Obi-Wan dying on Melida/Daan would be awful, but Obi-Wan dying on Bandomeer, at Xanatos’s hand or any of the other thousands of times he was in danger.
Twelve year old Obi-Wan. Thrown out of the Temple to fend for himself on a ship of Hutts. Obi-Wan who fought so hard and so bravely for one so young.
Qui-Gon realizes how royally he fucked up when he is forced to watch Obi-Wan, a bright, intelligent, gentle CHILD, mortally wounded right in front of him. He knows now that he cannot allow Xanatos one second of a chance to escape, not with an innocent boy’s blood on his hands.
Xanatos doesn’t escape.
Obi-Wan does not get a bloodless death because Xanatos was smart and ruthless and evil. A decent sized vibroblade between the ribs in the right spot ensures Qui-Gon has no time to get Obi-Wan medical care. Qui-Gon sits on the ground and wraps Obi-Wan in his robe, holding him close to his body and offering him a meager source of comfort as he coughs up blood and shivers uncontrollably. He reaches out with the Force and smothers the boy’s pain so his last minutes will be peaceful.
Qui-Gon gives Obi-Wan the dignity of dying as a Jedi Padawan. He takes him as his apprentice and assures him his status will be entered into the Archive. Everything that happened on this day will be memorialized and Obi-Wan will not be forgotten.
He tells Obi-Wan he is proud of him, he is proud to have fought beside him, and he is proud to be honored with the title of his master. He apologizes for taking so long and reassures Obi-Wan that none of his decisions were because he thought Obi-Wan was not worth the trouble, but does not dwell on his mistakes. He wants to ensure Obi-Wan’s last moments are not bogged down with his own misery.
Qui-Gon loses his tenuous grip on his emotions when Obi-Wan’s small, shaking hand reaches up to touch his cheek. He grasps that hand and holds it in his own, firmly so he knows he is loved.
He knows Obi-Wan is slipping away when his eyes start glossing over and his blinking slows drastically. Qui-Gon tells him not to fight, to relax and let him take care of him now. He doesn’t need to worry anymore and he is safe. Obi-Wan looks up at him, clear blue eyes locking with his own, and he smiles just slightly. Qui-Gon can feel him through their fledgling bond, content and safe and loved. He passes into the Force gently, as quietly as falling asleep.
Qui-Gon feels the barest, fleeting brush of him against his mind, offering gratitude and benediction.
Maybe this becomes Qui-Gon’s turning point. Maybe this makes him realize things need to change in the Jedi Order—now.
Maybe he goes back to the Temple and says goodbye to his Padawan of little more than fifteen minutes and promises him he will do better. He will not take another Padawan, but he will do more to help the children of the Order succeed.
He singlehandedly completely revamps the Jedi. He does away with the rule of tossing Initiates out at thirteen to fend for themselves. They are offered a myriad of choices: remain in the Temple, find their birth family, join the Corps of their choosing, or receive training and education to leave on their own. Some Initiates are Chosen at 14 or 15 and become Padawans.
Qui-Gon gets the Jedi to allow small amounts of contact between the parents and their children to keep the relationship going in case the child has the option of returning to their family.
Any child going to the Corps has a Master accompany them to ensure their safe passage. Order ships are used.
Those who remain in the Temple continue their education and can choose a path to follow for a skill or job in the Temple such as mechanics or archival or food preparation. They are nurtured and supported in all their decisions.
Anyone choosing to leave is allowed to change their mind at any time. They are always welcome back. They receive education and training for a few more years until they are of age to be on their own and are able to care for themselves.
Qui-Gon Jinn’s file reads:
Species: Human
Rank: Master
Padawan: Obi-Wan KenobiIt is never edited or changed.
Okay fuck you my heart hurts omg w h y
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Imagine a timeline clash where an Obi-Wan that DIDN’T die shows up one day, in the middle of the Temple and is like “uh this is not how I left the Temple”
Imagine this Obi-Wan meeting the Council and being SHOCKED because Qui-Gon is on it, next to Mace and there are Jedi in the Temple who Obi-Wan knew had gone to the Corps because they weren’t taken as Padawan’s by 13.
Imagine him thinking “oh shit, do I tell them who I am” and being horrified by the reaction he gets when he tells them who he is.
Imagine him hearing how his counterpart died on Bandomeer, a vibro-blade between his ribs, and how his death sparked a movement that brought the Order inexorably closer to the Republic – so much so that it’s impossible for a Sith to isolate them in just 3 years.
Imagine him looking at Qui-Gon and wishing that the same had happened to him in his own time because, Qui-Gon is alive, Anakin is in the crèche, the Order is open and has attachments and they’re fighting slavery and corruption.
And then imagine Qui-Gon telling him that no, “your death is not something you should ever wish for Obi-Wan. If I could, I would change it all so that I could watch you grow and become the Jedi you were inside long before you were recognised as one.”
Shit… I’ve made myself really sad now