Chapter 3 - Meddling
Kastor left the Council chamber with Jinn, feeling relieved about what had been accomplished. He knew he was on a tight leash, and his actions would be under great scrutiny, but at the max, perhaps he could prevent the destruction of the Jedi Order and keep the galaxy from falling into darkness, and at the minimum, he could make life more enjoyable for two Jedi, and perhaps pave the path for future Jedi, and an Order not constrained by a fear of attachment.
If only Elena could see him now.
Kastor snorted. She'd have called him a romantic fool who needed to worry about keeping his head attached to his neck more so than trying to change the Jedi Order. Force, he missed her. He'd known her since they were younglings together and they'd been married for twenty years, and now, for the first time, he was going to really have to learn how to navigate this complicated situation he'd found himself in, without her sharp wit to at least provide brevity.
He'd always been more idealistic when it came to the Jedi Order, while Elena had been more realistic. His sister had always generally been the tiebreaker between them, though in this particular area, he'd always been disappointed. He'd thought his sister might have been the one to swing things his way, especially with their family history, but it was one area in which his sister had been a hindrance. Satele had fallen in love herself, and even had a son, but she'd been scared by her feelings, and scared of the disposition of the man she had loved as war had changed him and had thus gone from being someone Kastor could have used to help facilitate change to being someone greatly opposed to it. Sure, she hadn't opposed marriages or romantic attachments, but neither had she supported or condoned it, even if she did really like Elena, and had been happy for them.
"We'll wait here for Adi," Jinn said after a moment. "She won't be long."
"Of course, Master Jinn," Kastor replied politely.
"Qui-Gon," the man replied with a kind smile, and Kastor smiled back and nodded appreciatively.
Qui-Gon's prediction was true as Gallia came out only a few minutes later and moved to join them swiftly.
"I don't have long before I need to get back to the Council," she said and then looked at Kastor. "Just barely conscious after thousands of years, and already trying to turn the Jedi Order on its head."
Kastor grinned ruefully at her, and she smiled at him, a ferocity in her gaze that he approved of.
"I've mainly come to express my approval of your words and what you're doing for Siri and Obi-Wan," Gallia said. "I was proud of them making the right decision to stay with the Order, but I have seen how much it has hurt them and hurt others within this Order, many of whom I think are fine Jedi. As Siri's teacher and mentor, I want what's best for her and for her happiness, but as a Council member I also want what could be a positive change for others within the Order, for I too believe the Order needs to adapt with time or risk being destroyed due to stagnancy."
"I thank you for your words, Master Galia," Kastor responded, feeling relieved that this was going well.
"Adi," she responded with a smile. "I suspect we will be working together quite often in the future."
Kastor nodded and smiled at her.
"I do not think you should reveal your visions to Siri or Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said with a frown. "It could set them on a path to try and change fate, or to find a way to create the future they want. I worry about the future should they do so, as much as I do worry about attachment. While I agree that limiting attachments due to fear of what could be is a hindrance to the Jedi, I do know that attachment can be the downfall of many good Jedi, and my Padawan struggles with attachments. I will not fight you on this, but I do urge caution."
"I agree," Kastor said, to Qui-Gon and Adi's surprise. "To an extent," he added. "Their decision to set aside their bond is commendable, but the way they went about it shows their immaturity. Granted, they were young, but choosing to discontinue their close friendship because being close without being together might be hard is the first thing to conquer. I'm going to broach them about renewing their friendship and allowing the bond to flow. However, the work from there will be mostly on them, and I will try to be around for guidance, should they need it, as will the both of you, I'm sure."
Adi and Qui-Gon nodded back at him.
"As for telling them about their futures? Perhaps one day, if the Force wills it. Something tells me that I will tell them eventually, but that will not be anytime soon. I sense it will happen either when their bond is in danger of faltering due to their conflicting natures with how they were raised vs what they will be allowed, or it will happen after they have matured as much as they will and are thus equipped to handle the knowledge."
