Lives & Adventures

by Ryder Windham

  Qui-Gon said, “He is headstrong, and he has much to learn about the living Force, but he is capable. There is little more he will learn from me.”

  Obi-Wan glared at Qui-Gon. First he says I still have much to learn, and now he says this?

  “Decided later young Skywalker’s fate will be,” Yoda said.

  Mace Windu announced that the Senate was voting for a new Supreme Chancellor, and that Queen Amidala planned to return to Naboo and put pressure on the Trade Federation to end the blockade. The Council assigned Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to escort Amidala home, and allowed Qui-Gon to take Anakin with him.

  As Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon prepared to board Amidala’s starship with Anakin and R2-D2, Obi-Wan argued with Qui-Gon. “It is not disrespect, Master, it is the truth.”

  “From your point of view,” Qui-Gon countered.

  “The boy is dangerous,” Obi-Wan said. Referring to the Jedi Council, he added, “They all sense it. Why can’t you?”

  “His fate is uncertain. He’s not dangerous. The Council will decide Anakin’s future. That should be enough for you. Now get on board.”

  Shortly after arriving on Naboo, while Queen Amidala sought military aid from the Naboo’s indigenous Gungan warriors, Obi-Wan conferred with Qui-Gon at the edge of a green forest. Obi-Wan said, “I’m…I’m sorry for my behavior, Master. It’s not my place to disagree with you about the boy. And I am grateful you think I’m ready to take the trials.”

  “You’ve been a good apprentice, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said with a smile. “And you’re a much wiser man than I am. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight.”

  At Theed, a city on Naboo, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon became separated from Anakin when they were attacked by the same black-clad warrior they had encountered on Tatooine. The mysterious enemy, whose yellow-eyed face bore jagged red and black tattoos, quickly revealed that his lightsaber had not one blade, but two. He spun and whipped at the Jedi with intense ferocity, and it was all they could do to keep up with him.

  The duel lasted several brutal minutes, taking the Jedi and their deadly foe from the Theed hangar to the city’s immense power generator. As they moved through a security hallway, the three combatants found themselves temporarily barred from each other by a series of energized barriers. The barriers lifted, allowing Qui-Gon to catch up with their opponent at the edge of the power generator’s virtually fathomless core, but before Obi-Wan could reach his Master’s side, the energy barrier reactivated to stop him in his tracks.

  And then the creature drove his lightsaber straight through Qui-Gon’s chest. Obi-Wan shouted as he saw his Master’s body crumple at the core’s edge. The moment that the energy barrier dropped, Obi-Wan raced forward to attack.

  The enemy was incredibly fast. None of Obi-Wan’s training had prepared him to deal with an opponent like this. They hammered and spun at each other relentlessly, moving back and forth along the core’s edge. Although Obi-Wan wasn’t certain that his Master was dead, he tried to steer his opponent away from the area where Qui-Gon lay motionless on the floor, his lightsaber resting a short distance from his fingertips. Obi-Wan slashed through the handle of his opponent’s weapon, deactivating one of the blades, but the black-clad figure held tight to his own lightsaber’s still-operating half and continued fighting.

  Then the foe used the Force to push at Obi-Wan, striking him with such an impact that he released his lightsaber as he tumbled over the edge and into the core. Obi-Wan reached fast to grab a metal protuberance just below the core’s upper rim. He was still clinging to the rung when his opponent kicked Obi-Wan’s fallen lightsaber into the core. He watched helplessly as his lightsaber fell past him and plunged into the core’s depths.

  Obi-Wan dangled, his arms straining to maintain a grip. Above him, the demonic figure chopped at the air with his red-bladed lightsaber, taunting and daring Obi-Wan to make one final, desperate move. And then Obi-Wan remembered Qui-Gon’s position, and the lightsaber by his side.

  Using the Force, Obi-Wan summoned Qui-Gon’s lightsaber into the air at the same moment that he kicked at the core’s cylindrical wall, launching himself up and out of the core. Obi-Wan caught Qui-Gon’s lightsaber and activated it as he sailed over his opponent. The dark figure spun as Obi-Wan landed and swung Qui-Gon’s blade, and the creature’s evil, tattooed face contorted into an expression of surprise. And then it was the dark figure’s turn to tumble into the pit, and as he fell, his neatly cleaved body separated, bounced off the core’s walls, and vanished.

