Title: Foundlings
Author: astraevirgo
Timeframe: Between JA#7 and JA#8
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Maela Nuccio (OC), and Lilia Rhyne (OC)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Keywords:
Summary: Who decides that someone should be a Jedi? Who sets an initiate upon their path? In the aftermath of Melinda/Daan, Obi-Wan has to learn something of philosophy and what it means to be Jedi.
Notes: I write this to give my answers to some questions of what I ponder about the Jedi. This story is about a third to a fourth of the way done, and if I post one chapter a week, I plan to be another third of the way done by the time I run out of chapters. So, enjoy, and read on.

There is no emotion;
there is peace.
There is no ignorance;
there is knowledge.
There is no passion;
there is serenity.
There is no death;
there is the Force.
- The Jedi Code

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood in front of the doors that lead into the Council Chamber. His chest restricted and he fought down panic remembering suddenly that once, he did not belong here. And because of that breach, he wondered if he would ever be allowed to leave these walls again. Obi-Wan cast a glance at his Master, who was sitting closest to the door on the velveteen couches that lined the arch walls of the antechamber. Obi-Wan reminded himself that his Master had claimed him as his Padawan, that he had returned to his rightful place in the Jedi Order, and that he had to breathe. He glanced at his master again, and tried to guess if his Master knew his anxiety, or whether his master had any of his own, but Qui-Gon was giving away nothing. Obi-Wan blew out a noisy breath.

He could not go into the Chamber with his emotions in such turmoil; he searched his mind for a light meditative technique and stumbled upon one taught to initiates. He drew in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and made himself subject to his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the gentle hum that was the daily Temple life. Not too long ago there was silence, laced with fear, and the sheer normalcy of the hum put a smile on Obi-Wan's lips. Before he could complete the exercise – before he could assess his sense of taste, smell, touch, and body – the doors opened.

The doors opened away from Obi-Wan, and in a moment Qui-Gon was at his side, leading the way into the center of the dais. Obi-Wan squinted momentarily against the sunlight illuminating the room, but his eyes adjusted, and the Council was called to order.

"Studied, you have, the ways of the Jedi, Padawan Kenobi," called Master Yoda, his voice projecting across the room. Obi-Wan startled. The Council was addressing him first.

"Yes, Masters, I have studied the ways of the Jedi. But my studies are not done." Obi-Wan spoke carefully, willing himself to be heard the cavernous room. Obi-Wan had been researching in the archives since his probationary reinstatement into the Order. He was looking for commitment to the Jedi path – with a grueling reading list that had been supplied by the collective efforts of the Council.

"Even I have much to learn, Padawan Kenobi," said Master Windu. Obi-Wan was a bit surprised and couldn't help but be skeptical. Surely Master Windu had read all of the tomes on that list. "We have called you here today for two reasons. The first is to learn of the progress of your studies."

"I am ready, Masters," Obi-Wan replied. He shifted into a more comfortable position while remaining at attention, and fought down a tendril of fear. Had he studied hard enough?

"What is emotion?" asked Master Plo Koon. Obi-Wan turned and faced the Jedi Master who face was covered by a forked mask. Obi-Wan remembered speculating as an initiate what was really under the mask. But that wasn't important now; he had to answer the question. He breathed deeply.

"Ancient Masters say emotion is something you cannot stop. It is something you cannot predict. Emotions change your body, and its responses to emotion can help or hurt you." Obi-Wan's mind ran through the hundreds of pages he had read and faced the reality of this as he still fought down fear.

"How can they help?" demanded Master Eeth Koth. "The Code seems unambiguous. It says that there is no emotion, there is peace."

"Emotions have two parts," Obi-Wan replied. He fought to keep his voice strong, and he had been doing so well until Master Koth had challenged him. He turned to face the Master, and looked into his eyes, past the tattoos and crown of horns. "There is the psychological," Obi-Wan paused to make sure he said the word correctly, "and the sensible. Psychological emotions cause anxiety, cannot be controlled, and cause disturbance in the Force. Emotional Sensibility is what gives the Jedi his gifts: it is the receptiveness of impression, the refined awareness, and the ability to feel changes in environment." Obi-Wan was proud of himself, just a little, for remembering the arguments of the Ancient Jedi so well.

There was a momentary silence after his answer, his recitation of catechism, and Obi-Wan was suddenly aware of the support Qui-Gon was giving him. His master had moved closer to his shoulder, and while he was not touching, Obi-Wan knew. The questioning continued from Master Windu: "What is peace?"

