[fic/rp] across the galaxy

[morally_cryptic]

[ooc: Just prompted by a little mental image of Anakin "stargazing" that popped to mind earlier.]

On Coruscant, it was impossible to see the stars, even if one was looking out from the Council room at the top of the Jedi Temple. An unfortunate side effect of so much light from so many buildings and various forms of transport speeding around the airways. Not to mention that there was simply so much starship traffic, one likely wouldn't be able to tell the lights of ships from the field of stars behind them anyway.

Anakin had discovered this unfortunate fact not long after he came to live at the Jedi temple. He'd thought that, surely, so close to the center of the galaxy, the sky would be full of stars to see that he'd never been able to see before on Tatooine. Instead it turned out that perhaps the only thing that was better about Tatooine than Coruscant was that the desert planet was so sparsely inhabited and that the skies were so clear. Even out on the Rim, the sky was full of stars and the spiral arm of the galaxy could be clearly seen arcing across it.

He didn't try to watch the night sky on Coruscant anymore, but he still kept up the habit of at least looking for a moment whenever he found himself on a new planet. At the center of the Republic, however, he has to content himself with substitutes.

Which is why he can be found in an empty classroom surrounded by a holographic rendering of the galaxy. He's been spending all afternoon, so far, carefully marking off different star systems in various designated colors. Technically the entire exercise could be done by a computer but that wasn't Anakin's purpose in doing it. It requires concentration, but it doesn't require him to spend much effort in actually thinking so the whole activity is almost meditative.

The first batch of colored systems is simple: yellow for those that Anakin has already been to. Naboo might possibly be a subtly brighter yellow than all the rest, as if he'd lingered on that one for a moment longer than the others. He'd once told Qui-Gon he was going to see them all and certainly he had a better start on most other inhabitants of the galaxy, but it was still extraordinarily minute compared to the sheer number of systems represented on the map.

The second batch are green, signifying systems where battles of the Clone War have been fought and the Republic retained (or gained) control. Another group are blue, for the Separatist-won battles.

And finally, there's a sprinkling of red dots across the galaxy, mostly concentrated Rimward, and these are for those systems where battles are currently raging. Places he should be where he could be doing some good and making a difference. Staring at those flashes of red, it was almost enough to have him just commandeering a starfighter and heading out somewhere...anywhere. After making sure orders somehow just happened to make it through the system so that Rex and the 501st would be meeting him, of course.

But it wasn't, quite, enough. Contrary to some people's beliefs, he did have enough self-awareness to recognize that any action along those lines would likely not end well. That didn't mean he didn't still feel the temptation and it's that thought that has him swiping a hand through the starfield and systematically clearing everything out again until only dots of yellow remain on the map. He stares at those longest before they're wiped clean as well.

Comments

*ded* >.<

[master_obiwan]

"Only if they insist on boarding the ship. Otherwise tunics should be sufficient." He's giving Anakin a sidelong look. "Though if anyone will be setting any Thyferran fashion trends it would be you. You're far more photogenic than I am."

His fan base may vociferously refute that.

[morally_cryptic]

"Oh, Master," he grins, "that's only because you grew out that beard, didn't you know?"

They'll be dropping out of hyperspace soon enough but that's still plenty of time to tease Obi-Wan.

[master_obiwan]

"I don't understand why everyone dislikes my beard. It makes me look distinguished." And by everyone he means Anakin and a certain duchess. "Besides, I look far too young without it. No one would take me seriously."

[morally_cryptic]

[ooc: You forgot a certain fellow Jedi, Obi-Wan. He's such a player. =P]

Anakin reaches up to stroke his chin thoughtfully in a somewhat unintentional mimicry of Obi-Wan and his beard, "hmm. Maybe I should work on one, then."

[master_obiwan]

[he's convinced that that fellow Jedi likes the beard. And I bet she has some choice words for said duchess.]

"If you think it would help," he replies with a smirk.

[morally_cryptic]

[It's just as well that Siri hasn't been sent to Mandalore.]

"There's only one way to find out."

Though really if truth be told, it would likely take quite a while and Anakin would get fed up on waiting for it to grow in properly. He's never had too much difficulty in keeping clean-shaven, after all.

And then the instrument board lights up with a warning that they're about to come out of hyperspace. "Here's hoping for a friendly greeting."

[master_obiwan]

[Which means she needs to be sent to Mandalore ;p]

"Tell you what, I'll shave if you grow a beard."

As the ship beeps at them, Obi-Wan sobers almost immediately. "This is only the first check-point; we'll record every interaction from here to Taris. If we make it to the planet, we should have a good base-line to work from on our way out to see if anything changes."

[morally_cryptic]

[/facedesk]

"You're on," he watches as the light of hyperspace out of the viewport turns back into the expected starfield, "after the mission is over."

Of course, if Obi-Wan shaved, they could probably have claimed to be brothers.

"Recording and sensors on." He points ahead at the presumed space station they'll have to pass to move closer to the planet, "they really do mean business, don't they?"

[master_obiwan]

"The CNS takes their neutrality very seriously," Obi-Wan agrees.

The comm chirrups, and Obi-Wan opens the channel.

"This is Border Station One. State your name and business."

"This is Owen Kymeri of the Thyferran merchant ship Knytix, bearing a shipment of bacta for Taris."

what...not Ben?

[morally_cryptic]

"Hold your course, Knytix, we'll get back to you."

Anakin leans back in his chair and shrugs, "now we see how good our covers are."

