When You Call
There is no emotion….there is peace…..
Obi-Wan Kenobi didn't know why the words of the Jedi Code were flashing through his mind at that particular moment, because he certainly wasn't feeling very peaceful.
At that point in time, he was absently considering it a victory that he hadn't descended into full blown panic.
Yet.
The laser shields in front of him seemed a disturbing shade of red, almost a bloody color and the thought caused his already dry mouth to become even more parched.
What in space is taking so long?!
Obi-Wan peered anxiously through the translucent energy wall at the image of dueling lightsabers just across the platform.
Both the red and the green swords were a blur as they dipped in and out of focus behind the Padawan's shimmering barrier.
He could feel his Master's exertion through the bond they shared and Obi-Wan gritted his teeth in frustration and fear.
He was beginning to tire and soon enough, the Sith would realize it and attempt to capitalize.
And if Obi-Wan wasn't there to help….
The young man shuddered, gripping his already ignited lightsaber in a stranglehold.
He looked about wildly within the confined space, searching desperately for some sort of control system he could use to switch off the lasers.
A soft expletive slipped from his mouth as he realized that wherever they were, they were likely carefully concealed.
A grunt drew his attention and he jumped as if the lasers had shocked him. Qui-Gon had been forced back due to a flurry of aggressive attacks from the Sith.
He was dangerously close to the edge of the melting pit and Obi-Wan felt his heart leap into his throat.
At the last minute however, Qui-Gon was able to duck under the onslaught and dance back onto the more secure part of the platform.
Obi-Wan let out a breath and then instantly felt like screaming. The laser walls were still vibrating back and forth in front of him, showing no signs of weakening and though he was certain that they were on timers, he didn't know the duration of time they would act as a barrier and when they would be released.
The not knowing part was all but driving him mad.
Qui-Gon wouldn't last much longer.
He wanted to call out to reassure him through the bond that he would be there as soon as possible but tamped down on the desire for fear of fatally distracting him.
Even from this distance, Obi-Wan could see the faint sheen of perspiration on Qui-Gon's brow and he grimaced at the physical reminder of his master's fatigue.
His levels of anxiety were rising steadily and though he strove to keep it hidden, Obi-Wan knew he was losing control.
Without even meaning to, he closed his eyes and reached for the Force, reached for that calming presence that had always soothed him in the past, whether by meditation or by study.
He reached out and grabbed hold of that energy, intent on using it to calm both himself and fulfill his desires of helping Qui-Gon and dealing with the Sith.
As he did so, a desperate, unconscious thought slipped into the non-physical action.
Please, he whispered earnestly into the Force, please….help me.
Ω
Anakin whooped as loud as he could as the shot disappeared into the exhaust duct and out of sight. The small explosion it resulted in a moment later caused his eyes to widen and his expression to sober. "Oops."
Next to him the little droid whirred and Anakin nodded absently. "Let's get out of here."
Before the little droid could respond, the entire hanger of the Trade Federation shuddered.
Artoo made a whirring and frantic beeping sound and Anakin suddenly realized that they might be in trouble.
The little blonde swallowed nervously and pulled on the ship's controls, smiling slightly when the little fighter turned about and began to make its way out of the hanger.
They knocked over several droids on their way out, but Anakin didn't dare loosen his grip on the controls.
Something in his head was screaming at him to go faster and part of him felt as if the hairs on his head were standing on end.
"Faster Artoo!" he shouted, and the droid whirred in response. "We need to get out of here!"
As they shot toward the entrance, narrowly dodging other landed vessels, Anakin couldn't help but smile to himself. "Now this is pod racing!"
Artoo whirred next to him and Anakin let out another whoop, even as explosions from somewhere behind them rocked the little ship.
The black square of the Federation hanger that opened up into deep space yawned in front of them and Anakin gunned the engine, pushing the little fighter to go as fast as it could.
Fortunately, within a few seconds they had cleared the lip of the hanger and shot out into open space.
It wasn't a moment too soon, because the instant they were clear, the control ship behind them shuddered and the little fighter rocked around him, nearly knocking Anakin off balance in his seat.
"What happened?" he shouted at the droid and Artoo continued to beep and whir as he spewed out information.
Anakin twisted in his seat, just in time to see what was a second explosion rock the hangar behind them, fire shooting out from its open entrance.
"Wizard," he whispered. "I guess you were right Artoo."
The little fighter shook again with the impact of the blast and before Anakin could blink at the light, there was yet another explosion, this one infinitely larger than the first two and the entire ship disappeared in a cloud of fire and light. One part of the curved vessel broke off and began to plummet into the darkness, while the rest was still covered in flames.
Anakin grimaced, feeling the heat even from a distance and the concussion that knocked the ship forward, once more nearly succeeded in throwing him from his seat.
He cast a wide-eyed glance at the little droid and shakily righted himself in his chair. "We should get back now Artoo, I think that -"
He was cut off suddenly when all the sounds around him simply disappeared.
It was almost as if he had gone momentarily deaf and he clapped his hands over his ears, wondering in a panic if the explosion had succeeded in taking his hearing.
