Chapter 10: Chapter 9: One with the Force

Qui-Gon Jinn is doubtful. In front of him, the wall reveals a charred chasm. This is what's left of the inertia converter. Every pilot knows that without it, their ship would be nothing more than a brick. As the name suggests, the purpose of the device is to transfer the inertia of a vehicle in another direction. Thanks to this machine, you don't need to put engines in every direction to maneuver, you just need a thruster in the back.

A complex machinery, whose delicacy rivals a hyperspace core. A single burnt-out circuit and your craft will not be able to stop itself from spinning out of control. The knight looks for a chapter in the emergency manual dedicated to the event of its destruction, but doubts he can find one. If that happens, your ship is dead. Sorry for your loss. Obi-Wan enters the engine room and reports with a disappointed face:

« I've checked all the escape pods. Their electronics are out of order. There's nothing we can do to fix that. It's already a miracle to have survived. »

« I'm afraid the inertia converter is also in a worrying state... »

The padawan looks at the mass of charred cables and sighs:

« Worrying, indeed. That's the word. »

Jar Jar is busy plugging the last leaks. He is now fully aware that his work is not particularly useful. The gungan regrets not being able to do anything else. He doesn't know how to repair a spaceship. All he wants is to be asked to move a crate, open a door or anything else that just requires muscle. Nothing is more terrible than feeling worthless.

« There is nothing we can do with engineering. Our vessel is completely broken. » Continue the knight.

« We won't find a dealer around here to replace her, I guess... »

« Who knows? We must have faith. The Force will guide us. »

« I hope so. I really do. »

A faint voice comes down from the speaker:

« I've managed to get the observatory back online. »

It's little Padmé. She stayed in the cockpit, hoping to find something that still works. The two Jedis have no better option than to join her. There is nothing salvageable left. Everything is hopelessly wrecked. They walk past some cleaning droids. These robots do a superb job. A screen on their heads shows an exaggeratedly cute face. As they step onto the elevator, Qui-Gon stops his padawan:

« Obi-Wan. »

« Master? »

« You did the right thing. That was the proper attitude. However, if something as serious as an engine room fire happens, you must put aside Jedi rules and use the Force to the maximum! »

« Yes... master. »

The young man doesn't know how to reply. In his panic, he didn't want to use it. Normally, a padawan should never call upon the cosmic Force without his master's permission. Obi-Wan did not break this rule on Naboo, because he was under attack. Reacting to a threat is a valid justification. However, the teenager was already afraid that using too much power would cost him his evaluation. The Order is adamant about this. So faced with a new emergency, he preferred not to waste time thinking about the legal ramifications and focus on the problem, without the Force.

For Qui-Gon, though, a Jedi must always do what is necessary. The rules obviously don't encourage that kind of thinking anymore. It is even something that knights like Asselae, Yoda or Sentar Pella do not hesitate to criticize. Of course, he would answer that this is a proof that the Jedis are disconnected from reality. The life of ordinary people is less and less understandable to them. They see the universe through the prism of ideals and lose sight of the mundane. The students are therefore forced to abide by vain and often counterproductive laws, which exist only to give the Jedis a modern and reformist image.

Nevertheless, is the Order really to blame? The Force is as fascinating as it is terrifying to the citizens of the Republic. The galaxy's media has long exacerbated this anxiety by blaming the knights for their lack of responsibility, especially during armed interventions. They have responded to these fears by tightening the rules. Yet, while the Republic was only asking for a small effort, the Order gave birth to a mountain! It was the Order itself, after all, that proposed that young people awakened to the Force should be registered as soon as they were discovered. The project caused a scandal for a week, then was voted on without protest. Today, no one cares about it anymore. It has even become commonplace to be tested at school.

« If your action provides protection, but the Force is necessary for it, you have my blessing. Just don't wait until it's too late and use your abilities, for crying out loud! This is a life and death situation, Obi-Wan. »

« I'll do as you wish, master. »

Qui-Gon sighs and lets his padawan climb onto the elevator. The young man is still too inexperienced to understand. Padmé works at a console. The steering controls appear to be working normally, but without an inertia converter, the helm is no longer operating anything. The little girl is acting like a professional. Her intelligence is formidable. She seems to be learning how to use all these tools on the spot. If given a few days, the child would understand how to program the ship's computer as well as its designer. The Force gives fabulous talents to some chosen ones.

« We're in the shadow of a gas giant, but our sensors work. The computer should be able to determine our position by triangulating coordinates of nearby stars. » She said in a neutral voice.

« That's impressive, who taught you astronavigation? »

The girl points to a small thing. A book. This is a rare sight. The ancients used this object to store knowledge in physical form. It's considerably less efficient than the more humble holocron, but many people in the galaxy still find it charmingly old-fashioned. This one must be an ancient treatise from Coruscant. A priceless museum piece. Wait, did that kid really just say she's studying astronavigation by reading a theoretical text from several millennia ago? The computer starts ringing:

« Here it is! We are in a small binary stars system of the outer rim. Its main planet is called Tatooine. It is... » She hesitates for a moment. The little girl takes a deep breath, then resumes with a more serious tone:

« It is located in Hutt territory, on the domain of someone named Jabba. »

« I know him. A vassal of Satarpas the conqueror. He organizes the slave trade for his master. An opportunistic criminal more than a warrior. » Continue Qui-Gon.

« Hutt territory... » Obi-Wan grumbles.

« It's not as bad news as you think, my young padawan. »

« You think so? » He replies sarcastically.

« Yes, I do. Wherever the Hutts settle, there are always merchants! »

« That will certainly be a good thing, if we can reach the surface, Lord knight. » Adds Padme.

