[Junior Jedi Knights] -05(4)

Luke heard Anakin draw in a sharp breath. Tahiri gasped and looked at Anakin. Uldir gave a low whistle.

“Maybe that explains why the broker on Borgo Prime said that only `the family’ had a right to claim the lightsaber,” Tionne said..

“I thought he was talking about Obi-Wan’s family, but maybe he meant you. Luke, we have to hurry. This is brand-new information, but if I found out about it, someone else could too. I’d like your permission to go to Vjun and look for Kenobi’s lightsaber. You could come with me if you like.”

Luke thought for a moment and gave a small shake of his head.

“I’m afraid I can’t. The Chief of State-my sister Leia-has called me back for an urgent meeting on Coruscant.”

“If Mom needs you on Coruscant, then Tahiri and I would like to go with Tionne,” Anakin said in a serious voice. “Please, Uncle Luke-it’s important to me. I’m a member of the family, and I’d like to see this place where… where my grandfather lived.”

Luke glanced at Ikrit, who sat atop the curve of ArtooDetoo’s head. The furry Jedi Master nodded. The planet Vjun would probably be deserted, Luke decided, and he trusted Tionne and the Jedi Master Ikrit to take good care of Anakin and Tahiri. Between the two Jedi, although Tionne did not yet know about Master Ikrit’s true identity-they could handle almost any emergency that came up. Ikrit had certainly been a reliable teacher and guide when the junior Jedi had gone to Dagobah.

Luke knew that the two children could continue their training in the Force as easily on the trip as they could here on Yavin 4. Two children, two Jedi. The experience would be excellent for Anakin and Tahiri, Luke concluded.

“Master Skywalker, I want to go wherever Anakin and Tahiri are going,” Uldir said. His voice cracked as he spoke. “I’ll probably learn more with them than if I just stayed here anyway.”

Luke frowned and thought this over.

“Please say yes, Master Skywalker. You know he’d manage to come along somehow,” Tionne said with a twinkle in her eye, “and the cargo hold in the Lore Seeker is much too small to carry our supplies and a stowaway.”

Artoo gave one beep that meant yes in the simple code that the droid and Anakin had developed.

Luke chuckled again. He knew of few better teachers than Tionne, and if she thought she could help this troubled teenager, perhaps it was best to let Uldir go along.

“Very well,” Luke said, coming to a decision. “But I’ll have to arrange it with Uldir’s parents first, and with Anakin’s.”

The junior Jedi cheered.

“If your parents say yes, then you can all go,” Luke said. “But only on one condition.”

Tionne nodded.

“Of course.”

“Sure,” Tahiri said.

“Anything,” Anakin added.

“What is it?” Uldir asked warily.

“Even though you won’t be gone very long, I want you to take Ikrit and Artoo along with you, just as a precaution.”

“Ikrit?” Tionne looked surprised.

“Well, why not? I’m sure the children will enjoy having him along.”

Her face broke into a bright smile.

“Oh, thank you, Master Skywalker,” she said with obvious delight. “It’s all settled then.”

Luke thought about Ikrit and all the lore and legends that the old Jedi Master knew.

“I hope you all learn a lot from this trip,” he said. “Especially you, Tionne. You may be pleasantly surprised.” Luke closed the front panel on ArtooDetoo and wiped away the last traces of lubricant with a clean soft cloth.

“There,” he said. “Now ArtooDetoo’s all ready to go with you.”

Tahiri usually sat beside her silvery-haired teacher when they went on research trips together, but because ArtooDetoo was actually a copilot he sat next to Tionne instead today. Tahiri didn’t mind, though. She gave a happy sigh and wriggled her bare toes.

It felt good just to be traveling with Tionne again. And, with Ikrit settled on ArtooDetoo’s domed head, and Anakin and Uldir by her side in Tionne’s new ship, Tahiri felt that this was turning out to be a true adventure. Tionne seemed happy, too. She hummed as she entered their course into the navigation computer in front of her.

“All right, Artoo,” Tionne said, “we’re ready to jump to hyperspace.”

“I always love this part,” Tahiri whispered to Anakin and Uldir as the little droid switched on the hyperdrive.

Uldir shrugged and said,

“I’ve seen it a million times with my parents. I’ve flown a lot.”

But Anakin leaned over and whispered to Tahiri,

“I know what you mean. It’s beautiful.”