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Topic:
Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 12:13am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Qui-Gon watched the Talusian cruiser land with a sense of relief. This unwanted mission that had become so complicated and dangerous was coming to an end. He could see already that the cruiser was well armed and more maneuverable. Given what this mission had become, it was a more appropriate vessel. He hadn’t suggested that they leave the planet yet, but he was going to mention it to Dash-te when they were aboard. Even now that he knew the truth, something still didn’t feel right.
The ramp lowered and Governor Laoul stepped off, followed by two aides and several guards. A tall man with thinning hair and a long face, he surveyed the scene sadly and continued toward the gathered monks. He and Dash-te Dey formally greeted each other by clasping hands and bowing heads.
As the guards collected their things, Governor Laoul briefed them on the situation in Talus City, their capital.
"It is most serious and unexpected." Laoul told them; "During an emergency session of our senate to discuss the implications of the destruction of the monastery in Es-Speeth, a group of Astrid Stovall’s supporters made a summary motion of annexation into Rengaian territory. When the motion was turned down, General Ruusk and his army stormed the building.
With the building secure, Astrid Stovall freed those who did not support her, and declared herself leader of the ‘Liberation Front of Talus,’ a new government for the whole planet, which she claims will free our people from the bonds of an imperialist theocracy. The coup was well planned and a complete surprise to us. She has military control over much of the capital city and has taken over all public communications."
Dash-te fumed. "You were never in the bonds of an imperialist theocracy. We would have remained peaceful neighbors."
The governor shook his head. "Not everybody believes this to be true. In Talus, many people have become reluctant to practice Yebbi rituals as support for the Divine Prince of Enlightenment wanes. I believe that what has happened was inevitable."
Qui-Gon spoke up. "I suggest we continue this when the Divine Prince is on board. We haven’t much time."
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 12:14am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Removing the many stinging thorns was a tedious process. With his hand wrapped in one of the Kalla scarves, the fabric of which seemed immune to the thorn’s stickiness, Menalu meticulously plucked one thorn at a time and threw it deep into the brush. But once Obi-Wan was free of them, the stinging had gone away and they continued on.
Obi-Wan was thinking of ways to make the journey easier. Menalu had grown too weary to continue on foot and Obi-Wan had been carrying him for what seemed like hours. Pushing through the dense brush was becoming a tedious chore, which he hoped never to repeat and yet seemed to have become his whole life. He found it difficult to remember a time when he could simply walk, without having to push something out of the way. The buzzing insects were relentless. Their water ration was long since consumed. The sun was giving him a headache and bright spots danced in his periphery. It was delicious to imagine life with just one of those miseries gone.
He imagined what it would be like to walk freely without the constant battling with leaves and branches. Or to move without the weight of another person on his back; that would have made things much easier. He pictured a flowing waterfall of fresh water that they could drink from and even bathe in. And of course, the headache that pounded his temples. If that were gone, he wouldn’t have minded the buzzing insects so much.
He was roused from his reverie when his foot hooked on a root and he tripped, sending Menalu headlong into the underbrush. It was the second time he’d done this. Menalu got up without a word and Obi-Wan didn’t apologize as he knelt down so his passenger could climb back on.
The rigors of the forest began to wear them thin.
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Master Peael
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 12:22am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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HERE I AM!
sheesh... helping a padawan with her story and trying to figure out what's going on in my own leaves me little time to read anymore... but Here I Am! and I love this still.....
poor Obi-Wan.... he needs a little bit of help.
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Jane Jinn
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 1:37am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Don't count on the help, Master Peael, the next thing that's going to happen is that Obi-Wan will succumb to the poisoned thorns and just keel right over. Right, Jedilore?
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Mostly retired now
Just making the occasional guest appearance
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 6:36am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Gosh, I sure hope not...
Great story!!!!!
Trika Kenobi
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 12:51pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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How'd you know Jane?
*****************
Obi-Wan kept walking with Menalu slowly limping behind him. He stopped suddenly and clutched his chest.
