THE EARLY DAYS DUET:
BOOK ONE: RESTORING DIPLOMACY
Chapter Ten - A Resolute Defiance
I did as I was told, and waited with Anakin in the Senate's main lobby. It turned out that I didn't mind his company as much as I thought I would. This little boy had a certain appeal that just made him...likeable. I could see why Prissy seemed so enamored with him. He had a childlike euphoria that was hard to compete with. Everything about Coruscant was more foreign to him than it was even to me. A slave boy's perspective was certainly different from a bodyguard's. We were both familiar with submission to authority, but the backgrounds of those authorities were so obtusely different. I found myself fascinated with where we paralleled, though.
I was grateful to be out of the confines of Amidala's bedchamber, but I knew I would be receiving an earful when I got back. Rabé had told me as much, and Padmé's punishment had promised me as much. But I figured that it would be best to just enjoy what I could while it lasted.
We had been sitting idly on one of the lounge chairs, accompanied by two other Naboo palace guards. We had managed to strike a surprisingly invigorating conversation while we waited.
"So, how many handmaidens does the Queen have?" Anakin asked, curious. His mind was evidently still on Padmé. She must have made a huge impression on him.
I was forced to improvise, since I didn't want to reveal too much. If I did, it would be really difficult for me to explain how I was on Coruscant, but not the ship.
"Usually there are five of us," I replied. "But because of the invasion on Naboo, we've all been sort of...scattered." I thought sadly of Saché and Yané. I hoped that my obscure reply to Anakin was at least explanatory enough to keep him from asking any more questions.
"Do you like your job?" Anakin asked. It was an honest question, but it felt like a loaded one, thanks to my previous quarrel I had with my retinue.
"It has its days," I said evasively. "But I suppose that's the nature of any job."
"Not for a Jedi," Anakin said confidently. "They have the best job in the universe! I know I'll love every single day of it, if I get in."
"I have no doubts that they'll take you in," I said with a small smile. "With a heart as kind as yours, they should have no problem accepting you."
Anakin beamed at me. "Thanks," he said. "I hope you're right."
"Oh, I know I am," I ruffled his sandy-blond hair. Maybe the kid wasn't all bad. He was successfully cheering me up, so I guess he earned bonus points for that.
I cheered up even more at the sight of two certain Jedi Knights who had entered the lobby. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan quickly laid eyes on young Anakin, and they ventured towards us. We rose from our chairs to greet them.
When they drew near, Obi-Wan's eyes flashed with recognition. Even through my hood, he knew it was me.
"Master Jedi," I bowed humbly before Qui-Gon. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am an attendant for her Majesty, Queen Amidala."
"I thank you for looking after young Anakin while we reported to the Jedi Council," Qui-Gon said, returning the bow. Obi-Wan followed suit, but I noted his knowing smirk as he peeked back up at me.
"How did it go?" Anakin asked, looking up at the tall man.
Qui-Gon smiled gently. "They have granted me permission to bring you to them."
Obi-Wan and I kept our eyes on each other, giving our own silent greeting while the other two talked.
"Does that mean I'm in?" Anakin asked, elated.
"Not quite," Qui-Gon said. "Well, not yet," he edited. "They'll have a few tests to run before they can acknowledge if you're qualified."
By his tone, I suspected that Qui-Gon already had the utmost confidence that the boy would pass these little examinations. I recalled Obi-Wan's stupefaction in regards to Anakin's midi-chlorian count, and I found myself quietly agreeing with Qui-Gon's confidence for once.
I was surprised to see a glimmer of doubt cross Obi-Wan's face. I couldn't quite place why that was.
"Are you ready to go?" Qui-Gon asked of the young boy.
"Yep," Anakin replied, hoisting his brown satchel over his shoulder.
I dreaded having to return to return to my cranky entourage. But I was struck with an idea. It probably wasn't a wise move, but I knew I needed to distance myself from the other girls until we all could calm down—especially myself. Who knows, maybe my absence would quiet their tempers, so long as I made them aware of it.
"If I may," I asked, "would it be too much to ask if I accompanied you to the Jedi Temple? I have been granted permission to go off duty for awhile, and I'd like to explore Coruscant while I stay here."
Obi-Wan arched a quizzical eyebrow.
