Guess We're Stuck Together

by juehs34

Summary:

The first time you met, you were a handmaiden to Queen Amidala and he was still a Jedi padawan. It’s amazing how much things can change with time.

Chapter 1: First Meetings

The first time you had ever laid eyes on him you barely noticed his face; your eyes were much more interested in the blade that he wielded. A lightsaber. Strikingly bright, glowing blue, and humming ominously, the blade sliced through the droids that had taken you and the others hostage. Another man wielded a similar green blade, cutting through the machines as if it were the easiest thing in the world. It was unlike anything you had ever seen before.

You had heard tales of the Jedi but never in your wildest dreams could you imagine meeting one, let alone two, face to face like this. For a brief moment you feared what these men had in store for you, for your queen, but as soon as they turned their gaze to your group those fears dissipated. You could tell they weren’t here to hurt you; they were here to help you. How you knew that you had no idea. It was just a gut feeling. Well, a gut feeling plus the fact that you had heard that the Jedi were peacekeepers... or at least something like that.

As you were ushered around the corner and up the steps by these men, you focused on your brightly colored dress swishing at your feet. Any other day you would have marveled at how the material flowed at the slightest movement, at its bright cheery color. But today, when it was critical to get the queen to safety and to do so without drawing unnecessary attention? It couldn’t have been a worse choice. You glanced around at the other handmaidens — at Padmè in disguise, at Sabè playing the role of Queen Amidala; you were looking at the faces of your friends. Would all of you live to see the end of the day? You weren’t so sure at the present moment, but you forced that troubling thought from your mind and focused on the situation at hand. The most important thing was to keep the queen safe, both the real and the fake one. All you had to do was stick together and­­ — your train of thought was rudely interrupted as someone bumped into your shoulder in an effort to get to the front of the group.

“My apologies,” an unfamiliar voice murmured. You turned your head sharply, fully expecting it to be a palace guard, overly excited to work alongside a Jedi and prove himself to the queen. Oh, how wrong you were.

The man pushing to the front of the group had every reason to do so, he was one of the Jedi! You immediately felt foolish, casting your eyes to the ground to hide the embarrassed look on your face. Well, there went any hope of making a good first impression…

When you finally raised your eyes again you tried to look as nonchalant as possible, observing the situation at hand. You weren’t the only one. The Jedi that bumped into you was also looking around, searching for hidden threats. You glanced over at him, who knew the next time you’d be this close to a Jedi? Might as well get a good look so when you told your friends about this later your story could be as detailed as possible.

The man was young, older than you for sure, but still young. His hair was cut short, save for a ponytail and braid (must be a Jedi thing) and if you were pressed to name its color, you’d say it was closer to copper than brown. You were sure some of the other handmaidens would call him handsome, so you decided when you retold this story you’d mention his sharp jawline and piercing eyes — whatever color they may be. You could choose whatever color you liked; it wouldn’t really matter in the retelling. All that would matter is that a handsome Jedi saved you and the others from danger... oh yes, your friends would just eat this story up. 

Your gaze had only been on him for a few seconds longer than what was socially acceptable — and considering the situation, you could argue it was still socially acceptable — when his gaze turned to focus on you. For the briefest of moments your eyes met, and it was like he could see right through you. Like he could read your very thoughts and that’s when you realized you forgot one crucial detail about the Jedi. Their mind tricks.

You quickly averted your eyes, trying to focus on what the others were saying. Trying to keep your mind blank. You weren’t exactly sure how Jedi mind tricks worked, but when you were young your best friend Gwin told you that if a Jedi looked into your eyes he could read your thoughts. You had always told yourself it was nothing more than a made-up story to scare kids, but right now you weren’t so sure. His gaze was so intense, it really did feel like he could read your mind. You sure hoped he hadn’t been reading your mind and heard the detailed log you were taking of his appearance. You especially hoped he hadn’t heard the line about his sharp jawline and piercing eyes… he did have strikingly beautiful blue eyes though — no!

Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. You repeated over and over again in your mind. If he was listening, he’d hear nothing more.

Was one look really all it took to read a person’s mind? Did he even need to look into a person’s eyes to use his Jedi mind tricks? Were those tricks even real? Right now wasn’t the time to be asking such questions. Right now, you had to focus on getting the queen to safety.

***

That was easier said than done. After a blaster fight with battle droids in the hangar and pushing your way through the Trade Federation’s blockade, it was safe to say you were more than a bit rattled. Thankfully everyone was alright, unfortunately the same couldn’t be said about the ship. It took extensive damage during your escape, and as such, you were being forced to land on some remote planet called Tatooine. As you peered through the small window in the Queen’s quarters all you could see was a never-ending sea of sand. 

“What does it look like?” Padmè asked, shrugging on another layer of clothing.

“Like one giant desert,” you replied with a huff, turning back to face your queen. “Lots of sand and not much else… do you really have to go, milady? Surely one of us could go in your place? It would be much safer—”

“No. I want to assess the situation for myself. Sabè will pose as me until I return. I will not argue this point any further,” replied Padmè in a firm voice. You bowed your head, accepting her decision. There was only so much you could say as a simple handmaiden; it wasn’t your place to give your queen orders.

You watched your true queen leave the ship with a heavy feeling in your chest. Something deep in your gut told you that this plan was a bad idea, a very bad idea. You took a deep breath, steadying your nerves. It was your job to worry about the Queen, you were one of her handmaidens — one of her bodyguards. You had no qualms about risking your life to protect her, but with Padmè going off like this… there was nothing you could do but wait.

Once again that was easier said than done. The young girl was like family, more akin to a little sister than queen (but you could never admit that out loud). If anything ever happened to her you don’t know what you’d do.  

Unfortunately, your worry proved to be well founded. In the few short hours your queen was absent, the ship had received a transmission from the governor stating that the death toll was rising rapidly the longer the invasion of your home planet lasted. To make matters worse a terrible sandstorm had whipped up; preventing Padmè from returning to the ship. Everyone was forced to overnight where they were.

It was no surprise then that sleep was eluding you. You had tossed and turned on your cot for what seemed like hours before finally giving up. You silently slipped out of bed, sliding on your slippers and tiptoed to the door, hesitating before it. You held your breath, listening to the other handmaidens snoring softly in their cots, no one had woken up. Good. As much as you loved the girls, you were looking for a moment alone. A moment to think.

You slowly opened the door and snuck into the hallway, the door clicking quietly behind you. Just like that you were free, at least for a few minutes. But where to go? Your stomach rumbled, reminding you of the fact that you had barely touched your dinner — you were just too upset about that transmission from the governor to eat. Now the gnawing in your stomach made you regret that decision. Guess you might as well go look for some food.

You padded down the metal hallway, scanning your surroundings for a sign or symbol indicating where supplies might be kept. There! A sign that read cargo hold. It indicated you had to take an elevator down to the lower level of the ship and so that’s what you did.

You wrapped your arms around yourself as you waited for the elevator to reach its destination. You were clad just in your nightgown, the thin material doing little to keep the cold away. You hadn’t thought to grab a robe on your way out. Hopefully this sojourn away from your sleeping quarters would be brief.

Once you were securely in the hold of the ship you started rooting around for some rations. There had to be some in here, there just had to be. It was a cargo hold after all.

You lifted the lid off a wooden crate and peered inside; it was filled with metal machinery. Nothing edible. With a scowl you tried another crate, and then another, both were completely devoid of food as well. You tried a metal box next; hopeful that the extra security was to protect rations from the elements but no. This was filled with uniforms for the guards. You groaned loudly; this was going to take forever!

“Looking for something?” a voice called out from behind you. You jumped a foot in the air, absolutely startled. You whipped around, cradling the lid of the metal crate in your hands as if it were some sort of shield, and met that same pair of blue eyes from earlier today. It was the young Jedi.

“Oh, uh. I— I promise I’m not stealing anything!” you stammered. Not stealing anything? Really (Y/N)? That’s what you were opening with?

“I didn’t think you were,” he replied with the hint of a grin on his face. He was trying to be polite; you could just tell. You could also tell that you were horribly underdressed for such a meeting. Here you were having your first, and possibly only, conversation with a Jedi and you were in your kriffing nightgown of all things!

You held the metal lid closer to your chest, a weak attempt at trying to retain some sort of modesty. The nightgown did little to hide your figure; its sheer white material may have reached the floor, but it clung to your body in ways that left little to the imagination. For the second time today, you regretted your fashion choices.

The Jedi glanced around the room as if he expected someone else to be down here with you. “What are you doing down here?”

“I— uh… I was looking for rations,” you admitted in a small voice, casting your eyes down to your slippers. “I didn’t really eat dinner, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I thought I would look in here for some food.”

“I see… any luck?” he asked. His tone was gentle, not condescending, so you willed your eyes back up to focus on him. Just not his eyes, look anywhere but his eyes. You didn’t want him reading your thoughts, even if you weren’t thinking anything embarrassing at the moment.

“Not unless you Jedi can eat metal,” you said, a lame attempt at a joke.

“Heh, no. That is not something a Jedi can do. None that I know at least,” he answered with a smile. At least he had a sense of humor. Your friend who had told you about the mind reading also had told you that Jedi were like droids — completely void of emotions. This man didn’t seem to fit that description, at least not yet. There was still time for him to prove you wrong though.

“What’s in that crate there?” he asked, motioning to the crate whose lid you still held in your hands.

“Oh, uniforms I think,” you said turning back to the box and returning the lid to its designated spot. You cast your eyes around the cargo hold, there were piles of crates, searching them one by one would take forever. You sighed and glanced over your shoulder, “I don’t suppose you have any Jedi tricks that would be helpful here?”

The man raised his hand to his chin, thinking deeply. “None come to mind.” Of course not. “What about that box there?” He pointed to a small metal box a few feet away from you. It looked more like a medical supplies to you, but it was worth a shot.

You stepped over to the box and bent down, flipping the lid open. Sure enough, it was filled with medical supplies. Your gut was right. “Nope, nothing.”  

“Are you sure? Maybe there are some rations at the bottom?” suggested the Jedi. Eh, it was worth a look. You rummaged around the box, feeling around for something that felt even remotely like a ration. After a few moments you gave up, there was nothing useful in this box.

“I got nothing in here,” you said flipping the lid shut. You stood and faced the Jedi once more; this time it seemed as if he were the one avoiding eye contact and was that a hint of a blush on his cheeks? No that was preposterous, Jedi didn’t feel emotions… or did they? “The only thing in that box was medical supplies.”

“Good to know. Though, I hope we never have to use them,” commented the Jedi. He really was looking anywhere other than your face. Hm, that was odd. The two of you were quiet for a moment pondering two different questions.

“I think I have an idea,” he said after a moment.

“Oh?” You watched as he glided past you, hardly making a sound as he passed by. Well, that explained how he managed to sneak up on you earlier.

You silently followed him, not quite sure how to break the silence. What do you even try to talk about? It’s not like you had anything in common and you were fairly certain you would never see this man again once you reached Coruscant. Jedi were a valuable resource to the Republic; they certainly had more important things to do than search a cargo hold with a handmaiden.

He stopped before an unmarked box, redirecting your thoughts to the present. You watched as he lifted the lid and to your surprise a grin flashed across his face. “I believe this is what you were looking for?”

You stepped forward, now standing next to him, and peered down into the box. Sure enough, the crate was filled with neatly stacked piles of rations. More than enough to feed the entire ship’s crew for several days. Your face split into a wide grin, “Yes! Thank you!” you reached into the box and hesitated as your fingers brushed against the metallic wrapping. Where were your manners? “Do you want one?” you asked.

“Sure.”

You grabbed two bars and turned to the Jedi. You offered one of the bars out to him and he took it, his fingers just barely ghosting over your skin. You normally wouldn’t have thought twice about such a banal interaction, but something felt different. Despite the fact that his hand had barely touched you, it felt like a surge of electricity had passed between the two of you. Surely you must have imagined that? But the shocked expression on the Jedi’s face told you otherwise.

“What?” you asked, trying to play it cool.

“It’s nothing,” the Jedi said quickly. Much too quickly to truly mean that. “Thanks for the ration.”

“Thanks for finding the right box,” you answered, tearing open the bar. It looked dry and bland but at least it was food. You took a bite and chewed thoughtfully; it tasted like you were eating wood chips. You eyed the Jedi as he copied your movements, starting to eat his own ration bar. The expression on his face was unreadable, but you knew he was hiding something. Was he trying to perform a Jedi mind trick on you?

As if he could feel the suspicion radiating off you, or because he could read your mind, he raised an eyebrow in question. Almost like he was daring you to say something. You hesitated for a moment, he was a Jedi, infinitely more powerful than you but still… you would likely never see this man again. Might as well ask your questions, it would only be awkward for another day or so at most.

“Did you do some sort of mind trick on me?” you blurted out. The Jedi choked on his ration bar, he clearly wasn’t expecting that.

“Excuse me?” he sputtered.

“When I handed you the bar, your hand— it felt like electricity or something. Did you do that?” you asked quickly. The Jedi hesitated for a moment, clearly trying to determine how much he should reveal to you.

“No, that wasn’t me,” he answered evenly.

“Well, it certainly wasn’t me,” you quipped. “I think I would remember having powers like that.”

“I can assure you it’s not a Jedi mind trick.”

“Then what was it?” you asked, putting your hands on your hips, and taking on the tone you used when disciplining someone. The other handmaidens referred to it your mom voice and for good reason, it yielded results. Now the real question was did it work on Jedi?

“What you felt was the Force,” he said.

“The Force? What’s that?”

“The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It binds the galaxy together,” explained the Jedi.

“Okay and? If it’s in all living things, why is it just choosing now to make an appearance?” you asked, still using your mom voice.

“Well…” he hesitated.

“Spill it, Jedi.” You were startled at your sudden bravery, and you weren’t the only one. The Jedi’s eyes widened in surprise,

“If I tell you, you must promise to not get upset.”

“Why would I be upset?”

“Just promise me,” he said.

“Fine, I promise. Now tell me.”

He sighed deeply, leaning back against a stack of crates and crossing his arms. “This is likely far from the first time that the Force has presented itself in your life. I believe you are Force sensitive,” he explained.

“Force sensitive?” you echoed. “What does that mean?”

“It means you have a strong connection to the Force—”

“But I didn’t do anything?”

“You don’t have to do anything. The Force is in all living things, often times people are born with a stronger than average connection to the Force. You must be one of them,” explained the Jedi.

“I was born this way?”

“Yes, and had your talents been discovered when you were young, you might have even become a Jedi.” You stared at him, completely and utterly flabbergasted. You a Jedi? What kind of joke was this? Was he being serious?

“Yes, I’m being serious,” he said seconds after the thought crossed your mind.

“Are you reading my mind?!” you hissed, taking a step back.

“I don’t need to read your mind to know you were doubting the validity of my statement,” the Jedi rolled his eyes.

“But you can read minds? Right?” you pressed.

“Yes, but—” Gwin had been right. It wasn’t just a story told amongst children. A real Jedi just confirmed that they could read minds. All the stories were true. 

“Oh maker— It’s because I looked you in the eyes earlier, isn’t it?! I promise it was an accident! Please don’t read my mind anymore!” you exclaimed.

The Jedi’s eyes widened in surprise. He pushed himself forward off the crates and took a step closer to you, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Miss, please calm down. Just because I can read minds doesn’t mean that’s what I was doing. I promise that I’m not reading your mind right now.”

“You’re not?”

“No, I assure you I’m not— wait. What did you say about my eyes?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. Almost as if he thought he hadn’t heard you correctly.

“Can’t Jedi read the minds of anyone who they look in the eye?” you asked dumbly.

“A well-trained Jedi can read the mind of anyone they choose. They don’t have to look them in the eye.” Oh Maker, that’s even worse than the stories. He could have been reading your thoughts at any time, and you would have no idea! “And before you start worrying again, no I haven’t been reading anyone’s minds today.”

“Oh, and I’m just supposed to take your word on that? You could be lying for all I know. It’s not like I know you,” you snapped. You were conscious of the fact that you were dangerously close to crossing into the territory of being rude, but if this guy was really reading your mind, or maker forbid the mind of the queen, you were well within your right to be upset.

“No, you don’t know me,” the Jedi admitted. “Allow me to remedy that. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi padawan, at your service.” He bowed deeply; it was a bow better fit for the queen rather than one of her many handmaidens. Once he rose to his full height once more, he smiled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss?”

“(Y/N) Felvora, handmaiden to Queen Amidala,” you answered, bowing your head to be polite.

“There. Now we know each other,” he said with a grin. You cast a doubting look in his direction. Just because you knew his name it hardly meant you knew him. He could still be lying about the mind reading and you would have no way of telling.

Before you could interrogate him further, his comlink beeped.

He glanced down at the device and then cast an apologetic look your way. “I’m sorry. It’s my Master, I have to take this. Please excuse me.” He bowed once more and quickly strode off and out of the cargo hold. You watched him go, his brown robe fluttering behind him. What the kriff just happened?

***

You didn’t have much time to truly ponder Master Kenobi’s words over the next few days. Once Padmè and the others returned to the ship you took off quickly, adding to your group a small child named Anakin Skywalker. You didn’t pay much attention to the kid, but Padmè seemed to be quite taken with him. You smiled and nodded as your queen regaled the group with tales of droids and pod races. You were glad that she had a few moments of joy during these dark times, though it made parting with the Jedi harder for her. Anakin would go with them, likely never to be seen again.

You could hardly say you were upset about this development; in fact, you’d go as far to say that you were glad that you wouldn’t have to deal with the Jedi again anytime soon. The constant looming threat of having your mind read was taking its toll on you and you would be glad to see them off. You were the only handmaiden to feel that way it seemed. The others bemoaned the loss of the Jedi as if it were the worst thing in the world.

“I can’t believe we aren’t going to see them again!” sighed Rabè.

“I know! I was just starting to get used to the extra eye candy,” said Eirtaè.

“It’ll be nothing but stuffy old senate guards from now on,” said Rabè. She flopped down on the lounge chair next to you. “I swear if one of them tries asking me out I’m going to barf.”

“I think you’re safe from that,” you grinned. It was funny watching your friends act like this. It was a stark reminder that despite everything, all of you were still just teenagers.  

Eirtaè cast a suspicious look in your direction, “Why aren’t you upset? And don’t you dare say it’s because you’re ‘much too busy to engage in romantic affairs.’ You use that line too much.”

“I use it because it’s true,” you quipped. “You’ll understand when you’re older.” You loved using that line on the other girls, it always got a rise out of them.

“You’re eighteen not ninety-five,” snorted Eirtaè.

“So what?” you asked.

“So, you’re not blind,” said Rabè. “You have to admit that Jedi was cute.”

“Isn’t he a little old for you?” you teased, trying to steer the subject away from the Jedi. “I think you’d be better suited with the palace cook’s son, he’s about your age, isn’t he?”

“He’s so not cute though,” she grumbled. “Besides, I like to think I’d marry someone more important than a cook’s son.”

“My, my, how stuck up you are,” tutted Eirtaè.

“Oh, so you’d be fine marrying the son of a cook?” Rabè snapped.

“Not that son, no,” admitted Eirtaè. “But I have no qualms marrying another servant. What about you (Y/N)?”

You hesitated for a moment, “I haven’t really thought about it.” It wasn’t a question you spent much time pondering. There had been boys that floated in and out of your life, but never anything serious. If you were honest, you were far too busy for a relationship. Your first and only priority was the queen.

“Well, I have. I’m going to marry someone important, someone who’s done something with their life,” said Rabè.

“Like a Jedi?” asked Eirtaè.

“Maybe.” You bit back a laugh; you didn’t have the heart to tell the poor girl that you were 90% sure Jedi were forbidden from getting married. Oh well, she would figure it out when she got older, there was no need to break a young girl’s dreams today.

***

Eirtaè and Rabè were thrilled, for not soon after you all landed in Coruscant you were once again soaring through space back towards your home planet of Naboo, Jedi in tow. You had done your best to hide your scowl; pretending your apprehension was due to the upcoming struggle to take back your planet and not your unexpected passengers. You did your utmost to avoid the Jedi, both physically and mentally, taking special care to keep your mind clear. Anything could be used against you or the queen, so you always had to be on your guard. It was utterly exhausting. Why did they have to come anyways?

You got your answer while in the midst of storming the royal palace. A man with a red and black face was waiting for you all. A chill went down your spine and your gut sank as your eyes landed on him; something was wrong. Truly and terribly wrong.

“We’ll handle this,” said the older Jedi.

You didn’t question this decision, hurrying behind Padmè towards the interior of the palace, firing blaster shots at any droids you saw. You chanced one look back at the Jedi before you left the hangar, their familiar green and blue blades were joined by the stranger’s red. This stranger was certainly above your pay grade, best to leave him for the Jedi to deal with.

You didn’t think of them again until long after the attack to retake the palace was completed. Night had fallen and so had the eldest Jedi, at least that’s what Padmè had told you. There was a funeral, and you had attended to be polite. You never truly met the man, but it was safe to say you owed your life to him and to Master Kenobi. So, as everyone filtered their way out, you lingered behind, waiting on the stone bridge. Hoping to offer him your condolences. It was the polite thing to do. 

Unsurprisingly Master Kenobi was the last person to leave the funeral. You vaguely remember him referring to the deceased man as his master, so it was safe to assume that the two men had been close. This delay in leaving only confirmed it. You watched as he approached, his gaze was downcast, focused on the stone underneath his feet. Not where he was going.

“Master Kenobi.”

He looked up at the sound of his name. “Miss Felvora, I thought you would have returned to the palace by now,” he said coming to a stop in front of you.

“I wanted to offer my condolences. I’m sorry for your loss,” you said softly.

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

The two of you stood in awkward silence for a few seconds.

“It’s never easy losing someone you care about,” you stated turning your head to look out at the horizon. The sun had set not long ago, and the last rays of daylight were beginning to disappear; only the faintest traces of pink and orange dusted the horizon line. “I know it’s probably not an issue since you’re a Jedi and can’t feel emotions, but I still felt like I should say something. You did help save us after all.” 

Master Kenobi remained silent for a moment. “Who told you Jedi can’t feel emotions?” There was something in his voice, a hint of vulnerability perhaps, that made you look over at him. He was staring out at the horizon just as you were, a deep frown on his face.

“My best friend growing up. She told me Jedi were like droids, unable to feel anything at all…” you trailed off.

“Life as a Jedi would be much simpler if that were the case,” he sighed. “No. We feel emotions just the same as anyone else. We simply learn to control them and not let them control us.”

“Oh.” You sure felt like an idiot. “I should have figured that was wrong. I heard that from the same friend who told me that Jedi could read your mind if they looked into your eyes.”

“Your friend has some interesting ideas about us.” He glanced over at you, a hint of a twinkle in his eye. “Any other beliefs I should debunk for you while I’m here?”

“Um,” you thought for a moment. Rabè’s face floating into your mind. “Can Jedi get married?” Master Kenobi raised an eyebrow at your question. Oh Maker, did he think you were hitting on him? Better remedy that immediately. “One of the other handmaidens, she’s young, and right now her dream is to marry someone interesting. Like a Jedi,” you explained quickly.

“I see,” he murmured, his gaze returning to the horizon. “No. Jedi do not get married. We are not permitted to form attachments, especially not ones of that nature.”

“Why not?”

“Attachments can lead to feelings of jealously and loss, both are paths to the dark side.”

“Oh.” You weren’t quite sure how to respond to that, so you didn’t. You turned your gaze back out to the skyline, looking out at the beauty that was Naboo. It was peaceful; you hoped some of this peace would help Master Kenobi recover from his loss. It was probably best that you left him alone for now. “I should go. I’m sure the others are wondering where I disappeared off to.”

“Of course,” he said. “Thank you once again for your sympathies, they are greatly appreciated. Farewell, Miss Felvora.”

“You’re welcome. Goodbye, Master Kenobi.” You bowed your head and turned on your heel back towards the palace. You were quite certain that this would be the last time you ever saw him, let alone another Jedi.

What an interesting character he turned out to be, certainly nothing like what your friend made Jedi out to be. When you had five minutes of free time you would have to call Gwin and let her know that her intel was completely wrong. Jedi felt emotions just like the rest of us, they could read anyone’s mind they wanted to (eye contact be damned), and they couldn’t get married. Sorry Rabè.

Notes:

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I’m brand new to the Star Wars fandom and have only ever seen the movies, so if I mess up some details I apologize in advance. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I’m using this fanfic to get myself back into the habit of writing every day, so fingers crossed we reach the finish line together!

Chapter 2: You Again?!

Notes:

Hi everyone! Thanks for being patient, I would have had this chapter out sooner but I was out of town for my brother’s graduation. But I do have some good news: I am participating in a writing challenge all of June and this project is where I plan on putting most of my focus. Hopefully I can get most of this story completed during this month! Enjoy!

Your assumption had been correct; in the decade that followed you never ran into another Jedi. Life continued on as normal. Of course there were some changes, but that was to be expected with the passage of time.

No longer was Padmè your queen, now she was Senator Amidala, serving your home planet of Naboo in the Galactic Senate. You couldn’t be prouder. When Padmè’s term as queen came to an end all of her handmaidens went their separate ways; only you remained by her side. You still kept in contact with the others, the bond between you all was utterly unbreakable. Even if you never saw them again you would always consider them among your most cherished friends.

That’s not to say you were attending to Padmè alone, you worked alongside two others Cordè and Dormè: both capable and strong-willed women. You couldn’t ask for better help and it wasn’t long before the three of you were as thick as thieves.

You were with Dormè at the moment, preparing the Senator’s apartment for her imminent arrival in Coruscant. Padmè and Cordè were traveling separately from the group, an added security measure, as tensions had been particularly high regarding the Senate’s latest bill. With Padmè firmly against the Military Creation Act, the current worry was that someone might try something drastic to sway the votes.

As you made Padmè’s bed, your gut churned with worry. You couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was imminent, but what? You paused, staring down at the bedspread and searched your feelings. What had you so worried? You had been away from Padmè countless times before but never had your nerves been this frazzled. The only other time you felt fear like this was when you saw that stranger with a red lightsaber back on Naboo. Was this worry somehow related to the Force? You sure hoped not, you would prefer not to tangle with the Jedi again. You had embarrassed yourself enough for one lifetime, thank you very much.

“Are you alright?” Dormè’s voice brought you back from your thoughts. “You’ve been staring at that bedspread for quite a while now.”

“It’s a nice bedspread,” you muttered, quickly smoothing out the fabric in an attempt to look busy. Once you finished you chanced a glance at Dormè. She was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, and a deep frown etched on her face. She wasn’t leaving until you explained yourself.

“I’m fine. Just worried about milady is all.” You forced a smile, “I’ll feel a whole lot better once she gets here.”

“Me too but try not to worry. I’m sure everything—“ she was cut off by the chirp of her comlink. “That must be her now!”

You watched as Dormè answered the call. Within seconds the bright smile on her face dissipated. “What? Are you sure?” Her voice wavered; it never wavered. Your gut had been right, but about what? Had something happened to Padmè?! “Yes, I understand. We will wait here. Goodbye.”

“What happened?” You asked as soon as she hung up.

“Milady’s ship was attacked upon its arrival in Coruscant,” said Dormè. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes; someone was hurt. You just knew it.

“Is Padmè okay?” You asked quickly, dropping the usual decorum in which you spoke about her. Right now, she wasn’t your senator, she was your friend.

“Yes, she’s safe. She’s making a brief detour to Chancellor Palpatine’s office and then coming here,” said Dormè.

“Then what’s wrong?”

“It’s Cordè. She’s dead.”

“That’s impossible.” How could she be dead? She was so young, so full of life. You had just seen her a few days ago when you departed Naboo with Dormè. You had told her that you would see one another again once she arrived on Coruscant… she couldn’t be dead. She just couldn’t.

“She was posing as milady and there was an explosion—“ Dormè inhaled sharply and then her tears began to flow.

You rushed across the room to her side and enveloped her in a tight hug, stifling your own cries. You had to be strong for her, you just had to be. Dormè wailed into your shoulder as you rubbed soothing circles into her back. There was nothing you could say to alleviate her pain, so you just let her cry.

***

When the apartment door opened a little over an hour later, you leapt from your seat and engulfed Padmè in a tight hug. “Thank the Maker you’re alright!” you exclaimed.

Padme hugged you back and then moved to embrace Dormè. You swept your eyes over her figure as she did this, looking for any injuries. She appeared to be in one piece, for that you were thankful.

“How are you holding up?” you asked.

“I’m alright, just… just a little rattled is all,” Padmè sighed. You nodded your head, who wouldn’t be shaken after such an event?

As Padmè settled into the apartment, Dormè went off to rest. She would have the night shift this evening, leaving you alone with your friend for a few moments.

“There’s something you’re not telling me.” You sat down on the couch next to Padmè. “I can tell.”

She huffed, “I really hate it when you do that. I’m entitled to have some secrets you know?”

“I know, just not today,” you replied. After so many years together it was easy for you to read her face; something was bothering her, but you didn’t think it was the attack from this morning. In addition to the sadness that all of you felt at Cordè’s death, she almost seemed irritated? “It might make it easier if you tell me what’s bothering you?”

Padmè sighed heavily and glared daggers at the floor. “Chancellor Palpatine insisted I take on Jedi protectors until the situation improves.”

“Jedi protectors?” you echoed.

“Yes. He doesn’t believe my current security detail is enough protection. He practically forced me to agree to this plan. Jedi protectors… please,” she snorted. “It’s overkill, that’s what it is. I’ll be fine with my current security detail.”

“Padmè, you could’ve died today,” you said seriously. “Considering the situation, I think the chancellor is right. Jedi can protect you a whole lot better than we can.” As much as you weren’t looking forward to dealing with the Jedi again, you had to admit that they were better equipped to keep Padmè safe than you were. They trained their whole lives for missions such as this; they were the best of the best for a reason. Mind tricks and all.

“I thought you didn’t like the Jedi?” Padmè asked, focusing her gaze on you.

“I never said I didn’t like them,” you answered evenly. “I said I didn’t like their mind tricks.“

“Hm, are you sure? I’m pretty sure you said you didn’t like the Jedi,” said Padmè, a hint of humor in her voice. She was teasing you.

“Your memory must be failing you then, milady. Maybe we should make an appointment with your physician?” you teased back.

“No, that won’t be necessary. You’re right after all.”

“I am?”

“Of course,” said Padmè, a wicked grin on her face. “I was mistaken; you don’t hate the Jedi. You’re the one I walked in on telling stories of handsome Jedi saviors.”

You groaned and slid back in your seat. You were never going to live that down. “How many times do I have to tell you? I was elaborating to make it a better story for Gwin! She loves that kind of stuff.” Of all the times for Padmè to have walked into your private quarters unannounced, it had to be when you were recanting the story of your Jedi adventures to Gwin on your holopad…

“Uh huh, sure,” grinned Padmè.

“Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway,” you huffed, glaring down at your shoes. There was no point in arguing with Padmè. It wouldn’t change what she already believed to be true. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Jedi. The odds of the same one being assigned as your protector now is slim to none.”

Had you been looking at your friend’s face instead of your shoes, you would have noticed the corners of her mouth turn up in a coy smile. “That is true.” She paused for a moment, “Weren’t you supposed to see Gwin tonight?”

“I was, but considering everything that happened today—“

“Nonsense. I want you to go see her. It’ll do you well, Dormè has the night shift anyways. Right?” said Padmè.

“Yes, milady.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“But—“

“No buts. You’re going.” You looked over at her, Padmè’s face set in stone. Arguing this point would be futile; besides there wasn’t time to argue. Captain Typho had just arrived and there was business to see to.

As usual, the business was none of yours, so you simply stared out at the skyline of Coruscant as you half listened to Padmè and the captain’s hushed conversation a few feet away. The Jedi hadn’t arrived yet, but you were already implementing your blank thoughts policy. You would not embarrass yourself in front of another Jedi, you just wouldn’t. You’d be polite and not ask any dumb questions and — something felt different.

You froze at the sensation; it was unlike anything you had ever felt before. It was coming from behind you. It was almost like a tingle but within the confines of your mind. It was faint but the sensation was warm and familiar, despite the fact you were 100% sure you had never felt anything like this ever in your life. How could it possibly feel familiar?

You glanced over your shoulder and peered back into the apartment; it was empty. Odd. The sensation sure made it feel like someone, or something, was nearby. You turned your gaze back towards the skyline, watching the countless number of speeders cruise by. Still that feeling persisted, growing ever more noticeable as the seconds dragged by. It didn’t grow warmer or more familiar, rather it felt more tangible. It was almost as if, if you really thought about it, you could reach out and grab it. And it sure felt like whatever this feeling was connected to was growing closer. Should you be worried?

You closed your eyes and searched your mind. You were absolutely certain you had never felt this feeling before so there wasn’t much to refer back to. It didn’t feel anything like when something bad was about to happen; the churning of your gut and the chill down your spine were missing. That ruled out this entity being something bad. Thank the Maker for that, you had dealt with enough horrors for one day. But the question remained, what was causing this strange sensation?

That’s when you heard the sound of the elevator ding, someone had just arrived on your floor. It must be the Jedi. You straightened your back and turned to greet the new arrival.

Standing there in the entryway were two men clad in Jedi robes. Two Jedi to protect one senator… maybe Padmè was right, this did seem a bit like overkill. Then again one appeared to be young, likely still learning based on the braid in his hair. It was the same sort of braid that Master Kenobi wore last time you saw him. Well, that explained why there were two of them, this was nothing more than a training mission.

You turned your gaze to the other Jedi and your breath caught in your throat. Staring back at you were the same striking blue eyes from all those years ago. It was Master Kenobi. You bit back a groan. Of all the Jedi in the galaxy that could have been sent as Padmè’s protector, they sent the only one that you thoroughly embarrassed yourself in front of?!

“Milady, I believe our guests have arrived,” you said. You heard her gown rustle as she turned to see who had been sent to her aid. Without hesitation Padmè marched towards the Jedi, you followed dutifully behind her, trying to use her as a blockade between you and Master Kenobi. Maybe if he didn’t get a good look at your face, he wouldn’t recognize you? You noticed that the strange sensation grew stronger as you drew closer to the Jedi, it must be radiating from them. It was the only logical explanation.

Master Kenobi bowed deeply, “It’s a great pleasure to see you again, milady.”

“It’s been far too long, Master Kenobi,” answered Padmè. She shook his hand and from your vantage point she was beaming, seemingly not surprised in the slightest at this miraculous coincidence. That’s when it hit you. She knew exactly which Jedi was being sent to guard her and she didn’t tell you! That little—

“Miss Felvora, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Master Kenobi’s voice brought you back to the present. His hand was outstretched, clearly he was expecting a handshake. You forced a polite smile and shook his hand.

“Master Kenobi.” You noted that this time there was no electric-like energy passing between the two of you. For that you were grateful. “The pleasure is all mine.”

You stepped back and let the conversation flow. You were a handmaiden, not a Jedi or senator, so there was nothing for you to add to this particular conversation. You simply sat and listened, taking mental notes on the two Jedi now sitting in front of you.

The younger man turned out to be Anakin, the little boy from Tatooine all those years ago. You could practically feel Padmè’s joy radiating off her when she learned that fact; she was rather fond of the boy back then. He certainly wasn’t a boy any longer, he was a young man now — a Jedi in training no less — just like Master Kenobi had been last time you had seen him.

You shifted your gaze to rest on his figure. Master Kenobi certainly had matured over the last decade; you wouldn’t have recognized him if it weren’t for his eyes. His hair was long now, his face covered with a well-kept beard... it was a good look on him. As soon as the thought had crossed your mind, he glanced over at you, his eyes meeting yours.

It took everything in your power to not immediately avert your gaze. Even though you knew Gwin’s story was nothing but a lie, the damage had been done. You didn’t want Master Kenobi to think you still believed in such childish notions, so you held his gaze for a moment. There was a twinkle in his eye; if you didn’t know any better you could have sworn he was reading your mind. You kept your expression blank and casually shifted your gaze towards Anakin.

He was arguing with Master Kenobi over the role they were to play in terms of Padmè’s safety. Anakin wanted to investigate while Master Kenobi insisted that they do exactly as the Jedi Council told them, watch Padmè. Nothing else. You shifted in your seat, not quite sure how to react to the two Jedi bickering in front of you. That was until—

“You will pay attention to my lead,” said Master Kenobi.

“Why?” demanded Anakin.

Your eyes widened in surprise at this clear demonstration of disobedience. You didn’t think Jedi had to deal with issues such as this one, they always seemed so composed.

Master Kenobi whipped his head around to look at his student, clearly he was just as taken aback by Anakin questioning his instructions. “What?”

“Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It’s overkill, master,” said Anakin. You watched as Master Kenobi clenched his jaw, clearly restraining his anger. He cast his gaze back to you for a moment, giving you a look that said, 'Can you believe this kid?'

You offered him a sympathetic smile, you had been in his exact same position more than once. Sometimes it was younger handmaidens, other times different palace servants, but they had acted above their station, and it was your job to set things right. You didn’t envy Master Kenobi’s position at this moment.

“Investigation is implied in our mandate,” finished Anakin. You watched with bated breath as Master Kenobi turned back to his padawan, a terse look on his face.

“We will do exactly as the council has instructed, and you will learn your place young one.” Simple, firm, to the point. Master Kenobi handled this teenage rebellion with ease. You were impressed.

Padmè took this as an opportunity to make her exit. “Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now if you would excuse me, I’ll retire.” Padmè stood and you copied her movement, following her towards her sleeping quarters.

Just before you stepped out of the room you paused. You weren’t exactly sure why but something deep inside your mind told you to look back at the Jedi. So you did. You glanced back and were surprised to see Master Kenobi was already staring at you. For half a second your eyes met, and it was exactly as it had been the first time you met his gaze all those years ago. It was like he could see right through you. Like he could read your mind.

You quickly averted your gaze, hurrying after Padmè. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts.

Chapter 3: Cutting Loose

You had been correct in your deduction that the Jedi were the source of the strange sensation because while it faded some, it didn’t dissipate over the next few hours. Was this the Force at work?

You hadn’t given the Force much thought in the decade that had passed since you learned of its existence — scratch that, you hadn’t thought of it at all. Anytime you started down that line of thought, you immediately pushed it down deep into the recesses of your mind. It wasn’t something you wanted to dwell on, and it was easy enough to ignore… usually. Today was an outlier.

At least it wasn’t hard to ignore the sensation, it quickly faded into the background, so much so, that you hardly noticed it by the time your shift was over. What you did notice was the time. It was a quarter to 10 and you were supposed to be at Gwin’s in fifteen minutes. You tossed your black robe over your work clothes and raced towards the exit.

You made it to the elevator and tapped the down button several times, as if hitting it more would make it come faster. This wasn’t like you, you were always on time — scratch that — usually you were early. You had gotten distracted while helping Dormè prepare Padmè’s outfit for tomorrow; for some reason Padmè was being unusually picky. It wasn’t like her and that only added to your agitation at the situation; after everything that happened today, you really didn’t want to deal with any more surprises.

You tapped the down button a few more times. Was the elevator always this slow?

“Going somewhere?” You knew that voice.

“Master Kenobi,” you bowed your head politely. You weren’t expecting to run into him on your short trip from Padme’s quarters to the elevator but here you were… and so was that strange warmth that tickled your mind. It had to be connected to him somehow. But right now wasn’t the time to be asking him questions about the Force, you were running late already.

“Uh, yes.” Best to ignore the sensation for now. “I’m off to visit a friend. Actually, she’s the one who told me all those silly stories about the Jedi,” you explained trying to keep the conversation light.

Master Kenobi grinned, tucking his hands neatly behind his back. “Ah, yes, let’s see if I remember correctly: Jedi don’t feel emotion and can read your mind with merely a look. Isn’t that right?”

“According to her,” you replied with a smile. “Sorry for believing all that back then. I should’ve known better.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. No harm was done,” said Master Kenobi. “It’s good to see you’re still with Senator Amidala. Having people I trust on this mission puts my mind at ease.” He trusted you? Was that a compliment? It sure sounded like a compliment.

“I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled when Padmè — I mean Senator Amidala — told me that she was being assigned a Jedi protector. But I’m glad they sent you and Anakin, since we already know each other of course.” You added that last bit quickly as your original statement sounded a bit too familiar for a simple handmaiden to be saying to a Jedi. It’s not like you could call yourselves friends, this was only the third conversation you had with him. Were Jedi even allowed to have friends or were those considered attachments?

“I’m sure the two of you will do a much better job protecting her than we ever could,” you added.

“Now I wouldn’t say that,” he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I seem to remember you were quite dangerous with a blaster back on Naboo.”

Okay that was for sure a compliment. You could feel the heat rush to your cheeks; a Jedi was complimenting your fighting. That was certainly something you never thought would happen in a million years.

Just as you opened your mouth to respond, the chime of the elevator cut you off. Master Kenobi motioned towards the parting doors, “Looks like your ride’s here.”

“Right,” you stepped into the elevator and turned around to face him. You pressed the button for the ground level and hesitated. You couldn’t just leave without saying something that could constitute as a farewell. “I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it,” Master Kenobi replied. The elevator doors shut, separating the two of you. He looked forward to seeing you?! Was that another compliment? No. Calm down. Think.

He himself had told you that Jedi were not allowed to marry, therefore romantic attachments were strictly forbidden. He was just being polite, friendly even. Maybe Jedi were allowed to make friends after all? Maybe if you had a few more conversations like this, then you could call him a friend?

***

When you hopped out of your taxi you were only five minutes late. You raced up the stone steps of Gwin’s apartment building and buzzed her call button several times.

“Is that you, girly?” Gwin’s voice crackled over the ancient speaker system. Maker knows the last time the thing was serviced, it had never worked correctly in the five years that she had lived here. 

“Yes, it’s me. Let me in,” you hissed. You glanced over your shoulder, Gwin didn’t live in the best part of town, and you really didn’t want to push your luck. You already had dealt with more than enough drama for one day.

“I don’t believe you. (Y/N) is never late,” Gwin teased.

“Gwin, I swear to the Maker if you don’t let me in—”

“Alright, alright, calm down.” The door buzzed and made a horrible ominous clunking noise, indicating it had been unlocked. You let out a huff and hurried inside, making sure the door shut securely behind you — the last thing you wanted was some sleazy guy following you into the elevator. That thing was scary enough as is. It was cramped, shabby, and on the verge of falling apart just like the rest of the building.

You clung to the wall, your knuckles white with fear, as the decrepit machine rattled slowly up to the 81^st floor. You usually weren’t one for praying, but anytime you climbed on this Makerforsaken elevator, you sent up a little prayer to please not die.

