Thank you all for the lovely feedback!!! :D Please continue to do so. I
really appreciate it.
Also, I forgot to make mention before, this story is a bit of a contradiction for me. I like it a lot, which hopefully shows in my writing. And it's flowing so well and getting such a great response. Which I have all of you to thank for that. But the real kicker of it, is I don't like AU's. Not really anyway. But I am coming to accept their place in the Fan Fic galaxy. I just thought this worth mentioning.
Here's your post! ;)
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"Padmé, I want to apologize for my behavior." The tall Jedi placed a hand on the young maiden's shoulder. She didn't pull away but neither did she acknowledge him. Qui-Gon continued as she made no response, "It's not that I don't feel for what the boy has done for you..."
"Obi-Wan." She finally withdrew her gaze from the Bacta Tank in front of her and glared at the Knight. "He has a name, Qui-Gon. Or did you not hear anything Tyaña said." Unshed tears were on the brink of falling as the handmaiden tried to control her raging emotions. Not wanting to listen to the Jedi's lame excuses, Padmé walked away from his grasp and made her way to one of the chairs in the room.
Qui-Gon did not attempt to follow her, instead he continued his request for forgiveness, "I did. Obi-Wan has given more than we asked of him. Than we would have asked for him, if we had the opportunity. I wish I could have stopped what happened in the shop. But I had no authority. My first priority is the mission, and you. And as for my conversation with Anakin, well, I don't know how to explain it. It's not anything I can name, but I just felt I should not discuss the situation with him yet. There's something more here. Something I just can't decipher and I didn't want to trouble him. I doubt you will believe me but I am grateful for Obi-Wan's assistance. And I regret not being able to prevent his injury from happening. It's obvious he has already endured more than a child ever should." His soft baritone revealed the emotions belying his calm demeanor. Padmé watched the Jedi Master reach out for the small boy floating in the liquid. His hand pressed against the clear glass of the tank. After the initial contact, Padmé saw the elder man flinch before his brow furrowed.
Qui-Gon rested his hand against the glass intending to send the boy some healing waves through the Force. As he accessed the Force, the Master was bombarded with quick flashes of images his mind couldn't comprehend, and a searing sense of agony. It seemed like he had tapped into a fissure in the Force that held the pain and hurting of every one on the planet. No, it was much more than that, could it have stretched out further than this world? Fortunately, the sensation moved through him so fast that he did not even skim the surface of it. He knew that if he had come too close to that line of the Force he would have instantly been rendered unconscious. But it was there; it was close to him. He furrowed his brow and stared at the meek form in front of him. This slave boy had more to him than met the eye. But what does it mean? He pondered. Slowly, Qui-Gon withdrew his hand but remained standing, watching the boy, without another word. Padmé rested in the chair and was content that the Jedi Master stopped bothering her with his explanation. They abstained from breaking into the others thoughts for the next two hours.
***
Padmé had drifted off as she waited, but was roused when Tyaña entered the room. Ignoring the strangers, Tyaña headed for the readout panel next to the tank. As she looked over the stats she gave a quick grunt and a nod. "Is something wrong, Miss Tyaña?" Qui-Gon questioned her reaction.
"No, nothing wrong. Just the usual for him." She didn't want to discuss Obi-wan's condition with them. Tyaña had actually been amazed to find them waiting still. Most people that helped strangers never stuck around to talk with them afterward. Except for Obi-wan. She sighed. Anyone the boy brought to her for help, he made sure that they were well before he left. And how many times have you gotten in trouble for it, little one? Her hand gravitated to the side of the tank as her eyes began to glisten.
"What do you mean? Is he progressing slowly?" The tall man pursued her evasion.
"On the contrary, Master Jinn. He's recovering faster than he should. Which happens to be usual for him." Again Tyaña sighed. "I concede to the fact that I heal him only to find him again in need of my care. And I fear the day he will be beyond it." A tear rolled down her gentle face.
"Is he a relation of yours?" Padmé joined the conversation. She rose from her seat and came to stand on the other side of Qui-Gon.
