The Book of Paths: The Chosen Path

by red rose knight

Six years have gone by since The Long Twilight Path. As sentiments are turning against the Jedi, ObiWan Kenobi and his apprentice Bali Tiro return… COMPLETE

6.

The Book of Understanding

Pushing any thoughts of doubt from his mind, Obi-Wan steeled himself the moment he stepped into the atrium that Yoda had abandoned him in the day before.

Unfortunately he could not silence the nagging little voice in the back of his mind that insisted on reminding him that what he ws doing was crazy.

He was not a teacher of initiates.

Until the day Bali was knighted, Obi-Wan was uncertain that he could claim to be a successful teacher of padawans. For all he knew he was screwing Bali up terribly.

Well, if that were the case, someone would have noticed by now, right? Still he was often left wondering if he could be doing something better to aid in Bali's training.

Pausing in the middle of the atrium, Obi-Wan tugged at the edges of his cloak reminding himself why he was doing this. He had promised Yoda to at least consider it. With a slight turn, he could see into the high arching doorway where the Chalactan master guided a group of very young initiates toward a circular area within their classroom. Some of the children followed while others led as they all rushed to put up their blinder helmets and training sabers.

"Come now, little ones," Master Ilume said with a smile and a gentle tone as she directed them toward the back of the classroom. At the sight of Obi-Wan, her smile faded but she quickly returned her attention to the children. "Come, younglings, it is time for meditation." The dozen initiates clamored around the ring of pillows to find the best place to observe their teacher.

Obi-Wan pulled his cloak close as he silently watched from the corridor as Ilume guided the children through a simple mediation technic.

"Relax now, little ones. Feel the Force moving through you and around you. Feeling it guiding you." After a short silence, the dark eyed master looked out at her meditative, if not still wiggly initiates and smiled. The pride glowed in her dark eyes. Rising silently from her place, she walked through the circle of children to the arched entrance of the room where Obi-Wan had quietly drawn. Her long, multilayered skirt flowed smoothly just above the floor. By the time she had reached the Jedi, the gentleness of her features had faded into a sharp, predatory glare. "Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan bowed respectfully.

"I see Yoda insisted on speaking to you." She frowned staring up at him. "I firmly believe Yoda to be out of his little green head in suggesting you as my substitute."

"I have entertained such feelings myself."

Ilume huffed. "Obviously not in depth enough to ignore his maddened suggestion. These are impressionable younglings first and foremost."

"I understand—"

"Do you Master Kenobi?" she said rather sharply. "I have trouble believing this. Your reputation is a difficult thing to ignore and I do not believe you to be suited in dealing with children. I often wonder what strings were pulled to allow you to take on of padawan."

Obi-Wan grimaced at her reference toward Bali but remained calm. Habitually he tugged at the layers of his cloak and then folded his arms into the warm, billowing sleeves.

In Ilume's sharp eyes, he could see she took offense to the gesture but he was cold.

"You are a dominating figure, just like your master."

"I am not my master," Obi-Wan replied sharply. "Take me on my own merits or lack thereof but do not compare me to anyone else."

Eyeing him carefully, she announced, "No, I do not want you instructing my children."

"As you wish," he said with a small bow. "It was, after all, only a suggestion and neither of us are bound to it."

"Thank the Force!" Ilume cried out. "Mercifully you will only be responsible for one damaged padawan and not an entire class." She turned and started back toward her meditating students.

"Master Ilume," Obi-Wan said calmly as he took a few long strides forward to close the distance between he and the initiate instructor. "I accept without question your reasons for not wanting me to teach your class. You are only looking out for the best interest of your students." He kept his voice low so the words were only offered to Ilume. "My padawan has done nothing to deserve your bitter words and I would greatly appreciate you not speaking of him so." He then respectfully bowed and retreated from the room leaving the Chalactan just standing there.

"Master Ilume?" a small boy called from the initiate circle.

The Chalactan turned to face the boy. "Yes, Linok?"

"Is everything all right?"

"Of course." She frowned. "Sometimes masters need to learn lessons too." She turned toward the retreating Jedi. "Master Kenobi?" When Obi-Wan turned, she motioned the students to pay attention to the other Jedi. "Master Kenobi would like to meet with you all."

Obi-Wan looked to Ilume curiously, wondering what had suddenly inspired the change of heart. Then he looked to the many small eyes that were focused on him. At Ilume's gentle prompting, he walked to the circle of wide-eyed children.

The Chalactan said softly, "I often let my emotions get ahead of me. You should at least meet with the younglings especially after I had made such a scene." Turning back to her students, Ilume announced, "Since all of your meditations have been disrupted, I think it would be good for Master Kenobi to lead you back to your calm center."

Obi-Wan looked at her worriedly but was met with a smile.

"You may be an experienced field Jedi but none of that will help you in here." She then quickly retreated from the circle of students allowing Obi-Wan alone in the center.

Sweeping back the edges of his cloak, the Jedi smoothly sank into a meditative stance. "It was very easy for you all to break from meditation to see what was going on. That is good. You should always be aware of your surroundings but you should always know when it is required to break from mediation and when you can ignore the little things that creep in." He studied the children who watched him. Motioning them close, he said softly, "Let us begin with the meditative stance. When you can find a cushion use it, but sometimes, no matter where we are, we must meditate. We must seek our center. This is the way we kneel."

Without prompting, the younglings mimicked Obi-Wan's stance and knelt around him on the floor eager for the softly spoken instruction.

The Book of Troublemakers

"So, I came into this—"

"You are going to get me in trouble again."

"Who me? I never made you do anything," Awar offered up his best look of innocence but when Bali did not agree he laughed and leaned back against the wall from his small room's sleep couch. "Remember that time we blew up Master Ilume with the munge ball? She had that sticky green goo in her hair for weeks"

"Yes, but we were ten at the time."

Awar laughed and reached up and Force manipulated a hanging model of a Jedi Starfighter so it rocked on the nearly invisible filaments that held it close to the ceiling.

"You know I was innocent once," Bali said to his red headed friend, "before you corrupted me." He pulled out the desk chair and got comfortable on it before checking his data pad full of study notes.

"You were hardly innocent. Daen Lebo wasn't chasing you because you looked at him funny."

"Maybe if you had not pushed me into his way—"

"You would never have met your master. So maybe you should be thanking me." Awar burst into a wide grin.

"Thanks for the bloody nose Daen gave me first."

The door slid open and Bali jumped to his feet at the sight of the regal, silver haired master that strode into the already crowded room.

"Master Anya," the dark haired padawan said quickly before bowing.

"Well, at least someone here has manners," she said tersely while looking the youth over. She adjusted her deep reddish brown cloak that sheltered her light brown tunic and the long, multilayered skirt accented with the patterned yellow sash around her waist. She was an imposing figure that would inspire even the Jedi's greatest detractors into an awed silence upon her entrance to any room. "Padawan Tiro, I presume."

"Yes, Master."

"So you are the troublemaker Awar calls friend."

"Troublemaker?" Bali squeaked.

Breaking into a warm smile, Anya teased, "Oh, do not worry, young Tiro. I am well aware of Awar's reputation. He needed no one's help in getting it."

