Covalent Bonds

Chapter 17

"Qui-Gon Jinn's passing into the Force caused more trouble than he ever would have thought of, though to rouse such introspection, to his liking, perhaps. Master Gallia dealt poorly with the passing of her friend; Obi-Wan, grief polluted your first months as Anakin's Master, and you, Anakin, mourned the father you thought you had gained." Obi-Wan swallowed hard and Anakin's eyes filled. They spoke of Qui-Gon at times, less as the years passed. It was natural, Obi-Wan told himself. 

Anakin reached for the bowl of snacks that Yoda had set out and unthinkingly munched down a handful. They crunched and left a sweet-sour taste in his mouth. He ate a second handful and then a third, nearly clearing out the bowl. Obi-Wan did not notice. As if he had rehearsed this speech the same way that Obi-Wan did on any number of diplomatic missions, Yoda needed little time to launch into his story. "Qui-Gon Jinn's passing, tipping point it was for Dooku to Fall, I believe, but evidence prior to that event of his disappointment with the current Order, there was. But before all that, please the Order and his Master he did, for in swordsmanship, diplomatic ability, in both he excelled. In Jedi history, there was none better. Tours of the Temple he gave for many years, when have them we did on annual Open Temple days. Wonderful voice, no need of Force-projection had he." Yoda smiled. "Made history come alive with his passion, but always, always, his gaze turned backwards in time at the cost of the now. Yearn for olden days, he did. Criticize present days in the Order, in the Republic, many times. At the end, no longer could I send him to the Senate on briefings or factfinding missions; scornful of any Senator he became, no matter the being's integrity, or lack of it." Yoda opened and closed his scaled palms as if feeling his lightsaber. "Respect had he only for Supreme Chancellor." The ancient Master sighed. "But then had we all. Confided in me, in one of our last talks, that honor died the moment dueling became illegal. Understand, I did not, then as now."

I can't imagine the Dark Side dominating someone I had raised. Yoda and Qui-Gon, how did you bear it? "Master, he had his own path to follow. No one could choose it for him."

"History, a bad influence for some who become disenchanted with their lives. Makes them yearn for the impossibility of time travel." Yoda snorted. "Think you that the past was filled with larger-than-life beings, noble events, sense of grandeur?"

"Well, I really cannot say --- "

"Master Yoda, you have seen so much --- " Anakin said around a mouthful of snacks.

"Seen much, yes I have, Padawan. Seen that there is beauty in the here and now, in this day in Coruscanti spring that will be like no other day ... nine hundred years of days, I have seen ... eh, back to my point. Bad things, terrible things existed in the past, but my ex-Padawan did not consider those. Saw only the story part of history, as we Jedi construct our story lessons with a beginning, middle, end and moral. Became confused with the safety of teaching history, that somehow at a remove it was, controlled because it was past. Think you that Nuur, Qel-Droma and Saresh felt in control when they were being shredded? No. Immediate and painful, their thoughts were. Dooku would reduce history to prettiness and brush away the real pain of life, a product of his wealth, a character flaw, I cannot say." Yoda rubbed his gimer stick back and forth on the nubbled leather of the carpet. "He loved beauty, also; some would call that a strength. But his weaknesses I know: for Jedi history" --- he thumped the carpet and Anakin jumped --- "for exotic things" --- Obi-Wan stroked the nap between the strips of leather --- "and for a bargain."

"It's for sale? Won't he be suspicious? Jedi have not sold anything, we give away --- "

"Auction for high-spending customers, very elite clientele, is surfacing on the Holonet, but that is the Vice-Chancellor's and my responsibility, taking at least a few weeks. Exclusive relations with an art dealer on Naboo, we will cultivate for Dooku. He will not be able to resist the deluxe treatment." Yoda's ears swiveled. "Comm me this morning, the dealer did, with additional requests for another part of the plan. Helpful, he has been. Go to him there, you will, before heading again to Olanet."

