A Bond of Friendship: A Birthday Forgotten (5) Author: Angel5000 Time Frame: pre-TPM Archive: Jedi Apprentice; anywhere else please ask (slash dedicated site need not apply). Disclaimer: These characters and the Star Wars world belong to George Lucas. I am not making any money off these characters or this story and I'm not attempting to break any copyright rules. It's all in good fun. Summary: Due to the results of the last story (Sad Days) and low self- esteem, Obi-Wan goes out into Coruscant, and results in getting himself lost and possibly in big trouble. // // telepathic ^ ^ personal thoughts A Bond of Friendship A Bond of Friendship: Part 2: A Temple Visit A Bond of Friendship: Part 3: Deaths Door A Bond of Friendship: Part 4: Sad Days A Bond of Friendship: Part 5: A Birthday Forgotten A Bond of Friendship: Part 6: Everything Turns Out Okay A Bond of Friendship: Part 7: A Fight For Life A Bond of Friendship: A New Beginning (8) More to Come!!! * * * * * * * * * Obi-Wan was sound asleep on his sleep couch when a loud pounding on the door awakened him. Jumping up, he hurriedly dressed and rushed to open it. As he pressed the button to open the door he happened to glance up at the clock. It was nearly 0900! His first class started in a few minutes, and he was going to be late again! ^I wish Master were back...^ Obi-Wan thought for what seemed like the fiftieth time in the last two days. Qui-Gon had left to go to the other side of Coruscant to do some negotiations and wasn't due back until the next day. Unfortunately today was Obi-Wan's fifteenth birthday. ^He's supposed to be here to go through the meditation with me! Why does he always have to forget my birthday? ^ Obi-Wan thought; feeling very sorry for himself. The door opened with a hiss and there stood Kami. She was a Padawan just like Obi-Wan. Her Master was attending the negotiations along with Qui-Gon and so she too was stuck going to the classes. There were four other Padawans besides Kami and Obi-Wan at the Temple, but the Padawans in mention didn't really fit in with them. The two boys were best friends and had been ever since their Initiate days. Not to mention that they were only thirteen, making them two years younger than both Obi-Wan and Kami. The two females were older by a year and, like the boys, were best friends. Since Obi-Wan and Kami didn't want to be with the other four they were often found working together on homework or just sitting and talking. They had grown to be close friends in the few days that they'd known each other. "Obi-Wan! You look like you just woke up!" "That's kind of what happened. I overslept and Qui-Gon wasn't here to make sure I was up." Obi-Wan said, a little guiltily. "That isn't a good thing. Lucky for me, Master left me analarm chrono and so I'm always up on time. I hate to be rudebut...we're going to be late for Navigation class if we don't go now, and since we're doing some actual flying today being late means we don't get to do any of it at all." Kami said cautiously. She was always looking out for other people's feelings and didn't like to hurt them.Obi-Wan liked that about her. "There's no way I'm going to be on time. Why don't you go on ahead, I think I'm going to skip the first couple classes. I won't arrive on time so what's the use of going and getting a lectureon the importance of punctuality? Please, if anyone asks will you just tell them I can't come to my classes today? Please Kami?" Obi-Wan begged, he didn't expect Kami to say yes, she refused to lie ever, but maybe, maybe this once... "Obi-Wan!" Kami said in a shocked voice, "You know I won't lie, especially not someone who is a Jedi! Do you want me to get in trouble?" she asked in a hurt voice. "No Kami! No, I would never ask you to do anything that would get you in trouble! Kami, just tell them I am unable to attend my classes. It's the truth, I can't attend; I won't be able to get there on time. Besides, it's my birthday; they'll think that my Master excused me from my classes or something. Please?" Obi-Wan was pleading now. "Obi-Wan, misleading is still the same as lying in my eyes. You know I do not approve." Kami said with a frown. "Please Kami. What they think is their problem. You aren't telling them that my Master excused me, you're just telling them I won't be coming. Kami, I don't want another lecture." Obi-Wan's eyes were begging now. "Fine Obi-Wan, I'll do it. But you owe me! And I'm not lying either! If they ask me why you can't come I'm going to tell them that you slept in." Kami said; she couldn't believe she was doing this. "That's fine Kami. I don't think they'll ask, but if they dojust tell them I overslept. I don't want you to get in trouble, especially