Anakin glanced wildly at Artoo and saw that though he could see the little red lights on the droid flickering on and off, he couldn't actually hear the noises that would accompany such actions.
What's going on? He thought fearfully. "Artoo? Can you hear me?"
The little droid's lights flashed again but Anakin still couldn't hear the whirring and he was increasingly alarmed to find that he couldn't hear the words he had just uttered.
All the world around him had grown eerily quiet and the stars suddenly seemed infinitely larger than he remembered.
In front of him, the image of the planet of Naboo seemed to fade until it was barely noticeable, and Anakin felt his eyes go wide.
All of a sudden, he began to feel vibrations around him but a cursory glance revealed that the ship itself was not shaking.
What's happening? He thought fearfully to himself. Why can't I hear anything?
It was in that instant that he felt his skin begin to tingle, there was an itch in his blood needing to be scratched, searching for something just out of reach.
The itch spread all throughout his body and settled at the base of his skull, prompting Anakin to momentarily forget about his deafness and reach underneath his helmet to scratch at the offending area.
When the action yielded no relief, he slapped at the controls and muttered in Huttese.
The words had no sooner left his mouth however when all of a sudden, hearing and sensation roared back into his senses, flooding not only his ears but his eyes as well and suddenly Anakin found that he wasn't in the cockpit of the fighter anymore.
Instead he found himself in an unfamiliar area, standing in a long corridor that was filled with red laser walls that were humming subtly.
Anakin could feel their heat if he got too close and he shuddered at the terrible burns such things could cause.
The lasers only held his attention for a moment however when the sound of soft curses could be heard from up ahead.
Looking up, Anakin caught sight of a familiar figure standing only a few feet away. He took in the cream-colored tunic and trousers and tall boots, along with short spiky hair and an ignited blue light saber.
Obi-Wan!
The Jedi seemed to be completely unaware of Anakin's presence as his attention was fixed on something….or someone beyond the shield wall.
Curious, Anakin walked up beside him and peered out from behind the laser barrier.
He let out a gasp when he saw what was happening.
Mister Qui-Gon was fighting someone. But not just any someone, it was the same black wearing figure that he had fought on Tatooine, the one with the red skin and the black marks on its face. There was a ring of horns around its forehead and its eyes were bright yellow, all but dripping acidic malice.
The two fought back and forth across a round circular platform that was centered by a melting pit, their green and red sabers meeting again and again in powerful strikes.
But something was wrong.
Anakin was no Jedi, but he could see the exhaustion on Qui-Gon's face and knew that the Master was beginning to tire. The creature seemed to realize this as a small smile had crossed its face, almost as if it could sense that victory was near.
The thought caused a sharp burst of fear to shoot through Anakin. The possibility of Mister Qui-Gon being hurt or killed had never even occurred to him.
To Anakin, the man had always seemed invincible and the pillar of calm.
He had liked Qui-Gon from the moment he had laid eyes on him in Watto's shop. He was gentle and considerate, never one for outbursts or moments of anger. He didn't smile often but his eyes gave away his amusement a lot of the time and whenever Anakin had been worried on their journey from Tatooine to Coruscant, he just had to look for the Jedi's calm presence and instantly feel reassured.
Qui-Gon would protect him. He had promised his mother that he would.
But now, looking at this scene, Anakin had never considered the possibility that Qui-Gon could be hurt….even killed.
But it looked as if this black evil Jedi…..whatever it was….was intent on doing just that.
"No!" Anakin whispered in horror.
He glanced at Obi-Wan, saw the barely concealed terror in his face and he could feel it. He could feel the Jedi's panic and anxiety coursing through him to the point where it made the blonde's small form tremble.
For a moment he forgot about how strange this all was, the fact that he was supposed to be on a ship and was suddenly not on the ship, in a place he had never been before, watching events that he couldn't physically see.
He blinked. Was this the Force?
Qui-Gon had told him a little bit about it, about the midi-chlorians in his blood and how they ensured that he would be able to use the Force too.
Was this what he meant?
A sudden gasp from Obi-Wan caused Anakin to look up in surprise. He saw the young man gripping his light saber tightly and the strained look on his face.
He's scared too, Anakin thought.
And it was then that he heard it.
"Please," Obi-Wan whispered in a voice so low that the child could barely hear him. "Please help me."
All of a sudden, the image disappeared. The laser walls, the corridor, the fight, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, all of it vanished and Anakin found himself back in the ship, belted into his seat with Artoo on one side of him as they continued flying back towards Naboo which was thankfully much larger than it had appeared before.
It took Anakin a few seconds to realize that he was shaking from everything that he saw.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan needed help.
It must have been the Force, he thought to himself. I don't know how it works but what else could it be?
At the moment, all he was consciously aware of was that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were in danger and no one else knew about it. If the Force was the reason that he had seen that whole thing, then no one else could.
Which meant that Anakin was the only one who could do something about it.
Determination caused him to narrow his eyes. He didn't know how he could help, but he did knew that he needed to try.
