Master Windu was pacing the long corridors of the Jedi Temple. A deep frown was engraved between his brows. The last days had not been good ones. Qui-Gon and Dooku had insisted to go on a mission together again. The Council could hardly refuse Dooku's wish, as Dooku was a respected Council member. But Mace felt deep worry when he remembered the last two missions Qui-Gon and Dooku along with their Padawans had had together. The first one had been when they had both just taken their Padawans. Something grave had happened with Padawan Skywalker then. Mace suspected that he had shown signs of the dark side but Yoda would not tell him. Then, of course, Qui-Gon had decided to - once again - completely ignore the Council and bring his Padawan to Tatooine - to see his mother. Irresponsible, really irresponsible. Mace respected Qui-Gon very much but that went decidedly too far! Even Master Dooku had not agreed with his former Padawan, whom he normally defended. If Dooku had not been on the Council, Qui-Gon would have been banned from the Jedi Order already a long time ago.

Their next mission had been two years ago. Dooku and Qui-Gon had had a disagreement about some Jedi rules or whatever. They were both very independent and idealistic men and they both had their mind set on how to interpret the Jedi Code. They were bound to clash with each other. As were their Padawans. Mace had seen it from the very beginning but no one had listened to his worries. There had always been bickering and rivalry between Skywalker and Kenobi and no matter what everyone - except for Mace - had said: It had not proved to be the normal childish behaviour. It had not disappeared over the years. Kenobi was a terribly impatient boy and, worse, there was still much anger in him. Dooku had said his Padawan had learned (at least a little) patience. Qui-Gon was sure Kenobi would learn to overcome his anger eventually. What a naive optimist! And even if he was right - it was still a danger to Skywalker, to the Chosen One. It was of the utmost importance that Skywalker developed a stable personality if he was to bring balance to the Force. Letting him go on missions with Qui-Gon, Dooku and Kenobi was like throwing him to the lions.

Mace silently referred to them as the "Rebel Alliance". They were always a threat to the long traditions and foundations of the Jedi Order. Recently, Dooku had started with a new whim. He questioned the Jedi Order and, worse, the Republic and democracy in general, and he had dubious new ideas concerning the political order.

Mace Windu was very worried, indeed. And now they were off again on a secret mission to Naboo where they should negotiate because of a blockade by the Trade Federation. That all of it happened in top-secret and was staged by Chancellor Valorum without the vote of the Senate, was deeply troubling. Reluctantly, Mace had to admit some of Dooku's prejudices concerning the corruptness and incapability of today's politics seemed to be justified.

Sadly, Mace gazed out of a panoramic window where the Coruscanti suns set behind the impressive skyline. Is this the end? Are we approaching the end of the Jedi Order, of the Republic and democracy?

ooooooo

Anakin was not happy with the situation at all. The negotiations to stop the Naboo blockade had not taken place, instead they had been attacked by battle droids and droidekas. They had managed to escape but now they stood ankle-deep in a swamp and his Master and Master Dooku had got into a fight because of some creature with long floppy ears Qui-Gon had accidentally saved. The creature had - more or less - offered to help them and bring them to an underwater city its people lived. Dooku was against it because he did not trust the creature. He had let words slip like "cowardice" and "dumb", and that had enraged Qui-Gon and here they were: They stood at the bank of a lake between the trees, debating and debating (and mostly disagreeing) what to do. Anakin and Obi-Wan stood next to them and tried not to look too disinterested by their rather pointless argument. Anakin and Obi-Wan had already had a heated discussion in the morning on their journey to Naboo. It had been mostly about what it meant to be a Jedi Knight. Anakin had hinted that he wanted to be knighted soon and Obi-Wan thought (though he had not said it directly) Anakin was arrogant again because of that. Anakin heaved a deep sigh. He thought Naboo was a nice place. It could be a nice place, were it not for bickering Masters and battle droids. He wished he could just sit down here and meditate or maybe go swimming. He liked this place. It was full of life and had a peaceful aura.

"What is your name, anyway?" Anakin asked the Gungan creature, making conversation.

"Mesa Jar Jar Binks," he (Anakin assumed he was a "he") answered enthusiastically.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Anakin Skywalker."

"Yousa Jedi too? Mesa sooo happy to see you."

Anakin smiled. It seemed Jar Jar was the only normal person around, with whom you could talk and who was polite. "I'm pleased to meet you too. Why were you banished from the city?"

"Tis a long tale, buta small part wawdabe mesa...ooooh...aaaa...clumsy." Jar Jar blinked apologetically at Anakin.

"You were banished simply because you're clumsy? That's a hard decision," Anakin said sympathetically. "Hey, you could found a club with Oafy-Wan. He used to be clumsy too but he was lucky. The Jedi Order is not as strict as your people with clumsy ones." Anakin gave Obi-Wan a friendly punch in the side. Obi-Wan punched him back and complained a bit, and so it went on and on, until Qui-Gon stopped them.

"Padawans, will you please stop that childish behaviour? We're having a serious discussion."

