Wings of Beginning

Wings Arc: Wings of Beginning

~Wings of Beginning - 1~

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn stood before the Council to receive his next mission. He's been going on solo missions ever since his most recent padawan, Xanatos, turned to the Dark Side. Although the Council urged him to take on another padawan, he still felt the agony of betrayal and didn't trust himself to the responsibility of training another padawan.

Jedi Master Yoda, a senior master of the Council, looked at Qui-Gon, his former padawan, in sadness. To let a padawan go was difficult, to lose a padawan to the Force was very difficult, but to lose a padawan to the Dark Side was near unbearable. It will take time to heal the wounds of the heart and soul. However, if his visions told him anything, within the next century, Qui-Gon will take another padawan.

Jedi Master Mace Windu informed Qui-Gon of his next mission, "You are to escort Senator Rosa Kenobi back to Salus. There were mixed emotions when the Cælumi recognized Salus as a planet housing their lost kin. She is to be there for their fertility rite since she was discovered to be with child. In return, Salus has offered to let Jedi come for a few children. Ever since the discovery of how they sprout their wings, they have been...more reserved about what happens to their children."

"An understandable reaction Masters. I will see to it that Senator Kenobi returns to Salus for their fertility rite and collect how ever many children they are willing to release to us. It is a shame they are so controlling. Ususally the children with Cælumi ancestry make fine Jedi Knights." Qui-Gon commented.

"Fortunate we are that with the overpopulation of Cælum, more willing to give us their children they are." Jedi Master Yaddle said. "With the extremely low birth rate, to come by children from Salus are hard. Why they hold a fertility rite in the first place that is."

"However, there is something in Salus' environment that prompts a better future for initiates who come from there than from their originating planet." Mace said. "Regardless of how many children they actually produce."

"Must be the blood of the natives to the planet. It was once a harsh and unforgiving land Masters." Qui-Gon said. "It has its downsides along with its upsides."

"Discuss this we should not. Be on your way you should. It is coming." Yoda said, sensing that the Force is telling him something important.

"May the Force be with you Master Jinn. Senator Kenobi will meet you on the ship." Mace said, dismissing Qui-Gon to ready for the departure.

Qui-Gon bowed before the Council and returned to his quarters to pack his travel bag. He boarded the ship that would send Senator Rosa Kenobi and himself to Salus for the rite. The ship was spacious and well accomodated for the senator, himself, the pilot, and several children for the return trip. Qui-Gon looked for the senator and found her with the pilot of the ship, discussing some subject.

The senator was a beautiful woman by humanoid standards. Her blond hair was tied up in the more traditional way of female senators to keep her hair out of the way and looking respectable. Her aura announced a gentleness that one wouldn't believe to be found spawned from a harsh world. Her blue eyes held mystery and intelligence that it was difficult not to acknowledge her as an equal.

Rosa looked up as Qui-Gon approached. "Greetings Jedi Master. Shall we take off?"

Even though he knew about the physiciology of the Cælumi descendents of Salus, he couldn't help but be surprised at the lack of showing in pregnancy from the senator. "Yes Senator Kenobi. It would not do to have the star of the rite be late." Qui-Gon replied.

Rosa smiled, amused at Qui-Gon's reaction. "Please, call me Rosa. It is a defensive action of the body for all childbearers, be they female or the occasional male. On a world where the strongest survives, we are most weak in the state of pregnancy. Therefore, our bodies have adapted to not show our pregnancy and shorten our gestation period. As I understand it, there are even some worlds where it is very difficult to see who is male and who is female out of it being a defensive action of the body."

"You are correct...um...Rosa. And please, call me Qui-Gon. There are some whose background proves that gender needs to appear the same for survival's sake. I apologize for my ignorance." Qui-Gon said, bowing.

"Nonsense, when the senate discovered me with child, they were surprised to see that I was not showing and asked a lot of questions. I came to expect them." Rosa said.

"The Council thanks you for allowing us to bring back a few of your children to become part of the Order." Qui-Gon said.

"We knew that you prize our children over others for their abilities to become great knights. But with children rare among us, we are loathed to depart from them. To us, they are our greatest commodity." Rosa replied.

The flight there went without any problems. They were greeted by Rosa's sister, the Divine Angelus Sophus Animus and her chosen bondmate, the Divine Consort Ceryx Animus. Their society's hierarchy was different from others that Qui-Gon had encountered in the past. Here, where childbearing is sacred, the partner who is able to produce a child was above the other partner in status. It was not uncommon for pairings to be hetero or homo in nature as both male and female have the opportunity to bear children. The Angelus that came to this world had adopted its customs.

The previous leader would often produce heirs to take their place and if they couldn't, they would seek a successor. Sometimes, the leaders would find their child or children unsuitable for leadership with their Force abilities, then they would seek a suitable successor. The leader is known as the Divine Angelus while their chosen bondmate would be known as the Divine Consort. When situation places a sibling or actual bloodtied heir in the mix with the leader, they are known as the Divine Shield with their bondmate known as the Divine Sword. Those who tire of the the titles may step down from them and remain as Angelus. The people who advise these people were known as the Divine Magi. They can predict the most likely paths of events to come.

"Welcome home my Divine Shield, Jedi Master, I trust that your journey was a safe?" Sophus asked serenely.

