Over the seventeen years she had been alive, Adrina had witnessed many things. However, until Anakin presented himself to her with the traditional male padawan's hair style, Adrina had not known how much she liked his previous haircut. Adrina despised his new short hair; she missed Anakin's shaggy mop. Still, Anakin was proud and happy, so Adrina mustered the biggest smile she could and assured him that he looked every bit a Jedi with his new hair and clothing.
Adrina stood on the balcony attached to her room. The warm breeze ruffled the soft fabric of her borrowed dress and carried up a peel of Anakin's laughter. She shoved a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Taking a breath and closing her eyes, Adrina let the warmth of the sun comfort her. Naboo's sunlight didn't burn like the Tatooine suns.
"That's so cool!" Anakin exclaimed. Adrina smiled, watching Obi-Wan – somehow – levitate Anakin. Her smile dimmed. Perhaps Anakin's irrepressible cheer, even in grief, would help heal Obi-Wan's pain, just as he had once helped her.
Adrina gave a little wave when Anakin grinned up at her. She sighed when they moved out of sight. She looked up at the sky, hoping against hope that time would stop for just a little while so that she could enjoy time with Anakin just a little while longer.
0
Bright torches replaced sunlight in the plaza. Tables overflowed with food and lively music was plentiful. All of Theed had converged for the celebration. Adrina stood in an alcove, in a rare shadow, leaning against the smooth tan stone. She enjoyed a favorable vantage point of most of the party. A young couple conversed shyly a few feet away. Not far from them, an expectant mother sat on a bench clapping enthusiastically along with the lively dancing tune, her foot keeping rhythm with her hands. How anyone was enjoying the over abundance of people and noise mystified Adrina. It set her senses on fire and was giving her a headache.
She kept a sharp eye out on Anakin, surreptitiously shadowing him. He seemed to thrive, sampling all the food and talking with everyone he could. Obi-Wan, Adrina noticed, was also watching Anakin from the alcove. She had spotted him with Anakin briefly at the beginning of the party, chatting with the appropriate dignitaries before he allowed his apprentice to slip into the party. Obi-Wan refrained and Adrina couldn't blame him. She hadn't felt like celebrating after her father's death.
Adrina nearly jumped out of her skin when Obi-Wan appeared at her side unexpectedly. She swallowed hard, hand over heart, and her brown eyes wide. "Don't do that!" Adrina hissed.
Obi-Wan murmured an apology that was lost in the noise.
Adrina shook her head and resumed her observations. Her heart squeezed painfully when she saw Anakin chatting with a pretty girl around his age. From his wild hand gestures, she suspected they were discussing flying. Reality struck Adrina hard in that moment: Anakin would never have a family. He would never marry or have children. His life would be one of service – free-will and noble service, but still service. Sacrifice. Anakin wouldn't care about that at the tender age of nine, but would he care when he grew older? Should she and Shmi not have encouraged his passion to become a Jedi? In their haste to give him a better life, had they condemned him to a life of solitude he would one day regret? Or could Ani make the Jedi his only family?
None of her doubts mattered now, Adrina reminded herself. The decisions were made. They would have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. That was the important thing. Should Anakin come to resent the Jedi Code and its restrictions, they could leave – simple as that.
"I would like to talk to you later, Obi-Wan." Adrina leaned closer to Obi-Wan so that her words could be heard. She blinked and straightened.
Obi-Wan was gone.
0
Obi-Wan forced himself to take a deep breath. He closed his eyes. He couldn't believe that he had become the worst Jedi Master in the history of the Jedi Order within not even two days of taking an apprentice. How had he lost Anakin? The boy had vanished into thin air in the night. No one had seen hide or hair of him, either. Obi-Wan received negative shakes of the head and halfhearted apologies from palace staff when he inquired about Adrina, as well. He wasn't surprised, as most of the night-time staff were droids. The humans did not begin their work until dawn.
Reaching out with the Force, Obi-Wan knew that Anakin and Adrina were both in the near vicinity. After following them for an hour, the knowledge was a relief. He had come close to them a few times, but they were moving at a fast pace, always just beyond sight.
The Jedi Knight stopped before a window, leaning heavily against the cool, smooth stone. He rubbed his temple and sighed. It was raining outside, giving the air a thick and dreary feeling. Obi-Wan straightened when he heard laughter emanating from the courtyard the window looked out onto. His eyes widened. Anakin dashed across the flagstones, utterly soaked from head to toe. He was grinning widely, looking like he was having the time of his life.
