Anakin didn't have long to plan; math was the second class of the
day. Usually Tiarah would accompany him to class, she wasn't in the
advanced classes with Anakin, but she rarely left his side. Tiarah had
been visiting her home world of Tatooine for the past few days. Her former
guardian had been killed in an accident and she had wanted to return for
his ceremonial resting acceptance.
This morning walking alone worked to Anakin's advantage. He wanted to stop by Jacen's room in order to "borrow" one of his pets. Surely Jacen would forgive him when he understood Anakin's reasoning behind it. Anakin was going to release the crystal snake in the classroom in order to cause a distraction to the class. Jacen hated math just as much as everyone else, he'd appreciate the prank, Anakin was sure of it.
Holding on to the snake during his first class was simple. Anakin simply placed the animal in his gym locker. In his rush to get to math he didn't notice that the snake had shed its skin in his locker while he had been working out with his instructors. His excitement was too much to hold on to the snake for long once he got to math class. He released it almost immidiatly.
Zekk felt something rustle at his feet. Before he could figure out what it was, it was crawling under his pants and up his leg! He saw the tail of the snake and grabbed it. "Solo", he said standing in front of Jacen with the snake in one hand still hanging by its tail. "You better have a good explanation for this."
"Jaina I thought you fixed the cage", Jacen said turning to his sister.
"I did there is no possible way it could have escaped, it was full proof."
"That's what you said the last time." Jacen was more than a little nervous. His uncle would not be pleased to hear that one of his pets had disrupted the class.
"Order!" the instructor commanded. "Jacen take the snake back to your room and return here immediately. We will meet with Master Skywalker to discuss this matter after class.
"Yes, sir", Jacen said bowing his head and scurrying out of the room.
Kam led Jacen down the hallways of Yavin IV's massive temple. Disbelief filled Jacen's mind. When he had returned to his room with the crystal snake the door to the cage had been closed and clasped.
There was no way the door could latch after being opened unless someone had latched it. Was it possible that someone had let the snake out on purpose? Would his uncle believe he was innocent?
Jedi Master Luke Skywalker looked up from the papers on his desk. "Kam what brings you here?"
"An unfortunate matter that disrupted my class this morning", Kam answered stepping aside to give Luke a view of his nephew.
"Hi uncle Luke", Jacen said miserably.
"Have a seat", Luke said motioning to a few chairs in front of his desk. "Tell me what this is all about."
Jacen looked towards Kam who obviously wanted him to tell the story, Jacen took a deep breath and began. "My crystal snake seems to have gotten out of its cage and caused a disturbance in our class", Jacen said cutting to the chase. "But when I went to return it to my room the cage was locked shut. It's just not possible for the door to latch itself, someone must have took it on purpose."
There would be no use for Jacen to lie to Luke; his uncle could always sense an untruth. Luke knew Jacen was being honest with him. "As a reminder to you that your pets need to be kept under control I'm going to ask you to spend your midday meal alone in your room. I believe this was not entirely your fault and will investigate into the matter further. For now I suggest you get going, you'll be late for your next class."
Without a word Jacen pulled back his chair and rushed out of the room. "I'm sorry for disturbing you Luke", Kam began "Perhaps I should have handled this matter myself."
"I'm glad you brought it to my attention. I have some extra time this afternoon. I'll take a look around Jacen's room; see if there's any evidence of someone taking the snake."
"Jacen will be pleased. I've got to make haste, I have another class starting in a few minutes." Kam informed Luke as he headed out the door.
As he carried the tray of food to his room Jacen couldn't help but mope. This wasn't his fault, why was he being punished? Once he was in his room Jacen discovered that he didn't have much of an appetite. While he was picking at his food there was a knock at the door "Come", he said.
"Jacen, I was hoping you would be here", it was uncle Luke "Is there anything out of place in your room? Any evidence that someone was here?"
Surprised that he hadn't thought to look himself, Jacen quickly took a look around the room. "Not really", he said, "it looks just the way I left it this morning."
