Chapter 12: Right of Delusion
"It's always been up to you.
It's turning around, it's up to me.
I'm gonna do what I have to do.
Give me a little time.
Leave me alone a little while.
Maybe it's not too late." – Tomorrow (Let Go – Avril Lavigne)
The silence was deafening. No one moved since they were still trapped in a shocked stupor. The passing minutes felt elongated by the utter quiet that surrounded them. The young man in the middle of the room waited patiently for an answer to his proposal. Only the tension in his shoulders betrayed the cool confident demeanor displayed. However, a well-trained Jedi never missed a detail. And a proud thought filtered into the Knight's stunned mind, What a superb Jedi he would have made. What a waste of perfect potential.
Captain Lessik finally broke through his stupor, staring at the youth he asked, "Do you realize what you are proposing? Do you have any idea of what will happen once we return to Coruscant?"
"I understand fully the implications of my decision. Does that mean you accept my terms?" The rogue responded with a certainty the astonished the Captain.
Another moment passed, as Fen took a step closer to Obi-Wan, staring at the youth with a leery gaze. "And what makes you think that I will not retaliate once we are returned to civilization?"
"It's a matter of faith on both parts," Obi-Wan stated plainly, as if it were obvious to everyone. "You are unsure of our plans as we are unsure of yours. If we truly are meant to backstab the other, I am certain we would safely be on our way while you waited here in hopes of a rescue." Now the youth took a step closer to Lessik, brining them within reach of each other. Those captivating sea-change eyes peered into the man, making Fen feel like the boy was staring right through him. Obi-Wan continued is hushed tones, "However, I know how much you care about your men and I am sure you know how I feel about my family. I will not hesitate to protect them, and I will take whatever measures I must to ensure their safety first. I would prefer everything to run smoothly. I trust that you care enough for your men not to risk their lives again." Something flared behind those eyes, a passion full of love and loyalty. Suddenly, Fen realized that if there was no other option, the young pirate could become lethal when the need arose.
"And what assurances do we have that you will uphold your end of the bargain?" His voice a little colder than he intended, the Captain wanted to verify that when they reached their destination the ruffian would hand himself over.
"I give you my word Captain. I may be a pirate, but I was once a Jedi." He glanced over at Qui-Gon briefly before adding. "I know that you understand the meaning behind that."
For Qui-Gon, the world suddenly seemed to narrow and a new realization birthed. It was true, Obi-Wan was once a Jedi, but he was lost. Now he was in league with a criminal organization and utilizing his Force skills to harm not protect. No matter how light the charges, he would still be considered a rogue Jedi and would have to be dealt with now that he was discovered. The tall Knight's mind raced with new questions; What will become of Obi-Wan? Is his life as a Jedi over? Will the Council accept him back? Will I have lost him again? His heart clenched at the thought. He had felt an emptiness deep within him since the boy's disappearance. He couldn't bear loosing the wondrous young man again. Quickly, he stayed his building panic. No, the Force brought us together again. His fate is still undecided. There is still a chance. Ceasing the inner turmoil, he collected his thoughts and found the will to answer. "A Jedi's word is his bond. Falling back on one's word carries grave consequences with it." Clear blue eyes full of compassion gazed down upon his would be Padawan.
His respect for the corsair skyrocketed astronomically. He knew that Obi-Wan completely understood his position and manipulated it accordingly. Once he was discovered, he would be taken back to the Temple at one point or another. If not now, then when Qui found him again, which he most certainly would. If the thief were to be taken, he would do so on his terms, honourably and with self-sacrifice installed. Although, the self-sacrifice meant nothing to the boy, he was only ensuring the safety of his family. His life was inconsequential to that fact. At that moment, Qui-Gon prayed to the Force and every other god he had heard of that he would be able to save the youth and train him. For the briefest moment he felt something answer his plea, but there was a sense of foreboding and that he would not learn the outcome for some time.
Obi-Wan had been watching the Master for some time during the introspection. He was both surprised and curious about the change in the man. "Thank you Master Jinn," his response sounded tired yet sincere. Once again he turned his attention back to the Captain. "If I were to break our pact, I would forever be pursued by the Jedi to pay for my crimes. You would not fully understand the implications of what happens to a rogue Jedi, but the punishment could be quite severe. So you see, you have everything to gain by this deal, whilst I have everything to lose."
