CHAPTER 20
Obi-Wan walked slowly along the busy streets near the Senate and Chancellory buildings, which he derisively dubbed 'Politics Central', and then started out of his reverie when he saw the small timid woman that served as Palpatine's aide. "Good day," he said politely.
She blushed and ducked her head. "Good day, Master Kenobi," she murmured.
And, once again, Obi-Wan wondered how someone so timid had come so far in the world of politics. Aide to the Chancellor was no mean feat. "Were you looking for me?" he asked now.
The young woman looked up and smiled briefly, fleetingly – her smile just as timid as she. "Yes," she said. "The Chancellor would like to invite you to dine with him tonight," she added then gave a larger smile. "There are days when he tires of politicking he confessed to me, and you keep his feet firmly planted in the soil."
Obi-Wan had seen no evidence of that, yet it was true that the Chancellor was trying to befriend him. With his secret mission in mind, he realized that this was the perfect opportunity to begin his surveillance of the man's activities. "Please tell the Chancellor that I'd be honored to attend," he said. "What time?"
"I'll arrange for a transport for you at seven tonight," the aide said. She ducked her head once more as if the strain of looking at Obi-Wan for more than a few seconds had overwhelmed her.
"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied then, just as the aide was about to depart, he stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. "If I'm to dine with the Chancellor tonight, I believe I should know the name of the person that arranged it."
"Oh. Reela," the woman replied, her cheeks flushing once more. Her eyes skittered over Obi-Wan's face and the blush heated up. "Well … good day, Master Kenobi," she added.
"Good day, Reela," Obi-Wan replied, bowed slightly and then walked away once more.
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The Chancellor resisted the urge to smile as Reela timidly reported her success, blushing at the mere mention of the Knight's name. Her timidity and propensity for blushing hid a razor-sharp mind and a keen grasp of the politics in which the Chancellor was mired. He nurtured a small fond hope that he could persuade her to run in the next election as a junior Senator for the Chommell Sector. Then, once his dream of Empire was fulfilled, he would have someone in the perfect position to oust the senior Senator, Padmé Amidala.
"You are aware of the fact that he's involved with Senator Amidala, aren't you?" he teased lightly, playing the part of the grandfather figure that the young orphan craved so badly.
As if on cue, Reela blushed again but didn't resist the urge to confide in the Chancellor. He'd become the audience for her youthful hopes and dreams over the last year. "I know," she replied, "and I wouldn't know what to do even if he were available." She pulled a face. "You're the only male I can talk to without feeling like an idiot."
"You're a very pretty young woman," Palpatine offered in a fatherly fashion. "You certainly have no need to fear rejection. You should come to the dinner tonight – it's been too long since I've enjoyed your company in a less formal setting, and you'll get to spend time with a handsome young Jedi instead of being stuck with a crusty old politician."
His Force-enhanced senses detected the softening in her eyes; she really cared for him. It was a pity that she was completely Force null – someone so loyal and attached would be a perfect Right Hand. But then again, she was the perfect foil for him as she was; giving him a grandfatherly aspect that lent him an almost benign mien.
Still; she hesitated and he realized that she was nervous at the idea of socializing with Master Kenobi. She'd spent many a pleasant evening with Palpatine and occasionally some of his most trusted associates, so it certainly wasn't him. "You can say 'no', my dear," he added. "You deserve a night away from politicking."
She gave a warm smile that startled Palpatine – it seemed that even a Sith Lord wasn't immune to an attractive young woman's appeal. "So do you," she replied. "I think I'd like a night off – and I know you enjoy Master Kenobi's company without an aide hanging around."
"Another time then," Palpatine said. "Perhaps with more of us, though, so you have some more people to talk to – maybe some other young folk." Young people generally held little interest for the Sith Lord – their minds uninformed, their opinions coarse and shallow – but Reela and Obi-Wan were quite different.
Reela smiled slightly. "Another time," she agreed and then seized his cup. "May I get you some kevas while I'm brewing?" she added.
"Thank you, my dear," Palpatine replied.
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That evening:
Obi-Wan stepped out of the groundcar – an antiquated and expensive, if charming, means of transport – and nodded to the aide that had held the door open for him. "Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome, Master Kenobi," the aide replied. "If you'll follow me, sir; the Chancellor is waiting for you in his residence."
Obi-Wan followed the aide through the grand residence – the building itself was old and beautiful, but the decorations were far too ostentatious for his simple tastes. And even within his own residence there were multiple pictures of the Chancellor. Obi-Wan shook his head at the rampant egotism then pasted a pleasant expression on his face when a door opened and the Chancellor himself came out to greet him. "Good evening, Chancellor," he said.
"Good evening, Obi-Wan … may I call you Obi-Wan?" the Chancellor replied.