Okay, so I technically hadn't been dismissed, but I had been ordered by Padmé to take a break earlier on today. I didn't lie to the Jedi, I merely...stretched the truth. It was all dependent on one's point of view.
"I suppose that won't be a problem," Qui-Gon said. "The Jedi Temple isn't exactly a place for tourists, but consider it a thank you for your diligence in keeping an eye on Anakin."
"Thank you, Master Jedi," I grinned. I turned to one of the Palace Guards. "Please tell the Queen that the Jedi have graciously permitted me to accompany them to the Jedi Temple. I shall be back before nightfall." I phrased it carefully so that it didn't sound like it was my idea, but I also wasn't putting words in the mouths of the Jedi. It looked like my lessons in politics had really been coming in handy.
The palace guard nodded in submission, and he and his partner headed back to the Queen's quarters, now that their job was done.
I briefly reminisced on the first gala I attended with Padmé—the last time I had bailed on my entourage when I wasn't supposed to. One would think that I should have learned my lesson from that one. But unlike last time, my reasons for leaving weren't motivated simply by childish rebellion. I couldn't really explain it, but I had a strong feeling that leaving the premises was an important thing for me to do. And I was never one to ignore my instincts when they vied for my submission. So I left, even if it was only to be for a little while.
Late Afternoon
Jedi Temple, Coruscant
The Jedi Temple was certainly a unique piece of architecture. It was easy to single out in the cityscape once we got close enough in our transport. Anakin grew increasingly shy as the Temple drew nearer. His visit here would determine his fate, so I could completely understand why he would seem nervous. It was no different than when Panaka first singled me out and tested to see if I was qualified for the Order of Sanctuary.
I removed my hood while we were in the transport, deciding that Anakin must not have been paying much attention to the exact number of handmaidens there were with Amidala. He only really seemed to care about one in particular, anyway.
Obi-Wan was sitting quietly for the duration of the ride, while Qui-Gon made idle attempts of conversation with Anakin. Every now and again, I had a question regarding Coruscant, and Qui-Gon would politely provide me with an answer.
I had a strange feeling that Qui-Gon wasn't entirely happy with me being around. I wondered if his experience with Padmé on Tatooine had any influence on that. It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe Qui-Gon felt that I was being too intrusive; like I was just another set of eyes meant to satiate "the Queen's curiosity." I left Amidala on my own accord, so this obviously wasn't the case. But I knew when I didn't feel entirely welcome.
The transport parked at the Temple's entrance. Qui-Gon and Anakin walked out first, followed by Obi-Wan. I lagged behind a little bit, struck by the sheer enormity of the Temple.
"Miss Sabé, are you coming?"
I jerked at the sound of my name, and looked on to see Obi-Wan waiting for me at the steps of the Temple. Qui-Gon and Anakin were already most of the way up the stairs. I hadn't realized that I had stopped walking.
"Oh, sorry," I said, feeling my cheeks heat in embarrassment. I walked up alongside him as we caught up with Qui-Gon and Anakin. "I've never seen the Jedi Temple before," I said. "I must say that I hadn't expected it to look so...grand."
Obi-Wan shrugged. "That wasn't entirely by our choice. The Temple has undergone a lot of renovations since even before the early days of the Republic. Our contribution to the government has provided the finances to make it what it is today."
The interior of the building proved to be just as impressive. What struck me the most was how the light from outside had poured in from the panels of windows along the walls, and various statues were intermittently displayed on the marble floors. They looked like important figures from the Jedi Council, from what I could venture to guess.
Qui-Gon turned to face me and Obi-Wan. "I will take Anakin to the Council to commence his testing. Obi-Wan, if you would be so kind as to see to our guest?"
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan bowed. From there, Qui-Gon parted ways with us, with young Anakin in tow.
"So, what would you like to see first, Miss Sabé?" Obi-Wan asked after they left.
I wrinkled my nose. "Unless you want me to revert to calling you 'Jedi Kenobi,' you can just call me Sabé."
Obi-Wan gave a small smile. "I take it you don't prefer formalities?"
"Not particularly, no," I said. "Flattery often harbors deceit. I prefer it when people are straightforward. In my experience, it's more honest."
"Very well, then," Obi-Wan said. "I see your point. Henceforth, I'll simply refer to you as Sabé."
"Much better," I gave a nod of approval. There was a brief silence. "What would you like me to see first?" I asked, remembering Obi-Wan's initial question.
