Chapter 6 The Flying Lesson
"Zak." Obi-Wan said somewhat sternly, but with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Sorry, Master." Zak replied. "I was just so excited."
Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head, "I know, but, in public, try to control yourself…at least a little." He answered.
"Yes, Master." Zak said humbly.
The twins, however, were delighted by Zak's expression of joy, "Do it 'gain, Sackie!" Luke said as he clapped his little hands together. "Do it 'gain."
"Please, Sackie!" Leia said, adding her plea to her brother's.
"Umm, no; I shouldn't have done it in the first place." Zak told them.
"No, he shouldn't have, but there's no reason why he can't do it again later…privately." Obi-Wan said.
This pleased the twins.
"All white!" They replied in unison.
Obi-Wan turned to see Anakin grinning at him, "What?" He asked.
"Nothing." He said aloud. "He can do it again, privately?"
"He needs the practice." Obi-Wan answered as an excuse.
"Oh, right; of course; you old softie." Anakin replied. "Well, we had better get going, it's getting late and we haven't had lunch yet."
"What was that all about?" Padme asked.
"I'll tell you later." Anakin promised.
Padme pulled Zak to one side, "They were doing it again; weren't they." She whispered.
"Yes." Zak confirmed. "But Master Anakin said he will tell you later; it's probably something they didn't want me to hear."
"And that doesn't bother you; even a little?" Padme asked.
"No; it's something I don't need to know." Zak answered plainly.
"You are amazing, Zak." Padme told him.
"Why do you keep saying that?" Zak asked.
"Alright you two, let's get going." Anakin ordered before she had a chance to answer.
They looked over to see that Dav had brought a ground transport so that they could all ride in one vehicle along with their baggage and the droids. When they were all aboard, Dav lifted off for the trip outside the city to the Skywalkers' home. Anakin was content to let Dav do the piloting for once and took his place in the seat next to him. As they traveled, Dav filled Anakin in on how things had gone while he was away. Aside from a small problem with a flap on one of their fighters, nothing of any major importance had occurred. However, everyone was looking forward to seeing Anakin back in action; he was missed.
When they arrived home, there was another surprise, this time for Padme; Dorme was there with their lunch already prepared. After helping them to remove their bags from the transport, Dav headed back to the air base.
"Dorme! What a pleasant surprise!" Padme exclaimed as she hugged her old friend. "How did you know we were coming home today?"
"Anakin, of course; he contacted me yesterday afternoon to tell me to expect all of you around mid day." Dorme informed her.
Padme turned to Anakin, "You little sneak." She said.
"Well, you liked it, didn't you?" He asked.
"You know I did; I love you." Padme answered as she hugged him and kissed him lightly.
"I know." Anakin replied.
"Wait a minute." Obi-Wan interjected. "How could she be expecting all us when I told you two days ago that Zak and I were leaving as soon as we got back to the city?"
"That's what you wanted to do. I didn't think you were ready…and neither did Master Yoda." Anakin said. "We decided that you should stay here for another week; we decided together."
"Oh, you did, did you." Obi-Wan stated, "Well, I guess I can't argue with Master Yoda."
"I see, but you can argue with me." Anakin chided.
"Well…yes." Obi-Wan answered, smiling.
"You might be able to argue with me, but you can never win." Anakin replied as he too smiled. "I'm more stubborn than you are."
"I do know that!" Obi-Wan said, clapping Anakin on the shoulder.
Dorme stayed to have lunch with them and afterward, a bit longer to visit with Padme and help her clean up. The twins had not forgotten Zak's promise to demonstrate his back flip for them again. Zak did not know what he had gotten himself into; the twins insisted that he repeat the flip over and over until he was so tired that he missed the last flip and ended up on his face in the grass. The twins thought this was hilarious and laughed hysterically as he rolled over and sat up, "Do it 'gain, Sackie!" Leia insisted.
"No, I'm tired; even a Jedi needs rest." Zak told her.
"Poor Sackie; too tyood." Luke said as he patted Zak's leg. "Needs west."
This little scene was watched by Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme and Dorme, who decided to stay just a little longer.
"I don't know how he can be so patient." Dorme said as she watched Zak's attempt and failure on the last flip.
"He's always like that with them; and they just adore him." Padme replied. "He's an amazing boy; don't you agree, Obi-Wan?"
"Yes; he can be stubborn, at times, though." Obi-Wan answered and then looked at Anakin. "Like someone else I know."
"Alright, I deserved that; but you should talk." Anakin admitted. "Although, I have to admit that he does have a lot more patience than I ever did."
