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Chapter Text

He woke, collapsed on the deck and breathing hard. Head spinning, he looked around and found himself on the relatively crowded engineering deck of an old ship…

But this wasn’t the smuggler’s joy or the field generator of that monstrosity that was the Death Star. The engines hummed serenely enough, and it was moments before he felt the eddies of the Light Side, deep around him like he hadn’t felt in years. Moments longer before he realized he did not feel Luke, and he did feel his Master, living and unaware of the deeper currents again.

Ben wanted to laugh hysterically. Death by Dark Lord and rejoining the Force looked too much like his Padawan days. His life was full circle. Master alive and wedded to the Living Force, defiantly ignoring Foresight that Sith embraced. That policy only helped blind the Order even as the shadows crept in.

He looked at his Padawan braid trying to guess which mission he might be on. Then he smoothed his robes and combed his hair as best he could. Layering and overlapping shields, he needed information.

Jinn was stubborn and would never see the truths Obi-Wan learned from a vision, the simplest way to explain forty years of future. Yoda would be little better with his doubt about futures he could no longer see. He took several deep breaths, centering himself. His Master awaited him… in the cockpit, it seemed.

He felt so old now, in a young body.

It took little time to determine he really had come full circle. They were moving to Naboo to deal with the Trade Federation, later to be amply rewarded for their part in the wars and then as easily disposed of. Of more concern was the fate of the pilot hired to ferry the Jedi to the talks.

He’d rarely thought of arguably the first Jedi killed for the Purge. But this night make a good test to see if he could make changes in what so pained him. With a meaningless excuse, he doubled back to warn the pilot to use the escape pod as soon as any danger appeared.

The pilot was far less disbelieving of Foresight.

He grabbed extra rebreathers for his belt pockets, trying to decide what might improve their situation.

The ambush went much as expected, though he thought he heard the escape pod launch early and he was smiling even as the gas flooded in.

Qui-Gon threw a gimlet eye toward him as they fought their way through. Once their pod was dropping it grew sharper. “I must commend your growing self-control, Obi-Wan. You have not appeared excitable, calm with each reverse. I do find your sheer competence with Soresu a pleasant surprise. When did that start?”

Lying to him was still tricky. “When a friend I knew died years ago from lacking defense. I trained to address it and protect those under my care.”

“ Very commendable, Padawan. I feel sure you are nearing your time as a Knight.”

That provoked the old grief, despite hoped changes.

Little changed still, he didn’t want to change enough to draw greater attention from the Sith. The escape to a nearby system by a short Jump left him cheerful and anticipating while Padmé and her people were strained. He didn’t have the heart to even hint the problem was her own Senator.

She was as much a pet as anything else until she was a pawn.

He would save her, too if he could.

This time he insisted on joining the disguised queen and his Master when they left the crippled ship. He wanted to meet Shmi instead of learning about her from Anakin and Beru. She was moderately gifted as well and sure in guiding Anakin despite their situation. Neither the mother nor ‘Padawan’ were happy about the pod racing, but the boy clearly thrived on the challenge.

This time he played it much as he remembered regarding the mission and Jar Jar. More surprising was when he felt their old bond slide back into the broken socket without much intention. Little Anakin cuddled against him on the way to Coruscant.

Jinn’s claiming the boy as a Padawan still hurt, but not as much. The hurt was expected this time and confirmed that his attachment was one way.

The Council’s doubt in the Master’s claims was clear to Obi-Wan now, but they still had not called Jinn on it. Anakin was a little frightened by the arguing and Obi-Wan quietly petted him and sent reassurances through the gossamer link.

Obi-Wan’s eyes were wiser now and he could not approve that his Master had no care for the boy’s spirits. That should not have surprised him with their Master-Padawan history, but he’d thought it would have been better with Anakin who had been so fervently desired by the Master.

But no, that was Jinn’s weakness, beyond Obi-Wan’s ability to cure.

While the Masters argued, he excused the two of them for the Healing halls.

He did not notice before how few Masters approved Jinn’s claims a bout his students .

Over the next days, Obi-Wan had to conceal bitter frustration when the Sith was elected, but he had no standing to prevent it and they were sent back to Naboo with the unwanted boy of the Council.

Taking Ani aside from the pointless political talk, he hushed the stifled tears, knowing how the boy hated them. “Calm yourself, Ani. I promise on my lightsaber, you will be fine, little one...”

“Don’t want to go back to the sand, sand beneath the feet of poodoo owners. Master Jinn isn’t as nice as he was with Mom.” The next sniffle was more of a honk.

Finally, Obi-Wan understood why Anakin was so obsessed with hating sand. Not that he was that fond of feeling it in uncomfortable places, but it had a deeper meaning for the youngling. Hugging the boy close, he whispered, “Mud, sand, snow, there is no shortage of uncomfortable materials. But everyone is worth far more than sand. Some… stupa are harder to convince, but they are wrong. You are fine glass, made of the same stuff as the heart of stars to let the light shine for others around you.”

Ani brightened and the disguised queen came for her visit again.

Obi-Wan had a pang of worry sending the young pod racer to hide in the ship, knowing what he and Artoo would get into. But the retaking the palace went as before, with a few more tactical comments for the security chief.

He had been a high general after all.

Maul was a familiar trace of Dark at the edge of perception. Obi-Wan knew he’d been a victim too but could not determine a way to help him anymore than his Grandmaster. Perhaps if Qui-Gon survived that might change.

First the Apprentice must be defeated.

At first, the fight went as before, his Soresu battle skill just not meshing as smoothly with Jinn. But the Sith stopped taunting them and concentrated on Jinn as the easier target.

“Wait, Master!” He pushed command into his voice when Maul ran off.

“We cannot allow a Sith to escape, Padawan.” Qui-Gon panted, surprised and irritated.

Obi-Wan gripped his Master’s shoulder to draw his full attention. “He is young. If he is here to fight us, he will return if we refuse to be drawn into a trap.”

The Master blinked at that and then sighed. “You will be a fine Knight, my Padawan.”

Casting his senses out for that Dark tendril, Obi-Wan spared a thought for the missing interceptor and astromech.

Maul came back but the duel did not last long after the breather. Aiming higher this time, the Apprentice lost his hands, severely limiting his danger. Obi-Wan wished he had proper restraints they could have skipped the amputation, but even Force choking would be difficult for a while.

The Naboo were both glad and horrified when they came back triumphant. Anakin was the darling of the defense.

Qui-Gon wasn’t sure what to do with a captive Sith, nor a Padawan who so calmly defeated him.

Much of the Council examined the ‘skilled Darksider’ after the long trip back to Coruscant. They would not believe he could be a Sith. Despite the word of a Master and a new Knight.

That became a full argument in the Council chamber with threats and sanctions for the determined Master.

Obi-Wan found it hard to regret saving his Master when he had the chance, but without Jinn’s death, they would not change their stance on Anakin. Taking Anakin down to the creche to meet those his own age he ran into Plo carrying a youngling Togruta.

The Force pulsed, and Obi-Wan did not know if it was his memories and guilt, or the Force itself.

“Ah, Pada… Congratulations, Knight Kenobi. I see you have a youngling too.”

With a plan forming, Obi-Wan was alarmed at how hard the Force pushed him. “Yes, Master Koon. Anakin here needs to be housed in the creche while Master argues with the Council. I feel sure I will teach your youngling too. The Force is quite insistent on it.”

Plo’s amusement was clear. “I’m sure I’ve missed quite a row. You have years enough to enjoy your Knighthood first.”

“They are probably still at it, Master. Master is as stubborn as a gundark, perhaps you might add your wisdom?. Allow me to deliver your youngling to the creche?”

Master Koon was tired and amenable, which left Obi-Wan to sign in the younglings. Registered as guests under his own name, for the possibility that was growing to rock-solid.

He returned to his quarters and packed, calling the quartermaster to request his own rooms. Rooms he would never use this time either.

Qui-Gon came back very late, more furious than before Naboo. Not that Obi-Wan didn’t agree that Anakin needed to be trained away from the Sith. He knew how badly they handled the boy and toddler last time.

“Master, calm down. The Force seems clear to me, very clear. Master Yoda trained me about my visions from the Force, and I will follow that.” That was all the apology and explanation he could afford as he made them tea.

Meditation was a sufficient distraction until bedtime.

Late at night, Obi-Wan collected his charges, his guests instead of candidates, taking low-passage to Naboo. That was only a stopover, long enough to earn passage back, back to the world their lives seemed to revolve around.

But this time it would be different.

Chapter Text

- Found Again

Obi-Wan was under no illusions their departure would not be noticed. But as a knight, like the probably still living Ky Narek, he could train his Padawan away from the Temple.

The Council could scold him later.

A cave in the wastes and water were the place to start. Later an expandable moisture farm like the Lars would be better.

Shmi would provide the grounding for kindness once her freedom was won. And hopefully separate Anakin from some of his previous folly. Shmi could advise if a farm or freedom should be first.

His comm and padds would be all they’d have for instruction for a while. Obi-Wan knew how to get needed funds here, but safer if they were not as hurried as the passage to Alderaan.

He might have ten years before the Clone Wars started forming.

A lingering memory of raw gem deposits and occasional gambling by Ben, the old wizard, and a freed Shmi joined them. They gained a snug moisture farm, and a much more stable Anakin kept coming up with ways to improve their home. Shmi became as much a creche Master for their school as Ani’s Mom.

The dry heat was especially hard on Ahsoka’s growing montrals and moisturizing exposed skin became a way of life. Unlike before in his grief, this time he cared about his health.

Obi-Wan was almost surprised that it took so many months, even years before he heard from the Order again. Aside from deleting rare messages on his comm, he saw no one until he spotted Vos under an awning on a supply run.

“Kenobi! So you aren’t dead! Never thought you’d become one of the Unreturned after how hard you worked to become a Padawan!” Vos sounded jolly, but had an edge.

Obi-Wan did not close. He never forgot his friend’s talent, and glad he’d left Anakin at home. “The Force called very strongly and I am content, if that holds meaning.”

A pause from the sometimes Shadow, even if Obi-Wan was unsure if Vos had gone in that direction yet.

