Incognito 12 - Different relationship in canon. I think Obi-Wan would have been willing if Qui-Gon had lived and trained Anakin.
batmanuchiha - Thank you.
Chapter 40
Something was wrong.
Though he sensed no threatening presence nearby, the Force was choked with a sense of danger. Ben made eye contact with Padawan Ze, guarding the governor of Shemal, and saw his own concern reflected back in his counterpart's eyes. Master Kyas, the Jedi master in charge of the negotiations, also seemed distracted, pausing every few seconds to make a passing glance of their surroundings. Taking a deep breath before stepping forward, Ben stooped down next to his charge's chair and waited for the Jenubian leader to ask for a pause to the session and acknowledge him.
"Governor, I need to remove you from this building," Ben said. His words were even, expressing no panic, but still infused with an appropriate level of concern.
"Is something wrong, Padawan Itires?"
"I sense that you are no longer safe here."
"These negotiations are fragile, Young One. I am reluctant to leave and upset the situation on merely a hunch."
"I understand, Your Honor." Ben bowed his head respectfully. "I can ask for a recess … say it is for a routine security check if you think that will be less threatening. But, we need to go right away."
"Very well," the governor said.
The statesman was clearly annoyed at the inconvenience to his schedule, but Ben counted himself fortunate that the older man did not resist. Ben stood again, addressing the Jedi mediator.
"Master Kyas, I would like to ask for a recess to conduct a security check."
"As would I," Padawan Ze chimed in, stepping forward.
"I agree," the Jedi master acknowledged. "Something is not right. Return your delegates to the safety of their own security officials, and then meet me back here and we will make another sweep of the building."
The center spire of the Jedi Temple stood towering above its four sisters, one of the tallest structures in the Coruscant skyline. While most were familiar with the spire that housed the High Council Chambers, few who were not Jedi had set foot in this most sacred place.
As the sun had set over the city-planet, they had gathered in the Hall of Remembrance at the top of the center spire, coming from all parts of the Temple to pay their respects to a fallen brother. Having once glowed brightly, the funeral pyre set in the center of the Hall of Remembrance now empty, its burden gone. Those who had come to pay their respects had filed out solemnly one by one, and now only a single presence remained.
The soft edges of his hood were pulled over the Jedi's bowed head, concealing his face from view. Hands were carefully tucked into the sleeves of his robe as he stared unseeingly at the pyre. Another entered, approaching until he stood shoulder to shoulder with the contrite figure.
"It is still so odd, Master." Ben raised his head, the hood pulling back to reveal his face as he met the concerned gaze of his mentor. "I took evening meal with him only days ago. He spoke highly of you, saying he remembered you from his time as an initiate."
"Sur'et Kyas was a good man, and he will be remembered."
Ben hurried the governor along through the maze of corridors, part of the escape route he had carefully committed to memory. He would have breathed in a sigh of relief as they stepped into bright sunlight, but the Force now howled in an urgent warning. As they passed the perimeter fence, he fell forward without thinking, shielding his charge with his own body as the building erupted in a fiery blast. Its fury passed over his back, heated winds coating him in dust and debris.
Both padawans and the governors in their care had walked away from the explosion relatively unscathed. Master Kyas, however, had still been inside. Ben and his fellow apprentice had worked tirelessly, combing through the remnants of the ruined building. It wasn't a rescue. There was no living presence to guide them, but both knew they should bring his body back to the Temple for proper funeral rites.
"I wish I could tell you this was the last time you would lose someone," Obi-Wan offered.
The Jedi master was in conflict over the event. While saddened at the loss of a fellow Jedi, he was overjoyed that his apprentice had safely returned to him.
"I know." Ben shrugged his hood completely off his head. "I just wish his sacrifice had not been in vain."
While Master Kyas had performed brilliantly as a mediator, accusations over who was responsible for the bombing had begun on both sides. Shemal and Jenub were as close to war as they had been in the five years since the initial treaty was signed.
"If the galaxy was ideal, we would not need to be guardians of peace," Obi-Wan said. "Another master will be sent to negotiate."
"I wonder who," Ben mused. "I have firsthand knowledge of the situation … I could help."