Obi-Wan considered a moment, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "From what I remember, you are very adept at physical combat." He paused for effect. "Would you like to see our training facility?"
Would I ever! "I would love that!" I gushed.
"I had a feeling you would," Obi-Wan said, his smile finally reaching his eyes. "Come, I'll show you."
We were walking casually to get there, but every innermost part of me wanted to run down to the training room. I was eager to see the Jedi in action; training and mastering the art of their ways. And, if I was permitted, I'd love to spar with them to see what I was made of.
The room was expansive, to say the least. Just like everything else in Coruscant, I supposed. Jedi of all shapes and sizes were present. Some were dueling, others were instructing, and still others were studying. Younglings, Padawans, Knights, Masters...every rank in the Jedi order was present. And every one of them was graced with special abilities that marked them for greatness. I stood rapt at the sight.
"This is remarkable," I breathed. "I've never seen so many Jedi in one place."
Obi-Wan gave me a sidelong glance, amusement tracing the contours of his face. "This is one of my favorite places to go. I spent most of my early childhood training in this room. I have many fond memories in here."
"I can see why," I remarked. I noticed a line up of training weapons being displayed on the far wall of the room. I ambled over to them, studying their visual quality. I reached my hand out and held it poised, awaiting permission to grasp one. "May I?" I asked Obi-Wan. He nodded.
I was surprised at how light it felt. It had the intricate formation of a lightsaber's hilt, but a blunt metal protruded from it instead of a beam of light. I held it out, weighing it carefully in my hand.
"Do lightsabers have any weight on the blade?" I asked, curious.
"Not exactly, no," Obi-Wan said. He snagged a neighboring saber from the display and twirled it idly at the hilt. His favorite move, I imagine. I remember him doing that same move back at Theed.
"The weight of the hilt counteracts with the lightness of the blade itself," he explained, "to further provide a sense of balance for those who wield it." He ran his hand along the metal shaft. "Part of what makes a lightsaber such a superior weapon, is that it bears no edge, but it strikes with all edge."
I was completely enraptured with his words. How I wished Naboo was more inclined with the study of weapons. Clumsy blasters would get us nowhere in advancing with weaponry.
"Would it be permissible for me to spar in here?" I asked, unable to restrain myself. "I've been craving for an opportunity to do something like this for days."
Obi-Wan smirked. "Only if you think you can handle it," he said. "But I must warn you, I have been well trained in the Jedi Arts."
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Then it is only fair that I warn you that I am an elite warrior, hand chosen to protect the executive power of my home planet."
We both set our robes aside before squaring each other on a dueling mat. Obi-Wan was far better dressed for a fight in his off-white garb than I was. I had on my simplistic gown that complemented my burgundy handmaiden cloak. The slink of the dress shouldn't be too cumbersome I didn't think. The skirts at least gave room for mobility.
Obi-Wan made the first strike, and I parried his blow, already feeling the thrill of my adrenaline rush. I did a counter attack, which he deflected with ease. The duel was fast paced, and fueled by excitement. Obi-Wan was relishing in the opportunity to show off his skills, and I was in my element by showing off to him with equal fervor.
"So is this where you learned all your fancy acrobatics?" I asked conversationally as we sparred.
"Why yes, as a matter of fact," Obi-Wan said, catapulting over me with another daring strike. I evaded his blade, and tried to retaliate from underneath, but to no avail. "It is my favorite form of lightsaber fighting," he said.
"Does this technique have a name to go with it?" I asked advancing toward him once he landed. He knocked his blade perpendicular to mine, defending from my onset.
"Well, the Jedi have crafted seven forms of fighting with a lightsaber. This one," he said with another strike, "is Ataru. It allows a Jedi to fight with fast paced, aggressive skill, no matter the age or physical condition. The Force enables us to even be capable of defying gravity."
"Impressive," I panted. We had paused, in a moment of stalemate. "So I guess that means I'm unable to practice these forms then?"
"Not all of them necessarily," Obi-Wan said. We walked in a slow circular formation, awaiting for one of us to make the next move. For now, I was enjoying the little side-lesson I was receiving from the Jedi Apprentice. And he probably was savoring the opportunity he had to teach some of what he learned. "The lightsaber was originally crafted to simply deflect blaster fire, but mediating situations soon called to be a little more...aggressive in nature."
