Chapter Ten

"Don't Let the Door Hit You"

Examination of one's mind was a ritual to be performed during meditations upon the Force. He participated in the activity on a regular basis, and frankly, the Force had recently informed him there was nothing wrong with his mental capacities - despite what Ki-Adi Mundi believed. Allowing mind healers to evaluate his psyche just wasn't going to happen. If there was a problem, then he could fix it himself.

And he was going to do just that, in a very short time: Before Yoda sent the Council's bounty hunters out looking for him when they discovered he had missed his appointment, that is.

He and Padme went way back. Why, she had trusted him with her very life! Surely, a casual visit to her home wouldn't be completely out of line. If only she would allow him a chance to explain his actions, Qui-Gon was sure he could make her understand the reasons behind them. Surely, he could make her see his intention, and perhaps, she would be sympathetic to his cause and forgive him for any missteps he may have taken with her. Although he couldn't understand what he could've done that was so bad. When it came to suitors, she could do much worse than him. Couldn't she?

He was at her door now, and so there was no more time to convince himself he had either made another bad choice, or he was doing the right thing. The Force was unusually silent on the matter. Strange.

He rang the chime outside her door and waited. And then waited some more. Perhaps she wasn't inside. He hadn't thought of that. One more ring would make the decision whether to stay or leave, but before his finger had activated the device again, her door slid open. It wasn't Padme who made an appearance, however. It was her personal aid, Dorme.

"May I help you, Master Jinn?"

"I'd like to speak with the senator."

"I'm afraid she isn't available at the moment."

"Is she home?"

"Why, yes, but..."

"Then, I demand an audience with her."

"I, uh..That won't be...uh..."

From behind the female obstruction came a voice. "Dorme, just forget it. Let him in."

Qui-Gon discovered Padme standing in the common room of her luxury apartment. She was surrounded by tranquil colors and comfortable furniture, but she appeared to be anything but comfortable. In fact, she seemed quite guarded, and perhaps even nervous. In light of his survey, Qui-Gon stopped far from his destination, standing just at the edge of the plush lilac carpet upon her floor.

"Good evening, Senator," he began with a low bow.

"Why don't you take a seat? Would you like something to drink?"

All right he needed to adjust his initial defense. He wasn't expecting her hospitality. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but this wasn't it.

"No, thank you. I won't be long. I just wanted to stop by and.."

"Dorme, why don't you return to your duties?"

She had interrupted his explanation, which was unsual, he thought. He couldn't understand what was causing her to be so jittery, but he was able to interpret the visual byplay going on between the two women. He had to make this quick before Temple Security showed up.

"The other day when I met you in the cafe, I'm afraid you got the wrong impression."

"What impression would that be, Master Jinn?"

"You see, I'd been watching you for several days and knew you'd be at the cafe. Hell, I even knew what you were going to order," he chuckled, sure that she would join in with him once he had explained everything. "So, I decided to meet you there, but things didn't turn out as I had planned, and..."

During their conversation, she had maneuvered her way behind one of the gold chairs at the opposite end of the rug. He guessed it was because he was still standing. He'd been told his size was rather intimidating. Often, during negotiations, he had used that to his advantage, but at times like this, it served as a hindrance. He took her earlier advice and sat down.

"To shorten a long story, I'm afraid you may have mistakenly believed I was toying with your affections..."

"My affections?" she repeated. "Master Jinn, I have always held a deep respect for you - for what you did on Naboo and for being Obi-Wan's Master, but I have never been affectionate toward you. And I never will be."

Hold on. "I realize that. Now. But I was hoping, if perhaps I could convince you to see me as something other than a Jedi Master, but as a man, that perhaps Obi-Wan would.."

"I think you need to leave, Master Jinn," she interrupted him again, her eyes glancing toward the doorway.

This wasn't going as well as he had hoped. "Wait! Just let me explain. You see, it was all a ploy to..."

He didn't even have a chance to finish his sentence.

When you have traveled the galaxy and encountered literally millions of sentient beings, from the most technologically advanced to the most primitive, there was one thing you could always count on. The sound a blaster made when being armed and aimed in your direction was unmistakable.

Qui-Gon turned his head slowly to encounter Padme's grim head of security, Captain Typho.

"Master Jinn? I'm afraid you've worn out your welcome here. You need to leave, as the Senator has already requested of you."

Damn.