OBI-WAN

"What's bothering you?" Obi-Wan looked up suddenly when he heard Thalia's voice pull him from his thoughts. She had her arms crossed and was leaning her shoulder up against the side of the doorway of the Falcon. They were flying though Hyperspace towards Naboo.

"There's a feeling I just can't shake." He sighed, sitting back against the wall.

"Good or bad?" She asked, walking over to sit across from him at the small round table.

"It feels like both, but it's hard to find the balance." He replied, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over him.

"Can I suggest focusing your mind on something else? Something more trivial." Thalia suggested and pulled open a draw from the table. Reaching inside, she pulled out a set of dice and some coins. "Do you want to learn how to play Sabaac?"

"Well, if we're going to be stuck together for a while I suppose I should learn." He said, a slight smile stretching across his mouth.

"Good luck." C-6 said from her charging station and Thalia gave her a look. "What? Last time she offered to teach someone, she walked away with this ship."

"I already told you. I wasn't the one who suggested we play for keeps. He was overzealous." Thalia said and Obi-Wan chuckled at their exchange.

"I swear to only teach you." She said to him, hand placed over her heart. Again, Obi-Wan laughed but this time it was at the way she was able to completely switch from a serious leader of worlds to a young woman who relished in her chance to have some fun.

After a few rounds, Obi-Wan felt like he was starting to get a hang of the game and was becoming more and more confident in his bids.

"What do you say we raise the stakes?" He asked and Thalia smiled at the eager twinkle in his eyes.

"That's what Pedro said and look what happened to him." C-6 called, but they both ignored her.

"Okay, but let's just try it. You can keep what you put down. We'll just see who can win when the pressure's on." Thalia decided and Obi-Wan smirked slightly as an idea popped into his head. He reached down to his belt and unhooked his lightsaber, placing it on the table.

Thalia's eyes widened slightly and she looked up at him, impressed by his boldness.

"Okay." She said thoughtfully, before pulling her ring off and setting it on the table in front of her.

"Blast!" Obi-Wan sighed as Thalia placed her full set of cards down on the table, easily trumping his selection.

"You did well." She nodded encouragingly.

"Thanks." He replied sarcastically as she reached forward to pick up his lightsaber.

"Oh, it's heavier than I imagined." She said surprised, testing the weight in each hand.

"You haven't held one before?" He asked and she shook her head.

"I've studied them, but never tried one." Thalia answered as she examined the engravings around the grip. "Interesting…do you mind if I have a closer look?"

Obi-Wan didn't quite understand what she meant until she waved her hand over it and the lightsaber separated into about one hundred pieces, floating out across the space between them.

"How much do you know about your crystal?" She asked him through the pieces of his lightsaber.

"Not as much as you probably do." He guessed and she grinned.

"Well, this particular crystal is almost seventeen thousand years old and came from deep within the caves." She began and Obi-Wan leaned in closer to stare at the glowing gem. "With each crystal comes a test one must pass to ensure they are worthy of that exact stone. Yours was something about…being aware of everything around you and finding peace in the midst of it."

"You can tell all that from the crystal?" Obi-Wan asked amazed.

"I'm using the force to channel the Kyber in the crystal." She explained. "It's amazing that such a small stone can produce so much power."

"So, their greatest gift is their greatest downfall." Obi-Wan thought aloud and he watched as Thalia tilted her head slightly and studied him over the top of the crystal.

"I sense your pursuit of peace is still an ongoing venture." She said matter of factly.

"Both literally and metaphorically. As Jedi it is our duty to fight for peace." He replied and Thalia sighed.

"What an amazing contradiction." She said distantly. "So, how can a Jedi achieve peace if he isn't allowed to feel anger or love? Surely, when you know both that's when you're able to find the balance between the two?"

"Also if you feel neither you can find balance just as easily." Obi-Wan replied carefully.

"Even compassion?" She continued.

"Master Yoda says that it's completely natural to have such feelings but it's what we do with them that defines us. So, while we aren't supposed to love we can have compassion because it helps us to make the right choices. If we didn't have compassion then the Dark Side would win." Obi-Wan finished. He'd never had to explain the life of a Jedi to someone before as all his friends had been Jedi themselves, so he found it surprisingly satisfying being able to define it.

"So, there's never been a short-tempered Jedi or a married Jedi?" Thalia asked curiously, waving her hand at the lightsaber, which quickly set about the task of clicking itself back together.

"I've never heard of a married Jedi before but I have met some grumpy Jedi Masters." Obi-Wan admitted and Thalia laughed.

"I hope I'm not one of those Jedi." He heard Qui-Gonn say and looked up to the doorway where his Master was standing. "We're coming up on Naboo."