2.3k words

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Zygerria

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One week later

(Y/n)'s POV
"Hurry up Lola, I'm going to be late ," I shouted at my droid who was flying about a foot behind me as I ran down the halls as quickly as I could.

Lola is a fast little droid, but right now, I was faster. I was running like the devil was at my heels because Anakin already warned me more than a dozen times yesterday that if I was late to this meeting, it'd be the last thing I was late for — his words.

It's been a week already since the separatist attack and our little prison escape, and things have relatively fallen back into their normal rhythm. Of course we had funerals for the fallen, which consisted of about ten of our own, but we were extremely lucky it wasn't more.

Also, Anakin and I had our talk with Yoda the next morning after our escape and he explained it was because someone stepped up and corroborated Anakin's side of the story, but didn't tell us who. Anakin talked about it for at least three days after that, trying his hardest to think of who could have seen since no one else was around. Eventually he let it go and hasn't talked about it since.

Then there was my dream that I still think about, the one involving that hooded boy in the hallway who held Anakin's eyes... or at least I think it was a dream. I know he himself is real, but that specific moment is a blur, plus him having Anakin's eyes made no sense to me. So, I chalked it up to my dream-world placing the two together somehow, which isn't out of the ordinary when it comes to dreams — many things can blend together.

I quickly turned a corner towards the briefing room and made one last sprint before stopping just outside the door. I took a few seconds to catch my breath and to allow Lola to catch up to me. Then, I waved the doors open and stepped inside, doing my best to hide my frantic breathing.

As soon as I walked in, Anakin—who was standing around the hologram table with a few other Jedi and council members—shifted his gaze to me and his eyes narrowed. I could tell by the glare he was giving me that I was in fact late...

I gave a few awakened smiles to the others in the room and a quick wave to Master Kenobi and Ahsoka before quickly standing by Anakin's side, "You're late." He mumbled through clenched teeth while tilting his body slightly in my direction.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "I would have been on time, but just as I was coming here Madame Jocasta Nu asked for my help to—"

"Not my problem." He cut me off with a quick side-eye before he turned his attention to the hologram in front of us as Master Secura spoke of a mission.

'Not my problem? I'll remember that the next time you come crawling to my room in the middle of the night because you don't want to be alone.' I said through our connection as I looked ahead at the hologram.

It's something we've practiced on using once we realized we could do it. It's not perfect yet and we can only communicate if we're in the same room, but I feel like we've had a decent amount of progress — and I wanted to note that he made me promise not to tell anyone about what we can do, so I haven't... except for Ahsoka, but that's already to be expected.

I could see Anakin turn to glare at me through my peripheral vision, but I pretended that I didn't notice. Eventually he looked away after clearing his throat, 'That was one time, so don't act like you're special. I'll go to someone's else's room if need be.' He snapped back.

I snorted, which earned me a few funny looks, but they soon went back to the mission discussion after I played it off as me having a tickle in my throat. 'Go ahead. Just let me know who they are beforehand so I can warn them that you fart in your sleep.'

"I do not!" He shouted out loud instead of in his head, causing the entire meeting to be put on pause as every pair of eyes in the room turned to Anakin.

"You do not what?" Master Kenobi furrowed his brows in confusion.

Anakin stood there for a moment with wide eyes after realizing what he just did, "Uh," He looked around before awkwardly coming up with a quick like, "Agree, I do not agree with this plan." He then smiled like it was the best lie he's ever come up with.

Every person in the room now looked confused beyond belief, even Master Yoda tilted his head in confusion, "Anakin," Master Kenobi folded his arms over his chest, "This is your plan."

"Uh," His smile faltered, "Yeah, I know but I think we should change a few things."

"Well alright," Kenobi nodded in his direction, "Share what you think we should change."

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"I am this close to giving you a matching scar on the other side of your face," My Master groaned in annoyance as we exited the briefing room together.

"Wha-" I threw my hands in the air in annoyance, "You're the one who shouted, how is that my fault?" I whined as Lola buzzed next to me and beeped in agreement.

Anakin glared at her, "I wasn't talking to you Lola," He then rolled his eyes before looking back at me, "Just go grab some breakfast to-go and meet me at the shipping dock, we have to leave as soon as possible."

I furrowed my brows while stopping in the middle of the hall, "Where are we going?" I asked. He paused as well and turned to face me with an expression of utter disbelief.

"Were you not paying attention at all in there?" He nearly shouted, but lowered his voice once he realized the attention he was drawing from others walking by.

I shook my head in response to his question, I mean I tried to pay attention but I was too busy trying not to laugh as he fumbled over his words after his mini outburst. He made himself look really stupid and it was a delight to see.

"Dear god," He rubbed his temples momentarily before dropping his hands down, "We're going to Zygerria, a colony of Togrutas have gone missing and Master Mundi believes the Zygerians are behind it since they are known to have done something like this before." His voice dripped with hatred with each word, and I knew why. Zygerrians are known to be heavily involved in slave trafficking.

"Okay, I'll be on the ship in no more than ten minutes," I said respectfully. Although pushing his buttons is fun, I decided to put a cap on my attitude for now. This has to be difficult for him and it probably brings back old and unwanted memories, "Did you want me to bring you anything?"

