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"Whenever I see that door," Anakin motioned down the corridor, "I immediately prepare to be scolded. Of course, that could be because that's usually the only time I come here!" As he finished the last sentence, he offered a lopsided grin.
Sari chuckled. "So, you're in trouble a lot, eh?" He was definitely going to be a heartbreaker someday. It didn't hurt that he also had a healthy sense of humor to accompany his killer smile. Obi-Wan had shared some of his young padawan's past with her, and she found it inspiring that a boy who had gone through so much in such a short amount of time could still be such an optimist. It was refreshing.
As they approached the chamber entrance, a robed figure moved in front of them. Anakin offered a brief bow.
"I am Padawan Skywalker here upon request of the council with guest Sari Zendar."
//So formal!// Sari thought as the other figure nodded and moved to open the door. Anakin leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"There's a lot of that in this place," he said. Sari looked at him a bit confused trying to figure out what he was referring to. "Formality, I mean. Especially with these guys." He faced front and led her into the large circular room.
//How did he know---?// she wondered. Jedi were certainly an unpredictable sort.
Sari tried not to appear too amazed by what she saw, but knew she probably wasn't hiding it too well. The moment she set foot in the council chamber, a serious solemnity overwhelmed her. This was a sacred place..... a place of great wisdom and contemplation..... a place that held the moral fate of the galaxy within its walls.
//Whoa!// was all she could mutter to herself.
Anakin continued into the middle of the circular room. Twelve robed figures sat at even intervals in chairs of various styles all around its circumference. All eyes and minds were focused on her, and she felt as if her very soul was laid bare before them.
"Welcome, Miss Zendar." Sari turned to face the speaker. It was a tiny green man with elfin features. "Yoda I am. Graced by your presence the council is."
"Thank you.... sir," she replied, not knowing the proper way to address him.
"Jedi Yeedo informed us that you bring news of great importance for one of our own. Related to the Teemar kidnapping incident, is it?"
"Yes... yes, it is. Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is in grave danger. I felt I must come here in person to be sure the warning reached him in time."
The council went on to ask Sari questions about this threat. Anakin stayed right by her side listening intently and finding out more about his master with her every word. Although Obi had shared the basic story with his padawan, Anakin knew there was much more to tell. And besides, Obi-Wan was his family--- a strange mix between a father, a brother, and a best friend--- and any threat to his master was also a threat to him.
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Obi-Wan Kenobi could sense an urgency in the Force and something else.... a kind of flicker in the back of his mind that was pulling him as quickly as he could move back to the temple. Unfortunately, due to the 'thriftiness' of the Jedi, he was forced to use the public transport system of Coruscant. He managed to keep a rein on his cool, even though he did let slip a few curses under his breath each time the antiquated passenger car stopped to let people on or off.
The words of Adara Lon kept repeating over and over in his mind. Sari was missing. He knew that worry was not an emotion a Jedi should cater to, but try as he might, he couldn't knock the feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. The only thing he was certain of was that his life was about to change.
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When Sari was right in the middle of explaining the conversation she had overheard between Chairman Calder and the dark man, the council door unexpectedly swished open and in he strode..... Obi-Wan Kenobi. She gasped softly, and only Anakin heard her.
Obi-Wan had his eyes fixed on Yoda as he walked in, but something--- that same flicker--- stopped him dead in his tracks. A familiar presence was blazing so brightly that he immediately snapped his head around to face the others standing mid-chamber.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped, yet only for the briefest moment. He didn't want anyone else to notice his total loss of emotional control.
//It's her!// he shouted inside himself. Had she come back for him? What he had hoped for and imagined for the last two months was actually happening. He dared not look at her for too long else everyone would clearly sense his feelings about this woman. Instead, he offered only the slightest nod to Sari and Anakin and then turned back to Yoda.
"Masters, I have come as quickly as I could," he bowed. Could anyone else hear his heart pounding? It sounded like a bass drum in his own ears. It was taking all of his control to keep from running to her and taking her in his arms. She was more beautiful than ever standing there, and just to feel her next to him this close was almost more than he could bear.
Try as he might, Obi-Wan Kenobi could not keep his emotions completely hidden from the Jedi Masters. Yoda and Mace Windu looked strangely at one another, each raising an eyebrow in interest. Obi-Wan noticed this and started to get a bit nervous. Quickly he put up a mental block, hoping it was in time.
As high as Sari's heart had soared upon seeing him enter the room, it plunged even lower after his curt and impersonal acknowledgment of her. Not that she had expected him to envelope her in a huge embrace, but still.... Well, so be it then. In her mind it was now confirmed---- he wanted nothing to do with her. True, she had considered this possibility during her trip, but it wasn't the option her heart had chosen.
