The little temple was alive with excitement. Master Yoda Master Gallia and Master Windu had traveled thee to officially make Obi-Wan Kenobi the apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn. Myra through her reluctance and certainly her disapproval has seen to it the kitchen help had provided a lush buffet for the visiting Jedi.
She vehemently objected to Obi-Wan becoming the padawan to her son, but her vainness would not allow her not to see that there was plenty of good food and drink. After all that was her job and she would get the credit and generous compliments. She thought that could only help Damien get a step with the Jedi. A step to where was the uncertainty for the boy had no powers and classes had been more than difficult, they had been impossible.
Damien Jinn was borderline failing every subjects. The instructors had spoken with Jinn, but Qui-Gon could not ask a them to be lenient on his nephew. He instead had reprimanded Damien for his lack of interest in class and blamed part of Damien's problem on the constant company of Bruck Chun. Damien's study habits which had become almost non-existent since they arrived at the temple; all do in part to the apprentice Chun, Qui-Gon felt.
It could not be said that Obi-Wan was not excited about being an apprentice to his dad. He was in a sense that he would always be with him and that all the high masters from the council said it was indeed an honor to become an apprentice at the age of eight. He now would study along side the other padawans and with great interest Obi-Wan realized he would take up saber classes with his master, his father.
That was the confusing part.
//I had hoped to stay a kid for awhile now I will have to be like the rest of these guys, all stoic and serious all the time.//
Now Obi was a good child, better than most, but still had a little fire in him. He still possessed the devilish ways of an eight year old sometimes..
As if he felt he had to do something to prove to himself still a kid and still capable of pulling off one of his infamous Kenobi pranks, he plotted a little plan of his own.
//It will just loosen the crowd up. You know make everybody have a good laugh.//
Obi-Wan had been in the common room just kicking back until the meal was served. He got up from the couch and sauntered into the kitchen. There he pretended to look at the carious food prepared and snatched a piece of cream cheese-filled celery.
The child stopped at the spike rack and turned a couple of the bottles so he could read their labels better.
//There I found what I want, Cajun cayenne pepper. Mom use to say it could burn the "hair off a horse", if you used enough. Let's see if her saying is true. //
A feeling of good touched the little boy's heart as he stopped and remembered the nice things about his mom. That however did not stop him from doing what he planned.
Obi-wan studied all the food laid out on the carious platters until he walked over to perfect dish to use the cayenne pepper on, the deviled eggs.
//These eggs will work out great!!! The already have red stuff sprinkled on them.//
Obi-Wan added his Cajun cayenne pepper to the deviled eggs which had already been sprinkled sparsely with paprika.
//They will just think someone was loaded up on the paprika.//
The deviled eggs were now very abundantly covered with not only paprika but the hotter than hot pepper.
Obi-Wan took the back way out of the kitchen up the backstairs and the down the front. He didn't want his Grandmother to see him come from the kitchen to later lay blame on him. He knew she wouldn't hesitate a moment to tell on him and get him in trouble on his big day.
//It is my day and I should get a chance just once before becoming the apprentice to my master to cut lose and have a little fun. I will probably have to go around all straight-laced and serious now that I am a Jedi apprentice. I don't know how that is going to work out for I'm not that kind of kid. I don't know if I am ready to give up my childhood.//
In Obi's little mind this was his way of telling himself he still was that kid Kenobi that found his way to his father but hadn't lost his ability to interject a little childhood antics in a life which had become a little mundane and certainly a lot more boring, since leaving his home with his mother.
Everyone sat at the table. Yoda had just finished his long spiel about how Obi-Wan should feel proud over being the first apprentice excepted at such a young age.
Obi-Wan watched the faces of the padawans around him. Most thought he only got to be an apprentice so soon because his father ran the temple and of course having the great Qui-Gon Jinn as his father wasn't bad for the child. Obi-Wan seemed to benefit more from having Jinn as his father than Damien had as Jinn as his uncle.
Damien looked over at his cousin with a glaring look as he taught how things had changed since Obi-Wan came into his uncle's life.
//No slack has been cut me since I have been here. I think the masters are harder on me because I am not a Jedi. They want to prove something. Uncle Qui-Gon has really not stepped in and defended me as I should have been. These instructors should be giving me better grades than they are.//
Damien sat and watched Obi-Wan get all the attention. He never stopped to think that maybe, just maybe he didn't get good grades because he hadn't earned any.
Obi-Wan watched as if in slow motion, the people who grabbed at the eggs and popped them in their mouths.
//Who knew everyone would be so hot for deviled eggs. I don't even like them. //
Obi-Wan was not sure if he had been the only one not to take an egg but he thought worridly that he was or at least close to it.
Several people including his master, Yoda, and Bruck bit into their eggs almost simultaneously.
Obi-Wan checked his shields and lowered his head as if he was too engrossed in eating to see what was going on at the tale.
Jinn had noted that Obi-Wan had shielded from him earlier and wondered why since he had not voluntarily raised his shields since they were together. Now the master thought he knew why. These thoughts came to big master as he cleared his throat and grabbed for the pitcher of water to refill his glass. His mouth was a blaze with the cayenne pepper seemingly burning holes through his mouth.
Qui-Gon had a few memories of Obi-Wan's mother himself. One of those memories was that she loved hot spices. While she probably had never coated anything with as much as the eggs had sprinkled on them, she had a taste for spicy foods. He knew his son would be more versed as to what spices could burn you up. Most kids wouldn't know salt from pepper he reasoned to himself and then lifted his glass to finish off the second glass of water.
Myra sat in shock as Yoda and Qui-Gon sputtered and coughed and continued to drink water.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, no, mother everything is quite delicious. The eggs are very hot, though."
Most everyone who witnessed the episode dropped their eggs back on their plates and no one else touched them. Myra thought they were all being ridiculous for she had not put anything hot in the eggs.
"There is nothing wrong with my eggs Qui-Gon."
Yoda twitched his ears and tried to reassure the woman when it came to her excellent cooking.
"Eggs delicious they are Mrs. Jinn, just a little too spicy for some I think, but delicious they still are."