"Sometimes it is best to start with a new mediator." A small smile curved the lips of the Jedi master. It was always hard for a Jedi to see a peace they had worked so hard for dissolve. "I believe a member of the Jedi Council will be going."
"That's good."
"I have something for you." Obi-Wan raised his hand, opening his fist to reveal a small bead resting on his palm.
"What's this for?"
"To recognize the successful completion of your solo mission," Obi-Wan said, as he set about adding the bead to the end of Ben's padawan braid. After he had secured it, he held the assortment of beads in his hand, mentally tracing each step along their path as master and apprentice.
"I don't have many of these left, do I, Master?"
"No, you don't."
Obi-Wan smiled weakly. The words only served to intensify the strange ache that weighed heavily in his chest, the one that reminded him Ben was nearing knighthood.
"What will you do without me?"
"I will have you know that I completed numerous successful missions … alone … before I took you as my apprentice," Obi-Wan said, using a teasing tone to cover deep emotion. "But it won't be the same."
Soon there would be more solo missions for both padawan and master. The apprentice was not the only one that had to adjust to working alone. It reminded Obi-Wan that he needed to make the most of the time they had left to work together.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The center spire was home to another of the Jedi's sacred chambers - The Hall of Knighthood. For thousands of years, Masters had cut the braids of their padawans in this very room as they made their ceremonial transition to Jedi knight. Anakin found himself here after leaving the funeral early, deep in contemplation as he wandered through halls filled with statues and holos depicting the noble history of the Jedi Order.
Thoughts assaulted him in a flurry as he stood in the middle of the ceremonial room and closed his eyes, imagining what it would be like to kneel in this very spot, surrounded by the Council, and have Xanatos cut the braid from his head. He reached up to the side of his head, pulling on the braid and the beads that gently brushed his shoulder. It was short in contrast to the almost prideful length some padawans kept theirs at, a great source of teasing between him and Ben. But, Anakin preferred to keep his out of his way.
"Neither Obi-Wan nor I ever saw the inside of this Hall for our knighting."
Anakin turned at the familiar voice, smiling as his mentor strolled across the room, making little use of the cane in his hand. Pale features furrowed in concern as Xanatos searched his apprentice's face.
"You've been meditating a lot lately … I am not sure whether to take you to the healers or to give you a commendation." Xanatos raised an ebony eyebrow. "Learned anything you want to share?"
Anakin offered a lopsided grin. Xanatos had been gracious enough to step back and give his apprentice time, assuring the young man he was there to talk. It looked like impatience and curiosity had won out, and Anakin was glad that he had an answer for his mentor. "I want to be a Jedi."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes … I don't think I am over Padme yet," Anakin admitted.
"I wouldn't expect you to be," Xanatos assured him. "I'm afraid that will take time."
"I do know I want to be … am meant to be a Jedi," Anakin said with a confidence he felt deeply.
"Then it looks like I still have a job to complete." Xanatos cocked his head to the side. "What do you think would be best for you now? More time alone at the Temple? A mission?"
"A mission?" Anakin asked in surprise, barely able to contain his excitement. "Have we been offered one? I mean … what about your leg … therapy?"
"I didn't say it would be a lengthy mission … or exciting."
"Another babysitting job?"
Xanatos laughed as his apprentice's shoulders slumped forward in defeat.
"No, we were only cleared for that at the Chancellor's request, and because Obi-Wan and Ben were there. This time we would be couriers."
"Even worse," Anakin groaned. "I sure hope your leg heals soon, Master."
"The leg is fine … the healers are the problem." Xanatos leaned closer. "I am trying to charm Master Nuran into earlier release," he whispered conspiratorially. It was unnecessary as they were the only ones nearby, but it achieved the desired effect of making Anakin laugh.
"Good luck," Anakin scoffed. "You might do better taking a page from Obi-Wan's book and just make yourself annoying enough that she wants to get rid of you."
"Don't worry, Anakin." Xanatos clapped a hand to his apprentice's shoulder. Unfortunately, whether his own nature of something learned from his mentor, Anakin seemed to share Xanatos' same intolerance for inactivity. "We'll be out in the thick of it again before you know it."