Bali grinned at his sheepish nineteen-year-old friend.

"Yes, but he helped, often," Awar shot back. "Right?"

"I was coerced."

"I cannot imagine that," the master replied. She tilted her head slightly toward Bali. "I just wanted to meet the famous Padawan Tiro. Now I will leave you two to your non-troublesome conversations." She paused and raised a silver brow. "And please, no more soap bombs."

"We will do our best," her padawan answered.

Once the tall master had retreated from the room leaving them alone, Bali asked, "What silly rumors have you been perpetuating about me?"

"Don't worry. She is a very good-natured master and is quite different from Master Pin'uatu. I mean she met you and still likes you."

"I guess that is a good thing." Bali thoughts drifted toward the strict Pin'uatu who was convinced Bali was the corrupting part of the friendship. Compared to his own master, the apprentice knew he would never have been happy with such a stern master as the Borsk Jedi. Still, in Awar's eyes, Bali could see the sadness of losing Pin'uatu. "You miss him."

"He was a good master, even if he was strict. Master Anya lost her padawan on the same mission and we just kind of bonded through our mutual losses. Two master/padawan teams and two knights went into the tense Ehbokondo conflict. There was fear that if they broke out into their own civil war the Republic would lose one of its major staging grounds in the war."

"You stopped it. Master Anya negotiated a non-aggression treaty."

"Well, tell that to the rebels that attacked us before the signing of the treaty. They killed half of us before the Ehbokondo guard arrived to drive them back. I could not even function with my master dead, but Master Anya stood up and returned to the negotiation table and kept at it until they signed. Can you imagine doing that?"

Bali quietly shook his head.

"At first I thought she was the coldest, most uncaring being I had ever met, but then when the mission was done and we returned to Coruscant, I think she sat by the stasis box her padawan was in and cried the entire trip. After the funeral rights had been completed, I was still kind of floating around in space when I bumped into her. We started talking and here I am." Awar gave a sad smile, then brightened. "Master Pin'uatu taught me how to be a warrior on the battle field and now Master Anya is teaching me the more treacherous diplomatic field. She thinks I will be an excellent negotiator someday."

Bali giggled.

"What?" Awar asked.

"The master prankster a respected diplomat?"

"Master Windu is."

"Yes, but when was the last time he blew up the women's locker room with a soap bomb?"

The Book of Sand

There was dry warmth to the room of sand and stone. While the floor space was small, the sandy colored walls stretched high to the azure ceiling where natural light was piped in through fiber-optic networks that twisted throughout the ancient temple like arteries delivering life sustaining nutrients.

Along the walls ran the simple stone walkway and to the far side of the small room to a plain stone bench that allowed full view of the large placed stones and the rings and lines that flowed through the pool of sand on the floor.

Midnight blue eyes followed the gentle lines drawn in the fine grains, tracing every large stone and even a few of the smaller red ones that broke up the monotony of the straight lines.

Qui-Gon Jinn had been there for hours, alone with his thoughts. He found a strange peace within the complete silence that he could not find in the gardens with their falling waters and shifting leaves.

Besides, it beat sitting alone in the temporary quarters he called home.

A soft grunt brought on by arthritic joints drew the white haired master's attention to Yoda as he hobbled along the stone path toward the bench.

"Master," Qui-Gon said with a slight nod.

"For tired bones, even small rooms seem big," the ancient master huffed as he made the last few steps to the bench where the other master silently slid to one side. "Lost, you are," came the gravelly pronouncement.

"I know exactly where I am," the tall master defiantly replied.

"Physically." Yoda laughed as he leaned heavily against his gimer stick then pressed one of his clawed hands to his chest. "Lost in here you are."

Sharp eyes under white brows glared at the little master but he did not argue. Instead, he dully turned his attention back to the lines in the sand following the rings around a rust colored stone off to his left.

Huffing slightly, the little green master moved close to the bench before guiding the Force to levitate himself up to the stone seat. "Different garden this is for you."

"I wanted to be alone," Qui-Gon said softly but his words were hollow, much like he felt inside. A small part of him wished for mission to take him from the temple. Wished for anything to call him away from the little thoughts that clung to the edge of his mind.

"Alone you have been. Seek solitude now, you do not." Large yellow eyes studied the white haired Jedi master. When the other did not offer him a look, Yoda sighed and shook his head. "Opened, your eyes have been."

"Is that what you think?" the other asked indignantly as a fire sparked behind the deep blue depths of his eyes. Angry with himself that he was so easily read, even to one as skilled as Yoda. "I have been many things. A fool among others but I was never blind."

"Blind, no. Selective vision you had. Saw only what you wanted to see."

Qui-Gon opened his mouth to argue but stopped. Exhaling, the master turned his attention back to the meditation garden. "You speak to me as if I am a child."

"Hmm, acted like one you have."

The last thing he wanted was to be berated by that troll. Standing up, the tall Jedi started to traverse the stone walkway to the invisible door.

"A mistake you made."

Yoda's gravelly voice echoed through the chamber and brought Qui-Gon to a sudden stop. The master twisted about to see the little green figure still perched on the bench waiting for a reply. He did not need Yoda to tell him of his errors. He saw it in the fact that he should be a proud master knighting his apprentice about now. He saw it in the other apprentice he had turned his back on, the one who he now wished he could share a few moments of conversation. It was evident to him by the light in young Bali Tiro's eyes, the same light Obi-Wan's had once possessed. No one had to tell him that he had made mistakes but others had paid the price.

Qui-Gon knew but felt completely helpless to do anything about it.

Aged eyes focused on the younger Jedi as the little master stirred his gimer stick. "Rules there are. One padawan to a master at a time. No more, no less. Ignore this you did. Training the boy, you began against the Council's will. Great trouble you created."

"Anakin needed trained." That was a singular truth that Qui-Gon would not let go of. For if he were wrong, then the last fifteen years of his life were meaningless.

"Padawan you had."

"Obi-Wan's training was nearly complete. He had a trial by fire in facing the Sith. What more could I have done for him? Keeping him a padawan would only have hindered him."

"Been there you could have been."

"And what of Anakin? I promised to take care of him, to look after his training. You were going to send him away."

Yoda straightened in his seat. "Deliberated the Council. Decision not lightly made."

"Obi-Wan was not going to wake up. They never wake up from healing comas." The master's cloak floated out above the calm sands as he quickly strode back to the bench where Yoda quietly sat. Anger touched his voice. "You heard Dirad. They do not wake up. What was I supposed to do? Sit there and wait?"

"Wake, they do. Rare it is but they do. Give him the chance, you did not."

Qui-Gon frowned but did not offer to sit on the bench again. He glared down at the calm master sitting before him. "I had already started training Anakin. I could not just stop or turn my back on him. I thought Obi-Wan would understand that."

"Needed you, Obi-Wan did."

"His training was complete."

"Choose the traditional trial he did. Helped him prepare, you did not."

"He did not need that trial."

