Chapter 4

Obi-Wan walked side by side with Anakin through the halls of the Jedi Temple. He made sure to stay steady with the young man to emphasis his position on the recent revelation. It was obvious that in this difficult time, Anakin needed as many loyal friends as possible. He pledged to himself that he would support Anakin under any circumstances. If the boy was cast from the Jedi Order, he would still support him in his endeavors. The affirmation that Anakin was almost impervious to the seduction of the Sith completely sealed the subject.

The two made headway for the Council chambers. This Council meeting would not fall under the sector of mundane dealings of the Jedi, although most wouldn't. This Council meeting was "special" on multiple levels. Obi-Wan knew something Anakin didn't, and Anakin had left out a particular fact of the recent revelation. Both were hiding something from each other under the pretenses that it would be more helpful if the other were left out of the loop. The difference was that Obi-Wan was about to reveal his secret. His deck of cards would soon be spread across the table.

The Council doors slid open with a thin hiss, and the two were met with almost a full audience of Jedi masters. There were some missing, but the missing members were sparse and obviously were on their way. Obi-Wan gestured for Anakin to take his seat, bowing low before the other members. He leaned in close Anakin and whispered.

"Keep your thoughts at bay, and pay close attention."

This advice may have seemed to be another default speech given to a padawan, but something deep in the voice of Obi-Wan revealed it's importance. Something was going to be different about this Council meeting. Anakin could feel his body tingling at the thought.

"We have convened this meeting for two reasons," Mace Windu spoke. He did so with his typical posture: leaning with steepled fingers. "We will get to the most pertinent first. A recent informant has detailed a sighting of Sidious' craft over Mustafar. We need to come to a decision on our actions."

Yoda took his seat at the final syllable of Windu's last word. Wasting no time, he jumped into the meeting. "Important our actions are. Chess pieces we are also. Result in a range of consequences any wrong move will."

"What are our options?" Plo Koon asked through his respirator.

"Our options are," Windu began. "We can either choose to attack now with our strongest forces, or we can wait. Once we decide on the two, we can move on to the specifics of the given operation."

Saesse Tiin shifted in his seat. "Either choice presents obvious consequences. If we attack, it may turn out to be another trap set to take out the strongest of our order. If we wait, he may bide his time, and take another apprentice."

"He will take another apprentice," Anakin voiced quickly, pulled from his revery. "He was planning to take me as his apprentice. I believe that he was searching for a new apprentice even before Dooku's death."

"If found another apprentice is, increased the difficulty in his capture will be."

"I vote to wait," Obi-Wan spoke strongly. The Council fell silent. "Under the fact that I request a short sabbatical for Anakin and me."

"What do you mean?" Mace Windu asked, shocked at the change in conversation.

"I believe that it would be helpful to both our mind and body that we take a short sabbatical to reconnect with the force." He stopped, staring back at all the other members who seemed rapt in his proclamation. "Of course, if anything turns up, or if we are needed planet-side, we will be available."

Mace Windu sighed. Normally, the sigh would have been construed as agitation, but the emotion behind it evoked a sense of weariness. "We have all been under a certain amount of "stress," but I believe that Anakin and Obi-Wan have both suffered the brunt of it. I agree with your request for a sabbatical. I also side with the idea to wait. It will only better our knowledge of Sidious if we wait. A rash action could result in catastrophe."

The entire Council nodded in approval. Obi-Wan smiled.

"It seems that everyone is in agreement, so we will move on to our next subject." Mace paused, glancing over at Yoda who sat gingerly, gnawing on his gimer stick. "The subject of Anakin's position in the Jedi Order."

Anakin jerked upright. Obi-Wan promised he wouldn't tell! His mind instantly went into overdrive, processing the shock. Could it be that Obi-Wan wasn't as loyal as he thought he was? He had known the man for decades, and only now it seemed that the Jedi Master had betrayed him. He looked over at Obi-Wan with a face of stone. He noted the large smile on Obi-Wan's face. That bastard. Anakin sat rigid, fingers tingling. His future waited on the precipice of the next sentence.

Yoda slid off of his chair onto the marble floor silently. He stepped forward, balancing himself with his gimer stick. "Our decision it is, that for Anakin Skywalker, that the rank of Master be fully given."

Mace took the next sentence without a beat missed. "We acknowledge your intense loyalty to the Jedi Order, and thus have decided to make your position on the Jedi Council official."

Fire of embarrassment flooded Anakin's face. The sudden spin of the situation was even more shocking. He felt the wave of pleasure at the announcement, but also felt the shame of silently calling his Master a bastard. His thoughts jumped ahead of him, and resulted once again in embarrassment. At least I didn't shout it, Anakin thought with a sigh of relief.

Obi-Wan reached over and patted the young "Master" on the back. "Congratulations, my young friend."

Seemingly there was no end to Anakin's excitement. He would now have access to the Jedi Archives, which meant a possible end to his nightmares. To top it off, Obi-Wan had requested a sabbatical! It was more than Anakin could possibly chew mentally. He had to speak to Padme.

Anakin waited outside, bobbing back and forth across the landing pad with excitement. When Obi-Wan exited the compound, he was met with an enormous hug from the young man. Even the years of indoctrination against emotions could stop his jubilation.

"I owe you so much, Master."

Obi-Wan grinned, returning the embrace. "You have no idea."

"I have so much to do," Anakin beamed. "I have to tell Padme, and then begin searching the Jedi Archives–"

"Hold on, my young apprentice. You can go speak with Padme, but prepare your goodbyes with her."

Anakin loosened his death grip on the Jedi Master. "What are you talking about?"

"We're going to Ilum. There we will have a much closer connection to the force, and with a bit of luck, we will find an answer to your questions."

"Please tell me we're not going to that frozen block of ice."

Obi-Wan leaned in close, with a sardonic smile. "Anakin, pack your tundra gear, because were going to that "frozen block of ice."

Obi-Wan took his leave of the Jedi Temple. As Anakin watched him leave, his deep frown flushed into an expression of pure joy. He leapt into the air, throwing his arms up.