Author note: standard disclaimers apply. Master Brauga is mine also.

Chapter 4                         Swindling the Fates

Obi-Wan left Master Yoda's quarters deep in thought. Could My Master have sensed my jealousy and be pulling away? He is the closest thing to a father I have. Master Yoda was right. I do need to take my own advice. It's time to go talk to my Master and explain my behavior.

It was sunset by the time Obi-Wan found Qui-Gon standing on the balcony overlooking the city's traffic lanes. Obi-Wan had never been one to appreciate sunsets, but this one was exceptionally beautiful. Sunrise was Qui-Gon's favorite part of the day but if time permitted he would also watch the sunset. Today Qui-Gon seemed to be more pensive than usual if that were possible. Could my Master still be worried about Anakin?

Qui-Gon takes his duty to his projects almost more seriously than he follows the dictates of the Council. Obi-Wan thought again about the time he would be knighted and hoped that he would still be able to care for his Master. Qui-Gon was a great warrior but he became diverted from the proper path too easily. "Master, I would like to talk with you," said Obi-Wan looking at his Master.

The tall Jedi just stood there looking at the young man. He is going to make this hard for me. I must have done something else the Jedi would have done differently. Obi-Wan said, "I am sorry My Master. The boy will not pass the Council's test," Obi-Wan stopped as Qui-Gon drew a deep breath, "He is too old," Obi finished.

The look on Qui-Gon's face told him that his protest had fallen on deaf ears. He would see that Anakin became a Jedi. The Council would deny him permission but he would continue. Obi-Wan sighed, " My Master, don't defy the Council, not again, please." Master Jinn replied, "I will do what I must Obi-Wan. Would you have me be any other way?"

Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment and then said; "Master you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would just follow the Code. You deserve to be there. You are the greatest swordsman in eight hundred years and one of the most able diplomats in the temple. You belong there and if you would just quitting fighting them with all these distractions you would be there. They will not go along with you this time my Master."

The Tall Jedi looked down at the apprentice with something akin to wonder. In his short life span he had never felt an emotion directed toward him. He loves me… no not me; He cares for the other one. It's an odd feeling to be cared about, for I have no delusions that my Mistress cares anything about me. I am nothing more than a tool. I am the means by which she will achieve her revenge. My only other reason for being is to verify whether a Jedi can be cloned and the Force controlled through him. "You still have much to learn my young Padawan," said Qui-Gon, as he turned and strode off leaving a shocked apprentice watching his receding back. Yes Master, but I don't think I'm the only one that needs to follow my own advice.

Two hours later Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are in the Council Chambers waiting to hear the decision concerning Anakin's fate. Obi wondered how Qui-Gon would attempt to influence the Council to see things his way. Master Yoda spoke first telling us that the test was in fact finished and Qui-Gon was correct. The Force was indeed strong in him. "He is to be trained then," Qui-Gon said with a slight sound of triumph in his voice. "No, he will not be trained," replied Master Windu. Both Anakin and Qui-Gon's faces crumpled, "But he is the chosen one." Everything I had prepared to say was instantly forgotten.

 Obi-Wan felt waves of panic from his Master. He looked to see if others had felt the broadcast of fear. He saw Master Yoda looking at his former Padawan with a question as he said, "Clouded this boy's future is. Masked by his youth it is."

I can't fail she will be angry enough to kill me. Doing something drastic may be the only way to get the boy. I collected my thoughts and said, "I will train him. I take Anakin Skywalker as my Padawan Apprentice."

The young Jedi stiffened with shock seeing a glimmer of hope on Anakin's face. A gasp was heard from the Council. Qui-Gon had shocked them into silence once again. What are you doing? You can have only one Padawan at a time. {What am I Bantha Burgers? Oh Master what have you done this time?}  Said Obi into the silent bond. The quiet was deafening as Yoda watched both Master and Apprentice. Finally he said, "An Apprentice, you have already, Qui-Gon," Yoda looked at Mace and then he finished, "Impossible it is to take a second." Mace said, "We forbid it."

