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Author	Topic: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 5/18
azizah Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 3/4 12:36pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 2/26
	& Obi-Wan lay on his sleep couch half awake, trying vainly to hold on to the last remnants of a half forgotten dream, until thoughts of the day rushed in making further sleep impossible. Still he did not get up. He lay under the warmth of the blanket allowing wakefulness to come gradually. He kept perfectly still, his breathing steady and regular, and watched his master through hooded eyelids, pretending to be asleep. A trick that rarely worked but that Obi-Wan continued to attempt on a regular basis. Qui-Gon sat cross legged on the smooth stone floor, soft morning light pooling around him from the open window at his back, deep in meditation. Obi-Wan studied him through half open eyes, his attention naturally drawn to his master as there was little else of interest in the room. It was small and sparsely furnished, two beds, a table and chairs, a small worn rug on the floor and the blankets on the beds where its only comforts. The scene was familiar. It was the same every morning, from the first day Obi-Wan woke after his surgery and each of the seven days since. Obi-Wan tried at first to wake as early as his master, but he had finally given up, each day he would force his eyes open an hour earlier only to find his master already deep in meditation. Qui-Gon never meditated in the same spot, sometimes in front of the window as he was now, often in the center of the room, or just as likely in any other open space the small room provided. But always on the hard floor, never on the rug. Why did he prefer the cold uncomfortable floor? Obi-Wan wondered drowsily letting his mind wander, refusing to allow his thoughts to focus knowing it would bring wakefulness and discovery. But of course the rug was Obi-Wan’s favorite spot to meditate. “Meditation is about turning inward, it has little to do with your external surroundings. A Jedi should be able to meditate in any circumstance and under any conditions, with or without his rug.” Caught again! Obi-Wan flew out of bed. His leg had healed nicely, slowing him not at all, a little stiffness the only reminder of his injury. “Yes, Master. I will be ready in a minute, Master.” He grabbed his clothes and hurried to the fresher. Though he usually preferred warm water to wash, this morning he opted for the cold. He was still a little groggy and his master would not be pleased if he lacked the proper focus, some things did not change. Although it seemed that everything else about his life had been turned upside down. He splashed cold water on his face, trying hard not to think about his friends back at the temple and what they might be doing right now. He had promised himself he would not give in to despair. For the most part he succeeded. Exercise and meditation were familiar things that he clung to, as well as his master’s patient instruction and calm manner. The hard work almost made things easier, at least it gave him a way to focus his energy, by day’s end he was exhausted and his muscles ached. He could think of little else but his sleep couch, unless of course it was his dinner. Qui-Gon lived each day with quiet acceptance as if nothing had changed and Obi-Wan tried hard to emulate his master’s steady calm. At times it almost seemed as if they were back at the temple. In the morning they meditated for hours, followed by a strenuous workout designed to strengthen the damaged muscles in Obi-Wan’s leg. The workout continued until Qui-Gon was satisfied with the boy’s progress and the Jedi master’s expectations, somewhere just short of perfection, were met. In the afternoon Obi-Wan was ordered to rest while his master helped out in the main part of the clinic. It was only yesterday that Qui-Gon had finally agreed to his padawan’s repeated requests to be allowed to leave his room and accompany his master. He was really almost fully recovered and starting to get a little restless. Obi-Wan had been surprised by the hum of activity just beyond his doorway. Recovering in the quiet of his room he had been completely unaware of the busy pace in the surrounding clinic. There was plenty of work to be done and Obi-Wan felt guilty for the days he had been idle. The medical equipment was old and in constant need of repair. There were patients to care for and meals to make, everyone who was able helped out if their health allowed. Eiva was everywhere, ordering everyone about, the patients, the staff, the doctors, his master. But behind the demands and her brusque manner there was steady compassion and a real desire to help. When she was pleased, which was rare, her face lit up with such a rush of honest warm emotion, that many worked hard to meet her exacting standards. She was harder on herself than anyone else. She checked on Obi-Wan daily, but had little time to talk. She would examine his leg, straighten the bed and tidy his room, patently ignoring his protests that he could do it himself. She would occasionally take an evening meal with the Jedi, but rushed off soon after eating. It was odd, but for the first time since Obi-Wan had met her, she seemed happy. He was the only one who seemed to feel out of place, though he worked hard not to show his fear and doubt. The acceptance and trust that came so easily to his master seemed impossible for the young Jedi to achieve. Obi-Wan sometimes