This next chapter is going to delve into Obi-Wan's past a bit. For those who have read the "Jedi Apprentice" series of books, you will notice a large difference between what occured in the first book andwhat I have written in this story.It's not because I didn't like what was previously written, I've decided to take my own approach to Obi-Wan's past.I hope you'll bear with me on this and the reason for this deviation will become clear very quickly.

Chapter 26 An Old Adversary Revealed

"I think we should speak about this to Master Yoda." Mace said. "You might just as well wait until we go to him so that you will only have to tell it once, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan nodded, and he, Mace and Anakin left in search of the old master.

"Hmm…remember this incident, I do." Yoda said. "He resented you, Obi-Wan."

"Resented him? For what?" Anakin asked.

"Stole his chance to be apprenticed, Obi-Wan did." Yoda answered.

"That doesn't sound like the Obi-Wan I know." Anakin replied. "What happened?"

"His name was Grant, Baylor Grant. We had grown up at the Temple together, we were friends; at least until…"

"Until, what? What did you do, Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

"Ah, yes; I do seem to remember now. Obi-Wan, I will leave you to this. I still think there is a way to get through to Lord Borlac." Mace said as he stood up.

"How, Mace? We have no proof; what makes you think he will tell you anything?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Lord Borlac has no desire to see the younglings or the Padawans hurt or killed; right?" Mace answered.

"Yes." Obi-Wan replied. "Oh, I see; if he realizes that Zak is in danger, you think he might tell you where Zak might have been taken."

"Exactly." Mace said. "So, you tell Anakin who you think this adversary of yours is and I will try to find him."

When he left, Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin, "Anakin, you haven't seen Padme all day; I think you should go to her." He suggested.

"I already have; before I came here. She said all she wants is for us to let her know what's happening; and if she could help." Anakin informed him. "She is very worried about Zak, Obi-Wan. That's all she is concerned about right now. Keep talking."

Obi-Wan sat back in his chair…and remembered:

"We were such good friends in those days; we sparred together. Spent our free time playing by the lake. Then came the time for us to go from youngling to potential Padawan. We were what, eleven, Master Yoda?"

"No, twelve, I think, Obi-Wan." Yoda corrected.

"Yes, that's right and close to the age when those not chosen would be sent elsewhere. Baylor was worried about not being chosen; he was ambitious and he did not want to be sent away from the Temple."

"But what does that have to do with you, Obi-Wan?" Anakin wondered.

"I'm getting to that. At that time, several Knights were looking to take on apprentices and all of us were trying our best to be noticed. Qui-Gon was sought after by many of us, but he was not inclined to take on an apprentice at that time. Baylor wanted Qui-Gon to be his master, and he made no secret of it.

"When Qui-Gon did finally decide to take a Padawan, he did not choose Baylor. Knowing that Baylor was hoping to be chosen by Qui-Gon, I did not actively seek to gain Qui-Gon's favor. In fact, I went out of my way to avoid him." Obi-Wan explained.

"The truth, he tells, Anakin. Noticed by Qui-Gon Obi-Wan's actions were; and admired." Yoda added.

"I don't know about that, Master Yoda, but I do know that suddenly, Qui-Gon was seeking me out. When Baylor found out, he was outraged. I tried to explain that I had not even approached Qui-Gon, but he wouldn't believe me. He was so angry that he Force pushed me into the wall of his quarters. I wasn't hurt, but I was upset that our friendship had turned into that." He continued.

"Anger soon turned into hate." Yoda put in.

"Yes, I could sense it whenever I was around him; and still I did not wish to be apprenticed to Qui-Gon because I knew it would hurt him. Every time I saw Qui-Gon, I ducked out of the way to avoid meeting him. Meanwhile, another master had an eye on Baylor and wanted to take him. Baylor rejected every attempt this master made to make him his apprentice. He had set his sights on Qui-Gon and no other master would do."

"Qui-Gon spoke with me of this one. He felt his anger, his hate he said." Yoda interjected.

"Finally, Qui-Gon managed to corner me after lightsaber practice one morning and told me that I was his choice."

"Don't tell me; you said no." Anakin interrupted.

Obi-Wan smiled and nodded, "I still had no desire to hurt Baylor. I could understand his anger and did not resent him because of it. I said no several times, but Qui-Gon was persistent. Finally, he went to Master Yoda."

"Confused he was when you refused him. Explain to him I had to, why you did not want him." Yoda said.

"And after he found out why, he came to see me in my quarters. He sat down and told me that I was wrong in letting Baylor decide my future. He said he didn't want Baylor and had not even considered taking him on. I still was not sure what to do and so he told me to sleep on it, meditate and then let him know when I was ready to decide what to do."

"Two days, Obi-Wan waited. Two days it took for him to make his choice." Yoda added.

