The Dragon in the Dying Star

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬

Chapter XI: Disturbances

Anakin stood quietly in the Jedi Council chamber, encircled by the Masters of the Order. Beside him stood Obi-Wan, his Master, but not one of the Masters. Obi-Wan, like the majority of the ten thousand Jedi, was a Knight, but these select few sitting around the edges of this room were Masters, the highest-ranking members of this Order.

Anakin had never been comfortable in this esteemed company. There was only one member with whom he did, and she had only just recently retaken her seat among them. He knew that more than half of the Jedi Masters sitting here had expressed grave doubts about allowing him into the Order at the advanced age of ten. He knew that even after Yoda had swayed the vote to allow him to begin studying under Obi-Wan, a few continued to hold those doubts.

"Track down this bounty hunter, you must, Obi-Wan," Master Yoda said as the others passed the toxic dart about.

"Most importantly, find out who he's working for," Mace Windu added.

"What about Senator Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked. "She will still need protecting."

"Chancellor Palpatine has ardently requested that we continue to place Senator Amidala under the care of Master Thoris," Windu informed.

Dejah leaned back in her seat. She was puzzled by the Chancellor's demands but thought nothing more of it.

Anakin, anticipating what might be coming, straightened as Yoda turned his gaze his way. "Handle that, Dejah and your Padawan will."

Anakin felt his heart soar at Yoda's declaration, both because of the confidence obviously being shown in him to be away from his master, and also because this was one assignment he knew that he would truly enjoy.

"Dejah, escort the Senator back to her home planet of Naboo," Mace added. "She'll be safer there. And don't use registered transport. Travel as refugees."

Dejah nodded as the assignment was explained, but she knew immediately that there would be a few obstacles to such a course. "As the leader of the opposition to the Military Creation Act, it will be difficult to get Senator Amidala to leave the capital."

"Until caught this killer is, our judgment she must respect," Yoda replied.

Anakin nodded. "But I know how deeply she cares about this upcoming vote, Master," he replied. "She is more concerned with defeating the act than with-"

"Anakin," Mace interrupted, "go to the Senate and ask Chancellor Palpatine to speak with her." The tone of his voice made it clear that they had spent enough time on these issues. The Jedi Knight and his Padawan had their assignments, and Yoda dismissed them with a nod.

The two started walking down the corridor, Anakin biting back any responses that came to him.

"The Jedi Council understands, Anakin," Obi-Wan remarked.

"Yes, Master."

"You must trust in them, Anakin."

"Yes, Master." Anakin's response was automatic. He had already gone past this issue in his thoughts. He knew that Senator Amidala wouldn't be easily convinced to leave the planet before the vote, but in truth, it hardly mattered to him. The important thing was that he would be with Dejah, just them. With Obi-Wan off chasing the bounty hunter, Dejah would be his sole responsibility, and that was no small thing to Anakin.

No small thing at all.

Anakin was not nervous in the office of Chancellor Palpatine. Certainly he understood the man's power, and certainly he respected the office itself, but the young Padawan felt very comfortable here, felt as if he was with a friend. He hadn't spent much time with Palpatine, but on those few occasions when he had spoken with the man privately, he had always felt as if the Supreme Chancellor was taking an honest interest in him. In some ways, Anakin felt as if Palpatine was an additional mentor - not as directly as Obi-Wan, of course, but offering solid and important advice.