Another Path:  The Choosing
Author:  Sarina Argus aka Aya
Rating:  This part is G
Summary:  AU
NOTES:  This bunny is Dorotea's fault.  Blame her.  Thanks to Merc, Tammy and
Jen for the beta.  I know this is hardly original, but eh... what the heck
Disclaimer:  Star Wars is the property of George Lucas.  I'm just borrowing
the boys for a bit.  Siona Ja-Larkin is Diebin's and is used with her kind
permission.  The story is mine, no money made off this, done out of love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Strong in the Force is he," the wizened Jedi Master noted.

"And angry and reckless," Qui-Gon Jinn finished.  "He is dangerous."

"Without the proper training, dangerous all may be."  Yoda watched his former
padawan carefully.

"He could turn to the dark side."

"So could you, so could we all.  In dying dreams, much darkness is."

Qui-Gon squared his shoulders then.  "I will not take him as my padawan,
Master.  He may be gifted... Sith, he is gifted and the loss of his gift is
truly a waste."

"Lost he is not. Chosen he has been, though by whom, I had hoped not."

Qui-Gon stared at his former master a moment in realization.  And then in
fear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The boy is too angry.  Dangerous.  I cannot approve of this."

"I'm not asking for approval, master.  I'm informing you of my choice."

Qui-Gon shook his head again.  "You've been a knight for such a short time,
you believe you can control this... boy?"

"He does not need control, he needs understanding."  Xanatos turned to the
older man and put a hand on his shoulder.  "Master, when you brought me here,
I knew when my time came, you would take me as your learner.  I knew because
the Force willed it.  Now, I see this boy, this desperate boy so eager to
please, with all the potential to be a great Jedi knight.  He was not meant
to lead a farmer's life."

"But it does not mean he was meant to be a knight." Qui-Gon sighed heavily. 
"Xani, there are many challenges in taking a padawan. He is irrational,
reckless, he cannot control his own emotions..."

"Just as most young boys his age.  Like me."

"That is not the point," Qui-Gon said, his tone growing soft.  "There is
something more here, something I cannot understand.  He is not meant to be
your apprentice."

"Then you would take him as yours?"  He studied his former master carefully.

"No.  You are my last.  I will not take another."

The younger man shrugged.  "Then I will take Obi-Wan Kenobi as my padawan
learner.  It is as the Force wills."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qui-Gon studied the boy from a distance as he dined for what he believed to
be the last time at the temple.  Xanatos had not approached him yet, needing
the full council approval for his choice, though it was purely a formality. 
In his 2 years as a full knight, Xanatos' record was outstanding.  Mace even
pulled Qui-Gon aside to congratulate him on the former apprentice's success. 
Qui-Gon felt no small amount of pride in his former apprentices.

But to take this boy... Qui-Gon shook his head again.  Kenobi was too
emotional. 

//Desperation causes good men to do strange things.//

A gurgle of laughter shook him out of his thoughts and he watched the
Calmarian draw more smiles and laughter from her companions. 

//Was I ever that young?  That...//

"Joyful?  Never.  You were always the serious one, Qui.  It was a real pain
sometimes."

Qui-Gon grinned at the dark-skinned master, watching the man set his meal
tray down.  "One of us had to be.  I still wonder how you got to be the
council member."

"You turned it down, remember?  Not that I minded."

"Ah yes.  How did we describe it?"  Qui-Gon puffed up his chest and intoned
solemnly, "You, Knight Jinn.  Take your learner, drag him or her through the
mud and muck, nearly kill the poor thing, get shot at several times, bring
death threats down on your heads, and come back with that peace treaty
signed..."

"By evening meal."  Mace finished with a chuckle. 

Qui-Gon chuckled again.  "You took Depa, I took Xani... I can't remember the
number of times we dragged each other back to the temple, half dead, just to
hear how well it went and to be sent off again."  He shook his head and
smiled.  "Xani was a very good apprentice."  His gaze went back to the boy
seated across the hall.

"He's a very good knight." Then following his gaze across the room to the
group of initiates.  "And he'll be a very good master."

Qui-Gon's smile faded.  "I don't know Mace.  There is something wrong.  They
should not be together.  This is not a good idea."

