AN: Buckle the kriff up, this chapter get's swinging. Thank you, Sectumus Prince! They just updated Crashing into Darkness!

KEYnote: Yoda is not evil and can be swayed in the right direction. Part of the problem I see with him is everyone folds to him and most people won't argue with you for agreeing with him. Yoda meddles, but others allow themselves to be maneuvered. I implied last chapter that Yoda making Mace the Speaker was to subdue his voice. This chapter proves that the Speaker has more authority in the Council than Yoda himself.

Chapter 4 - Pressure Cooker

Obi-Wan sat down beside Bant for their mission operation class. However, he ended up tuning out a lot of the basic information.

He may have been losing his memories, but he had been both a Council Member and a High General of the GAR. He doubted the paperwork was ever going to be something he forgot.

Such was the case that when Ki-Adi Mundi, who rarely taught, called on Obi-Wan, he had been spacing out for some time.

Siri and Bruck snickered.

"Could you repeat the question, please, Master?" Obi-Wan asked. It was an effort to be polite.

Ki-Adi Mundi was one of Obi-Wan's least favourite members. Despite the fact that the Cerean had a veritable harem of wives and fifteen children, he had been the harshest on both Obi-Wan and Anakin for their apparent 'attachment' to each other, their conduct on missions, Obi-Wan's sass, Anakin's attitude, and, generally, nothing they could ever do was good enough for him.

He was Plo Koon's extreme opposite on the Council.

Ki-Adi was also the most vocal about kicking Anakin out of the Order, and disallowing Obi-Wan to take the title of Master, let alone a Council seat.

The war pushed the Council over, as Qui-Gon's Padawan, as Dooku's grandpadawan, and even as Anakin's Master, Obi-Wan was among the most experienced for being on the frontlines.

Qui-Gon was never sent on missions that were likely to remain diplomatic.

Ki-Adi's smile was thin, clearly displeased with being ignored.

"Say you're stranded on Tatooine."

Obi-Wan snorted and caught it poorly with a cough.

Ki-Adi stopped with a glare as his classmates gaped him.

"Do you find that funny, Initiate Kenobi?"

"No, Sir," Obi-Wan said mildly.

"You crash on Tatooine, you need your ship to be repaired and you have no safe communication off the planet, what do you do?"

Enter a slave boy into a race, bet everything you have on him, and hope he's the Chosen One?

"Lie, cheat, and barter?" Obi-Wan offered.

Ki-Adi's glower was nothing short of hostile. "Who told you that?"

Was Obi-Wan willing to throw Qui-Gon under speeder on this one…

Considering how much Qui-Gon intelligently pissed Ki-Adi off on a regular basis, which was probably the root of why Ki-Adi disliked Obi-Wan so much, he went for it, figuring it was a fifty-fifty shot Qui-Gon would be honoured, or at least amused.

"Master Qui-Gon Jinn advised it," Obi-Wan said with an innocent smile.

It wasn't even a lie. It just hadn't happened in this timeline yet.

Obi-Wan was immediately rewarded with a flush seeping up the Master's cheeks.

"He's wrong," Ki-Adi said definitively.

"He's not," Obi-Wan said with the same surety.

Bant tugged on his arm and whispered, "Obi-Wan, what are you doing?"

"Are you challenging me, Initiate?"

Obi-Wan shook his head,."No, you're challenging Master Qui-Gon Jinn."

Yeah, pitting two Masters against each other while one wasn't present wasn't a great idea. But Obi-Wan was privy to inner Council politics. Sifo-Dyas, Dooku (though not on the Council), Qui-Gon (also not on the Council), Plo Koon, and Depa were on one side. Ki-Adi, Yoda, Koth, and Tiin were on the other. Mace kind of floated. As he spoke for the entirety of the Council, he often spoke with Yoda's intentions. Yet, as one of Mace's closer friends, Obi-Wan knew that he was more… progressive than he appeared to be.

"You think to speak for a Master Jedi?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Tatooine is a part of the Hutt Empire and is one hyperlane link to Nar Shaddaa. Force-sensitives make a very large profit in an open market. If you are stuck on Tatooine, you shouldn't reveal that you are associated with the Jedi. It isn't as if anyone is particularly sympathetic to the Republic there, either. You need to do whatever you have to to get off that planet as soon as possible. You can't count on a rescue, and the only types of missions you would ever be assigned there would be undercover. So, Master Jinn is correct, you do whatever you have to to get out alive."

Ki-Adi looked like he would argue, and Obi-Wan offered in his most innocent tone, "We could comm him."