After what seemed like an eternity, the machine finally came to stop, and the door slowly opened. You couldn’t hop off the damn thing fast enough. You practically ran down the hall to Gwin’s door and when you raised your hand to knock, the door swung open before you could make contact.  

“There you are! I was wondering if you were ever going to show.” Gwin stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a bright gold sequined jumpsuit that perfectly contrasted with her dark skin. “Come in, come in!” She ushered you inside with a wave of her hand. You gratefully stepped inside and shed your cloak, tossing it onto her overflowing coat rack.

“Did you really wear your work clothes?” she asked, eyeing your long dark dress skeptically. “Are you even allowed to go out drinking in that?” Shit, you knew there was something you had forgotten!

“Sorry, I forgot you wanted to go out,” you apologized. “It’s just been a really rough day.”

“Babe, you’re fine. You can just borrow something from my closet and tell me all about it over drinks.” Gwin grabbed your arm and dragged you through her apartment. The place was small and cramped to begin with, but Gwin was a maximalist. Nearly every square inch of her apartment was either covered by furniture, potted plants, or takeout containers. In short, it was a mess.

Just like her living room, Gwin’s bedroom was trashed. Clothes were strewn everywhere, obviously she had trouble deciding on what to wear earlier. “I have the perfect outfit for you, just sit tight while I find it,” said Gwin. She grabbed an armful of clothes off her bed and tossed them onto her desk.

You sat down in the newly cleared spot and watched as your best friend tore through her closet. Clothing was flying as Gwin chucked certain items into different piles, what each meant was a complete mystery.  

“So how was your day?” you asked as you watched a red dress fly across the room.

“Pretty good, Arippo said I could take a couple more shifts starting next week so that’s good. I’m hoping to save enough to move into a different building in a few months. I’d love to be closer to you — your building is just absolutely gorgeous, and this place is just so… ugh.”

You laughed, “You know I’m only there because I work for a senator, right? There’s no way I could afford that kind of place on my own.”

“And you know that if you quit your cushy government job, then maybe we could live together in a completely average apartment,” said Gwin. She stood up, holding up two pairs of shoes: tall black leather boots in one hand and red heels in the other. “Which ones do you like better?”

“The boots.”

“Good choice.” Gwin tossed the shoes onto the bed next to you, guess that was the pile designated for you. “When are you going to quit? Being a handmaiden is so much work; I swear you never get any time off. I mean, this is the first time we’re able to hang out in literal months!”

“I don’t know,” you admitted. “It’s a hard job but I like Padmè, and I want to help Naboo. There aren’t many other jobs where I get to do that.”

“It’s just that you’ve done essentially the same job since we were teenagers. Don’t you want to try something new?” asked Gwin.

“And give up living in a penthouse?” you teased.

“You have a point there. You’re definitely living the good life— found it!” Your friend emerged from her closet with an armful of clothing, “You are going to look amazing in this. Just trust me!”

You tried on the clothing, thankfully you and Gwin had always been about the same size, so everything fit like a glove. The outfit she had chosen worked perfectly with the knee-high black leather boots that you had picked out just a few minutes ago — even if it was a bit more scandalous than the clothes you were used to wearing while in service to Padmè. You were dressed in a cropped black tube top with a long sleeved dark sheer overlay — the shirt revealed your midriff but at least there was some sort of barrier between you and the outside world, even if it was translucent. To complete the look Gwin had picked out a sparkly silver miniskirt. It was a stark contrast to the clothing you usually wore; you rarely showed this much skin.

“Are you sure this looks alright?” you asked as you turned in front of the mirror. “It feels like a bit much.”

"Oh, it’s perfect! Your legs look fantastic and your ass— girl, I’ll have to fight guys off with sticks!” Gwin exclaimed with a bright smile. “Besides, I heard all about this nightclub from Serani and it sounds like so much fun! We’ll blend right in, trust me! I heard that everyone dresses like this there.” Gwin always knew where all the good parties were, if she said a bar or nightclub was the place to be then it was.

“Well, if you really think it’s alright—”

“It’s more than alright. You look hot, babe. You’ll be able to get any guy you want tonight,” Gwin squeezed your shoulder supportively.

“I could care less about attracting guys. I just need a drink.”

“Well lucky for you I have a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge, just waiting for us.”

“Perfect.”

***

Hours had passed, how many you weren’t sure, but you knew it was late. You and Gwin had downed her entire bottle of wine and then started bar hopping. How many bars had you visited? At least three… you think. Things were starting to blur together, mostly because Gwin had made sure to keep a drink in your hand the entire night.

The two of you were currently perched on a pair of barstools in the nightclub Serani had recommended. Sure enough, your bold outfits blended right into the crowd; everyone’s outfits were bright and flashy just like the cocktails — which were absolutely delicious. You sipped on your bright blue drink as you continued to tell your best friend about how terrible your day had been.  

You had already told her all about the plot against Padmè and Cordè’s sudden death, but now the conversation had shifted to your newest companions. The Jedi.

“Even Padmè doesn’t want them around. She thinks it’s total overkill!” you exclaimed.

“I mean aren’t they like super good fighters or something?” asked Gwin, her words slightly slurred. “They have those sword things—"

“Lightsabers,” you corrected.

“Whatever. Don’t they like cut through everything? Shouldn’t that make your job super easy? What’s the issue?” Gwin peered over the rim of her glass; her bright pink drink was nearly empty.

“The issue is the guy they sent.”

“Why is he weird or something? I heard from this guy I know at work that there’s this one Jedi that’s like a little smelly green thing. Did they send him?”

“No, they didn’t send him,” you snorted.

"Then who?”

"You don’t want to know,” you muttered taking a long swig from your glass.

“If he’s got you this upset, I do. Spill it, what’s his deal?” asked Gwin.

You lowered your glass and sighed, “Okay so you remember the last time I dealt with the Jedi?”

"Yeah?”

“They sent the same guy.”

“They didn’t,” Gwin gasped.

“They did,” you groaned.

“The handsome one?”

“The one I embarrassed myself in front of because information you gave me,” you clarified. “It was so embarrassing!”

“It can’t be that bad,” smirked Gwin. “I’m sure you’re overreacting.”

“We were literally leaving the funeral for his master, and I said, ‘well at least you Jedi don’t feel emotions so it could be worse.’ I said that. To his face.”

Gwin’s smirk disappeared, “Okay, yeah that’s bad.”

“Uh huh,” you grumbled.

“Maybe he forgot?” Gwin suggested.

“He greeted me by name,” you answered in a deadpan voice. “He knew exactly who I was.”

“Well, kriff. That does suck.”

“It sucks because of information you gave me!” you exclaimed. “Where did you even learn all that stuff?!”

“I told you my brother told me! I thought he was telling me the truth!” Gwin snapped back. “How was I supposed to know he was making shit up?”

The two of you stared at one another for a moment and then started laughing. This whole situation was utterly ridiculous and both of you knew it. How could you possibly be mad at her for something that happened when the two of you were kids? It’s not like either of you knew any better.

“I’m sorry I told you all that stuff,” Gwin laughed.

“And I’m sorry for snapping at you. In my defense I’ve had a really, really, rough day.”

“We need to remedy that, like now,” said Gwin. “Let’s find you someone hot to take your mind off of today.”

“Ugh, Gwin, no. I’m so not in the mood,” you groaned.

“You say that now, but once I find the right guy you’ll change your mind,” said Gwin.

You rolled your eyes at her antics. She wasn’t going to let this go until you either went home with someone or she got so drunk that she forgot this self-imposed mission. You hoped it would be the latter; you really weren’t feeling the love tonight. Another drink on the other hand, that was something you could get behind.

“Ooh, check out the major hottie at ten o’clock,” Gwin hummed. You looked over at where Gwin was pointing and choked on your drink. Standing there at the bar was Master Kenobi. What kriff was he doing here?

“Whoa, easy there, tiger! He’s good looking but not hot enough to die over,” Gwin said, smacking your back to help you clear your lungs. You coughed several times, the alcohol burning your windpipe.

“I’m fine, just swallowed wrong,” you lied. How long had he been standing there? Why had you not seen him? More importantly, why had you not felt that weird sensation from earlier?

You closed your eyes for a moment, to Gwin it looked like you were catching your breath, but in reality you were reaching out with your mind to feel for that odd sensation. Maybe it was because of the busy atmosphere, or maybe it was because of the copious amount of alcohol flowing through your body, but the sensation was much harder to feel here. It was faint, so faint that you would not have noticed it without seeing Master Kenobi with your eyes first.

When you opened your eyes again Gwin was staring at you expectantly, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you nodded. “Like I said I just swallowed wrong.” You just had to act natural, like you didn’t know the guy that Gwin was trying to hook you up with was the Jedi you were literally just talking about.

“Okay, great!” Gwin chugged the last bit of her drink and then hopped off her stool. ”Let’s go over and say hi!”

“What? No, I’m good,” you insisted. “I have more stories to tell you—”

“I can hear your stories over comlink or holopad any day. That—” she pointed across the bar at Master Kenobi, “isn’t something you see every day. Come on it’ll be fun!” She tugged at your arm, trying to pull you off your barstool.

“I would really rather just have another drink,” you said, clinging to the bar in an attempt to stay seated.

“Okay, great! Make him buy you one.” Gwin tugged on your arm again, “You don’t have to go home with him if you don’t want to! It’s not like I’m saying you have to marry the guy or anything, it’s just a drink.”

“Gwin, please—”

“Free drink, (Y/N),” answered Gwin with a grin. Her dark brown eyes met your own and the bright smile that was on her face dropped. “Oh, my stars.”

"What?” you asked innocently.

“You know him.”

“I do not.”

“Do too.”

“Liar.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

"I have no clue who that guy is!” you insisted.

“Girl, I’ve known you since we were five. I know when you’re lying to me. Come on!” Gwin yanked your arm hard enough to pry you away from the bar. She really was stronger than she looked. “You can introduce us!”

“Gwin—”

“It’ll be fine! I’m sure you can get a free drink out of him if you try hard enough,” Gwin said, dragging you around the bar. You dug your heels into the floor and tried to fight against her grip. It was a losing battle.

The seconds passed by as if they were hours. You and Gwin were drawing closer and closer to Master Kenobi and your heart was racing. You had wanted to go out drinking to forget all about him, not try and bum a free drink off him! Before you knew it, you were standing right behind him. Gwin was literally bouncing with excitement. You glared at her, if looks could kill she’d be dead. This was so not what you had in mind for this evening.  

Gwin tilted her head towards Master Kenobi, and you shook your head no. She could drag you over here, but she couldn’t make you start a conversation with him. He hadn’t noticed you yet, there was still a chance you could get away before he saw you. But then Gwin nudged you — scratch that, she pushed you — into him.

You bumped rather forcefully into his left shoulder. He whipped his head to the side, his hand flying to his waist. There was a dark look on his face, but it quickly morphed into a look of surprise.

“Miss Felvora?” he asked. He obviously wasn’t planning on running into you here.

“Master Kenobi,” you replied, letting your surprise show. “I— I wasn’t expecting to run into you here.” It was the truth. He was literally the last person you thought you would run into tonight and yet here he was.

He glanced down at your clothes, and you mentally cursed Gwin for convincing you to wear such a revealing outfit. How were you supposed to look him in the eye tomorrow morning? This was beyond embarrassing! Wait… Gwin was still here. She could be your scapegoat; this whole thing was her idea after all!

“Sorry for running into you like that, my friend’s had way too many drinks tonight and can barely walk straight.” Heh, take that Gwin.

“Hey, I’m totally fine!” Gwin exclaimed. Master Kenobi flicked his eyes over your shoulder at Gwin and then focused on you again.  

“I take it this is your friend you were off to go see?” he said evenly.

"Uh, yeah,” you sidestepped closer to the bar so that Gwin could take a step forward and join the conversation. You gave your friend a sharp look, “Gwin, this is Master Kenobi.” Her eyes widened in understanding. “Master Kenobi this is Gwin. She’s the one who told me all those stories about the Jedi.”

“Oh, so you’re a Jedi! That’s so cool,” Gwin said. “Yeah, my brother told me all sorts of crazy stuff when we were little. Kids am I right?” She laughed and thankfully Master Kenobi chuckled. You nervously laughed along with them, trying to hide your anxiousness.

“Yes, I am well aware of the wild stories that children come up with,” he said.

Gwin met your eye, and you saw a glint of mischievousness flicker across her face, “Haha, well I gotta go pee. Be right back!” Before you could protest, she darted away from the two of you, disappearing into the crowd. Did she seriously just leave you alone at the bar with Master Kenobi?! Oh, she was absolutely diabolical.

There was a moment of silence. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked politely.

“Sure,” you answered, sidling up next to him at the bar. It was incredibly crowded here, so you were forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. You were acutely aware of the fact that this was the closest you had ever been to him. For some reason that realization made you even more anxious. Maker, tomorrow morning was going to be so uncomfortable…

Master Kenobi waved down the bartender and you ordered another bright blue drink. While the two of you waited for the beverage, you fiddled with the hem of your sleeve… this was awkward. “I didn’t know Jedi went clubbing,” you said, breaking the silence.

“They don’t,” he answered, turning his head towards you so that you could hear him over the loud music.

“Then why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be watching Padmè?” you asked.

“I don’t mean to alarm you, but this evening there was another attempt on the Senator’s life,” said Master Kenobi. “Anakin and I followed the assailant into this establishment.”

“What?! Is she okay?” you exclaimed. Two attacks in one day? Whoever wanted Padmè dead wasn’t playing around. The situation was more dire than you originally thought!

“She’s fine,” he reassured you. “I promise.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” you slumped against the bar. This was just too much for one day. “Maker, just when I thought today couldn’t get any worse. Wait— you said the assailant is here?” There was a cold-blooded killer somewhere nearby? What about Gwin? Was she safe?!

Your thoughts started to race, along with your pulse. This could all go to shit in seconds, you needed to get out of here now. You needed to find Gwin and— your thoughts froze when you felt someone squeeze your hand. You glanced down and saw that Master Kenobi had placed his hand over your own.

“I promise you that you and your friend are completely safe,” he said in a firm voice. “I won’t let any harm befall either of you.” You met his eye, and a wave of calm washed over you.

“I believe you, Master Kenobi,” you answered, somewhat awestruck. He nodded his head and removed his hand from your own. He hesitated for a moment,

“May I make a request?” he asked.

“Sure, what is it?”

“When it’s just the two of us like this, could you call me Obi-Wan instead of Master Kenobi? It feels much too formal for such occasions wouldn’t you say?” Was he serious? Were you about to be on a first name basis with a Jedi?

“Oh, sure!” It was only polite to extend the same courtesy to him, “You can call me (Y/N) then, all those formal titles make me feel like I’m still at work.”

Obi-Wan grinned but suddenly a dark look crossed his face. “Duck!”

You did as he said without hesitating, ducking down under the bar. You heard the hum of his lightsaber and then a scream. You looked over your shoulder and saw a woman lying on the ground, alongside her was a severed hand. Her severed hand.

There was no blood. The lightsaber had instantly cauterized the wound. The hand sat there on the ground as if it were a part of an extremely realistic statue, instead of a recently severed limb. Your eyes widened in horror; you had never seen a dismembered limb before…

“It’s alright, she’s not going to hurt you,” said Obi-Wan in a steady voice.

You hesitantly stood, leaning on the bar for support, and watched as he marched towards the woman. He forcefully grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet.

From seemingly nowhere, Anakin appeared, “Easy. Jedi business. Go back to your drinks.” The crowd that had gone silent only moments ago slowly turned away from the scene and returned to their previous conversations. You on the other hand watched the two Jedi with wide eyes. Just when you thought tonight couldn’t get any worse…

Obi-Wan met your gaze, his face firm. “Everything’s under control. We’ll see you back at the Senator’s apartment.”

“Yeah, sure,” you muttered, nodding your head.

You watched Obi-Wan and Anakin carry the mystery woman out the backdoor of the club. Once they were out of sight you turned back to the bar, sometime during all the chaos, the bartender must have dropped off your drink. You grabbed the glass and chugged its contents, the alcohol burning your throat.

“Um, what the kriff did I miss?” Gwin asked, sliding into Obi-Wan’s vacant spot. “Is that a hand on the ground?!”

“Trust me you really don’t want to know,” you groaned.

Chapter 4: Captivity

Notes:

Hi everyone, I just thought I would offer a quick warning before you start reading. This chapter has graphic descriptions of violence and at least three violations of the Geneva Conventions. Because of this I’m upping the rating to Mature. Please enjoy!

After the second attack on Padmè’s life it was decided that she should be sent back to Naboo in absolute secrecy. No one was to accompany your friend on this journey, save for Anakin. It broke your heart to watch her go where you could not follow, but you knew she would be safe with the Jedi. As for Obi-Wan, he left in pursuit of whoever was behind these assassination attempts at the same time Padmè departed.

That was four days ago. In the days that had passed you and Dormè, along with Captain Typho, tried to make it look like the Senator was still on Coruscant. That was easier said than done, it was hard to appear busy when there truly wasn’t much to do.

Dormè had stepped out a few minutes ago to run some errands, so you were alone in the spacious apartment. You roamed around the empty space, tidying objects as you passed by. Not like there was a lot to tidy; you and Dormè were meticulous about keeping the place clean. That’s when you noticed a book on the coffee table, had Dormè forgotten to put it away?

You grabbed the book — an atlas of some remote planet you had never heard of — and moved to return it to the bookshelf in the far corner of the room. Why was Dormè looking into jungle planets? Did she think the attacker hailed from this planetary system or something? Maybe she was thinking of quitting and going to live on this strange planet? You sure hoped that wasn’t the case, you had already lost enough friends this week.

You stared at the bookshelf for a moment, searching for the place this book belonged. There, on the tallest shelf, was an opening. You reached up on your tiptoes and tried to slot the book into place — then the whole world went black.

***

The first thing you were aware of was the pounding in the back of your head, the pain pulsed through your skull, reverberating into the deepest crevices of your mind. The second thing you noticed was that when you tried opening your eyes, the world remained dark. You tried lifting your hand to rub your eyes but found your hands were bound behind your back. What the kriff?

You strained to process the world around you, the ache in your head made it hard to concentrate on much else. The dull rumble of an engine, coupled with the fact that you were sitting on a cold metal floor, led you to believe that you were on a spaceship of some kind. Where in the galaxy were you headed? How long had you been unconscious? Were you in hyperspace? A million questions flooded your mind, and you had no way to answer them.

You wiggled against your restraints; you were blindfolded, gagged, your legs were bound together at the ankles, and your arms were tied behind you, wrapped around a cold metal beam. Whoever had abducted you clearly knew what they were doing, there was no give to the binds at all. You tilted your head so that your cheek was pressed to your shoulder and tried to rub the blindfold off your face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a feminine voice purred. “I worked so hard to wrap you up all nice and neat for my master.” You froze, scarcely daring to breathe. Who was this woman? More importantly, what did she want with you?

“I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here,” the woman continued. You could hear her heels clicking on the metal floor, circling you slowly. “You see, I was sent to kill Senator Amidala. Imagine my surprise when I discovered her quarters empty, save for two little servant girls.”

You struggled against your restraints at this revelation. She was one of the assassins! Your heartbeat pounded in your ears, nearly drowning out the woman’s voice. “It was almost too easy, capturing you like this. You really should be more observant of your surroundings, little one.” You struggled harder, trying your best to break free.

“Now, now, stay still. You wouldn’t want me to do something rash do you?” You stilled at her words. There was something in her voice that made it sound like she enjoyed watching you struggle like this, like she wanted a reason to hurt you.

“Good girl, we’re nearly there. I’ll retrieve you when it’s time to disembark,” said the woman. The metallic click of her heels faded, echoing ever so slightly around the room. You trembled where you sat, fear encompassing you like a cloud. You had been scared many times before but never to this extent; even the battle on Naboo didn’t come close to the fear you felt right now.

What were you going to do? It’s not like you had a blaster that would allow you to fight your way out of here. Without a weapon you were basically useless, it’s not like you were a Jedi and could fight your way out of here with just your bare hands— the Jedi! They were your one hope of escaping this situation alive. Obi-Wan was supposed to be investigating the assassination attempts, there was a chance he might find you!

You reached out with your mind, it was a slim chance but you were in no position to turn down any options, and screamed into the void for help.

"Help! Help! Help!" Over and over again you pushed the distress call out into what you presumed was the Force. Even if Obi-Wan didn’t heed your call, maybe someone else would? It was worth a shot at least.

Less than a half hour later the woman returned, her heels clicking ominously. You gulped as she neared, bracing yourself. “We’re here,” she said. “Now, if I cut you loose do you promise to be a good girl and not try to escape?”

There was an edge to her voice, like she was daring you to try something. An escape attempt was a bad idea; you had no clue where you were or who you were up against. So, you nodded your head yes. You would comply with her demands… for now.

“Right answer,” she purred. You felt her hands on your ankles and then suddenly the ropes that bound you were gone. You shifted your legs into a more comfortable position, wiggling your toes to try and get some feeling back into them. As you did this, the mystery woman untied your arms from the metal pole.

She tugged you to your feet, “Come with me.” You stumbled alongside her, your legs completely asleep from being stuck in such an odd position for so long. You had no clue where the two of you were headed and you couldn’t even try asking; the gag and blindfold were still secured tightly around your head.

The metal floor slanted underneath your feet and a wave of dry heat hit you. You could feel the sweat beginning to form on your brow, your long black gown trapping the heat against your skin. Wherever you were it was much hotter than Coruscant or even Naboo. Naboo… would you ever see it again? Your friends? Your family?

“Come on, move it!” the woman tugged at your arm. You staggered forward a few steps, struggling to stay on your feet. Her grip was like iron; her nails dug painfully into your forearm. It took everything in your power not to try and escape. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. You had to stay on your toes, when the opportunity was right, you’d make a run for it. Now wasn’t the time. Right now you needed to figure out what the situation was, and just how badly the odds were stacked against you.

The path was full of twists and turns, and it wasn’t long before you lost track of which direction you were headed. It would be impossible to retrace your steps. The woman pulled you to a stop and you heard a heavy door slide open. After a few seconds the woman dragged you inside; the air was rank and just as hot as the outside had been. That’s when you felt cold metal encase your wrists, binding them together in front of you.

"There we go. Nice and comfy I hope?” the woman hummed. You tried to snap an answer back, but the gag muffled any and all sound coming out of your mouth. “I’m sure you’re just dying to see your new home. Aren’t you?”

Suddenly her hands were behind your head, and the world was bright once more. You squinted your eyes against the sudden light, blinking quickly to try and adjust your vision. You turned your head to face your kidnapper; she was a tall, lean woman with sharp features. Her bald head was covered with purple tattoos and her eyes were cold and calculating. Looking into them you only felt one emotion, fear.  

“I’m sure you have many questions, little one,” she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes, “but my job here is done.” Without another word she turned on her heel and left the room, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind her. You were alone.

You hurriedly looked around the room, trying to map your new surroundings. You were trapped in a circular room with metal grating for flooring and uneven red rock walls. In the center of the room there was an odd machine with an identical apparatus mounted on the ceiling. There were no windows in here, which explained why the air was so rank.

You examined your restraints, they were metal handcuffs and to your horror they were connected to a long chain that was attached to a metal ring on the wall. That’s when you noticed similar rings all around the room. You counted fifteen including your own and that’s when it dawned on you — this was a prison.  

You tugged at the chain, testing its strength. Yeah, that wasn’t budging. You reached up and pulled the gag from your mouth, letting it rest around your neck. You licked your lips; the air was so dry here. What you would do for some water… No, you had to stay focused. Look for an exit. You glanced around; with no windows it was apparent that the only way in or out of this room was that heavy metal door from which you entered. And from where you were standing, it sure didn’t look like there was any way to open it from this side. Well, kriff, this wasn’t looking good.

You stepped closer to the center of the room, curious as to what the strange machine was. It was powered down and dim but was obviously some sort of mechanical device. What was it used for? Was it a camera to watch the prisoners? No, that wasn’t right. You didn’t see anything that would lend credence to that theory. It was primarily made up of two domed structures — one on the floor and one on the ceiling. Whatever this machine did it certainly wasn’t good, why else would be in a prison cell? Before you could start imagining millions of different ways this device could hurt you, the door opened.

You turned to face the visitor, holding your hands out in front of you, ready to attack should you need to defend yourself. You expected the woman from earlier to return, but instead in walked a green reptilian-like alien; a Rodian if your memory was correct. His head was large; his eyes, dark and even larger, stared at you as if you were nothing more than a piece of meat. It unnerved you, and so did the fact that he wasn’t saying anything.

“What do you want with me?” you asked in a firm voice. He blinked, still saying nothing. “I said what do you want with me? Why am I here?” you asked again, louder this time.

“My Master has questions for you,” he said in a coarse voice. You were fairly certain Galactic Basic wasn’t his first language based on how he enunciated his words.

“Why isn’t he here asking them then?” you asked.

“My Master is a very busy man. He has more important things to do than interrogate prisoners on a remote planet. That—” he took a step closer, “falls to me.”

“I’m not telling you anything,” you stated.

“I thought you might say that. Not a problem, I have ways of making you talk,” he said with a grin.

You tensed, waiting for him to charge at you or something of that nature, but to your surprise he turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Where was he going? Was he going to get reinforcements?

You stood there waiting for him to come back. The seconds turned to minutes and then minutes into hours. After a while you finally gave up and sat down with your back against the rock wall. He must be trying to wait you out. You sighed and struggled to roll the sleeves of your black dress up, desperate for some sort of relief from the heat. At least your hair was still tucked neatly into your usual elaborate updo, it kept you hair off your neck, which helped cool you somewhat.

You licked your lips; the dry air was starting to take its toll on your body. You glanced around the room; there was no sign of water anywhere. No cup or pitcher in sight, not even a leaky pipe for you to try and quench your thirst. You gulped; without water you wouldn’t last long.

You must have fallen asleep while waiting for the man’s return because the next thing you knew the door opened once more. In walked the same Rodian from before. “Good morning, sleep well I hope?” You blinked up at him, trying to ignore the dryness in your mouth. It felt like you had eaten a mouthful of sand. You said nothing and made sure to keep your face blank. He would get no information from you.

“Ah, I see. You think by ignoring me I will go away. I’m sorry but that is not the case today,” said the alien. You watched as he pulled a flask from his hip, unscrewed the cap, and took a long swig of whatever liquid he had. You gulped, Maker how you wished for even a single sip of water…

“Are you thirsty?” he asked, lowering his flask. “I am more than willing to share my drink with you if you would only tell me what I want to know.”

“I’m not telling you anything,” you snapped.

“You will.” He tucked the flask away and stepped closer to you. You held your position against the wall. You wouldn’t dare let him know that you were afraid, you would put on a brave face until the end… even if on the inside you were absolutely terrified.

“Tell me where Senator Amidala is,” he demanded.

You remained silent, glaring up at him. He tilted his head to the side, staring back at you. “I said, where is Senator Amidala?” You held his gaze and said nothing. You would never betray Padmè, even if it meant sacrificing your life.

“I encourage you to reconsider, girl. I have ways of making you talk that are… less than ideal,” growled the Rodian.

“Bite me,” you growled back.

“That was a mistake.” Before you could react, he lunged towards you. Kicking at you with ferocity. His boot collided with your ribcage, forcing the air from your lungs. You gasped in pain and struggled to turn away from him, trying to curl yourself into a ball, trying to protect your body from his kicks. His feet slammed into your back,

“Where is the senator?!” bellowed the man. You bit your lip trying to contain your cries as he continued to kick you. After a minute he must have tired himself out because the kicking ceased. You didn’t dare move; you hardly dared to breathe. You waited to see what he would do next. “I’ll be back. You better be willing to talk then.”

You remained curled in a ball until you heard man turn and leave, the metal door slamming shut behind him. Then, and only then, did you move. A cry escaped your lips, it felt like your entire back was one large bruise. Your ribcage ached from where he had landed his first kick, and you gently probed the site with your fingers. Pain bloomed from the spot, and you were certain that he had managed to break at least one of your ribs. You bit back a sob; you weren’t going to let him break you. You had to be strong. You had to find a way out of here.

But there was little you could do. You were chained to a wall with no food or water in the hottest room you had ever been in. You could feel your life force beginning to wane already. Though your pain was great, it was the thirst that was the worst. It was all you could think about. Never in all your years had you been this thirsty. It was agonizing.

It was difficult to tell time while trapped in this room with no windows to judge to movement of the sun (or suns, you still had no clue what planet you were on), so you only had your internal clock to rely on. Thankfully it was fairly reliable, but it was based on days on Coruscant, not here. Even so, you estimated half a day passed before the metal door opened again.

You cringed at the sound, so far the only people to come and visit you had nothing but ill intentions. Whoever this was couldn’t be good. But instead of the Rodian or mystery woman, a battle droid entered carrying a metal tray.

“Captain Chud says I am to give you your daily ration,” it said in its robotic voice.

You watched the droid walk to the center of the room. It stopped just on the edge of where you could reach in your chains, and placed a red stone pitcher on the ground and something that looked quite possibly like a bread roll. Without another word it turned and left the room.

Was this a trap? You hesitantly stood, body screaming in protest, and shuffled over to the offering. Bending down, you investigated your rations. The pitcher was full of some sort of liquid and the bread roll was exactly that. You ignored the roll for now; your hunger was minuscule compared to your thirst.

You grabbed the pitcher and gave it a sniff. It sure smelled like water and it even looked like water, but was it really? You hesitantly tipped the pitcher back, letting a small amount of the liquid fall into your mouth. As soon as it hit your tongue you instantly recognized the substance. It was water! You greedily chugged the liquid then forced yourself to stop. Who knew when you would get more? The droid had said this was your daily ration. This trifling amount of water might be all you get for a whole day! With that in mind you turned your focus to the bread roll. It was pale brown, nearly white, almost as if the roll hadn’t been cooked long enough. Though that idea was instantly forgotten as soon as you touched it. The thing was as hard as a rock! How were you supposed to eat this?

You took the two items and marched back to your spot against the wall. You sat down, crossing your legs together and started to work at the roll. You tried ripping a piece off, but you might as well have been trying to rip a rock in half. There was no tearing this supposed food. You needed to try something stronger. So with no other options, you opened your mouth and wedged the roll in between your teeth. It took some serious effort, but you managed to bite a small chunk off. It took ages to chew, finally downing it with a strained swallow. You crinkled your nose at the taste, it was sour like spoiled milk, you didn’t even know bread could be sour! You scowled, was this truly to be your meal every day?

It was. The following day another battle droid (possibly the same one, you couldn’t tell them apart) traded out your empty pitcher for a full one and gave you another rock-hard roll. It was identical to the one from yesterday. You grumbled a thank you to the machine and took the ration. The food may be bad, and the water not nearly enough to stay hydrated, but at least you now had a way to tell time.

You took stock of your situation. You had been served two meals already, that coupled with the first day you arrived, meant you had already been on this strange planet for three days. Three days on a planet with assassins who wanted Padmè dead. It was obvious that your captors planned on keeping you hostage until you told them what they wanted to know or… or until they got tired of waiting and decided to kill you.

You could not tell them anything, of that you were absolutely certain. Padmè was your friend, more than that, she was family. You would never betray her. Even if you did decide to tell these people the information they wanted, you were certain they would kill you once you were no longer useful to them. They wouldn’t want to waste the resources to return you to Coruscant, nor risk revealing their identities to the authorities. No, unless you managed to escape on your own, or if by some miracle someone came to rescue you, you were going to die here. In this dirty, dry, dimly lit cell completely and utterly alone. That was not going to happen. You had a plan.

When the door opened later that day, it was the green Rodian who entered. You clenched your jaw and prepared yourself. You were seated on the floor, the stone pitcher hidden behind your back. You gripped the handle tightly, waiting for the moment to strike. You were not going to let this monster hurt you again.

“Hello again, feel like talking yet?” he asked. He stood just out of reach, looking down at you with disdain.

“No.”

He shook his head and tutted, “Now, now that’s not the right answer. Just tell me what I want to know, and no one gets hurt.”

“I already told you; I’m not telling you anything,” you growled. “I don’t know who you are or why I’m here. Why should I tell you anything?!”

“Because if you tell me what I want to know I’ll allow you to live,” he answered. “As for not knowing one another, you’re right. I forgot my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Chud and you are?”

“(Y/N),” you said. You weren’t telling them any more than that. The absolute last thing you wanted was this freak and his master hunting down your family and friends. It seemed like there wasn’t anything these people wouldn’t do to get what they wanted, and you had to keep your loved ones safe.

“What a pretty name for such a pretty woman,” he stepped closer to you. It took everything in your power not to cringe away from him. “If you want to stay pretty, you’ll tell me what I want to know.” You remained silent, glaring daggers at him. You hated this man with every fiber of your being and wished nothing but ill will towards him. “Last warning. Tell me where the Senator is.”

“Over my dead body,” you hissed jumping to your feet. You swung the pitcher at his head, and it collided with a sickening thud. The pitcher shattered into a dozen pieces and Chud stumbled backwards holding his head in his hands. When he pulled them away from his temple, you could see that his green hands were covered with bright red blood. You had landed a hit! He stared down at the blood for a moment, processing what had just happened. When he shifted his gaze towards you a chill shot down your spine.

“Why you foul wretched thing!” He bellowed, launching himself at you again. This time you had nothing to defend yourself with, save your restraints. So you started swinging your bound hands at him, wildly trying to defend yourself. It didn’t work.

His fists collided with your head and torso, each hit sending a shockwave of pain throughout your body. You tried kicking him, only managing to land a few hits to his shins. It did little to stop his attacks, if anything all this did was enrage him further.

Chud squared his shoulder and shoved you forcefully into the wall, the back of your head collided painfully with the rock. Your vision swam and pain reverberated around your skull. You were still processing this hit when he reached out and grabbed your throat squeezing tightly, cutting off your oxygen. Large black spots began to form on the edges of your vision. Was this the end? Were you about to die?

“Tell me what I want to know. Now!” he screamed.

“Never,” you choked out. The room was growing hazy, Chud’s face began to blur, and everything hurt. Then with no warning he let go.

You crumpled into a heap on the floor, gasping for air. Chud towered above you, his shadow looming over you. He was heaving with each breath and you could feel the rage rippling off him. You didn’t dare look up, you didn’t beg to be spared. If this was truly your end, you would die with dignity.

Then with no warning, Chud slammed his foot down onto your right ankle, putting all his weight into the attack. He hit you so hard you swore you heard the bone crack. You couldn’t hold back the scream of pain; a strangled sob tore its way from your throat. You had never felt such pain before… and it only got worse.

Chud slammed his foot down again and again onto your poor ankle. The pain only amplifying with each blow; it was all encompassing. When he got bored with destroying your ankle, he started kicking and punching whatever part of your body he could lay his hands on.

You didn’t know how long he beat you, it felt like hours, but it could have only been minutes. It didn’t matter. What did matter was that when he left your cell, you were a mess. Your body was battered and bloody, and you were in pure agony. There was no reason to be brave anymore, you had nothing more to prove, so you tilted your head up to the sky and wailed. Your cries echoed around the circular room with no one but yourself to hear them. You were alone. Completely and utterly alone.

The following day the battle droid only gave you a roll. No pitcher. No water. No doubt it was punishment for your actions the previous day. Like the day before, Chud entered about half a day later and demanded answers. When you refused to comply, he beat you, once again leaving you a crumpled mess on the floor.

The day after that the pitcher returned to your daily ration, but it was only half full. Chud was only giving you enough liquid to survive, not enough to truly quench your thirst. Like the day before, he entered half a day after the droid to question you. When you told him nothing, he would beat you and then leave.

Each day it was the same story. Somewhere along the line he noted how poorly your ankle was doing, so he started targeting it. Every day your ankle grew worse and worse. It now laid at an odd angle, was unnaturally swollen, and so bruised it was purple; there was no doubt that it was broken. Now, if an opportunity to escape ever did appear, you would be unable to take advantage of it. You couldn’t put any weight on the broken appendage. You could only crawl, and even that was starting to take more energy than you had.

The lack of proper food and water was taking its toll on you. Your body was failing at an ever-increasing rate. You had lost more weight than you knew to be healthy, and your mind felt dull. Thinking was hard, moving even harder. There wasn’t a spot on your body unbeaten by Chud. Even without a mirror, you knew your face was black and blue; Chud loved to try and ‘ruin your pretty face.’

Outside of these brief visits from Chud and the battle droid, you were completely and utterly alone. The isolation was almost as bad as the beatings. There was nothing to do, no one to keep you company. Little by little you could feel your grip on reality starting to slip.

You had tried screaming into the Force for the first few days of your captivity but eventually you gave up. No one could hear you and screaming for help all day was terribly depressing. Besides it always felt like someone was watching you, there had to be cameras in here. You were almost certain of it; it was a prison after all. You knew based on the rings on the walls that up to fifteen prisoners could be crammed in here with you. To pass the time you started imaging what these other prisoners had done to be locked up in here with you, what they looked like, how they acted.

One week stretched into two and then three. Somewhere along the line, these other prisoners morphed from simple imaginations to real people trapped inside the prison with you. You would spend your days talking with them, getting to know them and befriending some. A few were like you; simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, others had defied their master’s orders. Everyone was different races and ages, but you all had one thing in common, everyone hated Captain Chud.

He was a vile creature that revealed in the pain he inflicted on all of you. He would come at random times now to beat whomever he felt like. It wasn’t the same people every day and only you received daily beatings. As time passed Chud’s beating only grew with ferocity and your will to resist diminished. Eventually you stopped fighting back, stopped responding to his questions. You no longer cared about what happened to you, you simply wished for this nightmare to be over. The closest cellmate to you, Forsati a beautiful Twi'lek, tried encouraging you daily. She would tell you to stay strong, to have faith that surely someone would come rescue you all, but you stopped believing her after the twenty-fourth day. No one was coming to save you. You were going to die here.

It was the thirty-third day of your captivity when your routine changed. The metal door slid open and you curled yourself into a ball, the battle droid had already been in to deliver the rations for the day, so that meant this must be Chud. You cowered against the wall, listening to the screams of the man across the room from you. Chud wasn’t going easy today. You whimpered, covering your ears with your hands, trying desperately to block the sounds out.

“You can relax, I’m not going to hurt you,” a smooth voice said. You froze; this wasn’t a voice you recognized. Hesitantly you turned your head towards the entryway. Standing there was a tall older man wearing a long dark cape. You stared up at him with wide eyes, who was he? That’s when you saw it, the lightsaber on his belt. He was a Jedi! You were saved!

“Oh, thank the Maker! Please you have to help me,” you exclaimed, crawling frantically towards the man. “Please you have to get me out of here!”  

“Shh, it’s alright my child. You’re safe now,” he said in a soothing voice. You crawled as far as your restraints would allow, which ended up being right at the edge of his feet. You looked up at him with white rimmed eyes,

“We have to hurry! Captain Chud is—” you looked around the room. Chud wasn’t here. The other prisoners were silent, watching you interact with this stranger. You could have sworn Chud was just in here, he was beating the man across the way just moments ago. Wasn’t he?

“My child, tell me what happened. How did you come to be in such a place?” the man placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. It was the first time someone had touched you affectionately in over a month, you leaned into his touch.

“I was kidnapped from Coruscant. The people here, they want me to tell them where milady is. They want to kill her!“ you explained quickly.

“And who do you serve?” he asked.

“Senator Amidala,” you replied eagerly. “Please you have to get me and the others out of here!” The man raised an eyebrow in question and glanced around the room.

“I might be able to help you and your mistress,” the man said slowly, “but I would have to send for help. Where might I find the Senator?”

You opened your mouth to reply but stopped yourself. Why did he need to know where Padmè was? Shouldn’t he have back up? Something didn’t feel right. “Where are the other Jedi?”

“They’re securing the perimeter as we speak,” the man replied easily. “But I need you to tell me where we can find your mistress, so we can send her word of your recovery.” Your brain struggled with this information, something wasn’t right. Didn’t the Jedi already know where Padmè was? Weren’t they the ones who insisted she escape to Naboo in the first place? Anakin should be with her, they should know this. He should know this.

“No,” you said. Despite the haziness of your mind, you decided to trust your instincts. Something wasn’t right and there could only be one reason: he wasn’t who he said he was.

“No?” echoed the man, clearly confused as to why you weren’t telling him what you wanted to know. “Don’t you want to save your mistress?”

“You should know where she is,” you said. “You’re not a Jedi.”

The soft look that had been on his face immediately disappeared when you said this. “No, child, I am not. Not anymore at least, but that doesn’t change anything. Tell me where the Senator is and I can free you from this place.”

“Never!” you cried, crawling frantically away from this man. Your stomach began to churn the way it did before bad things happened. You didn’t need it to know that this man was dangerous.

“I beg you to reconsider,” he said. “I only want to help the Republic.”

“By killing Padmè!” you cried. “I won’t let you do that! I won’t let you hurt her!”

The man sighed, “Then I’m afraid you leave me no choice.” He marched towards you, cape billowing behind him. You cowered against the wall, curling yourself into a ball to try and braced for his attack… but it didn’t come. Instead, you felt his hand press against the top of your head and then your world began to crumble.

You were reliving the worst moments of your life, from childhood up until today. These terrible memories flooded your thoughts, scrambling your already weak mind. In the background the man’s voice echoed,

“Tell me where Senator Amidala is!”

“No!” you cried out, holding your head in your hands. The memories weren’t stopping; they were playing on repeat, and you couldn’t escape from the torment of your own mind.

***

You were stuck in a loop.

It started with losing your parents in the busy shopping center in Theed when you were just four years old. It was the first time you could remember being afraid. You had stopped to look a shop’s colorful window display and when you turned around your parents were gone. They hadn’t found you until many hours later. The fear of being lost and alone, surrounded by a sea of grownups, was all consuming.

Then the memory would shift to the first time you got into a fight with Gwin. The two of you were no older than six and were quibbling over who was the fastest runner. It escalated into a brawl, and you remember skinning your knee on the cobblestones when Gwin pushed you down. You never saw the resolution of this fight, where the two of you made up and hugged, swearing never to hurt one another again. No, you were forced to only witness the moments of anger and pain. Forced to dwell on the negatives.

You cringed as you watched the first time a boy rejected you, calling you ugly, the tears pricking at your eyes even now. You had been hopelessly in love with him too (as much as any thirteen-year-old can be in love) and his rejection had hit you hard.

You were forced to sit through endless lectures from your parents; some were about you not listening to their instructions, other times it was a lesson about manners. You were always a disappointment to them here. They were always comparing you to your older brother, always asking why you couldn’t be more like him. They never smiled, never offered you love or a kind word. They only yelled or critiqued you. You were never enough for them.

