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The two Jedi sat in a small clearing atop the bush-covered knoll. The silence lay comfortably between them as they watched the hurried activity below, where beings scurried about with the purpose and unity of a Verpine colony. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the pace gradually slowed. Singly, and in small groups, the figures began to drift from the base toward the u-shaped hollow, carved by time and erosion into the hills, to the right of where the Jedi perched.
A lone figure in a flowing brown cloak wended its way up the knoll and stepped into the clearing, bowing low, then straightening to push back the cloak's hood. The young Calamari Jedi stifled a ripple of surprise and said, "General Kenobi. The troops are gathering for your address." His eyes skittered to the small figure balanced on a smooth boulder beside Obi-Wan as he asked, "Shall I announce Master Yoda's presence?"
Studying the Calamari's grey-green skin glistening in the final rays of daylight, Obi-Wan paused before replying, "I think not."
"But it would lift the soldiers' spirits to know ..."
Obi-Wan held up his hand, cutting off the young Jedi's protest. "I will be along shortly, Lieutenant. Alone."
Wide blinking eyes flicked to the diminutive Jedi Master and back. The Calamari bowed low. "Yes, General." With a swirl of brown, the young Jedi swiftly retreated down the hill.
Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan tilted his chin up to let the rising evening breeze caress his face. Air leaked out of his lungs in a long, slow hiss.
"Heavy, is the guilt upon your shoulders," Yoda said, his nasal voice quiet in the hush of twilight.
"Not most days. But there are some moments ..." Obi-Wan blinked his eyes open and stared straight ahead. "Moments like now, when it feels like a dying star is collapsing in upon me. Moments when I almost forget how to breathe." He pointed to the silhouettes on the valley floor. "Look at them. In a week I will lead them into another battle. How many won't return this time? I am commanding an army of corpses in the name of a dying cause."
"They offer their lives willingly. Respect that, you must."
"I do, Master. But with each death, I wonder what I could have done differently. If only I had made other choices while training Anakin. Been less harsh, perhaps. Or shown more compassion. Or saved my own master. I know it would have unfolded differently. He wouldn't have turned ..."
"No," Yoda broke in. "Wallow in self-pity, you must not. Too young you were, yes, and make some mistakes, you did. But still, showed him the right path, you did. It was he who chose not to walk on it."
Obi-Wan rubbed his beard and shifted to look into Yoda's piercing green eyes. "But I was his master. It was my responsibility and mine alone. And I failed." Softly, he repeated, "I failed."
"The failure was his. You know this to be true. In your heart, you must look." The Jedi Master rested his taloned hand on Obi-Wan's forearm. "Let not your love for the boy turn into a guilt that will let the man defeat you. Rise above it, you must." His grip tightened. "Too heavy this burden is, for you to bear alone. Draw on the Force, and lighter, your load will become."
Darkness crept up the hillside as Obi-Wan pondered what Yoda had said. The shadows wrapped around them. Below, a few scattered campfires sprang to life. The breeze chilled, and the Jedi Knight tucked his cloak close around him.
"You've felt the burden, too, haven't you?" Obi-Wan asked.
With a quiet sigh, the Jedi Master replied, "Change the past, I cannot. Forward only flows the Force." Yoda's reply hung between them for several moments.
"Yes," Obi-Wan finally replied. "Only now it seems to be rushing over a precipice, like the rivers of Theed, carrying us all to certain destruction."
"Always in motion is the future. Certain, nothing is."
"We are being hunted down like animals. Hunted and killed. That much is certain, Master. We are fast shrinking from an army to a ragtag band of rebels." Obi-Wan stood and spun away from the Jedi Master to stare into the night. "Already we are being reduced to mere cells of resistance, acting independently, no one group knowing what the others are planning, struggling to stem the relentless tide of evil. Soon, we will scatter, seeking bolt holes of light in the hope that the darkness will not find us out and destroy us."
"Where there is life, there is hope."
The Jedi returned to Yoda's side and sank to his knees. "That's what you told me when you sent me off to hide Amidala's baby. I know it. I believe it. But as more lights are snuffed out, as more Jedi die, each day comes to feel like a lifetime. I am so very weary, Master Yoda."
