Star Wars Jedi Apprentice- Prejudice
Chapter 8 - Saving the Boys
~There's a secret that Obi and Garen share. Only a select few know of it. However will Qui still accept Obi when he finds out his true origin. Its up to the gang and the council to help Qui get over this prejudice What Happens when the boys are in danger? Can Qui get over his feelings to save them? Pretty well AU. First JA Fan Fic
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Morning came very slowly. Obi-Wan and Garen were lying on pile of straw waiting for morning and the execution to finally come. They had felt Clee and Qui-Gon land last night. They half wondered why they didn't bust in like a couple of maniacs and set them free. They knew better than to expect that from two Jedi masters though.
They heard the clinking of chains and keys and the squeak of the door. They sat up to see Qui-Gon and Clee walk through the door. Tahl, Mace, Kit and another man came after them. The man looked familiar. Obi-Wan was drawn into Qui's arms, and Garen into Clee's. Once they were let go they both looked to the familiar man.
Smiling Clee said. "Boys this is your real father, Thomas."
Thomas stepped forward smiling lightly, tears in his eyes. "Stars how you two have grown." He knelt down and embraced them. It felt right to Garen and Obi-Wan and they returned the embrace.
Finally parting Obi-Wan saw Garen subtly wipe his eyes. He smiled lightly. Garen had been secretly excited to meet their father only to be disappointed in finding that it was a phony. He was glad Garen got what he wanted.
"Alright you two today we're going to clear this up!" Kit said with a smile. He felt the family togetherness forming. Even in Qui-Gon.
Garen looked at him his eyebrow raised. "What's to clear up? We're sacrifices."
Kit chuckled slightly then regained his composure. "We're clearing up WHY you're being sacrificed."
Garen looked at him not convinced. "That still doesn't sound like music to my ears."
Tahl covered her mouth as she laughed. Obi-Wan knew Garen was just playing. He turned and laughed as well. Garen just wanted the words to SOUND clear.
Mace stepped forward. "What Master Fisto is trying to say is that we're going to stop the executions for good. We're clearing up the entire execution/sacrifice issue."
"Oh Good!" Garen said acting very pleased and letting out a breath. "I thought I was going to be cooked then eaten by some giant pet of some psycho politician."
Obi-Wan smiled. Clee shook her head and rolled her eyes.
The sound of approaching footsteps could be heard down the hall. The door opened again and in walked the man.
"Alexander, this is ridiculous. I learned the truth. The Lochness is dead and has been for a long time. It never affected us!" Thomas said to the man.
Alexander, the man, looked at him with cold gray eyes. "You selfish fool." His fist flew out and struck Thomas in the side of the face. Thomas fell to the ground at the feet of Garen and Obi-Wan. "Just because your sons are to be sacrifices. Do you care more about your sons; your pride, than your people?"
Thomas said nothing. He couldn't, his jaw locked up from the strike.
"Maybe you'll join them." Alexander said pulling out an old firing arm. The kind that fired balls of lead. Not very accurate but effective. Obi-Wan threw himself over his father's head where the pistol was pointed. Garen didn't dare move. Alexander nodded his head at them to his men. "Take them and their father too. He moved his pistol to point at Qui-Gon once the three were under guard.
Qui-Gon watched as the three were led out. Obi-Wan turned around his eyes pleading, full of fear. Just like Kana's. That did it. He jumped forward slicing the pistol from Alexander's hand. He threw him to the side and went for the three. Tahl covered Alexander so he couldn't get up. Clee, Kit and Mace were behind Qui-Gon. The guards were unsure what to do. The three looked over to where Alexander sat against the wall holding his hurting wrist.
Finally one of the guards threw Obi-Wan to the ground and ran. He knew better than to mess with five Jedi Masters. The other two watched as he fled. They looked to the group and looked at each other. Gui-Gon pulled Obi-Wan to his feet and pushed him behind his body.
Qui-Gon nodded toward the other two. The guards looked at one another again and let go of the two. Thomas took Garen's hand and pulled him to the center of the Jedi. He held his face. A large bruise was forming.
The sound of running footsteps was heard. More were coming. Tahl turned and sliced a hole in the stone wall. Stepping through it she led the others out. When the larger group of guards arrived Alexander was standing looking after them. "After them." He said angrily. He looked to his wrist and scowled.
The Jedi ran through the yellow meadow to their ship. The sky was dark and cloudy. It was eerie. Nothing but yellow grass for as far as the eye could see in front of them. A single ship ahead of them. Thomas took his sons by the hands and pushed them into the ship. Once inside they took off.
Garen and Obi-Wan sat panting in Thomas' arms on the floor of the ship. "Kit get it ready. Mace, Clee, you come with me. Tahl stay with the boys." Obi-Wan sat up.
