Okay, thank you, those of you who were patient and decided to stick with it. Again, I apologize for the length of time it's taken me to update. I confess to having a little trouble deciding what direction this story is going to take. Admittedly, I'm basically 'winging' it at this point; following the direction of the characters. I do that sometimes when I hit a wall. In any case, this next chapter is dedicated to the loyal seven who have waited several weeks between updates: Game3525, starwarsforever, Star Wars for Life, ObiBettina7, Gwenneth, JediAngel001 and Jedi Hsoj. I'm hoping that my dry spell is over and that it won't be another month before I post again, and that the readers I've lost will come back, and the ones who reviewed the last chapter are still there. Although, I certainly do understand if any of you have just given up on me! Anyway, here's a very belated chapter 3. Thanks for reading....but please, please review.
Chapter 3 – Headed for Trouble
Once Zak had gone, Obi-Wan sighed heavily, ran a hand through his hair and sat down on the bed. His whole life, it seemed, had been turned upside down. He had never known any life but that of a Jedi, not that he remembered, in any case. Having this unremembered past thrust upon him so suddenly had thrown his mind into total chaos. He was surprised to find that he felt somewhat annoyed with his friend, Anakin, for not giving him some hint of the bombshell that had been dropped at the Council Session. He quickly dispelled this negative feeling. He could not fault Anakin for putting his duty above personal feelings; Obi-Wan would have done the same. Still, he did not like being blind-sided, and could not help but wonder why the Council, specifically Mace and Yoda had mandated he not be told before this morning's session. He rubbed his temples, consciously willing away the headache he felt coming on.
"You are taking this rather hard, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon's disembodied voice observed.
"I have just discovered I am heir to a planetary throne; this is hardly trivial. How should I be taking it?" Obi-Wan answered, rather curtly.
"So you imagined your origins were trivial?" Qui-Gon questioned.
"I don't know; I have never cared about where I came from, Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan confessed.
"Really? You have never thought on it at all?"
"Perhaps as a small boy, but certainly not in a very long time." Obi-Wan replied, "It served no purpose."
"Ah, yes, I see; focus on the here and now." Qui-Gon concurred and then chuckled, "You always were a good student; stubborn and hard-headed at times, but always a quick learner."
"Thanks." Obi-Wan retorted, "So how much of this did you know?"
There was silence as the ethereal master contemplated how to answer the question posed to him, "You know it all, didn't you." Obi-Wan guessed, breaking the silence.
"It was important for me to know where you came from in order to teach you properly." Qui-Gon revealed after a moment more, "Are you angry because I never shared this knowledge with you?"
"Of course not; there was no reason for me to know. I could have lived contentedly never knowing." Obi-Wan answered quickly and then sighed, running a hand through his hair again, "Now, I only wish for this business to be finished."
"I imagine you do." Qui-Gon replied, and then sighed, "I thought it best not to compromise your training by revealing your background; had I known it would resurface after so many years, I would have reconsidered that decision. I am sorry, old friend."
"You did not want me to turn into another Xanatos; I understand why you made your choice, Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan assured him.
"It was an unfair comparison; you were never like him. Given the choice he was given, I do not think you would have fallen as he did." Qui-Gon countered.
"Perhaps; perhaps not. Who can know what I would have done if this had been thrust at me when I was his age." Obi-Wan argued, "I may have chosen to take up the crown; I was more arrogant in those days."
"But you were still a Jedi, Obi-Wan; it was what I first noticed about you." Qui-Gon told him, "And I never saw you as arrogant....cocky perhaps, but never arrogant."
"Is this a private conversation?" Anakin queried from the open doorway, "I can come back later."
"No need, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied, "Come in."
"I just stopped by to tell you that I'm sorry I didn't warn you about this." Anakin said, "I know you must feel like you've been blind-sided."
"It's alright, Anakin; the decision was not yours to make." Obi-Wan answered.
Anakin stepped into the room and sat on the edge of the workstation, "Actually, their reasoning was sound. Master Windu wants to keep this whole thing as low key as possible. Only the Council knows the true reason you're going to Antigalia. Both Master Yoda and Master Windu are concerned that, if this got around, the rest of the Jedi would see you differently. And I know what that would do to you. They just didn't want the wrong people to overhear, so they thought it best to wait and air it out in the privacy of the Council Chamber....maybe it should have been just the three of us, or four, if you include Master Gallia. But the rest of the Council would have had to know eventually, so...."
"So you decided to just get it all over with at once." Obi-Wan concluded, "I understand, Anakin; it's alright."
