It was a very good thing Master Jinn knew where his office was without really having to look where he was going. He stumbled toward the general direction of it, blinded by the stinging words his mother tossed out at him.. He knew she succeeded with her plan. She had rattled the master mentally with just a suggestion of Obi-Wan not belonging to him. He only knew he must reach his office quickly and contact Mace as soon as he got there..
//I have to know the truth. //
Fear of losing the boy seized the man's very heart. Although he might still be able to keep Obi-Wan, if he had no other relatives but that would mean he was not his son. Jinn had just adapted to the fact that he would have a son to carry on the Jinn legacy. Yes Damien was a Jinn but not his "Jinn". Obi-Wan would carry on the legacy for the Jinns within the Jedi order. Something that grew more and more appealing to the master. That was one reason he hoped Obi-Wan would change his mind and become a Jedi. Now he found his hopes might just be dashed out by the clever maneuvering of Obi-Wan's mother.
Once inside his office, Jinn commed Mace. He was told Master Windu was busy but that didn't stop the big master.
He put on such a display of irate verbal disdain over not being allowed to speak to his friend immediately that the padawan who answered the calls, didn't even contact Mace to get permission. She piped Master Jinn straight through.
"Oh, hello Qui-Gon anything going on?"
"Mace I have called for a reason, a very important reason. You told me you checked the DNA of Obi-Wan personally?"
"Of course. Why? What are you worried about that now? It has been over six months since Obi-Wan went you. I know he is your son."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes of course I am sure. I would not have delivered such news, unless I knew with certainty first. What has gotten into to you?"
"Kaylin, Mace. Remember what she did with the blood sample information of the potential padawans. That is one of the reasons we are so short on apprentices now. She hacked into the computer system and changed the midichlorian reports of the potential padawans. The Jedi order released over a hundred potential children over a six months time from every Jedi temple within the galaxy."
"Yes, Qui-Gon I remember that well. Her interference almost destroyed the natural rhythm of succession within the Jedi order, from training apprentices to trained knights. Although we managed to keep some nasty little mishap secret, you know some of it leaked out to the public papers. Yoda had it stopped immediately. But I do remember at least one news tabloid that carried it. We haven't brought this up since it happened. Had she not been linked to you she might have possibly spent time in prison. Did your mother bring this up? She must have. She didn't tell Obi-Wan of his mother's dishonesty did she? That would truly harm the child I think. If you tell him, it must be later when he is older and you and he have grown closer. Just what is it?"
"First, before I answer your questions answer one more for me."
"I will, of course, if I can."
"Be absolutely sure of how this was done."
"Sure of what Qui-Gon? I truly believe you have lost your mind. Yes I will be sure but of what I don't know yet."
"You said the DNA testing of Obi-Wan was done by the healers at the temple. Now I know you already had a sample of my blood stored at the healers, but how did you attain Obi-Wan's?"
"Didn't I tell you that already? We checked Obi's blood to yours and pesto, the DNA matched. He is without a doubt your son."
"Now Mace you told me you procured a sample of Obi-Wan's blood?"
It was a question and not a statement.
On the other end of the commlink Mace sat in his chair perplexed by Jinn's line of questioning. He nodded yes to himself in answer to Jinn's words.
"Yes, that is right, I said I procured a sample, WHY!?!"
"Wait, wait Mace I told you my questions first and you agreed. Just how did you acquire Obi-Wan's blood?"
"Let me see. Oh yes, the healers contacted the hospital where Obi-Wan was born. They, in turn sent all his records including his birth certificate and blood samples reports taken at birth or shortly there after."
There it was. The healers had not drawn blood from Obi at the temple and they didn't review the actual blood sample from the hospital. They got their information off a piece of paper. Was it a "doctored" record of Obi-Wan's blood? There was a least a possiblity that Kaylin tampered with the sample reports. She could have easily changed the report to say what kind of blood Obi had. After all, that was what she almost went to prison for. Mace realized as soon as he said the words what Jinn was getting at.
Maybe Obi-Wan wasn't his true son and it was another cruel ruse by his dead love to make Obi-Wan appear to be.
"No Qui she wouldn't have done that. She hated the Jedi, enough I think that she wouldn't want you to have shared in the life of her son."
"She left a will Mace. She wanted me to take the child, but I still don't understand why. Maybe she thought it would be some punishment for me to be straddled with a child in the Jedi order if anything should ever happen to her. As her luck or bad luck would have it something did happen before Obi-Wan was raised, Kaylin was tragically killed."
"This can be solved simply. All you have to do is bring Obi-Wan to the Coruscant temple to be tested. Then there will be no questions, or surprises later in life if he isn't."
"Yes that is what I will have to do. I have no choice really. Mace would you do me one more favor?"
"If I can and you promise to calm down a bit."
"Ask Master Yoda to contact me later this evening."
"Oh, don't worry, he planned too anyway. Seems he has this pressing mission. It is not the one he planned to send you on. The delegates of Zarth have asked for you specifically and it is extremely important. I will let Yoda explain. He knows more about it than I do."
"Very well thank you."
As soon as he broke contact with Mace, Qui-Gon slumped back his chair and covered his face with his hands.
//I am a Jedi. I should be able to handle this better than I am. I know not to jump to conclusions instead, wait for the facts. Yes that is what I will do. I will tell Master Yoda that I plan to leave tomorrow for Coruscant. Obi-Wan and I can leave for our mission from there. The parental matter will be known with certainty before we start our mission.//
################ That evening. Jinn paced the length of his room as he thought of Kaylin and of her deceit of the blood sample records of the Jedi. It was clearly an act of revenge on his former love's part. She blamed the Jedi for her and Qui-Gon's breakup. She couldn't except that Qui-Gon chose the Jedi over her. She felt they had a mental hold on him and wouldn't let him leave them for her.
A knock at the bedroom door brought Jinn back from the past to the present. He found himself guilty of doing what he always taught his padawans not too, living in the future or the past. One must always stay focused on the here and now. Yes, he was guilty of living he and Kaylin's past over and over again that evening.
"Yes!"
He didn't have to ask, for he knew it was his bright, bubbly, ginger head son begging for entrance to his father's room.
Obi-Wan literally skipped over to his master's big bed.
"HI Dad. It's alright to call you dad now right?"
"Yes of course why not.?"
Qui-Gon was lost in thought so deeply, he did not know what the child meant.
"Well I know you said in the privacy of our rooms, I can say dad but downstairs around the Jedi it is officially Master."
Obi-Wan puffed out his chest and mocked his father's deep gravelly voice when he said "officially Master." He was clearly mimicking his father's words to him in a copied-version of the dialect of his father's.
Qui-Gon reached down and rubbed the top of the boy's head.
"What is it Obi-Wan? Did you want something?"
The physical touch was there but Obi-Wan couldn't miss the complacency and distance in his master's voice; even in his mannerisms.
Obi-Wan's next words did not have the vibrancy in them that his first ones held. He looked up to see the sad features on his father's face.
"I didn't really want anything I guess. I just came to say goodnight?"
A touch of anger flared in Jinn. He could feel that what Obi-Wan just said was a lie. He hated lies. Obi's mother had been so good at telling them.
"What have you been told about lying."
Qui-Gon held his anger in so he could seem to remain calm, almost pleasing as he confronted his son about the lie ever how small and inconsequential it was. Qui-Gon Jinn thought all lies carried with them consequences. //A lie is a lie, no matter for what reason,// thought the master.
"Well I guess it might have been a lie."
Obi, thought maybe what he just said was a lie for he didn't think he knew he lied. He had wanted something; the companionship of his dad.
"No I mean I did lie but it was a little one."
"Obi-Wan there is no such thing as a little lie. That's like committing a little robbery because you didn't get much money."
"I'm sorry Dad. I mean I really came here to ask you if I could visit and talk with you awhile; maybe even sleep in here again. We had so much fun last night….well I had so much fun last night. Anyway, once I saw that you had something on your mind I decided not to bother you with my company tonight."
Just great. Here he is trying to give me a break and all I do is try to gage how much like his mother he is.; if he could be as good at deception as her. What's wrong with me?
Jinn walked over and sat at the end of his bed. He pulled the little boy to him and then up into his lap.
"I am sorry Obi-Wan but you know how I feel about lying. I guess I am on edge a little."
//A little? Now that's an understatement.. I'm definitely on edge tonight.//
Obi-Wan glanced up to now see sadness and despair his dad's stormed-colored eyes. He wouldn't have been able to put it in those exact words, but he knew somehow his father was troubled about something.
"Maybe I should just go to bed now. I mean we have lots of nights to spend together. Like maybe a lifetime since you're my dad."
