Chapter Five

Since I was very young, I held the utmost respect for Master Yoda. Now that I was older, my opinion hadn't changed. Everywhere he went, even those who didn't understand the Force held him in high regard. Perhaps it was his advanced years that demanded reverence. He had lived nearly eight centuries and had seen things I couldn't imagine. However, for those of us who knew the Force, who communicated with it, we understood that it was his connection to it that was so highly valued. He held immense power in his tiny claw, and even those ten times his size seemed to understand that and deferred to his presence. It was an amazing thing to witness and was no different on Naboo.

I think he enjoyed making others believe he was handicapped. It gave him an advantage and forced many to underestimate him. Which was usually their final mistake. During my life so far, I had two opportunities to watch him spar. Once when I was very young and another time when I was a junior padawan. He had summoned the Force and had toyed with the Master Jedi who had challenged him. The one-sided battle was the talk of the Academy for months and nobody else had challenged the old Master since.

And here he was, summoned by my Master to come and question me about my beliefs.

"Master Yoda," I greeted him with a quick drop to one knee. "It's good to see you again. I hope the Force granted an easy passage."

"A good flight it was, Obi-Wan," Yoda told me with a crooked smile, his large ears drooping just a little. "Let us go to a private place and talk we shall."

The head of security, Captain Panaka, led us to a conference room across the hall from his own office and told us if we needed anything, to let him know. I thanked him and the two of us sat next to one another in the oversized seats.

"A Suŗa, you have requested," he asked as soon as he had settled. Even for having lived so many years, Yoda didn't waste time.

"I have," I answered. "Ever since my tenth naming day, I've known the Force has provided a sobatí. I discovered who it was when we arrived on Naboo."

"This Queen, you believe your sobatí is."

"Yes, Master."

"Your Master, believes this not. Stubborn, Qui-Gon is, but listen he will. Long time, has it been since a Suŗa I have performed. Understand you do what is required?"

I only knew what the Jedi Archives had provided me, and it wasn't much. The ancient scrolls were kept under strict watch by Master Nu. Nobody but the Jedi Council was allowed to even look at them.

"Just a little," I told him.

The older Jedi hummed to himself – a sign that what he was about to say was significant. I cleared my mind and gave him my complete attention.

"A sobatí, only provided when needed. Shadowed has the Light become. Something on the horizon, hidden from sight there is. The last time a Suŗa was performed, the Sith had risen. Threaten the entire Galaxy they did. Rise up, a warrior did to stop the Darkness."

I already knew that much. A Jedi by the name of Cervil had been an integral part of ending the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith and restoring the Light. But what did that have to do with my Suŗa? I had never before thought I was slow-witted, but I didn't get it.

"Master, are you telling me that Queen Amidala will have something to do with eradicating the shadows you speak of?"

"Eradicate, too ambitious of a word that is," Yoda explained. "Only postpone the inevitable, she may."

Was he trying to tell me that eventually the Light would be overcome by Darkness? I found that difficult to believe. There were far too many Jedi who fought to maintain the Light Side of the Force. As long as they were a presence, there would always be…

Wait. Was it possible that someday there would be no one to fight against the Dark? There would no longer be Jedi? If that's what Yoda was trying to say, I sincerely hoped I wouldn't be here to see it. However, I couldn't be so selfish as to not be concerned about those who would be around and forced to live in such a dreadful time.

One question still remained and I worried about what the answer might be. No, it was worse than that. I feared what the answer might be and I knew that fear led down a dark path.

"Master, what if she declines? What impact will that have on the future?"

Again, the ancient Jedi hummed. Only this time, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the eddies of the Force. Whenever he did that, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Today, was no different.

"Agree, she must. The future, difficult to see. Always clouded, it is. Free will, decides its course. Know this, I do: Another, the Force may provide, but time essential it is. Already, the darkness creeps in. Like ink spilled on parchment. Seeping ever closer, overcoming everything it touches."

I had no idea it was that bad, but then my connection to the Force wasn't as strong as Yoda's. Nobody's was. If only I could speak with the Queen and inform her how important this was. How her decision would impact the future of the galaxy and its inhabitants.

"Say nothing to her you must," Yoda interrupted my thoughts. "Her decision, this must be. Only her full cooperation, bring about our salvation it can."

Damn.

"I understand, Master." Suddenly, it seemed as if the weight of the entire galaxy hung heavily about my shoulders.

"Remember, Knight Kenobi, the Force, designated you it has. Do not take this lightly. Chosen, you have been for a reason. Have faith, young one."

Easy for him to say. "Yes, Master."

A small smile appeared on Yoda's wrinkled face, which did very little to ease the tension building in my shoulders.

"Come. Find this young Queen, we shall. A Suŗa we have to perform."