Chapter Two
Qui-Gon gently took the small creature in his large hand. The tiny creature was Force sensitive and he was aware of its fear. It was not injured, but it seemed to know that the boy was. He carefully slipped the little slug into one of his pockets as the pilot of the speeder approached them.
"Stupid kid wrecked my speeder," the stout pallid-skinned man roared. The man's face was red and his fists were clenched into balls at his sides. He surveyed the damages to his vehicle for a moment before he whirled around to face Qui-Gon and the unconscious child. His beady gray eyes were full of antagonism as he glared at them.
"He's injured; so leave him alone," snapped the elderly woman standing next to the pile of cast off rags near where the youngster lay.
"He's just a homeless brat who dented my speeder. He has no business running through the streets like that, or even being on this planet in the first place. I'm going to drag his worthless hide to the authorities. They've warned him before; now he will be taken off the streets and put behind bars where he belongs." The man looked away from the old woman and stepped toward Qui-Gon.
The Jedi quickly stood, "You will not touch this boy," Qui-Gon ordered the man. He stared down into angry eyes before he continued, "I'm a Jedi Master and this boy is coming to Coruscant with me."
"You don't look like a Jedi to me, old man."
"I'm undercover. Now leave or I'll report you to the local authorities for interfering with official Jedi business."
"Just keep that brat away from me," the man growled. His frazzled gray/brown hair blew across his face as he spun around to examine the damages to his slightly dented speeder.
Qui-Gon watched him climb back into the speeder and leave before turning his attention back to the youngster who was now awake and trying to get up. Bending down on one knee, the Jedi scooped the child up into his arms, mindful of the boy's injuries and the small creature nestled in the warmth of his inner shirt pocket.
"Please sir, I can't b-be a slave," the boy rasped. Again fear clouded the young one's beautiful eyes.
"I'm not going to make you a slave, Obi-Wan. I'm going to take you home," he assured him as he sent waves of calm to the lad through the Force. He carried the protesting child through the busy streets of Luzick City.
"Home?" Ben questioned. "I. I don't have a home; and who is Obi-Wan?"
He looked into Ben's now calm blue/green eyes. Mace had seemed positive that this boy was the missing Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had not admitted it, but Qui-Gon had noticed a momentary spark of hope in the Council member's dark eyes when they had discussed the Padawan.
"I suppose I thought you were someone else," Qui-Gon told him. The child's pain filled eyes glared at him.
"You m-made me get hit by a speeder because you thought I was someone else," he closed his eyes against the pain that assaulted his body.
"I did not cause you to run away from me. If you would have spoken to me, you would not have been injured."
"If you're looking for s-someone else, why don't you put me down and go find this Obi-Wan person?"
"I'm going to take you to the healers. You have three broken ribs, two bruised ribs, and numerous cuts and bruises."
"No you can't. They won't heal me," he pleaded. "I'll be fine on my own, please just." the boy again closed his eyes against the pain. When he opened them again he took a slow haggard breath and continued, "Just let me go. I've been hurt worse than this; I'll be fine."
"You were living under a tree in the garden and stealing. I don't think you were fine. You're afraid of everyone you see."
The boy's eyes widened as he stared up into Qui-Gon's sapphire eyes. "I was hungry. Cyjeon was hungry too. The droids and Luzick's who work there would have thrown it away. It was a perfectly fine piece of bread but I lost it anyway."
Qui-Gon had not seen what the boy had removed from the table. He had assumed that Ben took the credits that the couple left on the table as a tip. "Why won't the healers heal your injuries? It's their job."
"They don't know my name. They know I can't pay them," the youngster sighed. He stared up into the hazy skies above, avoiding the tall man's gaze.
"Why don't you tell them your name?"
"I can't."
"But if you tell them, they can help you. Will you tell me your name?"