Then you were arguing with Padmè over her recklessness. About her wanting to go explore Tatooine alone. You were back on that ship in the desert, stuck in the cargo hold with Obi-Wan, tripping over your words and embarrassing yourself with children’s stories about the Jedi. You were telling him that he couldn’t feel emotion at the funeral for his master and you wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. The embarrassment physically hurt you just as badly as Chud’s fists did.

You were forced to watch as Bartlett, your somewhat serious boyfriend, dumped you because he was leaving Coruscant. He didn’t listen to your pleas that a long distance relationship could work, he simply said you two would be better off as friends. That stung even now.

And then you were in your cell, chained to the wall. Chud was beating you over and over again. Crushing your ankle, punching your face, breaking your ribs. You were forced to endure the pain all over again as if it were the first time. You screamed and cried, begging for mercy but he didn’t stop. The memories didn’t stop. They simply started over again.

***

You were lost in a sea of memories. Then something shifted and you were back in your cell. Standing before you was the same man, the one who had caused all this, in different clothing than the last time you saw him. How much time had passed?

“This is your last chance, my child. Tell me what I want to know or face the consequences,” he said darkly. You stared up at him, eyes glassed over. You were practically catatonic.

“Where is Senator Amidala?” he asked slowly. “Tell me.” You shook your head back and forth, you couldn’t tell him. You wouldn’t tell him. “I warn you my patience is wearing thin. Tell me what you know.”

“No,” you rasped. Your throat was raw from screaming, saying even just this one word hurt. It felt like you had swallowed razor blades.

The man’s eyes narrowed, and he bent down so that he was on eye level with you, “Then you leave me no choice.” You watched with wide eyes as he reached his hand out and touched your head again. It was different than last time; instead of being sent into a never ending loop of your worst memories, you felt a ripple within your mind.

It was similar to that sensation you had around Obi-Wan, but instead of being warm and comforting, it was ice cold. It scared you. You whimpered in fear and cowered away from his touch.

“Interesting… do you feel me searching your mind?” asked the man. You didn’t answer, you simply whimpered again. “How odd. I wonder…” You felt another ripple across your mind, he was in your head, literally.

“Ah, so you know Master Kenobi,” the man drawled, “and you’re attuned to the Force? How fascinating.” You shook underneath his touch, literally trembling with fear. “Now, my child, let’s see if you know where your dear mistress is hiding?”

The ripple that shot through your mind was more powerful than the previous ones. You cried out in pain as you tried to resist his probing, you could feel him closing in on the memory that contained Padmè’s location. No! No! No! You struggled with what little strength you had left, but it wasn’t enough. The man brushed past your defenses and accessed the memory. You let out a scream of anguish. It physically hurt; it felt like your mind was about to split in half.

“What is this?” he asked sharply. “She’s not on Naboo, we already searched there. Where is she?!” he demanded shaking your shoulders.

“I don’t know!” you cried. You had believed Padmè to be on Naboo. If she wasn’t there, then where was she?! “I promise I don’t know!”

The man’s eyes were filled with fire, and he rose to his full height. “I have wasted forty-four days on you, girl! That’s time I will not get back! Your pathetic information isn’t even enough to help us track down the Senator!”

He reached down to his belt and pulled out his lightsaber. It hummed loudly and emitted a bright red glow, casting the room into a frightening hellscape. “You have wasted my time and for that you will pay!”

You watched with wide eyes as he pointed the lightsaber at you. You were going to die. You screamed and tried to crawl away as he drew near, blade humming loudly. He grabbed your shoulder and pulled you back to face him.

"Please, don’t!” you wailed.

“You have left me no choice,” he said. Ever so slowly he drew the blade closer and closer to the side of your neck. You could feel the heat radiating from the blade and your skin burned as it drew closer. You stared up into the eyes of the man who was to be your killer and held your breath. This was it.

“Count Dooku—” a robotic voice crackled over a comlink, “we have captured a Jedi on the perimeter of the camp.” The man, presumably Count Dooku, stopped his blade; letting it hover just above your neck. The weapon burned your skin terribly; you could feel a blister already beginning to form.

“Have you ascertained the identity of the Jedi?” he asked into his comlink, his gaze never leaving your own.

“He says his name is Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Obi-Wan. He was here to rescue you! Wait. He had been captured? The joy you felt was momentary and then the despair set in. You never were going to get out of here! Your one hope at rescue had been captured!

Count Dooku smiled, sensing your agony. “Excellent, please bring him here.” With that Dooku turned off his comlink and lowered his lightsaber. “Well, well, well what a turn of events.” He paused, looking you over with a discerning eye. “Maybe you aren’t completely useless after all? You seem to make good bait.”

He turned away from you. “I’ll have Chud come in again to prepare you for Master Kenobi’s arrival. We want you looking your absolute best after all.” Your stomach sank as you watched him leave.

Count Dooku left you alone for only a few minutes, Chud quickly taking his place. This time he had a wooden bat with him; he liked to use that when he really wanted to make you suffer.

“Please, no! Don’t!” you choked out, curling into a ball.

“My master commands it,” Chud replied with a grin.

Even though you knew the blow was coming it still took your breath away. You gasped in pain as the bat collided with your ankle. The pain tore through you, ripping a loud scream from your throat.

“You’re right. Master said I needed to make you look the part, ankles don’t add much to the image. Let’s try something else… but you know what?”

You looked up in horror at his tone. He had an idea, and you knew by the churning in your stomach it wasn’t anything good.

“I don’t want to hear you scream. I think I’d rather work in silence today. I have a lot of work to do, you know?” Chud lined up the bat with the side of your head and swung.

Your world went black.

Notes:

Wow, okay this chapter was dark. I tried my best to accurately portray the effects of isolation and starvation by researching it a bunch (shout out to the American Psychological Association for having free journal articles). I really wanted to show how your grip on reality is waning and the slow descent to madness that the journal articles discussed, so I hope I conveyed that properly. Sorry about there being no Obi-Wan directly in this chapter, I promise he will be in the next one though! I also promise the next chapter won’t be nearly as dark. Until next time!

Chapter 5: Execution

You were floating through an endless sea of nothing, reveling in the simple joy of a pain free existence. Your mind quiet at last. You were at peace. You could stay here forever… but then you felt a tug. Something was pulling you back from the void. Back towards your body, back towards the pain.

You struggled against it. You didn’t want to go back! There was nothing left for you there but pain and fear. You wanted to stay here! You wanted to feel nothing! You wanted it to be over, but fate had other plans.

Little by little, you began to regain your senses. It was the pain that returned first: your head ached, your ankle throbbed, and your neck felt as if it were on fire. Next came your hearing. It faded in slowly, a constant deep hum reverberating around the room. What was that strange sound?

You willed your eyes to open; everything was blurry. You could tell that you were on the floor of your prison cell, the familiar metal grate cool against your cheek. You blinked a few times and slowly your surroundings began to come into focus. You were staring at Forsati’s spot, or at least you thought you were.

There was no sign of your friend. She wasn’t chained to the wall where you had last seen her, and her spot was remarkably clean. The bloodstains that you knew so well were missing. Had they sent a cleaning droid in here while you were unconscious?

You looked past her spot towards Gyu’s. He was missing too. Like Forsati, his spot was clean as well. Both of them were gone. But how? Why? Had they been executed? No, that wasn’t right. Knowing your captors, if they were to kill the others, they would have made sure to make you watch. Cruelty was their prerogative. Sending the other prisoners away like this didn’t make any sense—

That’s when you remembered.

There never were any other prisoners, you had made them up to pass the time. They were nothing more than elaborate figments of your imagination. You were alone. You had always been alone. You had hallucinated everything.

The realization hit you like a ton of bricks, was any of what you had witnessed been real? You were certain that at least some of the beatings from Chud were real; your wounds were certainly no figment of your imagination. But you clearly remembered him beating the other prisoners before moving onto you, but if the others never existed…

Maker what was that horrible humming sound?! The constant low drone was making the pain in your head even worse. Was this a new torture technique? If so, it was working. You groaned loudly, struggling to bring your hands towards your head, trying to cover your ears. Trying to drown the horrible noise out.

“(Y/N)?!” You froze in place. You knew that voice. You had heard it thousands of times while trapped in your worst memories. It was Obi-Wan’s. “(Y/N)? (Y/N), can you hear me?”

You didn’t move. This had to be another hallucination. You were imagining him here, just like all the others. You were alone. You knew you were alone.

“(Y/N), please. If you can hear me, say something!” Obi-Wan’s voice sounded so real, but then again so had all the others. Why were you imagining him of all people? Hadn’t your mind had enough of him by now? You had lost track of the number of times you were forced to embarrass yourself in front of him. The very idea of seeing his face again was enough to make you want to hide your face in shame.

“(Y/N)!” There was desperation in his voice, something you had never heard in the real Obi-Wan. Was this just an auditory hallucination, or was he like the others? You needed to know the truth.

His voice had come from the center of the room, from behind you. You needed to roll over. You tried shifting your weight to one side but discovered that you could hardly move. Your body was broken in a way it never had been before. Despite their skeletal appearance, your limbs felt as if they weighed tons. Just trying to shift your leg caused you to scream out in pain and every breath hurt. Rolling over should not be this difficult.

“Don’t move! You’ll only hurt yourself more,” pleaded Obi-Wan. You ceased your struggle, panting hard. The weeks of starvation were taking their toll on you; you had never been this exhausted in your whole life. The way you felt, it was entirely possible that this might be the last time you ever moved. If that were the case, you needed to put everything you had into this. You took a deep breath and pushed with all your might, forcing yourself to roll onto your other side. What you saw next took your breath away. 

There, in the center of the room, was Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was floating, suspended between the two domed apparatuses, which were now illuminated a dull blue. His hands were stuck to his sides — metal cuffs similar to your own shackled to his wrists and ankles. A strange blue energy crackled around him; it must be what was suspending him.

You didn’t believe what you were seeing for even a second. You understood why your mind had invented the other prisoners, but why him? You had been forced to embarrass yourself in front of him countless times, each memory physically hurting you. Just looking at him made your chest hurt. That’s when you knew — this was just another one of Count Dooku’s mind tricks. This was just another way to torture you. Obi-Wan wasn’t real. None of this was real.

"(Y/N), can you hear me?” What a detailed hallucination this was. Obi-Wan’s brows were furrowed, a deep frown etched deep into his face, and a strand of his long hair had fallen across his forehead. He looked real but so did all the others that came before him. “Please, say something if you can hear me.”

You blinked hard, trying to dismiss the vision. Maybe if you fought hard enough it would go away?

“You— You’re not real,” you whispered. Your voice was practically nonexistent, a sharp pain in your throat made each and every word hurt.

“What did you say?” he asked, face falling. 

“You’re. Not. Real,” you croaked. “Go away.”

“(Y/N)… What have they done to you?” he asked, his voice soft, tender even. “Do you know who I am?”

“You’re a hallucination. Go away,” you said in the firmest voice you could muster. You would not get sucked into another delusion; you couldn’t. “You’re not the real Obi-Wan.”

“Yes, I am,” he insisted.

“No, you’re another mind trick! Go away!” You shut your eyes and tried to block out everything. Him, the never-ending humming, the pain. You just wanted to return to the void, back to where nothing hurt.

“(Y/N), listen to me. I came here to rescue you,” he said. “I was captured by Count Dooku’s men, but before they intercepted me, I called for reinforcements. Help is on the way here as we speak.”

“Leave me alone! You’re not real!” you cried, covering your ears. Why wouldn’t he just disappear like the others?!

“(Y/N), please. I don’t know what they did to you but—”

“Go away!” you screamed. It wasn’t working! You could still hear him! He was still here! “Go away!”

“(Y/N)—”

“No!” You threw your head back against the floor. You had to be rid of this hallucination no matter the cost! The impact made your teeth rattle, pain shooting through your skull.

“Don’t!” Obi-Wan yelled.

“You’re not real!” you screamed, throwing your head back again. Maybe if you knocked yourself out again, he would disappear?! It was your only chance!

“Stop!”

“Not until you’re gone!” You lifted your head again, preparing to slam yourself into the metal floor once more, when you felt something that made you pause. It was something familiar. Something you hadn’t felt in a long time. It was that mind tickling warmth from so long ago, from your time back on Coruscant.

Like a wave, the warmth washed over your damaged mind. Soothing you. Grounding you in reality. It was something tangible, something you knew to be truly real. For just a moment your mind was clear; allowing you to deduce what was happening with astonishing speed. You only felt this strange warmth around Obi-Wan, the real one. You felt it right now, so that could only mean one thing. This was the real Obi-Wan.

Your eyes shot open at this realization. Your gaze met his own; Obi-Wan’s bright blue eyes were wide with alarm, his jaw clenched tightly. He was prepared to watch you slam your head against the ground once more, prepared to watch you die right in front of him.

“Obi-Wan?” you choked out. “Is that really you?”

The change was instant. His shoulders slumped forward, and a relieved expression appeared on his face. He sighed, “Yes, it’s me. I’m here.”

“You’re real.” For the first time in a long time, you smiled. “You’re really real.”

“Yes, darling, I’m real,” he smiled back at you. If your mind had been working as it should, you would have noticed the nickname, but right now you paid it no mind. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

“Is Padmè safe?” you asked. You had withstood all this for her. You needed to know that she was alive, that all you had endured actually meant something.

“She’s safe with Anakin. I spoke to the two of them just before I was captured,” he replied.

“Oh, thank the Maker,” you sighed.

Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment, examining your battered body. For the first time in weeks, you were conscious of how truly terrible you must look. Your once elegant black dress was ripped to shreds and covered in a thick layer of blood and dirt. The formerly form-fitting dress now hung loosely off your figure, the weeks of starvation leaving you little more than a skeleton. Your hair, almost always in an elaborate updo, was loose and tangled into a rat’s nest atop your head. You knew whatever skin that he could see was bruised beyond recognition and like the rest of you, covered in a thick layer of grime. You must look utterly unrecognizable to Obi-Wan, after all you were certain that if you were to look into a mirror you wouldn’t recognize yourself.

“Who did this to you?” he asked. His tone was gentle, but you could see the storm brewing behind his eyes.

“Captain Chud and Count Dooku,” you said with a wheeze. Your ribcage ached, all this talking hurt. Chud must have rebroken a few ribs during his last assault, you didn’t remember breathing hurting this much. “They— They tried making me tell them where Padmè was.”

“I can assure you she’s perfectly safe,” insisted Obi-Wan. “Was it one of them who kidnapped you?”  

“No,” you rasped, “a woman did.”

“A woman? What was her name?”

“I don’t know, but she works for Dooku. She called him her ma— master.” You broke into a coughing fit. Each cough felt like a punch to your chest, you hadn’t talked this much in days, weeks?

“It’s alright, just try and save your energy. I’ll figure a way out of here,” assured Obi-Wan. “Just rest.”

You feebly nodded your head and shut your eyes. Sleep never came easy in this cell; you were always paranoid that Chud would enter while you were unconscious and launch a surprise attack. But with Obi-Wan watching over you, you willed your eyes to shut and mercifully fell into a deep sleep.

***

You awoke to the sound of the metal door sliding open. Chud was coming! You broke out in a cold sweat; you had thought that with Obi-Wan here the beatings would stop. That Chud would stop hurting you. Oh, how naïve you were!

You frantically looked towards the entrance. Standing there was Captain Chud, his arms clasped neatly behind his back, surrounded by a battalion of battle droids. A cold smile was on his ugly green face, “Ah, you must be Master Kenobi. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Obi-Wan looked between you and the Captain. If he couldn’t see the fear on your face, you were positive that he could feel it within the Force. He glared at Chud, the storm behind his eyes growing ever more intense. “You must be Captain Chud.”

“I see my reputation precedes me,” Chud grinned, bowing deeply. “I’m sure (Y/N) has told you what happens when I don’t get what I want.”

“So, you’re the one responsible for her condition?” asked Obi-Wan, a deadly calm to his voice.

“Oh, yes. Like my work?” asked Chud, motioning towards you. “I’m the one my master calls upon when there’s information to be extracted.”

“You’ll pay for your crimes, Chud,” said Obi-Wan.

The alien simply laughed. “Oh, that is funny. You think that you and the girl will escape this place. I’m sorry, Master Jedi, but that will not be happening.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” said Obi-Wan. His voice was firm, determined. There was no doubt in his mind that the two of you would somehow escape this awful place. You weren’t so sure. In fact, as much as you wanted to believe Obi-Wan, you had a horrible feeling that it was Chud who was telling the truth. You had little faith — scratch that — you had no faith that you would ever escape this planet.

“Oh, but I am. In fact, I was sent to collect the two of you,” said Chud. He marched past Obi-Wan, towards you. You cowered at his approach, bracing for the worst.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” growled Obi-Wan.

“Or what? You’ll kill me?” Chud laughed. “Sorry Jedi, it is you who is to be killed. We’re headed to your execution.” Execution?!

“And this girl will join you,” spat Chud. You stared up at him in alarm. After all you had gone through, all this torture, you were going to be killed! You were right, you were never getting off this planet!  “Don’t stare at me like that!” His hand flashed across your face and then your face stung. You could feel the imprint his hand had left behind on your cheek and tears begin to well in your eyes.

“You’ll regret that,” Obi-Wan growled.

“I don’t think so,” Chud laughed. “Come on, girl. It’s time to die.” He grabbed your arm, forcing you onto your feet. You screamed in pain, your right ankle protesting at the weight it was suddenly forced to carry. It crumpled underneath you, and if not for Chud’s grip, you would have fallen straight back onto the floor.

You shifted all your weight onto your left leg, but even that hurt. The edges of your vision started to blur; your body couldn’t take much more of this. Even standing was just too much. Not that Chud cared. He disconnected your handcuffs from the chain and began dragging you towards the exit.

“Bring the Jedi with us and make sure to keep his restraints powered,” Chud commanded the battle droids. “We don’t want him escaping.”

“Roger, roger,” they chirped in response. You looked over your shoulder as the gaggle of robots surrounded Obi-Wan. The Jedi paid them no mind, his gaze was entirely focused on you.   

“Obi-Wan!” you cried out with what little voice you had left. He was your only hope of escape, the only friendly face in this entire maker forsaken place! If the two of you were separated, you didn’t know what you’d do.

“(Y/N), be strong!” Obi-Wan called out. As soon as the words left his lips he fell out of suspension and out of your line of sight, obscured by the countless droids. Chud dragged you away with you fighting against him the best you could. It didn’t amount to much, but at least it annoyed the captain.

“Stop struggling, girl! Do you want me to hurt you more?” hissed Chud. You stilled at his words. No, you didn’t want to be hurt again, you were certain that you wouldn’t survive another one of his attacks. “Smart choice.”

The two of you rounded another corner and then stopped in front of what looked like a wagon, pulled by a large beast you didn’t recognize. Without another word Chud stepped into the vehicle, lifting you into the wagon behind him. You wobbled, trying to find your footing, but before you could Chud shoved you. You didn’t fall far, landing on a wooden bench that was built into the wagon.  

“Oof!” You gritted your teeth through the pain and glared at Captain Chud. He stared back at you; a look of utter disdain plastered on his face.

“I would say it’s been a pleasure knowing you, girl, but that would be a lie.”

“Funny, I— I was going to say the sa— same thing,” you wheezed, trying to catch your breath. The one-minute walk from your cell to here was enough to leave you a wheezing mess.

“Heh, I will let that slide just this once. I look forward to seeing you dead,” Chud hopped down from the wagon. “Hurry up back there!”

You looked over your shoulder and saw the battalion of battle droids marching in step towards the wagon. Obi-Wan was still restrained, shuffling slowly in the center of them all, a dark expression on his face. At least he was still alive, for that you were thankful. As long as he lived there was still a chance, no matter how small, that the two of you might escape this place.

They loaded Obi-Wan onto the wagon, making him sit directly across from you. His wrists and ankles were bound together; in the same fashion you had been when you first arrived. That strange blue energy crackled around his handcuffs, keeping his hands frozen in place. You were certain your handcuffs had not done that; he must have extra security because he was a Jedi.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his eyes hurriedly looking you over for new injuries.

“My ankle feels worse,” you answered weakly. You looked down at the broken appendage, it was even more swollen than before, if that were even possible.

“I swear to you we will survive this,” Obi-Wan said, scooching forward onto the edge of his bench, closer to you. “Trust in the Force.”

You wanted to believe him, you really did. He seemed so earnest, so full of hope, that somehow the two of you would live through whatever was about to come. How you wished you could feel the same way. All the hope in you was gone. It had burned out long ago; dying back in that dark, dirty cell.

It was as if Obi-Wan could feel that you had given up. “(Y/N), look at me.” You looked up, meeting his gaze. A fire burned behind his eyes, “We will get out of here. We will survive this, but I need you to fight. I need you to try. Can you do that?” He was so determined, so sure of himself.

You nodded your head weakly, “I’ll try.”

The corner of his mouth curved upwards, “That’s all I ask.”

The wagon lurched forward, jostling both of you. You grimaced in pain, trying to brace yourself against the movement. The wagon rolled slowly through an endless maze of identical tunnels before coming to a stop in front of an oversized metal door. A chill ran down your spine, whatever was going to kill you was on the other side of this door. Of that you had no doubt.

“Do you feel that?” you whispered.

“I do.” Obi-Wan’s voice was even, somehow even in the face of death, he remained calm.

“Thank you for trying to rescue me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job,” he replied softly. “Whatever happens next, I want you to know that it was an honor to know you, truly.”

Tears welled in your eyes. This was truly the end then. Even Obi-Wan was preparing himself for the inevitable… Maker help you both.

With a loud creak, the metal door began to rise. Sunlight poured into the corridor, and you raised your hands, trying to block the blinding light. You hadn’t seen the sun in weeks and had forgotten just how bright it truly was. The wagon lurched forward, and you squeezed your eyes shut as the wagon stepped into the bright sunlight.

Wherever you were it was loud. It sounded almost as if you were in the middle of a sports arena, the distinct sound of a crowd cheering filled your ears. It was too loud! You had become accustomed to complete and utter silence over your long imprisonment; the wall of noise physically hurt your ears. You tried covering them, but the handcuffs made it difficult to do so. You were forced to rapidly acclimate to your surroundings.

You tried opening your eyes as the wagon rattled on, but the bright sun was painful. Even so, you forced your eyes open in small increments, you needed to see your surroundings. You needed to figure out what was happening… and how you were going to die.

You had just managed to truly open your eyes when the wagon came to a halt. You looked around, taking in your surroundings. You were in an arena of some sort, thousands of insect-like creatures filled the stands. You were in the middle of a sand filled pit, four large stone pillars stood in front of you, towering high into the air.

You looked at Obi-Wan, whether for support or clarification you weren’t sure. He looked back at you, an unreadable look in his eyes. Was he just as scared as you were? Before either of you could say or do anything, several of the insect-like aliens stormed the wagon, ripping the two of you apart from one another.

“Obi-Wan!” you cried. You didn’t want to leave him! At least with him you stood a chance of surviving!

“(Y/N)!” he yelled over his shoulder, the aliens dragging him away towards the furthest pillar. Two aliens held you up, one on either side of you, hauling you towards the pillar farthest from Obi-Wan. Your bum ankle dragging along uselessly in the sand behind you, making you scream in pain. The aliens ignored your screams as if they were nothing — clearly this wasn’t the first time they had done something like this.

When they finally came to a stop in front of the stone pillar you wanted to die. There, dangling in front of your face was another chain, identical in every way to the one you had been tethered to for so long. A third alien stepped forward, reaching out for your bound hands. You yanked them back towards yourself, trying to prevent the inevitable. The alien growled and took your hands in its own, raising them far above your head. To your horror it connected them to the chain in this position, forcing you to keep your arms elevated. Then the aliens let go of you.

You struggled to stand, trying to keep all your weight on your good leg, but it was too much. You collapsed, but not to the ground. The chain forcing you to remain on your feet, your entire weight now held up by your arms. It felt like both of your shoulders had been ripped from their sockets, the sharp, piercing pain radiated down your arms and into the rest of your already aching body. You let out a blood curdling scream.

You could vaguely make out the sound of Obi-Wan struggling against his captors over the roar of the crowd. You prayed that he would find a way to escape his binds and free you. But when you finally mustered up enough strength to turn your head in his direction, you found him in the same position as you; chained to a pillar with his arms secured snugly above his head. That was it then, this was truly the end.

You let your head fall forward. You were going to die here, on display for this whole stadium to watch. Would your family ever learn the truth about where you had disappeared to, or would they be forced to guess for all eternity? Obi-Wan supposedly had called for reinforcements, but that was before he knew you were being held captive. The other Jedi didn’t know that you were here, that you were still alive. If you died here then there would be no body for your family to bury, no funeral to attend. You will have simply vanished from Coruscant, never to be seen or heard from ever again. The thought of your parents agonizing over your sudden disappearance hurt nearly as badly as your physical injuries. They would never know what had happened to you. You let the tears fall freely; you didn’t care about putting on a brave act in the face of death. All you wanted was for this nightmare to be over.

You hung there in agony for what felt like hours; the sun never ceasing to beat down upon you. You could feel the sweat drip down your back, your black dress trapping the heat close to your skin. Was this to be your execution, exposure to the elements? If so, it was working; you were beginning to feel rather lightheaded. You shut your eyes and waited for death to claim you.

Suddenly the crowd roared in excitement. Something was coming. You opened your eyes and lifted your head; a chariot was approaching. Inside it were two humanoid figures but you couldn’t make out any other details at this distance. As the chariot drew closer you nearly stopped breathing, you recognized both figures. It was Padmè and Anakin! What were they doing here?! Obi-Wan had promised you that Padmè was safe on another planet! Had he lied to you?!

The chariot came to a stop in front of the pillars. They were to suffer the same fate as you and Obi-Wan! No! You watched with wide eyes as both of them were dragged down from the chariot. Padmè was led towards the pillar directly next to yours and secured in the same way you were.        

“Padmè? What are you doing here?” you exclaimed, straining to be heard over the crowd. The young woman turned her head towards you, clearly confused.

“Do I know you?” she asked, searching your face.

“It’s me, (Y/N),” you cried out. Padmè’s eyes grew wide at this realization, her face paling.

“(Y/N)?! Oh my stars, we thought you were dead!” she exclaimed. “What happened?”

“They tried—” you were cut off by a coughing fit. It felt like you were drowning. You could hardly catch your breath. “They tried to— to make me tell them where— where you were,” you gasped.

“Just hold on,” said Padmè. You watched her fiddle with her handcuffs, working the metal between her hands. Then in the blink of an eye, one of her hands was free. She had a lockpick! Your heart soared, maybe there was hope after all?!

An earsplitting screech echoed around the arena and your blood went cold. You had never heard such a terrible noise in all your life. You whipped your head towards the noise, and you swore your heart stopped. Three giant monsters were being herded towards the four of you! That’s when you understood, these creatures were to be your executioners! A wave of adrenaline shot through your veins. You had to try and survive; you just had to. You struggled to your feet, putting all your weight on your good leg.

“(Y/N), play dead!” Padmè yelled. You looked between her and the creatures. One was being corralled towards you and her; the other two towards the Jedi. Clearly they didn’t feel the need to waste an entire creature on you, you were on the brink of death as it was. What other option did you have?

You let your body collapse once more, shutting your eyes. Your life depended on your acting skills. You slowed your breathing and slumped against the chain. Your arms screamed in protest at the pressure, but you didn’t move. You tried your hardest to relax your face, trying to imitate the few dead bodies you had seen at funerals over the years. You sent a silent prayer up to the maker: please don’t let us die here. Please.

You could hear the creature drawing closer; its growls and snarls getting louder and louder.  It took every ounce of self-restraint to not open your eyes and stare at the monster. You had to play dead, or you were going end up dead for real. Hopefully the creature wouldn’t be able to tell the difference and would leave you alone, choosing to go after live prey instead… after Padmè. No! You didn’t want that either, you had endured all this specifically to keep her safe! She had to live! The senate needed her guidance! She was important, she was irreplaceable… you were expendable.

Padmè’s scream tore through the air, and you couldn’t stand it anymore. You had to see what was happening! You opened your eyes and glanced over at your friend. She was now on top of the pillar, dark red scratches covering her back, they were a stark contrast to her bright white outfit. The monster had hurt her!

You wanted to scream, rage, defend your friend, but there was nothing you could do. The monster was circling her pillar, trying to determine the best way to attack its quarry. It was clearly uninterested in you, believing you to be dead already. You held your breath as the monster climbed its way towards Padmè, but your friend was ready. Using the planet’s gravity to her advantage, she launched herself down towards the creature kicking it hard. It fell to the ground with a sickening thud and a whimper of pain. She had repelled the beast! You knew she could do it!

The creature struggled to its feet and bellowed angrily, turning its attention to you. You froze, holding its gaze. Oh, kriff. The strange creature screamed, its fangs bared. You gulped and braced yourself for its attack. Slowly the thing stalked towards you, its black beady eyes focused solely on you. The hair on your arms stood on end, fear coursed through your veins. This was it. You were about to die. You took a deep breath and braced yourself.

Suddenly the creature was flying through the air, knocked aside by a large red beast. You blinked in confusion. Had you seen that right? Were the monsters turning on one another? You stared at the red monster and that's when you noticed Anakin astride its back.

“Jump!” he called up to Padmè. She did, landing perfectly on the monster. She didn’t stay there though; instead, she scrambled off the beast towards you, lockpick in hand. You tried climbing to your feet but couldn’t muster the strength to pull yourself up.

“Just hold on, we’ll get you out of here,” muttered Padmè. You felt her hands brush against your own as she struggled to unlock your restraints from the chain.

"Leave me,” you rasped. She was wasting valuable time; she needed to focus on saving herself, not you.

“Never,” said Padmè. Then with a click, you were released. You collapsed to the ground with a dull thud. You tried to climb onto your hands and knees, but you couldn’t find the strength.

“Save yourself!” you cried as Padmè tugged on your arm.

“I’m not leaving you!” Padmè exclaimed. “You have to get up! Come on!”

“No! Go!” you screamed. “Go!”

“Padmè, come on!” Anakin bellowed from his position atop the large monster.

“But—” Padmè looked between the two of you. Desperation plain as day on her face.

“I want— I want you to go!” you repeated, breaking into another coughing fit. Padmè cast one last look at you, tears falling from her eyes.

“I’ll never forget you.” And then she ran. You watched as she sprinted back to Anakin and climbed aboard its back. Good, at least with him she stood a chance of escaping this horrible place.

You shifted your gaze down to where you had last seen Obi-Wan. He had somehow freed himself from his chains and was fighting off a large green monster with a spear. You watched as he threw the weapon at the creature, hitting it in the haunches. Without hesitating he turned on his heel and sprinted towards you.

No! He had to save himself! “No!” you tried yelling, but only a whisper came out. Your throat was too dry, too raw, from all your screaming to carry your voice far enough for him to hear. So, you reached out with your mind. "No! Leave me! Save yourself!"

You could see his frown from here, but his pace didn’t slow. If anything, he sped up. Within seconds he was by your side, on his knees, trying to lift you from the ground.

“No,” you rasped. “Save yourself.”

“I’m not leaving you here,” he answered firmly. “Come on!” He snaked an arm under your shoulder and lifted, but you didn’t move. “You promised me you’d fight! That you would stay alive!”

You looked up at him with wide eyes. What didn’t he understand? There was nothing for him to save, you were little more than a walking corpse. He needed to focus on saving Padmè, not you.

"I’m not letting you die here! Come on!” he exclaimed, trying once again to lift you to your feet. There was no changing his mind; he wasn’t going to leave you behind. With no other options you struggled to stand, leaning heavily on Obi-Wan for support. You staggered to your feet, feeling horribly lightheaded. The edges of your vision grew dim, and you stumbled, nearly falling over again. Obi-Wan wrapped his arm around you, struggling to keep you upright.

The ground shook as the beast Anakin and Padmè were riding drew close, sliding to a stop in front of you and Obi-Wan. It was a group effort to get you aboard the monster, sandwiched between Padmè and Obi-Wan. You stared blankly at Padmè’s back, blood dripping from her wounds. She needed medical attention. Behind you was Obi-Wan, an arm wrapped tightly around you, holding you in place on the creature’s back.

Were you not in a life-or-death situation, you would have been embarrassed at how close you were to the Jedi. His arm was wrapped snugly around your waist, your back pressed flush against his chest. You could feel the heat radiating off him, it was the same warmth that you felt in the Force whenever he was close by. If by some miracle you survived today, you would be a lot more embarrassed whenever you felt that sensation from now on.

But there was no time to think of the future, you had to survive the present first. A dozen droids circled the four of you, their weapons aimed right at you! You felt Obi-Wan’s grip tighten around your waist; he was bracing for impact. You squeezed your eyes shut, waiting to feel the blasters tear their way through your flesh but nothing happened.

“I told you help was on the way!” said Obi-Wan. You opened your eyes and looked towards the stands. Sure enough, the familiar glow of blue and green lightsabers dotted the crowd or what was left of it. Most of the insect-like creatures were rapidly fleeing from the arena. You were saved!

Your joy was short lived, for just as soon as the Jedi stormed the arena, so too did an army of battle droids. To make things worse, the four of you were caught in the crossfire!

Anakin steered the beast towards the other Jedi, expertly dodging blaster fire. Once the beast slid to a stop, another Jedi tossed two sabers to Anakin and Obi-Wan. Without hesitating, Obi-Wan took your hands in his and, with impressive precision, cut the shackles from your wrists. You were finally free!

Before you could say thank you, a blast sent the four of you flying. You slammed into the ground, all the air instantly knocked out of you. With what little strength you had left you rolled onto your stomach and started crawling. You didn’t have any clue which direction was safe, but you knew that laying out in the open was a death sentence. Sand and dust flew through the air, explosions rang out, and the loud hum of lightsabers filled the air. It was complete and utter chaos! You needed to find cover and fast!

A battle droid collapsed in front of you, its blaster lying abandoned in the sand. You didn’t hesitate to grab it, checking the weapon over for any obvious issues. It looked fine and that was good enough for you. You aimed the blaster at the nearest droid and started firing. It quickly fell to the ground, nothing more than a pile of parts. Satisfied that you now had the proper means to protect yourself, you continued crawling. There! Just a little further ahead was a toppled pillar, that would offer some protection!

You sidled up close to the fallen rock and caught your breath. If it weren’t for the copious amounts of adrenaline shooting through your system you would be little more than another body in the sand by now. Once you felt that you had steadied yourself, you peeked over the top of the pillar, assessing the situation. All around you were Jedi, but it was plain to see that the droids outnumbered them.

That’s when you saw a Twi’lek woman taking on an entire battalion of droids on her own. She was struggling to hold her ground, the sheer number of machines threatening to overwhelm her. You raised your blaster, aimed at the battle droids, and opened fire, trying to provide the woman with some cover fire.

Your plan worked. Between your blaster shots and her lightsaber, the droids fell quickly. A torrent of blaster fire rained down upon you, the droids had taken note of your location. You ducked behind the pillar, trying to avoid the red-hot shots whizzing overhead. Some crashed into the stone you hid behind; you could feel the rock rumble with each hit. This position wouldn’t be safe for much longer; you needed to move.

Another volley of blaster fire flew overheard, closer than before. The droids were coming for you. You lifted your blaster and fired a few blind shots at the droids, keeping your head below the pillar. A blaster shot grazed the top of your hand, causing you to drop the blaster. You let out a scream, holding your burnt hand close to your chest. Your flesh was singed black and hurt like hell — it was the same pain you had felt when Count Dooku had burned you with his lightsaber yesterday.

Biting back tears, you picked back up the blaster, using your offhand instead of your main one, and returned fire. Your aim wasn’t nearly as good with your other hand, but you had to keep fighting until the very end. The clang of metal grew closer and the time between volleys grew shorter and shorter. You had to find different cover. Now.

You crawled along the length of the pillar, away from where you had been hiding, blasting any droid you could see. It was slow progress; your body couldn’t move anywhere fast, but you knew that if you stopped moving you were dead. So you continued on through the pain.

You crawled through the sand. Over pieces of droids, dead Jedi, and Maker knows what else. You didn’t know where you were going. Your head was spinning; trying to figure out where you should go. Everywhere you looked there was fighting, nowhere was safe.  

That’s when you heard a horrible screech. You looked over your shoulder towards the noise; it was the green creature, one of the monsters that had been sent to kill you. At it’s a feet, a Jedi was slicing its limbs off, forcing the beast to its knees. The Jedi twirled his lightsaber and then with one swift stroke, plunged his blade into the creature, silencing it forever. You recognized that figure, even from here. It was Obi-Wan, he was still alive!

“There you are.” You froze. Despite the battle raging around you, you could hear him with perfect clarity. You looked forward; looming in front of you was Captain Chud, his blaster aimed directly at your head. “It’s time for you to die.”  

You didn’t hesitate; in the blink of an eye, you aimed your blaster at the green Rodian and pulled the trigger. But as you pulled the trigger, the blaster was shot from your hand. It flew away from you, landing somewhere you couldn’t see. You were disarmed!

“I’m sorry, girl. You’ll have to be faster than that if you want to kill me,” laughed Chud. He strolled towards you; blaster pointed at your head. “You know, I have to thank you. You provided me with entertainment on an otherwise boring post, and you were the perfect bait. Look at all the Jedi that came to save you and that little senator friend of yours.” He motioned to the battle that raged around the two of you. “Your reward will be a swift death.”

It was if time slowed down. You heard someone yelling your name from behind you and so did Chud. He looked up and aimed his blaster at whoever was trying to come to your rescue. Just as he pulled the trigger, an explosion erupted behind him, ruining his aim. You covered your head as rocks and other debris rained down from the sky. When you finally lifted your head once more, a pair of leather boots stood between you and Chud. It was Obi-Wan!

He stood between the two of you, blue lightsaber raised, poised to strike. You couldn’t see his face, his back was to you, but you could see he was panting heavily. He had run clear across the arena to your rescue. If you survived today you had to be sure to thank him for truly putting in the extra effort.

“You again? When will you learn Jedi? I always get what I want,” growled Chud. “Now step aside. The girl and I have unfinished business.”

“As I told you before, Captain, you will pay for your crimes,” Obi-Wan said in an even voice. “Today is that day.” He raised his saber into a striking position, waiting for Chud to make the first move.

“Then you’ll die as well!” Chud bellowed, firing several blaster shots at the two of you. You flinched, preparing to feel the familiar burning sensation, but no shots even came near you. Obi-Wan deflected the blasts with his lightsaber, easily casting them aside. Chud growled, obviously enraged at this development, and fired rapidly. Like before, Obi-Wan parried them easily, growing ever closer to Chud.

“Battalion, attack that Jedi!” screamed Chud, still firing blaster shots at the two of you. To your horror, a battalion of droids turned their guns towards you and Obi-Wan. There was no way he could take on all these machines on his own!

Blaster shots rained down upon the two of you. Obi-Wan kept deflecting the shots but the droids grew ever closer. It was a foolish mistake on their part. Once they were in range, Obi-Wan sliced through them as if they were nothing.

The droids were too stupid to notice this and continued their approach. Chud on the other hand did notice. “No! Stay out of range!” he screamed over the sounds of battle. The droids stopped, turning their heads 180 degrees to look back at their commander.

“The whole arena is in range, Sir,” chirped one robot just as Obi-Wan sliced it’s head off. It hit the ground with a heavy thud. The few droids that remained standing didn’t last more than a few seconds, Obi-Wan making short work of them. Then the Jedi turned his focus back to Chud.

“It’s over, Captain! Surrender!” yelled Obi-Wan.

“I don’t think so,” said Chud. He smiled and a chill ran down your spine. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. You looked over your shoulder and saw a heavily armored droid aiming its blaster straight at you.

Just like before, time seemed to slow down. You watched as the red blaster shot launched out of the gun with a perfect trajectory for your face. The droid had impeccable aim. The red ball of energy pulsed towards you at a rapid rate; there was no dodging this attack. You held your breath as you waited for this final blow to crash into you — killing you — but then you were flying through the air. Something had pushed you out of range of the blast.

You landed directly on your face. Oof, that hurt. You lifted your head, spitting sand out of your mouth, and tried to locate where you had just been. Your gaze filtered over the countless figures before finally falling back on Obi-Wan’s familiar figure. His hand was outstretched in your direction, but his gaze was still focused on Chud. Had he used the Force to save you? You coughed hard, the sand you ingested irritating your already compromised lungs.

You fought for air as you frantically searched the sand around you for a weapon of sort. Thankfully, you found another discarded blaster. You snatched it out of the sand with your offhand and aimed the gun at Chud. You pulled the trigger and watched as the blaster bolt hit him square in the chest.

Captain Chud stumbled backwards, holding his free hand over the wound. This brief distraction was all Obi-Wan needed, with a twirl of his wrist you watched as his lightsaber separated Chud’s ugly head from the rest of his body. It hit the ground, with his body following quickly behind, crumpling into a green heap in the sand. Chud was dead. He was really dead!  

“(Y/N)!” you watched Obi-Wan rush back to your side. He bent down over you, hurriedly looking you over for new injuries. “Are you alright?” he asked quickly.

"I— I’m fine,” you gasped.

“Come on we have to get out of here,” he wrapped an arm around you and lifted, helping you to your feet. You wobbled in place for a second, putting all your weight on your left leg. Obi-Wan supported your bad side, slinging your arm over his shoulder. He still held his saber, blocking rogue blaster shots whenever they got close to the pair of you. You provided cover fire with your left hand, your aim wasn’t as good as it normally was, but right now you needed every advantage you could get. A single blaster shot, no matter how poorly aimed, could be the difference between life and death.

The two of you struggled towards the center of the arena where the rest of the Jedi were concentrating. You could see Padmè in the middle of the group, she was still alive! The joy of seeing her still standing gave you a second wind. Obi-Wan could sense your sudden burst of energy and increased his pace. The two of you finally joining the rest of the group.

“Padmè!” you called out over the sounds of battle. She turned her head, her eyes lighting up once she saw that it was you calling out for her.

“(Y/N)! You’re still alive!” she yelled back, a smile on her face. “Just hang on a little bit longer!”

You were panting now, leaning heavily on Obi-Wan. You could feel your body trying to give out on you. Your legs were shaking, your heart was racing, and your vision was once again trying to grow dim. A rib rattling cough ripped through your body, causing you to nearly drop your weapon.

“Stay with me, (Y/N),” said Obi-Wan. You chanced a glance over at his face. His attention was on your attackers, sweat beaded down the side of his forehead. His long hair was askew, a thick layer of dust covering him from head to toe. He looked utterly exhausted, but he still wore that determined look from earlier. He had complete faith that somehow both of you would survive this day.

