Archive: master_apprentice, and my homepage only. Anyone else,
just ask.
Rating: NC-17 (A/U) (Since Obi-Wan's background is made up)
Warnings: Repressive Government
Spoilers: None for this part
Summary: When taking Maybeus to his parents, Obi-Wan decide
that he would like to find out about his parents.
Feedback: Feedback is wonderful! I beg and grovel for feedback!
:) Really, all feedback is welcome
Thanks to: ShannyK for Beta'ing this!
Notes on Story:
The Male Laws are based on the Talaban of Afganistan. There is
no value judgements made about these laws in the story or
myself personally.
The male tax is based on several cultures. Thousands of girl
babies simply 'vanish' every year. Because a family can't
afford the dowery on more then one girl. No dowery, no getting
rid of the girl. So the child vanishes. India now has more
males then females.
The use of the word hypospray is a term used by the author to
describe a method of injections. If the author can ever find
out the real name used by Star Wars cannon, she will change the
word in her story.
Part One: Learning
Obi-Wan Kenobi walked through the Ahwatukee spaceport with his
master. Young Maybeus walked beside Obi-Wan, holding his hand.
There was something strange about this place. There where woman
of many species milling about, but no men.
"Where are the men?" Obi-Wan wondered aloud.
"They are here, Padawan." Qui-Gon said.
"I can't see them." said Maybeus.
Qui-Gon nodded towards a woman who had three people dressed
head to foot in indigo, with even their faces covered in the
blue cloth. "Those are men."
"Why are they wearing those clothes?" the boy asked.
Qui-Gon knelt beside the child. He pulled the boy's hood up, so
that his face was covered. "It is the tradition of this planet
for men to be covered."
"Will I have to wear covering all the time?"
"You'll be living in the alien zone. You don't have to wear
veils in that area." Qui-Gon stood up and smoothed his cowl
back into place, so that his face wasn't reveled. "Are you sure
you want to go to this place, Obi-Wan?"
"Why wouldn't I? We promised to bring Maybeus to his parents."
Obi-Wan adjusted his own hood. "From the records, my parents
live here."
"You do know the laws of this system?"
"I studied the place of my birth, which I thought was where my
parents lived."
"I suppose that means you have no idea."
"Yes Master."
"The system is a matriarchy. Men have a separate place in
society. There are laws defining their behavior."
"What do you mean?"
"It is illegal for a man to show his face, at all times they
must be veiled. A man is not allowed in public without a
female. A woman can have three husbands. Oh, and there is the
male tax."
Obi-Wan couldn't believe his ears. "A male tax?"
"For every male child, the parents must pay 500,000 republic
credits. If they don't within the first year of the child's
life, he is terminated."
"Why would the planet's government put that kind of law into
practice?"
"The system had a population boom. This was a way of
controlling it." Qui-Gon paused. "That and the male laws."
"I have a question - if this planet doesn't have many males,
how can there be three men for every women if none of the women
share?" Obi-Wan asked.
"For those woman who cannot have husbands, sperm donors are
used." Qui-Gon said. "The law states that the child born of
donors must be female."
Obi-Wan whistled under his breath. "What happens when they see
us?"
"We are Jedi. I've been assured we don't fall under them."
"But my parents are from here."
Qui-Gon put his hand on top of Obi-Wan's lips. "They don't know
that. If you took my advice, they would never find out."
Obi-Wan wanted to argue with his Master, but three more
indigo-clad men passed them. "Yes, Master."
"Man, do you not have a female accompanying you?" The woman at
customs asked for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "You
must have a female sponsor!"
"We are visitors." Obi-Wan said. He had been at the space port
for two hours. Two hours too long. He wished his master was
here, but the older man had gone to contact Maybeus's parents.
Obi-Wan waved his hand. "We are permitted to travel."
"Yes, you are permitted to travel with a Female guardian!" The
customs official said. "On this planet, we put men in their
proper place!"
Obi-Wan groaned. Qui-Gon had always made the Jedi Mind trick
look so easy. It was the most difficult part of the Force for
Obi-Wan to control. He couldn't even change the mind of a
customs official.
"Name!" the woman ordered.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The woman typed it into a terminal. "Mother's name!"
"I don't know."
The woman glared up to Obi-Wan. "You don't know your mothers
name?"
Maybeus looked up to the woman. "Ma'am, he is a Jedi. He is
here with his Master."