"Always would feel incomplete inside if he did not suffer an expected test. Like this many padawans are. Believe in a sanctioned test to complete their training. See the true trial as nothing more than a complication of mission. True Jedi in spirit and mind needs the test. Needed this, Obi-Wan did." The little master pointed a clawed finger at the other. "To train Anakin, in your zeal wanted to deny Obi-Wan the test. Need it he does not, you said."

At first, Qui-Gon wanted to deny Yoda's words but in the end, he could not. He knew his own words and knew them to be harsh. So caught up in the prophesy of the chosen one, he turned his back on the faithful apprentice that had been there through many of his less than stellar moments.

When Qui-Gon did not answer, the little master's ears drooped. Slipping down from the bench, Yoda hobbled to the edge of the stone floor to the sand pool. "In creating this, much care was taken. Perfect and straight each line is. Placed every stone was. Shaped by knowledgeable hands the garden was."

Qui-Gon just stared at the little master half-fearful any reply would end with a sharp whack of a gimer stick. Certain that whatever he said would be wrong, as it seemed he was often known to do.

"How do you see this garden?"

"What?"

Holding a small hand out over the sand a tiny grain lifted up off one of the straight lines and landed gently on the little master's palm. "Merely a grain, one of countless that make up the garden. Alone, it is just a grain."

"Master—"

"A grain, every piece of training is. Many grains are needed to make a competent Jedi." Reaching out, the little master focused his gaze on one of the keystones of the garden's design. Slowly the stone shifted then gently rose above the sandy floor hovering high above Qui-Gon's head. "Destroy the whole of the garden the absence does not. Yet left somehow empty it is."

Qui-Gon watched silently as the stone was carefully levitated back into place without so much as disturbing a single grain of sand. "Your analogy is lost on me, Master."

When the stone was settled, Yoda turned to the tall master again. "Deaf you are," the little master grumbled.

Folding his arms across his chest, Qui-Gon huffed.

"Finished his training you did not."

"As I said—"

"Guided him through final trials, you should have. Lost your focus you did."

"Anakin—"

"The Order, he left. Care about him, I do not," the little master said sharply as he beat his gimer stick on the stone floor. The grandfatherly image of the old Jedi peeled away revealing the stern, opinionated master he was. "Of him, speak no more of. Error you made. Too stubborn to rectify it, you are. Stubborn, Obi-Wan also is. Gets that from you, he does. Act like children you both do."

"He changed."

The little master glared at the interruption. "Not so much that you would not know him. Suffered much he has. For a time, lost himself, he did. Now he is found."

"Bali."

Yoda smiled softly. Calling the Force around him, the little master pushed a small section of the sand lines flat.

Qui-Gon looked at the ancient Jedi for a time then shook his head. His attentions returned to the distant stones and the lines in the sand. "I saw them walking in the corridor earlier. I guess I never truly saw Obi-Wan and the boy. Bali adores him." There was a brief silence. "I never had such a close bond with Obi-Wan. I always kept him at a distance." Looking to Yoda, he asked, "They understand each other, don't they?"

"Much communication they share. Such a bond only a privileged few ever experience."

The emotional storm that Yoda had inspired settled within the tall master and he sank back to the bench. The memory of what had brought him there in the first place came back. He could barely utter the words. "I saw Obi-Wan falter."

Yoda's ears dipped slightly and the little master turned his attention from the sand to Qui-Gon's slumped shoulders.

"Bali caught him and aided his way to the bench. I saw so much frustration. In Obi-Wan's face." The midnight blue eyes turned onto Yoda. "I thought he was better."

A slight nod was all the old one offered.

"How ill is he?"

"Question for Obi-Wan, this is."

"Master, please."

Yoda sighed and a deep sadness settled over his wrinkled face. Turning back the damaged area of sand, he drew his gimer stick through the grains poorly mending the lines. He spoke gravely, "Wounded himself, he did saving you. Took on his padawan's injuries, he did willingly. Saved the child he did."

"We were both dying, what he did was wrong he should have left us be."

Yoda continued to repair the damage he had created with his gimer stick. "Understand you do not. Acted out of love he did. Love for a parent and love for a child." There was another pause before Yoda spoke of things he shared only with himself. "Died, had you, followed your wishes Obi-Wan would have and trained young Skywalker. Know not what else he could do to make up for his failure. Destroyed him, even if it did he would have obeyed."

"What failure?" Qui-Gon asked in a voice barely above a whisper remembering those last moments of battle with the tattooed Sith lord. He had rushed ahead, intent on taking the beast out and keeping Obi-Wan safely back.

"Allowing you to die. Great fault he would have found in his actions. Great blame placed on himself." The little master gave a heavy sigh, which drew Qui-Gon from his own dazed thoughts. "Died, had Bali, followed him soon Obi-Wan would have. Sense great darkness that would have clouded his path." The large yellow eyes looked to the younger master again. "Matters only the completion of Bali's training to Obi-Wan. Allow nothing to endanger that, he will. The stone in the garden is Bali."

Qui-Gon frowned and folded his hands together. "Anakin so quickly became my focus. I should have—"

His train of thought was silenced by a stern glare.

Yoda motioned to the repairs he had made to the lines in the sand. They were crooked and painfully obvious against the meticulously crafted garden. "Difficult it is to mend what is broken. Never be the same, what is damaged will be. Accept that we cannot write over what has already been written." Raising a small hand again, the little master wielded the Force around the room to stir up all the sand, causing it to fly about and sending the large stones to the edge before allowing the sand to settle perfectly smooth back into the shallow pool.

With the tip of his gimer stick, the little master drew a crude caricature of himself in the sand. "Start with a clean slate, we must."

The Book of Preparations

"Is this wise?" Captain Lanat, the head of Padmé Amidala's personal security asked as he handed over a data chip to the quiet Senator.

Padmé's pale face looked up as she took the chip. She was plainly dressed but wrapped in a heavy, deep brown housecoat that fit the overstuffed chair she was in. Speaking in her formal tone, she said, "I do not want the security footage to get out."

Lanat huffed, folding his blue sleeved arms across the smooth leather chest plate. "You are hiding evidence."

The senator remained silent as she dully studied the small data chip in her hand. Offering it back to Lanat, who took it, she ordered, "I want it destroyed. That thing was not a Jedi. I know it. Unfortunately, no one is going to look at the recording and see it my way."

"You could be wrong," the captain replied without too much effort in the argument.

"No. I am not." Padmé's pain weary eyes looked up at the tall officer as she waited in silence for him to obey her command.

With a frown, Lanat snapped the data chip in half. "I will make sure the pieces are properly disposed of." Her body ached all over and not just where her attacker had wounded her. After a short pause to gather her strength, she stared out at the sitting room of her private chambers. Under the folds of the voluminous housecoat, she pressed a hand against the light material of her shirt over her abdomen. She winced from the pain. The healers had told her that mercifully the wound was not deep enough to harm her pregnancy.

The woman had spoken to Padmé as if she had known she was pregnant. The thought overwhelmed her. That assassin knew she was pregnant before she realized it.

Well, maybe she did know, just she wasn't ready to admit it to herself yet. Her thoughts had been so preoccupied with the affairs of the Republic that she offered herself very little time.

