A/N: Apologies for the long hiatus. This chapter was very challenging for me to write for some reason, and then for the last month my beautiful baby decided to stop sleeping at night. Let me tell you, nothing kills mental capacity faster than persistent sleep deprivation. Things have been improving the last week (knock on wood!), so here's the next update, and I hope it's up to snuff. I'd love your feedback (and thanks to for the new review procedure - I love it!).
Chapter 24
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan prepared carefully for their presentation to the Council. When they had put forth all their arguments, and the Council members had had the opportunity to question them and clarify certain points, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were sent from the chambers while the Council deliberated in private, a surprising move. When Qui-Gon had made his previous requests to have Shmi freed, the Council had given him an immediate denial. Members of the Council often communed silently with one another through the Force while in session, making it possible for them to make certain decisions quickly. That the Council now wished to have a more full discussion, in private, could only be a good sign. This time, there must be more division of opinion among them.
The wait ended up lasting several hours, and Ostar-Gal, assistant to the Council, called up dinner for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan so they could eat without leaving the tower. No other Jedi came into the chambers to await an appointment with the Council during that time, and Obi-Wan guessed with some amusement that the Council must have scheduled a large block of time as soon as they saw Qui-Gon's name on the roster. It seemed they had learned from previous experience.
The sun had set and the cityscape outside had blazed to life with artificial light before the door to the chambers slid open again and Master Windu's voice called the two of them back inside. As one, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan faced Masters Yoda and Windu, the two senior members, to hear the Council's decision.
"The Council has reached agreement," Master Windu said, "on several fronts. First, we all feel that giving Shmi Skywalker her freedom is a worthy goal. That she is deserving of freedom is not in question. We owe much of the success of the Naboo mission to her cooperation in permitting Anakin to help you get your ship repaired and off Tatooine."
Qui-Gon's face lit up. "Then-"
"On the matter of Anakin's attachment to his mother, and the effect of her presence on him during his training," Master Windu forged on, "we are less certain. Most of us, however, now feel that the potential benefits outweigh the risks."
Qui-Gon waited this time, but Obi-Wan could sense his inward excitement threatening to boil over. Already Master Windu had conceded more than the Council had in his previous attempts. That could only mean...
"However," Windu said.
Qui-Gon's shoulders sagged ever so slightly. Of course there would be a "however."
Yoda spoke up at last. "But grant your request, we cannot."
Qui-Gon stared at Yoda, disappointment spreading across his face. "No?" he said in disbelief. "How can that be your answer?"
"Ask for a great deal, you do, Qui-Gon! Ask us to break the Code, you do. And to break Republic law, yes. Impossible, this is. Agree to it the Council cannot."
"But you've agreed that freeing Shmi is the right thing to do. Which is more important? To keep to the Code, or to do what's right?" Qui-Gon asked vehemently.
"Mutually exclusive, they are not," Yoda said.
"Surely all of you can see the need for a little flexibility!" Qui-Gon burst out, his blue eyes accusing each Council member in turn.
"We considered your request very carefully, Qui-Gon," Master Windu cut in, with more than a little steel in his voice. "We are not unsympathetic to your request, or to your Padawan's well-being, but you must understand that there are more things at stake here than Anakin's emotional state. The life of a Jedi is a hard one, full of sacrifices, which Anakin knew when he chose to come with you. He is strong. If he is any kind of Jedi at all he will learn to adapt, as we all did. As we all do."
Qui-Gon was growing more agitated by the moment. "This isn't just about Anakin. With all due respect, Masters, leaving Shmi on Tatooine is as good as a death sentence!"
Master Windu leaned forward with savagely furrowed brow and took in a sharp breath as if to deliver a verbal tongue-lashing to Qui-Gon for questioning the Council's compassion, but Obi-Wan quickly pre-empted it by stepping forward and putting a restraining hand on Qui-Gon's shoulder. He leaned his head in close to Qui-Gon's and spoke rapidly in a low voice designed for Qui-Gon's ear alone. "Their decision is already made, Master. Arguing about it after the fact isn't going to help. You're the one who taught me that." He glanced down, saw that Qui-Gon's fist, clenched against his thigh, was trembling with barely restrained emotion. "Don't say anything you'll regret later," he added quietly.
