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Chapter 26

The arrival at the Jedi Temple was met with uncertainty and doubt.

While his services on Naboo were to be rewarded, many of the Jedi didn't know how to feel about him. A Light Side Adept who sent a disturbance through the Force when he'd first arrived. Luke still felt guilty about that, as he didn't know that would have been the result of his emergence.

In that regard, the Jedi have every right to feel alert.

He smelled a mixture of many emotions from the Jedi as they walked down the halls. Shmi and Kitster decided to remain behind on the ship.

Anakin stayed at his side. He hadn't had the time to examine the ancient halls of the Temple last time, but his view of some of the Jedi had been poisoned. Luke was the extraordinary Jedi; everything a Jedi should be in his opinion, while the Jedi here were just standing on their pretenses of peace.

Still, he controlled his negative feelings and released them into the Force as they made it to the doors, and the Council Chambers opened. Both of the male Skywalkers entered and bowed before the waiting eyes of the Council members.

"Greetings, Masters," Luke said, nudging his pupil through the Force to tell him to do the same.

After a moment, Anakin complied. "Hello... Masters..."

The Council's signatures probed him, and Anakin instantly felt thankful for those weeks of training he had undergone with Luke. They were boring, not as good as the real stuff, but they were something. He allowed them to probe his shields as Luke had taught him, looking through his mind.

Luke's hand landed on his back in support, and the moments passed.

"You've taught the boy remarkable control already," Master Billaba said slowly, her eyes on Anakin. Anakin knew instantly from that soothing smile that he would like the woman.

Luke nodded, "I have much more to teach him."

"So will it be," Mace Windu leveled the boy with a surprisingly soft look. Skywalker didn't expect this. He'd guessed that Luke's lessons about appearance being deceiving could happen based on the gentility coming from the Korunian. "Anakin, will you please exit the Council Chambers? We need to speak to your Master."

The term almost made Anakin squirm but he knew better than to make a fool of himself. "Yes, Master," Anakin nodded once and exited.

Once alone, Luke stared at them.

"The boy does have a commendable control of the Force already. You're a good teacher." Koon praised with a gentle smile behind his mask.

"Thank you, Master," Luke nodded cordially.

"However, I can feel his struggle with the dark," Windu pointed out neutrally.

"That is exactly why I am teaching him on Dagobah."

Windu frowned, "Describe Dagobah."

"Dagobah is a nexus point of the Dark Side," Luke answered.

"Raising him around the Dark Side?! Are you insane?!" Tiin erupted. He wasn't the only one...

"Allow me to explain myself. How am I to train the boy if I have to shelter him with the Dark Side?" The time traveler poised the question, holding up his hand in a semblance of calm. "He has to learn endurance."

"You're correct," Windu said, giving Tiin a look to prevent him from directing this meeting into swaying in an unfavorable path. No one wanted a repeat of Luke losing his temper again. Truth be told, Luke would admit he was out of line when he did that. It had mainly been through the lack of emotional control - which was still fragile - after losing everything he'd loved. "But it can be argued that you're leading the boy into the life of darkness, unprepared."

"It could be, but there's many more matters to consider."

"Explain..."

Kriff, this was why he hated Council briefings, even as Grandmaster...


When Anakin exited the Council Chambers without his brother, he'd found himself growing reckless within minutes. Luke warned him about patience being a virtue, however, he couldn't help it.

He'd learned why he should have followed that instruction when he paced once more and bumped into someone...

He felt instant shame as they both tripped and almost fell, but they were eventually able to steady themselves.

He looked at the boy he'd almost tripped over and instantly began to apologize, "Oh, sorry."

"No, no, it's my fault, I wasn't paying attention," the other boy was shaking his head.

He'd gotten a proper view of the boy he'd almost knocked over. Another human. The boy had dark hair, brown eyes, and light skin.

Anakin chewed his lip nervously. "So, who are you?" He was still getting used to having proper conversations.

"I'm Kento Marek." The boy smiled. "Thranta Clan..."

He frowned, "What is a Clan?"

"Oh, isn't that obvious?" Kento asked. "We have Clans all over the Temple. What's yours...?"

