Darsant Avat

Calm Before Telos

"I hate being sick," Obi-Wan moped, "And I didn't know that coughing so often would make my chest hurt."

"That certainly sounds unpleasant," Bail Organa's hologram was interspersed with static. "I probably shouldn't take up too much of your time then."

"It's okay," Obi-Wan insisted, "I'm bored out of my mind. How are things going on Alderaan?"

"Pretty well. The usual legal stuff that you're probably not too interested in hearing right now. Also…wedding…stuff, though thankfully most of the planning is done by Breha and her family. I just have to show up."

Obi-Wan's giggling caused him to cough again. "She seems really nice. You're both really nice. I think you two match well."

Qui-Gon snorted at this. The boy sounded like he actually knew what he was talking about. Ten-year-olds.

"Thanks, Obi. Always good to know that at least others have faith in us. Father will be talking to Master Yoda, ask if perhaps you can come along. If I name you ring bearer, I can prevent my cousins and uncles from killing each other over it."

"What do ring bearers do?"

Ring bearer? Qui-Gon could think of at least a dozen candidates more suitable than Obi-Wan. Was Bail being serious?

"I don't know if it's allowed, though," Bail warned after he finished explaining, "I don't know if there's some kind of message that we might unintentionally send by having Jedi participate in the actual ceremony. Would be great if Yoda gives you permission though."

"Uh-huh," Obi-Wan sounded enthusiastic enough, "That would be nice. I've never been to a wedding before, much less a royal one!"

"Kid, you'll probably see a lot of weddings if Yoda lets you in on this one."

"I hope so. I hear they're exciting. Is there a lot of fainting involved? You're the groom so you're in extra danger."

Where did Obi-Wan hear that? Who told him that? Was it Tahl? Qui-Gon was going to figure out who had been teaching his padawan these things.

"Believe me," Bail sounded wry, "You have no idea."

The boy went on talking to the viceroy's son, which was interesting because usually ten-year-olds had little to say to adults, and Bail Organa certainly seemed popular enough that he did not have to resort chatting with a youngling. Then again, Obi-Wan had plenty to say to all his friends, most of whom were adults. He actually did better with people who were older than him rather than younger, probably because he was too young himself to be able to consider the mentalities of those even smaller than himself.

Youngsters. It was like watching evolution in progress. Accelerated many times over.

Adi Gallia came by while the child was sleeping to inform him that he would be taking up mediation courses with Tahl. Mace was with her because he was bored.

"It's been a while since you were assigned on a mission, hasn't it?" Qui-Gon pointed out to him.

Mace glowered. "Not for the lack of trying. You wouldn't believe the matters on Coruscant. The problems run along like they're on steroids. I really need to get off his planet, but I'm neck-deep in all the local happenings already and it's too inconvenient to let someone else take over. How's your little one doing?"

"Here's the syllabus," Adi handed the datapad to Qui-Gon, "You're grounded for this week and the next, that should give your padawan enough time to recover. After that, I believe the Council wants to send you to Pure Neimoidia to check on the Trade Federation."

Qui-Gon was beginning to realize that people loved talking to him while he was trying to read. "Colonies region?" He remarked slowly, distracted, "So we're branching out then? First Core, then Colonies, Inner Rim…Expansion, Mid Rim, Outer Rim…" Actually he was hoping Obi-Wan would never have to go out to the Outer Rim.

"Have to start somewhere. The Trade Federation is a pretty influential cartel, and the Neimoidians are pretty influential in the Trade Federation. It's a win-win!"

"…Sure…last I heard the Trade Federation isn't too fond of the Jedi sticking their noses into their business." Pun intended.

"We're sending a third Jedi to watch out for your padawan," Adi said in a slightly long-suffering tone, "When did you start being so complicated to deal with? Never mind, don't answer that."

"I was going to say," Mace smirked at her.

"I have doubts that Obi-Wan's charm will work on them." In fact, he had a nagging feeling that the boy would be absolutely miserable if he had to entertain the Neimoidians. The child was not so dense that he could remain blissfully unaware of other people's impressions. "We'll see. What's this, just a check up?"

"We're arranging it. Depa is discussing the visit with the minister, Nute Gunray. It won't be for a while though, and you should really focus on teaching this," Adi tapped the datapad with the syllabus.

"You know, sending me and Obi-Wan away all the time will interfere with his studies."

"He'll be given assignments. You learn more off Coruscant anyway."

This was true.

"Master Dooku is being sent away," Mace opened, "You wouldn't know something about that, would you?"

"He's being sent away?" Qui-Gon was not so distracted this time, but he kept his intonations the same and his eyes on the datapad to maintain the illusion that he was. "Where?"

"I don't know. Yoda just talked to us, recommended we send Dooku away somewhere. Right after you returned from Corellia too. What did he do, give your padawan the evil eye? Threaten to eat the lad?"

