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Obi-Wan exited the Council’s chambers after his master, followed by the small child his master had just insisted needed to be trained. They had been ordered back to Naboo and they would be taking the child with them so if he wanted to talk with his master, he shouldn’t wait.
“Master.” He said. “May we have a word?”
Qui Gon nodded and told the child to wait for them in a nearby bench. He turned and began walking, a clear invitation for him to follow. He thanked his master’s idea because he preferred it if the child didn’t hear what he was about to ask. His heart felt heavy inside his chest and he wondered if he’d be able of saying what he wanted to say.
“What’s the matter, my young padawan?” Qui Gon asked when they were alone.
He hesitated, half regretting starting the meeting but decided it was better to rip the bacta patch off. “Are you really going to leave me for him?” He asked before he could decide on a less direct way of asking it.
He had a brief moment of panic but it was quickly soothed by a wave of calmness through the force bond with his master. He looked at his master’s eyes and sighed in relief when he realized he was staring at him softly.
“Oh, Obi-Wan.” He said, in a tone of voice he would have normally disliked but that now he found himself finding soothing. “I wouldn’t abandon you like that; I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. I won’t ever abandon you again.” He smiled and put his hands on his shoulders.
“Oh.” He said, clearly relieved. “But then what did you tell the Council-“
His master smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Oh, well. It’s all part of my plan.”
Obi-Wan held back a groan, he knew how his master’s plans tended to go. “What plan?”
“I’m glad you asked.” He said, adopting his best posture of a calm and serene Jedi. “See, they’re worried I’ll abandon you for Anakin (I wouldn’t do that but they don’t know that) because we have a bond and it would hurt you. But at the same time, they think attachments are unbecoming of the Jedi. You know how much I dislike hypocrites.”
“Do you dislike yourself?” He quipped.
“Shush, I’m answering your question.” He said, still calm and serene. “So, they don’t want me to abandon you for Anakin but they also know (more like think) that if they don’t allow him to be trained I will leave you to train him.”
Obi-Wan nodded, beginning to understand. “So, the best thing they can do is accept him into the Crèche, that way all the problems are avoided.”
Qui Gon nodded, looking pleased that he understood. “Exactly. I don’t think it’s good for him to be immediately trained, he needs time to adapt into the Jedi life. Being in the crèche is the best way to do so.”
“And about my knighting?” He couldn’t stop himself from asking, anxiety still clinging to him.
Qui Gon smiled, looking guilty. “Ah, about that… I did say the truth when I said you were ready to face your trials. I hadn’t mentioned it before because I was waiting for your birthday so it could be a birthday present for you.”
Obi-Wan felt a mix of love and exasperated fondness at his master’s unorthodox ideas. “Of course you would get me a test for my birthday.” He said, trying not to sound too choked up.
Qui Gon’s smile widened. “Surprise.” He said with no intonation. “You are a capable Jedi and a much wiser man than I am, I foresee you will become a great Jedi knight.”
Obi-Wan smiled back at him. “Well, it’s good to know you won’t abandon me for another pathetic life form.”
Qui Gon laughed, shaking his head. “I think I’m fine with the one I already have. Besides, I don’t think I am the one meant to train Anakin.”
That surprised Obi-Wan who had believed that was his master’s intention. “You’re not going to train him?”
Qui Gon continued to smile. “Oh, no. I had actually thought you’d make a great master for him.”
“Me?” Obi-Wan asked, taken by surprise once again, a feeling he had gotten used to after so many years under his master.
“Yes. And it works perfectly too. Anakin gets some years to adapt and you some years to get used to being a fully independent knight.” He said, beaming with pride.
“You just want grandkids.”
Qui Gon snickered. “Can you really blame me? It’s about time I get some.” He looked at Obi-Wan. “You two would make an incredible team, of that I’m sure. Do you like the idea?”
Obi-Wan briefly thought it over and grinned at his master. “Sure, I mean, Anakin is a polite kid so that’s a guarantee he won’t turn out like you.” His master let out a suspicious sounding cough but he decided to ignore it. “I wouldn’t mind taking him as my padawan if your plan-“
“When my plan.” Qui Gon corrected.
“IF your plan works.” Obi-Wan ignored his master. “That is, if he survives until we return to Naboo.”
