Chapter 10
Qui-Gon Jinn and Anakin Skywalker were the last jedi team to be seen by the council before they adjourned for the day. Obi-Wan watched as they entered the chambers and tightly shielded himself from his master. He wanted to see what the council had in mind as well.
When Qui-Gon entered the council chamber he noticed the Yan Dooku was now sitting in a council seat. This was a major turn of events and one that surprised even him. Dooku was smiling when he saw Qui-Gon and he wondered what that was all about. He didn't have long to wait.
Qui-Gon and Anakin, who was now 12 years old gave the report of their most recent mission to the council. Obi-Wan watched with interest, remembering how uptight he used to be when giving a mission report to the council. From the report the mission seemed to have gone well and with only a little bit of unplanned trouble.
"Done well, you have." Yoda told Qui-Gon and Anakin. "Another assignment we have for you."
Qui-Gon nodded to the small master and Yoda continued. "One that does not involve leaving the temple."
While Yoda had Qui-Gon's attention, Mace Windu looked at Obi-Wan, gave him a slight wave of the hand and nodded for him to take up his rightful position behind Qui-Gon.
"What is this assignment, my master?" Qui-Gon stated.
"To evaluate your former padawan, who has returned to us, for his readiness for the trials and his knighting. Cleared by the healers, he has."
"You mean Obi-Wan is here."Qui-Gon exclaimed. During this time had Obi-Wan dropped his shields and had opened up his bond with his master, who then promptly turned around with a shocked look on his face once he realized that the bond was open and grabbed the young man by the shoulders. He needed to touch him to make sure that this was really happening.
Anakin watched the whole situation with a bit of resentment, not knowing what to think about what was happening. He retrieved his wits faster than Qui-Gon and wondered what was going to happen to him now, with Obi-Wan's return.
"It's nice to see you too, master." Obi-Wan replied with a slight smile on his face and told his master through the bond//Don't you think you should face the council instead of me master. We can talk later.//
Qui-Gon smiled at Obi-Wan and promply turned around again to face Yoda. It was all Dooku could do to keep from bursting out with laughter at the scene before him when Qui-Gon discovered Obi-Wan behind him.
When Qui-Gon was again facing Yoda, he continued. "Do you accept this assignment, Master Jinn?"
Qui-Gon, having somewhat regained his composure replied. 'Yes, I do Master Yoda."
"Then you are to begin at once. Forward the report from the healers to you I will. The council expects a report in two weeks. You are released."
Qui-Gon nodded and turned to leave the chambers and saw Dooku still smiling at him and realized that his old master had been in on this somehow. He kept going, with Obi-Wan and Anakin following him a step to the left and behind him.
When they entered the ante room adjacent to the chambers, Obi-Wan stopped and picked up his travel bag that he had left there earlier and continued following Qui-Gon out of the chambers and to the lift.
Qui-Gon didn't speak until they had entered the lift and the three were alone. "Why didn't you tell me how well you were doing? I would have come to bring you home."
Anakin watched the exchange between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan silently.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Master, I'm sorry about that, but I didn't want to interfer with Anakin's training. As for coming back, I think that Master Yoda wanted to keep it a secret. I arrived yesterday. The only place I have been other than in Master Dooku's quarters." Qui-Gon quirked an eyebrow at that. Obi-Wan noticed, but continued, "is the healers when they cleared me. I have not even been able to even go to the gardens yet."
"That damable little troll." Qui-Gon stated rather loudly, shaking his head. He then changed the subject. What does Master Dooku have to do with all of this?"
"I requested that he help train me to help my recovery." Qui-Gon started to say something and Obi-Wan held up his hand. "I didn't want to burden you, my master. I know you had your hands full training Anakin and he trained you, so it was the next best thing. I hope you're not angry with me for asking your master to help me." Obi-Wan said.
"One thing that you will never be to me Obi-Wan is a burden and I'm not mad at you at all. I'm glad that you are all right now and that Master Dooku helped you. It surprises me a little bit that he agreed to it, though not as much as seeing him sitting on the council." Qui-Gon smiled at his apprentice. "I wish you would have told me about your recovery was going so well.
Obi-Wan smiled and the lift slowed to a stop. Qui-Gon stepped out of the lift on the main floor of the temple and he walked through the main corridor to the lift with the two apprentices following. Obi-Wan noticed that many of the jedi now out in the main hall stopped what they were doing and had recognized him. He wondered what gossip would be going around the temple now and how he would be perceived by the other jedi. He had destroyed a sith.
Qui-Gon didn't seem to notice the other jedi watching them as Obi-Wan had and led the way to the lift that would take them to the master/apprentice wing and Qui-Gon's quarters.