"A Jedi?" The woman gasped. She picked up her communicator and
talked into it. After a few moments, she said. "You will wait
here for your Master. When she arrives, you will be given a
limited clearance visa."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan said. //Master, have you found out when
Maybeus will be picked up?//
//We will take him to the embassy tomorrow morning.//
A few moments passed, and finally Qui-Gon arrived. The customs
official groaned. "Your Master is a MAN?"
"I am honored to be on your planet." Qui-Gon bowed formally.
//Why didn't you use the mind trick on her?//
//I did! It wouldn't work!// Obi-Wan looked away. //I am sorry,
my Master.//
//We will practice it later.// Qui-Gon waved his hand. "You
will give us authorization to be on this planet."
"Jedi are welcome on Ahwatukee."
"We could use some permits." Qui-Gon waved his hand again.
The woman stamped some flimsies. "These are your permits. You
must have them on you at all times. Be careful to stay within
the restricted areas."
"Thank you very much." Qui-Gon bowed.
Obi-Wan looked out to the city, called Tagasi Hoidma. It seemed
as if one of the favorite activities of the Ahwatukees was
taking evening walks. Time and again, he would see a woman
walking by herself, followed by three veiled men. He wondered
why it was always three men.
This place reminded him of something. Something he couldn't
quite put his finger on.
//Home. It looks like home.// he finally thought. //How long
has it been?//
His mind went back to when the Jedi had found him. He was
almost three when he had been given to the Jedi. He had been so
young, that he could only remember images, sounds, feelings. A
holo, he could remember a holo of this place.
"What are you thinking of?" Qui-Gon came onto the balcony and
stood beside him.
"It's nothing, Master."
"We share a bond. I can tell when something is bothering you."
"I can't remember my parents." Obi-Wan confessed. "I have only
dreams, but even those aren't clear. I can remember three men
being my father."
"A trick of the mind." Qui-Gon said. "Do you wish you had met
them?"
"I get curious sometimes. I wonder if I had brothers and
sisters. If my parents wanted to keep me." He turned away from
his Master.
"Your parents allowed you to go to the Academy because they
wanted the best for you."
"Other students had holos of their parents. They would get
letters from them. I didn't even have that." Obi-Wan said
morosely.
"Why do you think of this now?" Qui-Gon asked. "Is it because
of the boy?"
"I find myself wishing I could have met my parents." Obi-Wan
asked. "Do you remember your parents?"
"I lived with them, before I became a Padawan."
"Children aren't allowed to live with parents at the Academy."
"My mother was a Jedi Master, my father her Padawan. They still
lived at the Academy when I was a child." Qui-Gon explained.
"Your parents were Jedi?" Obi-Wan couldn't mask his surprise.
Children born of Jedi were very rare.
"Sometimes I wish they hadn't been. Any time I had an
accomplishment at school, it was always said I was good because
of my parents." Qui-Gon paused. "When I became a Padawan, I
changed my name. I wanted to be known for what I did, not what
they had done."
"That's why you never mentioned it to me."
"Now that we are bonded, you have a right to know."
"We better get inside." the younger man murmured. "Maybeus is
really scared to be alone."
Obi-Wan helped Maybeus dress in the clothes that the child was
forced to wear. The robes, the veil. The clothes made Maybeus
seem even smaller than he actually was.
"Sir, why must we wear these?"
"We must walk to the embassy. If we are caught by the male
police, we would be punished." Obi-Wan tried to sound calm
about the situation.
"Will I have to wear these clothes all the time?" the boy
asked.
"You can take them off once we get to your parents." Obi-Wan
put on his own veils. He could barely see through the dark blue
fabric. Obi-Wan hated the fact that they had to walk through
four blocks of non-alien territory.
There was a tap on the door. Obi-Wan answered it. Qui-Gon stood
there, a veil over his face, but not wearing the other
prescribed clothing. He put a card on a cord around Obi-Wan's
neck.
"What's this?"
"Your pass. You must wear it when we go to the embassy."
Qui-Gon explained. "Let's go."
Obi-Wan followed his Master through the streets of Tagasi
Hoidma. it wasn't until they started walking that they realized
that the embassy wasn't four blocks from the hotel, but
fourteen.
The air seemed to ooze forbidding trouble. Woman glared at them
as they walked by. Maybeus held onto Obi-Wan's hand tightly.
"Sir, what is the penalty for being unaccompanied?"
'The same penalty for us wearing our lightsabers in open."
