Authors Note: Oh boy! Been writing this chapter all day! I don't know many eight year olds... so sorry if this seems a little off The Council I used here is the one that was in TPM -I figure even the short-term members would still be there after 4 years :)
Disclaimer: Read the first chappy legal peeps. Too lazy to repeat :)
Review Thank Yous...
Shanobi: MUAH HA! I did! I got sick of Lani Lalaith. Yup Qui-Gon is daft. pokes himstupid man. Shudda let him die.. but then i wouldn't have this fic LOL.
lurker1: Ooo you liked the Qui-Gon/Anakin scene? Really?! I'm still working on how to go with those two... am trying not to let my severe dislike of Anakin get in the way Man those JA books are good -under your advice I re-read the most of #1 to find some info on them... i've only got up to #3 though, i need to find another bookstore that takes orders ;)
Aida: /beams/ I'm sort of still deciding about Qui-Gon -he's a funny man for me to try and write. Ooo you likey Obi and and friends? yay! I wasn't really sure about that, I was trying to imagine how 23/25 year olds would "hang" with each other...
Darienetta Stoke: Nagging is fine... it's when you hurt me with that neck pinch thing that isn't fine :P
Rogue Leader: Hehe I like your stories -The Rose is great, I hope you continue it /hint/ ;)
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Chapter Four: Of Knighthoods
Obi-Wan stepped off the ramp and hoisted the pack up onto his shoulder smiling. He was finally home. After four years of mission after mission with only a few days rest, if any, between each, he was on sabbatical. He might actually be able to relax, to spar with some other Knights and have that dinner with Bant he'd promised her last year. And in a week go to the exhibition of Initiates in the main sparring sale.
His rooms, on one of the Knight levels, were now more like a home. He'd unpacked the boxes with some regret, finding many things of his apprenticeship and childhood, like a ship model he'd made from spare parts at fourteen. He hadn't spoken to Qui-Gon since the Knighting Ceremony, though he'd heard of his and Anakin's achievements through the unofficial Jedi Grapevine, apparently they made quite the team.
One long shower later he checked his messages, a few from other friends, one from Reeft, one from Bant and an order from the Council to debrief. He sighed, acknowledging the order and reaching for his cloak at the same time. What had he expected? A long detailed message from Qui-Gon? The pair was probably on some Very Important Mission. Even after four years, with the knowledge he shouldn't feel such feelings and countless hours of meditation behind him, he still felt a sting of hurt whenever his former Master and Anakin were mentioned.
The Padawan on Chamber duty bowed to him as he paced into the anteroom; apparently his thoughts had kept him occupied long enough to traverse the distance.
Bowing in return he took a deep, steadying breath and the ceiling high doors opened at a languid speed. The stone doors, intricately engraved with symbols from throughout the centuries were one of the few automatic features of the Temple, refreshing reminder of times when complicated technology didn't power everything. No sensors were required here, just the pull of a lever or a hard push on the doors themselves.
Walking steadily to the centre of the room he bowed low and waited to be addressed.
The wait was not a long one and the debriefing didn't take very long -the mission hadn't been particularly difficult, for which he was very grateful. A simple matter of negotiating a border dispute between two countries that they'd requested a Jedi to oversee; it was a far cry from other's he'd completed.
"Accepted your request for a sabbatical, we did."
"What we wish to know is why you chose now and not a year ago when it was offered."
Obi-Wan wasn't surprised, especially since he'd expected this and so the question posed by the baritone Mace Windu didn't leave him grasping for an answer.
"I felt I would serve the Force better on missions at that time, Masters."
"And what has changed in one year?" questioned Ki-Adi-Mundi.
Obi-Wan organised his thoughts carefully, he may not have been grasping for an answer, but he still only had feeling, a nudging from the Force that he should return home, and that had fuelled his request. Somehow 'the Force made me do it' didn't seem quite right.
"I felt the Force guiding me to return to the Temple, at least for a time."
Yes that's it Obi-Wan, just rephrase it slightly and they'll never know. If he hadn't been before the Council he'd have rolled his eyes at himself.
