Where Meditation is Shared
They made a fine pair going down the halls of the Temple, Obi-Wan reflected. Anakin's arm was in a sling, the mechanical prosthetic difficult to work with because it was so new. It's brassy-gold glinted under the slowly setting afternoon sun. Obi-Wan, by contrast, was limping with his cane as damaged muscle slowly re-knit itself under a bacta patch. He also bore an arm in a sling, another bacta patch helping to heal damage.
It had been two days since Geonosis. The whole Temple seemed weighed down by grief and sorrow at the loss of so many Jedi. One hundred and seventy-nine Jedi gone. And if the grief of it wasn't enough, now war was looming over them. Not just a petty war between a few planets, but a war that would likely span the entire galaxy. Finding anyone in the Temple who could still smile seemed an impossibility.
This was why Obi-Wan was walking down the halls, ignoring how pitiable the pair of them looked. He noticed that several fellow Jedi, those who had not been in the battle, would look at him and his Padawan with such sympathy. That was fine, but not exactly desired at the moment.
Obi-Wan had two priorities right now. One of them was helping Anakin adjust to using the new hand that had been grafted on. That would take time and much work. And meditation, which Anakin would no doubt try and avoid as he always did.
The other priority, the one that he and Anakin were going to try and do now, was to find some measure of peace. Obi-Wan was very strong in the Unifying Force, and while he did not have visions outright, he did have a good sense of things in the future from time to time. And with war hanging around at every turn and no swift end in sight, he and his Padawan were going to need every scrap of peace they could grasp. So things were going to change a little bit.
Anakin had not asked where they were going when they'd left their appointments at the Halls of Healing, he was too busy in his own misery with his lost and new arm. So Obi-Wan was going to distract him. And he knew just the way to do it.
One turbo-lift ride down from the Temple Court later, Anakin was actually starting to look around their surroundings as Obi-Wan hobbled towards their destination.
"Master?" he asked.
Obi-Wan turned and offered a smile, ignoring how this walk from the Halls of Healing was starting to hurt his leg. Despite what the healers said, Obi-Wan would not use a hoverchair like Master Yoda. He would make it on his own.
"Master?" Anakin asked again. "Why are we going to the Docking Complex? The healers haven't cleared us for travel."
He chuckled. "They probably will during tomorrow's checkup. Or at least you. After all, someone needs to escort Senator Amidala back to Naboo."
There was a happy flicker along the bond, no doubt Anakin would enjoy seeing the Senator again.
"Yes, Master, but... why are we here?"
Obi-Wan paused, looking around for the Hanger Master and ignoring Anakin's question. Ahh, there she was. "Come, Padawan."
Anakin huffed in frustration. "Master, you're not answering my question."
"Ah, but I am, my impatient Padawan. I am."
Obi-Wan limped the way forward to the Hanger Master's office, a smile working under his beard. Anakin sent a strong pulse of irritation along the bond and Obi-Wan responded with a pulse of amusement.
"Master Fyurer," Obi-Wan greeted as he entered the more administrative office of the Hanger Master.
"Master... Kenobi, right?" she responded, standing up to her almost two meters of height.
"Yes," he replied.
"How may I help you?"
"A seat for starters," Anakin interrupted. "You really shouldn't be on that leg for so long, Master."
Obi-Wan frowned, but Fyurer chuckled warmly. "You have an attentive Padawan. Here," she gestured.
With a scowl more befitting his Padawan, Obi-Wan sat down in the offered chair, letting out a silent sigh of relief to be off of his leg.
"Now, what can I do?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I believe it is more what my Padawan here can do for you."
Both his Padawan and Master Fyurer blinked.
"Excuse me?" they both asked.
"It's really quite simple," Obi-Wan explained, stretching out his bad leg. "Anakin here is very adept at all things mechanical. Proficiency doesn't even begin to cover his skill with ships of any sort. And with war upon us, I'd imagine there will be quite a few ships that will come in with more damage than you might be prepared to handle."
Sitting back, he took a moment for the two to stare at him, then each other. Already, he could feel Anakin's excitement growing as Master Fyurer lay measuring eyes on his Padawan.
"So you're a mechanic?" she asked, a browridge rising.
"And a pilot," Obi-Wan added. "If it flies, he'll drive it. And if it doesn't, he'll make it fly."
Curiosity glittered in her eyes. "Interesting, Master Kenobi. Very interesting."
"Now my Padawan and I will, of course, go on missions. Frequently, no doubt. But as he finds ships and flying and tinkering very relaxing, I'd imagine he might be of use to you during our down time."
"Indeed he would, if he's as good as you say."
"I'm better," Anakin smirked. He went to cross his arms, but the fingers of his mechanical arm didn't work right, and ended up poking instead. The smirk dropped off of Anakin's face. "Master, I can't. This new arm..." he trailed off, his excitement and eagerness fading once more into the moroseness that was permeating the entire Temple.
