Chapter Two
Not a Master
The Temple halls were filled with serenity, and the Force swirled gently all around as before the dark times, while Anakin and Obi-Wan stood before the closed doors to the Council Chambers. Two Padawans walked past them, enveloped in conversation; two Jedi Masters made their way from the training halls, smiling and glittering with sweat. There were no clouds of smoke, no fire, no clones shooting – only the serene embrace of the Force.
Obi-Wan sighed, watching the two Padawans talk. They had no idea yet what would happen to all of them in only a couple of weeks. The veil of the Force that
flowed through the Temple would scream in excruciating pain, the fountains would turn red with blood, and there would be bodies everywhere. He clenched his fist – the arm that would kill innocent children…
"You'll get used to the prosthesis, Master," Anakin said softly, watching him moving his arm.
"I hope I won't have to," Obi-Wan muttered vaguely. Anakin had no idea what was on his mind…And Obi-Wan suspected that if he told his friend of the horrible deeds he would commit in the future, Anakin would only grow angry. This Anakin was still the brother he had known and loved, with no trace of darkness in his aura yet. Or had the event that would cause his transformation already occured?
"Try not to move your right arm too much," Anakin said seriously. "It creates the impression as that is new to you – it looks suspicious."
Obi-Wan stopped fidgeting with his right arm and dropped it to his side quickly. He scrutinized Anakin, frowning slightly. To his immense relief, Anakin hadn't shaved the beard, and he had even had the decency to comb it. All and all, his former Padawan looked dignified and serene, and on the outside, he could have fooled the Council. But…
The doors slid aside, and they were invited to enter.
"Anakin, stay calm no matter what happens," Obi-Wan said under his breath, thinking about Anakin's outburst the last time around. "Try to speak as little as possible. In fact, don't speak at all."
Anakin glared at him, but kept silent. They entered the chambers, and Anakin went to take Obi-Wan's chair; Obi-Wan remained standing in the middle.
The sky outside was darkened by clouds, and a feeble tinge of sun appeared only to be swallowed by the approaching storm. Suddenly, Obi-Wan felt very uneasy, standing in the middle, pierced by the intense stares of all the Council members.
"Anakin Skywalker, we have approved your appointment to the Council as the Chancellor's personal representative," Mace Windu said calmly, entwining his long fingers.
"I will do my best to uphold the principles of the Jedi Order," Obi-Wan said, inclining his head. Anakin's gaze was opaque.
Yoda frowned slightly. "Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."
Of course, it was disturbing. Palpatine had planned it perfectly; it was the deciding strike to alienate Anakin even further from the Order. Obi-Wan started to feel even more uncomfortable under the vigilant stares of the Council members.
Distrust.
It was reflected clearly in their eyes, and their Force signatures emanated it with the glow of a supernova. No one had ever looked at him as if they expected him to explode at any moment. The sensation was bitter and even more nauseating because Obi-Wan knew that they had all reasons not to trust Anakin…
"I understand," Obi-Wan said flatly, implying a bow.
The harshness of their stares only intensified. Suddenly, Obi-Wan felt small and unimportant, like a bug that could be squashed easily, surrounded by these twelve mighty Jed. He was only a Padawan in their eyes, a little child that enjoyed playing the part of a grown-up, but needed to be shown his place.
The Jedi are right about Anakin, you agreed with them.
However, this thought didn't help him feel more comfortable. Mace Windu peered at him with a beady eyes.
"You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."
He's right. Who in their right mind would make Anakin a Master?
Obi-Wan wanted to incline his head obediently, but his gaze fell on Anakin, who looked furious.
You are Anakin.
Anakin would be angry.
He threw a … tantrum last time.
Obi-Wan raised his head. "What?" he asked incredulously. The Jedi tensed.
Angry…he should feel angry. But didn't, he had no reason to. It was only fair that someone with Anakin's lack of self-control wouldn't be granted the rank of a Master. Out of corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw Anakin's face swelling with anger.
He might make them suspicious.
"This is outrageous, it's … unfair!" Obi-Wan yelled, ignoring the Master's shocked glances. A twinge of guilt stirred in him. He clearly wasn't saving Anakin's reputation…
Angry…He had to be angry, not feel guilty.
"This is unheard of!" Obi-Wan continued to yell in indignation. "How can you be on the Council, but not be a Master?"
"Take your seat, young Skywalker," Mace Windu interrupted evenly, his voice as hard as steel.
The show is over.
