Chapter One

Short Negotiations

Obi-Wan felt a slight tremor in the Republic Cruiser which caused him to look up from his work startled. He briefly looked out of the viewport noticing that they'd dropped out of hyperspace before returning his attention back to his hearing aids. They were once again malfunctioning. He could swear that he'd made sure they were secure and worked but despite his best efforts it seemed that the last mission had really done a number on them. Obi-Wan fiddled with the internal workings for a bit hoping that he could get at least one functional before the negotiations began so he could keep up with the Viceroy who was he was sure didn't know either NSL or CNSL or CSL or BSL but before long he felt his master approach from behind. Huffing with resignation he turned his gaze towards him.

"We're about ready to board the Trade Federation ship," Qui-Gon signed as he raised his hood up. "Are you still having issues with those?"

"Unfortunately," Obi-Wan sighed as he signed. He got up from his hunched over position and put on his much smaller cloak imitating his Master's state of dress. "I can't seem to find the right frequency for the left one. It seems to be stuck on muffled and the right one is shot."

"That's usually why professional audiologists do this and not impatient Padawans with a propensity to tinker with medical devices," Qui-Gon teased allowing an amused smile to cross his face. "Don't worry you can be the bad Jedi and glare at the proceedings like Master Windu. I'm sure it'll cow the Trade Federation leadership."

"Master!" Obi-Wan signed exasperated at the tease as Qui-Gon chuckled. "I'm not that bad!"

"No you are not but your reaction to implication was priceless."

"I'm so glad I'm a source of amusement for you," Obi-Wan signed with amused snort. "I just hope that the Viceroy doesn't mind talking to someone that'd be considered deaf and dumb."

"Neimoidians at least are more tolerant of Deaf beings as oppose to others you'll find out here like Hutts for example," Qui-Gon signed back. "Now then let's get ready to disembark, we mustn't keep our hosts waiting."

"Yes Master," he respectfully signed back as he placed the hearing aids into his ears. Defective and malfunctioning they may be they could still help...provided if people were shouting at the top of their lungs in his left ear then he'd understand them. Oh well they'd be there for appearance sake then. "I really hope we aren't met with a droid. It's so hard to read them. At least I understand astromech body language well for the most part."

"That's probably going to be the case unfortunately," Qui-Gon signed apologetically. "Don't worry I'll translate if necessary so there's not a misunderstanding."

"Thank you Master," Obi-Wan gratefully signed back. He didn't particularly care for droids outside of astromechs and those that he interacted with of the Temple so he knew them and they him. However outside of the Temple he didn't care for them namely because of the fact that most of the time he needed to read the person's body language as well as signs or even lips to get a better understanding of what was being said.

Droids of course didn't have those kind of organic tics unless they were programmed with it which often wasn't the case. That often made interactions with them very awkward at best or downright confusing at worst. He much preferred living being interaction if he was honest. He sighed as he followed his Master's lead and placed his hood up.

As they reached the gangplank and exited the ship they walked across hanger with droids staring at them with what looked like interest or was hostility? Again it was hard for him to tell especially with battle droids. As the door to the main corridor opened his suspicions much to annoyance were proven correct as a protocol droid bowing and gesturing for them to follow.

"She says her name is TC-14," Qui-Gon signed. "She's the welcome party it would seem."

"Oh joy," Obi-Wan signed back without much enthusiasm. As they walked down the corridor Obi-Wan felt an uneasiness settle into him. There was something wrong. Elsewhere not related to the mission. Finally they reached the meeting room with TC-14 leaving with a bow. Both of them lowered their hoods and looked around the room. It was a huge on dominated with a large table and window. As he looked he tried to pinpoint the source of his worry he felt his master tap his shoulder to get his attention.

"Do you sense something wrong?"

"Yes but it's not about the mission Master. It's somewhere else elusive."

"I'd suggest not centering on your anxieties Obi-Wan, keep your concentration here and now where it belongs."

"But Master Yoda says we should be mindful of the future," Obi-Wan argued back as the walked forwards towards the observation window.

"Not at the expense of this moment, be mindful of the Living Force my young Padawan."

"Yes master," Obi-Wan signed back reverently. "How do you think the officials are going to react to the Chancellor's demands?"

"These Federation types tend to be cowardly and greedy," Qui-Gon signed back. "I'd expect the negotiations to be short."

"Good."

"That doesn't mean you can tinker while we want for them to muster the courage to show up."

"You know me too well," Obi-Wan grumbled his annoyance leaking through his signs. "Why not?"

"Because firstly I doubt we'll have the time to do that and secondly because I said so," Qui-Gon smirked back cheekily. "Now come let's prepare for the moment rather then chase phantoms or tinker."

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan sighed as he turned away from the view and went to sit at the table waiting for the Viceroy to arrive. While waiting he lightly tapped his fingers against the table giving his restless hands something to do...and now come to think of it this was extraordinary long wait.

"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?"

"No," his master answered back looking equally concerned about the delay as the droid walked in with what looked like refreshments. "I'm sensing a huge amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute."

"I don't like this," Obi-Wan said his worry punctuating his signing. "Something's wrong."

"Agreed," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan was about to comment on this before he felt a great disturbance in the Force that made both him and his Master jump up lightsabers at the ready. Suddenly he noticed there was a poignant odor. He looked over at his Master only to see he was ahead of him and already put on his rebreather. Following his example Obi-Wan did the same and waited with Qui-Gon to strike.