The Replacement

A deep sigh filled the small room. It echoed of flawless, cold durasteel walls that curved up on all four sides around the silent figure between them. The silence that followed was crushing. Yes, there was still the continuous hum of engines working away tirelessly beneath his feet, but it did nothing to tune out his racing thoughts. It did nothing to stop the loneliness that crept so easily into his very being.

"Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The pathetic lifeform was a child.

Obi-Wan's hands dropped out of his oversized sleeves and fell limply to his sides.

"Master? Why is he here?"

"You saw his midi-chlorian count, Obi-Wan. Besides, without him, we would not be on our way to Coruscant now. I could not leave him there."

Yes, he had seen the count. He had checked it half a dozen times. Could this really be him? The one the prophecy spoke of? The Chosen One?

Another sigh escaped the young man's lips. The way Qui-Gon looked at Anakin… Obi-Wan was sure his Master never looked at him quite so fondly.

Anakin entered the room and Qui-Gon lit up and ended the conversation. Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon would not budge on this, he would not discuss it, he would not listen. All that mattered was the child. The child was something Obi-Wan could never be. He was special. A worthy Padawan.

Obi-Wan tried to stop his thoughts, he shouldn't go there. He was Qui-Gon's Padawan. Qui-Gon had promised to see him through to his knighting and he still had so much to learn. Wasn't Qui-Gon constantly reminding him of how behind he was? Of how much he still didn't understand? Qui-Gon wouldn't leave him now, not for some child? Right?

But his thoughts didn't stop there. Because he couldn't deny the looks. Qui-Gon would do anything to get Anakin trained and Obi-Wan could see what Qui-Gon was ignoring and what the Council would feel as well. The child was dangerous. Obi-Wan didn't know why he thought that, he only knew that he was certain of it. He could feel it so clearly. Anakin shouldn't be trained, and the Council will refuse it, if only for the reason that he was too old.

Obi-Wan also knew his Master. Qui-Gon would not stand for the council denying him something. Especially not something he believed in so strongly. So where did that leave Obi-Wan?

He let his cloak slide off his shoulders and land in a neat pile on the floor. He wouldn't bother picking it up. His utility belt followed suit, even his lightsaber dropped to the floor. Boots got kicked off and then he let himself drop onto the small bed. The lights dimmed but Obi-Wan couldn't sleep. Too many questions chased each other around his head.

What was Qui-Gon thinking?

A dull headache spread from one temple to the other across his forehead. It had been a long day. He didn't even get any acknowledgement for the fact he had replaced the hyperdrive in record time. He had wanted to leave Tatooine just as badly as anyone else. Sand would be caught in his hair for weeks to come, he was sure of it.

It felt like hours were passing by and Obi-Wan was still wide awake. He even got up to fold his cloak and place his lightsaber on the small bedside table because it bothered him too much after all. Exhaustion filled his entire being so why was his mind still so awake?

Lightning struck around the temple, grey clouds swallowing the city-planet whole.

Obi-Wan ran down the corridors. There wasn't a single turn, but the corridor never ended. Obi-Wan knew he needed to catch up with Qui-Gon, but he couldn't. He wasn't even getting close.

"Master!" His voice echoed with a round of thunder.

The walls shook and the world outside tilted but he couldn't stop running.

The running would never stop.

Obi-Wan woke as he hit the ground. Heavy breaths slowly eased as he fought for his composure. It was just a stupid nightmare. He couldn't remember falling asleep though.

Obi-Wan suddenly tensed again. He was being watched.

Slowly, he turned to face his observer.

"Are you alright?" The sleepy 9-year-old asked as he rubbed his eyes.

Obi-Wan jumped to his feet, ignoring the question.

"What are you doing here?"

The boy cocked his head to one side, "I couldn't sleep, and you were pretty loud."

Obi-Wan bit his cheek. Loud? Had Qui-Gon heard?

"You still shouldn't be here," he replied coolly.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"Jedi don't have nightmares."

"Oh."

There was an odd silence as the two just stared at each other. Obi-Wan regarded the child carefully. This was the boy who could be his replacement.

"You should go back to bed," Obi-Wan finally decided but Anakin didn't move.

"I can't sleep."

"You'll be tired when we get back to Coruscant if you don't go to bed."

The boy shrugged and started rubbing his toes against the smooth floor.

"Come on," Obi-Wan held his hand out and when Anakin took it, he started leading him back to the room he had been given to sleep in.

"Do you think you could tell me a story?" Anakin wondered quietly.

"A story?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. A story…

Anakin nodded, "Mum always tells me stories before I go to sleep."

Big eyes looked up at Obi-Wan pleadingly.

"A story… Fine… What kind of story would you like?"

"Tell me one about Mr. Qui-Gon."

Obi-Wan chuckled, "Qui-Gon? I could tell you a few funny stories about him."

Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan disappear into Anakin's room in the middle of a quite embarrassing story involving Tiberian Monkeys… Qui-Gon almost considered interrupting them but he was quite content with watching from the shadows. This felt like a moment he shouldn't interrupt.

He had heard Obi-Wan's nightmare but Anakin had beat him to his Padawan. It looked like they were both in good hands, but Qui-Gon would keep the bond open, offering his Padawan a calming presence if he needed it to fall asleep again.

What had Obi-Wan been dreaming about? He wondered.