"Uhhh, the Skywalker's Clan?" Anakin answered awkwardly.

"Skywalker? Wait..." The boy's eyes expanded out of their sockets as he observed him again. "You're Anakin Skywalker! Rumors spread about you around the Temple! You're being trained by Luke Skywalker, the Hero of Naboo! What's he like?"

"He's amazing," Luke would always insist otherwise and reprimand him for humility, but Anakin was convinced that the man didn't believe enough in himself. "He's the best in the galaxy."

"Wow, you're lucky," the boy's lashes lowered, "I was told I get too angry sometimes. Arrogant and overconfident. I might not get picked as a Padawan?"

Picked? The Jedi pick students? That felt a lot like... slavery. But Anakin thought they were the good guys! Perfect! Well, besides Masters Tiin and Mundi. Those guys were jerks. Windu looked a little mean himself, but he didn't appear to be that bad. Why would his new friend be worried about not being picked as a Padawan?

Anakin still felt bad for him. "Hey, chin up," he pulled out one of Luke's standard catchphrases, looking at his new friend. "Luke tells me that failures give us motivation to get back up. There's nothing wrong with you. You'll make an awesome Jedi!"

"Geez, thanks." He didn't seem convinced.

Well, Anakin would make sure that Luke knew about him later. "If you don't get picked, I'll ask Luke if he can train you."

"But Jedi are not allowed to have more than one student," Kento protested.

Anakin shrugged, "Luke isn't like all the other Jedi here."

"We all talk about him. We think he's weird."

"That's just Luke..."

As if on cue, the doors to the Chambers opened, and the man in question exited, causing Kento's eyes to widen as Anakin smiled at the dark-robed man who came to their side and stared down.

"Hello there, my little friend, are you alright?"

His voice stuck in his throat, the other boy managed to say, "Ye-yes, Master Skywalker."

"Just Luke, young one," he laughed gently.

"Yes, Ma-Luke." The boy managed, looking absolutely humiliated. Gee, Anakin felt even more empathy for the guy, for he was also getting used to that feeling.

"Nothing to be ashamed of, my young friend," Luke continued. "May I know your name?"

"Kento. Kento Marek."

For a moment, Luke's eyes widened. "Marek?" The boy nodded slowly as if he was recalling something. "Well, I didn't see that coming," he added in a mumble that Anakin almost didn't hear. The surprise dissipated, and he smiled. "Well, young Kento, I'm glad to see you and Anakin have become friends. If you ever feel alone, whenever I'm here and you're not in your classes, you can meet with him."

"Sur... sure, Luke!"

"Told you he's the best," Anakin answered eagerly.

Luke placed a hand on his little brother's shoulder. "Take note, Anakin, compassion is something everyone should strive for. When you accomplish that feat, you have succeeded where others fail."

"Initiate Marek-" a Jedi appeared out of the corner, only stopping at the sight of the two Skywalkers.

"What are you?" The words spilled out of Anakin's lips faster than he could stop himself, and he covered his mouth and mumbled an apology. Luke seemed more amused than anything else.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to share the sentiment. "I am a Dathomirian. Master D'req. It was noticed that Initiate Marek had disappeared from the créche rooms and grew worried."

"Oh, the two boys befriended each other. You have my most sincere apologies, Master D'rexiq," Luke said, bowing sincerely.

"It is no problem..." And Anakin felt she meant it. Okay, not all Jedi were bad. Luke told him as much.

"Luke. Luke Skywalker." He answered.

Shock followed that proclamation, but the Jedi clearly didn't want to cause a scene.

"I see. Well, it's time."

He turned to look down at Padawan Marek and tapped him on the shoulder. "Well, you will be able to see Anakin some other time, Kento."

"Sure..." Kento said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yes, yes," the woman smiled at Luke one last time before gripping the boy's shoulders and leading him away.

Now that they were alone, Anakin asked, "Well, are the Jedi happy?"

"Observant as always," Luke answered. "But yes."

Anakin frowned. "When can we go on missions and fight the bad guys?"

"When you're prepared."

Anakin groaned, "Oh, man, but you've taught me so much."

