Stars in the Darkness - Part Seventeen
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Sinja-Bau took a deep breath. She and Ben were standing just outside the great doors to the Jedi Temple. She had intended to never come here again, but when Onara asked her to take Ben to the Temple, she was unable to refuse the distressed young woman. And, since the visit had been delayed nearly a week because of what Sinja-Bau liked to think of as Dalan's foolishness, and Ben had taken each day's delay with a child's heartbreaking awareness he lived in a world where everything, it seemed, was out of his control, Sinja-Bau had felt even more compelled to accompany him.
As for Dalan, ever since he had arrived on Coruscant his behavior had become more and more erratic. He and Onara had spent nearly evening of the past week arguing; first about Onara's treatment of Lursan at the starport, then about Dalan having changed Ben's name from Ben Gavon Kenobi to Ben Gavon Lenor, and having done so without Onara's knowledge or permission. Finally, last night, after having spent most of the evening with Lursan, Dalan had brought up Onara's miscarriage, once again accusing her of not wanting to have any child of his.
That argument had proven the bitterest of all. The next day, when Ben was finally scheduled to visit the Jedi Temple, Onara, her lovely face pale and drawn, had come out of her bedroom and asked Sinja-Bau, who was helping Keria prepare breakfast, if she wouldn't mind taking Ben instead. Although Sinja-Bau had great sympathy for Onara's plight, the ex-Jedi's instinctive reaction had been one of trepidation, for she had vowed never to return to the Temple. She'd almost suggested Dalan take him, but not only had he left the apartment early, gone only the Ancients knew where, she'd also recognized that the Jedi Temple was the last place Dalan needed to be.
And, she recalled, as she and Ben waited for the doors to the Temple to open, how could she have refused Onara her request when, with soft shadows under her dark eyes, she had gamely tried to pretend everything was all right for Ben's sake. And, Ben, whom Sinja-Bau suspected was very much aware of what was going on between his parents, but not wanting Onara to know he did, had gently smiled and patted his mother's hand.
"It's okay, Mama," he said. "I understand. Do you want me to tell Obi-Wan hello for you when I see him?"
Onara had stared at Ben for a moment, her dark eyes, Sinja-Bau had observed with a sinking heart, swimming with a torrent of emotions. Then she had reached over and hugged Ben, kissing his cheek.
"Oh, darling, that would be so sweet of you. Yes, tell him I said hello."
"I will, Mama. I promise."
Now, as Sinja-Bau gazed up at the five spires of the Temple, a flood of memories washed over her. Some unpleasant, but most of them, surprisingly, pleasant. And, as the massive doors to the Temple slowly opened and she walked through them after so many years away, Ben's hand in hers, Sinja-Bau was struck by how much she had missed it.
The two entered a large foyer and Sinja-Bau remembered how the Temple had always been a place of light and space, its ancient designers having wanted all who moved through its spacious corridors and wide halls to never forget what the Temple's main purpose was: a place where students from all over the galaxy could come and learn about and, hopefully, master that mysterious energy known as the Force. As a result, light streamed in from everywhere. Looking over at Ben, Sinja-Bau clearly saw the awe in his face.
"You really lived here, Bau-Bau?" he asked in a breathless voice as he looked around, his eyes wide.
"Yes, Ben. I did."
"It's...it's...."
But Ben said no more, and Sinja-Bau suspected he could not because, as bright as he was, he had no words with which to describe what he was feeling. Sinja-Bau smiled at him, glad to see, at least for now, he seemed to have forgotten the tension at home.
During their ride on the air-tram he had been unusually quiet, occasionally propping his little face in his hand as he stared out at the passing cityscape of Coruscant, his normally bright eyes dim. But he was once again the Ben she had come to love with all her heart, almost burning like a flame with his natural curiosity and wonder.
"Welcome to the Jedi Temple," a voice said from behind.
Sinja-Bau turned around. A young human female with sparkling green eyes and short brown hair stood behind them. She looked to about twelve.
"My name is Glynon," she went on in a soft, melodious voice. "I'm to escort you to Master Yoda."
Ben let go of Sinja-Bau's hand and moved closer to the girl.
"Hi. My name is Ben. Are you a Jedi?"
Glynon laughed and her laughter reminded Sinja-Bau of tinkling bells. The girl knelt down so that she and Ben were face to face.
"It's very nice to meet you, Ben," she said warmly as she took his hand and shook it. "And, to answer your question, I'm not a Jedi yet. But, I've recently been chosen to become a padawan."
Ben nodded. "Mama told me about them. Do you have a master?"
"Yes. Her name is Tulasi Mobin."
Sinja-Bau started at the name. "Tulasi? Is she here?"
Glynon looked over at Sinja-Bau, her green eyes puzzled. "No, she left a few days ago, after my padawan acceptance ceremony. But, she'll be back in a week or so."
Tulasi Mobin was a contemporary of Sinja-Bau. The two had known each other since they were younglings. Sinja-Bau knew Tulasi rarely visited Coruscant, preferring to follow wherever the Force led her, and only came to the Temple to choose new apprentices or to present her Padawans for their tests of Knighthood.
"Shall I tell her you inquired after her?" Glynon asked politely.
Sinja-Bau nodded.
"And your name?"
Sinja-Bau hesitated. Glynon was young, but she had probably heard the stories about Sinja-Bau's madness and resultant expulsion from the Order. Anakin certainly had, and he wasn't much older than this child. Then she felt Ben tugging on her hand. She glanced down. His blue-gray eyes looked up at her with concern for he had picked up on her feelings of distress.
"Are you all right, Bau-Bau?"
"Yes, I'm fine, dear," she said, smiling down at him and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She then lifted her chin and looked directly at Glynon. "Tell her Sinja-Bau asked after her."
Glynon only nodded. "Of course. If you'll please follow me, I'll take you to Master Yoda."
As Sinja-Bau followed Glynon, Ben's hand in hers, she quickly released a breath she had not even realized she'd been holding.
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Glynon took them through a corridor and down a wide staircase. Sinja-Bau looked at the deep blue carpet and the large statuary of famous Jedi of the past that lined the walls. Her memories were now a tidal wave and she was drowning in them. All those years she had spent here as a youngling, a padawan, a Knight, and then master to her own apprentice, the gentle Master Eo who had died on Ahjane protecting this child of light whose hand she now held as they walked down the staircase. Glynon then led them to a wide- windowed veranda that jutted out from the Temple and, as they approached it, Sinja-Bau heard a voice that caused her heart to beat madly.
"Feel the Force," the gravelly voice instructed. "Let it flow through you. Help you, it will."
Sinja-Bau smiled as she and Ben came upon the scene before them. Master Yoda was instructing a group of Jedi children, leading them through their morning exercises. All the children held miniature lightsabers, which they were using to deflect energy bolts coming from small training droids floating in front of them. The children were not much older than Ben, and all of them wore full-face helmets. Sinja-Bau recalled her own training as a youngling member of the Gryphon Clan. Master Yoda had instructed her then, as he instructed all the younglings.
"Bau-Bau, look," Ben whispered, his voice barely concealing his excitement as he tugged on her hand. "They have lightsabers."
Master Yoda, noting their arrival, stamped his walking stick on the floor.
"Younglings, younglings. Visitors we have."
The children clicked off their lightsabers and lifted the visors on their helmets, the training droids flying up to the ceiling. They were human, Rodian, Togruta, Vultan, and, Sinja-Bau was surprised to see, Gungan. Yet, in spite of the differences in skin color or texture, or the number of eyes or limbs, all had the characteristic wide-eyed look Sinja-Bau associated with children.
Once he had all of the younglings' attention, Yoda thanked Glynon for bringing Ben and Sinja-Bau to him and sent her on her way. He then walked over and stood in front of them. Sinja-Bau felt a lurch in the pit of her stomach. Yoda had been on the Council when she was expelled from the Order and, after all these years, she still wasn't sure how she felt about him, but looking down into those leaf-green eyes, so ancient, so wise and so familiar, Sinja-Bau felt herself falling gracefully to her knees, her head bowed. She waited and then, her eyes filling with tears, felt a cool, gnarled hand on her head.
