The day passed slowly and uneventfully, Anakin slept longer then Obi-wan would have thought possible, but was grateful either way. When he awakened, he looked fresher and calmer then he had in months prior. His first order of business was to check on the diagnostic report and unfortunately for the duo the results weren't as clear as they had hoped.
"Something went wrong at the time of calculating the hyperspace route with the astro-coordinates. The system went barvy and we were sent here by pure blind luck. Thank the Force that we didn't end up in a star or planet." Anakin explained as his brows narrowed, "regrettably I'm not sure from which computer the virus originated from since our systems were synchronized at the moment of the jump."
"How long do you thing it will take for you to clean the systems and reestablish the nav-computer?" Obi-wan asked.
"A couple of days at least," his Padawan replied, though he sighs in weary resignation.
"What more is there?"
Anakin looked up at his Master and clenched his metallic hand in frustration. "Neither ship has enough fuel to make the trip back, and I am not in a position to help in any close wire engineering; Artoo and Arfour will be on their own."
Obi-wan exhaled and passed his hand through his hair, things weren't looking up and it worry him to be away from the Republic for such a long time.
"Let's worry first about the nav-comp's status, then we'll think about the fuel shortage."
Anakin stared at his Master not seeing the sense in that statement, but nodded nonetheless.
"Yeah I can do that; I'll tell Artoo to isolate the virus. From there I can see on how to remove it from the system."
With that they fell quite for the next few hours; it wasn't until nearing the end of the planetary rotation that Pike walked into the hanger. The sight that greeted him wasn't one that he was expecting. The younger man was standing performing some style of swordplay, while the older sat a few meters from him, observing closely and instructing on what to do.
Pike walked up to Knight Kenobi, though he couldn't take his eyes off the glowing blue sword.
"It's a lightsaber, the weapon of the Jedi, an elegant weapon that requires more skill than simple sight." Kenobi stated. His eyes easily following the younger man's movement, creasing with worry and concentration.
"Wouldn't a phaser be better and safer?"
Obi-wan not sure of what he was referring to, but guessing that it was some type of long rage hand weapon. He shook his head, "anybody can use a 'phaser' or blaster, but to use a lightsaber one needs intensive training that not everybody can do."
Pike's eyebrows were near his hairline by the end of Anakin's latest kata.
"Your balance has gotten better, my young Padawan."
He grunted and stared down at his right hand with open dismay. "Thank you Master, but that was only one of the simpler katas."
Pike couldn't help but gap at the young man. He had never seen anybody move with such grace and determination.
"Very well, then do the 6th kata of the Shien variation with reverse grip."
Anakin bowed his head, quickly acknowledging the observing captain and started the exercise.
"Should he be doing such demanding activities so soon after whatever happened to his arm?" Pike couldn't help but ask.
Kenobi's eyes flickered to the older man and gave him a small smile, sure that his Padawan wasn't going to see it.
"Anakin is one of the best duelists I know, this is good for him," he said in a tone that his Padawan wouldn't hear. "It helps him overcome his injury and to think of the arm as a part of him." Obi-wan's smile turned to a proud smirk as his Padawan completed the kata and without any prompting continue into the next one.
The Captain inclined his head and opted into changing the subject. "Anything new…?"
Kenobi smirked faded and he started to rub his beard unconsciously, "fortunately yes, though what we have uncovered isn't good. Our navigational system malfunctioned, recoding it will take a few days. Artoo has already started, Anakin will assist him in a couple of hours."
"In any case that is the first positive thing I have heard all day."
Kenobi lifted an eyebrow, "the situation with your friend."
Pike snorted, "Commander Spock has not found anything connecting Kirk, however he has found the back door that lead to the tampering of the stimulation."
"Slicing is not my area of expertise, though from what Anakin has told me it can almost always be traced back to its origins if the slicer wasn't careful."
"Or overconfident," the young teen added as he finished his last kata.
Obi-wan chuckled dryly, "speaking from experience?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Master." He answered innocently batting his eyelashes at them.
Pike didn't buy it for a second, and from the Knight's skeptical expression neither did Obi-wan.
"It seems you still have energy to spare," he stated passively. "Djem So and don't stop till I tell you otherwise, my overly energetic Padawan."
Anakin scowled, though didn't argue further.
Pike exhaled, "sadly Padawan Skywalker may be right."
"Don't let him hear you say that; his ego doesn't need any help."
The captain chuckled, "I doubt that it is my approvable that he seeks." He said absently not noticing the confused look on the Jedi's face. "however, overconfidence is a word that fits Kirk oh too perfectly."
Obi-wan schooled his features before answering, "have you decided what you will do?"
"Yes…"
It was the only answer that Pike gave him and he didn't need to ask more to know what he meant.
-o-o-o-
The days passed and eventually Obi-wan and Anakin settled into a comfortable routine; wake up, mediate for a few hours (Anakin didn't complain the purity of the Force help ease the ever persistent burn that flowed through his veins), enjoy a small breakfast, physical therapy, lunch, practice katas until the late hours of the day. Normally at this time Pike would meet up with them, they would give him a short report regarding their progress and Anakin would go to work with Artoo as the two elderly men talked. Afterwards they would have dinner, Pike would leave, Obi-wan sat and meditated, and Anakin worked on the computers until sleep took over.
