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Family Portrait
(Part 7)
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Family Portrait
(Part 7)
Star Wars belongs to LFL.
Back to Fan Fiction.
Chapter 15

Obi-Wan didn't think the Neimoidian could have gotten a very clear view of them, but he wanted to stay in the shadows anyway.  He did not think that the explosion and their presence at it had been entirely coincidental.  Shapoi had known the time of the monthly contact -- perhaps he had been the Jedi expected to be there when the mayor was assassinated.  But having different Jedi on the premises would serve the purposes of whoever was behind this even better.  If more than one Jedi was involved in the killing of Malkiri's leaders, then the Order could hardly protest that it was a single rogue.

He led them by paths he'd never seen, finding his way through the now-dark forest with ease until they reached the edge of town.  He stopped.

"We need to contact the Temple," he said.  "We need to go back to the house.  I will speak to Yoda.  The two of you get everything you can that identifies us or has anything to do with the Shapois."

"All right," Siri said.

Anakin looked over his shoulder at the bright glow in the sky over the mayor's house.  The trees around it were beginning to catch.  Obi-Wan wondered in an offhand way if it had reached the Shapois' shed yet, and remembered what Daha had said about it not being fire safe.  "Master..."

"Questions later, Anakin.  We need to move now."

He nodded, still pale and looking shocked.  "Of course, Master."

They remained in the shadows as long as they could, and by the time they reached their street, no one seemed to be in a mood to notice them.  Some people were running for the woods with alarms and extinguishers; others were dousing their houses with water.  The three Jedi slipped into their yard and through their door unnoticed.

"Let's move fast," Anakin said.  "I don't want anything bad to happen here."

"We seem to be safe for the moment..."

Siri was already scanning out front.  "It may be a short moment.  The mood out there is vicious.  I can feel..."  She shivered.  "Leave the lights out."

Obi-Wan nodded.  Siri disappeared to the kitchen and Anakin went upstairs.  He heard them both tearing open drawers.  He went to the back of the living room and turned on the holo-communicator, punching in the emergency code that would get him through to whichever Council members were immediately available.

The undifferentiated pixels crackled, bent, and formed themselves into a squat figure with pointed ears.

"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan sighed with relief.  "Our mission has taken a bad turn."

"See that, I can, in your face, Master Obi-Wan."

"Shapoi is dead."

"Hmmm."

Something crashed in the kitchen and Siri let out a stream of curses that she definitely hadn't learned in the crèche.  Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder, then looked back at Yoda.  "Master, the mayor has been assassinated.  The world will be destabilized.  The Senate needs to be notified."

Yoda frowned.  "News, this is not, Obi-Wan.  Already was the Senate notified."

"What does the Chancellor wish of us?"

"Help, you cannot, by staying.  Unwelcome are you there.  Demanding your return is the Malkiri delegation to the Senate."

"And what are the wishes of the Council?"

"Servants of the Republic, we are, Obi-Wan.  Return to Coruscant, you shall."

Obi-Wan nodded.  "I understand.  Siri and Anakin are packing.  Master, it it is worse than it may seem on Coruscant."

"How worse is it?"

Obi-Wan told him briefly what had happened since their arrival, about the baseless hatred and about Shapoi's escape from prison.

"Guessed, we should have.  Always independent, was Zio Shapoi."

"Yes, well, it appears to have made matters worse.  Much, I will wait to discuss until we have returned to the Temple, but Master...it appears to me, and I suspect Siri will also see this, that the assassination of the mayor was meant to occur when a Jedi was present.  To cast suspicion."

"And present you were."

"Yes, Master.  All three of us.  Anakin heard something wrong with the machinery, then the hillside exploded."

"Seen, were you?"

Obi-Wan nodded.  "Not closely.  But I cannot guarantee that we weren't identified."

Heavy footsteps announced Anakin's entry.  A bag fell at Obi-Wan's feet, then his Padawan knelt beside him.  He lowered his eyes, and did not speak without permission.

Yoda looked over him.  "Safe you are, Padawan Skywalker?"

"Yes, Master Yoda.  Master Obi-Wan has kept me safe."  He looked up at Obi-Wan, then back at Yoda's hologram.  "He's kept all of us safe."

Obi-Wan put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed briefly.  It was a kind impulse of Anakin's to defend him, but it would have the unfortunate effect of introducing possible doubts.  "Master Yoda, if I send Anakin back with Siri, perhaps I could try to reach these people before things get out of hand."

"Out of hand, things already are, and permission, you do not have, to remain on Malkiri."

"But if we could only explain..."

"It's too late," Anakin whispered.

"Heh," Yoda said.  "To your Padawan, you listen, Obi-Wan!  Too late, it is already."

"But Master, to run would seem an admission where no guilt exists."

"A greater evil would defying the Senate bring.  Place guilt, Malkiri will, in the way it always has.  But commit the crime of which they most accuse us, we cannot.  Servants, we are.  Above the law, we are not."

Beside him, Anakin was clenching his jaw so tightly that Obi-Wan could hear his teeth grinding, but he said nothing, at least not out loud.  But Obi-Wan could still feel the half-formed undercurrent of his thoughts: Someone should fix this, someone should make them understand, someone needs to take control of this, someone needs to visit this on them until the end of time...

He squeezed his Padawan's shoulder again, leaving his hand tight until he felt the muscles beneath his fingers start to relax.

Yoda seemed to sense that some communication was happening, because he waited until Obi-Wan's full attention could come back to him.  "Return, you must, Obi-Wan," he said again, kindly.  "Nothing further can you accomplish on Malkiri."

Obi-Wan lowered his head.  "I know, Master.  I'm sorry. I failed."

**********

Anakin waited for Yoda to say, "A failure, this is not," or "Fail, you did not," or something, but the old master didn't say anything like that.  He just let it hang there long enough to look like it was true.

It was one injustice too many in the course of the day, and that it came from Yoda -- Yoda who Obi-Wan respected! -- made it worse somehow.

