Thank you to everyone who read the prologue! It means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy Chapter 1!
It's been well over ten years now, but to Anakin, Master Qui-Gon still cut a regal, larger-than-life figure. Master Qui-Gon, even now, still towered over him, which was relatively surprising. He couldn't exactly remember how tall the Jedi Master was from all those years ago, but seeing him now, alive, brought all the memories rushing back, of being nine and afraid yet full of wonder.
There was no clear explanation as to how Master Qui-Gon was here; Anakin watched as his body burned on the funeral pyre 12 years ago, but now? Somehow, he was here, in the middle of the Clone Wars, and confused about why the galaxy felt so dark. He claimed that the last thing he remembered was seeing the beginnings of the Battle of Naboo, but nothing after he arrived at Theed Palace with Obi-Wan, the Queen and her forces. His presence now, 12 years later, makes no sense.
The door to the bridge slid open and Ahsoka walked in. "Ahsoka!" Anakin called, waving her over. His padawan walked over to him, eyes bright. "This is Master Qui-Gon," he introduced.
Ahsoka smiled eagerly at her great-grandmaster, and Anakin could feel her excitement in the Force. "I've heard a lot about you, Master," she said finally.
"Good things, I hope," Master Qui-Gon answered with an amused chuckle. "She is your padawan, Ani?" he asked, looking directly at him.
"Yeah, we've been together for a few months now," he answered.
"Once we get back to the Temple, I'd like to spar with you both," the Jedi Master said then with a gentle smile. "And Obi-Wan, of course," he added.
"We'd be honored, Master," Ahsoka said, smiling wider.
Obi-Wan should have arrived at Coruscant by now, completely unaware that Master Qui-Gon was…here, somehow. Anakin itched to contact him, to warn him before they arrived, but once Master Yoda verified Qui-Gon's identity through a secure comm channel, he specifically told Anakin that no other Jedi was to know about Qui-Gon's presence until he was brought before the Council. Anakin agreed, despite his reservations. This was a…delicate matter, and if word got out about this, there would be chaos.
According to Master Qui-Gon, the training bond he shared with Obi-Wan was utterly mangled, destroyed beyond recognition. Even if he wanted to reach out to Obi-Wan with the Force, he couldn't. Master Qui-Gon seemed stunned by this sudden change, but realized that all of his Force bonds were simply…gone.
"General, we're approaching Coruscant in ten minutes," Rex informed him from behind him. Anakin nodded at him in thanks then turned back to Master Qui-Gon.
"I know I've said this before, Master, but things have changed in the past twelve years," Anakin reminded him, letting an undercurrent of warning seep into his voice.
"I'm aware, Anakin," Master Qui-Gon sighed. "I don't completely understand everything, how and why the Jedi are so actively participating in a war like this, but…I am sure there is a reason for all this. The Council has a lot of explaining to do," he declared.
Anakin nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable. He felt that something was going to happen very soon, and he couldn't tell if it would be for the better or for the worse.
"This is so strange," Master Qui-Gon said for probably the tenth time.
Anakin stood with him outside of Council Chambers, waiting for the Council to call them in. The slight feeling he had earlier on the ship has grown to full-blown nerves, and he suppressed the urge to bite at his fingernails like he used to when he was a teenager. Force, this was weird, but he didn't know what else to do.
Qui-Gon continued talking. "It was only yesterday when I was standing out here while the Council was testing you, and now we're here again and it's somehow twelve years later," he mused. Before he could go on a padawan emerged from the great doors and told them they could come in.
Anakin entered first and was surprised to see that the Council Chambers to be empty save for Master Windu and Master Yoda. The Korun's eyes widened upon seeing Qui-Gon enter behind him. "It is true," he whispered. "You're here, Qui-Gon."
"Somehow," Master Qui-Gon answered, then glanced around the empty room. "I thought I was to meet with the full Council?" he inquired, eyebrow raised. The gesture reminded him of Obi-Wan, which made him smirk. Some things, apparently, were passed down from Master to Padawan.
