Here's the next part everyone! thank you for the reviews left so far. It really helps when I get feedback.
Anakin stared out of the cruiser viewport from one of the varying corridors on board the republic transport, they had just dropped out of hyperspace above the planet Ithor located in the Ottega system of the Mid Rim. At the moment the only visible objects in view were all the stars dancing in the black void that was space. It was always something Anakin was interested in ever since he was a small boy, he would often look up at the stars in wonder, imagining all the different worlds and species that were out there just waiting for him to explore!
They had been on the transport for just over a day, Anakin busied himself for the first part of the journey exploring the ins and out of the ship. It wasn't often he got to see new transports like this up close so he was making the most of it! Before they boarded on Coruscant he and Obi wan had descended from their quarters and were making their way to the landing pad, Anakin was excited again practically pulling his master along. He couldn't wait to get started and a new shiny ship for him to inspect raised his heart rate considerably.
Obi wan was exasperated he had tried everything to try and calm his padawan, he even tried force suggesting that he calm down! As he looked ahead he noticed there were two figures waiting to see them off on the landing platform, Master Windu and Master Yoda.
Anakin followed his master's example and greeted the two masters with a bow. He noticed his master look a little surprised, maybe this wasn't usual to be seen off. Anakin didn't think any more of it as the roar of the engines had him distracted again. His attention came back to the two masters as he felt a gentle swat across the bond from Obi wan. He had obviously noticed his anxiousness to inspect every inch of the ship, and Anakin had been completely distracted to be honest. Master Yoda wished them well on their way, and they departed with the usual goodbye.
"May the force be with you."
It was strange, Anakin thought he saw a flicker of something in Master Yoda's eyes as he caught a glance between his own master and the seasoned master. Was that fear? A warning? Before he could put a finger on it Obi wan was ushering him towards their transport and he stopped resisting very quickly as his eyes roamed over the beautiful craft again. Yes this was an excellent start.
His master had spent most of the time resting and meditating, something he suggested Anakin get on with while they had the chance. Anakin spent a few hours doing just that, but then he was too restless for anymore so got dressed and had spent the rest of the trip inspecting every nook and cranny he could find.
His thoughts drifted back to the present as the planet came into view. They'd be landing pretty soon now with the speed they were coming in at.
'Padawan, where are you? You know you can't be walking around when we land,' came the querying voice of his master across the bond. Anakin smiled he had been left alone to explore the ship for most of the day. It was nice to have been given so much freedom. Things would be different when they were escorting the senator and his family, that's probably why his master had given him some free reign on this trip over.
With one more look out the viewport at the lush green planet below them, he had read up on the planet in his quarters earlier in the day when Obi wan had practically thrown the data pads at his padawan and told him the importance of research before a mission, he headed off towards the direction of their shared quarters.
'I'm on my way, Master,' replied Anakin as he approached the corridor that would lead him to his awaiting master.
Obi wan came out of his meditation as soon as the ship lurched out of hyper space. He looked around his and Anakin's quarters and saw that his young padawan had once again wandered off somewhere. He wouldn't have much of a chance on the next leg of the journey however so Obi wan didn't mind too much, well as long as he had studied the data pads the council had sent with them with details on the mission.
He had quite a bit on his mind after leaving from Coruscant. He was glad Anakin hadn't read too much into the glance he caught Master Yoda give Obi wan. Master Yoda rarely looked so grave before an assignment, it had made Obi wan's stomach do flips all over again. The feeling he got from Yoda was a cautious one, maybe he wasn't being overly cautious with the feeling he'd had about this assignment from the get go. After all the meditation he had carried out over the course of the journey here he had come no closer to identifying what was giving him such a bad feeling in the force, only that it was.
He felt his frustration start building, and Obi wan released it into the force, taking a deep breath as well to calm his nerves. They were approaching the planet now and Obi wan knew both he and Anakin would need all their focus to complete this assignment safely without incident. Why did Mace have to say it would be simple?!