"You doubt the Kenobi boy?"

"He's headstrong, reckless, desperate.  Xani will have his hands full."

Mace chuckled then.  "Didn't we all?"  Mace smiled at the young boy. 
"Obi-Wan is kind hearted, loyal, gifted.  Any problems Xanatos will have will
be normal, average problems.  Just like we did."   

Qui-Gon shook his head.  "I don't know Mace.  I worry..."

"We all worry, Qui, but Xanatos is a fine knight.  It's about time he took an
apprentice and passed on his knowledge.  And yours."

Qui-Gon glanced at the boy again.  "Perhaps."   Mace studied his friend a
moment longer then wisely changed the subject.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had been a while since he'd traveled through the corridors of this side of
the temple.  //Ten, fifteen years?  Gods, I'm getting old.//

The initiates went silent as he entered the dormitory, eyes wide at the site
of the infamous Qui-Gon Jinn.  They hurried to their cots, brushing imaginary
wrinkles from the pale initiate tunics, trying not to stare at the legendary
master.  Rumor had it he was looking to choose another padawan.  After
hearing what his first padawan, Knight Ja-Larkin, and the more recently
knighted Xanatos were handling, most of them eyed him with equal amounts of
hope and fear. 

He surveyed the room, looking for Kenobi but was unable to find him.  Turning
to the young boy he saw Kenobi spar with that morning, he said, "You, where
is Initiate Kenobi?"

The wave of surprise, fear and disappointment was so tangible, Qui-Gon drew
his shields up higher to maintain his balance.  The boy repeated, "Ke-Kenobi?
Oafy-wan?"  He caught his lapse and flushed bright red in embarrassment. 

Qui-Gon cocked an imperious eyebrow at the lad and repeated.  "I'm looking
for Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Have any of you seen him?"

Another boy, a Dressalian stepped forward.  "He went to the meditation
gardens, Master Jinn.  He..."  The boy stopped short under the older master's
piercing gaze.

"He what?" Qui-Gon prodded. 

"He wanted to... to say goodbye to his friends."  The boy's expression fell,
his wrinkled cheeks drooping even more.  "Master Yoda said today was his last
chance."

"But if you've chosen him..." another boy said hopefully.

"I've not chosen him.  I'm not looking for another apprentice." 

With those few words, the energy shifted.  One by one, the initiates sank
into what appeared to be meditation posture, but their thoughts and focus was
hardly peaceful.  Waves of disappointment and sadness washed through the
dormitory.  He pretended not to notice the tears slowly tracing a path down
the cheeks of several of the boys.

He steeled himself further, ignoring the guilt he felt at crushing their
hopes.  "I wanted to talk to him.  And..." he paused, carefully choosing his
words.  "And I wanted to wish him luck."

"He prefers the fountain gardens, Master Jinn.  You'll probably find him
there."

Qui-Gon nodded, then turned to take his leave.  "Thank you for your help." 
He turned to the initiates and said quietly, "May the Force be with you," a
sort of benediction, though it felt hollow to him.  Not knowing how to make
things right again, he turned and left, the quiet muffled sobs cutting him
deeper than any blade.  So lost in his own thoughts, he almost didn't notice
the young boy barreling around the corner. 

"I beg your pardon, I'm so sorry, Master..."

"It's all right young man.  No harm done..." Qui-Gon started then stared at
the young face.  "Kenobi?"

"Yes sir, I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi."  The boy bowed politely, flinching under the
older man's intense gaze. 

"Come with me," he said, "I need to speak with you."  He started to the
gardens, not bothering to see if the boy followed. 

Obi-Wan followed in a near run to keep up with the long strides of the Jedi
Master.  Once in the garden, Qui-Gon took a seat on one of the low benches
and gestured for the boy to do the same.  Once he was seated, Qui-Gon began.

"Why do you want to be a knight?" he asked.

Obi-Wan responded automatically, "Because the Jedi are the galaxy's peace
keepers, we serve the Force and others for the greater good..."

"No," he said cutting the dissertation off.  "Why do YOU want to be a Jedi."

"Sir?" The boy was clearly confused.