"Anakin will be back soon," she said softly. "He has decided I should move to the Izen Towers where the security is better."

"I agree, Milady."

"It makes me less accessible."

"You should have sought safer housing after the first assassination attempt six years ago."

She frowned. There was a great battle raging inside her between her need to perform her duties or just to crash and rest until Dormé's replacement, Riané, arrived later in the afternoon.

"You should rest," Lanat's deep voice intoned. "I am sure Commander Skywalker can handle the change of residence. You survived a particularly harrowing experience and should have remained within the medical center instead of returning here so quickly."

"There are things that must be attended too," she replied mustering her most authoritative tone. "Dormé must be tended to. The security cams erased."

"Riané can take care of preparing Dormé's body for return to Naboo and the cams are taken care of."

"Of course, Captain. Thank you." She closed her eyes briefly but continued speaking. "As soon as Riané arrives, I must prepare for a holoconference with the Jedi Council. They must be informed of the true details of the attack."

Lanat nodded but said nothing.

"I am requesting Jedi security in addition to your forces. Your men are commendable, Captain, but they are no match for this Sith creature. We have already lost three people to this beast. I do not want to lose more."

"Jedi guard will not go over well in the senate."

"Since when have you become a politician?" Padmé asked offering a weak smile.

Lanat grinned. "Since foolishly entering into your employ."

"It is only the opinion of some that will be heard."

"Yes, but they are a powerful few."

"That Chancellor can keep his Republican Guard. I want nothing to do with them and certainly do not want their 'protection.'"

Shifting slightly, the captain glanced about the room and allowed his gaze to settle on the stained carpet where Dormé's life had ended. "You might not care much for the opinions of fellow politicians but I doubt you bringing in Jedi will go over well with your husband."

Tiredly Padmé looked up at the domineering figure of Lanat. She often imagined the man to be psychic, always sensing even the apprehensions she tried to deny and taking the care to fortify her security even when it seemed unneeded. He was also quite correct in how Anakin would react to her calling upon the Jedi, not once, but twice now. "The captain of my guard believes the addition of the Jedi is a good thing, am I correct?"

"It is a wise decision, Milady."

"Anakin is my husband, not the captain of my security. I am moving to the Izen Towers because I accept it, not because he wills it. I do not think I can stay in this apartment and moving to another in this building would be as difficult as moving to the Izen."

"Yes, Milady."

"While Anakin is my husband, he serves the chancellor and not the office of the Senator of Naboo. I must do what best suits Senator Amidala, not Padmé Skywalker."

The Book of the Duellists

"Come on, old man," Mace teased as he marched out onto the floor of the practice arena. His dark eyes glanced up into the stands that were quickly filling. With a small flourish he activated the violet blade of his saber to the delight of some members of the crowd.

"Old man?" Obi-Wan asked dryly as he shrugged off his cloak. "You should talk."

"I'm not the one with all the gray in his hair."

Obi-Wan stopped and stared at the grinning councillor before activating his own weapon. "At least I still have hair."

Mace straightened looking hurt. "I am offended." Then smiled wickedly as he raised his saber. "I challenge you to a duel to the death."

"That was outlawed millennia ago." The younger Jedi stepped out onto the floor and took up a defensive position.

"Lucky you," the tall master said with a smile. "I guess I will have to settle with singeing you then."

"Good luck."

"I don't believe in luck. I believe in hard work and training. And I believe I am one win ahead."

"For the moment."

Mace crossed the distance of the dueling floor in mere steps and easily engaged the ginger haired Jedi. His brazen attack was met with the powerfully efficient block that was unlike any that had been seen in ages.

The Force moved with Obi-Wan and created a barrier when he stopped, shielding him from the powerful attack. Mace was nearly bounced to the floor when he came up against it.

Moving in for the easy "kill", Obi-Wan hesitated choosing not to end the fight right then and there and allowed a shocked, but in motion Mace to make the next move. He smiled at the evident surprise in the older man's face, but kept his motions tight, exerting as little energy as possible. "You did not imagine that we were doing all the teaching," he laughed as he leapt back out of the other man's long reach. "The Itherian's may wield steel, but there is something to the art."

"So I see." The expert saber wielder rushed forward delivering a series of attacks few Jedi were skilled enough to handle, but Obi-Wan easily deflected it to the muffled cheers of the crowd above. The ease of the deflection would have been almost playful if not for the fact the younger man was trying to conserve his limited energy.

Glancing up into the crowded auditorium above, over the hum of his lightsaber, he noted master's offering commentary lessons to their padawans. Smirking to himself, he figured it was lessons on what not to do. With a low tone, he said, "Bet you wished you did not let everyone know where you were heading."

Bearing his warrior's mask, Mace grinned. "Keep laughing, little Jedi. I am not called Jacabo incarnate for nothing."

"The great Master Jacabo might take offense to such a comparison," Obi-Wan teased as a quick down slash forced the other master to bound backward or risk losing a foot.

"Good thing he's been dead for nearly twelve hundred years then." Mace twisted about and with his free arm, elbowed Obi-Wan in the back of the shoulder throwing the younger Jedi off balance. Completing the twist, he then brought his weapon down but managed only to singe Obi-Wan's trousers at the knee.

Bounding backward to steady his footing, Obi-Wan checked the mark on the light material.

Pacing a wide circle around the practice floor, Mace gave a deep laugh that echoed throughout the chamber. "Did I ruin your best pair of trousers?"

"Just a little mark." When Obi-Wan looked up, the dim light caught the thin sheen of sweat clinging to his forehead. A brief glance into the crowd above caused him to imagine just for a moment that his former master was among the watchers. Shaking the silly thought away, he raised his weapon, he invited another attack.

Mace did not immediately take up Obi-Wan's offer. He looked to the audience above seeming to forget about the duel. Grinning, the master suddenly flipped through the air, landing just a meter from Obi-Wan. A graceful arc of his saber came down on the other Jedi but was met with a powerful block that held the violet blade firm. The grind of the weapons was the only sound in the cavernous room.

The blue and violet blades twisted apart and clashed repeatedly as Mace drove Obi-Wan across the floor at a blinding rate of speed. The constant hum and crash echoed off the stone walls as the younger Jedi was pushed almost to the edge of the floor until he suddenly stopped.

Obi-Wan held his position, deftly defending against the lightning quick attacks. Twisting about, he dodged the violet blade, reaching deep through Mace's defenses and singed the master's shoulder.

A collective gasp filtered down from the stands far above.

"This is a new tunic," Mace said as he checked the burn mark on the lightly patterned material. Eyeing Obi-Wan, he added, "You are going to pay."

"It is about time you joined this fight," Obi-Wan teased.

"Big words, old man." Mace bounded through the air, completing a flip and landing firmly to Obi-Wan's back only to be blocked again. The speed in which the blue blade deflected the violet, skimming the blade with a crackle, then burning Mace's sleeve was almost quicker than the mind could register.

Try as Mace might, he could not break the tight defensive posture Obi-Wan had adopted. The younger Jedi kept Mace at arm's length at all times, scoring a second hit but soon the strain began to appear in the quiver of muscles around his eyes.

