A Day at the Temple

by

Alice J. Capen

 

~

Old Republic

Summary:  A day of training for Obi-Wan

Author's note:  My good friend Season Irwin helped me with Yoda's syntax.  Without her, Yoda would not have sounded quite right.

Disclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Lucasfilm.  No money is being made and no infringement is intended.

 

~

 

            The sun was rising over the Jedi Temple when the Brianna landed on one of the docks.  Qui-Gon Jinn and twelve year old Obi-Wan walked down the ramp and headed for their chambers to refresh themselves and their clothing before appearing before the Council.

            The mission had been difficult and unproductive.  The planet Arafin was home to thousands of small warring kingdoms.  Rape, murder, pillaging and general brutality to young and old of rival kingdoms or "nations" were every day occurrences.

            It was against the Code of the Jedi to use Force powers to influence the minds of leaders, but Qui-Gon had been sorely tempted to break that Code.  His Jedi-trained temper very nearly burst as he witnessed the mindless cruelty of thuggish leaders whose followers bombed schools and buildings in the name of religion, which is always the cover for tyrannical personal power.  Some leaders would keep their guerrillas pumped up with mind-altering drugs to keep their "warriors" in a killing attitude and to heighten an artificial sense of unity with a theological dogma that would foster such ugliness toward people.  The drugs also made sure that Reason did not infiltrate the minds of the killers that might cause them to question their ethics.

            Now Qui-Gon must explain to the Council why a number of criminal instigators inexplicably dropped dead during his visit to Arafin.

 

---------

 

            The Council chamber was drenched in the bright morning sun.  The cheerfulness of the light did little to lighten Qui-Gon's heart as he and Obi-Wan stepped into the Circle and bowed to the Council in greeting.

            "Greetings Qui-Gon." said Yoda.  "A report have you?"

            Qui-Gon spoke.  "The situation on Arafin is such that there is no hope for civil cooperation for peace by the present generation of leaders.  Most of them freely, without consciousness, use fear and manipulation for their own gain.  Improvement of living conditions and potential prosperity is stagnate or dead for people not in elite power cliques.

            Most people live in what looks like rubble from bombings.  Plumbing is a rare luxury, and the existing plumbing is by and large in disrepair.

            Disease and sickness in water, food and bodies run unchecked, and in the effort to take sexual pleasure from a clean body, virginal children of both genders are raped.  It was often apparent that no consideration was given to the innocence or age of the child, as long as the rapist had his pleasure.  And too often..." Qui-Gon sighed with hopelessness and disgust.  "the innocent female victims are shunned by their families, or even stoned to death for their "transgression" of being raped."

            Qui-Gon looked toward the floor in thought for a brief while, then continued.  "I have often observed throughout my life, that societies that don't respect women are usually groveling in the dirt -- metaphorically speaking."

            Mace Windu nodded.  "The lack of respect and the lack of worth for the center of the family is always transferred and spread out into society, because the foundation of society is the family."

            Qui-Gon continued.  "Education, both of critical thinking and spiritual, is apparently nonexistent in most areas, and as the result, most people grow up accepting their community's deplorable lifestyle as being normal -- or worse, being the will of God.  And those who want to live their lives in civility are stripped of their means of defending themselves."

            Mace nodded.  "Societies where proper education is the norm tend to not live in the conditions described of Arafin.  They would not tolerate it.  What, then, do you suggest we do with Arafin?"

            "I suggest we leave it as it is." said Qui-Gon.

            Obi-Wan hid his surprise for the most part, but he could not help but look at his master.  Obi-Wan was also perplexed with the agreeable manner the Council members had for that suggestion.  Not help Arafin?

            "Something else have you to say?" said Yoda.

            "I killed several people in order to save the lives of many others."

            "You interfered then?" asked Mace.

            "I was about to witness a bombing of a building full of people." said Qui-Gon.

            "You did not answer my question." said Mace softly.

            Qui-Gon sighed inwardly.  "Yes.  I interfered."

            No one on the Council looked surprised.

            "You were sent there only to observe." quietly admonished Mace.

            Frustration welled up in Qui-Gon, and he did not try to hide it.  "I cannot stand the feeling of repercussion in my soul when something horrible happens, or worse yet, something about to happen, and I just stand there and not do anything.  It's especially frustrating when I have the power to prevent it from happening."

            "You know the Code." said Mace gently.

            "Knowing the Code does not prevent the pain of people in anguish from shooting into my soul like a spear."  Qui-Gon sighed, then said quietly, "Yes, I know the Code."

            Every Council member understood how Qui-Gon felt.  Every member had, several times in their lives, experienced having to witness suffering while having been forced to not interfere.  Those episodes were emotively painful despite the Jedi ability to control one's emotions.  No one envied Qui-Gon for his experience on Arafin.  And no one blamed him for what he did.

            "At an end, this meeting is." said Yoda.  "May the Force be with you."

            Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed, then left the chamber.

 

---------

 

            The garden deep within the Temple was one of Qui-Gon's favorite places.  He, as many other Jedi, sometimes volunteered to help tend it on any given day.  It was maintained only by Jedi.  There was a peaceful meditative quality when gardening.

            This time, however, Qui-Gon was simply relaxing near a small waterfall that erupted and splashed out of a stony crevice and flowed merrily on its way into flowered foliage.  Qui-Gon often imagined himself as being a small conscious part of the water and travel about the garden, over rocks and through tunnels to meet with more streams of water and fall down more waterfalls.  It helped to ease his emotions after missions such as the last one, and the stress of having to confront the Council.

            Obi-Wan was not too far away, sitting cross-legged on the grass, deep in meditation.

            A half hour passed when Yoda shuffled up to Qui-Gon and gently shook Qui-Gon's shoulder to awaken him.

            "In my quarters you will come to eat, Qui-Gon." said Yoda.  Yoda shuffled up to Obi-Wan as Qui-Gon was rising and rapped him gently with the walking stick.

            Obi-Wan opened his eyes.

            "Come." said Yoda.

            When they left the garden and entered one of the halls, Yoda indicated to Qui-Gon to lift him up onto his shoulders.  Yoda often perched on top of Qui-Gon's shoulders when Qui-Gon was his padawan.  It allowed for his padawan's long legs to not have to walk at a painfully slow speed, and it provided rest for Yoda.  It also automatically enhanced the bonding.

            They strolled leisurely down the hall for a short while before Yoda spoke.  "Approved of your recommendation, the Council has."

            Perplexed, Obi-Wan looked up at Yoda.