Lessik said nothing while he examined the boy. He didn't know much about the Jedi, but he did know that there were little to no rogue Jedi roaming the universe. He could only assume that there was a reason why, perhaps it was this punishment that dissuades the appearance of such scoundrels. But the rest of the Togorian pirates are not Jedi, but there were rogues. Could he trust them as easily as he could the youth before him? "And what of your Captain, will he honour these terms? The crew?"
"He respects my judgement. He may not like it but he will honour it. Despite his career choice, he is a good man. Better than most out there." His last remark was not meant as a jibe toward the Knight, noticing the proud shoulders stiffen slightly. No, his saddened remark was in reference to the beast who almost destroyed him. He had met a number of unscrupulous characters while under Drrov's heel. Quickly, he dispersed those memories before they could make him sick. Obi-Wan added, "And the crew will follow his commands."
Lessik seemed unaware of the other's reaction while he pondered the deal a little longer. Finally he agreed, "If you can convince your Captain to honour it, I accept your proposal."
Nodding curtly, Obi-Wan stated, "I will be back shortly." With a sideways glance toward the Jedi, he abruptly turned and left the room.
For a moment, Qui-Gon and Fen looked at each other. Softly, the Captain remarked, "So you managed to get your way after all."
"But at what cost Captain?" With that the Knight turned and followed the young man out. Taking a few long strides he easily caught up to the boy. Together they traversed the halls of the crippled vessel. Qui-Gon was still in awe of the expert negotiation the youth just finished. "You handled yourself well, you would have made a Master very proud."
Clenching his fists, Obi-Wan did not bother to look at the Knight. As much as the remark should have been a compliment, it still poured salt on the old festering wound of his past. Through gritted teeth, he warned, "Don't go down that path, Master Jinn."
With even more conviction wrought by glistening hope of the future, Qui-Gon spoke from his heart. "You can not escape your destiny. You are a Jedi."
At this declaration, Obi-Wan suddenly stopped and turned on the man. "I told you not to go down that path. I'm not worthy enough to be a Jedi. I'm jaded remember?" What he had done and what he must do were already draining his reserves of strength. He could not waste anymore on the past he could not change. He just hoped a dose of reality would end this conversation. Unfortunately this didn't have the effect he wanted.
"Then why give yourself up so easily, after you adamantly refused before?" Qui-Gon crossed his arms over his chest and peered down at the young man.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and shook his head in weary exasperation. "Our attack is the reason why you are stranded here. I did not wish to raid your vessel in the first place but it was too late and I was overruled. No matter what the reason, I will not have young initiates suffer for something I could not prevent." Sighing, he decided to move along. He resigned himself to this course so why worry about what could be. "What difference does it make anyway? I've made my choice. You've won, go enjoy your victory. "
Qui-Gon easily maintained pace with the young pirate. "Obi-Wan, I did not want victory, I wanted the will of the Force to guide us, as it is now. My only concern at this point is your safety. I gave my word to your … Captain that I would take care of you. It will be difficult if I no longer have control. I wish you would see that I am not your enemy."
"I am sorry, Master Jinn. I do know that you are not my enemy but it is difficult to think of you as anything else." It was true, Obi-Wan didn't think of Qui-Gon, or and of the Jedi for that matter, as enemies. However, in no direct terms they did represent a change in his life, and at this point, they represented more cons than pros. Maybe if things were different somehow, he thought.
The Knight seemed to sense his conflict and did his best to ease the situation. "Maybe with time we can be allies again?"
Yes, maybe if things were different. Again the thought entered his mind. He wanted to voice such musings, but all he managed aloud was, "Perhaps."
The pair walked on, only the soft clicking of their boots reverberated off the alloy walls. Lost in their own thoughts, the mute spans between them was finally broken again by soothing baritone. "What do you think your Captain will really say when you discuss your proposal?"
Tuuvu would never give up his cub, that much was a given. What plagued Obi-Wan was how he was going to get around that obstacle. His only option did not taste well in his mouth, he wished there was another way, but he could not find one. "I know what he would say, and I know what I must do to ensure the transaction." Obi-Wan stopped again. Yet when those blue-green portals to the soul looked up at the tall Jedi a haunting melancholy weighed heavily in their depths. The fight seemed to have drained from the youth completely, as he set his mind on the task ahead. That luxurious cultured voice sounded innocent and almost pleading, "Now I must ask a favour of you, Master Jinn. Would you allow me to speak with Tuuvu alone?" Obi-Wan knew it was a lot he was asking of the Knight. To be without supervision while such a bargain was being struck required a lot of faith.
