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"Ani," Obi-wan said with a grin. "We'll be following the Corellian Run. Would you like to fly us?"
"Would I?!" Anakin dashed past Obi-wan to the cockpit. It was a standard Jedi ship designed to carry four comfortably enough. Anakin glided straight to the pilot's seat, while Obi-wan took the co-pilot post and Qui-gon relaxed in a passenger chair behind them. Kaely landed on the last chair and felt very important to be there.
Anakin couldn't have been happier. It had been almost half a year since he'd last flown a ship and he ached to take off. His eyes flicked from one screen to another in anticipation. Obi-wan hid a grin as Anakin settled in his chair and assumed an air of command.
"You are now clear to join space lane 21, Ship #7279J."
"Acknowledged, Temple Control," Anakin replied all businesslike.
"May the Force be with you."
Anakin smoothly guided the ship off the deck. "Hey, Obi-wan?" Anakin asked. "Why doesn't this ship have a name?"
"Its another one of those 'can't be bothered with' things you were complaining about the other day."
"Oh," Anakin responded in a voice that showed he didn't understand why anyone wouldn't name their ship.
Qui-gon elaborated, "Ships are necessary tools, however there are a few that are named."
"Yes, a few," Obi-wan continued. "Most Jedi never feel attached to a particular ship long enough to name it. Ships are just things we need, unlike droids."
Kaely squawked at the jab and hissed as though she was too insulted to even attack him. Really it was just an act, she couldn't risk leaving her chair while they were heading for orbit and lightspeed. And Obi-wan knew it.
***
Later, that evening Anakin finally found a chance to be alone in the cockpit. His masters often discussed him and his training right over his head telepathically and of late he'd convinced them to just let him leave the room. Even though he couldn't identify exactly what they were saying, their close proximity did allow him to sense the telepathy bouncing through the Force. It was very distracting and more then a little annoying.
Anakin was grateful for the solitude in more ways then one. Even Kaely had not followed him, but remained in the common room. She said she wanted to practice spying. Even though he knew his masters would notice her, Anakin didn't object.
She might actually succeed for a few minutes and hear something interesting, Anakin smirked to himself.
Anakin quietly began calling up screens to investigate the Reh-Ot-Esolc system. He'd never been there, and though their mission data had a lot of good information, it didn't tell him what he wanted to know.
He activated the onboard star charts and searched through them. Pulling up more details as well, he learned that Reh-Ot-Esolc was actually located on the very edge of the mid and outer rims. And, just as he'd recalled, it was close to Naboo.
Yes! Anakin crowed silently. Maybe I'll get a chance to send Padme a holo-message.
Anakin frowned, Maybe, if I just do it and not ask. Anakin squashed that idea, I have to ask, even though they'll say no. Doing it anyway would not be worth the trouble I'd be in. After the mission is done and we are heading home would be a good time, then they might let me.
Due to how close the two planetary systems were, Anakin knew the expense of sending the message wouldn't be so high. Sending one to Padme from the Jedi Temple was an enormous cost.
And maybe if I tell them I'll pay for the message myself, they won't mind!
Grinning, his hope began to swell. Anakin still had an account he'd begun three years ago at one of the more stable mid-rim banking systems. He'd stashed away as many credits he could spare from his earnings and occasional thefts. It had been sitting and collecting interest for almost two years now.
I don't have anywhere near enough money to buy Mom yet, and no income to add to it, he began calculating how much the message would cost and whether not it was small enough to be worth taking from his account. Anakin frowned in indecision.
Its not too much. Maybe I can spare it this time. After all, I might not get another chance to be so close to Naboo again for years.
Anakin looked at the star chart again and caught his breath. Indeed, Reh-Ot-Esolc was very close to Naboo, but it was even closer to Tatooine.
I've got to send Mom a message, Anakin's heart ached at the thought. He'd never received a reply from the one holo-message he'd sent her almost two years ago. It worried him, even though he'd known she couldn't answer. It was impossible for a slave to have the money to send any holo-messages at all, much less send one all the way from the Outer Rim to the Core.
I haven't seen Mom in five years, Anakin hardly dared to think about it. He didn't want to start crying, even though there was no one to see him.
