A/N: I do not know if any of you noticed, but it seems that the chapters to this story got scrambled sometime since the last time I updated. When I went to add this chapter today, I saw that chapters 11, 19, and 21 had been pushed to the top of the story before the prologue. I have no idea how that happened, I did not do it. I went back and fixed the order, so it should be ok now. I also skimmed through the chapters to make sure no content was lost. I did not see anything (but I do not have time to look extensively), if there are any new people to this story who think something is missing, let me know and I'll look into it. I have the story saved so I can replace chapters if need be. If this chapter order problem confused anybody, I apologize. Like I said, I just spotted the problem today when I went to update. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 25: Reunion of a Master and an Apprentice
Anakin had just finished circling a red planet that had no signs of life. This was now the sixth planet he had scanned along with all of their moons. He was growing frustrated in his lack of progress in finding his master and the blue planet that had been described in Obi-Wan's distress transmission. He pointed his starfighter in the direction of a bright speck that appeared to be the next planet he would search. He was glad that he had altered the starfighter so that it consumed less fuel than usual because his search seemed to be dragging on forever.
Anakin's eyes lit up as he got closer to the next planet and saw that it emanated a bluish glow. He felt excited at the possibility that his master may be somewhere on this planet and quickly pushed his ship into orbit around the planet to scan it for life forms.
A smile crossed Anakin's face the second his computer picked up life forms on the strange planet. This was the first time upon entering the wormhole that he had picked up any life readings. However, it soon became clear that Anakin would have to change his search tactics if he would be able to locate Obi-Wan because his scan of the planet indicated it was densely populated with life forms.
Anakin quietly stared out of one of the view ports of his starfighter while he contemplated his next move. It seemed that every time he got close to locating his master, another obstacle was put in his path. Now he was faced with the prospect of trying to locate one person in the midst of billions. Trying not to resign himself to this futile effort, Anakin called upon the force to give him a solution. Realization dawned on him almost immediately when he realized that being a Jedi, he could scan the planet for a being with Obi-Wan's midichlorian count.
An hour after inputting Obi-Wan's midichlorian count, Anakin's computer signaled that it had found a match. After retrieving coordinates to direct him to the match, Anakin eased his ship into the planet's atmosphere. As Anakin began his descent and penetrated the first layers of the planet's atmosphere, he said to himself, "I have you now."
After pulling her Jeep into her garage, Aila stepped out of it to enter her house. However, she had barely taken two steps when she felt invisible hands holding her still. She glanced over at Obi-Wan and said, "You know, we need to have a discussion about when you can use your force abilities on me."
"And when would that be?" Obi-Wan said playfully as he lifted Aila into his arms.
"How about if I am in danger or unable to do something for myself for some reason."
"Fair enough," Obi-Wan stated, but his eyes still sparkled with mischief as he carried Aila into the house towards her bedroom.
As the garage door was closing behind Obi-Wan and Aila, Anakin landed his ship in the front yard of the house. As soon as his ship was safely settled on the ground, he popped the hatch to the starfighter and leapt out of the ship. He spun in mid-air and drew out his lightsaber as he landed on his feet. Anakin glanced to his left and right, examining his surroundings before he walked towards the front door of Aila's house. He took a deep breath before using the force to open the door to find his master.
Anakin was shocked when he entered the house and was met with the sight of his master carrying a young woman. Both Aila and Obi-Wan looked back at him with equally startled looks upon their faces. Obi-Wan set Aila back on her feet while Anakin disengaged his lightsaber and said, "Master! Wha… What are you doing?"
Obi-Wan glanced at Aila and smiled at her sheepishly before addressing his Padawan. "I was wondering if the Council was going to send you."
Anakin paused for a moment before replying, "They did not exactly send me." He then gestured towards Aila and asked, "Who is that?"
Obi-Wan turned his attention to Aila and said, "Aila, I would like to introduce you to my Padawan, Anakin Skywalker." Then Obi-Wan drew her closer to him and placed a light kiss on her forehead before directing his attention to Anakin. "Anakin, this is my wife, Aila."
Anakin's mouth fell open as he watched his master and the young woman share a passionate kiss. He could not believe what he was seeing and showed it when he stuttered, "You… you… you are married?"
"Yes, my young apprentice." Obi-Wan stated without taking his eyes off Aila.
"But, the Code. The Council. You?" Anakin mumbled out. His master was always strict about following the code, and marriage was a flagrant violation of it. Yes, Anakin had often fantasized about a marriage between himself and Padmé Amidala, but he was not an average Jedi Knight. Anakin always thought that Tatooine would have to freeze over before Obi-Wan would go against the code. "Who… who are you?" Anakin asked, suddenly suspicious of the people in front of him.
Both Obi-Wan and Aila glanced at him perplexed before Obi-Wan answered. "It is me padawan, are you feeling all right?"
"Attachment is forbidden, possession is forbidden." Anakin replied automatically.
"Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love." Obi-Wan replied.
"Is essential to a Jedi's life." Aila finished for him, smiling encouragingly at Anakin.
Anakin still had a dazed look on his face as he mumbled, "The Council."
"The council may have some problems with this, yes." Obi-Wan said. "However, in the time I spent here, I have come to realize that Master Jinn was correct in that the Jedi Code is outdated. If the council sees fit to remove me from the order, then I will go."
"But… Master!" A fearful look crossed Anakin's face at Obi-Wan's words.
Obi-Wan raised his hands up in a calming gesture and Anakin fell silent as his master spoke. "Neither you or I know what the Council will do. I do not think they will expel me. I have faithfully served them for years. However, if I am expelled I will deal with that at that time."