"Rocks and meditation are different from Jedi killers and bounty hunters," Luke answered. "You accessing these powers doesn't mean that you've reached even half of your potential, young one." The older man placed a hand on his shoulder and laughed. "Besides, I doubt your mother would allow it."

Alright, that was a can of Tatooine's sand Anakin didn't want to open, so he let the matter drop.

Just as Luke was able to lead him away, a frown crossed the man's lips. A trio of Jedi approached: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, whose names Anakin recalled from a month ago when his life changed forever, and a third one he had yet to meet. That man had a nice, well-shaved beard across his lips, and his hair was graying.

"Master Skywalker," there was a surprising amount of begrudging respect in Jinn's voice, his eyes narrowed at him. Anakin didn't like that tone. "This is my former Master, Yan Dooku. He has so hoped to meet you since learning of you."

Dooku bowed elegantly with a small smile. "This will take up but a moment of your time, I assure you."

Again, Luke appeared surprised for a second before he pushed that down and stared at the man with respect if not a little caution.

The older man spoke. "It is rumored that you believe there is a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious in the Senate."

"Yes," he found his voice.

Dooku frowned. "For you to claim knowledge of a Sith is concerning."

Luke nodded. "I understand."

"It is often said that the Sith were exterminated years ago," the Jedi Master frowned. "Without an official confirmation from Master Gallia and Padawan Tachi's statement, how do you know?"

"Counter question, what is better than to operate from the shadows and turn the masses against your enemies without the possibility of mass betrayal?" he inquired rhetorically.

The man nodded. "A fair and unarguable point."

"You think you can track down this threat," Luke said knowingly.

"Letting it walk unopposed is a foolhardy move," Dooku sniffed. "How many, pray tell, if the Sith have returned, that he or his cowardly ancestors killed? How many, thought dead, have been converted to his twisted side and used for nefarious purposes? If the madman shows, he shall be handled."

"And yet you believe that you could truly surround Sidious. Master Dooku, if you are even capable of doing so, it will be on his terms. The Sith have been plotting to lower the Jedi's credibility. I have read about Galidraan, Baltizaar, and every mission involving the Senate, Master Dooku, but he wouldn't allow you to attack without a backup scheme..."

Dooku's eyes darkened just a fraction. "What are you talking about?"

"Your political proficiency hasn't been lost on him. He's having you chase shadows and will attempt to isolate you until you're prepared for your turn to darkness. None of this is coincidental. It's all going in his favor. I don't even think I can stop him.."

Dooku sneered. "I am not some uninstructed Initiate, but a fully trained and hardened Jedi Master. I have no concern about this threat covering or torturing me to the dark."

"You're mistaken, Master Dooku, you need to balance your emotions. Do not leave the Jedi Temple until that is the case. Go on a meditative retreat, grow even closer with your lineage; but I smell his stench on you. You're halfway there in his seduction. Do not become a cautionary tale."

"A cautionary tale?" Dooku repeated the words.

"I was told of someone who thought like you once. Someone who saw the corruption in the system and wanted to destroy it. To accomplish this, he joined a Master of the Dark Side, terrorizing the galaxy further until there was nothing left. At the end of the terrible war, my father killed him."

"Your father?" Dooku jolted. "You knew your father?"

"Not necessarily," Luke replied with a sigh. "My father amputated both his hands and decapitated him. You will accomplish nothing if you chase him. The Sith will use and destroy you when you're no longer needed."

Dooku's lips pursed. "I'll take your explanation under advisement." He sighed, looking at his former Padawan now. "Qui-Gon..."

"Master Skywalker, the Chancellor has brought me... concerns about your influence."

"Oh?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

Qui-Gon gritted his teeth. "I feel I must remind you of the law, Master Skywalker. I consider you a friend and ally, but if you lead someone as powerful as Anakin Skywalker to darkness, you may have doomed the entire Jedi Order. Slavery is not morally right, but you cannot act out against it. Too many have fallen victim to their emotions." It almost seemed personal to him. Anakin didn't notice that until later...

"But the slaves-" Anakin spoke up indignantly. Rage surrounded him.

Luke nodded, concealing his haste. "I understand, Master Jinn. I can assure you that you and the Chancellor fears will be unfounded and our complaints are only such."

