RESOLVE II
4.
Set on top and at the centre of the Jedi Temple, the Tranquillity Spire's elegant shapes reflected the harmony of the Force in balance. The wide open hallways conveyed the openness with which every Jedi strived to walk through life. Without being open, one cannot be compassionate, and compassion was one of the most important Jedi virtues.
Time of day matter not, and the Tranquillity Spire saw Jedi flow through its corridors and meditation rooms at a steady pace throughout the planet's orbital cycle. Obi-Wan had spent countless hours in meditation enveloped in its familiar comfort, and over the years found night time to hold a certain clarity that was at best transient during the daytime. For a being who walked in the light, to find clarity in the absence of light, it seemed a contradiction. But it was balance, in all things, Obi-Wan reasoned.
Balance. Obi-Wan felt relief as he ascended one of the great spiralling walkways within the Tranquillity Spire. The lightsaber sequences that evening had helped Anakin achieve balance. It may have been fleeting, lasting only as long as their training did, but it was a start, and a step in the right direction.
He did not miss Yoda's carefully poised presence quietly observing from the balcony. Obi-Wan wondered what the old Master thought about Anakin's progress, and if he agreed with Obi-Wan's approach. He took comfort in the knowledge that if Yoda disagreed with his methods he would not hesitate to impart to him his centuries of wisdom in a riddle that most likely would involve some sort of painful struggle. Yoda was fond of his riddles, and Obi-Wan understood why. Comprehension and struggle were the pillars of wisdom. A lesson was only as meaningful as the struggle to achieve understanding.
Obi-Wan had learned—and earned—many lessons under the guiding hands of better Jedi.
He was still learning, and there would always be more to learn. With Anakin he was learning patience all over again. If Qui-Gon could see me now, the thought brought a smile to Obi-Wan's bearded face.
Anakin had set straight to work on one of his machine projects the moment they returned to their quarters that evening. Obi-Wan had simply tugged on his beard and accepted the inevitable. With a calm warning not to stay up too late—because he would be waking him at the crack of dawn—Obi-Wan had left their domicile again to perform his Alchaka meditations.
Standing in the centre of one of the private meditation rooms Obi-Wan removed his tunics and tabards, and began the rigorous series of highly personal exercises. The moving meditation of Alchaka was something Obi-Wan had always taken very seriously. As a young boy he recognised his own limitations and worked hard to overcome them. He'd recognised that the other children could push their feathers higher and for longer than he could. That they could jump higher and further than he could. It frustrated him, at first. He was six when Master Yoda took him aside one day and introduced him to Master Zavunara, a female Mirialan Jedi who taught the traditional Alchaka techniques at the Temple. With Alchaka she taught him to clear his mind and attune his body to the strength of the Force.
It was exhausting. The combination of physical and Force skills required to perform the technique was both nearly impossible and highly rewarding. He'd been a clumsy youngling when he first started learning, barely able to achieve a semblance of the positions. With time his meditation movements became more refined, and he became more deeply connected to the Force.
Even as a Jedi Master he still could not achieve perfection, because even in striving for perfection, that wasn't the true goal of Alchaka. The goal was personal to each individual, and could only be discovered through diligent repetition of the meditation. For Obi-Wan it was simple; Through Alchaka he strove to become one with the Force so that he could better serve to maintain its balance.
Sweat poured off Obi-Wan and his muscles strained as the Force rushed to him, its flow connecting him to both the living and unifying Force in ways he only achieved during Alchaka. He kept his eyes closed, a veil lifting from his mind and providing a clarity free of thought. He simply was. And in the simplicity of being the Force spoke to him.
He saw a desert planet with two suns and three moons. The corpse of a krayt dragon rotted in the heat while a broken gaderffii stick lay abandoned in the sand, the edges of its two parts splintered as though a great force had snapped it in two. Anger and pain lanced through that harsh environment. The feelings flowed through Obi-Wan so palpably that he startled from his meditative trance, lost the balance of the one-handed stand his body had flowed into, and fell in a heap on the floor.
A powerful headache assaulted him at the sudden interruption. He lay motionless and focused only on his breathing to rid himself of the shock. It wasn't the first time the Force had shown him a vision of a distant place or time during his Alchaka meditation, but it was the first time the Force deigned to bombard him with such clear emotions.
What did it stem from?
The planet was familiar to him. Tatooine, it had to be. After their escape from Naboo he'd had an encounter, briefly, with the Tusken Raiders while Qui-Gon had gone in search of parts for the Nubian cruiser. A local tribe had stumbled upon them on the outskirts and shown interest in the starship. At the time Obi-Wan had warily eyed their gaderffii sticks as he attempted to peacefully sway them to take their leave. They had. And the krayt? Was it just a rotting corpse, or was there some meaning behind it?
