Senthil figured he had already said enough of the wrong thing--amazed at EDI's insight to the situation--that he simply nodded to the Lars family encouraging them to enter to see Shmi.

"Anakin, I-" Obi-Wan moved toward Anakin who simply stormed off.

"Even as short-tempered as I am, I do not understand Anakin."  After Obi-Wan glanced at him and then headed to make off after Anakin, Senthil added, "But even I know he needs some time to cool off and think things over."  Senthil paused again, then shook his head and added "I just don't understand this family thing."  Senthil knew it was probably because he had grown up in the Jedi temple, never knowing his family.

"Anakin is a teenager, isn't he?" EDI asked.

"19," Obi-Wan softly answered, looking a bit lost.

"In addition to Anakin's conflicted upbringing, human teenagers go through a period of hormonal surge and a greater desire for independence.  This likely explains his mood swings."

"Maybe we should get the young man counselling?" Kit Fisto postulated.  "It's what I'd recommend if he were a civilian."

"That's a great idea," Senthil agreed.  "The question is would Anakin accept the help.  I offered to help him several times on this mission, and just kept getting brushed aside."  Senthil brought his large, webbed hand up to his chin in thought.  "But, maybe that had more to do with the personal nature of the rescue," Senthil concluded.

"I'll discuss it with the Jedi Council when we return to Coruscant," Obi-Wan explained.  "It's something we'll definitely need to consider."

* * * *

The crew returned to the ship where Obi-Wan and Kit reported into the Jedi Council.  While Sara and A'raan prepped the ship Senthil wandered around and came upon Anakin talking with EDI.

"...It was the least I could do.  I can't thank you enough for your support," Anakin mumbled.

"I'm eager to do good now that I'm not under Tarkin's control," EDI replied.  "Now I'm free to do so as I will."

Senthil gargled, the Mon Calamari equivalent of clearing his throat, so as to announce his presence without seeming like he was barging in.  "Anakin, I'm not sure if you already discussed it with Obi-Wan, but do you know how you want to handle Shmi's continuing care?  Is she coming with us?"

"I contacted a friend on Coruscant; she'll be making arrangements to move the family somewhere safe," explained Anakin.

"The family?" Senthil asked, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.  "Do you mean the Lars family along with Shmi?"  Senthil made sure his tone supported that decision, were that the case.

"Yes," Anakin replied unenthusiastically.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:39, Fri 14 July 2017.

"Well that's great news." Senthil said, trying not to sound more excited than Anakin seemed to be.  "Will you still be continuing on the mission with us then?" Senthil asked.

"Yes, we'll finish."  Anakin didn't sound enthused by this.  He clearly wanted to make sure his mother made it to safety.

"Don't worry Anakin, the mission will be over before you know it," Senthil said encouragingly.  He almost put his webbed hand on Anakin's shoulder, but then thought better of it.  He considered adding "And then you can get back to be with your mother," but thought that might be too personal, so he let the implication of his statement be enough said.

Unfortunately for Anakin, they were only able to stay a few more hours.  As they made to reboard the ship, however, EDI stopped at the foot of the ramp.

"I have decided to stay," she said.

"You DECIDED?" Obi-Wan asked.

Senthil was not nonplussed by the comment, not thinking anything of a droid deciding to do something.  However, he felt like Edie had added quite a bit to the last leg of the mission that he had to say something.  "But Edie, we need you.  We need your help."

"I will return once mistress Shmi has been safely seen to her new accommodations," EDI explained while Obi-Wan looked appraisingly at Anakin.

"She is bound in service to the three of you," Obi-Wan said to Senthil, A'raan, and Sara.  "What do you think."

"I say let her go," A'raan said.  "It's only a little while."

Sara looked conflicted.

"Shmi was almost killed," admitted Sara.  "I think it'd put Anakin at ease to know his mother is being kept safe."

"I do think Edie would be helpful on our mission, but I think that Sara and A'raan are right.  Let her stay," Senthil concluded, with only the slightest of sighs escaping his wet lips.

Looking decidedly nonplussed, Obi-Wan nodded and returned to the ship with the others in tow.

* * * *

"So where are we off to now?" asked A'raan.

"According to the records on Tatooine the message originated on Geonosis," explained Sara.  "Pretty much confirms our theory that Palpatine was in league with Dooku.  That makes both of them Sith.  This whole thing has been a set-up."

Senthil shook his head.  "I can't believe no one saw this before.  How could the Council not sense this?" Senthil wondered aloud.

Obi-Wan and Kit Fisto gave each other side-long glances but said nothing.

"I've filed the report back to the Council via encrypted channels," explained Sara.  There was a beeping on her datapad and she looked down at it.  "Oh, they've already responded...it looks like they want to speak with us."

Sara tapped on her pad and the lights dim, then a few more taps and a holographic representation of the Council appeared.

"We have received a distress signal from a planet in your area," Master Windu explained, without preamble.  "But there is a problem..."

"No system exists there," finished Master Elphias Doge, a Givin.

"How is that possible?  If there's a planet, there has to be a system doesn't there?"  Senthil said incredulously, silently thinking, This day just keeps getting stranger.

"That is, indeed, the question," Master Falere, a famed Twi-Lek lightsaber duelist, responded.

"Solve this mystery, you will,"  Master Yoda stated.  "May the Force be with you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Mon 22 Jan 2018.

"Okaaay.  I guess we're going to find us an invisible planet," Senthil said, slowly blinking his eyes.

OOC Is there anything you wanted to do on the journey?

OOC: If you mean during the travel time, then yes:

As the ship hurled itself through hyperspace towards their destination, Senthil made sure to keep himself busy, doing some physical training.  He started with basic push-ups.  After 50, he moved on to handstand push-ups.  After 50 of those, he used the Force to help him balance so he could do one hand handstand push-ups--50 for each arm.