Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Wild Space by Karen Miller

Author:Karen Miller
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Star Wars fiction, Space Opera, General, Science fiction, Adventure, Fiction, Media Tie-In
ISBN: 9780345509017
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2008-12-09T08:00:00+00:00

"We've got mealpacks in the galley." Organa pulled a face. "Well. The closet that's masquerading as a galley. Help yourself. Bring me one, too, could you?"

"Certainly, Senator," he said with exquisite courtesy. "It would be my pleasure."

He made his way to the ship's compact kitchen, extracted two mealpacks from the well-stocked conservator, and took them back to the cockpit.

"Thanks," said Organa, taking his and twisting the heat seal. "That Padawan of yours seems quite the handful," he added as he waited for the meal to warm up. "I'll bet he keeps you on your toes."

Obi-Wan returned to his seat at the comsat console. "I told you," he said, activating his own mealpack's heating mechanism. "Anakin is no longer my Padawan."

"You remember to tell him that?" said Organa, amused. "Because he sure called you fast enough when things went wrong."

Obi-Wan stared at him. Whatever happened to reserved, formal Senator Organa? Throw in some profanity and this man could easily be mistaken for a Corellian bartender. Padm? might have warned me..."Anakin values my advice."

"Uh-huh," said Organa. He peeled back his mealpack's lid and immediately the cockpit filled with the rich scent of spicy-sauced Fondor fowl. "And you value his safety."

There it was again: that sly, prodding, poking undertone. "Meaning what, Senator?"

Organa shrugged. "Meaning nothing. It's just an observation."

He wanted to say, Keep your observations to yourself. But he didn't. Replies merely encouraged more comments. Prolonged a conversation for which he had no desire. He turned his attention to his own meal, which had also reached its optimum temperature. Peeled back the lid, snapped free the attached spoon, and began to eat his fish hotpot.

"Do you ever wish you weren't a Jedi?" said Organa around a mouthful of food.

So much for enjoying the peace and quiet. "No."

"Not ever? Not even once? You've never considered what it might be like to have a different life?"

"No."

Frowning, Organa sat back, another spoonful of fowl paused partway to his mouth. "It's never bothered you that you didn't have a choice about being a Jedi? That you were given to the Temple as a baby?"

Clearly, short of gagging the man-now, there was a tempting thought-conversation was going to take place. Obi-Wan repressed a sigh. It wasn't the first time he'd heard such a sentiment expressed, and it wouldn't be the last. It was only to be expected: outsiders did not understand.

"You sound as though you're regretting your defense of us against the Quarren's allegations, Senator."

"Not at all," said Organa. "Only a fool or a troublemaker believes the Jedi are baby thieves."

Obi-Wan considered him. "But?"

"But..." Organa shrugged. "I have wondered, from time to time, about the way Jedi are raised. You must admit, Master Kenobi, it's not exactly a...normal...life."

"That would depend on how you define normal, Senator." He shook his head. "While it's true that many children are given to the Temple as infants, no child is kept with us against his or her will. The Temple is not a prison. It is a home. A school. A world within a world.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.