  Obi-Wan ran to Qui-Gon and carefully elevated his Master’s head. Qui-Gon muttered, “No, it—it’s too late.…”

  “No!” Obi-Wan said, his own voice almost a whimper.

  “Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon gasped as his eyes locked on his apprentice’s face. “Promise—promise me you will train the boy.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Qui-Gon’s fingers trembled as he reached up to brush Obi-Wan’s cheek, and then he said, “He is the Chosen One. He…will bring balance. Train him.”

  Obi-Wan nodded. His Master closed his eyes and died in his arms.

  Obi-Wan had long known that all apprenticeships, one way or another, eventually came to an end. He knew that Jedi were not immortal, that life was unpredictable, and that death was inevitable. He had even imagined the possibility that he would outlive his older Master. But nothing in his experience or imagination had prepared him for Qui-Gon’s last breath, to see the powerful man’s life end with such brutal finality.

  Obi-Wan lowered his head. He felt stunned and deflated, and uncertain of what to do next. For so many years, he had followed Qui-Gon’s lead, but now he was without a Master—and much sooner than he had ever anticipated. He had never felt so alone, as if he had not only lost his closest friend, but his purpose, too. All he could do was try to honor the Jedi who had trained him.

  Then he remembered the promise he had made to Qui-Gon.

  Obi-Wan realized that his Master had not left him alone, and that he had an entirely new purpose to fulfill.

  After becoming separated from the Jedi on Naboo, Anakin Skywalker unintentionally used his temporary hiding space—the cockpit of an N-1 starfighter—to not only engage the Trade Federation invaders but destroy their droid control ship in Naboo’s orbit. The loss of the control ship brought a swift end to the battle.

  Anakin rejoined Obi-Wan just as a transport from Coruscant arrived at Theed. The former Chancellor Palpatine, who had just been elected Supreme Chancellor, led Yoda and the other members of the Jedi Council in a procession from the landed transport. Stopping before Obi-Wan and Anakin, Palpatine said, “We are indebted to you for your bravery, Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Then Palpatine lowered his gaze to Anakin and added, “And you, young Skywalker. We will watch your career with great interest.” He clapped the boy on the shoulder, then walked on to confer with Queen Amidala.

  Later, as the sun was setting over Theed, Obi-Wan met with Yoda in a chamber at the Queen’s palace. The room was lined with tall windows that looked out upon skies displaying a wide range of indigo, castle-like clouds. Obi-Wan knelt on the ornately inlaid floor while Yoda, holding a short walking staff, paced back and forth.

  Yoda said, “Confer on you, the level of Jedi Knight, the council does.” Stopping to face Obi-Wan, he continued, “But agree with your taking this boy as your Padawan learner…I do not.”

  “Qui-Gon believed in him,” Obi-Wan said.

  Yoda sighed. “The Chosen One, the boy may be. Nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training.”

  “Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin.”

  “Ohh!” Yoda grunted, then turned and resumed pacing.

  “Without the approval of the Council, if I must.”

  Facing away from Obi-Wan, Yoda said, “Qui-Gon’s defiance I sense in you. Need that you do not.” He paused, then added, “Agree with you, the Council does.” Turning to face Obi-Wan again, he said, “Your apprentice, Skywalker will be.”

  A funeral pyre was prepared for
Qui-Gon Jinn on Theed. All the members of the Jedi Council were in attendance, as were Palpatine, Queen Amidala, other dignitaries of Naboo, and the droid R2-D2. Obi-Wan stood beside Anakin, who was unaware of his recent conversation with Yoda. Anakin had believed that Qui-Gon might look after him, and Obi-Wan could tell from the boy’s pained expression that he believed his own future had died with Qui-Gon.

  Lifting his gaze to Obi-Wan, Anakin asked, “What will happen to me now?”

  Obi-Wan had not changed his belief that the boy was dangerous, but he also knew that Qui-Gon would not have wasted his last words on anything insignificant. If Qui-Gon had believed that Anakin was the Chosen One, then Obi-Wan felt compelled to at least allow the possibility. He had to trust that Qui-Gon had been right about Anakin, that the boy could be trained, because otherwise…Obi-Wan suddenly realized he couldn’t even consider an alternative. I won’t fail Qui-Gon.

  “The Council have granted me permission to train you,” Obi-Wan said solemnly. “You will be a Jedi. I promise.”

  And with that, Anakin’s fate was sealed.

  Obi-Wan was surprised and annoyed when he didn’t find Anakin in his quarters at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He’s supposed to be practicing his meditation exercises, Obi-Wan thought. Where could he be?

