A Fate Redone
Summary: What if Obi-Wan got a vision on Qui-Gon's death even before they were sent to Naboo? Follow the race against time as Obi-Wan tries to find a way to stop the future from happening.
Timeline: During TPM
Spoilers: If you haven't seen The Phantom Menace, I do not recommend you to read this fic. See the movie first unless you want to know things before you've seen it.
Ratings: T just in case. Lots of angst and lots of cuddly Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moments. Not as lovers, can't imagine that, but as a father and son.
I do not own Star Wars. I make no profit for writing this stuff; I do because I want to.
Just so you know, I haven't read many Star Wars books, only heard about them. I have a little background about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon but expect I'll leave most of that stuff in the shadows so to speak. I may make some things up, so don't be angry on me for that. It follows the movie, mostly, but I will change some things.
Enjoy this fic. Centred on Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, mostly. Anakin is important as well.
-
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Talking into someone's mind"
/Speaking through bond/
Flashback
Visions
Chapter 5: Back to Naboo
Anakin had never been in place as silent as the star ship travelling to Naboo. Obi-Wan was leaning against his master, eyes darting back and forth under his closed eyelids. Not even in sleep the young man could relax. Qui-Gon was holding his Padawan loosely, staring at the wall. Even Jar Jar was quiet. The creature was sitting by Obi-Wan, leaning his head against the Padawan's left knee. Artoo turned its mechanical eye towards Anakin, who looked back at him.
"It feels like we're in a graveyard", Anakin said quietly to the droid.
The droid answered something and Anakin smiled slightly.
"Of course you didn't understand the phrase, Artoo. It was made by humans."
The droid made its way to the boy and Anakin slid down on the floor next to the machine. Qui-Gon took a deep breath and sighed. He gently moved his apprentice around until Obi-Wan was lying down on the bench.
"I'll get something to eat", the older Jedi said. "Keep an eye on Obi for me, okay? Both of you."
Anakin and Jar Jar nodded. Qui-Gon gave them a small smile, and went on his way. His footsteps echoed in the halls of the ship, making Anakin shiver. He looked at the Gungan who had leaned his head against the bench, near Obi-Wan's head. The Padawan had tensed up since Qui-Gon left and the boy got up. He sat down and placed the young man's head in his lap. Obi-Wan opened his eyes to mere slits and looked up at him.
"Master Qui-Gon went to get something to eat", Anakin informed the apprentice. "Just rest some more, he'll be back soon."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. Anakin closed his eyes and tried to do the simple meditation Yoda had taught him. The old Jedi could not go with Anakin, and the boy could not stay at Coruscant with his master so to make up to it Yoda had given him some simple things to do, like meditation. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan would, if they had the time, teach him the basics in sword-fighting and Yoda would take over when they came back to Coruscant.
A quiet pair of footsteps made Anakin open his eyes. Padme smiled down at him.
"Are you alright?" she gently asked.
"Yes", he answered. "A bit stressing at first, but now it's all calm and quiet."
"A bit too quiet wouldn't you say?" she said and sat down. "The queen is very worried, and that worry weighs down on all of us."
"I hope everything will turn out okay", Anakin said softly. "The queen seems so nice."
"She is", Padme said. "Maybe a bit too impulsive but that makes her known."
"Wanting to save her people is okay", the boy said. "Then you can be a bit impulsive."
Padme only smiled. Qui-Gon came back soon and the handmaiden rose up.
"I'm sure the queen wants some lunch", she said. "I will be going then."
"See you later", Anakin said and she nodded.
Padme left and Qui-Gon sat down the food on a table nearby. Anakin gently let down Obi-Wan's head on the bench again and sat down by the table. He looked on as the older Jedi gently shook his Padawan's shoulder. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and yawned, but sat up. Jar Jar got up as well and walked to the table. Qui-Gon looked at the Gungan and said:
"No tongue-tricks with the food, Jar Jar."