wondered if his master could sense his uncertainty, but Qui-Gon betrayed nothing with his usual calm reserve. I am a Jedi, Obi-Wan told himself yet again. I will trust and follow the Force. And I will not disappoint my master. Cold water trickling down his neck drew his attention back to the moment and he realized he had been standing at the sink for some time. He hurried back to join his master, considering the hard floor just briefly before dropping down to his usual place on the rug in front of his master. He prepared himself for meditation, stretching the stiffness out of his leg then with an exhaling breath he closed his eyes and relaxed into position. Obi-Wan tried to turn his focus inward, but his skin pricked with the unmistakable sensation of being watched. He breathed again and minutely corrected his position, but moments later he could still feel his master watching him. Maybe he wasn’t joking about the rug. He opened his eyes to ask if he should move, but Qui-Gon spoke first. “Obi-Wan, our morning meditation can wait.” “Master?” “We need to talk, padawan” Obi-Wan turned his eyes away uncertainly before he caught himself and forced himself to look back. “Yes, Master.” “It is time you tell me exactly what happened after you were taken from the ship.” Obi-Wan breathed a little easier. A report. Nothing unusual. He took a breath and collected his thoughts before he began. “I must have been unconscious for a long time, a day, possibly more. When I woke up I was in a holding cell on the raiders’ ship. My captors had already discovered that Eiva was not the girl they wanted, but they still believed that I was the governor’s son.” He hesitated for a moment considering, though a Jedi strove to be objective, personal observations were not discouraged. “I do not believe they were evil people, Master, at least not always. They had lost their children and they believed governor Hanla was responsible. The husband did not intend any harm to come to us.” Qui-Gon smiled at this confirmation of what he had always believed about his padawan. Not many had the compassion or desire to excuse their would-be killers. “Continue.” Obi-Wan told how he and Eiva had made their escape, his voice shaking slightly with emotion when he told how their attackers had been destroyed. Qui-Gon listened quietly, occasionally prompting with a question and stopping Obi-Wan twice to make him recount with greater precision and detail. “And that was when you found us, and saved us from the Bala and then we came here.” Qui-Gon knew from the dissonant flatness along their bond that Obi-Wan was shielding his feelings. He was well within his rights to admonish his apprentice, but knew it was unnecessary, the boy worked hard to please him and Qui-Gon was already well aware of the blame and self-doubt his padawan struggled against daily. He too had known the stranglehold of guilt, the seeds of doubt that started small and hidden, growing unchecked until they smothered and shackled you at every step. He admired the boy’s perseverance, but he could stand aside no longer. “Obi-Wan, I want you to remember the precise moment you made the decision to take Ronli’s place on the transport. What were you feeling? What made you act as you did? Think carefully, this is important.” “I don’t know. I want to believe that the Force guided me, but I am not sure.” His eyes dropped to the floor where he found he was twisting a loose thread from the carpet between his fingers. He spoke quietly, shame blended with the small sadness of his voice, “But it cannot be true because we ended up here.” “Padawan,” Qui-Gon’s voice was stern. “Think only of the moment.” Obi-Wan stilled his hands and closed his eyes, remembering. “I was upset. A part of me believed that you left me behind because you had regretted your decision to take me back, that you could not bring yourself to trust me again.” Obi-Wan was silent for a long time. He was filled with the emotions of that moment and wanted to make sure his voice was steady before he continued. “I did not know what to do, and I was afraid. I could not let go of the fear, but I kept trying. I breathed it away as I have been taught then suddenly I knew what needed to be done. I had no thought of how it would work or what would happen next, but I knew in my heart what I must do.” Obi-Wan’s eyes flew open, shining with hope and searching for confirmation in his master’s face. “The Force was telling me that?” He saw nothing but assurance in his master’s eyes. The young Jedi considered it for a moment, wanting to believe, but his face clouded. “But in my heart I wanted desperately to please you. I wanted you to see I was willing to do anything to be a Jedi again, to be your padawan again. How can I be sure that it was the will of the Force that guided me, and not just my own desire to make things right?” Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan gently. “Is it so impossible that the will of the Force and the will of your heart be the same?” Obi-Wan looked at his master uncertainly, his eyes dark with doubt and unhappiness. “Obi-Wan, you wanted to be a Jedi, so you acted like a Jedi. What you did was selfless and brave, as a Jedi should be. You sacrificed your own safety to ensure the safety of others. It is not a selfish desire to want so desperately to do what is brave and good. Both your heart and the Force can call you to do what is right. One does not negate the other. “ A slight crease appeared between Obi-Wan’s brow as he struggled with his wavering doubt, “But Master Yoda says to truly know the Force we must lose ourselves, we must leave behind our personal needs and desires.” “Yes, padawan, a life devoted to following the will of the Force calls for many personal sacrifices. We leave our families, we take no possessions, we travel from place to place forming few attachments, seeking out the things that others avoid, often living our lives amid war and hunger and greed. There is little room in such a life for our own desires.” “The Force demands much, but it does not demand that we be untrue to ourselves. Examine your heart, if your desire is true, the Force will not be far away.” “But how can what I want be anything but small and unimportant to the great power of the Force, when there are so many others whose need is much greater.” “You underestimate the true power of the Force, padawan. You are binding it down with the limitations of your own mind. It is not limited by rules or laws nor bound even by the Jedi code. The Force can bring down cities and tyrants and in the same breath land a seed on the only patch of fertile soil on a barren planet. It is as powerful and endless as the hopes and desires of the living things that bind it together, good and evil, large and small, and we are very much a part of that.” “Then why is it sometimes so hard to know and accept the will of the Force?” “At times we are blind to the truth in our own hearts.” For a moment Qui-Gon’s voice sounded distant and grave, but when Obi-Wan looked up his master’s face was serene and thoughtful. The master studied his padawan for a long moment. Obi-Wan looked at him expectantly, his blue eyes pensive, but shining with a brightness that had been missing these past few days. Qui-Gon could see that he was ready. “Padawan, when you were taken, I did not know where to turn. I went to the governor of Fenyali hoping to find answers. I discovered that the pendant you wore held a tracking device and with a receiver I was able to track the bounty hunter’s ship to the Scolia system.” Obi-Wan was quiet for a minute, thinking, “But the pendant must have been destroyed when Van Galin’s ship was destroyed. You must have thought…” his voice trailed off, his eyes questioning as he searched his master’s face. “No, padawan, I knew you were alive.” “But how did you know we had crashed on the moon.” “Patience, padawan.” “Sorry, Master.” “From the moment I arrived in the Scolia system, the call of the Force was strong, drawing me here to this moon. The will of the Force was clear and I knew where I must go. I hoped at first I would find you here, but was told that was impossible.” “And yet you came?” Obi-Wan’s eyes were wide with the sudden realization. “You came because the Force led you here. You did not come to rescue me.” The revelation left him breathless and numb, he was not overcome with emotion only because he did not know what emotion to feel. He wondered that he did not feel betrayal, but all he really felt was relief. He stared at Qui-Gon, dazed. Obi-Wan was startled by the breadth of feeling he saw in the worn familiar face of his master, the mask of Jedi stoicism had slipped revealing powerful emotions. He had to work hard to identify the feelings bared on Qui-Gon’s rugged features, joy intertwined with grief, sorrow tempered with peace. But even the strongest emotions were softened and suffused with the soft light of acceptance. Obi-Wan sensed no regret and no apology. His master offered him nothing but truth and compassion. Obi-Wan’s amazement settled into a single certainty. This was what he wanted to be, this Jedi in front of him. A Jedi like his master, powerful and true. They regarded each other in silence for a long time. Qui-Gon examined each of his feelings under the watchful eyes of his apprentice. He resisted the urge to tell his padawan how he too had failed to recognize the will of the Force in the will of his own heart, how he had once again been blind to the true nature of their connection through the Force, and how he had grieved for the sacrifice he had been called to make. He let these emotions go in a breath. They were unimportant now and would not help the boy. You were called to be his teacher, he reminded himself. Now teach. “Obi-Wan, it is time to have done with fear and doubt.” The boy’s face flushed red and his eyes dropped to study his hands, balling into fists in his lap. With an effort he unclenched them and looked up, a plea for help in his eyes. “I am trying, Master.” “Obi-Wan, imagine you are standing alone on a precipice, towering over a great unknowable abyss. You fight for balance because to fall from your narrow ledge means certain death. Day passes into night and still you must stand perfectly still or tumble into the unknown. Dawn breaks and you are completely shrouded by a great mist, obscuring everything below. The Force beckons and offers you hope. Take a step, it calls, and you will live.” “You try to believe, but to do so you must forget all you previously accepted as truth. Your fear strangles you and you do nothing. The harder you struggle to believe the more entangled you become in your doubt. You use every ounce of your strength to overcome your fear and believe, even as the ground erodes around you and exhaustion sets in. And still you do not believe and you are lost.” “Padawan, I tell you this to remind you of what you already know.” “There is no try.” “Yes, padawan.” “But..” “Padawan, it is up to you to find your own truth, I cannot find it for you. But find it you must or you will be lost.” Obi-Wan