In Service of the King
Chapter 1
The walls vibrated, making the cups on the shelves rattle. The silence of the sleeping temple was broken by the battle ships that rose into the sky around it. Their enormous shadows blocked the moonlight from seeping into the small kitchen. The sound of their engines must have carried out over the entire sector. Most likely many of Coruscant's people had been woken by it. But not Qui-Gon Jinn. Something else had already robbed him of sleep that night. The same thing that kept him awake most nights.
He took one of the cups and busied himself with making tea. Desperately, he tried to keep himself from thinking about the memory that still plagued him after 22 years. For some reason it was stronger now than it had been for a while. No doubt the looming war was triggering him again. He closed his eyes and all he could see was rubble, ash and the dying embers of flames that had torn through an entire planet.
The old chair creaked as Qui-Gon let himself fall into it. He was granted a single moment of peace when the cruisers finally broke through the atmosphere and then the voice of his nightmares returned to fill the silence.
"I found something not only worth fighting for, but worth dying for. You may go, Qui-Gon Jinn. But I will stay." The child's words ricochet endlessly through Qui-Gon's mind. He shouldn't have left him there and now the boy's life would forever be on his conscience. During the day, he managed to forget but at night the lifeless bodies of children among the rubble of a city that tore itself apart from the inside came back to him as vividly as the day he saw them. He could have saved them. He should have saved at least him.
"You should be getting some rest, Master. The journey to Beimeni is going to be long."
"I could say the same to you," Qui-Gon retorted as he watched his padawan help himself to some tea.
"The cruiser woke me up," he cast Qui-Gon a knowing look, "something tells me you're awake for a different reason."
"It's nothing."
"You're dreaming about him again, aren't you?"
A deep sigh escaped the old master's lips. He brought his cup up and took a long sip of the warm liquid, trying to sort his thoughts enough to change the subject.
"Do you have everything ready for the mission?"
Anakin took a seat opposite him and leant forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He looked so serious in the moonlight. Somehow, they had switched roles and Qui-Gon was a padawan again. Children grow up too fast. He shouldn't even be calling him Padawan anymore. He had been knighted the day the war started after all.
"Obi-Wan made his choice. You have to let him go, Master."
Qui-Gon almost flinched at hearing the child's name again. "You must choose, Obi-Wan. You can go with me now or stay. Know that if you stay, you are no longer a Jedi." He had been angry when he said those words. He let his emotions cloud his judgement and Obi-Wan paid the price.
"I shouldn't have forced him to choose. Obi-Wan was my responsibility."
"What happened on Melida/Daan wasn't your fault."
"Qui-Gon, I realise I have done harm to us. But will you help me now?" Obi-Wan's last words would never leave him. He couldn't bring himself to tell Anakin what he had done. But it was his fault.
"They were children," Qui-Gon bit his tongue, he hadn't meant to raise his voice. When he continued it was barely a whisper, "I let him down."
Anakin leant back in his chair and downed his tea in one go. Clearly, he was as tired of this conversation as Qui-Gon was. No matter how many times they had it, it always ended the same way. Qui-Gon would never be able to let what happened go and he didn't want to. He owed it to his former Padawan to remember what he had done.
"Yes, I have everything ready," Anakin finally said, "Rex and the 501st have been briefed and a select squad of troops will meet us on the landing platform tomorrow morning."
Qui-Gon gratefully accepted the change of subject. "The accompaniment of clones will take some getting used to. It's certainly not very diplomatic."
"This is a time of war."
"It's still a diplomatic mission. I can't imagine the clones being useful."
"The Chancellor insisted. We're going on behalf of the Republic, not as Jedi."
Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes slightly. Anakin thought too highly of the Chancellor for his liking. "No matter whose behalf we're going on, we are still Jedi. The people of Beimeni will likely be more willing to talk without uninvited soldiers on their planet."
Anakin shrugged. "Diplomacy is your strong suit, not mine." He yawned but didn't look like he was going to get up and leave any time soon. "I don't understand what's supposed to be so vital about this planet though. It's in the middle of nowhere and covered in sand, I could name at least 5 other planets like that, that are far more interesting."
"Are you questioning the Chancellor?"
Anakin huffed. "Don't mock me, Master."
A low chuckle filled the room. "Apologies, I couldn't resist. But it's good that you question his orders. That's what makes us human and not droid, after all. You have your own mind, Anakin, don't forget to use it."
