"What have you learned of the planet Cath?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked, staring at Anakin.
"They are a peaceful planet," the apprentice answered, drawing from his studies. "Fifteen years ago, Jedi were sent to bless the regency of High Lady Denara and the future ruler, Halor of Cath." He thought for a moment, drawing his arms tighter under the sleeves of his cloak as he glanced over at his quiet master.
Turning his attention to Obi-Wan, Mundi questioned, "What do you remember about the blessing of Cath?"
Anakin silently watched as Obi-Wan drew in a deep breath. A tiny surge of relief filled him as he sensed the throbbing in the back of his head diminish as Obi-Wan began to speak.
"The Lady Halor was too young to ascend to the throne at the time of her father, the High Lord Emerian's death."
"She is old enough now," Mace responded. He studied the Jedi Knight and his apprentice, who seemed to be mildly distracted by the room. "The conditions of your assignment have changed."
Anakin snapped to attention.
"There have been three abduction attempts against the Lady Halor. Her mother, the High Lady Denara has requested protection as well as your presence to bless the ceremony. There is an official transport leaving in the morning. A cabin has been reserved for the honored guests," he said with a smile at Obi-Wan's wince. "This is a diplomatic transport." He made careful note of the stricken look that graced Anakin's face. "This would provide Padawan Skywalker a chance to brush up and improve on his diplomatic skills."
Nervously looking away, Anakin struggled to stifle a grin. "It was an honest mistake–"
"Anakin," Obi-Wan snapped a little too harshly, surprised by the boy's outburst.
"Impetuous this boy is, hmm? Someone else reminds me of," Yoda said. The ancient master's attention did not hold long on the padawan; instead he quietly focused on the knight in the center of the room.
"As I was saying," Mace said slowly, certain he would not be interrupted again. "Chancellor Palpatine has specifically requested that you two handle this affair. Need I stress the importance that this coronation occurs without a problem? You are to see that she is protected until the ceremony is complete."
"It is imperative that things go well," Ki-Adi Mundi stressed.
Before Anakin could further embarrass himself before the Council Mace waved his hand. "You two have much to prepare for."
Obi-Wan nodded, bowed and noted Anakin mimicked the same movement. Not out of reason or respect, but simply that he did it.
*****
Outside the Council chambers, Obi-Wan stopped. "You should not speak before the Council unless addressed."
"Yes, my Master," Anakin said lowering his head slightly.
"More importantly," Obi-Wan began with a slight smile. "Master Windu does not like to be interrupted." The folds of the long reddish brown sleeves intensified as the knight drew his arms tight to his chest. "You should know that by now."
"I should meditate on my error and learn more patience," Anakin responded diplomatically as he glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Then a big grin erupted. "At least we're doing something now instead of just standing around looking important."
"Adventure a Jedi craves not," Obi-Wan mimicked Yoda to Anakin's disapproval. "There is a lot to prepare for. Packing for one." He glanced back at the closed Council chambers. "Go on. I'll meet you at our quarters shortly."
Anakin stood his ground.
"Something, Padawan?" He did not allow time for an answer. "I am waiting to speak with Master Yoda."
"About me?" Anakin panicked.
"Yes, Anakin, I'm sure there is something I can think of to complain to Master Yoda about."
"You're joking, right?" Anakin said, allowing the skepticism to flow over his youthfully handsome features.
"It's not always about you. But, if you would prefer–"
"No, thank you," Anakin said quickly as he turned and took off toward the nearest lift.
___________
The walk through the temple had been long and silent.
Occasionally Qui-Gon would glance over at his padawan learner. Obi-Wan's young face gave no indication of the emotions behind it, much like his tightly shielded mind.
The Master's pace slowed as he stared at the closed doors of the Council chambers. He had spent the last few days tip-toeing around his apprentice's silence, waiting for that moment when Obi-Wan would share whatever feelings he might have with him. There had only been quiet.
"I wish you would speak to me."
"I would like to do that, Master," Obi-Wan answered blandly.
At least he was making sense that morning. Qui-Gon consoled himself. Still, it wasn't his Padawan's words that disturbed him. It was the agitated, frenzied Force that swirled around Obi-Wan that set him on guard. It was the nightmares and the pacing that had filled his Padawan's existence for the last few nights. The incoherent rambling that often met his questions, but worse, it was the silence. Obi-Wan had withdrawn from everything, including their bond.
No, he wasn't going to stand there and allow this torture to continue. He grabbed his apprentice's shoulders and pulled him around so they were facing. "Do you know where we are going?" He roughly shook Obi-Wan. "Answer me? Do you know where we are going?"
"Back to the Council," Obi-Wan answered weakly.
"Why?"
