Kamino?
Anika stood off to the side, watching Padme embrace her handmaiden, Dorme.
"You'll be fine," Padme encourages Dorme, wiping away a tear from Dorme's cheek.
Dorme laughs wetly, smiling at Padme through her tears. "It's not me, M'lady. I worry about you. What if they realise, I'm not you?"
Padme looks behind her to Knight Fericla, her Jedi protector while she is in hiding on Naboo. "I'm sure my Jedi protector will keep me safe." She leans in closer to Dorme, "Even if I don't need the extra security."
Dorme shakes her head, embracing Padme one last time.
After the two break apart, Anika steps in.
"Stay safe Padme. I would hate to lose one of my closest friends," Anika whispers to Padme, hugging her fiercely.
Laughing, Padme shakes her head. "I'm not the one most likely to get in trouble. You find trouble wherever you go Ani."
Anika pouts, crossing her arms. It wasn't her fault that she always got in trouble. It wasn't like she went looking for trouble, it always seemed to find her. Not the other way around.
"Don't pout, you'll get wrinkles," teases Padme.
If someone else pointed out her pouting, Anika would glare at them until they got the point and went away. It was only her long-standing friendship with Padme that kept Padme from her wrath.
After the Battle of Naboo, Anika and Padme kept in touch; meeting each other whenever they could and most often than not, talking into the night about everything and anything. They confided in each other, telling things that they would never tell their family or master; their deepest fears and innermost secrets.
Anika told Padme about her longing for her mum and her fears of never being accepted as a Jedi in the order. In turn, Padme told Anika about her fears of disappointing her family and planet and always being alone, unable to be close to her handmaidens and security guards, lest they be killed and leave her.
They formed a sister bond, forged in late night talks and caf dates, able to rely on the other for anything they needed. Anika relied on a unbiased pair of ears, listening to her rant about her master and the Jedi order (most often about how the masters wouldn't listen to her in class or how the other padawans were jealous of her), while Padme relied on Anika to dissuade people trying to influence, manipulate or straight out flirt with Padme.
It was strange how people determined to talk to the Padme did a double take and walk away when they saw Anika standing next to Padme, scowling and crossing her arms with her lightsabre on display. Was it something she did?
Padme hugged her again, whispering a promise in Anika's ear. "I'll got to Tatooine and save your mother. I promise you Ani."
Pulling back, Anika was nearly in tears, relieved that Padme will check on her mother and relieve her of the horrible dreams she had about her mother dying. "Thank you," Anika whispers, nodding her head.
After Padme finished saying goodbye to Anika, she stepped in front of Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan bowed, assuring Padme of her safety. "We will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, M'lady. You'll be back here in no time."
Smiling, Padme nodded. "I will be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi."
She turned to address everyone whishing her off. "I thank you all for your concern and I shall see you shortly I hope."
After hugging everyone on the Spaceport docks goodbye, she turned towards Knight Fericla, boarding the freighter with her head held high.
Anika watched the bus head away from the docks, until she could no longer see the bus on the horizon. Sighing, she turned towards her master.
"She'll be alright my padawan. She's resourceful and she has Knight Fericla guarding her. I doubt they'll face any danger with only a few people knowing she's off planet," Obi-Wan reassured his padawan.
"That's what I'm afraid of. Something always happens on peaceful missions," Anika muttered as she and Obi-Wan headed towards their speedster parked nearby.
Light streamed from the high arched windows in the hallways, projecting on Anika and Obi-Wan as they headed towards the Analysis Rooms.
"Where do you think the dart came from?" Anika asked Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan rubbed his beard with one hand, thinking on the answer. "I don't recognise the dart. I only hope it's a dart from an unidentified crime syndicate in the Outer Rims. At least they have some sort of symbol to identify them and track them down. If not….. well, we'll have our work cut out for us."
Anika laughed, "Don't pretend that you won't be happy about that. You hate it when there's nothing to do in the temple."
