"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."
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.