But Anakin couldn't yell or storm at a Council member; that was for sure.  He had to keep calm.  So he remained on his knees, but straightened his shoulders and raised his head to look Yoda in the eye.  "Master Kenobi didn't fail," he said as simply as he could, then lowered his eyes again.

"Again, look up, Padawan Skywalker," Yoda said.

Reluctantly -- he didn't have time for a fight with the Council right now -- Anakin obeyed.  He saw that Obi-Wan looked both pleased and embarrassed.

Yoda, to his surprise, looked more kindly than annoyed.  "Know, you do," he said, "that the failure here is not Obi-Wan's.  Know this as well does the Council.  Knows it, Siri Tachi does.  When ready to know it is Obi-Wan, so will he."

Anakin felt himself go red.  Of course.  It always seemed to come out that he was wrong and Yoda was right.  "I'm sorry, Master.  Both of you."

"Necessary, 'sorry' is not."  Yoda looked back to Obi-Wan.  "Return, you must, now.  What things you have prepared, bring.  All else, the Temple will replace."

"We have everything anyway," Anakin said.  "That's what I came down to tell him.  We're ready."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Good.  I have the chips from the Shapoi family with me.  It is my hope that they found suitable passage and will reach you on Coruscant before we do."

Yoda closed the connection.

"I'm sorry I embarrassed you."

"I'm sorry I made my embarrassment so obvious.  It was a kind gesture, if an unnecessary one, and I am grateful to you."  Obi-Wan reached out a hand and tugged at Anakin's hair.  "I'm going to miss this when you have it removed.  It's very handy."

Anakin smiled, then squared himself for action.  "We better get Siri and get out of here before they shut down the spaceport.  I mean, I could hotwire something and get us out, but I know you don't want me to."

"At the moment, Anakin, I am not ruling out any possibilities."

Siri swung into the room, a satchel over her shoulder.  In her hand, she held Adi's listening-device detector.  A small light was flashing on one side.  Anakin nudged Obi-Wan and pointed to it.  "Baklee?"

Obi-Wan paled and looked up at Siri.  She was holding a datapad that read, "It just started.  They might have heard the end, but no more.  Aimed from town."

Anakin felt his nerves go into high gear, and the kind of calm that came to him, paradoxically, only when he was active, seemed to descend.  If they'd only caught the very end, maybe there was still confusion.  If people were coming, they would need to know why the Tachis were packed and on their way out the door.  "All right," he said.  "You know, Baklee, we're pretty close to the forest.  Maybe we should take a couple of bags and head away from the fire."

"Good idea, Kit."

Siri just nodded, and went to the small coat room off the entrance hall.  She tossed a jacket to Obi-Wan, wrapped a small cape around her own shoulders, and shrugged at Anakin, who had only been wearing the long scoot coats since his arrival.

Anakin palmed the door open.

The people in the street were still throwing water on their houses in a panicked way, but more had gathered at the end of the street closest to the forest.  The flames had spread while they'd been speaking to Yoda, and a great cloud of black smoke was rising into the early night.  It carried the scent of the Malkiri evergreens high into the sky, as if the trees' perfume were trying to escape its own prison.

"Just blend into the motion," Obi-Wan said.  "We won't attract attention in this."

They had only taken a few steps toward town when the lights that lined the street flashed bright red and a siren went up into the air.

Siri froze.  "They heard enough," she whispered.

"We can't know that," Obi-Wan said, putting his arm around her and trying to lead her forward.

"Yes, we can, and we do."

He stopped.

Anakin let the Force into his mind, felt the sudden urgency in the mood.  There were people approaching from the town end of the street, blocking their way.  Behind them, the forest burned.  To their left, people were slowly leaving the panic of their own houses -- Thama and Ilb Bercha had drifted into their front yard already -- and noticing that something was afoot.  To the right was only the house they'd lived in together, as empty as every other temporary lodging place was after they left it.

Anakin reached for his lightsaber; Obi-Wan didn't stop him, but gave him a look that said, quite clearly, I am trusting you to be responsible.  He didn't draw...but he kept his hand on the hilt.

The city guard burst around the corner.  Only four officers were there, but one of them must have let it leak that they'd picked up a suspicious transmission to Coruscant, because a confused and angry crowd had gathered around them.  Anakin didn't think that the officers could control that crowd, if it came down to it.

There was going to be fighting.

Siri reached out and drew Anakin slowly back to her with one hand, while pulling Obi-Wan to her with the other. "Move slowly.  They don't know who they're looking for yet.  They couldn't have had time to trace the transmission to a particular house, and even if they did, they won't be sure which is ours, or what our name is supposed to be.  They may think it was one of the other families long enough for us to slip by."

"I think we can get through them," Anakin said.  "If we have to."

"They are frightened and bewildered," Obi-Wan said.  "Can't you feel that?"

"Yes."

"We're not going to fight them unless they leave us with no choice at all.  They are on a precipice.  I am not going to push them over."

A flare shot up from the forest fire, and Anakin saw Obi-Wan's "precipice" clearly in his mind...suspended over the flames...waiting...

He shuddered.  "Okay."

They moved slowly and deliberately back toward their house, satchels slung lightly over their shoulders.

More people drifted out of their yards and into the street.  The noise the crowd was making was clearer now as it flowed around them.  People were shouting, "Where's the traitor?" and "No one betrays Malkiri!"  A girl ran past Anakin with a flaming branch, whooping with a terror that was almost glee.  He thought she was one of the three who had first spoken to him at Daj's...the ones Obi-Wan had thought he was flirting with.

They had made it to the end of the walkway to their door -- Anakin had no clear idea where Siri was ultimately leading them, only that this was the only relatively safe direction -- when their time ran out.

"Jedi!" someone shouted.

