Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 31/?)
Aug. 30th, 2005 03:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyPart: 31/?
Author: Diana Michelle (
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
butterfly)Warnings: Spoilers for Revenge of the Sith.
Pairings: Anakin/Obi-Wan; Leia/Han.
Rating: R/NC-17 (overall -- PG in this part)
Summary: Luke has a frustrating encounter.
Disclaimer: Not Lucas, don't own a thing, not making any money.
Chapter Index
"-I’m sorry, Minister, but this truly is all that we could find.”
The holoprojecter dimmed, the data slip automatically ejecting. Luke placed it in a small pouch on his belt, next to his lightsaber. He leaned against the wall, the young, sad face of that first image of Anakin Skywalker still hovering in his mind.
“I wonder what her name was.”
With the words came a sudden splash of being in the Force, a very identifiable one.
“So, you finally decided to show up,” Luke said, looking over his shoulder. Even his mild irritation couldn't hide the warmth in his voice.
Ben was sitting in one of the straight-backed chairs of the meeting room, his bluish-white glow flickering clearly in the low lighting Luke had set the room to when he’d entered. Ben was bent over slightly, his chin cupped in his hand, fingers thoughtfully stroking at his beard.
“I was in the system,” he said, glancing over at Luke, a smile in his eyes. “I thought I could drop by, see how you’re doing.”
“If you know what’s going on, tell me,” Luke said, turning his back against the wall as he stared at Ben, expectantly. “And… the whole truth, not just the part you want me to know right now.”
“I’m sorry, Luke,” Ben said, placing his hands on his knees, brow furrowed. “The little that I know about this situation isn’t actually very useful.”
“Tell me anyway,” Luke said. Ben smiled at him, gesturing him over to take a seat.
“Hmm. To start with, it involves something that I’ve been struggling with for some time,” Ben said, settling back in his chair. Luke watched him for a moment, then settled down in a chair next to him, resting an arm on the nearby meeting table. “The short version?”
“If you could,” Luke said.
“I know why… why the younger Obi-Wan can’t use the Force,” Ben said, clearly uncomfortable with the subject.
“And?” Luke asked.
“A person’s Force-connection is… unique, a pathway to the Force that is designed solely for their use,” Ben said. “Putting it as simply as possibly, Obi-Wan can’t use the Force because he’s already using it.”
“So, the fact that you’re still around means that-“
“That I am, in essence, blocking his access to the Force. He can’t reach it because I’m in the way,” Ben said, sounding mildly embarrassed.
“Wait, why isn’t Anakin having problems?” Luke asked.
“Ah, that,” Ben said. “Well, it’s a bit complicated.”
“As simply as possible,” Luke said, throwing Ben's words back at him.
“He’s not in the way,” Ben said. “As a matter of fact, both Anakin and Yoda fully rejoined the Force after that celebration on Endor.”
“But not you,” Luke said, cocking his head.
“It’s not as though I could foresee my younger self coming to the future,” Ben pointed out, stepping around the subject. “I didn’t know that I’d need the connection. Still, the problem remains.”
“So, what happens now?” Luke asked, leaning forward in his chair.
“Well, there is a fairly simple solution,” Ben said. “I allow myself to fade into the Force.”
“And then you’d be gone,” Luke said, slowly.
“I would, yes,” Ben said, glancing away from Luke.
“You didn’t explain yet why my father and Yoda choose to join the Force and you didn’t,” Luke said.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Ben asked.
“No,” Luke said. “It isn’t.”
“Anakin left almost immediately – he’d severed his need to hold onto this world just before he died. He stayed only so that you might have the chance to truly see him, Anakin Skywalker, and not Darth Vader. Master Yoda did not take long to follow him,” Ben said. “And then I tried and found…”
“What?” Luke asked.
