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53 BBY
Ben Antilles/ Obi Wan Kenobi - 7 months, Infant
Qui Gon Jinn - 28 years old, Knight
Dooku Serenno - 45 years old, Master
When he was found, the Jedi Order became a home Ben hadn’t got to have yet. Stewjon was his birth place, his Mother and her parents had been raised there but it would never be his home. It was a decent planet, mostly of sands and savannas with a few major oceans supporting life, he was glad he barely got to see it. Vague paintings of his birth mother flashed through his mind and her name was even more obscure to him. She hardly cared for him, most of the time the aroma of hard spice would float around their small mud-built house and the feeling of despair and anger rolled off of her daily. He could feel it, Ben could always feel it, but he never knew it was the willing of the Force that allowed him to do so. When Knight Qui Gon Jinn found him, his Mother gave him up easily; Ben was still so young when he could feel her relief when he was thrown into the Jedi knight’s arms.
Qui Gon was caring, more so than his Mother, but he was a protector and nothing more. From what stories he’s heard from other Jedi and Qui Gon himself- their first attempt at leaving the planet was a mess. Stewjon was known for it’s illegal slave trade, not to mention potentially force sensitive children were especially sought out for their rarity. News traveled quickly of not only a potential jedi being on the planet- but him being spotted with a child tucked away in his robes. They were ambushed when Qui Gon had reached the shipyard, he was able to take down the assailants but it was clear they were after Ben and thought they could over power a lone Jedi. They finally left the planet after two more of these attacks and a month of time passed. One of the ways they evaded further pirate attacks when they left the planet was changing Ben Antilles’ name to something more core-world-like, something that would keep slavers off their backs. Leaving the planet, Obi Wan Kenobi was roughly a year old, he didn’t cry, barely crawled and struggled to hold the things Master Jinn gave him.
Qui Gon wasn’t around infants often, usually helping to support his own or the older padawans but he could see that Obi Wan was not developing as he was supposed to. Contacting Master Jocasta Nu, who during Obi Wan’s young age, was still helping infants and younglings with their important developmental stages and training. From the stories he’s heard, Master Nu could assess that he was developmentally held back: from the way he struggled to do things independently, showed difficulty with fine motor movements, often found in strange positions, and was barely starting to crawl. While it wasn’t a proper assessment- signs of something being amiss were clearly there.
. . .
Arriving at the Temple, Master Nu was accompanied by Master Serenno, who was there to welcome home his old padawan. He was also dragged into meeting the newest and most concerned youngling he’s heard about in some time. Master Nu physically melted at the sign of the youngling- bright red firey hair and equally as bright blue eyes, his face a smattering of moles and freckles but he was so little and fragile even for someone at his young age. “Qui Gon, a moment please?” Mast Nu said softly, Dooku could feel her threads of calm, warm, safe wrap over Obi Wan, then suddenly Jocasta was gently putting the small youngling into his arms. She pulled Qui Gon away to talk.
Faced with this small child alone Dooku couldn’t help but feel something. Obi Wan was ever staring, wide blue eyes never breaking from him. There was a gentle nudge of The Force to compel the Jedi master to reach out, so he did. When the lines of their signatures connected he had to blink away the buzzing behind his eyes, Obi Wan’s strength- Ben’s Strength- burned bright through the connection like a live kyber crystal. Touch Ben’s little mind said, and Dooku could feel that desperate need of a parent, someone to protect this little being, to take care and love him. He brought their forehead together and he helped to guide small shaky hands to touch his cheeks. Ben snapped a bond in place faster than Dooku could react but The Force burned so bright with it. Surely there wouldn’t be anything wrong in keeping close ties with his old padawan’s new youngling.
…
Far into the temple, Master Windu felt a burstingpoppingsnap! behind his eyes.
A shatterpoint crumbling while another one carved itself out of that same place.
~ + ~
Early 40 BBY
Ben Antilles/ Obi Wan Kenobi - 12 years old, Padawan
Qui Gon Jinn - 40 years old, Master
Dooku Serenno - 57 years old, Master
The last time Dooku saw Padawan Kenobi was on Padawans Fisto and Undulis’ knighting. He was there, Qui Gon- only there because he needed to meet with the council for an issue, and celebrated with the rest of his crèche. Knight Fisto in particular, along with Knight Luminara of course, had been substantial in Ben’s growth in his control over the force and his lightsaber forms. Often joining in at the end of their own training to help set his footing and give the training master at the time a small chance to rework their training session for anything he might have been struggling with. He’s developed quickly, his bright determination burning through every passionate action he committed to.
