Although physical relations were not forbidden in the Jedi Order, I knew that if the truth of mine and Kit's union became common knowledge, we would both be forced to face consequences, and I did not want his place within the Order to be put at risk. We made a vow to continue as usual and keep our distance from one another, maintaining a cordial and friendly correspondence between one another to everyone else in public, and steal quiet moments together whenever we could. It would be easier if we were away from Coruscant, away from the temple and so many prying eyes, but there was a great deal that kept us here. Foremost, the bombing investigation. I was glad to see Ahsoka again, meeting her after she and Anakin had received their orders from the Council, and upon seeing one another, she hastened her step in order to reach me. "Master Theca, it's good to see you."
"It is good to see you so well, little 'Soka. Not so little anymore though, you have grown." Smiling to her as I traced the back of my hand down her cheek as I had done ever since she was a child, she nodded her head in agreement and a distinctive air of pride to be recognised as having grown taller. "Master Skywalker, I trust you are taking good care of your pupil?"
"I do my best, though I think recently it's been Ahsoka who's been taking care of me." He told me, enticing my interest whereby Ahsoka rather smugly told me of how she had had to rescue Anakin from his own star-fighter as he'd been knocked unconscious after buzz-droids attacked his ship. I chucked at the thought, shaking my head and placing a hand upon my hip as I looked at Anakin.
"Honestly, Anakin, being shown up by your own padawan? The dignity of the masters will be in question unless you step up your game." I teased lightly, making Ahsoka give a complacent smirk to her master as he agreed he would have to improve himself if he was to stay ahead of his own student, but admitting that she was learning and growing so swiftly as a Jedi, he hardly needed to teach her at all. "Good, I am glad to hear this. It seems like only yesterday you were a little one who would cling to my leg and make me carry you everywhere, and cry whenever I attempted to put you down." The smirk quickly vanished and Ahsoka coughed in embarrassment as Anakin laughed.
"I should talk to you more often, it would be interesting to hear how Snips here acted as a youngling." More than happy to oblige, I left an open invitation for Anakin to come and talk with me any time, much to Ahsoka's disbelief and unease.
"All the same, you will possibly be speaking with me again soon. I understand that you are taking charge of the bombing investigation." I said to them both, the conversation now taking a more serious tone, and after Ahsoka asked me why they would be coming back to speak to me about the case, I openly admitted it was because I was a suspect. "My views and opinions about the war are no secret. It is a well known fact that I disagree with the Jedi being involved, and so I myself am held in question." Seeing Ahsoka's alarm, I raised my hand to gently pacify her before she could get ahead of herself. "It is alright, little 'Soka. I had nothing to do with the attack, but I thought it prudent to be open and honest with you both. I must ask that you investigate with a completely unbiased approach, and should your investigation lead you to my door, then to not hesitate to question me. It is…unsettling, this uncertainty that a Jedi was involved, and I would rather clear my name swiftly than leave it to be held in question."
"Don't worry master, we'll be sure to find the real culprit as quickly as we can. Your honour will not be in dispute for long." Ahsoka informed me confidently and with passion, causing me to smile with a secret love for her as I touched the crown of her head.
"You truly have grown up wonderfully." I mused almost to myself before I then inclined my head. "I wish you both luck. Anakin, a pleasure as always."
"Likewise, Master Theca." We both bowed together before I then sent a quick smile to Ahsoka to assure her that I was in full confidence of her abilities before moving on, allowing them both to continue on their way. I returned to my younglings and resumed their lessons after assuring them that all would be well, distracting them with a test on their knowledge so that they did not deliberate on what had happened. It did the trick, and as the end of the day approached they were all yawning and exhausted, so I sent them to have dinner and then go to bed in order to rest. The dusk was swiftly approaching, and after I had ensured that all my charges were safely in the care of others, I pulled up the hood of my cloak and left the temple in order to head down to the lower, poorer regions of Coruscant.
Master Plo had been correct about me often leaving the temple to go to this place, though the Council's suspicions of my actions being nefarious were unwarranted. If I merely told them what I was doing, I doubt they would believe I had sinister intentions, but I was also afraid they would forbid me from coming back, and I needed to be here. It was important that I returned as often as possible, and upon arriving at the appointed meeting place, an old warehouse, I was greeted by faces who had become very familiar and welcome to me in the past year since the beginning of the war.
"Teacher!" They all cried out in unison, and a natural smile rose to my face in response to their eagerness and gladness of my appearance. "We thought you weren't coming, you're never usually late."
"I apologise, students. I was delayed but I am grateful you waited. I shall be certain to make it up to you all. Now, have you your data-pads at the ready? Come sit, gather close and we may begin." These students were eager learners, and there was a great mix of all kinds of species and ages amongst the group. The children especially were enthusiastic in their learning, as the cost of the war meant that there were few resources left to support education and basic needs in the lower sectors. Often by coming here, I was able to hear of their hardships and do something about it. When they needed medicine, I would return at our next lesson with the supplies they needed to cure their sick family members. When they were hungry, I would bring food, and the children were always given an emergency pack to go home with which would support their family with nutritional needs for a week.