"Wanted to see you first, we did," Yoda commented, eyes studying him. "To confirm your identity, hmm,"
"It is me, Master Yoda," Master Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, your Force presence is definitely telling us that," Master Windu said. "It is good to see you, my friend."
"And you, Mace," Master Qui-Gon rumbled in response. Master Windu smiled only slightly before turning towards Anakin.
"Skywalker, call Obi-Wan," Master Windu said now, looking directly at him. "Tell him to meet us here immediately."
Anakin nodded, feeling his stomach knot into a bundle of nerves. He pulled out his commlink and typed a quick text message to Obi-Wan, not trusting himself to speak now. He got a response seconds later. "He's on the way," he announced, voice trembling. Why was he so nervous?
He barely listened as the Jedi Masters continued to talk lightly for the next few minutes about the Order's current state of affairs until the padawan who let them in walked back to them. "Master Kenobi is outside," she announced.
Master Windu nodded and straightened. He glanced at Yoda, who nodded back. "Qui-Gon, we'd like you to wait while we explain this to Obi-Wan. This may be a delicate situation on our hands. We had to pull him from the front lines two days ago due to Force exhaustion," he said finally.
Master Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "I understand," he answered simply (no, you don't, Anakin wanted to argue, but he remained silent) before moving outside of the circle and into the shadows. Anakin could no longer see him, despite knowing he was right there.
The Council Chambers opened again and Obi-Wan walked in, standing next to Anakin.
"Masters," he greeted. "Are you sending us on a mission?" he asked.
"Not quite, Obi-Wan; you're still on medical leave," Master Windu answered. Obi-Wan shifted slightly now, eyes slightly narrowed.
"Then why did you call me?" he asked now. Anakin could feel Master Qui-Gon in the Force now, his surprise at seeing Obi-Wan looking so…different. Anakin thought back to the Padawan he first met when he was leaving Tatooine. The difference between that Obi-Wan and the one he knew now was almost startling.
"From within the Force, someone has returned," Master Yoda said after a long pause.
Obi-Wan frowned. "What do you mean by that?" he asked quietly. The lights were dim, but Anakin could see the lines of exhaustion on his friend's face, and he knew this was…a difficult topic. After what happened on Ryloth, he didn't know how Obi-Wan would handle something like this. He had a feeling this wouldn't end well.
"We don't completely understand this, Obi-Wan, but we wanted to let you know about this before the Council gathered," Mace explained now. He turned towards the shadows, where Qui-Gon stood and nodded.
Qui-Gon Jinn walked out of the shadows and into the circle of chairs, standing a few feet in front of Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan blinked a few times, looked at Master Yoda and then back to Master Qui-Gon. He was pale now, jaw clenched tightly, and Anakin remembered that Master Che only just let him out of the Healer's Ward a few hours earlier.
Silence.
Anakin fidgeted slightly then spoke. "Obi-Wan?" he asked finally. It seemed as though everyone else in the room was waiting for Obi-Wan to say something, but Obi-Wan seemed…stunned to silence, which was a rarity in itself.
"Force," his former master whispered, pressing a hand on the side of his skull. He breathed deeply, eyes closed for a second before he opened them again. "I'm not hallucinating," he murmured.
"You're not," Master Qui-Gon said finally, eyes slightly furrowed into a frown, "Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan blinked slowly, face white. Obi-Wan shuddered and covered his eyes with both palms. "Someone, explain this to me, please," he said finally, voice muffled.
Silence echoed in the Council Chambers for about thirty seconds. Qui-Gon and Anakin glanced at each other uncomfortably, both slightly uncertain of what to say.
"We were on Ryloth," Anakin said finally, voice quiet. "Fives and Echo found him while scouting out the area and brought him to us when they realized he was a Jedi," he continued while Obi-Wan exhaled and looked up at him.
Obi-Wan nodded slowly and then turned to Qui-Gon. "What about you?" he asked softly.
Qui-Gon frowned, and Anakin felt a sudden flash of confusion from him in the Force. "I was on Naboo with…you and Anakin, Obi-Wan," he answered quietly. "We were just about to take back the Queen's Palace from the Trade Federation, but then I found myself somewhere else, and in a different time, apparently," he said.