He had the mental grit to get up every fall and with a struggle to understand new forms and their movements. Something that Dooku personally helped him with was his reliance on The Force. Qui Gon personally focused on The Living Force, often meditating in the gardens and taking in many plants in his shared room with Ben. But the little solar burst that was Ben Kenobi wanted to not focus on The Living Force, but rather the Cosmic Force, his desire to have a deeper understanding to every aspect of life and non-life- and truthfully Dooku preferred it as well, taking more classes and deepening his connection to The Living Force because of Qui Gon’s younger self. With this focus on The Cosmic Force he strengthens his abilities, sharpening the stone into a diamond.
This building of his use in the force helped him start using and exploring the word in greater ways. Being able to support and catch his body was necessary, but as Ben grew he wanted to stay “himself” using the force only when required and when he was first learning new motions. He described it as a safety rail until he was ready to let go of it. All this training, support and drive of his closest crèche mates Padawan Quinlan Vos and Bant Eerin, and the knowledge of his masters and the knights helping him helped Ben bloom into something wonderful.
Through it all, while Qui Gon was of course present and a semi-stable being in Ben’s life- the bond between him and the youngling turned padawan grew.
So when the bond suddenly fizzled out, snuffed like a candle, not only with his old padawan but Ben as well he felt the sick bile burn in his throat. They were in danger. Ben was in danger.
. . .
Ben’s hand shook as he dug at the rocks. His blood stained the clay sea rocks as he pulled them away. His body shook and ached like it ever had before. Master Jinn had said, in the first few days, how the council would come and find them. That he could rest assured and life will find its way..even under the rocky depths of the ocean of Bandomeer. The first weeks, even now, he struggled to learn how to use his hands to dig up rocks. He and Master Nu worked on his fine motor skills but this was so much different than what they had done in halls of training. He felt the burn of still bloody whip lashes pull at his back as he stretched. He was assigned the task of collecting the dangerous explosive minerals due to his smaller size but he couldn’t always contort his body into the small crevices, hands digging blindly and often getting bitten by the sea worms that lived within the rocks.
If he got stuck in the cracks and bends, got injured from his falls, there was no kind Kit or Luminara to help brush him off and pick him up. No Master Nu to gently heal him and swap stories, though that was mostly her tales, she had been with him for almost his whole life. Master Jinn was of course always there with him through it all, he was trying in his own ways to survive, not to mention they kept the two force sensitives away from one another. Ben sobbed as the harsh force suppressing cuffs dug into his skin, breaking and bruising on top of the old wounds as he finally dislocated another crystal. He passed the crystal down to the awaiting hands of another slave.
None of them talked, in fear of punishment, but this one was kinder than most. Willing to look out for him, even as he got stuck in the tight corners of the cliffs, helping to retrieve him without getting caught. Most hadn’t helped, only the patrolling officers might after he hadn't been found for a few days, stuck bent in odd angles and dragged out harshly by whatever they could grab. He wants to be back at the temple. Most of all he missed the comforting bond of Master Serenno.
Master Serreno would always be there, helping him through training, willing to be patient through every step and struggle. Brushed away his tears and held him when he wanted to scream in frustration at failing again and again. Ben wanted to hold on to his force bond and sink into the safety and familiarity of it. But he wasn’t here, there was no bond to grab on to, Ben had to survive on his own and he would.
He wasn’t going to be stuck here. He would get out. Ben had too much he wanted to do.
. . .
Dooku awoke in his bunk, dreams threaded underwater worlds, crystals, and fiery blue eyes and bright orange hair. Baby freckles that the little solar flare wouldn’t ever grow out of. He contacted Masters Yaddle, Windu, and Yoda to make a plan to rescue his young ones.
