Chapter Text
It hadn’t meant anything. It happened and then they forgot and moved on. One of them more literally than the other but that’s neither here nor there.
Bad timing and lack of supplies combined with no other options. Nothing more, nothing less.
They’d been in the middle of their Outer Rim sieges, the supply ship they’d been waiting on had been destroyed en route, and Obi-Wan was the only omega in the fleet. Anakin, suppressed since his presentation like all jedi after their first rut or heat, went feral without his suppressants and Obi-Wan was not far behind with all the alpha pheromones in the air and his own suppressants fading. With all the clones being chemically-sterilised betas, Obi-Wan had taken the only option available.
They had a war to fight after all and neither had the time to be trapped in a prolonged mating haze until another ship could be sent out. Obi-Wan had handled the issue, left Anakin in his own bed exhausted, and then gone to check with Cody that a new supply of suppressants was on the way. His entire body aching from feral alpha, Obi-Wan had then made a bland report to the Council which had the incident accepted as necessary and unfortunate as well as something best never brought up again. Bruised from alpha hands and bitten from alpha teeth for the first time in his life, thankfully the omega had had the presence of mind to keep his mating gland away from the alpha’s attentions, Obi-Wan requested that it also be struck off the record of the Council which was granted.
Mace brought it up – once – just to check that Obi-Wan could continue to work with Anakin. It was not Anakin’s fault and Obi-Wan bore him no ill will for the incident so he thanked Mace for his concern and assured him that he and his former padawan were fine.
Less than two weeks later, Anakin kneels before a Sith Lord and Obi-Wan has to do his duty.
There are still marks from Anakin’s teeth and hands on his skin. Still imprints of the unfortunate incident burning as they raise their lightsabres against one another. Something squirming in Obi-Wan’s gut that begs him not to harm Anakin that is pure and utter instinct. Later, much later when he’s trying to rationalise his actions, Obi-Wan will say that he simply struggled to handle impulses that he has never had to deal with before. He is a jedi, not an omega, no matter what his designation might be.
He can’t do it.
Anakin – corrupted but still his former padawan – leaps at him with the intent to kill. In his mind, Obi-Wan can see the move that will cut Anakin’s legs and arm off. The move that will finish this cursed fight once and for all. But, when the moment comes, Obi-Wan calls on the Force instead.
It wells within in him – filling him up in a way he doesn’t think it ever has before – and he casts Anakin aside. The fallen jedi is thrown against a cliff face and tumbles onto the rocky ground beneath him. It is not the hot coals that surround the rivers of lava and Anakin is only knocked out. He will be fine – if with a nasty headache and some bruises – when he wakes up.
A proper jedi would have killed the Sith but Obi-Wan just takes his former padawan’s lightsabre and leaves.
He rushes to Padmé and finds her still blessedly alive. It is a miracle that doesn’t last for long and Obi-Wan watches in horror as the lifeforce drains out of her. It is the dark side and Obi-Wan doesn’t know if it was intentional or just the corruption of Anakin infecting his wife as well.
Obi-Wan joins Master Yoda and Bail in the aftermath.
“Pregnant, she must still appear. Hidden, safe, the children must be kept.”
The omega, trembling in burnt robes and with the Force signatures of Luke and Leia still buzzing through him, tries to appear composed as he agrees with his only remaining fellow council member. “We must take them somewhere the Sith will not sense their presence.”
“Split up, they should be.”
Instinct, long ignored but becoming stronger with every passing moment of darkness in the Force, snaps in Obi-Wan. “No.”
Master Yoda tilts his head in his direction but it is Bail who speaks. “Obi-Wan, my wife and I could take the girl. We’ve always talked about adopting a baby girl and she would be loved with us.”
It is an excellent solution, that Obi-Wan is certain Padmé would approve of, but Obi-Wan’s inner omega is gnashing his teeth and it takes everything in him to keep a serene façade. “No… I… They should not be split up. They have lost their mother and their…father…they can’t lose each other. They might never recover; they are young but still incredibly sensitive to the Force. They will suffer.”
“Hmm.” Master Yoda considers his great-padawan for a long moment. “Connected, have you not, Obi-Wan? To the babies, you are omega-bonded.”
Across the table, Bail takes a sharp breath but Obi-Wan can’t look at his old friend while his own mind is spinning with Master Yoda’s words. The phenomenon is rare. It only happens when an unsuppressed omega imprints – and is imprinted on in return – on motherless children. Obi-Wan may be back on suppressants but only on temporary stop-gap ones that are weaker and his omega self has been closer to the surface since his heat spent with a compatible alpha. An alpha that happens to be the children’s biological father.
It is hardly astonishing that Obi-Wan omega-bonded with the children as soon as he laid eyes on them and was filled with a staggering amount of love and hope.
Despite the logical nature of what has happened, Obi-Wan can hardly believe it. Omega-bonded! For someone who has never explored his designation at all it seems fantastic that he could do something so primal.
“I can…I can hardly believe it myself, Master.” The bonds – strong but still new – between him and the twins shine brightly in his mind now that he knows to look for them. There is also a strong bond between the brother and sister and Obi-Wan knows that he was right to argue against them being split up no matter what omega compulsion took over.
“Well,” Bail collects himself, “that certainly changes things.”
Obi-Wan wonders for a second if Bail had hoped that Breha would omega-bond with Leia and is stabbed by guilt. It would be better for Leia to go with Bail – there she would be treasured and safe. With a bounty on his head and the personal vendetta of a Sith Anakin, no one will be safe with Obi-Wan. If he wasn’t such a failure of an omega being unable to control himself, Obi-Wan would be able to let Leia go to a much better future on Alderaan.
“Change, yes.” Obi-Wan can sense Master Yoda’s disappointment in the Force and he bows his head in shame.
Unable to sense Master Yoda’s Force presence, Bail continues with the sharp decisiveness that makes him an excellent senator. “You will come to Alderaan. We will give you a house and a new name. You will be seen as an omega single father and no will suspect you to be a jedi with some small changes to your appearance.”
“Bail,” Obi-Wan’s voice cracks, “I cannot ask you to do that. It will be far too dangerous for you if I was to be found on Alderaan. Our friendship is well-known and Palpatine will not believe you did not know I was there. You have Breha, your people, and your future to think of. I appreciate the offer but I cannot accept.”
Stroking his chin, Bail frowns at his jedi friend before speaking again. “If you are so determined, Obi-Wan, but let me at least get you some papers. A new name and birth certificates for Luke and Leia. I have contacts that can get these without it endangering me.” When Obi-Wan hesitates, Bail pushes a little more. “Please, old friend. I do not think you are fully aware of the responsibilities you are undertaking. You will be an unmated omega single father of twins. Let me do something to help you.”
It is a persuasive argument and Obi-Wan has nothing to counter it. “If it is truly no risk to yourself then, thank you, Bail, I would be most grateful for any assistance.”
With a swift nod and bow, Bail leaves to see to his task and seems relieved to do something in the wake of all this tragedy.
“To Tatooine. To his family, go. Help you, they will.”
“Tatooine?” It is hardly a planet that Obi-Wan has fond memories of but he can understand Master Yoda’s logic: Anakin never made a secret of how much he hated his home world and will not return there willingly. “I do not know his family but… Tatooine is an easy place to blend in without being questioned.”
Master Yoda hums.
The awkwardness between them tastes bitter. Too much loss and Obi-Wan’s own failure laid out bare. “Master Yoda, do you think Anakin’s twins will be able to defeat Darth Sidious?”
“Strong the Force runs, in the Skywalker line. Hope, we can…” Master Yoda furrows his brow at Obi-Wan like he is a misbehaving padawan. “Done, it is. Until the time is right, disappear we will.”
A part of Obi-Wan had hoped against hope that his Great-grandmaster would remain with him in some capacity but from Master Yoda’s tone he knows that to be an idle wish. Already disapproving of keeping the twins together and with Obi-Wan, Master Yoda would never risk any of them by staying with them. His jedi trained mind scoffs at his omega pack urge and reminds him to think practically and not be a slave to his biology. Master Yoda is not his pack, only a much respected elder of Obi-Wan’s line.
Obi-Wan may have let his omega show mercy to Anakin and claim Luke and Leia as his own but he needs to get a firmer grip of it and remember that he is a jedi. With two children to ween as well as a lack of funds and supplies on Tatooine, Obi-Wan will have to adjust to life without suppressants and he cannot allow himself to be led by his omega when Luke and Leia are going to be relying on him.
He rises but Master Yoda calls him back. “Master Kenobi, wait a moment. In your insolation on Tatooine, training I have for you.”
“Training?” With the twins to protect, Obi-Wan had planned to lock up his lightsabre with Anakin’s and only reach for the Force in the direst of circumstances.
“An old friend has learned the path to immortality.”
“Who?”
“One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me…” Master Yoda leaves him in suspense. “Your old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.”
The name causes a dull throb of pain – with all the love and pain tangled and aged – but Obi-Wan tries not to show the other master another failing. “Qui-Gon? But, how could he accomplish this?”
“The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whills, he studied. How to commune with him. I will teach you.”
The thought of not being alone – of having the man who was near enough his sire to advise him – makes Obi-Wan’s heart catch in his throat. “I will be able to talk with him?”
“How to join the Force, he will train you. Your consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force. Even your physical self, perhaps.” It is a final blessing he was not expecting from the aged master but he seizes it greedily with both hands.
*
Tatooine is just how Obi-Wan remembers it and that is not a particularly good thing. The Lars family is easy enough to find though with enough peggats – Bail had insisted on providing some funds along with his meticulous papers – and Obi-Wan tells them his story. They are clearly shocked but Beru invites him to stay with them until he has himself set up somewhere. He is practically family, according to Beru, and they would feel awful sending an unmated omega out with two children.
Lying in his bed in the spare room, with Luke and Leia sleeping on either side of him, Obi-Wan wonders what he will do next. With his new name, his beard shaved, and his suppressants fading; Obi-Wan Kenobi will be but a memory soon enough. Another name of a dead jedi who will be forgotten by all.
“Ben?” Beru’s sweet smiling face appears at his door and Obi-Wan tries to smile back. “I was just wondering if you needed any help.”
“No, Beru.” Shifting to sit up without disturbing the sleeping children, Obi-Wan sits up. “You have done more than enough and I’m incredibly grateful.”
The omega woman’s eyes stray to the twins and her smile dims a little. “They are very sweet children.”
Huffing a laugh, Obi-Wan strokes a hand through Leia’s thick dark curls and Luke’s wispier blonde. “If they’re anything like their father, they’ll be absolute terrors.”
“I cannot have children.” Beru admits without shame and her chin tilted up. To some, uncivilised and probably all too common on Tatooine, this would class Beru as a failure of an omega but Obi-Wan is not narrow-minded.
“I never thought that I would.” The male omega replies and he regrets again that he does because Beru has shown in just one evening that she would have made an excellent mother to Luke. Only Obi-Wan’s lack of discipline deprived her of caring for Luke even if she’ll never know that. To save time, and to prevent any hint of a rumour, Obi-Wan had not made it clear that he was not their birth parent.
“You must have loved Anakin very much.”
The comment startles Obi-Wan. No one – except for the council in reproach – has ever read his emotions for his former padawan so clearly. “I did. I loved him… I loved him in so many ways and I fear he never knew any of them.”
Beru’s hand comes to rest on Obi-Wan’s arm. “I am sure he did, deep down. Sometimes we can’t find the words or voice the reason but we know.”
“I hope so.” A gentle smile curls on Obi-Wan’s lips as he lets himself believe Beru for just a second.
“You are family now, Obi-Wan.” A hint of pressure as she squeezes his arm. “We may not be able to host you indefinitely but we will always be here for you. If you need someone to watch the twins during your heat or while you’re at work, then I’m happy to help. If an alpha is making a pain of themselves, we’ll send Owen after them and keep you here until we know they’ve got the message.”
Her eyes sparkle at that and Obi-Wan chuckles a little. Owen might be an alpha but it’s clear that Beru is the true boss of the household. “Thank you, Beru. I don’t think I can ever say it enough.”
Another soft squeeze. “You don’t need to say it at all, Ben.”
*
It takes two weeks for his temporary suppressants to fade. He is in his own house by this point – only staying with Beru and Owen for a couple of days – and the scent startles him. In the past, Obi-Wan has never been conscious of his scent as it has either been suppressed as generic or he’s been delirious with heat but now he can smell himself fully.
As strange as it feels to always smell omega around him, Obi-Wan actually quite likes his scent. He catches each individual musk at different times. When he’s concentrating on meditation, Obi-Wan gets distracted by the scent of oranges and it takes him an embarrassingly long time at first to realise that it’s coming from him. Every time the twins reach out to him in the Force, Obi-Wan sends a wash of happiness and comfort which fills his scent with Alderaan black tea. The love he is filled with for Luke and Leia makes his scent bloom with orange blossoms. As soon as he starts producing milk, he feeds Luke and Leia and the feeling of being a good omega gives the smell of vanilla.
Sometimes it is not so pleasant. Whenever Obi-Wan wakes in terror from nightmares, he catches the foul scent of noxious smoke.
As he adjusts to his changing scent, Obi-Wan remains at home. If he is posing as an omega single father then he can hardly be taken aback by his own smell. Even a supressed omega from the Core has scheduled heats where they grow familiar with their scent and try for children. Having only had his presentation heat and one practically feral one where an alpha’s rut had muddled his own mind, Obi-Wan takes the time to adjust.
Luke and Leia certainly seem to prefer his scent being in the open and he finds himself using his scent purposefully along with the Force to soothe them. He is somewhat worried that they are going to have a tea addiction before they can even drink something other than his milk but it can hardly be helped. Perhaps he can even break the Skywalker tradition of only liking the most tar-like caf.
Bouts of melancholy makes him smell of rotten oranges and it upsets Luke and Leia so he tries not to sink into memories too often.
Once he believes he’s got a handle on his scent, Obi-Wan goes to visit the Lars farm again to just catch up with Beru. Filled with the scents of others – another thing he’ll have to adjust to – Obi-Wan is bemused when Beru’s happy lavender scent turns smokier. Her eyes goggle at him and Obi-Wan feels ridiculously self-conscious that perhaps his scent is not as pleasant to others as it is to himself.
“Ben…” Beru’s voice peters out. “You smell…”
“What?” Frantically sniffing about himself, and only finding the worried smell of burnt tea along with the milky smell of the unpresented twins, Obi-Wan can’t find anything amiss.
“Oh, Ben.” Her hand comes to cover her mouth and her wide eyes fill with tears. “You’re pregnant.”
*
If Obi-Wan ever meets Anakin again, the omega might just castrate the alpha. One heat! One heat and Obi-Wan is pregnant! The suppressants that were still in his system should have prevented this!
A reasonable part of him, that Obi-Wan does not feel inclined to listen to at the moment, reminds Obi-Wan that he did not take the precaution of a second contraception and was too complacent believing it unlikely when it was a shared heat and rut between a compatible omega and alpha.
The ‘doctor’ – Obi-Wan is not at all certain that they have proper qualifications on Tatooine – turns in her chair to face the somewhat stunned former jedi. “As we expected, the test confirms you are pregnant. This is very close to your last pregnancy, correct? According to our records, your pups are only three months old and you are now just over two months along.”
Obi-Wan is suddenly grateful that Bail changed the birth dates of the twins.
“Yes,” Beru replies for him from where she stands next to him holding his hand. Much to the alpha’s consternation, Beru had given Owen Luke and Leia to look after while she took Obi-Wan to the nearest doctor. “His partner died recently.”
The doctor – a severe looking human beta woman with a sharp haircut and black tattoos covering her face – softens a little from her disapproval. “I see. That will make this pregnancy incredibly high risk. Without your mate, an omega’s pregnancy takes a worse toll on the body. You will need constant check-ups and you have to take it easy. Unless,” her eyes darken, “you do not wish to go through with the pregnancy.”
The thought of killing his child – of killing his and Anakin’s child – is untenable. As a jedi, one is taught that all life is sacred and that Force sensitive children are precious. How can Obi-Wan reconcile killing a Force sensitive babe – with Anakin as the sire it is impossible for it to be otherwise – when the galaxy is screaming at the emptiness of Force sensitives?
