Translations of Mandoa in the chapter:

Gedet'ye Please

Cuy ogir'olar it's neither here nor there. *It's irrelevant.*

Chapter 17

"He is hiding his Force-signature," Mace Windu said with a frustrated sigh when Obi-Wan had disappeared in his house to open the Holocron.

Adi nodded and sat down on one of the chairs placed on the terrace. "I thought so. He fears that you would interfere way too soon if you felt something amiss. We have to trust him, Mace. The Force tells me that he knows what he's doing."

The Korun-Master grunted, and Adi had to suppress a smile. She knew that Mace trusted Obi-Wan more than he wanted to admit, but it was still difficult for him to be open to new ideas. As opposed to the young General, he still harbored some doubt toward Dooku, claiming that the older Jedi Master should have made an effort to return to the Order instead of pursuing his life as a Sith. Adi decided that diversion would be best suited to get her lover to relax. "Obi-Wan told me about the planned wedding. Do you think that we can join Qui-Gon and Tahl there? "

Mace, realizing what she was doing, seemed to decide to indulge her and said, "I wouldn't miss it. With all the additional Masters joining us here on Alderaan, there will be more than enough people who can take on responsibilities. We should make sure about that anyway. Because we will be forced to go out and fight as soon as this war picks up pace."

"I made a list of Masters who would be a fine addition to our Council," she contemplated. "Stass Allie is coming here with her Padawan, and I think that Aayla Secura will achieve her rank as Master soon. Both would complement us perfectly, and we should promote some of the Crèche Masters, too. I've always argued for that on Coruscant but was refused."

She felt Mace stretching out with his senses, trying to get a read on the young man in the house but letting out a resigned breath when his connection was still blocked. At least they couldn't feel any Darkness which meant that Obi-Wan was still keeping Sidious within the confines of the Holocron. "I was always convinced that we need to take our Younglings' education more seriously. I also want to talk with the Crèche Masters about their transcendence to Initiates," he said after a while. "We should keep in mind that not all species mature in the same way. All those age regulations have to be adjusted."

"Yes, primarily we should see that we do not sort out Initiates just because they weren't able to find a Master in time. With a war going on, it will be more challenging to match those pairs, and the children need more time to train before we can send them out with their Masters," she agreed.

"That regulation should have been dismissed a long time ago," he grumbled. "I can still see what it did to Obi-Wan. He should have been given the time he needed to find his Master, but instead of granting him that, we sent him to Bandomeer of all places and watched how he almost died in his desperation to convince Qui-Gon to make him his apprentice." He rubbed his face and let his hand fall to his knee. "We would have lost one of our best Masters if Xanatos wouldn't have attacked them."

"The matching is based on coincidences more often than not. I loathe that," Adi said after a moment. "We could give the Initiates more time to find their preferred interests, make being part of one of the Corps a real choice, not the substitute for Knighthood. How many children who would be excellent Knights were lost in the process? And the other way around. . . . How many would have preferred to be teachers or farmers but were forced to become Jedi Knights just because the other thing is treated as a failure?"

Mace narrowed his eyes for a moment, and then he gave her a nod. "Why don't you use some time to outline your ideas for another education system? We could use some promising Younglings who choose to stay here as teachers, healers, or farmers. I'd like to make the Temple as independent as it can be. We have Queen Breha's protection, and even if the Sith somehow take over Coruscant, we could be safe here. But it would make the exchange between bases difficult."

"I'd love to do that," she replied, and then she sighed. "Honesty, I think this is what the Force tells me to do instead of marching into this war, Mace. Would you mind terribly if I decided to not join the Jedi who accompany the army? I know you wanted me there, but I can feel that setting up an education system and making sure that the Younglings are settled is more critical at the moment."

Mace pulled her into his arms, and she placed her head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth seeping into her. "Adi," he almost whispered. "I would never tell you what to do. And it would relieve me immensely to know that you are here looking out for our home base. We can't get lost in this war if we want to save the Jedi Order. There is much more we need to do than fight."

She was glad that he agreed with her and snuggled deeper into his chest. After a long while of sitting together in silence, she leaned back and locked eyes with him. "When Obi-Wan spoke about the wedding. . . ." she trailed off and swallowed thickly.

He smiled and pulled her back into his arms. "Yes, I thought so, too. We should make it official. We've waited long enough and proved that we can serve on the same Council without letting our feelings get in the way. I'd love to have a bonding ceremony, and maybe Obi-Wan would consent to us having it on Naboo a day before his weeding or even after if it's more suitable. But all of our friends would already be there. It is a unique opportunity."

She sighed contently and pulled him into a kiss, whispering into his ear, "I love you, Mace Windu, I always have."

Anakin didn't like that his Master had told him to stay in the Temple while he and Adi accompanied Obi-Wan to his house. Honestly, he didn't like Obi-Wan making contact with Darth Sidious at all. But he, of all people, knew how stubborn his former Master could be and that there was no way to prevent him from doing the things he had set his mind on. In the end, the Padawan had asked Luan for a spar so that he wouldn't sit and wait for them to return, wondering what would happen if Sidious somehow escaped.

Qui-Gon was supervising them because Luan was not permitted to use her lightsaber without her Master present yet. Anakin looked at his training lightsaber with an anxious expression. Master Windu had already scheduled a mission to go to Ilumn to finally replace the saber Anakin lost on Geonosis. However, he had to rely on the training weapons until then, and he really didn't like them. Maybe that was his Master's intention. Master Windu had been annoyed that Anakin had defied his orders, but he was almost furious that the Padawan had managed to lose his vital weapon.

He took his usual stance to begin the training session and watched Luan breathing in deeply. She was still reluctant to fight, claiming that her inner voice permanently told her to use the Dark Side. But Qui-Gon insisted on her training. He was sure that the only way to overcome her inner Darkness was her continued use of the Light Side. Anakin wasn't so sure about that. Maybe it would be better for her to try something new, but It was not his place to argue with her Master, so he volunteered often enough to provide Luan the training she needed.