  Several weeks had passed since Obi-Wan had taken Anakin as his Padawan. Although Anakin was mostly eager to please, his impulsive nature frequently tried Obi-Wan’s patience. Anakin had been repeatedly instructed not to leave his quarters without first notifying Obi-Wan of his destination, but three Jedi Masters had already found the boy wandering and exploring various area of the Temple. There are some rules he simply must obey, Obi-Wan thought. Why won’t he listen to me?

  Outside Anakin’s quarters stretched a long corridor with windows that overlooked the megalopolis of Coruscant City. Obi-Wan had walked only a short distance through the corridor when he spied two figures beyond an open doorway, standing on an outdoor balcony and facing away from him. One figure was Anakin. The other was a lean male humanoid, about Obi-Wan’s height, who wore a bizarre, head-concealing goggled mask, and a belted tunic over arm and leg wrappings that left no flesh exposed; attached to his belt were two lightsabers.

  As Obi-Wan approached the balcony, he caught Anakin in the middle of asking a stream of questions while the masked figure stood silently, watching the stars emerge over the vast cityscape. “You’re from Tatooine, too?” Anakin said to his unresponsive companion. “Can you understand Basic? You might not believe this, but not too long ago, I actually saved a Tusken Raider’s life! I found him when I was out in the Xelric Draw. He was a bit bigger than you. Maybe he’s a friend of yours? Do you know where the Xelric Draw is? Or maybe your people have another name for it? Did you ever see—?”

  Obi-Wan stepped out onto the balcony and said, “Good evening.”

  Both Anakin and the masked humanoid turned to face Obi-Wan. Anakin said, “Hello, Obi-Wan—I mean, Master.” Then he exclaimed, “Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I was. I just wanted to, uh, stretch my legs, but then I met, um—” Anakin gestured to the masked figure beside him.

  Obi-Wan bowed slightly and said, “I am Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

  Before the figure could respond, Anakin interjected, “I think he’s a Tusken Raider from Tatooine!” Pointing to the weapons at the Tusken’s belt, Anakin added, “But he’s a Jedi too, like us. Only he has two lightsabers.”

  Indeed, the quiet figure on the balcony was, by all appearances, a Tusken Raider. Obi-Wan could see his own reflection as he peered into the red lenses of the Tusken Jedi’s goggles. “Please forgive my impetuous Padawan’s manners,” Obi-Wan said. “We welcome you to the Jedi Order, A’Sharad Hett.”

  The masked figure bowed back. Anakin looked at Obi-Wan and said, “You know his name?”

  Obi-Wan nodded. He had already been briefed about the recent mission of the Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi, who had been sent to Tatooine to investigate a report of a Tusken Raider who wielded a lightsaber. The “Tusken” was in fact Sharad Hett, a Jedi of almost legendary status who—along with his illustrious lightsaber—had mysteriously vanished just over fifteen years earlier. According to Ki-Adi-Mundi, it was by the will of the Force that Sharad Hett wound up on Tatooine, adopted the ways of the Tusken Raiders, lived with them, and ultimately became a tribal leader. He also sired a son, A’Sharad Hett, whom he trained in the ways of the Jedi.

  Tragically, during Ki-Adi-Mundi’s mission, Sharad Hett was mortally wounded by the bounty hunter Aurra Sing. Sharad Hett’s last request was for Ki-Adi-Mundi to take fifteen-year-old A’Sharad back to the Jedi Temple to complete his training.

  Obi-Wan said, “Your father was a great Jedi, A’Sharad Hett. Your loss is our loss.”

  A’Sharad Hett bowed his head in return. Through his breath mask, his reply came out as a low rasp. “Thank you, Master Kenobi.”

  “He talks!” Anakin said. Obi-Wan glared reproachfully at Anakin, who quickly added, “Sorry. It’s just that, well, he hadn’t said a word up till now.”

  “I doubt you let him get a word in edgewise,” Obi-Wan said. “And speaking of remaining silent, you should be meditating right now, not bothering A’Sharad Hett.”

  “The boy does not bother me,” A’Sharad rasped in a flat, lifeless tone. “He is from Tatooine. To hear him speak of our homeworld…his perspective…it is interesting.”

  Obi-Wan smiled at this. “As you were, then,” he said. “But just for ten more minutes.”