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon's lightsaber.
"What?"
"Death." Qui-Gon said.
A Hover-Car stopped beside them, on the side it said "Male
Police". Four female guards got out.
//Stay calm!// Qui-Gon ordered.
"You men! What are you doing?" the Captain demanded.
"We are taking our charge to the Namur embassy." Obi-Wan said.
"Where is your escort?"
Obi-Wan held up his permit. The woman studied it. "You pass."
The second woman looked Qui-Gon up and down. "Why are you not
wearing the prescribed clothing?"
"I am a Jedi." Qui-Gon said.
"Sure you are," The woman snorted, "A male Jedi?"
The third woman tried to take Qui-Gon's lightsaber off his
belt. Qui-Gon used the Force to send the woman sprawling to the
ground.
The fourth woman got out her gun. She pointed at Qui-Gon. "You
are under arrest!"
"What about my friends?"
"They are free to go." the Captain said.
"Master..." Obi-Wan said.
//Go Obi-Wan. I can take care of this.//
//But Master--// Obi-Wan began.
//Do as I say!// Qui-Gon ordered. //Your job is to take care of
Maybeus.//
//Master--// he again protested.
//If we fight, we all might be arrested. Then they would find
out your heritage, and you would be automatically destroyed.//
//I didn't think of that.//
//As soon as you get away, I will use my powers to escape.//
//Yes Master.// He took Maybeus's hand and they walked off.
Obi-Wan looked back just in time to see Qui-Gon being shoved
into the back of the hovercraft. Then a hypospray was shoved
against his Master's neck, and he slumped over, unconscious.
Part Two: Searching
"Are they going to kill Master Qui-Gon?" Maybeus asked as they
arrived at the Namur embassy.
"I hope not." Obi-Wan said, willing any other possibilities out
of his mind.
The guard stopped them, and Obi-Wan showed her their passes.
They were let inside, where she then called for Maybeus's
parents.
Obi-Wan and Maybeus waited inside the courtyard. A woman and a
man entered the courtyard. The woman strongly resembled
Maybeus. She looked at them strangely. "I am Brak Balan. Can I
help you?"
"Ms. Balan, I have a delivery for you." Obi-Wan explained.
"It's Ms. Brak. On this planet, the custom is for the family
name first."
Maybeus took off his veil.
"Maybeus!" Balan yelled. She ran over to him, and took her son
into her arms.
"Mother! I've missed you so much..." The boy began to cry. They
were soon joined by Maybeus's father, Brak Juruta.
Obi-Wan stepped back a few paces, meaning to slip away. Juruta
looked at Obi-Wan. "Is there anything we can do to thank you?"
"Seeing him back with you is enough."
"He's lying Father." Maybeus said seriously. "His Master,
Qui-Gon was arrested by the authorities. They didn't believe he
was a Jedi."
"Is that true?"
"Yes, it is." Obi-Wan admitted.
"I'll take care of it then." Balan promised.
"Lawbreaker!" the guard sneered at Qui-Gon as she gave him
another hypospray, the fourth since his arrest. He had been
awake in this holding cell for about two hours, and didn't know
how long he had been sedated.
Qui-Gon flexed his muscles. He was bound to a chair by his arms
and legs. No matter how he tried to move, the bindings wouldn't
come off. He tried to use the Force, but he couldn't feel the
midi-chlorians.
"Why do you give me injections?" Qui-Gon asked.
"The authorities would like you still be here when your trial
takes place." The woman smiled. "If we didn't give you the
medication, you would escape."
"It takes away my ability to talk to the midi-chlorians."
"Exactly. But if we took away the midi-chlorians, then you
would die. Then we could have no trial."
"When do I go to trial?"
"Tomorrow morning. Your verdict is guilty. You will be stoned a
few minutes after the trial."
The door to the holding area opened. A woman came in, followed
by a police official and a man, heavily veiled. The man stood
in the back, his head down.
"How is the prisoner?" the official asked.
"He just received his fourth injection." replied the guard.
The woman whispered something to the official, who then said,
"There is a 50 percent chance of his Jedi powers returning."
The veiled man's head snapped up, his hand moving instantly to
his belt. Underneath the robes Qui-Gon could see the bulge of a
lightsaber.
//Obi-Wan.//
"The prisoner will be released immediately." ordered the
official.
"Ma'am! The execution has all ready been set!" the guard
protested.
"The Jedi has diplomatic immunity."