I could get from Reh-Ot-Esolc to Tatooine and back in less then a day, Anakin stared at the screen in front of him.
It would be so easy, Anakin stared at the star chart.
So very easy.
***
The three inhabited planets of the Reh-Ot-Esolc system were surprisingly well organized and neighborly for the Outer Rim. The Jedi had arrived quietly and had been directed to the largest city of the central most planet, Reh. Representatives met them and gave them comfortable quarters for the duration of their stay.
It was nearing the end of winter on this side of the planet and Anakin was grateful for the thickness of his robe. Kaely thought it was a pretty place. And Anakin had to agree that it did have a few unique aspects that he was curious about. In particular, the orange snow the three Jedi saw shoveled in piles along the roads was puzzling.
The sun was deceptively bright as it seemed to give no off no warmth. Qui-gon and Obi-wan, of course, were not discomforted at all. Anakin had to use the Force to heat the air around himself enough to stop his shivering until they reached the conference building.
Anakin curiously watched the people arriving. The people of this system looked very similar to humans. They had very pale, almost gray skin. This might be Suoicarg's species. They look a lot like her, Anakin observed. Except she has dark brown hair and these people all have white hair.
It was mid-morning by the time they were all assembled in a conference room. They had welcomed the Jedi and introduced everyone. Anakin had read the report and data about Reh-Ot-Esolc and already knew what the speakers were going to say. He tried to pay at least some attention to their plea for joining the Republic.
The speaker for Ot began by outlining the situation, "Our system, according to all the stipulations of the Republic, qualifies to join. However, until now we have been ignored simply due to our location."
Anakin's mind was already wandering, If things go well here, stopping by Tatooine wouldn't be too hard. Its so close.
"When the new borderline for the Outer Rim was drawn a century ago, our people were ecstatic at how close we now were to the Mid-Rim. We thought that this would finally give us the opportunity to join."
Nah, my masters would never agree. Not just the fuel cost, but also the 'un-necessary danger' of detouring to that rotten ball of sand, Anakin growled silently to himself.
"Yet no one has listened and that division has actually made things worse," It was the representative of Esolc's turn to talk.
I could go anyway, Anakin hardly dared to think about it. It's so close, he couldn't help thinking again. Anakin's lungs constricted as he forced himself to breathe normally. It hurt so much.
The speaker droned on, "If we were only a few hundred light-years closer, we'd have been welcomed into the Republic decades ago. However, as it is, the Senate has always refused to send any ambassadors or representatives to the Outer Rim."
Anakin glanced slyly at each of his masters. They were completely focused on speakers. Anakin felt about with the Force to see if they were paying any attention to him. He knew that the training bond would sometimes give away his emotions to them. Anakin guarded his thoughts carefully.
I could just rescue her.
Anakin didn't notice the representative was talking anymore, much less that she was pausing dramatically as she said, "No politician wants to go anywhere close to the edge of the Mid-Rim, much less past it."
Once Anakin allowed himself to consider it, the possibilities began to flow, I know so much more about the Force now. I could fly away in the night here and arrive on Tatooine during Mos Espa's early morning.
Reh's own planetary leader stood up next, "This system is simple and we would like to open trade with others, but they will not even consider us. Only smugglers and other unsavory characters will even think about coming here and naturally we want nothing to do with them."
Anakin's heart beat faster in excitement, I'm sure Mom's daily routine hasn't changed much. She's not watched for several hours in the morning because Watto is running the shop and she is working on repairs dropped off by customers the day before.
His mind whirled as he planned out how he'd rescue his mother, I could get Mom and use the Force to find and remove the slave transmitter. We'd leave and get back to this system, by this planet's sundown.
"Also, the protection that the Republic status provides would go a long way towards preventing any wars with our neighbors should they ever choose to harm us."
Lost in his fantasizing, Anakin hardly heard a thing the representatives had been saying, Kaely's practicing surveillance again. I can listen to her recording later if I need to.
Anakin tried to return his concentration to the speakers, lest his masters notice his lack of attention. I just have to ride this out. None of the serious stuff will happen today. Just talking, he half listened as he heard Qui-gon ask about a tour of the planet.
Actually, I could probably leave tonight. They really don't need me for anything. I'm just here to observe, and I can see that these people will probably get their citizenship in the Republic like they want.
