~Mace's POV~
"This… Is a problem," Mace murmured, perfectly aware that Anakin probably knew this and was more than likely aggravated that Mace would point it out.
Qui-gon had always found it irritating when he had said that, whenever Obi-wan managed to get himself kidnapped.
He had no clue why, Windu had observed that many Jedi tended to point out the obvious. The captured Jedi in question had done this as well.
And Anakin did not look as though he were taking this information graciously. Even in hologram mode, Mace could see the bags under his eyes.
Well, he hasn't slept in awhile, was his immediate, evident thought and then the worry that thought provoked also was a problem. They could not afford for Anakin to be unfocused. He still had a planet to save.
His hair was also slightly unkempt, his shoulders slumped exhaustedly and he just looked… Lost.
His handsome face was dark with anger, the scar running from his brow to just under his left eye was crinkled with stress, and though he had stood alone as a General before, the space next to him seemed so… Empty. As if he were lonely, and Mace had to admit, he felt rather lonely himself.
Because without Obi-wan, he was not sure if the Jedi would have stayed intact as they had. He would probably never admit it to the man, but the council looked to Obi-wan as a second Yoda.
Whenever they were at a loss, it was Obi-wan who inspired them with an innovative idea.
If Yoda were to fall, Obi-wan, despite being the youngest of them all, might inherit his claim as leader of the Jedi; it would certainly be unanimity within the votes of the council and Order.
But Windu said none of this, instead he crossed his arms. Force, he had told the others that this was a bad idea.
The other council members were not beside him, as customary. But he was alone as he stood before Skywalker. The other council members were at war.
"Have you any clue where they might have gone?" Mace asked. Anakin shook his head. He had not said a word more than he needed too.
Windu sighed and shook his head. "This is troublesome. I wouldn't be so worried if it weren't Bruck," he sighed. Anakin's eyes shifted. "Who is he?" he asked, sounding frustrated.
Mace stared at him, surprised. "Obi-wan has never told you about Bruck?" he could not believe it. The man had been beaten by Bruck on a daily basis for eight years after all.
And as close as those two were, it was a surprise Obi-wan had not told Anakin everything. Mace could see the frustration in the boy's eyes as he shook his head, almost miserably.
Well, Mace thought. That's surprising.
"If Obi-wan did not tell you then I can hardly explain it," he admitted. Anakin opened his mouth, not too depressed to press. Mace interrupted him at once.
"Have the Empire droids been pushed back?" He demanded. Anakin closed his mouth, and went back to being somber.
"Yes, master," he mumbled. "My men tell me that all the droids shut down when Bruck dragged Obi-wan aboard his ship," he told him.
Windu nodded. "Good," he said. "Then move on to the next planet," he instructed. Anakin gave a start. "What?" He gasped.
"But master, Obi-wan might still be here! There are no enemy ships in the area, so Bruck would have no means of escape," he said quickly.
Mace sighed and rubbed the skin between his brows. He hated making these sorts of decisions. And especially when it concerned a Jedi he knew as a friend.
Perhaps that was attachment, he did not know. All he knew was that the Jedi needed Obi-wan. But the people of Coptic needed Anakin, and every second he wasted, was every second that someone else was dying.
Technically, There was only one choice he could make, It was the one Obi-wan would want him to make.
"You realize we cannot lose Coptic?" He asked Anakin, who nodded. "I know, but…" Mace cut him off. "You know that every day you wait, more deaths are being brought to bear, with your name on their dying breaths?" He continued mercilessly.
The boy needed to understand what he was doing.
Anakin met Mace squarely in the eye, but the Jedi master had the distinct feeling that he wanted to look down. "Yes, master," he mumbled. "Then you realize the stakes for which you fight?" He had too. Nothing, not even the ones who they cared about, mattered more than that.
Skywalker had a wife and two children. He had been excused for three reasons, one of which was that Obi-wan had once more reminded them that he was the Chosen One and the second reason was that they needed all the Jedi they could get in the midst of war.
The third was that his children were some of the strongest force-sensitive children the Jedi had ever seen, just as their father had been.
They would make wonderful assets to the Jedi, just in case this war lasted longer than it already had. And it had lasted too long already.
That did not mean the rules had changed. Attachment was still forbidden, for good reason.
Anakin gulped. "I understand," his voice wobbled in such a tiny manner that had Mace not had the keen ears he had, he would not have noticed.
"Good," Mace folded his hands behind his back and allowed himself a painful grimace. Yoda was going to kill him for this.
"Then you will find Obi-wan quickly. You only have one chance," they all did at one time in their lives. Anakin stared at him, mouth agape. Mace had to frown deeper, maybe he shouldn't…
"Your letting me stay?" Anakin choked, face brightening, the twinkle in his eye was so childishly hopeful and delighted that Mace's heart melted.
He truly did care for Kenobi. And perhaps, just perhaps, Mace could understand why Kenobi cared for this man too.
Despite the war they were in, Anakin still had the human ability to look forward to the future. To hope for the future.
"Yes," he answered coolly. "But you only have fourteen standard rotations to find him, understood?" he inquired sharply. He would give the boy two weeks. Anakin nodded quickly.
"Yes!" he gasped out excitedly. "Yes, master, I understand," he nearly sang happily. Mace resisted the temptation to smile. He had to remain stern.
"Good, may the force be with you," Anakin was going to need it; Mace was sure. "And Skywalker?" He added, as an afterthought. "Yes?" Anakin now looked energized, ready to go out and find his master. Confident that he would.
"Bring him back," Mace replied, in a voice that allowed no argument. Then in a softer voice, mild and doleful he repeated; "bring him back," before this war kills us all without him.