Chapter 53
Gray.
It was the first thing he saw every time he looked in the mirror lately. Perhaps that meant that he was vain, as Obi-Wan had so often teased. Xanatos preferred to think of the strands that increasingly wound their way through his thick ebony locks as silver, which for some reason sounded more sophisticated. Either way, it meant that he was getting older.
This morning's sparring session was yet another reminder. He had still won, much to Anakin's displeasure. That thought brought a smile to his face. He still remembered his frustration as a senior padawan of being bested by his "old" master. Fighting the Chosen One was requiring him to adjust. Anakin had become physically stronger and had more raw power in the Force than him. He had to rely on the wisdom and experience he had gained in his 50+ years of life. Then again, he supposed that was the point of being a Jedi master.
Giving sore shoulders one last stretch, Xanatos stepped out of the refresher. Usually, he would be going stir crazy, still cooped up in the Temple after a whole week. Not now. He found that he dreaded returning to the battlefield. The quietness of the Temple was soothing. No clones were present at attention, no one was waiting to ask him what to do next, and no droids or blasters were trying to kill him - just the warmth of fellow Force sensitives in harmony with the Force. He sank down to the sofa, just to revel in the fact that he didn't have to think at the moment.
The door to Anakin's room opened, and the young man burst out. A smile curved Xanatos' lips when he noted that his apprentice seemed to be more meticulously groomed than normal.
"Master," Anakin said. "Would it be alright if I went out for a while?"
"Yes, Anakin." Xanatos replied. "We are on leave. Take advantage of it." When Anakin had just about reached the door, he added. "Give my regards to Senator Amidala."
Anakin slowly turned, a slight blush staining his cheeks. Xanatos knew that his apprentice and the young senator had kept in touch since Geonosis through correspondence. Respective duties had kept the two from actually seeing each other face to face – a good thing.
"You said that it was okay to pursue friendship …" Anakin began defensively.
"Yes, if you can trust yourself to be in her company and remain friends," Xanatos added.
"Ben's going with me," the young man mumbled.
"A wise choice, Padawan," Xanatos said, smiling. "Enjoy your visit."
He let out a sigh as the door closed behind his apprentice. It appeared he was on his own for the day. Obi-Wan would be tied up meeting with the Council. That was yet another change in his life. It had been an odd feeling to give his last briefing with Obi-Wan's eyes being one of the twelve pairs staring back at him.
A chime at the door had him looking up. He rose and walked over to answer, wondering what brought this particular visitor. The door slid open, and Xanatos looked down. Yoda stood in the corridor, both withered hands clasping his walking stick in front of him.
"Master Yoda, please come in," Xanatos said. "I thought the Council was in session."
"Adjourned we are. Speak with you I must – a matter of urgency."
"Of course," Xanatos replied. He settled back onto the sofa, waiting as Yoda climbed up into the chair facing him. "How is Obi-Wan adjusting to the Council?"
"A valuable addition he is. Wise beyond his years. Though, Qui-Gon's stubbornness he has – difficult that is."
"I think that makes him all the better of a choice," Xanatos said, half laughing. Seeing that Yoda was not affected by his attempt at humor, Xanatos became more serious. "So, what is this matter of urgency?"
The aged master sat for a moment in silence, ears drooping slightly when Xanatos leveled a more questioning gaze at him. "Is something wrong?"
"Difficult this is," Yoda said, pursing his lips together. "More so than I thought."
"Maybe you should just say it then," Xanatos suggested.
"A request the Council makes of you – a mission."
"What sort of mission?" Xanatos asked. Instinct seemed to tell him that Yoda coming in person, alone, instead of summoning him to the Council chambers was not a good sign. Then, there was the aged master's unusual hesitancy.
Yoda let out a deep sigh. "Need someone to get close to Dooku –infiltrate his inner circle- we do."
It was as though all the air had been sucked from the room as the "request" and all its implications slowly began to sink in.
"I am surprised you didn't send Obi-Wan to ask me," Xanatos spat out, immediately regretting how harsh it sounded.
