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Topic:
Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 1:11pm
Subject:
Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
- Date Edited:
1/11 8:29am (3 edits total)
Edited By:
VaderLVR64
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Title: Not Dark Yet
Author: VaderLVR64
Characters: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan
Notes: Written for the Bob Dylan challenge. My quote was “It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.”
Not Dark Yet
Qui-Gon stared out at the plains stretched below them. His thoughts were troubled this evening, restless and anxious. It was a state he was not comfortable admitting to, much less indulging in. He faced the coming night with a determination to banish whatever snapped at his heels.
He was aware of Obi-Wan coming to stand by his side, his presence in the Force a familiar point of serenity for Qui-Gon. Usually. “You’re up early,” he noted as he watched the young man yawn widely. With relief, he noted that Obi-Wan did not seem unduly distressed or upset.
They had reached the site where they set up camp late that morning and, exhausted, had fallen onto their sleeping mats with little consideration for its long-term comfort.
“There was a stick poking me,” Obi-Wan noted sleepily and rubbed his injured backside. He stretched and winced, reacting to muscles that should not have been sore but which ached nonetheless.
“We’ve had more luxurious quarters,” Qui-Gon agreed with a smile, though he remained troubled. “But there’s some caf ready if you’d like some.”
Obi-Wan’s expression brightened a bit at that and he nodded before trotting over to the fire and pouring himself a small cup. The Master smiled as he watched Obi-Wan wake up before his eyes. The young man usually required a healthy dose of caf in the morning and Qui-Gon always carried a small supply with him when he could. Whenever water was readily available, the Jedi could enjoy at least a cup of caf. Having once heard an old spacer say that morning was anytime you woke up, Qui-Gon thought it wise to have the brew ready for his Padawan. It appeared he had been correct, he mused with a smile.
Giving a sigh of contentment, Obi-Wan opened his eyes wide and looked around. “It’s not half bad here,” he observed. His face took on the golden glow of fire in the dwindling light of day.
“Not bad at all,” Qui-Gon said as he sat down beside the younger man. Then he gave him a look of concern. “Did you have a dream while you slept, Padawan?”
Obi-Wan frowned in bewilderment, staring at his Master. “No, Master. Why do you ask?”
Shrugging as if it made no difference, Qui-Gon began packing away the small remnants of their stay. “Nothing,” he finally said. “You just seemed…restless.”
Restless. Quite a mild description for the tortured sounds that had come from the boy during his troubled sleep, the frantic motions. Qui-Gon had jumped up in alarm when Obi-Wan cried out for the first time, settling back down only when he realized that his Padawan was fast asleep and no danger lurked in the camp.
Still, he had not been able to get back to sleep and so he had watched and listened as his Padawan battled whatever demons had visited him in his dreams. The young man had been in horrible pain, even if only in a place that did not exist, some place to which his nightmares had taken him.
“I don’t remember a dream, Master,” Obi-Wan finally said. Then he tilted his head and frowned thoughtfully. “But my throat is sore, Master.” He glanced at Qui-Gon. “Do you think I’m coming down with something?”
There was a shudder in the boy’s voice that made Qui-Gon smile. How he does hate to be sick. Obi-Wan had a deep-seated aversion to Healers and medicine in general, and usually preferred to tough it out when illness struck. Qui-Gon could not really lecture the boy about that fault, he admitted, since he shared it.
“No,” Qui-Gon replied as he put a quick, experienced hand on Obi-Wan’s forehead. “No, you’re not getting sick.” And laughed at the relief on Obi-Wan’s face. He knew why the boy’s throat ached of course. He had cried out, long low cries of distress, and many times Qui-Gon had wondered that he had not woken himself up with the strength of it.
The silence stretched out comfortably between them for a moment, each of them savoring the start of a new day in their own way. “What’s bothering you, Master?” Obi-Wan finally asked. He seemed almost apologetic when he spoke.
Sighing, Qui-Gon knew he had been too optimistic when he hoped that Obi-Wan would not notice his strange mood. “I’m restless, Padawan,” he admitted at last, feeling a sense of freedom in it. He looked over at the boy. “Don’t you ever feel…out of sorts?”