I understood all too well. It was a concept that I had been trying religiously to get into Prissy's head for years.
"Now that's my kind of negotiation," I said, allowing myself a small, crooked smile.
Obi-Wan smiled back and made another acrobatic jump at me, closing our distance. I held my blade out horizontally, and pushed Obi-Wan back into a defensive formation.
"What makes learning the Jedi Forms an impossibility for you, is that you don't have the Force-sensitivity that allows the midi-chlorians to help maneuver you in a fight." Obi-Wan explained.
"Meaning I don't have Jedi Reflexes," I translated.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said.
Our duel continued for a while. Honestly, I'd lost track of how long. I was euphoric the entire time I was in the training room. I loved how in control I felt wielding a blade, and how I no longer felt shriveled and decayed like I had in the isolation of my role as a decoy.
I still lost the duel, but I never really anticipated that I would win. We had a long bout, so I was proud that I at least managed to last against Obi-Wan for as long a time as I did.
"Thank you," I said afterward. Obi-Wan handed me a cool towel to help eliminate the heat and sweat I had emanating from me. "I really needed the opportunity to do that again."
"It was my pleasure," Obi-Wan said, plopping beside me on a simple wooden bench. I continued watching the other activities of the training room, feeling both invigorated and rejuvenated.
"You put on a pretty good fight."
"Thanks," I said, flattered. "You're not too bad yourself."
I would have been perfectly happy remaining in the room, savoring my moment of elation. But my stomach rudely hindered that, much to my mortification. I guess the exercise made me hungry.
It didn't go unnoticed by Obi-Wan. He had the audacity to laugh at me for my stomach's plea for attention. I flushed in embarrassment.
"I suppose it would be rude to ignore the fact that even guests need to eat at some point," he said lightly. "Here, allow me to escort you to one of my favorite places."
"Is it in the Jedi Temple?" I asked, thinking he would continue the tour.
"Actually...no. It's a place not too far from here, though."
"A dingy diner?" I asked, cocking my head at the sight of the run-down restaurant that Obi-Wan had taken me to.
"Is it not to your taste?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned.
"Oh, no, it's perfectly fine," I hastily reassured him. "It's just...I'm surprised that this would be a place to your liking. You seemed too..." I struggled to find a way to put it kindly "...proper for a place like this."
Obi-Wan laughed. "I know you don't prefer formality, Sabé. But you are right when you say it has a danger of serving as a facade. I merely use respectability as a form of politeness, even in grungy atmospheres. But the people here are pleasant enough company, despite its appearance. I thought you might appreciate the dynamics here better than you would in a rigid Jedi Temple."
I appreciated his sentiment. "Well, then what are we waiting for?" I asked, leading the way into the diner's main entrance.
The place was bustling, which I hadn't expected. It was too early for dinner, but definitely too late for lunch. It must have been a popular venue in the lower reaches of Coruscant. But Obi-Wan was right, it gave off a pleasant atmosphere. It was busy, but comfortable.
Obi-Wan led me to a booth, where we sat and waited for menus. "This is nice," I said, looking around.
A WA-7 waitress droid wheeled her way over and dropped menus in front of us. "Wouldja like anything to drink?" she asked rather loudly. I wondered if she had been reprogrammed deliberately to sound that way.
I looked over at Obi-Wan, clueless. I had no idea what I should have.
"Two of the usual," he said with a smile to the droid.
"Two Jawa Juices. Gotcha, Obi-Wan," the waitress said. The light behind her left eye feature blipped off and on, imitating a wink. Swiftly she wheeled away, and shouted back to him "D'you want me to let Dex to know you're here?" she asked.
"No need, FLO," A voice called out. A big, lumbering alien walked out from the kitchen located at the side of the building. "Good ta see ya, Obi-Wan!" he said cheerfully, opening his four arms in salutation. Obi-Wan stood and hugged the alien. I stayed seated and just awkwardly gave him a small wave.
"What brings you here? I thought you had a diplomatic mission in the Mid Rim?" the alien asked. His voice was loud like the droid's, but he had a nice dark timber in his tone that made him sound significantly less obnoxious.
"Well, for now, our mandate on that matter is settled," Obi-Wan said. "But I did bring a friend along for a visit." He was referring to me.
"And who might you be?" the alien asked, smiling broadly.
