Author's Note:
Okay, you asked, and I'm listening. :) I haven't tried these in awhile, though, so if this is of inferior quality, please let me know and I'll strive to improve it.
Enjoy! :)
"You wished to speak with us, Knight Tahl?" Senior Council member and Jedi Master Mace Windu lost no time.
She used her hearing to face him, using caution in her swift steps. Tripping before the Jedi Council would be as sure a way of getting her grounded to the Temple as having Qui-Gon accompany her.
Tahl mentally cringed. She hadn't had a pleasant conversation with her old friend in months.
"This morning I received a distress call from New Apsolon." She heard clothing rustle as a few shifted. They had probably already made the connection to the joint mission she'd shared with Qui-Gon, back six years ago.
"It was from—"
The door opened suddenly. She turned, immediately knowing who it was, and resented it. She frowned at him.
Even that could not dim his delight on seeing her. Her frown deepened. Since when did the sight of her cheer him up so? And since when did he break revered Temple regulations to see her?
"To what do we owe this… intrusion, Master Qui-Gon?" asked Master Windu.
"I apologize to all the Jedi Masters."
What of the Knight, Qui-Gon? she thought acidly.
"I knew Tahl was here, and I felt I had to be present."
Blast you, Qui-Gon. Shielded in a corner of her mind from the Council, she seethed, knowing he'd be accepted. Why must you storm in on my affairs? I gave in and took an apprentice because of y—
Master Windu's voice snapped her back to the present. As she'd known, the Council did not refuse Qui-Gon's presence. In fact, they would've called him had they known he'd returned!
Does even the Council consider me an invalid?
Qui-Gon's intense surprise at Master Windu's reaction disoriented her. So he didn't know it was of New Apsolon. Her hands clenched and unclenched beneath her long sleeves. What am I, your Padawan?! Finally, he noticed that she was displeased.
"I will resume the briefing." Tahl turned a bit to be in front of him, resuming control of the situation. You'd better not pull that one again, Qui-Gon. Not that he could hear her.
She began again, specifying that the distress call had come from the twin sisters Alani and Eritha. She reviewed her last mission there, knowing the details had probably been lost with all the Council handled.
Apsolon's totalitarian government had been ruled by a wealthy minority, the "Civilized, and enforced by the "Absolutes", the secret police force. The majority were called "Workers", and they had sought a revolution through industrial sabotage. What comparatively little blood was shed was mainly on the Absolute's part. The government finally gave in to free elections because of the economic pressure, and the Worker leader and hero Ewane was made leader, and the planet's name changed to New Apsolon.
Ewane had been murdered shortly after his reelection as Supreme Governor. His successor, Roan, was now suspected of having been behind the assassination. Alani and Eritha wanted safe passage to Coruscant. She would bring them.
Alani and Eritha. The poor girls. Without a mother, and now… She kept herself calm, not wanting to bristle at the memory of Qui-Gon persuading her to leave the planet. Their father was dead, now. She'd known it was too early to trust the planetary government.
But Qui-Gon had been right about her feelings for Alani and Eritha influencing her view on the matter, and she had finally agreed to leave. She had given in. She would not make the same mistake, this time.
Master Windu responded first to her report. "A worthy mission. Of course the girls must be rescued."
"Sad it is that the planet is plunged into chaos once more. Ask for our help the government itself does not, however. Therefore unofficial, your mission is."
Master Yoda did not surprise her. "I owe the girls my loyalty. I must go." Tahl said firmly. Qui-Gon's lack of surprise irked her. She knew what he planned. She would go alone on this mission, without him or her Padawan.
Master Windu said the Council would arrange a transport and pilot for her. Again, she felt handicapped when he told her to call often, but he used the excuse that she was going alone.
True to form, Qui-Gon spoke up quickly, offering to go with her.
That Tahl could not allow. "There is no need for Qui-Gon to accompany me. I have a contact on New Apsolon. I should be able to collect the girls and return in a matter of days."