"Mind you," Qui-Gon looked up, "If Master Dooku actually threatened to eat Obi-Wan, I'd consider that a good reason to keep him far away from here."

"This is true," Mace conceded. "Good thing I know that Dooku wouldn't do such a thing, even in jest. So what was it?"

"What makes you think anything actually happened?"

"Qui-Gon, you might think you're being subtle. You're not."

"Mmhmm," Adi agreed.

"What?"

Mace folded his arms. "When Feemor and his padawan were here at the temple, you were really excited. When I told you Authsola was going to be here, you threatened to make life very miserable for us if the Council sent her away before you returned from Alderaan. When Dooku returned from his mission, which, by the way, lasted a good number of years, you tried your best to pretend you didn't know that. Mind you, I remember how close you two were when you were his padawan."

"We weren't."

"Yes, but that didn't mean he wasn't fond of you, or you of him, at some level. It's really obvious to the rest of us that you're trying to avoid him, and with the way you've been keeping your little one close to you as long as you knew he was roaming the halls, it's as if you had another one of those crazy visions you had when you first bonded with your padawan."

"Those visions weren't crazy."

"Well they drove you crazy. Absolutely bonkers. You were leaping up if someone so much as looked at your youngling wrong. For a while there we were worried that you were going to stifle Kenobi with your overly-protective neurosis."

"Well…" Qui-Gon stated lamely, "That was…then. It's over now."

"We're Jedi," Mace went on, "Some things we don't get to indulge in. Wealth, safety, attachments. Just because we're not willing to give some of those up does not mean we don't have to anyway."

"Don't lecture me, Mace," Qui-Gon turned away, "It's a fine thing to preach about no attachments when you're attached to the bloody Code."

"I'm not attached to the bloody Code—"

"We're all attached to the bloody Code!" Qui-Gon stared at him, "And that's alright, because that's useful. We're also attached to the Force, which is also alright, because that's useful. It's really a fine thing, for the Jedi to talk about no attachments as if these two things weren't the same thing. Maybe instead of getting rid of attachments, we should instead investigate how to cope with them and still function as peacekeepers of the galaxy, yes? Now for Force's sake stop talking to me about other things when I'm trying to study the syllabus!"

OoO

Fungal infections take a long time to eliminate. Obi-Wan was still bedridden when Qui-Gon took up classes with Tahl. Dooku visited him after a class, but the two had little to say to each other.

"How is your padawan doing?"

"He's alright. Getting better."

"I see."

"…"

Dooku looked well. His master was a good thirty years older than Qui-Gon, but Jedi tended to have long lifespans and a human could live to two hundred provided he was not slain in battle. The older master had grayed a little, but his face was rather free of wrinkles and the light in his eyes was as sharp and piercing as ever. Before Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon would have been delighted to see him at any point, would have sought his counsel about anything that was bothering him. He had studied with this man, lived with him and learned from him, looked up to him for approval and reassurance during one of the most significant periods of his life. Strange how one child could nullify a lifetime's worth of affection.

"Is something troubling you, my former padawan? I sense something amiss."

Dooku would be an absolute fool if he had not sensed something amiss. Qui-Gon would be an absolute fool if he decided to admit to it.

"Nothing, I suppose I am just worried about Obi-Wan. My padawan fell sick rather suddenly, as you know."

"Yes," Dooku was not convinced, but he was unable to press without appearing too forward.

They talked a little bit about Dooku's next mission. The elder master was not exactly happy to be sent off again, which would be understandable under any circumstances, and Qui-Gon found it within himself to be a bit sympathetic. Not enough to wish otherwise, but just enough so that he could behave properly.

"A word, if you will, my old padawan," His master called when Qui-Gon made his excuses to go check on his little one, "I've been hearing some comments of…concern, regarding you and your current padawan."

Dooku, Qui-Gon thought with some exasperation, did not have Yoda's talent of keeping his advice to himself. "Am I being accused of forming attachments?"

"Something like it, yes. I am worried about you, Qui-Gon. You realize that indulging in these things is neither good for you nor the child you've pledged to train."

"Things?" Come to think of it, it might be useful to listen to this. "What things, precisely, have you heard?"

"This and that," Said Dooku, "People have noticed you tend to keep the child close by you as opposed to allowing him the freedom to explore. You do not allow him to meet new people without your approval, going so far as to encourage him to willfully ignore guests regardless of courtesy or propriety. I understand that he is young, and the galaxy is full of danger, but as his master, you are not only obligated to protect him, Qui-Gon, you are obligated to teach him to protect himself. Avoiding danger is one method, but there are only so many places to hide, and one can only run for so long. He needs to learn to face these things, not just avoid them. As a Jedi, he is supposed to pave a safe path for others. He can't do that if he's constantly dodging threats."