**The Will of the Force**
Obi-Wan, Bant, and Siri watched as Shan talked with Qui-Gon and Adi after coming out of the Council chamber before Adi went back in. Qui-Gon and Shan both looked at them, and then walked their way.
"Good, now we need to get you back to the Hall of Healing," Bant almost scolded, and Obi-Wan had to hide his smirk.
Healers didn't care how old or how revered you were, no matter their own station. When you needed to heal, you were open to their criticisms, and while Bant wasn't a full Healer, she would be soon, and certainly already had the mindset for it.
Shan smiled.
"Of course, my new friend," he said, and then gained a mischievous grin. "I'll try not to disappear this time . . . at least for a little bit."
Bant's face, which had started to smile, shifted to a frown, and Obi-Wan couldn't help but chuckle, thinking his friend might have met her match.
"You won't disappear until you are discharged! I'm warning you, Master Shan," she scolded, and he laughed a hearty chuckle, the type of laugh that instantly made people relax and want to smile.
"Very well. I should probably do my best to avoid getting on the Healer's bad sides this early," he responded, a hint of mirth still in his tone.
It was a simple walk back to the Halls of Healing, and once there, Che took control, herding Shan back into a bed where he could rest and recover, and where they could run tests on him.
By this point, Siri and Obi-Wan were both ready to leave, as Qui-Gon already had, and they had really just been waiting around to see if they might get any more news when Shan glanced at the two of them, right as the last healer left the room, leaving just the three of them.
"Now that I have the two of you, there were a few things I wished to talk about, just between us," Shan said, and they both gave him the dutiful attention worthy of a Master from a Padawan.
"Relax you two," he said to them to their surprise. "What I need to talk to you about is personal, and thus we will be fellow Jedi, or fellow beings, not Padawans and a Master."
"Very well, Master Shan," Siri answered, a bit hesitant, but at least she answered. Obi-Wan was a lot less sure.
"Kastor," he replied. "Like I said, this is personal, so please call me Kastor. Now, the first thing I need to do is apologize, and I owe you two different apologies."
"That's not needed, Mas-Kastor," Obi-Wan said quickly, trying to beat the man to the punch, knowing what this was about. "It's understandable."
"No, I reacted without my full bearings," Kastor said with a firm shake of his head. "That is not something I should have done, and it was only your skill that saved you from major injury."
"There was no malice in your attack," Siri said. "You simply reacted. That really couldn't have been helped, given the circumstances."
"You're wrong," Kastor responded with a shake of his head. "The fact that I reacted with force immediately is what needs to change. Yes, I'm from a time where I was constantly at war fighting the Sith, but that doesn't excuse my mindset. That is something I must work on, regardless of whether my intention was malicious or not. Now, my second apology is a bit more . . . difficult."
Both Siri and Obi-Wan looked at the ancient Jedi Master flabbergasted, wondering what he felt he needed to apologize for, and why he thought it was difficult.
"You certainly didn't know, but I have the ability of psychometry," Kastor said and both Obi-Wan and Siri gasped, now having some idea of where this might be going, though neither realized how far it would go. They were both friends with Quinlan Vos after all, and thus knew what psychometric powers did.
"Yes, well, I'm not bound to objects either, like many people with my gift are," Kastor said. "I can see memories if I grab onto people or if I'm grabbed onto. Normally, I have full control, but when you both grabbed me as I was losing my physical strength, I lost all my control on my Force abilities, especially after using the Force Wave against you."
"I felt that," Obi-Wan replied. "It felt like your mental presence was overwhelming me before it just left on its own."
"Yes, well, I saw much of your pasts, which helped me understand a bit about this modern Jedi Order, and some of the people I might interact with, so in some ways, this was good. My two week coma really was me trying to get a hold on all the memories I received from you both among other visions, since I was overwhelmed initially."
