"Anakin, of all the crazy stunts you've pulled, this is the worst. You could have killed me, and when you weren't successful in that, instead you decide to turn me into some sort of… clone of yourself!" Obi-Wan knew he shouldn't let himself get worked up like he was, but he didn't have a choice. After talking himself out of the Medbay, Obi-Wan had headed directly to the Jedi Temple, dragging an unwilling Anakin along behind him. Currently, Obi-Wan was pacing on the balcony of their quarters, venting steam at his Padawan.
"Master…" Anakin attempted to interrupt, but to no avail.
"No more excuses, Anakin! We will meet with the Council tomorrow morning. Surely they'll know what to do with you!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Anakin looked shocked at his master's diatribe, but stayed silent.
Obi-Wan strode to the balcony railing and took a deep breath, letting the polluted air fill his lungs as he looked out upon the twinkling lights of Coruscant. As he grew calmer, he realized how unfair his ranting had been. It wasn't Anakin's fault that Obi-Wan was in this state-it was Obi-Wan's own fault. Anakin was just trying to save his master, not to kill him…
Obi-Wan took a calming breath and released his impatience into the Force.
"I'm sorry, Anakin." Obi-Wan sighed as he turned away from the view. "It isn't your fau…"
"Yes, it is Master! Don't try to pretend otherwise, because you know it's true! If I hadn't insisted that we went on an actual mission for once and not one of those stakeout trips around Coruscant to ensure the peace, when all we do is sit on an isolated corner for an hour! If I had just been more patient, none of this would have happened!"
"Padawan!" Obi-Wan stared in horror at his apprentice… or not quite at his apprentice. Anakin turned around, coming face-to-face with Jedi Master Windu.
"I see you are occupied, Obi-Wan." declared Mace with a wry smile. "Perhaps I should come again later…"
"No, no, not at all, Master Windu. I apologize for the rash words of my Padawan."
Through their training bond, Obi-Wan berated his Padawan. /Do you have any idea how stupid that was, Anakin?/
/Yes Master, I'm sorry Master./
/Sorry doesn't cut it!/
/You know, Master, it might be helpful if you actually listen to what Mace-/
/Master Windu./
/Right, Master Windu. Well, maybe you should actually listen to him, because I'm pretty sure he's getting annoyed since he's just asked you something and you weren't paying attention./
With a start, Obi-Wan realized he'd become so involved in the argument with his Padawan that he'd totally ignored Master Windu for the past minute. The Jedi Master was looking at Obi-Wan, a displeased expression on his face.
"I'm sorry, Master Windu, what were you saying?"
Master Windu cleared his throat. "As I was saying…"
Obi-Wan shot a message to Anakin.
/You are so dead. An extra three hours of meditation./
/For what?/
/Be quiet and let me listen./
Master Windu continued, seemingly oblivious to the mental talking.
"You were scheduled to report to the Council a standard two hours ago, and when we contacted your commlink, which you always carry with you, but we got no response. Where have you been, Obi-Wan? This isn't like you at all."
Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged worried glances. Obi-Wan's hand casually drifted to his utility belt, where his comm was always safely secured. His hand met empty air. Obi-Wan felt like smacking his head into the nearest wall. He had left it on the table in the Medbay.
/Don't tell him about what happened, Padawan./ Obi-Wan quietly whispered into Anakin's mind.
/About what?/
/You know./
/Oh, the whole 'you're-turning-into-me-and-don't-want-to-admit-it? So what are you going to tell him?/
Obi-Wan could feel the strain behind his Padawan's words, and wondered why Anakin felt so tired. There was no time to ponder this quandary, however, because Master Windu was still waiting for an answer.
/Very funny, Anakin. I don't know yet./
/Well, you better figure something out soon, 'cause Master Windu doesn't look too happy./
/Just be quiet./
/Sure thing, Master./
/Thank you./
Great. Even his own Padawan was against him. But what was he going to tell Master Windu?
Obi-Wan wanted to scream in frustration under Mace's intimidating glare. The Master was right! This wasn't like him at all. Half of him wanted to scream in frustration and attack Master Windu… No! Where did that come from? Obi-Wan quickly reviewed his options.
"Master Windu, I…"
Mace leaned forward expectantly. "Yes, Obi-Wan?"
"I apologize for not answering the Council's summons. I felt that after such a stressful mission, my Padawan needed some time to recuperate."
Obi-Wan could feel Anakin's surprise and confusion at his blatant lie. Cutting himself off from Anakin's emotions, he continued.
"He's been feeling a lot of pressure lately, especially since we've been on all those stakeout missions around Coruscant… He gets extremely jumpy on those, but after a change of pace like this?"
Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders helplessly, fully aware of how lame his excuse sounded. Blast, he thought. I used to be able to come up with excuses so easily.
Would Master Windu buy his story? No, he wouldn't, it was a lame excuse of a… excuse. Or would he?
Mace raised one eyebrow, crossing his arms.
Nope.
Obi-Wan's spirits deflated. He doesn't believe us, and on top of that, I just lied to a council member.
Wait! He had just lied to a… never mind who he had lied to, he had lied. And to another Jedi, to say the least.
Obi-Wan's casual facade drooped, and he struggled to keep a slightly amused, calm expression on his face.
Then, unexpectedly, Master Windu laughed.
Obi-Wan and Anakin both wore expressions of extreme disbelief as they stared at the Korun Master. Surely they had misheard.
Crossing to the balcony in several long strides, Mace slapped Obi-Wan on the back, chuckling.
/This is only the third time I've seen Master Windu laugh./
Anakin's only response was an affirmative feeling. Obi-Wan could still feel his Padawan's energy draining from him. I wish Mace would leave, so I could attend to my Padawan! Obi-Wan thought angrily.
"I understand completely, Master Kenobi," Master Windu exclaimed. "The Council has been sending you on too many missions lately. I'll go to them with a request for at least a week off for the two of you."
Still chuckling gently, the Master crossed the quarters, back over to the door.
"By the way, the Council wants a full debriefing at noon tomorrow. Both you and your
Padawan are to be present."
Suppressing a wave of annoyance, Obi-Wan distractedly replied, "Thank you, Master Windu, for coming to alert us of this personally."
"Good bye, Obi-Wan. Don't forget-tomorrow at noon!" And with that, Master Windu was out the door.
"Master!" The cry came both verbally and through the bond. Obi-Wan turned to see Anakin collapsing on the couch.
"Padawan! Anakin! Can you hear me?" There was no response.
Obi-Wan's in trouble now! And what's wrong with Anakin? Next chapter the transformation really kicks off. Check later today for a double post….
You will review this story….(wave of hand) What? Jedi mind tricks aren't working? Hmmm…. Review anyways!
