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Topic:
Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Marie D Padawannabe
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
2/20/00 12:29am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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::::claps::::
That was worth the wait, I tell you! Not
that I LIKE waiting...mind you!
Poor lil Obi-Wan!! I can't wait to read more!
Marie
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/22/00 1:33pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Wow. All the way on the fourth page.
Anyone still reading?
Anyway, here's a little more...
******************
Menalu sat in the large meeting chamber inside the ship, which had become their base. Several days had passed since their rescue. His leg was much better, though at times it still throbbed painfully. The bones were knitting and he could even put some weight on it. He’d become quite attached to the stick that Obi-Wan had given him in the forest, and he still used it to walk about the corridors. After they had been pulled of the rock, it had been determined that Obi-Wan was much more in need of medical attention than he and for the first time in his life Menalu was enjoying a certain anonymity. His delight was short-lived, however.
Dash-te Dey sat staring at a data pad. Around the table the faces of his cabinet, and now the governor and Qui-Gon Jinn were grim.
"We are starting to get reports from the other monasteries," Dash-te said. He began to read from the pad, recounting grim tales of monks imprisoned in monasteries and humiliated by the soldiers of the Liberation Front. Even in the small villages tanks and soldiers had moved in, and now the once peaceful lives of the Yebbi were shattered. At a large monastery, monks were forced to slaughter livestock or die. Many refused and were shot in large groups as the Liberation Front members laughed and pointed. The most disturbing tale was in a small monastery where the monks and nuns were taken into the streets and forced to break their vows of celibacy with each other for the benefit of onlookers.
At this, Menalu held out his hand to stop the litany of offenses against his kind. He rose to speak. For a moment he regarded his cabinet, and the grave expression on Qui-Gon’s face. He could not sit and watch this happen. Anger welled up in him and he hit the table with his fist. The entire room jumped at the sound.
"How can they do this!" he shouted. "How can they be such monsters to humiliate my people like this? Master Qui-Gon, there must be something you can do."
Qui-Gon shook his head. "I can only act as your protection. The Jedi cannot get involved. I can act as your escort and as a neutral mediator in negotiations, but I cannot involve myself or the Jedi in your civil war."
Menalu lower himself in his chair. "Then we are lost," he said. "There’s nothing we can do."
"You must at least speak to Astrid Stovall," Dash-te said.
"Yes," Menalu nodded his head. "Governor Laoul. Can you arrange a meeting?"
The Governor agreed to try and the discussion came to a close with nothing decided. Qui-Gon walked the corridors towards his temporary quarters. He was disturbed by the reports of the ruthlessness of Stovall’s troops. Even more confusing was the mixing of the Talusian forces with those of the liberation front. It was hard to know who sided with whom. All in all, a very bad situation. He heard a rustle of cloth behind him and turned.
The Divine Prince stood alone in the hallway carrying a small cloth-wrapped bundle in one hand. "Master Qui-Gon," he said. "I am in need of your council."
"Mine?" he asked. Qui-Gon was surprised, for His High Holiness had his entire cabinet with which to confer.
"It is on matters that my cabinet would consider unorthodox. I fear that they want me to continue to consider negotiation as my only tactic, and yet I am coming to the conclusion that this may be a time for action."
"What kind of action?"
"We cannot fight back. We have no army and no weapons. I feel that the time has come for us to leave. It is not an easy decision to make and as I am not yet in my majority, I do not have the authority to make such a decision. But I feel that the time has come for me to lead my people. The regency has bowed to the wishes of others for too long. I need your help to evacuate my people."
"The Jedi cannot help," Qui-Gon said. He saw so much of Obi-Wan in this young leader. Underneath the joyful exterior lay a solemnity and a sense of purpose. And the Divine Prince’s plan to evacuate half of an entire planet was the product of a young and active mind. He longed to help him, but the plan was impossible.
"But why? I am not asking you to take sides."
"Where would you all go? How would you get there?"
