A/N: Ok, so this a new chapter brought on by my experiences as a first year college student. Anyone reading this who has had to move into a new dorm will sympathize with me I'm sure. I'm a second year student now, but the memory ran strong enough to write down. Once again, inspired by late night talks between me and Laura.

Part 3: Flying the Coop

"Hey, Obi-Wan!" Bant smiled. Her best friend was walking down the hallway toward her. Walking seemed to be an understatement, really. Stalking was more appropriate for what he was doing. One could never call him a morning person, but early as it was, surely he had had his morning coffee by now. And the young Calamarian didn't remember his face looking so sour just because of an early hour.

She fell into step with him as he walked, or rather stalked, toward the ships' hangar. "Obi? What's wrong?"

His blue-green eyes smoldered like glittering jewels. "Is he still there?"

"Who?" she looked back to see if someone like Bruck or Aalto were trailing them. She couldn't see or sense either nearby. Who besides them could get him this worked up?

"That… that man! That…" Whatever 'that man' was exactly was lost as he dissolved into a growl befitting an enraged constipated Wookiee.

Bant looked again to be sure. "Obi, the only one who's following us is your Master." She paused. The only time Obi-Wan ever got this way with Qui-Gon was if they had been fighting. It usually involved Xanatos in some way using either his name or basis for comparison. "You two didn't get in a fight, did you? Was it bad?" But even their fights weren't enough to get him this kind of rage. Usually he only got depressed for a while. Instead of depressed, the young Padawan looked ready to breathe fire and brimstones.

Another intelligible growl. Then it became an intelligible growl. "The Council decided to grant me a solo mission after the success on Trelan IV."

Her golden eyes grew wide at the revelation. "But Obi-Wan, you're only 17. Solo missions are only given to Senior Padawans that are at least 20."

He growled again. The information did nothing to cheer him in the slightest. "I know."

Did he not hear her through his thick human skull? "But that's a great honor! If you succeed, you'll become the youngest Senior Padawan in…"

"423 years, I know, Bant."

She was taken aback at his tone. "Obi-Wan, what is your problem? You're never like this."

"You'll see," he promised with finality. "He'll make sure everyone sees." With that cryptic announcement, he continued to stalk down the halls, dragging his duffle bag after him like a sack of rocks.

By now, word of Obi-Wan's first solo mission had traveled to most of his classmates. As class had gotten out some time ago, said classmates were now traveling alongside Obi-Wan and Bant to see him off. Bant was not the only one to realize the great honor that was granted upon the young Padawan.

For Obi-Wan, reaching the hangar could not happen soon enough. With his duffle bag over one shoulder now and his data pad in his other hand, he was more than ready to go. And more eager than anyone suspected. He wanted to leave as soon as possible if only to leave behind the man he called 'Master.' If he found Qui-Gon a trying mentor before, then now the Master was downright insufferable.

The ship finally came into view much to the Padawan's delight. He dropped his duffle bag and pocketed the data pad. Turning around he bowed quickly to his gathered friends. Mumbling a quick 'may the Force be with you,' he spun around, grabbed the duffle bag, and made a beeline for the ship. Its doors were open and called to him seductively, like the very essence of the Force itself.

"Padawan!" a voice called out. His body automatically slowed; tried its absolute hardest to stop. But his mind overrode years of training and instinct as he quickened his pace. Nothing could stop him from his goal. He could pretend he didn't hear.

"Obi-Wan, wait!" Bant called out. "Didn't you hear your Master?"

Silently vowing cruel and unusual revenge upon the clueless Calamarian, the 17-year old obediently stopped and turned around. There was no way he could pretend not to hear that. Qui-Gon approached as an executioner approaches his victim. And the student waited like one already at the gallows.

"Obi-Wan," the Master began. "This is a great honor to be chosen for this mission."

"Yes, Master." The Padawan tried to hide his sigh. How many times had he heard this only today?

"But it is also a great responsibility. If you do not feel you are ready…"

"Master, we've discussed this already. I am ready for this. The Council wouldn't have given it to me if I wasn't." Obi-Wan pleaded his case quickly, trying to abate any of his Master's fears before they got out of hand.

"Don't interrupt me, Padawan. You have a tendency to rush into things without thinking. If you feel at all unsure, it's alright. There is no dishonor in backing out. You will not be disappointing me."

"Master," Obi-Wan began slowly, as though speaking to a 1st Year Initiate. "I'll be fine. You've trained me well, and I am honored to be given this chance so early in my training." Apparently the flattery had some effect, because the Master Jedi stopped coming from that angle. Unfortunately, he came at the boy with another one.

"And you're sure you have everything?"

