"Come," Yoda said, levitating himself up to the door. "Much to discuss, we have."
Qui-Gon watched as Mace and Ki-Adi-Mundi grasped Palpatine's arms and jumped up as well, the rest of the Masters following with the Sith apprentice. Obi-Wan replaced the two syringes in the carrying case and snapped it shut before standing, his gaze meeting Qui-Gon's as he did so.
-So what happens now?- Obi-Wan wondered, though Qui-Gon wasn't sure if he'd asked it rhetorically or not.
-Whatever we desire, padawan,- Qui-Gon replied, wrapping his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders briefly before they jumped up to join the others, who steadily marched into the hallway. –I think we ought to take a vacation as all this gets sorted out. Don't you agree?-
-That would be nice,- Obi-Wan replied, throwing him a smile as the darkness of the corridor swallowed them. –I've always wanted to go somewhere tropical and not be weighed down by a mission.-
-I think that can be arranged,- Qui-Gon sent, smiling back. –I think Ani would like the ocean, if he could get over his hatred of sand.-
Obi-Wan nodded a little, and stopped for a moment when they reached the landing. Qui-Gon halted as well, looking at Obi-Wan curiously, and he reached out to place a hand on the young man's shoulder, which Qui-Gon realized was trembling.
"Obi-Wan, what's the matter?" he asked quietly, and his apprentice looked up at him, tears standing in his eyes. Before Qui-Gon could express the alarm that rose in him, Obi-Wan hugged him tightly, and Qui-Gon was floored by the sheer strength of the happiness and relief that barreled through the bond.
"It's going to be different," Obi-Wan whispered. "It's going to be so different…"
"Yes"Qui-Gon replied,returning the embrace and smiling gently. "Yes,my dear padwan.It will be for the better.You'll see.We'll do everything we can to prevent such a horrible from ever occurring."
"Even if it might make things worse?" Obi-Wan whispered as he drew away, and Qui-Gon clasped his shoulders, forcing Obi-Wan to look him in the eye.
"The galaxy fell apart around you, Obi-Wan," he replied, wiping at the tears trickling down his apprentice's cheeks. "I don't think it can get much worse than that."
"And now it'll have to, just to spite us," Obi-Wan joked weakly, and Qui-Gon chuckled before throwing an arm around his apprentice. They moved down the hallway again, side-by-side. They reached the hanger quickly, noticing that the doors were opened to the outside, and local security had arrived to help the Jedi in any way they could. Mace spoke to one of them as they escorted Palpatine and his apprentice into a waiting speeder, one designed for the transport of prisoners.
-You see, padawan? Everything is going to be fine,- Qui-Gon sent as a happy cry echoed through the hanger. Anakin came racing forward, his arms flung wide as he prepared to leap towards them.
"Qui-Gon! Obi-Wan!" he exclaimed, and Obi-Wan dropped to his knees to capture the boy in a bone-crushing hug.
"I was so scared…" came Anakin's muffled voice, his face pressed against Obi-Wan's tunic, who squeezed his eyes shut.
"I know," Obi-Wan whispered in response, his arms tightening around the boy. "But everything's fine. Both Qui-Gon and I are fine."
A soft sniffle answered him, and Anakin pulled away slightly so he could swipe at his eyes. Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan smile gently, and he reached up, helping wipe away the tears that escaped down the boy's flushed cheeks.
Anakin smiled then, and leaned forward to press his forehead to Obi-Wan's briefly, the two shutting their eyes. Qui-Gon felt their bond sing with their joy, and he knelt then, smiling at the tender scene. He was hesitant to intrude, but both Obi-Wan and Anakin opened their eyes to smile at him.
Qui-Gon barely caught the boy when he released Obi-Wan and threw himself at the older Jedi.
"See?" Obi-Wan said as Anakin clung to Qui-Gon. "We're both all right."
He finally stopped and drew a deep breath when Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We're fine, Ani," Obi-Wan said, his amusement broadcasting easily, and he glanced at Qui-Gon briefly. "I need to talk to Queen Amidala for a moment. Would you mind watching over Qui-Gon for me? He was beside himself with worry the entire time and now won't leave my side."
"Sure," Anakin said, grinning as Qui-Gon tugged on Obi-Wan's braid sharply in retaliation to the sally. "What do you need to talk to the queen about?"