The words cut right through Jinn. He didn't know why but he very abruptly put Obi-Wan down and out of his lap. In doing so, he put his son down harder than he thought. The bottom of Obi-Wan's bare feet tingled when they hit the hardwood floor. The suddenness of it shocked Obi-Wan so much so that he backed away some from his dad.
"I guess I will go now. Good night master."
"Listen Obi, I am sorry I just have something on my mind tonight. It' s.. I will talk with you later about it. However tonight I do need some time alone."
"It was the truth. Qui-Gon would talk to him later, but how much later would depend on whether Obi-Wan was his son or not.
""It's alright I understand."
//Boy, I am glad he can't invade my mind, for I just told another "little white lie." I don't understand Dad at all tonight. He seems different than he was last night. //
Jinn was definitely glad to hear his former master's voice. It always brought him a certain amount of serenity to him no matter what his problems were.
"Here I have, concerns there are about Kenobi?"
"Yes I suppose Mace told you of what I suspect."
"Is it you who suspects this or did someone place it in you mind to question the fatherhood of Obi-Wan."
"You are right my mother did bring it you but the more I thought about it, the more I am convinced she has a very valid point."
"Then thought about it too much I would say,,hey ? Maybe give you that mission of which Mace mentioned to keep your mind from such destructive thinking."
"It may be destructive my old master but it has at least validity to it. Do you not agree?"
"Validity it could have. Thought of it I wouldn't. Does not the boy have your obstinate stubborn streak, your blazing blue eyes. Your son, Kenobi is. Need not blood to prove it."
"Maybe you don't master but I do. However what proof do I have to substantiate the supposed truth? I want to stop by Coruscant and get Obi-Wan retested. NO, not retested actually tested by our healers. Blood drawn by them and studied by them only."
"Your desires must be put on hold they will be. Not enough time to do what you want. Leave from your temple you will in twenty-four hours. Mission on Zarth. Your personal matters, wait they will."
"Master Yoda don't do this to me. I want to know with certainty. I don't want that question lingering on my mind during the entire mission."
"Child you are not. Jedi master, the best in fact, you are. Know of the importance of patience you should by now. Personal issues dictate your life they can not, Master Jinn. Mission first then life's issues come second they will. Now, no time for this I have. Ready the paperwork I will, Be sent on transport that will arrive in one day exactly to pick you and your apprentice up. If son he is not, apprentice he still is. Learn trust and to be trusted you both should on this mission. Speak of this only after the mission we will. Be careful you should be and "May the force be with you my padawan."
Qui-Gon sat at his desk silenced by the words of his former master and head master of the Coruscant temple. He would have to wait for "sith knew when" to find out the true results of the blood test.
########
Bruck and Damien headed for their rooms. It was almost time for light's out call and neither wanted to get into trouble for being out of their rooms after the curfew.
"Here Bruck I have to stop and tell my Grandmother good night."
"Still grandma's little boy?"
Damien laughed.
"Well in her eyes I am. I can get almost anything from her. All I have to do is ask."
"Let's see if her loyalty and idol worship comes in handy."
Bruck planned to wait outside the door but Myra Jinn invited him in along with her grandson. Bruck and Damien both noticed that when they entered, she quickly stuffed a newspaper clipping inside of a memento album of some kind and placed it on the bottom self of her night stand.
"What's the matter Grandmother, you seem upset?"
"Well your Uncle Qui-Gon and I had another run-in about that boy of his."
"Did you hurt your feelings?"
"Yes but I may have hurt his too. I asked him if he was positive Obi-Wan was his son."
It was something that should not have been discussed with Bruck in the room. As soon as she noted her error she stopped.
"Well anyway I shouldn't say anything."
That got both boy's thinking of what she meant.
Bruck spoke up and Damien thought he had lost your mind.
"Did you forget Damien, you wanted to ask your Grandmother to make that infamous sandwich you love so much."
"What…. uhn Oh yea, but I guess I shouldn't bother you so late, plus you are upset and all."
Damien hadn't mentioned he wanted anything else to eat.
"No, no, Damien I am never too busy to fix something for you."
All three started to leave. Damien gave his friend a questioning look, but Bruck only smiled and waved him on.
They started to walk to the kitchen.
"Oh, I laid my data pad down in your room Mrs. Jinn. Do I have your permission to get it?"
"Yes, of course then meet us in the kitchen and I will let you sample my "infamous" sandwich as you call it."
She was pleased that Damien had taken the time to tell Bruck of you culinary abilities.
Damien thought at first, Bruck had gone totally insane. First Bruck prodded Myra into making sandwiches not asked for and now Bruck wanted to return to his Grandmother's room to retrieve a data pad he didn't even have with him.
##########
Once inside Grandmother's Jinn's room, Padawan Chun went straight to the scrape book album. He pulled the faded and age-yellowed tabloid clipping from her personal mementos.
KAYLIN KENOBI HELD FOR MIDICLHORIAN TESTS SCAM
A broad smile appeared on Bruck Chun's face as he read the headline above a picture of Master Jinn with Obi's mother.
//I think I just found the ammo to shoot Padawan Kenobi right out of the water. //
#########in the kitchen#############
Bruck thanked Mother Jinn for the sandwich she made him and the boys headed back to their rooms to eat it before the curfew.
"What was that all about? You didn't take anything from my Grandmother's room, did you?"
"Are you asking me if I stole anything, no Damien I didn't. I did borrow something though."
"Oh, man I hope my Grandmother doesn't miss it. She will throw a fit."
"Well maybe if she notices it missing she will think she misplaced it. She had it out while we were there."
"What is it, that tabloid clipping? What was it about? It couldn't have anything to do with us. It's too old."
"It has a lot to do with us, my friend. What's more important it had a great deal to do with your little cousin. Here take a look."
Damien read the clipping Bruck handed him. It took a few moments to figure it out and then he didn't know all of what Bruck meant.
"So Obi-Wan's mom was like an almost criminal. According to the clipping had she not been Qui-Gon's old love, the Jedi would have prosecuted her."
Bruck reread the the aged article.
"I still don't get it."
"Look man she faked over a hundred documented midichlorian reports. The Jedi let that many kids go thinking they didn't have enough of the force to remain Jedi. Now remember what you Grandmother said; before she realized she shouldn't be blabbing with me in the room."
"Hey don't be raggin' on my Grandmother."
"Alright fine but she mentioned Obi-Wan not being the real son to Qui-Gon. What if he isn't. What if the mom did something that only caused Obi-Wan to seem to be your uncle's. I bet Obi-Wan wouldn't even stay with Qui-Gon then or become a Jedi. Maybe Master Jinn wouldn't even want him."
"I don't know about that. You might be jumping to conclusions."
"So what if we are? We can show Obi-Wan this clipping, tell him to tell no one, and then we will spring the zinger on him."
"And just what is our zinger, Bruck?"
"You show him this, then tell him that Jinn isn't really his dad. That they, the Jedi are keeping it from him just to get him to remain at Jinn's side as an apprentice. I don't think he would welcome that. Let him believe Qui-Gon lied to him only to get him into the Jedi order. We can tell Obi-Wan Master Jinn knows the truth about his parents and Qui-Gon isn't one of them. Tell him Master Jinn lied to him. That should put the "icing on the cake.""
"I don't know. They have to go on a mission. Won't all this trouble interfere with that?"
"Don't you see that is one of the best parts. Obi-Wan and his Dad will be stuck together the entire time. That will be more than enough time for the brat to build up resentment toward his father. Also he might not think as clearly with all that is on his mind. Mistakes made, displeased father, and everything blows up on them, KA -POW."
"What if it backfires? What if Obi-Wan tells Uncle Qui-Gon what we told him?"
"We will think of something. Make him promise not to tell. Tell him he could get in real big trouble especially on a mission if Master Jinn knew. Maybe in so much trouble his father will just leave him on the planet stranded. He's just a little kid, he'll believe you. We'll tell him if he won't become a Jedi, Jinn has no use for him as his son."
"Yes.. If it works, I like it. No, I would love it. We better get to our rooms. When do we do this?"
"We don't know when they will leave on their mission, so I say, first thing in the morning. It's the weekend so our time is ours. I'll let you know how to get him in the garden then spring it on him. Yes!!!! Here give me the clipping for safe keeping. Let's go before we get grounded and can't get out to complete our plan. Padawan Kenobi will have a lot of surprises tomorrow. Even if he learns later they are lies, hopefully it will be too late for him. The damage will be done."
Damien reached his room first. Bruck had to go to the other side of the hall where the Jedi padawans and their masters had rooms. He passed Master Jinn's room, stopped and took two steps backward. The door to Jinn's room was slightly ajar. He could here a one sided conversation by Qui-Gon.