The Masters began conversing through their shared link, showing only slight turning of a head or shifting in a seat for some time. If Qui-Gon hadn't been such a rebel against the Council, therefore causing them to answer to the twelve beings more often than most, Obi-Wan might've begun to feel uncomfortable. As it was, he was quite used to it if he had no idea why they felt the need to discuss such a thing for so long. Many Knights took sabbatical, otherwise many would simply burn out.
Yoda finally spoke.
"Know of what the Force is guiding you to?"
Obi-Wan nodded, "I believe it is to take a Padawan, Master Yoda."
"You haven't even reached your thirtieth cycle, Knight Kenobi." Said Adi Gallia, her piercing blue eyes staring right into him.
"I am aware that I am much younger than many when they consider first taking a Padawan Learner, however I have meditated on the matter. I believe that I am supposed to take a Padawan now."
"So sure, are you?"
"Master, I was prepared to take a Padawan four years ago." He felt obligated to point out.
"Hmph. Mistake that would have been."
Mace Windu bridged his palms and leant backwards, "Why can't you wait another four years, Knight Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan wasn't sure which was more unsettling. Official diplomatic parties where one wrong step in a dance could force a treaty to fail, or being cross-examined by the High Council as they tried to find another motive to his actions.
"I simply felt urged to return and see Initiates, perhaps the will of the Force is simply for me to take them under consideration.
"We are not to know. We are to do." Yaddle's soft voice washed over the Council Chambers. It was a saying taught to Initiates when they didn't understand the significance of the task at hand. Once more, the Council talked silently.
Obi-Wan wondered idly if every Knight had to go through this process, of if it was the fact that he'd been willing to defy their decree (against his own feelings on the matter) and train Anakin Skywalker four years ago meant he'd been unofficially black listed.
"Accept this, we do." Yoda said finally, "Learned much in four years, you have. Good Master, you would be."
Knowing a dismissal when it came he bowed low and left the Chambers with a much lighter heart.
---
Bant silently joined her friend around the edges of the training sale and watched the last of the first group finish up in their matches.
"Do you know what you're looking for?" she asked with a teasing smile. Obi-Wan was staring so intently at each match in turn she was surprised he wasn't leaning over the sidelines to get closer.
"I'm not sure." He muttered distractedly, flashing a quick smile of his own at his salmon-skinned friend.
The only match of that age group left was that of two boys, both were very good for their age, she observed, as one rolled out of the way to avoid an attack that would have won the match. But they were tired, the one that rolled, a Malastarian took up the offensive as the other boy faltered. Within seconds they were finished and bowed to each other, worn out smiles gracing their faces even as all three of the Malastarian's eyes drooped.
The Initiates cheered, welcoming them back among their ranks.
Exhibitions were separated by age group, the twelve year olds had one day, the eleven year olds on another and so on. It was a time when Initiates over the age of seven fought each other before Knights and Masters, the older ones hoping to be chosen as a Padawan and the younger ones not always fully realising the potential of each day.
"When do I get that dinner, Obi?" She asked as the Master overseeing the matches announced a short break before the next age group began. The dinner he'd promised her last year was the result of him loosing a bet -though if any Master asked they weren't gambling.
"What about tomorrow night? Then I can get some ingredients, tell all those young female Knights to get out of my bedroom in time…"
He gave her an innocent look. She knew he would never have any women in there anyway but it was too late to wipe the surprised look off of her face. She did have a chance to out do him though -by not honouring him with an astonished cry, rather moving quickly on to giving him a pleading look,
"Can we have Souvant Kilop?"
He nodded, "But then it's your turn. You can cook me something, for a change."
She quietened the answer on her mind as the second group of twelve year olds filed onto the mats in pairs and bowed quickly at each other. Obi-Wan's attention focus centred on them immediately.
There were four pairs, a humanoid boy against a humanoid girl, a Wookie (Bant always found it hard to tell whether a Wookie was male or female without being closer) against a Calamarian boy (whose name she knew to be Reca), a Cerean girl against a Quermian and another humanoid girl versus a Dresselian female.