Both Padawans began the fight with some standard moves, dancing around each other and getting a feel for the other's mood. Luan seemed distracted, and Anakin wondered if she was up to this. Then she made a move forward and brought her saber under Anakin's, trying to pull it up to make him lose his balance. He dodged the maneuver and used her weakness by getting his weapon high and hitting her shoulder, leaving a slight singe that burned through her clothes. She let out a cry, and suddenly her eyes turned into the now almost familiar yellow color. She lunged herself forward and brought her saber up into the air, and he had trouble reacting fast enough to prevent her from hitting his head. He turned around and brought some distance between them, but she pursued relentlessly, and he felt the Darkness increasing. Master Qui-Gon must have sensed it, too, because Anakin heard him shout, "Stop!"

But the girl was so focused on the fight that she didn't hear him, and with a flurry of strokes, she tried to get Anakin to make a mistake. He began to pant heavily at the strain of keeping her from hitting him and winced slightly when she tried to deal a blow to his chest. Seeing that he had no more room to dodge, he reached into the Force and used the next maneuver to jump over her, coming to his feet behind her back. She turned around to him, and now her eyes were blazing with anger, "Coward!" she exclaimed. "I will defeat you!"

Anakin was speechless for a moment and had trouble regaining his composure at the onslaught of Darkness he was met with. He briefly wondered if she had set her saber to a training level before her strike toward his chest was intercepted by Qui-Gon's green lightsaber. Sparks flew from the two weapons, and Anakin knew the answer to his question. No lightsaber could emit such energy if set on the lowest level. She had entered the fight with a full-powered weapon, and Qui-Gon just saved his life. Anakin stumbled backward, trying to find some balance before he yelled, "Are you mad? Why would you use your full power in a spar?"

Luan shot daggers at him and tried to escape Qui-Gon's grip. But the Master fixed her weapon with his saber and reached with his other hand to grab her by the shoulder. "Turn it off!" he commanded, and Luan stared at him incredulously.

"I won't!" she exclaimed and tried again to move forward. Her yellow eyes were focused on Anakin, who had fallen to the ground, trying to fight the wave of Darkness that threatened to overtake his mind. "Can't you see?" she continued and struggled against her Master's hold. "Use it, and you can be a serious opponent. With those pitiful Light Side techniques, you can't beat me!"

"Luan!" Qui-Gon yelled, and without hesitation, he disarmed her by bringing his saber up in a sudden move. Her weapon clashed to the ground, and she turned toward her Master. She held up his hands, and Anakin saw with horror that her hands emitted sparks. Qui-Gon stepped back and brought his saber up in time to redirect the Lightning, but it was evident that the power behind it was too strong to fight it all off.

Cursing his training saber, Anakin turned the setting up and jumped between Luan and her Master. "Stop it! We are not your enemies!"

She didn't stop but advanced, making it more challenging to catch the Lightning with his saber. "No, but all of you, you are weak! We will never defeat the Sith like this. Just watch and learn!"

Before she could increase the power of her Force-Lightning, Anakin heard a voice from behind shouting, "Luan! What are you doing?"

That seemed to reach the girl, and her eyes widened when she realized how close she was to hurting Anakin. Her hands fell down at her sides, and her gaze caught on the floor, then her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees, her body shaking with sobs.

Shagin, the one who had stopped her, ran toward her daughter and crouched down, whispering something while hugging her tightly.

Anakin turned to Qui-Gon, who stood behind him with tears in his eyes. To the Padawan's shock, the Master let his saber fall and muttered, "I can't do it."

"Don't give up," Anakin refused to accept what Qui-Gon was saying. "She is not lost! Not when her mother can still reach her."

"Yes," the Master replied with a resigned voice. "But she is the only one who can. She doesn't listen to me anymore. What would have happened if I hadn't intervened. She would have killed you!"

Luan was sobbing louder at his words, and Shagin pulled her closer into her arms, shaking her head. "Maybe you should stop the lightsaber training. It seems to trigger something within her."

"She's a Jedi. She needs to return to the fight. Or she has to give up her dream of being a Knight. She needs to learn how to keep the Darkness in check during a battle," Qui-Gon tried to explain his actions.

Anakin cleared his throat. "Well, maybe there is another way for her to learn that. She could train without the saber for some time. Do the katas, focus on hand-to-hand combat. I don't think she is ready to use the saber yet."

Shagin looked up. "I could train her," she said with a swallow.

Anakin frowned. Shagin was Mandalorian. She would be well skilled in combat, and she was used to fighting against all kinds of enemies.

Qui-Gon seemed to agree because he nodded. "Maybe we should try that before giving up." But his tone of voice betrayed his helplessness. His shoulders remained slumped when he and Anakin walked back to the house with Luan's saber in the Master's hands.

Obi-Wan looked at his chronometer, and then his gaze shifted toward the sky. The Holocron was safely hidden in a box that Mace had provided him with. He had closed it with another Sith magic spell. Dooku had taught it to him, and the Sith could lift it without effort the moment he needed to. However, Obi-Wan had decided that this additional precaution was necessary after Sidious had proved that he was still capable of using the Force even locked in the Holocron.

The young man wondered how the Sith Lord had built a whole world based on Obi-Wan's memories, and he swallowed thickly when the only reason how this could be possible became apparent to him. His bond with Sidious was still active even if he couldn't feel it any longer. But the Sith Lord had nothing to focus on in his capture, and it was no surprise that he had concentrated on the only thing that he could. It was disconcerting to know that he was still inevitably bound to Sidious even now that he knew that another more potent Sith was out there. Sidious had been the bane of his existence before, and the pattern continued in this life, too.

He let out a breath of relief when Dooku's ship finally landed on the platform near his house. He had come here alone, knowing that Dooku wouldn't show if any other Jedi were with him. The Sith climbed out of his Solar ship and approached him with a sinister expression. Obi-Wan frowned and gave the man an asking look. "Something happened during your journey?" he inquired and stretched out with his senses. However, he couldn't feel anything and tried to relax his posture.

