Navy Roses- Qui-Gon Jinn x OC

Chapter 3- Unfortunate Events

        Two days later, Adelaide is in her room, preparing for a Senate meeting. Her first one, actually. And it wasn't just her first session, but it was all of Dolomar's. So why her mind was stuck on the Jedi was beyond her. She had much more important things to attend to. Her people needed her to do what was best for them. Today she would start. Her people rallied behind her, rallied for her. They depended on her to create a better Dolomar. A new Dolomar.

        She was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock on her door. They weren't heavy knocks, but they weren't light either.

        "Senator, the session is beginning soon," Obi-wan says, his voice muffled through the thick steel doors.

        With one last look in the mirror, Adelaide stands. She must look like the epitome of poise and perfection. She was well aware that she was outnumbered and that planets already have allies and relationships established. Dolomar is fighting for a better lifestyle, and she has to present herself well. First impressions can be everything.

        She walked to her door and took a deep breath. When she opened her door, there was a crowd. You had Senator Antilles, who had came up just a few minutes ago. You had her trusted advisors, Lola and Perenia. Both women had been ready all morning. You had Captain Bodecate, the head of her security team. The man always wore a stern look on his face, but today he was smiling. Then you had the young Padawan, Obi-wan Kenobi. He had a smug look on her face, and Adelaide could guess why. Beside the Padawan stood his Master. Qui-Gon looked her up and down, seeming to be at a loss for words.

*****

        Qui-Gon stood waiting for the Senator. Today was the first day of the session, and she sure was taking her time getting ready. But when she walked out, his breath hitched and he felt like he was dreaming. In his eyes, she looked stunning. The morning sun simply radiated around her, reflecting in her eyes showing little flecks of gold. She wore an elegant gown, one like he had never seen, made of beautiful blue fabric that shown like the ocean at sunset. She was showing off her planet.

        The jewelry she wore was extravagant. Beautiful crystals hung from her neck and her ears. And her headpiece was decorated with what he could only assume were the finest jewels in the entire universe.

        "So, shall we proceed to chambers, Adelaide?" asks Senator Antilles. The question pulled Qui-Gon out of his head, and he soon realized that he had been staring. He looked down, his face flushing, hoping that he hadn't been noticed. But when the Senator addresses him, he knows that she saw.

        "Master Jinn, care to lead the way?"

        He didn't think he could speak without embarrassing himself, so he simply nodded and began to leave. He was practically kicking himself in his mind. How could he allow thoughts like that. Regardless of whether he follows the Code or not, she was a Senator, fighting for her planet. Whether or not he wanted to give in, he knew that she couldn't. She had to focus on her people. They needed her. He had known her for all of three days, and here he was, already in denial. He wouldn't accept that he enjoyed the Senator's company, or that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Or that he wasn't even sure if all this was real, and he believed that any moment he was going to wake up in the Jedi Temple alone. He wouldn't allow himself this one good thing, regardless of what he thought of the attachment rule. Suddenly, a thought graced his head. Obi-wan had given in. He fell in love with Satine on Mandalore.

        But the Master was not his Padawan, so Qui-Gon shoved away these notions of a future with someone. He was a Jedi, destined to die and live forever among the stars.

*****

        Adelaide didn't know what to think as her party headed towards the Senate chambers. She saw the Master Jedi looking at her as if he had never seen the stars before. He had seemed to marvel at the sight of her, and it stirred up a warm feeling in her stomach. She felt safe and cozy, like she did the first time she saw the crystal mines. The beauty of them had astounded her that day and it had quickly become her favorite place. But Qui-Gon wasn't a place. He was a Jedi. He was sworn to protect the peace of the galaxy. She wasn't a naive little girl. She knew of the Code he had sworn to follow. But she couldn't help the thought that crept up from the back of her mind. The thought that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to be the epitome of poise and perfection around the Jedi. Maybe, she could just be Adelaide.

        But before she knew it, that thought became irrelevant. They were at the Senate chambers. It was time to put her feelings to the side and help her people. She was a Senator and heir apparent first.

*****

        Adelaide walked out of the chambers in a huff. Senator Antilles tried to catch her, but she simply kept walking. The only people who kept pace with her were her two Jedi. The two Jedi who could've just ruined her chances at a better life for Dolomar.

        People thought that she was weak. And if she needing protecting the moment she arrived on Coruscant, then the entire planet needed protecting. The men of the powerful and rich systems barely let her get a word in. How was she supposed to do something for her people if nobody even listened to her?

        Before long, they had reached her chambers. All she wanted to do was curl up in a bed and never leave. She just wanted to go home.

        She and the Jedi entered her chambers, and Obi-wan had barely even shut the door by the time she was in her quarters and had slammed the door. The two Jedi shared a look, one obviously more upset than the other.

        "Master, you have come to care about the Senator, haven't you?" Obi-wan asks, trying to be gentle. But Qui-Gon simply denies it.

        "I have no idea what you mean, young apprentice," Qui-Gon responds, oddly serious and even with his tone.

        "You know how I came to care for the Duchess Satine, remember? In some odd way, maybe I could help," Obi-wan softly says, trying to help his friend.

        Qui-Gon sighs, and he is about to say something when he gets an odd feelings. He turns on his heel and rushes to the Senator's room, finding a window breaking as he opens the door. The Senator looks up, but before anyone can react the assassin grabs Adelaide. Qui-Gon worries that he is going to have to inform the Council and the Senate of his failure, but Adelaide surprises him.

        She pulls a knife from her sleeve, stabbing the assassins arm before taking the blaster from the assassins belt. She spins and holds it to the assassins head, her finger hovering over the trigger. The Jedi stand just inside the door, watching her hands tremble as she holds the blaster.

        "Senator," Qui-Gon says softly, waiting for a response that doesn't come. "Senator," he says again. He takes a step forward, Adelaide's fearful eyes shifting from him to the assassin. "Adelaide," Qui-Gon says, a bit more stern this time. By now, he's almost right beside her. He reaches his hand up and lays it on hers. Her eyes dart to his face.

        "Adelaide, Senator Augmentra, give me the blaster. It's alright, I'm here, you're safe," he whispers, her eyes finally meeting his. Her hands loosen and Obi-wan comes up to take the assassin into custody. She releases the blaster, never taking her eyes off of Qui-Gon's. He tosses the blaster behind them, before quickly deciding it's time to leave. He grabs her hand and begins to pull her out of her quarters. And then down the hallways, into the elevators, and out of the doors to the Senate building. He helps her into a speeder, and by the time she regains some sense of composure, they sit outside the Jedi Temple.

        Adelaide looks to Qui-Gon, his eyes already scanning her face. The tears that she had been holding back finally begin to fall, her facade shattering. Qui-Gon pulls the vulnerable Senator to his chest, waiting for her to let it all out. He couldn't imagine how long she had been holding on to all of it. He probably didn't even know a quarter of what she was crying about, crying for, but he didn't need to. He simply waited. And eventually she pulled away and looked up at him.

        "Why are we here, Qui-Gon?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

        "I need to speak to the Council. They decide what happens next."

        Her eyes hardened a bit, her fear and frustration and sadness being replaced by hesitation. Qui-Gon speaks again, saying exactly what she didn't want to hear.

        "I imagine that the Council will call for your relocation off-world until the threat has been handled," Qui-Gon said, knowing that she didn't want to leave. She would feel like she was abandoning her people. He expected an argument, but she stayed silent.

        "Shall we?" he asked, getting out and holding his hand out to her to help. She gladly accepted, but when she was firmly on the ground, she didn't let go. She didn't want to, and Qui-Gon had no desire for her to let go either.