Title: Patience is Key
Author: Marie Kenobi
Time Period: Five years prior to TPM (Obi-Wan is 20)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All recognizable Star Wars characters are the exclusive property of the almighty Jedi Master, George Lucas. I am not being paid for any of this. Although if George would like to use my work, I'm sure we could work something out. ~_^
Enjoy!
___________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
"Do you think they will actually give us a break this time?"
Qui-Gon Jinn looked up briefly from the mission report he was working on that had to be turned into the Jedi High Council upon his and his apprentice's arrival back on Coruscant. "I don't know, Padawan. The Council seems to have deemed us as their favorite Master/Padawan team to torture."
The elder man paused, then smiled gently and motioned for his young protégé to kneel. Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped away from the pilot's seat and dropped to one knee as Qui-Gon swiveled to face him. Qui-Gon reached out and tugged affectionately on the Padawan braid dangling from behind the younger Jedi's ear.
"I sometimes shudder to think about what kind of person I would be today were it not for you, Obi-Wan," he began, a far-off look in his eyes. "I cannot imagine a time when I walked through the Temple halls without you faithfully by my side. To think-I almost did not take you as my Padawan. I realize now how foolish I would have been. Not to mention, the Council would not have us to amuse themselves with. I thought-I thought you should hear that."
Obi-Wan blushed under his master's praise, the likes of which he had not heard in so much detail in a very long time. "Thank you, Master," he whispered, then awkwardly stood. "Would you care for some hot tea, Master?"
"I would like that very much, thank you Padawan."
Obi-Wan inclined his head slightly and headed to their ship's small galley. With a weary sigh he leaned against the waist-high counter in the galley and stared out a viewport opposite him. Outside, billions of stars streaked past in a light blue blur. The Council had been running him and his master ragged with mission after mission. Despite the fact that they hadn't spent a night in their own beds in over five months, they still had not failed in a single mission. They worked too well together to let that happen.
That was why the Council kept them jumping from one solar system to another. Even injuries had only postponed their departure, and still they did not get the privilege of sleeping in the privacy of their own rooms. While one rested in the healer's ward, the other kept constant vigil from a waiting room.
Their last mission had been quick and easy though, a rare treat. They had been asked to oversee the induction of a planet's new king.
Now they were on their way to Coruscant for a little R and R.
At least I hope so, Obi-Wan thought glumly, pushing away from the counter…and immediately being thrown back into it before he was literally yanked off his feet and slammed into the opposite wall. The back of his head slapped hard against the cold metal, making his vision dance momentarily. An explosion, whose origin was unknown at the moment, shook the ship and shattered the viewport. His back was sucked up against the small hole, blocking most of the escaping air, but not quite all.
Obi-Wan heard the engines whine. Outside the ship, more explosions went off.
They were under attack. It was the only reasonable explanation.
The cups that he had set out, along with numerous other utensils, came hurtling towards him pulled by the space vacuum. But because he was so much bigger than the broken viewport, he was a much better target for the objects to hit, rather than fly past. A chipped cup pelted his cheek. He felt liquid brush against his skin, although he was unsure if it was blood or water. The ship pitched violently from a blast, throwing Obi-Wan to the left and out of the path of a china plate given to them by the King from their most recent mission. It shattered into tiny pieces before being sucked through the hole and out into space.
Now on the floor, Obi-Wan stumbled to his hands and knees, teetering from blurred vision and gasping for breath. The air that was vital for his existence swept past and all around him in a screaming rage. He realized if he didn't move soon, he might never move again.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Qui-Gon turned back to the controls after watching Obi-Wan disappear down the hallway. It was hard to believe that the awkward 12 year old boy who had nearly given his life away for him, was now a handsome, strapping young man, recently turned 20. Although Obi-Wan had changed a great deal, he still retained that same boyish face he'd had when he was younger. It sometimes gave him an advantage in battle, fooling his opponents into thinking he was inexperienced and naïve. But the characteristics one might expect to go with such a young face had fled Obi-Wan's mind and body many years ago.
There was one thing though that Qui-Gon could think about that hadn't changed with the aging of his Padawan at all: his loyalty. Obi-Wan was always ready to lay his life on the line for his master or whatever he felt was right, even if it wasn't always the will of the Force. Which, occasionally, made for some interesting scenarios. He was also self-less, always thinking of others. He was becoming a fine young man and would make an even better Jedi Knight.
Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He took deep breaths, glad to be returning home. He would catch a few moments rest while waiting for Obi-Wan to return. Because the ship was in hyperspace, the controls did not need to be constantly monitored. After all, it wasn't like anything was going to happen…
Suddenly, the ship came to a grinding halt and Qui-Gon was thrown forward in his seat. His face danced upon the control readouts before he was able to regain control again and reel back. Behind him in the direction of the galley, Qui-Gon heard a heavy thump and the howling symphony of air and objects rapidly being sucked into space. His first thought was of Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon scrambled to his feet and looked between the controls and the hallway. He had to decide what was more important to him-his life or his Padawan's.
Qui-Gon ran towards the galley.
In the distance, the image of a large cruiser began to grow. It opened fire unmercifully.
He was halfway there when another sharp blast shook the small Republic mediator ship, followed quickly by a second. The small weapons system and communications had been knocked out. Qui-Gon stumbled when another hit made the ship lurch to one side. He hit his head…and did not get up.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Obi-Wan crawled through the galley, moving forward by inches instead of feet as more oxygen was pulled from the ship and he was forced to slow down. When the doorway to the hall came into view, he reached for a handhold and sank to the ground. He was not sure if he could gather enough of the remaining oxygen in the room to crawl the last few feet to the door.
And if that was the case, he decided, eyeing the 'close' button on the door control panel, he wanted to make sure Qui-Gon still had a chance.
Obi-Wan reached out with his right hand, preparing to harness the Force and seal his fate when he spotted the scuffed and dirtied soles of a pair of rugged, brown travel boots-Qui-Gon's boots-in the hall.
With his determination to live renewed, Obi-Wan took in a huge, lung-filling breath and crawled forward, intent on his destination. He pulled his legs up protectively against his chest when the door to the galley swished shut behind him. Obi-Wan paused for only a few brief seconds to breathe in the fresh, abundant oxygen he found in the hall before scrambling to his feet. He fell to his knees when he reached his master's side and cradled the older man's head in his arms. Obi-Wan checked his pulse and nearly collapsed with joy.
Qui-Gon was only unconscious; he was alive!
Half-carrying, half-dragging his master, Obi-Wan returned to the cockpit as the ship rocked violently from side to side. When he looked out the viewport for their attacker, he was surprised to see a Togorian warship quickly fleeing in the opposite direction. Togorian pirates never left the site of a possible profit without first checking it out.
A soft beeping sound pulled Obi-Wan's attention to the control panel. Readouts told him their weapons, communications, hyperdrive, navigation, and life-support systems were rapidly declining in power. A small feeling of panic began to arise in his stomach. He refused the urge to vomit as it attempted to overwhelm him.
Obi-Wan gripped the controls of the ship and attempted to keep it under control. With the navigation system now completely down and the maps unable to be pulled up, he couldn't find out where they were. The only thing Obi-Wan knew was that they were somewhere between Yana, the planet they'd left, and Coruscant.
Something twinkled in the distance. Obi-Wan squinted and leaned forward in his chair, as though doing so would help him see better. Far ahead in the distance, he could make out a large, bright star. But that wasn't just any star-
"A planet!" Obi-Wan exclaimed softly.
The young Jedi adjusted a few controls on his ship and thrust the steering mechanism forward. He knew nothing about the planet, but if he could just land the ship, it would give him time to work on the communications system and possibly contact the Council.
With a lurch, the vessel started forward.
The closer they got, however, the more confident he became that the planet was inhabited and safe. That is, until the ship began bucking and rocking. Obi-Wan fought desperately for control as they sliced through the planet's atmosphere. He glanced around frantically for a place to land. Not far ahead was a small field that blended into a dense forest of tall Jubian trees. A thought entered Obi-Wan's mind briefly as he glanced with concern to his master. Qui-Gon had told him once that Jubian trees grew only on a few planets, none of which were in the Republic.
It would be hard to get help here.
A light on Obi-Wan's right began flashing for all its worth. They had passed the point where the landing gear should be let down. The young Jedi growled low in his throat, afraid to take his hands from the controls long enough to hit the landing gear button. But he did, and he waited agitatedly as nothing happened.
The landing gear had been damaged!
They were too close to the ground now with too little remaining energy for him to pull the ship back up. "I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan murmured through a clenched jaw. Sweat began to grace his brow. He'd pulled off crash landings before, but not with these conditions.
As the ground rushed up to meet them and Obi-Wan found there was nothing else he could do, he threw himself over his unconscious master. The ship's belly scraped across the land before its nose wedged into the disturbed soil. Smoke billowed around it.
Obi-Wan used his remaining strength to shove the seat that had been ripped from its place off of him and his master. He heard a bird chirping merrily through the broken viewport. It caused his throbbing head to hurt even more. The young Jedi took a deep breath and closed his eyes, passing out from exhaustion.