"What's going on? Aren't we leaving?"
"Not just yet. Take care of your father's jaw." Mace said walking passed him.
Garen went off to get a med kit. Obi-Wan stood and went to Qui-Gon. "Why aren't we leaving?" He asked quietly.
Qui-Gon looked down at him and placed a hand on his head and ran it through his sandy hair. "Like we said before. We're going to make sure there won't be any more executions."
Obi-Wan nodded but he had a bad feeling about it. He took his master's hand. "Be safe."
Qui-Gon nodded and squeezed the boy's hand before finally departing.
The entire time Thomas watched the interactions of the two. He knew where teh boys really belonged. He had hoped that now that he had the boys in his arms he could be with them forever. But he knew now that could never happen.
As Garen bandaged and set his father's jaw he too saw the interactions nd his father's reaction. Placing a hand on the older man's should he whispered. "You'll always be our father. No one can replace that or change that."
Thomas looked at his son and smiled. He was right.
Obi-Wan sat up front with Tahl watching as they flew to the hill with the tall pires. A large crowd had gathered around the pires. The execution was off schedule so they were making quite a commotion and once they saw the ship they made even more commotions. Qui-Gon opened up the bottom compartment and he, Mace, Kit and Clee lowered the skull with the cables and mounted it on the main pire. The crowd became silent. The four slid down the cables detaching them from the skull and dismounting on the ground. Qui-Gon went forward to address the crowd. "Citizens of Hahlow. You've been led to believe that The Lochness is the cause of the curse on your planet. So you've been sacrificing innocent, pure lives to it. The truth is..." He turned to the skull. "The creature had been dead for many many years. This is it's skull we pulled from the lake. You've been sacrificing your loved ones to a creature that has no effect on you or your planet and has been dead for decades possibly even a century. It's true it existed but it never held a curse. These sacrifices are in vain."
The people began to murmur to themselves. Then a boy around Obi-Wan's and Garen's age came forward. He looked at the skull and at Qui-Gon. "This monster stole my mother and father from me leaving me all alone." He bent down picked up a stone and threw it at the skull. The crowd hesitated then slowly through trickles the people came forward and began beating the skull.
Qui-Gon moved out of the way and toward the ship that was now landed. Standing on the ramp were the boys, Thomas and Tahl. out of the corner of his eye he saw something. However he was too late as soo nas he looked the shot rang out. A sharp pain in his chest radiated through his body. He collapsed to the ground. Obi-Wan ran forward and caught him just before his head hit the ground. He sensed the boy's distress. Garen was close behind him. He heard Kit, Clee and Mace fighting with someone. He glanced over and saw Alexander on the ground, an angry crowd coming closer. Mace, Clee and Kit backed off not sure what was going on. The crowd grabbed Alexander and began tying him up.
He felt tears fall on his forehead. He looked up into pained eyes of a boy who he cared deeply for. Obi-Wan was stroking Qui-Gon's hair and face. Thomas and Garen were working together to try and stop the bleeding. Tahl ran inside to get a stretcher.
Qui-Gon felt strange; numb even. He didn't feel cold or any pain. Just numb. He was shaking he knew that but he wasn't cold or afraid.
"Qui-Gon." A familiar voice called to him. He knew the voice. He closed his eyes. There standing in front of him was Kana and a baby boy in her arms. She had a soft smile on her face just like before. He didn't know what to say. Was he dead? "No you're not dead. Not exactly." She said knowing his thoughts while playing with the boy. She was as beautiful as ever. Her dress was the same one he met her in. Powder blue with lace and style of the Hahlows.
The boy in her arms looked a lot like Kana but also a lot like Qui-Gon. The child reminded him of Obi-Wan.
She walked towards him holding out the boy to him. He took him into his arms. The boy touched his father's face lovingly. Qui-Gon felt tears come to his eyes. Kana placed her hands behind her back. "I've been waiting for a long time Qui."
Qui-Gon looked at her.
"We never did name him." She smiled brightly.
Qui-Gon looked at the boy and knew exactly what to name him. "Obi-Wan."
Kana's smile grew bigger. "I see. Very fitting."
Qui-Gon looked to her questioningly. "You know the name?"
"Of course. I've been watching over you since that morning. And Obi-Wan. Oh Thomas." She giggled causing Qui-Gon's heart to soar. "Unfortunately we can't stay here forever. You can't anyway. But you will one day."
Qui-Gon nodded handing the boy back to his mother placing a hand on the boy's face before fully backing away.
"I'll wait forever." Kana said before disappearing.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes.
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[AN] Almost done! O.O whoa that was fast! like 4 days wow! glad i had a week off to write this! Then i posted a chapter up every week or so! Please R&R!