littlelionluvr: Chapter 25: Kalar and Traest will not be pleased to say the least. ;) The reason for the speeder 'malfunction' will be explained, sort of, in a chapter to come.

Thanks so much for your review! :)

Cloudyseph: Chapter 25 - Obi-Wan has a plan! ;) Thanks, I'm glad that his emotions and how he's dealing with things are coming across okay, as well as how the other characters are dealing. No problem about the lack of reviews, I understand all to well how RL can hold us back from the fanfic world.

Thanks so much for reading and for your review! :)

A/N: After much thinking and arguing with myself, I've decided not to go into great detail concerning Traest and Obi-Wan and the events surrounding them. There will be some skipping ahead with a short recap of what happened during the time in between to give an idea without the details. They've been on Nyvé longer than I had ever planned or intended for. The muse took off in a direction I hadn't anticipated. So the goal is to get them back on Coruscant and post the part that's been written since the beginning of this fic. I hope it doesn't disappoint and that the story will still flow smoothly since it may (or may not) move more quickly.

I also want to thank you all for reading. I appreciate your patience and your replies more than you know.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 26

Shocked by his son's announcement, Kale stepped over to the edge of the bed and sat down. When he had regained his bearings, he replied, a question within a statement. "Then you're staying."

I should have voiced it better than that, the youth thought.

Without directly answering the question, Obi-Wan replied, "The announcement will make him angry; thereby, making him careless. He'll step out into the open where I can deal with him once and for all. Besides, at this point it's the only way to make certain that Kalar doesn't get his hands on the Bailer estate."

Eyes narrowing at his son's words, Kale corrected, "You mean we can take care of him."

Without missing a beat, Obi-Wan replied, "Of course."

"Son, you do understand the ramifications if you were to seek vengeance against Traest?"

The youth sidestepped the question. "I understand the implications if he's not stopped."

"I know you understand about the different aspects of the force. Now, please answer the question."

"What I understand is that sometimes we have to do what we must despite the consequences."

"I don't want to lose you," Kale stressed, knowing that Obi-Wan would understand his meaning.

"Master Hebsley says a Jedi must let go of what he fears to lose."

"Do not quote the Code to me!" Kale stood and was in his son's face faster than Obi-Wan could blink. "I've looked for you for too long to have you lose yourself on some vengeful journey!"

Calm. He needed to calm down. Backing off from where his son sat on the edge of the bed, Kale turned to look out the window. A soft chuckle escaped his lips before he could stop it. He was known as one of the most serene Jedi within the Order. Not one person had ever been able to get past his peaceful exterior, not even his former padawan with all his mischievous endeavors. And that was why Kale was confused as to how his son, his own flesh and blood, could not only slide past his calm exterior but blow it to smithereens in the process. He began to wonder if he would be able keep his sanity in check until Obi-Wan was raised and out on his own.

"I can't give you what you want. I can't promise you anything because if I do then I would have to keep it and I don't know if I can do that. I am asking you for the same thing you keep asking of me."

When Kale turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised in question, his eyes filled with worry, Obi-Wan said, "Trust me."

The Jedi's chest rose with the deep breath that suddenly filled his lungs at his son's request. "It's not that I don't trust you. I just –"

" – worry, I know." Obi-Wan stood and walked over to stand before his father.

Kale shook his head. "Yes, I'm worried. But more than that, I'm scared to death you're going to do something rash and I won't be there to stop the fall out."

"You've taught me over the last several months how to stand on my own. And I know I didn't do a very good job of that when it mattered most. But I still remember the lesson and with practice I know I can put it into play." When Kale remained silent, Obi-Wan continued, "I need to do this."

A soft knock on the door had the two turning to see Jes at the door. "Are you two coming down for last meal?"

Kale turned his gaze back to Obi-Wan. After several weighted minutes, Kale replied, "Then do it. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise."

X

"Traest, you may want to come have a look at this."

The man in question walked through the living area door, coming to a stop behind the sofa. Kalar pressed a button on the remote in his hand, causing the sound on the holotube to rise in volume.

Markus' eyes narrowed at the scene playing out before him. Kana Bailer was holding a press conference to announce a three-year transition of the providence to her grandson. When Obi-Wan stepped onto the platform, taking the mic from his grandmother, he confirmed her proclamation. The crowd was pleased with the turn of events, glad that their livelihoods would remain in a state of stability.

