Chapter 10: Talking in Circles

Obi-Wan never felt so sick in his entire life.

He was delirious and weak. The Force evaporated from him and he became an empty shell. He's never gone for so long without the Force. He always shared its comforts as it surrounded and flowed through him. It was a part of him like… like his sense of smell, taste and sight. Being deprived of the Force was half-living. He couldn't keep this up. A few more days down in the detention center, he would be nothing more than a corpse.

In all of his life growing up in the Temple, he never realized these cells existed. As younglings, he and his clanmates teased the existence of such cells, but no one believed them to actually exist. And now, Obi-Wan found himself submerged so far underground that he doubt any yells would be heard from above. All that kept him company was his paranoia and silence.

When he was brought to the front of the Council after spending one day in the cells, Obi-Wan no longer felt anything but solid relief. The Force returned, coursing through him like blood pulsing through a reopened vein. He breathed deeply, happy to stretch out even the limited access of the Force he was granted by the Councilors. He Councilors bestowed a new pair of limited Force binders. They were latched onto his wrist to keep his Force powers in check, but he was too grateful to complain about the unnecessary security. He gluttonously drank the Force, never wanting it to disappear from him ever again.

He noted that the Councilors all peered at him in different perspectives. Some looked on like he was a dangerous criminal while others viewed him as if he was lost—broken. And then there was one, who looked at him with mockery and superiority that it took Obi-Wan all his strength to not yell. Such behaviors belonged to younglings and the uncivilized.

"Are you listening Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan blinked and found Master Windu's eyes burrowing into his own. Obi-Wan glanced down for a quick second before recomposing himself. "Yes, Master," he replied, politely though his voice sounded brittle. "I understand that since I did not ask for counsel, I am representing myself."

"Good," Master Windu deadpanned. The master never expressed any emotion other. He only offered a cold steel. Master Windu was an unimpressionable being. "Then we can begin." Master Windu leaned over his seat, eyebrows drawn. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, please explain to the Council, in your own words, why you left the Order."

An easy question. Not too difficult to answer. Except, the Council wouldn't believe his answer. They would dissect it into millions of pieces that they would lose the main picture of the reason. Nitpick certain words and condemn him if they choose to interpret it in a different manner than what he meant. Yet, that didn't stop him from telling the truth. "I left the Order on the commands of the Force to protect Anakin Skywalker."

"The boy that was being delivered to the Jedi Temple to join as a Jedi Initiate?" asked Master Adi Gallia, a dark-skinned, Tholothian Jedi.

"His name is Anakin."

There was small hum from Master Gallia as she began the Council's dissection. Obi-Wan breathed, drawing as much of the Force he possibly could. It separated the fog in his head, leaving a brightness to dissipate the dark and cold. He could do this. He could engage the Council. He's fought off Shadows and thugs for seven years. Going up against the Council should be easy. He had done nothing terrible that would sentence him to harsh punishment. Everything would be all right. He only had to tell the truth. The truth would set him free.

"What were your reasons to believe that the boy was in danger?" questioned Master Even Piell, a short, long-eared Jedi Master.

"The Force told me."

Master Piell narrowed the question. "How did the Force tell you?"

Obi-Wan remembered the unhinged feeling in the Force. The tossing and turning of dark dreams, the echoes of warning and the sound of a baby crying rung in his ears until he finally scooped Anakin up from the crib and fled. "D-Dreams," he answered. "I had visions…"

"Dreams?" scoffed Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis, his long, shaggy hair shuffled as he spoke. "You betrayed your Master and left the Order because of a dream?"

"No—not because of a dream."

"So, you didn't have a Force dream that warned you the need to leave?" asked Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, folding his hands on his lap.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No… it was! It was. But it was other things too. Things I already told you about."

A round of silence befell the group as they all eyed each other knowingly. Another round of decries and falsities. At least, from their perspectives. Obi-Wan garnered that much based on their cool and disappointed expressions on each Councilor's face. However, that didn't make Obi-Wan's warnings any less true. Before Obi-Wan could repeat his claims about his former master and grandmaster, someone else took the floor.

