It had not taken long for the Council to give Anakin and the twins their first excursion outside the Temple. Two weeks to the day after the news had come and Leia had completed her service in the Infirmary, the mission was assigned. It looked fairly straightforward on a data screen; negotiate an agreement between the Balmorra natives and a group of Weequay colonists. The Council saw it as an excellent way for a pair of young Padawans to get their feet wet in the galaxy. Mediating disputes was standard practice for Jedi. The only instructions that Anakin had for Luke and Leia were to call him 'Master' instead of 'father'. That would take some getting used to on both sides.

Perhaps he was using undo caution in concealing the fact that his apprentices were his children. The Council had not even mentioned the idea. But being one of the most famous Jedi who ever lived painted a target on his back. He did not want that target extending to Luke and Leia. They were more vulnerable than he was.

Thus far the mission had gone even better than expected. The native Balmorrans were a naturally forgiving people and had nothing but respect for the Jedi. The Weequay, while stubborn and at times surly, weren't about to argue with the man who held a lightsaber.

The children behaved themselves fairly well. Luke, for the most part, kept his mouth shut and bowed when he was supposed to, though his growing boredom was obvious.

It was Leia who contributed most to the mission. Her natural people skills had a calming influence on both parties, and yet she showed no fear to the Weequay when they raised a protest.

After six long hours of discussion, an agreement was reached. The Weequay colonists could take the low forests and meadows while the Balmorrans could keep their farmland in the high mountains. Both parties could trade with each other for needed supplies and in return would not encroach on the other's property.

It was nearing sunset in the neutral territory of Balmorra. The Weequay had left the stony valley to set up their camp and Anakin was exchanging farewells with the village leader while Luke and Leia had followed one of the Balmorra youths up a cliff face after being challenged to climb it.

Rock climbing was not part of the mission. The excuse Luke gave for the excursion was 'cultural exchange'. The climb was seen as a bit of a rite of passage for the youths of Balmorra; when one could climb all the way to the top of the fifty-meter cliff without the aid of a rope, they were considered an adult. Reluctantly Anakin agreed, but Luke and Leia were only to go about ten meters up- to the first shelf - before coming back down. Anakin kept them in sight at a distance of roughly fifty meters. That gave him plenty of time to help his children if they ran into trouble.

"We shank Jedi Shkywalker for hish shkilled negotiationsh," said Mishak Fenn, the leader of the Balmorran delegation. Balmorrans were a short, squat species whose adults stood only as all as Luke, with skin tones ranging from dusky gray to olive green. Their faces looked like a cross between Toydarians and Gamorreans, but their body types more closely resembled Ugnaughts. Large tusks on both jaw and mandible- on the males -accounted for their peculiar accent. Their arms were disproportionately large and hung nearly to their knees, giving them a rather intimidating appearance. They could waddle short distances on their squat legs but preferred leaping forward, landing on their callused knuckles, and swinging forward through their arms. This anatomy made them natural climbers.

"It was our pleasure, Mishak Fenn," said Anakin with a pleasant bow. "We shall be returning soon to be sure both sides keep their end of the bargain."

"Jedi Shywalker ish mosht generoush wish his time," nodded Mishak Fenn. "He ish welcome at all timesh, ash are hish Padawansh."

"Thank you. I hope everything works out for you."

"Would Shkywalker honor ush by shtaying for evening meal?"

Anakin politely shook his head. "No, thank you. My Padawans and I must return to the Temple."

Mishak shrugged his massive shoulders. "Shome osher time, den." He turned his head to watch Luke and Leia reach the first shelf in triumph. "May Mishak trouble Jedi Shkywalker wish a queshton?"

Anakin nodded. "It's no trouble. What would you like to ask?"

The short Balmorran tilted his head to one side. "Do not Jedi have one Padawan? Are dere fewer mashtersh shinshe de Clone Warsh?"

Anakin's mouth twitched to one side. "No...but there have been changes in the Jedi Order."

Mishak lifted an eyebrow with good humor. "Ahh. Jedi Shkywalker musht be shkilled if he takesh on two." He nodded toward Leia. "De young female...she shpeaks wish ashority desphpite her age. Mishak ish indebted to her for her shkillsh."

Anakin couldn't help but feel pride at his daughter's accomplishments. "She is still learning...but I think she's found her strength in dealing peacefully with others." He was about to call Luke and Leia down from their perch when there was a sudden prickling at the back of his neck. Danger, it warned. His smile faded into a frown and considered getting closer to his children.

