Obi-Wan's prediction about the Jedi being asked to protect Senator Amidala proved right, but he had not expected Chancellor Palpatine would ask for him to guard her. For him and Qui-Gon Jinn. The request had been made publicly and there was no way Obi-Wan could have refused it.
Ten years had elapsed since the day Qui-Gon had accused Obi-Wan of being tainted by the Dark side and even if it should have been evident by now, even to the stubborn Master Jinn, that that accusation had not been true, the older man had never tried to apologize to his former Padawan.
Qui-Gon no longer avoided Obi-Wan as he had done in the past, but their few contacts had been very brief and strictly formal.
The younger man could have forced a confrontation now that he was on the Council and thus Qui-Gon's superior, but what would be the point of it if Obi-Wan could not yet reveal the truth of his nature?
So Obi-Wan had endured cold silences and politely distant answers, but now they would have to work together on the senator's protection. Obi-Wan hoped they would both be Jedi enough to put their differences aside to do their job well.
"Wow Master! This room alone is bigger than our quarters!" Dwen exclaimed as they stepped inside Senator Amidala's living room in her Five Hundred Republica apartment.
The young Padawan left his master's side to look closely at a statue in the corner.
"Don't touch it, Padawan. It may be ugly, but I've the suspicion it's very expensive."
Dwen threw him a dirty look. "I know, Master. I'm not a child."
"Oh yes, I forget you are such a grown up now-" Obi-Wan's teasing was interrupted when, in a whirl of coloured robes, Jar-Jar Binks appeared into the room.
"Obi! Obi! Obi!" the Gungan cried, tongue and ears flapping. "Mesa so smilen to see'en yousa! Wahoooo!"
Obi-Wan smiled politely, though his glance at the wide-eyed Dwen showed that he was embarrassed by that show of emotions.
"It's good to see you, too, Jar Jar," he said. He was about to introduce Dwen, when the door chimed.
Jar-Jar went to open, admitting Qui-Gon and Anakin inside. The two older Jedi nodded to each other as Jar-Jar kept on screaming with delight.
Finally, the Gungan calmed down and led the Jedi to another elegant room with cushiony chairs and a divan set in a circular pattern in the centre, and some artworks on the walls.
"Mesa here. Lookie! Lookie!" screeched Jar Jar, hardly the announcement Obi-Wan would have preferred, but one that he knew he had to expect from the emotionally volatile Gungan. "Desa Jedi arriven."
He bowed deeply to the Senator. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," Qui-Gon said.
"It has been far too long Master Jinn. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again... but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."
"I'm sure the Council has its reasons," Qui-Gon answered calmly, his eyes darting to Obi-Wan.
"Master Kenobi," Padme greeted him with a firm handshake, before looking down at Dwen. "And who is this young man?"
"Padawan Highspeed, M'Lady. At your service," the boy answered with a deep bow.
Then Padme's eyes posed on the last member of the party and widened in surprise. "Ani? My goodness you've grown!"
They looked at each other for a long moment, then Anakin spoke, trying to be smooth but failing miserably.
"So have you... grown more beautiful, I mean... and much shorter... for a Senator, I mean."
Qui-Gon looked indulgently at his apprentice, as Padmé laughed and shook her head. Obi-Wan instead narrowed his eyes. He could feel many strong emotions coming from the tall Padawan, and most of them were unbecoming of a Jedi.
The group moved toward the divan and chairs and sat down.
"Our presence will be invisible, M'Lady," Obi-Wan assured Padme, remembering her complaints during their previous meeting in the Chancellor's office.
"I'm very grateful that you're here, Master Kenobi, Master Jinn" Captain Typho put in. "The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."
"I don't need any more security," Padmé said, addressing Typho initially, but turning to regard the Jedi as she continued. "I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me." She stopped as a frown crossed Obi-Wan's face.
"We're here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation," he said in calm and deliberate tones, but even as he finished, Anakin Skywalker contradicted him.
"We will find out who is trying to kill you Padmé, I promise you," the Padawan exclaimed with ardour.
Obi-Wan tensed, as at his side Dwen did the same. A padawan contradicting a Council master? It was unheard of! Even if, considering Qui-Gon's attitude toward the Council, perhaps Obi-Wan should not have to been too surprised.
"We are not going to exceed our mandate, Padawan Skywalker," Obi-Wan stated calmly, but with a hint of steel in his voice.
"I meant in the interest of protecting her, Master Kenobi, of course," Anakin seemed to have realized what he had just done.
Qui-Gon too seemed to have realized his charge had overstepped his bounds, so he pressed on, "You will pay attention to my lead, Padawan and do what I say."
"Why?"
"What?" Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow in stunned surprise, as Padmé and Captain Typho exchanged an embarrassed look, and Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed even more. Dwen, instead was listening to the exchange with wonder and confusion.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security... not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate," Anakin explained, his words full of passion.
"We will do as the Council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one," Qui-Gon growled, looking briefly at Obi-Wan, and this time Anakin realized it was best to keep his mouth shut.
"Perhaps with merely your presence about me, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed," offered the Senator. She smiled alternately at the three older Jedi and then she added, "Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire."
They all stood up, bowed as Padme and her handmaiden exited the room, and then Obi-Wan stared hard at Padawan Skywalker and his master.
"Master Jinn, I would appreciate if you taught your Padawan not to show such disrespect for the Council and its decisions in public," he commented coldly.
Qui-Gon stared at him. "You might be a Councillor, but I have been a master since before you were born. Don't tell me how to deal with my Padawan. Its not your concern."
"He's my concern as a member of the Council. He's the Chosen One and one would suppose he has learned to behave as a Jedi after twelve years of training. You would have never allowed me to behave like this when I was his age."
"Anakin is special. He had a difficult life. He deserves some allowances," Qui-Gon stated.
"So you say, Master Jinn, so you say. Just be careful not to give him too many liberties. I've noticed he is quite taken by the Senator."
Thus speaking, Obi-Wan turned to face Dwen. "Come on, Padawan, let's go downstairs to check the security forces Captain Typho has at his disposal," he said, and the master-padawan team walked away, leaving Qui-Gon and his turbulent charge alone.