Chapter 34 - The Master is Bored
After the demise of Jabba the Hutt, his slaves became free men and women. An interesting coincidence, but without the Hutt overlord, the economy of slave trade quickly disassembled as well. Maybe it was the newly freed slaves who boycotted businesses that used slave labor. Maybe it was the few slaves that went to the extreme to threaten violence against the institutions that once sold them. Maybe it was the lack of funds from the Hutts for hiring extra manpower to keep such businesses afloat. Anyway, soon after Jabba's death, a wave of manumission began across Tatooine. Most of the former slave owners fell under a wave of peer pressure and freed their slaves. The stubborn few who held out the longest were not able to afford to for very long. Anakin really did free all the slaves of Tatooine.
This wasn't the only good news. The rebellion was growing in strength under the wise leadership of Bail Organa. Though it wasn't all good news. The Empire was no longer taking the Rebellion lightly, and there had been several close calls recently, and a few disastrous missions. Ahsoka had been asking the Jedi to come out and join the rebellion. Begging actually. Master Yoda was against it, and regrettably the rest of the council agreed with him. It was too risky for them to leave their younglings unguarded, and go across the universe to fight the Sith who would no doubt have his spies try to follow them home.
Obi-Wan felt conflicted when the council voted to stay out of the war. For one, he felt relief. When he became Anakin's Master, Obi-Wan was surprised at how responsibility over a youngling changed the way he viewed things. When he became a father, it changed so much more. Of course he knew Satine wouldn't object to their ruling to stay out of war. It also reminded him of their experiences in the Clone Wars. True the fighting would be all too familiar to them all. Some of their Padawans had enough experience in warfare they probably surpassed the rebellion command. But Sidious turned that all against them in the end. Were the Jedi to risk it all again to become generals in another war? They were finally at peace, and a part of Obi-Wan wanted to embrace it. But a part of him knew, that peace was only a lie. The universe was still under a Sith Emperor's rule, and so many people out in the galaxy were suffering. What right did they have to stay out of it? This is why even though Obi-Wan felt relieved that the Jedi weren't joining the rebellion, he also felt guilty for doing so.
"Obi, Obi." Satine called out. "Obi, You were staring off again."
"Oh was I?" Obi-Wan answered. "Too many thoughts, I guess."
"Well, I need your help with this." Satine handed him a tablecloth. Padme, Anakin, and the kids are coming by for dinner tonight."
Obi-Wan smiled. He enjoyed his time with the Skywalker family. The twins were eleven. Leia was bright and intelligent like her mother, though he suspected she had more of her father's stubborn side. Luke was growing to look more and more like Anakin every day, though his personality took more after his mother. Young Leo, at eight and a half looked an equal bit of both of his parents, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was a smart child who was going to inherit Anakin's knack for troublemaking, Obi-Wan was sure of it.
Obi-Wan set the table quickly, then went to check on his children.
"Beep Beep!" Eli-Jinn said loudly.
"Oh will you be quiet!" Ella-Reese shouted even louder at her five year old brother.
"Be nice, Ella." Obi-Wan stepped in to referee.
"Reese," the eight year old girl corrected. "He started it. I have homework to do. I can't do it with him making so much noise."
"Come on Eli. We'll play outside for a bit." Eli-Jinn put down his toy speeder and got up to join Obi-Wan. "Ella-Reese, do you need any help?"
"No, just some reading I've got to do." said Ella-Reese.
"Alright, the Skywalkers are coming over for dinner tonight, so when you're finished, come downstairs." Obi-Wan instructed.
"Yes, Daddy." the little girl replied.
"Ella, do you like your new science class?" Padme Asked over dinner.
"Reese," the girl stubbornly corrected.
"Don't be rude," Obi-Wan scolded.
"Ella-Reese, pardon. Do you like learning with Mrs. Beechy?" Padme rephrased.
"Yes," the little girl responded without feeling.
Satine gave the girl a look. Ella-Reese shrugged and shook her head back at her mother.
Padme looked back and eyed them both, not understanding what was being communicated.
"She assigns a ridiculous amount of reading, though," Leo added.
"I know, right!" Ella-Reese said with pointed enthusiasm.
"Well, you can learn a lot through reading. Your father used to get a reading assignment whenever I had to go away from the temple on a mission, and he learned a lot that way," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin rolled his eyes, which made all of the children laugh. Padme scolded him with her eyes.
"I spoke with Master Yoda today. He said they were going to set up an apprentice tournament next week. Are you two planning to compete?" Satine changed the subject, directing her question at both Luke and Leia.
The twins both beamed and squealed in excitement. Meanwhile Anakin groaned.
"What's wrong? You knew this was coming up." Obi-Wan asked.
"I did, but next week. That's way too soon. I still don't understand why I can't just do their training. I am their father after all."