Before Anakin could follow through on this feeling, the whine of a starship rose in the distance. Both he and his host turned to see not one but several ships of haphazard design approaching at a fast clip. The first was soon visible as the same ship in which the Weequay delegation had departed less than an hour before.

Mishak knit his hairless brows. "Hmm. Dey left wish one yet return wish shree? Were dey not going to shet up camp on dere agreed portion?"

Anakin nodded slowly, hand drifting toward the hilt of his lightsaber. "Apparently not." His frown deepened upon seeing that each ship's cannons were leveled squarely at them. "This doesn't look good." He beckoned to his children. Luke and Leia made easy targets while on the cliff. Come down. There may be trouble.

The children, having seen the approaching ships and perhaps sensed the same danger that their father had, were already on their way down.

With a low whine and a spray of sand, the Weequay ships landed. When the ramp loaded, the leader of the delegation, known as Donko Akama, stood there with some nine or ten others behind him, each cradling a dangerous-looking blaster.

"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" Anakin asked as evenly as he could.

"Problem? No! 'Course not," laughed Donko. "Mishak! My newest friend. How are you?"

"Mishak shpoke wish Donko not one hour ago. Donko tellsh ush he unpacksh. Why he return sho shoon?" asked Mishak with a frown.

"Ah, yes. That is a question, isn't it?" Donko fingered the blaster at his hip. "It is simply this; my people need more land than you have given us."

Mishak's eyes widened in disbelief. "Dish hash been shettled. Donko hash already agreed to de termsh."

Anakin took a step forward to stand protectively in front of his host. "You signed a legal contract. Reneging on it now means you forfeit any rights to the land you have already been given."

Mishak motioned to his accomplices. "My friends do not care what is legal. Neither do I."

Anakin hazarded a glance over his shoulder to check his children's progress and was relieved to see they were nearly down. He mentally urged them to hurry up and get under cover. He turned back to Donko with a suspiciously-raised eyebrow. "The bargaining has already been done. You agreed to the terms already set forth and so have the Balmorrans."

Donko's pandering smile faded and he gave an exaggerated sigh. "I had hoped it would not come to this. But since you will not bargain, I will have to demand that the Balmorrans give up all that we ask. Do this," said Donko, drawing his blaster and motioning for the others to do the same, "and there will be no hard feelings."

Mishak stumbled backward in surprise, cheeks puffing with anger. "Donko Akama hash no right to make shush demandsh!"

Quickly Anakin got in front of his host and ignited his saber, dropping into a ready stance. "Stand down, Donko. I don't want to hurt you or your men."

Donko snickered and spoke harsh alien words into a handheld commlink. The rear hatches of the other two transports opened immediately, revealing ten additional well-armed Weequay per ship. All of them pointed blaster rifles directly at Anakin, his host, and Mishak's two associates. "You are mistaken, my Jedi friend. By my estimation, this leaves you outnumbered ten to one. It is you who must stand down."

Anakin sized up the number of pirates and felt his heart sink. This is not good. It was an effort not to show the unease he felt at the long odds. The Jedi had faced greater numbers before, but only against droids. Disarming thirty pirates was not quite possible at once. He would only be able to render about half of them harmless before either he or someone he was protecting would be wounded. It depended on how accurate the pirates were. "Don't be foolish, Donko. As a representative of both the Jedi Order and the Republic, I must order you to withdraw your men. I don't want anyone hurt, and I don't think you do, either. Lay down your arms and we'll talk."

"The time for talk is over!" snarled Donko. "You give us what we want, or we will take it!"

"DAD!" cried Luke, breaking into a run some thirty meters away from the fray. Leia was hard on his heels.

"You two stay back," warned Anakin, grimacing at the fact that the secret was out.

"'Dad'?" Donko's blaster wavered in confusion as he looked from Anakin to the twins. A cruel, knowing smile blossomed on his heavily wrinkled face. "Of course...the Jedi do not take more than one apprentice. They are not your padawans. They are your children, Jedi Skywalker. No doubt you would do anything to protect them."

Anakin's eyes narrowed. "Leave them out of this. Either you and your accomplices come quietly, or I can't guarantee your safety."

Donko laughed derisively. "Even you cannot defeat all of us. Sooner or later you will have to surrender...or risk the lives of your children." He threw a glance to the angry and fearful twins before giving an unconcerned shrug. "Enough talk. Now we see if you are as good a Jedi as I have heard." With that, he leveled his blaster and fired.

Immediately Anakin brought his saber up to block the bolt...and the two-dozen others that followed. Mishak and the Balmorrans dropped to the ground with squeals while the children yelled in alarm. Anakin's blade whirled faster than a windmill on Kupo. "Luke...Leia, run! Get under cover!"

