Therockyroad2

Title: The Rocky Road (Part Two)
Author: Angel5000

*****

    Anakin stood in the main room of Qui-Gon's quarters and waited. Qui-Gon had been upset when he saw that Anakin had followed him despite his previous order.

    "Well?" Qui-Gon asked, "Why did you disobey me?"

    Anakin shrugged, "I was curious."

    Qui-Gon looked at him incredulously, "You were curious? That's all? That's why you disobeyed me?"

    Anakin shrugged again, "So how many hours do I get this time? Two? Three?"

    "How many hours of what?" Qui-Gon asked confused.

    "Meditation of course! How many hours of meditation do I have? Obi-Wan always makes me meditate." Was Anakin's response.

    "I see." Qui-Gon was beginning to understand. All Obi-Wan had done was make the boy meditate. No wonder he had no respect for him, he thought that he could do whatever he wanted as long as he meditated when he was done with the disobedience, "Come here Anakin." The boy obeyed. "I want you to turn around and face that wall."

    Anakin did as he was told. A few seconds later he yelped as a stinging blow landed itself on his rear end. Two more swats followed before the boy could even pull out of the way. For Qui-Gon's condition the man could still hit pretty hard, especially with the force on his side.

    "What the sith was that for?" Anakin yelled.

    "Watch your tongue." Qui-Gon said mildly, "That was for your disobedience. Apparently Obi-Wan never told you the results of disobeying me. Let this be a lesson to you young one, I am stricter than your Master and next time I will not be as lenient."

    "Lenient? You call that lenient?" Anakin shouted, tears filling his eyes.

    "Don't shout Anakin. Yes, I call that lenient. Had Obi-Wan acted as you have he would have received a punishment twice as hard and twice as long as yours. As for your previous question, now you have an hour of meditation." Qui-Gon pointed towards a corner of the room, indicating that was where he should go.

    Sulkily the boy went to the corner and knelt carefully. Perhaps it hadn't been a wise choice to tell Obi-Wan he wanted Qui-Gon as his Master. It seemed Qui-Gon was twice as hard as his own.

    "I'm going to speak with Master Yoda I'll be back in a couple of hours. When I come back we'll go to the cafeteria for the evening meal. Until I return you are to remain in these quarters. Understood?" Qui-Gon said sternly.

    "Yes sir." Anakin mumbled. He was upset at having been disciplined but he wasn't about to act up again, at least not right now, for fear of angering the Jedi Master.

    "Good." And with that Qui-Gon turned and left the room.

    As soon as he was gone Anakin stood up and rubbed his slightly sore bottom. Right now it wasn't too very painful but it still stung a little. "What a jerk! He is so mean! I didn't do anything to him! Sure, I didn't obey but that doesn't mean he's got to be so strict about it! Well I'll show him!" Anakin grabbed his comlink and contacted Joze; another ten-year-old human boy who had befriended Anakin soon after the boy had arrived at the temple.

    "Joze?" Anakin asked quietly.

    "Yes. Anakin, is that you?" Joze replied.

    "Yeah, are you doing anything right now?" Anakin replied.

    "Not at the moment, do you want to meet me at the gardens?"

    "Um...no, that's not a good idea. How about we meet at the fountains, The Room of A Thousand Fountains. I can be there in ten standard minutes. How about you?" Anakin didn't want to risk running into Qui-Gon right away. He would probably get caught but it didn't matter anymore, Qui-Gon had made the boy angry and now he was rebelling.

    "Sure, I'll be there. But only for a couple of hours, after that I've got to go to the gymnasium and practice." Joze answered.

    "That's fine, I've just got to get out of here for a bit. I'll see you in a few minutes." Anakin shut off the comlink and hurried out of the door towards the Fountain room.

*            *            *            *            *

    "Worried about Obi-Wan you are. Disturbed by Anakin's behavior towards Obi-Wan you are." Yoda said, speaking in his usual rhyme.

    "You know me too well my master. Anakin's behavior and attitude towards Obi-Wan does bother me. There is no respect whatsoever for Obi-wan. What Anakin wants is to be a Jedi but only if he can be trained by me, yet he has become so used to disobeying Obi-Wan that it has become a habit." Qui-Gon explained, his voice quiet.

    "Choose your Master you cannot. Know this he should. Bad habits he has. Cure them you must."

    "Cure them my master? And how am I do that?" Qui-Gon asked, confused as he usually was when talking with Yoda.

    "Trained a Padawan before you have. Figure it out you must."

*            *            *            *            *            *

    "Are you crazy Anakin?" Joze exclaimed. Anakin had just told him his story and Joze was amazed that his friend was so bold. "They'll send you to the Council and they will send you to be a farmer! I think you went too far this time Ani! Master Jinn is going to be really angry with you. He isn't as easy as Master Kenobi is. I wouldn't be surprised if he gave you a beating for it." Joze said. He was worried about his friend. True, for a while he had thought it was funny the way Anakin was able to get away with anything but now he wasn't so sure. Everyone knew about Qui-Gon Jinn and everyone knew about his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. It was also a well-known fact that, although Qui-Gon was a rogue, he was also a strict man with those under his care.