Re: what...not Ben?

[master_obiwan]

"The should hold," Obi-Wan assures him. "At least, they'd better."

They don't have to wait long until, "You're cleared for entry, Knytix,. Please proceed on the following course to the next station."

so...disturbance in the Force time?

[morally_cryptic]

"Nothing to be worried about," he grins and starts moving in toward the next checkpoint.

Disturbance in the Force Time, yes :)

[master_obiwan]

Obi-Wan answers Anakin's grin with a tiny smile of his own. They pass the second and third checkpoints without incident, but Obi-Wan's unease seems to increase with every parsec they cross.

"This is too easy," he says softly. "I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this." Which means their prediction that It's a trap! it's a trap might actually be true.

[morally_cryptic]

"You and me both," he frowns down at the scanners. Suddenly his head comes up, "there's something coming."

Not that it's on the scanners so much as that feeling suddenly got a lot more ominous.

[master_obiwan]

"Yes, there is. The question is, what is it?" He stares out the viewport as if trying to make something out in the far distance. "You may want to be ready on those controls. We might need some fancy flying."

He shoots a glance over at Anakin. "Unless we want to get caught?"

[morally_cryptic]

Anakin sighs, "and I made all these modifications too..."

Then he looks over and meets Obi-Wan's gaze, "but how else are we going to find out what we're up against?"

Of course, the didn't preclude a little fancy flying.

[master_obiwan]

Before Obi-Wan can say anything, the sensors draw their attention as a ship falls out of hyperspace nearby. "Well, we'd better made a decision quickly. I say make a show of it. We don't want to look like we're giving up too easily."

[morally_cryptic]

"Then I'll make with the evasive maneuvers," not that they've actually started shooting yet.

If said evasive maneuver doesn't actually take them far away at all well...they did want to get caught.

[master_obiwan]

"Easy...let's see what they do."

The comm-board lights up, almost in response to Obi-Wan's comment. Obi-Wan pushed the button, and a female voice responds: "Transport Knytix, prepared to be boarded. Resistance will be met with force."

[morally_cryptic]

"Unidentified ship, to what do we owe the pleasure?" He couldn't resist, okay.

Obi-Wan gets an expectant look, "are we still waiting to see what they do or should we be expecting a tractor beam any second now?"

[master_obiwan]

That earns a warning shot across their bow.

"Right, then," Obi-Wan says quietly. "Begin evasive maneuvers; let's see how badly they want us."

[morally_cryptic]

"On it," he smiles out the viewport at the other ship and starts putting their freighter through its paces.

"It's not a starfighter, but it'll do."

And certainly he makes a good go of it, though their would-be boarders actually seem to be making him work for it. "Someone's a hot hand with a stick," he mutters and it's actually a little difficult to remember for a moment that he's supposed to let them get caught. A little bit of injury to his ego that he can't make this a real competition.

Finally, though, a shot penetrates their shields and takes out their engines. "Oh no," Anakin says, deadpan, "we're doomed."

[master_obiwan]

"Oh dear, whatever shall we do?" Obi-Wan replies in kind.

As the ship settles into the routine of being hauled in by the pirates - or whatever they are - he slides out of his seat with a tiny stretch. "Well, let's lock the ship down and go see who's captured us. And remember, no lightsabres until absolutely necessary. We have a cover to maintain."

When the inevitable chime at the airlock requests permission to board, Obi-Wan's there to meet it with an appropriate expression that's half indignation, and half frightened. The two men that precede the boarding party are definitely the hired muscle, meant more for show than security.

The woman that follows is around Obi-Wan's height, athletic build, with short, brown hair. She's dressed in black, tight-fitting pants, a black sleeveless, form-fitting shirt, with black thigh-high boots. A blaster is strapped to her leg, and she looks like the type to be highly proficient in its usage. Obviously she likes to make an impression.

"There now," she says in greeting, "that wasn't so hard, was it?"

i'm picturing anakin didn't bother to wear a glove for this trip

[morally_cryptic]

"Who knows, maybe we'll get out of this without using them at all," Anakin drawls as he stands and moves to follow Obi-Wan toward the airlock. Of course he believes no such thing.

Anakin isn't exactly hired muscle, but he does have a good scowl going and enough height to make him register as a possible threat. Just as well he's not carrying any weapons since it might make people...twitchy.

"Not so hard would have been you letting us get on with our business," Anakin retorts.

He crosses his arms and drums the fingers of his mechanical hand against his bicep, "is this the part where you tell us there's a toll?" Being the distraction at least gives Obi-Wan the opportunity to see if he can sense anyone else on that ship.

The woman smiles at him coolly, "if that makes you feel better. I like to think of it as a one-hundred percent tax for the use of this airspace."

That would definite cause a stir...Robo Claw to the rescue?

[master_obiwan]

Obi-Wan senses an inward reaction to Anakin's mechanical hand from the two guards, but they hide it well. And as far as anyone else being on the ship, he does note at least three others. One seems farther removed than the others, which places him or her as the pilot; the other two are closer, and probably waiting for the signal to start unloading cargo.

"So how does this work, then?" Obi-Wan asks, playing his usual, less intimidating role against Anakin's threatening presence. "You take all our belongings and then let us go? Forcing us to arrive on Taris as disgraced merchants is hardly worth the time and effort."

The woman gives Obi-Wan a side-long appraisal. "Oh, I never said anything about letting you go. One-hundred percent means everything. You, your ship, and your cargo."