After her father's infamous bed tossing, A' Marie made her bed and went out to the gazebo to meditate. She really disliked early mornings and he seemed to revel in them. "Morning people are very annoying, especially if they are cheerful." she thought.
Anakin caught his daughter's thought and smiled. "Annoying grumpy morning people is my specialty." Anakin replied.
"Obviously, father, but why did you get me up so early? The sun hasn't even risen yet."
"Training." Was the simple answer he gave as he lifted A' Marie to her feet. A' Marie sighed as her father guided her to the row boat.
"Are we going fishing?" A' Marie asked excited.
"Mm, maybe later, if you behave." Anakin responded with a hint of mischief in his blue eyes.
A' Marie never liked it when he said that to her, it normally meant that her patience was going to be severely tested. Anakin rowed the boat into the middle of the lake.
"Do you have your aquata breather with you?"
A' Marie pulled it out off her belt. "Yea right here."
Anakin took it and threw it into the water, "What kind of test is this?"
"Sometimes a Jedi has to be prepared for when equipment fails or it gets lost, we have to learn to do without and trust the Force."
A' Marie rolled her eyes and started to remove her cloak.
"No, remain dressed; you may not have time to do that in real life." Anakin sat back and removed a worm from the can and went fishing.
"One more challenge, do not disturb the fish."
"You want me to sneak around under water, are you crazy?"
"Nope. I'll be here waiting. May the Force be with you, A' Marie."
"Thank you. May the Force be with you, father."
A' Marie completed a perfect dive into the water with minimal splash and searched through the Force for a small piece of equipment. She wrapped the Force around herself, taking care not to disturb the fish. Just as she was about to run out of air, she found her aquata breather and slipped it into place; taking a large gulp of air into her tightening lungs. She was about to return when she saw her father's line sitting there just innocently bobbing along awaiting a fish to take the bait. A mischievous thought crossed her mind as she gently grabbed the line and ran it under the boat and hooked it through her father's cloak while he was sitting in the boat and then she tugged hard on it. She smiled as she saw the boat rocking back n' forth, "Damn this is one big fish." Anakin muttered as he stood in the row boat, the fishing line snapped and he went head first into the water. A' Marie saw the astonished look on her father's face, wrapped his own cloak around his head and removed his aquata breather from his belt and watch it drop into oblivion. One thing she didn't take into account was the fact that Anakin was able to snatch it and put it into his mouth before it sank and started to swim for shore. One thing that she had over Anakin was her ability to swim better than he did. A' Marie quickly made it to shore and stormed into the house, soaking wet, nearly slipping on the ceramic tile as she hurried to her room.
She was laughing so hard that she didn't see her father standing in her doorway glaring at her, until the temperature dropped and the water on her arms started forming icicles. She looked up and there was her father staring angrily at her with his arms crossed, his wet hair hanging like a mop on his head. A' Marie smiled sheepishly at her father. "Get changed and meet me in the foyer." He ordered and none too kindly.
"Poodoo, I couldn't leave well enough alone, why do I always instigate fodder, especially since my father has no sense of humor?" A' Marie sighed and quickly changed into some dry casual clothing. Anakin was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a dark blue jersey, his hair was still damp. He was sitting on the stairs, waiting for A' Marie. She bounded down the steps and hugged her father's back as he began to scold.
"You thought it was funny, nearly ripping my favorite cloak for the sake of a prank, do you?"
"May I be blunt, father?"
"Yes you always are, A' Marie; its one quality that I enjoy the most."
"The look on your face was priceless." A' Marie kissed his cheek as he grabbed her arms and pulled her over his head. She barely managed to stand on her feet before he let her go. An impish smile came across his features and she knew that only meant on thing, trouble.
"How are your levitation skills, young one?"
"I refuse to answer on the grounds that I might incriminate myself." A' Marie replied.
Anakin lifted his hand and a sponge flew into his hand, he levitated it over a puddle of water and watched as the water flowed upwards to be soaked into the sponge, he then put it over the bucket and wrung it out.
"Now you try."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"No. I am not, do it or else prepare for a harder lesson of a more physical nature and still have to do it anyway."
"You are so mean! What kind of Jedi training is this? Did you have to do this?"
Anakin stood to his feet and pointed to A' Marie, "You have one hour to do it; this includes all of the various puddles on this floor."
A' Marie held the sponge over the puddle, it fell into the water. She raised it above the bucket but it fell as she neared the rim. She raised it out of the water and wrung it. Each attempt was leaving her frustrated and she was starting to get angry.
"This is the most ridiculous, asinine Jedi training assignment I've ever been given! I don't believe this!" A' Marie finally relaxed bringing in the power of the light side of the Force for calming and she managed watched as the water flowed upward soaking the sponge and with each attempt she was succeeding, although it was very difficult. Finally the assignment was complete and she took the water and dumped it into the garden. She cut some roses and took them into the living room setting them on the table.
xXx
The Ssi-Ruuk Emissary, Dev Sibwarra was sent to Bakura to 'negotiate' with Bakura and with Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. Dev was very excited to be meeting another Force-sensitive, if he could only convince him of the glory of the Entechment. Luke could really help their cause to bring glory and freedom to Bakura.
Luke and Dev sat at the table at first not really saying anything just greeting each other. Both of them were sizing each other up. "My people only want to bring humans to glory and give them freedom."
"Your people, Emissary Sibwarra; what an interesting choice of words, if I do say so myself, the humans on Bakura are currently experiencing freedom of making their own choices to live as they choose."
"Yes, but they live in pain and then they die; we live without such frailties."
"Everything dies, Emissary Sibwarra. What the Ssi-Ruuk believes is in slavery of the worst kind; to have your life taken from you without your consent, using your life energy to power their weapons and armaments. Republic citizens deserve and need freedom it is a basic human right. Since the people of Bakura have chosen to live with such frailties, the Ssi-Ruuk should leave Bakura and this region."
"It is a shame we cannot convince you, Jedi Knight Skywalker." Luke immediately felt a tremor in the Force and he ignited his lightsaber and cut off the hand of the warrior that was attempting to subdue him.
"Give it up, now; or else we will attack this planet and show you no mercy."
Luke looked at the Ssi-Ruuk dead in the eyes and calmly yet sternly replied, "I don't think so." Obi-Wan joined his former padawan and also had his lightsaber ignited. Emissary Dev Sibwarra was amazed by the light rods that had much power and he was dragged away from the table.
"Prepare for War, human."
"Bring it on, you overgrown lizard."
"Luke, it is not wise to anger your opponent. You are too much like your father sometimes."
"You say that like it's a bad thing, Master." Luke smiled the infamous Skywalker smirk.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews; sorry the updates haven't been as punctual. Hope this chapter bides me some time, before I get more private messages about hurrying up with my next update.—Darth Gladiator45