Chapter 1 – A New Padawan

Plot: A descendant of Revan, Theseus Shan is reapprenticed to Obi-Wan after the start of the Clone Wars. Despite his initial rough start with Anakin, the two eventually form a bond which may save Theseus as he grows darker the longer the war goes on. His visions of Revan must mean something, even if he doesn't know what. At least his best friend, Ahsoka, is with him.


Author's Note: Somehow, no one seems to take into account how Anakin would react to Obi-Wan getting a padawan literally right after he was Knighted. Especially if it was Obi-Wan's choice, Anakin would feel like he was just getting a replacement for him the first chance he gets, so prepare for a lot of angst. ^-^

~Rivana Rita & Tirana Sorki

This was a fic request from sketchywolf here on ff. net We got it a long time ago, and we've been slowly working on it ever since, exchanging ideas and planning the whole thing out together. Lol. We're finally ready to start releasing it, so enjoy! :D

~ Amina Gila


Of all the things Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was expecting when Grandmaster Yoda summoned him to his chambers, this was not one of them.

"Busy with the new state of the galaxy, I have become," Yoda tells him. "Little time, I have to train my new padawan." Well, that Obi-Wan certainly doesn't find surprising. With civil war breaking out across the galaxy, the Council has their hands full. Shortly before the war started, Yoda has taken a new padawan – his first since Dooku. Having to deal with both the war and teaching the younglings, it's not surprising he hardly has any time for training the boy. He's the head of the Council and the Order, so even as busy as he was before, it's only worsened.

"A different master, he needs," the grandmaster continues, "A good teacher for young Theseus Shan, you would make." He – he wants Obi-Wan to take on his padawan? He's never really given much thought to taking another padawan after Anakin. He wasn't so sure that he was ever going to, at least not with the war going on, and even if he did someday, he didn't expect it to be this soon. Besides...

"Anakin won't be happy about it," objects Obi-Wan.

"Mmm... perhaps give young Skywalker a padawan, we should," Yoda murmurs, tapping his stick on the floor. Anakin having a padawan? He would make a good teacher, but he'd likely be very reluctant to take a padawan, and Obi-Wan isn't sure if he's ready for it yet either. He'd asked Anakin before, and he flatly refused, saying there's no way he could do it. But ever since the war started, Obi-Wan has noticed his former padawan becoming increasingly... reckless. He's more focused on the battle than anything else.

"I don't know if he's ready to train one," Obi-Wan replies hesitantly. Anakin might be, but he wouldn't want to.

"Ready to train a padawan, young Skywalker is," Yoda declares, "To let go of that padawan, a greater challenge, would be." Which is the exact thing Obi-Wan is worried about.

"That is what concerns me," Obi-Wan murmurs.

"Master this, Skywalker must," Yoda insists.

"How will we choose this padawan?" he inquires. Whoever they pick, it'll obviously have to be one who would fit with and get along with Anakin very well.

"Look for one, we will," the Jedi Grandmaster decides.

"Anakin will not want to take a padawan," Obi-Wan points out. "I asked him before, and he adamantly refused. It would only work if he was given one in the right situation."

"Hmm. Perhaps send her in during a battle, we should," Yoda suggests. That – that would be perfect. He wouldn't be able to refuse the padawan then, and by the time the battle is over, Obi-Wan is pretty sure he'd probably change his mind. Hopefully. It would depend on the person. He'll have to pick the right one. If its someone Anakin likes, he wouldn't want to let them go.

"That should work," he agrees finally, "That way, they can get to know each other before he outright refuses." A silence falls for a brief moment. It will take care of Anakin for the time being, but he still doesn't think his former padawan will be very happy about this. "When will I take Theseus as my padawan?" Obi-Wan asks at last.

"Explained the situation to him, I have," Yoda replies. "Speak with Skywalker you should, and then proceed, we will."

"I will," assures Obi-Wan. "I would like to know more about my new padawan."

"Have difficulty with using the Force, Theseus does," Yoda explains, "Though very skilled at lightsaber combat, he is. Also, much darkness, he has. Train him to control it properly, you must."

Darkness? He knows well how Anakin has struggled from it. He hadn't been able to help him properly, not how he should have. "Master Yoda," Obi-Wan protests, "I think there are other masters who would do a better job than me at teaching him how to control his emotions."

"Turned out well, young Skywalker did," asserts Yoda. "Experience with him, you have. Train Theseus well, you could. Speak with Skywalker now, you should."

Obi-Wan is still reluctant about it, but he will. Taking another padawan so soon after Anakin was Knighted was definitely not his plan, but he trusts the Grandmaster. "Of course." He rises and bows, before exiting the room. The sooner he speaks with Anakin about this, the better, though he's not exactly looking forwards to the conversation. His former padawan will probably not be happy.