"I was hoping to investigate the matter further this afternoon", Luke explained, "Unfortunately something has come up."
"It's okay", Jacen replied.
"As an extra precaution I suggest you lock the door when you go to class this afternoon", Luke said seeing his way out.
"I will, thanks for stopping by and for believing in me."
The next morning after gym something in Anakin's locker caught Jacen's eye. He pushed his brother aside and pulled a layer of snakeskin out of the locker. "Look familiar?" he asked his younger sibling.
"I kinda borrowed your snake", Anakin mumbled.
"You did what? I got in trouble for that incident yesterday, you better have a good explanation."
"Remember how you said that math was your least favorite class at breakfast yesterday?"
"Go on", Jacen prompted.
"Well, I only wanted to cause a commotion that would make the time go by faster."
"It worked", Jacen confirmed. "But I'm gonna tell uncle Luke about this, he's been investigating the situation and he's bound to find out sooner or later."
"I'll go with you" Anakin said accepting his fate. "Let's get this over with."
Jacen led his brother down the hall to Luke's office. The door was open so there was no need to knock.
"Come on in" Luke said encouraging his nephews to take a seat. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Anakin has something to tell you" Jacen said taking the chair on the left.
Anakin sat on his hands and bowed his head. "I was the one who borrowed Jacen's crystal snake yesterday."
"Did you mean for the snake to cause a disturbance in your class?" Luke asked.
Swallowing Anakin nodded.
"Jacen, thank you for bringing this to my attention, you go on to class now, I'd like to speak with Anakin alone." Once Jacen was quite a ways down the hall Luke began speak "Let me get this strait, you broke into your brother's room, took one of his possessions without his permission, disrupted one of your classes, and allowed your brother to take the blame for it".
All Anakin could do was nod. Had he really done all that?
"I'm afraid that I have no choice but to confine you to your quarters for the next 24 hours. After that we will see about assigning you some extra chores. You may finish out your morning classes before reporting to your room. I'll personally bring you an evening and morning meal. Is there anything you'd like to say before your dismissed?"
"No", Anakin said rising to his feet.
"Very well. Behave yourself, and I'll see you this evening."
This morning walking alone worked to Anakin's advantage. He wanted to stop by Jacen's room in order to "borrow" one of his pets. Surely Jacen would forgive him when he understood Anakin's reasoning behind it. Anakin was going to release the crystal snake in the classroom in order to cause a distraction to the class. Jacen hated math just as much as everyone else, he'd appreciate the prank, Anakin was sure of it.
Holding on to the snake during his first class was simple. Anakin simply placed the animal in his gym locker. In his rush to get to math he didn't notice that the snake had shed its skin in his locker while he had been working out with his instructors. His excitement was too much to hold on to the snake for long once he got to math class. He released it almost immidiatly.
Zekk felt something rustle at his feet. Before he could figure out what it was, it was crawling under his pants and up his leg! He saw the tail of the snake and grabbed it. "Solo", he said standing in front of Jacen with the snake in one hand still hanging by its tail. "You better have a good explanation for this."
"Jaina I thought you fixed the cage", Jacen said turning to his sister.
"I did there is no possible way it could have escaped, it was full proof."
"That's what you said the last time." Jacen was more than a little nervous. His uncle would not be pleased to hear that one of his pets had disrupted the class.
"Order!" the instructor commanded. "Jacen take the snake back to your room and return here immediately. We will meet with Master Skywalker to discuss this matter after class.
"Yes, sir", Jacen said bowing his head and scurrying out of the room.
Kam led Jacen down the hallways of Yavin IV's massive temple. Disbelief filled Jacen's mind. When he had returned to his room with the crystal snake the door to the cage had been closed and clasped.
There was no way the door could latch after being opened unless someone had latched it. Was it possible that someone had let the snake out on purpose? Would his uncle believe he was innocent?
Jedi Master Luke Skywalker looked up from the papers on his desk. "Kam what brings you here?"
