(The Next Day)
The vessel we'd been waiting all these weeks for proved to be the Argent Bulwark. It was a heavily modified KR-TB "Doomtreader" .
My pilot's eyes easily picked out the five additional military-grade deflector shield nodes running in sequence along the spine of the ship.
The fuse-tempered durasteel sheath armor plating, and triple-redundancy repulsors to aid it's flight during adverse atmospheric conditions.
There was also evidence the factory sub-light engines had been upgraded, but it was the two banks of rotating quad-laser batteries which had replaced the standard pair of forward and aft-mounted laser cannons which were the most overt changes to the ship's profile.
Finally, there were the anti-missile and torpedo point-defense bubbles beneath each of the hammer-headed craft's broad wings. With it's Class 2 Hyperdrive, what had begun life as a light freighter as fast as it was robust had become a small flying fortress.
One capable of enduring nearly anything it might encounter in-flight. At least long enough to escape into hyperspace.
"Impressive, even the stock Doomtreaders are extremely robust ships, but this refit could probably bull it's way through a field of sky-mines without suffering any major damage.
All the extra inertial dampening provided by the after-market repulsor additions mean anyone on board would only perceive the simultaneous detonations of a half-dozen such mines as moderate turbulence.
There's no atmosphere surrounding a planet that people can walk on unassisted that the Argent Bulwark couldn't handle effortlessly" I murmured to my Master as we walked side by side at the end of the Jedi contingent now boarding.
"That's why it took so long for the factors of the High Council to negotiate the Argent Bulwark's acquisition. The Order's need to purchase the vessel from it's own seldom tapped savings.
As opposed to a budgeted-for requisition from the Republic, meant we couldn't use government suppliers. Not when any of them might be taking a page from the Republic Sienar Systems/Legends playbook to install surveillance devices" Dark Woman quietly murmured back.
Favoring me with a meaningful glance which seemed to say "See? We might be blind at times, but the Jedi aren't fools."
We boarded the ship, and I soon got my next surprise. The interior was nearly all colored the same dull silver as the outside of the ship, and had obviously undergone just as extensive a refit as the exterior components of the vessel had.
All the way fore were durasteel blast double-doors protecting the pilot's compartment, and to either side of those were advanced communication and scanning stations that had been added from the ground up to a freighter which would otherwise possess only rudimentary versions of each.
For security reasons, droids were manning both stations. Running the length of the two-abreast walkway, there were two compartments on the left, and one on the right because of what I recognized as a secondary fusion reactor linked to the redundant repulsors taking up a chunk of the bulkhead down aft and to the right.
I didn't see any of the other Jedi besides my Master at my side and Yoda. Who was standing in front of the door on the right as he looked intently up at me.
"With me, young Skywalker, you will bunk. Answers, we each from the other might glean. The wisdom or folly of silence, included." Other than the announcement about the sleeping arrangements, the rest was much more invitation than command.
I glanced helplessly at my Master. Who only shrugged slightly as she pointed out "This is his expedition, and he is the Grandmaster.
You'll notice the sass I lob the High Council's way is never directed toward Master Yoda, so I suggest you make your peace with the idea rapidly. Besides, you really need to begin internalizing the notion you can open up to someone beyond me, Anakin."
With that she glided gracefully toward the compartment furthest fore and to the right. Disappearing through the silver door without a glance backward as soon as it opened. Once it hissed shut, I was alone with the oldest and most powerful Jedi in existence.
Trying to figure out what I should do about him all but announcing he knew I was hiding things.
The tap-tap-tapping of Yoda's walking stick sounded like the ticking detonator of a bomb to me, as the ancient Jedi hobbled through the open cabin door to disappear within. Left with no other viable choices, I followed him inside the minimalistically appointed compartment.
Noting the small cot with simple white sheets and a gray comforter in the room's far left corner. The circular meditation seat at the foot of said cot, and the padded armchair standing opposite that seat.
A glance to my right from my position just inside the doorway revealed a larger bunk. One with a small bucket full of round gray meditation stones at it's foot.
The door to the cabin's fresher stood closed a couple steps past the bucket, but it was the large table in the middle of the room and it's built-in comm unit that stood out the most of the room's furnishings.
I noticed a few other details, like a small food-refrigeration unit immediately left of the door, with it's plate and cutlery storage just above it, but these were in passing things. It was the Grandmaster's gaze I could feel on me like a palpable contact. All but forcing me to meet his gaze and acknowledge him.
