First chap = disclaimers

Thanks to all my very great reviewers Cammy, PhoenixWolf, JJF, Jedi_Sylvar, and everyone else who reviewed but I can't remember their names right now.

Let's see. Yoda will be returning, but he's not showing up until I send someone into Hutt Space to rescue him. Callista isn't that dumb.

I swore I wouldn't do it to you, BUT you're getting a brand new time jump this chap, just for the purpose of advancing the story.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Luke watched from a hilltop as four supposedly grown men engaged in randomly throwing mud all over each other. Obi-Wan had surprisingly good aim. Then again, Obi-Wan had surprised Luke a lot lately. He was beginning to wonder how he ever thought of Obi-Wan as calm and laid back. The more he watched "Old Ben" the more he realized the man bordered on hyperness, especially when debating the Force. This "fight" was just another example of how little he truly knew about Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"If that surprises you, you should see Obi when he gets hungry." Ani stood quietly off to Luke's side. Leia trailed behind and shook her head.

"I just bought Han that suit!"

Luke smiled. He found the sudden friendship Han had struck up with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan unfathomable. The closeness Han had developed with Anakin he could understand, but what Han had in common with the other two in the fight, specifically with Obi-Wan, he didn't know.

"He never mentioned Qui-Gon to me."

"Why should he have? It would only have confused you more. Remember Luke, you barely knew what the Force was. Obi's life history was not exactly necessary to your training."

Luke frowned. "I wanted to get to know Obi-Wan better, but he seems more interested in torturing Han or having debates on Sith knows what with Jinn."

"Sulking doesn't befit you, Luke. Rule number one with Obi is never try."

"I know. 'Do or do not there is no try'."

"That's Yoda. Obi will befriend practically anyone who isn't a politician as long as you don't try to impress him."

"Doesn't say much for my chances now does it?" Leia mused.

Ani grinned. "He's made a few exceptions. But, truly, Qui-Gon ruined him. He picked up one too many of Jinn's bad habits. One of which is hanging out with former smugglers and shady citizens."

Luke sighed. "I don't understand him."

"No? Tell me then, why did you marry a former smuggler?"

"Because I loved her."

"But, she wasn't exactly the type of person the head of the Jedi order dated now was she?"

"But, she changed! Her bad qualities were completely redeemable."

"I think you just answered your own question. Obi-Wan wants to redeem as many people as possible. Am I right?" Leia questioned.

Ani smiled. "I can see why you got so far in life. It took me years to figure out Obi-Wan's attitudes. He was hard on me because he didn't think I needed redemption. He thought I was already there and ready to help others. He lost much for his mistake. As did I."

"How did he get by with such questionable relationships as a pillar of the Jedi community?" Luke queried.

"He didn't. The council and Obi-wan weren't the best of friends. BUT, they couldn't dispute his astuteness as an active Knight. Besides, the Jedi who mingled with all levels of society usually had better success than those who didn't."

Luke smirked. "So, should I go rob a fueling station?"

Ani sighed. "Just my luck. You HAD to inherit my sense of humor didn't you?"

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Luke swallowed hard as he paced outside of Obi-Wan's quarters. He had to know, and Ben was the only person he felt comfortable asking. Resolutely, he knocked. A loud crash and a couple of curses later, Obi-Wan opened his door. His hair slicked against the top of his head.

"I'm sorry, Ben, I thought you had finished cleaning up."

"Luke, I may have been a hermit on a desert planet, but I grew up on Coruscant. I take very long showers. It blocks out the world."

"I'd better go."

"No, don't. I'm just being cranky, come on in."

Luke followed him into the small room Obi-Wan had claimed as his own. Gently, he sat down on the rickety chair that faced the bed Obi-Wan flopped down onto.

"Where did you get this chair?"

"Oh, I dug it out of trash. One of your students was ditching it."

"It's almost coming apart."

"I know. I helps your natural balance."

Luke fidgeted with the hem of his tunic.

