Like Old Times

My legs stretch out as I step off the tiny Jedi starfighter on to the harsh deserted wasteland of Hoth. I feel the cold immediately, not surprising since they refused to let me wear any more layers than usual. My boots trudge on through the snow and I turn backwards to look at Master Fisto as his teeth start to chatter in the freezing conditions.

"Hey Master this reminds me of the time when we ran out of fuel on Gree." He chuckles at the memory.

"Of course. We were wandering around for days before we found the capital at long last. At least we managed to hire that one Gree to take us back."

"Even if he did try to kill us afterwards, he seemed nice enough." We both fall into deep laughter, warming us up slightly. Using all the energy we have, we power on through the snow and eventually find the checkpoint. An abandoned generator. When we get there we get to work on making it functional again. "Master, why was it that the council want this generator stable working again?"

"They did not explain why. However, unless you are turning into Tobius you should probably just obey the orders."

"I wasn't questioning. Just wondering. Surely you can tell the difference, Master. By the way I'm not Tobi until I suddenly lose all ability to function without a lightsaber."

"Are you insulting my skill in training people, my dear apprentice?"

"Of course not. You trained me after all." I finish with a wink. "Besides, Tobi wouldn't be able to use the force efficiently if Yoda himself taught him." We both find ourselves innocently laughing once more. Kit really is like one of those teasing fathers that will try to help you in any issue and will most probably succeed.

"The generator isn't the only reason we were sent here together..." Clearly this is going to be an awkward conversation.

"I know." I sigh, not hiding how uncomfortable I am speaking about the topic he is most likely to bring up now.

"I understand how these thoughts you are having can not be controlled nor tamed in any way. However, I would still like you to suppress them as much as you can. Please, try and stop for his sake as well as yours. He doesn't have the skill to pull himself out of a sticky situation to save you without dying and I fear that as things are that could happen. You can handle yourself well, I've seen it in front of the council. They have barely a clue as to how serious you two are but as your master it is my job to know." Obviously I am not the only person struggling with this conversation as he stumbles over his words, as if he wished he had more time to think over his words before he spoke.

"I try master. Truthfully, I have tried to stop him from trying, to make him give up on me but it doesn't work. Whenever I bring it up I feel a large proportion of what feels like the dark side building up inside him. I fear that I may be the only thing stood between him and him joining the Sith." This was not the response he was expecting.

"Is he really that close?"

"I believe so. Sorry master. Listen, don't make him leave; it would push him off the edge. You can make me leave if you wish to, if you think it would help. I don't know what I would do but I could find something. He doesn't deserve to leave just for something completely beyond his control." By the look on his face we are done with this conversation.

"You really are like the daughter I never had, despite us being different species."

"I never had a father, so you're the closest I've ever had. Thank you, Kit. I know I'm not supposed to address you by first name but kriff it I'm stuck in a wasteland fixing a broken generator. What could it do?"

"I could take my revenge." He gets a playful glint in his deep black eyes. I eye him warily before he drops his tools and jabs me in the side, forcing a bark of laughter out as he tickles my side. I squirm on the floor as he frowns, fully on the offensive. I reflexively kick away from me and hit the generator. Kriff. He clears his throat. "I believe that is a victory for me." His triumphant expression makes me shake my head in disbelief.

"A Jedi Master and still a child inside. Unbelievable. I shall have to inform the council of this occasion! File a report... Or whatever it is you do." My joking tone leads to us both laughing yet again until our bellies start to ache. By the time we finish fixing it we're both quivering in the cold air. We race each other back to the ships like small children. When we get back into space it occurs to me that he could have just come out here today to try and cheer me up a little since I've been acting so gloomy recently.

On the way back home a receive a call on my Comm. I go into the meditation chamber and answer the call to see a hologram of Anakin. Even over the hologram I can tell that something is wrong.

"Ratha I need your help."

"Anakin what is it? Is it Padmé? Obi Wan?"

"It's Palpatine. He's the Sith Lord that the Jedi has been looking for all this time. I'm on my way to the temple as we speak. I'm going to need your help."

"I'm on the other side of the galaxy right now but I'm on my way. Just don't do anything stupid. Promise me that you will not do anything stupid, okay? Just talk to Master Windu." He bows his head and ends the call. I burst into conversation with Master Fisto immediately.

Master, we need to get to the temple. Now.