Evidently he still wished to befriend Obi-Wan. He widened his eyes slightly then dropped his head as if slightly overwhelmed or flattered. "Of course," he said. "Thank you for inviting me."
"Oh, it's my pleasure," the Chancellor said then nodded to the aide. "Thank you, Baris – that will be all," he added. "Go home and see your new baby."
The aide smiled, lightening his dour features. "Thank you, sir – good night," he replied then made a smart about-face and left.
"May I offer you something to drink, Obi-Wan?" the Chancellor inquired, taking Obi-Wan's arm and drawing him into a living area that was decorated in a far less showy fashion than the rest of the residence. Obi-Wan's eyes widened – this time in genuine surprise. What a difference between the two areas! And which one was the real Chancellor Palpatine?
"Oh … uh … kevas would be nice," he said stupidly, trying to get the two images of the man to mesh. There was always more than one aspect to a person, he reminded himself.
Palpatine chuckled. "Yes; this room is far more to your tastes than the rest of the residence, isn't it?" he said.
Obi-Wan nodded, no longer surprised by the man's perspicacity.
Palpatine just smiled and rang an old-fashioned metal bell. "The rest of the residence was designed for Chancellor Kriok a hundred years ago when tastes were far more ornate – it has become custom to leave it in that style as a tribute to him, but I insisted on having something Nubian and more suited to myself for my inner residence."
Looking around the living area, Obi-Wan realized that it did indeed remind him of the beautiful old home at which he'd stayed recently in Varykino. "It's lovely – very restful," he said.
Palpatine smiled – this time looking satisfied. "I'm glad you think so," he said. "With everything that's been going on lately, we all need somewhere that we can rest and simply be – without politics, war and domestic troubles hanging over our heads."
"Mmm," Obi-Wan agreed, sensing an opening. "You're right there, but it isn't always easy to get away from one's troubles."
"No," Palpatine replied, "and running away from them does no good for they'll just follow you. But a little time away, time to think and rest, is vital. Otherwise troubles will overwhelm you until that's all you can see."
"Is that why you invited me to dine tonight?" Obi-Wan asked impulsively then bit his lip. Had he played his hand too soon? He'd never been very good at subterfuge.
Palpatine merely smiled and nodded his head. "For both of us, Obi-Wan," he said. "You can use a break from Jedi politics and I can certainly use one from Republic politics."
"Jedi aren't politicians," Obi-Wan argued.
"No; not in that sense," Palpatine agreed. "But in any community there will always be politics." He chuckled. "Your politics are simply far less cut-throat than the Senate's," he added.
The man made a good point. "I hadn't thought about it like that," Obi-Wan said then smiled at the aide that brought them their drinks. "Thank you," he added to the aide.
This aide – an oddly unattractive Twi'lek – nodded his head, his lekku flopping about in a manner that reminded Obi-Wan of the Gungan, Jar Jar Binks. "You're welcome," he replied then nodded to the Chancellor. "I'll be next door, sir," he added.
"I'm afraid the kevas won't be as good tonight," the Chancellor said, leaning over to pour two cups of the fragrant brew. "I gave Reela the night off and she makes the best kevas out of everyone on my staff." He gave a smile that appeared fond yet it seemed slightly false to Obi-Wan. "At her level, she should delegate that task to one of my other staff, but she seems to think that I need looking after." He gave a chuckle. "It's a shame in some ways that you're already attached, Obi-Wan – Reela likes you very much and she would look after you very well."
Well, that explained Reela's discomfort around him. "If she's as sweet as you think, I'm sure she'll find someone," Obi-Wan said, going a slight pink. "And I would never become involved with someone simply so that they could 'look after me'."
"No; you're too honest for that," the Chancellor agreed, taking a sip of his kevas. "This tastes like Reela's kevas – she must have left very strict instructions with my staff for tonight." He gave another chuckle. "I never had children, but I confess that I'm fond of that young lady – she's becoming the grandchild I never had."
The words and the tone were both loving, yet Obi-Wan still felt unease around the man. He'd gathered so much power unto himself; no-one had opposed him in the recent elections and there were people that openly feared him – good people.
The Chancellor gave a sigh and nodded to Obi-Wan's cup. "Anyway; enough of an old man's regrets. I've been very remiss in not asking how Senator Amidala fares."
"She's recovering," Obi-Wan said, "but it's looking like a slow process. She's in so much pain and her limbs don't want to work. That frustrates her very much." He took a sip of the kevas.
"Yes; I can imagine," the Chancellor replied. "Even when she was Queen, she wasn't renowned for her patience. She always had to be taking action." He smiled. "You must have seen some of that attitude during your detour on Tatooine all those years ago."