"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself, my padawan?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow.
In response, Anika flushed, ducking her head.
The two continued to the Analysis Rooms in silence.
They walked past several occupied analysis cubicles before they come across an empty one. Obi-Wan sits down in the cubeicle while Anika stands watch outside.
A series of bleeps fill the air as a PK-4 analysis droid comes to life. It slides a tray across the counter.
"Place the subject for analysis on the sensor tray," the PK-4 spoke in a monotone.
Pulling the toxic dart out of his pocket, Obi-Wan places it on the tray. The droid slides the tray into the console next to it. After a button is pressed by the droid, the console screen lights up.
"It's a toxic dart. I need to know where it came from and who made it," commanded Obi-Wan.
"One moment."
Obi-Wan watches as diagrams scroll past at a fast pace on the screen for a few minutes, before it goes blank. The tray slides out and PK-4 slides the tray across the counter for Obi-Wan to pick up the dart.
The droids comprises a report of the analysis. "As you can see on your screen, subject weapon does not exist in any known culture. Markings can not be identified. Probability self-made by a warrior not associated with any known society; 92.34%.
"What about the other 7.66%?" Anika asked, poking her head into the cubicle.
The droid answered, "Unknown probability is 7.66%."
"Impossible," Obi-Wan muttered. "Can you try again please?"
"Master Jedi, our records are very through. They cover 76% of the known regions. If I can't tell you where it came from, no one can," PK-4 protests.
"It's alright. We believe you," Anika consoles the droid.
After picking up the dart and looking at it, Obi-Wan begins to stand up. "Thank you for your assistance. You may not be able to figure this out, but I know someone who might."
The Master and Padawan exit the Analysis Rooms, walking towards the Temples main entrance.
Anika fidgets, wondering on how to start her question. "Who do you think will know the information we're looking for, when it isn't in the database?"
"An old friend," Obi-Wan smiles mysteriously.
"Do I know them?" Asks Anika.
Obi-Wan chuckles, "You'll find out."
He doesn't slow his stride when Anika stops, looking at the back of Obi-Wan's head.
"Master wait!" she yells, running to catch up with Obi-Wan.
Without turning his head, Obi-Wan exhaustedly says. "Don't run in the Temple Halls, Anika."
As Obi-Wan and Anika approach Dex's diner, Anika becomes more excited. "Are we going to Dex's diner master? I haven't been there in ages and they have the best nurfburgers this side of the galaxy!"
"Patience my young padawan," Obi-Wan gently chides.
Visibly restraining herself from skipping, Anika complies.
When the diner comes into view, Anika runs ahead of Obi-Wan, entering the diner.
"Anika!" Obi-Wan yells. He sighs at her behaviour
The first thing Obi-Wan can hear when he enters the diner, is Anika's loud chattering. Following her voice, he finds her chatting away with Dexter.
The two of them are sitting on the obnoxious red booth seats, sipping a cup of jawa juice each.
Dexter looks up from his conversation, face lightening up when he sees Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan!" he yells, getting up to bear hug Obi-Wan with his six arms and lift him up.
"Hey Dex," Obi-Wan replies, wheezing for breath.
Dexter immediately puts Obi-Wan down, hearing him gasp for breath. Clapping him on the back he says, "I'll get you a cup of jawa juice."
Reeling from the powerful clap, Obi-Wan nods and goes to sit down next to Anika.
Anika leans over Obi-Wan, hands fluttering over him, afraid to touch him in-case she made it worse. "Are you alright Master?"
"Just fine, Anika," pants Obi-Wan, trying to get his breath back.
Dexter comes back, setting a cup of jawa juice in front of Obi-Wan and reclaims his seat. He leans in close, lowering his voice. "This isn't a social call by the looks on your faces. What can I do for ya my friend?"
Obi-Wan lowers his head, doing a sweep around the room. With no one looking at their booth, he pulls the dart from his pocket, sliding it across the table and leaning in. "You can tell me what this is."