Mr. Qui-Gon had been there to help him before, so Anakin would gladly return the favor to the man who had saved him.
"Artoo, gun the engines," he shouted at the little droid who complied with several well-placed beeps. "We need to get back to Naboo right now!"
The little craft shuddered as the engine volume increased, a sign that the ship was changing gears.
Anakin gripped the controls and pushed them forward with all his might into a full throttle thrust.
The ship rocketed forward, racing toward Naboo's atmosphere that pushed Anakin back into his seat.
But even as the velocity and forward rush held him rigid, the only thought on his mind was what was possibly happening below him on the planet. Hang on, don't worry, I'm coming.
Ω
They entered Naboo's atmosphere faster than Anakin thought possible, although he would not know that the reason for their accelerated pace had little to do with the power of the ship until much later.
Now however, he was more focused on keeping the ship on a straight path as they tore through the clouds toward the palace below. Anakin was a bit worried that they might lose their way in pursuit of it, so much so that his worries ended up leaking into the Force without his knowledge.
However, they managed to enter the atmosphere and then make very few adjustments to their downward path, as it was somehow in line with the royal air hanger. This was also something that would jump to Anakin's notice later.
He was relieved that their descent was going so smoothly and when they at last broke through the clouds surrounding Naboo's palace he let out a whoop almost as loud as when he had fired that first shot on the Federation ship.
"Faster Artoo!" he called out a second later. "We're almost there!"
He could all but see the hanger in the distance, approaching rapidly and Anakin knew he would need to slow the ship down before they reached it so as not to cause a crash landing.
But given his inexperience in an actual ship and the fact that he knew in the back of his mind that he had been remarkably lucky to accomplish such a thing, he ill-timed the landing slightly.
"Level us off Artoo!" he shouted. "I don't want to crash before I can help Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan!"
He didn't even think when including the Padawan in that statement as it was he who had asked for help after all.
Artoo beeped and whirred but managed to level off the ship just as they came parallel with the entrance to the hanger and shot forward into it.
It was then that Anakin realized they were still going too fast and his heart leapt into his throat as the wall at the back of the royal hanger suddenly loomed.
"Landing gear Artoo!" he shouted at the top of his lungs and seized the one control that was at least marked with the action that he needed.
Anakin yanked on it with all his might.
There was an awful screeching sound as the gears jerked into place and the metal supports of the landing gear scraped against the floor of the hanger, almost forcing Anakin to let go of the gear and cover his ears.
He didn't though, because even though they had slowed a lot, the wall was still coming up way too fast.
Anakin jerked on the landing gear harder, certain he was going to break it, but not caring either way.
Artoo let out a peculiar noise that sounded a bit like a scream and Anakin only had time to throw up his hands to cover his face before the small fighter connected with the wall.
Ω
A sudden vibration caused Obi-Wan to jerk in surprise. He had been staring through the red laser wall at the ongoing fight, feeling a cold sweat break out on his forehead when he was just then knocked sideways, almost losing his footing and falling to his knees.
He looked up just in time to see with a start that whatever had caused the vibration, seemed to give off some sort of electrical interruption as well, enough of one, to cause the laser walls to fail.
Obi-Wan scrambled to his feet just as the laser barriers flickered once, twice, three times, and then shut off completely, leaving nothing between him and the generator where his master was.
Hardly daring to believe what had happened Obi-Wan snatched up his light saber from where it had fallen and darted onto the platform.
Only to see the Sith manage to clip Qui-Gon on the jaw with the hilt of his own saber, turn it in the same motion just so and then bring the saber up, attempting to impale his master.
Time seemed to slow and Obi-Wan wasn't even aware of the fact that he was crying out in horror.
All he was conscious of was that he had less than milli-seconds to save his master's life.
So, he simply stopped thinking.
There was no room for thought in that moment, only action.
Obi-Wan felt an icy wave of calm settle over him in the next instant and he lashed out with one of his hands, using whatever energy that adrenaline had given him to seize his master and Force pull him out of the way with all his might.
The act must have had more power than even Obi-Wan knew because it sent Qui-Gon flying back over the top of the melting pit and into the opposite wall.
Normally Obi-Wan would have wanted to check on his master to see if the action had injured him, but there was nothing normal about this situation.
He was already turning to the Sith who seemed caught in a moment of surprise at what had just happened.
Just then another vibration rocked the chamber, knocking all occupants in the area off balance once more.
Obi-Wan was the one to recover first.
Dashing forward, determination strengthening every step, he dropped to his knees, all but sliding along the floor of the platform. The Sith swung his saber, the laser barely missing the top of Obi-Wan's head, causing him to feel the heat of it as he passed by.
The Padawan kicked out a leg as he slid forward, only just managing to clip the ankle of the Sith. It wasn't much but it succeeded in knocking him off balance for the briefest of seconds.
And that was all Obi-Wan needed.
He thrust his lightsaber up, destroying the haphazard block the Sith attempted and breaking his double-bladed saber in two.
