The Chosen Apprentice/Chapter 9

He had resisted at first, yet in the end Obi-Wan had given in to the Council asking him to speak with Senator Stokra. He was famed for his negotiation skills, Bant had pointed out, and sending Obi-Wan against Stokra was like sending a big gun to the front line of a battle.

While he had not agreed with the expression, Obi-Wan admitted that they did have a point.

Yet why was he taking along Anakin with him? He knew Anakin hated things like this, seeing politicians and trying to sort out the whys and wherefores of political intrigue was perhaps one of the last things he’d consider doing without having to. More than once in the past his offhand comments had been an embarrassment, and Obi-Wan had to manoeuvre carefully to prevent a diplomatic incident.

Perhaps that’s why I have these skills, Obi-Wan surmised as he and Anakin left the airspeeder on the platform near Stokra’s apartment, I had to cover our own backs when Anakin kept messing things up.

But he also knew that Anakin was aching for something to do while he was waiting for Gunray’s trial to begin. It would keep his mind off things, Obi-Wan had decided, and perhaps it would also show him the larger picture that was unfolding.

“So what are we doing here?” Anakin asked for the third time.

“Stokra made some…allegations against the Jedi,” Obi-Wan told him, his voice showing no trace of annoyance. “We need to make him fully aware of what he was proposing.”

“And what did he say?” Anakin persisted.

Obi-Wan let out a low sigh. “That the Jedi have overstepped their bounds and need to be brought more under the jurisdiction of the Senate,” he said. “And…other things.”

He would not go into what these ‘other things’ were, such as how the killing of Sidious was a Jedi coup under the orders of the Loyalist committee.

Stokra’s aide, a red-skinned female Twi’lek in a low-cut backless gown, eyed the Jedis’ approach with some suspicion. Her demeanour was cordial, yet under protest.

“Greetings Master Jedi,” she said, smiling and showing her pointed white teeth. “Do you have an appointment with Senator Stokra?”

”No, we don’t,” Obi-Wan replied, he had told Anakin earlier that he would do all the talking. “Yet if you tell the senator we are here, he will no doubt want to see us.”

“The senator is very busy this afternoon,” the Twi’lek said in a cool voice, eying Anakin and winking at him. “If you will be so kind I can tell him you wish to see him and arrange a time when Senator Stokra can speak to you.”

Obi-Wan frowned; this wasn’t what he was expecting. “We have come at the request of the Jedi Council regarding the senator’s statements on the HoloNet this morning,” he explained.

“I am sorry, but Senator Stokra has appointments for most of the afternoon and the next day as well,” she reassured, yet her tone was getting strained. “Perhaps if you had contacted his office earlier something else could be arranged but—”

With a slapping motion, Anakin brought his hand down on the desk making the receptionist jump back. “Tell him that one of the Jedi who want to see him is the one evaded the Corporate Authority security forces on Etti IV.”

She raised her eyebrows, muttered several curse words under her breath yet relayed what Anakin said to Stokra’s office. No doubt she was familiar with what had happened there or she would not have compiled so readily. When she got a reply she looked at the Jedi in surprise.

“He says you can go right in,” she told them, “he has a few minutes to see you.”

“Thank you,” Obi-Wan said, giving the confused Twi’lek a broad smile as he and Anakin passed her.



“Remember why we are here, Anakin,” Obi-Wan murmured as Stokra’s guards opened the heavy door. Obi-Wan knew they were starting off on the wrong foot given Stokra’s recent comments in the Senate, but they had managed to get in.

The green skinned senator wore a long sleeved robe of a deep vermillion; he was seated at a large black desk with documents and holocrons around him. He looked over a data readout he was viewing at the approaching Jedi.

“Skywalker,” he said icily, locking eyes with Anakin, “perhaps I should have expected this visit.” Anakin merely bowed his head as Obi-Wan did, given the circumstances this was probably the best thing he could have done.

Yet Stokra seemed unnerved by this, he put down the readout. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said to Obi-Wan. “Kenobi, isn’t it? I guess this is about my comments on the HoloNet this morning?” He arched a black eyebrow. “I still stand by my statements, so if you think you can convince me otherwise you’re wasting your time.”

“It would be a mistake if I assumed I could outwit a politician at his own game,” Obi-Wan replied cordially, taking at seat in front of the desk and motioning Anakin to do the same. “My only question is that if you realised the full extent of what you were saying.”

Stokra’s eyes narrowed. “Sorry?”

“It seems curious that while you advocate the Senate taking direct action,” Obi-Wan explained slowly, “yet this is something that you are against in the case of the Jedi.”

“I don’t understand,” Stokra said dryly, “I thought I made my assertions perfectly clear.”

“It just seems a little lop-sided,” Anakin interjected, “one rule for the Jedi, another for everyone else.”

Stokra glared at him. “Strange that you should say that, Skywalker,” he remarked, “given your recent actions in one of the systems I represent.”

Anakin flushed perceptively, Obi-Wan frowned at him. Can you let me handle this? his expression asked silently.

“Perhaps you misunderstand me,” Obi-Wan said, he was going to continue but Stokra cut him off.

“Oh no, I understand you perfectly well, Master Jedi.” Stokra’s red gaze examined Obi-Wan’s face sceptically. “The Jedi are protective of their constitutional privileges, yet are not willing to make a statement publicly. Instead, they send you to me in the hope that I will back down.” His red eyes glowed like twin blaster bolts. “As I explained to you at the beginning of this interview my position on this issue is firm and will remain that way.”

“Even if the Republic is threatened from within and nothing except direct intervention will save it?” Obi-Wan inquired.

Stokra smiled in a way that infuriated Anakin. “If you are referring to Palpatine’s death three years ago, then I suggest you look for a different example,” he replied. “The Jedi Council may have thought that a quick solution was best, but no doubt there would have been benefits if Palpatine had been brought to trial.”

“Surely you know that would have been impossible,” Obi-Wan remarked, “given his control over the courts the result may have not been desirable.”

“Perhaps,” Stokra agreed reluctantly, “but what is to stop the Jedi intervening again, justifying their actions for the purpose of democracy? That is why I will not change my mind on this. Now,” he picked up the data read out again, “I regret that I cannot give you any more of my time, you must understand how busy I am.”

“Of course,” Obi-Wan said, rising and inclining his head respectfully before leaving the Senator. Anakin followed close behind, his face hardened perceptively.

“At least that’s over with,” Obi-Wan murmured as they left Stokra’s office. “I knew it would be a pointless exercise, but it needed to be done.”

“Then why did we go there at all?” Anakin asked.

“It needed to be done,” Obi-Wan repeated. “And even that might be too much if Stokra gets his way.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s saying, Obi-Wan,” Anakin argued. “The Jedi will always act with the best interests of the galaxy at heart, even if it means compromising ourselves.”

“Yes, and that is exactly what we have done,” Obi-Wan explained. “In the past the Jedi have not needed to move in the interests of democracy against the elected body of the Republic. The fact is that we had to,” he continued, “and there are some that resent that we still have that right.”