Then with no warning it felt as if your left shoulder was on fire. You screamed in pain, looking down at the body part in question. You immediately wished you hadn’t. A large chunk of your shoulder was missing; the flesh burnt from a blaster wound. You stared wide eyed at the gash, your heartbeat pounding in your ears, drowning all else out.

Obi-Wan adjusted his grip around you, like it was suddenly harder for him to keep you on your feet. You lolled your head to look over at him and saw his lips moving. He was saying something, but you couldn’t hear him. The only thing you could hear was the blood rushing through your head.

He was staring at you with those bright blue eyes of his, wide with concern. You stared dumbly back at him, your vision swimming. You wanted to tell him that you couldn’t hear what he was saying but you couldn’t. You couldn’t say anything. Slowly his face was swallowed by the darkness that had been threatening to take over your vision all day. Then there was nothing.

Notes:

Hi everyone! I promise this will be the last chapter that ends with you falling unconscious. I also think this is the last chapter that will closely follow the movies, I know for sure the next couple chapters will be all original content because I haven’t watched the Clone Wars tv show yet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Chapter 6: Recovery

Beep. Beep. Beep. A machine chirped faintly from somewhere nearby. It wasn’t annoying or painful like the hum of Obi-Wan’s restraints had been… Obi-Wan, was he alive? Hold that thought — were you alive?

You slowly opened your eyes and stared up at a bright white ceiling. Where were you? You glanced around the small room; everything was white and sterile. Medical equipment littered the room, including a heart rate monitor that filled the silence with its steady beeping. You were in a medical facility of some kind, that much was certain, but what planet were you on? How had you gotten here? The last thing you could remember was being surrounded by battle droids, their blasters aimed straight at your face… and then nothing.

You were alone, save for a powered down medical droid that was standing in the corner of the room. You struggled to sit up, finding it incredibly difficult to rise from the hospital bed. The temptation to curl back up under the soft white sheets was strong, but your curiosity was stronger. You needed to know what was going on.

When you finally managed to sit up in bed, the medical droid lit up; its sensors triggered by your movement. “Please do not move. You have been in critical condition.”

You opened your mouth to reply but no sound came out. You tried clearing your throat and to your surprise the pain from before was gone. What was left was a mouth so dry you felt as if you had eaten an entire desert’s worth of sand.

“Would you like some water?” asked the droid. You nodded your head. The machine approached your bedside, producing a cup from seemingly nowhere. It held the drink out towards you, watching you with its bright yellow eyes.

You gratefully took the cup from the droid and lifted it to your mouth. As soon as the liquid touched your lips it was as if a switch had flipped inside your mind. You couldn’t remember the last time you drank a glass of fresh, cold water. Whatever they served you in captivity was always hot and left behind an aftertaste of dirt, this was nothing like that. You started chugging.

“Please slow down! You might choke,” chirped the robot. It reached out, trying to snatch the drink from your hands but you turned your body, shielding the cup from him. “Miss Felvora, please stop!”

You ignored the droid, draining the cup as fast as you could. You were panting, trying to catch your breath, as you held the empty cup out towards the machine. “More please.”

“I am sorry, but I cannot provide you with any more at this time.”

“Why not?” you protested.

“As I said before, I do not want you to choke. Besides, you have a visitor waiting to see you. I was told to send them in as soon as you were awake,” said the droid. “Are you ready to receive them?”

“Uh, sure?” You waited with bated breath for the droid to return. Your mind was racing, who could possibly be here to visit you? You only knew Padmè, Anakin, and Obi-Wan on this planet, by that logic it had to be one of them who was here to see you.  

The door opened and standing there was your mother. That couldn’t be right, she was back on Naboo with your father. Unless… was this another hallucination?! Your heartrate quickened, the monitor next to you beeped loudly in warning.

“(Y/N), baby it’s me. You’re safe now,” the woman said quickly. This couldn’t be really happening, there was no logical reason for your mother to be here with you right now. This had to be another one of Count Dooku’s mind tricks! A cold sweat drenched your skin, fear filling your body. Where were you really? Were you still in the arena or were you back in your cell?!

The woman lingered in the doorway, hesitating to get any closer. “I don’t want to scare you,” she said. “The doctors said that it would be best if only one of us came to greet you when you woke up this time.”

"This time?” you echoed. You had woken up before this?

“Yes,” said the woman, taking a step further into the room. “You woke up once before, after your first bacta bath. Do you remember?”

You stared at her for a moment. Was she telling the truth? A face flashed through your mind, her face — your father’s too — they were staring down at you with such worry. You shut your eyes and focused on the image, trying to expand upon it. Your parents were hovering over you, but someone else was standing near them. It was a tall figure with hazy details. Who was that? You focused on them, willing their identity to be revealed. Ever so slowly their face came into view, and it made you pause. It was the face of Marco, your estranged older brother. What was he doing here?!

“(Y/N)?” Your supposed mother’s voice was full of concern. “Do you want to me to send the medical droid back in?” You shook your head no. Even if the medical droid was real this wasn’t something it could fix; this was a problem within your mind.

“When I woke up… who was there?” you asked. Maybe if you tried poking holes in this delusion’s story it would dissipate?

“Your father, me, and Marco,” she said, taking another step closer. That was a second confirmation that he had indeed been here. This was getting confusing, was this really real? “We were told to come here to say our goodbyes. The doctors they… they didn’t think you would survive.”

“Where is here?”

“We’re in the medical facility on Coruscant. The Jedi brought you here for treatment. I wanted them to bring you home to Naboo, but they said your injuries were too great and that our medical facilities just weren’t up to the same standards,” she huffed. “I protested of course. It’s not like we’re some remote Outer Rim planet, it’s Naboo for Maker’s sake!”

You were back on Coruscant? You had really escaped?! This was too good to be true, you had to be hallucinating again. You stared hard at the woman. Was she really your mother? She looked just like her, but all the other hallucinations had seemed real as well… you couldn’t trust your eyes anymore. So you reached out with your mind instead. You had little faith that this would work, you had only ever felt that strange mind sensation around Obi-Wan, but logic dictated you should feel it around everyone. He had told you that the Force was in all living things, that should include this woman who was claiming to be your mother. If she were a hallucination, you would feel nothing.

You reached out towards the woman with your mind, looking for something, anything. At first you didn’t feel anything but then, ever so slowly, you felt a soft sensation on the edge of your mind. It was gentle and comforting, like a warm hug after a bad day. Somewhere deep in your mind you recognized it; there was no doubt in your mind, this woman was truly your mother!

“Mom?” you asked, voice cracking.

“Yes, baby?”

“Is that really you?”

“Yes, sweetie, it’s really me,” she sniffled, hurrying to your bedside. She sat down on the edge of your bed, looking at you with tear filled eyes. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

“Mom!” you cried, falling into her arms. Your mother wrapped you in a tight embrace, holding you close to her chest. She was real! That meant you were finally safe at last! You sobbed into her chest, clinging to her as if she might disappear.

“Oh, my baby, my poor baby,” your mother cried, rocking you in her arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You’re safe now. I promise.”

The two of you stayed like that for what seemed like hours. You hadn’t been held like this since you were little; it reminded you of when you had bad dreams and looked to her for comfort as a child. When you finally pulled away from her embrace, you were embarrassed to find her dress damp from your tears.

“Sorry about that,” you murmured motioning to the stain.

She looked down and laughed, “Do you really think I mind something like this? I changed your diapers for crying out loud.” You smiled weakly; she did have a point. “How do you feel, sweetie? Are you in any pain?” That was a good question.

You took stock of your body’s condition. Your head was free of pain; despite the many injuries you knew it had sustained. The spot on your neck where Dooku’s saber had burnt you felt fine, and so too did the burn on your hand! You glanced down at the hand in question, sure enough it looked completely healed. You couldn’t even tell that it had been singed in battle! What about your shoulder?!

You looked at the injured limb and to your amazement it looked fine! You reached under the sleeve of your ugly blue hospital gown and felt around with your fingers, sure enough there was no longer a chunk missing; no sign that you had been hit with a blaster shot! You took a deep breath, trying to hold back your excitement — it didn’t hurt to breathe! Your ribs were healed! What about your ankle?!

You quickly lifted the blankets and looked at your right ankle. It was wrapped tightly in a white cast that extended halfway up your calf. You wiggled your toes, trying to gauge the extent of the injury. Much to your surprise, the movement barely hurt!

You lowered the blanket and smiled brightly at your mom, “I feel great!”

“Oh, thank the Maker for that,” she sighed. “I was so worried that after everything you’d still be in pain.”

“I mean my ankle still kind of hurts but that’s it,” you shrugged. “How is that possible?”

“When they brought you here you were put into a bacta tank immediately, there wasn’t time to try and fix your ankle first,” she explained. “The medical droid I spoke to said that you were in shock and… and that there was a serious risk of you dying.”

“Oh.”

“Because of that, your ankle started to repair itself even though your bones weren’t realigned first. So after your bacta bath it was decided you needed surgery,” said your mom. “That’s when we all arrived, just after you got out of your first bath.”

“I remember seeing you and dad… and Marco,” you admitted. “Why don’t I remember more?”

“Because you panicked,” said Mom, tears welling in her eyes. “You started screaming that we were hallucinations and that we weren’t real. You tried escaping so the doctors had no choice but to sedate you for your own safety.” Well, that explained why everything was so hazy. You had been drugged.

“You’ve had two more surgeries to try and repair your ankle since then,” explained your mother. “That’s why you’re still in a cast.”

“Oh. How bad was the break?” You knew that Chud had really done a number on your ankle, but if you had undergone this many surgeries, just how extensive was the damage?

“It was completely shattered,” sniffed your mother. “I don’t know who could ever do such a horrible thing.”

"I do,” you muttered. Chud’s ugly green face floated through your memory, just the mere thought of him made your blood run cold. But then you remembered his severed head laying in the sand, his large black eyes staring at nothing. Obi-Wan had done that to protect you… had he survived the battle?

“Who else was brought here?” you asked.

“Everyone that had been injured during the battle. Mostly Jedi I think. Why?”

“Was Padmè with them?” Your mother would have no clue who Obi-Wan was, but she knew the Senator. Padmè would know what had happened to Obi-Wan and if she didn’t, she would know someone who did.

“Yes, I spoke with her while she was here. She’s fine,” said your mother.

“She’s not here anymore? Why not?!” Padmè’s bloody back flashed in your mind. She had been injured; she needed a doctor!

“(Y/N), there’s no easy way to say this,” your mother hesitated. “You’ve been unconscious for nearly a week now.”

“What?!”

“The doctors thought it best to keep you sedated until your ankle was mostly healed. They didn’t want to risk you reinjuring it in another escape attempt,” she explained. “Padmè and the others left days ago.”

“Oh.”

“Plenty of people have tried visiting you though.”

“Even Marco?”

“Yes, even Marco. He came straight here once I told him you had been found.” So, Marco really did show up. That was unexpected. You were never close with your brother and when he had moved off planet you didn’t stay in touch. The fact that he had shown up was surprising to say the least.

“Is he still here?” you asked.

“No, he had to return to Kenari. Said he had urgent business. But he wanted us to call him as soon as you woke up,” explained your mother. “Dad’s here though. Do you want to see him?”

You nodded your head and watched as your mother retreated towards the door and stuck her head out into the hallway. When she returned to your bedside, it was with your father in tow. He stared down at you, tears in his eyes. You never had seen your dad cry before.

“I’m sorry,” you said without thinking. You didn’t mean to make your parents cry, that was the last thing you wanted!

“Oh, sweetie, you have nothing to apologize for,” said your dad. He bent down and wrapped you in a tight hug.

“I know but…” you paused, fighting back another round of tears. “I feel bad for making you worry like this.”

“You’re safe, that’s all that matters.”

***

Your recovery was a slow process. Despite multiple bacta baths and surgeries, your ankle was slow to heal. The extent of the injury, as well as the fact that you had been wounded for so long, made it hard for the doctors to completely reverse the damage caused by Chud. When you finally were released from the medical facility it was with a slight limp that the doctors said would get better with time but never truly disappear. Considering everything you had gone through a limp wasn’t bad.

That said, you were still far from what could be considered healthy. You were still horribly underweight, bacta tanks couldn’t undo the effects of starvation, so you were put on a strict diet to try and regain some much-needed body mass. To make matters worse, you were still plagued with the psychological effects of Count Dooku’s mind torture and your time in isolation.

You were given strict orders to return to the medical facility once a week for routine follow-ups; the doctors wanted to monitor your progress closely for the next several months. Because of this, you would remain on Coruscant, staying with Padmè in her penthouse instead of returning to Naboo with your parents.

As much as it terrified you to return to the site of your kidnapping, it was the best choice available. Your mother protested this decision, insisting it be best if you took some time to recover on your home planet before returning to Padmè’s side. To assuage your mother’s worries, father decided to leave you with a parting gift, an R3 unit named R3-M1. You nicknamed her Remi.

Remi was just what you needed to help you reacclimate to the outside world. It was paradoxical; when you were in isolation all you wanted was to talk to others. Now that you were free, the thought of being surrounded by people was terrifying. Just being in a room with more than one person at a time was too much. Remi was the perfect middle ground. Since she was a droid, she wasn’t nearly as threatening. The little forest green and white robot monitored your condition and followed you around everywhere you went, which wasn’t very far. You hardly ever left your room.

It was easier this way. Dormè and Padmè visited whenever they could. Since you were on temporary leave, Dormè was left to pick up your slack, accompanying Padmè everywhere she went. With war now having broken out you didn’t see either of them all that often, despite living in the same place.

War… you never thought you’d live to see it. All across the galaxy droids were fighting clones; clones identical to the pair that stood guard just outside your door. Drift and Lefty were assigned as your personal private bodyguards when you returned to the penthouse. Despite supposedly being identical in appearance, the two were complete opposites.

Drift would keep his check-ins short, only asking you the most basic questions before leaving you alone once more. Whereas Lefty would linger, always wanting to talk. He reminded you of Gwin in that regard. Gwin… other than the clones, she was the only constant in your daily routine.

It had been months since your escape, and you were still in self-isolation. Gwin was visiting, having just gotten off her shift. The golden rays of sunset streamed in through your large window, bathing your room in a warm orange glow.

“It’s been four months, how much longer are you planning on staying locked up like this?” asked Gwin.

“It’s better this way,” you stared out the window.

“Better for who? Certainly not you,” huffed Gwin. You glanced over at her; she was perched on the end of your couch, her chin resting in her hand, and a sour expression on her face. “You escaped prison and what did you do as soon as you got out? Locked yourself up again.”

Remi chirped at your feet, asserting her opinions on the matter. You didn’t speak binary, but you didn’t really need to in order to understand her. You could tell by her tone that she didn’t approve of your actions. The scowl on Gwin’s face let you know that she agreed with the droid.

“We have to get you out of this place,” huffed Gwin. “This is getting ridiculous.” 

“I can’t just act like nothing happened,” you sighed. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Because you’ve hardly told me anything! I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong,” implored Gwin.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” you muttered, crossing your arms, turning your gaze back towards the window.

“Then don’t, but you can’t just shut yourself away forever. You need to get on with your life,” she insisted.

“I can’t go back out there. It’s just too much.”

“I’m not saying go to a concert or something like that. You need to start small. Have you even left your room?” asked Gwin.

“A few times.” You left out the part where it was the middle of the night and everyone, except Drift, was asleep.

“That’s good. You should do that more,” nodded Gwin. “Maybe try and have an actual conversation with one of your cute bodyguards?”

“They always have helmets on, how do you know they’re cute?” you asked, turning back to face your friend. Was she just being funny or was she serious?

“Turns out if you talk to them, there’s a chance they’ll take them off,” Gwin said with a bright smile. “Trust me, they’re cute. Though I have to admit they aren’t nearly as handsome as your Jedi friend… Master Kenobi, was it?”

You felt your cheeks flush at the mere mention of his name. You were instantly reminded of the mind torture, of embarrassing yourself in front of him over and over again. You could feel the shame rising in your chest and bile rising in your throat.

Remi chirped loudly. She didn’t know who Obi-Wan was, but she knew that the mere mention of his name caused your heartrate to soar. She rolled to your side, nudging you towards the couch with an aggressive beep.

You patted the droid’s head, “Okay, okay.” You sat down on the couch next to Gwin, holding your head in your hands. You needed to collect yourself; your emotions were all over the place.

“Jedi got your heart racing?” Gwin teased.

“It’s not like that,” you huffed. You shouldn’t be reacting like this to the mere mention of his name. You should be past this. It’s been months. You were supposed to be getting better.

“It sure looks like that,” said Gwin. “What happened back there? You said he rescued you but that’s it.”

“There’s not much to tell,” you sighed, raising your head. Gwin was giving you a judgmental look. “Really there isn’t!” you insisted.

“Sure… absolutely nothing happened when the handsome Jedi knight saved you,” Gwin rolled her eyes. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”

Remi chirped inquisitively. She wanted to know the truth as well. You fiddled with the hem of your sleeve; Gwin was right. Something had happened during your escape but admitting it out loud was something else entirely. As long as you kept your observations to yourself, you could ignore them…

“(Y/N), what happened?” Gwin asked softly.

“I told him to leave me behind. To let me die… I told Padmè the same thing,” you admitted in a quiet voice. “I told them to save themselves. Padmè listened to me, Obi-Wan didn’t.”

“Obi-Wan? You’re on a first name basis now?” Gwin asked, raising an eyebrow. Kriff, you were trying to keep that a secret! 

“Uh, yeah,” you said, trying to play it off like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Ooh how exciting!” Gwin squealed. “So wait, you’re telling me he refused to leave your side?”

“Yeah.”

“I knew it!”

“Knew what?”

“He likes you!”

“That’s impossible.” Had your friend completely lost her mind? “He’s a Jedi. They aren’t allowed to form attachments. I’ve told you this before.”

“That doesn’t mean he can’t be sweet on you, it just means he can’t do anything about it,” said Gwin. She had the same diabolical smile on her face that she had when she pushed you into Obi-Wan at the nightclub so long ago.

“He’s not sweet on me!” you insisted. “He was just doing his duty. He would have done the same thing if it were you that had been kidnapped.”

“I doubt he would have been quite as concerned if it were me in the medical facility,” snorted Gwin.

“What?”

“Nobody told you?” Gwin asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Told me what?”

“Master Kenobi was there when you had your first bacta bath,” said Gwin.

“I don’t believe you.” If this were true, why was this the first you heard about it? Why hadn’t your parents mentioned this to you?

“It’s the truth! Why would I lie to you?” insisted Gwin. “He was already in the lobby when I got there. We weren’t allowed into the operating room since we weren’t family.”

“He was really there?” you asked.

“Yeah, he looked pretty upset too…” Gwin trailed off staring at you expectantly.

“What?”

“I’m just waiting for you to add in the part where he swept you off your feet and kissed you in the midst of battle,” she stated.

Remi chirped in surprise, spinning her head to look at you.

“That didn’t happen,” you said flatly.

“Then what did? Something happened out there. Something’s changed between the two of you since we saw him at the nightclub. I’m just trying to figure out what,” said Gwin.

“He…” you hesitated, trying to find the right words. “He refused to let me die. He saved me… he killed my captor.”

“Oh my stars,” gasped Gwin. “Really?”

“Yeah. Decapitated the guy, right after I shot him,” you stated flatly.

The three of you sat in silence for a few moments, processing this information. You were the one to break the silence. “If he was at the medical facility, why didn’t he come visit me?”

“Don’t know. I never saw him after your parents showed up and I wasn’t really focused on what he was doing. I was way more worried about you,” explained Gwin. “Had I known about this weird vibe, I would have asked him more questions.”

You rolled your eyes at Gwin’s comment. The last thing you wanted was her getting involved in this already complicated relationship, friendship? Could you call Obi-Wan your friend?

“You know we should totally ask your bodyguards about Master Kenobi. They might know more,” said Gwin.

“Oh, that is not happening,” you dismissed this idea immediately. “This conversation stays strictly between us three. Understand?”

“But—”

“No but’s Gwin. He doesn’t like me; he’s literally not allowed to.”

“Just because—”

“Say you’re right. Say he does like me. What does asking the clones about him do?” you asked in a firm voice. Gwin opened her mouth to answer but you cut her off. “It’ll draw unnecessary attention and put him at risk. He could be expelled from the Jedi Order if the wrong person heard your rumor and believed it to be true. He doesn’t like me, end of story.”

Gwin stared at you for a moment, clearly wanting to say more on the subject. You raised an eyebrow, daring her to challenge you. “Alright, alright. I won’t say anything, but I know I’m right. He is so into you.”

“He is not!”

***

Two more months dragged by. You had taken Gwin’s advice and started leaving your room more often. That said, you were still actively avoiding others, choosing to explore the apartment only when you knew it to be empty or when everyone was asleep. It was usually the latter option; you had to pass the late-night hours somehow. You still weren't sleeping, every time you shut your eyes you were plagued with horrible nightmares. You were always being beaten senseless by Chud, tortured by Count Dooku, or forced to relive your worst memories for the millionth time. It was a miracle if you got more than two hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.

While your mind refused to heal, your body had no qualms doing so. You were back to your original weight and no longer looked like a walking corpse. Even your limp was mostly healed, it was hardly noticeable unless you knew to look for it. You were finally free from the physical effects from your interment. If only you could say the same thing about your mind.

Padmè was growing increasingly worried about your lack of sleep. Every time she visited, she insisted on taking you to another set of doctors to try and find a solution to your problem. You always brushed her off; all you needed was time. Sooner or later, it would finally click that you were safe, and your mind would quieten down. You just needed to be patient… at least that’s what you kept telling yourself.

It was the middle of the afternoon, and you were lounging on your couch, flipping through a magazine. Remi chirped at you, rolling over to your side.

“Hm, what is it girl?” you asked, setting aside your magazine. Remi spun her head towards your coffee table and beeped excitedly. You cast your gaze over to where she was motioning and saw your comlink buzzing. Oh, someone was calling you.

You stood up and answered, “Yes?”

“Ma'am, it’s Drift. There’s a visitor here to see you. Says they were sent here by Senator Amidala,” said the clone. A visitor? Maybe Padme finally was making good on her threat to make you see another doctor? It didn’t really matter who it was, if they were sent by Padmè you had no choice but to speak with them.

“Sure, send them in,” you said. You tried to sound calm and collected, but the thought of an unexpected visitor worried you. No, there was nothing to worry about. Drift was meticulous. He knew what he was doing, he would never send someone dangerous in to see you.

You straightened your dress and turned towards the door. You wanted to look somewhat put together for whoever this mystery guest was. The last thing you wanted was for them to report back to Padmè that you looked poorly.

When the door opened, you froze. Standing there was Obi-Wan, impeccably dressed as always.

“Miss Felvora, I hope you don’t mind the interruption. Senator Amidala requested that I come check on you.” His voice was stiff, formal even. What happened to being on a first name basis? That’s when you remembered that Drift was standing only a few feet away from the Jedi. Obi-Wan was being professional in front of the clone… at least you hoped that’s all it was.

“Master Kenobi, this is most unexpected. Please come in,” you said as professionally as you could. Your heart started racing, his face reminding you of your time in prison.

Obi-Wan shut the door and took a few steps into the room. Before he could get any closer Remi rolled in between the two of you, beeping angrily at him. The droid then turned her head towards you, chirping in warning. She was trying to warn you about something, was this not the real Obi-Wan? No, he was real. You could feel the warmth radiating off him from here. Why was Remi acting so strange? 

“It seems your droid doesn’t like me,” observed Obi-Wan. He sounded somewhat amused at the situation.

“Sorry about that,” you apologized quickly. “Remi, I’m fine. This is Master Kenobi, a Jedi. He’s not going to hurt me.”  

Remi spun her head to look at Obi-Wan and then you, then she did it again. She was acting like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was she malfunctioning?

That’s when you felt dizzy, your heart racing faster than usual. Remi beeped in alarm but remained firmly entrenched between you and the Jedi. That’s when it all made sense. Remi only knew Obi-Wan from your scattered conversations with Gwin and from your body’s reaction to him. It was no wonder the little droid didn’t like him; he went directly against her protocols.

“I can promise you that your mistress is in safe hands,” Obi-Wan said to the droid. His tone was light, but you could tell that something was troubling him.

“Remi, it’s alright. Can you leave us alone for a few minutes, please?” you asked. The droid was silent for a few seconds before beeping a short affirmative. Then Remi turned her head towards the Jedi again and beeped one long low note before zipping away to your bedroom.  

“Did your droid just growl at me?” asked Obi-Wan.

“I think so. Sorry about that,” you sighed. Maker, Remi, what were you doing?!

“It’s perfectly alright… how are you feeling?” asked Obi-Wan as he crossed the room towards you.

"I’m well,” you said with a forced smile. You were actively trying to suppress the visions from your mind torture, just seeing his face was enough to bring the bad memories back up to the surface.

“Padmè seemed to think otherwise. She insisted I come see you for myself,” Obi-Wan said with a frown. He was close now, within arm’s reach, he would be more than able to see the deep dark circles under your eyes. “You aren’t sleeping.”

“Who told you that?” you asked, trying to act nonchalant.

“The bags under your eyes for starters,” commented Obi-Wan crossing his arms. “And Padmè… and Drift… and Lefty.” All of them ratted you out?!

“I see privacy isn’t a huge concern to the Jedi,” you huffed.

“They’re just worried about you, (Y/N). I’m worried about you. You don’t look well,” he said.

“Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you’re tortured for weeks on end.” Why couldn’t everyone just leave you alone? You just needed time to work through this or learn how to ignore it better. You could handle this on your own, you didn’t need anyone’s help. “They’re just bad dreams.”

“Dreams pass with time.” There was an odd tone to his voice, like he was hiding a deeper meaning behind such simple words. You raised an eyebrow in question, what had he meant by that? Had he been having nightmares about the arena too?

“What did they do to you while you were imprisoned?” he asked taking a step closer, his voice gentle. He was avoiding your questioning gaze. Clearly this conversation was supposed to be about you and not him.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” you snapped. You surprised yourself with this sudden aggression, but Obi-Wan took it in stride.

“Ignoring the problem will only make things worse,” he said, taking another step closer. “You should be doing better by now. The fact that you’re still unwell is concerning.”

“I’m working on it.”

“I don’t think you are,” he said bluntly. How dare he?! He had no idea of the horrors you endured! How could he act like he knew what you had gone through? He wasn’t there!

“You wouldn’t understand,” you snapped. “No one can.”

“Let me try to,” he asked gently. You met his gaze; his bright blue eyes were pleading with you. They were the same eyes you saw over and over again during your torture. You could feel the bile rising in your throat and a chill shoot down your spine. You quickly looked away, choosing to stare at the floor instead. Your mind was threatening to overwhelm you, to make you relive your worst memories for the millionth time. Normally this only happened while you were asleep, this never happened while you were awake. At least not to this degree.

“(Y/N)? Are you alright?” Obi-Wan hurriedly asked, rushing to your side.

“I’m fine,” you murmured. Your heart was racing, you felt lightheaded. “I think I just need to sit down.”

“Let me help you,” implored Obi-Wan. You nodded your head, too weak to argue with him. He gently wrapped an arm around your lower back and using his other arm as support, ushered you towards the couch. You collapsed onto it, trying to collect yourself. Why was your mind rebelling against you like this? You only ever had glimpses of your torture while dreaming, you were wide awake right now and yet…

“(Y/N), I need you to let me search your mind. I need to see what’s causing these problems,” he said, kneeling before you.

You shook your head no, practically trembling. The last time someone had searched your mind your most precious secrets had been exposed. You never wanted to go through that again.

“I know you’re afraid, I just want to help,” he pleaded.

“I can’t go through that again,” you whimpered. “Please don’t make me.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Again? What do you mean again?”

“Count Dooku he…” you took a deep breath, trying to maintain what little composure you had left. “When I refused to tell him where Padmè was he… he read my thoughts.”

“I see,” frowned Obi-Wan. “He forced himself into your mind.”

“Yes.”

“(Y/N), listen to me very carefully. What he did to you… it’s unforgiveable but you have to let me help you. I’m worried that he left something behind, something dark, that’s causing you to have these nightmares,” explained Obi-Wan. “But I can’t be sure without looking into your mind.”

“Will it hurt?” you asked in a quiet voice.

“Not if you let me in willingly. When memories are taken by force, that’s where the pain comes from. I promise I won’t hurt you,” he said firmly. “You can trust me.” You could trust him, you knew that. He was a good man who had gone above and beyond to save you — you owed him your life. If he believed this to be the only way to help you then so be it, you would listen to him.

“What do I have to do?”

“Give me your hand.” You held your hand out to him. He carefully sandwiched it between his own, his familiar warmth flowing into you. You gulped nervously, whether from this intimate act or because you were afraid of what was to come next, you weren’t sure. “Just try and relax.”

“Okay.” You tried to set your nerves aside, but thinking about that only made you more nervous. You fidgeted in your seat, terrified of what was about to happen next. The painful memories of Count Dooku’s torture floated on the edge of your mind, threatening to take over all rational thought.

“Just breathe,” Obi-Wan stared up at you and you froze. Lost in his eyes. He had that same intense look that he had when you first met all those years ago. Then you felt a ripple within your mind, the same one you had felt while in captivity. You paled, the memory of that terrible day taking over your mind. “(Y/N), focus on me.” He squeezed your hand, grounding you back in reality. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

You nodded your head, watching him with wide eyes. You were petrified. You felt the ripple dance across your mind once more and you shut your eyes, bracing for the pain. But it never came. Hesitantly you peeked an eye open and looked at Obi-Wan. His eyes were shut, a deep frown on his face — all the while the rippling continued. Why was he so determined to help you? Was Gwin right, did he really like you or was he just being friendly? Shit, change topics now! He was literally reading your mind; this was not a safe topic to consider at this moment.

You tried making your mind blank, but memories flitted by. All negative, all horrible. You trembled as Dooku’s face flashed in your mind’s eye. He was the source of your agony, that you knew, but what exactly he did to break you in such a way was still a mystery.

“You poor thing,” murmured Obi-Wan. You focused your attention back on him. His eyes were open once more, the rippling sensation stopping just as fast as it had started. “You’ve undergone horrors no one should.”

“What’s wrong with me?” you asked, voice cracking.

“I’m not exactly sure,” he admitted. “Dooku is trained in the ways of the Sith. I’m unfamiliar with the technique he used, but my suspicion was right. Whatever he did, it left something behind.”

“And that’s what’s causing the nightmares?” you asked hopefully.

“I think so.”

Well at least you knew you weren’t imagining things. There was something in your mind hindering your healing process, something that was making your nightmares worse. Was it the same thing that made you feel so poorly around Obi-Wan?

“Would it also make me ill during the day?” you asked.

“What do you mean?”

“When you came in I… Maker how do I say this without sounding horrible?” you muttered. You were trying to be polite but there was truly no good way to say this. “Your face… when I looked at you, it was like I was back in my prison cell. It was like Dooku was back in my mind, making me remember horrible things about you.”

“What do you mean?” Obi-Wan asked gently, giving your hand a squeeze.

“Whatever he did to me, it made embarrassing moments physically hurt. He kept making me embarrass myself in front of you over and over again,” you admitted in a quiet voice. You couldn’t bear to look at his face as you said this, it was too awful. You stared at the floor instead. “Looking at you physically hurts.”

“That shouldn’t be happening,” muttered Obi-Wan. “This is most odd. Do you feel that way around anyone else?”

“Sometimes around Gwin or Padmè. I felt it a bit around my parents too when I was in the hospital, but not to the same degree.”

“What about with the clones?” he asked.

You shook your head, “No, never.”

“I’m assuming you saw the others in Dooku’s visions?” 

“Yes.”

“Then it must be a residual from Dooku’s mind tricks,” he mused.

So you weren’t crazy, there was something seriously wrong with you. Something deep within your mind was impending your healing process, it wasn’t your fault you weren’t getting better. “Is there a cure?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Obi-Wan, “but I’ll bring this issue to the attention of the Council. Perhaps one of them will know of a treatment?” The Jedi Council was going to discuss you of all people? That seemed awfully serious. Just what had Dooku done to you?!

“Should I be worried?” you asked nervously.

“Not at all. I promise,” he offered a supportive smile. You couldn’t help but return it, a bit bashfully. It was hard not to believe him when he looked as convincing as he did. That’s when you noticed something,

“You cut your hair?!” How had you not noticed that sooner?! His once long flowing hair was now cut much shorter and styled neatly. As much as you missed his long hair, you had to admit this new look suited him well.

“I did. Long hair and war just don’t mix I’m afraid,” he said with a chuckle.

“Is that where you’ve been all this time?” you asked.

“I’m afraid so. When I’m not on planet, I’m off leading troops as General Kenobi.”

“Sounds like you’re awfully important now,” you said, trying to sound humorous. It worked, the corner of his mouth ticked up into a grin.

“Some might say that.” 

“So what do I call you now? Master or General?” you asked with a grin.

“I would prefer if you simply called me Obi-Wan,” he said easily. “But I suppose when we’re out in public you can call me by either title.” You suddenly became acutely aware of the fact that he was still holding your hand, he hadn’t let it go even after he ceased searching your mind. Your eyes flicked down to where the two of you were still connected and it was as if he had suddenly noticed the same thing. He quickly let go of your hand.

“I should be going, I need to report my findings to the Council,” he said, rising to his feet.

“I understand. I wouldn’t want to keep you, General,” you answered, testing his new title. “I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“I’m never too busy to talk with you,” he replied easily. “May I have your holopad for a moment?” There was that familiar twinkle in his eye that he had back in the cargo hold all those years ago.

“Uh, sure.” You handed the device over to him and tried to remain calm. Did he really just say that? Was he flirting with you? Was Gwin right?! 

Obi-Wan fiddled with the device for a few moments before returning it. “I connected our holopad frequencies. This way I can let you know what the council says about your treatment plan as soon as possible.”

“I see, thank you.” You tucked the device back into your pocket. Obi-Wan had connected your holopads, that meant he could call you whenever he wanted to. No, don’t get your hopes up. Gwin was wrong, he was a Jedi; they weren’t allowed to form attachments. More so he was a general in a vicious war, he wouldn’t have time for holopad calls. This was for emergencies only.

“I really must be going. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I will answer, day or night,” said Obi-Wan.

“Right,” you nodded your head. “I— uh. I should see you to the door,” you started to stand.

“No, it’s perfectly alright. You stay where you are,” he insisted. “Until we understand exactly what is making you ill, you shouldn’t push yourself. Besides, I don’t want to give your droid another reason to dislike me.”

You chuckled in agreement. “Fair point. Until next time, Obi-Wan.”

“Farewell, (Y/N).” He bowed deeply and left the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts once more.

Notes:

Did I retcon you having an older brother at the last minute? Yes. Will he come into play later in the story? Who knows? I did go back to chapter four and added one line about him so he doesn't come completely out of left field. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, sorry it took longer than normal to publish, I was on vacation. I've also started to watch the clone wars so I'm sure I'll implement at least a few things from the show into the upcoming chapters. Until next time!

Chapter 7: Meditation

It was later that evening when you heard your holopad ring. You had just stepped out of the refresher; a towel wrapped tightly around your figure and your wet hair tucked neatly into another atop your head. Where had you put your holopad? You could have sworn you left it on the coffee table…

Remi chirped, spinning in a circle near your bed. It must be somewhere over there. You hurried to the droid’s side and listened carefully. Sure enough, the ringing was coming from somewhere within your bedsheets. You must have forgotten to put it away last night after your call with Gwin. You crawled onto your bed, rifling through the sheets. Where was it? There! You grabbed the device and answered without checking to see who was calling. There was no need to, Gwin was the only one who would ever call you this late.

“Good evening, Miss Felvora. I hope I am not interrupting anything.” Obi-Wan’s blue tinted figure appeared in your hand. You were so caught off guard you nearly dropped your holopad. Kriff, he had given you his frequency earlier, hadn’t he? You didn’t expect that he would reach out so soon!

“Oh— uh, no. I was uh— just getting ready for bed,” you stammered. No kriff, you were getting ready for bed! You were dressed in nothing but a towel! It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together! If you knew he would be calling, you would have tried making yourself look at least somewhat presentable before answering!

“I apologize for calling so late. This will only take a few moments of your time,” he said in a professional tone. If he was caught off guard by your appearance, he sure didn’t show it; his gaze remained intensely focused on your face.

Remi beeped disapprovingly from her spot by your bedside. You shot her a look that said be quiet and turned your focus back to Obi-Wan. “Yes, what is it?”

“I spoke to the council this evening. They recommend that I take to you to one of the temple’s healers for a more thorough examination as soon as possible,” he explained. “Are you available tomorrow morning?”

“Uh, yes but…” you hesitated. How could you possibly begin to explain to him that you weren’t sure you’d be able to leave your apartment? Everything overwhelmed you so much after you had escaped, the thought of venturing out into the city scared you.

“I can make arrangements so that it would just be you, me, and the healer at the temple,” said Obi-Wan.

“Couldn’t they just come here?” you asked hopefully. If you didn’t have to leave, that would be preferable.

“No, I’m afraid not. The temple is located on a vergence of the force, it amplifies our abilities,” he explained. “It is imperative that you come here.”

“Oh.” You bit the inside of your cheek, trying to hide just how distressed the prospect of leaving this place was to you. You hadn’t left it since your release from the medical facility…

“If it’s alright with you, I could come collect you in the morning?” asked Obi-Wan. “Say around nine?”

“Alright,” you nodded your head, trying to hide your inner turmoil.

“(Y/N).”

“Yes?”

“You have nothing to worry about. I will see to everything,” he said with a reassuring smile.

“Right.”

“I’ll see you in the morning then. Good night,” he said with a short bow.

“Good night,” you echoed clicking the holopad off. You sat still for a few seconds before chucking the dumb thing across your bed.

“Oh Remi, why didn’t I look at who was calling?!” you whined, hiding your face in your hands. Maker, you weren’t sure you would be able to look Obi-Wan in the eye tomorrow morning. He had seen you practically naked! This was so much worse than him seeing you in your nightgown all those years ago!

Remi chirped at you in a way that sounded an awful lot like an ‘I told you so.’ Kriff, from here on out you would have to check who was calling before you answered. You were not going to repeat this incident ever again.

***

Come morning you had hardly slept. It was unsurprising, you never slept, that was the whole reason you were in this mess to begin with. But your insomnia was amplified by your fear of leaving the apartment, prohibiting you from getting even your meager two hours of sleep you had grown accustomed to. As a result, you were groggy and the dark bags under your eyes looked even darker in the mirror. You stared hard at your reflection as you covered it with makeup, it was a last ditch attempt to make yourself look somewhat presentable.

This was to be your first, and hopefully only, visit to the Jedi temple. You wanted to treat this moment with the respect it deserved. You were dressed in a long navy gown that you hoped looked formal enough for the occasion. You wouldn’t just be representing yourself on this trip, but Senator Amidala’s office as well.

You paced around the apartment as you waited for Obi-Wan to arrive. Remi watching you from her spot by the door. She was on high alert, already having beeped in warning several times.

“I know my heart rate is too high. There’s nothing I can do about it,” you had snapped after her fourth warning. Remi remained quiet after that, but kept her gaze focused on you, spinning her head back and forth as you hurried from one side of the room to the other.

After what seemed like ages your comlink buzzed. You answered it right away, “Yes?”

“General Kenobi is here to see you ma’am,” said Lefty. “Should I send him in?”

“Yes, please,” you replied, trying to keep the nervousness out of your voice. You stopped pacing and turned towards the door just as it opened. Standing there was General Kenobi.

“Good morning, Miss Felvora,” he bowed deeply.

“General Kenobi,” you bowed back. The two of you were being so formal, it was the complete opposite compared to last night. Maker, the memory of last night flashed in your mind and you fought back against the blush that threatened to cover your cheeks. Hopefully he wouldn’t mention it.

Remi beeped in a low tone, rolling in front of Obi-Wan blocking his way into the room. She wasn’t going to let this grudge go anytime soon, was she?

“Good morning to you too Remi,” Obi-Wan said in an even voice. Then he lifted his gaze towards you, “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, will the clones be coming with us?” you asked, grabbing your cloak from the back of the couch as you approached the door.

“No. I already discussed it with them, and I believe you’ll be the most comfortable for the time being if we limit the number of people you have to interact with. At least for today,” he explained.

You let out a sigh of relief, “Yes, that would make things easier.”

“I thought so. Come on, I have a speeder waiting for us,” he said motioning towards the hall.

You joined Obi-Wan at the door and Remi chirped, following right on your heels. You stopped and looked down at your trusty droid. “Sorry girl but you have to stay here for now. I’ll be back soon.”

“I promise no harm will befall your mistress,” said Obi-Wan. “You have my word.”

Remi beeped angrily and then rolled away towards the window. She stood motionless, staring out the window, clearly pouting about not being allowed to accompany you on this journey. You were willing to bet she’d still be upset when you returned later.

“Is there any way we could bring her along?” you asked in a hushed voice. “She does monitor my condition.”

“I’m sorry but I think it’s best if we limit the number of individuals involved at least for today,” Obi-Wan replied, matching your hushed tone. “Trust me, the last thing I want to do is make your droid dislike me even more, but your safety comes first.”

“Right.” You tucked your hands into the oversized sleeves of your dress, trying to hide the fact that they were trembling. You had to be brave or at least you had to try. You turned towards the door and took a deep breath, steadying your nerves. Here goes nothing.

“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Obi-Wan said in your ear. He placed his hand on the small of your back, steering you out the door. You wanted to ask if this level of intimacy was appropriate for a Jedi but thought better of it. He didn’t have to be here helping you; you wouldn’t dare risk insulting him. Besides, you didn’t really mind as long as it was only the two of you.

“Good luck ma’am,” said Lefty as the two of you passed by.

“Thank you,” you murmured, trying your best to remain calm and collected. You had over a decade of experience working in a highly visible position, you were a professional when it came to hiding your emotions. So you put on a blank face and let Kenobi steer you towards the hangar. Although your outwards appearance was immaculacy put together (minus the dark circles under your eyes), you were an absolute mess on the inside. Your stomach was churning with worry, your palms were sweaty, and your pulse raced. Kriff your body was acting like you were off to the executioner’s block instead of the doctor’s!

You stole a glance over at Obi-Wan, he was focused on the path ahead of you, a determined expression on his face. Could he feel the worry inside you? Probably. For some reason it was like you were an open book around him, it must be because of the force.

“How are you feeling?” he asked glancing down at you, catching onto the fact that you had just been blatantly staring at him.

“Nervous,” you answered honestly. Then you quickly averted your gaze, it was rude to stare, even if you hadn’t meant to.

“Don’t worry. I’ve made all the necessary arrangements, we shouldn’t see another person until we reach the temple,” he said.