Obi-Wan laughed at that but did not say anything; he could not disagree with either of the things Anakin had said. Dorme decided that it was time for her to go and Padme walked her out to her speeder. They embraced once more and Padme waved to her as she left.
"That was a wonderful thing to do, Anakin." Padme told him when she returned.
"Well, you hadn't seen her in a while." Anakin replied.
"Thank you." Padme answered.
That evening, when the twins were safely tucked in, Anakin, as he had the night before, joined Obi-Wan as he sat outside watching the stars, "You'll miss these stars when you go back to Coruscant." Anakin said.
"Yes, but I know I can always come back here if I want to see them again." Obi-Wan replied.
"Well, that's true; you are always welcome here, my brother." Anakin told him.
"I'd like to see your nightmare, Anakin." Obi-Wan requested.
"No, not yet; you're not ready." Anakin answered. "Maybe, at the end of the week…before you leave."
"Why do you keep putting this off? I won't hate you, if that's what you think." Obi-Wan insisted.
"I know that. But you're just not ready…and neither am I." Anakin said.
Obi-Wan nodded, now he understood, "Alright; maybe we should both wait, then." He replied. But not too long, Anakin."
"No, not too long." Anakin agreed. "Now, let me do your shoulder again."
"That won't be necessary; I didn't do anything today and it isn't bothering me." Obi-Wan said.
"You are so stubborn. Just because it's not bothering you right now doesn't mean that it's healed." Anakin countered. "Please, Obi-Wan."
"I thought you said you didn't believe in all that healing nonsense; have you changed your mind?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know; but I do know that whatever I'm doing, it seems to be helping you." Anakin answered.
Obi-Wan sighed, as he always did when he knew he could not win, "Alright, brother. You win." Obi-Wan conceded…again.
The next morning, when they met for breakfast, Anakin was dressed in the uniform of the Naboo air corps. It was so strange for Obi-Wan to see his friend dressed like that….Anakin picked up his thought.
"I know; it felt strange for me too when I first started." Anakin said. "But you'll get used to it."
"I don't think so, Anakin. You're still a Jedi to me." Obi-Wan answered.
"To you and to the rest of the Council; and in some ways, in many ways, I still am. But I am also part of the air corps now; and if we don't get a move on, I'll be late." Anakin replied.
As they got into the speeder, Zak could hardly contain his excitement.
"Calm down, Padawan; it won't make this speeder go any faster." Obi-Wan told him.
"I know, Master, but I just can't help it." Zak answered. "I'm going to fly a fighter!"
"No, Master Anakin will be flying, you will be learning." Obi-Wan corrected.
"I know, I know, but Master Anakin is going to let me try." Zak replied. "Aren't you?"
"We'll see. It depends on how well you listen to my instructions. This is different that flying the yacht, Zak; a fighter is much less forgiving." Anakin said.
"Oh." Zak answered, sounding very disappointed.
"But I guarantee that you will probably be flying by the end of the week." Anakin promised.
This perked Zak up and by the time they reached the base, he was in high spirits once again.
Dav approached their speeder as they pulled into the hanger, "Ah, I see you have your new pilot with you. Welcome, Zak." He said.
"Thank you, Master Anakin said I can learn to fly." Zak answered.
"Well, from what I've heard, you can handle the yacht; so this shouldn't be too hard for you." Dav replied.
"Have you got a trainer ready for us, Dav?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, sir; it's even positioned for take off." Dav informed him.
"Good; come on then, Zak." Anakin said. "Let's get her up in the air."
When they were both seated in the trainer that Dav had prepared, Anakin handed a helmet back to him.
"Students always wear helmets." He told him.
"But…" Zak started to protest.
"Wear the helmet, Padawan, or the lesson is off." Obi-Wan ordered.
Without another word, Zak put the helmet on and adjusted the goggles.
Obi-Wan moved the boarding ladder as Anakin checked the instruments before taxiing towards the open end of the hanger, "May the Force be with you." He called out as Anakin closed the canopy.
Anakin waved in response and gathered speed as they moved closer to the opening. As the trainer left the hanger, Anakin had a feeling that something was not right with the craft, but he put the thought the back of his mind and started to instruct Zak on the instrumentation and handling of the fighter.
Zak took the instruction well, and before long, Anakin had him doing some simple maneuvers.
"That's good, Zak; now throttle back a little." He told him.
Zak tried to do what Anakin asked, but the fighter did not respond.
"Throttle back." Anakin repeated.
"I'm trying, Master; but it won't." Zak answered.
"Then you're not doing it right; let me take the controls." Anakin replied, but as he took the controls, he discovered that he, too, could not get the ship to respond.
"I think we're in trouble." He said. "Hold on, Zak; this may get a little rough."