"We're being sent back to Olanet? Something about the droid factory not being well-guarded by organics set my teeth on edge, Master, unless another issue has arisen." Obi-Wan selected one sweet-sour munchy out of the bowl. There were only three left. Anakin didn't turn a hair when the Vice-Chancellor's name was mentioned. Good.

"Kaer Orbital Platform, near the next planet in the system, gas giant Siskeen, taken back from the Separatists by General Drakas, it was, and shut down. Intel scans show activity by organics, not merely maintenance droids or leftover dwarf spider droids that were manufactured there. Investigate clandestinely, you will, minus your battalion. But that's not all. Ask me about fitting beings inside the roll of carpet." He smiled with all his teeth.

Anakin replied blithely, "We two will be inside, of course, shielded by the terentatek carpet as long as we need to be for both of us to get close enough to capture Dooku, maybe roll him up in the carpet after we drug him or something. Master, we'll need rebreathers, or maybe pressure suits in case we're in some cargo hold without atmosphere --- "

"Yes, and an escape plan, also, because I wouldn't put it past Dooku's staff to show loyalty and try to stop us, he does have a certain charisma --- " I felt it on Geonosis.

Anakin brushed off the crumbs from his snacks. "Wait. Master Yoda, what will stop any normal means of scanning or a good swift kick to the roll if someone gets suspicious? We could be found out, or, or, Master could sneeze from the dusty thing --- "

"Anakin, haven't you noticed that I don't seem bothered by my common allergies like I used to? I was in Siri's quarters and didn't even sniffle." Obi-Wan realized how this sounded. "Not that they're dirty, mind you, just ... lived in." It still appeared open to negotiation, so he began, "She isn't there much, you realize, Master Yoda, and her priorities are to extend a hearty welcome to her guests and not fixate on pettiness."

Siri's welcome to Obi-Wan was still a touchy subject to Anakin. "Nevertheless, I don't want to test you with Hoi-Broth or dust."

Care less, I could not about Master Tachi's housekeeping. "Yes, yes, onward. Medicine for your condition, you could take --- "

"I don't want to see the Healers. I'm fine." The fall, the troubles I had two years ago, I'm sick of seeing Healers.

Backtalk? Yoda took another, slyer tack. "Knight Eerin, here on rotation soon. Want to see her, you do not, because she is a Healer?"

"Bant? She's coming home?" Obi-Wan wanted to whoop, but folded his hands in his lap instead.

"Soon. Liaising efforts with Master Unduli and Master Allie at the hospital on New Holstice, lately her assignment was. Years it has been, since both your schedules coordinated, Obi-Wan," Yoda finagled.

He's scheming. "Naturally, I want to see her, Master, if the timing is right. Thank you for telling me."

"Um, Masters, about the plan, I think that the fewer people know, the better and that we should use NabooExpress. They've won awards." They delivered my anniversary flowers to Padmé, fat lot of good those did to keep the marriage together.

"Padawan Skywalker, this plan, micromanagement it cannot take. All devolves upon Count Dooku's choice of this item." And of the other items to sweeten the lot, but of this, you do not need to know. Besides, my ninth hour appointment will be arriving soon.

Anakin and Obi-Wan continued to discuss options, deciding that Dooku would not authorize damaging his fragile prize by either kicking or scanning and that he would want to open the package in private, the more to gloat. Obi-Wan pointed out that terentatek strips would prevent them from sensing outward as well, and Anakin countered by maintaining that if the shipping service were to designate the package 'fragile, do not crush' that ought to be enough to prevent any accident. "The same as any other art object, Master, 'this end up' and so forth," he said, eying the carpet. Not to my taste, but art is in the eye of the beholder. Or would this be called greed?

