Chapter 10
Something Shocking…
Vader tensed as he brought Obi-Wan's Starfighter out of hyperspace above the city planet of Coruscant. It was roughly noon now and since he'd skipped dinner yesterday and breakfast this morning he was starving. But since he'd snuck out of the Temple almost two days ago, he was more worried about what sort of trouble he was going to be in than getting food.
Gripping the control stick tightly, he dropped the booster ring back in its orbit and dove into the atmosphere. He easily slipped through the layers of air traffic, from the mighty space-faring vessels to the thick rivers of speeders and air cars. The red and white Jedi Starfighter darted gracefully towards the mighty Jedi Temple and the spire where the hanger was located. At the last moment, he keyed in his pass-code and the hanger opened up to admit him.
After shutting down the ship and bidding Arfour a hasty farewell, Vader headed back to his shared apartment. Keeping his hood up and his head down, he managed to escape notice from the Jedi he passed in the halls of the Temple. The Force was with him for the moment, and he ran into no one he knew, arriving safely and undiscovered in the apartment.
Sighing in relief at avoiding Obi-Wan's scrutiny for just a little while longer, Vader trudged over to the little kitchen in search of food. While Obi-Wan never cooked, he did keep some drinks, simple snacks, and the ingredients for sandwiches stocked. So, he poured himself a glass of juice and threw together a few sandwiches and settled down on a couch in front of the holo-viewer. Staving off a bout of nerves, he idly surfed the HoloNet channels in search of distraction as he enjoyed his lunch.
Obi-Wan sighed wearily and ran a hand over his face. Still no word on Vader, no clue, no sighting. He would've liked to go out and search, but the Council didn't see the need just yet. They sensed no danger to the boy and he had not yet been gone long enough to warrant alarm. But he, personally, was worried. And, after being told to stop hovering about by Master Windu, he was going back to his quarters to worry in private.
He palmed open the door, stepped inside, and froze in astonishment. There, lounging on the couch, eating a sandwich, and watching some program on the holo-viewer, was Vader. The boy was utterly oblivious to Obi-Wan's presence, his gaze focused intently on what appeared to be a race of some kind.
The Jedi Knight frowned, once the shock wore off, and padded over to stand beside Vader. Still the young man was completely engrossed in watching the odd race; he totally failed to notice Obi-Wan's shadow on him. Obi-Wan crossed his arms and pointedly cleared his throat. Vader almost appeared to jump a full meter into the air in shocked surprise.
"Where have you been?" Obi-Wan inquired, half-annoyed half-amused.
"Out," Vader muttered. His angry glare was softened by the flush of embarrassment that colored his young face.
"Out where?" Obi-Wan pressed.
"None of your business!" Vader snapped defensively.
Obi-Wan frowned and shook his head. "It is my business. You, and your safety, are my responsibility. If you don't tell me where you're going and what you're going to do, how can I help you?" He pointed out. "Or…do you really even need my help? Do you really require to hide among the Jedi? Perhaps those you fear no longer hunt you. Or…maybe you are just here to try and steal some secret of the Order?" Obi-Wan disliked asking these questions, they made him uncomfortable. But it was entirely possible that Vader could be here for those reasons. So he asked.
Vader glared defiantly up at Obi-Wan for a few long moments before dropping his gaze to the floor. He shifted in his seat, radiating flashes of anxiety, anger, and… something else, something difficult to pin down. And then Vader steeled his nerves and did something totally out of his character. He apologized.
"I…I am deeply sorry Master." Vader stammered, surprising Obi-Wan to no end. Not only was he apologizing, but he'd used 'Master' to address him. Normally he only used the title in public, in the private of their quarters it was either 'Obi-Wan' or, more usually, 'Kenobi'. "I had a…personal matter that I wished to see to alone. I was not thinking clearly. I will not do it again… F-forgive me…Master."
It took a few moments for Obi-Wan to regain his wits and reply to that. "'A personal matter'?"
