As their small Republic shuttle sped toward the Koriba system, Anakin quizzed his apprentice in the passenger hold. Aayla and Obi-Wan were up in the cockpit and sat in the pilot and co-pilot seat respectively. A dark premonition tugged at Obi-Wan's psyche, but sensing it was personal, he quickly shrugged it aside to ponder the assignment. He could sense that Aayla was concentrating on the mission as well, but decided that the quiet was a good opportunity to speak privately with her.
"Aayla," Obi-Wan began, "I have been avoiding thanking you for a great favor your have done for me in recent months..." He faltered, too ashamed to come out with it.
Already though, she knew. "You want to thank me helping Anakin to safety after our crash on the Lurmen's system but you are too abashed to admit your strong attachment to him."
Obi-Wan blushed realizing that Aayla had nailed it on the head. Females could be so perceptive! It's as if he had his emotions written all over the front of his tunic.
Aayla placed a reassuring hand on his knee and looked into his grey eyes.
"Obi-Wan, all of us have our attachments, especially to those we teach, but you and Young Skywalker are different. Where as Jedi used to look at you and see Master and Padawan, now we see two brothers. I think you have done an honorable job training him and I think it healthy for you to finally address your gratitude for his safety."
Relieved, Obi-Wan put his hand over his heart and looked her in the eyes. "Thank you, Aayla Secura, for helping Anakin when I was not there to aid him. You led the entire team to safety and a planet to victory over the Separatists and I am forever grateful for your unyielding compassion and dedication to protecting others."
She smiled warmly, "And I, Obi-Wan, am forever grateful for your friendship and council. You were my rock when my own Padawan lost her life those years ago and the reason I didn't leave the Jedi Order. I am simply returning the favor."
The two shared another moment of silent gratitude and respect toward each other before Anakin and Ahsoka burst loudly into the cockpit arguing about the fine details of the mission and which of them had committed it better to memory.
"No, Master, it says that the Koriban atmosphere will supply us with 1.122 % of the gravitational force on Coruscant," argued Ahsoka.
"Ahh Snips you've been slacking! It's 1.121%. You need to step up your game," contested Anakin.
Obi-Wan turned around and loudly cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt your excessive feuding, but we are thirty minutes from Koriba. Once you two have settled down, the four of us are going to recap the mission once more together. Besides, you're both incorrect. It's 1.120%."
In the pilot's seat, Aayla sighed. Would their banter never cease? She truly doubted it as she began the landing sequence.
"Well, I was closer", said Anakin to his Padawan defiantly as he hovered over the co-pilot seat where Obi-Wan was sitting, one leg crossed over the other.
"Move over, Old Man. Let the professional pilots handle the landing sequence," teased Anakin.
"You go right ahead, Master Pilot," said Obi-Wan dryly and making a theatric gesture toward the co-pilot's seat. He had a mind to join Ahsoka in the rear of the cockpit as Anakin strapped himself in next to Aayla. Anakin was indeed the better pilot but Obi-Wan had a way of boosting Ahsoka's confidence before dangerous missions.
Obi-Wan very much liked Ahsoka. He found that he was taken with her because he saw in her the same desire to please her great Master that he had experienced when he was a young Padawan to the legendary Qui-Gon Jinn.
As he spoke to her, again Obi-Wan experienced the convoluted, dark premonition. But as quickly as it came, it was gone and he buried it under the encouraging words he was speaking to Anakin's apprentice.
The ship made a swift descent and a neat landing. The Jedi inventoried their gear, gathered around the display of the holodisc once more and solidified their plan of action.
Obi-Wan opened the discussion. "According to Bothan-acquired intelligence, Grievous and the droids in his command have set up camp on the side of this small mountain that lies just beside the capital city and the Royal Palace itself. We must infiltrate the compound unseen. There are several escape hatches but only one that will grant us access. It's here."
Obi-Wan pointed to the small opening on the compound's retaining wall that was illuminated in green on the hologram. "The others in red are decoys. Throw no droid-poppers or charges of any sort into these hatches for the passages bend downward and they will emerge from an open pipe by your feet."
"Now that's just wrong," muttered Anakin. Aayla looked disgusted at this defense tactic as well. A point-blank droid-popper blast wouldn't do any of the Jedi lasting harm but it would leave them stunned for several minutes. An actual charge point-blank… Aayla shuddered to think about it.
"Indeed," agreed Obi-Wan. He continued. "We will break up into pairs and circle around the bottom of the mountain undetected and meet at this hatch. Aayla and I will travel east from our shuttle. Anakin, you and Ahsoka will travel west. With alacrity, we can rendezvous in the brush surrounding the hatch within twenty-five standard minutes of the departure. Once near the hatch, Anakin and I will enter the compound. I will scout the immediate area inside and give the signal for Aayla and Ahsoka to join us."
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin. "Anakin, this is where we need your technical expertise. You must get the nearest console, hack into the system and locate the younglings. When you've done that, we will regroup, retrieve the hostages together then proceed through the old mining tunnels inside the mountain. All eight of us will emerge on the other side of the mountain via tunnel shaft, embark on our shuttle and retreat safely to Coruscant. Does anyone disagree or have anything more to add?"
Ahsoka spoke up. "Master, are we each taking one youngling to run with? Or will one of us grab two so another can scout ahead to the compound exit and through the tunnels?"
"Excellent question, Padawan," said Aayla looking to Anakin and Obi-Wan. "It may depend on our fatigue and whether or not we have pursuers."
"Don't worry," boasted Anakin to the group, "I'll have that system hacked so fast, Grievous won't know what hit him until after we've made the jump to hyperspace."
"Right," conceded Obi-Wan, inwardly reminded himself that a little extra audacity would be helpful to their cause. "And remember, the young ones will be frightened, maltreated and possibly injured, but we must get them to safety. They may even mistake you for another foe. Recall that our main goal here is to get them out of captivity. We can attend to their hurts and fears afterward."
"Agreed," said Aayla. "The aft cabin on this shuttle has been made up for the young ones to rest. There is food, water and a first aid kit should they need it."
The thought of the innocent young royals trapped, neglected and hurt made Ahsoka remorseful. Sensing her consternation, Anakin gently chided her through their bond in the Force. His blazing blue Force particles soothed her stormy green ones, reminding the young Jedi apprentice to turn trepidation to determination.
"Excellent. Without any further ado, are we ready?" asked Obi-Wan.
"Let's do this!" shouted Anakin enthusiastically as he launched himself westward. "Snips, you're already behind!" he called over his shoulder.
His Padawan darted eagerly after him. They headed west toward the setting suns and ran to the tree line for cover and vanished within the wood.
"We should be off as well," Obi-Wan said to Aayla. "If he beats us to the entrance hatch, I will never hear the end of it."
Aayla nodded and leapt after Obi-Wan and the two Masters headed east.
Anakin cast one backward glance to Obi-Wan before he and his apprentice penetrated the tree line.
"What is it?" whispered Ahsoka. She detected that he was uncertain about something. His blue aura of Force particles burned like fire and molten magma around his corporeal form as he jogged, but she still sensed that something was nagging him.
"Nothing. Stay vigilant." Anakin could feel something amiss within the Force. It would have to wait though. The young hostages needed rescuing.