Plan well together, they do. A Knight soon, young Skywalker will be, if this succeeds. Yoda let them talk. When they had wound down, he said casually, "Masters only will go on this mission. You, Obi-Wan, and Master Tachi. Noted, I have, your friendship's flowering. Approve, I do. Similar to the joining of Nuur, Qel-Droma and Saresh, a more intense joining of essences than most Jedi partners have. Padawan Skywalker, accompany your Master to Naboo and finish a task that only you can accomplish. Naboo has notified the Jedi of certain tax issues, pressing us for funds, they are, regarding some undoubtedly flawed documents regarding legalities." Yoda shook his head. "All systems could use funds now, but have time for this flimsiwork, I do not. Your name is involved and as you and Master Kenobi will travel to Naboo anyway, a small errand this will be for you alone. When leave, your Master and Master Tachi do, continue on to Tatooine to visit your family or return home."

Anakin bit his tongue to keep from protesting. He's giving me small freedoms as a sop because I won't be coming along. "Relationship, joining, essences, partners," those words ran through his head as a background for "Masters only." And what do I have to do with Naboo taxes? How bizarre. The Master and his Padawan rose, bowing. They were nearly out the door when Yoda added absentmindedly, "Stop off at New Holstice and see Master Unduli, you will, Obi-Wan. Found out, you have been."

Obi-Wan turned at the door, straightening abruptly until the top of his head brushed the ceiling. "Master?"

"Med-tech on Olanet, gone over your head, he has and reported bloodwork results directly to Master Unduli. Refuse to discuss them with him, you did. Now she is concerned."

"I'm fine."

"Go, you will." Obstinate as Qui-Gon, sometimes.

Obi-Wan huffed. "Very well. Come along, Anakin." He exited first, as was his right as Anakin's Master, which allowed Anakin to look back at Yoda and lift his eyebrows to accompany his shrug. Yoda did the same.

xxxxx

It's nearly ninth hour, I need to leave, and Threepio is showing company to the sitting room. Maybe he needs another adjustment to his protocols. Padmé finished buckling her self-material belt that matched her dark blue jumpsuit, a more casual look than she normally wore, but then it would be coming off soon.

"Your Excellency, a visitor from Naboo."

"Threepio, I'm about to leave and you knew it. What about my meeting with Master Yoda? That takes priority over anything."

Threepio inclined his head, but did not dither as he would have before his reprogramming two years ago. "Except for family, your instructions have always been, Your Excellency."

"Family? I'm expecting no visits from Mama or Papa or anyone. Who is it?" She tied back her hair with a big swatch of stretchy blue septsilk, treated in a way to make it not slip down.

"Your cousin, a distant one named Enri Etolini. He seemed most polite." In this, Threepio had not changed. Snap judgments still poured from his vocabulator as before.

"All right. I've never heard of him, though." Padmé's politician instincts took over and she swept into the sitting room with a gracious smile, where an apparition awaited her. He's, he's, the most beautiful, guh ...

Enri rose and bowed in a courtly way, then flashed a smile bright enough to power all the signs in Coruscant's night skies. "Cousin Padmé, hello. Your father has given me a letter of introduction." And it was a letter, on Mama's finest old-fashioned paper stationery, the kind she wrote helpful hints about 'meeting someone special' on. He waited until she had perused the broad strokes of her father's handwriting.

Enri is your ninth cousin, two times removed. He would like to be shown around Coruscant. I told him you would. Don't be mad, honey. He's very nice. I'll comm you usual time next month. There was an elegant piece of luggage behind the sofa, she saw now. She extended a hand after she had unclenched it. "Welcome, Cousin Enri. Threepio will put you up for now in the downstairs suite. I'm sorry, but I need to attend a meeting immediately. I'll make it home for lunch. Threepio, terratta strips and a plain salad and remember to chill ... something, whatever goes with that. Goodbye, Cousin. It's very nice to meet you."

He kissed her knuckles, something that hadn't happened since the dress-up parties at the Legislative Youth Group when the group dressed so formally that paparazzi came and spread their solemn young faces and fancy clothes all over the Holonet. She was taken aback. Papa, is this a setup? I thought you'd quit recommending to me 'eligible' partners. "You're all I need to make this day brighter, Cousin. It's very nice to meet you." He bowed again over her hand, long dark curls brushing the backs of her fingers.

TBC

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