Confused11 Thank you!
Athena Leigh His humor is kind of like mine (although I'm a bit sillier than him!) so I just try to picture what he'd say in my mind. I'm glad you like it!
Kynstar I can never escape these OC fic inquiries! Hee hee. I hope that I can satisfy your guys' curiosity about this character, but I have to admit, it's a really daunting task. I don't want to disappoint!
()
"That is an interesting claim, Master Jinn. But I hope you don't resent my hesitancy to believe it."
Qui-Gon looked at the appointed weather specialist with weariness. He could describe the jungle's sudden rainfall in a single way.
And he couldn't explain it in any way at all. So to start an involved argument with the man would be useless and worse, time consuming.
"It rained for hours. The proof is in the jungle."
The man, baby-faced with a medium build, put his hands on his hips, shook his head. "I'm an expert forecaster. Nowhere in even the distant future did I expect rainfall. If a shower was nearing, why would the Senate rush you out here?"
Qui-Gon searched the other man's face for a sign of deception. After all, Eume' Li had given him no reason to trust its inhabitants. But honesty was all he read from the forecaster. Honesty, confusion—and a great deal of irritation.
To which Qui-Gon could relate. "I've been pondering that same question myself." He looked down, pursing his lips. When he ascended his eyes again, a determined cast overtook his features, one that Obi-Wan would have recognized immediately, "As well as another.
"Why would you care so little about your planet's 'crisis' that you would not investigate our apparent disappearance? Furthermore, why is there no radar device set up to detect alterations in the weather?"
The older gentlemen, Maw'Lon, who guided Qui-Gon through the building stepped forward. His brow was stretched severely over his eyes. "We are a simple planet, Master Jinn. We haven't the sophisticated technology of your beloved Coruscant." A splash of venom from his tongue. "And we have no desire for it."
"I see." Qui-Gon replied with smooth inflection. His eyes trailed the short line of Eume'Li executives. "Your desire seems devoted to something else entirely.
"Greed and selfishness are better suited to misguided delinquents, not the rulers of a planet."
The man's eyes widened in ire. "What in the seven hells—"
Qui-Gon put up his hand. And while his adversary appeared ready to launch into a tirade, the action halted any movement. "I have completed my task here. I have seen the dried ruins of your jungle. And despite the rain, it's still at major risk. The lingering danger will be addressed in the official report I will distribute to the Jedi Council and the Senate—among other things."
A smirk from Maw'Lon. "This isn't about a misuse of funds." He glanced at his fellow officials, then focused sharply on Qui-Gon again. "You're bitter about the incident involving your protégé. But the fault does not lie with us, Master Jinn. If anything, it is your fault, and your student's, for being ill-prepared to tackle the jungle."
Qui-Gon could feel the furious tension swelling in his fingers, but he resisted the urge to ball them into fists. "You stray from the topic at hand. Forgive my mentioning of it, but your planet is well known in the Senate for their misuse of funds in the past. Your motives seemed pure this time around, and I'm disappointed—disgusted—to discover that the best interests of your planet are still resigned to the backburner.
"So do not be surprised, sirs, if your disaster relief package comes complete with a new 'financial overseer' to aid your world."
Tossing away every attempt at niceties, Qui-Gon forewent his customary Jedi bow and wheeled around, stalking from the room.
()
Obi-Wan laid his head back on the pillow. It was like nestling on a cloud borrowed from Heaven, after days of being jostled and writhing on gritty ground.
Most of his memory of the journey was comprised of half-dreams from a fog of ether, probably brought on by the heat and pain. Ironic that it was while he floated through that place that he came to understand the words he heard uttered in meditation.
The destiny that was in peril of shifting was not the jungle's, but his own. His life force nearly winked out, had winked out for that brief moment.
At the time, he was filled with otherworldly power such as he couldn't comprehend. At least now, he couldn't. It didn't seem plausible, to be so completely taken by energy.
Obi-Wan knew that no one, not even his Master, could contain that sort of power, on this living plane.
