Phantom-jedi1 - I almost feel sorry for Crion. We will get to see what happens with him much later. I had fun thinking of how Qui-Gon views the Force. I think this Order has benefitted from having him as an elder and embracing his different views.

The Review Guest - Both are meddlesome in their own ways.

Sorry I was unable to update last week. Really busy work week and I had too much to catch up with on the weekend.

Chapter 53

Twin moons glowed over a vast expanse of prairies, offering a quiet calm when compared to something like the urban spectacle of Coruscant. It reminded Bail Organa of the gentle beauty of the Alderaan countryside and the many good times he had spent there. If only he could relax and enjoy what this unknown planet had to offer. He briefly wondered if those who had sat with him in the conference earlier in the day were as nervous as he had been. It was difficult to determine. The faces of all twelve Jedi elders had been etched in stone, unmoving yet kind, betraying nothing they may have felt. Senator Gallia and Queen Amidala had been no different, seasoned politicians, accustomed to showing nothing in their expressions unless it worked to their advantage.

Jedi – he never imagined he would call anyone that in his lifetime. The word conjured a feeling of reverence and mystique when spoken. He had grown up hearing stories of the ancient order, and the great power the venerated beings had held. The twelve elders in the conference chambers, dressed in soft, neutral robes, would have been just as intimidating if not for the air of humility that resonated around them.

There had been introductions, discussion of relevant background information, most of which he had already gleaned from Obi-Wan on the trip from Coruscant. The session was followed by a tour of the Jedi training complex. It was part educational center and part resort with amenities for rest, relaxation, and recreation. Its medical facilities rivaled anything he had seen in the Core worlds. They had sat in on a class of adolescents learning the use of their Jedi weapons. It was impressive, but not the far-fetched tales of his childhood. What was keeping him from sleep now was the part of the complex that was military base – hangars of fighters and equipment. The Jedi had pilots, swordsmen, healers – all the players necessary for war.

The senator pasted on his best stern expression before opening the door to his room prepared to insist the Jedi guards let him out for a stroll. He was surprised, shocked really, to see no guards posted outside. Apparently, the elders had not been lying when they told their guests they would be able to freely move around the complex. Bail began to walk. Certain he was not going to be allowed out of his quarters, he hadn't really given much thought as to where he would go. He needed to see something, anything that showed him this was not some austere army, placing pawns within the Senate, ready to seize power. Quick footsteps carried him back to the hangars that haunted him, rows of ships, not up to date, but functional. Slumping down to a bench, he tried to make sense of it all. He was suddenly aware of a tapping sound and small footsteps.

"Find what you are looking for here you will not, Senator Organa."

Master Yoda, the patriarch of this Jedi Order. Obi-Wan spoke of the small alien with incredible reverence, and Bail could see why. The Jedi radiated authority and wisdom, but his eyes shone with gentleness and compassion. As far as Bail was concerned, anyone that had lived for over eight hundred years deserved to be heard so he prepared to be attentive.

"I apologize if I am snooping in areas I should not be," the Alderaani senator said graciously.

"No problem is there. Transparency we desire. Doubts … concerns you have. Without them, a good leader you would not be. But, answer your questions this place does not. Burden you it does."

Clutching a well-worn walking stick between clawed hands, the Jedi master stared up at him expectantly.

"I will be honest. I don't relish the thought of a trained army of Force-sensitives sitting on the Republic's doorstep," Bail admitted freely.

"A conquering army this is not. Concerned only with the Sith we are."

"The Republic disbanded the Jedi Order to prevent another catastrophic war, to prevent the training of Force-sensitives, to prevent there from being more Sith …"

"Train Xanatos Marojni this Order did not," Yoda said with great deliberateness. Something burned in the Jedi master's eyes, a flash of determination and resolve. It then dispersed back into calm serenity. "Knew the Jedi did even after Ruusan that return the Sith would one day. Listen to their wisdom the Senate would not. Difficult it was for Master Ky'al to go against the Senate's decision, to re-establish the Order, but followed the will of the Force he did."