//He must be on the comm with someone.//
Padawan Chun started to walk away and then heard something too interesting for him too ignore.
"I know Mace, but Master Yoda has already said I must go on the mission first before I can look into getting another blood test done on Obi-Wan to make sure of his parentage."
Then nothing……. Evidently Mace was saying something on from other end of the comm unit. Qui-Gon picked up the conversation after a period of silence.
"I thought we shared a father/son bond, but I suppose in my zeal to form a bond with Obi-Wan, I may have mistaken an extension of the training bond for a father/son bond. I know the training bond started first. To be honest, I am just confused Mace. I don't know what I want. If Obi-Wan would open his side of the bond I could further investigate and figure all this out. Now I am not sure I want him to open his side of the bond. I am not sure I want to know the truth if he is my son or not."
//Well, well, well, secrets are in abundance this day. I can't wait to tell Damien. We now have the one thing we needed to complete our plan. Master Jinn truly doesn't know if Kenobi is his son or not. //
Bruck told Damien of the overheard conversation between Master Windu and Master Jinn, before they even reached the break-fast table. The boys were like someone with ants in their pants. Even Myra Jinn made a comment about the anxiety Damien seemed to exhibit.
While at the table Qui-Gon brought up the mission Obi-Wan and he would be going on.
Obi-Wan was thrilled but surprised that they would leave later that evening. After break-fast, Master Jinn told his padawan to pack his things and then he had the rest of the day to relax. They would be on a public transport for three days. There were not much sleeping arrangements on those. He and Obi-Wan would go to the small town adjacent to the temple and catch the public transport from there.
Obi-Wan did as he was told but something about his father worried him. Even with the bond not connecting from his side there was closeness normally felt by father and son that wasn't there. Qui-Gon still seemed distant with his thoughts centered somewhere else. Obi-Wan did not want to question him for he seemed to have suffered a massive mood swing which had in turn nullified their newly found closeness. After last night he wasn't sure of anything when it came to his father.
It was about half hour before everyone would meet in the dining hall for mid-day meal. Damien had convinced Obi-Wan to come to the garden by the fountain. He said he thought it would make Uncle Qui in a better mood if he and Obi-Wan tried to get along. Obi didn't care too much for his older cousin, however since last night there had been a growing nagging worry about his dad. If it would make his father feel better to know that he and Damien were at least on speaking terms, he would do as Damien asked.
Obi-Wan did not like it when he saw Bruck enter and come straight for where the cousins sat on the large stones that bordered the edge of the fountain.
"What's he doing here?"
"Don't worry about it Cousin. He has only your best interests in mind, just like me."
"I'm not sure I believe that Damien. Just what did you want me to do? You said you wanted to make my dad feel better about you and me, before we left for our mission."
A little pride crept through the voice of the littlest padawan as he spoke of his first mission. Bruck became jealous of the boy going on a mission. He launched right into the real reason Obi-Wan was here.
Damien and Bruck did not leave any of the details out, even about Obi-Wan's mother's almost prosecution for a criminal offense. It didn't matter to them that they tarnished the snow white imagery of innocence Obi-Wan had painted of the memory of his beloved mother. His collective recollection of her was shattered in just a matter of minutes by the truth; the truth he never knew about and now wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Bruck told, with the most lavish detail, how Obi-Wan would be expected to give more blood once he returned to his mission just to be sure Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon's son. Bruck used a little of the truth he heard from the conversation between Qui-Gon and Mace and threw in his own elaborate lies to make Obi-Wan's predicament seem the worst it could possibly be.
"You know I don't think Jinn even wants you to be his son. I think he wants to prove you are not his son. That's why he wants another paternity test done. The Jedi and Qui-Gon can't rely on the first DNA, after what your mother did. Of course there is the belief that your mother could have been vicious enough toward you and Master Jinn to have altered your blood sample reports and that you aren't his son."
Obi-Wan sat and stared at the paper. This was kept from him by his father if Qui-Gon truly is my father.
//Why didn't dad… I mean Master Jinn tell me about her? How could she have done this? She isn't even the mom I thought she was and now I don't even know if Dad is the Dad I think he is. If so, he is as deceitful as she was. All that chanting about lies and deceptions I got from him and I find out he tells more and bigger ones than I do.//
"Don't worry kid. If he doesn't find out you know about this, he won't leave you on that planet he is going too."
"I don't understand why my master is doing this? He wouldn't just leave me there."
"He now believes he has been tricked by your mom. Seems even if he is your dad both your parents kinda did you wrong, Obi. Neither really cared about you. Master Jinn has to keep you, his son or not, because of the Jedi council's insistence he do so and your mother.. Well, we will never know what her reasons were for what she did. Her secrets went to the grave with her."
"Remember how cruel he was when you first arrived Obi-Wan. That day you and he made a trip to the barn. That's how he truly feels about you even now.. He was able to rein in his anger for having you with him, because that is what the precious Jedi council masters wanted of him; you to be trained as a Jedi by him. I guess it is their way to finally get back at your mom even if she is dead; to train her son as the very thing she hated most in life, the Jedi."
Obi-Wan listened and did recall clearly how overly cruel and distant his father had been to him when he first met him and then at his home when Obi-Wan first started school. He had forgotten what a rocky start he and Qui-Gon had started off on until now….. He had been filled with too much happiness and the feeling he was wanted to let the memories of their meeting linger anywhere in his mind.
//He did abruptly change his opinion of me? Was Dad ever sincere about caring for me or did the Jedi tell him he had too?//
So many unanswered questions. Questions, Obi-Wan didn't know how to find the answer too.
Damien saw Qui-Gon headed for the garden through the glass doors.
"Hey there's Uncle Qui-Gon. Better scatter Bruck."
"Here Kenobi, I need that clipping back."
Obi-Wan tried to keep it. Damien grabbed it from his hand and left out the back door to the outside with Bruck. They didn't want to cause any suspicion from Jinn right now. Their plan was in place. What Obi-Wan did with his new found knowledge of his parents was another thing.
"Obi-Wan, Master Riddon told me I might find you in here. Where is Damien?"
"How should I know."
A curt remark from his son was not what his master expected from him, went uncorrected by Master Jinn. His thoughts still dwelled somewhere other than the here and now.
"Excuse me, is there something wrong? Master Riddon said Damien was in here with you and I wanted to make sure everything was alright between the two of you."
"Fine, everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be? I haven nothing against him and he surely shouldn't have anything against me, your padawan. At least not now."
"Obi-Wan you know what I meant I suppose things must be alright. I don't even see Damien around."
"He's not. If that is all, may I go now?"
"Yes, but I thought you might be more enthused about the mission. I have some things for you to read. I will get them once we board the transport. Master Yoda is sending them. I thought I might give you some info on the planet now, if you would like."
"That's alright I will read it on the ship. I will have three days."
"Yes well that is true. Had the trip not been so long, I had hoped to go to Coruscant before we left. It seems though Master Yoda has decided we don't have time to stop by the main temple. We will stop on our return trip home. There are some blood tests the healers wish to do on the both of us."
Obi-Wan caught his breath with a deep hitch. There was the proof he thought he needed. Padawan Chun told him that his dad wanted him to have further blood tests to see if Obi was his real son. Now Obi-Wan knew for sure or he thought he did that what Chun told him was indeed the truth..
//I must not be his son, or at least Dad suspects there is a chance I am not.//
Had the boy been alone he might have broken into tears, however he couldn't let his father know he knew the truth. The child could not have felt more betrayed, not just by one parent but also by the other. His beloved mother had lied to him. This man he had grown to love as a father was possibly nothing more but a Jedi master to him. And worst of all Jinn actually suspected Obi-Wan might not be his son, and he wanted the truth. Had Master Yoda not stopped him Jinn would have had that truth before the mission. If he wasn't his son, what would Qui-Gon do, get rid of him even over the insistence of the Jedi council to keep him?
//Master Qui-Gon wanted the results before the mission. That way if I wasn't his son, he wouldn't have taken me with him. He probably doesn't want me there now with the uncertainty of me being his son looming over him. //
Obi-Wan sat there not looking at his father as the confusion in his mind mounted and overwhelmed him. Every possible scenario of the situation between them, good or bad flashed through Obi's mind. He didn't know what lay ahead of him or if anything did. Why was his father doing this?"