As time raced on, Mace began to get the upper hand in the battle. The constantly driving strokes wore down Obi-Wan's defenses as his exhaustion grew more evident. Formerly tight blocks were growing a little sloppy allowing Mace to cut a little deeper into Obi-Wan's defensive circle with every hit.

Sweat beaded against Obi-Wan's skin as he continued to struggle. The game was quickly leaving the Jedi. When Mace cut too deep into his protective zone, the younger Jedi dropped back a few steps, pulling the Force around him to bolster his waning strength.

"I thought you were going to make this easy on me," Mace played for the audience.

"You do not know me very well then," Obi-Wan growled looking more worn out than ever as the dampened ginger tips of his locks tumbled forward over his furrowed brow.

When Mace attacked again, the younger intentionally left his right side exposed. Within no time, the tall master capitalized on the weakness. Shifting out of the way of the violet blade, he closed the space between them kicking the master's foot out from beneath Mace and sent him tumbling.

The master rolled and bounded back to his feet and quickly engaged Obi-Wan. The younger man turned about, bringing his saber around behind him and drove it back at a low angle singeing Mace's left thigh. When the master jerked back, Obi-Wan finished the motion by driving his elbow into the man's chin.

The older Jedi grunted as he found his balance once more and lashed out but a succession of hard cuts caused him to lose his grip and the hilt tumbled across the floor. He flipped backward calling the weapon to his hand again and met Obi-Wan's attack with a firm block.

Ducking a wild swipe, Obi-Wan threw himself across the stone floor, kicking out and connecting firmly with the back of Mace's knee. A second well-placed boot heal knocked the master's saber arm back allowing Obi-Wan the freedom to land the tip of his pale blue blade just below Mace's chin.

"A lesson from Itheria?"

The tip of the blade wavered slightly before Obi-Wan deactivated it. Between heavy breaths, he said softly, "A gift from Kahier Sword Master Hryoto."

"Very impressive. You're going to have to teach me that."

Weary blue eyes shifted up to the standing audience who watched in awed silence. He had not been imagining things. Qui-Gon stood silently among the crowd. "Seems you are not the only one interested."

As the two combatants rose to their feet the crowd above broke out into applause.

Obi-Wan held the hilt of his saber close to his side but it did little to abate the tremor in his hand.

Mace's eye caught sight of the tremble but quickly turned to the watchers. He spoke in a low tone for Obi-Wan's ears only, "You could have ended the fight minutes into it. Why didn't you?"

"What fun would that have been?"

The Book of Past and Future

"You are making me dizzy," Bali complained as he closed his eyes to block out the little droid as it raced dangerously close by his ear. "If you crash, I am not fixing you again," the youth threatened.

It did little good as Warbler never slowed but instead ripped a series of rude beeps, whistles and chirps. It raced from the small confines of Bali's room into Obi-Wan's larger room.

"You should not go in there!" Bali called chasing after the troublesome PodBot.

An indignant chirp was all Warbler offered as it searched the room for an escape route.

"Why are you being so stubborn?" When an answer did not come, the apprentice sank to the edge of the sleep couch. He looked about the cell seeing nothing that identified it as Obi-Wan's room. It was just like Bali's except for a bit more floor space.

Well, one physical difference. Unlike his, the desk was clean and empty of all supplies and studies except for a single data pad and picture cube. He stared at the data pad for a time and thought of all the times he had seen his master adding information to it.

It was important to Obi-Wan, the apprentice knew as he reached out and called the pad to his hand. It was a compact model that his master usually carried with him except into potential fights and training sessions. Activating the unit he quickly found the journal Obi-Wan had diligently kept over the years.

Sometimes, when the opportunity allowed, he read bits of the entries. He did not like prying too far into his master's private thoughts but the bits he did read offered great insight into the older Jedi that he did not previously possess. At best it gave him one more reason to respect his master more and at worse he saw Obi-Wan's thoughts on his healing induced illness.

Picking a random entry, Bali read just a paragraph.

There is little left for me to teach him but he still needs guidance in these next few years as he gains field experience before he must learn on his own as a knight. My time as his master once seemed infinite but now feels far too short and I fear I will miss not having him at my side but I will not hold him back when he is ready to step into knighthood.

Quickly deactivating the data pad, he placed it back exactly where Obi-Wan had left it, not wishing to read anymore. Pausing, the apprentice watched as Warbler continued its never-ending journey around the room.

Grabbing up the picture cube, the apprentice twisted it about activating images of Bant, Garen, Qui-Gon Jinn and finally one of himself as a thirteen-year-old. "Look!" he called to the droid as he held the cube out so the two-dimensional holographic image was prominently displayed.

Warbler stopped and flew up to the image of its missing boy. It chirped happily at the sight. Activating another side, the picture of Bali at fifteen glowed in the air. Warbler beeped and started to back away but stopped and flew forward to examine the image of the slightly older Bali.

"That is me. I am Bali."

When the droid did not respond to his words, Bali activated the next picture with him and Obi-Wan. It was taken shortly before they left for Itheria. He held the cube so the holographic image hovered next to his face. "See? It is me."

Another rude squeal and the droid zipped off, whizzing out of the room and into the large common room.

Deactivating the cube and returning it to the desk, Bali chased after the tiny droid. He reached out and plucked Warbler from the air, holding it firmly. "Time moved on without you. One moment I am thirteen and the next I am here, totally different from the image in your memory banks but I am still the same boy. Just a little older."

A series of beeps, chirps and whistles rippled from the small figure as it pulled free of the padawan, returning to its circling.

Bali watched it for a moment, then finally accepted that all he could do was shut it back down. Something was still wrong, but he did not know how to show it that he was the same boy that it had tried to help so many years ago. "Come back here. Master will not be thrilled to have you flying about like you have a loose wire." Finally giving up, the apprentice sank to the couch and watched the droid circle.

Closing his eyes his thoughts returned to his master's journal. While Obi-Wan had never kept it a secret how he felt about Bali's training and abilities, he never knew his master felt he was so close to knighthood. Close? He did not exactly know what "close" was but he doubted it was the six or seven years he was expecting.

It was frightening to think that he would not always have his master to defer to, but that he would be the one making the important decisions.

A soft chirrup sounded at his ear and the padawan turned to see Warbler hovering nearby.

"Hello."

Warbler whistled and with its broken voice box, made a sound akin to a purr as it remained close to its boy.

"You know me." Bali grinned when the droid happily responded. "I am sorry it took so long to repair you but you were severely damaged."

The little reunion was ended when the comm unit chimed notification of an incoming call. With a small sigh, the apprentice answered it. "Padawan Tiro speaking."

Madame Ro's image appeared. "I suppose your master is missing as usual?"

"I do not know where he is."

"Find him and inform him the Council has summoned the two of you."

"Yes, Madame."

The Book of Emotions

Wrapped up in the folds of his heavy cloak, Obi-Wan quietly sat in the oversized chairs of the Alanoro lounge. Resting his head against the tall, padded back, pale blue eyes stared at the stretch of windows along the curving wall into the bright afternoon sky as warm rays of light splashed across him.