"I wish he was," the healer said, "Then maybe he would be free."
"You care for him deeply, don't you?" Qui-Gon stated the question more than actually asking it. But he was favored with a nod in response. "How long have you known him?"
"About six years, but more so, when he first entered into Watto's service." Qui-Gon noticed the woman's fists clench. "If you can call it that." Anger laced Tyaña's words.
"Did you ever know his parents?" Qui-Gon became curious about the boy. He wanted to try and understand the youth that came to their aid. And since Obi-Wan could not answer his questions, he consented with what information Tyaña could provide.
Tyaña hesitated at first, and Qui-Gon thought she wasn't going to answer. He could see the battle behind her eyes as she determined how much she should tell the two outlanders. But finally she did respond, "No, even he doesn't know who his parents are. He told me once that the earliest images in his mind are flashes of faces and feelings." She paused to take in a ragged breath. "He said all he remembers from those flashes is pain." Again she lingered in her thoughts. Why am I telling them so much? I hope Obi doesn't mind. Her eyes drifted between the compassionate gazes of the two strangers. Maybe, maybe they might be able to help him. Tyaña felt that she could trust them and so continued, "His first full memory is being picked up by some pirate when he was probably three. He was forced to beg and rob for the devious scoundrel before being lost in a bet at a Sabacc game. From there he was passed around until finally ending up in Watto's hands. It's been five brutal years now with that foul creature. And I have been there to watch it all. Damn that Toydarian!" Tyaña didn't trust herself to speak anymore as she worked to control her outrage. That's when she felt strong hands touch her shoulders. The tears that threatened to fall ran freely down her features.
Qui-Gon and Padmé waited. They didn't know what to say. Their minds ran wild with awful images of a small child being tormented and abused. Padmé let her own tears fall. Mournfully, Tyaña resumed her monologue, "You know, I went to Watto once and offered to buy Obi-Wan from him. And he had the gall to tell me that the boy was too valuable to him and told me to go away. Do you know what happened next?" Tyaña took in heaping gulps of air just to stop herself from being fully consumed with loathing. Her aged body trembled under the strain to not go out and kill the demon she spoke of. "Obi-Wan managed to make his way here after being beaten within an inch of his life. And though he would never admit it, I know it was because of my request. Still he came to me; still he loved me. How can someone who suffers so much still have any caring left in them to give?" She ended her recollection with quiet sobs. Qui-Gon even heard Padmé attempt to cover up her own silent weeping.
"He is special." It was all Qui-gon had to offer. Yet he still felt it wasn't enough. Gently, he wrapped his arms around the sensitive healer.
Once Tyaña recovered enough from her lament, she spoke softly, "She called you a Jedi. Are you?" Releasing herself from his embrace, Tyaña turned to face the taller man directly. "Can you take him away from this place? He deserves a better life."
Qui-Gon was afraid this question was coming and even though he prepared himself for the possibility he still wasn't sure of an answer. "I don't know. I didn't come here to free slaves, you know." The response sounded cold even in his ears.
Amazingly, the healer accepted his confession. Turning again towards the tank, her voice changed. Taking on the professional manner of a physician she announced, "He should be able to come out now. Should be awake a few minutes later. If you want to wait."
"We've been waiting this long, a few more minutes wouldn't hurt." Returning her tone with the calm, collected voice of a Jedi Master.
"No, I suppose it wouldn't." Tyaña mumbled to herself, but the Jedi heard her words. Inwardly, he winced and admonished his error but made no indication otherwise. The healer worked efficiently to extract the youth and clean him off.
Ten minutes later, Obi-Wan began to come out of the darkness. A moan escaped his lips as he tried to move his aching body. "How long have I been out?" His voice was raspy. Obi-Wan brought up a hand to rub at his eyes.
Tyaña informed, "For the better part of three hours. You scared me, you know. It's a good thing these two brought you in when they did." The boy sat up against Tyaña's better judgement. Gingerly, Obi-Wan swung his legs over the side of the sleep couch and noticed the two he had rushed to help.