“That I was not ready to leave,” Ben said, meeting Luke's eyes. “You must understand -- when I appeared to you after my death, no Jedi had done such a thing for a thousand years. All of the Jedi who came before are with us, in the Force, but merely as part of the fabric of the whole. They cannot interact with the world as you do. But I can. Here and now, I can feel this chair that I’m sitting on. I’m still attached to this universe, physically attached.”
Ben reached out, his half-transparent hand stroking Luke’s cheek. Ben’s touch felt... like standing a step away from a fire. Close enough to feel the heat, but not close enough to truly burn.
“I’m still attached to you, dear child,” Ben said, quietly. “From the very moment you were born, I loved you. That love has never wavered or faded, only strengthened with time.”
“And that’s what's keeping you here,” Luke said. “You can’t leave because… because you don’t really want to.”
“Yes,” Ben said, pulling his hand away. Luke felt oddly cold. “You managed to sum it up quite well.”
“So, Obi-Wan will have his… connection back when he returns to the past,” Luke said, decisively. Ben's mouth twisted slightly and he looked a bit uncomfortable.
“Well, yes,” Ben said. “If he returns to the past, one would assume that he would once again be the only person trying to be Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
“You don’t think they’ll be able to go back,” Luke said, raising his eyebrows.
“I’m still rather bewildered by them being here at all,” Ben admitted easily. “And to get back, they have to first find out how they got here. And they haven’t had much success so far.”
Ben paused.
“They’d probably have more luck if they didn’t keep getting distracted,” he said, with a half-smile.
“What do you mean?” Luke asked.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” Ben said, his voice an odd mixture of ominous foreshadowing and rueful amusement.
“Ben,” Luke said.
“Try not to think too badly of Anakin. He’s likely doing his best,” Ben said. “And now, I really must go. Things to do.”
“What things?” Luke asked, but Ben was already fading from view. Luke sighed in frustration. “You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
Luke settled back in the chair, his fingers tapping against the pouch the data slip was resting in. Leia might be interested in seeing it, once he’d met back up with her.
He stretched out his senses to look for her, and noticed a room-sized shielded area in the building. That had to be Anakin’s doing, but Luke couldn’t see why Anakin had felt the burning need for some privacy.
Maybe he just didn’t trust Luke.
Luke sighed, again, and continued to search for Leia, finally locating her some distance from the building, but approaching rapidly. Leia had probably realized where Luke was, earlier, and was currently bullying Han into coming over to pick him up.
Han wasn’t a big fan of the
‘Talking to bureaucrats is as dull as watching a ship rust’ had been his exact words. And so Han avoided the place as much as he could, which wasn’t much, considering that Leia was bound and determined to have as much influence on the direction of the new government as possible and thus insisted on spending a lot of time in the building whenever they were on Coruscant. And Leia was good at getting her way.
Luke grinned and got up from his chair, making his way towards the rooftop landing platform. He’d rejoin Leia and Han, and then they’d figure out the next step.
It always worked out best when it was the three of them, together.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 11:06 pm (UTC)Also I didn't think it possible that I could love this story more than I already do... it appears that I was wrong.
Because Obi-Wan and Anakin, and the information from the Holo-thingie... the Emperors whole speech... just left me wondering why the Emperor hadn't just said that Obi-Wan's brethren had managed to turn Obi-Wan against the Empire, instead his speech protected him in some small manner, making it appear as if Obi-Wan had continued to support him. Obviously the Resistance (i.e whoever told Leia to contact Obi-Wan) had known the truth, but it still makes you wonder.
And this part...
“What things?” Luke asked, but Ben was already fading from view. Luke sighed in frustration. “You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
... made me laugh out loud.
Does Ghost!Obi-Wan's comment that he's not ready to become one with the Force mean that we'll have our Obi-Wan powerless for the duration of the story. Or is a way going to be found around that particular little loophole?
More soon?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:10 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Because Obi-Wan and Anakin, and the information from the Holo-thingie... the Emperors whole speech... just left me wondering why the Emperor hadn't just said that Obi-Wan's brethren had managed to turn Obi-Wan against the Empire, instead his speech protected him in some small manner, making it appear as if Obi-Wan had continued to support him. Obviously the Resistance (i.e whoever told Leia to contact Obi-Wan) had known the truth, but it still makes you wonder.
