CRIES IN THE NIGHT

By Mother Alexis

Summary: Master Yoda discovers something very different about a very young Qui-Gon Jinn.

DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognizable 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.

The sounds of screams echoed throughout the entire wing of the cr�che - obviously not the cry of a newborn� but definitely that of an infant�. An infant in severe distress Yoda thought as he made his way down the dimly lit hallway. He paused, seeing the light come on from the caretaker�s station, and a figure silhouetted against it as someone went to answer the cry�. Which only became more shrill and urgent and sharp.

He continued on his way, answering the call of another station� and on his way back stopped at the first as now the cries from before seemed even louder and more distressed. He could see the figure behind the glass holding a small child � apparently the source of all the noise�. With concern he turned down the hallway to soon open the door to the small station-side room.

�Droid Sharleen�. Of possible assistance might I be? Call a healer perhaps we should?� he asked loudly (to be heard above the shrieking child). Quickly the matronly humanoid figure turned to him with a smile.

�Oh, Master Yoda� no, no� it�s alright � he does this all the time. The healers have been to check numerous times. They say there is nothing wrong with the child�.poor dear�� she said to the 9 month old child she held in her arms gently � despite the enormous fuss and screams coming from him.

�But perhaps something wrong there is this time�. His distress is real...� Yoda said as he came forward, while she sat down in the nearby rocking chair. Again she smiled casually.

�I don�t think there is anything wrong Master Yoda�. As I said, he does this all the time�. But at night especially.� she said as she gently rocked the still shrieking infant.

�Oh my, - my, my, my little one. Making all this fuss you are!� Yoda observed gently as he stood beside her chair and laid a hand gently on the child�s head�. Instantly the infant turned to him, reaching for him and leaning as if desperate to get into his arms.

�May I?� Yoda asked, and at her smile and nod he took the child up � only to have the little one grab him in a death hold around the neck as he buried his face in Yoda�s tunic� already the screams and shrieks fading to slower sobs.

�There, there, small one� tears there is no need for.� Yoda crooned as he rubbed the child�s back while projecting waves of calm and peacefulness. Quickly the sobs subsided into whimpers, then the whimpers into sniffles, and the Humanoid droid caregiver smiled at the dimunitive Master with a grateful look.

�You always have such a way with the little ones, Master.� she said and he smiled mildly as she rose from the chair and he sat down in her place.

�Separation anxiety perhaps troubles the child? Long has he been with us?� he asked quietly and she sighed.

�Nearly 4 months Master�. And I have to admit I have never seen a child cry so much or seem so distressed for no apparent cause. But he certainly seems to like you.� she said as now the infant looked up at Yoda and gave him a shaky smile and Yoda chuckled mildly.

Bright blue eyes, not one bit sleepy met his gaze eagerly, 6 white teeth showing in the sudden smile that creased the dimpled cheeks. Yoda could not resist a soft chuckle as he gently smoothed down the very fine chestnut colored hair, brushing stray strands out of the child's eyes.

�A night owl maybe you are young man?� he asked and the child babbled as he reached up with a chubby hand to very gently touch Yoda�s ear and the one smiled as he allowed it.

�What is his name?� he asked the droid and she smiled.

�Qui-Gon... Qui-Gon Jinn... but in the Nursery we call him "Jinny". He eats well� plays well with the other infants�. Seems healthy enough�. But he just has an absolute fit whenever I,or another caretaker pick him up. Actually, he seems VERY, very bright for his age � but he does have a mischievous streak� always after the plants he is. And if you take him outside to the yard� he screams when it is time to come in. This one would rather play with the grass and leaves and sticks than any of the toys we have for them. Unfortunately he still occassionaly tries to eat them, so we have to watch him.� she said and Yoda smiled at the child who was slowly stroking his fuzzy ear and watching him as if for signs of reaction.

�Yes, My ear that is little one - you have one too!� he teased gently, stroking the child�s ear in return and was rewarded with a very childish giggle.

�Now � Playtime this is not! Sleeping time it is for you, my little friend.� Yoda murmured lowly to the child, gently brushing the child�s forehead with just a gently nudge towards drowsiness, - and instantly the child yawned and rubbed at his eyes and Yoda smiled.