"No. I can't tell you or anyone. I don't know it; I don't know my name. All I know is that I woke up on Gala one morning not knowing who I am, or where I came from. I thought if I left Gala I could find a better life, but the ship I snuck on brought me here. All the new pilots here were warned to watch for me trying to hitch a ride with them. No one will hire me because I don't know my name. The authorities want to take me into custody. I heard them tell the bad men the same thing, so I left their facilities and have tried to avoid them."
Qui-Gon stared down at the boy in his arms. Gala was not far from Phindar, where Mace had said Obi-Wan was last seen. "You don't remember anything at all concerning your past?"
"No."
The reinstated Jedi Master nodded, "I can help you." He continued walking past the medical facilities.
"What are you some kind of healer looking for unfortunate people who need help?"
"Not exactly," he chuckled. "My name is Qui-Gon Jinn. I'm a Jedi Master."
"I've read about the Jedi in the Luzick City archives. They're like the authority here, right?"
"No, the Jedi are keepers of the peace. We help people. I think you might be one of our missing Jedi Padawan's named Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Padawan?"
"A Padawan is an Apprentice; a student who is taught to be a Jedi Knight." The young one nodded his head and again closed his eyes against the pain.
"We're not far from my ship where I can begin healing your injuries. The Temple Healers can heal the rest."
"Just give me something for the pain and I'll be fine. I don't need to go with you to your temple."
"But we can help you to find out who you are. If you are the missing Padawan, you belong at the Temple," Qui-Gon assured him as he walked into the hangar where he had left his ship. If the child agreed with Qui-Gon he did not comment.
*******************************
Qui-Gon healed the worst of the boy's injuries and helped him to wash away some of the grime covering his small thin body. He left the youngster to finish washing and dressing in the oversized clothing he had loaned him. Ben had fallen asleep on the vessel's only sleep couch before he finished fastening all the clasps on the shirt, leaving a smiling Qui-Gon to consider both the child and his circumstances
The Jedi's grin turned into a frown as he looked at Ben's pale skin visible through the opening of the garment. He could see the outline of each of the boy's ribs. Many bruises marred his flesh, some old and some new.
With a sigh, the Jedi laid a blanket over the young one, turned down the lighting, leaving the tiny resting area to return to the cockpit. He wanted to leave Luzick while his guest was still asleep. He knew the boy would be angry when he woke, but he decided to worry about it later.
Qui-Gon remembered Master Yoda's comments about his leaving the order. He couldn't stop thinking it was his fault that Padawan Kenobi was in trouble as just Yoda had foreseen.
There was no substantial evidence that the boy he found was Obi-Wan, but somehow in his heart Qui-Gon knew he was. He felt a strange connection to the youngster that he could not explain. Perhaps it was caused by the guilt he felt that Yoda was right.
As he stared out the view port, he thought about his decision to leave the order. Yoda had been correct, he had run away from the Jedi because he blamed himself for Xanatos' failure.
After giving a Corellian man a ride to Alderaan where his eldest son had been killed after a disagreement over death sticks two weeks ago, Qui-Gon realized he belonged with the Jedi.
The man named Jochs told him that he was very sad to hear of his son's death. The man had always had a sliver of hope that his first-born son would one day turn from his life of crime. He, however, was not surprised when he found out what had happened to his son. Jochs had told Qui-Gon that he realized long ago that some children are destined to be great law abiding citizens, while others no matter how well they are taught, are destined to break the law and do everything their own way. He told him that he had six sons and two daughters and of his eight children, only one was in trouble with the authorities. Two of his kids had even chosen careers in law enforcement and one had chosen politics.
Qui-Gon chuckled as he thought about that day. In just a couple of hours, Jochs was able to do what Master Yoda had tried to do for him years ago. He remembered lying awake that night after dropping the man off on Alderaan and thinking about what Jochs had said.
