Title: Memories
Author: Kali T'hara
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: PG-13 (possibly R later…)
Summary: Ben Kenobi reflects on his life as a Jedi Knight during the age of the Old Republic…and remembers a secret love.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Obi-Wan…Nor do I own any other Star Wars character that may be mentioned. George owns it all…we just obsess over it.
Author note: This follows the Jedi Apprentice books, except I hate Sari…and I don't care for Bant…so we'll pretend they don't exist. Other than that, this follows the movies and novels pretty close. These chapters are intermingled throughout Star Wars history, so it doesn't really affect the "real" storylines. You can consider this slightly AU…
Chapter 1: A Legacy Remembered
The air was hot and dry. Ben remembered why he hated the Tatooine weather conditions so much. Every afternoon, the overhead twin suns bore down on the desolate, barren planet, heating the surface to unbearable temperatures. Days and days of his life entailed walking back and forth in this heat from a certain Moisture Farm, hiding in the distances as he observed young Skywalker. He knew this path all too well.
Today, however, he remained at his shelter. His sleep was troubled and uneasy last night, so he decided to stay close, and not venture out into the desert. Considering he was unarmed at the moment, he decided to make this short. Ben smiled to himself; he was never truly unarmed, the Force was always with him.
After a quick survey of the surrounding rocky cliffs and sand dunes, he confirmed there was no immediate Tuskin Raider threat. They liked to appear out of nowhere and attempt to storm his home. Of course, they never succeeded. He turned and walked up the beaten path back towards his small home.
It had been years now since the Clone Wars ended. Years since his friends and mentors were murdered. Years since Anakin had fallen to the Dark Side. He remained hidden in the shadows of his former self, meditating on the past. Things he could have done differently. Things he could have done to have prevented this. But the golden age of the Jedi was only a distant memory. Their tales had becomes legends – whispers of the past.
He walked up to his front door and hit the controls on the side. The door opened with a slight whoosh as he stepped over the threshold. He quickly hit the controls on the other side, and the door slid closed again.
The small clay and sand made home kept the extreme heat out and the cooler air in. It was simple; no decorations, no memorabilia. They tan colored walls showed age, but held no stories. There was a simple kitchen, a sitting area, and a bed/bathroom. Ben spent most of his time in the sitting area, meditating…and staring at his storage container. The items in that trunk were all he had left of who he was.
He walked towards the container and stood in front of it. Years had passed, yet not a day went by without him opening the trunk. He brought up a chair and sat down in front of the trunk. He placed his index finger on the left clasp and left it there for a few moments. Just thinking about the items in the container gave his chills.
He flicked open the clasp, then moved to the right one and flicked it open too. He took another moment. Both hands grasped the lid at the corners and he slowly propped it open. His lightsaber.
With just the sight of the sleek metal hilt, thousands of memories came flooding back to him. He reached inside the container and picked up the lightsaber. He wrapped his fingers around the cool metal hilt as he brought it up towards his face. He held it within centimeters of his blue eyes, not blinking, not moving. He just stared at the surface, looking at his own reflection in the metal hilt. He looked back at himself, eye to eye.
The years returned. Memories flowed back like the waterfalls of Naboo. He felt himself being drawn back in time; back to the years when he was Obi-Wan Kenobi…
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A loud crackle echoed through the walls of the training room. Two lightsabers came together in a heated battle, illuminating the dim room with a blue green glow. As the blades swung through the air, their hum filled the room. Again and again, the sabers connected with the sounds of confrontation. The green one swung faster, and more precise. Its opponent was beginning to tire.
"Concentrate, young Kenobi," a voice grumbled from behind, "Guide your saber, the Force will,"
Twelve year old Obi-Wan Kenobi gritted his teeth. He knew he was loosing…again. He felt sweat beading on his forehead, and traveling down his temples. He took a few steps back, giving himself more room between his opponent. Should he jump? Or dodge to the right? Either way, he was probably going to lose this match, no doubt.
His opponent made the next move again. A heavy blow to the left came from the green lightsaber, followed by another loud hum. The saber swung around with impeccable expertise, forcing Obi-Wan to continuously block it left and right.
She was an expert with her lightsaber, despite her age. Her long red brown hair spiraled around her face as she moved past Obi-Wan. Many times had they fought each other, and every time, she had won. Her green eyes blazed with the utmost level of concentration – she seemed unstoppable.
Obi-Wan lunged to the left, and somersaulted over her head, landing on the opposite side. The girl spun her saber vertically in her right hand as she advanced on him. She looked dangerous, yet the Light Side of the Force swirled around her like a planet's magnetic field. Only ten years old, this human girl was gifted beyond her being.
She attacked once more. Blue and green blades sliced through the air, cutting the silence. In a blink of an eye, one lost moment of concentration, the green blade froze centimeters from Obi-Wan's neck. A killing blow – the match was over. The room's lights were turned up to full power, and the lightsabers simultaneously deactivated.
"Improving, your skills are, young Kenobi," Yoda's voice came from the sidelines. The green being hobbled across the polished stone floor; his walking stick clicking loudly with each step, "And young T'hara," he continued, "Exceptional skills you are developing,"
"Thank you, Master," she said with a slight bow.
Obi-Wan walked up next to his opponent and placed a hand on her shoulder. In an alien language, he smiled and said, "One of these days, I will beat you,"
She laughed, "You say that every time, Kenobi," she shot back in the same language.
"Continue to tutor him, will you, Kali?" Yoda asked.
"Yes, Master, I will,"
"And Obi-Wan," Yoda continued, "Help her with her studies, you should. Spends more time with her lightsaber then with her books,"
Obi-Wan smiled, "Yes, Master,"
The elderly Jedi began to hobble away, "A good pair, you two make,"
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Ben opened his eyes; he was still grasping his lightsaber hilt. His knuckles had turned white from the strength of his grip. He rubbed his eyes, and then scratched his head. His mind had drifted from his body; he was daydreaming of the past. He thought about her everyday. 'A good pair, you two make…' Yoda's words had stuck with him over the years, and haunted his every thought. No one knew what they had shared; no one knew what they had become. It seemed hypocritical to Ben, but they made it work.
He set the lightsaber back in the chest, but didn't close the lid. Everything was a distant recollection of the past. All he had left were his memories of her, nothing more. He sat alone in his lonely dessert home, dwelling on that thought.