"Sith, I know that look. Please tell me you're not going to ask about sex. Hopefully, Mara explained that to you when you got married. I've already told two Anakins about it."

Luke blushed red. "Actually, I need to know about, that is I want to ask about, see there's this…"

Obi-Wan groaned. "Don't tell me you managed to have a child and don't know what happened. Why do you people always have to ask the virgin in the group?"

"You're a virgin?" Luke squeaked his brain trying to wrap around the strange turn in the conversation.

"Yes, hard as it is to believe one of us actually kept his vows. Luke, if you keep stuttering, I'll just embarrass you more until you say something."

Obi-Wan waited while Luke fidgeted. "So, do you want to know about the time when I caught your father 'talking' to Padme?"

"Ineedtoknowaboutthechosenone." Luke blurted out before Obi could continue his story.

"What?"

"I read about a prophecy of the Chosen One. I need to know about it. What implications does it have for the order?"

"Well, Luke. I can safely say that you don't have to worry about training the Chosen One."

"I don't have to worry?"

"I already botched the job for you. Luke, you don't have a grandfather."

Luke stared at Obi-Wan. "My father…"

"…was conceived by a bunch of microscopic organisms. Technically, you're only one quarter human."

"Oh crap."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Don't take it so hard. I mean it's a little hard fathoming that your partially related to everything around you, but Anakin adapted to the idea. Ani, well that's another story."

"Thanks, I think."

"Don't mention it."

Luke stumbled from the room and went to meditate. Being the head of the Jedi Order just seemed a whole lot stranger now.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

(2 years later)

A very haggard Obi-Wan Kenobi stumbled his way into the cafeteria. He looked terrible Luke mused. It was the middle of the day. Obi shouldn't have been drunk or have a hangover. Luke sighed as he marched over to his friend. He'd just gotten back an hour ago from yet another pointless debate in the Senate and now he was faced with a Jedi Master who looked worse than a corpse.

"Ben?"

"Luke." At least Luke thought that was what he'd said. It sounded more like a grunt.

"Maybe you should go get a checkup."

"I don't need a checkup. I know what is wrong." Absently, Obi-Wan chugged a cup of scalding tea down his throat. He laughed a hollow laugh. "You should see the other guy."

Luke felt lead settle in his stomach. "You didn't have another fight with Kyp did you?" The last time Obi and Kyp had fought was when Jaina dumped Kyp six months ago. Kyp had believed that Kenobi had talked her into it.

"No, I didn't. But, this," he gestured to himself, "this is for the best. At least, that's what I'm telling myself."

Luke's brow furrowed in concern. "What's best?"

Before Obi-Wan responded, Qui-Gon came up beside the two men. He looked at Luke. "While you were gone, we came to a few decisions."

"What were those?"

"Firstly, the debate in the Senate has gone on too long. Callista has built forces. She is too major of a threat to allow to continue without immediate action. Observation is not enough."

"I know that, but we can't do anything about it."

"Yes, we can, and we have. Firstly, we needed another free operating agent. Obi-Wan broke his bond with Anakin this morning. Mara and I approved his Knighting."

"Which explains my current headache." Obi-Wan bemoaned as he refilled his teacup.

Luke smiled. "That's good news."

"It is. BUT…"

"But what?"

"But," Obi-Wan interjected, "The Republic's main debate is whether or not I am a credible source as there is no proof to offer otherwise. They all say that if I was the 'real' General Kenobi they would believe me in an instant."

"Yes, but we can't prove that."

"Your father found a way."

"How?"

"He's turning himself in to the authorities. If he can be tried for the crimes of Darth Vader, that means he is Darth Vader. If the law is upheld, that means I am Obi-Wan Kenobi and they cannot dispute my word."

Luke turned ashen. "You let him do that?"

"It was his idea Luke. He just wanted to do it before you could persuade him otherwise. Don't worry, Leia got him a good lawyer."

Luke swallowed hard at the implications this would bring. Suddenly, he understood Obi-Wan's pallor. They were gaining a victory, but very possibly losing someone very close.