"How can you do this?" Anakin asked. "This is outrageous… it's unfair! How can I be on the Council and not be a Master?"

Mace made to respond, but Obi-Wan coughed.

"Anakin?" he said. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"You clearly already have, Master," Anakin replied, then stopped and frowned. "No, sorry. I mean… go ahead."

"I'm afraid I have two questions now," Obi-Wan apologized. "But, firstly… do you remember when we met?"

"...yes?" Anakin replied. "That was when I got on the ship, right?"

"Correct," Obi-Wan said, with the smooth patience that was a defence mechanism around Anakin. "And do you recall what I was at the time?"

Anakin's expression showed no sign that the light had yet dawned.

"You were Master Qui-Gon's Padawan," he said.

"Very good," Obi-Wan said. "But there's something else I was at the time, Anakin – though I appreciate that that's something you might not remember."

Anakin looked challenging. "I might remember it," he said. "What was it, then?"

"Twenty-five," Obi-Wan told him. "Three years older than you are now."

Anakin frowned.

"...you were?" he asked. "No, wait, you'd have to be, you're, uh… yeah, that does work out… wait, how were you still a Padawan at twenty-five years old? You killed… no, I mean, you defeated Darth Maul."

"Correct," Obi-Wan said. "And yet, I was still a Padawan. In addition, Anakin, I should point out that you lack the benefit of… hmm… at least seven years of training which most Jedi have. You are on the Jedi Council after having been in training for thirteen years, which is about the point at which I became a Padawan."

Anakin was clearly doing mental calculations again.

"Huh," he said. "I guess… when you put it like that it sounds like I'm a bit impatient."

"Would I say that?" Obi-Wan asked.

"You'd think it," Anakin retorted. "Really loudly."

"Though I do have my other question," Obi-Wan added. "Anakin, you're not normally this short-tempered, but I do recognize the signs. When was the last time you slept?"

Anakin looked guilty.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, after a moment's silence. "I won't order you to get some sleep. But I have to warn you, after this council meeting I am going to strongly request you get some sleep – and if you insist you don't need it, I will wave my hand at you and say the word sleep."

"You'll mind trick me?" Anakin asked.

"No," Obi-Wan denied. "Just wave my hand and say the word. If I don't need the Force to make you fall asleep then the resultant nap is sorely needed…"

AN:

An old Jedi voice trick.