Obi-Wan sighed. "That is exactly why they need another Master. We discussed this Anakin. You learned a lot from me, right."
"Yes," Anakin said begrudgingly.
"It tested you, more than it ever would've if you'd trained with your mother." Anakin raised his hand to protest, but Obi-Wan continued, "Even if she was the best Jedi in existence, stepping outside of the family or the creche, learning from a new Jedi Knight or Master, will benefit them greatly."
"I know, I'm just in protective Dad mode, I guess," Anakin said. Luke and Leia groaned and rolled their eyes.
"Yes, I will likely feel the same in a couple years, but this isn't the Clone Wars anymore. They will not be going off to any battles on faraway moons, just peacekeeping here on Tatooine."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Anakin sighed.
After dinner the younglings were all tasked with various chores cleaning up. Meanwhile Anakin and the other adults busied themselves with supervising the younglings. It was a lot busier job than he ever thought when he was younger.
"NO! Eli-Jinn, put that down!" Obi-Wan ran into the kitchen to where the five year old had taken the sprayer to the sink and turned it on a giggling Luke and Leia, who were both joyfully dodging the spray.
Anakin checked to make sure Luke and Leia were both still behaving themselves. Then he turned back to the conversation Padme was having with Satine, though he really wasn't too invested in it. Satine had gotten involved in running the center with Padme and Beru even before she moved to Tatooine permanently. Now that the Hutts were no longer in play, they were debating adding an extension onto the building.
Ella-Reese was pulling the tablecloth off to fold it, when Leo walked up to her. "Reese, here. Let me help."
Anakin expected the girl to correct him again at the full use of her name, but the correction didn't come. The girl looked speechless, as Leo picked up the opposite corners of the cloth and folded it. The next moment she shook her head and folded her side to match his, then they brought their ends together, and set the folded cloth on the table.
"Reese, we're going outside to play. You wanna come?" Leo invited. Again the girl didn't correct him. She blushed slightly, then nodded in affirmation before running off to play.
Anakin meanwhile turned to eye Satine and Padme, who were both silently watching the younglings too. They looked at each other knowingly.
"No one tells Obi about this," Satine whispered. Anakin and Padme agreed vehemently.
Later that night, Obi-Wan was helping Satine finish the clean up, when he got wrapped up in thoughts again about the path of the Jedi.
His Wife threw a dishcloth at him. "Obi, Tatooine to Obi." She sighed, then raised her eyebrows at him.
"I'm sorry. My mind wandered," Obi-Wan apologized.
"I think you should attend that apprentice tournament too," Satine suggested.
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "A Padawan!"
"You're bored! Obi-Wan," Satine proclaimed.
"B-but no, I don't need another padawan. Young Anakin was enough trouble for my whole life. I have enough gray hairs," Obi-Wan defended.
"You need something to do that makes you feel useful again. It beats joining the rebellion." Satine had a hand on her hip.
"I…" Obi-Wan stammered
"Don't pretend you haven't thought of it. I know you Obi." Satine said harshly. "At least give it a thought," she finished more gently.
"Alright," Obi-Wan sighed. Satine smiled and kissed his cheek.
A couple days later, Obi-Wan was working in the Center when a frazzled looking Knight walked into his office. "Trent, you took your class out for a field trip today didn't you? How did it go?"
"Master, I need to comm the Skywalkers," Trent gave him a guilty look.
"What happened?" Obi-Wan stood up, becoming alarmed when he remembered young Luke was in Trent's class.
"We were at the Darklighter's, and Huff was giving us all the grand tour. Biggs, Luke, and a few of the other younglings snuck off. Biggs took his dad's Skyhopper and the kids went for a run in Jawa Heights, shooting Womp Rats."
"Was anyone hurt?" Obi-Wan asked urgently.
"No, and I already talked to Mr. Darklighter, and I commed the other parents on my way here. It just leaves the Skywalkers, and I don't have their number. Padme isn't working today."
"Okay," Obi-Wan pulled a sheet of flimsy and wrote the number from memory. While Trent was on the comm, Obi-Wan stepped around him and peered out of the small office. Sitting on a bench in the waiting area was Luke. He had a pout on his face and he kicked his feet from boredom, but he looked unharmed. Obi-Wan turned back to the office.
"Yes, I understand. I am deeply sorry about this sir," Trent said over the comm. "Thank you, sir." Trent closed the comm and took a deep breath. "Anakin is on his way. Look, I've got a class I've got to get back to. Do you mind looking after Luke till his father gets here?"
"Not at all," Obi-Wan replied.
"Oh good." Trent ran out and Luke looked up at him nervously. "Luke, your dad's coming to get you. You're gonna stay here with Master Obi-Wan until then. Alright?" Trent didn't stay for an answer. He quickly skidded down the hall to his classroom.