Obi-Wan slowly rolled to his stomach and pushed himself up onto his knees. The headache was subsiding, and his breathing had calmed. The anger and pain he'd felt was the most disconcerting. Tatooine. It had to involve Anakin somehow.
Closing his eyes Obi-Wan performed a few meditative breathing exercises to regain a modicum of the serenity the Alchaka technique normally imparted to him. His heart rate slowed from its frantic pace to a resting beat, yet the Force still flowed through him, as though urging him to act. Opening his eyes he stood and calmly threw on his tunics and tabards, fastened them neatly, and hurried out of the meditation room and away from the Tranquillity Spire.
Minutes later he was back inside the living quarters he shared with Anakin. Inside the small sitting room he stood still, and listened. There was not a sound to be heard in the small hours, but Obi-Wan sensed a disturbance emanating from behind the closed door of Anakin's room.
Attempting to give his padawan space wasn't creating the hoped for result, and as his master Obi-Wan felt it was his sworn duty to council the young man. Considering the lack of control Anakin had experienced in recent years he would likely not appreciate the intrusion, but Obi-Wan would not let him suffer through whatever plagued him in sleep.
With a gentle nudge Obi-Wan used the Force to slide the door open. Anakin's form lay cast in shadows, but Obi-Wan did not need to see him to know he was in distress. The Force cascaded over him like an avalanche. It was no mere nightmare, Obi-Wan realised.
Ever so gently Obi-Wan reached out to Anakin through the Force, and attempted to soothe his spirit, and coax the young man to a wakeful state. His careful ministrations worked, and Anakin sat up with a muttered, "Mom?"
Obi-Wan's frown conveyed his unspoken sympathy. "Not quite," he said.
"Master?" Anakin rubbed a hand over his face. Then, as if suddenly realising where he was he leaped from his sleep couch and clenched his fists. With a carefully controlled voice he said, "Please leave."
"I sensed your distress," Obi-Wan said, making no move to honour the request.
"It was nothing," Anakin said, stubborn and obstinate.
Well, Obi-Wan thought dryly. I know a thing or two about being stubborn and refusing to lean on others. He set his hands on his hips and stared at Anakin. The glow from the low light in the sitting room cast a soft light across half the padawan's face. His expression conveyed a dark annoyance, but Obi-Wan stayed where he was. As immovable as a mountain.
"I've fought hard for you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, knowing that Anakin would not break the silence first. "And I will not sit passively while you self-destruct. If you are struggling, if something is bothering you, I'd like to help you. I will always want to help you."
Anakin stared at the floor, his hands still at his sides and clenched into his fists. Not a muscle trembled as he stood there. Seconds ticked by, becoming a minute, then more.
If Obi-Wan had been less disciplined he might have sighed. Instead he simply dropped his lax hands to his sides and calmly said, "If you feel you cannot speak to me, then please seek out Master Yoda. There is no wiser Jedi in the Order, and he has never turned anyone away. But please Anakin, you must recognise that you cannot do this on your own."
Obi-Wan turned from his spot in the doorway and walked back into the sitting room that separated Anakin's room from his own.
"It's my mother."
Obi-Wan paused and slowly turned back to face Anakin. The young man walked forward, stopping in his doorway. He wiped sweat off his brow. The better light showed his physical distress much more starkly. Obi-Wan stayed silent, afraid that if he spoke Anakin would clam up again. He took a seat on one of the cushions and waited.
"Well, it's more than that," Anakin said as he plopped down against the wall. "But right now it's my mother. I keep dreaming about her. She's in pain."
"When did these dreams start?" Obi-Wan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
"About a week ago," Anakin said, and briefly met Obi-Wan's eyes. "Something has happened to her, master. I can feel it."
Obi-Wan considered his next words carefully. Anakin was clearly upset. He'd known that the attachment his padawan had to his mother was something that he probably would never truly overcome. Jedi normally didn't know their mothers, but Anakin had spent the first nine years of his life with his.
"You believe these dreams are visions, showing you what's happening to her?"
"Yes, I know they are," Anakin's voice conveyed a certainty that almost dared Obi-Wan to contradict him. "But I can't tell if it's happening now or still going to happen. I. . . I need to go to her."