�Ah �. Very receptive you are I see� � he murmured soothingly as now he rubbed the child�s back. The little one yawned again as now he laid his head down on Yoda�s shoulder, quiet and calm�.. and soon the rocking motion and hand on his back had him soundly and deeply asleep.

2 weeks later

Yoda wandered the pathways of the cr�che area yard and outside play space. It was sometimes nice to get away from the rowdiness of the older students� many of whom towered over him. True � size mattered NOT � but too often he had to prove the point to an overly energetic student or two He came to the area where the 6 month to 1 year olds were currently playing on the grass. It was a very picture-esk scene... The bushes full of flower buds in the background, the lush greenery of the grass itself�. The large trees behind the bushes sheltered the small ones from too much of the artificial sunlight� And so he picked here to sit on the bench and watch for a few moments.

Several of the children could walk he noticed� although their steps were far from steady still. Nearly all could crawl on hands and knees, and were happily batting about brightly colored balls and other small toys that rolled. A sudden shriek startled him severely, and he looked over to see the matronly droid caretaker lifting a child away from the bushes and taking him back to the others � the child screaming and struggling desperately to get away... until he was put down � and suddenly went as silent as if a button had turned him off.

�NO JINNY! No! Stay AWAY from the bushes!� the caretaker sternly reprimanded, setting 3 colored balls in front of the child instead. Yoda smiled at the pouting lip the child made, and the sadness reflected in his eyes � as if he actually understood the rebuke as he watched her move away from him to go rescue another would-be trouble maker. Yoda watched as the child looked from her � over to the bushes... from her � over to the bushes... and then suddenly, with great speed, he was up on his hands and knees and headed right back to where he�d just been removed from.

The caretaker did not notice. Yoda sighed as he watched the infant sit himself down. //Now he will proceed to make himself sick by eating them�// Yoda mused, knowing that nothing in the cr�che area would actually harm the children even if consumed. But instead, the child turned, one hand on a flower bud�.. and looked over at Yoda � and deliberately smiled�. Or so it seemed. But he did not pull the bud off�. Nor did he pull it to his mouth. Instead he just held it, smiling, then gently fingered it with his other hand�. And was suddenly whisked up by the caretaker who HAD realized where he was.

�I said NO young man!� she reprimanded the already screaming child, this time keeping him in her arms� which only made the screaming intensify greatly and become much louder and almost desperate seeming.

�You are a INDEED handful, Qui-Gon Jinn!� the droid said sternly�. And deposited him inside the large Force fence circle with the infants who could not yet crawl. //THAT young man, is what happens when you argue with someone so much bigger than you are!// Yoda thought as he chuckled to himself, and smiled as the child looked directly over at him, almost as if he had heard it.

�Alright children � time to go inside!� the droid announced as another came out to help. One by one, and two by two they took all of the others inside, leaving only the mischief maker by himself for last. But when he too was picked up � instantly once again came the intense shrieking and almost panicky screams � that echoed even after they were inside the door � and Yoda felt vague wisps of concern congeal at the edges of his mind.

Slowly he rose from the bench and started off, then paused. //What could make a child who was not being mistreated, scream like?// that he wondered as he considered the play area. Suddenly a blaze of color caught his eye on the bush. He looked. And looked again� and yes! The flower the child had touched � it was in full bloom! While not one of the others was!

Was it possible? A child aligned with the Living side of the Force? If so, it would make him a most unusual student indeed! For over 25 years now, over 90 percent of the newly discovered children had been of the Unifying side of the Force�.. Even more unusual would be for it to show so early in life. Either that or the Force was extremely strong in this little one! Once again, Yoda felt concern nudging his mind, even as he wandered over to gently touch the newly bloomed flower for himself.

1 month later

Yoda sat in his chair in the Council Room, listening to the representative before them concluding the group's presentation. Suddenly, all eyes were drawn to the closed doors as from the other side came the hysterical screaming of an infant. A screaming, that to Yoda, sounded familiar. He closed his eyes to see�. And yes, it was the droid caretaker with the young Qui-Gon Jinn in her arms� now being ushered further down the hallway by an aide. //Hmmm� why would they be here he wondered to himself.//

Finally the matter was voted on and settled and the representative was gone. But now, rather than dismiss, the door opened, and the droid entered, the shrieking child in her arms kicking and howling hysterically as if to get away. She carried him to the center of the circle and quickly deposited him on the floor before her feet. Instantly the little one went quiet, sniffling quietly and taking deep, shaky breaths. Yoda smiled at the deep reddish-chestnut hair now thick on the child�s head, covering his ears, and almost hanging in his eyes.