Deep down in his heart though, beneath all the galaxy-wide concerns, Obi-Wan simply and selfishly wants this child. He loves Luke and Leia so much and he can only imagine loving this child the same. They would love a baby sibling and Bail gave him enough peggats to live comfortably for some years if he’s careful. There is nothing to stop him from keeping the child except…
“He wasn’t my mate.” Obi-Wan admits with the curl of smoke around him and the firm grip of Beru in his hand. “We… It was a convenient…arrangement. I would – he wouldn’t want me to have… I already have Luke and Leia and they were…” Stolen. Just like this baby would be from a rut-mad Anakin.
A sea-salt wave of defiance and determination crashes through the room from Beru. “Just because that idiot didn’t claim you properly doesn’t mean this baby is not yours, Ben. If you want it, keep it. You loved him and you are an excellent father to Luke and Leia! Never let that knot-head’s stupidity make you doubt that!”
“Well, Mr Kestis?” The doctor asks with a raised eyebrow. “What will it be?”
Love blossoms around him as he strokes his still flat stomach. “I want…I want to keep the child.”
*
Being pregnant and parenting twins, who are still fussy babies themselves, is not easy. Not only does Obi-Wan not get much sleep – with the twins slowly adjusting to sleeping all night and needing to use the fresher constantly – but Luke discovers his aptitude with the Force and so things quite literally fly around their house as he is such a curious child and wants to look at everything. Possibly jealous of her brother, Leia insists on being held near constantly and uses her own Force presence to connect with Obi-Wan and the new baby. It is an utterly bizarre sensation to have Leia and the baby’s feelings pushing through him like he’s simply a conduit.
From what Obi-Wan can glean, Leia and the baby can only really communicate very basic feelings but they seem to have bonded despite that. The first time Obi-Wan ever purrs in his thirty-eight years is when he feels the seven-month-old send all the love she feels for Obi-Wan to the baby and the baby replies with the same. The sound startled Obi-Wan so badly that he almost dropped Leia and then he was quickly distracted by an indignant little girl demanding better care.
Sometimes, Obi-Wan teases the girl, he thinks she would have been better off going with Bail because she’s such a little princess.
Obi-Wan knows that it’s probably his fault that the twins are so intuitive at such a young age. He has used the Force to communicate with them since they were born and even omega-bonding takes a small degree of Force. Not wishing to atrophy, and still hoping to communicate with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan continues to meditate in the Force and he can sense the twins unconsciously follow him sometimes. To his shame, Obi-Wan has also been using the Force to help him with household tasks – negotiating twins and his pregnancy alone has been a trial and his resolution to withdraw from the Force crumbled – so they are only following his example.
Anakin would mock him mercilessly, in a poor approximation of Obi-Wan’s voice, for his ‘inappropriate use of the Force’.
Obi-Wan knows that he’ll have to train them – all three of them – as soon as he can and he tries not to think about how the last time he trained a Skywalker went.
*
Labour hurts. It’s hours of sweat, blood, tears and Obi-Wan will have to apologise to Beru for breaking her hand. The Force is somehow strong but unreachable and Obi-Wan feels it pressing down on him unbearably. For one terrifying moment, Obi-Wan thinks he’s going to fade just like Padmé leaving all three of his pups with no one.
He begs for Anakin. Pleads for his alpha to come. Wants his best friend – his other half – holding his hand and telling him he can do this because Anakin knows that he’s strong. He screams into the Force to bring Anakin back to him. Smoke and rotten oranges cover him and he sobs his shameful wishes out loud.
Anakin is gone. Anakin betrayed them all. Anakin cut down children. Anakin choked his pregnant wife. Anakin tried to kill him. Anakin never wanted Obi-Wan in the first place.
But then something lifts and a light burns through the miasma of the Force. His son. He is so weak and Beru tells him to rest. It was a long labour, he’s lost a lot of blood, but he’ll be fine and he can meet his new son when he wakes up. Obi-Wan slurs out something that’s meant to be a thank you before he lets the comforting darkness embrace him.
*
The first thing he notices when he comes to is that his scent is gone. Considering his relatively short time with it, the fact alarms Obi-Wan and he sits up far too quickly. Beru, a bandage on her right hand, comes to his side. “Hey, Ben, don’t move too quickly, ok? You’re still not recovered yet.”
“Luke, Leia, the baby?”
“They’re fine – they’re safe – Owen is with them.”
Blinking, Obi-Wan finally realises that he’s the Lars’ spare room again. “What happened to my scent?”
Beru swallows and her eyes are wet while her scent has wisp of smoke about it under the lavender. “You… Remembering Anakin upset you and your scent…went out of control. It was upsetting Luke and Leia so the doctor had to give you a temporary scent blocker.”
The fact that he’d let himself get so out of control – and he has no doubt that the twins were also affected by the feelings in the Force as well – horrifies Obi-Wan and he can feel tears prick at his eyes. He is failing at being an omega so badly when he has three pups that need him. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh,” Beru throws her arms around him and Obi-Wan stiffens at the first embrace he can remember in years, “don’t you dare apologise! You were so strong doing this on your own and your pups will be so proud to call you their mother.”
Something needy and omega rises in Obi-Wan’s chest. “My pups…I need to see them.”
Beru wastes no time and soon she’s back with a small bundle in her arms and Owen follows with the twins on his hips. From her uncle’s arms, Leia shrieks. “Mama!”
“Hello, princess, my little knight.” The twins are wriggling to get out of Owen’s hold but Owen has a good grip. Beru comes forward and lays the softly wrapped newborn in Obi-Wan’s arms. He’s sleeping and looks similar to any baby this young but he has a tuft of red-blonde hair to match Obi-Wan’s. He is perfect and a small constant light in the Force just like his siblings. “Hello, there.”
“Do you have a name for him?”
“Cal,” Obi-Wan traces a finger down the soft cheek, “his name is Cal.”
“Ca! Ca!” Leia claps her hands together and Obi-Wan’s scent unfurls in orange blossom and vanilla.
*
Now off suppressants and not pregnant, Obi-Wan has to adjust to a regular heat cycle. Every two or three months, whenever the heat starts prickling under Obi-Wan’s skin, the pups are sent to spend a few days with their Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. During his first regular heat, Obi-Wan discovers that his arousal smells of bergamot.
Obi-Wan never takes an alpha – never wants to for a multitude of reasons – and it is an embarrassingly slow process to learn what he likes and what feels good. Sometimes he becomes a quivering mess just on the hazy memories of Anakin during their one night together. Sometimes he’ll imagine that it’s Anakin who is touching him instead of himself or a toy. Sometimes he’ll hear Anakin’s voice calling him ‘pretty’ and claiming him. Sometimes the pain of all that Anakin did is too much and Obi-Wan refuses to touch himself and just sobs through the ache for days.
Whatever happens during the heat, the house is always clean when the pups arrive home with the smell of bergamot still lingering a little.
*
Leia gets the knack of telekinesis at around one year old. They discover this when Luke steals a toy from her and Leia makes it hit him in the head as revenge. The fights continue.
*
“Mama.” Luke crosses his little arms and pouts. “Not fair.”
The omega raises a dangerous eyebrow at his oldest child. “What have I told you about using the Force against your siblings, Luke?”
“That it’s not the way of the Force,” the four-year-old answers automatically but quickly rallies, “but Leia started it!”
“Did not!”
“Did to!”
“Did not!”
Obi-Wan holds up a hand and is rewarded with blissful silence from the twins. From his place at the table, Cal looks up from his school work to listen to his mama. “You were both using the Force inappropriately. It is not a toy and you should not treat it so disrespectfully. I want you to meditate on what you did wrong.”
Twin groans of ‘mama’ come from Obi-Wan’s eldest but they dutifully drag themselves to the corners of the room Obi-Wan points to and settle into a lotus position. Joining Cal at the table, Obi-Wan ruffles his youngest’s hair and goes back to doing some work of his own. His eyes can’t help but dart to the twins though and his lips twitch in fond amusement as he considers how they enjoy meditation about as much as their father.
*
Reputable work is hard to find on Tatooine and it is even more difficult for an omega. As grateful as Obi-Wan is for Bail’s generous gift, Obi-Wan is not made to be idle especially with so much corruption and injustice around him. Besides, as much as he denied it to Anakin, he has always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
The children are now old enough that Obi-Wan doesn’t have to monitor them every second for slip-ups in the Force and Obi-Wan itches to do something.
The White Suns have been working on Tatooine for years now but Obi-Wan brings much needed organisation, tactics, and combat skills to the table while no one expects little Ben Kestis, the sad omega who was abandoned by his alpha with three pups, to be up to anything. Beru vouched for him and now he’s one of their leaders and spends much of his time planning out operations, arranging deals with pilots, or training their recruits in combat. He doesn’t touch on any jedi katas but already plans to use the secreted away training grounds to teach his pups when they’re old enough
With every slave freed and slaver angered, Obi-Wan pushes forward for more. He’s not just doing this for slaves but for his children. If any of them present as an omega, Obi-Wan knows that they will not be ignored as ‘damaged goods’ like he has been. He’s doing this for Shmi Skywalker – the woman he should have saved – and for all the other people killed for no good reason on this dust bowl of a planet. He’s doing it for his former padawan, his best friend, the father of his children, the other half of his soul, the boy who always dreamed of abolishing slavery on Tatooine.
*
When Cal is four, Obi-Wan gets a comm call at the training centre from Beru, frantic. His youngest son collapsed and is having some sort of fit. Not saying a word to the others, Obi-Wan runs home.
Cal is writhing on the floor – his small body contorting itself unnaturally – screaming. The Force around him is thick, cloying and painful but speckled with starlight and cosmic energy.
In one corner, Beru is holding the twins with their faces to her chest so they can’t see their younger brother. The female omega’s scent is filled with smoke while her face is pale and agog in terror. “Ben!”
“Don’t worry,” Obi-Wan kneels down besides his precious baby boy who is too young. “I have seen this before. It will pass.”
“What is it?”
“A gift of the Force.” Knowing that he cannot touch Cal physically – as he might trigger another episode or accidentally rouse Cal too early and leave him untethered – Obi-Wan settles for blanketing the whole room in his soothing Force presence. It is a dangerous thing to do but there is nothing else that can be done to relieve his frantic pups and dear friend.
Cal stops screaming and his movements less violent but he is still trapped.
Beru speaks in a calmer tone at least and her scent is less pungent. “A gift?”
“Psychometry. It is a rare ability but it allows its users to sense the memories and feelings of objects or people they touch.” Rising, Obi-Wan takes the twins into his own arms. Leia is sobbing and Luke is terrifyingly pale. He stokes his hands through their hair and presses them closer. “Cal will be alright but he will need to learn how to use this gift so it no longer pains him. I’m sorry this scared you, dear ones.”
They wait in silence until Cal is finally freed from the haze of his vision and passes out. Luke and Leia sense it immediately and run to his side until Obi-Wan lifts him in his arms to take him to rest. That night all four of them sleep in Obi-Wan’s nest.
*
Leia comes back from visiting her Aunt Beru with an uncharacteristically unsure expression. Biting her lip, Leia approaches her younger brother who is sitting at the kitchen table with his arms crossed to hide his hands in his armpits. A Holocaster is on the table and he’s half-watching a documentary about the native birds of Naboo.
Ever since his first vision, which he refuses to speak of and Obi-Wan won’t push, Cal often sits like this with something playing but his mind somewhere else entirely. Despite Obi-Wan’s long held wish that one of his children might take to actually enjoying meditation, his cheerful little boy sitting so silently, even while his brother tries to get him to play or his sister tries to talk to him about whatever he’s watching, is horrifying.
“Cal,” her brother doesn’t respond but Leia doesn’t falter. “I have a gift for you.”
The little boy turns to look at her balefully.
Clearly a little unnerved, Leia starts to babble. “I was going to buy you some but Aunt Beru didn’t think anyone would sell them on Tatooine or they’d be too filled with memories from whoever they were stolen from. So, we went to the markets and I used the Force – really carefully, mama, I swear – to look over all the materials to see if they had any strong emotions around them. Then Aunt Beru helped me make them so…”
Seemingly having run out of words, Leia produces a set of tiny gloves made from a light but durable light brown material. It isn’t leather but something synthetic that is probably meant for flight suits. Placing them on the table, Leia backs away a few steps.
“I thought, if you had gloves, you wouldn’t have to touch things directly unless you wanted to and, since I made them, the only thing you’ll be able to sense off them is how much I love you and want you to be happy again.”
Obi-Wan is blinking back tears at his darling little princess but Cal still hasn’t reacted.
Then, without bothering with the gloves, Cal launches himself at Leia in a bear hug. Leia almost falls over but she hugs her little brother back immediately. As Cal sniffles in Leia’s arms, Obi-Wan knows that they’ll be alright.
*
Shockingly, considering his older siblings, Cal is the first to ask about Anakin. He’s five and Obi-Wan has only just let him play with the local kids as he has enough control over his Force signature and psychometry. This is probably how he knows that most households have two parents.
“Where’s our papa?”
Obi-Wan drops the pot he was washing and it shatters on the floor. The twins had been bickering about pod-racing but are now quiet and have their eyes fixed on their mama. Being the eldest, Obi-Wan knows that the twins have always sheltered Cal from all the gossip about their parents. Cal doesn’t know the words ‘omega-whore’, ‘knot-slut’, and ‘bastards’ like Luke and Leia do.
“Your father…” Obi-Wan knows that he needs to say something and he refuses to lie to his children. Turning Obi-Wan retakes his seat at the table next to Luke who grabs his hand securely within both of his own. Instinctively, sensing their mother’s distress, his bonds with his children in the Force wrap around him like a blanket. He washes them with gratitude and tries to control his scent to not distress them further.
“Your father was a Jedi knight, the same as myself.”
Cal is only five but Obi-Wan has had to tell him certain truths too early. “You said there were no more jedi. They were killed and that’s why we have to hide the Force.”
It didn’t take long, once the gossip finally reached Tatooine of the Emperor’s Fist, for Obi-Wan to make the connection. He swore to always tell the truth to his children, so he tells a version of it. “A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he was seduced by the dark side of the Force, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct.”
“What was he like? Our father, I mean, not Vader.” Luke watches him with Anakin’s blue eyes.
“He was the best star pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior.” Obi-Wan chokes a little. “And he was a good friend.”
That night, Obi-Wan bundles all his children into his nest and doesn’t let them go.
*
It is almost accidental – truly. Obi-Wan really didn’t intend to reveal himself, and his children, by helping the remaining jedi. It cut him to the core when he had to make that decision, holding newborn Luke and Leia in his arms, but he made it. He resolved to disappear just as Master Yoda told him to.
But, then Obi-Wan got involved with a liberation movement that has a network of pilots alongside determined idealists for freedom. Not just got involved with, but Obi-Wan soon became their unofficial leader. Not only with combat training and military expertise but also handling any paperwork that the undereducated former slaves couldn’t read. They looked up to him, they admired him, and they believed in freedom for all.
So, it was kind of inevitable when they started arranging safe passage to neutral planets for jedi and force sensitives. None of them know about Obi-Wan – he could never expose his pups like that – but they all know that there was someone who was watching over them. Someone at the end of the Hidden Path.
*
Obi-Wan tells the twins about Padmé when they are nine. He owes it to both his dear friend and her children to keep the memory of the brilliant Senator Amidala alive. It seems horribly fitting that they are the same age as Anakin was when he left his mother and met his future wife.
At first, Luke goes quiet while Leia blinks back tears. “I kept seeing a lady. Not like Cal, just images, really. Feelings. She was very beautiful, kind…but sad.”
Leia has always been more gifted in with the Unifying Force than her brother. “She was very beautiful and one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. You are both so much like her. She was fearless and stubborn too. I will always love you as my own but she loved you so much and you deserve to know her.”
It takes a while but, eventually, Leia starts asking questions. Luke only watches and listens closely as Obi-Wan tells them all he can about the exceptional woman who carried and birthed them. The only thing he refuses to say is how she died.
*
Almost despite himself through the years, Obi-Wan becomes satisfied with his life on Tatooine. He has three beautiful – if powerful and headstrong – children and he is championing for causes he believes in. Warm contentment settles around him as his children grow and the White Suns gain more victories and the Hidden Path safely relocates more Force sensitives.