Qui-Gon stepped forward to address the youth, "We wanted to thank.."
"Three hours?" Obi-Wan cut the older man off. "I've got to go. Watto doesn't know where I am." Weakly, he pushed himself off the edge of the bed. His legs almost gave out under his weight, but he fought the urge to fall. Obi-Wan headed for the door. He ignored the protests behind him.
"Obi-Wan, you need to rest!" His faithful caretaker exclaimed.
"I'll be back, Tia. Don't worry." Obi-Wan called over his shoulder to his friend. Tyaña barely caught his reply as he passed through the doorway.
"I can't help but worry." Her words wasted, as Qui-Gon and Padmé were the only ones to hear it.
***
Once outside the humble infirmary, Obi-Wan clutched a corner of the building. Dizziness rolled over him, but he forced himself to move on. Watto's going to kill me! What am I going to tell him? Who knows what he would do if he found out what I did. Cautiously, he made his way though the streets to the junkyard that was his home as much as it was his prison. He decided it would be wiser to return via the back entrance instead of the main doorway. Hopefully, I'll have an excuse by then for my disappearance.
The closer he got to his destination the louder the noise that originated there. Obi-Wan could hear things clanging and bouncing and as he drew nearer he could barely make out Watto's enraged shouts. The Toydarian's ramblings were incoherent curses and vocalizations. Obi-Wan breathed deeply to calm his tensed nerves. He closed his eyes and called upon something deep within him to give him strength to face what lay ahead. For a moment he was surprised by his actions. You never cared before, Obi. You have always welcomed the thought of death, why is now different? He questioned himself. I don't know. For some reason, I want to get back to Tyaña and talk to those strangers. He wasn't pleased with his answer but he believed it to be true.
Carefully, he inched himself into the entry. He wanted to sneak in as best he could. When suddenly, a three-fingered hand seized his wrist. Yanked from his position, Obi-Wan was hauled into the room by the hovering alien. "[Where have you been, Vrelt?!]" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
I can't stress it enough...Please Review!! :D
"Feedback feeds the creative soul!" - Me ;)
Also, I forgot to make mention before, this story is a bit of a contradiction for me. I like it a lot, which hopefully shows in my writing. And it's flowing so well and getting such a great response. Which I have all of you to thank for that. But the real kicker of it, is I don't like AU's. Not really anyway. But I am coming to accept their place in the Fan Fic galaxy. I just thought this worth mentioning.
Here's your post! ;)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
"Padmé, I want to apologize for my behavior." The tall Jedi placed a hand on the young maiden's shoulder. She didn't pull away but neither did she acknowledge him. Qui-Gon continued as she made no response, "It's not that I don't feel for what the boy has done for you..."
"Obi-Wan." She finally withdrew her gaze from the Bacta Tank in front of her and glared at the Knight. "He has a name, Qui-Gon. Or did you not hear anything Tyaña said." Unshed tears were on the brink of falling as the handmaiden tried to control her raging emotions. Not wanting to listen to the Jedi's lame excuses, Padmé walked away from his grasp and made her way to one of the chairs in the room.
Qui-Gon did not attempt to follow her, instead he continued his request for forgiveness, "I did. Obi-Wan has given more than we asked of him. Than we would have asked for him, if we had the opportunity. I wish I could have stopped what happened in the shop. But I had no authority. My first priority is the mission, and you. And as for my conversation with Anakin, well, I don't know how to explain it. It's not anything I can name, but I just felt I should not discuss the situation with him yet. There's something more here. Something I just can't decipher and I didn't want to trouble him. I doubt you will believe me but I am grateful for Obi-Wan's assistance. And I regret not being able to prevent his injury from happening. It's obvious he has already endured more than a child ever should." His soft baritone revealed the emotions belying his calm demeanor. Padmé watched the Jedi Master reach out for the small boy floating in the liquid. His hand pressed against the clear glass of the tank. After the initial contact, Padmé saw the elder man flinch before his brow furrowed.
