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Author	Topic: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- COMPLETE -- 28-Apr-2007
ardavenport Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 2/25/07 8:21am Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-6 -- 19-Feb-2007
	///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\ - - - Part 7 "Now dear, the first thing I want you to put out of your mind completely is that this training is any kind of punishment. No good can come from that kind of negative thinking." Master Guiyusinth wagged her finger at Semko. "Yes, Master," Semko inclined her blond head respectfully. The matronly Master held her head back and narrowed her eyes at the younger Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon sensed that Semko may have intellectually accepted that she was not being punished, but she did not feel that way. Next to him, Obi-Wan fidgeted. "Now," Guiyusinth clapped her hands, even though she already had everyone's complete attention. "Let us all line up. Semko, you go next to me. Eclin, you next to her." Guiyusinth guided them to their places with a hand at their elbows. "Now, Obi-Wan." His Padwan took his position; Qui-Gon frowned at his unhappy expression. He knew what was bothering Obi-Wan. They had spent a successful morning in the Room of Sabers and Obi-Wan had caught on very quickly to how to feel his way toward his new lightsaber design. Qui-Gon was proud of him for that. Now he was being petulant, because he wanted to go right away to his workbench and apply what he had learned to his new saber, but Qui-Gon had committed them to helping Master Guiyusinth with Semko's training instead. This was a disappointment and Qui-Gon was satisfied with making Obi-Wan wait. Eagerness was fine, but lightsabers were not created from impatience. "And now." Guiyusinth looked about, turned around and looked up. "There you are," she said to Qui-Gon. He said nothing, smiling down at her. Of course, she had known that he was standing right behind her. He knew that. She knew that he knew that. Qui-Gon thought that Master Guiyusinth's act was a bit pretentious, but he accepted it as part of her way. He did not really know Master Guiyusinth very well. He occasionally met her in the Temple and he had been on a few missions with her many years ago, but his first meeting with her had been when he was the Padawan of Jedi Knight Dooku. Master Guiyusinth had been a clan mate of his former Master. Even then, as a strong, forceful young Jedi Knight, Guiyusinth had been pretentious, but instead of a moderately confused older woman, she had played the pretty, young girl of barely adequate intellect. Dooku had complained about her whole subterfuge, since he knew perfectly well how smart she was. Dooku thought it was degrading and Qui-Gon did not understand it, but it put her in a position of always being underestimated by anyone who did not know her. She obvious preferred meeting people that way. She was also the first person Qui-Gon had ever seen use a Jedi mind influence seductively. When he had asked Dooku about it later, his Master had sternly told him that it was beneath them. But he did not complain about it to Guiyusinth. She had used it get them out of jail with a team of smitten guards falling all over themselves for her with undisguised longing. Dooku had instructed him that this sort of use of the Force skirted dangerously close to violating the Jedi Code. But as far as Qui-Gon could tell, all covert mind influences did that. So, he had simply refrained from trying out Knight Guiyusinth's technique until after he had been knighted. It had gotten him into huge amounts of trouble, but he would not take back the lessons he had learned from it, even if that were possible. Now, Master Guiyusinth was a stout, older woman herding him to the end of their line. But Qui-Gon still sensed the disguised intelligence, content to be strategically overlooked. "Oh, dear. You two really aren't dressed properly for this," she tisked, looking at his and Obi-Wan's belts where they were not wearing their lightsabers. Obi-Wan blushed. Qui-Gon serenely folded his arms before him, his arms tucked into the opposite sleeves of his robe. He accepted her pretense of befuddlement, but he did not have to participate in it. Her blue eyes met his. "Oh well," she threw her hands up. "I suppose it just can't be helped." She put on the hood of her robe and everyone else followed her example as she went to her end of the line. "Now," she called out, facing forward toward the great entrance at the base of the Jedi Temple. "Everyone follow me! And keep your place in the line!" They all marched diagonally across the great hall where they had gathered, toward the light streaming in from the huge windows at the entryway. Qui-Gon saw Semko and Obi-Wan looking about curiously. But Eclin, Guiyusinth's former Padawan, had presumably participated in training like this before and knew what was going to happen. Qui-Gon suspected what the older woman