Disclaimer: See Chapter I

A/N: Okay, I have changed the age of the Obi-Wan from the past and he is now 16 before JA #14.

Thanks to:

Obi-obsesse: Writing, I am. Get off my back, you will. Longer chapters hopefully to come. Sorry, I am. For the review, I thank you.

Padawan Anaika: Love you, I do. Judge the length of my chapters, you do not. Question I have about the genre. Being mysterious and suspenseful, I hope I'm doing. Thinking about one or two of the following, I am: Mystery, Suspense, and Drama. Help me, could you? Maybe leave it General, I should.

Chapter III

Obi-Wan took his frustration and released it into the Force. The Council had forbidden if from giving the past any information about what will happen to them if they continue down the path they are on. 'It is absolutely ridiculous! They already know about Dooku, so the future could already be changed! But that doesn't mean I have to leave them completely in the dark about why they are here. I just can't give them straight answers.' With these thoughts still in his head, he walked back to where the Jedi of the past were.

Everybody looked up as he entered the room. "I will answer your questions now, at least to the best of my ability given that the Council has forbidden me from giving you straight answers," Obi-Wan said. "But there are always ways around the rules."

"You are willing to defy the Council so?" Mace asked. "Is the situation that bad or are you just a Jedi who follows his instincts too impulsively?" As he said his last statement, he glanced at Qui-Gon, who either didn't notice his look or pretended not to.

"I have defied the Council before, but not without first thinking my decisions through. I learned caution a long time ago after I made a terrible mistake as a Padawan," Obi-Wan said remorsefully. "But I'm not really defying them this time, I'm merely going to listen to your questions and try to set your mind at ease. Now, what would you like to know?"

"Your name, I want. Elusive, your Force signature is, but very powerful. Why hide, do you? And how so well?" Yoda inquired.

"I cannot tell you who I am. Even if the Council didn't forbid it, I most likely wouldn't tell you. As to why I hide my Force signature, that is because I do it subconsciously. As you could tell by Dooku's reaction to my arrival, I am an enemy the Sith are well acquainted with. If I wasn't so good at hiding my presence, I wouldn't have been able to help you escape from them," Obi-Wan explained.

"How much do you know about what has happened? Do you know all the details or do you just know the general information?" Mace asked.

"I know everything the Council does and more."

"How do we know that we can trust you?" Tahl asked. "We can barely sense you. Why won't you lower your defenses now that we are away from the Sith?" She fixed her sightless emerald and gold eyes on Obi-Wan in a suspicious gaze.

"I can't make you trust me, but I did save you so you could at least make an attempt to at least not doubt everything I say. I'm on your side, okay. If I let my defenses down, you would automatically know who I am," Obi-Wan said with a sigh.

"So you are saying that we know you in our time?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Yes."

"You said you made a mistake when you were a Padawan. What did you do?" Mace questioned.

"If I told you that, you would know who I am. Now if you will excuse me, we should be nearing Coruscant," Obi-Wan said before walking out of the room.

"Do you think we should trust him?" Mace asked Yoda.

"Trust him, we must. Our only ally, he may be," Yoda answered.

"Surely the Council will not leave us in the dark about what is going on in the galaxy. We may be able to prevent it," Qui-Gon stated.

"They might feel that the Force meant for it not to be prevented because it has already happened to them," Plo Koon stated.

"What if that is true? Are we suppose to disregard everything that we discover in this time?" Adi Gallia asked.

"If true it is, be here we would not," Yoda said.

"Well, it doesn't really matter if it is true or not if nobody is willing to give us any information," Tahl pointed out. "The Jedi we are with is not even willing to give us his name. How do we know he will help us?"

"He will," Qui-Gon said with certainty. "Even though I cannot recognize his signature because of his defenses, I know by what I can sense of it that I can trust him."

* * * * *

Obi-Wan walked purposefully toward the Council Room. He had left the Jedi from the past in the Room of a Thousand Fountains and had told them to remain there. He had decided before they landed that he could not fight the Council openly. They could ensure that he was kept away from the past, and if that happened, he could do nothing to help them.

The massive doors of the Council Room stood open for him, and after he had walked through, they swung shut. Twelve gazes fixed themselves on Obi-Wan as he stood in the center of the room. He bowed respectfully.

"Masters."

"Come to a decision we have. Inform the past Jedi of the future, we cannot. Elusive the Force is. Guidance from it, we have not received. Best it is to wait for action until guided by the Force we are," Yoda stated.

"I expected as much. However, their safety is still at risk, is it not?" Obi-Wan said. "The Sith brought them here for a reason. They will not give up so easily. They should be put under the protection of a team of Jedi."

"We have considered that. We are putting you in charge of their security. Gather three Jedi that you feel are trustworthy, brief them on the situation, and report to the Meditation Gardens in two hours," Mace informed him. "From there, you will be taken to the temporary living quarters we have arranged for the past. They should already be settled in once you arrive. May the Force be with you."

Obi-Wan bowed and walked out of the room. 'Three trustworthy Jedi…I know just where to find them.' With that thought, he pulled out his comlink and hastily arranged a meeting with the three Jedi.

* * * * *

//Master, we've been here over an hour. What do you suppose is taking them so long?// Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon over their bond.

//I am sure all of our questions will be answered in due time, Padawan. We won't have to wait long.// Qui-Gon reassured his apprentice. Just then, an older version of Mace Windu walked up to them. The Jedi was barely distinguishable from his past self. The only difference was that the Jedi Master who had just approached looked more worn somehow.

"Please follow me. I will lead you to your temporary quarters," Master Windu told them before turning and walking away, clearly wanting them to follow. They were led to large hall where cots had been placed for their accommodations. "I trust you will be able to settle yourselves in. I must go meet the team of Jedi who are to be responsible for your safety."

"Will they answer our questions?" Tahl asked. "We wish to know what is going on in this time. Will they have the answers?"

"I am certain that they do have all the answers you could possibly want, but they have been instructed not to give them to you. The Council feels that this is for the best. Now if you will excuse me," he inclined his head and then left.

* * * * *

"Bant! Garen! Reeft! How are you?" Obi-Wan greeted his friends.

"Fine, but how about you? You're the one who keeps putting himself in dangerous situations," Bant pointed out.

"I'm fine, but I need your help…"

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A/N: How was it? Was it terrible, wonderful, nauseating? Please review!