fandomhigh | Flight and Flying [Thursday, July 19, 3rd period]

When the students arrived at the flight shed, they'd immediately notice that the sim had been completely reconfigured.

"This is an X-Wing starfighter," Anakin said with a smile. "Today we're going to practice flying in a zero-g environment."

He waved at the door and Artoo rolled into the shed and tweetled politely, then came over to the sim and plugged himself into the droid-shaped hole on the back of the sim. "This is Artoo," Anakin, smiling. "He's your copilot of sorts who can get to mechanical problems while you're flying. For example, fixing shields that have been damaged by laser fire. He'll also scream at you if he thinks you're going too fast."

Anakin had learned to ignore that sound early.

He pointed into the inside of the cockpit. "There are a lot more controls in the X-Wing than the podracer, obviously. Here you need to regulate atmosphere, gauge fuel and weapons' levels, as well as communications, landing gear and assorted other bells and whistles."

He smiled at them. "But don't worry too much--you're not going to be tested on this." He sat in the cockpit and ~~handwavily~~ showed them how to make the ship speed up, slow down, turn and spin. "Obviously, this moves much faster than the podracer," he said, "and the sim has been programmed with the grav you'd have in your cockpit, so if you spin yourself too fast, you will make yourself sick. And then you will be cleaning out the sim."

Anakin clasped his hands together. "Okay. You'll each get a chance to try the sim out to learn how it works. You'll be in a program set way out in space so there's nothing for you to hit if you can't figure out how to steer right away. Once you feel more comfortable, there'll be a choice of two courses to run through--one that's strictly testing you on mobility, the other than also allows you to use the laser cannons."

He gave the class a cocky smile. "Before you came in, I set a new record on the sim for time and accuracy. See if you can come close."

Taking Over Me - Evanescence

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River smiled shyly, unsure exactly how truthful that was. She'd instinctively reached out to find out, but there was no way she could get through to her teacher's mind. "Makes life easier with someone like him to watch out for you."

Anakin projected feelings of amusement towards her but kept his thoughts carefully to himself. "He certainly thinks so," he said. "He watches my son now, though. I just borrowed him for today."

Suddenly picking up some of his feelings, and amused ones at that, made River laugh, a little more relaxed. "Same one? I've seen him around the dorms." She tilted her head and looked at Artoo. "Reminds me of my brother sometimes."

"Your brother's a bit of a worrier?" Anakin guessed with a smile, "or your brother's made of metal and wheels?"

With a chuckle, River replied: "Worrier of the flesh and blood kind. When it comes to me."

"That's what family does," Anakin said with a nod. "He's being a good brother."

With a hint of sadness in her smile, River said: "Only family I have. Can't help him much."

A wave a sympathy rolled from Anakin. "And you're all he has," he said quietly. "So overprotective is very understandable."

Sensing th sympathy was unexpected but comforting. "Have each other," River said quietly. "Think he sometimes uses worrying to stop himself from making choices for himself."

This was an odd conversation to have in class, but feeling emotions from her teacher's otherwise closed mind made her strangely trusting.

Anakin nodded. "He's so busy making sure you have a life he's not giving himself one?"

A corner of her mouth turned upwards. "And I'm not even there."

Anakin smiled at her. "That is a little silly of him," he admitted. "What would you have him do instead of worry?"

"I'd be happy to see him fall in love with someone." Kaylee would be the best option, she thought. "Perhaps jealous, but still happy. He still has his work. I don't have that." She stopped, suddenly feeling awkward.

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked quietly, instantly concerned.

She tilted her head and looked up at him. "Why are you interested?" There was no aggression in her voice, just sincere curiosity.

Anakin projected calm competency. "I don't like to accidentally upset people," he said.

Purposefully--well, that's another matter.

The feeling of calm made her smile again, considering how strange it was to just hear the questions asked and not thoughts behind them; the uninterested thoughts, the plotting ones or just thoughts twisting the reply.

"Because it affects the flying or because you believe it's bad for them?"

"Both," Anakin said, "but more the latter. My reputation aside, I don't enjoy stomping on people's emotions."

That made River laugh. "Didn't assume you did." She narrowed her eyes, still smiling. "I usually know the reasons people have."

"I keep my thoughts to myself," he said neutrally. "Does it bother you that much?"

River shook her head, feeling as if she'd overstepped a line. "Less information to deal with. Just unusual."

"When I was a student here," Anakin said, "I felt like the school's emotional barometer. I went home and worked on blocking techniques. Now I'm the only one in my head unless I choose otherwise."

"Teach me?" River asked, the words just slipping out of her.

Anakin projected a wave of reassurance at her. "Of course," he said immediately.

"Thank you." It was clear enough from her expression how much she appreciated this.

Re: Obstacle course #1

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