A Matter of Time

By JinnaraQ

Summary: Sometimes – time is the only solution to a problem…..

Rated: G

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 personal use and private entertainment . No money was made from it. No copyright or trademark infringement was intended. This work and it’s author is NOT in any way connected with or to Lucasfilms Ltd.

Chapter One:

Yoda stopped, halfway up the hillside and glanced backwards at his 12 year old Padawan to find the boy had stopped to stare back at the way they had come. From there one could see between the trees of the ancient forest and out over the distant hills of virgin timber that lay like waves, unending in the distance below.

“Qui-Gon – make camp before darkfall I would prefer-“ he called, and instantly the boy turned to him, running up the hillside towards him with a laughing grin.

“It’s so beautiful Master. I’ve seen pictures, but this is really just – just indescribable! I never realized woods had a smell to them! Even when you stand perfectly still, you hear the wind in the trees and leaves falling…” he said excitedly, as if energized and entranced, and Yoda half chuckled as he nodded.

It had indeed been good for him to have taken a padawan after all. Yes, the boy was overly energetic, prone to minor mischief and pranks…. But the sense of wonder and surprise at every new sight, every new accomplishment, his quick mind, even his thoughtful acceptance of sometimes difficult lessons, lent the ancient master a new view of the worlds and of the Universe. It had been awhile since the ancient green Jedi had remembered the joy of such simple and yet exquisite moments in the life of a child.

Indeed, by darkfall his young apprentice had pitched their temporary shelter, prepared a firering and started a roaring fire, and was just finishing their evening meal preparations – all on his own, with no direction at all. Yoda sighed contentedly as he half closed his eyes and opened himself to the energy of their surroundings. The Life Force of the timeless virgin forest was strong here indeed.

For the first week the Ancient Master let the boy have his free run of the forest. And run indeed the boy did – everywhere! He found a creek, and followed it to a series of cascading waterfalls with a large, deep pond at the bottom for swimming. He followed the animal trails and came back stained to his elbows with the juice of the berries that he’d also found along the way. He made friends with and fed the small animals around the campsite and left bits of bread out for the birds… and at night he would lay on his back and stare up at the stars as if in awe.

But what the ancient Jedi Master noticed most of all was the boy’s improved ability to meditate, and the absolute presence of the Living Force that came to swirl around him in strong, vibrant eddies and currants, nearly coloring the boy green with their strength. Here, when his apprentice went through his morning exercise of meditation followed by his katas, now that ‘flow’ of energy would congeal around him. Indeed, Yoda noticed that by the end of the 2nd week his overly energetic apprentice seemed absolutely content and peaceful in mind, body and aura.

“Master Yoda, why did we come here?” the boy finally asked one night after their meal, and Yoda smiled mysteriously at him. He had been waiting for the child to ask this question… and sensed that a doubt in the child's mind had made him delay it this long. It was time to drag that doubt out, and lay it to rest finally, the diminutive Master thought to himself.

“Time you needed away from Coruscant, my Padawan.” He said, and the child gave him an uneasy look.

“You mean, because of my playing with the saber instructor’s lightsaber crystals. It was only supposed to be a joke… replacing his usual ones with red ones.” He said, and Yoda nodded.

“Amused he was not… and frightened the beginning students it did. Nor was the math teacher amused when you cemented together the geometric models. Nor was the languages teacher when you added the slang vocabulary words of vulgar insults to the main databank in 10 different language blocks…. Nor did the science teacher appreciate the appearance of a fog bank inside the classroom….. And all within one single week let us not forget.” He gently rebuked, and the child sighed deeply as his shoulders sagged heavily.

“Did – did you bring me here to tell me you don’t want me to be your Padawan anymore then?” he asked softly, his eyes suddenly misty and an ache already started in his heart, and Yoda sighed.

“Come to me child –“ he said gently, and the boy reluctantly scooted over to sit beside him, and Yoda drew him closer, very close even, levitating himself until he could comfortably put an arm around the boy’s shoulder and pull him into his embrace. Gently he ran a hand down the still fairly short Padawan’s braid, smiling as he did so.

