A/N I'm not sure what technical problems were happening, but I had been unable to post the four most recent stories in this verse, if I clicked on their links a message came up saying 'story not found'. I have checked their links again and it appears everything has been fixed. If you wanted to read the most recent stories, I have listed them in order on my profile but they are: Rises and falls like the sun, Always be there to guide you, Watching over us and There's nothing you can do about it. So, why worry?
I hope you enjoy this newest instalment of the One with the Force verse. This should be three chapters long.
Qui-Gon sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Standing before him was his soaking wet, bedraggled looking Padawan. His fourteen-year-old Padawan just stared up at him with wide innocent eyes, as water dripped down his face and off the end of his Padawan braid, looking up at him with a look that indicated Obi-Wan didn't see anything wrong with his actions. While Qui-Gon was glad to see the Tooka kitten tucked safely under Obi-Wan's arm, he was not best pleased with Obi-Wan's method, which included taking an unexpected dive into a lake.
Two years with Obi-Wan as a Padawan and Qui-Gon swore he had gained more grey hairs in that time than he had previously in the same space of time. "Let's return your new friend to its mother and then return to our ship," he sighed.
As Qui-Gon walked away from the edge of the lake, with Obi-Wan walking behind him, murmuring soothing words to the young kitten. He smiled to himself, out of the two of them, he was more in tune with the Living Force, and usually the one to sense creatures in need. Today it was Obi-Wan's deep connection with the Unifying Force that enabled the rescue of the kitten. Before their departure after their mission, it was Obi-Wan's insistence that they needed to take a walk by the lake, allowed for them to be in the right place at the right time.
Once the kitten had been returned to a grateful mother, the two Jedi returned to their ship and set their course for the Temple. Once they were safely in hyperspace, Qui-Gon turned the pilot chair so he could face Obi-Wan, his arms crossed and a disapproving look on his face. He was glad to notice Obi-Wan look back at him sheepishly, perhaps his young Padawan could reflect on the danger he imposed on himself. Knowing his Padawan probably not.
"Obi-Wan. While I am glad for the safety of the kitten, I do not approve of you throwing yourself into the lake. You could have hit rocks and been seriously hurt," stated Qui-Gon, his voice was deep as he projected his disapproval down their training bond.
Obi-Wan sat up straight in his chair, ocean blue eyes meeting midnight blue eyes. "I am sorry Master, but I just had to act! I had a vision that showed it was important to go to the lake! The kitten could not swim and so I just acted-"
"Acted irresponsibly Padawan," interrupted Qui-Gon. "In the past three months you have put yourself in harm's way more times than I can count. That will not continue. Am I understood?"
"Yes Master," murmured Obi-Wan. The young boy looked down at his hands, his short braid, two years growing, swung just below his chin.
Qui-Gon hated to see his young Padawan looking so despondent, but he had to ensure Obi-Wan understood that he could not continue to put himself in harm's way so needlessly. While his Padawan had many strengths, his main weakness was that he was too self-sacrificing. And Qui-Gon was determined that he would not lose his child to something that could have been avoided, he would see his child Knighted and live a long and happy life. He reached out and with a finger resting under Obi-Wan's chin, he gently tilted his Padawan's head up so they were looking at each other.
"I just want you to be safe Padawan mine," he murmured. "I could not bear it if I lost you."
Obi-Wan directed a soft smile at him and then pulled himself out his co-pilot chair, then Qui-Gon found himself with an armful of Padawan. He chuckled as he hugged his boy close to him. "I'll be more careful Master. I promise," stated Obi-Wan seriously, his voice slightly muffled by Qui-Gon's robe. Qui-Gon rested his chin on Obi-Wan's head and his lips quirked up in a slight smile, he was gladdened by the promise, but he knew his Padawan and he knew it wouldn't be long until Obi-Wan was risking his life again.
After a restful month at the Temple, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were being sent out on another mission. This time with another Master and Padawan team. Master Trass Thyban, a human who was the same age as Qui-Gon with bright blonde hair and dark brown eyes, Qui-Gon had always gotten along with Trass and was glad that the Master joining he and his Padawan was someone he knew well. Trass's Padawan, was a human girl who was a year older than Obi-Wan, the two Padawans were friends, while not best friends, they were always happy to work together for lesson projects or as sparring partners. Padawan Rialni Agdix had striking black hair that was tied back in a small nerf tail and a Padawan braid just a little longer than Obi-Wan's, her green eyes often sparkled with humour and she was always smiling.