was doing, but he had never participated in this version of this training before. He was concerned, since what he was thinking of could be a fairly advanced exercise for Obi-Wan, depending on how difficult Guiyusinth wanted to make it. Everyone else in the group was either a Knight or a Master, but Obi-Wan had been a Padawan for hardly more than a year. You won't know their limits unless you test them. Qui-Gon heard his old Master's voice in his thoughts. Dooku had always thought that Qui-Gon had been too lenient with his Padawans. He could have been right. Qui-Gon had hardly spoken to him since Xanatos had fallen, years ago now. They exited the Temple's grand, main entrance, past the huge columns of the entryway and into the Coruscant midday. Being the tallest of the group and at the end of the line, Qui-Gon could look over everyone's head to where they were going. They descended the steps of the Processional Way, entering the shadows of the buildings around the Jedi Temple. They went down to a mid-level walkway, past two blocks of buildings and then right to a wider pedestrian-way. It was fairly obvious to Qui-Gon that they were headed for the Public Transport Station nearest to the Temple. A few people stared at their odd line of five brown-robed Jedi, but most ignored them and no one stopped to look. "Now, I think we should take a little tour of this marvelous planet we have," Master Guiyusinth spoke above the mumble of the increasing crowds. "All you have to do is follow the person ahead of you. Don't worry about following anyone ahead of them, but do be mindful of who is behind you. And especially the people around you," she instructed, confirming to Qui-Gon what she was doing, though the last time he had participated in this exercise, it had been with eight Jedi in air taxis. They joined the crowd at the Transport Station. Their line tightened, everyone keeping close so that they would not be separated. Guiyusinth purchased five day passes and then handed four of them back to Semko, who passed the remaining three on. Guiyusinth only spoke again when they had passed into the station. They stood together on one of many long platforms from which passengers emerged from and vanished into repulsor-lift cars. From there they could travel to nearly any part of Coruscant as long as they kept renewing their passes. She led them aside, away from a knot of people boarding one transport car. "Now, just to be clear about this," she instructed. "You must all stay in line." Her sing-songing voice lingered on 'all' as she pointed at them. "Don't worry about all the people ahead of you, except the one you're following. And mind the people in line behind you." Semko tensed. Guiyusinth used the Force that she had gathered to her to leap into the departing transport car just before the door slid closed. Semko gathered the Force to her. "Get the next one!" Eclin hastily told her. Semko stopped in mid-crouch as the last car in the repulsor-lift train passed them. "Whatever you do, don't[/t] chase her. She'll just make it harder. Believe me, I [i]know." Semko unhappily looked from her friend to the rapidly retreating train. "Can you find her?" she asked. "I should." Qui-Gon knew that the bond between Master and Padawan could be strong and Eclin Moli had only recently been knighted, but even that could be obscured by the intricacies of the Coruscant public transit system. "I believe that train was an express," Qui-Gon pointed out the posted schedule. "A local one could delay us considerably." Semko scrutinized the schedule and the transit map next to it. Then she looked back at Qui-Gon, her small brown eyes narrowed, the darker stripes of her short fur radiating out from them. "Should you be helping me?" "Guiyusinth didn't say we couldn't talk," Eclin told her. "And you're supposed to 'mind' everyone behind you, remember?" "Well, you must have already done this with her," Semko replied. "Not on these trains, I haven't. That's new." "But you're still sure you can find her?" "She's not trying to hide from us," Eclin stated. "She has to mind us, too. If she's at the next stop, she should be near the train. Wherever she is, she'll be visible. Some way. She won't make it hard for us until we get further into this." Qui-Gon watched the two of them over Obi-Wan's head while Eclin reminded Semko about her Master's quirks. Around them, the multi-species swarm of commuters and tourists reformed into a new expectant knot for the next train at their stop. But it was local and they moved away while Eclin continued her instruction to Semko. Qui-Gon observed silently. When the next express car arrived, it was more than half empty. They filed in and took their seats, still in their line. They did not speak during the long trip, though Qui-Gon again sensed Obi-Wan's impatience next to him. The blond fur on Semko's head stood up with anticipation as they finally approached the next stop. As soon as the door slid open, Guiyusinth stepped in, all smiles. The exercise proceeded. Long periods of