"No," Dooku shook his head. "Everything went smoothly. Komari is still occupied with the battle on Christophsis. She tries to save as many troops as she can. I must say your 104th battalion is very effective."

"Well, it's led by one of my most trusted Generals," Obi-Wan replied, thinking about Wolffe and keeping himself from smiling.

"You promoted the Clones to Generals?" Dooku asked, his voice unbelieving. "By all means, Obi-Wan. They are still Sidious' creation. You can't be sure of their loyalty."

"I am not," Obi-Wan said icily. "But we do not have that many nat-born officers. We need to trust the Clones if we want to win this war. General Wolffe and General Cody have proven their worth. Cody is coordinating the whole war effort at the moment, and I do trust him with my life."

"Didn't work out the last time, you did. . . ." Dooku's words made Obi-Wan hiss in a breath. But then the Sith admitted reluctantly. "But if the attack on Christophsis was part of General Cody's strategy, he deserves your trust for now. That was masterfully done. Komari didn't know what hit her when the Clones suddenly appeared. Just keep in mind that the chips could have been just one of multiple means to control your soldiers."

"Oh, believe me, after I found the manipulation on Coruscant, I won't underestimate Sidious and his Master anymore. It was naive to think that I would change the Jedi Order's future by destroying Sidious. And it was foolish to think that it was in my hands to do so. In the end, they need to find their own way out of this mess."

"They are making a valiant effort if you ask me. Darth Ianus seems to be enraged about the Jedi Order moving their Younglings away from Coruscant. You also seemed to have cut his source from gathering more information about what you're planning on the battleground. Komari had to admit that the surprise attack on Christophsis was done without his knowledge. It makes her beginning to doubt him. Well done, General," Dooku said with approval in his voice.

"It also made him more impatient regarding this," Obi-Wan sighed and held the box with the Holocron up. "It was to be expected, but I have to admit, after my little chat with Sidious, I am more than reluctant to give this away. He doesn't give me the impression of a defeated Sith Lord. I am not sure what he plans, but I know this much. He won't help Darth Ianus to stabilize his position. I sensed how furious he is that his apprentice didn't do a thing to help him overtake my mind. Which brings me to another subject. . . ." Obi-Wan swallowed thickly, still not sure of Kael's role in all this. "I am pretty sure that Kael Dorvin is in league with Darth Ianus. I don't know how exactly, but as you pointed out, we cut the Sith's access to military information. . . . That happened after we decided that Kael won't be part of our command meetings any longer."

"Kael Dorvin?" Dooku asked, his voice incredulous. "I can't picture him as a Sith Lord, Obi-Wan. He. . . Well, there is a reason that he was eager to play second fiddle to Organa. He doesn't have the personality to be Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, and you'd need someone like this to implement Sidious' plans."

"Well, it could be an elaborate plot," Obi-Wan replied with a shrug. "If someone had asked me if Palpatine could be the Sith Lord, I would have refused to believe it. And honestly, you do not need much of a personality if everything is set. In the end, there was a power vacuum that Sidious easily filled. . . . Entangle the Galactic Republic in a gruesome war long enough, make Bail Organa disappear. . . Who would the Senate turn to if not the Vice-Chair?"

"What are you going to do about it?" Dooku asked.

"Nothing," Obi-Wan said with determination. "I won't lose more time with this ominous Sith Master's minions. I have to use Kael's connections to get close to the truth. And I implore you to do the same. Do not let yourself get distracted with Darth Ianus. He is but a small piece in the grand scheme of things. We need to find this Master. Or we will deal with one apprentice after another."

"Well, I fear that you're right," Dooku said and rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "However, you can not deny me the pleasure of making Darth Ianus' life a misery. If he has the Holocron, he gains Sidious' knowledge, and he needs to be watched closely."

Obi-Wan shot the other man a grin. "I am leaving that in your capable hands," he said. "It can only help if we know what he is doing. Maybe he will lead us to his Master. And we need to make sure that Sidious doesn't find a way to escape the Holocron. The whole war was masterfully prepared the last time, and that the Separatists are fumbling as they do at the moment could be a result of Darth Ianus just trying to gather the pieces of Sidious' plan. Just take care of this," he presented the box to Dooku, and the Sith took it carefully, narrowing his eyes when he recognized the spell.

"I have to say," he chuckled. "Your reluctance to use Sith Magic seems to have vanished completely. I like that. You're using any means necessary to do what needs to be done. You breaking away from the Jedi Order can only serve to our advantage. Leave the saving of the Order to Masters Yoda and Windu and focus on fighting the Sith. The rest should just fall into place on its own."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at the Sith's words. Then he pushed his hair back and sighed. "I doubt it will be that easy but having you in my corner helps. Just stay there, will you?"

Dooku gave him a solemn nod. "I don't know what I will be doing when this is over, Obi-Wan. But it was never my intention to destroy the Jedi. After what you told me about my counterpart, I am sure it was never his intention either but Sidious. . . . he has a way of manipulating your mind. . . ."

Obi-Wan placed a hand on the older man's shoulder and squeezed it with a warm glance. "I know that. He stole my Padawan from under my eyes, and I didn't realize it before it was too late. I am glad that you are my ally this time. If we had made more effort in my previous life, maybe we could have prevented the destruction of the Republic then. I think you tried to find a way out when you warned me about Sidious before the war began. However, I was as blind as any other Jedi then."

Dooku tucked the box away and bowed slightly. "Well, General, then let us do better this time. I will send you a message as soon as my troops move on to another target. But you must have already noticed that we are looking for a way to secure our access to the Corellian Run. It shouldn't be too challenging for you to make out where we're headed."

He turned and jumped onto the ramp to his ship with a smile, leaving a chuckling Obi-Wan behind. He had pointed out precisely the same thing to Cody before leaving, and his faithful General was already making sure all the planets in question had a Republic presence so that the troops would be alerted as soon as the Separatists were making a move.