Traest's right hand clenched into a fist; Kalar turned to look at his guest. "I thought you said you took care of the brat."

The feral smile that graced the other's lips had Kalar thankful that he wasn't on the receiving end of the man's anger. He himself was not a man who was intimidated easily, usually being the aggressor in any given situation, but even he wasn't foolhardy enough to tangle with Markus. He had tried to warn his son about the man's character but Nayt hadn't listened and ended up in a predicament even his father couldn't get him out of.

"He'll wish he had listened when I'm finished with him."

"Before you go running off to finish whatever it is you've started, there's another aspect to all of this."

Traest turned his attention to his former partner's father. "And that would be?"

"It could be a trap."

"The kid's talented, smart maybe, but even he wouldn't know how to pull something like that off." Traest shook his head. "No, he's become disobedient and needs to be reminded of who's in charge."

"His father would have the means to set this up."

Traest scoffed. "A ship's captain? I think not."

"He doesn't work on a freighter; I've recently discovered he's a Jedi."

Markus smiled. "All the more fun."

X

Four Months Later

Kale was once again pacing next to his son's hospital bed. Traest had been quite busy these last weeks trying to pull the young man back into line. The skills the teen possessed were all that had kept him from succumbing time and again to the freak accidents that seemed to stalk him: an explosion upon his exiting a building, a transport careening out of control to hit the platform he's speaking from, a loose energy bolt escaping the casing of a supposed broken blaster during a training course in which the teen was present. Granted, these incidents were isolated to target the youth and yet not so detrimental that he would be harmed permanently. But how long before Traest upped the ante? Although his son had shown that he was quite capable of taking care of himself these last months, between the four Jedi, they no longer allowed Obi-Wan to travel alone: one of them was always present wherever he went. And with the instruction he was currently receiving in regard to ruling the providence, there were plenty of affairs requiring his presence.

"This is ludicrous! How much longer will this go on, until one of you is dead?"

The young man grimaced when the healer touched a particularly sore spot. As the pain slowly retreated, he closed his eyes and took a breath of relief. With a half-hearted, yet pained grin, he looked at the man pacing nearby. "He's just getting warmed up. Give it some time, he'll make a mistake…he always does."

"How much more time does he need exactly before he finally succeeds in taking your life?"

"I've gotten in some pretty good shots myself these last months. Besides, what happened to patience?"

Kale's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Patience? I think I've been rather patient in allowing you to handle this your own way. As for these mishaps, my tolerance of this whole plan ran out after your first trip to the infirmary." Kale rubbed a hand over tired features, massaging his eyes a little more than usual. Content that he had his temper in check, he looked at his son. "If I receive one more call that you've been taken to the med center, we're going to turn things around and handle it my way. Am I clear?"

Matching eyes met in a silent standoff until Obi-Wan finally looked away. "I know what I'm doing." The words were spoken with quiet conviction.

Kale sighed while taking a seat on the edge of the medical bed, adjusting his position to better face his son. "I believe you do. But you have to understand this from my point of view. I not only took an oath to uphold the laws of the Republic, especially when it comes to criminals like Markus Traest. But I also made a vow to your mother, to myself and to you on the day you were born. And now I'm sitting on the sidelines while some lunatic is trying to get rid of you…permanently. Tell me what you think I should do."

"I dealt with Traest for seven years and held my own, even if just barely at times. I have an advantage in this that you, Qui-Gon and the others don't have: I know how he thinks, how he plans, even if he would like to believe otherwise. Trust me for just a while longer. I can and will handle this."

When Kale remained silent, merely studying his son, Obi-Wan continued, "He's trying to put me in my place, make me remember who's in charge. If he wanted to put me six feet under, he would have done it by now. Force knows I've given him plenty of rope to hang himself; he's nearly at the end of it."

"Meaning?"

"I get the closure I need to put this behind me once and for all."

Kale's jaw clenched several times before he finally spoke. "I'll give you one more go and then it's my turn."

Obi-Wan nodded his understanding. He would get no further concessions from his father. He had tried talking to Qui-Gon previously only to frustratingly learn that the two Jedi Masters were in cohorts about the situation. He decided a change of subject would do them both some good.

"Has Master Clee received any word as to Nyvé's position on Traest's extradition?"