Qui-Gon considered his answer for a long moment before responding, "In order to show you that we will uphold your proposal, an element of trust must be given. Yes, I will permit you to speak with your Captain alone."
"Thank you, Master Jinn." Taking his opportunity before it could be revoked, Obi-Wan headed for the exit ramp. Qui-Gon watched as the youth disappeared around a corner before heading back to their cabins. He had much to discuss with his confidant.
*
Obi-Wan needed some time to himself. He had a lot on his mind and watching children play and meditate while trying to answer everyone else's questions was not his idea of centering his thoughts. Instead he sought refuge amidst the open meadow to draw upon the Living Force. In truth he had never been very good at connecting with that aspect of the Force, but what little strands he could grasp gave him the anchor he needed.
Slowly, he searched for an ideal spot and found one in the shade of the ship. He made his way to it and knelt down into a classic meditative position. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the steady rhythm of his body. The flow of breath entering and exiting his lungs at an even rate and the constant beating of his heart quickly aided him into a light meditation. Once inside the calm, Obi-Wan pursued the Force to guide him. His mind was racing with questions; How do I tell Tuuvu? Where do I begin? How can I make him understand it's the right thing to do? What will happen if he outright refuses? What about the others? Will they understand why we should do this? Did I make the right choice? Have I promised something I can not deliver? These were only a few of the things running through his mind. But what frustrated him the most was that he couldn't find an answer to any of his questions.
He struggled with serenity and exasperation only to have the latter win in the end. His questions did nothing to alleviate the tension growing within him. Torn between what needed to be done and what should be done kept his mind reeling. One last question floated through his thoughts before he gave up completely on his meditation. Can I live with myself if I betray him? Defeatedly, he opened his eyes, dusted himself off and got to his feet.
Glancing around Obi-Wan searched for the imminent return of his family but didn't see anything. Time wore on, eating away at his resolve. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the task ahead. There was more at stake here than his conscience. Looking around once more he began to head to where he last saw his family. Half way there, Obi-Wan's steps slowed, something somewhere within him began whispering, but no words could be deciphered. Before he knew it, the youth found himself walking back toward the ship. He came up to the crippled side of the ship tracing a path along the hull. Making his way through the shredded metal, he found an open access port to the starboard's engineering panel.
Leaning inside, he glanced over the multitude of wires and circuitry. He couldn't believe the mess the boards were in. We couldn't have done all this. Toying with the wires, he began trying to repair the damage. It was more out of habit rather than the necessity of doing it, since he knew it was beyond repair. He didn't know how long he was at it when his mechanic's eyes caught something odd. Putting down the flimsy metal rods, he examined the anomaly closer. For a moment, he didn't understand the purpose behind what he found, then suddenly it struck him. A shiver ran up his spine.
So absorbed in his study, he practically jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. "It's alright cub. It's only me."
Spinning quickly, Obi saw Tuuvu, Kuuur, Mrrogh and two humans staring at him. The younger human was eyeing him up suspiciously. Grabbing at the fray, Obi-Wan asked, "What do these wires go to?"
"I was hoping you could tell me." Obser answered without answering, hoping to play a hand he wasn't sure about. Needless to say, he was surprised to find the youth nosing around in the engine, but was more astonished when the boy had found the same thing he had. His real curiosity, did the boy stumble across it or know about it previously?
Shaking his head, Obi-Wan decided now was not the time for this. The verbal games would have to wait until later, he had things to do. Addressing the Togorian Captain, Obi-Wan said, "Tuuvu, I need to speak with you."
Tuuvu motioned for his companions to let the humans go. He had returned the men as promised and readied himself to head back. "We can talk later, it's time to go home."
"Please," the gentle cultured voice requested. "We need to talk now. This is extremely important." The Togorian worriedly glanced down toward his cub. Something in the way the youth asked, made the fatherly being heed him. Slowly, he followed where Obi led him.
The human captives watched for only a moment before retreating inside the vessel. It was almost hard to believe that the pirates were really letting them go. Their guards released their binds and stepped back to give them room. They seized their opportunity to leave as quickly as possible. Which suited the head engineer fine. Nev sent Pev-da to Kohnwei, while he immediately walked the halls toward the main engineering room. He needed to talk to Wuan before anything else could happen.
As soon as the pair was far enough away from his compatriots, they stood close to speak in hushed tones. Obi-Wan looked up compassionately at the Togorian. "Thank you, for coming to get me."