Anakin rolled his eyes. Typical Master-behaviour. Obi-Wan and he had not seriously argued. Really, what else could you do when your Masters were engaged in such a serious discussion. Finally, the Masters agreed to go with Jar Jar Binks (honestly, what else could they have done? Camped here in the swamplands?). Still a bit peeved that he had lost the argument, Dooku put on his rebreather and went into the lake. Jar Jar did a great header and the others followed. Being underwater felt good. It was peaceful and quiet. Water plants swayed in a gentle rhythm. The water's coolness refreshed Anakin's senses. He could not resist doing a backward roll between a shoal of little glow-fishes. When he was upside-down and was looking back, he could not see Obi-Wan anywhere. Anakin managed to draw Qui-Gon's attention to him via their training bond. Anakin gestured behind him and Qui-Gon seemed to understand. He grabbed Dooku's cloak and one of Jar Jar's long ears and indicated them to swim back. They were checking the area around them but there was no trace of Obi-Wan. Dooku raised his hand and they went up. Obi-Wan stood knee-deep in the water, twisting his rebreather in his hands and looking slightly sick.

"Padawan?" Dooku, who had already taken off his rebreather, frowned very hard. "Is there something wrong? Does your rebreather not work?"

"No, I think it's out of order," Obi-Wan said quietly.

"Take mine. I suppose I can do it without a rebreather if I use the Force." Dooku offered Obi-Wan his rebreather but Obi-Wan refused.

"No, thank you, Master, I can just stay here," he said nervously.

And suddenly, Anakin understood what it was all about. Oh shit, this is not good. "Yes, that's a good idea," he quickly came to Obi-Wan's aid. "Someone should stay here. He can warn us if someone comes. We wouldn't want the battle droids to discover the Gungan city, would we?"

Dooku nodded slowly but Qui-Gon seemed to have noticed something was wrong with Obi-Wan. "You don't look very well, Padawan Kenobi," he said concerned. "Are you feeling alright?" If Qui-Gon had not been his Master, Anakin would have kicked at his shin for not shutting up.

"I'm alright, thank you, Master Jinn," Obi-Wan said quickly. Too quickly.

"Padawan, what is it?" Dooku asked sternly.

"It's nothing, Master. I-I just feel a bit dizzy, it's probably the air here and the swamps..."

"Padawan, I'm warning you," Dooku said in a low but still perfectly calm voice. "You must not lie to your Master."

Obi-Wan's hands clenched and unclenched. "Couldn't I just stay here? It's really nothing serious."

"Oh yes, I think it is," Dooku contradicted him, "if you feel you have to lie because of it." He approached Obi-Wan. "And now tell me. And look at me when you speak to me."

"I just can't," Obi-Wan said in a trembling voice. "I'm sorry, Master."

"What do you mean, you can't?"

"I can't dive," Obi-Wan said quietly, staring down at the water.

"Look at me, Padawan," Dooku said somewhat impatiently. Obi-Wan defiantly looked up. "Now, I still don't understand. Did you not learn how to dive during Temple training?"

"Yes, I did..."

"But?"

"I can't do it. Please, Master," Obi-Wan pleaded. "Can't I just stay here?"

"Where's the big problem?" Anakin intervened again. "I think someone absolutely should stay here and stand guard if something unexpected happens."

Dooku looked sharply at him. "Alright. Someone will stay here. You will do that, Padawan Skywalker. Obi-Wan, you're coming with us."

"No," Obi-Wan begged. "Please."

"Yes. You will come and you will dive."

"But -"

"I said you will come with us!" Dooku's voice had risen. Anakin had never before heard him raise his voice. "And now you tell me what's wrong with you!"

"I'm afraid of water, okay?" Obi-Wan said defiantly and Anakin knew he was close to tears now.

"And what does the Jedi Code teach about fear?" Dooku lectured him.

"It says a Jedi must not know fear," Obi-Wan recited quietly, his lips quivering. "A Jedi must not let his fear control him. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to the dark side. A Jedi must let go of his fear."

"Correct," Dooku stated authoritatively. "Then why do you let your fear control you?"

"I-I'm trying to let it go but it doesn't work," Obi-Wan said embarrassedly.

"Were you not taught that there is no trying? You must do it, you must let go. Trying to let go is not enough. Put your rebreather on."

"I... I can't, Master," Obi-Wan protested weakly.

"I said put your rebreather on," Dooku said, clearly annoyed by now. Obi-Wan just silently shook his head. "Padawan," Dooku warned him. "We are not going through this exercise again. You will do as I say."

"I'm sorry, Master," Obi-Wan whispered, clutching the rebreather in his trembling fingers.

"There's nothing dangerous about water. Your fear is irrational. Just hold your breath and get your head underwater for a few seconds."

"No."

"Do it now."

Obi-Wan shook his head again and backed away a few steps.

"Padawan! Will you get underwater immediately!"

"Dooku, maybe we should really -" Qui-Gon tried to reason but Dooku interrupted him.

"Don't you tell me how to train my Padawan!" he shouted angrily. "This is my decision! If he cannot overcome his fears he cannot be a Jedi! Now, do you want to be a Jedi? Yes or no?"