"Not yet. They're finally willing to discuss it which is more than we'd hoped for but have yet to announce their decision. If it turns out that they agree, Clee and Garen will return to Coruscant to personally hand over the agreement to the senate. When approved, we'll have what we need to take him into custody."

Nervous to voice the next question, Obi-Wan cleared his throat before asking, "Aunt Jes?"

Kale half smirked. "She's rather upset just now. I wouldn't bother her if I were you."

The young man nonchalantly shrugged one shoulder. "She knows how we play."

"That doesn't mean she or anyone else has to like it. Qui-Gon and Garen are working to piece together this latest incident. Since there doesn't appear to be any concrete evidence left in the wake of these occurrences, the Nyvé authorities refuse to detain him. And even though Traest has made it a point to let us know that he's behind them, our word isn't enough."

The healer finished examining Obi-Wan whilst the two men discussed the younger's latest trip to her ward.

"You're very lucky this time; we were able to repair the worst of your injuries." Straightening the blankets around her patient, the healer smiled. "Now, stay in bed and be good. Make it through the rest of today with no fuss and I'll send you home tomorrow morning." When a sparke of hope lit up the teen's eyes, she wagged a finger at him. "On the condition that your healing progresses further overnight."

Obi-Wan glanced at Kale before replying, "It will."

Once the healer had left, the teen looked at his father in askance. Knowing what the teen wanted, Kale reached over to place his hand on his son's forehead, the boy closing his eyes as he did so. Leading the way, Kale helped his son into a healing trance. Having sensed the moment the youth let go, the older man opened his eyes and smiled, albeit worriedly. Removing his hand from the teen's brow, he gently but briefly caressed his son's cheek. "Sleep well, little one."

X

Obi-Wan stood at the back of the living area, pacing in front of the window that overlooked a lake below. They were currently staying at Kana's estate, the teen learning much at his grandmother's side; his aunt's added insight into the daily activities of running the providence had been an invaluable bonus. The last few weeks he had done nothing but rest, Healer's orders. He was bored if it were to be known. He took a deep breath and brought his hands up to clasp behind his head, his elbows now framing his face as he pulled them in. The political aspects of his grandmother's position, soon to be his, was something he discovered he had no interest in. Let alone the fact that his opinion of every politician he had met thus far was that they weren't to be trusted.

When the front door opened and then closed a moment later, the young man lowered his hands, pausing long enough to ask, "Did everything go all right?"

Kale nodded. "Clee and Garen are safely on their way back to Coruscant with documentation that once filed, will allow the Senate to arrest Traest on site."

At Obi-Wan's confused look, Qui-Gon explained. "Clee met with the judicial board one last time this morning. She explained the Republic's position concerning the crimes against Traest. During one of the many calls we've put in to Coruscant, the Chancellor gave her the authority to threaten the trade routes Nyvians use if the perpetrator in question is not remanded to Republic custody."

"After much deliberation, they agreed to extradite Traest but stated that they would not be the ones to apprehend him. It's the Republics responsibility to bring him to Coruscant for trial," Kale finished.

The youth nodded absently, proceeding once again with his pacing.

Qui-Gon watched a moment and then commented, "The Council will contact us once the proper procedures are in place. Then we will be free to take him into custody." Moving over closer to the youth, he added, "It's been three weeks and there's been no word. Perhaps he's come to his senses."

"He's biding his time, making plans," the teen murmured, his eyes sightlessly staring beyond the glass panes in front of him.

Qui-Gon brought a stop to the young man's pacing. "What do you mean?"

The teen looked at his father's colleague. "He watches and waits. He'll act when we make a mistake."

"Then perhaps its time we slip up," Kale suggested.

"How so?" Qui-Gon inquired.

Obi-Wan shook his head to the negative. "He'll know it's forged; Traest is many things, but a fool isn't one of them."

"Then we meditate on it until a solution presents itself," Qui-Gon surmised.

After arriving home from the med center, Obi-Wan had taken to silence. The teen rarely spoke unless directly spoken to; he appeared to spend his time lost in thought as if he were trying to work something out that he didn't yet want to speak of. And though Kale was concerned, he did not press him for answers...for now.

"Perhaps we should prepare some lunch."

Obi-Wan watched silently as his father and Qui-Gon left the room. He knew he should feel guilty for not telling them everything but he also knew that if he had, they would not allow him to do what needed to be done. He knew what Traest was waiting for.

