"Does pacing around give you any comfort?"
Anakin stopped mid-stride and turned to stare at the other Padawan, now having the chance and opportunity to study the boy who had taken the name of his savior. Qui Gon Manasseh was perched on a windowsill, seemingly content to stare out into Galatia as if watching the city pass him by would give him some enlightenment. For a boy, Qui Gon was small and for a Jedi, he was downright feeble. Slender and pale, he had countless tresses of brown hair falling down over his narrow shoulders and revealing sharp nose and deep cloudy eyes that seemed to revealed a wise spirit. He had Qui Gon's quiet look of profound wisdom and steadiness and despite the decade that had passed, Anakin shifted uncomfortably in this boy's presence as if he were the old venerable Master and Anakin were the uncertain boy again.
Anakin shifted his weight and suppressed a frown. "Yes, it does. I prefer action to all this waiting and silence." He glanced at the Throne Room he had been expelled from. "What are they doing in there?"
"I would assume they're trying to piece together what has happened in the ten years they've been apart." Qui Gon looked down and studied his hands. "And deciding the next course of action."
Anakin folded his arms, "You're nervous about this mission."
"Not nervous, Master Anakin, just uncertain. My Master has never excluded me from meetings before. I feel like I have failed in her some way."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I know she views this mission as different, and what she wants of me on this mission. And I know I will fail her." Qui Gon turned, and met Anakin's eyes uncertainly. Anakin was struck at how scared the boy seemed. "I am Parcaen, named after a great hero here. Creed wants me to connect with this system, but I cannot. I feel it would go against everything I was trained a Jedi should be."
"And what should a Jedi be, Qui Gon?" Anakin felt odd using that name after so many years, and addressing someone so young in the process. He also could have sworn he saw the Padawan flinch at the sound of the name as well. Inwardly, Anakin winced. He wasn't good with other Jedi, especially the younger ones who had never been outside of the Temple alone. He stretched and motioned for Qui Gon to follow him. "Come on, what do I call you anyway?"
Qui Gon blinked nervously and slid from his perch. He was dwarfed by Anakin and had to almost run to keep in stride with Anakin. "Manasseh's fine."
"Good, Manasseh it is then. I'm Anakin." He breathed a sigh of relief that he would no longer have to refer to this boy as his first Master. "Now, what should Jedi be?"
"Impartial. Briand is asking me to become attached to this system, to these people and my past. I cannot do that."
"Why not? Are you not capable of love?"
"It's not that, Master Anakin."
"I'm not a Master, Manasseh. Just call me Anakin."
"Yes Master, it's just that Jedi aren't suppose to become attached. That's what she's asking of me."
Anakin inhaled for a moment, "What is our goal as Jedi?"
"To bring peace and order to the galaxy."
"Would you die for that cause?"
"If needed."
"Why?"
"Because I believe in it."
"In other words, you trust it."
"Yes."
"And you're very loyal to that cause."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"That's love." He said. "That's all love is, trust and attachment. Creed is just asking you to do your duty. These people are going to need you to give your whole self to them- to their safety. That requires a certain amount of trust that will always lead to love. You cannot fight for something you do not love. We don't work that way."
Qui Gon turned and looked at him. "How can you be so certain?"
"Because I have faith. But that's another thing altogether. Come on. I'll tell you about that on the way."
"Where are we going?"
"To meet the people you're suppose to protect." Anakin said simply. "Your people."
Crowned Prince Elias was a handsome young man with dark brown hair and purple and indigo eyes. A long, built body that was barely hidden under his silk robes made him everything the people looked for in a leader. In lieu of a crown, the emblem of his rite of succession was the gold braided coil around his neck. An early terrorist attack on him during childhood had left him mute but not dumb. He knew how to play people. He had learned people often underestimated him because he could not speak- and those who didn't feared him as if silence made him deadly.
But right now, he was confused out of his mind. His eyes were small and focused on the Jedi before glancing curiously at his Senator.
Gai Vinn had the same terrorized look that the servants had. There's something distinctly disturbing about three upset Jedi. "I have no clue, my Prince but perhaps we should…duck?"
Elias shook his head and looked at his servants. The telepath that was used as his voice rose to his feet to speak. Anteros was use to this silencing the room, but apparently the Jedi would have no disturbances at this reunion.
"You backstabbing coward! You viper!" Briand's face was turning the color of her crimson robes. She had Adame backing slowly against the wall while Obi Wan was staring blankly between the two females. He suddenly looked very young, and very frightened as if he was accustomed to battles between the two and knew from painful memories there was nothing he could do to stop it. "You desert demon! You betrayed us all! You don't deserve to be named Jinn! You're acting like some kind of politician, no offense Gai Vinn. What on earth are you thinking serving the Separatists?"
"Briand," Adame soothed, smiling behind the curtain of brown hair like if she knew some joke that Briand didn't. "I'm not betraying my name or myself by working for the Separatist. I'm after the same goal you are as a Jedi. I want peace."
"Dooku's after war, we all know that!"