It takes one afternoon in the markets of Mos Eisley for Obi-Wan’s peace to be shattered.
They’re only here because of Luke. The boy has inherited the mechanical skills of his father even at aged ten so they make a trip every so often to find parts and new projects for him. For their eighth birthday, Luke fixed up an old L0-LA59 toy droid for Leia and ‘Lola’ soon became Leia’s best friend. And then, in an act that melted Obi-Wan’s heart, Luke practically built a BD-1 unit from scratch for Cal so that it could get them if Cal had a psychometry episode. Obi-Wan had pressed so many kisses into his precious son’s cheeks that the boy had been squirming like a toddler much to Leia and Cal’s delight.
“Luke!” Because Luke has no patience and has rushed ahead and out of sight.
Thankfully Leia and Cal are happy enough to stay close to Obi-Wan but the three of them can’t cut through the throng as quickly as one ten-year-old. When Obi-Wan finds his eldest he’s going to drag the boy home by the ear and force him to meditate for hours. Mos Eisley is not a friendly place as much as Luke Kestis is known around the scrap yards.
Unsurprisingly, Luke is with Biggs when they finally catch up with him. Biggs Darklighter is Luke’s best friend and the pair are determined to become pilots together and travel the skies. If the pair weren’t competing in reckless skyhopper races, then they were in the markets looking for the next project for Luke to create chaos. Obi-Wan is never sure whether he’s grateful Luke has made such a good friend or whether he regrets the day he let Luke outside the house unsupervised.
A terribly familiar voice calls his attention. “Excuse me, young sir, but this R2 unit is in prime condition. A real bargain.”
Threepio is leaning over to speak to Luke at eye level and, sure enough, a battered blue and white R2-D2 unit is standing next to him. “Why would we want an old protocol droid and a crazy astromech?”
R2-D2 starts bleeping indignantly at Biggs’ comment and Obi-Wan knows in that moment he’s going to be taking Anakin’s nightmare droids home with him.
“Peace, Artoo.”
At his words both droids look up and Artoo’s head starts spinning as he spits out a lot of binary. Threepio is easier to understand. “Good gracious! Could it be? Master…”
Before Threepio can say anything incriminating – because no one thought to wipe his memory apparently – Obi-Wan speaks over him to talk to the stall owner. The man seems pretty happy to get the protocol droid off his hands – because Anakin insisted on giving him such a personality – but he haggles a bit over Artoo.
Finally, Obi-Wan negotiates a decent price and hands over the peggats. “Come on, Luke, I’ve spent quite enough today.”
“But mama!” The boy scowls at the two droids. “I didn’t want these two.”
Artoo lets loose a stream of irate binary and nudges Luke who squawks and glares harder at the astromech. Obi-Wan deeply regrets coming to the markets today.
*
The reason Threepio’s memory wasn’t wiped turns out to be because both he and Artoo were shut down and put in storage to be forgotten. Only, clearly, whoever did this had never met Artoo before and the droid eventually broke them out, stole a ship, and crash landed them on Tatooine because they knew that’s where Obi-Wan had come with Anakin’s children. Obi-Wan is only surprised it took them a decade to manage it.
Luke declares war on Artoo from the minute they get home. Obi-Wan has a binary induced headache and has to confiscate all of Luke’s toolkit by the first night. This, of course, starts a whole new argument between Luke and Obi-Wan with Artoo screeching in the background. Threepio, helpfully, translates the binary side of Artoo and Luke’s ‘did not, did too’ argument.
An uneasy alliance seems to form in the next week though as Artoo condescends to let Luke tinker with him and they stop knocking each other over. It’s a bittersweet victory though.
“Gracious!” Threepio exclaims as he catches sight of the pair a week after their arrival. “Doesn’t Master Luke look so like Master Ani?”
He truly does and, sometimes, that’s painful. Leia gets her looks from Padmé, and Obi-Wan has no doubts that she’ll grow to be just as beautiful, while Cal has taken after Obi-Wan in most aspects. Cal has Anakin’s eyes but Luke is a mirror of the little boy Obi-Wan first took in as his padawan.
“Yes, yes, he does.”
*
Beru takes one look at Threepio – returned to Tatooine – and groans. Obi-Wan very much relates to the sentiment.
*
It takes Obi-Wan a month to summon the courage to do it. Renowned Jedi General and Council Member turned slave liberator and rebel network leader, as well as proud omega single-father, Obi-Wan may be but he creeps around his own house like a thief in the night. He takes Artoo up onto the roof.
Anakin took Artoo everywhere. Anakin never wiped a single file from Artoo.
“Tell me a story Artoo,” Obi-Wan says in a low voice to not wake the sleeping children, “Tell me about the Fall of Anakin Skywalker.”
The astromech beeps a couple of times and the hologram of a wedding appears. It takes until morning for Artoo to finish his tale and Obi-Wan crumbles in utter despair at the litany of evidence presented to him. The incidents that he excused or ignored or, worst of all, never knew about now set out before him as a pattern that led to him losing the dearest person in his life. Smoke and rotten oranges fill the air as he loses control.
Artoo beeps at him urgently and Obi-Wan looks up to see another projection but this isn’t a memory and instead a data file on the current status of a planet with fresh information. Apparently, Anakin did not remember to block Artoo from his systems. Obi-Wan can’t speak binary but he knows exactly what Artoo is saying and he smiles.
*
“Really, Master Ben, this is so very risky!” Threepio cries as Obi-Wan finishes packing Cal’s bag. “Surely not all the children should go with you!”
“It would be riskier to make multiple trips, Threepio.” The former jedi master explains for the umpteenth time to the dismayed protocol droid. “Now, remember, if anyone asks, we’ve gone to have a short holiday and will be back in a week, yes?”
“R2!” The frantic protocol droid calls to his usual partner in crime. “Surely you cannot imagine this to be a good idea.”
Artoo runs in circles around the pups and bleeps excitedly as Cal is finally ready to go.
“Oh, well, really! I do not know you made it through the Clone Wars with this sort of carrying on. Oh! The Maker!”
The twins giggle at the neurotic droid while Cal pats his casing sympathetically.
*
Getting to Unknown Regions is remarkably simple, in theory with all Obi-Wan’s connections, however Obi-Wan has never travelled with his three pups before.
Luke makes a menace of himself exploring with Artoo, who unhelpfully assists the boy splice into whatever he wants, and collecting anything he finds interesting enough to keep. While her brother commits petty theft, Leia interrogates all their fellow passengers to know more about where they’re from. At first, Obi-Wan thinks that Cal is behaving himself but then he spots his youngest crawling through the ventilation shafts with BD.
A Twi’lek alpha woman eyes the male human omega in amusement from where she sits with her exemplarily behaved pups and similarly entertained omega. “First time travelling with your pups?”
“Yes,” Obi-Wan holds back a wince as something crashes and Luke’s Force signature reeks of guilt. “Believe me, they get their sense of decorum from their father.”
“Oh, Lola, note that down!” Leia cries as she speaks to an elderly Twi’lek who, thankfully, looks amused by the impudent little girl. At least, Obi-Wan sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose, Leia is showing interest in other cultures.
When they get home, Obi-Wan is going to force his children to meditate and confiscate their droids.
*
Obi-Wan acquires a suitable ship, The Stinger Mantis, and remembers why he doesn’t like to fly. Not only that but the luxury yacht is entirely ridiculous for their purpose which, in a way, will mean that absolutely no one will take them seriously as an attack vessel. Hopefully they can just slip past the Imperial forces. Artoo patches himself in to the system and reveals that there are two hidden laser cannons and some pretty decent shielding so they’re not entirely defenceless.
As they get into hyperspace, Obi-Wan finally explains to his children what they are doing out here. He brings out an old wooden chest that they’ve probably seen a thousand times in their house. They’ve seen his lightsabre thousands of times as well. Obi-Wan has never let them see the one that lies beside it before.
“The reason we are going to Ilum is because it is a sacred pilgrimage for all jedi younglings. It is where you get your kyber crystals.” His pups are uncharacteristically silent as he raises his lightsabre and carefully extracts his own kyber crystal. “From this, we can make your first lightsabres.”
“We get to have lightsabres?” Leia’s voice is hushed in wonder as she looks at Obi-Wan’s glowing blue crystal.
“Yes, Leia.” With great care, Obi-Wan replaces his crystal into his lightsabre. “We will go to the Crystal Caves of Ilum and a crystal will call to you. This is not without dangers. The Empire has a hold of Ilum so we will need to be incredibly careful and you need to follow exactly what I say, do you understand?”
Leia hastily nods and Cal grins. “We get to be real jedi with lightsabres!”
“Cal, we must be careful. We can’t take any risks here and I need to know that you will all follow my orders for your own safety.” As much as his son’s delight warms him, Obi-Wan can’t have any of his pups forgetting just how unsafe this is.
The nine-year-old bows his head and his scent becomes fainter. “I will, mama. I’ll behave, promise.”
Suddenly, Obi-Wan realises that Luke hasn’t spoken. Looking to his eldest son, the jedi is bemused to find Luke just staring transfixed at Anakin’s lightsabre. “Luke?” The boy doesn’t respond to Obi-Wan’s touch or voice. “Luke!”
With hazy, slow, blinks, Luke seems to recentre himself in the room but his Force presence is quiet and pensive. Obi-Wan has never felt his son so muted in the Force before.
“Luke.” Resting a hand on his shoulder, Obi-Wan speaks as softly as he can. “What happened?”
“The lightsabre…the other lightsabre…it called to me.” Luke explains with downcast eyes.
Anakin’s lightsabre called to his son. The lightsabre that the Hero with No Fear wielded all through the Clone Wars. The lightsabre that defended innocents. The lightsabre that protected the Republic. The lightsabre that shone next to Obi-Wan in countless battles. The lightsabre that slaughtered the Temple Masters. The lightsabre that cut down younglings. The lightsabre that struck down the entire Separatist Council. The lightsabre that Anakin raised against Obi-Wan. The lightsabre that Anakin tried to kill Obi-Wan with.
Obi-Wan doesn’t know why he’s kept it all these years but he never could destroy it either.
“It was…” His heart is in his throat. “This lightsabre was your father’s and now,” shaking fingers pick up the unused sabre for the first time in a decade, “it calls to you.”
Luke has never looked smaller as he stares at the lightsabre with the eyes also inherited from his father. “But…”
“Luke,” Obi-Wan tries to summon some jedi serenity, “trust the Force.”
His two younger siblings watch as Luke reaches out and takes the lightsabre with reverence. “I… It feels warm.”
Out of his three children, Luke has always showed the least capability with the Unifying Force. Between Cal’s psychometry and Leia’s Force gifted images of Padmé, Luke has always been the most untouched by the Unifying Force although supremely gifted in the Living Force. Even so, Obi-Wan trusts the Force and can see how Anakin’s lightsabre pulses to life in his son’s hands.
“Your father would want you to have it, Luke.” It’s true, Anakin Skywalker would have been ecstatic at the sight of his son holding his lightsabre and following in his footsteps to become a jedi.
The ten-year-old radiates pride and satisfaction before he cracks a crooked smile. “I can’t believe I don’t get to build my own lightsabre though!”
“Don’t worry, nerf-herder.” Leia elbows her twin with a wide smile. “You can help with ours.”
Crowding into his brother’s side, Cal nods eagerly. “Yeah! I want a double-bladed one that can be split in two!”
The three of them eagerly start talking about lightsabre designs with laughter and peace.
“Do not touch Luke’s lightsabre, Cal.” The sharp reprimand breaks through the happy rapport but Obi-Wan can’t risk it although he regrets his harsh tone and attempts to gentle it. “It has seen much and I would not…wish you to feel that pain. Do you understand me, Cal?” The boy nods quickly so Obi-Wan turns to his eldest. “You need to protect Cal, Luke.”
“I will.” Luke’s grip on the lightsabre is white as he wraps his free arm around Cal protectively.
*
His pups are not used to anything but the heat of Tatooine and shiver in their thick parkas as they trek across the snow. Obi-Wan did not want to land too close to the Old Jedi Temple but also not too far in case they need to make a quick getaway so it isn’t so bad. That hasn’t stopped the litany of complaints from his pups though and Obi-Wan has had to tell them to hush – because they don’t know what monitoring the Imps have on Ilum – a dozen times by the time he recognises the landscape.
Ducking down, Obi-Wan indicates for his pups to do the same and, to their credit, they do. “The temple is just beyond this outcropping but there will be guards. I will attempt to use the Force to persuade them to let us pass but, if it comes to violence, all of you need to take shelter immediately. If things turn badly, and it looks like I’m going to be captured, run back to the ship immediately: Artoo is ready to navigate the way back home.”
“Mama!”
“No, dear ones.” Obi-Wan gathers them all to him in a mess of fluffy parkas. “You promised to do as I say and I need you to be safe. I do not think it will come to that but, if it does, know I love you so very dearly.”
He feels three nods against his chest before he draws back and nods once: it is time.
*
The only reason Obi-Wan is willing to risk this today is because Artoo reported that troops were being withdrawn from Ilum temporarily for the decennial celebration of the Empire on Coruscant. Although Empire Day has passed, the emperor apparently insisted on having another celebration for the occasion but expects trouble from rebels so has recalled troops from less prioritised areas.
It is the only time when Ilum will be even slightly vulnerable and Obi-Wan dearly wishes to give his children the experience of finding their very first kyber crystal in a place still filled with the Force.
On approach, there are no guards and Obi-Wan releases Cal and Leia’s hands to light his own lightsabre for oncoming blaster fire. Luke looks tempted to reach for his own but Obi-Wan urges him to peace with the Force. Releasing his Force signature, Obi-Wan basks in the purity of the place and feels awakened with the Living Force.
The planet itself is aiding him as the Force whispers that there are only half a dozen stormtroopers on the station and none of them are on watch. No jedi has come to Ilum in years. They are not expected in the least.
The light of the sabre guides them forward as it calls to its brothers still remaining in the caves. Cal is practically vibrating with the power of the place and his siblings are only a little less awed.
The statues of the Jedi of Old loom over them but their faces have been deliberately marred. The great entry way, kept rigorously clear by the Imps, has been desecrated with the jedi symbols burned away by a lightsabre. The stained-glass windows depicting the tenets of the Order have been shattered and replaced with duracrete. The flag of the Imperial Empire hangs above the door, a stark red against the whiteness of the snow.
All of the aesthetic changes – as much as they wound Obi-Wan as a reminder of the Order’s fall – hardly matter. The place is still bathed in the pure Force. It still retains the imprint of thousands of generations of light Force users who have walked through the doorway and sought revelation here. No amount of Imperial propaganda can erase the light core of this place.
It fills Obi-Wan with hope.
The family walks into the temple itself. The huge kyber crystal that used to hang from the roof illuminating the room in warm yellow and keeping the temperature pleasant, has been removed. It is uncomfortably hot now and the synthetic lights cannot compare to the crystal and the sunshine that painted vibrant colours on the walls through the windows. “Careful, dear ones.”
“It’s beautiful…” Leia breathes as she takes in the ancient temple.
“Yeah,” Luke presses a hand against one of the rough stone walls, “I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
“It feels like home, like mama’s hugs…” Trailing off, Cal slips off a glove and places his bare hand next to his brother’s. He doesn’t go into a full vision but his eyes slip close and a beatific smile grows on his lips. “The Force wants us here.”
Feeling it himself, Obi-Wan allows himself a smile himself even if he can’t fully relax. “Yes, it does.”
“I can feel something calling to me, mama.” Without waiting for a reply, Leia instinctively leads the way towards the entrance to the caves. “Down here.”
Coming over himself, with the boys trailing after him, Obi-Wan smiles as he ruffles his daughter’s braids. “Indeed, princess, this is the entrance to the Crystal Caves and where you will find your kyber crystals.”
“I sense it too.” Cal presses forward but Obi-Wan holds them both back for a moment.
Letting his senses extend, Obi-Wan looks for signs of life within the caves to check that none of the troopers are down there. As he expected, the Force pulses warmly in reassurance that his pups will be safe and welcomed into the crystal caves.
“Ok,” Obi-Wan pulls back into himself, “it’s safe. Leia, Cal, you need to go in yourselves and follow the call until you feel complete. Listen and trust in the Force. Luke and I will stay here on guard if anyone approaches.”
