A Change in Plans

Author:  My-Gin-Gone
E-mail:  Spacefan@cybergal.com
Rating: R to NC-17 (you know I write nothing else)
Characters:  Qui-Gon Jinn, Ardeth Fey and Chana (you)
Story Type:  ABH, Drama
Feedback:  Yes it is a good thing.
Archives:  Sith-Chicks, QJEB, HELLO FELLOW ARDETH FANS!!--Place my things with the rest of "The Beautiful One's" stuff, Temple Archive by Eiluned, A Place of our Legacy and any one else... I say yes, just ask and let me know where so I can take a peek.

Disclaimers: Lucasfilm=Qui-Gon Jinn  Universal=Ardeth Fey
Me=Chana

Summary: You're on assignment and run into Qui-Gon.  He gives you some shocking news that you don't handle so well. 

Author's Notes:  This story takes place after Performance Anxiety.  So far in the series:  In the beginning..., Honeymoon, Performance Anxiety, A Change in Plans, A Spiritual Journey Home, The Competition, Family and An Old Friend. 

WARNING:  ROUGH SEX ALERT!! IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE READING IT, DO NOT CONTINUE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! (insert thunder here)


      Laser blasts ricochet around you.  You're pressed against a cement wall bracing yourself.  Altona's sun creeps below the horizon turning a day operation into night.  You spy your team leader in the distance.  He gives the ready signal.  You check your clip, look to your partner, nod and return fire. 

    "Bad guys two o'clock."  Your partner, Sgt. Russell Garr barks.

     A quick squeeze of the trigger and they are history.  In one swift motion you replace your clip and hit the recharge button.  Your trusty rifle whines softly readying itself for more action.  Thirty, twenty, ten... Ten yards away from the extract site. 

      "GO! GO! Move!!"  Lt. Commander Hall yells over the howling engines of the transport.

      Sensing someone behind you, you turn.  No one is there.  Winded and sore, you hump it to the transport.

      "Come on Jinn, we ain't got all day!"  Hall barks following you in the transport.  "All right get us out of here!"  He yells to the pilot. 


      It is morning on the other side of Altona.  In the division's makeshift head quarters in an abandoned mining camp, you and your friends nurse your wounds, talk about the mission and gripe about Jedi.  At least they do.

      You hiss as the medic places bacta in a gash on your upper arm. 

      "You're lucky," She says coolly, "any deeper and we'd have to operate."

      "Just fix me up."  You hold in a reflexive wince as the sutures bind artificial skin to your own.

      The medic taps the buttons on her data pad.  "Had you been bleeding long?"

      "No.  Why?"  You check the dressing for ease of movement.

      "You're showing a high amount of anemia.  Hmmm...  Well, it's probably nothing.  Women your age are prone to anemia."

      You shrug not really caring much and head back to your tent where you lay down and fall instantly asleep.



      "What the hell good are they?" 
     
      "He said the negotiations failed."

      "Right.  Like it was worth doing in the first place."

      Your eyes flutter open.  It's dark.  You're hungry and tired but ready for more.  You sit up quickly and feel dizzy. 

      //Damn wound.// You growl softly and grab your rifle. 

      You shimmy outside your tent, seeing Mackelby and Garr near a small fire.  Various vehicles and machinery hum in the distance.  You check the chrono on your arm.  It's almost time for the next patrol. 

      "You're up."  Mackelby says and spits off to the side.  "For a second there, we thought you were gonna sleep through the whole mission."

      "Kiss off," You approach the fire and warm your hands, "next time you volunteer for recon." 

      "Lots been happening since you've been asleep."  Garr says quietly edging closer to you.

      "What?"  You stare into the flames.  You realize you've got to pee. 

      "The Jedi handling the negotiations are here.  Apparently it's two of them."

      "Who is it?"

      "I don't know.  They've been with the brass for a while, we probably won't get to see ‘em."

      "Interesting.  But doesn't really concern us.  We still got a bad guy to catch."  You shift the rifle strap on your arm, "If you'll excuse me.  I gotta go use the woods."

      "Hey," Mackleby tosses you a locator, "just in case you get lost.  You still owe me fifty dactari."

      You grin, "Don't worry you'll get your money."

      "Mmmhhmm."



      //Ahhh much better.// You stretch working the kinks out of your neck.  Peeing in the forest isn't exactly lady-like but it beats the hell out of wetting your pants.  You check the locator and make your way back to camp.  You reach a small clearing.  You swivel feeling a presence.  You aim your rifle perfectly ready to shoot.

      "I felt a disturbance in the Force."  A low voice with a tinge of a brogue rumbles in the darkness.  You know it anywhere.

