thanks for the reviews

serendipitaey: Don't worry I'll take care of Obi for you. Jedi Ani Unduli: more coming. Padawan A Kenobi. Thanks Princess Moon shadow: Thanks.

Scathach47: more coming thanks. Thanks to those who added my story to your likes.

ooo

Master Yoda left Obi-Wan and Xanatos to accompany the injured back to the infirmary; as he needed to speak with the Queen.

He requested her help in tracking the bounty hunters ship, and after he explained what had transpired, she agreed and sent her best ship and crew off to track them to their destination, and then keep the kidnappers under surveillance.

The Queen was confused that the trade federation left without an incident and asked Master Yoda if he knew why. He surmised that they had been waiting for a command from Sidious to invade Naboo, however, when they heard the news bulletins that the Chancellor was actually Sidious, they fled not wanting to be connected to a sith lord.

Senator Amidala could not believe that Chancellor Palpatine was the Sith lord they had been searching for and she contacted Bail Organa, who confirmed what Master Yoda told them, and he asked for her help in bringing calm to the Senate.

No one was willing to take control and bring order back to the Senate and the Republic. She spoke with Master Yoda for a while and then left to return to Coruscant. Senator Amidala had agreed to be part of a new senate committee to oversee the reconstruction of the republic…..

ooo

The next morning Qui-Gon woke up feeling as if a Bantha had run over him. He'd collapsed in the hanger from his injuries, and by the time they arrived back at the palace infirmary he was unconscious.

His mind worked overtime trying to remember what happened and he tried to speak, but his mouth was so dry that nothing came out, but a raspy squeak.

A movement near his shoulder had him glance that way and to his relief Obi-Wan was there holding a glass of water.

"Here Master, drink this."

He took a sip and the cool water slid down his sore throat. It was wonderful and he took a few more sips before he stopped.

"Thank you," he croaked.

The battle in the hanger came rushing back into his thoughts and his eyes darted around. He could see Master Rancisis in the bed next to him and Mace was standing next to the bed with a bandage around his head.

"Are you alright Oppo?" he asked.

"Yes Qui-Gon, just a nasty burn to my chest, I'll survive."

He gazed at Mace. "You look like you managed to stay upright Mace."

"I have a few stitches and a headache, but no bed time."

"What about Anakin is there any word; have you found him?" Qui-Gon said handing the glass back to Obi-Wan.

"The tracking device you attached to their ship is sending a signal and the Queen has sent a ship to track it to its destination. Mauls personal craft is being examined and so far they found several co-ordinates that might be their base of operations. We will find him Master."

"How long before I can get out of here?" Qui-Gon asked trying to sit up.

Qui-Gon didn't get far before the healer pushed him back down.

"You have a deep gash in your side Qui-Gon rest is what you need."

"Master, we will find Anakin and bring him home. Even if Sidious arranged for Anakin to be taken he is seriously injured him-self so I doubt if the sith will be in any condition to do any harm to him." Obi-Wan explained.

Qui-Gon rested back against the pillows, and nodded. "Obi-Wan how do you know about this Sidious and before in the hanger you said that you fought the sith on Coruscant and you also said you saw Anakin sparring with Maul. What did you mean by that?"

Qui-Gon could sense a heightened awareness in the force around Obi-Wan and he appeared to be more confident than he'd ever seen him, something was different about his former padawan, but he couldn't distinguish what it was and he waited for Obi-Wan to answer him.

Obi-Wan didn't know how to begin to tell his Master, however he didn't have to as Master Yoda shook his cane and spoke before Obi-Wan could begin.

"Tell you everything you want to know I will Qui-Gon." Yoda said as he turned to Obi-Wan and Xanatos. "Something to say to Qui-Gon I have, need to hear it you two do not." Yoda said telling Obi-Wan and Xanatos that they could leave.

"Yes Master." Obi-Wan bowed to Master Yoda taking a deep breathe in relief; he didn't wait for his master to protest and left quickly with Xanatos.

Ooo

Qui-Gon wanted to call Obi-Wan back, but the old Master closed the door behind them. He felt his frustration rise, but it was no use complaining to Yoda because the little master would ignore him. Mace sat on the end of his bed and Master Rancisis sat up in his bed waiting to hear what the old master had to say.

Not only wasn't Qui-Gon getting any answers, but his young padawan was in the hands of a sith and he couldn't do anything for him at the moment.