Obi-Wan laughed, remembering the small serving girl facing off against the large Qui-Gon Jinn. "Indeed," he said, "but she spent far more time with Master Jinn than she did with me – that would have been a battle of wills."
The Chancellor laughed – this one actually sounding genuine. "Yes; your former Master is notorious for his stubbornness, although he seems to have calmed down a little since his admission to the Jedi Council." He gave a sigh. "I was pleased by his elevation – he thinks very differently to most of the Jedi Council and that can't hurt at a time like this. Perhaps you will be joining him soon?"
Obi-Wan blushed. "Not for a long time, if at all," he replied. "I'm very different to Qui-Gon; if the Council seeks in me what they see in him, they're doomed to disappointment." He'd long ago come to terms with how different he was to his Master – different not necessarily being bad – but for the sake of his mission he made himself sound a little wistful.
"I know Jedi don't usually suffer inferiority complexes," Palpatine commented, "and most people that feel inferior are correct – they aren't as good as other people. But you have no need to think that way, my young Jedi friend. Why do you think you and Qui-Gon work together so well? Because you complement each other. You keep Qui-Gon from giving in to his impulses and he keeps you from worrying about a future that may never happen."
Yes. The Living Force and the Unifying Force. Obi-Wan smiled up at the Chancellor. "Mmm," he agreed. "But" – here he dropped his voice to sound as if he were initiating a confidence – "as close as I am to Qui-Gon in many ways, there are some things I just can't discuss with him."
"You need friends outside the Jedi Order," Palpatine said. "I know of course about your friendship with that giant spacer Dex, but is there anyone else in whom you can confide?"
Padmé for most things, Obi-Wan thought. And Kila was rapidly becoming a confidant too – even sharing some of her own hopes and troubles with Obi-Wan. "I hadn't really thought about it," he lied, wondering about the scorn in Palpatine's voice when he pronounced Dex's name.
"Of course you haven't," the Chancellor laughed. "Everyone needs someone to talk to, my young friend – even a strong Jedi such as yourself has fears and hopes that he needs to voice."
"Yes, but … voicing them to the wrong people could cause trouble – and why burden people unnecessarily?" Obi-Wan objected, sipping his kevas. "Why should my problem become someone else's problem?"
"You're a stubborn man, Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Chancellor said, finishing his kevas. His eyes twinkled. "It's easy to see Master Jinn's influence on you."
Obi-Wan smiled at that. Qui-Gon and Padmé had often accused him of stubbornness – when they could out-stubborn him any day of the week. "Well, thank you, Chancellor," he replied. If it wasn't for his mission and his long-held distrust for this man, he could actually enjoy this evening. The Chancellor was clever, witty and insightful – and he had a teasing sense of humor that Obi-Wan would never have suspected.
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Lord Sidious finished the last of his kevas, observing the shifting emotions on the young Knight's face. Slowly but surely, Obi-Wan was coming to trust him – it wouldn't happen quickly, of course, but Sidious could see that he would become the confidant for Kenobi's hopes and fears, particularly where Senator Amidala was concerned. Despite the ending of the no attachments rule, much of the Jedi Council still disapproved of their members forming attachments – and some of the hardliners actively distrusted Obi-Wan, who had not only sought out his birth family but had also fallen in love.
Whilst Qui-Gon was far less intolerant of emotions than many of his fellow Council members – he'd been one of the first to openly support the ending of the no attachments rule – his role as Obi-Wan's teacher would likely mean that Obi-Wan wouldn't be comfortable discussing his problems with Amidala. And Obi-Wan's other friend, that waitress at Dex's, was shy and inexperienced in matters of the heart – she would have no words of wisdom for Obi-Wan. As for that sister … she was flighty and scattered, too intent on her fleshly pleasures to be sympathetic with the serious, steady young Jedi.
Sidious knew an awful lot about Obi-Wan – knew of his friends, his family, his struggles to become what he saw as the 'ideal Jedi' – and his knowledge would serve him well as he worked to bring Obi-Wan over to the Sith. And it would take work, too; he held no illusions about that. But an easy conversion from the Light Side could also mean an easy conversion back to the Light Side. Obi-Wan was intensely loyal and his conversion would cause shockwaves in the Galaxy far beyond anything seen before.
Then Sidious and his good Right Hand would make the Galaxy over into Sidious' vision; no more endless Senate debates, no more Jedi Council interfering, no more inferior alien beings cluttering up Coruscant with their alien ways and – his lip curled – their alien smells. Coruscant would be a shining bastion for the many humans in this galaxy that had lost out to alien interlopers.
"Chancellor; is everything all right?" Obi-Wan inquired.
Sidious looked up at that question and put a small smile onto his face. "I apologize, Obi-Wan," he said. "I wished tonight to be free of politicking, but this morning's Senate session was so unproductive I remain troubled by it."