"Welcome home, Sinja-Bau," Yoda said softly.
Sinja-Bau lifted her face, the tears now flowing down her face. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
"Bau-Bau," Ben cried, rushing over to her. "Why are you crying?" He reached over and stroked her wet cheeks. "Are you crying happy tears?"
"Yes, dear. They're happy tears."
She gently touched his face to let him know she was fine and rose to her feet. Yoda smiled up at her, then turned his attention to Ben who, assured his beloved tutor was all right, stared curiously at the Jedi Master.
"You're a Jedi," he said cautiously.
Yoda nodded.
"But, you're so little."
"Size matters not," Yoda said, and Sinja-Bau, suppressing a laugh, silently mouthed it with him.
"It doesn't?" Ben asked, tilting his head.
"How big is a raindrop?" Yoda asked Ben, standing face to face with the youngster.
"Little."
"Hmmm, but over time, many raindrops even a mountain can wear away, is that not so?"
Ben nodded. Then he gave Yoda a wide smile. "My name is Ben."
"Know that I do."
"How?"
"Your mother I know."
"And my Papa? Do you know him too?"
Sinja-Bau's heart skipped a beat. She was well aware Yoda knew Obi-Wan was Ben's father, so she wondered how he was going to answer the question.
"Know him I do."
"Do you know Obi-Wan, too?"
Yoda nodded, his expression not changing a whit. "Know him I do."
"Is he here?" Ben asked, his eyes shining.
"Here he is."
"Really? Can I see him?"
Yoda chuckled, his green eyes sparkling. "See him you will, but patient you must be, young one. Now, introduce you I will to the mighty Bear Clan."
Yoda turned and recited the names of all the younglings in the Bear Clan. As he did so, Ben walked over to each child and introduced himself. Soon all the children were crowding around him, and Sinja-Bau couldn't help but smile as Ben, even as he chatted happily with them, gazed with hunger at the tiny lightsabers they were holding. Yoda moved away from the children and stood next to Sinja-Bau.
"Strong with the Force he is," Yoda said in a low voice.
Sinja-Bau nodded. "He's an exceptional student. And his heart is as full of love and joy as he is gifted."
"See that I do," Yoda responded as Ben laughed at something one of the younglings said to him, the other children joining him.
"Yet, sadness I sense about him too," Yoda continued.
Sinja-Bau sighed. She didn't feel comfortable discussing Onara's troubles, even with someone like Master Yoda, so she only nodded. Yoda grunted in understanding.
"Is Obi-Wan really here?" she asked to change the subject. Onara had been so certain he was still away from Coruscant.
"Yes. Resting and regaining his strength he has."
"Was he hurt?" Sinja-Bau asked in alarm. Though she had only known Obi-Wan for a short time, she would always be indebted to the young Jedi Knight for having rescued her.
Yoda nodded. "But nearly healed he is."
"And his apprentice? Anakin?"
"Fine he is. But, not here is he today."
Sinja-Bau looked over at Ben who was in the center of the younglings who had crowded around him, his dark head barely visible over their helmeted ones. The children were all whispering now, with an occasional giggle rising from amidst them.
"I wanted to thank you, Master Yoda, for sending me the Force training toys," Sinja-Bau said, looking back at the ancient Jedi.
"Help you they did?"
"Yes. Very much so."
Yoda grunted, then surprised Sinja-Bau when he questioned her extensively on how Ben had done with each training toy. She responded in great detail, proud of what her student had accomplished, but it wasn't until later she would wonder why Master Yoda was so interested in Ben's ability.
"Fine job you have done," he commented after she had finished.
"Thank you, Master."
"Too bad it is only one apprentice you took."
Pain flared through Sinja-Bau's chest as she recalled Eo, the Quarren Jedi she had trained. Even now, after all the years that had passed, she could still see him as a young padawan, standing before her, his large turquoise eyes glittering with anxiety, his face tentacles twitching nervously as she debated whether to choose him.
But chose him she had, and he had gone on to become a Master Healer. Obi- Wan had brought him to Ahjane to try and cure Onara, who was dying from midi-chlorian poisoning as a result of her being pregnant with Ben. Eo had not been able to help her, but he had told Obi-Wan of someone who could. His former master, Sinja-Bau. Sadly, while Obi-Wan was searching for her, Eo was killed on Ahjane, protecting Ben from the Red Tide assassins who had been sent by Onara's grandmother to kidnap the baby.
"Miss him I do, too," Yoda said softly.
Sinja-Bau looked down at Yoda, her eyes swimming with tears.
"Something to show you I have," he went on. "Younglings, here remain until I return."
"Yes, Master Yoda," the children chorused back, but they did not turn away from Ben around whom they were still gathered.
"Ben, I'll be right back," Sinja-Bau called out to him. "Stay here with the others."
"All right, Bau-Bau," Ben's voice drifted to her from amidst the children crowded around him.
Just as Sinja-Bau turned to accompany Yoda, she stopped for a moment. She'd heard that particular lilt in Ben's voice before, and it was usually when he was up to something. But, as Yoda moved past her and she followed him, she shrugged it off as his just being excited he was finally at the Temple.
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Obi-Wan the voorpak had been sleeping peacefully in the pocket of his keeper's jacket. He hadn't wanted to be taken from his cozy, warm box in his keeper's room and stuffed into the pocket, but as long as he could continue to sleep, he was content.
Now, however, his keeper had pulled him out of his pocket and was holding him on the palm of his hand. The voorpak opened his eyes sleepily and looked up. He was surrounded! A number of wide-eyed faces peered down at him, whispering and giggling, and his keeper had the widest smile of all.
"Oh, he's so cute," he heard one of the strange faces whisper.
"We're not allowed to have pets," another offered timidly.
"What is he?" still another face asked.
"He's a voorpak," his keeper said in a low voice. "From Naboo. Bau-Bau gave him to me. She said I couldn't bring him with me, but I knew he wanted to see the Temple too."
Why, that wasn't true at all! Obi-Wan the voorpak would have been quite content to stay in his box and sleep all day and, now that he thought about it, that's exactly what he was going to do. He'd had enough of this. Unfolding his legs, he leapt from his keeper's hand and, as fast as his eight legs could carry him, dashed past the children and across the floor.
"No, Obi-Wan! Come back!" his keeper shouted, but the voorpak did not heed him.
As a matter of fact, when he heard dozens of little feet coming after him, Obi-Wan the voorpak ran even faster.
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In another part of the Jedi Temple, but not far from where Obi-Wan the voorpak was making his great escape, Obi-Wan the Jedi Knight left his rooms in the Temple. Since arriving back on Coruscant, he had spent a few days, at both Yoda and Anakin's insistence, in the Healer's Wing of the Temple, having his shoulder attended to. Which had bored him.
Once he'd been allowed to finally leave the Healer's Wing, he was then ordered by Yoda to rest. Which Obi-Wan had tried to do but, after just a few days of lying about and reading, that had also bored him. Spending six months out in the field had exhausted him, there was no doubt about that, but at least it had not been boring.
He had decided, therefore, in light of his boredom and his intent not to give in to his overwhelming need to see or contact Onara, to find Master Yoda and ask for an assignment, any assignment, even if it only involved something as commonplace as policing air-traffic. Anakin was gone from the Temple, taking advantage of their break to spend some time with Chewbacca.
The Wookiee had kindly offered to transport Anakin and Obi-Wan to Coruscant from Jurie and, once here, had decided to hang around for a few days. That was nearly two weeks ago, for Chewbacca had found some long-lost relatives living on Coruscant. So, in addition to the time he spent with Anakin, he was also visiting them.
