Sorry about the long wait guys! Life's been pretty hectic and all, I'm trying to write a few chapters ahead before I update so the wait won't be as long. :P All right, read, review, ENJOY!
Chapter Two
After rousing at two AM with his master who had obviously gone out of his mind, Obi-Wan was forced to meditate for four hours straight. Every time he felt sleep tug at the corners of his mind, his master would intrude and jolt him awake. At Six A.M., Obi-Wan was allowed to wash up and prepare for class. Slightly annoyed and extremely tired, Obi-Wan sluggishly made his way out of the quarters with a mumbled 'bye'. Xanatos shook his head with an amused smile before making his way over to the council chambers.
Obi-Wan sat with his friends at a table, his eyes drooped close for a short moment before he was prodded in the back by his friend. "What's up with you?" Garen asked.
"Nothing, I just had to wake up really early today to meditate. Crazy master." He murmured.
"I'd think that you'd be a bit more…hyped up after your fight yesterday." Ferus said with a slight smile. "You held your ground with Anakin really well. I would've been pretty…I don't know—nervous."
"I was nervous, Ferus. Extremely." Obi-Wan shrugged. "It's just a matter of letting those emotions go I guess. I guess, I realized that he's just like us, chosen one or not, and then I just didn't really see a point in being extra nervous."
Over at another table, Anakin sat with Bruck, Tru, Darra, and Alto. The golden boy poked at his food, still disappointed about yesterday's outcome. "Aw, come on Ani, it was just a little fight. Plus it was for fun!" Darra smiled.
"And it was Oafy Wan, Anakin. He's a loser." Bruck added.
"Yah, but he was good, I mean, I don't think he was even fazed by me." Anakin sighed with a hint of incredulity.
"You're not a god or anything Anakin. It's good if he isn't totally intimidated by you." Darra sighed.
"I know, but…I mean—I am the chosen one and most people are kinda…well they're all at least kind of nerve racked with the fact that they have to go against me." Anakin said.
"Well maybe he's different."
"Yah…" Anakin shrugged as he glanced at Obi-Wan. "Maybe…"
In the council chambers, Xanatos stood by his former master. He felt the small pricks of nervousness as he stood beside the man. Perhaps it was the way Qui-Gon carried himself, no matter how many times Xanatos told himself that he didn't care what Qui-Gon thought, he knew he was lying to himself. The man had practically raised him and all Xanatos wanted to do now was to prove himself to the man. He wanted to show that he had redeemed himself. The young master knew that it was silly to feel like this, definitely since Qui-Gon had already accepted him, but Xanatos still felt the need to show his skills, his capabilities, and who he'd become as a person.
"An important mission this is." Yoda said before nodding towards Mace to continue the briefing.
"We want to you to go settle a dispute with the Trade Federation. As you know, they want control of all trade routes and they have unlawfully surrounded the peaceful planet of Naboo with hundreds of giant warships. We want you to handle the situation before it leads to war." Mace Windu said.
"OK, but…if they've already surrounded a planet with warships, doesn't that already mean war?" Xanatos asked with a confused quirk of his brow.
"Not necessarily, if the negotiations are successful, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Why do we need two jedi teams?" Qui-Gon politely inquired.
"Not as simple as it seems, the mission is. Very important to the future, it is, to the jedi, to the republic, to you." Yoda said as his ears twitched.
Qui-Gon and Xanatos shared a small concerned glance before returning their attention back to the masters. "Your transport leaves in three hours. Get your apprentices, pack lightly." Mace ordered.
Qui-Gon and Xanatos bowed to the council members before exiting. It was too much like when he and Qui-Gon were still master and apprentice for Xanatos' taste. "Obi-Wan isn't going to be happy with this." Xanatos groaned as he and Qui-Gon made their way to the cafeteria.
"And why is that? Most apprentices are happy when they get to go on a mission."
"Yes, but…I kind of forced Obi-Wan to meditate for four hours straight…starting from 2AM." The young master grimaced.
"You what!? And the boy complied without any…struggle?"