Qui-Gon discussed it with Tahl and Mace. In the end, they all agreed that letting Luan train in the Mandalorian arts of combat with Shagin could help the girl get over the trigger the use of her lightsaber seemed to represent. He had informed mother and daughter about their decision, and Shagin had given him a satisfied nod. She also assured him that her former husband had taught her enough about Jedi philosophy to make sure Luan didn't falter from the path that the Force had set her on.

Qui-Gon was surprised that Shagin Paban would accept Luan's determination to still become a Jedi that easily. Mandalorians usually were suspicious toward the Jedi. The only reason for her to put that aside was that she had loved Jesh Odathoj dearly and wanted Luan to follow in his footsteps. Qui-Gon sighed. It would have been what he wanted, too. Even if he couldn't ask him, Qui-Gon remembered vividly how Luan's father had taught many Younglings before he disappeared on Galidraan.

His head shot up when he sensed the presence of his former Padawan approaching, and he smiled at the young man's satisfied expression. Well, at least his meeting with Dooku seemed to have been successful, even if Qui-Gon knew that Obi-Wan loathed the thought of giving over the Holocron for Darth Ianus to obtain it. He had tried to argue against it once more last evening, but in the end, he realized that the time when he could give Obi-Wan solid advice was gone. The young man had distanced himself from the Order over the last few years, and it had become even more apparent after Master Yoda had accused him of arrogance. Obi-Wan was forging his own path, and it was time that he did. The Jedi path hadn't helped him the last time, and it was almost relieving to see that he had finally strayed from it with so much self-confidence. This man was far from the Padawan Qui-Gon had once taught – the Padawan who had been filled with so much self-doubt.

Soon he would be a father himself. Even if neither he nor Padmé had pointed it out explicitly, Qui-Gon knew that this was where they were headed. He did not have visions of the future often, but he had dreamed of a red-haired little boy with warm brown eyes who trained with a lightsaber several times. Any child of Obi-Wan would be strong in the Force, and with Padmé's political sense added to the mix, it was almost inevitable that they would play a significant role in their future.

Obi-Wan gave him a curious look when he had reached him and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"The future," Qui-Gon admitted with a chuckle.

Obi-Wan raised one eyebrow and reacted precisely the way Qui-Gon expected him to. "I'm afraid, Master, but you always tell me that I have to focus on the present. Concentrate on the here and now. . . ."

Qui-Gon laughed and pulled him down beside him, placing his arm around the other man's shoulder. "Well, even I am tempted to indulge myself from time to time."

Obi-Wan smiled, but then his gaze went distant, and he whispered. "Nice thoughts then. . . . I really wish the Force would grant me that. When I look at the future, all I can see is. . . ." he trailed off and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

When Qui-Gon looked at him, his heart clenched at the lost expression in Obi-Wan's eyes. "What?" he asked softly, encouraging the young man to share.

His former Padawan let out a huff. "Well, death and destruction. What else should I see? The Force seems adamant to remind me of my unique role and my place in the Galaxy. If I saw peace and happiness, I could become complacent. . . ."

"Do you really believe that?" Qui-Gon was a bit put out at the bleak outlook on the future Obi-Wan seemed to entertain. He was about to marry Padmé, and the thought of children must have crossed his mind, too. Focusing on such an idea should make him have the same vision Qui-Gon had for the past weeks. He swallowed thickly. Well, but Obi-Wan didn't think about that, did he? He was too distracted by his doubts – by the thought of losing everything and his possible role in the future.

His question went unanswered because Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon had already drawn his own conclusions. The Master stood up and pulled Obi-Wan with him. "Come," he said. "I want to show you something."

The young man didn't resist and just followed him until they arrived at Qui-Gon's favorite spot, a meadow far enough from the Temple to stay clear of any distractions. He gestured for Obi-Wan to sit down and drew his gaze into the distance. "What do you see?"

The young man chuckled. "Mountains, a lake. . . It's a beautiful view, Qui, but what am I doing here? I need to inform Bail about my meeting with Dooku, and Cody waits for me to approve of another base he wants to build."

"Well, that's the problem, my young Padawan," Qui-Gon replied. "Your focus determines your reality, and yours is completely on the war and the Sith. Let it go for a moment and try to concentrate on your union with Padmé, your family here, Anakin who still adores you. . . . Fill your mind with all the positive things you gained since you arrived in this life."

Obi-Wan gave him a glance full of intense emotions, and Qui-Gon was tempted to reach out before he discreetly strengthened his shields. This was Obi-Wan's moment, and he would not intrude. The young man had to find some hope on his own, and it was not his place to interfere. He could only provide guidance and pray that his former apprentice was still ready to learn something from him.

His former Padawan's gaze shifted into the distance, and Qui-Gon saw his eyes close. He practically sensed the young man falling into the Force, leaving any purpose behind and giving himself over. Qui-Gon's breath caught in his throat when the intensity of the experience overwhelmed him. There he was, his powerful Padawan who could just bend the Force's will if he ever wanted to. But he never did. He always remained firmly in the Light by taking the time to reach out and determine the Force's will instead.

Qui-Gon waited patiently and indulged in the feeling of peace emanating from Obi-Wan. Then the young man's eyes shot open, and he said, "Oh," with awe in his voice. He turned to his former Master and his eyebrows lifted at seeing Qui-Gon's grin. "You saw him?" he asked with surprise. "How?"

"Well, even I can have some vision of the future, and as opposed to you, I am not in the middle of Galactic politics, and my time on Alderaan provides me with enough calm to see things you can't." Qui-Gon pulled Obi-Wan into his arms and whispered to him, "You need to do this more often. It will center you, and the Force is always there to provide hope. You just have to reach out for it."

Obi-Wan had tears glistening in his eyes when he said, "Thank you, Master. I can't believe that I will have to learn what it means to be a father in all of this chaos and destruction. He is so beautiful. I can't wait to meet him."

"He will be only one more thing you gained in this life, and it is completely due to you and your decisions. Because I know that you are entangled in some prophecy but believe me, there is no such thing as fate after all is said and done. Fate deals us our cards, but it is entirely up to us and the choices we make what actually happens in the end."