Obi wan headed towards the fresher, he scooped a handful of cool water and splashed it over his face. There that's better. He gazed into the reflection looking back, stars and galaxies sometimes I forget how much these last few years have changed me, physically and emotionally. The image staring back at him no longer wore the hair cut of a padawan, his ginger locks were allowed to grow out. Also the slight beard that covered his chin and jaw line added years to his appearance. Well I did look too young before to be having an apprentice! The feature that had changed the most though were definitely his eyes, it shocked him sometimes when he scarcely recognised them, he didn't know what it was exactly but they looked older, pained. Usually they shined a brilliant blue flecked with a cool green blend, most days now his eyes seem to cloud over and just looked, well greyed. Having Anakin around helped, but he was pretty sure that boy was the reason for the few grey hairs that peppered his hairline and the slight appearance of wrinkles round his eyes.
Patting his face dry with a towel, Obi wan headed back out into his quarters and decided he should probably find out where his young apprentice was.
Obi wan messaged his apprentice along the bond, knowing too well that if he didn't tell him to come and take a seat for landing his padawan would be staring at some mechanical aspect going on in the engines. Obi wan did appreciate the knowledge that Anakin had in these areas, Obi Wan had no clue to what his padawan was talking about half the time. He was aware that Anakin's flying capabilities would come in very useful one day! Force he hated flying, the thought of it made him shiver. Not long afterwards he heard his padawan reply and felt more than heard him approaching.
The door hissed open and Anakin silently entered, taking a seat on his bed and packing his things ready for departure.
"Did you have a good time exploring?" Obi wan asked knowingly, he had noticed straight away when Anakin had left the room. It was always amused him that Anakin thought he could just sneak by!
"Yes thank you, Master, I learned a lot about the ship!" Anakin replied oblivious to the slight accusational stare his master had given him.
"Did you take the time to read ALL the reading material I gave you?" pressed Obi wan, making sure to accentuate the word 'all' as he was saying it.
Anakin suddenly noticed the levelling look he was getting from his master and spluttered "Yes of course, Master, I did that before I went err for a look around the ship," Anakin finished meekly, Obi wan had expected him to spend more time going over things. Oops I won't be making that mistake again he thought to himself.
"Very well, I will be quizzing you as we go along" Obi wan replied preparing himself for landing, enjoying very much the look of shock and surprise from his padawan. Qui gon used to pull this trick on him all the time and he soon learnt to properly go over the reading materials so as to not get another gruelling lecture from his own master.
The ship touched down delicately on one of the many floating cities created by the inhabitants of the world. Obi wan and Anakin made their way down the ramp towards the greeting party in front of them. Obi wan knew it wouldn't be long before they departed again, the family had been very patiently waiting for the Jedi to arrive and Obi wan could sense, even from this distance, the fear radiating off of them. As they strode towards the senators family and their presumed next method of transport, Obi wan observed Anakin's wild eyes trying to take in all of the beauty of the planet at once. He looked around himself, he had never been to this world before either and had to admit it seemed very peaceful, he couldn't quite believe a rebel faction operating here but then again the thickness of the rainforest covering the planet's surface was a perfect place to hide. It even blocked some communications because of how thick it was. He thought back to the first planet he had visited, of course he wasn't Qui gon's apprentice then. He was still being shipped off to the Agricorps even after he had helped Qui gon out with his mission on their way to Bandomeer.
Obi Wan remembered looking out across the vast planet as the ship he was travelling on came into land. It wasn't exactly a pretty world, it was interesting though nearly cut in half as a planet. On one side a huge land mass and the other the Great Sea of Bandomeer. He remembered the pain and shame he had felt when Qui gon had ignored his presence yet again and had sent him off to be a farmer. No not exactly a nice first planet or let's face it what it turned into a mission.
Qui gon had very clearly instructed him not to interfere at all with his mission, so Obi wan had resigned himself to just being a simple farmer as he was sent away from the city of Bandor. The force obviously had other plans for him, well and maybe a little meddling on his part, soon after he was back in the thick of it investigating from his place at the Agricorps. He and Qui gon really did have a rocky start to their relationship but if anything what they went through made them an even stronger team.
Of course Obi wan had ended up getting caught by Qui gon's old apprentice Xanatos, that had turned to the dark side, of all people, and was nearly killed after he tried to escape the mining platform they had imprisoned him on in the middle of the great sea.
