Chapter 56
The group gathered in the Council chamber was somber. They were preparing to send yet another of their own to the enemy. Only one other had been successful so far - Quinlan Vos - one who walked as close to darkness as Xanatos, but even he had not been seen as worthy to stand at Dooku's side. Xanatos was different - he was of Dooku's line, trained by his apprentice. Would it be enough to tempt the former Jedi's arrogance and pride?
"Ready are you?" Yoda asked with a weary side, his gaze glancing slightly to Obi-Wan. The Council was still in disharmony, its newest member still firmly against this course of action. It was an emotional response to attachment that the grandmaster allowed. Jinn's line had always been close and protective of each other - family. He dare not tell them that he sensed it was this connection that would end the war and the Sith; he had foreseen too much pain in the path and it weighed heavily on him.
"Yes, Master." Xanatos gave a slight nod of his head. "I just need a couple more minutes."
Xanatos turned to where Anakin was standing behind him, in his usual place. Reaching out, he lifted Anakin's braid, his voice trembling just slightly when he said, "You won't have this next time I see you." He flashed a smile, gaining a boyish, lopsided grin in return.
"I'll save it, Master."
"Be on your absolute best behavior." Xanatos shot a glance toward his brother in all but blood. "Try not to give Obi-Wan any more gray hair than he already has."
"I will take care of him like he was my own padawan," Obi-Wan promised as he got up from his Council seat.
"I know. I expect nothing less." Xanatos grabbed his padawan brother into an embrace, not caring that they were standing in front of the remainder of the Council.
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan whispered. "And please be careful."
"That goes for you also," the older Jedi shot back.
"I'm always careful," Obi-Wan teased.
"That's what worries me," Xanatos replied softly.
"It's time now." Obi-Wan sighed, looking from Xanatos to Anakin. "Ben and Ruo are outside. Our guests are approaching. Let's make this look good."
"I apologize now for things I may say or do in the next few moments," Xanatos said in sort of an ominous warning. "Trust me. This is going to sting."
Taking one last deep breath, Xanatos began to channel some anger. It wasn't hard to find. There was plenty to be angry at – the war, Dooku, the fact that he even had to be separated from those he cared for so much.
The lobby outside the Council chambers was a place Ben often found himself since Obi-Wan had come to be seated on the Council. He usually passed the time by meditating or absorbed in reports from the latest campaign and his journal, hoping to learn from mistakes made. Today, he sat beside his new apprentice simply enjoying the peace and tranquility. He would be taking her to the battlefield for the first time soon and it weighed heavily on his soul.
The young girl sat poised and quiet, dark hair pulled into a tight braid behind her head that was rolled into a bun to keep all of it out of the way - except for the smaller braid that trailed behind her ear. It was his most successful attempt at a braid thus far. After chastising her for messy hair a few days prior, he had learned that it was hard to braid one's own hair in this way - her creche master had always done it for her. Ruo had panicked that she would have to cut it short, so Ben had learned to braid - never something he thought he would have to do as a Jedi master.
"Knight Itires?"
Ben looked up, quickly getting to his feet to offer a slight bow upon realizing who had addressed him.
"Senator Amidala," he said, offering a smile. "I am surprised to see you here."
"We have an audience with the Council."
As Padme motioned behind her, Ben saw several more senators, ones he recognized as being among the Jedi's greatest allies in the Senate. He offered another bow.
"And who is this?" she asked with a smile, glancing down at the girl who seemed very unsure of what to do.
"This is my padawan learner, Ruo An."
"Pleased to meet you Senator," the girl said, standing to offer a bow.
"I am sorry I missed Anakin and you last week," Padme continued.
"You are a busy woman, Milady," Ben replied. "Actually, Anakin is in the Council chambers right now. You may have a moment …"
Ben allowed his words to trail off. The Force was suddenly agitated and choked with emotion.
"Master?" Ruo whispered with uncertainty, likely never having felt such turbulence in the Force.
Ben had, and it was alarming considering he knew who was in the Council chambers, knew about the recent arguments between Xanatos and Obi-Wan, and knew that Xanatos had been acting odd, according to Anakin.
The doors to the Council chamber slammed open, launched by an aggressive Force push. A rage-filled Xanatos stormed through, not even acknowledging anyone as he passed by and headed toward the nearest lift. Obi-Wan was not far behind, trailed by Anakin.
"Xanatos, we need to talk about this."
The angry Jedi master stopped, back still to Obi-Wan. "I think we've talked enough, Master Kenobi."
Hearing his master's formal title spoken in such an icy tone twisted at Ben's gut.
"I am shocked you were able to pull yourself from your vaulted seat to actually follow me," Xanatos continued.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Obi-Wan said with a stern edge to his voice.
"You've become one of them," he replied, spinning on his heel and throwing his hands up in the air. "One of the Council."
"The Council isn't your enemy," Obi-Wan urged, receiving only a humorless chuckle in return.
"Master," Anakin said, approaching his mentor. "Please, come back inside and talk about this."
"And I suppose you finally got what you wanted," Xanatos snapped, turning his anger on his apprentice. "I never realized I was holding you back so much."
Ben kept expecting to wake up and find that he had just dozed off while waiting. This just wasn't like Xanatos.