"You mean your condemnations on myself and Qui-Gon Jinn?" came Dooku's refined voice. It sent chills down Obi-Wan's back. Hearing Dooku's voice brought him back to those days on Serenno, when his grandmaster forced him to open a Sith Holocron in order to study the contents. Dooku said opening the holocron would help Obi-Wan get a sense of the Dark Side in order to find and extinguished it. He hardly remembered the contents of the holocron, but he remembered the decay and coldness right before he collapsed. He never forgot that feeling.

Obi-Wan dared not turn to glare at Dooku. He kept his vision focused on Mace, shoulders straight and chin tipped to match Mace's hard stare. He would not break in front of the Council. "I stand by what I said," Obi-Wan reaffirmed. "Master Jinn and Master Dooku have performed questionable actions that would be defined as acts against the Order, the Republic and the Force." Obi-Wan scanned the placid faces of the Council. "They corrupted government officials, stolen dangerous artifacts and murdered—"

"You do realize that you are accusing a Jedi Master—a Councilor—of committing atrocities against the Order, the Republic and the Force?" Master Windu interrupted, his voice not kind at all. "I would tread very carefully, young Kenobi."

"But it's the truth, Master," Obi-Wan stressed, glancing at anyone for any sign of belief. The closest he came to was Master Yoda, ears drawn down in contemplation.

Master Windu had his fingers laced together. "Then please inform the Council the crimes Master Dooku committed."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. He felt unsteady, wishing to hold onto some kind of hope. He was feeble without it. Too weak to fight against the marching darkness that swarmed and swallowed all things around him. Nothing was safe or innocent. Everything was tainted.

He gave one last futile look to Master Yoda and found that the wise master sat with a tiny smile. None of the Councilors noticed. All eyes too busy on him, but Obi-Wan saw the spark of readiness behind Master Yoda's eyes. Was it possible the Grandmaster believed him?

"Young Kenobi?" called the baritone voice of Master Windu, "An incident, if you will."

Obi-Wan didn't flicker his gaze away from Master Yoda when he spoke. "Nine years ago, Master Jinn and I were on Yavin 4 when we encountered a Sith amulet that could magnitude one's power in the Force," he said. "I witnessed Master Jinn and Master Dooku using the amulet to empower themselves."

Looking around the room, he discovered not a single reaction of shock, disgust or horror came across the Councilors faces. All were impassive by his accusation, as if he was simply spoke about the weather. One or two Councilors shared funny looks, but the majority all reacted indifferent to his news.

Then, Dooku returned to the center of attention. "Young Kenobi," he addressed the young man with soft-spoken words, "are you referring to the Kaan amulet?"

Obi-Wan hesitated in his answer. He had a deep, gutted feeling that his answers were going to stab him. "Yes."

"The same Kaan amulet that Qui-Gon Jinn found brought to me to help identify it?"

The dark, inkling feeling crept up Obi-Wan's spine. The Force withered and his fingernails pinched his palm to steady himself, breathing through the growing headache caused by the rolling fog in the Force. "Yes, we traveled to Serenno."

"And why would Qui-Gon Jinn travel to Serenno for my input, young one?"

Obi-Wan froze for a moment, his thought turning as he realized the path he was being lead down to was pitch black.

"Answer the question, young Kenobi," came the probing voice of Master Mundi.

The headache drilled into Obi-Wan's mind. "You had exceptional knowledge of the Sith," he answered, trying to retreat. "One would even call it an obsession."

Obi-Wan mildly sensed Dooku's skin pulling back into a smile, showing sharp teeth in delight over his response. And that only made Obi-Wan feel exposed. "I agree, as it was my duty as a Jedi Shadow to learn as much as possible about our old enemy in order to ensure the Sith would not rise again," he said, dispassionately. "Qui-Gon Jinn indeed showed me the Kaan amulet as he thought I may know of its intended purpose. Qui-Gon assisted me in my investigation, but ultimately—as you may have read in our report—we found that the amulet's purpose was inconclusive. Less than a week after its discovery, I delivered the amulet to the Archive vault where it was destroyed."