"What in the blazes is he doing out there?" Obi-Wan muttered.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head, and his mouth hung open when Adrina suddenly ran into his view. Her hair was up in a bun, but strands had started to come out and were sticking to the wet skin of her face. The heavy rain had drenched her, too, but a broad smile stretched across her face, lighting up her eyes.
"They'll be the death of me." Obi-Wan muttered again. Peals of laughter reached his ears. "It's raining! What are they thinking?" He immediately winced.
Obi-Wan sighed and pulled his hood over his head, for all the good it would do in the deluge. He pushed the door open and ran into the rain. Adrina and Anakin stopped mid-chase when they saw him and dashed over, both grinning happily and breathing hard.
"Hi, Master Obi-Wan!" Anakin greeted cheerfully, voice elevated because of the rain. "Isn't this the coolest thing ever?"
"That is not the descriptor I would use," Obi-Wan said dryly.
Adrina shook her head and smiled. She twirled around, her head tipped up to the sky, arms spread wide. Obi-Wan tried not to gape at her carefree response.
"You two are going to make yourself sick!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. "What are you even doing out here?"
Adrina frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you don't like it, why did you let Ani come out? You knew where he was going."
Obi-Wan blinked. "I beg your pardon?" Anakin shifted nervously on his feet, staring down at the cobblestones. "I had no idea Anakin had even left the room until I woke up. I most certainly did not give him permission to go galavanting in the rain like a crazed hooligan!"
Adrina straightened and slowly turned her gaze to her brother. The rain coursing down her face, bringing tendrils of hair with it, detracted somewhat from her stony expression, but Anakin still appeared suitably chagrined. "Anakin, explain."
Anakin bit his lower lip, unable to meet his sister's penetrating eyes. "I...I kinda..forgot..." Anakin explained weakly. Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose and reminded himself to be patient.
"You forgot to ask Master Obi-Wan." Her voice was a steel shard. Even Obi-Wan found himself shrinking.
"I was just so excited!" Anakin pleaded earnestly to Obi-Wan. "I forgot I had to ask permission. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Master Obi-Wan. It won't happen again. Honest!"
Obi-Wan managed a small smile, placing his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "We're both learning," Obi-Wan said. "You are forgiven. Just don't let this happen again." He turned to Adrina. "Now, let's all get inside and dry off before we die in this miserable rain."
Adrina rolled her eyes. She stared over her shoulder, up into the sky, but she slowly followed Obi-Wan inside. Her action served as a needed reminder to Obi-Wan: never take anything for granted and keep both eyes on Anakin Skywalker at all times.
0
If she ever built a spaceship, the first thing she would do is make certain it had decent environmental controls, Adrina decided. If she was ever the captain of a spaceship, the first order of business would be to make certain those environmental controls were functioning to the benefit of all crew members.
Once again, Adrina was on a spaceship, freezing. This time, however, she was alone. They were on the Supreme Chancellor's spaceship returning to Coruscant. Anakin and Obi-Wan shared a tiny compartment, but Adrina had her own bunk. It was in the common area, but with a press of a button Adrina could enclose the bunk. She sat snugly in the corner of her bunk, knees pressed tightly to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. She was determined to retain every ounce of body heat she could. The provided blanket was tucked around her, but it was thin and only marginally helpful.
Adrina peered out of her bunk when she heard footsteps enter the common area – Obi-Wan. He nodded a greeting and sat in a chair at the table. "Cold?" Obi-Wan queried.
"Of course not," Adrina murmured. Obi-Wan's arched eyebrow made it clear that he did not believe her baldfaced lie.
Adrina slowly emerged from the bunk, bringing the blanket with her. She slid into the chair opposite Obi-Wan. He wordlessly slipped off his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. "Wear it," Obi-Wan said with gentle firmness. "And if I find it outside of my door again before we reach Coruscant, I will just keep giving it to you until you stop protesting."
Adrina swallowed her pride and murmured her thanks. She sighed and drew her legs up to her chest again, refolding her arms around her legs. They were silent for several minutes. "Obi-Wan," Adrina said finally. "I'm sure Ani has already told you this, but I'm going to be in the Service Corps. I go before the Reassignment Council when we arrive back on Coruscant."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Anakin mentioned that."
"Can you tell me more about the Jedi Service Corps? Please?" She hoped Obi-Wan didn't hear the slight waver in her voice.
"The Service Corps is where Jedi Younglings who are never selected by Masters to become apprentices go," Obi-Wan explained.