Death brings strength. The thought entered his head before he could block it, and a tendril of ice squirmed through his stomach.
"The doctor said you should be out of here in a few hours." Knight Tirr's voice invaded his reflections, and Obi-Wan gladly set them aside, in order to smile his reply.
Ullo heaved a sigh. "So we have some good news after this ordeal."
Obi-Wan sat up, taking on a somber tone. "I apologize. I know I've caused a horrendous delay to the mission."
Ullo looked at him, then shook his head with a chuckle. "Is this what the Order does to its kids? Programs them to apologize for what's out of their control?"
He saw the flush that colored the apprentice's cheeks, and regretted his observation. Ullo cleared his throat. "Sorry, Obi-Wan. I think this assignment's taken a lot out of all of us." He squeezed a cloaked arm. "But maybe we can view this in a different light."
Obi-Wan tilted his head slightly, curious.
"I think this mission's also given each of us something to take away."
"What?"
The dark eyes went distant for a beat, then returned to the Padawan's waiting face. "I…I've never really understood why Masters take on apprentices. I mean, I know that in order to move up the 'chain' you must train a pupil, but take your Master, for instance. He already raised a Padawan to Knighthood when he took his second. It wasn't required for him to teach another, but he still did it."
A shadow crossed Obi-Wan's countenance. "Sometimes the Force draws you to someone." He said in a strange monotone. "Master Qui-Gon was drawn to his second apprentice."
"And to you." Ullo pointed out.
Obi-Wan's eyes took on a sullen appearance that he quickly blinked away.
But Ullo was perceptive enough to catch the variation. He frowned. "What? You don't believe Qui-Gon was drawn to you as he was drawn to his second apprentice?"
Obi-Wan moistened his lips, using the pause to gather himself. "I believe that sometimes, a Master can feel magic when he sees an initiate. The Master just knows that will be his future apprentice. That's how it was with his second apprentice," He couldn't bear to speak the name, "I've heard enough stories to know that."
"So you don't think magic was involved with your meeting?"
Obi-Wan's smile was a little strained. "If by magic, you mean luck."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Qui-Gon was never drawn to me. There was too much hesitance, even after…" Obi-Wan looked away and swallowed. "Circumstances rose that I've always attributed to luck. We were put on the same ship, going to different places on the same planet. We were thrown together for an adventure and I put my life at stake to save his."
Ullo watched him closely, and spoke quietly, unobtrusively. "So you think your apprenticeship was a way for him to say 'thank you'?"
Obi-Wan didn't say more.
"Hells," Ullo exclaimed, "He must've been damn grateful to you, kid."
Obi-Wan felt a familiar twist in his heart and closed his eyes. He really didn't want to talk about it anymore. It was hard enough pushing it to the cobwebs every morning, when he woke and just for a second thought himself an intruder in Qui-Gon's life.
It was worse torture than anything else he could imagine.
"You do know that that's a load of garbage, right? Underneath your defenses, you know that, don't you?"
Obi-Wan resisted the alarm, the annoyance that shot up his body. He barely knew Ullo Tirr, but the man was going to tell him how he felt? "If I did, do you think I would…" He shook his head. "I'm tired, Knight Tirr. You won't mind if I sleep awhile now?"
"Actually, I would." Ullo moved from his chair to sit on the side of the bed. "I know you weren't aware of what was going on around you these past few days, but I was. I witnessed every minute of what your Master was going through while you were sick."
Despite his contention with the claim, Obi-Wan looked at Ullo's olive-tinted face, framed by ebony hair.
It was dead serious.
"I've seen a lot of ugly stuff, Obi-Wan. As a Jedi, I've seen terrible things that ripped my heart out. But what I saw in that jungle pales everything else in comparison. Your Master was out of his mind with worry. And when he wasn't struck silent by it, he talked about how much you meant to him.
"If you can't even believe that, believe this. At this moment, I know why Masters have apprentices." He stared into Obi-Wan's eyes. "And I know why, deep down, I've wanted an apprentice all along.