Master Windu and others nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I remember it being destroyed," Master Windu said leaning comfortably and regal in his oversized seat. He turned his gaze to Obi-Wan. "Is that your only evidence to your accusation?"

Obi-Wan's visceral fear of disbelief resurfaced and his heart went into a sheer thrum of panic. "He bribed a judicial judge to release Jenna Zan Arbor from custody in order to obtain her medical studies on Force subjects."

Jenna Zan Arbor was a monster who studied the Force through excruciating torture. Obi-Wan knew her technique quite well when she experimented on him before Qui-Gon came to his rescue. But, Dooku and Qui-Gon were far too interested in her notes and studies to let her be trapped up in a Republic prison. Dooku arranged her release to find her headquarters and gather up the studies to review for his own nefarious purposes.

Dooku sighed with apathy. "You mean when I implored the judicial branch to release Doctor Arbor in order for the Jedi to track her back to her secret headquarters, where the Order shut-down the entire operation and freed all the test subjects?" he said. "Yes… I believe I was given permission by this very Council to go ahead with the plan."

Obi-Wan was on the verge of a scream. "He murdered slaves on—"

"Kenobi, enough!" Master Windu's voice thundered the circular room. Many of the Councilors shifted in their seats uncomfortably for a brief moment before calming themselves within the Force. Master Windu took a long breath, speaking quieter. "I think we all heard enough—"

"But he's lying!" Obi-Wan interrupted, looking from one Councilor to the next in incredulity. It was happening all over again. He whirled around, confronting Dooku face to face at last. He hadn't seen his grandmaster in seven years, but Dooku looked exactly as he imagined. Tall, regal and immaculate in appearance, he appeared every bit an old soul gentleman. His chosen visage in front of the Jedi Order. His eyes bored into Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan sensed the dark tendrils circling him… mocking him.

Obi-Wan couldn't let him win. "I know what you are," he confronted Dooku. "You're a Sith."

Loud gasps circulated around Obi-Wan as a great outburst erupted. Councilors were repulsed by Obi-Wan's bold statement, frowning severely at what they thought was lack of decorum on Obi-Wan's part. But, Obi-Wan didn't care. He needed to reveal Dooku's true nature to the Council.

"Kenobi!" Master Gallia admonished. "Restrain yourself!"

"It's true," Obi-Wan asserted, taking a step closer to Dooku who had yet to react at all to Obi-Wan's accusation other than with dispassionate interest. "He's been lying and manipulating all of you—"

"I think it's best you stop talking, young one," came Master Plo Koon deep rumble.

"He's a Sith!" Obi-Wan shouted, the Force shattering before him. "Why are you willing to blind yourselves?"

Master Windu's sharp glare could cut ice off Ilum. "Enough, Kenobi."

Dooku sighed, wearily at all the excitement. "Young Kenobi, you must see reason," he insisted. "Your accusations have led you nowhere. If anything, you only proved to the Council that you were rash in your deductions. A Jedi knows that not everything is as it seems at first glance."

Obi-Wan seethed through his clench teeth. "I know," he said. "Which is why I also know that this Jedi persona of yours is a facade."

"Because I study Sith artifacts and I had to go on a few undercover assignments for the Jedi Order," challenged Dooku with his brows raised questionably at Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan, I have been a Jedi for nearly seven decades. I take great pride in learning as much as possible to assist the Order and its cause." Dooku dipped his chin, his stare unyielding. "Even you admitted that you sought me out for my knowledge on Sith artifacts."

"I didn't say that!" Obi-Wan argued, cheeks heated as his heart pulsed in a fiery force. "You're putting words in my mouth!"

"Like you put words into mine?" challenged Dooku, his gaze softening to make him appear more like the victim.

Obi-Wan back-stepped, struck by the realization that Dooku manipulated him into this very moment. All of Obi-Wan's claims were erased, his integrity less valued. Dooku made him invalid and everything he said worthless. Obi-Wan felt like a padawan all over again, desperately calling for help on deaf ears. He looked around him, scanning the hard faces of the Councilors. None of them believed him. Again.

