Chapter Four

"Custom Collages by Qui-Gon"

"There are you, my darlings. I know it seems drastic now, but just you wait. Soon, you'll have the energy you need to bloom, and then you will outshine all your other friends. Won't that be worth it?"

His door chime rang.

"You're going to have to trust me on this. I know what's best for you."

It rang again and he ignored it, continuing to express his adoration for his silent, but loyal companions.

When it rang a third time, he put down his snippers and growled. He wasn't expecting anyone. Although he was hoping to hear from Anakin soon, he'd been pleased to hear the team of Kenobi and Skywalker had been assigned as a private security escort to Senator Amidala. Just as he had hoped for. Everything was going according to plan. Soon, Obi-Wan and Padme would fall in love again, get married, and they would all live happily ever after.

If only whomever was at his door would go away and give him some peace.

"I'll be back soon, my dears," he soothed the nannariums, which hung in his kitchen window, the sight of them always putting him in a better mood. He whistled as he walked toward the door, a catchy cantina tune he and Obi-Wan had picked up while on Corellia. He couldn't remember the words, but the melody was pleasing.

All pleasure was lost, however, when he saw who was at the door. Not that he disliked Mace Windu coming by unannounced. He just didn't care to see him when he was in a foul mood, which he obviously was today.

"Come on in, Mace, I was just fixing some tea."

"I don't want any tea."

"Care for some ale then? Or perhaps a brandy?" Qui-Gon teased, knowing his comrade was not in the mood for it, which made it all that more enjoyable.

"What I would care for is for you to explain this!"

Master Windu thrust a sheet of wrinkled parchment into Qui-Gon's chest before spinning round and storming across the room. Qui-Gon brought the article into view and stretched his arm out to take a better look. Damn his old eyes.

"I need my spectacles," he noted, receiving a curt wave of a hand and a backward glance as a response. Actually, he didn't need any reading assistance, whatsoever. He knew exactly what this was. He just wished Mace Windu wasn't in possession of it. He had specifically told Anakin to dispose of it once it had served its purpose! He pretended to read it anyway, just to patronize the man.

"This appears to be some type of warning," he noted before folding the paper in half and tucking it inside his tunic. "Does the council require consultation on deciphering its meaning? Or figuring out who sent it? I may be of some use, but I need to know who the recipient was first."

Mace's hands shot straight to his hips as he uttered a phrase Qui-Gon hadn't heard since he'd negotiated with the Hutts and Qui-Gon realized he was pushing his luck.

Mace turned on him, jaw set firm. "You know damn well who the recipient was, as well as who created that document! Don't play dumb with me."

"I have no idea what you're referring to! Why in the name of the Uknown Regions would you think I know that?"

"I swear, one of these days, Qui-Gon, I'm going to stop protecting you."

"I never asked you to start," the Jedi Master stood up straighter, making a mental note to remember not to slouch in front of council members. Mace had gone too far. He didn't need his protection or Yoda's either. He wasn't senile, helpless, or handicapped. So, he had a bit of a limp, arthritis had crept into his joints, and he was slowing down with age, but that came with the territory! Master Yoda was a genetic exception.

Qui-Gon held his breath for a moment, calmed his nerves and decided to proceed with his act of ignorance. At the moment, it seemed the best thing to do. "But I still don't understand why you would think..."

"You can't pull that old geezer stuff with me. You're only seven years my senior. I know better," Mace interrupted, his patience obviously growing thin.

Fine. So, this was the way it was going to be. He could handle it, as long as he could convince Mace to take his side.

"How did you know?" he admitted sheepishly, his slouch returning as he folded himself into a nearby chair.

"The parchment. You shouldn't have used any from your own collection. It's too rare."

"Ah," Qui-Gon noted, though he reminded himself it shouldn't have been a problem if only Anakin had gotten rid of the evidence! "But didn't you appreciate its form?"

"Very creative," Mace visibly relaxed now that Qui-Gon had opened up, and he sat in another chair on the opposite side of the dining table. "I especially liked the colorful cut-outs and the variety of the misshapen letters. Made the words, 'or you'll die' much more pleasant to read, I thought."

Qui-Gon hid his smile behind a well-timed hand to his face. He knew Master Windu considered this a serious offense, although no harm had been done. Had there?

"What were you thinking? And why would you threaten Senator Amidala?"

"Before I answer that, tell me, does anyone else know?"

"That you sent the senator a death threat? No, nobody knows it was you. Except me, of course."

"That's good."

Qui-Gon paused to pinch off a dead leaf from the scintil vine crawling up the wall next to the table. He was going to need to propagate it soon or it would take over his entire apartment.

His attention, however, was refocused by the clearing of Mace's throat. "Do you remember the day you dropped by and asked if I could be of some assistance with Anakin's training and upbringing?" he asked.

A single brow rose high on Windu's hairless scalp. "Yes."

"Well...?"

The brow then flatlined, forming a straight ridge just above Mace's dark eyes, a deep frown curving his mouth. "Don't tell me. I don't want to know. I have a feeling you're going to somehow end up blaming this all on me."

Qui-Gon shrugged innocently, deciding it was wise to stay silent. Let Windu make his assumptions for now.

"Just promise me one thing," Mace said as he rose and headed for the door. "I don't know what you're up to, but no more death threats, all right?"

"Agreed." Qui-Gon nodded once and then added his most innocent grin. Another brow rose on Windu's face though, so he wasn't sure if the council member bought it or not.