Chapter 21
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open at the danger sense. He could feel his father's mind in rage of panic. Obi-Wan knew that if he didn't do something fast, all would be over. He reached out with the Force and gave Darth Nero a push. back. It wasn't a strong push, just enough to send him falling backward and onto the dock. This was all Master Windu needed to get up and hack off the Sith Lord's arm and lightsaber. Obi-Wan fell back into an unconscious state.
Qui-Gon didn't know what happened until it was over. Somehow, during the short time that he was talking to Tahl's ghost, Darth Nero had somehow awakened, and almost killed him and his son. He sighed. It was all over. Still clutching his son to him, he looked around and saw that all of the spectators were picking themselves off of the ground. He heard a moan from behind him. It was Carlton. He stood there for a few brief moments just staring at his younger brother. He thought about the two year ordeal that had just ended, and his tough life. But deep within himself he knew that that was over now too. He had his little boy back. He tightened his hold on his son. He didn't even feel Adi Gallia's approach until she had her hand on his shoulder.
"Qui-Gon," she whispered softly.
"I.I.I almost lost him again, Adi," Qui-Gon said softly.
Adi smiled solemnly at him. "But you didn't, Qui. You have him again. He's safe now; you no longer have to worry."
For the first time in long time, a true smile lit up Qui-Gon Jinn's face. He turned around and saw Adi, and Masters Yoda and Windu who had long since been behind him. Qui-Gon looked from one master to another. They nodded at him. Qui-Gon handed Ben over to Adi, and walked over to where his brother lay.
"Ah, Qui-Gon, my ever so fearless older brother, what ever brings you over here?" Carlton asked devilishly.
"You have a lot to account for, Carlton, but there's one thing that has been bothering me. Why?"
Carlton didn't answer, making Qui-Gon mad. "WHY?" he said.
"Padawan," Master Yoda said from behind him.
Ben whimpered in his state of unconsciousness. "You know, brother. Glory, power, life."
Qui-Gon couldn't believe that answer.
"You do know, Qui-Gon, that our parents are corrupt. That father was the one who made us who we are. He gave you to the Jedi, and myself to the Sith. He's the one to blame, not me."
Qui-Gon just looked at him. He lost track of things again, and saw that his parents had now joined them, but were on Carlton's side. He had to say something. He looked back and saw the three masters and his son. He looked back at his parents and brother, and back at the Jedi. He made an important decision then and there.
"Your majesties, hear me out. It took me a long time to see it, but I now see you for who you truly are. As off now, I am no longer your son. I relinquish any claim I have to the throne of this planet, and therefore my son has none either. When I leave here, I will be an orphan, but my son won't. He will know his father, and neither of you will have any part of his life."
With that, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn turned his back on the royal family of Mayim. He walked back to the Jedi. Adi gave him Ben back, and smiled at him. They began to walk back towards the ship. Qui-Gon turned his head one last time to the royal family sitting on the ground, flabbergasted. His mission here was done. He reclaimed his son, and his son didn't have a formal meeting with the king and queen. But the question was, would he forgive his father for what he put him through?
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open at the danger sense. He could feel his father's mind in rage of panic. Obi-Wan knew that if he didn't do something fast, all would be over. He reached out with the Force and gave Darth Nero a push. back. It wasn't a strong push, just enough to send him falling backward and onto the dock. This was all Master Windu needed to get up and hack off the Sith Lord's arm and lightsaber. Obi-Wan fell back into an unconscious state.
Qui-Gon didn't know what happened until it was over. Somehow, during the short time that he was talking to Tahl's ghost, Darth Nero had somehow awakened, and almost killed him and his son. He sighed. It was all over. Still clutching his son to him, he looked around and saw that all of the spectators were picking themselves off of the ground. He heard a moan from behind him. It was Carlton. He stood there for a few brief moments just staring at his younger brother. He thought about the two year ordeal that had just ended, and his tough life. But deep within himself he knew that that was over now too. He had his little boy back. He tightened his hold on his son. He didn't even feel Adi Gallia's approach until she had her hand on his shoulder.
"Qui-Gon," she whispered softly.
"I.I.I almost lost him again, Adi," Qui-Gon said softly.
Adi smiled solemnly at him. "But you didn't, Qui. You have him again. He's safe now; you no longer have to worry."
For the first time in long time, a true smile lit up Qui-Gon Jinn's face. He turned around and saw Adi, and Masters Yoda and Windu who had long since been behind him. Qui-Gon looked from one master to another. They nodded at him. Qui-Gon handed Ben over to Adi, and walked over to where his brother lay.
"Ah, Qui-Gon, my ever so fearless older brother, what ever brings you over here?" Carlton asked devilishly.
"You have a lot to account for, Carlton, but there's one thing that has been bothering me. Why?"
Carlton didn't answer, making Qui-Gon mad. "WHY?" he said.
"Padawan," Master Yoda said from behind him.
Ben whimpered in his state of unconsciousness. "You know, brother. Glory, power, life."
Qui-Gon couldn't believe that answer.
"You do know, Qui-Gon, that our parents are corrupt. That father was the one who made us who we are. He gave you to the Jedi, and myself to the Sith. He's the one to blame, not me."
Qui-Gon just looked at him. He lost track of things again, and saw that his parents had now joined them, but were on Carlton's side. He had to say something. He looked back and saw the three masters and his son. He looked back at his parents and brother, and back at the Jedi. He made an important decision then and there.
"Your majesties, hear me out. It took me a long time to see it, but I now see you for who you truly are. As off now, I am no longer your son. I relinquish any claim I have to the throne of this planet, and therefore my son has none either. When I leave here, I will be an orphan, but my son won't. He will know his father, and neither of you will have any part of his life."
With that, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn turned his back on the royal family of Mayim. He walked back to the Jedi. Adi gave him Ben back, and smiled at him. They began to walk back towards the ship. Qui-Gon turned his head one last time to the royal family sitting on the ground, flabbergasted. His mission here was done. He reclaimed his son, and his son didn't have a formal meeting with the king and queen. But the question was, would he forgive his father for what he put him through?