Obi-Wan, however, knew that Anakin was spending some of his free time with Padmé and, as he continued his search for Yoda, he mulled over it. Anakin was still a Padawan and romantic involvements were expressly forbidden to him while he still was one. But, there was no doubt in Obi-Wan's mind that Anakin had strong feelings for the beautiful Naboo Senator. Feelings he'd had since the day, ten years ago, when he first met the then fourteen year- old Queen. However, as Obi-Wan turned a corner and walked down the blue- carpeted corridor, his thoughts on Anakin and Padmé were interrupted by the sound of voices echoing from just down the hall.
"Come back, Obi-Wan! Come back!"
Obi-Wan stopped, a frown creasing his forehead. He turned around, noting that the other Jedi walking along the hall had also stopped and were looking at him. Not only was it unusual to hear anyone shouting in the Temple, but these were the voices of children.
"Obi-Wan! Stop, stop!"
The voices were drawing nearer. Obi-Wan continued down the hall, then stopped next to a statue of the Venerable Jedi Master Na Quaian as a ball of fur with eight legs rushed towards him, stopping just in front of the toe of his boot.
Bending down, Obi-Wan extended his hand and the creature, which he recognized as a Naboo voorpak, walked onto his palm. He stood and looked at the creature. It was breathing heavily, obviously having run very fast and very far. Its bright eyes looked up at Obi-Wan and it trilled at him, seemingly happy to have found someplace safe to rest. Then, with a huge yawn, it unfolded its legs and promptly went to sleep. Obi-Wan stared curiously at the voorpak, but then he heard the voices of the children approaching.
"Where did he go? Obi-Wan! Where are you?"
Obi-Wan looked down the hall. A dark-haired boy with blue-gray eyes stood in front of a group of younglings who, with helmets askew on their heads and still carrying their training lightsabers, must have been in the middle of their morning exercises. All were looking around, their voices rising and falling.
Obi-Wan was just about to go over to them when he spied Master Oppo making a beeline for the children from an intersecting corridor. The Thisspiasian Jedi was in a hover chair, which he often used to move around the Temple when he wasn't in the mood to slither along the floor.
"What in the name of all the Ancients is going on here?" he shouted, his face, which was entirely covered in long white hair, bristling with outrage.
All the younglings, whom Obi-Wan recognized as members of the Bear Clan, immediately hushed, their eyes looking down at the floor. But the boy, who was dressed in non-Jedi clothes, stepped forward.
"Hi. My name is Ben. I'm looking for Obi-Wan. Have you seen him?"
Obi-Wan's heart lurched in his chest. It _was_ Ben, but he was at least a year older and a bit taller than he had been in the portrait Onara had shown him. What was he doing here, Obi-Wan wondered? And, his heart speeding up at the thought, where was Onara?
"Seen him? Seen him?" Oppo cried. "No, I haven't seen him. And what are you doing out of uniform, and why were you and the others running through the halls shouting like a pack of wild animals?"
Obi-Wan, who was standing to the side of the group and just behind the large statute of Master Na Quaian, had not yet been seen by either the children or Master Oppo and, since he was curious to see how Ben would act, decided to keep his presence unnoticed for the moment. The voorpak, whom Obi-Wan had deduced shared his name, continued to sleep quietly in his hand.
"We're looking for Obi-Wan," Ben replied, but the boy was now walking around Master Oppo's hover chair, apparently fascinated by it. As a result, Master Oppo had to turn his chair around to keep himself in front of Ben.
"That is not the way to find Master Kenobi, youngling. Shouting and running about like a pack of savage wolves," Oppo remarked irritably as he maneuvered his chair to keep track of the still circling Ben. "And be still," he snapped.
Ben stopped moving and tilted his head. "Can't you walk?"
"Of course I can't walk. I'm a Thisspiasian. But, that is not what we were discussing, young one. I want to know why you are not in uniform like the rest of your clan."
"But, if you can't walk, how do you get around when your flying chair is broken?"
Oppo sputtered at Ben's question. "What is your name?" he finally demanded.
"I told you. It's Ben. Can't you hear, too?"
Obi-Wan bit his lip. He knew he shouldn't smile, but the look on Oppo's face was priceless.
"Why, you impudent young rascal!" Oppo finally managed to blurt out.
"I am not an impotent young rascal," Ben retorted, his blue-gray eyes burning.
This time Obi-Wan laughed, which caused the voorpak in his hand to open one of its eyes, regard him with an affronted look, then close it and return to its slumber.
"The word is impudent, young one," Oppo said testily. "Which you most certainly are. Therefore, I'm going to see personally that you and each and every one of your clan is severely punished. Not only for shouting and running through the halls, which you know is expressly forbidden, but for your blatant disrespect and insolence."
Obi-Wan moved away from the statute towards the group, but he stopped when Ben spoke.
"No. Please, don't punish them, Master Snake," Ben cried out in a plaintive voice. "I'm sorry I was impotent. They were just trying to help me find Obi- Wan. I brought him into the Temple. Bau-Bau told me not to. But he ran away. I just didn't want him to get hurt. He's very little and someone might have stepped on him and squashed him. That's why we were running after him. Please, don't punish the others. It's not their fault. It's all mine."
Obi-Wan felt a surge of pride as he watched his son protecting the members of the Bear Clan, some of whom, at the mention of punishment, already had tears in their eyes as they nervously clutched their lightsabers.
"I have no idea what it is you're babbling about," Oppo said. "But, as you well know, youngling, any punishment for a transgression committed by one in the clan is shared by all in the clan."
"But, I'm not in the----" Ben began, but he stopped when another floating chair approached them. Master Yoda was sitting in it, and a woman with silver hair and blue-green eyes walked beside him.
"Ben Gavon Ke-," the silver-haired woman began, then stopped, a look of consternation on her face. "Ben," she continued, "whatever possessed you to bring that voorpak with you when I expressly forbade you to do so."
Ben, at the sight of the woman Obi-Wan now saw was Sinja-Bau, lowered his head, his hands behind his back as he nervously scuffed the carpet with the toe of his shoe.
"I'm sorry, Bau-Bau. But Obi-Wan wanted to see the Temple, too."
Sinja-Bau crossed her arms in front of her chest and frowned. "I sincerely doubt that, Ben."
Oppo, who had been staring at Sinja-Bau, suddenly drew back and gasped.
"Sinja-Bau!" he cried. "What are you doing here?"
Sinja-Bau jerked her head away from Ben and looked over at Oppo. The surprise and outrage in his voice was unmistakable. As she stared at him, her frown deepened and the color on her cheeks rose, but before she could say a word, Yoda moved his hover chair over so that he was just in front of Oppo.
"At my invitation is she here, Master Oppo," he said in a firm voice.
"Humph. Well, you do as you wish, Master Yoda, as you always do, but if she is in charge of this rapscallion, she needs to---"
"Speak that way of a Senator's son would you, Master Oppo?"
"Senator's son?"
"Son of Senator Lenor this child is."
Oppo glanced down at Ben and a look of realization fell over his face.
"But, if he's her son, then that means he's Master Kenobi's---"
"Yes, yes," Yoda said quickly, bumping his hover chair against Oppo's. "Handle this I will, Master Oppo. Important duties I know you have to attend to."
Oppo glared at Yoda, then with a quick, disapproving glance at Sinja-Bau, guided his hover chair down the hall and out of sight. Obi-Wan, who had still gone unnoticed, let himself examine Sinja-Bau more closely. She was a far cry from the wild-eyed, half-starved madwoman he had found on Toola. Dressed in an elegant but simple gray gown, her silver hair pulled back in a demure bun, she looked every inch the Jedi Master and Healer she had once been.
"Younglings," Yoda said to the Bear Clan who were still, Obi-Wan could see, standing in fear of their impending punishment. "Running through the Temple, against the rules that is. But, since you did so in order a life to protect, punishment you will not receive. However, each of you will meditate during the meal hour and on this you will mediate. When is it proper a rule to break. Now, dismissed you all are and to your rooms return."
