Chapter 1: Reencounters

Note: sorry for changing the plot a little bit. I wanted to upload the chapter earlier, but the stupid old machine I have as a computer decided to die, so I haven't been able to use the Internet for five days. It's pretty much the same, but the story sound better for me in this way. Sorry! And please, review!

The Jedi Temple, Coruscant, 30 ABY

Two years had passed. Two years since the Trade Federation invaded the planet Naboo. Two years since the Sith presence had been revealed. Two years since Chancellor Valorum's resignation and Senator Palpatine's election as Supreme Chancellor. Two years since that fatidic day in that hangar in Theed, where he had first felt the Dark Side in his veins. Two years since Qui-Gon Jinn, his Master and friend, had died. Two years since became a Jedi Knight. And still, there were times when Obi-Wan Kenobi still felt like an apprentice.

The young Jedi stared at the white, high ceiling of his quarters, and sighed when his zillionth attempt to achieve a decent meditative state failed. He shook his head and took a deep breath, annoyed by his lack of concentration, and raised his hand to play with his braid, as he used to do when he was nervous. When his hand closed around empty air, he froze. Two years had passed since his Padawan braid was cut and, still, he hadn't got used to its absence.

Two years.
He smiled ruefully.

You are not a Padawan anymore, Kenobi. You must get used to that. Even if your lack of concentration when it comes to meditation is worthy of a three-year-old youngling, he thought with a snort.

He had just returned from his last mission, a political disagreement between the leaders of the two main political parties of Chadra-Fan. It had been a complicated and long mission. What at first looked as a small conflict became more and more complicated until it almost ended in a civil war. After weeks of being in a foreign planet, he was glad to be at home again.
It still surprised him to travel alone, to be assigned missions and to go through them without the help and guidance of his Master. Each time his comlink beeped and heard Mace Windu's deep voice saying "Master Kenobi, the Council will meet you in the Council's chamber in fifteen minutes", he had the feeling of being in the middle of a dream. A dream like those he had had when he was an Initiate. A dream where Padawan Kenobi was no more, replaced by Master Kenobi, Jedi Knight and full member of the Jedi Order.

A beautiful one, indeed, he thought as he contemplated Coruscant's high buildings through his window, but a frightening one, too.

A few hours later, when Coruscant's sun was starting to hide behind the high skycrapers of the Galactic City, he decided to visit the Room of a Thousand Fountains. It was one of his favourite places in the Temple, if no the most, and it was full of old memories.

Good ones and bad ones.

Afternoons swimming with Bant and Galen in the lake, meditation sessions with Master Yoda, long walks with his Master between tall trees and exotic flowers. Bruck Chun's terrible death, Bant drowning in the bottom of the lake, enchained by Xanatos and Bruck Chun, Talh and Qui-Gon's last afternoon together, Obi-Wan and Siri's last moments.
He was lost in his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice shouting his name. He turned around and only gott o see a figure jumping on him, screaming his name and hugging him until almost choking him. When the figure finally moved away, a broad smile on its face, Obi-Wan couldn't help but to smile too. Five years had passed since he had last saw that face.
-Obi-Wan!-Bant shouted, her beautiful grey eyes shining with excitement.-I'm so happy to see you!
-Hello, Bant.-smiled Obi-Wan, trying not to shout too much.-I'm glad to see you.
-By the Force, look at you!-said Bant, taking two steps backwards so she could see Obi-Wan completely.-You look so professional in those Jedi Knight tunics of yours!
-You are beautiful today too, Padawan Eerin.-he said deadpan, trying with much effort to burst in a laugh.
-Thanks. It's been a long time, Master Kenobi.-she said solemnly, her eyes shining mischievously a broad smile spreading on her face.
Obi-Wan sucked his breath and laughed.
-Don't call me that.-the said.-It sounds... weird.-he shook his head with amusement.-I always almost choke every time a Padawan calls me that.
Bant giggled and took his hand.
- My skin is getting dry. -she said and happily pulled him.- Come on, let's go to the lake.
-Like in the old days.-smiled Obi-Wan.
-Like in the old days.-she agreed.

They walked by the Temple's corridors in a comfortable silence. Obi-Wan looked at her friend out of the corner of his eye an sighed. He had missed her a lot.

She has changed a lot, too, he realised.

The young Mon Calamari had always been too short for her age, even in her teens, and had always been worried about her lack of feminine attributes, no matter how many times Master Talh explained her that Mon Calamari development didn't work in the same way or started at the same time than other species'. But know, time had passed, and the skinny and short girl he remembered had turned into a beautiful young woman. They had almost arrived to the Room of a Thousand Fountains when Obi-Wan's eyes locked on the amulet that hung from Bant's neck, which she used to mark her Padawan status. Concretely, on the five coloured bands which were carefully tied at both sides of the amulet.

Skill, courage, spirit, flesh, insight.

