~Obi-wan's POV~
Obi-wan was known for his ability to come up with solutions quickly. He was a general, that and he was just naturally a quick thinker.
He had always been a quick thinker, always able to think ahead, to come up with solutions to a problem that had not even happened yet.
Yet, he was in turmoil over this problem. He had spoken with the council, yes, and Ahsoka likewise had spoken with Padme. "She wasn't that surprised," Ahsoka had reported once she had returned an hour ago.
"When I told her that you were speaking to the council about it, she nodded and told me to tell her when we were going," Padme was so sure they were going on another rescue mission.
She had no doubt Obi-wan would either convince the council or the council would permit it without having to be convinced.
He sighed, wishing that that had been the case. It had not. The senate had completely forbidden them to go on any type of rescue mission. It had been an order, not a request. There was nothing they could do without senate approval. Legally anyway.
He had reluctantly sent Ahsoka to deliver this news to Padme. He wished her luck.
Around the planet, Republic forces had been sent to find Dooku and Grievous. Even if there were any search ships left, they would be used for the frantic search.
Anakin had been gone for two days. Obi-wan could sense him in the force; he was still alive. But there was… There was something wrong. He was suffering, not physically, but mentally.
That made the decision all the harder to make now. He did not want to abandon Anakin, force he would do anything to be able to go out there, but how?
He would have to steal a ship (what ship? There basically were none) and then go out on a wild hunt for Anakin (who could be on the brink of death in any case) and then come back and face the wrath of the council and senate.
The senate and councils wrath did not necessarily bother him; the universe knew he had taken wrath from them before. What worried him was the other two facts.
Obi-wan sighed and rubbed his forehead, which ached with a newly grown headache. What was he supposed to do? The answer was obvious in his heart, but he had always listened to his mind.
The mind was clear, filled with facts, not emotions. Anakin was the emotions part of the team. Team. They were a team, how could he leave the man he had raised behind to die?
Obi-wan picked up his cup, gingerly taking a sip of tea, which had long grown cold. He hardly noticed. All of a sudden, the doors opened and into the room walked Nava. "Obi-wan," she greeted, already crossing the room. She sat across from him, cross-legged.
"What did the council say?" She asked. Obi-wan sighed. "I believe you already know," he answered. Nava pursed her lips. "That isn't like them just to say no to a rescue. It isn't the Jedi way. What is the real problem?" yes, planning, tactics, finding a sensible solution, he could do that.
"The senate has utterly forbidden any sort of rescue," he sighed. "And what ships would we use? They're all taken up for the search," he added.
Nava scowled and put her chin in her hands, watching him with compassionate purple-blue eyes. "That isn't what has you so upset though?" she knew him too well. He blinked, wondering how-or even if-he should phrase this.
"I can't leave him," simply said. She nodded. "You raised him, he's like your son," she added, as if she had read his mind. He wondered if she had. Or perhaps she just knew him too well, even after all these years.
"I cannot help but think so," somehow he felt perfectly comfortable telling her as such. She pursed her lips and nodded.
"What I don't understand, perfection pet," she said slowly, the name being a tease. His heart fluttered when she called him that though. "Is why the council gets angry at the chancellor and the senate for ordering us around, but when they do, we do as they command," she said.
Obi-wan stared at her. They had never thought of that. Why, he could not fathom now, but she did have a point.
"I say we do as we please. We may serve the senate, but we serve it because we believe in democracy, in justice. If what they tell us to do is not justice, and we do it anyway, then aren't we just as corrupt? Aren't we helping the corruption in the senate?" Force, she was right.
It was so obvious that Obi-wan, for one of the first times since he had been knighted; felt like a complete imbecile. The Jedi did the senate's bidding; they had become soldiers for the Republic, instead of Keepers Of the Peace.
Incredible how much the dark side had clouded their vision.
"Your right," he said slowly. He straightened out, staring at her incredulously. She grinned at him. "We are keepers of the peace, Obi-wan, not soldiers," she reminded him. "Agree, I do," an old voice said.
Obi-wan looked up, and was taken aback to see Master Yoda in the doorway, leaning on his cane and staring at them with bright eyes.
How long has he been there? he wondered. The old master had never ceased to amaze him. Or scare him, fully grown master or not. Not that no other Jedi felt the same.
"Been soldiers to the senate for too long, we have been. Left the Jedi way to pursue justice, we have," he shook his head ruefully. "But only fueling the evils of greed, we have been," Obi-wan stood.
"Master?" he asked cautiously. "Right, Nava is. Jedi we are, not guard dogs. A ship, secured for you the council has. Go to Skywalker, you must," Nava stood as well.
"But you hadn't heard any of this until now. Why did you get a vessel for us?" she asked. Yoda blinked at her, as if she had asked a very stupid question.
"A Jedi, Skywalker is. Unorthodox are his ways, but still one of us. Leave him; we were not going too. Go now, do not delay with questions," he instructed impatiently.
Obi-wan felt his heart jump with anticipation. This was why the Jedi were good, why he was so devoted to them, despite their quirks. They were purely and unquestionably, selflessly good.
"Right away, master," he promised. He looked at Nava, who was grinning in victory. "I hope you weren't planning on leaving me here, Master Kenobi," she said, turning to him with twinkling eyes. Obi-wan raised an eyebrow.
"You want to come? Don't you have things you have to do here?" he asked. "Nonsense. Of course Intrepid and I are coming. You'd never get anything done without us," Obi-wan snickered and shook his head. Despite her immodesty, she had a very good point.
"Alright then. You get the girls, I have someone else to find," meaning Padme. Nava nodded, and her eyes sparked with courage. "Let's get started then."
Okay, next chapter will be short, and then the one after that so funny. I wanted to put in a little of female hormones, and what better time than this? Don't you just love Nava?
~Queen Yoda