Chapter 3
Arryn woke up the next morning feeling slightly rested. The Coruscant sky was still dark in the early morning. She showered, dressed, and met the Jedi team in the Temple Quartermasters. Siri and Elantra were the only other Jedi present.
"Good morning." Arryn said, sounding far more cheerful then she felt. Siri smiled back and continued checking her survival kit. Arryn grabbed her pack from the rack and opened it. She took out several food and energy capsules and clipped them to her utility belt. She made sure she had her comlink and aquata breather stowed and put a package of protein cubes in her pack. Obi-Wan, Darsha, and Anaria came in a few minutes later.
"Our transport will be here in a few moments. Before we get on board, we need to talk," Obi-Wan said, addressing the Padawans. "Bondori is on the Outer Rim, which means that it will take us about two days to get there." Darsha looked at Obi-Wan, who nodded at her to continue.
"It is imperative that you keep up your studies during the journey. For an interesting switch, we thought that training time should be spent with a Master other then your own. So, today Arryn will be with me, Elantra with Obi-Wan, and Anaria with Siri."
"I will work with you, Arryn and Anaria, on physical training during our journey," said Siri. "Darsha will teach the academics, and Obi-Wan will teach meditation."
"I want to reiterate that if any of you hear or see anything regarding the Sith, that you tell one of us immediately," Obi-Wan continued. "Even the most trivial thing could mean life or death for the people of Bondori." Arryn, Anaria, and Elantra all chorused their understanding.
Their transport was a sleek Sienar Systems Corellian Corvette, most likely on extended loan from the Senate. Master Yoda met the Jedi team on the landing platform. He handed the Jedi a datacard.
"Once aboard the ship, access this card, you must. Important information it contains." Obi-Wan accepted the card. "Thank you, Master Yoda. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you, too," Yoda said as he watched the six Jedi board the ship.
Arryn stood at the bridge of the ship, with her arms tensely clasped behind her back as she stared into the viewport.
"Space seems so different from this perspective." Arryn murmured.
Anaria, sitting at the navigation console, smiled. "I know exactly what you mean. It seems so much…bigger and more spectacular than just seeing it at night on Coruscant."
Arryn walked over to Anaria's station. "So what exactly are you doing?" Arryn asked, sitting down next to Anaria.
"I'm calculating our first jump to hyperspace. Darsha said we will start training after our first jump." Arryn nodded, just as Elantra wandered in.
"So here you are!" he exclaimed. "What is going on?"
Anaria and Arryn answered in unison, "Hyperspace calculations." The three Padawans shared a much-needed laugh. The seriousness of the mission had affected them.
"Elantra, you're tense. Just relax!" Anaria chided.
Elantra smiled. "Oh, so are you my Master now?"
Anaria turned and glared at him. "No, but sometimes I feel dangerously close to becoming one."
"Would you two just stop it?" Arryn cried.
The two bickering Padawans pointed to each other and shouted, "I didn't start it!"
Arryn folded her arms and put on her most mature face. "At least you agree on something. Neither of you started it. How Jedi-like is it to throw tantrums at one another?"
Both Anaria and Elantra laughed. "Arryn, you are such a hypocrite!" Elantra said.
"I wish I had something to throw at you," replied Arryn, grinning.
Several minutes later they were on their way. The stars flew by the viewport.
"It's…incredible," Anaria breathed. Elantra nodded in agreement. He looked over at Arryn, sitting on the chair next to Anaria.
"Hey Anaria, look at Arryn." Anaria turned to see what Elantra was talking about. Arryn looked positively puzzled.
"What? What are you looking at?" Arryn asked.
Anaria's eyes grew wide. "You have the most perfect posture. It's incredible! You look like a Queen or something!"
Arryn twisted around to see. "It's how I always sit," she said, looking incredulous. "I don't see what the big deal is."
Anaria, still amazed, stood frozen, looking at Arryn. Elantra shook his head. "You are so weird," he said, laughing.
The door to the bridge opened and Obi-Wan, Darsha, and Siri walked in.
"Good, you are all here." Siri said, smiling. "Are you ready to begin, Anaria?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
"Bye!" Anaria called, trailing after Siri.
Darsha smiled. "Come on, Arryn." Arryn bit her lower lip, shook her head in amusement and followed Darsha out.