"Yes, Master Yoda," they all said in properly contrite voices.
Ben, who was still standing under the heated glare of Sinja-Bau, surreptitiously waved goodbye to the children as they walked away. Once they were gone, Sinja-Bau rounded on Ben, who quickly lowered his head.
"And as for you, young man," she said in a severe voice, "We shall be returning home this instant. Visiting the Jedi Temple is not something to be taken lightly. It is a great honor, rarely bestowed, and I am so very disappointed that you chose to treat it so cavalierly by disobeying me."
Ben lifted his head, and Obi-Wan felt his heart breaking at the look of utter desolation on his son's face. It was clear he loved and respected Sinja-Bau very much and having caused her to feel any disappointment in him hurt deeply.
"I'm sorry, Bau-Bau." Ben sighed and lowered his head. "You're right. I was bad," he said in a low, pained voice.
Sinja-Bau shook her head, a smile fluttering around her lips. She leaned down and took Ben by the shoulders.
"No, dear. You are not bad. Not at all. But what you did by disobeying me was wrong. You do understand the difference, correct?"
Ben nodded. "But what about Obi-Wan? He's still missing."
Obi-Wan moved towards them. "I believe I can help with that," he said, showing the voorpak to Ben.
"Obi-Wan!" Ben cried.
The voorpak opened its eyes at Ben's shout. It looked at him, then trilled and fluffed out its fur as Obi-Wan gently put him in Ben's outstretched hands.
"Obi-Wan, you're all right, you're all right," Ben went on happily as he held the voorpak close to his cheek. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan, his blue- gray eyes shining.
"Thank you, sir. I was so afraid he was going to get mashed."
"He's fine," Obi-Wan said. "Though I think he'll want to rest for awhile."
Ben nodded. He carefully eased the voorpak into a pocket on his jacket. Then he looked back up at Obi-Wan. A frown creased his forehead.
"Do I know you?" he asked.
"Perhaps. But, I believe I know who you are," Obi-Wan said warmly.
"You do? Who am I?"
"You're Ben Kenobi."
Ben solemnly shook his head. "No, I'm not."
Obi-Wan frowned. "You're not?" he said, glancing over at Sinja-Bau who had a look of unease on her face.
"My name is Ben Lenor. Papa changed my name. I used to be Ben Kenobi because a Jedi Knight named Obi-Wan Kenobi helped me when I was a baby, and that's why Mama named me Ben Kenobi. But Papa's friend said it was a...a...a insult, so Papa changed my name. Mama doesn't like it, though," Ben added sadly. "She yelled at Papa about it."
Obi-Wan frowned harder at this mention of trouble between Onara and her husband. Suddenly, Ben let out a great cry.
"Obi-Wan! You're Obi-Wan. I remember! I saw you on the Holonet. At the party with Mama."
Ben was jumping up and down with excitement, but he quickly remembered where he was when he happened to glance over at Yoda and Sinja-Bau. A suddenly serious expression fell over his little face and he bowed deeply. Obi-Wan, suppressing a smile, returned his bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ben Lenor," Obi-Wan said as he took Ben's hand and shook it even as, internally, he was reeling over the implications of what Ben, in his innocence, had let slip regarding Onara and Dalan.
A wide smile broke across Ben's somber expression. "It's really you. Mama's told me lots of stories about you." Then his eyes fell upon Obi-Wan's lightsaber where it hung on his belt.
"Your lightsaber," he said in an awed voice. He looked up at Obi-Wan. "Mama told me you used it to cut off the head of a valkon."
Obi-Wan unhooked the lightsaber. "That is true. But I did it only to protect your mother."
Ben nodded, but his eyes were fastened on the lightsaber. He moved his hand towards it, then stopped and looked up at Obi-Wan.
"May I touch it?" he asked timidly.
"You can hold it if you like, but be careful."
Obi-Wan handed the lightsaber to Ben. It was a bit heavy for the boy, and he was about to take it back but Ben, his face screwed up with the effort, grunted and finally hoisted the weapon in his hands. Then he grinned up at Obi-Wan.
"You're very strong," Obi-Wan observed with a smile.
"I am," Ben responded proudly. "And someday I'm going to have a lightsaber of my very own."
Obi-Wan let Ben hold his weapon a bit longer, but when he saw Ben straining to hold it, gently took it from him and hooked it back to his belt. Then he looked over at Sinja-Bau and Yoda, who were watching him and Ben with smiles on their faces. Placing his hand on Ben's shoulder, he guided him over to the others.
"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said as he bowed.
"Master Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan then turned to Sinja-Bau and held out his hand, but she, instead of taking it, moved over and gave him a warm hug, which he gladly returned.
"Obi-Wan," she said smiling. "It's so good to see you again."
"And you, Sinja-Bau. You look...simply beautiful."
Sinja-Bau blushed. "And you're still just as charming and handsome as I remember."
She reached up and, with a tender smile, gently stroked the streaks of white in his red-gold hair; the result of his having called upon the dark side of the Force when he brought Onara back from the brink of death.
"I had no idea you were here," he said as she moved her hand away.
"Surprise I wanted it to be for you, Master Obi-Wan," Yoda interjected. "Let you know I was going to."
"And Onara?" Obi-Wan asked hopefully. "Is she here also?"
A shadow moved across Sinja-Bau's face. "No, Obi-Wan. I'm afraid she's not." She glanced over at Ben, and Obi-Wan saw she did not want to discuss why Onara was not here in front of the boy. "Only Ben and I were able to come."
Obi-Wan nodded. He would find out later what was happening with Onara. But it was hard to have to wait. Based on what he sensed from Sinja-Bau and what Ben had said, he feared she was in some kind of pain, and it was all he could do not to run from the Temple and go to her.
"Master Obi-Wan?" Yoda said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Yes, Master?"
"If Sinja-Bau her punishment is willing to delay, perhaps young Ben's tour of the Temple you would like to continue."
A wide smile broke across Ben's face and he looked up at Obi-Wan with a beseeching expression, his blue-gray eyes hopeful.
"I would be most honored to show young Master Lenor the rest of the Temple," Obi-Wan replied, his own excitement at the prospect carefully concealed.
"Good," Yoda said as he maneuvered his chair around. "Sinja-Bau. Accompany me you will."
"Of course, Master," she responded dutifully, but she gave Obi-Wan a merry wink. Then she flashed Ben a quick look before she walked away. "And you behave yourself, young man," she admonished as she shook a slender finger at him, but she was smiling as she said it.
"I will, Bau-Bau," Ben cried. He waved goodbye to her, then turned and looked up at Obi-Wan.
"What will we see first, Master Kenobi?"
"What would you like to see?"
Ben scrunched up his face, then smiled. "I want to see where the lightsabers are made."
"Hmmm, well, we Jedi construct our own lightsabers, but I can show you where we get the materials for them. Will that be all right?"
"Yes, I'd like to see that," Ben responded eagerly.
Obi-Wan made to move away, but was startled when Ben took his hand. He stopped and looked down. Ben, noting the expression on his face, quickly drew his hand away.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Master Kenobi," he said, embarrassment flooding his face.
"That's all right," Obi-Wan said, clearing his throat.
He suddenly felt torn. In his heart he wanted nothing more than to take Ben's hand, but he also knew it would look odd for him to be walking through the Temple holding the hand of a child. Especially, he now realized with a start as he gazed into Ben's face, a child who looked so much like him.
Reaching over, he patted Ben's head, his fingers gently sifting through the thick black hair Ben had inherited from his mother. Ben smiled as he did, looking up at Obi-Wan with those eyes so like his own. Obi-Wan returned his smile, then, with a soft, regretful sigh, moved his fingers away. But he did not retake his son's hand.
Instead, the two walked together down the hall towards the Temple's armory and, if any of the other Jedi they encountered gave him and Ben a passing glance, Obi-Wan did not notice, for he was too busy trying, but hopelessly he now realized, to keep the pain that was swelling in his chest from crushing him.
