Chapter 6
The late-afternoon sun blinded Qui-gon temporarily as he left the Temple gates and boarded the transport. A week after his Obi-wan hunt, Qui-gon was sneaking out on a mission, hoping to be back before the little one could notice. Yoda had let Qui-gon select a mission, and as one might have guessed, it was the safest as could be. Qui-gon was going alone this time, and Yoda could not have been more pleased to see things working out so beautifully. The recent events had left him almost hysterical with pleasure.
After the incident on the street, Qui-gon had taken Obi-wan back to the Healers, explained the situation, and had Obi-wan excused. The Healers had asked no questions as to why the Master was giving this young initiate free- rein on his quarters, for some of them knew Qui-gon, knew what had become of him, and felt a change. They relayed all these occurrences to Yoda, who was now sure that the duration of one more mission would make up Qui-gon's mind.
Qui-gon was aware of all this, and felt confident himself. Taking another Padawan was no longer foreign or threatening. It was right. The transport took off and headed to the near by planet on which ground Qui-gon would decide his future.
Obi-wan's head jerked upright. There was that feeling again. At first the flame, the power, and then emptiness. Qui-gon was gone, or leaving. The little boy dropped his crayon and ran up to one of the Healers.
"May I please go see Master Qui-gon?"
"Have you finished your drawing yet, Obi-wan?"
"Almost, I just have a little left. Please, it's really important." The Healer wanted to say no, as were the rules, but Yoda's words came to her. He had said to let to boy go when he asked. Let him follow the Force, let the two be together. The Healer sighed.
"Alright, Obi-wan. But don't spend all afternoon there. You have to come back and finish your work. Do you need help getting there?"
"No, I know the way. Thank you!" And the child skipped out of the room. When Obi-wan reached the Master's quarters, he was about to buzz the door, but stopped. Qui-gon wasn't in there and he knew it. He had left. Tears of frustration and fear swept to his eyes. He had left when Obi-wan had begged him not to. It scared him so much; he was terrified that sometime Qui-gon might not come back home at all.
Wearily, Obi-wan trudged back to the nursery. Yoda was there when the child arrived and led him to a room where they could talk alone. Yoda questioned young Obi-wan about his feelings, and came to the conclusions he had hoped for. Things were going just perfect for him. Everything was going to be fine.
The mission had been going smoothly, but it was somewhat depressing. The planet had a strong government, low violence, and a sturdy economy. All aspects of a healthy future had been in effect, until the Prime Minister's oldest son got power-hungry. The strong-willed man of 21 built a party of his own, a ruling of his own, and wanted nothing more than to crush his father's power and take over the entire world for himself. It was very saddening to watch this great leader's decisions so pained. The country or his kin? Either way, he lost. Qui-gon had given his council and was aware he was needed until definite plans for action could be put to work. But Yoda had other procedures in mind.
One day, in the middle of session, Qui-gon's comlink buzzed. With a touch of annoyance, he slipped out of the debate. It was Yoda.
" Come home you must, Qui-gon. Decisions need to be made. Present you must be." " What kind of decisions, Master?"
" No time to explain there is. Come home you must." Yoda's speech was disrupted by conspicuous chuckles. Qui-gon had his eyebrows furrowed.
" Master, this mission is not complete. I feel very uneasy leaving it until it has come to a safe conclusion. Many lives hang in a balance and..."
" No, Qui-gon, stay you cannot. Replace you we will. Come home you must." Yoda chuckled strangely again, but before Qui-gon could respond, Yoda cut the link. Qui-gon rolled his eyes and sighed. The old master was up to something no doubt, something mischievous. Qui-gon decided he would wait until the debate took a recess before departing. That recess was just coming a little sooner than expected.
Yoda looked at Windu with laughing eyes.
" Working our plan is, Mace. Coming he is. The Padawan ceremonies we will hold. Choose Obi-wan he will. Time healed the mistakes. Qui-gon we will see again. The Qui-gon we know."
" That does sound good my master. I've sure missed him."
" As have I. Restore his trust this will and..." Yoda's shinning eyes faded, drifted far away. A sick, sinking feeling enveloped him. Mace almost questioned Yoda's strange actions but the bleak disturbance rippled over him as well. They sat with drained faces for a long moment.
" Oh Force..." Mace choked out. He swallowed hard. " Try his comlink..." Yoda ever so slowly reached out and pushed the button. The call didn't go through. Yoda closed his eyes.
" I'll send a team," Mace whispered. But he didn't get up. He just sat there in disbelief, letting it hit him again and again and again.
