Memories From Afar

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the Star Wars characters. George Lucas does. I do, however, own the Original Characters (if any) and the fic all of this is in. That is all.

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Chapter Five:

"What is so important that it had to be taken away from my meditation time?" Qui-Gon Jinn demanded as he and Mace Windu walked down the corridor, away from the Padawan's ears that lingered in his room.

"You remember when we took Obi-Wan from the planet?" Mace asked, trying to keep his voice calm as possible.

"Yes, I do. Somewhat."

"It seems like the small group we encountered there wants the boy back now. At least they say the mother does." Jinn stopped walked as the other continued on. He soon stopped as well and turned around to face the other. "What is wrong? I thought you didn't want the boy as your Padawan anymore?"

"Why do they want him back?"

"I do not know. I think they still believe it is the one that will bring them to their greatest power. Or the mother just wants her child back. Either way, they want him back."

"How do they know where the Kenobi child is?"

"His presence in the Force is stronger then we thought. Your training him only amplified that." Mace turned his head away. "Several members of this group have brought themselves here on one of their ships and...."

"Tell them to go to hell." Qui-Gon interrupted angrily. Mace turned his head back towards him, blinking his confused eyes.

"What?"

"You heard me. I lost one Padawan to the Dark Side and I'll be damned if I am going to lose another to some group of robed figures that we know nothing about."

"But..."

"Just because I treat Obi-Wan different from what the other Masters treat their Padawans doesn't mean anything. If he wants to learn something he has to be taught the hard way, just like I was taught."

"Several members of the Council wants to send the boy back so we will not engage in a battle." Now it was Qui-Gon's turn to blink his eyes in confusion.

"I won't let them. Just because it will take away one battle isn't going to guarantee that the group won't come back later to do what we did to them."

"There is nothing you can do about this matter, Qui-Gon. Yoda demands the boy be brought to the Meeting Room in two hours or we will force him to come." With that, Mace turned around and walked away with nothing else to say. jinn watched him go, anger mixed with hatred that flowed through his body. He turned around and stomped towards his room, ready to fight this out.

~~~

Obi-Wan Kenobi sat on his bed, his hands neatly folded in his lap. His eyes were staring intently at the door, his lisp in a thin line. There was a small hint of fear that glistened in his blue eyes that radiated around his face and a little bit into the room.

There was a idea floating around in his head about what Mace and Qui-Gon were talking about but he didn't want to think about it. Yet it continued to linger in his mind even after he pushed it away and into the far reaches of his mind. It kept coming back into the front of his mind after several attempts to ward the thought off. Why doesn't it go away? I just do not want to think that Qui-Gon might be tossing me aside and getting another Padawan. He can't. What would happen to me if he did? Would I get another Master? Or will I be sent to some farming mine in some other galaxy and never heard of again?

Obi-Wan sighed, closing his eyes to keep the tears from going down his face. He hoped his thought was wrong. He hoped his Master would be keeping him. He hoped for anything but a fate away from being a Jedi. There was no point in living if he could not stay at the Temple.

"Obi-Wan, get ready. There's something we have to do." Qui-Gon's voice broke into the boy's thoughts. He snapped his eyes open and jumped up, startled that the other had entered without him even knowing. The Padawan stared at him, waiting for his heart to stop beating fast. He then noticed the way Jinn was standing. There was something about it that made everything seem....different.

"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, terrified. He had never seen the wild look in Qui-Gon's eye's before. It was a sure sign that something was wrong and that it was happening now.

"There will be time to explain in the future. Now is not it. Just get a few items and pack them up. Then we will go."

~~~~

"Come into the Temple, you do not have to. Will be returned, the boy shall be." Yoda said in a dead pan tone as a hologram of one of the robed figures stood in front of him. Behind the small Jedi, Ki-Adi Mundi and Yaddle stood, both looking like statues that should have been placed in a park. They listened in silence as the two groups stared at each other for a moment before anything else was said.

"No. I must get the boy myself. You Jedi's I do not trust." The figure replied, placing some anger in his voice.

"Will be there, I promise."

"No."