To be continued....
---------------
Sinja-Bau took a deep breath. She and Ben were standing just outside the great doors to the Jedi Temple. She had intended to never come here again, but when Onara asked her to take Ben to the Temple, she was unable to refuse the distressed young woman. And, since the visit had been delayed nearly a week because of what Sinja-Bau liked to think of as Dalan's foolishness, and Ben had taken each day's delay with a child's heartbreaking awareness he lived in a world where everything, it seemed, was out of his control, Sinja-Bau had felt even more compelled to accompany him.
As for Dalan, ever since he had arrived on Coruscant his behavior had become more and more erratic. He and Onara had spent nearly evening of the past week arguing; first about Onara's treatment of Lursan at the starport, then about Dalan having changed Ben's name from Ben Gavon Kenobi to Ben Gavon Lenor, and having done so without Onara's knowledge or permission. Finally, last night, after having spent most of the evening with Lursan, Dalan had brought up Onara's miscarriage, once again accusing her of not wanting to have any child of his.
That argument had proven the bitterest of all. The next day, when Ben was finally scheduled to visit the Jedi Temple, Onara, her lovely face pale and drawn, had come out of her bedroom and asked Sinja-Bau, who was helping Keria prepare breakfast, if she wouldn't mind taking Ben instead. Although Sinja-Bau had great sympathy for Onara's plight, the ex-Jedi's instinctive reaction had been one of trepidation, for she had vowed never to return to the Temple. She'd almost suggested Dalan take him, but not only had he left the apartment early, gone only the Ancients knew where, she'd also recognized that the Jedi Temple was the last place Dalan needed to be.
And, she recalled, as she and Ben waited for the doors to the Temple to open, how could she have refused Onara her request when, with soft shadows under her dark eyes, she had gamely tried to pretend everything was all right for Ben's sake. And, Ben, whom Sinja-Bau suspected was very much aware of what was going on between his parents, but not wanting Onara to know he did, had gently smiled and patted his mother's hand.
"It's okay, Mama," he said. "I understand. Do you want me to tell Obi-Wan hello for you when I see him?"
Onara had stared at Ben for a moment, her dark eyes, Sinja-Bau had observed with a sinking heart, swimming with a torrent of emotions. Then she had reached over and hugged Ben, kissing his cheek.
"Oh, darling, that would be so sweet of you. Yes, tell him I said hello."
"I will, Mama. I promise."
Now, as Sinja-Bau gazed up at the five spires of the Temple, a flood of memories washed over her. Some unpleasant, but most of them, surprisingly, pleasant. And, as the massive doors to the Temple slowly opened and she walked through them after so many years away, Ben's hand in hers, Sinja-Bau was struck by how much she had missed it.
The two entered a large foyer and Sinja-Bau remembered how the Temple had always been a place of light and space, its ancient designers having wanted all who moved through its spacious corridors and wide halls to never forget what the Temple's main purpose was: a place where students from all over the galaxy could come and learn about and, hopefully, master that mysterious energy known as the Force. As a result, light streamed in from everywhere. Looking over at Ben, Sinja-Bau clearly saw the awe in his face.
"You really lived here, Bau-Bau?" he asked in a breathless voice as he looked around, his eyes wide.
"Yes, Ben. I did."
"It's...it's...."
But Ben said no more, and Sinja-Bau suspected he could not because, as bright as he was, he had no words with which to describe what he was feeling. Sinja-Bau smiled at him, glad to see, at least for now, he seemed to have forgotten the tension at home.
During their ride on the air-tram he had been unusually quiet, occasionally propping his little face in his hand as he stared out at the passing cityscape of Coruscant, his normally bright eyes dim. But he was once again the Ben she had come to love with all her heart, almost burning like a flame with his natural curiosity and wonder.
"Welcome to the Jedi Temple," a voice said from behind.
Sinja-Bau turned around. A young human female with sparkling green eyes and short brown hair stood behind them. She looked to about twelve.
"My name is Glynon," she went on in a soft, melodious voice. "I'm to escort you to Master Yoda."
Ben let go of Sinja-Bau's hand and moved closer to the girl.
"Hi. My name is Ben. Are you a Jedi?"
Glynon laughed and her laughter reminded Sinja-Bau of tinkling bells. The girl knelt down so that she and Ben were face to face.
"It's very nice to meet you, Ben," she said warmly as she took his hand and shook it. "And, to answer your question, I'm not a Jedi yet. But, I've recently been chosen to become a padawan."
Ben nodded. "Mama told me about them. Do you have a master?"
"Yes. Her name is Tulasi Mobin."
Sinja-Bau started at the name. "Tulasi? Is she here?"
Glynon looked over at Sinja-Bau, her green eyes puzzled. "No, she left a few days ago, after my padawan acceptance ceremony. But, she'll be back in a week or so."
Tulasi Mobin was a contemporary of Sinja-Bau. The two had known each other since they were younglings. Sinja-Bau knew Tulasi rarely visited Coruscant, preferring to follow wherever the Force led her, and only came to the Temple to choose new apprentices or to present her Padawans for their tests of Knighthood.
"Shall I tell her you inquired after her?" Glynon asked politely.
Sinja-Bau nodded.
"And your name?"
Sinja-Bau hesitated. Glynon was young, but she had probably heard the stories about Sinja-Bau's madness and resultant expulsion from the Order. Anakin certainly had, and he wasn't much older than this child. Then she felt Ben tugging on her hand. She glanced down. His blue-gray eyes looked up at her with concern for he had picked up on her feelings of distress.
"Are you all right, Bau-Bau?"
"Yes, I'm fine, dear," she said, smiling down at him and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She then lifted her chin and looked directly at Glynon. "Tell her Sinja-Bau asked after her."
Glynon only nodded. "Of course. If you'll please follow me, I'll take you to Master Yoda."
As Sinja-Bau followed Glynon, Ben's hand in hers, she quickly released a breath she had not even realized she'd been holding.
------------------
Glynon took them through a corridor and down a wide staircase. Sinja-Bau looked at the deep blue carpet and the large statuary of famous Jedi of the past that lined the walls. Her memories were now a tidal wave and she was drowning in them. All those years she had spent here as a youngling, a padawan, a Knight, and then master to her own apprentice, the gentle Master Eo who had died on Ahjane protecting this child of light whose hand she now held as they walked down the staircase. Glynon then led them to a wide- windowed veranda that jutted out from the Temple and, as they approached it, Sinja-Bau heard a voice that caused her heart to beat madly.
"Feel the Force," the gravelly voice instructed. "Let it flow through you. Help you, it will."
Sinja-Bau smiled as she and Ben came upon the scene before them. Master Yoda was instructing a group of Jedi children, leading them through their morning exercises. All the children held miniature lightsabers, which they were using to deflect energy bolts coming from small training droids floating in front of them. The children were not much older than Ben, and all of them wore full-face helmets. Sinja-Bau recalled her own training as a youngling member of the Gryphon Clan. Master Yoda had instructed her then, as he instructed all the younglings.
"Bau-Bau, look," Ben whispered, his voice barely concealing his excitement as he tugged on her hand. "They have lightsabers."
Master Yoda, noting their arrival, stamped his walking stick on the floor.
"Younglings, younglings. Visitors we have."
The children clicked off their lightsabers and lifted the visors on their helmets, the training droids flying up to the ceiling. They were human, Rodian, Togruta, Vultan, and, Sinja-Bau was surprised to see, Gungan. Yet, in spite of the differences in skin color or texture, or the number of eyes or limbs, all had the characteristic wide-eyed look Sinja-Bau associated with children.
Once he had all of the younglings' attention, Yoda thanked Glynon for bringing Ben and Sinja-Bau to him and sent her on her way. He then walked over and stood in front of them. Sinja-Bau felt a lurch in the pit of her stomach. Yoda had been on the Council when she was expelled from the Order and, after all these years, she still wasn't sure how she felt about him, but looking down into those leaf-green eyes, so ancient, so wise and so familiar, Sinja-Bau felt herself falling gracefully to her knees, her head bowed. She waited and then, her eyes filling with tears, felt a cool, gnarled hand on her head.
