Star Wars: Akima

Chapter Five: A Return To War

Well the day I was dreading had finally come, for it was the end of my time at the Temple and a return to the Clone Wars. I awoke early form another rather restless night and packed my things, making sure I had everything I needed for the long term. Most of which consisted of some scrolls for meditation and lightsaber forms, a few datapads some of which I admit were more for leisure though some were for helping translate alien languages. Not that I needed it of course as I was already fluent in many alien languages, though it was good to have a refresher every now and then. 

Huyang even made sure that I had some extra components, to work on my lightsaber out in the field or if I got bored which would be difficult. He encouraged that the more I worked on my saber, the more I would bond with it after all my lightsaber was my life. I left my quarters for what I hoped wasn't the last time, and walked out to the shuttle pad outside the temple to find my master already waiting for me.

"Morning Master sorry I'm late" my master had already packed from what I could see. Though he appeared to have far less then me, which I wanted to think made some kind of sense. Though looking more closely, it seemed that he managed to pack all of his belongings into a small bag which he had slung over his shoulder.

"And a good morning to you as well my Padawan and you are not late, rather early as a matter of fact its this shuttle that is late" I looked out to the pad and indeed saw it was empty, It was a fairly calm morning all things considered. However it wasn't too busy well by Coruscant  standards anyways, but there should have at least been one shuttle. 

After a few minutes of waiting the shuttle had finally come and we were off, I sat quietly in my seat and glanced at the quickly shrinking temple, until it disappeared from view now hidden behind the vast city's traffic. 

"You are unnaturally quiet Cora, are you feeling alright?" My Master's voice broke me from my trance, I hadn't even realized that I was so silent I suppose I again fell victim to being lost in my thoughts. 

"Yes Master its just I have a lot on my mind at the minute, I apologize for that I know I should focus on what's ahead."

"Don't forget Cora we are Jedi yes but even more we are humans not emotionless droids, if you have something you wish to talk about I'm here." Hearing him say that really got to me If it was Master Windu, I bet he'd  say I should keep my head focused and my mind centered. But not my Master I knew I could confide in him, about anything on my mind. He was one of few that understood me, on a much more deeper level. Probably because he actually sought to get to know me, it was always like that especially in the beginning in many ways he may even see us as equals.

Eventually we reached the Spaceport after a fairly quick ride, though it was quick because I dozed off for a bit. I did say that I had a restless night and given I did not have time for morning meditation I was quite exhausted, but the nap did help to replenish some of my energy not by much but enough to keep me walking. My master remained awake in a sort of thoughtful daze, part of me wanted to ask him what was on his mind. He always asked about how I was doing or how I was feeling, But I don't often ask him of how he is though I knew I should more times then most especially after his arguments with the council. 

"Our shuttle is this way thankfully they are waiting for just us." I sighed a breath of relief for I knew we didn't have to wait for this one, shuttles for republic transports were fairly quick and even quicker for Jedi.

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Usually we'd directly be boarding the ship by now after passing the security checkpoint, but as our Venator was already in orbit the shuttle would take us up there. Usually it would be a long wait but being Jedi, not to mention being in the presence of a Jedi Master has its special privileges. 

"We'll be briefed on our mission once we reach the ship Cora." Even I could sense the cold way my Master said this. As I mentioned before we didn't like being seen as soldiers, we were Jedi yet this war was slowly changing us and not for the better. 

Sometimes I even felt like me and my Master were the only true Jedi left, and I knew that because of this war. My Jedi Trails would take even longer to complete, meaning I would be a Padawan for a little while longer. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted but distinct chirping and beeping sounds in my bag, much to my utter shock as I could not believe what I was hearing. 

"JD?!, what are you doing here?, I told you to stay behind at the temple." I exclaimed as my little droid freed himself from my bag, and floated a mere few feet form my face though saw I wasn't happy.

"JD-4 makes several quick chirps and beeps followed by a low beep, and then a long high beep." 

"I know you'd miss me but where we are going is very dangerous, you never listen to me you should have waited at the temple like I said." I didn't mean to sound so mean to him but I knew I did, as JD lowered himself and made a sad sounding beep. Then he floated over to my Master and beeped a few times, I tried to stop him yet I still had my bag open. 

"Ah you must be JD-4 my Padawan has told me quite a bit about you, did you sneak into her bag to come with us?" I was surprised that my Master was more amused, then annoyed at our little stowaway. Even so JD rested himself in my Master's hand, as he chuckled lightly at his playfulness. 

"What a curious little droid he is Cora yet loyal at the same time, he has to be if he snuck into your bag." 

"You mean trouble maker is more like it Master he always follows me, yet I told him to stay at the temple." 

"I see no harm in him accompanying us besides its too late, to return to the temple to drop him off though I would advise he stay on the ship during missions. Wouldn't want him to be on the battlefield where he could be damaged, you hear that little droid here on out be mindful of your master." JD made a few quick whistles and beeps before he returned to my hand much to my annoyance. 

Though he ignored my words in away I was actually happy, that he decided to sneak into my bag. It can get quite lonely in the ships quarters, and JD would surely help remedy that well enough. However I wouldn't let him know that, then he would  find the excuse to never let me out of his sensors. 

"Okay you win, into the bag you trouble maker you're lucky my Master said you could join us." JD then chirped loudly before returning to my bag, and rustling around its contents before going still. It was at that point I knew, that he entered low power mode a droids version of sleep if you can call it that. Though I hated him for that since I bet he was getting better sleep then I could have, As me and my Master then boarded our next shuttle, that would take us to our ship back into the thick of things as they would say.