Qui gon had come to rescue him, and by the end of their 'mission' whether Obi wan was meant to be involved or not he had ended up saving both of their lives as well as countless others from Xanatos, they left the planet as master and apprentice.
That was the day everything changed for him Obi wan mused.
Anakin couldn't believe what his eyes were showing him, this planet was beautiful! Not just the sight, but the sounds and the smells it was so overwhelming. He stared out across the landing platform trying to take every inch of the horizon in, he could see a few more floating cities stretching out across the planet. Wizard! And below the cities, wow that's what all that green was that he could see from the ship in orbit, he hadn't seen anything like it before! When he looked up at the sky above he counted 5 no 6 moons! This really was another world. He was pulled out of his reverie when Obi wan prodded him along the bond asking for his attention.
'Impressed, Padawan?' Obi wan smiled as he watched his apprentice take in all the sights before him. He had such a child-like wonder on his face it was truly magical to observe.
'Yes, Master, this is better than I could ever dreamed of!' Anakin beamed back.
'Well it's the first of many Ani so you better get used to it!' Obi wan laughed as Anakin visibly jumped at that remark.
Anakin then laid his eyes across the transport they would be taking. In a word it was stunning, the way the body curved and the sun struck it in all the right places. It was bigger than the one they had just stepped off, and Anakin spied some weapons below as well. Cool! He knew he wouldn't have the same time as he just had so he would have to observe the engines and mechanics when he could.
For the rest of the walk across the landing platform Obi wan asked Anakin about the planet, the senator and the route they would be taking back to Senator Farr's home world planet of Rodia. To his surprise Anakin answered all of his questions without too much hesitation. He did struggle when Obi wan asked about the actual threats the Senator had been receiving and about the rogue faction. Obi wan rolled his eyes; that was probably the most important part of the mission to understand the threat! After he informed Anakin that this was crucial, he told him that his free time on the next shuttle would be spent researching more in those areas.
Anakin mentally groaned, a little too loudly he realised as he felt a mental swat travel along their bond. Oops I've got to get better at shielding that bond! He felt his master's concentration move from the bond back into reality as they approached Senator Farr and his family along with a rather large group of personal security by the looks of things. They certainly weren't taking any precautions!
Anakin watched as Obi wan greeted the Senator and chatted with the pilot and head of security about heading off. He was glad he didn't have to deal with pleasantries, that was down to his master, he wouldn't really know where to start! After a few more minutes everyone started to board the ship.
'That was quick,' Anakin exclaimed.
Obi wan looked a little more worried than usual, 'Yes they all want to get off quickly, they're all very frightened by the threats and obviously are taking them very seriously.'
'When we get away, I want you to go scouting aboard the ship. Look for any areas that can be used to hide the family in case of an emergency and memorise the quickest way there from each corner of the ship,' Obi wan explained to Anakin as they started up on the ramp.
'Hopefully we won't need it, but it's better to be prepared,' he added as he sensed his padawan's alarm at his worried state. He released his anxiety into the force and watched Anakin relax slightly.
Obi wan still had the feeling this would be a very long trip…
Anakin did just as Obi wan had asked and found a few suitable safe places that could be used to hide the family if anything went wrong. He was confident he knew the routes to all of them from different areas around the ship. Each one had a door that could be easily fused by Anakin which would make it hard for most other people trying to open it. He had used a Jedi trick to memorise all of the routes, they were laid out like a map in his head and he could follow each one with his eyes closed.
After that particular task was completed he headed back to the quarters he and Obi wan had been assigned. He knew he had better get on with the reading he had missed the first time round, before Obi wan got back from meeting with the security and messaging the Jedi council to inform them that the mission was underway.
Anakin hadn't even stopped to look at some distracting parts of the ship on the way back which was no small feat for him, he knew this was all business now, he had to remain focused, staying alert for any danger.
Anakin glided back into his quarters and flopped onto the bed, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting him. Maybe I should have listened to Obi wan and had more rest before. No he couldn't think of what could have been now, what's done is done he would have to live with it and move forward. He reached over for a data pad and started to read.
By the looks of things the Senator had received several death threats which seemed to originate from a rebel faction operating in the rainforest on Ithor. He couldn't believe that there were still people like that on a world so beautiful! Anakin noticed the lack of intelligence on the group written by the government of the planet. They seemed pretty clueless to it all actually from the report that had been submitted, they didn't know their numbers, where they were situated, what weapons or spacecraft they had access to for that matter.