Qui Gon frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Have you looked at him, master? He’s much more thin than a child his age should be. And I don’t think you’ve taken him to the halls of healing or scheduled an appointment to vaccinate him?” He raised an eyebrow at him.
His master at least looked sheepishly at the ground. “Well, I’m a busy man. I haven’t had much time to do all of that.” He paused, thinking about something. “Maybe we can do that in Naboo after we free it.”
Obi-Wan shook his head. “Master Che is going to kill you.”
He shushed him. “Don’t say her name or she’ll find us.” He joked.
“I don’t think even she has that power, master.” He sighed. “Well, at least you removed his chip.”
“Ah.” His master said. “Is that necessary?”
He turned pale. “What do you mean is that necessary?? You have removed it, right? Please tell me you have!” He pleaded, hoping that for once, his master had thought for more than five seconds about his decision.
He looked away. “Well, I deactivated it before leaving Tatooine.”
“Master!” He hissed. “He’s a slave, you must remove the chip if you’ve freed a slave! It’s slavery 101!”
His master looked surprised. “There’s a manual for slavery? Because if so, I’d love to have one-“
“Master.” He deadpanned. “This is serious. If you don’t remove the chip then it’s as if you hadn’t freed him. I bet he still thinks he’s a slave!”
“That’s nonsense!” Qui Gon denied, looking offended. “Anakin!” He called out.
To Obi-Wan’s surprise and horror, Anakin peeked out from behind a column. He must have excellent shielding abilities if he hadn’t noticed such a strong presence approaching them. That or he had been too busy paying attention to his master.
“Anakin, tell Obi-Wan you’ve been freed and that you’re no longer a slave.” Qui Gon encouraged the boy, smiling smugly.
“I’m not?” His master choked. “I thought it was still pending, cause I still have my chip.” He explained.
“See?” Obi-Wan gestured at Anakin. “I told you.”
Qui Gon opened and closed his mouth several times. “Oh no.” He shiwpered.
Obi-Wan began to laugh, stopping himself from falling by leaning his weight against a column.
“What’s so funny?” Anakin questioned, an involuntary smile appearing on his face even if he didn’t understand why he was laughing.
Obi-Wan glanced at his master’s face and continued to laugh, trying to calm down. “Ok. Ok.” He said, his laugh coming to a stop. He put a comforting hand on his master’s back. “Don’t worry, master. We can still fix this.”
That seemed to do the trick and his master smiled at him again. “Of course we will. But we must departure or I’m afraid the queen will leave without us.” He turned towards Anakin. “Como along, Anakin.”
Obi-Wan smirked at Anakin and then followed his master, listening as small footsteps trotted behind them.
~*~
Sabé had insisted on going to Naboo posing as Queen Amidala. She had protested but she had been outnumbered seven to one in the end. Betrayed by her handmaidens and captain. How tragic.
But she had won against Sabé as well. Padmé had insisted that she needed to sleep during their treat back to Naboo so that she was well rested. She had protested but then lost seven to one. Take that, Sabé. Not like she had said that, it would have been unbecoming for a Queen like herself.
She had managed to sneak away from the rest of her handmaidens because they would surely force her to sleep and she just didn’t like she’d be able to do it. She was too stressed by the upcoming battle and the unknown state of her people. She could only imagine what the Trade Federation was doing on her planet, whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
As she wandered the ship, she passed a door and heard voices inside. It didn’t take long to recognize them as Anakin and the two Jedi’s. She decided to enter and check how they were doing and to distract her worried mind. She opened the door and didn’t even give two steps before she froze at the scene before them.
Anakin was sitting in some crates that were piled together, swinging his feet and moving nervously. Behind him was Padawan Kenobi, doing something on the boy’s neck. And behind Padawan Kenobi was Master Jinn, observing what his padawan learner was doing with keen interest. Next to Anakin, on the crate, was an opened first aid kit.
“Careful, padawan.” Master Jinn said over Padawan Kenobi’s shoulder.
“I know what I’m doing, Master.” Padawan Kenobi said in an annoyed voice. “Anakin, please stop squirming or I won’t get the cut right.” He said and that’s when he saw Padawan Kenobi’s hand. It was a knife.
“I’m sorry! I’m just nervous.” Anakin said, wriggling his hands together.
