The Book of Temple Ghosts Part IX
The steady beat of Obi-Wan's heart was the only sound in the vast, empty chamber.
The meditative trance had lasted so long that he had lost track of time. Not that it really mattered.
Time marched forward regardless.
The Force remained constant.
He drew on the power. The gentle tingling sensation of knowing it was at his beckon call. It's gentle strength permeating every fiber of his being. Breathing in deeply then exhaling he could feel the arcane mystery swirling around him.
Echoing across the tile of the dark chamber were footsteps. They immediately pulled Obi-Wan from his meditation. A pale blue light cast a circle across the floor where he knelt.
Footsteps paced beyond the circle in the wash of darkness.
What have you done to us? The voice was grizzled with age and wear.
Obi-Wan glanced around but saw only the wall of black that threatened to swallow him whole. The apprentice leapt to his feet. The action too quick after waking from a long coma. His strength was not complete and he wobbled slightly from the exertion.
The footsteps continued. He twisted following the sound.
Solitary, lonely footsteps circled him slowly.
You did not answer my question.
"Who are you?" Obi-Wan called out, his voice echoing against the darkness.
A low howl rolled up on the young man as a bright flash of light illuminated his surroundings. Sand dunes under an ominous blue sky appeared then quickly vanished into the suffocating darkness.
The footsteps continued to pace.
Obi-Wan shivered as the cold that had settled in his bones seemed multiplied. Tugging on the edges of his cloak he drew it tight. Again he turned to face the source of the sound but the echo was so powerful that he wasn't sure exactly where the footsteps were. Instinctively he reached for his lightsaber.
You will not need your weapon.
His hand wavered above the silver cylinder. Then slowly he relaxed his arm without touching the weapon.
A flash of red and blue cut through the darkness as two glowing lightsaber blades crashed together. The sound explosive in his ears. He tried to respond but found himself unable to move.
The blades clashed with an eerie disconnected feeling. No hilts, no hands, no one behind the flashes of red and blue.
The weapons withdrew and their hums echoed through the vast chamber drowning out Obi-Wan's pounding heart.
Another sound deafened him.
Steady. Mechanical. Reminded the young man of an air compressor. It rose above the hum.
Inhale.
Exhale.
It was like breathing.
The red blade drew back as the blue one remained motionless.
Light flashed through the darkness revealing the cold gray of a battle station. Obi-Wan felt himself running toward a ship. There were other people with him. He tried to turn back to see them but something else caught his eye.
Red meets blue.
Darkness swallowed him again.
The young man twisted around, there was nothing but a sea of blackness.
Again the room lit up. In his hands he held a red saber. The mechanical breathing thundered in his ears. An old Jedi in a worn tunic and cloak stood before him.
Obi-Wan twisted but found himself alone in the darkness again.
He was so cold.
Suddenly a scream ripped through him. "No!"
Light flickered as a figure in black appeared.
"Don't," he begged.
The menacing black figure paid him no attention as he drew the red blade back.
"Fight him!" Obi-Wan screamed to the old man who slowly raised his weapon but did not strike back. Did not move to block the deadly blow.
The red blade flew forward.
Darkness reigned.
The apprentice sank to his knees. "Why didn't you fight? Why didn't you fight?" he kept asking. "You let him kill you. You could have fought him."
Not all battles are won by a saber blade.
Obi-Wan folded himself deeper into his cloak. He was so cold and tired. Slowly the Jedi padawan forced himself back to his feet. The wall of darkness remained.
The footsteps continued.
Would you be willing to lay your life down for the greater good?
"I am a Jedi," he called out.
That is not what I am asking.
Again Obi-Wan turned as he searched for the source of the continuing footsteps.
"Yes." The word was simple, but behind it carried the weight of a lifetime of training and beliefs. He did not falter to speak that one word with conviction.
Would you be willing to give up everything to be a Jedi?
"I live to serve."
The footsteps continued.
Into the pool of light walked an old man. His white beard glowing against the pale blue illumination. The edges of his cloak were frayed and worn thin in places. Pale blue eyes studied the young man before him. "It is not enough to just serve," the older man with a lifetime etched in the lines on his face said. "You will be constantly tested. Your beliefs will be tried by fire."
"I am ready," Obi-Wan answered eagerly.
The elder Jedi just laughed. "To be young and foolish."
Obi-Wan chaffed at the remark.