Menalu’s posture slackened as he saw his own plan crumble. "I don’t know. I simply know that it is our only hope."
"Might I suggest a simpler plan? Why don’t you leave the planet with your government to make a plea to the Republic Senate for assistance."
Realizing he wasn’t going to get any further, Menalu nodded. "I will consider it Master Qui-Gon. In the meantime, the Governor has arranged for me to meet with Astrid Stovall one day from now." He started to turn away and then remembered. He handed the bundle to Qui-Gon. "These are for Obi-Wan. A gift from the Rengaian Government."
Qui-Gon took it and bowed. "Thank you," he said, and the two parted.
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/22/00 1:35pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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And a tiny bit more...
******************
With Obi-Wan out of immediate danger from the poison, Qui-Gon had asked that he be moved to their shared quarters so he could look after him. He spent most of his time asleep, but he was clearly on the mend. The bleeding had slowed and finally stopped altogether and Qui-Gon could feel him getting stronger. He was sitting up in bed when Qui-Gon entered.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
Obi-Wan nodded. His face was pale and his eyes still rimmed with red, but he was clearly improved compared to the condition he had been in when he’d boarded. "Better," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon handed him the parcel from the Divine Prince. "For you. A gift from the Rengaian government." Obi-Wan untied the cloth slowly and revealed a stack of folded cloth. He held one of the items up. It was a new tunic, exactly like his old one that had been torn and bloodied beyond repair. As he looked at the rest of the folded garments he realized that all the edges were delicately embroidered with thread that was the same color as the cloth. All the Yebbi garments had such embroidery that was for the wearer to see.
"It’s amazing," he said.
"The Divine Prince will meet with Astrid Stovall in a day." Qui-Gon said. "Are you up for it?"
"I’ll be there, Master. My place is at your side."
Qui-Gon smiled. "I’ve certainly missed having you there," he said.
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/22/00 10:18pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Yeah! Yeah! I'm here! Keep it up!
-----signature-----
"Once a Talon, always a Talon." Clear skies, sir. http://www.TalonIntelligenceSquadron.com proud oldbie master to -Kypster- 
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Marie D Padawannabe
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
2/23/00 12:13am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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OH this is great...! I'm glad that Obi-Wan
is getting better...and I can't wait to read
MORE MORE MORE...uh...yeah.
Heehee!
Marie
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Jedi Master Ann'ho Fiida
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
2/23/00 2:03am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Hey there JediLore! Thanks again for letting me archive your other story. I searched out this fic you told me about in your e-maill only to find I've already read it! Oh well, it's just as good the third time. *g*
JMA'F
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/24/00 5:01pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Yeah - this story was written awhile back and is archived out there if you look for it. So those of you that can't stand suspense can get instant gratification if they want it.... I chose to post it here because I wanted to see how I liked this forum thing.
My next story will be something entirely new.
He's a pretty long post.
***********************
Talus City had been the center of military activity for many days, but now the streets were quite. Now and again an armored transport cruised the empty streets. Occasionally a citizen dashed from a doorway and into the shadows. The remains of flags and flyers littered the ground. Despite the days of unrest, there now existed an uneasy peace between the citizens for Talus City and the Liberation Front Army.
The sound of footsteps broke the silence as the group filed through the streets. Led by the Jedi and followed by a Liberation Front escort in drab gray uniforms, the procession moved through the streets toward the Senate building. As they walked Qui-Gon turned to look at his apprentice. With the scars healing and clean clothes, Obi-Wan looked much better, but there was no spring in his step and Qui-Gon could tell that he was still quite weak. Behind him, the Divine Prince walked proudly, his limp hardly noticeable.
