"Under the mask of normal."
Chapter 4
"The truth must come out."
For a moment June just stared at the Communication devise in total and undisturbed silence, save for the frantic beating of her heart, thinking about what just transpired between her and old Master Yoda.
He gave her an order to leave Earth and go to Tatooine with her son, and she, not only disobeyed him, but also cut off the call before saying 'may the Force be with you' like a proper Master Jedi.
Obi-Wan wouldn't approve of her earlier actions. Neither would Jack for that matter.
She blinked and shook her head.
That wasn't important right now, she told herself silently, she can think about whenever her fellow Jedi would sneer at her actions or not, later.
Right now she should focus on alerting her new family of the upcoming danger in the form of Darth Vader and his army of clones.
She isn't sure how she's going to deliver the news though…
Even more so when she knows that neither the Autobots nor the earthlings believe in the existence of Jedi, so it would probably look as if she was trying to convince them Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were real.
She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes.
It was already pretty late by the time she returned from the surgery. She didn't even want to know how late it was now, after her conversation with her old Jedi Master.
Feeling worn out both physically and mentally after a long day of thrills and surprises, June Darby didn't even bother with a shower, jumping into her bed with all the grace an exhausted single mother can possess and allowed Morpheus to take her to DreamLand.
The next day greeted her with the delicious smell of scrambled eggs, fresh coffee and an enthusiastic Jack telling her that classes have been canceled due to kitchen rat infestation.
"Rat infestation?" She repeated after her son as she sat down at the dinner table. "Your school has a rat infestation?"
The black haired boy simply shrugged.
"Apparently." He answered shortly. "Can't say I'm surprised though, that school's old and dire need of a renovation that nobody's willing to pay for."
June shook her head and busied herself with cutting her breakfast into pieces and filling up her hungry tummy.
Jack suddenly chuckled.
"Master Yoda would have a heart attack if our kitchens ever got that dirty, wouldn't he?"
After blinking away the shock at the sudden, and kind of unexplained, mention of the Grand Jedi Master, June giggled as well.
"Yes, I believe so." She looked up, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Afterwards he'd probably huddle over to the council and yell at somebody for such horrendous negligence. Preferably poor Master Windu, no doubt."
"And then said dark skinned master would rush to the kitchen and give those poor souls a piece of his mind." Jack smiled. "That is, of course, if there is someone there to remind him that cutting down a worker with a lightsaber for not doing their job, is not something a Jedi; keeper of peace, should do."
"Oh I don't know…" June said playfully after blowing at her hot coffee. "I think that, after seeing the mice swim inside a pot full of soup for the initiates, even a Jedi as composed as Obi-Wan would lose his cool."
The teenager laughed.
"Now that I'd like to see!" The elder Jedi raised an eyebrow.
"Truly, Padawan? Don't you remember what happened when he found out you and Anakin stole a starship and decided to pay Jar-Jar and Padme a surprise visit on Naboo, when you were, in fact, supposed to be helping Master Yoda teach children in the crèche how to use the Force?"
Immediately a look of enlightenment appeared on the young man's face, before his a shiver ran down his spine.
"Ah…now I remember." Jack admitted. "That was the longest, hardest and most tedious training session in my life time." The boy then rubbed his arm. "Sometimes, I swear my arms are still sore from all the lightsaber attacks I had to repel…Force, he was relentless that day…"
June shrugged and took a bite of her scrambled eggs.
"Well, you two did disappoint him that day, quite badly in fact. During all the years that I've known him, I've never seen him look so…thunderous."
Jack blistered.
"It wasn't just him, Master." The boy said, easily slipping into the title he used to call his mother back during the glory days. "The following week felt like the Force itself was mad as well. The teachers were giving us extra assignments, Force tricks that usually were done with ease took a lot more concentration and the kitchen food-" Jack's stomach suddenly made a unhappy rumble. "Ugh…the smell alone made me want to puke. Trying to eat it sent me to the medical center for an entire week."
The nurse laughed.
"Yes, I remember." She chuckled. "After that incident you swore you'll never make Master Kenobi angry again." June sighed contently. "Good times…good times."
They sat around in silence for a few minutes, relishing in the sweet nostalgia the recollected memories brought, before June decided it was time to break it.
"Jack…" She sighed, tightening her fingers around the coffee cup. "Yesterday, when I came home from surgery, I received a call on out communication devise."
As expected the boy jumped at the information, leaning over the table and looking at his mother with eyes eager for information.
"Really?! Who was it?! Was it Yoda? Is he okay? Does he need our help? Did he find other Jedi survivors? Did Vader discover his location?-"
"Calm down, Padawan." June admonished gently, placing a hand on the youngster's shoulder. "Yes, it was Grand Master Yoda. Yes, he's fine. He doesn't need our help, the Jedi numbers haven't changed since we last counted and Vader is still oblivious to his hiding place."
Jack blinked, absorbing the information.
"But…" He asked slowly. "If nothing happened to him, why did he call us?" The boy narrowed his eyes at his mother. "Something must be up, as Master Yoda is not the type of person to call for idle chat."
June sighed and remained silent.
"Mom…" Jack's hand landed on the woman's shoulder in a comforting squeeze. "What happened? What did he sa-"
"Vader is coming." She cut him off.
"Wha-" The Padawan spluttered. "I don't-How? Why?"
"He's coming to Earth, Jack." June repeated, sterner this time.
She then looked outside the kitchen window.
"And he's bringing the Galactic War with him."