"Peace is the absence of war." Obi-Wan paused again. There were answers he had known from the crèche, but then there were the true answers. With all their ambiguity. "It is the absence of mental stress or anxiety. It is the absence of hostilities. Without psychological emotions, we would not have war. But those emotions exist, and not all control them. And so the Jedi use our sensibilities to prevent what therefore must exist."

"What is ignorance?"

"The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed," Obi-Wan rattled. It was the simplest answer, but he knew that the Masters would not be satisfied with that. Ki-Adi-Mundi asked for clarification.

"The Ancient Masters," Obi-Wan paused for a moment, trying to remember the exact wording, "say that it is only ignorance if you believe you possess all the knowledge. The smallest initiate is not ignorant, they say, but merely uneducated, because they are aware of all they must learn."

"Then, what is knowledge, Padawan Kenobi?" Ki-Adi-Mundi demanded. "If one knows they are uneducated, is that all that knowledge is?"

Obi-Wan paused, sure he was walking into a trap. "Knowledge can be the mere possession of the fact. But knowledge is more. Knowledge is awareness and understanding through study, a familiarity with the universe."

"What is passion?" asked Master Adi Gallia.

"An abandoned display of powerful emotion." Obi-Wan knew these answers in his sleep. He was taught as an infant. What it meant, though, he struggled with.

"Such as?" Master Adi continued.

"Love, such that violence is evoked. Anger, such that you feel justified in taking another's life. Jealousy, a combination of them both." Obi-Wan had met those emotions, outside the Temple walls. He wished he hadn't, but he knew that he must again to help the Universe as a Jedi should. The writings of the Ancient Jedi said as much. The writings said more than that, and Obi-Wan was struggling to understand.

"And so, what is serenity?"

"A Jedi must be unaffected by emotional disturbance, in order to work for the good of all."

"In your opinion, is avoiding passion in favor of serenity easy, Padawan Kenobi?"

"It is a daily struggle. Passion is psychological emotion that is not controlled, that becomes all consuming and clouds the judgment of the Jedi. Passion created and destroyed great works."

"Your opinion, we sought. Not that of the Ancient Jedi." Master Yoda spoke softly, but Obi-Wan felt the admonition. He bowed his head.

"Yes, Masters. Serenity is a lofty goal. I am not sure I can reach it." Obi-Wan could not meet the Master's eyes. He had been passionate when he left the Order for the Young.

"Admirable is honesty, Padawan. And what is death?" Master Yoda, his teacher from the crèche, projected comfort. Obi-Wan knew that he was doing well. He concentrated on what he knew to be the ends of the questions.

"Death is when the body no longer functions." Cesari. Her image came unbidden in Obi-Wan's mind, a reflection of all that was lost on Melida/Daan, despite all that had been gained. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to fight down the sorrow. "Death is when you stop living." He knew there was one more question.

"What is the Force?" queried Master Even Piell. Obi-Wan turned to him, seeking his large droopy ears and scarred, and spoke.

"The Force is all around us, flowing through us. It is what binds us together, as beings as well as Jedi. This connection between all is the opposite of death. If you die, you will be remembered. If you stop living, it always lives." Reciting what he truly believed helped relieve the sorrow.

"The Jedi Code is the path of the Jedi," Master Windu. "It acknowledges the stages of the journey of the Jedi. But it does not state the first step on the path."

Master Yoda stood from his chair and walked two steps towards the Master/Padawan team. "Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, to become a Jedi Master, who sets the initiate upon the path?"

Obi-Wan was struck dumb. This was nothing he had been taught, this was nothing he had read, but Master Yoda was asking it. The questions were supposed to be over! Obi-Wan thought quickly, his eyes darting back and forth across the room, as if looking for an answer, or an escape. "The Masters?" Obi-Wan said, unsure. The Masters taught the Jedi Code, shaped Initiate into Padawan into Knight, they were the guides on the journey, did they not tell the student to take the first step?

"Wrong, you are," said Master Yoda. Obi-Wan's heart sank, though there was no disappointment in Yoda's voice. "Brings us then to the second reason well called you here." Yoda turned and plodded back to his seat. As he was settling in, his gaze turned to Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan let his shoulders sag. "Two initiates, requests to visit their families, they have."

"That is not unusual," said Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan smiled slightly, remembering the visits with his family during his time as an initiate. They were short, but they were worth it.