swallowed against the hard lump rising in his throat and turned away from the compassion in his master’s gaze. He knew from experience that his frustration would soon turn to anger and that would not help him. He struggled for self control. Everything his master said was true, hadn’t he spent his entire life devoted to understanding these truths? But somehow everything that rang clear and true at home in the temple was now all muddled and confused. The call of the Force was strong, he could only now admit it to himself. But he had stubbornly clung to his doubt and told himself that he had not heard. It was safer to grasp hold of something solid than to let go and be carried away in uncertainty. Fear only made his fight more desperate. Jedi wisdom, the wisdom of his master and the masters who had come before, told him that the only way to conquer his uncertainty was to let go. Solid ground, reason and logic were the illusions, the way of the Force the only truth. He knew all of this. Obi-Wan wondering if it were really possible to just let go, he closed his eyes and tested his feelings and found it was like the first breathless moments before of diving into cold water, better done all at once instead of enduring slow torture. He had much he was afraid to lose, his master, his friends, his life as a Jedi, all that he loved and revered was so close and fragile he could not bear to let it go. You must, he told himself or it will all have been for nothing. Yet like a drowning man he clung to anything familiar in his struggle, even that which he feared the most, failure and darkness. Let it go. Nothing matters, not even your failure. His life contracted into a single moment, the Force whispered believe, and he found that he did. His past, his struggles and triumphs seemed at once to be critical and compelling and at the same time insignificant and unimportant. The feeling was powerful and strange and yet he found he was unafraid. The Force was bright around him and he was safe Never had he know such peace and contentment but he knew he could not stay, not yet. Life called him, the voice of his master, quiet but insistent, was pulling him back. He hesitated a final moment, afraid to lose the refuge he had found, but turned at last toward the sound. “Obi-Wan?” His eyes flew open and he was surprised to find himself still seated on the floor in front of his master. The light in the room had shifted and he was suddenly aware that several hours had passed. Impossible. He breathed and tentatively tested his newfound freedom. The sense of strength and peace he had found though dispersed, had held. The relief was staggering. Joy, pure and undiluted filtered their bond, making Qui-Gon smile. He wondered how he had thought of sacrifice and sorrow when all he had suffered had been swept away by the look on a young boy’s face. The rest no longer mattered. &
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earlybird-obi-wan Registered: Aug '06	Date Posted: 3/4 12:58pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	at peace in the Force and with his master. Nice to see Obi-Wan recovering and with Qui-Gon. Another lovely update to your story. -----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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ratna Registered: Mar '07	Date Posted: 3/4 2:53pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	omg i missed commenting on two consecutive posts. i have to go to class right now, but will be back with more. for now, just one word~ brilliant -----signature----- Ou n'a tu pas tellement aime quelqu'un que tu avais peur de l'aimer au peur des souvenirs?
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Cole_Kenobi Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 3/4 4:38pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	Wow. It was beautiful. Completely brillant. Loved the life's lessons taught. Amazing chapter. Superb job. Very excited for the more.
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Bastet Registered: Dec '99	Date Posted: 3/4 5:12pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	Wonderful update! He kept perfectly still, his breathing steady and regular, and watched his master through hooded eyelids, pretending to be asleep. A trick that rarely worked but that Obi-Wan continued to attempt on a regular basis. I liked how Eiva is ordering everyone around, even the doctors and Qui-Gon. Maybe she'll decide to stay, even if they're allowed to leave? I loved the whole conservation between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. His master offered him nothing but truth and compassion. Obi-Wan’s amazement settled into a single certainty. This was what he wanted to be, this Jedi in front of him. A Jedi like his master, powerful and true. Beautiful! Joy, pure and undiluted filtered their bond, making Qui-Gon smile. He wondered how he had thought of sacrifice and sorrow when all he had suffered had been swept away by the look on a young boy’s face. The rest no longer mattered. I'm so glad Obi and Qui are finally feeling at peace, despite their uncertain circumstances. But I do hope they find a way off the planet! Looking forward to more, azizah! -----signature----- "Oh yeah. Ooh, aah. That's how it always starts. But then later there's running, then...screaming." --Dr. Ian Malcolm "Okay fine. Go ahead and scream. Then when that tricycloplots attacks you, don't come crying to me." --Paul Kirby