Obi-Wan took some days, focusing on everything that had to be done regarding the military and taking much time to go to Qui-Gon's spot and meditate. He usually meditated every morning on Coruscant, but his thoughts were generally centered on politics and his role as the High General of the Republic. Now he shifted his focus and concentrated on his family and friends for the first time in far longer than he wanted to admit. It helped ground him, and slowly he gained confidence that his recurring flashbacks were a thing of the past. His intense sessions with Master Tajac also helped tremendously, and he began to ask himself why he had been so reluctant to do this sooner.

He was surprised to notice that his new-fund balance also had much impact on the people around him. Even though he wasn't part of the Order any longer, the Jedi still seemed to turn to him instinctively. Somehow a peaceful atmosphere descended over the Alderaanian Temple, and everyone soaked it up.

Qui-Gon, being the Master of the Living Force, picked it up first and used the positive Force energy to come to terms with what happened to his family on Mandalore. His relationship with Tahl settled again into their loving understanding, and he let go of his tight grip on Luan, watching her being trained by her mother instead.

With his power in the Force, Anakin couldn't deny the pull either, and he confronted his grief about Luan and the near loss of Obi-Wan on Concordia. His former Master pushed him to examine these feelings. When they were done, Obi-Wan was hopeful that the young man did not only see the danger behind his reluctance to let go but, for the first time, he seemed to know what to do when in a similar situation again.

Mace and Adi shared with Obi-Wan that they liked to use his wedding to have their bonding ceremony. After consulting with Padmé, Obi-Wan told them they were happy to have them there, celebrating their love the same as Padmé and Obi-Wan were about to.

Sometimes Obi-Wan was intimidated by the fact that his mood seemed to influence others that much, but when he immersed himself in the Force, he couldn't feel anything dangerous about it. If anything, the Force pushed him to expand his influence and help Luan as best as he could. But he knew that he had to build his new lightsaber first. Because to help the girl, Obi-Wan needed to work on her trigger, and he had the feeling that his old lightsaber crystals were no longer his to use. Which meant he had to present them to their rightful owner first.

Anakin was lying in the grass, and the sun was shining on his face when he approached him. Obi-Wan couldn't help but swallow thickly at the image. When the war had broken out in his former life, he had never seen his former Padawan as relaxed as he was now. Amid all the chaos, the Jedi had built a place here that provided them peace like the Temple on Coruscant had never done. Well, Coruscant's Force energy was influenced by the Sith, and Alderaan was entirely different.

He let himself fall at Anakin's side and smiled when the young man's eyes slowly opened. "Master," he said happily. "I don't know what you did, but I can feel how hopeful you are. I haven't sensed so much peace from you ever since Sidious. . . ."

"Yeah, having a Sith Lord embedded in your mind doesn't provide much peace," Obi-Wan replied dryly. "And then all these other things happened. As you well know, I am not fond of prophecies, and when I left the Jedi, it took me a long time to feel self-confident again. I was always one to cling to the rules to have guidance. It took me two lifetimes to finally overcome that flaw."

Anakin chuckled and sat up. "I'd say you did remarkably well despite being flawed."

Obi-Wan smiled at him. Anakin still adored him, as Qui-Gon had pointed out. Seeing flaws in a teacher who guided you over half of your life was complicated. But somehow, he knew that Anakin's assessment of his accomplishment was not only driven by his admiration for Obi-Wan. The young man had learned many things during his time with Mace, and one of them was to evaluate situations and draw rational conclusions.

Obi-Wan looked into the distance, and after some time of silently enjoying Anakin's presence, he said, "I hear you require a new lightsaber."

Anakin looked down slightly uncomfortably. "Yeah, I think Master Windu sees it as a suitable punishment for my disobedience and negligence to not depart with me for Ilumn before he feels I am ready."

Obi-Wan couldn't suppress a chuckle. Anakin's words were so much like what his former Anakin would have said and yet so utterly different that he sometimes wondered what would become of this young man now that his fundamental beliefs were so changed. While his former Anakin would have detested Master Windu's treatment, the young man before him seemed to be slightly amused and sufficiently chastised by it.

"Well, I don't think that he intended to wait so long, but with the Jedi Order sending their Younglings here and the war starting, he is a bit occupied at the moment, don't you agree?"

Anakin shifted slightly and gave Obi-Wan a nod. "Do you want to tell me that not everything my Master does is related to me and my education?"

Obi-Wan blinked at the comment. Did Anakin just? He couldn't help but laugh and pulled the young man into his arms, hugging him briefly. After he let him go, he said, "Oh, Anakin, I think the time when I tried to lecture you about that is long gone. You are not focusing on yourself as much as you look out for others. I've seen that you did a whole lot of good for Luan the past few weeks."

He noticed with a distinct sense of pride that his praise made Anakin blush. Modesty was not something his former Anakin had ever learned. It was a relief to see that this one did.

"But honestly, we need to work on Luan's trigger, and we both need a lightsaber to do it," Obi-Wan said after a moment.

"But you have your lightsaber," Anakin replied, surprised.

"Do you remember what I told you about the crystals when we found yours' on Ilumn?" Obi-Wan asked and placed his weapon in front of them.

Anakin sighed and rolled his eyes but apparently decided to indulge his former Master. "Yes, I remember. It's not the Jedi who chooses the crystals. It is the crystals who choose their Jedi. They are a reflection of the one who is destined to carry them. Only that connection makes this weapon our life."

"Oh, so you did listen to me when you were thirteen," Obi-wan said, admittedly slightly surprised that Anakin had not only remembered the gist of what he had told him but the exact words.

"I've always listened to you, my Master," the young man replied with a grin. "You were my hero. I wanted to become like you, a Knight who fought for the Light no matter what happened."

Obi-Wan swallowed thickly and looked at his lightsaber. Then he leaned forward and quickly dismantled the weapon, making Anakin's eyes widen.

Obi-Wan reverently took out the brightly blue crystals that had served him for so long and placed them on his hand, indulging in the loving hum echoing through his body. He looked up and said, "You know, my former Anakin was so different from me that even thinking about presenting him with my crystals would have been foolish. But you . . . . You always strived for knowledge in the years we worked together, and you were eager to pick it up through watching and following me. We forged a bond, Anakin and I never had in my former life. Maybe these crystals will recognize our connection, and if you accepted them as a gift, I would be very proud to see you carry them."

