Chapter Text
Obi wan Kenobi had been working the last few hours on new light saber forms with his master Qui-Gon Jinn when the older Jedi left the arena to answer a call from Master Windu.
“I will return shortly Obi Wan. The council wants to meet with me alone for a moment. “ He turned to leave but stopped abruptly. “Just feel the moves and stay in the moment. You are over thinking it.”
“Yes, Master” the younger jedi replied. Qui-Gon would always be a teacher, even when he wasn’t the padawan thought. “I will still be here where you get back no doubt.” He didn’t have to say it. He knew it was expected. But it didn’t matter, expected or not Obi-wan would stay there until he got it right even if it meant he didn’t sleep that night. He was after all a perfectionist. He was grateful for every lesson and he would not ever give Qui-Gon a reason to ever doubt his decision to train him.
He concentrated on his forms again. He knew the reason for them but he didn’t really understand his master’s advice. He liked to prepare for all possible outcomes, to be ready to move when they come not to simpy go with pure feeling. There had to be a place for everything. He would learn the living force, because Qui-Gon wanted him too and he saw the value in it but in real life situations he knew he would fall back on his natural instincts and abilities. His conncetion to the unifying force was just as real as his master’s was to the living force. The Force was after all the Force.
Qui-Gon returned an hour later and discovered Obi-wan had moved from forms to sparring with another padawan and doing well until he became aware of his master’s presense and lost his concentration. He dropped his lightsaber and rubbed his arm mindlessly. It was a low setting but the blade still cut.
“Come,” Qui-Gon said impassively. “We have been given an assignment and don’t have long before we leave.” The pair returned to their apartment in silence.
As soon as the door opened Qui-Gon broke the silence. “I apologize for the delay as that went on much longer than I expected. Pack quickly as we are headed to Kal-lus.”
Obi-Wan felt his blood run cold but shielded it well. He did not want a lecture about childhood fantasy and ghost stories. He heard several stories about that planet and was unsure how many were actually true. He knew for a fact that few Jedi visited that planet and doubted any of them had after the great war with the sith. He wasn’t sure why though. He was certain about the look of concern in his master’s eyes.
“there has been civil unrest and the only thing the leaders of each faction have agreed on is that they want Jedi mediators to participate in the peace talks.” He continued unmoved by his padawan’s emotion. “They feel we are the only ones in the galaxy who can truly be impartial. I have been asked to go because the council feels I will be least likely to be affected by the planet’s unique…makeup due to my connection with the living force. Master Yoda himself will not go. He and many of the council are opposed to you joining me, however, I think it will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn and work on your skills in that area. I will not force you to come. The choice is completely yours. “
“I will join you master.” He was eager to get away from the temple for a while. He was curious about the planet now more than ever and wanted to prove himself to his master and to Yoda.
“Very well. Pack your things quickly as we will be taking the next transport. I will fill you in on the details of the mission as well as the actual history of the planet. There are many legends around it.” He looked at his padawan in the eye. “I assure you that is all they are, Obi-wan.”
Obi-wan had been restless the whole trip and when they were a few light years out they finally had a few minutes alone. “Master admittedly I know very little about about the planet but I have heard the legends and legends are at least based in fact. What is the real reason we avoided this part of the galaxy for so many years?”
The older jedi laughed. “I assure you there are no ghosts. At least not the ones younglings are talking about when they discuss them. Jedi and other force sensitive beings avoid it because the Force is so strong there. It simply can get overwhelming. It has been reported that even those who do not feel the Force are aware of something out of the ordinary when they are there. Things happen that they can not explain and they even feel a connection to the planet itself at times. That is no doubt where the ghost stories come from. The natives either aren’t force sensitive at all or have become so used to it that they simply ignore it. They cant understand why we haven’t been and are hesitant to come now. “
“Why does master Yoda avoid it” He asked, and why was he opposed to me coming?” He thought but did not say.
“He has business elsewhere and he always delegates these outer rim missions unless they specifically request him. And to answer the question you didn’t ask, while they are no departed spirits lingering on the planet there are ghosts. Force Ghosts to be exact-“
He was about to say more when they came to an abrupt halt followed by the sound of blaster fire. “Oh look, the welcoming committee” Qui-Gon said laughing.