A/N: Only a short one this time, sorry. But there is an OT cameo! Of a sort...
"In the dreams, she's in pain, and she's crying out for me…" Anakin's voice trailed off as he took in Obi-Wan's dubious expression. He sighed. "I know it doesn't sound like much… but I wake feeling anxious, needing to do something, anything, to help her…"
Obi-Wan seemed to feel obligated to preach. "Prophetic dreams are rare, and may not mean exactly what you think they do…"
Anakin opened his mouth to object. The Council had believed him! Obi-Wan himself had seemed to, as well, when they spoke outside the Council Chambers. But Obi-Wan's face betrayed a hint of a smile, and the words died on Anakin's lips. He stared at his master.
Realising he was caught, Obi-Wan chuckled. "Relax, Anakin. I believe you." He rested a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I'm impressed by the maturity you're showing, Anakin."
The praise made Anakin smile.
Of course, Anakin had wanted to take the fastest, shiniest ship in the Temple Hangar. Obi-Wan just shook his head, and told Anakin to use his, too.
"We want something older; not something that will stand out on Tatooine. Not everyone is friendly towards the Jedi, as you well know."
Anakin huffed a little, staring wistfully at the elegant, gleaming ship. "Says you. You landed in a shiny new J-class Nubian!"
After looking at some of the other ships, they settled on something suitable: the Stellar Envoy. It was a rather patched-looking YT-1300 freighter, heavily modified. Particularly the hyperdrive. Anakin had noted this last point with a glee that made Obi-Wan's stomach churn.
But there was no real objection he could raise. Anakin had declared it fly-able; Temple engineers had declared it space-worthy. It was bigger than the two of them needed; but it would fit in perfectly on Tatooine, a world frequented by spice smugglers and slave dealers.
"But we'll need to give it a different name," Anakin insisted. "No smuggling ship would be called Stellar Envoy!"
He then dubbed it Star Bat, for reasons unexplained to Obi-Wan.
Next chapter, our heroes will be on Tatooine.