Consequences
Rating: T+
Summary: All choices have consequences whether they be good or bad
Disclaimer: All cannon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled One, and now Disney. All Enterprise characters are owned by the Great Bird of the Galaxy. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Note: This is a sequel to Choices
Timeline: 40BBY
Speech: " "
Training Bond communications: /
Internal thoughts: italics
Chapter Ten
It was some time after Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's meal when Trip came by. Qui-Gon thought it was a good thing to see his Padawan in what looked like a better mood as he left with the engineer to places unknown within the ship. Personally he didn't mind where they went, as long as they ended up in the hanger bay and working on their transport. It was only once Qui-Gon was alone did he realized just how much stress he was now under when it came to being a caregiver to someone who is injured. This new insight only increased his respect for the healers in the ward.
With him being free for once, Ensign Sato came back over and showed him how to work their communications devices. In return for her generosity, he began teaching her Basic.
"Don't worry," Hoshi smiled. "Even if you're not here I can use the information that is now stored in the Universal Translator to teach me, at least the basics of your language." At that point they then started with the most simple parts of the language and went from there.
Hoshi remained as long as she could before she returned back to her assigned duties.
Now alone, he moved over to the corner where he had a folded blanket on the floor and settled down into some much needed meditation. Even though he delved deep into the Force's maelstrom, Qui-Gon still remained aware enough to sense the presence that entered the cabin. Eventually he brought himself back out and opened his eyes. He wasn't all that surprised to find T'Pol mirroring his position before him. Instead of smiling, he gave her a single nod. "Is there something I can do for you Sub-Commander?"
T'Pol's eyes remained passive. Deep blue eyes met brown. Eventually she broke contact.
Qui-Gon decided to continue as he sat back on his heels, "You look comfortable."
"Master Jinn, the humans on this vessel are too emotional, too irrational." Even though she appeared calm, she pulled back as soon as she realized what she had said.
It didn't take long for Qui-Gon to understand what she was dealing with. He actually felt compassion for her current predicament. "Sub-Commander I know it is tiring always having one shields in place. You and I both know it is because the humans here have not learned the techniques of meditation along with the discipline that comes with it. Most humans from where I'm from are the same way."
"You are different."
Qui-Gon easily conceded her point. "I suppose you could say that. Human Jedi from an early age, after allowing to be a child, learn how to use their feelings in constructive ways instead of allowing their emotions to control them. Though it may not look like it, I have just as many emotions as Captain Archer. The difference is that I understand how to use them properly."
T'Pol sat back, her eyes widened slightly, then narrowed.
Letting the side of his mouth twitch upwards, Qui-Gon answered, "Sub-Commander, in otherwords, I will never bury or disown my feelings or emotions. We have a code that Jedi society is built upon. Although we as Jedi, especially the human ones, have found it impossible to fully conform to its tenants, for that would make a person robotic in nature."
At her obvious confusion, he continued, "The Code is a guideline for Jedi to operate under." At her continued confusion, he rose to his feet and went over to the small table. Once there he invited the petite woman to join him.
"What is this 'code' Master Jinn?" she asked after sitting across from him.
Reaching over for the datafile reader, he blinked in surprise when it powered up. From everything that had taken place he was surprised that the battery hadn't totally been exhausted before needing to be recharged. "My actions," he began while still working with the reader, "are probably making you think that the code is long and intricate." Qui-Gon looked up while setting it back on the table, "when in actuality it isn't. There are four statements that are at its core, and three more that only add to it." He paused, and closed his eyes, "There is no emotion, there is peace; there is no ignorance, there is knowledge; there is no passion, there is serenity; there is no death, there is the Force."
"It sounds as if you worship these tenants."
"In a way we do." Opening his eyes, he reached for the reader again. This time he had the object float above his hand and then he began manipulating it. T'Pol's eyes flew open and then the slowly closed. Qui-Gon could feel her fumbling towards him in a clumsy fashion as if she was a youngling reaching to grasp at the Force for the first time. As their minds brushed against each other Qui-Gon felt the Force open up and he knew at that moment that the Vulcan before him had been allowed to see what he saw on a regular basis once he moved past the maelstrom the Force created, while meditating.