//Why Master Yoda!! I thought Jedi didn't lie,// thought Obi to himself.
Obi-wan wanted to at least smile a little over the humor and he did think it humorous, but he was afraid he would be caught smiling over the misfortune of another so he held it in.
Jinn suspiciously eyed his son and waited for the right time when Obi would drop his shields. He was right. In all the merriment of the people trying to cool their parched and burnt throats, Obi-Wan dropped his shields just along enough for his master too see what and why this happened.
Qui-Gon never said a word.
He did though try to stop his mother from testing the eggs. He assured her that she might have put cayenne pepper in them instead of paprika.
"Nonsense Qui-Gon, I have cooked for years I know the difference in spices."
She took a large bite of deviled egg, as if to prove something to the others. She dropped the egg, tried to quickly chew it up, and get it out of her mouth. Qui-Gon sat the pitcher over by her plate and everyone waited for the woman too recover from the traumatic experience.
All the rest of the day, once she recovered, she went on about how that could have happened.
Nothing was said about the eggs. Jinn tried to encourage his mother to forget it and that some horrid mistake was done by someone other than her in the kitchen
Goodbyes were said to the high masters from the Coruscant before they headed home
Jinn followed Obi-Wan as he bounced up the stairs to bed.
Qui-Gon had a two room suite. There was one large bedroom and a little room, like a common room adjoining his which now held Obi-Wan's twin-sized bed.
Obi was on the most part silent. He got his bed things, and overly large knight shirt that fit the older padawans, but not him and scurried to the fresher for his bath and to brush his teeth. Jinn sat at his desk and contemplated how best to handle this infraction on Obi's part. Qui-Gon didn't want to ruin his day and after all he held it in all afternoon, thus softening the big master's heart as he watched his son through the afternoon.
Obi-Wan immerged from the fresher with the large sleep shirt on and cheeks flushed from the day's events. Jinn's heart melted. He knew right then, he was going to have to counteract his attitude to the boy or Obi-Wan's head would turn to mush from the affection Qui would so willing to give him.
"Here Obi-Wan let me escort you to your room."
Obi-Wan was still oblivious to the upcoming ambush.
"Thanks master. I am tired. I could fall asleep as soon as my head hit's the pillow."
Jinn had no response for that. When Obi-Wan saw his bed he started to climb into it and Jinn grabbed him gently by the back of his sleep shirt collar to hold him from getting into his new bed.
"Whaoo!! Wake a minute. I think you have some meditations to complete before you go to bed."
Obi didn't know what his dad was talking about.
"Did you forget master? You said we could forego meditations because this was such a special day."
Obi-Wan tossed his head so as to sling the padawan braid off his shoulder. It had been delicately and lovingly weaved by Qui-Gon from his and Obi's hair intertwined together. The newness to the braid had not worn off and the familiarity to it had not sunken in yet. It tickled Obi where it gently brushed his shoulder.
"Yes, I did say you didn't have to do your normal meditations. These, however, are special meditations. They are because if I were to ask a little boy who was responsible for putting the cayenne pepper on the eggs, I have no doubt he would say he did. He's never lied to me yet."
Obi hung his head.
"Yes master"
"Now I am not going ask that little boy for if I knew the truth with certainty, I would have to punish him more harshly than just give him two hours of meditations. I am going to give you two hours of… oh…. I don't know… Let's say meditations on serenity and calm. Then we will let the whole little episode go this time. However if something like this is done again, I won't be so forgiving, understood?"
"Yes master."
//TWO HOURS, holy cow!! I didn't set fire to the temple!! //
Jinn released the collar of the child and planted a kiss on his spiked ginger-colored head of hair.
"Now two hours of meditating and then off to bed you go."
Obi-Wan knelt down to meditate.
//WOW!!Dad thinks he's being lenient!!!!//
//OOPS…… His shields slipped again and Obi got an answer to his mental thoughts .//
//I am padawan, I am.//
Three weeks, three very long tedious weeks and Obi-Wan still didn't seem to fit in. The other padawans thought him to small to just "hang" with. Damien and Bruck had both gotten anther couple of apprentices to side with them and if they found a way to hassle Obi-Wan they did. One time he got tripped in the dining room and his food splattered all over him. Of course Obi-Wan wouldn't go crying to his master. He was a big boy now he thought. Then once just as he started to sit down one of the other padawans who sided with Bruck, quickly pulled the chair out from under him in class. That brought hilarious laughter among all the padawans and Damien.
What they could not laugh about though was Obi-Wan had been placed in their class for his outstanding academic work. Seems he was ahead of any padawan and Damien himself. That didn't set well with Damien or his Grandmother.
Damien wanted to find a way to railroad this little guy that Jinn seemed to become more and more attached too. Obi's saber practice was outstanding for one his age. No he was not up with the other padawans, but Jinn thought over the next year he would be at least equal to them. His arm reach was still to short. That was possibly the only reason he wasn't as good as the others.. He executed his techniques and katas with precise accuracy; the aerial ones were his best.
It was Sunday. All the padawans were in the common room huddled around the fireplace. It was too cold to go out except to complete their tasks in the barn., The horses couldn't even be let out in the pasture for the bitterly cold wind that whipped over the valley where the temple sat.
The masters worked on various things or sat at the dining table with a cup of tea, anything that would keep them from the children for a while. Seems they all developed cabin fever, especially with the weather as it was now.
From Qui-Gon's office which was attached to the dining area the masters who sat at the dining table could hear the raised voice of Qui-Gon Jinn as he talked with someone of high authority at the Temple Coruscant.
###Jinn's office#####
"I beg to differ Master Yoda. These masters and apprentices have not had enough field experience to do what you ask me to have them do. Can't some of the masters with senior padawans come here and see to the mission?"
Qui-Gon had been having a lengthy discussion with his former master, Yoda. From the other end of the comm link Yoda's scratchy little voice came raining through to Jinn .
"Do this your masters and apprentices will. Learn they can not if coddle them you do. Oversee the mission yourself you will. Temple be there when you return I think. About time for your padawan to see the workings of a mission I feel."