"Oh, Mas-Kastor, I'm sorry about that," Siri said. "Obi-Wan and I probably shouldn't have just grabbed you. We didn't realize that would happen."
"No, you did what you thought was right, and I would say it was even the will of the Force that you did so," Kastor responded with a sigh. "Truthfully, I'm sorry that I invaded your memories, feelings, and history, for it was not my intention, but I'm sorry that I must bring something up."
"Oh? Something in one of our pasts?" Siri asked, confused.
"Something in both of your pasts," Kastor responded. "I want to talk about your bond."
Obi-Wan and Siri both blushed, stunned, and glanced away, avoiding looking at each other, both now desperately wanting to avoid this conversation, a conversation they had promised to never speak of again.
"Master, I know we shou . . ." Siri started to protest.
"Enough," Kastor said, and she stopped talking. "Perhaps you were wise to walk away, and it shows you have what it takes to make this work, but you were fools to try and separate yourselves to the degree that you have done so, though I know the Council hasn't helped."
"But it's forbid-" Obi-Wan started to protest.
Kastor sighed. "Under the modern Code, attachment is forbidden, and that does mean personal love, but I don't agree with it, and at the very least you need to keep your friendship, even if that's as far as your bond goes."
"What do you mean?" Siri asked with a frown, finally glancing at him, not one to go against the Council's will.
"You both have been punishing yourselves for these last few years, trying to hide or move past your feelings for each other. Both of you, and it's been very unproductive," Kastor said, and the two Padawans glanced at each other, first in surprise, but then with a hint of tenderness in their eyes. "An argument could say that you're still attached, even if you have done your best to cut your interactions with each other and bury your feelings. I could argue that you are both attached to your Masters. You're attached to the Force, to the Order, and even to your lightsabers. Attachments come with life, but what makes you a Jedi, is not allowing those attachments to affect your commitment to the Force, and to the safeguarding of others' lives. As long as you are able to let each other go should you need to, I would argue that you have no attachment unworthy of a Jedi."
Siri and Obi-Wan both slumped a bit, so unsure of what they were being told, wondering if they had been wrong, especially since everything Kastor was telling them was the opposite of what their Masters had explained to them.
"You must understand, when your bond formed, if you had pursued a relationship at that time, it could have become a problem," Kastor said, giving them a kind smile. "What I'm talking about takes time and maturity. Now, you both are nearing that, and thus deserve to be treated like the Knights you will soon become. Personal relationships come with that, regardless of what the Council might think."
"Master, I've seen what relationships can do, to even a Jedi Master," Obi-Wan said with a frown. "I'm not sure it can be done without forming an attachment."
"You speak of Master Jinn and Master Tahl's relationship," Kastor replied softly, and Obi-Wan nodded, while Siri looked a bit surprised, and perhaps a little affronted at that revealed piece of information, though considering it had been Qui-Gon who had led the charge on ending their relationship, her feelings were justified.
"They didn't have the chance to try and grow into what might have been allowed. You do," Kastor said firmly, and both Padawans glanced at him in surprise. "I can tell you that what you might be able to find with each other is a gift from the Force, and it will be your greatest solace when the times are dark. I should know," Kastor said with a smile. "I was married to my wife for 20 years, and I never regretted a minute of it. The day may come when one of you becomes one with the Force, and I assure you that you will want to look back on the moments you had together rather than wishing about what could have been. If I had not been a friend and had killed one of you on the Ebon Hawk, I assure you, the survivor would have regretted the distance the rest of their life, regardless of being a Jedi who is supposed to let go of their regrets."
"Master, I'm just not sure . . . I mean we . . ." Siri said desperately, and despite Obi-Wan feeling overwhelmed himself, he was concerned for his friend whose collected expression had long since been destroyed.
