The Force of Fire

Chapter 5

-Qui-Gon-

Letting out a breath, Qui-Gon departed the bridge as the pilots began directing the ship towards the Outer Rim world of Tatooine. With the Hyper Drive leaking they would never get to Coruscant unless it was repaired. Now though he had to deal with what he could tell would be a much more frustrating problem to deal with. "Master." Hearing the source of the upcoming problem, Qui-Gon saw his padawan waiting for him in the hall.

"Obi-Wan." He nodded to his padawan as they walked down the halls of the Nubian cruiser to the quarters the Captain assigned to them, sealing the door behind them to avoid anyone overhearing the conversation he knew was coming.

"Master, we need to talk about this Percy person as well as his daughter." Obi-Wan frowned seriously.

"Yes, they show quite the potential." Qui-Gon began pouring a drink, "Percy told me he's from outside the Republic which is why he was never found by the Seekers."

"And now he's a dark force user." Obi-Wan's gaze hardened, showing his student was like much of the council in his more narrow-minded black and white view of the world.

"I saw no signs of him using the dark side of the force." Qui-Gon scolded his apprentice, refraining from getting into the argument of the Potentium view of the force as opposed to the council approved stance.

"He was filled with anger and rage!" Obi-Wan protested incredulously, "I couldn't sense anything else but that."

"You still have much to learn Obi-Wan, you are not yet a Knight, let alone a Master. I could tell there was more to Percy than just the anger he felt at his daughter and friends being threatened. The man also held love for said people just as they held the same for him."

"But Master, the council said such Anger that he held was dangerous, that it's a sure path to the Darkside. We need to report this to the council as they need to take the girl away to sever any bond. Both of them might need the Death of Personality." Obi-Wan began rambling but at the mentioned of the Death of Personality, of erasing Percy's memories to reprogram him like a droid, Qui-Gon's gaze hardened as he expanded his presence in the force, Obi-Wan gasping in surprise and eyes wide in shock.

"Listen to me Obi-Wan Kenobi." Qui-Gon warned ominously "You will not be speaking to the council about this, they will not know until we return to give our full report. You will never suggest using the Death of Personality in my presence again. And we are not going to separate that family. What you are going to do is spend the rest of the evening in here, meditating on what I've said. I will return in the morning to see what conclusions you've come to." Turning on his heel, Qui-Gon left his shell-shocked apprentice in the room, searching for another place to spend the evening.

-Percy-

"Higher Daddy! Higher!" Marris giggled as she floated about the room, Percy practicing his Force Telekinesis as he made her fly while Padme giggled at the sight.

"I see you're enjoying yourselves." Hearing a new voice, Percy glanced over to see Qui-Gon entering the room.

"Did you need something Master Jedi?" Padme asked, bowing her head deferentially, the group from Naboo having decided to maintain their ruse for now.

"Yes, I wished to speak with Percy and his daughter about something important." Qui-Gon frowned displeased.

"Well what did you want to talk about?" Percy floated Marris down, "And speak freely, I'd trust Padme with my life." As Percy spoke, he reached out to take Padme's hand, his girlfriend resting her head on his shoulder.

"I understand." Qui-Gon gave them a nod and a small smile before sighing, "The first is that I wished to warn you about an issue I worry may arise. Many in the Jedi order, particularly the council, have a very rigid view of the force and how it should be used. Through the Republic they even technically have the right to take any infant away from their family that has enough ability in the force."

"I've heard." Percy responded with a clipped tone, "Padme told me about the Republic that lets them take infants, I've also heard Rumors about the Jedi's opinions on attachments."

"That they're forbidden? Sadly true." Qui-Gon ran a hand down his face as he took a seat, "But more than that they have strict opinions on what sort of abilities through the force are permitted, even what sort of beliefs are allowed."

"But Percy's only ever used the force to push, pull, or lift things." Padme frowned in confusion.

"And Daddy follows when the force talks!" Marris interjects happily.

"But nothing that I can see anyone seeing as 'Dark'." Padme finished.

"The problem is that the council considers any Force user who feels sufficient anger as someone in danger of falling to the Dark side. I believe otherwise but my Padawan, he has always been one to follow the will of the council and the Code of the Order to the letter, rather than adhere to the will of the living Force."

"He wants to report me to your order, doesn't he?" Percy grit his teeth angrily.

"I spoke with him, but he is determined that anyone with ability over the Force that is willing to feel such anger, not to mention possessing a lightsaber, is a threat. I made him think on it overnight, but he still plans to go to the council once we return to Coruscant. Many members of the council have empathy, but others of the order will likely suggest your daughter be taken and one or both of you be put through the Death of Personality."

"The what?" Percy and Padme asked in confused tandem.

"A method to erase a person's memories to give them a new personality. I've always been against it's use, although it's thankfully rarely used…that might be due to examples of it failing rather than for moral reasons though."

"Thank you for warning me." Percy nodded to the Jedi Master, "I'll be ready in case they try anything."

"Was there anything else Mr. Qui-Gon sir?" Marris asked, not worried about the warning given her trust in Percy to protect her.

"Yes in fact." Qui-Gon smiled happily "How would you like me to show you and your Daddy some tricks in the Force?" Marris gasped in delight at that offer and sent Percy a wide-eyed eager look, complete with puppy pout. Percy didn't stand a chance.

-Jar Jar-

"Mesa thanksing yous!" Jar Jar waved happily to the Naboo pilot who had taken him to the most isolated part of the ship when Jar Jar asked where he could sleep, the man quickly hurrying away from his presence. "Ugh, finally." Jar Jar slumped the moment the man was gone, shaking his head as he was finally able to stop acting like a drooling imbecile. Sitting down cross legged on the floor, Jar Jar closed his eyes and opened himself to the force, suppressing his presence as he sought out the mind of his Master, Darth Plagueis.

"Why have you contacted me, my apprentice?" Jar Jar heard the smooth baritone of the ancient Muun in his mind, even suppressed his force presence was powerful.

"I have left Naboo Master." Jar Jar answered faithfully "The Trade Federation has gone from Blockading the planet to invading it. This action, it's far too bold to be coincidence. I believe Darth Sidious to be behind this."

"Yes," Plagueis mused "I can see that is quite likely. Are you alone my apprentice?"

"For the moment. I am on a ship with two Jedi, the Naboo Queen, as well as two force sensitives not affiliated with the Order." Jar Jar answered, having been quite intrigued at this 'Percy' and his daughter.

"Then keep an eye on this group," Plagueis commanded "follow them closely and gather what information you can. The time will be soon to remove my overreaching 'apprentice' as well as his own student Maul. Once that is done, you can truly take your place at my side was we usher in a new Order to this Galaxy. Do…not…fail…me"

"As you wish, my Master." Jar Jar bowed his head deferentially as the presence of his master left his mind. Sensing someone approaching down the hall, Jar Jar sighed "Back to being the village idiot then I suppose."

Getting up, he started gangling down the hall towards the presence he sensed, "Hellos there! Messa sa Jar Jar Binks!" by the Force he couldn't wait to stop this insufferable act.