Dexter's eyes widen, wonder on his face. He sets his cup down, picking the dart up carefully between his puffy fingers. "Well whattaya know?" he drawls.
Obi-Wan and Anika wait in anxious silence, Anika fidgeting with her cup and Obi-Wan sitting serenely, as Dexter examines the dart.
"I ain't seen one of these since I was prospecting on Subterrel beyond the Outer Rim!"
Unable to contain her nerves, Anika cuts in. "Do you know where it came from?"
Turning his head, Obi-Wan projects his patent I-am-disappointed-in-you face. Sheepishly, Anika leans back in her seat, sending Dexter an apologetic look.
Amused, Dexter sets the dart down carefully. "This baby belongs to them cloners. What you got here is a Kamino Kyberdart."
Frowning, Obi-Wan sets his drink down. "Kamino Kyberdart…. I wonder why it didn't show up in the analysis archives?"
"It's these funny little cuts on the side that give it away. Those analysis droids only focus on symbols," Dexter informs the two. "I should think you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom," he grins, showing off his yellow teeth.
Obi-Wan smiles, "Well Dex, if droids could think we wouldn't be here, would we?"
Anika huffs, indignant on the droid's behalf. "It's not their fault. They're programmed to think that way."
Obi-Wan continues. "Kamino. I'm not familiar with it. Is it in the Republic?"
Dexter takes a swig of his drink. "No, no. it's beyond the Outer Rim. I'd say about twelve parsecs outside the Rishi Maze, toward the south." He nods towards Anika. "Should be easy to find, even for those droids in your archive."
Anika huffs again, taking an aggressive drink of her jawa juice.
Without looking away from Dexter, Obi-Wan places his hand on her arm, calming her. 'Hush, padawan. We'll be done soon, and you can vent your aggression in the training halls.' Obi-Wan sends through their training bond.
A wave of embarrassment floods through the training bond to Obi-Wan. He takes a sip of his jawa juice, tightening his shields, hiding his amusement.
Dexter leans in even more, barely speaking in a whisper. "Those Kaminoans keep to themselves. They're cloners. Damn good ones to."
In response, Obi-Wan and Anika lean in closer, heads together.
"Cloners? Are they friendly?" Obi-Wan asks concernedly.
"It depends."
"Depends on what?" Anika asks in alarm.
Dexter smirks, answering them. "Depends on how good your manners are…." He trails of chortling. "And how big your pocketbook is."
"Great," Anika mutters, rolling her eyes.
"Droids are sentient beings as well! Just because they're not flesh and bone, they don't exist?" rants Anika.
Walking next to her, Obi-Wan hums at the appropriate times.
Anika is still continuing her tirade when the two walk through the Jedi Archives entrance hall. "It's because of their blasted restraining bolts. It stops them from showing their personality. They can perform their duties the same, if not better without their restraining bolts!"
"Padawan Anika Skywalker!" Madame Jocasta hissed from behind her desk. "If you continue to disrupt the serenity in these halls than I will gladly kick you out! Do I make myself clear Padawan?"
Interrupted by the fierce Madame Jocasta, Anika meekly bowed her head. "Yes Madame Jocasta." She dutifully recited.
Madame Jocasta harrumphed, turning back to her reading.
Through their bond, Anika could sense that her master wasn't even trying to hide or smother his laughter.
"Master!" she hissed.
Looking over to see if Madame Jocasta heard her, she paled. Madame Jocasta's hawk like eyes were narrowed and glaring in her direction.
Wanting to get away from the line of fire, Anika dragged her master towards the archive consoles in the back of the Jedi Archives.
"Anika? What has gotten into you?" asked Obi-Wan, rolling his eyes as he was dragged along.
Anika paused, turning to look Obi-Wan in the eye. "Have you seen her master? She could pulverise me just by glaring," she whispered dumbfoundedly.
