Thanks for all the reviews, you guys:D They're all so nice. As to whether this is going to be a dark Obi-Wan story… well, I can't tell you that. Revealing such information would ruin the plot now, wouldn't it? xD Enjoy, m'dears!

Oh, one other thing: I know that Obi's characterization is off in this chapter. THIS IS ON PURPOSE. Kay, thanks. :D

Chapter Three

He was standing in an elevator, his back to the glass wall that overlooked Coruscant. His hands were folded into the sleeves of his Jedi robes, his face smooth and calm. He was the perfect model of the serene Jedi, quite the opposite of the Padawan standing next to him. The young man fidgeted nervously, running a hand through his short hair and frowning. He could sense the nervous energy coming off of the boy in waves.

"You seem a little on edge," he commented.

The boy shifted from foot to foot rapidly and said, "Not at all."

"I haven't felt you this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks," he commented, a small smile making its way onto his face. He was obviously amused by the memory of this event for whatever reason (and though he probably shouldn't have been). Or was he merely amused by the boy's obvious discomfort?

The boy—taller than he was, he noted for the first time—scoffed. "You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you, remember?"

"Oh… yes," he said, even though that was not how it had been the way he recalled it. He laughed quietly, and a moment later the other joined him.

"You're sweating. Relax. Take a deep breath," he advised. He wondered why he was so nervous about seeing these people. He knew Padmé—Senator Amidala, he reminded himself sternly, he must call her Senator Amidala in public even though it was known that they were friends—and he knew that the two got on very well.

"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master," he replied. He merely smiled and shook his head a little, knowing that Anakin was just nervous about making a good impression on the woman his memories had modified to elevate her to the status of a goddess.

X

"Obi-Wan! Wake up!"

Obi-Wan woke with a start to the sound of someone calling his name. He felt around with the Force, trying to sense anyone with ill will towards him before opening his eyes and sitting up. It was a habit he'd developed through years of undercover work, where he would have to be one step ahead of everyone else to survive in a nest of his enemies.

He frowned as he sat up and looked around. It was pitch black in the room, though he felt another Jedi in the room. Obi-Wan relaxed marginally, knowing that another Jedi would not intentionally harm him.

"It's been quite a while since anyone's called me that," he said quietly. Another habit of his; speak quietly and carefully, you never know who could be trying to listen.

"Oh good," he heard them say with a relieved sigh. "I didn't know if you were going to wake up…" Obi-Wan frowned. He knew that voice… now if only he could remember who it belonged to…

"Garen?" he asked. It had taken him a moment to remember his friend's voice. It had been two years since he'd spoken to a Jedi other than Mace Windu or Yoda.

"Glad to see you haven't forgotten me," he said, and Obi-Wan could tell he was smiling even though he could not see his face.

Which brought about another question. "Why is it dark in here?"

Any trace of amusement was gone when Garen spoke again. "All the power we have is being used trying to get us to Coruscant."

"Coruscant?" Obi-Wan said. "But I haven't caught Viris yet—"

"And you won't," Garen said grimly. "Viris is dead."

"Dead?" Obi-Wan repeated, and had to take a few deep breaths to control his anger before speaking again. He had been so close to catching him!

"Yes. I had to kill him to get you out," Garen answered, and explained more thoroughly when he met a blank look. "Your cover was blown."

"I—what? How?" Obi-Wan was genuinely confused. In the three years since he'd been Knighted, he'd been on more undercover missions than he could remember. Never once had he gotten caught. He'd busted smuggler after smuggler, slaver after slaver and drug dealer after drug dealer. And he'd only ever been seriously injured once!

"The drugs," Garen answered. "The halo you took." Obi-Wan frowned.

"How did taking the halo ruin my cover?"

"It wasn't taking it. They noticed when you purged it."

That jogged Obi-Wan's memory. He had infiltrated Viris' drug den easily enough, posing as the representative for a big-time Coruscant dealer looking to make an agreement. They had closed the deal, signing the false papers Obi-Wan had drawn up on the way to the Mid-Rim planet they were based on. After that, he had been invited to "celebrate" and sample the goods he would supposedly be taking back to Coruscant with him. Knowing that this was quite normal for the closing of a major deal, he had agreed.

Obi-Wan had taken over the normal dosage, and he realised that while he had been able to get it out of his system relatively quickly, it had impaired his thinking and he hadn't been able to do so without notice.

He said something profane in Huttese that caused Garen to stare. "What?" he snapped.

"Sorry," his friend said quickly, looking away. "You're just… different." Obi-Wan winced at his friend's soft, hurt tone. They hadn't heard from each other in two years, and now Obi-Wan was subjecting his friend to one of his fits.

"No, I'm sorry," he said, getting his anger under control. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and fixed a smile on his face even though he knew it couldn't be seen. "So, how've you been? How's everyone at the Temple? I haven't heard anything about that from Master Windu and Master Yoda."

Garen was quiet for a moment. "I'm good. I've been getting better missions. I think they're going to be promoting me to Master in a year or two."

"That's great, Garen!" Obi-Wan said, genuinely smiling now.

"Yeah," his friend agreed. "I've started going down to see the Initiates, seeing if there's anyone I feel connected to."

