Falling from Grace 5/16

by Christina, kenobijedione@yahoo.com

Rating: this chapter PG

Warnings, disclaimers, etc. in part 1

Chapter 5: Sena Halicourt & a kitty named Kenobi

The Jedi decided that the day was much too glorious to waste, so they decided to do their exercises outside. Light sabers ignited, blades humming, they parried, Obi-Wan keeping an easy pace at first until he sensed a restlessness about his Padawan. He sped up his thrusts, electricity crackling and sizzling as blue-white blade met green-white blade in clash after clash. Soon, the two young men were moving at such a dizzying speed, it would be hard for one without Force sensitivity to make sense of where one swing ended and the other began. After about fifteen minutes of laborious battle, Obi-Wan backed off, ducking to avoid one last blow from his talented apprentice before shutting down his weapon. Both men were panting and dripping with perspiration, but Obi-Wan smiled readily at his Padawan.

"I am very proud of you, Anakin. That was probably the most successful exercise we've had thus far."

Anakin smiled, basking in his Master's praise. He was completely enamored by the way Obi-Wan fought, combining grace and subtlety with such force and emotion that it usually confused the opponent quickly, weakening their defenses until they were broken down so far they resigned. Obi-Wan could mystify even the quickest of attackers, throwing so much raw emotion into the act of defending that it left little room for doubt as to who would prevail.

"Master, that means the world coming from you," he replied, pushing his sweat soaked hair off of his forehead and flopping down into the grass, sheerly exhausted.

Obi-Wan smiled, sitting next to his Padawan and stretching his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle. "You are getting very quick in your defenses," he mused aloud. "Turning the battle around is the key to victory. Never begin as the aggressor, but ensure that you end that way."

Anakin nodded solemnly, tipping his face up to the sun, allowing it to warm the sweat from his skin. "Yes, Master," he said softly, thinking of words Master Windu had told him after he'd been reprimanded for starting a fight at the Academy.

Aggression is the path to the Dark Side, young Skywalker. You must never begin a battle, only end them. Fighting for revenge weakens the Force.

He sighed. It seemed so easy for Jedi like his Master, and the Masters that sat on the Council to remain in control, even in the face of madness. It was not so easy for him. He sought revenge when he was hurt, as naturally as it was to breathe. He could not help it. Anakin heard his Master shift next to him and realized he was projecting his thoughts to him.

"I'm sorry, Master. I must focus on the present," Anakin corrected himself.

Obi-Wan laughed and shook his head. "Master Qui-Gon would tell you that I am the first to lose focus of the present at the expense of the past or future," he admitted. "He constantly told me to keep my focus on the here and now. It was very hard for me then and is still a challenge."

Anakin smiled gratefully at his Master. Sometimes it was nice to hear that Obi-Wan wasn't the perfect Jedi, as everyone seemed to think. He had faults as his Padawan did, and knew there were actions that came with being a Jedi that were hard to practice. His Master surprised him by continuing.

"You were thinking about acting in revenge," he surmised. "Master Windu is right. It is the duty of the Jedi to end battles, not to begin them. We are keepers of peace and order, and we must never lose sight of that. But there are times when every Jedi slips, and it does not mean we are destined for the Dark Side. The challenge is not the mistake, it's the admittance of that mistake and the journey along the right path again."

"Have you ever fought for revenge, Master?"

Kenobi inhaled sharply, hesitant to discuss the battle with the Sith in which his Master was killed. He waited a few moments then reached into his apprentice's mind, reconnecting the bond there and surrounding himself with his trust for the boy. Finally, he spoke. "I fought for revenge when I killed the Sith that killed Master Qui-Gon," he revealed quietly.

Anakin's eyes widened and he looked over at his Master. He did not speak, only stared, and his Master seemed far away, back on the Imperial Destroyer on that fateful day.

