The Bond Between Master and Apprentice

Part Three

The gunship landed in the busy hangar of the Akul. The gunship's side doors opened and several clones immediately rushed over to aid Patch and Smoke with carrying Arthur to the medical center. After reaching the medical center, they immediately placed the sleeping Arthur on a table and Patch went to work instantly on stopping the infection from the wound.

"Let them know he's going to be okay," Patch said after he grabbed his medkit, "I wouldn't want the general to be distracted right now."

Smoke nodded his head in acknowledgement and raised his wrist comm up to his mouth, "General, Arthur's infection has been taken care of and the kid will pull through" Smoke relayed to the General.

The sounds of battle came through the comm as well as static. "Thank the Force," Oni's voice finally came through, "Though, I can't say the same for most of my men. We've sustained heavy casualties so far, but the droids are thinning out. Take good care of him, Patch. That boy means a lot to me."

Smoke decided to take matters into his own hands and went up to the bridge of the Akul, and looked for Admiral ? and headed towards him.

"We need fighters on the front lines NOW!" Smoke bellowed from his lungs, pointing out of the view port toward the fire and explosions.

"We are doing everything we can to get them the needed support" answered the Admiral, in a calmer voice.

"That's not good enough," shot back Smoke. Just then the Admiral got the green light for the squad of bombers to head toward the front lines, "There you see, one squad of bombers has been freed up for the front lines," smirked the Admiral.

Smoke watched out the viewport as the squad of bombers flew over the idling cruiser and flew toward the front lines where Oni and Green were pushing their advance on the droids, who were continuously falling back.

Green's POV

I fired shot after shot at the droids that I spotted from behind my cover. I knew the droids were thinning in number, but it didn't feel like it. Once I took out one droid, another would take it's spot and fire back toward me and my men. It was a vicious cycle that seemed like it would never end.

"Commander, how are you holding up?" the general's voice shouted out to me from behind a pile of fallen debris. I could tell that she was growing weaker by the moment; this fight is not going to last long. Taking out a few more targets, I gazed at her through my visor and nodded crisply. "I'm alright, sir," I called out, "It's you I'm worried about."

I watched as the general kept up her attacks toward the droids and was about to call out to her again when I heard ship noises in the sky, that's either really good, or really bad, I thought, but my thoughts were quickly thrown away when a volley of torpedoes hit into the droids, decimating most of them.

After the volleys were over my squad, along with the general, went in to clear things out. Hardly any droids survived the bombing. We easily picked off the remainders. Within minutes, the Droid Army was defeated and the outer perimeter of the capital belonged to the Republic once again. My brothers and I hollered in victory, pumping our fists in the air for emphasis.

The bombers flew overhead, inquiring a report on our casualties. "This is Marshal Commander Green," I spoke into the comm., "We've sustained heavy casualties and require immediate medical assistance. And I need a report on Commander Perry."

"Commander Perry is in the ER still, sir. He is still sedated, but should make a clear recovery from his wound," came a clone's voice over the comm. system. I wanted to smile, but at the same time I felt immense guilt for the way I had treated the kid previously. After all, he just saved my life and almost gave up his own. I need to make up for the things I said.

Oni's POV

I sat in my chair with my hands folded in my lap, with my head down. Across from me on the medical bed was my Padawan, still breathing, but still sedated from the medication that Patch had given him, before I arrived.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, was all that was going through my head at the moment. The sounds of the heart monitor kept me at ease. I sincerely thought I had lost Arthur back there. It didn't matter that he had betrayed my trust and I don't care that he was thrown into my hands by the Council last minute. This boy is the future of the Jedi Order and is my responsibility now, and I will do everything in my power to make sure he succeeds, even if that means splitting the ship apart so he and Green do not have to interact.

I continued listening to the heart monitor when I was pretty sure I heard a very faint noise come from my Padawan. I picked my head up quickly and looked at the table for any signs that he was awake. I carefully looked over him and noticed a couple fingers on his right hand twitch slightly.

"Ugh," came a noise from Arthur, this time a little louder. I sat up in my chair and leaned in closer to his side. "Arthur? Can you hear me?" I whisper, not knowing if he has a headache or not. I tried to put on a stoic, tranquil face, but my emotions betrayed me and I frowned in concern. My Padawan almost died.

Arthur thankfully kept his eyes closed, "M-Master? Why the long face?" asked Arthur. He is shot, almost dies, and still comes up with jokes in such matters. I laughed briefly before laying my hand upon his. "That was a brave thing you did, Arthur," I started, "If it weren't for you, the commander would be dead right now."

Arthur kept his eyes closed, "Well," Arthur started, but then shifted his body slightly which caused him to moan and inhale sharply, "If I have known how much it would hurt, I wouldn't have done it" he said, allowing a small smirk on his face, that I could tell he tried to fight back. I half smiled and pat his hand before retrieving my own, "At least it won't last. We likely won the battle because of you. Now thousands have the hope of being free once more."

Arthur tried to sit up, but I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. He then looked down at his chest, looking at his wound, "You think it'll scar?" he asked a little too happy about it. My smile came back and I shrugged. "Perhaps. Why? Trying to impress someone are you?" I chuckled upon seeing his reaction.

Arthur looked a little taken back and had his eyebrows slightly raised, "No, cause that would be against the rules. Who do you think I am? Besides someone who betrays your trust," he asked. He had a mix of sarcasm and a bit of sadness, when mentioning the trust issues. I smiled, "A good question with an answer that will come at a later time." My comm. then beeped and I took that as the signal that we had arrived on Coruscant.