"Unusual, it is, that both initiates you did sponsor."

"I see," said Qui-Gon, his voice taking on the tone of amusement. "I suspect it will be my duty to chaperone them." Obi-Wan grinned. Sponsors, if they were available, were the traditional chaperones, as they already knew the families.

"Take Obi-Wan, you will. Ismaela Nuccio and Liliana Rhyne must be escorted home. Return them safely," Yoda paused, his ears rising in mirth, "and we will discuss further missions for your team."

Qui-Gon bowed, and Obi-Wan followed, and they moved to exit the chamber. "Wait, you will, Qui-Gon," called Yoda. "Additional instructions we have for you. Dismissed, though, you are, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan exited, fighting down anxiety. He thought he had done so well! What would the Council have to say to Qui-Gon that they couldn't say to him? It wasn't fair, Obi-Wan thought. It wasn't fair and they still didn't trust him.

Qui-Gon, still standing in the middle of the Council dais, kept his gaze steady in the direction of Mace and Master Yoda. "Speak with you, we had to," said Yoda, his voice low and rumbling. "Preparing for departure, you should be, I know. But these initiates you sponsored, problems they have. Flaws in their personality prevent them from being Jedi, from reaching full potential."

Qui-Gon was surprised. "I remember when I sponsored both Maela and Lilia into the Order. The tests indicated that these girls had powerful potential. Why wouldn't they be Jedi?" Obi-Wan, as well, had vast potential. Qui-Gon felt a small twinge of guilt, remembering how he almost denied him.

"Initate Nuccio," said Mace Windu, speaking up, "is extremely powerful in the Living Force. She almost seems empathic, but she has trouble with the art of tact, never knowing when her truthful statements are hurtful or unwanted. This fault can be fatal – she has little compassion for all of her sympathy, and an apathetic Jedi we cannot have. As Obi-Wan was telling us: receptiveness of impression is what allows a Jedi to create peace. She is not receptive."

Qui-Gon found he understood the concern. The idea that seemingly pathetic life forms could make a world of difference was one he struggled in teaching Obi-Wan. Maela would only be eight, just out of the crèche. It was a large flaw to have developed so young. "What would you have me do, venerable Masters?"

Master Windu smirked, recognizing the hint of insubordination in Qui-Gon's voice. "Have Ismaela become friends with Liliana. Lilia won't stand for Maela's judgments; Maela should learn they hurt many and when used thus rarely help."

"Time and a place, there is, for everything," intoned Yoda. "Young ones must learn this. A very important lesson for some. Friendship should solve the problem, but extra guidance may be needed."

Qui-Gon nodded his understanding. It wouldn't be overly hard to make sure the two girls spent time together, getting to know one another. They would, after all, have to share a room on a transport. "And what fault jeopardizes Initiate Rhyne's future?"

"Long line of Jedi in her family. Close to them she is. Great Uncle was Master Younglas – may he be one with the Force." Yoda tapped his gimmer stick on the floor for emphasis. "She has been greatly affected by his death."

Qui-Gon was quite aware of her familial ties, and was deeply saddened when he heard of the great master's death – the master and his family had been kind to him. "Is she aware of how he died?"

"She knows he was on a mission, and that he was betrayed. Her aunt told her as much. But Lilia no longer trusts people. Trust is essential to a Jedi's life – her mind and motive are pure, and she will be a master swordswomen, but without trust…" Mace Windu lifted his arm in a shrug.

Qui-Gon had lost his trust before. In both Xanatos and Obi-Wan. He looked down at the floor briefly. "She cannot be a Jedi Knight, dedicated to serving the galaxy in the name of peace." He was not so much a fool now to realize that he had lost an edge when he lost his trust.

Mace clarified, "Lilia would never see peace, because she doesn't trust people enough to believe it can exist."

"How may I help Lilia?" It was unfortunate, thought Qui-Gon. She had lost her trust so young with out years of experience to fall back on.

Master Yoda spoke up once again. "Become friends with Ismaela, she shall. If she can trust Maela, learn that she can trust all people, she will. Council them to listen to one another. If frustrated, they are, council them separately. They should learn if all goes well." It was an optimistic proclamation.

Qui-Gon snorted in an undignified manner. "Such little girls to have such big problems. And you wait until I've agreed to care for them before to tell me about this."

Mace smiled benignly. "You'll have Obi-Wan's help. You'll be fine. One standard hour, practice room eight." He rose and handed Qui-Gon a datapad. "These are your travel arrangements, and permission to use the biological archives."