"Welcome home, Sinja-Bau," Yoda said softly.
Sinja-Bau lifted her face, the tears now flowing down her face. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
"Bau-Bau," Ben cried, rushing over to her. "Why are you crying?" He reached over and stroked her wet cheeks. "Are you crying happy tears?"
"Yes, dear. They're happy tears."
She gently touched his face to let him know she was fine and rose to her feet. Yoda smiled up at her, then turned his attention to Ben who, assured his beloved tutor was all right, stared curiously at the Jedi Master.
"You're a Jedi," he said cautiously.
Yoda nodded.
"But, you're so little."
"Size matters not," Yoda said, and Sinja-Bau, suppressing a laugh, silently mouthed it with him.
"It doesn't?" Ben asked, tilting his head.
"How big is a raindrop?" Yoda asked Ben, standing face to face with the youngster.
"Little."
"Hmmm, but over time, many raindrops even a mountain can wear away, is that not so?"
Ben nodded. Then he gave Yoda a wide smile. "My name is Ben."
"Know that I do."
"How?"
"Your mother I know."
"And my Papa? Do you know him too?"
Sinja-Bau's heart skipped a beat. She was well aware Yoda knew Obi-Wan was Ben's father, so she wondered how he was going to answer the question.
"Know him I do."
"Do you know Obi-Wan, too?"
Yoda nodded, his expression not changing a whit. "Know him I do."
"Is he here?" Ben asked, his eyes shining.
"Here he is."
"Really? Can I see him?"
Yoda chuckled, his green eyes sparkling. "See him you will, but patient you must be, young one. Now, introduce you I will to the mighty Bear Clan."
Yoda turned and recited the names of all the younglings in the Bear Clan. As he did so, Ben walked over to each child and introduced himself. Soon all the children were crowding around him, and Sinja-Bau couldn't help but smile as Ben, even as he chatted happily with them, gazed with hunger at the tiny lightsabers they were holding. Yoda moved away from the children and stood next to Sinja-Bau.
"Strong with the Force he is," Yoda said in a low voice.
Sinja-Bau nodded. "He's an exceptional student. And his heart is as full of love and joy as he is gifted."
"See that I do," Yoda responded as Ben laughed at something one of the younglings said to him, the other children joining him.
"Yet, sadness I sense about him too," Yoda continued.
Sinja-Bau sighed. She didn't feel comfortable discussing Onara's troubles, even with someone like Master Yoda, so she only nodded. Yoda grunted in understanding.
"Is Obi-Wan really here?" she asked to change the subject. Onara had been so certain he was still away from Coruscant.
"Yes. Resting and regaining his strength he has."
"Was he hurt?" Sinja-Bau asked in alarm. Though she had only known Obi-Wan for a short time, she would always be indebted to the young Jedi Knight for having rescued her.
Yoda nodded. "But nearly healed he is."
"And his apprentice? Anakin?"
"Fine he is. But, not here is he today."
Sinja-Bau looked over at Ben who was in the center of the younglings who had crowded around him, his dark head barely visible over their helmeted ones. The children were all whispering now, with an occasional giggle rising from amidst them.
"I wanted to thank you, Master Yoda, for sending me the Force training toys," Sinja-Bau said, looking back at the ancient Jedi.
"Help you they did?"
"Yes. Very much so."
Yoda grunted, then surprised Sinja-Bau when he questioned her extensively on how Ben had done with each training toy. She responded in great detail, proud of what her student had accomplished, but it wasn't until later she would wonder why Master Yoda was so interested in Ben's ability.
"Fine job you have done," he commented after she had finished.
"Thank you, Master."
"Too bad it is only one apprentice you took."
Pain flared through Sinja-Bau's chest as she recalled Eo, the Quarren Jedi she had trained. Even now, after all the years that had passed, she could still see him as a young padawan, standing before her, his large turquoise eyes glittering with anxiety, his face tentacles twitching nervously as she debated whether to choose him.
But chose him she had, and he had gone on to become a Master Healer. Obi- Wan had brought him to Ahjane to try and cure Onara, who was dying from midi-chlorian poisoning as a result of her being pregnant with Ben. Eo had not been able to help her, but he had told Obi-Wan of someone who could. His former master, Sinja-Bau. Sadly, while Obi-Wan was searching for her, Eo was killed on Ahjane, protecting Ben from the Red Tide assassins who had been sent by Onara's grandmother to kidnap the baby.
"Miss him I do, too," Yoda said softly.
Sinja-Bau looked down at Yoda, her eyes swimming with tears.
"Something to show you I have," he went on. "Younglings, here remain until I return."
"Yes, Master Yoda," the children chorused back, but they did not turn away from Ben around whom they were still gathered.
"Ben, I'll be right back," Sinja-Bau called out to him. "Stay here with the others."
"All right, Bau-Bau," Ben's voice drifted to her from amidst the children crowded around him.
Just as Sinja-Bau turned to accompany Yoda, she stopped for a moment. She'd heard that particular lilt in Ben's voice before, and it was usually when he was up to something. But, as Yoda moved past her and she followed him, she shrugged it off as his just being excited he was finally at the Temple.
-------------
Obi-Wan the voorpak had been sleeping peacefully in the pocket of his keeper's jacket. He hadn't wanted to be taken from his cozy, warm box in his keeper's room and stuffed into the pocket, but as long as he could continue to sleep, he was content.
Now, however, his keeper had pulled him out of his pocket and was holding him on the palm of his hand. The voorpak opened his eyes sleepily and looked up. He was surrounded! A number of wide-eyed faces peered down at him, whispering and giggling, and his keeper had the widest smile of all.
"Oh, he's so cute," he heard one of the strange faces whisper.
"We're not allowed to have pets," another offered timidly.
"What is he?" still another face asked.
"He's a voorpak," his keeper said in a low voice. "From Naboo. Bau-Bau gave him to me. She said I couldn't bring him with me, but I knew he wanted to see the Temple too."
Why, that wasn't true at all! Obi-Wan the voorpak would have been quite content to stay in his box and sleep all day and, now that he thought about it, that's exactly what he was going to do. He'd had enough of this. Unfolding his legs, he leapt from his keeper's hand and, as fast as his eight legs could carry him, dashed past the children and across the floor.
"No, Obi-Wan! Come back!" his keeper shouted, but the voorpak did not heed him.
As a matter of fact, when he heard dozens of little feet coming after him, Obi-Wan the voorpak ran even faster.
------------------
In another part of the Jedi Temple, but not far from where Obi-Wan the voorpak was making his great escape, Obi-Wan the Jedi Knight left his rooms in the Temple. Since arriving back on Coruscant, he had spent a few days, at both Yoda and Anakin's insistence, in the Healer's Wing of the Temple, having his shoulder attended to. Which had bored him.
Once he'd been allowed to finally leave the Healer's Wing, he was then ordered by Yoda to rest. Which Obi-Wan had tried to do but, after just a few days of lying about and reading, that had also bored him. Spending six months out in the field had exhausted him, there was no doubt about that, but at least it had not been boring.
He had decided, therefore, in light of his boredom and his intent not to give in to his overwhelming need to see or contact Onara, to find Master Yoda and ask for an assignment, any assignment, even if it only involved something as commonplace as policing air-traffic. Anakin was gone from the Temple, taking advantage of their break to spend some time with Chewbacca.
The Wookiee had kindly offered to transport Anakin and Obi-Wan to Coruscant from Jurie and, once here, had decided to hang around for a few days. That was nearly two weeks ago, for Chewbacca had found some long-lost relatives living on Coruscant. So, in addition to the time he spent with Anakin, he was also visiting them.
