Chapter Text
When Obi-Wan was called to the Council chambers– and instructed to bring his Padawan with him– he thought the worst.
They had changed their minds about allowing Anakin to be a Jedi.
They were assigning Anakin a new master.
Anakin was being sent back into slavery.
But when Obi-Wan and Anakin arrived at the Council chambers, they found only Master Plo Koon reading an article on a datapad.
When he heard them, Master Koon looked up. "Ah, just who I was waiting for! Walk with me, will you?"
"Of course, Master Koon," Obi-Wan replied respectfully, trying to hide his fears.
"You seem anxious," Master Koon noticed. "What's on your mind, friend?"
"The Council was so... unsure of Anakin joining the Order. I can't help but worry that they'll change their minds. I quite enjoy having Anakin around." He smiled warmly at the small Padawan who had attached himself to his master's robes. I'll have to iron these robes, Obi-Wan thought. Anakin's clutches on my robes have caused them to permanently wrinkle.
Master Koon chuckled. "Oh, don't you worry about that. I believe the Council enjoys Anakin's company as well."
"Do they, now?"
"Yes, yes. Master Windu wouldn't stop talking about Anakin's prowess with the Force after he babysat. And Master Fisto just likes all children."
"Yes, Anakin has a way of slipping into one's heart."
"I can see that. Now, you two have been selected for a mission."
"Oh, really? What kind of mission?"
Master Koon handed the other Jedi his datapad.
"Ah. We're going to T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E?"
"...Why are you spelling it out?"
"Because A-N-A-K-I-N can not S-P-E-L-L at all, and he will totally F-R-E-A-K O-U-T at the word T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E."
"Why can't he... S-P-E-L-L?"
"Because E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N isn't really a priority for S-L-A-V-E-S."
"Ah, I see. His M-O-T-H-E-R never taught him?"
"I suppose not."
"How unfortunate."
"No, it's actually quite fortunate sometimes."
"How so?"
"He still doesn't know about S-L-A-V-E-R-Y being supported by half of the S-E-N-A-T-E."
"Hm, yes, I suppose that's good."
"Exactly."
"Who are you talking about?" Anakin asked from his usual place at Obi-Wan's side.
"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan covered without hesitation.
"Okay. I saw him eating frogs in the temple gardens this morning. Is he allowed to do that?"
"Yes, I believe he is," Master Koon told the child.
"Oh. Okay. But what if that frog had a family?"
"Then we'll send his wife and children our condolences."
"You can speak frog?!" Anakin asked, bewildered.
"Well, I– Yes, I speak frog."
"Cool! I can speak Huttese, Jawaese, Bocce, Tusken, and Toydarian! And Basic, but it's not my first language."
"What is your first language, Young Skywalker?"
"Jawaese! My mom says that I didn't speak until some Jawas stopped by Watto's shop when I was two and one of them started talking to me and I copied him. My mom got me some Jawaese audiobooks because we didn't know anyone who could teach me, but I wanted to keep learning. That Jawa still stops by often to check on my progress."
"Very nice! And where did you learn Toydarian?"
"The guy who owns me is a Toydarian."
"Owned," Obi-Wan corrected. "Past tense."
"Oh, right. That's you now."
"No, no, you're free now, Anakin."
"No. You can't 'free' a slave. You can only give up ownership, which places the slave back into the custody of whoever runs the slave trade that they're part of. Qui-Gon owned me for a little bit, but then he died. But he left me in your care, so now you do."
"No, Anakin, I don't own you."
"Well, somebody has to, otherwise I legally belong to the Hutts."
Master Koon listened to the boy in horror. He could never be free? His options were a Jedi or a Hutt? That poor child.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Whatever. We'll talk about this later." He turned to Master Koon. "Am I expected to bring A-N-A-K-I-N with me on this mission?"
"No, but why wouldn't you bring your P-A-D-A-W-A-N?"
"Because there's a P-O-D-R-A-C-I-N-G T-R-A-C-K in the town we're going to."
"Why is that important?"
"Because A-N-A-K-I-N can't resist P-O-D-R-A-C-I-N-G."
"Just say no."
"But then he'll do the P-U-P-P-Y D-O-G E-Y-E-S. I can't say no to that. And then he'll be R-E-A-L-L-Y S-A-D for the rest of the week, so I'm going to feel R-E-A-L-L-Y B-A-D for making him S-A-D."
"Maybe you can C-O-M-P-R-O-M-I-S-E?"
"A-N-A-K-I-N always gets what he W-A-N-T-S. I can't S-A-Y N-O to him. E-V-E-R. Otherwise I feel like the W-O-R-S-T M-A-S-T-E-R in the G-A-L-A-X-Y. I know, I'm W-E-A-K. But A-N-A-K-I-N has been in S-L-A-V-E-R-Y his W-H-O-L-E L-I-F-E. Young A-N-A-K-I-N does not even U-N-D-E-R-S-T-A-N-D the C-O-N-C-E-P-T of F-R-E-E-D-O-M!"
"Yes, but–"
He's like M-Y S-O-N. If he's S-A-D, I feel H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E."
"G-E-T T-H-E-R-A-P-Y."
"N-O."
"Why are you spelling everything out?" Master Shaak Ti asked as she joined them in the hallway.
"A-N-A-K-I-N can't S-P-E-L-L," Obi-Wan and Master Koon said simultaneously.
"Ah, I see. Are we T-A-L-K-I-N-G about S-O-M-E-T-H-I-N-G that we don't want him K-N-O-W-I-N-G?"
Obi-Wan nodded in affirmation. "We're going to T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E, but there's a P-O-D-R-A-C-I-N-G T-R-A-C-K where we're going, and A-N-A-K-I-N can't resist P-O-D-R-A-C-I-N-G, and I can't S-A-Y N-O to him, but I don't want us to get D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-E-D from the following M-I-S-S-I-O-N."
"Ah, that is a P-R-O-B-L-E-M. Perhaps I could B-A-B-Y-S-I-T? I quite enjoy having A-N-A-K-I-N around."
"Am I expected to bring A-N-A-K-I-N along?"
"No, but it would be wise to bring A-N-A-K-I-N," Master Koon explained. "Nobody knows T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E like a C-H-I-L-D from T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E."
"Why are you guys talking like that?" Anakin asked. "I can't understand a word you're saying."
"We're speaking in code, darling," Master Ti told the kid. "Because we're talking about something super secret, but there could be cameras and audio devices anywhere."
"Oh. Okay. But you'll tell me later, right Obi?"
"Of course, Anakin."
"Okay."
"Surely I could speak to the locals?" Obi-Wan asked Master Koon.
"They might not speak Basic. A-N-A-K-I-N speaks five different common T-A-T-O-O-I-N-I-A-N D-I-A-L-E-C-T-S."
"I'll pack a translator device."
"That should work. Now all that needs to be decided is, who's going to be the one B-A-B-Y-S-I-T-T-I-N-G?"
"I can B-A-B-Y-S-I-T," Master Ti reminded them.
"So it's settled," Obi-Wan said. "I'll go to T-A-T-O-O-I-N-E, and you'll B-A-B-Y-S-I-T A-N-A-K-I-N."
Master Koon and Master Ti nodded in agreement, and that was that.