Obi-Wan stretched his neck and tried to see who lay on the ground and who survived or was not injured. He hoped is mark was accurate. As he noticed some of the men look around in his general direction wee where the shot came for, he dropped speedily to the ground causing the dust to rise. It covered his face and he even had to rub his eyes clear to be able to see.
A couple of the men moved to the side ad there on the ground was not one but both of the men who battled.
//Surely I didn't shoot both of them. Maybe the blast hit one, pierced through, and went to the other. Oh my!//
Obi-Wan watched through the dust and night lighting as a figure almost spectral in its movement arose from the dirt, slowly higher and higher until finally *it* stood up totally. It was his soon-to-be-master. IT WAS MR.QUI-GON.
More impressive was the fact he had Dooku's red saber in his hand and swung it around through the thick dust that still hung in the air form their battle.
There was not much time except to breathe a mammoth sigh of relieve before another battle ensued, this time with Dooku's guards. Obi immediately got up off the ground and in a hard run went to assist his master. There was no worry, he did not need too. The men, too stunned to realize what exactly happened, were taken off guard by the revival of the master.
Jinn parried forward a couple of times before he searched around him to find his little limp. There just breaking through the clearing Obi-Wan stomped. Had he had the time, energy, and was without the immense pain that throbbed through his arm, he would have laughed. He was not sure if Obi or the blaster gun he carried was bigger. It made a humorous sight especially in the light when he drew nearer.
Dust and dirt covered the boy's face but left a white ring of skin around his two eyes and mouth as evidence that Obi-Wan was under all that dirt.
Jinn had heard Obi's soft mental meanderings through the fine link he had with the child. He knew Obi planned to fight these men along side Master Jinn with the blaster. Something Qui did not want repeated twice. He knew how shaky and unpredictable the child could be with such a big blaster in hand.
He had not noticed until Obi stepped closer that he was injured as well. He had tried to shield Obi from his pain and had succeeded to a degree. However in doing so, Jinn was not connected enough to feel the child's pain when his injury was inflicted.
//The boy wanted a little mysteriously Jedi-like magic. I think I will give it to him. It will save me time rounding up this bunch anyway. I don't feel like knocking them down like bowling pens using this ridiculous looking saber of Dookus' //
Obi-Wan stepped closer only to be stopped by a very loud almost sharp mental command to stand where he was. Just outside of the circle of men Obi did what he was told, hesitated his forward movement, waited and watched in awe as Master Jinn worked his "magic". Actually Master Yoda would have many discussions with his new grand padawan over the word "magic" being used by any Jedi. The force was the correct name.
Jinn extended his uninjured hand and demanded the men stop. At first they all laughed at the command the master gave that they *thought* would not be heeded. No sooner had their laughing began as they advanced forward to reach Master Jinn, than they stopped. If their one foot was up in mid-air, it remained so. If their mouths opened then it remained that way to catch any number of unnamed night bugs. They were frozen in time, Jinn's time. Everywhere Obi looked a man like a statue or an art object held his pose exactly as he was when Jinn gave his command.
"Quite impressive Master."
Qui-Gon had to listen hard to Obi's words. His mouth did not move on its injured side and it was hard to understand the child…
"I don't do this often you know. Actually, it is only for the direst of time. We really aren't permitted to freeze time unless it is the last possible way of avoiding sheer death. Then of course you have to catch the center vortex at just the right moment or it won't work."
"Well it worked. Your magic worked."
"Don't ever let Master Yoda hear you call it magic but "yea" it worked this time. Don't you try it until certainly your knighthood. Yoda will have my hide for even letting you know it exists and possibly your hide for coercing me to show you!!!. Now. Let's see to our captives shall we?"
Qui-Gon gathered Obi-Wan in a bear hug that was so intense the child had to remind him of his jaw, which by now Master Jinn was sure was broken.
Dooku lay dead in the lose dirt and grit right on his own property. Jinn saw to it that the men were securely tied with the help of he force *before * he released them from their mini time wrap. He would notify someone of their plight, tied in the middle of nowhere. Someone would come for them and the remains of Count Dooku.
Obi-Wan insisted he walk beside his master as they trekked to the ship. He knew Qui-Gon was weak and in a lot of pain from his arm. Obi was in a great deal of pain and he could feel his future master's worry for him over their newly formed bond. Obi was almost ashamed to admit to himself he loved the attention and of course, the soothing healing powers sent his way by Qui-Gon, even though the Jedi master too, was weak and hurt. They both fed off each other's power to make it to the ship where the Lars' waited for them.