  As Obi-Wan left the balcony, he heard Anakin resume speaking. “So, did you ever watch the Podraces? Believe it or not, I won the Boonta Eve Classic! I think some Tuskens shot at me during the race, but I’m guessing that wasn’t you, right? Hey, did you ever see a krayt dragon…?”

  More than fifteen minutes passed before Anakin finally returned to his quarters, where he found Obi-Wan seated in a chair, waiting for him.

  “Sorry I’m late, Master,” Anakin said as his door slid shut behind him. “You know A’Sharad Hett’s teacher, Ki-Adi-Mundi? Well, he came out to talk with us. They’re going on a mission to Malastare! But the reason I’m late is that when Ki-Adi-Mundi found out that I know all about the Podraces on Malastare, he wound up asking me a whole lot of questions about the Phoebos Run. That’s the biggest race they have on Malastare, and…”

  Obi-Wan remained silent but lifted his eyebrows slightly, waiting for Anakin to finish.

  “And…anyway,” Anakin finished, “I just wanted to help.”

  “I’m sure Ki-Adi-Mundi appreciated that,” Obi-Wan said. “I also hope you have found a new friend in A’Sharad Hett. He seems to be a very good listener.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Obi-Wan was about to reprimand his Padawan for skipping his meditation exercises when he noticed Anakin’s expression change, a certain sadness about in his eyes. Anakin said, “I was just thinking about A’Sharad Hett, wearing that mask and having all his skin covered up…never being able to touch things with his fingers or feel air against his face. Why would anyone do that?”

  “You know more about Tuskens than I,” Obi-Wan said, “but I believe it’s simply their tradition.”

  “But he’s a Jedi now.”

  Obi-Wan shrugged slightly and said, “Then I suppose it’s his choice.”

  “Well, I know I could never live like that.”

  “No one’s asking you to,” Obi-Wan said with a grin. “However,” he continued, more seriously, “I am asking you to keep up with your meditation exercises. They are very important. And so long as it is my duty to train you, so it is your duty to learn from me. Agreed?”

  There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Anakin replied, “Yes, Master.”

  Obi-Wan wasn’t sure, but he thought he detected a hint of resentment in Anakin’s voice. He hadn’t considered that Anakin, because of his experience on Tatooine, might be sensitive to calling anyone Master. Obi-Wan sighed, then said, “Please don’t think it gives me pleasure to admonish you, Padawan
. I can only imagine what it was like for you to grow up as a slave, and I—”

  “Do you ever miss your mother?” Anakin interrupted.

  The question caught Obi-Wan off guard, but he recovered fast to answer, “No. No, I don’t. I never knew her, not really. I was still an infant when I arrived here, at the Temple.”

  “Then maybe we can make a deal,” Anakin said, and Obi-Wan could tell that the boy was trying to keep his voice from trembling. “You won’t feel sorry for me because I was once a slave, and I won’t feel sorry for you because you don’t miss your mother.”

  Again, Obi-Wan was not quite sure how to respond, but he decided it was not the time to discuss the dangers of forming personal attachments that might impair a Jedi’s judgments and actions. Instead, he rose from his seat and said, “You have reminded me, Padawan, that we have much to learn from each other. For now, please trust that I do not feel sorry for you about your past, or for anything else.”

  “Then it’s a deal,” Anakin said, extending his hand to Obi-Wan.

  Obi-Wan still questioned the logic of Anakin’s deal, but smiled as he shook the boy’s hand anyway. “The hour is late,” Obi-Wan said. “Perhaps tomorrow you can tell me some Podracing stories.”

  Immediately brightening, Anakin said, “Maybe we should go to Malastare too!”

  “Patience, Padawan,” Obi-Wan said. “Patience.”

  Reflecting on his apprenticeship with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi knew that he had not always been the most obedient student. In fact, he had even been occasionally foolhardy. Now, ten years after Obi-Wan had begun training Anakin Skywalker, he appreciated Qui-Gon as a teacher even more. As stubborn and independent as Qui-Gon had been regarding the Jedi Code, he also had been patient and generous, two attributes that Obi-Wan found himself increasingly lacking.

  Sometimes, it seemed difficult to teach Anakin anything. He had recently turned twenty, and despite Obi-Wan’s training, Anakin still let his emotions—especially fear and anger—get the better of him. The faintest praise could make him beam with pride, while the slightest criticism would make him petulant and resentful. Obi-Wan was even more concerned when Anakin confided that he had been having nightmares about his mother dying on Tatooine.