“Expect me to give up on you so easily do you, my Padawan?” he asked very gently, and the boy sighed unevenly as he looked down at his lap and was silent.

“Bad boy I know you are not Qui-Gon Jinn. Caring and full of love is your heart. Compassionate you are always. So terribly strong you are in the Living Force and with it's power. Here I have seen it swirling around you like the currents of an ocean. Glow with it you do. Understand I do not where this troubling behavior comes from. Do you?” he asked, and the child sighed deeply, and was silent for a long moment, and then half shrugged, glancing up at the elder with a deeply uncertain look.

“Tell me you can, Qui-Gon… between us this is as Master and Padawan. Your confidence I value, and would never break unless it was for your own welfare and well being.” The ancient one told him, and the boy sighed even heavier.

“It’s so… - quiet here Master Yoda. All I hear inside my head is me, and you and the growing of the forest and the animals that live in it. It’s – just so quiet here…. No one is worrying about grades, or lesson plans… no one is daydreaming about who likes them, or who they don’t like, or what someone said to them in the hallway or someplace…. No one feels sick or has a headache or is remembering an argument or feelings they need to release into the force… No one is planning to try to impress someone, or trying to figure out how they can get someone to do something for them… Or hiding from anything… or feeling pride and arrogance over how much better they are than someone else…. Trees don’t care about any of that. The animals don’t… Sometimes I just hate being at the Temple. Especially when the senior Padawan’s have a competition or big exams coming up. It’s like my head is just filled with white buzzing static and huge waves of feelings and emotions coming from them…” he said softly, and Yoda hugged him closer as he looked down at the child with vague concern and surprise.

“Taught you were how to shield yourself from others – long ago.” He observed and the boy nodded.

“I try to - and it doesn’t work like it used to anymore. I can’t shut them out at all almost anymore.” He admitted miserably and Yoda smiled mildly as he ruffled the short hair.

“Perhaps puberty you have started.” He suggested, and the boy raised one eyebrow at him.

“Does that matter?” he asked and Yoda shrugged.

“It can. Sometimes during puberty, extra psychic and mental energies you will produce. Unused and undirected, it can increase the capabilities of your psychic centers. Cause you to be more open and susceptible to such things if you are inclined to them. And know we do that you have strong telepathic ability. Tell me – do you think you have started puberty? You, best of all, would know.” Yoda said, and the boy blushed deeply, quickly averting his eyes.

“I don’t want to.” He said in a whisper, and Yoda blinked hard, then chuckled softly.

“Qui-Gon… Something puberty is that your body will do when it wants to, whether you approve or not. Do not be afraid to grow up little Jedi…. Many are the rewards in doing so.” He said and the boy looked up at him for a long, long moment, then looked down and shook his head.

“I never want to leave you Master. Knights don’t get to stay with their Masters. They have to go off alone. I – I don’t like being alone. Even at the temple I feel like I’m alone all the time nearly – except for with you. The other students just don’t like me very much. I’m different – I’m ALWAYS the different one.” He said unhappily, and now the ancient Jedi hugged him closely and firmly.

“And I cherish you for being different, young one. Always with me there will be a place for you – for as long as you want there to be one. No matter how many years you gain, my Padawan – always will you BE my Padawan, and always will there be a place for you. Never alone Qui-Gon… never would I send you away empty and alone. This you must believe.” He said, almost emotionally, and suddenly the boy hugged him fiercely, burying his head in the aged tunic.

“Thank you my Master – I love you. I never want to have to leave you!” he said with a sniffle, and Yoda smiled wisely as he gently stroked the short hair and traced the short braid.

Gently he rubbed the boy’s back and felt the tension dissipate. He knew it was a difficult stage of human development – this not quite a child and not yet a teenager. Fraught with visions of adulthood that seemed impossibly complex and overwhelming… yet – inside – feeling the push to leave the world of childhood behind. One day playing contentedly with toys on the floor and the next displaying the determination and impulsiveness more characteristic of the teen years – while in reality not being either one at the moment. It was just a matter of time before the stage was grown past… but that did not make it any easier for the child in the meantime.