"Menalu, I think those were deadly poison thorns," he said.
Whunk!
THE END.
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Jane Jinn
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 1:05pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Nothing has made me laugh more than this, except TPM--the humorous version! I am laughing so hard I can hardly type!
All right, I take it back. Obi-Wan appears at the camp with Menalu in tow and Qui-Gon says,"Nice tattoo, Padawan. Or should I say--Spot?"
I really do apologize. I promise I'll be nice from now on and not ruin your story with prophetic comments, if you'll please post more.
Please?
[This message has been edited by Jane Jinn (edited 02-08-2000).]
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Mostly retired now
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 4:31pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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It was tempting though wasn't it Jane.
And I got to use the word "whunk" in a death scene. No small feat...
Anyway. That's not really the end. (No. Really?)
***************
The Talusian cruiser skimmed the tops of the trees. Qui-Gon and Dash-te stood in the cockpit watching as the navigator guided them toward the rock outcropping. The mood was expectant and neither man spoke. Dash-te may have made many mistakes, but Qui-Gon understood the depth of his worry. He felt it as well.
In the distance a small gray speck appeared in the carpet of green. But, as they grew closer, it was obvious that no one stood at the top. Qui-Gon could feel Dash-te’s disappointment.
"Not there." Dash-te sighed.
Qui-Gon shook his head. "They need more time," he said. "Is there anywhere we can go that’s safe? We should return tomorrow."
"We should land and look for them," Dash-te protested.
Qui-Gon considered this. He wanted to with all his heart, but it didn’t make sense. Around the rock the trees were too dense. For them to find a proper landing spot and then send out a search party was too risky. He shook his head. "No, we need to meet them here. On this rock."
As the ship turned away and headed for Talus, Qui-Gon felt a heaviness in his heart. He wondered if he would ever see Obi-Wan again.
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/8/00 4:45pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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The reality had begun to set in that Obi-Wan might be asked to stay and rebuild the temple. It hadn’t made sense at first, but he was beginning to see that it did. Of course, the Yebbi would need a new temple. And with all the monks gone they would need someone to help. They would ask him. He was sure of it. That would mean no longer being a Jedi knight. He would have to leave that. Wait. He wasn’t a knight. He was an apprentice, a padawan learner. So, it wouldn’t be so hard to leave after all.
What was his master’s name? He couldn’t remember. Such a strange thing to forget. What was it? Oh, of course. Kenobi. No. That was his name. He tried to picture him. Jinn something. No, that didn’t sound right either. Perhaps he didn’t have a master after all.
"Obi-Wan, watch where you’re going!" The shout was close to his ear and like a sleepwalker waking from a dream Obi-Wan was suddenly aware that he was on a collision course with a large tree trunk. He whirled away from it and the world seemed to spin out of control. He threw out his arms for balance, but it didn’t help. Obi-Wan swayed for a moment and then toppled over, dumping Menalu onto the forest floor for what seemed to him like the hundredth time.
"Are you feeling all right?" Menalu asked, sitting up slowly.
Obi-Wan rubbed his throbbing temples. The world still spun and he shut his eyes before propping himself on his elbows. "I forgot my master’s name," he said.
"Qui-Gon’s name?"
"Yes. Qui-Gon. That’s it. That’s his name. That’s what I forgot." Obi-Wan felt warmth run down his lip and tasted blood. His nose was bleeding. He wiped it on his sleeve.
"Perhaps the heat is getting to you. You look tired."
Obi-Wan read the concern on Menalu’s face. "I’m fine." He said. "I was daydreaming." He stood up and waited for the blood to stop pounding in his ears. Part of him was worried; how could he have forgotten Qui-Gon’s name? What was wrong with him? But another part of him told him to ignore it and continue on. Weighing his options, continuing was the only logical choice.
"I think I’ll walk on my own if you don’t mind," Menalu said.
The two of them started off again, but Menalu was worried. Obi-Wan didn’t seem right and he didn’t know how much further they had to go.