Qui-Gon rested his hand against the glass intending to send the boy some healing waves through the Force. As he accessed the Force, the Master was bombarded with quick flashes of images his mind couldn't comprehend, and a searing sense of agony. It seemed like he had tapped into a fissure in the Force that held the pain and hurting of every one on the planet. No, it was much more than that, could it have stretched out further than this world? Fortunately, the sensation moved through him so fast that he did not even skim the surface of it. He knew that if he had come too close to that line of the Force he would have instantly been rendered unconscious. But it was there; it was close to him. He furrowed his brow and stared at the meek form in front of him. This slave boy had more to him than met the eye. But what does it mean? He pondered. Slowly, Qui-Gon withdrew his hand but remained standing, watching the boy, without another word. Padmé rested in the chair and was content that the Jedi Master stopped bothering her with his explanation. They abstained from breaking into the others thoughts for the next two hours.
***
Padmé had drifted off as she waited, but was roused when Tyaña entered the room. Ignoring the strangers, Tyaña headed for the readout panel next to the tank. As she looked over the stats she gave a quick grunt and a nod. "Is something wrong, Miss Tyaña?" Qui-Gon questioned her reaction.
"No, nothing wrong. Just the usual for him." She didn't want to discuss Obi-wan's condition with them. Tyaña had actually been amazed to find them waiting still. Most people that helped strangers never stuck around to talk with them afterward. Except for Obi-wan. She sighed. Anyone the boy brought to her for help, he made sure that they were well before he left. And how many times have you gotten in trouble for it, little one? Her hand gravitated to the side of the tank as her eyes began to glisten.
"What do you mean? Is he progressing slowly?" The tall man pursued her evasion.
"On the contrary, Master Jinn. He's recovering faster than he should. Which happens to be usual for him." Again Tyaña sighed. "I concede to the fact that I heal him only to find him again in need of my care. And I fear the day he will be beyond it." A tear rolled down her gentle face.
"Is he a relation of yours?" Padmé joined the conversation. She rose from her seat and came to stand on the other side of Qui-Gon.
"I wish he was," the healer said, "Then maybe he would be free."
"You care for him deeply, don't you?" Qui-Gon stated the question more than actually asking it. But he was favored with a nod in response. "How long have you known him?"
"About six years, but more so, when he first entered into Watto's service." Qui-Gon noticed the woman's fists clench. "If you can call it that." Anger laced Tyaña's words.
"Did you ever know his parents?" Qui-Gon became curious about the boy. He wanted to try and understand the youth that came to their aid. And since Obi-Wan could not answer his questions, he consented with what information Tyaña could provide.
Tyaña hesitated at first, and Qui-Gon thought she wasn't going to answer. He could see the battle behind her eyes as she determined how much she should tell the two outlanders. But finally she did respond, "No, even he doesn't know who his parents are. He told me once that the earliest images in his mind are flashes of faces and feelings." She paused to take in a ragged breath. "He said all he remembers from those flashes is pain." Again she lingered in her thoughts. Why am I telling them so much? I hope Obi doesn't mind. Her eyes drifted between the compassionate gazes of the two strangers. Maybe, maybe they might be able to help him. Tyaña felt that she could trust them and so continued, "His first full memory is being picked up by some pirate when he was probably three. He was forced to beg and rob for the devious scoundrel before being lost in a bet at a Sabacc game. From there he was passed around until finally ending up in Watto's hands. It's been five brutal years now with that foul creature. And I have been there to watch it all. Damn that Toydarian!" Tyaña didn't trust herself to speak anymore as she worked to control her outrage. That's when she felt strong hands touch her shoulders. The tears that threatened to fall ran freely down her features.
Qui-Gon and Padmé waited. They didn't know what to say. Their minds ran wild with awful images of a small child being tormented and abused. Padmé let her own tears fall. Mournfully, Tyaña resumed her monologue, "You know, I went to Watto once and offered to buy Obi-Wan from him. And he had the gall to tell me that the boy was too valuable to him and told me to go away. Do you know what happened next?" Tyaña took in heaping gulps of air just to stop herself from being fully consumed with loathing. Her aged body trembled under the strain to not go out and kill the demon she spoke of. "Obi-Wan managed to make his way here after being beaten within an inch of his life. And though he would never admit it, I know it was because of my request. Still he came to me; still he loved me. How can someone who suffers so much still have any caring left in them to give?" She ended her recollection with quiet sobs. Qui-Gon even heard Padmé attempt to cover up her own silent weeping.