Qui-Gon was silent for a moment, letting the words sink in. Obi-Wan held his breath.
Finally, Qui-Gon nodded, and slowly his large hands relaxed. Obi-Wan took a cautious step back. The Masters around the circle were watching them with troubled expressions.
"Thank you for your consideration," Qui-Gon said to the Council, and if the words were a bit stiff, at least they weren't full of venom.
Stunned by defeat, they left the chambers. Master Saldith and his Padawan, Sha Koon, were waiting in the antechamber, and at a nod from Ostar-Gal the pair went into the Council chambers. The door slid shut behind them with a depressing finality.
Qui-Gon didn't say a word, but wearily plodded out to the balcony and stared unseeingly out at the lines of speeders flying past. After a moment, Obi-Wan followed him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "It looks like I wasn't any help to you after all."
Qui-Gon turned to face him. "No, you were," he said in a resigned tone. "The fact that they deliberated so long this time tells me you gave them something to debate, at least. It must have been a close thing."
"They did seem sympathetic to the situation," Obi-Wan said, although at this point he knew it was cold comfort.
"They're being completely unreasonable," Qui-Gon said flatly.
"I wonder if they would be open to some type of compromise," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully.
"Such as?" Qui-Gon was skeptical.
"What if we found a way to give Shmi access to a subspace transceiver? Then at least she and Anakin could stay in contact."
Qui-Gon shook his head. "The moment Watto found out what she had, he'd sell it, or lose it in some foolish bet." He picked a loose chip of stone off the railing and threw it off the balcony with a sharp gesture. The rock vanished from sight in seconds as it began its miles-long fall to the underlevels of Coruscant. "We're running out of time!" Qui-Gon burst out suddenly. "You realize, don't you, that Watto could sell her at any moment he chooses? That we could lose track of her for good? We need to get her off Tatooine. The sooner the better!"
"Well, maybe we can come up with something else," Obi-Wan said placatingly. "My point is, I don't think you need to give up just yet."
"You're right about that," Qui-Gon said darkly. "This isn't over yet."
Obi-Wan leaned against the railing and stared at the airspeeders zipping back and forth across the sky. " 'Mutually exclusive, they are not,' " he repeated Yoda's words in a soft murmur. "I think he was trying to tell us something, Qui-Gon. There must be some solution. Some way we can do what's right without breaking the Code. Don't you think?"
Qui-Gon didn't answer.
"Don't you agree?" Obi-Wan repeated, turning to face Qui-Gon, but Qui-Gon was gone. Startled, Obi-Wan looked back just in time to see the edge of Qui-Gon's robe disappear through the doors to the Council chambers.
"Stars' end!" Obi-Wan said in exasperation.
But he hardly hesitated. In a few quick strides he passed Oster-Gal, seated behind his desk and looking rather startled, and followed Qui-Gon back into the chambers.
Qui-Gon had just brushed between Master Saldith and Sha Koon to stand in front of the Council again. "Excuse me," he said to them brusquely, "but we still have business to discuss."
The two were taken aback, but at a nod from Master Yoda they turned around and left the Council chambers, shooting odd looks at Obi-Wan, who hung back by the door.
The Council members were silent, waiting for Qui-Gon to speak. A few, like Mace Windu, looked annoyed, but to Obi-Wan's surprise, several seemed to be trying to hide amusement, especially Ki-Adi-Mundi and Adi Gallia. Master Yoda was completely unreadable.
"More to say, have you, Qui-Gon?" the diminutive Master said patiently. "Given you our answer, we have."
"That's not good enough, "Qui-Gon said flatly. "With all due respect, Masters, I will not take no for an answer."
"Unwise, that would be," Yoda said neutrally.
Obi-Wan crossed to the middle of the room in four strides and tugged vigorously on Qui-Gon's sleeve. Qui-Gon shot a look at Obi-Wan that was both bewildered and annoyed.