~ + ~
Late 40 BBY
Ben Antilles/ Obi Wan Kenobi - 13 years old, Padawan
Qui Gon Jinn - 41 years old, Master
Dooku Serenno - 58 years old, Master
It had been a long couple of months of recovery. Dooku with shaking hands took Obi Wan into his arms as Mace handled Qui Gon. Between the two of them, Ben was just so broken. Deep lashes, bruising up his whole body, it sent such a sharp bit of hate to the slavers who had done this it had little Ben peaking his eyes up and Mace giving him a look. He released those strong emotions into the force with a heavy breath. On the transport back to the Temple Yaddle was healing them both gently. The youngling never let go of his hand, and held on to his force bond like a lifeline. Dooku vowed to never let this happen again.
But as it sometimes will go with The Force- he couldn’t.
Only a few months later, Qui Gon and Obi Wan left the Temple on a sudden emergency retrieval mission on a planet known as Melida/Daan, a former warring planet. When Dooku’s old padawan returned though and carried in his friend, Master Tahl, Ben was missing. “Master Jinn, Master Tahl.. where is Obi Wan?” He said, trying to figure out why he could not sense the padawan at the Temple..or at all for that matter. There wasn’t a block per say by a strange warping in the force when he followed the lines of their bond to the solar flare of Ben Kenobi.
Some part of his mind, something dinged and vaguely remembered, those who have been on Melida/Daan experience strange connections in The Force. The planet resided in a strange blank spot in the universe. Although maybe that is because of the number of Sithly activities that used to take place before the Melida or Daan ever were established as warring societies. But..that should not matter, where was Ben? He stared at Tahl who was wheeled away then at Qui Gon. “Qui Gon. Please focus. Where-“ Qui Gon narrowed his eyes “He is back on Melida/Daan, he insisted he stayed, I assume with how he was attached to one of the other younglings there it's for reasons of love.” and with that Qui Gon unclipped the small lightsaber on his belt and passed it to his old master before briskly walking off after Tahl.
Dooku was drawing blanks- Ben- leaving the order because of attachment? After everything he’s been working for, after every trial he had conquered . This..this was night right. Ben had never shown any interest in leaving the order. He squeezed the cold saber in his hand..he would get to the bottom of this. Starting with talking to Ben’s creche.
. . .
The commander aligned his shot, barrel pointed down wind, the cracked scope ruining his vision, but he’d developed a good shot regardless. Breathe…center yourself..center yourself young padawan- ..Breathe. Fire. The guard dropped to the group. Dead. The commander worked on putting his gear away quickly but in his mind his body was rolling. Ben rattled around his brain feeling sick, but he couldn’t think about that now. No matter how long it's been, No matter how many Melida or Daan he had killed to protect The Young, it never got better. It never will. But this was their chance. He saw the other bodies by the door drop.
Cerasi had been trained and was the only other leader within The Young who was old enough to know how to shoot…and could hit their targets. Packing up he climbed his way down the cliff side. Towards the middle he wobbled, legs that had been shaking all the way since the top finally slipped and he fell the rest of the way. He held his pack close to chest and cried when he scraped against harsh rocks and sand until he finally- and luckily- dropped into some spikey shrubbery. He got up, because he would always get up had to- and tried running towards the compound. The planet was several decades, if not a century behind the most advanced societies but the Melida/Daan had developed enough technology to have a long range scanner. He would get out here. He would save them, force be damned. But he had to get the council to help him.
~ + ~
41 BBY
Ben Antilles/ Obi Wan Kenobi - 14 years old, Padawan
Qui Gon Jinn - 42 years old, Master
Dooku Serenno - 59 years old, Master
”With this final point, the council has decided” Mace’s voice rang out, in such a small room above the city of Coruscant, “That Padawan Obi Wan Kenobi, shall be moved from Master Qui Gon Jinn’s care into Master Dooku Serenno’s..or a master of his choosing.” Ben looked back at him. He had been kneeling shoulders hung so low and his presence had dimmed so much since his time on Melida/Daan. The bright solar flare shrouding itself down into a small star. “I would like Master Serenno to teach me,” Ben said softly. He had never liked talking loudly in this room either. “Decided, it has then” Yoda spoke with a small nod. Ben stood and looked at Qui Gon who was static, as his usual self. Dooku always knew he was a good master, that he cared about his padawans..but since Ben had arrived he had been more attached than before. Maybe it was simply the will of The Force for this series of events to bubble to this point.
Ben finally came up to him and smiled, a small but bright thing. Dooku promised then and there while he was Ben’s Master, that bright determined look would burn forever bright.