Before he had managed to recover, Obi-Wan had smoothly returned to his feet from his kneeling position and thrust his blade forwards and upwards, impaling the Sith and all but severing him from navel to nose.
The surprised look on the Sith's face was almost comical. His yellow eyes widened as he registered what had happened and then the light and fury in them died as they faded to a dull amber.
His knees buckled as he fell backward and then he was tumbling into the melting pit, falling silently and fading out of sight within a few seconds.
For a moment, the chamber was silent save for nothing other than Obi-Wan's panting. The adrenaline was beginning to fade, leaving such a shaking in his limbs that his knees nearly gave out beneath him.
He almost dropped his light saber, his hands were trembling so badly.
That was close, a thought whispered in the back of his mind. That was far too close.
"Padawan?"
Obi-Wan instantly de-activated the lightsaber at the sound of the familiar voice. He looked up to see that Qui-Gon had recovered from his connection with the wall and was staring at him with the closest thing to shock he had ever seen on his master's face.
Obi-Wan felt his own crumple and Qui-Gon must have seen how fragile his control was because he came striding across the platform towards him quickly, concern etched in his face.
"Padawan?" he said softly, his large hands coming up to rest on either side of the young man's neck. "Are you alright?"
Obi-Wan forced himself to take several deep breaths, just drinking in the fact that his master was here in front of him and not dead as he would surely have been if he had been just a second later.
He looked up into Qui-Gon's dark blue eyes, feeling somewhat alarmed when the corners of his own started to burn.
"Master," he said hoarsely. "Are you alright?"
Qui-Gon stared at him for a moment, eyes searching but when Obi-Wan didn't appear to be able to hold back his emotions any longer, he released a soft sigh and leaned forward to press his forehead to his Padawan's in a gesture of comfort.
Obi-Wan released a shaky breath at the connection and he shut his eyes, just taking in his master's presence as a physical reminder that what had nearly happened, was not his reality.
He brought his own hands up and gripped Qui-Gon's forearms tight enough to bruise as they just stood there in silence. He did so both to comfort and to physically steady himself.
"Calm, Padawan," Qui-Gon said softly, making no move to step away from him yet. "All is well. I am alive, as are you."
Obi-Wan nodded but didn't speak or open his eyes as he didn't trust himself to sound coherent yet.
Several deep breaths later he was able to open them, relieved to find that his trembling had largely disappeared.
Qui-Gon, seeing that the young man was once more in control of himself, squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulders gently before releasing him and stepping back.
"We'll need to make a full report to the Council as soon as possible," he said, his rich voice echoing throughout the chamber.
"Indeed," Obi-Wan said, clearing his throat which still felt a bit thick. "The sooner the better I would think. I only hope that the battle on the palace grounds is going well."
The words had no sooner left his mouth when vibrations once more shook the chamber, reminding the two Jedi of where they were and that it might be best to leave.
Obi-Wan then frowned. "Master, what do you suppose caused those vibrations? Whatever they were, they were effective enough to shut down the laser walls."
"I don't know Padawan," Qui-Gon said adopting a similar expression. "I can only assume that it was caused by the ongoing battle. And speaking of which, we should see for ourselves how it goes. The queen may still be in danger."
"Yes Master," Obi-Wan said quietly. He clipped his lightsaber once more to his belt and moved to follow Qui-Gon back into the empty corridor, eyeing the walls carefully as they passed.
Where the steady hum of the laser walls had been consistent before, now the corridor only carried with it an eerie quiet.
Obi-Wan shivered softly as they passed through the hallway, eager to be gone and away from the place where he had almost lost his master.
Quieting his fears and silently thanking the Force, he followed Qui-Gon back towards the royal palace and the main hanger.
Ω
Obi-Wan had expected the main hanger to be quiet when they walked back into it as all palace personnel would no doubt be pre-occupied with the battle.
Even from this distance, Obi-Wan could see that most of the ships in the hanger were still missing, their pilots having yet to bring them back from their space battle against the Trade Federation.
What he didn't expect to see was a small yellow fighter half crashed against the back wall of the hanger. One of its wings was almost completely torn off and the protective shell covering the cockpit was cracked though not destroyed.
Master and Padawan exchanged glances and immediately began to move in that direction.
They had gone no more than a few feet when a sudden movement prompted Obi-Wan to look up.
A familiar droid was sitting in its position on the intact wing, whirring slightly and moving about as if it were shaking itself from the impact.
Obi-Wan was nearly brought up short. "Master, why is Artoo sitting in a crashed ship?"
A moment later, he began to take in why the little yellow craft was strangely familiar and then realized with horrible shock that it was the same ship Qui-Gon had told Anakin to hide in before they had all separated.
His master came to the same realization in that instant and he was suddenly striding for the ship, nearly running and Obi-Wan hustled after him, mind numb as he tried to work through what had happened, how the ship Anakin was supposed to have been in had crashed.
"Anakin!" Qui-Gon called out, his voice echoing in the hanger. "Anakin, where are you?"