Obi-Wan, however, knew that Anakin was spending some of his free time with Padmé and, as he continued his search for Yoda, he mulled over it. Anakin was still a Padawan and romantic involvements were expressly forbidden to him while he still was one. But, there was no doubt in Obi-Wan's mind that Anakin had strong feelings for the beautiful Naboo Senator. Feelings he'd had since the day, ten years ago, when he first met the then fourteen year- old Queen. However, as Obi-Wan turned a corner and walked down the blue- carpeted corridor, his thoughts on Anakin and Padmé were interrupted by the sound of voices echoing from just down the hall.
"Come back, Obi-Wan! Come back!"
Obi-Wan stopped, a frown creasing his forehead. He turned around, noting that the other Jedi walking along the hall had also stopped and were looking at him. Not only was it unusual to hear anyone shouting in the Temple, but these were the voices of children.
"Obi-Wan! Stop, stop!"
The voices were drawing nearer. Obi-Wan continued down the hall, then stopped next to a statue of the Venerable Jedi Master Na Quaian as a ball of fur with eight legs rushed towards him, stopping just in front of the toe of his boot.
Bending down, Obi-Wan extended his hand and the creature, which he recognized as a Naboo voorpak, walked onto his palm. He stood and looked at the creature. It was breathing heavily, obviously having run very fast and very far. Its bright eyes looked up at Obi-Wan and it trilled at him, seemingly happy to have found someplace safe to rest. Then, with a huge yawn, it unfolded its legs and promptly went to sleep. Obi-Wan stared curiously at the voorpak, but then he heard the voices of the children approaching.
"Where did he go? Obi-Wan! Where are you?"
Obi-Wan looked down the hall. A dark-haired boy with blue-gray eyes stood in front of a group of younglings who, with helmets askew on their heads and still carrying their training lightsabers, must have been in the middle of their morning exercises. All were looking around, their voices rising and falling.
Obi-Wan was just about to go over to them when he spied Master Oppo making a beeline for the children from an intersecting corridor. The Thisspiasian Jedi was in a hover chair, which he often used to move around the Temple when he wasn't in the mood to slither along the floor.
"What in the name of all the Ancients is going on here?" he shouted, his face, which was entirely covered in long white hair, bristling with outrage.
All the younglings, whom Obi-Wan recognized as members of the Bear Clan, immediately hushed, their eyes looking down at the floor. But the boy, who was dressed in non-Jedi clothes, stepped forward.
"Hi. My name is Ben. I'm looking for Obi-Wan. Have you seen him?"
Obi-Wan's heart lurched in his chest. It _was_ Ben, but he was at least a year older and a bit taller than he had been in the portrait Onara had shown him. What was he doing here, Obi-Wan wondered? And, his heart speeding up at the thought, where was Onara?
"Seen him? Seen him?" Oppo cried. "No, I haven't seen him. And what are you doing out of uniform, and why were you and the others running through the halls shouting like a pack of wild animals?"
Obi-Wan, who was standing to the side of the group and just behind the large statute of Master Na Quaian, had not yet been seen by either the children or Master Oppo and, since he was curious to see how Ben would act, decided to keep his presence unnoticed for the moment. The voorpak, whom Obi-Wan had deduced shared his name, continued to sleep quietly in his hand.
"We're looking for Obi-Wan," Ben replied, but the boy was now walking around Master Oppo's hover chair, apparently fascinated by it. As a result, Master Oppo had to turn his chair around to keep himself in front of Ben.
"That is not the way to find Master Kenobi, youngling. Shouting and running about like a pack of savage wolves," Oppo remarked irritably as he maneuvered his chair to keep track of the still circling Ben. "And be still," he snapped.
Ben stopped moving and tilted his head. "Can't you walk?"
"Of course I can't walk. I'm a Thisspiasian. But, that is not what we were discussing, young one. I want to know why you are not in uniform like the rest of your clan."
"But, if you can't walk, how do you get around when your flying chair is broken?"
Oppo sputtered at Ben's question. "What is your name?" he finally demanded.
"I told you. It's Ben. Can't you hear, too?"
Obi-Wan bit his lip. He knew he shouldn't smile, but the look on Oppo's face was priceless.
"Why, you impudent young rascal!" Oppo finally managed to blurt out.
"I am not an impotent young rascal," Ben retorted, his blue-gray eyes burning.
This time Obi-Wan laughed, which caused the voorpak in his hand to open one of its eyes, regard him with an affronted look, then close it and return to its slumber.
"The word is impudent, young one," Oppo said testily. "Which you most certainly are. Therefore, I'm going to see personally that you and each and every one of your clan is severely punished. Not only for shouting and running through the halls, which you know is expressly forbidden, but for your blatant disrespect and insolence."
Obi-Wan moved away from the statute towards the group, but he stopped when Ben spoke.
"No. Please, don't punish them, Master Snake," Ben cried out in a plaintive voice. "I'm sorry I was impotent. They were just trying to help me find Obi- Wan. I brought him into the Temple. Bau-Bau told me not to. But he ran away. I just didn't want him to get hurt. He's very little and someone might have stepped on him and squashed him. That's why we were running after him. Please, don't punish the others. It's not their fault. It's all mine."
Obi-Wan felt a surge of pride as he watched his son protecting the members of the Bear Clan, some of whom, at the mention of punishment, already had tears in their eyes as they nervously clutched their lightsabers.
"I have no idea what it is you're babbling about," Oppo said. "But, as you well know, youngling, any punishment for a transgression committed by one in the clan is shared by all in the clan."
"But, I'm not in the----" Ben began, but he stopped when another floating chair approached them. Master Yoda was sitting in it, and a woman with silver hair and blue-green eyes walked beside him.
"Ben Gavon Ke-," the silver-haired woman began, then stopped, a look of consternation on her face. "Ben," she continued, "whatever possessed you to bring that voorpak with you when I expressly forbade you to do so."
Ben, at the sight of the woman Obi-Wan now saw was Sinja-Bau, lowered his head, his hands behind his back as he nervously scuffed the carpet with the toe of his shoe.
"I'm sorry, Bau-Bau. But Obi-Wan wanted to see the Temple, too."
Sinja-Bau crossed her arms in front of her chest and frowned. "I sincerely doubt that, Ben."
Oppo, who had been staring at Sinja-Bau, suddenly drew back and gasped.
"Sinja-Bau!" he cried. "What are you doing here?"
Sinja-Bau jerked her head away from Ben and looked over at Oppo. The surprise and outrage in his voice was unmistakable. As she stared at him, her frown deepened and the color on her cheeks rose, but before she could say a word, Yoda moved his hover chair over so that he was just in front of Oppo.
"At my invitation is she here, Master Oppo," he said in a firm voice.
"Humph. Well, you do as you wish, Master Yoda, as you always do, but if she is in charge of this rapscallion, she needs to---"
"Speak that way of a Senator's son would you, Master Oppo?"
"Senator's son?"
"Son of Senator Lenor this child is."
Oppo glanced down at Ben and a look of realization fell over his face.
"But, if he's her son, then that means he's Master Kenobi's---"
"Yes, yes," Yoda said quickly, bumping his hover chair against Oppo's. "Handle this I will, Master Oppo. Important duties I know you have to attend to."
Oppo glared at Yoda, then with a quick, disapproving glance at Sinja-Bau, guided his hover chair down the hall and out of sight. Obi-Wan, who had still gone unnoticed, let himself examine Sinja-Bau more closely. She was a far cry from the wild-eyed, half-starved madwoman he had found on Toola. Dressed in an elegant but simple gray gown, her silver hair pulled back in a demure bun, she looked every inch the Jedi Master and Healer she had once been.
"Younglings," Yoda said to the Bear Clan who were still, Obi-Wan could see, standing in fear of their impending punishment. "Running through the Temple, against the rules that is. But, since you did so in order a life to protect, punishment you will not receive. However, each of you will meditate during the meal hour and on this you will mediate. When is it proper a rule to break. Now, dismissed you all are and to your rooms return."
"Yes, Master Yoda," they all said in properly contrite voices.
