Jedi Apprentice – Skywalker's Rescue
Chapter 11
On good days Anakin Skywalker was obedient, cheerful, and eager to learn. He was the ideal Jedi youngling, absorbing new material at a speed that surprised his teachers, including Obi-Wan. He was determined to advance quickly, to make up for the gaps of knowledge between him and the students that had been at this their whole lives.
He excelled in Force techniques and lightsaber forms, language lessons and technology labs. Even in tedious subjects like government and politics, where he spent most of his time daydreaming about other things, he managed passing grades.
It wasn't all about academic success or competing with his classmates. Anakin never let go of the dream buried deep in his heart. One day he would be a Jedi, protector of peace and justice throughout the galaxy. He would finally be strong enough to save his mom, to right all the wrongs in the galaxy.
On bad days when the lessons were too difficult, the tranquility of the Force too far out of reach, and the sidelong glances from his peers and the stern words of the Masters became too much, Anakin grew anxious. He was afraid that he was failing before he'd even really started. He wasn't measuring up. Something was holding him back and he couldn't stand it.
He was short with Obi-Wan but this only gained him another lecture or added time spent in mediation, which did little to soothe his mind. He rushed through his assignments. He didn't bother to raise his hand in class even when he knew the correct answer. He disassembled every piece of technology in his and Obi-Wan's rooms, usually managing to put them back together again but not always in the same configuration.
One day Anakin decided to make some tea, mostly as a distraction from an essay he was writing, and discovered that the antique tea set was missing from its spot in the cupboard. He checked the entire kitchen then called for Obi-Wan.
"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, looking up from his data pad.
"Master, I can't find the tea set anywhere."
"Oh. It's gone."
Anakin frowned, "What do you mean, gone?"
"I sold it to that trader at the market," Obi-Wan said, as if this was the most obvious thing.
"Why?" Anakin was incredulous.
"It was time for someone else to enjoy it," Obi-Wan said.
"But it was Master Qui-Gon's! How could you sell it?!" Anakin demanded.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, his tone making it clear the issue was not up for argument, "A Jedi must not be attached to material possessions. They are only things."
Anakin wanted to yell. That was the only thing they had that reminded Anakin of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had gotten rid of it as if it meant nothing! He glared at Obi-Wan for a long moment. He couldn't understand the older man at all. Then he swallowed his anger and went back to his room without another word.
He had enjoyed holding the small ceramic cups and tracing the faded lines. The intricate swirls painted on each cup somehow reminded him of the Dune Sea. Thinking about how Qui-Gon had once held the cups, drinking tea with a younger Obi-Wan, had comforted Anakin. Surely Qui-Gon would have wanted them to keep it.
Days passed, filled with training and studying, and Anakin eventually forgot about the missing tea set. When Obi-Wan announced that they were going on a training mission off world, Anakin felt a thrill of excitement. Finally, an adventure!
Anakin followed Obi-Wan to the Temple hangar bay, his new backpack slung over his shoulder. They stopped in front of an older model cruiser.
"Where are we going?" Anakin asked, looking up at Obi-Wan hopefully.
"I'll explain everything once we're under way," Obi-Wan said. He seemed a bit distracted.
While Obi-Wan tapped on the console beside the ship, Anakin walked around the ship, checking the engines, noting the small laser cannons tucked discretely under the wings.
"Everything in order?" Obi-Wan asked when Anakin made his way back to the landing ramp.
"Yes, Master," Anakin grinned.
On board, Obi-Wan stopped to put his bag in the small cabin, allowing Anakin to get to the cockpit first. He slipped into the pilot's seat, eyes scanning over the controls. They were familiar enough. He reached for the ignition.
"Do you have a Republic pilot's license?" came Obi-Wan's voice from behind him.
"Not exactly…"
"Oh? And why is that?" Obi-Wan rested a hand on the back of the pilot's seat, looking down at him with a hint of a smile.
Anakin sighed. "I don't meet the age requirement….Or the height requirement…And haven't taken that dumb training course… But it's not fair! I know I can fly! I won the XXXX Classic on Tatooine! I even flew in the battle at Naboo! That all has to count for something!"
"It does, Anakin. But things are different on Coruscant. Be patient. You'll be flying before you know it," Obi-Wan said. He patted Anakin on the shoulder, "But not today."
Anakin reluctantly moved to the passenger seat. At least Obi-Wan let him help with the preflight checklist. They took off from the Temple and Anakin's eyes were glued to the view panels as they left the atmosphere. Courscant Space Traffic Control directed them to a hypserpsace lane and then they were off, the pinpricks of the stars stretching into long lines.
Anakin was about to ask Obi-Wan where they were headed but then he shut his mouth again. He knew what Obi-Wan would say. Another lecture about the importance of patience. He stubbornly decided to wait for Obi-Wan to tell him what their mission was.
All Obi-Wan told him was that they would be travelling for a few days, so he should settle in and study one of the data disks that he'd checked out from the Archives. Obi-Wan seemed to spend most of his time meditating, or checking the flight controls. Anakin skimmed over his lessons and poked around the engine room.
Anakin was sleeping, curled up under two blankets, when the intercom buzzed and Obi-Wan's voice announced that they were on approach to landing. Anakin rubbed his eyes and sat up. How had he missed their exit from hyperspace? He hurried to get dressed and pack up his bag. By the time he was ready, the engines were rumbling and they were setting down.
Obi-Wan powered down the ship and hit the button to release the landing ramp. Anakin followed him outside, where the sun was bright and hot and the air was dry and dusty. The suns, plural, he mentally corrected himself.
"Tatooine." He said aloud, almost as if he didn't want to believe it. But there they were. Unmistakable. "What are we doing here, Master?"
Obi-Wan looked down at him. He took a breath, clearly pausing to choose his words carefully, and Anakin felt a sharp panic nearly choke him.
"You're sending me back!" he said.
"No! Of course not!" Obi-Wan's horrified expression startled Anakin. "How could you think that?"
Anakin immediately felt guilty. "But then…why are we here?"
Obi-Wan regained his composure. He put a hand on Anakin's shoulder. He said, "We're here to find your mother."
….
TBC!
Preview: What is Obi-Wan's plan? And will he finally stop being so secretive about it all?