"Excuse me?" Ki-Adi asked.

"Master Jinn," Obi-Wan said. "He's still stationed at the Temple."

Ki-Adi looked momentarily lost, then he smiled benignly. "If you feel that you want to interrupt a Master on his time off—"

Obi-Wan pulled out his comm, knowing better than anyone just how much Qui-Gon loved to pull on the Council's tail. He had memorized his frequency, and Qui-Gon picked up on the first signal.

-Jinn.

"Hello Master Qui-Gon, this is Obi-Wan. I'm in Master Ki-Adi Mundi's mission operation class and we wanted your input on the scenario of being stranded in Hutt territory."

There was a long pause, the Qui-Gon responded, voice pleasant, -I would be honoured.

It had been over a decade since Qui-Gon had died, and Obi-Wan's memories were fading, but it seemed he still knew the old Maverick well enough.

Ki-Adi looked like he was fighting to keep his composure. "Initiate Kenobi, we will talk about your behaviour today."

Obi-Wan blinked at him innocently. "I thought you wanted an honest answer to your question, Master Mundi? I will remember in the future you would prefer me to repeat the standard text."

Ki-Adi's jaw visibly ticked.

Obi-Wan had to look down to hide his smirk, if Ki-Adi was upset now, he might be screaming by the time Qui-Gon was done with him.

Qui-Gon entered the tense and awkward classroom less than ten minutes later. He was the picture of cordial and polite.

Obi-Wan sat back and held onto his composure by his fingertips as Ki-Adi was driven round and round in circles.

Revenge was not the way of the Jedi, but this did feel like a certain measure of karma.

Ki-Adi didn't scream, but he had quite forgotten about the class as he debated with Qui-Gon, and it was Qui-Gon who dismissed them, having never lost sight of their audience.

Obi-Wan flashed both Masters a smile and didn't remain after class as Ki-Adi had instructed.

As an eleven-year-old, it was probably the most rebellious thing he had done in his life. He all but sprinted to Quin's room to update his friend all about it.

Quin was in stitches by the time Obi-Wan was done detailing how Qui-Gon had schooled Ki-Adi in Huttese and common gambling techniques that were less than proper for Initiate curriculum.

By the end of dinner, even Master Tholme was smiling behind his teacup.

Mace had a headache.

More of a migraine, to be clear.

He respected Ki-Adi Mundi, didn't agree with him on much, but he respected him. But the minute the Council meeting was up for the evening, he was out the door, Sifo-Dyas following in his wake in amicable cloud, Depa following after, probably to reassure herself that her old Master wasn't going to murder than man responsible for the latest disaster.

Mace didn't even knock as he entered Qui-Gon Karking Jinn's suit.

Dooku was there. He took one look at Mace's expression and threw his head back in a deep laugh.

Even Feemor, the good one, was holding a hand over his mouth.

"What in the seven Sith hells did you say to Ki-Adi?" Mace demanded.

Qui-Gon shrugged. "I was invited to speak before his initiate class."

Dooku chuckled, Sifo-Dyas choked back a laugh, and even Depa smothered a smile.

Mace glared at all of them before settling back on Qui-Gon. "Why would he ever invite you anywhere? Ki-Adi can't stand you."

Qui-Gon motioned for them to sit and Feemor went about preparing tea.

Qui-Gon said, "Obi-Wan Kenobi invited me."

Mace felt his left eye twitch.

Depa broke, and soon the whole table was laughing again, the Force alight with so many powerful Jedi being so openly merry.

"What was even the topic?" Mace asked, still grumpy.

"What to do if you're stranded in territory ruled by the Hutts," Qui-Gon said mildly.

Feemor shook his head. "Obi-Wan had to have known what would have happened if that was the topic."

"No. No, he couldn't have possibly known," Mace said. "Not unless you told him about that fraud. It's been kept within the Council's circles."

Qui-Gon shrugged. "I can't recall when I mentioned to Obi-Wan that the best way to deal with criminals is to play along until you can get away, but I've sat with him for a few meals now. It was just luck that it was with Ki-Adi that the subject came up."

"Luck," Mace almost spat.

"I was surprised to get his call," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan is certainly one of the bravest Initiates I've ever encountered."

That, at least, was certainly true.

"I would like to meet this young one," Dooku remarked.

Get in line, Mace almost snapped, but refrained, just barely. Ki-Adi had pushed him and the other Council members into an unfocused, energy-intensive debate over proper protocols.

Depa laid a hand over one of his. "Master, whatever happened today, whatever Qui-Gon did, Ki-Adi's behaviour was shameful."