Dooku sighed despondently. "Seven years," he said, but then paused as if his next words were difficult to say next. "I had hope this nonsense would be behind us, but it appears I am wrong. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. We failed you."

Obi-Wan shook his head, unbelievable at hearing Dooku's fake apology. "You don't mean that at all," he fired back. "You got me and everyone else exactly where you want us to be." Obi-Wan thumbed his binders, his wrist aching from the weight it bore. He looked back to Master Windu, his face resembling a dark stone with his mouth taut in a straight line and his heavy eyebrows furrowed. "I see there's no point in continuing this trial."

Master Windu sat up high in his chair and he glanced over to Master Yoda. The Grandmaster only sighed in long disappointment before he nodded to Mace. Master Windu returned his hard gaze to Obi-Wan. "Based on what we witnessed today," he said. "I think we can all agree that your decision to break your vows to the Order was due to inaccurate information and unreliable visions."

"I did what the Force asked me to do," Obi-Wan maintained.

"Visions are not guarantees of the future," Master Windu reminded to Obi-Wan in a far gentler tone than Obi-Wan expected. Nonetheless, his words were still firm. "Your decision was reckless and rash. You disrespected not only your master and grandmaster, but also the Order."

Obi-Wan was sinking, dragged under and his voice drowned by the cackle of victory for the Sith. He glared at Dooku, but the Sith Lord was unperturbed. After all, it was a grand victory for him. Served on a golden platter by the one of the very few people who knew the truth. Obi-Wan willing gave Dooku the weapon to destroy him and Obi-Wan fell in tragedy.

The Council doors opened and Obi-Wan heard the familiar rhyme of a soldier's march getting closer. Once more, he found himself surrounded by Temple Guards. Master Windu gave a grave nod to the Temple Guards as he instructed Master Sifo-Dyas, who re-entered after the guards. "Return him to the detention centers," he commanded. "The Council will reveal his fate tomorrow evening."

And the gavel landed, condemning Obi-Wan to a life utter darkness and solitude. Anakin was right. They should have stayed with Padmé. Then they would have gotten a chance of freedom. But, Obi-Wan was hoping that he would still have allies in the Order. Since Garen's denouncement and the Council's ignorance, he discovered they were indeed doomed of friends and believers. Obi-Wan and Anakin were alone.

He could only hope Anakin was faring better than him.

Anakin didn't fare any better.

After he was taken away from Obi-Wan, he found himself in a healing ward where Obi-Wan's kind friend, Bant, examined him. She declared him healthy, but lacking some necessary vitamins. He was told to take one pill every day. After he finished with the healers, Bant passed him over to Master Krav, a Jedi crèche master to a group of younglings around his age. Anakin tried to stay with Bant, telling the Mon Calamari of his promise to Obi-Wan to stay with her. Bant apologized and said Anakin could not stay with her. But, she ensured that he would be safe and well-cared for by Master Krav. Anakin doubted it. He never trusted a Jedi after they tried to kill him and Obi-Wan. Even more so after he learned that they killed his mother.

Unwilling to engage, Anakin chose to remain silent. After all, Obi-Wan did instruct him to not talk to strangers and to him, they were all strangers. He sat at the far end of the room as the other younglings engaged in acrobatic tricks. Master Krav pressed Anakin to participate, but Anakin refused every single time with a simple shake of his head. He sat, cross-legged, as he meditated with happier moments in his life.

It was during his meditation that Anakin overheard a group of nearby younglings whispering about him. Anakin tried to not pay attention, meditating in his own way to entertain himself. But, their words were so clear through the Force it was hard to ignore.

"Does he even know how to talk?" one youngling hesitantly inquired. "He hasn't said a word since he was dropped off here."

"Who knows? He's a bit backwater planet, isn't he?" commented another.

"He could be shy?" suggested a young girl. "I mean, this must be all very new to him."

"Maybe… or he's just a weirdo," said the second person. "I mean, he traveled with Kenobi."