It was extremely inconvenient not to be able to communicate with Qui-Gon silently, now that they no longer had a training bond. Obi-Wan was forced to settle for having a conversation with him via body language, since Qui-Gon's glare was clearly saying to him, I'm not giving up that easily, so don't even ask.
Stop beating a dead bantha, Obi-Wan's tightly pressed lips said to Qui-Gon.
Persistence is a virtue, said Qui-Gon's raised eyebrow.
Obi-Wan's incredulous expression pointed out that irritating people is not an effective persuasion tactic.
Well, what do you suggest? Qui-Gon's outspread hands demanded.
We need to work smarter, not harder, Obi-Wan's furrowed brows said. Stop. Use the Force. Think.
Qui-Gon was still for a long moment, then he shrugged ever so slightly. All right, you win.
I won an argument with you? Obi-Wan's shocked expression said, but Qui-Gon didn't see because he was already striding back out the door, leaving Obi-Wan standing awkwardly in front of the Council by himself.
"Oh," he said to them. "Um, excuse us, please."
Qui-Gon was waiting for him in the antechamber. Master Saldith and Sha Koon were there too, shooting Qui-Gon wary looks, but at a gesture from Oster-Gal, they went back into the chambers to attempt to give their report for the second time.
"This had better be good," Qui-Gon said to Obi-Wan. "I was just about to let them have it."
"Yes, I noticed," Obi-Wan said patiently. "Look, Qui-Gon, if you want to berate the Council on your own time, be my guest. But if you want my help, I insist on doing something sensible."
"Such as?"
Obi-Wan stammered a bit. "Uh," he said. "Well..."
He was rescued by the door to the Council chambers sliding open and Yoda hobbling out.
"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said politely.
"Master Qui-Gon. Young Kenobi." Yoda's voice was grave. "Join me for tea in my quarters, you should, when finished, the Council's session is. Notify you, Ostar-Gal will."
"Thank you, Master," Qui-Gon said. "We'll be there." What else was there to say?
Yoda harrumphed a bit, and then slowly hobbled back into the Council chambers. The faint sound of Master Saldith's voice floated out for a moment, and then was cut off when the door slid shut once again.
"You were saying?" Qui-Gon said.
"I was?" Obi-Wan asked, momentarily confused.
"You were about to suggest something sensible we could do."
"Oh, right," Obi-Wan shrugged nonchalantly. "I was going to say, why not have tea with Master Yoda?"
"Of course you were," Qui-Gon said, straight-faced.
Obi-Wan smiled wryly. "I feel like I'm about to report for punishment," he said.
Qui-Gon grimaced. "Tea with Master Yoda isn't punishment. If he was serving stew, however..."
They both enjoyed a much-needed laugh.
Yoda's quarters ought to have felt claustrophobic to humans, with low ceilings and low furnishings and a strong smoky scent thick in the air, thanks to the pot of incense burning in the little gas-log fireplace in the corner. All the furnishings, from the meditation platform to the diminutive bed to the round table with its matching chairs, were made of carved wood and were crowded together to fit into the small space. The whole place had a sense of permanence about it unlike any of the other personal quarters in the Temple that Obi-Wan had visited, as though all the furniture had stood there in the same place for so many centuries that one simply couldn't imagine them anywhere else.
And yet, it didn't feel cramped at all. On the contrary, there was an open, free feeling here that had more to do with the tenor of the Force than the physical condition of the room. The entire Jedi Temple sat upon a Force nexus, it was true, but it felt as though much of that power was concentrated right here in Yoda's quarters, where the Jedi Grandmaster had spent so many centuries channeling the Force during his meditations. Here, the Force was all rushing movement and clean light.
Yoda invited Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in graciously when they knocked, and had them sit - or more like it, crouch - at the tiny table while he busied himself pouring them cups of hot yarba tea. He moved slowly, managing the kettle one-handed as he clutched his gimer cane for support with his other hand, but he refused their offers of help.
"My guests, you are, and helpless I am not," Yoda said good-naturedly. "Sit, sit, and I will serve you. Yes."