**w**

Theseus had known since the start of the war, just over a month ago, that this would happen. He hadn't been there in the first battle of Geonosis, or on any other mission Yoda has gone on since the start of the war. He's been staying at the Temple, and he knows his master is looking for someone else to pass him off to. He understands it, really, he does, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

It had been a few months ago when he was finally taken on as a padawan, having reached fourteen. He was almost too old. Almost everyone else in his class had already moved on, except one. Like all of them, he was worried he might never make it to become a true Jedi. He had been both relieved and excited when Master Yoda finally took him. Of all the Jedi, the grandmaster was the last he was expecting. It had truly been an honor to be the padawan of the greatest, wisest, most respected Jedi in the Order.

But then everything changed. The war broke out. The Jedi were forced to lead, to become generals. With the chaos raging across the galaxy, his master simply didn't have the time to spare. Time for him. He's being passed off to someone else. Understandable, but it still hurts.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, his new master, now stands in front of him. As his master, instead of the person who it was supposed to be. Not that he exactly minds. Obi-Wan had been one of the most respected Jedi Knights – now Jedi Masters – of the younglings Theseus' age. Obi-Wan was still a padawan when the Sith returned, and he was the one to defeat the first Sith Lord in a thousand years. The Sith killer, he had been known as. The master of the alleged Chosen One, who everyone Theseus' age worshiped, including him. Many had dreamed of eventually becoming their padawans, since they were only one generation younger.

So, since it's really not Master Obi-Wan he's upset with, Theseus does his best to put on a neutral expression.

"Master Yoda seemed quite certain about this," he states.

"He was," Theseus agrees curtly.

"Well, come. I should show you to my apartment," the Jedi Master declares. He starts down the hall and after a pause, the padawan follows, doing his best not to think about how wrong this feels. "Padawan, where is your lightsaber?" Obi-Wan inquires as they walk.

"I don't have one yet," he explains slowly. "When the gathering came, I didn't sense my crystal on Ilum. I haven't found it yet."

"Hmm. If you'll be going with me into battle, you'll need a lightsaber," his master muses.

"Master Yoda told me I should wait to construct one until I locate my crystal," objects Theseus.

"Maybe I can give you one in the meantime," Obi-Wan suggests slowly, as though uncertain of his idea, "I have a spare one you can use temporarily."

It doesn't take them long to reach the apartment. Theseus doesn't know what it looked like before, but he's fairly certain Anakin never had time to finish moving out of the apartment, judging from the things still scattered about, even though he was Knighted a month ago. He might have been too busy, between the war breaking out and having become a General and a Knight.

"Stay here," Obi-Wan instructs and disappears into his room, returning a few minutes later holding a lightsaber. "Here," he says, holding it out. "It used to belong to Qui-Gon."

"Your master?" Theseus realizes immediately. The one who died on Naboo fighting the Sith. Oh. Of course, he'd keep his lightsaber.

"Yes," he confirms quietly, and he knows the Jedi Master is not thinking about anything pleasant right now, judging from his expression, even if it's still mostly neutral.

"Well, I'll be sure to take care of it," he assures, taking the lightsaber. It feels wrong in his hands, but he'll keep it for now. It was made by someone else, and the crystal obviously doesn't like the change in ownership. It's only temporary anyway. He'll have to make sure he takes good care of it in the meantime, because he can only imagine what it probably means to Obi-Wan – regardless of the rules about attachments. It's one of the last things Obi-Wan has from his former master, so it's obviously very important to him. Whatever Theseus does, he can't afford to lose it. That shouldn't be a problem anyway – it's not like ever lost his training 'saber – but still. How hard could it be to watch over his weapon?

"We should continue with your training as soon as possible since we'll probably be leaving Coruscant on another mission soon," Obi-Wan declares, "But first of all, you should meet my former padawan."

"Of course!" Theseus exclaims. He'll admit that he was one of the people who practically worshiped the alleged Chosen One, as did many of his classmates. No one knows much him or his past aside from his status within the Order. Theseus can at least hope that while being around his new master, he'll get a chance to know Anakin better.

"But I thought I should warn you," his master adds after a pause. "He wasn't exactly... happy about this."

**w**

Anakin has completely lost himself with the mechanics of his fighter when he senses Obi-Wan coming. And there's someone else with him. No. He doesn't want to talk to him right now. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. That's why he's here in the first place, but apparently being left alone while he struggles to accept this is too much to ask.

Obi-Wan never wanted him to be his padawan in the first place. He assumed that he changed his mind once they'd been with each other for so many years, but now he can't help but wonder. He's only been a Knight for a couple of months, and Obi-Wan is already getting another padawan. He understands the situation, but really, it's not like Obi-Wan is the only Jedi who could possibly have taken Yoda's former padawan. His seeming eagerness about it rubbed it in even more. The initial rejection years ago keeps resurfacing, and Anakin is finding himself questioning everything he once thought he knew.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan calls. No. He doesn't want to talk to him right now. He's tempted to ignore him and pretend he can't hear, keeping his focus on the starfighter. Machines are so much easier.

"Anakin!" he repeats, stepping closer. A frustrated sigh escapes him. Ignoring his former master isn't going to make him leave. He'll have to deal with it.

