Anakin seemed stunned at his good fortune. A delighted grin lit up his face, and he ran ahead to race up the ramp.
Garen picked up Obi-Wan's survival pack. 'He seems very young,' he observed.
Obi-Wan sighed. 'He is getting older every day.'
They came out of hyperspace to a rush of stars. It was Anakin's favorite moment, Obi-Wan knew. He watched the boy's face, alert with interest as Garen piloted the ship toward the atmosphere ofHilo.
Garen whistled. 'There she is.'
The largest ship Obi-Wan had ever seen rose ahead of them. It seemed to be many ships welded together, made up of different metals and rivets and fasteners, so that dull green gave way to flashing silver to gleaming black. It chugged in a slow, lazy orbit around the planet.
'We're supposed to land onHiloto pick up a transport back to the ship,' Garen said. 'Apparently they don't allow outsiders to dock on the ship.'
'I've never seen anything like that,' Anakin said. He got up from his seat to stand close to the cockpit viewport. He grinned and shot a mischievous look back at Obi-Wan. 'It looks like something I might have built.'
Obi-Wan had to agree. It had the chunky, cobbled-together look of some of Anakin's practice constructions.
The landing platform loomed ahead, a light freighter parked to one side. As they drew closer, Obi-Wan could see that supplies were being loaded. Garen made his usual perfect landing. He helped Anakin and Obi-Wan gather their packs and walked them down the ramp.
Obi-Wan and Garen exchanged a look of friendship and farewell, one they had exchanged many times over the years.
'May the Force be with you,' Garen said. 'I can transport you back if you need me. I'll be in this quadrant for a bit.'
'May the Force be with you,' Obi-Wan told him.
Garen turned and strode up the ramp. He did not turn for a final good-bye. He never did. Only Obi-Wan knew that his old friend hated farewells.
'You are the Jedi inspection team.' The tone was curt and businesslike. Obi-Wan turned to see a tall, balding human in a unigarment of pale blue.
'I am Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Anakin Skywalker,' Obi-Wan answered.
'I am Nort Fandi,' the man said. 'I am the freighter pilot. We are scheduled to depart. Board the craft. We do not linger on other worlds.'
There was no trace of friendliness or courtesy in Nort Fandi's curt tone. Obi-Wan and Anakin boarded the freighter and found seats. In just a few minutes, Nort Fandi and two crew members joined them. Within seconds, they blasted off toward the BioCruiser.
'Will you be taking us directly to Uni?' Obi-Wan asked Nort Fandi.
He did not turn. 'No. You will be given instructions.'
He did not say another word. As they approached the BioCruiser, hatch doors slid open in the main ship and Obi-Wan saw the landing area. Nort Fandi slid the freighter inside. The engines powered down.
A short woman in the same pale blue unigarment stood waiting as they walked down the ramp.
'I am Deleta,' she said. 'I am to show you to your cabins.'
'Will we meet with Uni after that?' Obi-Wan asked.
Deleta led them to a bank of turbolifts. 'He will contact you shortly.'
Obi-Wan picked up no fear or anxiety in the many beings they passed on the way to their sleeping quarters. There were beings from across the galaxy, some wearing the same pale blue garments, some in tunics, some sporting a headdress or leggings from their home worlds. They appeared busy andcalm, and he could discern no evidence of thought control. Their gazes were clear and focused as they regarded Obi-Wan and Anakin with lively curiosity.
The Jedi's quarters were small and spare, but with a shared small library, a cubicle for showering, and even a small cooler with fresh juices and snacks.
'Meals will be brought to you,' Deleta said. 'Do not wander the ship alone. If you wish a tour, one will be arranged for you shortly.'
'How can I contact Uni?' Obi-Wan asked.
'He will contact you shortly,' Deleta answered serenely, and left.
'So what do you think 'shortly' means here on the cruiser?' Anakin grumbled. He lay back on his sleep-couch on his elbows, his expression sulky.'A year? More?'
'It's been two days,' Obi-Wan said. 'Each mission takes its own time.' He repeated the words automatically. Like Anakin, he, too, felt frustrated. Any additional requests he had made to speak to Uni or even to get a tour of the ship had met with the same 'You will be contacted shortly.' When he and Anakin had ventured out on their own, they had been politely and firmly escorted back to their quarters and told they would be contacted… 'shortly.'
At first Obi-Wan had been reluctant to press the issue. They were guests of the BioCruiser, and he never liked to start out a mission by being insistent. But he had his limits, and he had reached them. Obi-Wan pressed the button on the built-in message console. As always, he was addressed by a pleasant, neutral voice.
'May I be of service?'
