Obi-Wan's POV
How much did I put in last time? No matter. I pour the remaining crystals of formula into the glass bottle without hesitation. Besides, it isn't like Shmi would turn down a warm bottle of milk. The pearly rocks remind me of the cascading snowflakes that were flowing just steps outside. I screw on the rubber nipple and stride over to the bassinet. Shmi's little palms outstretch to the bottle, before she practically pulls it from my grip with amazing strength for a child.
She gulps down the milk greedily, biting on the pap of the nearly empty bottle furiously. I was happy she enjoyed the bottle. I guess my measurements of formula and milk was more accurate than I had believed. Ahsoka knew the exact amounts, but I had never thought to ask her until now. The downside of waiting to give Shmi her bottle was that she had to be burped.
After she gasps at the completion of her drink, Shmi gapes open her mouth, almost waiting for the gas to exit her full stomach.
I lift Shmi for her crib, cradle her over my shoulder, and gently pat her lower back in time, slowly moving my way up her tiny body. Her lekku bounce as I pat quicker, until the bubble of gas bursts from her mouth. She giggles at the odd sound as I lower her into the white bassinet. I sigh, hardly believing that others do this every day across the galaxy. Ahsoka must really have her work cut out for her.
Where was Ahsoka anyways? Shmi had been left in my care as she had a meeting to attend with Master Yoda about two hours ago. I hope everything has been running smoothly. Then again, sessions with Master Yoda are not the simplest to attend. I remember the past sessions I have had, where I had walked into a room equipped with a mine, and had to destroy it before it exploded. Fortunately, Master Yoda explained that this was all a test, to engage common sense and strategy. I had been pretty annoyed with the session, but understood its importance.
I slump back into a large leather chair, just as Ahsoka creeps into the nursery: she must think Shmi is asleep. However, Shmi is doing quite the opposite. She bangs on the railing of the crib, babbling in her own language.
Ahsoka lifts Shmi into her arms, taking a seat just across from me on the bench. Shmi continues to speak to her mother, telling her about her day no doubt. Ahsoka nods jokingly, and I can't help but laugh a little as well.
"Thank you, Master for watching Shmi. Out of her guardians, you certainly make her happy." Ahsoka greets me. Guardians are jedi who watch over others for safety reasons when other guidance was not available. Master Qui- Gon was a watcher over Anakin and Anakin over Padme during the assassination attempts. Though, when Shmi was born, the council assigned Anakin and I to be guardians over her. We have the authority to watch Shmi without alerting the council beforehand.
"No problem at all, Ahsoka. How did your meeting go with Master Yoda?" I ask as Ahsoka sets a drowsy Shmi down into the crib once more.
She quickly takes a look outside before answering, "Um, it was good. We just spoke about Shmi's future again. Nothing big." Ahsoka keeps glaring at the blizzard outside, almost unsure at her next move.
I bite my lip in confusion, "Something is troubling you, young one."
She sits back down on the wooden bench and sighs an ever too familiar breath, "Master Yoda wants to speed up Shmi's jedi training, and start it soon. He wants her to observe an initiate meditation ritual, which is supposed to strengthen one's connection with the force."
"Well, how soon?" I ask. Ahsoka fiddles with her fingers and doesn't speak. Only soft snores from the crib can be heard over the silence.
"Um," She starts, "tonight."
I nearly fall off my chair. Tonight? Would he not have wanted to wait until another date, when Shmi was a little older? I guess he knows what is best for Shmi, probably having to make hard decisions like this before. Then again, not for a jedi born baby.
"And where does he want this ritual to take place? Here in the temple?" I myself have never attended an initiate ritual, but have heard nothing but good things from others who have been present.
"No, there is one starting on Kamur in a couple of hours. He wants to go to that one." She explains more clearly. Kamur? The planet is all too familiar, and is infamous for its active lava geysers and volcanic regions. It probably isn't the most hospitable place to send a group of jedi children.
"It probably isn't the safest to just fly to Kamur with just the two of you, the Thanu race there aren't very friendly. They'll murder any stray visitors." I suggest to Ahsoka, even though I know she could handle the species without complication.
"I'm sure they aren't that bad, Master," Ahsoka says, with a wide smile, "but you can come with if you'd like."
"I just might take you upon your offer, Ahsoka." I bundle up my brown cloak, help Ahsoka wake Shmi, and head down to the hangar.
The cruiser shoots through hyperspace like a knife through butter. I nearly get thrown back as we exit the stream of space. Ahsoka remains still and steady, with Shmi cradled in her arms. We had switched our cold winter gear for less thick robes, as Kamur is still in its spring season.
