Chapter 29: Sithspat!

Qui-Gon didn't move right away. When Obi-Wan slammed the door shut in his face, he only sighed and rubbed his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. A headache emerged under the stress he bore for the past few days. Obi-Wan hadn't made things easy for anyone. His defiance on every level made it difficult to reach a compromise or even extend an olive branch.

In this very moment, though, Qui-Gon understood the blunt dismissal and bitterness. The woman Obi-Wan loved was tortured. It sickened Qui-Gon to know that Dooku went to that extreme. He turned away from the closed door, striding down the corridors with narrowed focus. He didn't hesitate when he arrived to another closed room. Nor did he knock. Civility demanded he did, but Qui-Gon forgone it due to the frustration that bubbled near outright anger. He forced the door opened and gave himself permission to enter Dooku's chambers.

Qui-Gon spotted Dooku at his desk, fingering a silver chain with strands of black threads fluttering off. Dooku raised his eyes to Qui-Gon. Strict lines cracked Dooku's cold, collective stare as he eyed his old apprentice. "This better be good, Qui-Gon."

It was. "You went behind my back," Qui-Gon accused. "We had an agreement. I handle Obi-Wan."

Dooku straightened his shoulders and tossed the broken chain to his desk. "I'm aware of our negotiations," he steely confirmed, "but you had three days to get him obedient and nothing to show. You should be grateful for what I've done! Kenobi swore fealty to us."

Qui-Gon irritably shook his head. "Master… you don't understand Obi-Wan's psych. He may have sworn fealty, but we do not have his heart!"

Dooku scoffed. "Heart? Heart is an excuse for the weak, Qui-Gon. Surely you know better."

"I meant Obi-Wan's heart is what drives him," Qui-Gon clarified. "He may do as we tell him, but he holds no loyalties to us." Qui-Gon rubbed his face with his hands. "He'll betray us as soon as he can."

Dooku pondered over Qui-Gon's assertion before he went to his closet. "I can assure you, he won't."

"Why? Because you threatened his life?" Qui-Gon shook his head. "Obi-Wan has little regard for his well-being. Threats against him do not matter."

"Then the threats will be directed on the ones who do matter," Dooku said, shuffling through a row of cloaks. "We have him under our power again, Qui-Gon. Be happy that your former apprentice has finally taken the knee and surrendered."

"I cannot be happy knowing that he's unhappy."

"And that is your problem," Dooku picked out one of the cloaks and swung it over his shoulders. "You, my old friend, are too caught up in his distress to see the bigger picture. Kenobi has submitted," he said, adjusting the cloak along his neckline. "That's a major step in the direction we needed to go. You can work out the finer details with the young man later.

"In fact, in a gesture of goodwill," Dooku closed the closet door and moved across the room to stand but a few feet away from Qui-Gon, "Kenobi may keep the girl. Do whatever he wishes with her."

Qui-Gon wrinkled his nose in disgust at what Dooku referred. "Obi-Wan is not that kind of man."

"I never said he was," Dooku apathetically refuted. "I do not care what he does or doesn't do. As long as he follows our commands, then I have nothing to concern myself with."

Of course Dooku's attention drew to the master plan rather than the individuals involved. It was the same when Qui-Gon was his young padawan many years ago. But, Qui-Gon had thought that their late-night discussions had some impact on Dooku's way of thinking. Over and over again, they spoke on the importance of Obi-Wan and Anakin's decisions. How, in almost every vision, the two always appeared. In the end, Obi-Wan and Anakin were going to direct the fate of the future.

Qui-Gon had it mapped out perfectly. The process called for patience as he figured Obi-Wan's conversion would take weeks or maybe even a few months. He strategized to slowly convert Obi-Wan to their side of the war through less hostile means. He wanted Obi-Wan to trust him again. To rely on him like he once did as a padawan and show him that peace was possible.

As he told Dooku, Qui-Gon didn't want coerced fealty. He wanted Obi-Wan to join on his own accord. He wanted Obi-Wan to truly believe in their vision of the galaxy rather than simply become a tool. But, Dooku's impatience ended that tactic as he rashly struck down the Duchess in front of Obi-Wan.

Now, it would take maybe a year or two to even regain the trust he lost.

Qui-Gon lamented on the difficulty it would take to fix the mistakes Dooku made with Obi-Wan. It was going to be a long and stressful journey. "It was a mistake to bring harm on the Duchess."

