Coruscant.  Home to billions of varied beings and thousands of representatives of thousands of worlds.  The Republic Senate, in to its eighth hour of sessions, was at a deadlock on an important voting matter.  A faction on the planet of Nandorshi wished to join the Republic as a separate entity and the barely ruling faction was opposing the wish.  Nandorshi was split almost in two with the factions constantly bickering.  One half, the dominant Quarlins by fifty-two percent of the population, claimed that the Kladmeans, the other forty-eight percent of the population, had no say.  Manklili, the Nandorshi Senator of the Quarlin race, was currently trying to persuade the Senate of the absurdity of Lamkptu, a Kladmean representative's, claims.

             Rising, Chancellor Valorum commanded silence.  "Senators, this is a very serious matter.  We will adjourn until tomorrow to refresh our minds and to think this over carefully."  A loud bell vibrated the large, circular room and the Senators began leaving.

            Lamkptu, her slight lavender skin on her humanoid frame darkening somewhat with emotion to a darker purple, turned to Manklili standing behind her.  In her musical voice, she bowed respectfully and said, "Thanks to you, Senator, for the use of your box and time."

            Manklili scowled, his light yellow skin a contrast to her purple.  "You scum," he spat, one of his two tentacles on his face swaying with his intense emotion.  "Why do you wish to upset the balance of Nandorshi with your unhappiness?"

            Lamkptu blinked her wide, blue eyes in surprise.  "We are as many as you.  You do not represent what we want; contrary to it, in most facts.  If we were allowed our own Senator to represent ourselves, we could be assured of our well-being."

            "You watch yourself, backtul," Manklili frowned.  "You may not make it until tomorrow's session if you are not careful.  Coruscant is a dangerous place to be for the likes of you."

            Lamkptu gasped and fluttered her webbed hands in agitation.  For her people, Manklili had uttered as close to a death threat as they dared.  He had added insult to her with the use of an obscene nickname the ruling class had for her people.  For the first time since coming here two days ago, Lamkptu began to fear for her life.

            Manklili stomped out of the chambers, leaving her alone to tremble.

            "…and therefore, friend and Master Jedi, I urgently request the use of two of your finest Jedi for protection.  I am the only eloquent speaker for my people and we are too distantly away to send another in time for the vote," the beautiful lavender representative finished via Holocomm transmission.

            Master Yoda, small, green and wise, nodded once.  "Jedi you will have, Representative Lamkptu.  Protection they shall be until done these votings are."

            Mace Windu glanced over at Yoda before stating, "One of our best Master/Padawan teams has just come back from a mission.  We will send them to you as quickly as they are able to depart."

            Lamkptu bowed her head in acquiescence.  "And may I know these two by name?"

            "Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Mace answered.

            "Their reputation has proceeded them, honored Masters," Lamkptu stated, surprised and pleased.  "I thank you."  The transmission winked out.

            "Send for them we shall," Yoda commanded an aide who bowed and scurried out the Jedi Council's doors.

            Obi-Wan Kenobi performed a half-twist in midair so that he would change direction to land beside his master instead of behind him where his original flip would have taken him.  Landing lightly on his feet, he quickly dropped down and swept his leg out, catching his master unaware and making him sprawl on his back.

            Swiftly, to not lose momentum, Obi-Wan jumped on Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn's stomach to pin him to the cushioned mat in the exercise room.  Sweat dripped from his short brown hair to land on Qui-Gon's front tunic as if in proclamation of his rare victory.

            Qui-Gon, long hair fanned out behind his head, laughed.  "Very good, Padawan.  Very good indeed.  Is that the new move you've been practicing that you've been so eager to show me?"

            Carefully extracting his still-growing arms and legs from his master's, Obi-Wan laughed as well and stood.  "Yes, Master.  Here, let me help you."  He bent down to offer his hand to help his master to his feet.

            Surprising him, Qui-Gon took his hand and gave it a mighty yank, causing Obi-Wan to lose his balance and go toppling over like a felled tree.  Snapping his hips around, the Jedi Master used his lower body to successfully pin his apprentice.

            "Never let down your guard, Obi-Wan," he cautioned with a smile.  "Or you could find yourself in a bad situation."

            The sixteen-year-old grinned and took the fall with good grace.  "Yes, Master."

            Qui-Gon's next reply was cut off by the sound of his comlink beeping from across the room where their cloaks were stored.  Heaving himself to his feet, pleased to notice that his padawan had given him a good workout this session, he crossed in three strides to his cloak and thumb his comlink.

            "Qui-Gon here."

            "Master Jinn," a clipped female voice said.  "You are wanted at the Council chambers.  Please bring your Padawan as well."

            "I'll be there," he promised, and he turned to Obi-Wan.  "Looks like we already have another assignment, Padawan.  Shall we go see what it is this time?"

            Obi-Wan smiled.  "Hopefully it doesn't involve breaking mandates or pathetic lifeforms."

            Qui-Gon laughed as he swung his cloak around his shoulders, in a good mood along with his apprentice.  "We'll hope not, Obi-Wan.  We'll hope not."

            Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed, Obi-Wan closer in height more and more to his master lately.  Yoda noted with pleased approval that both master and apprentice seem to be in jovial moods this evening. 

            "What is it that you require?" Qui-Gon asked when they had straightened, a formal and respectful attitude of waiting in his question.

            Yoda spoke first.  "Needed for protection you are.  Representative Lamkptu of Nandorshi."

            Qui-Gon's brow furrowed.  "Isn't that the representative trying to gain acknowledgement of the Senate of her people?"

            Mace nodded.  "Yes.  She believes, with just cause, that her life is in danger.  We are assigning you and your apprentice to guard her until the voting is completed, hopefully tomorrow, though with these Senate meetings you never can tell.  Think you can handle that, Master Jinn?"

            Qui-Gon tried to hide the little curve of his mouth.  It was an easy assignment, meant to give him an opportunity to prove that he could go on a mission and not break a mandate or twist the Jedi Council's instructions to fit his purposes.  He must have really irked them with that last little stunt he pulled on his mission to Arborané.

            "As you command, my Masters.  When are we to leave?"

            Yoda blinked.  "Immediately."