Act I: Midnight, Scene 2
Part 2

The Force screamed with warning, and Obi-Wan leaped into action.

"Get down!" shouted Obi-Wan. The children obeyed with speed brought on by panic. Obi-Wan force-pushed the table on its side, creating a barrier for the children to hide behind.

He drew his lightsaber and slashed an approaching assassin probe with a diagonal Shii-Cho cut. The training saber didn't cut the droid in two, but instead sent it across the room and into the wall. Two more flew towards him, blades extended, and Obi-Wan countered with another force push.

All five probes regrouped, parts whirring as they evaluated the situation. Obi-Wan switched to basic Soresu, muscles tense and mind focused. He had to defend the children.

With a sharp clang, all the blades retracted, and the droids started a barrage of blaster fire and poison darts.

Obi-Wan was pushed to his limit as he tried to deflect both the bolts and darts. He gave up on reflecting them back, and concentrated on simply defending. He sank deeper into the Force, reaching a level of immersion that he had never reached before.

His saber moved by itself, an extension of the Force, reaching the attacks before he could think. Obi-Wan was surrounded by a storm of light from the blasters and his lightsaber.

His concentration was broken by a whimper from one of the children. A blaster slipped by his guard, singing his left shoulder, and another hit the leg of Tariro behind him. Obi-Wan felt a flare of anger and fear. What if that had been a poison dart? Both of them would be dead.

Obi-Wan gritted his teeth and concentrated on defending. He started to tire, and he knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer. The probes realized it too, and increased their intensity.

Obi-Wan had no choice but to cry for help. Master!

Dooku stiffened as he felt the warning through the Force. He heard Obi-Wan's plea and lept into action, abruptly standing up. The conversation died as everyone stared at the Jedi Master.

"The children are in danger," announced Dooku. He drew his lightsaber and ran down the hallway and into the room where his Padawan and the children were.

There, Obi-Wan was holding his own against a group of assassin probes. Dooku's eyes narrowed slightly when he noticed the burn on Obi-Wan's shoulder. He leaped over the table and into the fray, slicing one of the droids as he did so.

He used the Force to crush two of the probes together, and Force-pulled the other towards him, elegantly slashing it with his lightsaber. Dooku finished with a Makashi thrust, impaling the final droid on his blade. He deactivated his lightsaber and surveyed the sparking wreckage.

"Mirembu! Berhanu!" shouted the Hogaam Iyaha as he ran in with his entourage. "Are you alright?" Tearfully, the boy and girl nodded. They clutched at their father, seeking comfort. He wrapped his arms around them and began murmuring soothing words in Dhulkani.

Dooku turned to his shaking apprentice.

"Padawan?" Dooku asked gently.

"I-I'm sorry," said Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry."

"What?" said Dooku, surprised.

"I failed, I didn't protect the children, and I interrupted your dinner," rambled Obi-Wan.

"Padawan—"

"I know I shouldn't have, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"

"Obi-Wan!" Dooku said firmly. Obi-Wan stopped and looked at him, a miserable expression on his face.

"You did not fail. You held off five assassin probes with a training saber, a feat that even a senior Padawan would have difficulty accomplishing. You kept all the children safe, and acted like a Jedi should."

"But Tariro was hurt! I didn't protect them properly."

"Everyone would have died had you not acted the way you did," rebutted Dooku.

"But—"

"Obi-Wan, you did very well." Dooku rested his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. The boy closed his eyes as the adrenaline and Force he had been using as support suddenly drained away. Obi-Wan began to sway, and Dooku grabbed his arm.

"Sorry . . ." The Padawan collapsed in his arms. Dooku sighed and lifted him up.

"I can walk!" he protested.

"I have no doubt," said Dooku dryly. Obi-Wan suffered from a classic case of Force exhaustion. He was in no condition to walk anywhere. Dooku looked at the premier, who was looking at the Jedi with a rather strange expression on his face.

"If you'll excuse me, Premier, I must attend to my Padawan."

Premier Iyaha nodded. "Of course. He certainly deserves a rest." He smiled. "There is a saying among my people. A clan is worth their young. If Jedi children are anything like your apprentice, then they are worthy indeed."

"Thank you, Premier Iyaha."

"No, you should never thank me. Thank you, Master Jedi. Thank you both for saving my children."

Premier Iyaha pressed his fist against his heart in thanks, and he dipped his head with respect.

Dooku managed to bow elegantly while carrying Obi-Wan.

