Chapter 2

/

Five Years after Will of the Force-Present Day

/

The view was majestic from atop the massive flight of stairs leading to the Jedi Temple. After the climb, Siri was gasping for breath as the last of the painful spasms left her body.

"Mom?" a small hand tentatively patted her back. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be all right sweetheart," she replied, smiling weakly at her ten-year old son. Reaching out for his hand, she gestured toward the entrance to the Temple with the other.

"This is it, Tristan," Siri whispered to the boy. A flood of memories washed over her as they gazed silently at the doors. So much had happened since she left eleven years ago but it still seemed like yesterday when she and Obi-Wan…

"Do you think they'll be glad to see us?" Tristan's voice cracked with uncertainty.

"Of course," Siri chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his wavy light brown hair. 'So much like Obi-Wan's,' she thought with a twinge of sadness.

"You remember all the times Master Yoda came to visit us?"

Tristan nodded.

"He always said we would be welcome here anytime," she continued.

As if on cue, the doors swung open revealing a young Mirialan woman.

"Hello," she greeted walking towards them. "My name is…"

"Barriss Offee!" Siri exclaimed.

Barriss' eyes suddenly widened in recognition. "Master Tachi! It's wonderful to see you again."

Siri greeted the younger Jedi in the same fashion. She noticed that Barriss was looking at Tristan curiously.

"This is my son, Tristan," Siri announced, putting her arm around his shoulders. Siri felt the shock wave wash over Barriss, though she showed no outward reaction to the news.

"Tristan," Barriss said as she reached to shake his hand warmly. "Welcome to the Jedi Temple."

"Thank you," Tristan mumbled softly.

Siri squeezed his shoulders, knowing he felt Barriss' reaction as well and hoping he would be prepared for more of the same. He had known from an early age of her decision to leave the Jedi Order without announcing her pregnancy and as hard as she tried to prepare him for their arrival, she knew the reality would be tough for him.

"We were hoping to meet with Master Yoda," Siri added.

"I'm sure he'd be pleased to meet with you," Barriss replied. "Why don't I escort you to the Council Chamber? You can wait there while I inform Master Yoda of your arrival."

/

Siri held tightly to Tristan's small hand as the pair was lead to the High Council Chamber. Word of her return had spread quickly throughout the Temple and greeting all her old friends on her way to the chamber helped to settle her nerves. She had expected a private meeting with Yoda and was stunned when she was told that the entire Jedi Council would be present.

"You may enter now," said the young Padawan on duty at the reception desk outside the chamber.

The huge double door to the High Council Chamber swung open. Siri squeezed Tristan's hand and smiled down at him encouragingly.

"Masters," Siri bowed formally before the Council while Tristan looked around in awe.

"Good to see you again it is," Yoda stated, eyes twinkling.

"Thank you," Siri replied. "It's good to be back."

She took a moment to look around at the twelve Jedi Masters sitting before her.

She paused for a moment before speaking. I may as well do this all at once, Siri thought. "I'd like to introduce you to my son, Tristan…Tristan Kenobi, my son with Obi-Wan."

While the shock emanating from the room wasn't as strong as it had been with Barriss Offee, it was still palpable. Some part of her was glad to know she could still shock them.

"Well Tristan, it's nice to meet you," Mace Windu's powerful voice was surprisingly tender. "Perhaps you'd like to spend some time with the Initiates in the crèche while we talk with your mother?"

"No," Siri interjected quickly, hugging him to her. "I…I've come…" she took a deep breath, desperately trying to will away the tears that were already beginning to form.

"I've come to ask a very special favor and it involves Tristan," she swallowed before continuing. "Masters, I'm…dying."

Tristan buried his head in Siri's chest, allowing his tears to fall. He knew his mother was dying from a rare disease she had contracted several years before, and he understood death, but it wasn't easy to face losing her.

"I'd like Tristan to complete his Jedi training here at the Temple."

Mace sat back in his chair, stunned by her announcement.

"Are you sure about your prognosis?" Mace questioned. "Perhaps one of the healers…"

"I'm sure," Siri answered solemnly. "I've seen many healers already. My condition is permanent and I am going to die; soon."

"I'm so sorry, Siri," Garen Muln spoke up, praying to whatever gods would listen that he wasn't about to lose another friend. "We all are."

Tristan tightened his grip around her waist, tears subsiding.

"Well…ah…has Tristan received any training?" Mace asked gently.

"Yes," Siri nodded. "I've trained him since he was a baby, though probably not as well as he would have been had he been here," she smiled down at him, wiping his tears with the tips of her fingers.

"But his skills are developed beyond most ten-year olds."

"Granted your request is," Yoda answered immediately, ignoring the surprised looks from the rest of the Council.

"Thank you," Siri replied. "I'm prepared to leave him as soon as…"

"No," Yoda interrupted. "Stay here you will."

Siri stared at him in shock. "But Master Yoda, I…"

"Your family the Jedi are," Yoda reminded her. "Take care of you we will."

Siri was speechless.

"Prepared, your old quarters are," Yoda continued, his gaze compassionate. "Welcome home."

"Thank you," Siri said as she bowed once more before leaving with Tristan.

/

"We should begin with testing the boy's abilities," Mace began.

"I agree," Kit Fisto replied. "We can…"

Fisto trailed off when he and the others in the room noticed that Yoda had ceased paying them any attention. He had closed his eyes and was blocking out the sounds around him.

The Force was speaking to its most trusted champion.

/

"Good, you're improving," Anakin Skywalker complimented thirteen year-old Tristan as the young man sparred with another apprentice."

/

"Sometimes things happen that we just can't control, Tris," Anakin told the young sixteen year-old Jedi student. "We're here to help, but we can only help those that want our assistance. The Force is a formidable ally in any situation, but so is the heart. Let your heart guide you and you won't step wrong."

/

"I can't believe you tossed me into the lake," nineteen year-old Tristan commented.

"You deserved it," Anakin quipped.

Several moments passed before both men broke into delighted laughter. They clasped their arms over each other's shoulders as they walked away from the lake.

/

Yoda opened his eyes and turned back to face his fellow Jedi Masters in the room.

"A vision I have had," he announced.

"Vision of what, Master?" asked Plo Koon.

"Tristan Kenobi and Master Skywalker," Yoda answered. "Entwined their destinies are."

"You're certain?" Mace asked incredulously.

"Yes," Yoda nodded, eyes narrowing. "Contact Master Skywalker on Naboo we should. Request that he return to Coruscant we will."

"Master Yoda," Garen interjected. "I'd like to request permission to travel to Naboo and speak with Anakin personally."

"Granted your request is," Yoda replied.

"Impress upon him the importance of this request," Mace added. "If Yoda is right, it is most likely imperative that Anakin trains the boy."

"Yes Master," Garen replied as he stood from his chair. "I'll bring Anakin home."

Garen bowed respectfully then turned and swept from the room, his dark cloak billowing out behind him as he walked.

"Will Skywalker return?" Kit Fisto wondered aloud.

"For Kenobi's son, return he will," Yoda proclaimed.