Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā admittedly, Ā although Ā being Ā sent Ā on Ā a Ā mission Ā with Ā the Ā senator Ā was Ā the Ā last Ā thing Ā kenobi Ā expected Ā ( Ā for, Ā as Ā the Ā dice Ā often Ā fell, Ā it Ā was Ā not Ā he Ā filling Ā this Ā position Ā but Ā his Ā apprentice Ā ), Ā he Ā could Ā not Ā deny Ā that Ā they Ā were Ā both, Ā in Ā all Ā honesty, Ā the Ā two Ā best Ā possible Ā candidates Ā for Ā such Ā a Ā powder-keg Ā of Ā brewing Ā hostilities, Ā and Ā he Ā was Ā glad Ā to Ā have Ā the Ā experienced Ā politician Ā by Ā his Ā side Ā - Ā even Ā if Ā only Ā to Ā spare Ā he Ā himself Ā from Ā the Ā intricate Ā web Ā of Ā political Ā maneuvering.Ā still . . . the Ā peculiar Ā sensation Ā of Ā embarking Ā on Ā a Ā mission Ā solely Ā with Ā the Ā senator, Ā without Ā their Ā usual Ā headstrong Ā counterpart Ā skywalker, Ā was Ā not Ā lost Ā on Ā him.
Ā Ā
Ā thankfully, Ā her Ā catching Ā onto Ā his Ā momentary Ā slip Ā into Ā his Ā usual Ā role Ā of Ā guidance Ā was Ā not Ā something Ā she Ā met Ā with Ā offence Ā - Ā he Ā would Ā never Ā have Ā presumed Ā to Ā otherwise Ā give Ā himself Ā authority Ā over Ā the Ā senator Ā when Ā it Ā came Ā to Ā matters Ā of Ā diplomacy, Ā yet Ā it Ā seemed Ā fitting Ā that Ā she Ā found Ā his Ā demeanor Ā bringing Ā a Ā warmth Ā to Ā her Ā expression Ā instead.Ā where Ā others Ā would Ā jump Ā to Ā š©š«š¢šš, šØšššš§šš, šš šØĀ Ā - Ā such Ā things Ā did Ā not Ā seem Ā to Ā occur Ā to Ā her.Ā it Ā was Ā a Ā welcome Ā reminder Ā of Ā her Ā character, Ā and Ā something Ā he Ā had Ā not Ā had Ā quite Ā the Ā chance Ā to Ā appreciate Ā so Ā acutely Ā beforehand, Ā yet Ā was Ā now Ā able Ā to Ā perceive Ā much Ā more Ā clearly Ā that Ā it Ā was Ā just Ā the Ā two Ā of Ā them.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā perhaps Ā you Ā could Ā remind Ā anakin Ā of Ā that Ā next Ā time Ā you Ā see Ā him,Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā glancing Ā over Ā at Ā her, Ā a Ā lighthearted Ā smile Ā breaks Ā through Ā his Ā otherwise Ā serious Ā countenance.Ā a Ā last Ā moment Ā of Ā brevity, Ā he Ā thought, Ā to Ā offer Ā her, Ā before Ā they Ā were Ā to Ā land, Ā though Ā it Ā quickly Ā faded Ā upon Ā hearing Ā her . . .Ā all Ā too Ā precise Ā of Ā a Ā question.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā it's Ā a Ā thought Ā that Ā weighs Ā heavily Ā on Ā my Ā mind Ā as Ā well,Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā he Ā admits.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā the Ā fog Ā of Ā war Ā obscures Ā broader Ā consequences, Ā making Ā it Ā easy Ā to Ā lose Ā sight Ā of Ā them.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā he Ā did Ā not Ā seem Ā comfortable Ā commenting Ā on Ā it Ā further, Ā for Ā doing Ā so Ā could Ā inadvertently Ā risk Ā criticising Ā the Ā order's Ā actions, Ā or Ā lacktherof, Ā around Ā such Ā events.
Ā Ā
Ā shaking Ā as Ā it Ā seeks Ā to Ā stabilise Ā itself Ā upon Ā landing, Ā the Ā ship Ā finally Ā settles Ā upon Ā the Ā moon.Ā obi-wan Ā turns Ā to Ā her, Ā his Ā resolve Ā visible Ā in Ā his Ā eyes, Ā pushing Ā whatever Ā doubt Ā that Ā had Ā surfaced Ā back Ā into Ā the Ā deeper Ā recesses Ā of Ā his Ā mind.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā all Ā we Ā can Ā do Ā is Ā persevere Ā in Ā our Ā efforts Ā to Ā defend Ā the Ā values Ā we Ā hold Ā dear Ā whenever Ā they Ā do Ā present Ā themselves, Ā such Ā as Ā today.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā and Ā with Ā that, Ā he Ā hops Ā down Ā from Ā the Ā platform, Ā steady Ā feet Ā planting Ā onto Ā the Ā dusty Ā surface.Ā turning Ā back Ā to Ā her, Ā a Ā hand Ā is Ā offered, Ā š š šš§šš„šš¦šš§'š¬ š šš¬šš®š«š.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā the Ā moment Ā has Ā arrived, Ā senator.Ā Ā Ā ā