Qui-Gon looked conflicted for a moment before he nodded. "Very well, we shall see you off."

Anakin couldn't hide the spike of betrayal that shot through him as he stared at Luke. But in response, he got a small, mischievous smile and wink that Anakin knew all too well.

And he knew at that moment that Luke wasn't giving up.


He found himself in an isolated part of the Jedi Temple. Luke Skywalker's first visitation was at least as pleasant as one could get given he and the Council haven't killed each other, but the same couldn't be said of Qui-Gon who had all but been throwing a metaphorical temper tantrum for the past few days.

Obi-Wan soon found himself in a private section of the Temple, wanting to think. He found what happened to Naboo had shifted much of his former line of thinking and it was becoming more terrifying the longer he thought about it.

"That is sooo expected of you, Obi-Wan."

The young Jedi gasped and looked over his shoulder, only to see the disfigured Siri peering just a few feet away. Obi-Wan snorted; his former friend's face was the last thing he wanted to see right now.

Even though it had several "unique" differences, the scar ran from the top of her eyebrow to her jawline and extended across her cheek until it almost reached her ear.

Her disfigurement didn't make her look any less beautiful. Some part of that young man who almost broke the Code couldn't deny it.

"Siri," he said, forcing venom in his tone as he turned away. "I don't have anything to say to you right now."

"Oh, whatever," Siri responded flatly. "Maybe I shouldn't have approached you. You're obviously not ready to get that stick out of your ass, even after what happened."

"I'm afraid I don't quite the time to; not with my body in its current state," he smirked, and it wasn't a nice one. "Unless you were set on fire and forced to wear a respirator for fourteen days."

"Oh no, I just had to deal with intense scarring," Siri rolled her eyes.

"Hmph, forgive me. I couldn't tell the difference."

"Ugh, the sarcasm of the poster boy."

"The delusions of a Maverick."

He didn't realize he was walking up to her, and she didn't seem to notice either, most likely still didn't notice as she had to push her head up to stare at his taller frame.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

She sighed and gripped her head. "I came to make sure you're alright." Those unexpected words threw him off guard.

"Don't look so surprised, Obi-Wan. The disdain in your Master's quarters the past few days can be felt from across the galaxy," she snarked dryly. "And well, I didn't have time to speak with you after what transpired."

He considered for a few moments. He could go to Bant, to Garen, but none of them would understand. Not like Siri did. He'd missed her. Even that yearly absence with Duchess Satine hadn't accounted for the hole in his chest after Siri departed from his life. It came close.

Pretty damn close.

But it wasn't enough.

He missed his old friend.

And maybe, maybe, she could help. She wasn't always irritating.

"Not here."

Siri nodded. "Okay, my quarters then."

Less than a few minutes later, Obi-Wan and Siri were there, true to her word.

Siri folded her arms across her chest. "Now, tell me."

Not in the mood to argue with his old friend, he conceded. "Qui-Gon is reminded of Xanatos again," Obi-Wan grumbled to his companion. Worse, he couldn't summon the previous displeasure and animosity. Luke Skywalker may be a Maverick himself, but he was not a monster. The bloody Chancellor didn't help when he put that idea in his head.

Siri groaned. "You have got to be kidding me."

"And that's not even worse. There's this Feem... Master Dooku told me about him and they talked. Qui-Gon didn't let him finish. It looks like he apparently had another Padawan before Xanatos!"

She blinked. "What happened to him?"

"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied, sighing, "Qui-Gon hasn't said anything."

Siri stared, "Kriff it, your Master is a disaster."

"I'm aware," he concurred dryly.

Siri's eyes landed on him for a long moment again, this time more calmer and centered. After a minute, she pressed. "What happened to you? You feel different."

And there was his issue. His biggest shame...

How did the other Jedi not feel it?

The scars that came after he momentarily gave in to the Dark Side...

"I can't tell you."

"Obi-Wan, speak to me." Siri's voice was softer. "I won't tell anyone. You know that."

"You…" His mind searched hauntingly for a reason. Any reason. "You would be disgusted."