"I'm here," he calls, but still doesn't move to get up.

"Hopefully, we're not interrupting anything," a boy's voice says. The padawan.

"Not particularly."

"I thought you would want to get introduced," Obi-Wan states. Anakin hesitates for another moment, then decides that at least he can try to tolerate the new padawan – his replacement.

He finally stands up, seeing the boy for the first time. He looks about fourteen, with bright orange hair and blue eyes. He's clothed in black and brown robes, almost reminding Anakin of his own for a moment.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan introduces, "This is my new padawan, Theseus Shan."

"I figured as much." He tries to keep his voice level but doubts he quite managed. The pain is too fresh. Did he ever mean anything? Was he not good enough? He doesn't really know what to say, but he wants to veer the topic to something. Something that will keep his mind occupied. His eyes wander across the boy, and it suddenly dawns on him that something looks familiar about that lightsaber. What? He's seen many, so why does that one feel so important? Anakin's eyes narrow on it, realization suddenly crashing down on him. "That's –" Qui-Gon's lightsaber, he wants to say. The person who chose me, unlike you. Why did you give his lightsaber to this boy? The one Obi-Wan replaced him with, part of his mind unhelpfully supplies.

"He didn't have a lightsaber of his own," explains Obi-Wan, following Anakin's gaze, "And he'll need one on missions until he does get one."

Anakin doesn't trust himself to talk, so he nods. It hurts. Everything hurts. He knew already his former master didn't trust his judgement, not really. Now he's wondering if he even cared.

There is a moment of silence that borders on awkward, then Obi-Wan comes a little closer. Anakin does his best not to react, but he doubts it does much good.

"The Council has decided to send you on another mission soon," the Jedi Master declares at last. "We'll be on the cruiser. You'll know where to find me."

He nods again, pain stabbing at his heart with the others walk off, the padawan throwing another last glance over his shoulder before they disappear through the doors.

Anakin feels himself shaking and drops onto the wing of his fighter. He's exhausted. He doesn't want to go on another mission right now. Not with Obi-Wan. Being around him hurts. He can't do this. What choice does he have though? He has to. Somehow.

**w**

How people ever find their way around on these things is beyond him.

Theseus follows Obi-Wan through the Star Destroyer, looking up and down the halls which all look the same to him. He'd never actually met Yoda's clones before, so this will be one of his first times actually dealing with any of them. He doesn't know much about them, other than what everyone else has said. They were born and raised to be soldiers, cloned from a Mandalorian bounty hunter. As for personal experience, he hasn't had any.

And he can't deny being more than a little nervous. He's literally heading into a battle. Yes, he's been on missions before, but nothing like what he's sure he'll be getting into now. Not to mention that he's technically a commander and outranks everyone else except Obi-Wan, which is making him even more nervous, since he knows nothing about being in the military. He's only fourteen and was raised to be a peacekeeper, not a warrior, even if he is one of the most skilled duelists of his age. Maybe the most. Master Windu had been one of the main ones to train him in lightsaber combat, and he's progressed faster in that than most other areas.

"General," one of the clones greets Obi-Wan, stepping forwards. Theseus glances around while the others exchange a few words with each other. He never thought much of the clones before, but now that he actually feels their living, breathing presences pulsing with life everywhere, he again wonders if them being used as soldiers is really right. They never did get asked if they wanted to, did they?

"Who's the youngling?" the clone commander asks.

"Cody, this is my new padawan, Theseus Shan," Obi-Wan introduces. "Theseus, this is Commander Cody."

His turn to say something now. Well... "Cody," Theseus greets after a moment of hesitation, turning to the clone, "Nice to meet you. I guess we're both commanders now." Even if both are commanders, Theseus would technically outrank him, because the Jedi are the ones leading the war. The clones are onoy soldiers. He feels slightly awkward being here, but he'll have to get used to it.

The clone commander nods in acknowledgement of the words.

"Now," Obi-Wan interjects. "I have some matters to attend to. Anakin will be joining us soon, and he'll be heading on a stealth mission to the planet Christophsis. Padawan, you may remain here."

He nods. "Of course, Master." When will Theseus be sent on his first mission? He can't help but wonder. It won't be like what he's used to. It will be war, into the midst of a battlefield. He waits until Obi-Wan disappears into an adjoining room to turn back to Cody.

"So," the padawan says after a moment of silence, "I don't know very much about you."

"There isn't much to know, sir," replies Cody. Wait he's a 'sir' now? Okayyyy, something else definitely weird to get used to. "We were raised on Kamino and trained to be soldiers from birth."

"No, I mean, I wasn't raised for this. We were meant to be peacekeepers and negotiators. I don't know how to lead an army." It's been frustrating him a lot. Fighting side-by-side with other Jedi he gets, but with soldiers? He knows nothing about them or how to handle it. "Perhaps I should start familiarizing myself with your techniques? Master Obi-Wan seemed to think we would be leaving for our first mission shortly."

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