Reflecting on Water

2038-01-19T03:14:07Z

The pleasure liner hurtled through space at mindboggling speed, encountering orbital debris and pebble-sized asteroids which were incinerated on contact by the hull's many deflector shield batteries. And yet despite all of this external chaos, swimming on the Recreation/Spa Level, I experienced no sense of greater movement as I completed my 25th lap.
Clearing my mind, I allowed the water to cool my body. I stilled myself, content to float peacefully while I went over my mission for the thousandth time.

I had answered the Council's summons and appeared punctually at the Jedi Temple. Master Windu awaited me. Master Yoda was nowhere to be seen, which was a secret relief. Sometimes I find it difficult to understand anything he is saying.
"Yes, Master Windu," I greeted. He contemplated me in silence for a moment. I took this time to notice the exact boundary between his baldness and the rest of his head which he shaved. Honing my senses, I could see the telltale stubble of one Jedi's vanity.
"If you are quite finished looking at my head, Obi-Wan Kenobi, I should like to discuss with you a growing situation which has imperiled our noble order, and perhaps even the Republic."
"Certainly, Master Windu."

Remembering his gentle censure, I blushed, and my mind returned to its present situation. My briefing was but a memory; my mission was still unfolding.
I felt my Padawan, Anakin, call to me through the Force.
I dove beneath the water's surface and opened my senses to the overwhelming feelings of sound, touch, and sight.
The pool had been placed on the liner's lowest level and it was one of the ship's more famous features. It had been designed with a transparisteel floor so that one might view the stars and passing planets while enjoying a swim. For me, it provided the short-lived illusion that it was cold and empty space that I was floating in rather than a common liquid medium. I found these thoughts to be strangely calming.

Harnessing the omnipresent power of the Force, I burst forth from the water's surface and landed wetly on the stone floor surrounding the pool.
A protocol droid, shocked by my sudden eruption, cursed in some language of the Outer Rim. I suppose it had never before seen almost 2 meters of pure, uncut, Jedi Knight.

Drawn by the Force, a towel flew to my hand. It was time that I saw what Anakin wanted. Drying off, I walked towards the turbolift.

"Size matters not!" I told the protocol droid.
But it is nice to be large, I added to myself silently.