"What I'm asking of you is hard, but I'm asking you to be strong," Kastor told them softly. "You do yourselves a great disservice by ignoring that bond. I think you know you need it, otherwise you wouldn't have latched onto each other when you boarded the Ebon Hawk. Right now, your bond is weak, due to your neglect, but it doesn't have to remain that way. You'll have to figure out what you can manage together, whether that be a close friendship or more, and the Council has agreed to my request to let you figure that out," Kastor finished, and the two Padawans eyes widened even further.
"You spoke to the Council about us?" Siri asked, flabbergasted. "You told them about . . . about our attachment?"
"I told them that you were two dedicated Jedi who were putting yourselves through a heartache that you didn't need to because of the Code, and that attachment didn't have to be something to fear, if Jedi were taught how to handle it," Kastor explained.
Siri and Obi-Wan both stared at him, at first looking almost angry that he'd brought up their history with the Council, even if the Council surely already knew, but then that irritation faded, and relief and gratefulness appeared. He'd at least done what they'd always wanted a Master to do, but none had. He'd done what they wanted to do when they became Knights and Masters and were able to come into the open with their relationship, but never got the chance to.
Kastor paused. "I think helping those like you might be part of the reason I was frozen by the Force."
"Master?" Obi-Wan asked hesitantly, and he gave a tired sigh, looking at them with reluctance.
"I sometimes get visions, and I received several while I was dealing with your memories," he replied, almost hesitantly, and to Obi-Wan and Siri, he almost seemed lost in thought. "I don't believe I should tell you what I've seen, not yet, but I will tell you that dark days seem to be in the future, and I saw many paths that your futures could take, some sad, others joyous, and some a mix of the two. You both have the possibility of playing a role in the future of the Jedi . . . or even if there is a future for the Jedi. How dark the future will be remains to be seen, but perhaps your bond, and the bonds of others in similar circumstances can help make life better, whether that's just for you few or everyone in the galaxy," Kastor finished with a smile. "The Council is at least open to the concept that personal relationships, be they devoted friendships or love, may have greater worth and prominence than the Code would like to admit. We just need Jedi who can remain committed to each other, but also be willing to let each other go to prove that."
"So, what exactly is the Council allowing?" Obi-Wan asked, hesitantly, almost like he couldn't believe what he had wanted was now possibly being offered.
"They are allowing you to explore your bond in whichever way that might take you for now," Kastor explained. "They want you to be discreet, and not flaunt it, and should your attachment negatively affect your decisions or abilities, the Council will likely terminate the experiment and force you to decide between each other or the Order, much like Qui-Gon and Yoda did. Know this though, I saw many dark events in the future, some of which seem unpreventable, while others can be, and the ones where they were prevented all stemmed from the visions I received with you two together. Does that mean you both are the cause? No, but it at least tells me a path to start walking down in the hopes of a better future."
Obi-Wan and Siri gazed at him a bit startled, looking a bit overwhelmed.
"The Council is allowing you to explore your attachment, but I know what High Councils are like. We're in a time of peace currently, so something like this isn't a huge risk, but should tensions rise with darkness, this allowance could be swiftly taken away," Kastor warned.
Obi-Wan and Siri exchanged glances.
"What I'm asking of you," Kastor continued gravely, "isn't just to reopen your bond and renew your friendship but to be willing to disobey the Council should they reverse their decision for going down this path."
Kastor waited while the two Padawans seemed to process his words. From what he had seen from them, both tended to heed the Council's word, though Obi-Wan, likely due to Qui-Gon's influence, was at least more amenable to disobeying the Council should he believe in his actions, though unfortunately his self-confidence and self-assurance had been marred by Melida/Daan, and combined with his desire to be nothing like Xanatos, and it led to a Padawan who tended to agree with the Council, even if he personally wasn't sure. It was something he'd grow out of eventually, but Kastor was hoping there was just enough defiance in him now to take a risk.
