CHAPTER SEVEN : SECRETS REVEALED

✶ ✶ ✶

QUI-GON was dying and he knew it. As he laid on his back, looking at ceiling, he could hear a faint voice calling him.

"Don't worry, it'll be over soon . . ."

"Amelia . . ." the Jedi Master whispered. ". . . Amelia . . ."

"Hold on, my love . . . let our daughter say goodbye to her father . . ."

The face of Obi-Wan had appeared in front of him.

"Master! Master!"

"It's too late . . ." Qui-Gon said, drifting off, feeling peaceful.

"No!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.

"Obi-Wan, promise . . . promise me you'll train the boy . . ." Qui-Gon was feeling the energy drain away from him and he felt Atlas rushing through the palace, trying to get to him. 

"Yes, Master . . ." Obi-Wan brought his attention back.

"He is the Chosen One . . . he will . . . bring balance . . . train him!"

Qui-Gon breathed heavily, hoping Atlas would be on time.

"Take care of her," he whispered, barely hard enough for his Padawan to hear it.

"Who, Master?" Obi-Wan asked, leaning towards her.

"My daughter . . . Atlas . . ."

His eyes closed, he felt so tired . . .

"No!" Atlas had finally found the two Jedi and fell down next to Obi-Wan. "Don't go!"

Qui-Gon opened his eyes again, looking from a stunned Obi-Wan to a worried Atlas.

"You came . . . she told me you would . . ."

Atlas looked puzzled. "Who said?"

"Your mother . . ." Qui-Gon could feel that it was almost time. "Listen, Atlas . . . there is something I must tell you before I . . ." He started coughing.

"Easy now," Atlas said. "You should spare your energy."

"No, it's too late now . . . Atlas . . . I am your father."

Atlas pulled away, widening her eyes in disbelief.

"I . . . I only realized when we were on our way back to Coruscant . . . please . . . forgive me for not looking for you sooner . . ."

Atlas relaxed and caressed his hair. "It's okay, I forgive you."

Qui-Gon smiled at both his daughter and Padawan before closing his eyes forever.

Atlas and Obi-Wan sat next to each other, the both of them still didn't comprehend what had happened. It had been Atlas who's eyes had teared up first and had buried her head into Obi-Wan's shoulder. The Padawan put his arm around her and put his chin onto her head.

"Don't worry, Atlas, we're going to get through this together."

✶ ✶ ✶

Atlas stood next to Padmé and Obi-Wan as the large, grand cruiser of the Supreme Chancellor landed in the courtyard. Captain Panaka and twenty troops were guarding Nute and Rune.

"Now, Viceroy," Padmé began, dressed as the Queen, "you are going to have to go back to the Senate and explain all this."

"I think you can kiss your Trade franchise goodbye," Captain Panaka added.

The main ramp of the cruiser opened as Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka leaded the Viceroy and his assistent towards the ship. The Grand Chancellor Palpatine and several Republic guards descended the walkway, followed by Yoda and several other Jedi masters.

"Congratulations on your election, Chancellor," Padmé greeted Palpatine. "It is so good to see you again."

"It's good to be home," Palpatine replied. "Your boldness has saved our people, Your Majesty. It is you who should be congratulated. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic."

✶ ✶ ✶

Atlas was looking out of the window, sunset was setting and she knew Qui-Gon would be burned later that evening.

"Atlas Reef," a voice said behind her, "or Atlas Jinn, I should say."

Atlas turned around and saw Master Yoda standing in the doorway. She bowed upon the sight of the Jedi Master.

"Master Yoda, it's an honor to finally meet you."

The green creature walked into the room and Atlas offered him a chair which he kindly refused.

"At peace, your mind is. Even after Qui-Gon's death," Yoda said.

"Yes, although I'm sad he's gone, I'm satisfied to finally know who my father was."

"No one's ever really gone," Yoda replied.

✶ ✶ ✶

Atlas stood between Obi-Wan and Padmé as they watched Qui-Gon's body burning. Padmé grabbed Atlas' hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Atlas grabbed in her turn Obi-Wan's hand and gave it a squeeze. The recently knighted Jedi Knight glanced at her and gave her a small smile.

As Atlas watched Qui-Gon burn, she was glad to have her friends with her.

✶ ✶ ✶

"Are you alright? You haven't even dismissed my idea of you wearing a dress at the parade."

Padmé looked at her friend in concern as the two of them sat in her chambers, each picking a dress for the parade.

"I'm okay," Atlas told her, but her mind was drifting off again. Strangely, it wasn't Qui-Gon she thought of, it was her mother.

She told me you'd come . . . Was her mother watching her from wherever she was now?

"The both of us are watching you," Qui-Gon's voice said in her head. "And we're so proud of you."

Atlas jumped up, making her fall off the chair she was sitting on.

"Atlas!" Padmé rushed to her side. "Are you sure you're alright? You didn't get hurt during the battle, did you?"

Atlas smiled up at her. "I'm okay, Padmé." Her eyes flew over towards the dresses that laid on her friend's bed. "You should wear the white one."

Padmé smiled back. "Than you must wear the blue one. It matches your eyes perfectly!"

Atlas grinned and shook her head. "Only because it's a day of celebration."

✶ ✶ ✶

Atlas stood between Obi-Wan and Padmé as they watched the Gungans approach, riding Kaadu.

Boss Nass, Jar Jar and General Ceel dismounted and walked up the steps side by side, stopping in front of Padmé.

Padmé handed him the Globe of Peace and everyone started cheering.

Peace had finally come to the planet of Naboo.

✶ ✶ ✶

Atlas was watching Obi-Wan and Anakin as they got ready to depart. She stepped forward and engulfed the Jedi Knight in a hug.

"Keep in touch, will you?"

She could feel him nodding as he hugged her back. "I will, take care, Atlas."

"You too."

Obi-Wan took the vest of a lightsaber out of his robes and gave it to her. "This was Qui-Gon's . . . I think he would have wanted you to have it."

Atlas accepted the lightsaber, rather stunned. "T-Thank you."

With a last smile, Obi-Wan turned around and boarded his ship, leaving Atlas alone with Anakin.

"I'm going to miss you, Ani," she told the boy. "But you'll take care, too, eh?"

"I'm going to miss you, too," he confessed, "and I will."

They gave a quick hug before Anakin ran aboard the ship and Atlas watched her two friends take off. Little did she know it would take ten years for her to see them again.

Published 29.01.2021

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