Friends Like These
Part 1
A simple, relaxing mission, Obi-Wan Kenobi thought derisively to himself. The Jedi Council had told them they�d simply be representing the Jedi at the Annual Senatorial Ball on Sullust. An evening of dancing was supposed to have been their reward for a series of grueling, dangerous missions that had left both master and padawan drained and in need of recovery. Nothing could have been farther from the truth! They�d scarcely arrived at the great ballroom when Yirrit, one of the two Sullustan senators in the Galactic Senate, had immediately asked them to follow him. Once he�d been certain that they were in a place where they could not be overheard, he had told them that he�d recently come into information that would prove that his fellow Sullustan senator and some other Senators from neighbouring systems were corrupt, taking bribes and swaying votes.Senator Yirrit had asked for their protection in getting the information personally to the Chancellor. Of course, Obi-Wan�s master, Qui-Gon Jinn, had taken him very seriously, and had guarded him personally while they�d made arrangements for the Senator to �disappear� that very evening. Obi-Wan hadn�t even had the chance to see whether there were any human females at the ball, let alone dance with them--they had spirited Senator Yirrit away to a non-descript rental house in another city, and although a small handful of people from his office that knew he had gone, only the Senator himself and the two Jedi knew where he was. Now they were keeping a low profile while waiting for an undercover Jedi transport to arrive on Sullust and contact Qui-Gon, and the waiting was not easy to endure.
"Boy, bring me my case over there, would you,�said Senator Yirrit, motioning to the briefcase by the stairs. Obi-Wan frowned. The Senator was closer to it than he was. Why couldn�t he just stand up and get it? But at a glance from his master, he stood up from the table and picked up the briefcase, then extended it to the Senator. The Sullustan took it without a word of thanks and opened it up.�Hey, while you�re on your feet, boy, get me a drink of mineral water.�
Obi-Wan went into the kitchen, wondering why his Sullustan friends back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant never seemed as obnoxious as the Senator did, then discovered that all the bottles of sparkling mineral water were now empty. He sighed, then came back to the living area.�There isn�t any more mineral water, Senator.�
"Well, go out and buy some!�the Senator snapped, his huge black eyes narrowing somewhat.
"You can get a couple of bottles from that shop just down the street,�Qui-Gon agreed quietly, handing him a credit chip.�They should still be open.�
Obi-Wan nodded and left the house, glad to get outside, or as much outside as a person could get on Sullust. The Sullustans lived underground in artificial lighting which only changed from day into night and back again at regular times. The buildings were no more than three stories high at the most, leaving plenty of space between their flat rooftops and the lights attached to the ceiling of the underground cavern, and there were plenty of open markets and small shops. He walked down the street to the one Qui-Gon had mentioned and found four bottles of sparkling mineral water and a few small snacks that he and his master both liked. Purposefully, he did not buy anything else for the Senator. If the Sullustan felt the need for anything, he�d surely make himself known.
Obi-Wan did not like Senator Yirritating, as he had privately begun to refer to the Sullustan, and was glad of any excuse to leave the house and get away from him. The Senator was arrogant and bossy, and considered Obi-Wan a mere child, though useful enough for menial labour. He was polite--barely--to Qui-Gon, because the man was a Jedi Master, but he still disagreed with everything Qui-Gon said. Loudly. Obi-Wan wondered how long before the neighbours would start to complain. The Sullustan had no idea of how to deflect attention from himself, simply because he was used to being the center of it, and seemed to expect it at all times.
Returning with the heavy bag, keeping his Force-enhanced senses alert for anything out of the ordinary, Obi-Wan was dismayed to hear the loud, chittering voice of the Senator even outside. Someone was going to hear and recognise him, then wonder what the Senator was doing in this house. From there, it was only a short step to his enemies finding out where he was. Obi-Wan knocked twice, then twice again. There was a pause as Qui-Gon scanned him with the Force, then opened the door.
"We�ve got to go back,�Senator Yirrit repeated, frowning as Obi-Wan went by to the kitchen.�We have got to go back. I cannot leave the planet without that hologram.�
"You will not leave this house,�Qui-Gon said sternly and with enough volume that Obi-Wan could hear him even as he took the bottles out of the bag and opened one.�It is for your own protection. If that hologram is so important, then -we- will get it, not you.�
"But I�m the only one who knows where it is!�
"You can tell us. But going back to your office would be putting yourself in danger unnecessarily. If your enemies succeeded in killing or kidnapping you, what would happen to the information that you want so badly to give to the Chancellor himself?�
The Sullustan looked as non-plussed as his large jowels would allow, and he seemed to be salivating at an increased rate. Reaching out, he took the glass that Obi-Wan was extending to him and took several swallows, then grimaced.�You incompetent imbecile! This isn�t the kind of mineral water I usually drink!�
Obi-Wan bit down an angry retort and replied diplomatically,�I�m sorry, Senator, it was the only kind available in that shop.�
"Then find another shop! This has much too much iron in it. It tastes horrid and it�s not good for my kidneys.�
"I�m sorry, Senator.�
"That would almost be another reason for me to go back,�Senator Yirrit told Qui-Gon with a long-suffering sigh.