An assembly of soldiers in the same drab grays as their escort stood in formation before the doors of the large parliamentary meeting room that Astrid Stovall had made her office. As they entered, Astrid stood up and gave them a welcoming smile. Qui-Gon recognized immediately that much of her power over people came from her superb skills of manipulation. As the group was shown in, she set about ordering her escorts to seat her guests. There were enough chairs to go around, but Qui-Gon saw that through her directions, he and Obi-Wan were to remain standing behind the Divine Prince. She had also been careful to separate the Prince from his cabinet. Instead, she placed next to him Governor Laoul and his aides. Like a game of chess, she made the opening moves that set her up to win.
She looked the group over for a few minutes and then spoke.
Her welcoming speech seemed genuine and when the Divine Prince thanked her for allowing him to see her, she listened to him attentively. Once the initial pleasantries were over, however, her demeanor changed. Surprisingly, she focused her attention on Obi-Wan.
"And this must be the Jedi I’ve so come to admire. Obi-Wan Kenobi." She said the name slowly, letting it roll off her tongue. "Are we feeling better?" Her voice was teasing, almost flirtatious. Obi-Wan nodded in silence. "You still look a little tired though." Staring through her, Obi-Wan said nothing.
"I must admit I was expecting someone a little older." She said to him and smiled, "I suppose we have that in common. People underestimating us. I suppose then that you are an apprentice to this Jedi here." She pointed at Qui-Gon.
For a moment, Obi-Wan wasn’t sure if he could speak. Finally, he found his voice. "I am his apprentice," he answered.
"So that makes you a ‘Padawan’? Is that correct?"
"It is."
Astrid got up and circled to the front of her desk and her voice took on a casual tone. "You know, I didn’t care about any of this until a week ago. But, when the Rengaian government called you two in, I suddenly found myself with a reason to learn. What I find interesting is that you are subservient to a Master who would send you to your death in the forest."
"It was I who got us lost," Obi-Wan admitted.
"So it was. On one of my speeders, if I recall. No matter. I find you Jedi very interesting indeed. For instance, another thing that fascinates me is your method of killing."
"Killing?"
"Yes. You see my research indicated that the Jedi are pacifists and that you only fight when threatened and resolve nearly all conflicts peacefully. Is this true?"
"Yes."
She was clearly enjoying herself. Astrid pulled herself up onto the edge of her desk. "That’s what I like so much about you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, because apparently you don’t follow that code. And so it would appear that your technique of disarming a man and then stabbing him with your lasersword is very effective."
Obi-Wan turned paler. "That’s not what happened."
"It’s not?"
"No." Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon. "That’s not what happened," he repeated. Qui-Gon said nothing, only placed a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.
"That’s what my scout told me. The one watching you from above with the speeder you went looking for. He said that’s exactly what happened." Astrid leaned forward from her perch on the desk and whispered. "With instincts like that, I’d ask you to come work for me. Since the Jedi won’t want an apprentice who breaks the code when he thinks no one’s looking. My army needs people like you."
Obi-Wan backed up a step. Perhaps she was right. Maybe he hadn’t needed to kill that soldier. Yes, the man had threatened them, but, then again, he had been disarmed. Maybe he had acted too fast when he killed him. He wasn’t sure and the memory of the smell of burning flesh made him suddenly sick to his stomach. He couldn’t think of anything to say to her or Qui-Gon.
"You’ll make a hell of a general someday, Obi-Wan," Astrid Stovall said gleefully.
"Enough!" Qui-Gon shouted. He was irritated by her tactic of bullying Obi-Wan. It was clear she saw him as a weakness, a way to irk both he and the Divine Prince. It was clear to him that she was aware that Obi-Wan had been ill and was still recovering, hence he and Obi-Wan remained standing while the rest sat. She wanted to make them uncomfortable. He was about to say more when the Divine Prince rose.
"Madam Stovall," he said. She rolled her eyes.
"What is it Little King?" she asked, addressing Menalu for the first time since their initial greeting. Dash-te stepped forward to correct her and Menalu held out his hand. She could call him whatever she wanted, as long as she would listen to him.
