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(Ben)
Obi-Wan Kenobi
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A
dedicated and legendary Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi has had a long and
tumultuous career that has helped shape the fate of an entire galaxy. When he
was 25 standard years old, he was caught up in the important events of the
Battle of Naboo. At the time he was a Padawan learner, apprenticed to Jedi
Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
At the behest
of Supreme Chancellor Valorum, Obi-Wan and his master secretly voyaged to Naboo
to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the tense Trade Federation blockade of
the planet. Aboard a Trade Federation vessel, the scheming Neimoidians sprung a
trap on the Jedi, and attempted to kill them. Kenobi and his master escaped and
stowed away on Trade Federation invasion craft landing on Naboo's surface.
Following his
master, Obi-Wan voyaged from Naboo to Coruscant and back during the intrigue
that surrounded the Battle of Naboo. When Qui-Gon Jinn brought a freed young
slave boy, Anakin Skywalker, before the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan was taken aback.
Qui-Gon claimed that Anakin was the Chosen One of an ancient Jedi prophecy, and
that he was to be Jinn's new Padawan learner, replacing Obi-Wan. The council
refused Jinn's proposal to train the boy.
This was just
one of many disagreements that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn had during their
time together. Jinn, a proponent of the living Force over the more serene
unifying Force, had long been a maverick in the eyes of the Jedi Council.
Obi-Wan implored his master not to go against the Council, but Qui-Gon always
responded by saying that he must do as the will of the Force advises.
During the
liberation of Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were challenged by a deadly Sith Lord.
A forgotten menace, the Sith had returned after centuries of seeming
extinction. For the first time in ages, Jedi and Sith dueled. The dark warrior,
Darth Maul, used his incredible speed, rage and his double-ended lightsaber to
fend off both Jedi. As the duel progressed, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon became
separated. He watched helplessly as Maul killed Qui-Gon, and rushed to kill the
Sith Lord in turn.
Qui-Gon's dying words were a request for Obi-Wan to train
Anakin, despite the Council's objections. The Council ultimately agreed with
Obi-Wan taking Anakin as a Padawan -- though Jedi Master Yoda had strong
reservations about it. The Council also bestowed upon Obi-Wan the title and
rank of Jedi Knight.
For over a
decade Obi-Wan guided young Anakin on the path to Jedi Knighthood. Having to
rein in an adventure-seeking youth made Obi-Wan wise -- and cynical -- beyond his
years. True to his role, Obi-Wan recognized both Anakin's strengths and
weaknesses, and he tried to impart his lessons with the patience and
understanding that his mentor, Qui-Gon, did.
As Anakin
progressed, Obi-Wan grew increasingly concerned that the young Padawan's raw power had fostered a dangerous arrogance. He
frequently expressed these reservations to the senior members of the Jedi
Council, but they continued to trust in Kenobi's mentorship.
After
returning from a border dispute on the world of Ansion,
Obi-Wan and Anakin were called by the Supreme Chancellor to protect the life of
Senator Padmé Amidala. Though Obi-Wan carried a less-than-favorable impression
of politics, he nonetheless took the assignment very seriously. A failed
assassination attempt left Obi-Wan with a valuable clue -- an exotic weapon not
recognized by the droids of the Jedi Temple.
As Anakin
voyaged off-world on his first mission, escorting and protecting Padmé Amidala
on her home planet of Naboo, Obi-Wan continued the investigation. He journeyed
to Coruscant's Coco Town, a shabby stretch of city
where an old friend, Dexter Jettster, lived and
worked. Dex, the proprietor of a simple diner, was a
wealth of knowledge, and was able to identify the weapon as a Kamino saberdart.
In searching
out Kamino, Obi-Wan discovered a dangerous and disturbing mystery. The vaunted
Jedi Archives, perhaps the largest repository of lore in the galaxy, had no
record of the planet that Dex described. Conferring
with Yoda, Obi-Wan learned that Kamino had been erased from the archives.
Aboard a Jedi
starfighter, Kenobi journeyed to the storm-shrouded world of Kamino. There, he
made contact with the Prime Minister, Lama Su, and the mystery surrounding the
planet became even more tangled. As explained by the Kaminoans, Obi-Wan was
expected. A decade previous, the Kaminoans had begun crafting an immense clone
army on the behalf of the Jedi for use by the Republic. Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, believed dead at the time, had apparently
commissioned the army.
The courteous
Kaminoans gave Kenobi a tour of their cloning facility in Tipoca City. Obi-Wan
saw hundreds of identical clone troopers, training and preparing, encased in
modern, white armor. This seemed to have nothing to do with the assassination
attempt on Amidala, until Kenobi met with the original genetic template for the
clones.
Jango Fett,
notorious bounty hunter, had called Kamino home for a decade. Obi-Wan, never
breaking his cover story of inspecting the clones, had a brief yet tense
conversation with the hunter. Kenobi recognized the man's armor from the
assassination attempts on Coruscant, and was tasked by the Jedi Council to take
Fett into custody for questioning.