"Forgive me, Master," Obi-Wan said peacefully, feeling satisfied with himself. Pretending not to notice Anakin's astonished glare, he went to take the empty seat.
"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, and have found no sign of General Grievous," Ki-Adi-Mundi said after a short pause.
Yoda cast Anakin a long, unreadable look. "Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is. The outlying systems, you must sweep. What your opinion about this is, Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan froze in his seat. Anakin leaned back casually. "It may take some time…and we do not have that many ships to spare," he said calmly, scratching his chin. It looked as if he had restrained himself as hard as he could not from glancing at Obi-Wan.
Very cautiously, Obi-Wan reached into the Force and probed Anakin's mind only to find perfect mental shields. Feeling the intrusion, Anakin cast him an irritated glance, and Obi-Wan pulled back immediately.
"We cannot take the ships from the front line," Mace Windu's low voice broke the train of Obi-Wan's thoughts.
"And we can't afford to allow the droid army to regroup," Obi-Wan said anxiously, unable to stop himself. He could feel the many eyes watching him, some apprehensively, some with disapproval.
"True," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, nodding curtly. "The Wookies are in danger of the droid attack. It's a system we can't afford to lose."
"Master Kenobi, you know this system well," Mace Windu said to Anakin. "It would take you little time to drive the droids off that planet."
Anakin tensed visibly. Obviously, he didn't want to leave Coruscant, Obi-Wan could see that. But what was so important? It wasn't just the fact that he would miss Padmé, there was something else…
"Go, I shall," Yoda said softly, tearing his gaze away from Anakin. "Good relations with Wookies, I have. Needed on Coruscant, Master Kenobi is."
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably. It was only their first day of acting, and they were already having trouble. How long would they be able to keep it up?
"It's settled then," Mace Windu said calmly. "May the Force be with us all."
Obi-Wan didn't like the look Master Yoda he gave him as he left the Council chambers.
Once they were outside, Anakin rounded on him.
"What made you act that little outburst?" he hissed angrily. "The Council distrusts me enough without your help."
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrow, looking down at his former Padawan. "Wouldn't you have reacted the same way?"
"Of course not," he said defiantly. "But," he murmured, slightly put off by Obi-Wan's words, "I did feel outraged that I wasn't granted the rank of the Master while being put on the Council. Why did they do that?"
Obi-Wan sighed, feeling the numb weariness he experienced on Tatooine, returning to his bones. Should he tell his brother that he was being asked to spy on the man he held as a friend? It would shake his trust in the Jedi and make him follow a dark path for the second time. But if he didn't, Anakin would find out anyway from the other Masters, for he would have to pretend to beMaster Kenobi when Obi-Wan wasn't around.
"Anakin, listen," he said heavily. "I didn't want to put you in this situation. I've always been on your side, and I always will be."
Even when I'm forced to do what I must...
Anakin frowned suspiciously. "What situation?"
Obi-Wan pursed his lips and looked around. Except for two Padawans chatting in the far corner, they were alone. "The Council wants you to report on all of the Chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to," he said darkly.
Anakin's face paled. "That's treason," he said in a choked voice. "I can't spy on the Chancellor, he's my friend!"
"You won't have to. It's my job now," Obi-Wan said with a small, rueful smile.
"He's a good man," Anakin said angrily, his voice rising with each word. "Why does the Council want you to spy on him!"
If the situation wasn't so dire, Obi-Wan would have laughed – it was a sight that the Temple walls had never seen before: Anakin Skywalker was calm, and Master Kenobi, The Negotiator, was venting, red in face.
"Because something is out of place," Obi-Wan said quietly. If he told Anakin that the Chancellor was a Sith Lord, he wouldn't believe him…
"What is out of place, Master?" Anakin yelled. The two Padawans walked hastily past him, one of them murmuring something that sounded like, 'These two spend too much time with each other', under his breath.
"Is it out of place that the Chancellor is doing what is right for the Republic? That he's trying to stop the war? Or that you're now forced to do the dirty task that has been appointed to me?"
Obi-Wan just shook his head wearily. He shouldn't have told him that…and now he was reliving one of the worst moments of his life again, one that had kept haunting him in his dusty hut in the sea of vast desert.
Anakin, why don't you remember anything that happened to you the first time around?
"It's only for the best of us all," Obi-Wan said, trying to believe his own words.
"Don't, Obi-Wan," Anakin interrupted him, sounding as tired as Obi-Wan felt. "It's your task now, and I don't want to talk about it. It's sickening."