It was now his move.

X

Coruscant

The Council listened carefully as Clee and her padawan reported on their trip to Nyvé.

"What is your opinion concerning this incident?" Mace questioned, clearly concerned that young Kenobi had almost managed – unconsciously – to kill one of their own.

"The boy is not dangerous. The vision or dream he was drowning in could have happened to any one of us over any number of situations we've faced in the field. He clearly did not know what he was doing in that moment. When he realized the potential consequences of his actions, he immediately pulled back; he was regretful of what had happened. "

"Training young Kenobi, are they?"

Clee shook her head. "No, Master. I saw no indication that Obi-Wan was being trained in the Jedi arts. He did participate in light saber exercises with my padawan, but Master Kenobi informed me that Master Hebsley had gained your approval to do so. And he quite often joined his father and Master Jinn in meditation. But to my understanding, meditation is something that can be taught to a force-sensitive not in the Order."

Yoda smiled. "Correct are you. A training prop he was not using, I suspect."

Clee shook her head. "No, Master. He used his father's lightsaber."

"What is your opinion of Obi-Wan's skills?"

"I did not witness many incidences of his force skills and those I did were not uncommon for someone with no formal training. Even those not trained in our ways manage to learn little tricks here and there along life's journey. He does not use the force unnecessarily. If he needs something, he gets up and gets it. The dream he had regarding Markus Traest was the only substantial showing I had witnessed."

"Padawan Muln. Witness unusual force skill did you?"

The padawan wasn't sure how to answer the question; however, he wasn't one to tell falsehoods under any circumstances either, not by omission or outright deceit. "Like Master Clee, I witnessed little things but nothing substantial enough to warrant concern. During saber drills, the force freely flowed through Obi-Wan. Whether that comes naturally to him or through training he's received, I couldn't say. In my opinion, he has the potential to have been one of the best Knights I've ever seen, that is if he had been raised under our roof."

The Council seemed strangely satisfied with Garen's answer.

"Master," Master Rhara began. "Markus Traest is not one to be dealt with lightly. I have witnessed the aftereffects of his run-ins with young Kenobi; the boy has spent too many days in the infirmary because of this man's desire for revenge. This man will not stop until he gets what he wants. We must intervene."

"Do you not trust Masters Kenobi and Jinn to handle the situation?" Yoda inquired.

"Of course I do, they are two of the Orders finest. However, this situation is too close, it's too personal. Perhaps we should send in a team to arrest Traest now that we have the legal documentation we need."

"Too close you seem as well."

Master Rhara remained silent. When a figure stepped from the shadows of the room, Padawan Muln acknowledge the newcomer with a tilt of his head. When Clee spotted Reed, she asked, an eyebrow raised, "And I would suppose that Knight Breindel isn't close to the situation at all?"

Ignoring Clee's comment, Mace gave the young Knight his directive. "Reed, your mission is to take Markus Traest into custody and bring him to Coruscant." The Council member paused for a moment, glancing at Yoda. When the elder nodded his consent, Mace continued, "Padawan Muln will be accompanying you; you're flight departs within the hour."

"Yes, Master."

"May I ask why my padawan is needed is on this mission?"

Mace allowed himself a small smile. "Just moments ago you requested the two of you be sent back to Nyvé. Is there a reason your padawan would be unfit for this mission?"

Knowing that the Councilor was trying to press her buttons, Clee nonetheless held her head high, though her eyes narrowed slightly. "My padawan is quite capable. I am only inquiring what his part in this will be."

"Coming to terms with what friendship means young Kenobi is. Keep him in the company of those his age, we must."

Clee looked at the two beside her. "Reed and Garen."

Yoda nodded. "Close to Knight Breindel he has always been, discover friendship with Garen he now is."

"If there are no further comments or questions, the three of you are dismissed," Mace concluded.

The Jedi bowed and left the Council chambers. Reed stopped in the foyer just outside the chambers and turned to the master and padawan. "Would you mind joining me for a quick bite to eat? You can tell me what you didn't tell the Council about the situation on Nyvé."

Clee raised an eyebrow in question. "What makes you think we would leave anything unsaid?"

Reed rolled his eyes at the comment. "This is Kale Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn we're talking about. Since when does anyone accompanying them on a mission tell the Council everything?"

Clee started to say something and then conceded, "Point taken."

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