"The first thing I did was go to Baylor; I thought if I could just make him realize that Qui-Gon had never considered him, Baylor would understand. I was wrong; he threw the nearest thing he could find – a spanner from his worktable – at me. It barely missed, but then he picked his paperweight. It hit me in the knee and I fell. Then he just started hitting me. He was bigger than I was, but I finally managed to Force push him away and took off as fast as I could limp back to my own quarters."

"Hmm…hid this from us for two days, he did, Anakin." Yoda said.

"Hid it? How could you do that, Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

"I said I had tripped and fell on my face; but I think Qui-Gon had already guessed what had happened."

"Then why didn't he say something?" Anakin asked.

"I don't know; maybe he thought I would lie and he didn't want to make me do that. When I couldn't participate in sparring practice after two days, I was told to report to the healers."

"Reported to the Council their finding they did. Damaged Obi-Wan's knee was not by a fall and two broken ribs he also had. Called before the Council Obi-Wan was to tell the truth." Yoda told him.

"So did you tell them that Baylor had done it?" Anakin asked.

"No, I admitted I had been in a fight, but I never told anyone about Baylor; I didn't have to, Qui-Gon had already done that. When they confronted me about it, I tried to intercede on Baylor's behalf, but I think they had already made their decision; Baylor could remain with the Jedi, but would not be allowed to remain on Coruscant."

"Oh, that must have set real well with Baylor." Anakin said.

"After the Council meeting, Qui-Gon told me I had to decide what I wanted to do; 'You will do as you must, Obi-Wan; I have made my choice, now must make yours.' He said. I don't think I can ever forget those words; I made my decision right there."

"What did Baylor do when he found out?" Anakin asked.

"Turned on Obi-Wan." Yoda answered.

"What did he do, Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

"He waited for me by the main stairway to the viewing area above the training floor; he was completely out of control. He kept screaming at me that I had ruined his chance to become a Knight, that I had stolen Qui-Gon out of spite just to kill his future as a Jedi. I could not believe all the hate I sensed in him; we had been such good friends. He started Force pushing me; I think he was trying to provoke me into fight him. I think he thought if he could make me fight back, that Qui-Gon would change his mind about me. When I was near the top of the stairway, he pushed, one last time. I don't remember hitting the bottom of the stairs."

"There was a training session going on so Baylor's words and his attack on Obi-Wan were witnessed by all of them, the instructor, Qui-Gon and me. Obi-Wan was lucky not to have broken his neck; as it was, he was unconscious for two days. The Council met that afternoon immediately after the incident and we all quickly agreed that Baylor would be expelled. He was locked in his quarters under guard until transportation was arranged back to his home planet. By the time Obi-Wan woke up, he was already long gone." Mace added as he entered the room.

"As far as I was concerned, that was the end of the matter. I became Qui-Gon's apprentice and neither of us ever spoke of Baylor again."

"And all this time he must have been building up his hate and anger; just waiting for a chance to get back at you. I thought Amedda's hatred ran deep; Baylor Grant's runs much deeper." Anakin concluded.

"I have spoken with Lord Borlac. I did not tell him anything except that we wished to meet with him as soon as possible; that would be now." Mace announced.

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Zak sat in the corner, staring defiantly at his captor, "Why do you hate him so much?" He asked.

"What do you care, boy?" He answered bitterly.

"You're going to kill me anyway; I should at least know why." Zak answered.

"I was a Jedi once; did you know that?" He replied. "Yes, just like your master; I knew him and we were friends. But he betrayed me, betrayed our friendship. Now I am going to make him pay for that."

"I don't believe you; Master Obi-Wan would never betray anyone." Zak said flatly. "I think you betrayed him."

"It does not matter what you think; you will be dead soon." He said. "Are you afraid to die, Zak?"

"No." Zak said. "But if you're going to kill me, I should know your name."

"Very well, that seems fair; Baylor Grant; and your master stole any chance I had to be a Jedi Knight."

"I don't think so." Zak answered firmly.

"He took my master from me; he knew who I wanted, and he stole him from me." Baylor told him. "But he will pay for that now; I have stolen you from him."

"You're wrong; Master Obi-Wan would never do that." Zak said. "And you will lose if you fight him. He's stronger than you think."

"We will see how strong he is after I kill you right in front of him." Baylor replied.

"If you kill me, then he will kill you. You will lose." Zak countered.

Baylor laughed.

"He is not that strong, boy; I am much stronger. When I am finished with you, I will kill this Skywalker. I am quite sure that your master will go nowhere with his faithful hound trailing after him."

"You will lose." Zak repeated.

Baylor glared at Zak hatefully, trying to break his will. It did not work; Zak stared back at him impassively until Baylor was forced to turn away.

"Hate leads to the Dark Side, Master Grant. That's where you are right now; I am sorry for you." Zak said.

"Be sorry for yourself, boy. You are going to die." Baylor replied.

"Maybe, but so are you." Zak answered.