"Honestly Anika," Obi-Wan laughed. "She's not scary."
"To you maybe," muttered Anika, looking away.
"She only glares at people who disrespect the sacred Jedi Archives by yelling, running and mishandling the holobooks, data-tapes and holocrons," Obi-Wan lightly admonished.
"Meaning she doesn't glare at you," retorted Anika.
Sighing, Obi-Wan slipped into his lecturer voice. "A Jedi is meant to be honest and compassionate to the people around them, including their environment-"
Anika interrupted Obi-Wan, desperate to not hear another three-hour lecture on Jedi behaviour. "We're meant to be looking for the planet Kamino, master. You know how the council is when you don't have a report on time. And you would hate to ruin your perfect Jedi image you have," Anika finished sarcastically.
Before Obi-Wan could reply to her statement about his image, Anika sat down at one of the empty archive consoles, looking for Kamino.
"This is not over my padawan," Obi-Wan warned, before joining Anika in their search.
They opened the star chart of the Extragalatic region, searching for Kamino in the Rishi system.
Obi-Wan pointed to an empty section of the map, south of the Rishi Maze. "I don't understand it. That's the co-ordinates Dex provided and I'm certain the planet exists," Obi-Wan told Anika, perplexed.
"Maybe it's been blown up?" Anika shrugged.
"Maybe," repeated Obi-Wan, unconvinced. "I'm sure Madame Jocasta will know the location of Kamino."
"Do we have to?" whined Anika, spinning around in her chair.
"Yes, we do. And stop that, you're making me dizzy. Its bad enough with your flying," groaned Obi-Wan. He held his hand out, stopping the chair on its next rotation.
"You love my flying!" protested Anika.
"Only if I feel like dying."
She hmphed, crossing her arms.
Standing up from his chair and stopping Anika's chair from spinning once again, Obi-Wan stood off to the side, connecting to Madame Jocasta's hologram projector.
"Obi-Wan. Is there anything I can assist you with?" she asked, slightly smiling.
She was happy to offer Obi-Wan assistance. He was always a model student in her Archive Halls, never giving her or any of the other librarians any grief, unlike his apprentice. Anika would constantly yell if she was with a group of padawans and always kept her workspace messy, forgetting to put the holobooks away when she was done with them.
Obi-Wan cleared his throat, looking at Anika briefly and chocked on air, face paling. She was using the force like a conductor, directing the nearby holobooks in a traditional Nabooian dance!
Anika waved her right hand up and the holobooks followed her command, floating towards the ceiling. Her movements become sharper, forcing the holobooks into sharper turns and then looser, dipping the holobooks to an unheard melody.
At Obi-Wan's hissed, "Anika!" she lost concentration, the holobooks creating an almighty bang as they crashed onto the smooth marble floor.
Everything seemed to come to a standstill.
Surely that didn't go unnoticed? thought Obi-Wan, in a panic, unknowingly sharing it with Anika.
Madame Jocosta's yell, brought him out of his thoughts. "Master Kenobi! I have been calling you for the last two minutes. Is everything alright? I heard a bang coming from where you are."
"Everything is fine-fine. Under control. Though I do need to uh speak with you. It's not urgent! Take your time," Obi-Wan stuttered, still horrified about what Anika had done.
Madame Jocasta raised an eyebrow, unconvinced about Obi-Wan's statement. If Anika was with him, something had happened. She got into trouble everywhere. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
Distracted, Obi-Wan nodded and turned his hologram projector off. "What were you thinking?! Endangering yourself and the holobooks like that? What if you were hurt? How would I explain this to the council and healers? I'm sorry, my padawan decided to hold an impromptu holobook dance concert using the force because she was bored!" Obi-Wan hissed, running his hands through his hair.
Thoroughly scolded, Anika looked down, radiating sincere remorse. "I'm sorry master. I just thought-"
"You thought nothing!" Obi-Wan thundered quietly.