“Thank you, this whole situation is still a bit much for me,” you admitted quietly. It was embarrassing to be so weak. Before your interment you wouldn’t think twice about something as banal as leaving the apartment, now it filled you with nothing but a deep sense of dread.

“You’ve suffered a terrible trauma, my friend. The council was surprised you had recovered as much as you had after I detailed them on what transpired back on Geonosis.” He saw you as a friend? You were friends with a Jedi knight?! For some reason this thought pleased you immensely.

Obi-Wan glanced over at you, a questioning look on his face. Had he felt your sudden excitement? Oops. You kept your gaze focused on the hallway in front of you and tried to calm your mind. You didn’t really want him to know how excited you were at the mere prospect of being friends, it was kind of embarrassing.

He averted his gaze and continued on with his story. “The healer we are going to see is one of the best in the temple. He’s deeply connected to the force and should be able to determine what exactly is causing your illness.”

“Can he heal me?” you asked.

“He couldn’t say. Not until he examined you for himself,” said Obi-Wan. He opened the door to the hangar, and for the first time ever it was deserted. Every other time you had stepped foot in here, it was always packed to the brim with servants and guards. “We’ll take that speeder there.”

He pointed to a simple ship; one designed for low orbit travel only. It was an open-air two-person craft, perfect for a quick drive to the temple. You climbed into the passenger seat and buckled yourself into the ship. You hadn’t been in a speeder this small in a very long time. Not since you had been with Bartlett. He would take you out on dates in a speeder like this. Bartlett… you pushed his face from your mind and focused on the task at hand. There was no time to be sad about ex-boyfriends, you were on a mission to heal your mind.  

The Jedi temple grew in size as your ship drew closer. You had seen it before as it was visible from Padmè’s balcony on a clear day, but you had never paid it that much attention. It was always just another building on the horizon. Now that you were up close you could truly appreciate just how grand this building truly was. It dwarfed all the other structures around it. You stared up at the towers that seemed to touch the clouds, did Jedi really live up there?

“Admiring the view?’ Obi-Wan asked.

“Yes, I’ve never been this close to your temple before. It’s beautiful,” you replied, staring up at the building. “Is this where all the Jedi live?”

“Not all of them, though it does act as a central hub for our order… I grew up within these walls.” So he wasn’t just welcoming you into his temple, he was welcoming you into his home. “Had your force sensitivity been discovered when you were a child, you might have called this place home as well,” added Obi-Wan.

“It’s kind of mind boggling to think about that,” you admitted. You lowered your gaze as you neared the side of the building. “I don’t think I would make a very good Jedi.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” he answered with a laugh. “You’d be surprised what one can learn if properly trained.”

He carefully parked the speeder on a landing platform and turned off the engine. “We’re here.”

You nervously looked around the platform. It was deserted. So far, he had kept his promise of not having you interact with others on this excursion, and for that you were grateful. Your nerves were frazzled and to make matters worse you suddenly felt a strange buzzing within your mind. It was like the faintest undercurrent of electricity was caressing your mind.

“What is that?” you asked as you unbuckled your seatbelt.

“What’s what?” he asked hopping out of the vehicle.

“That weird feeling inside my mind. It kind of feels like electricity?” you struggled to properly describe the sensation.

“Oh, right. I forgot you haven’t been here before. That’s just the force,” he explained as he circled the speeder. “Like I said earlier, the temple is built on a vergence of force energy. It’s easier to feel here. May I?” He offered his hand out to help you down and you took it without hesitation.

You hopped down and smoothed any wrinkles from your dress. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Follow me.” He let go of your hand and started towards a large door to the temple. You gulped nervously and hurried after your friend. This place was huge and the absolute last thing you wanted was to get lost inside such a structure, though you found it hard to believe that Obi-Wan would let you out of his sight while inside. 

The two of you walked through the grand building. Every hallway and room you entered was just as deserted as the landing platform had been. Obi-Wan had meant what he said. Thank the maker for that, it was taking everything you had to not turn around and run back to the speeder. You were beyond nervous, simply from the fact that you were no longer within the confines of your apartment.

“We’re nearly there,” said Obi-Wan. He led the way through the temple, walking just a few steps ahead of you. He was completely at ease in this place, seeming to know every twist and turn as if it were the back of his hand. It made sense, after all he had just told you this was his home. He had grown up here. The thought of Obi-Wan as a child made you smile, what was he like? Was he just as serious and determined as he was now or was he completely different?

You didn’t get to ruminate on this thought for long because Obi-Wan came to a stop in front of a large, unmarked door. The healer must be just on the other side.

Obi-Wan turned to face you, “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” you sighed. You felt like a ball of nerves; you really shouldn’t be this nervous over meeting someone new. All you could do was hope that this healer could fix the problem.

“If things get to be too much in there, just say the word and we’ll stop. Your safety is my number one concern,” said Obi-Wan.

“Thank you, I appreciate that,” you said with a weak grin. He returned it with a reassuring smile and pushed the door open.

You took a deep breath and followed him inside, the large door swinging shut behind you. You found yourself in a sparsely decorated room with large windows that offered a beautiful view of Coruscant’s skyline. The floor was covered with several cream-colored cushions, of which only one was occupied.

Sitting there on the floor with his legs crossed was a Quarren. His salmon-colored head was large with several large tenacles hanging near his mouth. You hadn’t interacted with many Quarren before, but you knew that they were aquatic by nature. This man reminded you strongly of an oversized squid.

“Greetings Master Kenobi,” said the man in a deep gravelly voice. He stood to greet the pair of you, towering above the two of you. Were all Quarren so tall or was he just an outlier?

“Master Shef, it’s good to see you again. Though I wish it were under better circumstances,” Obi-Wan said bowing deeply.

“As do I.” The man turned his gaze to you; his bright turquoise eyes seemed to stare straight through you. Was that a Jedi thing? It sure felt like a Jedi thing. “Greetings my child, welcome to the Jedi temple.”

“Thank you Master,” you bowed deeply. You were in way over your head. Best to copy Obi-Wan’s mannerisms for now until you could get your bearings.

“(Y/N), allow me to introduce Master Ennek Shef, one of the Jedi temple’s best healers,” said Obi-Wan. “Master Shef, this is Miss (Y/N) Felvora.”

The two of you bowed again in greeting. So far this reminded you an awful lot of one of Padmè’s senate meetings, lots of dancing around the subject with countless formalities.

“The council told me of your troubles. I hope that I may be able to help,” said Shef. “Please have a seat.” He motioned to a cushion to his right. You hesitantly sat down, trying to look as formal as possible despite the extremely casual position you were forced to sit in.

“You too Obi-Wan,” said the squid.

“Are you sure? I don’t mean to intrude,” he asked looking worriedly down at you.

“I could sense Miss Felvora’s fear long before the two of you opened my door. I believe having you here will help make this a less worrisome experience for her,” explained Shef. “Please sit.”

Obi-Wan nodded his head and sat in a cushion across from you and the Jedi; the three of you now sat in a rough circle. You glanced between the two men, what were you supposed to do now?

“I was told Dooku forcibly searched your mind. Is that correct?” asked Shef.

“Yes,” you answered facing him. “I refused to give up information, so he forced it out of me.”

“I see. Is that all he did?” Shef asked, his eyes searching your figure for something. You had no physical reminders of your time in captivity — save for the slight limp which he wasn’t able to see due to the fact that you were sitting down. What was he looking for?

“No. He…” you thought for a moment. How could you describe the horrors you went through? “Before that he tried something else. I don’t know what he did but he placed his hand on my head and then… I was forced to relive my worst memories on loop.”

Shef inhaled sharply.

“What is it?” asked Obi-Wan. “What did he do to her?”

“I believe Dooku used a Sith force ability called memory walk. If that is the case, you are very lucky Miss Felvora,” said Shef.

“How so?” you were trying to be polite. How in the world could you be considered lucky? You were tortured within an inch of your life!

“You are sitting here in front of us. Most people who undergo such torture have their minds completely and utterly broken,” explained Shef. “The fact that you are talking to me right now is a very good sign.” Oh, maybe you were luckier than you originally gave yourself credit for?

“Then why am I still so unwell?” you asked. “Why am I not getting any better?”

“Tell me what troubles you, my child,” said Shef.

“I can’t sleep. Every time I shut my eyes I’m right back in my cell. I’m either reliving my worst memories for the millionth time or I’m reliving the horrors I was forced to endure during captivity.”

“Is that all?” Shef asked.

“No.” You glanced over at Obi-Wan, Maker this was going to sound horrible just like it did yesterday. “I feel ill when I look at General Kenobi.”

“How so?” Shef looked between the two of you, tilting his head, obviously confused by your statement.

“Well, uh… it’s what I go through when I’m asleep. Only this time I’m wide awake. I feel like I’m going to puke and my pulse skyrockets. I get horrible chills, and sometimes lightheaded too,” you explained staring hard at the floor. You hated having to say such horrible things in front of Obi-Wan. He called you his friend and yet here you were saying that simply looking at him made you physically ill. What a terrible friend you were turning out to be.

“How interesting…” mused Shef. “Do you feel this way with around anyone else?”

“I felt it around my parents and some friends when I first escaped, but not to the degree I do with Obi-Wan— sorry, General Kenobi,” you corrected yourself quickly.

“My child, we are all friends here. There is no need for formal titles if you do not wish to use them. I want this experience to be as comfortable for you as possible,” said Shef with a smile. “These feelings, you say they are the strongest around Obi-Wan?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Hm,” muttered Shef. He stroked his tentacles, ruminating on the problem.

“If I may interject for a moment, Master?” interrupted Obi-Wan. “My friend told me yesterday the only commonality between myself and the others is that she was forced to relive memories of us during her captivity.”

“Ah, I see. Those you did not have bad memories of were not affected?” asked Shef.

“Yes,” you said.

“How odd… You had bad memories of Master Kenobi?” Shef asked, looking between the two of you, a confused expression on his face. “Had you met before your rescue?”

“Yes, we met over a decade ago during the siege of Naboo,” you answered. “I, uh… may have embarrassed myself in front of him several times.”

“You have nothing to feel embarrassed about my friend,” Obi-Wan said quickly. “I look back on our meeting quite fondly.”

You could feel the blush threatening to creep across your cheeks. He thought fondly about meeting you despite all the horribly embarrassing things you had said to him? Maybe Gwin was right? Maybe he was sweet on you? How else could he look past your egregious social blunders?

“I think I am beginning to get the picture,” said Shef. “May I?” he offered his hand out to you. You hesitated, fear gripping you tightly. “I promise you that I mean you no harm.”

You glanced at Obi-Wan for support and he nodded his head. If Obi-Wan trusted this man, then that was good enough for you. You extended your hand, letting the Jedi master take it in his own. His hand was moist; it felt like a sweaty palm, though you were sure it was just because of his aquatic heritage.

“Close your eyes and try to clear your mind,” instructed Shef. You did as he said and tried to think of nothing. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. Your familiar mantra echoed throughout your mind until you felt the familiar ripple dance across your mind’s surface. You inhaled sharply, terrified. You braced yourself for the pain, but it never came.

You sat there for what seemed like ages, Shef digging around your mind searching for the remnants of whatever Dooku did to you. You shifted in your seat; this was taking longer than you thought it would.

“I see the problem,” said Shef letting go of your hand. “You may open your eyes, my child.” You did as he said and were alarmed to find a frown on his face. Well, that didn’t bode well.

“Can you fix me?” you asked. Please say yes. Please say yes.

“It is possible, but it will not be easy,” said Shef.

“What do I have to do?” You’d do anything to go back to the person you were before your captivity. You just wanted to get better.

“You and I will have to meditate on this problem together. Since you are not trained in the ways of the Jedi, I foresee your treatment taking quite some time,” explained Shef.

“Oh.” So because you weren’t a Jedi you would take longer to heal? How hard could it be to meditate? All you had to do was sit still and be quiet for a while, right?

“What about her symptoms?” asked Obi-Wan. “Why are they so much worse around me?”

“Good question. May I?” Shef extended his other hand towards Obi-Wan. Kenobi took it without hesitating, shutting his eyes and breathing deeply. You watched the two of them for a moment. What was causing this issue? Why was everything so much worse around Obi-Wan and why only him?

After a moment, Shef let go of Kenobi’s hand. “My primary theory is that this problem is being caused simply by the fact that both of you are force sensitive. Whatever Dooku left behind, it seems to react poorly to the light side of the force.”

“Will that get better with treatment?” you asked, praying that the answer was yes. You would hate to feel like this forever; Obi-Wan and you were friends now.

“I believe so. Though…” Shef trailed off glancing between you and Obi-Wan.

“What is it?” asked Obi-Wan. 

“Please take Miss Felvora’s hands in your own,” instructed Shef.

“Certainly, Master,” said Obi-Wan.

You offered your hands to your friend. He took them in his own, giving them a gentle squeeze of support. You weren’t sure what Shef was trying to accomplish and judging by the confused look on Obi-Wan’s face he didn’t know either.

“Close your eyes,” said Shef. You did as he asked, allowing your eyes to flutter shut. “Now focus on each other’s force signatures.”

“Force signature?” you echoed. What did that mean?

“The aura around Master Kenobi. How does he feel?” clarified Shef. Oh, he probably meant that weird warmth you always felt around Obi-Wan.

“Warm,” you answered honestly.

“Good, focus on that,” said Shef.

You took a deep breath and reached out with your mind. Obi-Wan’s warmth was right there, like he was reaching out towards you with his mind as well as his hands. You allowed the feeling to wash over you, and your breath caught in your throat. This was unlike anything you had ever felt before. The only time that even came close to this was when you had been overcome with that wave of warmth back in your prison cell — back when you were trying to bash your head in to get rid of your supposed hallucination of Obi-Wan. But what you felt in this moment was much more than that.

It was like your force signatures had combined into one entity. You could feel everything inside you as normal, but also all of him, and all the while there was that undercurrent of electricity. The force was hard at work. It acted like a glue binding your force signature and his, letting the two of you push and pull the force with your minds. It was like clay and the two of you were molding it in whatever shape you wanted to. Every move you made felt in sync with his, it truly felt like the two of you were of one mind. It was the strangest sensation you had ever felt in your entire life. It wasn’t unpleasant or painful, just completely and utterly different than any other feeling you had ever felt before.

“How interesting,” said Shef breaking the silence. “You may open your eyes now.”

You did and met Obi-Wan’s gaze. His pupils were dilated, and he was breathing heavier than before. It was like he had come out of a trance. Did you look the same as him? You couldn’t seem to tear your gaze from him, that strange electricity still crackling between the two of you. You trusted in this feeling. You trusted him.

“I believe that there is something else that is amplifying your adverse reactions to Master Kenobi,” said Shef. Hearing this Obi-Wan hesitantly let go of your hands, his eyes never leaving yours.

“What is it?” you asked.

“The two of you have an abnormally strong force bond,” explained Shef. “You say you have known each other for quite some time?”

“Yes, over a decade now,” answered Obi-Wan.

“But we didn’t speak to one another for that entire time,” you added. “We only got to know each other fairly recently, just before my captivity.”

“Hm…” Shef stroked his tentacles, lost in thought. While he was distracted you hesitantly reached out with your mind towards Obi-Wan again. Would you feel that same strange sensation?

You reached the edge of his warmth and gently poked at it with your own mind. Obi-wan raised an eyebrow in question. You kept your face blank and butted your force signature against his again, you wanted to see if you could replicate what had just happened. You knew you were being too curious for your own good, but you didn’t care about that right now. You wanted to explore this new power of yours.

Obi-Wan gave you a curious look but you felt his mind welcome you once more. The two of you circled one another within the force, poking and prodding one another’s force signatures. You tentatively pushed into the edge of his warmth, curious as to what would happen. You were overwhelmed with feelings that were not your own: protectiveness, worry, and a deep sense of yearning flowed through your mind. You instantly pulled back, afraid of what you had just felt. Had you just read Obi-Wan’s mind?! You hadn’t meant to pry, you were just curious!

Obi-Wan’s force signature circled yours still, he hadn’t pulled away after the sudden intrusion. His face was neutral, but his gaze was still firmly fixed on you. You couldn’t quite make out the look in his eyes, at the very least he didn’t seem angry about your accidental mind reading.

“Miss Felvora?” Shef’s voice brought you back to the physical world.

“Yes?” you tore your eyes away from Obi-Wan and focused on the squidman instead.

“What sort of condition were you in during your captivity?” asked Shef. “Were you hurt by your captors?”

“Yes… I was told I wasn’t expected to survive by my doctors here on Coruscant. I was in very poor condition,” you explained. Shef eyed you curiously before turning his gaze to Obi-Wan.

“Master Kenobi, you rescued Miss Felvora from her prison. Correct?” asked Shef.

“Yes.”

“What exactly did that entail?” Shef asked.

“I was held captive in the same cell she was,” said Obi-Wan. “When I was brought in, she was already there, laid out on the floor.”

“Was she alive?” asked Shef, a slight urgency in his voice.

“Barely.”

“How did you know that?” asked Shef.

“I could feel her force signature,” Obi-Wan admitted. He glanced over at you, a melancholy look in his eye. “It was thready, hardly there at all. I feared she was lost.”

“What happened next?” asked Shef. Obi-Wan turned his attention back to the other Jedi.

“I was restrained, so I waited. Eventually (Y/N) woke up,” said Obi-Wan. “But she was disoriented, confused. She thought I was a hallucination. She…” He hesitated, staring hard at the ground.

“I tried hurting myself,” you finished the sentence for him. Obi-Wan nodded, not raising his gaze. “But I stopped before I could do anything too drastic.”

“Why?” Shef turned to look at you. His gaze seeming to pierce right through you, it was beyond intimidating.

“Um, uh,” you stammered. “I guess— I guess it was because I figured out he was the real Obi-Wan and not a hallucination. I felt his warmth — his force signature I mean. I didn’t feel anything with the other hallucinations.”

Shef turned his gaze back to Obi-Wan who was still staring firmly at the ground. “What did you do?” His tone was accusatory and that caught you off guard. Had Obi-Wan done something wrong?

Obi-Wan sighed, “All I did was extend my force signature, nothing more.” After a beat he added, “I was just trying to keep her alive.”

Shef nodded his head, like something was starting to finally make sense to him. If only he would share what that was. “And after that?”

“We were taken to be executed,” said Obi-Wan finally raising his gaze to face Shef once more. “We both managed to break free from our binds and I did my best to protect her in the battle ensured immediately after.”

“Were you injured in battle?” Shef directed that question towards you.

“Yes, twice. My hand was grazed by a blaster shot and I took a direct hit to the shoulder not long after that,” you admitted.

“She passed out right after being shot,” Obi-Wan added.

“You were with her when this happened?” asked Shef, that urgent tone in his voice once more.

“Yes, she passed out in my arms,” Obi-Wan said, his jaw clenching tightly. “I could feel her slipping away but there was nothing I could do.”

“Interesting… most interesting,” said Shef.

“Master?” Obi-Wan asked, obviously not following the other Jedi’s line of thought. “What does this have to do with her condition?”

“It has been said that force bonds can develop in moments of death or near death. I believe that is what has happened with the two of you,” explained Shef. Near death experiences huh? Well that certainly made sense. “I believe that is why your bond is so strong.” The tone Shef was using made it almost sound like this bond was a bad thing.

“What do we do about it?” you asked.

“I am unsure,” said Shef. “I must meditate on this…” he murmured that last line mostly to himself.

The three of you lapsed into silence for a few moments. Everyone processing this new information. You were bonded with Obi-Wan through the force? Why was Shef acting like this was a bad thing? Should you be worried? What about the darkness trapped in your mind? How did that fit into all of this?      

“Miss Felvora.” Shef’s voice brought you back to the present.

“Yes?”

“I believe the best course of action will be for us to focus on your healing for now. I want you to come here for weekly meditation sessions. I foresee that this process will take quite a long time,” said Shef.

“If you think that best,” you said. What else could you say? No thanks, I like being out of my mind? Please. You would do whatever it took to get better. Even if it meant having to visit this place once a week for Maker knows how long. Too bad there wasn’t just a Jedi mind trick to clear your mind of the dark side. That would make life so much easier.

“Good. We will have your first session now. Master Kenobi?”

“Yes, Master?”

“Please wait outside.”

“As you wish.” Obi-Wan bowed his head and stood to leave. Your heartrate quickened. You didn’t want to be left alone with a stranger! Within seconds he was gone, leaving you alone with Master Shef. You could feel the fear rising in your chest. Was this a result of Dooku’s mind torture or the effects of your self-isolation? You couldn’t tell.

“Relax my child. You are safe. Master Kenobi is just on the other side of that door, he is not going anywhere,” Shef said in a calm voice. “I simply believe that you will do better if it is just you and I here during this process. Do you understand? I do not wish to upset you.”

“I understand,” you said in a quiet voice.

“Good. Now close your eyes and let us begin.”

You allowed your eyes to flutter shut once more and waited for his instructions.

“Clear your mind. What do you feel?” asked Shef.

You searched your mind. What did you feel? “I feel scared,” you admitted.

“Look past your feelings. What do you feel within your mind?” asked Shef.

You furrowed your brow in concentration, trying to ignore your fear. That’s when you noticed the force humming quietly in the background. “I feel the force; it feels like electricity.”

“Good. What else?”

“I feel… something. Um, it’s— I think it’s you?” The feeling was cool and sharper than Obi-Wan or your mother’s force signatures. It reminded you of an ice cube in some strange way.

“Yes, that is my force signature. Try to look past it. Focus on yourself, not the room you are in,” instructed Shef. That was easier said than done. He might as well ask you to ignore him talking in your ear; now that you had noticed his force signature it was impossible to ignore.  

“Focus on the force, let that feeling guide you,” said Shef. You turned your attention back to the electric current within your mind. It was faint but as you focused on it you felt it react to your attention. It reached out towards you, enveloping your mind, humming with power.

“What does it feel like?” asked Shef.

“Like endless energy.”

“Yes, good. Now, let some of that energy flow into your mind.”

“How do I do that?” you asked. You could feel the energy swirling around you, waiting to be used.

“Lower your defenses. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions you have bottled up.”

“But if I do that, I’ll remember everything. The visions, the torture… I’m not strong enough,” you whimpered.

“Yes, you are. You withstood a force attack from a Sith lord. If your mind was weak, you would have been lost long ago,” Shef said in a firm voice. “Trust in the force.” Trust in the force. That’s what Obi-Wan had told you before the two of you had entered the arena. The force was supposed to protect and guide you… but would it protect you from the horrors you had endured? Only one way to find out…

With a gulp you relaxed your mind, trying to lower your defenses. It wasn’t working, you could feel your mind fighting this, trying to protect itself. On the other side of this wall were the worst moments of your life, if you opened the dam, you weren’t sure you would be able to close it again.

“I can’t do it!” you exclaimed. “It’s too much.”

“Hm, perhaps we should start smaller then,” proposed Shef. “Focus on one memory, one that you relived during your memory walk.”

The first image that flashed through your mind was Obi-Wan’s face. Of embarrassing yourself at his master’s funeral. Why did you say the things you had to him? It was horrible!

“Now try and focus on the force,” said Shef. You nodded your head and tried to ignore the pain radiating from the memory. “Do not ignore the memory. Hold in your mind alongside the force, let the two intertwine with one another like you and Obi-Wan’s energies did earlier.”

You didn’t have to do anything for that to happen before, it just sort of happened on its own. This was like trying to force oil and water together. The memory kept dancing just out of reach of the force, any time it got too close it would dart away again. You chased after the memory, trying to hold it down while at the same time not let go of the force. But the force was everywhere, right? Maybe you needed to just summon the force to the memory instead of dragging it around behind you?

You took a deep breath, focused on the way that Obi-Wan’s eyes had looked so hurt that day and then willed the force to appear right there in the middle of the memory. And it did! You could feel the energy flow throughout the scene in a way you never had before! The memory played out as it always had, but at the end when you turned to leave Obi-Wan, you didn’t feel pain or embarrassment just peace.

“Well done!” Master Shef complimented you. “Now, slowly leave that memory.” You pulled away from the scene, the Naboo skyline steadily disappearing, replaced with the emptiness of your mind. “When you feel ready you may open your eyes once more.”

You took a moment to collect yourself before blinking slowly, readjusting to the bright sunlight streaming in from the windows.

“How do you feel?” asked Shef.

“Tired.” You were exhausted but not like when you were starving to death. Back then that made your body feel heavy, this exercise made your mind feel that way. It reminded you of how you felt after completing a rigorous exam.

“That is completely normal. You did a very good job today,” Shef praised you. “Humor me and think about the memory you just mediated on.”

You nervously thought back to your time on Naboo. About that conversation on the bridge and to your amazement, it didn’t hurt! You could look back on the memory and not feel any pain!

“It doesn’t hurt!” you said excitedly. “Am I cured?”

“Only partially, my child. You need to allow the force to heal each memory that was corrupted by Dooku,” explained Shef. “That is why I said this process will take some time. If you were better trained in the art of meditation, we could do more than one memory at a time. However, that is not a safe option right now. Perhaps in time, but not now.”

“I understand,” you said bowing your head. Given how tired you were you trusted his judgment.

“I want you to promise me you will not attempt this healing process on your own. It is imperative that you only do this while accompanied by myself or another Jedi here in the temple. You are simply not attuned enough with the force to manage this feat outside these walls. Should a memory get away from you, you would need another Jedi to help you take control of your mind once more. If you do this on your own and fail to heal the memory, I fear you may only make things worse,” said Shef. “Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“Well then,” Master Shef slapped his legs and stood. “I believe we are done for today.” You scrambled to your feet, not wanting to keep the Jedi waiting for even a second.

“Thank you, Master,” you bowed deeply in gratitude.

“You are most welcome,” Shef said with a smile. “I expect to see you this time next week. Understood?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Excellent. Now then, let me return you to Master Kenobi,” he said with a hint of a grin on his face. It’s like he was laughing at a joke only he knew the punchline to. You wanted to inquire what that was about but decided against it. You really needed this man to like you, especially if you would be interacting with him for the foreseeable future. So you held your tongue.

Shef opened the door and there was Obi-Wan, waiting patiently for your return.

“Well then?” he asked, tucking his hands behind his back. He looked expectantly between the two of you.

“She did excellent. I believe that in time she will make a full recovery, so long as she puts the work in,” Shef said with a bright smile. You smiled at that. You might make a full recovery! There was hope after all! 

“I have complete confidence in her,” Obi-Wan grinned.

“As do I. Until next time,” Shef bowed deeply and shut the door leaving the two of you alone in the hall.

“So it went well?” Obi-Wan asked.

“I think so. Master Shef seemed to think I did a good job,” you shrugged your shoulders. “I don’t feel any different though.”

“Oh,” he seemed somewhat disappointed at that.

“Well, wait,” you said. “I shouldn’t say that yet.” Obi-Wan gave you a quizzical look but said nothing as you searched his face. You still felt ill, but your symptoms were much better than they had been before your meditation session.

“Well?” he asked.

“I don’t feel nearly as sick as I did before,” you said with a bright smile. “At least around you I mean.”

“That’s great!” Obi-Wan was practically beaming. His smile was contagious; you couldn’t help but mirror it. 

“I don’t want to push you, why don’t we get you back to your apartment? I’m sure Padmè will be excited to hear the good news,” suggested Obi-Wan.

“I think that’s a good idea. Meditating really wore me out.”

The ride back to your apartment was a quiet one. You were more tired than you gave yourself credit for and struggled to resist the urge to fall asleep. As the two of you weaved through traffic you chanced a look over at Obi-Wan. What you had felt within the temple with him… it was unlike anything you had ever felt before. You wanted to ask about the feelings you felt when you accidentally pried into his mind, but that felt like an invasion of privacy, so you decided on another question instead.

“Obi-Wan?”

“Yes?” he asked, glancing over at you for a second before returning his eyes to the road.

“What do you think about what Master Shef said? About our force bond I mean?” you asked.

“I must admit I was surprised to hear that. Though…” he hesitated, deep in thought. “I suppose I am a fool for not noticing it sooner.”

“Do you think it’s like he said? That it developed because I was near death?” you asked. “Or did it form earlier, like when we met back in the cargo hold?” You suppressed the wave of embarrassment that threatened to swallow you whole. That memory would be targeted next if you had any say in the matter. You’d love to be able to actually have a conversation with Obi-Wan, without wincing in pain.

“It’s possible,” he mused. “I should have suspected something was amiss back then. I suppose I was distracted,” he mused.

“Distracted by what?” 

He cleared his throat, refusing to meet your eye. “Everything with Anakin and my master, I wasn’t expecting for us to end up in such a situation.” He was lying, you weren’t sure how you knew but you did. What was he hiding? You wanted to ask him more about this topic, but that’s when he pulled into the landing bay of your apartment.

“We’re back safe and sound, just like I promised,” he said, changing subjects quickly. Oh, he is definitely hiding something. Whatever. Everyone was entitled to have a few secrets, even Jedi. You decided to let the issue go for now. You could always ask him about it later.

He hopped out of the speeder and, like before, offered a hand to help you down. You were more than capable of climbing down yourself, but it would be rude to refuse the help. You took his hand and hopped down, “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome,” he smiled. “Do you want me to walk you back to your room?”

“No, I think I can manage,” you said with a smile. It was nice of him to offer but he was a general in a war, he certainly had more important things to do than walk you back to your room. You knew where you were going. “I appreciate the offer though.”

“Of course,” he bowed his head slightly. “Make sure to tell your droid I say hello. I’m hoping to get on her good side.”

You chuckled, “Will do…will I see you again next week?” It was an innocent enough question. If your healing had to occur in the Jedi temple, it wasn’t a stretch to imagine that your paths may cross again.

His smile faded, a serious look taking over his handsome features. “No, I’m afraid not. I’ve been recalled to the front.”

“What?” you asked, face falling. He was going to the front lines?

“I’ll be alright,” he said in a firm voice. “I’ve been there before, and I always come back in one piece. You have nothing to worry about.”

“You’re literally going off to war. I think I have a good reason to worry,” you quipped. How could he be so calm about this?

“I appreciate your concern, truly I do, but I don’t want to cause you anymore pain.”

“Then you better come back here in one piece.”

“I’ll try my best,” he said with a rueful look. You stared up at him, knowing full well that concern was plain as day on your face. “Don’t you worry. I’ll be back before you can miss me,” he said in an even tone.

What happened next was in slow motion. He raised your hand, he still hadn’t let go of your hand after helping you out of the speeder, and brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss. Your eyes widened in surprise. What the kriff was he doing?! “Until next time.”

“Safe travels,” you forced the words out, trying your best to sound nonchalant.

With one last smile he let go of your hand and returned to the speeder. You watched him fly away, waving in farewell until his ship disappeared into the horizon.  You let your arm fall to your side once he was entirely out of view and inhaled sharply. Maker did that just really happen?! Was Gwin right? Did he like you more than a friend?! You thought back to the brief moment you had been inside his mind. You had felt many things but one stood out from the rest — that deep overwhelming sense of yearning. Was it true then? Did he really like you? Did you like him? Were you even allowed to like him?

“Miss Felvora, good to see you made it back safely,” Lefty’s voice rang out from behind you. You turned to greet your bodyguard. “How did your appointment go?”

“Hi Lefty, it went well I think,” you answered trying to hide your surprise at his sudden appearance. “How did you know I was back already?”

“General Kenobi informed me of your arrival. He didn’t want you to be left unattended, said your treatment really knocked it out of you,” explained Lefty. “I thought I’d offer you a hand back to your room?”

“Thank you,” you replied with a smile. Even when he wasn’t here, Obi-Wan was still looking out for you.

Notes:

Hiya! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, I know I did! I had a lot of fun writing you and Obi-Wan interacting with the force — I don’t know if it’s lore accurate but who cares lol. I also wanted to say that Master Ennek Shef became a thing simply because I wanted to make a “yes, chef” joke. When I learned I could do that and throw in a Master Chef joke (like the show) I knew I just had to make him a character! I have no idea if the Jedi had dedicated temple healers, but they do now haha. Oh also! Remember how I said at the beginning I was working on a writing challenge throughout the month of June and I had hoped to finish the story by the end of the month? Yeah, that is SO not happening! I have WAY more story to tell than I initially thought, so buckle up we’re in this for the long haul!

Chapter 8: Reunion

Over the next three months you worked hard to heal your mind. Each week you made the journey to the Jedi temple, and each time it got easier to leave the confines of your apartment. In the wake of Obi-Wan’s departure it fell to Lefty and Drift to accompany on these outings. You didn’t mind their company; in fact, you were starting to grow rather fond of the pair.

Despite this, you couldn’t help but wish that it was Obi-Wan taking you on these trips instead. Having a Jedi by your side in the temple drew much less attention than marching in alongside a clone trooper, and if he were here you wouldn’t have to spend your days worrying about his safety.

You hadn’t heard a word from Obi-Wan since he had left for the frontlines and the silence was deafening. You had no idea if he was safe or captured, alive or dead… and that scared you. Every morning you scanned the news for some sort of clue to his whereabouts in the galaxy. You knew it would be easier to just call him, but that didn’t seem appropriate. He was off fighting a war; he had more important things to do than talk to you. Besides, what if you tried calling him while he was in the middle of some top secret operation and your call is what gave away his position? You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you were the reason that something terrible happened to him. So you did nothing and simply waited for your friend to reveal himself once more.

Although you had not spoken to Obi-Wan in quite some time, you had spoken to your older brother Marco. It wasn’t the first time he had reached out to you after your rescue, but it was the first time that he had invited you out to dinner. He had explained over holopad that his work was bringing him to Coruscant and that he had hoped to visit you while he was in town. You accepted this invitation and now found yourself seated in one of the nicest restaurants in the upper levels of the city.

The hostess seated you at a table meant for four people, even though there were several two person tables available. You raised an eyebrow at this but didn’t question her judgement, you weren’t the one to make the reservation. Perhaps Marco was bringing someone along with him? Maybe your parents? The four of you hadn’t had a meal together in a very long time…

You sighed quietly and drummed your fingers on the immaculately white tablecloth. You had already been sitting there for fifteen minutes with no sign of your brother. This wasn’t like him, he was always on time. Maybe something had happened to him on his way here? A speeder crash perhaps or maybe he got caught up with work? Still, if either of those things had happened, you hoped he would at least have the decency to call you.  

That’s when you noticed movement near the entrance. You looked over at the grand sloping archway and spied two cloaked figures approach the hostess stand. You couldn’t make out any features, the dim lighting of the restaurant made discerning their identities impossible from here. The hostess bowed her head and led the pair towards your table. Could this be Marco? You straightened your back and put on a smile as they drew closer.

“(Y/N)!” Marco said, lowering his hood. “It’s so good to see you up and about! You look well.”

You stood to greet your brother and his mystery guest, “Thank you, it’s good to see you too.”

Marco wrapped you in a tight hug, which you awkwardly returned. He was five years older than you and all throughout your life the two of you were never that close. This sudden display of affection was extremely out of character for him. You pulled away after a moment.

“I didn’t know you we’re bringing a guest,” you said turning your attention to his companion. Even though their face was obscured by the shadows of the dimly lit room, something seemed oddly familiar about them…

“Long time no see, (Y/N).” Wait. You knew that voice.

The figure lowered his hood and suddenly standing there in front of you was Bartlett, your ex-boyfriend. What the kriff was he doing here?!

“Bartlett?” You were so caught off guard that your jaw fell to the floor. He was the absolute last person you had expected to see here tonight.

“Ah, so you two do know each other!” Marco laughed in delight as he removed his cloak, handing it to the hostess who awkwardly hung back a few steps away from the conversation. “I was wondering if Bartlett here was telling me the truth or if he was just trying to get a free meal out of me.”

“I would do no such thing,” said Bartlett. He copied Marco’s actions, removing his cloak and handing it to the hostess with a bright smile. “Thanks, love.”

The woman bowed her head and darted away with their cloaks, leaving the three of alone. Was this really happening? You quickly shut your mouth, trying to correct your momentary loss of manners. Now what? Did you offer him a handshake? A hug? You settled for simply returning to your seat, a bright (yet forced) smile on your face.

The two men copied your actions, sitting across the table from you.

“So how exactly is it the two of you know one another?” you asked politely. It was a legitimate question; Marco was long gone from your life by the time Bartlett had entered the picture.

“We work together for Rim Commercial Mining on Kenari,” said Bartlett with an easy smile.

“And you two are close?” you asked taking a sip of your wine. It took everything in your power to maintain your nonchalant appearance. Just looking at Bartlett was making you feel ill — oh right, you hadn’t processed those corrupted memories yet. Guess those were jumping to the top of the list for your next session with Shef.

“Very. Bartlett is a good friend of mine,” Marco explained with a bright smile. “We met around four years ago if memory serves.”

“Four years ago, huh?” you asked, putting your wine glass down. “That’s around the time you left Coruscant, isn’t it?” The question was directed at Bartlett and there was an edge to your words, a double meaning hidden just under the surface. Four years ago was around the time he had left you.

“Yes, I went straight to Kenari after my departure from Coruscant.” Although there was a smile on his face you noticed a pained look in his eyes, he had caught onto your double meaning. “I obviously noticed the shared last name, but I never expected that the two of you were related. There isn’t much resemblance.”

“No, there isn’t,” laughed Marco. “So how do you know my sister?”

“We used to date,” you answered in an even tone. You had parted with Bartlett on amicable terms; you had to remind yourself of that. The negative feelings racing throughout your mind and body were because of Count Dooku’s mind torture, not because of him. Still, it was hard to ignore the churning of your stomach and the rapid flutter of your heart.

Bartlett looked the same as he did the last time you had seen him; his handsome face and bright hazel eyes were still as enchanting as ever. It was infuriating. Here he was sitting across from you, acting like nothing had ever happened. Like the two of you were still close friends, despite the fact that he had broken your heart. Though… he had said he wanted to remain friends when he called things off all those years ago, hadn’t he? Maybe he was honestly trying to be friendly, and you were just overthinking everything?

“Oh,” Marco shifted in his seat glancing over at Bartlett. “You didn’t mention that when you said you knew my sister. I thought you said the two of you were friends?”

“We are,” Bartlett answered easily. “When we ended things that’s what we agreed upon. Isn’t that right, (Y/N)?”

“Yes, friends,” you nodded your head in agreement. You couldn’t let him see just how frazzled you truly were.

“Marco told me of your predicament. I’m so sorry you had to go through such a terrible ordeal,” said Bartlett. There was a pain in his voice and a soft look on his face. He meant what he said and that realization helped soothe some of the anger lingering in your chest. At least he felt sorry for something. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing well,” you answered holding you head high. “I was lucky to have such good doctors here on Coruscant; because of them, I’ve nearly made a complete recovery.”

“I must say they’ve done an amazing job. You look fantastic!” Bartlett smiled brightly. It was that same smile you had fallen in love with so long ago. Even now it made your stomach flutter. “The fact that you’re up and about is nothing short of a miracle!”

“What do you mean ‘nearly’ a complete recovery? Is something still wrong?” Marco asked, brow furrowing.

“I’m receiving treatment for a few lingering side effects. It’s nothing too alarming, I assure you.” It was probably best to avoid mentioning the fact that you received these treatments from the Jedi. You didn’t feel like opening that can of worms just yet.

“I’m just glad you’re getting the help you need. The world would be a darker place without you in it,” said Bartlett.

“Oh, um, thank you,” you stammered caught off guard by his sudden compliment. Was he being serious or was he just trying to smooth things over with you? You couldn’t tell what his true motives were, nor could you understand why he felt the need to tag along to this dinner. Wasn’t this supposed to be a reunion between you and Marco, not you and him?

“You said business brought you to Coruscant?” you asked, changing the subject to something not about you.

“Yes, I did,” said Marco. “I wish I could have come visited you sooner, but I hardly get any time off as it is and—"

“No, I completely understand,” you cut him off. He had nothing to apologize for; he had come when you were on the verge of death. It wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t stay longer. “You forget, I too have a very demanding job. There are certain sacrifices we must make to keep everything moving just as it should.” Once again there was an edge to your voice, and once again a hidden message for Bartlett.  

You had put a lot of work into making your relationship work during the year you were together. It wasn’t easy scheduling time out of your already very busy day to see him, but you had put in that extra effort because you had loved him. Even now you felt the echo of that love calling to you every time you dared look him in the eye.

“No doubt working for a senator is an exhausting job— you still work for Senator Amidala, correct?” Marco asked, taking a sip of his wine that had just been delivered to the table.  

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then I guess that means we’ll be coworkers of sorts,” Bartlett mused picking up his own glass.  

“What do you mean?” Had Padmè hired him without mentioning it to you?

“You’re looking at Rim Commercial Mining’s newest lobbyist to the galactic senate,” Marco said clapping Bartlett on the back. “I’ve been tasked with helping him make his introductions and then I’m headed right on back to Kenari.”

“You’re staying here?” you asked Bartlett.

He nodded his head, “I am! Isn’t that great?”

“Yes, that’s fantastic,” you replied with a polite smile. It sure was something. You weren’t entirely sure how you felt about this sudden development but now wasn’t the time for a deep dive into your conscious. You had to make it through dinner first.

The rest of the evening passed by in a blur. Most of the meal consisted of the three of you catching each other up on what had transpired while apart from one another. You managed to avoid going into detail about your capture, both men were too well mannered to press the subject. For that you were thankful, you didn’t feel like you were strong enough to recount that tale this evening. The psychic damage you were dealing with was painful enough already.

When the meal finally came to an end, the three of you meandered your way outside.

“This was so much fun, thanks for coming,” said Marco.

“Thank you for inviting me,” you replied with a bright smile. “I had a lot of fun.”

“So did I,” said Marco. He gave you another tight hug and this time you returned it like you meant it. Who knows? Maybe the two of you could actually become good friends in time?

You pulled away from your brother with a smile on your face. Then you turned to face your ex. Welp, there was no avoiding him this time. “It was good seeing you again, Bartlett.”

“And seeing you again has made my day,” he answered cheerily. Oh, he was laying it on thick. He must feel bad about the way he left things between the two of you all those years ago. Good, he should feel bad, he broke your heart he — he was kissing your hand?!

For the briefest of moments, Obi-Wan’s face floated into your mind; he had left you in the same fashion. You quickly pushed his face from your thoughts and focused on the present instead — on Bartlett who still held your hand in his own.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again very soon, in the senate building perhaps?” he said.

“Perhaps,” you mused. It took everything in your power to keep your face neutral.  

“I look forward to it,” he said, letting go of your hand.

Marco raised an eyebrow in question. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that either. He shifted his gaze towards you and smiled, “Do you need a ride home?”

“No, my speeder is right over there,” you pointed to where your ride was parked. Lefty was right where he had said he would be, and right on time too. “Thanks for the offer though.”

