Seven - The Lost

He was surprised to see him, there was no denying it; he had thought the plan was to hide until the dust had settled, to hide until their movements would be under less scrutiny. To see his old friend in the cantina of Mos Eisley was not what he had expected when he had made his way into town that morning. His senses briefly turned to Luke, who was still safe out at his uncle's farm. Reassured, he went to his friend and sat in silence at his table.

They studied each other for long moments before Master Mace Windu began to speak, telling him of the universe he had escaped from. Telling him that the rebellion would not wait; that already the Light was fighting back and it was time for the Jedi to stand again.

He listened as his friend told him of a man who walked out from the shadows and gathered the lost Jedi to him before sending them back out into the galaxy again, but this time with purpose. He told him that already, after only a few years, whole systems were liberated in the rim territories and more planets and people were rising up further in towards the core. He told him of the hope people had found in the legend that walked amongst them, a Jedi who understood the old ways but also advocated change so that they could survive the darkest of times. It was rumoured that even Lord Vader was not immune to the Light now seeping back into the galaxy.

He was surprised to hear that more Jedi lived than originally thought and that this one man was able to find them; all of them. His connection to the Force he had gained while in exile was second to none and his connection to the scattered Jedi unprecedented. He had found Mace first, then Yoda and then he had set out to find the rest. Mace Windu told him all this and then he told him the name that belonged to this man.

It seemed it was a day for surprises.

Mace had not given him time to retreat behind shields of indifference. He had pressed his advantage that the old Jedi's shock had given him. He asked him to leave the desert world behind, to relinquish his hurt to the Force and join them.

'Come with me,' he had asked. 'Don't make him come to you.'

Qui-Gon Jinn looked at his old friend and heard the words he was not saying. Don't make this man come for him, as he knew he would, eventually. He did not know what time he had, did not know if he longed for the wait to be short or hoped that it would last forever before he would have to face that man again.

He had lost three apprentices: two to Darkness and one to his own foolishness. His shame consumed him. Cast aside, his beloved apprentice had left the only home he had ever known and Qui-Gon, hurt at his leaving, had been angry. Angry that the boy had turned his back on everything Qui-Gon had spent a decade teaching him. He understood now, that his precious boy had not deserted the Jedi ways or his master's teachings, but had fled from a life that had wronged him beyond measure. In the time between, that boy had learnt the true Light of the Force and was the galaxy's guiding Light. Shame filled the Jedi master, but it was stubbornness that made him thank the other Jedi for his news before leaving the cantina without a backward glance.

He returned to his home, walking slowly though the sands that isolated it from the main town, finding calm again in the desolation of a dead landscape. What could he do? He knew he would have to leave Tatooine eventually; he just had not imagined it would be so soon. He had thought he would have more time to grieve his loss and find some way to bear the burden left by Anakin's fall.

But Mace had said Vader was not so lost after all. Perhaps his legacy would not be one of Darkness after all. Maybe they would all be saved. Was the time now? Was he ready? Could he face all those he had failed?

As he crested the final dune before his home, he saw that the decision had been taken from him: on the sands outside his home, stood a man. He was dressed as a Jedi: cream tunics and brown robe and at his hip was a lightsaber for all to see. He knew this man, who shone with Light, but he had not seen him for more than ten years. Time had been kind to the boy who had left him; he stood with purpose and a quiet strength that the Jedi master did not believe even the Sith could dominate.

He strode on, towards his past, coming to a stop an arms distance away from the man. Wanting to reach out and touch, to see if this vision of the old ways was a mirage. He did not, fearing his touch would be unwelcome and rejected. He stared into grey eyes and knew his fears were foolish. This man loved him still; cared for his old master; forgiven him for his actions.

'Hello, Master Qui-Gon,' the lone Jedi said.

And he replied, saying the boy's name for the first time in what felt like an age and with its utterance came the return of hope and Light.

'Hello, Obi-Wan Kenobi.'