Yet to Be

Late afternoon filled the room as Qui-Gon lay upon the bed resting. In his arms slept a young boy, the one he had chosen to guide. He was so proud of all the things this boy had accomplished and all that he could do and would do.

Qui-Gon could not help but smile at all the affection he felt for and from his charge. He stroked the short spikes on the head whose face was snuggled in his tunics, almost as if hidden from all the evils of the galaxy, but after all Qui-Gon's job was to protect him from the darkside.

Quite content, Qui-Gon's eyes slipped shut.

"Qui-Gon, wake up." A hand reached from behind him and shook him by the arm. "Wake up!"

Qui-Gon opened his eyes and blinked wearily. Noticing he was alone on the bed, Qui-Gon started sifting through the sheets beside him.

"What are you looking for?" the man who had woken him asked.

Clearly no one was concealed in the bed, so Qui-Gon jumped up and headed for the doorway, frantically searching the room with his eyes. "Where is he?"

"Whom?" was the answer.

"My Padawan! Where's my Padawan?"

Before Qui-Gon had gotten to the next room to continue his hunt, a hand on his arm halted him. "Qui-Gon, you are a very talented Jedi, but not even you would have a Padawan when you are yet one yourself."

Qui-Gon halted and turned back to the amused face of Jedi Master Dooku. "Master?"

"What is all this talk of your Padawan?" Dooku questioned with a glimmer of teasing in his eyes and a tug on his Padawan's braid.

"Oh, I had a dream, Master, I guess," Qui-Gon answered, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "I guess I should be better able to tell the difference between a dream and reality."

"No harm was done, Padawan. Just don't let it happen again," Dooku paused, "and I'm sure you will make a fine Master, when it is your time that is."

Qui-Gon smiled proudly. "Thank you, Master."

"But for now, my young apprentice, we have some sparring to practice. Come." Master Dooku headed for the training rooms, Qui-Gon following.

"Yes, Master."