"He is an official of the Namur government." the other woman
said.
"Who is this?" asked the guard.
"This is the attaché for the Namur Ambassador."
"She has a man working for her?" The guard couldn't keep
the scorn out of her voice.
"By treaty, my staff is no concern of the Ahwatukee
government." The woman said. "May I please take my staff member
with me?"
"Of course. Make sure he is with a woman the next time he
strays out of the international zone." said the official.
"I will." the woman promised.
//Master, are you all right?// Obi-Wan telepathed. It was odd,
not being able to touch his Master's mind. Qui-Gon rode in the
back of the aircar with Obi-Wan. The Padawan glanced at Qui-Gon
several times, and tried to talk to him telepathically.
"We will be staying at the Embassy for the rest of our visit."
Obi-Wan whispered to Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon nodded. He hadn't talked since his release.
What was Obi-Wan going to do if his Master's powers never came
back?
//A Jedi isn't a Jedi without special powers.// He remembered
being told at the Academy. //They die without them.//
Obi-Wan's fingers caressed his Master's leg gently. He glanced
at Qui-Gon again. //Master, please answer me!//
Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hand, and squeezed it.
They were taken to their quarters at the Namur Embassy. The
official asked if they would be interested in eating dinner
with the Ambassador. Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, then spoke. "I
think my Master needs time to recover, Balan, but thank you."
The woman made her good-byes and left.
Obi-Wan took off his veil, and ran his hand through his hair.
"How are you feeling?"
"Considering that I very close to be executed, very well."
"Your powers!"
"My powers will come back, or they won't. We must accept it."
Qui-Gon sounded blasé.
"Master! If your powers stay gone....." The Padawan was almost
in a state of panic. "What will happen to us?"
"If it's the will of the force for us to part, then we must
accept it."
"How can you be so calm???" Obi-Wan shouted. "I don't want to
lose you!"
Obi-Wan swung to hit Qui-Gon. The Master caught his wrist. "I
don't want to lose you either, beloved."
"Our Vaartuslik is gone!" Obi-Wan began to cry. Qui-Gon took
him into his arms and stroked his lover's hair.
//I just got him! I can't lose him.//
Suddenly Obi-Wan could hear a voice in his mind. //I hope I
won't lose you either.//
Obi-Wan pulled away from Qui-Gon, and now his tears were tears
of joy. //You heard me!//
//Yes, my beloved.// He wiped the tears from Obi-Wan's eyes.
//But the hypospray?..//
//They gave me two an hour. If the effects were permanent, then
I would have only needed one hypospray.//
The Attaché had given Obi-Wan a terminal that was hooked
into the Ahwatukee central computer, but it was beginning to
annoy him.
"I want you to list the addresses of residences that are owned
by someone with the family name of Kenobi."
"Negative. No residences are owned by any woman named Kenobi."
the computer chirped.
"Then give me a list of property rented by any woman named
Kenobi."
"There are no residences on Ahwatukee that are rented by any
woman named Kenobi."
"Stupid computer."
"What's wrong?" Qui-Gon came into the shared sitting room.
"This idiotic computer says there is no woman who have the name
Kenobi living on the planet." Obi-Wan said, exasperated.
"Perhaps there isn't." Qui-Gon looked over Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"This system uses family name first, not last."
"So Kenobi wouldn't be the family name..." Obi-Wan remembered.
"Computer, describe the name Kenobi." Qui-Gon said.
"Kenobi, ancient Ahwatukee word for miracle son. Kenobi is
usually given to a son that is born after a difficult
pregnancy."
"Then my family name is Ben." Obi-Wan said softly. "Computer,
list all residences on Ahwatukee that are lived in by women
named Ben."
The screen filled with names. Qui-Gon put his hand on Obi-Wan's
shoulder, and squeezed it. "Your first clue."
"There are so many of them."
"I'll help you go through them." Qui-Gon promised.
"This is my quest." Obi-Wan said firmly.
"I understand."
"Computer, eliminate all families that have more then one son."
He was surprised when only seven names disappeared from the
screen.
"Computer, explain why most families have only one son?"
"The Male tax makes it prohibitive for most families to afford
more then one son."
"Why did you eliminate the families that had more then one
son?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I was curious." Obi-Wan admitted. "Since I was born on a
different planet, I wondered if my family was well off."
"Many people space travel that aren't well off. Look at us."
Qui-Gon gave a half smile. He kissed Obi-Wan's cheek, and went
back into his bedroom.