sitting on transit cars were interrupted by energetic strolls through busy transit terminals and commercial concourses. Guiyusinth had a remarkable ability to disappear if Semko followed too close. Most of the time Qui-Gon would spy the hem of her robe ducking under a barrier, or the top of her veil dropping down a couple of levels, but a couple of times she surprised him. While the training seemed to be a satisfactory exercise for Semko, Qui-Gon grew increasingly dissatisfied with his own Padawan. Obi-Wan had suppressed his fidgeting, but only after catching a glare from him. Eclin was not challenging Obi-Wan at all and he seemed to be gaining little from the excursion. He kept up, but he seemed bored and dispirited, especially whenever they passed a holo-sign with a chrono on it. The time when they were supposed to have been back working on their lightsabers had long since come and gone, and Guiyusinth still led them away from the Temple. They exited yet another transit car into a commercial area that looked exactly like the one they had just left. Guiyusinth's veil fluttered behind her as she briskly charged out into the crowd. Beings of all sorts crossed the invisible line of the four robed and hooded Jedi who trailed her. A lifter loaded with huge canisters drove between them and Master Guiyusinth. When it had gone, so was she. Semko hardly showed even momentary surprise. She followed the lifter, advancing carefully. Eclin and Obi-Wan followed too closely behind her. So, when their attention was focused on where Guiyusinth might have been, they missed her popping up over the lifter and spryly landing on the other side of it. The older woman danced away into the crowd until she was behind Qui-Gon. Now, Qui-Gon was disappointed in Eclin. She had focused almost exclusively on encouraging Semko and had done little to enlist either his or Obi-Wan's help. Qui-Gon supposed that the older woman might have instructed Eclin to concentrate only on helping Semko. But it appeared to him that it was more likely that Eclin simply hadn't thought of asking them. And he was not inclined to come to her aid. Both of them had participated well in their last mission, but now they seemed to have forgotten how to include the whole group in their task. He walked up to the two young Knights. Eclin was again trying to sense where Guiyusinth had gotten to for Semko. Obi-Wan disinterestedly looked about while his elders largely ignored him. Qui-Gon supposed that he had some small justification for being bored. He felt a moment of hope when Obi-Wan started in surprise and leaned to the side, to see around him. But he was too easily distracted by Eclin. The Force flowed strongly in the young woman, but when she ended up looking at Qui-Gon it wavered and diminished with her uncertainty. Semko started to look worried. Qui-Gon kept his features neutral though he was now doubly disappointed in the two young Knights. Doubling back on a pursuer was a pathetically predictable tactic that might be expected to work on someone with Obi-Wan's lack of experience, but not on these two. To her credit Eclin finally obeyed her instincts and told Semko to double back. But Guiyusinth fooled them again by remaining hidden in place and they walked right past her. Qui-Gon did not even glance toward the toes of Guiysinth's boots, plainly visible under the glowing advertising placard she stood behind. They entered a corridor connecting to another concourse and transit station. Qui-Gon slowed his pace when Eclin passed a lone food stall. Semko had reached the end of the corridor and was turning about scanning the new concourse. Obi-Wan hurried to catch up with both of them. Qui-Gon followed him, but he stopped at the food stall. It was getting late. Guiyusinth's training had far exceeded the time she said it would take. It was inconsiderate of her to not ask him about the extension, but neither he nor Obi-Wan had anything to do that could not be done the next day. And really challenging training did not conform to predictable time constraints. He scanned the menu for Humanoids. The holo food displays along the counter looked palatable and the smells of the stall were promising. Producing a credit chit from a belt pouch, he asked for a small juice and snack box #A2. He looked over the other menu selections while the attendant swiped his card and a helper picked out his order from the stacks on the warming shelves. There seemed to be plenty of suitable things for everyone else. In his side vision, Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan disappear around the corner at the end of the corridor. Eclin and Semko were already out of sight. --- tbc --- -----signature----- Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
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NabooPop Registered: Jun '00	Date Posted: 2/25/07 8:56am Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	Hooray! Another chapter! And a neat training exercise as well. -----signature----- Don't blame me, I voted for Valorum.