He narrowed his eyes, "What did I tell you about treating me differently?" He spat, clearly seeing my sympathy for him.

"I was just being polite," I rolled my eyes before spinning around and heading towards the mess hall, "But if you'd rather starve since we most likely won't eat the rest of the day, be my guest." If it's attitude he wants, then he can have his wish.

I heard him sigh heavily in annoyance, "A fruit cup and milk, regular." He mumbled.

I turned my head, "That's it?"

He nodded, "That's all I need."

I shrugged and turned back around as I went to get our breakfast, "I'll get him a little extra since I know he'll end up picking off of my plate," I said to Lola who spun in agreement with me, "You know you're going to have to stay back though right?"

She turned quickly until her blue eye faced me, and I didn't think it was possible to read facial expressions on a droid, but I just knew she was giving me a look of disbelief. I was right too because she immediately started to beep in protest.

I chuckled, "Okay fine, you can come on the ship ride, but you'll have to stay in the ship at all times, understand?" I raised a brow. She seemed happy with my compromise and didn't complain further. I have truly grown to adore this droid, it's the best gift I've ever gotten, including the nightlight.

I reached the mess hall and grabbed breakfast for both Anakin and I, completely cutting the line and not giving a damn what the others had to say, "Sorry," I smirked condescendingly at the group of familiar faces, ones that have been known to bully me as the masterless padawan and label me as the killer of Master Ti, "Master Skywalker is in a hurry."

I took the breakfast and spun around to leave, but froze in place when I heard a comment that boiled my blood, "Try not to kill this one."

I turned back around, anger in my eyes, "Who said that?" I've taken their crap for too long, and I was done. I feel like I have Anakin to thank for that, being around him has thickened my skin.

No one said anything, but a few of them laughed to themselves. I narrowed my eyes and the laughter instantly died down, their ones humored expressions replaced by fear.

I was about to be smug for a second there, thinking it was me who got them afraid. But when I heard someone speaking from behind me, I knew the real reason why they cowered down.

"I believe my Padawan asked a question, and I myself am curious as well." Anakin walked past me with his hands behind his back, taking small strides towards the group of Padawans and younglings, "Who said that?"

'You don't have to do this, I can fight my own battles.' I told him via our connection.

'I know you can, but I'm already here.'

When no one gave him an answer, I saw his finger twitch behind his back, causing all of their trays to fly out of their hands. Some of them were empty, but there were also some that had food that was now spilled everywhere, including on their clothing.

The mess hall that previously had an echo of dozens of voices, was now silenced, "Wow what a mess," Anakin chuckled as he looked down at the food covered floor surrounding their feet, "Now you can all get on your hands and knees and clean it, or you can tell me who made that comment to her." He nudged his head towards me.

Instantly about six of them pointed to a boy in the group who looked terrified.

Anakin walked up to him and bent down to whisper something in his ear. As each second passed, the boy's face grew more and more fear-filled, until it looked like he was on the brink of tears. Then, my Master stood back up straight and stepped over the food to the woman at the counter, "Can I have two sugar packets please." He smiled sweetly.

She nodded and handed them to him, "You better have someone clean that up Skywalker, because I'm not." She shook her head at him with a sigh.

"Don't worry Laura, Adam over there will clean it. Won't you Adam?" Anakin looked right at the one who made the comment to me.

Adam nodded quickly, "Yes sir."

"Good," Anakin smiled again and turned towards me, "Let's go. And if anyone else makes a comment like that to her again, you'll be dealing with me." He said as he walked past me and I followed behind him with Lola pursuing as well.

As soon as we were out into the hall, I turned my head and looked up at him, "You didn't have to do that, but thank you." I was grateful, no one has ever stood up for me like that, except for Ahsoka.

He didn't say anything for a few seconds, before he looked at me from the corner of his eye, "From personal experience, they were never gonna stop until someone of higher authority put the fear of God into them. Obi-Wan did it for me, so now I did it for you." He shifted his gaze forward and we continued walking side by side in silence.

Until again, I broke that silence, "How did you know I'd need you?"

"I didn't," He held up the sugar packets, "I forgot to tell you I wanted these for the fruit. Which reminds me," He turned his head fully and looked at my wrist, "Where is your comlink? I called you five times." He shifted his eyes up to mine.

I grimaced, remembering exactly where I left it, "Crap, it's on my nightstand."

He sighed and took the breakfast from my hands, "Go get it, I'll be at the ship waiting."

"Yes Master," I went to go a different direction than him, but I turned around to face him while continuing to walk backwards, "Hey what did you say to Adam that made him cry."

Immediately he smirked, "I just told him that he needed to behave himself and what I would do to him if he didn't."

I raised my brows, "So, you threatened him?"

With no hesitation, he nodded, "Yup, now hurry up and run, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are waiting for us."

My eyes widened with excitement, "They're coming too?"

He rolled his eyes in annoyance, "You really need to start paying attention Padawan. I also have an outfit for you that you're not going to like." He said before turning a corner, out of my sight.

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I'm so excited for the next few chapters. ❤️
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