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Recap: Chapter 1: Obi-Wan was given an assignment to write an argumentative essay for his Current Affairs class. The topic involved a high profile family who had lost their second born son at the tender age of two years. Having discussed possible arguments with his mentor, he finally admitted to Qui-Gon that he thought the child in the article could be himself. Chapter 2: We were introduced to Ben Abram's – the child who went missing at the age of two – family. After thirteen years, Rayfe, Ben's father, feels the family needs some new scenery in order to keep moving forward. Having received his wife's consent, he was planning to run for a seat in the Senate. And now, on with the story….
Chapter 3
Two Months Later
"Remember, we have to be quiet! Sinterklas doesn't come unless he thinks we're all asleep." When the little one slipped his small hand into the larger palm, the two eased their way down the staircase.
"Do you tink he'll come?"
"As long as we don't get caught," the older boy whispered.
* - * - * - * - *
"Go play with the little kids!"
The toddler stomped his foot on the ground, his arms held stiff at his sides, his fists clenched. "I not wittle!"
The older boy turned him around and pushed him toward the younger children. "Today's my day with my friends, now get lost!"
The child turned and glared before moving off into the crowd of people that were there to celebrate his father's new position as governor.
* - * - * - * - *
The child sat crying near the back door, his knees pulled up, arms wrapped around them.
"What's wrong, little one?"
A tall man sat down beside him, pulling the child against his side.
"I can't pway."
"Ah, I see. It's rough being the little brother isn't it?"
The toddler nodded his head and looked up into a pair of eyes that shone with understanding and affection. Picking the child up so he was now sitting on the elder's lap, the man tried to reassure his second born. "One of these days you'll be the bigger brother and you'll be doing things that 'T' won't yet be ready for."
Thinking over this new revelation the child's frown deepened, thinking of his older brother. "Maybe." The little one looked back into his father's eyes. "But I'll still be too wittle for him," he said pointing toward the area where the older boys were playing.
The elder man shook his head with sympathy. He knew how his son felt; after all, he had had older brothers too. "One day the years between you won't seem so far apart, and he'll let you tag along."
"Pwomise?"
X
Obi-Wan sat up, pushed off his blanket and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Leaning over, he tried to slow his breathing. When his pulse finally slowed to a more normal pace, he briefly glanced around his room before letting himself fall back onto the bed. He scrubbed at his face trying to relieve the fatigue he still felt. It seemed that no matter how long he slept, he still felt tired. The dreams had started during his research of the article he had had to report on in his Current Affairs class. The high score he received was well deserved with all the time he had put into discovering more about the family and their position in society. And although he had learned enough to make well informed arguments for both sides, he still didn't agree with one of them.
"Dreams pass in time," he whispered to himself.
His mentor had been up with him several times over the course of the last few weeks. After having discussed possible scenarios with his master, he had shown him the photo that had accompanied the article. Then he had pulled up his own record, the parts he was allowed access to, and showed him the photo the Order had taken when he had first arrived. There was no disputing the two were similar, but until they had something to worry about Qui-Gon had thought it best to let the matter drop.
It was interesting how his master's point of view had changed when the matter hit too close to home. Qui-Gon's view that the child in question should have the opportunity to be reunited with his family had suddenly shifted.
Obi-Wan stretched, trying to ease his muscles into the day. Since he and Garen had the day off, they planned to visit the History museum. They were promised extra credit in one of their courses if they attended the gallery.
X
"Worried you are."
Qui-Gon massaged his face with one hand while trying to keep a sarcastic remark at bay. It wouldn't due to snap at the elder Jedi; after all, he hadn't yet told him of the subject that plagued him. Dropping his hand, his weary eyes met and held those of his grandmaster. "My padawan brought something to my attention a couple months past. Something I was sure would dissipate with time, but…." The elder man wiped a hand over his face before reconnecting his gaze with Yoda's. "He's been having dreams, some fairly pleasant, some not so much. But even the ones that sound somewhat enjoyable seem to put him on edge."
"Dream of what does he?"
"People he doesn't know, a place he's never been."
"Visions perhaps?"
"If only." Silence reigned for a short time until the younger master once again interrupted it. "We spoke of differing view points in regard to one of his assignments. I told him what was expected, what was neutral ground, and fair. And now, I can't help but take back every word."
X
Garen proceeded Obi-Wan into the building, stopping just inside to let his friend catch up. "Where do you want to start?"
"How about the Old Republic, it's always more interesting that the other stuff here."
Gesturing with a nod of his head toward one of the workers, he reminded, "We need to get our passes validated so we can prove we were here."
Once their attendance was taken care of, the two young men roamed the museum looking at the displays and reading the history behind them.
When Garen took some time out to get something to drink, Obi-Wan wandered through several exhibits before stopping at one that narrated the beginnings of the Jedi Order. Some time had passed as he listened to the voice explain the force and the Jedi's ability to wield it. Another passerby paused by the demonstration, fascinated by the technology that brought the hologram to life.
"It amazes me how technology advances through the years," a hushed yet awed voice spoke beside him.
Obi-Wan glanced briefly at the older youth beside him before refocusing on the exhibit. "I've met some of the greatest minds I know in the Jedi Temple. Their expertise and know how when it comes to inventing things is beyond anything I've seen."
The older youth smiled but didn't turn toward the younger, his focus on the hologram before them. "Have you traveled much?"
The padawan allowed himself a smile. "A little, here and there. You?"
"Not much." A heavy sigh accompanied the pronouncement.
Garen walked up behind the two and stepped up beside his friend. "What'd I miss?"
"An interesting speech on the beginnings of the Order."
Garen rolled his eyes. "We can learn about that back at the Temple. C'mon, let's go see what else we can find."
Obi-Wan gestured to his friend that he wasn't yet ready to move on and then turned toward the young man he had been speaking with to find the older boy studying him with interest. "You're a Jedi?"
The youth smiled. "Not yet, but one day." When he saw confusion in the other's eyes, he expanded on his reply. "I'm an apprentice. It'll be several years yet before I'm Knighted."
Green eyes examined him more closely before holding out a hand in friendship. "What's your name?"
The padawan accepted the invitation. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
A call from the doorway had the older boy looking back over his shoulder. "I gotta go; it was nice meeting you."
Obi-Wan nodded, confusion shining in his eyes. "Same here." He watched the older youth until he disappeared into the crowd.
Garen snapped his fingers in front of his friend's face to gain his attention. "Are you all right?"
The padawan's eyebrows rose at the rude intrusion as if to say 'what?!' before relaxing. Smiling at his colleague, he replied, "Fine. Let's go get something to eat."
X
Brodi watched his friend while waving down an airtaxi. "You all right? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Without turning toward his friend, the other answered, "I think maybe I have."
The taller of the two pulled his companion into the cab. "What happened, Jace?"
"I'm not sure." He looked back toward the building that was quickly becoming smaller the farther away they went. "But I get the feeling that I've met that kid before."
"Who, the Jedi?"
Jace nodded, turning back to face the front of the aircar.
"Well, maybe you've seen him around the Senate building. There kind's usually called upon for guard duty and such."
"Maybe," Jace conceded, though the feeling in his gut wouldn't leave him be.