Hoping his mental shields were working, and looking back and forth between the two senior Jedi, Qui-Gon said, "Obi-Wan is ready."

Oh Sith. Now he wants me to cover for him. Why has he done this to me? He is throwing me away for a stupid slave.  Trying unsuccessfully to hide his hurt and disappointment Obi-Wan said, "I am!" He hoped his shields held as he continued, "I am ready to take the trials". I sure hope so since I have no choice in the matter.

Yoda's sleepy eyes measured the Apprentice and said, "Ready so early are you? What know you of ready?" Obi hardly glanced at his Master. {Thank you; you have now put me into the position of having to defy the Council. I know you believe you have a duty to the Force. That I can understand but Master why should it come at my expense? I might disagree with you in private, but I have always been faithful to you in public. Why can't I, for once in my life, be more important than one of your projects?}  Every Jedi in the room could see the antagonism between Master and Padawan.

"Obi-Wan is headstrong and he has much to learn of the living Force but he is capable. There is little more he can learn from me," said Qui-Gon hoping to undo some of the damage and maybe soften the blow by placing the blame on myself. This young man's opinion had begun to matter very much to me. Maybe My Mistress' plan is not going to work after all. Yoda watched the Jedi shift from one foot to the other under the old Master's gaze. Qui-Gon reinforced his mental shields in the hopes that a casual scan would reveal nothing to the wizened old Master. Like this Qui-Gon is not. Yoda, narrowing his eyes, shook his head and said, "Our own counsel we will keep on who is ready Qui-Gon, more to learn Obi-Wan has."

Obi-Wan felt like Master Yoda had just used him for saber practice. What is this dump on Obi day? To learn that he was disposable to his Master was one thing but for the Council to have no faith in him was quite another especially after I spent so much time defending them to my Master. He had been humiliated yet again. His Master was definitely back from wherever he had been for the last week but Obi-Wan no longer cared. It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to focus on what was being said in the chambers. Obi knew he needed to control his anger before he became too verbal.

He was grateful when his Master turned and led Anakin from the Council Chambers. Obi started to follow when Master Yoda stopped him, "More to say we have." Obi-Wan looked up," A disturbance we have sensed in your Master. Like this we do not. Behaving like a Jedi he is not. Right to be concerned, you were," the little Green Jedi said. Obi looked around the room to see the other members of the Council nodding in agreement. "Investigate this matter we must. More to say we will have on your return from Naboo. May the Force be with you, Padawan Kenobi," said Yoda dismissing the young Jedi.

En Route to Naboo

It had been five days since he and his Master had talked about anything except business and Obi suspected that was only for the Queens benefit. He had wanted to talk to his Master about Anakin before they started back to Naboo but Qui-Gon had become angry and told him to get on the ship like he was a five-year-old initiate again. Obi would not admit that he was acting like a child. It was not going to get any better for Anakin because everyone was now ignoring the boy. Obi began to feel ashamed of his behavior but he did nothing to change the situation.

He tried to meditate but was unable to find his center enough to release his frustration to the Force. Obi-Wan finally gave up and went to bed on the sleep couch next to Qui-Gon. The realization that the gulf between Master and Padawan had reached the level where everything else was pushed aside made Obi more determined to resolve the dispute between him and his Master.

Tomorrow they would land and begin to put the Queen's plan into action. Obi doubted that it would work since most of it hinged on the Gungans. He had met them and they didn't impress him much.

Obi turned over for what must have been the twentieth time unable to get to sleep. Lately his dreams were becoming more terrifying and try as he might to figure out what they meant the answers eluded him. In the dream he could see his Master chained unable to move and in pain, but he could not help him. There was something very unusual about these dreams. They seemed almost familiar as though he had gone through them before.