“We wondered where you went, about some missing younglings. Jinn was particularly affected.” The other Knight scolded.

Obi-Wan knew his pang had carried through the Force. He wanted to reassure his Master but did not want to draw Senate attention. After a moment, he gestured out to the desert, “Walk with me.”

Vos brightened, putting another headwrap on. “Your old Master was not particularly cooperative when the Council started seeking you. He was still miffed at them.”

They were away now, and how much to say? “I’m afraid neither he nor the Council would credit the visions that let me defeat that Sith without any deaths. The visions warned Jinn would die. He would never train the boy and Anakin would not thrive under the Council’s distrust.”

“You, who lived the Code? Where’s the foundling? Master Koon was displeased too.”

“I am sorry for that. She is in good health and quite clever.”

“Why did you steal her?” That was an accusation.

Obi-Wan sent soothing a bit stronger than he should have.

Vos looked at him. “What the kriff, Kenobi? That was strong.”

“I live on a Hutt world with ex-slaves and younglings, do you really think I have not honed my skills? No, we have a tiny creche here. Anakin is a solidly advanced Padawan level, stronger in mechanics, the saber, and the Force. Ahsoka has more common sense and diplomacy despite the age difference and she’s a little young for even a training saber...”

That made Vos bark a laugh. “Force, Kenobi. You sound like a doddering old creche-master!” His glare returned, “I could understand the boy, but why her?”

“She’s going to be my Grandpadawan, and the Council will fail her badly when the Order is stretched too thin.” Obi-Wan put on his Master-of-the-Council and High General voice.

The Kiffar leaned back a moment without realizing it. “Kriff, you’re almost scary, Kenobi! So they’ll have problems with the Council. So what?”

Now away from the desert settlement, Obi-Wan stopped walking where nothing else seemed to live in sight. “The Sith have returned and the Order is completely exposed to all their plotting. The Council did not believe that young Zabrak was the Sith apprentice, did they?”

Vos sagged. “No, they did not, and I never got to read his equipment early enough to avoid false readings. He was assassinated by some bounty hunter sympathetic to Naboo before he talked.”

Obi-Wan glared at him. “Check the list of those known to handle the broken saber-staff before yourself, one of them is likely the other Sith, aiming to skew the evidence...”

“But...” His friend looked horrified.

“Why do you think I ‘stole’ such bright younglings to this miserable desert? I took them to a safer place than under the Sith’s influence in the Core. If I thought I could have saved more from what I saw, I would have taken the entire creche.”

The other Jedi sputtered. Collecting himself, Vos put his hand out. “Give me your saber.”

Vos took his saber and stiffened. Looking up, he paled, “Kriff, that’s old. Wait, it’s only you. What was that? Mandos in white in battle after battle? The Temple in flames? A Sith slicing me in half? The Naboo Darksider and then younglings’ lessons...”

Obi-Wan felt bemused that his old friend sagged at his past. “That is what will happen if the Sith Master’s plan matures. It was no vision that let me defeat Maul, I fought him many times before. I’ve made three substantial changes, but these younglings were where some of the Order’s worst errors helped enable a Sith Empire. Master Jinn was right about Anakin’s training, but too many Sith pieces are already in place. I will provide guidance to the Shadows if they can be discreet.”

By this time Quin looked up from where his palms were braced against his knees. “Everyone thought they were gone, it’s been quiet since you left. No one believed that Master about corruption.”

“Dooku may be correct or he may be complicit. Another Master may be trapped on Rattouk, returning them will save his Padawan from darkness.”

After a moment, Vos straightened. “This is not the vagueness of the usual visions, is it? Too many details. It was kriffing in your saber!”

“I lived through my Master’s murder and a brutal war. The Order was purged for a Sith Empire and I faced a third Sith apprentice, a second and last time when I was nearly sixty. Some things may have changed from my actions already, but I can point at some trouble areas.”

The other Jedi was struck by an idea. “Then you know who the Sith Master is?”

“Yes, but the Order cannot touch him and has no proof of crimes. Better to remain below the sensors and neutralize his attacks without his knowing we know him. Some of the Order were corrupted and caused wide damage. Improving the Order’s reputation is important right now.”

Vos’ grin was ironic. “I was hoping to locate you and determine you aren’t crazy. Bring the children home.”

“They are home, at least until Anakin is ready for his Trials. There are certainly plenty of people here who need assistance and we will choose larger missions as soon as Ahsoka is a little older and can be trusted to remain behind for a few days at a time.” Obi-Wan considered his friend. “Would you like to meet them after I collect supplies?”

Relaxing, Vos nodded.

Buying supplies didn’t take very long and Vos rode back home.

Shmi was by the main entrance and watchful. “Ben.” Her blaster was practiced and not hidden.

“This is an old friend of mine, Quinlan Vos, a little ahead of me as an apprentice. Quinlan, this is Shmi Skywalker, our version of a creche-master. We’ve made a mini-Temple low out of sight.”

Shmi was watchful and held Ahsoka as the young Master put Anakin through his paces in the below-ground training chamber. They dimly heard her crow when the young Padawan scored a hit.

Vos was quiet, though Kenobi was unsure he approved of the long hair and a half dozen beaded braids. Truth hidden in camouflage.

Kenobi was proud of the boy’s progress and his greater balance. Shmi was far more pragmatic and effective at dealing with children’s emotions.

When they finished Obi-Wan sent his students to practice control with chores. He admitted, “I would prefer I had materials for more Galactic coursework, but learning here means they must deal with the Dark side and tactics of serving the Light even here. A hundred lessons learned much later in the Temple.”

“You seem to be doing well with them, Obi-Wan, though I am not sure the Council or creche will accept that.”

“I could share memories of that hopefully fading future, but they are too young to be placed at risk close to the Sith Master. One Sith apprentice slaughtered the entire creche and Temple.”

Vos blinked. “One of them Fell, didn’t they?”

Obi-Wan took a breath. “And the other could not bring them back. We will return when the Force wills it. And honestly, living in this armpit of the galaxy is harsher than almost any Council sanction.”

Laughter came as Vos wiped sweat away. “I cannot promise anything about the Council, but I can report your safety and progress favorably. It is good to see you, though I doubt it would be healthy for Bant to visit.”

“They are safer here learning, away from the Sith. Other younglings never got His attention before the very end, they are safe enough.”

The Kiffar thought for a moment, expressions flitting across his face before fading. “This is a real mess you gave me. I’d expected answers, not new problems.”

“I’ve been deep in this mess for forty years, Quin. No one could be more motivated to make a better future.”

After a pleasant dinner, the other Jedi departed, the younglings remained excited for weeks afterwards.

Ben was not really surprised at the arrival of two Masters to the wastes.

Chapter Text

- Master Negotiations

Obi-Wan watched as elder Masters crossed the desert. Keeping watch was a necessity.

Perhaps he should allow Anakin to rig up perimeter watch-droids.

He would enjoy the challenge and the making with Ahsoka’s snippy comments.

“Some would think it odd to take leave here, despite the clear skies,” Jinn noted with a smile.

Master Koon was quieter.

Obi-Wan launched into a hug of his Master, now comfortable after the Shmi’s tutelage. “Missed you, Master. I wanted to warn you, but plausible deniability seemed better.”

“It became clearer after reflection and meditation. I had worried until Vos told me he found you. I hope you will explain now.” Jinn’s presence brightened on feeling his last Padawan’s Light.

“I was very concerned when the youngling I found was not even enrolled. I found it hard to believe when no danger could be felt in the Force. Tatooine would not have been a place to seek them.” Plo was not as amused.

Obi-Wan stepped back, “I consider this to be a splinter Temple but even more apolitical. We broker negotiations across the planet. When not attending rescues or other Padawan-appropriate missions we study how to make slavery less desirable. Increasing rights, so it withers, seems better than an armed insurrection or rewarding slavers with money.”

“If you were of the Council once, you know you must have some support for your goals.” Master Plo’s voice remained cooler.

Obi-Wan kept an eye on the horizon, watching for problems before sighing. “Let us go to our meditation room and I will show you.”

Moving indoors and underground, the natural light brought by fiber was supplemented by artificial lights in a hydroponics garden. Water trickled and the air heavier from moisture, meditation cushions filled an alcove in the cave-like space.

It felt much like the Room of a Thousand Fountains, but much smaller.

Master Jinn beamed before seating himself.

The other Master relaxed as well.

Obi-Wan composed himself, loosening most of his shields, those of a much older Master, General, and once hermit. “I will attempt to show you key items but I feel sure the Force will guide us in unexpected ways.”

Jinn looked troubled. “How old are you, really?”

“I am not sure how to count it. In years lived through, I’m nearing sixty-five, but a large portion of that was during war and after the Purge. As far as I knew, Master Yoda and I were the only Masters to survive the Purge, though we each dueled a different Sith with mixed results.”

“That is still young enough,” Koon said.

Anakin and Ahsoka rushed in to see the Masters, and both made proper bows, not disguising their excitement at all. The younglings latched onto Master Plo and towed him away to show off their current projects, leaving Qui-Gon with Obi-Wan.

“It was that different? I wondered how you changed so, overnight.” Jinn looked away. “I thought it was like when Gard’s progress gelled and a Knight stood before me.”

“No. I returned to a more innocent time, from… It was a devastating and traumatic time, accelerating after you passed until the war involved most Republic worlds directly. Even those that attempted to remain neutral like Mandalore were pulled in or destroyed. After the Emperor ordered the murder of the Order, it was the stillness of genocide and the pain echoed through the Force for years. A lost Padawan was attempting to train another child fifteen years later despite the blanket of Darkness. The Order was drawn into politics and away from the people we served, in steps that seemed necessary every time.” Obi-Wan looked Jinn in the eye. “Naboo was a major keystone, the battle outcome there was unimportant, the larger battle was lost on Coruscant.”

“Battles.” Doubt or scoffing was not clear.

“I had to learn command in a hurry, one foot back. Costs paid by dedicated young men who adored their Jedi Generals, and by civilians who did not know they were enabling and witnessing the loss of their freedom as the Emperor seized all power year by year without any realizing. A Council that meant well but paid little attention to our brothers, not protecting our own or our value except as cogs in a war machine. Some thrived if exhausted. Too many Fell from violence, from losing their way, or from deliberate grooming and corruption.”