�I apologize to the Council that I am not on the agenda.� The Droid started with and the head of the Council nodded, and then looked at the others.

�An issue has come up regarding the suitability of this child for training... It was felt that the matter was urgent enough to warrant squeezing it into today�s items.� He said, and all nodded, while Yoda raised an eyebrow mildly.

�Please, what has brought up this issue?� he asked and the droid sighed. �Young Qui-Gon Jinn here, was brought to the temple some 5 and a half months ago. He tested as having an extremely high midchoridian count for a humanoid of any sort. His home planet is Quatoria�.. a nomadic planet not normally found on any chart. By nomadic, I have been told it appears in an equal distance from a different sun, in a different solar system every few years. How, is not known by us as of yet. He is the first Quatorian ever brought into the temple... And we are afraid it is not working out.� She said very matter of factly, as the child before her noticed the mosaic design on the floor and traced it lightly with one finger.

�What do you mean it is not working out? We do not accept children and then decide after a time that they are �not working out��. Not unless there is some danger of damage to the child itself. He seems fine.� The Head Councilman observed dryly and she frowned mildly.

�Only because he is not being held. He eats well, he is very intelligent, he plays well with the others... but anytime one of the caretaker droids even touches him � he just starts screaming as if something horrible is happening to him. We have tried everything we can think of sir � everything... And now we are concerned that this � problem � whatever it is � WILL affect the child. We feel it is serious enough to warrant your attention�. And you know we do not do so lightly.� She said and now the child turned to look up at her with a thoughtful look, even as the Head Council man now rose and came over. Gently he picked up the child, who's only reaction was to smile shyly at him.

�Well, you�re not screaming now are you little one?� he asked gently, and the child smiled with a sudden brillance to his face and shook his head definitely no, and the adult looked extremely surprised as he blinked hard at the boy in his arms.

�HOW old is he?� he asked quickly and the droid smiled.

�Ten and half months sir. He has just started to do that... nod or shake his head. Of course he is only responding to the tone of question in your voice � a child that young does not understand language yet � not more than perhaps 10 or 20 words at best. He is just learning to walk now... Took his first steps only 10 days ago. He is such a sweet child in so many ways sir... but we cannot help be feel that something must be terribly wrong, for him to scream the way he does when we touch him. At that age � touching cannot be avoided.� She said and he nodded.

�Lets see what happens � � he suggested as he went to give the child to her, and instantly the little one grabbed onto his neck with a deeply alarmed look and a whimper as his eyes filled quickly with tears.

�Now, now, now... It�s alright little one� You know Droid Sharleen. I am sure she loves you and takes excellent care of you � it is her primary program.� He said as he gently pried the small hands from around his neck and handed the boy to her... Instantly the small child began to shriek as if terrified - kicking and struggling and screaming as loud as he could... until she set him down on the floor... and again... instant silence.

�How odd... Are you certain nothing has happened... no accidents that would make him react in this way?� another member of the council asked and she shook her head emphatically.

�Little Jinny here is one of eight that I care for. None of them have had accidents or injuries. He is rarely even sick!� she said as now the child crawled to the head councilman, using the adult's leg to pull himself up to stand. Now he considered the others, and smiled as he spotted Yoda.

�Ya-doh!� he exclaimed rather clearly as he put his arms out for balance and smiling broadly, set out for Yoda�s chair... His eyes were bright with pride as he arrived there safely, grinning openly up at the diminutive Master even as he tried to climb up into the one�s lap.

�Do you know this child Master Yoda?� the head of the council asked in an amused tone as he returned to his own seat and the wizened one half smiled as he lifted the child up onto his lap.

