If I Don't Catch You _________ AU, TPM

Title: If I Don't Catch You
Author: Julie
Category: Alternate Universe TPM, lots of character depth, adventure, some angst
Rated G or PG (no gory stuff)
Disclaimer: Anakin, Obi-Wan, & Qui-Gon, etc. belong to George Lucas. I'm just playing.
Summary: Starts out with mostly my take on missing scenes from the movie, but
you'll know it when I diverge off into the wild blue yonder. Don't be scared off
if I seem to focus too much on Anakin, I love Obi-wan and adore Qui-gon, but Ani's
my favorite.
Time Frame: begins 3/4 the way through The Phantom Menace
Archives: Somebody might want to archive *this*? *incredulous stare* Just please ask first.
Feedback: Yes, please do. I believe fervently in giving and receiving feedback!
Inspired by (in alphabetical order): Amidolee, Darth Pipes, Djuva,
Healer Apprentice Lina, Healer_Leona, Jane Jinn, Jedi Master Mara Jade,
JediKnight-Obi-Wan, Jedi_Ra, Lord Bane, Quietmann77, Vee, Vergere, and I'm sorry if I
missed anyone!

WARNING- The first few paragraphs start in the movie but it's not entirely verbatim,
so don't skip it! Thoughts are indicated like /this/.

********************
If I Don't Catch You
********************


Qui-gon's brow furrowed slightly as he lay on the cool metal floor of the
Queen's ship. He breathed deeply and carefully to steady his heart and
mind. The ease in which his strange attacker had fought him and matched
his lightsaber's every thrust and parry worried him. /This is not good./
He looked up to see his padawan, Obi-wan Kenobi and young Anakin
Skywalker rushing to kneel beside him. He almost smiled at the nearly
identical looks of worry and excitement on their faces.

"Are you all right!?" Anakin asked with wide fearful eyes. Obi-wan
looked just as anxious.

The Jedi Master nodded and began to prop himself up on his elbows.
"I think so." he said seriously. "That was a surprise I won't soon forget."

Obi-wan's expression hardened. It had shocked him greatly to see his
master fighting in a lightsaber duel outside of the ship.
/I should have been outside waiting for him. Why didn't I sense
danger? I should have known!/, he berated himself.

"What was that?" Obi-wan tried to ask calmly.

Qui-gon took another deep breath. "I'm not sure. Whoever or whatever
he was, he was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the
Queen."

"Do you think he'll follow us?" Anakin asked quickly.

"We'll be safe once we're in hyperspace," Qui-gon replied, sidestepping the
question. "But I have no doubt he knows our destination. If he found us
once, he can find us again."

The boy's face became a mask of determination. "What are we going to
do about it?" He inquired.

The look on Obi-wan's face was priceless. He stared straight at the boy
in surprise. /What does this little kid mean by *we*?/ Anakin saw the
look, but didn't react to it.

Qui-gon did smile this time. "We will be patient. Anakin Skywalker meet
Obi-wan Kenobi."

The boy beamed and said in a cheerful voice. "You're a Jedi, too? Pleased
to meet you!"

"Obi-wan is my padawan, my apprentice." Qui-gon clarified. "He is training
to be a Knight."

Obi-wan helped his master stand up and they exited the entry. As they walked
down the passage Anakin could hardly keep from skipping. /Another Jedi,!
Wizard!/ Anakin thought as the fear and worry from earlier drained away.
/This is going to be great!/ As they walked he looked up, down and around
trying to see everything he had missed when he bolted into the ship before.
He was thrilled when they entered the cockpit.

/Look at all the stars!/ Anakin's mind whirled. And then they jumped to
lightspeed.

/Of course, Ani's never seen hyperspace./ Qui-gon glanced down in amusement
as Anakin's jaw dropped open.
Obi-wan looked up just in time to catch the direction of the soft smile on his
master's face.
-----------------------------

Traveling through space is not all its cracked up to be. Even a comfortable
and

 

Wow, this is really great! Write more! Write more!

 

Cool!

Post soon!

 

Great start, Julie! I really like how you portray the characters' private thoughts; it will add a whole new dimension to TPM. I also would like to see the feelings between the three Jedi explored, and it already looks like that is happening. I want to know what Ani thought of Obi and the whole Jedi lifestyle thing before he ditched it all... This should be cool.

Nice job on your part... keep it up! I can't wait for more!

 

well i must admit that i *do not* read prequel era fics. i just never took a liking to them, especially the JA fanfics. but...

as always, i keep seeming to bend my habits for "just one story". first its Gandolf's, now its yours!

first things first: thank you for listing me under your inspiration column, im truly honored. when i came to the fanfic forum, i was sure i was destined to be not noticed a lot. you have made my day.

secondly, as someone else said, this has some major potential. i do not have a single guess on where you're going right now, but i love your title! im always a big sucker for titles.

thirdly, more please!

 

Wow! More please! I see the sense now of posting reletively short posts, I think I'll try that myself. More please?

Imzadi

 

Julie! I really like your story so far!
You've also made my day by having me on your list of "inspired by's". Thank you so much!!

