Chapter Three: Melida/Daan
They arrived on Melida/Daan three days later. Anakin and Obi-Wan had barely spoken on the trip. When they did, it was only to discuss the mission. Obi-Wan had noticed that there was something else on his mind, something that had nothing to do with the mission he was on or the trials he was to face. But Anakin was blocking him out. It worried Obi-Wan that Anakin was hiding something that was obviously so important to him. But because of the recent strain on their bond, he let it go, thinking time would help heal his worries- and their relationship.
Zehava was a beautiful city. Obi-Wan marveled as they entered the gates. It had changed so much from the crumbling ruin it had been when he'd left it. The people were prosperous, the city was crowded and busy- and happy, Obi-Wan noted with a grin.
Anakin stared at his Master's grin warily. Obi-Wan rarely looked this happy- around him anyway. It had been like that from the beginning. Obi-Wan showed Anakin his somber side. He rarely ever got a glimpse of the playful man his Master could be- just enough that he wondered why he was never on the receiving end of that smile.
The capital building of Zehava housed the governor and was the place councils and votes were held. Obi-Wan knew his way to it without having to consult a map and they were admitted quickly, without question, but guards who held no weapons. Anakin noted this and resolved to ask Obi-Wan about it later.
The governor waited for them in a large reception room. He was a tall man, with dark eyes and a strong presence. He smiled at the sight of Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Obi-Wan strode across the room to shake hands with the governor. "Nield. It is a pleasure to see you again." Obi-Wan motioned Anakin forward. "This is my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin bowed slightly. Nield returned the gesture. "It's good to meet you, Anakin." Then he turned back to Obi-Wan. "When all this started and we called for Jedi assistance, I couldn't think of anyone else I'd want helping us but my old friend Obi-Wan. Its good to have you back here."
"What is going on, Nield? Your reports to the Senate were very enigmatic."
Nield pursed his lips. "It started a few months ago. With the war against the Separatists still raging, many of our men have traveled away, to Courascant mostly. Those that haven't left have begun to rise up."
Obi-Wan could hear it in his voice. "Mawat."
"Yes, he is the leader. Somehow, they've gotten to him. He wants Melida/Daan to join the Separatists. He wants control again. There was an attempt on my life. I didn't want to believe it was him, but I have reports confirming it. This time, I fear no wisdom will be able to stop him."
"Perhaps he will listen to an old friend."
Nield shook his head. "And if not?"
"Then he'll listen to a Jedi." Obi-Wan sighed. "I will speak to him. Do you know where I can find him?"
Nield gave Obi-Wan the coordinates of Mawat's base, then put a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck."
Obi-Wan smiled suddenly. "We don't need luck."
"Everyone needs luck."
"Not us."
*
Obi-Wan left soon after to meet with the rebel leader, leaving Anakin with strict instructions to secure the building and protect the governor. He found he liked Nield immensely. He was a man of action, a leader. The time he spent protecting Nield and his wife Deila was a pleasure. Nield spent hours telling Anakin of Obi-Wan's bravery in the last battles of Zehava, when the long civil war of Melida/Daan had finally ended. At the end of it, Anakin had only one question.
"Where was Master Qui-Gon when Obi-Wan was working with you?" he asked, sure he was going to hear another tale of bravery and rescue.
Nield took a bite of his dinner as he thought about the question. "On Coruscant, I suppose. After he completed his mission to rescue the Jedi that was held hostage, there was no reason for him to stay."
The answer puzzled Anakin even more. "Then why did Obi-Wan stay?"
Deila and Nield exchanged a glance, realizing Obi-Wan had not told his apprentice about the events of the last time he had been on Melida/Daan. "Perhaps you should ask Obi-Wan for his reasons."
Anakin nodded, sure he wasn't going to like what Obi-Wan was going to say. Before he could reply anything else, there was a sudden ripple in the Force, a warning of danger. Anakin rose and ignited his lightsaber, just in time to block blaster fire aiming for the governor. Nield and Deila both ducked underneath the table as Anakin ran after the assassin.
The man obviously knew his way through the twisting halls of the building. Anakin did not, but the Force led him after the would-be murderer. The man ran down the corridor that led to the entrance, but Anakin's presence, so close on his heels, shook him up. The assassin made a wrong turn, left instead of the right hall that led to the servant's entrance. Down the long left corridor there was only a window, covering the entire wall that ended the hall abruptly.
The man skidded to a stop and faced Anakin, blaster drawn. He fired a couple shots wildly. Anakin blocked them. "Drop the blaster and come with me," Anakin said calmly, the power of the Force entering his voice.
The man dropped the blaster and made a move toward Anakin. But then he gasped, and jerkily moved toward the window. The assassin's eyes were wide, his mouth open in labored breathing as he fought to stop his own body.
Anakin stood completely still. He wanted to move, to stop the man from jumping, but his body was no more in his control than the assassin's was. He was powerless to stop the man as his body took a leap, smashing through the glass and landing hard onto the ground below.