“That would have been difficult to watch.”

Obi-Wan barked a laugh. “I saw not enough, as it happened much too fast to understand . I was on the Council at thirty-f ive . The Order gone at thirty-nine. Dead at fifty-eight. I understood more after contemplating it all here in this desert. I hid here, knowing the Sith would not seek me- the Hutts retained all their power even under Empire. What that says about sentient nature, I will not consider.”

“So you agree the Republic is corrupt and the Order broken...”

“No!” Obi-Wan shouted, anger flaring for a second before fading away. “Dooku would destroy without anything better waiting to take over. Rubble is not a place of wisdom and balance, but grows fear and desperation. He would become a pawn of the Sith because that desperation made him very corruptible. Then disposed of as another power play. His path is only destruction, not growth.”

Jinn became grave. “He just left the Order, but you knew he would.”

“He tried to recruit me during the war, despite little acquaintance when he was building his proto-Empire. I lost count of how many Jedi he killed directly or through his students. Change is necessary, true, but destruction only gives more opportunity to take power.”

“Are you not hoarding power out of fear, my Padawan?”

“I do not think so. If I had the choice I would have changed paths even further back. I will train my students, hone them, make sure they are balanced and can face the evil around them and not waver. Contact is not unwelcome, but better we remain out of sight for a time yet. Blame my young stubbornness or an anti-slavery obsession if you wish...”

Jinn turned to face him with a smile. “I certainly will not do that. I am visiting on extended leave with my Padawan and Grandpadawans. None would be surprised, especially with how my Master’s departure affected me.”

“You are welcome here, Master, but I would like to make it clear that I have not been following all the dogma around the Code. Nor do I plan to.”

“I doubt any would be shocked that my Padawan would do that.”

Obi-Wan felt the relief like a cool mist. “Come, they might exhaust even Plo’s patience for younglings soon.”

Jinn was pleased at touring the dug-out complex, whitewash amplifying light sources. Ahsoka and Anakin were clearly close and happy, the boy clearly chafing to go out more. Both were quite advanced with their Force skills for their ages, though the limited resources might have prevented the arrogance and entitlement Xanatos showed. Maybe conveniences were jury-rigged, but they worked.

Jinn nodded with pleasant surprise at seeing a healthier Shmi in their common room. She had glasses of water for them. He could feel the same warmth and serenity of the Temple in these rooms. He was looking forward to the meditation here and learning about his first Grandpadawan.

Even if he had thought to teach the boy himself.

Ahsoka was perched on Plo, telling him about her lessons on zoology, a buzz of happy innocence.

The Master seemed pleased and almost surprised as he studied the youngling. The older youngling appeared much like any eager young Padawan. Only three chambers held the feel of a mini-Temple to Master Koon, but a classroom, a training chamber, and a garden were the most essential. “I should like to examine these visions that triggered a new Knight to behave so… inappropriately.”

Obi-Wan’s smirk was not visible. “Oh, no. As a young Knight, I would have never done something like this. Any wisdom I have has been hard-won.”

Plo just stared, expectation in his presence.

The younger Master sighed and gestured back to the garden room. “We will not want to be disturbed, and small pitchers have big ears.”

Qui-Gon hid his own smirk.

Once they had settled in the cooler embrace of the Living Force, Obi-Wan said. “Part of later problems keyed into the events of the Naboo blockade and its battle. Anakin was indeed too old, too old to forget the judgment of his value as a person by the Council. He trusted so few in the Order because Masters’ superiority was too like his experiences of slavery. He is just as powerful in the Force, but now he is learning in a place of safety until he spreads his wings. Before his understanding of the Republic and Order were tainted by comparisons by the hidden Sith with slavery. That is the way of the Sith, to leverage any lacks or losses into a craving for control for self protection. But he should not have been sheltered as much as any other Initiate, as he’d already experienced the Darker side of the galaxy and the shelter and rules to protect him denied what he knew as if he was not trusted with the truth.”

“You have met many Sith?” Qui-Gon prodded.

Stopping to think or count, Obi-Wan shook his head. “Not really that many, they had an outsize influence to be honest. The Sith lord, puppet master for generations of Darkness. His three apprentices, two of which returned after what should have been fatal injuries to keep killing. And a Sith trained assassin and a mad General. Met them is not the best word for those encounters, a vast majority were battles. The Order must prepare out of view, and reach out to teach.”

Master Plo did not agree.

Obi-Wan sighed. “Meditate with me, Masters.”

He faded rapidly into the Force until he almost glowed to sight. Once the three Masters were in a trance Obi-Wan’s mental voice felt so very much older. -It all began with the blockade and invasion of peaceful Naboo. D arth Maul took advantage of a timed barrier sequence...-

The vision slowed and became drenched in grief as the Jedi were separated until the taller one fell. -I was less tempered and lost my temper fighting Maul, but managed to recenter, and I thought defeated him.-

Polished smooth visions of young Anakin carried on pilot shoulders shifted to him wearing Padawan uniform. -Teaching him is always challenging, but the Council insisted that a thankful Senator be allowed access to the hero of the defense, even without my presence or approval. He grew like a weed, passing me before he was a senior Padawan, ever with the so kind words of his old friend who played on his feelings and separation from the rest of the Order. We still had a close bond, even months into the war.- Visions of the arena, Dooku cutting a Padawan’s arm off, and mass battle on Geonosis with Jedi falling by the dozen before the white clone armor appeared. -The clones were as innocent as their white armor appeared, they were warriors but not malicious. Years of brutality and death ended with the Temple bathed in blood. Jedi need a voice as citizens, no other people could have been erased like this. The reforms a thousand years ago removed too many of our own rights as sentients.-

“The Council will not be comfortable with the idea of working against the Senate,” Plo warned him.

“This is not a rebellion, it is a gap that is being exploited more and more. Members of the Republic Navy do not give up all rights forever, even unto their descendants. The mystics on Jakku do not give theirs up when they train, nor does any religion. If we are expected to die for Senate missions and fighting, we should have all the rights other people who serve have, not less. I never could convince Anakin that the Order wasn’t a form of slavery.” Obi-Wan’s young face looked very grave. “Disprove that.”

Jinn wanted to grin, but he said, “The Force urges trusting him. Can you not feel it?”

“I must meditate on this after a time to settle.”

Mealtime was very lighthearted with Ahsoka retelling an old creche tale to an amused Plo. Anakin told the story of a Senator and Master-Padawan fighting off monsters in an arena.

Jinn was almost shocked, recognizing it from the meditation. “You told him?”

“Parts,” Obi-Wan said, his eyes serene. “There are lessons in adaptability without a saber, the Dark Side, and risks every Jedi may face.”

Shmi coughed. “Alright… Anakin, Ahsoka. Time for your readings and bed. The Masters will be here in the morning.” There was command in her voice as they filed away.

Plo looked at Jinn. “Delusions from illness or age might create a plausible whole...”

“I have no proof but my faith in the Force.” Obi-Wan was striving for calm but there was an edge of unrest in his presence. “Should I put my faith in politics instead?”

Qui-Gon made a face, horrified at the idea.

Chapter Text

Master Plo departed a few days later, far more neutral in presence than Qui-Gon was. Between his cloaked appearance like many desert dwellers and some probable Force suggestion, his departure left no ripples the hive of scum and villainy.

Obi-Wan took Anakin along early one morning to acquire another moisture vaporator, maybe several more in parts. The Master felt sure they would need more water soon, more than just Qui-Gon required. Usually, they were kept close together so the owner could guard and protect them, but he set his Padawan the challenge to design something that could be hidden or concealed as they skimmed over the desert dunes.

Ahsoka would get a research project to identify how oxygen was replenished in the air with so few plants.

Practical projects like these made him nostalgic for the Archives, still bursting with accumulated lore.

“Master Obi-Wan, can I visit Kitster today?” The boy always held a mix of happiness and guilt after visiting his still-enslaved friend.

Obi-Wan hummed, some things were far easier to understand the second time around, and he still worried that Anakin did not have enough friends. “Yes, but you will have to finish with what parts you need for your project first. We will not be able to return for more for at least a ten-day.”

“Easy,” the boy scoffed.

“Be sure, my Padawan. Can you not feel the Force tell you this project is important and needed?”

A long moment of silence passed until Anakin slumped a little. “We’re going to need a lot of water.” He sounded a little frightened.

Obi-Wan reached across to hold his hand and send assurance. “I told you that you could still become a Jedi knight, Padawan. This is our path now, without leaving your mother as I had to...”

Anakin always made a sad and disgusted face when he was reminded of that, but he gripped Obi-Wan’s hand tightly.

Yet again, Obi-Wan thanked the Force for the chance to get it right this time. He watched their purchases from a little bit of shade while Anakin told his friend about the Masters who visited. Core worlds would get suspicious of the term, but not here.

The Force warned of a strong presence landing at the nearby port. Kenobi was unsure if he wanted or dreaded it at the same time. Anakin’s head popped out of his friend’s home, eyes wide as he said farewell and scuttled back with his braids swaying.

“Would your friend be willing to watch over our purchases for a time? We could offer trade if not much coinage.”

The boy nodded and soon Anakin trailed his Master over to the newest ship arrival.

Master Yoda stood near the ramp, looking around at the desert setting. “Found you, they did.”

Obi-Wan bowed, an instant before his dustier Padawan. “Welcome, Master. Would you like to come with us? Our home has more humid spaces which should be more comfortable, like Degobah would be.”

That made the old Master look sharply as he gestured to move on.

Obi-Wan was reluctant to explain anything with the desert wind whipping around them, beyond making sure Master Yoda was tucked in the most protected spot from the travel breeze. Anakin explained his plans for the new vaporators and remote ideas.

Master Qui-Gon waited outside with a shyer Ahsoka when the travelers pulled to a stop.

“Anakin, have ‘Soka help take the parts to your workshop and get started on another humidifier for the Garden room.” He could still see the wariness of Master Yoda remaining in Ani from his earlier inquisition.

Master Yoda nodded to his Grandpadawan, who led down through the ‘lock into the Garden. It was almost a deep sigh when he breathed the moister air and abundant life.