"I'm truly sorry master," she peered up from under her eyelashes. "Though your reaction was priceless," she added, sending an image of his expression across their bond.
The image of him gaping like a fish, made his anger deflate. "Put those holobooks away before Madame Jocasta sees them," he exhaled.
Anika levitated the holobooks behind her, turning toward the shelves where they came from. She paused when Obi-Wan called out her name.
"Anika…Starting after this mission, you'll be meditating with the younglings for a month," Obi-Wan added, pleased at her sudden grumbling.
"Please master! Anything but that!" begged Anika.
Grinning, Obi-Wan replied. "It'll teach you to never scare your master like that."
"Lest he have a heart attack," deadpanned Anika.
Spluttering, Obi-Wan tried to think of a comeback.
In the time Anika finished putting the holobooks away and Obi-Wan had thought of a decent comeback that his padawan wouldn't laugh at, Madame Jocasta had arrived.
"You called for assistance?" she asked, levelling a stern look at Anika.
Obi-Wan turned towards Madame Jocasta, bowing. "Yes… Yes, I did…."
Anika was about to nudge her master to speak before Madame Jocasta spoke first.
"Are you having a problem Master Kenobi?" Madame Jocasta prompted Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan walked towards the star map, still projecting the Rishi system. "Yes, I'm trying to find a planet system called Kamino. It doesn't seem to show up upon any of the archive charts."
"Kamino? It's not a system I'm familiar with… Let me see….," she leaned over, studying the map.
"Are you sure you have the right co-ordinates?" asked Madame Jocasta, unable to see a planet.
Bristling with the slight against Dex, Anika cut in. "Of course, we have the right co-ordinates!" She shrunk back after seeing Madame Jocasta's glare directed towards her.
Obi-Wan spoke, bringing Madame Jocasta's gaze to him. "According to my information, it should be in this quadrant." He points to the highlighted quadrant. "Somewhere just south of the Rishi Maze."
Sitting down, Madame Jocasta types on the keyboard, looking for the co-ordinates. "Hmmm… I'll do a gravitational scan."
After the scan was completed, Madame Jocasta, Obi-Wan and Anika crowded around the console.
"There are some inconsistencies here. Maybe the planet you're looking for was destroyed?" suggested Madame Jocasta.
Obi-Wan frowned, "Wouldn't that be on record?"
Madame Jocasta nodded. "It ought to be. Unless it was very recent." She hesitated, unsure if she should question Master Kenobi again. "Are you sure it exists?"
"Absolutely," Anika grounded out, gritting her teeth.
Madame Jocasta sighed. "Then it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist."
"That's Impossible…. Perhaps the archives are incomplete," Obi-Wan shook his head.
Standing up to help a padawan waiting nearby, Madame Jocasta levelled a frosty look at Obi-Wan. "The archives are comprehensive and very extensive. One thing you may be absolutely sure of – if an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist!"
Out of Madame Jocasta's earshot, Anika leaned against Obi-Wan's chair. "It seems that she doesn't like you any more master."
Obi-Wan studied the map again, absentmindedly agreeing with Anika. "It seems so."
"Reach out. Sense the force around you," Master Yoda's voice echoes into the hallway.
The blinds of the Training Veranda are open, light spilling onto the occupants inside.
A group of twenty younglings of various races are holding training lightsabers in front of them. Their sight is blocked by training helmets, making them rely on the force to warn them where the low powered shots from the training droids will hit them.
Master Yoda directs them, "Don't think… feel… be one with the force. Help you, it will."
Obi-Wan and Anika stand outside the room, looking through the open doors, observing the younglings as they complete their training exercise.
The two inhale, feeling the peaceful atmosphere surround them through the force.
"I haven't felt this relaxed in ages," Anika murmurs to Obi-Wan.
"The force is bright around these younglings," Obi-Wan agrees.
The two inhale again and on the exhale they walk into the training room.
