The next morning, Obi-Wan, Padme and Yoda were again sitting in the hut talking. Yoda pierced Obi-Wan with his wise eyes. "More to talk about we have. When the time comes, start training Luke you must."

"No!" Obi-Wan spoke with more vehemence than he intended. Both Yoda and Padme looked taken aback. "No," he said more softly. "When the time comes, I will bring Luke here for you to train."

"Ah. Think you still that had I trained Anakin, turn to the Dark Side he would not."

"Yes, Master. I failed in training Anakin. I do not want to repeat that with Luke." Obi-Wan found it hard to even look Yoda in the eye.

Yoda noticed Padme was about to say something, but he silenced her with a nod of his head. "Short memory you have, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan raised his head. "What do you mean?"

"Forgotten you have, that a Sith a former padawan of MINE became."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. He HAD forgotten about that.

Yoda shook his head. "Know you that on the past I do not like to dwell. But reminded of some things you must be." Yoda pointed his stick at Obi-Wan for emphasis. "Told me you once did of a warning you gave Qui-Gon, not long before he died."

"You mean about Anakin?"

"Yes. What say you to him?"

"I…" Obi-Wan glanced at Padme. "I told him that Anakin was dangerous."

Yoda nodded his head again. "What say Qui-Gon?"

"He told me flat-out that he was not dangerous. He made it pretty clear that he didn't want to hear anything negative about Anakin."

"Stubborn Qui-Gon was. Share you did the same misgivings about Anakin that I had. But later, willing you were to defy the Council to train Anakin. Why?"

"Master, you know why. It was Qui-Gon's dying request. I could not refuse him. And I wasn't going to break my word to him."

Yoda thumped his stick. "Wrong Qui-Gon was to request that of you! Not because qualified you were not. Wrong it was to place that burden on you."

"Qui-Gon just felt strongly about…"

Yoda thumped his stick on the ground again. "Friend Qui-Gon was. Defend him, you need not. However, too focused on HIS belief about what was right Qui-Gon was. Too willing in those times he was to defy the Council and hurt those closest to him." Yoda's eyes seemed to bore right into Obi-Wan's soul.

Padme could tell that Yoda had meant Obi-Wan. It broke her heart to see the pain in Obi-Wan's eyes before he ducked his head down. Qui-Gon had obviously done something to hurt Obi-Wan deeply. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened.

Obi-Wan finally looked up at Yoda, almost looking to Yoda like a child again. "But Qui-Gon believed in Anakin so deeply. I wanted to believe also, because I believed in Qui-Gon."

"Know this I do, Obi-Wan. Tried hard to believe in Anakin, you did. But misgivings you still had." Yoda sighed. "Listen to your concerns about Anakin through the years, the Council did not. Preoccupied we were with the Sith and the Separatists. Just what Sidious intended this was."

Padme knew about Obi-Wan having some concerns about Anakin through the years, but she wanted to hear Yoda's take on it. "Obi-Wan brought concerns to the Council about Anakin?"

Obi-Wan tried to jump in. "Master, I…"

"Answer her question, I will!" Yoda's look brooked no argument. "Come to us many times Obi-Wan did. Deeply concerned he was about Anakin's lack of emotional control. Concerned he was also about Anakin's arrogance and defiance." Yoda shook his head sorrowfully. "Distracted I was. Forgot I did the dangers I had sensed years before in Anakin."

Obi-Wan didn't like hearing this from Yoda. "Master, it certainly wasn't your fault!"

Yoda straightened up, face again neutral. "If blame you are looking for, plenty to go around there is. But remember you must one thing, live life for a padawan a Jedi Master cannot. Theirs to make decisions still are. Made his own choices Anakin did."

Padme jumped in. "That's right! Obi-Wan, he was a grown man and a Jedi Knight. He is the one who decided to turn his back on the Jedi Order, on you and on me. His desire for power overrode his commitment to the Jedi and his supposed love for me. And considering you are the diametrical opposite of him in most characteristics, how you can blame yourself for what he did is beyond me!"

Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. He glanced over at Yoda, who was nodding approvingly at Padme.

"Speak the truth, Padme does. Listen you should, Obi-Wan." Yoda headed towards his little kitchen to make more of his favorite tea. He patted Obi-Wan's shoulder affectionately as he went by.

Padme scooted over to Obi-Wan. She took his bearded chin in her hand, looking deep into his eyes. "I meant everything I said. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME!"

Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile a bit. "Yes, Ma'am."

-

Sidious sat at his desk, chair turned towards the window. He was still fuming from the reports he'd received from several locations throughout the galaxy. There was no trace of Obi-Wan anywhere! He hissed his breath through his teeth. Patience. I have to have patience. I will find him again.

With the amount of reward Sidious was offering to whoever found Obi-Wan, he was sure that eventually he would have him back. Only this time, Sidious would make sure there was NO avenue for escape. He found that he was completely consumed with searching for Obi-Wan. The feelings of affection he had for Obi-Wan disturbed him greatly. It was very…un-Sith-like.

Sidious could sense Vader heading towards his office. He hissed his breath in annoyance. He schooled his features as Vader strode in.

"Master, I request permission to go search for Obi-Wan."

"No."

Vader tried to control his anger. "I'm the best person you have to search for him. No one else will be as thorough."

"Frankly, Lord Vader, I don't trust you to bring him back to me in one piece. I don't trust your emotional control, especially after the little love letter from Padme." Sidious' little dig got the desired response.

White-hot fury and jealousy coursed through Vader. He tried to keep his voice level. "Master, I don't understand why you don't want him dead! If it were anyone else, you…"

Sidious was now on his feet. He leaned over his desk with a look that could melt durasteel. "I told you once before that my reasons for wanting Obi-Wan alive are my own. That still holds true." He stared at Vader, daring him to challenge this.

Vader wisely decided not to push his master on the matter. He worked to get his emotions under some semblance of control. "What would you have me do, Master?"

"Many planets on the outer rim are still resisting Imperial rule. I want you to make it clear to each of those planets that our rule and our presence are not up for debate. Establish a garrison on each planet if you must. I want my hold on the galaxy to be complete." Sidious thought to himself, The added benefit is that you will be away from me for a long, long time!

"Yes, Master." Vader started to turn away, but Sidious spoke up again.

"I take it that you are clear on the fact that I do not want you to search for Obi-Wan?"

Vader gritted his teeth. "Yes, Master."

"If I should tell you to do so, it will be a time of my own choosing."

"Yes, Master." Vader left as quickly as he could. He had come back to Coruscant with the hopes that his successful mission would have helped to change his master's attitude towards him. He could not have been more wrong. His master's attitude towards him was worse!

Does he blame me for Obi-Wan's escape? Vader didn't think that could be it. It almost seems as though he didn't want me to come back. He started to sift through all that had transpired since Obi-Wan was first captured. And like a puzzle, all the pieces finally came into place. Obi-Wan was telling the truth! My master wants HIM as his apprentice instead of me!

Vader's world seemed to be crashing in around him. He now understood what he had been unwilling to contemplate before. Someway, somehow, Sidious had developed some affection for Obi-Wan. It seemed so clear to him now. His master never reacted in anger towards Obi-Wan, only amusement and even respect. His master even seemed protective of Obi-Wan. How can this be?

Vader found his hatred for Obi-Wan growing even hotter. Obi-Wan Kenobi was the bane of his existence. Obi-Wan had taken EVERYTHING from him! It had always been this way. No matter what, it had always been Obi-Wan who got the attention, the respect and the affection of others. Even though HE was the Chosen One, he had never quite measured up to Obi-Wan in their eyes.

Vader knew that he had to be rid of Obi-Wan once and for all. He didn't care what Sidiousdid tohim. He was going to hunt Obi-Wan down!