« Let me handle this problem, young Queen. I already have a solution in mind to get us out of here. Take the helm and wait for my signal. » He finishes as he leaves the cockpit.

Obi-Wan, who has no idea what his master is talking about, runs after him and catches up with him in the middle of a corridor:

« Master, what are you thinking? This ship can't maneuver! »

« Obi-Wan, do you know how Jedis move in zero gravity? You were not good at this game. You were using your hands or your legs. »

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« I... I always thought that was the point of the training... »

« No. Not at all. I just didn't teach you what to do. I wanted to wait until you were ready. You're terrified of space. The Force reacts badly to fear. »

The young man doesn't know if he should be offended by this revelation or not.

« So how do they do? » Asks the padawan, irritated.

« They transfer their inertia! Doesn't that remind you of something? »

« You want to become an inertia converter? Really? »

« Sort of. I'll just replace the circuitry. The helm will still be under the pilot's control, like in any other ship. »

« I'm not an expert, but isn't there some great danger? »

« No matter how dangerous it gets, Obi-Wan! We don't have the luxury of hesitating anymore! People who depend on us are dying every minute! »

« You're right, master. My apologies. »

Jar Jar walks down the hall at this very moment:

« You, go get me some belts and bring them to this lounge! » Qui-Gon orders, pointing the room on the side. 

The gungan looks at the knight stupidly at first, then his face lights up with happiness. He is being asked to do something doable! Finally!

« Mesa go to seek quickly! Mesa coming back! » He answers, almost filled with joy, running like a tornado.

The Jedi goes into the living room and climbs on a chair to knock down the false ceiling, which is hiding pipes. He pulls several of them, until he finds some that hold up well. Jar Jar comes in and exclaims triumphantly:

« Mesa have found some! »

« Very good. I want you to tie a solid knot on these two pipes. » Commands the knight in a dry tone before adding, more gently this time:

« Hang on tight, Obi-Wan. You too, Jar Jar. »

Qui-Gon secures himself with the straps. He is completely free to move, but firmly lashed to the ceiling. Obi-Wan settles into a seat and locks his belt. The teenager can no longer see the gungan. He is probably not far away. Suddenly, his master yells:

« You may go, young queen! Take us to the surface! »

The ship starts to tremble like a leaf. Engines start. The knight's face is covered with pain. A colossal pressure crosses his body. The unfortunate man suffers, but refuses to scream. Outside, the vessel finally moves forward and, as if by miracle, the helm responds to little Amidala. It takes only a minute to reach Tatooine's orbit, but the vehicle is in catastrophic condition. Without a deflector shield, the re-entry into an atmosphere is brutal. The vehicle undergoes terrifying shocks.

The knight's body is deformed by pain. All inertia coming from the thrusters runs through his person, breaking bones and tearing muscles. It is amazing that he can endure such an ordeal without fainting. The vehicle begins to rotate. Padmé pulls to stabilize the vehicle. This is a desert planet. Their chances of survival will be nonexistent if they fall into the middle of the sand. She sees a city on the horizon. The craft must be pointed in this direction. An abominable scream makes her head spin. What's going on down there?

Qui-Gon can't take it anymore. He spits out a frightening roar, but manages to calm down a little by repeating, untiringly:

« I am one with the Force and the Force is with me! »

Obi-Wan can't stand to see his master suffer. To hell with common sense! He untangles himself and moves forward as best he can, repelled by the overwhelming power of the knight. This is raw Force! It's so powerful that it could easily be mistaken for a strong wind. Jar Jar had the same idea. He struggles against this invisible and dreadful pressure. The ship flips over. The girl has lost control, the helm is too rigid. Qui-Gon can barely hold on, his suffering is far beyond what a human can bear. He resists the temptation to slip into unconsciousness. With what remains of his will, the knight whispers a final prayer to whoever will listen:

« I don't care what happens to me, as long as my companions survive! »

Suddenly, everything disappears. The pain no longer exists. His guilt, which he had been dragging behind him like a burden since his youth, vanishes like a bad dream. Here he is in the heart of an immensity of light. It is magnificent. All the answers are there! He... he is one with the Force! 

Obi-Wan falls to his knees. His master has transformed into a being of pure energy! He shines so brightly that his glow pierces the walls. Jar Jar has collapses and seems to worship this magnificent apparition. The padawan is speechless. The only thing that comes back to his mind are Yoda's words:

« Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter! »

This sentence finally makes sense! Padmé lets go of the helm. The spacecraft pilots itself. It flies gently, delicately, like a bird. The consoles glow with unreal clarity. It's another miracle! The machine lands like a flower petal, so lightly that there is no shock. It takes the girl a moment to realize that their ship has just landed. 

Down below, Qui-Gon has returned to normal. The light has gone out as mysteriously as it had appeared. The knight regains consciousness. Obi-Wan rushes into his arms:

« Master! You are alive! »

« I didn't know you liked me that much, Obi-Wan. »

« You are my master, Qui-Gon! The only family I'm allowed to have... if you were gone... »

The knight is moved. He had never thought of it that way. For a teen who no longer has parents, the one who takes care of his training and evaluation becomes some kind of substitute. He himself saw Dooku as a father figure, after all. Jar Jar is ecstatic:

« Yousa sent by the gods! Mesa witness! Mesa witness! »

The master gets up, but realizes a terrible truth. His left arm! The Jedi feels as if the limb never existed! So this is what it takes to get such help from the Force. He will no longer have access to his arm. A cybernetic replacement will not help him, his brain connections are gone. Qui-Gon looks at his padawan's face. He also sees Padmé coming down. The girl is happy to have survived. Their gungan companion is rejoicing. The knight takes a deep breath and joins in the modest celebrations. He has no regrets. Their lives are worth so much more than an arm.

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