Anakin saw red. He clenched his teeth, concentrating on the memory of Obi-Wan taking him swimming for the first time. He recalled the cold touch of the water enveloping him when Obi-Wan accidentally dropped him in a small lake. His heart seized in panic and he flapped his arms crazy to keep himself above the water until Obi-Wan scooped him out. It was a familiar feeling when he entered the Temple. Extreme panic, floundering about with no support and fear fueling his heart. He didn't feel safe. Or secured. Or even welcomed. It was like drowning all over again, falling further into the dark waters.

And Obi-Wan wasn't there to pull him out.

"Hey!"

Anakin pulled out of his meditation and saw a boy standing before him, brown hair with a single gold streak. Brown eyes stared straight at him with burning interest as if he was a fascinating object. Already Anakin wished the boy would stop his intense stare.

When the boy realized he had Anakin's attention, he asked. "What's your name?"

Anakin chose to stare and not say a word.

The boy then squatted down so that they both could look at each other evenly. "I'm Ferus," said the boy, rather loudly as if Anakin was deaf before gesturing his words. "Do you understand me?"

One of the other younglings behind Ferus called after him. "Leave him alone, Ferus!"

Ferus ignored the ginger haired girl. "Do you speak Basic?"

Anakin frowned, annoyed. He grew tired of Ferus goggling at him like some sort of specimen. "Yes."

His response excited Ferus. A smile widening. "So you can speak!"

Anakin curled his nose at Ferus' sarcastic remark. "I'm not dumb."

Ferus waved his hands up in defense. "Didn't say you were," he said, casually. "So, what's your deal? Why don't you talk or hang-out with anyone?"

Anakin exhaled loudly out his nose and turned away, silent again. He had no interest to befriend a boy who had no problem bashing about him and Obi-Wan minutes ago. Besides, Ferus wasn't interested in being his friend either. He was far more interested in garnering his clanmates affections. Anakin wasn't going to play along. He sighed and went back to meditation, closing his eyes to shut Ferus out.

That didn't stop Ferus from pestering him. "You can join us if you want," he suggested, bringing Anakin right out of his meditation again. "We won't bite."

"I didn't think you would," commented Anakin, frowning. "You're more bark than bite."

And the conversation came to a screeching halt. Ferus's charms shattered and he stood up to his full height. He towered over Anakin, hands at his hips as he glared. "I see… you think you're better than us? Is that it? Because you might be the suppose 'Chosen One'?"

Anakin didn't think that at all. He knew he was better because Obi-Wan taught him. This nonsense about 'Chosen One' only befuddled Anakin. He had no idea what the galaxy Ferus was talking on about.

"Guess you were right," Ferus said as he returned to his friends with a shrug. His voice was loud enough for Anakin to hear, but not Master Krav. "He admitted that he thinks he's better than us."

One of the other younglings looked on, testily. "Looks like Kenobi poisoned his mind."

"Enough to inflate his ego," claimed another youngling.

Fire raged deep within his soul, cackling and sparking his energy. Obi-Wan warned him of the dangers of anger. Wherever there was anger, there was pain. Anakin found it to be true and restrained himself. He remembered the words Obi-Wan repeated to himself when he needed to calm down. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force. It was a prayer Anakin heard his entire life. Obi-Wan repeated it enough that Anakin remembered it, but he didn't find it as comforting as Obi-Wan. He didn't find the words to make any sense. He wished he could tinker with machines. That always calmed him down. But, he was nowhere near machinery, so he repeated the mantra just like Obi-Wan did in stressful times to help him control his anger.

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is know—

"Probably taught him to despise the Jedi," said a Togruta youngling.

The dragon inside uncoiled, slithering up with smoke bellowing from its nostrils. Anakin concentrated harder. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no—

"Well, Kenobi is a traitor," came Ferus's voice. "He ruined the Jedi Order. That scum deserves whatever the Council decides."

The cage holding the dragon burst open. Fire scorched the words Anakin tried hard to remember. It all burned and blurred and he rose amongst the smoke. He stormed over to the group, blood rushing to his ears. He heard nothing, but the snarls of his words to the savages.

His approach caused some of the younglings to scatter, but a few stayed to greet their fate.

"Don't you say a word about Obi-Wan!" Anakin threatened. "He's twice the person you'll ever be!"