"To find out what went wrong at–"
That's where it always stopped. That's where the boy always stopped, never offering up a clear answer to anything.
"You have to answer their questions," said the elder Jedi.
"Yes, Master." The words were lifeless and distant, hardly benefiting Obi-Wan.
The worn look of his apprentice made Qui-Gon worry. He could sense about the boy a frustrated weariness consuming him. He barely recognized the silent figure that struggled to keep up with his long strides. In a matter of days his bright, impatient, argumentative padawan had all but disappeared, leaving a pale, lifeless shell in his place.
"After this session with the Council," Qui-Gon said softly, "I'm taking you to meet with one of the mind healers."
Panic flooded Obi-Wan's tired features. "No, Master," he insisted. "Not in my head. I don't want them in my head."
Qui-Gon frowned. "I'm not asking," he said firmly.
"Keep them out of my head," Obi-Wan demanded.
"Like me?" Qui-Gon gave a comforting smile. "I am well aware of your blocking." He chose at the moment not to mention the elusive warning he felt radiating off his padawan.
"Sorry, Master." The youth stared down at the floor. "I never meant to fail you."
"You never have," Qui-Gon said gently.
"I can't train the boy," Obi-Wan mumbled.
A deep frown crossed Qui-Gon's face.
*****
Inside the Council chambers, Qui-Gon had hoped that some of the Masters would be absent. He had hoped the questioning would be less grueling.
"This has gotten us nowhere," he said defiantly, resting a hand on Obi-Wan's unsteady shoulder. "I have scheduled a visit with a mind healer."
"Are you in agreement with this?" Mace asked Obi-Wan calmly.
"Not in my head," Obi-Wan answered.
"He apparently still does not want help. Until then the questions will continue."
For once, Qui-Gon had no response.
Mace leaned forward in his chair. "You have been offered the opportunity to see a mind healer, why do you insist on refusing?"
"I told Master Jinn that I couldn't do it," Obi-Wan rambled.
Qui-Gon leapt to his apprentice's defense. "He has been speaking nonsense since yesterday--"
"Master Jinn doesn't believe me," Obi-Wan said as he started to pace around the center of the chamber. "I keep telling him I'm not ready."
"Ready for what?" Yoda asked.
"Can't train the boy," Obi-Wan mumbled then fell silent and stared at the floor, infinitely more concerned with the patterns in the tile than the conversation concerning him.
Mace exchanged a curious look with Qui-Gon before he spoke softly. "All we want is a simple answer. We cannot help you if you don't tell us. And we have to know why there is a dead Ambassador. At this point you are the only one who can shed light on the situation. Where were you during the siege of the Adamere negotiations? It should be a simple question unless you're hiding something."
The tile on the floor seemed to pulse in unison to the pounding of Obi-Wan's head. No amount of meditation could take it away. He tried. Oh so desperately. At night he would sit on the floor of his small room and try to focus, try to meditate. The pain just kept coming back. All he wanted to do was answer the question. Desperately he wanted to explain what had happened. He just needed to know what happened and those thoughts no longer belonged to him, locked up in a tiny place in his mind guarded by painful headaches.
His dull expression sharpened as he looked up and glared at Mace. A total shift in his personality accompanied a ripple in the Force.
"Tear down my shields."
"What?" Mace asked surprised, quickly exchanging uncharacteristically startled glances with other members of the Council.
Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder.
"Tear down my shields," Obi-Wan repeated. "Show everyone what I am hiding." Angrily he pointed at Qui-Gon Jinn. "Show him that I will fail." He would never have put this on his Master, afraid of what might happen.
"Padawan," Qui-Gon said softly. To his surprise Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulder free of Qui-Gon's grip.
"You made a mistake, Master. You should never have trusted me."
Qui-Gon started, "This is for a mind healer–"
"No!" Obi-Wan screamed as he drew farther away from Qui-Gon's comforting reach. "I can feel it—all of you—pressing against my shields. Trying to find a hole. Looking for my error."
Qui-Gon took a step closer. "Obi-Wan, please."
Obi-Wan pushed his hands up in his sleeves, as his pacing grew wilder. "Everyone wants to know what happened at" Obi-Wan looked up.
Adamere.
It was just right there on the tip of his tongue. All he had to do was bring his thoughts together. Focus.
The Council grew on edge at the vague threat presented by the pacing padawan.
"That place," he finally said, defeated. His shoulders slumping forward. "That place. Everyone wants to know what happened. I would like to know." A long moment passed. His gaze and Qui-Gon's locked. Then abruptly the padawan broke away and started to pace, again hoping his movement would lessen the fluctuations of the tile as it throbbed and pulsed. Lightly he pressed his fingers against his temples. He could sense them, all of them trying to read something into his actions. His thoughts.