Palptine was a twisty guy, that's for sure.
And this part...
“What things?” Luke asked, but Ben was already fading from view. Luke sighed in frustration. “You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
... made me laugh out loud.
Hee. Yay. I'm really glad that the humor and the more serious stuff worked.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 11:27 pm (UTC)It's very late here so I'll be brief for once.
So you're finally giving us some answers as to why Obi-Wan can't access the force. Most interesting.
This line made me laugh out loud:
“You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
And this line is sweet in a good way:
“They’d probably have more luck if they didn’t keep getting distracted,” he said, with a half-smile.
Oh, and shouldn't Luke be getting some sleep, too? (I'm probably projecting my own need for a bed here, but inquisitive minds want to know.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:11 pm (UTC)He was a lot of fun in that movie.
It's very late here so I'll be brief for once.
So you're finally giving us some answers as to why Obi-Wan can't access the force. Most interesting.
Thanks.
This line made me laugh out loud:
“You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
It amused me, too, so I'm really glad it worked for other people.
And this line is sweet in a good way:
“They’d probably have more luck if they didn’t keep getting distracted,” he said, with a half-smile.
Thank you.
Oh, and shouldn't Luke be getting some sleep, too? (I'm probably projecting my own need for a bed here, but inquisitive minds want to know.)
Hee. He has had a long day so far.
more questions than comments
Date: 2005-08-30 11:28 pm (UTC)Shouldn't there be other reasons, though, as to why Ben is still around? It's not as though he's the only Jedi who loved another when they died.
when I appeared to you after my death, no Jedi had done such a thing for a thousand years.
Woah, wait, what about Qui-Gon? We, the audience, never see him as a Force!Ghost but Yoda clearly states that he's around for chatting. (and if you're willing to swallow facts from the RoTS novelization, we see Yoda meeting for the first time Qui-Gon's ghost, and it's clear that he's there in the same way Ben is in the last two movies.)
So Ben is all alone in his ghostland? With only ocasional visits to Luke (the reason why he's stuck around)? I wonder what he's so busy with. (...not spying on Certain Couples, I hope!)
Luke and Ben here are very cute. :D Luke with his YAY YOU'RE BACK AND YOU'RE WAY MORE NORMAL THAN THOSE TWO NO DON'T GO and Ben's wry humor and wisdom. Good job on making Ben feel different from Obi-Wan. They're clearly related SOMEHOW but not the same person.
I feel mildly ridiculous now that I'm replying to pretty much every chapter now, but... eh, giving more incentive can't hurt, right? XD
Re: more questions than comments
Date: 2005-09-01 09:14 pm (UTC)All I want to give away at this point is that Ben has not given up his title as Master of the Selective Truth.
Luke and Ben here are very cute. :D Luke with his YAY YOU'RE BACK AND YOU'RE WAY MORE NORMAL THAN THOSE TWO NO DON'T GO and Ben's wry humor and wisdom. Good job on making Ben feel different from Obi-Wan. They're clearly related SOMEHOW but not the same person.
Yay. Thank you. I'm so glad that Ben works. Yay!
I feel mildly ridiculous now that I'm replying to pretty much every chapter now, but... eh, giving more incentive can't hurt, right?
More incentive doesn't hurt at all. Thank you for liking the story so much. There's a certain amount of giddy joy found in that.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 01:19 am (UTC)Thank you again for another wonderful chapter!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:17 pm (UTC)Does turn things around a bit, definitely.
*pets Ben*
Thank you again for another wonderful chapter!
You're welcome. *blushes* Thank you for commenting.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 02:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:19 pm (UTC)Thank you!
I knew Obi-Wan couldn't use the force, but I never expected such a thoughtful (and melancholy?) reason. Thank you for this chapter, really.