not because of me. Thank you Kami." "Your welcome Obi-Wan. Now, I'm leaving for class, are you sure you aren't coming? If Instructor Kandra finds out you skipped she won't let you navigate at all!" With Instructor Kandra, the navigation instructor, skipping class was a big violation. If you weren't at class there were some bad consequences. "I'm willing to take the chance Kami, besides she won't find out unless you tell her. I know Master Kandra and she won't ask you why I'm not coming. Just stop by after the afternoon classes and let me know what happened okay?" Kami nodded as she hurried down the hall "Thank you again Kami!" Obi-Wan yelled. * * * * * * Obi-Wan sat on the bed, feeling sorry for himself. His Master was away on the other side of Coruscant working on some negotiations instead of here, meditating with his Padawan. Qui-Gon could have easily found someone to go in his place! But no, he just had to go! ^He probably doesn't even know it's my birthday ^, Obi-Wan thought angrily. Obi-Wan sat there for ten minutes before getting up. There wouldn't be any classes going on in the gymnasium right now, it would be easy for him to slip in there and get some extra practice with his lightsaber before the next class arrived. He didn't want to waste his time doing nothing. Quickly he rose and, grabbing a piece of fruit, headed toward the gym. When he got there he realized it was a bad idea... Bruck was there along with some of his friends. Since Bruck was no longer a Jedi and was training to be a Healer he didn't attend regular classes. Apparently some of his friends didn't have morning classes and were practicing with their lightsabers too. Quietly he began to battle with the remotes, easily deflecting the blaster fire. After he had warmed up he began doing acrobatics. It was easy for him to do flips and twists and all kinds of fancy acrobatics when he used the Force but on his own he wasn't very good at it. Reaching out with the Force Obi-Wan began getting ready for his flips. Apparently he wasn't focused very well because just as he started to jump he felt himself being pushed, although no one was near him. There was no time to stop himself, he was already in the air when he felt it. He was pushed quite hard, to the side, causing him to loose balance and fall on his back instead of completely rotating. Luckily he landed on the mats, although they didn't do much to cushion the blow. On the other side of the gym, Obi-Wan heard Bruck laughing with his friends. It was Bruck who had pushed him with the Force. Obi-Wan just stood there, not saying anything, as Bruck and his friends taunted him. "Hey, Oafy-Wan! Want to try the bars? Oh, that'sright - he's too clumsy! I doubt he would even be able to walk the balance beam, let alone the bars! He can't even finish a simpleflip!" Bruck said, laughing the whole time. "I dare you to try the high beam Oafy!" one of the other boys, a fellow Initiate taunted. Obi-Wan would have done the high beam had his Master told him many times before that he wasn't to accept the dares of the other Padawans. He had done this before and almost broken his leg. If he took this dare he was sure the boys would use the Force to push him off and he might end up breaking some bones. Right now that was the last thing he wanted. Obi-Wan turned, "I have to study," he mumbled as he began towalk away. "That's right," another boy taunted, "his Master doesn't trust him! I should have figured he'd run away." They all laughed, Bruck the loudest. Obi-Wan finally gave in to his anger, "Yes, well I'd rather have a cautious Master rather than have no Master at all! I'd ratherbe training to be a Jedi Knight instead of becoming a Healer because I was a failure!" His words hit their mark and Bruck got angry. Obi-Wan hurried from the room so as not to hear the boys words but he still couldn't help hearing his cruel remarks. * * * * * * Obi-Wan walked out of the gymnasium but he didn't head back to his room. Bruck's laugh still echoed in his head as he ran fromthe Temple towards Coruscant. He began to walk through the streets, looking in the windows at what was there. He didn't get to go into town very often. Obi-Wan tucked his lightsaber in under his Jedi Cloak, he didn't want anyone asking what a Jedi Apprentice was doing wandering the streets without his Master. As he roamed the streets, looking in the windows and watching groups of people walk by he realized it was already the middle of the afternoon. Kami would be coming by in an hour to tell him about the classes and would be surprised not to see him there. He shrugged, ^She probably doesn't care either^ Obi-Wan thought. ^I doubt she'll even come by!