Chapter 58

"Anakin, did it ever occur to you that Senator Amidala is a busy woman and that perhaps you should make an appointment," Ben said as the two young Jedi took a seat on one of the benches that lined a busy artery in the Republic Executive Building.

Somehow, this wasn't what Ben meant when he had suggested getting out of the Temple. They had dodged several groups of reports who had been delighted to catch sight of the two prominent Jedi. The only thing Ben despised as much as the media was politicians.

"If you haven't noticed, our schedules are plenty busy," Anakin replied. "This is when I could come. I just wanted to see her before we left for the Outer Rim yet again." Anakin tipped his head back against the wall, drumming his fingers on his thighs. "We'll just have to wait for her to come back."

Ben looked out among those passing by, returning the gawking stares with a pleasant smile and nod. Obi-Wan had said that rumors about Xanatos were quickly making their way through the Senate. Judging from the quick whispers and pitying glances sent toward Anakin, he had been right.

"You know … Dex's offer of a quiet meal, protected from media influence still stands," Ben hinted. "It's back to field rations tomorrow."

"Maybe we should go." Anakin cast a longing glance back toward the offices that housed the Naboo delegation before standing. "Let's go."

They made their way to one of the many lifts and waited for it to arrive. The doors opened and they were surprised to find themselves face to face with Chancellor Palpatine and several members of the entourage that usually trailed him.

"Anakin?" the politician asked in pleasant surprise. "Knight Itires."

"Your Excellency," both replied, offering polite bows.

"How fortuitous to run into both of you." Palpatine rested his hand on the lift door to keep it from closing. "Anakin … I was truly sorry to hear about your master."

Obviously, from the way he quickly averted his eyes, Anakin hadn't expected the conversation to turn to his master so quickly. In fact, Ben could feel the curious stares bearing into them from behind.

"Your Excellency, I don't really think this is the place," Ben offered.

"Of course, Knight Itires. Forgive my insensitivity," the older man said graciously. "I was just heading back to my office and I have nothing immediate on my schedule … perhaps …"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Anakin interrupted. "We really should be going."

"Now, Anakin," the politician crooned in a very patronizing tone. "If what I have heard is true, you are no longer an apprentice and are now free to make your own choices. Tell me, will a cup of tea really hurt."

"I …"

The conversation was fast going somewhere that needed to not be so public. Ben grabbed Anakin's arm and pulled him along into the lift, breathing a sigh of relief when the doors closed. Anakin stepped on his foot, clearly making his feelings on the matter known.

"He's right, Anakin. You have always told me that you felt Master Marojni was a bit harsh in not allowing you to at least speak with the Chancellor. It's not every day you get an invitation for tea from the Supreme Chancellor."

Yes, Jedi did not lie, but Ben realized they were in a privileged position. Few Jedi, only those on the Council, were privy to conversations with the Supreme Chancellor, and those were always formal.

Anakin looked at him for a moment, eyes narrowing. "Okay, but you don't want to keep Ruo waiting when she gets out of class."

"Tea it is then," the Chancellor exclaimed, highly delighted.

As the lift crawled toward the top of the building, one thought reverberated through Ben's mind. He was going to have a hard time explaining this to Obi-Wan. Hopefully, the pay off would be worth it.

Dooku was waiting for him.

Xanatos could sense the Sith's presence just outside his door. He had to admit that he had not expected Dooku to actually pursue him and it made him wonder what the former Jedi master had planned.

Taking a deep breath, Xanatos picked up his travel bag and straightened his cloak. Although he had actually worn civilian clothes more often than Jedi attire during his many times on undercover missions, he now felt strangely vulnerable outside his tunics and robe.

Xanatos stepped through the door, greeted by a quizzical glance from the Sith. "You look like you are going somewhere."

"You found me," Xanatos answered matter-of-factly as he started down the corridor. The Sith fell into step beside him. "Chances are anyone the Council sent to look for me isn't far behind."

"What makes you so certain they will look for you?"

"Obi-Wan likely thought I was just angry and would return when I had blown off some steam, as usual. Now, the part of him that is a Council member has had time to accept that I am not coming back and that there is an angry Jedi with past Dark side struggles on the loose. It would only make sense for him to try to drag me back and make me see reason."

"So you are running," Dooku murmured disapprovingly.

"Yes," Xanatos shot back.

"That's not like you." Gray eyebrows furrowed over chiseled eyes that seemed to search him. Xanatos made sure his shields were firm. "Where will you go?" Dooku asked.

"If I told you that, you might follow me," Xanatos said with a hesitant chuckle, trying to make light of the very serious situation.

A hand closed tightly around his arm, effectively stopping him. "I told you that we would discuss your future. I still intend to have that conversation."

"I take it I don't have a choice," Xanatos spat out angrily, pulling away from Dooku's grip.

"No, not really." The Sith's lips curved up into an approving smile. "Now, come along."

Xanatos followed Dooku through now quiet streets that were resting from a busy night. Only the garbage that the cleaning droids had not yet disposed of and the occasional unfortunate soul that was too drunk to find a way home remained. Dooku led the Jedi master to a hangar where a sleek ship waited. The landing ramp lowered and Dooku started to enter the ship. Xanatos stopped.

"Must you be so stubborn?" Dooku asked with an exaggerated sigh as he turned to face Xanatos.

"It doesn't take great foresight to know that once I set foot on that ship, my options for leaving become rather limited," Xanatos explained.

"You act as though you still have a choice," the Sith replied with that infuriatingly arrogant smile.

"Humor me."

