"Does He Know?"
by Changeling

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Rating: G.

POV

Synopsis: Old Ben Kenobi has an internal dialogue upon meeting Han Solo for
the first time.

Spoilers: References to ANH; future adventures and relationship of Master
Qui-Gon Jinn and Iovene Bitto.
Disclaimer: Qui-Gon Jinn belongs to George Lucas [damn] along with Obi-Wan
Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, R2D2, C3PO, Chewbacca, and Star Wars
(tm).  Iovene Bitto and the Republic Intelligence Agency belong to me.  No
money is being made from this; it's just for the love of writing. [Yep.
Standard lecture, chicas.]

Archive: Archiving is *good*! This will be archived on Gon With The Jinn;
Jedi Soul and Temple Bards also have my permission.  All others please ask
first.

Feedback:  This is always welcome. Please?  Mew? 
************

The Tatooine air was hot and dry… not that this was in the least bit out of
the ordinary;  it was as I'd remembered in my youth and as I had grown to
accept over my long years of self-imposed exile.  It was a Skywalker who
brought me here initially, and the Force had decreed it was time for me to
venture forth with his successor.  Now I was the one collecting pathetic
life forms;  charming irony, that.

Of course, the proprietor of Mos Eisley's Spaceport bar would not allow the
droids to accompany young Luke and me on our quest to obtain passage from
this wretched hive.  This was just as well, because they would have been
disassembled and sold for scraps faster than you could say "Watto was
here".  R2D2 and C3PO were much safer out of doors and out of harm's way.
As for Luke… well, that was another matter entirely.  For his sake, I
remained mindful of the Living Force just as my Master had charged me long
ago when I was a mere Padawan.

In ways, Luke was becoming as a Padawan to me.  He remained by the bar as I
began scanning about for a pilot suitable to our mission.  Corellians --
possibly pirates for the most part.  They had been free traders in my
youth, all quite reputable and above board;  but the Empire had seen an end
to that.

A man of about 35 sat at a rear table conversing with a particularly tall
Wookie with a bandoleer draping his shoulder.  This creature rose and
crossed the room to join me, thus giving me my first unobstructed view of
his companion.

[By the Force,]  I thought, marveling at the familiar crooked grin.  [This
man bears such a close resemblance to Master Qui-Gon Jinn.]  But the nose
was slightly different, his eyes were hazel, he wore no beard, his hair was
much shorter, and he held an air of sly intelligence and charm, which also
seemed hauntingly familiar.

Where had I seen that mildly pixie nose before?  And those mischievous
hazel eyes?  The Force brought a woman's form to mind -- strong, athletic,
not a raving beauty but certainly comely and pleasant featured.  Her name,
as I recall was Iovene… Iovene Bitto.

I returned to the moment to defend Luke from an attacker, then herded him
over to that table with the assistance of Chewbacca the Wookie.

The eyes of this enigmatic man studied us thoughtfully, as though some
instinct had been alerted within him.  He seemed to like a good scrap and
apparently admired anyone who could hold his own in adversity.

"I'm Han Solo,"  he announced with a distinct Corellian accent,  "captain
of the Millenium Falcon."

[Solo…]  I searched his face, his very essence, and knew my assumptions
were correct.  [Does he know?  Has he any idea who his parents really are?]
But investigating this path would have to wait;  necessity called for a
business discussion.  Seventeen thousand credits in exchange for passage to
Alderaan… and no questions asked.

Perhaps one day I shall reveal the truth to Han Solo.  I do not know how
soon it shall be, but believe he has a right to whatever facts I can share
with him.  Not only for his peace of mind… for mine as well.