"I'm afraid it's a secret, Ani," Obi-Wan replied, tapping a finger against Anakin's nose playfully, who scrunched his face in response. "One that I'll tell you later, if at all."
"No fair," Anakin pouted, but grinned when Obi-Wan ruffled his hair affectionately and stood, heading towards the Naboo queen. She hovered at the edges of the hanger, ignoring her handmaidens when they tried to urge her to leave.
-Will you at least tell me?- Qui-Gon sent, but Obi-Wan merely grinned mysteriously at him over his shoulder. Qui-Gon huffed a little then, but stood, Anakin still in his arms, and made his way towards a bench that sat along the walls.
"What do you think he wants to talk to her about?" Anakin asked quietly, his gaze following Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon sat before drawing the boy closer.
"We'll eavesdrop, Ani," he whispered, enhancing their hearing with the Force. Obi-Wan must've not particularly cared if they overheard, and been teasing about it being a secret, as they went unblocked.
"Your majesty," Obi-Wan said in greeting, bowing deeply before Queen Amidala, who smiled slightly in response. "I'd like to ask something of you, in the event that the Council decides not to train Anakin."
Qui-Gon perked up, enhancing their hearing further, and Anakin stiffened, apprehension settling in him. Qui-Gon tightened his arms around the boy, trying to be of some comfort as they waited anxiously.
"Yes, Padawan Kenobi?" she replied, waving away her handmaidens and the two hovering Jedi Masters. "Walk with me a little, and we will talk."
"If the Council decides that Anakin is unfit for training, I'm not going to let them send him away to work on a farm somewhere," Obi-Wan said quietly as they began walking, the queen looking up at him seriously.
"What are you proposing then? What do you intend to do?" she asked and Obi-Wan drew a deep breath.
"I intend to leave the Order, should this come to pass," he said quietly, and Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows.
-You were serious when you said this yesterday, padawan?- he sent, but it went ignored.
Though Qui-Gon could sense the queen's shock, her face remained perfectly schooled. "This is a serious statement, Padawan Kenobi," she said, her gaze studying him silently. "You would give up your life for the sake of a child?"
"I would," Obi-Wan said quietly, clasping his hands behind his back and drawing himself up. "It isn't fair to Anakin to take him from his mother and then place him where no one cares about him. He would be miserable and lonely, and I won't let that happen."
The queen remained silent and Qui-Gon hugged Anakin when he felt the boy shiver.
"I have told no one of my plans, save Qui-Gon, and a little to Ani, because I don't want it to seem like an ultimatum to the Council," Obi-Wan continued. "His mother entrusted us to give him a better life, and I hope to see to that."
"You hope to… adopt him?" Queen Amidala asked, as Anakin's grip on Qui-Gon's robes tensed. "Should your Council deem him unfit for training?"
"I do," Obi-Wan replied as he stopped walking, his gaze focusing on the queen intently. "And I will need something to do, to support us."
Queen Amidala stopped as well, understanding dawning on her. "You would be welcome, Padawan Kenobi, to join my security forces. I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to be as willful as your Master has been during our rescue," she said, glancing in Qui-Gon's direction and smiling a little. "But should you leave the Order and find yourself in need of a job, I would gladly take you as one of my bodyguards."
Discover moreBooksFanfiction conventions ticketsCopyright protection servicesFanfiction merchandiseEditing servicesFiction writing toolsCrossover fan fictionCharacter development workshopsWriting retreat experiencesReading fan fictionObi-Wan bowed deeply, relief pouring off him. "That is precisely what I was going to ask, your highness, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said, the queen nodding in response. He turned away, walking back to Anakin and Qui-Gon, who waited, stunned expressions on their faces.
-You really put a lot of thought into this, padawan,- Qui-Gon sent and watched Obi-Wan blink a little. –I never realized how serious you were about your plans, should Anakin not be trained.-
Obi-Wan gave him a small smile in response as he settled himself beside them on the bench, and Anakin peered up at him, tears shining on his lashes.
"You… you'd really give up being a Jedi?" he whispered, and Obi-Wan nodded once.
"After all," he said as Anakin crawled off Qui-Gon and slid into his waiting arms, "I've already been a Master. I really don't need to repeat the experience."