�Acquainted we are, met him I have... I was there one night when crying so hard he was... and one afternoon, observe him I did in the play yard when outside the children were... I hardly call my knowledge of him to be extensive in any way.� He said as the child settled himself down with obvious delight and satisfaction, and the droid nodded with a soft smile.

�That is the first word he�s ever spoken Master Yoda�� she said and the green one seemed amused as he considered the child, then the head of the council. �Investigate, we may need to - what the problems are more thoroughly�.. While the children were outside, observe our small friend here I did, crawling over to a bush full of flower buds. He held one, but did not try to put it in his mouth, as I expected he would. Touching it with one finger, much as he was just tracing the designs on the floor here, he did do that, I saw. A brief time later, inside they had gone, and preparing to leave I was... Then it was that I noticed that one and only one flower on the whole bush had suddenly burst into full bloom... The one he had touched.� He said, and they all looked rather surprised as they exchanged glances.

�Master Yoda� do you realize what you are saying? A child of the Living Force � manifesting in INFANCY? That is just unheard of � and takes years of training to achieve. Students are not even examined to SEE which side they are aligned with until the age of 5 years.� The head of the council said, and Yoda nodded.

�Of this, I well aware am. But it does not change what I saw the child do. Totally impossible it is not for the Force to be so strong in one so young. Rare it is indeed� but not impossible. Examine we must, both the child and his environment before we determine we can whether or not his crying at times is cause for him to be returned to his family as untrainable. As you can well see�. It is not that he cries and never stops�. Nor has it affected his health or development as of yet. Consider this matter with care I feel we must.� He said, and the child in his lap looked directly at the councilman and nodded again, and the councilman frowned as if disconcerted.

�I would swear he understands what we are talking about�.� He mused softly, and now the child giggled as he nodded once more, and the chairman stared intently at him for a long moment.

�Droid Sharleen... What do we know about the pattern of language acquisition of the people of Quatoria?� he asked suddenly, and she shook her head.

�We have very little knowledge of the people at all sir, nor even of the culture. The planet was in this part of the galaxy for only 2.8, years before it vanished. It was during this time that Jinny was born, and thus tested for his midchloridian count. It is not even known if Jinny CAN be returned to his home. I have been informed that he would most likely be put up for adoption on Alederaan.� She said softly, and now the child frowned deeply at her.

�Young man... Jinny - listen to me. If you understand what I am saying... I want you to put your hands over your eyes.� The councilman said in a very flat monotone, and the child quickly did so.

�He could have played that as a game in the cr�che though.� One council member cautioned and the head councilman nodded, but still stared at the child.

�Show me something that is red.� He said flatly, and the child began looking around on Yoda, then at the room at large, then eagerly squirmed off Yoda�s chair. Carefully he steadied himself and toddled across the floor to the mosiac design, sat down with a thud and touched the red tile there as he smiled over at the head councilman.

�How could he have learned language so early? I mean, well, discussions in the cr�che do not usually involve that much.� One council member said as if thinking aloud, and now the child smiled brightly and put both hands over his ears... And all stared at him.

�No... he CAN�T be hearing the silent language we use! He�s not even a year old! He's totally untrained in such skills!� another exclaimed, and the child suddenly nodded emphatically and looked at Yoda and put his hands over his ears again, and Yoda closed his eyes for a moment, his features impassive and nonexpressive. Suddenly the child laughed softly and put his both of his hands on one foot, and Yoda looked at him, then all of the others, and he nodded as he sighed deeply.

�Yes - he hears...� He said softly. For a long, long, moment the room was absolutely silent, both sound and thought wise as they all stared at the small child in the middle of the Council room floor.

�Can he talk to you Master Yoda?� asked one, and Yoda again closed his eyes as he seemed to drop into an instant state of calm meditation. Now the child crawled on his hands and knees back to him, pulled himself up using Yoda�s chair as a handhold, and grabbed for his hand, pulling it down to his forehead. Yoda half heaved a deep sigh.

�He cries�. Because the big ones are so... empty inside. They do not talk to him... They do not listen to him�.. Not inside... where � the... 'light' of a person lives. They do not even have the �light� inside them that everyone else has... The child does not understand why they do not have the light... So he does not want them to hold him... He thinks... that not having the light inside... is probably not a good thing to trust� He said softly, then opened his eyes, as the child lifted his head, tears now in his eyes as he nodded - and Yoda considered him with a deeply gentle and kind look.

