CHAPTER 4
Beep...Beep...Beep...Beep...The sound of a harsh machine caused Obi-Wan to stir from the deep sleep he was in. His head was pounding and it took his entire mind set to force himself to open his eyes. When he did he immediately regretted it as the lights hit him. He snapped them shut again and slowly opened them again, now able to withstand the light. At first he did not know where he was but as he focused more he could tell he was in a hospital room. He was attached to several machines that told the doctors his vitals and had an IV in his arm.
Obi-Wan winced at he moved, his head throbbing. He didn't remember much after being hit by the speeder but he assumed that he had hit his head and had been brought to the hospital. How long had he been here though? He felt like it could have been for days. If so then Qui-Gon was probably looking for him.
Despite the throbbing pain he was going through Obi-Wan forced himself up, knowing what he had to do. He pulled the IV and the sensor off his body, noticing he was no longer dressed in his tunics, but in a hospital gown.
He slowly got off the bio bed and made his way to a closet hoping to find his tunics or at least his lightsaber. It was not there. Obi-Wan quickly searched the room but found no signs of any of his belongings. With a deep sigh he turned to the door. He would just have to search the entire hospital if necessary.
He opened the door to the room and looked outside it, seeing the turbolifts were no too far. He stepped out and started towards them when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw a woman standing behind him. He let out a small gasp as he looked into her eyes. It was the woman from his dream.
"Ben?" She asked, voice almost a whisper as she started at Obi-Wan, intently.
He pulled away from her in shock as he continued to search her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Do you not remember me?" She asked, features soft, but also sad. "Ben, I am you mother."
Obi-Wan frowned at this. "No you are not. And my name isn't Ben." He made a face, not liking the name at all.
"You are though. Ben Kenobi, my son." She reached out, touching Obi-Wan's cheek only to have him pull away.
"No, I am sorry. You have me mistaken for someone else." He said. This woman could not be his mother. He had no parents, well none that he knew of. They would not be on this planet though; he was not born here.
"You are not Ben Kenobi?" She asked, confused.
"I am a Kenobi, but not Ben." He replied. "My name is Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan Kenobi."
She nodded, sadly. "The Jedi warned us that your name would be changed. I just hoped you would remember your real name, the one you were born with."
Obi-Wan stared at the woman in complete confusion. "My birth name?"
She nodded. "When you were born we named you Ben Kenobi. Your potential was discovered as a Jedi though and they sent a Knight to come speak with us about your training. We stupidly let him convince us it was the right thing to do..."
Looking into her eyes Obi-Wan knew she was telling the truth. But he refused to believe he was this, Ben. The name didn't suit him. The woman was telling the truth but she had mistaken him for her son, who also happened to be a Jedi.
"But you are back now. My boy." She enveloped him in a tight embrace and kissed his forehead. He was a few inches shorted than her, the top of his head coming to her nose. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in an elaborate hairstyle Obi-Wan had only seen Senators and Queens wear. She was beautiful and looked young. Only the small wrinkles around her eyes showed her age.
She held Obi-Wan for a few moments, stopping some of the efforts he made to pulled away. She finally let him go and looked into his eyes. "What are you doing out of bed?" She asked and started leading him back into the hospital room, one of her arms wrapped around him, protectively.
"I was looking for my lightsaber and my tunics." He answered.
"Oh, sweetie, I have those." She said in a soft tone.
"Please do not call me that." Obi-Wan requested. "And where are they."
"In my bag, outside. But you need to be resting." She said.
"I need those items though. My Master and I are here on a mission and I need to contact him and let him know I am alright. I am sure he is worried about me." Obi-Wan said.
"I'm sure he is but the most important thing to do right now is the get you better." She kissed his forehead again. "I have missed you so much."
Obi-Wan frowned. "I am sorry but I can not believe that I am your son. Not without evidence."
She reached into her pocket at pulled out her ID. Her picture was on it along with her name, Leena Kenobi. "My last name is Kenobi." She pointed out.
"Well that still doesn't prove I am your son. Those could be fake or you could be another Kenobi." He argued. "I need more evidence."
Leena though for a moment and then a smile came to her face. "Alright sweetie. My son had a birthmark on his lower back. Lower, lower back. It was pear shaped. Do you?"