The young man gave it careful consideration and finally shook his head. “Not really, Master,” he said. “Mostly I’m just worried about perfecting a new kata or keeping up in saber class,” he admitted with a touch of exasperation.
“You need have no fears there, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon told him proudly. “Your saber skills are quite close to surpassing my own, far closer than I’m comfortable admitting,” Qui-Gon confessed with a grin. “And you’re not even knighted yet.”
Blushing, Obi-Wan’s head dipped low as it always did when he received praise from his Master. “I think I have much to learn before I can even think about being the Jedi that you are, Master.”
Qui-Gon laughed and whacked Obi-Wan on the back. “And that is why a Master keeps a Padawan,” he declared. “To keep our egos well fed.”
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to protest before he saw the teasing glint in Qui-Gon’s eyes. Suddenly, he grew solemn. “I do remember a dream, Master. Something you just said…it brought a bit of it back to me.”
His eyes alight with curiosity, Qui-Gon nodded. “Go on.”
Frowning slightly, Obi-Wan closed his eyes. “It isn’t much,” he apologized. “Just bits and pieces, impressions more than anything.”
“That’s fine, Padawan,” the Master encouraged softly.
“There’s darkness,” Obi-Wan said. “I’m being swallowed up by it.”
To his surprise, Qui-Gon felt his heart begin thudding in fear.
“It’s all around me,” the boy continued. “I watch it start from me, I’m at the center of it – or I am the center of it - and then it spreads… It spreads so far Master.” There was both awe and horror in Obi-Wan’s voice.
Afraid to speak, afraid that he would interrupt the flow of Obi-Wan’s memories, Qui-Gon remained still and silent beside him.
“And that is when the darkness rears up and swallows me,” Obi-Wan said. “And I’m gone, just like that. In an instant.” Then Obi-Wan shook his head. “No, it’s not just me that’s gone.”
Almost holding his breath, Qui-Gon waited.
“It’s…it’s the light that’s gone,” Obi-Wan whispered. “Just gone.”
Then his eyes fluttered open and he stared at Qui-Gon. “That’s so odd,” he said. “And so vain…”
“Vain?” Qui-Gon asked, laughter threatening in spite of his fear.
“That I should think myself to be the light,” Obi-Wan confessed miserably. “We are taught that each of us is but part of the Light. I know that, Master, truly I do.”
“It’s a dream, Padawan,” Qui-Gon soothed. “Just a dream. It was not vanity that prompted it, just a deep desire to serve the Light.”
The young man seemed comforted by that, relieved of his fears of conceit. “Yes, Master, yes, of course. You’re right.” Then he looked up at the deepening twilight sky and laughed. “Besides, it’s not dark, is it?” If there was still a trace of unease in his voice they both ignored it.
“No, it’s not dark,” Qui-Gon agreed. It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.
And he wondered where that certainty had come from and why it troubled him so.
-----signature-----
If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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yodas_waiter
Registered:
Oct '06
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 2:07pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Wow! An excellent use of the excerpt and a chilling foreshadowing of things to come. I was worried that the excerpt was too short and/or uninspiring but you turned it in to something special. Well done! 
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Padawan to Sionnach-Airgid Author of Chyler databank entry Nominated Best New Author in Before the Saga 06/07 The Enforcer (SW Super-hero tribute): http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28028864/p1/?2
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Alexis_Wingstar
Registered:
Sep '06
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 2:17pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
- Date Edited:
6/10/07 2:19pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Alexis_Wingstar
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Wow, very well done.
I don't know why, but this is my favorite part:
“I don’t remember a dream, Master,” Obi-Wan finally said. Then he tilted his head and frowned thoughtfully. “But my throat is sore, Master.” He glanced at Qui-Gon. “Do you think I’m coming down with something?”
There was a shudder in the boy’s voice that made Qui-Gon smile. How he does hate to be sick. Obi-Wan had a deep-seated aversion to Healers and medicine in general, and usually preferred to tough it out when illness struck. Qui-Gon could not really lecture the boy about that fault, he admitted, since he shared it.