^ Deep down he knew that wasn't true and that she really did care but he was so miserable at that moment that he wouldn't let himself believe it. He still had half an hour left before he needed to be back, which gave him plenty of time to walk the streets and wallow in self-pity. As he walked along he began to feel miserable as he thought about previous birthdays. He remembered his eleventh birthday. That year Bruck had given him a birthday present. It was quite strange because Bruck had been acting nice to Obi-Wan a lot lately, not teasing him and actually complimenting him on his studies. When Obi-Wan had opened the present a snake had jumped out and Obi-Wan had leaped back, startled. Quickly he had recovered his composure and grabbed the snake to set it free but still Bruck had laughed and it had hurt. His thoughts turned a couple days before when he had gotten in trouble with his Master. It had been hard for Obi-Wan to have to stay at the Temple and start attending classes. Because of this he had spoken rudely to Qui-Gon, he had never meant to be rude, it had just happened before he could stop it. Qui-Gon had restricted him to their room, but he had allowed him to go to the Room of A Thousand Fountains with Bant for one hour. Unfortunately Obi-Wan and Bant hadn't paid much attention to the time and he gotten back twenty minutes late. Qui-Gon probability wouldn't have been as upset but Obi-Wan had lost his temper while being questioned by Qui-Gon and had, regrettably, used a few choice words that made the Jedi Master pretty mad. Qui-Gon had taken Obi-Wan to the gymnasium where the boy had dueled against the remotes until midnight. The next morning, before dawn, Qui-Gon had left with Master Kith to go to the negotiations. He hadn't even mentioned Obi-Wan's birthday, in fact he had even seemed to forget that he would be missing it! Instead he had ordered Obi-Wan to go back to bed and get some sleep before classes. That had been two days ago. Still he hadn't heard from Qui-Gon at all. Not about the negotiations or his birthday. It made him so mad just to think about it! Obi-Wan's mind was brought back to the present when he suddenly bumped into someone. "I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't paying much attention." Obi-Wan said, backing up and feeling very embarrassed. "That's okay son. You know, shouldn't you get back to your Master? I bet he's wondering where you are by now." The man said, looking at Obi-Wan curiously. Obi-Wan started in surprise, he had hidden his lightsaber so how did this man know he was a Jedi Apprentice, "I...I do not know what you are talking about." Obi-Wan said, he hated to lie but he wasn't about to tell this man that he was a Jedi Padawan. "Come on now, don't start lying to me. Isn't that against your Jedi Code or something? Anyone can tell you are a Jedi Padawan. Either that or you are doing a good job imitating one with that braid of yours. Now, don't you think you ought to head on back?" The strange man said. Obi-Wan's hand went up to his braid, he had forgotten about that! "My Master isn't looking for me. He isn't even on this side of Coruscant, he'd rather be at those stupid negotiations than here with me on my birthday!" Obi-Wan stopped, he couldn't believe he was blurting this all out to some strange man, "I'm sorry sir. I shouldn't bother you with this information. I must go now," he bowed slightly and then edged by the man. "Hey, come back here!" The man yelled as he ran after Obi-Wan. Immediately Obi-Wan picked up speed and began to weave through the streets. He could sense that the man was going to try and take him back to the temple but there'd be no way the man could catch him. After all, he was chasing a Jedi. Expertly Obi-Wan weaved through the crowds and the different streets until he was sure he'd lost the man. Then, and only then, did he allow himself to slow to a walk. The wind blew his cloak, and he pulled it tighter around him, it was getting a little bit colder but Obi-Wan didn't seem to mind. He glanced up at the sky and was surprised to see that the sun was getting low. In less than an hour the sun would set. It was then that Obi-Wan realized he had no idea how to get back to the Temple. * * * * * * Obi-Wan wandered the streets looking for a way to get back to the temple when he felt his Master's presence. He whirled around just in time to see Qui-Gon grab his Padawan braid. "Master!" Obi-Wan cried out in surprise at seeing Qui-Gon there beside him, "Master please!" he said as he felt a hard tug on the braid. "Keep quiet Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon said sharply. He released the braid, "Why did you run away from the Temple? Everyone is looking for you! Master Yoda contacted me on my