DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognisable characters, names and references, etc are the sole property of George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, Lucasarts Inc and 20th Century Fox. This fan fiction was created solely for entertainment and no money was made from it. Also, no copyright or trademark infringement was intended. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Any other characters, the storyline and the actual story are the property of the author.
"We have a briefing after the lunch hour," Mace Windu said. "I know you won't be going with us to Hoth, but I thought you'd be interested."
"Oh, I am," Qui-Gon assured his friend.
"When will you be taking your padawan on your first mission?"
"Soon, I think. I'd like to see how he handles field work."
"Field work." Mace rolled his eyes. "Qui-Gon, he's a child. Try and remember that, hmm?"
"I know how old he is," Qui-Gon began.
"I know you know how old he is. But I don't think you know what that means."
"He's a very intelligent, responsible boy," Qui-Gon said firmly. "He's very mature for his age."
"Uh-huh."
"He is," Qui-Gon insisted.
"I'm sure he is. He's a great kid. But he is a kid. I don't think you have any idea what that means."
Resigned, Qui-Gon stopped walking, and leaned back against the wall of the corridor, out of the way of the other Jedi passing by. "But you're going to tell me, aren't you?"
"You've always been too serious. You know what they used to call you when we were kids?"
"Too Serious Jinn?"
"Ha, ha. No. They used to call you The Post. Because you'd just stand there, dead silent, like some big-- well, like some big post."
Qui-Gon stared at him, indignant. "They did not."
"Yes, they did."
"No, they didn't."
"Yes, they-- oh, for Force's sake." Mace surveyed the Jedi passing. He spotted a familiar face, and grabbed at the owner's arm. "Adric--"
"Whatever it is, no," snapped their former classmate, shrugging out of Mace's hold.
"I haven't even--"
"I don't care," Adric said, pushing a strand of golden hair out of his enormous grey eyes. "You two are trouble."
"Listen-- just tell us-- what did everyone call Jinn, when we were kids?"
Adric regarded Mace with the caution generally reserved for those suspected of psychological derangement. "Qui-Gon."
"Aha!" Qui-Gon said.
Adric turned a similar look on him, then shook his head, settled his wings, and stalked off.
"You need mental help," Qui-Gon growled, and continued on his way.
"And you need kid help. I'm telling you, Qui-Gon, you can't think of him as being a really short adult."
"Obi-Wan is an extraordinarily competent young boy," Qui-Gon said, as they neared his quarters.
"I'm sure he is," Mace said, soothingly. "But he's a boy. That means he's going to get into trouble, sooner or later--"
"Mace...." Qui-Gon opened the door to his quarters. *Ah-- here he is, in fact. And busy on a project? See-- told you so!*
"Hello, Master Mace. Hello, Master Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan stood up very quickly from his place at the worktable. He positioned himself in front of it, and bowed.
"Hello, Obi-Wan. I'm glad to see you're keeping yourself occupied. Very adult of you," Qui-Gon said, approvingly, with a meaningful look at Mace.
"Well...."
"What are you working on?" Mace asked, noting the boy's sudden reticence.
"Well...."
All of Mace's internal alarms went off. He took a few steps forward, and looked at the array of parts scattered on the table top. *Some kind of casing ... several crystals... ring assembly...*
Qui-Gon joined him. "Hmmm."
"Uh, Qui-Gon? Where's your lightsaber?"
"I left it here; no need for it in the Temple," Qui-Gon replied. And then, the penny dropped.
"You took his lightsaber apart??" Ani gasped, overjoyed. "Whoa."
"It seemed like a good idea at the time..." Obi-Wan replied, voice muffled. During the course of the story, he had slid from the couch to the floor and buried his head in his arms. The back of his neck was bright red.
"I was greatly... impressed with his abilities," Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, those were the words you used, all right," Obi-Wan agreed, still not looking up.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Have you lost your mind?" The question was posed mildly, but the boy winced. His Master was managing-- barely-- to keep his patience.
To Obi-Wan's relief, Mace Windu intervened. "Come, now, Qui-Gon. There's no right answer to a question like that."