Luke and Leia had dropped to the ground a half second before the shooting had started and exchanged a look of determination. As one they called on the Force and reached out their hands toward the pirates.

One surprised individual suddenly had his legs knocked out from under him and his blaster torn from his grip. As Anakin was occupied in blocking blaster bolts, the pirates soon knew the culprits. Several began firing at the children.

Anakin Force-pushed those individuals back into one of their ships and shut the door behind them before glancing at his twins. "I said run! NOW!" He had to turn around immediately after to keep blocking the hail of blaster bolts as they flew at him.

When one bolt missed Luke by only a handbreadth, the boy grabbed Leia's hand and scrambled backwards. The twins ran back to the rock face they had just exited and dove behind an outcropping at the base of the cliff.

Good. Anakin could now focus on disarming the pirates. By this time they had begun to scatter, so he hardly had time to do anything more than deflect. Three returned to those who had fired, who fell with cries. One reason Anakin did not simply take all of them out at once was because of the bystanders and the fact that doing so might end up killing a pirate or two. Speed was abandoned in favor of accuracy.

Seconds became minutes. A handful of pirates, having had their blasters torn out of their hands and subsequently sliced in two, turned and fled back into one of the ships, powering it up. Another five followed suit with the second ship.

Anakin almost smiled. That was one way to even the odds. When only two armed pirates remained he sank back on his heels and pulled their blasters out of their hands. One cried out in terror and pounded on the closed hatch of the first ship, begging for the others to let him in.

The last pirate was none other than Donko, whose dark eyes were wide with astonishment. "So...the stories are true," he mused.

After the brief but intense workout with both mind and body, Anakin was breathing heavily as he pointed his saber at Donko's chest. "Glad to give you a demonstration. Now...what was that about being outnumbered?"

Donko glared as he regarded his comrades. Those that remained- about eight -sat nursing blaster burns to arms and legs. None of them were in any hurry to get closer to the Jedi. The Weequay cursed his bad luck and threw a dirty glance to the sky. "Cowards." Dark eyes returned to Anakin. "Are you going to kill me, or allow me to go on my way?"

Anakin blew out a short breath as he pulled away and deactivated his lightsaber. "Neither. You and your accomplices will have very comfortable accommodations on the nearest Republic outpost."

Donko tried to laugh...and failed. "Prison?! On what charges?"

"Failure to honor a treaty and attempted murder of a Republic emissary," replied Anakin.

"Faugh!" Donko spat in disgust. "I knew I could not kill you. The only mistake I made was underestimating you...and your children." He shifted his gaze to the now-emerging Luke and Leia.

"We'll take that as a compliment," said Anakin with a smile. He gave a look of pride to his twins, and held out his open palm when they tried to come to him. "Just a minute. Let me get these thugs out of the way first."

It was the wrong thing to say in the presence of a live pirate. Donko growled, then noticed just where Luke and Leia were standing...and smiled. A small device was pulled out of his vest. "You are powerful, Skywalker, but even you cannot see everything."

Anakin whirled around just in time to see Donko press a small red button on what looked like a palm-sized detonation device. A low rumble like distant thunder from the top of the cliff made the Jedi gape in horror. There was a puff of smoke and dust before the rumble became a roar. A large chunk of the plateau gave way and began sliding down the cliff...headed directly for Luke and Leia.

Anakin felt his heart fall with it. "NO!" There was no time to deal with Donko now. He knew he was too far away to reach them in time, even with his Force-enhanced speed. Though both Luke and Leia were running, they would never outrun the landslide. Anakin called on the Force, willing it to form a shield around his children.

The weight of the falling rocks had to be that of a small freighter. It was twice as big as anything Anakin had ever moved and ten times as big as anything he had ever stopped mid-transit. Size matters not. Yoda's voice reverberated in his head. Nothing was impossible for the Force.

This did not make the sense of danger lessen. Anakin had a sickening feeling he might not stop them before they came down on his children's heads. "Get down!" he shouted as the rocks neared Luke and Leia. The man strained, reaching with both arms, begging for the rocks to stop in time. A brief flash of pain from one increased the sense of urgency. The landslide was only a meter above the children when it finally came to a stop in midair. Slowly he moved the pile aside until it was well away from Luke and Leia before letting go. The noise was deafening as the rocks collapsed in on themselves.

Anakin shuddered and closed his eyes. Limbs trembled both from effort and relief. He had done it...and it had taken a lot out of him. His mind and muscles begged for rest.