Luke’s chest puffs up a little but the other hesitate. Eventually, Leia squares her shoulders and lifts her chin before striding forward. The twisting darkness of the caves quickly hides her from their view but Obi-Wan can feel her still in the Force – safe and determined.
It takes Cal another minute before he slips off his other glove with a slight tremble. Obi-Wan is ready to give him the time he needs but Luke gives his brother a small shove. “Go on, Cal. Go and get your two crystals!”
A flickering smile comes to Cal’s lips and he gives his brother a nod before heading into the caves without looking back.
“Well done, Luke.” Obi-Wan lays a hand on his eldest’s shoulder.
The blonde boy gives him a dazzling smile and nods. With a lightsabre on his hip and bathing in the purity of the Force on Ilum, Luke almost looks like a proper jedi temple-raised padawan. Even if this goes terribly, Obi-Wan is glad that he got to share this tradition with his pups and show them a place uncorrupted by the darkness in the Galaxy.
They stand in silence for a few minutes with only the hum of Obi-Wan’s lightsabre between them. Both of them can’t help but watch the exits and Obi-Wan knows that Luke is tracking his siblings through the Force, just as he is, to make sure that they’re safe.
After long minutes of quiet, Luke suddenly lurches forward and Obi-Wan thinks that there’s something wrong until his son ducks down and picks something up off the floor. A faint yellow glow emits from Luke’s palm and lights his face and he examines whatever he’s found. The Force hums in contentment.
“Look, mama!” The little boy rushes back to Obi-Wan and shows him what he’s found. It’s a piece of kyber crystal glowing light amber. It is fragmented and rougher around the edges than a freshly hewn crystal so Obi-Wan guesses that this is all that remains of the once enormous crystal that lit this place. “It called to me too! Just like papa’s sabre!”
Oh, Luke, Obi-Wan sighs internally as his beautiful boy is given yet another heavy legacy to carry. So, like his father… “That’s amazing, Luke, even I didn’t sense that little piece! I don’t think we’ll be able to make a regular blade with it, because it’s so small, but a shoto one perhaps? They can come in very handy.”
This hardly seems to matter to Luke as he holds the crystal to his heart and grins. “I guess I get to make a lightsabre after all!”
Helpless to his pup’s happiness and the pure Force radiating light around them, Obi-Wan smiles back.
*
The Gathering was never a short process – with Luke’s quick find the exception not the rule – and their luck runs out.
Obi-Wan sharpens as he senses sentients coming towards them – two – and the Force flashes in warning. “Luke, get down into the caves. Find your brother and sister.”
“But, mama…”
“Go!” Obi-Wan whisper-shouts and he hears Luke run down the stone steps as he turns and grips his lightsabre firmer. Although he has kept practicing – to train his pups – Obi-Wan has not used it in combat for a decade.
“I’m telling you, the scanners have karked up!” One of the troopers grouses. “No one ever comes to this frozen-ass rock.”
Their footsteps come closer as another voice answers impatiently. “You just want to sit around on your frozen ass all day.”
They turn the last corner and come through the doorway.
Both are stopped short at the sight of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi standing before them with a lightsabre at the ready. “Hello there.”
“General Kenobi!”
The blaster bolts start flying but Obi-Wan moves on instinct to block every single hit. He can’t let any stray blast damage the entry to the Crystal Caves with his pups still inside. One of the troopers is shouting into his comm but Obi-Wan just lets the rhythms of combat and the Living Force of the planet flow through him.
These are not the Empire’s best – probably newbies or a punishment platoon – and Obi-Wan Kenobi has something worth fighting for.
Obi-Wan hears scrambling behind him but he doesn’t look back. In the Force he senses all three of his pups enter the room. “Luke! Get them to the ship.”
“Mama!”
“Now!”
The children make a break for it towards the door. Using the Force, Obi-Wan launches himself to face the two troopers. He blocks their shots – one of them deflecting back and hitting the trooper in the knee – before he waves a hand in front of their helmeted faces. “You will let us go peacefully.”
The one still standing is weak minded. “We will let you go peacefully.”
Humming, Obi-Wan backs away and takes in the man on the floor. It was a nasty hit but not crippling. “Make sure you get that treated, soldier.”
The reinforcements haven’t made it yet so Obi-Wan walks towards the doors unbothered. Luke, Leia, and Cal have followed his orders and run back to the ship so Obi-Wan has a minute. Turning back to the entrance – the desecrated and burnt holy place – Obi-Wan lets the Force flow through him. In the Jedi times, they used to allow nature to take its course and block the entrance as an extra challenge for younglings as well as what was best for the planet.
The Force thrums in his veins and he reaches out. The mountain answers, the snow, and the ice answer. Obi-Wan pulls and it all falls down.
The flag of the empire is obscured and the entrance is blocked so Obi-Wan can almost imagine that it is the same place that he visited as a child, as an inexperienced knight with a padawan waiting at home, and as a new master with his freshly-knighted padawan at his side. The faceless statues stand over him and the Force buzzes with satisfaction.
The sound of engines makes him turn and Obi-Wan forgets all jedi serenity when he sees Luke waving from the pilot seat of The Stinger Mantis. There is no way on Coruscant, Tatooine or Ilum that Obi-Wan is going to allow his eldest to fly them home. Luke has as much sense as his father when it comes to flying: none at all.
*
“Let me see then.”
They’re safe in hyperspace, and Obi-Wan has removed Luke from the pilot seat, when Obi-Wan sits before them in a loose lotus pose. His pups gather around at once to show off their prizes in similar positions.
Leia is vibrating in the Force as she opens up her hand and reveals a burning amethyst crystal. It is a rich and deep colour while the size is excellent for a traditional length blade. “A fine specimen, Leia. A rare colour but one of my dear friends had a blade that shade and he was incredibly powerful and the best duellist in the Order.”
The little girl traces a finger over the surface of the crystal. “It just called to me, mama. When I touched it, I saw our birth mother again and she was smiling at me. I felt her there.”
“That’s…” Obi-Wan struggles to find the right words for something so unbearably beautiful and sad. “That’s wonderful, Leia. Those who love us, never truly leave us. We can feel them still in the Force and, when we need it, they can bring us guidance.”
Leia’s fingers curl around her crystal and she holds it close. There is a small smile on her lips and the Force wisps around her for a few moments. Obi-Wan wonders if it is Padmé who, although not being Force sensitive herself, was certainly filled with love and strong-willed enough to become one with the Force.
Looking to Cal, who has his head bowed and his crystal hidden, Obi-Wan smiles as he lifts up his youngest’s chin. “What did you find, Cal?”
The boy holds out for a few moments until his hand unfurls. Two shining blue crystals are in his palm. One is slightly darker than the other but they are both a good size. The sabre on Obi-Wan’s hip vibrates a little in the Force.
“They are beautiful, Cal.” A smile twitches at the corner of his lips. “You will be able to have your dream lightsabre after all. If Luke wants to help, of course!”
“Obviously, I’ll help mama!” The eldest boy jumps in with a wide grin. “This is going to be so wizard!”
“I saw something too, mama.” Cal whispers without looking up at his brother. “I saw you. I saw you three times. You were a kid in one – younger than me – and all you wanted was a crystal. The next time you were sad and you wanted green but you got blue again. The last time you were with…someone else. You started out in different places but then came together over the same cluster of crystals that mine came from. That time, you were…happy?”
The crystal caves bring about visions and, with his youngest already so naturally attuned to them, it is no wonder that Cal saw something but this is far more detailed than Obi-Wan was expecting. “That last time…that was with your father. We both lost our lightsabres in the First Battle of Geonosis so we had to make new ones. This one,” he pats the weapon on his hip, “and Luke’s. They are brother blades and, now, yours will be as well.”
“I saw…father?”
“Yes,” Obi-Wan has no photos of Anakin and it seems as if the Sith has removed all traces of the Hero with No Fear off the HoloNet. “That was your father.”
No one really knows what to say in the heavy silence that follows.
*
“No! Luke! You’ll burn yourself!”
“I’ve got it, mama!”
“Now really, Master Luke, is that anyway to… Oh! Good gracious!”
Beep. Beep. BEEP!
“See, Luke, this is why I told you not to…”
“I’m fine, mama, Artoo put the fire out.”
“Just listen to me this time. From the top. Wait, Leia, that’s not quite right… Cal! Get BD off the table before he’s melted.”
“Not to worry, Master Ben, I have updated my fire safety protocols!”
“…Thank you, Threepio.”
*
“I love you, mama.” Leia announces one day like she’s declaring war.
Looking up from his paperwork – they’re going to need to switch up their routes soon – Obi-Wan furrows his brow. “I know that, princess. As I love you, very much.”
“But I’m the most like her.” The emphasis on that final word is strange. It sounds angry or – perhaps – disgusted but also as if Leia is simply mimicking the feeling.
Obi-Wan, whose head is spinning with trade routes and remembering the basics of Shii-Cho, has no idea what his daughter is talking about. “Who, dear one?”
“Padmé Amidala.” Before Obi-Wan can say anything to this, Leia continues. “Cal is yours by blood and everyone says that Luke looks like our papa but I look like her. Luke doesn’t have much interest in Padmé Amidala but I’m always asking questions – always reminding you of her. Luke is drawn to papa’s lightsabre, and Cal to the brother crystals of yours and papa’s lightsabres, but I have something completely different.”
“Being different is nothing to be ashamed of Leia.” Obi-Wan stands and walks around his desk to kneel before his daughter, his hands clasped on her shoulders. “I could never be angry that you found such a beautiful and unique crystal that suits you so well. To be honest, I am…relieved that your kyber is not so burdened with history as your brothers’.”
A flush tints Leia’s cheeks at the compliment to her crystal but she lifts her chin and continues. “But I still remind you of her. The woman who stole the affections of papa. He was everything to you – the other half of your soul – and she took him away. Papa should have been your alpha but she got in the way!”
Numb at the half-garbled accusations from his daughter, Obi-Wan cups her cheeks to wipe away her tears on instinct. “Oh, Leia. How long have you been believing this?”
The only answer Leia gives is a half-shrug and sniffle.
“I am sorry, my dearest treasure, that I have never had the…courage to talk to you more openly about these things as I ought. I always wanted you to know Padmé as the wonderful person she was but I never imagined that you would start to invent such awful things about how all this came to be.” The poor girl is still crying but she keeps her brown eyes – inherited from Padmé – meeting his green-blue. “I did love your papa, very much, but not in the way that you think. We were…closer than friends. Closer than brothers. He was my padawan, and I was sixteen years his elder, but we became men together. There was a time when I couldn’t imagine my life without him. The war forged our two lives into one. But he was never my lover and certainly not my apha.”
“But…” Leia blinks at him wide-eyed and uncomprehending. “But you had Cal!”
The shared heat-rut that led to Cal’s conception has always been a subject Obi-Wan has avoided with his children but, upon reflection, that’s probably where Leia’s misunderstanding comes from. The biological imperatives that left him and Anakin as rutting, desperate animals is certainly not something Obi-Wan wants to discuss with his ten-year-old daughter. “Cal is a blessing but that was…an exception. When you’re a bit older, and you’ve presented, you will understand but that night was a one-time necessity. Your father may have been an alpha and your mother a beta but never doubt that they loved each other very much. They…they were married.”
Even though Obi-Wan knew of Anakin’s continued affair with Padmé, the boy was incredibly obvious about it, the fact that he married the senator still troubles Obi-Wan. That Anakin could violate his oaths to the Order so much as to pledge himself to another in marriage, and that Obi-Wan was ignorant to the full truth of it, makes his heart ache.
He cannot be angry at Padmé. His friend is dead with her last act being to bring Luke and Leia into the world and her final words a plea that there was still good left in Anakin. No part of Obi-Wan – even the dark thoughts that torment him late at night – blames Padmé for loving Anakin.
It was Anakin who knew the risks of dangerous attachments. Anakin who did not ask for dispensation from the Council to be in an acknowledged relationship – as other intended mates or couples have done in the past – to receive guidance in how to love selflessly and still be balanced within the Force. Instead, Anakin chose to hide his relationship away like a selfish child and allowed it to fester in his heart. Obi-Wan’s former padawan chose to hold Padmé so close to him until he eventually, and horrifically literally, choked the life out of her.
Padmé was not Force sensitive, and had little knowledge of the inner workings of the Jedi Order outside of the war, so could hardly have been expected to know what challenges come with balancing attachments and the Force as well as the systems and support available to do so. That was Anakin’s responsibility and he failed. Or, perhaps, Obi-Wan failed in not pushing Anakin enough on the topic when he knew exactly where Anakin was sneaking off to.
Either way, Anakin’s sins are neither Padmé’s nor the twins’ to bear.
Seeing that his daughter needs some more convincing, Obi-Wan smiles. “Leia. Every time I see you smile like Padmé, or argue like Padmé, or mediate like Padmé; I think about how blessed the galaxy is to have some part of her still alive in you. I think about how happy I am to have known her.”
“Really, mama?” The little girl’s voice is so fragile and Obi-Wan strokes the hair at her temples just like he does when she has a Force induced headache.
His answer is clear and without hesitation. “My dearest Leia, you are wise, discerning, kind-hearted. These are qualities that came from your mother. But you are also passionate and fearless, forthright. And these are gifts from your father. Both were exceptional people who bore an exceptional daughter. I am honoured to have been a part of your life and I love you for all that you are.”
Her small face lights up with a smile at last and she throws her arms around his neck. “I love you too, mama. So much.”
“I know that, princess.” Obi-Wan reminds her with a warm smile.
*
It has been a long time since Obi-Wan has practised Shii-Cho – the last time he actively performed Form I was probably drilling padawans in the temple – but the movements are locked into his body. Form I is where everyone starts so that’s where Luke, Leia, and Cal begin.
They take to it with an almost unnerving smooth grace. For all their lives they have been attuned to the Force and they take to lightsabre training just as naturally.
For six months, every morning, Obi-Wan drills them with Form I until it has sunk into their muscles too. He watches, seeing if any of his pups are innately disposed towards this discipline, and he sees the joy that they are finding in every single movement. As much as they love the training sessions, it doesn’t appear it will be any of their prime disciplines.
All the same, they love sparring with each other – under Obi-Wan’s strict supervision – and they delight in teasing one another as well. It feels like home.
*
They come in the night. Armoured and armed they raid the house. Obi-Wan senses them coming – he knew it was only a matter of time – and sends his pups away to Owen and Beru’s in the speeder. All three of them are ready to fight but Obi-Wan tells them to just wait for him to come and collect them.
He faces them unafraid. He allows himself to be taken and makes no move to fight. He plays the perfect docile omega who doesn’t understand what’s going on.
They throw him to the floor of Jabba’s palace in front of the Hutt lord himself.
Obi-Wan has only been here once – long ago – to negotiate on behalf of the Republic. With his beard shaven, his raggedly clothes and his omega scent free, Obi-Wan doesn’t think he will be identified as General Kenobi but he keeps his head bowed.
Jabba speaks in Huttese but Obi-Wan isn’t fluent enough to understand the great slug. Luckily for Obi-Wan, Fortuna is there to translate. The loathsome man sneers down on Obi-Wan from Jabba’s right hand as he speaks. “Kestis. You have displeased the Great Jabba greatly.”
“I do not understand!” Obi-Wan pitches both his voice and scent to distressed omega while looking around frantically. “I’m nobody! Nothing! I have three pups! They’ll have no one if something happens to me!”
Jabba groans out some more word and Fortuna lashes out with a whip. It cracks against Obi-Wan’s back once, twice, three times. “Do not lie, Kestis! The Great Jabba knows all. We have proof of your collusions with the so-called White Suns!”
Considering that he has been doing all the paperwork for years, that is hardly surprising but Obi-Wan plays feeble omega for just a little longer. “Who are the White Suns? I swear, I know nothing about it!”
“Lies!” He lashes out again with the whip but, this time, Obi-Wan doesn’t let it strike.
Catching the nine-tails in his fist, Obi-Wan lifts his head and smirks as he pulls the whip and topples the disgusting twi’lek pimp to the ground. Releasing the vile weapon from his grip, Obi-Wan reaches into his tunic and pulls out his lightsabre. It lights bright blue in his palm. “You were right, Fortuna, I was lying.”
