Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 7
Obi-Wan knelt in front of the two ranking members of the Jedi council, his head bowed. He'd broken the code. He gritted his teeth, straining for the vaulted Jedi calm. It was difficult in coming.
Master Windu and Master Yoda looked at Jedi Kenobi. "You know why you're here, Obi-Wan."
He nodded, not lifting his face to look into Mace Windu's eyes. His head ached from the night's revelry. Whatever she'd slipped him has made his ability to neutralize toxins from his system no use at all. Now he suffered the effect of both dishonor and memory loss.
"Tell us what you did, yes?"
"I do not remember, Master."
He could feel their sudden shock, though they quickly mastered it. They had no idea what that admission had cost him. Jedi had waves of remembering, of enhancing short term memory, but without points of reference to draw out those memories, it was useless.
"Remember nothing, you do?" Master Yoda's words were thoughtful, "Remember you, how the night started?"
He nodded, "Yes Master."
"Remember you, how the night ended?"
He gritted his teeth, trying to get rid of his headache, "No Master."
"Do you remember where you went, Obi-Wan?"
He nodded, "Yes, Master. Pearl took me-"
"Pearl?"
He winced. "Tasha Jade's nickname, Master Windu."
"You have a nickname for a dancer?"
"I gave it to her when she wouldn't tell me her name the day I rescued her." He blinked as his gaze became hazy, making it difficult to focus, "It had become a habit to call her Pearl, one I cannot seem to break."
The Masters were quiet for a few moments before the sound of Yoda's gimmer stick brought his head up. He wished he hadn't moved as nausea threatened to lose him his lunch. He'd even been late for this meeting thanks to that deceitful woman.
Master Yoda walked towards him and stopped, folding both hands over the top of the gimmer stick, "Help you remember, we can. Wish you to know what happened?"
Obi-Wan considered the question. Did he really want to know what had happened between him and the dancer? He swallowed hard, the bile building in the back of his throat as he nodded. He'd never sleep at night if he didn't know.
Master Yoda looked over at Master Windu and then back to Obi-Wan. "Prepare we must. Summon you we will, when ready we are."
Obi-Wan slowly got to his feet. "Thank you Masters."
"Hold, Obi-Wan."
He didn't move, looking straight at Master Windu. The dark skinned Jedi Master stood, "If we find out that you've broken the code, as you so fear you have, what punishment do you expect?"
He shook his head in confusion, "Expect, Master?"
"Do you expect to be thrown out of the order?"
"As is our law, Master."
Mace's lips kicked up into a smile, "You're too valuable for a night's transgression to have that effect, Obi-Wan. Rest easy, we will find out what she did to you."
Obi-Wan's knees almost buckled with relief as he bowed to the Masters, "Thank you Master."
They watched him leave; he could feel their eyes boring into his back, and walked quickly towards the medical lab. First he'd get something for his headache, then he'd deal with Pearl. His lips flattened in a firm line as he struggled for calm. He needed to know what she'd used on him so she'd never be able to do it again.
Anakin smiled proudly as his wife blocked all of his probing into her memories. In the last week, they'd been in close quarters, the tension running high with the knowledge they couldn't do anything making it worse. To pass the time, they spent almost all of their waking hours training. Anakin tried again, this time pushing against the barriers with his mind instead of just probing them.
Padmé relaxed, letting him try, when she knew he would fail. Anakin couldn't get through her mental blocks unless she wanted him too. A smugness crept into her thoughts, which she carefully shielded. He'd been an excellent teacher.
Anakin finally opened his eyes, giving up. "You're a fast learner, Angel."
She opened her eyes to look at him, returning his smile. They practiced constantly, Anakin continuing to probe her mind as he spoke. She, in turn, kept her shields in place, as she had been for the last eight standard days. Now it was a reflex, when she felt a tingle of intuition, to put them up and keep them up. "It's not like I have a choice with a slave driver for a teacher," she teased.
He chuckled as he extended his hand to her and she gratefully took it. He pulled her into his arms, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "You can keep me out, Angel, but can you keep out Palpatine?"
She nodded, feeling confident in her ability, "I can and will, Anakin. I won't fail you in that fashion."
He hugged her tightly, "I didn't think you would. We should check how close we are."
They made their way to the cockpit in time to see the reversion button begin to flash red. Anakin checked the count down and quickly strapped himself in. "Less than 10 seconds, Angel, strap in!"