A bell from the training droid above began the matches and the movements began but from the look on Obi-Wan's face, he wasn't seeing what he was looking for.
Ten minutes later the Exhibition was finished. Obi-Wan gave a dispirited sigh and left the room quickly.
Placing a hand over his she pulled him to a stop and pierced him with a questioning gaze.
He leaned against a wall and locked her with a confused gaze, "I was sure I would find what I was looking for."
"There are other Initiates, ones that aren't twelve." She turned her huge eyes to down the corridor, "or maybe the Force meant for you to find something else."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I was sure it was today, the only thing on today was the twelve year olds Exhibition Day!"
"Then go meditate on today." He was in his Stubborn Mode, something that he'd had since their days in the Crèche and been enhanced by Master Jinn's influences. She wasn't going to deal with a Stubborn Obi-Wan over something like this, when he could sort it out himself. "I'll see you tomorrow, at the eighth hour, Obi-Wan." Flashing him a smile, she patted his arm and headed back to her quarters, leaving him with his thoughts.
---
Obi-Wan let the Force wash over him, through him and around him until he was aware of everything in the Temple. While strongest in the Unifying side of the Force he'd taken Qui-Gon's words to heart and studied the Living Force heavily since his Trials. The result was, breathtaking. He could feel the waterfalls and the streams, the fountains of water and the towering trees, not far away there were five other Jedi, also meditating, in different spots around the large greenhouse-like room, and Yoda was ambling over to his position.
Had he missed something today? This morning he felt so sure that he'd find what he was looking for, and yet at the Exhibition he felt nothing. Yes, the Initiates he watched were each good; by he hadn't felt drawn by the Force to any.
Perhaps, for all his thought on the matter, he misinterpreted what he was meant to do.
He felt Yoda settle comfortably on the granite rock next to him as he came out of his meditation.
Blinking rapidly, he had failed to take note of the passing time and now the Corusant sky was pitch black. Thunder rolled in the distance.
"Find what you were searching for, you did not?"
"No, Master Yoda."
"Hmm. Disappointed, you are. Doubt yourself, you do." The little green Jedi tapped the gimmer stick on his head, "Still do."
"I was certain,"
Yoda's wrinkles increased as he frowned followed by another hit on the head, harder than last -a reprimand. "Certain? Certain, nothing is. Presume much, you do. Presume you must look when events, Force will guide."
"I should wait for it to happen?"
"If will of the Force, that is, then yes. Wait." Yoda's ears perked and twitched, his eyes glazing, "Time for ones young as you to sleep. Off. Alone, I wish to think."
Obi-Wan rose and bowed to the Master, thankful for the wisdom imparted and left him alone, taking a longer route back to his rooms so he could order his thoughts. His meditation had not been as calming as he might have hoped.
Step slow, he was in no hurry to sleep but expected most to be in their rooms by now, after checking the time with the internal clock each Jedi could use simply by scanning the passage of time with the Force he found it well past the twenty-third hour.
As such he was a little surprised when he found himself looking at a pair of eyes in the shadows ahead.
Sensing no danger, he was intrigued. Looking into the corner whence the eyes appeared he saw a young Initiate retreating to the farthest point with panic rolling of her in waves.
"Hello little one."
With no response, he tried again. Bant said that the Initiates would often need talking to, distracting, while they got their shots to calm them down.
"My name is Obi-Wan, I've been away from a very long time. Have you ever been away from the Temple?"
Combining the words with a few soft touches of reassurance through the Force, he managed to get a small shake of the head.
"Well, there's a planet called Cerea which is practically a paradise -the people of that planet work very hard to take away as much pollution as possible, do you know who Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is?"
Another nod from the little Initiate, bigger this time.
"Well he's from Cerea and he goes back to his home-planet every three years to give a little back to the place he was born. Do you know where you were born?"
Although bought to the Temple at a very young age, Initiates were taught where they came from and some went back to visit their families, if it was requested by the child's relatives.
A nod, then, barely audible, "Jardeni."
Jardeni, a planet in a system not far from Cerean, was a hot one, known for it's tropical rainforests full of deadly plants of vibrant colours.