Obi-Wan cheeks flustered, not able to hide the truth that he did. "I am still hesitant." He said.
"That is alright. I understand, I think I would be too. You will see I am right though."
Suddenly the door to the room slid open and a man dressed in a business suit rushed in, followed by a young boy. Obi-Wan did get sight of this man until he hugged Leena and then Obi-Wan saw, he was the man from his dream.
"We got here as soon as we could." The man said, eyes fixed on Obi-Wan. Leena seemed to notice where his attention lied and turned her husband to Obi-Wan.
"Its him, Ben." She whispered.
The man stepped toward Obi-Wan, eyes filled with happiness and confusion. He didn't say a word as he wrapped his arms around Obi-Wan, hugging him tight.
"Ben this is your father." Leena introduced him. "You were named after him."
Ben pulled back from Obi-Wan, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You do not know how happy we are to have found you."
"And this is your brother." Leena spoke up and Ben moved aside so Obi-Wan could see the younger boy. The boy stood there for a moment but Leena pushed him towards Obi-Wan.
"My name is Brent." He introduced himself in a tone that let Obi-Wan know he did not want to do this.
"Its nice to meet you all, but I have a mission to complete." Obi-Wan said.
Ben sighed in disappointment. "You can not stay? Even for just one night?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "My commitment is to my Master, to my mission. I can't ignore that."
"It has been so long, Ben." His Mother said, tears forming in her eyes. "I hardly recognize you. The last time we saw you, you were just a baby. Now you are all grown up, almost an adult."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I am fourteen." He stated.
"We aren't going to force you to come with us." Ben said as he wrapped his arm around his wife. "But please, just consider it. This might be the last time we see you."
Obi-Wan stared at his parents and brother, who was standing to the side, glaring at Obi-Wan. "I will consider it." He said. He could at least give that to them.
Leena gave a small smile and enveloped Obi-Wan in a hug and kissed his head. "Thank you." Reluctantly she pulled back and looked at him in the eye, tears running down her cheeks. After a moment she snapped out of the gaze she had on him and turned and left the room getting her bag and came back to him. She reached into the bag and pulled out his tunics. "Here are your clothes." She handed them to him. "We are going to see if we can take you home."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan said looking at the cream tunics that he held.
"Come on, honey. We need to speak to the doctors." Ben said and Leena tore herself from the gaze of her son. Ben called for his other son as the three reluctantly left the room, leaving Obi-Wan alone.
Obi-Wan quickly changed into the familiar tunics, glad to be out of the hospital gown. He still did not have his lightsaber though. His mother had forgotten to give it to him. He would have to get it back soon. A Jedi's weapon was their life. Obi-Wan had learned this during the many missions were he lost it. He soon realized how important a Jedi's weapon was.
Securing his belt Obi-Wan got on the bio bed and closed his eyes, slipping into meditation. The doctors had done the best they could to fix the injury to his head but it was nothing compared to what Jedi meditation could do. Just by a few minutes in a healing trance Obi-Wan could repair a great deal of the damage done to himself. And he had a feeling he was going to need all of his concentration for this mission.
After almost and hour Obi-Wan pressed the button next to the door and slowly opened the hospital room door gazed around the halls, not seeing his parents. Normally he could feel relieved but he was looking for his equipment and it was his parents that had it. He would have to find them.
Starting down the hall, Obi-Wan felt out with the force, trying to locate them. The force worked mysteriously and even in the short time he was in the healing trance he was almost completely healed.
As he came around the corner Obi-Wan spotted his parents talking with some doctors. He attempted to approach them but was cut off by Brent.
"What are you doing out here?" He question, arms crossed.
"I need to speak with my parents." Obi-Wan answered.
"My parents are talking to the doctors and they can't be bothered." Brent informed his older brother.
"Then I just need to get something out of her bag, it will not take long." Obi-Wan said and tried to her to her but was again stopped.
"They are busy, why don't we go for a walk." Brent suggested.
"I really can not." Obi-Wan said. "I have to get my lightsaber."
"Mom won't let you have it." Brent informed him "It's a weapon and we aren't allowed to have weapons. Its dangerous."
"I am a Jedi though, I have been trained to handle the lightsaber and have been using one for years." Obi-Wan couldn't believe he had to explain himself to an eleven year old.
