A Fork in the Road--Chapter 2: A New Path

Obi-Wan Kenobi sat dejectedly on the small bed within his new living quarters at the Agri-Cops facility on Bandomeer, rolling his training saber slowly back and forth between his hands. He was in such a hurry to leave this place, to leave me, that he didn't even take my saber as is protocol: the young would-be Jedi thought miserably of Master Jinn's hasty retreat from the planet. Flopping down onto his back so that his legs dangled off the edge, Obi-Wan cradled his last link to the Jedi against his chest and closed his multihued eyes. For about the thousandth time in the last two days since Master Jinn's departure, the youth questioned what he could have done differently to continue onto the path towards Knighthood. What defect was it within himself that made him unworthy?

A small, incessant beep jolted the boy from his sad thoughts. Blinking in bewilderment, it took Obi-Wan a moment to realize that it was his comm-unit that was alerting him. Rising quickly, and stuffing his saber under his pillow, he walked over to the wall unit next to his door.

"Kenobi," the boy answered the page succinctly. The youth listened calmly as an upbeat sounding woman requested his presence at the front desk. Assuring the woman that he would be there momentarily, Obi-Wan ended the connection. Turning back to his accommodations, which were really just a small, bare room with a bed, dresser, and desk; the ginger-haired boy retrieved his lightsaber and walked over to his dresser.

Opening up the bottom drawer, the cast out Jedi wrapped his lightsaber in his old cloak, effectively hiding it. He did not want to have anyone finding out that he still had the saber. Call him sentimental, but he truly did not want someone taking it away from him: at least not yet. Something told the twelve-year-old boy that he would still need it somehow. Besides, to lose it now would be to lose his identity completely. For as long as he could remember, the youth had been almost positive that he was going to be a Jedi. Now, Obi-Wan had no idea who he was, or what he was to become.

Content that his saber was concealed; Obi-Wan looked at his reflection briefly in the full length mirror next to his closet. A small discouraged moan passed through the boy's lips as he took in his appearance in the drab grey jumpsuit that was standard issue in the Corps. He truly did not think he would ever get used to seeing himself in the uniform of a Farmer.

It just isn't fair! Obi-Wan thought, fighting the urge to stomp his foot in frustration. How could the Force do this to him? He was destine for more than monitoring the growth of plants. Or, at least he had always thought so.

Shaking his head to rid himself of such thoughts, the new Corps member smoothed out some perceived wrinkles in his uniform before turning to leave the quarters. Obi-Wan kept his head ducked as he strode by fellow residents, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Luckily, since most of those here were rejected from the Jedi Order as well, no one tried to intrude on the boys request for solitude. They all knew that newly arrived members need time to adjust and come to terms with the life that had just been stolen from them.

After an uneventful trip, Obi-Wan walked up to the front desk of the corps building and looked up at the auburn-haired, portly woman sitting at the desk. He stood patiently awaiting to be acknowledged as the woman finished up a conversation with another Corps-member on the comlink. As soon as she was finished, she looked down at the small boy in front of her and smiled.

"Well, you must be Obi-Wan, considering I don't recognize you." She stated, placing her hands on her hips in a playful manner. From her voice, the youth knew that this was the woman he had spoken to just minutes before on the comm.

"Yes ma'am." Obi-Wan confirmed her deduction with a slight bow. He was met with a musical laugh at that reaction.

"Child, we shall have to get something straight right away, I am not a ma'am!" The middle aged woman corrected good naturedly, and Obi-Wan decided that he liked her already. "You can call me Kasseri;" she continued, "however, I have a feeling we will not know each other long."

"Are you leaving the Corps?" The young boy asked; his mind already made up that he was never leaving this installation again.

"Oh skies above, no! I'll be working here until the day I die. I have been working at this location for probably longer than you have been alive. No, it is you who I believe may be leaving. You have a visitor here to see you. I believe he is looking to take you from here. He said he is a family relation of yours, and had all of the legal documents to back it up. If you want to take this hallway to the third room on your left, he is in there waiting for you."

Obi-Wan nodded his head and mumbled his thanks to the kindly woman before starting down the hallway he had been directed in. Taking slow steps, the young boy took deep breaths trying to calm his nerves. Who would be here to see him? How would any family know where he was? He had only been officially in the Agri-Corps care for just under two standard days. Sooner than he would have liked, Obi-Wan found himself at the meeting room Kasseri had directed him towards. Taking one more deep breath, and nervously raking a hand through his hair, the young Jedi outcast opened the door and walked in.

"Hello my boy! It is a pleasure to finally meet you." A kindly looking older man stated, getting up from his chair as soon as he saw the door open. Obi-Wan blinked in surprise at the enthusiastic greeting he had just received from this stranger with whom he was supposedly related. The young boy noticed that the man before him was dressed in Coruscant's finest clothes, almost something he would expect to see on a public official or celebrity. Obi-Wan, still following the Jedi training that had consumed the first part of his life, bowed in greeting.

"Hello sir." He stated politely. He was once again met with a laugh of genuine amusement at his gesture of greeting.