"Respectfully, I must point out that the Jedi made enemies on Apsolon." Only by expecting this response had she avoided the urge to strike him. She had no desire to seem a youth again before the Council. "There were some on both sides who did not welcome us. The Civilized blamed us for the election of a Worker. The Workers blamed us for supporting neutral trials for war criminals. Tahl could be in danger."
She responded quickly to his attack on her plan. "I do not think that this warrants another Jedi presence—"
Master Yoda interrupted her. "Made his point, Qui-Gon has. A good one, it is. Yet wish you do not a companion on this journey, and true it is that it will be a short one. Suggest I do that you conceal your identity upon your arrival."
Relief filled her. "I can do that."
"Settled it is, then."
She gave a quick respectful nod at the Council then quickly strode out. Qui-Gon followed her, giving her no time to wonder at Yoda's choice of words. A companion on this journey?
Her confusion with that combined with her hidden anger as soon as they left the chamber. "I don't know why you insisted on interfering like that, Qui-Gon. But I do not like it."
"I was on the original mission. I thought I could be of help."
Of course. She would have picked up the dodge in his tone, even if she couldn't sense him. She turned on him, certain her blind eyes blazed as she raised an eyebrow. "Tell me. Did you know that New Apsolon was the subject of that meeting when you arrived?"
"No. I did not," he admitted.
Tahl tightened her face in her indignation. "Then it is as I thought. You will not allow me to act as a full Jedi Knight. Because I am blind, you think I need a caretaker."
"No—"
She stamped her foot, furious. Heat raged through her veins. "Then what? Why do you keep insisting on interfering?"
"Friendship."
Very well. She gave him a tight half-smile. "Then in the name of friendship, dear Qui-Gon, let me be." Immediately Tahl turned and strode swiftly to the turbolift.
She felt the air as Qui-Gon reached for her against her robe, and she hoped he'd finally get the message.
Okay, you asked, and I'm listening. :) I haven't tried these in awhile, though, so if this is of inferior quality, please let me know and I'll strive to improve it.
Enjoy! :)
Mission
"You wished to speak with us, Knight Tahl?" Senior Council member and Jedi Master Mace Windu lost no time.
She used her hearing to face him, using caution in her swift steps. Tripping before the Jedi Council would be as sure a way of getting her grounded to the Temple as having Qui-Gon accompany her.
Tahl mentally cringed. She hadn't had a pleasant conversation with her old friend in months.
"This morning I received a distress call from New Apsolon." She heard clothing rustle as a few shifted. They had probably already made the connection to the joint mission she'd shared with Qui-Gon, back six years ago.
"It was from—"
The door opened suddenly. She turned, immediately knowing who it was, and resented it. She frowned at him.
Even that could not dim his delight on seeing her. Her frown deepened. Since when did the sight of her cheer him up so? And since when did he break revered Temple regulations to see her?
"To what do we owe this… intrusion, Master Qui-Gon?" asked Master Windu.
"I apologize to all the Jedi Masters."
What of the Knight, Qui-Gon? she thought acidly.
"I knew Tahl was here, and I felt I had to be present."
Blast you, Qui-Gon. Shielded in a corner of her mind from the Council, she seethed, knowing he'd be accepted. Why must you storm in on my affairs? I gave in and took an apprentice because of y—
Master Windu's voice snapped her back to the present. As she'd known, the Council did not refuse Qui-Gon's presence. In fact, they would've called him had they known he'd returned!
Does even the Council consider me an invalid?
Qui-Gon's intense surprise at Master Windu's reaction disoriented her. So he didn't know it was of New Apsolon. Her hands clenched and unclenched beneath her long sleeves. What am I, your Padawan?! Finally, he noticed that she was displeased.
"I will resume the briefing." Tahl turned a bit to be in front of him, resuming control of the situation. You'd better not pull that one again, Qui-Gon. Not that he could hear her.