Qui-Gon was sat in the small mess of the ship Trass was piloting, he was reading the background information given to them for their mission.
Thirty years ago, the planet of Jafan suffered from multiple earthquakes which led to a humanitarian crisis where the Jafani people suffered from a lack of food and in some places contaminated water. Then to make matters worse, there were some government officials who used the crisis as an excuse for a power grab leading to a civil war. Once the crisis had been resolved with the help of the Jedi, it was agreed by the re-established government, that every five years, members of the Jedi Order would come to the planet to check on the planet. So, their current mission meant that they would have meetings with the government to see how the economy was improving, how new water sources were and how the production of food was going. Most importantly, they would be checking on the health of the population that had suffered greatly from the natural crisis and the civil war.
As he leaned back in his chair, his eyes landed on Obi-Wan and he frowned to himself. His Padawan was exhibiting signs that suggested he had been having visions. Obi-Wan could go weeks without visions, while other times he could have as many as twenty in one weeks. He always appeared tired and a little listless as his mind evaluated his vision. What worried Qui-Gon was that Obi-Wan always came and spoke to him about his visions, despite Qui-Gon being able to count his number of visions on one hand. However, Obi-Wan had not said a word and when Qui-Gon directly asked if Obi-Wan had had a vision, his was politely brushed off. He is growing up, it is only normal that he would want to start keeping things to himself, Qui-Gon told himself. As much as he told himself that, there was something telling him that there was something wrong. Obi-Wan had returned from his lessons the day before and had been subdued and had not engaged in any sort of conversation. So, Qui-Gon resolved to keep an eye on his Padawan, believing that if there was something seriously wrong, then Obi-Wan would come to him.
Within four days, Qui-Gon would wish with everything he had that he had asked Obi-Wan about the vision. It might have saved them both a lot of pain.
They had been on planet for three days and Qui-Gon's heart was light seeing the happy faces of the Jafani. He and Trass laughed freely seeing their Padawans run around and play with the young children who looked up at the Jedi Padawans with amazement shining in their eyes. The Jafani were typically taller than humans, but due to malnutrition, not all Jafani were a healthy height. The younglings came to Obi-Wan's and Rialni's waists, one particular youngling had attached herself to Obi-Wan, her light blue skin shone in the sunlight and whenever Qui-Gon looked at his Padawan, he would see little Eenda with her webbed fingers clutched in Obi-Wan's outer robe. Obi-Wan would rest a hand on Eedna's hairless head and would encourage the young Jafani to join in the games of other younglings as they ran around a green meadow with long wispy grass and a wide variety of flowers.
As Qui-Gon's and Trass's attentions were diverted as they watched as the final additions were made to the new water pipes to connect the village with a second water source. They were distantly aware of their Padawans walking through the meadow with young Eedna.
Suddenly, the Force screamed a warning. Qui-Gon spun around and locked eyes on his Padawan and was horrified to see a wall of mud tumbling down the hillside towards his Padawan. The Jafani screamed as they called their children to them and ran from the meadow having enough time to escape the wrath of the mudslide.
"Qui-Gon the Padawans!" yelled Trass as the blonde Jedi ran towards the Padawans who were closer to the mudslide than anyone else.
OBI-WAN! Qui-Gon screamed down the training bond. His heart was lodged in his throat as he ran towards his Padawan.
He could only watch in horror as Obi-Wan tucked Eedna against his chest with one arm as he reached his free arm out towards Rialni as he shouted for his friend. Qui-Gon watched as Rialni ran to Obi-Wan and grasped the copper haired Padawan's hand. Just as the wall of mud slammed into them. Trass screamed in horror as he watched as his Padawan was ripped away from Obi-Wan's hold and her brown outer robe was swallowed up in the dark brown mud. Obi-Wan soon disappeared in the mud, clutching Eedna tightly to him as the youngling screamed in terror.
Trass and Qui-Gon came to a stop and could only watch in stunned silence as the roaring of the mudslide sharply turned into silence as the mudslide came to a stop, no sign of their Padawans anywhere.
Qui-Gon jumped as his fellow Master screamed and collapsed to his knees griping the sides of his head tightly. Qui-Gon knelt beside his friend and hugged the blonde Jedi to his side tightly, his eyes never straying from the mound of mud with tears in his eyes. He knew what Trass's reaction meant. His training bond told him Obi-Wan had not shared Rialni's fate, but it did tell him he didn't have long to find his Padawan before his child slipped away buried beneath the choking mud.