Apprentice No More

Obi-wan Kenobi stood in the council chambers of the Jedi Temple. He breathed deeply, letting the Force flow through him and guide his thoughts. As was usually the case, he found himself thinking about his apprentice.

Former apprentice, Obi-wan corrected himself. The boy was a Jedi Knight now, part of the grand tradition of protectors. He fondly remembered his first time meeting the boy, the tireless debates about whether he should be trained, and finally the designation of Obi-wan as Skywalker’s teacher. Train him in the ways of the Force, they had told him. Teach him to be wary of the dark side.

Obi-wan was often concerned about his pupil. Now that he was on his own, out fighting in the war, the Jedi Master could often sense the tendrils of the dark side grasping at the inexperienced Knight. Sometimes from outside himself, but all too often from within. War tends to bring out the worst in everyone, he thought. We should have been able to end it before it ever started.

A familiar presence entered the room, and Obi-wan turned to see Master Yoda shuffling in, with his ever-present walking stick in hand.

“Master Yoda! I didn’t realize you were here! I mean, I knew to expect you soon, but I thought – well, I suppose I thought you might never return. Silly, I know. Many of the Jedi would swear that you are incapable of dying.”

“Strong am I in the Force, but not that strong,” answered Yoda. “Interrupting your meditations, am I?”

“Not at all, Master,” came the reply. “I was just – thinking.”

“Thinking of Skywalker, are you?” the old Jedi asked.

Obi-wan chuckled. “Did the Force tell you that, or am I so transparent?”

Yoda sighed. “Concerned for your Padawan you are. Spoken to him recently, have you?”

“Actually I haven’t,” answered Obi-wan. “I thought it best that I remain aloof for a time, let him make his own mistakes now and rely only on the Force. If he is truly to be a Jedi Knight – “

“Correct you are, Obi-wan,” interrupted Yoda. “A Jedi trusts the Force and does not depend on his former teachers to rescue him. However --” Yoda paused. He looked at the floor and pondered a moment, then looked at Obi-wan again. “Uncertain, he is. Spoken with young Skywalker I have. He asked troubling questions. Fully trust us, he does not, and guidance he needs. Speak to him, you should.”

Obi-wan raised an eyebrow slightly, then mused, “I think I might know the nature of his questions. Did… she… come up?”

“Not by name, no,” the Master answered. “But heavy on his thoughts she was.”

“What did you tell him?”

“The truth! Told him the truth I did. As a Jedi always should.”

Obi-wan shuffled his feet slightly. “You think I should be more forthcoming with him. Tell him all that I know about his… situation.”

“Skywalker flounders, Master Kenobi. Your Padawan he is no longer, but his teacher you are still. Your guidance he needs. His trust, go earn once again.”

Obi-wan bent at the waist, then straightened up again. “As you wish, Master Yoda. For the Jedi Order.”

Yoda watched as Obi-wan left the room. “For the Galaxy, Master Kenobi,” he murmured softly.

╠☺╣ ╠☺╣ ╠☺╣

The war continued, building to a terrible climax. This time, Obi-wan found himself seeking Yoda’s guidance, rather than Yoda coming to him. He told the venerable Master how his pupil had made a choice that Obi-wan himself never could have made.

Master Yoda took the news calmly, as if he’d been expecting this from Skywalker. Obi-wan envied his serene faith in the will of the Force. “The dark side, he must face. If he is strong enough, he will prevail.”

“Master Yoda, listen. She found him, just before he—before he went. She asked him straight up to leave that place.” Obi-wan took a breath. “And he told her in no uncertain terms what his choice was.”

“Then she knows the truth now? What he is?” The Master had no problems saying what needed to be said.

Obi-wan nodded, struggling to retain his composure. “He told her himself far more effectively than I could have done. There were tears, but in the end – well, he went on to the destiny he chose for himself, and she… I hope she’s strong enough.”

Yoda looked up at him. “Strong enough! Royalty, she was! A Senator for her planet she was! A superior warrior, without the benefit of Jedi training! None stronger will you find, I think.”

“But when word gets out – and it will! – that Darth Vader is her – well, she won’t have it easy. You know what he did for the Emperor. If there was ever a reason to be ashamed of one’s family –“

“Shortsighted are you, Master Kenobi! More family she has now than Vader alone. Good reason to be proud of her family, I think!”

“I suppose it’s possible. If our little rebellion here survives the night, it might be possible. Tell me, Master Yoda, can you see the future any clearer now than before?” There was no insult or sarcasm in Obi-wan’s tone, only a pleading. A hope for the impossible to happen.

Yoda chuckled. “The future, I see very clearly! Turn around, Obi-wan!”

Obi-wan turned to see what Yoda was pointing at. There was a new presence joining them, strong in the Force. He stared deep into the boy’s eyes. Anakin’s eyes.

“Luke…”

Yoda reached out with his senses. “Yes, she knows the future is safe in his hands. The future of the Jedi, young Luke is.”

Obi-wan was still staring into those blue eyes. Anakin’s eyes. “I’d forgotten how blue your eyes were, Anakin,” he murmured softly. Then he drew the boy into his arms and hugged him. “Welcome back.”

Then Obi-wan turned around and made himself visible to Luke Skywalker, and he could sense Yoda and Anakin shimmering in to opacity as well. The three of them smiled at the Jedi Knight, and then his sister drew him back among the living heroes of the Rebellion, where they would face a new and brighter future together.