Sifo-Dyas nodded. "Yes, it was. Control over oneself is marked by being able to deal with outside irritants. Ki-Adi demonstrated his control comes from a philosophy of dominating others."

"He should retire," Dooku said definitively. "Ki-Adi Mundi claims to represent the older generations currently at the Order, but I and Sifo-Dyas are his seniors. He preaches of an ideal that he himself has never amounted to."

Mace finally snapped, "What do you want me to do, Dooku!? Yoda wanted you and Qui-Gon to join the Council. You both turned down the position. Tholme is training Quinlan Vos to be a Knight Shadow; he doesn't have time to fill the position."

Which was both a step above and below a regular Shadow. It meant he would be assigned to Senate-approved missions, only undercover, hidden from even other Knights. Regular Shadows were Knights who served the Corps outside of the Republic.

Dooku smiled, a gleam in his eye. "Retire Ki-Adi, Yaddle, Piell, and Poof. Reinstate Jocasta Nu, nominate Knight Kit Fisto, and when Eeth retires, nominate Shaak Ti. Then I, as well as Qui-Gon, will accept your promotion."

Mace gaped at him. "Kit is younger than Depa!"

Depa shrugged. "Kit is like Plo and a Master of Form I. A younger voice would be welcome."

"You agree to this?" Mace asked Qui-Gon, even though he had not a clue how he would pass the motion. Ki-Adi would not leave willingly.

Qui-Gon paused, and Mace felt him settle in the Force, then he said, "When Yoda retires, Shaak Ti, and then Feemor, are to be considered, then I will agree, if," he met Mace's gaze directly, "you can pull this all of."

"Master…" Feemor murmured.

Qui-Gon smiled at him. "You are young, but you have seen more of the galaxy than most, more outside the Republic than most. This is needed."

Mace put his head in his hands, and Depa rubbed a hand in circles around his back while Dooku squeezed his shoulder, despite the fact that they had been the ones to shove this mountain of a challenge on him.

But would it be worth it? To have a council that could move the Order forward, to have a Council that could back against the Senate?

Yes.

Mace felt the Force reach out to him in answer, and he let out a long sigh as the Force eased the pounding in his skull. He was left with a profound hope for the future of not just the Order, but the Republic.

Obi-Wan was bone-tired in the best of ways.

"Soresu?" Quin teased him. "You're so boring, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, too tired to even come up with a comeback. He and Quin had been practicing their katas for nearly four hours. They had showered in the dojo changing rooms; their dirty clothes would be brought up by droids by the morning.

Quin bumped his hip into his side, asking, "You okay?"

Obi-Wan suppressed a grimace, knowing he wasn't talking about the sparring marathon. Quin knew him and knew something fundamental had changed inside of him.

Even the mournful green lightsaber that was now semi-bonded with him had tried to take on some of his burdens, as if to say, I am the old one, young one. Let go.

Let go.

It was something he had been told before, but never so often as these last few months.

But why was the Force so approving of him letting his memories fade when it had brought him back? Had he already changed what the Force wanted changed, or did he need to let go to be able to follow what was to come?

The latter seemed likely, even if it made Obi-Wan feel unsettled, because if he forgot everything, he wouldn't be the same child he had. He knew too much about the galaxy now. He believed in too much horror that his sheltered original younger self wouldn't have been able to accept. Wisdom came from believing in the worst and fighting for the best.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure if the Masters had caught on to something being wrong with him or not, but he was pretty sure they had. Yet something was up with the Council that made them not focus on him.

"Master Ki-Adi Mundi missed this week's class," Obi-Wan said to divert the topic. The question of if he was okay didn't have a good answer.

He was a thirty-year-old man in an eleven-year-old's body, turning into an eleven-year-old with a Master Jedi's connection, yet not control, over his Force gifts.

He was, in layman's terms, too powerful for his development and too much knowledge about the grievances of the galaxy for his current level of emotional intelligence and fluctuating hormones. He was going to be in deep banthashit once puberty fully hit.

At the rate his future-self was fading, he expected to be a regular teenager with an over-developed sensitivity to the Force.

Obi-Wan didn't feel okay about that, not at all.

"Master Tholme says he's been close to raging," Quin said as they continued to walk back to Quin's room.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Power corrupts, even the Jedi aren't immune to that."

More often than not, when it came to the High Council, it wasn't even that they were corrupt in the way the Senators were corrupt, they weren't greedy or selfish, but many did grow too comfortable.

Complacent.

Obi-Wan had not been comfortable on the Council, which was either why he had been given charge of the largest portion of the GAR, or the result of his authority.