"Good...right....well, I just came down to tell you that, and to let you know that the mission to Telos IV has been reassigned, so Ferri and I will be here just in case you need back up." Anakin replied.
"I am glad to hear it; Zak is getting one of his feelings." Obi-Wan answered, "And you know what that means."
"Yeah, nothing good."
There was silence between them, "Well, I'll let you get back to...whatever you were doing." Anakin said and then grinned, "I have to agree with Qui-Gon though; I don't think you're arrogant either..." And his grin grew wider, "Just overbearing and hardheaded."
Obi-Wan picked snatched his pillow from the bed and heaved it toward Anakin's retreating form, striking him in the back, "Ungrateful whelp!" He exclaimed with mock seriousness.
Anakin staggered as if he were wounded, "Ow, truce!" He cried, "I take it back!"
Then Obi-Wan mood sobered, "Seriously, Anakin, I am relieved that you will be available if we need you." He said, "Zak is not the only one who has a bad feeling about this."
"Seriously, I hope you're wrong." Anakin replied.
"So do I."
---------------
And several light years away......
"We have heard from the Chancellor. He will arrive within days."
"Are the preparations made, Po-Ku?" The Prince Regent asked.
"Yes, My Prince." Po-Ku answered, "We have had two years to prepare."
The Prince Regent nodded, "We cannot be lapse, Po-Ku. He is a Jedi; he must not be allowed to use his powers against us."
"Two years we have researched and studied, My Prince. All precautions have been taken." Po-Ku replied reassuringly, "You may rest easily."
"I cannot afford to 'rest easily'; not until this business is finished." The regent retorted.
"My Prince, this man does not want the Throne; we have studied him intensely since we learned of his survival. I assure you, he is coming here to abdicate, not take it." Po-Ku insisted.
Tai-Me, Prince Regent of Antigalia clasped his hands behind his back as he turned to look out the large window, "I pray you are right, my old friend. However, we must be prepared for either contingency." He said.
"Of course; and we are." Po-Ku insisted.
"And what of the Extremists? Do we know how they will react to the reemergence of the Kenobi line?" Tai-Me questioned, "Will they care that his intention is to abdicate? Will they give him that chance?"
"You must not be so anxious, My Prince. His safety was also part of our preparations." Po-Ku answered, "No one wants this to spark an intergalactic incident."
"The Extremists are too preoccupied with their own agenda to care about sparking intergalactic incidents." Tai-Me argued, "They are fanatics; acting without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Be on your guard, Po-Ku."
"We will be." Po-Ku stated firmly.
---------------
"He is coming." The first stated.
"When?" The second asked.
"Within days; that is what we have heard." A third answered.
"He must not be allowed to take the Throne." The second said.
"He will not." The third and first insisted.
"He must not be given the chance." Yet another added.
"We are in agreement." Number two replied.
"Find out exactly when he is scheduled to arrive." The last, this one the apparent leader, instructed.
"Our sources are working on that now." The first answered.
"Good." The leader replied, "Getting to him will not be easy; Tai-Me's people will be on the alert for trouble."
The second smiled, "We have a way in."
The leader turned to regard the second, returning the smile, "Good. Very good."
---------------
Early the following morning, Obi-Wan and Zak boarded a transport headed for Obi-Wan's newly-revealed homeworld. The Council was there to see them off. Anakin clasped hands with his former master, his friend, his brother, "Ferri and I will wait for your word. We can be there in a matter of hours." He said.
"Thank you, my friend." Obi-Wan replied, gripping Anakin's hand warmly.
"May the Force be with you." Anakin said.
"And with you."
"I'm not the one who needs it right now." Anakin answered, "Watch your back."
"I have Zak to do that for me." Obi-Wan told him.
"Yes, of course."
Obi-Wan released Anakin's hand, patted his shoulder and boarded the ship without looking back. Minutes later, the ship's engines fired up and the ship lifted away from the landing pad.
"Two days, Anakin." Yoda stated, "Two days you will wait, no longer."
"Master?" Anakin questioned, turning toward the diminutive Jedi.
"We do not think it is a matter of if there is trouble any longer, Anakin. It is more a matter of when." Mace explained, "He may not have time to summon your help before he realizes this."
"Shouldn't he have been told?" Anakin asked.
"He knows already, Anakin." Adi Gallia answered, "He is just not ready to admit it to himself."
Anakin nodded, "I guess I should have known that."
"Two days, Anakin; no longer." Yoda repeated.
"Two days, yes, Master."