"I was stuck behind the infrared beams, powerless while my Master fought that monster," Obi-Wan revealed. "I watched, unable to assist, as the Sith plunged his light saber into Master Qui-Gon's stomach. I watched as my father fell to the ground, I heard his painful scream that I still hear in my dreams to this day. Then, I paced the infrared cage like a wild animal, aching to be released so that I could exact my revenge on the Sith. I paced and stared, hatred crawling over me and through me and out of me. I did nothing to stop it. I did not meditate as a good Jedi should. I hated. I salivated. I pictured his death. I planned and plotted it. It was all I could do from electrocuting myself by racing through that beam. When it finally released, I attacked, more fiercely than I ever have before. I fought faster, harder, with more hatred than I knew I was capable of. I was so angry that I lost sight of my opponent and he knocked my light saber away from me. Then he kicked me over the ledge and as I held on for dear life, he stared over me, telling me with his eyes that he liked killing my Master and he was going to like killing me even more. But it wasn't my destiny to die. I called Master Qui-Gon's light saber to my hand and flipped back over the ledge. Then, I killed the Sith the same way he had struck my Master, and I enjoyed it. A thrill ran through me, a thrill only reserved for that of Dark Jedi. But I didn't care, Anakin. I didn't care about anything at that moment except watching the creature who had killed my Master suffer the same fate."

He stopped talking abruptly and sighed. Anakin looked across the peaceful lawn, absorbing every gruesome detail his Master had just imparted to him. His mind swam. No one would ever believe Obi-Wan was capable of such hatred. But at the same time, it didn't surprise Anakin in the least. His Master was one of the most passionate Jedi he'd encountered. He wasn't nearly as serene as Master Qui-Gon, or nearly as in tune with the Force as Master Windu. He was impulsive and emotional, stubborn and belligerent, all traits not commonly associated with Jedi Knights. Outwardly, Obi-Wan was a perfect Jedi example. However, if one was lucky enough to get to know him, his personality traits were revealed that some Jedi would call faults. But not Anakin. Never Anakin. He loved his Master, more than anyone in the whole world. He respected him as a Jedi and as a man. And more respect now that Obi-Wan revealed his secret to him. It was uncommon of a Master to admit any faults to student, for fear that it would instill in the student that shortcomings were okay. But Anakin knew that

***

Laughter filtered into the foyer as the two Jedi returned into the cottage to seek showers and rest. Obi-Wan looked at Anakin and shrugged, following the delicate sounds until they were upon Kalyia and another girl in the sitting room, lounging in the splashes of sun and playing with an orange tabby. Obi-Wan smiled. He knew that cat. He'd found it as a kitten on the way to the Palace years ago. It had looked as wet, torn and dirty as he had. It had mewed as pitifully as he felt, and had followed him all the way to the front gate until he had no choice but to pick it up and carry it inside. The Princess had fallen head over heels for the pathetic creature instantly. Later, in a playful moment, she'd named it Kenobi, after Obi-Wan described it's melancholic journey to the Palace where it resulted in finding peace and joy.

The girls looked up, surprised at seeing the two sweaty young men at the entryway of the sitting room. Kalyia seemed ready to get up, then Kenobi jumped on her and she laughed, petting the purring feline and lounging backwards again. She opened her mouth, about to make the proper introductions when Anakin startled them all and spoke first.

"Sena?"

The Princess' friend sat up a little straighter, and Kalyia studied her, wondering if she saw a slight blush color the girl's cheeks. Yes, she did. The Princess stole a quick glance at Anakin, who showed no such embarrassment, but definitely seemed to know the girl. Finally, she settled her gaze on Obi-Wan, who seemed just as surprised as she that the two were acquainted.

"Hey, Anakin," the Princess' friend finally muttered, turning her attention to the cat on Kalyia's lap, stroking it's hind quarters thoughtfully. Finally, the girl gained her wits about her and smiled. "Fancy running into you here, huh?"

The younger Jedi sniffed at the slight understatement and looked at his feet. "Yeah, well--" He didn't seem to know what else to say. Reaching out with the Force, he touched his Master's mind and found that the link between them was already mobilized, Obi-Wan probing to him for information.

You are familiar with the Princess' friend, Padawan?
You could say that, Master. A slight blush colored the boy's cheeks.

Obi-Wan sighed. A girl you, no doubt, broke the heart of one morning, Padawan. His tone might have been reproachful, if Obi-Wan himself were not guilty of such indelicacies. Instead, he seemed to be projecting amusement at this uncomfortable situation.