Siri kept moving, but Anakin felt something hot brush by his cheek.  The flaming branch landed on the lawn beside him, setting the gray-green grass on fire. He looked back, almost involuntarily, to see the girl (Sephi Liss, his mind supplied for no good reason; her best friend is the Neimoidian girl Lyclar Nev) gloating.

But the girl wasn't his concern.

The crowd was reforming, oriented toward the house, and a small figure had worked its way forward.

Anakin lost all interest in running away.

He recognized the boy in front of the crowd, waving his skinny arms at the house. For once, Tomik Cral was in his shadow.

"They're Jedi!" Brinje yelled.  "I saw one of them!"

**********

Obi-Wan sensed Anakin's mood shift in time to stop him, but not quickly enough to do so with any grace.  He simply reached out and grabbed the boy as he drew his lightsaber, pulling him backward, dragging him against his momentum.

"Let me go!"

Obi-Wan kept his voice soft, almost whispering in Anakin's ear.  "I will not do so, Anakin, and you will be glad of that at a later time."  He looked up at the crowd and spoke a bit louder, but still in the most reasonable voice he could summon.  "Do not approach."

"But he --"

"I am aware, Anakin.  Do not ignite your lightsaber.  We haven't time to go through your relaxation exercise, but you must not act on your anger.  I will stop you if you do."

"But --"

"We will need your mind here with us, Anakin.  And you know ultimately that you must not act on this feeling."

Anakin muscles went rigid under Obi-Wan's arms, and he seemed to hum like an energy barrier.  Obi-Wan could almost see the waves of energy coming from him in jagged, uneven spikes.

"I helped him," Anakin whispered helplessly.

"And he betrayed you.  And because of that, we need to walk away from this mob before they regain their momentum and come after us."

The muscles of Anakin's back, pinned against Obi-Wan's chest, tightened again.  They were trembling under the strain.  Then, with an effort, Anakin relaxed them.  His head lowered then rose again, and he was still.  "All right," he said.

Siri leaned in.  "If you two are done having a moment, I think maybe we better move."

Obi-Wan looked out at the crowd, which was starting to stir after his mild mental suggestion.  Torches were twitched, hands tossed stones.

Anakin nodded and looked at her with a gratitude that Obi-Wan didn't quite understand.  "Yeah," he said, regaining himself.  He looked around, then back over his shoulder, toward the back yard.  "Daj's," he said.  "There's a fence, but it's short, and it's the only way."  He slipped his lightsaber back into the large pocket of his jacket, and turned decisively away from the crowd.

**********

Anakin had to take the chance that Obi-Wan and Siri were following, because he couldn't make himself look at either one of them.  The anger was still in him, but it was no longer a flare in his mind.  It was a queasy illness at the center of his abdomen, making him feel off-balance and ashamed.  He kept remembering a time when he'd been three years old, shortly after Watto had discovered his aptitude with machines.  The greedy old Toydarian hadn't allowed him to leave the shop until all the small parts of the engines were clear of dirt and grime, and it had been so many hours, and he hadn't learned to use the 'fresher very long before.  Mom had found him, still working, but wet and stinking and crying because he knew that he was supposed to be better than that.  Mom had held him then as Obi-Wan did now, and he had been grateful, but then Watto had come in and said something about going home to clean up, rather than stinking the place up, and he had been even more grateful for that, as he was to Siri for bringing him back up to the clean world as though he'd never left it.

He ran down the back yard easily and leapt the fence with grace, feeling the Force come to him, welcoming him and embracing him as it always did.  He could feel it beckoning him forward, and he followed its promptings without thought.  It was still cleaner than he was.

The lights in Daj's house were off, but the yard was lit by the fire burning in the woods just beyond the stream.  The woods were dry.  The good smell surrounded him with obscuring smoke, and he chanced a glance behind him.  Siri and Obi-Wan were only a meter or so away.

"Back into the woods?" Obi-Wan asked.  "The fire would hide us."

"Or cook us," Siri said.

Anakin could hear the crowd now, rushing down the hill.  A plank of the fence broke with a snap that echoed through the smoke, preternaturally loud.  His eyes were starting to burn and his lungs felt as though someone had hung them out on a dehydration rack.  He felt for the Force, for the sense that had been guiding him thus far.  Master Obi-Wan didn't need to take his advice -- especially now -- but he thought the advice would be taken nonetheless.

He felt something shimmering at the edge of the energy.  "Wait here," he said.

"Anakin, we cannot take on that mob with weapons."  Siri coughed harshly in the smoke.

"That's not what I mean."

Another cough, this time from his other side.  "What do you mean" -- cough -- "Padawan?"

Anakin tried to accept the smoke into his lungs; it wasn't any worse than the things he'd breathed in at the track, or -- worse -- at Gardulla's.  It probably wasn't that much worse than Coruscant pollution. But it was harsh and it hurt, and he gave in and bent over in a coughing fit.  "Just wait here," he said.  "Something's coming."

**********

Obi-Wan's eyes were watering.  Between that and the thick white smoke, he could see only shadows, and those were merely blurs of gray.  The one advantage to it was that they were as well camouflaged to the crowd as they were to one another.  Unless someone literally tripped over them, they'd be safe here, barring smoke-related injuries.

Was Anakin really waiting for something to happen, or was it an excuse to continue his attack?

Obi-Wan searched Anakin's heart, and couldn't really read what he found there.  There was a deep anger, but it seemed directed inward.  He knew that in some ways, that could be more dangerous; self-anger could destroy the mind far more quickly than anger at others.  But it did take the others out of danger, which was a plus.  He let it be for now.  Whatever Anakin's motives, they did not seem to include another uprising of his temper.  Obi-Wan let his consciousness reach further out, for the elusive sense that Anakin was following.

The blur that was Siri had gone to stand quietly beside Anakin; she had trusted him immediately.  Obi-Wan supposed he had no reason to doubt; one thing that had been certain about Anakin from the start was the depth of his perception.  Even at the battle of Naboo, before he'd had any training, he had known something had happened to Qui-Gon.  He could now sense further than Obi-Wan, and he could sense weaker presences.