"Well, at first he said that it wasn't fair, but then he did it and he almost fell asleep a few times, but he did it." Xanatos shrugged. "He's a good kid."
Qui-Gon nodded, "I still can't believe he did it."
"Me neither." Xanatos laughed before making his way over to his apprentice's table. "Hey, Obi-Wan."
"Hi Master." Obi-Wan grinned without thought, before remembering that it was best to give his master the silent treatment.
"Hi, Master Du Crion." Obi-Wan's friends greeted, they were at ease with the young master. He wasn't as intimidating as the other masters.
"Come on Obi-Wan, we have a mission."
The sixteen year old's eyes widened in curiosity. Without saying a word, he stood up, bid good bye to his friends and then exited. The master and apprentice walked in silence as Obi-Wan struggled to keep his mouth shut. He was battling between his curiosity and his want to give his master the silent treatment.
Xanatos hid the small smile that was beginning to appear on his lips. He knew that the boy was struggling to not burst with questions. "…what's the mission about, Master?" Obi-Wan demanded.
With a triumphant smirk, Xanatos replied, "We're just paying the Trade Federation a little visit."
"That important, eh?"
"Yes, so important that we're going with Qui-Gon and Anakin." Xanatos smiled.
"Oh…that's nice, I guess." Obi-Wan shrugged. "So, we're leaving right now, right now?"
"Yep, let's get packing and then we'll meet up with Qui-Gon and his apprentice at the transport."
"Cool," Without another word, Obi-Wan disappeared into his room and grabbed his travelling pack that was already filled with all of his essential things: a first aid kit, extra tunic, bottled water, dried food, and a back up comlink.
He appeared outside his room with his master beside him. "Ready, Padawan of mine?" Xanatos smirked, causing Obi-Wan to roll his eyes.
"Yep."
The master and padawan team appeared at the temple's hangar where they were greeted by Qui-Gon and Anakin. Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel a wave of discomfort sweep over him. He had yet to decipher why. The two teams formally greeted each other before embarking their vessel. "So they're taking us into the battle ship?" Anakin asked.
Qui-Gon nodded as their vessel entered the large ship. Obi-Wan immediately murmured, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry, Obi-Wan, just some boring negotiations." Anakin grinned as he slapped the other apprentice on the back.
"Put your hoods on." Qui-Gon instructed, ignoring Anakin's former comment.
Seeing the fact that his master had not agreed with him, Anakin felt his worry rise before he mimicked Qui-Gon and Xanatos' movement. The four Jedi walked down the ramp where they were greeted by a protocol droid. "This way Master Jedi." It said before walking them to a room. "Wait here, please."
The four Jedi removed their hoods and Obi-Wan once again murmured, "I have a bad feeling about this. I sense something…elusive."
"Don't center on your anxieties, Padawan." Xanatos chided.
Qui-Gon nodded at the paranoid sixteen year old, "These Trade Federation types are cowards, the negotiations will be short."
Anakin sent to his master /Someone's paranoid/
/He has a right to be, Anakin./
/I know, but these are negotiations, how hard can they be?/
/Excruciatingly painful, my young padawan, definitely for someone who can't stay still/ Qui-Gon smirked in his apprentice's direction.
/Haha, you're hilarious/
/That I am, young one, that I am/
"Do you—" Xanatos leapt up and ignited his lightsaber. "Gas, hold your breath!"
With lightning fast reflexes, the other three Jedi followed his order. /Stay close to me, Padawan/ Both masters sent to their apprentices, immediately receiving their faithful, /Yes, Master/
Once the conference room doors opened, the Jedis were greeted by droids and droidekas. "Told ya I had a bad feeling!" Obi-Wan said as he somersaulted over his master and landed in front of a droid.
Anakin followed the other boy's example and attacked the droids, leaving the two masters to groan in their reckless apprentices' wake. After taking all the droids down, the four Jedi rushed into the main hangar only to find their transport destroyed. They were trapped! From a hidden perch, the Jedi watched the activity in the hangar. Thousands of battle droids were being loaded onto a giant landing craft.
"It's an invasion army." Anakin whispered incredulously.
