Shattered Mission, Chapter 4
"Master, why did you tell them who we are?" Oren asked, after he moved their cruiser to the hangar space they had been assigned by the spaceport's tower controllers. As they entered orbit around Muunilinst, his master had openly announced that two Jedi Knights were on the ship, even going so far as to give their names. Oren had been too busy with the landing sequence to ask his question earlier. "Shouldn't we be keeping a low profile here?"
Smiling at his apprentice, Obi-Wan replied, "Those who set this trap for us already know we are coming, Padawan. We might as well show them we are here. How else are we going to spring their trap? It could take them weeks to find us, otherwise." Seeing Oren's knitted brow, Obi-Wan explained, "Since we already know there is a trap, we are prepared for it both mentally and physically. We have a much better chance of surviving this way. Even if we are captured, we will escape." Exiting the cockpit, he said, "Anakin and I did this all the time. Er, Master Skywalker, that is." Oren shook his head resignedly, following his master out of the ship. "But I'm not Master Skywalker," he muttered.
"Tsk, tsk, Oren. Don't worry so much. You're as bad as I was, at your age," Obi-Wan chuckled as his apprentice caught up to him. Placing his hand on the young man's shoulder, he said, "And, no, you're not Anakin Skywalker, thank the Force for that. I think the Order can stand only one like him, every thousand years or so." He was glad to see Oren smile. They walked out of the spaceport terminal into a cool, but sunny day.
The spaceport was on the outskirts of the city's metropolitan area, so they looked for and found a vehicle rental facility. A female Twi'Lek seated behind a desk watched them come through the entrance. "Well, two Jedi Knights," she said, rising from her chair. "I don't see many of you here. Looking to rent a speeder, or perhaps a pair of swoop bikes?" As they reached the desk and lowered their hoods, Obi-Wan responded, "One speeder, please, madam. Your daily rate?" Ignoring him, she moved around the desk toward the younger of the pair. "Mmmmmm, this looks delicious," she cooed, her blue color deepening. Running her palm down Oren's cheek and cradling his chin with her fingers, she asked, "Will you be in town long, youngling? I know some nice dark, quiet places we could visit later." The teen's eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open.
"Oh, not again," Obi-Wan sighed. Moving between his padawan and the female, he said, "Madam, your daily rate, please?" Clearly disappointed, but not surprised, she returned to her side of the desk and replied, "Oh, all right. Sixteen credits a day, with a forty credit deposit." Smiling sweetly at the Jedi Master, she said, "You'll get that back when you return the vehicle." After the credits exchanged hands, she gazed at Oren and sighed, "Too bad, youngling. We would have enjoyed each other immensely. You might even have learned a thing or two." Obi-Wan grabbed the arm of his blushing apprentice and pulled him toward the exit.
"Master," Oren protested, "I didn't—"
"I know. Anakin never did, either. I mean, Master Sky...oh, nevermind." They found the speeder in the back lot and aimed it toward the city. They rode in silence for awhile, Obi-Wan driving. Eventually, Oren inquired, "Master, are you angry with me?"
"What?" Obi-Wan was startled. "Angry? No, of course not, Padawan. I've forgotten all about it. You did nothing wrong. I was just thinking about our next steps." He glanced to the side and saw a confused apprentice staring through the windshield. "What is it now?"
"Well, I guess I don't understand why she did that. Doesn't she know... doesn't everyone know that we are dedicated to the Order, to preserving peace in the Republic? That we don't have physical relations or attachments?"
Obi-Wan sighed. So young, so innocent. "Yes, she knows, Oren, as do the most of the rest of the citizens of the Republic. It's just that, with some females, it's the idea of... tasting forbidden fruit, I suppose." He paused and looked at his apprentice. "That would be you, Oren."
"Me?" He shook his head. "I guess I just don't understand females, Master."
Obi-Wan laughed and said, "You are not alone in the universe, Padawan." Oren joined in the mirth, happy to share the moment with his master.