While Xanatos knew that his ultimate goal was to leave on that ship, he had to appear defiant. He only hoped that Dooku believed the act. It was entirely possible that Dooku was playing him and that he would become a prisoner of war the moment he set foot on that ship.

"Very well. There is a more neutral establishment next door."

They exited from the hangar and found a table outside a small café next to the hangar. Xanatos made a show of scanning the crowd as they sat. He had to continue the illusion that he was running from the Council.

Dooku smoothed his cloak, sitting up straight as he crossed his legs. Xanatos slouched back in his chair like a defiant youth, earning more reproach from the Sith. He had never had difficulty in crossing Dooku.

"I don't know if you have paid any attention to the news since leaving, but you have made quite a stir in the Republic."

"Have I?" Xanatos asked with a smug smile

"Speculation has run rampant, I'm afraid," Dooku replied with a serious nod. "The Council, no doubt, has had a time trying to keep the fact that one of their heroes has defected quiet."

"I am not a traitor," Xanatos said in very deliberate tones.

"They betrayed you. I don't understand why you have so much difficulty seeing that."

"We had a difference of opinion." Xanatos leaned forward. "I simply found that I couldn't handle being wrong this time."

"I hear that Anakin has been given over to Master Kenobi's command."

"That's not a surprise."

"The Council is fooling no one with this false knighting."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Xanatos growled. His anger flared at the baiting, but in reality his heart was pounding wildly in his chest.

"I am sure the Council rests easier with the Chosen One under Master Kenobi's able tutelage." Dooku steepled his fingers, his lips twisting into a cruel grin. "In one decision they have rid themselves of you and your influence on their Chosen One. The boy is knighted but he still has much to learn. They have simply deferred to a better teacher."

"Obi-Wan wouldn't allow it."

"How do you know? It had to have been hard for him when Qui-Gon left Anakin to you. He and Qui-Gon, after all, had always been closer. He had always been the obedient one."

Xanatos let out a chuckle. "That shows you how little you know about Obi-Wan."

"Perhaps," Dooku mused. "Your loyalty to him is admirable if not misplaced."

Through the Force, Xanatos sensed that they were being watched. He slowly turned, scanning the patrons surrounding them until he focused on the source of the disturbance. "Kriff," he cursed loud enough for Dooku to hear when he noticed the small imager the man held. The man immediately began to run. Xanatos stood to follow, stopping when Dooku grasped onto his arm.

"Sit down!"

"You?" Xanatos accused, still standing.

"It will only confirm what they already believe to be true – that you are a traitor who is negotiating with the enemy." Dooku's smile was that of a predator who had just backed its prey into a corner. "The bounty hunters will come next."

"The Council wouldn't …"

"I'm not talking about the Council, Xanatos," Dooku said with a chuckle. "There are those in the Senate, those of great power and wealth, who would do all in their power to prevent a Jedi from defecting to the Separatist side."

Xanatos pulled his arm away from Dooku, making his agitation known as he pressed his hands to the back of his chair.

"You, like me, never belonged within the Order. We were meant for something more," Dooku continued. "Let me show you my cause, Xanatos. Let me show you what it means to be Sith. It does not mean you must join."

"You speak as though I would have a choice to leave." Xanatos sank back down in his chair, playing the part of a man resigned to his fate. "We both know that's not true."

"You speak as though you would ever want to leave."

"So, I am correct in that you have been knighted, Anakin?" Palpatine asked as he poured a cup of tea for each of the Jedi seated in front of him.

"Yes," Anakin said softly. "The Council felt I was ready."

"I should say so," the Chancellor replied quite emphatically. "As I have said before, I have followed your career and you are quite a gifted young man. I am glad the Council saw what was clearly evident to all."

"Master didn't agree."

Anakin cast his gaze out the window to the lazy lines of traffic drifting along in the distance outside the office building.

"Yes, well … I understand your loyalty to the man who trained you, but I think Master Marojni has shown who he is by defecting to the Separatist cause."

"My master isn't a traitor," Anakin replied pointedly but politely. "It is his right to leave the Order, as with any Jedi, if he feels he can't live within it."

A sad, pitying expression crossed the politician's face. "I am sorry to have to be the one to give bad news, but we have evidence from Senate intelligence."

Though Ben had seemingly been excluded from the conversation, he had paid close attention. The politician's statement piqued his curiosity, yet he kept his expression neutral.

"I have not had an opportunity to bring this to the Council's attention as of yet."

"What is it, Your Excellency?" Ben asked.

Palpatine turned to the side of his desk and shuffled through a neat stack of datapads until he found what he was looking for. Both Jedi looked on as the screen illuminated, showing a very distinct image of Xanatos sitting in a small café at a table with Count Dooku.

Neither Jedi had to fake looking shocked. Xanatos had only encountered Dooku the previous night, and already the Chancellor's office had proof that he was meeting with the Sith. Ben ran a hand over his face. "It doesn't make sense."

"It's not what it looks like," Anakin said, looking appropriately grief-stricken.

"It seems quite clear to me," Palpatine said. "At least suspicious enough that the Senate will issue a warrant for him."

"I need to go," Anakin said, standing abruptly. He wordlessly offered a slight bow before hurrying out the doors.

"I am sorry that we must leave so quickly, Chancellor Palpatine," Ben offered, already standing.

"Nonsense, Knight Itires," Palpatine replied with a kind smile. "Please go to Anakin and tell him that I am sorry to have caused him so much distress."

"I will," Ben said, offering the full bow that protocol dictated.

"And Knight Itires," the politician said as the young man turned to leave. "You and Anakin are welcome here at any time."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."