She began again, specifying that the distress call had come from the twin sisters Alani and Eritha. She reviewed her last mission there, knowing the details had probably been lost with all the Council handled.
Apsolon's totalitarian government had been ruled by a wealthy minority, the "Civilized, and enforced by the "Absolutes", the secret police force. The majority were called "Workers", and they had sought a revolution through industrial sabotage. What comparatively little blood was shed was mainly on the Absolute's part. The government finally gave in to free elections because of the economic pressure, and the Worker leader and hero Ewane was made leader, and the planet's name changed to New Apsolon.
Ewane had been murdered shortly after his reelection as Supreme Governor. His successor, Roan, was now suspected of having been behind the assassination. Alani and Eritha wanted safe passage to Coruscant. She would bring them.
Alani and Eritha. The poor girls. Without a mother, and now… She kept herself calm, not wanting to bristle at the memory of Qui-Gon persuading her to leave the planet. Their father was dead, now. She'd known it was too early to trust the planetary government.
But Qui-Gon had been right about her feelings for Alani and Eritha influencing her view on the matter, and she had finally agreed to leave. She had given in. She would not make the same mistake, this time.
Master Windu responded first to her report. "A worthy mission. Of course the girls must be rescued."
"Sad it is that the planet is plunged into chaos once more. Ask for our help the government itself does not, however. Therefore unofficial, your mission is."
Master Yoda did not surprise her. "I owe the girls my loyalty. I must go." Tahl said firmly. Qui-Gon's lack of surprise irked her. She knew what he planned. She would go alone on this mission, without him or her Padawan.
Master Windu said the Council would arrange a transport and pilot for her. Again, she felt handicapped when he told her to call often, but he used the excuse that she was going alone.
True to form, Qui-Gon spoke up quickly, offering to go with her.
That Tahl could not allow. "There is no need for Qui-Gon to accompany me. I have a contact on New Apsolon. I should be able to collect the girls and return in a matter of days."
"Respectfully, I must point out that the Jedi made enemies on Apsolon." Only by expecting this response had she avoided the urge to strike him. She had no desire to seem a youth again before the Council. "There were some on both sides who did not welcome us. The Civilized blamed us for the election of a Worker. The Workers blamed us for supporting neutral trials for war criminals. Tahl could be in danger."
She responded quickly to his attack on her plan. "I do not think that this warrants another Jedi presence—"
Master Yoda interrupted her. "Made his point, Qui-Gon has. A good one, it is. Yet wish you do not a companion on this journey, and true it is that it will be a short one. Suggest I do that you conceal your identity upon your arrival."
Relief filled her. "I can do that."
"Settled it is, then."
She gave a quick respectful nod at the Council then quickly strode out. Qui-Gon followed her, giving her no time to wonder at Yoda's choice of words. A companion on this journey?
Her confusion with that combined with her hidden anger as soon as they left the chamber. "I don't know why you insisted on interfering like that, Qui-Gon. But I do not like it."
"I was on the original mission. I thought I could be of help."
Of course. She would have picked up the dodge in his tone, even if she couldn't sense him. She turned on him, certain her blind eyes blazed as she raised an eyebrow. "Tell me. Did you know that New Apsolon was the subject of that meeting when you arrived?"
"No. I did not," he admitted.
Tahl tightened her face in her indignation. "Then it is as I thought. You will not allow me to act as a full Jedi Knight. Because I am blind, you think I need a caretaker."
"No—"
She stamped her foot, furious. Heat raged through her veins. "Then what? Why do you keep insisting on interfering?"
"Friendship."
Very well. She gave him a tight half-smile. "Then in the name of friendship, dear Qui-Gon, let me be." Immediately Tahl turned and strode swiftly to the turbolift.
She felt the air as Qui-Gon reached for her against her robe, and she hoped he'd finally get the message.
