Chapter 37
"I told you not to try the local drinks, Xan. You never know what is in them."
Xanatos put a hand against the wall to steady himself, the corridor spinning slightly. He closed his eyes, regaining his equilibrium before setting out again, thankful for once in the evening for the support of his cane.
"I think they call it a Titian sunrise because if you drink it you won't know what hit you until sunrise."
"How many did you have?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Two … I think." It seemed absurd that it was only two. Xanatos was more than accustomed to holding his alcohol well. The truth was he hadn't been paying attention while he brooded over what he needed to say to his apprentice. He wasn't looking forward to the coming talk.
"In that case, I am glad I stuck with the ale."
They arrived at their rooms and Obi-Wan carefully opened the door, not wanting to wake their padawans. Both Jedi masters were surprised to find the space empty.
"They could be out on the estate grounds," Xanatos suggested, but a quick scan for their presences in the Force didn't show them to be near.
"Ben might have left a note," Obi-Wan said, hurrying to the room he shared with his padawan.
Xanatos pulled his comlink. "Anakin?"
"Master!" There was a carefree levity to the slurred words that had Xanatos closing his eyes and groaning in disbelief. Then again, why should it surprise him that Anakin had found trouble in the middle of nowhere?
"Anakin, is Ben with you?" Xanatos asked.
"Uh huh."
"Good, let me speak with him."
He waited patiently, hearing whispers as the comlink changed hands.
"Hi, Xan."
The unexpected informality shocked him, and suddenly had him fearing the situation was worse than he previously anticipated. "Ben? Is that you?"
"Yep," came a sloppy reply. Xanatos cast a glance in Obi-Wan's direction, his lips curving into a slight smile as he watched him now search the common room of the quarters.
"Where are you both?"
"A tavern … mile away … no two …" Ben explained, struggling over the words.
"More like five …" Anakin chimed in from the background.
"Not that far … Ani … owww …. that's my shoulder …"
"Okay, just sit where you are," Xanatos said. "We will be there soon."
Xanatos returned his comlink to his belt, turning to face Obi-Wan's expectant gaze.
"Do you know where they are?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know how to say this." Xanatos walked toward Obi-Wan and then placed both hands on the younger man's shoulders. "They are at a tavern not far from here. Anakin is drunk … and so is Ben."
"Very funny, Xan," Obi-Wan snapped sarcastically. "They are missing and you are making jokes."
"I am serious," Xan said, pasting on the most severe expression he could muster. "I spoke with Ben, and I assure you, he is quite inebriated."
The look of horrified shock that spread across Obi-Wan's features had Xanatos struggling to keep from bursting into laughter. It was everything he had hoped for.
"He called me Xan," the older Jedi added for good measure.
"What should we do?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Go get them, drag them back here, and try not to give into the urge to kill them … that is usually my plan of attack with Anakin."
"I am glad you find this so amusing," Obi-Wan said as he started back out into the corridor.
Xanatos took a few steps to follow, placing a hand against the wall as the room began to swim again. Why did he have a sense that a little orange drink was at the root of their troubles?
"I think you had better drive," he called after Obi-Wan.
All eyes went to the two Jedi masters as they stepped through the door of the dingy tavern. No one said a word to them, quickly returning to their own affairs. It seemed understood that they were not there as customers. Obi-Wan quickly scanned the small establishment, catching sight of the two padawans at the same time Xanatos did. They strolled over to the bar just in time to catch an outburst of animated words.
"I'm going to go see her, Ben." Anakin jumped up off the stool, nearly tripping over the hem of his robe. "I am going to walk right up … and tell her …"
"I believe I told you to stay here," Xanatos said very deliberately, leaving no room for argument. The stern tone in his voice seemed to be lost on the young man he was addressing.
Anakin turned and looked at him. "Master!" he exclaimed with a grin as he threw his arms around the Jedi master's shoulders.
Xanatos looked less than amused, not even cracking a hint of a smile, as he freed himself from the crushing embrace. Obi-Wan moved to Ben's side, resting a hand on his padawan's arm. "Come along, Ben. We are going," he said firmly.
"Have to finish my drink, first." Ben turned back to the counter. As he raised his glass to finish off the remaining contents, Obi-Wan stepped forward and pushed the young man's arm down. "I think you have had enough. Let's go."
Ben brushed his master's arm away. "Not going." Obi-Wan was taken aback by the hint of challenge in the slurred voice, and spun the stool around until his apprentice was facing him. He leaned forward, making sure Ben looked him in the eyes.