comlink to inform me you were missing. I had to leave the negotiations early because of this." Obi-Wan lowered his head in shame at the trouble he had caused. "Look at me Obi-Wan!" Immediately the boy's head snapped up, and he met his Masters gaze. What he saw shocked him, he saw anger there, and he had never seen anger in his Master before. Disappointment and displeasure yes, but anger- never! "Come! We are going back to the temple. We shall talk of this again!" Qui-Gon began to walk through the crowds and Obi-Wan did his best to keep up but it was hard. * * * * * * Obi-Wan couldn't keep up with Qui-Gon, not at the pace he was setting. Eventually he got lost in the crowds. As Obi-Wan continued to try to find a way back to the Temple he realized he was only getting deeper and deeper into the heart of the city. He had no idea where he was and by trying to find a way out he was only getting himself more lost. Obi-Wan turned down into an alley and tears began to come now, he didn't try to stop them, he was too exhausted for that; exhausted, hungry, and miserable. Obi-Wan's legs couldn't hold him any longer, they buckled and he collapsed on the ground of the dirty, trash covered alley. He lay on the ground, his tears mixing with the dirt on his face. Sobs racked his body as he remembered his Masters angry look and the sharp tug on the braid. It hadn't hurt very much when Qui-Gon had pulled the braid but it was the look in his eyes, the anger, which had hurt him. The young Padawan had never seen anger like that in his Masters eyes before. He curled up in a ball, pulling his cloak around him. It was getting colder and the wind was picking up. Obi-Wan scooted back farther into the alley. The thought of having to sleep here all night caused the tears to come again. Quietly they fell and Obi-Wan allowed himself to cry to sleep. * * * * * * "Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan wake up." Obi-Wan opened his eyes and immediately sat up; Qui-Gon crouched before him. The boy bowed his head, "I'm sorry Master. I tried to keep up but you were so fast and after I lost you in the crowd I go lost. I'm sorry Master; I should have stayed in the Temple. I'm so sorry." Obi-Wan whispered. "Obi-Wan, look at me." Qui-Gon said gently. The boy obeyed, "Look into my eyes. Do you see anger there? I am not angry with you. What you did was wrong but I should have more patience in you. No Padawan, I am not angry." Obi-Wan looked into his Masters eyes, searching for any thing that resembled the irate feelings he had seen earlier. But all signs of the previous anger had vanished. Instead all he saw was compassion, tenderness and regret. Qui-Gon gently helped Obi-Wan up. The boys face was dirty and had streaks where the tears had flowed but he didn't care, that could all wait. What mattered right now was that Obi-Wan was hurt inside. The boy's feelings had been hurt because his Master had not beenthere for his birthday. Qui-Gon knew why the boy had left, and he had a feeling that all Obi-Wan had been able to think about today were the sad moments in his life. Obi-Wan shivered as another gust of icy wind blew past. Quietly his Master removed his own robe and wrapped it around his Padawan. Then he put a protective arm around him, this time he wouldn't be careless enough to let the boy get lost. "Are you alright Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked. "Yes, Master, I am fine." Qui-Gon nodded but he sensed the boy was not. He sent him a message mentally, through their bond; //you are not alright inside my young Apprentice.// //No// Obi-Wan responded in the same manner, //No, I am not, but I will be now that you are here Master. I am sorry for…// hebegan apologizing again but Qui-Gon cut him off. "No, Obi-Wan, do not apologize again, it is I who should apologize for not trying harder to be here today." Qui-Gon said finally speaking. "And for that I am truly sorry. I didn't forget your birthday Padawan. Master Windu called me the night before I left and told me I had to go. It wasn't a suggestion you understand; it was an order. I fought having to leave but Master Windu wouldn't allow it. I meant to tell you that we would do the Birthday Meditation Ritual when I got back but I was so distracted that I forgot. I'm sorry Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan nodded his acceptance of the apology, "Thank you Master, for trying." He said, "Thank you for everything, but right now all I want to do is go home. Can we go home Master?" "Yes, Padawan, we can go home." Qui-Gon held Obi-Wan close as another gust of wind hit them and together, side-by-side, Master and Padawan walked home. END |
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