PART SIX: CATCHING UP
By the time they got far enough, they bursted out laughing.
"I can't believe you did that, Ben. That was wrong. Mean," Bant pushed him aside.
"He had it coming."
"You really can't stand him?"
"He's all I hear about, too. The Council talking. My friends, the Healers, everyone. It's so annoying. He's making me look like a fool. I thought it was my day. My time to shine for once, on my own."
"Selfish. Selfish. Selfish. It's all about you?"
"No. Of course not. It's just--" he stopped.
"I understand, Obi-Wan."
"Thank you, Bant."
They made it out to a balcony and watched the late afternoon sun shine on the city around them.
"But you really like him, right? You want to be his master?"
"It's an honor to get the chance to be his master. It really is, but he is arrogant."
"Arrogant? And you're not?"
Obi-Wan shot her an offended look. "Are you calling me arrogant?"
"Not that you are, but you can be at times."
"Am I?" he tried to play it smart.
She couldn't help but laugh again. "Oh yeah. Sometimes cocky. Remember that time you walked around with your pants down your knees and your tunic was nearly three times bigger than you."
"I was making a point, plus it was also a dare."
"Yeah. What's up with that?"
"A common thing among many young people on Coruscant. It's more like the talk to get you around the outskirts and nightlife of the planet safely rather than sorry," He shrugged.
"So, it's something you just picked up?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Ya know, when I left the order for those few months. I pick up a lot of things," he grinned.
"You travel a lot too," she added.
"The Council never gave me and Qui-Gon much of a break," he saw visions of past missions. "I guess they thought it was best I stay away from the Temple because of all the problems I've come to cause. But half the time it wasn't my fault."
"Yeah, like that time in the cafeteria when you got into that fight with Bruck Chun. It was pretty nasty."
"Don't remind me," he muttered. He didn't want to see or think of that day again. "He started the fight and I just don't like the way he flirted with you and Siri."
"That really bothered you, didn't it?" she inquired.
"Is it bad for me to hold a protective sleeve? I can't stand the guy. The big jock. The head man. The leader. The man." he mocked. "Yet, he was still a troublemaker. No one really saw it until later on in the training."
"Well, you're not alone. I can't stand him either. I'm glad he's dead, but sort of sad that he is gone," she said, sadly.
Obi-Wan looked down and nodded.
He, too, was sadden by the events of how it led up to it. Bruck had become an accomplice of Xanatos, Qui-Gon's last apprentice, and ended up stealing Jedi artifacts and information, selling it to the black market as well as Xanatos. Most of the information included was that about Qui-Gon and himself. To ensure that Xanatos could escape Bruck fought the 19-year-old Obi-Wan to a lightsaber duel that ended deadly. Bruck had slipped on a rock in the Room of a Thousand Fountains and broke his neck. He was dead instantly. The memories played in Obi-Wan's mind for several months.
Bant quickly changed subject. "Hey, guess what?"
"What?" He tilted his head.
"I know this sounds crazy, but there's a bet going around about you."
"About me?" he said, confused.
"You never heard about it?"
He shook his head.
She leaned in closer as if to make sure no one around them could hear. "Well there's talk going around that you're not gonna last even a few days with Anakin. They talk--saying that you might end up going crazy and leave the Order because of him."
"Really? I've lasted two weeks now here at the Temple." he was shocked. As much as he hated Anakin, he loved the kid. He reminded Anakin of himself, but he didn't want to admit it to anyone, especially Anakin. "Well, I guess I'll have to prove them wrong."
"And I'll win the bet."
"You're in on the bet?" he perked up.
"Well, don't worry. I'm on your side. I know you'll be a fine master. You'll have Qui-Gon make sure you do."
"Are you implying I'm going to be a bad mentor?" he grew concern.
"No. You'll be a great Master and Jedi Knight," she smiled.
He looked down, blushing.
"So, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she wasn't exactly directed it, just saying his name. "A Jedi Knight. How does it feel?"
"It's--I don't know. It's weird. I mean, I don't feel any different."
"Maybe because you still have that braid of yours," she tugged on the small line of hair behind Obi-Wan's right ear.
He chuckled. "I guess so. Are you going to be there?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss your big jump into becoming a Knight. Just as long as you promise to come to mine," she patted him on the back.
"I will, Bant. I wouldn't miss it."