Obi-Wan leaned forward, his eyes intent on his Padawan. "Tell me, Anakin, do you need your hand to speak?"
His Padawan blinked. "Huh? Master-"
"Do you need your hand to see?"
"I don't-"
"To listen? To feel?"
Anakin looked confused, but Fyurer smiled in understanding.
"Just because you can't do it yourself, Padawan," she said, a hand resting on his shoulder, "doesn't mean you can't help. You can instruct my mechanics. You can see the wiring, you can hear the engines, and you can feel the machine. Your expertise will be well used."
Anakin looked between the both of them, a large smile blossoming on his face.
"You'll get the usage of that prosthetic down," Obi-Wan added. "It may take some time, but you'll be able to use it like you would a hand of flesh and blood."
"Now come," Fyurer started to pull Anakin out the door. "I want to see just how good you are versus what you and your master claim."
"Is that a challenge?" Anakin asked as they turned the corner.
Obi-Wan sat back with a contented sigh. With any luck, the Docking Complex would become a nice refuge for Anakin during any down time they could snatch during this war. A place for him to find balance. Really, he should have brought Anakin to one of the Temple Hangers years ago, but there was always something else to do. Now, Obi-Wan took the time for it; because Anakin would likely need it.
Leaning back, Obi-Wan rested his head back and let out a long breath. With Anakin "meditating" with mechanics, he could do what he needed to restore balance, and meditate in a more traditional manner. There was a lot of sorrow at the loss of so many Jedi that needed to be released. And the Force was always so calming and reassuring.
It didn't take long to once more touch the gentle waves of the Force and sink into their depths. The lingering pain in his leg was no longer there, nor the stiffness of his arm. It was just that which connected all things together.
Hmmm, connections.
Meditation was always a very personal thing for a Jedi. Each being had preferred meditations and would greet and interact with the Force in a different way unique to each person. Every youngling learned how to meditate on their own. A Master could guide a Padawan if they were struggling or through a more difficult meditation, but students were always encouraged to reach for the Force on their own, since a Master might not always be there. Masters could meditate together, but only when there was a common purpose or bit of knowledge sought.
This made Obi-Wan wonder why Jedi didn't share meditation just for the sake of meditating together. He and Anakin had meditating together several times over the years, but the instances were vastly spread out and usually when a break was needed from something more stressful. Obi-Wan always felt a bit closer to his Padawan after such meditations, and a fair bit better.
As he drifted through the waves of the Force, Obi-Wan wondered if, with the war that was now upon them the two of them should meditate together more often. Especially when the peaceful feeling of drifting was so welcome after the sorrow of Geonosis.
So with but a thought, he sent this peaceful feeling along the bond to Anakin.
Through the Force, he felt Anakin's surprise as Obi-Wan's peaceful offer sank into Anakin's being, soothing things his Padawan wasn't even aware were there. Anakin sent his thanks and Obi-Wan sent a grin.
That evening, Obi-Wan asked what Anakin had thought of meditating together. And not just sitting down and each slipping into meditation, but joining together in the Force as they had done over the years, only with more regularity that previously.
Anakin had hesitated. But said that he'd give it a try.
That first evening hadn't quite gone the way that Obi-Wan wanted it. Anakin was used to Obi-Wan guiding him deeper into such meditations together, but Obi-Wan didn't want to be the teacher for this. He just wanted them to be equals in this one type of meditation. This wasn't about him teaching, it was just enjoying his Padawan's bright presence in the Force.
They stumbled, resisting the usual places of Teacher and Student to try and find the way as Friends. Family.
But once they reached the deeper levels of the Force together, it felt so much more... There wasn't quite the word for it. Powerful? Peaceful? Strong? Connected? Whatever the word was, it was beautiful. Their bond was alive with pulses of awe and wonder and sharing. Drifting in the deep currents of the Force, it was Anakin who found, and then dragged Obi-Wan to a place that reminded him of the color meditation that Qui-Gon had once shown him and he had shared with Anakin. Only instead of every being shining with a color, they produced their own music. From cantina music to symphonies to ballads to folk songs, every being produced a song unique to themselves until all the music sang in one joyous orchestral of the Force.
Qui-Gon would have loved it and Obi-Wan wished he were there to see it. And suddenly Anakin was surrounding him in the Force as the old ache for his master came forward.
Who would have thought that you could hug someone in the Force?
It was such an amazing feeling, that Obi-Wan tried to reciprocate it, hugging Anakin's presence. He wasn't sure if it worked the same way, but Anakin certainly sent his appreciation.
When they came out of the shared meditation, stumbling again up through the layers and currents of the Force, they were both surprised to find that it was almost morning.
"Well that was certainly different," Obi-Wan stated.
"I'll say." Anakin stretched. "Tea and then our next check up with the healers?"