"Found the lair of the sith master did Obi-Wan, Sidious is his name, but hid his true self under the guise of Chancellor Palpatine he did."

"Palpatine! He's the sith master! How did Obi-Wan find out?" Qui-Gon couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Yoda explained about the tunnel and Obi-Wan's confrontation with Palpatine and their battle in the tunnels.

"You're telling me that Anakin used that tunnel to visit Palpatine? Did my padawan know Palpatine was a sith Master?"

"Obi-Wan is certain that Anakin is unaware of that fact. Palpatine hid his real persona well, until now. Obi-Wan could see the darkness hidden behind his shields. Very strong in the dark side is Sidious. Nevertheless, fool Obi-Wan he could not."

"How could we have been so blind, and to think Palpatine was in control of the republic!" Oppo exclaimed.

"Look to the future now we must, cannot allow Sidious to regain power, put an end to his reign we must." Yoda stated.

"I don't understand how was it that none of us sensed the darkness in Palpatine and now you're saying that Obi-Wan did? What about Anakin, why didn't he sense the darkness? He never mentioned anything like that to me about Palpatine?" Qui-Gon asked confusion toning his voice.

"Perhaps it was the call of the dark side that attracted him to Palpatine." Mace said.

"No! he was born to defeat the sith not join them!" Qui-Gon snapped

"Clear your thoughts you should Qui-Gon, listen to the living force you should, enlighten you it will." Yoda insisted.

"How can you all sit here so calm when the chosen one is being held a prisoner by a sith lord!"

"Your thoughts dwell on the Chosen one?"

"Of course my thoughts dwell on Anakin, as they should with everyone here in this room." Qui-Gon said exasperated.

"The chosen one is safe, and well enough he looks." Yoda said in his cryptic way.

"What are you talking about Master; how can he be safe if he's in the hands of a sith lord?"

Yoda sighed and his ears drooped. "Look to the force in all things you profess to do, but blind you seem to be in interpreting its true meaning. Sensed I did years ago when took Xanatos as your apprentice, believed for a time that chosen one he was!"

"Yes I was wrong, but I felt it in the force that I was meant to train the chosen one and now he's been kidnapped." He said trying to hurry Yoda up.

"Humph." Yoda made a noise to display his annoyance. "Still you do not see! Why then take young Obi-Wan as your padawan if waiting for something better?"

"I first took Obi-Wan at the request of the council, but I came to sense it was the Force that sanctioned our union. I made mistakes with Obi-Wan I admit that and I did push him too hard; I regret the pain and suffering I put him through, but he was given to me by the Force because I saw that he and the chosen one were connected. That is why I wanted him to train Anakin."

"Connected you say!"

"Yes Master Yoda, they are, but what does discussing past events with Obi-Wan, have to do with Anakin?"

"Speaking of Anakin I am not, too many questions you ask; close your eyes and look into the force."

Qui-Gon sighed; he knew it was pointless arguing with him. "Very well, I will do as you ask."

"Good, join you we will." Yoda nodded to Oppo and Mace, who all closed their eyes and opened up to the flow.

The luminosity of the force pulled them in, and the four Jedi Masters connected to the threads of the living force. They could sense each other and slowly immersed themselves in the current. They moved along with the white flow and were drawn into the entity that was the core of the Force. Wisps of coloured light surrounded and penetrated their auras.

Some were white and others were different shades of blue, and intermingled with them were mauves, greens, and yellows. Qui-Gon had seen these before, but he'd never lingered here for more than a few moments. He always saw the living Force in this way and didn't need to delve deeper, but now he was being urged on by the other masters to go deeper into the brightest point. As Qui-Gon passed each particle he could sense the essence of the Jedi. Their connection to the Force remained here for eternity.

Qui-Gon hoped to find Anakin's essence and he gazed toward a brilliant glow that appeared in the core, never in all his meditations had he seen such a radiant glow.

In his minds eye it appeared that all the other particles were penetrating and strengthening this one bright particle. It had an eminence about it and he couldn't take his eyes off it. It was familiar and he recognised that presence; it was more powerful than he'd ever known it to be, and yet his surprise was fleeting, because somewhere in his subconscious, he knew, but he'd denied the possibility.

For years Qui-Gon had listened to the whispers of the Force, but he ignored what it was telling him. In his judgment he decided that it would be Obi-Wan's destiny to train the Chosen one, not that he was the one. He'd been afraid to acknowledge anything else and now he knew why.