It grew quiet for a moment.
"So, what's this about a Healing Process you're going through?" her voice raised with interest.
"You all just want the dirt on everything about me? Why so sudden?" he saw her shrug. "It's nothing. It's him talking."
"But I've seen you go in there every now and then," she smiled innocently.
"To check on Master Qui-Gon, not for a healing session. Why is everyone saying that?" he grew a little annoyed.
"Well, Master Fisto told me because of the scars you had from that fight with the Sith Lord," she shrugged again.
He threw up his hands in defeat. "I don't believe this. Is the whole galaxy against me?!"
"I wasn't trying to state anything. I was just a little concerned," she gestured.
He sighed. "Okay. I'll admit it." He said quietly. She leaned in with interest. "I am going through some healing sessions. And yes, it is for the reason of those scars against that Sith Lord. But it isn't the only thing," he paused.
"I won't tell anyone," she knew he didn't want her to say anything.
"Promise?" he held out his hand.
"I promise." she nodded and took his hand. They did their secret handshake.
"Well, of course you know about Qui-Gon and I being sent to Naboo to settle the little blockade incident. Well, I didn't know this at the time, but the Queen ended up using a decoy, which I ended up getting rather attached to. We had to settle down on Tatooine, which is where Qui-Gon found Anakin, and it was there I took interest in the Queen more--" he was interrupted.
"Ooh. Obi-Wan gots a love interest."
"Shhhhh. But yeah, I do. So, we ended up getting to know each other and one thing led to another and.." he paused.
"What?! No way! You played her out?" she grew interested.
"No. We actually became good friends. Great. And it soon turned to something more." He paused. "Bant, I've never felt this way before. Her name is Sabé and she's given me so much--I can't describe it. It's beyond what the Force could ever provide."
Bant covered her mouth in awe. Then she hugged him tightly. "Oh, our little Obi-Wan is growing up. He's found a true love."
"Shhhh. Not so loud. I don't want anyone to know...just yet," Obi-Wan covered her mouth.
"Okay. I won't say anything," she smiled widely.
"Bant...." he trailed on her name, worried.
"I won't." she threw up her hands in surrender.
to be continued....
By the time they got far enough, they bursted out laughing.
"I can't believe you did that, Ben. That was wrong. Mean," Bant pushed him aside.
"He had it coming."
"You really can't stand him?"
"He's all I hear about, too. The Council talking. My friends, the Healers, everyone. It's so annoying. He's making me look like a fool. I thought it was my day. My time to shine for once, on my own."
"Selfish. Selfish. Selfish. It's all about you?"
"No. Of course not. It's just--" he stopped.
"I understand, Obi-Wan."
"Thank you, Bant."
They made it out to a balcony and watched the late afternoon sun shine on the city around them.
"But you really like him, right? You want to be his master?"
"It's an honor to get the chance to be his master. It really is, but he is arrogant."
"Arrogant? And you're not?"
Obi-Wan shot her an offended look. "Are you calling me arrogant?"
"Not that you are, but you can be at times."
"Am I?" he tried to play it smart.
She couldn't help but laugh again. "Oh yeah. Sometimes cocky. Remember that time you walked around with your pants down your knees and your tunic was nearly three times bigger than you."
"I was making a point, plus it was also a dare."
"Yeah. What's up with that?"
"A common thing among many young people on Coruscant. It's more like the talk to get you around the outskirts and nightlife of the planet safely rather than sorry," He shrugged.
"So, it's something you just picked up?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Ya know, when I left the order for those few months. I pick up a lot of things," he grinned.
"You travel a lot too," she added.
"The Council never gave me and Qui-Gon much of a break," he saw visions of past missions. "I guess they thought it was best I stay away from the Temple because of all the problems I've come to cause. But half the time it wasn't my fault."
"Yeah, like that time in the cafeteria when you got into that fight with Bruck Chun. It was pretty nasty."
"Don't remind me," he muttered. He didn't want to see or think of that day again. "He started the fight and I just don't like the way he flirted with you and Siri."
"That really bothered you, didn't it?" she inquired.
"Is it bad for me to hold a protective sleeve? I can't stand the guy. The big jock. The head man. The leader. The man." he mocked. "Yet, he was still a troublemaker. No one really saw it until later on in the training."