The Gungan stuck his tongue out before grabbing a fruit. Obi-Wan sat down and smiled weakly to Anakin. The boy put on a brave face and grinned back.
-
The night came, even though it could not be seen, and Anakin made ready for bed. Obi-Wan was finishing his meditation while Qui-Gon seemed still deep in it. The boy said his goodnight and fell asleep mere minutes after that.
He woke up by a shaking in the ship and sat up. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon was already up and opened the door. Sparks flew by, and thanks to Qui-Gon's reflexes Obi-Wan's arm was saved from the flames. The older Jedi pushed his Padawan flushed to him and the alarm went. Water came and quickly destroyed the flames.
"Anakin, stay close to us! Jar Jar, you too!" Qui-Gon called out. "Let's go!"
The four of them moved out in the hall and surveyed the damages. Artoo was already there, fixing a control panel. Padme came running and said:
"We're under attack!"
The two Jedis ran to the cockpit, but Padme took Anakin and the Gungan to the queen's chambers to keep them a bit safer.
Obi-Wan was running behind Qui-Gon but then there was another explosion and the apprentice was thrown back into the wall. He vaguely noticed Qui-Gon screaming his name and then there was only darkness.
-
The Padawan looked around and wondered where he was. He was on a ship but not on the Naboo star ship. This one was dark and he felt the Dark side growing strong inside. He heard footsteps and turned around. A giant man with a mask came walking, and Obi-Wan was puzzled. Then he remembered the mask. Darth Vader. Anakin.
Obi-Wan started to run, anything just to get away from the man who had been lured into the darkness. He did not care where he ran, or where he would end up; just anything to get away from him. The Padawan finally stopped and panted. He was in a hangar. He saw soldiers prepare a flight, he saw people running around. Then he saw Palatine, just like in the visions. This had to be another vision, it had to be. The visions does not mean the future, the future is always in motion.
Obi-Wan rambled these thoughts in his head, and then suddenly the world went black again. Only a few moments after that it became white and he curled up as warmth surrounded him. He felt safe there.
He heard a soft voice calling out to him. First he did not want to abandon the warm place but the voice was stubborn. He cracked one eye open and found himself lying on a cold floor.
/Obi?/
"Master?" he said groggily.
"Oh thank the Force", he heard his master say quietly before raising his voice to a soft rumble: "How are you feeling Padawan?"
"Head… hurts." Which was true; it felt like someone had thrown him head first into a stone.
"You took a pretty good blow to your head with the explosion", Qui-Gon said, "but you're fine."
Obi-Wan nearly threw up as Qui-Gon helped him up, but he succeeded to keep his food down. The older Jedi continued speaking:
"The pilots shook off the followers, so we should be safe until we reach Naboo. Just in case, Anakin and Jar Jar stays with the queen. Okay?"
Obi-Wan nodded and immediately regretted the action. He gave a whimper of pain and clutched his head. Qui-Gon lifted up the Padawan as gently as he could and carried him back to their room. The door was broken, but their privacy was the least in Qui-Gon's mind. He set down his apprentice on the bed and went to get a wet cloth for the younger man.
Obi-Wan felt something cool touch his burning head and groaned. He peered one eye open and saw Qui-Gon smile at him, although a little strained.
"Go to sleep, little one", the older man said. "Everything's alright."
Obi-Wan tried to answer but no words came out. Qui-Gon bent over and gave him a soft kiss on his throbbing head and rewetted the cloth. After that, Obi-Wan was out.
-
Anakin looked around the room. All he knew was that the ship was going to Naboo. He did not know if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan was alright. He did not know a thing. And he was afraid.
Jar Jar seemed anxious as well, pacing back and forth. The Gungan was really attached to the younger Jedi and not being able to see him after an attack seemed to make him more jumpy than usual.
Suddenly the door opened and Padme came in.
