Anakin Skywalker woke a few moments later, completely disoriented. All he
knew was that he was in blinding pain, and his master was kneeling before
the man who had just beaten him in a duel. Nobody beat Anakin Skywalker.
In a fit of rage, Anakin took his lightsaber and dove at Obi-Wan.
Adrenaline surged through his body, revitalizing him and helping him stay
on his feet. The pain in his shoulder and thigh was no longer a problem.
Qui-Gon sensed the attack a moment before it happened, knocking Obi-Wan
aside and drawing his lightsaber in defense.
Surprise registered on Anakin's face, but he was moving too quickly to stop
himself. Qui-Gon could not get his weapon fast enough.
Obi-Wan used the Force to make a bounding leap toward Anakin, knocking the
boy off his feet before he had time to strike Qui-Gon.
The Padawan swung his lightsaber.
*******
Two weeks later, Obi-Wan awoke in a bacta tank, with no knowledge of where he was or what had happened. Was he trapped? Dead? Where was he? Qui-Gon felt a devastating sense of panic coming from the healing center. He allowed himself a small chuckle. Obviously, Obi-Wan was awake. He had always hated the healing center. As Obi-Wan's eyesight gradually came into focus, he took in his surroundings. He was in a cream-colored room, and a tiny white bed lay just outside the tank. There was no one in sight at first, but as he continued to watch, Qui-Gon came in with another Jedi. His dark eyes penetrated Obi- Wan's mind as the younger man watched. Obi-Wan. It was Mace Windu. Calm, Obi-Wan. You're safe. Relax. Both Jedi sent calming waves through the Force, and Obi-Wan's eyes closed slowly back to sleep. *******
"Qui-Gon, your Padawan attacked in anger. Nearly attacked you. Twice! If not for this man, you would be dead," said Mace slowly. The two Jedi were standing in front of the bacta tank that contained Obi- Wan. Anakin had been confined to his quarters while the Council decided what to do with him. A man was very nearly killed because of Anakin, and even the Jedi Master's life had been at stake. Mace did not want to give up Anakin, the Jedi's greatest hope for the future, but he knew that his presence as a Jedi was dangerous. Qui-Gon nodded. "Obi-Wan was always very good." That was all that he could find to say. Qui- Gon had been shocked at Anakin. He had attacked Obi-Wan for no reason at all. Even though Anakin had apologized profusely, said that he never intended to hurt his Master, and that he had simply been worried for Qui- Gon's safety, Qui-Gon was still completely stunned. Anakin had said that he was only trying to save his Master. What Anakin did not understand was that he had hurt Qui-Gon. He had hurt him tremendously the moment he unveiled his lightsaber. Had hurt him even more when he had struck Obi-Wan. The man had very nearly been cut in half. Anakin's lightsaber had struck a terrible blow all the way across Obi-Wan's chest, almost severing his torso from the rest of his body. And Anakin had been triumphant. "Yes, very good. And his skills are even better." Mace turned to Qui-Gon. "He was only with you for two years, but you obviously taught him well." "He trusted me completely once." "He still does," said Mace. "He sacrificed his life to save you." "Then why did he hide from me? He tried everything to keep himself from me! The hood, all of that shielding, the fake name." Qui-Gon shook his head. He didn't get it. "Qui-Gon, let's look at this logically. Stop thinking like a Jedi. It's been seventeen years since he's seen you. He had resigned himself to never seeing you again. And then. there you are. With another Padawan. It was probably a bit of a shock." "He didn't want me to know?" "He was scared, Qui-Gon."
Qui-Gon stared at the man floating in the bacta tank. He had been there for a week, since Qui-Gon and Anakin returned from Vaski 3. He had been in the ship's tiny bacta tank for a week before that. Finally, Obi-Wan was beginning to look like himself again. Qui-Gon sighed.
At least he would be whole.
*******
Two weeks later, Obi-Wan awoke in a bacta tank, with no knowledge of where he was or what had happened. Was he trapped? Dead? Where was he? Qui-Gon felt a devastating sense of panic coming from the healing center. He allowed himself a small chuckle. Obviously, Obi-Wan was awake. He had always hated the healing center. As Obi-Wan's eyesight gradually came into focus, he took in his surroundings. He was in a cream-colored room, and a tiny white bed lay just outside the tank. There was no one in sight at first, but as he continued to watch, Qui-Gon came in with another Jedi. His dark eyes penetrated Obi- Wan's mind as the younger man watched. Obi-Wan. It was Mace Windu. Calm, Obi-Wan. You're safe. Relax. Both Jedi sent calming waves through the Force, and Obi-Wan's eyes closed slowly back to sleep. *******
"Qui-Gon, your Padawan attacked in anger. Nearly attacked you. Twice! If not for this man, you would be dead," said Mace slowly. The two Jedi were standing in front of the bacta tank that contained Obi- Wan. Anakin had been confined to his quarters while the Council decided what to do with him. A man was very nearly killed because of Anakin, and even the Jedi Master's life had been at stake. Mace did not want to give up Anakin, the Jedi's greatest hope for the future, but he knew that his presence as a Jedi was dangerous. Qui-Gon nodded. "Obi-Wan was always very good." That was all that he could find to say. Qui- Gon had been shocked at Anakin. He had attacked Obi-Wan for no reason at all. Even though Anakin had apologized profusely, said that he never intended to hurt his Master, and that he had simply been worried for Qui- Gon's safety, Qui-Gon was still completely stunned. Anakin had said that he was only trying to save his Master. What Anakin did not understand was that he had hurt Qui-Gon. He had hurt him tremendously the moment he unveiled his lightsaber. Had hurt him even more when he had struck Obi-Wan. The man had very nearly been cut in half. Anakin's lightsaber had struck a terrible blow all the way across Obi-Wan's chest, almost severing his torso from the rest of his body. And Anakin had been triumphant. "Yes, very good. And his skills are even better." Mace turned to Qui-Gon. "He was only with you for two years, but you obviously taught him well." "He trusted me completely once." "He still does," said Mace. "He sacrificed his life to save you." "Then why did he hide from me? He tried everything to keep himself from me! The hood, all of that shielding, the fake name." Qui-Gon shook his head. He didn't get it. "Qui-Gon, let's look at this logically. Stop thinking like a Jedi. It's been seventeen years since he's seen you. He had resigned himself to never seeing you again. And then. there you are. With another Padawan. It was probably a bit of a shock." "He didn't want me to know?" "He was scared, Qui-Gon."
Qui-Gon stared at the man floating in the bacta tank. He had been there for a week, since Qui-Gon and Anakin returned from Vaski 3. He had been in the ship's tiny bacta tank for a week before that. Finally, Obi-Wan was beginning to look like himself again. Qui-Gon sighed.
At least he would be whole.