Chapter 4 – Devil in Disguise

 The following morning a quick rapping sound resonated through the room where the three Jedi Mediators were staying. Master Anny placed her tea down and walked over to the door, pressing a button on the panel beside it to open the door. The door slide open with a faint whoosh sound revealing Jibril standing in the hall on the other side. Master Anny didn't expect any sort of pleasantries to pass between them and decided not to ask the obvious and merely waited for Jibril to speak.

The younger woman forced a smile. She had to diplomatic. She couldn't afford to let her contempt for the Jedi to get in the way of her goal. She had slipped up last night and now Qui-Gon would be on guard. "I've been sent to brief you on how to act accordingly before Governess Valene." She stated in a calm, even voice.

Master Anny looked at her for a long moment "We've already been briefed." Master Anny replied, matching Jibril's tone.

"I know how the Jedi do their briefings, Master Anny. Don't forget I was one of you for half my life. You've been given the basics at most. There are also certain smaller details that you won't find in any documents that could mean the difference between peace and war." Jibril finished her argument with a smug smile, thoroughly pleased with herself.

Master Anny considered this for a moment and then stepped back from the doorway to let Jibril enter. Jibril nodded her head out of reflect as she passed the Jedi master. She kicked herself mentally. She hadn't been a Jedi for 12 years now but still some of the old habits lingered.

The two women walked into the living area of the small suit. It was the only room minus the three bedrooms that it was connected to. The remains of the light breakfast the Jedi had been served remained on a hover cart waiting to be taken away. Obi-Wan was kneeling on the ground, his hands folded and eyes closed. Obviously he was doing his morning meditations. Qui-Gon stood out on the balcony looking out at the city that was becoming increasingly busy as the morning hours grew late.

Master Anny walked over to Obi-Wan and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder to draw him out of his trance. She called for Qui-Gon join them and then waited for Jibril to begin. Jibril began her explanation of proper Attica etiquette. She had rehearsed this little speech for some time and could repeat it without thinking. As she talked she reached out with the force to connect with the natural Mother/Child bond that she shared with Obi-Wan. She treaded along it lightly not wanting to startle the young man, or gathered unwanted attention for the two Jedi Masters.

It saddened her that the bond was so weak and unnurtured but she would change that. She would bond with her son. Gain his trust and show him this was where he belonged. Where he was meant to be. With his Mother and Father, his true family. She pulled back from Obi-Wan's mind as she came to the end of her monologue. "Well, if there are no questions. You have an appointment with Governess Valene to get to." She turned away from them and began towards the door. She didn't invite them to follow her. She knew they would.

With the Meeting Hall being so close to where they were staying, walking seemed like a good idea. No point of wasting fuel for a trip that would take them only minutes to get there. Jibril slowed her pace and allowed Master Anny and Obi-Wan to pass in front of her. She watched her son closely thinking about all the things she had missed over the years: His first words, his first steps.

Qui-Gon walked up beside her and slowed his own stride to match hers. "You're being much more civil this morning." The Jedi Master observed, his gaze held in front of him.

"You merely caught me on a off day yesterday, Master Jinn."

"I see." Qui-Gon mused. He looked down for a moment and studied her. He then looked up at Master Anny and Padawan Kenobi ahead of him, making sure that they were not in earshot. "I have already warned you about him, Jibril. Yet you ignore me and invade his mind?"

Jibril wasn't as surprised as she was frustrated. She tried to keep her calm that she had so far been able to maintain. "He is my son and he doesn't even know I exist. I have a right—"

"You gave him up." Qui-Gon replied with his usual calm. She hated him for his control. Jedi could be so infuriating that way.

"I was bullied into it!" She snapped.

They reached the Meeting hall. Master Anny and Obi-Wan entered the building first. Qui-Gon was about to enter but the sound of Jibril's voice stopped him. "Why do care what happens to him, Qui-Gon? You are not his Master. Aren't you the man who pledged to never take another Padawan after Xanatos and now you take some kind of interest in his son?"

Qui-Gon looked back at her. She had a point. Why did he suddenly care about what happened to Obi-Wan? The boy had a master. She wasn't ignorant to the circumstances that surrounded his existence. If anyone should be concerned about him it was Master Anny not Qui-Gon. Yet he felt some sort of obligation to the boy. He had failed Xanatos maybe the Jedi Master saw his own salvation in making sure Obi-Wan didn't fall as his father had.

*~*~*

Governess Valene tugged irritably at the tight collar that felt as though it was threatening to choke her. She had always hated the pomp and circumstance that went along with her title as ruler. She saw it as a waste of energy and feeble attempt to appear superior, something that she had no trouble accomplishing on her own. She was superior. She wouldn't be ruler of Attica otherwise. "I would have much rather preferred a more formal signing as oppressed to this big celebration we have agreed to." The governess said to her advisor. "This is hardly a matter to celebrate."

"The people have called for it." The man said with a shrug. "This has been a long and trying ordeal. They want to let out all their worries with this victory."

"Victory? Is that what you call this Doucet?" She asked with skepticism. "This is hardly a victory for use. One of our transports was destroyed with the crew still inside. The Tenedos went against the rules of intergalactic warfare and when we demand retribution for our loss, we are made out to look like the bad guys." She leaned back in her seat. "This peace treaty is not a victory it's a surrender."