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ratna Registered: Mar '07	Date Posted: 3/4 10:21pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	Back I am. Feb 14 I love the transformation of this moon from night to day. Beautiful and evocative descriptions. It is as though the moon and its life-forms incarnate spiritual states. It was difficult for Obi-Wan to walk on his wounded leg, but with indignant stubbornness, typical of a thirteen year old, he refused to be carried. Qui-Gon, sensing the boy's determination, reluctantly gave in despite his better judgment. So they struggled along, with Obi-Wan leaning heavily on his master and Eiva following silently behind. ... ... The sun was high in the sky when at last they reached the gates of the compound. ... ... There was little shelter from the oppressive heat as the midday sun beat down on them and Qui-Gon did not need the additional pull on his arm to know that Obi-Wan was close to being overcome. He had had enough. Without another word, he easily lifted his protesting apprentice into his arms and strode impatiently past the man at the gate. He carried Obi-Wan into the first building he found, barking out commands with a look and a tone that few would be foolish enough to ignore. "Bacta," He roared. "Get a healer, now!" Qui-Gon turned and locked eyes with the man, making sure his intent could not be misunderstood. Once again you treat us to spot-on portrayal of the emotion and relationship between our favorite Master-Padawan pair. It's not too difficult to start off a story with an emotional gem. But to maintain the same level of engagement and beauty for the reader throughout the entire narrative is a whole different level. As my Hungarian great grandfather would say, "I take my hat off of you!" Qui-Gon lowered Obi-Wan into a chair as gently as he could. He made no effort to shield himself from the fresh wave of pain flooding the bond as a result of the jarring movement. After so much silence, it was almost beautiful in its intensity. He drew the pain to him, allowing it to flow unchecked and held it for a moment, acknowledging its purpose and necessity. Gradually the edges softened and the sharp lines blurred, its power finally subdued so that with nothing more than a gentle push he was able to release it back to the Force. That just took my breath away. That's all I can say. There was a sudden commotion in the hallway. They heard the loud authoritative voice of a woman. Good, thought Obi-Wan, maybe they would get something to eat soon. Having an Obi-wan aged boy "in da house" I just fell off my chair laughing. And let's not forget your OC's. Eiva and the healer are each well-rounded and convincing personages in their own rights. Great post! Feb 26 I love Qui-Gon's meditation in the sunset. Love the dialogue between him and the healer, and the way that they come to understand one another. With one last look to the horizon, Qui-Gon let go of his desire for answers, and his questions about the future. It had always been his way to live in the moment and in this one he had much to be thankful for, Obi-Wan was alive and would recover, whatever else came they would face together. You have a way with words. Mar 04 Wonderful that Qui and Obi carry on their Temple routines in this place that is so far from the Temple, and so far from any certainty. That is such a powerful practice. Beautifully described. "You underestimate the true power of the Force, padawan. You are binding it down with the limitations of your own mind. It is not limited by rules or laws nor bound even by the Jedi code. The Force can bring down cities and tyrants and in the same breath land a seed on the only patch of fertile soil on a barren planet. It is as powerful and endless as the hopes and desires of the living things that bind it together, good and evil, large and small, and we are very much a part of that."Â Another breath-taking passage! The call of the Force was strong, he could only now admit it to himself. But he had stubbornly clung to his doubt and told himself that he had not heard. It was safer to grasp hold of something solid than to let go and be carried away in uncertainty. Fear only made his fight more desperate. Jedi wisdom, the wisdom of his master and the masters who had come before, told him that the only way to conquer his uncertainty was to let go. Solid ground, reason and logic were the illusions, the way of the Force the only truth. OMG, shiver me timbers, girl! He knew all of this. Obi-Wan wondered if it were really possible to just let go. He closed his eyes and tested his feelings and found it was like the first breathless moments before diving into cold water, better done all at once instead of enduring slow torture. He had much he was afraid to lose, his master, his friends, his life as a Jedi, all that he loved and revered was so close and fragile he could not bear to let it go. You must, he told himself or it will all have been for nothing. Yet like a drowning man he clung to anything familiar in his struggle, even that which he feared the most, failure and darkness. Let it go. Nothing matters, not even your failure. His life contracted into a single moment, the Force whispered believe, and he found that he did. Oh, wow! And then, the perfect closer: Joy, pure and undiluted filtered their bond, making Qui-Gon smile. He wondered how he had thought of sacrifice and sorrow when all he had suffered had been swept away by the look on a young boy'ss face. The rest no longer mattered. -----signature----- Ou n'a tu pas tellement aime quelqu'un que tu avais peur de l'aimer au peur des souvenirs?