"But continue on, you will. Sworn to protect the child, you have."
"Yes. I will fulfill my promise gladly. Until the day I become one with the Light."
The Force shimmered between the two Jedi. A soft murmuring of voices rose from the natural amphitheater. The troops were ready -- ready to soak up rousing words of wisdom and valor from their fearless leader. It was only here, under cover of darkness, alone on a hill with the Jedi Master he revered, that the renowned General Kenobi could express his doubts and ease his anxieties by voicing them. Yoda's presence was a refreshing wellspring that he valued more than he could admit. Aloud, at least. As he acknowledged the truth deep within, the guilt lifted, dissipating into the Force. Still, one thought wormed its way through his mind, disrupting his growing serenity.
"Master," Obi-Wan began hesitantly, "Will you tell me where you hid Pad ... Amidala?"
Yoda's voice was suddenly sharp. "You haven't sought her out, have you?"
"No, I haven't. Neither in body, nor through the Force. My promise holds. But, please, Master. My peace would strengthen if only I could know where she is, and who is caring for her. I ask nothing else. I would never approach her. I only wish to know ..."
The Jedi Master's tone softened. "Sorry I am, Obi-Wan, but tell you, I cannot. As you said, a band of rebels we are. The fewer that know, the safer she remains. Night is upon us. Cautious, we must be, until the dawn."
"I thought you trusted me." The Knight immediately regretted the words. He had, after all, received no less than the answer he'd expected.
"Trust you, I do. And tell you everything, I do. Everything I can. This secret, I have told no one." Yoda's voice dropped to a whisper. "Know of your love for her, I do. Bury your feelings deep. Confront Vader, you must. If he knows, he will seize on your love, twisting it into a weapon. Use it to destroy you, he will, if he is able. Give him such power over yourself, you must not."
Obi-Wan sighed and pushed to his feet. "At least, while An- ... while Vader focuses his hatred on me and pours his resources into hunting me down, you remain free from danger. That is as important to me as Amidala's safety." He paused. "She is well removed from all harm, isn't she?"
"And well loved," Yoda replied.
"That goes without saying." To himself, Obi-Wan whispered, "It is enough. It has to be."
The Jedi glided to the edge of the clearing and paused. "Will you be here when I return?
"No." Yoda's answer was swallowed by the night. Obi-Wan nodded and started down the trail, the Jedi Master's voice trailing after him. "Heed what you have learned. Save you, it can."
A calm knowing welled up from within, and the Force shone luminescent around the Jedi Knight. His pace increased as tendrils of light wove through and around him, binding his essence to the life teeming all about him, and to the galaxy beyond.
Obi-Wan smiled and whispered to the night, "It already has, Yoda. It already has."
When he hit the valley floor, he was running. As he entered the torch lit amphitheater, a ground-swell of cheering rose round about him, carrying him forward to the makeshift podium. Victory was theirs. Somewhere. Sometime. He could feel it.
The fervent words he had spoken to the troops the previous week rose like bile in his throat. Foul. Acidic. Obi-Wan swallowed hard. He stood motionless, hands clasped behind his back, staring out the viewscreen. Around him, the bridge of the refitted Republic Cruiser boiled with frantic activity. The tension gripping the crew increased minute by minute, relentlessly seeking to undermine the Jedi's calm.
Seated in the command chair, Bail Organa thrummed his fingers on the arm rest, occasionally issuing an order in a firm voice that served to keep the crew functioning and relatively centered. One corner of Obi-Wan's mind admired the Alderaanian's natural leadership abilities, even as he watched their joint forces being relentlessly maneuvered into a deadly snare.
What had been planned as a simple attack on a crucial military convoy, had turned into a rout. Where had those two Star Destroyers come from? Their source had been impeccable, the plan faultless. Both generals were known for their uncanny ability to sense a trap, yet trapped they suddenly were. How? Obi-Wan clenched his jaw. He knew how. He could sense it, or rather, him. Vader was on that ship. Hunting his old master.