Quin was about to speak, but Obi-Wan grabbed him, pulling him into the wall. Soon-to-be-Shadow that he was, Quin pressed Obi-Wan to the wall, and together they silenced their own energies in the Force.

They were good, so good that when four Council members—Masters Ki-Adi Mundi, Even Piell, Eeth Koth, and Saesee Tiin—rounded the corner, they went unnoticed.

Of course, maybe it was their own noise they couldn't hear over. These four Council members were near deafening in the Force with their anger and outrage.

"Stop," Master Even Piell said, his long ears dropping. "Ki-Adi, stop. Mace will use your anger as a reason to take away your position."

Ki-Adi huffed, "I cannot believe Yaddle, Poli Dapatian, and Yareal Poof willingly retired. Who even is replacing them?"

"Jocasta returned to her position. We four were the ones to suggest her retirement last year. But Mace, Depa, Plo, Sifo-Dyas, and Yoda sided in allowing her to refill her vacancy," Even continued.

"Without our concession!" Ki-Adi said.

"With three vacant seats, they are the majority," Saesee Tiin rumbled.

"Which means they aren't consulting us on who they are bringing in! We were cast out of the meeting today!" Ki-Adi nearly shouted.

"Because you picked a fight with Mace!" Eeth Koth exclaimed. "After your tantrum last week, he wasn't putting up with it. Because we three agreed with you, he had the right to do so. Mace is the Speaker of the Council, if the Council is unable to come to a settlement, the Speaker can expedite certain issues. Like three vacant seats, for instance."

"With those five, now six, our input was only a token," Even said darkly. "We no longer have the numbers to sway the votes, to sway Master Yoda."

Obi-Wan turned his head to look up into dark eyes. They were as wide as his own. The Council had heated debates, it was typical and even likely that debates could carry on for days or weeks.

But it was almost unheard of for multiple Council members to be expelled from discussions for ill behaviour.

Obi-Wan found it especially jarring as these four had always been in the majority for as long as he recalled. Mace, Depa, Plo, and Yoda might not always agree with them, but they certainly acquiesced to their views on almost any given matter.

"Who is replacing the three seats?" Ki-Adi demanded.

"Master Dooku, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Adi Gallia," Even said flatly.

Saesee Tiin made a pained sound, and Ki-Adi all but exploded, "Are they insane!? And we are still under review as well? Who next, who would replace us?"

Even sighed, "Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, and Master Feemor."

"Two junior Knights and a Seeker!" Ki-Adi yelled.

Obi-Wan buried his face in Quinlan's chest. He had never seen Ki-Adi pushed so far. The man was so apathetic, he spoke the right jargon, but Obi-Wan had always expected that there was worse deeper in the man.

It was a pity he was one of the few Knights allowed to have a marriage. It wouldn't have worked out well for Anakin, but for Tahl and Qui-Gon… The Jedi Order deserved better than secret love, deserved better than to be ashamed of needing help or caring deeply for another.

Three months into the Clone Wars and Obi-Wan had seen desperate things done for the loss of a Padawan or the loss of a Master. If the Order could learn to love and let go, they would be stronger than to teach the abstinence of attachment so there was never a need to let go.

"You were only a Knight, Ki-Adi Mundi," a fifth voice spoke into the hall.

It was Mace Windu himself.

Quinlan held Obi-Wan tight, as if he had moved to step out of the shadows to greet Mace, to see his face as he finally spoke his own mind to Ki-Adi. But Quin held him in place.

"You have too many young ones on the Council now," Ki-Adi argued.

"Yoda and Jocasta are old enough for the lot of us."

Sifo-Dyas's laugh lightened the surrounding Force before he said, "I dare you to say that to Jocasta's face, Mace."

Mace didn't sound amused as he said, "The four of you have been stripped of your positions."

"You said there would be time!" Saesee Tiin growled.

"Yes, until the four of you started projecting your emotions where even Adi Gallia could feel it nearly on the other side of the building. Your emotions are dragging on the Force—the entirety of the Temple can hear you. It is a display unbecoming of four Jedi Masters and unacceptable as Council members," Mace said smoothly.

That chastened three out of four of the once Council members.

But, of course, Ki-Adi kept on, "If you care about decorum, why elect Qui-Gon Jinn?"

"Because the Republic is failing and the Order's numbers are declining. The Force is ready for things to change and we must embrace that."

"You think you know what the Force wants?" Ki-Adi asked.