Anakin stiffened and snapped out of his sneaky planning, I can't, Anakin had to fight to prevent the feelings of grief and hopelessness welling inside of himself from spilling into the bond.
I can't disobey my masters again. I promised I wouldn't. I promised!
Anakin's throat felt dry and his eyes began to water slightly. He again looked warily at his masters. To his relief, Qui-gon and Obi-wan were still oblivious to his distraction. They were focused on the mission, just as Anakin should have been.
I'm sorry, Mom. I can't.
***
Anakin was standing on the edge of a frozen cliff. The wind whipped harshly at him making balance difficult, even for a Jedi. Far below he could vaguely make out a small town nestled against the rocks. As he watched, tiny rays of light began to stream over the buildings as dawn broke. Anakin shivered and could feel his toes going numb despite the protection of his boots.
Just as Anakin began to step back on the craggy ledge, a warning of danger coursed through his senses. Instantly, he was alert and searching for the cause of the disturbance in the Force. And the Force answered his query, prompting him to look straight up.
A tremor and loud crack were Anakin's only other warnings he received as a wall of orange and green plummeted above him.
***
Anakin sat up in bed and nearly stood to run before coming to his senses. He looked hurriedly around the dark room as the Force rush began to wear off. Anakin regained control of his thoughts first and ended up using the Force to make his eyes adjust to the dimness.
The room was silent and well heated for the comfort of the off world guests, but Anakin shivered anyway. Kaely was still asleep and hooked to her power cord recharging. Anakin reached out with the Force feeling only peace and slumber radiating from everyone else in the building.
It's early, at least a couple of hours before sunrise, Anakin realized as he crawled out of bed.
Anakin was far too disturbed to go back to sleep, I wish I could control my dreams and make what I want happen in them. I'd never have another nightmare again.
He decided to sit on the enclosed balcony and wait for the dawn. It was a made of clear durasteel and even the floor was transparent in order to give a perfect view of the city and mountains. As a precaution, a rolled up rug was in one corner for those who didn't like the effect. Anakin didn't care. If he wanted to feel like he was floating then he'd just levitate.
It could be another vision, Though Anakin didn't want it to be a vision, he wasn't careless enough to ignore the possibility.
Anakin sat on the hard floor too caught up in his thoughts to notice the coldness of the clear metal, Maybe if I meditate a little bit, I'll see more. He looked out at the still city. Even if I glow a little, there is no one to see it and I can stop it better now.
Before he could calm his mind enough to start, Anakin jerked as a disturbance in the Force overwhelmed his senses. Unlike in the dream, Anakin reached out for his masters through their training bond and felt that both of them were already alert.
<Be quick, Ani. Meet us at the front door.>
Anakin bolted to his feet at Obi-wan's telepathic call and dashed for his clothes and lightsaber. The commotion woke Kaely and she beeped in confusion. Anakin didn't answer her in his haste. The droid had to unplug herself and hurry to catch up as Anakin ran out the door.
Anakin didn't bother with the ornate stairs that spiraled downward or turbolift, but jumped through the center straight to the bottom. As he landed he could see that Obi-wan and Qui-gon had done the same only seconds before. Outside, a few ships were just beginning to be prepped for flight and the three of them piled into one.
Qui-gon was busy on his comlink alternating between asking questions and calming the frantic speaker on the other end. Anakin moved out of the way as three more people, guards or soldiers by the looks of them, dashed into the small ship and shut the hatch. Kaely had zipped in behind them and looked too surprised to scold Anakin for leaving her behind.
Loudly, the pilot yelled for everyone to strap down for take off. Obi-wan grabbed Anakin by the arm to keep him steady as they rose in the air.
"There has been an avalanche of some kind, a very bad one according to the reports Qui-gon has heard on the comlink."
"I know," Anakin nodded and tried to collect his wits. "How many people are in the town?"
Obi-wan took Anakin's answer calmly and was not surprised. "About 4,000. It's a tourist town during the summer so there are no tourists."
Anakin raised one eyebrow, "No winter sports?"
"Not here," One of the other passengers spoke up. "The orange stuff everywhere and on the mountaintops isn't snow. It's called Wonston. Its very cold and clumped together with frozen moisture like snow, but it is mainly made up of tiny grass seeds. They lie dormant in thick piles all over the mountains until spring when they thaw and the wind carries them away to grow all over the mountain and valley."