"Against this idea he is," Yoda admitted. "Refused to be the one to ask you he did."
"Maybe I have managed to teach him something," Xanatos said softly.
"Ask this lightly I do not," Yoda said, regaining some stern resolve. "Know what it will cost you, yes, but few choices have we. Skilled as an operative you have always been, able to blend where others draw attention."
"That was a long time ago," Xanatos murmured, "before Anakin."
"More knowledge of the Dark side and how to resist it you have than any other."
"What makes you think Dooku won't gut me the moment he sees me?" Xanatos asked. "He knows I am close to you and Obi-Wan. And has that Council forgotten that he tried to kill me twice on Geonosis, and damn near succeeded?"
"Offered you a place to join him he did. If leave the order you do, come to you he will," Yoda stated with confidence. "A proud man my former padawan is. A part of his line you are – important to him this is."
A part of it made sense. On Geonosis, Dooku had seemed certain at one point that he would follow. But Xanatos was still skeptical. "Is this an order?"
"Important it is, urgent, but an order it is not," Yoda replied. "Order you to do this I would not."
"I need time to think about it – to meditate. I do have Anakin to consider."
"Understand, I do. Take the time you need, Xanatos." Yoda climbed down out of the chair and started for the door. "Another guest you have."
As the door opened, Yoda passed by Obi-Wan, who was waiting outside. Something passed through the younger master's gaze as he glanced down, causing Yoda to drop his head. Obi-Wan entered the room and took the place Yoda had just vacated. Though his calm outward façade was in place, the younger man was obviously agitated.
"I warned you," Xanatos chided.
"Of what?"
"It's barely been a week and you are already stuck between me and the Council," Xanatos said softly.
"You don't have to do this," Obi-Wan stated.
"Tell me the situation." Xanatos propped his feet up on the tea table in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest. "What operatives do the Council have in place – the ones the Chancellor and Senate don't know about."
"We have Vos left," Obi-Wan answered. "Others are either recalled, dead, or have given into the Dark side."
"And Vos' allegiance is sketchy at best," Xanatos murmured, dropping his gaze to the floor.
"I have known Quinlan for a long time," Obi-Wan defended adamantly. "He's trustworthy."
Xanatos looked up sharply. "I don't trust anyone, not even myself, where the Dark side is concerned." He let out a deep sigh, shaking his head from side to side. "So, I assume the Council has a plan to make my leaving the order believable, or are they finally going to kick me out?"
"We would knight Anakin."
"Are you serious?" Xanatos asked with a chuckle. "I know padawans are being knighted earlier due to the war, but Anakin's hardly ready …"
"The point exactly. On Geonosis, Dooku tried to convince you that the Council would take Anakin away from you. If we do, it is conceivable that you would be furious enough to leave." Leaning back, Obi-Wan crossed his legs, resting folded hands on his knee. "Publicly and as far as other Jedi, the Senate, and galaxy are concerned, Anakin would be knighted. Unofficially, he would still be your padawan. Another master would temporarily guide his training in your absence."
"Who?" Xanatos asked. "I would not agree to just anyone training him, even if it's only temporary."
"Me …" Obi-Wan answered.
Xanatos stood and walked toward the window, running his fingers through still-damp hair.
"You're seriously considering this, aren't you?" Obi-Wan asked in alarm.
"Master Yoda is right. I can do this. I might be the only one who can."
"It's dangerous."
"So is the battlefield," Xanatos said, flashing a grin as he cast a glance back towards Obi-Wan. "Would you be so against it if we weren't like brothers?" The younger man remained silent, frustration etched into blue-gray eyes. Those eyes seemed harder than before the war had begun. For the first time, Xanatos really noticed the gray that was creeping into his brother's temples. War was aging him. "This has to end, Obi-Wan. The Order can't go on like this. I know that as a Jedi I am supposed to accept death and move on, but it seems senseless to see so many names of good Jedi I grew up with on casualty reports. And I do worry about seeing you or Ben or Anakin there one of these days. I don't think I could bear that if I didn't do whatever I could to bring an end to it all."