"I am Sabé Evoria from the Naboo," I said, rising from my seat. Now that the attention was on me, I felt awkward being the only one seated. "I was among the royal entourage that Obi-Wan rescued from my planet's invasion."
"Invasion you say, eh?" He seemed concerned by what I said, but unfazed by it. I assumed that he was the sort to have heard about invasions from many places. "Well, I hope everything sorts out for you over there."
"Me too," I said somberly. The recollection of what happened at my home planet sent my mind reeling back to reality. I may have been escaping from Padmé's temper, but I could never escape the fact that my home was still in turmoil.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meetcha, miss," Dex said, aiming to brighten the mood a bit. "I hope you enjoy your stay here." He started to walk away.
"Thank you," I smiled politely.
"Make sure Obi-Wan here does the paying," he said, directing a burly finger at the Jedi in question. "It ain't polite to have a pretty lady like you have to handle the money for an outing."
"No worries, Dex," Obi-Wan said with a smile. I noticed the tips of his ears turn red at the comment. "I'll have her well taken care of."
We both sat back down at the booth, and the waitress came by with our Jawa juice. I was unfamiliar with the liquid, so I gave it a careful whiff, and sipped it. It had an unusual tang.
"What exactly is this made of?" I asked, wincing at the flavor.
"Not Jawas, I assure you," Obi-Wan said, taking a full swig of his own cup. I silently gagged. How could he drink so much tang in one gulp? "You get used to it after awhile," he said, reading my expression.
Somehow, I doubted that. I was polite and kept sipping away at it anyway.
"So how do you think Anakin's tests are going?" I asked, trying to spark conversation. I gleaned through the menu, trying to find something that resembled a discernible meal.
"If he is anything like Qui-Gon seems to think he is, I have no doubts that he will excel." Obi-Wan said. "But I felt a strong sense of skepticism from many members in the Council when Qui-Gon first brought up the idea of Anakin's destiny." He sighed, "I won't deny that I feel my own level of disbelief at Qui-Gon's claims."
I looked up from my menu and gave him my full attention. "And what are his claims?"
"There is a prophecy," Obi-Wan said. "That there will be a Chosen One who will restore balance to the Force. Qui-Gon believes that Anakin was conceived by the midi-chlorians, and is destined to fulfill that fate. While I can agree that the force is unusually strong with him, I struggle to accept the idea that he has the potential to bring balance."
"Why do you say that?" I asked. It seemed a little discourteous of him to be so negative about the boy.
"I feel that he won't succeed," he said bluntly. "Regardless of his abilities, he's too old to learn how to harness them. The Council wouldn't dare make an exception to tradition solely because there is a prodigy who happens to not have a father."
I was silent. His jealousy was guarded, but undeniably present. But the question was, was Obi-Wan jealous of the boy's abilities, or of Qui-Gon's sudden fascination with him? He was masking his disapproval with logic.
Without thinking, I placed my hand over his. Obi-Wan looked startled at the gesture. Frankly, it startled me, too.
"Just because Anakin impresses Qui-Gon, it doesn't mean that you've lost your Master's favor," I comforted.
"Oh, but I feel that I have," Obi-Wan said glumly. He paused, then said "I had to beg him to allow me to be his apprentice back when I was thirteen. If he didn't select me, I may never have managed to secure myself with a Jedi Master. I was late in the game for becoming a Padawan learner, and I was one of the eldest Younglings. It was an embarrassing situation to be in.
"When Qui-Gon saw my tenacity, I finally managed to impress him. And I made that last as best I could. I wanted to make him proud, for whatever it was worth. I felt I owed it to him for being gracious enough to take me in in the first place."
He gave a shaky breath. "But," he continued, "it was always clear to me that I was never someone that he chose. Now that Anakin Skywalker has entered the picture, I can't help feeling as though all my effort was never enough for him."
"Don't say that," I said.
Obi-Wan removed his hand from underneath mine and set it shyly on his lap, out of my reach. He broke eye contact with me, unsure of how to respond to my gentle admonishment.
I bit my lip.
"You ready to order?" the waitress returned, interrupting our conversation. I flinched at the sound of her voice.
"Yes, I think so," I said. Blindly, I selected one of their dinner entrees. Obi-Wan didn't even need the menu. Once we ordered, the waitress wheeled off again.
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan apologized. "I shouldn't have told you any of that. The last thing you need to worry about at the moment is my own well-being."