Qui-Gon hadn't wanted the weight of saving the Jedi order to be placed on his compassionate and kind hearted padawan's shoulders. In truth he was afraid for Obi-Wan to go down that torrid path fate had in store for him.

Anakin was so much more suited he thought and he fit the mould to be a strong and powerful warrior. It was easier to support another who didn't have that close place in his heart.

Qui-Gon withdrew from the flow and opened his eyes; he felt humbled and ashamed by the experience and the other Masters greeted him with a knowing nod.

He nodded in return, "I know, I think I have always known, and I denied the truth of what the force was telling me. I was afraid he would not cope, so I denied the possibility of it being true, and I did push him. I could not understand why he was so docile, and unassuming. It was easier to believe in Anakin because he was bold and arrogant and had persistence to be what I perceived him to be. I see now that I did Obi-Wan a disservice and he grew unsure of his place in the scheme of things."

Master Yoda waved his cane. "Help his insecurities you did. Adamant you were that Anakin the chosen one was. Hold him back you did, liberated him self he has, but needs an anchor he does. Be the teacher the force expected you to be for the chosen one."

Qui-Gon looked unsure. "Do you think I am the best person to be teaching Obi-Wan anything, after all the mistakes I have made with him?"

"Qui-Gon, you know that Obi-Wan trust's you, all his life he has looked up to you. Never did he falter when the going got tough; he was so determined to prove to you that he was worthy. It is your turn now to prove to him he is." Mace agreed.

ooo

Even Obi-Wan still couldn't believe that he was the fabled Chosen one. Yoda had mentioned it several times, and yet it hadn't sunk in that Yoda was actually talking about him.

His Master, Qui-Gon believed it was Anakin; even now, he was still convinced of it. He worried that Qui-Gon would rebel against the truth and Obi-Wan felt a sinking feeling fill him. He needed Qui-Gon to have faith in him and trust him.

The two Knights walked out into the garden and Xanatos sat down on a bench.

"You are deep in thought, and you look worried. Qui-Gon will be alright and Yoda will make him see the truth."

Xanatos tapped the bench for Obi-Wan to sit down.

"Sometimes I'm sure that our Master is quite dense, and he only sees what he wants to see. I think he's so caught up in moulding his padawan's to his way that he doesn't see us for what we really are…Well not until he's hit in the face by the truth. I wonder if that's why he has a crooked nose." Xanatos chuckled.

Obi-Wan smiled slightly, as even he was having a hard time believing prophesy.

"Do you know Obi-Wan, I always sensed that there was something different about you, even when you were a little brat!"

"Really! How could you tell, you were so full of yourself back then that I didn't think you knew that anyone else existed!"

Xanatos smirked. "I was wasn't I, but I could tell you liked me!"

He laughed when Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and glared at him. "When we rescued you from Maul I felt a shift in the Force and for a couple of months now, I've noticed the change in you?"

"A change in me?" Obi-Wan queried as he sat on the bench.

"I thought that whatever I'd seen in you when you were a young apprentice was finally free and even though you had amnesia there was something waiting to rise to the surface."

"Why didn't you say something?" Obi-Wan inquired.

Xanatos shrugged. "I didn't know what it was; tell me, how does it feel to be all powerful?"

Obi-Wan blushed. "Strange, I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this will all be a dream. I remember my captivity vividly now, and it seemed so surreal. Sometimes I felt like I was in a dream world, full of unanswered questions. Other times I felt so empowered that I could had levelled the building with a wave of my hand. Yet I had no idea why, and I couldn't believe the things I did. I could sense Sidious when he was in the building, but I had a force inhibitor collar on. I didn't even consider why I could sense him; it was the nurse Zelda who seemed more intrigued than I did. To be honest with you Xan, I still can't accept it as true; Master Yoda says I'm the chosen one, yet I can't imagine why the force would choose me."

"Perhaps that's why you are; it's not something to be taken lightly, and it's a great responsibility. Anakin could never uphold that honour or responsibility. It takes everything you have within you, humility, and compassion. It takes kindness and consideration for others; It takes a strength I can sense in you; something that Anakin doesn't possess.

"I suppose your right, I just have to learn to live with it, I guess." he smiled, and Xanatos laughed.

"Oh, I'm sure you will make everyone suffer around you, the girls swooned over you before, now when they find out you're - the man - you will have every girl in the galaxy chasing you."

"Where did you get that from?" Obi-Wan scrunched his face.