"You knew I was nudging you toward leading this mission, but you not only went along with it. You brought my Master and I with you. Why, Master Yoda?" I'd decided I wasn't getting out of this without some measure of disclosure, so now was as good a time as any to begin.
Obviously not surprised by the speed of my confession. The diminutive green alien climbed up onto his meditation seat, settled himself, then lifted his walking stick to point it's tip at the chair opposite him.
Once I'd dropped into the chair without taking my eyes off the riddle wrapped in an enigma sitting across from me, Yoda replied in a quiet, forthright manner.
"When more than eight hundred and fifty years old, you are. Shatterpoints without a natural talent, you too will perceive."
I felt my cheeks grow warm, as I belatedly grew aware of just how arrogant I'd been. Believing I could put one over on Yoda of all people. Still, there was a reason he hadn't had my braid ripped off for something like Assault With a Metaphysical Weapon.
Meaning it only made sense that learning this reason would explain why the incredibly powerful Jedi seemed amused rather than outraged. Before I could ask a question to that effect, he seemed to change the subject.
It wouldn't be until I considered the totality of this conversation later, that I'd realize he was answering my question before I'd asked it.
"A report from Ossus, I received. Knowledge of the happenings there, I need not explain, hmm?" The statement coupled with the follow-up question couldn't possibly have been more leading.
Announcing without actually saying so that he knew it had been me who persuaded Masters Dooku and Sifo-Dyas to have the area immediately northeast of the place where the Great Library checked out by a Jedi.
It had taken getting my Master involved, but eventually the pair were convinced to reach out to an old friend of Sifo-Dyas's in the Exploration Corps.
"Doing my best to ensure Master Bnar would be rescued was the right thing to do" I replied evenly. Keeping my answer simple and direct, because the idea of lying to the ancient Jedi Master was laughable.
I'd hoped that Master Dooku and Sifo-Dyas might be able to keep my name unconnected to the rescue, but realized that had been a vain hope from the very beginning.
"I really shouldn't be surprised the members of the various Jedi Service Corps lack the unquestioned freedom of movement that Jedi Knights and Masters possess." It was a reasonable state of affairs, because most members of the Service Corps weren't highly trained combatants.
The Order needed to know where they were, else where would a Sentinel begin looking, if trouble befell them?
Ever perceptive, Yoda seemed to sense my disappointment. He cocked his head to the side quizzically, as he observed in a very neutral manner "Pleased, many a Padawan would be. By the knowledge their actions would be recognized. Anonymous, you hoped to remain. Why?"
I took a deep breath, but this was an easy one. "I was taught to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do" I said it simply. Realizing it was probably one of the best, truest sentences I'd ever spoken. Noticing Yoda seemed to be waiting for something more, I couldn't help admitting.
"I would prefer being known for the character traits behind my choices, rather than having people think they know me because they can recall my most easily sensationalized decisions."
The smile on the small Grandmaster's lined face was brief and followed by another hmm, but I felt as if I'd passed some kind of test.
"The bunk behind you, yours is. Time for my meditation, it is" Yoda suddenly and rather abruptly stated. It was a clear dismissal that momentarily threw me, but I quickly rose from the chair and moved to the bunk.
I'd recently begun levitating eight to ten stones like the ones in the bucket at the foot of the bed like the older Padawans as I meditated, but I was having a difficult time getting started. Unanswered questions rattled around in my head, but I resolutely began setting them aside. Even as I wondered if this was another test.
My first attempt to raise all ten stones in a stable, sustainable manner was a failure. Three of the hard spheres clattering to the deck plating as errant questions intruded on my focus. Gritting my teeth, I began again.
Conscious of a certain Jedi Master's silent amusement as I did so. Something I supposed I'd earned, because I never stopped pushing myself. A practice I didn't believe my cabin-mate was a big believer in.
"You've already had something like nine centuries to go slow and steady, Grandmaster. I need to be able to out-fight Dark Jedi Weaponmasters before my twenty-fifth life-day.
Not a necessity leaving a lot of room for an easygoing training schedule" I silently growled.
Focusing with the drive that sustained me when nothing else did to get those stone up and steady around me. If the galaxy burned about me, it wasn't going to be because I hadn't done everything I possibly could to stop it.
Eventually, I succeeded as my breathing deepened and my thoughts were submerged in the low humming of the Force. There'd be time for curiosity and continued questions later. Right now, there was as always the never ending Training Itinerary.
...
I'll appreciate if you guys can throw some power stones to keep the story going.
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