Track Thirteen

Coruscanti Graffiti

As it turned out finding a place to eat was a trial. Most of the expensive restaurants were near the Temple. Evidentially there was a tourism industry that took advantage of being near the "guardians of the peace". Ben half wondered how many of the Jedi took a cut from the local businesses profiting from this...

"Dude this is crazy," Peter huffed as they passed the third absurdly priced eatery. "Do they want people to starve?"

"No they just want your money," Ben quipped back even as he kept a lookout for a eatery that wouldn't bust their admittedly limited budget. "But yeah it's a bit preposterous that they're charging you an arm and leg over it."

"I'm hungry," Ahsoka whined as she pulled Ben's arm. It was understandable, they had been walking for quite a while now and even taken a free airbus a short distance away but the prices were no better. Now that they were in different zone Ben hoped it would be semi affordable.

"Yeah we know Sodapop," Peter consoled her. "We're looking sweetheart...okay now I have a question, why does Coruscant have American Graffiti here? Is Wolfman Jack on the radio? Are there Cadillacs here?" Peter asked looking a particularly small building to their left.

Huh? Ben looked at both Peter and the building confused. "What on Xander are you talking about? This Earthian thing isn't it?"

"Yeah," Peter answered still staring. "It's just I wasn't expecting to see a soda joint here."

"Well let's see if they've got some grub and then you can explain what an America Graffiti is."

"Dude it's American Graffiti not America."

"Whatever, your home planet is weird," Ben quipped making Peter stick out his tongue in retaliation making Ahsoka giggle. "And incidentally it's called Dex's Diner so let's see if we can afford it since it's the closest right now."

"I'm down for eating there if you are," Peter said once he'd finished insulting him. "It's not like we found anything else."

"Works for me," Ben shrugged. "Let's go."

"Hooray food!"

Decision made all of them walked into the restaurant and were greeted with a female droid that made Peter extremely excited much to Ben's amusement. Once they were seated and Ben got a look at the menu he sighed with relief. It turned out that they would be able to afford this place. Thank heavens for small favors.

"Take your time," the serving droid said to them as she rolled off.

"Need a translation?" Ben asked noticing Peter's furrowed brows. Ahsoka looked at Peter with a sympathetic glance as well confirming that she at least knew how to read if rudimentary fashion. In fact they'd even given her the local equivalent of kiddie menu complete with coloring crayons.

"Yes," Peter grunted as he handed him the menu. Once he'd done that Ahsoka started coloring the sheet. "Good grief I wish I could read this gibberish."

"Aurebesh," Ben said absently flipping through the meals. "It's called Aurebesh. It's for the first two letters like your Earthian alphabet...kinda."

"What how...Ah ha so you have been here before!"

"And I don't remember anything personal if that's what you're fishing for," Ben stated as he looked down the options. Huh this was pretty good things here and best of all for a reasonable price which was something he could get behind. "It's just general information mostly and it mostly comes in spurts more then usual. So no big revelations on whether I'm royalty. Sorry no reward yet."

"Bummer," Peter breathed. "That majorly sucks man."

"I'm used to it little brother and I don't mind it now," Ben said looking up from the menu his mind made up on what they'd eat.

"Doesn't make it suck any less," Peter argued giving him a morose look. "I mean I'd hate it if I didn't know jack about my past. I'd be itching to find out more like...my dad for example," he finished with a whisper of longing.

"Little brother I'd say you're not missing anything," Ben countered giving him a compassionate look. "If that slime ball ditched your Mom like you said before you even came in and didn't even visit when she was dying of cancer then I'd say he's a piece of crap end of story."

"He's a big meanie," Ahsoka added looking up from her coloring giving Peter a sad look catching Peter's attention. "Big meanie. I don't like him. Kick his butt!"

Peter snorted while he wiped away some stray tears that Ben didn't comment on at Ahsoka's bluntness as she turned back to her important coloring. Soon he joined Peter in snorting. Soon two's snorting ended up devolving into full blown guffawing once the fact that a four year old had effectively called out Peter's AWOL dad had settled in. It was a sore point for Peter only surpassed by his mother's passing. It was something that Ben had talk about with him at length when they felt like it. Peter needed that kind of help and in turn Peter listened to Ben when his rare random fits of memory popped up. It was a good way of getting out the skeletons in the closet and made them feel better about it.

