A/N: An alternate/extended ending to s5e9 of the Clone Wars.

Hondo Ohnaka was an… interesting person to deal with. In all likelihood, the weequay pirate could be surrounded by the soul-eating fires of the nine hells, and he'd still be haggling a deal. Doomed to fail, of course, but spirited to the last distractible, inebriated brain cell.

Hondo's attempt to 'hijack' the Jedi Star Destroyer was most aptly described by the security detail who'd commented snidely over the security holos: "well this is one to tell the shinies." Humorous as the story would doubtless be in future, in the here and now, Hondo was a convenient but periphery concern. The ship's presiding General had far more to be concerned about, and, thank the Force, far more to be relieved about.

"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan could not disguise the pure relief he felt. The togruta turned and smiled at him. He realized quietly that she had been growing up behind his back. She was taller now, wiser. The top of her montrals made her almost as tall as him. He had no doubt she would dwarf him, one day.

"It is good to see you too, Master," She said with a soft, tired smile. She looked back to her small herd of younglings, and Obi-Wan followed suit. Oh, he felt even older, now. First Anakin, and now Ahsoka, and one day, these little ones, too. His chest felt full and he smiled, despite how acutely he felt the crowsfeet at his eyes when he did.

"You have all done very well, and survived what few of your age could. You have my congratulations." The younglings all smiled proudly at him; the human boy, Petro, beamed the widest. Obi-Wan recognized the look of hero-worship and felt embarrassed. He hadn't even done anything today. He turned his gaze back toward Ahsoka and opened his mouth to speak, but someone - something else, strictly speaking - beat him to it.

"Well, well, well," said an age-old voice, an unparalleled level of expression for such an old droid voice processor. "If it isn't Obi-Wan Kenobi,"

Obi-Wan was smiling as he turned "Professor Huyang," He smiled, "It's good to see you, old friend - and in one piece, too, which I understand is a recent development."

The younglings around them laughed. "Indeed," Huyang chuckled, and patted the Nautolan youngling on the head appreciatively. He looked back to Kenobi. "And you – I thought I must've shorted a circuit when they tried to tell me you were Obi-Wan Kenobi. Last I saw you, you were a beanpole of a boy, sniffling and covered in icicles, trying to tell me how to build a lightsaber."

Obi-Wan's jaw stiffened in embarrassment as the younglings laughed – and Ahsoka, too, who looked at her grandmaster with a surprised, wicked smile.

"I'm surprised you remember that," Obi-Wan muttered dryly.

"You're not one to leave a forgetful impression, young Kenobi."

And that made the younglings giggle even more, because none of them could imaginecalling Master Kenobi by anything other than his title, much less calling him young. Through disciplined use of the Force, Obi-Wan avoided blushing.

"Yes, well, you know how initiates can be," the master replied evenly, eyeing the amused younglings with a steely gaze. The beard enhanced the effort. Huyang remained unaffected. Obi-Wan took a very dignified stride forward and they began walking down the long hanger, headed for the cabins where the younglings would stay until they could return to the Temple. Much to Obi-Wan's chagrin, Huyang did not take this as a cue to drop the conversation.

"I do, more than you ever will," the droid quipped. "I must say, I've not left the Crucible for so long, it's been quite some time since I've seen a true Jedi Knight at work."

"But General Kenobi is a Jedi Master," Petro told Huyang in a serious tone. Obi-Wan lifted his eyes subtly upward, feeling equal parts flattered and embarrassed. Oh good, a defender. Force forbid his honor be tainted. He eyed Petro. This one had much to learn.

"Master Kenobi, oh yes, of course, of course… Skywalker, yes, I recall…" Huyang rambled, tone growing fond. "You all grow up so quickly." A pause, and the droid glanced at Obi-Wan's belt. "And I see you've built a new lightsaber since we last met – what was wrong with the one I helped you make?" Not all droids were sentimental, but this one was over one thousand years old. He was allowed.

"Nothing at all, professor. It served me well for many years, but I'm afraid I lost it."

"Lost it!" Huyang was affronted. "You would, wouldn't you?" He chuckled amusedly. "And what trouble did you cause to allow for such a tragedy?"

Ahsoka tried to send the droid a warning glance, but he was gazing at Kenobi. Obi-Wan maintained a steady expression, neither step nor voice faltering as they walked.

"It was the last mission of my apprenticeship," he said calmly, "to Naboo."

Huyang's memory circuits whirred with all the reports he'd received over the years. His step checked itself for a short beat. "Oh," he said, and the incorrigible droid's sudden hesitation gave the younglings, pause, too. They exchanged nervous glances. They had all been born years after The Mission to Naboo, but there wasn't a jedi alive who didn't know about what had transpired there, especially in regards to Obi-Wan Kenobi. They all wished very much to become invisible. Obi-Wan was more than happy to play along with the silent illusion. "I see," said the droid at length. "I… was very upset to have received that report," it was a quiet apology. Obi-Wan nodded.

"It is in the past. Your instruction served me well when I constructed a new one," Obi-Wan assured. Forgiveness granted, Huyang peered curiously at the saber that swung on the Jedi's belt.

"May I…?"

Obi-Wan smiled and handed his weapon to the droid, who turned it over in expert hands.

"Magnificent! Your classic tastes have not left you, I see. Plain, light. Elegant in simplicity, Master Kenobi. I am impressed. But…" the droid paused. "This saber is not as old as Naboo. You waited to create a replacement?"

Obi-Wan let out a steadying breath and lowered his voice, still keeping his expression serene. "I carried my master's, for a few years."