"Madam Stovall, I did not ask to have this meeting so you could interrogate the Jedi. It is imperative that I speak with you about what is happening in Rengaia."
She sighed. "Well, you brought them. I was merely curious." She got up and walked back behind her desk and sat down. "What is it you want to speak to me about?"
Menalu took a deep breath and steadied himself. "My people have never been a problem to you or Talus. We have lived together peacefully for centuries. Thus I do not understand the need for your recent attacks. You have marched soldiers through our villages and desecrated that which we hold sacred. I must ask you to end these actions at once."
Astrid considered his words for a few moments. "Or you’ll what?" she asked. "What will you do if we don’t stop?"
"We have no army, no way of fighting you. But, we will resist you in every way possible. The Yebbi will not put up with torture or genocide."
Again, Astrid Stovall appeared to consider his words. She leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed a moment. Then she addressed the group. "I find it amusing that you would come to me now with this request when you ignored me when I made my first proposals to your government."
"The actions of the Rengaian regency when I was four years old are not something that I can do anything about. However, I can listen to you now."
"But why should I talk to you now? Why should I negotiate with you when I already have what I want?"
Menalu was at a loss. "Compassion," he said.
"This isn’t about compassion, this is about what is right. This planet no longer belongs to religious fanatics. It belongs to the people who make it work. You’ll have to get used to that."
"Then this meeting has no purpose."
"Perhaps not, but I’m glad you came anyway. And I enjoyed talking to you Obi-Wan." At the mention of his name Obi-Wan looked away.
Menalu motioned to the rest of the group. "Let’s go," he said. He turned and walked to th
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/24/00 5:06pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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whoops. It posted twice...
[This message has been edited by jedillore (edited 02-24-2000).]
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/24/00 6:10pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Very cool story! cool.gif
-----signature-----
"Once a Talon, always a Talon." Clear skies, sir. http://www.TalonIntelligenceSquadron.com proud oldbie master to -Kypster-
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Jedi Speewwy
Registered:
Dec '99
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Date Posted:
2/28/00 2:31am
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Wonderful, wonderful! More!!!!
-----signature-----
Meine Ruh' ist hin
Mein Herz ist schwer.
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/28/00 3:19pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Thanks for reading everybody!
********************
Astrid Stovall put the group up for the night in a barracks. They were not prisoners, but there were guards posted at the door. There were better places for them to stay, but the idea of the delegation from Rengaia staying in a military barracks amused her and so she’d put them there. Despite the austere surroundings, it was not uncomfortable. They sat on the bunks in small groups, talking quietly and contemplating their future and their people’s future. Obi-Wan sat apart from the group with Qui-Gon.
"You never told me what happened in the jungle," Qui-Gon said.
"You never asked."
Qui-Gon could sense his padawan’s reluctance. "It’s alright, Obi-Wan. I’m not angry."
Obi-Wan took a deep breath, "It’s like she said. He sneaked up behind us. He threatened us and I used the force to take his blaster away. But then," he paused, "he lunged for it and I killed him. I used my lightsabre. I don’t know why. It all happened so fast."
"Sometimes, when we’re open to the will of the force, things happen. Things we don’t always understand."
"But I killed him."
"Were you angry with him? Were you afraid of him?"
"No. It was to protect Mena... His High Holiness. I only wanted us to reach the rock. And then I was sorry I killed him." He stopped as though unable to say more.
Qui-Gon put his arm around Obi-Wan’s shoulder. "It’s okay."
"I was afraid though. Not of the soldier, but I didn’t want to die. I thought I wasn’t supposed to be afraid." Obi-Wan pulled away from Qui-Gon and sat at the other end of the bunk.
"Why would you think that? Fear can be an ally as well as an enemy. It tells us when to be cautious and when we’re injured, it reminds us that we can’t do everything alone."
"You’re not afraid of anything."