"Governess, would you rather have gone to war?"

The woman was silent for a moment trying to find the right words. "Is our way of life not worth fighting for if it is in jeopardy?"

Doucet was about to argue that their planet had not been to war for generations and that the planet Tenedos was known for it's efficient armies but the doors to the room opened and the new Jedi mediators entered with Jibril, a high citizen of the planet. Doucet stood in his seat and bowed slightly. Governess Valene remained seated but nodded her head to acknowledge the Jedi.

The three Jedi bowed and then took their seats. "Jibril, would you mind waiting outside?" Governess Valene asked in a pleasant tone. Jibril bowed, then turned and walked back out the door she had entered only a few seconds ago. Governess Valene turned her attention back to the three Jedi who sat across from her. "Thank you for coming at such short notice." She stated mostly out of duty rather then genuine gratitude. She had never seen any reason for the Jedi to be present through this who ordeal. Tenedos' leader was just trying to intimidate by having the Jedi watch over the proceedings.

"We want to see this end peacefully, Governess." Anny said. Her vision blurred slightly and she felt slightly dizzy but shook it off.

"I want the best for my people, Master Jedi. And peace is what they want. Governor Mac will be arriving by tomorrow morning. The proceedings for the sighing will be discussed till then." Jibril reentered the room after governess Valene finished speaking. Qui-Gon guessed that the Governess had called the woman back in through the force. "Jibril, would you mind seeing to it that the Jedi mediators become acquainted with the capital?"

Jibril bowed. "Yes, Governess."

Valene nodded and then stood. "I bid you good day then."

*~*~*

Master Anny walked out of the room with as much dignity that she could muster but once she was outside she had to brace herself up against the wall as a wave of dizziness swamped her. Her ruby red skin had grown pale and her lekku tails were twitching uncontrollably. She took in a depth breath and tried to compose herself when the door to the building slide open and Master Jinn and her padawan came out, followed a few seconds by Jibril.

Qui-Gon looked over to his comrade. He could see that she was suffering though she was doing a good job of hiding it. Jibril must have noticed it too as she asked, "Are feeling well, Master Anny?"

The female Twi'lek took her hand away from the wall and began walking. "I'm fine. A few hours in a healing trance should take of it." As she stepped the ground seemed to shift under her, casing her to stagger. Qui-Gon was by her side to grab hold of her incase she fell. "This is embarrassing," She muttered.

"Perhaps you should skip our tour of the city and head back to your room." Jibril suggested. "Master Jinn could escort you back to the hotel and Obi-Wan and I can go on ahead." There was too much eagerness in her tone. She could hear it and she knew that the masters could hear it.

"Actually," Master Anny said waving off Jibril's idea. She didn't trust this woman. She knew that Jibril had entered her Padawan's mind and didn't want her to be alone with the boy. "I think it would be best if Master Jinn stayed with Obi-Wan. The boy's training is on going and any break in it could hold him back." She looked up at Qui-Gon who seemed hesitant about taking the boy for a few hours. She pleaded with him silently.

Qui-Gon nodded and motioned for Jibril to help Master Anny. Reluctantly the woman walked over to the Twi'lek's side and placed her arm around her shoulder and began a slow but steady walk towards the hotel. Obi-Wan stood by and watched as his Master was taken away. Qui-Gon walked over to the boy's side and awkwardly placed a firm hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.


When they reached the suit, Master Anny was leaning heavily on Jibril for support. She had never felt weaker in her life. She was feeling ill and nausea was hitting her in wave after wave. The dizziness was constant now. Her perception was becoming clouded and all the sounds around her were echoes. It had to have been something in the tea she had this morning. Something strong. She was fighting it but the more effort she put into it the worse it became.

"It wouldn't hurt that much if you would just stop fighting it." Jibril explained as she dumped master Anny onto the carpeted floor of the suit. The Jedi Master hit the ground heavily. She rolled over to her back and looked up at the woman, her head crooked slightly to the side as she looked down at the helpless Jedi. "Don't worry it won't kill you. You're not worthy for death."

Master Anny tried to slide her hand down to her belt where her lightsaber was but it was gone. "Looking for this?" Jibril asked holding up the silver cylinder. Master Anny guessed that Jibril must have lifted it off of her as she was "helping" the Jedi master into the apartment. Master Anny closed her eyes and tried to focus. The drug that was in her system was pulling her down. "There is no point, Master Jedi." Jibril said her voice slightly menacing. "That drug was engineered on this planet and is especially made for force sensitive. It cuts you off from the force and takes complete control of ever part of you except your mind. You'll be under our command and do exactly as we tell you."

We? Another figure loomed over her. She wasn't able to make out the person clearly but when she heard the cold voice the Jedi master knew exactly whom it was, "I was hoping that my old friend Master Jinn would be with you. Kill to birds with one stone, no?" Xanatos. He crouched down beside her and ran a hand down the side of her cheek. "But you'll do for now."

"The beautiful thing is you'll be totally aware of what you're doing but won't be able to stop it." She had to do something. Had to warn her padawan and Qui-Gon. She tried to let out one last desperate cry through the force. //Obi-Wan!// The last of Master Anny's restraints went down and she succumbed to the drug