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Gkilkenny Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 3/5 4:08am Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	Beautifully done, and even though they are in a dangerous situation, they have found each other, and Obi-Wan has learnt to let go of his fear. -----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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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 3/5 6:02pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	I loved the way you described things here. It was both calming and envigorating. I especially liked this. “And yet you came?” Obi-Wan’s eyes were wide with the sudden realization. “You came because the Force led you here. You did not come to rescue me.” The revelation left him breathless and numb, he was not overcome with emotion only because he did not know what emotion to feel. He wondered that he did not feel betrayal, but all he really felt was relief. He stared at Qui-Gon, dazed. Obi-Wan was startled by the breadth of feeling he saw in the worn familiar face of his master, the mask of Jedi stoicism had slipped revealing powerful emotions. He had to work hard to identify the feelings bared on Qui-Gon’s rugged features, joy intertwined with grief, sorrow tempered with peace. But even the strongest emotions were softened and suffused with the soft light of acceptance. Obi-Wan sensed no regret and no apology. His master offered him nothing but truth and compassion. Obi-Wan’s amazement settled into a single certainty. This was what he wanted to be, this Jedi in front of him. A Jedi like his master, powerful and true. I'd have been angry or hurt that he hadn't come for Obi-Wan but all he felt was relief. A wonderful explanation of what a Jedi is. Great job. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 11/20/08 jedidas3's Master At last - Hope for our country
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AngryWarrior Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 3/9 9:11pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	Wow great update. Up!!
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azizah Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 3/13 9:00pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/04
	earlybird-obi-wan – at peace with the Force is a good way to put it. Thanks for reading. Cole_Kenobi – thank you, this was one of my favorite parts to write. Bastet – I think you are right about Eiva. Thanks for reading and reviewing Ratna – I can’t thank you enough for that lovely review. This made me laugh It's not too difficult to start off a story with an emotional gem. But to maintain the same level of engagement and beauty for the reader throughout the entire narrative is a whole different level The emotional “gems” are what I live for, where I get stuck is moving the story from one angsty situation to another. One of these days I will just string them all together and then we’ll see what you think. Gkilkenny – yes, that was a big step for Obi-Wan. Thanks so much. Dianethx – Yes, that is what a Jedi is, especially Obi-Wan. Thank you. AngryWarrior - thanks & Morning was Eiva’s favorite time of the day, she loved the cool crisp air and the feeling of new beginnings, before the heat and cares of the day weighed everything down, slowed her step and made her remember. She walked the near empty corridors of the clinic with steady purpose, quiet and sure, her head full of activity, thinking no further into the future than the day ahead and running through mental lists of the many things that needed to be done. The sound stopped her dead, it wasn’t loud but resonated on the air, sending a tremor of fear through her. The powerful hum of a lightsaber would be forever imprinted on her memory after that horrible night in the forest. Eiva dropped the box of supplies she was carrying and ran down the empty hallway to the open window. She looked out breathlessly on the courtyard below. At a glance she could tell that Obi-Wan was in trouble, he was backed into a corner fighting hard, concentration lined his young face. With no room to maneuver Obi-Wan was forced to be on the defensive, only just managing to block and parry against the lethal attack. Eiva gripped the window ledge anxiously, swallowing the urge to cry out. Then suddenly, unbelievably, Obi-Wan was flying, somersaulting mid-air and landing several meters behind his attacker, stepping immediately to the offensive from the landing. But Qui-Gon had already turned and countered, driving his apprentice back once more. She continued to watch the Jedi duel, and even though she knew they were just practicing, she caught herself flinching as Qui-Gon’s lightsaber sliced the air where Obi-Wan’s head had been a breath before. She had to remind herself of the days she had watched the older Jedi gently tend to his injured apprentice. The images were hard to reconcile with the aggressive unrelenting attack unfolding before her. They were family, Eiva told herself, or something like it. The Jedi master would never harm his apprentice. “Remarkable, isn’t it.” The healer, Marayanna, had come to watch at the window beside her. “So beautiful and graceful, it almost makes you forget the danger.” Eiva did not need to be reminded of the fatal power of a lightsaber, it was something she would never forget. She turned from the window at last and went back to retrieve the box of supplies she had dropped. She was anxious to get them put away, the patients would be waking up soon. And, she admitted to herself with her usual honesty, she wanted to escape from the watchfulness of the healer. Eiva admired Marayanna a great deal, but she had seen a look in the doctor’s eyes that reminded her of her father. She had already disappointed enough people. “Eiva, I want you to come look at something in my lab.” “But I need to restock the supply closet and soon it will be time for morning meds.” “Let the medical droids take care of that, this is important.” Marayanna’s voice was