A Much Wiser Man…

By Jemmiah

"You look tense." Qui-Gon remarked to his padawan, observing the taut line of Obi-Wan's jaw and the trademark furrowing of the young man's brow. "Does the prospect of this test make you uneasy?"

The apprentice stared ahead towards the thick, densely lined forest and rapidly darkening skyline. It wasn't fear of the unknown that bothered him, nor the gnawing uncertainty at his own ability to successfully complete the task. What bothered Obi-Wan most was the idea of failure itself: of letting Qui-Gon down, and in the process himself.

"Kryztan Harkley failed this test." Obi-Wan sighed deeply; releasing some of the tension that had been building within him over the last few minutes. "And Tanni Welasa. If a Togorian with superior reflexes and sense of direction cannot succeed then it doesn't bode well for me."

"You are not Kryztan." Qui-Gon smiled, approving of his padawan's respect for his test. "Nor are you Tanni Welasa. You are Obi-Wan Kenobi; and right now that is all that is important. Forget all that you may have been told about this exercise. Clear your mind of other people's failures and focus on what you must do."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, although his expression appeared even more troubled than before. "It is a bit difficult when you know what befell your fellow padawans. Zac didn't make it further than the 'swamp of doom'. Jodi got caught up in that giant web…and as for what happened to Jay!" Obi-Wan failed to repress a shudder. "I don't even want to think about it. They are supposed to be the most skilful padawans of their generation. Tanni is wise, Zac is brave, few are more skilled than Jodi…and Jay is possibly the best all round apprentice in terms of ability. And then there is me."

"And then there is you." Agreed Qui-Gon, still smiling.

"Tell me master," Obi-Wan gazed up at the Jedi's calm, reassuring face, "what special gift do I possess that will allow me to succeed where others greater than I have failed?"

"That," Qui-Gon placed his hands upon his padawan's shoulders, "is what you are about to find out." He turned to his right, sensing the approach of Master Windu who had been called to watch and observe how each of the padawans fared on this, one of the most difficult and awkward exercises imaginable. Difficult and varied terrain - downright treacherous in places - not to mention wild and dangerous forest dwelling creatures would have to be faced and conquered if an apprentice was to succeed. Of all the tests a padawan could be made to face this above all others was the one regarded with intense dislike…

"Are you ready, padawan Kenobi?" Master Windu asked.

Obi-Wan found his mouth suddenly very dry and merely signalled his readiness with a curt nod. The challenge filled him both with fear and excitement; two things that a Jedi was supposed to control, yet as he felt the blood surge through his veins Obi-Wan knew that his emotions had bettered him. The run to the forest seemed like an awfully long way, and he wondered if his courage or his legs would fail him first.

Concentrate! He rebuked himself roundly. There is no place for nerves here! You can do this. It's just a matter of belief.

"Very well." Mace glanced at his chrono, resetting the digits back to zero. "The distance between the start and the trees yonder is precisely one mile. The full distance of the course is measured at ten miles. You have three hours in which to run the full distance of the course. Is that understood?"

"Understood, master." Obi-Wan swallowed, his heart beating fit to burst against his ribs.

"Then may the force be with you, padawan. You may start when ready."

After a brief moment of hesitation Obi-Wan raced across the open ground towards the distant trees, sensing Qui-Gon willing him on, urging him to do his best. Aboraxia was a force-benighted planet, he thought bleakly as he kicked up his heels, feeling the muddy soil squelch beneath his booted soles. It never seemed to grow full light, as if pitched into eternal dusk,sufficient to see by but dark enough to stretch the nerves to the limits.

Qui-Gon viewed his padawan's retreating figure and tapped at Windu's chrono.

"He's making good speed." He noted as Obi-Wan approached the forest boundary.

"You didn't tell him that only Master Yoda has ever made it through this exercise on time." Mace turned to Qui-Gon. "And that only a small percentage actually reach the end of the task at all?"

"I didn't want to add to his burdens." Qui-Gon shook his head. "He was uptight enough as it was without me adding to his concerns. I believe that you almost managed to do the impossible," he cast his questioning blue gaze over his friend, "and were but a fraction over the time limit."