The mercurial shift from indifference to irritation showed in his eyes. A twitch of a scowl threatened to break his serene visage. "Then I shall have faith in your ability to remedy it," Dooku said. "After all, we negotiated that it would be you who handled Kenobi."

With that Makashi jab, Dooku swept aside Qui-Gon and headed to the door. "I have a conference call with our fellow Separatists. I need to initiate the next step in the plan," he said. "If you wish to waste your time on an objective I already obtained, then by all means do so! But, if you enter my chambers unannounced again, I will not be as hospitable as I was."

"Nor will I be a passive guest if you go over my head again on matters that are in my jurisdiction," Qui-Gon countered. He wasn't afraid of Dooku and he wanted to state very clearly he did not approve of what Dooku did.

Dooku's eyes fell into slits, but an acquiescing promise was shortly shared between them. "Very well," he said. "I must go. Handle the young man with care, Qui-Gon, but hardened your heart. It will only hurt you if you don't shield it."

Qui-Gon accepted the reminder and he exited out of Dooku's chambers. He directed his feet back to the corridor, retracing his steps to return to Obi-Wan's quarters.

There was going to be a very long talk.

Anakin flickered from one face to the next.

He only recognized Bant amongst the faces that studied him. Bant smiled warmly at him, attempting to make him feel welcomed. Anakin felt far from it. He felt like an outsider. An animal at one of the zoos where people goggled at him. It was irritating and he wanted to yell at them to stop staring.

His dining companions were all around the same age as Obi-Wan. One even had a yellow stripe across his face, dark, wild eyes focused upon him with great intensity that Anakin thought he saw right through his tough exterior and saw the frightened boy. Perhaps he did. After all, the young man was a Jedi.

Something poked him in the arm. He turned and saw Bant again. "Eat Anakin," she insisted, pointing to the tray of food. "You need the energy."

Anakin didn't feel hungry at the moment. He didn't get much sleep last night. His forehead prickled and there was a heavy, dense fog through his connection with Obi-Wan. Something happened. Something terrible. He knew that much. Sorrow seeped into him and Anakin could figure out if it was his or Obi-Wan's. It could possibly be both.

Anakin pushed away his tray. "I'm not hungry."

A plumped Dressellian who sat diagonally from Anakin reached for his slice of loaf. "You don't mind me eating—"

A hand slapped the Dressellian's reach from ever encountering Anakin's bread. "Seriously Reeft?" came a sharp reply from a woman with cropped blonde hair. "Can't you see he needs it more than you?"

The Dressellian rubbed his sore hand. "He said he wasn't hungry."

"Doesn't mean he shouldn't eat," came the woman's swift reply. She turned her blue eyes to Anakin. "You need to eat. There's barely any meat on your bones."

"I'm not hungry!"

Bant rested her hand on his shoulder. "You need to try Anakin," she said. "You need it for your strength."

"Strength to do what?" Anakin challenged, hands on his hips as he dared the older Jedi to say something to him. "I'm not doing anything! All I do is sleep, eat and listen to everyone talk about what they should do, but don't even do it."

"I understand your frustration—"

Anakin shook his head. "No! No you don't!"

"Calm down, kid," came the yellow striped man. "Throwing a tantrum won't do anything good."

No it wouldn't, but it would make him feel better. He really wanted to scream. To release all these pent up emotions that he's been unable to release due to the constant and significant changes around him. It was still big news about the Dooku's and Qui-Gon's betrayal. The revelation that the very man they swore as an enemy was actually right about the very respectable members of the Order crashed upon every Jedi with wounded pride. Everyone now stared at him, looking at him with either pity, embarrassment or sorrow. Whispers about him and Obi-Wan abounded again and it agitated Anakin to no end!

Worst of all he had no one to turn to. Obi-Wan was gone. Satine missing. And Padme out of contact due to the Jedi Council keeping information amongst themselves rather than include him.

He had no one in this world. He was alone and, while he would never admit it out-loud, he felt very afraid. Every day, he reached for Obi-Wan through their bond. Just any touch of his Obi-Wan's Force presence would quell his erratic heart. His reach only hit a barricade, unable to go through it. He was blocked. Most likely by Obi-Wan himself.

Anakin slumped in his seat, crossing his arms. "I'm not hungry."