"Did I ever tell you about Master Tahl?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin shook his head, indicating that he hadn't heard the story. "She and Qui-Gon grew up together, here in the Temple. Some years before we met you, Qui-Gon saw her in a vision. She was in great pain. . . It was a vision of her fate. Master Yoda teaches us that the future is always in motion. Rarely do we have the wisdom to know how our actions will affect the outcome. What seems certain today may seem impossible tomorrow. And in Qui-Gon's attempt to locate Tahl his vision proved true. I never voiced it, because Jedi are not supposed to wonder what if, but I did find myself wondering if that would still have been the outcome if Qui-Gon and I hadn't gone to find her."
"But why would the Force let us see these things if we couldn't affect the outcome?"
"To remind us of our limitations," Obi-Wan answered without hesitation.
"I don't understand."
"We may feel the Force, but that does not give us power," Obi-Wan studied the way Anakin's face slowly changed from mild confusion to thunderous defiance.
"But we do have power," Anakin argued. "We can do things that most people can't even imagine."
"It is not power, padawan," Obi-Wan warned. "Yes, the Force allows us abilities that most sentients can only dream of, but that does not give us dominion over anything. We can no more change a person's fate than we can prevent a star from burning itself out."
"Well we should have that power," Anakin's eyes shone with ill temper. It deeply unsettled Obi-Wan.
"Mind yourself, Anakin. Such thoughts are unbecoming of a Jedi," Obi-Wan slowly stood and walked over to the small kitchenette. He set the water to boil as he waited for Anakin to finish stewing over the gentle reprimand.
When he returned with two cups of tea the young man was still sitting on the floor with his head bowed. His previous anger had morphed into a brooding silence. Obi-Wan knelt beside him and held out a cup of freshly brewed sapir tea. Anakin took the cup in his hands and muttered a quiet, "Thank you."
Obi-Wan smiled and returned to his cushion. He blew on the steam of his own tea and waited. He'd become quite good at waiting in the years since he became master to the padawan before him.
"I'm angry all the time," Anakin finally broke the silence.
"That has not escaped my notice," Obi-Wan said. "And it worries me, Anakin."
"I've just been angry for so long. Dooku made it so easy. . ."
"You are no longer subject to his whim," Obi-Wan set his tea down on the low table. "Do not let his mark of hatred remain with you."
"I can't do it by myself," Anakin whispered into his teacup.
Relief, so palpable it stung his eyes, spread through Obi-Wan's chest. He had to take a few steadying breaths before he allowed himself to speak. "Recognising that is the first step to freeing yourself from the pain you bear."
Anakin drained his tea and wiped all traces of emotion from his face. Obi-Wan left his own tea forgotten on the table, and watched his padawan regain his composure.
"We should both get some sleep," Obi-Wan finally said. He took the empty cup from Anakin's hands and said, "We'll speak more in the morning."
Anakin nodded his head and stood. Before he disappeared behind a closed door, he said, "Good night, master."
Obi-Wan heaved a silent sigh and listened to the Force as he set about cleaning the cups. All was calm. Feeling hopeful that his padawan had finally chosen to walk down the path of mending, Obi-Wan retired as well. For a time he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He wondered if Qui-Gon understood what a monumental undertaking he'd assigned him, when—with his last breath—he made Obi-Wan promise to train the boy.
But, Qui-Gon could not have foreseen Dooku's betrayal and Anakin's ordeal. He also could not have foreseen Obi-Wan's struggle to bring the boy back into balance. Yet this is what Qui-Gon trained me for, Obi-Wan decided. All my training, from the moment I was brought to the Temple, has led me to this point. I must not fail Anakin here and now.
He closed his eyes and quieted his mind. Within moments he was asleep. Obi-Wan dreamt of sand storms and rocky desert canyons.
True to his word Obi-Wan woke Anakin at the crack of dawn, much to the young man's chagrin, and promptly sent him to join the morning katas under Master Korkol's lead. For a human man nearing a century in age he was still well capable of leading classes of eager students in the ancient forms. His lessons were informal, and anyone who wished could join the old master in his morning ritual. Obi-Wan found it to be a soothing way to begin the day, and hoped that Anakin would experience it in a similar vein.
Yet on this particular morning Obi-Wan did not join them, as he had an important matter to tend to. Yoda met him in the Room of the Thousand Fountains some time between waking and breakfast.
"Ready to heed your council again, is he?" the ancient master asked.
"I believe so, master," Obi-Wan said. "He has much still to overcome, but he's realised that he cannot do it alone."
"Good," Yoda nodded his head. "Agree with you I do. Resume his place at your side Skywalker will. A task I already have for you."
"We are ready, master."
Yoda shuffled forth slowly along the stone walkway. Obi-Wan kept pace beside him. Around them the fountains and waterfalls provided a tranquil backdrop to the early morning. Jedi sat in meditation postures all around the grounds.