//Qui-Gon must have sound reasons for believing I may not be his son and he wants to know with certainty. Maybe if he finds out I am not and mom tricked him like she did the Jedi padawans' reports, I will be sent away somewhere..but where…? There is no one else who wants to love me… Maybe now, Dad doesn't want too either........ //
Had Qui-Gon not been so absorbed with himself he would have noticed a difference in his little padawan. He tried hard to occupy his mind with other thoughts. He remembered the last time he was on Zarth.
The King and Queen had been quite taken by the towering master when he went there to represent the Jedi in the coronation of King Rozell thirty years ago . It had been Jinn's first mission as a young knight. He would stop for visits with them from time to time as was allowed by his hectic schedule. The King and Queen never forgot his friendship and had lingered on for these thirty years now.
The planet Zarth had always been ruled by a monarchist government. The ruler was the first born son from generation to generation. Why King Rozel wanted to change the governing succession order was a mystery to Qui-Gon, but it was not his job to question it. His job would be to find out who continued to make death threats to the King because he wanted a change in the succession to the thrown.
Why should the council have sent a master and his apprentice to settle a family squabble?
Master Jinn knew it was more to it than that. He was understating the situation. The King wanted to put in his will that the younger son was to follow in his footsteps as king once he was gone.
Senator Gerod, the leading diplomatic overseer of the government had put up so much public objection to the King's plan that assassination threats had been made on him by a secret group of objectors known as Aronites. That was how extreme the senator had managed to rile the people against the king. They wanted the rightful son, Mason to take over as King and not Emon the younger. The Senate, led by Gerod wanted a vote by the people to decide which son would be the next king. The people of course favored the rightful heir, Mason. That was not how it went in a monarch. It was through succession that the future king was chosen, but then again King Rozel had ignored the normal succession of the throne and had evidently rewrote the laws governing the monarchy of Zarth.
The Jedi council felt the people might be enraged enough that the end result could be the overthrow of the monarchy. The government would then be replaced by a dictator and they thought if Gerod had his way, it would be himself. The Jedi thought that just maybe the unnamed leader of the Aronite group might be Senator Gerod also.
Obi-Wan sat by his master and tried to remain focused on the reading material Master Jinn had given him. He was not doing very good with concentrating on the task.
In his little eight-year old mind he wouldn't have really minded that Master Jinn wasn't his father as long as he wanted to be. What's a blood test anyway? They can't prove love can they?.
Too bad adults could not think as innocent and pure as a child. The galaxy would certainly be a calmer and more serene place to live if they could.
Qui-Gon wondered himself why it was so important about the blood test.
//I love the child as if he were my own already. Does a blood test matter? Do I just resent his mother for what I think she has done? it is not his fault. At least I hope he never exhibits the ability to betray those he cares about with so much wanton disrespect as she did. If she did switch the sample reports then she betrayed her own son.//
It was the first time for Obi-Wan to travel of a space transport overnight.. By the time they arrived on Zarth, the child was worn out mentally and physically. His father had barely spoken to him during the trip. He had not been cruel when he did speak with Obi-Wan, it just seemed to be seldom that he even acknowledged him at all.
By the time they got to King Rozel and Queen Bella's castle, Obi-Wan thought he might fall asleep on his feet. He had been expected to stay exactly three steps back and to the left of his master. He found it very hard to keep that three steps behind Qui-Gon. He would fall five, six, even seven steps back before he would run up to get back in his rightful place behind his master.
He wasn't even sure if his Dad knew how valiantly hard the boy battled just to keep step with his longer-gaited master. One step for Qui-Gon was two or three for him. The little padawan was certainly glad when they reached their destination.
They were met by the king himself. The queen decided she would visit with the Jedi later at last-meal. King Rozel greeted the Jedi with with a large smile, loud friendly conversation, and delicious cool drinks. A drink so good, Obi-Wan thought he could have drunk the entire pitcher had he been offered it. The Jedi never served anything so rich tasting with bit of various fruits floating throughout.
"Master Jinn, I see you have a new padawan."
Jinn winched. He didn't remember until now that the last visit here was with his former apprentice, Xanatos Crion, his first and only failure at padawan training. Xanatos was his one regret in his Jedi life.
"Yes. This is Obi-Wan Kenobi, my apprentice."
"Young isn't he Qui-Gon?"
"Well yes, but without going into to it, it was necessary to take him as my apprentice now, though he really doesn't act in an official apprentice capacity yet. You are right he's too young, but for the very basic Jedi apprentice training."
Obi-Wan mistook Jinn's desire to keep his private business private as some kind of shame of Obi-Wan which caused Qui-Gon to be unwilling to be introduce the child as his son as well as his apprentice. Obi-Wan was devastated by what he clearly thought was a snub by his father toward him.
//He's ashamed to tell them I am his son. Or maybe because he questions it.//
Qui-Gon had to reach over and actually nudge the child out of his thoughts.
"Padawan did you here what the king said? He has something he wishes to speak to me in private about. There is a servant just outside this door that will show you to our room. Now go!"
Qui-Gon was a "little put out" because he could not get his padawan's attention sooner. Obi-Wan should at least be able to stay focused on what was going on right before him. Jinn thought he would have to speak to the child about his lack of concentration in the presence of the king.
King Rozel made very sure that no one but he and Jinn remained in the room. Obi-Wan was abruptly dismissed by his master. He didn't have to be a Jedi to know his dad was not pleased with him allowing his mind wander to the point that he didn't here the suggestion the king to go else where while he talked with the older Jedi.
"Master Jinn, I am sure you wonder why I am so committed to having my second son become the rightful king once I am gone."
"Well I had wondered why you would want to disrupt the entire line of succession for the monarchy. I am sure you have your reasons and it is not for me to question it. I am here to find out who is threatens you with assignation because of your desire to change the inheritance of the thrown."
" I have to give you my explanation for my reasons. I am afraid I may have alienated my older son because of my desire to make my younger son next in line to become King."
"If you wish to tell me, I am here and will listen. However only if you wish too. You need to explain nothing to me."
"I feel I must and you will see what perplexing problem I am in. You see my son Mason is not my son by birthright."
It was quite a confession even for a non-judgmental Jedi to here.
"I am not sure I understand what you are saying."
"I am saying that Mason was only a child that was a replacement for my oldest son who died in child birth. My loyal trusted servant Haolb found a woman who had just given birth. He paid well for the child and sent her on her way off planet. She never knew who bought her son. My son is buried in an unmarked grave. Only Haolb and I knew of the truth. Of course he is dead now. So I make you the only other one to know of my sinful misdeed. A misdeed I very much regret now. My wife wanted the child so badly I feared for her sanity if she found out our child died."
"You certainly have laid much on my shoulders. I mean is there a problem with Mason? Is he is not capable of being the king?"
"No, you have it wrong. I love Mason equally to Emon. In fact I think Mason might make the better king. Nevertheless he does not have my blood flowing through his veins. He can not be king."
"I am sorry I still do understand. You just said he is worthy."
"He is more than worthy had only he been my true son. I love him as if he is but still through his veins flows the blood of some common prostitute off the city streets. He was born in an alley. There is no telling who or what his real father was. Might he not later exhibit tendencies from his parents?"
"I am not sure if he would or not. He was raised in an atmosphere of love and trust. I would think that was the most important factor in the molding of his character. However it is your decision of who you wish to be king. I will not interfere. I am here to see you don't get yourself killed and a civil uprising occurs in the process of the monarch change. You have only to let me know if you decide other than what you want now. I mean it is totally up too you."
"I hope this discussion is between you and I. The council is not to know."
"Yes, discretion is the best way to handle this. I will be as discreet as you have been all these years. It will go no further than between you and I. You have my word as a Jedi."
Qui-Gon had time to think what had just been told to him. Three flights of steps to walk up to get to his room was time enough to find the Jedi more confused than even before he and the King spoke.
//I am not the one to pass any kind of judgment on the king. He thinks the boy worthy of being the king but because his own blood doesn't run through the boy's veins he can't in good conscience let him be the next in line for the thrown. King Rozel has gotten himself into something that may result in his death. It also could destroy his family if it is ever found out.//
Once in the room he found his apprentice sound asleep on the bed.
"Padawan?"
Obi-Wan sat up immediately and tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes.
"Yes master. I am sorry. I fell sleep."
"I see that, so I assume your studies are completed and your meditations as well."
"Well no master I haven't done either yet. I still have this evening."
"Our evening will more than likely be spent with the king and queen. By rights I should have you do extra mediations for that little stunt you pulled in front of the king. You couldn't let your attention stay focused on the king for the five or ten minutes he spoke to us?"
"I know master. I just thought of something else."
"Jedi do not think of something other than our mission when we are in the middle of it. A loss of focus during a mission can be deadly to a Jedi. It could cost you your life. Now get up and do your class work I assigned. Hopefully we can meditate together after last-meal and time spent with the King. And Obi-Wan don't let me have to correct your behavior in front of the king again!!!!!!!"