Ben practically dragged Anakin along as the pair quickly scurried up the front steps to the Senate building and to safety. It had been anything but the uneventful, short trip Anakin had promised. Already, the "war heroes" had evaded two small crowds of admirers asking for holos and autographs. The media had found them as well, badgering them with questions despite their attempts to decline an interview. Fortunately, Anakin had pulled his companion away and answered a few simple questions before Ben said something he regretted.
"You know," Anakin said as they passed through the front doors of the Senate. "You're supposed to be the diplomatic one."
"It's hard to be diplomatic when war, of all things, has elevated me to the status of some holovid star," Ben replied, his voice reflecting the horror he felt at all the attention directed towards him. "Do they have any comprehension of how many Jedi are dying? Not to mention clones."
"At least we have public support," Anakin reminded him.
"Something which is very fragile," Ben murmured as the two padawans continued down the corridor.
They found the offices belonging to the delegation from Naboo. Anakin barged to the front desk, where a young woman with light blonde hair looked up expectantly. "I am here to see Senator Amidala. She's expecting me."
"Are you Padawan Skywalker?" the young woman asked, practically batting her eyelashes.
"Yes," Anakin answered proudly.
"She was called into an unexpected meeting," the young woman said. "She said to give you this."
Anakin accepted the small flimsi envelope, looking more than a little crestfallen. "Thank you," he replied politely as he shuffled away.
Ben followed him down several corridors before Anakin sat down on a bench in some sort of waiting area and tore into the envelope.
"What does it say?" Ben asked, trying to read over Anakin's shoulder.
"It's private." Anakin smiled mischievously as he held the letter away from Ben.
A distinctively floral scent wafted over, teasing Ben's senses. "Is that perfume?" he asked.
"I'm sure it's just a girl thing," Anakin hastily explained, a blush staining his cheeks.
"You, My Friend, are playing with fire," Ben announced in a stern voice that rivaled any master Anakin had ever heard.
"And you are getting old and grumpy, Knight Itires," Anakin teased.
"I am being your chaperone - like you asked me to be," Ben protested. "And apparently you need me."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the Council asks you to join them next," Anakin continued, a lopsided grin pulling at his lips. "You would fit right in with Master Windu."
"Are you accusing everyone on the Council of being old and grumpy? Master Obi-Wan …"
"Excuse me, gentlemen."
Both padawans quickly looked up, the sight of Chancellor Palpatine causing them to jump to their feet and offer hasty bows.
"Your Excellency," both said politely.
"Anakin Skywalker?"
"Yes, Sir," Anakin offered.
"It has been a long time. It is good to see you again … and well," the politician beamed. "I heard that your master recently had a close call."
"Highly exaggerated, Sir," Anakin soothed. "He is fine."
"I am glad to hear that." Palpatine turned his attention to Ben. "And you were General Kenobi's apprentice, correct?"
"Ben'dek Itires, Sir."
"I have heard good things about you as well." Palpatine paused to offer a friendly smile. "They say that the Anterus campaign would have been a disaster without your strategy."
"Just trying to help, Sir," Ben replied politely.
"Well, it is a pleasure to see both of you, but I am expected in my chambers. Perhaps we could catch up some other time."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Anakin began.
"Yes, your master still seems to have an inordinate amount of distrust for me. It is a pity."
"Your Excellency," one of the aides called. "They are waiting."
"Sorry, but I must excuse myself," Palpatine said with another pleasant smile.
"That's an inner circle I would love to be in on," Ben murmured as they watched the Chancellor and his entourage trail down the corridor.
"Just politicians talking …"
"And possibly making decisions about a war we are fighting. I don't think they are telling the Council everything they know."
"Of course they are," Anakin protested. "Why wouldn't they?"
"I don't know, Anakin, but it's worse than everyone thinks. I overheard my master and Master Yoda talking the other night."
"You were eavesdropping on Council business? For shame," Anakin teased.
"The Council feels like they are in the dark."
"What are they going to do?"
"I don't know," Ben said softly. "They stopped talking. I think Master Obi-Wan realized I was listening."