      "Qui-Gon?"  You're not sure if it's really him because you can't sense him through your bond.  Which is strange because its never been a problem before.

      The majestic Jedi Master steps out of the thicket and into sight.  He removes his hood and places his hands in his sleeves.  You lower your rifle and approach him.

      "So you're the one assigned to handle the negotiation."

      He nods.

      "Who accompanied you?"

   "Another knight.  You do not know her."  He answers studying you.  The darkness does not allow you to see his expression but you know he is pensive.

      "Well, watch your six.  The drifters are dangerous.  They dislike jedi more than my compadres."

      "I will."  He answers curtly.

      "I have to get back."  You turn to leave.

      "When was the last time you had an authorized medical?"  The master steps closer to you.

      "A while ago why?"

      "Don't you need clearance every second cycle to be okayed for a mission?"

      "Yes.  But they waved it this time cause I always pass with flying colors."

      You hear him take several deep breaths.  He is silent. 

      "Go home Chana."

      Frowning, "No.  I've got a job to do and I'm leaving now."

      Qui is silent.  Your boots crunch the underbrush.  He grabs your arm.  You quell your shock. 

      "Don't you even care?"  He turns you forcefully to face him.

      "Qui this isn't about us,"  You hiss.  //Relationships complicate things.//

      "You're right this is bigger than us.  That's why you should go home."

      "Master, things aren't that simple in the Forces."  You stare at him in the reflected light of the moon, "I can't tell my C-O I need to go home because bondmate is concerned for me."

      "You don't know."  He pulls back.

      There is activity in the camp.  "Qui we'll talk about this later."

      "No.  You don't."  He shakes his head slowly and pauses, "You're pregnant."

      You chuckle, "Nice try.  No I'm not."

      "You are."

      "Last time I checked, you weren't a physician."  You cracked

      He cranes down to you, "I don't need a physician to tell me you're carrying my child."  The master hisses, "Now go home."
     
      "You're wrong and I'm not."  You snarl back, "I have a job to do and my buddies are counting on me."

      Qui-Gon peered at Chana as she made her way through the brush back to camp.  Dozens of emotions charged through him at light speed.  He didn't know whether to hand everyone a cigar or to throw her over his shoulder and take her home himself.  He was going to be a father and she was carrying his child. 

      //No harm must come to her or my offspring.//  He placed his hands in sleeves, //I must protect my family.// 

      As Chana disappeared into the thicket, her double life force signature left with her.   



      Through the mission briefing you feel Qui's eyes studying you.  Still unable to connect to him, you focuse your concentration on the mission at hand. 

      //He's wise but not always right.//  You reason.  


You step into the office of the new base C-O, Commander Xiloft.  He is a lithe man with blonde almost white hair, pale skin and cold green eyes. 
     
      He looks up from the work on his desk, "Sgt. you're here.  Shut the door.  We need to talk."



      Sniffling once again, you wipe your red puffy eyes with a tissue.  Staring out the front window, you reassess your life.

      "Medical suspension pending a hearing."  The balled up wad of tissue lands in the trash container.  "It had to be him.  I just know it."

      You sit awaiting Qui's return after sending an emergency dispatch to the Temple on Coruscant stating he must return home immediately.  That was two days ago.  Barely eating and sleeping, you wait for him.

      A speeder hurries over the horizon, stopping abruptly in front of your home.  Qui speaks briefly to the driver and jumps out running to the house.  He bursts in the door.

      "Chana?"  He spots you on the sofa and kneels at your feet, "Are you okay?"  The master pants stroking your puffy eyes.

      "I'm on suspension."  Your tone is flat

      He pulls away, "What?"

      "I'm on suspension."

      "This is the emergency?  You're on suspension?  Are you out of your bloody mind?!"  He stands up to his full height, "You pulled me away from a truce for a disciplinary action?"

      "YOU DID THIS TO ME!"

      "Chana I can not come running halfway across the galaxy everytime you throw a tantrum!"

      "Me?!  A tantrum!  If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here right now."

      "Woman don't you know I can get into serious trouble with the Council?" 

      "Sucks when people fuck with your job doesn't it."

      Qui stops himself from lunging at you.  Your body quakes at the hostility that revs through your bond.  The last thoughts you sense before he leaves the room are-- //I'd better leave before I kill her.//


      The Master meditates for the next seven hours in isolation.




      You close your eyes trying your best to handle the waves of nausea you're feeling.  Ever since you woke up this morning and puked up your dinner, you've been feeling like shit.  Sometimes your mood lightens only to dive deep in the dumps again.  But one thing is consistent you're pissed at Qui-Gon for messing with your life.  How dare he make decisions for you.

      Ardeth walks into the house dusting sand on to your freshly vacuumed floor.  Typical.