The group surrounding him let out a collective sigh. Funny, they all acted hopeless in such a situation. Whenever he became stubborn, Obi-Wan knew the right antidote to get him to do exactly what Anakin didn't want to do. Here, they seemingly caved in and surrendered.

Suddenly, Bant perked up. Her presence in the Force spiked as she turned fully in her seat to look at Anakin. "I might have something that may cheer you up," she began, but Anakin didn't react. He doubted that there would be anything she could say to cheer him up.

Bant cleared her throat and started her tale. "It's a funny story about Obi-Wan," she said and suddenly, Anakin's heart tickled back to life a little. He raised his brow. An encouragement to continue. "Well, as you may remember, Obi-Wan was raised here in this very Temple. In fact, him and all of us used to hang-out."

"One day, Master Vant allowed us to roam the Room of a Thousand Fountains on our own. We were about four years old, I believe," Bant continued the story. "Obi-Wan, as quiet as he was, often caused the loudest commotion. An incident took place… I'm not quite sure what happened, but in the end, Obi-Wan and a fellow padawan, Bruck Chun—"

"A real piece of Bantha poodoo," added the yellow striped man.

"Come on Vos," Bant said, nudging her head to Anakin. "Not in front of the boy."

Quinlan Vos merely shrugged. He didn't seemed too conflicted that he cursed in front of Anakin. Not that Anakin cared. He heard much worst from strangers. Quinlan Vos leaned back in his chair. "But he was," he said. "A laserbrain too. A karking—"

"Anyway," Siri Tachi interrupted, looking back to Bant. "Continue with the story."

Anakin flashed his eyes back to Bant, who pulled herself together after glaring at Quinlan for the interruption. "Anyway, Master Vant had to redirect them to the healers."

A light chuckle threatened to come out of Anakin's pressed lips. He imagined Obi-Wan hated that idea. He never was one for healers, avoiding them as much as possible. He even hesitated to take Anakin to the healers when he was five years old with a broken arm. Too afraid that the healers would find more damages and keep them locked up forever.

"So Master Vant ushered them to the healers, but Obi-Wan stopped. He didn't follow Bruck all the way and he promptly turned around," Bant recalled the memory. "Master Vant blocked him and asked what he was doing. Obi-Wan looked up at him and asked what healers do. Our master said, 'They take in the injure and treat them.'"

A sliver of a smile crept up on Bant's face. A happy memory indeed for her, Anakin noted. "Obi-Wan looked up and asked, 'With what type of treats?'" Bant starts to chuckle on the innocence of youth. "Well, Master Vant quickly corrected him and said that healers are there to care for the injured. Master Vant then led Obi-Wan back to the healers, where he supervised both Bruck's and Obi-Wan's healing. They were both injected with a drug and then their arms were unceremoniously set. Obi-Wan cried out and tried to wiggle out of his seat after the healer fix the first bone. When Master Vant asked what he was trying to do, Obi-Wan said, 'To get away from these Sithspats! They don't care, Master! We have to stop them!'"

That sounded about right. He imagined Obi-Wan calling healers Sithspats and wanting to stop them as if they were actual real threats to the galaxy. To Anakin's surprise, he felt the corners of his mouth rise up a bit. He perfectly imagine a pint-sized Obi-Wan shouting at healers and calling them Siths.

Bant's laughter faded and she wiped an escape tear from her eyes. "Ever since then, Obi-Wan always despised the healers. Would hide away and care for his own wounds. Sometimes it was a hunt to find him and drag his butt to the healers."

Anakin leaned forward, food still forgotten. "Do you have any more stories?"

"Of course," Bant said and he gaze lifted from Anakin to her surrounding peers. "We all have loads of stories to share with you about Obi-Wan."

"Like the time Siri here shoved him in the artificial river?" Quinlan said in a leering tone.

Siri threw a piece of fruit at Quinlan's face. "Or maybe the time you set Obi-Wan up to take your fall when you destroyed Master Koon's spaceship."

"But we won't tell you anymore," Bant's voice carried over the fighting padawans, "until you eat the rest of your meal."

Anakin bunched up his eyebrows, a familiar crevice forming between them. He should have known he was falling into a trap. Obi-Wan had used those tactics when he was much younger and refused to bathe as he hated being dunked in cold water. "But I'm not hungry…"

"Then I'm afraid we have no more stories to tell you," Bant merely shrugged and restarted on her own meal. "Siri? Do you have any more napkins?"