This much, at least, was true, and Qui-Gon felt a pang of nostalgia as he remembered the old trust he had for his master. Unfortunately, he knew it was a truth wrapped with a malicious intent.

"I protect him because the Force wishes me to," He said to Dooku, "The Force chose me to protect him and prepare him. He is learning fast, but not fast enough, and it's only been a year or so since he became my padawan—less, in fact. He has a knack for drawing attention, you understand that, don't you?"

His master smiled a bit uncomfortably at this.

"He'll be ready to face what the galaxy throws at him," Qui-Gon went on, "I won't always be here, after all. Just as you were not always here for me, especially after my knighting. Our lives are all our own. But I expect I'll know when he's ready, and so will he." He inclined his head. "I appreciate your concern, my old master, but I have trained two padawans already. I am hardly a knight new to teaching his own apprentice."

"Yes, you are a seasoned teacher in your own right," Dooku acknowledged. "Very well. May the Force be with you."

"And with you."

OoO

"Governor Du Crion has requested your presence on Telos," Mace announced to Qui-Gon as the two went to spar.

"What happened to Neimoidia?" Qui-Gon asked. "Thought Obi-Wan and I are headed there." Between the cartel and a possible Sith Lord, there was no competition. "Since when did the Jedi Order indulge these sort of things? This better be good."

"Pirates," said Mace, "They're becoming a huge nuisance there. He wants Jedi intervention."

"Send someone else."

"Pirates are kind of more important than getting Kenobi to socialize with business cartels, Qui-Gon."

"He pays special attention to my padawan, hands him a gift that even Master Sifo-Dyas became nervous about, and then requests my presence specifically? This isn't strange to you at all?"

"Of course it's strange. Ever heard of the phrase 'springing the trap'? I know that with your new padawan you've unlearned certain things, like the advantages of baits and decoys, but come on, Qui. This is elementary."

"Hm!" Qui-Gon wrinkled his nose. "Well, my little one's not going."

"That's fair," Said Mace with a scowl, "I'd think there's something wrong with you if you insisted on taking him along."

"I guess it's back to the créche for Obi-Wan then."

"Qui, I think Padawan Kenobi is old enough to stay home by himself."

"For a day. Maybe two. How long do you suppose I'll be on Telos and then dealing with those pirates? A week? Two, maybe? It's about three days to Telos and then three days back and who knows how many days dealing with those pirates, so definitely more than a week. How about you call the Supreme Chancellor or some other friend of yours and ask them just how drunk they would have to be to leave a ten-year-old at home by themselves for a fortnight."

"He's only two years younger than twelve…"

"And a new-born is only one year younger than a one-year-old but newborns can't talk. Seriously, why me," Qui-Gon turned at the corridors to head into the salles, "Other people have had ten-year-old padawans and they never got called away."

"You're good. Price of being an overachiever."

Qui-Gon scowled at him.

Tahl joined them later, standing to the side as Qui-Gon practiced the Soresu against Mace, whose lightsaber form was more aggressive than other forms and tended to focus on the offensive. Mace was therefore able to chat with Tahl while Qui-Gon was preoccupied with blocking and dodging.

"Yoda is not letting me get Bant Eerin," Tahl complained,

"Isn't she that Mon Calamari girl? What is she, nine years old now?"

"I don't see why Qui-Gon gets special treatment like this. This is blatant bias. He selected his little one when he was nine, I don't see why I can't as well."

"Well you know Qui," Mace grunted as Qui-Gon finally turned the tide around briefly. Qui-Gon allowed Mace to reclaim the advantage since he could not exactly practice the Soresu without being on the defensive, "When he puts his mind to it he can exasperate the Council into agreeing."

"I don't—" Block, "—always do that—" Parry, "—Especially not with Obi—" Dodge, dodge, block, parry, block, step back, "They agreed pretty easily. I did wait a while." Mace continued attacking, so Qui-Gon broke off to defend again.

"Yes, you recruited Master Sifo-Dyas to bugger Yoda until he caved in."

"Oh, is that what happened?" Tahl asked.

"They had a loooooong discussion," Mace paused briefly to address her, "You know, sometimes I think Qui-Gon trained under Sifo-Dyas instead, despite hardly ever meeting him. The man just refused to take no for an answer. They're both equally stubborn."

Qui-Gon lunged at Mace to remind him he was supposed to be sparring. "I didn't tell Sifo-Dyas—to do that—he did it on his own—after talking to me." Dodge dodge dodge dodge dodge.

"Stop running away!" Mace scowled, "I can't talk to Tahl if you keep making me chase you."

"You're not exactly supposed to be holding a conversation here Mace!"

"You're losing your touch Mace," Tahl teased, "If you can't spar with Qui and still talk to me. You must be getting old. Knew you lost your hair for a reason."