When the three of them were settled in with their cups of tea, they sat in silence for some time. It was late, and there were no windows in Yoda's quarters. The light was dim. Obi-Wan felt a sort of pleasant weariness in his bones as he sipped his tea, but his senses were wide awake. He glanced at Qui-Gon and saw that he, too, seemed much more relaxed than he was in the antechamber earlier. Yoda's presence was working its magic.
"A lack of compassion, no one can accuse you of," Yoda said to Qui-Gon at last. "Pleased I am to see it. At the heart of being a Jedi, compassion is."
"However?" Qui-Gon said, and irony twisted his lips.
Yoda sighed. "Already know my answer, you do. An equal dose of common sense, I wish you had."
"How am I being nonsensical?" Qui-Gon said. "It's pretty clear to me. Discover the right thing to do and then do it. What else matters?"
"Explain it, Obi-Wan will."
"I will? Oh." Startled, Obi-Wan put down his teacup and cleared his throat nervously, feeling like an initiate being asked to recite in front of a class. "Well, I'll try. In an ideal galaxy, maybe it would be that simple. But we don't live in an ideal galaxy. The Order exists because the Jedi are stronger cooperating as a group, rather than scattering ourselves around the galaxy and acting alone. We pool talents and resources and share information and wisdom. And because we are a group, it is necessary that we behave as one. We all agree on certain core philosophies so there won't be contention and chaos. That's why the Code was written. It holds us together." He glanced at Yoda for confirmation that he was on the right track.
"Yes," Yoda said. "Create exceptions to the Code, we cannot do lightly. Justified, they sometimes are. But cautious we must be, and slow to make change."
"So if we wish to end the practice of separating initiates from their families..." Qui-Gon said.
"Not only consensus in the Council, we need," Yoda said. "Agreement within much in the Order, we require. With time, and teaching, and persuasion, convince many you could. When ready, the Order is, change the Code the Council may."
"Be that as it may, Anakin doesn't have the luxury of time," Qui-Gon said. "He's at a critical point in his training now. What you're talking about could take decades to accomplish. A lifetime."
Yoda nodded solemnly.
Obi-Wan shook his head. Sorrow darkened his eyes. "Then we've asked the Council for something they can't grant. If you give an exception to Anakin, there would be an uproar. Many would see it as giving special treatment to him because he may be the Chosen One. They would be wrong, but the dispute would threaten the unity of the Order. And with the re-emergence of the Sith, we can't afford to be distracted by internal conflicts. The Order must stand together. We must be ready for what is to come."
"Then I can't win," Qui-Gon said. He hunched over, resting his elbows on the low table and digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. "Anakin needs this, and I can't give it to him." His tone had shifted from frustration to resignation.
Obi-Wan's heart ached to see Qui-Gon so thoroughly defeated, but he was also feeling a touch of relief, which confused him until he realized that all through this ordeal he had harbored a certain secret fear than Qui-Gon really would refuse to take no for an answer, that perhaps this conflict with the Council, coming last in a long line of them, would finally push his former Master over the edge and into the ranks of Gray Jedi: Those who chose to forsake the Code and the company of their peers in the Order in favor of acting independently, striving to answer to the will of the Force alone rather than to any mortal authority figure. Some in the Order already thought of Qui-Gon as a Gray Jedi, but Obi-Wan knew better. Qui-Gon's loyalty to the Order was genuine, although he had never let it stop him from telling the Council exactly what he thought of their decisions, good or bad.
Master Yoda put his clawed three-fingered hand gently on Qui-Gon's forearm. "Unfortunate, the situation is," he said. "To see Shmi Skywalker free would please us all. A benefit to Padawan Skywalker's training, it could be. On this, the Council is in agreement."
"And I can't give it to him," Qui-Gon repeated numbly.
"Give it to him, the Council cannot," Yoda said in agreement. Or was he agreeing? Was it Obi-Wan's imagination, or had the old Jedi Master put an ever-so-slight emphasis on the word council?
Qui-Gon dropped his hands down onto the table helplessly. "You tell me, then, Master. What am I supposed to do?"