The healers did indeed clear Anakin for travel, as Obi-Wan had predicted. So, after a day of Obi-Wan helping Anakin get a better grasp of using his new hand, that evening, after dinner, they sat down to try and share a meditation again. They still tripped as they sank through the layers, but not as badly as they had previously. Once more, the wonders of the Force flowed around them as it hadn't ever before. And once more, their awe of the Force pulsed between them rapidly in their bond, along with curiosity, wonder, and peace.
This time, it was Obi-Wan who dragged Anakin to something interesting, and the two watched as the sorrow and grief of the Jedi released into the Force swirled and twisted and spread out not as loss, but as the joy of life, for as every being died, a new one was born. The darkness of sadness and loss shifted, lightening, brightening, to the pure glow of happiness.
It was... amazing to watch. Jedi were taught to release their feelings to the Force, that it would help. But to actually see how the Force respectfully accepted the feelings offered, held and molded those feelings into something else was just... inspiring in a way.
The two stumbled up out of meditation again, grateful to find not quite so much time had passed. They smiled at each other, not really feeling the need to speak after sharing so much in their mediation, and went to bed.
The third time they shared a meditation was after Anakin came back from Naboo.
This meditation went a bit differently. They sank into the Force with far greater ease together, and once deep within the currents, there was no denying the happiness and joy that didn't just bubble, but overflowed from Anakin. Granted, Obi-Wan had felt his Padawan's happiness almost from the moment Anakin entered the Temple, but this was... it was like he was feeling it as well.
The tranquility of loving someone and knowing they loved you back seemed to soothe old aches that Qui-Gon's death had left behind, even a decade later. Almost without his realizing it, Obi-Wan's love for Anakin, his brother in all but blood and name, was surrounding him and Anakin. And then Anakin's love for Obi-Wan was reciprocated, his love of a brother-turned-father. So much love was around them, they both thought that their hearts might just burst from the feeling of all of it. They both watched as the love swirled, sending playful, happy waves out further into the Force, and as other Jedi touched the Force, it was love that gave the Jedi their peace and tranquility.
It reminded Obi-Wan of Qui-Gon, and this time without the old ache of loss, but with the joy of knowing his master and how his old master would see this. For Anakin, it reminded him of his mother and how she always said that hugs could save the galaxy. There was the sharp sting of her loss and Obi-Wan hugged him. Through the bond, Anakin could tell that Obi-Wan thought that he was merely missing his mother, that he still didn't know that Shmi was dead.
Anakin knew he should tell Obi-Wan, but he just didn't want to deal with it at the moment. These mediations were to find peace, not relive sorrow, so he shifted his thoughts back to Padme and watched as love rippled out into the Force.
The two continued to drift in the currents of the Force, sharing and exploring in ways that no Jedi had ever done before. And when they came out of meditation, Anakin was still grinning like an idiot with unsuppressed joy and Obi-Wan now had a smile to match.
They both agreed that they would continue to meditate together. And as war raged around them, after battles, it became a routine that was necessary to maintain any sort of balance in the chaos around them.
Author's Note: Yeah, Hanger Master is a completely made up term. As such, Fyurer is a made up character (Star Wars needs more female Jedi). If they could have Council Masters, Gatemasters, etc, we kinda figured that there would be a Hanger Master for each of the three hangers in the Temple. (Yes, three. Thank you wookiepedia, we love you very much.) As a whole, given how rich the Star Wars universe is, we didn't really want to go making up jobs and characters, but if you can't find it, what can you do?
*sigh* This drabble... Okay, history lesson. The above concept, that right after Geonosis, Obi-Wan would drag Anakin, not to the hanger master, but to a random junk shop on Coruscant to help Anakin relax and together they'd start meditating, was the original impetus of this story. Originally, while Anakin tinkered on something or other at the junkshop (which was in danger of closing and Anakin's random, sporadic help would save the day for them), Obi-Wan would be meditating back in the temple and somewhere along the way, they'd feel a connection. The drabbles for the Clone Wars arc was meant to have several with Anakin in the junkshop for some reason or another as Obi-Wan and Anakin got closer so as to avoid the horror known as Mustafar.
The above is about all that's left of that concept. We won't be visiting the Hanger Master Fyurer again and Anakin and Obi-Wan will be spending many of the drabbles out on the front lines or just at their rooms at the Temple and one other place we won't disclose. We still needed Obi-Wan and Anakin to start meditating together, because it will lead to things important later.
George Lucas, in one of the extras/commentaries of the movies said that being a director, you have to love what you do, but you also have to be willing to kill what you love. As in you have to love the story you're telling, but you also have to be willing to remove something you love for the greater story you're presenting. A story evolves. This story has evolved a great deal, starting with backtracking to look at the early years between Anakin and Obi-Wan, to a grand finale that is still a long ways off. (Mwahahahaha) Here is just a simple nod to what it once was that feels vaguely out of place for everything once all together.