"Mmmmm." Yoda mused, like he always did when things were wrong or were going downhill. He slightly narrowed his eyes at the hologram as if to figure out what the other was thinking. Ki-Adi then stepped forwards, ready to break his short silence.

"If I may?" He asked, just giving a small glance down at Yoda. The green Jedi nodded, telling the taller Jedi to go on. "He has found a home within the walls of the Temple and made many friends in the eleven years that he was been here. There is nothing he wouldn't do to keep himself within this place. The boy means a lot to Qui-Gon as well. If you were to take him away then that would mean taking a son away from him. We need to continue to train him here so that he can be a powerful Jedi in the future."

"Point taken, it is." Yoda whispered, looking up at Ki-Adi with interest.

"Why should I let the child stay there? You stole him from us. We are just taking back what is rightfully ours."

"He is of no use to you. Let us keep him."

"No. We will be down on the planet within the next half hour. We expect to be escorted into the temple where we will take him back to the planet." The figure's hologram faded out, leaving the Jedi's to stare at the other end of the Meeting Room's walls.

"What are we going to do, Yoda? Ki-Adi asked, gazing down at the smaller Jedi. Their gaze's met, a understanding going between them.

"Get Obi-Wan, we must. Keep him safe, we shall. Get him, they will not." Ki-Adi nodded and walked towards the entrance of the room, ready to do what he was told.

~~~~

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi walked down the small corridor that went by the other quarters that some of the other Masters and Padawan's shared. They both had backpack like bags slung around their shoulders, a indication that they were going somewhere. Both managed to keep their minds closed to others as they walked past, saying 'hello' and 'goodbye' at the same time with a single nod to each person that they passed. No one questioned on where they were going or why they were as they continued to walk down, their gazes straight ahead.

"Can't you tell me where we are going, Master?" The boy asked, a hint of fear in his voice.

"We might be going to Tatooine, Padawan. No one dares to go there."

"For how long?"

"A week or two. That we can make sure that...." Jinn stopped talking, keeping his mouth shut. Obi-Wan looked up at him, confused.

"Make sure of what?"

"It's a long story. I can't tell you right now."

"Why not?"

"Obi-Wan, listen to me." Qui-Gon stopped and kneeled next to the boy. He grabbed Obi-Wan by the shoulders and turned him towards him, staring him in the eyes. "You are too young to understand what happened and what is going on. You have just started your training. I want to continue it but there are things that are getting in the way."

"Like your first Padawan? Is causing these feelings?" The Master took in deep breath.

"That is one of the things that has been going through my mind. But it is not all nor is it the real reason. You are meant to be my Padawan. I will train you. I...." He stopped as he blinked his eyes. He turned his head away from the boy for a moment, his memory falling back upon his dream that he had only a little while ago. I think I understand now. Obi-Wan is the one taht will keep me alive longer then anyone else. I can't run away from this. I have to protect this child.

"Master, what's wrong?" Qui-Gon stood up, a determined look on his face.

"I'm going to fight this thing to protect you. And I will die trying if I have to."

CHAPTER SIX:

"Why are we going to protect him when we should avoid a conflict?" Mace Windu demanded as he and Ki-Adi Mundi walked past the entrance of the Temple and towards the Jedi Quarters, both walking at a fast pace.

"Just because there might be a conflict doesn't mean anything. We are protecting a child that was meant to stay with us and nothing more." Ki-Adi replied, not giving any emotions out.

"We should have not taken that boy away."

"You are beginning to sound like Qui-Gon. Just listen to yourself, Windu. Obi-Wan means a lot to Qui-Gon. It's his first Padawan since his last one turned. I think it would be wiser to keep him with us rather then him be taken away."

"Look, all I am saying is taht we should not get into a conflict."

"Who says we are? We won't, okay? We'll keep things diplomatic and peaceful. If things should turn out different then we can easily fix them. Right?"

"Right."

Besides, they wouldn't dare go up against a Temple full of Jedi's now would they?"

~~~~

"What is taking you three so damn long to get the child?" A female voice demanded over the comm. system, sounding pissed. The robed figure sighed, keep his anger in check.