Now Jinn had heard everything. Take an eight year-old out on a Jedi mission. Grant it, this mission should entail no danger, however Jinn knew from past experience a battle or danger couldn't be ruled out. There were those willing to battle the Jedi for their name sake only. Having understood this for most of his life as a master, Jinn never took even the most peaceful of missions for granted.
"Master Yoda need I remind you that when I took over running this temple I was assured by the high council that if I did decide to train Obi-Wan, I would not have mission until the boy reached the age of normal apprentice, twelve? Did you just pull that condition out of the air and now decide to do away with it?"
"Difficult time this is for the guardians of peace, the Jedi. Every available master and apprentice working on a mission they are. Dark forces at work throughout the galaxy. Sith, Master Jinn, have resurfaced with much vengeance and hate aimed at the Jedi in particular it is.."
Yoda did not need to explain what he meant. One word, SITH and Jinn leaned back his chair and contemplated the ramifications of what Yoda just said.
"They are active again? How can that be master? We drove Sidious into hiding after he attacked several settlements and he killed my brother."
Anger and hate for the Sith resufaced for Jinn when he remembered his brother was killed because he himself was a Jedi master. Not just any Jedi master, but Sidious' most troublesome nemisis within the Jedi order. "
"Know how I do not. Know who I do, Sith Darth Sidious, he is. Returned he has. Let his name be passed through the galaxy he has. Just been notified I have two young Jedi knights slashed to death with a double saber they were. Glowed evil red it did . Called it his "calling card[b"[/b] he has. Signature of the evil one it will be from now on. Witnesses to the heinous act there was. Left a message he did; Recording saying rest he would not until all Jedi dead they are. Wiped from the galaxy the Jedi will be in his promise to us he made.. See the imperativeness of you and your masters for this mission now do you? All others taken they are. Simplest of missions I give you Master Jinn, but warn you I must. Sidious and his apprentice who has as of yet to show himself, could lurk on any planet, stalking, waiting for another group of Jedi. His destiny to destroy us all."
"How do you know he has an apprentice Master Yoda?"
"Old I am Master Jinn. Most familiar of the Sith I also am. Know this with certainty. Before a Sith tries to do his evil bidding, acquires an apprentice he does; Always two there are. No more no less. However that will not stop him from amassing an army to fight us or to procure any low-life scoundrel to help him to defeat the Jedi. Nothing past doing will he not do to see his mission completed. Our mission easy it may or may not be but stop him we must. It is already rumored of an army amassed even now. Known as the Red guard they are. Have been seen though by few. Sidious likes blood on his hands better than that of those under him. First death blow to the Jedi at his hands only it was. Need not the army to slaughter our young knights in ambush."
Master Yoda clicked his comm link off and left the blank screen with its buzzing sound of nothingness. He did not wait for Qui-Gon Jinn's answer about the mission. Once he explained to his former apprentice of the magnitude of the situation the Jedi were in, Yoda knew well his padawan would not refuse the mission further. Trained and ready every master had to be now.
It was Jinn's job to see all at his little temple were readily able to battle the Sith and his work of evil. No one, including Obi-Wan would be left behind in the training especially with this rogue evil one unleashed and hell bent on destroying the Jedi themselves. Without the Jedi to protect and guard the galaxy, the planets in it would be thrown into havoc and turmoil. Peace anywhere would be a mute subject.
Master Qui-Gon Jinn walked out into the dining room.
"If you masters would remain here, I have something to discuss with all of you."
The look the words, just the actions alone let the other masters now something was going on with in the Jedi. They would never have believed what it was until later when Jinn told them. Even then it would be hard for a couple of the knights who had taken their first padawans to grasp what Jinn was telling them.
"If you would excuse me, I plan to go dismiss all the padawans to their rooms. I don't think they need to hear what we discuss. It will be up to their masters individually to explain the situation and the gravity of it, once I have explained it to you."
Jinn walked to the common room and sent all the padawans and Damien to their respective rooms.
He patted his son's head affectionately and looked down to receive a warm smile from Obi-Wan but no words passed between them. Obi seemed to know something was wrong with his dad. A shiver went through his entire body as a wave of sadness passed through the force and it came directly from his father. Although Jinn tried to shield his concern and overwhelming sadness, Obi-Wan could still feel it through their bond..
Worry crossed the master's mind as he watched the young ones with the youngest, his son march up the steps in silence and single file. They seemed to know something serious had taken place within the Jedi order. Of course their young minds could not even comprehend what their masters would tell them later.
The padawans would have trouble grasping the understanding of what Sidious' return meant. Except for the settlement attack and the death of Jinn's brother, Sidious had remained in hiding for over three years, not doing any of his evil works until now.
Sith were only in their history books. They thought the Jedi had driven Sidious into hiding, never to return. They were wrong.
Qui-Gon opted to gather his entire family in the common room and shut the double doors. He would explain the situation to them. He regretted delivering the bad news that the animal responsible for killing Damien's father, his brother, was once again out on a killing spree. Only now it was directed at the Jedi. Jinn couldn't help but think Darth Sidious might seek him out. Qui-Gon was the one who hounded and the man almost succeeding in his capture. Master Qui-Gon Jinn was the reason Sidious went into semi-retirement in the first place.
Myra let out a shocked sigh. Damien slammed his fist down on the dining table and used a few curse words that Qui-Gon did not even reprimand him for. Obi-Wan sat in silence. This sith stuff was news to him. He wasn't even aware that was who killed his uncle and he had only just begun to read about him in his classes for in common school, in the realm of reality, Sith were not taught about.
"Qui-Gon what he if seeks you out again? I mean he probably holds a grudge against you."
"I will be fine Mother."
The master had mixed feelings. He would not admit them to anyone out loud. They would stay unspoken, but in a way Jinn hoped Sidious would seek him out. Then again if the man came here it would put his family and the other Jedi's lives there in jeopardy. It was times like these Qui-Gon wished he was not tied down to the temple or to Obi-Wan. He would gladly pick up his search of the dark lord right where he left off.