"But master, what about me?" Anakin said, casting his eyes towards his feet.
"You will be assigned a new master to continue your training through knighthood."
"But I do not want a new master."
"We do not know if you will need one yet. Even if you did, you could always seek me out if you wished to speak with me."
"But, what if…" Anakin started before Obi-Wan interrupted him.
"But nothing. You are very capable. No matter whose tutelage you are under, you will excel." Obi-Wan then walked away from Aila and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I do not believe I tell you this enough, but I have been very proud of your progress, you show the skills to be a great Jedi Knight." Aila was smiling at the exchange between teacher and pupil, as she observed the two of them from a distance.
"You are?" Anakin looked up, his face brightening at the praise he was receiving.
Obi-Wan smiled back at Anakin as he said, "Of course I am."
Anakin stayed silent for a moment, glowing with pride at his master's words. He was stunned and pleasantly surprised by the change his master had undergone. He was no longer a traditional follower of the Jedi code and seemed more laid back and accepting. He was willing to go against the code to influence change. Anakin could not help but admire Obi-Wan for this bold act.
"What will you do if you are expelled?" Anakin asked as Aila walked over to Obi-Wan and laced the fingers of her right hand with those on his left.
Obi-Wan drew her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before saying, "I suspect the two of us will find some place to live on Coruscant, or we will move back here." Obi-Wan waved his right hand around, indicating the house.
"Oh." Anakin stated meekly, unsure of what to say.
Aila caught onto Anakin's worry, that he might not see Obi-Wan ever again and said, "I think we will stay on Coruscant. I think it holds more opportunities for the both of us." She turned her gaze to Obi-Wan and smiled as she finished.
Anakin could not help the smile that crossed his face at these words. Soon he was chuckling lightly to himself.
"And what is so funny?" Obi-Wan asked
Anakin stifled his laughter as he said, "It is just, I cannot believe that you are married. You are the last Jedi I would expect to do that."
Aila laughed in response to this and wrapped her arms around Obi-Wan's neck as she said, "He just had to find the right person."
"As did you, milady." Obi-Wan replied teasingly.
"How long have you been married?" Anakin asked.
"A couple hours. Actually, if you wouldn't mind repairing the rest of the ship, I would like to spend some time alone with my new bride."
Both Anakin and Aila blushed at the implications of Obi-Wan's words. Anakin cast his eyes downwards and stated, "I can do that, but I need to know what needs to be done first."
Obi-Wan whispered something in Aila's ear. Had Anakin not been staring at the floor, he would have found that she blushed even redder than she had before. She headed to the back of the house after this. Once she had left his side, Obi-Wan said, "Follow me, padawan." Then he directed Anakin back outside the house and towards his damaged ship.
"I have managed to get most of the electronics running, but the engine will not run and the ship is not flyable either. I also do not think it will make it through the wormhole safely if it is flown right now." Obi-Wan detailed to Anakin.
"All it needs is an adjustment to the steering. That is how I made the trip here."
"I knew the Council would send you. You are the best flyer and mechanic they have."
"Ummm…." Anakin shifted nervously.
Obi-Wan noticed his padawan's behavior and eyed him suspiciously before sternly asking, "Anakin, what happened?"
"Well," Anakin paused before continuing. "The Council did not want to risk going after you. They thought it was too dangerous, that no Jedi could make it safely through the wormhole to find you."
"But they still sent you." Obi-Wan stated, as he crossed his arms over his chest and quirked his eyebrow.
"Not exactly, they forbid me from going after you." Anakin cast his eyes down at his feet again.
"They did what!" Obi-Wan yelled in shock. "They were just going to leave me here!"
"Well, by the looks of things, it does not seem you would have minded much." Anakin said as he tried to stifle his laughter.
"Maybe." Obi-Wan brushed off Anakin's teasing remark before saying, "But you should not have defied the Council. They will not look favorably at this behavior."
Anakin doubled over in laughter at this comment as Obi-Wan looked at him indignantly.
"There is nothing funny about this, my padawan. The Council could see this as a serious offense."
Anakin gained control of himself for a minute and was able to gasp out, "Well now I am sure who you are. Only Obi-Wan Kenobi would lecture me about how it is wrong to defy the Council, even though I did it to save his life."
Obi-Wan had to join in on Anakin's laughter at this statement. He was being rather hypocritical, considering he would have to explain Aila upon his arrival to Coruscant.
"I suppose we will both have to explain our actions when we arrive back at Coruscant." Obi-Wan stated. Anakin merely nodded in response, thinking that the Council might not lecture him, because defying the Council to look for his master was not as big of a violation to the Jedi code as getting married. Anakin was starting to consider how the Council would react to this when Obi-Wan asked, "How long do you think it will take to repair the ship?"
Anakin appraised the ship for a minute before stating, "You managed to get a great deal of things completed. I can have it up and running by the end of the night. We can leave in the early morning."
Obi-Wan nodded and scratched his beard thoughtfully and mumbled to himself, "I will have to tell Aila." Then he glanced at Anakin and said, "Very good. There are a few components in Aila's Jeep. I can show you where they are and you can get to work immediately."
"What is a Jeep?" Anakin asked confused.
"It is a speeder like contraption they use for transportation on the planet." Obi-Wan stated automatically. Then he saw the look of excitement on Anakin's face and quickly added, "No, you cannot drive it."
Anakin pouted in response. Obi-Wan chuckled lightly before saying, "Think of it as punishment for defying the Jedi Council."
Anakin snorted in mirth as he said, "I will keep that in mind, the next time your life is in danger."
"I am sure of it, my young padawan. Now, let me show you where those other parts are so that you can start working."