Qui-Gon wrapped his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders once again, feeling his apprentice sigh and lean against him as he rested his chin atop Anakin's head. Qui-Gon felt the Force swirl around them, their relief and happiness feeding its warmth.
-I was serious too, padawan,- he sent, feeling Obi-Wan perk up a little. –You probably don't remember it, but I said I'd go with you. The Jedi may be my life, but if I can't convince the Council to train him, he deserves better than a life as a farmer.-
Obi-Wan didn't respond for a moment, though his head came to rest against Qui-Gon's shoulder, and Qui-Gon sensed him debating with himself until he spoke. –You should be the one to train him, Master. If the Council refuses to make you his teacher because I am still your padawan, I would leave.-
Qui-Gon stiffened, his grip tightening on his apprentice. –It won't come to that, Obi-Wan. I won't lose you, just so I can train another student.-
He watched Obi-Wan shut his eyes, swallowing loudly, and Qui-Gon sensed the sudden relief pouring through their bond. –Besides, Obi-Wan,- he sent, resting his head against his padawan's, –you should be the one to train him, considering that you know his quirks far better than I ever could.-
Obi-Wan stiffened at that, but relaxed as something occurred to him. –I wonder if they'd let us train him together?-
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at that, considering the idea. It hadn't really been done before, only assigning two Masters to a padawan if one Master was particularly old. However, he reasoned, the Temple had never seen a Force-sensitive as strong as Anakin. Perhaps things did need to be changed a little, to better suit the different situation.
An image flashed before him then, one of himself in civilian clothes, his hair drawn back out of his face. He carried a bag full of food as he walked down a crowded street of vendors, the energetic buzz of the marketplace reaching his ears. It was a warm, beautiful day, with the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky, a gentle breeze bringing all sorts of delicious smells to his nose, and his stomach grumbled slightly.
He saw Obi-Wan then, walking beside him. His apprentice was dressed similarly, though the braid gone and his hair slowly rid itself of the padawan cut. He carried a bag of his own with one hand, while the other had a hold of Anakin, who looked slightly taller as he walked between them.
"Do you think my mom'll have lunch ready for us when we get back?" Anakin asked.
"Ani," Obi-Wan replied, quirking an eyebrow, "doesn't she need food to cook with first?"
"And," Qui-Gon added, grinning down at the boy, "I seem to recall that someone ate the last of ours without bothering to tell anyone."
Qui-Gon shut his eyes as the image faded, leaning back against the wall behind him and reveling in the warmth of the Force. He sensed that Obi-Wan had drifted to sleep, finally letting himself recover after such a draining set of battles, and his arm tightened around his padawan.
"Hey, Qui-Gon?" Anakin whispered, peering up at him despite being tucked into Obi-Wan's embrace. "What's going to happen now?"
Discover moreBooksCopyright protection servicesGames fan fictionEditing servicesWriting promptsCreative writing coursesAuthor website templatesMovies fan fictionBookBookshelvesQui-Gon smiled gently. "First we've got to straighten things out with the Council, and then I was thinking we'd go somewhere, just the three of us. What would you say to a trip to the ocean, Ani? I know you don't like sand, but I think you could get over that, if you wanted to."
Anakin thought for a moment. "I think that'd be fun. But are Jedi allowed to take vacations?"
Qui-Gon's smile widened into a grin. "Technically, no. But tell me, how good are your splicing skills?"
Obi-Wan resisted the urge to shift from foot to foot like some kind of nervous Initiate. He certainly felt like one, however, standing in the middle of the Council chambers with all of his shields and blocks lowered. It was almost like being naked, in a strange sort of way, and having learned their lesson with Anakin, the Council had brought in a Jedi trained in mind probes to properly evaluate Obi-Wan's claim that he was in fact a thirty-eight year old Jedi Master.
So far he hadn't noticed anything, save the strange urge to itch the back of his head, and the Council was deep in meditation, absorbing everything the Jedi doing the scan saw. He wouldn't see any of their reactions until it was finished, which hopefully would be soon.
After a few minutes of fighting the desire to move a little, the entire Council opened their eyes, their expressions decidedly stunned. Ki-Adi-Mundi looked more horrified than the rest, and Mace looked sick to his stomach.
"Impossible," one whispered.
"Inconceivable," another murmured.