"You, Obi-Wan Kenobi, why do You want to be a Jedi." 

Obi-Wan swallowed under the master's intense gaze.  "Um... be-because it is
what I've always wanted.  What I've wanted for as long as I can remember."

"But why?"  Qui-Gon folded his arms across his chest.  "It is a difficult
life, with many hardships and very little reward."

"Our reward comes from serving the Force, from our service to others."

Qui-Gon pierced him with another look.  "Do you truly believe that?"

"Yes, Master Jinn."  Blue eyes met his gaze solemnly.  "I've always believed
that."

Qui-Gon snorted, then said, "You are foolish, reckless, you lack direction. 
You let your emotions control you.  Today, when you fought, you let anger
guide you.  That is not the way of the Jedi."

Obi-Wan started at the harsh words then said in a burst of false courage,
"Then show me the way of the Jedi?  You're without a padawan.  Teach me."

Qui-Gon glared then.  "No.  I am not looking for an apprentice, and even if I
was, you would not be my choice."  He immediately wished he could take those
words back, seeing the courage fade, replaced by insecurity and shame. 
"I'm..."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi!"

The boy brushed away his tears and turned to answer.  "Here Sir..."

Xanatos walked to the pair, an engaging smile on his face.  "I see you've met
my master.  No doubt he's told you all sorts of terrible things to scare you."

"Sir?"  The boy was clearly confused.

"Nevermind," the young knight said.  "Come, there's no time, I just gotten
assigned again and we'll need to be ready."

The boy looked from the knight to the master.  "I don't understand."

"Well if you were paying attention, it would make sense." 

Though his tone was cheerful, the words visibly stung the boy.   "Forgive me
Sir, I'm sorry," he said softly, eyes suddenly downcast.

Xanatos turned to his master, unsure of how to handle this.  Qui-Gon raised
an eyebrow, as if this display proved his point.

Xanatos looked to the boy again then stopped, kneeling in front of him.  "I'm
sorry, my master knows I've a terrible sense of humor.  I just thought you'd
prefer me to take you as my apprentice in front of your agemates, your
friends.  We can do this here if you prefer."

Obi-Wan looked up slowly, eyes wide, and gave the perfect impression of
jumping for joy though he stood perfectly still.  "You want me?  As your
apprentice?"

"Yes, if you'll accept."  Xanatos smiled warmly.

The boy launched himself into the knight's arms, "Yes master, I accept.  I
promise to be the best padawan, to serve you and the Force and the Jedi..."

Xanatos hugged him warmly.  "Whoa whoa, I know you will."  Breaking the
embrace, he stood and resumed his walk towards the dormitories.  "Come, let's
do this right."  Turning to Qui-Gon, he asked, "Will you join us, Master, as
a witness?" 

Qui-Gon nodded curtly then gestured for him to lead the way.  //I still don't
approve Xani, this is dangerous.//

**It is the will of the Force.**

Obi-Wan fell in step behind the knight, already mimicking his posture and
stride.  Qui-Gon followed behind, watching the boy, searching for the cause
of his unease. 

They entered the common area that joined the boys and girls dormitories. 
Bant looked up and smiled, nudging the two girls that sat with her.  Reeft
and Garan stared at Qui-Gon then looked at Obi-Wan and the knight who stood
next to him.  There was a buzz in the air as the children whispered to each
other.

"Obi-Wan and I wanted to share with you all," Xanatos said loudly, drawing
the group's attention.  He paused a moment then stood behind the young boy
and intoned, "I take Obi-Wan Kenobi to be my padawan learner, to train in the
ways of the Force."

Obi-Wan answered, "I accept Knight Xanatos.  I would be proud to be called
your apprentice."

The initiates cheered, then surrounded the pair shouting good wishes, teasing
Obi-Wan about haircuts and beads, making silly comments.  Obi-Wan accepted
the wishes and good will gracefully, embracing his friends all the while
beaming at his new master. 

And Qui-Gon stood away from the assembly, watching, feeling.  There was
darkness here,  and he'd be ever vigilant.  //Though you are a knight, I'll
protect you.  Always.//

~end part 1~~~~