Obi-wan leaned back and spoke quietly so only his Padawan could hear, "The Reh have a low tolerance for cold, Anakin."
Even worse for those buried in it, Anakin realized. At least they aren't covered in ice, but we have got to get them out fast.
Their ship had no safe place to land on the mountainside. The pilot had no choice but to hover while everyone grabbed their gear and jumped out. The Jedi and three Reh members of their group trudged through the deep drifts of orange speckled with green towards the rooftops barely visible. Ahead they could see several teams of rescuers already digging.
Qui-gon called out to the new groups arriving, "Follow us. We will show you where we sense people are trapped."
"We must all split up, Anakin," Obi-wan explained.
Anakin nodded, and reluctantly headed off in a different direction. All structures in this town were made of durasteel, as required, so that no buildings would collapse in on themselves in just such an emergency. Most of the people they knew would be merely trapped in their houses and the Jedi were needed to find the people who were outside when the Wonston fell.
Qui-gon was moving quickly towards the center or the town where he felt many people suffering. Obi-wan began hunting closer to the mountain wall where many boulders had fallen. Anakin stretched out with the Force for any glimmers of life hidden nearby. "Don't get lost, Kaely," he reminded the droid as she followed him.
"There," Anakin pointed to a blank section of clumped orange seeds and the rescue workers instantly began digging. Anakin didn't stop to help, but moved on to the next place he felt people. Thinking back to his vision, he remembered a set of smaller buildings a little apart from the main town and followed the Force's directions to find spot were they were hidden under the mass.
Another group came and took over the digging for Anakin so that he could move on. A second rush of warning from the Force caused Anakin to stiffen. Up ahead by the rocks, there were frightened people, and great danger. Anakin ran and leapt past boulders and other obstacles to find that Obi-wan was already there.
Partially under a rock ledge, Obi-wan was pulling out someone through a small opening in the drifts. "Here Ani!" he called. "There are more -"
Anakin stumbled as the he felt the ground tremble faintly again. He sensed only a brief warning of danger before the ground fell out from under his feet. Obi-wan was swallowed up by the orange and vanished from view. Anakin tried to vault up to grab the rock above, but his legs were already trapped and within a second the Wonston buried the rest of him.
***
<MASTER!> Anakin waited in shock as his telepathic cry went unanswered. He probed with the Force and found Obi-wan farther below in a light healing trance.
<WAKE UP!> Anakin demanded telepathically. <Are you hurt?>
Silence greeted him. Anakin grasped the training bond with all his might and called out for Qui-gon. He knew that his limited telepathy skills would never send Qui-gon words at this distance. Even so, he was surprised to receive only a faint reassurance from his master. Master Qui-gon must be pretty far away.
Remembering his training, Anakin built up a Force barrier and pushed the massive number of tiny seeds away from himself to create a pocket. <Please, Master. You've got to get up,> he called to Obi-wan again.
<Hurry, Ani,> Obi-wan weakly answered as he regained consciousness. <You must free the others.> Anakin could sense that Obi-wan's Force signature flicker and he had no choice but to return to his healing trance.
"I can't do this alone," Anakin said in a choked whisper. Arg! I'm wasting air! I have no idea how long the air will last in here!
I've got to make a tunnel or something, Anakin thought furiously.
The small chamber Anakin had formed with the Force was already crumbling. He tightened his control on the shield surrounding himself. He reached out to find the other poor people trapped in the avalanche. Three, plus Obi-wan, too. Oh, man this is going to be hard.
Anakin began digging towards the nearest victim to his right. As he pushed through, he shoved the seeds with the Force and his hands to pack them tightly together along the walls to make a tunnel. In some places the seeds flowed like sand and in others stuck together in hard clumps. The man he found was awake, but clearly very disoriented. He mumbled incoherently as Anakin tried to free him.
I don't even know if I'm doing this right. Maybe I should have dug to the surface first?
Anakin dragged the man to the small chamber he'd made as quickly as he could. He left the man there and crawled halfway down the tunnel and began digging down. Just as he was beginning to get close to the next person, Anakin heard the Wonston fall. Instantly, Anakin poked his head up and saw that the section that he'd found the man had caved in without Anakin there to hold up the ceiling.
