Anakin saw his Master's jaw tighten. He knew Obi-Wan was at the end of his control. He could feel the frustration coiled inside him. Once again, Granta Omega had escaped.
Obi-Wan's comlink signaled. He glanced at it. "It's Master Windu," he said in a tight voice.
They all waited a moment. Anakin watched his Master curiously. He knew Obi-Wan was fighting the temptation to throw the comlink into the vast area of the plains.
"Maybe you should answer it," Siri suggested in a soft voice Anakin had never heard before. She was gazing at Obi-Wan with concern in her deep blue eyes.
Obi-Wan pressed the holomode on his comlink.
Mace Windu appeared in miniature holographic form. "Obi-Wan, Siri. The Jedi teams must return to Coruscant immediately."
"But we are on the trail of Granta Omega," Obi-Wan said. "We just — "
"Immediately," Mace interrupted. "There is trouble."
Chapter Five
Mace Windu was too busy to meet the two teams in the Council Room, or one of the smaller meeting rooms. They had to catch up to him as he strode down the Great Hall on his way to a Senate meeting.
He did not ask them how their pursuit of Granta Omega was going, or how their journey had been. Obi-Wan was relieved. The answers to both of those questions would have been negative. He felt fatigue shudder along his bones, and he knew both Ferus and Anakin, who were walking a few steps behind, needed rest. There did not seem to be much rest for any of the Jedi, these days.
"A feeling of distrust toward the Jedi Council has been growing among certain Senators," Mace said as he walked purposefully, his robe swinging with the motion. "We have felt it for some time. We were not overly concerned. We knew Senators like Sano Sauro undermined us whenever they could. Lately, things have escalated. A faction is now active; it has influence. The Jedi Council senses that there is someone behind this faction, but we don't know who it is."
Obi-Wan looked at Siri incredulously. They had been called back to the Temple because of a Senate power struggle? There were few things that interested him less.
"False stories have been spread," Mace continued. "Events have been twisted so that the Jedi are seen as disloyal to the Republic, as interfering in galactic political matters by making them worse."
"Master Windu," Obi-Wan said carefully, "you have called us off an important mission to find a great enemy — "
"I know exactly what I did, Obi-Wan," Mace said. "A powerful enemy outside and powerful enemies within. Can you decide who is more deadly?"
"But a Senate power struggle… is not unusual," Obi-Wan protested, trying to keep his composure under the glare of Mace's penetrating eyes.
Mace stopped so abruptly that his robe swung around like a whip. He looked at each of the Jedi, and seemed to pick up the fatigue and frustration there. He hesitated a moment.
"I recognize the importance of your mission," he said gravely. "But your mission is one of hundreds, which all involve peacekeeping, saving lives, helping governments, fostering alliances. The Jedi are involved in missions throughout the galaxy, which will be compromised if this faction is not dealt with."
"What do you mean? How could one faction in the Senate harm thousands of Jedi?" Siri asked.
"By organizing the withdrawal of official Senate support for the Jedi Council," Mace said. He let his words settle over them.
"You understand what this would mean," he continued, when he was sure he had their complete attention. "To operate without Senate approval would make us rogue diplomats and would completely undercut our authority. In short, without Senate support the effectiveness of the Jedi will be decimated."
"But why did you call us back to fight this?" Anakin asked.
Ferus glanced at Anakin, amazed. Obi-Wan had to admit that the question did sound more like a complaint than a query.
Mace settled his severe gaze on Anakin. Obi-Wan thought that Anakin was most likely the only Jedi apprentice who could take it without flinching. Most Padawans seemed to visibly shrink as Master Windu's eyes plumbed their depths, seeming to find every petty motivation, every secret weakness they had.
Anakin merely waited. Strong, graceful, sure of himself.
"I chose this team because of your special skills," Mace told Anakin.
"Obi-Wan may hate it, but he has a great knowledge of the Senate workings.
I contacted Yoda on Kashyyyk, and he was in agreement."
Obi-Wan tried not to groan aloud. Siri allowed herself one small smile at his discomfort.
"His contacts are invaluable," Mace went on. "I chose Master Tachi for her lack of patience."
Siri's small grin disappeared. Mace raised an eyebrow at her.
"A fault she has tried to correct, but one that often gets in her way, " he said. "I have a feeling it will be useful in this situation. Senators are used to deference. Without it, they feel lost. I wouldn't mind some of them feeling a bit unbalanced. And Ferus, of course, is a worthy addition.
He studied Senate structure and knows more about it than any apprentice.
And you, Anakin…"
Anakin waited.
"You have two things that can help us. One, of course, is your Force connection. You are just beginning to realize how it can work on beings as well as objects."
Anakin looked startled, as if he didn't understand that anyone else knew this. Obi-Wan suddenly realized it was true, and that he had known it without acknowledging it. How had Mace Windu discovered this? He had been with the group on Romin for only a short time.
Well. That was why Mace was on the Jedi Council. That was why, except for Yoda, Obi-Wan thought him the most powerful Jedi he'd ever known.
"Yes, together with observation and intuition the Force can help you see into the hearts and minds of others," Mace said softly, his eyes not leaving Anakin's face. "That is why the Force must be respected and handled with care."
"I know that, Master Windu," Anakin said.
"Perhaps you do. Or perhaps you will learn it more with every mission, the way the rest of us do. And there is one other thing," Mace said, resuming his walk. "Chancellor Palpatine has asked to see you and Obi-Wan specifically. He has requested a meeting."
Obi-Wan felt his heart sink. Most likely it would be the first of many meetings in the Senate, where it would be explained to him why the simplest way to do things was actually the most complicated.
"When is the meeting?" Obi-Wan asked, trying not to sigh as he matched his walk to Mace's long stride.
For the first time, Mace's features softened, and Obi-Wan was almost sure he caught the slightest of smiles. "Do not fret, Obi-Wan. You are on your way to it."
Chapter Six
Anakin and Obi-Wan stood in the reception room outside Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's private offices in the Senate. They stayed by the window, looking out at the busy space lanes, while Siri and Ferus took up positions near the door and Mace, with the utmost calmness, took a chair.
"I know how disappointed you are, Master," Anakin said.
"Master Windu is right," Obi-Wan replied. "We are needed here. And besides…"