"I do have concern for the temple if Darth Sidious knows I am here now. I have no doubt if he wants to know where to find me, he already has found out. There are many who would be willing to help him defeat the Jedi just to be on his good side. I think I will assign posts twenty-four hours a day now. We will have to be careful of strangers."
"Qui-Gon, Damien can't live in fear all his life."
"Hopefully it won't be all his life. I would send you and he back home but I think you might be in more jeopardy there. I am sure he knows of where my farm is"
Damien didn't want to go home anyway. He was having too much fun with his new friend Bruck and if he went home Obi could worm his way closer to his father. Although Damien didn't know how they could get much closer with the connection between father and son and master and apprentice that they shared now.
"What about Obi-Wan, Uncle Qui? He's not safe here either. If Grandmother and I have to go home wouldn't Obi have to go with us?"
Jinn couldn't figure out why Damien would go down that road with his line of questioning because he knew well how they both felt about Obi."
"Obi-Wan is officially a Jedi apprentice now Damien; My Jedi apprentice. Not just as my son but as my apprentice his place is at my side. I can protect him. Like I said though you can't go home either for your lives might be in jeopardy there. No you will have to stay here. If we start to expect anything then I will have you and Grandmother transported to Coruscant temple for your safety, but Obi will still remain with me.
Jinn knew as a Jedi apprentice, Obi-Wan's place was at his side. He did worry about his son since Sidious held so much against the big master, however the thought of sending the boy away from him brought him actual pain. He was glad Obi-Wan was officially a Jedi.
###
That evening before they were to leave for their mission to see that a village snowed in would get the needed food and medical supplies. Obi-Wan had asked for and received permission to go see Raven before their mission.
He sat and fed Raven and Danny-Boy a carrot each. He had come to learn to love horses as his father did although in the beginning he had feared them. Obi heard a noise in the barn and looked up to see a weary looking old man in a black robe. The hood pulled so far up in his face Obi-Wan could not see what the man looked like but he walked humped over and so the "baby" apprentice thought he must be very old.
"Don't fear me lad. I come to do you no harm. I just wanted a place of warmth to stay in and I didn't mean to intrude on you."
Obi-Wan relaxed. After all it all he was just a little old bent-over old man. His master had said they would all have to be weary of strangers, however Obi thought surely he wuld have no objections to him helping and feeding a homeless man, especially in this kind of weather.
"I guess it would be alright if you rested here for awhile. I am a Jedi you know that?"
There was a note of pride in what he said. Obi-Wan hadn't realized until just then he was proud that he was a Jedi apprentice and to one of the best Jedi masters ever thought the little one.
"You are. Well I have heard good things about you Jedi. Are you old enough to have a master?"
"Oh yes I have the most noted master in the Jedi order.
Obi-Wan knew he shouldn't brag because he was a Jedi but this man he thought wouldn't know.
"And just who would that master be?"
"Oh Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He runs this temple. That is where you are you know. We are just a little temple but we are one just the same."
"Well how lucky I am to be with such good people. This master of yours is he from over the mountains, that Jinn family?"
"Yes that's him.
"What is your name may I ask?"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Did you know my father's family?"
"No, no I said I knew your master's family I think."
Obi-Wan held to his tummy and bent over in laughter
"What is so funny young man?"
"Well of course you wouldn't know would you? I am sorry for laughing but my master is my father."
"Well isn't that just lovely news. I knew your grandfather Jinn you know. I didn't know Qui had a son."
The way the old man spoke, Obi-Wan thought this old man must have known the Jinn family very well.
"Well to tell the truth my father didn't know he had a son until several months ago. It's a long story one I am not sure I should discuss with strangers."
"That's fine boy. You couldn't get me some food from that temple of yours could you?"
"I suppose but wouldn't you rather go into the temple warm up have last-meal with us? I am sure Master won't care."
"No son and I hope you keep my presence here in the barn a secret. I mean I knew your family when I myself had a big farm. Now I have lost everything. I would rather not have Master Jinn see me until I have a job and back on my feet."
"Oh I understand that. Sometimes I feel bad like that; like when I came to my father and we weren't getting along."
Obi stopped he still didn't want to tell this stranger too much about his life.
"Listen I can bring you some food and let you stay here in the barn. You just have to watch for someone to come feed the horses. It won't be me though. I going with my master to a little village that is snowed in. They need supplies."
"Oh when do you go and will you return soon?"
"Oh we leave first thing in the morning and if we are lucky we will return that same evening. I know. I will bring you some food again first thing in the morning."
A bony finger extended in Obi-Wan's direction. It startled the boy at first when this old man rested his finger on the child's cheek.
"You are so good to me child. I hope all the Jedi have such a good heart. I will think about what you said about seeing your father and I will let you know what I have decided once you return."
"O.K. Just remember to be careful. I will run you some food out as soon as last-meal is over. My grandmother will have to be out of the kitchen."
"She is here too? Oh my this is a family affair isn't it?"
Obi laughed a little child-like giggle.
"You wouldn't believe it but my cousin Damien lives here too. His father died a few years ago."
"Yes I do seem to remember that. That Dark Lord killed him."
The old man had stepped a little closer, bravery having taken over. Just for a second Obi could see one side of his face. That side, the left one, had a very ragged scar from his temple to his chin.
##############
Their trip to the little village turned out to be uneventful. Nothing happened. Jinn had worried that maybe Sidious set a trap and when they left, they would be ambushed before they could get to the village.
They had unloaded almost all the supplies to the people who welcomed the Jedi intervention. Obi-Wan listened to two of the Jedi talk about this sith fellow with great interest. He didn't know too much about the evil one. He had just started reading about him since becoming a Jedi.
"I'll tell you, I bet he is out to get Master Jinn."
"What makes you say that?"
The young knight who listened to the older master's tale was not familiar with the run-in Jinn had with Sidious.
"Well when Sidious killed his brother, Jinn went after him, stalked him. They say it was Jinn who chased him into hiding but not before Qui-Gon branded him."
The knight looked confused. "I am sorry Master Riddon I don't know what you mean by branding."
"Master Jinn slashed Darth Sidious from just below his hairline to his chin."
Obi-Wan dropped the sandwich he was eating when he heard the last statement spoken by the master.