Chapter Two:

Yoda smiled to himself as he floated before the boy with the green lightsaber blade. //Ah, yes – what was I just thinking about the determination of a teenager - // he mused as he again parried the boy’s angle of attack from a totally unexpected vantage point. He chuckled as he finally flipped over the boy’s head, managing to dislodge the youth’s saber and send it clattering away, and the youth stepped back, grinning as he bowed in acknowledgement of the defeat.

“I let you do that you know –“ he teased as he went after it, and Yoda laughed mildly.

“One of these days, defeat me you shall – but not today my Padawan.” He told the youth who merely grinned and shook his head as if undaunted, yet willing to let the challenge pass for now.

“Go for a swim now you should, hot you are.” Yoda instructed and the boy smiled brilliantly as he nodded and ran to change and get his things and soon had disappeared off into the woods. The ancient Master waited until he felt the boy diving into the deep, quiet waters of the pond and swimming strongly across it before he pulled out the holographic communicator concealed in his pack and brought it to life.

Instantly there appeared a figure cast in blue upon the small center pad.

“Master Yoda! Thank the gods you called! Where are you? We’ve been worried!” exclaimed the figure of the woman before him, and the one flattened an ear as one eyebrow rose.

“Worry, why do you? Say, did not the council that I should deal with my Padawan’s behavior – or send him off the planet for training? So I have done as was requested – off he is. Off he has been for nearly 3 weeks now even.” He said, and she frowned deeply.’

“We did not intend for you to be gone as well sir! You know the Council needs your input into the matters that come before it! No one else can possibly have the experience and insight you do! This is not a timewhen it is convienent for you to be gone sir! We thought you would send the boy to the training center at Kirlacca – or let another Master take him for awhile – we never envisioned YOU leaving!” she said and he sighed and shrugged.

“Train my Padawans myself I do – and always have done so. Get along the council will I assure you – they have before.” He said firmly and she frowned mildly.

“Master – we all heard the result of the evaluation. It was recommended that the boy be sent away for only a short time…. I am sure such a separation from you would make a dramatic impression on him. It was only to be for a few months. Even you agreed that his actions of late have been intolerable…” She offered and he frowned more.

“No. A TRAUMATIC impression it would make on him – and one that is not needed nor is in his best interests or welfare. Understand I do his instructor’s frustrations. Expect them I do not to be able to deal with his behavior when a class of 19 others they have as well. He is no longer setting a bad example for others, nor is he currently disrupting the learning process. In fact, he has been doing very well here with me. Stay we will until I feel he is ready to again handle the expectations of the Temple staff members. Suspend him they did want to – so removed him I have before it came to that. He is only 12 seasons old. I will do as I see is best for him. No Padawan deserves less from his Master, nor will any Padawan of mine receive less from his Master.” He said very sternly, and she looked to one side as if listening, then sighed.

“Very well Master – but – it would help if we at least knew where you have taken him. If an emergency arises and we need to contact you –“ she started and he half snorted with dismay.

“Our location I prefer to keep to myself for the time being. Within 1 day’s travel time are we. Contact you again in a week or two I shall. 11 other members the Council has on it. No single one can possibly be irreplaceable nor be of such importance as to cancel the wisdom of the other 11. Independence perhaps THEY need to learn!” he said, and turned it off before she could answer or argue.

The ancient Master smiled in self satisfaction as he stowed the device away. Ludicrous… totally ludicrous. First they complain to him of Qui-Gon’s behavior… the instructors want him suspended and the Council suggests off world training – and then they complain when they get as they requested. He sighed as he went into the shelter and gathered his own swimming things. Besides – it had been over 10 years since he took a vacation or retreat time… they would just have to get along without him!

Some weeks later……

“No Master ! No! Please – stop! No!” shrieked the boy between his deep peals of helpless laughter, and Yoda chuckled deeply himself as he stopped and now stood over the boy who now lay breathing hard and still giggling softly within the sleeping bag.