"Easier it is to say what you cannot do," Yoda replied cryptically. "Buy a slave with Republic funds, you cannot."
Qui-Gon was silent, staring at his hands where they rested on the table, but suddenly Obi-Wan's brow furrowed in intense concentration.
"So what you're saying is... we can't buy her with Republic funds?" Obi-Wan said slowly.
Yoda looked at him and blinked his enormous eyes slowly. "Correct, you are," he said.
Obi-Wan hesitated. "Does that mean we could buy her with... with non-Republic funds?" Qui-Gon looked up from the table, his eyes suddenly alert.
"Know nothing about such things, I do," Yoda said with a grunt, getting to his feet with an effort and carrying the empty teapot to the sink. "Interested in knowing about such things, I am not."
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged an incredulous look.
Qui-Gon cleared his throat. "What else can't we do, Master Yoda?" he asked casually.
"And bring Shmi to the Temple, you cannot," Yoda said, emphasizing the words with a tap of his gimer cane on the floor.
Obi-Wan felt a thrill shoot down his spine, but managed to keep his voice steady. "We understand perfectly, Master."
"Glad to see it, I am," Yoda said in equally calm tones.
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon and was bemused to see his former master looking as though someone had just stopped him on the street and given him a handful of durindfire gems. "Master Yoda," Qui-Gon began, and then had to pause for a moment to collect himself. "Master, how can I ever thank you for-"
Yoda cut him off with a gesture. "Unnecessary, your thanks are. Done nothing, I have." He nodded decisively. "Now. Finished with this topic, we are, hmmm? Speak to me of it no more."
"We won't take any more of your time, then, Master," Obi-Wan said, pushing back his chair. Qui-Gon was already on his feet and half-turned toward the door in his eagerness to leave.
Yoda hobbled toward the door and opened it for them. "Tired, you both look," the old master said as they bowed in farewell to him. "Overworked you are, hmmm? Take some time off, you should."
"Thank you, Master," Qui-Gon said. "We would be grateful."
"Go, then," Yoda said. "Take a transport from our hangar, you should, if wish to travel you do."
"Thank you, Master. You're very kind," Obi-Wan said.
"May the Force be with you," Yoda said, chivvying them out the door.
Once they stood out in the corridor alone, Qui-Gon rounded on Obi-Wan and seized both his shoulders in his strong hands.
"Did you hear that?" he practically shouted, shaking Obi-Wan in his excitement. "I never would have believed it... I don't believe it... did he really mean what I thought he did?"
"Master, you're babbling," Obi-Wan said, trying to disengage himself from Qui-Gon without much success, partly because he was laughing too hard. "Master Yoda just left you an enormous loophole, if that's what you mean."
Qui-Gon finally let go of Obi-Wan and impatiently pushed back a strand of hair that had escaped its tie.
"I never could have done it without you, Obi-Wan," he said, growing a bit more serious. "You didn't have to help. It wasn't your fight. Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Obi-Wan said quickly. "It never would have occurred to me to even try such a thing, if you hadn't asked."
"Somebody has to let me thank them," Qui-Gon said with a grin.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "If you must."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, slapping Obi-Wan's shoulder good-naturedly. Obi-Wan smiled back, and they turned and began walking down the corridor.
"And now," Qui-Gon said, "all we have to do is figure out how to get the funds ourselves."
"And find a safe place for Shmi to live. And do it all quietly. We don't want to create bad feelings among the other initiates."
Qui-Gon was jubilant, a mood Obi-Wan rarely saw in him. "I'm sure we can come up with something."
"Are you going to tell Anakin right away?"
"No. I don't want to get his hopes up in case something goes wrong," Qui-Gon said. "We'll surprise him, once everything's arranged."
"So where are we going to get that much money?" Obi-Wan said. From what he'd heard, slaves didn't come cheap in the Outer Rim, and Jedi of course didn't draw personal wages, since the Code required them to shun materialism.
"I already have an idea about that," Qui-Gon said. He rubbed his beard absentmindedly as they walked. "I just hope she remembers her debt."
TO BE CONTINUED