Obi-Wan looked about wildly, a sudden surge of fear washing over him at the thought of the little boy being seriously hurt.
He may have had his own reservations about him after hearing the Council's thoughts, but he had certainly never wished him ill.
A sudden groan caused his head to shoot up and a few seconds later, a small form could be seen staggering around the opposite side of the little fighter. His blonde hair was mused and his blue eyes were unfocused but he didn't appear any worse for wear.
At the sight of him, Obi-Wan sagged with relief as tension he hadn't been consciously aware of was released.
"Anakin!" Qui-Gon hurried over to him, kneeling down in front of him and running his hands down his arms as if checking for injuries. "Are you alright?"
"I…I think so," the child said, still looking a bit unfocused and confused. "What happened? Are you guys alright? I thought you might be in trouble."
Both Jedi exchanged looks, one confused, the other speculative.
"Yes, we are Ani," Qui-Gon said softly. "You said you thought we were in trouble?"
The small blonde nodded. "Someone was calling for help….in my head. I heard it. It….It sounded like Obi-Wan."
The young man blinked in confusion, before the sensation gave way to raw shock so powerful, he nearly stumbled.
He was faintly aware that Qui-Gon was staring at him, but he paid his master no mind, choosing instead to fix his gaze on the small boy that was standing a few feet away with hunched shoulders and tired eyes.
"A-Anakin?" he whispered softly. "You…You heard me?"
The child nodded, seemingly unable to take his gaze from Obi-Wan's. "I saw you too, you and Mr. Qui-Gon were fighting that evil looking black Jedi but you couldn't help him. There was some sort of red laser wall blocking you. And….And you were scared. And then I heard you call for help. So, I turned the ship around and came right back."
"Back?" Qui-Gon demanded. "Where were you Anakin?"
"In space," Anakin said. "It was an accident. Somehow the ship started moving and me and Artoo ended up in space. I didn't know what to do but I thought it was sort of like pod racing and Artoo helped me."
As Anakin continued to explain what had happened in space with the other ships, Artoo and the Federation hanger along with an unexplainable accidental shot that had somehow managed to hit the main power core of the ship and blow it up, Obi-Wan found himself beginning to drift farther and farther away from the conversation, Anakin's words echoing around him as if through some sort of tunnel.
He remembered it.
He remembered whispering to the Force to send him help of some kind, all but begging for it so as to aid his master.
Had Anakin heard him?
One thing still wasn't clear however.
"Anakin?" he heard himself asking. "How….How did you crash the ship?"
The boy's gaze still hadn't wavered from him. "Well, when we were leaving the hanger, I told Artoo to turn the ship around and we got out of there as fast as possible and then as we were coming back, I heard you calling for help and I told Artoo to go faster so we gunned the engines and came flying back. But I didn't put the landing gears down in time in order to stop the ship fully. So….we ended up crashing into the wall I guess. I don't remember much after that."
"So….So when you crashed the ship, you hit the wall hard enough to shake the hanger?" Obi-Wan asked absently, all the pieces coming together in his mind.
"I…I guess," Anakin said looking at him wide eyed.
Obi-Wan went very still as the full measure of the reality of what had happened washed over him.
When he looked at Anakin, it was as if he were looking at an entirely different boy.
He heard me….I reached out with the Force….and he heard me…..
And not only that, he had heard from miles away, out in deep space and yet he had somehow managed to come flying back to answer his call for help…..Anakin had done exactly what he had asked the Force for.
Somehow when he had connected with the wall of the hanger, it had been precise enough to send electrical vibrations throughout the building and into the power generator, somehow shutting off the laser wall and enabling Obi-Wan to break through to help his master.
He had called for help….and the Force had answered.
Anakin had answered.
"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked and there was concern in his voice. "Are you alright?"
His face must have looked a sight to the both of them and Qui-Gon was halfway to his feet as if he intended to come over and check on him.
But Obi-Wan was still staring at Anakin, still trying to process everything that he had been told about what had happened and what the boy had done.
He saved me….he saved my master too….he saved us….maybe Qui-Gon was right.
That last thought nearly caused him to laugh breathlessly because as he examined everything that Anakin had told them internally, there was no way the boy could have been that lucky all on his own.
The Force was with him to accomplish all of that, he thought with something akin to awe. Just as it was with me when I was fighting the Sith.
Obi-Wan could only look down at Anakin with new perspective.
Finally….Finally, he could see what his master had seen.
Exhaling in a rush, he strode over to the two of themhi, dropped to his knees in front of the small boy and drew him into a crushing embrace.
Anakin yelped in surprise but then to Obi-Wan's own shock, all but slumped against him and wrapped his arms about his neck.
Obi-Wan found he was almost incapable of speech as the astonishment of the situation continued to hit him full force. The only feeling he could comprehend in that moment was sheer, unadulterated gratitude and awe, both to the Force and for the little boy in his arms who was clinging to him and shaking like a leaf.
"Thank you, Anakin," he whispered fiercely. "Thank you. You saved me…and you saved Qui-Gon too."