The late-afternoon sun blinded Qui-gon temporarily as he left the Temple gates and boarded the transport. A week after his Obi-wan hunt, Qui-gon was sneaking out on a mission, hoping to be back before the little one could notice. Yoda had let Qui-gon select a mission, and as one might have guessed, it was the safest as could be. Qui-gon was going alone this time, and Yoda could not have been more pleased to see things working out so beautifully. The recent events had left him almost hysterical with pleasure.
After the incident on the street, Qui-gon had taken Obi-wan back to the Healers, explained the situation, and had Obi-wan excused. The Healers had asked no questions as to why the Master was giving this young initiate free- rein on his quarters, for some of them knew Qui-gon, knew what had become of him, and felt a change. They relayed all these occurrences to Yoda, who was now sure that the duration of one more mission would make up Qui-gon's mind.
Qui-gon was aware of all this, and felt confident himself. Taking another Padawan was no longer foreign or threatening. It was right. The transport took off and headed to the near by planet on which ground Qui-gon would decide his future.
Obi-wan's head jerked upright. There was that feeling again. At first the flame, the power, and then emptiness. Qui-gon was gone, or leaving. The little boy dropped his crayon and ran up to one of the Healers.
"May I please go see Master Qui-gon?"
"Have you finished your drawing yet, Obi-wan?"
"Almost, I just have a little left. Please, it's really important." The Healer wanted to say no, as were the rules, but Yoda's words came to her. He had said to let to boy go when he asked. Let him follow the Force, let the two be together. The Healer sighed.
"Alright, Obi-wan. But don't spend all afternoon there. You have to come back and finish your work. Do you need help getting there?"
"No, I know the way. Thank you!" And the child skipped out of the room. When Obi-wan reached the Master's quarters, he was about to buzz the door, but stopped. Qui-gon wasn't in there and he knew it. He had left. Tears of frustration and fear swept to his eyes. He had left when Obi-wan had begged him not to. It scared him so much; he was terrified that sometime Qui-gon might not come back home at all.
Wearily, Obi-wan trudged back to the nursery. Yoda was there when the child arrived and led him to a room where they could talk alone. Yoda questioned young Obi-wan about his feelings, and came to the conclusions he had hoped for. Things were going just perfect for him. Everything was going to be fine.
The mission had been going smoothly, but it was somewhat depressing. The planet had a strong government, low violence, and a sturdy economy. All aspects of a healthy future had been in effect, until the Prime Minister's oldest son got power-hungry. The strong-willed man of 21 built a party of his own, a ruling of his own, and wanted nothing more than to crush his father's power and take over the entire world for himself. It was very saddening to watch this great leader's decisions so pained. The country or his kin? Either way, he lost. Qui-gon had given his council and was aware he was needed until definite plans for action could be put to work. But Yoda had other procedures in mind.
One day, in the middle of session, Qui-gon's comlink buzzed. With a touch of annoyance, he slipped out of the debate. It was Yoda.
" Come home you must, Qui-gon. Decisions need to be made. Present you must be." " What kind of decisions, Master?"
" No time to explain there is. Come home you must." Yoda's speech was disrupted by conspicuous chuckles. Qui-gon had his eyebrows furrowed.
" Master, this mission is not complete. I feel very uneasy leaving it until it has come to a safe conclusion. Many lives hang in a balance and..."
" No, Qui-gon, stay you cannot. Replace you we will. Come home you must." Yoda chuckled strangely again, but before Qui-gon could respond, Yoda cut the link. Qui-gon rolled his eyes and sighed. The old master was up to something no doubt, something mischievous. Qui-gon decided he would wait until the debate took a recess before departing. That recess was just coming a little sooner than expected.
Yoda looked at Windu with laughing eyes.
" Working our plan is, Mace. Coming he is. The Padawan ceremonies we will hold. Choose Obi-wan he will. Time healed the mistakes. Qui-gon we will see again. The Qui-gon we know."
" That does sound good my master. I've sure missed him."
" As have I. Restore his trust this will and..." Yoda's shinning eyes faded, drifted far away. A sick, sinking feeling enveloped him. Mace almost questioned Yoda's strange actions but the bleak disturbance rippled over him as well. They sat with drained faces for a long moment.
" Oh Force..." Mace choked out. He swallowed hard. " Try his comlink..." Yoda ever so slowly reached out and pushed the button. The call didn't go through. Yoda closed his eyes.
" I'll send a team," Mace whispered. But he didn't get up. He just sat there in disbelief, letting it hit him again and again and again.