Qui-Gon realized after comparing the way that he had taught his first Apprentice Annock with Xanatos that they were both trained the same way. Annock was now a Knight; training his own Padawan and he had been eager to learn. He had used Qui-Gon's criticism to improve his forms and lightsaber skills. Xanatos however, was more stubborn; he would rather argue. He had often accused Qui-Gon of expecting the impossible. He now recognized that Annock had always walked the path of light while Xanatos constantly teetered on the edge of the dark side.
When Qui-Gon was forced to kill Xanatos Crion's father, it was the push that sent the young man over the edge, making it impossible for anyone to pull him back.
The returning Jedi had decided to finish his last three jobs and then return to the Order. With Mace Windu's help, he had now begun that path ahead of schedule.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy's voice broke the silence and startled Qui-Gon, who had neither heard nor sensed his approach.
The older man turned to look at the boy, "I'm taking you to Coruscant; to the Jedi Temple."
"By kidnapping me, it is kidnapping when you take someone against their will, isn't it?" the overhead lighting reflected the anguish in the youngster's eyes.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon sighed deliberately using the missing Padawan's name, "I was told by the Jedi Council to bring you to the Temple. It's a mission."
"A mission," the boy's eyes grew wide, "I'm a mission. What if I'm not this Obi-Wan kid?"
"It doesn't matter; they want to see you regardless. You were most likely a Jedi Padawan before you lost your memory."
"Why didn't you tie me up? Aren't you afraid that I'll try something?"
"No, Qui-Gon answered calmly as he turned back to face the window. His reflection shimmered in the view port giving the child a view of his emotionless features.
"No?" the boy glared at the back of the Jedi's head.
"No. I can sense a conflict deep inside you. You're afraid to trust me. You're afraid I'm lying and that I only want to hurt you. However, I also sense that part of you is tired of your life, the part that wants to know who you are and where you're from." Qui-Gon watched the boy's image replicated in the window. Surprise, fear, and then a glint of hope crossed his face as he shifted his feet from side to side.
"You can tell the Council that you want to return to Luzick once we reach the Temple, but for now you can join me in the galley for lunch. I don't know about you Obi-Wan but I'm hungry," he said as he stood up and walked toward the exit. He passed the surprised boy and continued toward the galley.
*******************************
Ben quietly followed the tall man to the small kitchenette, but he remained in the doorway leaning against the side of the open door. He silently watched the Jedi pull pots and pans out of the cupboards and start to prepare the meal.
Finally he spoke, "Why do you keep calling me Obi-wan? You don't know that I'm really him?"
"No I don't, but I don't know that you're not him either," Qui-Gon retorted as he glanced back at the boy. "I spoke with Jedi Master Mace Windu and you match Obi-Wan Kenobi's description."
"That doesn't prove anything," Ben commented. He intently watched the older man as he began to stir what he could only describe as mush in a mixing bowl.
"No; it doesn't," Qui-Gon agreed, "But I need to call you something."
Ben sighed, entered the galley, and sat down on one of the chairs at the small table. "When I first arrived on Luzick, an old woman mistook me for her grandson. She called me Benjamin or Ben. She let me stay with her for three days until her daughter showed up and told her I wasn't him. She told the old lady and the authorities that I was conning her grandmother into letting me stay with her. And that I was most likely planning to steal from her," he ran his hands through his auburn hair. "I knew it was too good to be true that I found out who I was on the first planet I reached."
"I'm sorry," Qui-Gon told him.
"How did you heal my injuries?" Ben asked not wanting to talk about the old woman. She had seemed to really care about him, for a couple of days at least. It hurt when she believed that her daughter was right and that his intentions were to deceive her.
"I used the Force."
"The Force?" Ben repeated.
"Yes, it's-"
"I know what it is. I just thought the Jedi had their own healers."
"We do. But we're taught basic healing techniques for when we can't get to a healer in time."
"Oh," the boy said. He stood up and walked away from the galley suspecting Qui-Gon was nearly done preparing the meal. He didn't want to be the way while the man ate.