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azizah Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 2/25/07 10:16am Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	Great post. But I ‘m with Obi-Wan, that woman, Guiyusinth, is annoying me. So, he had simply refrained from trying out Knight Guiyusinth's technique until after he had been knighted. It had gotten him into huge amounts of trouble, but he would not take back the lessons he had learned from it, even if that were possible. I want that story!
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Jedi_Tigris Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 2/25/07 5:36pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	Interesting story! I really like all the little details about the history of the Jedi, like with the lightsabers choosing the Jedi. Interesting training exercise, liked hearing Qui-Gon's thoughts. Hehe, looks like he got distracted, hope the young ones don't get into any trouble while the two masters are gone. Though, it'll probably be Qui-Gon learning a lesson about paying attention this time. -----signature----- "Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi, ANH padawan/adoptee of Myri_Antilles Battling DRL...otherwise known as college and work... Please add me to your pm list when I review. Thanks!
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Fifilla Registered: Mar '06	Date Posted: 2/25/07 10:27pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	While the training seemed to be a satisfactory exercise for Semko, Qui-Gon grew increasingly dissatisfied with his own Padawan. Obi-Wan had suppressed his fidgeting, but only after catching a glare from him. Eclin was not challenging Obi-Wan at all and he seemed to be gaining little from the excursion. He kept up, but he seemed bored and dispirited, especially whenever they passed a holo-sign with a chrono on it. The time when they were supposed to have been back working on their lightsabers had long since come and gone, and Guiyusinth still led them away from the Temple. I seems that Obi-Wan doesn't see any sense in this exercise. But he is still a kid, isn't he? I can understand that he would rather build his new lightsaber than doing this excursion. In his side vision, Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan disappear around the corner at the end of the corridor. Eclin and Semko were already out of sight. I wonder if Qui-Gon has something in mind or if he is just hungry. -----signature----- "There's always a bigger fish." Fear Of Failure - young Qui-Gon (WIP) > http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27642896 Padawan to Valairy_Scot
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Princess_Arulmozhi Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 2/26/07 9:19pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	I love the training excercise as well. It sounds the kind of thing Jedi would do. And I liked Qui-Gon's own thoughts about it. Particularly about Knight G. There are so many real people like that, who use dumbness to great effect. Works a lot of times too. I love the way you've painted her, so intricately. But where's Obi-Wan disappeared to? Wonderful work. -----signature----- Perceptions (Xanatos/Obi/Qui/Anakin) AU:http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25276178/p1/?7 - vignette Stones (Li'l Obi/Qui) - http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/23371821/p1/ Best Author, WFFA (BtS) 05/06 Lore-Master to 7
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Persephone_Kore Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 2/27/07 12:18am Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	I confess I might be on Master Dooku with this one... people who "play dumb" annoy me, especially when they do it loudly, though it's interesting to see a Jedi do it. Qui-Gon's bland acceptance of her behavior is interesting and seems very in-character for him as a person and as a Jedi, although somehow I suspect he might be less than thrilled if his own Padawan tried it. The elaboration on the crystal room and on what late-chosen padawans do about lightsabers is very interesting. On the last chapter: uh-oh! Obi-Wan is not minding the person behind him. (Too bad. He'd have gotten food if he had, too.) That's an interesting point about putting Qui-Gon last -- because he's the most experienced person next to Guiyusinth, is confident in his own awareness, is there voluntarily, and is... well... himself, he'll hare off like that and leave it as a test/lesson for the people ahead of him, whereas a Padawan might not be confident of catching up, and "getting lost" would be seen as a failure or an impertinence or both. -----signature----- Protégé: Chosen: http://boards.theforce.net/f/b1/28612428 A Rose in the Ashes: http://boards.theforce.net/f/b1/29028814 Lost Ones: http://boards.theforce.net/f/b1/29061459 Morality and the Sith Apprentice: http://boards.theforce.net/f1/b1/27581326