Yoda was watching silently.
Qui-Gon moved to rest a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder but again it was just shrugged off.
Quickly the padawan turned on his master, raising his hand as a wall between them. "Don't," he warned. "You shouldn't have had faith in me–"
The Council grew tense all of them sensing the flutter of warning turn to a real threat in the boy's wavering voice.
"I want to answer the questions," Obi-Wan said.
"But?" Mace asked.
"Just take it out of my head," Obi-Wan begged. Sweat clung to his skin. He felt ill and hoped if they took the information it would make the pain go away. "I give you complete permission," he whispered weakly.
Mace, as well as the other Council members, felt the boy's mind open to them. The shields drawing away and revealing, just for a moment the Adamere Government building. The walkway leading to the official's living quarters. Several Adamerians advanced, all armed. A dimly lit room.
Obi-Wan staggered a cry as he pressed his hands to the side of his head as white-hot pain shot through his mind. Suddenly a powerful surge in the Force sent Mace and half the Council flying from their chairs. Mace's large body crashed against one of the big windows as several other Council members tumbled backwards.
Obi-Wan stumbled slightly before keeling over only to be caught by Qui-Gon. Both fell to the chamber floor.
"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked urgently as he cradled the youth in his arms. The boy's body was still.
Yoda quietly surveyed the situation. He watched as the uninjured Masters moved to help the others. Then slowly, he got down from his chair and hobbled over to where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan lay. "Distressing this is," he spoke softly. It did not take a special bond, Yoda was acutely aware of the pain radiating from the unconscious youth's damaged mind. The little master sighed as he pressed a stubby green hand to Obi-Wan's cool forehead. The damage was extensive and well beyond his abilities to help. Slowly he raised his eyes to meet Qui-Gon's worried expression. "Call for a mind healer we shall. Help the boy, he will."
___________
"Waiting to see me you were?" The diminutive Jedi Master asked as he walked into the great hall where Obi-Wan stood patiently.
"Yes, Master."
"Come," Yoda said, motioning Obi-Wan back to the Council chambers with his gimer stick. "Private it is."
Obi-Wan knelt in the center of the empty Council chambers as Yoda paced back and forth tapping his gimer stick against the tiled floor. The Jedi Knight watched as the floor vibrated with each thunderous impact.
"Always seeking adventure, that one is," Yoda said pausing briefly before continuing his pacing. Before Obi-Wan could respond, the little master continued, "Young he is."
"I often feel that I am not doing him justice with his training."
Yoda stopped and carefully studied Obi-Wan's worn features. "Doubt yourself do you? Trust in the Force. Difficult he would be for any Master." Yoda allowed a small smile. "Here to discuss young Skywalker you are not."
"Yes, Master."
"Concerned you are. See through you I do."
"Master, I am not sure I can attend to this mission."
"Choice you have not," Yoda stressed as he stopped. "You're presence is demanded. No one can stand in your place."
"Master--"
"Timing is bad, yes?"
"I have continued the calming meditations you and Master Kol taught me years ago. They are becoming ineffective, though. I am loosing myfocus." He wanted to say more but the words would not come to him. "Do you remember?" was all he could muster.
"Master Mace has not forgotten, says his back still aches," Yoda said contemplatively watching the frustration fill and move around the young knight. He laid a small, green comforting hand on Obi-Wan's arm. "Remember I do. Lose your mind you feared."
"I still do."
Yoda lowered his head slightly, deciding against a lecture on fear and the dark side. "Mind carvers," he said sadly. "Terrible curse on Jedi." He looked up into Obi-Wan's eyes where the weariness danced at the edges.
"Anakin says I'm projecting."
"Sensed this, I have not," Yoda said as he started to paced the floor again.
The patterns in the tile waved and fluctuated with each tap of the gimer stick. Feeling ill, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and turned away.
"The bond," Yoda said finally as if arriving at the answer. "Stronger through the bond." The diminutive master stared at Obi-Wan for a moment. "Explained to him, have you?"
"No, Master. I cannot."
"Hmm." Yoda thought for a moment. "Deal with this we must." He poked the knight in the shoulder with his stick for emphasis. "Time you need. After the ceremony take some time to refocus. Retrain."
"What about–"
"See to his training I will."
Obi-Wan sighed loudly, gently massaging his temples. Then he placed a hand again the warm tile of the chamber floor to steady himself. His voice was slow, tired. "Anakin is concerned that I am blocking him."
Yoda gave an understanding nod. " Explain to him I will later. Mission you have. Very important." Then he turned back to the knight kneeling before him. "Contact Master Kol I will. Meet with him you will after the assignment is completed."
"Yes, Master."