"Computer, return all families named Ben that have more then
one son." Obi-Wan sighed. "Then, list all families with the
name of Ben, who lived on the planet Xiaodan."
The computer listed fifteen families. A more manageable list.
Obi-Wan asked for a hard-copy printout.
Part Three: Discovery
Obi-Wan was standing on the balcony, worrying again, which
bothered the older Jedi. Obi-Wan seemed to change after they
had rescued Maybeus. The hadn't shared a bed since finding the
child. Maybeus's nightmares where as bad as his Padawan's.
Now Maybeus was back with his parents. Qui-Gon was glad that
the child could live at an embassy, and not fall under the
oppressive male laws.
Now there was another distraction, Obi-Wan's search for his
family. Qui-Gon was surprised at the determination that the
younger man had for doing the search by himself.
Obi-Wan stared out into the city, seemingly oblivious to his
Master standing behind him. Qui-Gon couldn't imagine his lover
living in a place like this, with his natural talents stifled
under veils and laws.
Qui-Gon reached out, touching the younger man. He could feel
Obi-Wan's muscles tighten, and then a shrug so subtle that only
a Jedi could feel it. Qui-Gon let his hands drop and went back
into his bedroom.
//I must concentrate on the here and now. Not my relationship
with Obi-Wan.//
A few minutes passed, then there was a tapping on the door that
led to the outside hallway. Qui-Gon made sure that his hood
covered his face, then he answered the door. Obi-Wan stood in
the doorway, his face also covered.
"May I come in Master?"
"You're always welcome in my quarters." Qui-Gon stepped to the
side, letting his apprentice in.
Obi-Wan took off his cloak. He ran his fingers through his
spiked hair. "I can't believe a place such as this is allowed
in the Republic."
"This type of government was voted in by the people."
"I wonder if the men where allowed to vote?"
"I think we both know the answer to that."
"Now that you know where I am from. Can you still accept me?"
"Does knowing this about the way your people live change you?"
Qui-Gon asked.
"I wonder what my life would have been like." Qui-Gon said
softly. "Would I have survived the male tax? Would I be happy
living as a husband?"
"What does your heart tell you?"
"I would hate it." For the first time since arriving on this
planet, Obi-Wan smiled. "Thank you for letting me come with
you."
"I don't think I could have stopped you."
Obi-Wan walked over to his Master. He took the hood off of him,
then he reached up and undid the tie that held back the older
man's hair. He let his fingers get lost in the softness. "In
this room, can we be free of the male laws?"
"Of course, my beloved."
"I never told you how good it feels to hear that word from
you." Obi-Wan pulled the taller man's head down, and kissed him
on the lips.
//Slowly, take this slowly...// Obi-Wan told himself as they
kissed.
The older man kissed his lips, bringing one hand to the back of
Obi-Wan's head. The kiss was chaste, with no hunger on
Qui-Gon's part. Obi-Wan could feel his Master hide his feelings
again, trying not to let his lover see the excitement he really
felt.
//Why do you want to protect me?// Obi-Wan questioned his
Master.
//You're not ready for my passions.// Qui-Gon confessed.
Obi-Wan pulled away from his lover. "I trust you, Master."
"It's not a matter of trust." Qui-Gon traced Obi-Wan's face.
"You feel my need for you. Why can't I feel yours?"
Qui-Gon kissed him, this time opening himself to the need he
felt. He crushed the younger man to him, exciting his Padawan
even more.
//Yes...// A thrill coursed through Obi-Wan and he pulled his
Master to the bed.
They landed together with a thump. Qui-Gon looked down to his
lover. "Are you all right?" he asked, looking somewhat guilty.
In answer, Obi-Wan put his hand behind Qui-Gon's head, and
pulled him down to his lips. Qui-Gon's hair brushed across
Obi-Wan's cheek as the man kissed him again. Then it brushed
across his chest. Qui-Gon deftly unfastened Obi-Wan's shirt,
and his large hands went inside it, helping Obi-Wan pull it
off.
The lips fastened on one nipple, and began to suck. Obi-Wan put
his hand on top of his Master's head. Qui-Gon's lips went
lower, his tongue making love to Obi-Wan's belly button.
At the same time, Qui-Gon busied himself with unfastening
Obi-Wan's pants.
//Take them off, please.// was the request.