As Bail barked out another command, Obi-Wan's gaze jumped to his friend. The white lines etched around Bail's mouth and eyes belied the calm tenor of his voice. The Jedi could sense an urgency that bordered on fear emanating from the man. Afraid to die? Obi-Wan had fought at Bail's side long enough to know that death did not intimidate him. No, Bail's fear didn't seem to be centered on himself, but rather outwards. For the men? Or for someone else? Obi-Wan frowned thoughtfully. Something else was at work here. Yoda's green visage popped into his mind, deepening his frown. What did Master Yoda have to do with Bail's anxiety?
The Jedi suddenly knew what he had to do. He touched Bail's shoulder. "We have to retreat, General, before our path is completely cut off."
Bail stared out the viewscreen. "Most of the fighters out there are not hyperspace capable, General Kenobi. I'm not yet ready to leave those men to their fate."
"Nor am I. We have one squadron of fighters in reserve. They do have hyperspace capability. I will lead them in a diversionary attack while you recall the other fighters and retreat."
"You expect a single squadron to divert those twin monstrosities?"
"Quite effectively."
Bail stifled a snort. "How so, Kenobi?"
"He isn't hunting you, General. It's me he wants."
"He?"
"Vader."
"You believe Vader is leading this attack?"
"Without a doubt. And he will zero in on his prey with ruthless efficiency. When I leave this ship, as I must anyway, he will let you escape rather than lose his chance to destroy me."
"And what about you?"
Obi-Wan shrugged. "I'm not so easy to kill."
Bail stood and stared into his friend's eyes. "Your luck is bound to run out one of these days, Obi-Wan."
"A Jedi makes his own luck, Bail. Besides, you have more than a rebel army to worry about. You have a planet that needs your leadership. You must make it safely back to Alderaan."
Watching his friend's gaze cloud over and grow distant for a second sent goosebumps skittering up Obi-Wan's arms. Bail was hiding something from him. He could feel it. He opened his mouth, quickly clamping it shut. This was neither the time nor the place to address such issues. Obi-Wan grasped his friend's forearm and squeezed it.
"You will get back. I promise," the Jedi said. "And I'll drop in for a visit, just to say 'I told you so.'"
Alarm flickered in the Alderaanian's eye for a micron before disappearing. Bail grinned. "You do that, Kenobi. You need to stop somewhere and have a bath. Soon."
Obi-Wan heard a soft snicker behind him, and realized the bridge
had fallen quiet as all ears strained to hear the conversation
between the two generals. The Jedi glanced around to see heads
jerking back to face momentarily unattended monitors. He cast
a small smile at his friend and nodded tersely. He pivoted on
his heel and strode from the deck, Bail's launch orders to Omega
Squadron filling his wake.
A soldier was awaiting the general's arrival on the flight deck. Ignoring the offered jumpsuit, Obi-Wan took the helmet and handed the soldier his cloak. He marched across the deck, his heels pounding out his grim determination. He scrambled up the ladder of his snubfighter and dropped into the cockpit.
As the snub's systems came on line, Obi-Wan centered himself. The thought darted through his mind that, perhaps, today was the day Master Yoda had foreseen -- the day that he would finally confront his former Padawan. The thought fled before he could shunt it aside.
Obi-Wan coasted the snub across the deck and ran a second weapons check as he hovered above the airlock grid. The inner shield dropped. Three seconds later the outer shield disappeared, and the snubfighter leapt out of the underbelly of the cruiser. Obi-Wan relaxed into his pilot's chair as the vacuum of space gathered his ship into its welcoming embrace.
Orienting his ship relative to the planet they were orbiting, Obi-Wan opened his comm channel and ordered the approaching Omega squadron to fall in behind him in a staggered V formation, half below him, half above. The twelve ships paired off and did as ordered. The squad leader requested permission to fly on the general's wing.
Obi-Wan eyed the battle zone for a second. "Request denied. Stick with your assigned wingmates, Major."
"But that will leave you unprotected, sir."
"That's my concern, Major. Your mission is to harass the convoy and cover the retreat. Over."