"But true," Master Yoda said, his tone firm as he looked around at his fellow Council members. "No doubts, I have, that sent back young Kenobi was. Gave him a chance, the Force did, to undo that future."
"But why?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked, frowning heavily. "Why would it send Kenobi back instead of someone else, Master Windu, for example? And how are we to know that he hasn't pulled a worse future into place through his actions?"
Obi-Wan wanted to ask the question Qui-Gon had posed to him, about how things could get much worse than watching the galaxy fall under control of the Sith, but he kept his mouth shut. After all, he supposed a bit bitterly, Ki-Adi-Mundi could be right, and the entire galaxy could be destroyed, all because he'd taken Palpatine from power.
"None of us understand the ways Force or why it would send Kenobi back instead of one of us," Adi Gallia was saying, her blue eyes piercing Obi-Wan curiously. "Perhaps this was meant to teach us a lesson; to show us what can happen if we slip into complacency. Or it perhaps it was because the Force is forgiving and understands how much Kenobi lost."
"In any case," Mace interrupted, his voice shaky before he coughed to clear his throat. "This has given us much to discuss. Not only is half the Senate demanding that Palpatine be tried in the standard courts, but we have to decide whether or not young Skywalker is to be trained."
"We can't train him!" someone behind Obi-Wan exclaimed, most likely a relatively new appointee, considering the lapse of vocal control. "Have you forgotten what we have just seen? What's to stop this boy from becoming that monster all over again?"
"We cannot judge him based on these memories," a Master to Obi-Wan's right said. "We can only judge him based upon what we gleaned from him at the time of his interview. To do so otherwise would be unfair."
Obi-Wan cleared his throat a little, drawing their attention. "Masters, if I may add something?" he asked, trying to sound properly respectful, and Mace made a small gesture with his hand, indicating for him to speak.
Obi-Wan drew a deep breath before beginning, trying to piece together exactly what he wanted to say. "I feel the Anakin I trained is a completely different person from the Anakin you interviewed. Yes, he is capable of anger, as I'm sure you all saw, but he is happier than the Anakin I remember. And please consider that the Anakin I knew was thrown into a rather unfriendly world when Master Qui-Gon was killed. I certainly didn't help things through my initial coldness towards him."
Mace narrowed his gaze slightly, leaning back in his chair. "You sound as though you understand why your… apprentice turned."
Obi-Wan shook his head, shutting his eyes for a moment. "I will never understand why Anakin chose the Dark Side. I do suppose though, that in his desire to find support, he turned to Palpatine to fill his need for a caring, parental figure. I know the Order frowns on attachment, but what is the Master-padawan bond? Masters and their apprentices become like family," he said, glancing around from Master to Master, all of whom considered him with a mixture of curiosity and amazement.
"An excellent point, that is," Master Yoda murmured, studying Obi-Wan with a small smile. "A suggestion, have you?"
Obi-Wan returned his smile. "If you do decide to train Anakin, I think he needs those emotional attachments. After all, we have other Jedi who honor their heritage through tattoos, clothing, and so forth, which shows an attachment to their previous lives. I think the Council I remember dealt with Anakin too harshly. He was an unconventional Jedi, being allowed training at such a late age, and I believe his training needed to be a bit unconventional as well."
"Hm," Master Yoda said, settling back into his chair and sharing a small look with Mace.
"We will consider your words, Padawan Kenobi," Mace said, "just as we will consider what to do with you, in light of this recent event."
Obi-Wan tensed a little at that, unable to stop himself, and Mace smiled a little. "It's nice to know that you're still worried what might become of you, even when being thrown from the Jedi Order would be nothing compared to what you experienced."
Obi-Wan suppressed the chuckle that rose in his throat. "The Temple is still my home, Master Windu, and though I would be able to survive outside of it, I would much prefer to remain a Jedi."
"Remain one, you shall," Master Yoda said, his eyes glinting darkly at anyone who would dare suggest otherwise, and Obi-Wan breathed a small sigh of relief. That was one hurdle jumped; it felt good to know that the Council wasn't going to chuck him out, even if he did wind up leaving over Anakin. "Too valuable a Jedi you are, Obi-Wan."
"But would you really make me a Master, when I look like a twenty-five year old padawan?" he asked, raising his eyebrows a little, and he watched as Master Yoda's smile widened, despite the looks of disbelief he received from the other Council members, Mace in particular.
