Chapter 9

"Remind me again why we did that?" Obi-wan asked as he walked towards the council chamber doors with his former padawan Anakin Skywalker at his side. He felt like sith hell and it was not a good way to be feeling right before a meeting.

"We did it because we have to get rid of Solo for my daughter's sake," Anakin said pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose to stop the headache that was beginning to grow again. "This time we will know better then to try and drink them under the table. They are pretty good at staying sober."

"You think?" Obi-wan said sarcastically and cast Anakin a sarcastic look. The boy wasn't firing on all cylinders, the old jedi master could tell. That night out was hard on them both.

"Sarcasm isn't needed," Anakin sighed. "I know you all think I'm going overboard. I get it!"

Obi-wan stopped and looked at Anakin. It never ceased to amaze him that Anakin would do whatever he thought was right to hold onto something that he loved so dearly. He was always afraid that the love would somehow slip away. In this case, he wanted to make sure that Leia would have to be pried from his cold dead hands.

"We," Obi-wan laughed at the word, "should probably just try something different. Don't you think we should enlist a little of Leia's help here?"

Anakin looked at his former master with a very sly look. The old man could still amaze him, even when he wasn't trying to do it. Obi-wan was up to something. It sounded like something good too.

"What do you have in mind?' Anakin asked ready for anything that might help to make sure Solo was out of the picture.

Obi-wan pulled his comlink from his belt and dialed a few numbers then waited. He held up a finger to keep Anakin from saying anything.

"Senator Skywalker's office," an efficient secretary droid said from the other end. "How may I help you?"

"I need to talk to Leia," Obi-wan said in voice that sounded like he was very sick. Anakin's eyes got large at the acting ability of his former master and he smiled widely. Obi-wan was going to trick Leia.

"Who may I ask is calling?" the droid said from the other end.

"Jedi Master Obi-wan Kenobi."

"One moment."

As the droid clicked off the channel, Anakin snickered under his breathe. If you were going to get rid of someone, perhaps enlisting the love of their life wasn't a bad idea. Get Solo in enough trouble and he would be gone as quick as a mynock on a power coupling that met a blaster.

"Master Kenobi," Leia's voice came through the comlink. "What can I help you with?"

"Have you seen Han?" Obi-wan asked using the same sick voice as before adding a little more to it so that it was overly dramatic.

"You sound terrible," Leia said. Anakin could hear the worry in his daughter's voice. Obi-wan was like her grandfather, although he didn't like to admit it, and Leia worried constantly over the man. "What is wrong?"

"Have you seen Han?"

"Well, no," Leia's worried voice was rising in pitch. Anakin gave Obi-wan a thumbs up as he tried not to laugh. "Do you need him?"

"I just wanted to make sure he got home alright last night. We had a little more to drink then most normal people can handle. I just wanted to make sure the Twilek from the restaurant who helped us home got him home safely," Obi-wan said embellishing a little. He winked at Anakin. There was nothing wrong with making the truth from a certain point of view.

"Well," Leia said, the worry in her voice replaced with a deeper angry tone. "I haven't heard from him this morning, but he's been busy with runs."

"Thank you anyway Leia," Obi-wan said knowing that the seed had been planted. "I'm sure that he's fine and I have a meeting to get to. May the force be with you."

"And also with you, Master Kenobi," Leia said back to her diplomatic self, although Anakin could hear the irritation lapsing over into the salutation.

Obi-wan clicked off the comlink, replaced it on his belt and smiled at Anakin.

"You wanted trouble," Obi-wan said slyly. "I've just made sure he'll be in it for at least a couple days."

"Thanks Obi-wan."

Anakin clapped him on the shoulder as a gesture of friendship. They continued on towards the council chamber.

"Let's just hope Solo doesn't do anything too rash," Obi-wan said and entered the door.

"Too rash?" Anakin said in a panic after him. "Like break my daughter's heart?"