"You are my cub in every sense except by blood," Tuuvu placed a paw on the lad's shoulder. His booming voice soft with affection. "I could not leave you no matter what the cost."
"You don't know how much that means to me. I hope that what we discuss will not alter that perception." Trying to hold back the tears blurring his vision, Obi-Wan took a calming breath. He could see the questioning glance of the patriarch out of the corner of his eye. How he wished he didn't have to hurt the caring Patron, he hoped that one day Tuuvu would understand. He struggled to keep his voice steady from the bubbling emotions. "I need some information. Is this planet inhabited?"
"Yes."
The rogue's heart fluttered, perhaps he would not have to deceive Tuuvu afterall. However, he would soon learn that the Force had other plans in store. "Are they technologically advanced?"
"No, they are a scattered people with very little resources. Even more primitive than our world," The large being smirked. Togoria was an exotic paradise, but what surprised visitors the most was the lack of technology on the planet. The populace had painstakingly maintained the environment as best they could, employing solar advancements rather than pollutive resource burners. Only items that were a necessity, such as certain transport ships, were dispersed to the people. But even with their limited technology, they were vastly superior to the inhabitants of this little planet. Suddenly, the motive behind the question began to form. Eyeing his cub wearily, Tuuvu asked, "Why do you want to know?"
His head dropped when he knew that his last chance had slipped through his fingers. Not answering, his Patron's question, he posed a new one. "When we were raiding the ship, did you see what most of the passengers were?"
This inquiry made no sense to the older being, still he supplied, "Jedi. It was what we expected, you said so yourself."
"Not just Jedi, but children," Obi-Wan emphasized.
The Togorian remembered seeing a number of children from a multitude of races huddled together in one of the ship's common rooms. An impression began to form on his conscience that disturbed him. The Patron always knew his cub was a gentle and caring soul. He just couldn't believe his cub could possibly propose what he thought he was proposing. Trying to dispel his worry, he asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"They are stranded here. They have no way of getting off this planet. And it's our fault." Obi-Wan could see the change in stance as Tuuvu began to figure out what he was thinking. Knowing that Tuuvu had a huge heart for children, he played up to the man's sympathies for hard luck cases. Obi-Wan always thought it odd for such a ruffian to be so soft at times. His voice became gentle as he urged, "We need to correct this. We must take them to the closest station to find a way home."
"Are you out of your mind? The moment we step foot onto a spaceport they will capture us. Then we will not be going home at all." The Togorian growled. There were two things that Tuuvu cared for above all else, more than his own life. The first was his mate, Jorri, his heart and soul. The second was his cub, which he was fortunate enough to be with constantly. Togorians only spent a short time together with their mates during the course of a year. It's something that most of them look forward to quite often. This raid was to be their last before heading home and he did not want to jeopardize their visit. It had cost them enough time already and further delay was out of the question.
Obi-Wan could not allow this subject to close so quickly, "I have spoken with the Captain and demanded amnesty for transport." Hoping this would alleviate some of his Captain's worry, Obi-Wan cringed inside at his deliberate omission of the entire bargain. But if he revealed that too soon, the fatherly being would scoop up the youth and haul him away without a second thought. No, he would have to bide his time for now, no matter how much it hurt him.
"How can we trust him?" Tuuvu countered. He just wasn't sure about it. "He might pretend to be a sweet flower, but even the kleyfly is fooled by the choacha's nectar." The choacha was a beautiful flower found deep within the forests of Togoria. A deep well of an orchid that held a small amount of nectar. Various insects were attracted to the sweet fragrance, none more than the kleyfly, only to find themselves trapped inside. The deep violet bloom would close and hold the insect inside to drown in the very liquor that enticed them.
Obi-Wan thought for a moment but he believed without a doubt that the Captain would keep his word. "I don't think he will betray us. He's a man of principle. He's more worried about getting his men back safely than seeing us imprisoned. He was ready to hand me over the moment you had cut the transmission." Remembering the incident in the medbay brought mixed feelings, but he brushed them aside quickly.
Tuuvu eyed his young ward skeptically, "Can you be so sure?"
"I can sense that his word is his honour. To go back on it would diminish his character." The youth reiterated with confidence.
Still the Togorian leader had doubts, maybe not about the Captain per se, but about the entire set up. Making one last attempt to dissuade his cub from this course of action he suggested, "We should discuss this with Kuuur."
"He will go by what you decide. He may have his moments but he is loyal to you." Not even phased by the proposition, Obi-Wan immediately acknowledged the First Mate's standing.
