Chapter 7
The Battle of Christophsis
(four months later. Four Months after the Battle of Geonosis)
Walking along the hallways of the Republic base on the planet Christophsis, Jaina entered the Command Center and immediately glimpsed her Master, conversing with Anakin over a holotable.
She rolled her eyes as she approached.
It seemed those two were arguing…again.
All in 'good faith', as they always said.
Anakin's eyes shifted towards her, a slight smirk on his lips. "Come to take sides in our latest debate, kiddo?" he asked in a playful tone.
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder, an amused smirk on his lips. "Indeed, Anakin, I wonder, whose side is she going to take?"
Jaina took her place next to her Master and raised an amused eyebrow towards Anakin. "I don't even know what this latest debate is about yet. But do you really think I'd take any side against the person I'm honor-bound to obey?"
Anakin gave Obi-Wan a teasing look. "Well, Obi-Wan, you do have to give her credit for being loyal to you, don't you think?"
"Maybe you should take on a Padawan of your own," Jaina teased. "Then you'd have someone always on your side too. Someone to enable your…utter insanity."
Obi-Wan chuckled quietly to himself, scratching his beard and turning to face the two of them.
She'd definitely already inherited some of his sass. And he knew that it would likely only get worse with time.
"Oh, really? Is that so?" Anakin said with a smile that quickly turned into a teasing smirk. She was definitely learning from Obi-Wan.
And Anakin was definitely enjoying every second of it.
"I would rather jump into a swarm of Geonosian bugs than have to teach a Padawan." He scoffed. "And even then, I'd rather take on an entire army of SBDs all by myself."
He smirked. "Besides. A Padawan would just slow me down."
"Excuse me? 'A Padawan would just slow you down'?" Jaina planted her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow. "Are you insinuating that I slow Master Obi-Wan down?"
"Insinuating?" Anakin said smugly. "No. I'm outright saying you slow him down." He smirked. "Considering the times you either slowed him down, or nearly got him killed these past four months."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, looking at Anakin for a moment before turning to face Jaina again. "Ignore him, my little Padawan."
Jaina frowned, her ears and cheeks warming. "That's not…that's not true…"
The faint hints of red on Jaina's cheeks and ears quickly earned the attention of both Obi-Wan and Anakin. The latter snickered even harder at her response.
His little one cared—Obi-Wan knew that better than anyone.
Which meant that Anakin had hit a nerve with his words.
…Which was exactly what Anakin had been trying to do.
And that meant that Obi-Wan needed to step in real soon…to stop another little…tussle between the two.
"Oh, really now?" Anakin asked in a teasing tone.
Jaina continued to stare at Anakin, her delicate features caught between a frown and a glare.
"Remind me," Anakin continued smugly. "How many times has Obi-Wan had to step in—"
Obi-Wan sighed. "—Anakin—"
"—and make sure that you didn't accidentally get yourself—"
"—Anakin." Obi-Wan snapped sternly. "That is enough."
Jaina continued to frown deeply, instead redirecting her gaze to the holotable and the various maps of Christophsis.
Obi-Wan sighed once more, glancing down at his little one. Typical. His little Padawan couldn't handle too much teasing, and she took it—like how she took everything else—very seriously.
"And for the record," he continued. "I certainly do not think you slow me down, Jaina—you have been valuable, resourceful, and intelligent on the battlefield these past months, and my opinion is the only one that matters. Now, can we all please get back to work?"
"The real reason—" He said in a firm and serious tone, attempting to change the subject before things progressed any further, "—that Anakin and I had a dispute is because—as usual, he prefers to jump into any engagement head-first—he was proposing a full frontal assault towards this base here—"
"I don't think that would work," Jaina interrupted quietly, her face utterly impassive and completely focused, as her eyes drifted over the maps.
"These two structures here with the antennas on top match the antennas on TX1 standard issue heavy-duty shield generators," she murmured, gesturing at two spots on the map. "Assuming they bring a shield up at the first sign of attack, the fifteen kilometer radius would be completely counterproductive if you're looking at that entry-point. The bridge looks like it's only…" she narrowed her eyes, mentally calculating the scale.
"...eight meters wide? You'd only be able to progress by singular squads, and it would be far too easy for Sep heavy artillery to pick off."
Jaina shrugged. "I'd recommend a pincer maneuver through these two avenues down at the sides as multi-pronged diversionary tactics, while sending in two stealth teams to infiltrate and take out the shield generators."
Obi-Wan stared.
In the past four months, Jaina had shown incredible promise...but this assessment in mere seconds was...impressive, even for her.
"My little one," the Jedi Master said quietly, an affectionate smile crossing his features. "You...came up with that off the top of your head? In a few seconds?"
