Chapter 14

"Master Kenobi" Yoda began. "Your opinion on young Skywalker, what is? Think you that lost to the Order is he?"

Obi-wan sighed, and pursed his lips. "I… do. The mindwipe is complete, he was scanned, and there is nothing that can be done to retrieve his memory, at least with our current technology. He has also broken the bond." Disbelieving gasps came from around the room. Adi broke the silence.

"Skywalker has… broken the bond? How is that even possible?"

"It reinstated itself after we had gained a sort of friendship. I fear that I was to outgoing, or friendly… I don't know. But he was uncomfortable with the closeness, and wanted to end the bond. And our friendship. It was my fault. I was to sudden, too forceful on him. I…"

"Blame yourself for this you cannot! The Separatists fault this is, on them lies the blame. NOT on you." Obi-wan looked away. The words were true, but that didn't mean he felt otherwise. "Now other problems we have. To do with young Skywalker, what shall we? Thoughts, Master Kenobi?"

Obi-wan was careful to avert his eyes. "I know that he wants me to simply treat him as my slave, to at least not be his friend. And… a part of me wants to let that happen. I know it is wrong, masters, and that I should not feel that way, I just…." Obi-wan let out a deep breath. "I don't know how to deal with this right now."

Obi-wan hung his head in shame. He should be able to handle this. It was just so much though. Anakin apparent return from the dead, only to be made Obi-wan's slave, the mindwipe, the breaking of the bond, to come so close to regaining Anakin, only losing him to 86205… IT was so much to take in, especially what with being a general, someone who had to be in perfect control every step of the way. But life had no respite. That was the way of things. And he was on the council for Force sakes! He should be able to deal with this. Yoda had other ideas.

"Hmph. sorry we are, Obi-wan that go through this you must. Hard it must be. A respite you will be given, temporarily will Skywalker be but in the custody of another. Think we cannot that able you are to withstain such pressure. Meditate you will. Rest you will. Do this now you will. Sort out the details, the rest of us will. Go now." Obi-wan blinked. This was not quite what he had been expecting.

"Masters, it was not my intention to be given leave. I am fine…" Obi-wan never finished his sentence.

"Hear me did you? Rest you will! An order that is. Excused you are." Head still spinning, Obi-wan turned and left the room. He passed 86205 at the door, and nodded briefly to him, then clarified that he was to stay here, while Obi-wan left for a bit. That taken care of, Obi-wan made his way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. It was a place he liked to meditate, and he surely needed the calming powers of the Force now.

Obi-wan's perspective-

Obi-wan was deep in the Force, head still reeling. This was not a new sensation. The last time he had felt this way was when Qui-gon died. Qui-gon who he'd failed yet again. Qui-gon's last wish had been that Anakin be trained, and Obi-wan had managed to get the boy nice and knighted, then he'd managed to get the child mind wiped. And enslaved. Failure. No, he couldn't think like that! He was a Jedi. He was above that. He would not fall to depression or self-decrepitation. Obi-wan took a deep breath. No. He centered himself on the Force. He would help 86205 to go back to at least some resemblance of his former self. No matter what.