“I understand but I must be precise and-“
“What are you doing?” She shrieked, horrified. In another circumstances, she would have been ashamed of her lose of calmness but she couldn’t find it in her to care. “Why are you holding a knife to Ani’s neck?” She demanded, projecting as much Queen Amidala as she could in her voice.
“It’s hardly a knife.” Master Jinn said with a placating smile that did nothing to calm her down. “It’s a scalpel.”
“Yes.” Padawan Kenobi said with a smile, that seeme a little too mischievous for her likeness. “And it is hardly the neck, it’s more like the head.” He explained like it was the most normal thing in the world to hold a sharp object next to a child’s neck.
“I think it’s both! Cause it’s where the neck ends and the head starts.” Anakin added chipperly, apparently less nervous than he had been when she entered.
“Ah, yes. You’re right, Anakin.” Padawan Kenobi nodded in agreement.
“I don’t care if it’s a knife or a scalpel” She said, trying to keep her composure. “What are you doing with it and Ani?”
“We mean him no harm.” Padawan Kenobi said, holding up his hands. “It’s just a bit of surgery.”
“Surgery?” She asked.
Master Jinn smiled apologetically. “Yes. I’m afraid I made a terrible oversight and didn’t think of removing Anakin’s chip.”
“It’s still in there?” She paled, remembering what Ani and his mother had told them in his house.
“Well, it’s deactivated.” Master Jinn said, sounding defensive. In front of him, Padawan Kenobi covered a snicker with his unoccupied hand. “But it doesn’t matter, because Obi-Wan will get it out. Right, Obi-Wan?”
“I would have done it already if he stopped squirming.” Padawan Kenobi huffed.
“Why isn’t he sedated for it?” She asked, imagining how uncomfortable and even painful it would be to get her neck cut.
“Ah, well, we suggested it but…” Padawan Kenobi trailed off, looking at Ani.
“I don’t want to be sedated!” Anakin said. “I have to be awake when it’s removed! Mom told me so. How else will I know it’s been removed??”
She looked at the two Jedi but they just shrugged. “But why have you not given him local anesthesia?” They looked at each other and it was clear they hadn’t thinked of that. She couldn’t help the exasperated sigh that left her mouth. “You didn’t think of that, did you?”
“Well, a mistake can happen to anyone.” Padawan Kenobi grumbled.
Maste Jinn snickered. “You don’t say, my young Padawan?”
She rolled her eyes and finally approached them, going towards the med kit. She dug around until she found what she was looking for. “Now, Ani, I’m going to inject some anesthesia. It will hurt a little but less than what the cut would have.” She sent pointed looks at the Jedi and they looked away.
Ani nodded and she activated the spanner against his neck. He let out a soft hiss but didn’t otherwise complain.
“Ok, Ani.” Master Jinn said, laying a hand in his shoulder. “Are you ready?”
Ani looked at her and then at the floor. “Could I hold your hand?” He asked, face turning red.
She smiled at him. “Of course, Ani. You don’t have to be ashamed of asking for comfort.” She gently took his hand and he squeezed it as tightly as he probably could, which wasn’t much but she still felt the intent. “You know, I also get nervous when I go to the doctor.” She admitted. It was true and it wasn’t until she became the Queen that her mother had stopped going with her and held her own hand. That time seemed to be far away, almost unreachable.
“You do?” He asked, looking up at her. She nodded and his mouth opened in surprise.
“Even my master gets nervous.” Padawan Kenobi told him with a smile.
Both Ani and her looked at him with surprise. She had had the impression that Jedi weren’t afraid of anything. It was silly in retrospect, the Jedi were still people after all.
Master Jinn smiled at them, looking a little embarrassed. “Master Che can be a terrifying woman as well as a gentle healer.” He explained.
“Wow.” Ani said in awe. “So you don’t need to be fearless to be a Jedi?”
“It’s preferred we aren’t, no.” Master Jinn said. “We are not forbidden from feeling fear, it is natural to feel fear for any living being, but we must not let it consume us, letting the fear take over is a straight path to suffering.”
Anakin nodded like he had been told something of enormous importance, which was probably what had happened but she didn’t know enough about the famous Jedi knights to know if that was the case.
“Can we please get this over with?” Padawan Kenobi said.
“Ah, of course.” Master Jinn apologized. “We’ll talk more about yous studies after we’re done on Naboo but know we must focus on the task at hand.”
