Chapter 21
Anya and I left the office together. As soon as we left the building, Anya, speaking softly into her transmitter, called for Kitt, who quickly drove right up to where we stood. Anya got in on the driver's side, and I sat next to her. "Well…happy birthday, brother!!" Then, seeing my look of confusion, Anya added, "You do remember that it's your birthday, Obi-Wan – don't you??" "Yeah, sure," I said, though honestly, I didn't remember until that moment. As we began our drive to the restaurant, something came over me, something that's hard to describe. I found myself staring off into space, while Anya chattered away, about what I cannot even tell you. And then, a memory seemed to force itself into my consciousness, a memory from the depths of my soul…
I saw myself – I must have been about 25 years old – with my half-sister, Anya, and we were playing "dress up," her favorite game when she was little. Anya and I were very close and we often played together. So, when she asked me what I look like without my clothes on, I said, "I really don't think that should be part of our game, do you?" Anya approached me and started taking off my clothes. I tried to fight her but oddly, I didn't have the strength, and I was having trouble staying awake. There I was, a few moments later, naked, with my wrists and ankles tied to the bedposts. Anya touched me all over and I was powerless to stop her. Then, she must have left for a few minutes, although I can't remember. When she returned, she had a belt. She had an evil grin across her face, and then she said in a quiet though intense voice: "Do you remember what happened four months ago when I stole that car? You were so mad at me that when you smacked me across the face it knocked out two of my teeth. Well, Obi-Wan, I haven't forgotten. Now it's my turn to punish you." I tried to struggle free, but Anya had tied the rope rather tightly around my wrists and ankles. "Damn it, Anya, untie me immediately!!" I shouted at her. She ignored me, and began hitting me all over with the belt – hard. I cried out, "Anya, that hurts!! Stop it!!" She continued, almost as though she hadn't even heard me. Then, she raised her arm, taking aim at my head. I closed my eyes, expecting the worst. But then nothing happened. When I had the courage to open one eye, I saw that Qui-Gon had come into the room, and was holding Anya's hand so that she couldn't hit me with the belt. Qui-Gon asked me whether I was all right…
"Obi-Wan! Where did you go?" Anya snapped her fingers a few times, and then I realized I had been daydreaming. "Where were you just now, brother?" "Well, I was thinking about something I haven't thought about in years, Anya." "Oh, yeah. Like, what?" was the immediate reply. "Well, I was remembering…what you did to me that one time…" "Oh, I think I know the time you're talking about, brother." "Yeah," I continued, "You know, one thing I never really understood was why I was overcome with…"
"Weakness?" Anya finished my sentence. "Yeah, why did I feel so helpless to stop you. After all, I was a full-grown, 25-year-old man, and you were a little squirt." Kitt, in his inimitable calming voice, gently scolded me, "Master Obi-Wan, I must remind you not to address Mistress Skywalker in that fashion. As we know, she does not favor this nickname." "Thank you, Kitt," Anya replied. "Listen, Obi-Wan, there is something that I don't think you've ever been told about night. The weakness you felt was actually due to the effects of a tranquilizer that I mixed in your tea earlier that evening. It was the same tranquilizer that I used in my tranquilizer gun. I'm sorry, it was not a nice thing to do to you." Anya cast her eyes down, and waited for me to speak. "You're kidding?! You really did that to me – without any help?" "I swear I did it all by myself. Not that I'm proud of it. I also want you to know that I've never told anything about the whole incident to anyone."