"Master … that's … not true." Anakin shot Obi-Wan a desperate glance. "Please … Master."
"It seems I have worn out my welcome in the Temple," Xanatos said, turning to leave once more.
"Xan," Obi-Wan said in a voice more thick with emotion as he rushed forward and clapped a hand onto his Jedi brother's shoulder. In one swift move, Xanatos pivoted around, his fist harshly making contact with Obi-Wan's face and knocking him backwards. A Force push sent him sliding down the corridor on his back.
Ben didn't care if Xanatos was a friend, brother, and someone who had been a constant in his life. The man had just attacked his master.
"Ruo, stay back," he commanded as he unclipped his new saber, the one balanced for Makashi, and stormed forward with purpose, keeping his gaze trained on Xanatos.
"Ben, no," Obi-Wan called out as he eased himself up from the floor. He hurried forward and put a hand on his apprentice's arm to emphasize his words as he turned his attention to Xanatos again. "Xanatos, if you intend to leave, I must request that you hand over your lightsaber."
Xanatos' eyes narrowed. The emotion coming from him was confusing and overwhelming, a mixture of anger and deep sadness. "You do realize that as someone who has been a general in this war, I have a considerable price on my head. You would really deprive me of the means of defending myself?"
"A lightsaber is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. If you choose to leave the Order …"
"Fine." Xanatos snapped as he took the saber from his belt. "I can build another. I mean, how many have I built? I was there when you built your first and with Anakin when he built his."
"Keep it," Obi-Wan said softly, bowing his head.
"I'll take my leave, then," Xanatos said.
"Master …" Anakin began.
"Apparently, I'm not your master anymore," Xanatos said, not bothering to look back as he stormed down the hall and disappeared into the lift leaving the lobby area in stunned silence.
It was Mace Windu among the Council who approached Obi-Wan first. "Do we need to go after him?"
"No. He's too angry right now," Obi-Wan murmured. "He will come back to talk when he cools down and is in his right mind again."
"Bruising your face is," Yoda said in a voice filled with disapproval. "Tend to it we should. Reschedule our remaining meetings we can."
Mace turned to Ben. "Go with him."
"Of course, Master Windu," Ben said, offering a respectful nod to Padme. He tried his best to hide the fact that he was in utter shock.
Both he and Anakin helped Obi-Wan to the lift, Ruo trailing behind, all woefully aware of the awkward silence throughout the corridor. It was unheard of to see such a scene outside the Council chambers, made more uncomfortable by the fact that guests were present. Ben sighed in relief when the lift doors closed, shutting them away from the questioning stares.
"Master … I … I don't understand …" Ben began hesitantly as the lift carried them toward their residences.
"We'll talk about it when we get back to my quarters," Obi-Wan murmured.
The trip back seemed an eternity for Ben, and he was at a loss to explain what had just happened to his apprentice. The scene in the corridor played through his mind over and over again. Xanatos and his master were as close as brothers. It had to be devastating for Obi-Wan. When they finally retreated behind the doors of his master's quarters, Obi-Wan sank quietly to the sofa.
"I'll get a cold pack and bacta," Anakin said.
Ben sat down on the couch beside his master, looking over the rapidly intensifying bruising spreading down his cheekbone. "I'm so sorry, Master. What happened?"
"Xanatos is leaving the Order."
"I gathered that," Ben shot back. "I am trying to understand this … why he attacked you .."
"I would rather speak in private," Obi-Wan said, gaze sliding to Ruo.
In that moment, as the intense emotion of the moment in the corridor bled away and Ben really observed his master, he realized he had just been played. His eyes narrowed, and Obi-Wan looked guilty.
"I will just tell her when we return to our quarters - she has a right to know after that scene."
With a heavy sigh, Obi-Wan looked Ruo right in the eyes. "Padawan An," he began formally, "what is about to be said in this room is known only by the Council and Anakin. You cannot tell anyone - do you understand - Xanatos' life depends on it."
"I understand, Master Kenobi," Ruo said, nodding emphatically.
"He's going undercover - isn't he?" Ben asked, everything finally coming together - Anakin;s baiting and the very real arguments between Xanatos and his master.
"His task is to infiltrate Dooku's inner circle," replied solemnly, not bothering to hide his worry any more.
Anakin returned with a cold pack and a jar of bacta, handing it to Ben.
"Master really did a number on your face," Anakin commented, as Ben spread bacta over the bruises.
"Believe me. He will hear about it," Obi-Wan said, pressing the cold pack to his face.
"You are the one who told him to make it look good," Anakin replied, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips.
"So, that was all an act." Ben found himself speechless for a moment. "You could have warned us!"
"I am sorry to not tell you earlier, Padawan. We needed your reactions to be genuine. Do you think it was convincing?"
"Oh yeah. Definitely," Ben huffed, glancing to where his apprentice was silent, wide-eyed, and simply nodding her head. He was going to be meditating half the night with her to sort all this anxiety out."
"Good." Obi-Wan's voice was weary and burdened. "No one can know. Only the Council and the four of us in this room know."
"I understand, Master."
Ben understood only too well. This was the Council's solution to being in the dark, and it meant death or even something worse than death to Xanatos if anyone found out.