You're welcome. I'm really glad that you're enjoying it.
Of course, I like the line everyone else loves, too.
Date: 2005-08-31 02:07 am (UTC)I like the notion of Ben being sweet on Luke -- even if it's just in my head.
Luke grinned and got up from his chair, starting to make his way back to the entrance. He’d rejoin Leia and Han, and then they’d figure out the next step.
It always worked out best when it was the three of them, together.
Oooooh. Like that, too.
Re: Of course, I like the line everyone else loves, too.
Date: 2005-09-01 09:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 03:19 am (UTC)Hehehe.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 07:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:21 pm (UTC)Thank you (and I must admit that I'm a touch more nervous writing the Luke-era of characters, so I'm really glad that they feel right, too).
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 03:01 pm (UTC)Dork. Unhelpful dork. God love him.
“And… the whole truth, not just the part you want me to know right now.”
Luke has finally learned to be firm with Old Ben. hee!
You must understand -- when I appeared to you after my death, no Jedi had done such a thing for a thousand years.
Lie. Or at least, at least a glossing over the facts -- if you're using RotS, Ben learned how to stay himself from Qui-Gon. He might have refined the skill further than Qui-Gon ever managed, seeing as we only ever heard Qui-Gon's voice, but Obi-Wan is leaving out important details... *again*.
They’d probably have more luck if they didn’t keep getting distracted,
Oh god, that's just bizarre. Ben is probably chuckling when he isn't boggled. And he is SO not helping Luke prepare for the shock that is coming. He's probably anticipating the look on Luke's face, actually.
“You’re a ghost. There’s a limit to how busy you can be!”
Poor Luke. He knows that Ben is just being avoid-y but can't do anything to stop him, cause it is not like he can grab the guy and keep him there...
It always worked out best when it was the three of them, together.
Yeah, because the boys need Leia to do the hard thinking for them. I love Luke, but he always goes with his instincts. And Han's plans are rarely more complicated than "Shoot it and run!"
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:24 pm (UTC)Hee, yes.
Luke has finally learned to be firm with Old Ben. hee!
He's learning! Though it would help if Ben actually agreed to Luke's terms.
Lie. Or at least, at least a glossing over the facts -- if you're using RotS, Ben learned how to stay himself from Qui-Gon. He might have refined the skill further than Qui-Gon ever managed, seeing as we only ever heard Qui-Gon's voice, but Obi-Wan is leaving out important details... *again*.
Obi-Wan is the Master of the Selective Truth, definitely. He's all, "Does Luke need to know this bit? Eh, probably not. I'll just skip it."
Oh god, that's just bizarre. Ben is probably chuckling when he isn't boggled. And he is SO not helping Luke prepare for the shock that is coming. He's probably anticipating the look on Luke's face, actually.
Hee, probably.
Poor Luke. He knows that Ben is just being avoid-y but can't do anything to stop him, cause it is not like he can grab the guy and keep him there...
Right, you can't stop a ghost from disappearing whenever he wants to.
Yeah, because the boys need Leia to do the hard thinking for them. I love Luke, but he always goes with his instincts. And Han's plans are rarely more complicated than "Shoot it and run!"
Hee. Good points, all.
Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 04:29 pm (UTC)I wonder what her name was.”
Is this Ghost Obi-Wan wondering about his mother's name?
when I appeared to you after my death, no Jedi had done such a thing for a thousand years.
Interesting. Obi-Wan is doing a point of view thingy as always.
Qui-Gon did manage to contact him after his death. I do believe though that Qui-Gon never managed to actually appear, but was only visible as a voice. (Which is the same state Obi-Wan reaches in ANH when his voice guides Luke.) So Obi-Wan statement is true - from a certain point of view.
I'm finding it very funny that you're very close to adding another pairing to your story, i.e. Luke/Ghost Obi-Wan. *laughs*
It's touching that Ghost Obi-Wan seems to happy for Anakin and Obi-Wan. He certainly doesn't seem to be adverse to their doings, otherwise I think he might have interfered by commenting from the side lines. ;-)
Talking to bureaucrats is as dull as watching a ship rust’ had been his exact words.
