Title: Kidnapped by Darkness. (A Sequel to LOST and FOUND)
Author: Geri K
Timeframe: AU Obi is Ten/twelve on the verge of becoming a Padawan
Characters: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Xanatos. and others
Genre: PG
Keywords: Obi Angst- Dark side, Xanatos, kidnapping, and comfort.
Summary: This is a sequel to my first ever story written,Lost and Found Obi has been brought back to the Temple after being left alone on a planet for five years, and Xanatos is in prison for trying to kill him. kidnapping, torture, and the dark side all make an appearance in this story.
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Ten year old Obi-Wan Kenobi looked up at the temple, standing at the top of the shuttle ramp surveying the tall spires. His heart was thumping; he was so nervous that he didn't sense Qui-Gon come up behind him and rest his hands on his shoulders. He had not expected it, and the weight on his shoulders made him jump.
"Steady now Obi-Wan do not be afraid this is your home, this is where you belong. This is the Jedi Temple, come walk with me" Qui motioned for the boy to walk down the ramp.
Mace and Yoda followed them, and once his feet touched the landing bay floor, Obi took a deep breath and slowly let it out with a shudder. On each side of the bay were rows of air traffic. Many craft of different sizes, and shapes screamed past.
"I don't remember this place, and it is very noisy. Where are all those space ships going and why are they in such a hurry?" he asked.
Obi –wan had not seen lanes of traffic flying past before, and it seemed to him that they were flying in all directions at once.
"What if they crash into each other?" he asked as he turned his head to the others.
"Alarmed do not be, good pilots are most, not often do they crash" Yoda explained.
Obi nodded, and then started to walk towards the railing, however, he stopped abruptly when he could see a very large dome shaped building in the distance.
"What is that" he said pointing.
"That is the Senate Building, senators from all over the galaxy meet there and discuss new laws, and any problems throughout the republic are solved there." Mace answered as he stepped alongside him. "When you start studying subjects like Protocol, Galactic History and Diplomacy you will spend time in the senate building listening in on local sessions; It will be part of your training." Mace added.
"I do not want to learn about those things" Obi said as he backed into Qui-Gon. His breathing had become quicker and he was taking in air in short gasps. They sensed a disturbance caused by agitated feelings radiating from Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon turned Obi-Wan around to face him. "What is wrong Obi-Wan?"
Qui had hold of his shoulders; nevertheless, Obi-Wan strained his head round to look back at the building.
"I d-on't want to go there, not s-afe to go there" he stuttered.
The words spoken brought Qui-Gon's memories flooding back to him of another time and place when this child had spoken
those same words.
It was when Xanatos had picked Obi-Wan up and taken him up to the plateau, and then thrown him off into the river. He remembered vividly what the child had said. "don't want to go, not safe to go" Qui-Gon remembered the promise he had made to the boy only a few days ago. "I am so sorry that I didn't listen to you, all those years ago. I promise that from now on I will always listen to you. It was still fresh in his mind.
"Then you do not have to go there, ok Obi?" he said smiling down at the child.
"You promise?" He asked full of hope.
"Yes I promise I gave you my word that I would listen to you and my word is my bond."
" Into the Temple, go now we will, council meeting to attend; settle Obi-Wan in your quarters Qui-Gon. Then to the Chambers come you should" Yoda stated……..
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The senate building loomed in the distance; an ominous black cloud seemingly hovered overhead, and in one of the offices, stood one such senator, staring out towards the Temple. His hands gripping the brass railings in front of him; he had sensed something, and it made his blood boil. Years ago he had made a mistake in trusting Xanatos to bring the child to him, and he believed the boy was dead. However, now he could feel the bright light like darts pinpricking his skin, there was a light in the force entering the Jedi temple. All the senators plans depended upon him being the most powerful force user in the galaxy, and now he felt another who if given the chance to learn and grow may usurp him from his crown. He would not allow it to happen, one way or another he would be the Master of all he surveyed. This time he would not depend on his underlings to capture his prize; he would deal with it himself.
His eyes glowed red and he glared at the Temple with such disdain, nevertheless, keeping his thoughts behind impressive shields...
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By the time Qui-Gon reached the Council Chambers, Yoda and Mace had relayed their story to the other Councillors. Their first reaction was disbelief, citing that a child of that age could not survive by himself, in the wild. The question was asked whether or not the child was really Obi-Wan. But after they showed them the Journal and Yoda insisted that it was Obi-Wan's force signature he could feel, they nodded in acceptance.
"Too difficult it will be for him to adjust to Temple life, too far behind his age mates he is." stated Plo Koon.
"No training has he had since he was five. Need a tutor he will, and who will care for him. Will he live in the dormitory with the other initiates?" Master Yaddle inquired.
"With Master Jinn he will stay, until comfortable in his new surroundings he is. To be Qui-Gon's apprentice he is". Yoda announced.
"Impossible for him to be a Padawan, at this time, with no training and no education" exclaimed several of the Councillors.
"And what of Qui-Gon, he must continue to attend missions, he cannot take an untrained child with him. Who will care for the boy while he is away?" Another Councillor asked.