“Master, I have striven to keep this as congruent to the Temple as I could.”

“Yet you, from the Council's wisdom turn away from the Temple, hmm? Set yourself above revered Masters do you?”

Obi-Wan took a breath and seated himself on a mat. “No, I take council from the Force and previous mistakes. No mortal is free of mistakes. Some mistakes should not be repeated and expect a different outcome. Naboo was only the first public Sith action in a millennium, meaning they already believe they have won the game before revealing themselves. I change the board, but not the players.”

“Game, resisting the Dark is not.” Yoda’s disapproval was clear.

Kenobi let that sit a moment. “No, it has never been a game, but it demands strategy greater than against a few pirates or ending a civil war. This h ad been a civil war with Sith manipulation of all sides until an Empire is welcomed by the tired peoples. Far more is at stake than any game, but strategy demands either a game framework or a military one. The Order is not prepared for war. ”

“Vos claimed, aged, you are. Hmmmmmm. An impossibility this is.”

“I could show you memories of things that have not happened, Master, but at some point, you will have to make that leap of faith in the Force.”

“Determined to be separated from your brothers, you are.”

Looking at Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan shook his head. “No. My Padawan requires different treatment, not because of his raw power, but because of the trauma of slavery. We cannot prevent his being snatched up as a Sith apprentice if we do not train him, they have no age limitations and accept the aged and trained as easily as the young.”

Qui-Gon blanched. “I thought he was just manipulated, not...”

“Master Yoda was the last one he respected in the Order, though he offered to teach me of the Dark side more than once after war came. He was not just misled, but fully corrupted by the Sith Master, until he was fully Darth Tyrannus- author of millions of deaths.”

Yoda’s face was carefully blank, but not the blank of concealing his amusement. “Who speak you of?”

Obi-Wan throttled down his sigh, to tell the old Master about this. “I think you know very well, Master Yoda. I doubt he was ever the same after Galidraan and I know very well how denial can blind one to a Padawan’s danger. I do not know if he has Fallen yet, but he had before Anakin was twenty. Troubled Jedi should never be left alone, to stew or be exposed to Dark whispers without their fellows’ support.”

“Politics... he blamed Senate interference, but he never thought much of those who sought power.” Qui-Gon’s arms were crossed low, as if to steady his gut.

Obi-Wan sent a glare at his old Master. “I never knew him as a Jedi Master, so I don’t know how he changed. I just know that he must have, and no one could or would speak about it. You both are the only ones who might prevent his path. He was not attached to anyone else, even as he must have struggled.”

“Of politics and his new duties his recent message spoke.” Yoda’s ears had sagged though his face was still disapproving. “Recurring topic, Senate complaints were.”

“Sith thrive in that deception, manipulation, and seeking raw power. That is the larger truth behind the old reforms that strangle the Order today.” Obi-Wan had not planned to push this yet, but the moment... “Kindness and compassion are missing in the Code itself. Power corrupts, but the Code says nothing about that. The Order doesn’t see the forest, focusing too much on tree stumps of old wars instead of the forest fire raging. I act to preserve what I can, but change must come to all, or we may be the only ones left to rebuild.”

Yoda’s eyes narrowed with anger. “To demand change you dare, hmm? As the Count demanded?”

“I make no demands. I advise from what the Force taught me. Whether I lived those forty years or it was a powerful vision, the Force demands I act. I would prefer change come willingly, but change is already here. The Sith stepped out of the shadows and the Order must change or they will destroy all we care for. A thousand years of ignorance did not prepare the Order for a Sith resurgence. Clinging to ignorance will not serve the Light or the Order…” Obi-Wan’s presence was not that of a young knight, but that of harshly seasoned Master.

“You, your fault to nurture this rebelliousness, this is! Yeesssssss.” Yoda’s gimer stick thumped against the stone floor as he glared at Jinn.

Only Jinn’s eyes shifted, widening at the accusation. “Master, my Padawan was very biddable, determined to follow the Code and Council in all things.”

Jinn did not have to comment the knight was not meek anymore.

Yoda glowered for an instant before clearly pausing to purge emotions.

Jinn settled on a meditation mat and gestured Yoda toward another. “I counseled heeding the Force first, endlessly. What error is in that? He is no stripling, new to his knighthood. What does the Force tell you in this room of a dozen fountains?”

By this point, a calmer Kenobi was settled as well.

Eventually, the old Master said, “Continue to defy the Council’s will, you would, hmm?”

“I would rather teach what I had learned from death and destruction. The Council’s will was determined from ignorance. Let the Sith spend effort on ploys already being blocked. Consider this as intelligence from a Master of Shadow who passed through great Darkness. I can tell of the weakness they exploited, but the Order must be willing to adapt.”

The older Master seemed older yet and stared at the recent Knight and other Master. “Sent to remind him of his duties, you were.”

“I meditated with him, to be sure he was mindful of the Force. I do not recall an order to collect him like a chastised youngling.” Jinn appeared bland.

“You encouraged him in defying Council will!”

Obi-Wan could not remember seeing anything stronger than irritation in the old Master. “Master Yoda, the Force brought us to...”

His words made no difference and Yoda sprung to his feet and whaled both younger men. “Paugh. Enough this is. Waste no more time on these foolish starts, I will. To the port take me, now, Jinn.”

Qui-Gon did not smile. “Of course, Master. I will collect more water before we leave.”

“Time to take another Padawan, perhaps it is... Yes, hmmm.” Yoda started to hobble away.

Qui-Gon did not miss the instant of hurt on Obi-Wan. “I am on medical leave and enjoy this chance to teach my Grandpadawan, Grandmaster.”

Yoda eyed him in silence. The silence lasted all the way back to the port. Jinn arranged for passage and remained serene through almost glacial silence.

Obi-Wan seemed younger in his relief when Jinn returned.

Qui-Gon embraced his young and older former student. “I am satisfied you are listening to the Force. Nothing has changed my respect for you, my Obi-Wan.”

Chapter Text

"Master Obi," piped the voice on the edge of early cracking. “Our second tank is starting to fill and our diggers hit granite again. Are you sure we’ll need the space?”

Obi-Wan smirked. “Surely by now, you know what my first answer to that will be?”

The Padawan fumed, and looked away toward where the sounds of sparring with the acrobatic thumping of Ataru could be heard. He glumly said, “The Force teaches us and binds us… but Master, I want to spar with Master Qui-Gon while he’s here!”

“You have heard the same whispers from the Force as I, Ani. He will be leaving us here again.”

“I just like having someone else to train against. Something more exciting than your boring old form...”

Obi-Wan always was amused when old complaints returned. “Soresu need not be your choice, after all, my Master excels at Ataru, and his Master Makashi. You will choose the form that resonates with you.”

Anakin snorted an agreeable grunt and happily returned to his vapor-lock project. Obi-Wan planned to make a package of schematics for the Educorps soon. The credit for his work should help Anakin’s craving for respect from the Order this time.

Master Jinn entered the quiet workroom. “Obi-Wan, I believe we received another request from rival mining companies to mediate a conflict.”

The former General’s smile was rueful. “Every dry season, they try to short water rations and seem surprised when production falls. Some figured it out and they don’t call on us anymore.

Anakin’s face lit up. “Master Obi-Wan snuck in rest periods in several negotiations. It was wonderful. Now he’s nudging for a disability stipend or freedom after major incidents. He feels so smug in the Force when he gets them to come up with the ideas to save hassle ‘on their own.’

Jinn smiled slightly. “He always had a fine talent for negotiations, even as a Padawan. Jedi must let things ripen in their own time and follow the will of the Force.”

"So slaves dying in the mines for Hutt’s profits is the will of the Force?” Anakin challenged with set jaw.

“Calm yourself. We are all part of the Force, even the Hutts. You will understand better when you are older.”

Obi-Wan knew what was coming from long experience with both, and braced himself.

“So you think Obi-Wan in a bomb collar on Bandomeer was okay too? That leaving Mom and Kittster the way you found them was just fine?”

"No, it is not fine, Padawan Skywalker. But it is not our mission to...”

“Our mission? Our mission? Is our mission to serve the Light, or serve politicians and the powerful first?” A storm was forming around the near adolescent.

“Restrain your emotions, Padawan...” Qui-Gon’s voice was cold and hard.

“E chu ta!, Master,” Anakin snarled back snidely.

"Anakin.” Obi-Wan’s voice held only steady disappointment, but his presence was warmer.

The storm calmed a little, and Anakin made a brief bow. “Apologies for my rude words, Jinn. I will return to my assignment, Masters.” He stalked away.

“He is very angry, Obi-Wan.” Jinn was stiff and disapproving

“He believes the Order should be better than it has become. With his strength in the Force, he will be able to do miracles when the Sith war has come upon us. He will be attached to the Light this time.”

“He will Fall from his emotional imbalance. He must control it.”

Obi-Wan turned to face Jinn directly. “It will come with time. You must remember that he is more youngling than adult. You share more responsibility for that argument than the youngling.” At Jinn’s expression, Obi-Wan waved his hand. “You know he was a slave. You know he still lives among slaves, and you should have realized he can feel the miasma of Darkness the taints the very air here. You can be completely insensitive to younglings’ feelings, Master. They need support more than disapproval and the pure Code.”

“Is this still about your-?”

“No. It took me too many years and extensive meditation to realize that his fire would be better harnessed than smothered. Smothering is not good for humans, perhaps that is why our lineage was shattered even before the end.” Obi-Wan sighed. “The first time, he blamed me for how enslaved he felt under the Code, that you would have been a better Master than I. But now I am sure it was as the Force intended, as you cannot tame a stretch of rapids without destroying the riverbed. You would have smothered his feelings out of fears about Xanatos as you had for me. But that would have been more catastrophic as he has already fought for his own freedom at nine. He cares so much, it drives him to do more. That, the Order needs badly.”

Qui-Gon’s lips compressed in irritation. “Are you sure you want my presence here?”

Obi-Wan smiled sadly. “Of course I do. You are a wonderful teaching Master, but our lineage is rife with… emotional constipation as Shmi might say. You can learn to be more mindful of others’ feelings, not just those children being rescued. Coldness, as Count Dooku is so good at, is more of the Dark. Kindness is of the Light.”