"I've never been there, but I've been told that it's a very pretty planet too. Do you have a name, Initiate of Jardeni?"
"Yessum." She scooted a little further out of the corner, "My name's Ashden, I'm eight."
Obi-Wan gave her a bright smile, "Well it's nice to meet you, Ashden of Jardeni." Holding out a hand, he sent a comforting wave through the Force, feeling her panic and fear lessening as their conversation progressed.
She stood up shakily and shook his hand, staring at him with wide eyes.
"You're a Knight." She still spoke in a whisper.
"I am indeed. Tell me, why is one so young as you out of her room at this time of night?"
Looking at the floor, Ashden scuffed a barefoot across the tiles. They both knew she couldn't lie. "Why were you so frightened?"
Another scuff. "I had a bad dream. Then everything got really loud so I left."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything. People."
Obi-Wan's concern upped a notch. Extending his senses he felt for the girl before him in the Force… and found no shields; not even the most basic ones that were built instinctively not long after birth, or the ones that Crèche Master's taught them to build as toddlers.
"Can you feel me?" he asked.
She nodded and poked his head.
"You're quieter than the rest."
"Who're the rest?"
"My friends -they is loud. Hurts." She paused; perhaps realising she shouldn't poke a Knight.
Obi-Wan hesitated; he couldn't let her go on without shields, even until he took her to her Care Master near the Initiate rooms. It was dangerous, even within the Temple. She'd be able to sense everything, every feeling, every thought, every ripple and eddy within the Force.
"If you like, I'll show you how to make them quiet again, then it'll stop hurting."
"'Kay." Giving her another smile, he settled into a meditation stance and motioned for her to do the same,
"Just relax, Ashden of Jardeni, just meditate like you've been taught."
Watching her breathe deeper, he watched her carefully and began showing her how to build her own shielding.
First of all, thick Durasteel strips, laid together like a fence until the first layer was complete, with no seams or spaces.
Next, Transparisteel blocks. Lightweight but strong, a thick wall that prevented the majority of things getting through.
Finally, lock down doors. Big, heavy doors, that could be pulled down and padlocked within seconds.
"Better?" he asked, to find a pair of sleepy eyes looking unfocused, "Tired?"
"Come on then, I better take you to your rooms before the whole Temple is alerted." Taking her hand he led her down the corridors to the level that held the Initiate rooms.
It only took six of her smaller steps for him to realise she wasn't going to stay awake long enough to get there.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi!" Care Master Da-Sarin rounded on him before he could even open his mouth. The careworn Jedi had been his Care Master too, so it was no surprise to find the woman pacing up to him. For a Jedi, she showed stress quite easily. While he was under her care, rumour told that that was why her hair was so white: she couldn't control her stress enough and her hair turned white.
"Oh thank the Force! You found her! We've been searching for an hour!"
"She was near the Room of a Thousand Fountains, Master Da-Sarin. She had a nightmare."
"Well come on, come on, let's get her back into her room." Leading him past several doors, she stopped at the sixth one on the right, "It's the only empty bed in there." And she left him, stopping only to key in the access code. Obi-Wan shifted Ashden in his arms to close the door behind him and remembered a time when he used to sneak out of his room with Reeft to talk with one of his best friends, Bant or Garen.
Settling her onto the sleep couch and arranging the sheets up to her chin he looked over the rest of the Initiates.
They were a little young to start worrying about becoming Padawan's at the moment, though no doubt each of them wanted to be a Knight. In a few years the steady stream of worry would start to trickle through them as friends and peers became apprentices to Masters, but until then it would probably be the best time of their lives.
When he was her age, his favourite thing was swimming in one of the gardens and taking a long walk with his friends back to their rooms. The route that he'd taken today was one he hadn't walked for years.
One that he wouldn't have taken if it hadn't been for Yoda telling him, basically, to go away.
The meddling troll knew something was going to happen.
Obi-Wan flicked his eyes back to the young one he'd found on, tucking the covers around her tighter.
