Day 22, Waiting Room 1, Evening Shift

[lustful_thing]

Lust had believed herself spared from the entire visitors event. But no sooner than the announcement had been made, her nurse was at her side and gibbering excitedly about the chance to see a loved one

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[braidless]

Obi-Wan had taken to leafing through one of the periodicals from a rack, suddenly very interested in discovering anything he could about Earthian geography and culture. He didn't get too far in his attempt, however. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a nurse leading in what appeared to be a young boy. The Jedi turned to look at the pair more fully...

...and almost let the article he was holding slip from his hands.

Anakin.

Obi-Wan briefly closed his eyes at this startling turn of events, and he was unsure of whether he could look at the boy or not. Out of all of the people he'd expected Landel's to bring here, he hadn't anticipated this. Fortunately, he managed to keep his composure for the time being, and he turned to look at him with a calm, polite gaze.

Yes, the boy definitely looked like Anakin. Taking in a soft breath, Obi-Wan tried to reach out with the Force, to feel what should have been the former slave's unmistakable Force signature. But no matter how hard he tried, Obi-Wan came up with nothing, as if his Force-perception had either completely died, or this "Anakin" was simply another part of Landel's cruel game, much like the staff and monsters here.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure which scenario was worse, and, for once, he suddenly didn't feel like trying to fully think things out at that particular moment. Right now, his job was to successfully play along, so he could find out as much as he could about the situation.

He would have to deal with his feelings later.

"Hello there." Then, after briefly hesitating a moment, he added, "Andrew."

[damned_visitors]

Andrew took a few steps forward and looked up at the calm seeming patient.

"Hello," he said, finally, a bit formally. Everything about him was stiff and formal. He'd been told he had to be on his best behavior. But...

It wasn't like he was meeting some stranger. So he gave a sigh and his shoulders relaxed and he scrunched up his face before speaking.

"Everybody tells me you're sick, but you don't look sick at all. And the kids at school say you're crazy, and this is a nuthouse. I don't think any of that's right, though. When are you coming home?"

[braidless]

Obi-Wan watched Anakin carefully. After giving his initial greeting, the boy seemed to relax somewhat, and the stiff air between them began to diminish, at least a little bit.

"Everybody tells me you're sick, but you don't look sick at all," Anakin told him. "And the kids at school say you're crazy, and this is a nuthouse. I don't think any of that's right, though. When are you coming home?"

The Jedi gave a small frown, unsure of how to proceed with the conversation. He wasn't quite sure who 'everybody' consisted of, and why they felt justified in insisting he wasn't of sound mind. What struck Obi-Wan the most, however, was Anakin's apparent faith that he really wasn't insane. In fact, this was the first person tied to Landel's (aside from prisoners, that is) who wasn't automatically going by the assumption that he was supposed to be here.

For some reason, that thought comforted Obi-Wan a little until he realized that it probably made very little difference in the end. Still, it was worth noting for future reference.

"I feel fine," Obi-Wan assured him, and he meant it. "I'll...come home as soon as these people allow me." He briefly paused. "Who's been telling you I'm ill?"

[damned_visitors]

"You look fine," Andrew said, with a firm nod. "I know there's nothing the matter with you." Crazy people looked crazy, after all. Wild eyes and foaming at the mouth and everything.

"Mom says you have some kind of thing that makes you really confused. But you don't seem confused at all. And the other instructors at the dojo say you're sick in the head. I miss you. Who's gonna teach me if you're in here?"

[braidless]

Obi-Wan had known Anakin was a bit more perceptive of his surroundings than most people. He just wished the staff here was just as open to the possibility that he really didn't need any sort of "treatment."

As he listened to the boy's words, Obi-Wan folded his hands in his lap, his mouth faintly tightening into a small, concerned frown. "I wonder why they feel that way," he said after a moment.

Hearing Anakin say things like how he missed him and that he needed a teacher brought a pang of guilt to Obi-Wan's chest. Where was his galaxy's Anakin right now? Was he still at Naboo? Had the Jedi Council sent him away?

The Jedi swallowed hard when another distinct possibility came to mind. Yes, it was possible this boy in front of him was Anakin himself, a result of the "treatment" the doctors here were famous for giving. Martin Landel had implied as much, though it was possible such words were just a way to spread fear among the prisoners.

Either way, it didn't change the fact this boy was very, very much like Anakin. And that thought disturbed Obi-Wan a great deal.

"I don't seem confused because I'm not," Obi-Wan said at length, and he gestured for Anakin (or maybe it would have been easier to think of him as Andrew?) to sit beside him. "But enough about me. Tell me how you've been doing. Surely there have been others besides myself to help you in your, ah, studies?"

