Chapter 10 Strong is He
Anika continued working in her lab, she was a bundle of nerves. All was quiet in the building, so she assumed that Obi-Wan made it out without incident. The risk she was taking was a great one, but her father took risks too. If she and her brother were ever to have a normal life, risks had to be taken. The door opened and the young scientist stiffened, she then busied herself at a computer terminal. She did not bother to turn around when the person who entered began to speak.
"Anika, there has been a disturbance this evening."
Anika took a deep breath and turned to face her captor, "Was there? I did not notice."
Raff studied the girl's eyes and Anika held his gaze, "Yes, you would not know anything about it, would you?"
Lying, Anika replied, "No, I have been in the lab all evening."
Raff took a step closer and took Anika's chin in his fingers, softly at first and then squeezing so it was uncomfortable, "Good, make sure you stay in this lab. Make sure you have nothing to do with this saboteur. You will be sorry if you do."
Letting go, Raff turned on his heal and left the lab leaving a very shaken Anika in his wake.
Back at his ship, Obi-Wan made contact with the temple for the first time since he left, Mace Windu was the one who took the call.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, you had better explain yourself," Mace was not angry at the boy, but he was concerned.
Obi-Wan answered, "Master Windu, I am sending you information on the components that make up this chemical weapon as well as an antidote. I am also on to something, General Raff is planning something devastating. I will continue what I'm doing and inform you when I know."
Mace studied the face of the young Jedi in the view screen before him, such purpose shone in his eyes. Very much like his master when Qui-Gon was a young knight. Mace quietly asked, "Obi-Wan, are you certain that you know what you are doing?"
This surprised Obi-Wan, he had expected the council to demand that he leave immediately, "Yes, Master. I do. I have to do this, the force is telling me to do this. I'm being cautious, I'm aware of my surroundings."
"Very well, Young Padawan. I give you my blessing to continue your work," Mace knew Qui-Gon was going to be furious with him, but this felt right, "What shall I tell your master, he has been very worried for you."
At the mention of the word Master, Obi-Wan's eyes began to fill and his voice shook as he replied, "Tell him that I love him, and tell him thank you for preparing me for this trial."
"Will do, Young One, May the force be with you."
"You told Obi-Wan, WHAT?" Qui-Gon screamed at the com screen, "How could you do that Mace? You know how dangerous this is. What could happen to him. You had no right to give him the council's blessing to stay!"
Mace answered very calmly, "Qui-Gon, I had EVERY right. Besides, he knows what he is doing."
Qui-Gon closed his eyes, "I am fully aware at how talented my student is, but I don't want to lose him. I'm going in."
"No, Qui-Gon, you can't," Mace ordered, "You need to stay where you are. Obi-Wan has done well, he sent us the components of the chemical as well as an antidote. He also said that General Raff was planning something, if you were to go in now, you would ruin all that he has worked for."
Qui-Gon was torn, he did not care what Mace or the council said, he wanted to run in there and get his apprentice of that force forsaken planet. He was about to argue, but Darick was able to reason with him.
"No, Qui, we must wait. If we rush in there, we will put Obi-Wan as well as innocent people at risk." Darick told his friend, "I know its hard, I would have done anything to save Bruck, but we are dealing with something that we don't understand. We need to be patient and allow the force to guide us."
Qui-Gon knew that his friends were right. Here he was, a Jedi Master, who always lectured his padawan on the importance of patience. And now here he was having trouble following his own lessons. For the first time in weeks Qui-Gon let out a small grin, He really is just like me, the master thought.