"I saw Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan", she said with a weak smile and sat down. "Obi-Wan had hurt his head, but master Qui-Gon said he would be fine. You will stay here for the night, and then you can go back."
"Okay", the boy and Gungan said.
"It's going to be fine", Padme said and then turned to Jar Jar. "Are you really sure that you can follow through the suggestion the queen made?"
"Me can do it", Jar Jar said. "Me was saved by you, so me shall help you!"
"Thank you", the handmaiden said. "The queen will be very happy hearing that."
"Where is the queen?" Anakin said.
"Still counselling with captain Panaka and some of the pilots", the handmaiden said. "She sent me here to make sure you were alright and comfortable."
They both nodded and Padme suggested they should go to sleep. Neither of them put up much of a protest.
-
Obi-Wan woke up from a nightmare with a gasp. He struggled blindly against the blankets, and nearly screamed when someone grabbed a hold on him. He relaxed as he recognized his master's face. Obi-Wan felt something cool touch his lips and greedily drank the water Qui-Gon offered.
"Thank you master", he gasped.
"Nightmare or vision?"
"Nightmare", the Padawan said. "No vision, just nightmare…"
"Nightmare is bad enough", Qui-Gon scolded. "It's still night, so go back to sleep."
"I… I can't", Obi-Wan whispered.
Qui-Gon looked at his apprentice with sad eyes. Then he helped Obi-Wan to sit up and peeled off the sweat-soaked tunic. He rummage through the drawer and dragged out one of his own. He put it on the Padawan and said:
"Does your head still hurt?"
"Not so much", the younger man answered.
"Are you up for a short walk then?"
Obi-Wan nodded and Qui-Gon helped him up from the bed. They slowly made their way out to the hall and Qui-Gon directed him to the service hall for the droids. Obi-Wan always felt calm around machines, so it was worth a try.
-
Anakin woke up what he guessed was morning. He stretched and carefully got up from the mattress. Jar Jar was still sound asleep on the other one. The boy quickly dressed and went outside. He walked quickly to Qui-Gon's and Obi-Wan's room and peered inside. Obi-Wan was lying on the bed, still asleep. Next to him was Qui-Gon. How they fitted on such a small bed Anakin had no idea. He sat down on Qui-Gon's bed and was startled when Qui-Gon opened his eyes.
"Morning", the older Jedi said.
"Morning", Anakin answered. "Is he okay?"
"Just a bit tired", Qui-Gon said. "He had a nightmare and that kept us up for a few hours."
Anakin nodded and curled up. Suddenly Obi-Wan gave out a little groan and blinked sleepily.
"Good morning child", Qui-Gon murmured with a warmth Anakin had only heard in his mother's voice at certain times. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired", the Padawan mumbled and then saw Anakin. "Hi Ani. You okay?"
"Yeah, a bit tired too", Anakin answered with a sheepish grin.
"How's Jar Jar?" Obi-Wan said.
"Still asleep, but fine otherwise."
The apprentice nodded and carefully sat up. Qui-Gon did the same thing and stood up from the bed.
"They definitely need to get better beds on star ships", Qui-Gon said and groaned. "They always hurt my back."
"Old man", Obi-Wan said with a chuckle.
"Whiny brat."
Anakin looked on as the two Jedis bickered back and forth with a smile on his lips. He did not know why, but he felt at home with these two men and all their bickering.
-
On Naboo, it was all silent. All since the invasion the place had grown quiet; animals hid in fear and humans were silenced. One lonely ship made its way over the forest; its silver surface shining in the sun. The ship gently lowered down in a clearing and landed.
The queen of Naboo had returned.
-
Obi-Wan stood and looked around while the others from the ship looked nervous. Jar Jar had gone to Gungan City to plea for help; he had yet to return. Qui-Gon came up behind him and said:
"This place is too quiet."
"The Federation has silenced them all", the Padawan said with his eyes closed. "I can sense animals all around us, but they are silent because of fear of being discovered."