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Post A/N: Waddya think? Next chapter... Of a Master's Musings .I..... just gotta write it! Wish me luck -i've got a Chem exam and English Language exam on Monday cries
Disclaimer: Read the first chappy legal peeps. Too lazy to repeat :)
Review Thank Yous...
Shanobi: MUAH HA! I did! I got sick of Lani Lalaith. Yup Qui-Gon is daft. pokes himstupid man. Shudda let him die.. but then i wouldn't have this fic LOL.
lurker1: Ooo you liked the Qui-Gon/Anakin scene? Really?! I'm still working on how to go with those two... am trying not to let my severe dislike of Anakin get in the way Man those JA books are good -under your advice I re-read the most of #1 to find some info on them... i've only got up to #3 though, i need to find another bookstore that takes orders ;)
Aida: /beams/ I'm sort of still deciding about Qui-Gon -he's a funny man for me to try and write. Ooo you likey Obi and and friends? yay! I wasn't really sure about that, I was trying to imagine how 23/25 year olds would "hang" with each other...
Darienetta Stoke: Nagging is fine... it's when you hurt me with that neck pinch thing that isn't fine :P
Rogue Leader: Hehe I like your stories -The Rose is great, I hope you continue it /hint/ ;)
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Chapter Four: Of Knighthoods
Obi-Wan stepped off the ramp and hoisted the pack up onto his shoulder smiling. He was finally home. After four years of mission after mission with only a few days rest, if any, between each, he was on sabbatical. He might actually be able to relax, to spar with some other Knights and have that dinner with Bant he'd promised her last year. And in a week go to the exhibition of Initiates in the main sparring sale.
His rooms, on one of the Knight levels, were now more like a home. He'd unpacked the boxes with some regret, finding many things of his apprenticeship and childhood, like a ship model he'd made from spare parts at fourteen. He hadn't spoken to Qui-Gon since the Knighting Ceremony, though he'd heard of his and Anakin's achievements through the unofficial Jedi Grapevine, apparently they made quite the team.
One long shower later he checked his messages, a few from other friends, one from Reeft, one from Bant and an order from the Council to debrief. He sighed, acknowledging the order and reaching for his cloak at the same time. What had he expected? A long detailed message from Qui-Gon? The pair was probably on some Very Important Mission. Even after four years, with the knowledge he shouldn't feel such feelings and countless hours of meditation behind him, he still felt a sting of hurt whenever his former Master and Anakin were mentioned.
The Padawan on Chamber duty bowed to him as he paced into the anteroom; apparently his thoughts had kept him occupied long enough to traverse the distance.
Bowing in return he took a deep, steadying breath and the ceiling high doors opened at a languid speed. The stone doors, intricately engraved with symbols from throughout the centuries were one of the few automatic features of the Temple, refreshing reminder of times when complicated technology didn't power everything. No sensors were required here, just the pull of a lever or a hard push on the doors themselves.
Walking steadily to the centre of the room he bowed low and waited to be addressed.
The wait was not a long one and the debriefing didn't take very long -the mission hadn't been particularly difficult, for which he was very grateful. A simple matter of negotiating a border dispute between two countries that they'd requested a Jedi to oversee; it was a far cry from other's he'd completed.
"Accepted your request for a sabbatical, we did."
"What we wish to know is why you chose now and not a year ago when it was offered."
Obi-Wan wasn't surprised, especially since he'd expected this and so the question posed by the baritone Mace Windu didn't leave him grasping for an answer.
"I felt I would serve the Force better on missions at that time, Masters."
"And what has changed in one year?" questioned Ki-Adi-Mundi.
Obi-Wan organised his thoughts carefully, he may not have been grasping for an answer, but he still only had feeling, a nudging from the Force that he should return home, and that had fuelled his request. Somehow 'the Force made me do it' didn't seem quite right.
"I felt the Force guiding me to return to the Temple, at least for a time."
Yes that's it Obi-Wan, just rephrase it slightly and they'll never know. If he hadn't been before the Council he'd have rolled his eyes at himself.