"Padawan, I gave you an order," Obi-Wan said in a very stern voice – a voice he never recalled having to use before with Ben. All he gained in response was a light snicker. He pressed his hands over his face and took a deep breath to try to calm himself.
"Obi-Wan … watch and learn," Xanatos suggested, resting his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"Time to sleep Anakin …"
Obi-Wan could feel the stirrings in the Force, and understood that Xanatos was trying a suggestion on the padawan. At the same time, he sensed Anakin raise shields stronger than he would have thought possible for someone so intoxicated.
"Fine, have it your way, Anakin." Xanatos raised an eyebrow before abruptly lifting his cane and hitting Anakin over the head causing the youth to slump forward across the bar.
"Xan?! I don't believe you just did that."
"Yes, you do." Xanatos shrugged his shoulders. "Your turn."
Obi-Wan turned back to his padawan. "You have a choice, Ben." He motioned to Anakin. "You can follow my lead … or follow Anakin's."
Ben gave a glance toward Anakin, something that barely passed for common sense seeming to awaken inside him. He stood and swayed on his feet, falling forward to the ground on his face with a loud grunt. Obi-Wan let out a sigh. It was hard to believe that this less than graceful display came from his padawan, the same young man known around the Temple for his agility and aerobatics.
"I'll help Ben," Xanatos said. "You will have to get the Chosen One."
Xanatos settled the bill before lifting Ben up off the ground and helping him out to the speeder. Obi-Wan surveyed his task. At nearly eighteen years of age, Anakin was already taller than him, and the task of carrying him was easier said than done. He loaded Anakin over his shoulder, shifting him to a comfortable position before following behind Xanatos and Ben.
They returned to their accommodations, thankful for the late hour. Nearly all of the senators had settled for the evening and they were able to avoid any questions. Obi-Wan followed Xanatos into the room he shared with Anakin, waiting for him to turn back the covers before depositing the unconscious padawan on the sleepcouch. He then returned to the common room to retrieve his own errant apprentice from the sofa.
"Time to sleep this off, Ben."
He helped the young man stand and stumble into the room they shared, depositing him onto the sleepcouch. Ben flopped back on the pillow, clouded and confused eyes fighting to stay open. Obi-Wan removed the padawan's boots and stripped him to just his leggings before pulling blankets over him.
He watched as a deep sleep finally claimed his apprentice, then after indulging in a long hot shower and changing into sleep clothes, went to the common room. He wasn't surprised to see Xanatos sitting there holding a cup of tea. His eyes were closed, almost as though meditating, and Obi-Wan only wished he felt as much at peace right now. A second cup of tea sat on the table in front of the sofa, wisps of steam rising into the air. Obi-Wan sank down into the plush sofa, picked up the cup, and took a sip as they both sat in silence.
"What are you thinking about?" he finally asked.
"I was remembering a night a long time ago when Padawans Kenobi, Muln, and Vos showed up on my doorstep at about 0200, or was it 0300 hours. I don't remember, but suffice to say, it was the middle of the night. I believe it was Garen's eighteenth life day, and I am not really sure how you three made it back to the Temple. Quinlan was the only one of you who had any presence of mind whatsoever. He thought it would be better to come to me rather than returning to your masters."
Obi-Wan glanced down at the ground, slightly uncomfortable about where the conversation was heading. "I will confess … I do not remember much about that night," he said.
"I'm not surprised." Xanatos let out a laugh. "But you probably remember being scared to face Qui-Gon the next morning, especially after I explained how worried he had been before I contacted him."
"I knew he was going to be disappointed in me," Obi-Wan answered. "And he was."
"As you are in Ben."
"I am uncertain where you are going with this," Obi-Wan said.
"Ben has always been his own toughest critic."
Obi-Wan nodded his head. "I know, and he's going to hate himself in the morning." He suddenly looked up sharply. "You're not suggesting I just let this go, are you?"
"No, not at all." Xanatos took a sip of his tea. "I am sure you will think of an appropriate set of consequences back at Temple. And I think there will be some suitable task on a moisture farm that will give Anakin plenty of time to think."
"We should get some sleep. The senators are leaving tomorrow, and we have an early morning."
"Good morning, Padawan."
Ben stirred, letting out groan as his eyelids cracked open. Obi-Wan had drawn the shades so the room wasn't too bright. Nevertheless, Ben still squinted his eyes. When he finally seemed to adjust to the light, he looked around the room in confused panic, obviously struggling to place where he was. His eyes came to rest on the Jedi master seated at the foot of the sleepcouch.
"How ..?" he asked, sitting up abruptly in alarm.
