Chronicles of a Jedi Master

Monday, September 24, 2007

Saving the younglings

I almost stepped on the form that emerged from the top of the steps. A few quick movements and he were silenced. "Thank you Anakin." I muttered utterly embarrassed to have missed this.

Anakin looked at me with a concerned expression most likely wondering what was wrong with me. "Master, are you sure you can do this. I sense you're not yourself," He whispered.

"I can do it alone," Anakin said with sincerity. "I think."

"I am fine, Anakin. Let's just see where the younglings are hidden. " I reached out with the Force to see if I could sense their signatures. "I think they are down the hall."

"I am grateful for your concern though." I added.

He nodded and looked away. We rushed down one of the dimly lit hallways. There was a funny smell. Anakin passed a door, stopped, and looked back. Placing a hand on the door, I noticed him reaching out with the Force. "They are in here."

"I don't like the look of this and the smell is something we might want to be careful with." I warned him. "I stand on this side and you on the other side of the door. On three...."

Anakin held his hand up. "Wasn't you that told me to try the lock first?"

"I know." I must have forgotten what I told him earlier.

He shook my head. "This isn't going to work, Obi-Wan. You can't even think, focus. You are going to get yourself killed. I can't have that."

"There is nothing wrong with me. Just do as I tell you." I regretted my words as soon as I had spoken them. "I haven't had much sleep." I said in a more agreeable tone.

Anakin narrowed my eyes anyway and then looked away. He jabbed the door lock and the door slid open and the lights flashed on. A little girl with brown eyes blinked at me. "Master Skywalker?" then ran into my arms.

I stepped up behind him finding myself hugged by the other two, a girl and a boy. "It's alright, you are safe now." Large eyes looked up at me still doubtful but with more hope.

Anakin brushed the matted hair from the little girls face. "I need you be strong. I have something very important for you." I handed her my cloned beacon. "Take this, and keep it with you. We are going to lead you to the sewers and once we are there you run, and keep running until you reach the shoot going up. Stay there and wait for us. Can you do that for me?"
She nodded.

I went down on one knee in order for them to see my face closer. "You can do it. Trust in yourselves and the Force. Follow her and stay together at any time. Find a place to hide until you see us coming." I touched their small shoulders quickly. "May the Force be with you."

Anakin sat the girl down. She clutched the beacon and my hand. "Let's get them back to the stairs and fast."

I took the other two by the hand while trying to let some of my strength penetrate their fragile minds and bodies. I had never felt completely comfortable around the many younglings in the temple and even now I had that same awkward reaction. We made it to the stairs without problems.

Anakin knelt before the girl. "You ready?" She nodded and he with a smile he said. "Go."

"Follow her, quickly." I said sending them off. A look at Anakin and we were ready to continue.

He watched them disappear. "They should be alright."

"I hope so." I looked down the slimy floor. "Are you ready?"

Anakin gave me a penetrating stare. "I'm always ready. Question is are you?"

"Of course I am. What makes you think otherwise?" I returned his stare.

"Do you have to ask why?" He shook his head.

"Anakin let's let it go for now please." I asked him. "We can talk after all this is over."

Hurt and angry, My young friend waved his hand and turned to walk off. "Fine, come on then."

There was just no way to ever find the right tone with him. I followed him, sensing his anger and hurt. "We have too little time to discuss my mental state."

"Well if you state gets us both killed, it won’t matter will it?" Anakin snapped over his shoulder in a harsh whisper.

Posted by Master Obi-Wan :: 8:52 PM :: 12 comments

Saturday, September 08, 2007

First Encounters

We tromped through the tunnels in silence. Anakin paused before walking around turn. I reached out the Force. There were human guards close by. He looked at me and tapped his nose, which meant run and attack.

I shook his head. //No, let's not attract attention to us// I cautioned through the Force. //We need to do this quietly// Anakin had a tendency to act first and think later which had caused us trouble in the past.

He sent back: //Alright, here we go// He wiggled his finger and made a large stone fall from the wall. Both guards came walking to investigate the noise. He jumped out of the shadow and chopped the guard on the neck, knocking him out.
He then slung out his elbow as the nearest guard next to him appeared. His head whipped back, eyes rolling, and he hit the slime with a splash. It was an easy exercise for Anakin.

Dragging the falling guard over to the other, I tied them both up and covered their mouths. "There will be more guards inside,” I made him aware.

"If last time we went up against Octavia and Marusi is any indication, a lot more guards are inside."

"Unfortunately my recollection is a bit shaky if you remember." I walked up a set of old stairs and shoved open a heavy door while Anakin's light chuckle followed me. I had done my best not to remember that particular mission and now it all surfaced with a vengeance. //I sense someone//

It was pitch black around us as we steeped in. I could feel Anakin close behind me but one could not see a thing in this darkness. I reached out with the Force. //Right in front of us//

Posted by Master Obi-Wan :: 4:24 PM :: 9 comments

Saturday, September 01, 2007

A smelly affair

As we sat in the seedy cantina, the plan was forming.

“We have to be prepared for any surprise attacks as well,” I said.

Anakin ordered a drink and nearly spit it out when he took a sip making a face. "Dirt! Yeah, but we can only plan for that so far. Once we get in, they'll know we are there."

"We have to disguise our Force signatures as soon as we get close to the premises. Otherwise we compromise the rescue mission." I shoved my drink way.

Anakin nodded, agreeing. "There should be an entrance to the sewage system close to warehouse. Down here, there are garbage dumps everywhere, but as you can see, they don't use them much."

I nodded feeling an odd sense of distress and looked away when Anajin noticed. I felt dislodged and wasn’t exactly sure why, an emotion I do not feel comfortable with. I sensed Anakin’s anger. “I’ll be fine, stop worrying.” I mumbled.

Anakin nodded unconvinced.

As we walked out, there were eyes watching us. Anakin seemingly ignored them outwardly but in the back of his mind he was watching just like I did. Outside, Artoo rolled out the shadows and followed us down the trash-ridden street, beeping at Anakin’s heels. We dropped Artoo and his pack off in the equally wonderful domicile I was occupying and met Anakin back on the street.

My young friend lifted my chin. "Lets get close to the warehouse and find the entrance to the sewers."

We walked in silence until we found the cover to the sewage entrance. "You first,” I said, waving my hand, half-grinning.

The entrance was located in a back ally. A gaping hole in the wall, that angled down in a shoot which ended up at the bottom. Anakin jumped up on the lip and gave me a half smile. "Naturally," he said and disappeared inside.

HE hit the bottom with a splash, but before HE pushed with Force and managed not to end up on my backside in ankle deep sludge. Anakin backed out of the way as I came out the shoot and landing on my backside. He held out hand to me.

"Need a hand?"

I grabbed my hand and jumped up with a disgusted look. "Thanks," I muttered.

Anakin hid his smile and then lifted a finger to point to my cheek. "You might want to get that off."

The rather large insect squeaked as I swatted it off his face. "We need to go that way." I pointed to the canal leading down to the left.

Anakin shrugged off his robe thankfully that his backside wasn't as wet as mine was. Of course he didn't fall either. "Take your robe off. You might dry faster." He suggested.

"Ah, good idea." I shed the wet garment and looked with revulsion at my boots. "I dare not take anything else off."

He handed me his robe, which was mostly dry. "Wipe off or they'll smell you coming," Anakin thought it to be a good joke.

"Thanks." I wiped off the dirt but it didn’t help much. I know Anakin could still smell it but he wasn’t going to say it. “Let’s go.”

Posted by Master Obi-Wan :: 10:09 PM :: 5 comments