"He said there would be people who thought as you did. The Count is visionary and visions, especially to those who have not yet understood the truth, can be a very scary thing. I don't blame you, Andy." Adame reached over to touch her arm.
Briand flinched away, and spoke in a soft whisper. "Don't you dare call me Andy. You lost that right when you left us."
Now, Adame looked unnerved. "That was a long time ago. Things were difficult for me."
"Yeah, losing your father…"
"I'd prefer not to remember that now, Creed."
"Maybe you need to!" Briand shouted. "Something needs to snap you out of this."
"I don't know why you think something's wrong with me. I am still the same person I was those years ago- just wiser, like you must be."
"No, you're not! The Adame I knew would never hide behind words and deal in the shadows."
"Because I came before you and talked to my King, you say I'm being deceitful? I'm working for the benefit of my people. As a Parcaen, and an Elite that is what's expected!"
"What about being a Jedi!"
"I'm not a Jedi, Briand."
"But you should be." Now it was Obi Wan who spoke and although it was barely a whisper everyone, even deaf Elias turned to his direction. Obi Wan was staring at his hands that were barely appearing under the huge brown cuffs. His voice was low, measured and filled with something that could be described as pain but seemed to reveal only thought. "Of all us, you should be. I sense the heartache within you even behind your polished words, Adame, and I am left to wonder what could cause such pain."
"You're mistaken, Ben. There is no pain in my heart about losing the Jedi. I am proud of what I've become."
"Perhaps, but still I sense that there is some…other motive now for your actions."
"Such as?" Adame whispered, warily. Beside her, Briand smiled smugly as she felt Adame call upon the Force to gather some idea of Obi Wan's intentions. Using her own skills, Briand reached out and blocked Adame's attempts. She smirked when she saw Adame grunt angrily and glare at her.
If Obi Wan had sensed the struggle, he ignored it and turned to Prince Elias and Gai Vinn. "You have called me Qui Gon's son, my Prince, now I beg of you to hear my voice out as you would have his and weight it as you would his daughter's. Adame is a proud Parcaen, like Qui Gon was, but his death those years ago has marred her- against the Jedi and the Republic, like it did for me or would have to any child of such a man. I ask you to consider that perhaps her lost has made her bitter, and bias against the Republic. This I ask, as you have heard from Qui Gon's daughter hear from me, his son, and then make your choice to remain with the Republic or succeed."
Adame stepped forward. "My Lord, I have the Kingdom's safety at heart!"
Gai Vinn smiled and rose like he had been handed the Chancellorship on a platter. He popped his knuckles haughtily and walked towards Elias, bowing with a deep flourish that years of ass kissing that had perfected and fine-tuned. "If my esteemed sister Jinn has nothing but the Kingdom's intentions at heart, then she should welcome the chance to prove herself." He turned and smiled at Adame. "My Lady's days away from her home must be hard and trying- like it is on me, or even Obi Wan's. These are trying times for our people, perhaps we should allow both her and the Jedi to see firsthand how troubling and then, advise you, my Prince."
"There is no need for counsel," Adame hissed. "Unless of course, Prince Elias is won over by flowery words and the magic shows of the Jedi."
Briand made a movement towards Adame again, Obi Wan barely had time to grab her arm and keep her at bay. He gave Briand a gentle look, and patted her hand before sliding an arm around her waist to keep her close. "Prince, all I have to show you is what Qui Gon taught me."
This time Adame flinched as if she had been struck. Her hand fell around her waist, cradling it and staring down at her boots as if for guidance.
And it took everything in Obi Wan not to comfort her.
Elias inhaled thoughtfully and turned to Gai Vinn silently judging his Senator, before turning back and searching each one of the Jedi's eyes in turn. He nodded to himself as he reached his decision and then turned to walk away.
Anteros nodded at him before turning towards the Jedi. "My Prince has decided that is a deep matter, one that cannot fixed even by the Jedi in one day. There is much pain here and that first that must be remedied. To that end, my Prince has asked the Jedi to remain and celebrate our most sacred of holidays with us. It will be Mari Nula soon, our celebration of the New Year and a time for better understandings of where we were and where we are going. He will make his decision and announce it at the end of celebrations. That is all, so has Elias spoken."
"You got all that from a glance, eh?" Briand snorted as she folded her arms over his chest. She glared at Adame before turning to Gai Vinn. "I don't suppose I could bum a room off of you, eh?"
"Sure, you're welcome to my home." Gai Vinn said, softly.
"No," Anteros said. "They will stay at Megiddo." He raised a hand as Adame began to speak. He looked at her sternly. "The Prince wishes it."
Adame nodded after a long pause to control her face. Obi Wan sensed an anger in her that he had felt once before, in the Sith that killed Adame's father. He closed his eyes as he attempted to reach through the Force to her, to calm her.
"Don't." Adame said sharply. She was looking at him coldly. "I am not one for your parlor tricks and opiates."
Briand looked up. "No, you like to hide."
"You know the way to Megiddo, I trust." Adame said as she walked out. "I have to contact my employer in inform him of his new event."