“Jedi!”
Jabba is not known for valuing character and loyalty in his lackies. He controls through fear and greed. The bounty on a jedi more than enough to make them turn on each other.
Obi-Wan presses the signal on his comm. There’s an explosion in some other part of the palace. He only needed to buy a few minutes after all.
*
Looking about himself – amongst the hoard of dead slavers, bounty hunters, and pimps – Obi-Wan truly cannot regret their deaths. These are the people that he’s been fighting against for the last decade and who have been making innocent people suffer for far longer. While a jedi should not enjoy taking life, and Obi-Wan certainly didn’t enjoy this massacre, these people chose to view other beings as ‘lesser’ and chose to fight for those ideals against Obi-Wan.
The jedi stands over the corpse of Jabba himself. Killing Jabba had not been a part of the plan. They were supposed to force him off the planet and back to Nal Hutta or anywhere else he fancied but the Hutt had tried to feed him to his rancor. Obi-Wan had leapt out of the way and he’d ended up accidentally skewering the leader of the Hutt Clan.
As Qui-Gon would say, it was the will of the Force.
As Anakin would say, this is where the fun begins.
Both, in Obi-Wan’s opinion, had a terrible habit of not taking potential death sentences very seriously.
The death of Jabba is going to send chaos through the Hutt clan. It wouldn’t surprise Obi-Wan in the slightest if all the competing successors tried to get revenge by killing Jabba’s killer: Obi-Wan. This is not the quiet and humiliating ousting that Obi-Wan had planned.
Looking up, Obi-Wan looks at the three survivors of the shoot-out. One is a green-skinned omega twi’lek dancer in very revealing clothes, one is a young beta male human, and the final is an alpha male wookie. “Ah, hello. I mean you no harm, this really wasn’t supposed to escalate so much.”
The dancer eyes them all warily and she’s hunched in on herself while the wookie gives him a nod of acknowledgement. The man – really boy – tries to smirk but it’s more of a grimace as he’s applying pressure to his side where he got nicked by a blaster. “No problem, jedi, just an average day for you, huh?”
“Not so much anymore, actually.” Obi-Wan de-powers his lightsabre and tucks it back into his robe. He senses no ill-intent from any of them and he can tell that they certainly weren’t influential in Jabba’s operations. “This is rather an exception.”
The doors of the throne room crash open. The room floods with rebel soldiers with guns drawn but lower them once they take in the bloodbath around them. “Oh… Holy Sith.”
Roken comes forward pulling down the rag over his face. “What happened here?”
Standing to attention, like the Jedi General he once was, Obi-Wan tries to look composed. “The will of the Force.”
As expected, Roken doesn’t attempt to contradict the ‘will of the Force’ – which is good because Obi-Wan doesn’t have a reasonable explanation – but he does scowl at the corpse of Jabba. “This is going to be a kriffing mess.”
*
They move onto Makashi and Leia clearly loves the detailed and elegant form. For the entire six months they spend drilling it, it is clear that the girl loves it. While Luke and Cal become proficient, they pale in comparison to Leia’s fierce, determined precision. She dances circles around them and chooses it as her speciality.
*
The palace, it turns out, is actually a very good base of operations once they get rid of the rancor in the lower levels. The White Suns take it over after the massacre and work from there to swiftly eliminate all slavery from Tatooine. Since this does not earn them many friends from the local slavers, it is fortunate that they have a literal fortress to defend and a more organised military than the disgruntled slavers.
Still, Obi-Wan knows that they will struggle to retain their hold once the Hutt Clan get their affairs in order about who is taking over. Their militia is still relatively small, untrained, and lacking weapons while the Hutts have the funds to secure the best fighters in the galaxy. So, Obi-Wan spends most of his free time in Fortuna’s old office looking through his documents to find weaknesses in the Hutt system to exploit.
He’s looking over their trade routes when Cal comes rushing in. “Mama! A ship just arrived – a massive one – and they’ve got soldiers and other jedi on board!”
Forgetting all about the trade routes, Obi-Wan hurries outside with his youngest and finds a star destroyer landing in the distance. It’s an old Republic one and has clearly seen better days but Obi-Wan would recognise the design anywhere even if he can’t see the fleet insignia. Luke and Leia are watching with their hands resting on their lightsabres. “Is it safe mama?”
“I think so, pups.” The Force around him is brimming with joy and excitement.
A small army troops out of the ship but Obi-Wan is distracted by the three vibrant Force signatures among them. One of them, he recognises very well and he grins.
Sure enough, when the reinforcements arrive, Quinlan Vos is among them. His old friend grins at the sight of him and runs forward to hug him, swamping him in happy alpha scent. “Obi! What the kark? Where in the galaxy’s stinking armpit have you been for all these years?”
“It’s Obi-Wan, Quin.” The other responds fondly as he embraces the other jedi. “I’ve been in hiding so I’m sorry if I didn’t send a card for your name-day.”
“You never karking did anyway, Kenobi!” The Kiffar laughs as he pulls away.
“Kenobi?” One of the rebel fighters asks in disbelief. “Master Obi-Wan Kenobi?”
It has been many years since someone has said his birthname and certainly not with such reverence. “In the flesh.”
“Well,” Quin claps Obi-Wan on the back, “Organa did say that he was sending Kestis all the reinforcements he needs. Brave man – if an idiot – for taking on the Hutts.”
Scratching the back on his head, Obi-Wan huffs a laugh. “Thank you for the compliment, my friend.”
“What?”
Everyone’s eyes are on him and Obi-Wan just shrugs. “Well, I could hardly use my own name, could I? I appreciate Bail sending help though, taking on the Hutts is not going to be an easy task as you say.”
It takes Quin a few moments and then he bursts into uproarious laughter that leaves him doubled over. “Classic, Obi!”
“Yes, well.” Obi-Wan frowns at his friend in vague annoyance – which took surprisingly long to kick in considering how infuriating Quin is – and gestures to his three impatient shadows. “Would you like to meet my pups?”
This stops Quin short and he goggles at Luke, Leia, and Cal before letting out another, grating cackle.
*
Having more jedi around – with Quin came Masters Cere Junda and Eno Cordova – helps in training but the next six months are Soresu, Obi-Wan’s speciality.
It actually becomes more of a masterclass as Obi-Wan drills the other three masters as well as his three pups. Quin has never appreciated Soresu as he finds it too defensive while Cere admits it has never been a favourite with her and Eno needs a refresher having spent much of his life on archaeological digs even during the war. By the end, Quin still doesn’t appreciate it but the other two seem grateful for his lessons.
Luke thrives in Soresu though. He loves the challenge to his stamina and watching for weaknesses in his opponent’s defences. While Leia finds it too restrictive, and Cal doesn’t seem to have much of an opinion, Luke finds it a thrill and it becomes clear that he wants to specialise in it just as Leia took to Makashi.
*
“We have complete control over the Tatoo system, general.”
“Their trade routes are broken, general.”
“We’ve blocked their access to the Mid-Rim and Core, general.”
“We’ve seized Klatooine, general.”
*
Ataru is always somewhat bittersweet to Obi-Wan. It was Qui-Gon’s preferred form and the one he drilled into his padawan endlessly. After Qui-Gon’s death, Obi-Wan found it impossible to specialise in Ataru but the wound has healed over somewhat. Now, it is a treasured discipline that he shared with his master. It helps that it is Eno’s preferred form as well so he can take over whenever Obi-Wan needs a moment or is needed on the front lines.
Surprisingly, Luke takes to Ataru as much as he did Soresu. He loves the leaping about and using the Force in such an active way just as much as he adored the stricter control and defensiveness of Soresu. Obi-Wan tries to explain that most jedi only specialise in one discipline, but his eldest just crossed his arms and declared that they were the new jedi and he feels attuned to both equally.
In the end, Luke gains a second prime discipline and Obi-Wan tries not to get too emotional as he watches his son effortlessly transition from a Soresu defence stance into a leaping Ataru attack. Luke is right though: they are the new jedi and they follow the will of the Force.
*
“The Doran System is now under our control, general.”
“We’ve taken Dandoran and their medical supplies, general.”
“The Toydaria system has been liberated, general.”
“They are in full retreat to Nal Hutta, general.”
“We’ve won, general.”
*
If Form IV was difficult for Obi-Wan then Djem So is impossible. He tries but he sees Luke – looking so like Anakin when he was Obi-Wan’s padawan and with his father’s lightsabre – and he cannot face it. Cere seems to know to step in and she gently presses a hand on his shoulder with a whisper that she can take this one. The woman was one of the foremost experts in classical Shien after all and rivalled Anakin in the Djem So variation.
For three months, Obi-Wan avoids his children’s training as he never has before. He hears from Cere that his children are very skilled and that Leia in particular has a flair for Djem So.
Cal comes to him one night. “Are you mad at us, mama?”
“No, dear one, why would you think that?”
“You’re not at our training anymore…we barely see you.”
Obi-Wan rubs his brow and sighs. “It’s not you, I swear, Cal. I’ll…I’ll be at your next training session.”
For the final three months, Obi-Wan watches over their training with Cere and he tries to make more time for his children in his busy schedule. He doesn’t join in the sessions though. As her brother did before her, and possibly because of that, Leia declares that she is taking a second prime discipline as well.
*
Obi-Wan feels the disturbance in the Force – feels the vague pull of a worn and faded bond – and he knows something is wrong. It is hardly surprising when the news comes in from Bail less than an hour later: Ahsoka Tano has been captured by Darth Vader.
It is wrong on so many levels. Everything in Obi-Wan screams that Anakin – not even some broken, dark version – could harm his former padawan even though he saw how Anakin choked Padmé when she was pregnant. Still, his poor heart can’t believe Anakin could kill Ahsoka.
Not Snips.
Everyone else – who don’t even appear to know that Vader was Anakin – have given her up as dead. The other masters bow their heads and the rebels say blessings and light candles. It breaks Obi-Wan’s heart when he sees others explain who Ahsoka was to his pups. He should have told them about her but he could never bring himself to. To speak of Padmé is a duty and an honour but Ahsoka is…
No one asks Obi-Wan to speak or demands anything from him but Obi-Wan wishes they would. The words are too jumbled in his head and he cannot express clearly just what Ahsoka was to him. Grand-padawan seems too distant.
His inner omega grieves and keens until Obi-Wan gets a clue: Ahsoka was his pack. Ahsoka, that bright and eager pre-teen alpha who developed into a brilliant and fierce woman and warrior, was practically Obi-Wan’s pup. They used to joke about how Ahsoka was his and Anakin’s shared padawan but, in many ways, that was the truth as they tried to raise her while fighting a war. She was pack.
As much as Obi-Wan cared for Padmé as a friend, she was never pack. Pack, the formerly-suppressed omega part of him snarls, was Obi-Wan, Anakin, and their Ahsoka. Surely Anakin, despite his marriage and all his secrets, felt that somewhere deep down too.
Obi-Wan cannot give up on her. The weak, frail bond tugs at him and he knows that Ahsoka is still alive at the end of it.
“I have to go.” He declares to his council, including his fellow jedi, who stand in mourning.
“Obi…”
“No,” Obi-Wan slams his fist down on the table and makes them all jump, “she is still alive. I can sense it! I am going to rescue her and I will do it without you if need be.”
“It’s a fool’s errand, Obi-Wan!” Quin argues and he drops his grieving pose to stand against him.
“Then I am a fool!” The omega replies without fear at the enraged alpha. “But I have to go!”
“You would abandon your children and everything we’ve built for this?”
A whimper almost escapes Obi-Wan but he bites it back. “I know that Ahsoka is still alive.”
“Skywalker.” The name – a name never spoken in Obi-Wan’s presence – is spat out by the outraged Kiffar. “This is all for him! You’re raising his pups after all and you want to risk everything for his padawan!”
The matter of his children’s parentage has never been raised and Obi-Wan draws back at the accusation in Quin’s tone. To anyone who knew Anakin beyond the holos, it is obvious whose children Obi-Wan calls his own are but it has been so long since anyone but Beru and Owen have acknowledged it. Obi-Wan has never had the name thrown in his face like he once had ‘knot-slut’ and ‘omega-whore’.
Everyone in the room reels in the tension and Quin seems to realise that he’s gone too far. Pulling back, Quin folds in on himself with his arms crossed and head lowered. “I…”
“Go, Ben.” The quiet but firm voice of Beru calls everyone’s attention.
Obi-Wan’s mouth goes dry and he looks at his friend. “What?”
“Go find Ahsoka and bring her home.” The omega woman stands tall and dares any of the alphas, the men, or the more powerful people in the room to challenge her. “I look forward to meeting her.”
Not for the first time, Obi-Wan is unspeakably grateful for Beru Lars and he bows to her before leaving to ready a ship.
*
The Devastator is not a subtle beast and, with their largely unopposed control of the galaxy, Darth Vader doesn’t try to hide. Finding it is easy as there are always whispers about where it is. Most tend to avoid sharing space with the Emperor’s Fist. Not Obi-Wan though, he heads straight for it with his one-man ship cloaked using stolen Imperial technology.
It is horrifying moving around the ship. Because, despite the Imperial insignia and the awful whiteness of the entire place, it is set out exactly like the Resolute was. It is like stepping back in time.
There’s something very different though and it itches at Obi-Wan’s senses.
A dark figure stands stark against the colourless background. The Force screams around him like a gaping black hole consuming everything around it. Obi-Wan stares but refuses to yield to the demands of this being’s presence. He felt this once – long ago – but it wasn’t so potent and only half-formed. Now it has solidified into the monster that has ravaged the galaxy: Darth Vader.
His skin is pale. It is such a silly thought to have considering the circumstances but it is all Obi-Wan can see. Whether by his choice or the Emperor’s, Darth Vader is always wearing that Force-damned Sith mask so he cannot catch the sun as much as he used to. Even so, in Obi-Wan’s mind, Anakin is always sun-kissed.
The golden eyes of a Sith stare through him. Hungry but hazy. His Force signature lashes out but Obi-Wan doesn’t draw back. The thick scent of evergreens, tree sap, and petrichor thickens in the air. It is a scent Obi-Wan didn’t know he remembered but now he wants more. An inhuman sound escapes Obi-Wan. It is too much, his poor, battered heart cannot withstand the assault of everything around him.
He isn’t ready. He doesn’t know if he ever could have been to face Anakin again. Everything is too raw, too potent, and too all-encompassing.
Obi-Wan falls.
*
It probably looks ridiculous – and he’s certain that his charge will have much to say about it when she awakens – but Obi-Wan swaddles Ahsoka in blankets like a newborn babe. She’s grown so much in the last twelve years and Obi-Wan is sorry that he didn’t witness it himself. Although tortured and starved in the Empire’s care, Obi-Wan can sense nothing to be concerned about and she will likely make a full recovery after some rest and care. Care that Obi-Wan has every intention of giving her. He lightly runs a hand down her Montral and hums a jedi lullaby so that she knows that she’s safe and home.
Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, Obi-Wan leaves her to rest.
The weight of having Ahsoka safely recovered lifts as he walks away. The tension from that restless part of him that needed all of his fragmented pack back together eases. He wants to collapse. He wants to laugh. He wants to weep.
Obi-Wan, long accustomed to doing what he must, keeps walking.
It is only when he gets to the captain’s chair of the Stinger Mantis that Obi-Wan curls up and lets it all out. Floods of tears pour from him. Grief. Relief. Infinite sadness.
His shaking hand comes to clasp over his neck while he bites down on his other to muffle his screams. It is all so wrong and Obi-Wan was too weak. This time he allowed himself to forget the truth in the midst of the fog. Driven by familiar scent and screaming pack instincts, Obi-Wan claimed something that was never his to take.
*
He feels her coming round in the Force so he makes sure to be there for when she wakes up. The steady bond between them beats with new life and Obi-Wan holds her hand in his as extra reassurance. It takes a few minutes for her to come to properly but, soon, her bright eyes are blinking up at him. Her voice comes out in a rasp. “Master Kenobi?”
“Yes, young one.” Obi-Wan squeezes her hand tightly. “I’m taking you home.”
Easing herself up, as best she can in the heap of blankets around her, Ahsoka rubs her forehead with her free hand and groans. “I was captured…”
“Yes,” Obi-Wan allows himself a smile, “by all accounts it was a fierce fight and your stand allowed your allies to escape.”
