The Crucible

Rating: T+
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi gets a crash course in Murphy's Law and pays the price for it.
Disclaimer: All cannon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled One, and now Disney. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Note: This is a sequel to The Guardians
Timeline: 41BBY

Speech: " "
Training Bond communications: /
Internal thoughts: italics

Chapter One

"Bring forth the accused."

In the Jedi High Council chamber Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, sans lightsaber, was pushed forward, head bow and eyes closed. It was as if his worst fears had come true, and his future as a Jedi was all but destroyed because of his actions. Hands on his shoulders forced him to his knees. This is it, the words wound through his numb mind.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Jedi Master Mace Windu started. "You have been charged with aiding and abetting with Boe Laabon's death. How do you plead?"

It wasn't lost on Obi-Wan that Master Windu never mentioned his place within the Jedi. He also knew that if he didn't plead guilty, then the Masters before him could easily overcome any barrier he could set up, and find out the truth. Those actions by the councilors were not to be gentle, but would put him in excruciating pain. "Guilty," he whispered with his head bowed. At least he was smart enough to explain everything of what he saw and experienced when he was formally questioned.

Bruck Chun was flippant the entire time, apparently believing that the truncated council would never go as far as to break the barriers he set up to find out the truth. Only after the process began did he realize his grave mistake. Obi-Wan was not allowed to leave while the Masters easily stripped away Bruck's shields and delved into his mind. The seeking was nothing compared to what happened after that. Bruck's cries lowered to a whimper as he clutched at his head. The now former Padawan's braid was cut off, a physical sign of him being cut off from accessing the Force, then led away.

Thinking that it could help his chances, Obi-Wan lowered every shield he had and bared his soul. "Yes, I was there. Padawan…Bruck Chun told me it was an accident. I tried to catch him, but wasn't fast, or strong enough."

"And you believed him?"

"Master Windu, I may have had problems with him when we were initiates, but for this particular mission I had no reason not to believe him. After the…I never questioned him. He said, and acted as if it was an accident, and I accepted it at face value."

In the deafening silence Obi-Wan felt Master Windu's presence within his mind. Please. The thought was brushed off to the side as if it were nothing as the master went deeper, searching for the memories in question. For a moment he couldn't help but remember the test where he was blocked from any access to the Force. It morphed into seeing and hearing Bruck's reactions. For him, the silence was a test on how to work without having any access, while the other was permanent. Those few days, though for Obi-Wan was the hardest ever. The echoing silence was a frightening experience.

The minutes felt like they were dragged out until finally Windu pulled out of Obi-Wan's mind and straightened in his chair. "Rise Kenobi," the Jedi Master ordered, augmenting his voice with the Force.

Obi-Wan couldn't help but get to his feet, but he also continued to look down. Eventually he looked up, the six Masters were looking at each other. It was obvious they were discussing what was found. He cast his gaze down again. Not wanting to even show a glimmer of stubborn arrogance, the same arrogance Bruck hid behind ever since they were initiates.

Master Windu turned his full attention back to Obi-Wan while clearing his throat. "It is the will of the High Council that you will be placed on probation for one standard year. You are not…."

Obi-Wan's hearing washed out. All he could hear was his beating heart and his own breathing. His vision tunneled and then everything glazed over. Probation…I'm on probation…I'm still a Jedi….

A hand on his shoulder turned him around and he felt himself being led out of the chambers. The door closed behind them and Obi-Wan felt lightheaded and he wobbled on his feet for a step, then his legs gave way. "Obi-Wan," he heard his master's voice as if from a great distance and then arms around him.

After blinking his eyes several times, his sight finally cleared. Obi-Wan found himself on the floor. Tahl knelt next to him and grasped his wrist in such a way that she felt his pulse. "It's stronger," she said as she across him and towards the lifts.

It was at that moment Obi-Wan realized what happened. His face flushed in mortification as he tried to sit up. "Not yet," Qui-Gon's voice came from the other side. "Are you all right?" his Master asked as Obi-Wan now leaned forward while shaking his head.

"I…I think so."

Hands helped him to his feet. For a moment he wavered once again. Taking a deep breath Obi-Wan stood still until the light headedness finally went away. Without thinking his hand came up and he fingered the growing braid that still hung from behind his ear. It was only at this point did he realize that, along with the guards, Tahl and Qui-Gon were the only ones in the anti-chamber.