"Oh you are very cute," Mace sneered at her, powering off his lightsaber. The Korun Jedi was not usually flippant, so Qui-Gon was delighted when he then said, "I might not have hair now, but who's growing grey? Who? Ohhhhhhh!"

"Oh!" Tahl feigned offense, "Are you calling me grey, Mace?"

"What's that bit of white there? Is that yours? Goodness, Tahl! And are those crow's feet?"

"Ohhhhhhh that does it!" Tahl shot up and powered on her lightsaber, "Stand back, Qui, this one's going to feel it in his rear so hard—"

"Oh you think you can kick my rear do you? I don't know, do I hear creaking? I think your bones are trying to tell you something, Tahl!"

Qui-Gon stepped back obligingly with a grin and turned his head just in time to see Obi-Wan and Yoda standing at the doors, watching. Yoda looked fairly unimpressed. Obi-Wan, still a bit pale and gaunt from his illness, was amused.

"Take that!" Tahl cried, striking out in a rather inelegant slash, which Mace dodged just as awkwardly. "What's that? Think you're moving a bit slow there, Master Windu!"

"You're not so fast yourself, Master Tahl—Uh! How's that?"

Yoda shook his head and hobbled away on his cane. Obi-Wan was enjoying this too much to leave.

Eventually Tahl and Mace progressed to a real spar. Obi-Wan watched them with the attention of any good student, and Qui-Gon could almost hear the child's calculations as Mace executed a particularly tricky maneuver.

"Don't try it alone," He warned Obi-Wan. Mace and Tahl were too engrossed in their duel to notice. "You're not ready for that yet. You shouldn't attempt that until your growth plates have sealed." He beckoned for the child to come next to him.

"Who do you think would win?" He asked, curious. At first glance Mace looked more impressive due to his favorite style, but he wanted to see if Obi-Wan could look deeper than that.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied, "They don't look like they're really trying."

He ruffled the boy's hair. You're no fun, He thought in amusement. How was he supposed to teach the boy anything if he knew it all already? "Which style do you like best?"

"I like Master Tahl's," Said Obi-Wan, "I've never seen Master Windu's before." Mace's Vaapad form was his own invention, an improvement upon the Juyo form, which was a very aggressive style that the Order had restricted due to its darker mental requirements. Mace was truly formidable in combat with this style; his form made him look like he was wielding many lightsabers at once, though at the moment he was not putting much effort into it. "It's too complicated," The boy went on, "It's all showy but I don't think it makes much sense. You put so much energy in looking intimidating when most of those movements wouldn't actually score any hits."

Qui-Gon grouped that comment in the same place he grouped "Master Window". He had used that nickname already and the results were actually a bit disappointing, but he had no doubt Mace would flip out at having his treasured lightsaber form critiqued so harshly by a ten-year-old—and so accurately too.

"Alright, so you don't like Mace's. Be honest with me here, Obi-Wan; which lightsaber form do you like best, just from watching. It doesn't have to be mine."

"I think it depends," Obi-Wan said frankly, "I think Ataru is fun." Ataru was Qui-Gon's lightsaber form, a more acrobatically-aggressive-based form. "But I think it also has a lot of ex—ex—extranus—" He was trying to say "extraneous", Qui-Gon realized, and had to bite back a chuckle that the boy still struggled with pronunciation, "Movements. It wouldn't be good for defending. I like Soresu. It protects all of you. I like Niman too, because it incorporates all the other forms and isn't wasteful."

Qui-Gon could see a running theme here.

"Jar'Kai is really sweet, because it uses two lightsabers and that is so much better than just one lightsaber."

And…he was a ten-year-old.

"Do you recognize the forms?" Qui-Gon asked Obi-Wan. The initiates start off learning only the Shii-Cho, the basic lightsaber form, and often did not learn the others until they became padawans. "What's Master Tahl using?"

Obi-Wan squinted. "I think she's using Niman."

"That's right."

"Oh look," Tahl stopped their duel, "Hello, Obi-Wan!"

"Hi Master Tahl."

"We were critiquing your performance," Qui-Gon said with a grin.

"Were you?" Mace cocked an eyebrow. "And what was your verdict, little one?"

"You're both bad," Obi-Wan pouted, "Because you stopped."

Tahl burst out laughing. "You are a little rascal! Good duel, Mace. Looks like you're not that old after all."

"Hm! Likewise, Tahl."

Obi-Wan was testing out some of the movements as the two masters settled down.

"Ah-ah, remember what I said," Qui-Gon warned.

"When will my growth plates close?"

"In your late twenties, my child," He ruffled the boy's head, "So you're getting way ahead of yourself."

"Late twenties!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, "That's such a long time!"

Qui-Gon glanced at the other two masters and mused that neither of them were as good as his padawan was at making all three of them feel old.