Qui-Gon and Xanatos immediately knew that they would have to find a way off this battleship. "We have to warn the Queen of Naboo that her planet is about to be attacked." Xanatos whispered.
"And contact the Chancellor." Qui-Gon added.
"Hey, at least you were right about one thing, Master Jinn." Obi-Wan shrugged with a sly smile, causing Xanatos to inwardly groan. That boy and his dry humor in the weirdest situations!
"And what was that, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon arched an elegant brow in the boy's direction.
"The negotiations were short." The comment made Anakin snort with laughter as Qui-Gon stared that the boy in disbelief.
"I know, he's…weird." Xanatos shrugged. "Come on, we gotta get going."
The four Jedi stole aboard a Trade Federation vessel heading for Naboo. Once the ships landed in a murky swamp, the Jedi made their escape. "How are we going to get to Naboo, now?" Anakin asked as he ducked behind a tree with the other three Jedi. "I mean, we have no transport. We have…nothing."
"Relax, Anakin, there's a Gungan City nearby." Obi-Wan smiled. "Master and I had a mission near here and we stumbled across them, they're pretty nice if you…approach them correctly."
Qui-Gon looked towards Xanatos for confirmation. The young master nodded and then motioned for Obi-Wan to lead the way. He was proud of how his padawan was holding himself, he was much calmer. Obi-Wan dove into the swamp and led the other Jedi deep under the murky waters. Soon, the four reached the beautiful underwater city of Otoh Gunga. They swam towards the many giant connected bubbles that made up the city—and stepped right inside. Amazed, Qui-Gon and Anakin took in their surroundings. In an instant, they were standing in the middle of the dry city square.
"Obawan!!!" A strange voice shrieked before an orange figure streaked towards the apprentice and grappled him in a hug.
"Hi, Jar Jar." The sixteen year old grinned.
"What is yousa doing here?"
"Master and I got into some trouble, these are our friends, Qui-Gon and Anakin." Obi-Wan introduced. "Can you help us, Jar Jar?"
"Of course! Bossa Nass will be happy to see yousa." Jar Jar exclaimed as he led the Jedi towards the leader.
/That was weird/ Anakin thought.
/A little, Gungans talk funny/ Qui-Gon placed a hand on his apprentice's shoulder and smiled.
Xanatos noticed the confusion etched on the other two Jedis' faces and he explained, "Obi-Wan and I had a mission around here one time, looking for a missing child or something. And he saved Jar Jar and actually…the whole city from being discovered and destroyed by a few bounty hunters."
"Really?" Qui-Gon said as his curiosity rose.
"Yah, it was pretty amazing. The dumb boy almost got himself killed here. He fought off two bounty hunters, put himself off as a decoy and bait while Jar Jar got away and warned his city. Unfortunately, the other two bounty hunters were a little too good." Xanatos gave Qui-Gon a grim look. "He was lucky that I found him or he would've been dead for good. After that mission, he had to go see a mind healer for at least a month. The fact that he had killed two people left him scarred."
"I see, I'm glad that he was fine." Qui-Gon mused as he took in his former apprentice's expression, the conceited young boy that he'd known had somehow evolved into a compassionate young man. The thought made him feel extremely proud.
Eventually the four Jedi stood in front of Boss Nass. Obi-Wan and Xanatos greeted him and introduced Qui-Gon and Anakin. They then explained their situation. "I'm afraid that…the only way I can help you is to…send you through the core." Boss Nass said in a grave tone, evoking gasps from all of the gungans.
"OK, that'll be fine. Thank you very much." Qui-Gon said.
"Anything for my two favorite jedi." He laughed. "It was good seeing you again Jedi Du Crion, Jedi Kenobi."
"Yes, it was good seeing you again too." Both jedi bowed with a slight smile before following Qui-Gon and Anakin into a ship.
With all four jedi in their small transport, they travelled through the core, prepared for what lied ahead. Next stop: Theed, the place where they would meet the young Queen of Naboo for the first time.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!!! I'll update ASAP :P Thanks everyone for reading!