"Of course I want to -"

"Then do it!" Dooku roared. Anakin watched in horror when Dooku grabbed Obi-Wan's head in his hands and pushed him underwater. Obi-Wan struggled in panic but he could not do anything against Dooku's strength. Dooku just grabbed his head more tightly and pushed him still deeper.

That was when Anakin had enough of it. He lunged forward, grabbed Dooku and hauled him away from Obi-Wan. "Let him go!" Anakin yelled desperately. "Don't you see he's afraid?!"

"Yes, I see that very well!" Dooku yelled back. "And I want to help him overcome his fear!"

"Yeah, you're a great help!"

"Don't you talk to me like that! Who do you think you are? You may be the Chosen One but you are still a Padawan and I am a Master!"

While Dooku continued lecturing Anakin at the top of his voice about fear, the Jedi Code, how Padawans must behave towards a Master, and practically everything else, Qui-Gon was helping Obi-Wan, who was spluttering and whimpering, get out of the water and tried to calm him down as he was close to hyperventilating.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dooku directed his rage against Obi-Wan again. "Fear is not befitting of a Jedi!"

"And so is anger," Qui-Gon told Dooku calmly, putting his hands on Obi-Wan's shaking shoulders.

"He must learn to let go of his fear," Dooku insisted but he was already a bit calmer.

"And he will learn to let go," Qui-Gon said firmly, "but not like this." He stood up and walked over to Anakin and Dooku, who still glared furiously at each other. "Dooku, I think the two of us should go now. There's still a mission we have to complete and then we need to discuss something in private."

"Let the Padawans do the mission. If you so badly want to discuss something with me, we can do it right here."

"The Padawans will stay here," Qui-Gon insisted.

For a moment, the two men fought a battle with the eyes. "Do not forget that I am a Council member," Dooku said in an almost menacing voice. "You have to pay attention to my lead."

"Anakin is my Padawan and he will follow my instructions," Qui-Gon contradicted him.

"And Obi-Wan is my Padawan and he will follow my instructions."

There was utter silence for a moment. Only the drops from their wet clothes which dripped into the water could be heard. The Force between the two Masters seemed to be supercharged. The tension was palpable.

"I don't follow the instructions of anyone," Anakin said finally. Both Masters turned to look at him. He shifted a bit uncomfortably with his boots in the water. "I was taught to follow the will of the Force and that's what I do," he continued boldly. "And the Force tells me to stay here with Obi-Wan." He was not exactly sure if that was really the will of the Force but he felt he should support Obi-Wan now and that was enough for the moment.

"That is ridiculous!" Dooku snapped. "You cannot just do what you like and say it is the will of the Force to justify it!"

"I am the Chosen One, so I should know, right?" Anakin said haughtily. He had never used this advantage of his before. It was something he would have liked to prevent. It was not the Jedi way: using your status in order to get what you want. But this was an extreme case, Anakin told himself.

"That is impudence!" Dooku said, outraged. "Qui-Gon, did you not teach him anything? I will bring the matter before the Council. There will be consequences for you, Skywalker, I promise you that."

"I know you have problems to admit that you are wrong," Qui-Gon stated. "But it might be that in your anger you do not listen to the will of the Force properly. Let's stop the discussion here for the moment. We have a mission to complete and we should do that. I know just as well as you do that a Jedi must not know fear and that Padawan Kenobi must learn how to cope with his water-problem. But at the moment, it seems impossible. We cannot force him underwater if he hyperventilates as a result. So I suggest the two of us go to Otoh Gunga and when this mission is over and there is more time and less pressure, you can teach your Padawan how to let go of his fear."

Dooku shook his head in frustration but there was nothing he could say against Qui-Gon's reasoning. "Very well then, I agree that we must complete our mission, though I am not happy with the circumstances at all." He shot Obi-Wan a withering glance. "You may stay here for now. But do not think it means you can go on like that. I am very disappointed at your behaviour. I thought better of you but obviously I was thoroughly mistaken. You should be ashamed of yourself. You are a disgrace to the Jedi Order, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

When Anakin had been a child, Dooku had been his hero, his favourite swordsman, his idol. That was irrevocably over. Now Anakin despised him and he wanted to cry and rage at the same time. But he did not do it. He would not show his anger to Dooku. He was better than that. "May the Force be with you," he snapped at his Master, though, naturally, nothing of it was Qui-Gon's fault.

"And with you too," Qui-Gon replied. "Come on." He waved Jar Jar Binks at his side. The poor Gungan did not look happy at all with his task. Anakin sympathised greatly with him. He would not want to accompany the two Jedi Masters either, who were so furious with each other.

Finally, the three of them swam away and submerged again. Silence settled. Anakin was still standing knee-deep in the water. He stared at Obi-Wan, who sat at the waterside, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his knees. His eyes were unfocussed and there was still that look of terror in it. A cold chill ran down Anakin's spine when he recognised the look in Obi-Wan's eyes. Now that he could think clearly again, he understood he did not have the right to despise Dooku. What had happened today was not Dooku's fault - it was entirely Anakin's fault. If he had not almost killed Obi-Wan five years ago... nothing of this would have happened. Sadly, Anakin wondered if Obi-Wan had avoided water all those years...