"Obi-Wan wait," the man called following him out into the corridor, "I thought you were hungry."
"I'm fine," he told him. "Would you stop calling me Obi-Wan? I'm not him, I can't be him."
"Why can't you?"
"I'm not a Jedi, I can't use the Force. Someone once told me I was dressed like a Jedi so I read about them. You might as well take me back now. Or drop me off where ever you have to go, any place is better than where I've been."
"Jedi Knights have had amnesia before. You've forgotten how to use the Force. But you are Force sensitive; I can sense your Force signature. That's how I found you at the diner and also how I first found you in the garden."
"You did?"
"Yes, I did. While you were in the restaurant you were using the Force to hide your presence."
"I did, but I don't know how I did it. I don't even remember doing it. If I'm a Jedi, how can I still take part in missions when I can't remember any of it?"
"We'll visit the healers. It's possible that your amnesia is not permanent. Perhaps familiar surroundings will help you to regain your memory."
"What if I never get my memory back? Then I'll be cast out. I'll be on my own again. It would be better to just avoid all the wasted time. You can just drop me off on the next habitable planet."
"Listen to me Obi- Ben. If you are not Obi-Wan Kenobi, or another Padawan, I promise that you and Cyjeon will be well cared for. I will take care of the both of you personally if I have to," the man assured him.
"Cyjeon," Ben repeated. "I thought I lost him when the speeder on Luzick hit me."
The long haired man smiled and reached into his pocket. "He was scared; he knew you were hurt. But I reassured him that you would be fine." When he pulled his hand out of his pocket he held the small slug in his large hand.
"Cyjeon!" Ben smiled and took the creature out of the man's hand, "I thought I lost you. I didn't think I'd see you again."
"Come on, Ben. We still have six hours before we reach Coruscant, I think we should eat. Your friend needs food. I wasn't sure what to feed him and if you don't eat you would not be setting a very good example."
Ben smiled up at the Jedi and nodded. "Thank you for taking care of him and bringing him with you."
Qui-Gon nodded and turned to walk back to the galley.
***************************
Qui-Gon watched silently as Ben fed some of his food to Cyjeon before eating any of it himself. "So how did you come up with his name?"
"I don't remember but Cyjeon means Savior. I thought it was appropriate since he saved my life." Ben smiled fondly down at the tiny creature that still ate some food from his hand. "I was asleep underneath the tree where you found me. It was raining; it had been raining for more than 19 hours. I was already wet, so when the stream began to flood I didn't notice. Cyjeon had climbed up on top of me trying to get out of the water. I felt something on my face, and flung it off. After I realized what happened I rescued him and brought him with me while I tried to find someplace safe to sleep. He's been with me ever since. I let him play in the dirt and trees, but he always comes back to me. I think he likes the warmth of my pocket."
"I'm sure he does," Qui-Gon grinned, "Now eat. I may not be the best cook in the galaxy, but I can handle the basics."
"I'm sure it's fine," Ben reassured him.
******************************
Ben sat quietly in the pilot's seat of the small ship's cockpit. Qui-Gon was still asleep in the back. The vessel seemed oddly familiar, but different at the same time. He wondered if he had ridden in a transport similar to this one before he lost his memory.
In his pocket, he could feel Cyjeon begin to stir. He reached into his pocket and pulled his tiny friend out. "It's about time you woke up," he smiled. "You don't have to worry no matter what this guy has planned for us; I won't let anyone hurt you. I think we can trust him though. If he was really going to hurt us, I think he would have done so by now. And we're still headed toward Coruscant. If he wanted to sell me to slavers he wouldn't go there." Ben gently ran his finger over the rough surface of the creature's torso.
"According to the navicomputer we'll reach Coruscant in an hour. I'm scared of what will happen when we get there. I have a bad feeling about this. Whether I'm this Obi-Wan kid or not, this just doesn't feel right."
