Well that certainly took some time! College is hectic guys! Anywho, here's the next one, a bit short, but here it is. Enjoy!
Once they arrived in Coruscant Xanatos intended to escort the queen to the senate building where she'd be allowed to rest before speaking to the chancellor regarding her situation but she insisted on speaking to them immediately. Xanatos complied with her wishes and after showing her to the senate chambers he, Obi-Wan and Shmi headed to the Jedi Temple. Xanatos noticed how enamored Anakin seemed to be by Coruscant's cityscape and remembered having the same reaction when he'd first been brought to the planet. It made him smile fondly at the boy and much more tolerant to his endless stream of questions.
Once at the Temple Xanatos and Obi-Wan brought Anakin and Shmi before the council, putting their settlement before their own needs. "Masters, this is Anakin Skywalker" Xanatos introduced, putting a hand behind Anakin's back, "And this is his mother, Shmi Skywalker."
Xanatos then took the time to introduce each and every one of the council members to Anakin, a broad smile coming to his lips as he reached Qui-Gon. "And that is the Qui-Gon Jinn I told you about on the ride here. He was the one that trained me." Anakin had become rather tense and intimidated by the line of frowning Jedi Masters but the smile and small wave that Qui-Gon offered him seemed to ease the boy up significantly. He smiled for the first time since he'd walked into the council chambers and stood up straighter between Obi-Wan and Xanatos.
"And that's Master Windu" Xanatos said, gesturing to the final council member, "He's just as Qui-Gon, except he acutally thinks before leaping into the Rancor's nest."
While Qui-Gon rolled his eyes half heatedly, Windu, satisfied with his introduction, spoke up, "How do you feel, young Skywalker?"
"Cold, sir" Anakin replied almost instantly.
"Afraid?" Windu asked, narrowing his eyes. Anakin looked up at Xanatos as if to ask the elder how to answer, but Xanatos simply gave him a reassuring pat on the back that told him to be honest.
"Just a little" Anakin answered hesitantly.
"There is no need to be afraid, Anakin" Qui-Gon spoke up, "We are Jedi, protectors and friends of all in the Republic. A Republic that you are now a part of." The smile was still present on Qui-Gon's face and once again, it calmed Anakin down. He nodded at Qui-Gon and looked back to Windu, "I'm not afraid, sir."
Xanatos and Qui-Gon exchanged knowing looks before Windu continued, "Alright, good. Now, you wanted him tested, is that correct, Xanatos?"
"Yes, master" Xanatos nodded, stepping forward. "If anything then to simply be able to keep an eye on him wherever he is because we cannot deny that the force flows deep within him."
"That is true" Windu nodded, "There's no denying he's strong."
"You are much like your old master, Xanatos. What with twisting your words to get us to satisfy your outandish request you make" Master Ki-Adi Mundi pitched in his two cents with a hint of humor in his tone.
Xanatos knew better than to try and protest, as he knew the council member was referring to how Qui-Gon similarly brought him along to the temple thirty years ago. He looked down with a smile before glancing at a beaming Qui-Gon and then back to Mundi. "I do not mean to deceive, master" he settled with saying.
"Shame on you, if fool us once you two do, but shame on us it is if fool us twice, you succeed at" Master Yaddle pitched in and the normally rigid council couldn't help but all let out a small noise of amusement or other. It was clear that the council had discussed the matter beforehand and wasn't going to force any drilling or grilling onto the Omega-Kenobi pair now.
"Normally we wouldn't conduct a testing without the entire council present," Windu's eyes briefly moved to the empty smaller seat in the middle of the semi-circle that the council chairs created, "But since this is a special occasion and Master Yoda is on Alderaan on a mission that might take more than just a little while, we we will test him here and now, Xanatos." Windu continued once the noise died down, "Is there anything else you wish to address for now?"
"Ah...yes, master" Xanatos began hesitantly, unsure as to how he should word his next few thoughts. "On Tattoine Obi-Wan and I encountered a warrior trained in the ways of the force that had been tracking us via probe droid. The color of his blade indicated that he was...a Sith, master. We dueled him briefly but we were forced to flee as the Queen's safety was more important at the time than defeating him."