"Yes, Master Windu said that," Adrina interjected. "But I thought you said that was the AgriCorps."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes. The Agricultural Corps – AgriCorps, for short – is a branch of the Service Corps," Obi-Wan said. Adrina nodded. "There are four branches: AgriCorps, the Medical Corps, the Educational Corps, and the Exploration Corps. Unclaimed Younglings go before the Reassignment Council, who decide where the Youngling will be sent. Their destination is usually determined by where the Youngling's talents lay. They are then educated in whatever branch they are placed in, but will not continue their studies of the Force like an apprenticed Jedi. Although it can sound less than glamorous, the Service Corps provides vital services to the Jedi and the galaxy. Their work is hard, but without them the Jedi Knights would have a much harder time performing their duties. Sometimes I wonder if they do more good for the galaxy than the Jedi."
Adrina was quiet for a moment, pondering where her own talents lay. Not in the Exploration Corps, she hoped. She doubted they would place her in the Educational Corps, since she had no Force training and little useful knowledge for training future Jedi. Besides, teaching didn't appeal to her. That left the AgriCops or the Medical Corps. Adrina bit her lower lip. "Do the Younglings have any say in their assignment?"
Obi-Wan paused to consider her question. "They can make their desire known, but the ultimate decision rests with the Council."
Adrina nodded. It was expected. She would go wherever they sent her, regardless. The Jedi had given her a bed and a job when they had no obligation to do so; she could hardly make any demands upon them. "Thank you, Obi-Wan. You have been very helpful." She hesitated. "And thank you. For being patient with Ani."
Obi-Wan smiled slightly. "It's no trouble at all."
0
She belonged to the Medical Corps. Although she had received the news hours ago, the reality of the decision still weighed on her. What would Anakin think? Adrina didn't know; they had split ways two hours before when they arrived at the Jedi Temple.
Adrina sat quietly in her small room, large enough only to hold a single bed, a small table and a small round cushion. She was grateful for the room, however small it was, that boasted an attached refresher and temperature control. She sank onto the bed, finally able to catch her breath. For now at least, Adrina was settled in one place, though she expected she would be tossed out at any moment. The Jedi had been too kind. It couldn't last. It never did.
It was still difficult for Adrina to believe that she was free. She only had a few concrete memories of life before slavery and many were vague or fading; she had only been four when she was taken. After the explosion on Jabba's Barge, Adrina had given up on her dreams of freedom. Contentment was the only way to survive. Besides, what did freedom really have to offer her? Her father would still be dead. But now she was free and she still had Anakin. She had a place to sleep, food to eat, and honorable work. The Jedi Code may be restrictive, but the Jedi provided her more than she had expected from freedom.
She only wished her father could see her now; although he hated the Jedi, surely he would be proud to see his daughter become a medical technician. The Reassignment Council had – with little deliberation – placed her in the Medical Corps, a decision that contented Adrina. Like Anakin, her own training would begin in the morning. She would be training under Vokara Che, the Chief Healer. Adrina didn't know what that assignment should tell her about their feelings about her.
The door chime sounded. Adrina jumped out of bed and leapt towards the door. She keyed it open, hoping desperately to see Anakin on the other side. Her shoulders slumped. Adrina swallowed her disappointment. A brown protocol droid stood there with a parcel. "A package for you, from Master Vokara Che."
Adrina accepted the proffered parcel with a meagre smile. Bowing slightly, the droid shuffled away upon completion of its task.
Keying the door shut with a sigh, Adrina melted onto the bed. It was foolish to have expected Anakin. He was busy with his own things now. Half-heartedly removing the lid to the package, Adrina peered inside. A pile of neatly folded clothing with a note on top greeted her. She carefully removed each piece. In total, the Jedi had provided her with five sets of clothing: three identical MedCorps uniforms, one semi-traditional set, and night clothes. A dark brown cloak lay at the bottom of the parcel. Turning her attention to the note, she was informed of where to go to be fitted for new boots and undergarments and where the laundering facility was located.
Adrina lay the clothing aside, suddenly overwhelmed. It was far more than she had expected. Looking at the plain muted silver walls around her, Jedi clothing beside her, everything seemed very real. She was really there. It wasn't all a dream. She tried not to think about Shmi alone in their hovel, maybe even weeping over the children she lost. She hoped Watto was treating her well, not taking his frustration at losing two slaves out on her. Although not as bad as Jabba, Watto was not known for his compassion. But Shmi had durasteel in her bones. She would be alright. She had to be. Adrina couldn't bear to think otherwise.