Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be!

A/n – Anything in italics is a direct quote from Jedi Apprentice #1 – The Rising Force.

Chapter 1

Obi-Wan considered retiring to his cabin, but he knew he'd rather face Qui-Gon sooner than later. He suggested that Si Treemba get some rest, but the Arconan refused.

They found the Jedi and Clat'Ha in the Arconans' lounge. Qui-Gon stood at the bar drinking some bluish juice. Clat'Ha stood near him, an untouched glass of juice sat in front of her on the bar. One look at them and Obi-Wan knew they both were aware of what had happened on the Offworld side of the ship.

"At least you're still in one piece this time," Qui-Gon said, eyeing him coldly. "Well, did you discover anything?"

"No," Obi-Wan admitted. "Si Treemba was captured before we could fine the thermocoms."

"Obi-Wan rescued us," Si Treemba praised. "We were shackled to the floor and he stood up to Grelb the Hutt by himself –"

"A man who puts himself in the path of danger deserves to face it alone," Qui-Gon said sternly.

Obviously, Obi-Wan's bravery did not impress him. Si Treemba quieted, shooting a look at Obi-Wan that said 'we tried'.

"You deliberately disobeyed my order," Qui-Gon said evenly.

"With respect, I am not under your charge, Qui-Gon Jinn," Obi-Wan said quietly. "As you keep reminding me."

Qui-Gon turned to him and stared a moment. Obi-Wan couldn't read what was behind that keen blue gaze. At last he spoke. "Come to my cabin Obi-Wan, we will speak there."

Obi-Wan had not choice but to follow Qui-Gon from the room and go to his cabin. He wasn't going to disobey the man again so soon.

Once at his cabin Qui-Gon sat Obi-Wan down on his bed and he paced in front of the boy. He was giving them both a chance to collect their thoughts and he was also calming himself down.

"Obi-Wan, it's your choice," Qui-Gon began at last, "we can either contact the council and they can decide your punishment or, as your Master, I could punish you."

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked, "You mean you've taken me on as a padawan-learner?"

"Yes, I have. But we are talking about punishments. What is your choice, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon didn't bother about being gentle.

"You can punish me, Master," Obi-Wan said in a small voice.

"As you wish," Qui-Gon said. "Sit over there," he nodded towards a chair facing the corner of the room.

'Great!' Obi-Wan thought as he walked over to the chair. 'I get to spend the evening looking at two walls!' Once he sat down in the chair iron cuffs fastened round his wrists and ankles. Obi-Wan could see this turning out to be a long evening. He was secured to the chair.

Qui-Gon was sat at his desk going through some notes on his datapad when he thought of something. If Obi-Wan was going to be his padawan, the lad would need the official braid of apprenticeship. All lads at the Jedi Temple grew out a piece of hair behind their right ear. Obi-Wan had his piece tied back in his small short ponytail. At that moment Obi-Wan began to fidget.

Before walking over to the boy, Qui-Gon activated the cuff that fastened its self around Obi-Wan's stomach, bounding him more tightly to the chair.

Obi-Wan tensed up as he saw Qui-Gon walk towards him. He stayed still as Qui-Gon turned his head, so that his left cheek was against the back of the chair. What was the Jedi going to do to him? Obi-Wan had to admit he was scared. He didn't dare move his head.

"Close your eyes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's voice broke into his thoughts. Obi-Wan obeyed his Master.

Qui-Gon slowly undone Obi-Wan's ponytail, took out the longer piece of hair and redone the ponytail. He then began to braid Obi-Wan's hair. Once finished he briefly touched Obi-Wan's face. Obi-Wan didn't move and he kept his eyes closed. Qui-Gon gently turned his head round again.

"You can open your eyes, I've finished now," he said to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's eyes sprung open and Qui-Gon went back to his notes. The braid felt weird behind Obi-Wan's ear.

Out of boredom, Obi-Wan began to move his head to see which way his braid fell. After a while this earned him a look from Qui-Gon. He did not meet his Master's gaze.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan turned his head so he could look at his Master. "I know you're bored, it's part of the punishment. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes Master."

"Fidgeting and avoiding my gaze will not help you."

Obi-Wan did not meet his Master's gaze when he said, "Yes Master."

"Obi-Wan, you do understand what I just said, don't you?" Qui-Gon asked his young apprentice.

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan said, but he said it to his knees.

"Obi-Wan, if you won't look at me while we're talking, I will have to make you," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan whipped his head round. "What do you mean, Master?"

"It's too late for that now, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said when Obi-Wan turned his head.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself down. When he opened them, Qui-Gon was stood next to him.

Qui-Gon put his hand on his apprentice's forehead and began to push his head back. Obi-Wan's eyes were wide and Qui-Gon knew that the lad was scared. Once he had pushed Obi-Wan's head back to a certain point he said "Close your eyes." The lad obeyed him.

Qui-Gon took his lightsaber off his belt and placed it under Obi-Wan's chin. "What have I just placed under your chin, Obi-Wan?" he then asked the lad.

"Your lightsaber Master," Obi-Wan tried hard not to let his voice shake.

"Keep your eyes shut," Qui-Gon ordered as a metal cuff fastened its self round Obi-Wan's neck.

Obi-Wan's breathing became unsteady, he wasn't afraid to admit he was scared now. "Master?" he asked.

"Yes Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's voice was cold.

"What's going on?"

"Just hold still and it'll be over before you know it."

Obi-Wan done as he was told. Qui-Gon was holding him underneath his chin and had his other hand resting on top of his head. Obi-Wan did not know what was going to happen next.