Obi wan had asked the city to scan the skies and contact them if they noticed any unauthorised ship leaving their atmosphere, that's all they could really do and stay prepared. Anakin did find it strange that the government couldn't know if they had access to spacecraft or not, it was hard for a ship just to go missing, especially one with weapons! The whole thing just felt a little odd, as if the threats were a pushing factor to get the Senator off of the planet and in transit. It's not like this rebel faction could do anything to harm the Senator now they were in transit, not without some serious firepower which would be impossible to conceal!
The more he read the higher his confusion grew, it seemed the government had some reservations to the origin of the threats as well. Why had the council not tracked the messaged back to a definite source?
'They tried my young padawan, they were all untraceable.'
Anakin jumped a little, he hadn't realised he was projecting, he had actually got quite caught up in all of the reading. No wonder why his master had wanted him to read this material, it just didn't add up! He probably wanted to discuss ideas with Anakin and see if they could figure out what was going on.
'Are you still with the security?' Anakin enquired, he wanted to discuss the possibilities of his thoughts when his master returned.
'I've just finished up and I am heading back now,' came the reply.
Obi wan slid back into his quarters he was sharing with Anakin, he was pleasantly surprised to see data pads all over Ani's bed. His apprentice had obviously taken on what Obi wan had said on the planet's surface and was pouring over all the material as Obi wan had done on the previous shuttle.
He moved over to his own bed and waited patiently for Anakin to finish reading the pad he was on. When Anakin's gaze met his own he saw confusion and worry there, it seems his padawan had picked up on what he had, the information just simply didn't add up!
"You sense it too master? It's as if this entire situation is being orchestrated!" Anakin exclaimed.
"There's no evidence that the threats came from the planet at all, and even if they did the rogue faction couldn't just magic up a space cruiser from nowhere," he added and started to pace the room.
Obi wan observed Anakin, he was always so restless when he faced a problem he would be the one up and about pacing until he was sure he would walk straight through the floor!
"Yes that is what I've been thinking about, but then why send the messages? The only thing that it has achieved is getting the Senator off the planet quicker and increasing his security." He eyed Anakin urging him to stop pacing before he continued.
"If someone wanted to attack the Senator it would be smarter to carry out the attack when his security was at its lowest point not now," Obi wan finished. It was obvious they both needed to think on this matter he was sure the answer was staring them both straight in the face!
"We should meditate on this matter, I want to figure out what's going on before any attack can even be attempted". Obi wan took up a meditative position on his bed and waited until Anakin had calmed and also moved into the same position.
"Yes, Master" Anakin replied before closing his eyes and with the slight guidance from Obi wan he was in a deep meditative trance.
A memory sprung to the forefront of Obi wan's mind, of his first attempts to teach Anakin how to properly connect to the force. It had been amusing to say the least.
Obi wan sat crossed legged on the floor of the apartment he shared with Anakin. It had been a few weeks now since Anakin had started his training here at the temple. He was doing very well catching up in classes and didn't need too much nagging from Obi wan to get on with his homework outside of classroom hours.
Across from him sat Anakin, he had a padawan cut and a braid now. Instead of all that awful ruffly hair that covered his face before. Obi wan smiled as he watched Anakin get used to having a padawan braid, it did get in the way at first he had to admit but soon it would become part of him.
Now his task today was to try and show Anakin the correct ways to harness the force. He had started out by explaining that it can be used for many different purposes if channeled correctly, such as meditation to discover answers, healing and of course the one thing Anakin was very interested in moving objects across the room.
Obi wan sighed Anakin was very restless he was not looking forward to trying to teach him to sit here for hours on end meditating, maybe he would start with the moving objects to get Anakin focused on the task.
"What do I do master?" Anakin enquired, opening his eyes as if he'd been sat there hours already.
Oh yes this was going to be very taxing, Anakin's patience was NOT his strong point. Without opening his own eyes Obi wan replied.