A long moment of silence held sway. “I will meditate on this.”

“Really, Master, why would you expect any different with your own rebelliousness with the Council so many times? I merely have more understanding of the end costs of too much detachment from each other and the… civilians around us.”

Qui-Gon paused only a moment before walking away, not as dramatically as Anakin.

Anakin was visiting some friends with his mother after a rain signaled a brief holiday for the still slaves. Obi-Wan knew he would be touchy and considering another racing entry for weeks.

At least the Padawan’s shielding was strong enough that he was no more bright in the Force than the others around him. Hiding was a valued skill in Hutt lands now.

Ahsoka and Master Jinn were out studying the rapid growth in the short-lived ‘wet’ lands for science lessons. Living creatures were his favorite studies, after all.

That left Obi-Wan to maintain their home and school as a high powered transport arrived.

He was not surprised to see Master Windu, with a lightweight wrap that protected his skull. “Master Windu… I’m afraid everyone else is out at the moment, with either lessons or supply run.”

The Master stared at him, the Force around him a hum. “I am more interested in speaking with you, Kenobi. Reports of your training more than one apprentice away from the Temple have been conflicting. Not that the participation of the old gundark is any shock, many of the Council believed he was complicit.”

“Not complicit, nor does he agree with some of my decisions,

“Oh?” Windu crossed his arms.

“Come inside to our meditation room where the suns don’t bake us.”

Windu was silent as he passed through the classroom and training salle, pausing only briefly on feeling the fountains and greenery. He moved through the room, touching the tomatoes, tubers, greens, and banks of sprouts. “This is quite... vibrant.”

“We grow much of our own perishable foods, one of Anakin’s projects is to tune shields to retain water vapors much like atmosphere for space docks. Tinkering on projects helps him reach a meditative state easily. Ahsoka is closer to Temple standard for her age.”

A ghost of a hum came from the Master of the Order when he was gestured to meditation mats. “You stated that your old Master disagreed with your teachings?”

Obi-Wan crossed his arms, gathering calm. “I’m sure you remembered how… troubled our partnership was. After Xanatos, he always retained an emotional distance with myself that always ends with his disavowal and rejection. I’m only stating that to explain the disputed area, I am aware now that your relations with Master Depa and her future Padawan were much warmer than I once believed was normal.”

Blinking at the comments, Windu’s eyebrows furrowed. “And you disagreed with your own Master on?”

“Master is extremely careless of the emotional state of Jedi around him, and this becomes very detrimental for younglings under his care. He is much better at caring for refugees or people outside the Order. As Anakin was raised outside the Temple longer, he needs more emotional support as he learns balancing responsibilities and his feelings. It would not require the combat harnessing you use in your form, but more dynamic than the standard of the Temple training.”

“You have thought much on this.”

“Over thirty years, much came from hindsight analysis and meditation.”

Windu straightened a bit. “And that is the central question: a new knight kidnapping two younglings with fanciful tales of a Dark future and rebelling from his elder’s guidance.”

Obi-Wan shook his head. “I could show memories of the future, but I hope that I have already triggered important changes. I know Master Yoda was very uncomfortable with the necessity of change. The truth that the Force has made very clear by sending me back to this time is that failing to change will result in another Purge. In the end you will have to seek the Force. I will adapt my plans, whichever way you decide.”

A silence fell in the hall as Windu considered. “Your plans? Are you separated that far from your brothers in the Order?”

Obi-Wan’s eyes were very bleak and sorrow cloaked him briefly. “I have been, but only because I survived a purge, not because I spurned the Light. My final mission was to preserve hope for the future, because everything else was gone under Sith rule. These two younglings were fracture points for the entire order, lost in different ways than death, despite their brightness.”

“I suppose you are aware of the shatterpoints you embody?”

Kenobi looked away. “You had warned me during the war, but I didn’t break until after I defeated the third Sith Apprentice I faced. It took years before I had even a fragile balance again, I healed far more when I returned to now and the Light is more prominent.”

“What are your plans?”

“Teach these younglings, away from the Sith Master; prepare them for when the Sith are revealed again. I would prefer to advise preparations, not to begin outright militarization that happened under Sith pressure. But make preparations to preserve both the Republic and the Order. The slowest to change will be to shift how the citizens of the Republic see us: wizards and baby stealers, leaving too many hurting in our wake. Fair compassion is better.”

“This would be the decision of the Council.”

“Mace,” Obi-Wan paused at the accidental familiarity. “Feel this in the Force, change is coming. The Order was wiped away when it resisted. If we make the changes, we can guide them, no one guides a tidal wave. I can help, even from here, but I cannot force the Order to change enough to survive...”

“Not alone.”

“No We still have at least a half dozen years until the war started last time. I can make recommendations for preparations, say it's for pirates or civil wars. The sixth Form had no surviving Masters even a year or two before the end, it lacked the determination of every other form. Reach out to more of those who need help, not just serve Senators as guards or ornaments. Relate to other people, we had been so standoffish that no one cared when we were victims of genocide.”

Windu sighed. “This should not be surprising in Jinn’s Padawan.”

“We will return some time before his Trials, or if the war comes. Some significant people could serve either side this early and making peace with them would serve the Republic and Order well.”

Master Windu stared at the newer knight, uncomfortable with the age of his shatterpoints. “Do you know the shape of these shatterpoints I see?”

Sitting back, Kenobi nodded. “I know my own foibles. The largest problems are likely tagged with my Padawan’s name, and the Order. Not that I abhor it, but because of the frighteningly idiotic things I have done to serve a brittle standard.”

“You are aware that this is essentially a splinter Temple, like Corellia?”

Obi-Wan did not look pleased. “They were called back under wartime pressures, and their fate was ours. This separation will be a decade at most.”

“You will maintain more regular contact, and will be sent on missions in this region as needed. Report on progress and local missions. Other Masters will visit to check as well.”

“Of course. They are kept separate for their safety, not any disrespect, Master.” Kenobi’s smile was warm.

Chapter Text

A drought, even by Tatooine’s standards, was starting to make its presence clear, a month after Jinn left for an extended diplomatic mission in the Mid-Rim. Obi-Wan looked up at the sky before an unmarked transport made to land early one morning.

Several bright presences were aboard, but only one came down the hatchway, an older Mirrilan female well over a hundred standard. Her appearance was utilitarian, even for the Order, but she had four bronze and copper facial tattoos. “Kenobi, right? Creche Master Phriik Torr.”

Her voice was almost jarring and deep.

“For what do I owe the honor of your company, Master ?”

She hummed with disapproval. “I understand you need experience and study materials for some younglings away from the Temple. I wish to examine the progress of the supposed Initiate and Padawan.”

“They have studied little over three years, they are seven and thirteen standard.” Despite his own years, Obi-Wan felt the burn of implied disappointment.

Snorting and crossing her arms, she gave him the eye. “I am concerned about this being a slave world and very unsafe for younglings, especially Force-sensitive ones.”

That made Obi-Wan sigh. “This world has proven to be safe from Sith oversight that reaches from the Senate. They are returned and the Master is powerful politically, bringing war in Foresight. The Hutts are merely physically dangerous as they do not groom and seduce. We will return to the Temple within ten years: my Padawan, his future Padawan, and myself. I would treasure additional course materials, Master Torr.”

“I will view these facilities...”

Obi-Wan led the gray-haired Master through the training and living rooms, without comment.

“These rooms are most serene despite the location. You have unused spaces.”

“The Force Warned us to increase facilities, though the quarters have not been completed. We put the priority on the water supply."

"I'm sure.” Her voice was dry. "I’ve brought supplies and materials and a long-distance comm. I also have three initiates who were older and have not adapted well when they arrived to the creche. They need more attention and… agency that the regimentation of the clans is not reaching. We hope a… harsher environment will encourage them to make more usual clan attachments. Your younglings could benefit as well.”

Kenobi thought a moment. “I was unsure if two younglings were enough to socialize them properly. How old are they?”

"The oldest is seven, and her brother is five. The third was brought to us after abuse from a parent, so she sometimes acts out and tries to bully smaller younglings.”

Obi-Wan rubbed his eyebrows. “My Padawan has occasional issues after nine years as a slave but he is improving.”

Torr hummed again. “That can be dealt with. We will be able to access Educorps archives for researching methods deemed obsolete. We have concerns after Masters noted the extreme social isolation. I understand one of your assistants is a parent of your student and I would expect favoritism from attachment.”

That made Obi-Wan chuckle as he led toward the outside. “Shmi is lightly Force-sensitive as well and very experienced in handling young enthusiasm and pouting. I do not anticipate issues from her, as slaves did not have the luxury of some forms of bias.”

“Her child may be another issue...” Torr warned as they reached the transport.

Brushing his beard, Obi-Wan’s face fell. “I am aware of that, but it is another needed lesson...”

Torr escorted Obi-Wan to the transport which still gleamed without sandblasting damage. The ramp dropped before they reached it, and he could feel apprehension from three younglings and one familiar adult. The dimmer light inside left him blinking.

A shocked -Obi- floated through the Force.

Vision clearing, Obi-Wan saw someone he had not seen since before decades of exile. “Garen?”

Gar’s eyes were narrowed with doubt, not merry in any way. “You don’t stand like Obi-Wan.”

“You don’t stand like me any more than Master Ali-Alann stands like Master Qui-Gon .” Obi-Wan never heard any hints that Garen had survived the Clone attacks after the end . “I have mastered Soresu since then.”

He looked relieved. “I could say that your Master was a bad influence after all. Are you raising a krayt dragon he found out here?”

Obi-Wan’s hugged his creche-mate, feeling less awkward than most embraces, a smile breaking through. “In a way. My Padawan is very strong in the Force.”

Garen made a face. “I can’t quite believe you took a Padawan so soon.”

“It is as the Force willed, quite clearly.” Kenobi’s smile faded a little.

“The Force also willed additional students for this desert, so move along young Muln. Our cargo waits for no Trial to be moved .”