"We picked you up at the tavern and brought you back last night," Obi-Wan explained. "You might not remember that as you had quite a bit too much to drink."
Ben brought his hand to his forehead, pressing his fingers against his temples. "I am afraid to ask if I did anything …" he trailed off, unable to complete the thought.
"Other than some blatantly disrespectful behavior, no harm came from your actions." Ben took in a deep breath, clasping his hands in his lap. Obi-Wan could see that his apprentice was nearly trembling, and it took effort for him to continue the necessary reprimand. "Should I remind you that we are, in fact, on a mission and have been charged with protecting the lives of the senators in our care? I know this has seemed as though it were a vacation, but no task assigned by the Council should be taken lightly."
Ben bowed his head slightly, perhaps in an attempt to hide the flush setting into his cheeks, but more likely because he was finding it hard to meet his mentor's stern gaze. "I have no explanation for my actions, Master. I am sorry." He bit down on his lip, nibbling nervously at it for a moment. "I will understand if you and the Council feel I am not responsible enough for my upcoming mission."
It surprised Obi-Wan that Ben naturally assumed he would inform the Council. "I believe this can be settled between you and I as padawan and master without the Council's involvement."
Ben let out the breath he had been holding. "Thank you, Master," he said, still avoiding direct eye contact.
"Padawan, look at me," Obi-Wan said, allowing a little more gentleness into his voice.
The youth's eyes were laden with emotion – shame and disappointment in his own actions heavily weighing on him. Obi-Wan had to admit that he looked like he had been trampled by a bantha, and he was just starting the day. He reached out and squeezed the young man's shoulder, knowing he needed to reassure Ben that he had not done something unforgivable. "I am glad you see that your actions could have been serious. We shall talk more about this later and what discipline your behavior has earned you." Obi-Wan held out his hand, offering Ben a glass of water and two small tablets.
"What's this?"
"Trust me, Ben. If your head isn't hurting now, it will be soon, and we have a full morning. After morning katas and meditation, we need to perform a safety inspection of the hangar as all of the guests are leaving today." Obi-Wan suppressed a small smile at the groan that slipped from his padawan's lips. "It is time to get up."
"Yes, Master," Ben said, never questioning.
Obi-Wan returned to the common room to wait for his padawan and allow him some privacy. It did not take Ben long to join him. They sat in an uncomfortable silence waiting for Xanatos and Anakin, when suddenly they heard a scream. Obi-Wan moved to the door, listening for signs of trouble.
"That's ice cold, Master."
"If you had woken up when I first called you, I wouldn't have had to do that."
In a few moments, the door opened and Xanatos emerged followed by his apprentice. Anakin's hair was wet, and a scowl was etched across his face.
"Good-bye, Padme," Anakin whispered wistfully, watching as Senator Amidala gracefully ascended the landing ramp onto a sleek vessel that reminded him of the one he had left Tatooine on years before.
"You need to get your head out of the clouds," Ben said to his lovestruck companion. "It's going to get you into trouble."
"More trouble than I'm already in?" Anakin asked, delighted that he managed to even draw a slight smile from his very serious friend. Ben had been nearly robotic in his actions, never deviating from the task at hand for the whole day. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess," Anakin said.
"It's not your fault," Ben assured him.
"If I hadn't insisted on going in the first place, and had listened to you…"
"Yes, we would have stayed out of trouble if we had both followed my advice, but you didn't put a saber to my throat and force me to go."
The ship lifted off, fading to just a silver streak in the sky above. Both padawans heard their masters call. It was time to leave.
"Whatever." Anakin rolled his eyes. It was an argument he would never win. "Be careful on your mission - try to come back in one piece."
"And you enjoy your time on Tatooine."
Anakin grimaced. "That might be easier said than done. I think my master and my mother are conspiring against me."
"Well then, may the Force be with you."
"Thanks, Ben, I'll need it." Anakin flashed a crooked smile. "May the Force be with you also."
As Ben headed off to meet Obi-Wan at their ship, his thoughts were still on Anakin. It was odd that he didn't blame his friend at all for being in trouble. He truly had acted on his own. Maybe he had just needed to see one time that being imperfect was not the end of the world, it was certainly a philosophy Anakin seemed to live by. Unfortunately, Anakin did not seem to be overwhelmed by the same apprehension and regret he now felt.
The reprimand had been expected and was certainly deserved, as were the restrictions he would face at the Temple. But foremost on his mind was a hope that he had not damaged his relationship with his master. He passed Obi-Wan as he boarded the transport, still not quite able to look his mentor in the eyes. It was going to be a long ride home.
