Undertaken (#Wattys2015) (Star Wars)

Chapter 10 -Status Critical

Sunshine creeped through the treetops to reach lower grounds of the planet. The earth started to warm up and regain its heat from the cold night. Darkness got replaced by light as the sun climbed higher on the sky. Dawns on Dagobah were both nice and useful after cold nights.

Bost Highhold was long awake by the time Alpha woke up. Being the clone soldier he is, it didn't bother him to wake up early.

He glanced around to see Bost sitting a bit further away on the ground. The boy was in a crossed-leg position with his lightsaber on his lap. His eyes were closed and it seemed like he was focusing, or at least tried to.

The Force is not visible. It's in you, you born with it.

Bost was indeed, calling for the Force. After Anakin's brief explaining yesterday, he was almost sure he can do it. Although he never thought about himself as a Jedi, it all seemed to be possible now. The dark blue lightsaber, the Sith haunting him...

Alpha watched as the boy tried to focus, yet with no success. He was buried in his thoughts about him. First, the two Jedi commanders felt a "disturbance in the Force" once he was around. Then his story. His unusual lightsaber. Alpha was absolutely sure this boy could be something more, despite that he'd only learned about military strategies. It was common sense. The boy was different.

He was broken out of his thoughts once the two Jedi generals were waking up. Anakin Skywalker's eyelashes felt heavy, he tried to open up his eyes. Obi-Wan sat up on the ground and studied the surroundings. None of them were fully awake yet.

"Morning sir," Alpha stood up. Anakin sat up next to his Master. "Morning Alpha." He let a yawn escape from his mouth.

Bost watched as they were waking, then walked towards them. Leaves cracked under his shoes as he approached the two Jedi.

"Good morning."

"Morning Bost," Smiled Obi-Wan. "What a nigh. Who else was freezing?"

"Me," Said Anakin.

"Good thing we had sleeping bags," His Master turned back to Bost. "It's six fourty-five, you said the droids start at seven,"

"Right," The boy nodded, "I know a place where we could be safe. It's not too far."

"Please lead us," Obi-Wan guestured towards the path. He and Anakin grabbed their backpacks and began to follow Bost.

The way was barely fifteen minutes, but it felt like lightyears. Dagobah wasn't provided with continuous roads or even paths, it was mostly high grass and mud. The team had to cross puddles and ermous mud fields to approach the place Bost had mentioned. They walked across nature -in all forms.

Eventually, after they've walked through mud in the deep forest and high grass in the hot open, shadows started to cover their path again. The grassy area without trees was an embarassing part as they were all wearing long Jedi robes, Alpha his full body armour. The sun was burning, so the sight of the shadowy trees was a relief.

They were following the boy without a word for a few more minutes until a humongous tree was visible in the distance. Its large leaves didn't let any sunlight to get past it, its trunk was extremely wide. It was the highest tree Anakin've ever seen.

Once they've approached the natural phenomenon, Bost had stopped. "We're here."

The Jedi were looking at the tree.

"There's an opening a bit higher," Bost pointed upwards. And yes, in about thirty meter's height, an entrance was hidden behind the tree's large leaves. "We have to climb."

Obi-Wan put his backpack down and jumped on the lowest branch. Anakin followed his example. Thanks to the Force, both of them were capable of jumping higher than a normal person. Alpha had to do the usual tree climbing. He grabbed a lower branch and pulled himself up. Bost was the last one to get on with it, he followed Alpha and assisted him, recommending different branches to step on.

Eventually, they were all inside the tree. Obi-Wan and Anakin reached out to pull the backpacks up from the ground with the Force and take them inside. They took a look around. They were indeed, inside the tree's trunk. It seemed like someone had carved this higher bit out. There was that one small entrance, and a few smaller holes where sunshine could enter. Under their feet was the inside of the tree, perfectly flat and smooth. The area was large enough even for the four of them.

Although an interiour designer would get jelaous at the sight of this tree's inside, there weren't many furnitures around. A round wooden table was in the middle of the area, on its side was a large water container. Then in one corner, a sleeping bag and a scanner could be seen.

"Welcome to my home."

The three newcomers glanced around in awe.

"You made all this?" Asked Alpha.

Bost approached one of the holes on the wall to look out, "I did. In a time of darkness where hunters come to kill me, I needed a hidden place above the ground. When I first arrived to Dagobah, I made a hut outta' tree branches, but it was discovered by them very soon."

Anakin still couldn't understand all this, "So you've actually carved the tree? In this height?"

"I did," He replied, "I needed a high place where I cannot be discovered."

"It's truly impressive." Said Obi-Wan. He walked next to Bost and put his hand on his shoulder, "Lookout holes?" He asked, pointing at some small openings only big enough for the eye to see through.

Bost turned around, "Yes. I'm studying the enemy territories. This tree's so high, you can see everything from it."

"Can I take a look?"

"Feel free to do so," Bost stepped away to let the Jedi Master look out. He turned to face Alpha, who had a question.

"So you're actually letting us stay here," He asked, "I mean,"

"This place is safe," Bost said, "And you all need safety on this planet."

"That's...kind of you, sir." Said Alpha. He was furious of his own actions, he shouldn't have shot him and treated him in such harsh ways.

"Anytime,"

"Bost, can you let me burrow your scanner googles over there?" Obi-Wan asked. Bost handed the device over to him, and he placed it before his eyes.

"There's awfully lot of them out there, right?" Bost referred to the droids.

"The status's critical," Said Obi-Wan with much surprise in his voice.

"Let me see," Anakin grabbed the googles. He zoomed in towards enemy territories, "What?!" He burst out.

"This'll be a long mission," Sighed Alpha.

"We have to report this to the Jedi Council immediately." Obi-Wan stated. Bost looked at him blankly, "Jedi Council?"

"Right," Obi-Wan glanced up, "You've explained yourself well. I think it's our turn."

And there, high up inside the tree, Obi-Wan told Bost all about Coruscant, the Jedi Council, Separatists, their uncommon mission on this planet, everything he knew. Meanwhile Bost listened to every word he said, Anakin peeked out of the hole with the googles to study the droids and Alpha started unpacking his apparatus.