Unloading the supplies to the largest unused chamber took enough time that Anakin’s excitement about the transport flared before the speeder’s hum reached the settlement. Their speeder slid to a stop, with Anakin vibrating with his wish to examine the vessel.

The teen noticed the last of the supplies entering their home and swallowed as Ashoka rushed inside to meet the other younglings. His young face showed an old scowl that hadn’t reappeared before now.

Chapter Text

- Agitation

Master Torr and her charges enlivened their settlement immediately, and within a few weeks quarters and a new routine emerged. Shmi relaxed appreciably with another adult and resources for teaching. Ahsoka made friends quickly and thrived with new topics that Obi-Wan had no experience teaching, Ryll among them. Obi-Wan was glad to have a more permanent Master on hand for teaching and protection.

The only one dissatisfied and outright pouting was Anakin. He didn’t have all of Ahsoka’s attention now, the difference in their education levels was much clearer now that two classes could run separately. He also had less of his mother’s attention, as the new children had… issues that left them as volatile in their own ways as Anakin could be. The siblings had been raised in a cult that was very regressive, and the third child was already trying to bully the others. Shmi fielded the other children’s meltdowns more effectively than even Master Torr..

Anakin had his undivided attention more often, but he wanted to go out on missions as a Padawan. He kept checking for missions from Windu, almost daily. The bravado and impatience was nothing new the second time around, but now he had two adults he respected urging caution, not just Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan was occasionally struck with the changes becoming evident in his Padawan this time. His formal education and mission experience were lagging, but he had far, far less anger and resentment about the training limits all the adults agreed on. He still got frustrated to be left behind on some Tatooine missions among the powerful, but he had difficulty arguing that his mother doubted his power and skills. He understood her concerns were for his health, not doubt the Council once had.

Master Jinn was missed, but Obi-Wan had returned to solo supply runs again.

“Can I move to the next form, now? Defense is so boring, Obi-Wan.” Anakin clearly tried to sound eager instead of whining.

“Ready to defend Ahsoka and the other younglings? Soresu and Ataru are only steps on your path to master your lightsaber.” Sometimes it almost felt like cheating to know which form suited Anakin so well before his Padawan did.

Anakin made a face. “Of course I’d protect Ahsoka. But defense is your Mastery, Master Jinn said you used Ataru as a Padawan. Mom says I need to be more patient, ...but I feel the moment to strike coming long before it fits the routines. Should I follow the routines or listen to the currents?”

“What does the Force whisper? Winning? Defeat? Anger? Frustration? Exhilaration? Proving superiority?” Obi-Wan hoped to encourage more than just determination. “If you feel only anger when you end a fight, the anger has won, not you. Most fights are against people who have made bad decisions, so you should not be brutal in victory.”

After a long pause, Anakin looked up (still looking up at this age) and said, “Right now I’m only sparring against people I know, so I don’t really feel anything but wanting to get better so I can go on real missions as you did at my age. This is the back end of nowhere and Kitster traveling more as a mechanic apprentice than I do as a Padawan.”

His voice still echoed with his earlier desire to see every star.

The Master felt all his years again, and pulled Anakin down to sit on the mat. “I promise you Anakin, events will crowd in before you are knighted. In a way, a countdown is running to a moment we cannot number today. Remember that Sith that we fought here and on Naboo? He was only the apprentice and he nearly killed both Master Jinn and myself. We know he was either powerful enough to try to free himself, or his Master eliminated him as a loose end. So we have no proof or real leads that would work in a court of law. So the Jedi must prepare quietly.”

“Is that why we’re still here? We’re a hold out for a bar fight?”

“In a way.” Obi-Wan compressed his lips, disliking the urgings he was getting. “I had a… long and detailed ‘vision’ before Naboo. War is coming against the Sith and their pawns. I don’t know how many millions or billions will die if events happen that way...”

“Again?!? You’re thinking again, Mas- Obi-Wan!” Anakin paled and his eyes got huge.

Obi-Wan could feel his face twitch in an involuntary way. He sighed. “Yes, I lived through these years before. I made mistakes as did so many from Senators to Jedi Masters. I don’t know how but when a Sith apprentice cut me in half I woke up just before I met you again.”

“So us being here fixes things?”

“It will help as the Sith Master lives on Coruscant, not that far from the Temple. I will not let him hurt you or Ahsoka...”

The boy just blinked and then smiled. “You’re attached, Obi-Wan!”

Feeling his face warm, Obi-Wan slyly admitted, “You do know I was the Padawan of the Master known as a maverick? Attachment must be concealed to prevent the appearance of bias in pursuing our duties. But master and padawan attachment is usually tolerated.”

Anakin looked a little lost. “So I’m not supposed to be attached to Ahsoka?”

“She’s virtually your creche-mate. You’re doing fine, just no wrestling and name-calling if we have outside visitors, okay?”

“Can’t I move to another saber form? Wouldn’t it be better if I master more before this war?”

Lips twitching with a suppressed smile, Obi-Wan said, “As soon as you pass your certifications in the first and third forms, you may start the fifth…”

That made Anakin brighten again. “Is that what I used before?”

“Yes, but you lost badly one duel where you put all your energy on offense. Master Yoda saved both of us.”

“Oh.” Anakin looked crestfallen as he did not think much of Yoda this time.

“He is a very wise Master, but even Masters are not immune to making mistakes. It will not matter in the long run if we remain good Jedi.

Anakin looked at his training saber. “How do I get certified?”

“Master Jinn can on his next visit. We’re done for today, and don’t talk about my vision with others, we don’t know who are Sith pawns.”

“What about Mom?”

“Just the three of us, this is too heavy a secret for younglings… even Ahsoka until she is a Padawan too.”

The boy’s unhappiness at that could be felt in the Force. “I’m going outside.”

Uneasy with him racing right then, his Master said, “Take your comm.”

The suns were sinking toward sunset when he felt a pang in the Force. Calling Anakin’s comm made the chirping ring from the kitchen.

Chapter Text

The boy’s unhappiness at that could be felt in the Force. “I’m going outside.”

Uneasy with him racing right then, his Master said, “Take your comm.”

The suns were sinking toward sunset when he felt a pang in the Force. Calling Anakin’s comm made the chirping ring from the kitchen.

Old Victims

Obi-Wan gave the briefest of messages to Shmi about the danger before he took the dilapidated speeder used for guests. Anakin had taken his treasured single-seat, much faster than this thing.

The real problem was that Anakin did not have his own saber yet. The usual scum were not a threat with his strength in Force abilities, but a sustained battle without a Master was not recommended.

So Obi-Wan controlled his own fear as he raced towards Anchorhead, listening for every hint of Anakin’s presence. All he could feel was pain, to the level of that cursed lava world. Pulses of fear and anger lagged behind the hurt as he got closer.

The despair of the slave section of the settlement tasted like copper in the air, and more anguish paved his path, not all coming from his Padawan. The cracks of a whip lingered more silently than sobbing from inside some kind of walled yard.

Much louder was the sound of lightsabers in combat.

The pain echoing from Anakin had not changed.

Boxing up his emotions with his presence, Obi-Wan jumped to the top of one dome to peer into the arena of the fight. Neither of them was Anakin.

Two young Force users were fighting each other, rage as crystal clear in both as their scarlet sabers. He had seen neither of them for decades, but never contesting each other like this. He’d never known what became of them, just that they’d probably outlived him on both of their Dark paths.

The teen snarled, his face hidden by partial Tuskan masking. “Die, you witch. You pollute this holy land with your dark presence! This younger brother will end you for your treachery with my bloodrite!”

“I drink the blood of foolish Jedi, what makes you think you will do any better?” The woman with the bright mane of hair laughed as she sliced through the mask, looking no older than when he and Qui-Go faced her years ago.

Obi-Wan leaped in, igniting his saber. “Because no Jedi is truly alone, Aurra Sing.”

Her grin became crueler as she dropped back, leaving a grenade. “The mewling Padawan, without his hulking Master to protect him today. What makes you think you will do better this time with only children to help a baby knight?”

“Because the Force is with me.” Obi-Wan ignored the youth who sent the grenade away as he drew the bounty hunter’s attention. He moved around her in showy leaps he no longer relied on.

Sing gloated with mocking insults that flowed past him, but more important to Obi-Wan was drawing her further away from the injured. Blocks and parries didn’t require much thought as he waited for her to make that error. That attack that lured her to extend too far and he could bind her weapon and disarm her. That was preferable to literal disarming here on Tatooine.

She got angrier and stopped cursing him, she did not quite have enough time to draw another weapon with how fast he was forcing against her own defenses. Sing’s wrath began to sizzle in the afternoon sunshine.

She realized that she was starting to tire, sweat pouring off her skull while his defenses were now the efficient third form.

“Padawan Sing, isn’t it time for you to come home?”

Not to his surprise, that made her angrier. “You’re all kriffing, steaming shit!”

And she made that mistake, leaving her slightly off-balance in her stance.

Obi-Wan took that instant and sliced through both her saber and her torso, the same he’d used against Maul on these sands.

It was just as effective and ended her life just as quickly.

She tried to spit defiance, but Obi-Wan took her hand to calm her. “I am sorry, young one, that kidnapping and slavery broke you so badly. The Force welcomes all into peace.”

By the time she passed the young man stood over him uncertainly. “You killed her, but your saber remains blue. Who are you?”

Obi-Wan looked up at another who had Fallen after Empire, but still light in the present despite the saber. “Kenobi, here to retrieve my Padawan. We are here to avoid the notice of a Sith revival. Why are you here?” Obi-Wan moved toward the dome that held Anakin.

When the door opened carefully, Anakin sighed with relief. “Master! I got myself free, but… Kitster’s in bad shape. I don’t think there’s any bandaging in here!”

Obi-Wan did a quick check of the boys and his heart sagged when seeing that both had been whipped. The other boy was deeply unconscious and probably critical. “We need to find him a healer, Padawans. We can talk later.”

Anakin threw a doubtful look at the older boy.

It took some nerve-wracking time to find a healer to treat the boys. Hett and Anakin only needed minor first aid, but Anakin’s friend had been whipped far more harshly.

As the healer treated Kittster, both Padawans were silent. Anakin was more sullen with guilt and anger leeching through the bond. Hett both seemed satisfied and a little lost.