A torch passed by in the smoke only three meters away, as someone ran into the woods.

You should bring them back before they hurt themselves.

Obi-Wan squinted into the smoke, found a tree a bit ahead of the rioter, and knocked it down in his path.  He screamed and jumped back, leaving the fringe of the woods.

"Don't be foolish!" someone yelled.  It echoed and became nebulous in the smoke.  "If they're in the woods, they're dead!  Don't follow!"

That was a relief, but it also increased the danger here in Daj Orti's yard.  There was only so much space, and even feeling around like blind men, the mob was certainly going to find them soon.  "Anakin," he said, lurching over to where the others were.  "How much longer?"

Anakin wrapped a hand around his upper arm and drew him closer.  "Soon!  I think..."  He looked up, face turned into the curling smoke.  His arm jabbed suddenly upward.  "There!" he cried.  "There!"

Someone heard him.  His cry was echoed through the crowd.

Obi-Wan saw nothing above them at first, and heard only the approaching mob.

Then a white light appeared in the smoke, making a round and welcome haven.  Anakin ran into it.  Siri followed.  Obi-Wan knew that it would certainly give away their location, but whatever it came from was their only hope...if it was friendly.

A vaguely cylindrical shadow appeared above the light, then Obi-Wan could hear the sound of engines above the roar of the nearby flames.  The ship lowered until they could feel the blast of exhaust from the engines blowing the smoke away and whipping their hair and clothes around them.

A hatch opened in the side and a gangplank lowered.  Pojul Shapoi leaned out of it.  "Can you make the jump?" he yelled.

"No problem!"  Anakin shoved Siri forward.  "You first."

"I don't think so.  Padawans to safety first."

"One of you, jump!" Obi-Wan said.  "I will guard the rear."  There was no response.  "Anakin, I can't order Siri, but I can order you.  Jump onto that ship."

Anakin broke into a run, then his footsteps were cut short.  A second later, Obi-Wan heard the clunk of his boots landing on metal, followed almost immediately by Siri's.

A shape broke through the mists, a member of the city guard.  Another -- a civilian -- appeared next to him.  There was plain fear and rage in their eyes.

"Obi-Wan!" Siri called.  "You need to come!"

The smoke was closing around him.  He turned away from the crowd, ran five paces, then used the Force to enhance and control his leap onto the gangplank.  It was already rising when he landed, and he rolled down it into the cargo bay, much as Qui-Gon had, long ago on Tatooine.

Anakin and Siri were waiting for him, red-eyed and grimfaced, and smelling of the fragrant smoke.

"Where are we headed?" someone yelled from the cockpit.  Obi-Wan stumbled in.

Daj Orti was at the controls, his hands resting lightly beside the naviputer input controls.

"Thank you."

"Thank me when we get where you need to go."

"Coruscant," he said.

"Good, then.  The route will not be questioned by the security droids, not with this ship."

"I will see to it that you are compensated for your trouble."

"What compensation?  I get to be a hero for Jedi.  What more compensation can a Neimoidian ask?"  Daj offered his strangely human smile, then turned back to the controls.

Obi-Wan felt Anakin come up beside him, and he put an arm around him.  Siri approached from the other side, and leaned wearily on his shoulder.  They looked out the viewport at the world of Malkiri.  From orbit, the great forest fire looked like only a tiny spark burning in the darkness.

Then Daj got automated clearance to leave, and the starlines erased Malkiri from view entirely.


Chapter 16

Anakin wasn't sure how long he'd been sleeping on board Daj's ship, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Obi-Wan sprawled on the floor beside him, snoring.  He thought of being pulled back from attacking Brinje, found that he still wished he'd been let go, and was ashamed of himself.  Obi-Wan had helped him there.  He knew it.  And he knew that he'd been wrong. But still...he wished he'd had one swing. Just one.

Siri was curled more neatly on a small couch, and the Shapois were resting together on the larger sleep couch.

He stood up and stretched, feeling all the stresses he'd put his body through in the last few hours, then went up to the cockpit and sat down in the co-pilot's chair.  He checked the readouts; they were only a half-hour or so from Coruscant.

Daj looked over at him kindly.  "You had a nice rest?"

"Yes.  I didn't know you had a starship.  How come you came on the commercial flight?"

"I like to be pampered.  But I have the starship, in the event that I want to bring a shipment here more quickly than the delivery routes allow."  He shook his head.  "I'm glad you're all right, Anakin Skywalker."

"How long did you know?"

"Oh, I always knew, or at least suspected.  I saw you pit racing on Coruscant a few years ago.  A strange thing, to see a Jedi padawan engaged in such a reckless pursuit.  But you did it well."

"I almost got myself and my Master killed."

Daj sighed and nodded, as if he'd expected nothing else.  "When I first saw you on the transport, I said to myself, 'That boy looks like the padawan I saw racing.'  And your story was so vague.  Then I saw you meditating with your Master, and I knew for certain."

"I was trying to be so careful, and I didn't even need to be.  Thanks for keeping the secret."

Daj frowned -- a much more Neimoidian look than his smile.  "Now, I will share one with you, to balance the scales, so you know you have my trust."

"Why do you trust me?"

"Because I saved your life."

"I saved Brinje.  Maybe not his life, but I sure got in the way of a beating. And he --"

"Yes, your Master told me after you first fell asleep.  I have no doubt that Brinje believed you to be behind the murder of the mayor, and possibly felt complicit in the act because he knew of your presence beforehand."  He shrugged.  "That it gave him a moment of triumph was also, I am sure, an incentive.  You have neither motive.  You know I have not betrayed you, and you know I stand to gain very little.  Therefore, I trust you."

Anakin grinned.  "I was hoping for something more like, 'Because you tell the truth' or 'Because I like you.'"