Obi-Wan was aware of his master's eyes burning a hole in the side of his head but he didn't address it. His relief and thankfulness were just too great.
"I….I did?" Anakin asked softly. The words were muffled as his face was all but pressed into Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"Yes, little one," the young man whispered softly. "You did."
He felt Anakin snuggle further into his embrace and his heart squeezed slightly. What had there been to dislike about this child?
I was looking at him through the lenses of my own arrogance, he thought to himself, chagrined. Force forbid me from making such mistakes in the future.
One of the things Obi-Wan had always respected about his master was his kindness and compassion. He himself strove to embody those traits throughout their time together, but strife and difficult assignments had caused him to erect a lot of walls that he wasn't even aware of.
Ironic that it took a near death experience for his master and an astronomical act of the Force to wake him up to the necessity of those subtler virtues.
The hanger was silent for a moment as Obi-Wan only tightened his grip on the little boy, a little boy who was without any doubt a pure child of the Force.
Obi-Wan raised a hand and gently placed it on the side of Anakin's head, keeping him still, the boy had looked exhausted when he had seen them after all.
A sudden wetness coated his fingers however and he jerked them away to see a familiar dark red substance coloring the tips.
"Anakin, you're bleeding," he said urgently.
"Yeah," the little blonde said tiredly. "I….I think I hit my head when Artoo and I crashed the ship. I blacked out….and I don't remember anything until I woke up."
"We need to get you to a healer right away," Obi-Wan said quickly and rose, Anakin still in his arms. He started for the door that led out of the hanger before realizing he was forgetting Qui-Gon and turning back. "Master, are you alright if I take Anakin to see a healer now while you check in with the queen?"
Qui-Gon looked more than a little amused and Obi-Wan knew he was going to be having a long conversation with the man when this was all over. At the moment however, his concern was making sure that Anakin was alright. "Go on Padawan, besides I have a feeling that from what Anakin has told us about his adventure in space, the battle might be over."
Obi-Wan nodded briskly and then marched off. Qui-Gon watched as Anakin wrapped his arms more tightly about his Padawan's neck and smiled a bit to himself.
He knew that Obi-Wan had had his reservations about Anakin, especially after hearing what the Council had had to say, but he also knew about Obi-Wan's great reserves of love and compassion and how carefully he guarded his heart.
He had a feeling after this, that Anakin had just succeeded in breaking down all the young man's defenses and that the little boy would now have a protector for life.
Ω
Obi-Wan sat at the side of Anakin's bed, carefully scrolling through a data pad while the little boy slept.
They were in the one of the rooms in the healing wing of Naboo's royal palace. The chamber had a spectacular view overlooking the royal gardens and if one were to look out now, they would be able to see ongoing clean up of the droids from the battle a few hours previously.
Obi-Wan knew he probably should have been out there helping as the skills of a Jedi would aid in a far faster tidying. But he found he was a bit unwilling to leave Anakin alone, even for a little while.
It was a thought that both startled and amused him because of how out of character it was. He had held the little boy at arm's length for the longest time, a little exasperated at his presence and with his master for bringing along yet another "pathetic life form."
Qui-Gon had a habit bringing back the oddest creatures from their little jaunts about the galaxy and Obi-Wan had lost count of how many times he had been forced to watch them.
But a human child?
That had been a little too far outside of his comfort zone. His unease had only increased after hearing from the Council that Anakin had darkness in his future and he had openly questioned his master's insistence at having the boy trained due to his belief in a vague prophecy.
Obi-Wan cast his eyes over at the sleeping boy and a faint smile crossed his lips. After everything that's happened today, I think I've become a believer myself.
The healer had already been in to see Anakin, checking his head and proclaiming that he had a mild concussion. She had applied bacta to his skull and cautioned him to wait until it had dried and the blood was gone before falling asleep.
The minute Anakin had been cleared by the healer as being alright to rest after the effects of the concussion had been treated, Obi-Wan had gently insisted that he lay down.
"You've had a long day Ani," he had said, faintly surprised that the boy's nickname leapt so easily to his lips. "It's not everyday that one is a hero."
Anakin smiled sleepily at him as he nestled amongst the pillows and Obi-Wan pulled one of the blankets over him, tucking him in. "You are too."
Obi-Wan's answering grin was genuinely gentle. "Ah, but I wouldn't have been without you."
"So….So it was the Force that helped me hear you?" Anakin asked, his eyes drooping but still unwilling to fall asleep.
Obi-Wan gently smoothed back his hair and felt the boy still beneath his touch. "Yes it was. I'll tell you everything you want to know," he said when it was clear that the boy had more questions. "But after you've rested."
Anakin had looked a bit put out, but he managed a short nod. "You promise?"
Obi-Wan's grin was one of relief and intent. "I promise."
"O-Okay. Will you stay with me?"
The request was much quieter and more than a little shy but Obi-Wan signaled his intent by using the Force to pull one of the chairs closer to the bed. "I promise Anakin, I won't leave you."
Finally content, the little boy snuggled deeper beneath the blankets and was out within minutes.