"Time travel is impossible," Obi-Wan murmured. "That's what we have always been taught."
"We don't have record of it, but maybe if the Force wills it…" Qui-Gon trailed off.
Obi-Wan laughed, but the sound of it was empty. Hollow. "Of course you would always follow the will of the Force," he said after a moment.
"Come, the rest of the Council will, in fifteen minutes," Master Yoda said. "Anything else have you to say?" he asked to Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon. When no one answered, he told them to wait outside in a separate room until they were called back in.
Obi-Wan sat down immediately against the wall by the door, wrapping his arms loosely around his knees and staring at the floor. Anakin, on the other hand, paced in front of the door, his fingers tangled in his robes, seemingly a nervous habit that Obi-Wan couldn't break him out of, Qui-Gon mused. Qui-Gon studied them briefly before walking to a window and staring out at the endless lines of Coruscant's traffic.
"I have questions, but I think that can wait until after we meet with the Council," Qui-Gon murmured softly. The galaxy, in some ways, appeared the same as it always did to him, teeming with life, infinitesimally beautiful yet harsh and depriving. But it was different. War has cast a shadow that seemed near impossible to gaze through, let alone understand.
"That's fine," Anakin answered. Obi-Wan remained stubbornly silent, though his frown deepened slightly. Anakin seemed to notice the slight reaction and turned to face him. "Are you alright, Master?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Obi-Wan answered, though he looked anything but. Qui-Gon itched to ignore what the Council wanted and bring him back to his quarters and let him sleep. It looked like he hadn't slept properly in years; his face was near-white with dark circles around his eyes. Qui-Gon sighed.
Anakin turned to him now, having heard his sigh. "They might be telling you some things you won't like to hear," he said.
"I figured as much," Qui-Gon answered, voice level. "I can sense that a lot has happened in the last twelve years, and most of it was not good," he continued, looking at Anakin.
Obi-Wan's commlink beeped. He looked down at it and pulled himself to his feet, quickly dusting off his robes. "They're ready for us," he said without looking at either of them, opening the door that led to the Council Chambers. Anakin and Qui-Gon followed him inside.
"This is impossible!" Saesee Tiin exclaimed when Qui-Gon walked in, Anakin and Obi-Wan in tow.
Qui-Gon looked around at the Council. Not all of the Council members were at the Temple, it seemed. The chair between Ki-Adi-Mundi and Saesee Tiin was empty and Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, and Adi Gallia appeared by hologram. He briefly wondered about the empty chair, but decided that whoever it was might have been too busy to attend a last-minute meeting.
He turned towards the Iktotchi Jedi Master, eyebrow raised. "Examine my Force presence, if you must, Masters," he said. "I was on Naboo with my padawan and Anakin. We were about to take back the Queen's palace, and then I was on Ryloth, of all places," he explained.
"Time travel?" Ki-Adi-Mundi mused, frowning slightly.
"If you left your own time, Master Jinn," Shaak Ti said, "then that must have had some repercussions for our present time. Yet it seems that nothing has changed here."
"We wouldn't know if anything changed," Anakin argued.
Master Windu held up a hand. "We're not here to discuss the implications of time travel. It will be prudent for at least some of us to do some research into the matter, just to see if it actually has been done before," he commanded. "What we need to do is decide what we'll do now that Master Qui-Gon is here."
"This can give us an advantage in the war," Master Tiin mused, voice quiet.
"Why is the Republic at war? And why are we, as Jedi, participating in this?" Qui-Gon asked passionately. "Is it not our mandate to maintain the peace?"
"It is a long story," Adi Gallia answered. "We are at war against the Confederacy of Independent Systems or the Separatists. They branched away from the Republic over the past few years. Cou—their leader declared war against the Republic. They want control of all of our systems."
"And what of this clone army?" Qui-Gon asked.
"They were made by Kaminoan scientists. Clones of the bounty hunter Jango Fett," Shaak Ti explained.