PEACE ewen
//I have to know the truth. //
Fear of losing the boy seized the man's very heart. Although he might still be able to keep Obi-Wan, if he had no other relatives but that would mean he was not his son. Jinn had just adapted to the fact that he would have a son to carry on the Jinn legacy. Yes Damien was a Jinn but not his "Jinn". Obi-Wan would carry on the legacy for the Jinns within the Jedi order. Something that grew more and more appealing to the master. That was one reason he hoped Obi-Wan would change his mind and become a Jedi. Now he found his hopes might just be dashed out by the clever maneuvering of Obi-Wan's mother.
Once inside his office, Jinn commed Mace. He was told Master Windu was busy but that didn't stop the big master.
He put on such a display of irate verbal disdain over not being allowed to speak to his friend immediately that the padawan who answered the calls, didn't even contact Mace to get permission. She piped Master Jinn straight through.
"Oh, hello Qui-Gon anything going on?"
"Mace I have called for a reason, a very important reason. You told me you checked the DNA of Obi-Wan personally?"
"Of course. Why? What are you worried about that now? It has been over six months since Obi-Wan went you. I know he is your son."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes of course I am sure. I would not have delivered such news, unless I knew with certainty first. What has gotten into to you?"
"Kaylin, Mace. Remember what she did with the blood sample information of the potential padawans. That is one of the reasons we are so short on apprentices now. She hacked into the computer system and changed the midichlorian reports of the potential padawans. The Jedi order released over a hundred potential children over a six months time from every Jedi temple within the galaxy."
"Yes, Qui-Gon I remember that well. Her interference almost destroyed the natural rhythm of succession within the Jedi order, from training apprentices to trained knights. Although we managed to keep some nasty little mishap secret, you know some of it leaked out to the public papers. Yoda had it stopped immediately. But I do remember at least one news tabloid that carried it. We haven't brought this up since it happened. Had she not been linked to you she might have possibly spent time in prison. Did your mother bring this up? She must have. She didn't tell Obi-Wan of his mother's dishonesty did she? That would truly harm the child I think. If you tell him, it must be later when he is older and you and he have grown closer. Just what is it?"
"First, before I answer your questions answer one more for me."
"I will, of course, if I can."
"Be absolutely sure of how this was done."
"Sure of what Qui-Gon? I truly believe you have lost your mind. Yes I will be sure but of what I don't know yet."
"You said the DNA testing of Obi-Wan was done by the healers at the temple. Now I know you already had a sample of my blood stored at the healers, but how did you attain Obi-Wan's?"
"Didn't I tell you that already? We checked Obi's blood to yours and pesto, the DNA matched. He is without a doubt your son."
"Now Mace you told me you procured a sample of Obi-Wan's blood?"
It was a question and not a statement.
On the other end of the commlink Mace sat in his chair perplexed by Jinn's line of questioning. He nodded yes to himself in answer to Jinn's words.
"Yes, that is right, I said I procured a sample, WHY!?!"
"Wait, wait Mace I told you my questions first and you agreed. Just how did you acquire Obi-Wan's blood?"
"Let me see. Oh yes, the healers contacted the hospital where Obi-Wan was born. They, in turn sent all his records including his birth certificate and blood samples reports taken at birth or shortly there after."
There it was. The healers had not drawn blood from Obi at the temple and they didn't review the actual blood sample from the hospital. They got their information off a piece of paper. Was it a "doctored" record of Obi-Wan's blood? There was a least a possiblity that Kaylin tampered with the sample reports. She could have easily changed the report to say what kind of blood Obi had. After all, that was what she almost went to prison for. Mace realized as soon as he said the words what Jinn was getting at.
Maybe Obi-Wan wasn't his true son and it was another cruel ruse by his dead love to make Obi-Wan appear to be.
"No Qui she wouldn't have done that. She hated the Jedi, enough I think that she wouldn't want you to have shared in the life of her son."
"She left a will Mace. She wanted me to take the child, but I still don't understand why. Maybe she thought it would be some punishment for me to be straddled with a child in the Jedi order if anything should ever happen to her. As her luck or bad luck would have it something did happen before Obi-Wan was raised, Kaylin was tragically killed."
"This can be solved simply. All you have to do is bring Obi-Wan to the Coruscant temple to be tested. Then there will be no questions, or surprises later in life if he isn't."
"Yes that is what I will have to do. I have no choice really. Mace would you do me one more favor?"
"If I can and you promise to calm down a bit."
"Ask Master Yoda to contact me later this evening."
"Oh, don't worry, he planned too anyway. Seems he has this pressing mission. It is not the one he planned to send you on. The delegates of Zarth have asked for you specifically and it is extremely important. I will let Yoda explain. He knows more about it than I do."
"Very well thank you."
As soon as he broke contact with Mace, Qui-Gon slumped back his chair and covered his face with his hands.
//I am a Jedi. I should be able to handle this better than I am. I know not to jump to conclusions instead, wait for the facts. Yes that is what I will do. I will tell Master Yoda that I plan to leave tomorrow for Coruscant. Obi-Wan and I can leave for our mission from there. The parental matter will be known with certainty before we start our mission.//
################ That evening. Jinn paced the length of his room as he thought of Kaylin and of her deceit of the blood sample records of the Jedi. It was clearly an act of revenge on his former love's part. She blamed the Jedi for her and Qui-Gon's breakup. She couldn't except that Qui-Gon chose the Jedi over her. She felt they had a mental hold on him and wouldn't let him leave them for her.
A knock at the bedroom door brought Jinn back from the past to the present. He found himself guilty of doing what he always taught his padawans not too, living in the future or the past. One must always stay focused on the here and now. Yes, he was guilty of living he and Kaylin's past over and over again that evening.
"Yes!"
He didn't have to ask, for he knew it was his bright, bubbly, ginger head son begging for entrance to his father's room.
Obi-Wan literally skipped over to his master's big bed.
"HI Dad. It's alright to call you dad now right?"
"Yes of course why not.?"
Qui-Gon was lost in thought so deeply, he did not know what the child meant.
"Well I know you said in the privacy of our rooms, I can say dad but downstairs around the Jedi it is officially Master."
Obi-Wan puffed out his chest and mocked his father's deep gravelly voice when he said "officially Master." He was clearly mimicking his father's words to him in a copied-version of the dialect of his father's.
Qui-Gon reached down and rubbed the top of the boy's head.
"What is it Obi-Wan? Did you want something?"
The physical touch was there but Obi-Wan couldn't miss the complacency and distance in his master's voice; even in his mannerisms.
Obi-Wan's next words did not have the vibrancy in them that his first ones held. He looked up to see the sad features on his father's face.
"I didn't really want anything I guess. I just came to say goodnight?"
A touch of anger flared in Jinn. He could feel that what Obi-Wan just said was a lie. He hated lies. Obi's mother had been so good at telling them.
"What have you been told about lying."
Qui-Gon held his anger in so he could seem to remain calm, almost pleasing as he confronted his son about the lie ever how small and inconsequential it was. Qui-Gon Jinn thought all lies carried with them consequences. //A lie is a lie, no matter for what reason,// thought the master.
"Well I guess it might have been a lie."
Obi, thought maybe what he just said was a lie for he didn't think he knew he lied. He had wanted something; the companionship of his dad.
"No I mean I did lie but it was a little one."
"Obi-Wan there is no such thing as a little lie. That's like committing a little robbery because you didn't get much money."
"I'm sorry Dad. I mean I really came here to ask you if I could visit and talk with you awhile; maybe even sleep in here again. We had so much fun last night….well I had so much fun last night. Anyway, once I saw that you had something on your mind I decided not to bother you with my company tonight."
Just great. Here he is trying to give me a break and all I do is try to gage how much like his mother he is.; if he could be as good at deception as her. What's wrong with me?
Jinn walked over and sat at the end of his bed. He pulled the little boy to him and then up into his lap.
"I am sorry Obi-Wan but you know how I feel about lying. I guess I am on edge a little."
//A little? Now that's an understatement.. I'm definitely on edge tonight.//
Obi-Wan glanced up to now see sadness and despair his dad's stormed-colored eyes. He wouldn't have been able to put it in those exact words, but he knew somehow his father was troubled about something.
"Maybe I should just go to bed now. I mean we have lots of nights to spend together. Like maybe a lifetime since you're my dad."