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LuvEwan Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 2/27/07 10:41pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	Once again I'm loving your characterizations. Not just of the canon characters, but of your OCs. The character of the older female Master is someone we all probably know in real life, but it can be difficult to describe that sort of person clearly. You have, giving us a detailed image with which we can truly dislike her. Qui-Gon may be a rogue, but he's also practical. I love it when you have him do normal things that balance him out, like stopping to get food, becoming annoyed that no one told them the exercise would run so long. He's a Jedi Master, but you make him relatable, in that way. So well done. But I'm worried that Obi-Wan has disappeared with the other two Jedi...maybe I'm just paranoid. Terrific job so far. I can't wait for more. -----signature----- So it was Anakin's butt after all. He supposed he might take a modicum of comfort from that. -Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, by Matthew Stover
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ardavenport Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 3/3/07 4:49pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007
	NabooPop: Thanks! azizah: Well, I haven't actually written the story of when young Qui-Gon tried out Guiyusinth's seductive mind influence, but he does describe what happened to Obi-Wan in the middle of another story of mine, Mercy Day, which is what I was thinking of for that. Thanks for the reply! Jedi_Tigris: I've been pondering lightsabers quite a bit for this story. And I think the young ones will have be the ones having trouble keeping track of those pesky masters. Thanks for reading! Fifilla: Oh those Jedi masters do try the patience of their young ones. Thanks for the reply! Princess_Arulmozhi: Thanks! Guiyusinth certainly does things differently than Qui-Gon. Glad you enjoyed her in the story. And Obi-Wan is still following the exercise; Qui-Gon just has his own ideas about how to do it. Persephone_Kore: For the Crystal Chamber, I was just thinking of how Obi-Wan could have had a working lightsaber in the first JA book. And Playing dumb, as Guiyusinth does, would definitely irk Dooku would since it's an act. Qui-Gon would be more inclined to just accept it and move on, though you're right; he would discourage his own padawan from using it. Perhaps Xanatos did it sometimes? And yes! Obi-Wan is not minding the person behind him, but Qui-Gon knows where he is. Thanks for reading! LuvEwan: Thank-you! It is fun putting in Qui-Gon's little quirks when he reacts to things, and other people. And Qui-Gon knows exactly where Obi-Wan is. -----signature----- Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
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ardavenport Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 3/3/07 5:29pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-7 -- 25-Feb-2007 - Date Edited: 3/4/07 5:25pm (1 edits total) Edited By: ardavenport
	///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\ - - - Part 8 "Remember, don't chase her," Eclin was telling Semko as Obi-Wan joined them. "We just need to stay in line. The closer you get, the harder she'll make it." Eclin pointed to herself. "She's at the head of the line, so she's supposed to know where all of us are." Obi-Wan warily looked about, but it seemed to him that more and more pedestrians around them were wearing long, brown clothes. He knew that he was only supposed to look out for Eclin, but if he happened to see their missing leader he did not see any reason why he couldn't tell Semko. Eclin was certainly doing plenty of that already. The three of them stood together by a plasti-form plant and an empty bench, an island of decoration is the busy shopping district. Semko froze, looking over Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Where's Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan whirled around. His Master was gone. "Oooouuuu, not both of them!" Eclin moaned. Semko looked very worried now. "Go back and get him!" Eclin pointed. Obi-Wan gulped. Could he locate Qui-Gon as well as Eclin, a Knight, could find her former Master? His grasp of the Force and bond with Qui-Gon suddenly seemed very tenuous. "He's at the end of the line," Eclin went on. "All he's supposed to do is follow you. He can't wander off, but that doesn't mean he can't stop somewhere. Go back the way you came and get him. He'll have to be there." Obi-Wan nodded, turned and hurried back the way he had come. He had struggled to keep track of Guiyusinth, but he had been very careful to always mind where they were. He turned back into the corridor that led to the concourse they had just left. Obi-Wan stared, aghast. His Master, who so often on missions would lead them from place to place for many hours without even thinking of food, had now stopped to buy something to eat. At the end of a line of standing tables by a food concession, Qui-Gon nibbled on green chips from a carton before him. Stalking up to where Qui-Gon had positioned himself, Obi-Wan felt himself passing beyond frustration. The entire afternoon was gone, wasted while Guiyusinth dragged them all over Coruscant. This whole trial seemed to be more of an exercise in Jedi patience than