-We will speak in a few minutes, but this seems to be a lost Padawan who needs guidance. You did well, Anakin.-

Anakin nodded and seemed to be trying to hold in tears. He still looked up at Obi-Wan.
-The shutta whipped Kittster to make me stop fighting her! I only made it worse!-

The made his Master send sympathy and caring through their bond, as fiercely uphill as he could against Anakin’s guilt. -I understand this very well, Anakin. Some slavers did the very same to me on one mission. You helped him survive and summoned help. You did well.-

Anakin subsided a little.

“Padawan Hett, I feel sure the Council will help you find another Master to assist you in finding your path after your father passed. If you wish to continue your training, we can contact Master Windu from our farm where you can rest safely and study until things are arranged.”

A’Sharad had multiple feelings explode into the Force. “You’re on a moisture farm? The Council knows about me, about us? I thought I’d have no other choice but become a warrior when father died, as I’m an adult already and had no teacher!”

“It’s just us Jedi on the farm. Mom and I were slaves and Obi’s teaching me here instead at the Temple, but there’s some others here too. Other Jedi come and visit including my Grandmaster who’s almost as good as Master Obi-Wan!” Anakin was distracted by the other teen.

Hett thought, or consulted with the Force. “I will need to notify my people, so they know you are not moisture farmers, but warriors. Then I will study.”

Obi-Wan was relieved, hoping both for another friend for Anakin and prevention of another Sith.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan woke before dawn, and once again realized how much was changing. He’d begun this mad plan to save his brother from the pain of the Dark side. Changing much from here, far from the serenity of the Temple, did not seem possible.

It seemed selfish to concentrate on Anakin, on his Lineage like this.

The Force must not agree, with all the others it was sending to this den of villainy. Like some artesian well, more Force-sensitives were finding their way here like an oasis in the desert.

Master Torr was sure to raise her concerns as soon as she perceived Hett’s blade, but Obi-Wan was not about to deprive the boy of the remembrance of his Master. She would be more alarmed it was also his father. But Obi-Wan could not convince her with his knowledge of Luke inspiring his Sith father to change.

Hett would require special handling, to deal with his hardships after his father’s passing, and Obi-Wan wasn’t sure if repeating the same learning path this time could give a better path.

Anakin’s anger would be enough of a challenge to soothe.

Obi-Wan could feel his Padawan waking and hurrying away to the guest room, where the now-former slave was deeply unconscious. At least he hoped killing the bounty hunter gave him the legal right to free the boy.

“Master Kenobi?” Hett stood at the doorway.

Obi-Wan unfolded from his meditation. “Yes, Padawan?”

“May I use the speeder to report to my kin? They should know that I am resuming my apprenticeship and about this school and slave haven. It will make the younglings safer, Master.”

Obi-Wan waved the door open with a smile. “Of course. We do differ from the Temple about lineage and kin.”

“Thank you, Master,” came with a short bow.

Anakin arrived even as Obi-Wan dressed in cooler, clean clothing. “He’s not awake!”

He sent calm upstream toward his Padawan. “He’s going to need time to recover. Does the Force hint he’s still in danger?”

“Yes… no. A little?” Anakin’s frustrated pouts were all too familiar, but he paused as if looking for the right words for something else. “A Sith killed you in that vision, right? Do you know if I let them get away with that? I can’t imagine not having you to go to, anymore than Mom...”

Obi-Wan swallowed. He wanted to be truthful but truth here would be cruel. He sighed, feeling a bit of old grief. “You had been lost to the Sith lord’s action almost twenty years before, and I missed you every day. I was protecting Force sensitive children from being enslaved to the Sith. My death let them escape.”

Anakin’s eyes glistened and he started blinking to try not to weep. “You should have found another way. You never take care of yourself enough and there had to have been another way.”

“Padawan…” Obi-Wan’s eyes were burning too. “I was old and my time as a warrior, or as much as a warrior that a Jedi can be, had passed. Sometimes a sacrifice is needed to save everyone else. Would you deny me that free choice if I passed to save you? Your mother? I would have preferred to live, but what if my passing saved your children from capture by slavers? How could that not be a worthwhile reason to die?”

A little screech of a sob and Anakin tackled Obi-Wan, sobbing and wailing within the Force. “I do- don’t want you to die… Or Mom or Ashoka or Kittster! It’d hurt too much. ‘Zat why Jedi don’t have real families?”

He held Anakin close, running fingers through his hair. “Partly. All a Hutt would need to do is capture your mother to try to make you stop helping slaves. If they can not discover pressure points, you are much harder to blackmail. If I was some general of a mighty army, the enemy could not kidnap my parents to blackmail me. If I was a leader of the Banking Guild and someone had framed my sister as a slaver, would I give in, even if it destroyed the Banking Guild slowly? It is much harder and much more dangerous to have attachments and still do the right things.”

“Mom wouldn’t want me to help the Hutts… but...” Anakin’s voice was faint and cracking with approaching adolescence.

Obi-Wan hugged him tightly again. “It means we have to be faster, smarter, and trickier. And sometimes do the best we can, even when we pass. Trickier means your opponents always think you are weaker than you are and you try to avoid their notice as you build. While you train you learn strategy not just combat tactics. What else could we do without raising red flags? How has slavery ended on different worlds? What worked and what failed? We can work on this along with your studies, Padawan.”

“A new research task...” Anakin didn’t sound as disgusted this time.

He still resisted academic s, but this project was a better carrot. “Find out who is your friend’s legal owner. If Sing was, I believe I can free him and we can fix the legalities, ignoring other debts the Darksider had.”

Brightening at that, Anakin charged off. Lessons with the Initiates were an emotionally calm stretch of the day. By the cool of the evening, both Hett and Anakin were testing each other with training sabers.

Hett was surprised when the younger Anakin won.

Anakin was smug.

In the second match, Anakin was the one shocked.

“Now, Padawans, you both need to learn to work with others better, even those not your Master. Being the best is not as important as accomplishing your goals. You can defeat duelists who are more powerful than yourself, as long as you take advantage of their mistakes...” Obi-Wan was more than aware of how decisively he’d defeated both of them while they used the Dark Side the first time...

Anakin’s grumbling could be felt in the Force, he’d witnessed sparring with visiting Jedi. The boys gave it a good shot, but Obi-Wan had little trouble controlling the pace and even they realized they were tiring before they started to work together.

Mace arrived two weeks later.

Chapter Text

The hulking transport had paused nearly a kilometer away from the farm, jawas scurrying to display their goods. Their tribes were beginning to make this a regular stop for buying and selling.

It wasn’t quite one of the many holidays that living in the Temple on Coruscant offered, communication was far more limited. But it offered a welcome break in routine.

Master Torr was encouraging her students to learn the language and communicating without a common language as the Initiates and Padawans combed through the junk and useful items for hidden treasures, with hints from the Force. Anakin was nearly as likely to be selling as buying tools and mystery tech,

Obi-Wan, and Jinn if he was present, would look at whatever cultural artifacts caught their fancy, from flimsi records to ancient tomes bound in preserved bantha hide of all things. This time the jawas offered a long, ancient roll of an odder hide that had almost no stitching but was many dozens of meters long but was smooth and flexible.

Whatever it was, the Force hinted that it wasn’t a forgery, despite the unreadable lettering. It was important and Obi-Wan regretted the lack of labs and archives to help him study and interpret.

Qui-Gon would enjoy studying it too.

A s hip passed overhead then another, and O bi-Wan knew it was time to close negotiations.

Returning to their compound, one ship was a standard Jedi transport, nothing that excited even Anakin much anymore.

The other was an unfamiliar model. It resembled the Aethersprite he fought in near the start of the war, but that was still years in the future. Also, this ship was already worn from time or combat.

He felt that sense of dejah vu again for the first time in many months.

The cockpit popped open even as Master Windu strode down the transport’s gangplank and the school bowed and chattered at the new arrivals.

The younglings latched on to the visitors and leading them inside, leaving Obi-Wan the time to study the other Jedi.

He was a human male, appearing near Obi-Wan’s physical age, wearing gray and black robes. Surely a knight, he did seem comfortable or even fond of Windu, Aside from piloting an interceptor in a time of peace, he wore discreet armor and a blaster more prominent than his light saber. The knight peered at Hett and looked away when he realized that Obi-Wan was observing him.

Shmi corralled the younglings into gathering snacks and waters. Once the chatter had slowed the creche master gathered her charges and nudged them back to the classroom. Anakin wanted to stay, but this could become something more contentious.

“You must be wondering the purpose of this visit, Kenobi,” Windu was serious and perhaps reluctant, gazing the the other Jedi. “This is Knight Darrus Jeht, who serves at the Almas Academy… an experimental Temple that keeps watch over an ancient Sith fortress that...”

“Has a history of Dark side entanglements even without Sith.” This brash young man’s voice reminded Obi-Wan of the war-time Anakin. “One of our Masters had a vision of a student in a desert who needed guidance and I spoke to Master Mace...”

“The Force does work in mysterious ways.” Windu sounded a little chagrined though his face was serene. “The Almas Academy follows a somewhat different… interpretation of the Code, which may be a better fit for a once lost Padawan.”

“We start the bulk of training later with more independent work. It’s a much more martial culture so even guest lecturers rely less on serene appearances and more on raining their respect. Our Masters will not take those who failed on Coruscant or Corellia.”

Obi-Wan really did not remember much about this splinter Temple, just that it was attacked late in the war and was lost. He brushed his beard. “I would be interested in seeing records of typical progression compared to the Main Temple. I know of one candidate who had almost reached his majority before found by a Jedi Master.”

Mace made an unhappy face.

Jeht managed to perk up more. “We’re much smaller and never have enough Masters and Knights to follow the same progression. But I think time from recruitment to knighthood is much shorter, though testing ethics comes before instruction.”

“This seems a good fit for Padawan Hett to finish his training.” Mace smiled slightly.

“No Padawans have successfully transferred into Almas, the culture shift...” Jeht was plainly seeking a more politic summary. “The warrior ethos is too disjoint from the creche. They break or they Fall as the Sith ruins are a constant disruption.”