"Darth Sidious now has as a reminder of Master Jinn; a jagged scar the length of his left cheek."
PEACE ewen
She vehemently objected to Obi-Wan becoming the padawan to her son, but her vainness would not allow her not to see that there was plenty of good food and drink. After all that was her job and she would get the credit and generous compliments. She thought that could only help Damien get a step with the Jedi. A step to where was the uncertainty for the boy had no powers and classes had been more than difficult, they had been impossible.
Damien Jinn was borderline failing every subjects. The instructors had spoken with Jinn, but Qui-Gon could not ask a them to be lenient on his nephew. He instead had reprimanded Damien for his lack of interest in class and blamed part of Damien's problem on the constant company of Bruck Chun. Damien's study habits which had become almost non-existent since they arrived at the temple; all do in part to the apprentice Chun, Qui-Gon felt.
It could not be said that Obi-Wan was not excited about being an apprentice to his dad. He was in a sense that he would always be with him and that all the high masters from the council said it was indeed an honor to become an apprentice at the age of eight. He now would study along side the other padawans and with great interest Obi-Wan realized he would take up saber classes with his master, his father.
That was the confusing part.
//I had hoped to stay a kid for awhile now I will have to be like the rest of these guys, all stoic and serious all the time.//
Now Obi was a good child, better than most, but still had a little fire in him. He still possessed the devilish ways of an eight year old sometimes..
As if he felt he had to do something to prove to himself still a kid and still capable of pulling off one of his infamous Kenobi pranks, he plotted a little plan of his own.
//It will just loosen the crowd up. You know make everybody have a good laugh.//
Obi-Wan had been in the common room just kicking back until the meal was served. He got up from the couch and sauntered into the kitchen. There he pretended to look at the carious food prepared and snatched a piece of cream cheese-filled celery.
The child stopped at the spike rack and turned a couple of the bottles so he could read their labels better.
//There I found what I want, Cajun cayenne pepper. Mom use to say it could burn the "hair off a horse", if you used enough. Let's see if her saying is true. //
A feeling of good touched the little boy's heart as he stopped and remembered the nice things about his mom. That however did not stop him from doing what he planned.
Obi-wan studied all the food laid out on the carious platters until he walked over to perfect dish to use the cayenne pepper on, the deviled eggs.
//These eggs will work out great!!! The already have red stuff sprinkled on them.//
Obi-Wan added his Cajun cayenne pepper to the deviled eggs which had already been sprinkled sparsely with paprika.
//They will just think someone was loaded up on the paprika.//
The deviled eggs were now very abundantly covered with not only paprika but the hotter than hot pepper.
Obi-Wan took the back way out of the kitchen up the backstairs and the down the front. He didn't want his Grandmother to see him come from the kitchen to later lay blame on him. He knew she wouldn't hesitate a moment to tell on him and get him in trouble on his big day.
//It is my day and I should get a chance just once before becoming the apprentice to my master to cut lose and have a little fun. I will probably have to go around all straight-laced and serious now that I am a Jedi apprentice. I don't know how that is going to work out for I'm not that kind of kid. I don't know if I am ready to give up my childhood.//
In Obi's little mind this was his way of telling himself he still was that kid Kenobi that found his way to his father but hadn't lost his ability to interject a little childhood antics in a life which had become a little mundane and certainly a lot more boring, since leaving his home with his mother.
Everyone sat at the table. Yoda had just finished his long spiel about how Obi-Wan should feel proud over being the first apprentice excepted at such a young age.
Obi-Wan watched the faces of the padawans around him. Most thought he only got to be an apprentice so soon because his father ran the temple and of course having the great Qui-Gon Jinn as his father wasn't bad for the child. Obi-Wan seemed to benefit more from having Jinn as his father than Damien had as Jinn as his uncle.
Damien looked over at his cousin with a glaring look as he taught how things had changed since Obi-Wan came into his uncle's life.
//No slack has been cut me since I have been here. I think the masters are harder on me because I am not a Jedi. They want to prove something. Uncle Qui-Gon has really not stepped in and defended me as I should have been. These instructors should be giving me better grades than they are.//
Damien sat and watched Obi-Wan get all the attention. He never stopped to think that maybe, just maybe he didn't get good grades because he hadn't earned any.
Obi-Wan watched as if in slow motion, the people who grabbed at the eggs and popped them in their mouths.
//Who knew everyone would be so hot for deviled eggs. I don't even like them. //
Obi-Wan was not sure if he had been the only one not to take an egg but he thought worridly that he was or at least close to it.
Several people including his master, Yoda, and Bruck bit into their eggs almost simultaneously.
Obi-Wan checked his shields and lowered his head as if he was too engrossed in eating to see what was going on at the tale.
Jinn had noted that Obi-Wan had shielded from him earlier and wondered why since he had not voluntarily raised his shields since they were together. Now the master thought he knew why. These thoughts came to big master as he cleared his throat and grabbed for the pitcher of water to refill his glass. His mouth was a blaze with the cayenne pepper seemingly burning holes through his mouth.
Qui-Gon had a few memories of Obi-Wan's mother himself. One of those memories was that she loved hot spices. While she probably had never coated anything with as much as the eggs had sprinkled on them, she had a taste for spicy foods. He knew his son would be more versed as to what spices could burn you up. Most kids wouldn't know salt from pepper he reasoned to himself and then lifted his glass to finish off the second glass of water.
Myra sat in shock as Yoda and Qui-Gon sputtered and coughed and continued to drink water.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, no, mother everything is quite delicious. The eggs are very hot, though."
Most everyone who witnessed the episode dropped their eggs back on their plates and no one else touched them. Myra thought they were all being ridiculous for she had not put anything hot in the eggs.
"There is nothing wrong with my eggs Qui-Gon."
Yoda twitched his ears and tried to reassure the woman when it came to her excellent cooking.
"Eggs delicious they are Mrs. Jinn, just a little too spicy for some I think, but delicious they still are."
//Why Master Yoda!! I thought Jedi didn't lie,// thought Obi to himself.