Why is it I always get stuck in situations I don't know how to get out of? None of my training has never included being buried snow, much less in frozen whatever these, seeds things, are, Anakin thought in disgust.
Anakin struggled to divide his concentration between keeping a force shield around the man he left and digging out the woman nearby. She was still conscious and was clutching a child tightly. The little one was curled up in her arms trying to stay a warm. They were somewhat easier to pull out, but it took much longer to carry to them to the chamber. Anakin fretted over what to do about air. He couldn't determine if it was sufficient for now or not. The Force continued to impress on him to hurry.
Anakin sat the three on the floor of the chamber he'd made. It was very cold and they all were visibly suffering as their skin was turning purple. This is taking too long, I've got to get these people out now!
Steeling himself, Anakin held one hand in a fist above his head and pushed. It started out well, but quickly became very hard to move the layers of icy seeds out of the way. Anakin began to notice that the areas of orange Wonston above him had more specks of green. The seeds that had begun to sprout made it sticky and harder to push out of the way. Just as he thought he couldn't maintain the extra strain on his hold on the Force any longer, the pressure lightened.
"Hey down there!" The muffled call startled Anakin and he nearly lost his concentration. Rescue workers above began digging in earnest now that they could see the trapped people with Anakin.
Anakin was breathing too heavily to answer and had to devote all his remaining strength into levitating the child through the opening. His head was swimming by the time the rescuers caught the toddler. I can't lift the adults, he realized in defeat. I'm too tired.
I've got to go for Obi-wan now, while I still can. The others will finish getting these two out, Anakin crawled to the wall and began digging again.
As he progressed, Anakin fought to keep going and ignore his exhaustion. He climbed back down forming a new passage, but this time he let Wonston collapse behind him. He just couldn't hold up both his shield around himself as well as the tunnels anymore. Anakin didn't have to dig much deeper down, but he had to go farther to the left than he had expected.
Obi-wan's head was covered in congealed blood and Anakin could see that some of the debris or rocks dislodged in the collapse had struck him. Anakin strained to get a secure a grip on Obi-wan. Exhaustion had come long ago and Anakin was on the verge of collapse. Only the Force was keeping him steady and Anakin knew that it wouldn't be long before his mind gave up from the pressure.
Gathering his arms under the unconscious man's shoulders, Anakin tried to vault as far along the remaining passage as he could. He didn't even make it half way. Almost there, Anakin tried to encourage himself. Just a little more.
Suddenly the weight ceased when Qui-gon's presence filled his senses. Anakin sagged with relief as he felt his master grasp them both with the Force and send Anakin the support he needed to make it to the top. Qui-gon and other rescue workers pulled them out.
Anakin didn't try to stand up. Vaguely he heard Kaely buzzing around his head and beeping. The minutes seemed to stretch while he waited for Qui-gon to finally return from getting Obi-wan on a stretcher. Carefully he helped Anakin sit up. The boy's limbs were shaking with fatigue and cold.
"Obi-wan will be fine, his healing is already progressing well," Qui-gon murmured as he checked the Padawan for injuries. "I'm sorry I could not come sooner."
Anakin didn't try to speak, it was a struggle just to keep his eyes open. But Qui-gon could feel his understanding. "I was carrying the injured aboard a ship and the pilot took off before I could leave," Qui-gon explained.
Qui-gon helped Anakin to stand once the workers were ready to carry Obi-wan and the others. He continued to talk to help Anakin stay awake, "When I reached here I found that Kaely had made an absolute fit over the place where you had fallen and the rescue workers had finally figured out that she wanted them to dig."
The droid beeped and whistled in confirmation. She hovered by Anakin's head and fussed at the bits of seeds stuck to his hair. Anakin was too tired to care as she tried to brush them out.
"Since Obi-wan was unable to call for help, I might not have located him so quickly," Qui-gon said quietly. "I am thankful you were here, Ani."
"So am I, Master," Anakin replied automatically. So am I. If I'd gone... Anakin looked up sharply at Qui-gon.
"Yes," Qui-gon said sadly. "I know that you nearly ran away last night."
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