“Good, that’s…” The Togruta trails off and her hand falls to the bed with a thump. “It was him. Anakin – Skyguy – was…”
She can’t even say it and Obi-Wan can’t hear it so he intervenes. “I know.”
They are paralysed in silence for several long minutes until Ahsoka speaks again. “For how long?”
“He helped Palpatine found the Empire and led the attack on the Temple. I… I fought him.” Every word he utters rips into both of them but she needs to know. “Master Yoda ordered that I kill him but I… I defeated him and fled.”
“And you’ve been in hiding all this time?” There’s unmistakeable hurt on her face.
“I am sorry that I couldn’t find you sooner, young one. It was all so fast and so… Nothing is the same.”
“No,” the woman lets a tear slip, “nothing is.”
There will be time to talk about Obi-Wan’s plans for the future, her time in exile with the Rebellion, his pups, and everything else later. For now, they sit and share their grief.
*
Despite her own opinion on the matter, Obi-Wan has Ahsoka confined to their medical facilities for a full examination and then bedrest as soon as they arrive on Tatooine. He watches with a slight smile as Ahsoka scowls and argues with the doctor’s prognosis. Not wishing to be the object of her wrath, Obi-Wan stays back and watches from a safe distance.
“I’m sorry, Obi-Wan.” Quin speaks suddenly but Obi-Wan does not startle as his fellow jedi has been standing adrift for several minutes. “For what I said…”
“It is no matter.”
“No,” the Kiffar steps forward but jerks his hand away from touching Obi-Wan, “it was out of order. Whatever went down between you and Skywalker…he’s been dead for a long time now and it was stupid and wrong of me to use his memory against you like that.”
In the light of everything that has just happened on the Devastator, Obi-Wan feels a sick curdle of guilt and grief settle in his stomach. “It is no matter, Quin. I was…unprepared to hear his name spoken against me like that.”
“You shouldn’t have had to hear it. I was being a karking nerf-herder.” Shaking his head, Quin apparently decides to drop it as he looks towards Ahsoka. “I’m glad you got her back, Obi-Wan, and that she’s safe even if I have no idea how.”
For the first time in the conversation, Obi-Wan looks at his old friend to give him a small but pained smile. “Thank you. It’s good to have her back.”
Before either jedi can say anything else, Artoo comes trundling along shrieking in excited binary. He very nearly runs over Obi-Wan’s feet – only the jedi’s quick reflexes save him – in his rush to get into the medical centre. Ahsoka looks up and grins at the sight of him and laughs at whatever he’s saying. The nostalgic sight makes Obi-Wan relax for the first time since he got back from the Devastator.
*
With their secured hold on the former Hutt Space, the Hidden Path begins to direct former jedi and Force sensitives to Tatooine. Half of the Kestis Fortress – formerly known as Jabba’s Palace – is given over to Force training and becomes a makeshift Temple. Masters long thought dead walk the less than hallowed palace with the same peace they did the Jedi Temple and it brings Obi-Wan unspeakable joy.
He near enough had a heart attack when a ship arrived with Master Oppo Rancisis looking entirely unchanged by the passing of a dozen years in hiding. He simply looked around, raised his bushy eyebrows, and nodded at Obi-Wan. “What an excellent sanctuary you have created here, Grand Master Kenobi! Would I be welcome to stay?”
Obi-Wan had choked at the title and then hastily assured his old colleague that he was more than welcome to remain here as long as he wished.
Unsurprisingly, after she endured enforced bedrest from Beru, Ahsoka is a favourite with Obi-Wan’s pups. She is their favourite to spar with, the one they beg for stories from about their mama, and the one who joins in on teasing Obi-Wan daily because he needs to ‘lighten up’. Obi-Wan would like to think that he’s remarkably ‘light’ considering he’s organising the reformation all the planets they’ve liberated and become the de-facto head of the New Jedi Order.
If Ahsoka has any thoughts about his children’s parentage, she keeps them to herself.
Soon after Ahsoka recovers, the pups move onto Niman. With so many jedi now on Tatooine – many of whom are masters of form VI – Obi-Wan only attends some of their training sessions. What he sees makes him proud as his children are so immensely skilled in the Force, clever in their tactics, and honourable in their victories and their losses. His only concern on that front is that Cal does not appear to have taken to this discipline any more than he has the last five. It is a matter that he will need to meditate on.
It’s also now, just as the twins turn thirteen, that Luke presents as an alpha. A heavy musk of maple and cinnamon soon covers their quarters along with Obi-Wan’s orange blossoms and Alderaan black tea and Ahsoka’s ginger and sandalwood. Soon his eldest is struggling with new instincts and urges that Obi-Wan, along with Ahsoka, has to help him navigate. Leia, whose jasmine and Nabooian red wine scent subtly reveals a beta, just rolls her eyes at Luke’s constant need to scent mark and his bouts of uncharacteristic aggression. Every time Luke tries to ‘go all alpha’ on Leia, his sister challenges him to a spar and proves that she’s just as tough. Cal is much better at calming his brother with a smile and a hug which leads Obi-Wan to believe that his youngest will be presenting as an omega soon enough.
With so many things to distract everyone, Obi-Wan slips on a mask and retreats both his Force signature and his scent. No one comments on his sudden preference for turtlenecks – even in the Tatooine heat – or that he is no longer as free with his scent as before. Everything is so new and exciting that the mundane changes to Obi-Wan are ignored.
One day, Obi-Wan goes to visit Beru on the Lars farm. Despite an open invitation to live in the palace, Owen has made it clear that he won’t leave his family homestead and Obi-Wan respects that. Ostensibly, this visit is to see how their new daughter is settling in. Kata Akuna was orphaned after her Force sensitivity was discovered but she survived the attack and was brought to Tatooine. The girl is still very young though and Obi-Wan had asked his dear friend if she would be willing to adopt the toddler. Beru had accepted eagerly and motherhood certainly suits her.
They talk for a while – with Kata balanced on Beru’s knee – about how everything is in the Lars abode before Beru gives him an all too knowing look over her cup of tea. “I know that you didn’t come here just to discuss my family, Ben.”
Even though his birthname is now common knowledge on Tatooine, Beru still calls him Ben and he smiles despite himself. “No, I confess, I did not.”
Something in his expression must alarm Beru as she gives him a small nod. “Just let me put Kata down for her nap.” Once the cheerful little girl is safely in the other room, Beru sits back down opposite and raises an eyebrow. “What is it, Ben?”
“Anakin is alive.”
The words break the dam inside Obi-Wan and the entire story pours out of him. Every detail of his life with Anakin – every tender moment of kinship and every second of his ultimate betrayal – tumbles from his lips without disguise. Beru reaches over and holds his hands as he speaks about their shared heat-rut that gave Obi-Wan Cal and how it was only a week or so later that Anakin betrayed him. His fellow omega agrees with tears in her eyes as he describes the instincts that prevented him from hurting his dearest friend. Finally, he admits that Luke and Leia are not his by blood and the pair speak of Padmé for quite a while.
Once Beru knows the truth of what actually occurred on Mustafar, the woman holds him as he breaks down entirely. He has never spoken of it to anyone about it in full. Every day since, Obi-Wan has had to keep moving forward for his pups, for the jedi, or for his causes; he’s never had the time or the liberty to confess to everything like this. For all his belief in the jedi tenets of controlling and releasing emotion, Obi-Wan allows himself this one break down in the arms of one of his dearest friends.
“Oh, Ben, you are so strong.” Her hands rub soothing pattern on his back. “I can’t believe that you’ve had to go through this all on your own.”
“I had to. Luke and Leia… They shouldn’t have to hear how their father killed their mother. They shouldn’t have to know about any of it. Everything was just fine when Anakin could be dead in their minds.”
“Does that have to change?”
Obi-Wan draws back from his friend and wipes his face as he composes himself a little. “I haven’t told anyone what happened during my…rescue of Ahsoka.”
The colour drains from Beru’s face and her eyes are brimming with tears. “Oh?”
“Ahsoka was in danger and my omega pack instinct were going crazy…” It’s a poor excuse – one that Obi-Wan knows is only partially accurate – but he needs to say it. “I got on board the Devastator and I could just smell him. He was everywhere… His scent just called to me and I wanted it so badly. I wanted him so badly. It triggered a stress heat.”
“Oh no…”
Sending his friend a weak smile, Obi-Wan continues. “I think I had a similar effect on him because he was… He was in a similar state. He wasn’t very coherent but I grasped that he remembered my scent from our former…meeting and that he had enjoyed it very much then and has found little else appealing since.” Obi-Wan knows that his cheeks are bright red but Beru does him the courtesy of not mentioning his evident embarrassment. “I have never spent my heat with another alpha – even after all these years – and we just fell together… I didn’t have the same presence of mind that I had last time.”
The quiet hangs before Beru gently reaches over and pulls down the neck of Obi-Wan’s robes. A dark red mating bite is stark on his pale neck. Beru makes sure not to touch the mark itself. Gasping, Beru pulls back and her tears finally start to fall. “You mated.”
“Yes.” The bite burns dark and possessive as Obi-Wan acknowledges it. “In the…haze afterwards, it was very easy to mind-trick him into sleeping. I did it last time as well while I…recovered and cleaned up.”
The memory of frantically leaving a sleeping rut-drunk Anakin in bed as he fled to the fresher to throw-up resurfaces. The desperate tidying of Anakin’s quarters afterwards to hide any evidence. The way he had curled up and sobbed as he felt all the physical aches as well as the emotional weight of it all crashing down on him. All the guilt, the shame, and the panic. But then Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had gathered himself and continued to act as a general as well as Anakin’s friend and former master.
“From there…” The bitter repetition of having to leave his lover in bed and run. “I imagine that Darth Vader had been in such a foul mood with his own instincts driving him that I encountered nobody so escaped with Ahsoka very easily.”
“Oh, Ben.” Taking his hand in hers, Beru lifts his wrist to scent him. “You’re controlling your scent.”
“Yes.”
A tiny wan smile twists on Beru’s tear-stained face. “I don’t need to tell you this time, I suppose.”
“No, you don’t.”
*
“Master Ben, I have formulated a nutrition plan and daily routine to ensure peak health for both yourself and the child during your pregnancy.”
“…Thank you, Threepio.”
“Of course, considering that you are a male omega approaching the end of your fertility, there are many risks involved. Not to worry though! I have it all sorted. Master Luke has also informed me that you will no longer be attending their lightsabre practice in the mornings so I have taken the liberty of arranging regular doctor’s appointments during those hours.”
“That is really not necessary, Threepio. Luke is just being overprotective and I will be attending as regularly as before.”
“Really, Master Ben! I must insist – your health during this delicate time is the most important thing! For the baby!”
“Threepio…”
*
The last time Obi-Wan was pregnant, he had just escaped the massacre of his people to live as an unmated single father on a planet notorious for its sex trafficking with only the kindness of Beru and Owen to support him. Now his situation is vastly differently and he feels almost nostalgic for that awful time.
Everyone in the palace has gone mad with overprotectiveness. Ahsoka, who had come to her own conclusions pretty quickly but spared Obi-Wan from them, has been his constant bodyguard. The young Togruta snaps at anyone who speaks ‘rudely’ to the pregnant omega but her interpretation of ‘rude’ and Obi-Wan’s is vastly differently – especially when Obi-Wan is attempting to negotiate on politics. His eldest pup refuses to let him carry anything either and, the one time he had gone to join the morning lightsabre sessions, Ahsoka snarled at him and practically sat on him for the rest of the morning.
Luke is hardly acting any better but he’s the most insistent on blanketing Obi-Wan in his scent. Despite the mating bite on his neck, which he is still keeping hidden, Obi-Wan has no mate to be seen and Anakin’s scent has long since faded so Luke apparently sees it as his duty to make sure Obi-Wan reeks of alpha at all times. As much as Obi-Wan loves his son, the constant touching and scenting is very exasperating.
Meanwhile Cal refuses to stray from Obi-Wan’s side for any amount of time. His youngest seems to have decided that the only comfortable place in the palace is cuddled up to Obi-Wan with his nose pressed against his mama’s scent gland so Obi-Wan has to try and conduct his business with Cal curled around him. It probably a mix of Obi-Wan’s vulnerable state, distinctive comforting pregnant omega scent, and Cal’s own upcoming presentation so Obi-Wan indulges him.
Out of all of his pups, Leia is the worst. It is solely because of her that Threepio has updated his systems to include maternity care and now spits out various facts about Obi-Wan’s condition. If Obi-Wan has to hear about the mortality rates of male omega in this part of the galaxy once they’re over forty again, the omega is going to destroy the irritating protocol droid once and for all. Every day, Leia makes Threepio run as many scans as he can to check on Obi-Wan and the baby’s health and then makes sure that his nutrition plan or schedule are adjusted accordingly. Unlike with Cal, this baby isn’t very communicative from the womb and Leia seems to have taken this personally so is being overzealous to make up for it. It’s exhausting.
It is not as if everyone else is acting perfectly either. His council members are constantly harping at him to rest, to eat something, to drink some water, to tell him who the father is so that he can drag him back by the ear. That last one is Quin and Obi-Wan would be touched by his friend’s indignation if he didn’t also want to punch him every time that he mentions the subject.
When he brought up the conditions of his last pregnancy, everyone only seemed to become more careful with him.
The only thing that anyone allows him to do alone is mediate in his private quarters. In the last seven months, Obi-Wan has had time to actually focus on the final task Master Yoda assigned him which is the single benefit of everyone’s rampant overprotectiveness. He now meditates every morning while the others are at lightsabre training.
Sinking into the Force, Obi-Wan allows it to flow through him and to release himself from his physical body. Normally he is swayed by the tides of the Force but, this time, he attempts to direct the current. Cal is a gifted swordsman but he still hasn’t found his speciality.
Many years ago, just after Qui-Gon’s death and Anakin was in remedial classes to catch up to his age group in reading and writing, Mace Windu had pulled Obi-Wan aside and taken him to the training salles. Depressed, alone, and struggling with the incident on Naboo; Obi-Wan had been lost with no idea what to do with all the darkness threatening to drown him. Master Windu had schooled him in Vaapad, against his own rule of not teaching anyone outside of his lineage, and Obi-Wan had settled and found balance again.
Vaapad, while he appreciated both the art and the honour of being taught, did not appeal to him in the long term and he transitioned into Soresu instead. Mace hadn’t taken offence and instead stated that it was a pleasure teaching him. Even years afterwards, Mace would sometimes drill him or spar with him using Vaapad and Obi-Wan has many fond memories of his old friend teaching him the rare form.
The only thing Mace had requested in return was that Obi-Wan never attempt to teach anyone Form VII. Form VII is the most dangerous practice that, more often than not, leads to the dark side and Mace felt responsible in controlling who got to learn the Ferocity form. At one time, Obi-Wan had asked if Mace could teach Anakin but the elder had refused and Obi-Wan couldn’t betray his friend and former teacher by doing it himself.
The issue of Cal is different though. Cal has intense feelings and is not like Anakin. When Anakin felt negative emotion, he expressed it loudly with anger and petulance but Cal seems to internalise everything. His connection to the Unifying Force shows Cal so much pain and misery in his visions – with even happy memories being tainted by the events that followed – and he seems to direct all that suffering inwards. He is proficient at meditation but Obi-Wan can’t help but feel he needs a more active way of channelling out all that he experiences.
Combined with his lack of lightsabre discipline, Obi-Wan believes he knows what he must do but he still wishes for some reassurance from the Force. Cal is a pure light in the Force and Obi-Wan cannot imagine him Falling but the risk is still there. At one time, he couldn’t imagine Anakin Falling either.
The Force sings a mournful tune around him and embraces him in comfort. The nebulous golden smog of the Force clears a little and Obi-Wan feels a thin, blue wisp of an individual’s presence brush against his. It is weak – fading more and more with every passing second into the wash of the Force – but Obi-Wan recognises it at its core.
The Force has led him exactly where he wanted to go. “Master Windu. Mace.”
It is barely perceptible but Obi-Wan feels a brush against his own Force signature in recognition.
