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.

Chapter 4: Uncertain Entanglements

Ben found himself in front of the container again. Somehow, his body always brought him here, while his mind strayed into the past. He could never get away from them. These memories kept incorporating themselves into every aspect of his life. Anything he did reminded him of something else. His meditations offered no peace, for they were also filled with visions of the past.

Sometimes, he wanted these memories. Sometimes he needed them to remember her face. Sometimes he needed them just to remember himself.

Another restless night of sleep. Whenever he dreamt about the Tynna incident, he always awoke in a cold sweat. However, it wasn't over. So much more happened on that planet…

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"Padawan!" Qui-Gon cried as he saw the blaster bolt strike him.

The force from the bolt threw Obi-Wan to his knees. He gasped as the energy seared his skin. He held his left upper arm with the opposite hand. He looked down at the burn mark on his tunic; it wasn't that bad. He'd heal.

Obi-Wan jumped back up and continued to divert blaster fire. His mind remained on defending his Master, Kali, and himself – not on his wound. He felt his arm burning in pain, but his concentration remained unbroken. His eyes would randomly flick back and forth between Kali and Qui-Gon, monitoring their positions and status.

Kali's blade sliced through the air and deflected every red bolt that came at her. The energy beam swung back and forth, in circular motions, creating a green barrier between herself and the blaster fire. She was fighting to save her Master, not herself. Obi-Wan could see the intensity in her eyes. She was expecting the worse. Her saber was a green blur as she cut left and right. She led the group slowly deeper into the palace. They would find A'saa.

Only three guards remained in the main hall, "Cover me," she called out to either of the men. She lowered her lightsaber as she began to run down to long hallway that led to the throne room. Qui-Gon gave a swift wave of his hand, causing the weapons of the remaining guards to fly from their hands and smash into the adjacent walls. He then gave Obi-Wan a quick glance as they followed Kali down the hall.

We will follow her, and trust her instincts.

Obi-Wan nodded in understanding of Qui-Gon's unspoken words.

"I feel her near," she said as she came to a halt in front of the throne room doors. The three Jedi simultaneously deactivated their lightsabers.

"We need a plan of action," Qui-Gon suggested. He knew Kali well enough by now and believed that she would run blindly through the palace until she found her master. "We need to find out their motive before you kill them all,"

"Yes, Master," she returned, "What should we do?"

"You and Obi-Wan secure the throne room," he explained, "That doesn't entail killing everyone in it,"

"Yes, Master," she said again.

"I will find the king, and try and find out what went wrong,"

"But the Tynnaians are behind this," Obi-Wan assumed.

"I doubt that. It's not in their nature," Qui-Gon answered.

"But it's the Tynnaian Guards that are attacking us," Kali stated.

"Were they?" the elder Jedi proposed, "You should study your enemy more closely, young Padawans. Those were Tronnians,"

"Master," Obi-Wan asked, "how did you know that? They are wearing helmets shielding their faces,"

"Their weapons," Qui-Gon answered, "Those blasters are manufactured and used only by Tronnians; a very primitive style. The Tynnaians' are imported through the Trade Federation. Their insignia is etched on the sides,"

Obi-Wan nodded his head. Kali looked like she was thinking.

"With time, you both will begin to notice the subtleties. A wise and powerful Jedi uses every instinct before assumption. The eyes not only allow us to see, they also allow us to perceive," he continued, "I suspect, not assume, that the Tronnians are behind this attack. They played passive during the negotiations, and waited for the opportune moment to attack,"

"What about Master A'saa?" Kali asked with frustration, "Isn't this a rescue?"

"Yes, young Padawan, but it is our duty to help the victims here before we help ourselves. The Tronnians could have captured the king as well. Our primary mission was to settle the peace agreements,"

"Understood, Master," she agreed apathetically.

Qui-Gon closed his eyes, "I don't sense any life forms in the throne room. There may be droids in there, however,"

Kali nodded, "Not a problem," she activated her lightsaber again, "Let's go," she motioned to Obi-Wan.

"I will contact you when I have any information," Qui-Gon continued, "Do not leave this room until I have,"

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan agreed.

"May the Force be with you both," he said in closing before he ran back up the hallway and out of sight.

Kali turned towards the entrance, "This is our first task together," she said as she placed her left hand on the giant wooden doors, "Let's not make it our last," she said with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Obi-Wan smiled, "The Force will guide us,"

Kali nodded as she retracted her hand and kicked the huge doors open. Blaster fire erupted around them both as they ran into the throne room. There were about eight droids in the room, simple models, easy to destroy. Kali somersaulted over the closest droid, placing it between Obi-Wan and herself. He deflected its fire as she started cutting down the next closest one.

Kali led the attack again, and Obi-Wan covered her back. He had learned from years of lightsaber matches that she knew what she was doing, and knew how to defend herself. Her lightsaber cut through the metal with ease. Many hours of her training consisted battling against remote censors and assassin droids. This was like a warm up for her. Within minutes, every single droid was a heap of scrap metal.

Kali quickly deactivated her lightsaber and placed it back on her belt, "That was too easy," She turned from Obi-Wan and began to walk towards the giant windows that ran the entire length of the chamber. Her boot heels clicked on the highly polished stone floors.

"I should contact Master Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said, "Let him know we have the throne room under control,"

Kali didn't answer. She continued to walk towards the windows as she looked out the glass and up into the sky. Tronnian star fighters lined the sky, just below the planet's atmosphere. The eyes not only allow us to see, they also allow us to perceive. Qui-Gon's words echoed in her mind. She studied the fighters more closely. There were Tynnaian ships intermingled with the Tronnians. The fighters were similar in body style and color, the only exception was the age. Most of the Tronnian Fighters were older models, mostly stolen during past entanglements. To the untrained eye, they would appear to be the same ships. Slight outer body upgrades were the only features that separated a Tynnaian Fighter from a Tronnian. For once, she did her homework before the mission.

Kali's lip turned up in a half smile, "Have you contacted Qui-Gon yet?" she asked from across the room.

Obi-Wan was closely examining his comlink, "It's not working. They must have jammed the communications," he shrugged, "I can't reach him,"

Kali took her lightsaber back off her belt, "Then we must find him,"

"Master Qui-Gon told us to remain in the throne room," Obi-Wan reminded, "We mustn't disobey his orders,"

"Normally, I would agree," Kali assured, "But I fear that the problem is more complicated than we anticipated,"

"How so?"

"The fighters forming the blockade out there are both Tynnaian and Tronnian. We assumed earlier that we were only fighting the Tronnians, and defending the Tynnaians. Why would enemies be forming a blockade together if one was overrunning the other's palace? Master Qui-Gon is looking for the king," she paused, "who must be in on this plot as well,"

Obi-Wan nodded, "This has turned into a more complex rescue,"

"And more complex negotiations," she added,

Obi-Wan began, "But what would they want with us? The Jedi were requested by the king to help settle a peace agreement. Why would he then turn his back on us and side with the Tronnians? It makes no sense,"

Kali was now walking towards then main entrance, "We'll deal with the logical side later. All we need to know is if our enemies have doubled," she activated her green blade, "We have two Jedi Masters to find,"