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Author	Topic: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 9/12/05 11:02pm Subject: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	I warn you, this probably isn't one of my better works, yet its an idea that wouldn't leave me alone. I hope you gain some measure of enjoyment out of it, and thank you for reading. Title: Sands of Time Author(s): Jedi Linewalker Timeframe: Post ROTS Characters: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon Genre: Vignette Keywords: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, angst, drama Summary: An exploration of the conversations Obi-Wan had with the spirit of Qui-Gon during his early years on Tatooine Notes: Sands of Time The nights on Tatooine in the Jundland Wastes were a direct contrast to the days there. The winds picked up a bit more in the desert world’s night, providing even more of a slight chill for the inhabitants, after the twin suns set. Far from the nearest settlement of Mos Eisley stood a hut, rounded and squat, in the Jundland Wastes. The hut was the domicile of the crazy hermit, Ben Kenobi. Kenobi was a young man, not yet forty, but his eyes told the tale of an age much more advanced. His wisdom was a parallel to his eyes, but most feared his wisdom, citing that a very thin veil separated wisdom and insanity, and it was often hard to tell which side you were on. A dim light flickered within the hut, visible to an observer a moderate distance away by the small window in the side of the hut. The wind howled softly, carrying the sounds of the desert along on its currents, reaching the ears of the inhabitant of the hut, the relatively young hermit, Ben Kenobi. Ben Kenobi. At least that’s the name he was known by here. The man chuckled wryly as he sat cross-legged on a padded round cushion he’d obviously brought from off world and into his home. The name was a fragile disguise, at best, a ruse to keep his best friend, and former student, from searching for him. Then again, he doubted Anakin Skywalker would ever return to this sand pile of a planet. Many were the times he cursed the sand of the world of his birth. The chance of him coming back was slim. The man’s real name was Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he was a Jedi Master, once the apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn, a great Jedi Master that fell defending the world of Naboo from the Sith. Qui-Gon, the maverick of the Jedi Order, the Jedi that railed against and questioned everything, or at least that’s what was said. Now that Obi-Wan was older, he could see and understand Qui-Gon’s reasoning much better. He understood the truth now, as his master had tried so many times to reveal it to him, only he’d been blinded by the Code and the will of the Council. Now, the Jedi were almost extinct, only a handful of them scattered throughout the galaxy. As far as the Empire knew, the Jedi were dead, or as good as dead, anyway. Obi-Wan ran his hand back through his hair, sighing softly. Yoda, the diminutive green skinned Jedi Master had wanted him to learn how to do this, to commune with the Force Spirit that was his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Even in death, Qui-Gon had much to teach, Yoda had said. So, obeying Yoda’s wishes, he concentrated, channeling his energy through the Force, seeking Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan had been here, in his self-exile, less than a year. Still, the lack of anything but sand and heat was nearly driving him mad. He missed the lures of a civilized world, with many buildings and places to go, and water, of course. His body felt limp for a moment as he thought these things. No matter how attractive and alluring they were, he knew he must be here, must stay here so that he could watch over the baby Luke Skywalker, infant son of Padmé Amidala and his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. Anakin had fallen to the Dark Side of the Force, and entered the service of the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Anakin Skywalker ceased to exist, and became Sidious’ new apprentice, Darth Vader. In a fit of madness fuelled by jealousy, he’d nearly killed his wife, Padmé, who had been carrying their twin children. They hadn’t known it was twins. They’d only known she was pregnant. During their final confrontation, Anakin had almost killed Padmé, while Obi-Wan tried to distract him, to get him away from her. Obi-Wan managed to keep him from killing her outright, but the damage had been done. On the molten lava planet of Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Anakin had had their final showdown. They fought a deadly lightsaber duel, in which Anakin almost killed Obi-Wan. In the end, however, Obi-Wan’s experience and skill paid off and he dismembered his former apprentice, leaving him on a lava beach, being consumed by molten lava. As Anakin screamed that he hated Obi-Wan with every breath he could muster as Obi-Wan walked away, the Jedi Master wept silently for his friend, and brother. A little piece of him had died every time Anakin’s words met his ears. Qui-Gon had made him promise to train Anakin at his death. Qui-Gon believed, no, knew Anakin to be the Chosen One that would bring balance to the Force that was prophesied ages ago. Obi-Wan believed it as fervently as Qui-Gon had now, only Anakin had stumbled off the path. He’d fallen to darkness. And Obi-Wan felt responsible for his fall. It haunted him his ever hour, waking and dreaming. Anakin’s face, both whole, and horribly burned and disfigured, filled his nightmares and hallucinations during the day. He could hear Anakin’s impassioned, hate filled cries of hatred and destitution clearly whenever things grew too quiet, which they often did this far out in the desert. His meditations were constantly sabotaged by the malevolent spirit behind Anakin’s seething hatred. He