"Requested Jedi protection for Senator Amidala the Chancellor has," Yoda said.
"She is here on Coruscant?" Obi-wan made no attempt to hide his surprise.
"Arrived this morning she did," Yoda said. "An attempt on her life was made, but fortunately unhurt she is."
"Because of the debates," Obi-Wan voiced his realisation. "She is a strong and influential voice against the Military Creation Act."
"Yes. To protect her, assigned Siri Tachi and her padawan the council has," Yoda said.
Obi-Wan frowned, confused. If Jedi have already been assigned, why was Yoda even mentioning it to him. As if reading his thoughts Yoda expressed his mirth with a chuckle.
"Obstinate Senator Amidala is," Yoda said. "Wish for Jedi protection she does not. Tame her spirit familiar faces perhaps will."
"I see," Obi-Wan said. "Our mandate is to. . . break the ice? Forgive me master, but it seems like a waste of resources. Anakin and I can be more useful than to play at diplomacy between Senator Amidala and Siri Tachi. Both women are more than capable of handling their own introductions. In fact, I expect they'll get along quite well, considering their temperaments are of similar ilk."
"A good argument you make, Obi-Wan," Yoda's ears twitched and a muscle in his cheek jumped. "A test this will be for your padawan. If accept these orders he can, then a new mission the council will have for you."
"This situation is still a little unclear to me, master," Obi-Wan said. "What prompted this?"
Yoda sighed. "Ask for you and Skywalker specifically the Chancellor did. Deny his request the council has, on grounds that uncertain your padawan's state of mind still is. Yes, progress he has made. Ready for a protection detail, the council is not so certain. Yet still the Chancellor thinks that familiar faces are needed. To reassure the Chancellor we have granted his wish, but still a test for Skywalker will this be. Observe him carefully you must, Obi-Wan."
"And you chose this specific master and padawan for the protection detail because there would be no better way to test Anakin's self-control than to assign Ferus Olin to a duty Anakin may feel he is better suited to," Obi-Wan glanced down at the wily old Jedi. He had to admit it was clever, if a bit underhanded.
An unyielding politician, a reckless padawan, and a one-sided rivalry that has driven said padawan to irrationality in the past. Force, give me strength, Obi-Wan thought as he realised what he would soon have to deal with.
The senatorial residential complex was a proper permacrete monster. Set adjacent to the circular Senate building it housed senators from all corners of the galaxy. The turbolifts had floor to ceiling transparisteel walls that offered a wide view of the Coruscanti skyline. Obi-Wan and Anakin stood with their backs turned to the view as they ascended up the tall structure.
"Does this assignment upset you?" The older man asked, noting the displeased set of his padawan's mouth and browline.
"I'm not upset, master," Anakin said. "I just don't see why two teams are necessary, that's all."
"It's a simple matter of easing you back into your full duties," Obi-Wan told the half-truth with the charisma of an expert negotiator.
"Don't get me wrong, master. I am grateful," Anakin rubbed a sleeve across his brow. "But I still think four Jedi for one protection detail is overkill."
Obi-Wan didn't tell Anakin that he agreed with him. Instead he studied the little droplets that formed on the young man's upper lip. A small grin broke out across Obi-Wan's face, now sensing his padawan's nervous disposition. "You're sweating, relax!" He said.
Anakin shuffled from left foot to right foot and looked around the lift in discomfort, then said, "I haven't seen her in ten years, master."
Ah, he hasn't forgotten his childhood infatuation, Obi-Wan realised. "Remember, Anakin. She is a politician."
"She's not like other politicians," Anakin argued.
Obi-Wan would have responded with a minor reprimand to keep his thoughts on the mission, but at that moment the turbolift doors opened to reveal the other pair of Jedi, waiting for them in the hallway leading to senator Amidala's temporary lodgings.
"You're late," Siri said, her voice containing a note of minor annoyance. Next to her Ferus stood with stoic poise, arms folded into opposite sleeves. His long padawan braid dangled over his right shoulder. "We were supposed to relieve the Security Forces twelve minutes ago."
"The role reversal is an unexpected change, master," Ferus said quietly.
Obi-Wan and Siri both turned to stare at the padawan. His face remained a mask of impassivity, but the Force was alight with his amusement. It was no secret that Siri Tachi roamed on the tardy side of timeliness. For Ferus to point it out was a testament to the young man's evolution.
"Ferus, did you just make a joke?" Obi-Wan said, his face poised in a forced seriousness. He turned his head and caught his friend's eye. "There may be hope for your padawan yet, Siri."
