In the cabin, Anakin pulled on his robe and ran a hand through his crumpled hair. Obi-Wan waited patiently by the door.
"Obi?"
The other Padawan turned to look at him, "Yes?"
"Remind me later to tell you about my latest dream."
"Did this one happen in or out of the bunk?"
"I'm serious."
"So am I. You fall out of that bunk again, we'll have to start checking you for a concussion."
Obi-Wan reached out a hand and tried to ruffle Anakin's hair. Anakin slapped his hand away.
"Let's get going all ready," said Anakin, slipping past Obi-Wan and out the door to the cargo bay.
Emalda was waiting for them, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. Anakin chose not to comment on the human-looking contacts she had adopted. The ramp had been lowered and the faint sounds of Qui-Gon and Ben's voices could be heard from outside.
"Hey, I don't suppose you had a chance to talk to my Master about self-defence?" asked Anakin, remembering their earlier conversation.
Emalda looked confused for a moment. Then her frown cleared as she realised what he was talking about.
"Ah... no, I got distracted," said Emalda. "I'll talk to him later."
"Maybe on the way to the station," said Anakin. "Obi tells me the plan is for me and him to stay behind."
"You sure you don't mind?" said Emalda. "I didn't mean to dump you two into this."
Anakin flashed her a cocky grin. He grinned even wider when she returned a small, if uncertain, smile.
"We'll have your attackers under lock and key before you return," said Anakin confidently, preening slightly. "No worries."
"The two of us will be fine," agreed Obi-Wan, in complete seriousness. "Just take care of yourself. I have a feeling it won't be an easy run."
Anakin rolled his eyes.
"I'll keep an eye out," promised Emalda seriously, giving the pair of them a mock salute.
The three of them walked down the ramp to where Qui-Gon and Ben were waiting.
Some distance away, a landspeeder hauling a trailer full of supplies was moving steadily away from the Spaceport's main building, towards the Fahren. After only ten years, the Cahhbun Spaceport was already one of the oldest buildings on the newly colonised planet. The walls were built of the same local greenstone seen elsewhere in the city, with thick layers of mortar holding it all together. It was the only four-storey building in several kilometres and rows of landing platforms projected from it like spokes on a wheel. The Fahren sat on one such raised stone platform, giving the Jedi a panoramic view of the city. Objectively, Anakin could appreciate that the view was something special. It was not, however, the soaring skyscrapers and the world unto itself that the Coruscant of Anakin's memory was.
"The view's quite impressive," said Obi-Wan.
Startled from his thoughts, Anakin looked to the other Padawan in surprise. Qui-Gon and Emalda were both stood rigidly with their arms folded, pointedly not looking at each other. Ben was tugging at his beard thoughtfully, lost in thought. Obi-Wan glanced at the awkward group and then back to Anakin.
"Oh...," said Anakin, trying to think of a way to break the silence. "I was thinking how low everything here is."
He could see that wasn't the answer Obi-Wan was expecting and he frowned in confusion.
"I mean, no skyscrapers," clarified Anakin.
Obi-Wan made an 'oh' of understanding and stroked his chin thoughtfully. Anakin heroically resisted the urge to point out that he and Ben held identical postures.
"Simplicity can have its own beauty," said Obi-Wan at last.
"In the eye of the beholder," agreed Anakin.
"Well, here comes more trouble than we were expecting," said Ben, stepping forward to get a clearer view of the approaching landspeeder.
"Is that... Investigator Tylip?" asked Obi-Wan.
Anakin squinted at the approaching craft. The blue uniforms of the Spaceport delivery men were clearly visible huddled on the back of the craft. At the front, were a handful of red uniforms unmistakable as those of the Investigative Service. The rotund Kuhd in the front was indeed Investigator Tylip himself.
"Doesn't he need to slow down?" asked Emalda, stepping up beside Anakin.
"I'm sure he's about to...," began Anakin.
Anakin broke off, dragging Emalda with him, and darted out of the way.
Tylip parked the landspeeder neatly within a foot of Qui-Gon's knees. Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes but still gave Tylip a nod of greeting. Anakin was furious, and his hand was halfway to his lightsaber before he relaxed. He began to doubt the wisdom of remaining on the same planet as Tylip. Ben would be disappointed if he returned to find Anakin under arrest for a homicide.