T'Pol gasped as her eyes flew open once again. At first they were sightless, then she focused on him once again. It took a moment before she was able to compose herself. "Is…is that what you see while meditating?"
"What did you see?"
She looked down, then back up, uncertainty in her eyes. "All colors fighting against each other then it went black. In the midst of it were two connected bright tongues of white fire, while others surrounding them were not as bright."
Qui-Gon couldn't help but smile. "Sub-Commander, the Force has given you a gift. Cherish its memory for as long as you are in this corporeal body."
T'Pol looked down to her hands that were in her lap, "It was strange, but I tried to use my feelings to reach out. It was frightening."
"For someone who has rigid control of their emotions, what you attempted was a terrifying experience, but I also suspect oddly exhilarating at the same time." Qui-Gon mused, "I've heard some humans state that romantic love is similar."
She looked back at him, obviously unsure of herself, "Emotions are vital?"
"Yes, very much so. I have to use my emotions and feelings to reach out to touch the Force. It's the only way to be able to anticipate an opponent's next move whether it be at the negotiating table, or in battle."
"Then you are a warrior."
"Only as a last resort. A Jedi will only kill only when all other options have been exhausted."
T'Pol raised an eyebrow, "What about your apprentice? He seems most irrational."
"There is a reason for his actions." Although Qui-Gon easily conceded her point. "Not only was he almost fatally injured when we arrived here, but a short time earlier there were several individuals that tried to kill him with poison. Because of this I give him more leeway than if he was not in his current predicament."
"Emotions are illogical and a sign of weakness. There is no place for them."
Qui-Gon sent a tendril of thought towards T'Pol but pulled back thinking it might not be the best idea. He looked down and drew his finger across the flat surface of the desk. "Disowning one's emotions will have a negative impact eventually. All sentient creatures have emotions." He paused when he felt her back away from him both mentally and physically. He knew he said something that put her off, but he wasn't sure what it was at this point. "Sub-Commander, I will never force anyone to reveal what they do not wish to want known. I also respect and revere all life, in fact my apprentice complains that I keep picking up 'strays'." Qui-Gon gave her a wry smile.
"It is not that, Master Jinn. It is common knowledge that Vulcans go through Pon Farr." T'Pol looked off to the side, refusing eye contact.
What is Pon Farr? Qui-Gon frowned, though his curiosity was piqued. Reaching out again he could feel something there, but he wasn't sure what it was. Fear, he realized. She fears whatever this Pon Farr and the emotions it entails. "You are afraid that if you decide to explore the realm of emotions and feelings, it would consume you. You are afraid of being ruled by your emotions."
T'Pol's head whipped around and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Sub-Commander, in the end it is your choice of what you do with your emotions."
"I need to meditate on this." T'Pol, though, remained where she sat.
Qui-Gon gave her a long look, debating on what he wanted to say and do. "Then come," as he rose, he indicated the area where he had been earlier with his hand.
In all his years, Obi-Wan had never been on a transport this big. He was used to the smaller ones that the Jedi used in conjunction with the Judiciary. The lift deposited them onto an unknown floor, then Trip helped guide the hover chair down the corridor in what he thought was a random direction, although he could feel the thrumming of the engines pulsating through the Force. At least he could still sense that. They stopped at a random door. Strange looking characters were stenciled on it. Obi-Wan knew this was their destination.
The doors opened and they entered a room that was wider than it was long. In its center was a flat cylinder, glowing with energy. Obi-Wan knew at that moment that what was before him powered the ship. He could feel the energy it emitted. He also knew it had to be powerful because of the size of the ship they were on. If there was one thing, the hyperdrive generators he worked on were never this big. Then again, he couldn't remember ever being on a ship the size of this particular one.
"I suspect you've already figured it out that before you is our engines," Trip began. "I'm not sure what you use for fuel in yours, but what we use is both matter and anti-matter."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened then he shook his head. He knew messing around with anti-matter was dangerous.
