Only Wan

Episode XI

OBI-WAN

There was nothing worse than feeling like a fool, except perhaps, having your padawan there to see you in a less than fine moment. And Obi-Wan knew Anakin would never let this incident slide. Clones had escaped - clones of Obi-Wan - and now they had to gather them up before something terrible happened.

It was no surprise that one of the clones had taken Obi-Wan's ship and droid, forcing him to become Brye's passenger for the trip back to Coruscant. He was not in the least impressed with her driving, but he knew better than to complain a second time about her rocking ship.

Brye was doing her best to hold it together. Obi-Wan was no stranger to desperately hanging onto the edge. To criticise her driving and shatter what remained of her confidence would be cruel. Unlike Anakin, she wasn't making light of the situation.

"When we arrive at the Temple," she said as the ship jumped to lightspeed, "you will have to come with me to talk to the Council."

"Of course," Obi-Wan sighed.

There wasn't time to make a report to the Council, but it was important that the Masters knew what had happened. The clones would likely make an appearance at the Temple at some point anyway, so Obi-Wan and Brye were hopping they could achieve multiple goals by stopping by the Temple.

Shifting in his seat as Coruscant came into view, Obi-Wan winced as Brye prepared to land her vessel. He had never found solid ground so welcoming, regardless of the elder Jedi Kollen who stood waiting by the shuttle they were going to use to reach the core of the Jedi Temple.

"Hello there," Obi Wan said as happily as he could manage.

"Obi-Wan," Kollen said. "I wasn't aware you were coming back too. I hope everything went well on Kamino."

"Yes, well, things certainly got a little complicated." Obi-Wan tucked his robes tightly around himself as he climbed into the shuttle. He heard Brye mutter something under her breath, but failed to make out her words. "Has the Council sent you to help?"

"Oh, no. I had a spare moment and came to see what all the fuss was about."

"There's no fuss," Brye said, sitting forward from her seat behind. "We've come only to speak with Master Yoda and Master Windu."

"Right," Kollen said slowly. "So, your return has nothing to do with the imposer we found in the kitchen this morning?"

"Imposer?" Obi-Wan blinked. It couldn't be one of the clones - it was impossible. As bad as Byre's flying had been, they had still gotten back to the Temple swiftly. He hadn't noticed his ship in the landing bay, or any of the others from Kamino.

"Yes, an imposer. He looks just like you. Many of the Jedi swore it was you, but his actions." Kollen chuckled. "His actions were quite unlike you. When Master Windu mentioned you were arriving this evening it was presumed you had some intentions of clearing things up."

"How strange," Brye cut in.

Kollen raised his chin a little, but said nothing more. He wanted an explanation, and he was right to want such, yet Obi-Wan did not feel it would serve anyone well to spread news of what had happened.

He and Brye had already called the Council and warned them of the creation of a new weapon on Kamino in advance to their arrival. If the Masters had decided it was best not to tell Kollen, then Obi-Wan would follow their lead.

The shuttle landed and Brye was the first out, robes swishing around her ankles and her hair waving back and forth. "If you would escort me to the council chambers," she said with a smile at her former master. "Obi-Wan had something to pick up for Anakin."

A change of plan - and one that Obi-Wan agreed with. There was no point on both of them rushing to the Council when they could split ways and get double the work done. This clone - if Kollen had been speaking correctly - was a danger. Obi-Wan had no doubts that Brye would give a correct report on her own.

"What might that be? Another new lightsaber, perhaps?" Kollen mussed.

"I keep telling him to stop getting into other people's business, but he never listens. Poor Anakin is always on the move," Obi-Wan said merrily.

"Goodbye for now." Kollen gave a small wave as he took off with Brye, shifting the conversation back to the incident on Kamino. If Brye was going to tell him anything, Obi-Wan guessed it would be about the bad weather or Anakin's interruptions.

Hurrying in the opposite direction, Obi-Wan did his best not to worry about her and Kollen. She had seemed determined to do her job well and Obi-Wan had other things to focus on, the most important of which was the clone in the kitchen.

The corridor opened up into a wide dinning area. Jedi were scattered around, enjoying themselves in a way which Obi-Wan could only envy. Since taking on Anakin as his padawan, Obi-Wan had long since forgotten about quiet meals.

He stopped briefly before the entrance to the kitchen and checked his robes. Everything set, he took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Being around clones of himself was unnerving. Catching one was going to be even more so.

A soft voice reached his ears - his own voice.

The clone was singing.

It was hard for Obi-Wan to maintain a neutral expression as he rounded the corner and found the clone swaying back and forth. At least this one didn't look just like him as the one that Anakin had run away with had.

Yet that wasn't as good a point as Obi-Wan had first thought it to be. Sure, this clone was thicker around the waist and had shorter hair, but it was still him. Just another version. A variation. A distorted mirror image.

"Obi-Wan," Obi-Wan said awkwardly. He would have preferred if the clones had been given names of their own but they had left the facility too early for their names to even be considered. For now he would just have to guess they liked his name as much as he did.

"Ben!" the clone said, looking up from the spread of food he had on the counter-top. "Would you like a sandwich? I've just finished making some."

Obi-Wan flattered. "No, I'm quite alright."

Far from it, he knew. Thankfully the clone did not see through his discomfort as he picked up one of the many sandwiches piled up before him, put it on a plate and moved to get another.

The clone was not hostile but getting him out of the kitchen unseen was going to be an issue. It might have been possible to convince people he was not a replica when he was hiding in the kitchen, but if Obi-Wan was to walk side by side with the clone, someone would surely notice them.

"Why don't you take the name Ben?" Obi-Wan said, uncrossing his arms. "It suits you better."

"Really?" The clone - Ben's - eyes widened. "I've always wanted a nickname. Thank you!"

Wondering which part of his personality had been exaggerated to make Ben, Obi-Wan forced a smile and stepped closer. "Why don't you and I go for a walk? You can tell me if you've seen any more of our," he flattered, thinking for another word than twins.

"Brothers?" Ben offered.

"Yes. Brothers."

Obi-Wan did not think the term was best suited to the situation, but it would have to do. He knew he wouldn't take well to being called a clone. The term was uncivilised, at best. This new arrangement would take some getting use to.

"Where shall we walk to?" Ben placed two more sandwiches on his plate and picked up a glass of milk.

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. He would have to hide Ben until he and Byre had made sure there were no other clones in the Temple. He needed somewhere safe where Ben would be undisturbed, but also somewhere he would not want to leave.

"My quarters," he said, dropping his hand. If Ben was anything like Obi-Wan himself, he would enjoy some quiet time.

Ben smiled and Obi-Wan couldn't help but turn away and usher his new brother out the back entrance. It wasn't only the term brother he would have to get used to. Some way or another, all the replicas of himself would need taken care of and until the Council decided otherwise, he would be responsible for looking after them all.