Chapter 30 Always a Padawan

Obi-Wan was silent as they left the building; Anakin could sense his friend's grief and put his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulder and said nothing, it was enough to let Obi-Wan know that Anakin was there. Obi-Wan turned to look back and watched as the Clones carried Baylor to the other transport. He sighed, shook his head and looked away; he had not wanted it to end like this.

"Blame yourself for this you should not, Obi-Wan." Master Yoda told him. "Consumed by hate and anger Baylor was."

Still overcome by grief, Obi-Wan could not respond.

"Came back to the Light he did before he died. Grateful for that you should be." Yoda continued. "Follow the advice Master Windu gave your Padawan you should."

"I know, Master Yoda; and in time, I will." Obi-Wan answered.

"He made the first move, Obi-Wan; you know that, don't you?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, but I should have been able to settle this without fighting." Obi-Wan replied.

"When you went into that office, who drew their weapon first?" Anakin asked.

"Baylor already had Zak's weapon powered up." Obi-Wan answered.

"And who made the first aggressive move?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan sighed, "Baylor." He admitted.

"I know you; the 'Negotiator' they used to call you during the Clone Wars. You tried to reason with him first; didn't you?" Anakin asked.

"…Yes." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes. And that's the same thing you tried to do with me in my nightmares; it wasn't your fault that Baylor wouldn't listen to you." Anakin explained. "His hate blinded him, Obi-Wan; he almost killed Zak and he would have killed you if had gotten the chance. It was the will of the Force that he was killed with his own lightsaber."

"It was Zak's lightsaber." Obi-Wan corrected.

"Maybe, but he was using it against you." Anakin said.

"I understand this, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied. "I just need a little time, to meditate and to accept what had to happen."

Anakin patted his shoulder, "Now that's the Obi-Wan I know." He answered.

Zak met them as they approached their transport; Bail stood behind him, looking apologetic.

"I am sorry, Master Kenobi. I could not keep him down any longer." He said.

"It's alright, Chancellor; I half expected him to appear in the building before this whole thing was over with. I am surprised that you were able to keep him under control this long." Obi-Wan replied.

Zak's face was a mixture of weariness, relief and concern. Anakin understood this last one, Obi-Wan's clothing was torn and bloody from his crash through the window and he was bleeding from a cut on his face. It was all only superficial, but he looked a mess, "Master?" Zak whispered.

"It's all over, Padawan; and it's time to go home." Obi-Wan answered as he put his hand on Zak's shoulder and turned him back towards the transport.

Just as there had been silence on the trip into the industrial sector, there was again on the trip out. The transport carrying the Chancellor, his Clone escort and Baylor's remains flew on to the government quadrant and the other docked long enough to leave Padme and the Jedi at the Temple before returning to its base. Padme laid her head on Anakin's shoulder and he put her arm around her. Obi-Wan stared out the window, deep in thought. It was a long trip. When they arrived at the Temple, Anakin and Padme headed to the nursery where they had left the children. Mace and Yoda went to meet with the other Council members to fill them in on what had happened. Obi-Wan took Zak to the healers, explaining to Declan what had happened. Reluctantly, he allowed Declan to check him over too before returning to his own quarters. After changing into fresh clothes, he sat down on the floor to meditate in private.

"This was not your doing, Padawan." A familiar voice said.

"Qui-Gon?"

"Baylor Grant was always a troublemaker." Qui-Gon continued.

"Baylor was my friend, Master." Obi-Wan replied.

"Yes, and because he was your friend, you were blind to his faults." Qui-Gon said.

"I did not want it to end like this." Obi-Wan told him.

"I know this, Obi-Wan; but it did. You cannot change that. Just as you could not change what happened to me or to Anakin's mother." Qui-Gon answered. "Now you must move on."

"I should have been able to end this peacefully." Obi-Wan said.

"There are some things that cannot be settled peacefully, Padawan. You should be old enough to know that by now. Baylor was consumed by hate; your own brother told you that." Qui-Gon replied. "You have done so much good; you must not dwell on this."

Obi-Wan sighed, but said nothing.

"You have trained the Chosen One and he destroyed the Sith. You did that, Obi-Wan; and now you have a new apprentice. You must think of him; he needs your guidance." Qui-Gon continued.

There was a knock on the door, "Obi-Wan? Are you alright?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head, "Yes, Anakin; what is it?" Obi-Wan answered.

"Who are you talking to?" Anakin asked.

"I was meditating; what do you want?" Obi-Wan told him.

"I'm worried about you; who were you talking to?" Anakin asked again.

Obi-Wan sighed again, "You might just as well come in, Anakin." He said.