The Masters began conversing through their shared link, showing only slight turning of a head or shifting in a seat for some time. If Qui-Gon hadn't been such a rebel against the Council, therefore causing them to answer to the twelve beings more often than most, Obi-Wan might've begun to feel uncomfortable. As it was, he was quite used to it if he had no idea why they felt the need to discuss such a thing for so long. Many Knights took sabbatical, otherwise many would simply burn out.
Yoda finally spoke.
"Know of what the Force is guiding you to?"
Obi-Wan nodded, "I believe it is to take a Padawan, Master Yoda."
"You haven't even reached your thirtieth cycle, Knight Kenobi." Said Adi Gallia, her piercing blue eyes staring right into him.
"I am aware that I am much younger than many when they consider first taking a Padawan Learner, however I have meditated on the matter. I believe that I am supposed to take a Padawan now."
"So sure, are you?"
"Master, I was prepared to take a Padawan four years ago." He felt obligated to point out.
"Hmph. Mistake that would have been."
Mace Windu bridged his palms and leant backwards, "Why can't you wait another four years, Knight Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan wasn't sure which was more unsettling. Official diplomatic parties where one wrong step in a dance could force a treaty to fail, or being cross-examined by the High Council as they tried to find another motive to his actions.
"I simply felt urged to return and see Initiates, perhaps the will of the Force is simply for me to take them under consideration.
"We are not to know. We are to do." Yaddle's soft voice washed over the Council Chambers. It was a saying taught to Initiates when they didn't understand the significance of the task at hand. Once more, the Council talked silently.
Obi-Wan wondered idly if every Knight had to go through this process, of if it was the fact that he'd been willing to defy their decree (against his own feelings on the matter) and train Anakin Skywalker four years ago meant he'd been unofficially black listed.
"Accept this, we do." Yoda said finally, "Learned much in four years, you have. Good Master, you would be."
Knowing a dismissal when it came he bowed low and left the Chambers with a much lighter heart.
---
Bant silently joined her friend around the edges of the training sale and watched the last of the first group finish up in their matches.
"Do you know what you're looking for?" she asked with a teasing smile. Obi-Wan was staring so intently at each match in turn she was surprised he wasn't leaning over the sidelines to get closer.
"I'm not sure." He muttered distractedly, flashing a quick smile of his own at his salmon-skinned friend.
The only match of that age group left was that of two boys, both were very good for their age, she observed, as one rolled out of the way to avoid an attack that would have won the match. But they were tired, the one that rolled, a Malastarian took up the offensive as the other boy faltered. Within seconds they were finished and bowed to each other, worn out smiles gracing their faces even as all three of the Malastarian's eyes drooped.
The Initiates cheered, welcoming them back among their ranks.
Exhibitions were separated by age group, the twelve year olds had one day, the eleven year olds on another and so on. It was a time when Initiates over the age of seven fought each other before Knights and Masters, the older ones hoping to be chosen as a Padawan and the younger ones not always fully realising the potential of each day.
"When do I get that dinner, Obi?" She asked as the Master overseeing the matches announced a short break before the next age group began. The dinner he'd promised her last year was the result of him loosing a bet -though if any Master asked they weren't gambling.
"What about tomorrow night? Then I can get some ingredients, tell all those young female Knights to get out of my bedroom in time…"
He gave her an innocent look. She knew he would never have any women in there anyway but it was too late to wipe the surprised look off of her face. She did have a chance to out do him though -by not honouring him with an astonished cry, rather moving quickly on to giving him a pleading look,
"Can we have Souvant Kilop?"
He nodded, "But then it's your turn. You can cook me something, for a change."
She quietened the answer on her mind as the second group of twelve year olds filed onto the mats in pairs and bowed quickly at each other. Obi-Wan's attention focus centred on them immediately.
There were four pairs, a humanoid boy against a humanoid girl, a Wookie (Bant always found it hard to tell whether a Wookie was male or female without being closer) against a Calamarian boy (whose name she knew to be Reca), a Cerean girl against a Quermian and another humanoid girl versus a Dresselian female.
A bell from the training droid above began the matches and the movements began but from the look on Obi-Wan's face, he wasn't seeing what he was looking for.