"I know what you're thinking. Yes, it's dangerous working with both, but as long as you follow safety procedures everything will be fine. We use the explosive reactions of the two when they touch to power our engines." He paused to work with a console for a moment. "I brought you here so you will know that as an engineer I can work on just about anything."
If Obi-Wan didn't have at least some of his abilities, he would have considered what Trip had stated to be arrogant, but he could sense that he actually believed it.
"Plus, it's much larger than yours. Then again we have to have that size because of the fuel." Trip did a little bit more with the console, then turned back to Obi-Wan. "I also wanted you to know that the diagnostics I had run let me know that there was an emergency power down. And as you know it kept your engine from blowing up, which is a very good thing."
Obi-Wan nodded. From Trip's comment it sounded as if even the humans here had the same safety switch installed.
"It also states that there doesn't need to be any major work done on it. I just need to figure out how to fix its problems. I'm not sure what I'd do if I had to replace it."
While closing his eyes, Obi-Wan sighed. The generator can be repaired, and we can go home. Trip's words were the best thing he had heard since he and his Master had arrived in this strange place.
"So, as much time as I can spare, I'll be working on your transport's engine."
Just as Trip turned to look back at him, someone entered engineering. He looked over Obi-Wan's shoulder and nodded, "Yes?"
"Commander…."
Tuning the conversation out, Obi-Wan looked back at the large power plant that provided the energy that the engines needed. He had to admit it was extremely interesting, and one he wished he could study more in detail while they were here. Letting his mind wander, he thought once again of Eira along with the dream he had. At this point Obi-Wan had no idea if it was just a dream, or an actual vision of the future. He had this odd feeling that it wasn't just a feel good dream.
"You ready, Obi-Wan?" Trip's voice came once more from beside him.
Turning, Obi-Wan slowly nodded. If that dream was to come to fruition, then he needed to get back to Coruscant. That meant that Trip needed to get the generator fixed sooner rather than later.
"Then c'mon." Trip maneuvered the chair around so they could leave engineering.
By the time they reached the lifts Obi-Wan found it difficult to stay awake. His eyes would close on their own and moments later he managed to force them open again. He was so tired, and it bothered him that even after short periods, he found it difficult to stay awake. Blinking his eyes, he realized that Trip had brought him back to the cabin he was using for the time being, and was resting on the bed. Instead of trying to stay awake, he let his eyes shut. That didn't last long for he could feel it coming.
Trip moved towards the door. Reaching it, he turned to look back and saw Obi-Wan twitch as if something happened during a dream. It wasn't that unusual, even he felt himself twitch on occasion while sleeping. This was different, for it intensified quickly.
"Shit," Trip muttered under his breath. He had never seen a seizure before, but he knew that's what Obi-Wan was suffering through at the moment. Throwing caution to the wind, he went back over to the bunk and sat down, trying to figure out what to do to keep Obi-Wan from hurting himself.
The door opened. Looking up from his position he watched as Qui-Gon entered the room followed by T'Pol.
"It just started." Trip rose to his feet and made sure that he was standing out of the way.
Qui-Gon placed a hand on Obi-Wan's forehead. Glancing over to T'Pol, she shook her head. Apparently even she didn't know what was going on between the two before them.
Trip kept his voice low. "I hope I didn't push him too hard."
Even though Qui-Gon's full attention was on Obi-Wan, he still answered, "Sometimes I believe I'm never hard enough on him. He's extremely gifted and will be great someday."
"I'm not sure what you mean by that," Trip was more curious than anything else. He glanced to T'Pol. She shook her head again.
Only when Obi-Wan's stopped seizing up did Qui-Gon sink down into an available chair. "I'm not sure how much you know about this, but we," he indicated Obi-Wan, "Are not normal humans. We have abilities that can be seen as both a burden and a gift. Only when Obi-Wan is ready will he be free to carry this weight by himself and then go out and train another that has the same gift." Qui-Gon looked over to Obi-Wan again. "Were you able to get anything accomplished?"