"Yes, a personal matter. It's taken care of and it shouldn't be a problem ever again." Vader growled testily.
"Well that's good to know," Obi-Wan sighed, disappointed at the vague answer. "But if another such matter does come up, please either take me with you or tell me that you're going and how long you expect to be gone."
"Yes Master," Vader murmured dully, bowing his head slightly in acceptance.
"Good," Obi-Wan nodded and settled himself down on the couch beside the young man. "Was it a good race?" He asked, motioning to the holo-screen.
"Not really," Vader blinked, caught off-guard by the subject change. "I've seen better."
"What sort of race was it anyway?" Obi-Wan asked.
"A pod race," Vader replied. "Haven't you seen one before?"
"I heard mention of it before once, early in my apprenticeship while on Malastare. But no, I've never seen one." Obi-Wan shrugged. "And there's little chance I'll ever see one in person seeing as pod racing is quite illegal within most of the Republic."
"Yes, so I've heard." Vader grumbled. "Though I don't see why."
"It is a very dangerous sport, too dangerous for most civilizations' tastes. Those of the Core see themselves above such 'barbaric' forms of entertainment." Obi-Wan explained.
"Just because it's dangerous doesn't make it barbaric." Vader snorted. "If that's how they define barbaric, then just taking a drive on Coruscant is barbaric."
"True," Obi-Wan conceded, "very true."
Silence fell between them as Vader finished his lunch and the sports program ran through some summaries and commentaries of a few other recent pod races. Obi-Wan let the silence run its course. He never minded the quiet. Henever was one of those people who always felt they needed to say something or listen to something to keep back the silence. When Vader was ready to continue speaking, he would, and not a moment before. And once he finished eating and the program ended, he was ready.
"So what will we do today?" Vader asked calmly, switching off the holo-screen.
"Well first, I have to get in touch with the Council to let them know you've reappeared. And after that, I was thinking of a short saber lesson, followed by some extra meditation." Obi-Wan answered.
"Yes, Master." Vader groaned, obviously unhappy with the extra meditation.
Obi-Wan almost felt like chuckling. Vader seemed to have a great hatred for meditation of any kind, though Obi-Wan couldn't fathom why. He could barely manage the usual amount of meditation, and anything extra was guaranteed to make him cranky, but it had to be done. Meditation was an essential part of life for the Jedi; it cleared and centered the mind, and kept everything in balance. So long as Vader stayed, he'd just have to put up with it.
"Come along now Padawan, let's get started." Obi-Wan rose up off the couch and headed for the door.
Vader groaned dramatically, but he did as he was told, thankfully without swearing this time. The boy was really improving. Someday Obi-Wan felt it was quite possible that he would forget that the boy had ever touched on the Dark Side. But not today.
"Stupid, kriffing meditation…" Vader cussed under his breath.
No, definitely not today…
Vader sighed in deep relief when he felt the tap on his shoulder that gave him permission to stop meditating. He eagerly staggered up off the carpet and lurched towards his room and sleep couch. Soon he'd been laying on it and asleep. And there would be no nightmares tonight.
"Hold on a moment." Knight Kenobi called after him.
"Yes, Master?" Vader grumbled, slowly turning around to face Kenobi.
"I thought you would like to know that tomorrow we will be assigned a mission." The Knight informed.
"Oh?" Vader blinked.
"Yes, Master Windu told me that we will be sent to Ansion to mediate a border dispute."
Vader swallowed a moan. "Great, a border dispute mediation, just what I've always wanted." He muttered with great sarcasm.
"Yes, I thought you'd enjoy that." Kenobi replied dryly. "Good night Padawan."
"'Night Master." Vader mumbled as he stumbled off to bed.
Since he hadn't slept the night before, and not slept well for a few weeks before that, he was having some difficulty in keeping awake long enough to at least get his boots and belt off. After somehow worming out of his tunic, he flopped back onto his sleep couch and closed his eyes. Less than a second later, he was asleep. He had no more nightmares.