It was a very small effort, but even if I could improve just one of their lives by the smallest of margins, I felt it worth the time and energy put into the endeavour. The older students sought to better their education, learning how to properly read and write, as well as more advanced mathematics and gave them a strong foundation to seek out better employment, which brought hope to themselves and their families. I enjoyed teaching, something I had learned ever since taking my first youngling class, and I felt a great sense of gratification in my work. When I could not be present here, I had many recordings for them to watch and replay so they might practice by themselves, touching on subjects of history, science and philosophy.
They knew that I was a Jedi, and although I only began with a few students, our class had gradually grown as more took interest and the word began to spread. I had earned their trust, and they were open with me in return concerning their struggles and thoughts on the war and Jedi participation. Most did not have an opinion, but those who were more aware of the situation of the war were able to tell me just how greatly it had impacted upon them, and that they felt abandoned by the Jedi and the Senate. It was difficult to hear, but I understood such sentiments. If I were in their position, I would feel abandoned too.
The lesson proceeded smoothly, able to manage such a diverse group by myself by sectioning them according to age, and allocating age appropriate content to each group for them to learn and study from. Often they would ask me questions, and as we talked a comfortable atmosphere would surround us as I the handed out the supplies I had managed to secure from the upper levels and handed them out as the time came to leave. "Excellent work today everyone, we shall resume the day after tomorrow and continue where we left off today. It is important to have a knowledge of the galaxy, so I want each of you to think about a place, planet or sector that interests you and we shall discuss them in our next lesson. Bullbat, if I can leave these holo-cast recordings in your care, you may bring them with you next time in case for some reason I am able to attend. Children, please take care returning home. Go in groups as always, and stay with your guardian until you reach your doors."
Listing off my usual instructions, the children all thanked me cheerfully as they gathered their things and their latest treasures before scampering away in groups of three or four alongside an adult in order to see that they returned home safely. I stayed behind in order to talk to the older students, most of them asking if they would be allowed to bring someone with them next time. Family, friends, partners, the word was spreading and since we had plenty of space in the warehouse which we were using as our classroom, I eagerly accepted their request and encouraged them to bring as many people as possible who wished to learn something, as I knew that I could provide lessons included in the most generic academic curriculum and more besides, for I had access to the vast stores of knowledge in the temple archives.
Smiling as I bade everyone goodnight, I wished them a safe journey home before then turning to my own ware. I summoned the holo-projector from the floor, the disk rising up and shooting my hand whilst the giant screen switched off where I had written upon it, tucking the disk into my pocket before turning around in order to leave. I had been so encompassed by my teaching that I had not once noticed the presence of someone in the shadows, and when Master Plo Koon stepped into the light, I stopped in surprise. "Master?"
"So this is where you come to, little Theca."
"Master you…you followed me here?"
"It was the request of Master Windu and Master Yoda. They were becoming concerned with your secretive actions, and felt that it would be best if I were to see where you were going and who you were meeting with. Theca, why did you not tell us you were teaching outside of the temple?" As my master spoke he came towards me, sounding saddened that I had kept this truth to myself.
"I know that there are many rules, and teaching outside of our Order is discouraged, so I did not actively supply this information to the Council. I did not wish to risk the chance that I would be expressly forbidden from returning, as I have found a good thing here. These people, children and adults alike, are in constant struggle with having so little, they cannot afford the education fees the Senate have put in place, but here they are learning, and to be able to teach a child how to read and write is something I feel is essential to their development. It is self sufficient, Master Plo Koon. The older ones help the little ones, and I teach them all at the same pace. I provide basic necessities where I can, and every week more and more people come. It is what they need, and I cannot turn my back on them." Taking a deep breath in order to recover myself, Master Plo Koon studied me carefully.
"I do not think I have ever heard you sound so passionate and determined over anything to this scale before, Theca. Somehow it makes you seem…different." Sighing softly, Master Plo placed his arm around me in order to lead me away. "This is a noble undertaking, and I do not disagree that education is important in the lives of the civilians, but the secrecy in which you acted caused confusion and suspicion. I will have to give a report to the Council, however, I think I may be able to…omit…the purpose of your presence down here. So long as I give my word that you are merely using your own time at your leisure, and are up to no skulduggery, then my word should be enough to pacify them."
"Master…thank you. Thank you Master Plo." Unable to help myself, I exhaled with relief and rested my head against his shoulder to relax for a moment, allowing the tension to disperse as I held his hand with my own. "You are good to me, master, and I appreciate it all."
"You were once my padawan. Despite our laws, you will always hold a significant place in my heart, little Theca." Master Plo assured me and I felt a warm smile upon my face as I looked up at him. "Now come, we should return to the temple before another search party is sent after us. Master Windu was particularly restless when I last saw him."
"Is he not always?" Chuckling with agreement, we returned to our speeder bikes in order to return back to the surface, flying alongside one another through the traffic channels before making our way to the temple where I felt a good deal lighter than before. Although filled with peaks and lows, this day ended on a sublime notion of satisfaction, and I could not deny that I felt reassured in the knowledge of my master's support as I returned to my quarters in order to rest.