"That's what I've learned on this mission, Obi-Wan. And I hope that now, you've learned some things as well."
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to respond, to say something to this man who had revealed more than he was willing to accept…
But then his Master came through the doorway.
Qui-Gon looked haggard, spent. When he saw Obi-Wan, awake and alert, he smiled, his eyes fairly glowing.
Ullo stood. "What happened at the capital?"
Qui-Gon crossed his arms. "Exactly what I predicted."
"Which was…?"
The Master's expression hardened. "Thanklessness. And selfish undertones. I'll explain later. The transport's waiting for us."
Ullo quirked his lip. "I thought we weren't scheduled for departure until tomorrow."
"Well, plans change." Qui-Gon clapped the Knight's shoulders. "Would you inform the Council we're underway?"
"Of course." Ullo glanced at Obi-Wan meaningfully, then left the room.
Qui-Gon waited for the door to close, then sat beside his apprentice. It was the first time either Jedi had seen each other, now that the dust was settled and Obi-Wan's health was totally restored. Qui-Gon took the opportunity to revel in the calm, his Padawan's vivacious spirit encircling him .
Great effort was put forth in order for the deadly poison to be purged from Obi-Wan's system—most of that work was left to the young man himself, manifested in the shadow ringing his eyes.
But despite his obvious exhaustion, Obi-Wan smiled. "I take it you didn't receive a warm reception at the capital."
"Not hardly." The simmer of outrage was dimmed in Qui-Gon's eyes, stifled beneath a layer of twinkling affection. He looked at his apprentice with wonder, as if Obi-Wan were an angel dropped from the sky.
And, in a way, the Master decided it was true, for this man-child before him had separated from the living world, if only for a moment. That Obi-Wan was now before him, whole and breathing, was almost more than he could thank the Force for.
Because he had already devoted his entire heart to the task.
"They will still require a relief grant, won't they?"
Qui-Gon blinked, then shook his head. "If I can be honest with you, Padawan, I couldn't care less."
Obi-Wan swallowed his shock. "Master?"
The man smiled, and fine lines streaked the skin around his eyes. "I think this mission's left us a little worn out—I haven't the energy for euphemism. I hope the jungle will be replenished, but I have no good feeling towards Eume'Li." With his thumb, he touched the dimple on Obi-Wan's chin. "I'm eager to leave."
"I noticed." The apprentice smirked, then sobered, a crease appearing between his brows. "I can't help but think I could have prevented the entire mess. I never registered the bite. If you and Knight Tirr wouldn't have been there—"
"Hush now." Qui-Gon moved his hand up to Obi-Wan's mouth, pressing a finger to it. "It's my duty to protect you."
Obi-Wan stared at him, his eyes kindling a measure of uncertainty and embarrassment. "I-I think I threw up on you."
The older Jedi laughed. "There's an old adage in the Order. It goes something like 'to care for someone is to know them at their worst, and still wish them the best'. I'm just thankful that you're here, Obi-Wan. The rest…it doesn't matter at all." He leaned forward and gathered his Padawan into an embrace.
Obi-Wan buried his face in a shoulder.
Qui-Gon held him tight, doing his best to keep the haunt of the jungle from his mind. Everything would be alright now.
The proof of that was in his arms.
"Don't frighten me like that again." He murmured in Obi-Wan's ear. "It was enough to last a lifetime—and more."
Ullo's words replayed in Obi-Wan's head. He had not expected such open emotion from his Master. He knew that Qui-Gon had been concerned, but not frightened. Obi-Wan had always thought the rogue's reputation to be somewhat factual: that at his core, he could not be shaken.
But there was no mistaking the remnants of alarm in Qui-Gon's voice. Obi-Wan could feel the—was it rapture?—pouring from his teacher's aura.
Obi-Wan sealed his eyes before the tears could make their descent. Nearly dying was a stinging blow to the balance he always upheld in his life.
Yet this, this was the event which he knew, underneath his reserve and defenses, would change him most of all.
()