gentle, but there was an underlying urgency in her voice that was unmistakable. “And my patients aren’t?” Eiva hoped her tone was angry enough to dissuade the doctor from following her as she turned and stalked away. She was wrong. The healer was nothing if not determined. Marayanna was tall and in a few long strides she caught up to the young girl, grabbing her arm to hold her and make her listen. “I know how you hate to leave the patients’ care to the droids. If I had my way we would not use them at all, but this cannot wait. I will help you with the patients when we are done. Please, Eiva. It won’t take long.” They stood staring at each other in the middle of the hallway, a closed look hiding whatever emotions Eiva might be feeling. Eiva looked down at her arm and up at the doctor without saying a word. The hard look in the girl’s eyes made Marayanna drop her hold at once. “Look, Eiva. I don’t know how else to ask. I am no good at begging, but I need your help. There is no one else here who has your experience or intuition. I know you lack formal training, but insight is not something that can be taught.” Eiva remained stubbornly silent, but she hadn’t moved, so the healer persevered. “I’ve been watching you. I see how you are with my patients and that is not something they can teach in school. You have something special and my gut tells me you can do more than treat diseases. With your help I can solve this problem and save these people.” Her tone had risen in frustration and she gave Eiva a challenging look, desperate to find a way to reach the girl. “Throw away your own talent and your own future if you want to, but don’t take these people with you. You are their only hope because gods help me I cannot do it myself.” Eiva flushed red and looked away, struggling with many hidden emotions until finally of all things her curiosity won out. She said nothing but nodded her head in silent response. When the doctor set off down the hall, she followed reluctantly behind. After a few turns, they passed through a set of unmarked pressure-seal doors into a small antechamber. The doors hissed closed behind them automatically, and Eiva knew there was no turning back. This was a moment she had been dreading. The hair on her body stood up with a slight tingling sensation, the only sign of the electromagnetic pulse used to purify the room and its occupants of any outside contaminants. The inner doors slid silently open and revealed a small room, immaculately clean, and brightly lit with artificial light. Eiva was not sure what she had expected her reaction to be, she had not been in a medical lab since her father’s death. She stepped warily into the room and looked around taking in a deep breath to steady her shaky nerves. She smiled to herself even as tears blurred the already stark room to an unintelligible mass of white. She knew it was impossible, even the air was meticulously stripped of impurities, but it smelled like home. Marayanna seemed not to notice her hesitation and was already activating the monitor at a lab station, pulling up images on the screen. “Do you know what this is?” Marayanna pointed to a screen swirled with color interlaced with wiry twig like black strands. Eiva hastily wiped her eyes on her sleeve and went forward, her misgivings forgotten. She studied the slide with interest and a keen eye. “It is an active SIB2 virus. The X strain, the virus we are all infected with.” “And this?” The doctor waived her hand in front of a sensor at the bottom of the screen and another image appeared. “That is the same virus in stasis.” “Excellent.” Marayanna allowed herself a small smile. “That is how we have survived so long, the virus is normally swift and deadly, but we have had some success rendering it harmless by putting it to sleep you could say. We just cannot figure out how to make it last. One or two terms of hibernation is all we have managed. Her voice was matter of fact, “That is my tissue sample, it shows the virus in the last stages of hibernation.” She turned away from the screen and gave Eiva a considering look. “You should reconsider your decision to become a healer or a medical scientist, you have the head on your shoulders for it.” Eiva shrugged, it seemed pointless to even argue. It would take years of training. “Come over here, I want to show you another sample I collected this morning.” The healer indicated another terminal where an image was already displayed on the screen. Eiva guessed that the doctor had studied it for quite some time. She was immediately reminded of something her father would do when faced with a difficult problem or stumped by the progress of a new disease. He would leave a sample up on a screen for days, often coming back to in during the course of the day, suddenly interrupting conversations with colleagues or dinner with his daughter to go back for another look to confirm or dispel whatever theory his brilliant mind had been quietly formulating. Many times she had found him in his lab in the middle of the night staring thoughtfully at the slides or formulas, nodding absentmindedly when she told him to go to bed. Eiva had always known that even when it seemed he was listening attentively to her talk of friends or school, his mind was usually hard at work on some complex theory or formula. She had never resented his preoccupation. She had not inherited his true genius, but she truly loved working at his side and sharing his excitement at each new discovery. His entire life had been devoted to healing people and he loved the work. She had wanted to be just like him. Eiva studied the sample just briefly before she answered. “This is completely normal, except the analyzer shows a high concentration of an unidentifiable substance. That is the reason for the gray swirls on the graphical display.” “I had never seen that before either, but Master Jinn assures me it is quite normal for a Jedi, even a young one, like this patient. They are called midiclorians. We don’t have the specialized equipment needed to isolate and identify it