"What was that for?" asked Arthur, slightly motioning at my wrist comm after it went off. "We're to appear before the Jedi Council on the terms of-" I stopped to glance at Arthur, "On the terms of your punishment."

Arthur sat up really quickly, and immediately regretted it. He started coughing and wheezing. His wound didn't like the quick motions his body did, "What?" was all he said at first, "Don't they know that I just saved the man's life that I was fighting with?" he asked though he still was coughing and trying to catch his breath in between his words.

"I'm sure they'll take it into consideration," I started, trying to placate him, "The Council just wants to make sure their point was taken." A sigh burst from me and I sat back in my chair, my hands finding their usual place folded in my lap. I glance over at Arthur, nothing but guilt and concern in my eyes. Truthfully, I had no idea what the Jedi Council had planned for him.

(Council Meeting)

I sat in my usual chair at the meeting and Arthur took his spot, standing before all the seated Council Members and waited for them to speak. He looked in obvious pain. He was slightly hunched over to relieve pressure on his chest, and I could hear him still slightly wheezing with every breath he took.

Master Yoda turned to me and began speaking. Even though his words were going through my head, I wasn't truly listening.

"To risk your life, brave, you were, young Padawan," said the old Jedi Master, "Yet discuss your punishment we must. To let it go, unjust it would be."

"I understand Master Yoda," is all Arthur said. I could tell he wasn't trying to say much, as his breathing was still irregular. I wanted to suggest something. Perhaps guard duty? There's not much else he can do without further exasperating his injuries. Shaak Ti beat me to it.

"I believe the boy should be placed into a Clan," she said, "It is clear he is not yet ready for the responsibilities of a Padawan."

Arthur looked at me, and gave me a I told you so, look remembering our early conversation about the council not letting him continue on as a Padawan.

"Master Yoda?" said Arthur somewhat struggling to get the words out, due to the shot to his chest. I then turned my gaze toward the wise master.

"Hmmm" Yoda started out with, before taking a quick pause, "A suggestion you have, yes?" he continued, to which Arthur nodded. Yoda took a pause, probably peaking into Arthur's mind, since Arthur didn't want to talk if he could avoid it, "Sure are you about this?" Master Yoda asked Arthur.

"Yes master, I wish to be expelled from the Jedi Order" came Arthur's raspy reply. My fingers curled around the arms of the chair so hard my knuckles turned white. I sucked in a breath and stared at my Padawan with wide eyes. He did not just…

"Arthur?" I whispered meekly, "You can't be serious."

Arthur gave one last glance toward Obi-Wan and myself and gave us each a slight smile, before he walked toward me and held out his lightsaber for me to take from him. I shook my head and looked up at him, "I won't." I won't let you go.

Arthur frowned at me, before giving me another half smile and turned and started to walk out of the Council room. I glanced around at my fellow Councilmen, who seemed just as shocked as I was. Quickly, I stood up from my chair and without acknowledging the others, I ran to catch up with him. The doors to the Chamber closed behind me and I continued to sprint towards my Padawan.

I noticed Arthur up a little ways and I started to pick up the pace in order to catch him sooner, "What do you think you're doing? You have a meeting to be at" he said to me, as he stopped a few feet in front of me, but did not turn towards me and kept his back facing me.

"The meeting is about you," I breathed out, trying to stop panting. I handed back his lightsaber and didn't say anything until he would take it. "Why are you doing this Arthur?" I asked, shaking him by the shoulders.

Arthur didn't say anything at first and just looked at me, "This life, it is not for me. Ti was right in that I am not ready" was his reply, as he tried to break from my grasp. I tighten my grip and give him a scrutinizing glare. "No," I snap, "Arthur, you have more potential than this. You were meant to become a great Jedi Knight, I can foresee it. If you choose to walk away now, everything your parents sacrificed for will be undone."

Arthur broke free of my grip and glared at me, "Even if I did come back, I lost your trust, and I will never get it back," and with that he tried to walk off again. I grabbed onto his shoulder once more, this time a little harsher than I had intended for. "Arthur! Trust is broken time and again and there is always a way to mend it. You definitely did when you saved Green's life. It proved to me that I can trust you to make the right decisions. You may not realize it, but you just took a huge step towards controlling your balance of light and dark."

I could tell that he looked into my eyes and saw what I was feeling. Hope that he would return. He sighed and put his head down "As much as I would like to, I cannot face the Council anymore, I have wasted my second chance and don't deserve another. Besides maybe you can find a better Padawan that Green might actually trust, and would like to hear nothing but his next set of orders," Arthur said to me, as he again tried to break free of my grip, but I held on.

"My Master always told me that the Force works in mysterious ways," I said, sighing, "I didn't understand him then, but I do now. Arthur, you are meant to be a Jedi Knight. I can see the determination in your eyes. You have a gift; use it. I know that you feel disappointed in yourself but remember, no one is perfect. I don't care if Green doesn't trust you...I trust you. If he has a problem, then he can come to me about it."

Arthur looked up at me and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He looked as if he was debating against himself, deciding on what to say, "How can you trust me again that easily? I betray your trust time and time again and I will probably continue to do so. Why ask me to come back, when I will only disappoint in the long run?" he asked, with seriousness plastered all over his face.

I let go of him and gave a sincere smile. Placing my hands on his shoulders, I said: "Because you're my apprentice."

Echo: I hope you all enjoyed this little mini-story, thank you for reading! Anyone want to say goodbye?

Sgt. Smoke: Why haven't I appeared in the main story?

Resist: Cause we're saving the best for last. Leave a comment, review or whatever and hope you guys enjoyed this small mini-story. You are now free to read Chapter 5 of our main story.