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Madame Jocasta Nu peered severely at Obi-Wan as he entered the Archives, and he swore that when her gaze found Anakin, her eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened.

Obi-Wan silently sighed to himself for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day, he felt as though in addition to the rest of the Jedi Order, now the Archivist was making him and Anakin her business as well.

"Well," said Jocasta, "Let us begin the briefing." She handed Obi-Wan a stack of data pads and files for the upcoming mission. Obi-Wan couldn't help thinking of Qui-Gon again, and how he would often torture Obi-Wan by making him slowly sort through the information on the upcoming mission. Qui-Gon always knew how much Obi-Wan hated it, and he always took some sick pleasure in seeing Obi-Wan up to his elbows in data pads and files full of boring and useless information.

As Obi-Wan reached out for the stack from Jocasta Nu, a thought struck him. With a sly smile, he handed the stack to Anakin. After all, being the master did not go without its privileges.

Jocasta Nu interrupted Obi-Wan's thoughts of further ways to torture Anakin, "For many years a storm has been brewing on Roden. Literally." The Jedi Archivist peered at Obi-Wan and Anakin to make sure that she had their apt attention before she continued.

"You must know that Roden is not a member of the Republic, and you may not be welcome among the people of the planet."

Obi-Wan gave Anakin a significant glance to let him know that this was no joke.

"The planet has been growing dark for years as the clouds have come. On Roden, once every millennia, a storm engulfs the planet for months. The citizens are well prepared for it, but in addition to the weather, there is another storm growing."

Anakin glanced up at his master with a questioning gaze that Obi-Wan could only return.

"With the darkening of the planet, a group of citizens calling themselves the Shadow League has emerged. Slowly, they have been trying to undermine the trust of the citizens on the planet. There are rumors of treason and lies everywhere. The Shadow League is doing their best to convince the citizens that the government is corrupt, and they are doing a good job."

Jocasta looked at Obi-Wan and Anakin, her pointed gaze making sure that they were grasping her every word, and she continued, "You must stop them. You must uncover the truth, and you must stop the violence. But I warn you, the impending storm could cause you great troubles on Roden. It is a web of lies, and the true mystery has yet to be uncovered."

Obi-Wan hung on to every one of Jocasta's words. He had an odd feeling about this mission. It was only the second one that Anakin and He had had. Their first mission, well, it hadn't gone too well. But it wasn't the mission with Anakin that was making Obi-Wan nervous. There was something else. Something deeper. And he had no idea what to do about it.

The last time that Obi-Wan had felt this feeling was the fateful mission on Naboo.

Jocasta Nu's voice brought Obi-Wan back to reality. "May the Force be with you."

"Thank you Master Nu. May the Force be with you." Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin and suppressed a sigh that he could feel coming from deep in his tired heart.

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"The ship is ready Master," Anakin said to Obi-Wan. He was practically bouncing off the walls from excitement for the mission. "Master, I promise that I will do better this time. It will go better than or last mission did."

"I hope so, Anakin, I hope so." Obi-Wan peered at his apprentice. "Why don't you go put our packs on the ship. I must handle a few more things before we leave."

"Yes Master, and...Master?"

"Yes Anakin?" Obi-Wan stared at his padawan inquisitively.

Anakin shuffled his feet. "I just wanted to apologize for being late to the Council meeting. And for lying to you. It was inappropriate, and I am sorry." Anakin turned and headed up the ramp of the ship.

Obi-Wan watched his apprentice go, and he once again felt a wave in the Force. He tried to fall into it, to let it flow through him, hoping that he might feel Qui-Gon, but he could not, the feeling was evading him, and so were the answers that he sought. Qui-Gon's spirit was silent.

Obi-Wan looked at the sleek and powerful ship, knowing that his apprentice was waiting for him. He glanced back at the Jedi Temple, and he boarded the ship.

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