"He just--"
"--took apart your lightsaber. I know. I can see that." *Did you promise to help him build one?*
Qui-Gon paused. *Well, yes.*
*And have you?*
*Well, no. It's too soon for that.*
*Did you tell him that?*
*Um....*
*He's a very bright boy, my friend. But he is a boy. And that means--*
"Trouble, yes, I know," Qui-Gon sighed. He looked down at his padawan. Obi-Wan's eyes were focussed on the floor. "Thank you, Master Mace. I don't think I'll be at that briefing, after all."
"I'll send you the reports, shall I?"
"Yes, thanks."
The door slid closed behind the Jedi, leaving master and apprentice alone.
"Sit down, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, nodding towards the chair the boy had been occupying. Obedient to the bitter end, he did. Qui-Gon pulled a chair of his own up beside him. "Now, you're going about this wrong, do you see? You disassembled it nicely, but it doesn't reassemble quite so easily; as I'm sure you've noticed."
Obi-Wan nodded, totally confused.
"You seem to grasp the mechanical theory, but more goes into constructing a lightsaber than that. Each Jedi must create his weapon personally, by hand."
"Because of the crystals?"
"Because of the crystals."
"So I can't fix this?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No, you can't. You ought not to have taken it apart. However, I ought to have remembered my promise. You're not to blame for your curiosity."
"I'll ask, first, next time," Obi-Wan promised.
"Very good."
"It came apart way easy, though," he added, thoughtfully. "Did you ever take apart Master Yoda's lightsaber?"
"Force, no!" His tone of voice made Obi-Wan laugh. "I did, however, manage to disable a transport."
"No way."
"Oh, yes. I was convinced it would be easy, you see."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I know the feeling."
"That's another story, though." Qui-Gon smiled, then very carefully set the focus crystals in the hilt of his lightsaber. He let his gaze turn inwards, seeking the calm centre of his soul; and, with the Force, aligned them perfectly. "There."
"No way I could have done that," Obi-Wan commented, clearly impressed.
"No way," Qui-Gon agreed. "At least, not yet. But later."
"How much later?"
"Later, later. When you've gone forward in your training."
"Everything is always later," Obi-Wan said, sounding disgusted.
The Master suppressed a laugh, not wanting to hurt his feelings. "Some things are. Right now, however, I think it might not hurt to do a meditation exercise."
"Yes, sir. What should I meditate on?" Obi-Wan asked, slipping from his stool to the floor, and sinking into his mediation posture.
"We will meditate on patience, my padawan. I suspect we're going to need it," Qui-Gon said, a little rueful, settling down next to Obi-Wan.
"Both of us?"
"Both of us."
*Cool,* Obi-Wan thought.
Qui-Gon smiled to himself.
"Have you learned anything tonight, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, finally having lifted his head.
"Yes, master."
Obi-Wan used his best Wise Master voice. "And what have you learned?"
"That if I make a mistake, tell Master Qui-Gon, 'cos all he'll make me do, is meditate?"
"I need another cup of tea," Qui-Gon announced, and fled like a coward into the kitchen.
Ani turned to watch him go, then looked back at Obi-Wan... and grinned. "Just kidding, Master." Then he turned serious. "I guess I'm supposed to learn that-- that everyone does stuff wrong, sometimes, and that you have to just... try hard not to?"
"That's a good lesson, padawan," Obi-Wan said, slowly. He stood and offered his hand to Anakin, leading him to the kitchen. They looked in, and saw Qui-Gon, sitting on the floor, laughing hysterically and totally silently.
"I think Master Qui-Gon needs to go to bed early," Anakin said.
"I think we all do," Obi-Wan said. "Good night, Master."
Qui-Gon waved a hand at him, helplessly.
"Come on, Ani. I'll put you to bed." As he turned, his Master's voice sounded in his head, very clearly.
*The next ten years should be interesting, my Obi-Wan.*
*Yes, well, you're right here with me, master. So don't get complacent.* And the sound of silent laughter followed him to bed.
Part 1 Part 2