Anakin looked at the stones in Obi-Wan's hand with genuine reverence. He closed his eyes, and Obi-Wan felt him reaching into the Force. Then his finger cautiously touched one of the crystals, and a spark flew from it, making Obi-Wan hiss at the heat.

"Well, I'd say they like you," he said softly when Anakin opened his eyes and looked at Obi-Wan with a dumbfounded expression. When the young man did not move, he frowned and asked, "Do you not want them? You don't need to. If you'd rather go to Ilumn. . . . I know it is always an adventure to find new crystals and if you feel cheated by just taking mine. . . ."

"Obi-Wan!" Anakin interrupted his rambling with a laugh. "I would be honored to take them. But I wonder why you would give them to me. They are yours. They have been yours since you arrived in this life. I. . . What are you going to do without them?"

Obi-Wan gave him a brilliant smile and placed the stones into his former Padawan's hands. "I've been provided with other crystals recently, and ever since then, these do not longer fit. But I was reluctant to just let them rest in my discarded lightsaber. Well, now that I see how they sparkle in your hands, I know why. They are not ready to retire. They want to serve another Jedi."

Anakin grinned and pulled Obi-Wan up enthusiastically. "Let's build us two new lightsabers then," he said with excitement, walking toward the Temple.

Dooku smiled smugly when he showed Komari the box he had brought from his trip, and his former apprentice tried to grab it the moment she realized what it contained. He pulled it back and shook his head. "If he wants to have it, he must agree to meet with me, Komari. I will not continue to serve him if he refuses to show himself."

She raised her eyebrows. "You are not in the position to make demands. You should be grateful that Dart Ianus is willing to give you a chance after what you did."

He put the box into his cloak and shrugged. "Well, I have the Holocron he so desperately wants. And I have all the time in the world. Now, how did your time with Asajj work out? I see you're already trying to evacuate the troops. Where is my faithful apprentice then?"

She shot him a glare but didn't mention the Holocron anymore. He already knew that she had to consult with her Master. "I sent her into orbit to organize our retreat. My Master looked at your suggestions and decided that the Corellian Run is no longer the hyper lane we need to bother with. He assumes that Republic High Command would already have secured other possible targets. We are to return to Serenno and wait for further orders. And you–" she gave him a satisfied grin, "– you are supposed to assume your role and meet with the newly formed Separatists Congress to assure us of their backing."

He nodded. After the failed mission on Christophsis, it made sense to take a step back and reevaluate their strategy. And if they didn't want any worlds to return to the safe haven of the Republic, they needed to secure a victory soon. However, now that the Republic knew about their goals, that would be too difficult. Best to change original plans and create some unexpected mayhem in another part of the Galaxy.

"Well, we best get a move on then," he said and smiled when Jango Fett walked in. The Mandalorian had become a central figure of the war now that his Clones were fighting on the Republic's side. The Kaminoans already had tried to secure more original DNA from the man because they wanted to keep up the quality of their product. However, Dooku had made sure that Jango wouldn't make himself available soon. He had other plans for his most trusted bounty hunter.

Anakin looked at his new lightsaber with awe. He had chosen a hilt that mainly consisted of silver steel, and he had even refrained from making the on-switch out of another material. He also opted for an engraving this time. The elegant Aurebesh symbols on its side contained his name, as well as Windu's and Obi-Wan's to honor both his Masters.

His former Master didn't do as well as Anakin in finding the suitable materials, however. He was still sitting in the grass, deeply immersed into the Force, the Adegan crystals swirling around him. Apparently, they were particular about their casing as well as the hilt Obi-Wan had to choose. Everything Obi-Wan had tried didn't work out, and Anakin doubted that the Temple had anything to offer that would satisfy the stones.

He looked up when Luan and Shagin were approaching them and smiled at his fellow Padawan. Her training with her mother was working out, and there had not been any more transgressions on her part ever since she had given her lightsaber to Qui-Gon. All in all, he had to admit that Shagin's presence seemed to calm Luan more than that of any Jedi here. Maybe this had been the right decision. However, Obi-Wan seemed convinced that she had to confront whatever triggers the lightsaber represented if she wanted to defeat the Darkness. Anakin knew that his former Master was the one who knew best how to treat your inner Darkness.

Shagin looked toward Obi-Wan with a frown." What is he doing?" she asked with genuine curiosity. Even if her former husband had been a Jedi, she was eager to learn more now that she had the opportunity.

Anakin shrugged. "He obtained some weird crystals, and he can't find a suitable casing to construct a lightsaber. They seem to reject anything he has tried, and he hopes that they will tell him what they need."

"So, the crystals are talking to him?" she asked with more interest in her voice than he had expected. Everyone apart from the Jedi always tended not to take their claims that a lightsaber crystal was Force-sensitive seriously.

"I hope so," Anakin replied. "These are Adegan crystals, and they have a stronger connection to the Force than the ones I use. But somehow, it makes it more difficult to find the proper material to build a lightsaber out of them."

"Hmm," Shagin didn't really say anything but her eyes were fixed on the dancing stones, and she seemed slightly fascinated by them.

Luan's eyes narrowed, and she tried to understand why her mother seemed to be so mesmerized at the view of the crystals. But her focus shifted after a moment, and she crouched down to Anakin, looking at the silver hilt in his hands. "You finished your new saber?" she asked with enthusiasm, but when Anakin nodded and wanted to give it to her, she winced and refused to touch it. "It's beautiful," she said and gave him a pained smile. "I hope it will serve you well."

"The crystals are like old friends to me," Anakin said, ignoring her discomfort because he knew she usually reacted to any probing questions with a fit of temper. In the end, she had to work this out by herself. "I used Obi-Wan's lightsaber many times, and when I touched them, it was like coming home."