Tbc
Qui-Gon gently took the small creature in his large hand. The tiny creature was Force sensitive and he was aware of its fear. It was not injured, but it seemed to know that the boy was. He carefully slipped the little slug into one of his pockets as the pilot of the speeder approached them.
"Stupid kid wrecked my speeder," the stout pallid-skinned man roared. The man's face was red and his fists were clenched into balls at his sides. He surveyed the damages to his vehicle for a moment before he whirled around to face Qui-Gon and the unconscious child. His beady gray eyes were full of antagonism as he glared at them.
"He's injured; so leave him alone," snapped the elderly woman standing next to the pile of cast off rags near where the youngster lay.
"He's just a homeless brat who dented my speeder. He has no business running through the streets like that, or even being on this planet in the first place. I'm going to drag his worthless hide to the authorities. They've warned him before; now he will be taken off the streets and put behind bars where he belongs." The man looked away from the old woman and stepped toward Qui-Gon.
The Jedi quickly stood, "You will not touch this boy," Qui-Gon ordered the man. He stared down into angry eyes before he continued, "I'm a Jedi Master and this boy is coming to Coruscant with me."
"You don't look like a Jedi to me, old man."
"I'm undercover. Now leave or I'll report you to the local authorities for interfering with official Jedi business."
"Just keep that brat away from me," the man growled. His frazzled gray/brown hair blew across his face as he spun around to examine the damages to his slightly dented speeder.
Qui-Gon watched him climb back into the speeder and leave before turning his attention back to the youngster who was now awake and trying to get up. Bending down on one knee, the Jedi scooped the child up into his arms, mindful of the boy's injuries and the small creature nestled in the warmth of his inner shirt pocket.
"Please sir, I can't b-be a slave," the boy rasped. Again fear clouded the young one's beautiful eyes.
"I'm not going to make you a slave, Obi-Wan. I'm going to take you home," he assured him as he sent waves of calm to the lad through the Force. He carried the protesting child through the busy streets of Luzick City.
"Home?" Ben questioned. "I. I don't have a home; and who is Obi-Wan?"
He looked into Ben's now calm blue/green eyes. Mace had seemed positive that this boy was the missing Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had not admitted it, but Qui-Gon had noticed a momentary spark of hope in the Council member's dark eyes when they had discussed the Padawan.
"I suppose I thought you were someone else," Qui-Gon told him. The child's pain filled eyes glared at him.
"You m-made me get hit by a speeder because you thought I was someone else," he closed his eyes against the pain that assaulted his body.
"I did not cause you to run away from me. If you would have spoken to me, you would not have been injured."
"If you're looking for s-someone else, why don't you put me down and go find this Obi-Wan person?"
"I'm going to take you to the healers. You have three broken ribs, two bruised ribs, and numerous cuts and bruises."
"No you can't. They won't heal me," he pleaded. "I'll be fine on my own, please just." the boy again closed his eyes against the pain. When he opened them again he took a slow haggard breath and continued, "Just let me go. I've been hurt worse than this; I'll be fine."
"You were living under a tree in the garden and stealing. I don't think you were fine. You're afraid of everyone you see."
The boy's eyes widened as he stared up into Qui-Gon's sapphire eyes. "I was hungry. Cyjeon was hungry too. The droids and Luzick's who work there would have thrown it away. It was a perfectly fine piece of bread but I lost it anyway."
Qui-Gon had not seen what the boy had removed from the table. He had assumed that Ben took the credits that the couple left on the table as a tip. "Why won't the healers heal your injuries? It's their job."
"They don't know my name. They know I can't pay them," the youngster sighed. He stared up into the hazy skies above, avoiding the tall man's gaze.
"Why don't you tell them your name?"
"I can't."
"But if you tell them, they can help you. Will you tell me your name?"