As the landspeeder zipped along the route from the spaceport to the capital city, Oren noted how the towns and settlements along the way became less and less rural. "You know, Master, I didn't expect to see farms on this planet, before I studied about it on the way here. I thought Muunilinst was a city planet, like Coruscant. There were lots of farms back there, and now we're passing villages and small towns... If we weren't on a mission, it would be nice to see more of the planet."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed, "it would be nice indeed, Padawan. Perhaps, when we have accomplished our mission, we can do that. Tell me, what else have you learned about this place?"
"Okay, if I remember, we're in the southern hemisphere of the planet on the largest continent, called Niandruun. Most of the inhabitants live in Niandruun, and the best farmland is here, as well. Hmmmm... The capital city is called Harnaidan and that's where most of the world's commerce is. There are some local markets around the continent, where farmers bring animals and produce to sell to distributors, who ship it to commerce centers in Harnaidan. Very little of this world's goods goes to other worlds, except for some exotic animals."
"And the rest of the planet?"
Oren thought for a moment. He hadn't read much in the datapad's file of the world beyond Niandruun, but he had scanned through it. "Let's see. There are some isolated settlements and farms in the northern hemisphere on the smaller landmasses, but no natives live there; they all left centuries ago for Niandruun. I think some humans have settled up there, but it's high desert and not very good land for growing things."
"Excellent, Padawan. You remembered all of that from what you read today?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, Master," Oren replied. "I've always been good at that sort of thing. My old Master called it an 'eidetic memory'."
Obi-Wan nodded, and observed, "Well, we're getting close to Harnaidan. I think we should stop and look for someplace to eat before we do anything else." He guided the speeder over to what appeared to be a small eating establishment. Holding his apprentice in the vehicle by the arm, he said, "Now, Oren. We must keep our wits about us the entire time we are on this world. Be aware of what is going on around you, listen to your feelings."
"Yes, Master," Oren replied.
They chatted amiably while in the restaurant, requesting of the proprietor a recommendation for a place to sleep, and eating the plain but filling local fare.
"Master? I wonder if I might write a letter to a friend?" Sikka was hoping to get off another missive to her best friend, Oren Kendrel, while there was still enough light to see. There were already too many shadows cast by the trees between their camp and the gas giant around which this forest moon orbited. Master Skywalker opened his eyes and turned his head in her direction. "Have you finished your meditation already?" her master asked, one eyebrow raised.
She dropped her gaze and replied, softly, "No, Master. I..." Raising her eyes to him, she said, "I wanted to get this letter done before it is too dark. I can continue my meditation as soon as I am finished."
"First things first, Padawan," he admonished her. "It is important for you to complete one task before starting another." How many times had his own master told him the same thing? He swallowed a smile. "Finish your meditation." Returning to his own meditation, he said, "You may write your letter another time."
"Yes, Master," she replied, putting down her datapad and folding her hands in front of her. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and tried to bring her mind back into focus. It was difficult; her thoughts kept wandering to things she wanted to tell her friend. Frustrated, she resettled herself and began a breathing exercise to help clear her mind.
Several feet away, Anakin turned his head slightly away from her, and stifled a chuckle that threatened to undermine the importance of his instruction to her. Was I that distracted? What a stupid question! I was even worse! I hated meditating when I was her age. I thought it was a complete waste of time. Poor Obi-Wan, to have me as his first apprentice. I must have driven him to distraction. He glanced over at Sikka; her eyes were closed and she appeared to be meditating. He watched her for a bit, thinking how young she seemed; she was but half his age, and determined to do whatever he asked of her. He believed she would be a good Jedi, full of compassion and caring.
Watching her, he was reminded of his children and realized how much he missed them. And Padme... he missed her, too, more than he had imagined. They had been apart for only seven days, but it seemed so long to him. At night, as he lay on his sleeping mat, his body ached to hold her. They had gotten into the habit of nesting together, like spoons in a drawer, as they slept. And that was after they had snuggled close, chatting and touching, holding each other. Well, they would be home in just two days.