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 6:35am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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The plot thickens...I wonder if I've said that before...great story!!!!!
Trika Kenobi
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 2:25pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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The cruiser landed near a small village on the outer edge of the Talus State. There they would wait until morning. Qui-Gon waited with the others inside of the main passenger compartment of the ship.
The Talusian governor was understandably reluctant to return to Talus City or even make their presence known until he was sure of the status of the Divine Prince. If the Divine Prince were dead that would change the political climate of the planet considerably. He felt that it was the corruption of the Rengaian regency that had reigned for so long while the Divine Prince came of age that had been the chink in the armor that allowed Astrid Stovall’s ideas to take root. Even now, at fourteen, he had not yet reached his majority and was only a political figurehead. The needless death of a Jedi apprentice as well would certainly not garner sympathy for them in the Republic, should they require further intervention.
The group sat in silence listening to a public broadcast of the propaganda of the Liberation Front of Talus. Though most of the propaganda was about the improvements the people of Talus would see there was a brief, but disturbing segment in which it was announced that the Divine Prince of Enlightenment had personally endorsed a treaty in which Rengaia agreed to accept the rule of the Liberation Front. There was no mention of the destruction of the temple.
"I can only assume that my people are listening to similar news," Dash-te said.
"We must consider the possibility that the Divine Prince is dead," Laoul said. "We will need a strategy."
Dash-te shook his head. "His High Holiness is still alive. Master Qui-Gon says they need more time. Let’s at least give them until tomorrow."
"They have been missing in the jungle for two days. Their chances of survival are slim. We must be prepared," Laoul said.
Sheniko stood up, "We will be prepared, but Qui-Gon says his apprentice is still alive."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Obi-Wan is still alive."
"And the Divine Prince of Enlightenment?" asked the governor.
"I don’t know," Qui-Gon admitted.
"Then we must give them both a chance," Sheniko said. "For tonight, the subject is closed."
The force of her proclamation surprised Qui-Gon. Conversation continued, but it never strayed toward the subject of the Divine Prince or his missing padawan. Then again, he’d always felt Sheniko held more power than she appeared to have. Her faith in Obi-Wan was astounding as well, considering her overall opinion of the Jedi was not that high. And yet, he was growing more worried. Obi-Wan was still alive but over the last few hours Qui-Gon had felt him growing weaker.
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Jane Jinn
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 2:30pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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All right, this is more like it! Come on with more!
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Master Peael
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 3:53pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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more... more........ more.........
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 5:27pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Whoohoo! This story is so cool!
Trika Kenobi
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/9/00 7:51pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Something was most definitely wrong. Their progress had slowed to a near crawl. Since their brief rest, Menalu watched as Obi-Wan grew weaker and lost his balance more often. They were tired, hungry, and thirsty, but this was something more; Obi-Wan was sick and Menalu wasn’t sure if there was anything that could be done about it. At least, not until they were rescued.
Menalu was beginning to have an idea of what it was that ailed Obi-Wan and he hoped he was wrong. When he was a young boy, pilgrims would come to Es-Speeth from the outer villages of Rengaia by way of the jungle. The practice had long since been discouraged as dangerous. However, there were still those that did it back then. When the pilgrims reached Es-Speeth they were allowed a brief audience with the Divine Prince. They were usually led in to the audience chamber in large groups and Menalu’s memories of the visits were mainly of stinking people in dusty clothes supplicating to him. There were a few that stood out, however. There were some people who came who were very ill and were carried by their fellows. They coughed and cried blood at the sight of him. These Menalu had requested to be healed by Sheniko.
He had very little power in those days, but Sheniko had always obliged him and taken these pilgrims in. It was forbidden to lie to him, and whenever Menalu inquired about them, Sheniko always was forced to answer, "I’m sorry, they died."
He hoped it wasn’t the same thing making Obi-Wan ill. He watched Obi-Wan drop to the ground in front of him with a sense of dread.