Ani took a deep breath. “I’m ready.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter.
“Here we go.” Padawan Kenobi said, digging the blade against Ani’s skin.
She looked away from the incision and focused on Ani’s face instead. He grimaced, probably feeling the blood trailing down his neck. She squeezed his hand back and he smiled at her, although it was a little shaky.
“Master, pass me the tweezers.” Padawan Kenobi said, his voice was surprisingly calm and detached like a trained medic’s might be.
There were a few wet sounds that she didn’t like in the slightest and then a quiet beeping began sounding across the room. She panicked for a second, wondering if it was going to explode but kept her face composed so that she didn’t scare poor Ani. It didn’t explode and Padawan Kenobi put a bacta patch over the incision.
“There, it’s out.” He said, letting out a sigh and it was then she realized he was sweating.
Ani whipped around. “Can I see it?” He asked, voice wavering. Padawan Kenobi dropped something in the palm of his hand. She couldn’t see it at first and she had to squint. It was a small piece of metal, smaller than a nail. “It’s so small.” Anakin’s face contorted into an expression of repulsion and hate that didn’t look right on his young face. “How can something so small steal the freedom of hundreds of people?” He muttered.
Suddenly, the air shifted and it felt like somehow, there was less oxygen in the room. She felt like she wanted to cry or break something. She wanted her mother and she wanted to help her people and she wanted to learn and be free and fly and it was hard to breath.
Whatever had happened stopped when Master Jinn placed a hand on Anakin’s head. She blinked, perplexed, and for a moment didn’t know where she was.
“Anakin.” Master Jinn said, his voice sounding shaky but his face a perfect mask of calmness.
“I’m sorry.” He cried out, tears filling his eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She realized Padawan Kenobi was leaning his back against Master Jinn and his eyes were closed in pain.
“It’s alright, Ani.” Master Jinn assured him, putting his other hand on his padawan’s head. “You haven’t learnt to stop your emotions from affecting the force around you. You’re very powerful and it’s hard to control your power. You’ll learn, in time.”
Ani nodded, passing the back of his hand over his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He repeated. “Are you alright, Padmé.”
“Yes, don’t worry about me, Ani.” She smiled, hoping that it didn’t look as shaky as it felt.
“Hey, Anakin.” Padawan Kenobi spoke up, looking better than he was a few seconds ago. “Want to destroy that nasty thing?” He smirked, still looking a little pale.
A bright smile appeared on his face. “Yes!”
“Ok, I know a fun way of doing it.” Padawan Kenobi smiled and unclipped his lightsaber.
“I can use it?” Ani beamed.
Padawan Kenobi laughed. “Of course not.” Ani pouted. “That’s not what I had in mind.” He turned it on.
It was magical, looking at a lightsaber for the first time. It casted a blue light into the whole room and it the blade seemed to be constantly vibrating and humming. It felt safe and strong and at that moment she felt like nothing bad could ever happen to her. The blade just would t allow it. She found herself feeling a childlike wonder she hadn’t felt in a very long time. She didn’t need to look at Ani to know he probably had the same expression. If it was this impressive being just ignited, how would it feel to see it in action? For the first time, she wished she had been there to see Master Jinn fight the man on Tatooine.
“You throw the the chip and I cut it, what do you think?” Padawan Kenobi smirked.
Anakin took a minute to answer, still staring in awe at the lightsaber. “Yes!” He smiled at Padawan Kenobi, clearly eager to see it in action.
He held his saber in front of him and adopted an expression of intense concentration.
Master Jinn smiled and watched everything from Ani’s side. “Whenever you want, Ani.”
Ani smiled, it was a little vindictive but it was understandable. “Kriff you Watto!” He screamed as he threw the chip at Padawan Kenobi with all his strength. In one swift motion, he cut in half and she heard to metal pieces falling to the floor.
Anakin covered his mouth with his hands just as her and Padawan Kenobi said “Language!”
“Sorry.” He winced.
Suddenly, Master Jinn began to laugh. Padawan Kenobi raised an eyebrow as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt. She looked at Master Jinn with curiosity.
“What’s so funny?” Anakin asked, crossing his arms.
“I apologize.” He said, still smiling. “It’s funny to see such tiny and young faces acting like adults.”