Where the two men stood a lighted path appeared. It led into the darkness and vanished.
"Shall we walk, my young friend?" The old man asked with a smile.
For a moment the Jedi apprentice just stood there. He studied the lighted floor and then stared at the other man for a time.
"We all have paths to walk," The gray haired man said. "Come along." With that he started walking.
It took Obi-Wan a moment before he finally jogged after the mysterious figure. "Master Jedi–"
"No, no, just call me Ben."
"Ben–"
"You feel lost," Ben said interrupting Obi-Wan again. "As if the entire world has changed and you have not."
"I don't belong here anymore," Obi-Wan replied. "I used to have a place. I knew everything I did meant something."
"And now it does not?"
"Master Ben–"
"Just Ben," the old man corrected. "Hush child, the wind has ears. What I was and what I am are two different people. Two different paths."
The lighted path snaked through the darkness.
"I do not understand," Obi-Wan whispered. He searched the old man's passive face. Time had been unkind to the man and he wore the scars of a hard life deep in his pale eyes. He couldn't quite pull his attention away from the old man. There was something about him that was familiar. A kinship that he couldn't quite place.
"As a Jedi, you will walk the path less trodden. Not because it is easy, nor because it is difficult, but because it is the path that must me taken. Your service to the Order and to the Republic is the beacon that you follow."
"I am a Jedi," Obi-Wan repeated almost absently.
"Yes, that is what you are." Ben came to a sudden stop.
Obi-Wan looked down at their slightly swaying cloaks. The lighted path had forked.
"As Jedi, we are tested. We are put on trial by the crossroads. Every decision, no matter how small has ramifications on the whole."
"I understand."
"Do you?" Ben asked.
Obi-Wan stared curiously at the old man. The conversation was confusing. He shook his head as he tried to make sense of the strange old man's remarks. He looked down at the junction in the path.
One branch remained bright and shining. The other faded into the darkness.
"Everyday is a new trial," Obi-Wan said calmly. "Do I choose peace and calm through the Force or do I choose anger and hate? I have always lived with this knowledge." Slowly he stepped toward the bright path.
Suddenly a dark shadow cast across it severing the path.
Obi-Wan withdrew slightly at the darkness. He glanced over at the path of fading light. It remained unbroken. Slowly his gaze found Ben's.
Deep sadness graced the old man's face. "You came to a crossroads several times during your life. Each choice you made opened new paths. New directions to go." Ben sighed softly. "In your battle with the Sith you could have let the hate and anger consume you."
"I found peace and strength in the Force," Obi-Wan replied.
"Your master lay dying."
"I had to save him."
Ben frowned and stepped across the shadow onto the broken path. "With that one act some paths closed to you."
Obi-Wan stared helplessly at the old man. "He's my master. I had to do something. I just couldn't let him die."
"A faithful padawan." Ben gave the young man a sad smile. "Selfless. Always willing to put others before yourself. For that great suffering will be your constant companion."
"If that is the price of my service then I accept it."
The old man frowned, his pale eyes implored of the younger man. "Do not follow the path. Step away. Find another road. Do something else." The words came with urgency. "You do not have to follow the path blindly."
"I am a Jedi. The road may be difficult but I will not stray from it. I will live as a Jedi and I will die as a Jedi."
Ben motioned to the path that remained whole even as if faded into the darkness. "The journey will be difficult."
"I am willing," Obi-Wan answered with conviction.
"Much darkness lie ahead."
"I will fight it."
Ben's footsteps echoed in the chamber as he walked along the severed path.
"You're just going to walk away?" Obi-Wan asked. "I have questions. Please. What do I do now?"
The old man turned briefly before vanishing into the darkness.
Our paths have diverged.When the old man had disappeared the path faded into total darkness, leaving Obi-Wan alone.
He was so tired. So cold. Slowly he shrugged deeper into the folds of his cloak. He was pushing too hard. Ben's words swam in his head.
Weakness found his legs and he sank to the floor. He worked to calm his unsteady breathing and find his center. Slowly the peace returned. He closed his eyes, no longer wanting to see anymore paths.
The darkness crept back. The circle of light gradually filled the chamber.
A soft tapping echoed.
"It is over," Yoda's gravelly voice danced across the vast circular room.
Obi-Wan looked up to see the little master step into the wide pool of light. "Master?"
"Complete, your trials are."