"Ah, but I do like you." Daj laughed.  "That is ultimately true, my young friend.  I liked you from the start, and liked you better as I got to know you.  You have a great hunger for justice.  And a great affinity with hoverscoots."

"I have more luck with the hoverscoots." Anakin shifted in his chair.  "What were you going to trust me with, Daj?"

Daj sighed.  "I told you, on the day you first came to my shop, that not all Neimoidians agreed with the policies of the Trade Federation. D o you remember my telling you this?"

"Sure."

"The Federation holds near absolute power over my people.  Those of us who disagree must do so...very carefully."

"You're in a rebellion?"

"Not precisely a rebellion, but let us say, a movement for change.  Something has gone very wrong with the upper echelons.  I came to Malkiri because Fual Harkae was highly suspect in some circles -- he was certainly part of Gunray's...how to say it...organization?  Yes, organization is as good a word as any.  When he was sent to a world with Malkiri's reputation, we in the underground anticipated another Naboo.  That was costly for my people --"

"For the Naboo and the Gungans, too," Anakin muttered, thinking about the detention camps and the starvation and the destruction that Padmé had to deal with.

"Yes, yes but it cost us in ways it did not cost them.  When a people does such a thing it is a poison, Anakin.  And we want to clear it from our system."

Anakin considered telling him about the Sith, and how the Council thought that they had been in contact with the Trade Federation, but he knew he couldn't do that.  He trusted Daj, but that secret did not belong to him to tell.  It was known to the Council and to the Senate, and the Senate -- particularly Chancellor Palpatine -- had been adamant about not making the information public, for fear of causing a panic.

And anyway, all Daj was missing was the name.  He already knew something was wrong.

"So you didn't blow my cover, but I blew yours."

"Unintentionally.  And I believe the damage can be repaired eventually.  I have a reputation for occasionally doing crazy and unexpected things, for a Neimoidian."  He shrugged.  "In the meantime, should it be necessary, I still have contacts on Coruscant."

"You could work at Jumandel's."

"Ech," Daj spat.  "Overpriced and poorly serviced.  You are too intelligent to have done your shopping there, surely?"

"I was in a hurry, and it was nearby."

"Well, I suppose it is forgivable.  But I will tell you where to find better shops."

"Thanks."

The proximity light flashed, and Daj cut in the sublight engines.  The outer edges of the Coruscant system jumped into view, then flew past them as the city planet approached.  "You should wake your Master and the others," Daj said.  "Tell them we are almost home."

**********

Obi-Wan was dreaming badly, of shapeless shadows in the mist, and was glad of the touch of Anakin's warm hand on his arm, bringing him up from it.

"We're almost to Coruscant," he said.

"Thank you, Ani."

"Sure."

Anakin didn't move for a long time.  His eyes were thoughtful, a relatively rare and mature expression for them.

"What is it, Padawan?"

"I'm not glad you stopped me yet."

"You will be."

"I know.  But I'm not yet.  Do you hate me?"

"Of course not."

"What if I'm never glad of it?"

"You will be."

"But what if?"

"I'll never hate you, Anakin.  I promise."

He turned this over in his mind.  "I guess not.  You never hate anybody.  I'll go wake up the others."

He wandered off toward where Siri was sleeping, leaving Obi-Wan feeling confused and a bit low.  Anakin seemed to want something from him, and he wasn't certain what it was.

The moment passed with his residual sleepiness, and he stretched and started gathering their belongings.

The Shapois woke up disoriented and upset, and soothing them took most of the remainder of the trip.  At some point during the restful time, they had both internalized the idea that they had lost their son and what few belongings they still had, all in the same afternoon, and it was proving difficult on them.  Pojul would need Jedi counseling, and enough of a security clearance so that he could be told what had happened to him, and how he had been used.  Both of them would need a great deal of time.

Mace Windu and Yoda were waiting at the bottom of the gangplank when they came outside, and Obi-Wan was pleasantly surprised that he was able to meet their solemn gazes without flinching.

"You are well?" Mace asked.

"Yes.  All of us."  Obi-Wan introduced Daj and the Shapois.

"With you is our sympathy," Yoda said to the Daha and Pojul.  "Brave, was Zio, and a fine knight."

"There is something I believe Pojul should discuss with the closed Council," Obi-Wan said.

Pojul looked up with wounded eyes.  "I --"

"You are under no suspicion, but you know of matters which are of concern to us."

He nodded.  "Yes, of course."

Anakin cleared his throat.

"Permission you have to speak," Yoda said.

"Daj probably lost his shop and everything else.  Can we help him?"

"It is quite all right," Daj said.  "There is no need for assistance."

Mace raised an eyebrow.  "Nevertheless, it was a significant sacrifice on our behalf, and we would like to express our thanks."

Daj bowed deeply.  "It was my honor, sir."

They boarded an air taxi that was waiting for them, settling comfortably into the seats.  It was good to be back in the Core Worlds.

Mace, again, spoke first.  "You will be glad to know that the cause of the explosion at Fual Harkae's home was ascertained by off-world investigators while you were en route, and there is no legal case to be made against you."

"It never would have been more than circumstantial anyway," Siri said.  "And weak, as all we could have been accused of was being nearby."

"Then running," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"I tend to do that when a stone-throwing mob is chasing me."

"Nevertheless," Mace went on, as though he had not been interrupted, "when you reported that it seemed to be centered on a communications array, the Republic communications oversight committee investigated.  There was an energy pulse sent to the receiver, and it contained an ignition code."

"It was booby-trapped?" Siri asked.

"Yes."

Anakin's eyes narrowed.  "Where did the order come from?"

"Very good, Anakin," Mace said.  "That is precisely why we are still concerned.  They were unable to pinpoint the origin with any degree of specificity -- it was scrambled rather efficiently -- but they were able to trace it at least to the Coruscant system."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes.  "Then they're here."

"Yes," Yoda said, leaning forward and widening his eyes.  "Here, they are.  And so are we."