Three offended gasps sounded across the room, several words of outrage soon followed.
“I’m not tiny! I’m ten years old!” “I’m almost a knight!” “I am hardly a child!”
Their perfectly synchronized responses only made him laugh harder and she frowned at him.
“I am not young.” She muttered. If they knew she was the queen he would be biting his words.
“Neither am I.” Padawan Kenobi huffed.
“Such mature responses surely back your statements.” Master Jinn grinned.
She crossed her arms. “I can’t believe you’re a negotiator.”
He didn’t seem bothered by her comment. “Well, I try, miss Padmé.”
~*~
Anakin sat on a tree stump, face resting on his hands. Everyone was busy so he felt lonely and was very bored. Master Qui Gon and Obi-Wan were busy discussing “important business”, Padmé was planning their attack with the other handmaidens and the Gungans and R2 was with them. Even Jar-Jar was busy so he didn’t have anyone to talk to.
And it wasn’t just that. The revelation that Padmé had been the queen the entire time had taken him by surprise and, even worse, made him worry about their friendship. It had been fine when she had been a handmaiden, she was a servant and he was a former slave, they could understand each other. But now that he knew she was the queen… he wondered if their friendship had been real at all. Maybe she had been pretending so no one thought she was the real queen. A handmaiden could be friends with a slave, but could a queen do that? He wasn’t sure she’d even want to.
He saw Padmé separate from the group and took his chance. He leapt to the ground and ran towards her, anxiety curling inside of him.
“Padmé!” He called her before she began another never ending conversation.
She turned around and looked at him, worry in her eyes. “What is it, Ani?”
He fidgeted with his hands. “Uhm, could I speak with you for a moment?” He asked as politely as he could, even bowing a little.
She frowned for a second but then smiled at him, gently as ever. “Of course.” They went back to the tree stump he had been sitting at and they sat together. “What is it?”
“Are we friends?” He asked, looking at his hands.
“What?” She said, sounding perplexed and a little hurt. “Why do you ask that, Ani?”
He sniffed, trying not to cry, he didn’t want to waste water. “Well, it’s ok if you don’t want to be friends anymore.”
“Ani, why are you saying that?” She sounded worried.
“You’re a Queen and I’m a just a slave from Tatooine.” He said, blinking rapidly to prevent the tears from falling.
“No.” She said. “You’re not a slave. You’re a person and your name is Anakin.” He looked up at her and saw she had tears in her eyes as well. “You’re one of the kindest, most bravest and funniest people I’ve ever met. It doesn’t matter if I’m a Queen or if you are a soon to be Jedi.” She said, her eyes pierceing him. “Nothing will end our friendship. You’re special and I’m glad I’ve met you.”
He sniffed again and leaned against her. “I’m glad I met you too.”
She passed a hand through her hair, just like his mom used to do and then he really wanted to cry. “I’m sorry I lied about being the queen. I didn’t want to keep lying to you but I had to. Do you understand?” He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. “Meeting you has been one of the most wonderful things to happen to me these past few days. Without you, I wouldn’t even have been able to return to my planet.” She leaned her head against his and he realized that she wasn’t that much older than him. Maybe four years but he didn’t think it was much more. “We’ll always be friends, Ani. Even if our duties don’t allow us to meet again, we’ll always be friends.”
She shifted and then showed something to him. It was the carving he had gifted her. “I’ll always have a little piece of you to remember you by. I’ll never forget the brave boy from Tatooine that risked his life to help total strangers, expecting nothing in return. A free boy.”
His breath hitched and he leaned further against her, pressing his face into her soft clothes. “And I won’t forget you either.” He sniffed, a small tear falling down his face. “The girl that treated me like a person for the first time that wasn’t my mom. The one who made sure I didn’t feel pain when I got chip removed.” He thought he heard her sniff. “My Angel.”
She laughed, it sounded watery. “Aren’t you a funny little boy?”
He looked at her, their eyes were both filled with tears but they were both smiling.
“Everything will be alright, Padmé.” He told her. “You will free your planet and everything will be alright.” He said with as much confidence as he could muster.
“How can you know?” She whispered.
“I just know it.” He said firmly. “I can feel it. All around me. Everyone who will be fighting believes in what they’re doing. And they will succeed. I promise.”
She hugged him and then looked at his face. “I have no doubt you will be a great Jedi.”
