Connected by the Force

~Lesson in running away~

"Even the brightest light cannot escape the darkness. Yet those who show courage often find more than they ever sought."

Hold:

In the dim light of the spaceship, a pleasant silence enveloped the small group as they drifted through the vastness of space. The dramatic events of the day weighed heavily on their shoulders, especially on Tara. Curled up like a Tooka cat, she had made herself comfortable on the small couch in a corner, wrapped in a thick blanket she had quietly borrowed from Obi-Wan. Her eyes were tightly shut, and in the calm of sleep, her face finally appeared relaxed and peaceful-the fight, the tension, and the encounter with the dark figure wielding the red lightsaber seemed, for the moment, to have disappeared.

Anakin sat nearby, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he huddled tighter into his own thin blanket. The chill of space made him shiver, and despite the coverings, he couldn't quite shake the discomfort. He shifted restlessly in his seat before glancing over to Obi-Wan, who was seated in the cockpit, checking the instruments. A cautious, curious look wandered back to Tara.

"Obi-Wan," Anakin finally whispered, leaning toward the older Jedi, "what is Tara doing? She looks so... calm and yet so tense. I've never seen her like this."

Obi-Wan leaned back, briefly studying Tara with a thoughtful smile, then turned to Anakin. "That's a technique Master Yoda taught her-a specific breathing exercise that helps regenerate the body and restore inner calm. It helps her overcome exhaustion while maintaining her focus. This skill is especially useful when a Jedi is under extreme pressure or needs to recover quickly."

Anakin looked at Tara again, full of admiration as she lay there, her face serene, her eyes closed, breathing gently. "She always seems to have so much energy, almost endless," he said softly. "But today... today she seemed different, so p-"

"Paranoid?" Obi-Wan scoffed. "Tara's connection to the Force is on an entirely different level than we can imagine. It's still underdeveloped, which is why she might come across as peculiar to others."

"Yes," Obi-Wan nodded. "The encounter with that... being shook her too, even if she didn't want to show it. It's hard to face such darkness at such a young age, especially for someone like her. Despite her mischief and her knack for always having a joke ready, she carries great strength and determination within her. After all, she's still the Padawan of one of the most powerful Jedi in the Temple, even if she sometimes comes across as the class clown."

Anakin shuddered, recalling the moment when the being with the red lightsaber had almost charged directly at him. The force, the darkness he had felt-it was something he couldn't describe, and the thought that Tara might have been more deeply affected by the encounter than she let on made him pensive.

"Will she get into trouble when we're back?" he asked quietly. "Because she... because she went off on that solo flight? She said she wasn't even supposed to be there."

Obi-Wan smirked, but there was a hint of concern in his gaze. "Oh, she will. I think Master Windu will certainly have a few words for her-and she'll need to give an explanation. But Master Qui-Gon knows her well and understands her. Despite everything she does to help others, she doesn't break the rules without a reason. And even though she's often a challenge, Qui-Gon knows how to appreciate her abilities."

"Besides, Master Yoda is used to his student's headstrong ways by now," he added, chuckling. "He'll probably see this as an opportunity to meditate on patience."

Anakin smiled slightly, reassured and full of respect for the brave Padawan, who slept peacefully, regaining her strength as they steadily approached their destination. The return to the Temple wouldn't be easy, but for now, a peaceful stillness rested over the ship, and the stars shimmered quietly through the cold expanse of space.