"I must confess I had my doubts." Mace Windu stood in the Jedi Temple Conference Room facing one of the many large windows overlooking the Coruscant skyline, watching as the steady flow of traffic coursed by. Arms crossed with hands hidden inside the sleeves of his robe, he had his back turned to the sitting Master Yoda. "Is he fully recovered?"
"Still in the Healers chambers, Kenobi is. Fully recovered he will be, if not yet mentally."
Mace still did not turn. The information did not surprise him. "Yes. I detected the change in his Force signature on board. Will his mind recover as well?"
"Difficult to see. The Dark Side, clouded everything it has."
"Clouded Obi-Wan's future, you mean." At that statement, Mace turned to carefully watch the face of the Jedi Master. His expression had not changed except for a slight twinkle in his large eyes. The ancient Jedi had information that he was going to share, and Mace discovered that he was almost dreading hearing it.
"The boy is tainted with the Dark. He no longer serves the Light Master Yoda."
A frown creased the green face, but the twinkle still remained. "Indeed, struggled with the Dark he has. Survived, he also has. Done what no other Jedi has done before. Passed his trials, wouldn't you say?"
Windu's eyebrows immediately shot up and gradually creased downward again into a frown. Was Yoda actually declaring Obi-Wan Kenobi a Jedi Knight? "You would bestow upon him the honor of Knight after what's happened? The boy was a Sith!"
Yoda's claw-like grip tightened around his gimerstick. "Fought with the Dark, the young man did. Prevailed, he also did. A Knight, he now is."
There was no more argument to be made. Mace recognized the determined look on Yoda's face as well as the tone of his voice. This was incredible! How could the boy be trusted? The sparkle once again returned to Yoda's eyes and Mace realized that the news he had already heard was not the news Yoda had been hiding. He had the sudden strong feeling that he should sit down, and so he did.
"Always changing, the future is. Kenobi's struggle with the Dark, I did not see. But know for certain, one thing I do. A balance he has made. The Chosen One he is."
Mace was utterly speechless. Kenobi fulfilled the prophecy? How could that be? How could he not have known? Had Qui-Gon known?
After blinking several times, his speech finally returned. "How long have you known this?"
"All along. Forseen it I did when Obi-Wan was a boy. Told Qui-Gon I did. Explains his hesistancy in training the boy, does it not? Felt unworthy, he did. Made mistakes, almost alienated the boy. Hurt him, he did."
Pieces of the puzzle that was Qui-Gon Jinn began to fit into place. Mace had often criticized his friend's treatment of his young padawan. He had warned Qui-Gon that he was too distant, too demanding, too difficult to please.
So, Qui-Gon had been the Master of the Chosen One, and he had known it all along. It must have been a difficult burden for his friend. Mace felt a pang of regret in not knowing. Maybe he could have helped him. But Yoda must have had his reasons for keeping the information to himself.
"Does Kenobi know?"
"No. Waiting, is he."
"Waiting? Waiting for what?"
"Uncertain, am I. When he finds it, he will know. Only ready then, will he be."
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Mace wandered a bit aimlessly down the hallways leading toward the Healer's wing of the Temple. He wasn't sure why he was going to see Kenobi. He just had the feeling he should. He wasn't even sure what he would say to the young man, other than informing him that he had passed his trials and was now considered a Knight. The news usually brought an anticipated joyous reaction in most padawans, but on this occasion, Mace did not expect joy. In fact, he wasn't sure what to expect.
His time for assumptions had ended as he found himself standing in a large rehab room. The various training centers stood empty and Mace had to turn his head to finally catch a glimpse of Obi-wan. He saw him standing on the far side of the room, staring out the window. He approached him somewhat cautiously.
"Hello Master Windu."
The boy hadn't even turned around.
"Hello Knight."
He turned around then, but only slightly, his eyebrows raised in question.
"You've passed your trials. Master Yoda has declared you a Knight." Mace had placed a hand upon Obi-Wan's shoulder as he watched his face closely.
At least he had been right about one thing. The news hadn't even brought a smile to the young man's face. He dropped his hand as Kenobi turned back toward the window.
"How do you feel?"
Obi-Wan remained quiet for a moment. "Strange. I'm the same as before, but I'm also different. The healers told me what happened." His head bowed and then coming back up, he turned to face the taller Jedi. "Thank you for coming to rescue me."
He wanted to say that it was his duty, but somehow that seemed brusque, so he simply nodded instead.
His wordless acceptance affected the young man in a way he had not expected, as he noticed a broad smile beginning to form across the stern features. Mace's eyes followed Obi-wan as he excused himself and rushed across the large room and was soon in the arms of Senator Amidala.
The immediate surge of power within the room was almost visible. Kenobi's Force aura suddenly glowed. It was still in shades of gray, but the mere presence of his young lover had caused an intense modification in the Force that had rippled throughout the room, and Mace had not doubt that the ripples would be felt throughout the entire city.
The ripples indeed had been felt in the Senate. The Dark Sith Lord also known as Chancellor Palpatine had felt them and had immediately risen from his high-back executive chair, and found himself pacing agitatedly in front of the large window in his office.
Kenobi! His powers were growing. Powers that should belong the Dark! Not the Light!
Kenobi must be destroyed. He was becoming too dangerous. He had forseen it. The boy would bring an end to the Sith once and for all. He must be destroyed!
Palpatine's steps stopped suddenly as an evil plan began to form in his twisted and Dark mind. It would be difficult to abduct the boy now. And time was running out. Soon, Kenobi would be unstoppable. He must act quickly, and the quickest and easiest way to destroy Kenobi was to destroy those he loved. Specifically, the only one he truly loved. He must kill Senator Amidala, and soon.