“I agree.” He turned around and saw Master Qui Gon and Obi-Wan standing not too far away from them. “And he is right, your highness. The force is with you all.” He bowed slightly at her. It felt weird, seeing him do that to Padmé.
She shook her head. “There is no need to bow, Master Jinn. And please call me Padmé. It’s the least I can offer after everything you’ve done and are doing for us, my friendship and my eternal gratitude.” She bowed her head. “And it’s the same for you, Padawan Kenobi.”
He smiled. “I am honored your- er, Padmé.”
She chuckled. “Well, we should get going.” She stood up and offered a hand to him.
He took it with a smile.
~*~
Anakin hadn’t felt so excited in his life. Not even when he won the pod race and not even when he had been freed, although that one came close. He was grateful that R2 landed the ship because he didn’t think he knew how to do that.
He had actually blown a startship! A real starship! And he had blown a bigger and more evil starship with his own! The hatch opened and he exited, shaking from the excitement. The other pilots surrounding him, helping him get off the ship and raising him into the air as they cheered and celebrated. Cheered him. He smiled and allowed his hair to be ruffled after they removed the helmet.
“You did great, kid!” One of the pilots said, patting his back with a big, triumphant smile.
He smiled, beaming with pride. He worried that Master Qui Gon would be mad at him but he hadn’t really done anything bad. He had told him to stay in the cockpit and he had! Well, he was already out of it but everything seemed to be alright. He couldn’t wait to tell Master Qui Gon, Obi-Wan and Padmé about it! He bet they’d be all so proud! Like his mother had been after the pod race, even if she had been worried he’d get hurt.
He wondered how the rest had been doing, if they were alright. He really hoped they were, he didn’t know what he would do if they weren’t. He wanted to go search for them the palace looked bigger than the temple and he wasn’t sure how he would find them. An idea suddenly struck him, remembering something Qui Gon had taught him while they were traveling to Naboo. Bonds. He said he already had one with his mom and four were forming, with him, Obi-Wan, Padmé and Jar-Jar. And you could tell how someone was through the bond if you concentrated enough.
He closed his eyes and thought of Padmé. He felt relief and satisfaction. She had succeeded then, just as he thought. Jar-Jar’s feelings were less intense and harder to sense but he seemed to be doing alright. He moved onto Obi-Wan and he fell to his knees by the intense anguish and despair he felt from him. He distantly heard the pilots ask him if he was alright but he needed to focus. He didn’t feel hurt so that meant he was alright. But that meant… He didn’t want to know how Master Qui Gon was but he needed to know. He concentrated on Master Qui Gon, he thought of his comforting hands and his calm and comforting voice.
Anakin was pretty sure he screamed when he felt the pain and anguish that his bond with Qui Gon (it felt stronger than the others too) radiated. Trembling, he slammed his shields shut, just as they had taught him in the ship. He felt hands holding him upright and heard worried voice.
“Give him space!” A voice yelled, the one from the pilot that had patted his back. He saw the blurry shape of his face appear in front of him. “Kid, are you alright?”
Anakin blinked, trying to clear his thoughts. Qui Gon was in danger. He had to save him. To get to him. To do something. He could still feel the pain through the bond, no matter how closed tight his shields were.
He stood up and world spun, someone held him.
“Wow! Kid, take it easy.”
But Anakin shook his head. “I need to find Master Qui Gon.” He murmured and shot off running, breaking free from the hold of the pilots. They tried to go after him but the door of the hanger closed behind him and he was alone in the halls of the palace.
He didn’t know where he was going and he was pretty sure he was lost. He stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a wall. He needed to find Master Qui Gon but he didn’t know where he was. Maybe Padmé knew, since it was her palace but where was Padmé?
He had to continue running, he need to find Qui Gon. He ran and ran and after a while of not finding anyone, he began to scream for Padmé.
“Padmé!” He yelled in despair. He turned a corner and saw her standing with her handmaidens. “Padmé!” He yelled,this time in relief.
“Ani?” She asked and he slammed into her, hugging her tightly. “Ani, what is it?”
“Master Qui Gon is hurt and I can’t find him! I know he’s hurt! Please, Padmé, you have to help me find him!” He cried, not caring about the tears rolling down his face.