correctly. They are present in a very few individuals at birth and do not grow or diminish with age. “So this must be Obi-Wan’s sample?” “It is.” “But there is no sign of the virus?” “Exactly.” Eiva leaned against the table to steady herself. She looked more closely at the image just to make sure she had not been mistaken. But further inspection revealed no sign of the infection. She realized she was smiling, she almost felt like laughing out loud, it was a good feeling. At last something good had happened in her life that was real, real enough to touch. She had grown close to Obi-Wan in the short time they had known each other and cared deeply about him. Eiva would be sad to see him go, but impatiently turned aside the selfish thought. He would be free, he would live. It was almost too much to take in at once. “So the Jedi are immune.” With another flick of her hand, Marayanna brought up one more image. It had the same swirling irregularities as Obi-Wan’s but this one clearly showed the ugly black stem-like structure of the virus in the first stages of stasis. “But I don’t understand.” Eiva sunk to a chair trying hard to sort it out. The sample obviously belonged to Qui-Gon. “Why..?” “Oh…” Her voice was dull and flat. Obi-Wan would not be leaving. She had seen enough of the two Jedi to know that their connection was strong, they were more than master and pupil, they were father and son. Nothing would persuade Obi-Wan to leave his master here to die, to go in search of a better future for himself. He would know the pain of failing to save the father he loved, and then the future would not matter. Marayanna put her hands on Eiva’s shoulders and shook her gently. “There is something more.” She waited to make sure Eiva understood. “You are not infected with the virus either.” “That is why I brought you here. I want you to work with me to solve this mystery. Something has happened to you and Obi-Wan to make you immune to infection. We will need to go through your history, where you have been together, what could have caused this to happen. You hold the key to our salvation.” Eiva looked up at Marayanna for the first time. A familiar light burned in the healer’s eyes. For once Eiva did not look away. She had just been told she would live, but surprisingly that was not the source of her newfound feelings of hope. Something had changed for her, and it was more than a second chance at life. She was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, that life might be worth living. For so long she had avoided anything that might remind her of her father and their time together. She believed her precious memories of her father were too fragile to stand the overwhelming power of her anguish, so she had buried them where they would be safe and had run from all that was dear and familiar. She had used anger as her shield, anger at the man who destroyed her father, anger at all who had blamed him, and anger at herself for leaving him. Eiva looked around the lab, much of it achingly familiar, but it lacked the presence her father had brought to any room he entered. No, this wasn’t home. She could not bring back what she had lost, but maybe she could make her own way. She had been given a chance to begin again, maybe she could start by helping save people, just as her father had always done. She turned back to Marayanna and asked a question she already knew the answer to, “When do we begin?” &
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Valairy_Scot Title: PT Rewrite Winner Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 3/13 9:41pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/13
	Your story is a lot of little gems strung together, to pull from prior posts. It is very honest and very real, and totally engrossing. I can hardly wait for each new chapter and what you'll reveal. -----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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earlybird-obi-wan Registered: Aug '06	Date Posted: 3/13 9:55pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/13
	Loved your update and now Eiva and Marayanna go and save all of them. Great how she sees Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan like father and son -----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: 3/14 2:13am Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/13
	Excellent, and now Eiva will help to find a cure, this is so interesting keep up the good work. -----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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Bastet Registered: Dec '99	Date Posted: 3/14 8:08pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/13
	Thank you for that wonderful update! I loved how Eiva had to keep reminding herself that Qui would never hurt Obi as they were dueling, and how she knew that they were as close as family. I liked the deeper look into Eiva's character, and I'm so glad she has found a new purpose in life. Now she just needs to figure out a cure to that disease! I wonder why her and Obi-Wan are immune... Looking forward to more! -----signature----- "Oh yeah. Ooh, aah. That's how it always starts. But then later there's running, then...screaming." --Dr. Ian Malcolm "Okay fine. Go ahead and scream. Then when that tricycloplots attacks you, don't come crying to me." --Paul Kirby
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Cole_Kenobi Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 3/14 9:05pm Subject: RE: One Path (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Oc's) Updated 3/13
	Hehe, you want to now something slightly ironic, when I first read this story a long time ago I think I was still in grade school, but now I'm a nursing student so this story touches me on a different level, and I just love it. And I think I already guessed what made Obi and the girl unable to become infected with the virus but I don't remember if I've read further than that, so I'm excited to see if I was right. Can't wait for more! Lovely update!
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