    "Joze you exaggerate too much! Qui-Gon wouldn't beat me for it! You forget my friend that I was a slave; I have survived through beatings that would put shame to my Masters petty punishments, Master Jinn's too. I know Qui-Gon, and I know he wouldn't do anything like that to anyone! He may slap me or swat me a couple times but he won't beat me!" Anakin said passively. He didn't care if Qui-Gon used physical punishment with him; to be honest he deserved it. But a beating? Ha! No one here even knew what a beating, a real beating, was.

    "I'm sorry Anakin. I didn't mean he'd actually beat you as a slave owner beats his slaves, I meant that he would use physical punishment. Everyone knows Master Jinn wouldn't beat anyone, he's to gentle for that." Joze apologized. He hadn't meant to upset his friend like that.

    "It's okay Joze, I know what you mean. Right now though, I've got to go. Master Jinn may be back soon and I don't want to be out too late. The sooner I'm back the less of a punishment I'll receive." Anakin stood up and headed towards Qui-Gon's quarters while Joze took off towards the gym. As he walked Anakin thought about what Qui-Gon would do to him. Although his own Master had never told him of his life as a Padawan, he had heard from other Padawans that their Masters, who were friends of Obi-Wan's, told them about the trouble he got in as a kid. According to them Obi-Wan received more than just a slap on the face more than once and that Qui-Gon wouldn't hesitate to turn him over his knee.

    At the moment Anakin was wondering if it was the smartest thing to disobey Qui-Gon. Whatever it did, one thing was for sure, it definitely wouldn't impress the Jedi Master.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *

    Qui-Gon sat in his quarters and waited. He had at least expected Anakin to stay in his quarters. Had the boy only skipped meditation he could have forgiven him but he couldn't ignore the fact that Anakin had deliberately disobeyed him. This time Anakin had stepped over the line.

    Anakin opened the door to Qui-Gon's quarters and stopped short when he saw Qui-Gon waiting for him on the couch. He hadn't expected the Jedi Master back yet! Hadn't Qui-Gon said he would be gone for a couple of hours? It had only been one!

    "Hello Anakin. Seems you have this habit of running off and not staying where you are told." Qui-Gon said, his voice was neutral but Anakin could tell easily that the man was very angry with him.

    Even though the boy wanted to just drop to his knees in repentance and beg forgiveness for his deeds his pride stopped him and drove him to act stupidly, again. Shrugging he began to walk nonchalantly past, "One of the other kids called and wanted to meet with me, I felt it would be rude to tell them no."

    Qui-Gon stared for a moment, how could Anakin brush off his disobedience like that? Reaching out, he grabbed the boy's arm and jerked him back to the couch where Qui-Gon was sitting. "Don't lie to me! It isn't that hard to tell when you're lying, you forget that I am a Jedi Master and you are only an Apprentice. You contacted Joze didn't you?" Qui-Gon had heard enough from Obi-Wan about Anakin's usual behavior that it wasn't too hard to guess what had happened.

    Anakin glared, "Why would I do that? That would be deliberately disobeying you." He said, mockingly.

    "And now you are lying to me, which is against the code."

    "You aren't my Master and I am not honor bound to obey you, nor tell you the truth!" Anakin snapped back.

    "Obi-Wan left me as your temporary guardian and trainer, meaning that you are now under my care! You have the same obligations to me as you do to him!" Qui-Gon said, trying to calm himself. If this didn't stop he would end up slapping the boy harder than he wanted too. "Lying to a Jedi Master is against the code and if you keep this up I'm going to turn you over my knee."

    "Just try it!"

    Anakin had barely gotten the words out of his mouth before he found himself lying on Qui-Gon's knees facing the floor. A few seconds later Qui-Gon's hand connected with the boy's rear end several times. After five or six hard swats Qui-Gon pulled the boy up, "I won't take your attitude like Obi-Wan does, Child. Unless you want me to use a belt you'd better answer my questions truthfully." His voice was actually quite calm. Really he didn't plan on using a belt, he'd never had to before, just the threat had always been enough to change Obi-Wan's attitude around completely. As for Anakin, the boy was awfully prideful and he wouldn't be surprised if the boy was actually dumb enough to keep lying.

    "Now, I want to know who you called, why you went out after I told you to stay here, where you went and why you lied to me about it." Qui-Gon continued.

    Anakin rubbed his eyes and sniffled a little bit before answering. He knew his punishment was far from over and stalling would do not good. It would be best to push away his pride and tell the truth, "I called Joze and had him meet me in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. It wasn't to be disrespectful, Qui-Gon - er...Master Jinn, it was because I needed out of here. I'd been stuck in that dumb transport for so long and then my quarters and then yours, it was just too much. I needed out. You've got to understand that I was going insane!" He said, hoping it would get him off the hook. Had this been Obi-Wan the conversation would have ended with Anakin being sent to his room to meditate but he was speaking with Qui-Gon and the Jedi Master had trained one Padawan, almost two, before Anakin and didn't accept petty excuses as good reasons for disobedience.