“Of course,” said Marco. “Until next time then.”

“Bye.” You didn’t chance a second look in Bartlett’s direction and hurried towards your speeder. You made sure to walk with purpose, squaring your shoulders and holding your head high. You didn’t want either of them thinking you were still fragile, still weak from your imprisonment. You were healing, you were getting better. You just needed the chance to prove it. You also didn’t want them knowing just how surprised you really were about Bartlett’s sudden appearance this evening.  

It was only after you climbed into your speeder and were hidden from their view, that you let your shoulders slump and deep sigh escape your lips.

“That bad, huh?” asked Drift. Wait.

“Drift?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“What are you doing here? I thought Lefty was on duty tonight?” He had been the one to drop you off at the restaurant, so you fully expected that he would be the one to come pick up at the end of the evening. Was everything alright?

“He was but something came up, so we traded shifts,” Drift explained as he pulled the speeder out from the parking spot. There was something in his voice that told you he doubted the validity of his partner’s story.

You snorted and rolled your eyes, “I think you mean someone.”

“I believe so,” he answered stiffly. You knew Drift well enough by now that this reaction was him saying that he thought you were right but wouldn’t say anything else until he could confirm it for himself. He always claimed he wasn’t one for gossiping, but discussing matters that he knew to be true was another thing entirely. Welp, time to turn your theory into reality.

“I need to call Gwin, tell her about dinner,” you said fishing your holopad out of your clutch. Drift glanced over at you, a curious expression on his face before turning his attention back to the road. You bit back a laugh; he acted like he didn’t care about gossip but in reality, he was just as bad as you and Gwin. Speaking of Gwin, you had a pretty good idea where the two of you might find Lefty.

You called your best friend and waited for her to pick up your call. The machine just rang and rang, only adding to your suspicions. Just when you were about to give up and put your holopad away, she answered. Gwin’s figure appeared in your hand; her hair disheveled and her clothes mismatched.

“Hey, what’s up?” she asked breathlessly, brushing a curl away from her face.

“Oh, nothing much. Just heading back from dinner with Marco, thought I’d give you a call,” you replied casually. “You wouldn’t believe who showed up.”

“Who?”

“Bartlett.”

“Your ex?” Gwin exclaimed, her eyes growing wide with surprise.

“What?!” Another voice echoed out from somewhere off camera, it was a voice both you and Drift recognized.

“I knew it!” you exclaimed. “You are seeing Lefty!”

“Am not!” Gwin lied. “I’m home alone!”

“Nice try, but we literally just heard him,” you smirked. You had suspected something was going on between the two of them for a while now. Honestly, you were suspicious ever since she had referred to the clones as your ‘cute bodyguards’ all those months ago.

“You skipped guard duty to go on a date?” Drift hissed. You turned the holopad towards him so that he could be included in the call too. Gwin looked to her right and then Lefty showed up in the palm of your hand, his clothes were just as disheveled as Gwin’s were.

“I didn’t skip guard duty; I traded shifts with you!” Lefty exclaimed. “You said you were fine with it!” Drift rolled his eyes and shook his head, turning his attention back to the road.

“Oh, we are so talking about this tomorrow,” you cackled. “Have fun!” You went to turn the machine off, but Gwin raised her hand to stop you.

“Wait!”

“What?” you asked, your finger hovering over the off button.

“Did Bartlett really show up to dinner or were you just trying to get a reaction out of Lefty?” she asked quickly.

“Both,” you grinned turning off the device. Gwin and Lefty’s figures disappeared from view, and you let out another laugh. “Maker, I knew it!”

“I knew he was up to something when he started trading shifts,” Drift said with a shake of his head. “Should’ve noticed the fact that he always made sure to be around when Gwin visited you.”

“Well, now we know,” you replied tucking your holopad back into your pocket. “How long do you think they’ve been together?”

“I’d say a month or so. Lefty didn’t start requesting nights off until then,” said Drift. You nodded your head, that matched your own timeline you had theorized in your head. “So, your ex showed up for dinner? What’s that about?”

“Turns out he’s real good friends with my brother, oh and they work together now,” you answered with a huff. “Talk about a crazy coincidence.”

“Indeed. Did he cause any issues?” Drift glanced over to gauge your reaction.

“No, he was great and if I’m being honest, dinner was kind of fun,” you admitted. “It was good seeing both of them again, it’s been a long time.”

“You say he’s an ex, but you sound rather fond of him,” commented Drift.

“Our separation was amicable,” you sighed looking out at the skyline. “Bartlett was leaving to go work off planet and I was to remain here. He ended things because he said a long distance relationship wasn’t fair to either of us.”

“I see…” Drift muttered. “You didn’t want the relationship to end then?”

“No, I didn’t.”

There was a moment of silence, the wind rushing past your face as the ship sped back towards the apartment. You were wrestling with your feelings; you weren’t entirely sure how you felt. Part of you was still hurt and upset by the way things ended, but another part of you understood his logic. You wanted to hate his guts, but you couldn’t. Part of you still held feelings for him.

***

The very next morning Padmè came to your quarters and asked if you would be willing to accompany her to the senate building. You immediately said yes and now found yourself walking the familiar hallways once again. Everywhere you went people greeted you warmly, offering kind words and expressions of joy at your return.

The two of you were walking down the hall towards Senator Organa’s office when two familiar figures approached.

“(Y/N)!” It was Marco and Bartlett. Padmè looked over at you, her face wore a smile but the look in her eyes was a questioning one. Who were these men?

“Senator Amidala, allow me to introduce my brother Marco Felvora and my friend Bartlett Gustavus,” you said motioning to each man in question.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” Padmè said bowing deeply.

“Please the honor is all mine,” Marco said returning the bow along with Bartlett. “I’ve heard only good things about you from (Y/N).”

“She’s too kind I’m sure,” Padmè said with a bright smile. “What brings the two of you to the senate?”

“I’m Rim Commercial Mining’s newest lobbyist,” Bartlett explained. “I’m hoping to secure extra funding to expand our mining operations on Kenari.”

“I see,” Padmè shifted into the voice she used when discussing politics. “What exactly is it your company mines?”

“Oh quite a wide variety of minerals. All of them are exceedingly valuable and are used in the creation of blasters and armor. Kenari’s resources allow us to properly equip our soldiers on the frontlines, both clones and Jedi alike,” explained Bartlett. You glanced over at Padmè. Her face was still neutral, but she softened ever so slightly at the mention of the Jedi. You doubted the men noticed this shift in your friend’s demeanor; you only noticed it because of the many years serving by her side. “Given how long this war has dragged on, it only makes sense for our company to expand its operations. We must do everything in our power to help the Republic bring an end to this dreadful war.”

“I understand your point, Mr. Gustavus. I would gladly look over your proposal and take it under consideration,” Padmè said with a polite smile. “If I find it agreeable, I would be more than willing to discuss it with the other senators.”

“Thank you, Senator,” Bartlett bowed his head in gratitude. “That’s all I ask.”

Padmè bowed her head in return, her comlink chirping in her pocket. She glanced down at the device, “I’m terribly sorry but I’m afraid we’re running late for a meeting. If you would excuse us.” Padmè bowed deeply and you copied her.

“Actually, I was hoping to have a quick word with Miss Felvora?” Bartlett said quickly. You gave Padmè a look that said don’t you dare leave me alone with him. Padmè regarded the situation for a moment before nodding her head.

“Please keep it brief. I’ll be in Senatore Organa’s office.” She said excusing herself from the conversation, leaving you alone with the pair. Ugh, Padmè why?!

“Well, I guess I’ll leave the two of you for now. I’ll be in the office should you need me, Bartlett,” Marco said with a grin. “It was good seeing you, (Y/N).” With that Marco bowed his head and left the two of you alone in the hallway. You weren’t really alone though, guards and other senators milled about but none were close enough to overhear any words exchanged between you and Bartlett.

You tucked your hands neatly behind your back, resisting the urge to cross them. You were at work, you were representing Senator Amidala’s office, you had to stay composed. “What do you want?” you asked in an even tone.

“I just wanted to have a quick word, that’s all,” said Bartlett. “We didn’t really get a chance to talk privately last night—”

“So you thought now was the right time? While I’m at work?” you asked letting some venom drip into your voice. “I’m very busy you know.”

“Believe me I know. We were together for a year, after all. It’s not like I forgot everything about you while I was away,” Bartlett huffed shoving his hands into his pockets. “Besides, it’s not like you would have welcomed me into your apartment. This was my only option.” Kriff, he did have a point there…

“Fine, what did you want to talk about?” you asked.

“Us, the way we left things,” he said casting his eyes to the ground.

“What is there to talk about? The way I remember it, you were the one who called things off,” you snapped.

Bartlett raised his eyes, meeting your gaze. “Yes, I know and not a day goes by where I don’t regret that decision. I handled that situation poorly, and I apologize for any pain that I might have caused you. Believe me when I say it was unintentional.”

You remained silent, just watching him. Was there a point to this whole speech? Why had he waited until now to tell you this?

“What I’m trying to say is that moving forward I hope we can be friends,” he said with a soft smile.

“I’ve heard that line before.” He could say he wanted to be friends all he wanted, but his actions didn’t match his supposed intentions. “How many times did you call me after ending things? Oh, that’s right. None.”

“Because I didn’t want to upset you any more than I already had!” Bartlett insisted, taking a few steps forward. He stopped abruptly, collecting himself. “Look — I wanted to call you. Really, I did. But every time I picked up my comlink I remembered how hurt you looked the last time I saw you and I stopped. I just didn’t want to cause you any more pain.”

“And you thought not calling wouldn’t hurt?” you asked sharply.

“I knew it hurt… I just thought it would hurt less than my other options,” he admitted in a quiet voice. He slumped his shoulders and stared hard at the ground. “I was an idiot. I fully admit that. I’m sorry.”

The two of you lapsed into silence. He seemed sincere in his apology, that was a start at least. As much as you wanted to turn around and run away from this situation, you had no option but to face this challenge head on. Bartlett wasn’t going anywhere; he was going to become a part of your daily life whether you liked it or not.

“I accept your apology,” you said, “but that doesn’t mean you’re forgiven.”

“I understand,” he said with a soft expression. “Thank you for hearing me out at least.”

“Of course, you’re entitled to that much,” you replied. “I really should be going; Senator Amidala needs me.”

“Right, I guess I’ll see you around then?” Bartlett said offering his hand out to you.

“Yes, I suppose so.” You shook his hand; it was just as soft as you remembered it. He really hadn’t changed in the four years that had passed, had he? “Goodbye.”

“Bye,” he said a soft smile on his face. You let go of his hand and hurried off in the direction Padmè had disappeared.

That was a rather formal goodbye for the two of you, especially given your past history with one another. You pushed the image of him kissing you goodbye from your mind. That was years ago, things were different now. But Bartlett was back, there was no denying that, and it sounded like he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He was on Coruscant for the foreseeable future. The main reason your relationship had fallen apart was no longer an issue. What did that mean for the future? You weren’t sure of anything right now.

***

Later that evening as you and Padmè flew home, your friend was abuzz with dozens of questions.

“Was that the same Bartlett you used to date?” she asked.

“Unfortunately, yes,” you huffed crossing your arms. “Turns out he and my brother work together now and they’re good friends too.”

“Talk about bad luck,” Padmè muttered. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone with him earlier, but it would have been rude of me to deny him such a simple request—”

“No, it’s alright. I understand. You were thinking of the long-term repercussions,” you said cutting her off. She had been right to do as she did. There was no avoiding the issue.

“Still, I’m sorry to have put you in such a position,” she insisted.

“I’ll have to deal with it. It sounds like we’re going to have to deal with him a lot more from here on out,” you sighed. Padmè frowned, taking your hands in her own.

“What happened between the two of you? I thought things were going so well and then it just seemed to end out of nowhere,” asked Padmè.

“He was being relocated for work,” you explained. “He thought it would be best if we were to remain friends, rather than trying to make long distance work.”

“What a shame. I remember the two of you were so happy together— well at least you were happy. I never met the man until today,” said Padmè. She paused for a moment, “Do you still have feelings for him?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted with a deep sigh. “I’m not really sure of anything right now.”  

“I understand.” Padmè had a look in her eye, one that told you she had another question she wanted to ask.  

“Just say it,” you said. “There’s nothing you could ask that would surprise me at this point.”

“I was just curious.”

“About?”

“If there was another reason as to why you were so hesitant to welcome Bartlett back into your life?” Padmè asked.

“Like what?” you asked. There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she was definitely up to something.

“I was just wondering if you were involved with someone else,” she said causally.

“Like who? I haven’t exactly had a lot of time for dating if you hadn’t noticed,” you snorted. Padmè said nothing, but the corner of her mouth quirked into a cheeky looking grin. “Well?”

“Nothing.” She let go of your hands and turned her head to look out at the skyline.

“Oh, don’t play coy with me, spill it!”

“It’s just that you seem awfully close with Master Kenobi…” Padmè trailed off. Her voice barely audible over the rushing of the wind and the rumble of the engine. You glared at the back of her head, just what was she implying?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s a friend nothing more.” Time for you to pivot the conversation back to her, “Besides he’s a Jedi. Attachments are forbidden, right?”

Padmè turned back to look at you. The two of you sized one another up. You weren’t an idiot; you had put two and two together fairly quickly that she was involved in someway with Anakin. Just how far their relationship went was a mystery for now, but the mere fact that it existed was enough to call it serious. This was the first time you called her out on it, and even then, not really. The two of you weren’t alone after all — there was a guard driving the cruiser, politely ignoring your conversation. If Padmè was going to admit anything, this wasn’t the place to do it and both of you knew that.

“Right,” Padmè answered evenly. The look in her eyes was a look of warning, you shouldn’t push the subject any further, at least not here. That was all the confirmation you needed, she was involved with Anakin. Better switch the subject then.

“I haven’t heard any word on their progress on the frontlines, have you?”

Your friend’s face softened at the change of subject, a silent thank you. “No, I haven’t heard from Anakin in quite some time. Though last I spoke to him, he had said that everything was going well for the Republic.”

“That’s good to hear.” Hopefully, no news was good news in this instance.

When the two of you returned to the apartment both of you went your separate ways, Dormè would take over caring for Padmè now that you were home. You were officially done for the day.

You spent the evening in your room, reading a novel that Lefty had brought you a few days ago. After the revelation last night that he and Gwin were together, you noticed a lingering perfume on the pages — one you recognized as your best friend’s. He must have borrowed the book from Gwin.

You were engrossed in the book when Remi’s chirps brought you back to reality. You glanced over at the droid who was bouncing from side to side, beeping at you loudly.

“What is it, Remi?”

The droid spun her head to look at your coffee table. Your holopad was flashing, someone was trying to call you.

“Thanks girl.” You stood and patted the robot’s head as you hurried across the room to answer the device. Learning from your past mistake, you checked to see who was calling. It wasn’t a frequency you recognized. You smoothed your hair back and then answered the call.

Obi-Wan’s blue figure appeared in your hand. Why was he calling you?

“Obi-Wan?” you asked, concern blanketing your voice. “Is everything alright?”

“What? Oh, I’m fine,” he answered looking just as confused as you did. “I was relayed a message from Padmè through Anakin that you needed to speak with me?” What was he talking about?

“Uh, I think there’s been some kind of mix up,” you said trying to make sense of the situation. “All I did was inquire if Padmè had heard any news from the frontlines. I’m sorry for taking time out of your day to deal with this, I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“I’m never too busy to talk to you, my dear,” Obi-Wan answered with a cheeky grin. My dear?! Where did that come from?! Calm down, relax. Surely, he didn’t mean anything by it. This had to be a one-off thing, just a simple slip of the tongue. “Have your treatments been going well?”

“Very well, at least according to Master Shef,” you answered with a smile. After hearing his nickname for you, it was hard to hide the grin on your face. “How is everything with you?”

“Oh, you know, it’s stressful but I’m still in one piece so I can’t complain too much,” he answered with a smile. You studied his figure, he seemed to be telling the truth, but then you noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

“When’s the last time you got a full night’s sleep?” you asked taking on the tone you used with disobedient handmaidens.

“It’s been quite some time,” he admitted with a sigh. “Hopefully the next time I return to Coruscant I can partake in that luxury.”

“Any idea when that might be?” you asked hopefully.

“Unfortunately not, I’m still needed here for the time being,” he sighed. “When I do make it back, I’ll be sure to come visit you.”

“You could, or maybe we could go out somewhere instead?” you suggested. “I’m sort of leaving my apartment again.”

His face lit up, “That’s wonderful!” Then you noticed him look past your figure at something you couldn’t see.

“General, they need you on the bridge,” another voice crackled faintly from somewhere on his end. It must be one of his troopers recalling him to command.

“I’ll be right there,” Obi-Wan said to the figure. He turned his attention back to you, “I’m afraid I must go. I promise to call you when I can…” he hesitated looking over your figure one last time. “Your call has made my day.”

You smiled brightly at that line, “Please be safe.”

“I’ll try my best,” he answered with a smirk. Then he disappeared. You stared down at the device in your hand, your smile slowly fading from your face. Just like that he was gone again… back to the horrors of war. You sighed putting the holopad back on the coffee table. Remi chirped inquisitively, rolling to stand next to you.  

“I’m fine, really. I’m just worried about Obi-Wan is all,” you explained, flopping onto your couch.

Remi beeped disapprovingly at the mention of Obi-Wan’s name. “He’s not that bad. With all my treatments I’m way better around him and you know it,” you explained.

She hummed in disagreement, a light on her head flashing red.

“I thought I understood why you didn’t like him, now I’m not so sure…” you sighed giving the droid a look. “Oh well. It’s not like it matters much now anyways. Who knows when I’ll see him again…”

Notes:

Hi guys, good news! I finally found a use for your older brother! Anyways, the next couple chapters are going to pull from the clone wars tv show so brace yourselves for that. As always you guys rock and thanks for taking time out of your day to read my story! Until next time!

Chapter 9: The Laboratory

Life continued on and so did the war. Obi-Wan had kept his promise of calling when could, though that didn’t amount to much. The few times the two of you did manage to speak to one another, it was only for a few minutes at a time. It seemed like whenever the conversation was about to shift to something other than the war he was being recalled by one of his men. You understood that they needed his guidance, but that didn’t mean you had to like these constant interruptions. You just had to keep reminding yourself to be grateful that you got to speak to him, it sure beat the alternative.

Your treatments with Master Shef continued on as well though they started to feel more and more like a chore. You were getting better at cleansing memories and wanted to try healing more than just one a session, but Shef vehemently refused. He claimed you weren’t ready for that quite yet, that you still needed more practice. As much as you wanted to protest this decision you decided to hold your tongue. Master Shef was the designated Jedi temple healer for a reason, if he thought you weren’t ready then you weren’t ready. It was as simple as that. At least the treatments were working, with each memory you cleansed the better you slept. Nightmares were still a daily occurrence, but their duration and frequency were rapidly diminishing and for that you were grateful. In time a full night’s sleep might be possible once again.

You had returned to your full duties at Padmè’s side, which is how you found yourself back on your home planet of Naboo. Padmè had received a distress call from Queen Neeyutnee stating that she suspected separatist forces were planning on invading the planet. Padmè didn’t hesitate to spring into action, within the hour she had you and Dormè packing her bags for the trip home. She had decided that she wanted you to accompany her on this mission, citing that after your mission was completed your parents could come visit you to check in on your progress.

You were standing in a command center of sorts, standing in the corner of the room while Naboo’s political leaders discussed what was to be done. Apparently, there was a virus being developed in some sort of secret lab that posed a great danger to the capital. It was decided that the Jedi needed to be called in and, unsurprisingly, Padmè suggested that two particular Jedi be brought it to help: Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

You glared daggers at the back of your friend’s head. Just what was she thinking? Was she trying to have her relationship discovered? Thankfully the others in the room didn’t see this request as odd, after all Obi-Wan had come to Naboo’s aid before and Anakin was a well-regarded general. They agreed to Padmè’s suggestion without raising any sort of fuss.

“Come on, (Y/N),” Padmè’s voice cut through the air, catching your attention. “We’re leaving.” You dutifully followed behind your friend, exiting the counsel chambers.

“So where are we going?” you asked as the two of you hurried down the hall. Judging by her fast pace, time was of the essence.

“To the Eastern Swamps. We have to find that lab,” said Padmè.

“Shouldn’t we wait for the Jedi to get here first?” you asked trying to be the voice of reason. “Finding secret labs that may or may not be developing viruses doesn’t sound like a job for a senator.”

“If we wait for them to get here it might be too late,” Padmè explained, quickening her pace. “Naboo is our home, we have to do what we can to protect it!”

As much as you hated to admit it, she had a point. If Naboo was in danger you would do anything to try and keep it safe. You grew up here, your family and friends still called the planet home.

“You’re right,” you admitted with a sigh. “So, what’s the plan?”

***

Turns out Padmè’s plan wasn’t thought through very well. Not long after the two of you arrived in the swamp, you found yourselves surrounded by a battalion of battle droids. They seemed to have come from nowhere, managing to sneak up on the two of you easily.

You whipped your blaster out and fired a shot at the droid nearest to you. Its head fell to the ground with a loud thud. You aimed your blaster at another droid but just as you pulled the trigger, a blast shot the gun from your hand. You were disarmed!

“You’re surrounded! Surrender now!” ordered a droid, its gun aimed at your forehead. You glanced over your shoulder at Padmè and to your disappoint, found she had been disarmed as well. Neither of you were going to get very far without your blasters. Padmè met your eye and gave you a look, telling you to stand down.

You slowly raised your hands above your head in surrender. The droid marched forward and secured your hands tightly in front of you. Your heart sank; you had sworn that you would never be taken captive again and yet here you were just a little over a year later being captured once more. But this time you weren’t alone, Padmè was with you. That solidified your resolve. You would do whatever it took to keep her safe, you would not allow the separatists to hurt her in the same way you had been.

The two of you were brought deep below ground into the very lab you had been searching for. You were dragged into a large room filled to the brim with machinery and medical instruments and were forced to remove your helmets from your hazmat suits. You kept your head on a swivel, trying to find an escape route. But everywhere you looked there was another group of battle droids. Why were there so many here? Maybe the Queen had been right when she thought the capital may be invaded, there were certainly enough troops here to make that story plausible.

The droid in charge had you and Padmè fastened to a metal pole. This was incredibly reminiscent of your time in captivity, and you were not having it. You struggled against your binds; you weren’t going to let the same thing happen twice!

“Be still now, Dr. Vindi is here.” You turned your head as a Faust male entered the room flanked by two heavily armored battle droids. The man started monologuing and you tuned his words out, instead focusing on trying to undo your handcuffs. They were metallic but so was the pole your arms were wrapped around. Maybe you could try using the pole to remove the cuffs?

“The Blue Shadow Virus?” Padmè’s worried voice drew you back to the conversation. Blue Shadow Virus? Why did that sound familiar? “I thought that deadly disease was extinct.”

“Oh, it was. But I’ve brought it back from the dead and I’ve improved it!” cackled the mad scientist.

Oh kriff. You had heard of the Blue Shadow Virus before. It was a disease long extinct but it’s deadliness was famous. It killed anything and everything in its path. No living thing was safe from its wrath — that must be why the separatists wanted to bring it back! Their army was made up of droids, if they unleashed a virus like this it wouldn’t affect their troops just the Republic’s! By the time the disease had run its course there wouldn’t be much of an army standing between them and winning the war. The implications were catastrophic!

You looked longingly at your hazmat helmet. Without it, you and Padmè were exposed to whatever dangers this lab hid. It didn’t sound like the scientist had released the virus yet, context clues made you believe that the small vial in his hands contained the disease. If that vial shattered, all of you would be dead by sundown. You gulped. This was bad, incredibly, horribly bad for you and every other living thing on the surface of Naboo.

Even if by some miracle the Jedi did find you, there was nothing they could do against such a deadly disease. This was too dangerous, even for them. They needed to know what they were up against if they were to stand a chance against this threat. You squeezed your eyes shut and started screaming into the force. They have bombs filled with a deadly disease! You repeated your warning over and over again, and just like before, you had no idea if anyone could hear your cries. You had to at least try and warn them about what dangers they would face when they entered this awful place!  

“(Y/N)?” Padmè whispered. You opened your eyes and saw that the two of you were now alone, save for a lone battle droid that guarded the door.

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. What about you?” you whispered back. Of course she was worried about you, she probably thought you were going to fall apart at the mere thought of being captured once again. That wasn’t happening today. The two of you were going to get out of here one way or another, you just needed to stay calm.

“I’m okay,” Padmè whispered. “Got any ideas on how to get out of here?”

“I don’t suppose you have a lockpick on you?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Great… still glad we didn’t wait for the Jedi to show up?” you hissed. This was exactly what you had been afraid of. Padmè was a senator not a soldier, she shouldn’t have been the one to investigate this matter.

"At least they’re on their way. Hopefully we won’t be stuck like this for very long,” whispered Padmè.

“I’d prefer to get out here before they show up if it’s all the same to you,” you muttered as you struggled against your binds. “I don’t want them here when those bombs go off.”

“If we escape before they get here, we have to try and find those bombs before they detonate.” Was she being serious?

“Padmè, do you even know how to defuse a bomb? Because I sure don’t.”

“Well, we have to do something! I refuse to just sit around here and do nothing,” she hissed.

“Hate to break it to you, but until we figure out how to remove these binds, we’re stuck doing just that,” you stated flatly. It was no fun being the voice of reason.

BANG! The entire room shook as a loud explosion rang out from somewhere deep within the lab. Was it Obi-Wan and Anakin here to rescue the two of you?!

“Sounds like we have company,” said Padmè. You glanced over your shoulder at her; the ghost of a smile on her face. She had complete and utter faith that the Jedi would be able to save the two of you… you weren’t so sure they stood a chance in this situation. If even just one of those vials broke, all of you would be dead in a matter of hours, Jedi or not. You just prayed that the two of them had taken the proper precautions before entering the lab. Though if you were being honest, you found the idea of the Jedi wearing bulky hazmat suits to be utterly unbelievable.

Sure enough, when Anakin burst into the room he was wearing traditional Jedi robes, not a hazmat suit. Go figure.

“Take another step and your friends die!” screeched the mad scientist. He had run back into the room just before Anakin did. You watched with wide eyes as he flipped a large switch on a control panel sending bolts of electricity coursing through you and Padmè.

Your body convulsed against the current, unable to even scream out in pain. You were frozen in place, your body jerking painfully against your chains. Every part of your body, both inside and out, screamed in pain. The electricity coursed through your body for what felt like forever and then with no warning it suddenly stopped.

You slumped forward, gasping for breath. Every muscle ached so deeply you weren’t sure you would ever feel right again. What about Padmè? Was she still alive? You forced yourself to raise your head, despite your body’s protest, to look at your friend. Padmè was slumped over and panting heavily. She was still alive, thank the maker for that.

“I realize I won’t be able to hold you for long, Jedi. That’s why I’m going to give you a choice,” the scientist’s voice echoed around the room. You lolled your head to the side. It appeared that Anakin had surrendered to save the two of you from certain death, but who was going to save him?

“Fine with me, as long as one of the options is killing you,” growled Anakin. The scientist inched towards the door, his eyes never leaving the Jedi.

“How about capture me or save your friends?” said the scientist. The sadistic grin on his face made your blood curdle. He rushed across the room in an attempt to run away, flipping another switch on his way out of the room.  

“No—” your scream of protest was cut off by another round of electricity. Your body shook back and forth as the current flowed through you. Your jaw was clenched so tightly it felt like your teeth would break. You jerked and spasmed against the current, helpless to control your own body. The pain was agonizing. You wanted to beg for it to stop but you couldn’t even breathe. Your chest burned with the need for oxygen, while your muscles burned from the searing pain. Please make it stop! Just let it stop!

And then it did. You collapsed forward, stopped only by your restraints. You didn’t think it was possible, but that somehow hurt worse than the first round of electricity. Every nerve and muscle inside you ached, it felt like you had been run over by a tank.  

“Are you two alright?!” Anakin’s voice was much closer than it had been before. You struggled to raise your head; it suddenly felt ten times heavier. When you finally did manage to raise it you saw Anakin undoing Padmè’s restraints. Was she alive?

“Padmè?” you rasped. It was a struggle just to get the words out, it felt like you had to remind every muscle how to act properly.

“I’m alright,” she groaned. “Just— just give me a minute to catch my breath.” As she did that, Anakin released you from your handcuffs.  

With a quiet click your binds were broken and you were free once again. “Thank you,” you muttered rubbing your wrists together. As soon as you did, you flinched away from the contact. Your cuffs must have conducted the electricity into your body, focusing the deadly force with a laser like focus on this one spot. You couldn’t confirm this theory until you got out of this hazmat suit, but that wasn’t happening anytime soon. It was best to ignore the stinging sensation until you could actually do something about it.

“Come on, we have to get moving,” Anakin said as he helped Padmè to her feet. He offered his hand out to you next, and you gladly took it, struggling to your feet. Your whole body ached something fierce, but you had to push through the pain. There was much more at stake than just your lives, all of Naboo was now counting on your group to save them. A daunting task to be sure.

The three of you hurried towards the door but you stopped when you spied a couple of discarded blasters lying on the ground. You grabbed two of them and handed one to Padmè, “Here, in case we run into more droids.”

“Good idea,” she said.

The three of you raced down the hall, there was still a chance that the mad scientist could be stopped. Anakin just needed to catch up to him and stop him from detonating those bombs! As you hurried down the corridor, Anakin barked orders into his comlink when suddenly your group ran into another consisting of clone troopers and a Togruta child. No, that wasn’t quite right. She wasn’t a child but a teenager. What was a teenager doing in the middle of a secret lab?!

“Master? We’ve got a missing bomb and a trigger-happy mad doctor on the loose,” said the girl. Master? She was obviously speaking to Anakin, did that make her a Jedi too? You glanced down at her waist and spied two lightsabers clipped onto her belt. Well, she was definitely a Jedi, likely a padawan judging by her age. Was she Anakin’s padawan? She couldn’t be Obi-Wan’s, you were fairly certain that if he had taken in another student he would have told you about them by now.

Suddenly everyone was running in different directions. Padmè hurried off down a corridor and you followed her without hesitating.

“Where are we going?” you asked as you ran alongside her.        

“We have to find that missing bomb! Keep your eyes peeled for a small droid,” she explained. Small droid carrying a bomb, got it. That should be easy enough to find. Still, this was so not what you expected to be dealing with when you signed up to be a handmaiden all those years ago…  

“Wait, wait, wait,” Padmè said sliding to a stop. “Let’s look in here.” She pointed to an open doorway.

“Sure, worth a shot.”

The two of you stepped into the dimly lit room. It was full of long tables covered with rows of blue plants. It was highly likely that the mad scientist used these plants to recreate the Blue Shadow Virus. Why someone would want to bring back such a horrible thing was beyond your comprehension.

You were poking around a dark corner when you heard Padmè start speaking in hushed tones, “Hey there, little guy. How about you hand that over to me?”

You slowly stood and turned around to face your friend. She was kneeling down and reaching out towards a small service droid that was holding a bomb — Oh maker, that was the missing bomb!

The droid stared up at her for a moment, considering its options, and then it rushed towards the door trying to make a break for it.  

“Oh no you don’t!” you exclaimed diving on the droid. Somehow you managed to wrap your arms around it, struggling to hold it in place. Your muscles screamed out in pain at the effort, but you dared not let go. “I got it!”

“Good job!” Padmè cheered. She pulled out her comlink, “Ahsoka, we found the last bomb!” Ahsoka? That must be the padawan’s name, you hadn’t heard it before today.

You couldn’t focus on what was said from there, you were too busy trying to keep the stupid droid in place. You were wrestling it on the ground when two clone troopers ran into the room, Ahsoka by their side.

“We’ll take it from here ma’am,” said one of the troopers. “Let go, and we’ll handle it.”

You didn’t need to be told twice. You let go of the droid and it jumped to its feet, only managing to make it two steps before the trooper grabbed it. The other clone ripped the bomb from the droid’s hands and immediately started working to defuse it. The first clone threw the droid to the ground and bent down to assist his fellow soldier. The robot scampered away and no one tried to stop it, there were bigger issues to deal with right now. That bomb for starters.

You climbed to your feet and blew a strand of hair out of your face. Between being electrocuted twice and wrestling the droid, your once elaborate updo was now falling apart. You could feel strands of hair falling out from their pins but there was nothing you could do about it right now.

“Are you two alright?” Ahsoka asked. She looked over the two of you, searching for any new injuries.

“We’re fine,” Padmè said with a smile. “Isn’t that right, (Y/N)?” 

“Never better,” you answered with a tired smile. “I don’t believe we’ve met before?” You extended your hand towards the young Jedi, “I’m (Y/N) Felvora, handmaiden to Senator Amidala.”

“Ahsoka Tano. I’m Master Skywalker’s padawan,” she said shaking your hand with a bright smile. ”I’m glad the two of you are alright. We were all worried there for a minute there.”

“We?” Padmè echoed. You caught her eye, she had that look again, the one she got whenever the topic of the Jedi arose.

“Oh, yeah. I’ve never seen my master so worried before,” said Ahsoka. “Even Master Kenobi looked worried, and I’ve never seen him like that before. Good thing we got here in time though!” Padmè gave you a look and you shot one right back at her. She was trying to make a big deal about the fact that Obi-Wan had been worried about you and you were trying to shut her up before Ahsoka noticed. Still… Obi-Wan was worried about you? The thought made you giddy with excitement. Maybe if you were lucky, you’d get to see him before he left for whatever remote part of the galaxy the war called him to next?

“Senator, you should see this,” one of the clones said butting into your conversation. The three of you turned to look at the trooper, he held the bomb out in front of him and pointed at an empty crevice. “It looks like the vial that holds the virus is missing.”

“What?!” you asked sharply.

“The droid must have taken it!” Ahsoka said racing out of the room with the clones in tow. You looked to Padmè, both your faces pale. As long as that vial was unaccounted for, everyone was still in horrible danger.

“Milady, I think it would be best if we put our helmets back on,” you suggested.

Padmè nodded her head in agreement, “I think you’re right.”

Thankfully there were two hazmat helmets in the room that fit your suits. You had just finished securing yours in place when another explosion rocked the lab.

“What was that?” Padmè asked nervously looking around the room.

“I don’t know. Nothing good that’s for sure,” you replied. Fear gripped you tightly. Another explosion could only mean one of two things: either more battle droids were attacking the lab or one of the virus bombs had been detonated. Neither option was good.

“We need to find Ahsoka and the others,” Padmè said marching towards the door.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay here where we know it’s safe?” you suggested.

“Our suits will protect us from the virus, and these,” she raised her blaster, “will protect us from any droids. Come on the others might need help.”

You sighed heavily; you knew that tone of voice. Padmè had made up her mind and once she did that there was no turning back. You held your tongue as you followed your friend into the abandoned corridor, searching for the others.

“Hello? Can anyone hear me?” she called out, her voice echoing off the metal walls. “Is anyone there?”

A chill ran down your spine, something was wrong. You stopped, shut your eyes, and listened carefully. You heard nothing but felt something instead. Something deep inside your mind told you to take the next left.  

“This way!” you said grabbing Padmè’s hand, pulling your friend along behind you. You weren’t sure who or what you would find at the end of this path, but you knew well enough by now to trust in your gut. It was usually right.

“How do you know we’re going the right way?” she asked.

“I just do,” you answered.

The two of you ran until you came to a dead end. You stopped and looked around; surely there had to be something you were missing?

“Is anyone there?” you yelled. Maybe someone was close enough that they could hear you?

“Can anyone hear me?!” Padmè shouted.

“Senator Amidala, is that you?!” Ahsoka’s voice resonated from the other side of the wall. It wasn’t a wall but a door! 

“Yes, it’s me!”

“Can you get the door open?” asked Ahsoka. You glanced at the wall, looking for some sort of panel that would allow you to open the door. There, tucked in a deep recess in the wall, was a control panel. You hurried over to it and started pressing buttons, surely one of them would open the door?

When the door finally opened, Ahsoka and a squad of troopers greeted you and Padmè. There was no sign of Anakin or Obi-Wan and that scared you. Where were they? Were they safe?

“What happened?” asked Padmè. “What was that explosion?”

“One of the virus bombs detonated. We’ve all been contaminated,” Ahsoka said with a frown.

You stared at the girl with wide eyes; they were all infected?! If that were true, then they’d be dead before morning, and without an antidote there would be nothing anyone could do to help them. This was bad. Very, very bad.

“But we have a bigger problem,” said Ahsoka.

“Bigger than a biological weapon going off?” you asked incredulously.

“The remaining droids are trying to escape, trying to let the virus out,” explained the padawan. “We have to stop them!”

“You’re right,” said Padmè. “We can’t allow them to infect the planet.” You nodded your head, she was right. You had to think of the others now — of everyone who called Naboo home. They were depending on you to keep them safe. You had to be brave; you had to put their wellbeing above your own.

Your group ran into the corridor and split into two groups: half of the troopers went with Ahsoka down one path and the remaining half stayed with you and Padmè. You were thankful that the two of you had some backup, it made this daunting task seem a bit more manageable.

As your group rounded a corner you stumbled upon two battle droids struggling to open a hatch in the ceiling. They were trying to escape!

“Stop right there!” bellowed a trooper. A torrent of blaster fire, including your own, rained down upon the two droids. Within seconds they fell to the ground with a loud thud.

“This exit is secure. We should keep moving,” said another trooper.

And so you did. Your group stalked through the lab, killing any droids that you stumbled upon. There weren’t too many up until you reached a small escape hatch deep within the lab. There a small platoon of droids were trying to escape, stopped only by a faulty panel by the looks of it. These weren’t just your standard battle droids, several were heavily armored. They were like the ones you had seen during your time in the arena, that complicated things.          

Your group opened fire on the droids, and they immediately returned fire. You ducked, narrowly avoiding being hit in the face by a blaster shot and fired a few rounds at the droid that decided to target you. The robot fell to the ground, and you aimed your gun at another. This was a bad place to have a blaster fight, there wasn’t any cover in this hallway. Your group was stuck in the open with no protection from the enemy. Your only hope was to kill these droids quickly; it was the only way all of you would survive this encounter.

When the last of the droids fell to the ground you were panting from the effort of fighting in your heavy hazmat suit. You raised your hand to wipe a bead of sweat from your brow, but your helmet stopped your hand. Ugh, stupid thing. At least you survived the battle and with no injuries too, that was good. You turned to your group; everyone was still standing, that was also good. Then you looked at Padmè, she was staring at a large gash in her hazmat suit. That wasn’t good.

“Padmè are you okay?” you exclaimed rushing forward towards your friend.

“A shot grazed my arm. I’m not hurt,” she said flatly. “But my suit is compromised. I’m infected.”

“No,” you gasped. “No, you can’t be.” You could feel tears welling in your eyes. If Padmè was infected then there would be nothing you could do to help her, you would be forced to watch her die in front of you! “Maybe if we tape it shut?”

“It’s too late for that. We both know it,” Padmè said softly, casting her eyes downwards.

“Don’t say that,” your voice wavered, threatening to break.

“It’s the truth,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “Don’t be upset, you’ve done all you could. Besides, we completed our mission, Naboo and the rest of the galaxy are safe. We should be proud of that.”

You nodded your head, fighting back against the tears that threatened to spill down your cheeks. You couldn’t cry, not now. You had to be strong for Padmè. She needed you now more than ever.      

When your group made its way back to the room where you originally found Ahsoka, the others were already there waiting for you all.

“I think we managed to kill all the droids. Good job,” Ahsoka said with a tired grin. It fell as soon as she saw Padmè’s suit, “Senator, what happened?”

“Blaster shot tore open my suit,” answered your friend. “I’m afraid I’ve been infected.”

Everyone in this lab, save for yourself, was infected with the Blue Shadow Virus. You were the only one with a still intact hazmat suit. It was the only thing keeping you from sharing the same fate as the rest of your companions. The realization nearly made your heart stop.

Come morning you would be the only one alive. Everyone else would be gone. Unless someone found an antidote you would be forced to stay here, trapped underground among the dead. The lab would become your tomb. Death wouldn’t come quickly for you, not down here, not unless you removed your helmet… No. Don’t think like that. There was still hope. There was still a chance that Obi-Wan and Anakin might find a cure. The Blue Shadow Virus had been eradicated once before, surely it could happen again?

The next few hours passed by slowly. Everyone had settled into the room, no one in much of a talking mood. You sat on the ground, back to the wall, with Padmè’s head in your lap. She was starting to show symptoms, not as severely as the others who had been infected before her, but still… things weren’t looking good.

You gently ran your fingers through Padmè’s hair, her helmet cast aside. There was no need for her to wear it now, it wouldn’t change anything. There was nothing you could do but keep her company as the disease wreaked havoc on her body. You felt completely and utterly helpless.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,” you muttered. You had failed your most basic duty as a handmaiden. You were supposed to protect Padmè with your life, yet it was her who was dying on the floor. Not you.

“Don’t you say that,” she said staring up at you. “You did everything you could. I won’t allow you to blame yourself for my death.”

“But it is my fault. I should have stopped you from ever coming here,” you said shaking your head, unable to stop the tears from falling.

“That’s my fault for not listening to you,” she answered. “I’m sorry for getting us into this mess. You have every right to be upset with me.”

“How could I be? You’re one of my dearest friends,” you sniffed.

“And you’re one of mine,” she answered with a weak smile. “We just have to have faith in the Jedi. There’s still a chance that they’ll find an antidote and save us. We must hold out hope that they’ll make it back here in time.”

The two of you lapsed into silence but a rib rattling cough echoed around the room. The two of you looked over at Ahsoka, she didn’t look well at all.

“I— I have to call my master,” she said weakly. “If the two of you have any messages you’d like to send, you can send it with my transmission.”

The three of you staggered to your feet and crowded around Ahsoka’s holopad. Ahsoka and Padmè leaned heavily on either side of you, you were the only thing keeping both of them upright. The three of you were recording your goodbyes and all of you knew it.

“We destroyed all the battle droids inside the compound, Master. Naboo is safe from further contamination. I repeat, Naboo is safe,” said Ahsoka. She lowered her head in defeat.

“Promise me that no one will ever open this bunker,” said Padmè. Her voice was filled with sadness, hearing her in such a state broke your heart. “Goodbye Anakin.” She looked towards you, inviting you to say a few words. You lifted your chin and stared directly at the device.

“Do as Padmè says. Do not open this bunker under any circumstances. I… we have to put Naboo first. Goodbye.” There was so much more you wanted to say, goodbyes to all your friends and family but the others had kept their messages short, so you did as well. When you were the only one left you would record your true final words, but that thought only hurt. So you pushed it from your mind for now.