observation. And apparently Qui-Gon did not think his patience was tested enough, so he had contrived this. "Semko and Eclin are waiting for us," he sullenly replied to Qui-Gon's greeting. "I thought I would get something for all of us." Smiling, Qui-Gon indicated the stack of other cartons and cups in a flimsy carrying frame next to him on the table. Obi-Wan even saw some things he liked marked on the boxes, but for once he did not feel like eating. He silently took the handles of the carrying frame while Qui-Gon picked up his own carton and cup. They walked back to the others, with Qui-Gon staying behind him, still minding the line. Obi-Wan wanted more than anything to return to the Jedi Temple and resume his new lightsaber design, but he knew he did not have the energy for it now. Both of the young Jedi waiting for them looked relieved. Qui-Gon pleasantly offered them the food he had bought. Neither woman looked enthusiastic about it, but they accepted cartons and cups as did Obi-Wan. But after they had all taken one of each, there was still one carton and one cup in the frame. Putting his food down on the bench, Obi-Wan held it up to see what was left. "Master Guiyusinth," Qui-Gon suddenly called out. The heads of his three companions snapped to attention. "Will you join us?" The older woman materialized from behind the fronds of the plastic plant where Qui-Gon was looking. "Oh, thank-you Master Qui-Gon. That was so considerate of you," Guiyusinth cooed. Obi-Wan remained frozen in place as she cheerfully took the last carton and drink. Then he unhappily looked up to his Master. "Now." Guiysinth walked around them and after wiping off the seat with the sleeve of her robe, sat on the end of the bench. "We shall all have a nice meal, and have a very long chat about how we can improve our powers of observation, hmmmm?" ///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\ - - - The dim lighting inside the immense entryway of the Jedi Temple swallowed up the busy night of Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi trudged wearily behind his Master, content to no longer have Qui-Gon following him. Very late, they crossed the smooth polished floors alone, deeper into the Temple to the lifts. The night was half over and their muted footsteps echoed faintly on the high ceilings above and on the far walls as they passed between rows of huge columns. Too tired to care anymore, Obi-Wan's relief to escape the crowds and trains and pointless chase pushed away any thoughts about the wasted afternoon, evening and night. Thankfully, Guiyusinth had excused both he and Qui-Gon from participating in any more of her training exercises. But things would not go so well for Eclin and Semko. They had parted company with the two young Knights staying with the older woman to review a few points they were supposed to have learned. Obi-Wan had honestly tried to mind what Guiysinth had told them, but he still lost track of her amidst the train cars and thoroughfares. He always kept track of where they were (and how far they were from the Temple) and he never lost sight of Eclin (who looked back to check on where he was almost as often as she was trying to sense where her former Master was heading), but as the game progressed he had less and less to contribute other than keeping his place in line. Qui-Gon had hardly said anything to him, though he always seemed to know where their quarry was. They finally entered a less-grand interior corridor, the lights set to quarter brightness. They arrived at a line of lift doors. Qui-Gon touched the call panel. The lift arrived almost immediately and they entered. Qui-Gon touched the selection panel for both their levels in the living area; the symbols lit up yellow on black. "It is late. I believe we would both benefit most from rest. We shall forgo meeting at our usual time. Please come to my room when are up and ready tomorrow morning." The doors opened and Qui-Gon hardly waited for Obi-Wan's quiet "Yes, Master." before stepping out. "Good night, Obi-Wan." "Good night," Obi-Wan said as the doors closed, leaving him alone in the lift. ///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\’///o\\\ - - - Qui-Gon took his robe off as soon as he entered his own room. He hung it up on its hook in the storage alcove and began unfastening his belt, his hand automatically grasping his lightsaber first. His fingers closed on empty air. Sighing, Qui-Gon continued undressing. It had been a most unsatisfactory training exercise. Semko and Eclin performed badly, but that was Guiyusinth's responsibility. He had no doubt that both young Jedi would become more observant with Guiyusinth's guidance. Obi-Wan had performed reasonably well, given his level of inexperience. But Qui-Gon knew that Obi-Wan could have done much better. Finished stripping off all his clothes, Qui-Gon put them into the clothes fresher. Then he went to the refresher to wash himself. While he attended to the hygiene of body, hair and skin he wondered most about his own actions. Why had he not pressed Obi-Wan to do better? It was true that he and Obi-Wan had really only been asked to participate because they were a convenient