Weary muscles ached as he reached out and picked up the small cup of sarroppo tea next to the pot on the chair side table. Lightly sipping the warm liquid felt so good to his tired form, warming him from inside.

The playful duel with Mace had offered him the much-needed chance to feel normal and he dearly appreciated it. But his body revolted from the strain and demanded rest to recover. Had he wanted too, he could not have made the long walk to the apartment, besides he did not want to disturb Bali's studies. So he had sought out the empty lounge to rest in. A light healing mediation that had turned into a good sleep left him feeling better. Stronger.

He wondered how Bali's day was going. More importantly was the youth utilizing this time to study for his knowledge trials? Somehow he doubted much studying had been achieved.

Another frightening thought came to the weary Jedi. How many calls to teach a saber class were awaiting him? He was barely able to get out of the practice level without a few dozen requests from knights and padawans alike. Yet Yoda was still pushing for him to train a class of initiates. Would not his skills be more useful on the practice floor? His strength was a factor but he also knew it took a lot of energy to keep up with a group of initiates as well.

Pale blue eyes stared out at the city awash in warm sunlight. Obi-Wan knew this peace would not last long. Soon they would have to return to the field. They were needed. He feared Senator Amidala's visit to the High Council the other day would take he and Bali back into a situation he would rather not revisit.

They should serve as mediators or in a diplomatic capacity not fighting the Sith.

More basic than anything a mission would take Bali away from his studies and he so needed his knowledge accumulation tests. Of course, he would do better if he would stop fiddling with that PodBot and focus on studying. Yet the Jedi knew he could not entirely fault the boy. Warbler had helped during the attack on the senate six years ago.

Reaching languidly for his sarroppo tea, he froze sensing another presence. Ignoring the intruder, he picked up the small cup and sipped the warm liquid. When he set the ceramic cup back down it rattled from the tremor of his hand. His weariness was still manifesting itself. The tremors usually diminished with rest. He looked at his hand, knowing it would take a long night of sleep before it went away. Shaking fingers reached out and caressed the white rim of the cup but he made no attempt to pick it up again. He did not want the lurker to observe him spilling tea all over himself.

When the silence had stretched out long enough, the ginger haired Jedi finally decided he would have to speak first. "Master Jinn."

There was only silence.

Frustration flared briefly through him, as he knew this would not be happening had he been able to seek rest in the apartment but it was just too far to go after the duel. Gaining control of his inner turmoil, he spoke calmly, "Much has changed but my memory and your Force signature have not."

"I thought the lounge would be empty," the white master said softly as he approached the long tall-backed bench seat Obi-Wan was settled in.

"Hmm, so did I." He could feel the elder master pause and wondered what cruelty he could speak to drive his former master away.

"Forgive me, I am obviously interrupting," Qui-Gon said before turning to retreat.

Relief fluttered through the younger man but it did not last long. He felt Qui-Gon stop in the doorway. He did not want to listen to or argue with the older man. He wanted to be alone.

That did not happen.

Qui-Gon returned to where Obi-Wan sat and silently stared down at him. The hard lines of the old Jedi's face softened, showing his age. There was an uncomfortable silence between the two men and all Obi-Wan wanted was to get up and leave. For some reason, he could not bring himself to rise.

The older man spoke. "I am sorry, Obi-Wan."

"I am not interested." Obi-Wan never offered the white haired man a glance. He kept his pale gaze focused on the city beyond the windows.

But Qui-Gon Jinn did not budge. His midnight blue eyes so intense that Obi-Wan could not hide from their gaze. "I am sorry."

"I do not—"

"I cannot take back anything that I have done. Nor can I apologize in such a way to make up for the pain I have caused you." The older man stepped forward and pressed a large hand to Obi-Wan's cloaked shoulder. "Nor can give back any of what you have given me."

Even though the training bond was long dead between them, Obi-Wan could sense a sea of intense emotions flowing through the older master. He looked to the hand firmly pressed to his shoulder. It was all the connection that was needed. Through that simple touch, a lifetime of feelings was directed toward him. There was so much that he could not process it all but within it he could feel hurt, anger, loneliness, peace, hope and finally great sadness.

All Obi-Wan could do was stare at the hand resting on his shoulder.

After the rush of feelings had begun to dissipate, the one emotion, the one thing that he had so long craved was offered in that final moment before the master's hand was withdrawn.

Qui-Gon was proud of the Jedi he had become. Qui-Gon was proud of him.

"You never failed me," the master said softly.

And with those final words, Qui-Gon Jinn quietly walked away.

The Book of Healing Light

"Now you be good," Bali ordered the little green droid hovering at his shoulder.

Warbler chirped indignantly.

"Just please, do not annoy master too much," the youth added knowing Warbler's dislike for Obi-Wan. In the brushed silver of the lift cart, the apprentice watched himself and the little droid. If he did not try to focus to hard, he could almost see himself as a thirteen-year-old again.

Sometimes, he wished he still were. At least, for those few days before they became involved with the Sith investigation.

A low whistle and a happy series of beeps alerted the apprentice to the slowing lift. Bali studied the banged up green bot and smiled. For many years, he did not imagine seeing the little beast working again.

When the lift door opened, Bali froze at the sight of Qui-Gon standing there. "Master," the youth said with a slight bow before he stepped out of the lift with Warbler obediently keeping at his shoulder.

The tall Jedi looked the youth over then gave a weak smile as he stepped into the lift. "Padawan Tiro." He paused as if to say something else but frowned and without a single word more activated the controls.

Bali and Warbler watched as the Jedi master vanished behind the closed doors and was shuttled away from the floor.

Questioning chirps ripped from the droid.

"I do not try to figure out what goes on in masters' minds. It is too confusing." Leading the droid through the corridor, Bali sought out the Alanoro lounge. He knew that sometimes Obi-Wan went there because of the warm sunlight that filled the room. At the wide doorway, he paused long enough to shoot Warbler a final warning look before stepping into the brightly lit room. Within a few paces, Bali froze at the sight of the ginger haired Jedi.

Obi-Wan sat at the edge of his chair, leaning forward slightly with his head bowed as if in meditation. But with the slightest touch through the training bond, Bali knew his master was not meditating. Just at the edges of the bond, the apprentice could feel the stir of emotions within Obi-Wan. He had never felt anything like that before and a spike of worry raced through him.

Slowly raising his head to the bath of warm light, Obi-Wan stared out the expansive windows. Light reflecting in the distance glittered in his eyes. "Yes, Padawan?"

Words did not come to the youth as he stood there, watching with concern. From within the bond, he could feel he strange pool of emotions settle in Obi-Wan eventually becoming a light salve over a scarred spirit. It could not mend the old wounds but lessened them a little and Bali was grateful for whatever had caused it.

"I am fine," Obi-Wan repeated, turning to eye his quiet apprentice. At the sight of Warbler, Obi-Wan grimaced. "Well, I was."

The tiny PodBot let loose a string of agitated beeps and chirps that would make any protocol droid blush.

"I got it working," Bali said happily sensing his master truly was all right.

The banged up droid chirped happily at the sound of its boy's voice.

"Oh, just wonderful," Obi-Wan said in a droll tone as he reached for his tea. "Just what I was looking forward to seeing."