"Nice little welcoming committee," observed Tylip.
"We could see our supplies coming," said Ben. "We weren't expecting you to be accompanying them."
Tylip's thin lips twisted into an unpleasant smile as he assessed the Jedi Knight.
The two Spaceport delivery men hopped down from the trailer, and started carting the supplies up the ramp into the Fahren's hold. Obi-Wan took a step towards them to help and Tylip abruptly blocked his way. Tylip waved a hand and his junior investigators hurried to help out the delivery men. The investigator with spiky hair brushed resolutely past Obi-Wan to reach the trailer. Obi-Wan ignored him and returned his attention to Tylip.
"Leaving so soon?" asked Tylip. "I'm surprised you don't want to talk to me. I heard you talk to Spaceport Security."
"We are in their Spaceport," pointed out Obi-Wan.
"And allegedly working for the New Republic."
"We're searching for my mother," said Emalda, stepping forward with brittle courage. "The New Republic wants her because she's a weapon scientist. If they're prepared to pay for it, I can't complain."
Tylip regarded her with a raised eyebrow. Emalda folded her arms awkwardly but held her ground.
Anakin made to move forward but Qui-Gon waved him back. When he looked around, he saw that Qui-Gon also had a hand hooked into Ben's belt. Tylip's attention was focused on Emalda and Qui-Gon looked in no hurry to change that.
"In fact," said Emalda, taking advantage of Tylip's expectant silence. "Spaceport Security reported they might have a lead on my mother."
"Really?" asked Tylip. "Spaceport Security?"
"Yes, they said she may have gone to Canemone Orbital Station; and I would like to go and look there."
"Oh, I see," said Tylip, folding his arms and circling Emalda thoughtfully. "So, you'd like to leave then?"
"I promise to return," said Emalda earnestly. "I'm not even sure how I can help your investigation anyway."
It seemed like Tylip's facial muscles couldn't decide which expression they wanted to assume first; smug, condescending, or triumphant. He looked towards Qui-Gon and Ben, as if waiting gleefully for them to press their case. Ben's expression was stony but he remained silent.
"We've volunteered to stay behind," said Anakin. "In case you don't consider our word sufficient."
Tylip paused, "We?"
Obi-Wan stepped forward.
"Anakin and myself," explained Obi-Wan.
Tylip looked around at the three of them; Emalda hopeful, Obi-Wan steady, and Anakin doing his best to project trustworthy. Anakin could see the denial forming behind Tylip's eyes.
"Very well," said Tylip.
Emalda blinked and exchanged a puzzled look with Obi-Wan and Anakin. Anakin was sure he must have misheard.
"Sorry?" he asked cautiously.
"I accept your offer," said Tylip, nodding as the last of the supplies were loaded onto the Fahren. "The rest of you can leave but these two will spend the duration of their stay in the company of my officers."
"Okay," said Emalda, giving Tylip a tentative smile.
Tylip didn't return it. The delivery men climbed onto the trailer and Tylip's men joined him. Anakin watched Tylip warily.
"When are you planning to depart?" asked Tylip.
"As soon as we have clearance?" suggested Emalda.
"I'll see to it," said Tylip. "The two staying may accompany me back to Spaceport Administration."
Tylip waved his officers onto the landspeeder and looked expectantly at Anakin and Obi-Wan. Anakin exchanged a look with Obi-Wan, and then looked to Qui-Gon and Ben. Both were frowning and even Emalda looked unsettled.
"Obi-Wan," said Qui-Gon. "We won't be long."
"Yes, Master," responded Obi-Wan automatically.
Tylip's tongue flickered at the exchange and Anakin wondered whether Obi-Wan's use of the word 'master' had been a wise one. Ben seemed to have a similar thought.
"Anakin," said Ben. "May... good fortune... be with you."
"And also with you," said Anakin.
Anakin and Obi-Wan climbed onto the back of the now-empty trailer to sit cross-legged. Tylip pointedly ignored them but they received stern looks from the junior investigators. Spaceport Security gave them bored looks. Anakin gave an encouraging nod to Emalda before he climbed onto the trailer. The landspeeder started, and Anakin and Obi-Wan watched Emalda waving goodbye as the Fahren grew more and more distant.