"Yes my Divine Angelus. We have arrived unharmed." Rosa replied while Qui-Gon just bowed to the Divine Angelus.

"Jedi Master, I believe that with the agreement for the escort, we will allow some of our children to go back with you." Sophus said, which was more of a statement than a question. "You may choose amongst our willing children after the rite of fertility."

"Your generosity is most humbling." Qui-Gon said.

"My bondmate will show you to your rooms Jedi Master. I have much to catch up about with my sister before her bondmate sees to her wellbeing." Sophus said.

Qui-Gon was led away to his rooms. He couldn't help but overhear Rosa informing her sister about the rite of fertility happening at a convenient time and the birth coming soon.

That night, the fertility rite went off without any problems. During the early morning light however, Qui-Gon felt a faint change in the Force which grew as time went on. Something was coming. Searching the area, he found Rosa walking restlessly in the garden, looking a little pained.

"Are you all right Rosa?" Qui-Gon asked, concerned.

"I think the children are coming." Rosa replied.

"Children?" Qui-Gon asked, not comprehending.

"I'm carrying twins. That was why I was chosen. To carry twins is the most sacred of honor. To carry more is even more so." Rosa replied, wincing as pain came to her.

"Shall I get a healer or something?" Qui-Gon asked, unsure about the medical titles.

Rosa smiled, sensing something from within herself or perhaps even the Force, which they interpret as the Divine. "No, you'll do fine."

Qui-Gon watched as she laid herself by a little waterfall and gestured for him to come closer to her. Qui-Gon approached and knelt by her side.

"I want you to be my aide in this." Rosa said. "It is the will of the Divine and my will also. The healers will come when they are needed on their own. You need not worry. Just follow your instincts as I will mine."

Qui-Gon positioned himself between her legs in preparation of the birthing. Truly, he didn't know what to expect. Nothing was known about the actual birthing process of the Angelus or Cælumi. They had prefered to keep a few secrets, even from the Jedi. He had no choice but to follow his instincts and listen to the Force. Rosa started pushing and Qui-Gon could make out the crown of the baby's head. Another few painful pushes brought out the baby's shoulders and the rest came more easily. Qui-Gon was unprepared to witness the placenta disconnecting itself from Rosa.

"It's natural Qui-Gon. Stop staring and get ready for the next one." Rosa snapped while pausing for a brief respite.

Qui-Gon laid the first tiny baby, noting that it was a boy with blond fuzz atop of his head and blue eyes, onto his robe and focused his attention for the next baby. Rosa repeated the procedure and the next baby came out, though probably a bit more smoothly than the first. Then, from out of the surrounding bushes, healers flocked to them. Divine Angelus Sophus, her bondmate Divine Consort Ceryx, a Divine Magi, and a man with fiery red hair and green eyes, whom he never met before came up to them at a more sedated pace.

The man embraced Rosa and said warmly, "Congradulations love."

"I love you Umbra." Rosa whispered.

"The twins are well my Divine Angelus." the head healer announced.

"Then the Naming Ceremony shall commence tonight, provided that my Divine Shield is able to attend." Sophus announced.

"She will be able." the healer confirmed.

"The body allows for a quick recovery." Rosa explained to the concerned Qui-Gon.

"We must thank you for your help in this." Sophus said, nodding to Qui-Gon.

"I followed the will of your Divine and my Force." Qui-Gon replied.

The Divine Magi stepped forward and gave a quick glance over the twins safely tucked into Rosa's arms. A frown formed.

"What is it?" Rosa asked, concerned and clutched the children closer to her.

"Many pardons my Divine Shield, but a closer inspection of the children are an order after the Naming Ceremony. Something is off about them. They need to be tested." the Divine Magi said.

"Of course." Rosa replied.

"Unfortunatethe the gathering of children for the Jedi must wait until after the testing. If you are willing." Sophus said to Qui-Gon.

"I would not dream of missing the opportunity to learn more about your culture." Qui-Gon replied, knowing that he didn't exactly have a choice.

"Excellent. Tonight we will have the Naming Ceremony and the testing. Tomorrow morning you will test the willing children to become Jedi." Sophus said. "Well, we shall leave the new family alone to get better acquainted with each other."

The healers finished cleaning up Rosa and the excess birth fluids. Umbra helped Rosa up with their children and walked to their rooms. Sophus walked off with the Divine Magi, hoping to glean some information from them about what could be wrong with Rosa's twins. Thusly, leaving Qui-Gon alone with his thoughts.

'Why do I get the feeling Master Yoda wasn't telling me everything when I was debriefed by the Council?' Qui-Gon asked himself. 'The Force's will was for me to help Rosa give birth to those twins. I wonder what would have happened if I wasn't there to help with their birth. Mind you, she did all the work, all I did was catch them. They were so tiny in my hands. I could easily cup them in one hand. How could one so small be brought into this harsh and unforgiving world? Are they all born like that?'

<Think of maybe's you should not Padawan.> Yoda's mindvoice rang out within Qui-Gon's mind. <Always be mindful of the present Jedi should. Show its reasons given time the Force will.>

Even after over a century of being raised to the status of jedi master, the training bond still was holding strong between them. <Yes Master. But will you not give me a hint?>

<Hmmph. Important the twins are. One more so than other. Perhaps having one within Order is best.> Yoda hinted.

Qui-Gon smiled, <I shall see what I can do Master.>

To Be Continued...