Ahsoka powered down the holopad and the three of you slumped down against the wall. All there was to do now was wait. As the hours ticked by the room grew quieter and quieter. Already one trooper was dead, his chest no longer rose and fell. The others were still alive but unconscious, the disease ravaging their bodies. Padmè was the only one left awake, but her eyes were beginning to droop. She was nearing the end.

Just as it seemed that it was all over the sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere outside the door. Were there more battle droids headed your way?! You stood quickly, grabbing both your blaster and Padmè’s, aiming them at the door. If there were more droids coming you would go down fighting. You had no desire to sit around and wait for death to claim you. You had lived through life in isolation once and you had no desire to do that ever again. This would be your final stand.

The footsteps grew closer, and then the door opened. You levelled your weapons at the door but froze when you saw who was waiting for you on the other side. It wasn’t a droid but a clone trooper!

“At ease, ma’am! We’re here to help,” he said. You lowered your weapons and sighed. Help had come at last! A team of troopers, accompanied by a medical droid, entered the room and rushed into action.

One by one they administered an antidote to everyone in the room and the droid said that once you got topside you would receive a shot as well. It was like magic, those who just minutes ago had been unconscious, were now starting to wake up. Even Padmè could hold a conversation now when just a few moments ago she could barely stay conscious. It was a miracle!       

One by one everyone evacuated the room, carried out on stretchers. You followed behind Padmè’s as the troopers navigated their way to an elevator shaft that led outside. Once you stepped out of the elevator, you found yourself on a landing pad in the middle of the swamp.

You had only made it a few steps onto the platform, when a clone trooper hurried up to you.

“Excuse me ma’am. I need that hazmat suit. It needs to be burned,” he explained.

“Oh, sure. You can have it,” you said removing your helmet. A strong whiff of swamp gas greeted your nose. Never in your whole life had you been so excited to smell swamp gas. You were alive! Padmè was alive!

You shrugged off the heavy hazmat suit and handed it to the trooper. “Here you go.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” said the trooper as he hurried into the crowd. There were certainly more people here than you had originally expected. Somewhere along the way this had gone from a two-person mission into a full-scale operation.

“It is time for your injection,” beeped a medical droid that stepped up to you. “Please hold out your arm.” You lifted your arm and started to roll up your sleeve, but the robot jabbed you through your shirt sleeve.

“Ow!” you yelped. Damn droid! No one must have programmed its sensitivity settings.

“You have been inoculated from the Blue Shadow Virus and are no longer contaminated. You are free to go,” it said in a monotone voice.

“Thanks,” you grumbled rubbing your arm. That was going to leave a bruise…

You glanced around the area, trying to find Padmè in this crowd. All you could see were shuttles surrounded by a sea of clone troopers. Their white armor blended into one great mass. You started wandering through the crowd, trying to find a familiar face. Padmè, Ahsoka, Anakin—

“(Y/N)!”

Obi-Wan. You turned towards the voice and standing there in the midst of a sea of white was a familiar set of tan robes.

“Obi-Wan!” you exclaimed. The two of you raced towards one another and when you met in the middle of the platform he wrapped you in a tight embrace. You hugged him back, clinging to him tightly. He was really here! He was alive! You were alive! You buried your face in his chest and sighed happily. Obi-Wan’s force signature surrounded you, filling you with that familiar warmth. You welcomed it gladly. You had missed him more than you had thought.

That’s when you remembered you were in the middle of a crowded landing platform, not alone in your apartment nor in the privacy of the Jedi temple. You pulled away from him quickly and Obi-Wan let you go immediately. He must have just remembered the same thing. Whoops. Hopefully Padmè hadn’t seen your breach of propriety…        

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?” he asked earnestly looking you over for injuries. You squirmed under his discerning eye, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. You knew you looked like a wreck, just once you’d like to see him when you actually looked nice.  

"I’m fine,” you answered. “Padmè and the others, they’re the ones who need help.”

“And they’re getting it. Right now, I’m worried about you,” said Obi-Wan. Your breath caught in your throat at this line. Maker, he really meant that didn’t he? He really cared about you!  “What happened?”

“That mad scientist—”

“Dr. Vindi?”

“Yes, him. He captured Padmè and I while we were looking for the lab,” you explained.

“Did he hurt you? I thought I sensed you in pain earlier,” he said. There was a dark look in his eye, almost as if the mere fact that someone had dared to hurt you infuriated him — wait.

“You felt my pain? How?”

“Because of our bond, my dear.” There was that nickname again. Ever since that first holopad call he had taken to calling you that. You didn’t mind; in fact, you rather liked the nickname. It made your stomach flutter hearing him call you such things. “We’re connected in a way many others are not. I felt your pain as if it were my own. Now I ask again: did he hurt you?”

“Yes, he tortured Padmè and I to cover his escape. I’m okay now though. See?” You held your hands out towards him, the bright red burns around your wrists peeking out from under your sleeves. “Just a few small burns is all.”

Obi-Wan gently took your hands in his own, investigating your wounds for himself. He frowned, “My dear, these look like electrical burns.”

“That’s because they are.”

Obi-Wan looked up at you sharply. “What?”

“He electrocuted us. Twice.”

“Have you seen the medical droid yet?” he asked quickly.

“Not for the burns but—”

“No buts. You need to be examined immediately,” he insisted.

“They’re really not that bad though—”

“There might be underlying damage that we can’t see. Trooper!” Obi-Wan barked at a soldier passing by. “Please find a medical droid and bring it over here immediately.”

“Yes, Sir!” the trooper hurried off into the crowd.

“I’m telling you that you’re overreacting,” you said with a huff. “It’s the others who need help not me.”

“Their needs don’t outweigh your own,” Obi-Wan said firmly. You glanced down and found that he was still holding your hands. He glanced down, noticing the same thing but didn’t make any move to remove his hands. He brought his gaze back to your own, a soft look in his eye. “Let us help you… Let me help you.”

You stared into his eyes, just like back at the temple all those months ago, you couldn’t seem to tear your eyes away from his own. It was like the two of you were being drawn into one another by some great invisible force. Was it the force that made you feel this way or was it something else?

“Really, I’m fine,” you muttered trying to break this spell. A crowded landing platform really wasn’t the place to be having such an intense moment.

“I’ll let the medical droid be the judge of that, if it’s all the same to you,” he replied holding your gaze. After a moment he looked over your shoulder, “Ah, here it is now.”

The medical droid from earlier rolled over, staring at Obi-Wan with its bright yellow eyes. “I was summoned?”

“Yes. I need you to please scan my friend for injuries. She was electrocuted and I want to ensure she has no internal damage,” said Obi-Wan in a rather official voice. It was odd hearing him talk like a general, you were so used to the casual repertoire between the two of you.

“Certainly, Sir.” The droid turned to you and hesitated. “I need you to please let go of the patient so that I may perform my scan.”

“Of course,” Obi-Wan let go of your hands, a rather sheepish look on his face. Was he embarrassed?!

Just as the droid began its scan, Anakin’s voice rang out over the din of the landing platform. “Obi-Wan?” The two of you looked in the direction of his shout. Anakin was on the other end of the landing platform, motioning for Obi-Wan to come join him.

“I’m afraid duty calls,” said Obi-Wan with an apologetic smile. “It was lovely seeing you again.”

“It was.” This wasn’t fair. You hadn’t seen him in nearly six months and here he was being called away yet again. You tried to hide your disappointment with a smile, but Obi-Wan seemed to see right through this ruse. Whether it was because your acting was bad or because of your force bond you weren’t sure. What you were sure of was that he seemed to feel the same way judging by the frown on his face.

“I’m sure our paths will cross again soon,” he said softly.  

“Obi-Wan!” Anakin yelled again.

“Yes, I’m coming!” Obi-Wan yelled over his shoulder before turning back to look at you one last time. There was something in his gaze that made your heart skip a beat, it was like he was trying to commit your face to memory. After a moment he finally spoke again, “Goodbye, my dear.”

“Goodbye.”

With one last smile he ran off towards Anakin, leaving you alone with the medical droid.

“I have completed my scan,” it said.

“And?”

“My initial scan has indicated that you have several internal burns as well as two moderate surface level ones,” said the droid. “I recommend that you accompany the others to the medical facility for treatment.”

“Of course you do.”

Notes:

Hi guys! This chapter and the next one were originally one chapter, but it felt WAY too long so I split it up instead. I hope you guys are ready for some seriously cute moments, I promise that the next chapter is full of them! As for this chapter, I hope I did a well enough job of following the plot of an episode without repeating every line. I really wanted to highlight the bond between Padmè and you here. I hope I conveyed that well enough! See you soon!

Chapter 10: A Night Out

Two days later Padmè was released from Naboo’s medical facility with a clean bill of health. The antidote had worked so well that, despite having contracted one of the deadliest diseases in history, Padmè was feeling well enough to attend a social event. She wanted to properly thank the Jedi for coming to the rescue and celebrate the second demise of the Blue Shadow Virus — at least that was her official excuse anyway. You saw her actions for what they really were, an excuse to spend the evening with Anakin. The others, including yourself, were only there to make the two of them socializing socially acceptable.

The evening was to be a grand event and Padmè insisted that the two of you dress up for the occasion. It was easy finding a suitable dress for Padmè, she often wore bright colors and gowns that made a statement. You were the one having trouble finding a suitable dress; your travel wardrobe consisted of simple dark dresses that helped you fade into the background, not stand out.

“You know this would be a whole lot easier of you told me what sort of event we were going to?” you huffed rummaging through your clothes.

“If I told you that would ruin the surprise,” said Padmè. “Just wear whatever you have that’s nice.”

“All my dresses are nice,” you quipped. “I wouldn’t wear them to work if they weren’t.”

“But we’re not going to work. We’re going somewhere much better,” Padmè said with a smile.

“Why don’t you just pick one out for me then. It’ll make this whole thing go faster,” you motioned for her to step forward towards your closet.

“Oh, fine, but you have to wear whatever I pick. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Padmè ended up picking the dress you had worn to dinner with Marco and Bartlett. The long black dress was your nicest dress in your travel wardrobe; you really never had an excuse to wear it though, it was always just a bit too fancy for whatever Padmè had planned. The fact that she had picked this one let you know she wasn’t kidding. She had big plans for this evening.

The two of you walked towards the palace’s banquet hall. Padmè glided easily in her red dress, the fabric billowing behind her. You struggled to keep pace, you had forgotten just how heavy this dress was. The beadwork — though stunningly beautiful — weighed at least ten pounds. It was worth it though; every bead seemed to glitter under any light.

“You know I do love that dress on you,” Padmè said eyeing your outfit. “You just look so elegant.”

“Thanks,” you smiled brightly at her compliment.

“We should get you another, one that’s a little less modest,” Padmè continued. “Spice up your wardrobe a bit.”

The dress, though high necked and long sleeved, clung tightly to your figure leaving little to the imagination. It wasn’t like you were dressed like a total prude. “With all due respect, Milady, the focus should be on you. Not me.”

“At work yes, but we aren’t at work right now,” she said. “Besides, I think adding such a dress to your collection would certainly make Obi-Wan’s day.”

“Oh, shut up,” you groaned. The two of you hadn’t spoken any further about your complicated relationships with the Jedi. There was nothing to talk about, at least in your case. “We’re just friends.”

“Oh please,” Padmè chuckled. “Whenever I’ve spoken to him about you, his eyes just light up. Just what do the two of you talk about on those holopad calls?”

“The war mostly,” you answered. “There’s nothing inappropriate occurring I assure you. Though I can’t say the same about you and Anakin.”

Padmè stopped in her tracks. You stopped after a few paces and looked back at your friend. She was frozen stiff, her entire body tense with fear, her eyes wide. “You haven’t told anyone have you?”

“Of course not. I would never betray your trust like that,” you insisted. “I haven’t even voiced my concerns to Obi-Wan if it makes you feel any better.”

“It does actually,” she sighed, her shoulders relaxing. “Anakin is paranoid that Obi-wan knows and just hasn’t said anything.”

“He’s not blind Padmè, nor am I. You two need to be more careful,” you said taking on your mom voice. If was easy enough for you to see there was little doubt in your mind that Obi-Wan didn’t know what was happening. He wasn’t stupid.

“I’m taking the necessary precautions.” Padmè resumed walking alongside you, a dreamy smile on her face. “I’m so glad they were able to stay.” You glanced over at her; it was nice seeing her happy like this. Though, you couldn’t say you were much of a fan of her secret relationship with Anakin — it just put her in danger of having her heartbroken in one way or another.

When the two of you entered the banquet hall’s antechamber, you were surprised to find a crowd already there. You recognized some faces from Padmè’s meetings; several of these people were advisors to the Queen and other political officials. This dinner must have been scheduled before the Blue Virus incident and your group was just been forwarded an invitation.

You and Padmè milled through the crowd looking for the Jedi, nodding polite hellos to people you recognized. You were excited to meet up with the others, what did Jedi formal wear look like? You had only ever seen them dressed in their traditional robes up until now. After a few moments you finally found the Jedi, standing together off to the side… dressed in their normal Jedi robes. Guess their robes count as formal wear.

As if he could sense your eyes on him, Obi-Wan turned towards the two of you. His face lit up when he saw you, “Ah, there you two are! Good evening.” He bowed his head politely as you approached the group.

“Good evening, everyone,” Padmè said cheerily. “I must thank you all for agreeing to join us this evening.” She made a point to look at each Jedi as she said this but then her eyes landed on Anakin, and you could see their sparkle from here. She really loved him, didn’t she?

“We should be the ones thanking you for inviting us,” said Anakin his eyes never leaving Padmè. It would have been cute if you weren’t so worried about Ahsoka and Obi-Wan noticing.

“Yeah, thank you Senator Amidala!” enthused Ahsoka. “I’ve never dined with a Queen before!” She was excited but you could feel the nervous energy radiating off her from here. She was still just a kid; all of this was new to her.  

"If it makes you feel better, this is my first time dining with a Queen too,” you offered with a smile.

“What, really? I thought you did this kind of stuff all the time?” said Ahsoka.

“Heh, not really. I’m just a handmaiden. Senator Amidala is the one who usually goes to events like these, not me,” you said. You glanced over at Padmè and Anakin, the two of them were already having their own private conversation. You couldn’t remember the last time you had seen Padmè so happy. Her smile was always the brightest when around Anakin — something bumped your force signature. It was Obi-Wan.

You looked over at him, a questioning look on your face. He didn’t meet your eye; he was entirely focused on Ahsoka who was complimenting the beauty of the palace. His hands were clasped neatly behind his back and had you not felt him bump your mind, you would have thought he didn’t even know you were there.

“I wonder what it’s like to live here? This place is even bigger than the temple!” said Ahsoka.

“It’s quite an adjustment,” you commented interrupting her babbling. “It’s very easy to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going.”

The padawan looked at you with wide eyes. “You used to live here?!”

“Yes, over a decade ago now,” you said. Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to look at you, it felt like his bright blue eyes were staring straight through you. “It feels like a lifetime ago.”

“You’ve been here that long?” asked Ahsoka. “But you don’t look old?”

“Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan corrected the padawan sharply. You laughed at her comment, sometimes you forgot how teenagers viewed the world. Everyone over twenty seemed ancient, including yourself.

“It’s alright,” you laughed. “Really, it’s fine.” Obi-Wan relaxed at your words but kept a wary eye on Ahsoka. You collected yourself and smiled at the girl, “I used to work here when I was just a teenager, just a little bit older than yourself actually—”

The doors to the banquet hall opened, cutting you off. A single footman stepped into the antechamber and motioned for everyone to enter the banquet hall. The crowd rushed forward, eager to be in the presence of the Queen. Several advisors bumped into you as they hurried towards the entryway. Obi-Wan noticed this and placed his hand securely on the small of your back, guiding you through the crowd with ease. You wanted to tell him this wasn’t appropriate but given the circumstances you were thankful for his guidance. Some of these advisors seemed to have forgotten their manners when presented with a chance to curry favor with the Queen.

Once the entire crowd was inside the banquet hall, a fleet of footmen swarmed you all, ushering guests to their assigned seats. Your stomach dropped at this, hopefully you’d be seated near someone you knew. You really didn’t want to spend the entire dinner making awkward small talk with random officials you would likely never have a conversation with again. Besides, you were certain that they would have little interest in socializing with a lowly handmaiden, not all political leaders were as open minded as Padmè was.  

A footman separated you from your group and led you to your designated seat. Sitting at the head of the table was the Queen, and unsurprisingly you were seated at the opposite end of the table. You weren’t at the very end, but you were pretty damn close. Obviously, the Queen didn’t want to sit next to servants, even if they had helped save the entire planet two days ago.

She obviously wasn’t interested in padawan’s either because just after you had found your seat, Ahsoka was seated directly across from you. Her eyes darted around the room quickly and when she noticed the array of cutlery on the table her eyes widened in horror. This may be the first time you had dined in the presence of a queen, but you at least had a clue as to what to do and how to act in such a situation. Poor Ahsoka was going in blind. Better help her out while the other guests were still being seated.

“Ahsoka?”

“Yes?” she looked up at you with wide eyes. Clearly, she was expecting you to critique her lack of manners or something like that.

“I’m glad you decided to join us this evening,” you said with a reassuring smile. You made a point to grab your napkin and place it neatly in your lap. You titled your head slightly, indicating that she should follow your lead.

Her eyes lit up in understanding, “Oh, yeah. Me too!” She quickly copied your actions and smiled brightly. Then her eyes focused on someone behind you. “Master Kenobi!”

You looked over your shoulder and to your surprise saw Obi-Wan. What was he doing over here?

“Evening everyone.” He sat in the chair directly to your right, closer to the Queen’s end of the table. Some of the advisors around you mumbled hellos before turning back to their respective conversations. Guess none of them cared much for the Jedi. It was odd that they wouldn’t want to speak to such a high ranking general as Obi-Wan. Maybe they opposed the war?

“What did you do to be seated at this end of the table?” you joked in a quiet voice. “I was sure you’d be seated with the others.” You glanced down at your friends; Padmè was seated at the Queen’s right hand with Anakin seated next to her. Obi-Wan was in the cheap seats in comparison.

“I’m right where I want to be,” he answered with a cheeky smile. “I’m not much one for politics.” There was something in his voice that almost made it sound like his words had a double meaning. Just what was he trying to say? “Do you have any idea what Padmè has planned for us after dinner? I’m afraid she refused to tell us her plans.”

You smiled ruefully, “You and me both. I have no clue what she has planned, all she told me was to ‘wear a nice dress.’”

“Well, I must say you followed her instructions perfectly. You look lovely.” Your heart skipped a beat at his compliment. He was certainly being bold this evening, paying you such a compliment in such a crowded place and in front of another Jedi no less. No, stop reading into this. He was just being polite; there was no ulterior motive.

“Yeah, your dress is so pretty. I wish I had something nice to wear,” Ahsoka grumbled.

“Your robes are formal enough,” said Obi-Wan. “You look fine.”

“Still, it’d be nice to wear something different for a change,” she grumbled. You had seen and heard this argument before. Several times in the past the younger handmaidens would gripe about their uniforms. It was hard not having a say in what you wore every day and as a teenager having that form of self-expression denied to you was difficult. You could feel Ahsoka’s annoyance radiating off her from across the table, so too could Obi-Wan.

“Ahsoka, mind your feelings,” he stated with a stern look. “You forget yourself.”

“Sorry, Master.”

One by one different courses were brought to the table; each dish more delicious than the last. You couldn’t remember the last time you had eaten such delightful food! Each plate was accompanied with a glass of the sweetest wine you had ever tasted, and you happily finished each drink as it was brought out to you. A pleasant warmth filled your body as you sipped on your wine, but it wasn’t the only warmth you felt. Somewhere around the beginning of the third course, you felt Obi-Wan’s force signature start to circle you.

You chose to ignore this and instead focused on Ahsoka’s story. She had dominated most of the conversation this evening, her nervous energy channeled into filling the silence with a torrent of war stories. You were utterly enamored with this inside look into the war; it helped you understand just what Obi-Wan faced while out fighting on the front lines.

You sipped on your drink and felt Obi-Wan bump your force signature with his own, just as he had in the antechamber earlier. You glanced over at him, meeting his eye for a moment, and then turned back to Ahsoka. As soon as your gaze was on her he bumped you again. This time you ignored him; you didn’t want him poking around in your mind right now. If he had something he wanted to say, he could use his words. Right now wasn’t the time to go delving into one another force signatures. Couldn’t Ahsoka or Anakin feel what he was doing?      

“And then we were surrounded by destroyers!” enthused Ahsoka. She had been telling you all about her most recent mission, and by all accounts it sounded quite eventful.

“What did you do next?” you asked, making a point to ignore Obi-Wan.

“Well, we were outnumbered so—” Ahsoka excitedly started to explain the proper way to take out a destroyer droid. You nodded your head, listening rather intently — at least until Obi-Wan bumped your knee with his own. You pushed his knee away, making a point not to look at him. Just what had gotten into him?

You refocused on Ahsoka, she certainly knew an awful lot about droids. Padmè had mentioned Anakin’s penchant for building droids in the past, maybe he had passed this passion onto his padawan?

Obi-Wan’s foot nudged your own under the table. He clearly wasn’t deterred by you ignoring him, if anything it seemed to only encourage him to annoy you even more. You brushed his foot away with your own, why was he acting like this? You were trying to listen to Ahsoka’s story!

“How many destroyers have you faced at once, Master?” asked Ashoka.

“Oh, quite a few. I don’t really keep track of that sort of thing,” answered Obi-Wan. He was acting so innocent, like he wasn’t being annoying for no discernable reason. “I’m sure if you asked Cody, he could give you an accurate number.”

“Cool,” said Ahsoka. She glanced between the two of you for a moment. “So (Y/N), how do you know Master Kenobi?”

“I see he’s neglected to mention me up until now,” you chuckled taking a sip of your wine. Then with no warning his hand was on your knee. You choked on your wine, surprised by the sudden touch.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his face perfectly composed. He didn’t move his hand. “Wine go down the wrong pipe?” There was a twinkle in his eye, one that told you he was enjoying himself by teasing you like this. If only you weren’t borderline tipsy, you’d have an easier time ignoring his behavior.

“Yes, I’m fine,” you said clearing your throat. You looked back at Ahsoka and smiled. If he wanted to be annoying so be it. You could get your own form of revenge. “So, Obi-Wan’s never mentioned me before?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” said Ahsoka taking a bite of her meal. “All he said the other day was that a friend of his was trapped in the lab along with Senator Amidala. That’s the first I heard of you.”

“I see. How interesting,” you mused. “How would you feel if I told you that I first met Master Kenobi when he was just a padawan?”

“What, really?!” Ashoka asked with wide eyes.

“Yes, really,” you smirked taking another sip of your wine. He didn’t seem alarmed by your words, so you decided to up the ante. This time it was you who bumped your foot into him while also roping him into the conversation. “Isn’t that right?”

“It is,” he admitted. He ignored your foot as if it were nothing, his hand still firmly placed on your knee. If you wanted to annoy him, you would have to do more.

“We met over eleven years ago during the siege of Naboo.” As you began to tell your story, you crossed your legs. “Obi-Wan was just a padawan back then. He and his master had been tasked with escorting milady to safety — she was our queen back then.”

“Senator Amidala was the Queen of Naboo? I didn’t know that!” said Ahsoka. She was completely engrossed with your story, her food forgotten for now. She obviously was eager to learn more about her master.

“Really? I guess Obi-Wan’s been slacking then,” you smiled. As you said this you nudged his boot with your left foot, trying to eke a reaction out of him. He didn’t react. Hmph, two could play it that way. “Yes, Padmè was our queen, and I served as one of her handmaidens.” As you spoke you slowly started to trail your foot up his leg, trying to make him let go of your knee. “That’s how Obi-Wan and I met but we really didn’t become friends until much more recently.”

Obi-Wan didn’t react to your touch at least he didn’t until your foot was nearly up to his knee. He gave your knee a squeeze, warning you to go no further. You promptly ignored this warning and continued to drag your foot up his leg. If he could spend the evening being annoying, so could you.

“We reconnected last year when he and Anakin were assigned to protect the senator. That’s pretty much it.”

“You’re conveniently leaving out the part where I saved your life,” he stated. You looked over at him, struggling to keep your expression neutral. The two of you were locked in a stalemate, his hand on your knee and your foot on his. One of you had to give in to the other, one of you had to win. The look in Obi-Wan’s eye was one of mischief, he was confident that he would win this showdown.

“I didn’t forget that part. Ahsoka said she wanted to know how we met, not every detail of our friendship,” you replied evenly. You didn’t back down from his stare, you could win this fight.

“I mean if you’re willing to share, I’m all ears,” said Ahsoka. You tore your eyes away from Obi-Wan and looked back to the padawan. “I’ve never heard Master Kenobi talk about his friends outside the Order or the corps before.”

“There’s not much more to say really. I was kidnapped and Obi-Wan rescued me. He was just doing what any good Jedi would do.” You nudged his knee with your foot. Now be a good Jedi and let go.

But that damn fool did the exact opposite and started trailing his hand slowly up your leg! “You know (Y/N) was at the battle of Geonosis? Took out quite a few droids too despite being injured. It was really quite impressive,” said Obi-Wan. “She’s very good with a blaster.” As he complimented you his hand continued to creep up your thigh. What the kriff was he doing?!

"Oh, I know. I saw her take out several droids in the lab,” said Ahsoka with a bright smile. “Where did you learn how to shoot so well?”

“I learned at—” you paused as Obi-Wan’s hand entered what you considered to be dangerous territory. His hand was halfway up your thigh and showed no signs of stopping. You weren’t winning this game. You removed your foot from his knee and continued talking, trying to not tip off Ahsoka as to what was occurring under the table. “I learned to shoot while training to become a handmaiden.” His hand finally stopped its ascent, but he didn’t pull away. “That’s where I learned I’m a decent shot.”

“She’s being modest,” he said giving your thigh a squeeze. “You’ve seen her in action.” You inhaled sharply at the sensation, struggling to keep it together.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed, (Y/N),” said Ahsoka. Kriff, could she feel the nervous energy radiating off you? She must have if she was commenting on it like this. “You should be proud of your skills.”

“Ahsoka’s right, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” said Obi-Wan his voice smooth like velvet. That bastard knew exactly what he was doing! “Ahsoka, how did that business on Felucia go the other day? I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Anakin.” He mercifully changed the subject, but kept his hand glued to your thigh.

As Ashoka started to babble once more you slowly reached down and grabbed his hand with your own, trying to pry it off your leg. Rather than let go as you wanted, he allowed his hand to start creeping upwards again, taking your hand along for the ride.

No, no, no, no, no! You quickly let go of his hand and immediately his hand stopped its ascent. He was in extremely dangerous territory now and you squirmed under his touch. Just what was he trying to prove by doing this? Was this revenge for ignoring him earlier or was this something else?

You tried your best to ignore his touch and instead concentrate on Ahsoka’s story, but that was impossible. All you could focus on was the heat radiating from his palm into your thigh… and just how high up his hand really was. Maker, this was beyond inappropriate. Just what was he thinking? If any of the other guests glanced downwards, they’d notice right away that something was amiss.

You grabbed your wine glass and took a long sip, praying that the alcohol would help steady your nerves. All you had to do was survive this dinner. You would just focus on Ahsoka, the food, the wine, anything but his touch — then his thumb started rubbing circles on your thigh. Your breath hitched and you nearly choked on your wine for the second time tonight.

You chanced a glance over at him, to the outside observer he was entirely focused on Ahsoka — only you knew what he was really up to. “I’m glad the two of you were able to reclaim the city,” he said to Ahsoka. “It’s a very important location for trade.” He glanced over when he noticed your stare; the corner of his mouth quirked into a grin. He was enjoying teasing you like this. You glared at him, trying to let him know just how pissed you were right now. Big mistake. He turned his gaze back to Ahsoka and dragged his hand just a bit higher. You immediately averted your gaze, staring hard down at your plate.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. You tried to maintain a neutral expression, tried to act like what he was doing wasn’t having an effect on you but that would be a lie. You felt the gut pull of arousal, how could you not? His hand was only a few inches from your most intimate spot and his thumb just kept rubbing circles into your leg, keeping your focus on his touch.

“(Y/N)?” Ahsoka’s voice brought your focus back to the conversation.

“Hm, yes?” you asked looking up quickly.

“Are you alright? You’ve been staring at your plate for a while now,” she asked looking you over with worry.

“Oh, I’m fine. Just a little too much wine is all,” you said quickly.

“You’d do well to pace yourself, there’s still two more courses,” said Obi-Wan with a smirk. That bastard knew exactly what he was doing! He was riling you up for no good reason! It’s not like he could even take advantage of what he was doing to you, it was forbidden. He was just doing this to prove that he could, it was nothing more than a game to him. You wanted to snap back at him, but he squeezed your thigh again in warning, he was ready to go even higher if you didn’t behave.

“I think that’s a good idea,” you said through gritted teeth. “I’ve had enough wine for now.” He smirked at your surrender but didn’t move his hand. He had won this round.

It wasn’t until dinner came to an end that he finally let go of your thigh. As you stood up from the table you shot him a glare, making a point to smooth out your dress. He just gave you a cheeky smile, acting like he was completely innocent. Just what had gotten into him? He never acted like this.

As you exited the banquet hall and returned to the antechamber, your group was reunited with Anakin and Padmè.

“That was such a lovely meal!” gushed Padmè. “The Queen sure knows how to host a dinner party.”

“Yeah, that was the tastiest meal I’ve ever had!” Ahsoka said with a bright smile.

“You’ve lived off of nothing but Jedi temple food and soldier’s rations for your whole life, so that’s not saying much,” Anakin joked. “But yeah, that was a good meal. Wouldn’t you say so Master?”

“Oh yes. It was excellent,” said Obi-Wan. “Where are we off to next?”

“The theater!” Padmè said with a wide grin. “I got us tickets to the opera!”

“The opera?” Ahsoka asked, clearly disappointed with this development.

“Ahsoka,” Anakin said sharply. That was the second time tonight that the padawan had been reprimanded for a breach of manners. Now if only someone would scold Obi-Wan for his lack of propriety during dinner…

“If you don’t want to come you don’t have to,” said Padmè. “I know the opera isn’t for everyone. You either love it or hate it.”

“If it’s alright with you, Senator, I think I’ll pass on your generous offer. If I’m being honest that dinner made me super tired,” Ahsoka said stifling a yawn.

“That’s perfectly alright. Thank you for joining us for dinner,” said Padmè.

“Thank you for inviting me. I had a lot of fun,” the padawan bowed deeply and then turned to face you. “It was really nice getting to talk with you (Y/N). I hope we see each other again soon!”

“Me too,” you said with a smile. Ahsoka was a good kid, you truly did hope your paths would cross again under better circumstances.

With that, the four of you bid farewell to Ashoka and continued to the theater. It wasn’t far from the palace, just a short speeder ride away. During the ride you felt Obi-Wan’s force signature nudge yours but this time you pushed back, rather forcefully you might add. You didn’t want him reading your emotions or thoughts right now, your head was still busy trying to process what transpired during dinner. Mercifully he seemed to respect this and didn’t bug you again for the rest of the ride.

When your group made it to the theater you were ushered into a private balcony that offered a perfect view of the stage below. You were beyond excited; you had never been to the opera before! Whenever Padmè would go it was to entertain other senators or other important guests, which meant there was no need for a handmaiden to attend. You were so excited that you had almost completely forgotten about the entire situation at dinner… at least until you were seated next to Obi-Wan.

He was on your left while Padmè and then Anakin sat to you right, closer to the stage. You tried to hide your trepidation at this seating arrangement by making a point of looking around the theater instead of at Obi-Wan. It was a beautiful building, certainly not as grand as the palace, but still gorgeous to look at. You stared down at the crowd milling about below, there were hundreds of guests on the lower level and hundreds more in the upper levels. This theater was so grand in scale and beauty, it nearly took your breath away.

“Have you ever been to this theater before?” asked Obi-Wan.

“No, never.” You kept your answer short and to the point. You were still mad at him, and you weren’t about to let him off the hook so easily.

“Oh, were your parents not fans of the theater?” he asked.

“I didn’t grow up in Theed,” you said making a point to not look at him. “We only came here to trade.”

“Ah, I see.” You didn’t have to look at him to know he was stroking his beard, deep in thought.

Before he could ask you any more questions the theater lights dimmed, and the crowd descended into silence. The show was about to begin. Slowly the curtain rose, and a beautiful Twi’lek woman glided on stage singing in the sweetest voice you had ever heard. There was only one problem, you had no clue what she was saying! She was singing in a foreign language you had never heard before and with minimal set decoration to help guide you, you were completely lost as to what was happening.       

The woman swirled around the stage, the music was breathtakingly beautiful, and even though you couldn’t understand her words you recognized her inflection. She was missing something or someone terribly. Then the music shifted to match her melancholy tone, and a well-dressed man appeared on stage. You perked up at the arrival of this new character, just who was he?

That’s when you felt Obi-Wan shift in his seat. “She’s begging him to help her look for her lost love,” he whispered. You looked over at him, raising an eyebrow in question.

“You understand what they’re saying?” you whispered back.

“I do. Want me to translate?” For half a second you wanted to say no and not rely on him, but the prospect of spending the evening with no clue as to what was going on didn’t seem all that appealing. So you were forced to swallow your pride.

“Yes please,” you said turning your attention back to the stage. Obi-Wan leaned over the armrest so that he could translate for you without disturbing the others.  

“The woman, Emilia, she’s explaining to the man that her love has been missing for over a month now. He went into the great forest and hasn’t come back,” he whispered.

The man on stage raised his hands and turned away from Emilia. He began to sing in a deep baritone. “The man says he wishes he could help but the great forest is home to a ferocious beast. He says that Emilia needs to accept that her love is dead and not coming back.”

Emilia raised her hand to point at the man, her voice raising in anger and pitch. You didn’t need a translation to know that she was yelling at him. “She just called the man a coward and said that if he will not help her, then she will go alone into the great forest,” whispered Obi-Wan.

The man rushed towards Emilia, trying to make her see reason. “He says that if she goes in there she will die. He wants her to stay here with him.” The man inched closer to Emilia, holding out his hand to her, singing sweetly. “He just offered her his hand in marriage.”

Emilia turned her nose up at the offer, crossing her arms. “She refuses stating that she loves only one man and it’s not the one that stands before her.”

The man circled Emilia like an animal would. The music quickened, rapidly building into a crescendo. He sang low and fast, his words flying from his tongue. “He says that he knows why she is so eager to have her love return. That he knows her secret.”

Emilia tilted her head and sang sweetly, playing innocent. “She asks what secret?”

The man stopped and stared at Emilia hungrily, his voice low and dangerous. He sang a few short words and before Obi-wan could translate, Emilia slapped his cheek so hard you could hear it from where you were sitting. You jumped at the sudden violence and several audience members gasped in surprise.

“He said that he knows she has already lain with the other man and is now carrying his child,” whispered Obi-Wan.

You stared hard at the stage, suddenly acutely aware of the situation you now found yourself in. It was bad enough that you had to sit next to him again after the shenanigans at dinner, but now he was literally whispering into your ear about salacious things like love and lying with one another. Thank the maker it was dark in here because you were certain your face was beet red. You just prayed that Obi-Wan couldn’t feel the heat radiating off your cheeks or the embarrassment radiating off your force signature. If he noticed he didn’t say or do anything, he just kept translating the beautiful singing.

As the show continued you found yourself leaning into Obi-Wan and he into you. With each passing minute the two of you drew closer and closer to one another and it wasn’t long before the two of you were so close that his lips were brushing against your ear. The sensation sent a shiver down your spine. You didn’t think you could get much closer after the debacle at dinner but here you were. His breath was hot on your neck, the whiskers of his beard tickling your ear, and you found it increasingly difficult to pay attention to what he was saying. It felt like your body was on fire, and every word he whispered in your ear just added fuel to the fire.

Obi-Wan surely knew what he was doing because as the show continued on you felt his hand rest next to yours on the armrest. Then his fingers brushed against your hand, a silent question. You didn’t move your hand away. Ever so slowly he took your hand in his own, his thumb rubbing circles into your skin. You welcomed his touch, reveling in the warmth that radiated from his palm into your own.

You shouldn’t be doing this. You shouldn’t be encouraging this sort of behavior. He was a Jedi, nothing could ever happen between the two of you… and yet when you were with him like this everything just felt right. Were you reacting like this because of the wine that still flowed through your veins or was it because of something else? Something you didn’t dare name. Judging by the way your stomach fluttered as his lips ghosted over your skin, you had a sneaking suspicion that it was the second option. Kriff.

When the curtains dropped and the show ended the two of you pulled away from one another. Your excuse for being so close was now gone. For just a moment you understood how Padmè must feel around Anakin. Oh maker, this wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.           

“What an excellent performance,” Padmè said rising to her feet.

“It sure was something,” Anakin grumbled. Clearly he wasn’t a fan of the show. “What did you think Master?”

“It was very… stimulating to the senses,” said Obi-Wan. There was something in his voice that sent another shiver down your spine. It was like he knew exactly what he had been doing to you the entire evening, and it was almost like he had enjoyed it as much as the show.

He stood and stretched his arms above his head. “What did you think?”

“Hm?” you blinked in surprise. Was he talking to you?

“What did you think about the show?” he repeated, offering his hand out to you.

“Oh, uh, it was lovely,” you stammered. You accepted his hand and stood up, “Very entertaining.”

“Very,” he agreed holding your gaze. Without meaning to you found yourself getting lost in his eyes, there was just something about him that drew you in.

“Should’ve guessed you’d like something like this,” Anakin snorted. At this line, Obi-Wan tore his gaze from you to shoot a disapproving look at his friend. Now that his eyes were off of you, it was like the spell had been broken. You turned to face the others and smiled brightly at Padmè, trying your best to hide just how flustered you really were.

***

When your group returned to the palace you bid farewell to the Jedi. You retreated to Padmè’s room and helped her prepare for bed. She was in a very good mood after spending the evening with Anakin and was babbling excitedly about the opera. You had just finished removing the last of the pins from her hair when she said something that made you freeze.

“I really need to thank Queen Neeyutnee for letting me adjust the seating chart.”

“You changed the seating arrangements?” you asked.

“Just a bit, I only moved one person,” she said with a mischievous grin.  

“Who?” You didn’t really need to ask — you had a sneaking suspicion you already knew who she had moved.

“Master Kenobi of course.”

“Padmè!”

“What? Anakin told me he despises politics and I knew you would appreciate having someone you know to sit next to,” she said. “Go on, tell me I’m wrong.”

You huffed and dumped her hairpins on the vanity. “Will that be all, milady?” you asked avoiding her question. It was her meddling that directly led to the complicated feelings swirling around in your chest. You weren’t very happy with her at the moment. 

“Oh, come on, (Y/N). You can’t possibly be upset—”

“I’m not. I’m just tired,” you lied. Padmè frowned and nodded her head,

“Well… get some sleep then. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Yes, milady. Goodnight.” You bowed your head and left the room.

You knew you shouldn’t be upset with Padmè; she was just trying to be nice. It was Obi-Wan you should be mad at; he was the one acting like an absolute menace all evening. He was so handsy… the memory of his lips against your ear and his hand on your thigh flashed in your mind. Oh maker, stop it!

You shook your head trying to clear the image from your mind as you walked back to your room. You just needed some time alone to clear your mind and collect your thoughts. Hopefully by the morning everything would go back to normal, and you could continue on like nothing had ever happened.

Once you made it back to your bedroom, you leaned against the oversized door and sighed heavily, taking in the room. One of the greatest benefits of being a guest of the Queen was your accommodations. Here in the palace even the servant’s rooms were splendid. Your room here was opulent in a way that Padmè’s penthouse back on Coruscant could only hope to be. The ceiling soared at least twenty feet overhead and beautiful granite pillars lined the circular room. The absolute best part of your room was the small balcony that overlooked the palace gardens. It was your favorite feature and so far, you had spent every night of your stay standing out there enjoying the beauty of Naboo.

You moved to your closet and changed out your heavy black dress for a sleeveless nightgown. After spending the entire evening trapped under the weight of those beads, you felt as light as feather in the soft white fabric. The dress billowed behind you as you strolled to the balcony, you could undo your hair while enjoying the fresh air.

You stared out at the horizon as you struggled to remove the pins that held your elaborate hairstyle in place. Maker, what a mess this evening turned out to be. Had you really spent the entire opera with Obi-Wan whispering in your ear? Ugh, you had!

You groaned and shook your head. This made things complicated. He was your friend. That’s all he could ever be. You had to accept that — you thought you had accepted that. So why did that thought upset you? More importantly, what possessed Obi-Wan to act the way he had? He knew better than anyone that the Jedi were forbidden from forming attachments, relationships were strictly forbidden. Had he just been teasing you because he could, or did he have some other reason for acting the way he did?

You removed the last of the pins from your head and ran your hand through your hair. You sighed happily, it was hard wearing such elaborate updos all the time; it was a treat to have your hair down like this.

You dumped the pile of pins onto the stone wall of your balcony, forgetting them for now. Instead, you chose to focus on the beautiful countryside laid out before you. Just being back here raised your spirits. Coruscant was great, but nothing could match the beauty that was Naboo. You took a deep breath; the air was so fresh and clean out here…

That’s when you felt someone watching you. You glanced around, was someone else out here? You peered down at the palace gardens that sprawled out below you, scanning your eyes over the foliage looking for any hidden figures. You weren’t very high up, only three or four stories if you had to guess, so if someone was close by you should be able to see them.

Sure enough, someone was in the garden. There among the flowers and bushes was a lone figure sitting on stone bench. They didn’t seem to be a threat; they weren’t skulking through the darkness like an intruder would. They were simply sitting in the garden, but that’s when you noticed that their head was tilted upwards towards you. They might be staring at the palace itself, but you had an uncanny feeling that it was you they were really looking at.

You made a point to look down at the figure, making sure that they knew you saw them staring at you. The figure didn’t move; they just kept watching you. Just who was this person and why were they staring up at you with such fervor? You couldn’t make out any details in the darkness other than the fact that the figure was wearing a cloak. Should you go find a guard and have them deal with this? They didn’t seem like a threat but one could never be too careful — something familiar brushed up against your mind. Obi-Wan.

You didn’t push away his force signature as you had earlier, you were too surprised at his sudden appearance. His warmth swirled around you for a moment and then it gently brushed against you. A single thought echoed in your mind, somehow in his voice.

“May I come see you?”

“Yes,” you answered inside your mind. Before you could question just how you managed to hear his voice inside your head, his force signature disappeared. The figure in the garden stood up and walked towards the palace wall. That must be Obi-Wan. How did he plan on getting up here? It’s not like he could jump this high, or maybe he could? You weren’t really sure just how much the force altered his physical abilities.