A bashful lowering of the eyes and a small twitch of one side of Ferus' mouth was all they got in response. Siri rolled her blue eyes and smiled as she turned around to lead the way to the senator's apartment.
"Come on," she sighed.
Obi-Wan lingered long enough to watch as Anakin and Ferus acknowledged each other with simple nods, then swept down the hallway behind Siri. Brown cloak billowed in his wake as he increased his pace to draw level with her.
"Did Yoda fill you in?" Obi-Wan kept his voice just above a whisper.
"Yes," Siri said, keeping her voice low as well. "I do not appreciate being pawn in one of Master Yoda's games, but I understand the necessity. Let's just hope things remain civil."
They reached the doorway and activated the com-device set into the wall beside it. Within moments the face of a security official appeared on the small monitor. After confirming that they were Jedi he let them inside and handed them a datapad. Siri quickly filled in all the necessary information, and finished signing responsibility for senator Amidala's safety over to them.
"That's it then," the security official said. "Luck be with you."
Obi-Wan raised a single brow at the man's quickly retreating form. He turned his head towards the opposite side of the apartment when he sensed the vibrant presence of Padme Amidala.
"Master Kenobi," she smiled when she saw him.
Obi-Wan bowed politely in greeting and said, "Senator, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Her eyes strayed to the young man behind him before she formed a response. Her eyes widened slightly. "Ani? Is that you?" At Anakin's polite bow, mirroring his master's, she said, "My you've grown."
"So have you," Anakin said quietly. "Far more beautiful, I mean."
Behind Anakin's back Siri met Obi-Wan's eye with a raised eyebrow. He chose to ignore the question in her eyes, as well as his padawan's inappropriate comment, then stepped forward to catch the senator's attention again. "Senator, may I introduce Siri Tachi and her padawan, Ferus Olin."
The pair stepped forward and bowed.
"We will ensure your safety, senator," Siri said.
"I'm sure you will Master Tachi," Padme nodded her head. "Though I do not agree with such a heavy security detail. It's an unnecessary waste of manpower."
"I agree," Siri said and gave the three male Jedi a meaningful look before meeting the Senator's eyes again. The implication was clear within the teasing humour and Padme burst out laughing, bringing a hand up to hide her smile.
Once she composed herself again she turned to face Obi-Wan, "I like her."
Obi-Wan laughed behind closed lips. "I thought you might," he said.
"Why don't your padawans check the perimeter security while we discuss a few things," Padme said. It was less a suggestion and more a command, and Obi-Wan had expected nothing less of the fiery young woman.
"An excellent idea," Obi-Wan said, then turned to face Anakin and Ferus. "You heard the senator."
Ferus made a neat bow and turned to leave to perform his assigned duty. Anakin lingered for a moment, his face betraying a rising argument. But Obi-Wan's stern gaze stopped him from voicing any discontent. He smiled briefly, bowed and left as well.
Padme indicated for them to take a seat on the lavish couches. They did as instructed and as the conversation was about to start up Obi-Wan's comlink chimed. He took it out of his belt, looked at the name of the caller and frowned. Both woman looked at him expectantly. He briefly met their eyes and said, "Forgive me, senator. This can't wait."
Obi-Wan stood and walked the short distance to the ceiling-high windows and answered his comlink.
"Tyro, I did not expect to hear from you s—"
"You must come quick, my friend," Tyro interrupted with fast words. Obi-Wan heard more than sensed his distress.
"You've discovered something already?"
"It's terrible, Obi-Wan. I've found evidence of a clandestine financial group ca—"
The comlink cut out to static.
"Tyro?" Obi-Wan said, his heart leaping to his throat. He checked his comlink. It was functioning perfectly. Which meant that Tyro had been cut off.
"He sounded panicked, Obi-Wan," Siri said.
Obi-Wan turned to face the two women on the couch. Padme looked curious, but Siri's eyes betrayed the same chilling concern that had swept his heart into a frenzy.
"I must go," Obi-Wan said.
"I have this handled," Siri nodded. "Go."
With Force-enhanced reflexes and speed he rushed out the front door and through the wide hallway of the complex. Tyro's office was in the senate building. Practically spitting distance. He'd get there faster if he leaped down the outer walkways and sprinted across their lengths than he would with a speeder in traffic lanes.
Obi-Wan pushed himself hard, cut through a service access corridor and exited the building through a maintenance portal. He practically flew down eleven flights of stairs towards the nearest crosswalk structure and continued his sprint, his cloak billowing out behind him.
He had a very bad feeling.