Han and Anakin have a lot in common.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-01 09:36 pm (UTC)Very cool. Thank you so much for liking the story enough to feedback it twice.
"I wonder what her name was.”
Is this Ghost Obi-Wan wondering about his mother's name?
Yeah, see, he totally kinda sorta cares. Well, enough to be curious, at least.
Interesting. Obi-Wan is doing a point of view thingy as always.
Qui-Gon did manage to contact him after his death. I do believe though that Qui-Gon never managed to actually appear, but was only visible as a voice. (Which is the same state Obi-Wan reaches in ANH when his voice guides Luke.) So Obi-Wan statement is true - from a certain point of view.
Exactly. Obi-Wan isn't lying, but he's not being forthcoming with the entire truth, either.
I'm finding it very funny that you're very close to adding another pairing to your story, i.e. Luke/Ghost Obi-Wan. *laughs*
Hee.
It's touching that Ghost Obi-Wan seems to happy for Anakin and Obi-Wan. He certainly doesn't seem to be adverse to their doings, otherwise I think he might have interfered by commenting from the side lines. ;-)
Hee, so true.
Han and Anakin have a lot in common.
They really do.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-04 03:38 am (UTC)Er, just wondering, the movie hinted that there maybe something going on between Padme and Obi-wan... so did the book... will you be touching on the subject? thanks
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-05 12:32 am (UTC)Whoooo! It's Ben in all his wry glory!:D And poor Luke, normal for him is talking to the ghost version of Obi-wan!
Well, hee. Yes.
Er, just wondering, the movie hinted that there maybe something going on between Padme and Obi-wan... so did the book... will you be touching on the subject? thanks
Well, I can assure that Anakin is just as paranoid here as he is anywhere else. If he suspects anything, he'll be all over it.
re: Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 31: Light Conversation
Date: 2006-03-20 07:03 am (UTC)Like, for instance, Ben could tell Luke about Shmi. The more mature Luke gets, the more he reminds me of Shmi. I do like to think that she could have been a great Jedi (surely she had a Force-connection, as some fan writers have assumed?).
What does Ben mean when he says he was in ths system? The planetary system?
I like the idea that Ben can't leave because of his attachment to Luke.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” Ben said, his voice an odd mixture of ominous foreshadowing and rueful amusement.
Lovely wording here--I could *hear* his voice. :)
“Try not to think too badly of Anakin. He’s likely doing his best,” Ben said.
Now, that's an admission of what Ben knew all along, that Anakin wasn't very good at being the perfect Jedi, not in the way Obi-Wan was, or tried to be. :)
'Talking to bureaucrats is as dull as watching a ship rust’ had been his exact words.
Totally in agreement with Han here. ;)
He’d rejoin Leia and Han, and then they’d figure out the next step.
It always worked out best when it was the three of them, together.
Oh, I like those last two sentences. :) And that reminds me to keep looking for a real good original trio icon. :)
Re: Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 31: Light Conversation
Date: 2006-04-07 08:15 am (UTC)Yes, Ben remains the Master of the Selective Truth.
Like, for instance, Ben could tell Luke about Shmi. The more mature Luke gets, the more he reminds me of Shmi. I do like to think that she could have been a great Jedi (surely she had a Force-connection, as some fan writers have assumed?).
I definitely think that that's a plausible idea.
Now, that's an admission of what Ben knew all along, that Anakin wasn't very good at being the perfect Jedi, not in the way Obi-Wan was, or tried to be. :)
But he tries! Hee. But yes, Ben has become a bit wiser than Obi-Wan is.
He’d rejoin Leia and Han, and then they’d figure out the next step.
It always worked out best when it was the three of them, together.
Oh, I like those last two sentences. :) And that reminds me to keep looking for a real good original trio icon. :)
Thank you.