    "That is not a good reason for your disobedience Anakin. You are a Jedi and must learn patience. Also you must learn to obey and to be respectful. Do you know how many rules you've broken just today? So far in the last couple of hours I've seen you act very disrespectful to your Master and me, you've disobeyed two or three times and you've lied to me. That's enough to get you kicked out the Jedi order for life." Qui-Gon's voice was stern. It was a scare tactic but hopefully one that would work.

    Anakin's eyes got big, "You wouldn't! You promised I'd be a Jedi! Now you're talking about sending me away forever? You can't do that! That's cruel and mean! If you did that you would break your word! I thought Jedi didn't break their promises!" Anakin's voice was getting dangerously loud again, it seemed the boy couldn't get through a single discussion without yelling.

    "Anakin if you shout one more time you won't be allowed to speak for a week, and I am dead serious about that. I can't help it if you act up so bad that the Council decides to send you away. I had to practically die to get to them to allow you to even be a Padawan, how would it look if you went and started acting up and got yourself kicked out? As for breaking my word, aren't you the one that was breaking your word by disobeying your Master and treating him with disrespect? You are honor bound to obey him if you remember."

    Anakin looked away and actually seemed repentant for a few seconds before his pride took over again, "So, what are you going to do to me? Because if we're just going to sit here and talk I'd like to go back out and meet with some of my friends." He said casually.

    This kid just won't stop! He's digging himself into a deep hole and doesn't even realize it yet. "Anakin, I want you to know that the comment you just made helped me decide on your punishment." Qui-Gon responded with an extremely high amount of calmness that was remarkable considering the way Anakin had just treated him.

   Uh-Oh. "Really?" He asked, heart dropping. He's going to use a belt on me! I'm sure of it...oh how could I be so stupid? Joze warned me and I wouldn't listen! I told myself that I didn't care but I do care! Qui-Gon's spankings hurt and so far all he's used is his bare hands. If he uses a belt...Anakin chocked back a sob. If Qui-Gon decided to use a belt he would accept that punishment no matter what. He wouldn't beg and he wouldn't cry, or at least he would try not to cry.

    "Yes. I'm going to do the same thing that I would to Obi-Wan had he acted as you have. Though I will take into consideration that you are much younger than he was when he became a Padawan and that you have had a harder life than he had." Qui-Gon said, watching the boy carefully. He knew what Anakin was thinking; it was obvious the kid thought that he was going to be extremely hard on him. True, Qui-Gon planned on using physical punishment but not with anything but his own hands.

    "What have you decided to do?" Anakin whispered.

    "I'm going to use physical punishment but, I won't use anything but my hands."

    Anakin sighed with relief but he was filled with misery again as Qui-Gon motioned for him to lay over his knees, "Master Jinn..."

    "Don't try it. Let me tell you the rules before you ask anything. If you try to change my mind about the punishment or you attempt to use the force to cushion yourself then your punishment is automatically doubled. Do you understand?" Qui-Gon asked quietly. He hated to have to say all this, he really did, but if he hadn't he knew that the boy would try it. Obi-Wan had as a Padawan as had Xanatos and he didn't want to deal with it happening with Anakin.

    "Yes sir." Ani said quietly as he lay over Qui-Gon's knees.

    "Anakin do you understand what this punishment is for?" He asked, placing his left hand on the boys back to keep him still.

    "Yes sir. This is for my disobedience, disrespect and lying." Was the boy's answer.

    "Correct." With that Qui-Gon began to administer the swats, steadily they came, one right after another. After he landed four or five blows to the boys rear Qui-Gon moved to his upper legs. Each leg received five of swats before he finally stopped.

    Anakin was crying hard and Qui-Gon had to help him stand up. The boy sniffled, his breathing was a little ragged and the tears were still coming but Qui-Gon didn't pay any attention to that. Carefully he brushed the boys hair from his face and pulled him close. Just as gently he rubbed the child�s back and waited for him to calm down enough so they could talk.

    "M...master Jinn, so...so sorry! I'll...try and...try and obey from now on." Anakin chocked out through sobs.

    "I understand Ani. I am sure you will try but you must do more than try, you must do. Right now the Council wants me to speak with them about your Master. Am I correct in my assumption that you would rather remain here?"

    Anakin nodded emphatically, he didn't want to face the Council right now!

    "Can I trust you to remain in these quarters until I return?" Qui-Gon asked sternly.

    "Yes sir." Was the whispered response.

    "Good. That extra room over there is yours until Obi-Wan returns. Feel free to roam around as you wish as long as you don't leave this area." Qui-Gon patted the boy on the shoulder before leaving the room and heading for the Council Chambers.

***End Part Two***