"Ah," Huyang nodded, not as surprised now but treading carefully. "That was a fine saber, I remember it." He glanced at Obi-Wan, unable to gauge the Jedi's emotions. But still, perhaps he would like to know… "Qui-Gon was the quietest boy of his class, the most aloof, too." This mental image made Obi-Wan smile. "He was the first to finish his saber, and the very last to want to fight with it."

"Really?" Obi-Wan's boyish curiosity broke through his diplomat's mask. "That doesn't sound like him."

"Well, it must be said that at the time, he'd adopted an ailing ice-bush from Ilum and was working very hard to keep it alive for the journey back."

Aha. Obi-Wan's face dimpled. "Yes, now that, that sounds exactly like him," Obi-Wan chuckled. No one else did, because they'd never known his master. It made him sad, but he chose to dwell in his own fond memories. "I'm sure you know, he became a formidable fighter."

"I've heard. Makashi, like his master?"

"Ataru, actually."

The droid laughed. "Good for him. And you?"

"Ataru was my focus, until…" Obi-Wan's face resumed its placid façade, but he had to swallow a bit thickly. "I have taken up Soresu ever since Naboo."

Huyang nodded proudly. "And in so doing, have joined the ranks of Masters Yoda and Windu, or so I hear." Impressed murmuring from the younglings. He returned Obi-Wan's saber to him, and the Jedi nodded gratefully, replacing it on his belt. "It is right that your master's saber should help teach you a new form when he could not."

The unexpected wisdom made Obi-Wan choke just a bit, and he nodded. Huyang lightened the mood. "Assuming it was the lightsaber I helped him make, I'm sure it served you well. Though for all I know, he could've been making copies all that time. The man knew how to find trouble, that's for sure. Poor saber never saw it coming."

"Oh, it had its fair share of scrapes," Obi-Wan chuckled, remembering the many, many times when that saber (and his, more often than not) had brushed with extinction. "But I assure you it's the very same. I still have it, actually," Obi-Wan said, somewhat wistfully. A few paces ahead and unavoidably eavesdropping, Ahsoka cast him a curious look. It was completely against custom to keep the lightsaber of a fallen Jedi. Obi-Wan met her eyes and was vindicated, but not quite surprised, to see respect rather than condemnation. "I haven't had need to use it in years."

"Too old school for you?" Huyang chuckled. Obi-Wan shook his head.

"On the contrary, it's a beautiful weapon. But… well, green was always Qui-Gon's color, wasn't it?" He shrugged. The answer was far deeper than that, of course, and he and Huyang knew this. But they'd already delved too deep in the company of younglings. Their conversation tapered off into niceties and soon, the droid bid them goodbye. Obi-Wan stepped forward to walk alongside Ahsoka, leading their half-pint troops onward toward the temporary barracks. Commander Cody was waiting for them.

"Sir," he saluted Obi-Wan, helmet under arm. "Padawan Tano. Younglings." He smiled nervously, and Obi-Wan's dimples betrayed his amusement. He'd forgotten how uncomfortable the clones could be around children. He stepped in.

"Young ones, this is Commander Cody. He will be your contact for the duration of this trip, though I do not anticipate any trouble. I'd say we've had quite enough for one day." Tired nods of agreement. "Once we enter Coruscant's system, he will fly you the rest of the way to the temple, where Padawan Tano and Professor Huyang will oversee your debriefing – Master Yoda is looking forward to hearing of your adventures." That brought some smiles, and Obi-Wan was not immune to the childlike enthusiasm. Petro, however, was crestfallen.

"But… you aren't coming with us, Master Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest. "No. I have duties here. General Grievous' victory on Florrum means another step forward for the Separatists, and I need to remain here with my men and regroup for our next engagement." It was a calm and decisive blow, but it still made Obi-Wan feel bad. Damn, he was going soft in his age.

Then again, Obi-Wan realized, he'd probably always been soft. Overlooking Petro's deepening frown he said, "All of you should get some rest." He nodded at Cody and the Commander took his leave.

As if finally released from invisible bonds, the younglings found their beds and collapsed in record time. Gungi was snoring almost before his head hit the mat. Petro hung back, and damnit… Obi-Wan knew from personal experience that male human adolescents could make some of the most difficult, irrational, handfuls of jedi initiates in the galaxy, but they could also produce the most pathetic, akk puppy faces that demanded he do something.

"Petro," He said, having not planned to. The initiate turned, inordinately hopeful. "You did well on Florrum. Dedicate as much attention to your studies at the Temple, and you will make a great Jedi knight someday."

It wasn't exactly what Petro had hoped to hear, but he smiled widely at the praise. "Great enough to face you in a duel?" He asked, hopeful. Obi-Wan smiled, eyebrows shooting up at the impertinence. It reminded him of Qui-Gon, of Anakin. How did he attract these people?

"Perhaps," he said, mustache unable to hide all of his grin. He glanced down at the boy's belt and pointed at the newly constructed saber there, still a touch too big for Petro's hands, a testament to what he might one day become. "Don't lose it," He warned. With Obi-Wan's earlier confessions fresh in mind, Petro nodded solemnly.

"I won't, Master."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Good. Now get some rest. Master Yoda doesn't abide his dueling partners to show up to the dojo yawning."

Petro's look of sheer horror was enough to keep Obi-Wan's spirits up for the rest of the day. "Perhaps when he is done with you, you might be ready to face me."

Petro's horror grew at the irreverence. General Kenobi, The General Kenobi, was smack talking Grandmaster Yoda'sfighting ability. Grandmaster Yoda. It was too much for his young mind to compute, and he could naught but stare, mouth gaping in shock. Obi-Wan laughed.

"May the Force be with you," he said lightheartedly, and added with a wicked grin, "you're going to need it." He dimmed the lights on his way out, leaving Petro standing wide-mouthed in the dark. He chuckled all the way to the bridge.

Oh, how wonderful the mind of a child was.