A/N: A little late posting this, but... life happens... To all reviewers, thank you for all of your well thought out and in depth comments :)

gurnius – Originally, I envisioned writing something where Obi-Wan "re-awakens" in the Jedi Temple... but... I felt this Melida/Dann direction will be more interesting from a plot standpoint. I also didn't want it to be immediately obvious to the other Jedi that Obi-Wan is radically different overnight. M/D will provide a more logical reason for why he is no longer an oblivious padawan. And so much more. For the purposes of this story, that shadowy voice is the dark side itself. It will make more sense later. Another thing I like about what happened on the "cannon" M/D is that it highlights their Master/Padawan relationship at its best and worst. Yes, Qui-Gon is quite the conundrum. At times he is a wonderful master, a father figure even. Other times, he's a jerk. We'll see what happens. ;)

CC-645 – You hit the nail on the head. This story does indeed differ from the norm so expect the unexpected ;) To your insightful comments: I'd like to think Obi-Wan never touched the dark side and that is how it is in my head cannon. In this story he is more human and imperfect, and I will maintain that every Jedi faces the temptation of the dark side. I don't intend for OW to have an "I failed complex"... I like to think that at his 'age' he has many regrets. I certainly don't intend for his 'failure' to take center stage. Pretty much anyone sent back in time would wonder what they did to deserve it... I also don't intend to make Obi-Wan out to be an emotional puddleglum. As for the extended contemplative moments... it's a slow way to begin a story, granted, but it has a purpose until he finds his way back to civilization. Of course senseless romantic tension is bad, but that's not to say he won't eventually find love... it's a big galaxy :)

Countdown – Like I said above, expect the unexpected... and Happy Reading!

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

-Viktor Frankl

Chapter Four

Over the course of several days, Obi-Wan and the great beast fell into a routine. The steady plop of wildlife she carried back from a hunt nourished his body. At night she curled into a ball, resting by the tent entrance.

Today would be different. Today, he would confront the past.

"Moko!" exclaimed a soaked Jedi Master, eyes darting between the large silver fish and the now dry beast.

She widened her eyes and tilted her head to the side, seeming to look everywhere at once. Then she nudged the fish closer to him with her nose and looked up, the picture of innocence.

Obi-Wan chuckled and said, "Good job, Moko."

When he was sufficiently dry he gathered his meager possessions and followed the long twisting dirt path leading to Zahara. The earth was hard and cool underneath his bare feet, like it is on Naboo. Jutted rooftops loomed overhead as he walked into the crowded city. He paused for a long moment wondering what it looked like before the ravages of war.

Obi-Wan wanted to see Nield. He pushed through the crowd, hoping to find him near the group of Young conversing outside the barracks. But Nield wasn't with them. So he went back through the city along the same road that lead to the hall of evidence where the rest of Nield's family was laid to rest.

The path of well tread earth was completely empty. The duracrete walls of the hall of evidence shined in the sun. Around the door of the hall graffiti drawings were painted.

Then he walked into the center of the hall. The noise of the bustling city ended here, in this deserted place, as if he had abandoned one world for another. Everything became amplified while the young man walked towards the center of the hall. He lucidly perceived the rhythm of his own heart resonating down to the soles of his feet.

When he saw where Nield knelt to say his prayer, he joined the older boy kneeling beside him and waited. He looks just like I remember.

"What are you doing here?" Nield's voice was very soft and far away, as if he was not really there.

Obi-Wan hesitated. He got up from his knees but kept his head bowed.

"What are you doing here?" repeated Nield.

"I — I was... I came to see you.

"We lost another one today."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Nield, I'm so sorry."

"Why are you here anyway? Shouldn't you be helping Cerasi and her sham of a council figure out what we're going to do?

"What we're going to do?" Obi-Wan echoed.

"Yes, Obi-Wan, what are we going to do about the elders?

"What?"

"They've rearmed themselves! They're re-organizing! They're killing us! Where have you been this past week?

"Oh." Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "That's not good. Not good at all."

Nield looked at him curiously. "Which is why we need to destroy the remaining halls of evidence."

"But Cerasi thinks the halls of evidence should be— "

"I don't care Obi-Wan!" Nield shouted heading for the door. "Without these blasted halls, we won't have anything to fight over anymore."