Anakin felt it.
He felt the joyful surprise in his master as soon as he had looked upon her face. He felt Obi-Wan's emotional walls snap into place soon after because of the fear of his true feelings being revealed to the council. He had felt Sari's heightened hopes and then the crash of those same hopes when Obi-Wan had abruptly turned away from her. Also, he felt the curiosity of the twelve council members and knew that they felt it all, too..... or at least some of it.
This was already a mess, and his master had only just arrived.
"Thank you, we do, for your speedy return," Master Yoda said, finally breaking the awkward silence. He sensed something strange between the Jedi and this visitor and wanted to know more. "Already know you Sari Zendar, we assume."
Obi-Wan swallowed hard still refusing to look at her. "Yes, Master. I do."
Try as she might, Sari couldn't take her eyes off of the young master. There he stood, only feet from her, flesh and blood, in his same old clothes and boots, only his hair and beard had grown back making him seem so much older. Anakin noted her attention and saw that the council did as well. He could sense the wheels turning in Yoda's mind.
"Come here for your sake, she has, Obi-Wan," the elder master stated matter of factly. Both Obi-Wan and Sari glared up at Yoda, a look of guilt playing plainly on their faces.
//Oh, man!// Anakin thought to himself. //This is so... so... this is going to be rough.// It was so apparent to everyone in the chamber that both were trying desperately to hide their feelings about one another. Anakin almost felt sorry for his friend, but had to admit, it would be enjoyable to see him squirm.... just a little.
Yoda continued. "Cares a great deal about you, she does." Again he paused. Anakin felt the tension and had to chuckle inwardly. He realized that Yoda was only fishing for the truth.
//What is he implying?// Obi-Wan wondered. He could feel his palms getting sweaty, and he quickly maneuvered the Force to help calm himself down.
"Miss Zendar has come to warn you of a possible threat on your life, Obi-Wan." Thankfully, Mace Windu had pity upon the knight and continued the important business at hand. "Would you please continue, Miss Zendar?"
Sari perked up and cleared her throat. "Of course. About four days ago I managed to overhear a conversation between my superior, Chairman Calder, and another man. I do not know who this other man is. I only saw him briefly in a hologram. He wore a dark, hooded robe which kept his face hidden."
Obi's lip formed into a snarl. Calder. He should have known. Why hadn't he sensed the man's deception? The principal of Sari's school would have had to be in on the kidnapping scheme in order for it to go so smoothly.
"However, I heard him... heard him say that he would 'take care' of Obi-Wan Kenobi... once and for all. It didn't take a scholar to figure out what he meant, and I knew I needed to alert Jedi Kenobi as soon as possible." Sari glanced over at Obi-Wan and for once he looked back. In her eyes he saw sincere concern and sensed there was more she wasn't mentioning.
"Is that all, Miss Zendar?" Yoda asked. "More you are not telling us. Please know that you are safe here."
Sari hesitated. She didn't know why she held back the fact that her life was also in danger. Maybe she was afraid it would cause Obi-Wan to pity her, and of all the things she would like to get from him, pity wasn't one of them.
"Master Yoda," she began, "I came to Coruscant for the main purpose of warning Jedi Kenobi. He performed a great service for me.... and my students," she quickly added fighting back the rising heat in her cheeks. "I only came here in person because...," Here she stopped, all the others hanging on her every word.
Obi-Wan was intently watching her face, that same face he had been dreaming about since he first laid eyes on her two months before.
".... because my life is in danger as well. Chairman Calder assured the dark man that he would.... dispose of me." There. She had said it.
Anakin heard Obi-Wan's quick intake of air and saw him straighten into a warrior's stance. Even the young padawan felt himself suddenly protective of this woman as if she were part of his family, too.
"I see," Yoda replied. He looked at Mace Windu as if sharing a secret thought, and then spoke again. "A great risk you have taken in leaving your home and coming here to warn Jedi Kenobi. Investigate further we will. Until this situation is resolved, we offer you our protection. Obi-Wan?"
The knight nodded in obeisance. "Yes, Master?"
"The council charges you with the safekeeping of Sari Zendar until such time as it is no longer necessary. Guard her life as if it is your own."
"Yes, Master," he said.
Anakin was sure he noticed a slight blush on his master's face which just so happened to match the color of Sari's cheeks. Surely, the council could tell that there was something between these two. //What kind of game is Yoda playing now?// Anakin wondered.
"May the Force be with you," Yoda added as a dismissal, and the three turned to exit the chamber. Sari and Obi-Wan were still avoiding each other's eyes as he motioned for her to go first through the door. Once they were in the hallway, Anakin decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Well, Sari, I'm sure you're hungry and tired. Why don't we get you something to eat? I'm pretty hungry myself.... as usual," he lightheartedly added. //Help me out here, Obi-Wan!// he shot his master's way. If his friend wasn't willing to help himself, this chance was going to pass him by quicker than a Hutt could finish off a whole side of nerf!
