There was too great a distance between him and Anakin now, at a time when he needed to keep his Padawan even closer than before. Every instinct told him that Anakin had been profoundly changed while they were apart before the Battle of Geonosis. He knew that Anakin had been to Tatooine and he knew Anakin's mother was dead. He knew that a bond had grown between Anakin and the brilliant Senator Padme Amidala.
He sensed that some of the change was for the better. Some not. It was as if Anakin had grown harder — and more secretive. One thing Obi-Wan saw clearly: Anakin had lost his boyishness. He was a man now.
Whatever the changes were, they did not bring Anakin peace. Obi-Wan sensed his Padawan's restlessness, his impatience. He saw that Anakin no longer felt the same sense of peace from the Temple. He always wanted to be moving. He always wanted to be somewhere else.
Obi-Wan stood in the doorway of the Map Room of the Temple, watching Anakin. This was a place Anakin came when his mind was restless. For some reason his Padawan found it calming to set dozens of holographic planets spinning while voices intoned their details: geography, language, government, customs. Out of the chaos, Anakin would distinguish one voice. Then he would trace another, then another, until he could clearly hear each voice amid the babble.
Anakin had grown quite adept at this game, Obi-Wan saw. Holograms whirled around his head like angry insects. The voices were a confusing blur to Obi-Wan. He couldn't imagine why someone would find peace during this. As he watched, Anakin lifted a finger and added another planet to the mix.
'Anakin.'
Anakin did not turn. Most beings would. Instead he lifted a hand. One by one the planet holograms disappeared, the voices cut off until the last solitary voice was silenced. Obi-Wan noted that it had been intoning the precious metals of Naboo. Anakin stood and turned.
Obi-Wan could see that Anakin was still not used to his new artificial hand. He hugged that arm a little closer to his body. The sight tore at Obi-Wan's heart.
'Master.'
'Master Yoda has requested our presence.'
'A mission?'
'I do not know.'
Over the past weeks there had been much to do, too much to plan — too many battles. The Jedi Council held constant strategy sessions. It was necessary to carefully place the Jedi where they were most needed.
Systems and planets were now vulnerable, and many were highly strategic. The Separatists were gaining new planets with a combination of coercion and force. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine pledged to help planets loyal to the Republic.
'You go to the Map Room when you are troubled by something,' Obi-Wan said as they walked. 'Do you want to talk about it?'
Anakin made a restless gesture. 'What is the good of talking?'
'It can be very good,' Obi-Wan said gently. 'Anakin, I see that the past months have marked you. I am your Master. I am here to help you in any way I can.'
He could see his Padawan only in profile, but Anakin's mouth tightened. 'I have seen things I wish I had not seen. I did not think so many Jedi could die. I did not think a once-great Jedi Master could fall so far.'
'Count Dooku's fall has troubled us all,' Obi-Wan acknowledged. 'Now we have a great and powerful enemy.' His thoughts turned to his battle with Dooku. He had never met such power in battle before. He had never come up against something that had completely overpowered him. Even meeting the Sith Lord who had killed Qui-Gon had not been the same. If only Qui-Gon were alive, to give them insights into Dooku. Now Obi-Wan thought back and wondered why Qui-Gon had never spoken of his Master.
He would never know that, either.
He would have liked more time to talk to Anakin, but they drew up in front of the reception chamber where Yoda had asked them to convene.
Obi-Wan stepped forward to access the door but it slid open before he could. Yoda was always a step ahead of him.
Yet Yoda had a more significant surprise. He stood in the middle of the room with Lorian Nod. Lorian was older, his hair completely silver now. He wasn't as lean, but his body still looked strong. Dressed in a cloak of veda cloth, he looked more like a successful businessman than a soldier, but it was unmistakably Lorian Nod.
'What is he doing here?' Obi-Wan barked. He was seldom, if ever, rude.
But lately he hadn't had the time to hide his feelings. Anakin was not the only one who had developed impatience.
'To help the Jedi, Lorian Nod has come,' Yoda said. 'Really,' Obi-Wan said, strolling in. 'Are you offering to set up your own security force, Nod?'
Lorian bowed his head slightly, as if he had expected Obi-Wan's jibe and accepted it as his due. 'I knew I would meet skepticism if I came here,' he said. 'All I can say is that I admit I have not operated within galactic laws during some periods of my life. Yet now, when things are so serious, I find that I must return to my beginnings. I wish to help the Jedi.'
'And how do you think you can do that?' Obi-Wan asked.
Yoda blinked at Obi-Wan. It was just a blink. But it told him that his tone was not appreciated.
'Ruler of Junction 5, Lorian Nod is,' he said.
Again, Obi-Wan was surprised. 'How did you manage that? The last time I saw you, you were about to go to prison for a very long time.'
'I did go to prison for a very long time,' Lorian answered. 'Then I got out.'
