were just about to make a crash landing and dived for the nearest seat to buckle in. The other two Jedi were safely buckled in their seats, Obi-Wan was not.
The last thing Obi-Wan heard was the sound of metal on metal as the ship ripped apart and glass shattered.
The world for Obi-Wan Kenobi silenced into black oblivion.. The boy landed outside of the ship; his body became a human projectile as he was hurtled through the front window of the transport ship………..
PEACE ewen