Charisasori – Things are about to get rocky. Hopefully father and son can work together for the better.

NefariousPlots – Thanks

not paranoid enough – The story is Xanatos and Crion centered, but we will be getting back to Obi-Wan and will be seeing more of Anakin in the future.

Chapter 26

It had been a good week, Xanatos reflected. But the lucrative deal he had just closed was minor compared to the satisfaction he had experienced in learning more about his son. He had spent every meal with Crion, not wanting to miss the opportunity to sit and talk. In addition, Xanatos had been thrilled that his son had taken him up on his offer of help with his training. The evenings spent with father and son sparring were exactly as Xanatos had often imagined they would be when Crion was still a baby.

In fact, the week had been so perfect that it left Xanatos wondering when reality would finally rear its ugly head and the façade crumble. It was inevitable. Crion was being tremendously patient with him … just as a Jedi padawan was trained to deal with a difficult politician.

Xanatos chimed before entering his son's quarters. Afternoon meal had been delivered on schedule. Crion was already sitting at the table, hunched over a datapad. It was probably the lessons a tutor had sent over earlier in the day.

"What do you think of the study material?"

"Boring," Crion grumbled.

"Studies aren't always meant to be interesting …"

"Perhaps childish is a better description," Crion quickly amended. "Childish … easy … not stimulating … mastered it a long, long time ago."

"I get the point," Xanatos replied, taking a seat across from his son.

Crion glanced away briefly, and Xanatos waited for the question he knew was coming. "Master Obi-Wan will probably include my lessons in the parcel he is sending. Would you allow me continue with those?"

"It would probably be for the best," Xanatos relented after a moment's thought. The education he had received in the Temple had certainly been more than adequate. "Or maybe I should just bring you to the office and put you to work."

"The family business?" Crion snorted. "It would be more worthwhile than this," he said as he shut off the datapad and took a sip from his glass.

That was the first glimpse Xanatos caught of the bottle of amber-colored liquid sitting on the table next to his son. "What's that?" he asked.

"Something I picked up on Patul." Crion pushed the bottle towards his father. "Would you like some?"

Xanatos picked up the bottle and took a sniff. It was familiar to him – a cheap home brew sold on the streets of Patul. He wrinkled his nose and set the bottle down before studying his son.

"You don't approve?" Crion asked.

"Of this cheap crap – no. If you want to have a drink, I can bring us something suitable from my quarters …"

The long, drawn out sigh and shake of Crion's head informed Xanatos that he had just miserably failed whatever test his son had set out for him.

"I don't believe it," Crion huffed.

The patronizing tone nipped at Xanatos, but he did his best to ignore it. "What don't you believe?" Xanatos inquired pleasantly.

"Are you even trying to be a father?"

"I thought I had made that clear," Xanatos ground out.

"Do you know what my master would do if he caught me drinking?"

"I can't say I really care," Xanatos bit back, dropping all pretense of diplomacy. He didn't appreciate being manipulated, especially by his teenaged son. "I am your father, and I happen to believe that if you are mature enough to wield the Force and carry one of the deadliest weapons known to the galaxy, you might just be mature enough to have an occasional drink."

"So, it doesn't matter to you that me drinking is illegal on Telos." Crion spun his glass in a circle on the table. "Then again, your past actions would suggest you don't have that much respect for the law in the first place."

Xanatos stood and walked toward the window, squelching the quick flare of anger. With his back to his son, he contemplated how to best handle the obvious baiting. A smile crept over his lips as he pulled out his comlink.

"Soren?"

"Yes," came his assistant's voice.

"Contact the groundskeeper and tell him my son will be at his disposal for the day." Xanatos glanced at his son. "I expect Crion to be put to work. He will be at the east exit of the residence in fifteen minutes."

Making his way back toward his son, Xanatos leaned forward, planted his palms firmly on the table. "I am not sure what game you are trying to play, Crion, but rest assured you will lose."

The gaze reflected back at him held barely veiled defiance and something else Xanatos couldn't quite identify.