"One second." Mace gave the merest hint of a shrug. "If I hadn't stopped towrench that giant leach from my leg half way through the 'pond of despair' I would actually have completed faster than Master Yoda. Just completing felt like an achievement for me."

"Master Berlingside managed to complete the course." Qui-Gon frowned, realising that Obi-Wan was beginning to slow down.

"True." Agreed Mace. "Although Master Agrikka did feel that finishing two days after the three hour limit was perhaps a good enough reason to fail him."

"I seem to recall breaking my leg in a man-trap." Qui-Gon gritted his teeth. "Alas, we will never know if I would have completed or not…hold on a moment." He raised his hands up to his eyes, as if doing so might somehow clarify what he thought he was seeing. "Obi-Wan…is running back!"

Mace blinked repeatedly. Then he trained his image intensifying viewers onto the fleet-footed figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi who was, as Qui-Gon had stated, currently racing back towards them like the proverbial sith out of hell.

"Something must be wrong!" Qui-Gon placed both hands on his hips, attempting to appear calmer than he actually felt. "Why else would he flee from his exercise?"

"We'll find out soon enough." Mace's voice was low and suitably grim. "You can ask him yourself what ails him. But I'm afraid we'll have to fail him."

"But he's not even began…" Protested Qui-Gon.

"I am surprised." Mace admitted. "I've always had a high regard for your padawan's common sense. Whilst I admit that this wretched planet would get to most people sooner or later, I don't think we've ever failed anyone before they reached the forest."

Obi-Wan ran up to both masters - paused to catch his breath - then much to Qui-Gon's surprise started to run back again in the direction he had just come from.

"Padawan Kenobi!" Master Windu bellowed. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Can't stop, Master Windu." Obi-Wan shouted over his shoulder, only to find that Mace had began to run along side him to hear what he was saying, leaving Qui-Gon with the edifying sight of seeing the respected councilman puffing along after him in order to catch up. "I've got eight more miles to complete before my test is over."

"When I said you had to run the full ten miles I meant the entire course, not the distance!" Hollered Windu as he thundered up to Obi-Wan.

"You said I had to runten miles of the course." Obi-Wan replied breathlessly, deliberately injecting some more pace into his running so as to shake Mace off. "You never specified which part of the course. And I am choosing this nice flat, squishy part, rather than the interestingly named 'forest of certain death' where legs are snapped off in man-traps or where you are sat upon by rogue Banthas, or whatever current piece of nastiness the council has cooked up. So, if you'll excuse me…"

And with that Obi-Wan hared into the distance once more, leaving an uncertain and mildly annoyed Mace Windu behind him.

Mace walked back towards Qui-Gon, greeting the man with a shrug of his long, robed shoulders.

"I cannot fault his logic." Admitted Windu grudgingly. "Perhaps I should stop admiring your padawan's common sense and dedication to duty. Maybe it's his deviousness I should applaud."

"You're going to fail him, aren't you?" Qui-Gon sighed, rubbing fretfully at his beard.

"For what? Doing what I told him to do?" Mace replied with cautious approval. "He's shown that he is quick-witted enough to work out a solution to the exercise. I can hardly censor him for that, can I?

Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan slide his way over the muddy terrain and felt an unexpected twinge of pride. His padawan was not rebellious, nor did he seek to put himself forward for attention or praise. What the young man failed to recognise was that whilst his friends may have, in certain respects, excelled in specific areas to a greater extent, it was this sense of humility that kept him so level headed and focused whilst others, full of their own self worth, invariably failed. What special gift did he possess that allowed him to succeed where others supposedly greater than he had failed, Obi-Wan had asked? Quite simply, his ability to use his cunning and the brains the force had given him.

Today was a landmark day. Today, Obi-Wan had truly learned who he was.

"He's going to beat Yoda's time by hours." Qui-Gon said eventually. "Our revered master is going to tie himself up in knots trying to work out how he managed it."

For what seemed like one of the few occasions in his life, Mace allowed himself to smile.

"I know." He stifled the urge to smirk uncontrollably. "That's why I'm not going to fail your padawan!"