"Yes, Master. We already talked about this, remember?" Oh did they ever! Obi-Wan used to think that having one's drawstring being accidentally cut in 'saber class was humiliating. Ha, mere child's play, that! Having one's Master hand you a whole extra bag of undergarments in a busy hall just after class let out was nearly enough to drive one to the Dark Side. He vaguely wondered in the back of his mind if Bruck had stopped crying yet from all the laughing he'd been doing.

"Don't talk back to me, Padawan. You forgot all your underthings earlier today and I had to bring them to you."

Obi-Wan's face felt hot as he heard the beginnings of the snickers from his friends. Did Qui-Gon absolutely have to bring that up? There were still people who had yet to hear about that. Oh, how the mighty must suffer…

"Master…"

"Now, are you absolutely sure you have everything? If you remember something while you are gone, contact the Temple and I'll send it to you."

Even if he'd forgotten his lightsaber, the Padawan wouldn't call home for it to be sent to him. Call him prideful, but he would rather share drinks with Xanatos first.

"Master, please…"

"Have you read your data pad all the way through? Do you know all the details of the mission? The slightest miscalculation could lead to disaster. Older Senior Padawans have been injured on their missions for lesser mistakes."

"Master, I'm fine! I have four whole days to study on the ship." Apparently that was the wrong thing to say.

"Four days all by yourself on the ship? Will you need any company? I can…"

"I think I'll survive, Master, thank you." Now he did not even bother trying to sound polite. The giggles were growing louder now and all he wanted was to retreat to the sanctuary of his ship.

Once he would have given anything for his Master to open up to him and show that he cared. For one instant to prove that Obi-Wan was not a parasite the Master could not be rid of. Now he just wanted his stern and anal Master back. The one who would make him run four miles because he slept in late. The one who made him go to class even if he were on his deathbed.

"Are you sure? Because I can…"

"Master, please!"

"And you're sure you have everything?"

"Master, you're always telling me how a bird must leave its nest eventually so it can live on its own. Doing otherwise will only upset the balance of the Living Force." Perhaps speaking 'Qui-Gon' might help. "Let me leave my nest, Master. Please! I have my clothes, I have more undergarments than I'll ever need in my whole lifetime, I have my data pad, and I have my ultra-safe ship! I'll – be – just – fine! Just please let me go!"

"Padawan, I do not appreciate the tone you're taking with me." Ah, the stern anal Master was back from his mental visit to La La Land. "You may not be ready for this mission after all." Ok, so maybe he wasn't.

"I am ready." Obi-Wan hoped he didn't come across as whiny and desperate because that was exactly how he was feeling. "You've trained me well and I am ready for this. The Council would not give this to someone unworthy of it." Why did he feel like a broken record?

Qui-Gon sighed in defeat seeing the stubborn glint in his student's eyes. "Very well, then. Have a safe journey and may the Force be with you."

Obi-Wan bowed gratefully as he knew he won this round with minimal blows to his pride and reputation. "And with you, Maa-ster?!" His temporary insane Master had enveloped him in a great bear hug that knocked the wind out of him.

The barely muffled giggles turned into large howls of laughter. Obi-Wan thought he heard Bruck in the backround. Apparently he hadn't gotten enough the first time around. The Padawan was glad to be of humorous service.

'Give me terrorists, give me world-wide civil war, oh Force, give me Sith taking control of the Republic! Anything but this!' Obi-Wan didn't know what he did in his past life to deserve this, but it must have been heinous.

So with a face so red it looked like he had been sunbathing on Tatooine, he pulled himself from the embrace with what little dignity remained. He straightened his tunic as best he could and squared his shoulders like a true Jedi. Looking up at his Master straight in the eye, he was reminded of his small size for his age. But a Jedi will not be intimidated by an opponent of greater stature and neither would he.

"Sir, I do not know you and I respectfully request that you return my Master to me before I return. I must also request that you see the Healers on your way out for I believe you may have sustained a head injury recently." Before the stunned Jedi could respond to this very un-Obi-Wan-like remark, said Padawan had swung around and fled for the ship with luggage in tow.

'If he's this bad for my first solo mission,' thought Obi-Wan as he ordered the pilot to take off immediately, 'I wonder what he'll be like when I'm knighted."

FIN

Yeah, so who else can testify that parents are at their weirdest when their kid leaves for college? Come on, raise your hands! One minute they're nagging and yelling about everything, the next, they're buying you tons of stuff and throwing money at you. Alright, it's a little OOC, but gimme a break, it was thought up at 3 in the morning! The next chapter will have the revenge of the humiliated Padawan.

Once again, if you have any ideas or requests for a future Jedi Short, let me know and I'll work it in.