complication for Guiysuinth's training for Semko, but learning was an opportunity that a Jedi did let slip by. Yet he had. Had Obi-Wan's moodiness irked him so much that he withheld his counsel under the guise of letting Obi-Wan learn for himself? If that were so, then he himself would have performed worst of all during Guiysuinth's exercise. Was he worried about pushing Obi-Wan too hard? But his Padawan's actions during their last mission had been exemplary; Obi-Wan was capable of much. His training should reflect that. Qui-Gon left the refresher and took his nightshirt down from its upper shelf in the storage alcove. His clothes were done and he took them out to put on their shelf for the next day. Not since training his first apprentice had Qui-Gon felt so conflicted about how to move forward. Then the circumstances had been completely different, but there were similarities. Ruak had been a talented and eager young woman, also inclined toward the Living Force and Qui-Gon had thought she made excellent progress in her early training. However, when he had chanced to discuss his pupil with his former Master, Dooku had declared that he was being soft on the girl to the point of ruining her future. Shocked, Qui-Gon had not taken this well. Though no permanent rift resulted, he had never asked Dooku's advice about training an apprentice again. Ruak had proven Qui-Gon's opinion of his own teaching ability by becoming a fine Jedi Knight and going on to train her own Padawan. His second Padawan, Xanatos, had not done so well. Lured back to his family wealth by his cruel and powerful father, Xanatos had forsaken his vows to the Jedi, and then sworn vengeance when Qui-Gon had been forced to kill the old man. Later, when Qui-Gon's mood was still black with regret and he had sworn that he would never take another apprentice, Dooku had shocked him again, by declaring Xanatos the guilty party in his downfall. He had not absolved Qui-Gon of all blame but he had pronounced him perfectly fit to teach another student and encouraged him to do so. Qui-Gon had not taken his old Master's advice then, either. He had only taken on Obi-Wan Kenobi after Master Yoda had contrived to put them together. In retrospect, the Force itself seemed to have bonded them as well. So, why did it seem that they could bring out the worst behavior in each other? He was certain that Dooku would not let Obi-Wan's mood go unchecked without severe words spoken to the boy, and discipline, if necessary. But Qui-Gon knew that this was not his way. Now he found himself questioning, yet again, what his way was with Obi-Wan. Kneeling on the rug by his bed, he pushed past his thoughts about the afternoon's exercise toward a deeper meaning. Some primitive part of his mind expected that a Master-Padawan bond through the Force would automatically lead to peaceful harmony and coexistence. Of course, this was not true. This had not been true with his first two Padawans and now seemed exceptionally so with Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon accepted that after all this time, he still sought that peaceful harmony. This was a worthy goal, but he erred when he expected it. Opening his eyes, he gazed toward his now useless lightsaber, sitting on the end table by his sleep couch. He had planned to take it with him when he took Obi-Wan back to the Saber Crafting Rooms, but that activity had been usurped by Master Guiyusinth's training. They would resume their schedule after Obi-Wan arrived in the morning. Qui-Gon rose, went to the table and picked up the lightsaber hilt. His fingertips ran down the lines of shiny silver and polished black on the inert cylinder. His thumb pressed the activation switch. Nothing happened. He had disengaged the power core after the crystals were gone. But swinging his arm outward, he started the form anyway, a complex dance too advanced for Obi-Wan's still growing awareness in the Force, but Qui-Gon wanted to teach it to him anyway. Through the Force, Qui-Gon saw the lightsaber blade, a living, ghostly green blade of energy extending out from his hand, his arm, his whole body. He kicked, whirled and leapt across the room onto the low sitting table, an improvisation, but the form was inside him, reaching out through his arms and legs, through the Force to its completion. The saber hilt flew from his hand, bounced off the far wall, spinning over and over. He caught it in his other hand as he landed, crouched and leapt up again, kicking outward and rapidly swinging and twirling his saber. Landing in the center of the room, he finished with one last sweep of the imaginary saber. Sighing, he felt the power leaving him. This was what he wished to teach Obi-Wan, what he wanted Obi-Wan to discover for himself. He held up the saber hilt again. It felt warm in his palm as if it were living and active, but as the Force receded, he saw that it was dead, now only metal and hardened plastoid with cold control electronics and power core inside. It was useful only to be cannibalized for parts for the new saber that he would build, and . . . . I will go to Illum. The frigid memory of that planet stopped his thoughts. He shivered. The