This resulted
in a fierce brawl between Kenobi and Fett. Jango Fett's weapon-covered suit
aided him in landing blows on the Jedi, and the bounty hunter also benefited from
cover fire by his young son, Boba. Ultimately, Jango escaped aboard his
starship, Slave I, but not before Kenobi was able to secure a homing
device to his ship.
Kenobi
shadowed Jango to the ringed world of Geonosis before he was discovered
pursuing Slave I. A dangerous chase ensued through the rocky rings of
the red planet, and Kenobi's starfighter sustained light damage from a
blistering hail of laser fire. Fett again thought he lost his pursuer and
proceeded to land, but Kenobi continued his chase.
Obi-Wan
secretly landed on Geonosis, and snuck into one of its massive spire-complexes.
Inside, he found a gathering of Separatist minds, including the leader of the
movement, Count Dooku. He learned that Dooku was gathering the heads of the
commerce guilds and pooling their military resources, making one huge army to
challenge the Republic. Kenobi returned to his ship to make contact with the
Jedi Council. He warned of the impending Separatist action, but his
communication was cut short when he was taken captive.
Held in a
Geonosian dungeon, Kenobi was approached by Dooku. The charismatic renegade
Jedi spoke fondly of Kenobi's old mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn, who had once been
Dooku's apprentice. Dooku seemed to genuinely regret that events had escalated
to their current level. His disillusionment with the Republic seemed sincere.
Dooku even revealed to Kenobi that the Senate was under the control of the Dark
Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. Kenobi refused to believe the words of the
elder Jedi, and refused, too, an invitation to join Dooku in battle against the
Sith.
As per
Geonosian custom, Kenobi was sentenced to be executed. Joining him were Anakin
and Padmé, who had journeyed to Geonosis in a vain rescue effort. The trio was
chained to pillars in a massive Geonosian execution arena, and three horrible
beasts were unleashed upon them. The Jedi and Padmé, however, proved difficult
to kill. Unarmed and shackled, they were resourceful enough to escape certain
death. Kenobi escaped the deadly cutting swipes of a vicious acklay creature
long enough for Jedi reinforcements to arrive.
A hundred Jedi
Knights infiltrated the arena, and the Separatists countered by unleashing many
more battle droids into combat. Jedi fell by the dozen, but Obi-Wan fought
valiantly and survived. This was but a prelude to the start of the Clone Wars,
as the newly formed Republic military stormed Geonosis.
Dooku
attempted to escape the battle, but Obi-Wan and Anakin gave chase. They caught
up with the old Jedi in a hidden hangar. Though Obi-Wan instructed Anakin to
join him in a coordinated attack against Dooku, the headstrong Padawan rushed
in only to be incapacitated by Dooku's surprising dark side attack.
Kenobi moved
in for the attack, but Dooku proved far too powerful. The rogue Jedi's lightsaber
skills outpaced Kenobi's parries, and Obi-Wan fell to the ground, wounded in
the arm and leg from glancing saber strikes. As Dooku was about to administer
the death blow, Anakin leaped forward and saved his master. Skywalker and Dooku
dueled, but again the Count proved his superiority. Anakin was maimed and
collapsed in an exhausted heap, joining his helpless master.
Finally, Jedi
Master Yoda arrived and attempted to stop Dooku. Though Yoda's withering
lightsaber attack nearly stopped the evil Jedi, Dooku was able to distract the
diminutive master by endangering Obi-Wan and Anakin with a fallen pillar torn
free by the Force. Yoda used his telekinetic abilities to stop the pillar
before it crushed the two younger Jedi, and Dooku was able to escape.
Kenobi healed,
and was able to reflect upon the immense changes in the galaxy that had
occurred. He conceded that the Jedi had needed the clone army, otherwise the
Separatists clearly would have won at Geonosis. Yoda sadly noted that the
victory on Geonosis was in fact no victory at all. It was only the start of the
darkest times ever to be faced by the galaxy.
As a General
in the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi served the Senate and the Republic
heroically, on numerous historic battlefronts. Despite his misgivings, he
became a seasoned starfighter pilot, learning several tricks from his
unorthodox Padawan as the duo blazed a trail of victory through Separatists
lines.
The exploits
of Skywalker and Kenobi became legendary throughout the Republic. While Anakin
was elevated as the "Hero Without Fear" for his daring heroics,
Obi-Wan's more measured tactics earned him the reputation as "the
Negotiator." Many times Kenobi was able to cease hostilities without the
raising of a single blaster. When diplomacy failed and it did come to violence,
the General was ready. Kenobi had the control of a complete army of clone
troopers and the latest military hardware. His most trusted clone soldier,
Commander 2224 -- also known as Cody -- served him well during close calls on Cato
Neimoidia and elsewhere.