Sighing deeply, he reached out and drew the Force into himself as only he could feel it, and brought his home close to him. He could see Padme and the twins in the family room. Padme spoke to someone out of his vision; it was probably her mother or sister, or perhaps she had asked Dorme to visit. Luke and Leia were lying on a blanket on the floor, watching and batting at brightly colored toys their mother dangled over them. They could catch some of the toys, but hadn't quite gotten to where they would let go of them.
Smiling inwardly, Anakin touched them with his love and warmed to their response in kind. Every day he spent time with them, needing that connection with his family, and he believed the twins needed it, as well. They would know their father was always with them, even when he was not physically there. He turned his awareness to Padme and watched her as she played with their children. Wistfully, he breathed her name within the Force.
"Anakin?" He had not touched her, yet she called his name. Did she hear him? Padme? She touched her hand to her temple. Padme? Can you ... hear me? She looked around the room. "Yes, Anakin. I can... hear you in my mind. Where are you?" We're still on Endor... I don't understand. I can communicate only with Force-sensitives. Obi-Wan, Master Yoda... "I don't know, Anakin. What does it mean?" she asked, a look of pleasure on her face. Something has happened...something... I don't know... I will speak to Master Yoda; maybe he can tell us what it is. He embraced her through the Force. I miss you, my love. Every night, my bed is so empty without you. "I know, darling. I feel the same," she whispered, her eyes on their children. "When are you coming home?" We are leaving Endor tomorrow. We'll be home early the next day. He sensed that Sikka was emerging from her meditation. I must go now. I love you, Padme.
Opening his eyes, he watched the young girl breathe deeply and smile. She always smiled when she came out of meditation. He stood, stretched and asked, "Well, Sikka, how do you feel now that you've meditated a full session?" She grinned and replied, "Wonderful, Master. I always feel so good afterwards. There's still a little light, so I would like to finish my letter, if that is all right." "Of course. I expect you have lots to tell your friend. By the way, we have one more exercise tomorrow morning and then we'll be going home, to Naboo." "I'll bet you're excited about seeing your babies and Miss Padme," she said, picking up her datapad. He smiled down at her and replied, "You win your bet, Padawan. I'm very happy to be returning home tomorrow."
As Sikka bent to her letter, Anakin started a warming fire to help take the chill off of the cold nights on the moon. As he worked, he could hear her talking to herself and giggling now and then. She was such a happy child, seemingly content most of the time. At peace within herself, that's what Obi-Wan would say. Not like me. I was always in a hurry, he thought, remembering the times Obi-Wan tried to slow him down, to calm him down. It was hard work for his master, and then they both would end up frustrated. He shook his head. Poor Obi-Wan. I hope Oren is more patient that I was. He went to his sleeping mat and sat down, reaching out into the Force and briefly touching his teacher, just to reassure himself. He could always feel the faintest undercurrent of his brother's presence in the Force, like a low, white noise that was always there for him.
"Goodnight, Master," Sikka said as she replaced her datapad in her pack and lay down on her mat. "Goodnight, Padawan," Anakin replied, closing his eyes, at peace within himself.
A sensation of falling... grey sky above... plant roots like bent fingers clawing their way out of a ragged cliff face flashing past... sharp pain... falling... silence... falling...
Desperately for oxygen, Anakin gulped the air of the moon Endor and his eyes opened wide. For a moment he was confused; he was looking up at a star-filled night sky, not a grey one. He sensed movement to his left; his padawan. "Master? Master Skywalker? Are you all right?" A worried look on her face, she had stepped back when he had awakened so suddenly. "Sikka," he observed, blinking, his breathing slowing a little. "You seemed in distress. You were dreaming, I think, Master."
He sat up with a hand to his forehead. "Yes, I was." He squinted, trying to remember. "I was falling... off a cliff, I think. But, it wasn't me; at least, I don't think it was. It doesn't feel right somehow." He got to his knees, preparing to stand, when he realized he felt... nothing. There was nothing, no white noise. He reached out. Obi-Wan? "Obi-Wan!"