"What?" Xanatos replied.

"The man?" he asked.

"Well according to Master Yoda, once you have full control of your powers, you will be more powerful than any Jedi alive."

"That prospect is daunting," Obi-Wan whispered, and then he leaned back and smiled wickedly. "Every girl in the galaxy chasing me?"

Xanatos burst out laughing. "I hope you leave a couple for me!"

Obi-Wan blushed and the two friends relaxed in the garden, before the storm arose to send them spiralling into the darkness to save Anakin.

Ooo

"Obi-Wan determined he is to bring Anakin back; still good in him, Obi-Wan believes, will not leave him with Sidious!"

Qui-Gon felt relieved at those words and he once again marvelled at the faith Obi-Wan had in people, his former padawan was one of a kind and he wanted to see him and just gaze upon that innocent and much loved face.

"Can I get out of the healers ward, I would like to see Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked.

Mace smiled. "You've stayed longer than any of us thought you would, and as long as you don't break the stitches I'm sure you can get up for awhile. I'll get your clothes Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon had strict instructions not to over-exert him-self, so he opened up to the Force pin pointing where his former padawan was and took his time walking through the garden and found him meditating by himself on a raised rock platform.

Obi-Wan drew out of his meditation when he sensed the approach of his former master, but keeping his eyes closed he examined Qui-Gon's physical condition through the Force. Relief filled him when he gauged that Qui-Gon's injury was on the mend. He felt the touch to his shields and opened his eyes.

"Hello Master."

"Hello Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said as he sat down on the edge of the platform next to him.

"Are you feeling better Master?"

"Yes and no!" Qui-Gon stated.

Obi-Wan cocked his head sideways and raised his eyebrow in question.

"Yes I'm feeling much better; however I'm also feeling very foolish."

Obi-Wan smiled. "You Master, foolish, I would never have thought that."

"Thank you Obi-Wan, but I have been very foolish were you were
concerned and once again I have wronged you."

"Master we've been through this before and as a great mentor once told me… You should live in the moment and keep your mind in the here and now."

Qui-Gon dipped his head and grinned, "I'm fairly certain I told you that more than once, Obi-Wan. But I have my doubts that I was a good mentor; I know I could have been better."

"I didn't want anyone else to be my teacher, Master…and I haven't changed my mind."

"I don't deserve such devotion." He said shaking his head.

"Do you believe what Master Yoda told you about me?"

Qui-Gon could see the insecure look spread across Obi-Wan's face and he wanted to reassure his padawan that he believed it.

"I always knew there was something special about you, but as usual, in my infinite wisdom I kept it to myself. You were loyal and devoted to me and your training, and I rewarded you by keeping you in the dark about your true worth."

"Did you know I was?"

"No, I didn't, but in my meditations when I took you as my padawan and throughout your apprenticeship the force showed me that you were important, and even though I saw you connected to the chosen one, I couldn't or wouldn't accept the fact that it could be you."

"Why Master?"

"You didn't fit the mould I'd assumed the chosen one would be. You were never aggressive and your self-confidence was low, and in my eyes you were kind-hearted, compassionate and unassuming and I had a pre-conceived notion that the chosen one would be forceful, aggressive, confident, spirited and strong in the Force."

"Is that why you thought Anakin was the chosen one." Obi-Wan asked.

"When I first met him, not only did I see his strength in the force, but he fit my presumption of what the chosen one should be like. He was assertive, and determined to make a difference. He was bold and slightly arrogant and although he reminded me of Xanatos, it was in a different way."

"I remember when I first became your padawan and I met Xanatos, he was arrogant and over-confident and to me he was opinionated and unwilling to see anyone's point of view but his own. I saw some of those characteristics in Anakin, but also in Anakin, I saw a deep seated fear."

Qui-Gon smiled. "You were very intuitive and I should have listened to you, but I am ashamed to say that I was in that category too, and I unreasonably dismissed other people's views, namely yours Obi-Wan."

"So what happens now? I still find it hard to believe what everyone else is certain of and I know I have more to learn."

"The force made the right choice Obi-Wan, you are 'the Chosen one' and I'm here to be of assistance to you, if you will allow me."

Obi-Wan let out a stuttered breath, it was surreal hearing Qui-Gon say those three words. He never dreamt that Qui-Gon would believe it."

"Believe it my Obi-Wan for it is true and I am honoured to have been your Master." Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hands in his own and held them firmly.

TBC