“No,” Qui-Gon replied as he put a quick, experienced hand on Obi-Wan’s forehead. “No, you’re not getting sick.” And laughed at the relief on Obi-Wan’s face. He knew why the boy’s throat ached of course. He had cried out in the night, and many times Qui-Gon had wondered that he had not woken himself up with the strength of it.
-----signature-----
"Change. It can be good. It can be bad. It can be expected or come as a thief in the night. Invited or not, it always comes."
~Koria
"Tender Shadows", co-written w/ The Musical Jedi
Padawan to DarthIshtar
Failed member of CA (Challengeholics Anonymous)
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dianethx
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 4:30pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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This was rather humorous merging into sad as the dream unfolded.
Good job.
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Healer_Leona
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 6:40pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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That was just perfectly delightful. Pure unadulterated JA. No, even better!! 
Any chance this turns into somehting more, please let me know. 
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Still crazy after all these years.
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LuvEwan
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
6/10/07 10:37pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Gorgeous, VL. I love how Qui-Gon was disconcerted, but didn't really let Obi-Wan know just how much he was. And the nondescript setting made it almost feel like they were on the edge of nowhere, on the verge of the darkness itself. I really love that song and this story fits the tone of it beautifully. Fantastic.
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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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earlybird-obi-wan
Registered:
Aug '06
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Date Posted:
6/11/07 10:26am
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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That one was great. Humour about drinking caf and their shared dislike of healers and that serious part of the dream foreshadowing what is to come.
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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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KELIA
Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
6/11/07 11:48am
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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*bbbbrrrr* how very chilling.
I'm glad Qui-Gon was there to comfort Obi-Wan...but how eerie he felt the darkness was coming.
Great response to the challenge
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ardavenport
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
6/11/07 8:21pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Nice. This story does make me wonder how prophetic Jedi are with the Force. I suppose many of them could have had inklings of something really bad might happen before Anakin went sour. And Obi-Wan would be right next to it, but still not be sure where the darkness was coming from until it was on top of him. Qui-Gon can only wonder.
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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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Maeti
Registered:
May '07
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Date Posted:
6/11/07 8:26pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Yowza! That was amazing. I wasn't sure what I would find for the Dylan contest, but this was wonderful.
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nickenobi-nz
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
6/12/07 12:11am
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Very cool! I love Obi-wan's dream. It does make me wonder how many of the other Jedi had a feeling that things were going to go so wrong.
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RX_Sith
Registered:
Mar '06
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Date Posted:
6/12/07 5:20am
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Qui-Gon is great in this, comforting Obi-Wan. I've always thought of him as a fatherly type in the Jedi ranks. Excellent story.
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Chief of Staff - The SWC Rebel Scum
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
1/11 8:34am
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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yodas_waiter The excerpt inspired me! I loved it!
Alexis_Wingstar Thank you! 
dianethx So glad you enjoyed it! 
Healer_Leona I will, but that's not fair to release plot bunnies around me. 
LuvEwan I'm honored that you both read and enjoyed it. I admire your work so much, so your words mean even more. 
earlybird-obi-wan I find life is seldom just angst or humor, usually it blends the two so that we don't know whether to laugh or cry at times!
KELIA It was a great challenge!
ardavenport Vague hints, that's about all I think they'd get. Obviously Anakin took them by surprise! 
Maeti Thank you.
nickenobi-nz I thought maybe Qui-Gon would sense something only in relationship to Obi, a personal threat if you will.
RX_Sith Thank you so much!
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If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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Cole_Kenobi
Registered:
Aug '05
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Date Posted:
1/14 12:01pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Awesome. Just brillant.
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Meredith_Kenobi
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
1/15 5:47pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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“It’s all around me,” the boy continued. “I watch it start from me, I’m at the center of it – or I am the center of it - and then it spreads… It spreads so far Master.” There was both awe and horror in Obi-Wan’s voice.
I felt a chill run down my spine at that. You did a maervelous job at creating a somewhat fearful atmosphere as Obi esplained his dream.
Wonderful viggie. I loved it.
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Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master 
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Gkilkenny
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/15 7:50pm
Subject:
RE: Not Dark Yet - Dylan Challenge Response - Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
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Very nice. At least Qui-Gon senses maybe the darkness is coming.
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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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