"Of course I am. I was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to find you and the Divine Prince. And then when you were on board you were dying, and I was afraid there wasn’t any way to help you. If you’d died, it would have been ..." Qui-Gon stopped. He didn’t know if he could put it into words. To lose one who had become such a trusted friend and companion. It would have been too early. How could he explain that the sight of Obi-Wan bleeding on the floor struggling to breathe while he’d been powerless to help would haunt him for the rest of his life?
Obi-Wan had never heard Qui-Gon talk like this. He didn’t know what to say.
Qui-Gon broke the silence, "When you are a knight, and you have an apprentice you will understand. If the apprentice is in pain, then the master feels it as if it was his own. It’s the way it is."
"Does it go the other way too? Does the apprentice ever feel the pain of the master?"
"Sometimes," Qui-Gon answered.
Obi-Wan was about to say more when the door swung open. Governor Laoul entered followed by his two aides. They each carried large black duffle bags.
"This is everything you asked for," the Governor said. He dropped the bag on the floor. Menalu unzipped it and looked inside at the charcoal gray uniforms of the Liberation Front army. They were frayed and worn as though they were used.
"Excellent," he said.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stepped forward for a better look at the bags. "What are you going to do?" Qui-Gon asked.
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Jane Jinn
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
2/28/00 3:43pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Yes, what? What are you going to do? Post more soon!
Next story? Hopefully with Obi-Torture!
-----signature-----
Mostly retired now
Just making the occasional guest appearance
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Trika_Kenobi
Registered:
Nov '99
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Date Posted:
2/28/00 4:31pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Post more please!
-----signature-----
"Once a Talon, always a Talon." Clear skies, sir. http://www.TalonIntelligenceSquadron.com proud oldbie master to -Kypster-
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Marie D Padawannabe
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
2/28/00 10:49pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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YES!!
MORE PLEASE!!! I'm likin this a lot!
Marie
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Anonymous
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Date Posted:
2/29/00 2:45pm
Subject:
Re: Certain Points of View (a JA adventure story)
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Obi-Torture?!
Wasn't the trip through the jungle hard enough on the poor kid? He's just a padawan after all.
Now Qui-Gon on the other hand. He's a master. He can take it...
**************************
Menalu’s plan was much revised from his earlier one, but the goal remained the same. He now realized that in order to preserve his people’s way of life, he needed to leave Yebbis-Corta and plead his cause to the Republic. He had asked for Governor Laoul’s help and he had handed over a ship capable of travel through hyperspace as well as the uniforms to help the group move more easily through the patrolled streets of Talus City.
The only problem was that there was no pilot to fly the ship, so with out the help of the Jedi the plan wouldn’t work. Carefully, Menalu explained his ideas to the Jedi and at the end asked again for their help.
"I can fly the ship," Obi-Wan offered immediately.
Qui-Gon knew he could, but that wasn’t the point. "It’s not that easy Obi-Wan. We can’t get involved. This is not our war to fight," he said.
"But we’re not fighting. They need our help to escape and we can use the ship to go home. You said yourself that they’re the origin of the Jedi. We have to help them. Please, Master, this is the right thing to do," Obi-Wan pleaded.
Qui-Gon looked down at his apprentice standing beside the Divine Prince. They looked like ordinary boys and yet in their eyes there was strength and a wisdom that was beyond their years. Perhaps it was because they were not ordinary. One would grow up to be a Jedi Master and the other the undisputed sovereign of his people. And Qui-Gon found that despite the fact that it didn’t make logical sense to carry out this plan, his heart tugged the other way.
"We’ll go," he said.
"Thank you Master!" Obi-Wan shouted and threw his arms around Qui-Gon. He wanted to hug Menalu as well, or at least shake his hands or pat him on the back, but with so many people watching he couldn’t risk breaking the protocols. Menalu, recognizing the discomfort stepped back and bowed.
"Thank you, Master Qui-Gon," he said, "We are in your debt." Then he slowly backed away. There was much to do and he couldn’t afford to waste a minute.
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