"The Savoians were already in the council chamber…," Tahl's voice trailed off. "They won't know about this, but the Council does."

"Figures," Obi-Wan muttered as they finally moved towards the lifts.

/We will talk later,/ Qui-Gon's voice echoed in his mind through the training bond.

Obi-Wan jumped at the sudden communication. It was a relief to know that the training bond was still in place. Reaching out he felt the barriers that Qui-Gon set up. Even from where he stood he could tell that the mental walls were so thick and high that he would never be able to reach the older Jedi.

Because of the nature of the guilty parties, the Judiciary had accepted that the Jedi would take care of this particular trial. The trial and punishment could easily have been made in the courts buildings, but it wasn't. Everyone knew that if it had been there it would have been a madhouse with the media everywhere. Jedi were supposed to be the pinnacle of law and order. It would do no good if the public found out that they had the same issues that the rest of society had to deal with. Thankfully with it being in the Temple everything was controlled. Raising his hood to cover his head, Obi-Wan cowled himself so that no one could see his face as the three Jedi entered the lift.

Eventually the doors opened and they stepped out and into the residential halls. When Obi-Wan had first become a Padawan, he moved from the room he was granted as a senior initiate to moving in with his master. As they neared their joint apartment Obi-Wan paused, not really sure if he was welcome anymore, or if he should go back to the apartment he used before his padawanship. Technically that one was still reserved for him until he decided otherwise. Giving the two a nod, Tahl continued on in the direction of her own rooms.

Qui-Gon palmed the door open and stepped inside. When Obi-Wan didn't follow him, he turned and frowned. "You are always welcome here."

Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan crossed the thresh hold and stepped inside the apartment. Once clear of the door, it closed automatically. With a sigh he pulled his cloak off and dumped it onto the closest piece of furniture. His hand strayed towards the place where his lightsaber normally hung, one he recently built after loosing his first one. Finding nothing he pulled away. At the beginning of the trial he was forced to relinquish it. No telling when, or even if, he would ever be granted it again.

"Sit," Qui-Gon indicated one of the chairs.

At first Obi-Wan didn't complied, but eventually he sat down. Qui-Gon sat down across from him. For a time Obi-Wan looked at his hands. "I know I should be grateful, but I still feel terrible about what happened."

"With Bruck's sentencing?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan sniffed, "And what happened to Laboon. I tried to catch him, but I just couldn't." His shoulders slumped in defeat. Throughout the trial he had managed to remain stalwart, but now behind closed doors his despondency took over.

"Padawan."

Obi-Wan's head shot up, his eyes wide. "I don't deserve the title."

"Until I hear otherwise, you are still my Padawan." Qui-Gon hesitated, "and I also know you didn't hear your probation conditions."

Obi-Wan shook his head while rubbing his hands together. "All I remember hearing was that I would be placed on probation."

Qui-Gon glanced around the minimally decorated apartment before turning back to his young charge. For a Jedi so immersed in the Living Force their living quarters a strange place "Like I mentioned, you are still my Padawan. Do not forget that." He then reached over for a datafile reader and glanced over what was on the screen. "And it looks like Savioans have agreed to the conditions the Council set out. For the next six months you will be confined to the apartment. You will be allowed to attend your classes and other training sessions, but only accompanied by another master if I am not here." For a moment he paused, "The following three months your restrictions within the Temple will be relaxed, but you will not be allowed to leave the grounds unless on order from the Council. And the last three months all restrictions will be removed and you will be allowed to come with me, but you cannot become involved in whatever I am required to complete."

"And my lightsaber?"

Qui-Gon skimmed through the rest of the text. "You will most likely receive it back the last three months when you are traveling with me."

"So I am dead weight for a year," Obi-Wan muttered.

Instead of answering the comment, Qui-Gon continued, "You were wise to open your mind up to the councilors. If you had not, your punishment would have been much worse."

"I know." With a frown he got to his feet and looked around the room before heading towards his sleeping chamber. This was the beginning of his new normal, which he didn't like at all.

"Obi-Wan."

He stopped then looked over his shoulder.

"Meditations will be at the 6th hour."

Obi-Wan wasn't sure if Qui-Gon's words were good or not. It was already difficult to follow through with the habits they had created over the last four years.

TBC….