"You best change your clothes. Try to keep as covered as possible. It is summer her and you will burn to a crisp if you aren't careful."

"Yes, Sir," Crion said with a nod of the head before retreating to his room. Something about the boy's casual acceptance left Xanatos wondering if he had still somehow been manipulated into doing exactly what Crion wanted.

Obi-Wan was immediately ushered into the Council chambers soon after being summoned. He stood in the middle, silently waiting to be acknowledged by the twelve beings that studied him with serious expressions.

"A mission we have for you," Yoda said.

Obi-Wan reigned in his surprise, taking a deep breath before he answered, "It was my understanding that I had been removed from the mission rotation."

"We are not any happier with this than you are, Obi-Wan," Mace answered. "We would not have asked you here except that Chancellor Palpatine has asked personally for your involvement."

Obi-Wan let out a sigh, trying to reign in his frustration. It was a given that the chancellor would eventually call in a favor, but he had not expected it to be so soon.

"What is my mission?" he asked with resignation.

"The daughter of a powerful family in Coruscant has gone missing. The family would obviously like to keep this discrete but are gravely concerned for her safety."

"Do we have any leads?" Obi-Wan asked. Kidnapping was an obvious possibility.

"What we know is included in your briefing information. You will have time to review it before you leave in the morning," Mace replied. "The girl was traced to Kyatn IV by bounty hunters hired by her family, but they have not been able to find her."

"Last I heard, Jedi were not exactly welcome on Kyatn IV," Obi-Wan said, raising an eyebrow. The planet, located in the Outer Rim, was ruled by criminal elements that had no love for the Republic or its keepers of peace.

"Careful you must be to not allow anyone to discern your true identity," Yoda admonished.

"I will be."

Obi-Wan exited the Council chambers and found Qui-Gon sitting on a bench waiting for him.

"Anakin told me you had been called before the Council," he said as he stood and fell into step next to his former apprentice. "Any good news by chance?"

"Not unless you consider being sent on a mission to Kyatn IV good news," Obi-Wan answered.

Qui-Gon abruptly stopped. "You were taken out of mission rotation."

"And apparently, Chancellor Palpatine has already called in a favor."

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"I will see you for evening meal then," Qui-Gon said. He rested a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder before turning and heading back towards the Council chambers.

A smile tugged at Obi-Wan's lips as he continued to his quarters. He suspected the Council was going to be dealing with a quite livid Qui-Gon Jinn.

Dusk was fast approaching when Xanatos finally decided to check on his son. Crion was kneeled down planting a row of bright purple turat flowers. Sweat plastered his hair to the back of his neck. He paused for a moment to sit back on his heels and wipe a grimy arm across his brow.

Approaching, Xanatos stopped beside Crion and squatted down next to his son. He extended the glass of ice water he had brought.

"Thanks," Crion mumbled.

"According to my groundskeeper, you're quite knowledgeable about gardening."

Crion shrugged. "Master Qui-Gon actually has taught me quite a bit … after I killed his osara flowers while on disciplinary duty."

"So you work in the gardens often?"

"I've had practice." A smile twisted the boy's lips. "Much to my master's dismay, I have learned more about gardening than keeping my mouth shut."

"You should get washed up for evening meal," Xanatos said with a chuckle.

"I should finish planting this last row."

Xanatos glanced down the row of unplanted flowers, estimating his son still had at least an hour of work left. It was more time than he wanted to lose. He dropped down to his knees and started to roll up the sleeves of his shirt. "So what are we doing here?"

"We?" Crion asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You act as though I have never worked a hard day in my life." Xanatos laughed lightly. "I am no stranger to the disciplinary methods of inventive Jedi masters."

"I am just worried you might mess up your manicure."

"Do you want help or not?" A smile tugged at Xanatos' lips. Crion wasn't the only master manipulator in the family. "Did I mention that a parcel came from you … your personal items from the temple?"

There was a sudden flash of eagerness in Crion's eyes before his face morphed back into defiance. Apparently, he hated being manipulated as much as his father did.

"The roots are delicate," Crion said. "Be careful and just do what I do."