"I wish I accepted this with the same ease as Senator Gallia or Queen Amidala."

"Senator Gallia – Force-sensitive she is. Senses the rightness of it all she does. More time Queen Amidala has had with us. Saved her planet Jedi did, offered medical assistance for the wounded. Still, the rebuilding continues, and help we provide."

"You have made a case today for what the Jedi can do, how they are trained, how they are organized, and I understand that you want to help. But I still don't understand who the Jedi are."

"Come – show you I will."

It was late. The corridors of the vast complex were empty and dim. Bail was grateful that the small Jedi had a hoverchair, otherwise the trip would have taken three times as long. They stopped at a doorway. Bail recognized one of the training salles, where the lightsaber demonstration had taken place. Yoda slipped off the hoverchair and turned to him, a clawed digit to his lips warning the senator to remain quiet.

A lone figure was in the middle of the empty salle, barefooted, clothed in comfortable training paints. Obi-Wan was kneeling on the matted floor, his eyes shut, and the lines of his face drawn tight in distress. Bail watched as Yoda closed his own eyes, concentrating for a moment before gently nodding his head in apparent approval. Obi-Wan stood, eyes still shut, igniting his lightsaber. Then he took a step, swinging the blade out to the side.

"Senator Kenobi," Bail whispered.

Bail watched as the young man slid gracefully across the floor, combating an imaginary enemy. Obi-Wan's features were still in discord. He had never seen the young senator look this distressed, even when engaged in fierce debate, on the losing side. Realization struck. Obi-Wan assumed he was alone and was allowing himself to let go.

"Can't he … well, umh … sense us?"

"Not when shielding our presences I am."

"I get the feeling we are intruding on something private," Bail whispered, turning to leave.

"Led me here the Force did. Stay you should."

A smile tugged at Bail's lips as he remembered Obi-Wan saying that the aged Jedi master could be meddlesome. Proper manners dictated he leave, but curiosity held him firmly in place, his eyes trying to follow the darting blade.

"What is he doing?" Bail asked softly.

"A kata. A dance with the Force many Jedi call it. Exercises to build skill they are, and to help one center."

The fluid movements did look like a sort of dance, the saber cutting curves closely around Obi-Wan's body as the steps increased in difficulty. It was levels above what Bail had witnessed in the earlier demonstration, more like what he would expect in his definition of Jedi.

"He's very skilled?"

"Trained by one of our best swordsmen he was. Almost his master's equal he is - more he will be one day."

"He almost looks like he's at war with himself," Bail commented.

"He is," Yoda replied. Bail shot a startled glance in the Jedi master's direction. "Visions the Force can give. Horrible things it has shown Obi-Wan, glimpses into a possible future. Seen the death and destruction of all he loves if allowed to triumph the Sith are."

"Are you certain?" Bail asked.

"Seen similar visions too I have. Older am I, centuries of experience in the Force, better able to weather such things. A burden the Force has placed on such young shoulders." A gentle smile spread across the Jedi Master's features. "The Jedi … family are we. Living I was when each and every current member was knighted, each padawan presented. Like my own children they are. War is not our desire. Cost us dearly war will. Yet sacrifice everything we will, yes, to see that darkness prevails not. Appointed us this task the Force has."

The kata drew to a close. Obi-Wan returned to his starting position. Even Bail could see that he seemed much more at peace, dropping back to his knees on the mats.

"Meditate now he will," Yoda said.

"Shouldn't you go to him, counsel him, comfort him, guide him … something?"

"Better suited to that task, another is."

A figure stepped from the shadows at the other side of the salle as though on cue. The tall man, Qui-Gon Jinn, nodded to the pair. Bail felt heat seep into his cheeks at the knowledge that they had in some part intruded on something very private. The Jedi master kneeled down in front of his former apprentice, clasping hands between his.

"Time to leave," Yoda whispered.

They walked away from the training salle. Master Yoda seemed older somehow as he climbed back to his hoverchair, more vulnerable. Strange as it seemed, the image of one knight fighting to accept the calling on his life had told the senator more about the Jedi than the thirty or so he had already met. Trapped in his thoughts, before he knew it, they had arrived back at his quarters. The aged Jedi master looked at him, offering one last thought.

