Chapter 3:-

Two weeks have now passed since Obi-Wan had taken Anakin Skywalker under his wing. To have made an oath, which he had promised, that Anakin will become a Jedi Knight. Is not an easy promise to keep but nonetheless, Obi-Wan will stay true to that one promise. Also to promise himself that he'll never betray Anakin for another, no matter how promising that other may be. But no Padawan, Knight or Master could have such promising potential like Anakin Skywalker has.

Not even Horatio Thornton's Force signature could burn so bright as Anakin's.

During the two weeks together on their first assignment as a team. Obi-Wan has found no reason to regret his decision to take on an apprentice. He may appear to be too young to take on such a huge responsibility to others, but they can't argue that he is the right choice. The right one to take on Anakin Skywalker and his annoying habit to take apart droids. Anakin's sharp intellect on piloting is so strong and one day, Obi-Wan is sure, Anakin may become a great pilot.

Only one other thing that Obi-Wan has noticed about Anakin. Which has caused him to be more concern about. Are these dreams that have the tendency to taunt Anakin to the point of crying out in his sleep. But these were no ordinary dreams. They are actually visions. So vivid and true, that not even Obi-Wan isn't too sure how to explain the reasons behind such visions to some one as young and powerful in the Force, as Anakin.

It is a daunting task to be forced out of his sleep to hear the boy crying out in horror, and then having to watch the boy shake as fear of these dream begin to wear off. Bringing the boy back to reality and to the present moment.

Anakin had started to tell Obi-Wan about these visions the moment the boy had come to realise that Obi-Wan will be right there beside him, comforting him with his presence.

Some of the visions that Anakin had talked about were haunting Obi-Wan to the point of telling Anakin that dreams pass in time and that future is always in motion. But Anakin already knows of such things as those lectures. Though it doesn't help to remind young ones that these lessons may help to save their own lives one day.

Dreams do come true. Obi-Wan himself is not unfamiliar with these kinds of gifts from the Force. Trusting his gut instinct to trust the Force when it sends a warning through his dreams has saved his life multiple times. Perhaps that is why the Council had decided to grant him, his Knighthood at twenty-one standard years. Even though he had predicted that he may have to wait to take his trials, but that was when he was still Qui-Gon Jinn's reckless Padawan.

Thinking about Qui-Gon's betrayal still pains the Knight greatly. Remembering the simple joys they had experience and the way he had fought so hard for Qui-Gon's acceptance. It was all for naught in the end of it all.

But now isn't really the time to remember ones past, no matter how difficult it is to let go of past hurts is no easy feat. Obi-Wan had learned long ago the importance of letting go and to accept the way things were at the time.

He should really be focusing on the distress signal beeping at him. Demanding for his attention, but how could he not focus on it. When he had recognised that particular coded signal. Not all codes are similar, but all Jedi have been trained to recognise each code to another. In case the ones sending out the signals are unable to contact the Council.

This code belongs to Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan had memorised it so well that he knows it better then his own code.

Out there, in the enormous universe so full of planets, stars, asteroids and all of the other things that makes the universe unique.

Qui-Gon and his precious Padawan are in trouble. That is certainly news to Obi-Wan. For all of the controversy behind the makings of the Temple's golden team. No one has heard of them being unable to get themselves out of a sticky situation. Until now.

After barely being able to make a decent conversation with the older man, whom Obi-Wan had once proudly called his Master. Obi-Wan hasn't been able to make that huge leap to regain the friendship that was lost so long ago.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan sharply calls for his young apprentice to come up to the cock-pit. For the time to think about the past is no doubt ready to come and bite the inevitable on the backside.

It was no coincidence that their ship is large enough to fit two more passengers.

"Yes, Master?" Anakin asks the moment he has entered the cock-pit. Half of his face is covered in crease and some other substance that Obi-Wan knows that it belongs to something mechanical.

"We are about to make a detour to Telos. There are two Jedi stranded and they require our help," Obi-Wan tells Anakin so. his voice being unbelievably able to talk after discovering their new destination. "And they may need some medical attention. So, I would like for you to prepare the medical wing for our guests arrival. Can you do that for me?"

