Chapter Fourteen

Conversations with the Past

Obi-Wan stared at Yaotl as she finished her abridged version of the history of her people. It was certainly a lot to take in. From being peaceful beings to conquered to conquers and then finally nomads to invaders was quite a jump to say the least.

"So," he said holding up his hand as he voiced his thoughts that he'd kept silent until now. "The Yun'o according to you stripped you of your ability to use the Force?"

"That was told to us yes although it is referred to as the Pain of Separation. The idea of being in pain is get us back to that state of being once more."

"I see. Well then obviously there's a biological element of my blood is enough to revitalize that."

"Perhaps your midichlorians?"

"Most likely since they are a conduit to the Force. So something altered your ability to access the Force and my midichlorians have "awakened" them so to speak?"

"Indeed."

Well no wonder he was so revered. He essentially connected them back to the lifeblood of the universe. But why his blood? Had they not observed the blood of others?

"You didn't notice midichlorians before?"

"Clearly it escaped the notice of the Shapers," Yaotl shrugged. "I am not of their caste so I'm unaware of their work or opinions."

"Alright I'll let that go for now," Obi-Wan said. "But I do wonder why now?"

"It is as the Force wills it."

That's a traditional answer. Alright where did she learn that from?

"You seemed to be knowledgeable on the ways of the Force."

"I was visited by an Enlightened One."

"An Enlightened One?" Now that was new...

"One that has become one with the Unifying."

"Unifying?"

"That which units all."

"Wait do you mean the Cosmic Force? The Force that binds all?"

"As you say, it binds everything together."

Okay definitely the Cosmic Force then. So someone...wait?!

"There's a way to retain consciousness after death?!"

"Yes, according to Master Jinn."

"Master...Qui-Gon Jinn!?"

"You know of him?" Yaotl looked in awe of him even as he railed from the sudden surprise.

"He...he was well known in where I was from..." And my Master. How could Master discover this? Although now that I think about it shouldn't be surprising, parallel world or not...But the question is how?

"Look to the Source," A voice said that made Obi-Wan stiffen and look around. If he didn't know better it sounded like an older version...No. Focus on the moment not something that might or might not be present.

"So coming back to that portion later," Obi-Wan said even as his mind added in a much later tag to it. "You'll help us out?"

"Yes," Yaotl said while bowing her head. "I shall convey that you wish those that have usurped the planet to leave. It is right and just."

"Good," Obi-Wan said getting up and dusting off his tunic. "I will tell the others. Over the course of the planning we'll work those above to see if we can spare and use those that wish to help."

"As you wish," she said. "I await your advice and their planning. May the Force be with you."

"And with your spirit," Obi-Wan replied respectfully as he got up bowing to her. "And don't worry I shall gave thought to what you've asked. You have my word on that."

"Thank you," Yaotl said as she settled back into a meditative pose. Possibly communing with the spirit? Oh this was so confusing! Perhaps he should meditate on this before going off to sparing. Yes that would be a better thing to do. He did have a boatload to unload his mind after all. He nodded his thanks to the guards and soon looked at the one that had brought him down asking: "Do you have a place were I can meditate? I wish to meditate a little before joining the others in the sparing chambers."

"Follow mesa," the guard said...Oh goodness he didn't ask him his name.

"Oh and your name please," he asked making the guard stop. "Sorry I just want to thank you and I feel it's better to do with a name."

"Oh mesa, Gil-Jae, nice to meet yousa," the guard said with a bow and a smile on his face. In the Force he blazed with an inner light. A possible would be Jedi? "Mesa berry berry happy to help yousa out."

"Well I try to be of service," Obi-Wan said as he followed Gil. "I do hope that all goes well with this plan."

"So do wesa, Master Jedi, so do wesa," Gil-Jae said as he led him to a room off the beaten path. "Thisa room is used for some as an observatory. Mesa will make sure that yousa not disturbed."

"Oh you don't need to trouble yourself that much for my account," Obi-Wan raised his hands. "Please you've done more then enough."

"Mesa wishing to be helpful. So mesa make sure yousa meditate with no distractions."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said relenting when realized that arguing would be counterproductive at this point. Gil-Jae wanted to help out and clearly he thought that making sure he wasn't interrupted would do it. Well if that is how he wished to help out then Obi-Wan would let him. And be grateful for the assistance. He nodded to Gil who stepped outside granting him privacy. Once alone he settled into a meditative pose and began breathing exercises that would help him be mindful of his surroundings and later of his inner turmoil. Yaotl's history lesson had been quite informative but the revelation of the fact that somehow beings could retain their consciousness after death was...a bit mind-blowing. How? And for what purpose? Surely becoming one with the Cosmic Force was satisfactory?

"Well it is but...well you know..."

Obi-Wan opened his eyes with shock. That couldn't...be...

"Anakin?" He called out into the silence hopeful but feeling slightly silly. It would sound like he was talking to himself which would be a tad unseemly.

"Well it's about time Master! Good stars I was thinking I'd have to do smoke signals or something."

"Anakin?"

"Hey Master," there was a shimmer in the air and soon a tall man approached with Anakin's features wearing a traditional Jedi robes. He was so happy to see something that looked normal that he momentarily forgot about his strangeness and his alienation and embraced his brother. Anakin naturally returned the hug with enthusiasm that Obi-Wan had learned to expect from him. He had so many questions that he wanted ask him...