Qui-Gon bowed, knowing a dismissal when he heard one. He turned and exited through the majestic doors, and nearly bumped into his Padawan waiting there.

"Was that test?" Obi-Wan asked, his anxiety and urgency showing in his voice. "What did they ask you?"

"I believe it was, in a way," said Qui-Gon, smiling softly. "And they didn't ask me anything, they told me about the initiates." Qui-Gon paused, and allowed Obi-Wan to compose himself, absorb this information. "You answered their questions admirably, Padawan. I believe they asked us to chaperone the initiates so you would discover the answer to their last question, and live what you have learned of the Code." They stepped into an elevator, and Qui-Gon pushed the correct number. "They wish to expand your knowledge of the code beyond that of the average Padawan your age. I believe it's a sign of trust."

Obi-Wan knew better than to allow his jaw to drop, but he couldn't help but be agape. "They didn't send me out because they didn't trust me to hear what they had to say?" asked Obi-Wan.

"They sent you out, Obi-Wan, because what they had to say was confidential – the progress of fellow Learners." Qui-Gon turned to his apprentice, slightly. "But I will tell you what you need to know when the time comes. It seems that our Chaperoning job will not be as simple as it seems. They want us to help teach Initiates Nuccio and Ryhne a lesson, as well as escort them home."

"What kind of lesson, Qui-Gon?" asked Obi-Wan. The elevator slowed, reaching the floor that their quarters were situated.

"A lesson in self-control for one and a lesson in trust for the other." Qui-Gon said as the doors open and he stepped off. Obi-Wan's ears turned pink. Leave it to the Council to rub his nose in his own failings. He hurried to follow Qui-Gon.

"When are we leaving?" asked Obi-Wan, as he came to a halt next to Qui-Gon, as his Master opened the door. Qui-Gon handed Obi-Wan the datapad.

"You tell me," he said, as he headed towards the kitchenette and began making himself a cup of tea.

Obi-Wan walked slowly across the room, scrolling through the contents of the datapad, making his way towards his favorite of the lazichairs. "It looks as if we leave late tomorrow. There are directions to prepare for this trip like I would any mission… and to teach the initiates the same procedure."

Qui-Gon poured boiling water into two mugs, and began seeping the tea. "That includes researching the destination, does it not?"

"Of course it does, Master. I suppose that's why we have permission to access the biological archive." Obi-Wan moved from the lazichair to the terminal across the room. Qui-Gon moved to take his apprentice's spot, stopping along the way to hand his Padawan his mug. "The instructions say that we're to give the initiates the family information of the other girl, so that they can learn more about the other's family before spending several days with them."

"Sounds appropriate," said Qui-Gon, sitting back. "Prepare the datapads with the appropriate information. We're to meet the initiates in fifty minutes or so."

"I'll need you to generate the excuse note, so that Ismaela, Liliana, and I can collect our studies to do while in transit." Obi-Wan said, eyes scanning the computer screen, carefully selecting the pertinent data for the initiate's datapads.

"Call them Maela and Lilia, Obi-Wan. That's what their family's called them, that's what they call themselves. You will have to collect lessons, but I think that daily studies would be more appropriate, for such young minds." Qui-Gon sipped his tea. "You should do daily lessons as well," Qui-Gon mused aloud. "It would give them a good example of discipline."

Obi-Wan groaned inside. Daily lessons meant much more work over the course of the mission. Most times, you only got lessons to be attempted in transit home, but sometimes, on boring missions like diplomatic affairs, daily lessons were more appropriate. To keep discipline. But Obi-Wan couldn't complain… he was accused far too often of not having enough discipline these days.

"How old are they, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Maela is eight, Lilia is ten." Obi-Wan sighed. "Maela just turned eight. She probably doesn't even maintain her own schedule yet, outside of the clan."

"The Council informs me that she is very independent, Padawan," said Qui-Gon. His lips twitched. They didn't say it, exactly, but it was definitely implied. "Do not judge her by her age. But we will have to be aware of it in daily tasks. We should collect reports from their physical instructors, to see what katas they can perform, and to get permission to take training sabers. We'll ask before we meet them in the practice hall. I have a feeling we're going to see them duel." Qui-Gon drained his mug and stood to place it in its proper receptacle. "Lilia and Maela were brought to the Order in my arms." He smiled thoughtfully. "It's always interesting to see how the infants grow."