"May I ask about the identity of the Jedi, Master?" Anakin's azure eyes narrows shrewdly.

"I know it may be hard for you to believe Anakin, but, it appears that Master Jinn and Padawan Thornton have hit a snag on their current mission," Obi-Wan had recognised earlier on that Anakin has shown an unveiled dislike for the two Jedi, which he has just mention.

"But why must we rescue them when surely there are other Jedi available for back up?" Anakin isn't finished with his questions.

"Because we are closer to Telos," Obi-Wan replies in a patient tone. "And it may take days to assemble a rescue squad. Don't worry Anakin. The past is in the past and that is the way it is."

"I have a bad feeling about this," says Anakin in an incredulous tone.

"So do I."

Turning away from the main controls to look into the azure blue eyes of Anakin Skywalker. Hoping to express his feelings of this mission to him and to ask Anakin to trust him on this one. The Force itself was communicating through his eyes.

Silently accepting Anakin's trust in him is what had encouraged Obi-Wan to believe in himself.

"Can I fly Master?" Anakin asks in a confident tone and there was a huge smile on the youths face.

Who was Obi-Wan ignore this request? Seeing as it has been awhile since Anakin's nightmares have wiped off the last smile and Obi-Wan likes it when the boy smiles. Especially when Anakin's smiles brightens up the room.

"Of course you can," Obi-Wan says to his young Padawan.

The widening smile of Anakin's was well worth it.

. .. . . . . . .. . . .

Telos is not what it used to be. It has grown increasingly dark and foreboding since Qui-Gon Jinn had been here last and that was when Xanatos, his former apprentice, had been born and then he had ironically died here. Xanatos had drowned himself in a pool of acid and the rest was history. That was also when Obi-Wan Kenobi was still his apprentice.

Qui-Gon doesn't regret his decision to place Obi-Wan aside for Horatio.

Horatio Thornton is a bright young student of the Force and it was his grasp of understanding the Living Force which had caused Qui-Gon to warm up to this bright child. Horatio is no longer that sweet little boy from Onderon any more. He is now a full grown man, bound to take his Trials one of these days. Qui-Gon has been telling the Council that Horatio is ready and seeing as Horatio is the Chosen One. Surely the Council would take heed of Horatio's progress towards his destiny.

It didn't surprise Qui-Gon the slightest bit, when Yoda had become Obi-Wan's new Master. Yoda has always had a soft spot when it comes to Obi-Wan.

There is nothing special about Obi-Wan, whose midi-chlorians is on the average. True Obi-Wan is courageous, loyal, and compassionate and his instincts have served him well and in some ways, in a lot of ways. Qui-Gon had considered Obi-Wan as a good friend.

Qui-Gon had done what he had believed in. He was doing it for the best and he was following the will of the Force. Surely the Council can't blame him for being a loyal servant of the Force's will.

"Is Obi-Wan Kenobi all you ever think about Master?" Horatio didn't hide his jealousy from his tone of voice. "You may have told me that you do not regret rejecting Knight Kenobi to take me on as your apprentice, but you do have to admit that he is all that you ever think about."

Qui-Gon doesn't have anything to say to that for he knows, by now, that Horatio would have been able to pick up his train of thoughts. In some ways. What Horatio has just spoken of is the truth.

Obi-Wan had found his way into Qui-Gon's once icy hard blockade around his heart back on Bandomeer and from there on. Obi-Wan Kenobi had managed to chip away the ice. It was by the Force's doing and the nudges of a diminutive troll of a Master that Qui-Gon had finally accepted to take on another apprentice.

"You're doing it again Master," Horatio astutely points out.

Turning around to face Horatio, taking in the appearance of the young man that has chipped away what was left of his icy heart. They have become quite the team. Everyone in the Temple has given the title of the 'golden team' or the 'golden duo' due to their successful missions.

Horatio is a handsome young man and he was quite the ugly duckling when he was a young lad. But unfortunately for Horatio, his looks have not surpassed Obi-Wan's. Well that is what Qui-Gon had heard.

Once again Obi-Wan has managed to worm his way in to his thoughts and it doesn't really help when it is Obi-Wan and his new apprentice, who are coming to their aid.

