AN: This chapter is dedicated to two of my favorite Jedi Knights. Here we glimpse Obi-Wan at his musing best, and we get to meet, or are reintroduced, to Qui-Gon Jinn. I hope my readers know who Qui-Gon is, or I'll be very very sad. Well, read on! More's coming, I promise! And thank you to everyone who's already read, reviewed, or just glimpsed at Game of Deception.
Chapter Four
Obi-Wan Kenobi prowled the quiet passages of the Death Star on his quest to make escape possible for Leia, Siria, Luke, the crew of the Millenium Falcon, and the two undercover Rebel agents posing as stormtroopers. Some part of him knew this could very well be his last mission, and he would not leave the Death Star alive. If he left it at all, which was also in contention.
"Don't do it again." A quiet voice startled him and he looked to see that he was alone. There was no one else, and Vader was still quite far away.
"Don't give up, Obi-Wan." The voice came again, much closer this time. Obi-Wan paused and focused on a point two feet infront of him.
"Master?" how strange to utter that word after thirty-two years. For the first time in that many years, Obi-Wan stood before his old master. The last time he'd actually seen Qui-Gon Jinn was the day after he had burned his master's body in Theed and taken Anakin Skywalker as his first and only Padawan.
"What makes you think Anakin will be your only Padawan?"
"I'm old, Master, I have nothing left to give anyone."
"That's a lie, Obi-Wan, and you know it. Lying is quite unbecoming a Jedi Knight."
"You didn't come to lecture me, did you?"
"No, I came to set you straight. You've been alone far too long, Obi-Wan, if you can't see what's right in front of you. Luke Skywalker needs you, needs you to believe in him and help him when he needs it."
"What about Anakin?"
"If there is any good left in that empty shell, I wish you luck in finding it. Anakin Skywalker died with his wife, Obi-Wan, he died a terrible death. Why did you leave him?"
"What could I do? He wouldn't have wanted my help if he'd been healthy and in one piece."
"Another lie. What were you so afraid of? Failure? You'd already managed that quite spectacularly. Don't let your failure with Anakin taint your possible future with Luke. Luke deserves to be a Jedi, and I can assure you that the Force is not ready for you yet."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Train Luke Skywalker. With any luck at all, my still-stubborn Padawan, you'll die in your sleep of ripe old age. I never had that leisure, don't steal it from yourself in a show of martyrdom." There was a sadness to his master's voice and Obi-Wan realized something. He had been on the verge of doing the same thing to Luke that Qui-Gon had done to him thirty-two years ago. He had forgiven his master, it was un-Jedi not to, but it still hurt.
"You always did tell me to do as you said, not as you did."
"Yes, and if it's taken you this long to realize that, I failed you in that respect of your training. Luke must face his father someday, Obi-Wan, and to do that he needs the confidence and stability of training." A twinkle of a smile in his master's eyes gave Obi-Wan some small hope, "I should dearly hope you weren't thinking of shoving the boy off on my poor beleaguered Master, were you?"
"Not right away, but I had hoped to send him to Dagobah when the time was right. Yoda could probably use a little excitement in his life."
"Luke Skywalker untrained would drive him to seek me in the Force and demand to know why I let you get away with it."
"Master, I have to know, it wasn't Anakin after all, was it?"
"No, Obi-Wan."
"Is it his son?"
"Why should I tell you? If you train the boy, you might be lucky enough to find out for yourself whether he is or is not the Chosen One."
"Why wasn't it Anakin?"
"His was a birth tampered with. Darth Sidious's own master had a hand in the process and there is the great possibility that Anakin may be Palpatine's own child."
"That's a terrifying thought. Like father like son. Can I hope the grandson doesn't take after his grandfather or his father?" Obi-Wan felt a lightness of heart he had not felt since he had first cradled the newborn twins before seeing them off to their guardians.
"Yes, and that is why he needs you. Those tendencies are there, but Padme's kindness and gentleness are there as well. I don't need to tell you of Leia?"