During the Clone Wars, Kenobi ascended to the rank of Jedi
Master, and he occupied a position in the Jedi Council. He was able to
contribute to the highest levels of Jedi strategy, and such a vaunted position
allowed him to witness the strain between the Jedi order and the Office of the
Chancellor firsthand.
Anakin
Skywalker was one of many casualties as the galaxy was enveloped by darkness.
Obi-Wan incorrectly believed that he could train Anakin as skillfully as the
revered Yoda. He would later admit that he was wrong. His arrogance had grave
consequences for the galaxy. Anakin Skywalker succumbed to the temptations of
the dark side, and was reborn as a Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.
Obi-Wan was
instrumental in hiding Anakin's offspring, so that neither the Dark Lord, nor
his master, the Emperor Palpatine, knew of their whereabouts. He took the young
boy, Luke, to live with Owen and Beru Lars, moisture farmers on Tatooine. The
young girl, Leia, was taken to Viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan, whom Obi-Wan
had served during the Clone Wars.
As the Jedi's
ranks were wiped out by the machinations of the emergent Empire, Obi-Wan went
into hiding on Tatooine. He would stay there for decades, adopting the name of
Ben. The locals wouldrefer to him as a "crazy old hermit," and gave
the eccentric old man a wide berth.
During the
height of the Galactic Civil War, Leia Organa secured plans to the Empire's
most diabolical weapon -- the Death Star. Her mission was to contact Obi-Wan
Kenobi, and bring both Kenobi and the plans to her adoptive father on Alderaan.
Captured by the Imperial agents, Leia was unable to complete either goal. She
instead placed the plans into the memory systems of an R2 unit, and dispatched
the droid to Tatooine.
The droid
R2-D2 and his companion C-3PO came into the ownership of Owen Lars. R2-D2 was adamant
in continuing his mission of getting the plans to Kenobi, and fled the Lars
Homestead. When Luke Skywalker pursued the little droid, he came face to face
with Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan
explained to Luke about his father, though the Jedi didn't reveal the whole
truth to the lad. Uncertain that Luke would be ready for the burden, Kenobi
explained to him that Anakin Skywalker was an amazing pilot, a great warrior
and a good friend. Obi-Wan attributed Anakin's death to a rogue pupil of his,
Darth Vader, who betrayed and murdered Anakin. Since, Kenobi reasoned, Anakin
ceased to be upon the emergence of Vader, what he told Luke was true, from a
certain point of view. Obi-Wan even gave Luke a gift from his father: Anakin
Skywalker's blue-bladed lightsaber. Thus began Luke's journey into the world of
the Jedi.
Obi-Wan tried
to train Luke as much as he could in their short time together. As testament to
the desperation of these dark times, Kenobi knew full well that Skywalker would
never have been trained in the old days of the Jedi. He was far too old to
begin training. Nonetheless, Kenobi saw a chance to redeem his fallen pupil
through Luke.
Having taken
the mission to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire, Obi-Wan and Luke hired Han
Solo's Millennium Falcon as transportation to Alderaan. During the trip,
Kenobi began Luke's lightsaber training. The brief session was cut short as the
Falcon emerged from hyperspace to find Alderaan destroyed by the Death Star.
The tramp
freighter was captured by the Empire and taken aboard the Death Star. Once
aboard, it was Kenobi's mission to disable the tractor beam terminal
responsible for holding the ship. Kenobi did so, carefully sneaking through the
labyrinthine corridors of the battle station. Though his skill in the Force kept
his presence a secret from stormtroopers and Imperial officers, it only served
to draw the attention of Darth Vader.
The Dark Lord
confronted Kenobi as the Jedi was returning to the Falcon. After decades
of delay, Vader finally squared off against his former master. As a
diversionary tactic to help the others escape, Kenobi sacrificed himself to
Vader. The Dark Lord struck the Jedi down, and Kenobi became one with the
Force. He left behind no body, just empty robes and his own Jedi weapon.
Kenobi's death
strengthened Skywalker's resolve to serve both the Rebellion and the Force. At
times of great trial, Kenobi's voice would reach out to Luke, offering counsel.
Later, the spectral form of Kenobi would appear to Luke. The ghost-like image
advised young Skywalker to venture to Dagobah, where he could complete his
training under the guidance of Yoda.
Later, Kenobi
appeared to Luke and revealed the truth of his lineage. Though Kenobi felt that
the dark side could only be defeated by bringing about the deaths of Anakin and
the Emperor, Luke strongly believed that his father still had good in him. Luke
set out to turn Anakin away from the dark side and succeeded, though at a great
price. Anakin suffered grievous wounds in his final battle, and died having
returned to the light. His spectral form joined that of Kenobi and Yoda during
the Rebel's celebration of the Empire's defeat.
From
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