##### back at the ship.#########
Selena had twice fired up the ship over her husband's insistence they just leave the Jedi master and her nephew and seek freedom as quickly as they could. He would throw their newborn child up at any chance he got. She began to think it was his cowardice that produced his drive for such a hasty retreat and that it had nothing to do with their newborn at home. His fear and his fear alone was the force behind his desire to leave. She was just about fed up with him when he started again for her to fire up the ship and leave the two.
"We must go now my dear or our escaped might be hindered. Hell, hindered it will stopped, dead in our tracks. Surely, they are onto us by now and are headed back to their ship. They have to know that is were we came."
"I know Delon, but Qui-Gon was the reason, is the reason we are free now shouldn't we at least attempt to help him five or ten more minutes will not matter to use. We are locked securely in the ship .It will take two minutes to take off if we have to. If you quit gapping and watch out of the left porthole, you can see them coming. I will have more than enough time to save us. The time doesn't matter as much to us as it does to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. At least grant them five more minutes."
"So do I have a choice, no, of course not. You and with your Jedi wisdom have decided to jeopardize our lives to save that nephew and Jedi master. Are they worth it?"
"You my dear husband have tried my patience all you are going too. I won't stand for it any longer. Jedi wisdom you dare mock… I don't need my Jedi wisdom to know you are an out and out coward. We have to have to believe there is something more important than our measly lives in the scheme of things in this entire galaxy that is worth fighting for. Look how brave our dear son was. To think he witnesses this display from you as he watches from the force brings me shame as it should you."
That struck a cord with Delon Lars. He knew his wife was right. What would Owen think of his father's lack of consideration and importance for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's life? Would he too see him as a coward? His thoughts were enough to quell his demand to instantly leave. He quietly stood at the left porthole and watched for any of Dooku's men to arrive, or with any luck Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
//Yes, there will be time enough to leave if the count's men should come through that clearing out there.//
Selena did fire up the ship again but only to wait on her old friend and her nephew..
//Where are they?//
Lars Delon yelled to the front of the ship where his wife Selena Lars had the ship's engines idling, just in case her nephew and Master Jinn would show up. She had come close to giving up when she heard he husband call to her, from where he stood in the back of the ship to watch for anyone to approach.
"Selena hold on. They are here."
Selena didn't have to ask, she heard the tension be released with her husband's words. It was Obi and Qui-Gon.
She thrust the throttle forward and checked the altimeter once more. She anticipated a quick take off, if they were being followed and she didn't see how they wouldn't be.
"Slow up dear. Master Jinn and Obi-Wan are walking at a normal pace, both seem injured though. I don't think anyone is behind them.
Selena would have liked to to have left the pilot's chair and gogine back and seen for herself, especially if they seemed injured, but if they did need to take off quickly she needed to stayed manned at pilot's chair of the ship.
"Injured, how?"
She heard a noise behind her and knew the door opened to their ship."
"Here Selena , sweetheart, ask them yourself."
Once inside, Lars made sure he secured the door tightly for takeoff or for possible intruders.
As soon as Selena turned around, Jinn threw his good arm up in a hello and a command.
"Don't be in such a rush and calm down. Thanks to your nephew, my future apprentice, we are safe, totally safe. Dooku is dead and his men tied up . Nothing to worry about., though we have both suffered minor injuries. Obi's is worse than mine, I fear. His jaw is broken and if I am not mistaken he has lost a couple of teeth."
"Selena put the ship in hold status, unbuckled her safety belt, and rushed to the back of he ship to see how Obi-Wan was..
"Well he had to lose those teeth soon anyway, to make room for more. Nevertheless, I am sure he is in pain."
Obi's aunt took Obi's chin in her hand and very gently turned his head to see the ugly bruise and sagging jaw. His eye already had darken and started to swell. No doubt it would totally close from the swelling soon.
Mr. Lars left and returned just as quickly with a ice pack in hand.
Obi-Wan excepted the attention he got from everyone, but suddenly became leery of his aunt and uncle when he remembered they wanted to take him and put him in a orphanage on their home world. He wondered if they still intended to ship him away from Master Jinn. The child became very timid and leaned toward Qui-Gon until his body pressed the length against the master's Jedi robe. He reached up much like the little child he was and grabbed Qui-Gon's arm with his looped through it. He had no intention of allowing anyone to remove him from his future master.
Qui-Gon felt the boy's tension and fear and thorough their bond he also knew the reason for it. He took his arm and rubbed circles gently a round and round on the child's back. That alone offered enough comfort that Obi did not fear anyone.