"Oh, that wily thing? She's duped the poor boy into thinking she's Siria Keray."
"And how is Siria?"
"At the moment, not well. I last heard that she was slated for execution. They must have switched places and Siria is playing Leia's part."
"You know she told them nothing of use."
"Why else would they destroy Alderaan?"
"Don't worry, Obi-Wan, there are survivors. One of whom would be most devastated if he were to find out his dearest friend and confidant decided to play the martyr."
"Bail. Oh, Qui-Gon, he did?"
"Several ships managed to escape, and I can't deny warning them in time. The girls would be crushed if he was truly gone."
"Well, Leia hasn't quite regained her color or her spunk since it was blown to Kingdom Come by this battle station. And I can only imagine what poor Siria must have gone through to watch it all."
"It will be sweet for all of them, Obi-Wan."
"I have a generator to knock out, would you like to tag along or do you have other places to go?"
"Other than a never-ending argument with Mace Windu on whether or not you'll actually train Anakin Skywalker's son or put yourself up against Darth Vader and become a martyr? No, not really."
"Oh, do say hello when you see him next." Obi-Wan smiled to think of the Korun Jedi Master, "And which side of the argument did he take?"
"He thinks you'll play the martyr."
"Tell him I'm sorry." Obi-Wan found the generator room and crept inside. Qui-Gon served to distract the two stormtroopers on duty. With his master's aid, Obi-Wan knocked out not one but two generators before he moved on.
Now what, Master mine?
You stand at a cross-roads, Obi-Wan. Look into yourself and see where each path will lead. Qui-Gon prodded. Obi-Wan wedged himself into an alcove and closed his eyes. One path showed him death and assisting Luke from a distance as a voice and an apparition, sending the boy off to Yoda without much training at all, and trying to coax him back from a foolish mission. Of being forced to watch and listen in rueful silence as the boy underwent a period of healing and change after facing his father unprepared, of rising to become a Knight after defeating the darkness that threatened to choke all that was good. The other path showed years of fruitful training, of an uncertain boy growing in confidence and the Force at the tutelage of a Master unafraid of his past failure, "my greatest failure" is what Obi-Wan had said back on Tatooine. Of a Padawan better prepared for the trials of darkness, a son better prepared for the truth of his father's fate. A brother who would never betray his sisters, a son who believed in the good that still dwelt somewhere deep within the monster that was his father. The second path looked far more challenging and at the same time more enjoyable. It was a more fruitful way to spend what years remained to him, rather than sit in another plane of existence and wonder at the might-have-beens and maybes.
Well, Padawan? Have you chosen your destiny?
I choose the second path, Master. What should I do now? He had to smile.
He knows you are here, and is seeking you out. I think I may be of some help to you. His master appeared before him, looking almost solid. Obi-Wan choked, jumping back.
"How did you do that?" he reached out and brushed his fingers across the sleeve of his master's robe.
"You didn't think I've spent thirty-two years feeling sorry for myself, did you?"
"I should know better. How long can you stay this way?"
"As long as need be for you to get away safely. Together we will face Darth Vader. By the time he finds us, we should be close enough to the Falcon it will be a simple matter of me serving as a necessary distraction." Qui-Gon shrugged, as if unused to the feeling of the weight on his shoulders, the material realness of his own flesh and blood.
"Well, use what time we have to get used to your temporary corporeal home, you're going to need it." Obi-Wan smirked, "I shall regret not being able to see the look on Vader's face when he realizes that you're already dead and he can't actually kill you."
"No, Darth Maul took care of that for him."
"Much to my displeasure."
"And mine as well, Padawan." Qui-Gon reached out and touched his shoulder in a familiar fashion. It took all of his self-control not to break down in tears like a lost child. He managed, and covered his master's hand with his, taking comfort in the simple gesture. With the knowledge that he did not have to die today, Obi-Wan went forth to face his greatest nemesis.