Smiling at his cub, Tuuvu also knew it to be true. Despite the occasional conflict, Kuuur would concede to his Captain's commands. The raids were more under Kuuur's control as part of his duties, which is partially why he didn't back down on this recent pilferage. It had marveled the Captain when Obi-Wan suggested Kuuur for the First Mate position. Even in the midst of the pain and humiliation while under Drrov's control, Obi-Wan had noticed Tuuvu's shadow. They had been clanmates as well as shipmates but had also questioned Drrov's leadership. But to do so openly could have led them to their death, so neither ever spoke about it. Tuuvu had risen quickly through the ranks, in some ways he believed it was due to his opposite nature to the beast in charge. Drrov was much more passionate in his endeavours to cause pain and chaos, while Tuuvu remained level headed amidst turmoil yet compassionate. When Drrov finally was thwarted, Tuuvu immediately took command and set about to make changes, but he needed someone to help him.
During one night when he was caring for the boy he started mentioning his dilemma, not really expecting Obi-Wan to offer his advice. Through the discomfort, Obi-Wan suggested Kuuur. When Tuuvu questioned the youth as to why he thought Kuuur would be a good choice. The boy stated that he noticed the Togorian following the new Captain, heeding his commands and advice. Kuuur was a few years older than Tuuvu but was not even part of the command crew under Drrov. Over the course of the past five years, Tuuvu never regretted his decision. The retrospection flitted across his mind in the span of a heartbeat, but it made its point vividly. "He has proven his worth on a number of occasions. You were always a better judge of character than I," the large being mused. He realized what he had just complimented and rethought his decision. Sighing he gave his answer, "Inform their Captain, if he accepts your terms then we will move them."
"Thank you, Patron." Obi-Wan stretched to encircle his furry mentor and smiled. It felt so good to be in the comforting arms again, and he didn't want to let go. They were his safe haven. From frightening nightmares to debilitating pain, he had found solace in the gentle embrace. A wave of despondency coursed through him when he realized that this might be the last time he was held by the Togorian.
At last the Pirate Captain broke the circle and pulled back to look the youth over. He was still disturbed by the bruise the adorned the youth's face, but he trusted Obi-Wan explicitly. He would do as his cub wishes, knowing that to deny him would hurt him. What his cub would do for others always surprised elder being. "You are the most selfless being I have ever met. If only the universe had more people like you in it."
"It does. They're called Jedi." But it was a double-edged remark. On one side, it was meant to bring hope that there was good somewhere out in the galaxy. But on the other hand it stabbed at Obi-Wan's heart, he could have been one of them. Instead he was thrown away, apparently not good enough to walk among them. No, he stopped himself, I will dwell on that path no longer. I have a new road ahead of me and I will walk it with dignity. The turbulent seas gazed up at the Patron, as he prepared himself for what he had to do. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Wait for me. I'll be right back."
Tuuvu nodded as Obi-Wan hurried back into the downed vessel. He walked over to his crewmates. Kuuur eyed him suspiciously. "Why do I fear that something beyond my control is about to happen?"
"Because it is."
**
Making his way back to the engineering room, Obi-Wan found Capatin Lessik just where he left him. The Captain stopped what he was doing for a moment to look at the boy before returning to his task. "You have news for me?"
All business at the moment, both men were direct and to the point. "My Captain has agreed to give you passage to the nearest base."
Now the older man ceased his ministrations and regarded the rogue. "You're Captain agreed to everything you have suggested to me that quickly?" It was just too difficult to comprehend that the Pirate Captain would give up the very person he came to save so fast.
Taking a step closer, Obi-Wan deterred, "More or less. I want your absolute guarantee that my family will be free to go once we reach our destination."
"As long as you come willingly then they will not be charged," Lessik conferred.
Nodding, Obi-Wan stated, "Be ready by the time I return. I will retrieve a homing beacon for you. Then we will leave."
"Of course."
The young man abruptly left. Lessik watched as the youth departed before turning back to his head engineer, Wuan. "Collect as much information about this device as you can. Nev, what do you think of all this?" Lessik crouched down next to the open console.
The recently returned crewman leaned back from his examination of the foreign object placed in their system. He stared at the mass of wires and circuitry for a moment before leveling his gaze with the Captain. "This device is extremely sophisticated. We will need to run tests on it once we get back."
"Help Wuan as best as you can. I need to go and ready our passengers. I'll also need to make sure Griven and his cohorts understand their instructions." Rising to his feet, he turned to leave after their confirming nods. There was much that needed to be done before they left.