I really like the idea of "missing scenes" from TPM. Keep it up!

 

good first post!

 

I like it. More. Soon. Please?

 

A very good start. I'll definitely be watching this one.

 

wow jules you're off to a VERY good start!

 

Good start!

 

YES!! I love AU's, and this one has great potential! Can we have more?!

aa

 

More! Up! : )

 

Aww thanks Julie. You made my day, by mentioning me in your inspired list.
This looks to be a very promising fic. I'll try to post feedback as often as I can, but most times I haven't the time for it. Just know that I' m reading, and whenever I get the chance I'll post!

 

To restate what vergere said, I have no idea where this is going, but I really like it! Your Anakin/Obi-Wan interaction was interesting and you've got me caught, I wanna know what happens next!

I find it difficult to believe I even remotely helped inspire anyone to write anything, but the mention really made my day! Thanks!

More!

 

*blushes* Thank you, thank you, I didn't expect such a wonderful response! *grins madly* I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I'll just post the next bit right now!

 

********************
If I Don't Catch You
********************

Thoughts are indicated like /this/.
*****************

Anakin slunk into the empty pilots' barracks. /I am soooo stupid!/ Anakin
could've kicked himself.

/I should have known I'd be a distraction! But Obi-wan looked so calm
and serious. He must think I'm a pest./ Anakin thought.

Grabbing his bag by the door he miserably climbed up to the top bunk that he'd
been assigned to. It was cozy and comfortable. And he was just short enough to sit without
banging his head against the ceiling. He kicked off his shoes and rummaged idly through
his few belongings.

/What exactly was Obi-wan trying to do anyway?/ The young man hadn't explained
it to him or said anything. He'd simply settled down on the floor and closed
his eyes. Anakin set his bag at the end of the bed. He slid to the middle of his bunk
and tried to imitate what he'd seen. He closed his eyes and breathed evenly.

/This is *boring*./

/How could Obi-wan sit so long on such a hard, cold floor?! Why would he *want* to?/
Anakin shifted on his soft bed. /I have got to be doing something wrong. / But
he didn't dare go back and ask Obi-wan. Anakin picked at the edges of his blanket
in frustration. Maybe Master Qui-gon wouldn't mind explaining tomorrow morning?
Then the Jedi Master's advice from before the Boonta Eve race came back to him.
"Feel, don't think."

Okay, I'll just try not thinking.

No *thinking*?! Easier said than done.

For the first time he really thought about the words that Qui-gon had said.
How exactly do you not think? But, somehow it had worked during the race.
Of course he hadn't sat still then and he certainly didn't keep his eyes closed.
Why wasn't it working?

*swish*

The door slid open and several crew members filed in to sleep. Anakin
craned his neck over the edge of his bed to look down at the new arrivals. They
looked tired and their earlier merriment was gone. Anakin sat back again and tried
to be still.

/I'm not thinking. I'm not thinking at all. Nope, not thinking about anything.
I'm not thinking about how dumb this is./

/I'm still doing something wrong./ He huffed in irritation.
One of the men looked up. "You need to get some sleep, Ani." he kindly reminded him
as the others all crashed into their own bunks. Soon the room became still and the
only sounds were the occasional snore. But Anakin wasn't sleeping...

--------------------------------

Smoke.
Some sort of smashing sound.
That *thing* that attacked Master Qui-gon.
Is that blaster fire?
Bright columns of energy.
Wow, that's so high!
Why is it noisy?
Flying a starfighter would be so wizard!
Where is that scream coming from?
It's getting louder.
I can't hear myself think!
Why won't it STOP?!

*gasp*

Anakin's eyes snapped open. He jumped slightly and bumped his head on the ceiling.
Franticly, he looked around the dark, silent room. His already heavy breathing
quickened and his heart pounded in his chest. He shivered.


/Where am I?!/ Anakin started to panic.


*****************
Feedback welcome!

 

It's all good... post again soon...

EDIT: By the way, are you writing this on the fly, or are you writting it out beforehand, and then just cutting and pasting in?

 

Keep going, I really like your characterization of Anakin so far! Nice work.

 

A new post already?! Wow, and I just posted to this about 7 minutes ago! Anyway, I'm still really liking this, how Anakin is trying to imitate obi-wan. Great job!

 

Thanks bunches! I have five younger brothers so I'm confident I can keep Ani in character and boyish. But Qui-gon and Obi-wan take a lot more effort to write!

 

Yes, that was a great Ani characterization! I could hear him (in Jake's voice) saying those words to himself!!

"I am not thinking about how dumb this is" heehee!

MORE!

aa

 

Awsum start! keep posting. More, more, more.

 

I usually skip anything about Anakin because I really did not like him in the movie, but I do make exceptions, and your story is one of them. You're softening my heart towards that kid. Stop it immediately and go back to Obi-Wan! No, just kidding. I loved the line "I am not thinking about how hard the floor is." I really like the way Obi-Wan decided to do the most unspectacular Jedi thing he could think of, and the way he couldn't concentrate. I can't wait to see how this develops!

And I was very flattered to be on your list of people who inspired you. Thanks!