"Those Star Destroyers are almost in range. We can't survive that kind of fire power."
"I'll take care of them."
"Sir?"
The incredulity in the major's voice tugged a grimace from Obi-Wan. "I'll be a gnat in a gundark's ear." He glanced at the sensor display. "We've been spotted. A welcoming party is heading to intercept. Shields double front on the first pass. Out."
Obi-Wan switched from Omega channel to the general comm frequency. Battle chatter filled the cockpit. He ignored it, trusting his subconscious to pick up on anything important, and opened his senses to the Force.
At full throttle, he sliced through the flight of incoming fighters like a lightsaber through metal, leaving two debris clouds in his wake. Vectoring toward the convoy, he dodged retreating ships and joined a fighter that was strafing a corvette.
Obi-Wan eased his snub in behind and below the fighter. He fired a proton torpedo at the corvette. The other pilot followed suit. Obi-Wan's missile broke through the already weakened shields; the second one impacted against the hull, setting off a series of internal explosions. Obi-Wan ordered the pilot's retreat. He circumvented the now drifting hulk, closing his mind to the waves of panic and fear emanating from it.
"We lost Omega Six." The static-filled comment touched his mind. Obi-Wan's nostrils flared. He reset the throttle to full and honed in on his targets. The Star Destroyers were within range of the convoy. Soon they'd be able to fire upon the retreating fighters. He reached out through the Force, seeking a familiar signature, finding it shrouded within the first ship.
Anakin, Obi-Wan called. It's not too late. Return to the Light.
Hatred lashed out at him, strong enough to set him back in his seat. Padme. It must be what I did ... A jolt rocked the snubfighter. Obi-Wan focused on evading the suddenly heavy barrage. He juked the snub back and forth as he followed the Force's leading through the field of fire.
Skimming the snub as close to the immense ship's shields as he dared, Obi-Wan shot towards the bridge that protruded from the craft like a giant periscope. He flashed past the wall of transparisteel, glimpsing ducking figures. He immediately pulled his ship into a port barrel roll, looping the snub under the destroyer and back over for a second pass.
A wisp of a smile played across his lips when he noted the second Star Destroyer maneuvering to situate above the first. So the hunter wants to capture his prey. Obi-Wan buzzed the bridge again, peppering the shielding with laser fire. He deflected a sliver of icy anger that lanced out at his Force connection. The other ship's tractor beam would do little good while he stayed so close to Vader's.
The sensor display flashed a notice that two allied capital ships had jumped out of the system. That left only Bail's ship. Obi-Wan cut short his third run at the bridge. He veered the snub to starboard, weaving his way along the underbelly of the destroyer. At his touch, the snub surged away from the Imperial ship, back toward the convoy, ducking and dipping to avoid enemy fire. He silently urged the craft to greater speed. Vader's ship protected him from the other's tractor beam, but it wouldn't take long for Vader's own beam to zero in on him.
The second destroyer re-oriented for a run on Bail's ship. As if on signal, a voice silenced the comm chatter. "Restoration signing off." The blip that was Bail's ship disappeared from the display. Obi-Wan smiled grimly. Thank the Force. He took quick stock. Almost two squadrons of friendlies still in system. Bail had left all the hyperspace-capable fighters behind. To help the foolish Jedi escape, no doubt.
The snub swooped below the convoy. Still no tractor beam. Obi-Wan frowned and flicked his comm unit open.
"Force One here. Who's out there?"
"Squads Omega and Nova, sir," the major heading up Omega replied.
The sensor display showed a blip pulling away from Vader's ship and honing in on the convoy.
"Major. Both squadrons are to retreat for rendezvous immediately. Out." Obi-Wan glanced down. The blip was closing. Fast.
On instinct, Obi-Wan jerked the snub to port. Lasers bolted past him. A silver ship followed, swinging to starboard for another pass. He recognized that ship. He'd flown one just like it -- after he'd killed the Sith who'd owned it. And he knew he couldn't outrun it.
