Sith Senator Obi-Wan - Part 2
Secretly Obi-Wan was glad for Qui-Gon's presence, it grounded and anchored him in the moment, he didn't concentrate on his fears this way. At least not as much as he would have otherwise.
"Good day Senator Kenobi," Mace Windu's words were formal, but his tone was warm and there was even a smile on his usually stoic features. The young Sith wondered how long it would remain there.
"Master Jedi, it is a pleasure as always," he carefully let go of the older male, making sure he was steadily standing on his own two feet, before Obi-Wan bowed deeply in respect.
"The pleasure is ours," Shaak Ti replied.
"What can we do for you, Senator Kenobi?" asked the Korun Master.
The ginger haired Sith in disguise took a deep breath. He send a brief glance over his shoulder and found himself looking into the open and curios face of Qui-Gon Jinn, the man who had shaped him as much as his biological father had, perhaps even a little bit more.
"I came to discuss the Sith and their appearance, I have news concerning them and their identity." His heart was beating faster. His arms were in front of him and his right hand clenched his left wrist. That certainly caught the twelve Council members' interest. They had suddenly straightened in their comfortable looking chairs and their eyes were practically glued to the young Senator's frame. Obi-Wan did NOT shift uncomfortable, though he wanted to. Even Master Yoda looked more alert than usual.
Plo Koon was the first to catch himself. He cleared his throat, "Every new information that leads us closer to stopping a war from starting, is deeply appreciated Senator."
He bowed his head and averted anyone's gaze by closing his eyes. "There won't be a war," he said.
"I am not only sure, I KNOW it Master Yoda."
"What clues do you have?" Mace Windu again.
"Not a clue, proof," he opened his eyes and he knew they were golden.
Those, who could see his face, gasped in a mixture of shock and disbelief, perhaps even denial. Even Master Yoda looked as if he did not want to believe what he was seeing. But no one could deny the hard fact, when Obi-Wan's presence darkened, not by overly much - he would describe himself as relatively balanced - but still dark and shadowed. But before any Jedi could react or say anything, did Obi-Wan take s large step forward. Thirteen hands reached for their lightsabers, but Obi-Wan simply slipped to his knees in front of the Order's Grandmaster. He looked deep into Yoda's eyes.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sith Lord and also known as Darth Lumen. Darth Maul, the Zabrak who engaged Master Jinn on Naboo, was a comrade. 'Was', because he has betrayed his own comrades, way before the incident on Naboo. He was not supposed to attack… I am aware that mere words won't excuse what has happened, which is why I am here. I, Lord Kenobi, am offering myself to the Jedi and therefore I submit to the Jedi Council's words and judgement. Do with me, what you wish." At the end of his speech, Obi-Wan had lowered his head to the floor. He was completely submitting himself and he wanted to show it.
Meanwhile the Council, as well as Qui-Gon and his Padawan, were exchanging looks. Some had taken their hands from their lightsabers, other had stood up and moved into a battle position. The conflict was clear in the air. There were those, who knew Senator Kenobi and could not believe this was happening and there were those, who simply saw the Sith and knew about their deceptive nature.
"I say we take him prisoner and then we find out what he knows and what he has planned with all means necessary." Obi-Wan was not sure who had spoken, he didn't know ALL Council members and Jedi by name after all.
Another voice joined the first and another joined them, until the whole chamber was filled with different voices, who all wanted to present their opinions and views. All in all, it was pure chaos. And in the middle of it, Obi-Wan was still in the submissive position on the ground, until a clawed hand touched his shoulder and urged him to look up.
"Master Yoda," he mumbled, but they stood close enough for the green Jedi to hear and understand him.
"No my Master, I have accepted my fath- … my fate and I will stand for Darth Maul's crime, even if the price is my life." He had almost revealed that his father was a Sith as well. The small male's ears lowered, he seemed sad,
"Come to this, it will not." The diminutive Master stepped back again and motioned for Obi-Wan to raise to his knees. He hit with his stick on the ground and immediately all voices quietened.
The young Sith felt Qui-Gon's inquiring Force presence, but he did not dare to reach out as well, neither did he want to see the disappointment and hate in the other's midnight blue eyes. Those thoughts were actually the worst. He could live with the hate of the whole galaxy, except when Qui-Gon or his father would hate him as well.