"Padawan?"
Obi-Wan blinked and looked up from his absent perusal of the data pad to find the doorway filled with his master.
Qui-Gon's eyes looked to the bed, took in Anakin's sleeping form and nodded slightly. "I take it all is well?"
"Anakin is slightly concussed and suffering from exhaustion," Obi-Wan explained quietly. "But thankfully that's all. The healer already said he was fine to rest."
"Good," Qui-Gon said moving around the side of the bed and pulling up one of the chairs so that it was now sitting next to Obi-Wan. "After the adventure he had today, I dare say he needs it."
Obi-Wan hummed and glanced back down at the boy, aware that his master was still trying to meet his gaze.
"Padawan?"
"Yes master?" the young man said without looking up.
There was a silence in which far more was said without the use of words. Finally, Obi-Wan sighed and acquiesced, lowering the distracting device. "I know what you want to talk about."
"Do you now?" Qui-Gon looked decidedly amused. "Enlighten me then Padawan mine."
Obi-Wan did not respond with a smile. "I….I think I understand now Master, what it was that you saw in Anakin. I didn't at first, too concerned with the Council's opinion to form my own and really look at him. But I see it now."
"And what do you see?"
Obi-Wan knew one of his master's vices and virtues was constantly asking questions and seeking clarification but this time he didn't mind verbally elaborating, even though such answers could have been given over the bond.
"I see talent….I see a lot of raw power, more power than I ever thought possible. I see a connection to the Force, so clear its astonishing, almost awe-inspiring. And maybe the most telling of all, is that I see a desire to do what's right, no matter how unorthodox the process is."
Obi-Wan blinked trailing off as he realized how attached he was beginning to sound. Force, this certainly wasn't what he had expected.
"I just wish I knew what it all meant," He said once more casting a glance at the small boy in the bed. "Or what is means for the future. Will the Council still decide to train him?"
Qui-Gon's warm expression noticeably cooled. "I cannot speak to that however much I wish to. Their decision is still pending but if we notify them of what we have discovered today, it may strengthen our case."
It gratified Obi-Wan to hear his master include him in this decision. He knew he hadn't been inconspicuous with his feelings about the whole event earlier but he could hardly blame his own relief for getting the better of him. Qui-Gon was clearly addressing his dramatic change in feelings.
"I'm still amazed that he heard me," Obi-Wan whispered softly, turning back towards Anakin. "He was completely off world, in deep space and from what he told us, not only did he hear me, but he had some sort of vision too where he could see me and the entire event as it was unfolding."
He turned and looked incredulously at his master. "How? How is that possible with no training?"
Qui-Gon smiled gently and placed a hand on his Padawan's shoulder. "I did some meditation about that myself after I made a full report to the queen, Obi-Wan. And there is only one possible conclusion I was able to draw."
"And that is?"
Qui-Gon glanced between the bed and the young man for a long moment before he spoke. "Obi-Wan, you and I are the sort of individuals who form deep bonds. We connect to certain people in ways that we simply don't to others. I believe those connections are Force blessed and should be encouraged despite what the Code says about attachments. I believe they make us stronger and I am someone who would rather follow the will of the Force than a Code written by imperfect people for imperfect people, no matter how long said Code has existed. The Force predates the Code after all, it predates you and I and the Jedi as a whole, so why in space do some of us place more stock in a Code, a piece of man made writing, than the Force we claim to serve?"
For once Obi-Wan was utterly speechless. He had never heard his Master phrase his connection to the Force in such a way and he had a feeling that should Qui-Gon have given that monologue prior to the events of the day, it wouldn't have had nearly as much of an effect on him.
But after all this…..his words made sharp, raw sense.
"Are you saying that Anakin and I have formed some sort of….connection?" he asked softly.
Qui-Gon's eyes were more telling than any gesture of affirmation he could have given. "He heard you Obi-Wan, from within the depths of space, he heard your call for help and he answered it. Much as I could feel your fear and helplessness, I didn't hear your call. Anakin did. If that is not an indicator of a strong connection forged by the Force itself, then I don't know what is."
Obi-Wan laughed somewhat breathlessly. "No wonder you wanted to train him master, a Force sensitive this strong? There's never been one like Anakin before."
He felt, more than saw his master flinch and he turned, frowning curiously. "What is it?"
Qui-Gon's face was once more serious when his Padawan turned to face him. "Obi-Wan, I am afraid I owe you an apology."
The young man's frown deepened. "Whatever for?"
"For my callousness," the Jedi rumbled. "I disregarded your feelings entirely in front of the Council and my insensitivity hurt you deeply. And for that I am truly sorry Padawan."
Obi-Wan restrained himself from squirming at the uncomfortable memory. He had tried his best to put it out of his mind, choosing to focus on the fact that his master had thought him ready to be Knighted, instead of casting him off.
And then everything else had happened and he had been forced to put it out of his mind entirely.
As he thought about it now though, the recollection didn't sting as much as it had before.
"I….I'm just glad I didn't lose you master," he said in a halting voice. "I think….it would have broken me."
