Saga Pass in Time--Obi-Wan's Perspective of TPM--post 3, 4/6

Title: Pass in Time
Summary: Obi-Wan's perspective on TPM
Disclaimer: This really will be 95% creditable to George Lucas, so I thank him for that. The other 5% might have something to do with Ophelia, just to warn you.
*****
PASS IN TIME

All that fills the darkness is breath. It is not the deep respirations that he practices during meditation; nor is it the frenzied panting of sparring or battle.

It is not his own at all.

He cannot tell if the different sounds are coming from one source or many, or if they are simply manifestations of the same power. As it is, two sounds hiss in his ears, tormenting him with their proximity and taunting him because, not knowing where they come from, he cannot strike back.

He has no idea why the urge to lash out fills him in this dark time. He cannot explain why he identifies the breath as hostile. He would be shadow-boxing, but he is a Jedi and inactivity is never an option.

One is a low, sibilant hiss of pleasure, as if uttered by a prey sighting a wounded predator within striking distance. It is almost inaudible, but persistent and almost excited and it is full of unspoken malice.

The other is as hollow as the first is full. It comes in a slow pulse, filtered as though through a respirator, and has no urgency nor relaxation. It is bewilderingly terrifying because it is a sign of life but has an absence of mortal emotion.

They seem to come from the same place, the same pulsating power that is a constant presence in his mind, but is something that he dares not touch.

Beyond the power, he cannot find their origin or avoid their presences. When he attempts to look over his shoulder to see the thing that is breathing down his neck so vividly, there is only darkness.

No, that is not quite true. His peripheral vision is maddeningly unclear, but he swears that there is the hint of a red glow on either side. His entire reality, if this hunted state can be called that, is stained by blood.

He wonders if he himself is stained by it. He wonders what part he has had and will have in creating this darkness because he is ever unsure of his own standing.

He can feel little, since his heart refuses to beat and his lungs will not fill, but the heat is undeniable. At times, fire sears his nerve endings and the force of the heat sets him to trembling. At other times, the fire is in his mind and he cannot escape it, nor identify what it consumes.

Most of the time, however, the heat is something that is neither in him nor of him. Most of the time, it is an oppressive barrier that traps him, living energy that holds him prisoner to a menace that is as fleeting as a dream.
*****
It was an irrational comfort to erupt into consciousness from that vision in the cold of space. The fire of impending madness did not extinguish as it usually did when he awoke, but lingered until the violent shivering began to quench it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was not so much cold as shaken, but his body did not know the difference. His fingers clutched at the edge of the thermal blanket, pulling it up to his chin out of some uncharacteristically childish instinct.

His next instinct, of course, brought him to seek out the Force?s calming influence.

?You will know your path and your purpose when you are at peace.?

It was one of Qui-Gon?s favorite aphorisms, so he knew what might come next.

?If you should happen to need a path and purpose, remember that we haven?t finished the mission briefing.?

Somewhere in between the contemplation and the urge to get moving, his shivering had subsided.

?Awake already?? Qui-Gon murmured from the other bunk.

?I should ask the same of you,? Obi-Wan countered lightly. ?You?re far too old to awaken at this unholy hour.?

He could sense the smile more than see it in the dim light. ?You?re almost halfway there, my not-so-young apprentice.?

How kind of him to suddenly display a sense of humor at 0300.

?You are troubled,? Qui-Gon continued in the same bland tone. ?A dream??

?Dreams pass in ti

 

That was my 15,000th post and the first segment of my PT trilogy. I've done an OT Perspectives Trilogy. If anyone wants the links, I think I have them in my profile ("Before the Dawn" and "Then Comes the Night" and "Message to My Daughter") or you can pm me.

In the meantime, here's how it will go.

Ep1: Obi-wan
Ep2: Padme
Ep3: Anakin
Completed:
Ep4: Leia
Ep5: Vader
Ep6: Luke

 

And I just realized that I started my first full-length Obi-Wan fic on ewan mcgregor's b-day.

HAPPY B-DAY, MY ONE TRUE LOVE!

 

: Both tended to have a reasonable side that simply needed uncovering, so negotiations would be slightly acrimonious, but never dangerous.

Heh. This is Star Wars... taking a nap is dangerous.

 

What a lovely start. I loved the description and the look into Obi-Wan's thoughts. Looking forward to more.

 

Arin: You've seen me work my dream sequences. Of COURSE napping is dangerous.
LuvEwan: Thanks. Glad you're reading.

 

Pretty interesting. Neat descriptions.

 

Thanks, bria. Next one will definitely be longer.

 

Post going up tonight, pretty soon. I just wrote the first official line spoken in the PT.

 

Qui-Gon had never been a fan of stimulants and, though they had never been on his "expressly-forbidden-under-any-circumstances list," his Padawans knew that he adamantly and persistently discouraged them...

Before the start of a mission, however, they were expressly forbidden. Given the restless night and disturbing intrusions of the dream, he could have risked something stronger than usual. That, however, would have earned him a slight smirk and some admonition about what the Living Force was there for.

Qui-Gon never argued so much as being maddeningly right. When his opponent could not recognize that, he would needle them until they conceded the point out of newfound conviction or the heartfelt need to stop the torment.

So, instead of retrieving a packet of Third Watch tea to restore his energies, Obi-Wan chose gimer root and a healthy dose of the Force equivalent of slapping his own cheeks.

"You are still troubled," Qui-Gon observed nonetheless the moment Obi-Wan took his seat. "What exactly came to you?"

Obi-Wan's cheeks darkened slightly. "I apologize, Master," he said sincerely. "I don't mean to brood on it."

His Master's mouth stretched slightly behind his mug of Alderaanian Black tea, but the concern did not leave his eyes. "Even a Jedi is allowed a certain amount of brooding when disturbances in the Force occur," Qui-Gon reminded him.