"Well you still have to wait until they are done. Just come on a walk. It won't hurt anything. I bet you want to get out of here anyway, and into the fresh air." Brent's eyebrows rose.
Obi-Wan let out a long sigh and nodded. It was obvious Brent just wanted to get out of the hospital, not that Obi-Wan could blame him. "Alright. Where do you want to go?"
"There are some gardens right outside." Brent said. "It's really nice and it's not too far."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Lead the way."
Brent smiled and lead Obi-Wan out of the hospital. As soon as they got outside the sunlight his Obi-Wan's eyes, causing him to wince. He was glad for it though. Even with lights the hospital room was still dark and gloomy. He was glad to be in the sun.
The gardens were right next to the hospital and it wasn't long before Obi-Wan and Brent were walking amount the beautiful scenery.
"You aren't how I thought you would be." Brent said abruptly.
"How did you expect me to be?"
"Taller." Obi-Wan laughed gently. "I thought you would want to be with us." Brent said, serious this time.
"Its not that I do not want to be with you..." Obi-Wan started but was cut off.
"No, its ok. All I've heard my whole life is, how great Ben was and how much they miss you. Maybe now I won't have to hear it. Now that Mom and Dad have seen you don't love us."
"Brent, its not that. I have to do my duty to the Jedi, the Republic. I can't ignore that. Not again." Obi-Wan said.
Brent shrugged. "I don't care. You aren't really my brother anyway, we just happen to share blood."
Obi-Wan frowned. Brent's words had hurt him, but he wasn't going to let it get to him. Brent was right. Truly they weren't brothers. They were strangers that just met. Everyone expected them to get along and love each other. It wasn't so. Even with the connection he felt with his parents, he did not know them. And he couldn't love them.
Brent continued talking in the same manner as they traveled through the gardens. Obi-Wan tried to pay attention but something was distracting him. The force was trying to turn his attention from Brent and onto something else.
Obi-Wan looked around the gardens, using a Jedi technique to make it seem like he was only doing that. In reality he was observing the area to see if anyone was watching him. Since he hit his head his senses were as attuned as they normally were so he had to make twice the effort.
This though was the reason he was able to spot the droids. Behind a few shrubs were two droids that appeared to be watching him.
"Ben? Ben?" Brent tried to get Obi-Wan's attention. "You aren't even listening!"
Obi-Wan took the younger boy's arm and pulled him behind a bush where they could not be seen by the droids. "You have to be quiet." Obi-Wan stressed.
"Why?" Brent demanded. "What is wrong with you?"
Obi-Wan held a finger to his lips and motioned for Brent to look around the bush. "Do you see them?" He asked.
Brent peered at the shrubs to where Obi-Wan was motioning to and shrugged. "They are just service droids. What is the big deal?"
Obi-Wan looked again at the droids, assessing the equipment they had. "I doubt service droids would come with laser blasters build into them. They look like assassin droids."
"Sorry to break this to you, but there are no assassin droids here, only service. The King assures us that."
"Well perhaps your King does not know of them." Obi-Wan offered.
Brent stole another glance and looked back at Obi-wan. "Well they are gone now."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened with surprise as he checked and found that the droids were gone. "I was sure though..."
Brent grabbed Obi-Wan's arm. "Come on, Mom and Dad will be looking for us."
He pulled Obi-Wan out from behind the bush.
As soon as they were out from the bush's cover Obi-Wan felt a warning through the force and knocked Brent to the ground as a storm or blaster fire came at them. Obi-Wan's hand went to his belt where his saber usually was but it was not there. He had forgotten that his mother still had it.
Pushing Brent back behind the safety of the bush, Obi-Wan dodged the fires that were aimed at him, attempting to get to the droid so he could disarm it.
Just when he thought he could get to it, the other one appeared and started firing. Seeing he couldn't get to the assassins Obi-Wan retreated to where his brother war.
Jumping behind the bush Obi-Wan barely missed a shot. "Just service droids, huh?" He looked at Brent.
"You did something! You set them off!" Brent exclaimed.
"Set them off?!" Obi-Wan snapped and had to take a deep breath, calming himself. "These droids are programmed to kill me. I did not set them off." He looked around the garden. "We have to get out of here. There is no telling how many there are."