He quickly headed to their rooms and set his Padawan on the sleep couch, pulling the covers over him. Dooku placed his hand on Obi-Wan's forehead, guiding him into a healing trance. The burn was minor and would be healed by morning.

While Obi-Wan rested, Dooku contemplated the situation. Obi-Wan had managed to hold off five assassin droids with a training saber. The boy's lightsaber skills had increased tremendously in the past year. Some of it was Dooku's training, but a larger part of it was natural talent and increased self-confidence. Dooku had no doubt that Obi-Wan would become an incredible swordsman and jewel of the Order.

The assassination, on the other hand, was more problematic . Someone had attempted to kill the children, and Dooku had a strong suspicion that it was tied to the trade agreement. Was it a show of force by the isolationists? He would speak to the premier in the morning about the matter.

Dooku sighed and stood up. Although the Jedi Master would have preferred to sleep, he still had to do his duty.

Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes, finally awakening from deep slumber. His arms and legs felt like lead weights had been strapped to them. He grimaced and attempted a sitting position.

"Good morning." Obi-Wan blinked and concentrated on the blurry figure that had spoken. Slowly, the world crystallized, and the image of his master came into focus.

"Good morning, Master," replied Obi-Wan, struggling to form the words. He stretched discreetly, testing his sore muscles.

"Do you feel better?" Master Dooku asked.

"I . . . I think so." His senses had downgraded to molasses, and his entire body was sore, but Obi-Wan could manage.

His master nodded. "We are meeting with the Premier in one hour. I expect you to be ready in thirty minutes."

Obi-Wan's hand went to his injured shoulder. Where he had expected a burn, he touched only unbroken skin. Oh, so he had been in a healing trance. That explained the grogginess. He looked at his waiting master, and realized that Obi-Wan hadn't answered.

"I understand."

"I will see you then." Master Dooku paused by the door. "You performed well yesterday."

"Th-Thank you, master." Obi-Wan didn't understand his master's praise, but accepted it meekly, head bowed.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Obi-Wan stood, stretching to warm up his stiff limbs. He washed and then changed into a fresh tunic, carefully adjusting every layer to ensure it was just right.

His master believed that presentation was very important, and Obi-Wan agreed. After polishing his shoes and his lightsaber, Obi-Wan finally put on his brown robes and checked the clock on the wall. He was just on time. As was his master.

Master Dooku opened the door. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, master." Obi-Wan silently followed his master to the Premier's office, where the planetary leader was waiting.

"Master Jedi! Excellent to see you."

His master dipped his head in response. Premier Iyaha smiled at the younger Jedi, and Obi-Wan copied his teacher's gesture.

"Are there any developments?" asked Master Dooku.

"Since yesterday, no, there are not." Hogaam Iyaha frowned and crossed his arms. "This entire assassination issue is very concerning. Only cowards would attack a child."

He dropped a few more words in Dhulkani to describe the perpetrators. Obi-Wan didn't know the meaning of those words, and he wasn't sure he wanted to.

"It may be the isolationists, I do not know," said the Dhulkan, sighing. "This is made worse with the arrival of the senators later today. The evil-doers may try again."

Obi-Wan didn't remember hearing about any senators.

"Senators?" His master echoed his sentiments.

"Ah, yes. It is sudden for all of us. Senators Palpatine of Naboo and Fang Zar of Sern are coming on behalf of the Republic."

"I see."

"And if it truly is the isolationists, they will definitely strike at the senators. That would be very bad."

"Quite," agreed Master Dooku. Bad was an understatement. If anything happened to the senators while they were Dhulka, a diplomatic crisis like no other in Dhulkani history would occur. And Obi-Wan had thought that his first mission would just be easy negotiations . . .

"The two most powerful isolationist groups are the Ogabande Party and the Chiabe Gudo Association. The first is largely nonviolent political movement and a growing force in Parliament, while the second is not above unsavory means. I will send my men to the Chiabe Gudo Association and see if they are behind it."

"May we investigate as well?" inquired Master Dooku politely. Premier Iyaha appeared to be surprised be his request. Obi-Wan was surprised as well.

"That is not necessary. You need not trouble yourselves," Hogaam Iyaha protested.

"I insist." Master Dooku fixed the planetary leader with a steady gaze.

The premier sighed. "I do not think I can convince you otherwise. Very well."

"Thank you."

Master Dooku and Obi-Wan bowed before leaving the premier.