At this time, Obi-wan placed his cloak over his Padawan before the shivers could set in. No matter how many years pass Anakin would never get used to the lower temperature of the rest of the galaxy. Everything below scorching hot was too cold for his young Padawan.
It was on the third night that Obi-wan started to think, the darkness in the Force, back in their galaxy unsettled Anakin more then he would have ever thought possible. It was the only explanation that Obi-wan could think of for his Padawan's lack of nightmares. And now that Anakin was sleeping restfully through the whole night, his temper had gone down a bit and he didn't argue with Obi-wan regarding every small detail. This was the closest that Obi-wan had seen his Padawan near true peace in all of their years together. Of course, he kept this observation to himself.
On the fifth day, Captain Pike sent a message to the Jedi explaining that he wasn't going to be able to meet up with them that day. He was needed planet-side at the fable Starfleet Academy which was located in a city called San Francisco.
Anakin had started his normal warm up routine, when blaring sirens and flashing red lights called them into attention.
"By the Force, what is going?!"
"I believe we are about to find out," Obi-wan answered looking intently at two red shirts that we running towards them.
"Mister Kenobi and Skywalker, we have received a distress signal from the planet Vulcan." The one on the right greeted them.
"Captain Pike sent a message," the other one continued, "instructing us on informing you on the situation and requesting if your offer still stands."
Anakin turned to his Master questioningly unaware of any offer.
"Come along Padawan," Obi-wan instructed and turned to the earthlings. "Yes we'll provide whatever assistance that we can. If you can, can you please take us to the Captain's ship. We will wait for his arrival there."
The four left Hanger B in a rapid pace, Anakin was a step behind his Master confused on what was going through Obi-wan's mind. When he tried to look through the bond, his Master's shields were raised.
"Master, we don't have time for this."
"We have nothing better to do, Padawan. The navigation computer has been fixed that only leaves the fuel shortage issue, which as this time we don't have a solution to. Perhaps this will give us time to think or provide us with a solution."
Anakin sighed in resignation, "I understand Master."
"Anakin do not think that I have not notice that you haven't told me, what was specifically wrong with the systems."
"Sorry Master, it is just that I myself don't truly understand it."
"Why is that Padawan?"
"Because if I am right, then it would mean that the virus was intentional and by some Force miracle we didn't end up in a star or at the core of some planet."
"Stars and planets," the older Jedi exclaimed.
The Jedi stopped their conversation as they and their escorts arrive at another Hanger, a large ship connected to the airlock entrances.
"This is Hanger A and Starfleet's newest flagship, the Enterprise." Red shirt one stated turning to the men he believed were idiotic civilians that had no business on these levels of the Starbase.
Obi-wan tilted his head in gratitude. "Thank you."
With the clear dismissal, the red shirts grinded their teeth in indignation though both turned and left the men. The crisis with Vulcan took priority, if there was going to be any black lash they didn't want, in anyway, to be involve.
"Anakin, if this was an intent on our life… then the one behind it has a great deal of influence and power."
Anakin shuddered inwardly, that was exactly what scared him, "that cannot be many people Master."
"It isn't…."
The younger Jedi muttered a series of curses in Huttese, however before they could continue Captain Pike walked into the hanger.
"Good morning gentlemen, I never imagined that we would find ourselves in a situation such as this."
"What is going on?" Obi-wan asked calmly as though he hadn't been in utter shock seconds prior.
"Commander Spock's home-world has sent a distress beacon; their planet is experiencing seismic activity. Unfortunately, the primary fleet is in the Laurentian System and the senior class has been ordered to report to the remaining fleet."
"What does that got to do with us?" Anakin asked impatience settling in.
Pike sighed, he was still tense after what had happened at the academy. He had never seen his First Officer act so irrational, though Kirk had in no way helped the situation. He may had had a point, but the kid had still cheated.
"If you can, your help will be greatly appreciated."
Anakin perked up at the prospect of finally getting some action. After all these weeks of doing nothing he was starting to get restless.
"Master…?"
Obi-wan understood what his Padawan wanted and though he would never admit it out loud, he could also do with the distraction. "Might as well."
Anakin's grin should have spit his face in half. Pike had never seen the teen so happy, it showed how innocent he really was.
"Great, come with me and I'll take you to the bridge. The crew and cadets should be arriving in a couple of minutes." He said as he headed into the ship, the two Jedi close behind him.
Things are starting to heat up, reference here and there to what is going and the mystery of how our two Jedi came to the Milky Way Galaxy develops into more questions. Anakin is at last getting some clam and peace… this gives him time to think and ponder without any outside influence messing with his thoughts. Also now that they are far away, Sidious is not able to take advantage of Anakin's lack of confidence and he is also force in confiding in Obi-wan. Also now Kirk will soon be entering the picture… I wonder how well he will react to meeting our strange friends. Hehehehehe….
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Till next time, MusingAIR! :*