Not Like Others
Part 2: As it Should Be
Obi-Wan stepped into the dark night. He did not know why Qui-Gon was not in bed and wanted to make sure he was all right. He wondered what could have called his Master away in the night. There would not likely have been news concerning their mission, nothing that would have made Qui-Gon leave without informing his Padawan. Earlier that day the mission to keep a powerful corporation from building, against the public's wish, a large number of manufacturing plants that would have despoiled the planet had ended successfully with an agreement to halt the work.
A freshly fallen snow covered the ground. Pulling his cloak tighter, he followed the path out past the line of trees to where it opened up to a large expanse of field under clear, starry skies.
There a short distance out sat his Master. He appeared to be kneeling in meditation. Obi-Wan hurried to his side.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Master? What are you doing out here?"
Qui-Gon turned to his eighteen-year-old apprentice, his blue eyes like ice, reminding Obi-Wan of the chill about them. "Thinking."
"What are you thinking about?" He reached out to touch his Master's bare forearm. "You're freezing! How long have you been out here?"
"I was thinking about a world I knew that was like this one." He gestured to the clear sky above them.
Obi-Wan lifted his head toward the celestial realm and gazed into its depths, taking in the beauty and marveling at it. When he felt his nose going numb, he turned his head back to his Master, who was looking at him. "It is beautiful, Master."
"There are few planets left from where you can still see that, my Padawan. I am glad that this world will remain as it is." He sighed. "There is such beauty, and everyone knows it is there, but they do not stop and look at it."
Obi-Wan understood his Master's fears, but he did not know why Qui-Gon was out here in the cold. It was his Master's way, and he did not think he could truly grasp it, but he knew what he felt. Even in the life of a Jedi he found time to appreciate what he cared about. He sometimes wished others could too.
Qui-Gon sighed again. When he spoke it was quietly as if to himself. "There is only so much we can do." He stood, and Obi-Wan followed. Qui-Gon said aloud, "Tomorrow we will go home, and at least this world is saved."
Obi-Wan followed the Jedi Master as he headed inside. "Master," he asked hesitatingly, "why do so many people take their world for granted?"
Qui-Gon turned and placed an icy hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "It isn't their fault, Padawan. They just get so caught up in their lives, they forget what else there is.
"They forget where they come from."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I could never do that."
"That is because you know yourself, and you were taught to always be aware. Many are not." He softly touched Obi-Wan's cheek in appreciation of the golden soul in his care. Unfortunately he had been outside for quite a long time.
"Ah!" Obi-Wan shrieked. "Cold!" With a naughty smirk and another shout, he ran inside.
Shaking his head and smiling, Qui-Gon followed.
Part 2: As it Should Be
Obi-Wan stepped into the dark night. He did not know why Qui-Gon was not in bed and wanted to make sure he was all right. He wondered what could have called his Master away in the night. There would not likely have been news concerning their mission, nothing that would have made Qui-Gon leave without informing his Padawan. Earlier that day the mission to keep a powerful corporation from building, against the public's wish, a large number of manufacturing plants that would have despoiled the planet had ended successfully with an agreement to halt the work.
A freshly fallen snow covered the ground. Pulling his cloak tighter, he followed the path out past the line of trees to where it opened up to a large expanse of field under clear, starry skies.
There a short distance out sat his Master. He appeared to be kneeling in meditation. Obi-Wan hurried to his side.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Master? What are you doing out here?"
Qui-Gon turned to his eighteen-year-old apprentice, his blue eyes like ice, reminding Obi-Wan of the chill about them. "Thinking."
"What are you thinking about?" He reached out to touch his Master's bare forearm. "You're freezing! How long have you been out here?"
"I was thinking about a world I knew that was like this one." He gestured to the clear sky above them.
Obi-Wan lifted his head toward the celestial realm and gazed into its depths, taking in the beauty and marveling at it. When he felt his nose going numb, he turned his head back to his Master, who was looking at him. "It is beautiful, Master."
"There are few planets left from where you can still see that, my Padawan. I am glad that this world will remain as it is." He sighed. "There is such beauty, and everyone knows it is there, but they do not stop and look at it."
Obi-Wan understood his Master's fears, but he did not know why Qui-Gon was out here in the cold. It was his Master's way, and he did not think he could truly grasp it, but he knew what he felt. Even in the life of a Jedi he found time to appreciate what he cared about. He sometimes wished others could too.
Qui-Gon sighed again. When he spoke it was quietly as if to himself. "There is only so much we can do." He stood, and Obi-Wan followed. Qui-Gon said aloud, "Tomorrow we will go home, and at least this world is saved."
Obi-Wan followed the Jedi Master as he headed inside. "Master," he asked hesitatingly, "why do so many people take their world for granted?"
Qui-Gon turned and placed an icy hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "It isn't their fault, Padawan. They just get so caught up in their lives, they forget what else there is.
"They forget where they come from."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I could never do that."
"That is because you know yourself, and you were taught to always be aware. Many are not." He softly touched Obi-Wan's cheek in appreciation of the golden soul in his care. Unfortunately he had been outside for quite a long time.
"Ah!" Obi-Wan shrieked. "Cold!" With a naughty smirk and another shout, he ran inside.
Shaking his head and smiling, Qui-Gon followed.