�Come here young man.� Yoda soothed as now he drew the child up onto his lap and into his arms. Instantly the little one hugged him, then kissed him on the cheek, and hugged him again.

"You mean he can sense that they are droids, despite the fact that they mimic humanoid form in every manner?" one of the female council members asked with a concerned look, and Yoda nodded as he considered the child sitting so happily on his lap.

"Mimic human form they can... be programmed to give expert nurturing care they can be... Even heartbeat and temperature and blinking of eyes are included in them... But for one so sensitive to the Living part of the Force... Sense he does that they are in some way unreal, that they imitate rather than provide. They do not have the light inside them, that he says he feels in others, even all of us here." he said softly, and the councilwoman smiled at the child in his lap with a thoughtful look.

"Strong in the Force he is indeed Master Yoda... A true loss it would be to not train him... not to mention such natural ability at loose for whoever to find who may want to direct it. When he says that they do not have the light inside them, he means he cannot sense their Life Force... they have no soul." she murmured softly and Yoda nodded as he gently smoothed down the child's stray hair.

"Can you explain it to him?" asked another and Yoda frowned.

"Not at this young of an age. He is obviously a child of the Living Allignment... He needs to interact with others he can sense through that. In a few more years have he will a human group mother, different species of instructors and his peers to interact with. But the Primary Nursery school program he will not enter until past his 3rd naming day he is." he observed and they all frowned as they nodded and looked thoughtful.

"What if we secured human assistants for the caretaker droids during the day and early evening hours? It would free the other droid to lend assistance to anyone that needed another set of hands for the moment... It would provide this little one with a 'real' person to interact with, as well as give all the children a role model and still provide the needed additional caregiver. It would also allow this young man to still be trained." the Head Councilman offered, and the others suddenly all smiled.

"Like that would you little Jedi? Someone with the light to be your friend and take care of you and the others?" Yoda asked the child in his lap, and the one smiled as he nodded. "Ya-doh do!" he said happily, and the others all half laughed at the wizened one's surprised expression.

"Young man, have you know I will that more than 99 percent of the initiates IN this temple - keel over in a FAINT they WOULD at the very IDEA of my 'caring' for them! Intimidated they are! Keep them in line I do! Stern I am with them!" he said in a stern tone, and the child considered him gravely, then turned to stand in the chair beside him, reaching for the large green ear.

"Ya-doh... Soft... Be goo' boy?" he lisped in a soothing croon as he gently stroked Yoda's ear with his small hand, smiling at the way the wizened one sighed and seemed to quickly relax - deeply so even... then suddenly he startled back, and gave the child a surprized look, and the little one giggled mischieviously.

"Now see HERE young man! We do NOT go putting Council Members into - whatever kind of TRANCE that WAS! Now sit down you will. My ears for you to pet are not! I will come and read a story to you and your friends at bedtime - but not if screaming you have been! Patience - and to wait - you will learn early Qui-Gon Jinn!" he said sternly, and the child considered him with his head cocked to one side, then suddenly hugged him around the neck and kissed him soundly on the cheek.

Now the child settled down into Yoda's lap, giving a long yawn, and the elder seemed amused. "A NAP you do need -" he observed as the little fists rubbed at the eyes so blue, even as the child curled up more inside the Jedi's robe and seemed to nestle in comfortably.

"I will take him for you Master Yoda," the caretaker droid offered quickly, and the wizened one considered the small one buried in the side of his robe, and he chuckled softly.

"No, that is quite alright... I will bring him when I leave. He is not causing any disturbance." he countered and she seemed amused, shaking her head on her way out... "You'd better be careful Master Yoda - or you'll end up with a 51st Padawan YET!" teased another of the council, and he arched an eyebrow at her.

"THAT I can assure you, will NEVER happen. 50 of them is more than enough!" he said rather indignantly, so much so even that the rest all laughed - fully now, and he lowered his ears even as he raised an eyebrow, then sighed and looked back inside his robe at the child.

"Do not get any ideas little one... hear me do you?" he asked the well concealed child in a stern tone ... and there came only a soft, mischievious laugh in answer.