He shook his head, chuckling, still utterly speechless.
Anakin rolled his eyes. "It's not that impressive."
Jaina turned a falsely sweet smile towards Anakin. "Like I said. I don't slow Master Obi-Wan down."
Obi-Wan smirked. "My little Padawan has always been very observant, and is able to formulate a strategy before the other party has even drawn a weapon."
Jaina grinned, folding her arms triumphantly across her chest.
Anakin scoffed. "I still think I'm right. A full frontal assault could work, if we push hard enough and decimate their lines." He leaned his hands on the holotable. "And I'm also right about being a lot more efficient in combat without a Padawan of my own attached to my hip."
He narrowed his eyes. "Besides. It's not that impressive," he repeated. "I'm pretty sure anyone could have come up with that kind of strategy if you just gave them a little more than a minute to think."
"True, true." Jaina shrugged. "But I don't need a minute."
And there it was.
The slight bit of subtle cockiness she'd inherited from her Master.
Anakin knew that she wasn't doing it intentionally—it was simply part of her nature now…which made it even more irritating.
The Jedi Knight let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course you don't, because you learn like a blasted sponge."
Jaina's lips curved into another smirk. "A very good quality for a Padawan 'attached to his hip'—as you say—to have, don't you think?"
Anakin gave her a murderous look...But she simply ignored it, her little smirk growing ever so slightly.
Obi-Wan knew exactly how proud he was, despite Anakin's annoyed scowl.
And despite usually being very good at holding his composure, the Jedi Master couldn't hide his amusement and his affection at his little one's actions...or her skills.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I would say it's invaluable," the Jedi Master agreed, with an impish smirk.
Jaina giggled mischievously.
Anakin stared at Jaina, a small huff of air escaping him. He didn't know what was more infuriating: that she was right, or that he couldn't be all that angry at her.
Because she had been completely civil and respectful.
"Fine. Definitely a good quality," He grumbled.
The calm, subtle confidence in her voice...the way she rolled her eyes...the way she smirked...
Jaina had inherited Obi-Wan's traits, both good and...well, not so good. Different.
Not everyone appreciated Obi-Wan's snark.
Anakin did…but only in small doses.
Jaina smiled triumphantly once more, then turned back to innocently study the holomaps.
Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was still trying not to look completely giddy.
And failing.
The Jedi Master knew that what had just happened was a very Jaina version of a teenage outburst, but he felt proud of his little one—despite the snarky way she'd gotten the best of his oldest friend.
She would make a phenomenal Jedi Knight one day.
Obi-Wan shrugged lightly once more, an affectionate smile on his face. "Her counterproposal was exactly the type of plan I would have recommended myself."
Anakin scoffed. "Of course you would say that."
Obi-Wan smiled. "I'm serious, Anakin."
The truth was, his Padawan's suggestions were exactly in the same realm as the kinds of ideas her Master would have come up with.
She was learning faster and faster—and her insight was impressive.
Anakin, on the other hand, seemed determined to not give the Padawan the satisfaction. "Look, a full frontal assault is the only way we can—"
Obi-Wan was about to interrupt, when—
"—a full frontal assault with that bridge as the only entry point would lead to high casualty rates during an unnecessary siege," Jaina quipped, glancing back up from the maps. "Using a double envelopment as part of diversionary tactics, while a stealth team infiltrates the base, has a much higher probability of success."
She thoughtfully folded her arms across her chest. "It means fewer variables to worry about, it means we're not putting all our eggs in one basket—so to speak—in an urban landscape that highly limits both mobility and maneuverability."
Anakin had nothing left to say.
Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was thrilled.
She had managed to prove her skills and put Anakin in his place for his constant teasing. Perfectly.
The Jedi Master's smile grew wider with each second that Anakin continued to be stunned into silence as Jaina's words echoed back at him.
Obi-Wan felt his heart swelling with pride, joy—and affection.
His little one had really done it this time.
Jaina clasped her hands in front of her, keeping her expression completely impassive, despite the giddy, mischievous, and triumphant gleam in her eyes.
Anakin, for the moment, was at a loss for words—which he would likely deny if asked.
Obi-Wan held back a snicker.
She'd shut Anakin down after his relentless teasing, but she hadn't been rude or impolite about it. Her analysis of the proposed assault—and her counterproposal—was the right course of action. It was more subtle and more efficient.
She was clever—and she knew how to fight to win an argument.
Obi-Wan enjoyed the hell out of the silence.
Sensing her dear Master's amusement, Jaina smirked and looked up at him with an almost-childlike giddiness.
The Jedi Master's smile grew with every second that Anakin continued to remain silent.
It was hilarious.
Jaina cleared her throat, pulling out her datapad from her pocket and beginning to scroll through the spreadsheets. "Shall we begin discussing asset allocations and deployment schedules?" She asked innocently.