His first instinct is to spill out a litany of apologies to his old friend but Obi-Wan knows that he hasn’t got much time. Obi-Wan trusts the Force and so believes that Mace knows all he would say anyway. “Mace. I have a son. He is so strong and so gifted but I… He struggles with visions that bring him too much pain and I want to teach him Vaapad so that he can work through it properly. He needs to control this darkness that keeps trying to grip him. Please, permit me to teach him.”
There is a surge of the Force around him and the blue wisp expands until it becomes a smoky, blue figure. The details are lost in the haze around them but Obi-Wan can just about make out Mace’s face. “Obi-Wan, you have travelled far to come here – too far. You cannot return here; it is too dangerous.”
“I know but, for my son, I have to ask just this once.”
“Obi-Wan,” Mace’s voice is softer now, “my friend. You are the last living master of Vaapad and I trust you to teach it to whoever you see fit. In fact, I would be honoured if your son were to master the form I created.”
“Really? But Anakin…”
Even at peace with the Force, Mace Windu still manages to look exasperated at the mention of Obi-Wan’s former padawan. “Skywalker was not ready then but you were too blind to admit it. I had to forbid you from teaching because I knew you would try to teach him and I foresaw that that would only end badly.”
“Then?”
Mace’s ghost manages a knowing smile. “Congratulations on your pregnancy, Obi-Wan. On all of your children. You have raised them well.”
“You have seen?” The physical plane is calling to Obi-Wan.
“Yes, we will always be watching over you from the Force, Obi-Wan.” Mace seems to feel the summons as well because his tone becomes strict. “Go – now. It is not your time to become at one with the Force yet.”
“Farewell, old friend.” It is bittersweet to see his friend again in such perfect peace but Obi-Wan follows the thread of Force that anchors him back to his body.
The physical sensation of his body comes back to Obi-Wan slowly and he takes several deep breaths to re-centre himself in both the Force and the physical world. After a few minutes, Obi-Wan opens his eyes. He blinks several times. “Master Qui-Gon.”
The ethereal blue lit figure of his former master stands with his hands on hips. “Well, took you long enough.”
Even though he knew this was a possibility, Obi-Wan still struggles at understanding the figure in front of him but he can’t repress his smile. “I was beginning to think you’d never come.”
“I was always here, Obi-Wan. You just were not ready to see.” It is the tone Obi-Wan had almost forgotten – that fond, amused, and all-knowing air that Qui-Gon so often affected – but it is like being right back in his padawan days. “Come on. We’ve got a ways to go.”
Obi-Wan scrambles to his feet as he follows the ghost out of his private chambers.
*
It turns out that no one else can see Qui-Gon. This leads to several people believing that Obi-Wan has finally gone insane. It takes several childish games of ‘how many fingers am I holding up?’ before anyone even comes close to accepting that the ghost of Obi-Wan’s master now haunts the palace.
When Quin finally trusts that Obi-Wan hasn’t gone mad, the Kiffar turns to vague area of the room Obi-Wan indicated and launches into an hour-long rant. Most of it focuses on how Qui-Gon overburdened the newly knighted Obi-Wan with Anakin but he also covers how much he feels Qui-Gon failed during Obi-Wan’s apprenticeship. Xanatos and Bandomeer, Melida/Daan, Mandalore, and how Quin feels that Obi-Wan should have been knighted at least two years before Qui-Gon’s death. Obi-Wan attempts to argue every single point but Quin has clearly been holding this all in for some time and refuses to be silenced.
It rather takes Ahsoka – the only other person in the room – aback and Obi-Wan is certain that Ahsoka has never heard a word against her great-grandmaster or the trials of Obi-Wan’s youth before.
Qui-Gon however seems to take it all on the chin and has Obi-Wan convey to Quin how much he regrets certain events and how he would do things differently if he had the chance. After some time, and Qui-Gon making his former padawan blush with all the compliments, Quin finally settles and says that it’ll be pretty cool to have a ghost around.
The pups accept their new ‘ghost grampa’ with ridiculous aplomb. It rather says something about their unconventional raising that Leia just pouts at not being able to see him while Luke grins and asks if Qui-Gon can help him prank Biggs. Unsurprisingly, Qui-Gon agrees although neither can seem to work out the logistics with Luke unable to see or hear Qui-Gon. It is a small mercy that Obi-Wan will not be relying upon as he’s sure they’ll solve it sooner or later.
Cal squints at where Qui-Gon is standing and says that he likes his hair.
*
This time Obi-Wan doesn’t call for Anakin. He goes through labour – screaming and cursing that he ever let anyone touch him – with the reassuring presence of his pack in the Force. Ahsoka is holding his hand and her grip is just as tight as his. In a separate room, on Obi-Wan’s request, Luke, Leia, and Cal are waiting impatiently for the arrival of their sibling. Their Force signatures are tightly wound around Obi-Wan’s as they send him waves upon waves of love, strength, and reassurance. Even his weaker pack bonds with Quin and Beru are filled with care and support as they sit with his children. Qui-Gon was also banished to sit with the children but Obi-Wan can feel his master using their bond to share strength and affection.
The entire palace seems frozen in anticipation for the arrival of the child.
Miramir Kestis is born kicking and screaming, perfectly healthy, and seemingly ready to take on the world. She has bright blue eyes, a whisp of blonde hair, and looks remarkably unimpressed with the noisy and bright chaos around her.
This time, Obi-Wan doesn’t pass out and instead is handed his little girl while still sweaty and exhausted from labour. She’s perfect. Her eyes blink lazily up at him and he feels her Force presence – small but shining – poke at him curiously.
The room is stormed by impatient Kestis pups who all pile on the bed to see their newest sibling. From Obi-Wan’s side, Ahsoka leans down to press a kiss first on Miramir’s cheek and then on Obi-Wan’s forehead. “She’s beautiful, mama.”
It’s the first time Ahsoka has ever called him that and Obi-Wan is startled to silence. The Togruta doesn’t seem to need a reply though and is distracted by Luke pulling her onto the bed and into their puppy pile to admire Mira properly. It is far too cramped, and Obi-Wan would really appreciate a change of bedding and some sleep, but the exhausted mother wouldn’t move them for all the galaxy.
Deep in his heart, something whimpers for Anakin and the mark on his neck burns.
*
As soon as Obi-Wan’s allowed off bedrest – which is still too early for his pups – Obi-Wan begins teaching his youngest son Vaapad in the mornings. Unlike all their other sessions, Obi-Wan makes this a closed practice and doesn’t let others observe. Vaapad is not something to be mimicked without understanding the theory and balance in the Force behind it.
To make sure they aren’t jealous of Cal, Obi-Wan arranges for Luke to get special lessons from Ahsoka in Jar'Kai with a standard and a shoto blade which he loves while Leia is determined to follow her mama’s footsteps and connect with the Unifying Force more so that she can communicate with Qui-Gon properly. Every morning, Obi-Wan sees to Mira, advises Leia on her meditation for the morning, and then takes Cal to his Vaapad lessons while Luke disappears with Ahsoka.
Ahsoka has nothing but praise for Luke while Leia can now hear Qui-Gon even if she still can’t see him.
It is Cal who really thrives though. Cal takes to Vaapad in a way that Obi-Wan never did. It seems to settle something in him to focus on balance and being conscious of the darkness he absorbs so much of in a useful way. Obi-Wan is so immensely proud at how his youngest son connects to the discipline and he is certain that Cal will be a master of Vaapad in a way that he cannot. For all that Obi-Wan knows that theory and the movements, Vaapad is not Obi-Wan’s discipline as it is rapidly becoming Cal’s.
Seven months after the lessons start, Obi-Wan finally permits Ahsoka, Luke, and Leia to watch one of their practices. Cal is formidable and the pups rush over to him at the end of the session. Throwing an arm around his brother, Luke grins. “That was amazing, Cal! You’re going to be a master of Vaapad!”
“Yeah,” Leia punches Cal in the arm as he burns bright red, “no one’s going to mess with our little brother.”
“That was really brilliant, Cal.” Ahsoka adds but her tone is more subdued, filled with memory. “I never thought I’d see Vaapad again.”
It is not Ahsoka’s fault but Obi-Wan doesn’t want Cal to shoulder Ahsoka’s grief so he answers. “Master Windu trained me a long time ago and I thought the discipline would be a perfect match for Cal. Turns out I was right.”
“As always, master.” The corner of Ahsoka’s lips turn up. She seems to alternate between calling Obi-Wan ‘master’ and ‘mama’ now and Obi-Wan finds that he appreciates both and only wants Ahsoka to be comfortable.
*
In a surprising turn of events, Mira’s favourite babysitter is Oppo Rancisis. Outside of their family, Mira will scream for hours unless she’s with Master Rancisis. Thankfully, the master seems to like the little girl and will happily take her with him as he goes about his day in the palace teaching younglings. He suffers her tugging at his hair – which she does often – with a warm smile and the pair form a very strange bond. Obi-Wan would feel guilty about dumping his daughter on his fellow jedi master if the Thisspiasian didn’t seem so delighted to have her company.
As Cal’s omega emerges though, in a bloom of apples and lilies, the poor boy starts to cling to his little sister adoringly so it is, sometimes, a battle between the pair about who gets to take Mira for the day.
*
It is a regular day when Merrin appears at Obi-Wan’s office in her typical silent manner. The last surviving Nightsister, Merrin had come to Tatooine on the rumours of existing jedi so that she could avenge her sisters. Quin set her straight though and she decided to stay with her fellow Force users even if they were not Nightsisters.
Obi-Wan has been aware for some time that Ahsoka and Merrin are involved but has been careful not to stick his nose in and let the relationship develop where it may.
So, turning to see Merrin in his doorway is very bemusing. “Hello, Merrin. Can I help you?”
“Yes.” The omega woman makes no move to enter the room properly or continue speaking.
“Oh?” Trying to arrange his papers somewhat, Obi-Wan gestures to the chair across from him. “Take a seat, do. I apologise for the mess. We’re finally starting to complete the constitutions and independence of the former Hutt Space planets but it’s a messy affair.”
While he talks affably, Merrin perches on the edge of the chair indicated. “That’s very good to hear, Master Kenobi.”
Obi-Wan waves his hand in dismissal at the title. “Oh no, none of that. Just Obi-Wan is fine.”
“With all due respect,” the woman swallows, “I would prefer to call you ‘Master Kenobi’, Master Kenobi.”
The statement leaves Obi-Wan a little taken aback. “Oh dear. I hope everything is quite alright, Merrin?”
“Yes, of course!” The woman answers in a hurry and she shifts even further forward in her chair. “I meant no offence it is just that…”
“Yes?”
“Well, amongst my people, it is important to be formal in situations like these.” The poor girl flushes at her own words and ducks her head.
Knowing that this must be important, Obi-Wan settles back in his chair and emits nothing but reassurance and slight curiosity into the Force. “How can I help you, Merrin?”
“I wish to mate Ahsoka!” The Zabrak bursts out before speeding on in a softer tone. “Among my people, two families will meet with the heads of the clan to approve the match. I know that I have no clan but I still thought I should come to you for your permission and blessing as both the clan leader here and as the head of Ahsoka’s family. Please, Master Kenobi, could I receive your approval to mate with your honoured eldest daughter, Ahsoka Tano?”
It is quite the speech to parse through. Qui-Gon – who is standing in the corner – smirks at his former apprentice. “I like her. She shows much wisdom to come to you on such a matter.”
It is only because of the veering on hysterical woman in front of him that Obi-Wan doesn’t scowl or shoot a sharp comment at Qui-Gon for his enjoyment of all this. The omega male has hardly prepared for his children to receive mating offers and it hadn’t occurred to him that Ahsoka, despite him considering her as one of his pups, would want his approval on who she mates with.
“I am flattered that you would come to me with this request, Merrin.” Obi-Wan says after some time trying to formulate the right response. “I have no objections, if this is as Ahsoka wishes, and would be delighted to welcome you to the family.”
A wide smile breaks out on Merrin’s face and her whole Force signature floods with dizzying relief. “She has already consented! I just did not feel right proceeding without your approval.”
“Ah well,” Obi-Wan smiles easily at the girl who clearly loves his daughter, “you have it. I wish you a very long and happy life together.”
The zabrak grins and leaps to her feet. With a perfectly executed bow, Merrin takes her leave to probably go and tell Ahsoka the good news. Obi-Wan is left bemused in her wake.
“You look like someone just hit you over the head with the hilt of a ‘sabre.” His old master pipes in with far too much cheer.
“You are no help.” Obi-Wan rubs his brow and tries to order his thoughts so he can get back to his work after the odd interlude. “I am very happy for her though.”
“Yes,” the ghost hums, “they will make a good pair. Not unlike her parents.”
This earns Qui-Gon a scowl before Obi-Wan releases his irritation and settles back into treaties and trade agreements.
*
“No.”
“Obi, the people have decided.”
“Well, the people are idiots.”
*
“Mama, is it really true that –”
“No.”
“But…”
“Princess, it is just a joke from Quinlan.”
*
“Really, master, you should be honoured.”
“I would rather they honoured me by listening to my opinion on the matter.”
“And I thought you believed in democracy, mama.”
“Well, I’m starting to appreciate it’s failings. Don’t you have a new mate to pester?”
*
“Really, it is such an unexpected surprise! I have been in the service of a former queen and senator but I never imagined…”
“Hush, Threepio, it is not going to take place.”
“Oh, really? But I thought that the Doran system especially were insisting that…”
“Well, I’m insisting otherwise.”
*
“Come now, my padawan. Obstinacy is not a trait for a jedi.”
“Well then, I’m not a very good jedi as I think you’ll find that I’ve been obstinate my entire life.”
“This is wilful blindness! All your hard work might come to nothing if you do not accede to the people’s wishes. You have a duty, padawan.”
“Have I not done enough?”
“In my eyes – and the eyes of many – you certainly have but the Force clearly intends otherwise.”
“That’s your winning argument? The will of the Force?”
“It is an excellent point.”
“…Sometimes I wish you were corporeal so I could strangle you.”
*
“Miramir is a wilful girl.”
“Yes.”
“Very like both her parents.”
“What?”
“Well, I distinctly remember Knight Skywalker being a headache for the Council and you were hardly better in your younger years.”
“Master Rancisis, you know?”
“Of course, your paths were always intertwined. This development was hardly surprising. Nor is the most recent development I’ve been hearing about.”
“Be that as it may, I am not going to do it.”
“I often find, Master Kenobi, that we do not truly understand what others see in us. You have been chosen for this position and entrusted with the faith of those that have been oppressed for years. Do not cast this compliment aside lightly.”
“I…”
“Anyway, Miramir is coming along well with her use of the Force. She managed to hit young Luke with a block today. Poor lad was distracted sparring with Leia and got hit square in the nose.”
*
The thing is: the newly liberated planets of former Hutt Space are tentative with forming their own governments. They want guidance. They want security. They want protection in case someone tries to take advantage of their fragile status.
This is very understandable and Obi-Wan has been working for years to build governments, improve education, and forge alliances so that the transition is as smooth as possible.
Only all those governments have come together and decided that they want to have a more formalised alliance and they want Obi-Wan to lead it. Unanimously, the planets had resolved that they need to be united against the Imperials and they want to form their own empire with Tatooine as the capital and Obi-Wan as their emperor.
It is ridiculous. Preposterous! Obi-Wan is a jedi not an emperor!
Only, sitting on a throne with a crown of golden leaves on his head and the leaders of planets kneeled at his feet, Obi-Wan very much is.
*
The Kestis Empire – or the ‘Jedi Empire’ as Quin has taken to calling it – soon becomes the most exciting news across the galaxy. Everyone wants to know everything about how this came to be with the Hutts expunged and stripped of influence. Many want to get revenge for the drastic decline in their less than savoury businesses.
Obi-Wan has to decline several Holonet reporters who want to interview him because, even with his slightly altered appearance and the fifteen years that have passed, he can’t risk the galaxy seeing a picture of ‘Ben Kestis’. The fact that the idea of having some ridiculous fluff piece written about him is horrifying is merely a coincidence.
Still, they go digging and ask anyone with a slither of information about the new emperor until they make a rudimentary profile. His age is unknown – although most seem to agree he’s still in his forties which is flattering – but the consensus is that he’s from Alderaan and that he came to Tatooine after his lover abandoned him to raise his three pups alone and in shame.