Obi-Wan's eyes twinkled. "There are times I believe that the word 'Senate' is synonymous with 'unproductive'," he remarked, much to Sidious' amusement. He poured himself another cup of kevas and motioned with the pot to Sidious' cup.
Sidious nodded and let out a genuine laugh – the younger man's sarcastic wit would be most enjoyable once he became Sidious' apprentice. "Indeed, my boy, indeed," he replied. Obi-Wan trusted very few members of the Galactic Senate – indeed; Sidious could only name Amidala and Bail Organa. And Sidious shared Obi-Wan's distrust of the Senate, although for entirely different reasons. Much of the Senate was weak and self-serving, and while that suited Sidious' purpose for now, they would be swept away like so much flotsam with the rise of the new order.
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Several hours later:
Obi-Wan emerged from Palpatine's residence and got into the transport awaiting him, both physically and mentally exhausted from the stress of the day. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest, seeking out the comfort of the Force. He truly wasn't meant for subterfuge, having always been honest to the point of bluntness, but he'd agreed to this mission so would carry it out to the best of his ability.
He hadn't expected to enjoy the Chancellor's company, however, and that made him a little uncomfortable. Whilst he still didn't trust Palpatine, the older man was well-read with a wry sarcastic sense of humor disturbingly similar to his own. The evening had been filled with pleasant conversation and laughter – and now Obi-Wan could finally understand why the man had been able to become Chancellor all those years ago. The man was a lot more charismatic than Obi-Wan had ever suspected.
"Back to the Jedi Temple, sir?" the pilot asked, breaking Obi-Wan's reverie … much to his relief. He hadn't liked where his thoughts were taking him.
"Oh … yes; thank you," he said, debating briefly the merits of visiting Padmé. But he was so tired and didn't trust his temper around her at the moment. If she was in a bad mood again, he didn't trust that he wouldn't let fly and ruin their relationship for good. He needed a good night's rest and a long session of meditation then his emotions would return to their customary even keel.
Several minutes later, he got out of the swoop with a word of thanks for the pilot and made his way wearily up to his apartment. He nodded his head in polite greeting to several Jedi as he passed but was relieved when they didn't attempt to engage him in conversation. As he rounded the corner, he nearly fell over a tiny green being. Yoda. "Good evening, Master Yoda," he murmured politely.
"Good evening, young Kenobi," the old Master returned. "Much trouble in your mind there is," he added. "Come; join me in the gardens you will – meditate and seek out the Force together we shall."
"I was going to do that tomorrow, Master," Obi-Wan objected then was caught off guard by a massive yawn.
"Sleep well you will not when troubled your mind is," Yoda replied practically. "Come." He tapped the floor impatiently with his gimer stick.
Obi-Wan realized that it was a waste of energy to argue further, so followed the smallest Jedi obediently out into the gardens. He sat where the Master indicated and crossed his legs then closed his eyes. "Back to basics we shall go tonight," Yoda said quietly, soothingly. For someone known for his frenetic style, the little Jedi could be very calming when he wanted. "Your eyes closed, your mind open. Free yourself of unnecessary burdens you will."
Obi-Wan cast his mind back to his initiate years – when he'd first started learning the meditative disciplines. He smiled slightly, recalling his complaints: "We just have to sit?" he'd whined to Master Windu. "For hours?" To an eight year old boy – all energy and impatience – meditation was not exciting enough.
Yoda tapped his arm. "Focus you must," he chided gently. "Dwell not in the past – no matter how much amusement it causes you. Listen to my voice and follow where I lead …"
Properly chastised, Obi-Wan wiped the smile off his face and listened to Yoda.
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Several hours later:
Refreshed and in full command of his emotions once more, Obi-Wan made his way back up to his apartment and opened up a com connection to the med ward.
"Hello?" came a drowsy voice.
"Hello, Padmé," Obi-Wan replied gravely.
A mirthless laugh filtered through the connection. "So … you woke me up to beg, did you?" Padmé replied. "I thought you had more dignity than that, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan shook his head, regretting that this was a voice-only com. "I just wanted to remind you that I love you, Padmé," he said quietly, biting back the stinging retort on his lips.
"Uh-huh," Padmé grumbled, "and for that you had to waste gods know how many dataries and wake me up." She sighed. "I'm not in the mood to rehash our argument, so I think it's best if you disconnect."
"As you wish," Obi-Wan said. "I'll come back tomorrow and hope that you're in a better mood."
"I wouldn't count on that but hope is a good thing," Padmé yawned. "Go to sleep, Obi-Wan," she added with a slight softening to her tone that gave Obi-Wan hope that she realized how horrible she'd been earlier.
"You too, Padmé. Good night, love."