Qui-Gon shook his head. Part of him wanted to yell at the Council more and more, but he held back. He was a Jedi; there was no need for him to give in to his emotions. "When did I die?" he asked softly.
He looked around the Council and at Obi-Wan and Anakin. Everyone looked stunned, except for Obi-Wan, whose expression remained carefully blank. Too blank.
"It is pretty obvious, based on your reactions, that it has been a long time since you have last seen me. I must be dead," Qui-Gon explained.
Yoda nodded. "Dead you are, Qui-Gon. Sorry I am that found out this way, you did."
"Tell me how," Qui-Gon demanded.
A pause. The Council glanced at each other, as if trying to quickly decide if this was what the Force wanted.
"No."
Obi-Wan's voice was quiet, but it echoed loud enough. It was the first time he'd spoken since the meeting with the Council started. His face was still pale, but the sharpness in his eyes spoke more volumes than his physical voice.
Qui-Gon, however, did not back away easily. "And why not?" he challenged, turning around now to face his former padawan.
"That information is not relevant to what Master Windu mentioned," Obi-Wan answered, looking up now to meet Qui-Gon's gaze. "It is not necessary for you to know. We are deciding what we will do now, not what has happened in the past. It's like you always said. We must focus on the present, not the past or the future."
Qui-Gon was stunned for a brief moment. Of course Obi-Wan would turn one of his own lessons back at him. "Very well," he murmured, then swallowed.
Obi-Wan turned to the rest of the Council. "What we will do is keep this quiet for now. No one outside of the Order may know about this," he said. Qui-Gon's jaw almost dropped open when the rest of the Council nodded and murmured in agreement. When—and how—did Obi-Wan get the Council to agree with him so easily? It always took Qui-Gon forever to have the Council agree to his ideas.
"Skywalker, take Master Jinn to the quartermaster to get clothes and an apartment assignment," Master Windu said, gesturing towards the door.
Anakin nodded, but Qui-Gon frowned and glanced at Obi-Wan. "What about Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked. It felt he didn't get to spend any time with his former padawan.
"The Council has some more things to discuss," Master Windu answered blandly.
"Yes, but what does…" Qui-Gon paused and then looked again at the empty chair. "Oh," he murmured, then turned towards Obi-Wan again, who looked back at him steadily. Obi-Wan was a Council member. Of course he was. Qui-Gon was torn between shouting in frustration and applauding. Qui-Gon was always considered the maverick Jedi, but the fact that his own padawan was considered model enough to be on the Council was…honestly, he didn't know how to feel about it. "I shall take your leave, then," he said to the Council, bowing and leaving the room.
He paused outside the door. The door opened seconds later, and Anakin stepped out. The younger Jedi shrugged. "I assumed you knew," he said in explanation.
Qui-Gon frowned. "Let's go," he murmured and began to walk towards the elevators.
As Anakin raced out of the door, Obi-Wan moved slowly to his chair, feeling the eyes of the rest of the Council on him. The attention made him extremely uncomfortable, even more so now. Even Kit Fisto's ever present grin was wiped clean off his face, a rarity that Obi-Wan has never seen before.
"So," Obi-Wan said, breaking the silence that settled over the group, "I assume you want me to tell him everything that happened in the past twelve years and give you updates on him, too?" His question was met with silence, so he crossed his legs, trying to draw the attention away from himself. "He's not going to be happy about Dooku—"
"Obi-Wan."
Mace's voice was stern yet gentle. Obi-Wan immediately deflated. His limbs felt heavy with exhaustion, and his head was pounding. Despite the fact he told Master Che he would not do anything stressful for the next few days, he felt more overwhelmed now than before. The room blurred, but he blinked hard to clear his vision and looked up at Mace.
"It's fine," he said finally. He found himself saying that a lot lately. His voice sounded hollow, even to him. As time wore on and on, he found it harder and harder to pretend. He previously thought he wouldn't be able to adjust again to yet another massive change in his life, but now he has little choice. It must be done.
Mace looked like he wanted to argue, but he pressed his lips tightly together.
"It's not fine, Obi-Wan."