I didn't even wait until morning, Master, Anakin revealed, then added, you're quite the stickler about curfews you know.

Obi-Wan bit his lip and tried not to laugh aloud. Instead he settled his gaze on Kalyia, who merely shrugged and stood, bringing the cat over to Obi-Wan. She stood beside him, still holding the feline and allowing the Jedi to stroke it's head as its purring became even louder.

"Well, since you and Anakin seem to know each other, I'll skip those introductions. Sena, this is Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan, my good friend Sena Halicourt."

The girl nodded at the older man and smiled brightly. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jedi Kenobi. Lord knows I've heard enough about you."

Obi-Wan smiled triumphantly at this utterance and felt Kalyia shoot her friend a paralyzing look. He bit back his chuckle once again. The Princess' friend amended.

"I mean, you are little Kenobi's namesake, aren't you?" she asked, gesturing toward the cat.

"His namesake and his founder," Obi-Wan replied, moving to take the cat from Kalyia's arms and cradling it in his own. The tabby curled into a ball against the Jedi's sweat soaked tunic and closed it's eyes, instantly relaxing in the arms of it's savior.

Anakin laughed. "That cat's name is Kenobi?"

Kalyia nodded and returned to the love seat she was lounging on previously. "Your Master found it in an alley near the Palace grounds. It followed him all the way there, mewing pitifully and nipping at his heels. He finally softened at the gates, unable to let the poor creature suffer outside. He brought it to me, and I couldn't resist such a pitiable face."

Kalyia smiled, then laughter bubbled to her lips. "I couldn't resist the cat either," she amended, drawing laughter from her friends as well. "Anyway, it seemed fitting to name it Kenobi, after all, their facades were one and the same at the time." She paused, studying Obi-Wan intently, ignoring all other presence’s in the room. Finally, she added softly, "he's been a loyal friend ever since."

Obi-Wan looked up and cocked an eyebrow at the Princess. Anakin rolled his eyes and sighed. "I suppose I should get that shower--" he began, shifting on his feet and suddenly uncomfortable.

Sena spoke up. "We watched you practice for a little bit earlier," she revealed, looking from Master to Apprentice.

Kalyia narrowed her eyes. She was more like admiring Master and Apprentice. The Princess decided to find out exactly why and how her friend and Anakin Skywalker knew each other. She surmised it was more than casual acquaintance around Courscant. A ripple of possessiveness flowed through her and she tried desperately to push it away. So what if Sena knew Skywalker? What should she care? But somehow she did.

Kenobi felt eyes on him and he looked up from the cat, finding Kalyia's friend staring at him openly. He cleared his throat and nodded. "We decided to do our morning exercises outside today," he revealed, turning his gaze toward Kalyia's. "I hope that's okay."

Kalyia tore her eyes from her friend who was looking at Obi-Wan like she wanted to pounce on him. Now that bothered her. She took a few calming breaths and smiled at the Jedi. "It's fine," she muttered. "You were very entertaining until we got dizzy watching you."

Obi-Wan laughed and nodded toward his Padawan. "It was a very successful practice today," he said proudly, drawing a smile from Anakin. "I do not fear for your safety while you have this one watching out for you, Princess."

Anakin smiled broadly at the open praise from his Master. Kalyia smiled as well, a warm feeling washing over her. Obi-Wan knew how much it meant to the boy to be boosted in ego in front of people. He was sweet to do it even though it was very, Kalyia knew, unlike him to do so. He usually reserved speaking candidly about people for one-on-one conversations.

"I don't either," she said softly, standing once again to take the sleeping cat from Kenobi. It was limp in her arms and she lifted the feline, looking into it's face with a concerned gaze. "Did you do some mind thing on this poor cat?" she accused playfully, throwing a glance toward Obi-Wan.

He held out his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "No way, it just likes me," he protested, laughing as he and his Apprentice backed out of the room in search of a hot shower and meditation time.

Kalyia snorted as she watched them go. "Right," she muttered to her friend, sparking laughter from the girl as she settled back onto the couch.