JEDI KNIGHT OBI-WAN KENOBI (G)

Young Obi-Wan Kenobi was not particularly pleased with himself, if he had to be honest. Having ascended to the Knighthood after the events on Naboo, he could do nothing but think of his late Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who had died during a fight to the death against the Sith known as Darth Maul, a Zabrak from the planet of Dathomir.

On that same occasion, Kenobi had lost his own lightsaber, despite himself, and had been forced to use the weapon of the fallen Jinn in order to confront and finally defeat, or so it seemed, his adversary, cutting him in two and dropping him into the shaft where, shortly before, the Jedi himself had risked losing his life at the hands of his adversary.

As per tradition, the body of a fallen Jedi, whether he was a Padawan, a Knight or a Master, was cremated along with his weapon and clothing, with the ashes placed inside urns stored in the vaults of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. At that moment Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber, equipped with a brilliant green blade when in use, was in Kenobi’s hands, and he stared with painful intensity at the pyre on which the body of the man who had been like a father to him during his long apprenticeship, which had lasted a dozen years.

At his left side, the hilt of a new lightsaber, personally constructed by the Knight during the journey back to Coruscant, was proudly displayed suspended from the leather belt that cinched his waist, above his tunic and trousers of different sand-coloured hues. The cloak (of a colour tending to brown), which usually accompanied the typical attire of a Jedi, had been momentarily abandoned in the spartan quarters assigned to Kenobi as he arrived at the Temple with Anakin Skywalker and the body of his own Master preserved in cryostasis.

It was hard to see a Jedi, of any rank, in such disarray, but in Kenobi’s case he could be forgiven, at least on this occasion, for the momentary lack of decorum: as much as Jedi were trained not to be consumed by the more negative or Dark Side-related feelings, such as grief or hatred, it was obviously understandable his state of mind and the inner struggle he was fighting to the best of his ability. A battle the Knight had been facing since his beloved Master had died in his arms on Naboo.

Kenobi was not alone: recognising that he found himself in a situation of deep emotional stress, despite all his attempts at meditation and grief management, he had humbly sought the guidance of one of the oldest, wisest and most experienced Masters within the Jedi Order, Yoda, who boasted just under 800 years of life behind him. Instead, Skywalker had been housed for the occasion with the other Padawans of his age, joined by one of the Knights within the Temple to be provided with clothing and hairstyles suitable for his new and official status as a Jedi apprentice.

«Still in turmoil your mind is, young Knight,» Master Yoda pointed out to him, not without kindness. Kenobi nodded sadly, «I have been trying to meditate for a long time, during the journey that brought us back to Coruscant, Master. I do not believe I was able to accept Master Qui-Gon’s death.» He looked at the hilt of the lightsaber he held in his hands: «As much as I have a weapon of my own once again, I feel no small difficulty in parting with this weapon, an important piece of Qui-Gon.»

Yoda nodded, silent, pondering for a long time before replying to the young Knight: «Lit the pyre will be in a few hours, Obi-Wan. Time to meditate together we have: to the right path of healing, this may help you.» Kenobi nodded, grateful to the other Jedi for the offered hand: «I thank you deeply, Master.»

The other nodded as they walked towards one of the special rooms: «The sword of Qui-Gon with you carry. Important it will be, for the meditation exercise we will perform.» He turned briefly to the human, though he knew what the other’s reply would be: «Are you sure you’re wanting young Skywalker to train?» Kenobi did indeed nod, his facial features briefly losing the lines of uncertainty and pain that made him look more mature and older than his age. He was going to be an excellent Jedi, perhaps one of the most powerful, as he had the right skills. Although he disagreed with Jinn about the young Skywalker, Kenobi would do anything to fulfill his promise to his Master, however fate would choose to show itself.

If indeed Skywalker would prove to be the Chosen One, as Jinn had believed after some study and analysis, the only person capable of guiding him would probably be Kenobi himself, despite his young age and lack of experience as a Knight and Master. Accompanied by these thoughts, Yoda ushered the young Knight into a small but cosy room at the side of the mortuary, seating him on one of the cushions and beginning to guide him through a series of meditative exercises of increasing difficulty.