"What I don't understand," this was Shaak Ti's voice, "is why you have revealed yourself. What were you hoping to gain?"
"Merely your understanding and enlightenment Master Jedi. I want to make you see that what Darth Maul did, was not in the Sith's interest, merely his own. Also I hoped to show good will by offering myself as a sign of regret."
"Peace you seek?" Yoda asked, he was still standing right in front of the young Senator, who did not found it so hard to look into the Master's eyes anymore
"More than anything… I am sick of all the fighting, all the hate against the Sith. The Sith are just beings like everybody else. We can change too you know."
"Unlikely," a Master who sat close to the door, said.
"I could say the same about the Jedi. Your view is stiff and without compromise. You follow the Code of a long forgotten era and you still don't help those, who need your help the most." Obi-Wan was about to be interrupted, but he would not allow it, instead he stood up and leveled the Jedi he was talking to with a stern glance. "Don't you deny it, instead you should direct your gaze on the Outer Rim territories. Thousands of slaves and suppressed people, people who are angry at the Republic for not helping them and people who are jealous of what we have, but they don't. Those beings are in danger, in danger of themselves and of falling to the dark side. Or why do you think Maul was such a mindless monster while I am not? I could have joined him on his crusade after all."
"But you are not stupid," this was Qui-Gon's voice. Obi-Wan still did not turn around to him. Though the deep baritone voice had been rid of all emotions, yet his eyes always told a completely different story.
"Maul was not ‘stupid’, he was brilliant in his own way, but he was also blinded by his anger and jealousy."
"And you are not?" asked Shaak Ti, she wore a thoughtful expression on her face.
A moment of silence passed. "I would like to say 'no', but it would be a lie. I am merely human, I have feelings. We all do. And…" he sighed, "I think I let my fear of the consequences guide my steps, which is why I am now standing before you."
"Elaborate," the dark skinned Korun Master ordered. His eyes were shadowed, the smile now gone from his face.
"Had the Sith decided to stay hidden, you would have thought us guilty and evil, wouldn't you? Even more so than you do now." The Council members exchanged glances and Obi-Wan could feel in the Force, that they were silently talking to each other. He straightened his spine and gazed over Yoda's chair out of the window, but he was not really seeing anything.
He just waited and what felt like an eternity, the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order spoke. "Discuss this we will, in private." This was not only directed at Obi-Wan, but at Qui-Gon and Anakin, the latter who had been surprisingly silent during the whole meeting. It was probably due to the shock.
"Masters?" speaking of the blonde.
"Yes Padawan Skywalker?" Plo Koon reacted.
"I know that my opinion does not really matter, I am only a Padawan after all, but… but I know that Obi-Wan is nothing like that man Master Qui-Gon fought. That thing was darker and it made me feel sick and disgusted, but Obi-Wan doesn't."
"Thank you for your insight Padawan. The Council will take your observation in consideration," and from the way Master Koon had said it, he really would.
"Now to you, Senator Kenobi," Mace Windu had once more taken the role of the Council's leader. "Until the Council has come to a decision, you will be put into a cell here in the temple. You understand that we have to take precautionary steps and therefore cannot allow you access to the Force, or to any kind of weapon."
"I understand," he nodded.
"Do you carry a weapon with you? You will be searched nevertheless, but you can make it easier for all of us."
"I don't, I came fully intending to surrender." Mace nodded and then turned his attention to Qui-Gon. He hesitated for a moment, but the Force had shown him what to do. "Master Jinn, you will accompany the Senator to his cell."
When Qui-Gon was surprised at being selected, then he did not let it show. Obi-Wan however did for the briefest of seconds. He and Qui-Gon had a history and were emotionally connected. Surely Mace had seen something, otherwise he would not be sending an injured and emotionally connected man to escort a prisoner, a Sith prisoner.
"Yes Master," said the tall man and he bowed so that single strands of his long brown hair fell into his face.
"Dismissed you are, for now" a green claw waved them away. The two Jedi and the Sith bowed one last time and together they left the Council chamber and all the way towards the door, Obi-Wan prayed that he would not have to talk and face Qui-Gon, though he knew that it was inevitable.