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I apologize for the lengthy delay in posts. I wanted to finish up another story and have now worked myself back down to 3. :) I'm still working to finish up one more of those and then I'll really be able to concentrate. However, I am also planning on getting back to a weekly schedule again. I will hopefully be posting here every Monday to get this story rolling. Thanks again for your patience and keep reviewing, it keeps me motivated. :D
Liyanette – Thanks. I like this story too. It's still my baby, and I don't plan on giving up on it. And there's still so much to come that I'm anxious to get too. Stay tuned and hopefully we'll get there soon. ;)
Ewok Kid – WOW, thank you soooooo much. I try my best, and that's all anyone can ask for right? Hopefully those anxious waits won't be so long anymore. Gosh, you flatter me so. :8} I hope I can continue to live up to the expectations you have placed on me. I definitely don't want to disappoint. ;)
Death Rider – I'm not sure how much it explained about Qui's reaction to Obi's plan, but I hope it gave some insight. LOL, I'll do my best to put Qui through some angst for you!! :p
Ani-Coolgirl – Thanks, NP. I've been snooping around for some Rurouni Kenshin fic, I'm still lurking around. ;) Hope you enjoyed. :D
Heidi M – Awwww, :8} Thanks. I'm so happy you liked, oh sorry, loved that chap. I think they could be a very dinamic pair and hope to get into that a little more, but it all depends on how the Force takes us. ;) It wouldn't have been completely out of char for Obi to do something like that, so it's not too surprising. For your chap question, I can't even answer that. But if I had to guess at least another 10-12 chaps, but quite possibly more. And there's the sequels. :p
Ciria – You so rock!! :D :D Let's begin shall we. ;)
Fen Lessik is the Captain. Nev Obser was the engineer working outside and found the first traces of the device. But after he had spoken to Wuan Jeswick, the other engineer, he was knocked out and captured. I hope that cleard some things up.
Yes the pirates are here! Yeah. They want him back desperately, let's hope they can deal with what Obi's done. I tend to think Obi's eye colour changes, sometimes blue, but mostly a blue/green mix and then other times green. They can change slightly with mood and the colours around him. Tuuvu was about to say, "his cub," but caught himself and just said crewman instead. There was a lot of tension and no one has really had the chance to calm down and think about everything.
Chap 10: Yes, the Jedi, like most people in their first reaction, are only seeing things that benefit them not the other. Obi was fortunate to have Tuuvu take care of him and raise him in the end. I also did want to hint at the differences between how Tuuvu and Qui reacted in similar situations. However, Qui didn't really "know" Obi when he was sent to Bandomeer where as Tuuvu had already "adopted" the boy.
Ban and Obi had a very close relationship. And sometimes no matter what has happened in life, when your with someone like that you revert back to a safe place where things are familiar and on common ground. For them the teachings of Yoda were a big part of their lives, therefor the peculiar speech brought them together. It also brought them full circle. That's how they parted, that's how they rejoined.
Yes, the world has changed drastically in a matter of moments. Obi has a new life with new obligations and the others have continued on their orignal path. Perhaps they will finally begin to understand the complexities involved.
Cahp 11: That's ok, in a sense so am I. ;) Oh, never you mind, I plan on revealing more of how the two got together and what happened to Obi. There are still some hints that are dropped but I do know when and how more of it will be revealed. You'll just have to wait for it. :p
I really wanted their reunion to be powerful, I'm so glad it seemed to be. There is so much love between them, to have them nod and sake hands would be disappointing. But will Obi's sacrifice be more than they can take. Let's just hope the Force has plans to make things work out. ;) We'll find out what the would-be Master/Padawan have yet to endure before the question is finally answered. (Will Obi become a Jedi or not?)
Don't fret about length of review, I'm ecstatic when you just say hi! :D
Meggie – I'm glad I have managed to keep up with a number of chars. Sometimes it's hard not to cross personalities. ;) Hopefully more soon. :D
lighted eagle – LOL, well, I'm very happy you enjoy my chaps. Just make sure to take it easy next time. Maybe read a few paragraphs at a time or something. ;)
Random Hp Fan – WOW!! :8} Thank you soooo much. I often wonder if my fic will have longevity/staying power, so to hear that you re-read it, makes me VERY happy. :D I already have the first encounter with Yoda written, it's just a matter of getting there. And as long as the fic does not take a sharp turn toward a different direction. Thanks again. I hope you like the latest installment. :D