He found out soon enough. Qui-Gon held his head still and another metal cuff went across his forehead, bounding his head to the chair. Obi-Wan found he couldn't move his head up or down or sideways. He was trapped.

"Don't try to move," Qui-Gon remarked, seeing his attempts. "Just sit still and open your eyes."

When Obi-Wan opened his eyes he found Qui-Gon looking straight into his. His Master had positioned his head so that he had to look at him. "Obi-Wan, you do understand why I've done this, don't you?" Qui-Gon asked with great gentleness.

Obi-Wan went to nod his head, realised that he couldn't and then said "Yes, Master." This created a bit of a pause.

"That was a long pause for someone who was just going to say yes," Qui-Gon commented.

"I went to nod my head and realised I couldn't Master," Obi-Wan told him.

"Are you sure, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon checked.

"I can not lie to you Master," Obi-Wan informed him earnestly.

"So do you understand why I'm punishing you?" Qui-Gon asked, rocking backwards on his heels but still keeping his gaze locked with Obi-Wan's.

"Because I deserve it," Obi-Wan said simply.

"Why do you deserve it?" Qui-Gon prompted.

Obi-Wan lowered his gaze a bit, but this turned out to be a mistake as he got a sharp "Obi-Wan!" from Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan meekly met Qui-Gon's gaze saying, "Because I was stupid Master."

Now that Obi-Wan had to look at his Master he was beginning to feel very guilty. He had risked peace on the ship for nothing and the first thing his Master had to do was punish him.

But Qui-Gon wasn't like a normal Master. Other Master's would give you a severe scolding and set you some extra chores and tasks. Qui-Gon hadn't even chided him gently. He had used a sharp tone once and didn't seem eager to use it again. Obi-Wan couldn't decide if this was lucky or not. On one hand it meant Qui-Gon wasn't going to explode at him. On the other, he didn't know what Qui-Gon was going to do.

Qui-Gon stayed quiet, sensing that something was going on inside Obi-Wan. He didn't rebuke the lad when he slipped away from his gaze. After a short period of time, Obi-Wan raised his gaze again and looked at Qui-Gon.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Qui-Gon's mouth. "Is your head clear now?" he asked.

So his Master had sensed the struggle going on inside him. Obi-Wan began to open his mouth to say yes... and stopped. That wouldn't be truthful, he was still quite confused.

"Tell me what you are thinking Padawan," Qui-Gon ordered him quietly.

Obi-Wan paused for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He wanted to confide in his Master but he didn't know what to say. Qui-Gon stayed silent, knowing what he was asking was hard.

Another quarter of an hour had passed and neither Master nor apprentice had said a thing.

All Obi-Wan wanted now was a way to make it better for his Master. Obi-Wan could have said he was sorry, but to Obi-Wan sorry was but a mere word, which anyone could use and not mean.

"Let's leave it there for today," Qui-Gon finally said while releasing Obi-Wan from the chair.

Obi-Wan stood up and stretched, his muscles glad to have the freedom to move again. He then paused, wondering what to do now. Qui-Gon stood a pace away from him, watching.

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon as if to sat 'what now?'. "You can either stay here and have a talk with me or you can go to your own cabin and learn one of you Temple lessons, padawan," Qui-Gon told him.

Obi-Wan thought for a moment and then went and stood near Qui-Gon, as learning his lessons wasn't very exciting.

On seeing that Obi-Wan was not going to make any attempt to leave his cabin, Qui-Gon put his arm around the lads shoulders and they sat next to each other on Qui-Gon's bed. When they sat down, Qui-Gon half kept his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders but he placed his hand on the back of the lad's neck.

Qui-Gon ignored the questioning look Obi-Wan gave him when he placed his hand on his neck but started the conversation by saying; "About your earlier comment, Padawan. You are not stupid."

"Yes I am," Obi-Wan argued but he could not look Qui-Gon in the eyes when he said it. He was glad for the praise.

Obi-Wan slipped off into his own thoughts again, telling himself that he was stupid but he shouldn't be arguing with his Master. He knew that was wrong.

Qui-Gon had seen Obi-Wan's avoiding his gaze and his loss of focus coming. The lad was so deeply lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice when Qui-Gon tightened his grip on his neck. Qui-Gon was glad that Obi-Wan didn't notice, it meant teaching his this lesson would be easier as the element of surprise was needed. Qui-Gon took his chance.

Suddenly Obi-Wan felt Qui-Gon pull on his neck with a force that jerked his head back. He found himself looking into Qui-Gon's stern eyes.

"Is it just me, or when an apprentice is listening to his elder, he looks at them and gives them respect. Is that true, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked, looking very fierce.

"It is true, master."

"Then why do you do neither?" Qui-Gon pulled Obi-Wan's neck and head back even further, making it very uncomfortable for the boy. Obi-Wan stayed silent. There was no proper answer to a question like that.

"I asked you a question so I expect an answer," Qui-Gon left loose of Obi-Wan's neck but he held the lads head back with a fist full of his hair.

Obi-Wan's dark eyes filled with tears as Qui-Gon held him firmly by his hair. He never thought that the normally gentle calm Qui-Gon could give out such horrible punishments to his padawan.

Obi-Wan kept eye contact with Qui-Gon but he didn't answer the question. Qui-Gon tugged on Obi-Wan's hair a little harder and ordered, "Answer me!"

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to do so but he couldn't speak. He felt a warm salty tear roll down his cheek, an effect of the pain Qui-Gon was inflicting on him.

Another tear soon followed and then another and another, until Obi-Wan could do nothing but cry. And all the time Qui-Gon just looked at him, as if he were pathetic and weak.

Obi-Wan awoke and sat bolt upright in his own cabin, with sweat and tears poruing down his face.

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