When the public learnt that the new emperor of former Hutt Space was an ‘unmated omega with three pups’, they promptly lost their minds. That an omega – an unmated one at that – could have reached a position of such influence baffles them.
Then the proposals start flooding in.
Alphas who want power and influence start asking to mate with the ‘poor’ omega. Some come in anger, some in lust, and some in condescension; but they come nonetheless. Obi-Wan steadfastly refuses every single one and makes it clear that he is not looking for an alpha and that he can look after his empire perfectly well without a mate.
Quin, of course, finds it hilarious.
*
“I have been researching Tatooine of late.” Master Rancisis starts their conversation casually as they settle down with some tea. “It has a rather fascinating history.”
Obi-Wan, who has been negotiating water trade non-stop for the last three days and only wishes for a few moments of peace, quirks an eyebrow. On his lap, Mira giggles as her mama bounces her. “Oh?”
“Yes. Quite fascinating. I am bemused that no one from the temple researched this place before, considering that this is where Master Qui-Gon found young Skywalker.” The ghost himself straightens up with interest from where he’s standing in the corner. Master Rancisis cannot see Qui-Gon but he always seems to know when the ghost is present.
Rubbing his forehead, Obi-Wan sighs. “I recall that there was some talk of it at the time but it never came to fruition. You believe that Tatooine is important in the Force?”
“Oh, exceptionally. From what I can understand from the ancient records – Madame Nu would not approve of how they’ve been kept – this planet was once an incredibly active and vibrant place in the Force. It was incredibly different actually. This was once a verdant and prosperous planet.”
“So, what happened?”
“A Sith lord came and stole the lifeforce of Tatooine. For what purpose, I do not know, but the planet destroyed itself in due time. Young Skywalker’s birth here is…significant I feel.” The elder man hums to himself and takes another sip of tea.
“Could it be restored, do you think?” As much as Obi-Wan has come to appreciate his life on Tatooine, not having to worry about water or food shortages would be a relief.
“That, I do not know but I shall search. If there is anything remaining it might be possible to cultivate it once more.” Setting down his tea, Master Rancisis stands and gives a small bow. “Pardon me, emperor, but I have some matters to attend to.”
“Of course, and you really do not need to call me ‘emperor’, Master Rancisis.” The title still makes Obi-Wan cringe and even more so from a jedi master Obi-Wan used to crawl into the lap of and demand stories from when he was a youngling.
The Thisspiasian just smiles and Obi-Wan thinks that he’s remembering those exact same times. His Force signature radiates fondness, contentment, and pride. “I know, emperor.”
“I always liked him.” Qui-Gon pipes up from the corner where he’s stroking his chin in deep thought. “His research into Tatooine could prove interesting.”
Humming in agreement, Obi-Wan sets the matter aside for now and returns to playing with his one-year-old daughter. He doesn’t get as much time to spend with his pups as he would like so he treasures every moment. She’s growing so big. Her hair is as golden as Luke’s – Anakin’s shade – but she inherited Obi-Wan’s eyes. She’s starting to walk a little, and loves to explore, but she hasn’t spoken yet. Most of the time, Mira tends to just stare at things with frank curiosity and hasn’t seen the use for words yet when everyone adores her and lavishes her with attention – including the Force. Obi-Wan never wants her to lose her sheer wonder at the world.
Unbidden, the memory of the Room of a Thousand Fountains floats in front of him. Anakin had loved that room – had loved all the colours and the water – and Obi-Wan spent many hours with him there meditating or even just lazing around relaxing. It had been their sanctuary until Anakin began running off to Padmé’s apartments instead.
“I would like to give her green things. Things that grow and bloom.”
*
The representatives from the Imperial Empire came as the two suns were rising. Not wishing to incite a major diplomatic incident before breakfast, Obi-Wan had allowed the small delegation entry and taken care to wear a veil to hide his face. The veil was Master Cordova’s idea as they were in fashion for Tatooine omegas at one time and could be excused as ‘Ben Kestis’ being a traditionalist.
The meeting is nothing special, and filled mainly with tedious information fishing from the Imps, until the end and Obi-Wan needs all his jedi serenity to answer the insult with composure.
He sees them out – makes certain that they leave and that their scanners track their departure – before he goes to see his council. It is only when he is left alone that he realises that he is trembling minutely with all the emotions he’s struggling to process and release into the Force. A good jedi would surely not be so hate filled but Obi-Wan doesn’t know how there can be good jedi anymore.
“Obi, what’s wrong?” Quin is watching him with evident concern along with the rest of the room. “Did the Imps suspect something?”
“No, and they seem content to let us be at the moment.”
Ahsoka touches his arm and Obi-Wan has to stop himself from yanking himself away. She is pack – his pup. “That’s good, right?”
Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan nods to his eldest and then speaks in a low, sure tone. “The Imperial Empire are not our most pressing concern as I do not believe they have the resources to go to war with us at this time. Their attention is needed in other parts of the galaxy with the rebel cause gaining momentum. Emperor Palpatine even suggested an…alliance.”
“What kind of alliance?” The Force in the room is buzzing with agitation and even the non-Force sensitives seem to be affected.
“Emperor Palpatine generously offered to mate with Emperor Kestis.” His tone is pure venom but he cannot regret it.
“No!”
“Kark no!”
“That sick son of a…”
Holding up a hand, Obi-Wan silences his outraged council. “I, of course, refused but this will accelerate our plans, I fear.”
“Yeah,” Quin cracks his knuckles, “wasn’t expecting that karking Sith-spawn to notice us so quick.”
Master Junda clears her throat. “We ought not act out of vengeance for this slight… As much as I am disgusted that Sidious could make this offer, we must not act in anger and revenge. We are jedi.”
She is perfectly correct and Obi-Wan feels the room take a collective deep breath and the tension lessens somewhat. “I agree. However, Quin is also right that we were not expecting to catch their attention so early. I fear that we miscalculated how my designation would be received by the galaxy. Sidious is just one of many who sees an omega in power and believes that that makes us easy pickings. I am… I will not deny that I am angered and repulsed that the man who single-handedly ensured the destruction of our Order could offer to mate with me. The language used as well was…foul and I will not repeat it. Nevertheless, I am not so blinded by my emotions that I do not see the ramifications of this visit clearly. This does accelerate our plans and we need to be ready.”
“Very well,” Master Junda nods, “I meant no offence.”
“And I did not take any.” Obi-Wan assures the other jedi with a smile. Although they did not know one another well before she arrived on Tatooine, Obi-Wan has come to see Cere as a good friend and a trusted advisor.
“So, what do we do, Master?” Ahsoka asks from his side.
“We prepare.”
*
“I confess,” Mon Mothma smiles slightly, “that this is not what I expected when Bail told me that this would be an advantageous meeting.”
Obi-Wan quirks an eyebrow from across the council table. “Oh? What did you expect?”
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect to be meeting with a former GAR General and Jedi Master turned Emperor.” The woman tilts her head as she looks over him with sparkling eyes. “I am definitely not displeased at this development. Finding a sanctuary for jedi is more than I could have hoped for, it brings me so much joy to know that there is still a haven like this. The dismantling of the Hutt Empire is also an amazing feat. I can hardly imagine what you have need of me for!”
“You are far too humble, senator.” Obi-Wan did not know the senator particularly well during his time on Coruscant but they have always gotten along and he knows that she is a formidable woman who deserves respect. That Bail speaks so highly of her, and knowing that she was friends with Padmé, is also to her credit. “It is you who has been working tirelessly to unite all those who oppose the Imperial Empire and has been the sorely needed voice of opposition in the senate. I am honoured that you would accept meeting with me.”
Bowing her head at the compliment, Mon Mothma seems to decide that the time for pretty compliments and beating about the bush is over. “So, do you wish to join my alliance? The Kestis Empire would be an impressive ally to have but I would not think that you would wish to jump into the fray of intergalactic warfare so soon after establishing yourself.”
“Normally, you would be quite correct and, if I had the time to do so, I would solely focus on the development of the planets under my care. However, Emperor Palpatine has made his interest in myself and my territory known and I fear there is little time before he discovers who ‘Ben Kestis’ truly is. When that happens, Darth Sidious will not suffer my people to go unopposed. A Jedi Empire – as Master Vos has taken to calling it – will not be tolerated by a Sith one.” There is only so much a veil can hide after all and all it takes is one careless whisper and Sidious will have suspicions that he will not rest until he has confirmed. “I find I have need of allies, senator.”
“As do I.” The woman smiles and Obi-Wan relaxes at the tentative agreement. They speak for some time on the formalities of their fledging alliance. It is all very easy considering their shared beliefs and eagerness to work together. There is one slight sticking point but Obi-Wan remains firm and Mon Mothma eventually relents with acceptable conditions. They shake hands with both parties happy and Obi-Wan offers the senator a cup of tea to celebrate.
Beru brings in the tea and Obi-Wan subtly signals to her that they have reached an accord. His friend smiles as she sets down the tea things and then leaves to tell the others. Once they’re alone again, Mon Mothma starts the conversation on a more personal note than before. “I understand that you have three children as well?”
“Five.” Obi-Wan corrects absently. “Two are mine by blood but I love them equally.”
Something approaching doubt clouds the woman’s face. “Bail did hint that… That is to say, I was speaking to Bail about Padmé and he happened to mention that she wasn’t entirely gone. I thought he meant that her memory and legacy was still remembered however, seeing you now and knowing about Knight Skywalker’s connection to my friend, would I be correcting in thinking that Bail was being more literal than I first believed?”
Obi-Wan pauses as he goes to drink his tea and then lowers the cup back to the table. “You are not incorrect. I was there with Padmé at the last and I… I omega-bonded with her children after her passing.”
“Children?” Painful hope fills Mon Mothma’s face.
“Yes,” Obi-Wan struggles around a sudden lump in his throat, “Padmé gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl who she named herself. I have raised them with the memory of her and Leia has always seen Padmé in visions. Padmé has not been forgotten.”
Covering her mouth, Mon Mothma seems to need a moment to compose herself. “I am glad – so glad – that they lived and have been loved.”
“Thank you.” A flickering, fragile smile comes to Obi-Wan’s face. “Would you like to meet them?”
Mon Mothma nods without missing a beat. “I should be honoured.”
*
The sound of feet crunching on snow and the bitter chill in the air cannot distract Obi-Wan from this moment. The Force is singing a crescendo of joy, of harmony, and of peace. It has thrummed through Obi-Wan’s veins ever since he stepped foot on the planet again and he has not wavered or tired since. It felt as if the Force itself possessed him to see his task done.
Now, releasing all that power back to the Force and simply bathing in its symphony, Obi-Wan hardly notices that someone is behind him until they tap his shoulder. “Emperor-General,” Obi-Wan will really have to talk to whoever it is that keeps deciding his new titles, “we found the Imp’s plans. There’s something you need to see.”
Turning to look at Saw Gerrera – still as rough and paranoid as ever but a good man – Obi-Wan allows himself to fall back into the present. “I see. I will be along shortly, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Emperor-General.” The man doesn’t immediately turn to leave and check on his compatriots as Obi-Wan expected. “This place… It is strange. I’ve never understood your magic mumbo jumbo but, here, it feels…”
“It is Ilum, my friend.” Obi-Wan clasps him on his metal shoulder. “A sacred place for my people for years. The Force here is powerful and perfectly balanced. It is proof that the Empire may lay their claims but they cannot pervert something that is truly good.”
They have retaken Ilum.
“Let us have a look at what the Imps were planning then, shall we?”
*
The platoon of stormtroopers do not bother with any pleasantries as they arrive at the palace and march to Obi-Wan’s throne room. They are let past without any objection as they have not, officially, opened hostilities between the two empires. Even so, as soon as the rumours spread to the training salles, all of the jedi hurry to the throne room with their lightsabres on their belts.
Obi-Wan merely awaits their arrival with his veil drawn.
They enter in the standard uniform and with no word of greeting. Instead, one comes forward and places a long distance holoprojector down on the floor. Another presses a button on his vambrace and the next Obi-Wan knows, he is being confronted by the hologram of Darth Sidious in all his cloaked glory. It is rather jarring just how little the shrivelled husk of a Sith lord has changed in the last sixteen years.
“Emperor Kestis. You can be at no loss for why I wished to speak to you.”
“Emperor Palpatine.” Obi-Wan answers with his sneer concealed by the veil. “I truly have no idea. I rather believed that our association ended peacefully and with no hard feelings on either part.”
“You weave such pretty words to conceal your lies, Kestis.” The Sith drawls with all the ease of someone who knows all. “But I see through your deceit. You have allied with rebel cells to act against the Imperial Empire. The loss of Imperial outposts in the Outer Rim and the Unknown Regions can only have been your doing. Your personal involvement in the Siege of Ilum is known.”
The doors around the throne room open and Obi-Wan smirks behind his veil at the entry of his fellow jedi. All the jedi that Sidious imagines that he has killed or rendered hopeless and lost yet here and fighting his regime. “Ah, I see you are well-informed, Emperor Palpatine.”
Something about his tone must alert Quin because the other jedi is hastily taking out a recorder to capture the moment.
“Indeed, Emperor Kestis, for the Force shows it’s children many things.” Off to the side. Obi-Wan hears Quin snort and Ahsoka hit him. “These acts of aggression are…curious, Kestis. As you said, I believed that we ended our association on good terms.”
“I would not say ‘good terms’, Palpatine.” Obi-Wan answers coldly. “I merely stated that it ended ‘peacefully’. I would not call the frankly insulting mating offer anything but disdain for myself and my people. We are not weak because of our former situations or our designations. My people were forged from the sufferings of slavery and oppression so we do not put so much weight, as you do, in petty things. Our strength comes from our perseverance when we had no hope that things would ever improve. Your Empire, however, was born from trickery and cruelty. Our two realms could not be more dissimilar. This, you showed to us with your ‘generous’ offer to mate with me. We do not see omegas as mere objects to be possessed or claimed.”
“Choose your next words carefully, Kestis.” The Sith growls in return. “You have not the strength to oppose me and my patience is running thin. I will bring war to your doorstep and destroy your precious people if you do not show appropriate remorse now.”
“War you have already brought to my people.” Obi-Wan seethes but keeps his voice even. “For it was you who gave the execution order and forced good men to turn on their commanders. I have walked through the hallowed halls that you now call your palace and seen it strewn with the bodies of younglings killed on your orders. I have lost more friends and more family than I can number to your evil.” Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan sees the horror dawning on Sidious’ face. “I have lost the other half of my soul to your corruption.”
With that final statement, Obi-Wan lifts his veil and reveals his face. The stormtroopers spring to life and reach for their guns but they are swiftly disarmed by the Force. The jedi activate their lightsabres and they shine proud through the room.
“Kenobi.”
“Sidious.” Obi-Wan tilts his head in acknowledgement of the Sith lord. “I apologise for the deception but, I am sure, you can understand having hidden your true nature for decades. Considering the frankly obscene bounty you put on my head it seemed rather prudent for me to change my name.”
The Sith lord snarls. “I should have killed you myself.”
“You certainly tried many times.” Obi-Wan observes idly. “Since the fall of the Republic, I have come to realise just how many dangerous missions you sent me on with the intent of killing me. It must have driven you quite mad, how I continued to survive. It is almost astonishing how I did not realise the truth of the matter at the time.”
“You continue to be a thorn in my side, Kenobi.” The Sith lord spits. “One that I look forward to destroying.”
A sharp smile comes to Obi-Wan’s lips. “I am certain that you will try, Sidious. However, just as you say, the Force shows its children many things and I am not afraid. Whatever other titles I may hold – and I am certainly accumulating quite a few – I am a jedi. I will accept my death when it is time for me to join the Force but I shall always work for balance and peace until that day comes.”
“I will not grant you a peaceful death, Kenobi! I will make you feel every moment of suffering before I generously relieve you of your life.” The Sith screams pointing his gnarled finger at Obi-Wan accusingly.
“There is no physical torment than can equal the pain you have already inflicted upon me.” The jedi answers evenly and he grits his teeth as he continues. “We can have nothing more to say to one another, Sidious, as I cannot offer you the remorse you seek for my transgressions against you. I look forward to seeing you soon enough.”
Before the Sith can answer, Obi-Wan waves his hand and the holoprojector cuts out.