Ten minutes later the Exhibition was finished. Obi-Wan gave a dispirited sigh and left the room quickly.
Placing a hand over his she pulled him to a stop and pierced him with a questioning gaze.
He leaned against a wall and locked her with a confused gaze, "I was sure I would find what I was looking for."
"There are other Initiates, ones that aren't twelve." She turned her huge eyes to down the corridor, "or maybe the Force meant for you to find something else."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I was sure it was today, the only thing on today was the twelve year olds Exhibition Day!"
"Then go meditate on today." He was in his Stubborn Mode, something that he'd had since their days in the Crèche and been enhanced by Master Jinn's influences. She wasn't going to deal with a Stubborn Obi-Wan over something like this, when he could sort it out himself. "I'll see you tomorrow, at the eighth hour, Obi-Wan." Flashing him a smile, she patted his arm and headed back to her quarters, leaving him with his thoughts.
---
Obi-Wan let the Force wash over him, through him and around him until he was aware of everything in the Temple. While strongest in the Unifying side of the Force he'd taken Qui-Gon's words to heart and studied the Living Force heavily since his Trials. The result was, breathtaking. He could feel the waterfalls and the streams, the fountains of water and the towering trees, not far away there were five other Jedi, also meditating, in different spots around the large greenhouse-like room, and Yoda was ambling over to his position.
Had he missed something today? This morning he felt so sure that he'd find what he was looking for, and yet at the Exhibition he felt nothing. Yes, the Initiates he watched were each good; by he hadn't felt drawn by the Force to any.
Perhaps, for all his thought on the matter, he misinterpreted what he was meant to do.
He felt Yoda settle comfortably on the granite rock next to him as he came out of his meditation.
Blinking rapidly, he had failed to take note of the passing time and now the Corusant sky was pitch black. Thunder rolled in the distance.
"Find what you were searching for, you did not?"
"No, Master Yoda."
"Hmm. Disappointed, you are. Doubt yourself, you do." The little green Jedi tapped the gimmer stick on his head, "Still do."
"I was certain,"
Yoda's wrinkles increased as he frowned followed by another hit on the head, harder than last -a reprimand. "Certain? Certain, nothing is. Presume much, you do. Presume you must look when events, Force will guide."
"I should wait for it to happen?"
"If will of the Force, that is, then yes. Wait." Yoda's ears perked and twitched, his eyes glazing, "Time for ones young as you to sleep. Off. Alone, I wish to think."
Obi-Wan rose and bowed to the Master, thankful for the wisdom imparted and left him alone, taking a longer route back to his rooms so he could order his thoughts. His meditation had not been as calming as he might have hoped.
Step slow, he was in no hurry to sleep but expected most to be in their rooms by now, after checking the time with the internal clock each Jedi could use simply by scanning the passage of time with the Force he found it well past the twenty-third hour.
As such he was a little surprised when he found himself looking at a pair of eyes in the shadows ahead.
Sensing no danger, he was intrigued. Looking into the corner whence the eyes appeared he saw a young Initiate retreating to the farthest point with panic rolling of her in waves.
"Hello little one."
With no response, he tried again. Bant said that the Initiates would often need talking to, distracting, while they got their shots to calm them down.
"My name is Obi-Wan, I've been away from a very long time. Have you ever been away from the Temple?"
Combining the words with a few soft touches of reassurance through the Force, he managed to get a small shake of the head.
"Well, there's a planet called Cerea which is practically a paradise -the people of that planet work very hard to take away as much pollution as possible, do you know who Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is?"
Another nod from the little Initiate, bigger this time.
"Well he's from Cerea and he goes back to his home-planet every three years to give a little back to the place he was born. Do you know where you were born?"
Although bought to the Temple at a very young age, Initiates were taught where they came from and some went back to visit their families, if it was requested by the child's relatives.
A nod, then, barely audible, "Jardeni."
Jardeni, a planet in a system not far from Cerean, was a hot one, known for it's tropical rainforests full of deadly plants of vibrant colours.
"I've never been there, but I've been told that it's a very pretty planet too. Do you have a name, Initiate of Jardeni?"
