Okay, well this week has been nasty, getting ready for the coming semester etc. Therefore, all my stories are behind. Hopefully, I'll get all of them updated within the next 24 hours.
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Yoda closed his large eyes. It had been ages since he'd last been impatient with the speed of a meeting. But now, he was experiencing a great struggle with his patience. One minute the child had been sitting quietly; the next, she had been writhing on the floor in pain. Only his mind touch, that had been established to feel for the intruding feelings, had stopped her from slipping into catatonia.
His first instinct had been to send her directly back to the temple, but the instant she was too far away from him; she began to go into shock. A quick call to the temple had a council member on his way to replace him. The members in the dispute were not happy with the arrangement, but it was the best that could be arranged.
Yoda quickly hopped down from his stool once the meeting was over. They had agreed to take a one day break from the negotiations so that Master Yoda could return to the Temple as quickly as possible.
Hobbling out of the room, he saw Obi-Wan huddled in a corner waiting for him.
"Come, young one. Going home we are."
Obi-Wan got up to follow him. Inside, she was unsure about how she should feel. The Temple really wasn't her home anymore. She was just another case being sent to the Healers. The instant she was better, they'd just ship her off again.
Yoda had been as close to angry as she could ever remember him being when he called the Temple. Apparently, Master Mace had done something stupid. She didn't know what it had to do with her, but she couldn't ask. The perfect Jedi would wait for the venerable Master to explain in his own time. And, being a perfect Jedi was what she had always strived to be.
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Yoda came out of his meditation as they began to land at the Temple's platform. Obi-Wan's skin had gone beyond pale to a flushed, gray color. Whatever had caused this was slowly pulling her away from health. Yoda Hurmphed to himself. He had a very good idea what had caused this.
As soon as this was straightened out, he was going to have a very long talk with Mace about impetuousness. Then, he was going to have a very, very long talk with Qui-Gon about control and the lives of innocent initiates.
Listlessly, Obi-wan followed behind Yoda as they went towards the healer wing. Being sick had caused her to be rather ornery. She had outright refused to be carried, carted, wheeled or otherwise moved to the healers by anyone's assistance. As they turned the last corner, she was hit with a wave of pain. She could see floating shards of Green and Blue and Orange. The Green was strongest and kept pulsing towards her, but the Orange kept blocking the flow.
Reaching out to the Force, she raced past Yoda into the healers. She ran quickly into the room she was being pulled to. She barely took in the sight of Master Mace and Bruck Chun sitting in the room before the wave of Green over took her.
"What is she doing in here, Master Yoda?" Mace asked, his voice deceptively smooth.
"Following the Force she is, something you should have done I think."
"She doesn't have a right." Bruck said from his very important position by Qui-Gon's side.
"Doesn't have a RIGHT?! MACE get that little Whelp out of this room before I turn to the Darkside and kill his prideful, arrogant, Sith spawned, soulless little hide!" Obi-Wan's voice came across the room.
"Initiate Kenobi, you have no right to…" Mace began.
"Remove him you will. Then calm himself Qui-Gon will."
Bruck was promptly ushered from the room. Mace turned and looked at Obi-wan, who was staring at the side of Qui-Gon's face.
"Qui-Gon?"
"You know, I have a funny profile. My nose is too big."
"Matter, your nose does not. Bigger problem there is."
"Oh, well I can fix that easily. Just get Bruck away from us, and I'll take Obi-Wan as my apprentice like I ASKED Mace."
"Requested her he did?"
"Well yes, but he was just dodging. He was meant to be with Bruck. I felt the bond."
"You felt the bond. That would be why I'm flat on my back, and poor Obi-Wan feels like a piece of raw Bantha steak."
"Hmmm, much to learn have you Master Mace. Detecting bonds, your strong point it is not. Removed from the approval of Master-Padawan teams you will be until stronger you are."
Yoda Glanced over at 'Obi-Wan.' "Where is the child?"
"Obi-Wan is experiencing what its like to be comatose. We had a quick… conference, and she decided that I could handle this better than she could."
"Fixed this will be. Mace will break your bond with Bruck. Return to your body you will. Bond properly with Obi-Wan you will when recuperated."
