Thank you for your reviews! After the darkness of my last story, I thought I should lighten things up a bit. I hope you enjoy!
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Anakin lay on his shelf, trying to get to sleep. He was almost there when he heard a squeaking sound. His eyes popped open. He listened intently for a while, but heard nothing else. When he decided that he had probably imagined it, he heard it again. He then heard what sounded to be scampering little feet.
Anakin shot up and promptly hit his head on the shelf above him. "Ow!" He massaged the spot where he knew there would soon be a lump. "Master? Master, are you awake?"
"Yes, Anakin." There was a hint of amusement in Obi-Wan's voice.
"Did you hear those noises?" As if in reply, another squeak and more sounds of movement immediately followed. "THOSE noises?"
"Yes, I heard them." Obi-Wan sounded completely unconcerned.
"What do you think it is?"
"I would assume we have been joined by a rodent of some kind."
"Oh, great! Don't most rodents have extremely sharp teeth and carry nasty diseases?"
"Yes."
"NOW I know why you took the top shelf."
"Exactly." Obi-Wan tried to keep the smile out of his voice. "I suggest you keep your hands and feet securely on the shelf."
"Thanks, Master." Anakin sounded anything but thankful.
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"Anakin?"
Anakin woke up slowly. It felt like he'd just fallen asleep five minutes before. "Hmm?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Anakin." It sounded like Jorgan's voice. "Our food dispenser isn't working. Would you mind taking a look at it?"
"Wh-what time is it?"
"It's 6:00."
Ugh. What kind of people voluntarily get up at this hour? Anakin slowly got up. The stream of light coming from the open doorway showed an empty top shelf. Typical.
Anakin shuffled into the small eating area to find his master sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with Sam. It amazed him how Obi-Wan always seemed to be able to wake up in a pleasant mood. Anakin sincerely hoped to learn that ability someday. As it was right now, his mood was anything but pleasant.
Obi-Wan gave Anakin a smile. "Good morning, Padawan." He could easily sense the boy's foul mood.
"Morning, Master," Anakin groused.
Sam shot Obi-Wan an amused glance. "We really appreciate your help with this, Anakin. The food dispenser's been on the fritz for a while, but this morning it completely gave up the ghost."
Anakin didn't really feel like replying, but at the look Obi-Wan sent him, he decided that he'd better follow etiquette. "I'm glad to help, sir." He walked over to the unit and immediately started tinkering.
Jorgan sat down at the table with Sam and Obi-Wan. Sam picked up the conversation where he'd left off. "Well, I for one am fascinated by the Jedi. I remember as a little boy the Jedi coming between my planet and disaster. It truly amazes me what you Jedi are willing to give up for a life of service."
Anakin perked up his ears to hear Obi-Wan's response. It amazed HIM the sacrifices the Jedi willingly made in order to serve. He often wondered if he could ever truly be that committed – especially when he thought that the Jedi Order required too much sacrifice of its members. It was a thought that went unmentioned to his master, who was completely committed to the Jedi Order and its Code.
Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders. "Any time someone truly believes in something and is dedicated to living according to that belief, it requires some sacrifices and a determination of priorities. It is no different for the Jedi."
Sam leaned forward. "Ah, but it is. Because your sacrifices are things most people treasure and even take for granted – getting married, having kids, making decisions for oneself FIRST."
Obi-Wan looked at both men. "Are either of you married with families?"
Sam glanced at Jorgan. "Well, no."
"Why not?"
Jorgan piped in. "We're both wanderers – traveling constantly. It just wouldn't be right to have a family and never be there for them."
"Do either of you regret that decision?"
Sam and Jorgan both shook their heads. "Not really, no." Sam put up his hand. "But that's not the same thing."
Obi-Wan smiled gently. "Isn't it? You're both serving the galaxy in your own way. You've made sacrifices in order to do that."
Jorgan looked dumbfounded. "Surely you're not comparing what we do to what you do! Even though we both made a choice not to have a family, we can still do whatever we want. We can put ourselves first."
Anakin had to agree with Jorgan. Hauling trash across the galaxy could not be equated with the work of the Jedi!
"Who's to say which service is greater or which sacrifice is harder?" Obi-Wan smiled at the looks on the other two men's faces. "We all have our roles to fill in this galaxy. The so-called smaller, less significant roles are still vital to the galaxy functioning as a whole. And thus, they are equally important in the scheme of things."
Sam gave Jordan an ironic look. "I think that is what's known as 'Jedi wisdom.'"
Jorgan laughed. "I guess so! I have the feeling it would be down-right impossible to win an argument with you, Knight Kenobi."
Anakin snorted. Jorgan didn't know how right he was!