The cry of anguish from Luke erased such thoughts. Neither child was trying to come to him. Both lay on the ground.

They're hurt. Anakin sucked in a deep breath and set off for them at a jog. "Luke! Leia!"

Leia lay on her back, cradling her right arm as Luke hovered protectively near her. Both twins stared at their father with gaping mouths and wide eyes. Neither had seen him accomplish such feats before. "Dad...?" Luke ventured.

Anakin squeezed his son in sheer relief at finding him in one piece. "Luke, are you all right?"

Luke nodded as he pulled away. "Yeah. I'm not hurt. Leia is." The boy's voice choked as he turned to his sister.

"I know. It's all right. Leia?" Anakin turned to his daughter and immediately winced in sympathy. There was something wrong with her right arm. Gently he rolled up her sleeve. Even without the darkening bruise, the swelling, and the unnatural angle, Anakin knew it was broken. He felt as if his heart was broken with it. I didn't stop all the stones, and now my little girl is hurt. "Oh, Leia."

Leia's eyes were filled with fear as she stared at her father. "He...got away."

"What?"

"Donko. He got away."

Anakin looked over his shoulder to see that Leia was right. Donko had apparently used the distraction of the landslide to get back into his ship and take off. Now only the wounded pirates were left. A fantasy of which limbs Anakin planned to remove if he ever saw the promise-breaking coward again was brief. "Don't worry about him. Lie still," he added, hand on the girl's shoulder when she tried to sit up.

Several tears slid down Luke's face as he held Leia's free hand. He turned to his father. "You can fix her, can't you, Dad?"

The Jedi grimaced. He knew enough to set and splint broken bones. Unfortunately he wasn't so good at pain relief, and couldn't heal anything more than minor cuts and burns with the Force. Wishing in vain for a medical droid, Anakin could only shrug. "Luke, I'm not a Healer. I'm sorry. But don't worry. Leia's going to be fine. Can you run to the ship for me and bring the medic-kit?"

Luke nodded eagerly and leapt to his feet. The boy was off like a shot.

The delegation of Balmorrans, meanwhile, gathered close with worried expressions. "Shkywalker daughter ish injured?"

"Yes, she is," admitted Anakin. He frowned when his daughter tried once more to rise. "Leia, lie down."

"Mishak shorry of hurt. Mishak Fenn and Balmorra indebted to Leia." Mishak tapped his long fingers over hairless brows and bowed low.

"Why?" Leia panted. "It didn't work."

"No matter. Ish fault of coward Weequay Donko Akama. Mishak Fenn musht honor Jedi. Shall we get healer from village?"

Anakin spared them a brief smile. "Thank you, Mishak. But no. She'll be fine as soon as I can get her back to Coruscant." He turned back to his daughter with misting eyes. "Leia, your arm is broken. I have to set it before you can move."

Leia's eyes widened with fear. She shook her head. After what she had just seen her father do, the girl wasn't quite sure of him anymore. That kind of power was frightening. "The Temple...the Healers, they could do it."

Anakin's heart ached for his daughter. "No. If you move too much before it's set, you could make it worse." He smoothed her mussed hair. Hurt and confusion arose when Leia pulled away from him. He could sense his daughter's fear, but didn't understand the reason. "It'll only take a few seconds."

Leia turned to meet her father's eyes. There was nothing frightening there, only love and reassurance...and guilt. Uncertainty faded. By not trusting her father, she was hurting him. Luke could sense her pain, so the longer Leia hurt, the longer her brother would. And the longer she hesitated, the longer it would be before they could get off this planet and go home.

Leia finally nodded.

Thank the Force. Anakin took a deep breath to calm his own nerves. "All right. Just breathe." He cradled Leia's arm in his and held his free hand, palm open and down, over the breaks. Blue eyes drifted shut as he reached out to the Force. As gently as was possible, Anakin nudged the bones back into their rightful places. Two clicks informed him of his success.

Leia stiffened for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut, sucking in a sharp breath through her nose. It had hurt less to break her arm than to have it set.

Anakin wished he could cry for her. She was trying so hard not to. "I know. Hold on." He took the splint from a wobbly-lipped Luke and secured it to Leia's arm. Only then would he let her sit up and get to her feet. The smile he gave was more for her. So much for our first mission, he thought, surveying the pile of groaning ne'er-do-well's.

The treaty had not been honored. More than half of the pirates had escaped. His daughter had been injured. She and her brother barely escaped death.

While thankful beyond measure for the lives of his children and very proud of how they had behaved, Anakin still considered their first mission together a dismal failure.