Obi drifted into a deep sleep when suddenly he heard ~~~ himself scream NO and saw his Master fall to his knees. Obi-Wan rushed over to hold the dying man. ~~~ Awakened by the dream, Obi had a bad feeling and he was unable to go back to sleep this night. The need to make amends with his Master was suddenly uppermost in his mind

Dual of the Fates

Master and Padawan usually fought as a team but Master Jinn seemed to have lost his focus. He kept allowing the Sith Lord to separate them. The battle was taking longer than it should have. Qui-Gon was tiring and Obi-Wan could not understand what was wrong with his Master. The last fall Obi-Wan took separated them once again. They were now trapped behind laser doors and the next time the doors opened Qui-Gon would rush the Sith.

I can no longer fool this young man into thinking that I'm his Master. Soon he will know the difference. He will keep looking for the Jedi and my Mistress will kill him. I have failed my mission and dying at the hands of this creature is infinitely better than anything she has in store for me. I can almost feel the boy telling me to wait. We will fight him together. He smiled and pretended it was him that Obi was concerned for. The doors opened and he rushed the Sith. Obi ran as fast as he could, screaming at Qui-Gon through the bond. {No Master, why didn't you wait for me?} The energy barrier closed again cutting him off from his Master and the battle that Qui-Gon was losing.

It was then that Obi-Wan understood the cold feeling and the vision of his Master dying that had been in his dream. Watching the two men fight; Obi-Wan hoped with all his very being that he was wrong that he did not know what was going to happen. He saw the Sith hit Qui-Gon in the chin to force his arms above his head. He followed up with a direct stab of the lightsaber into his midsection. Qui-Gon collapsed and the only sound to be heard was a whoosh of air and the crackle of energy as the doors began to open.

Obi-Wan screamed, "NOOOOO," as he watched the Sith turn toward him with a feral smile. All of the hatred and anger came pouring out of Obi-Wan like floodgates had just been released. A slight miscalculation gave the Sith an opportunity to send Obi over the edge of the pit. He reached out and grabbed a metal projection and watched his lightsaber fall past him toward the bottom of the pit.

He could feel a change in the Force and he knew he was loosing the man that had meant so much to him for all of his life. The young Padawan had to be there, he had to say goodbye. He calmed his mind and vaulted straight up and out of the pit. Holding out his hand for His Master's lightsaber, he swung with all the strength he had left and cut the Sith in half.

Rushing to his Master's side Obi pulled the dying man into his lap and rocked him gently. Qui-Gon spoke with urgency, "The boy, train the boy, promise me." I must protect him from my Mistress. "He is the chosen one," he said as he reached up and wiped the tears off the young Jedi's face. He is crying for me not for the other one. I must tell him where to find his Master, he thought as the darkness claimed him. Obi-Wan watched the man he loved so much, his Father, his Master, and his best friend take his last breath. "Yes Master, I will train Anakin to be a Jedi just as I have promised."

Obi-Wan was in denial for the next four days. He knew that any minute his Master would walk through the door as though he had never been gone. Brauga, his master's closest friend tried to tell him the reason Qui-Gon had made him promise to train the boy was to keep Obi from following him into death. Obi smiled to himself and wondered. It sounded exactly like something his Master would do. He always seemed to have a lesson to teach and even in death he was faithful to his projects. The best that he could do was to honor his promise to Qui- Gon. He would see him again and when he did, Obi-Wan wanted his Master to be proud. He was going to have to defy the Council to train Anakin but they should be used to it by now he mused.

The Funeral of a Beloved Master

The journey he had taken with his Master had been long and rewarding, Obi-Wan thought as he watched the fire consume the body of the most important person in his life. He hoped he would be able to have the same relationship with his new Padawan learner. "Padawan," it sounded strange coming from his mouth. It sounded even stranger to hear himself referred to as Master. He looked at the child he was now responsible for and realized that they had just cheated the fates. It was too bad it could not be the same for his Master.