Ferus and two others blinked in surprise and unsure how to proceed. Then Ferus let out a gentle cough. "Clearly he told you bedtime lies," he said. "Kenobi is a traitor. He betrayed his master and the rest of the Order."

"The Order betrayed him!" Anakin growled. "You're the murderers and baby snatchers! You're the scum of the galaxy!"

Ferus's handsome face scarred into an ugly distortion as his brows furrowed and his lips turned down. "We're peacekeepers. We prevent wars and save lives. We work for the greater good," he said then he eyed Anakin critically. "Guess you wouldn't know any of that seeing as Kenobi was a selfish man after all."

"No he's not!" Anakin defended, blood rushing to velvet his cheeks. "He's the kindest person in the galaxy! And he's sacrificed far more things than you ever will."

That got a good giggle from the group of younglings. For Anakin, it fueled the dragon as it hungered for vengeance. A smirk leapt onto Ferus's face as he rolled his eyes at Anakin. "If you mean his honor? Then sure," he quipped. "Integrity? I bet."

Anakin backed his shoulders. "What do you know about honor? Or integrity? You just hide out here, play fighting with others your own size. None of it is real! You've never seen a real battle. Or had to fight for your life. You don't starve or sleep in the dirt. You never saw death.

"You don't know anything," Anakin finished, bathing in Ferus's humiliation. "You wouldn't even last a day outside these walls!"

Ferus's mouth went small and tight. Jawline protruding as his eyes sparked into action. He pulled out his training saber. "Care to challenge me then?"

Anakin raised his hand up. Ferus's training saber and his friends' sabers all ripped out of their grasps. The three metallic cylinders levitated in front of Anakin before he ignited each one. A row of blue and green training sabers lined in front of Anakin before he did another wave of his hand. The training sabers tilted away until all three sabers were trained on their respective owners.

Anakin shot a smug smirk at Ferus. The Jedi Initiates froze, eyes searching for help. A roar of triumph rippled through Anakin. He drank in their fear. Their trembles in the Force energized him. He hated them! Hated their words against Obi-Wan. He was going to make them regret everything. Make them wish they never said anything about his family or himself. They were going to—

"ANAKIN SKYWALKER!" yelled Master Krav as she rushed to the scene and, with a flick of the Force, she pulled the training sabers out from Anakin's Force grip. The training sabers all disengaged and she caught them in her claw. She looked from the training sabers to Anakin, reproachful as she marched right up to him. She grabbed his arm. "What do you think you were doing? We do not attack unarmed people! In fact, we don't attack at all unless it's for defense!"

"They were attacking me!" Anakin shouted back, jabbing his finger at Ferus and the others. "They were making fun of me and Obi-Wan!"

Master Krav flickered a glance at the three Jedi Initiates. "Be as that may, we still do not attack… especially not in anger," she reprimanded. "I would like to think Obi-Wan taught you better than that!"

Anakin breathed to argue when he came to the realization of what he had just done. Master Krav was right. Obi-Wan wouldn't have approved of this behavior. In fact, he would have been mortified had he witnessed it.

Anakin dropped his arms to his side. This was not who he was. Obi-Wan has told him that before when anger sprouted from his heart. Obi-Wan told him he was made for more.

"I'm sorry," Anakin apologized.

Master Krav shook her head disappointingly. "I'll have to discipline you another time," she said. "But first, the Council would like to see you."

Anakin cocked up a brow. "Council?"

Master Krav. "Yes, they are the leaders of the Jedi Order," she explained. "And they would like to speak to you now."

"I don't feel like talking."

"Then you can tell them that when you visit," Master Krav said, hooking the sabers on her belt. She turned her attention to Ferus and the other younglings. "I'll talk to you three when I return," she said, coolly.

Ferus and his friends apologetically bowed. "Yes, Master."

Master Krav huffed and turned to Anakin. "Come along! We can't keep them waiting."

Master Krav started walking. Anakin stayed where he was for a moment. He looked back to Ferus, seeing that the Jedi Initiate glared at him. Anakin returned the cold stare. He got the feeling he and Ferus would never warm up to each other ever and Anakin was fine with it. He didn't want to be friends with a Jedi anyway. With that victory, he followed Master Krav, very eager to leave the other younglings to their play time.