"He is special." It was all Qui-gon had to offer. Yet he still felt it wasn't enough. Gently, he wrapped his arms around the sensitive healer.
Once Tyaña recovered enough from her lament, she spoke softly, "She called you a Jedi. Are you?" Releasing herself from his embrace, Tyaña turned to face the taller man directly. "Can you take him away from this place? He deserves a better life."
Qui-Gon was afraid this question was coming and even though he prepared himself for the possibility he still wasn't sure of an answer. "I don't know. I didn't come here to free slaves, you know." The response sounded cold even in his ears.
Amazingly, the healer accepted his confession. Turning again towards the tank, her voice changed. Taking on the professional manner of a physician she announced, "He should be able to come out now. Should be awake a few minutes later. If you want to wait."
"We've been waiting this long, a few more minutes wouldn't hurt." Returning her tone with the calm, collected voice of a Jedi Master.
"No, I suppose it wouldn't." Tyaña mumbled to herself, but the Jedi heard her words. Inwardly, he winced and admonished his error but made no indication otherwise. The healer worked efficiently to extract the youth and clean him off.
Ten minutes later, Obi-Wan began to come out of the darkness. A moan escaped his lips as he tried to move his aching body. "How long have I been out?" His voice was raspy. Obi-Wan brought up a hand to rub at his eyes.
Tyaña informed, "For the better part of three hours. You scared me, you know. It's a good thing these two brought you in when they did." The boy sat up against Tyaña's better judgement. Gingerly, Obi-Wan swung his legs over the side of the sleep couch and noticed the two he had rushed to help.
Qui-Gon stepped forward to address the youth, "We wanted to thank.."
"Three hours?" Obi-Wan cut the older man off. "I've got to go. Watto doesn't know where I am." Weakly, he pushed himself off the edge of the bed. His legs almost gave out under his weight, but he fought the urge to fall. Obi-Wan headed for the door. He ignored the protests behind him.
"Obi-Wan, you need to rest!" His faithful caretaker exclaimed.
"I'll be back, Tia. Don't worry." Obi-Wan called over his shoulder to his friend. Tyaña barely caught his reply as he passed through the doorway.
"I can't help but worry." Her words wasted, as Qui-Gon and Padmé were the only ones to hear it.
***
Once outside the humble infirmary, Obi-Wan clutched a corner of the building. Dizziness rolled over him, but he forced himself to move on. Watto's going to kill me! What am I going to tell him? Who knows what he would do if he found out what I did. Cautiously, he made his way though the streets to the junkyard that was his home as much as it was his prison. He decided it would be wiser to return via the back entrance instead of the main doorway. Hopefully, I'll have an excuse by then for my disappearance.
The closer he got to his destination the louder the noise that originated there. Obi-Wan could hear things clanging and bouncing and as he drew nearer he could barely make out Watto's enraged shouts. The Toydarian's ramblings were incoherent curses and vocalizations. Obi-Wan breathed deeply to calm his tensed nerves. He closed his eyes and called upon something deep within him to give him strength to face what lay ahead. For a moment he was surprised by his actions. You never cared before, Obi. You have always welcomed the thought of death, why is now different? He questioned himself. I don't know. For some reason, I want to get back to Tyaña and talk to those strangers. He wasn't pleased with his answer but he believed it to be true.
Carefully, he inched himself into the entry. He wanted to sneak in as best he could. When suddenly, a three-fingered hand seized his wrist. Yanked from his position, Obi-Wan was hauled into the room by the hovering alien. "[Where have you been, Vrelt?!]" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
I can't stress it enough...Please Review!! :D
"Feedback feeds the creative soul!" - Me ;)