Obi-Wan thought for a moment. “Master Hett was as much a tribesman as a Jedi, but Padawan Hett was stranded after his father’s passing within the warlike culture on a Hutt controlled world. If he is interested shifting culture would broaden his skills without giving up his path to becoming a Knight. I would like to warn you that his saber is a natural red kyber crystal, not one that was bled.”

Jeht grinned at Master Windu. “Mine’s purple.”

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan was amused at how close Mebue and Ahsoka had grown, not that Ahsoka stopped hanging on Anakin, literally after one of his growth spurts. But there was a shortage of compatriots here in the desert so the two girls were thicker than thieves.

He had never been particularly close to any Zabraks before, the scars from Maul lasted a long time. Not that he allowed it to affect his instruction, but he was always aware of the long shadows cast by Ventress and now twice-dead Maul. He ended up pitying them, but he still had a responsibility to the Light and galaxy, the civilians at risk from rampant darksiders.

The relative hardships and dangers here had made the creche more aware of the little darknesses that were much closer to their lives, that could hurt the people they knew. Anakin always knew that because of his mother and Kitster, but now he worried about the younglings too. His little sister’s friends gained his aggravated teenage tolerance too.

Master Torr was in steady communication with her colleagues back at the Temple, and few of the discreet shipments of educational copies were lost in shipping. Their Archive here steadily grew with the needs and interests of the younglings.

Lucabbe was studious and introverted enough that she didn’t really challenge Anakin for leadership among the younglings . Obi-Wan doubted she would pursue knighthood like her younger brother Donlat was. Obi-Wan tried to shield his dismay that she was even a greater ti n kerer than Anakin for their Garden and fountains. Agricorps seemed likely for her.

He knew it was his flaw to feel agricorps was failure, but Lucabbe had no real interest in dueling or meeting other cultures like the younger Donlat and Mebue did. Younger Donlat clung to his sister in ways that could flare a s loud as Anakin but Donlat was slowly attaching to Ahsoka and Mebue too. They had time until they started reaching the time for choosing their callings.

Months passed and so would years as the younglings went through their growth spurts.

Until he looked up and realized that most of the younglings were wearing blue instead of tans and browns of the desert.

He tried not to glare at his Padawan, who brightened into a smirk.

“Is something wrong, Master Obi-Wan?” The boy knew but played at innocence.

“I find it disconcerting to find you wearing some kind of uniform without discussing it with me.” Though Obi-Wan consoled himself that it wasn’t the dark hues the future knight favored or black the Sith wore. It was far too warm here to wear darker hues here.

“These are Jedi style robes, Master. We just changed color, that’s all. I mean everyone here wears tans and browns, and Master Jeht’s green looked so wizard.”

At least Tatooine didn’t suffer from fads that swept across Corescant deep enough to affect even Jedi younglings like base jumping off the Temple spires.

Obi-Wan pinched his nose bridge. “Did you speak with Master Torr or your mother about this?”

Anakin grinned. “Mom thinks robes that match our eyes is cute. After all, we’re a little baby Temple like Corellia, why can’t we have blue as sky robes?”

Decades of wearing creams and browns made Obi-Wan run hands through his hair in frustration. “Tradition, Padawan. These robes show our service and responsibility to others on every world, to symbolize that we are humble and unbiased. The more we vary from that standard, the harder for strangers to identify us and believe our goodwill.”

Anakin thought for a moment, frowning. “Does the Corellian Temple have more trouble wearing green?”

“They rarely leave the Corellian system. Did you not long to see all the stars as a Jedi?”

“We’re never leaving this kriffing sand! I’m so sick of it. The people we see for our civics and culture classes don’t all look alike. Why can’t we wear blue if we’re separate from the rest of the Jedi?”

So much was wrapped in that but isolation seemed to dominate.

“I will meditate on that, Padawan, before I make my decision. But you also need to meditate and accept the place sand has in your life. Resenting oxygen or Berthold rays is a waste of your energy.”

Anakin balanced on frustration and glee.

Chapter Text

- Foundation

Without Obi-Wan quite realizing, a standard year had passed since Master Torr and her charges had taken up residence, almost three years after Anakin started his instruction. He was even more startled when a battered ship landed in the landing pad that was carefully unmarked as Jedi territory.

Qui-Gon looked up from the tea he had collected on his last mission. “It seems your venture will be undergoing an inspection...”

The presence had been a comfort over decades, but Obi-Wan was almost shocked that she left the main Temple. He stood, and brushed at his robes, checking on the relative locations of the younger Jedi.

Master Torr had taken them away, keeping contact with Hett’s tribe and encouraging interactions with her charges.

With Anakin and Luke’s troubled histories with these tribes, there was no way the Padawan would be excused from these encounters. Diplomacy was far more than battles and treaties. Anakin was becoming far better with working peoples than he ever absorbed the first time.

Obi-Wan still had hopes that the more Hurley-burley tribal democracy would click more than the elite Senate had in his Padawan’s understanding.

Master Nu stepped out of the transport and looked around the desert plain with an inaudible sniff.

Obi-Wan rose from his bow. “Welcome, Madame Nu. This is an honor for us to host you if you’d like to come inside where it is a bit cooler.”

She took a deeper breath once they moved inside the vapor-lock of the refraction dome and its tiny fountain humidified their common hall. “This is unexpectedly fine for this planet.”

Obi-Wan smiled with his pride. “My Padawan is a gifted mechanical genius. Projects such as these are his form of meditation.”

“Perhaps he would achieve more in the Corps with talent like that--”

Shaking his head before she finished speaking, Obi-Wan objected. “No. He is far too talented in the martial talents and crisis to be satisfied with support roles. He wants to help others and will become a knight for the record books.”

Nu hummed doubtfully. “Rumor has it you see further than Sifo, and he often has had problems with self-fulfilling prophecies.”

Obi-Wan sighs. “I know of that and it may lead to his passing too soon. I’m working on what I hope is a more subtle collection of acts than he would. He believes a grand change can’t be subverted by the Sith.”

“Every life Obi-Wan saves has a ripple effect, Jocasta, he stopped the Sith apprentice to save my life. Every life I save now, every peace I broker is another voice for the Light, and the light grows stronger.” Now Qui-Gon’s voice was as full of pride as Kenobi’s a moment before.

“You, I’d expect to be twisting standards and stymieing the Council, but young Kenobi had always been so biddable.”

“Luminous beings are we, and age is but an illusion.” Obi-Wan was not trying very hard to keep a straight face with his misquote, but he got more serious. “This will not be a lengthy separation.”

“But a spade is a spade, and this is effectively a splinter Temple. A few things need to be codified and negotiated about relations… so to smooth reunification if that is the eventual goal or if you can even be called Jedi any more than those on Jedha.”

Obi-Wan gestured toward the lower underground garden, with its cool fiber and full-spectrum lamps. “For most everything we follow the Council’s edicts. We have fewer areas on contention than Corellia or even Master Altis’s proposals. I believe the Temple is too separated from the people we serve, only the Senate elite is even likely to meet Jedi, let alone know us well enough to trust us. We need connections not just with queens and Senators, but workers, scholars, and the poor, Corps as much as Knights. The Code itself is unchanged, only a few dogmas reinterpreted.”

“The Council is split in its opinion.”

“I understand very well. In that future I hope to prevent, I was on the Council and one of only two Council members who survived the slaughter. The Sith is already in the Senate, so this place is a lifeboat, a seed arcology.”

Madame Nu nodded and noted something on her own padd.

Jinn added, “Calling it a splinter Temple that loosens current age restrictions on younglings, is a useful distinction, Jocasta. My own Master became a Padawan far later than Obi-Wan was allowed. What is too old when some races mature faster or slower? What does it mean if a candidate matured later or sooner due to things not under any control? Occasional contact with birth family is not only harmless but can be beneficial, it’s only an issue if the relationship is exploitation or a ploy for power like the duCrions. Shmi Skywalker had been an excellent untrained creche master before Master Torr’s arrival.”

“That is what I am here for as a representative of the Archives and Council of Reconciliation. I am to evaluate the progress the younglings are making away from the Temple. I will recommend if this... experiment is to be ended, maintained, or expanded. If you are to become an acknowledged sister temple, dogma variance is less an issue as long as it is considered.

Obi-Wan did not want this, it brought too much of the stink of paperwork, and there was no Cody to fill in. He did not want to encourage this kind of permanence just to keep Anakin away from Coruscant for a few more years. But neither did he want continuing ‘oversight’ and interference with his decisions by disagreeing Masters.

He rubbed his still filling in beard and looked at his own Master, not that Qui-Gon could save him. “Very well, I am hereby requesting the foundation of a Sister Temple with myself as Master of the Tatooine Temple. I will provide the list of the handful of changes.”

Soon, Nu studied the list from Obi-Wan’s padd, humming quietly as she read the changes he had discussed heavily with Torr and Jinn.

Obi-Wan wanted to meditate on this for himself. Keeping Anakin away from Palpatine and better in the Light kept spiraling outward to greater changes. He needed to do more than react to people the Force sent his way.

The Order had been playing chess blindly against the Sith, but now the Sith were blind to him. He needed to consider more than isolated ploys like saving Ahsoka and Hett. He needed a strategic ally, a Shadow, or even a non-Jedi who could gather the news he needed about things like Kamino.

Nu frowned at Obi-Wan’s notes.

He also needed to create this school in his non-copious free time training Anakin and preparing for the coming war.

Multipurpose motions. If Anakin wanted the benefit of a splinter Temple’s agency, he would have to undertake the additional effort. Researching and persuasion to ‘get’ his way instead of power, manipulation, or leaving Obi-Wan or his Captain to do Anakin’s paperwork. Anakin needed to absorb that with power and authority came logistics and bureaucracy.

Color of the robes was hopefully a carrot to teach him the consequences of doing things without traditional support.

Rex and Appo will thank him.

Blue robes would be close enough to the standard and Obi-Wan wondered how long until Anakin realized that matched the usual saber color of Guardian blades.

When he looked up, both Nu and Jinn were meditating as well and he waited to resume their discussion. Perhaps she could put him in contact with a strategic-minded Shadow to block or neutralize Sith pawns.

Asaaj deserved a better path too.