"Well, you're not alone. I can't stand him either. I'm glad he's dead, but sort of sad that he is gone," she said, sadly.
Obi-Wan looked down and nodded.
He, too, was sadden by the events of how it led up to it. Bruck had become an accomplice of Xanatos, Qui-Gon's last apprentice, and ended up stealing Jedi artifacts and information, selling it to the black market as well as Xanatos. Most of the information included was that about Qui-Gon and himself. To ensure that Xanatos could escape Bruck fought the 19-year-old Obi-Wan to a lightsaber duel that ended deadly. Bruck had slipped on a rock in the Room of a Thousand Fountains and broke his neck. He was dead instantly. The memories played in Obi-Wan's mind for several months.
Bant quickly changed subject. "Hey, guess what?"
"What?" He tilted his head.
"I know this sounds crazy, but there's a bet going around about you."
"About me?" he said, confused.
"You never heard about it?"
He shook his head.
She leaned in closer as if to make sure no one around them could hear. "Well there's talk going around that you're not gonna last even a few days with Anakin. They talk--saying that you might end up going crazy and leave the Order because of him."
"Really? I've lasted two weeks now here at the Temple." he was shocked. As much as he hated Anakin, he loved the kid. He reminded Anakin of himself, but he didn't want to admit it to anyone, especially Anakin. "Well, I guess I'll have to prove them wrong."
"And I'll win the bet."
"You're in on the bet?" he perked up.
"Well, don't worry. I'm on your side. I know you'll be a fine master. You'll have Qui-Gon make sure you do."
"Are you implying I'm going to be a bad mentor?" he grew concern.
"No. You'll be a great Master and Jedi Knight," she smiled.
He looked down, blushing.
"So, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she wasn't exactly directed it, just saying his name. "A Jedi Knight. How does it feel?"
"It's--I don't know. It's weird. I mean, I don't feel any different."
"Maybe because you still have that braid of yours," she tugged on the small line of hair behind Obi-Wan's right ear.
He chuckled. "I guess so. Are you going to be there?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss your big jump into becoming a Knight. Just as long as you promise to come to mine," she patted him on the back.
"I will, Bant. I wouldn't miss it."
It grew quiet for a moment.
"So, what's this about a Healing Process you're going through?" her voice raised with interest.
"You all just want the dirt on everything about me? Why so sudden?" he saw her shrug. "It's nothing. It's him talking."
"But I've seen you go in there every now and then," she smiled innocently.
"To check on Master Qui-Gon, not for a healing session. Why is everyone saying that?" he grew a little annoyed.
"Well, Master Fisto told me because of the scars you had from that fight with the Sith Lord," she shrugged again.
He threw up his hands in defeat. "I don't believe this. Is the whole galaxy against me?!"
"I wasn't trying to state anything. I was just a little concerned," she gestured.
He sighed. "Okay. I'll admit it." He said quietly. She leaned in with interest. "I am going through some healing sessions. And yes, it is for the reason of those scars against that Sith Lord. But it isn't the only thing," he paused.
"I won't tell anyone," she knew he didn't want her to say anything.
"Promise?" he held out his hand.
"I promise." she nodded and took his hand. They did their secret handshake.
"Well, of course you know about Qui-Gon and I being sent to Naboo to settle the little blockade incident. Well, I didn't know this at the time, but the Queen ended up using a decoy, which I ended up getting rather attached to. We had to settle down on Tatooine, which is where Qui-Gon found Anakin, and it was there I took interest in the Queen more--" he was interrupted.
"Ooh. Obi-Wan gots a love interest."
"Shhhhh. But yeah, I do. So, we ended up getting to know each other and one thing led to another and.." he paused.
"What?! No way! You played her out?" she grew interested.
"No. We actually became good friends. Great. And it soon turned to something more." He paused. "Bant, I've never felt this way before. Her name is Sabé and she's given me so much--I can't describe it. It's beyond what the Force could ever provide."
Bant covered her mouth in awe. Then she hugged him tightly. "Oh, our little Obi-Wan is growing up. He's found a true love."
"Shhhh. Not so loud. I don't want anyone to know...just yet," Obi-Wan covered her mouth.
"Okay. I won't say anything," she smiled widely.
"Bant...." he trailed on her name, worried.
"I won't." she threw up her hands in surrender.
to be continued....