"I can’t go on. I’m sorry," Obi-Wan said when Menalu reached him. He sat with his eyes shut leaning against a tree. He’d given up on wiping his nose, which now trickled blood constantly. His sleeves were so saturated it didn’t do any good anyway. Every few minutes he was racked with that familiar wet cough that haunted Menalu from his childhood. Menalu took one of the clean Kalla scarves from his robe and gently wiped the blood off Obi-Wan’s face. Obi-Wan opened his eyes, which were bright and feverish. "I’m sorry," he said again.
"I thought we were going together," Menalu said.
"Can’t I change my mind?"
"If you want," Menalu said diplomatically, "but I was hoping you would come with me. We haven’t had a rest in a while. Why don’t we rest and you can decide if you want to change your mind a second time?"
"I won’t," said Obi-Wan and shut his eyes again. He leaned his head against the tree. He longed to be cool; or at least to have something cold pressed against his face. The fact that his nose wouldn’t stop bleeding had been frightening at first, but now seemed another fact of life in the jungle. Each time he coughed it pounded his bruised ribs, making it impossible to draw breath for several minutes. Not that he felt much difference. Every joint in his body ached. He longed to stop moving, to just be still like he was now. He would miss Qui-Gon and Menalu, but it didn’t matter anymore. He opened his eyes.
Menalu was carefully adjusting the sandal on his good foot. They were thin open-toed sandals meant for the smooth stone floors of the temple, not the craggy forest floor. Menalu’s toes were bloody and sore. Obi-Wan looked at the sturdy boots on his feet; much more suited to this type of travel. Menalu’s monastic robes were even less practical as they dragged on the ground, catching on roots and branches. And of course, the travel itself was unlike anything Menalu would have experienced in the temple. But he never complained about any of it. Obi-Wan realized how ironic it all was. He had been trained to persevere in the direst of situations. The clothes were designed to be simple yet functional in a variety of environs. Jedi were supposed to never give up, and yet here he was. He was giving up when a monk with no training or equipment had chosen to carry on. And that wasn’t even factoring in that Menalu’s leg was broken. It wasn’t right.
Menalu was surprised to hear Obi-Wan laughing. "What’s funny?" he asked.
"You," Obi-Wan said. "Me. You wanted to stay and I made you come. Now I want to stay. I’m supposed to be this great Jedi and I want to give up. I’ve made a mess of everything."
Menalu grinned, he was happy to hear his friend laughing again. "It’s only a mess if we don’t make it out of here, right?"
"That’s true," Obi-Wan admitted.
"Is it much farther?"
"No, we’re very close."
Menalu scrambled to his feet. "We must go then. Together." He held out his hand.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I can’t see straight. I keep falling."
"I’ll help you. You’re the one who knows how to get there. You have to come. And you’re my friend." Menalu insisted. "You said that Jedi never give up."
Obi-Wan smiled despite himself. "They don’t," he said, taking Menalu’s hand. Obi-Wan had led the way for nearly the entire journey. Now they walked side by side.
***
The final leg of the journey had been the most difficult. Menalu had been able to push back as Obi-Wan had showed him against the pain of his leg, but as time wore on it was growing more difficult to do. He winced with each hop. Obi-Wan still pushed most of the vegetation aside for them to pass through, but Menalu was picking him up off the ground more and more. Each time he was helped back to his feet he apologized and for each apology Menalu answered, "There is nothing to be sorry about." And for what seemed like an eternity, these were the only words the two said to each other. Night was falling and it was becoming nearly impossible to see when Obi-Wan pushed the brush aside and instead of more foliage felt hard stone.
"We’re here," he cried. Menalu reached out and felt the rock and let out a whoop of joy.
"Now what?" Menalu asked.
"We climb it." Obi-Wan felt in the dark for discernable handholds, but he only felt smooth rock. "It’s too dark to climb. I can’t see how far up it goes. We’ll have to wait until morning."
They were both too exhausted to find a safe shelter for the night. Instead they lay down at the base of the rock wall and tried to sleep.
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