They arrived on Melida/Daan three days later. Anakin and Obi-Wan had barely spoken on the trip. When they did, it was only to discuss the mission. Obi-Wan had noticed that there was something else on his mind, something that had nothing to do with the mission he was on or the trials he was to face. But Anakin was blocking him out. It worried Obi-Wan that Anakin was hiding something that was obviously so important to him. But because of the recent strain on their bond, he let it go, thinking time would help heal his worries- and their relationship.
Zehava was a beautiful city. Obi-Wan marveled as they entered the gates. It had changed so much from the crumbling ruin it had been when he'd left it. The people were prosperous, the city was crowded and busy- and happy, Obi-Wan noted with a grin.
Anakin stared at his Master's grin warily. Obi-Wan rarely looked this happy- around him anyway. It had been like that from the beginning. Obi-Wan showed Anakin his somber side. He rarely ever got a glimpse of the playful man his Master could be- just enough that he wondered why he was never on the receiving end of that smile.
The capital building of Zehava housed the governor and was the place councils and votes were held. Obi-Wan knew his way to it without having to consult a map and they were admitted quickly, without question, but guards who held no weapons. Anakin noted this and resolved to ask Obi-Wan about it later.
The governor waited for them in a large reception room. He was a tall man, with dark eyes and a strong presence. He smiled at the sight of Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Obi-Wan strode across the room to shake hands with the governor. "Nield. It is a pleasure to see you again." Obi-Wan motioned Anakin forward. "This is my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin bowed slightly. Nield returned the gesture. "It's good to meet you, Anakin." Then he turned back to Obi-Wan. "When all this started and we called for Jedi assistance, I couldn't think of anyone else I'd want helping us but my old friend Obi-Wan. Its good to have you back here."
"What is going on, Nield? Your reports to the Senate were very enigmatic."
Nield pursed his lips. "It started a few months ago. With the war against the Separatists still raging, many of our men have traveled away, to Courascant mostly. Those that haven't left have begun to rise up."
Obi-Wan could hear it in his voice. "Mawat."
"Yes, he is the leader. Somehow, they've gotten to him. He wants Melida/Daan to join the Separatists. He wants control again. There was an attempt on my life. I didn't want to believe it was him, but I have reports confirming it. This time, I fear no wisdom will be able to stop him."
"Perhaps he will listen to an old friend."
Nield shook his head. "And if not?"
"Then he'll listen to a Jedi." Obi-Wan sighed. "I will speak to him. Do you know where I can find him?"
Nield gave Obi-Wan the coordinates of Mawat's base, then put a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck."
Obi-Wan smiled suddenly. "We don't need luck."
"Everyone needs luck."
"Not us."
*
Obi-Wan left soon after to meet with the rebel leader, leaving Anakin with strict instructions to secure the building and protect the governor. He found he liked Nield immensely. He was a man of action, a leader. The time he spent protecting Nield and his wife Deila was a pleasure. Nield spent hours telling Anakin of Obi-Wan's bravery in the last battles of Zehava, when the long civil war of Melida/Daan had finally ended. At the end of it, Anakin had only one question.
"Where was Master Qui-Gon when Obi-Wan was working with you?" he asked, sure he was going to hear another tale of bravery and rescue.
Nield took a bite of his dinner as he thought about the question. "On Coruscant, I suppose. After he completed his mission to rescue the Jedi that was held hostage, there was no reason for him to stay."
The answer puzzled Anakin even more. "Then why did Obi-Wan stay?"
Deila and Nield exchanged a glance, realizing Obi-Wan had not told his apprentice about the events of the last time he had been on Melida/Daan. "Perhaps you should ask Obi-Wan for his reasons."
Anakin nodded, sure he wasn't going to like what Obi-Wan was going to say. Before he could reply anything else, there was a sudden ripple in the Force, a warning of danger. Anakin rose and ignited his lightsaber, just in time to block blaster fire aiming for the governor. Nield and Deila both ducked underneath the table as Anakin ran after the assassin.
The man obviously knew his way through the twisting halls of the building. Anakin did not, but the Force led him after the would-be murderer. The man ran down the corridor that led to the entrance, but Anakin's presence, so close on his heels, shook him up. The assassin made a wrong turn, left instead of the right hall that led to the servant's entrance. Down the long left corridor there was only a window, covering the entire wall that ended the hall abruptly.
The man skidded to a stop and faced Anakin, blaster drawn. He fired a couple shots wildly. Anakin blocked them. "Drop the blaster and come with me," Anakin said calmly, the power of the Force entering his voice.
The man dropped the blaster and made a move toward Anakin. But then he gasped, and jerkily moved toward the window. The assassin's eyes were wide, his mouth open in labored breathing as he fought to stop his own body.
Anakin stood completely still. He wanted to move, to stop the man from jumping, but his body was no more in his control than the assassin's was. He was powerless to stop the man as his body took a leap, smashing through the glass and landing hard onto the ground below.