The council looked trouble and Windu's tone dropped into a much more grave one, "This is rather troubling news..but we will discuss it once we are finished with Anakin. Till then go home, rest and accommodate Ms. Skywalker."
"Yes master" Xanatos nodded and bowed deeply. "Good luck, buddy" he winked at his most recent ward with a hand to the shoulder before turning towards the door.
With Shmi and Obi-Wan resting from the long journey that they had just returned from, Xanatos, the ever restless one, took a quick shower before he was out and about again. He had originally intended on catching up with one of his friends and inviting them out for lunch, but along the way he ran into a more than familiar face; his grandmaster, Count Dooku.
It made Xanatos smile, seeing the older man. Coming across such a familiar face reminded him of the life of peace he lived most of the time that he seemed to have forgotten about over the course of his rather difficult rescue mission.
"Good morning, Grandmaster" Xanatos bowed slightly as he approached the much older man.
"Ah, Xanatos, it's good to see you" Dooku smiled upon seeing the Knight. Once Xanatos stood up straight again he was taken into a firm embrace, "It's been far too long."
Xanatos nodded in agreement. The two had been away off planet at the same times causing them to have missed each other for nearly a half a year. Growing up Xanatos had been extremely fond of his grandmaster. Dooku was the on that sided with Xanatos when it came to his un-Jedi like ways and supported his outlandish behavior when Qui-Gon chastised him. He supposed it was because despite how respected and renown a Jedi Dooku was, he still followed his own mind over the council's. No matter what it was, it had made the two close-closer perhaps than Dooku had been to even Qui-Gon.
"It has been. How are you, master?" Xanatos asked once he'd been released.
"As I usually am; kinetic" Dooku replied, simply, "And you? I heard you just rescued the Queen of Naboo under a set of rather ridiculous circumstances. Plan to elope and marry now?"
"Of course, master, you know me all too well" Xanatos chuckled, "Where are you off to?"
"Just on my way to the archives to do a bit of research for an upcoming mission" Dooku replied, not seeming as enthusiastic as he usually did about his full time job.
"Off planet already? And here I was hoping to catch lunch" Xanatos clicked his teeth.
"Perhaps in another six months" Dooku joked.
"Of course" Xanatos laughed, "Alright, I supposed I should let you go then. It was good to see you again, master."
"And you, young one. Take care of yourself and may the force be with you" Dooku clapped a hand on the younger's shoulder before taking off.
Having brightened his mood significantly, Xanatos wished the same to Dooku before continuing on his way. He didn't make it very far though before his comm link went off.
"Omega, speaking" Xanatos said, retrieving the call.
"It's me, padawan" the ever familiar voice of Qui-Gon Jinn replied. It made Xanatos' face burst into a smile. Despite the fact that he'd been a knight for nearly fifteen years now, every so often Qui-Gon referred to him with his former title, reminding him that to the elder he'd always be a reckless teenager that needed to be looked after and cared for tentatively. While most full grown men would find that irritating, Xanatos loved it; he'd spent his entire life seeking Qui-Gon's approval and to be constantly reminded that he still had it to such a large extent was more than enough to light his days.
"Yes, master" Xanatos spoke, taking himself from his thoughts, "Is there something you need?"
"Gracing us with your presence would be nice." Qui-Gon always did love poking fun at Xanatos' rather massive ego and the younger had learned to play along with it by now.
"I'll have to check my schedule but I'm sure I can make it. What's the occasion?" Xanatos replied with a smile.
"We've finished testing Anakin and we want to speak to you and Obi-Wan about him."
"Did he pass? Are we going to hold on to him? Do you think he's the chosen one?" Xanatos blurted out, changing his course for the council chambers at this point.
"Patience, Xanatos, you will have the answers to all you questions as soon as you get here" Qui-Gon replied, true to character.
Xanatos rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright I'll be there in a minute."
"That's more like it. Jinn out."
With the ending of the transmission, Xanatos broke into a small sprint towards the council chambers, feeling more anxious than ever as to the council's decision and how it would impact their opinion of him.
Well that was that, the council has made their decision. The plot deviates muy mucho starting from the next chapter so stick around! Reviews and feedback are love :)