//Not with my master by my side.//
"I think I will take Obi-Wan to the back and find him a place to rest. I will tell you all the details later. It is enough to know we are safe and Count Dooku is dead. The others are tied up and waiting for the proper authorities to arrive. I have given coordinates of where to locate them. We can return to Coruscant now."
Qui-Gon lifted Obi-Wan in his good arm, to carry him back to a cot provided on the ship.
Delon Lars as usual had to put his two cents in.
"Coruscant!!! We would like to go back to our home world to see about our child. You and Obi-Wan may return to Coruscant from there on a public transport."
"Certainly I understand that you wish to be with your child. However you must realize I have to get Obi-Wan to the temple where the healers can care for his jaw. It will unlikely leave a scar or be deformed in any way if the healers care for him at the temple."
"We have healers on our planet that can care for a simple broken jaw."
Lars looked over at the boy in Jinn's arms. He looked almost asleep. It was hard to tell though because Obi's one eye had now swollen shut and the other was crunched up by Master Jinn's shoulder., where his head rested.
Selena decided she had heard enough.
"It will be enough for us to notify the nanny that we are safe and to check on the baby. A trip home immediately from here is not necessary. We will leave Coruscant just s soon as we have dropped Master Jinn and Obi-Wan off. We don't want to be flying around in Dooku's ship anyway."
That settled it. Evidently Selena decided it was time for her to wear the pensioner family since they didn't fit Lars very well. He didn't' have the compassion it took to think about others.
Selena, then you do plan to let me take Obi-Wan back to the temple?"
"How can I not Master Jinn? I am not in the Jedi order, however, I too am force blessed and I felt the joining of the two of you in the form of a training bond; a very strong one I think. Yes, if you wish and so does Obi, he will remain with you and the Jedi. You, Master Jinn will be his family and the Jedi temple will always be his home."
Obi heard the words. He was just was too exhausted to react to them in a very festive way. He lifted his head and smiled a lopsided smile at his new master. He immediately let Jinn's force suggestion of sleep take over. Sleep would alleviate some of the physical pain until they could get to Coruscant and have his jaw wired together. The emotional pain was already gone with the presence of his master in his mind and most importantly in his heart……….
#####################
Thank You for reading and also thanks to those who took the time to give feedback. While not necessary, it is an incentive to write more stories.
PEACE ewen
A couple of the men moved to the side ad there on the ground was not one but both of the men who battled.
//Surely I didn't shoot both of them. Maybe the blast hit one, pierced through, and went to the other. Oh my!//
Obi-Wan watched through the dust and night lighting as a figure almost spectral in its movement arose from the dirt, slowly higher and higher until finally *it* stood up totally. It was his soon-to-be-master. IT WAS MR.QUI-GON.
More impressive was the fact he had Dooku's red saber in his hand and swung it around through the thick dust that still hung in the air form their battle.
There was not much time except to breathe a mammoth sigh of relieve before another battle ensued, this time with Dooku's guards. Obi immediately got up off the ground and in a hard run went to assist his master. There was no worry, he did not need too. The men, too stunned to realize what exactly happened, were taken off guard by the revival of the master.
Jinn parried forward a couple of times before he searched around him to find his little limp. There just breaking through the clearing Obi-Wan stomped. Had he had the time, energy, and was without the immense pain that throbbed through his arm, he would have laughed. He was not sure if Obi or the blaster gun he carried was bigger. It made a humorous sight especially in the light when he drew nearer.
Dust and dirt covered the boy's face but left a white ring of skin around his two eyes and mouth as evidence that Obi-Wan was under all that dirt.
Jinn had heard Obi's soft mental meanderings through the fine link he had with the child. He knew Obi planned to fight these men along side Master Jinn with the blaster. Something Qui did not want repeated twice. He knew how shaky and unpredictable the child could be with such a big blaster in hand.
He had not noticed until Obi stepped closer that he was injured as well. He had tried to shield Obi from his pain and had succeeded to a degree. However in doing so, Jinn was not connected enough to feel the child's pain when his injury was inflicted.
//The boy wanted a little mysteriously Jedi-like magic. I think I will give it to him. It will save me time rounding up this bunch anyway. I don't feel like knocking them down like bowling pens using this ridiculous looking saber of Dookus' //
Obi-Wan stepped closer only to be stopped by a very loud almost sharp mental command to stand where he was. Just outside of the circle of men Obi did what he was told, hesitated his forward movement, waited and watched in awe as Master Jinn worked his "magic". Actually Master Yoda would have many discussions with his new grand padawan over the word "magic" being used by any Jedi. The force was the correct name.