The words cut right through Jinn. He didn't know why but he very abruptly put Obi-Wan down and out of his lap. In doing so, he put his son down harder than he thought. The bottom of Obi-Wan's bare feet tingled when they hit the hardwood floor. The suddenness of it shocked Obi-Wan so much so that he backed away some from his dad.
"I guess I will go now. Good night master."
"Listen Obi, I am sorry I just have something on my mind tonight. It' s.. I will talk with you later about it. However tonight I do need some time alone."
"It was the truth. Qui-Gon would talk to him later, but how much later would depend on whether Obi-Wan was his son or not.
""It's alright I understand."
//Boy, I am glad he can't invade my mind, for I just told another "little white lie." I don't understand Dad at all tonight. He seems different than he was last night. //
Jinn was definitely glad to hear his former master's voice. It always brought him a certain amount of serenity to him no matter what his problems were.
"Here I have, concerns there are about Kenobi?"
"Yes I suppose Mace told you of what I suspect."
"Is it you who suspects this or did someone place it in you mind to question the fatherhood of Obi-Wan."
"You are right my mother did bring it you but the more I thought about it, the more I am convinced she has a very valid point."
"Then thought about it too much I would say,,hey ? Maybe give you that mission of which Mace mentioned to keep your mind from such destructive thinking."
"It may be destructive my old master but it has at least validity to it. Do you not agree?"
"Validity it could have. Thought of it I wouldn't. Does not the boy have your obstinate stubborn streak, your blazing blue eyes. Your son, Kenobi is. Need not blood to prove it."
"Maybe you don't master but I do. However what proof do I have to substantiate the supposed truth? I want to stop by Coruscant and get Obi-Wan retested. NO, not retested actually tested by our healers. Blood drawn by them and studied by them only."
"Your desires must be put on hold they will be. Not enough time to do what you want. Leave from your temple you will in twenty-four hours. Mission on Zarth. Your personal matters, wait they will."
"Master Yoda don't do this to me. I want to know with certainty. I don't want that question lingering on my mind during the entire mission."
"Child you are not. Jedi master, the best in fact, you are. Know of the importance of patience you should by now. Personal issues dictate your life they can not, Master Jinn. Mission first then life's issues come second they will. Now, no time for this I have. Ready the paperwork I will, Be sent on transport that will arrive in one day exactly to pick you and your apprentice up. If son he is not, apprentice he still is. Learn trust and to be trusted you both should on this mission. Speak of this only after the mission we will. Be careful you should be and "May the force be with you my padawan."
Qui-Gon sat at his desk silenced by the words of his former master and head master of the Coruscant temple. He would have to wait for "sith knew when" to find out the true results of the blood test.
########
Bruck and Damien headed for their rooms. It was almost time for light's out call and neither wanted to get into trouble for being out of their rooms after the curfew.
"Here Bruck I have to stop and tell my Grandmother good night."
"Still grandma's little boy?"
Damien laughed.
"Well in her eyes I am. I can get almost anything from her. All I have to do is ask."
"Let's see if her loyalty and idol worship comes in handy."
Bruck planned to wait outside the door but Myra Jinn invited him in along with her grandson. Bruck and Damien both noticed that when they entered, she quickly stuffed a newspaper clipping inside of a memento album of some kind and placed it on the bottom self of her night stand.
"What's the matter Grandmother, you seem upset?"
"Well your Uncle Qui-Gon and I had another run-in about that boy of his."
"Did you hurt your feelings?"
"Yes but I may have hurt his too. I asked him if he was positive Obi-Wan was his son."
It was something that should not have been discussed with Bruck in the room. As soon as she noted her error she stopped.
"Well anyway I shouldn't say anything."
That got both boy's thinking of what she meant.
Bruck spoke up and Damien thought he had lost your mind.
"Did you forget Damien, you wanted to ask your Grandmother to make that infamous sandwich you love so much."
"What…. uhn Oh yea, but I guess I shouldn't bother you so late, plus you are upset and all."
Damien hadn't mentioned he wanted anything else to eat.
"No, no, Damien I am never too busy to fix something for you."
All three started to leave. Damien gave his friend a questioning look, but Bruck only smiled and waved him on.
They started to walk to the kitchen.
"Oh, I laid my data pad down in your room Mrs. Jinn. Do I have your permission to get it?"
"Yes, of course then meet us in the kitchen and I will let you sample my "infamous" sandwich as you call it."
She was pleased that Damien had taken the time to tell Bruck of you culinary abilities.
Damien thought at first, Bruck had gone totally insane. First Bruck prodded Myra into making sandwiches not asked for and now Bruck wanted to return to his Grandmother's room to retrieve a data pad he didn't even have with him.
##########
Once inside Grandmother's Jinn's room, Padawan Chun went straight to the scrape book album. He pulled the faded and age-yellowed tabloid clipping from her personal mementos.
KAYLIN KENOBI HELD FOR MIDICLHORIAN TESTS SCAM
A broad smile appeared on Bruck Chun's face as he read the headline above a picture of Master Jinn with Obi's mother.
//I think I just found the ammo to shoot Padawan Kenobi right out of the water. //
#########in the kitchen#############
Bruck thanked Mother Jinn for the sandwich she made him and the boys headed back to their rooms to eat it before the curfew.
"What was that all about? You didn't take anything from my Grandmother's room, did you?"
"Are you asking me if I stole anything, no Damien I didn't. I did borrow something though."
"Oh, man I hope my Grandmother doesn't miss it. She will throw a fit."
"Well maybe if she notices it missing she will think she misplaced it. She had it out while we were there."
"What is it, that tabloid clipping? What was it about? It couldn't have anything to do with us. It's too old."
"It has a lot to do with us, my friend. What's more important it had a great deal to do with your little cousin. Here take a look."
Damien read the clipping Bruck handed him. It took a few moments to figure it out and then he didn't know all of what Bruck meant.
"So Obi-Wan's mom was like an almost criminal. According to the clipping had she not been Qui-Gon's old love, the Jedi would have prosecuted her."
Bruck reread the the aged article.
"I still don't get it."
"Look man she faked over a hundred documented midichlorian reports. The Jedi let that many kids go thinking they didn't have enough of the force to remain Jedi. Now remember what you Grandmother said; before she realized she shouldn't be blabbing with me in the room."
"Hey don't be raggin' on my Grandmother."
"Alright fine but she mentioned Obi-Wan not being the real son to Qui-Gon. What if he isn't. What if the mom did something that only caused Obi-Wan to seem to be your uncle's. I bet Obi-Wan wouldn't even stay with Qui-Gon then or become a Jedi. Maybe Master Jinn wouldn't even want him."
"I don't know about that. You might be jumping to conclusions."
"So what if we are? We can show Obi-Wan this clipping, tell him to tell no one, and then we will spring the zinger on him."
"And just what is our zinger, Bruck?"
"You show him this, then tell him that Jinn isn't really his dad. That they, the Jedi are keeping it from him just to get him to remain at Jinn's side as an apprentice. I don't think he would welcome that. Let him believe Qui-Gon lied to him only to get him into the Jedi order. We can tell Obi-Wan Master Jinn knows the truth about his parents and Qui-Gon isn't one of them. Tell him Master Jinn lied to him. That should put the "icing on the cake.""
"I don't know. They have to go on a mission. Won't all this trouble interfere with that?"
"Don't you see that is one of the best parts. Obi-Wan and his Dad will be stuck together the entire time. That will be more than enough time for the brat to build up resentment toward his father. Also he might not think as clearly with all that is on his mind. Mistakes made, displeased father, and everything blows up on them, KA -POW."
"What if it backfires? What if Obi-Wan tells Uncle Qui-Gon what we told him?"
"We will think of something. Make him promise not to tell. Tell him he could get in real big trouble especially on a mission if Master Jinn knew. Maybe in so much trouble his father will just leave him on the planet stranded. He's just a little kid, he'll believe you. We'll tell him if he won't become a Jedi, Jinn has no use for him as his son."
"Yes.. If it works, I like it. No, I would love it. We better get to our rooms. When do we do this?"
"We don't know when they will leave on their mission, so I say, first thing in the morning. It's the weekend so our time is ours. I'll let you know how to get him in the garden then spring it on him. Yes!!!! Here give me the clipping for safe keeping. Let's go before we get grounded and can't get out to complete our plan. Padawan Kenobi will have a lot of surprises tomorrow. Even if he learns later they are lies, hopefully it will be too late for him. The damage will be done."
Damien reached his room first. Bruck had to go to the other side of the hall where the Jedi padawans and their masters had rooms. He passed Master Jinn's room, stopped and took two steps backward. The door to Jinn's room was slightly ajar. He could here a one sided conversation by Qui-Gon.
