mission!'
'Request,' Obi-Wan said sternly. But he saw Anakin shake his head and silently mouth the word 'mission' with a smile.
Chapter 12
The next scheduled fuel stop for the BioCruiser was on the planetHilo. Yoda arranged for a transport to pick up Obi-Wan and Anakin at the landing platform.
Obi-Wan stood, looking up last-minute information aboutHiloon his datapad. Anakin's gaze remained fixed on the skies of Coruscant; every so often he exclaimed about a ship that zoomed by in the crowded space lanes.
'Master, look at that starship!' he called suddenly. 'Have you ever seen such a beauty?'
Obi-Wan looked up. A sleek starship was negotiating the tight traffic lanes, jockeying for position. 'A diplomat or Senator's transport, most likely,' he said, noting the chromium trim on the sleek black ship. He watched as the skillful pilot found space to slide into the teeming lane, then made a sharp turn to come toward them. To Obi-Wan's surprise, the beautiful ship landed on the Jedi platform.
'Maybe that's our transport!' Anakin cried.
The ramp lowered and a familiar figure strode down toward them.
'Garen!' Obi-Wanwas overjoyed to see his friend. It had been several years since Garen had been to theTemple. He hurried toward him, and the two friends clapped their arms around each other in a fierce hug. 'This is a surprise,' Obi-Wan said, quickly taking in his friend's appearance. He was relieved to see that Garen looked as fit and healthy as ever. His hair was still worn long and loose, waving past hiscollar, and his gaze was as open and warm as Obi-Wan remembered. He knew that Garen had been on a difficult mission in the Outer Rim, though he didn't know the details.
'You look older,' Garen said. 'But wiser? I'll have to hope for that.' His eyes danced.
Obi-Wan grinned. 'You haven't changed at all.'
'I was sorry to hear about Qui-Gon,' Garen said, his mood abruptly changing. 'I would have come, but…'
'It is all right, my friend. It was a great loss for the Jedi.'
'And for you.'
'Yes. He was my friend as well as my Master,' Obi-Wan said. He did not speak of Qui-Gon to many people. He still found it too painful, even after all this time. 'But let me introduce you to my Padawan.'
'How strange it is to hear you say that,' Garen said, smiling. 'Now we are old enough to have our own Padawans. Who would have thought it?'
Anakin had been hanging back, studying the ship with avid eyes. When he saw Obi-Wan's welcoming glance, he hurried forward.
'Is this your ship?'
'Anakin,' Obi-Wan said reprovingly. 'This is my good friend, Jedi Knight Garen Muln. Garen, this is Anakin Skywalker.'
'I am honored to meet you at last,' Garen said. 'No, this isn't my ship. It's a royal starship from the Bimin Three system, on extended loan for the Jedi.'
'I knew you'd end up with a starship somehow,' Obi-Wan said.
Garen nodded ruefully. Obi-Wan knew he had been bitterly disappointed when the Jedi decided to end the starfighter program. But Garen had gone on to become Clee Rhara's Padawan and had distinguished himself on missions throughout the galaxy.
'It turned out for the best,' Garen said. 'I think in the end the Council was right to oppose the starfighter pilot program. A fleet of starfighters would have brought us trouble.'
'Do you mean the Jedi once had a program for starfighter pilots?' Anakin asked, stunned at this news.
'Yes, Anakin, long ages ago, back when Obi-Wan and I were only a little older than you,' Garen said, laughing.
'And they cancelled it?' Anakin's face showed clearly what he thought of that decision.
'It was for the best,' Garen said. 'But I must admit it was fun while it lasted.'
Anakin gazed at the ship. 'How fast does she go?'
'As fast as you want,' Garen answered. He looked at Anakin curiously. 'Why do you like to go fast, Anakin?'
The dreamy, shuttered look came over Anakin's face. 'Because I can leave myself behind,' hesaid, his eyes on the ship.
Garen glanced at Obi-Wan. He raised one eyebrow. It was not a Jedi answer. Obi-Wan frowned, troubled by it. There were still places in Anakin he could not reach.
No. You will reach them. Yoda and Mace Windu are wrong. Qui-Gon was right. Anakin is not too old to learn.
Garen put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. 'Let me show you the ship.'
'We're waiting for our transport toHilo,' Anakin said, disappointed. 'I don't think my Master will allow it.'
'Oh, I think he will,' Garen said. 'I'm your transport toHilo.'
