Author's Note: Thank you for your replies; I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the story! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far; I hope it keeps your interest as it progresses.
Chapter 2
The sun was just peeking from beyond the scope when Master Yoda found whom he had been searching for. Obi-Wan sat meditating on the wide cement banister overlooking the surrounding city of the Naboo palace. The small Master lifted himself upon the barrier and waited for the young man to awaken.
The sun was high within the morning sky when Obi-Wan finally opened his eyes. He arranged his sitting position to one of more comfort. When situated, he met the Jedi's gaze.
"Certain are you that this path you are meant to take?" Yoda asked, his ears rising slowly waiting for a hopeful answer.
The silence stretched between them as Obi-Wan thought about his answer. "I'm not sure of a lot of things, Master. But I am sure that I must keep this promise."
As Yoda's ears flattened back onto his head and the little master's head bowed in thought, Obi-Wan continued, "But it's become more than just the pledge I made to Qui-Gon. I can't explain it exactly as the Force is being somewhat elusive, but Anakin needs to be trained, Master, and I need to be the one to see this through."
"Why?"
"The boy needs me in a similar way that I needed Qui-Gon not so long ago. I apologize if this disappoints you but this is the road I must travel." Obi-Wan eyed his elder as he waited for his response.
"Disappoint me you never have. Frustrate sometimes, annoyed most certainly but never disappoint." Yoda's eyes looked to the distance, his head nodding in tandem to what the Force was telling him. "Much you will learn on your journey, young one. A great Jedi you will still become."
"And Anakin?"
"Brighter but still clouded is the boy's future. Light now seeps through the darkness, yes, but the undercurrent is waiting to sweep away and swallow what radiance succeeds in building. Up to young Skywalker it will be in which will gain strength, which he will serve."
"He will choose the right path, master," the former Jedi stated with conviction.
"Hope you are right, I do."
Bending his legs so his knees were against his chest, Obi-Wan encircled them and looked off into the distance. The two sat in silence, both content to spend these precious last moments in one another's company before being split apart for many years to come.
X
The shuttle had left several hours previously but Obi-Wan had yet to leave the palace-docking bay, his eyes still locked onto the sky above. The pilots and mechanics milling around the area paid him no attention but instead went about their work. Quiet footsteps sounded from behind him and he smiled. Without turning, he asked, "What brings you here young one?"
The soft noise of shuffling feet met his ears as a shy voice began to speak, "Master sir, I was thinking on what you said yesterday that we could go anywhere we wanted to…." Anakin stopped and tried to think of how best to ask what he wanted to know.
Obi-Wan slowly turned and knelt in front of the boy. "Anakin?" The boy looked up. "First off, I'm not a Jedi Master. Second, you don't have to call me sir, it makes me feel older than I am, and third, you can call me Obi-Wan or Kenobi, whichever you prefer." Obi-Wan laughed softly when he noticed the look of surprise on the boy's face. "What is it?"
Anakin hurriedly looked away. "It's nothing, Mas…Obi-Wan. I just didn't know that I could call you by your name."
Instead of responding to the boy's statement, Obi-Wan rose from his kneeling position and motioned for Anakin to follow. When they reached their rooms, Obi-Wan opened the door and guided his young charge inside. "Have a seat."
Having sat down, Obi-Wan leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees and his hands folded. "There is a lot we are going to have to learn about one another. For example, I don't know what it is like to have been a slave. I've asked you to call me my first or last name because I thought that it would be more comfortable for you than to call me Master – "
"Really? You want me to be comfortable?" Anakin's nose scrunched up and his brow furrowed in confusion. "No one ever cared before."
A sad smile tugged at Obi-Wan's lips. "Anakin, in the Jedi Order the term Master is used as a term of respect and commitment in a master/padawan pairing and in most cases evolves into a term of affection substituting the word friend and in some relationships, father or mother. The same can be said of the word Padawan when used to indicate the learner."
Anakin thought this over before responding, a disgusted expression taking prominence over his features. "That's not how it's used on Tatooine," he said bitterly. "They make us use it to make themselves feel and look important. It makes us feel like bantha poodo on someone's shoe every time we have to say it. It's a word that doesn't deserve respect."
"You will find that there are many in this galaxy who will place others below them to raise their own social status; they don't just exist on Tatooine." Obi-Wan reached across the short distance between them and tapped Anakin's arm to regain his attention. "Like I said, there is a lot we have to learn."
Taking a deep breath, Anakin relaxed slightly. "I've been wondering; what is it that I'm supposed to do? What do you expect of me?"
Taken back by the question, Obi-Wan sat stunned for a brief moment before realizing he hadn't answered. Shaking his head, he attempted to reply, "I'm rather new at this, Anakin, from this side I mean."
Folding his hands within the sleeves of his robe, Obi-Wan knelt before the boy. "There is something I need to ask you and I want you to think about it before you answer." At the child's nod of understanding, Obi-Wan took a deep breath and continued, "Anakin Skywalker, would you do me the honor of becoming my Padawan Learner?" The Knight waited silently as he watched various expressions cross the child's face.
"You mean I have a choice?"
Nodding, Obi-Wan explained, "Yes, you do. You're free Anakin. You are no longer anyone's slave. What becomes of your life is your choice and if you decide you wish to train as a Jedi know that you are not bound to that life for eternity. It is a commitment that must not be taken lightly, but you are free to leave at anytime."
"But you said the Jedi wouldn't allow my training."
"Not officially and that is where the difference lies."
"So we're doing this without their permission."
"Yes." Obi-Wan had never seen a child ask so many questions. The children in the crèche and the initiates were often curious and inquisitive and were encouraged to be but they were also encouraged to think things through, to come to their own conclusions concerning various situations and circumstances.
"Are you still a Jedi? You still have your light sword." Anakin pointed to the metal cylinder hanging at Obi-Wan's side.
"Yes and no. Master Yoda gave me permission to carry my lightsaber and to refer to myself as a Jedi Knight. However, the Council will not help in any way with your training and they do not look upon us as Jedi, but Master Yoda has volunteered his advice if it is needed."
Anakin scratched the back of his head and tilted his head to the side. "So how will we know when I become a Jedi?"
Smiling, Obi-Wan lifted himself from the floor and retook his seat on the couch across from Anakin. "The Force will guide us."
There was silence for several moments as Anakin watched something only he could see across the room. He chewed on the inside of his cheek as he hesitantly glanced back to Obi-Wan. "I want to be your student," he declared. "And I want us to return to Tatooine."
Shocked, Obi-Wan replied, "I thought you had dreamed of visiting other worlds and traveling among the stars. Are you sure you wish to return to a dry desert planet? There are many worlds with an abundant resource of water and greenery."
Nodding with a big smile on his face, Anakin answered, "Yes, I'm sure. It's what I want."
Giving his approval, Obi-Wan replied, "Okay then, get your things together and we'll leave shortly."
The boy's eyes widened in delight. "Today?! We're going today?!"
"Yes, Anakin, now go!" Obi-Wan laughed as his apprentice ran back to his room. My apprentice, he thought. Opening the pouch Master Yoda had given him, he pulled out a strand of ginger hair. Looking further inside the pouch, he found a piece of flimsiplast with writing on it.
From your Padawan braid it is. Need a braid, your apprentice will. Master Yoda.
The Knight sighed and replaced the items back into the pouch. As soon as they were aboard the shuttle he would approach Anakin about the standard padawan cut and leave it to the boy to decide if he wanted it hacked and braided.