"I understand," Obi-Wan finally said after a bit of reflection. "While I'm hesitant at the thought of disobeying the Council, the fact remains that I don't think I could restart my friendship with Siri and then throw it away simply to avoid attachment again in the future," he said, looking at her. "I understand that attachment cannot override duty, and Siri and I originally already planned to try and pursue a relationship in secret, but it was halted. Now though?" Obi-Wan said, steel entering his tone. "We're older and more experienced. If the Council is allowing it now, as long as our commitment to the Jedi doesn't waiver, I don't see why the Council should ever reverse their decision, and if they did, I would have to agree it was simply due to convenience or out of fear."
Obi-Wan paused after his strong words.
"I'm sure it will take some time, but I hear what you're saying, and . . ." he glanced at Siri, "I'm willing to try."
Siri smiled and nodded slowly. "Me too," she said softly, and Obi-Wan smiled widely. "Everything Obi-Wan and you have said just rings so strongly to what I also believe, and I feel the Force's approval . . . so how can it be wrong? I'm willing to see this through until the end or until our bond becomes a hindrance to our commitments."
"Good!" Kastor responded, beaming widely, pleased that this had gone so well. "I'm glad to hear that. I will caution you to take it slow. Rebuild your fractured friendship and go from there. Let the Force guide you, and I'm sure you will end up where you want to be. Should you need other guidance, don't hesitate to find me. The Council has agreed to my request to be able to go on missions with you and your Masters, whenever I choose, so I'm sure we will be seeing much of each other and get to know each other very well."
"Thank you, Mas-Kastor," Siri said with a shy smile, glancing at Obi-Wan, who smiled back.
"Yes, thank you," Obi-Wan echoed.
"No thanks necessary," Kastor said firmly, with a tender smile. "I truly believe this will help many Jedi, including the two of you, and I want to help provide the opportunity that I had to other Jedi if they so desire it."
Kastor sighed.
"Now, I should probably get some rest, or I suspect that Padawan friend of yours will eviscerate me and then both of you."
Obi-Wan and Siri both smiled at that. Bant was tenacious about the wellbeing of her patients.
Kastor leaned his head back, ready for some rest as Siri left, with Obi-Wan looking to follow before the young man stopped and hesitantly turned back.
"Do you really believe dark times are coming?" he asked.
Kastor looked at the young man, seeing an echo of the white-haired exile he would likely someday become, even with Kastor's best efforts. The man whose eyes had held such pain and loss, something that seemed like it could only be lessened, not removed, with what Kastor had seen.
"Yes, I do," Kastor responded after a moment. "I don't know if I'm here to help you, or if it's simply to provide experience should the Sith return, but I do believe the Force made sure it was you and Siri to grab onto me, and I would prefer to see some of the possible things I saw in your future come to pass, just as I believe both of you would as well."
Obi-Wan looked thoughtful and then nodded, soon leaving the room, and Kastor could just barely hear Tachi's voice, letting him know that she had waited for Kenobi, and he grinned, reminiscing about the early parts of his own relationship.
Regardless of what he told them, not everything would be pleasant. No relationship was. Kastor and Elena had had problems and fights. Oh Force, did they have fights, and some of them had come from attachment. It was a constant battle, wanting to protect the person of your heart, while knowing you had to let them go, to what might be their death. Elena had wanted to strangle him when he told her to get in the fighter that had been stashed in the bay of the Ebon Hawk, but she'd known that she was the one who needed to get back, since she had the information, though he now wondered if part of his being able to convince her was because she had known that she had been pregnant. It had felt too easy, even if it had not been easy at all.
He smiled sadly. He'd just have to find out when he finally met her again in the Force. Unfortunately, he suspected that was many, many years away.
He sighed again, and then felt some peace rise, still feeling the approval of the Force. He'd at least done one thing right . . . one thing to help possibly forge one of the better alternative futures. Now, the next part was in the hands of those two Padawans and based on what he'd seen in their pasts and in their futures, the Jedi were in good hands.