Chapter 2
After landing on Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin were escorted by speeder bus to the Senate building so they could report the results of the mission to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.
He gave them a jubilant smile. "It's a good thing you came back in one piece, Anakin," he said. "After all, with your wedding coming up in two weeks, if anything happened to you, there'd be a certain Naboo Senator I'd have to contend with."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Anakin said courteously. "I think we've put Asajj Ventress out of commission for a while. Count Dooku will have to find another weapon to destroy the Republic."
Obi-Wan kept silent, but he sensed a bit of darkness with the chancellor. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew there was more to the chancellor than met the eye.
"I'm sure you have to report to the Jedi Council, so I won't keep you." The chancellor dismissed them and the two Jedi Knights bowed to him respectfully as they left.
Once they were in the speeder bus, heading to the temple, Obi-Wan turned to his former apprentice. "You sense it, don't you?"
Anakin didn't look at him. He didn't have to. "Yes, Master, I do. I wish I didn't, but I do."
They gave their report to the Jedi Council, and were pleasantly surprised when they were told they would be on leave for eight months.
"Things are calming down for a while," Mace Windu said. "We have enough generals in the field for the time being." He dismissed Anakin, and bade Obi-Wan to stay.
"Obi-Wan, as you know, we've been considering opening another position on the Jedi Council. You've proven yourself worthy these past few months and we'd like to offer you the spot."
"I'm overwhelmed, Master." Obi-Wan struggled to keep his composure. "I'd be honored to serve on the Council. When will the announcement be made?"
"At the next session, and we already have an assignment for you during your extended leave." The Jedi Master paused. "It's no secret that your wife, as well as Anakin's fiancée, are working with the Loyalist committee to bring about the end of the war sooner, and restore democracy. We'd like you and Anakin to work with them as much as possible."
"That won't be difficult, Master, especially since Anakin and Senator Naberrie will be married in two weeks anyway. There will be no secrets between them. Would you like me to tell him of our assignment?"
"Yes, inform him that for now, just to be safe, this assignment will not be on record. We can trust the Loyalists, but I don't know if we can trust the supreme chancellor."
"I understand, Master. Anakin senses it also."
Later, as they walked to Shmi's small apartment off to the side of the temple, Obi-Wan informed Anakin of their new assignment. "Another excuse to hang around Lara," the younger Jedi joked, and then turned serious. "The situation is heating up, isn't it, Master," he said. It was a statement, not a question.
"I'm afraid so. Padme, Lara, Senator Organa are the only ones in the Senate we can trust right now."
Anakin shivered, feeling a dread deep in his heart.
AN: I'd like to thank y'all for the feedback, thus far. It's keeping me going. There will be some Obidala action in the next chapter, as well as some AniLara loving. :)