Disclaimer: All characters in this story belongs to George Lucas/Disney, and thus no money based on this writing will ever find their way into my wallet. It's all for the fun of writing - and seeing othes read, and hopefully enjoy the story.

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Chapter 1: Excursion

"…and when you have put your plates and utensils in the cleaner, please meet at the exit door. We're all going for an excursion to the Coruscant Historical Museum today. We will be accompanied by Padawans Ter Halen and Renij Jaa. "

The declaration was uttered by Creche Master Ali-Alann and received with stunned silence by his small proteges. Finally one small hand raised, and the question that was on everyones' lips was uttered: "Master, you mean out…like…outside the Temple?"

Ali-Alann let out an inaudible sigh. This happened every time a group of initiates were to see the world outside the Temple for the first time. They hardly could believe it. In their first years as initiates they were kept strictly inside the Temple area and their outdoor experience was limited to the many gardens that belonged to the Temple. The world outside was partly too overwhelming to the smaller initiates and with all the hustle and bustle going on outside the risk of losing someone in the heavily trafficked walkways was considered too high. On the other hand, sooner or later they had to get used to the world outside the Temple's protective walls too, so the first excursion usually took place when they were about 4-5 standard years old.

Fortunately the historical museum was located in the vicinity of the Temple so hopefully all 20 would come back unharmed. It would be only one short journey with a shuttle stopping outside the Temple and then a short walk (on short legs) to actually reach the museum. Yes, it was a suitable target for the younglings' first meeting with the world outside.

"When we leave the main gate of the Temple, please keep your place in the line at all times and keep an eye on the one beside you. Padawan Jaa will walk behind us and Padawan Halen will walk to the side of the group. The traffic is heavy so we don't want anyone to get lost or fall behind. Is that understood?"

Twenty tiny voiced answered in unison: "Yes, Master."

…

"Do you think we will see any speeders, Obi?" Garen Muln's interest of anything that were made by mechanical parts and could hoover more than a meter above any solid surface was well known and his friend, his best friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

"Sure. We're going out! There are all kinds of vehicles out there."

Sometimes he really felt like a Master in stating the obvious.

The two boys lined up side by side as the last couple of initiates in the row and waited patiently while Ali-Alann counted.

"Good, we're all here. Let's go."

In an unusual disciplined manner the group of 4-5 years old children left the room and the small procession continued towards the main entrance. The two assigned padawans were following. The massive main doors of the Temple were opened and they were out in the public areas for the first time in their young lives. Carefully they moved down the stairs towards the shuttle station.

"Garen, come on! We must not fall behind!" Obi-Wan tugged his friend's sleeve with an uncharacteristic impatient mien.

"I'm coming, but look at that yellow striped speeder…" Garen could hardly concentrate on moving forward since there were so many moving vehicles to see, and so little time.

A friendly reminder from Padawan Jaa, made them increase their speed and they managed to board the shuttle just as it was about to leave.

…

The shuttle was a totally new experience for the younglings. In the Temple they were taught how to shield their emotions from an early age, but here - amidst a crowd non-shielding individs the impressions became almost overwhelming.

"Why don't they shield their emotions?" Garen wondered.

"Duh, they don't know how to do it. They're not Jedi," was Siri Tachi's prompt answer.

Obi-Wan was listening to his friends banter, trying to sort out all the feelings and impressions that were floating all around him. There was an old man sitting in the corner of the shuttle, almost asleep. Closer to them two young Rodian were giggling over some unknown joke and he felt there joy and apprehension over something that they had planned to do later in the evening. And somewhere, somehow a feeling of something…threatening was creeping closer to him. It was a most unpleasant feeling. Still, nothing was to be seen that could explain the feeling.

The shuttle came to a halt and the younglings exited in a fairly ordered manner. Actually the only accident that happened was that Padawan Jaa for a moment was stuck in the sliding doors when he followed the last little initiate out.

One block down they could see the impressing phased of the Historical Museum. Large stone pillars were forming the entrance, while the outer walls were made of transparisteel and durasteel panels.

"Everyone is out," Padawan Jaa proclaimed and Ali-Alann led his small troop towards the entrance.

The grand staircase leading up to the entrance was a sight to see. It was built with replica wood to remind the visitors about the vast forests that had covered the city planet in it's earliest days, before the city grew to cover it's entire surface. For the active younglings it was also an exciting climb and the disciplined double row of initiates disintegrated slightly as they climbed the stair. Garen Muln, however lagged behind. Slightly to the left of the staircase he had spotted a brand new Gian V-44 speeder and he couldn't resist the urge to lag behind the others to get a better look at the beauty.

The result was that Obi-Wan for a moment was left alone by the foot of the staircase, looking after his disappearing friend with large green-blue eyes. "Ga….," he tried to yell, and then his mouth was covered by a huge hand who choke the scream before he managed to get more than the first syllable out. The next he knew was that he was lifted up by strong arms and carried away. The attacker held him in a firm grip and there was no way he could manage to free his arms, much less run away from the attacker.

For a moment fear struck him. He did not want to be separated from his friends, he did not want to lose his creche master, he didn't like to be held and he most certainly didn't like to be carried away like a…a…baby. Force, he was a big boy now. So he kicked backwards with all the force his almost 5 years' old legs could muster. And his captor's grip loosened. Obviously the kick had hit a vulnerable place.

Obi-Wan was free.

Way to free, it seemed. He fell. The captor had been too close to the edge of the walkway when the kick hit it's goal and as his grip loosened and Obi-Wan wriggled out of it, he fell. Only thin air surrounded his body.

Not good.

The thought struck him as he saw railings and walkways pass by in a blur. He hadn't expected this. His intention had been to get away from his captor and run back to his friends, but that was definitely not an option for the moment. He had to stop the fall somehow.

His mind raced back to one of Yoda's lessons where the old Grand Master had demonstrated how to let the Force protect his fall when he let himself drop from one of the beams high up under the ceiling in dojo #3. If only he could do that himself… Then maybe he wouldn't hit whatever was beneath him like a rotten muja.

He relaxed. The Force would carry him, it would protect him. After all the Force was a part of, well, everything. So said Master Yoda, and he was the wisest Jedi that ever lived so it had to be true.

The speed diminished slightly.

I must leave it to the Force. The ground won't harm me, nor will the railings or the walkways. We're of the Force, we're one…

The speed reduced even more.

"I can do it," was Obi-Wan's last conscious thought before he hit a figure passing by on the walkway right under him.

"Oooofffff!" was the last sound he heard before everything went dark.