Warbler chirped indignantly.

"Just keep it away from me," Obi-Wan said between sips.

"Yes, Master." Grabbing the droid out of the air and causing a soft purring sound, Bali turned the dented figure about in his hands. "He is still leary of you." His bright green eyes narrowed in study of his seemingly preoccupied master. "Is everything all right?" Bali asked with a slight tip of his chin.

The look of consternation eased a bit in Obi-Wan's pale blue gaze. It softened as the master stared up at the youth. "Yes, Padawan. I have just been going over some things in my mind."

Looking a little guilty, Bali released Warbler to circle the room. "Whatever it is, I have a good explanation," the apprentice began but was silenced with a soft laugh and a smile.

"I am sure you do, but for the moment I am not concerned with your activities."

"Oh. Then just ignore that outburst."

Obi-Wan shook his head as he stood, then tugged at the edges of the cloak. "Do I not always?"

"No." Checking out of the corner of his eye, Bali noted Warbler's whereabouts.

The older Jedi shook his head then walked quietly across the lounge to the windows. Bright, golden light splashed across him, reflecting in the pale depths of his eyes as he watched the constant movement of life that surrounded the great temple.

Not understanding what had affected his master so, all Bali could do was silently follow after Obi-Wan. He stood next to the other Jedi and tried desperately not to feel too worried.

"Do not be, Padawan," the older said with great affection as he placed a hand on the youth's shoulder. "I was just enjoying the warmth."

For a time, master and padawan just stood there appreciating the bright afternoon and the warm light that danced over their cloaked forms. Bali enjoyed these brief moments where neither spoke, but just were there in each other's company. These times did not often come along, but when it did, he was certain he understood his master better for it. He felt that some burden had been lifted from Obi-Wan's shoulders and was happy.

Yet the moment could not last forever and with a heavy sigh, Obi-Wan spoke, "The Council is waiting for us."

The Book of Master and Padawan Part II

Even the softest footsteps thundered in the quiet corridor of the Hall of Memories. The pale blue stone, almost white in the light gave a calming influence to troubled spirits that took the journey into the peaceful heart of the temple.

The sanctuary had been built in the temple's fourth incarnation when it nearly doubled in size nine thousand years before. Even though the great temple had grown up around the hall, it remained intact.

Not even a grain of dust littered the floor thanks to the great care of a small group of knights and masters who had dedicated themselves to caring for the sanctuary.

Obi-Wan stopped in a small atrium where he met one of the quiet caretakers. The woman, dressed in the lightest creams, nodded to him before continuing her silent sweeping of the floors. All the cleaning was done by hand as droids were not allowed inside the sanctuary.

The Jedi glanced through the tributaries that flowed from the atrium he stood in. There was a quiet meditation room, the memorial shrine and finally the Tall Room.

He just stood there glancing about and knowing he had not been to the sanctuary since he was a teenager. He had gone there after Knight Tahl's death. Memories of following his master though the strangely white corridor to the Tall Room seemed bright in his thoughts. But he did not go down the hall to the room filled with memorial stones.

Soft footsteps took him instead to the shrine. He had heard that they were considering moving the room since the civil war had started. There were so many deaths that the small shrine was overflowing with tributes to those recently lost.

At the high arched door, he stopped and pressed a hand to the frame for support, as the walk had been tiring. While he gathered his strength, the Jedi looked to the silent figure in the midst of the shrine. Bant reached out and activated a holo image of Garen Muln.

"I think that is the best picture of him." Her sad silver eyes turned back to her friend. "Don't you think?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said softly from where he leaned against the doorway. He tugged at his cloak and folded his arms into the deep sleeves seeking warmth.

Bant began to whimper as she turned her attention back to the display where the image of the knight hovered above the shrine. "I think I could understand it better if he had been killed in an accident. He was crazy piloting that little Starfighter. I think I could have accept it if he had been killed in battle or protecting someone just as long as he was doing what Jedi are supposed to do." She shifted and folded her arms across her chest, but quickly unfolded them as if not knowing what to do with the errant appendages.

Taking the few steps into the small shrine room, Obi-Wan wrapped an arm over Bant's trembling shoulders.

The healer began to sob. "He was there to help."

"I know." He tried to lead her away thinking the meditation chamber would be better without all the images of those lost in the dark tide that was sweeping through the galaxy.

Bant remained stubbornly steadfast to her place. She turned her eyes up to him. "They shot him in the back!" She pulled away and reached for the image of her lost friend. "We can't even do anything for him. We couldn't even tend to a funeral pyre, not even deliver his ashes to his favorite place. Nothing!" Anger seemed to bubble up in the usually chipper healer. "An image in a shrine is all we can do for him. What good is that?" She motioned to the various items friends and fellow Jedi had placed to honor the lost. "It didn't help anyone else here."

"Garen would understand that there is little we can do. We can remember him. I think he would like that."

Helplessness and grief mixed together in a poisonous concoction within the healer. "How can you be so calm when our friends are dying out there?"

Obi-Wan said nothing.

For a time, Bant silently studied the floating image of her dead friend among the listing of so many other fallen Jedi. "I guess it is easy not to get too upset when you can bring back all you care about from the brink of death."

"Bant."

"You never had a master die. Never lost your padawan." Bant closed her eyes, but the turmoil of unsettled pain remained powerful in her aura. "I have seen so many die because of this war. So many of the deaths were cruel and unneeded. I see the reports come in everyday. It is so hard not to be affected, especially when one of the murdered is a friend."

"I am no less upset—"

"Would you be so calm about Garen's death if Bali was memorialized in the Tall Room?"

Obi-Wan straightened. He knew she was angry and she had little difficulty bearing hear feelings. He had always admired that in her, even when the brunt of her pain was directed at him. "If Bali had not survived the Sith attack I would not be standing here in the sanctuary. I would be no more aware of Garen's death than that of my own life. Every breathing moment would have been dedicated to finding Bali's killer. It might not be right, but I know that is what I would do to make sure no one ever was harmed like that again."

Bant stared at him in stunned silence then shook and turned away. "I'm sorry. I'm just…it's not fair. It's not your fault. You are here and I can take it out on you."

"That is what friends are for." Obi-Wan took her arm and pulled her back from the shrine. "Believe me, I wish there were something I could do. I wish I was out there in the field." Casually he reached out with the Force and deactivated the holoimage. "But some beings will not let me out of the Temple."

The healer gave a small smile and wrapped herself around his arm. "You have a fifteen-year-old padawan who doesn't need to be in the field."

"There are plenty of padawans here," Obi-Wan noted out loud of the silent images and tributes to apprentices younger than Bali. As they walked into the corridor, he wondered who was lending the most support as they walked out of the shrine.

"You are barely strong enough to make household runs," Bant said as she was guided toward the entrance of Tall Room.

Obi-Wan grimaced at the term for day missions around Coruscant that was usually relegated to padawans and older or infirmed Jedi who still wanted to be active as field Jedi. Household runs were little more than glorified courier missions carrying official documentation from the chancellor to another senator.