She smiled wistfully and gave him a nod. Then her gaze shifted to her mother, who was standing transfixed on her spot, her eyes still firmly on Obi-Wan and the Adegan crystals. "Mother?" she asked, and her voice seemed to shake Shagin out of her thoughts.

"Yes," she said and turned around.

"What is it?" Luan inquired when she saw that her mother turned around again with a last look at the stones.

"I don't know. I just have a feeling that maybe I know what these crystals need."

Shagin's words seemed to stir Obi-Wan from his meditation, and Anakin chuckled at the woman's surprise. Many people thought that the Jedi were absent when meditating, but that was not true for every form of meditation. It was rarely true where his former Master was concerned. Obi-Wan's grip on the Force was firm enough that he could immerse himself fully into it and observe his surroundings simultaneously.

"Please," the former Jedi said with a welcoming smile. "If you have any idea, then tell me."

Shagin shifted uncomfortably and said, "Master Jedi, I really wouldn't presume. . . . I am not a Jedi, and my husband told me much, but we never even talked about lightsaber crystals."

"But they spoke to you, didn't they?" Obi-Wan said with his usual warm shimmer in his eyes that he always used to encourage someone to speak up. "I would very much like to know what you think, Lady Paban."

She raised her eyebrows at his address and said, "Do not call me that, Master. I am Shagin for you and everyone around here. And really, it was nothing."

"Gedet'ye," he said with some sort of pleading in his eyes, and she flinched at his use of her language. "I am at a loss here, and if you felt something, it could be important."

"Cuy ogir'olar," she replied with a challenging look. "You wouldn't have the material anyway."

Unlike Anakin, Obi-Wan had understood her words perfectly, and his head bowed slightly. "I see," he said thoughtfully and looked at the crystals which had fallen gently into his lap. Then something seemed to go through his mind and a brilliant smile formed on his face. "Who said I didn't have any beskar available, Shagin?"

Her eyes widened, and after a moment, she inclined her head. "You know much about Mandalorian tradition if you were able to work that out, Master Jedi. Which means that you should know that it is impossible to make a lightsaber out of beskar. The metal will never submit to a Jedi."

He grinned at that. "Oh, but I am not a Jedi, Shagin. And please, I am no Master anymore. I am just Obi-Wan."

He sprung up and put the crystals into his cloak, and Anakin couldn't help saying, "Shagin is right, Obi-Wan. We do not have any beskar available. We usually don't store any material that is strong enough to repel a lightsaber."

"No, that's right, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "The Temple never stored any beskar even if I advised them to do so long ago. It's just the typical Jedi ignorance to pretend it doesn't exist instead of being open-minded enough to try to use it."

"Somehow, it doesn't let itself get used with the Force," Anakin countered, confirming Shagin's words from before.

"No, it can't be used conventionally," Obi-Wan said with a shrug. "But I wore beskar to keep myself protected during the war. It just requires some balancing to do so. Beskar tends to distract a Jedi from the will of the Force, which is the reason the Council banned it like so many other things. . . . But if you respect it and its particular properties, you can get used to it."

Anakin gave him an incredulous look. "You're really making a lightsaber of Adegan crystals and beskar then, Master?"

He almost had to laugh at Obi-Wan's excitement at the thought. "Oh, Yes!" he said and gave Shagin a bow. "Thank you, Shagin. Your insight was most helpful. I will be back when it's done." With that, he left them alone, and minutes later, Anakin heard a speeder leaving the Temple grounds.

Mace Windu looked at Anakin and Obi-Wan with trepidation when they gathered outside to try out their new lightsabers. He rolled his eyes and looked at Qui-Gon. "Do I want to know where Obi-Wan found beskar to make that saber?" he asked.

Qui-Gon chuckled. "Maybe not, but I am pretty sure he obtained it some time ago. He told me he had it stored at home because the metal spoke to him, and he knew he would need it one day. He expected to use it for pauldrons as he did in his former life."

Adi looked at them with surprise. "He used beskar pauldrons in his former life? How did he do that? I was told that the beskar distracts us from the Force, makes our connection weaker."

"It does," Qui-Gon confirmed. "But you should have learned by now that Obi-Wan's connection to the Force is way beyond ours. I don't think anything can really distract him enough to not feel it."

His gaze shifted toward his former Padawan, who took his new weapon from his belt reverently. He saw the young man slightly shiver when he touched the hilt and wondered why when Shagin said, "That's remarkable. The beskar is singing to him."

Qui-Gon frowned at her, and she smiled slightly embarrassed. At his questioning glance, she said, "Mandalorians are put together of many species. There are no Mandalorian people per se. If one chooses our way of life, he belongs to our people. But we all share our appreciation for beskar because it speaks to us. We call that the beskar's song. It's a bit like you Jedi treat your lightsaber crystals."

"I understand," Qui-Gon said with a thoughtful look toward Obi-Wan. His new lightsaber rested in his hand, and he seemed reluctant to ignite it.

"Let's try it," Anakin said, getting impatient.

Obi-Wan swallowed thickly and pushed the on-switch. A dark blue blade emerged from the hilt, and Qui-Gon couldn't breathe for a moment. The saber's power was practically making the floor vibrate, and he wondered how Obi-Wan could possibly fight with it. But he shouldn't have doubted his former Padawan. When Anakin attacked him, Obi-Wan easily deflected the blow. After a few moments, both were locked into a fierce lightsaber duel, Anakin relentlessly trying to find an opening. At the same time, Obi-Wan used his mastery in Soresu to defend himself.

Mace shrugged when Qui-Gon looked at him and said, "Well, I have to admit if someone could pull off a beskar lightsaber, it had to be him."

After some fighting back and forth, Obi-Wan shut down his weapon and gave Anakin a bow. They shook hands at the draw between them, and Obi-Wan said, "How about we try to work with Luan then?"

At his words, the air left Qui-Gon's lungs, and he shook his head fiercely. "I won't allow it," he said firmly, but then to his surprise, he saw Luan standing up and looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Master," she said. "I have the feeling that Obi-Wan will be the one to help me overcome the trigger. Please let me try. You are all here to rein me in if something goes wrong."