"Whether you like it or not, Padawan," Qui-Gon says to Horatio. "Obi-Wan will be arriving shortly to help us out and I am sure that it is not so easy for him to be the one to heed our call for aid."

Looking away from Horatio to glance up towards the darkening night skies of Telos. Where the stars are beginning to show. No moon for tonight.

No matter how many times have he told himself that what he had done to the shining beacon, that is Obi-Wan's presence with in the Force, Qui-Gon has regretted that he hadn't tried to regain the friendship that he had once shared with Obi-Wan. He was a fool to train Horatio and not to have someone else to train the child of the prophecy.

Word had spread that there is another that may be the true child of prophecy, but Qui-Gon stubbornly believes that Horatio is the real deal.

Although Horatio's Force signature doesn't shine as bright as Obi-Wan's for some reason and Horatio's count is much higher then the average count of Obi-Wan's.

Perhaps that is why Master Yoda had taken Obi-Wan as his apprentice.

"Don't worry Master. I'll at least try to be civil in front of Kenobi, for the sake of his apprentice," Horatio cockily grins.

And Qui-Gon could not help, but to return the favour of smiling.

The sound of a ships engines could be heard flying above in the night sky. Recognising Obi-Wan's presence aboard the vessel as it lands not far from where they are standing.

Now this is going to be an interesting trip.

. .. . . . . . .. . . .

During the past two weeks. Never have the days that have swept past him before he could blink an eyelid. Anakin has not been so lucky as to discover some truths behind his Masters' tragic tale, but then there hasn't really been any time to share stories. The only story that Anakin has been able to share with his Master is the visions that have been haunting his sleep, only because it was Obi-Wan who had been the one to wake him up from his dreams. Obi-Wan had shown from day one that he is someone Anakin could trust with such things.

Their first mission together had ended in success, just as Anakin has always predicted it will be. The Council will surely be pleased that their newest team was able to get through their first mission with out a scratch. And Anakin hasn't even able to show of his lightsaber skills.

All of that doesn't really matter right now anyway. For right now all that Anakin cares about is getting to Telos and to save two idiotic Jedi from whatever has prompt Master Jinn to send off a coded signal for help. Anakin has noticed the far away look in Master Obi-Wan's distinctive eyes and he knows that Master Jinn is the cause behind that forlorn look.

But why?

Why would Obi-Wan risk their lives to save the ones that have caused him pain in the first place?

"They are Jedi, Anakin. We don't leave fellow comrades behind," says Master Obi-Wan, his accent sounds far away also. "The past is th-"

"The past. I know, Master," Anakin tells his Master so in a frustrated tone. As he has already heard this from Obi-Wan more then once. "I'm sorry Master. It's just that I don't like to see you upset."

Obi-Wan's distinctive eyes wryly twinkled at that and Anakin even saw a smile to match the look in his Master's eyes. Worrying if he had said the wrong thing this early in their still fairly new relationship, but still Anakin can't seem to help to fear for his Master. Even though Obi-Wan is very capable to look after himself. He has fought against great evil during his short years as a lone Jedi Knight. Some of things that Obi-Wan was rumoured to come across was a Sith Lord, the same Sith Lord to have killed Master Sifo-Dyas.

Always two there are. A Master and the apprentice, but which one Obi-Wan had killed on Naboo is a big mystery to all.

The first Jedi to have killed the first Sith to have been seen, after a millennium of absence.

Anakin has never heard the full story behind that one and maybe one day he could ask Obi-Wan if it were true.

"Be mindful of your thoughts, young one," his Master says in that Coruscanti accent which Anakin has come to recognise during the two long weeks being stuck together.

"How long until we reach Telos?" Anakin asks.

"In the next two hours," Obi-Wan replies. "Why are you getting sick of my company already?"

"Not yet," Anakin replied in a cheeky tone. "You are certainly a Master full of surprises."

All he got in return was a smile from his Master. If this is what it means to be a Padawan. Then by all means let this to be true and not some dream which Anakin is yet to wake up from.

. . . . . . . . . .

A/N: I do hope that you've all re-enjoyed the adventure that I have finally come back to.