"Don't wake him Morae, Healer's orders."

"He has to be faking it, Ainlee."

"You did not see him when threw up Morae, and you did not feel him in the Force. What he saw last night, I would not like to experience."

Anakin's consciousness snaps into focus with that last sentence, he had been trying to sleep like Healer Ky'sa had told him to. His crechemates seemed to disagree with this course of action.

"So he misses more lessons and holds us back even more! He doesn't even know the basics, he is dragging us down."

"He's been here less than two months with a week in the Halls of Healing, it will take time..."

"And in that time, they will overlook all of us and we will all wind up in the AgriCorp because of his scores and behavior will make the rest of us look bad. It won't matter to him because he's already been chosen!"

Anakin tries not to flinch at Morae's ire, trying to fake sleep as his Master's words play in his mind.

'To be a Jedi means being willing to face uncomfortable truths about yourself.'

Morae, Ainlee, the others...they've been here years already. He's only been here a short time and yet his fellows are already straining against how far back he is academically. It's not his fault he was born a slave on a world that the Jedi forgot. But it's also not their fault they were found and brought to the Temple when they were.

'I'm different." Those words leave the sandy haired boy's lips as his eyes open to look at Ainlee and Morae. Ainlee's three eyes showing concern, but Morae's frustration shows clearer in the human boy's face.

"I'm not special, Morae. Just different." Letting his blue meet Morae's brown as he pulls himself from his bunk. "Yes, I haven't had a life that would let me study like you have. But that doesn't make me better or worse than you."

"Only different."

Anakin nods at Ainlee's interjection. "Only different."

"Your differences are going to make it impossible for any of us to be taken as Padawans!" Morae;s fears raising his voice as he approaches Anakin

"Then help me narrow those differences." Anakin's challenge brings his fellow human up short.

"What do you mean?"

"Help me get up to speed then. Show me how to use the Archives more effectively. Work with me during the lessons I struggle with to help me catch up."

"And why should I?"

"Because helping Anakin can help us all." Ainlee's unspoken 'you idiot' rings clear. "You've heard the stories of various Jedi solving a problem alone, but they have also told us the stories of those who helped them get there. Showing the Master's that we can help each other, might get more of us chosen."

"But he's got nothing to help me with."

"Everyone has something to teach you, even if it's not the lesson you wanted." Anakin's words cause the two to pause. "It's something that Jedi Bladesinger told me just before I was assigned to you. I might not have knowledge that you want, but there are other ways that helping me can help you. She also mentioned that solid basics means a great foundation to build on. Help me with those basics and your own foundation will get stronger." Anakin's hand move with his words, keeping the two others focused on him, "But I think you're wrong Morae, I have something to teach you."

"And what's that?" The boy's tone curious.

"I've seen you down in the mechanics bays looking at the speeders, you don't want to work on them. You want to fly them, feel the wind blow by as you push the engines."

"So?"

"I've been a podracer, Morae. I can help you learn to do quick and efficient maintenance, I can help you fly well enough that the Jedi will have to take a look at you seriously as a potential pilot and Jedi. But to do that.." He lets his words trail off

"You need your scores brought up to have more free time in the simulators and the hangar bay." Morae finishes off as Anakin nods

"Do you think your Master will allow that?" Ainlee chimes in.

"She said I had a gift with machines, and would do everything she could to help me develop my talent with them, if I so wanted."

"Even though that;s not what she's good at?"

"That's one of her lessons; no one can teach everything, so learn what you can from different people."

"I still don't like you Anakin, but you gave me something to think about."

"We have a free period after lunch, I'll bring my math books to the simulator bay we're cleared for. I'll show you what I can do and then we can spend some time making these numbers make sense. Call it a test run."

"Still not coming to class this morning?" Morae left eye quirks in irritation

"Grandmaster Yoda will be understanding in this case, Healer Ky'sa and Master Bladesinger for ignoring healer's orders...will not be so understanding."

Ainlee's chuckle brings a rueful smile to Morae as well, "The Healers do like to think their orders are commandments from the Force itself at times."

"That they do." Anakin's tone returns to serious, "I know I am late to the creche, but I will not let anyone fail on my account.:

Ainlee nods in acceptance as he and Morae head for the door, "Get your rest Anakin, while I might not like flying like Morae I would like to see what you can do in the simulator."

"I'll be glad to."