"Obi-Wan." It was a silent, hurting plea.

He could not hold onto it anymore. His remaining strength left him, his knees buckled, and he collapsed into her arms, burying his face in his hands. "I lost myself," he heard himself whimper. "I lost myself, Siri…"

A hand resided on his shoulder. The touch was gentle as if asking for permission to be there. His throat and lungs burned like the flames that burnt his body over Naboo.

Did it matter anymore? He supposed not. He needed to talk about this with someone. If Siri betrayed him, well, he would accept expulsion. And suddenly, he couldn't resist it...

"I'm supposed to be a Jedi, loyal to the code," Obi-Wan rambled. "But I felt you in pain and it was too much. I should have resisted, yet I couldn't. On Naboo, when all those people died... we're supposed to avoid violence..." He stopped short and tears threatened to spill. "I FELT IT! I FELT THOSE PEOPLE DIE! WITHOUT LUKE AND HIS PHILOSOPHY, NABOO WOULD HAVE BEEN A DROID LANDFILL!" he screamed. He was trembling with emotions he could no longer control. "I'm evil..."

Siri looked at him in surprise.

Her hand tightened. "You're not evil, Obi-Wan, I know it. Most Jedi gave into the Dark Side before."

His eyes locked onto her glumly. "I feel like there's just a chain around me that I am shattering! Damn it! We are supposed to be better than this! I feel lost, and I can't take it anymore! I... I missed you, Siri!" he leaned over her, given new strength. "In those years apart, did you ever stop thinking about me?!" Silence... "Damn it, Siri, answer me!"

"No!" She exclaimed, closing her eyes, losing control of herself as well. "But we will be committing a direct violation of the Jedi Order if we acted on our feelings, Obi-Wan! We only barely stopped ourselves last time!"

To both of their shock, Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her back. Siri looked like she was about to push away while Obi-Wan felt something dark within him. Something pleasurable. An old desire reawakened. This was proceeding far too quickly.

'Obi-Wan, loving the right person doesn't lead to the Dark Side. Passion can lead to rage and fear, but it can be controlled... but passion is not the same thing as love. Controlling your passions while being in love... that's what they should teach you to beware of. But the right love itself will save you... not condemn you.' Luke's words suddenly mattered more than the Jedi Code.

"A few weeks ago, I would have remembered the Code, been disgusted with myself for thinking outside the box. Yet, now I feel dirty. I can't resist my emotions anymore."

He stopped right there, and she saw his eyes wide with horror. This was the moment for her to act. Siri Tachi could turn him away at that moment, could go back to acting like everything was normal, that the feelings between them weren't real, hell even report him to the Council for this at least.

Yet, she found she didn't have the strength to. She had been fighting her emotions for five years and they always lingered.

She pushed her arms up until they were flat against Obi-Wan's chest, knowing that she should push him away before they did something they would regret. But she found herself glued there, magnetically trapped.

He looked away. "That isolation between us broke me, Siri. When we came back together, it was saddening to see how distant we'd become! How we had to pretend there was nothing, NOTHING at all..." He breathed.

"What do you want, Obi-Wan? Not the Jedi." Siri murmured. "What does the man in front of me want?" she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Kenobi stroked her scarred cheek, sensing that she was equally as lost. Obi-Wan could feel her subsiding anger, trepidation, fear for what this meant... longing. And he felt this too.

"I don't care anymore. I want... I want..." He looked down, guilty. "Maybe…" he said softly, nervously, "Maybe you could give me another chance?"

A brilliant spark of hope flared in her blue eyes.

He traced his fingers over her. Siri's lips parted as his thumb brushed over them affectionately, and she buried her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

Spikes erupted along his back as he closed the gap between their mouths, first with the utmost fragility, then with the hunger of a deprived man. She made a wonderful little sound and retaliated with the same hunger, igniting something within him. In a quick second, he stimulated her body tight against his.

Something in Obi-Wan's chest tightened painfully, an unfamiliar feeling that vanquished and deterred him at the back of his mind. He disregarded it and collected her from the floor, arms engulfed around her, keeping her pressed against him, their lips locked fiercely as rational thought was disregarded and they were lost in passion.