cold, snowy winds outside and still-quiet crystal caves had bitten into the consciousness of the young man he had once been when Master Dooku, hooded and his face unreadable, had only pointed and solemnly ordered, 'Go.' to him. Nothing in his whole life had been more important than that moment had been then. Qui-Gon hung his head. His last trip there had been almost routine, a simple, harmonious mission to collect new crystals for his lightsaber. Both he and Xanatos had been to Illum before. More than once. But. . . . I will take Obi-Wan to Illum. This time, the mission would not be simple. It would be a first-time quest for his apprentice, full of complications and revelations down to the core of both of them. No wonder Obi-Wan was impatient, he thought. With such an event coming for him, riding the public transit trains on Coruscant in Guiyusinth's game would be an agonizing distraction indeed. Qui-Gon looked about his room. Everything was disheveled, displaced, the rug, the table, the floor cushions. He sighed, thinking that his room really was not large enough to do such a form properly. He began to tidy up. --- tbc --- -----signature----- Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
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Fifilla Registered: Mar '06	Date Posted: 3/3/07 5:51pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-8 -- 3-Mar-2007
	Very nice description of Qui-Gon's thoughts and doubts about how he should train his Padawan This time, the mission would not be simple. It would be a first-time quest for his apprentice, full of complications and revelations down to the core of both of them. Can't wait to read about it! -----signature----- "There's always a bigger fish." Fear Of Failure - young Qui-Gon (WIP) > http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27642896 Padawan to Valairy_Scot
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Valairy_Scot Title: PT Rewrite Winner Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 3/3/07 5:52pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-8 -- 3-Mar-2007
	I can hardly wait for Ilum! Excellent chapter! I liked Qui-Gon's thoughts on the "harmony" of the bond and how his training differed from Dooku's. Qui-Gon had not taken his old Master's advice then, either. He had only taken on Obi-Wan Kenobi after Master Yoda had contrived to put them together. In retrospect, the Force itself seemed to have bonded them as well. So, why did it seem that they could bring out the worst behavior in each other? He was certain that Dooku would not let Obi-Wan's mood go unchecked without severe words spoken to the boy, and discipline, if necessary. But Qui-Gon knew that this was not his way. Now he found himself questioning, yet again, what his way was with Obi-Wan. Kneeling on the rug by his bed, he pushed past his thoughts about the afternoon's exercise toward a deeper meaning. Some primitive part of his mind expected that a Master-Padawan bond through the Force would automatically lead to peaceful harmony and coexistence. Of course, this was not true. This had not been true with his first two Padawans and now seemed exceptionally so with Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon accepted that after all this time, he still sought that peaceful harmony. This was a worthy goal, but he erred when he expected it. I can't wait to see where you go with this. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_resource/b10304/25405090/p3/?52 Prolific Author thread: list & links there. Muse fueled by coffee. Often AWOL despite frequent sipping. Writes on inspiration, not a schedule. Proud master of several padawans
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Veloz Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 3/3/07 7:09pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-8 -- 3-Mar-2007
	Cool update Interesting little insights into Qui Gon and his past and thoughts ... i look forward to Ilum though, i get the feleing that's gonna be a very interesting trip Tnx a lot for the pm -----signature----- "Hello there!" "Remember the Force will be with you..always" - Obi Wan Kenobi, ANH "Who's the more foolish...the fool or the fool who follows him?"- Obi Wan Kenobi, ANH
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earlybird-obi-wan Registered: Aug '06	Date Posted: 3/3/07 9:24pm Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-8 -- 3-Mar-2007
	Thanks for the PM again and Ilum, I am eager to see your description of it. -----signature----- writer and Star Wars fan FANART [link=http://boards.theforce.net/fan_art/b10020/25793899]fanart[/link] stories in my bio
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Gkilkenny Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 3/4/07 12:38am Subject: RE: The Heart of the Jedi -- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, JA -- Parts 1-8 -- 3-Mar-2007
	At least QuiGon is taking the time to think about how he is training Obi-Wan. Ilum will be an experience. -----signature----- Padawan to p_stotts Peace over anger - honour over hate - Strength over fear. Links to Stories in my Bio. Obi-Wan forever.
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