Obi-Wan didn't make the connection at first.  Of course they were here.  Was it a simple warning of danger?

But Siri had gone rigid beside him.  "So we aren't under suspicion on Malkiri -- Obi-Wan and Anakin and myself --"

"But already spreading are rumors that the signal came from the Temple itself."

"That's stupid!" Anakin burst out.  "That's the most ridiculous..."

Mace Windu stifled back one of his rare smiles.  "No reasonable person believes it, and we have the assurance of the Chancellor that it will not become a matter of concern."

"But Malkiri will still believe it," Daha said softly.  "They will believe it entirely."

"Yes.  Believe it, they will."

**********

It was good to get back into his Jedi tunic and leather boots, but Anakin had to admit, it was a little bit of a wrench to give up the silks.  They weren't very warm, but it had been kind of rugged to dress up in nice clothes that didn't mark him right away as a Jedi.  He also hadn't had his hair cut yet, pleading weariness when they came in two days ago and "forgetting" yesterday.  This morning, they'd received word that they would be called to go and speak to the Council about their experiences on Malkiri, so he couldn't commit to something that might be a lengthy process.

He did his morning exercises with Obi-Wan, took lessons from three tutors (history, diplomacy, and astrophysics), then returned to his cell to await the call.  His droids -- somewhat to his surprise -- had been left alone, and he'd been working on the propulsion units of a little flyer (purpose as yet undetermined) when Obi-Wan appeared at the door.

"Thank you for tying the hair back, Anakin."

"I'll call down to the cosmetologist later.  I just didn't want to maybe miss the call from the Council."

"It won't take as long to cut it as it did to lengthen it."  He smiled in a friendly way.  "But I am not in a hurry to see it go, either.  I've gotten rather used to it."

Anakin drew a small bag out from under his bed, and held it on his lap.  "Here are Qui-Gon's hair things. I guess I won't need them anymore."  He held them up; they seemed heavier than they should be.

Obi-Wan took them.  "I'll keep them for you.  Perhaps, when your apprenticeship is over, you will want them again."

"You're giving them to me?"

"I am.  And with that, I suppose you can keep them as well as I can."  He offered the bag back to Anakin.

"Thank you.  I mean...it's weird, not needing them.  But..."

"But we do need them."  Obi-Wan sighed and sat down beside him on the small sleep couch.  "I wonder if he might not have done better with this assignment than I did."

Anakin laughed.  "Master, no disrespect to Qui-Gon intended, but he couldn't even fool a nine-year-old when he was going undercover."  Obi-Wan's eyes widened in surprise, giving him a comic look that made Anakin laugh again.

"I hadn't..."  A laugh escaped Obi-Wan.  "Well, I suppose that's true.  He simply couldn't hide who he was."

The soft bell attached to the comm-system sounded, and Anakin hit the "respond" button.  "Skywalker," he said.

"Is your Master not present?"

Obi-Wan turned his head toward the machine.  "I'm right here, Master Windu.  I hadn't returned to my cell yet."

"Very well.  You are both needed in Council Chambers now."

"Yes, Master."

They walked comfortably together through the bright halls of the Temple, past the fountains and peaceful meditation rooms.  Anakin's eyes took it all in as they had when it was new.  It was beautiful here.  He didn't stop to remember that often enough.

Master Windu, Adi Gallia, and Yoda were sitting in their Council seats, and Siri and the Shapois were standing in the center of the room.  Siri was fidgeting, looking nervously at Adi and biting her lip.

"Please sit down," Adi said, indicating several smaller chairs which had been brought in (it would be unthinkable for them to sit in the empty Council chairs).

Mace shifted in his chair and looked directly at Obi-Wan.  "First, we have examined the records of your mission, and find no fault in your conduct on Malkiri.  We recognize that the ensuing events were unanticipated, and you did not have control over the outcome."

"We would particularly like to recognize your Padawan's contributions," Adi said softly.  Siri looked at her warmly, but looked away quickly.  "Anakin made a valuable contact in Daj Orti, and his observation about the communications array provided information necessary for the proper investigation which cleared you of the crime for which you were hunted."

Anakin blushed.  A recognition from the Council?  Had Obi-Wan asked them to do that?

He glanced at his Master and saw the same unfeigned surprise that was on his own face.  Obi-Wan caught him looking and arranged his features to show more confidence, but Anakin had not been offended; he knew the surprise had been at the Council's action, not at the sentiment.

"Told us, Pojul Shapoi has, of his encounters with the mayor."

"What will happen to my husband?" Daha asked.

"Tried, he will be."  Yoda frowned.  "A serious matter, is this murder.  But hold the trial on Coruscant, we will. Malkiri will be hostile."

Pojul nodded.  "I will serve whatever sentence is deemed necessary.  I will die if it is asked of me."

"Asked, it will not be.  Explain, we will, the essence of the mind control though explain we cannot its origin."

Obi-Wan leaned forward.  "If you will pardon me, Masters, it seems obvious that there was Sith involvement.  We also traced communications from Coruscant following the Naboo crisis."

"Obvious, it may be.  Provable to the courts, it is not."

"I see."

"So we just leave it?" Anakin asked.

Mace Windu steepled his fingers under his chin.  "We have assurances from the Chancellor that the situation will be explored."  He stood up.  "Now, Master Yoda has words for all of you.  Master Gallia and I will escort the Shapois to the new home which has been arranged for them."

They started out of the room.

Siri took a deep breath and turned around.  "Master Gallia?"

Adi turned.  "What is it, Siri?"

"If it is not a trouble to you...may I speak with you privately later?  There is something I wish to discuss."

"Of course it's no trouble, Siri.  You are always a welcome visitor.  I'll have something warm to eat ready."

Siri gave a grateful sigh.  "Thank you, Master.  I will be along shortly."

Anakin raised his eyebrows to ask Siri what was going on, but she ignored him, by which he guessed that the matter was personal.

