Chapter One
Summary:
The Galaxy has changed. The Clone Wars ended abruptly and all at once with the death of Darth Sidious at the hands of Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu.
Obi Wan Kenobi is struggling with the monumental shifts in the last few months. His former Padawan is a Jedi no more, Ahsoka Tano is on Mandalore, helping the newly appointed Duchess, and his beloved Commander has left the GAR to travel the galaxy with his brothers.
In all the change, Obi Wan struggles to find his place in the shifting galaxy, republic, and Jedi order.
Excerpt:
Obi Wan wiped his hand down his face as he exited the Jedi Council chamber. The hot Coruscant sun was beating down on the room, and while the climate was controlled and pleasant enough, he felt the scorching heat on the back of his neck like a warning.
“Master Kenobi.” Master Windu called after him. Obi Wan huffed out a sigh and turned.
“Master Windu, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Master Windu looked down at him with a stern and serious expression but gave no hint of what was going on behind his dark eyes. No change there, Obi Wan thought.
“Walk with me.” Windu demanded curtly as he followed the path of the other council members, flitting off to various areas of the temple, either to meditate, study, train, or even sleep.
Obi Wan fell into step with the taller man, brushing at his beard as a force of habit more than anything.
“You were quiet in there today, Obi Wan. You have been for the last few weeks.” Mace Windu said, his tone becoming more familiar and friendly, streaked with concern.
“It’s unlike you to lament my silence, Master Windu. I thought perhaps you’d appreciate my ability to let others get a word in.” Obi Wan replied, his lips twitching into a smile, a rare occurrence these days.
Mace looked around and stopped, turning to his fellow Jedi, the wrinkles on his forehead prominent. “It’s unlike you, old friend. I know the last few months have been…” he paused and glanced out of a nearby window as though searching for a word to sum up the gravity of the recent turn of events, “…trying. But now is when we need you more than ever. Do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed by…”
“I am doing no such thing, Master. I assure you. I am simply…” Obi Wan sighed and looked down at his feet before finally meeting his friend’s gaze. “We came so close, Mace, to utter destruction and we continue on as though nothing has happened. We are not discussing the things that need to be said. And I cannot in good conscience indulge in the discourse of the Senate as though a catastrophe of our own making, of my own making, didn’t almost befell us.”
The grief Obi Wan had struggled to keep at bay for weeks now threatened to bubble up. He swallowed the bile in his throat and looked away, taking another deep breath and centering himself in the force.
“You are not responsible for Skywalker, Obi Wan. You did everything you could for the boy. You still do, even with his resignation from the order.”
“He may not have resigned at all had he had a better Master. And perhaps, Ahsoka would still be amongst us if that were the case as well.”
“Enough.” Windu growled. “I will not stand here and have you berate yourself, Obi Wan. You are a good man. A good jedi. You did your best and your teachings, your connection with Skywalker is what averted tragedy. Don’t forget that. Palpatine lost, because of you. Give yourself credit where credit is due, and for goodness sake, get some rest.”
Obi Wan huffed out another breath and ran his hand through his hair. “It’s too quiet. I can’t…it’s not the same since…”
Mace Windu gave a rare chuckle and clapped Obi Wan on the shoulder, “Don’t tell me you miss the war, Kenobi.”
Obi Wan smiled halfheartedly and shook his head, behind his eyes a brief flicker of yellow painted armor, distorted voices and a firm, “boss” in his ear. “No, indeed not. But we must be prepared. A reckoning will come for us all when the dust settles and I’m not entirely sure we have an excuse enough to match it.”
Mace Windu sighed again and shook his head. “Were you this maudlin during the war?” he asked.
Obi Wan fixed him with a harsh stare, “Mace, we were unknowingly led by the Sith for years, entrapped in an illegal war. We gave up our autonomy as a people, our morals, our code, all for a war that was created to end us. Men were made to fight for us in a war that didn’t matter. How many died, Mace? How many injured? and now, months later, the senate still can’t decide if Clones should count as sentient or not. We crossed the line, we crossed the code, and I’m not sure we will ever be able to repay the price for what has become of us as an order.”
Mace Windu blinked his dark eyes at him and crossed his arms protectively over his chest. “We made the best decisions we could with the information we had, Obi Wan.”
“Yes,” Obi Wan agreed softly, “and we were still wrong.”
Mace Windu huffed out a disgruntled sigh.
Obi Wan nodded curtly, “Good afternoon, Master.” He said formerly as he walked on towards the lift. He felt a sharp painful thump behind his right eyes and sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that hour.