With that, Yoda stomped out of the room.
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(1 week later)
Obi-Wan glanced over at Qui-Gon. They had been in the same room for the whole week. The healers had suggested it as they felt their bond shouldn't be subjected to anymore strain than necessary. Obi-Wan had fully recuperated. Qui-Gon, was taking a bit longer.
Privately, Obi-wan would be more than thrilled to leave. When she got out, she would be assigned a new room in an apartment with her new Master. Having a Master was enough of something to look forward to, but not having to listen to him snore was going to be a big bonus.
She really shouldn't, but he was close to when he normally woke up anyway. With a determined heave, she threw her pillow on his face from her cot on the other side of the room. Qui-Gon awoke with a snort.
"Sith, you little…"
"V'ratherna?" Obi-Wan supplied helpfully.
"Yoda is going to kill me if you keep using those swear words."
"You were thinking them Master Jinn. I just picked them up for you."
"Obi-Wan, lesson number one. I am not a very respectable Jedi. Don't do everything I do. It will get you in too much trouble with the council."
"Yes, Master Jinn."
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. Never had his first two apprentices been so quick to repent AND mean it. Obi-Wan was starting to get on his nerves. Didn't the girl have any serious flaw that made her normal?
"I have an abnormal craving for sweets."
Qui-Gon sighed. Due to his rather careless and unexpected bonding when he helped her grow the plant, their bond was basically a wide open field at the moment. Venting into the Force didn't work because it just funneled into the other person. Shielding had become the top priority. When the went through the proper bonding ceremony in two days, it would work normally, but at the moment it was frustrating.
"I know you have an abnormal craving for munchies. I ended up with stomach cramps from it."
Qui-Gon felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "It is not that bad, Obi-Wan. It didn't last that long."
"Umm, no it usually doesn't." Obi-Wan mumbled looking down at something very interesting on the floor.
Qui-Gon mistakenly thought he was on safe discussion ground. "Don't worry, food cravings are a part of growing up. Why when I was you age, I used to get them right before I'd grow. It was sort of on a cycle, every 45 days I'd grow an inch or so."
Qui-Gon frowned in bewilderment as Obi-Wan's face grew deeper shades of red with every word he spoke.
"I don't think that it was a growth spurt, Master… but it does come fairly cyclically."
Now, he was really confused. What was bothering her so much? "So, about how often do you get cravings then?"
A pair of horrified eyes glanced up at him. She was shielding her thoughts so hard that her body was shaking slightly. What was wrong? Did she have some disease? Did it have to do with the accident at a child that left her disfigured?
She swallowed very slowly. "About once a month give or take a few days."
"Once a Month?" Qui-Gon's mouth form a perfect "O" as his brain caught the meaning of the conversation. Suddenly the wall became of as much interest to him as the floor was to Obi-Wan.
A few moments later, Mace came into the room to find them in the same positions.
"Having a blushing contest?"
"Windu, why do you go find yourself a nice dark corner and, umm, bang your head again the wall."
Mace smiled awkwardly. "Yes, well I came to apologize about the whole Bruck Chun thing."
"Don't apologize to me, apologize to Obi-Wan."
Mace glanced at Obi-Wan. "Obi-wan Kenobi, please accept my most humble regrets on my behavior in this matter."
"Your apology is accepted Master Windu."
You let him get off with just That? Obi-Wan, we need to talk about your gullible nature.
Obi-Wan jumped when Qui-Gon actually directed the thought in her direction. Qui-Gon wore a self satisfied smirk. "Mace, you owe us exactly three very major favors, and a trip to the theatre. Then, we will talk about your so-called friendship."
Oddly, Obi-Wan thought, Mace looked relieved by what Qui-Gon had told him. She would have been devastated if one of her friends had told her that.
Mace noted the concern on her face.
"When you are older, you will understand more fully the gravity of the situation I placed the two of you in."
"But, you fixed it easily enough. No real harm was done."
"But it could have been much worse than it was. I believe I will leave you two now. You have much to plan."
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YAY!!! Okay, one or two more chapters and this will be done. I might end up making some sequels later though.