Obi-Wan got the message loud and clear and was highly embarrassed that his padawan felt the need to offer 'assistance' in such a manner.
"Yes, yes... let's get some dinner, shall we?" Obi offered.
Sari couldn't deny the grumbling in her stomach. Some of it was owed to nerves, but she hadn't eaten for quite a while either, so she agreed. As long as Anakin was around she should be okay.
The trio made their way to the temple dining hall, Anakin doing all the talking most of the way there. Sari wondered if this was just as awkward for Obi-Wan as it was for her.
Obi-Wan wondered if this was just as awkward for Sari as it was for him. Part of him had just wanted to take her in his arms the moment he first saw her standing in the council chamber, her blue eyes sparkling and dark curls delicately framing her face.
Yet something had held him back..... it was fear---- the fear of having his feelings for her known by the council. This was a fragile situation. He didn't know how the Masters would react to his 'bonding' if they found out.
And now..... now he was charged by them to protect her at all costs. //Master Yoda must be taking this threat very seriously. Maybe he knows something I don't.// he thought. How was he going to handle being around her constantly? It certainly wasn't going to make it easy to put her out of his mind.
Anakin had found them a small table at the back of the dining hall. However, to get there they had to pass practically every other diner in the room. The eyes of every Jedi knight, padawan, and initiate watched the three with open curiosity. Sari was a new face, and to be with two such high-profile Jedi made her quite interesting.
"Who is she?" was muttered at every table, and the speculation was off and running.
Obi-Wan chivalrously pulled her chair out and helped with her tray before sitting down opposite her. Anakin started to sit but then took a look at his wrist chronometer and exclaimed, "Oh no! I almost forgot! I have to.... um... I have to meet.... Gap for.... uh... for a ..... study session."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow as he glared at his young friend. //Since when do you study willingly?// he asked through the Force knowing full well what his padawan was up to.
//Work with me here!// Anakin sent back. "Well, enjoy your meal, Sari. See ya later!" Then the boy was gone leaving Sari and Obi-Wan alone at the table. A few seconds of pulsating silence passed before the Jedi chuckled.
"What?" Sari asked. "What's so funny?"
"Anakin doesn't know anyone named Gap," he stated with a grin.
"Oh," she replied, gradually breaking a smile of her own.
Obi-Wan finished his meal first. Ever since his early days with Qui-Gon, he had learned to eat heartily whenever he had the chance. With his old master, one could never be sure when the next meal would come. He glanced over at her and could hardly believe that she was sitting right in front of him. Was it just another dream?
"Thank you for coming to warn me, Sari," he finally muttered. She looked up, swallowed the bite in her mouth, and smiled.
"It's the least I could do after all you had done for my students." //.... and me,// she wanted to add, but didn't. She was going to keep this simple---- simple and noncommittal.
"You took a great risk in coming here on your own with your life in danger, too. Are you okay?"
The kindness in his face instantly began melting her resolve. If she was going to get through this, she was going to have to toughen up.
"I'm fine. It was nothing really. I only regret not being able to say good-bye to my students and my parents. They must be worried sick." Focusing her thoughts on such things seemed to help a little. Obi-Wan instinctively reached over and touched her hand with his own.
"We'll get word to them that you're safe. Everything will work out. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Sari." Their eyes locked. //What am I doing?!// he thought.
//What is he doing?!// Sari wondered. Touching was not good, nor was looking into those deep, soulful eyes of his. She pulled back her hand and started eating again.
Obi-Wan got the message loud and clear. She didn't want anything to do with him. Despite the disappointment in his heart, he forced himself to talk. "Did you hear that Perrin has been captured?"
"Really?" she replied with sincere interest.
"Yes, in fact, he is being brought to Coruscant to face charges. I met with a prosecutor today right before I came to the council chamber to share what I knew of him. She had informed me that, according to her sources, you were missing. Supposedly someone had been sent to retrieve you but found no trace of your whereabouts, not even when they contacted your parents."
Sari's head was swimming. Perrin captured? Her parents? All of this was overwhelming.
"They contacted my parents?!" she repeated. Obi could sense her fear and had to keep from reaching out for her again. The color drained from her face in an instant.
"I think I'm finished eating," she said, pushing her half-full plate away from her. Any appetite she had was now gone with the wind. Obi-Wan moved quickly to help her out of her chair.
"Of course."
Hundreds of curious eyes continued to watch as the Jedi knight led the mystery woman out of the dining hall.
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*More to come!.....