Obi-Wan gave Qui-Gon a reassuring nod, and reluctantly he pulled her lightsaber from his belt, handing it to her. However, he would not sit here and watch. He stood up and gestured for Mace to follow him. Both Masters placed themselves at the edge of the fighting space, and it was clear to everyone that they could interfere the moment it was needed.

Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan approaching Luan and whispering something in her ear, and she gave him a nod swallowing at his words. Then Obi-Wan held his saber up and ignited it. Luan kept her saber low while Anakin decided to observe them first before joining in. Qui-Gon was pretty sure that Obi-Wan had given his former Padawan clear instructions on what his role in this fight had to be beforehand. It was evident that Luan focused on Obi-Wan and didn't pay Anakin any attention for the moment.

She began to circle the former Jedi, and he seemed to wait for her to make a move. When she had studied him enough, she waited till he was in her proximity. She jumped forward and tried to get through his defense. However, he just repelled her blow with a bored expression. Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed. What was he doing? Provoking her wouldn't help her keep herself in check.

As he had feared, Luan was getting impatient, and her blows toward Obi-Wan became sloppier, and then he just took his lightsaber and placed it beneath hers with so much Force that she had to let it go. He gave her a triumphant smile and gestured for her to pick it up. He really played out his strength, and she had to feel the humiliation keenly. Qui-Gon's parental instincts kicked in, and he moved forward, but Mace grabbed his robe and shook his head. Apparently, the Korun-Master had already realized what Obi-Wan was doing. Qui-Gon grumbled and walked back, not taking his eyes from his former Padawan, goating his current one into another round of blows which ended the same way, her lightsaber this time flying out of her hand.

Once more, Obi-Wan gestured for her to pick it up, but this time she gave him a glare and said, "I am not your puppet. If you want a fight, then fight but stop fooling around."

Qui-Gon cringed at her tone of voice. He knew where this would end, and his worries were confirmed when sparks began to show at her fingertips. Obi-Wan seeing it, too, gave Anakin a nod, and the Padawan walked behind Luan and ignited his saber as if to stand guard. Then Obi-Wan clipped his weapon to his belt and approached Luan.

"Stay back!" she yelled, and the sparks started to reach out.

But Obi-Wan ignored her and placed his hands over hers, his eyes closed. The sparks didn't go down, but somehow they didn't hurt Obi-Wan either. She was just about to struggle herself free and release the energy on her opponent when Obi-Wan said firmly, "Do not release it yet, Luan. Just try to feel the energy for a moment."

She hesitated, and somehow he had broken through her usual determination. Qui-Gon had never been able to talk to her when the sparks had shown, and she would usually just deal whatever blow she could the moment the Darkness took hold of her.

"What do you feel?" Obi-Wan asked gently, his hands still over hers despited the growing sparks beneath them.

"Power!" she exclaimed. "I can feel the Force and how it urges me to hurt you!" Her eyes turned yellow, and Qui-Gon was barely able to hold himself in check. But he felt that Obi-Wan still had a handle on the situation, and Anakin was standing near enough that he could quickly reflect the Lightning the moment it erupted.

"Does it?" Obi-wan asked. "Does it urge you to hurt me? Or is it your own desire that tells you to just use it?"

She recoiled at his words, shuddering and trying to pull her hands out of his, but he held them firmly in his grip. "Let me go!" she cried out. "Do you think this is something I want to do? It's the voice!"

"What voice?" His tone was stern now, and when she didn't answer, he straightened himself and repeated the question loudly. "What voice, Luan?"

"I don't know," she replied and struggled against his hold again. "It tells me that I have to hurt everyone to keep my family safe!"

"I am part of your family," he said sadly. "How will you keep me safe if you hurt me?"

Her yellow eyes locked onto him. "You provoked me. Now deal with the consequences." Her body began to shake with the excessive Force energy that she was building through her anger, and Qui-Gon tried to pull away from Mace again, but the Korun-Master just held him and shook his head.

"You can't suppress the energy, Luan. It comes from your emotions. But you can use it, and it's your decision how you use it," Obi-Wan said, his voice soft and his gaze warm despite her agitation. "Let me show to you what you can do with it when you just let the Darkness go."

She struggled once more but then looked at him with an unreadable expression. After a moment of contemplation, she nodded as if she was so transfixed by his gaze that she couldn't resist him. He closed his eyes and guided her hands, changing his position and moving beside her. To Qui-Gon's amazement, the color of the sparks changed from a cold silver into the warm gold he knew from Obi-Wan's Lightning. His former Padawan constantly whispered into the girl's ear, and suddenly the sparks grew into Lightning, forming a circle on the ground and slowly dying down. When they were gone completely, Obi-Wan pulled Luan into his arms, squeezing her firmly, and Qui-Gon heard him say, "That's it, my girl. If the Darkness seeks an outlet, do not fight it. Take it and focus it on something you really want to do, then let it go. It takes much discipline to do this, but you have no other choice if you want to be a Jedi. But you have to remember that it is always your choice what you do with that energy. If you choose to be a Jedi, you will remain in the Light no matter what the Dark throws at you."

She leaned into him, and Qui-Gon couldn't hold back longer and walked over to them. "She's all right, Qui," Obi-Wan reassured him. "Her connection to the Darkness is already too solid to suppress it. All of you need to teach her how to deal with it whenever it tries to overtake her. But she wants to overcome it, and I implore you to help her."

Qui-Gon gave him a nod and pulled Luan from him into his arms. She gladly followed his grip and began to cry silent tears. When she had calmed down, he pulled her head up by her chin and asked, "How do you feel little one?"

She smiled and said, "I defeated the voice. Obi-Wan showed me how to do it."

Mace approached the young General and gave him a grateful smile. "So, she has to learn Vaapad?"

Obi-Wan grinned. "Well, I wouldn't presume, but if I remember correctly, you had similar problems before inventing it. I have to admit your brush with the Dark never ran so deeply, but I think Vaapad would be just the tool to help her keep the Darkness at bay."