      He swears in Titanese never to deal with Corellians again.  Long black hair, saturated with waves just grazes his shoulders.

      "You're here."  You shift position on the sofa which has become your bed.  You have no desire to sleep with Qui-Gon.

      "So it appears." He tosses his robe over the side of a chair and disappears into the kitchen. 

      You close your eyes again and sigh. 

      "Why are you sulking?"  Ardeth's characteristic growl floats to your ears.

      "I'm not sulking."  You watch him gulp a glass of water.

      "Fine."  He turns to walk away.

      "Wait."  You leap from the chair.  You're pissed at Qui not him.  There's no need in punishing him.  "I missed you."  Your arms wrap around Ardeth's narrow waist.

      You strain to look up at his face. 

      "I missed you as well."  He softens caressing you. 

      You guide him to a chair and gesture for him to sit.  You climb on to his lap and straddle him kissing his face softly.

      "Ardeth,"  You begin between kisses.

      He acknowledges with tiny pecks.

      "Make love to me."  You kiss him fully on the lips.

      He caresses your face, "Qui-Gon told me not touch you.  And I will honor his wishes."

      You stare coldly at him, "What?   Where--?"

      "Outside, we had a conversation before I came in..."

      You hop out of his lap, "THIS IS BULLSHIT!" 

      //Why in the name of the Force would I bond with such a domineering male?!//

      "I am not domineering," Qui intones walking through the front door.  "I just know what's best."

      "So says you."  You turn to Ardeth, "Did he tell you I'm pregnant."

      Ardeth nods slowly placing the glass on an end table.

      "What do you think about it?"  You demand

      "The way you're handling this, I'm glad I'm not the father."

      "And that means??"  You prod

      "Nothing."  Ardeth glares at you, "This is between you and he.  I have no part in this."

      "Oh so now you have no part."  You pick up a pillow and throw it at him, "You're disavowing your responsibilities as a bond- father?!"

      Ardeth easily uses the Force to move the pillow before it strikes him.

      "Chana you need to calm down."  The Knight warns. 

      "Of course I will be the bond-father.  It's just that it will be difficult.  I have no time for children."

      "I can not believe my ears."  Qui stammers, his face is flushed.  "I...can...not...believe...my ears.  Am I the only one in this family joyed at the prospect of life?"

      He shakes his head and walks out the door leaving it open.

     

            You kneel staring at the lit candles inside the mini- shrine to the Living Force inside town.  You have done your best to communicate with your missing life-mate Qui-Gon.  He walked out two weeks ago and never came back. 

      In that time you've done a lot of thinking.  You realized though his tactics were less than desirable his intentions were honorable.

      //Will he come back?//  Fresh tears roll down your cheeks.

      "Tears here?"  A woman says behind you.

      You wipe your face and turn around.  "I am sorry."  This place is so sensitive your emotions will probably affect the dozen or so people here.

      "Come."  The woman says adjusting her attire.  She is a Jedi.  Long silvery gray hair is twisted in intricate braids achieving an elegant yet powerful look.

      You sit next to her on a bench.

      "You have been calling to him all morning."  She says with a soothing tone.  "He has probably heard you."

      "Yeah well you're right."  You shake your head, "Goodness, I'm such a mess."

      "Talk to me.  Sometimes it is good to unburden the soul."

      "What can I say?  I have driven away the man I love with my selfishness.  One instance after another I hurled insult after insult to a man who just wanted to protect his family---"  You begin crying.

      She strokes your arm.  The Jedi sighs and smiles.  "You are with child."

      You nod.  "Yes."

      "It is a boy."  Her gaze is compassionate. 

You feel as though you can tell her anything.

      "I don't know.  I haven't even been to a doctor yet."

      "I am sure it is a boy."

      You gaze at her, "How do you know?"

      "It was my job for many years....I am a healer."   Her smiles warms your heart.

      You sob into her arms.  After composing yourself she explains that all the emotions you are experiencing are compounded by your elevated hormone levels.

      "So this is like a major case of PMS?"

      She chuckles, "In a way, yes.  What was the disagreement over?"

      "My career. I am a soldier with the Security Forces."

      "And?--"

      "And I wanted to bury my head in the sand and keep going like everything was normal."

      "That would not be possible."

      "Yes.  Qui knew this too and tried pointing it out to me.  I just wasn't ready to listen.  So he got me suspended."

      "Do you want this child?"

      You caress your stomach and think of the love you share with Qui.  And how apart of him is now inside of you.

      "Yes.  I do."  You sniffle desperately trying to keep from sobbing, "And now he won't know because I'm being sent to Malastare."



      --tbc...
--my-gin-gone