"Yes, Master."

Idon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutit...

"Something to do with the mission, then?"

"I don't know."

He wasn't being obstinate, just honest. Sometimes, the difference was lost on his Master.

For a moment, the frank stare that his Master was directing towards him made him suspect that he was about to be needled.

"You'll advise me of anything else."

A statement, not a question. Good.

"Yes, Master."

He reached out, pulling the datapad closer to inspect the contents. "Should I read this or would you like to lecture?"

"It's fairly straightforward," Qui-Gon sighed. "They have a long-standing affiliation with the Republic, but tend to look after themselves on the whole. As a result, they tend to hold strictly to the laws governing trade."

"Including taxes," Obi-Wan guessed. "Which makes no one happy."

"As expected."

He was quiet for a long moment, scrutinizing the tabletop as though it would reveal all answers. "We will be primarily concerned with the Federation blockade," Qui-Gon explained. "If we try to sidestep them by liaising with the Naboo, they might see it as an attempt to betray them. The Naboo know that, since we are the Chancellor's ambassadors, we will be protecting their interests."

Obi-Wan allowed his own smile to appear at the thought. No mind tricks are necessary if you know how to cajole enough. It also helps that you've got the heavy end of the hydrospanner ready to drop at any moment.

"So, it's the standard diplomatic procedure of saying 'nice nek' until we find a big enough rock."
*****
The image on the viewscreen was a study in incongruity. Naboo was teeming with living things, its surface covered with lush foliage and wide expanses of water between the continents. After months on Coruscant, just the sight of that much nature was enough to make one take a permanent vacation.

And girding that picturesque world was a very complicated formation of battle ships.

Overkill is a word that would be used most appropriately here.

"And the Naboo haven't fought back?" Obi-Wan murmured.

"They are a peaceful people," Qui-Gon countered. "It is somewhat to their disadvantage at this point."

Probably they simply looked for a diplomatic solution until it was too late. Now, we're attempting to do the same.

"Captain," Qui-Gon addressed the female pilot in a louder voice. "Tell them we wish to board at once."

The disquiet that had plagued him since his awakening changed at that moment. It was not so much a strengthening as a focusing, as if he were adjusting th

 

Alderaanian Black, gimer root, and Third Watch teas are all property of Ophelia. Thanks for letting me use them. The quote about nice nek is based on this quote from Will Rogers:

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you find a big enough rock."

 

: I'm turning defiant in my old age. I wonder if he's proud.

Heehee... cute.

 

I think that's one of those thoughts that will come back to haunt him slightly...

 

I'm going to try updating this every three days, so therefore, the next one will be up on tuesday.

 

Idon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutitIdon'twanttotalkaboutit.. Love it!

 

Sometimes, Obi-Wan's interior monologue for me sounds like Christian from Moulin Rouge.

 

I'd been wondering about a chance to watch Ep 1...now I have your fic. Good. <settles down to wait>

I needn't add, of course, that it was excellent (starting from Qui-Gon's aversion to stimulants, and his way of 'needling' opponents. )

 

The stimulants thing was based on my idea that Jedi really wouldn't like caf because "hey, we can just refresh ourselves with the Force," so they always drink tea. Then Ophelia wrote First Four Days and had Obi-Wan carting around his own tea and I thought "HA! She agrees!" Besides, I'm Mormon. My characters try not to break the Word of Wisdom.

THe needling thing was based on my perception of Qui-Gon/Watto.

 

Okay, I was sick last night, so this didn't get done, but it's up next.

 

Inconsequential.

The nervousness should have passed by now, but Obi-Wan was never so frustrated as in moments when understanding was completely beyond his reach.

Not that their hosts would recognize it, if they ever deigned to arrive for the negotiations. Obi-Wan prided himself on his ability to adopt something of a deadpan expression. Like his Master, he appeared to be in control of the situation at all times.

Sometimes, the Force couldn't give him calm, but it could certainly give him acting lessons.

"Don't center on your anxieties, Obi-Wan."

This concern is inconsequential. The lives of the Naboo are at stake and you're indulging in your neurotic tendencies.

"Always in motion is the future."

Are you going to agonize over every turn of events as well?

"The Chancellor shall have informed the Naboo of our arrival by now," Qui-Gon interrupted his thoughts. "That should set a few things in motion."

"We can hope," Obi-Wan retorted. "The Federation has such a sense of urgency at our being here that they're keeping this mission at an absolute standstill."

Qui-Gon hid his smile behind his hand as he stroked his chin. "I doubt that," he replied. "What appears to be a standstill usually is a cover for mad scrambling."

"Perfectly legal blockades shouldn't have to have mad scramblings," Obi-Wan sighed.

"Perfectly legal blockades also shouldn't be this heavily armed," his Master countered. "It's either overkill or their intentions are anything but perfectly legal."

Obi-Wan was not one to squirm, but the chairs seemed to be fashioned from duracrete and it had been nearly twenty minutes since they'd been escorted to this room.

There was either a great deal of mad scrambling going on or they were stalling.

The door opened as if on cue, but it was simply TC-14 who had thoughtfully brought in a carafe of water and two mugs.

He let out his breath in a long hiss, then glanced at Qui-Gon as he took a drink. "Is it in their natures to make us wait this long?"

Qui-Gon was slightly on edge, but certainly not palpably concerned. "No. I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute."

That had to be one of the factors in Obi-Wan's general unease. Strong fear was an especially strong disturbance where the Force was concerned, so perhaps he was simply reacting to a volatile situation.

Trusting people who were afraid of doing the right thing was a nearly impossible task.

 

Longer post coming later, but it's easier to write in bursts today.

 

Upping so I can write more.

 

Up. Post coming very soon.