She did, finishing the last buckle on her crash webbing as he was pulling the hyperspace levers back, bringing them back to real space. She inhaled sharply, still amazed by the planet that was one huge city. Couruscant, its lights visible through the atmosphere, was spread out below them.
He smiled wryly, "I've never liked this planet."
Padmé laughed, checking the sensors, "That makes two of us. It's majestic though, don't you think?"
"In an alloy only kind of capacity."
She chuckled, "We've got a line up on entrance vectors, unless you've got some kind of Jedi trick to get us through this."
He keyed the comm., "This is the freighter, Sun Screamer, requesting landing clearance at the Jedi temple."
The comm. crackled before a voice on the other end came to life. "Shuttle Sun Screamer, the Jedi temple platforms are reserved for Jedi. Transmit your clearance codes."
Anakin hit a series of buttons and waited as the code was checked. Each Jedi had their own code, and his was unique, even among the many.
The comm. crackled again, "Jedi Knight Skywalker, you're cleared for landing at pad 6948A39Zeta. Welcome to Coruscant."
"Thank you control." He clicked off the comm. and punched the landing vector into the computer system. The ship would be remote flown to their destination point, but Anakin would keep a careful eye on their approach.
"Well, that was easy."
He flashed her a half smile, "What can I say, Jedi sometimes have privileges. We could have used your old Senator codes, but I doubt they'd be accepted anymore."
She made a face, "I keep forgetting everyone thinks I'm dead."
He reached out and gently rubbed his fingers over the back of her hand, "Those who matter know better. Chin up, we'll be meeting with the Sith Lord soon enough. Once we land, I've got to find Master Yoda and you're not leaving my side."
She smiled, "Not for all the credits in the galaxy."
He nodded once before turning his attention back to the ship. This was going to be the most difficult challenge either of them had faced and, for the sake of their children, they had to prevail.
Anakin stepped from the ramp to the landing pad, Padmé at his side. She was cloaked in his spare Jedi robe, hidden from view. Anakin looked around, stopping when he caught sight of a small, green figure waiting for them by the main doors. The diminutive Jedi Master leaned easily against his gimmer stick as Anakin and Padmé walked towards him, Anakin's hand wrapped securely about their bag.
Anakin inclined his upper body in greeting, "Master Yoda."
The small Jedi's gaze was assessing, "Knight Skywalker. Returned you have. Why?"
Anakin glanced over his shoulder at Padmé, "We need to speak with the council."
Yoda's gaze went to Padmé, "Lady Skywalker, a pleasure this is."
Padmé inclined her head to Master Yoda, "This is a matter of some urgency, Master Yoda, would it be possible to convene an emergency meeting of the council?"
"Weak we are, fewer than six on the council now. Speak your concerns, you may." He turned, leading them into the temple. Once inside, Padmé stepped up to walk next to Anakin, staying close to his side. She'd been in here only once, and didn't want to get lost.
The halls of the temple were quiet and few Jedi could be seen walking through the massive corridors. A feeling of sadness and loss permeated the air, making Anakin shiver. Since the battle on Geonosis, the Jedi ranks had been slow to recover. The loss of a hundred Jedi, many of them masters, had been almost crippling. Yoda stepped into a small seat, folding himself into the confines and activating the anti-grav repulsors. The chair floated into the air and he turned it to look at them, "This way."
They followed him to a set of lifts, entering when the doors opened, and waiting for him to pick their destination. The lift engaged, Padmé leaning against one of the walls, lifting one hand to tug her hood back. "I don't know how you can wear these things," she grimaced, patting her hair back into place.
Anakin chuckled, "It could be worse. Is Master Kenobi around, Master Yoda?"
Yoda nodded, "Awaiting you in the council hall, he is."
Anakin blinked. "Pardon?"
"Your help we need, Jedi Skywalker."
"My help? But I came here for yours."
Yoda chuckled, "Help each other, we can."
Anakin fell silent as Padmé chuckled, "It's a fair trade Anakin. You honestly didn't think we'd just walk in here and get their help did you?"
His sheepish expression told her he'd expected just that. She grasped his hand and squeezed his fingers in silent support. They were quiet as the lift sped upwards, their eyes asking the same question behind Yoda's back. What could the council possibly need his help for?