"I cannot sense them at all", Qui-Gon said and frowned.
"Their Force are weak, probably kept to the minimal but they are still there", the younger man continued. "I believe there is a bird in that dead tree that is staring at us as we speak."
Qui-Gon looked up in surprise and saw indeed a bird. It was watching them silently, with alert eyes. Its wings were ready to take flight at any second.
"The Force has always been strong with you", Qui-Gon said and smiled. "I was right in saying you're ready to become a full Jedi."
Only silence answered the older man. He looked at his Padawan, who was staring at him. Then the younger man bowed his head and said:
"Do you not wish to teach me anymore?"
The tone in his voice, so cold and professional, made Qui-Gon's heart break. He gently circled his arms around Obi-Wan, around his child, and said:
"If I could decide, I would teach you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately I have nothing more to teach, nothing more than how to let go and I do not wish to teach you that."
"Then don't", Obi-Wan said, his voice muffled by Qui-Gon's robe. "Teach me how to be a Jedi, but never how to let go. I won't let go."
Qui-Gon smiled and whispered:
"I know you won't."
-
The night was quiet. Obi-Wan watched the moon as he heard they were still planning. Padme was the queen; not such a big surprise for the Padawan since he had seen that in his visions, but he loved the face the others who did not know it made. His master for an example. The Gungan leader, Boss Nass, had agreed to help them after Padme had gone down on her knees before him. He said that he had never seen a human go on their knees like the queen had, and now felt like they could work out their problems. Fighting a war against an army of droids together was a good start.
"Obi-Wan?"
The Padawan turned around and looked at his master.
"Escaped the planning?" Obi-Wan said and turned to look at the moon again.
"I already know what to do", Qui-Gon said. "They Sith will be there, right?"
"Most likely", Obi-Wan said.
"Are we going to die tomorrow?"
The Padawan bowed his head, not wanting to show how much the question had shocked, and practically scared him. The Jedi master looked up and said:
"The night is clear."
"Yes it is", Obi-Wan said.
"Anakin told me at Tatooine", the older man said, "that he wanted to travel to all the stars when he was old enough."
"Quite an impossible task he has", Obi-Wan said and looked up.
"He seemed quite determent", Qui-Gon said.
"That he is. Where is he?"
"Asleep. The day's excitement caught up with him."
The Padawan only nodded and continued to gaze upon the sky.
"You didn't answer my question", Qui-Gon said after a while.
"No… I didn't", Obi-Wan said.
"Are you going to?"
"I prefer not to. The future has yet to be decided. I can only give you wrong facts about what is going to happen."
Qui-Gon put an arm on Obi-Wan's shoulders and continued:
"What if you give yourself the wrong facts? What if you act foolish because of the visions, and ends up hurt?"
"I am not that foolish to listen to some visions rather my own instinct", the apprentice defended himself.
"I know. You always acted on your instinct, and that instinct has saved us both many times."
"But what if it doesn't work this time?" Obi-Wan whispered, almost too quiet for Qui-Gon to hear.
But he did hear. And his heart stopped. Obi-Wan knew something that he did not. Some visions could be stronger than others, and that meant they would most likely occur.
"Did you have a vision you suspect will happen?" Qui-Gon murmured.
"I don't know… I don't know anything anymore…"
The older Jedi gently embraced the younger man, felt thin arms hug him back and said:
"It will all be alright in the end, you will see. There will be death, and pain but everything has to stop somewhere. Death will sink away, and pain will be replaced with happiness. You will se."
"What if you lose something so dear that life isn't important anymore?" Obi-Wan said and buried his head into Qui-Gon's hair. "What if you lose everything you care about, and your heart is left with an empty space you know you cannot replace or fill up. What would you do?"
"I would protect that I hold the most precious with my life", Qui-Gon said and shook his apprentice a bit. "What's wrong, child? What drags down your heart in despair?"