Siri passed a napkin to Bant and it seemed Bant was going to uphold her end. She would not tell another story to Anakin unless he started eating. Muttering an expletive, Anakin dragged back his tray and lifted his fork. He felt eyes on him as he speared one of the chunks of meat. Slowly, he brought it up to his mouth and bit into it. The Force around him gave another great sigh of relief.

Anakin continued his meal and Bant shared more childhood stories that involved Obi-Wan. Some of the stories Anakin doubted. He could never imagine Obi-Wan sneaking out of bed late at night to raid the kitchens for sweet bread. But they were all entertaining nonetheless. And it made Anakin feel a little better. Hearing stories about Obi-Wan almost made it seem like Obi-Wan was with him. It was the closest thing he had since the block on their Force bond.

After the meal, Siri and Reeft had to depart for their own private lessons. Bant, instructed by her own master to care for Anakin, offered to take him to the gardens that she talked about in one of the stories. Anakin agreed and they began their walk when Quinlan Vos promised he would come back. He rushed off and Anakin watched him disappear around the corner.

"So, you all were good friends with Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

Bant nodded. "Yes, all of us."

"Did any of you ever miss him?"

Bant happy glow turned somber. "All the time," she responded after a moment of silence. "It's like I said before, it got complicated. Miscommunications and… well, maybe not miscommunication now. It's clear that Masters Dooku and Jinn played the entire Order. I… I regret for not helping Obi-Wan sooner."

Anakin sensed her sadness. The dark tainting the light that pooled in her own heart. She truly regretted her actions, her follies in believing the lies spread by Dooku and Qui-Gon. And it hurt her. Yesterday, Anakin would be happy that she was hurting. He would have said she rightfully deserved it because she and the others abandoned Obi-Wan. Now? Not so much. He felt her pain and realized that she never wanted it to happen. Not to her dear friend.

After an awkward mourning silence, Anakin spoke up. "He mentioned you guys once to me," he said, not entirely sure where he was going with it. "Not specifically, but he told me once had friends and I could tell he missed you. All of you. He may not have mentioned you ever to me, but maybe it's because it hurt him to think about it. You know?"

Bant drew up her lips in thought. "It's possible," she said with a weak smile. "Anything is possible."

They had reached the gardens when Quinlan Vos ran up to them. He was holding something in his hand. Anakin tried to get a peek at it, but Quinlan hid it behind his back. "So, Master Tholme and I were in charge of collecting and reviewing the belongings involving Master Dooku and Master Jinn, and I found something I think Obi-Wan would want you to have, youngling."

He pulled his hand out and placed something cold in his hand. Anakin glanced down and gasped.

It was Obi-Wan's lightsaber. The one he carried with him these past ten years. The last time he saw that lightsaber, it was in Garen's hands on Tatooine.

Anakin whipped his head up. "How—"

"I guess Master Yoda or someone wanted me to use my psychometry on the weapon," Quinlan said. "Guess they were hoping it could give them a few more hints about Dooku's and Qui-Gon's plans. But I didn't get much. Just quick images of you and other things."

Anakin wowed at holding Obi-Wan's lightsaber. This weapon is your life Obi-Wan once said when he handed the lightsaber to Anakin to practice a long time ago. It felt light and yet heavy all at once.

Quinlan smiled down on the boy. "Obi-Wan was a good man, Anakin," he said. "Even a better friend. I'm sorry we failed him. And you." He moved Anakin's hands to curl around the lightsaber. "Obi-Wan would have wanted you to have it. Keep it close and try not to lose it."

"Quinlan—" Bant began to say, but Anakin interrupted her.

He nodded his head and pulled the lightsaber hilt close to his heart. "I will," he swore. "Thank you!"

Quinlan only gave him a wink before turning on his heels to walk away. He only went a few steps before he called over his shoulder. "Oh—if anyone asks where you got it," he said. "Don't mention my name."

Anakin wouldn't. He wouldn't say a word. The Jedi had done the kindest thing to him by giving him Obi-Wan's lightsaber. Anakin smiled as he buckled the hilt to his utility belt. He had a weapon now. A weapon he could use to rescue Obi-Wan!

He just had to wait until night fell to make his escape.