"Shown you much the Force has. Conquerors we are not. Saints we are not. The will of the Force only we seek. Keep that in mind as you continue to learn about us."

Siri sat curled up in an overstuffed armchair, watching the door to the refresher. Inside the shower shut off. Obi-Wan had seen another vision, she was sure of it. A slight disturbance in the Force, centered around someone she was close to her had woke her, despite the fact he was shielding himself. She had got up, prepared to make sure he was okay, but heard the front door open and close. He had left, once again shutting her out of this part of his life.

Obi-Wan stepped from the refresher, dressed in sleep pants, still toweling off damp hair. He paused when he saw her, shifting like a rebellious adolescent who had been caught sneaking in late.

"You disappeared on me again," she scolded gently, making certain to keep her voice light.

"Late-night katas and meditation to clear my mind," he explained, moving to sit down on the sofa. "I had another vision."

"I sensed that you had," she murmured as she joined him.

"I am sorry I woke you," he said softly. "I tried to shield …"

"Why? Why did you feel the need to shield me?" she asked. "It wasn't the vision that woke me, it was the sense that you were troubled and off trying to find peace on your own."

"I meditated with Qui-Gon."

"I am glad he was there for you." That explained why he was at peace now. She wondered if he would ever trust her in the same way. Probably not. Siri thought briefly about her relationship with her father. Qui-Gon had raised Obi-Wan from adolescence and would always have a different role in his life. "I want to be there for you also, but I can't when you hide." She reached out and grabbed his hands. "Will you tell me what you see that troubles you so much?"

"Qui-Gon advised me to talk to you," he murmured. "I thought the Force would give me more time."

She thought at first that he would deflect as he usually did, but then he surprised her.

"They vary. In the most disturbing visions, I see myself in a different reality, dressed as an ancient Jedi, possibly a reality where the Jedi Order was never dissolved after Ruusan. My appearance has changed with the visions, but it is me. Master Yoda is often there, but it is not really him. He serves as a guide - not that he really ever answers my questions." Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "The Jedi Order is destroyed … everyone is gone."

"Gone?"

"Murdered down to the youngest," Obi-Wan whispered. "The best I can tell, Master Yoda and I are the only ones left."

"That has to be horrible to see over and over again," she replied calmly, giving his hands a firm squeeze.

"I can sometimes see my reflection. I look incredibly weary … burdened … haunted really. I can't even fathom what it would feel like to endure that." Obi-Wan nodded his head. "Master Yoda always tells me to not dwell on such thoughts - the future is in motion and we don't know the purpose of these visions. Qui-Gon tells me to trust in the Force."

"What do you think?" she asked.

"I think that my counterpart must be a stronger man than I am," he voiced quietly. "I have accepted the Force's call on my life, but I don't want to be alone."

"When I hear about the history of the ancient Jedi, it always seems it might have been a lonely existence. I couldn't imagine shunning love," she said, bringing his hands up to brush her lips along his knuckles. "You don't have to be alone … this task is not for you alone. The Force has brought so many people around you to support you … and you aren't getting rid of me."

"Thank you for reminding me."

"Thank you for sharing with me," she replied, reaching a hand up to press against his face.

"It feels right to talk to you about it.

Reaching for her face, he tenderly fingered the blonde wisps of hair that hung by her cheek. He looked absolutely worn out. Taking his hand, she pulled him up off the sofa and started to corral him toward his room.

"You really need sleep. This is supposed to be a vacation of sorts."

She tried to continue on to her room, but he held onto her hand and leaned in to kiss her. They had shared many kisses as their relationship progressed, but this one was different, full of a passion that had never previously been there.

"Will you stay with me?" he whispered against her cheek.

Such simple vulnerability. In one question he expressed so much. Did she really return his love? Was she ready to throw down the last barriers that remained between them? It was what she had meditated on while waiting for him to return.

"Yes," she replied before he captured her lips in a deep kiss and pulled her close.