Obi-Wan, with help from his lover, removed his pants and
settled back down on the bed. Qui-Gon's hand went inside his
thigh, rubbing up and down. His lips followed the hand which
then moved up to circle Obi-Wan's straining manhood, not
touching, just enticing.
Suddenly warmth surrounded Obi-Wan's erection, sucking, urging
him on. The long hair of his Master caressed the inside of his
leg. A finger circled his anus, then entered him, stroking in
time with the sucking. A second finger entered him, then a
third.
"Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan moaned, his head rolled back and forth. It
was taking all his willpower to keep control.
//Let go.// he heard Qui-Gon say. //I trust you too.//
Obi-Wan opened himself to the Force, and let his guard down.
His hips began to thrust in time with the lips. Straining to
get as much warmth around him as he could, suddenly the younger
man came, and his lover drank his seed.
Then suddenly, Qui-Gon was holding Obi-Wan in his arms. His
lips caressed his forehead. "Master, that was wonderful."
"I'm glad you liked it."
Obi-Wan could feel a need from his Master, a need that was
still unfulfilled. "Master, do you want me to lay on my
stomach?"
"No my lover, my need is different." He began to stroke
Obi-Wan's cock. Obi-Wan was surprised to feel it respond to the
missive, hardening as if he had never orgasmed.
"What is your need?"
"I want you to make love to me." the man breathed. "My dream
has been to feel you inside me."
"I'll hurt you."
"I trust you." Qui-Gon got off the bed and slowly took off his
clothes. He laid down beside Obi-Wan, kissing him deeply. Then
he turned, laying on his side, his back to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan moved so his stomach was to Qui-Gon's back and ran his
manhood across the older man's ass.
//That's it, beloved, like that.// Qui-Gon said in his mind.
Obi-Wan's manhood found the target, and he pushed inside.
Qui-Gon opened himself to Obi-Wan. With another push, Obi-Wan
was fully inside his lover. Qui-Gon opened his mind to
Obi-Wan's. The Vaartuslik was reformed, two bodies, one soul.
Obi-Wan wrapped his arm around his lover's waist, his hand
finding Qui-Gon's cock, manipulating it. Then slowly, he began
to thrust. Qui-Gon pushed himself back to feel even more of his
lover.
The warmth felt better then his lover's mouth. So much better.
He could feel his Master as himself, so that not only was he
making love to Qui-Gon, but he was Qui-Gon letting himself be
loved by Obi-Wan.
"Qui-Gon!" Obi-Wan yelled, as he spilled his seed into his
lover.
His words where drowned out by Qui-Gon's cries as he too
climaxed.
He tried to move away from his lover, but Qui-Gon's strong hand
held his arm. "Hold me, like this."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan said as he fell asleep.
"Computer, list all families that have the name Ben, that lived
on Xiaodan for a period of at least two years."
The computer gave Obi-Wan a list that had only five names on
it. "Now, tell me the years they lived on the planet."
One family stuck out, the only family named Ben that lived on
Xiaodan when he was born.
"Master! I found something!" Obi-Wan said excitedly.
Qui-Gon sat down beside Obi-Wan. "What did you find?"
"I think I found the family that gave me up. They where the
only Ben's that lived on the planet Xiaodan when I was born."
"That's wonderful, Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon smiled. "Are you going to
contact them?"
"Not yet." Obi-Wan asked the computer for biographical
information on the family.
The computer listed out the name of the woman, her three
husbands, her one son, and four daughters. The woman was a
minor official for the Ahwatukee Ambassador when Obi-Wan was
born.
"I want to meet her." Obi-Wan breathed.
"Should I have a driver get us an aircar?" Qui-Gon asked.
"No, we need to contact the family first." Obi-Wan thought.
"Will you make the contact for me?"
"I'd be honored to." Qui-Gon told him.
"It's dangerous for a male to go outside in this portion of the
city, without female protection." the aide told them. "The male
police have a very strong presence there."
"We are Jedi, we can handle ourselves." Qui-Gon said. "It's
important that my Padawan meet these people without a female
present."
"Are you sure?" the woman asked.
"I am positive." Obi-Wan told the driver.
They got out of the aircar. Obi-Wan let Qui-Gon lead and
followed two steps behind his Master, trying to hide his
nerves.
They stopped at the door, the word "Ben" was above the bell.
Qui-Gon rang it.
The door opened. A heavily veiled man stood in the doorway.
"May I help you?"
"I am Qui-Gon Jinn. I have an appointment with Ben Sidera."