"Any Jedi can feel a powerful Force-presence," Master Yoda said, "and become a powerful Jedi, you have. Wait a year or two, we might, to bestow the rank of Master, but a Knight you shall be. And agrees with me, the Council does."
There was a glint to his eye that brooked no argument, and Obi-Wan struggled to hide his amusement at the rather annoyed expressions that appeared on some of the other Master's faces. Even if they didn't agree, they could come up with no decent argument for why Obi-Wan shouldn't at least be knighted, and Master Yoda knew it.
"We still have plenty to discuss," Mace said, sighing a little. "Thank you for your time, Padawan Kenobi. You are free to go and may the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan bowed at the waist before turning and exiting. He wasn't surprised to see that the antechamber was empty, as he'd told Qui-Gon and Anakin to leave if they got hungry. Council meetings did tend to run rather long, and a quick glance at his wrist chrono told him he'd been in there for over three hours. No wonder he'd started getting antsy.
A brief foray of the bonds he shared with Anakin and Qui-Gon found them together in the apartment, and they started at Obi-Wan's intrusion, which made him frown slightly.
-What's going on?- he sent as he descended in the lift. –What are you plotting this time? If it involves dousing me with water, I'm having none of it. -
Qui-Gon seemed to shift a little, but Anakin merely sent the mental equivalent of a shrug. Obi-Wan sighed a little, though he found he was grinning.
-I suppose I'll find out soon enough, won't I?- he sent before focusing on traversing the rather busy main hall of the Temple. Several Jedi who knew him as he had been started when they felt the change in his presence, but he merely smiled and bowed, offering no explanation as he headed for the lifts that led down to his floor.
Thankfully, he went unbothered as he made his way to a waiting lift, boarded it, and stepped out on his floor. He walked briskly to his apartments, curiosity slowly building in him as to what Qui-Gon and Anakin had been so intent on, and he reflexively stretched out with the Force, searching for an ambush or any kind of booby-trap.
When he found none, he palmed the door open and stepped inside, tugging off his boots. A small frown rose to his lips when he saw that no one was in the common space. Where were they, then?
"Hi, Obi-Wan! How'd your meeting with the Council go?"
Anakin's voice drifted to him from down the hall and he walked down it to Qui-Gon's room, whose door stood open. He found Anakin perched on the desk chair, working on something at the Jedi Master's terminal, while Qui-Gon sat cross-legged on his sleep-couch, countless datapads and pieces of flimsy spread around him.
"It went rather well, Ani," he said, raising his eyebrows as he met his Master's rather sheepish gaze. "Do you mind me asking what is going on?"
-I'm trying to splice my way into the Council network so I can get Qui-Gon assigned to some resort,- Anakin sent without looking away from the terminal, his fingers rapidly moving as he worked, and Obi-Wan found himself staring at his Master, who made a small noise of annoyance.
-Can't we just request some time off?- he asked, watching as Qui-Gon made a face. –Or would that take too long?-
-That, and we've already used our allotment for the month,- Qui-Gon sent before turning his attention to the datapad in his hand. –But getting into the program the Council uses to assign Masters missions is proving more difficult than I thought.-
"Did you think it wouldn't be?" Obi-Wan asked, smiling despite the incredulous look that had appeared on his features. "And, believe it or not, I might be able to help, if Anakin would let me try something."
Both his Master and the boy looked up at him in surprise and Anakin gladly hopped from the chair to allow Obi-Wan access to the terminal. He settled himself, ignoring the way Qui-Gon and Anakin hovered around him curiously, peering over his shoulder, and he began to type.
-What are you doing, padawan?- Qui-Gon sent, along with a confused frown.
-You forget I was on the Council, Master,- he replied, unable to stop the grin when the very program they were trying to splice into appeared on the screen, and both of them gasped. –It's good to know that the general codes haven't changed, though you'd think they'd have them altered regularly.-
"Wizard," Anakin whispered, both his and Qui-Gon's eyes wide as saucers.
"Now," Obi-Wan said, turning to them and fixing them both with an expectant look. "Just where were you thinking of getting assigned to?"
He watched as the same, mischievous grin slowly appeared on both Anakin's and Qui-Gon's faces.
"You know, Padawan," Qui-Gon said as he rested a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I think I'll get used to all these changes a lot faster than I thought."