//He must be on the comm with someone.//
Padawan Chun started to walk away and then heard something too interesting for him too ignore.
"I know Mace, but Master Yoda has already said I must go on the mission first before I can look into getting another blood test done on Obi-Wan to make sure of his parentage."
Then nothing……. Evidently Mace was saying something on from other end of the comm unit. Qui-Gon picked up the conversation after a period of silence.
"I thought we shared a father/son bond, but I suppose in my zeal to form a bond with Obi-Wan, I may have mistaken an extension of the training bond for a father/son bond. I know the training bond started first. To be honest, I am just confused Mace. I don't know what I want. If Obi-Wan would open his side of the bond I could further investigate and figure all this out. Now I am not sure I want him to open his side of the bond. I am not sure I want to know the truth if he is my son or not."
//Well, well, well, secrets are in abundance this day. I can't wait to tell Damien. We now have the one thing we needed to complete our plan. Master Jinn truly doesn't know if Kenobi is his son or not. //
Bruck told Damien of the overheard conversation between Master Windu and Master Jinn, before they even reached the break-fast table. The boys were like someone with ants in their pants. Even Myra Jinn made a comment about the anxiety Damien seemed to exhibit.
While at the table Qui-Gon brought up the mission Obi-Wan and he would be going on.
Obi-Wan was thrilled but surprised that they would leave later that evening. After break-fast, Master Jinn told his padawan to pack his things and then he had the rest of the day to relax. They would be on a public transport for three days. There were not much sleeping arrangements on those. He and Obi-Wan would go to the small town adjacent to the temple and catch the public transport from there.
Obi-Wan did as he was told but something about his father worried him. Even with the bond not connecting from his side there was closeness normally felt by father and son that wasn't there. Qui-Gon still seemed distant with his thoughts centered somewhere else. Obi-Wan did not want to question him for he seemed to have suffered a massive mood swing which had in turn nullified their newly found closeness. After last night he wasn't sure of anything when it came to his father.
It was about half hour before everyone would meet in the dining hall for mid-day meal. Damien had convinced Obi-Wan to come to the garden by the fountain. He said he thought it would make Uncle Qui in a better mood if he and Obi-Wan tried to get along. Obi didn't care too much for his older cousin, however since last night there had been a growing nagging worry about his dad. If it would make his father feel better to know that he and Damien were at least on speaking terms, he would do as Damien asked.
Obi-Wan did not like it when he saw Bruck enter and come straight for where the cousins sat on the large stones that bordered the edge of the fountain.
"What's he doing here?"
"Don't worry about it Cousin. He has only your best interests in mind, just like me."
"I'm not sure I believe that Damien. Just what did you want me to do? You said you wanted to make my dad feel better about you and me, before we left for our mission."
A little pride crept through the voice of the littlest padawan as he spoke of his first mission. Bruck became jealous of the boy going on a mission. He launched right into the real reason Obi-Wan was here.
Damien and Bruck did not leave any of the details out, even about Obi-Wan's mother's almost prosecution for a criminal offense. It didn't matter to them that they tarnished the snow white imagery of innocence Obi-Wan had painted of the memory of his beloved mother. His collective recollection of her was shattered in just a matter of minutes by the truth; the truth he never knew about and now wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Bruck told, with the most lavish detail, how Obi-Wan would be expected to give more blood once he returned to his mission just to be sure Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon's son. Bruck used a little of the truth he heard from the conversation between Qui-Gon and Mace and threw in his own elaborate lies to make Obi-Wan's predicament seem the worst it could possibly be.
"You know I don't think Jinn even wants you to be his son. I think he wants to prove you are not his son. That's why he wants another paternity test done. The Jedi and Qui-Gon can't rely on the first DNA, after what your mother did. Of course there is the belief that your mother could have been vicious enough toward you and Master Jinn to have altered your blood sample reports and that you aren't his son."
Obi-Wan sat and stared at the paper. This was kept from him by his father if Qui-Gon truly is my father.
//Why didn't dad… I mean Master Jinn tell me about her? How could she have done this? She isn't even the mom I thought she was and now I don't even know if Dad is the Dad I think he is. If so, he is as deceitful as she was. All that chanting about lies and deceptions I got from him and I find out he tells more and bigger ones than I do.//
"Don't worry kid. If he doesn't find out you know about this, he won't leave you on that planet he is going too."
"I don't understand why my master is doing this? He wouldn't just leave me there."
"He now believes he has been tricked by your mom. Seems even if he is your dad both your parents kinda did you wrong, Obi. Neither really cared about you. Master Jinn has to keep you, his son or not, because of the Jedi council's insistence he do so and your mother.. Well, we will never know what her reasons were for what she did. Her secrets went to the grave with her."
"Remember how cruel he was when you first arrived Obi-Wan. That day you and he made a trip to the barn. That's how he truly feels about you even now.. He was able to rein in his anger for having you with him, because that is what the precious Jedi council masters wanted of him; you to be trained as a Jedi by him. I guess it is their way to finally get back at your mom even if she is dead; to train her son as the very thing she hated most in life, the Jedi."
Obi-Wan listened and did recall clearly how overly cruel and distant his father had been to him when he first met him and then at his home when Obi-Wan first started school. He had forgotten what a rocky start he and Qui-Gon had started off on until now….. He had been filled with too much happiness and the feeling he was wanted to let the memories of their meeting linger anywhere in his mind.
//He did abruptly change his opinion of me? Was Dad ever sincere about caring for me or did the Jedi tell him he had too?//
So many unanswered questions. Questions, Obi-Wan didn't know how to find the answer too.
Damien saw Qui-Gon headed for the garden through the glass doors.
"Hey there's Uncle Qui-Gon. Better scatter Bruck."
"Here Kenobi, I need that clipping back."
Obi-Wan tried to keep it. Damien grabbed it from his hand and left out the back door to the outside with Bruck. They didn't want to cause any suspicion from Jinn right now. Their plan was in place. What Obi-Wan did with his new found knowledge of his parents was another thing.
"Obi-Wan, Master Riddon told me I might find you in here. Where is Damien?"
"How should I know."
A curt remark from his son was not what his master expected from him, went uncorrected by Master Jinn. His thoughts still dwelled somewhere other than the here and now.
"Excuse me, is there something wrong? Master Riddon said Damien was in here with you and I wanted to make sure everything was alright between the two of you."
"Fine, everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be? I haven nothing against him and he surely shouldn't have anything against me, your padawan. At least not now."
"Obi-Wan you know what I meant I suppose things must be alright. I don't even see Damien around."
"He's not. If that is all, may I go now?"
"Yes, but I thought you might be more enthused about the mission. I have some things for you to read. I will get them once we board the transport. Master Yoda is sending them. I thought I might give you some info on the planet now, if you would like."
"That's alright I will read it on the ship. I will have three days."
"Yes well that is true. Had the trip not been so long, I had hoped to go to Coruscant before we left. It seems though Master Yoda has decided we don't have time to stop by the main temple. We will stop on our return trip home. There are some blood tests the healers wish to do on the both of us."
Obi-Wan caught his breath with a deep hitch. There was the proof he thought he needed. Padawan Chun told him that his dad wanted him to have further blood tests to see if Obi was his real son. Now Obi-Wan knew for sure or he thought he did that what Chun told him was indeed the truth..
//I must not be his son, or at least Dad suspects there is a chance I am not.//
Had the boy been alone he might have broken into tears, however he couldn't let his father know he knew the truth. The child could not have felt more betrayed, not just by one parent but also by the other. His beloved mother had lied to him. This man he had grown to love as a father was possibly nothing more but a Jedi master to him. And worst of all Jinn actually suspected Obi-Wan might not be his son, and he wanted the truth. Had Master Yoda not stopped him Jinn would have had that truth before the mission. If he wasn't his son, what would Qui-Gon do, get rid of him even over the insistence of the Jedi council to keep him?
//Master Qui-Gon wanted the results before the mission. That way if I wasn't his son, he wouldn't have taken me with him. He probably doesn't want me there now with the uncertainty of me being his son looming over him. //
Obi-Wan sat there not looking at his father as the confusion in his mind mounted and overwhelmed him. Every possible scenario of the situation between them, good or bad flashed through Obi's mind. He didn't know what lay ahead of him or if anything did. Why was his father doing this?"
//Qui-Gon must have sound reasons for believing I may not be his son and he wants to know with certainty. Maybe if he finds out I am not and mom tricked him like she did the Jedi padawans' reports, I will be sent away somewhere..but where…? There is no one else who wants to love me… Maybe now, Dad doesn't want too either........ //
Had Qui-Gon not been so absorbed with himself he would have noticed a difference in his little padawan. He tried hard to occupy his mind with other thoughts. He remembered the last time he was on Zarth.