"No. I can't tell you or anyone. I don't know it; I don't know my name. All I know is that I woke up on Gala one morning not knowing who I am, or where I came from. I thought if I left Gala I could find a better life, but the ship I snuck on brought me here. All the new pilots here were warned to watch for me trying to hitch a ride with them. No one will hire me because I don't know my name. The authorities want to take me into custody. I heard them tell the bad men the same thing, so I left their facilities and have tried to avoid them."
Qui-Gon stared down at the boy in his arms. Gala was not far from Phindar, where Mace had said Obi-Wan was last seen. "You don't remember anything at all concerning your past?"
"No."
The reinstated Jedi Master nodded, "I can help you." He continued walking past the medical facilities.
"What are you some kind of healer looking for unfortunate people who need help?"
"Not exactly," he chuckled. "My name is Qui-Gon Jinn. I'm a Jedi Master."
"I've read about the Jedi in the Luzick City archives. They're like the authority here, right?"
"No, the Jedi are keepers of the peace. We help people. I think you might be one of our missing Jedi Padawan's named Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Padawan?"
"A Padawan is an Apprentice; a student who is taught to be a Jedi Knight." The young one nodded his head and again closed his eyes against the pain.
"We're not far from my ship where I can begin healing your injuries. The Temple Healers can heal the rest."
"Just give me something for the pain and I'll be fine. I don't need to go with you to your temple."
"But we can help you to find out who you are. If you are the missing Padawan, you belong at the Temple," Qui-Gon assured him as he walked into the hangar where he had left his ship. If the child agreed with Qui-Gon he did not comment.
*******************************
Qui-Gon healed the worst of the boy's injuries and helped him to wash away some of the grime covering his small thin body. He left the youngster to finish washing and dressing in the oversized clothing he had loaned him. Ben had fallen asleep on the vessel's only sleep couch before he finished fastening all the clasps on the shirt, leaving a smiling Qui-Gon to consider both the child and his circumstances
The Jedi's grin turned into a frown as he looked at Ben's pale skin visible through the opening of the garment. He could see the outline of each of the boy's ribs. Many bruises marred his flesh, some old and some new.
With a sigh, the Jedi laid a blanket over the young one, turned down the lighting, leaving the tiny resting area to return to the cockpit. He wanted to leave Luzick while his guest was still asleep. He knew the boy would be angry when he woke, but he decided to worry about it later.
Qui-Gon remembered Master Yoda's comments about his leaving the order. He couldn't stop thinking it was his fault that Padawan Kenobi was in trouble as just Yoda had foreseen.
There was no substantial evidence that the boy he found was Obi-Wan, but somehow in his heart Qui-Gon knew he was. He felt a strange connection to the youngster that he could not explain. Perhaps it was caused by the guilt he felt that Yoda was right.
As he stared out the view port, he thought about his decision to leave the order. Yoda had been correct, he had run away from the Jedi because he blamed himself for Xanatos' failure.
After giving a Corellian man a ride to Alderaan where his eldest son had been killed after a disagreement over death sticks two weeks ago, Qui-Gon realized he belonged with the Jedi.
The man named Jochs told him that he was very sad to hear of his son's death. The man had always had a sliver of hope that his first-born son would one day turn from his life of crime. He, however, was not surprised when he found out what had happened to his son. Jochs had told Qui-Gon that he realized long ago that some children are destined to be great law abiding citizens, while others no matter how well they are taught, are destined to break the law and do everything their own way. He told him that he had six sons and two daughters and of his eight children, only one was in trouble with the authorities. Two of his kids had even chosen careers in law enforcement and one had chosen politics.
Qui-Gon chuckled as he thought about that day. In just a couple of hours, Jochs was able to do what Master Yoda had tried to do for him years ago. He remembered lying awake that night after dropping the man off on Alderaan and thinking about what Jochs had said.