"Come in, please." The man bowed.
Obi-Wan followed his master into the house. The house had a
small entry way, to one side he could see a kitchen, where two
other veiled men worked. They walked past the kitchen and into
a sitting room.
"I will tell my wife you are here." The man bowed and left.
Obi-Wan looked around the room. It was sparsely furnished.
There where holos on one wall, all of a boy that resembled him.
The man came into the room, followed by a woman. She looked at
the Jedi with some curiosity.
"I am Ben Sidera. Can I help you?" the woman sat down on a
chair. it was the woman in Obi-Wan's dreams.
"I know it is unusual for unaccompanied men to go to someone's
house, but we had to speak to you." Qui-Gon said.
"You are Jedi. Our laws do not apply to you." She gestured to a
couch, "Please, have a seat."
Qui-Gon sat down, he gestured to Obi-Wan with his eyes. Obi-Wan
sat. "We needed to ask you about your son."
"My son Anton was killed three years ago."
"Was he your only son?"
"I could only afford the Male tax on one son."
"It's understandable, the tax is very high."
The woman's eyes were sad. "We wanted many sons. But the law
prevented it."
"We have on record that you gave a son to the Jedi." Qui-Gon
continued.
"That was confidential information...if the government found
out, they would have the right to terminate him." The woman
seemed scared.
"You never registered his birth?"
"I was off planet when he was born. I thought about pretending
that he was adopted, but there was one drawback. He would have
been given a DNA test. The results would have ended in his
termination." The woman got a far-away look in her eyes. "The
doctors took a midi-chlorian count, which was very high. Enough
that the Jedi would take him. I had to save his life."
"We understand." Obi-Wan said.
"Sometime, I wish I could see my son. I wonder if he was able
to become an apprentice. I never exchanged letters. I was too
scared the government would find out..." She looked the men
over. "Is there a point to this? Why bring my past up now?"
"I was looking for answers." Obi-Wan said.
"Even Jedi's should leave private matters alone!"
"This concerns your private matter." Obi-Wan tried to gather
his thoughts. "If your son came to you, would you turn him in?"
"Of course I wouldn't!" Sidera was irritated. "But you have no
news on my son. His name was changed when he was taken to the
academy."
Obi-Wan decided to take a chance. He took his hood off. The
woman's eyes got large. She gasped. "Kenobi!"
"Yes, I am Ben Kenobi." He hesitated, wondering if the woman
would change her mind about turning him in.
"You look so much like your brother." Tears formed in the
woman's eyes.
"I wish I could have met him."
The woman went over to Obi-Wan. She reached out, touching his
face. "Giving you away was the hardest thing I ever did."
"I understand, mother."
Sidera did something unexpected. She hugged Obi-Wan. "If I had
my way, I would have kept you."
Obi-Wan put his arms around the woman. "You gave me up because
you loved me."
Sidera looked at Qui-Gon. "Is he a good apprentice?"
"He's going to make a great Jedi Knight someday." Qui-Gon said.
"Would you like to meet your fathers?" Sedera asked.
"My fathers?" Obi-Wan repeated.
"How many fathers does Ob...I mean Kenobi have?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Three." When she saw the shock on her son's face, she said.
"For an Ahwatukee it takes the seed of three men to impregnate
a woman."
"I see, that's why every woman has three husbands."
"You understand." The woman paused. "Would you like to meet
your fathers?"
"Is there time? I don't want to put you in danger by being
here."
"I think we can spare the time for your fathers." The woman
left the room.
A few moments passed. Sidera came back with three men, all took
off their veils when they saw Obi-Wan. It was strange, one man
had Obi-Wan's build, the other his coloring.
"You must be Kenobi." the first man said. "I am Kunagi. This is
Kaki, and Kolmi." He gestured to the other two.
"it is an honor to meet you." Obi-Wan bowed.
Kolmi looked at Qui-Gon curiously. "Who is this?"
"My Master, and my bondsmate."
The man smiled Obi-Wan's smile. "Then it is an honor to meet
two sons."
Obi-Wan left much later, with holos of his family. He now felt
whole, complete. His question had been answered. He now knew
that his family really did want him. He had arranged a way to
contact them, by only using the name Obi-Wan.
"How does it feel to meet your family?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I am glad I met them. But," Obi-Wan thought for a moment. "I
am glad I am a Jedi. Otherwise, I would never have met you.
What happened to me was meant to be."
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