"Why don't you just use your wonderful force to find and destroy them." Brent mocked.
"Because since I was hurt it has made it harder for me to use it." He said over the loud sound of blaster fire, which was still aimed at them.
The suddenly it stopped. Dead silence fell over the gardens and Obi-Wan peered from behind the bush. The droids were gone.
Brent seemed to let onto the fact they had disappeared and stood. "I can't believe this! You are going to get me killed, you...Jedi!" He yelled and marched away from Obi-Wan.
"Brent, stop!" Obi-Wan grabbed his brother's arm. "You have to be quiet. The droids are not gone, they are looking for us." Obi-Wan said gently.
"No, they are looking for you." Brent pulled away and took off running across the pathways, Obi-Wan right on his heels. Why couldn't Brent just listen to him?
Brent was almost to the exit when Obi-Wan felt a surge in the force and leaped at Brent, knocking him to the ground as blaster fire flew over him. They ducked behind another plant regaining safety for the time being. If Obi-Wan hadn't been there, he would be dead. This didn't phase Brent though as he kicked at Obi-Wan
"Get off of me." He yelled over the blasters. Obi-Wan did not fight him as he slowly let off his brother. Brent groaned at Obi-Wan.
"You have to be still and quiet." Obi-Wan said. This time Brent seemed to understand and Obi-Wan got his brother someplace safer then the plant and proceeded to get to the droids.
He kept low, crawling around the bushes and flowers, sneaking up to the droids, which still though Obi-Wan was with his brother and kept their fire aimed there. Obi-Wan knew they could not hit this brother though. He made sure of that.
The sound of blasters became louder and louder as Obi-Wan got closer. Smoke filled the air and Obi-Wan could barely see the assassins. He was able to spot an object in one of the flowerbeds though. It was a heavy tree limb and it was the only option he had.
He got behind the droids and slowly stood, limb back as he came behind the droids and took a swing at the first one, taking some of the assassin's components, which sparked and the droid fell over. The other swiftly turned and fired. Obi-Wan barely managed to block the shot with the limb and it was knocked out of his hand.
Not letting the distraction affect him, Obi-Wan leaped forward and grabbed onto the cannon and with his free hand reached towards the droid's power box, opened the service door and pulled out the vital wires that kept the droid going. Sparks flew and the droid knocked Obi-Wan off and started moving with chaos as it lost power. After a few moments it slowed and completely stopped. It was shut down.
Obi-Wan threw the limb to the side and looked the droid over, making sure it was shut down. After confirming this he let out a sigh of relief.
"Are they gone?" Brent yelled.
"Yes, I disarmed them." Obi-Wan called back and started for his brother, who was already standing with a frown.
"Wait until I tell Mom what happened." Brent grunted.
Obi-Wan sighed as Brent started towards the exit of the gardens, Obi-Wan following him are they went back into the hospital. Obi-Wan kept a close observation around the hospital to make sure there were no more droids.
They were only in the building for a few moments before they ran into their parents. "Ben, Brent!" Lenna exclaimed, running to her sons and enveloped them in a tight hug. "I was so worried."
"Where have you been!" Ben shouted.
"We were out in the gardens and we were attacked by the droids!" Brent reported.
Obi-Wan gritted his teeth as he waited for his parents to get after him. "I told you not to tell lies like that." His father said with a frown. "Now come on. We are going home."
Brent crossed his arms as he pulled away from his mother who kept her arm wrapped around Obi-Wan as she led him out of the hospital.
"I need to contact my Master." Obi-Wan said as he saw a luxurious speeder waiting for them outside the door.
"We will let you, I promise." Leena said with a small smile. Obi-Wan started to pull away from her when he spotted assassin droids a few feet away, looking for him. Obi-Wan quickly turned his head toward his mother, hiding his face in her shoulder as they reached the speeder. She smiled down at her son and hugged him. It was apparent that acting like that worked as they got in the speeder and shut the doors. He watched as the assassins continued their search for the Jedi.
The doors shut to the speeder as Lenna took a seat next to Obi-Wan, his brother and father across from him. "Lets go home." She said in a sweet voice to her family. "All of us."
Obi-Wan gave no response to this as he realized that he was going back with the Kenobis, whether he wanted to or not.