The snub wove in amongst the convoy ships. Another burst of quad lasers. Obi-Wan snapped the ship up and rolled to port, narrowly missing a corvette. Realization struck. Nothing was firing on him. Nothing except that lone fighter.
Extending his senses outward, Obi-Wan tried to get a reading on the pilot pursuing him. It was like banging his head against ferrocrete. As he'd thought. Vader had accepted his challenge -- a bit more personally than he'd intended. Obi-Wan exhaled slowly as he opened himself fully to the Force.
The two fighters danced and darted around the convoy, never exposing themselves to clean shots, rarely taking them. The star destroyers floated above, twin krayat dragons waiting for the hapless womprat to pop out from its lair.
For the sixth time in several minutes, Obi-Wan's gaze skipped over the instrument panel. Blast. The fuel cells were critically low. Vader would nail him before he could make the jump -- if he could get past the blockade. The only option was down. Obi-Wan rolled the snub and glanced at the planet they were orbiting. Brown and green and oblivious.
The Jedi nodded to himself. He hurtled in the direction of the destroyers, twisting the snub to curl around the nearest freighter, then plunged toward the planet. He gained a few precious seconds before the sleek fighter broke away from the convoy. Not enough. Obi-Wan set rear shields to maximum.
The first hit rocked the snub. Obi-Wan used the momentum to throw the craft into a corkscrew dive. Red laser fire formed a deadly cordon. Three hits found their mark. Shields dropped to 30%. Obi-Wan swung to port and pulled a tight circle. He fired two rounds before Vader's ship could pull up. One laser scored the port engine. A thin trail of smoke dissipated into the vacuum of space.
Before Obi-Wan could resume his run, Vader had circled around and was firing again. The snub juked to one side and the other as the Jedi sought to avoid being hit. The fuel light began flashing. A twin blast jolted the snub. The shields sputtered, then died.
Clenching his jaw, Obi-Wan forced himself to stay focused. To not think about death riding down his tailpipes. Juke to port. Again. Starboard twist. Barrel roll. A laser caught his starboard engine, setting off a small explosion. Obi-Wan fought the stick as he tried to control the spiraling snub. Gravity's pull increased as thin fingers of atmosphere tugged at the ship.
"We're almost to you, sir. Hang in there." The voice of Omega squadron's major broke Obi-Wan's concentration.
"Blast it, Major," Obi-Wan barked. "What are you still doing here?"
"We pulled back. But the general had told us to make sure ..."
"I'm the only general in system." Obi-Wan toggled switches as he attempted to get the dead engine to re-fire. "I'm ordering you to make your jump. Now."
"But ..."
"That's a direct order, Major. I can't make hyperspace. Get your men out of here." The comm unit crackled. Obi-Wan shouted, "Now!"
The subdued, "Yes, sir," was barely audible.
Multiple blasts shook the snub. Warning lights flashed across the board. The sensor monitor flickered. He saw the green blips of Omega Squadron make a pass near Vader's red marker. The monitor went black.
Obi-Wan twisted and peered out the back of the cockpit. Where was Vader? Had the major scared him off?
The snub started to shake as atmosphere wrapped around it. Obi-Wan jerked his attention back to his ship. "Come on," he whispered. "Hold together."
The shaking increased. Obi-Wan's teeth rattled. His muscles strained as he struggled to slow the spin. He killed the port engine, hoping that would help. Sweat trickled into his eyes, blurring his vision. He swiped at them, rapping his knuckles on the helmet's visor, then blinked rapidly. Heat fused his boots to the floorboards. In seconds, sweat was rolling off him. Obi-Wan swallowed hard, his throat suddenly parched. There had to be stress fractures. That meant ... The Jedi blocked the thought. Not much time. Seconds.
Obi-Wan initiated the ejection sequence. Maybe ... Maybe he could convince Vader he'd died in the explosion. So long as I'm not too convincing. The ground was invisible, obscured by a shroud of smoke, but he could sense it rushing up to meet him.
Vader mustn't sense him. Mustn't realize ... The pod ejected.
The last thing his mind registered before he slipped into a Jedi trance, was the explosion's shockwave grabbing the pod and flinging it toward a rockface.