Anakin opened the door and peeked in, "Don't just stand there, Anakin; come on in." Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin came in and sat down in Obi-Wan's chair, "Now, tell me; who were you talking to?" He asked for the third time.

"Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan answered.

"Oh." Anakin replied.

"And…that doesn't surprise you?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin shook his head.

"No; should it?" He asked.

When Obi-Wan did not answer, he went on, "Obi-Wan, he probably told you what you needed to hear. He has done that for me too."

"You've spoken to him?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes; the problem was, I didn't always listen to what he was saying." Anakin admitted. "Listen, I came down here to tell you something else."

"What?"

"It's about Lord Borlac." Anakin answered.

"Lord Borlac; what about him?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"He's dead, Obi-Wan; he killed himself." Anakin informed him.

"What? When did that happen?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Just after we left to find Zak; he somehow managed to get his hand on one of the Clones' blaster pistols and shot himself, point blank in the chest." Anakin said. "And there's something else; all the JK Clones are dead."

"All of them? How?" Obi-Wan asked.

"They just died, Obi-Wan." Anakin replied.

"I guess that means that it really is all over." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, thank the stars; I believe it is." Anakin answered. "Well, I will let you get back to your meditation; I just wanted to see how you were doing. I'm going down to the healers' to see how Zak is and then back to the nursery; Padme and I are getting ready to head back to Naboo tomorrow."

"Thank you, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him as he stood to leave.

"For what?" Anakin asked.

"For being my brother." Obi-Wan answered.

"You don't have to thank me for that, Obi-Wan. I owe you everything that I have and everything that I am; I am proud to be your friend and your brother. I will see you later." Anakin replied and left before Obi-Wan could respond.

Anakin told a little fib when he said he was going only to check on Zak. After seeing that he was sleeping peacefully, Anakin went hunting for Yoda. He did not have to search for long; the old master was watching some of the Padawans practicing on the training floor, "Master Yoda, I would like to speak with you." He said as he came up to stand beside him.

"Hmm…Anakin; preparing to go home you should be." Yoda replied.

"Padme is doing that, Master Yoda." Anakin told him.

"Speak with me, you must…hmm. Speaking with me now you are." He said.

"It's about Obi-Wan." Anakin started.

"Listening I am, Anakin." Yoda said.

"He needs rest; I want him to come back to Naboo for a while. I think it would be good for him and I want Zak to come with us." Anakin answered.

"Rest, a rest you say. Worn out you think, then. In his body or in his heart?" Yoda asked.

"Both; his body is a mess and after what happened today…" Anakin replied.

"Yes, terrible it was for him. Good it is for him to have you as his friend. A rest is that he needs." Yoda said in agreement.

"There is one other thing, Master." Anakin said.

"I will tell him. Listen to me he will." Yoda assured him.

"Thank you, Master."

The following morning, a shuttle landed on the landing platform where the Naboo yacht was parked. Yoda and Declan had come along to see them off. Obi-Wan had not challenged Yoda's suggestion of going to Naboo, so he and Zak stepped off the shuttle with Anakin and his family and boarded the craft with them.

"I still want to speak with you about…" Declan started.

"Yes, that healing nonsense, I know; and when I bring Zak and Obi-Wan back, I will sit down and discuss it with you and the Council." Anakin promised.

"Other things we must discuss also, Anakin." Yoda reminded him.

"I know that, too; and when I come back, I will spend all the time that the Council wishes me to." Anakin assured him.

"Then, may the Force be with you, Anakin." Yoda said.

"And with you, Master." Anakin answered.

"Rest, Obi-Wan; need you well we do." Yoda told Obi-Wan as he walked up the boarding ramp.

"I will, Master Yoda. What else will there be for me to do on Naboo?" Obi-Wan answered.

As they stowed the luggage and settled Luke and Leia in their seats, Obi-Wan turned to Zak, "I'm sorry, Zak; you have had nothing but trouble since we've met." He told him.

"Don't be sorry, Master. I am proud to be your Padawan." Zak answered.

"Even after all that's happened?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes; I wouldn't want another master. Things happened that were not your fault; I understand this." Zak replied.

"ZAK, we're ready to leave, I need my pilot." Anakin called from the cockpit.

"Duty calls, Padawan." Obi-Wan told him with a smile. "And Zak; I am very proud of you."

"Thank you, Master." Zak answered.

"ZAK, come on." Anakin called again.

"You'd better go; you know how impatient he can be." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, Master." He said and headed at run for the cockpit.

Yoda watched as the yacht lifted off the platform. It was not the first time he had done so, and he knew it would not be the last.


Okay, that's the end of this story, but the fun has only just begun! Coming soon, "Incident on Naboo"...where Obi-Wan's restful sabbatical isn't so restful...stay tuned!