He could only agree with his friend. Then a stab of worry pierced him. How was he supposed to act like Anakin in front of Palpatine? He didn't know anything about their conversations, nor would he be able to mask his Force signature from the Sith Lord. It was a miracle that they managed to fool the entire Jedi Council, but it had only been the first time their ruse was required…
Anakin took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. "I need to see Padmé," he murmured. "And you're coming with me."
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. Defeated, he just nodded shortly and followed Anakin.
--------------------
Half an hour later, Obi-Wan sat alone in Padmé's guestroom, waiting for the Senator to return. Anakin had received a comm call from Ki-Adi Mundi concerning possible measures against the droid army, and had therefore had to leave to deal with the matter. Obi-Wan wasn't worried about this short conversation – Anakin was a capable warrior, and his knowledge of the current situation was more than enough to fool a hologram of the Council member. He was far more worried about himself.
The rustling of fabric reached his ears, and Obi-Wan sprang up, facing Padmé. Not yet the Padmé that was dying from a broken heart as he last remembered her…a happy and cheerful woman was standing before him.
"Senator Amidala," he said awkwardly, watching the polite mask of Padmé's face changing into an expression of utter delight as she saw her guest. "There is something you should kn-"
But his words died in his throat as Padmé launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck. Feeling very uncomfortable, Obi-Wan hugged her back.
"Oh, Ani, where have you been?" she murmured into his chest. "I was so worried about you. You left and didn't tell me anything!"
She clutched his tunic even tighter as though she wanted to melt with him, giving a slightly strangled noise that sounded like a sob. Obi-Wan felt panic rising in him. He wasn't good at comforting women, especially not pregnant women…
"I went for a walk," Obi-Wan said in a what he hoped to be casual tone. "I didn't want to wake you."
Well, it was truth. From a certain point of view.
To Obi-Wan's relief, Padmé pulled away. "Why didn't you leave me a note if you couldn't come back? We were so worried."
"We?" Obi-Wan asked, bewildered. "Who are we?"
Is Anakin hiding something else?
Padmé hit his arm playfully and smiled. "Me and the baby, Ani."
"Oh... of course," Obi-Wan answered, resisting the urge to slap himself. "I suppose I am just not used to it yet." I don't think I'll ever be used to it, Obi-Wan thought dryly, watching Padmé smile at him again.
Padmé stroked his cheek. "You will get used to it," she said softly. "You'll have your whole life to get used to it."
His growing discomfort mixing with returning feelings of guilt, Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "There is something I have to tell you," he began, but Padmé silenced him with her finger.
"I don't want to talk about politics now," she said quietly, her fingers playing with the golden locks of his hair. Looking deeply into his eyes, she smiled oddly, and Obi-Wan's heart raced faster. He had never seen Padmé smile like that before – it was a seductive smile, the smile of a woman who-
"You don't have to be at the Temple right now, and Obi-Wan is not here," she whispered, pulling him closer; a bit too close for comfort.
"Obi-Wan is closer than you think," he protested uneasily, trying to back away from her. You have no idea how much closer.
Padme frowned. "Do you sense him?" she asked cautiously, her eyes glancing at the door.
"No," Obi-Wan answered weakly, "but-"
"Then don't worry, Ani," Padmé smiled. "Let's just enjoy the time we have together." She moved closer, clearly wanting to kiss him. Obi-Wan hastily stepped back, moving around the sofa and evading her embrace, but doubting the couch between them would be enough to deter her.
"Padmé," he tried again, "You need to know, I'm not... "
Before Obi-Wan could explain, Padmé moved to him and put her hand on his cheek, her gaze worried. "What is it, Anakin? Tell me, and maybe I can help." She bent forward as though to kiss him again, and Obi-Wan's eyes grew wide.
"I'm not Anakin!" he yelled, feeling panicked as her lips neared. She paused.
"What?" she asked in confusion.
"I'm not Anakin, Padmé, I'm Obi-Wan. Anakin and I somehow switched bodies last night. That's why you woke up alone."
Padmé stared at him blankly, then erupted into bubbling laughter that resembled Anakin's too much. "Ani, you're so funny!" she managed to say between her fits of laughter. Obi-Wan watched her helplessly, his mind racing to the things she might want to do when her laughter would subside.
Anakin, where in blazes are you?
"Don't forget to breathe between the fits or you'll get hiccups," a voice said from the doorway. Anakin came into the room, looking as if he had to refrain from laughing out loud. "You always do when I tickle you too long."