Obi-wan wanted to at least smile a little over the humor and he did think it humorous, but he was afraid he would be caught smiling over the misfortune of another so he held it in.
Jinn suspiciously eyed his son and waited for the right time when Obi would drop his shields. He was right. In all the merriment of the people trying to cool their parched and burnt throats, Obi-Wan dropped his shields just along enough for his master too see what and why this happened.
Qui-Gon never said a word.
He did though try to stop his mother from testing the eggs. He assured her that she might have put cayenne pepper in them instead of paprika.
"Nonsense Qui-Gon, I have cooked for years I know the difference in spices."
She took a large bite of deviled egg, as if to prove something to the others. She dropped the egg, tried to quickly chew it up, and get it out of her mouth. Qui-Gon sat the pitcher over by her plate and everyone waited for the woman too recover from the traumatic experience.
All the rest of the day, once she recovered, she went on about how that could have happened.
Nothing was said about the eggs. Jinn tried to encourage his mother to forget it and that some horrid mistake was done by someone other than her in the kitchen
Goodbyes were said to the high masters from the Coruscant before they headed home
Jinn followed Obi-Wan as he bounced up the stairs to bed.
Qui-Gon had a two room suite. There was one large bedroom and a little room, like a common room adjoining his which now held Obi-Wan's twin-sized bed.
Obi was on the most part silent. He got his bed things, and overly large knight shirt that fit the older padawans, but not him and scurried to the fresher for his bath and to brush his teeth. Jinn sat at his desk and contemplated how best to handle this infraction on Obi's part. Qui-Gon didn't want to ruin his day and after all he held it in all afternoon, thus softening the big master's heart as he watched his son through the afternoon.
Obi-Wan immerged from the fresher with the large sleep shirt on and cheeks flushed from the day's events. Jinn's heart melted. He knew right then, he was going to have to counteract his attitude to the boy or Obi-Wan's head would turn to mush from the affection Qui would so willing to give him.
"Here Obi-Wan let me escort you to your room."
Obi-Wan was still oblivious to the upcoming ambush.
"Thanks master. I am tired. I could fall asleep as soon as my head hit's the pillow."
Jinn had no response for that. When Obi-Wan saw his bed he started to climb into it and Jinn grabbed him gently by the back of his sleep shirt collar to hold him from getting into his new bed.
"Whaoo!! Wake a minute. I think you have some meditations to complete before you go to bed."
Obi didn't know what his dad was talking about.
"Did you forget master? You said we could forego meditations because this was such a special day."
Obi-Wan tossed his head so as to sling the padawan braid off his shoulder. It had been delicately and lovingly weaved by Qui-Gon from his and Obi's hair intertwined together. The newness to the braid had not worn off and the familiarity to it had not sunken in yet. It tickled Obi where it gently brushed his shoulder.
"Yes, I did say you didn't have to do your normal meditations. These, however, are special meditations. They are because if I were to ask a little boy who was responsible for putting the cayenne pepper on the eggs, I have no doubt he would say he did. He's never lied to me yet."
Obi hung his head.
"Yes master"
"Now I am not going ask that little boy for if I knew the truth with certainty, I would have to punish him more harshly than just give him two hours of meditations. I am going to give you two hours of… oh…. I don't know… Let's say meditations on serenity and calm. Then we will let the whole little episode go this time. However if something like this is done again, I won't be so forgiving, understood?"
"Yes master."
//TWO HOURS, holy cow!! I didn't set fire to the temple!! //
Jinn released the collar of the child and planted a kiss on his spiked ginger-colored head of hair.
"Now two hours of meditating and then off to bed you go."
Obi-Wan knelt down to meditate.
//WOW!!Dad thinks he's being lenient!!!!//
//OOPS…… His shields slipped again and Obi got an answer to his mental thoughts .//
//I am padawan, I am.//
Three weeks, three very long tedious weeks and Obi-Wan still didn't seem to fit in. The other padawans thought him to small to just "hang" with. Damien and Bruck had both gotten anther couple of apprentices to side with them and if they found a way to hassle Obi-Wan they did. One time he got tripped in the dining room and his food splattered all over him. Of course Obi-Wan wouldn't go crying to his master. He was a big boy now he thought. Then once just as he started to sit down one of the other padawans who sided with Bruck, quickly pulled the chair out from under him in class. That brought hilarious laughter among all the padawans and Damien.
What they could not laugh about though was Obi-Wan had been placed in their class for his outstanding academic work. Seems he was ahead of any padawan and Damien himself. That didn't set well with Damien or his Grandmother.
Damien wanted to find a way to railroad this little guy that Jinn seemed to become more and more attached too. Obi's saber practice was outstanding for one his age. No he was not up with the other padawans, but Jinn thought over the next year he would be at least equal to them. His arm reach was still to short. That was possibly the only reason he wasn't as good as the others.. He executed his techniques and katas with precise accuracy; the aerial ones were his best.
It was Sunday. All the padawans were in the common room huddled around the fireplace. It was too cold to go out except to complete their tasks in the barn., The horses couldn't even be let out in the pasture for the bitterly cold wind that whipped over the valley where the temple sat.
The masters worked on various things or sat at the dining table with a cup of tea, anything that would keep them from the children for a while. Seems they all developed cabin fever, especially with the weather as it was now.
From Qui-Gon's office which was attached to the dining area the masters who sat at the dining table could hear the raised voice of Qui-Gon Jinn as he talked with someone of high authority at the Temple Coruscant.
###Jinn's office#####
"I beg to differ Master Yoda. These masters and apprentices have not had enough field experience to do what you ask me to have them do. Can't some of the masters with senior padawans come here and see to the mission?"
Qui-Gon had been having a lengthy discussion with his former master, Yoda. From the other end of the comm link Yoda's scratchy little voice came raining through to Jinn .
"Do this your masters and apprentices will. Learn they can not if coddle them you do. Oversee the mission yourself you will. Temple be there when you return I think. About time for your padawan to see the workings of a mission I feel."
Now Jinn had heard everything. Take an eight year-old out on a Jedi mission. Grant it, this mission should entail no danger, however Jinn knew from past experience a battle or danger couldn't be ruled out. There were those willing to battle the Jedi for their name sake only. Having understood this for most of his life as a master, Jinn never took even the most peaceful of missions for granted.