"An unfortunate matter that disrupted my class this morning", Kam answered stepping aside to give Luke a view of his nephew.
"Hi uncle Luke", Jacen said miserably.
"Have a seat", Luke said motioning to a few chairs in front of his desk. "Tell me what this is all about."
Jacen looked towards Kam who obviously wanted him to tell the story, Jacen took a deep breath and began. "My crystal snake seems to have gotten out of its cage and caused a disturbance in our class", Jacen said cutting to the chase. "But when I went to return it to my room the cage was locked shut. It's just not possible for the door to latch itself, someone must have took it on purpose."
There would be no use for Jacen to lie to Luke; his uncle could always sense an untruth. Luke knew Jacen was being honest with him. "As a reminder to you that your pets need to be kept under control I'm going to ask you to spend your midday meal alone in your room. I believe this was not entirely your fault and will investigate into the matter further. For now I suggest you get going, you'll be late for your next class."
Without a word Jacen pulled back his chair and rushed out of the room. "I'm sorry for disturbing you Luke", Kam began "Perhaps I should have handled this matter myself."
"I'm glad you brought it to my attention. I have some extra time this afternoon. I'll take a look around Jacen's room; see if there's any evidence of someone taking the snake."
"Jacen will be pleased. I've got to make haste, I have another class starting in a few minutes." Kam informed Luke as he headed out the door.
As he carried the tray of food to his room Jacen couldn't help but mope. This wasn't his fault, why was he being punished? Once he was in his room Jacen discovered that he didn't have much of an appetite. While he was picking at his food there was a knock at the door "Come", he said.
"Jacen, I was hoping you would be here", it was uncle Luke "Is there anything out of place in your room? Any evidence that someone was here?"
Surprised that he hadn't thought to look himself, Jacen quickly took a look around the room. "Not really", he said, "it looks just the way I left it this morning."
"I was hoping to investigate the matter further this afternoon", Luke explained, "Unfortunately something has come up."
"It's okay", Jacen replied.
"As an extra precaution I suggest you lock the door when you go to class this afternoon", Luke said seeing his way out.
"I will, thanks for stopping by and for believing in me."
The next morning after gym something in Anakin's locker caught Jacen's eye. He pushed his brother aside and pulled a layer of snakeskin out of the locker. "Look familiar?" he asked his younger sibling.
"I kinda borrowed your snake", Anakin mumbled.
"You did what? I got in trouble for that incident yesterday, you better have a good explanation."
"Remember how you said that math was your least favorite class at breakfast yesterday?"
"Go on", Jacen prompted.
"Well, I only wanted to cause a commotion that would make the time go by faster."
"It worked", Jacen confirmed. "But I'm gonna tell uncle Luke about this, he's been investigating the situation and he's bound to find out sooner or later."
"I'll go with you" Anakin said accepting his fate. "Let's get this over with."
Jacen led his brother down the hall to Luke's office. The door was open so there was no need to knock.
"Come on in" Luke said encouraging his nephews to take a seat. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Anakin has something to tell you" Jacen said taking the chair on the left.
Anakin sat on his hands and bowed his head. "I was the one who borrowed Jacen's crystal snake yesterday."
"Did you mean for the snake to cause a disturbance in your class?" Luke asked.
Swallowing Anakin nodded.
"Jacen, thank you for bringing this to my attention, you go on to class now, I'd like to speak with Anakin alone." Once Jacen was quite a ways down the hall Luke began speak "Let me get this strait, you broke into your brother's room, took one of his possessions without his permission, disrupted one of your classes, and allowed your brother to take the blame for it".
All Anakin could do was nod. Had he really done all that?
"I'm afraid that I have no choice but to confine you to your quarters for the next 24 hours. After that we will see about assigning you some extra chores. You may finish out your morning classes before reporting to your room. I'll personally bring you an evening and morning meal. Is there anything you'd like to say before your dismissed?"
"No", Anakin said rising to his feet.
"Very well. Behave yourself, and I'll see you this evening."