Nominal completion of stage one proceeds to schedule. Exclusivity jeopardized. Send security, investigation, instruction.

Anakin's thorough about checking everything and locking in coordinates, increasing familiarity with piloting and a growing sense of calm helping her avoid trying to take short cuts.

(She's successfully tamped down her crush on her teacher into 'warm fuzzy feelings whenever she looks at or thinks about Elesse', too, so she doesn't even have that making her jittery, and it's not like she cares about the tense political atmosphere. Instead she's simply curious, and glad for a break in the monotony of their missions lately. This is interestingly weird, if nothing else.)

"So he didn't say what he was planning before he vanished?" she asks.

"No. He was always slightly... odd, in that way."

"Huh. Message gives me the feeling he expected someone to know what he was doing."

"Yes, it does have that feel. Though it is not exactly in his style. Strangely terse, as though the writer is not entirely comfortable with Basic."

"So someone could've stolen his codes? Or I guess he could be trying to be terse and vague, if he thinks his message could get intercepted..."

"It is highly unusual for a Jedi, especially a Master like Sifo-Dyas, to give up their codes under any circumstances. On the other hand, it is hard to imagine the circumstances that might have prompted him to write this. On the third hand, this is exceedingly undirected for a trap."

She nods. "It's weird for a trap, too. Someone could want any random Jedi to come to those coordinates, but... Why not send something simpler?"

Elesse nods. "Exactly. And the mention of a 'stage one' implies a project of some kind."

"Same with schedule, which was what made me think he thought someone knows what he's up to... Exclusivity - that's kind of a weird word to use, most cases, isn't it? I usually hear it for contracts, like for work, trade, or copyright..."

"Not exactly things Jedi tend to involve themselves in."

"Not at all." She furrows her brow, staring at the message again. "Also implies there's a second party involved somehow."

"You did say you wanted a more interesting mission next time..."

She laughs. "This's definitely that. I guess we still have to see if I need to be more careful what I wish for."

"I should think your experience on Duros would have made that amply apparent."

"Duros did at least make for a good story. In retrospect. Once I'd had a few showers."

Elesse chuckles. "Always look on the bright side."

Eeeeeee. (She needs to calm down about making Elesse laugh but it's nice.)

"I try to."

"Speaking of, we have a considerable time before we arrive. What would you like to practice?"

She hums. "I feel like I'm close on that most recent kata... I think at this point I'll get the most out of pushing at that a bit, and if I get stuck again... Fine manipulation with the Force or situational awareness, after."

"Very well." To the shuttle cargo bay/practice space.

Anakin still really enjoys fighting. Especially against Elesse. Even when she's working on a specific set of moves she's kind of stuck on getting exactly right.

It's a good way to pass the time, if nothing else, and Anakin's rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in combat.

Elesse is pleased with her Padawan's progress. In terms of technical ability, she's on par with practically any Knight you'd care to name. All that's standing between Anakin and the Trials is a bit of wisdom and calm judgement. And she's been getting better at those too, over the years.

'Calm judgement' is probably a bit farther off than 'wisdom,' but Anakin seems to find them worth working on enough that she's actually getting somewhere.

After she's done with fighting, Anakin can working on juggling five small balls without touching them, eyes closed. Elesse will occasionally pose a philosophical, scientific, or historical question for her to answer, or throw something at her.