Jinn extended his uninjured hand and demanded the men stop. At first they all laughed at the command the master gave that they *thought* would not be heeded. No sooner had their laughing began as they advanced forward to reach Master Jinn, than they stopped. If their one foot was up in mid-air, it remained so. If their mouths opened then it remained that way to catch any number of unnamed night bugs. They were frozen in time, Jinn's time. Everywhere Obi looked a man like a statue or an art object held his pose exactly as he was when Jinn gave his command.
"Quite impressive Master."
Qui-Gon had to listen hard to Obi's words. His mouth did not move on its injured side and it was hard to understand the child…
"I don't do this often you know. Actually, it is only for the direst of time. We really aren't permitted to freeze time unless it is the last possible way of avoiding sheer death. Then of course you have to catch the center vortex at just the right moment or it won't work."
"Well it worked. Your magic worked."
"Don't ever let Master Yoda hear you call it magic but "yea" it worked this time. Don't you try it until certainly your knighthood. Yoda will have my hide for even letting you know it exists and possibly your hide for coercing me to show you!!!. Now. Let's see to our captives shall we?"
Qui-Gon gathered Obi-Wan in a bear hug that was so intense the child had to remind him of his jaw, which by now Master Jinn was sure was broken.
Dooku lay dead in the lose dirt and grit right on his own property. Jinn saw to it that the men were securely tied with the help of he force *before * he released them from their mini time wrap. He would notify someone of their plight, tied in the middle of nowhere. Someone would come for them and the remains of Count Dooku.
Obi-Wan insisted he walk beside his master as they trekked to the ship. He knew Qui-Gon was weak and in a lot of pain from his arm. Obi was in a great deal of pain and he could feel his future master's worry for him over their newly formed bond. Obi was almost ashamed to admit to himself he loved the attention and of course, the soothing healing powers sent his way by Qui-Gon, even though the Jedi master too, was weak and hurt. They both fed off each other's power to make it to the ship where the Lars' waited for them.
##### back at the ship.#########
Selena had twice fired up the ship over her husband's insistence they just leave the Jedi master and her nephew and seek freedom as quickly as they could. He would throw their newborn child up at any chance he got. She began to think it was his cowardice that produced his drive for such a hasty retreat and that it had nothing to do with their newborn at home. His fear and his fear alone was the force behind his desire to leave. She was just about fed up with him when he started again for her to fire up the ship and leave the two.
"We must go now my dear or our escaped might be hindered. Hell, hindered it will stopped, dead in our tracks. Surely, they are onto us by now and are headed back to their ship. They have to know that is were we came."
"I know Delon, but Qui-Gon was the reason, is the reason we are free now shouldn't we at least attempt to help him five or ten more minutes will not matter to use. We are locked securely in the ship .It will take two minutes to take off if we have to. If you quit gapping and watch out of the left porthole, you can see them coming. I will have more than enough time to save us. The time doesn't matter as much to us as it does to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. At least grant them five more minutes."
"So do I have a choice, no, of course not. You and with your Jedi wisdom have decided to jeopardize our lives to save that nephew and Jedi master. Are they worth it?"
"You my dear husband have tried my patience all you are going too. I won't stand for it any longer. Jedi wisdom you dare mock… I don't need my Jedi wisdom to know you are an out and out coward. We have to have to believe there is something more important than our measly lives in the scheme of things in this entire galaxy that is worth fighting for. Look how brave our dear son was. To think he witnesses this display from you as he watches from the force brings me shame as it should you."
That struck a cord with Delon Lars. He knew his wife was right. What would Owen think of his father's lack of consideration and importance for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's life? Would he too see him as a coward? His thoughts were enough to quell his demand to instantly leave. He quietly stood at the left porthole and watched for any of Dooku's men to arrive, or with any luck Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
//Yes, there will be time enough to leave if the count's men should come through that clearing out there.//
Selena did fire up the ship again but only to wait on her old friend and her nephew..
//Where are they?//
Lars Delon yelled to the front of the ship where his wife Selena Lars had the ship's engines idling, just in case her nephew and Master Jinn would show up. She had come close to giving up when she heard he husband call to her, from where he stood in the back of the ship to watch for anyone to approach.
"Selena hold on. They are here."
Selena didn't have to ask, she heard the tension be released with her husband's words. It was Obi and Qui-Gon.