The raw vulnerability in his tone almost made him feel guilty about putting such words on display. It was also a testament to how the whole experience had shaken him. Qui-Gon no doubt would feel sensations that hinted at the deep relief through their bond, but somehow Obi-Wan felt it more important to voice the words.
Doing so was his own acceptance of the apology and how in spite of what Qui-Gon had said, he was just glad that his master was still with him.
There was a soft exhalation from his right, and he could feel his master's large hand at the back his neck, pulling him forward slowly until their foreheads once more touched. Obi-Wan felt himself shut his eyes.
The silence was as deep and comforting as the gesture itself and Obi-Wan suddenly felt oh so very tired.
"Here and now Padawan mine," Qui-Gon said softly, his deep voice rumbling in the silence of the room. "I am not gone thanks to both you and Anakin. I don't intend on being claimed by the Force for a while yet."
After another moment of silence, his hand dropped and Obi-Wan was allowed to sit back, feeling as if he might fall asleep.
Before he made the decision to do so however, he had one more question to ask. "When should we report to the Council?"
"As soon as the palace is back in order," came Qui-Gon's reply. "We have more than a little bit to share with them I think."
Obi-Wan smiled faintly. "Do you think they will let you train him?"
Qui-Gon's gaze narrowed as if he too had been thinking about that and Obi-Wan could sense something of a shift in his master.
"I have been considering a few things Padawan," the Jedi said slowly. "And in light of recent events, I do not think that I would be the best teacher for Anakin. The Force has shown me that there is a far more suitable candidate."
He glanced at him intently then and Obi-Wan was not so tired yet as to not pick up on his master's meaning.
"Me?" he sputtered suddenly flying awake. "You can't be serious."
Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his broad chest. "And why not?"
Obi-Wan's mind raced through all the reasons, both showing and telling his master how insane the notion was. "Because I am still your Padawan, because I wouldn't know the first thing about taking on my own student, because I haven't been Knighted, because….."
Because I'm afraid, rang through the connection between them and Obi-Wan saw his master's face soften.
"Padawan, we are told that fear leads to the Dark Side but often times there is good reason for fear. Trust in the Force young one, it is the reason we are all sitting here together. It is the reason you and Anakin have a connection. Through that connection you will be able to understand him better than I ever could. The Force has told me that I need to let go, both of many of the vague prophecies that I hold to and of you. You are ready, and the Council will agree with me."
"How are you so certain?" Obi-Wan asked weakly.
"Because it was you, not I, that destroyed the Sith," Qui-Gon said simply. "You pulled me out of the way, and you delivered the killing blow. You were the one who drew on the Force and your call was answered. You have passed all your trials in one instant. You overcame your fear, you called on the Force, taking strength from it, you saved me as well and you eliminated a great evil. How could they not Knight you?"
Obi-Wan exhaled slowly, taking in his master's words. "And what about Anakin? They might still refuse to train him because of his age."
"Padawan," Qui-Gon replied, "what is the one thing that I always encourage in times of uncertainty?"
"Trust in the Force," Obi-Wan said softly, he didn't even have to think about it. "Let it guide you."
Qui-Gon's soft chuckles came across audibly and through the bond. "And that, Padawan mine, is why you are ready. I have nothing left to teach you."
"I highly doubt that master," Obi-Wan said smiling slightly as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. "I'll always need you."
"No," Qui-Gon said quietly. "A day will come when the Force will take me and there will be nothing you can do, Obi-Wan. The Force must be your only master. Only then will you truly be at peace."
"I know that you will not live forever master," Obi-Wan whispered. "But when you die, it will be of old age after you have lived a life that was not cut short. Though you must die, that would be the death I would choose for you."
Qui-Gon chuckled softly. "I pray that your desired foresight comes true for us all Obi-Wan, but should it not, remember that-"
"There is no death, there is only the Force," Obi-Wan said softly, his gaze turning back to Anakin who was still sleeping peacefully.
A sensation of pride warmed the bond, helping the young man to release his tension and lie back into the chair.
He was faintly aware of Qui-Gon squeezing his shoulder as he allowed exhaustion to finally overtake him.
A feeling of love and warmth raced down the bond, wrapping around Obi-Wan better than any embrace could and he leaned into the feeling as sleep caused his eyes to shut.
And the silence that followed was filled with a peace that only the Force could provide.
Ω
I'm going to leave this as a one shot for now. I may add more to it at some point, I might not. For obvious reasons, the Phantom Menace is my favorite movie of the Prequels even though it got a lot of hate. I loved the trio of young Anakin, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and the fact that we didn't get to see more of them breaks my heart. The death of Qui-Gon Jinn, next to Order 66 is for me personally, one of the biggest injustices in Star Wars. His death is basically like the death of Elia Martell for me. He was someone who was genuinely good who should have lived and I hated that he didn't. Stories that feature the three of them will always be my kryptonite and it frustrates me because they are so rare. Anyway, that's all for now, I hope you guys like this little drabble that was bouncing around in my head. Don't forget to review!