"Sad to say, but no." Trip frowned, "We never made it to the hanger bay.
"What do you mean?" Qui-Gon's eyes flicked to the side which made Trip follow. T'Pol opened the door and she left the three of them.
Trip turned his attention back to Qui-Gon. "We were on our way to the hanger when I realized just how tired Obi-Wan was. It was only after I got him here did the seizure start." He indicated the door with his thumb, "I'm going to talk to Phlox about this. After what's happened to him, having a seizure on top of it all is not good at all."
"There's no need, Commander." Qui-Gon shrugged, "Your healer already knows."
A cough from the bed drew both Trip and Qui-Gon's attention. Apparently Obi-Wan had come back around.
Qui-Gon stood and moved back over to the bed. Leaning over he placed his hand on Obi-Wan's forehead. "Padawan?" After a moment he nodded as if in answer to an unspoken question.
It took a moment before Trip realized that the untranslated word was most likely a title of sorts. "Don't worry, everything will work out in the end."
As soon as it was obvious that the conversation was turning personal, Trip turned and left the room. It was a relief to know that Qui-Gon was there to make sure that the after effects of the seizure weren't as bad as it could have been. While in the corridor, he moved over to a computer panel and looked up where the captain was, then headed in that direction.
The door the the small conference room opened as he approached it, and Trip could hear Jon speaking, "We need to figure out or next moves."
Trip stepped inside. Besides the Captain, T'Pol was standing there. The two had stopped their discussion and were now looking at him.
Jon glanced to one of the clocks on the wall, then back to Trip, "What are you doing here?"
"Cap'n, I never did make it down to the hanger. It's obvious that Obi-Wan tires quickly. I thought it was best to wait until he's strong enough before he can join me."
"Captain, Padawan Kenobi also had a seizure," T'Pol addressed Jon, but kept her attention on Trip.
Jon narrowed his eyes. "I didn't know about that. Do either of you know when this started?"
"Probably last night, that's what Master Jinn said, but I'm not certain." Trip shrugged. Even though he hid it, it bothered him that the younger of the two strangers was dealing with such issues.
Jon nodded, then split his attention between the two lower ranked officers as he began again, "We need to figure out our next moves. So far it doesn't look like the Sulabon know of the existence of the hyperdrive engine in our hanger. I'm hoping to keep it that way, but it can change at any time."
"The Sulabon must not find the anomaly."
Jon nodded in agreement. "I know. Qui-Gon's people may be advanced but…," he shook his head. It was obvious that no one needed to speak about the possibilities how the Sulabon could wreck havoc here.
"How did they get here?"
"I keep forgetting that you weren't on the bridge when they arrived." Jon paused with a smile, "They came through the anomaly then crashed on the plant we're currently orbiting." He turned his attention to the window. From their position they could see the world below, but during their orbit, and on a regular basis they could see the spatial disturbance in all its colorful glory.
Trip followed the Captain's gaze towards the anomaly. "So, as soon as they're gone, we're going to have to figure out a way to keep the Sulabon from leaving."
"Correct," Jon nodded. "I don't want the Sulabon or Tholians leaving our space."
"Have you checked Daniels' database?"
Jon turned his attention back to T'Pol. "Yes, but with everything that's happened, especially with the hyperdrive that's in our hanger bay I've come to the conclusion that I need to check it on a regular basis."
"Cap'n, you know it's not the Sulabon, but who's behind them. If they're from the future, then they can come at any time."
"Which means that you need to fix that hyperdrive. Have your assistant take over engineering for the time being." He paused, "And take whomever you need for help. It has to be fixed as soon as possible."
Trip nodded, "I'm pretty sure I know what's wrong with it. If it's what I think it is, it won't take too long, maybe a few days at most?"
"Good, I'll try and make this as quick as possible so you can start working on that engine. Like I mentioned earlier we also need to figure out how we can keep the Sulabon from following our visitors back to their home."
TBC…