Yoda rapped the floor with his gimer stick, and brought their attention back to him.  "Know, we do, what has happened, whether or not there is proof.  But the reason for it, we must find.  Learn the truth of the Sith's intentions, we must."

"Isn't causing trouble enough?" Siri asked.

"For the Sith, no, not enough."

Obi-Wan nodded.  "I understand what you mean, Master.  Perhaps they were merely attempting to sully the Order."

"Of that, I have no doubts, Obi-Wan.  But small is Malkiri, and with a reputation that causes others to disregard its opinions."

"We haven't learned yet why they chose Naboo," Siri said.  "It may not be as organized as you think."

"More organized, it is.  Of this, I am sure.  But what is the shape of it?"

Something about Yoda's question made Anakin think it was the most important of all.  Who was gaining from it, and why?  Who would benefit both from the blockade of Naboo and the destruction of Malkiri's infrastructure?

It's the wrong question.  Naboo and Malkiri are incidental.  What is the ultimate effect?

But he couldn't puzzle out what both worlds could have in common, or who they might serve in common.  Maybe they'd served different purposes; maybe it was a mistake to correlate it too closely with Naboo.

What happened on Malkiri?  A small world, one Jedi, one crime, fanned to violence.

Anakin's skin prickled and ice seemed to surround his heart.

He didn't know how to say it so that it would make sense and not sound paranoid, but having it all laid out that way made it seem very familiar to him.  When he would try a new modification on an engine, or a new intelligence system on a droid, he knew better than to just press it into the use he'd meant it for, unless there was absolutely no choice.

No, he would take it someplace controlled, and try it on a small scale.

Like Malkiri.

Anakin knew what it had been: a test run.


Epilogue

"It comes off after I run over to Daj's new place," Anakin said.  "I swear.  I've got an appointment and everything."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and tugged at Anakin's hair.  "For someone who didn't even want to pull his hood down, you seem to have become rather attached to this."

Anakin just grinned.  "It's kind of fun to look different from everyone else I'm training with."

"Of course.  But the point of the standard hairstyle is to make you feel a part of the Temple."

"Which is why it's coming off."  He shrugged.  "Anyway, I promised Daj I'd help him get set up.  I still have this afternoon free, right?"

"That hasn't changed.  But return before sunset, and that includes your appointment with the cosmetologist.  I have a lesson for you."

"About what happened before we left Malkiri?"

Obi-Wan sighed.  He wanted to create another lesson for Anakin about his temper, but he was running out of scenarios.  "No," he said.  "It's about what happened in the woods.  You need to learn to control and analyze your visions, and I'm going to find a way to help you."

"How?"

"I'm hoping to come across a method at some point while you're out.  If not..."

"We improvise?"

"Exactly.  We improvise."

"Okay.  I promise I'll be back by sunset."

"Then you'd best go about your business."

"Guess so."  Anakin still paused.  "Master?"

"What is it, Anakin?"

"You improvise all right, you know."

"Thank you, Ani."  There was an awkward moment, then Anakin disappeared down the corridor, headed eagerly for the front door.  Two days back in the Temple had been more than enough to make him restless again.  Obi-Wan watched him until he was gone, feeling good and wishing he could say something like that to Qui-Gon, just to make him smile.

He really didn't know how to approach this lesson with Anakin, and decided in a vague way to consult the library for the advice of older masters.  Surely, Anakin wasn't the only padawan ever plagued by intense visions; someone would have an idea.

As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of a slight figure standing outside one of the training rooms, her hands clasped behind her back as she watched through the large window.  He turned aside to go to her.

She didn't turn away from her observations when he came to stand beside her.  "Have you heard anything about the girl Berli Jai?  She has good footwork."

"So do you.  You and Adi complimented each other well -- maybe you should look for a padawan who is more like Adi."

Siri smiled.  "That would be pleasant.  But who says I'm looking for a padawan?  I'm merely taking an interest in the children of the Temple."

"Mm-hmm."  Obi-Wan turned so that he was facing into the training room with her.  The girl (he presumed her to be Berli Jai, but, as he had never had to search for a padawan, he had not fully familiarized himself with the younger ones) really did have good footwork.  She was a dark-haired human with copper-colored skin and small, upturned eyes.  She looked very serious.  "Have you checked her records yet?"

"Adi's been compiling data on several likely candidates.  I read it all last night after I talked to her."  She handed a datapad to Obi-Wan.  It listed eight names, five girls and three boys.

"How did that go?"

"I told her everything, Obi-Wan."  She closed her eyes and swayed slightly, then opened them again.  "She forgave me.  I was so afraid to tell her, but she just...she accepted it, then gave me this list, as though nothing had changed."

"Is that what you wanted?"

"Of course it is!" She sniffed.  "Oh, I suppose I wanted it to be more of a scene. Maybe she could have been shocked, and I could have argued my case, and we both could have come to an understanding.  I told her that.  She laughed and she hugged me.  She never did that before."

"Really?"  Qui-Gon had embraced Obi-Wan on more than one occasion, and Anakin seemed to need to be embraced quite frequently.

"I never wanted her to, and it never occurred to her.  Neither of us is particularly demonstrative, I suppose.  But it was nice.  She said, 'Siri, you have no need to make an argument.  You made a call on your first solo mission, and it was a logical one based on the knowledge you had.  I am sorry you were subjected to it, but we all have made mistakes.'  She said she was proud of the way I conducted myself in that investigation.  And that she'd wondered why I hadn't taken a padawan yet.  She said it would be good for me."

"Are you choosing it, Siri?"

She didn't answer, at least not directly.  Instead, she turned back to the window, not quite looking at Obi-Wan as she spoke.  "It was sometimes nice," she said.  "To be that close to another person.  Even a smelly pirate."

"Did you tell Adi that part?"

"Yes."  She grinned.  "I got the distinct impression that Adi wanted to ask me about it more specifically, but decided it would be in poor form."