She thrust the throttle forward and checked the altimeter once more. She anticipated a quick take off, if they were being followed and she didn't see how they wouldn't be.
"Slow up dear. Master Jinn and Obi-Wan are walking at a normal pace, both seem injured though. I don't think anyone is behind them.
Selena would have liked to to have left the pilot's chair and gogine back and seen for herself, especially if they seemed injured, but if they did need to take off quickly she needed to stayed manned at pilot's chair of the ship.
"Injured, how?"
She heard a noise behind her and knew the door opened to their ship."
"Here Selena , sweetheart, ask them yourself."
Once inside, Lars made sure he secured the door tightly for takeoff or for possible intruders.
As soon as Selena turned around, Jinn threw his good arm up in a hello and a command.
"Don't be in such a rush and calm down. Thanks to your nephew, my future apprentice, we are safe, totally safe. Dooku is dead and his men tied up . Nothing to worry about., though we have both suffered minor injuries. Obi's is worse than mine, I fear. His jaw is broken and if I am not mistaken he has lost a couple of teeth."
"Selena put the ship in hold status, unbuckled her safety belt, and rushed to the back of he ship to see how Obi-Wan was..
"Well he had to lose those teeth soon anyway, to make room for more. Nevertheless, I am sure he is in pain."
Obi's aunt took Obi's chin in her hand and very gently turned his head to see the ugly bruise and sagging jaw. His eye already had darken and started to swell. No doubt it would totally close from the swelling soon.
Mr. Lars left and returned just as quickly with a ice pack in hand.
Obi-Wan excepted the attention he got from everyone, but suddenly became leery of his aunt and uncle when he remembered they wanted to take him and put him in a orphanage on their home world. He wondered if they still intended to ship him away from Master Jinn. The child became very timid and leaned toward Qui-Gon until his body pressed the length against the master's Jedi robe. He reached up much like the little child he was and grabbed Qui-Gon's arm with his looped through it. He had no intention of allowing anyone to remove him from his future master.
Qui-Gon felt the boy's tension and fear and thorough their bond he also knew the reason for it. He took his arm and rubbed circles gently a round and round on the child's back. That alone offered enough comfort that Obi did not fear anyone.
//Not with my master by my side.//
"I think I will take Obi-Wan to the back and find him a place to rest. I will tell you all the details later. It is enough to know we are safe and Count Dooku is dead. The others are tied up and waiting for the proper authorities to arrive. I have given coordinates of where to locate them. We can return to Coruscant now."
Qui-Gon lifted Obi-Wan in his good arm, to carry him back to a cot provided on the ship.
Delon Lars as usual had to put his two cents in.
"Coruscant!!! We would like to go back to our home world to see about our child. You and Obi-Wan may return to Coruscant from there on a public transport."
"Certainly I understand that you wish to be with your child. However you must realize I have to get Obi-Wan to the temple where the healers can care for his jaw. It will unlikely leave a scar or be deformed in any way if the healers care for him at the temple."
"We have healers on our planet that can care for a simple broken jaw."
Lars looked over at the boy in Jinn's arms. He looked almost asleep. It was hard to tell though because Obi's one eye had now swollen shut and the other was crunched up by Master Jinn's shoulder., where his head rested.
Selena decided she had heard enough.
"It will be enough for us to notify the nanny that we are safe and to check on the baby. A trip home immediately from here is not necessary. We will leave Coruscant just s soon as we have dropped Master Jinn and Obi-Wan off. We don't want to be flying around in Dooku's ship anyway."
That settled it. Evidently Selena decided it was time for her to wear the pensioner family since they didn't fit Lars very well. He didn't' have the compassion it took to think about others.
Selena, then you do plan to let me take Obi-Wan back to the temple?"
"How can I not Master Jinn? I am not in the Jedi order, however, I too am force blessed and I felt the joining of the two of you in the form of a training bond; a very strong one I think. Yes, if you wish and so does Obi, he will remain with you and the Jedi. You, Master Jinn will be his family and the Jedi temple will always be his home."
Obi heard the words. He was just was too exhausted to react to them in a very festive way. He lifted his head and smiled a lopsided smile at his new master. He immediately let Jinn's force suggestion of sleep take over. Sleep would alleviate some of the physical pain until they could get to Coruscant and have his jaw wired together. The emotional pain was already gone with the presence of his master in his mind and most importantly in his heart……….
#####################
Thank You for reading and also thanks to those who took the time to give feedback. While not necessary, it is an incentive to write more stories.
PEACE ewen