Ben, who was still standing under the heated glare of Sinja-Bau, surreptitiously waved goodbye to the children as they walked away. Once they were gone, Sinja-Bau rounded on Ben, who quickly lowered his head.
"And as for you, young man," she said in a severe voice, "We shall be returning home this instant. Visiting the Jedi Temple is not something to be taken lightly. It is a great honor, rarely bestowed, and I am so very disappointed that you chose to treat it so cavalierly by disobeying me."
Ben lifted his head, and Obi-Wan felt his heart breaking at the look of utter desolation on his son's face. It was clear he loved and respected Sinja-Bau very much and having caused her to feel any disappointment in him hurt deeply.
"I'm sorry, Bau-Bau." Ben sighed and lowered his head. "You're right. I was bad," he said in a low, pained voice.
Sinja-Bau shook her head, a smile fluttering around her lips. She leaned down and took Ben by the shoulders.
"No, dear. You are not bad. Not at all. But what you did by disobeying me was wrong. You do understand the difference, correct?"
Ben nodded. "But what about Obi-Wan? He's still missing."
Obi-Wan moved towards them. "I believe I can help with that," he said, showing the voorpak to Ben.
"Obi-Wan!" Ben cried.
The voorpak opened its eyes at Ben's shout. It looked at him, then trilled and fluffed out its fur as Obi-Wan gently put him in Ben's outstretched hands.
"Obi-Wan, you're all right, you're all right," Ben went on happily as he held the voorpak close to his cheek. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan, his blue- gray eyes shining.
"Thank you, sir. I was so afraid he was going to get mashed."
"He's fine," Obi-Wan said. "Though I think he'll want to rest for awhile."
Ben nodded. He carefully eased the voorpak into a pocket on his jacket. Then he looked back up at Obi-Wan. A frown creased his forehead.
"Do I know you?" he asked.
"Perhaps. But, I believe I know who you are," Obi-Wan said warmly.
"You do? Who am I?"
"You're Ben Kenobi."
Ben solemnly shook his head. "No, I'm not."
Obi-Wan frowned. "You're not?" he said, glancing over at Sinja-Bau who had a look of unease on her face.
"My name is Ben Lenor. Papa changed my name. I used to be Ben Kenobi because a Jedi Knight named Obi-Wan Kenobi helped me when I was a baby, and that's why Mama named me Ben Kenobi. But Papa's friend said it was a...a...a insult, so Papa changed my name. Mama doesn't like it, though," Ben added sadly. "She yelled at Papa about it."
Obi-Wan frowned harder at this mention of trouble between Onara and her husband. Suddenly, Ben let out a great cry.
"Obi-Wan! You're Obi-Wan. I remember! I saw you on the Holonet. At the party with Mama."
Ben was jumping up and down with excitement, but he quickly remembered where he was when he happened to glance over at Yoda and Sinja-Bau. A suddenly serious expression fell over his little face and he bowed deeply. Obi-Wan, suppressing a smile, returned his bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ben Lenor," Obi-Wan said as he took Ben's hand and shook it even as, internally, he was reeling over the implications of what Ben, in his innocence, had let slip regarding Onara and Dalan.
A wide smile broke across Ben's somber expression. "It's really you. Mama's told me lots of stories about you." Then his eyes fell upon Obi-Wan's lightsaber where it hung on his belt.
"Your lightsaber," he said in an awed voice. He looked up at Obi-Wan. "Mama told me you used it to cut off the head of a valkon."
Obi-Wan unhooked the lightsaber. "That is true. But I did it only to protect your mother."
Ben nodded, but his eyes were fastened on the lightsaber. He moved his hand towards it, then stopped and looked up at Obi-Wan.
"May I touch it?" he asked timidly.
"You can hold it if you like, but be careful."
Obi-Wan handed the lightsaber to Ben. It was a bit heavy for the boy, and he was about to take it back but Ben, his face screwed up with the effort, grunted and finally hoisted the weapon in his hands. Then he grinned up at Obi-Wan.
"You're very strong," Obi-Wan observed with a smile.
"I am," Ben responded proudly. "And someday I'm going to have a lightsaber of my very own."
Obi-Wan let Ben hold his weapon a bit longer, but when he saw Ben straining to hold it, gently took it from him and hooked it back to his belt. Then he looked over at Sinja-Bau and Yoda, who were watching him and Ben with smiles on their faces. Placing his hand on Ben's shoulder, he guided him over to the others.
"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said as he bowed.
"Master Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan then turned to Sinja-Bau and held out his hand, but she, instead of taking it, moved over and gave him a warm hug, which he gladly returned.
"Obi-Wan," she said smiling. "It's so good to see you again."
"And you, Sinja-Bau. You look...simply beautiful."
Sinja-Bau blushed. "And you're still just as charming and handsome as I remember."
She reached up and, with a tender smile, gently stroked the streaks of white in his red-gold hair; the result of his having called upon the dark side of the Force when he brought Onara back from the brink of death.
"I had no idea you were here," he said as she moved her hand away.
"Surprise I wanted it to be for you, Master Obi-Wan," Yoda interjected. "Let you know I was going to."
"And Onara?" Obi-Wan asked hopefully. "Is she here also?"
A shadow moved across Sinja-Bau's face. "No, Obi-Wan. I'm afraid she's not." She glanced over at Ben, and Obi-Wan saw she did not want to discuss why Onara was not here in front of the boy. "Only Ben and I were able to come."
Obi-Wan nodded. He would find out later what was happening with Onara. But it was hard to have to wait. Based on what he sensed from Sinja-Bau and what Ben had said, he feared she was in some kind of pain, and it was all he could do not to run from the Temple and go to her.
"Master Obi-Wan?" Yoda said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Yes, Master?"
"If Sinja-Bau her punishment is willing to delay, perhaps young Ben's tour of the Temple you would like to continue."
A wide smile broke across Ben's face and he looked up at Obi-Wan with a beseeching expression, his blue-gray eyes hopeful.
"I would be most honored to show young Master Lenor the rest of the Temple," Obi-Wan replied, his own excitement at the prospect carefully concealed.
"Good," Yoda said as he maneuvered his chair around. "Sinja-Bau. Accompany me you will."
"Of course, Master," she responded dutifully, but she gave Obi-Wan a merry wink. Then she flashed Ben a quick look before she walked away. "And you behave yourself, young man," she admonished as she shook a slender finger at him, but she was smiling as she said it.
"I will, Bau-Bau," Ben cried. He waved goodbye to her, then turned and looked up at Obi-Wan.
"What will we see first, Master Kenobi?"
"What would you like to see?"
Ben scrunched up his face, then smiled. "I want to see where the lightsabers are made."
"Hmmm, well, we Jedi construct our own lightsabers, but I can show you where we get the materials for them. Will that be all right?"
"Yes, I'd like to see that," Ben responded eagerly.
Obi-Wan made to move away, but was startled when Ben took his hand. He stopped and looked down. Ben, noting the expression on his face, quickly drew his hand away.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Master Kenobi," he said, embarrassment flooding his face.
"That's all right," Obi-Wan said, clearing his throat.
He suddenly felt torn. In his heart he wanted nothing more than to take Ben's hand, but he also knew it would look odd for him to be walking through the Temple holding the hand of a child. Especially, he now realized with a start as he gazed into Ben's face, a child who looked so much like him.
Reaching over, he patted Ben's head, his fingers gently sifting through the thick black hair Ben had inherited from his mother. Ben smiled as he did, looking up at Obi-Wan with those eyes so like his own. Obi-Wan returned his smile, then, with a soft, regretful sigh, moved his fingers away. But he did not retake his son's hand.
Instead, the two walked together down the hall towards the Temple's armory and, if any of the other Jedi they encountered gave him and Ben a passing glance, Obi-Wan did not notice, for he was too busy trying, but hopelessly he now realized, to keep the pain that was swelling in his chest from crushing him.
To be continued....