"Do you want to be asked about it?"  Obi-Wan squirmed a bit a the idea; he was not ignorant of the subject, but he chose not to think about it often.

"No.  Yes.  I don't know.  But I do know something.  I know that the Order is more important to me.  Being close to another knight in my mind and through the Force -- that's more powerful, more intimate, quite honestly.  I want to stay."

"Then you're choosing."

"No.  I've chosen."

"I'm glad, Siri," Obi-Wan said.  "It would be a blow to the Order to lose you."

She turned up her nose in mock injury.  "To the Order?  Hmmph."

Obi-Wan grinned.  "Well, I'm sure Adi would miss you, too."

"Adi."  One eyebrow went up.

"And Anakin would be heartbroken."

She nodded, a smile playing around her lips.  "Well, we can't have that."

"Absolutely not."

She let the smile come to the surface.  "Thank you, Obi-Wan.  For everything."  She looked back through the window.  "So you think Berli Jai acts too much like me?"

"Possibly."  He glanced at Adi's list.  "What about this Rodian girl, Teerya?  Adi marked her particularly."

"I haven't seen her yet."

"And the boy from Oseson?"

"I'm not sure I'm ready to raise a boy alone."

"You're not alone, Siri.  Not unless you want to be."

"I guess I know that." She took a deep breath.  "I think I'll go meet Teerya next.  I think I can do this."

"Of course you can.  Do you want me to come with you?"

"No.  I can get this far on my own.  But I'll come to you if I need help."

"All right.  And on that note, I should probably finish seeking the help I was on my way to get."

"Probably."  She squared her shoulders to move on, then looked back at Obi-Wan.  "Oh, by the way, tell Anakin I found the perfect place for that bust he made . It's -- what is it?"

"I just understood the lesson I mean to teach.  I need to go find clay and paint."

"All right..."

"May the Force be with you, Siri.  And be sure to bring your new padawan by."

"Will do."

They said their goodbyes, then went their separate ways.

**********

Qui-Gon's old friend Didi Oddo had found a recently-vacated shop in a neighborhood frequently by schoolchildren, and the Order had purchased it for Daj Orti in recognition of his service and the loss of his shop on Malkiri.  It was nowhere near as well-equipped as Orti's Off-Time, but it was clean and in good condition.  Daj had been able to divert two shipments from their route to Malkiri, so the shelves were partially stocked already

"They're popular things, too," Daj said, arranging equipment in a fanned display that made the shelf look a bit less empty.  Anakin was doing the same with a group of brightly colored datapads whose surfaces danced with animated characters in various combat scenarios.  "More of the new model scoot -- your model -- and the new version of Droid Attack."

"Droid Attack?"

"A hologame.  Very popular . Though I would guess it would interest you little, having had the real experience."

"You guess right."

"At any rate, these should sell well, and I have credit to place new orders.  I will be back in business quite quickly.  You'll see."

Anakin finished his display and checked it.  It looked well-balanced, if too bright to stare at for long.  One of the animated characters died a grisly death, but the subroutine resurrected him and began again.  "If you say so."

"I do say so."  He nodded at Anakin's satchel.  "I see you brought your hoverscoot.  Do you need it repaired?"

"I can repair it myself, Daj."

"Or you could give me business..."

"Oh.  I never think about that.  But I don't think so.  I thought I could give it to you, and you could sell it used.  I guess I won't have much of a chance to use it."

Daj stopped working and frowned deeply.  "No," he said after awhile.  "No, I will not take it and sell it.  It is a harmless pastime, and I will not aid and abet you in giving it up."

"But I have no time..."

"You travel the city some afternoons.  Use it rather than walking.  Enjoy it.  Keep that part of yourself, Anakin Skywalker.  I will not take it."

"Thanks, Daj."  He looked out the window; the filtered sun had taken on the golden cast of late afternoon. His appointment was in twenty minutes.  "It's time to leave, though."

"Understood.  I thank you for your help.  Don't stay away."

"I won't."

Anakin took the scoot out of his satchel and fixed it onto his Padawan boots.  They weren't quite as well suited as scoot boots, but they worked well enough.  He glided out into the afternoon, careful to avoid the pedestrian traffic around him.  A few people gave him odd looks -- a Jedi padawan, in full dress, behaving like a common school boy.

Let them look.

He flew into the square just outside the Temple, and, on a whim, used a column to repel himself high into the air.  He twisted three times and pushed his legs out quickly at another column to send himself in a different direction.  It was neither as fast as podracing or as dangerous as pit racing, but it held the freedom that the skies had always held for him.

Below him, someone clapped.

He glanced down and saw some local boys gathered -- the same boys he'd seen before he left, the ones who said they were always around.

He found a column and flew down to them, then kicked the scoot off his feet.  "Hi. I was just --"

"That was pretty good, braid-boy," the leader said, smiling, adjusting his own scoot onto his boots.  "You picked it up fast."

Anakin adopted the casual speech pattern.  "What can I say?  I'm talented.  And, for the record, my name's Anakin.  As opposed to braid-boy."

The boy wrinkled his nose.  "Boring."

"So sorry."

"They call me Sticks."  He pointed to the others with him, another human and a young Wookiee.  "Those two are Jams and Hairball."

"He's Jams," the human said, jerking his thumb at the Wookiee.

Sticks shook his head.  "So, you want to come up with us?"  He took off into the sky, and hovered a meter above Anakin's head.  Jams and Hairball followed him.

Anakin took his scoot out and looked at it.  It would be nice to spend the afternoon with them; they were definitely not like Tomik Cral.

But he had promised.  He had one quick appointment, then Obi-Wan had a lesson for him, one of the ones Obi-Wan really worked on.  And Obi-Wan worked on his lessons because they mattered, and because it mattered to Obi-Wan to teach him.

He smiled at the boys from his place on the ground, then tucked the scoot back into his satchel.  "Maybe some other time," he told them.  "I have to go home."