"I'm doing what?!"
"Teaching a youngling class to swim, Master Secura. You can do it perfectly well yourself, you're a fine teacher, so how hard can it be?"
"Well, no, but - you don't understand, it's - remember Kamino, um, you see, I've been…"
Her shields were rather faulty this morning. Master Windu had no trouble picking up the thought. "Aquaphobic? You, Aayla Secura, aquaphobic? I admit, I do remember Kamino and it must have been very traumatic, but to be afraid of water because of the one incident alone?"
Her cheeks purpled a little. "Yes. K- I mean, Master Fisto has been teasing me about it for years now. If you wouldn't mind, could you have him take that youngling class instead? Tell him sorry from his...uh, from his friend?"
"He's currently off planet, due to return in a couple hours. Or didn't you know that?"
"Oh! No, I had no idea, I'm surprised he didn't tell- I mean, we're fairly close, and he usually fills me in when he's going on a mission…"
"That's all right. I'll see if Bant Eerin can do it. Healer's ward is quiet right now, with Kenobi and Skywalker home and out of trouble. Vokara might be able to spare her."
Aayla chuckled lightly. "Thank you, Master Windu. I know, it's rather a...handicap...but I'm reluctant to see a mind healer over such a trifling thing."
"You're very welcome. Force be with you." They parted ways.
He would visit Master Eerin in a couple minutes. Right now, though, he had a comm call to make. After all, there was no luck, only the will of the Force (or in this case the Jedi High Council), and as such that meeting with Aayla had hardly been a coincidence.
Anakin picked up immediately- like as not, he'd been waiting for the report with bated breath. "Skywalker."
"It's me, Mace. I found her all right, and it seems your suspicions are well-founded- both of them, in fact. Shall we convene the Council, before the other object of your little proposed conspiracy gets back?"
He could almost hear the younger man's insouciant grin. "Yep. I'll tell you the details when you get up here, Master Windu. Padmé will love to hear about this. Skywalker out."
The meeting was just finishing up when Kit entered the chambers. He looked askance at his fellow Councillors, noting the increased depth of Obi-Wan's dimples that invariably meant he was up to something. This hunch was corroborated by Mace's shields that were somehow too strong, and the gleeful frisson of mischief in the Force being very badly squashed by Anakin...stars' end, what had they been doing while he was gone?!
"Greetings, Master Fisto," Yoda addressed him. "Late you are, but your fault this is not; early we started, hm. Finished discussing business we are, I think?" Nods of assent from all, plus one devious smile from the Skywalker end of things. Kit's suspicion deepened. "One more matter there is, however. Mission briefing. Aayla Secura we must summon."
Five minutes later, having been duly summoned, said Twi'lek Master strolled in the door. Yet again, Kit hid the accompanying flutters in his breast behind shields of durasteel. It simply would not do to display such unbecoming emotion in the middle of a Council session, now would it? He furtively glanced around to see if the rest remained oblivious; they did. "A mission we have for you, Master Secura," Yoda continued. "Informed us, Master Windu has, that an irrational fear you harbor."
"Yes, Master." There went her lekku again, going a little bit purple as her cheeks flushed the same hue- Force, he loved it when she did that.
"Conditional, the repeal of the ban was, yes? Permitted is attachment to other beings, so stronger may those bonded grow, but attached you are still to fear, hm? A kind partner it is not. Make you stronger it will not. All life water requires, much beauty there is in it. No reason I see for your apprehension."
She was blushing in earnest now, though to her credit, her expression was a model of Jedi reserve. "N-no, Master Yoda, I suppose I don't have one, a reason, I mean… Should- should I see a mind healer?"
"No. Face your fear you must, not talk about it. Go to Glee Anselm you shall- an ocean world it is, much fear to face, yes? Premier Chaliss urgent Jedi assistance has requested. Even Master Kenobi, discern Premier's intentions he could not. But serious it is, yes. Last Jedi to visit, Knight Sarack and Padawan Eshao, a disturbance they sensed. Knight Sarack strong in Unifying Force is. A vision she had, troubling it was. Three standard weeks ago they left, and now the Premier asks. A coincidence this is not."
"I couldn't agree more, Master...but why me? I hail from an arid planet. You know I'm not that well acquainted with Nautolan culture-" Kit suppressed a snort of incredulity- "and my fear is likely to slow me down, if not place the mission in grave jeopardy. Why not send someone a little…better qualified?"
Master Yoda's eyes lit up with mischief. "Oh, a better-qualified Jedi we are sending eh heh heh heh. Alone you shall not be. By our own Master Fisto will you be accompanied!"
Kit did a double take. "Wait- what? Me?!" he spluttered, not quite comprehending. "You never said anything about-"
"That, I'm afraid, is our prerogative," Master Kenobi cut in. Smirking, no less. "Even a Councillor may be tasked with a surprise mission. The decision to send you was very nearly unanimous." A pointed glare at Oppo Rancisis, which went completely unnoticed (or perhaps ignored) by its intended target.
Kit almost asked what all this clandestine monkey-lizard business was about, but thought better of it. A mission with Aayla? He was practically thanking the Force already! Swallowing his confusion, he managed to stand up and make his bows. "Of course, Masters...I'll do it. When does the transport leave?"
"Tomorrow, eighth hour sharp." Eighth hour? Master Windu was being lenient. He might actually get a good night's sleep before shipping out again.
That is, if the mere thought of spending weeks alone with Aayla didn't keep him up into the wee hours. Judging by her Force presence, she was thinking much the same thing.
Kit allowed himself a shy little grin.
A/N: Well, I'm afraid this is it. The law has been laid down by a vile conspiracy of various powers that be: I must put real life before fanfiction from now on, until March at the earliest. Expect very few further updates for the time being. I apologize truly and fully, my Masters, and accept your censure (via PM and indignant review).