Mace caught the look Yoda gave him, and he cleared his throat, "I will take care of him when Qui-Gon is away on missions."
A few Masters huffed and one said "Cannot be done"
Master Yoda stamped his cane on the floor to gain attention. "Can and will be done, Obi-Wan stay with me also. Teach him I will, be ready to pass the apprentice trials before two naming days have passed; see it I do"
"Qui-Gon, tell us, how do you feel about all this. Will you accept him as your apprentice if he passes the trials?" Master Gallia asked.
Qui-Gon stood in the middle of the chambers and a small smile crept on his face. He could tell that no matter what argument the Council came up with Mace and Yoda would not bend in their determination. He stepped forward bowing to the Councillors.
"It is my wish to take Obi-Wan Kenobi as my apprentice, and I will when he passes the Padawan trials."
"And what if he doesn't pass" announced Plo Koon.
"Pass he will" snapped Yoda. "No doubts have I, great Jedi he will be"
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Obi-wan began his studies with a group of six year olds for the first few months, and it was really hard on him because some of his age mates, ridiculed him in front of the younger children he was studying with. The leader of the group was a bully named Malak, and he and his two friends where always picking on the younger students. All three of them were slightly taller than Obi-wan, and one day the younglings were sitting on the grass eating their lunch; when the bullies came over and started taunting Obi-Wan.
"Hey what are you doing here with these little kids, are you to dumb to be in our class" Malak sniggered, and his two friends laughed at Obi-wan. Obi-Wan did not like these three boys, as they seemed mean, and he sensed the other children were afraid of them. Therefore, Obi-Wan stood up and told the boys to go away.
Malak laughed and said, "Who is going to make me?"
"Go away or I will tell the crèche master" Obi-Wan stated.
Malak laughed and poked Obi-Wan in the chest, and while he distracted Obi-Wan one of his friends pushed Obi-Wan sideways towards the pond. Obi-wan lost his balance and fell into the pond, yet unknown to Malak and his friends Obi could stay under water for a long time, and because he did not like the bullies he decided to go and tell Master Qui-Gon. So he swam under water and came out on the other side of the pond. They could not see him, and he climbed out of the pond and went to the exit. The bullies stood at the edge of the pond waiting for Obi-Wan to surface, however, when he did not some of the younglings started to cry.
Malak started to get worried too, and his two friends began to panic.
Several of the crèche Masters were sitting not far from them and heard the screams, and once they found out what happened a search was made of the pond, however, they couldn't find the boy anywhere. The Masters couldn't sense him and so they called Yoda…..
Obi-wan ran down the corridor and found Qui-Gon meditating in the star room, so he quietly walked over and sat down next to him. He wanted to tell him what happened but he didn't want to disturb Master Qui-Gon's meditations. So he decided to close his eyes and meditate too. After a moment Qui-Gon sensed Obi-wan's presence trying to meditate but failing, he was fidgeting and couldn't centre himself.
Qui-Gon chuckled He's bored, and he cannot concentrate; , he is like a bag full of beans just waiting for the opportunity to spill out all over the place. I think I will make him sit there for a little while longer
But it wasn't Obi-wan who broke the silence; it was Qui-Gon's comm. unit.
"Jinn here" he said looking down at a sleeping Obi-wan. The boy had dozed off and his head was resting on Qui-Gon's knee.
"Qui-Gon! It is Mace here; I think you had better come to the pond in the fountain room. It's Obi-wan". Mace blurted out.
Qui-Gon looked down at a now fully asleep child and said "What about Obi-wan Mace?"
"Qui the Masters are searching the bottom of the pond, they think he has drowned; they have looked everywhere and cannot find him."
"Drowned you say Mace, are you sure ?" Qui quizzed chuckling .
"Qui-Gon! No, of course I'm not SURE! But we cannot find him, and the children say he fell in the pond and didn't come up.
"Calm down Mace, Obi-wan didn't drown, I can see him, and he is fine" Qui-Gon told his distraught friend as he stroked Obi-Wans damp hair.
"What do you mean you can see him, you don't have visions, how can you be so calm Qui. Will you just come, and hurry up about it!." Mace was getting frustrated.
"Take it easy Mace; I'm trying to tell you that Obi-wan is here with me!"
"With you! Where are you?" Mace snorted.
"Well I was trying to meditate in the star room, and Obi-wan came in and meditated with me."
"Meditating, Obi-wan is with you meditating? But, how can he be with you, when all the children are crying because they think he drowned!"
"Mace I can assure you that Obi-wan 'IS' here with me, and now that I look at him, his clothes are wet." Qui-Gon confirmed.
"Well ask him what happened, why did he let the other children believe he was in the pond?" Mace inquired.
"I'm sorry Mace but I cannot ask him anything at the moment." Qui smiled to himself.
Why not?" asked Mace who seemed to be frustrated by Qui-Gon's lack of concern.
"Well he fell asleep while he was meditating, listen Mace I will comm. you as soon as I get Obi
home and out of his wet clothes, Jinn out"
tbc...