"The pain of losing someone", Obi-Wan said, "is stronger than the will to live. I have felt it many times during these last few days. I lose that person every time in my dreams, and my heart feels so empty even after I wake up. I cannot feel anything else but cold."
Qui-Gon, not liking where the conversation were leading, tightened his hold on his child, his life-saviour and most precious person since his friend Mace, and stroke the short hair. He tugged on the braid and felt Obi-Wan's lips turn into a smile.
"Do you feel cold now?" Qui-Gon said.
"… No. You're warm", the Padawan said.
"Happy to keep you warm", the Jedi master said. "I will not let you go through that kind of despair."
"You cannot always hold your promises."
"I can hold this one."
Qui-Gon fell on his rear as Obi-Wan pushed himself forward, into Qui-Gon. The Jedi master held his Padawan as Obi-Wan broke out in tears. Qui-Gon started to speak:
"Do you remember that day you became my Padawan? You were still lying in bed, too weak to move around."
"I remember", Obi-Wan whispered. "The happiness, and the pride."
"I never could think that you would become this precious", the older man said. "But over the years, I understood this was fate. I understood you were meant to be with me from the very beginning. Yoda knew that as well, but let me decide for my own. I still remembered how he hit me on my shins when I first refused to take you as a Padawan."
"He always said I was meant to have a strong Master", Obi-Wan said. "He said that no one than the best was good enough for me. When he said it was you, I asked why. Master Yoda explained that the best did not mean the strongest, the fastest or the smartest. He said that the best master was one who understood you. And no one else but you has."
Qui-Gon smiled and raised his Padawan's head with a finger underneath the younger man's chin.
"I am glad you wanted me", Qui-Gon said. "I thought my teaching would end with Xanatos, but I am happy to say you proved me wrong."
"Getting all the sentimental, are we?" Obi-Wan said and sniffed.
"That is not always a bad thing", the older man said. "But enough of sentimentality for tonight; we need a good night rest before tomorrow."
He rose up and offered a hand to his apprentice. Obi-Wan took it and said:
"Thank you master."
Qui-Gon kissed his forehead and only smiled.
-
He said that they needed to rest before the battle, and yet he did not follow his own advice. For the first time in his life, Qui-Gon was feared for someone else's life. He looked down on his Padawan's face and stroke the slightly paler cheek with his hand. Obi-Wan had fallen asleep next to him, but Qui-Gon had carefully took a hold off him and gotten him up in his arms. Now Obi-Wan was comfortably lying with his head on Qui-Gon's shoulder and his thin arms curled up and resting on his master's chest. His breathing was deep and even, and for once nightmares did not plague him.
Qui-Gon looked up at the sky and heard the motion go around him. People were still up, making last-minute planning or preparing weapons. He turned to look at his left, and smiled at Anakin. The boy was curled up underneath a blanket, with Jar Jar by his side.
A movement from his Padawan made him look down. Obi-Wan looked back on him with half-open eyes. Qui-Gon would have thought the picture his apprentice made was cute, but really, being cute did not really fit a 25 year old man like Obi-Wan.
"Go back to sleep", he ushered. "Still long time until dawn."
"Follow your own advice, and sleep yourself", Obi-Wan huffed and fell asleep almost after that.
Qui-Gon could not hold back a chuckle and laid down carefully. As soon as he laid down, he felt his body growing heavy and his eyelids were hard to open. He got the robe around them both and prepared to sleep. It was going to be a long and hard day tomorrow.
Tbc…
I know, lame ending. Sorry if this was a bit short, but I can't find anything more to write. And as my History teacher says, don't fill up a text with empty words. So I don't.
Anyway, next chapter is most likely to be the last one, and then there will be an Epilogue. The next chapter will be named: "The Fight for Survival, The Fight for our Loved Ones" and will center around the fight on Naboo. Dunno how long that chapter will be. We'll see.
Until then, (hoped you enjoyed this chapter)
Ja,
Tiro