Time To Heal

Part I- Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Jedi Apprentice

Ben woke up before the first rays of sunlight hit the ground. He sat up and put his head in his hands, rubbing at his eyes. The dream he just had was faint and the force was calling to him. Ben followed the faint push and found himself staring at the smooth rock on his shelf. He had tried to forget about it, and for ten years he had nearly succeeded.

Standing up, his barefeet brushing the warm ground Ben reached for the rock and stopped short as he felt the force all around it. Pulling back he looked around the room and decided to get ready for his journey. He knew there was no stoping it, he had to go.

Slipping into his boots and pulling on his robe he had for as long as he could remember, Ben opened a chest and pulled out a metal rod with a red button on the side. With a flick of his wrist a blue energy blade shot out of the end. Ben smiled at the consistant hum of the blade and the light wieght of the weapon. His lightsaber.

His smile turned into a frown as he remembered the fate of his first lightsaber.

'No.' He thought to himself. 'I will not think of that.'

Turning it off Ben attached it to his belt and put the Republic credits he had kept into his pocket. They were of no value now, but then, he could put them to good use.

Satisfied and content the old jedi master readied himself both mentally and physically. He wasn't sure where he would end up so he had to be ready for anything. Hovering his hand in mid air he called upon the Force.

The rock flew into his hand and all went black.

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"Get up old man! You're on my blanket."

Ben opened his eyes and found himself in an alley on the ground. Standing up he flet the smooth surface of the rock in his hand.

"I'm terribly sorry, I'll just be on my way."

The gruff man who had woke him grabbed Ben on the arm and almost made him drop the rock. He pocketed it.

"Just a minute. You can't just walk away that easily. You need to learn your place elder."

Before Ben could think of what to say a young boy came around the corner.

"Hey, leave him alone."

The man turned around and Ben felt the tightness in his chest as Obi-Wan Kenobi stood there.

"Oh? And what are you going to do if I don't kid?"

Ben watched and felt it as Obi-Wan gathered the Force. Raising his hand the boy waved it infront of him. "The man did nothing."

The gruff man's eyes seemed to glass over. "The man did nothing."

Obi-Wan nodded. "You were just leaving."

"I was just leaving."

Ben watched proudly as the other man walked away.

"That was very good young Kenobi. An apprentice your age would usually struggle with such a feat."

Obi-Wan shrugged, not at all perplexed that the older man knew his name.

"My master says that I'm strong in the force."

"Indeed."

Suddenly Obi-Wan snapped his head up. "I must go now." With a small bow he left.

Ben was a little confused and followed the boy around the corner.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi!"

Qui-Gon's strong voice out volumed everyone else on the street. Ben stopped and watched the short exchange between the two. Then he saw something he didn't exect, himself. He watched as his old self from ten years ago stood there, unmovable. The rock fell from his hand and he was gone.

Ben felt his pocket and breathed a sigh of relif at the wieght the small rock made.

Looking up he saw the retreating back of Qui-Gon Jinn and he followed. Ben knew his master noticed that they were being followed so when Qui-Gon lead Obi-Wan into a small alley Ben walked right pass, intent on reaching the temple and talking to Master Yoda.

TBC