"Master Yoda need I remind you that when I took over running this temple I was assured by the high council that if I did decide to train Obi-Wan, I would not have mission until the boy reached the age of normal apprentice, twelve? Did you just pull that condition out of the air and now decide to do away with it?"
"Difficult time this is for the guardians of peace, the Jedi. Every available master and apprentice working on a mission they are. Dark forces at work throughout the galaxy. Sith, Master Jinn, have resurfaced with much vengeance and hate aimed at the Jedi in particular it is.."
Yoda did not need to explain what he meant. One word, SITH and Jinn leaned back his chair and contemplated the ramifications of what Yoda just said.
"They are active again? How can that be master? We drove Sidious into hiding after he attacked several settlements and he killed my brother."
Anger and hate for the Sith resufaced for Jinn when he remembered his brother was killed because he himself was a Jedi master. Not just any Jedi master, but Sidious' most troublesome nemisis within the Jedi order. "
"Know how I do not. Know who I do, Sith Darth Sidious, he is. Returned he has. Let his name be passed through the galaxy he has. Just been notified I have two young Jedi knights slashed to death with a double saber they were. Glowed evil red it did . Called it his "calling card[b"[/b] he has. Signature of the evil one it will be from now on. Witnesses to the heinous act there was. Left a message he did; Recording saying rest he would not until all Jedi dead they are. Wiped from the galaxy the Jedi will be in his promise to us he made.. See the imperativeness of you and your masters for this mission now do you? All others taken they are. Simplest of missions I give you Master Jinn, but warn you I must. Sidious and his apprentice who has as of yet to show himself, could lurk on any planet, stalking, waiting for another group of Jedi. His destiny to destroy us all."
"How do you know he has an apprentice Master Yoda?"
"Old I am Master Jinn. Most familiar of the Sith I also am. Know this with certainty. Before a Sith tries to do his evil bidding, acquires an apprentice he does; Always two there are. No more no less. However that will not stop him from amassing an army to fight us or to procure any low-life scoundrel to help him to defeat the Jedi. Nothing past doing will he not do to see his mission completed. Our mission easy it may or may not be but stop him we must. It is already rumored of an army amassed even now. Known as the Red guard they are. Have been seen though by few. Sidious likes blood on his hands better than that of those under him. First death blow to the Jedi at his hands only it was. Need not the army to slaughter our young knights in ambush."
Master Yoda clicked his comm link off and left the blank screen with its buzzing sound of nothingness. He did not wait for Qui-Gon Jinn's answer about the mission. Once he explained to his former apprentice of the magnitude of the situation the Jedi were in, Yoda knew well his padawan would not refuse the mission further. Trained and ready every master had to be now.
It was Jinn's job to see all at his little temple were readily able to battle the Sith and his work of evil. No one, including Obi-Wan would be left behind in the training especially with this rogue evil one unleashed and hell bent on destroying the Jedi themselves. Without the Jedi to protect and guard the galaxy, the planets in it would be thrown into havoc and turmoil. Peace anywhere would be a mute subject.
Master Qui-Gon Jinn walked out into the dining room.
"If you masters would remain here, I have something to discuss with all of you."
The look the words, just the actions alone let the other masters now something was going on with in the Jedi. They would never have believed what it was until later when Jinn told them. Even then it would be hard for a couple of the knights who had taken their first padawans to grasp what Jinn was telling them.
"If you would excuse me, I plan to go dismiss all the padawans to their rooms. I don't think they need to hear what we discuss. It will be up to their masters individually to explain the situation and the gravity of it, once I have explained it to you."
Jinn walked to the common room and sent all the padawans and Damien to their respective rooms.
He patted his son's head affectionately and looked down to receive a warm smile from Obi-Wan but no words passed between them. Obi seemed to know something was wrong with his dad. A shiver went through his entire body as a wave of sadness passed through the force and it came directly from his father. Although Jinn tried to shield his concern and overwhelming sadness, Obi-Wan could still feel it through their bond..
Worry crossed the master's mind as he watched the young ones with the youngest, his son march up the steps in silence and single file. They seemed to know something serious had taken place within the Jedi order. Of course their young minds could not even comprehend what their masters would tell them later.
The padawans would have trouble grasping the understanding of what Sidious' return meant. Except for the settlement attack and the death of Jinn's brother, Sidious had remained in hiding for over three years, not doing any of his evil works until now.
Sith were only in their history books. They thought the Jedi had driven Sidious into hiding, never to return. They were wrong.
Qui-Gon opted to gather his entire family in the common room and shut the double doors. He would explain the situation to them. He regretted delivering the bad news that the animal responsible for killing Damien's father, his brother, was once again out on a killing spree. Only now it was directed at the Jedi. Jinn couldn't help but think Darth Sidious might seek him out. Qui-Gon was the one who hounded and the man almost succeeding in his capture. Master Qui-Gon Jinn was the reason Sidious went into semi-retirement in the first place.
Myra let out a shocked sigh. Damien slammed his fist down on the dining table and used a few curse words that Qui-Gon did not even reprimand him for. Obi-Wan sat in silence. This sith stuff was news to him. He wasn't even aware that was who killed his uncle and he had only just begun to read about him in his classes for in common school, in the realm of reality, Sith were not taught about.
"Qui-Gon what he if seeks you out again? I mean he probably holds a grudge against you."
"I will be fine Mother."
The master had mixed feelings. He would not admit them to anyone out loud. They would stay unspoken, but in a way Jinn hoped Sidious would seek him out. Then again if the man came here it would put his family and the other Jedi's lives there in jeopardy. It was times like these Qui-Gon wished he was not tied down to the temple or to Obi-Wan. He would gladly pick up his search of the dark lord right where he left off.
"I do have concern for the temple if Darth Sidious knows I am here now. I have no doubt if he wants to know where to find me, he already has found out. There are many who would be willing to help him defeat the Jedi just to be on his good side. I think I will assign posts twenty-four hours a day now. We will have to be careful of strangers."
