AU: Pre clone war Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master, there is no Anakin, and Qui-Gon is dead
Rating: R for sexual content and mention of child molestation
Disclaimer: Naovi Redsun and Dal Bantalian are my creations. Everyone else belongs to George Lucas
Chapter 23
Naovi sat in her bedroom trying to concentrate on the task at hand. Three hours ago, Yoda had told her that she was to be going on her first solo mission in one week. She was excited that the council was finally allowing her to go on missions by herself. It was an important one two. She would be playing bodyguard for the princess of the planet Zyan Ilcor (AN:I totally made that up) for three weeks while the princess vacationed on Dantooine. Apparently the princess had been recieving death threats, and her father had wanted to cancel the vacation. But the princess had refused to be held prisoner in her home and so the king had asked the council to send a Jedi to protect the princess. Apparently, the king had also requested that the Jedi be female as the princess was a bit on the promiscuos side. She rubbed her eyes as she stared at the datapad in front of her. She was supposed to be reading up on her assignment but her mind kept straying to Obi-Wan. She didn't know what to do about him. He was in love with her and it seemed that he was not going to give up on her. She'd tried to push him away, she'd even told him she didn't love him, hoping that hearing her say it would make him leave her alone. But even that had not discouraged him. Finally, she gave up on the data pad,leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Obi-Wan's words pounded in her brain.
'Perhaps it's not my feelings you're afraid of.' Was he right? Was she afraid of what she felt for him? "Do I love him?" she asked herself out loud. Did she love him? What did it even feel like to be in love? She thought back to what she had seen in Obi-Wan's heart. Calming her mind she tried to see his feelings without fear. She let out a little gasp as she remembered what it felt like. Warmth all over. Happiness just to be alive. Dizzyness as though she'd been spinning in circles very fast. Heart racing whenever they touched. Heat shooting straight to her belly whenever he smiled at her. She opened her eyes and leaned her head down on the desk. If that's what Obi-Wan felt for her then she'd been in love with him a lot longer than he had with her. Tears trickled down her face and she made no move to brush them away. She was in love with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan her master, Obi-Wan her friend. She sat up suddenly as she felt a stir in the force. She felt a presence in the room, but it did not seem like another person. She turned around and screamed as she saw him. He couldn't be here, it wasn't possible. Was it?
"Forgive me for startling you," he said. He was speaking. She wasn't hallucinating. She was actually looking at the man. Though granted he did not look exactly of the flesh. His image was transparent with a bluish tinge to it. But he was the same man she'd seen in the temple not long ago at all. His robes were the same, as was the long brown hair, and piercing blue eyes.
"Qui-Gonn Jinn?" she whispered scarcely able to believe it.
"Yes it is me, Naovi," he said. Naovi blinked several times trying to see if she was asleep.
"No I am not a dream," Qui-Gonn said with his familiar amused smile.
"How can you be here?" she asked.
"The Force is a mystery that even the wisest of Jedi have not completely figured out. I am not sure myself how I have managed to overcome death, but there it is"
"So why do you come to me, instead of Obi-Wan. He misses you terribly"
"I miss him as well. I look in on him from time to time. Master's prerogative," he smiled. "I look on you as well"
"You do?" she asked him. She couldn't help but feel honored. "Watching you and Obi-Wan together when you were young always did my heart good. I supposed I grew attached to you just as he did"
"He thinks he's in love with me," Naovi stated flatly no doubt in her mind that Qui-Gonn was already aware of this.
"Why do you qualify it?" he asked. "Why can you not just say he's in love with you"
"Because I know where it will lead and that is directly to the dark side"
"Are you concerned that he will fall or that you will?" Naovi groaned. Why did the ghost of Qui-Gonn have to be so sensible?
"Bantalian is still out there. He won't give me up"
"You are afraid that he will use your feelings for Obi-Wan to get you to turn"
"I will not turn," she said determinedly. "But he will do everything in his power to try and make me. He could hurt Obi-Wan." There it was. That was why she could not let Obi-Wan love her. That was what she was afraid of. "You know that you will have to face him again,"Qui-Gonn said. Naovi nodded.
"I know," she said. "It's my destiny. Every Jedi has to go through some kind of challenge before they can become a Master. These challenges usually entail some kind of sacrifice"
"And if that sacrifice is Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gonn asked her. "Could you make that sacrifice"
"His life, no. His love, I don't know"
"You will. When your mind is calm and at peace. Sleep now, let your mind clear itself"
"Thank you, Qui-Gonn. Oh and I meant what I said. If you're gonna be popping in and out, you really ought to visit Obi-Wan. I wouldn't want him to be jealous"
"I'll take that into consideration. Good bye for now, Naovi. May the force be with you." And with that he disappeared. Naovi crawled into bed and let her eyes drift shut, taking Qui-Gonn's word with her as she fell into dreams.