Padmé's laughter died off immediately. "What?" she asked, staring at Anakin in shock. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No, it's not a joke," Anakin said seriously, though the corners of his mouth twitched in a slight smile.
Padmé turned to Obi-Wan, her eyes huge. "Ani, I swear to you, Obi-Wan and I are just friends!" she exclaimed, looking panic-stricken.
"I know that we are," Obi-Wan said calmly, fighting against a broad grin that wanted to spread over his face. Padmé seized his hand, her mouth slightly opened, but now words came out.
Anakin came closer, all shadows of smile gone from his face. "He's telling the truth, Padmé," he said quietly, the dreamy, far-away look that Obi-Wan had caught glimpses of throughout their missions, shining in his eyes.
Padmé shook her head, still in shock. "Both of you have gone insane," she whispered incredulously.
"Has Anakin ever been sane?" Obi-Wan asked, chuckling slightly.
Anakin glared at him, but said nothing. Padmé's lips quivered as she glanced between them, trying to figure out what was happening.
"Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan said softly. Padmé faced him almost desperately, as if hoping that he would ease her confusion. She believed that he was Anakin…the first person she would seek comfort from…the rational, mature Padmé was seeking shelter from his reckless former Padawan…
"I've been trying to tell you, but you wouldn't listen. I'm not Anakin. I'm Obi-Wan trapped in his body."
Padmé's enormous brown eyes watched him in silent shock.
"Do you remember the day when we got married?" a quiet voice asked. Anakin walked to Padmé and touched her shoulder. "I tried looking for you, searching the whole house, afraid that you changed your mind, but you had simply locked yourself in your room because you thought it was unlucky for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony."
Very slowly, Padmé turned around and stared at Anakin, her mouth wide agape.
"Then you showed up, and you were the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The priest held the ritual, but we didn't hear a single word of what he said; we were too mesmerised by each other. After the ceremony, we swam across the river, to the green island, and spent our first night together there," Anakin said, playing with Padmé's hair. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
"I was supposed to leave by dawn, but I couldn't," Anakin continued. He chuckled softly. Padmé continued to watch him. "I tried to fix your hair, but my attempt ended in disaster. But you said that it was your favourite hair style yet. When we talked over holo several days after that, you wore your hair the same way I'd fixed it that day."
A single tear ran down Padmé's cheek as she came closer, looking deeply into Anakin's eyes. He stared back at her with a look Obi-Wan had never seen him wear before – it was a look of slight sadness, yet his eyes shone brightly at the same time…Eyes that belonged to a mature person who had nothing in common with the Anakin Obi-Wan knew…
"Ani," Padmé whispered barely audible, reaching for his cheek and stroking it gently. "It's you…The eyes…these are your eyes…"
Anakin didn't say anything, he merely smiled. Giving a quiet sob, Padmé flung herself into his arms, and he embraced her tightly in return.
"It's really you…it doesn't matter what you look like, as long it's you on the inside-"
Obi-Wan turned aside, sensing that he was intruding upon something very private. Anyway, it would be better for him to leave before they remembered that he was in the room.
"Master Kenobi," Padmé's voice called to him when he was already by the door. He turned around. "I'm sorry for … treating you like Anakin when you came."
"That's alright," Obi-Wan said truthfully. "You didn't know."
He nodded at the couple and made his way to the exit when a thought crossed his mind.
"Anakin," he called, turning around for a second time. Anakin and Padmé broke apart and turned to him. It was strange seeing himself kiss the Senator…
"Please, behave," he said, feeling a blush colouring his cheeks. "You may not have kept your vows, Anakin...but I have, and if we switch back over night, I don't fancy waking up next to Padmé again."
Anakin grinned.
"And Padmé," he said, feeling even more embarrassed. "Please, make sure he doesn't shave off the beard."
Padmé laughed, her eyes twinkling with a spark of mischief that almost envied Anakin's.
"Don't worry, Master Kenobi," she said, a grin playing on her features. "I've always wanted to kiss a bearded man."
Obi-Wan felt himself pale and Anakin and Padmé both laughed.
"We'll be good Obi-Wan," Padmé promised, smiling.
The mischievous sparkle was still there and Obi-Wan eyed her for a moment, but finally turned and hurried away from the apartment. Behind him, he heard a protest coming from Anakin's direction and female laughter. Pleading with the Force to switch them back as soon as possible, Obi-Wan climbed into the speeder and set a course for the Temple. There were things he needed to prepare if he wanted to face Palpatine in Anakin's body…