"Yessum." She scooted a little further out of the corner, "My name's Ashden, I'm eight."
Obi-Wan gave her a bright smile, "Well it's nice to meet you, Ashden of Jardeni." Holding out a hand, he sent a comforting wave through the Force, feeling her panic and fear lessening as their conversation progressed.
She stood up shakily and shook his hand, staring at him with wide eyes.
"You're a Knight." She still spoke in a whisper.
"I am indeed. Tell me, why is one so young as you out of her room at this time of night?"
Looking at the floor, Ashden scuffed a barefoot across the tiles. They both knew she couldn't lie. "Why were you so frightened?"
Another scuff. "I had a bad dream. Then everything got really loud so I left."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything. People."
Obi-Wan's concern upped a notch. Extending his senses he felt for the girl before him in the Force… and found no shields; not even the most basic ones that were built instinctively not long after birth, or the ones that Crèche Master's taught them to build as toddlers.
"Can you feel me?" he asked.
She nodded and poked his head.
"You're quieter than the rest."
"Who're the rest?"
"My friends -they is loud. Hurts." She paused; perhaps realising she shouldn't poke a Knight.
Obi-Wan hesitated; he couldn't let her go on without shields, even until he took her to her Care Master near the Initiate rooms. It was dangerous, even within the Temple. She'd be able to sense everything, every feeling, every thought, every ripple and eddy within the Force.
"If you like, I'll show you how to make them quiet again, then it'll stop hurting."
"'Kay." Giving her another smile, he settled into a meditation stance and motioned for her to do the same,
"Just relax, Ashden of Jardeni, just meditate like you've been taught."
Watching her breathe deeper, he watched her carefully and began showing her how to build her own shielding.
First of all, thick Durasteel strips, laid together like a fence until the first layer was complete, with no seams or spaces.
Next, Transparisteel blocks. Lightweight but strong, a thick wall that prevented the majority of things getting through.
Finally, lock down doors. Big, heavy doors, that could be pulled down and padlocked within seconds.
"Better?" he asked, to find a pair of sleepy eyes looking unfocused, "Tired?"
"Come on then, I better take you to your rooms before the whole Temple is alerted." Taking her hand he led her down the corridors to the level that held the Initiate rooms.
It only took six of her smaller steps for him to realise she wasn't going to stay awake long enough to get there.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi!" Care Master Da-Sarin rounded on him before he could even open his mouth. The careworn Jedi had been his Care Master too, so it was no surprise to find the woman pacing up to him. For a Jedi, she showed stress quite easily. While he was under her care, rumour told that that was why her hair was so white: she couldn't control her stress enough and her hair turned white.
"Oh thank the Force! You found her! We've been searching for an hour!"
"She was near the Room of a Thousand Fountains, Master Da-Sarin. She had a nightmare."
"Well come on, come on, let's get her back into her room." Leading him past several doors, she stopped at the sixth one on the right, "It's the only empty bed in there." And she left him, stopping only to key in the access code. Obi-Wan shifted Ashden in his arms to close the door behind him and remembered a time when he used to sneak out of his room with Reeft to talk with one of his best friends, Bant or Garen.
Settling her onto the sleep couch and arranging the sheets up to her chin he looked over the rest of the Initiates.
They were a little young to start worrying about becoming Padawan's at the moment, though no doubt each of them wanted to be a Knight. In a few years the steady stream of worry would start to trickle through them as friends and peers became apprentices to Masters, but until then it would probably be the best time of their lives.
When he was her age, his favourite thing was swimming in one of the gardens and taking a long walk with his friends back to their rooms. The route that he'd taken today was one he hadn't walked for years.
One that he wouldn't have taken if it hadn't been for Yoda telling him, basically, to go away.
The meddling troll knew something was going to happen.
Obi-Wan flicked his eyes back to the young one he'd found on, tucking the covers around her tighter.
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Post A/N: Waddya think? Next chapter... Of a Master's Musings .I..... just gotta write it! Wish me luck -i've got a Chem exam and English Language exam on Monday cries