Master Yoda glances at the two, tapping his walking stick on the marble floor, indicating to the younglings to power down their lightsabers and take their helmets off.
"Younglings! Younglings!" he calls, getting the classes attention. "Visitors we have."
"Hello Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker," the class greets.
Anika smiles and waves hello.
Obi-Wan nods, "Hello younglings." He turns to Master Yoda. "I'm sorry to disturb you Master."
"What help can I be Obi-Wan, hmm?" asks Master Yoda, folding his hands-on top of each other on his walking stick.
"I'm looking for a planet described to me by an old friend. I trust him, but the systems don't show on the archive maps."
Master Yoda turns to look at the younglings, leaning in mischievously. "Hmm, lost a planet Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing. How embarrassing," he shakes his head.
The younglings try to unsuccessfully smother their laughter. It rings out in the force around them.
Anika doubles over, not trying to smother her laughter. Her snickers travel into the outside hallway. 'Scolded by Master Yoda. How embarrassing Master!' Anika sends through their bond.
Obi-Wan cringes slightly. 'We'll be having words later,' he vows.
Master Yoda nods towards the window in the back, "Liam the shades."
One of the human younglings in the back, 'Liam', walks forwards and touches the window. The window turns black, blocking out the sun and coating the room in darkness.
Anika walks towards the map reader, placing a small crystal ball down on the stand. She steps back, standing next to the younglings.
"Gather around the map reader. Clear your minds and find Obi-Wan's wayward planet we will," Master Yoda instructs.
Strolling around the room and through some of the planets, Obi-Wan heads for the Rishi Maze. "It ought to be around here," he points to a section in the air. "But it isn't. Gravity is pulling all the stars in this area inward to this spot," Obi-Wan gestures around the empty space. "There should be a star here… but there isn't."
"Hmmm. Gravity's silhouette remains, but the star and all its planets disappeared, they have. How can this be hmm? A thought? Anyone?" questions Master Yoda, turning it into an impromptu lesson.
Anika, Obi-Wan and Master Yoda watch the younglings as they attempt to solve the mystery.
"Master?" a youngling speaks up, hand in the air.
Master Yoda nods.
"Because someone erased it from the archive memory," the youngling finishes, lisp noticeable on some of the words.
"That's right! Someone erased it" another youngling yells excitedly.
"If the planet blew up, the gravity would go away," a human youngling reasons.
Master Yoda laughs, "Truly wonderful the mind of a child is." He turns towards Obi-Wan and Anika. "The younglings are right. Go to the centre of gravity's pull and find your planet you will."
Anika turns to the map reader with her hand out. With use of the force, the crystal ball flies out of the stand and into her hand. With the map reader no longer in use, the blinds turn off.
The younglings aww, whispering to the person next to them about when they could do something like that.
"Keep practising, listen to Master Yoda and sometime in the future you'll be able to do that," Anika crouches down, smiling at the younglings. "Remember what I said, and you'll get it in no time. I believe in you!" She stands up and waves at the younglings, heading towards Master Yoda and Obi-Wan who were conversing near the door.
She catches the last end of their conversation as she nears. "Only a Jedi could have erased those files. But who and why, harder to answer it is," Master Yoda trails off ominously. He looks up as Anika joins them. "Meditate on this, I will."
"We wish you the best of luck, Master," Obi-Wan bows.
Anika bows as well. "May the force be with you Master Yoda," she smiles encouragingly.
"And also with you," Master Yoda repeats the phrase.
Obi-Wan and Anika walk out the door, leaving Yoda to his class.
This is getting more and more complex, Obi-Wan thinks, sharing the thought with Anika.
Two of the Jedi's Delta-7 Starfighters loom in the distance, their red and white colour scheme blinding to the eye.
Master Windu walks with Obi-Wan and Anika to their starfighters.
"It appears someone doesn't want us to know about this Kamino system," Obi-Wan comments to Master Windu.