"We will get the child soon. But we have to go down into the Temple to get him. Beside, I refuse to let any filthy Jedi come within five feet of my ship. I rather do it myself." He told her bluntly as the maneuvered his ship down towards a landing platform. There already was a ship waiting for them there, a lone, and somewhat short, figure standing there, gazing up at the ship with no emotions.

"And just how are you going to get into the Temple without a smaller ship to get you there? A Jedi will have to be there, waiting for you."

"I know. I'm almost to the landing platform. I'll just hurry up and get into that ship before anyone knows what happened."

"Fine. I'll be waiting for you response after you are finished."

"Before we go, please remind me when we get back to the planet."

"Remind you about what?"

"That I have to burn my clothes and take a bath when we return. I don't want to be smelling like Jedi any longer then I have to."

~~~~

"Now what are we going to do?" Obi-Wan asked as he and his Master walked quicker then they had before and with more determination.

"I'm am going to protect you even if the Council stripes me of my title." Qui-Gon replied, taking the boy's hand into his. All of the other Master's and Padawan's got out of his way as they watched the two go, confusion on their faces. Yet, no one asked what was going on as they went back upon their normal business like they had before.

"Protect me from what?"

"I'll tell you in time, Obi-Wan. For right now you must be quiet."

"Qui-Gon!" A voice yelled form the doorway that was just up ahead in which lead into the small area that held the entrance to the outside world. Jinn saw Ki-Adi Mundi and Mace Windu standing there, their arms crossed over their chests. Both of the moving Jedi's stopped in their tracks, far away enough for them not to grab the boy but close enough to be in hearing distance. "There is no reason why you should be going any further."

"Get out of my way." Qui-Gon growled, his eyes narrowing. "You are going to give him back. I will not let you."

"We won't give him back. We are not here to take him." Mac said, trying to coax him to come closer.

"Yea, right. I know you too well."

"Look, those people w have encountered on the planet eleven years ago are coming into the Temple. We don't know what they are going to do. In fact, we don't know how many are even coming. They have shrouded themselves in darkness." Qui-Gon eyed him suspiciously, fanning out the Force to see if the other was telling the truth or not. Obi-Wan looked from his Master, to Ki-Adi, to Mace, then back to his Master, more confused then ever.

"What's going on?" He wondered out loud, not intending his voice to carry to the three Master's ears. In response, they turned their attention towards him, emotionless stares upon him.

"I am guessing you did not tell him yet." Ki-Adi said, giving Qui-Gon a small look.

"No. Not yet." He replied, taking in a deep breath. "But I think he has a right to know now. And to make a decision about his future."

"Very well." Mace grumbled, walking over to the two. He knelt in front of the boy, placing both of his hands on one of his knees. "When you were two years old, you were taken away from a backwater planet far from here. Like all Jedi's, you have to be taken at infancy to ensure that you will become a Jedi."

"I know that Jedi's start training when they are young...." The boy said, his question still not answered.

"Well, when we took you, it was during a festival of some sort. The people that were there got angry because we took you. Those robed figures want you back, Obi-Wan, to finish what they started."

"Huh?"

"That's all I can say for now, young Padawan." Mace stood up, a small smile appearing on his lips. "You will have to learn the rest on your own."

"But I want to know now!" He whined, looking like he was about to cry.

"No. We have to make sure that will not fall into the wrong hands. Let's go."

~~~~

"How much longer is it until we reach the Temple?" One of the robed figures asked as he sat on one side of the cushioned seat that made a horse shoe around the back of the Jedi ship. The three figures sat together, their eyes looking out from underneath their hoods.

"Much longer, it is not. Patience, you must have." Yoda said, shifting his weight ever so slightly at the point where he was standing. He had refused to sit, not because of the ones that he was with, but because he wanted to get ready for whatever was going to happen. There was a small chance that there might be a battle and the Jedi was not going to take that chance. He was going to make this go as smoothly as possible without conflict.

"Well, tell the pilot to hurry up. We want the boy as soon as possible."

"Virtue of Patience you no have. Be there shortly, we will be." The rest of the journey went in silence as Yoda stared straight ahead, his lips in a thin line.

TO BE CONTINUED......