Beep, Ba-Da-Boop, Beep! Ry-Gaul's comlink went off in the Archives, provoking stares of annoyance mixed with surprise; it wasn't everyday that a comlink went off in the Archives, and it wasn't everyday that a respected Jedi Master turned beet red. And it wasn't just the fact that his comlink went off (and loudly at that), it was the fact that his comlink was virtually blaring the song "Love a Twi'lek In Cloud City."

EMETH!

Once again, his Padawan had changed his comlink's ringtone and set the volume on "high".

Well, at least it wasn't "Kiss Me, Bantha"…

Still blushing, partly from anger but mostly from embarrassment, Ry-Gaul fumbled his comlink for a few more seconds before he finally could answer it. But by the time he'd answered, the caller had already left a message.

Ry-Gaul sighed.

Time to get to the Council Room…again.

XXX

Master and Padawan strode out of the Council Room, reviewing the last of the mission details together.

"So basically—get in, get done, get out?"

"Yes."

The Padawan nodded in understanding, then asked, "So what if we spend more than eight-point-seven-three minutes?"

"We're dead."

"Okay… so you plan to spend eight-point-seven-two minutes?"

"At most."

Emeth let out a low whistle. "Not much time, huh?"

Ry-Gaul gave a look of mock bewilderment. "I thought it would be plenty."

"Ooh, so you plan to get it done in under eight minutes?"

"Unless you need more time."

"No… SEVEN minutes… at most."

"Oh, really?"

"Unless you need more time." Emeth shot a mischievous grin at his Master.

"Humph."

"Well, if we take less than seven minutes, you clean my airspeeder."

"That's disgusting." After all, Emeth was not known for the cleanliness of his personal vehicle.

"I'll clean yours if we take more."

"Deal. And Emeth?"

"Yes, Master?"

"Jedi don't gamble."

"But my betting against my Master is not a gamble."

"Then what is it?"

"An investment!"

Ry-Gaul stopped in his tracks in pseudo astonishment, as Emeth let out a nervous giggle and prudently made some space between them.

"Heh, just… kidding?" he offered feebly.

Seconds later, there was the sound of a Padawan being chased by his Master that echoed through the Temple corridors.

XXX

"So, how are you supposed to fly this winged box?" Emeth skeptical eyes narrowed at their vehicle-to-be.

The little ship wasn't much on the outside, and seemingly worse on the inside. A dull, brownish-orange paint had been freshly sprayed on the outside of the 'winged box', but it hadn't done much good. In fact, it was already cracking and peeling from the extremely dented contraption. On the inside, large knobs and levers stood out at odd angles from the control panel. There was merely one screen in the entirety of the tiny machine, and it was cracked.

"It'll work."

"But how are you going to fly it?"

"I'm not."

"You're not?"

"Nope."

"So I'M flying it? But Master! I've never even seen one of these before!"

"So?"

The Padawan sighed in exasperation. "Flying this THING is impossible! I couldn't do it even if I tried!"

"Wrong."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"There is no try, there is only do."

"Fine," Emeth accepted. "You show me how; I'll fly it."

"Wrong again."

"You're kidding."

"Not."

"So I have to figure this out myself?"

"Pretty much."

"But we're headed into the middle of a warring planet!"

"And…?"

"Alright. Have it your way."

"Thank you."

"But if we die, it's your fault."

"Seven minutes?"

"Aargh!"

"So we agree; I win?"

"Yeah. So you're saying that I have seven minutes to fly this hunk of scrap metal through hundreds of fighting who-knows-what's, grab the safe of Sith artifacts, fly through the warfare again, and get our rears safely away?"

"You have a second more."

"But who wants to clean your airspeeder?"

Ry-Gaul had to laugh. "It was your idea."

The Padawan groaned.

The Master grinned widely, then reached into his tunic pocket. "Here." Ry-Gaul passed a thick stack of datasheets to his sighing apprentice. "You'll need the manual."

"Great." The Padawan rolled his eyes and groaned again.

"Enjoy!" Ry-Gaul smiled cheerfully and checked the 'ship' one last time before strapping himself in.

This apprenticeship should be fun.