"You would risk your life for another brand of mineral water?�the tall Jedi inquired, raising one eyebrow as he indicated the glass.
Salivating even more, and wiping his mouth on a handkerchief a few times, Senator Yirrit finally nodded.�All right. I understand that we must all make sacrifices for the good of the Republic. I�m more than willing to do my part. I just didn�t understand how difficult all this was going to be. Here, I�ll give you the code to open my desk. It�s in the second drawer on the left, in the back compartment. I�ll give you that code, too.�
He sat down and entered both codes on a datapad.�Here�s my personal codeword as well. The guards will know it comes from me, and let you through.�
Qui-Gon nodded, then handed the datapad to Obi-Wan, who perked up immediately. This was a great chance to escape Senator Yirritating for hours!
"You�re not letting the boy go, are you?�the Sullustan asked incredulously.�He�s hardly more than a baby!�
Obi-Wan bristled. Baby? He was sixteen! And he was taller than the Senator--he�d reached Qui-Gon�s chin already!
Giving him that �Master� look that never failed to wither any protests, Qui-Gon said,�If you�d prefer, he could stay here and guard you while I go.�
"Guard me? You�d leave me in the hands of a young one? No, no, send him, by all means,�the Sullustan sighed, shaking his head sadly.�I suppose it won�t exactly be the end of the Republic if he botches -this- assignment. We�ve still got most of the proof here with us. It�ll -probably- be enough to indict the others. But that hologram would cinch it.�
"He won�t botch the assignment,�said Qui-Gon.�I would trust him with my life, and so should you.�
"Hmph. I should call my office and tell them he�s coming, just to make sure they let him through, codeword or not.�He reached for his comlink, but Qui-Gon placed his hand on the Sullustan�s wrist.�Be careful. Don�t talk too long. Signals can be traced. And if they ask where you are, tell them simply that you are safe. Nothing else.�
"I�m only talking to my Aide! I trust Jerrup!�
Qui-Gon stared him down again, and after a moment, the Sullustan nodded, then lifted the comlink to his mouth.�Jerrup? Yirrit here. Listen, I�ve forgotten something in the office and I�m sending the little Jedi over to collect it. Make sure he�s allowed entry.�
Obi-Wan distinctly heard the Aide squawk,�That baby? Can we trust him to get here and back?�
"I don�t have any other choice.�
"Senator, what have you forgotten? Tell me and I�ll bring it to you. There�s nobody else listening, you can tell me where you are. We�ve worked together for years. You know I�m trustworthy, more so than some Jedi boy you�ve only just met.�
Obi-Wan scowled.
"The Jedi says to tell you only that I�m safe. Nothing else.�Senator Yirrit looked up as Qui-Gon made a quick horizontal motion with his hand, then said,�I have to go now. I�m not allowed to talk very long, either.�
He switched off, then walked away from them and sat down on the couch, reaching for his briefcase again. Relieved to be getting away, Obi-Wan reached for the nondescript poncho that was not instantly recognisable the way a Jedi robe was, and pulled it over his head as he walked to the door. Qui-Gon accompanied him.�Be careful, Padawan. Remember our lessons in stealth.�
"Yes, master. Thank you for letting me go. I�m really glad that you�re staying with Senator Yirritating and not me.�
Qui-Gon gave him a scathing look of disapproval and in a hard tone of voice, he said,�I seem to remember a young man who did not appreciate being called Oafy-Wan and I�m sure the Senator would not like to hear his name twisted in such a fashion, either.�
Obi-Wan cringed inwardly and had to use all his discipline to keep his gaze directed to his master�s face, instead of looking away.�I�m sorry, master.�
"I do not want to hear that or any other expression of disrespect for the rest of our mission, Padawan.�
"No, master. I just wish he�d stop calling me a baby. I�m sixteen!�
"Yes, you are sixteen and you are a Jedi. Act like it and prove the Senator wrong. A Jedi is patient with and respects every other being in the galaxy. You�ll be called worse things in your life, often by people you are helping. Ignore their insults, don�t let them undermine your focus.�
"Yes, master.�
"I don�t have to remind you about the importance of our mission. Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, and there is no justice where there is corruption. We must help expose it wherever we can, even if it means dealing with--difficult beings.�
"Yes, master.�Obi-Wan felt his face flaming with shame.
"May the Force be with you, Padawan.�
"And with you, master.�Obi-Wan bowed automatically, then turned around and went out of the house. The locks slid shut behind him.
They had rented a speeder for emergencies and Obi-Wan leaped in, settling himself in the pilot�s seat without the use of his hands, as he often did for fun. Pulling out the street plan of the city, he chose a roundabout route that doubled back on itself a few times, and checked often to make sure he was not being followed, then took the busiest expressway to the next city. Once there, he worked his way to the Senator�s Estate, also doubling back on himself several times, and parked the speeder a few blocks away. This was all more routine than it would be on the way back--he�d be in more danger of being tailed then. From there, he walked, observing the buildings that he passed and planning a return journey that could include jumping from one rooftop to the next in a zigzag pattern, or even from ground to rooftop and back again--anything to confuse the Senator�s enemies and make it impossible for them to keep up with him, if needs be.