"Thanks for the sympathy guys," Peter smiled at them once the two of them had stopped laughing.

"But seriously it's fine that I don't remember anything," Ben said giving them both a soft smile that he reserved for Peter and now Ahsoka."Besides" he added with a smirk. "I've got you numbskulls to keep me company and I'm not a slave to the Kree anymore so it's all good."

"Aw you're such a sap I love you man and you're so right," Peter teased. "Except the numbskull part," Peter said straightening up to try and look impressive. "I'm totally the brains of this outfit and you know it."

"And that's crap and you know it," Ben countered with a smug smirk. "Who keeps dragging you out messes? That's me so ergo I'm the brains while you're the pretty face of the organization. Ahsoka can be the mascot until she's older and figures out what to do."

"Jerk," Peter shot back with amused look. "I can totally be the brains."

"I'll believe that when I see it," Ben teased. "And I'm getting us all a nerf burger, fried Corellian potatoes with a bantha milkshake."

"No. Way. They've got burgers, fries and milkshakes here?!" Peter's eyes boggled as he almost jumped out his seat with joy. "That's awesome!"

"Yummy food I like it!"

"Darn right Ahsoka," Peter agreed as he rubbed her horns affectionately. "Man this is just like Earth. Is there a jukebox nearby? That'd complete the look. Hey do they have Pepsi here too?!"

"No I think that's only an Earthian food. But speaking of look," Ben said as he waited for the droid to come back to get their order. "I've got a few ideas on how to enter the Temple."

"Okay shot."

"We find a back way and when confronted we say that we're taking a kid to be trained. We'll steal some cloaks so we blend in."

"Okay but I'm the master and you're the Padawan."

"Pada-what?"

"Yeah I had a similar reaction," Peter said with a shrug. "Evidentially it's the name for apprentice for the Jedi. Jinn told me he had an apprentice named Obi-something something once."

"I see," Ben said his heart quickening without him really understanding why. "Did he say what happened to the kid?"

"He said that he died," Peter said sadly. "Something about being one with the "Force" or something like that...Hey is the Force the Ashla? Cause I'd stick with using Ashla instead of that because seriously who looks a cosmic power and thinks: 'Gee maybe I should name something generic like a description of things moving...That's it I'll call it the Force.' Dunno seems kinda lame to me."

"Well it's straight and to the point," Ben said secretly relieved at the change of conversation and yet hurt learning that Jinn had dismissed his apprentice like that. He would sort through the latter feelings later along with the rest of his emotions. Concentrate on the moment. Don't center on your anxieties."I mean we call it a cosmic force 'magic' so I think we've got no room to complain."

"I guess so, anyways he said that the kid was one with the Force whatever the hell that means died or whatever but he said he had his doubts..."

"One with the Force sounds like people think he's died and yet he doesn't believe it?" Ben asked his heart giving a leap. He doesn't think that? Then where the blazes was he when I was-

"Guess not," Peter shrugged interrupting Ben's erratic thoughts. "But I have no clue what he's talking about."

"You guys ready to order?" The droid interrupted having rolled up during the conversation.

"Yeah we'll all have a nerf burger meal and bantha milkshakes," Ben answered. "Oh and small Rocris cola please?"

"Sure thing," the droid said taking down their order on a notepad and then rolled off.

"Rocris cola?" Peter asked. "What's that?"

"I get the feeling it's the Pepsi here...or the equivalent."

"Aw man I love you," Peter smiled at him. "Seriously you're the best brother I could ask for."

"Ben's the best," Ahsoka pipped in.

"Good now let's eat," Ben said noticing that the food was food was approaching. "We've got a long job ahead of us and I don't want to hear groaning about being hungry."

"No prob bro," Peter said as he began to tuck in the food along with Ahsoka. "So you want me to scout the terrain?"

"Yes then when you find an entrance then we'll enter with Ahsoka and see about those cloaks. After that we split up. I'll look for a power pack and you'll grab the item."

"I'll make it small but unique," Peter said. "Something that screams Jedi without it being huge."

"Good idea it'll be easier to carry and to sell."