"How?" Was the only thing that he could manage to get out of the myriad of questions buzzing in his mind. "How is this possible?"

"The Force," Anakin said with a serene smile. "I was able to do it through the Force. You can learn as well in time."

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said a little reluctant to put a dampener on their happy reunion but there was something he needed to know. "Are or rather were you..." He couldn't finish the sentence. Anakin bless him got his meaning and nodded.

"I was alright in the end," he said. "My son saved me and I brought balance...well for a time until those murglaks decided to pop out of the woodwork."

"You mean the deluge of Sith that seemed to appear out of nowhere?"

"Yeah those guys. And I thought..." he trailed off his thoughts shaking his head. "Well in either case I did what I needed to do. But Master," his face grew very serious. "It wasn't your fault. I am responsible for my fall."

"I still feel I could've done more to help you stay away," Obi-Wan sighed. "I'm your teacher."

"And a quite frankly amazing one. I mean you trained me and semi-trained Snips..."

"Snips?"

"Ahsoka Tano, you've meet her."

"She was your apprentice!?" Obi-Wan hissed. "She said she left the Order. And for that matter...You had an apprentice?!"

"Things happened and our paths parted," Anakin sounded sad as he said this. "But she became a wonderful woman. Saved Ventress from her own darkness and made a way for clones to get free without going to that Skirata clan so that's a plus..." He trailed off as it he'd just registered the last half of what Obi-Wan had said. "Hey I was a good teacher thank you!"

"Skirata?" Obi-Wan asked hoping that he wouldn't offend Anakin any further then he had.

"Honor less charlatans that abuse the Mandalorian way," Anakin said disgustedly still giving a bit of a stink eye which made Obi-Wan duck his head with shame. That wasn't fair of him. He couldn't judge him based off his apprenticeship after all look what he was when he was one? "Master...the Skirata and the other warriors obliterated any mention of Satine. They destroyed her legacy and made it a crime with the help of that murglak. Now no one remembers her. She's not even a footnote."

"I've noticed," Obi-Wan said sadly. "I...I find very tragic that her work is just ignored like that when she worked so hard to change her people for the better."

"And of course you miss your girlfriend," Anakin teased.

"What? ANAKIN!" Obi-Wan barked embarrassed at the at the very idea because-no-it-he did-not-most-empathically-did-not-not-at-all-have...His trail of thought was stopped by Anakin's quite frankly un-Jedi like smug expression. He was one with the Force so surely...well fine. She was his girlfriend but he was not now or ever going to give Anakin the satisfaction of being right...Now that he was a spirit he'd never hear the end of it.

"She is not my girlfriend," Obi-Wan to choke out. "And that's all I have to say about that matter."

"Ah huh, sure..."

"I do wonder," Obi-Wan said interrupting Anakin's end and wanting to firm end to the totally not buying at a all look on his face. "Aren't you from this world and this is a different world yes?"

"Yup," Anakin chirped confirming Obi-Wan's suspicions and horror. "Welcome to this world."

"So why can't my counterpart speak with me?"

"Well for one thing he's all "I've passed on Anakin," he said with nasally rendition of Obi-Wan's voice. His apprentice usually did that if he was annoyed with a decision he'd made. ""I don't need to appear to them"...Yeah right, ah huh. Sure. He just doesn't want to deal with the shenanigans that goes on now. Also something about seeing you would cause some kind of damage or...something I wasn't paying attention I was making sure you weren't being a damsel as per usual."

"I," Obi-Wan empathized the word at little affronted that his apprentice parallel world or not thought so little of his skills. "Am most assuredly not a damsel."

"Yes you are," Anakin said with a smirk. Obi-Wan didn't argue the point since...much as it galled him his counterpart to his apprentice was right.

"So why did you come?"

"Well first off to say hi," he waved jauntily at him. "And secondly for you know that you're not alone and I'll help as much as I can so long as I can."

"I appreciate the help but I-"

"Don't," Anakin held up a hand. "I know what you're going to say and the answer is now and always no matter what reality is you are worth it to me."

He sat there humbled by his counterpart apprentice's sincerity and bowed his head in thanks.

"Now go on and kick Ventress's butt!"

"Anakin!"Obi-Wan shook his head at Anakin's antics. He got up and for second time dusted himself off. He smiled at the apparition as he began walking towards the exit. "I don't suppose you'll be rooting for me and being generally obnoxious towards others in your state, which," he pointed towards him admonishing manner. "I am going to find out how that works."

"Aw Master, you've got to figure that out for yourself," Anakin smiled at him as he vanished just as quickly as he came. Obi-Wan shook his head at his apprentice's counterpart. It would seem that throughout multiverse Anakin was slight menace no matter what.

Now to Ventress...And I'm going to have to make a decision with Yaotl... He blinked at the thought. How precisely was he to deal with that? She was young yes but too old for training...well by his Order's standards. Things had changed but while he could maintain some institutions of the Order if her belief and wishes were sincere then...He almost hesitated as he contemplated that question. Could he do it? Should he? Those were difficult questions. Could he? It was possible but that would require quite a bit of willingness to learn. Should? Should indeed. That was the crux of his dilemma. He probably could do it...but should he? He got up and walked towards the door. Opening it he saw Gil-Jae was looking slightly shamefaced and a bit curious.