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Chapter 10 Surprise! Part 1
Obi-Wan and Anakin exited the lifts on Garen's floor, laughing at a joke Anakin had told. Obi-Wan had decided earlier that not every moment had to be a teaching moment, so he had relaxed his usual "Masterly" demeanor a little and had allowed Anakin to be himself for a little while without lecture or rebuke.
"Anakin is really a delightful boy," Obi-Wan mused to himself. "If I could only just relax once in a while with him."
Being the Master of the "Chosen One" was not an easy task and Obi-Wan realized that with the burden of that knowledge he all too often used a rather heavy hand when dealing with Anakin.
Anakin was chattering away about a light saber drill he had participated in when Obi-Wan slowed his pace and then stopped, a sudden apprehension gripping him. He took a few short, panting breaths; feeling as though someone had just punched him. Obi-Wan glanced around and saw no one. He stretched out with the force but couldn't feel anything definitive, just the usual quiet bustle of Temple life.
"Where did that come from?" he wondered to himself. Whatever this sudden apprehension was, it was very elusive. Not really a warning, more like an anticipation of something, but whether good or bad he could not tell.
"Master! What's wrong?"
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin and noted the boy's face pinched with concern. He took a deep breath, blew it out and smiled at him.
"I'm fine, Anakin. I just had...I don't know..a funny feeling, thats all."
"Oh, one of your 'bad feelings,' right?" Anakin face relaxed, then smirked into a teasing grin. "If you're afraid to eat Master Garen's dinner, we can go down to the dining room."
"There is no fear," came Obi-Wan's automated reply.
Blast! There I go again. Obi-Wan grinned and tugged Anakin's braid. "Except when it comes to Garen's cooking, that is."
He then chuckled softly. "We've survived questionable cuisine before, we'll survive it again."
At Anakin's appreciative giggle, Obi-Wan added, "Besides, it wasn't exactly a 'bad feeling'. It's just...well, it almost feels like I'm going to see someone, or someone may need me..someone I haven't seen in a long time. I don't know, it's very vague."
There! He felt it again, and this time he thought he sensed something..a presence he hadn't felt in a long time. It had spiked for a moment, and now was gone. Could it be? He glanced around again, then at Garen's door.
Is she...? but he shook his head against it. His earlier thoughts of her must have rattled his senses. She's gone. It did no good to pine for her and feel things that weren't there. What kind of an example could he be to Anakin if he couldn't let go of past feelings and..yes, he admitted to himself, attachments.
He pushed the thoughts away and smiled again at Anakin, whose eyes were large with worry, his grin now hesitant and unsure.
"Don't worry, Padawan, I'm fine. We're here to enjoy an evening with friends, let's have a good time, even if Garen's food may or may not be edible, ok?"
"Well let's get there then!" Anakin declared, bouncing ahead of Obi-Wan, then glancing back at him.
At Obi-Wan's raised eyebrows, he broke into a cheeky grin and demurred, "Oh, sorry Master, two steps behind and slightly to the left."
As he slipped back into place beside his master, Obi-Wan tried unsuccessfully to suppress a grin as he shook his head and muttered, "Impertinent brat."
Obi-Wan was warmed by the responsive sparkle in Anakin's eyes. In the stories he had told Anakin about his adventures with his former master, he hadn't left out Qui-Gon's favorite expression for his sometimes cheeky Padawan. The pleasure he sensed in Anakin at the familiar phrase left them both quiet and filled with thoughts of the man who had meant so much to them.
"Obi-Wan! Anakin! How nice of you to come, and welcome home!" Garen waved his arms with a flourish, inviting them in to his apartment.
Obi-Wan grinned at Garen's display, and clapped his shoulder. "Good to see you too, my friend," he said.
Obi-Wan heard a squeal of delight and turned just as Bant threw herself into his arms.
"Oooh, I missed you so much!" she said, hugging him tightly. Obi-Wan returned her hug, and then back away and eyed her quizzically.
"I'm glad to see you too, Bant, but I wasn't gone that long, and you know our missions right now are pretty tame because Anakin is still too young for anything more right now."
"Oh I know that, Obi-Wan, but I always miss you when you're away."
Anakin had slipped past the two and was heading for the living area when Bant turned to him.
"Don't you go away, young man, I want a hug from you too!"
Obi-Wan grinned at Anakin's longsuffering countenance, then turned his attention to Reeft, who had been patiently waiting behind Bant.
"Reeft, old friend, how good to see you! It's been a long time!" Obi-Wan and Reeft shook hands, then Reeft placed his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder affectionately.
"Yes, it's been awhile. I've been playing around in the outer rim."
"Yes, I heard! I want to hear all about that."
"You got it. I didn't know I was going to run into so much danger. I would have asked you to come along as backup if I had."
"I would have if it were possible, Reeft, if I could have left Anakin here. He's not cleared for anything other than easy, routine missions right now."
Anakin, who had been released from Bant's affectionate hold, had been listening to the two knights.
"I wish our missions were dangerous. Most of our missions right now are boring," he whined.
Obi-Wan shot him a warning look about the pout in his voice. "Now Anakin, in good time. There will come a time when you'll wish we were on one of these "boring" missions."
"Not me!" Anakin declared. "I like lots of action! I can't wait!"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Alas, I'm afraid that is too true," he lamented to the snickering of his friends.
As they entered into the living area, Obi-Wan shrugged out of his robe and motioned Anakin to do the same.
Anakin dutifully carried their robes to Garen's room while Obi-Wan accepted a drink offered by his host.
"Excuse me while I get the rest of the food, dinner is almost ready." Garen turned to head for the kitchen.
"May I help with anything?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Garen shook his head. "I have Bant to help me. Just relax and visit with Reeft, we'll have dinner out in a little while."
Obi-Wan thought he noticed a slight grin on Garen's face as he disappeared into the kitchen. He wondered what that was about, but sat down in the small living area across from Reeft.
"Well, Reeft, it looks like now is as good a time as any to tell us about your mission," Obi-Wan said. Anakin nodded eagerly as he sat down next to his master.
"Well, it started out peacefully enough. It looked like it was going to be an easy job, but Knight Jared and I found ourselves being chased by terrorist assassins trying to stop us from protecting the Prince.."
"Whoa..a Prince?" interjected Anakin.
"Yes. He's a very young Prince, only about 15 years old, but there were attempts to kidnap him to force his father to sign a treaty that would have given the neighboring kingdom too much control over the planet. You see..."
As Reeft continued his story, Obi-Wan noticed Anakin's rapt attention to every word. When Reeft began telling about the attempted capture of the young prince and the Jedi's rescue and ensuing fight against the terrorist group responsible, Anakin had leaned forward, barely holding onto the edge of his seat, totally focused on Reeft as he anticipated the next words.
"If only I could get Anakin's attention this completely," he thought to himself ruefully.
So enthralled were they on Reeft's tale that they all jumped when a sudden knock sounded on Garen's door.
Reeft immediately stood, mumbling, "Already? How time flies." He headed for the kitchen, calling behind him, "Obi-Wan, you get the door and I'll let Garen know that someone is here."
Anakin stood puzzled, glancing between Reeft and his master.
Obi-Wan's gaze followed Reeft into the kitchen, then he glanced at Anakin. He wondered why they didn't sense anyone's approach to Garen's door, and why he couldn't feel anything now. He wondered at the strangeness of it all.
There came a second knock on the door. Anakin asked, "Master, you want me to get it?"
"No Anakin, stay there. I have a feeling it's for me."
He went to the door and paused for a moment.
"Ok, Garen, what are you up to?"
He reached out and opened the door.
TBC