“Don’t they?’
“No,” Obi-Wan said. “There are times when you do not needto know what I am thinking. You must trust that I knowbest.”
Anakin shook his head. “That’s hard for me. I want to knoweverything.”
“That is a quality I treasure in you,” Obi-Wan said. “Butit is also a quality that you must learn to control.” Hegave Anakin a significant look. “There are things you keepfrom me, too”
“Not so!” Anakin protested.
Midnight raids on the junk heaps below the surface ofCoruscant … a plan to build your own power converter… “
Anakin grinned. “caught.” He was starting to feel better.
He had worried that Obi-Wan did not have room for him in hisheart. But Shmi’s smile rose in Anakin’s mind. Hearts haveinfinite room, my son.
It was one of her favorite sayings. Anakin sighed. Hewished he could combine Obi-Wan’s cool judgement with hismother’s goodness. Someday. Maybe his Master would trusthim enough to let him tangle again with the Sith.
Perhaps he would never have a Master-Padawan relationship asdeep and trusting as Obi-Wan had with Qui-Gon. Perhaps Obi-Wan kept his as a Padawan in order to fulfill a dying wish.But maybe it didn’t matter how it happened.
He should not focus on what he didn’t have. He had this.This was his. And that was something. He would work hard.He would be a great Padawan. And Obi-Wan would come to lovehim. He would make him do so.
“I think I know what you’re thinking,” Obi-Wan said, notingAnakin’s sigh. “It was not the training mission I thoughtit would be, either. I thought I had things to teach you.Instead, you taught me.”
“I taught you?” Anakin was surprised. “What?”
“That I am not Qui-Gon,” Obi-Wan said. “And you are not me.Simple as that.”
“Simple is sometimes best,” Anakin said, repeating Obi-Wan’swords.
“We are on a journey together, Padawan.” Obi-Wan clickedhis glass lightly against Anakin’s. “We will forge our ownpath. Let us drink to that.”
Across Dexter’s cafŠ, someone watched the two Jedi. Someonewith cool eyes behind dark-lensed goggles. Someone who hadrecently removed synth-flesh that had knitted into his skin,leaving his skin raw. But no one looked twice at anyoneelse in Dexter’s cafŠ. It was too dangerous and couldprovoke violence.
Go ahead, enjoy your drinks and your smiles, Jedi. Youescaped for now. Yet I am not angry. I am only amused. Itonly gives me more time to play with you. You met me once,but you won’t recognize me next time. You’ll look, but youwon’t see. You think I left that case behind by accident?I don’t make mistakes. I enjoy opportunities. And I makemy own.
In other words, Jedi - we’ll meet again soon.