THE LOST 21ST

Anakin Skywalker was pacing the far end of the Map Room of the Jedi Temple. His long strides took seconds to cover the distance from one wall to the other, so he kept turning and pacing and turning again. He looked like a caged animal. Correction, he was one. Just this morning he'd thought himself finally immune to this feeling. That at this very moment he should be running into his Wife's apartment through the FRONT door, and hugging and kissing her with the door still open, a free man. Instead the Council had managed to thwart him by sending him on a mission he could not refuse. He had not hidden his reaction well either. That meant questions from Obiwan, and a whole new set of lies to cover his secret. His com link went off. He groaned. As expected it was Padme.

'Ani, where are you?'

How was he to tell her? Not over the com link. Pregnant wives have to get their hearts broken in person.

'I'm coming,' and he cut the transmission. His tone should be enough to get her prepared.

Padme Amidala looked around her senatorial apartment for the last time, at least for a while. She was leaving for Naboo today, and would not be back for at least six months. That was the time allotted by Queen Apailana for her maternity leave. Apparently the Royal House of Naboo was so determined to keep their favorite Senator in service that this unprecedented move was being made. Most of her possessions were already being packed into her skiff at street level. Only her wayward Husband was left to be collected. Something in his tone told her things had not gone as planned. If they had, he'd have been home two hours ago.

His Jedi speeder came to its accustomed berth outside their bedroom's back verandah. His boots clicked as they landed intentionally heavily on the tiled floor. He was still under his commission.

'What happened?' she tried to keep her tone even, but she was angry, and afraid. Deep down she was not sure that Anakin was ready or even willing to leave the Jedi. Was this a change of heart? Would he now say that he would be supportive if he could but she would have to do this on her own? After all she had not told him of her pregnancy until things were too far gone to decently do anything about it. She had made the choice of Fatherhood for him. If he walked away he could not be blamed.

He didn't speak at first. He came to her and embraced her. 'Let's sit down,'

'I don't want to sit down! I want you to tell me just what happened today!!' she was already crying, and hated herself for it. This would not help. It would make it obvious how much easier it would be for him to annul their marriage and keep his bachelor-Jedi's life.

'Padme, I'm sorry. I've been assigned to the Senate with Obiwan for the stabilization period. As much as I wanted to say no, how could I?'

His cybernetic hand slid from her shoulder and trailed over her belly. 'I'm going to miss more of your pregnancy. And the party plans.' He rolled his eyes, not sorry about the latter. 'But the Senate better shape up fast or the Council will have to find someone else for this duty. I will drop all and come if you need, but you'll have to leave for Naboo without me. The sessions start in an hour.'

He kissed her on the forehead, then softly on the lips and left. There was nothing more he could say.

Padme made her way slowly downstairs. She was half way across the landing pad of her skiff when she saw her other Jedi visitor. He emerged from the shadows of the docking bay in front of her, and carefully took down the hood of his cloak. His hands were shaking, and his mouth was slightly open, though no sound came from it. She stood as if frozen in place. She was dressed simply and comfortably for the journey, so her swollen belly was very much on display. He had seen her. The game was up. Master Kenobi reached for her hand and held it, his eyes boring into hers. He bowed and kissed the hand warmly. There was an inexplicable look in his eyes as they traveled over her body. Hurt, disappointment, understanding and affection were all confused in his heart and shone clearly through those steel blue eyes.

'Leaving Coruscant, Milady?'

'Yes, I'm having the baby on Naboo. I have to prepare.'

Kenobi nodded. He wanted to ask when she was due, but that would lead to a calculation of when she conceived, and identification of which lie had made that particular tryst possible. He did not want to know that; he wanted to be happy for his friends.

Anakin's barely concealed fury upon receiving their assignment at this morning's Council meeting was easily understood now, but his former Padawan had chosen not to confide in him.

For the next five weeks the Negotiator and the Hero with no Fear unleashed their teamwork upon the Galactic Senate. Kenobi always had fresh carrots and inventive solutions on offer. Anakin by his very presence promised an efficient, ruthless saber strike to quell any thoughts of treachery. They were done well ahead of schedule.

The Council was pleased with their report, and especially satisfied with Knight Skywalker's progress. He had kept his temper and patience even when threats were needed, and had made no overt complaint about the assignment at all. His feelings on Jedi involvement in such matters had been made clear many times over the years. When they had finished answering the questions, Yoda spoke.

'Master Kenobi, join us you will. Knight Skywalker, where you are remain.' Obiwan headed for his chair in the circle. What was this about? For a moment Anakin felt his fears surge. Had he been discovered? He wanted resignation on his record, not expulsion. The fear was gone and his mind shields up in a single practiced breath, before his colleagues and masters could be certain what they had felt from him.