Author: Marie Kenobi
Time Period: Five years prior to TPM (Obi-Wan is 20)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All recognizable Star Wars characters are the exclusive property of the almighty Jedi Master, George Lucas. I am not being paid for any of this. Although if George would like to use my work, I'm sure we could work something out. ~_^
Enjoy!
___________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
"Do you think they will actually give us a break this time?"
Qui-Gon Jinn looked up briefly from the mission report he was working on that had to be turned into the Jedi High Council upon his and his apprentice's arrival back on Coruscant. "I don't know, Padawan. The Council seems to have deemed us as their favorite Master/Padawan team to torture."
The elder man paused, then smiled gently and motioned for his young protégé to kneel. Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped away from the pilot's seat and dropped to one knee as Qui-Gon swiveled to face him. Qui-Gon reached out and tugged affectionately on the Padawan braid dangling from behind the younger Jedi's ear.
"I sometimes shudder to think about what kind of person I would be today were it not for you, Obi-Wan," he began, a far-off look in his eyes. "I cannot imagine a time when I walked through the Temple halls without you faithfully by my side. To think-I almost did not take you as my Padawan. I realize now how foolish I would have been. Not to mention, the Council would not have us to amuse themselves with. I thought-I thought you should hear that."
Obi-Wan blushed under his master's praise, the likes of which he had not heard in so much detail in a very long time. "Thank you, Master," he whispered, then awkwardly stood. "Would you care for some hot tea, Master?"
"I would like that very much, thank you Padawan."
Obi-Wan inclined his head slightly and headed to their ship's small galley. With a weary sigh he leaned against the waist-high counter in the galley and stared out a viewport opposite him. Outside, billions of stars streaked past in a light blue blur. The Council had been running him and his master ragged with mission after mission. Despite the fact that they hadn't spent a night in their own beds in over five months, they still had not failed in a single mission. They worked too well together to let that happen.
That was why the Council kept them jumping from one solar system to another. Even injuries had only postponed their departure, and still they did not get the privilege of sleeping in the privacy of their own rooms. While one rested in the healer's ward, the other kept constant vigil from a waiting room.
Their last mission had been quick and easy though, a rare treat. They had been asked to oversee the induction of a planet's new king.
Now they were on their way to Coruscant for a little R and R.
At least I hope so, Obi-Wan thought glumly, pushing away from the counter…and immediately being thrown back into it before he was literally yanked off his feet and slammed into the opposite wall. The back of his head slapped hard against the cold metal, making his vision dance momentarily. An explosion, whose origin was unknown at the moment, shook the ship and shattered the viewport. His back was sucked up against the small hole, blocking most of the escaping air, but not quite all.
Obi-Wan heard the engines whine. Outside the ship, more explosions went off.
They were under attack. It was the only reasonable explanation.
The cups that he had set out, along with numerous other utensils, came hurtling towards him pulled by the space vacuum. But because he was so much bigger than the broken viewport, he was a much better target for the objects to hit, rather than fly past. A chipped cup pelted his cheek. He felt liquid brush against his skin, although he was unsure if it was blood or water. The ship pitched violently from a blast, throwing Obi-Wan to the left and out of the path of a china plate given to them by the King from their most recent mission. It shattered into tiny pieces before being sucked through the hole and out into space.
Now on the floor, Obi-Wan stumbled to his hands and knees, teetering from blurred vision and gasping for breath. The air that was vital for his existence swept past and all around him in a screaming rage. He realized if he didn't move soon, he might never move again.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Qui-Gon turned back to the controls after watching Obi-Wan disappear down the hallway. It was hard to believe that the awkward 12 year old boy who had nearly given his life away for him, was now a handsome, strapping young man, recently turned 20. Although Obi-Wan had changed a great deal, he still retained that same boyish face he'd had when he was younger. It sometimes gave him an advantage in battle, fooling his opponents into thinking he was inexperienced and naïve. But the characteristics one might expect to go with such a young face had fled Obi-Wan's mind and body many years ago.
There was one thing though that Qui-Gon could think about that hadn't changed with the aging of his Padawan at all: his loyalty. Obi-Wan was always ready to lay his life on the line for his master or whatever he felt was right, even if it wasn't always the will of the Force. Which, occasionally, made for some interesting scenarios. He was also self-less, always thinking of others. He was becoming a fine young man and would make an even better Jedi Knight.
Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He took deep breaths, glad to be returning home. He would catch a few moments rest while waiting for Obi-Wan to return. Because the ship was in hyperspace, the controls did not need to be constantly monitored. After all, it wasn't like anything was going to happen…
Suddenly, the ship came to a grinding halt and Qui-Gon was thrown forward in his seat. His face danced upon the control readouts before he was able to regain control again and reel back. Behind him in the direction of the galley, Qui-Gon heard a heavy thump and the howling symphony of air and objects rapidly being sucked into space. His first thought was of Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon scrambled to his feet and looked between the controls and the hallway. He had to decide what was more important to him-his life or his Padawan's.
Qui-Gon ran towards the galley.
In the distance, the image of a large cruiser began to grow. It opened fire unmercifully.
He was halfway there when another sharp blast shook the small Republic mediator ship, followed quickly by a second. The small weapons system and communications had been knocked out. Qui-Gon stumbled when another hit made the ship lurch to one side. He hit his head…and did not get up.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Obi-Wan crawled through the galley, moving forward by inches instead of feet as more oxygen was pulled from the ship and he was forced to slow down. When the doorway to the hall came into view, he reached for a handhold and sank to the ground. He was not sure if he could gather enough of the remaining oxygen in the room to crawl the last few feet to the door.
And if that was the case, he decided, eyeing the 'close' button on the door control panel, he wanted to make sure Qui-Gon still had a chance.
Obi-Wan reached out with his right hand, preparing to harness the Force and seal his fate when he spotted the scuffed and dirtied soles of a pair of rugged, brown travel boots-Qui-Gon's boots-in the hall.
With his determination to live renewed, Obi-Wan took in a huge, lung-filling breath and crawled forward, intent on his destination. He pulled his legs up protectively against his chest when the door to the galley swished shut behind him. Obi-Wan paused for only a few brief seconds to breathe in the fresh, abundant oxygen he found in the hall before scrambling to his feet. He fell to his knees when he reached his master's side and cradled the older man's head in his arms. Obi-Wan checked his pulse and nearly collapsed with joy.
Qui-Gon was only unconscious; he was alive!
Half-carrying, half-dragging his master, Obi-Wan returned to the cockpit as the ship rocked violently from side to side. When he looked out the viewport for their attacker, he was surprised to see a Togorian warship quickly fleeing in the opposite direction. Togorian pirates never left the site of a possible profit without first checking it out.
A soft beeping sound pulled Obi-Wan's attention to the control panel. Readouts told him their weapons, communications, hyperdrive, navigation, and life-support systems were rapidly declining in power. A small feeling of panic began to arise in his stomach. He refused the urge to vomit as it attempted to overwhelm him.
Obi-Wan gripped the controls of the ship and attempted to keep it under control. With the navigation system now completely down and the maps unable to be pulled up, he couldn't find out where they were. The only thing Obi-Wan knew was that they were somewhere between Yana, the planet they'd left, and Coruscant.
Something twinkled in the distance. Obi-Wan squinted and leaned forward in his chair, as though doing so would help him see better. Far ahead in the distance, he could make out a large, bright star. But that wasn't just any star-
"A planet!" Obi-Wan exclaimed softly.
The young Jedi adjusted a few controls on his ship and thrust the steering mechanism forward. He knew nothing about the planet, but if he could just land the ship, it would give him time to work on the communications system and possibly contact the Council.
With a lurch, the vessel started forward.
The closer they got, however, the more confident he became that the planet was inhabited and safe. That is, until the ship began bucking and rocking. Obi-Wan fought desperately for control as they sliced through the planet's atmosphere. He glanced around frantically for a place to land. Not far ahead was a small field that blended into a dense forest of tall Jubian trees. A thought entered Obi-Wan's mind briefly as he glanced with concern to his master. Qui-Gon had told him once that Jubian trees grew only on a few planets, none of which were in the Republic.
It would be hard to get help here.
A light on Obi-Wan's right began flashing for all its worth. They had passed the point where the landing gear should be let down. The young Jedi growled low in his throat, afraid to take his hands from the controls long enough to hit the landing gear button. But he did, and he waited agitatedly as nothing happened.
The landing gear had been damaged!
They were too close to the ground now with too little remaining energy for him to pull the ship back up. "I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan murmured through a clenched jaw. Sweat began to grace his brow. He'd pulled off crash landings before, but not with these conditions.
As the ground rushed up to meet them and Obi-Wan found there was nothing else he could do, he threw himself over his unconscious master. The ship's belly scraped across the land before its nose wedged into the disturbed soil. Smoke billowed around it.
Obi-Wan used his remaining strength to shove the seat that had been ripped from its place off of him and his master. He heard a bird chirping merrily through the broken viewport. It caused his throbbing head to hurt even more. The young Jedi took a deep breath and closed his eyes, passing out from exhaustion.