“Queen Amidala!” Someone new shouted, he thought it was Captain Panaka but he wasn’t sure. “I have a report from the Jedi.”
Padmé stiffened and he looked up in interest at that. “What is it, Captain?” She asked, sounding worried.
“Are they alright?” He asked, walking up to him and whiping his face.
He looked at him and hesitated but Padmé must have done something because he ended up telling him. “The threat has been neutralized by Padawan Kenobi, he has received no injuries. But I’m afraid Master Jinn received a life threatening injury during the combat. They are both currently in one of the med bays.”
Anakin felt like screaming. “Will he be ok??”
“I don’t know.” Captain Panaka shook his head.
“Padmé.” One of the handmaidens said, Sabé, he thought was her name. She was dressed as the queen. “You can go check on them and accompany Anakin, we’ll finish here.”
“But-“ Padmé said, biting her lip.
Sabé moved her hand in a dismissive way. “Whatever needs to be done now I can do for you. After all, I can imitate your signature perfectly.” She grinned.
“If you’re sure…”
Captain Panaka took a step forward. “Don’t worry, your highness. Go with the kid. Well handle it from here.”
She nodded at them and offered him a hand. “Let’s go, Ani. I know the fastest way to the medbay.”
~*~
Obi-Wan was so tired he couldn’t even pace, no matter how much he wanted to. Waiting outside of the operation room was killing him as much as that wound was killing his master. He burried his face in his hands. Stupid shield. What kind of architect had built that and for what purpose? It had kept him separate from his master when he needed him the most and now he wasn’t he’d live.
But it hadn’t been the shield’s fault, no. It had been his. He had been too slow. If he had gone a little faster, if he hadn’t called off while they fought and been with his master maybe things would have turned out differently. But he hadn’t been fast enough, he had failed his master. In the end it didn’t matter if he had killed the Sith Lord because he had failed his master. If he died he would never forgive himself.
Hurried steps took him out of his thoughts and he felt a bright presence before someone slammed into him and wrapped him in a hug.
“Anakin.” He said in surprise, wrapping his own arms around him. “Ani.”
“Don’t be sad.” He muttered, holding him like a lifeline. “Please don’t be sad, it’s not your fault.”
He hugged the boy tighter. “Ani, you weren’t there…”
“He’s right.” He looked up in surprise at the person in front of him. It was Padmé. “We saw the recording on our way here.” She had tears in her eyes and she was shaking, worry and guilt were radiating off her. “The shields stopped you. I didn’t even know we had them.”
“I should have been faster.” He said, still holding Ani to his chest.
“You were fast, though.” Anakin said, apparently calmer now. “We could barely see you, you were all blurry.”
Obi-Wan didn’t know how to explain to them that it was his fault, his failure.
Padmé sat in the chair beside his. “It’s my fault. She whispered. “He came here to help me, to help Naboo. If he hadn’t…” she cut herself off, unable to continue.
“No.” Anakin said, looking at Padmé. “Master Qui Gon would have come either way. He wanted to help you free your planet because he’s nice and it’s the right thing to do. It doesn’t matter who told him to do it because he wanted to do it.”
Padmé sniffed and passed a hand over her eyes. “You’re a very wise little boy.”
He smiled. “And it’s not your fault either, Obi-Wan. You’re still learning and my mom says that no one can be perfect, no matter how hard we try to be.”
Obi-Wan laughed, holding back tears. “You really are wise, Ani.”
He beamed. “Like a Jedi?”
He nodded solemnly. “Just like a Jedi.”
They stayed there, sitting together, for a while. At some point, Padmé leaned against his side and he could feel her worry and despair in the force. Anakin wiggled one of his arms out of the embrace and hugged Padmé as well. It was weird but somehow, he felt better like that. Squeezed between the Queen of Naboo and his future Padawan. He seemed to radiate hope and strength wherever he went and no matter how he was feeling, he was and unrelenting presence.
Ani suddenly stood up and walked to the operation room’s door. “He’s not ok. I can feel it.” He sniffed.
Padmé looked at him with worry. “How bad is it?”
He shook his head, battling tears. “He was stabbed in the gut and it took a while to get him medical attention.” He inhaled sharply. “If I knew how to force heal maybe he would have had a few more minutes but…”
“You can heal with the force?” Padmé asked in surprise.