"Do you?" Mace asked. "You rely on tradition. Qui-Gon Jinn listens to the Living Force. True, I believe him to be short-sighted at times, but he is a voice among many, now. I know our traditions as well as you, but I would not choose that which has passed over the input of an active view of the Force this Temple has long neglected."

"I have the Cosmic Force covered," Sifo-Dyas said a bit wistfully.

Even Ki-Adi Mundi didn't argue that one. Sifo-Dyas had been hospitalized for months from visions and a freakish amount of the futures he saw came to pass.

Maybe that's why the Force wanted Obi-Wan to be young again: to not go mad.

"You're making a mistake," Ki-Adi warned.

Mace merely said, "If any of you wish to take personal time, you've been granted six weeks. Otherwise, expect to return to the field."

There was silence, then it was as if a concert had suddenly had the power cut as the Force ran clear without the disgruntled Council members spilling themselves into it.

Obi-Wan let out a long breath, relaxing into Quin, who also relaxed, his shoulders lowering.

The four 'retired' Council members left, and a minute later, Mace said, much closer to them, "Padawan Vos, Initiate Kenobi."

"How did you sense us?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Your lightsabers," Sifo-Dyas said with a slight smile. "The one you carry, Young Obi-Wan, is quite loud."

Obi-Wan grimaced. "I know. It likes me, but I don't think we are a good match."

"The next ship to Ilum leaves in two weeks," Mace said, giving Obi-Wan a look that he couldn't decipher, which was odd on its own.

Obi-Wan had learned to read Mace's face; it was a survival skill, if nothing else.

Anakin had still been freaked out by Mace, even after his Knighting. Anytime Mace joked with the younger Knight, the humour went over his head.

Obi-Wan hadn't figured out a way to let Anakin in on the jokes without making his apprentice feel more insulted.

Some days, Anakin was about as sociable as a Jaaku cactus.

"Knight Feemor received a message to pick a youngling on Stewjon," Sifo-Dyas said abruptly.

Obi-Wan startled. "I-I mean, would I be allowed to go? I don't want to see my birth family, but I do want to investigate the culture. Stewjon is an enigma. Some texts call it a backwater moon, and others claim it's a planet that is essentially a miniature Alderaan."

"You may go, and you should go," Sifo-Dyas said, though something was a bit off about his voice, his gaze a bit distant.

Mace gave Sifo-Dyas a startled look. Clearly he hadn't been consulted on this. Still, he didn't protest. He only said, "You'll have to keep your lightsaber here and commission civilian clothing, and that's if Master Feemor agrees to take you."

Obi-Wan grinned. All initiates were allowed to visit their homeworld at least once.

Quin grabbed his shoulders. "Be careful, Obi-Wan. It's still the Mandalore system."

Obi-Wan nodded, taking Quin's hand. "I promise."

"May the Force be with you," Mace said, again with that odd note in his tone.

Obi-Wan smiled up at him. "And with you."

Feemor stared at Mace and Qui-Gon. "I would be more honoured if I felt I had more of a say in this."

"You know you do," Qui-Gon said.

Feemor sighed. "Well, at least I know Council meetings won't be too boring."

"You agreed to take Obi-Wan with you to Stewjon?" Mace asked abruptly.

Feemor frowned. "Of course I did. All younglings have that right, before or after they've been chosen as a Padawan."

"Have you? Have either of you?"

Feemor set down his teacup. He wasn't the only one frowning now.

Qui-Gon asked, "Have either of us what, Mace? Why are you so upset? You've been like this since yesterday. The Council—"

"This isn't about the Council," Mace said dismissively.

"Really?" Feemor asked. "Because I could have sworn you were just asking me to join. Which I do agree to, by the way."

"Good," Mace said. "But I meant, have either of you chosen Obi-Wan Kenobi as your Padawan learner?"

Feemor sat back, stunned. "No, I mean—No, I have not asked him."

He looked at Qui-Gon. Yes, Feemor had considered it, but he wasn't quite ready to share his life with another being just yet. Taking on a Padawan was akin to adopting a child, and he felt more prepared to join the High Council than that.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "No, it's too soon for me. I need time to reflect on what went wrong between me and Xanatos. Why?"

Mace let out a long breath. "Because once Feemor and Obi-Wan return from Stewjon, I plan to ask him to be my next apprentice."

Feemor smiled. "I think you are well-suited to each other."

Mace gave the smallest of smiles in return. "I hope the Force agrees with the sentiment."

AN: Okay, next chapter is Mandalore, I tried putting it in this one but it was too much. So another update tomorrow :D

Please, please, review with your thoughts, feelings, parades and parades of puggles, and feedback? Pretty please?