A chime alerted Master Windu of a guest. He opened the door. "I've been expecting you."

Qui-Gon smiled. "Then I guess I'm not intruding," he said as he stepped inside the apartment.

Mace closed the door and gestured for Qui-Gon to one of his seats. Qui-Gon settled into the biggest chair as Mace offered tea. Qui-Gon happily accepted and blew the steam away from the top of his filled cup. Mace sat across. "I know why you are here."

Qui-Gon lifted his eyes from the hot tea to Mace. "I would be astonished if you didn't know," he quipped. "I heard the Council was in session for a few hours. How is he?" He took a small sip of his tea as to hide his face from Mace's scrutiny.

Mace lifted his brows. "Not as quiet or obedient as he used to be," he remarked. "You'll be happy to know that he reminded me of you."

That brought a tug to the corner of Qui-Gon's lips. "We often fall back to what we learn in times of need."

"And he fell back to your habits," Mace said. "For the sake of the Order, we don't need another Qui-Gon running around the Temple."

Qui-Gon sat upright. "Does that mean—"

Mace shook his head gravely. "I'm sorry, my old friend. I did not mean to get your hopes up," he said, placing his tea aside. "We adjourned for a break, but we are hoping to meet again tomorrow afternoon to debate on Kenobi's sentence."

"Sentence?" Qui-Gon repeated, chewing the words with distaste. "You mean you already find him guilty?"

"He did steal from the Jedi, Qui-Gon," Mace reminded him. "Perhaps Skywalker wasn't officially one of us, but Kenobi still kidnapped a child from Jedi protection and then assaulted Jedi Sentinels. He cannot be free for such crimes."

It was Qui-Gon's turn to forget his tea as he placed it on the table in deep thought. "I… I know, but I thought you might give him some leeway. He was only a padawan. He was scared… he did what he thought he had to."

"We all have choices, Qui-Gon," Mace said. "He made the wrong one even if he thought it was right. His good intentions doesn't make his actions good. He kidnapped a child! Even that is a serious felony in the Republic."

Qui-Gon slumped in his seat in heavy defeat. "What will happen to him?"

"The Council still needs to decide. The best is that Kenobi will be imprisoned in the detention cells for a short period of time," Mace said, unable to look into his old friend's face out of pity and sympathy. "The worst is he's sentenced to death."

And that is when Mace felt the ripple of fear in the Force from Qui-Gon. "You mean to kill him?" Qui-Gon shocked.

Mace shook his head. "No, we mean to discuss the sentence and figure out the best course. The death sentence is just the worst possible outcome for your former padawan. Doesn't mean it will happen. In fact, I doubt it will."

Qui-Gon dropped his face in his hands, hunched over as he mulled over the two scenarios in his head. Mace never wanted to hurt his friend by delivering him the news. Already the loss of Kenobi was a hard hit for him and to learn of his future was equally as devastating.

After a long moment, Qui-Gon lifted his head up again. Eyes red and mouth strained. "Is there a way," he began, voice somewhat croaked. "Is there a way I can speak to him? Privately?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Qui-Gon," Mace quickly said. "Kenobi believes you are still this dark disciple of the Sith arts."

"That's why I need to see him," Qui-Gon implored his old friend. "Mace! I just need to speak to him. I haven't seen him in years and I just… I want to see him again."

Mace lowered his shoulders, hands on his knees. Qui-Gon had struggled with the loss of Kenobi. More so than he did with Xanatos. Kenobi was the padawan Qui-Gon always wanted and to lose him from such an unwarranted fallout crippled him. If placed in those shoes, Mace would want to know the reasons why his padawan lost faith in him and the Order.

Against better judgment, Mace slowly nodded his head. "I can grant you access to him. No more than a quarter of an hour though," he said as he watched Qui-Gon's mood brightened. "I'll let the Temple Guards know of your impending arrival."

Qui-Gon rose from his seat and hurried to the door. "Thank you Mace," he said as he exited. "Thank you, my old friend."