"Gotcha," Peter winked. "I'll do my best."

"Also," Ben continued. "I'm going to tell you what happened on Tatooine."

"Okay shot."

"Well you know how we walked off to the ship? Well it turns out there was a probe droid. We were ambushed by a freak that knew how to use a laser sword like me. I shot him with a stun bolt and he dropped."

"I'll bet that pissed him off," Peter snorted.

"Yeah it did and for some reason he kept gunning for Jinn."

"How come?"

"No idea," Ben shrugged. "But he felt..." he paused as he tried to fine the right words to describe how the assailant felt to his senses. "Sticky like a tar."

"What? Aw crap that's not good."

"Yes well we left him after I got Jinn away and I fought him away long enough for the ship to take off and I got on via jumping. Oh and Shmi, Jinn and Anakin know about my past as a battle slave and Thanos."

"Well I trust them," Peter said. "They seem like nice people and they deserve to know that much at least. I mean I told them about Mom and you know how rare that is."

"Well Shmi is going to work with us and Anakin is her son. As for Jinn..." he shrugged. "He didn't seem the type to air out someone's dirty laundry."

"Well like I said I trust him and as for Thanos better he know then be caught unawares. Now let's finish up this grub. I'm starved!"

Peter felt his pulse quicken as he walked near the Temple while Ben and Ahsoka waited a ways down. If the place had been huge before it was ginormous up close. He quickly shoved his anxiety down and took in a deep breath like Ben had taught him years. Concentrate on the moment. He reminded himself. If problems arouse then they'd be taken care of. There was no use fretting over what could be.

He finally calmed his pounding heart or at least could ignore it and walked closer. The main entrance was indeed out as entryway. At first he got the impression that they could walk through but he'd spotted several hooded sentries that made him rethink that avenue. He walked around the perimeter in a loose circle to get a better idea of the place. Finally he spotted what looked like a maintenance door with droids entering into. Probably not monitored as well. Perfect.

Peter smiled as he walked back to the waiting zone where Ahsoka and Ben were playing a game...a kinda freaky one. Ben was levitating his lucky rock to Ahsoka and she through her rudimentary levitation abilities was pushing it back albeit shakily. It was awesome of course if a bit jarring to see Ben do. Then again it was awesome so the freakishness evened out.

"I found an entrance we can get into," Peter said announcing his arrival. "It's a droid maintenance entrance that we can hack into and use it to sneak in."

"Is it monitored?"

"Didn't see any cameras so I think we're good," he said as he turned to the Togruta. "Now you listen up, we're going into sticky territory and we don't need any trouble...any more then we can help so you're gonna do exactly as I say, understand?"

"Yes Peter," Ahsoka said as she straightened up. "I'll listen. I'll be good."

"Good now when Ben and I get in I want you to find someplace safe in a corner and stay there until we get you. Are we clear?"

"Alright."

"And I mean stay there," Peter held up his finger to emphasize the point. "No wondering off okay? I know it's tempting but just don't."

"He's right," Ben agreed as he turned towards her as well. "If this is going to work then we need all hands on deck which means we don't need you wondering off."

"Yes sir," Ahsoka saluted them giving them a serious look. "I'll be good, promise."

"Good 'cause were going in now," Peter said as he looked at Ben. Ben nodded indicating his readiness. "Alright Autobots, let's roll out."

This was supposedly an easy job. Karza sighed as she gathered more of the whelps into the transport that was nearby with her partner, a local male being named Ikiko was waiting. Not as many as she'd like but unlike most other beings these kids were actually smarter than most which meant they weren't easily fooled.

So instead of a bigger prize unlike her fellow kidnapper a male Kree Weu-Skir who was working in the lower districts along with his partner, she was only getting smaller pickings in this Temple along with her fellow Skrull Thrall. But hey it paid and if she got less than what they wanted then eh their loss not hers besides it kept her and their company away from being slaughtered in the alter purges then good for them.

She shoved some of the ones she'd drugged into the crates along with those that she'd gotten before. The children whimpered pathetically which made her roll her eyes. These are their super soldiers that Zan-Arbu wants? Huh. Ah well pathetic or not let's if I can grab a few more before it becomes obvious...