“It’s mostly a lost practice, most information about it has been lost and not everyone can do it.” He said, feeling miserably. If Qui Gon hadn’t taken him as Padawan, all those years ago, would he have met the same fate?
The door suddenly opened and he sprung up, Padmé doing the same at his side. Anakin barely even reacted, simply peaking into the room.
“I’m sorry.” The medic said with a sad expression. “There is nothing we can do for him here, we can barely keep him alive.”
“I understand.” He choked out.
“You can come in and say your goodbyes but he won’t last long.” They said, walking away. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Loss. Because he was about to die. He didn’t want to be there when it happened but he knew he would never forgive himself if he wasn’t there.
Anakin didn’t even hesitate, he ran into the room like his life depended on it. Padmé nudged him encouragingly. He weakly smiled at her in thanks and they both entered the room.
It was horrifying. Qui Gon had a tube in his throat and there was blood on the operation table. A sheet covered his abdomen but he knew what he would find underneath it. And he was so pale, even though the monitor still beeped indicating his heart was beating he already looked dead.
Padmé let out a horrified gasp and grabbing his hand, squeezing it. He didn’t think she thought about it, she just needed it and he was grateful for it because it grounded him.
Anakin was shaking and he grabbed one of Qui Gon’s hands, it looked lifeless in Anakin’s.
“No.” He whispered in horror. “He cant die!” He said, louder that time.
“Anakin.” He tried but couldn’t say anything else.
“It’s not fair!” He burried his face on his master’s body.
Obi-Wan knew he should do something, probably separate Anakin from Qui Gon’s almost lifeless body but he was stuck in place and he didn’t need to look at Padmé to know she was too. He felt her horror screaming at his side.
“You can’t die.” Anakin said, his voice suddenly devoid of emotion. “I can’t let you.”
And then something shifted in the force. It felt like there was a gust of warm air entering the room but nothing moved. The colors seemed to gain focus and become brighter but at the same time didn’t change at all. Padmé’s hand squeezed his even tighter and now she felt scared.
But Padmé’s feelings became muted as something drowned them. It was drowned by a deep feeling of love, hope and fear. Overwhelming fear, fear as intense as he felt for his master’s life. It didn’t take a master Jedi to know it came from Anakin.
He didn’t think it lasted a second but it felt like an hour, as fast as it came, it was gone. And then the monitor’s beeping became steadier and a little faster, not too fast but not as slow as it had been.
“What happened?” Padmé whispered.
He looked at Anakin, still clutching his master’s hand. “I don’t know.” He admitted.
Anakin had been slightly clouded in the force until that moment, it was like the clouds had lifted and he was staring at the sun. It didn’t hurt but it wasn’t precisely pleasant. If he had passed unnoticed before by the Jedi, he certainly wouldn’t now.
“Ani?” His master slurred from the table, stirring.
Obi-Wan gasped and Padmé stiffened.
“We need a medic.” She whispered and hastily left the room.
Obi-Wan approached the table, fearing it had been a trick, an ilussion. But his master smiled weakly at him, still tired but alive. Alive and not so pale and breathing and it couldn’t be possible.
“Master Qui Gon!” Ani screamed in relief. “You’re alright!” He hugged him again, clinging like would disappear at any moment. He wasn’t sure that wouldn’t happen.
Qui Gon looked at him and Obi-Wan saw it his eyes. Somehow he knew what had happened.
“It seems like my plan will work after all, he will be a Jedi.” He sat up slowly and Obi-Wan didn’t miss how he kept his abdomen covered with the sheet. “I think he will make a great apprentice for you Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan couldn’t hold the tears back anymore and he did the same thing Anakin was doing and hugged his master as tight as he could, crying and sobbing like he was a kid again. He heard Anakin begin to cry as well and Qui Gon wrapped them in his arms, holding them tightly.
He felt someone enter the room with Padmé and distantly heard a gasp coming from the entrance. He didn’t care, he just wanted to hold his master, make sure he was real and feel him breath. He needed to feel him alive.
“It’s impossible.” Someone said. “He was almost dead.”
“The force works in mysterious ways.” Qui Gon said into his ear, in the same satisfied tone he always used when he had been proven right.
He didn’t need to hear anything else, he didn’t need anymore evidence that his master was alive.
“It does, Master. It does.” He rasped out, hugging his master and future Padawan to his chest.