After some time Yoda continued.

'Served this Order with distinction you have, in War and in Peace. Mastered yourself, you have. Confer on you the rank of Jedi Master this Council does.'

Anakin could not believe what he was haring. He touched his face then used his right hand to pinch his left arm. 'It's real,' the voice in his head responded with a snicker. They had refused him the rank of Master when he had been appointed to the Council, at a time when he had desperately wanted that rank. Now he was trying to leave quietly, and they were going to do this? Anakin took up a meditative stance, closed his eyes and breathed. His resignation would be recorded in the Jedi Archives. Instead of the anonymity of the day to day records, as a Master he'd be mourned in a hall with the other 20 Jedi Masters who resigned their commissions. There would be a bust of him, and a plaque under it with the name and achievements, and the reason he was 'Lost', so the order could learn from the mistake. He'd be the Lost 21st. He thought of his pregnant wife waiting for him on Naboo. She would release him if he wished, but he wanted his family. His course of action was already chosen, and would remain the same. He took one more deep breath and opened his eyes to face the Grand Master.

'I am grateful for the Council's honor.' He bowed, but did not move to his seat. Instead he let took another deep breath and continued. 'I am resigning my commission with the Jedi Order.'

'Consider this carefully Anakin, and then your decision we will accept. Time, leave you will have…'

'Master Yoda. I have considered for many months already, and my decision is made. I can no longer abide by the traditions set forth by this council, or the current Jedi Code. It is best that I resign.'

Yoda could sense that Anakin was not angry, grieving, elated or tired. He had made peace with his decision.

'Master Kenobi, anything to say have you?'

'Yes. May the Force be with you, Anakin.'

Anakin and the Council all turned towards his former master at the unexpected lack of protest. There was a smile at the corner of Obi-Wan's mouth, and a tear in his eye. Anakin could feel the affection and pride from his friend, and wondered if he knew the truth.

It mattered not. It was time to leave this place for good. He bowed to his colleagues, and exited the council chambers, leaving them still in stunned silence.

'Obi-Wan, perhaps you could speak with him?' Ki Adi Mundi finally suggested.

'Anakin came to this temple much too old for training, with fears and attachments not suited to a Jedi's life. Our refusal to accommodate seemed the right decision at the time, but it caused him much suffering. In spite of that he has done his duty by this Order. If he feels it is time for him to leave, as a mentor and friend I cannot in good conscience convince him to stay.'

Thracia Cho Leem's tone was soothing as she picked up from Obiwan. 'We all sensed he wanted to speak before his last assignment. He stayed as long as he could. Senator Amidala left the capital weeks ago.'

'What do the Senator's current whereabouts have to do with Master Skywalker?' Mace had spoken, but the same question was in the minds of the other men, except Kenobi.

Thracia shook her head at them. She, Shaak Ti and Stass Allie had seen the signs months earlier when rescuing Amidala from a failed attack on the Senate, but her clothing fooled the men who had been dealing with her more recently. 'The Senator is pregnant. Her day should be soon, if it has not come already. We could not expect Anakin to forego the birth of his child.'

'Were you aware of this situation Master Kenobi?' Mace was using his interrogation voice. Obiwan had not been subjected to it since being Knighted, and initially struggled to respond.

'Not until the day she left Coruscant, Master Windu. I saw her boarding her skiff. Her condition was obvious.'

'He should be stripped and expelled!' Mace was seething.

'He has earned his rank. And he has resigned.' Obiwan countered.

The rest of his afternoon was spent under the Council's interrogation. He had to admit lying was not one of Anakin's talents, so this state of affairs only came about with a good deal of enabling on his part. He was not alone in his guilt. Many in the rotunda had to admit episodes of facilitating, and looking the other way. Yoda had done it on the mission to Ilum with Padme. Even Mace had to confess he was not blameless after the Halcyon/Skywalker assignment on Praesitlyn. It had been a double engendered mission, intentionally exposing two men with suspect attachments to each other and observing the effect on their performance.

At the end of voting Skywalker's promotion stood and the bust of the Lost 21st was commissioned.

When he finally escaped to his quarters Obi-Wan found that there was a hologram from Anakin waiting for him.

'Master, let me apologize first for my deception, and second for not confiding in you. My intention was to protect, not exclude. You are invited to a formal celebration in Theed one week from receipt of this message. Jedi robes will be appropriate attire, but I'm told that civilian clothing can be arranged if you prefer. Padme says that she doesn't care what you wear, she just wants you to come.' He paused at this point, his eyes fell and he fidgeted, then his eyes returned. 'Will you stand up for me, Master?' The recording ended without further explanation, but none was needed. Under the hologram's projector was a parchment paper envelope.