The King and Queen had been quite taken by the towering master when he went there to represent the Jedi in the coronation of King Rozell thirty years ago . It had been Jinn's first mission as a young knight. He would stop for visits with them from time to time as was allowed by his hectic schedule. The King and Queen never forgot his friendship and had lingered on for these thirty years now.
The planet Zarth had always been ruled by a monarchist government. The ruler was the first born son from generation to generation. Why King Rozel wanted to change the governing succession order was a mystery to Qui-Gon, but it was not his job to question it. His job would be to find out who continued to make death threats to the King because he wanted a change in the succession to the thrown.
Why should the council have sent a master and his apprentice to settle a family squabble?
Master Jinn knew it was more to it than that. He was understating the situation. The King wanted to put in his will that the younger son was to follow in his footsteps as king once he was gone.
Senator Gerod, the leading diplomatic overseer of the government had put up so much public objection to the King's plan that assassination threats had been made on him by a secret group of objectors known as Aronites. That was how extreme the senator had managed to rile the people against the king. They wanted the rightful son, Mason to take over as King and not Emon the younger. The Senate, led by Gerod wanted a vote by the people to decide which son would be the next king. The people of course favored the rightful heir, Mason. That was not how it went in a monarch. It was through succession that the future king was chosen, but then again King Rozel had ignored the normal succession of the throne and had evidently rewrote the laws governing the monarchy of Zarth.
The Jedi council felt the people might be enraged enough that the end result could be the overthrow of the monarchy. The government would then be replaced by a dictator and they thought if Gerod had his way, it would be himself. The Jedi thought that just maybe the unnamed leader of the Aronite group might be Senator Gerod also.
Obi-Wan sat by his master and tried to remain focused on the reading material Master Jinn had given him. He was not doing very good with concentrating on the task.
In his little eight-year old mind he wouldn't have really minded that Master Jinn wasn't his father as long as he wanted to be. What's a blood test anyway? They can't prove love can they?.
Too bad adults could not think as innocent and pure as a child. The galaxy would certainly be a calmer and more serene place to live if they could.
Qui-Gon wondered himself why it was so important about the blood test.
//I love the child as if he were my own already. Does a blood test matter? Do I just resent his mother for what I think she has done? it is not his fault. At least I hope he never exhibits the ability to betray those he cares about with so much wanton disrespect as she did. If she did switch the sample reports then she betrayed her own son.//
It was the first time for Obi-Wan to travel of a space transport overnight.. By the time they arrived on Zarth, the child was worn out mentally and physically. His father had barely spoken to him during the trip. He had not been cruel when he did speak with Obi-Wan, it just seemed to be seldom that he even acknowledged him at all.
By the time they got to King Rozel and Queen Bella's castle, Obi-Wan thought he might fall asleep on his feet. He had been expected to stay exactly three steps back and to the left of his master. He found it very hard to keep that three steps behind Qui-Gon. He would fall five, six, even seven steps back before he would run up to get back in his rightful place behind his master.
He wasn't even sure if his Dad knew how valiantly hard the boy battled just to keep step with his longer-gaited master. One step for Qui-Gon was two or three for him. The little padawan was certainly glad when they reached their destination.
They were met by the king himself. The queen decided she would visit with the Jedi later at last-meal. King Rozel greeted the Jedi with with a large smile, loud friendly conversation, and delicious cool drinks. A drink so good, Obi-Wan thought he could have drunk the entire pitcher had he been offered it. The Jedi never served anything so rich tasting with bit of various fruits floating throughout.
"Master Jinn, I see you have a new padawan."
Jinn winched. He didn't remember until now that the last visit here was with his former apprentice, Xanatos Crion, his first and only failure at padawan training. Xanatos was his one regret in his Jedi life.
"Yes. This is Obi-Wan Kenobi, my apprentice."
"Young isn't he Qui-Gon?"
"Well yes, but without going into to it, it was necessary to take him as my apprentice now, though he really doesn't act in an official apprentice capacity yet. You are right he's too young, but for the very basic Jedi apprentice training."
Obi-Wan mistook Jinn's desire to keep his private business private as some kind of shame of Obi-Wan which caused Qui-Gon to be unwilling to be introduce the child as his son as well as his apprentice. Obi-Wan was devastated by what he clearly thought was a snub by his father toward him.
//He's ashamed to tell them I am his son. Or maybe because he questions it.//
Qui-Gon had to reach over and actually nudge the child out of his thoughts.
"Padawan did you here what the king said? He has something he wishes to speak to me in private about. There is a servant just outside this door that will show you to our room. Now go!"
Qui-Gon was a "little put out" because he could not get his padawan's attention sooner. Obi-Wan should at least be able to stay focused on what was going on right before him. Jinn thought he would have to speak to the child about his lack of concentration in the presence of the king.
King Rozel made very sure that no one but he and Jinn remained in the room. Obi-Wan was abruptly dismissed by his master. He didn't have to be a Jedi to know his dad was not pleased with him allowing his mind wander to the point that he didn't here the suggestion the king to go else where while he talked with the older Jedi.
"Master Jinn, I am sure you wonder why I am so committed to having my second son become the rightful king once I am gone."
"Well I had wondered why you would want to disrupt the entire line of succession for the monarchy. I am sure you have your reasons and it is not for me to question it. I am here to find out who is threatens you with assignation because of your desire to change the inheritance of the thrown."
" I have to give you my explanation for my reasons. I am afraid I may have alienated my older son because of my desire to make my younger son next in line to become King."
"If you wish to tell me, I am here and will listen. However only if you wish too. You need to explain nothing to me."
"I feel I must and you will see what perplexing problem I am in. You see my son Mason is not my son by birthright."
It was quite a confession even for a non-judgmental Jedi to here.
"I am not sure I understand what you are saying."
"I am saying that Mason was only a child that was a replacement for my oldest son who died in child birth. My loyal trusted servant Haolb found a woman who had just given birth. He paid well for the child and sent her on her way off planet. She never knew who bought her son. My son is buried in an unmarked grave. Only Haolb and I knew of the truth. Of course he is dead now. So I make you the only other one to know of my sinful misdeed. A misdeed I very much regret now. My wife wanted the child so badly I feared for her sanity if she found out our child died."
"You certainly have laid much on my shoulders. I mean is there a problem with Mason? Is he is not capable of being the king?"
"No, you have it wrong. I love Mason equally to Emon. In fact I think Mason might make the better king. Nevertheless he does not have my blood flowing through his veins. He can not be king."
"I am sorry I still do understand. You just said he is worthy."
"He is more than worthy had only he been my true son. I love him as if he is but still through his veins flows the blood of some common prostitute off the city streets. He was born in an alley. There is no telling who or what his real father was. Might he not later exhibit tendencies from his parents?"
"I am not sure if he would or not. He was raised in an atmosphere of love and trust. I would think that was the most important factor in the molding of his character. However it is your decision of who you wish to be king. I will not interfere. I am here to see you don't get yourself killed and a civil uprising occurs in the process of the monarch change. You have only to let me know if you decide other than what you want now. I mean it is totally up too you."
"I hope this discussion is between you and I. The council is not to know."
"Yes, discretion is the best way to handle this. I will be as discreet as you have been all these years. It will go no further than between you and I. You have my word as a Jedi."
Qui-Gon had time to think what had just been told to him. Three flights of steps to walk up to get to his room was time enough to find the Jedi more confused than even before he and the King spoke.
//I am not the one to pass any kind of judgment on the king. He thinks the boy worthy of being the king but because his own blood doesn't run through the boy's veins he can't in good conscience let him be the next in line for the thrown. King Rozel has gotten himself into something that may result in his death. It also could destroy his family if it is ever found out.//
Once in the room he found his apprentice sound asleep on the bed.
"Padawan?"
Obi-Wan sat up immediately and tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes.
"Yes master. I am sorry. I fell sleep."
"I see that, so I assume your studies are completed and your meditations as well."
"Well no master I haven't done either yet. I still have this evening."
"Our evening will more than likely be spent with the king and queen. By rights I should have you do extra mediations for that little stunt you pulled in front of the king. You couldn't let your attention stay focused on the king for the five or ten minutes he spoke to us?"
"I know master. I just thought of something else."
"Jedi do not think of something other than our mission when we are in the middle of it. A loss of focus during a mission can be deadly to a Jedi. It could cost you your life. Now get up and do your class work I assigned. Hopefully we can meditate together after last-meal and time spent with the King. And Obi-Wan don't let me have to correct your behavior in front of the king again!!!!!!!"
PEACE ewen