“If ticklish you are – then get up when it is time you would be wise to do –“ Yoda warned, and the boy sat up, hair sticking out and tousled severely as he grinned up at his master, already working his way quickly now out of the bag.

Soon they sat in companionable ease, sharing the firstmeal. The ancient Master smiled as he watched the child eagerly finish off his third plate of pancakes covered in honey and berries the boy had gathered from the trail.

“A hollow leg you seem to have there padawan,” he observed and the one nodded with a bright look.

“I think it’s all the swimming and running up and down the hills and trails Master. I’ve never BEEN so hungry in my whole life!” he said and Yoda nodded.

“Making up you are with a growth spurt I would say…. Hmmm? Today, swim 30 times across the pond you shall after your meditation and katas, then run to the top of the hill and down 5 times please.” He instructed and the boy nodded cheerfully, rising and taking his plate and his Master’s bowl to the make-shift clean up station. He hummed a light sounding melody to himself as he quickly finished cleaning up.

In no time at all , the Padawan had finished his morning exercises, gone for his run, and now returned, his tunic slung over one shoulder, clad only in his leggings and boots, not even breathing hard. Yoda smiled to himself. It was over half of a mile from there to the top of the hill… that made a mile both ways…for a total of a 5 mile run all together. Something the boy could not have done when they first arrived.

He considered his Padawan’s now deeply sunbrowned torso and face, the new highlights bronzed into his hair by the sun and he smiled. They had been there for just over 6 weeks now and the summer season was in full force. It had been weeks now since Qui-Gon had asked why they were there or when they were returning to Coruscant. Instead, he seemed to be focused more on the present, and of learning all he could from the forest and vivid presence of nature around him.

Yoda would swear the boy had grown an inch in just the time they had been there - and it was obvious the muscles in his arms and chest and back had firmed with all the swimming. The boy's very gait, posture, bearing, and the deep twinkle to his eyes reflected his ease with his environment now. He watched as now suddenly the 12 year old hopped up onto and leapt off a low rock half buried in the ground - just to take a swipe at a tree branch. Easily the boy caught the branch in his hands and swung himself forward as if on a trapeze bar, to propel himself 10 feet further along as he let go of it, flew the distance and landed gracefully.

Yoda had to admit he was extremely pleased. The boy’s ability to meditate had also improved dramatically, he had indeed been able to learn the more advanced shielding techniques Yoda had now taught him... He was doing excellently in the academics Yoda still presented to him after the mid day meal, and he was definitely more at ease, cheerfully responsive, and increasing his strength and stamina. He even performed his katas with a grace Yoda had not seen in him before… and the bond between them was stronger and allowed for more communication than before. Yes, this had indeed been what Qui-Gon Jinn had needed – some time immersed in the Living Force, and with his Master.

"I'm going to the pond to swim Master - you want to come?" the boy called lightly, and Yoda chuckled softly.

"Perhaps later Padawan - now off with you - a bath you do need after your exercises! Besides - it does not do my heart any good to watch you jumping from the high parts of the falls - into the water below! What you find so fascinating with jumping from high places I do not know! ALWAYS it as been so with you! Part bouncing Kinok you must be!" he teased, referring to an animal known for leaping about as it's sole means of locomotion, and the boy laughed easily, ducked into the shelter and back out and was soon gone.

Slowly and gracefully the ancient one hopped up onto the sun-warmed rock in the quiet clearing, settled himself, and slipped into his trance… He was surprised and dismayed when rather than a sense of peace, what he found in the Force was a mild disturbance. Quickly he checked along the bond to his Padawan, but no, the boy was fine. He was currently in the process of jumping off the mouth of the waterfall and into the pond 30 feet below as a matter of fact! Yoda continued his meditations… but no amount of contemplation nor centering could bring the disturbance more into focus for him.

It was a disturbance that did not go away or become any clearer - even as their routines settled in and another week passed by.