"How very proper," the man stated with a smile. "Well, I am sure you are wondering who I am and why I am here, so I shall be frank. My name is Ian Palpatine and I am a senator in the Galactic Senate representing Naboo. My younger half-sister was named Eleanda Kenobi." Here Senator Palpatine paused as he noticed the boys eyes widen marginally at the mention of his mother's name. Although contact was forbidden with one's parents once they were given into the care of the Jedi, everyone at least knew the basics of who had sired them. "Now, my sister had a son about 13 years ago whom she named Benjamin Kenobi. However, she reluctantly gave her son into the care of the Jedi for he had enormous potential in the Force. As I am sure you have figured out, that boy was you.

"When my sister was killed with her new husband in a horrible, unfortunate speeder accident shortly after your departure for the Jedi, I took it upon myself to watch over her only son and to make sure you were never treated poorly. When a contact of mine in the Jedi Temple told me that you had been shipped off to this wretched planet; I knew what I had to do." Palpatine studied the boy before him intently, watching as Obi-Wan slowly figured out what he was trying to tell him.

"Are," the boy paused, as though afraid to continue and have this last chance at escaping the Agri-Corps taken away. He then started again with more confidence. "Are you saying that you wish to take me away from here? And if so, how do I truly know you are who you say you are?"

"I am most definitely here to take you away from this place. You are destined for far better things than the Agricultural Corps, Obi-Wan Kenobi. As for proof, I have all of your birth files here, as well as their connection to me. I also have a copy of my sister's will, requesting that I look out for you in case anything should happen to her. I cannot claim to be your legal guardian, yet; however, that will only be a formality once we get back to Coruscant."

"What will become of me once we get back to Coruscant?" The youth questioned again, wanting to get as many facts as he could before making up his mind completely.

"Well, while I may not be able to make you a Jedi, I do make a fairly good living in the Senate. You will be sent to the finest schools where you will be shaped into a culturally sound and intelligent young man. Personally, I can teach you all I know about the Senate and politics of the galaxy and perhaps, if you so desire, you could follow my footsteps in serving the Republic. I do not plan on always being a Senator, young one. It would be nice to know I have a right hand man to take my place. And," he added almost flippantly, as though it was nothing out of the ordinary, "I am sure I can help you keep up with your skills in the force."

Obi-Wan looked at his new-found savior in confusion at that last, casual statement. "How would you be able to do that?" Before the last word was out of the boy's mouth, a small plant on the far-side of the room slowly rose into the air and started moving towards the pair now sitting at the main table. Blue-green eyes widened in shock at the display of Force ability from his "Uncle". From just that little display, Obi-Wan was able to tell that Palpatine was not only able to use the Force, but he was actually rather strong in its ability and had precise control over it. The white-haired Senator chuckled at the expression on the boy's face before him.

"Surely you know that the Jedi do not have a monopoly on using the Force, don't you? There are plenty of others out there that did not get the chance to realize their dreams. The Jedi so carelessly throw away talent and think that just because they are no longer Jedi that they will not use the Force beyond growing plants. It is ridiculous and narrow-minded, if you ask me," Palpatine finished slightly harsh, the laughter now gone from his voice.

Obi-Wan felt his eyes widen in surprise. Was he following the Senator correctly? Was he in the presence of another adept that the Jedi let go? Any reservations he may have had about Senator Palpatine melted away. How could he not trust someone who knew exactly what he was going through? And, how could he pass up the opportunity to continue to learn about the Force, even if only limitedly? Granted, he could use the Force here at Agri-Corps, but that was basic usage even a five year old initiate could handle while sleeping. Reaching out to test the currents of the Force, as he always had, Obi-Wan was relieved to feel that there seemed to be no immediate danger in accepting the offer placed before him. As Obi-Wan had felt from the moment Qui-Gon Jinn had walked away from him, he was not meant to stay at the Agri-Corps, and the Force definitely agreed with him.

"I know this is a rather difficult decision for you to make. And I cannot force you to come with me; however, I cannot stay away from the Senate for long. I am scheduled to leave early tonight. I know that it is not much time to think your decision over…" The charismatic man explained with regret; however, he was cut off by Obi-Wan.

"Senator Palpatine, this decision is not as hard as you may think. I am honored that you would respect my mother enough to take time from your busy schedule to come and collect a complete stranger and offer him a home."

"Nonsense, my boy! You are not a stranger; you are family," Palpatine interrupted this time, smiling reassuringly to the boy. Tentatively, Obi-Wan returned the smile. "Does this mean you will come with me back to Coruscant?"

"Yes, I would be privileged to come with you." The boy answered in all seriousness.

"No, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Believe me, the privilege is all mine," Palpatine stated somewhat cryptically. "Now, why don't you collect your belongings while I sign you out of this institution?" He asked with another smile.

"Yes sir!" Obi-Wan replied with a grin, for the first time in two days feeling his desperation completely leave him. Then, with yet another respectful bow, the boy turned and left.

As the door to the meeting room closed the smile on the older man's face morphed into a sardonic smirk as Darth Sidious reveled in his victory. It had been all too easy, as he knew it would be. All it took were some falsified documents, a few encouraging words of hope, and the promise that he could still maintain part of his identity as a force-user to have the boy eating out of the palm of his hand. Yes, his patience had finally paid off. The Jedi had made the fatal mistake he had been waiting for: the One was now his, and he would enjoy teaching the boy all he knew.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I appreciated each and every one. Hopefully, you all enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think! I truly love the feedback. The next chapter should be out in the next couple of days. Have a great weekend everyone!