Chapter Twelve
Lina took off her outer layers of robes, leaving her in a tank top and baggy trousers. She crawled under the sheets, the softness warming her body and tickling her sore arms and rosy cheeks. She drifted off into a dreamless sleep, darkness encompassing her mind.
~O~
"Lina, Lina wake up."
She was being shaken by large hands on her shoulders. Her eyes fluttered open and she instantly winced at the brightness in the room. Ki-Adi stood over her, his large body now eclipsing the light from her face. "You need to wake up, Padawan."
Lina groaned and covered her eyes with her arms. Ki-Adi chuckled heartily, "I'll leave you to dress, meet me in the hallway."
Lina dressed hurriedly, adjusting the chestnut and onyx robes over her frame and fastened her tall boots onto her athletic legs. She clipped her belt over her robes and took a quick inventory, everything, including her lightsaber, was in her curls in her hands to form a ponytail, with an elastic in her teeth, she entered the hallway. For the second time that morning Ki-Adi laughed. Lina stared at him questioningly, still doing her hair.
"We have a mission."
Lina nodded and took the elastic from her mouth, tying her hair up so it brushed against her shoulder blades. She grabbed her ebony cloak from the door. They walked through the halls to a dock on the side of the temple. They boarded a vessel.
"A medical station has been out of touch since yesterday morning. The council is sure it is nothing, they might not even know their communications are offline."
They flew to a hanger about thirty minutes away. Ki- Adi took this opportunity to speak to his padawan. "You will need to stay close to me. We don't know what we will find."
"I will be alright, Master."
"I mean it Lina. Be careful." The doors suddenly opened and they stepped out. She froze. Before them stood many men covered in white pristine armour. They all stood rigid but they all seemed to stare at her and Ki-Adi. Lina resisted the urge to pull up her hood and cower behind her master. Her cheeks reddened.
"General Mundi, Commander Young. This is your squadron," A man in gray said.
The men all saluted simultaneously, the sound of their armour echoing in the hanger.
"At ease," Ki-Adi said.
"Come this way," the man in gray led them on to the biggest ship Lina had ever seen.
Ki-Adi leaned into Lina, who was walking briskly beside him. "You will catch bugs, little one."
Lina shut her mouth so quickly her teeth hurt. The man lead the Jedi up to the brig. Her master and the man spoke in military lingo that made Lina's head spin. Lina tried to keep up but just found herself cleaning her nails and fiddling with her braid. Momentarily they had arrived in the area. Lina and Ki Adi made their way to a smaller craft. They, along with the clones, were packed so tightly one would think they were being smuggled.
Some of the clones spoke under their helmets whereas others were silent. Lina automatically decided she liked the silent ones more. Ki-Adi whispered to her so quietly she was positive she was the only one who could hear him. Whispering words of encouragement, he reminded her again that she should stay close to him. Suddenly a loud guffaw cut through the quiet of the slight conversations. Lina turnt her head slightly.
"We are about to be led into battle by an inexperienced child? And a woman at that?" a deep voice proclaimed, laced with amusement.
Lina's jaw tightened and her fists clenched. Ki-Adi turned which was difficult due to his height and being in the tight space.
"If you insult my apprentice and your commander again, I will let her teach you a lesson," his voice was calm but it boomed like thunder.
The trooper quieted instantly. Lina stood glaring at the wall. Ki-Adi placed a hand on Lina's shoulder. Lina's glare evaporated and she patted his shoulder in a gesture of thanks. Then, the ship attached to the medical center and the doors opened.