The ancient Jedi Master sat on the flat rock, basking in the late afternoon sunshine of the warm day. He was deep in meditation and had been so for some time… yet even so, he could sense that his Padawan was on his way back to the camp from his late afternoon’s adventures along the animal trails. So focused was he on this, that he did not hear the low humming coming up the hillside behind him – not until it was nearly upon him.

Quickly he opened his eyes and was startled to see the small shuttle craft that had just landed and from which 6 enormous men in armored uniforms with blasters rushed out, weapons aimed and at him.

“Don’t move! We will shoot!” one ordered sternly, and the Jedi raised an eyebrow, and remained motionless.

“We have been monitoring your communications with an off-world organization you refer to as the ‘Jedi Temple’ – is this not so?” one demanded and Yoda nodded.

“I am Jedi Master Yoda of Dagobah. I am here on a private retreat. Harm I did not intend. I was informed that this area was not inhabited.” He replied and the one scowled.

“Maybe not Mister – but that does not mean the laws can just be flaunted! It’s taken us weeks to pinpoint your signal. Advanced technology is absolutely forbidden on this planet! You are under arrest sir –“ he said gravely, and the ancient Jedi Master sighed to himself. Great – wait until the Council found out about this!

“Come without resistance I will – “ he agreed, and was unceremoniously shoved off his rock from behind by one of them…. Just as Qui-Gon came into the clearing in time to see him hit the ground heavily and not move for a moment, winded.

“Hey! Who are you! What are you doing to my Master!“ the boy yelled loudly as he rushed forward, and all turned to him.

“Are you with him?” one demanded even as the youth rushed over to help Yoda to his feet, and the boy scowled at the blood on his Master’s lip, quickly kneeling and using part of his own tunic to daub it away.

“Yes I am with him! Why did you hurt him?” he demanded hotly as he rose, and was abruptly clubbed in the stomach with the rear end of a blaster rifle butt for his question. Instantly the boy gasped, doubling over and onto the ground on his knees, and quickly Yoda moved between him and the guards.

“No need for violence is there. Young he is – my apprentice. Use the advanced technology he did not. Aware he is not that I even brought it. Only 12 seasons is he.” He said, and they all scowled at Qui-Gon.

“Boy – we have not heard you talking to the Jedi Temple. Get us your Master’s communication device“ one ordered. Qui-Gon slowly got to his feet again, and now the boy gave his Master a shocked look.

“You – you’ve been talking to the Temple Master? But… but… you told me I could confide in you –“ he breathed in a hurt tone, and Yoda sighed.

“I did not violate your confidence Qui-Gon. Let them know we were alright I did need to do.” He said, and the boy’s eyes looked disappointed none the less.

“Then why didn’t you tell me you’d brought it Master?” he asked softly, emotions and doubt welling up in his mind. Before Yoda could answer, one of the guards grabbed him from behind with a hand over the Jedi Master’s mouth, even as another aimed his gun at the boy and fired a stun ray, collapsing the younger to the ground again instantly…. And this time the youth did not move at all.

Abruptly Yoda gathered, centered, then employed the Force, bursting free with an angry growl and pushing back the guards with a wave of energy, propelling himself towards the boy on the ground. Even though now suddenly on the ground himself, one of the guards quickly fired a burst of electric type lightening that came from a silver and red weapon. Instantly the small green body fell heavily to the earth as well.

“He didn’t even tell the kid he had the damn thing. Come on – lets go.” The one grumbled as he easily scooped up the small body in the crook of one arm and the others all frowned as they regained their feet as the one who held Yoda now levered a hard kick to the side of the boy on the ground. The youth groaned and weakly tried to curl up into a ball.

“But the device –“ one reminded and the other smiled with a cruel glint to his eyes

“Wreck everything. Destroy it all… we don’t have time to waste searching –“ he ordered, and the other 5 proceeded to do exactly as ordered – with great glee and thoroughness…. And when they were done, to the ship they went, carrying Yoda, and leaving on the ground in a heap the barely half conscious boy, who's awareness faded away to blackness even as the ship lifted off.

TBC