Obi-Wan choked back the tiny sound of laughter that threatened to pass his lips. He was loving this.
Anakin deserved it for constantly pushing the boundaries with his teasing.
"Yes. Yes, my little one." the Jedi Master said cheerfully, struggling to hold back his chuckles. "We shall."
Anakin groaned. "Great, just great," he muttered, more to himself. "Now there are two of them."
Obi-Wan had to bite the inside of his lip hard to prevent himself from snickering.
This whole thing was completely hilarious to him.
Jaina's little smug expression, as she turned back to her datapad, pretending to be oblivious to both Anakin's response, and Obi-Wan's reaction to it.
He was loving this moment. His little one was too smart for her own good.
And by the Force, Obi-Wan loved her for it.
Jaina continued to scroll through the sheets on her datapad innocently. "Two of what, Anakin?"
Obi-Wan couldn't hold it back any longer.
The snickers that were starting to escape became full-fledged chuckles, which threatened to turn into unabashed laughs.
The Jedi Master had to bring his fist to his mouth to prevent himself from making any more noise, as he struggled to control himself.
Because of course his little one—despite all she'd learned from him about patience, restraint, and decorum in the past four months—would also be sassy.
And Obi-Wan loved it.
Anakin took one more look—one more glare—at the two, at the infuriatingly identical expressions of amusement on their faces, their annoyingly similar smug stances.
"Nothing," he grumbled.
"Mmm hmm…" Obi-Wan was definitely still struggling with the giggles, even after he had regained control of his expressions.
His Padawan's small smirk completely gave her away though.
"And now that we've established that Padawans don't—in fact—always 'slow their Masters down' like you said," Jaina continued innocently, scrolling through her datapad with feigned ignorance. "Maybe you should consider taking one, Anakin, if you really loathe being outnumbered by two of us."
Anakin's jaw tightened, and Obi-Wan couldn't help himself from choking out a single chuckle.
Jaina, meanwhile, appeared entirely oblivious. She simply continued to work away with her datapad, as though Anakin hadn't said anything at all.
Obi-Wan was trying—really trying—to contain himself and not make any additional noises.
It was not working. The Jedi Master tried to take a sharp inhale, to help regulate his breathing.
Next to him, Jaina struggled to hold in her laughter, doing absolutely everything she could to continue gazing at her datapad, because she knew that if she and her Master made eye contact, she would break.
She snuck a tiny peek to look up at him, and—
—the moment he caught a glimpse of his little one, he was done for.
A second later, the Master and Padawan, who had so often worked on control and restraint, were laughing, struggling for breath as they tried—and failed—to contain themselves.
Obi-Wan and Jaina looked over at Anakin, who turned his gaze away from them so fast, his face bright red, it was as if a flash of crimson had burned his cheeks.
"Oh Force—" Jaina wheezed, in between laughs. "I can't breathe—"
Obi-Wan gasped for breath, his eyes watering even as he attempted to speak through his laughter, and a little frustrated shake of his head.
"Me neither," he barely managed, raising his palm to cover his face. "Oh—my-my—knees—"
There was an uncontrollable hilarity—caused by the fact that the pair of them had been trying so hard to control themselves—that just made the situation all the more ludicrous.
Jaina continued to laugh and gasp for breath, more at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation than anything else, and the fact that this was all happening right in the middle of the Christophsis Command Center, of all places. "My sides—my sides—hurt—"
Obi-Wan chuckled along with her. It was perhaps one of the most unprofessional thing he had ever done, and he was grateful they were alone…but it was also the most authentic.
"Anakin is going to kill us for this—" the Jedi Master breathed.
He regained control of himself and paused for a silent moment, and the pair of them gasped for breath, before both burst into another fit of laughter, causing them to wheeze and laugh even harder.
"Master—stop—!" Jaina cackled, completely dying. "You're making it—worse—"
"I can't—" Obi-Wan tried to say in between laughs, but he was already losing ground.
The Jedi Master's face was red with laughter as he gasped for breath along with his little one.
He turned and looked back at Anakin, who had managed to look away from their laughter-induced meltdown.
They were losing it—and Anakin looked furious. "Are you two finished yet?!"
In the middle of their fits of laughter, the doors to the Command Center slid open once more, and a teenage Togruta girl entered the chamber. She took one confused look at the Master-Padawan pair dying of laughter, then cleared her throat.
"Good morning," the Togruta girl greeted cheerfully. "I'm looking for Master Skywalker."
A/N:
Stg. Oddball: Yay, I'm so happy to hear that!
valairy scott: Thanks for pointing it out, I didn't notice! Definitely gonna try toning it down
Guest: Thank you!