Anakin drummed his fingers on the chair's arm rest. He seemed unhappy. "Well, speaking of my own mind. It needs sleep and so does yours." He jumped up and took Qui-Gon's cup with his own into the kitchen. "I'll see you in the morning."
Qui-Gon hummed displeased. He didn't mind Anakin growing up, becoming the Jedi he was destined to be, but he minded the attitude. Nevertheless, he obliged the indirect order, standing up to find his way back to his bed, where he found yet another night's rest, disrupted by vivid dreams about his former Padawan.
..oOo..
Qui-Gon stepped out of the turbo lift, heading toward the conference room he had been called to. His thoughts were focused on finding Bruck. After finding out that he had been behind the attacks on the temple every available Jedi was busy looking for him. Qui-Gon was determined to be the one to find him.
Yoda was waiting for him, looking as unreadable as usual. "A message I have for you," he stated simply.
Before Qui-Gon could ask who it was from or why it was more important than his mission to keep the temple safe, Yoda activated the hologram. The small image of Obi-Wan flashed to life and Qui-Gon felt all of the hurt come rushing back. Obi-Wan had betrayed him. He would not simply go running back. Obi-Wan made his choice, now he had to live with the consequences.
Angrily, Qui-Gon turned away from the image. "I don't have time for this." And then he left.
..oOo..
"Generals!" The clone Anakin had started calling Rex saluted them as they walked into the hangar.
Qui-Gon would never get used to being called that. Jedi weren't generals, they were peacekeepers. He sighed inwardly. Clearly, they had failed at that.
Anakin walked towards the squad. He already seemed too comfortable in his military role. Qui-Gon had hoped the boy would become a negotiator like him, but his path seemed to lie elsewhere. Maybe this war was his destiny. He surely hoped not, though.
He turned away from the ship being prepared for the journey and walked to the edge of the hangar. Arms folded into the sleeves of his robe, he looked out over coruscant. The city still looked more or less the same, but everything felt different now. Darkness hung in every corner. The seeds of destruction had been planted right under their noses and now all they could hope to do was damage control. The people of the Republic were going to suffer during this war and for what? He should be out helping them, not convincing other planets to risk everything to join the Chancellor's cause.
"Join me, Qui-Gon and together we will destroy the Sith." Should he have taken Dooku's offer? Too many voices had made their home in Qui-Gon's mind, and he was tired of them.
The wind tore at the hem of his cloak. Fabric whipped at his heels, grounding him back in the here and now. He cast his eyes over the city again and frowned at the approaching transport. It's sleek silver surface reflected the warm light of the early morning sun as it came in to land close by.
He glanced back at Anakin and saw that he had sensed it too. The Chancellor was here.
Two guards exited the transport before and after the Chancellor. Pristine blue fabric hung around the old man, making him twice as wide as he probably was. The man certainly knew how to make an entrance.
Qui-Gon bowed politely but his tone was cool when he spoke. "We're about to depart, Chancellor."
Palpatine smiled brightly. The smile of a conman just before he stole your credits from under your nose. "I'm aware. I don't mean to interrupt. I have simply come to remind you of how important this mission is. I hope you understand." His voice had a grave tone and his expression changed to match it.
"Of course, your Excellency," Anakin cut in eagerly, "we will do our upmost to gain the Beimeni support."
So much for questioning orders, Qui-Gon thought.
"But we are not going to force compliance."
Palpatine looked excessively surprised as he turned to Qui-Gon. "No, no, of course not," he shook his hands and head, nervous laughter spilling out of him. "I would never ask such a thing. This is purely diplomatic, I assure you. The Beimeni have a free choice, just as the rest of the galaxy. I simply ask that you make a good case, hm?"
"Then what are the clones for?"
The Chancellor pulled an odd face and clasped his hands together. "Your protection of course. We have lost too many Jedi already and the people of Beimeni don't have a kind reputation. But rest assured, their planet is vital to ending this war as quickly as possible."
Too many Jedi indeed. Qui-Gon gripped his wrists tightly inside his sleeves. He couldn't think about that now.
"We won't let you down, your Excellency!"
Qui-Gon cast Anakin a warning glance. "We shall do our best."
"That's all I ask, Master Jinn."
Qui-Gon walked away, leaving Anakin to say his goodbyes and no doubt promise to keep his maverick master in check. Qui-Gon was definitely getting too old to play this game of niceties and pretence.