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 7
Obi-Wan knelt in front of the two ranking members of the Jedi council, his head bowed. He'd broken the code. He gritted his teeth, straining for the vaulted Jedi calm. It was difficult in coming.
Master Windu and Master Yoda looked at Jedi Kenobi. "You know why you're here, Obi-Wan."
He nodded, not lifting his face to look into Mace Windu's eyes. His head ached from the night's revelry. Whatever she'd slipped him has made his ability to neutralize toxins from his system no use at all. Now he suffered the effect of both dishonor and memory loss.
"Tell us what you did, yes?"
"I do not remember, Master."
He could feel their sudden shock, though they quickly mastered it. They had no idea what that admission had cost him. Jedi had waves of remembering, of enhancing short term memory, but without points of reference to draw out those memories, it was useless.
"Remember nothing, you do?" Master Yoda's words were thoughtful, "Remember you, how the night started?"
He nodded, "Yes Master."
"Remember you, how the night ended?"
He gritted his teeth, trying to get rid of his headache, "No Master."
"Do you remember where you went, Obi-Wan?"
He nodded, "Yes, Master. Pearl took me-"
"Pearl?"
He winced. "Tasha Jade's nickname, Master Windu."
"You have a nickname for a dancer?"
"I gave it to her when she wouldn't tell me her name the day I rescued her." He blinked as his gaze became hazy, making it difficult to focus, "It had become a habit to call her Pearl, one I cannot seem to break."
The Masters were quiet for a few moments before the sound of Yoda's gimmer stick brought his head up. He wished he hadn't moved as nausea threatened to lose him his lunch. He'd even been late for this meeting thanks to that deceitful woman.
Master Yoda walked towards him and stopped, folding both hands over the top of the gimmer stick, "Help you remember, we can. Wish you to know what happened?"
Obi-Wan considered the question. Did he really want to know what had happened between him and the dancer? He swallowed hard, the bile building in the back of his throat as he nodded. He'd never sleep at night if he didn't know.
Master Yoda looked over at Master Windu and then back to Obi-Wan. "Prepare we must. Summon you we will, when ready we are."
Obi-Wan slowly got to his feet. "Thank you Masters."
"Hold, Obi-Wan."
He didn't move, looking straight at Master Windu. The dark skinned Jedi Master stood, "If we find out that you've broken the code, as you so fear you have, what punishment do you expect?"
He shook his head in confusion, "Expect, Master?"
"Do you expect to be thrown out of the order?"
"As is our law, Master."
Mace's lips kicked up into a smile, "You're too valuable for a night's transgression to have that effect, Obi-Wan. Rest easy, we will find out what she did to you."
Obi-Wan's knees almost buckled with relief as he bowed to the Masters, "Thank you Master."
They watched him leave; he could feel their eyes boring into his back, and walked quickly towards the medical lab. First he'd get something for his headache, then he'd deal with Pearl. His lips flattened in a firm line as he struggled for calm. He needed to know what she'd used on him so she'd never be able to do it again.
Anakin smiled proudly as his wife blocked all of his probing into her memories. In the last week, they'd been in close quarters, the tension running high with the knowledge they couldn't do anything making it worse. To pass the time, they spent almost all of their waking hours training. Anakin tried again, this time pushing against the barriers with his mind instead of just probing them.
Padmé relaxed, letting him try, when she knew he would fail. Anakin couldn't get through her mental blocks unless she wanted him too. A smugness crept into her thoughts, which she carefully shielded. He'd been an excellent teacher.
Anakin finally opened his eyes, giving up. "You're a fast learner, Angel."
She opened her eyes to look at him, returning his smile. They practiced constantly, Anakin continuing to probe her mind as he spoke. She, in turn, kept her shields in place, as she had been for the last eight standard days. Now it was a reflex, when she felt a tingle of intuition, to put them up and keep them up. "It's not like I have a choice with a slave driver for a teacher," she teased.
He chuckled as he extended his hand to her and she gratefully took it. He pulled her into his arms, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "You can keep me out, Angel, but can you keep out Palpatine?"
She nodded, feeling confident in her ability, "I can and will, Anakin. I won't fail you in that fashion."
He hugged her tightly, "I didn't think you would. We should check how close we are."
They made their way to the cockpit in time to see the reversion button begin to flash red. Anakin checked the count down and quickly strapped himself in. "Less than 10 seconds, Angel, strap in!"