Master Windu nods, "Which means there's something happening in their system that we should know about."
"Master, do you think a Jedi could have erased those files?" Obi-Wan asks concerned.
"I hope not, but this disturbance in the force is making it hard to get a sense of things," sighs Master Windu.
The outside hanger door opens, allowing the platform that the two starfighters are on to extend outwards.
Anika frowns, "Does the council know what the disturbance is, Master Windu?"
Master Windu looks down at Anika, studying her expression. "I suspect the only being who knows what the disturbance is, is the force itself."
Anika nods, drawing back to walk behind Master Windu and Obi-Wan.
The three continue to the starfighters in silence.
Stopping just before his starfighter, Obi-Wan looks out towards the horizon, watching the ships in Coruscant's high levels fly by.
After a moment he turns towards Master Windu. "Has Master Yoda gained any insight into whether or not this war will come about?"
Master Windu shakes his head, looking troubled. "Probing the darkside is a dangerous process. He could be in seclusion for days."
Not listening to their conversation, Anika stands next to her starfighter, looking at the cockpit. A beep from the other side of the starfighter gets her attention.
Walking around the ship, she's nearly runover by R2-D2. He bumps into her legs, catching her attention.
[Mechanic!] R2 beeps happily.
"R2! It's good to see you buddy! What are you doing here?" asks Anika, dropping a hand onto his dome.
R2 rolls back and forth, beeping angrily in binary. [Danger! Mistress thought danger. I go with mechanic. Keep safe]
Anika laughs, "Padme thought I was in danger, so you snuck in?"
Beeping affirmative, R2 rolled towards the ship. Igniting his jetpacks, he settled into the astromech spot and started running a system diagnostic. Mistress asked him to protect his mechanic, so he'll protect her from everything. Including faulty starfighter systems.
"Only you R2. Only you." Anika smiles fondly, shaking her head. She jumps on the wing of the starfighter, hopping into the cockpit and getting situated. "Run a system check buddy?"
R2 beeps in indignation. [First thing.] he huffs in binary.
"Sorry, sorry buddy. Of course, you've already run it. I shouldn't have doubted you," Anika shakes her head.
Blocking out R2's insult towards organics, she looks over to see her master jumping into his starfighter. He sits down and begins to talk to his astromech. Seeing him run pre-flight checks, Anika turns to continue hers.
"Ready to go buddy?" Anika asks, revved up for the oncoming mission.
R2 swivels his dome, facing Anika. [Always!]
Master Windu stands between the two starfighters, hands folded into his robe's sleeves. "May the force be with you."
"May the force be with you," Obi-Wan and Anika echo as their cockpit windows lock into place.
Anika turns her starfighters commlink on, switching to the airspace controller frequency. "This is Jedi Tango-2 to air control tower. Over."
"Jedi Tango-2 this is air control tower. Over."
"Permission for Jedi Tango-1 and Jedi Tango-2 to take off? Over"
"Permission granted. Climb and maintain outer high atmosphere at one seven zero knots. Taxi to hyperspace ring four five six and four five seven. Air control tower over and out."
Following the commands, Anika lifts off with Obi-Wan right behind her. Switching her commlink frequency to the previous frequency, she comms Obi-Wan. "What do you think we'll find on Kamino?"
"I'm not sure. I suspect whatever we find will not bode well for the future," Obi-Wan replies.
They end their conversation, coming up to the hyperspace rings. They dock with the hyperspace rings and punch in their co-ordinates. The computer takes a moment to read the co-ordinates then jumps to hyperspace. The force of jumping to hyperspace pushes Obi-Wan and Anika back into their chairs.
Anika would never get tired of the hyperspace blue surrounding her. To her it represented freedom and adventure. A new place to increase her knowledge of the universe. It also didn't help that blue was her favourite colour, synonymous with all the things she loved; hyperspace, water, the colour of Obi-Wan eyes and R2's finish.