Obi-Wan stood behind where Trent was.
"Uncle Ben-" Luke greeted.
Obi-Wan gave the boy a firm look. It cut off his exclamation in his mouth. Luke gave him a guilty look with doe eyes and a pout that would melt even a Sith. That would be Obi-Wan's defense if he needed it. He's gonna get in trouble when Anakin gets here. I am his Uncle, after all. It's not my job to discipline him.
"Did you blast any womp rats?" Obi-Wan's lips went up in a small smirk.
"No," Luke breathed out. "I almost did, but they're only two meters, and if we flew even lower, they'd run off. Hitting a moving target that small is even harder, it turns out."
Obi-Wan laughed. "Come into the office with me." Obi-Wan stopped behind the main desk and pulled out a stack of flimsy cups. Then he followed Luke into the office.
"Do you want to play a game?" Obi-Wan asked once they were inside.
"Yes Unc-, Master," Luke corrected himself.
Obi-Wan cleared space on his desk, and placed a flimsy cup in the center. He reached into the drawer and pulled out a small ball. "Now, when I give you the ball, you're going to stand there, and throw it into the cup."
Luke made the toss easily, and smiled as Obi-Wan cheered him. "Okay, now lets try it from back here. I know this is harder, but if you do it, I'll give you a star-cola."
Luke smiled excitedly. Obi-Wan knew Luke's parents didn't let him have the fizzy drink often. It would make an enticing reward. Obi-Wan stepped behind the boy as he lined up for his shot. Just before Luke made his throw, Obi-Wan turned the lights off.
"Hey, What did you do that for?" Luke complained.
"You don't need the lights, do you?" Obi-Wan asked innocently.
"Of course I need light. How else am I to see the cup?" Luke whined.
"Use the force, Luke. Let the force be your eyes," Obi-Wan answered.
Luke took a deep breath. Then he threw the ball. Obi-Wan turned the lights back on, and they both ran to confirm what he knew had happened. The ball was in the cup! Obi-Wan high-fived Luke and pulled the soda's from the small cooler in his office. As he sat down with Luke to enjoy the star-cola, he knew he was going to have a difficult discussion with Anakin when he got there.
Anakin stomped into the waiting room. He remembered to put a hard edge on his face just in time, as he scanned the room. In the far corner sat his son with his former master. They were having a lively chat about something, and holding mostly finished sodas in their hands. Anakin was tempted to let them finish their chat, or to tip-toe up to hear what they were saying, but this wasn't any call that brought him here. No, Luke broke the rules, and there had to be consequences.
"Lucas George Skywalker." The boy stopped short when he heard his full name.
Luke looked up at his father with big eyes that pled innocence. Obi-Wan's hand came behind the youngling's shoulder and urged him to get up and walk towards his father.
"What is this I hear about a stolen skyhopper?" Anakin confronted his son, pulling himself together despite the eyes. 'Oh, the eyes!'
"We didn't steal the T-16. We borrowed it,' Luke pleaded innocence. His eyes almost made Anakin gulp.
"Borrowed without permission, young man. That is stealing," Anakin scolded.
Luke gasped and turned his head to hide in Obi-Wan's robe. His hand came down on the boy's other shoulder. "Now, we know you are not a bad boy. But there will have to be consequences for your behavior," said Obi-Wan in a gentle yet firm tone. "Anakin, I was hoping I could talk to you, before you leave."
"Yes. Luke wait for me in the speeder," Anakin instructed. When the boy was out of earshot Anakin turned back to his former Master and asked, "What else did he do?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Nothing else to my knowledge. I wanted to talk to you about his Padawan-ship." Anakin's eyes grew big. Obi-Wan continued, "I've been encouraged to take on another apprentice, but I've been nervous. Today, I was talking to your boy about the force and it all felt so natural again. I want to become Luke's Master."
Obi-Wan paused and held his breath. For a moment Anakin was silent as he silently mulled over the idea. The wait was obviously excruciating for the poor master. Then suddenly Anakin's face cracked in a bright smile. "That sounds like a wonderful idea." He laughed. "Of course this means you can no longer complain about the trouble I caused, because here you are taking on a second Skywalker."
"The boy takes after his mother," Obi-Wan Jested.
Hello Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with your families this weekend.
This story is one I had in my mind for a while. It is based on the quote from A New Hope, where Luke says "I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-sixteen back home." Yes, I did design it to have Obi-Wan telling Luke to "Use the Force." I know there's nothing in Canon about Luke ever missing, but then he's only eleven here.
And I couldn't help but use Luke's full name here. In honor of George Lucas, of course.
In the next chapter I am not completely sure. I was thinking about doing some more with Mara and Winter. And I may use some of Leia's experiences in the Apprentice tournament. I wonder if you can guess who her Master will be, hmm?