"Well, Padawan, the first lesson is patience, and to keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them," Obi wan grinned as he heard Anakin mentally sigh, he still didn't have blocks on his mind yet and kept forgetting Obi wan could identify everything he was feeling.
"I heard that young one." Obi wan gently swatted Anakin's head who just giggled in reply.
"When will I be able to read minds with the force?" Anakin queried.
"When you learn the basics young padawan, before you can learn to look into someone else's mind you must first learn control and how to shield your own." He felt Anakin's shoulders deflate as the realisation came that he wouldn't be doing anything 'cool'.
"Today however I thought we would start with seeing if you could harness the force to move various objects." Obi wan felt Anakin's excitement levels increase at that, yes this would be easier to teach first.
"You mean I get to throw things across the room?!"
"No, Padawan, you will be testing if you can manipulate the force around an object to make it come towards you." Obi wan corrected, although he didn't think anything he could say now would lower his apprentice's levels of excitement.
"Now I want you to concentrate on an object in the room." He paused a moment. "Have you got one Ani?"
"Yes, Master, I'm concentrating," replied Anakin with his face all scrunched up.
"Okay now I want you to feel out with your mind, I know it may sound crazy, but you have to trust in the force. Don't see, feel the energy around the object. The force surrounds everything it's the energy that binds each thing in the galaxy. Once you feel the strength of the force around the object reach out your arm and try and manipulate the particles surrounding it, bend it to your will, guide the object up into the air and that is where it will go."
Obi wan finished his instructions and let Anakin give it a try by himself, he wasn't sure if he was expecting Anakin to be successful first time but he definitely wasn't expecting what happened next. He felt the object Anakin had chosen start to rise into the air, a little shaky at first but then it was still. 'Brilliant' Obi wan thought Anakin was a quick learner. Obi wan identified what the said object was, ah his teapot and, oh wait a minute!
"Ow!" Obi wan exclaimed opening his eyes and rubbing his head with his hand.
The teapot had smacked the back of his head and it was still full! Hot liquid dripped down his back as he leapt to his feet trying to take the offending material off that was now scolding his shoulder. When he looked back at Anakin all he saw was innocence, he narrowed his eyes 'did he do that on purpose?'
"Master, I'm so sorry!" Anakin too jumped quickly to his feet in an effort to help him get off the scalding hot material that was currently sticking to his skin.
No, Anakin had simply lost control he had thought moving it towards himself, without waiting for Obi wan's instructions would be a good idea, but he hadn't learnt to incorporate his surroundings without his vision and didn't realise that Obi wan's head would be directly in the teapot's flight path. Obi wan stared down at Anakin's face which was full of remorse, he couldn't stay mad at his padawan for long and soon started laughing at what a picture he must look now!
"That's alright, Padawan, next time please don't try moving hot liquids about," chuckled Obi wan.
"Yes, Master." Anakin smiled back, that wasn't a complete disaster, he had moved an object across a room! Even if it had struck Obi wan's head.
"I think that's enough of that for now." Obi wan started towards the fresher to clean up. "Don't you have homework to be getting on with?" He smiled as Anakin groaned realising he hadn't been let off the hook completely.
Obi wan's mind returned to the present and he followed suit and also started to feel along the force looking for the answer to their problem.
It was strange, sometimes he had no problem finding answers through meditation and other times, like now it was as if the answer was just out his reach. It was like chasing a leaf on a windy afternoon, very elusive and the closer you got, the further away it danced just missing outstretched finger tips. It was very frustrating having the answer so close, but not being able to firmly grasp in his mind.
He felt frustration radiating off of his padawans body, he was obviously having as much trouble as Obi wan was. He sent calming waves along the bond, feeling Anakin's irritation being released, his padawan always got chagrinned when an answer didn't come to him immediately.
Obi wan was just as impatient at that age, only after years of practise and guidance from Qui gon, did his agitation decrease whilst searching for an answer. Even Obi wan was having trouble keeping his calm this time!
After what could have been hours in deep states of concentration, both Obi wan and Anakin felt a disturbance in the force, it was getting alarmingly close.
Obi wan's eyes flew open and just one word passed across his lips.
"Pirates".
So yes the next chapter will have a lot more going on, I have mostly written it and am going over/improving bits ready to publish. We will see the pair tackle pirates!