She did, finishing the last buckle on her crash webbing as he was pulling the hyperspace levers back, bringing them back to real space. She inhaled sharply, still amazed by the planet that was one huge city. Couruscant, its lights visible through the atmosphere, was spread out below them.
He smiled wryly, "I've never liked this planet."
Padmé laughed, checking the sensors, "That makes two of us. It's majestic though, don't you think?"
"In an alloy only kind of capacity."
She chuckled, "We've got a line up on entrance vectors, unless you've got some kind of Jedi trick to get us through this."
He keyed the comm., "This is the freighter, Sun Screamer, requesting landing clearance at the Jedi temple."
The comm. crackled before a voice on the other end came to life. "Shuttle Sun Screamer, the Jedi temple platforms are reserved for Jedi. Transmit your clearance codes."
Anakin hit a series of buttons and waited as the code was checked. Each Jedi had their own code, and his was unique, even among the many.
The comm. crackled again, "Jedi Knight Skywalker, you're cleared for landing at pad 6948A39Zeta. Welcome to Coruscant."
"Thank you control." He clicked off the comm. and punched the landing vector into the computer system. The ship would be remote flown to their destination point, but Anakin would keep a careful eye on their approach.
"Well, that was easy."
He flashed her a half smile, "What can I say, Jedi sometimes have privileges. We could have used your old Senator codes, but I doubt they'd be accepted anymore."
She made a face, "I keep forgetting everyone thinks I'm dead."
He reached out and gently rubbed his fingers over the back of her hand, "Those who matter know better. Chin up, we'll be meeting with the Sith Lord soon enough. Once we land, I've got to find Master Yoda and you're not leaving my side."
She smiled, "Not for all the credits in the galaxy."
He nodded once before turning his attention back to the ship. This was going to be the most difficult challenge either of them had faced and, for the sake of their children, they had to prevail.
Anakin stepped from the ramp to the landing pad, Padmé at his side. She was cloaked in his spare Jedi robe, hidden from view. Anakin looked around, stopping when he caught sight of a small, green figure waiting for them by the main doors. The diminutive Jedi Master leaned easily against his gimmer stick as Anakin and Padmé walked towards him, Anakin's hand wrapped securely about their bag.
Anakin inclined his upper body in greeting, "Master Yoda."
The small Jedi's gaze was assessing, "Knight Skywalker. Returned you have. Why?"
Anakin glanced over his shoulder at Padmé, "We need to speak with the council."
Yoda's gaze went to Padmé, "Lady Skywalker, a pleasure this is."
Padmé inclined her head to Master Yoda, "This is a matter of some urgency, Master Yoda, would it be possible to convene an emergency meeting of the council?"
"Weak we are, fewer than six on the council now. Speak your concerns, you may." He turned, leading them into the temple. Once inside, Padmé stepped up to walk next to Anakin, staying close to his side. She'd been in here only once, and didn't want to get lost.
The halls of the temple were quiet and few Jedi could be seen walking through the massive corridors. A feeling of sadness and loss permeated the air, making Anakin shiver. Since the battle on Geonosis, the Jedi ranks had been slow to recover. The loss of a hundred Jedi, many of them masters, had been almost crippling. Yoda stepped into a small seat, folding himself into the confines and activating the anti-grav repulsors. The chair floated into the air and he turned it to look at them, "This way."
They followed him to a set of lifts, entering when the doors opened, and waiting for him to pick their destination. The lift engaged, Padmé leaning against one of the walls, lifting one hand to tug her hood back. "I don't know how you can wear these things," she grimaced, patting her hair back into place.
Anakin chuckled, "It could be worse. Is Master Kenobi around, Master Yoda?"
Yoda nodded, "Awaiting you in the council hall, he is."
Anakin blinked. "Pardon?"
"Your help we need, Jedi Skywalker."
"My help? But I came here for yours."
Yoda chuckled, "Help each other, we can."
Anakin fell silent as Padmé chuckled, "It's a fair trade Anakin. You honestly didn't think we'd just walk in here and get their help did you?"
His sheepish expression told her he'd expected just that. She grasped his hand and squeezed his fingers in silent support. They were quiet as the lift sped upwards, their eyes asking the same question behind Yoda's back. What could the council possibly need his help for?