knew what Anakin had become. He was more machine now, than man, twisted and evil. His missing limbs had been replaced with cybernetic ones. His body was encased in black padded armor, an impassable black facemask and helmet, and life support systems to keep him alive. He was a twisted mockery of a man, and it was all Obi-Wan’s fault. He shuddered through a long, protracted sigh. “It’s not your fault, Obi-Wan,” said a quiet voice, soft, soothing, and firm all at once. “The future can be changed, but we must make a conscious effort to change the things that will change the future.” Obi-Wan opened his eyes incredulously. He thought perhaps he was going mad, for before him, shimmering with a blue outline, was the ghostly form of his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn. The master’s long dark hair, going gray, was pulled back at the bangs and tied, keeping the hair from his face. His robes were the simple brown and tan robes he’d worn in life. His beard was medium length, and bristly, though trimmed well. “Qui-Gon!” he exclaimed, not able to believe his eyes, despite not only having been told, in depth, about this, but also seeing it before him as a concrete reality. He looked his former master up and down a couple of times, tentatively reaching out towards him. “Is it…is it really you? Or have I actually gone mad, after all?” The ghostly master chuckled lightly, his body shimmering softly in the low light of the hut. “It’s really me, Obi-Wan. You’re not mad. Far from it.” He watched Obi-Wan’s hand pass through him, shaking his head lightly as his former apprentice tried to touch him. “Listen to me, Obi-Wan,” he said quietly. “We need to speak.” Obi-Wan slumped back on the seat, falling into its back, which moved to almost swallow him as he lay there. “I failed, Master,” he said quietly, closing his eyes and covering them with a hand. “I failed you, I failed the Council, I failed Padmé…and I failed Anakin.” Qui-Gon moved to sit, or at least give the appearance of sitting, in front of Obi-Wan, his hands clasped before him. He studied his former student critically for a moment. “Obi-Wan,” he began quietly, “you didn’t fail anyone, least of all me, or Anakin. Anakin chose his own path. You gave him the options, but he made the decisions.” Obi-Wan looked up at the spirit and tried to comprehend what he was saying. Finally, however, he found he was unable to do so. “What do you mean?” he asked quietly, shifting his position slightly. “Of course I failed you, I failed everyone.” Qui-Gon shook his head softly, regarding his former apprentice kindly. “No, Obi-Wan, you didn’t.” He glanced around and saw a sand timepiece on a counter. Waving his hand, the hourglass floated across the room to hover between them. “Every moment is like a grain of sand,” said Qui-Gon softly. “As is every choice, represented by the moment in which they occur.” The hourglass began to slowly turn and shift before Obi-Wan’s eyes. Qui-Gon indicated a single grain of sand, which he pulled from the timepiece. “This represents the moment of truth for Anakin, the moment he decided to either remain on the Light Side, or go to the Dark Side.” The Jedi caused the sand to spill out of the timepiece into the air in a banner like effect. The grain he held joined the banner and swirled about like a tornado. “Each decision is a process, and is weighted and carried by other decisions. Finally, the decision is made.” The sand banner seemed to ripple in the air and furl back on itself, the one grain glowing as it moved through the other grains. “The decision is touched by others, which influence its direction. Finally, its swept away with the sands of time into fruition. Sometimes the very timing of a decision can vastly affect it. For example, if a decision is made an hour sooner or later than it is, what is its outcome? The same? Or possibly something different?” The Jedi Master regarded Obi-Wan silently for a moment before continuing. “Anakin’s decision was swept up in the sands of time long ago. It was fated to be as it was.” He sighed softly, his shoulders slumping as the timepiece reconstructed and settled on the small table. “The prophecy was read wrong, read incorrectly. Anakin is the Chosen One…but the way balance comes about is much different than what we thought.” Obi-Wan frowned, his eyes moving over the hourglass for a long moment, contemplative, thinking. He turned back to Qui-Gon again, resting his chin on his fist. “Master,” he said, “I failed him. He fell, he turned. I don’t see how you can say I’m not at fault. He killed younglings, Qui-Gon…I saw the tape. It was…horrifying.” Qui-Gon settled down again, and rested his forehead in his hands. His elbows were propped up on his knees. His gaze, however, never left Obi-Wan. “No, Obi-Wan, I told you…it was his choice. A choice he made. You presented him with choices, with options. That was your job and duty. It was his to choose the right ones. You couldn’t make the choices for him. You could only hope he made the right ones. “When I watched him slaughter the Jedi at the Temple,” Qui-Gon continued, his gaze growing soft and somber, noticing Obi-Wan’s look. “I prayed the Force would allow him to see or hear me, and know that what he was doing was wrong. Yes, I saw it, I saw it all. I even saw him kill the younglings. I tried to manifest where he could see and hear me, but I was unable. I can’t help but wonder if I could have reached him if I could have done so.” A long, pregnant silence filled the air between the two Jedi Masters, one living, one spirit, both in turmoil. The sounds of night creatures outside in the desert filtered into the small hut, soothing sounds that relaxed both of them. Finally, Obi-Wan broke the silence, speaking softly, “You should have been the one to train him, Master. It was your rightful place, and it was stolen from you…I tried so very hard to do as well with him as I thought you would have. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.” Qui-Gon smiled thinly at his former padawan, his eyes twinkling softly in the low light. “Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who would have trained him, Obi-Wan. The choice would still have been his, and he’d still have the same options to choose from. He’d still have the nightmares, he’d still want to defy the Council and marry Padmé secretly, and he’d still want desperately to save her from the death he felt she’d have in his dreams. His anger would still have been a constant. Just some background specifics would have changed.” The younger Jedi nodded softly, listening intently to his former master’s words. The more Qui-Gon spoke, the more he knew him to be right. Despite his firm affirmation to the contrary, Obi-Wan felt he may become a wise Jedi Master, but Qui-Gon was a lot wiser than he gave himself credit for. Long into the night the two Jedi discussed and conversed, and many nights after that, at irregular intervals. Obi-Wan never ceased to be amazed by the abilities you could gain after joining the Force as Qui-Gon had. On nights that Obi-Wan’s confidence would falter, he would think of the sands of time. Everything was simply a point in time and space. Individually, it meant very little, but coupled with others, it became a force to be reckoned with. That was perhaps the lesson that took Obi-Wan the longest to learn, and was the most difficult, but when he had learned it fully, the wisdom behind it was irrefutable. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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JadeSolo Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/12/05 11:39pm Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Beautiful! I loved the hourglass, that was a great metaphor. And for Obi-Wan to finally accept that it was Anakin's choice alone - I'm glad Qui-Gon finally put that sense into his head. -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 9/13/05 12:01am Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	JadeSolo Thank you very much for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid this particular piece wouldn't turn out so great, but I couldn't get it out of my head until I wrote it. I felt it was time that we figured out why Obi-Wan's guilt was so prominent at the end of ROTS, but wasn't overwhelming, even though it was present, in ANH. I thought that was as good a start as any. Again, thank you very much for reading. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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Healer_Leona Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 9/13/05 3:33am Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Splendid viggie. Loved the wisdom Qui-Gon imparts and felt so said as he explianed he'd seen Anakin kill the younglings. -----signature----- Feel so good, but I'm old 2000 years of chasing's taking it's toll
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rhonderoo Title: Former Head Admin Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 9/13/05 4:21am Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	This was wonderful! Beautiful writing! You can't help but think Qui-Gon must have put some sense into his head over the years, as in ANH, he had come to terms with Anakin's choices. Great viggie! -----signature----- DT421 FYI: You don't deal with me. I deal with you. Damned right the Jedi's fire has gone out of the universe. I was the bad-ass Class C extinguisher who snuffed them. - @darthvader (Darth Vader on Twitter)
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Kynstar Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 9/13/05 5:50am Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Oh wonderfully well done! Loved how Qui kept telling him that it wasn't truly his fault! Warm fuzzies Gerat work! -----signature----- Paddy sis to t_s & SarkaVrae/Master to hyperspace_police Member of Rebel Legion and Jedi Assembly (Kynstar Lans) Only thru fear, hatred, and pain will the true power of the Force be revealed. See stories/viggies in bio
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 9/13/05 2:57pm Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Healer_Leona Thank you very much for your opinion and reading. I'm glad it all made sense. I was half asleep when I wrote it. laughs As always, very pleased to see you read my work rhonderoo That's pretty much what I was thinking. Thank you for reading! I'm truly glad you enjoyed it! Krynstar Thank you very much for reading. I am glad it wasn't too over the top. Thank you very much -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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VadersMistress Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 9/15/05 1:48pm Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Wow. Magnificent work! I enjoyed seeing Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan together once again even if it was spiritual. -----signature----- Harry Potter > Twilight Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. Persia pwns your face.
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TRADMIC Title: FanForce CR and President S. W.A.P FF Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 9/15/05 2:26pm Subject: RE: Sands of Time - Post ROTS - Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
	Wonderful, and I loved the two of them together and talking again. How Qui Gon must have reminisced in his convincing Kenobi out of self doubting insecurity and failure Great work -----signature----- Legacy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCUWPgxs8Yc Star Wars Jerks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3Utja05nc Skywalkers on Dr.Phil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUB9xOO3SBo No matter how deeply one falls into darkness there is always hope for re
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