a/n: Hi! This story had been up for a while on a friend's site, but I thought I would post it here. Hopefully she won't mind. (To those who have read this Author's note before, I need to clarify something. I did write this story several years ago under the name Mon Padawan and a friend had posted it on her site for me. I hope you will forgive me for the confusion I caused. I made a huge mistake with imprecise wording.) Please R and R! I'd love to know what you all think.

Disclaimer: not mine! Mr. Lucas, Paramount, please don't hunt me down and kill me; I never meant it as an insult.

THE JEDI CONTINUUM

"Come, Padawan, we must return to the Jedi Temple," Obi-Wan Kenobi said, tucking his com-link back onto his belt. "The Council is expecting our report." And we have a good report to give this time, he thought, welcoming the calm presence of the Force flowing through him as he opened himself up to it. Beside him his Padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker seemed unusually at ease as well, if occasionally slightly distracted by some internal feeling. Obi-Wan noted his apprentice's somewhat more relaxed air and approved.

Their mission had gone well. A dispute between sister planets over trade agreements, the planets had come to the realization that they needed each other, especially since they wanted to keep the Trade Federation away from their borders. Oh, they had threatened to join the Separatist movement, a ploy that alarmed the Jedi Council enough to send a Jedi team to help them negotiate, but it had turned out to be a hollow threat. For the first time in a long time, Obi-Wan felt like he and Anakin had earned a moment of peace in the maelstrom of political upheaval normally surrounding them, like they were in the eye of a storm. He almost didn't want to enter the ship and return to Coruscant, the place where the tension would be running highest given that it was the seat of the Republic's government. But they had to.

"Our mission was almost too easy this time, Master," Anakin said, giving voice to many of the thoughts that were running through Obi-Wan's head. But there was something else in his voice, a longing, discontent...

Obi-Wan frowned thoughtfully at his young charge. "Were you hoping for something more dangerous, Anakin? Be careful where these feelings lead you, young one. Danger and excitement are to be guarded against, not embraced," he gently chided the young man. "I thought you would have seen this by now, after all we've been through."

"Yes Master," Anakin sighed. "But we weren't needed this time. These planets wanted to solve their disagreements. The treaty was so important to them; all they needed us for was to witness their negotiation ceremony. We weren't necessary, Master, not even as mediators." He didn't even try to hide his frustration this time.

Obi-Wan shook his head reprovingly. "Don't discount our part in this, Padawan. Even seemingly insignificant roles can have monumental effect in the course of the galaxies," he sighed, adding, "especially now, it seems, in these trying times. We must simply follow where the Force leads us, and keep our minds clear to its paths."

Anakin replied, "Yes, Master," again, inwardly resenting Obi-Wan's need to lecture him.

Obi-Wan chose to ignore Anakin's restlessness for the moment, responding with, "We don't always need to solve disputes with lightsabers drawn, Anakin. Personally, I wouldn't mind if more of our missions resolved themselves like this one."

Anakin's eyes glinted. "We must follow where the Force leads, Master, even when it leads to danger and excitement," he reminded the older man with mock seriousness.

Obi-Wan said nothing, only raising an eyebrow in amusement as he led the way to their transport in the nondescript space hangar, which would allow their departure to be a little more low profile. The Jedi Knight understood that Anakin was glad the mission ended peacefully, even if he was dissatisfied with the role they played in the new partnership between the worlds. For his part, after seeing too many planetary alliances dissolve in spite of more active Jedi involvement, especially recently with the Separatists claiming more and more territory, it encouraged Obi-Wan to see this one survive and flourish the way it appeared to be doing. It was a small victory, but he would take it. And he was also glad to see Anakin beginning to heal as well emotionally, his heart recovering from the loss of his mother much more slowly than his body from the loss of his arm. But for the first time in a long time, Anakin seemed to be at peace. Both communicating their contentment to each other through their intangible bond in the Force, the two Jedi prepared to leave the planet.

Close by, mind cloaked to even Jedi perception, an unusual being watched, as usual amused and irritated by the presumptuousness of these human creatures. To think that these Jedi--who, he did have to admit, seemed to possess a little bit of power, and to an ordinary mortal might actually appear god-like--would dare convince themselves that they preserve peace and justice in the galaxy when it was really the Q...

Well, anyway, the entity known as Q wouldn't allow himself to dwell on that. He was curious to see how this pair of seemingly powerful beings would react to a being wielding real power...