"Don't apologize," I said. "I'm glad that you trust me enough to tell me these sorts of things."
"Aside from my own problems, how has your transition on Coruscant been?"
I shrugged. It would be very hard to keep the conversation light and trivial if we started going on about what my day entailed.
"I got into a spat with Amidala and some of the other handmaidens," I said, deciding to keep it casual and vague.
"Is that why you chose to sneak off with us today?" Obi-Wan asked, a smirk starting to return to his face.
Well, my ridiculous behavior seemed to be lightening him up at least. I could afford to bring some shame to myself if it meant cheering him up.
"Yes," I confessed. "Amidala is just really stressed is all, and she seems to like taking it out on me. I guess it's because I'm an easy target. Unlike the others, I am really argument prone."
"I can't imagine the Queen having a temper tantrum," Obi-Wan said, furrowing his brow, trying to imagine it.
I narrowed my eyes, willfully deciding to bypass his attempt at humor. "That's by design. The only thing you're supposed to imagine is the stoic lethargy of the Amidala persona. When the Queen and her handmaidens are alone, Padm—er, Amidala," I winced at the slip up, "is perfectly normal. There is no charade. She's as human as the rest of us."
Obi-Wan lighted up. "Padmé?" He asked. "The one who went with Qui-Gon in Mos Espa?"
I shriveled in my seat. "And the one that Anakin talks endlessly about. One and the same," I said. I buried my face in my hands. "Gosh, some bodyguard I am."
Obi-Wan actually laughed outright at my comment. "I think you do a wonderful job," he said. "You had me fooled for awhile when you were the decoy."
"Yeah," I retorted. "For awhile. It seems that I have developed a very terrible habit in disclosing classified information to you." I groaned, thunking my head repeatedly against the table.
I settled my head morosely on the table. "Obviously, I have to ask you not to tell anyone," I said, my voice muffled by the tabletop.
"I've kept my word so far, haven't I?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I would hope so," I peeked up at him, my chin still resting on the table. "Otherwise I would have to annul our friendship."
"That would indeed be tragic," Obi-Wan said, entertained by my antics.
Obi-Wan's comlink began to go off.
"Obi-Wan, is Sabé Evoria with you?" a crackly old voice asked.
"Yes, Madame Jocasta, she is."
"I have just received word from the Senate that Queen Amidala requests her presence."
I groaned again, plopping my head right back on the table.
Obi-Wan stifled a laugh. "Understood, I will take her there without delay. Do you have any update on Anakin Skywalker's tests?"
"The Council isn't finished with him yet, but Qui-Gon is still waiting in the corridor," Jocasta replied.
"Could you tell my Master that I will rendezvous with him shortly after I drop off Miss Sabé?" he asked.
"Of course, Obi-Wan."
"Thank you, Jocasta."
Obi-Wan put his comlink back in his utility belt.
"Do I have to go?" I moaned.
"Well, if the Queen demanded it, I suppose you don't have much choice," he said.
Obi-Wan hailed the waitress. "We'll take ours to go," he said.
"Roger that," the waitress saluted casually.
Roger that…I knew the term was meant lightly in this context, but the phrase in and of itself reminded me of the battle droids that Gunray had unleashed on Naboo. The reminder made my blood freeze. Padmé must have finished her session in the Senate by now.
My eyes widened at the realization. I stood up quickly, and tried tugging Obi-Wan from his seat. "Come on, we've got to go," I said hurriedly.
"I thought you weren't inclined to return?" Obi-Wan laughed as he eased himself up.
"The hearing has got to be finished at this point. Maybe Amidala has a verdict to share with me. Naboo has either been saved, or it hasn't. I need to know this, Obi-Wan. It's important to me!"
"Of course it is," Obi-Wan said sympathetically. "Don't worry, I'll get us there." Obi-Wan glanced down at his arm. I was still holding it in a death grip. "But I need you to calm down a bit, first," he said.
"Sorry," I said, promptly lowering my arms.
"Hey, Dex," Obi-Wan called out. "Would it be alright if I borrowed your delivery speeder?"
"Sure thing, Kenobi," Dex called out from the back. "Just make sure you don't wreck it when you bring it back."
"Thanks," he said. The waitress returned with our carry out, and Obi-Wan paid her the proper fee.
I couldn't stay calm. I tried, but I couldn't. I had to get back.