And then he remembered.
-Hey!-he turned towards Bant, who looked at him with surprised, wide eyes.
-What?
-You are going to be Knighted!-he shouted happily. A wide smile spread across Bant's face, who reddened and smiled proudly.-We'll soon have Master Eerin walking down the corridors in the Temple, eh?-he said as he nudged her with his elbow.-When is the ceremony going to be?
-Next week.-she answered delighted.-Wait a minute. How did you know it? You haven't been in the Temple for weeks.
Obi-Wan smiled as they walked towards a group of rocks by the edge of the lake.
-I saw Galen yesterday just before he went on a mission.-he answered.-He told me "hey, Kenobi, you know the little fish girl's gonna be Knighted? And she's grown up! Can you believe it?"
Bant laughed as she sat on her favourite rock, Obi-Wan mimicking her.
-That sound very like him, Obi-Wan.-she agreed. Then, she smiled sadly and sighed.
Obi-Wan felt the change in her friend's mood.
-Is something wrong?-he asked as he put a hand on her friend's shoulder. She smiled tiredly to him and bent her head.
-It's just...-she rose her head and fixed her silver eyes on Obi-Wan's.-Don't misunderstand me, I don't want to sound like an ingrate. I'm really happy of being considered worthy of being a Jedi Knight. It's just...-she sighed again.-Sometimes I don't feel like I'm ready... Without Master Kit's guidance, I feel lost. I passed the trials, but still... It frightens me...
Obi-Wan squeezed her shoulder gently.
-Hey, don't worry.-he said softly.-I understand.
From all the people, you know I understand., were the unspoken words. She seemed to chatch them anyway, for her eyes got warm and she smiled lightly, a shade of sorrow covering her face.
-I know you do...

They were just talking about Bant and her Master's last mission when a choir of laughter filled the air. They turned their head just to see a group of younglings running towards the lake, followed by a female Twi'lek instructor who didn't look very please.
-Clawmouse clan, please! Behave yourselves, younglings!-she admonished. Still laughing quietly, the students gather around her. The Jedi then turned to Obi-Wan and Bant, sat only a few meters away and smiled when she recognised them.-I hope you don't mind if I teach my class here.-she said kindly.
-Don't worry, Master Fa'thir.-Bant answered smiling.-I know from experience that the Room of a Thousand fountains is a great place to study healing techniques.
The Twi'lek smiled and looked at the children gathered around her, who were looking at her two old students with curiosity. She crouched in front of them and pointed at the two Jedi.
-These are Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padawan Bant Eerin.-she explained to the younglings.-They were my students when they were just your age.
The children looked at them with wide eyes and admiration and started whispering in amazed voices. Bant and Obi-Wan shared a look and hold a laugh, amused.
-They were your students?-asked a young Togruta female with big, blue eyes.-But they are so old!
Master Fa'thir laughter quietly and stroked her montrals lightly.
-I know, but once they were as young as you are know, Ahsoka.-she answered as she straightened.-Padawan Eerin here was one of the best students I have ever had.-she smiled at Bant's direction, whose cheeks reddened.-She has a natural talent for healing. One day she will make a fine Jedi Healer.-Bant's cheeks reddened even more, and Obi-Wan had to cover his mouth to avoid bursting in laughter.-Like some of you will make.-The instructor continued, her voice more severe now-. But, for that, we need this class to begin. Come on, younglings.

Obi-Wan smiled at Bant, whose cheeks hadn't recovered their normal colour yet.
-And you think I'm strange because I don't like being called "Master"-he said, amused.
-Oh, shut up.-she say, trying to sound annoyed, but failing completely, and nudged him with her elbow.

Oh, these little moments. Life wouldn't have sense without them...

The students sat down in a circle and Obi-Wan and Bant contemplated them as the Twi'lek gave out some pots with almost dried plants, talking in a soft but authoritary voice, presumably explaining the exercise. Bant shook her head and smiled. -What?-asked Obi-Wan, confused. -They are so cute.-Bant said with a smile.-They remember me of when we were just Initiates, worried about if would get to have a Master or we would have to go to the AgriCorps. -Well, just wait until they grow up a little bit and you'll be able to take one as a Padawan.-said Obi-Wan, Bant buffed. -It's you who should be chosing a Padawan, Master Kenobi.-she said with a wide grin.-I'm still Padawan Eerin, do you remember? Obi-Wan opened his mouth to say something, but then, the teacher moved away and sat in the circle with her students, and Obi-Wan's eyes locked on a human girl, apparently nine or ten years old, who was whispering animatedly with the young Togruta who had spoken before. Suddenly, as if she had felt Obi-Wan's gaze in her, she turned her head and looked at him. The young Jedi sucked his breath as the girl's rainbow-like iris locked on his. She held his gaze for a moment, and then turned her head again as the instructor started to talk again, her dark, curly hair rippling in the air with her movement.
-Hey.-Bant said softly, following Obi-Wan's eyes.-Isn't that the girl you and Qui-Gon brought to the Temple some years ago?
-Yes, she is...-he whispered.
-Well, she's grown up a lot.-she said.
-Indeed she has.-he answered softly, pensive, as almost forgotten memories returned to his mind.

A world made of rock. No plants, no wind, no light, no water, no life, an infinite plain of grey, hard, dry rock. Cold, and death, and hunger, and despair, and darkness surrounding him, lightings shining around him. And then, light. The storm whirling around him. And cold turned into fire, death into life, darkness into light, despair into hope. The amazing feeling of life blossoming around him. And in the middle of the light, a pair of eyes, framed by thick and dark eyelashes, its iris made of all the colours of the rainbow. And a voice, made of all the voices been and to be, of laugher and sorrow, of life and death, of darkness and light, the Force whispering around him.

The time has come...