Chapter Six

The Council

Obi-Wan smiled briefly at the boy, there was something familiar about the boy. He reminded him of his Anakin and someone else, but Obi-Wan pushed the thought away as he saw Count Dooku in his cell. "I trust you are comfortable," Obi-Wan began.

"Immensely pleasurable. Shouldn't I be in the medical wing, having been disfigured. You can't imagine the phantom pains."

"No, I cannot. I will discuss it with Anakin, however," Obi-Wan replied, "Perhaps, you should have spared him his own hand on Genosis," Obi-Wan said softly, remembering the pain his young padawan had been in then. He remembered how Anakin had cried had begged to make the pain stop and Obi-Wan's lips stretched into a very thin line.

"It's not very Jedi to hold onto anger."

"Anakin spared your life. I am not sure another Jedi would have done the same. "

"You would have. Qui-Gon spoke very highly of you, and very often."

"Qui-Gon believed in Anakin."

"So does my master."

"Yet he planned on your demise, didn't he?"

"Not entirely. I'm still alive."

"Thanks to my guidance and faith in Anakin. I cannot help you if you will not help yourself."

"How did you sleep?" Count Dooku asked and Obi-Wan shifted his eyes away guiltily. "I thought so. There is an ancient Sith legacy. Darth Plegisus had the power to stop death."

Obi-Wan leaned forward, interested. "You mean he could actually stop the ones he cared about from dying."

"It's an ancient Sith legacy. You would have to visit the tomb of Plegisus on Korribian. I'll tell you where it is, in exchange for immunity. "

"I cannot give that to you."

"Then I cannot save your padawan."

"Anakin is a Knight in his own right," Obi-Wan replied hotly.

"I want to retire from being a Dark Lord of the Sith, as such it is tiring. I want to reclaim my home as Count of Serrano. I cannot do that without immunity. I am ready to negotiate the dissolution of the Confederacy of Independent Star Systems, but I will only speak with you and Skywalker."

"Shouldn't there be a diplomat involved?"

"Aren't the Jedi still Keepers of the peace?" Count Dooku asked mildly. Obi-Wan's beacon went off, and he frowned.

"Enjoy your stay," Obi-Wan said leaving quickly.

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By the time the doors of the Jedi Council swung open, Anakin was angry, yet if questioned he would have denied it and thought he was telling the truth...but they had left him out here so long, with nothing to do but stare at the skyline of Galactic City damaged in a battle he had won almost single handedly with the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had nothing to think of but why it was taking so long to decide. Were they all against him? Was it taking Obi-Wan that long to convince them? Was the Chancellor right? Was Obi-Wan the only one to stand up for him?

Angry? Not at all, Anakin was not angry. He was sure he wasn't angry, he kept telling himself he wasn't angry. And he wasn't, not really. Anger was just camouflage for what he was really hiding. Behind his anger his a dragon. It was dread, the cold fear of not being good enough of not being fast enough or strong enough of losing someone he cared about. Yoda was unreadable as always and Anakin respected the aging Grand Jedi Master, though he knew Yoda feared him. Obi-Wan was frowning and the usual Jedi serenity was gone from his face. Anakin frowned, when had Obi-Wan begun looking so unhappy? He had to find out, for he would not let Obi-Wan be haunted with dread and guilt as he was.

"Anakin Skywalker," Mace Windu said with authority, "The Council has decided to comply with the Chancellor's wishes. You are hereby granted a seat on the Jedi Council, as the Chancellor's personal representative."

Anakin schooled his face to reveal humility and gratitude as he spoke evenly, "Thank you, Masters. You have my pledge that I will uphold the principles of the Jedi Order."

"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not," Master Yoda said looking at Anakin as if he could see through him and Anakin forced himself to meet Master Yoda's gaze.

"I understand, Master," Anakin replied.

"I'm not sure you do," Master Windu continued, "You are here to represent the Chancellor's views not your own. You will attend meetings but we do not grant you the rank of Master."

"What?" Anakin asked shocked and vaguely aware of Obi-Wan jumping to his feet.

"Masters, be fair. Anakin did not ask for this. Has he not shown his loyalty to the Jedi risking his life for every Jedi in this room."

"To risk ones life is a Jedi's duty," Master Yoda replied.

"How dare you?" Anakin replied but it wasn't Anakin's voice, at least not the one he recognized as his own. Anakin caught his reflection in the mirror and shuddered. He saw the mask and cloak surrounding him. He had to get out of these dark clothes, did he have any padawan clothes left? They had been lighter in color.

"Masters, be fair. He is the Chosen One," Obi-Wan continued.

"Misread the prophecy may have been."

"You can keep you precious prophecy," Anakin stated frowning. "I do not want a place on the Council."

There was a collective gasp around the room. No one had ever turned down a spot on the council. "In fact," Anakin started to continue before Obi-Wan interrupted.

"Anakin, please take a seat. Masters, this has never been done in the history of the Jedi," Obi-Wan continued angry but speaking with an even toned voice that Anakin admired.

"Never been done this has, at Anakin's age."

"Nonetheless, it's not just insulting to my former padawan but to me as well. If Anakin is not granted the rank of Master I too, will relinquish, my seat on the Council."

"But Obi-Wan?" Master Windu said astonished. "You have earned yours not having it ordered."

"I have done none less than Anakin. We will both take our leave while the Council sorts this out."

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"Master, you should have let me tell them. I would leave the Order. Look at them, Master. They are all so...hypercritical."

"You remind me of Master Qui-Gon."

"You are hard to talk to, Obi-Wan. You've forgotten what he taught you."

"What do you mean, Anakin?"

"You don't trust in the living force. He's tried to talk to you, you know?"

"Who?"

"Qui-Gon."

"Maybe we should leave the Order. I don't know Anakin."

"We?"

"Someone has to keep you out of trouble."

"I thought that was your gift, Master."

"I've spoken to Count Dooku."

"And?"

"He won't talk to anyone but us. If I can work it out, we will be leaving Coruscant soon."

"But-Master. I can't leave Padme, not now, not while she's expecting my child."

Obi-Wan visibly stiffened. "Then bring her along."

"But the Council-"

"Has proven to be untrustworthy. We will be going to Korribian. There is a Sith artifact we must obtain."

"Master, what are we going to do? I can't say that the Council doesn't deserve their fate."

"Neither can I, Anakin. But you don't deserve yours. Perhaps, if we go away..."

" I don't know Master. I have to save Padme." Anakin didn't want to explain and strangely enough Obi-Wan didn't ask.

"It seems, Anakin, that this is the day for bad news, your old friend has returned to the Order. Ferus Olin."

Anakin's face seemed to tighten. "When?"

"Two standard days. Since he was so close, the Jedi Council has given him the title of Jedi Knight."

"They just gave it to him?" Anakin asked with controlled furry. After all Anakin had done, they just handed Ferus Knighthood while he had just been given it. He had had to fight tooth and nail for everything the Jedi had given him. Obi-Wan had raised him with an iron fist, he thought. He had loved him, and been fair, he clenched his iron fist thinking that was how he would raise his Luke.

Anakin was going to leave the Order soon, he would create his own Jedi Order and he would let it be known to any Jedi who wished to follow him. Let the old Jedi masters expire by their own political greed and short sidedness. He would save who he could, he couldn't save those that wouldn't save themselves.