We approach the coal grey coloured planet, which seems to be bursting at its seams with flowing lava visible from space.
We land on the planet unevenly, as one of the landing gear stomped on a mound of ash. I help Ahsoka off the ship, before following the clone accompaniment to the desolate temple just across the terrain. Other jedi follow behind us: studious Aayla Secura accompanies a Rodian jedi child, the rebellious jedi master Quinlan Vos brings a tiny human initiate and aging Tera Sinube waddles with his cane in one hand, a giggling Quarren infant in his other. Quite a sight to see a Quarren jedi, very rare they are to be strong in the force.
We slowly follow the escort to the entrance to the remote temple, until he states that no non-force users are allowed beyond the entrance. The eleven of us proceed into the dim lit halls of the temple, each torch supported around a grey statue of fallen jedi. I could have sworn I heard the human child start to cry as the light darkens to shadows, but then again, I cannot be sure.
"Are you sure where we are going, Master?" Ahsoka whispers into my ear from within the darkness. I am about to shrug when I realize she is unable to see me.
I clear my throat so I can speak quietly. "Not entirely," I glare at the glowing torches, which begin to change colour from red to blue, then back to orange. "I myself have not been here before."
We continue until down the narrow corridors before the lighting changes dramatically. The flames flare and the room returns to a brilliant white shade. The circular room just in front of us peels open its door like an exotic fruit, before we are permitted to enter.
"Take a seat anywhere, fellow jedi."
I am startled as a jedi professor pats me on the back as she passes. At least, I think it's a jedi: The woman is definetly part cyborg. Her left shoulder is replaced with a chrome patch and her lower chin has scratches of silver visible from under the skin. Though, the rest of her face is perfectly untouched, and her auburn hair falls to her shoulders in thick curls.
Ahsoka pulls on my robe to sit down, pulling me back into reality. I must have been staring.
The woman, pulling her hair back into a braid, pricks each of the children's fingers before the session begins. None of the children, not even the human, start to tear up: they all take the needle confidently. In fact, Shmi bounces happily on Ahsoka's lap as her finger gets pricked. I can't help than giggle as she cheers with her hands flailing in the air.
The woman scrapes the blood onto plastic chips and scans them under a screen, the only electronic object in the room. Besides velvet red curtains similar to the ones in the temple, and sitting cushions, the room is practically empty. I assume she is testing to see if the children are who they say they are. After four simultaneous beeps, the session begins.
"Okay children, fellow jedi knights, I am Master Jula Hun-Ri, trainer of jedi initiates here on Kamur," She begins. I can understand the children cannot comprehend exactly why they are here, but I suppose it is formal for her to address the initiates as well. "Simple enough, chaperones, I will assist the younglings with creating a force aura first then move on to simple force techniques."
The five of us nod and squat the children on the floor in front of us. First, the Human jedi, lifts his arms, twirls them like a propeller, and levitates himself up into mid-air. Not entirely impressive, considering he is the eldest here.
Next the Rodian child is asked to try. Aayla confidently nudges him forward to the middle of the carpet. She mimics Jula's exact movements, before she herself floats inches off the ground. She seems to have the upper hand on the Human, until she slumps onto the ground. She seems to tear up before nestling into Aayla's lap.
The Quarren baby starts to twirl in mid-air as soon as he lifts upwards. Extremely impressive. I can tell Ahsoka is getting a tiny bit jealous; her face flushes with colour as she witnesses the child's performance. When Shmi is asked to step forward, Ahsoka smiles with excitement as Shmi confidently sits up.
She closes her eyes and slowly rises off the ground, hovering strong in the silent room. Just as she starts to lean forward, I believe the worst. She's going to fall! I stride forward until I realize what is happening instead: She tumbles around in mid-air, laughing and giggling like always. To top it all off, Ahsoka beams wider than ever as she sees Master Jula clap at the performance.
"Well done, little one. You will make the order proud!"
The other escorts clap as I rest my hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. She glares back gingerly, beaming even wider. I step to get the hovering Shmi, who still claps and giggles in circles.
All of a sudden, I feel the gravity shift from underneath me. I clasp at the air in front of me as I sift into the air like hot steam. My legs wrap around above me before I float completely upside down. What is going on?
I almost reach for my lightsaber, startled and confused. Until I see Shmi still hovering and holding out her tiny palm towards me. She levitates me with complete ease. The rest of the room gapes in awe at the sight. Even Ahsoka tries to get Shmi to stop. But I don't mind really. However, I suppose Master Jula is right:
Shmi will make the order proud, one day of course.