Obi-Wan answered, "You'll make a great Master. Whoever you choose as a Padawan will be quite lucky."

"Thanks, Obi. That means a lot to me, coming from you," Garen replied. Suddenly the ship lurched. "Oh, we must be coming out of hyperspace now. We're almost there, then. Twenty minutes tops. Which is really good, considering—" Obi-Wan waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

"Considering what?" he asked.

"Oh, uh, nothing," Garen said a little too quickly. His friend raised an eyebrow at him.

"Garen."

"I... well... that is... you're not in such good shape," the Jedi admitted hesitantly. "You're not going to die anytime soon, but it'd be best if we get you to the Temple infirmary as soon as we can."

"Why? I felt for injuries with the Force when I woke up. I would have sensed them, even if I were on pain medication," Obi-Wan told him.

"True," he answered, "you aren't physically injured."

"Then what is it?" Garen was saved from having to answer by being forced to switch the ship over to manual control and guide them to the Temple hangar. He didn't say a word to Obi-Wan the rest of the way, afraid that his friend was going to push him for more information.

The two were separated when they reached the hangar, both pulled aside by Council members. They parted without a word, Obi-Wan giving his friend a small, tired smile. He was met with a nod.

"I'm worried, Master," Garen told Master Windu. "He seems... different."

"I'm sure he is, Knight Garen. It has been two years since you last saw him," the Master pointed out. Garen nodded.

"But... he doesn't seem... right, somehow," Garen said.

"Whatever it is, the Healers will help him fix it," he assured the younger Jedi. Garen nodded, and hoped that he was right.

X

Obi-Wan fully expected to be taken to the Council room to give his report immediately after leaving the hangar, but Yoda led him to the infirmary. He frowned.

"Where are we going?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"To the infirmary, we go," Yoda answered, humouring him. "Help, you will need." Obi-Wan frowned. So both Garen and Master Yoda knew something he didn't... but what was it?

"Why?"

"Find out, you will, when we get there," the Master insisted. For a split second Obi-Wan wanted to hit something, but the anger and frustration were gone as quickly as they had come, leaving him feeling awkward and disconcerted.

"Yes, Master."

They walked in silence, sometimes slowing as someone greeted Yoda. Obi-Wan was rather surprised at how few people he recognised. He didn't think two years was long enough to make him forget everyone, but apparently it was.

They reached the infirmary and Obi-Wan palmed the door open so Master Yoda wouldn't have to reach. He immediately tensed as he heard a familiar voice.

"No, Anakin. Master Yoda is coming soon; we don't have time for that." It was Qui-Gon, his former Master. And he was talking to that boy, the one they'd found on Tatooine... the one who had ruined the mission on Naboo.

He fought to keep his anger in check as he heard Anakin say, "I'm sure my Master won't mind if we go for a quick spar—"

The door was now fully open and Obi-Wan found himself face-to-face with his former mentor. He hadn't changed at all in the two years they'd been apart. He still wore his long, brown hair in the same style, his beard still as thick and dark as ever. He even wore the same colour robes, that tan colour that Obi-Wan hated because it reminded him of the sand on that dreadful, hot planet. Surprise flickered through his blue eyes as he met his former Padawan's steely gaze.

"Obi-Wan," he breathed.

The moment was broken. Obi-Wan gave him a curt nod, then stepped aside for them to pass. Neither Qui-Gon nor Anakin moved.

"What're you wearing?" asked Anakin. Obi-Wan glanced down and nearly groaned. He had forgotten that he'd never changed back into his Jedi robes after putting on the standard gear for a drug dealer. And the tight black pants, boots and jacket couldn't be farther from proper Jedi attire.

"Nevermind, Padawan," said Yoda. "Imitate him, you will not. For a mission, these clothes were. Wear them, Jedi do not."

Anakin pouted visibly, but said, "Yes, Master." Obi-Wan blinked in surprise. Anakin was Yoda's Padawan? Not Qui-Gon's?

"It was kind of you to come see me, Anakin," said Qui-Gon, breaking his train of thought, "but I believe you have a class to go to?"

"Oh!" the young boy exclaimed and slapped his palm to his forehead. "Advanced physics! I completely forgot! I'm sorry, Masters! I'll see you later!" He ran off down the corridors, ignoring a few Knights who tried to tell him to slow down.

Yoda chuckled. "Energetic, he is."

"Yes, quite so," Qui-Gon said, but his voice was distant now, as though he wasn't really focused on the conversation. Obi-Wan looked to him and saw his former Master watching him intently.

"Talk later, you can," Yoda said. "Medical attention, Obi-Wan needs." Obi-Wan saw the startled look in Qui-Gon's eyes even as he nodded and moved out of the way.

"Of course," he said. "I will find you later, then. Good day, Obi-Wan." He didn't walk away, instead watching as Obi-Wan gave him a small, stiff bow and walk off into the medical centre.

Obi-Wan was happy enough to submit to the infirmary staff if it meant he didn't have to see Qui-Gon. Even after two years without contact, Obi-Wan thought bitterly as the Healers injected him with something, nothing had changed. His eyes fluttered and closed as the drug took effect, and he fell into a troubled sleep.

X