[damned_visitors]

"Then why are they making you stay here?" Andrew said, plopping down on the chair beside Ezra. He didn't understand the point to it. You only went to the hospital if you were sick. But this wasn't a hospital for normal sick people - he'd been told that enough.

"I'm okay. I've been taking classes with Mr. Henderson, but he's grumpy and I don't think he likes me since I'm littler than the other kids in his class. But I'm better than all of them, too!" Andrew beamed, a proud ten year old showing off his skills to a favorite teacher.

[braidless]

"Quite frankly, I wish they'd be more clear on why they're keeping me here," Obi-Wan told him. That was true in so many ways, too. The doctors here had been rather vague on their "official" reasons for keeping the Jedi here, but he also knew there was a lot more under the surface of this clever facade. It made him wish someone could spell it out straight for him, but he doubted very few people besides Martin Landel were even aware of what was happening here.

"Right now, the best thing to do is be patient," he added, though it was more for himself than anything. "I doubt I'll be here forever."

Obi-Wan had never heard of a Mr. Henderson before, though he wasn't surprised when Anakin spoke as if he was more advanced than the others in his class. He imagined that, if Anakin been discovered as a baby by the Jedi, he would have surpassed his peers at an unusual rate.

Many people called it being gifted, though Obi-Wan also knew it was also a breeding ground for arrogance and pride.

"If you keep up your studies and continue to take your school work seriously, I'm sure Mr. Henderson can't dislike you for long," Obi-Wan told him. "Teachers like it when their students are engaged in what they're supposed to be learning."

It was difficult to keep this careful charade up. A part of Obi-Wan wanted to practically shake the boy and ask if him if if his memory had been tampered with, and where he was currently staying. Anakin had been his responsibility, and it genuinely pained Obi-Wan to know that he honestly had no idea about the boy's condition. He didn't even want to think about whether this "Andrew" was truly Anakin or not. He certainly looked like him, but it was impossible to get a proper feel for his Force signature. That fact frustrated Obi-Wan a good deal.

But he still managed to take in a soft, calming breath, fixing the boy with a steady, intelligent gaze. "How's your family?" he asked him. "Your...mother? Is she well?"

[damned_visitors]

Andrew frowned and climbed up so he was kneeling in the chair. he leaned forward so he could whisper directly into the grown-up's ear.

"I don't like this place," he said, his voice a touch more serious than a normal young boy expressing a distaste for a hospital. But then he sat back and got to answering the questions.

"Mom's okay. She's tired a lot from working so much, but she's okay. She's always on me about studying. I got a new toolset, though! I'm fixing up an old computer I found in the trash - I bet I can get it running as good as new!" He beamed with pride, obviously pleased with himself and seeking praise.

[braidless]

The blunt statement had been a little unexpected, and Obi-Wan's eyebrows furrowed when he turned to face Anakin. "You don't?" he asked, his voice very quiet so they wouldn't be overheard. "What is it that bothers you, exactly?"

The Jedi nodded when "Andrew" spoke about his mother. "I'm glad she's doing all right," he said, thinking of Shmi Skywalker. Obi-Wan had never met the woman personally, but he knew Anakin cared about her very much.

When he spoke about finding the computer in the trash, Obi-Wan faintly smiled, though he felt more hollow inside as the conversation continued. "I don't doubt it," Obi-Wan said. "From what I understand, you've always had a bit of a knack for things like that."

[damned_visitors]

"It just... I don't like it," Andrew said, looking down at the floor. he shuffled his feet together, clearly uncomfortable. But he wouldn't say any more on it.

"Of course I'm good at it! You know that." Andrew rolled his eyes. But he was glad for the change in conversation. He didn't want to talk about this place.

"Mom says I spend too much time in the garage. But I like working with machines and stuff. I can fix a carborator. I know teenagers that don't know how to do that."

[braidless]

"I don't like it here, either," Obi-Wan said simply. "But, like I said earlier, they won't be keeping me here forever. I'll be out eventually."

He managed a small smile at the boy's comments. "Maybe you should build something to help your mother around the house," he suggested. "I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

Still, there was something Obi-Wan was curious to know. "Andrew," he said carefully. "It's not often people come to visit me, so I'm glad you came." He briefly paused, giving the boy a concerned gaze. "I was wondering if there was any particular reason for your coming here. There isn't...any trouble at home or in your studies or anything, right?"

[damned_visitors]

"I hope they let you out soon." And that, as far as Andrew was concerned, was the end of it.

"I wanted to visit you before, but Mom said they have special days for visiting and I'd have to wait. And today was the day so she said I could come visit. She stayed in town - she says it's like a little vacation. We're going to go sight seeing tomorrow. I think it's kind of boring. Why would there be any trouble?"