At the Tall Room, the Jedi paused. "I don't want to go in," Bant said softly. "I haven't been in there since Master Tahl's stone was placed." After a brief silence, she offered up a small smile. "At least I am still talking to you this time."

"I rather enjoyed the several years of silence that followed."

The healer punched him in the arm.

"Ow," the ginger haired Jedi groaned. "This is all Garen's fault."

"Couldn't just let us go on not speaking to each other. He had to work so hard to make us friends again," Bant said with a melancholy tone.

Obi-Wan grinned. "He will never be forgotten. I will always think of him every time you storm into my apartment uninvited. Ow!"

The Book of Security

"I thought we were not going to be sent out on missions for a while," Bali said softly as he stared at the ornately designed interior of the luxurious Izen Towers lift compartment.

"The Council has its reasons," Obi-Wan replied as he tugged at the edges of his cloak.

Bali looked to his master with concern. "Master Yoda sure seemed to want to get rid of us."

"He was not trying to get rid of us."

"Master."

With a heavy sigh, the older Jedi answered, "Yes, he was quite interested in us going on a mission. Remember, Padawan, we have dealt with the senator before and our presence might be more to ease her mind. There are other Jedi responsible for hunting her attacker."

It still did not make Bali feel better, and he was certain it did not his master.

Approaching their destination, the lift began to slow. Within moments the door opened revealing Captain Lanat. "Master Jedi," he said in relief as he welcomed the two into the long security corridor that separated the lift from the apartment. "We are grateful for the assistance."

"It is very troubling news," Obi-Wan said evenly showing only the image of the concerned Jedi. "The Senator?"

"Is determined and as stubborn as always."

Bali trailed Lanat and his master as they traveled toward the new apartment of the high security Izen Tower. The only other politician to move into the expensive rental space was Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan but he was in the far tower. The Izen was the home to many of the galaxy's wealthiest members when they spent time on the core world.

The padawan glanced about the corridor. Scanning with the Force, he could feel the nearly imperceptible hum of sensors. His quick read up before they left the temple on the Izen classified it as one of the most protected in all of Coruscant.

Sensing movement, Bali turned slightly to spy a few monitor droids traveling along the ceiling. He reached to his belt and checked one of the pouches. Relief fluttered through him at the familiar shape of the tiny PodBot. Turning back to the walk ahead he studied the invisible array the flooded the corridor and sensed they were being monitored by sentient eyes as well.

Almost allowing all the technology to overwhelm his senses, Bali nearly missed the vague touch of darkness. It was strange and unsettling, but unfocused. He caught sight of Obi-Wan's equally concerned look.

The trio stopped in a circular area that served as the official entryway. The padawan studied the heavy duratanium wall that separated them from the apartment.

Lanat stepped forward and inserted a key card into the reader and waited. He stood still while a blue light highlighted by bright white beams surrounded him. The scan stopped and the heavy doors opened.

With a smile, the captain looked back at the waiting Jedi. "You will have to forgive the disarray. She only moved in a few hours ago and not everything has been brought across."

Obi-Wan nodded his understanding.

The first person to greet the arriving Jedi was a very agitated Anakin Skywalker in full uniform. He stood there dominating the room and glaring at them. As far as Bali could tell, his master paid the fiery look little attention. He on the other hand could not help but be bothered by the former important padawan.

"Padmé does not need company right now," Anakin growled at Lanat.

Before the captain could speak, Obi-Wan calmly replied, "We are here on the Senator's request."

Trying not to focus to directly on Anakin, Bali turned his attention to the large common room. It was far more elegant than apartments in the Senatorial Housing Complex even if at the moment all of the furnishings consisted of a single chair placed in a large depression in the floor. The room was a series of natural tones highlighted by deep greens and the occasional gold vase filled with exotic flowers sitting on the green carpet around the room. A sweet aroma filled the large chamber.

Unfortunately it did not help the traces of darkness that was dispersed about the room hiding its source.

"She doesn't need Jedi help," Anakin said sharply as he roughly brushed passed them and with a sweep of his hand, he offered directions out of the apartment.

"Sir, Senator Amidala requested their presence," Lanat said but the fear showed in the slight waver of his voice.

Anakin spun sharply on the Captain sending his dark blue cloak fluttering about. "If you had been doing your job, she would not have been injured and feel she needs extra security." Again he motioned to the door.

"Given the nature of the attack," Obi-Wan began as he stepped forward, his pale gaze fixed squarely on Anakin, "there was likely little Captain Lanat or his men could do. According to the brief, he lost several people to this would-be assassin."

"He should have lost all of his men protecting Padmé," Anakin barked as he activated the door and it whooshed open. Weariness from a long night of worry was etched into his face creating a harsh mask over his handsome features. "While it might not look like it at the moment, this is my home and you will leave," he said leveling a dark look to Obi-Wan. "I will see to my wife's protection without Jedi interference."

Many times throughout Bali's apprenticeship his master had amazed him by his calm reactions to hostile situations. The older Jedi remained quite serene toward Anakin's aggressive behavior. The ginger haired Jedi folded his arms into the sleeves of his cloak and waited patiently. The apprentice made sure to copy his master's motion, but remain unobtrusive to the confrontation.

"You are not welcome here," Anakin said.

"We are here at the request of Senator Amidala, only she can send us away."

That was not entirely true, the apprentice knew. The rules of conduct clearly stated an authorized representative of the senator could dismiss their service at any time. As Senator Amidala's husband, Bali was fairly certain that Anakin could send them away.

"I am her husband!" Anakin screamed. "I will not have you Jedi protecting my wife. Your failures before nearly killed her and cost my mother her life." Emotions raged in his bright blue eyes as he stepped forward. Jabbing Obi-Wan in the chest with a long finger, he said sharply, "Her attacker last night was the Sith beast you let get away and now she is after my wife again."

"Vengier is dead," Obi-Wan said evenly.

Bali tried to hear in his master's voice, feel in his master's aura what was going on inside but the elder Jedi was blocking him. What he could sense was that bubbling darkness so enmeshed in the room, that he could not pinpoint an exact location.

"More Jedi lies," Anakin laughed. "His Excellency, the Chancellor is right, you Jedi are too interested in saving yourselves from Senate damnation to be of help anymore. The army of the Republic is dedicated to one end alone, protecting the galaxy. They serve where the Jedi have faltered. They are the new peacekeepers."

"Do they do it justly?" Obi-Wan inquired.

"They protect the interests of the right."

The two faced each other momentarily before Anakin broke from Obi-Wan's steady gaze and motioned to the door. "My men have taken up guard around the—"

"The Praetorian Guard?" Obi-Wan softly inquired. "I was under the impression they were traitor hunters, not private security."

Anakin tensed. "If you do not leave, I will have them remove you as a threat to the senator. You will learn just what the Praetors are."

"You will do no such thing," Padmé's soft but stern voice rang out. The pale woman walked slowly into the chamber with the aid of her handmaiden, Riané.

"You shouldn't be up," Anakin said softly rushing to her side.

When the captain of the chancellor's Praetorian Guard twisted about, Bali caught the briefest glimpse of a lightsaber hilt beneath the long, dark coat Anakin wore.