Qui-Gon realized after comparing the way that he had taught his first Apprentice Annock with Xanatos that they were both trained the same way. Annock was now a Knight; training his own Padawan and he had been eager to learn. He had used Qui-Gon's criticism to improve his forms and lightsaber skills. Xanatos however, was more stubborn; he would rather argue. He had often accused Qui-Gon of expecting the impossible. He now recognized that Annock had always walked the path of light while Xanatos constantly teetered on the edge of the dark side.
When Qui-Gon was forced to kill Xanatos Crion's father, it was the push that sent the young man over the edge, making it impossible for anyone to pull him back.
The returning Jedi had decided to finish his last three jobs and then return to the Order. With Mace Windu's help, he had now begun that path ahead of schedule.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy's voice broke the silence and startled Qui-Gon, who had neither heard nor sensed his approach.
The older man turned to look at the boy, "I'm taking you to Coruscant; to the Jedi Temple."
"By kidnapping me, it is kidnapping when you take someone against their will, isn't it?" the overhead lighting reflected the anguish in the youngster's eyes.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon sighed deliberately using the missing Padawan's name, "I was told by the Jedi Council to bring you to the Temple. It's a mission."
"A mission," the boy's eyes grew wide, "I'm a mission. What if I'm not this Obi-Wan kid?"
"It doesn't matter; they want to see you regardless. You were most likely a Jedi Padawan before you lost your memory."
"Why didn't you tie me up? Aren't you afraid that I'll try something?"
"No, Qui-Gon answered calmly as he turned back to face the window. His reflection shimmered in the view port giving the child a view of his emotionless features.
"No?" the boy glared at the back of the Jedi's head.
"No. I can sense a conflict deep inside you. You're afraid to trust me. You're afraid I'm lying and that I only want to hurt you. However, I also sense that part of you is tired of your life, the part that wants to know who you are and where you're from." Qui-Gon watched the boy's image replicated in the window. Surprise, fear, and then a glint of hope crossed his face as he shifted his feet from side to side.
"You can tell the Council that you want to return to Luzick once we reach the Temple, but for now you can join me in the galley for lunch. I don't know about you Obi-Wan but I'm hungry," he said as he stood up and walked toward the exit. He passed the surprised boy and continued toward the galley.
*******************************
Ben quietly followed the tall man to the small kitchenette, but he remained in the doorway leaning against the side of the open door. He silently watched the Jedi pull pots and pans out of the cupboards and start to prepare the meal.
Finally he spoke, "Why do you keep calling me Obi-wan? You don't know that I'm really him?"
"No I don't, but I don't know that you're not him either," Qui-Gon retorted as he glanced back at the boy. "I spoke with Jedi Master Mace Windu and you match Obi-Wan Kenobi's description."
"That doesn't prove anything," Ben commented. He intently watched the older man as he began to stir what he could only describe as mush in a mixing bowl.
"No; it doesn't," Qui-Gon agreed, "But I need to call you something."
Ben sighed, entered the galley, and sat down on one of the chairs at the small table. "When I first arrived on Luzick, an old woman mistook me for her grandson. She called me Benjamin or Ben. She let me stay with her for three days until her daughter showed up and told her I wasn't him. She told the old lady and the authorities that I was conning her grandmother into letting me stay with her. And that I was most likely planning to steal from her," he ran his hands through his auburn hair. "I knew it was too good to be true that I found out who I was on the first planet I reached."
"I'm sorry," Qui-Gon told him.
"How did you heal my injuries?" Ben asked not wanting to talk about the old woman. She had seemed to really care about him, for a couple of days at least. It hurt when she believed that her daughter was right and that his intentions were to deceive her.
"I used the Force."
"The Force?" Ben repeated.
"Yes, it's-"
"I know what it is. I just thought the Jedi had their own healers."
"We do. But we're taught basic healing techniques for when we can't get to a healer in time."
"Oh," the boy said. He stood up and walked away from the galley suspecting Qui-Gon was nearly done preparing the meal. He didn't want to be the way while the man ate.