"Qui-Gon, Damien can't live in fear all his life."
"Hopefully it won't be all his life. I would send you and he back home but I think you might be in more jeopardy there. I am sure he knows of where my farm is"
Damien didn't want to go home anyway. He was having too much fun with his new friend Bruck and if he went home Obi could worm his way closer to his father. Although Damien didn't know how they could get much closer with the connection between father and son and master and apprentice that they shared now.
"What about Obi-Wan, Uncle Qui? He's not safe here either. If Grandmother and I have to go home wouldn't Obi have to go with us?"
Jinn couldn't figure out why Damien would go down that road with his line of questioning because he knew well how they both felt about Obi."
"Obi-Wan is officially a Jedi apprentice now Damien; My Jedi apprentice. Not just as my son but as my apprentice his place is at my side. I can protect him. Like I said though you can't go home either for your lives might be in jeopardy there. No you will have to stay here. If we start to expect anything then I will have you and Grandmother transported to Coruscant temple for your safety, but Obi will still remain with me.
Jinn knew as a Jedi apprentice, Obi-Wan's place was at his side. He did worry about his son since Sidious held so much against the big master, however the thought of sending the boy away from him brought him actual pain. He was glad Obi-Wan was officially a Jedi.
###
That evening before they were to leave for their mission to see that a village snowed in would get the needed food and medical supplies. Obi-Wan had asked for and received permission to go see Raven before their mission.
He sat and fed Raven and Danny-Boy a carrot each. He had come to learn to love horses as his father did although in the beginning he had feared them. Obi heard a noise in the barn and looked up to see a weary looking old man in a black robe. The hood pulled so far up in his face Obi-Wan could not see what the man looked like but he walked humped over and so the "baby" apprentice thought he must be very old.
"Don't fear me lad. I come to do you no harm. I just wanted a place of warmth to stay in and I didn't mean to intrude on you."
Obi-Wan relaxed. After all it all he was just a little old bent-over old man. His master had said they would all have to be weary of strangers, however Obi thought surely he wuld have no objections to him helping and feeding a homeless man, especially in this kind of weather.
"I guess it would be alright if you rested here for awhile. I am a Jedi you know that?"
There was a note of pride in what he said. Obi-Wan hadn't realized until just then he was proud that he was a Jedi apprentice and to one of the best Jedi masters ever thought the little one.
"You are. Well I have heard good things about you Jedi. Are you old enough to have a master?"
"Oh yes I have the most noted master in the Jedi order.
Obi-Wan knew he shouldn't brag because he was a Jedi but this man he thought wouldn't know.
"And just who would that master be?"
"Oh Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He runs this temple. That is where you are you know. We are just a little temple but we are one just the same."
"Well how lucky I am to be with such good people. This master of yours is he from over the mountains, that Jinn family?"
"Yes that's him.
"What is your name may I ask?"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Did you know my father's family?"
"No, no I said I knew your master's family I think."
Obi-Wan held to his tummy and bent over in laughter
"What is so funny young man?"
"Well of course you wouldn't know would you? I am sorry for laughing but my master is my father."
"Well isn't that just lovely news. I knew your grandfather Jinn you know. I didn't know Qui had a son."
The way the old man spoke, Obi-Wan thought this old man must have known the Jinn family very well.
"Well to tell the truth my father didn't know he had a son until several months ago. It's a long story one I am not sure I should discuss with strangers."
"That's fine boy. You couldn't get me some food from that temple of yours could you?"
"I suppose but wouldn't you rather go into the temple warm up have last-meal with us? I am sure Master won't care."
"No son and I hope you keep my presence here in the barn a secret. I mean I knew your family when I myself had a big farm. Now I have lost everything. I would rather not have Master Jinn see me until I have a job and back on my feet."
"Oh I understand that. Sometimes I feel bad like that; like when I came to my father and we weren't getting along."
Obi stopped he still didn't want to tell this stranger too much about his life.
"Listen I can bring you some food and let you stay here in the barn. You just have to watch for someone to come feed the horses. It won't be me though. I going with my master to a little village that is snowed in. They need supplies."
"Oh when do you go and will you return soon?"
"Oh we leave first thing in the morning and if we are lucky we will return that same evening. I know. I will bring you some food again first thing in the morning."
A bony finger extended in Obi-Wan's direction. It startled the boy at first when this old man rested his finger on the child's cheek.
"You are so good to me child. I hope all the Jedi have such a good heart. I will think about what you said about seeing your father and I will let you know what I have decided once you return."
"O.K. Just remember to be careful. I will run you some food out as soon as last-meal is over. My grandmother will have to be out of the kitchen."
"She is here too? Oh my this is a family affair isn't it?"
Obi laughed a little child-like giggle.
"You wouldn't believe it but my cousin Damien lives here too. His father died a few years ago."
"Yes I do seem to remember that. That Dark Lord killed him."
The old man had stepped a little closer, bravery having taken over. Just for a second Obi could see one side of his face. That side, the left one, had a very ragged scar from his temple to his chin.
##############
Their trip to the little village turned out to be uneventful. Nothing happened. Jinn had worried that maybe Sidious set a trap and when they left, they would be ambushed before they could get to the village.
They had unloaded almost all the supplies to the people who welcomed the Jedi intervention. Obi-Wan listened to two of the Jedi talk about this sith fellow with great interest. He didn't know too much about the evil one. He had just started reading about him since becoming a Jedi.
"I'll tell you, I bet he is out to get Master Jinn."
"What makes you say that?"
The young knight who listened to the older master's tale was not familiar with the run-in Jinn had with Sidious.
"Well when Sidious killed his brother, Jinn went after him, stalked him. They say it was Jinn who chased him into hiding but not before Qui-Gon branded him."
The knight looked confused. "I am sorry Master Riddon I don't know what you mean by branding."
"Master Jinn slashed Darth Sidious from just below his hairline to his chin."
Obi-Wan dropped the sandwich he was eating when he heard the last statement spoken by the master.
"Darth Sidious now has as a reminder of Master Jinn; a jagged scar the length of his left cheek."
PEACE ewen