Adi Gallia's voice was gentle. "Your master is a full grown man; there's no need for you to take full responsibility of him," she continued. "I know that it's a lot to suddenly have him back here, but the fact that he is here now may mean well for us in the future," she said.
"I hope it does," Obi-Wan answered, then looked around. Everyone was still staring at him with at least a certain degree of concern. He resisted the urge to fidget and instead looked at Yoda. "Is there anything else we need to discuss?" he asked, forcing himself to relax into his chair slightly.
Thankfully, Qui-Gon was not brought up again until the end of the meeting.
The meeting was finally over. As the other Council members began to file out, Mace turned to him. Yoda stood beside Mace, eyes wide. "You know Qui-Gon was my friend," Mace said quietly. "If you need any help, I am willing to—"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'll let you know," he murmured. "I have to go back now. May the Force be with you." The two other Jedi Masters nodded at him, and he turned around slowly to exit the Council Chambers.
He checked his commlink for messages as he headed back towards the residential area. Anakin left a bunch of text messages, the latest of which saying that Anakin, Ahsoka, and Qui-Gon were waiting for him in the refectory. Obi-Wan frowned. He didn't feel particularly hungry, but he knew Master Che would have his head if he didn't eat regularly. He typed a quick response to Anakin and changed direction.
Anakin smiled and waved him over to a nearby table when he entered. "I hope you don't mind; we already started eating. We didn't know how long you would take," he said. True to his word, they were all eating dinner.
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll just get something for myself, then," he responded before walking over to the food line. It took a few minutes for him to get some tea and bread. When he got back he sat down next to Anakin, letting the tea steep for a few more minutes.
Ahsoka was talking to Qui-Gon about…something, but it was difficult for him to focus. All the sounds surrounding him blurred into a constant hum. He pressed down lightly on the tea bag with his spoon, his thoughts circulating elsewhere, almost jumping when Anakin said his name.
"Sorry, what?" he asked.
"Ahsoka was asking if you were up for a spar later," Anakin said, eyebrows pinched into a frown. Said padawan was smiling at him with hope in her eyes. Qui-Gon, however, remained completely silent.
"Tomorrow?" he asked. "It is pretty late, and I have to finish some reports and additional Council work—"
"Why would you join the Council?" Qui-Gon said finally. His voice was not quite angry, but more frustrated. Obi-Wan almost immediately felt like a padawan again, hearing that tone after so long.
"You may not agree with the Council, but it was an opportunity given to me, and I chose to accept it," he said, turning finally to face Qui-Gon. His former master's eyes were horribly blank. He thought back to that night Anakin was being tested, when Qui-Gon pushed him aside and took Anakin as his padawan. A rush of emotion returned to him at that moment, but he pushed it away.
"You know how I feel about the Council, Obi-Wan; why would you think that—"
"This is probably not the best place to have this conversation," Ahsoka pointed out, glancing around uncomfortably. The Jedi sitting at the tables around them were watching them discreetly now, as much as they tried to hide it.
Qui-Gon exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I am very out of place here, and I don't quite know how to deal with this," he admitted.
"It's fine," Anakin replied when Obi-Wan didn't say anything. Obi-Wan took a long sip of his tea and placed the mug on the table. Anakin elbowed him, trying to get him to say something.
"Forgive me," he murmured finally.
"Are you feeling okay?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan distinctly wondered if his exhaustion was leaking through their Force bond and tightened his shields slightly.
"Just tired, I suppose," he answered, then looked at Ahsoka again. "Would tomorrow work, Ahsoka?" he asked, resuming their previous conversation.
"Yeah, that's fine!" She smiled after swallowing some of her food. "Master Qui-Gon, you can come too, if you're not busy," she said. Qui-Gon nodded in response, chewing thoughtfully.
"Let's head back to the apartment," Anakin suggested. All four Jedi cleared their tables in complete silence and left the refectory. The silence continued as they walked through the Temple, but Obi-Wan didn't think much of it; there was so much he had to do and very little time. And now that Qui-Gon was here, it seemed that the stakes were even higher than before.