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Anakin watched as the dirty ship lifted off and headed back into the atmosphere. He and Obi-Wan were standing in a clearing amidst the jungle that was El Abrell. His master had given him the details about their mission onboard the garbage scow – what details there were, anyway.
El Abrell was an uninhabited planet, save for one, well-hidden research station. The scientists at this research station were working on a cure for some devastating disease, which had not been named to the Jedi. All the Council had been told was that the research being done here was of vital importance to the Republic. That research was now in danger. The Republic had received word that this particular research station was a target. Someone wanted to stop the work being done by these scientists. Even though the research station was hidden – its whereabouts only known by a select few – the Chancellor had decided to err on the side of caution and send in the Jedi for protection. Their mandate: protect the station and it's researchers; and if possible, find out who might be behind the threats.
"Is there a reason we have to journey to the station by foot?" Anakin was not at all pleased by the mystery surrounding this mission.
"Yes, Anakin," Obi-Wan stated patiently. "A ship landing near the station would be a neon sign to anyone who might be watching. We want the research station to remain hidden for as long as possible."
"But don't you think that walking across half the planet to get there is a bit much?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "It's a small planet."
"Not small enough," Anakin grumped.
"You've never been in a jungle environment before, Anakin. Actually, neither have I. This will be a new experience for both of us. This might actually be quite interesting."
"I suppose. It certainly is different than Tatooine!"
"It is that." Obi-Wan stretched out with his senses. The jungle was teeming with life, though none of it sentient. That's a good sign, anyway. Not sensing any danger, he slung his pack over his shoulder. "Ready?"
"Ready." Anakin fell into step behind his master, who was scanning the detailed directions on his datapad. "How long do you think it will take us to get there?"
"A day and a half at most."
"A DAY AND A HALF?" Anakin looked around the thick greenery they were wading through. All around them were sounds emanating from many different creatures. "We're out of our element here, Master."
"We're never out of our element as long as we have the Force."
Anakin gritted his teeth. Why did every comment he made have to be turned into lecture? Besides, that answer sounded too…simplistic. "Do you really believe that?" He ran into Obi-Wan's back as his master stopped abruptly.
Obi-Wan turned and looked down at his apprentice. "I never say anything I don't mean, Padawan."
"I…I didn't mean any disrespect, Master. I just don't understand what you meant."
Obi-Wan's eyes softened. He nodded as he continued the trek. "Jedi, by nature of our job, are placed in a huge variety of settings and in many cases, the most complicated of situations. We can never be out of our element if we are to perform our duty. We must expect the unexpected and do our duty to the best of our ability, no matter the environment or situation. We have our duty and we have the Force. Those are our constants."
Duty, duty, duty. Is that ALL Jedi are supposed to think about? Anakin hoped his mental shielding was up enough to block his thoughts. So many of the things his master and Council members like Yoda said felt out-of-reach and beyond his ability to truly grasp. Would he ever be able to understand these concepts?
Obi-Wan could sense his padawan's frustration. The deeply-buried reservations he still had about Anakin's training crept up a bit. The core beliefs and standards of the Jedi Order could be hard to grasp at that age, even having been raised at the Temple since infancy. But with nine years in the outside world and the harsh realities of slavery as the foundation, it could be a nearly impossible task. Obi-Wan pushed his doubts back under the heavy armor of his shielding. He couldn't focus on his doubts and he certainly didn't want Anakin to sense them.
"Ow!"
Obi-Wan glanced back at his padawan. "What's the matter?"
"I keep getting smacked in the face by the branches you push aside!"
Obi-Wan covered his smile. "Then don't follow so close. We can't hack through the bushes with our lightsabers. We'd be leaving a trail a blind man could follow."
"Yes, Master." Anakin eased back from his master. But he focused on their master/padawan bond. He certainly didn't want to fall too far behind and get lost.
After another hour of walking, Anakin knew he needed to stop. I shouldn't have drunk that Correllian tea right before starting this hike. "Master, do you mind if we stop for a minute?"
"Go ahead, Padawan." Obi-Wan patiently waited as he heard his apprentice move off to the side a ways.
Anakin moved back out of the bushes and towards his master's Force signature. "Okay, Master." He looked around as he followed behind Obi-Wan. El Abrell really was a pretty planet. This hike might not be so bad after all.
Anakin scratched an itch on his leg. He idly scratched the back of his hand. Then his neck began to itch. He scratched at his legs again. This itching was starting to get…unpleasant. His rear-end was even starting to itch! Anakin looked at the back of his hand and saw that it was covered with red splotches. Oh, no. He scratched some more. "Um, Master…"