"Obi-Wan wait," the man called following him out into the corridor, "I thought you were hungry."
"I'm fine," he told him. "Would you stop calling me Obi-Wan? I'm not him, I can't be him."
"Why can't you?"
"I'm not a Jedi, I can't use the Force. Someone once told me I was dressed like a Jedi so I read about them. You might as well take me back now. Or drop me off where ever you have to go, any place is better than where I've been."
"Jedi Knights have had amnesia before. You've forgotten how to use the Force. But you are Force sensitive; I can sense your Force signature. That's how I found you at the diner and also how I first found you in the garden."
"You did?"
"Yes, I did. While you were in the restaurant you were using the Force to hide your presence."
"I did, but I don't know how I did it. I don't even remember doing it. If I'm a Jedi, how can I still take part in missions when I can't remember any of it?"
"We'll visit the healers. It's possible that your amnesia is not permanent. Perhaps familiar surroundings will help you to regain your memory."
"What if I never get my memory back? Then I'll be cast out. I'll be on my own again. It would be better to just avoid all the wasted time. You can just drop me off on the next habitable planet."
"Listen to me Obi- Ben. If you are not Obi-Wan Kenobi, or another Padawan, I promise that you and Cyjeon will be well cared for. I will take care of the both of you personally if I have to," the man assured him.
"Cyjeon," Ben repeated. "I thought I lost him when the speeder on Luzick hit me."
The long haired man smiled and reached into his pocket. "He was scared; he knew you were hurt. But I reassured him that you would be fine." When he pulled his hand out of his pocket he held the small slug in his large hand.
"Cyjeon!" Ben smiled and took the creature out of the man's hand, "I thought I lost you. I didn't think I'd see you again."
"Come on, Ben. We still have six hours before we reach Coruscant, I think we should eat. Your friend needs food. I wasn't sure what to feed him and if you don't eat you would not be setting a very good example."
Ben smiled up at the Jedi and nodded. "Thank you for taking care of him and bringing him with you."
Qui-Gon nodded and turned to walk back to the galley.
***************************
Qui-Gon watched silently as Ben fed some of his food to Cyjeon before eating any of it himself. "So how did you come up with his name?"
"I don't remember but Cyjeon means Savior. I thought it was appropriate since he saved my life." Ben smiled fondly down at the tiny creature that still ate some food from his hand. "I was asleep underneath the tree where you found me. It was raining; it had been raining for more than 19 hours. I was already wet, so when the stream began to flood I didn't notice. Cyjeon had climbed up on top of me trying to get out of the water. I felt something on my face, and flung it off. After I realized what happened I rescued him and brought him with me while I tried to find someplace safe to sleep. He's been with me ever since. I let him play in the dirt and trees, but he always comes back to me. I think he likes the warmth of my pocket."
"I'm sure he does," Qui-Gon grinned, "Now eat. I may not be the best cook in the galaxy, but I can handle the basics."
"I'm sure it's fine," Ben reassured him.
******************************
Ben sat quietly in the pilot's seat of the small ship's cockpit. Qui-Gon was still asleep in the back. The vessel seemed oddly familiar, but different at the same time. He wondered if he had ridden in a transport similar to this one before he lost his memory.
In his pocket, he could feel Cyjeon begin to stir. He reached into his pocket and pulled his tiny friend out. "It's about time you woke up," he smiled. "You don't have to worry no matter what this guy has planned for us; I won't let anyone hurt you. I think we can trust him though. If he was really going to hurt us, I think he would have done so by now. And we're still headed toward Coruscant. If he wanted to sell me to slavers he wouldn't go there." Ben gently ran his finger over the rough surface of the creature's torso.
"According to the navicomputer we'll reach Coruscant in an hour. I'm scared of what will happen when we get there. I have a bad feeling about this. Whether I'm this Obi-Wan kid or not, this just doesn't feel right."
Tbc