But he didn’t jump. Instead, he started climbing up the ivy that engulfed the palace wall. You leaned over the balcony, watching him ascend as if it were the easiest thing in the world. In less than a minute, his head peeked over the wall of your balcony, a cheeky smile on his face.

“Hello my dear.”

You rolled your eyes at his antics, “Just get on up here before you break your neck.”

“Well, if you insist,” he said hopping over the low wall. And there he was, standing on your balcony as if it was the most natural thing in the world and not a complete and utter breach of propriety. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?” he asked lowering his hood so that you could see his face.

“It is,” you answered, crossing your arms to cover your chest. If you were smart you would have grabbed a cloak or some sort of coverup before welcoming him up for a visit. Your nightgown was much too sheer to be considered appropriate for such a meeting, especially after everything that had already transpired today. “I, uh, wasn’t expecting to see you again this evening.”

“I wasn’t planning on it either but when I saw you were awake… I just had to come see you,” he said earnestly. Your heart did a cartwheel at that line. No wait. You were supposed to be mad at him!

“Good, because I have some questions for you, Mr. Negotiator,” you said in a stern voice.

“Ask away,” he said with an easy smile.

“What the kriff do you think you were doing at dinner?” you demanded. “We were the presence of the Queen for Maker’s sake! What you did was entirely inappropriate!”

“Are you upset about what I did or the fact that it could be considered a breach of propriety?” he said as his eyes slowly trailed down your body. You squirmed under his stare, it felt like he was undressing you with just his eyes. Maybe this was a mistake, maybe you shouldn’t have invited him up here. You were just asking for trouble…

“You didn’t answer my question,” you snapped. “Why’d you do it?”

“You were ignoring me,” said Obi-Wan. “Seemed like a good way to get your attention.”

“You’re no better than a teenager,” you hissed. “You know you could have said something instead of doing…” you couldn’t bring yourself to say it, “that.”

“I could’ve… but the other way was more fun,” he said with a smirk. “Forgive me, it won’t happen again.”  

You gave him a look, trying to gauge if he was being honest. His words sounded sincere, but his eyes still had a mischievous twinkle in them. “I have a hard time believing you,” you said turning on your heel and going back inside your room. You just needed to put some distance between the two of you… but wait you needed one last question answered. You stopped in your tracks and looked back at Obi-Wan.

“How did I hear your voice in my head?”

“You know that answer already, it was the force,” he said trailing behind you.  

“But this was different. I’ve never heard your voice in my head before,” you said standing your ground. “It was like we were talking just like we are now.”

“Our force bond is unique, my dear. It lets us communicate in ways few others can,” he said continuing to close the gap between the two of you. “It’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I’m not afraid of it,” you said quickly. “I’m just trying to understand it better. Are we the only ones who can talk like this?”

“Hardly, but it’s uncommon,” he said. He was within arm’s reach now. “It depends on the strength of one’s bond, their proximity to one another in space, that sort of thing.”           

“I see.” You stared at him, trying to determine what his intentions were. There was an undercurrent flowing between the two of you, but you couldn’t put a name to the feeling. “Shef hasn’t told me much about our force bond. Whenever I try asking him about it, he just changes the subject.”

Obi-Wan nodded his head, his smile fell and was replaced with a serious look. “I expected as much. I think he’s worried about the nature of our bond — you aren’t a Jedi.”

“So it’s because I’m an outsider? I didn’t think Shef cared about that sort of thing. He’s always is so nice and welcoming…” Did Shef not trust you?

“It’s not that he doesn’t trust you,” said Obi-Wan.

Your eyes widened in surprise, “Are you reading my mind right now?!” you hissed taking a step back.

“No, I’m not,” he huffed crossing his arms. “Believe it or not, we were simply thinking the same thing. That kind of thing can happen you know.”

“I never can tell with you. I swear you always know what I’m thinking.”

“It’s a gift,” he smirked. You rolled your eyes at that line and retreated further into your room. You could hear his footsteps on the marble floor behind you, following you inside.

“Want a drink?” you asked without looking back.

“Sure.”

You moved to your conservator and dug around for something suitable for the occasion. Tucked away in the back was a bottle of wine, that would work. You fished the bottle out and grabbed two glasses off the top of the appliance. When you turned around you were acutely aware of the fact that Obi-Wan was staring straight at you, an unreadable look in his eye.

"Wine alright?" you asked, trying to ignore his stare.

“Oh, yes. That’s perfect,” he said with a smile. You put the bottle and glasses on the table that was in the center of your room, next to the chaise lounge.

“Please have a seat,” you said motioning to the chair. “I gotta find a corkscrew.” You moved back towards your conservator and started poking around. There had to be one somewhere around here.

“Need any help?” asked Obi-Wan.

“No, I got it.” There wasn’t any corkscrew in the upper cabinets, but maybe one of the lower ones would have one? You bent over and rummaged through its contents. “Found it!” you said triumphantly, raising the device above your head.

When you turned back to face Obi-Wan, he was still staring at you but that look in his eye had changed. It was no longer unreadable, now you recognized the dark look in his eye. It was a look of desire. You gulped nervously and made your way back to the chaise, sitting down next to him. You didn’t dare look at him as you struggled to open the wine bottle. As much as you tugged on the cork, it just wouldn’t come out. It was stuck!   

“Allow me,” said Obi-Wan holding out his hand. You handed the bottle over to him but rather than adjust the stuck corkscrew, he removed it.

“What are you—” you stopped midsentence. He held his hand out over the wine bottle and with a flick of his wrist the cork slid out of the bottle with ease — no corkscrew required, just the force. “You couldn’t have told me about that trick earlier?” you huffed.

“I could’ve but where’s the fun in that?” he asked pouring two glasses of wine. He handed one to you with a bright smile, “I must thank you though. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to relax and have a drink like this.” He took a long swig from his glass, “It does me good to see you, you know. I don’t get to see many friends with the war on.”

“I’m just glad you’re safe,” you answered taking a sip of your drink. It was good, not as good as the wine you had at dinner, but still tasty. Thinking about dinner reminded you of his touch and you flushed in embarrassment.

“Everything alright, my dear?” he asked.

“Yes, fine,” you said taking a large sip. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Nothing important.” You stared down at your glass, refusing to meet his eye. You weren’t sure you’d be able to look away if you got lost in his eyes again.

“Will you stay on Naboo much longer?” he asked after a moment.

“For another day or so. Padmè has some meetings she must attend before we can go,” you explained. “What about you? Are you staying?”

“I’m afraid not. We leave in the morning,” said Obi-Wan with a frown.

“Oh,” you put your glass down on the table, still avoiding his stare. “Any idea where you’re off to?”

“Some outer rim planet. I don’t know when I’ll be back, I’m afraid,” he said softly. “That’s why I had to come see you again, while I still had the chance.”

You looked over at him, he was staring at you so tenderly it made your heart ache. Maker, why did he have to look at you like that?! He was a Jedi. Nothing could ever happen between the two of you, the lightsaber clipped to his belt was a constant reminder of that fact. You glanced down at the weapon and frowned. If he wasn’t a Jedi things would be so much easier…

“Want to hold it?”

“Huh?” you looked up in alarm.

“My lightsaber. Want to hold it?” he offered, unclipping it from his belt. “I don’t mind.”

“Uh, sure?”

“Hold out your hands,” he said shifting closer to you. You did as he said and held your hands out in front of you. “Now mind this button, it will ignite the blade.” You nodded your head as he placed the weapon into your hands.

“It’s lighter than it looks,” you commented as you examined the cylinder. All this time you had imagined a lightsaber to be a heavy, bulky weapon like a blaster was, but this was completely different.

“Heh, I suppose it is,” he chuckled. “Stand up. Let’s see how you fare.”

“What?”

“I want to see how you handle a blade. Come on, let’s try it,” he said as he climbed to his feet.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” you asked. The last thing you wanted was to lose a limb…

“My dear, younglings train with lightsabers. You’ll be fine. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said offering you his hand. You stared at it for a moment. You really shouldn’t accept his invitation… but who knows when you would see him again?

“Alright.” Against your better judgement you accepted his hand and stood, his lightsaber still in your hand. “What do I do?”

“Here, follow me.” He gently pulled you away from the chaise to a space where there was more room to move around. “Now, hold the saber in both hands,” he said letting go of your hand. You did as he said, holding the weapon out in front of you.

“You’ll want this end up,” he said flipping the weapon around. “Make sure to mind the ignition button.” You gripped the cool metal in your hands and even though the weapon was powered down, it somehow felt like it was alive. It was the strangest sensation.

Obi-Wan stepped behind you, standing nearly flush with his chest to your back. Then he wrapped his arms around you, so that he could place his hands over yours on the lightsaber. You felt an energy ripple from his hands into his weapon, their energies flowing through you. It kind of felt like your hand was trapped between two magnets.

Then you felt his breath hot on your ear, his face hovering just over your shoulder. “Just relax,” he murmured. Maker, you weren’t sure you could relax right now. Every fiber of your being hummed with excitement. “When you’re ready, turn it on.”

You inhaled sharply, here goes nothing. You pressed the ignition button with your thumb and the lightsaber sprung to life, filling the air with a loud hum. This was real, you were really holding a lightsaber!

“Wow,” you gasped, utterly mesmerized by the weapon in your hand.

“How do you feel?” Obi-Wan murmured in your ear. Your breath caught in your throat, the two of you were so close right now!

“It’s exhilarating,” you whispered.

“Try moving it around a bit,” he whispered, gently guiding your hands back and forth. The blade hummed loudly as it moved through the air in front of you. It was a sound you had heard before — it had filled your ears when you were being tortured by Count Dooku. The memory of his lightsaber burning your skin sent a bolt of fear through your body.

“There’s nothing to be scared of. I won’t let anything hurt you,” he whispered in your ear. His voice brought you back to reality, grounding you in this incredibly charged moment.

You turned the lightsaber off, cutting off its humming and sending the room back into silence.

“Is everything alright, my dear?” he asked, concern blanketing his voice.

“Yes. I just don’t think lightsabers are my thing… too many bad memories,” you said flatly. Obi-Wan took that as his cue to let go of your hands and take the saber back from you.

Your turned around to face him. There was hardly any space between the two of you now, he hadn’t backed up after letting go of your hands. He stared down at you, his eyes soft and tender. Slowly he reached out to you, resting his hand on your arm, his fingers tracing patterns across your bare skin.

You could hardly breathe; you were scared that if you made any sudden movements this spell would be broken. If you didn’t know any better it felt like the two of you were about to kiss, but that was impossible. He was a Jedi. Relationships were forbidden and yet… you could’ve sworn he just glanced down at your lips. Was this really about to happen?

Ever so slowly the two of you drew closer to one another. You could feel his force signature swirling around you, enveloping you in a tender embrace. Everything inside you screamed that this was right, that you were exactly where you should be, everything except your mind. A nagging voice in the back of your head kept saying that you shouldn’t be doing this, that he was a Jedi, that this wasn’t right. But if all that were true, why did you feel so at home in his embrace?

Just as your lips were about to touch there was a rush of footsteps. The two of you looked towards your door in alarm and Obi-Wan gripped your arm protectively. There was some sort of commotion unfolding in the hallway, just outside your bedroom door.

“What’s going on?” Obi-Wan whispered, his eyes never leaving the door.

“Sounds like a shift change. This is the servant’s wing after all,” you whispered back. You turned your head to look up at him, “You should probably go before someone finds you in here.”

“You really think someone’s going to come looking for you at this hour?” he asked looking down at you with a questioning look.

“You’d be surprised. Being a senior handmaiden isn’t for the week of heart,” you sighed. You glanced down at his lips again — you knew he should leave but you didn’t want him to. You wanted him to stay here with you and pretend that, for just one evening, that the war didn’t exist.

“Indeed,” he murmured. He leaned forward again so that your noses bumped against one another’s, his lips hovering just over yours. Then there was another rush of footsteps outside the door, closer this time. Obi-Wan sighed and pulled away from you, “I suppose I should take my leave then.”

Slowly the two of you made your way back towards the balcony, neither one of you wanting to part from one another. He lingered on the balcony, staring down at you with a soft expression. His eyes searched your face, as if he were trying to commit your features to memory.

“When will I see you again?” you asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Soon, I hope.”

Maker he was really going off to war again, wasn’t he?! You rushed forward, enveloping him in a tight hug. Obi-Wan wrapped his arms tightly around you, holding you close to him. You buried your face in his chest, balling the fabric of his tunic tightly in your hands. Maybe if you held onto him strongly enough, he wouldn’t leave? Obi-Wan ran a hand through your hair, his touch as light as a feather. It felt so right to be with him like this, like the two of you were meant to be together.  

An unfamiliar voice drifted on the wind; there were others nearby. It wasn’t safe for him to be here anymore. He needed to go, no matter how much you wished he could stay.

“You should go,” you murmured into his chest.

Slowly the two of you pulled away from one another. “I’ll miss you,” you said with a weak smile.

“And I you,” he replied. “Until next time, my dear.” With one last look, he hopped over the stone wall and onto the ivy. You hurried to the edge and stared down at him as Obi-Wan climbed down the wall.

“Try not to break your neck,” you called down after him. He looked up at you, a smirk on his face.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he called back.

You watched as he expertly climbed down the ivy, but for some reason he stopped at the midway point. Why did he do that? Was someone coming? Then he looked back up at you and smiled, jumping off the ivy and away from the palace wall. He flipped through the air and landed easily on the ground below.

You wanted to yell at him but doing that would give away the fact that he had been here in the first place. So you settled for yelling at him with your mind instead.

“Show off.”

Obi-Wan smiled up at you and bowed dramatically. You shook your head disapprovingly and laughed at his antics. With one last look Obi-Wan disappeared into the shadows of the palace gardens. Just like that you were alone again with no idea as to when you would see him again and for the first time the thought made your heart ache. Against your better judgment you were falling for him, and you were falling hard.

Notes:

Would you believe me if I told you I rewrote this chapter like three times? I hope Obi-Wan doesn’t seem too out of character; my excuse is that being stuck on the frontlines for months leads to a bunch of pent-up emotions. That, coupled with you wearing a pretty dress, is just a bit too much for even him to handle in a responsible manner lol. Also I want to give a huge shout out to the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robin Hood for directly inspiring the balcony scene. If you liked the chapter don’t forget to leave a kudos or a comment below, those are what motivate me to keep writing! See ya in the next chapter!

Chapter 11: Communications

It had been nearly a month since your visit to Naboo and in that time you had found yourself missing Obi-Wan more than usual. You were accustomed to going long periods of time without hearing from him, but this time the silence seemed harder to bear. You knew you were being foolish, letting your emotions get the best of you like this, but you couldn’t help it. Despite your better judgment you had developed feelings for the Jedi. Feelings that you could never act upon in good conscience.

You had just returned to Padmè’s penthouse after a long day at the senate, Remi rolling alongside you. Ever since your return from Naboo she followed you everywhere you went, acting as another line of defense from whatever threat she thought you would face next. Considering what you faced in the swamps, you were more than happy to have her company — having a droid around might come in handy one day.

The two of you walked to the entrance of the hangar and waited for the door to slide open. When it did, you were greeted by Lefty.

“Evening ma’am,” he said giving you a rather stiff salute.

“What’s with the formality?” you asked raising an eyebrow.

“Drift just got off duty and I know he’s lurking around somewhere nearby,” said Lefty, lowering his hand.  

“So?” you asked, walking past him and down the hall.

Lefty fell into step beside you, looking over his shoulder. “So, if he sees me not following standard procedure, he’s going to get angry. He’s such a stickler for the rules. I mean I’m surprised he got assigned with guard duty and not a commanding position in the army with the way—” Lefty abruptly cut himself off and looked over at you, a sheepish look on his face. “Uh, no offense intended. This is a very important post and—”

“Lefty, it’s fine,” you smiled at your friend. “I get it. Watching over an aide to a senator isn’t a very exciting post I know, but I want you to know that I do value the work you and Drift do here.”

Remi chirped in agreement, rolling a few feet behind the two of you.

“Thanks, Boss,” Lefty said with a smile. “So how was work?”

“It was work,” you sighed. “Lots of meetings as per usual.”

“Any with your ex?” Lefty asked wiggling his eyebrows.

You looked over at him sharply and smacked his arm. “If Gwin wants gossip, tell her to come get it herself! She shouldn’t be sending you to do her dirty work.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to keep my girlfriend happy!” he insisted raising his hands in surrender. “But seriously though, got any updates?”

You rolled your eyes and looked straight ahead, not meeting the clone’s eye. “I saw him yesterday in the hall, said hi. Saw him again today and talked about work stuff. It’s really not that interesting.”

“But your history together makes it interesting,” emphasized Lefty.

“We’re just coworkers now—”

“Not friends?” asked Lefty. “I could’ve sworn I saw the two of you having lunch together last week in the senate food court. I know some coworkers do that but the two of you looked like you were having an awfully funny conversation—”

“Ugh, fine. We’re friends,” you crossed your arms. “I don’t get why you’re so interested in Bartlett anyways.”

“Gwin told me to keep an eye on the two of you.” You glanced over at him, narrowing your eyes. “Don’t give me that look! I have to watch over you anyways!”

“And I’m sure you report all these meetings to Gwin?” you said accusatorially.

“Naturally,” said Lefty with a bright smile. “She and I have a bet.”

“About?”

“Whether or not Bartlett’s going to try asking you out again. I said no but Gwin is adamant he’s going to make a move sooner rather than later,” explained Lefty.

You said nothing. Your feelings regarding Bartlett made it too complicated to come up with a good answer. While it was true that he had left you and broken your heart, there was still a part of you that cared for him. You could feel that love whenever the two of you interacted with one another at work, it lingered in the background of every conversation no matter how brief. But you had to admit you had started to develop feelings for Obi-Wan — and while these feelings were certainly more powerful than the ones you felt for Bartlett — you had to acknowledge that they would likely lead to nothing. At least with Bartlett if your relationship was rekindled, it could actually go somewhere…

The three of you came to a stop in front of your bedroom door. “Try and get some rest, you look like you need it,” said Lefty.

“Gee, thanks.” Even though you rolled your eyes at his words, there was a smile on your face. “I’ll try my best, but no promises. Night.”

“Night,” echoed Lefty.

You followed Remi into your bedroom and shut the door. The droid rolled slowly to her charging station, beeping quietly. She connected to her charger and powered down almost immediately, clearly today had taken its toll on the droid. She was just as exhausted as you were!

Ever since you had returned to Coruscant your days had grown more and more busy. Each day you found yourself stayer later and longer at the senate building — Padmè continued to get roped into even more senate committees — and the long days were beginning to take their toll on you. Though there were no visible circles under your eyes, you felt utterly exhausted. Each morning it grew harder to convince yourself to crawl out of bed. You’d kill for a day off.

Normally you and Dormè would alternate days at Padmè’s side, but Dormè had covered the entire time you were recuperating by herself. You had quite the backlog of hours to make up before the two of you could be considered even again. Though, if these late nights continued it wouldn’t be long before you were all caught up and you could have a day off again.

The only time off you allowed yourself was when you went to visit Shef at the Jedi temple, though these trips were anything but relaxing. It seemed like as you purified memories the process became easier, but the toll it took on your body seemed to worsen. When you had voiced this concern to Shef he said that it was because of how long the darkness had been allowed to fester in your mind. The longer it sat, the stronger it became, causing you use more energy to purify the affected memory. As a result, after your trips to the temple you were entirely drained and would spend the rest of the day in bed recovering.

You were due to return to the temple the day after tomorrow, and you weren’t looking forward to it. Just once you wanted to sleep in just because you could, not because your body felt like it had been hit with a tank. So as much as you wanted to stay up and relax, you knew that you should try and sleep. You needed every minute you could get; you had another early day tomorrow morning.

You changed into a nightgown and as you made your way to your bed, you noticed your holopad flashing on your bedside table. Someone had left you a message. You picked up the device and pressed play.

“Hello my dear.” A recording of Obi-Wan’s figure appeared in your palm. “I apologize for not contacting you sooner, things have been rather busy since we parted ways. I hope all is well with you.” He paused, shifting on his feet. “I’ll try calling you again later. Until then.” With a smile his figure disappeared, his message over.

You sat on the edge of your bed and replayed the message, taking in every detail of his face. He looked just as exhausted as you felt, the dark circles were back under his eyes and stood out like a sore thumb. Other than that, he looked to be alright — he wasn’t missing any limbs, and he didn’t appear to have any wounds so that was good.

After the message finished for the second time you looked at the timestamp. He had called several hours ago, while you were still at work, and hadn’t called you back yet. Maybe you should call him? Usually, your protocol was to wait for him to call you, but he had said he would call you back later. Surely trying to call him back now would be alright? Oh, kriff it!

You hit the redial button and waited. After a few seconds Obi-Wan’s face appeared in your hand, half obscured by something. His eyes were just barely open.

“Hello?” he answered in a groggy voice. Oh Kriff, had he been sleeping?!

“Did I wake you up?”

“You did,” he mumbled.

“I’m so sorry,” you apologized quickly. “I can call you back—”

“No, it’s alright.” He shifted so that his entire face was now visible. It was obvious he was lying in bed, the object that had been blocking the camera was part of his pillow. His hair was mussed, and a few of the longer strands had fallen over his face. His eyes, though they were focused on you, were half lidded as if he might fall back asleep at a moment’s notice.

“How are you my dear?” he asked, voice rough with sleep.

“I’m good,” you said with a smile. Better now that I’m talking to you — is what you wanted to say, but you held your tongue. That might be a little too forward. “I just got home and saw your message. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“It’s fine,” he mumbled with a lazy smile. “I like talking to you.” Your heart fluttered at this, and your smile brightened.

“How are you? Is everything going okay? I haven’t heard from you in quite a while,” you asked.

“I’ve been better,” he admitted. “This campaign has been…” He trailed off staring at you for a moment, his eyes soft and filled with longing. “It’s been difficult.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Maker, things must be rough if he was telling you about it. He never complained to you about the war. “Hopefully it’ll end soon, and you can come home,” you said in an attempt to raise his spirits.

“That would be nice…” Obi-Wan yawned loudly, his eyes drooping.

“I should go. You need your sleep.”

“But—”

“No buts. You can barely keep your eyes open,” you said in your mom voice. “Go to bed. We can talk again some other time.” He wasn’t going to last long on the battlefield if he didn’t get any sleep. So as much as you wanted to keep talking to him, you had to make the rational decision to let him rest.

“If you insist,” he sighed, eyes fluttering shut. “It was… lovely… lovely to see… you…” his voice grew softer with each word, the gaps between each extending longer and longer. By the time he managed to finish his sentence he was snoring softly, already fast asleep.

You bit back a laugh, you had never seen anyone fall asleep so quickly before! You went to hang up but hesitated, who knew when you’d have an opportunity like this again? So instead of hanging up, you pulled the device close to your face and studied his sleeping form.

This was the first time you had ever seen Obi-Wan this relaxed. All the creases in his face were smoothed out in such a way that he looked several years younger. You knew that the war was hard on him, but seeing his sleeping form like this you could see just how much stress he was really under. At least he looked at peace as he slept, hopefully his sleep would be restful — unlike yours.

You bit back a yawn, your own exhaustion catching up with you. You should probably hang up and try to get some sleep of your own. Like you had said, the two of you could talk more some other time.

“Goodnight, Obi-Wan,” you whispered softly.

He shifted in his sleep, nuzzling his face into his pillow, and sighed softly. You could see the ghost of a smile on his face and the sight made your heart melt. You didn’t want to say goodbye to him again so soon, but both of you needed your sleep. So with one last look you hung up.

***

You were back on the shore of one of the great lakes on Naboo. The white sand was soft between your toes, the sound of the waves crashing soothed you, and you were warmed by the sun shining brightly on your face. But that wasn’t the only thing warming you — someone else was here.

They were seated behind you, their legs straddling either side of you. Their arms were wrapped tightly around your waist, chest pressed flush against your back, and their chin rested on your right shoulder. They were talking to you in a soft voice, their words distorted and distant at first. But as you focused on the sound of their voice it dawned on you that you knew exactly who this person was. It was Obi-Wan!

He nuzzled your neck affectionately, his beard tickling your skin. You giggled and squirmed, trying to escape his touch but he held you tight, refusing to let you go. He pressed a soft kiss to the side of your neck, and you stilled. Your eyes fluttered shut and you sighed in contentment. This was perfect.

When his lips left your skin, you turned your head to look back at him. The two of you were so close that your noses were nearly bumping one another’s. He was so handsome it almost hurt to look at him. His long eyelashes caught the sunlight, practically glowing, and his bright blue eyes never left your own. The two of you were transfixed by each other’s gaze. 

Then he leaned forward and captured your lips with his own, kissing you deeply. You didn’t hesitate to kiss him back. His lips were soft against your own, while his beard was rough against your skin. You snaked your hand up behind his neck and tangled your fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to you.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

You jolted awake to the familiar sound of your alarm clock. You hit the snooze button and flopped back down onto your pillow. It had been a dream then… a wonderful, perfect dream. You lifted your hand to your lips, it had felt so real. You wanted it to be real, so much so that your heart ached.

“Ugh!” you huffed, throwing your hand down onto the mattress.

That garnered Remi’s attention. The droid rolled over to your bedside and chirped inquisitively.

“It’s nothing, just a dream,” you explained.

Remi beeped in confusion. You had left out a key word. You had said dream, not a bad dream. That wasn’t like you. You ignored Remi’s question and took a deep breath to try and collect your thoughts and feelings.

Up until now you had never dreamed of Obi-Wan, at least not in a positive way. You had more than enough nightmares with him in it, thanks to Dooku’s mind torture, but not any recently. In all honesty, you were so used to having nightmares that the mere fact that this wasn’t one was startling enough on its own. Add in the fact that you had been kissing Obi-Wan and it made your head spin. Ugh, this was so not how you wanted to start your day! You should have woken with a clear mind, not whatever this was!

The dream had felt so real too. Did all dreams feel like that and you had just forgotten, or was this something else? Had you subconsciously connected with Obi-Wan in your dreams? Was this a result of your force bond and if it was, did he have the same dream as you?!

Remi beeped again in concern.

“I’m fine, Remi. I promise,” you said climbing out of bed. Weirdly realistic dream or not, you still had to get ready for work. You would have to process this dream later, otherwise you were going to be late.

You had already changed into your dress for the day, a beautiful black gown with short sleeves and a square neckline, and were now seated at your vanity. You were in the middle of pinning your hair up when Remi beeped at you again. She rolled over to you, holding your holopad out in front of her. It was flashing in such a way that let you know that you had an incoming call. Who was calling you this early in the morning? It certainly wasn’t Padmè, she wasn’t set to wake up for another ten minutes at least. Well, only one way to find out.

“Thanks, Remi,” you said taking the device from the droid. “Hello?”

“Good morning.” Obi-Wan’s figure appeared in your hand and unlike last night, it was his full figure instead of just his face.

Remi beeped in alarm and tried taking the holopad back, reaching out with her little claw.

“Remi, no!” you laughed holding the device high above your head and out of her reach.

“Ah, hello, Remi. I’m glad to see you’re still watching over (Y/N),” Obi-Wan’s voice rang out from above your head. You could only imagine what his view of this situation looked like right now.

Remi rocked back and forth in protest, still trying to grab the holopad. She beeped loudly, throwing a temper tantrum. You laughed at her actions, why she hated Obi-Wan so much you had no idea, but it was funny to watch.

“Remi, I said no,” you laughed. “Knock it off.”

Remi retracted her claw and beeped one low note before rolling over to the window in a huff. You were so going to be dealing with her bad attitude for the rest of the morning…

Now that the threat of having it stolen was gone, you lowered your holopad back to eye level. “Sorry about that,” you said with a smile. “Good morning to you too.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” said Obi-Wan giving you a curious look.

“Huh? Oh, my hair—” you raised a hand to your half completed updo. “I was just getting ready for work.” You put the holopad on your vanity and resumed working on your updo. You could keep talking to him, but you had to keep moving if you wanted to be on time to help Padmè ready for the day.

“Ah, I see,” he said with an easy smile. “How did you sleep?”

You flicked your eyes down to his figure. Was he alluding to the fact that he had had the same dream as you last night?! But his face was relaxed with no hints to any secret second meaning behind his words, he was just asking a normal question. Better keep the details of that dream to yourself for now then…

“I slept well, hardly any nightmares,” you replied trying to keep your tone even. You focused your attention back on your reflection in the mirror, pinning a section of hair in place. “What about you?”

“Oh, I slept quite well. You’ll be pleased to hear that I got a full three hours,” said Obi-Wan.

“You need more sleep than that,” you tutted. “It’s a wonder you can function at all…” you trailed off, focused on an errant strand of hair. It was refusing to stay in place! You were going to need to use a second pin for this section.

You grabbed another pin and tucked it in between your lips, staring hard at the mirror. With one hand you held the strand of hair in place and with the other you pinned part of it down. With the first pin secured, you grabbed the second pin from your lips, making sure to keep a tight grip on your hair. You tried pinning the second pin in place, but it wasn’t holding! You stuck out your tongue slightly, deeply focused on trying to get the second pin to grip your hair without undoing all your previous work. You struggled for a few seconds and then at last the second pin slipped into place.

Satisfied that this troublesome section of hair wasn’t going anywhere, you looked down at the vanity searching for another pin. That’s when you noticed your holopad was still on with Obi-Wan staring up at you. He was watching you with a sense of awe, as if you doing your hair was the most fascinating thing in the world. There was such a look of tenderness in his eyes that you would dare to go as far as to say that he was making heart eyes at you. Your heart fluttered at the sight.

“Oh, sorry!” you apologized quickly. “I was so focused on getting this section to stay in place—”

“Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to apologize for,” said Obi-Wan. “It’s actually quite interesting to watch. I’ve always wondered how you managed to keep your hair up like that.”

“Lots and lots of pins,” you smiled down at him. “Too bad your hair is short now; I could’ve given you a tutorial.”

He laughed at that. “I’m sure you’d make an excellent teacher, but I don’t think I would be able to pull that look off.”

“Oh, don’t say that. I’m sure it would look great on you,” you teased reaching for another pin.

“Perhaps, but I certainly wouldn’t look half as pretty as you,” he said with a cheeky grin.

“Oh, I— uh—” you stammered. You could feel your cheeks flush at his compliment. “Oops!”

You pretended to drop a hairpin and bent down and out of view of the holopad. With your face out of frame, you took a deep breath trying to steady your racing heart. He had called you pretty!  

Remi beeped loudly, suddenly appearing behind your chair. You jumped in surprise, slamming your head on the underside of your vanity.

“Ow!” you yelped. You sat up, rubbing the back of your head. Maker that hurt!

“Are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked quickly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just bumped my head is all,” you grumbled looking over at Remi. She beeped again in alarm. A light flashed atop her head, one that you knew well. She was alerting you to the fact that your heart rate was elevated. No kriff it was elevated, Obi-Wan had just called you pretty!

“I know, I know. I’m already sitting down, it’s fine,” you said to the droid.

Remi beeped in disagreement, spinning her head to look at Obi-Wan. She beeped one long, low note, growling at him.

“Remi!” you said sharply. “Be nice.”

The droid growled again, quieter this time, but didn’t move from her spot by your side. She clearly wasn’t going to leave you alone with Obi-Wan for another moment.

“Are you sure everything’s alright over there?” asked Obi-Wan. His eyes darted between you and Remi, trying to piece together this puzzle.

“I’m sure,” you replied. “Remi’s just being overprotective.” He raised an eyebrow, questioning the validity of your statement. You needed to change the subject and fast. “So, what’s on your schedule for today?”

“Strategy meetings,” he groaned, accepting the change of topic. “They’re always terribly boring and go on for much too long.”

“I’m sorry,” you said with a frown. “Since it’s a strategy meeting does that mean you’re going somewhere new?”

“I’m afraid that information is classified.”

“Oh, boo,” you stuck out your bottom lip in a mock pout. “You ruined my plan of stealing Padmè’s speeder to come visit.”

“Now that is something I would like to see,” he laughed. “It would certainly make things more interesting, and seeing you is always the highlight of my day.”

Before you could react to his compliment, he continued on as if he had said something as benign as commenting about the weather. “What about you? What’s on your agenda today?”

“Senate meetings,” you answered with a sigh. “There always seems to be another bill being voted on and Padmè always seems to be stuck in the middle of things.” You continued to do your hair as you explained this. “Just once I wish she would act like some of the other senators and shirk her duties every once in a while.”

Obi-Wan laughed heartily at your joke. “Knowing Padmè I’m afraid that day might never come.” Not unless Anakin had something to do with it. He was Padmè’s one weakness, if forced to choose between the Senate and Anakin, you weren’t sure which she would pick. You just prayed that the day never came where she had to make such a decision.

That’s when you noticed that Obi-Wan’s smile had faded into a rather serious expression. “What’s on your mind?” you asked.

“I…” he hesitated, searching for the right words. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior the last time we saw one another. You were right, it wasn’t appropriate.” Was he just referring to him being extra handsy that night or was he referring to your almost kiss on the balcony? Probably both.

“You’re forgiven,” you said, trying to keep a straight face. So that night really was nothing more than the result of too much wine and pent-up emotions. You hardly could act surprised; he was a Jedi. Attachments like that were forbidden, especially romantic ones.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat, “So how are your treatments going? You mentioned something about nightmares?”

“I always have nightmares,” you said pinning up the last of your hair. “I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since… well you know. But they’re getting better, less frequent I mean.”

“That’s good to hear. Has Shef said anything about them?” asked Obi-Wan.

“He told me he thinks that they’ll go away in time. I just have to let the treatments do their work,” you explained. “I just wish they would work faster; I’d kill for a full night’s sleep.”

“You and me both,” sighed Obi-Wan.

Suddenly the sound of knocking rang out from his end of the call. Obi-Wan looked past you at someone or something you couldn’t see, a deep frown on his face. Then he looked back and you and smiled softly. “I’m afraid duty calls. Until next time, darling.”

Before you could say goodbye, he ended the call, his figure disappearing from view. You were sad to see him go but had to remind yourself that you were lucky you got to talk to him in the first place. It was certainly better than nothing. But what was with the new nickname? Darling? He had literally just made it clear that his actions the last time you were together were a mistake, but then he went and called you darling? It was beyond confusing.

Still… hearing his new nickname for you brought a smile to your face. Even if nothing could ever happen between the two of you, you could still take pleasure in his obvious affection for you. You went about the rest of your day with a smile on your face and a spring in your step that even the countless number of senate meetings couldn’t ruin.

***

Another week had passed since then and you were darting down the halls of the senate building, a mountain of paperwork in hand. Padmè was in the middle of reviewing the dozen or so bills that had just been introduced to the senate floor and had asked you to pick up the relevant paperwork. You had spent the last hour or so darting from one lobbyist’s office to another, collecting informational packets that were prepared to debrief any interested senators. The result was a two-foot-tall stack of paper that you were sure would take Padmè and her staff at least a week to comb through. Why she had sent you instead of one of them on this mission was beyond your understanding, but it wasn’t your place to question her decisions.

You were finally on your way back towards Padmè’s office when your comlink buzzed from deep within your pocket. Ugh. That was probably Padmè calling to see where you were, you had certainly taken longer than planned to gather all the material you now carried.

You shifted the stack of paper in your hand and fished the device from your pocket. You held it up to your ear at an awkward angle, struggling not to drop all the papers. “Hello?”

“Hello, my dear,” a voice crackled through the speaker.

“Obi-Wan?! Is that you?” It sure sounded like Obi-Wan even with all the interference coming through from his end of the call. Besides, he was the only one with such a nickname for you.     

He tried responding but all that came through was a jumble of static.

“I can hardly hear you. Your connection is terrible.” You shifted the comlink to your shoulder, allowing yourself to carry the stack of papers with two hands once again.

“I… apologize,” he said. He had definitely said more but those were the only words that came through your speaker. What was going on? Why was he calling you now and why was his connection so bad? Then a loud boom echoed out from his end of the call, making you jump in surprise.

“What was that?!” you demanded. “That sounded like a cannon.”

“It was,” he replied. His voice just a tiny bit clearer. “I don’t have much time.” The sound of blaster fire was just barely audible over the static.

“Are you calling me in the middle of a battle?!” you hissed. Of all the stupid and reckless things to do!

“Near one. I’m safe for now.” There was rustling on his end, like he was holding his comlink close to his face to try and be heard over everything else. “I expect we will lose our comms, and I don’t know when we’ll get them back. I just wanted to let you know so you didn’t think something had happened.”

“Oh, thanks for the heads up,” you said. Another cannon blast crackled through your speakers, making you jump. If they were that loud over comlink you could only imagine how deafening they must be in person.

“I have to go,” said Obi-Wan.

“Please be safe.”

“I always am,” he replied. Then the line went dead.

That idiot had really called you in the middle of a battle! Just how stupid was he?! Anger and worry swirled in your stomach as you tucked your comlink back into your pocket. It was sweet of him to think about you, but the middle of a battle wasn’t the time to be making social calls. Just what was he thinking…

He was thinking of you — even in the heat of battle his thoughts were with you. The thought brought a smile to your face and lifted your spirits even though you knew it shouldn’t. He really cared about you then; despite the mixed signals he was giving you.

You resumed your trek back to Padmè’s office, eager to be rid of this burden. Your arms were starting to ache after lugging these packets around for over an hour and the thought of having a break was enough to spur you along. It was hard seeing around the stack of papers though; you were trying to go slow enough so as not to bump into anyone but that was proving difficult. Other aides and guards politely stepped out of your way when they saw you coming, but not everyone was as observant.

You were rounding a corner when you ran smack into someone, sending the stack of papers flying. Kriff!

“I’m so sorry!” you apologized, bending down and frantically trying to gather the papers back together before they could float away. The last thing you wanted was to have to backtrack and revisit the lobbyist’s offices because you were missing a crucial page from one of their packets.

“It’s alright, (Y/N).” You glanced up at the sound of your name and saw Bartlett knelt on the floor across from you, also picking up papers. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” you said bending your head to grab more pages. “I’m really sorry about this though. I should’ve been paying more attention to where I was going.”

“With this many papers I don’t think it’s quite your fault,” he laughed. “Seriously though, what errand has Padmè sent you on this time?”

“I had to get all the information packets—”

“For all the new bills being proposed?” he finished your sentence for you.

“Yes. She wants to have all the information available before considering her vote,” you explained. “As you can see, she has quite a bit of reading to do.” The two of you stood up, facing one another. “I can take those back—”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Let me help you haul these back to Padmè. I’m sure you’ve already carried enough for one day,” Bartlett said with that dazzling smile of his.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure you have more important things to do,” you said quickly.

“I could actually use the break. If you don’t mind that is?”

As much as you wanted to deny this request, you really couldn’t come up with a good reason to say no. Bartlett was your friend now, and he was just trying to be nice. And it would be nice to not have to carry the entire stack back to the office by yourself…

“Oh, fine. Follow me,” you said with a grin.

You continued towards Padmè’s office, Bartlett walking alongside you. “How can you keep track of where you’re going so easily? This place is a maze!” he asked, looking around for some sort of landmark to guide his path.

“I’ve worked here for what feels like forever. I guess somewhere along the way I just figured it out,” you said glancing over at him. “Don’t worry. You’ll learn your way around eventually,” you teased.

“Nice of you to think that. I certainly don’t,” he sighed.

“Just give it some time.”

The two of you walked in silence for a few moments. It wasn’t an awkward silence, at least you didn’t think so, just a lull in the conversation.

“I’m assuming Padmè will have you working late then?” he asked eyeing your stack of papers.

“Oh yeah. Tonight, and all week judging by the number of lobbyists I spoke to today,” you huffed. “I swear they all conspired with one another to submit their bills at the same time.”

“Well, I promise not to add to your pile — at least not this week,” laughed Bartlett.

“Good, because if you did, I’d throw your stupid information packet back in your face,” you said with a smile.

“Even though your hands are full? Ha, I’d like to see you try!” he teased. “So, what time do you usually get out of here?”

“Why?” you asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Just what was he hinting at? Was Gwin right, was he trying to ask you out?

“Just thought it would be fun to go out and get drinks with some friends sometime… not as a date,” he clarified after noticing your expression.

“Oh…” Drinks with friends was another thing entirely. “I’ve been getting out of here at eight at the earliest but with this pile… I’d say I’ll be stuck here until midnight at least.”

“We don’t have to if you’re too busy,” he said with a soft smile. “Maybe some other time. Maybe when this round of bills are voted on, as a celebration of sorts?”

“That sounds lovely.” A night out drinking to commemorate the end of your late nights would be perfect way to celebrate. Whenever that would be.

The two of you arrived at Padmè’s office. “Well, this is my stop. Thanks for your help,” you said taking the papers back from Bartlett.

“What are friend’s for?” he said with a bright smile. “Let me know when you want to go have that drink and I’ll free up my calendar.”

“Of course. Thanks again, Bartlett.”

“Don’t mention it.” 

Notes:

Originally this chapter and the next were one but then I changed my mind and split them up. I hope you guys liked the dream sequence, I really wanted to have a beach chapter but unfortunately, I couldn’t come up with a logical reason for one. I settled for making it a dream instead. Until next time!

Chapter 12: Revelations

Three months passed by in the blink of an eye. Your days were a blur of Senate meetings and late nights spent by Padmè’s side. There was no reprieve from your busy schedule and still no word from Obi-Wan. When he said he might not call for quite some time, he meant it. You just prayed that he was safe wherever he was and hoped that one of these days you would hear from him again.

You were currently at the Jedi temple, finishing up your weekly meditation session with Master Shef. Today you had tackled a particularly nasty memory of your parent’s lecturing you about why you couldn’t be more like your brother, and their words had stung. You were glad to have purified this memory; it was one of the last negative ones you had about your parents. You hoped that the next time you spoke to them, you would be entirely free of symptoms.

“You have done well today, my child,” said Shef in his gravelly voice. He was sitting cross legged on one of the cream-colored cushions across from you, as was his usual fashion.  

“Thank you, Master,” you said with a tired smile. Purifying memories really took it out of you, but you were happy to do it. Each memory you healed brought you closer to having your mind back to normal… but you had been working at this for over a year now. It felt like there was no end in sight and you still had nightmares every night. Would you even know what to do once you had your mind back? You had suffered with this for so long…

Shef seemed to feel your disappointment and frustration. “What is wrong?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Nothing,” you answered quickly. You didn’t want him to think that you were ungrateful for all his help. As much as you weren’t a fan of how slow this process was, you were thankful that Shef took time each week to help you heal, even if you weren’t a Jedi.

“My child, we are friends now. You can tell me what troubles you,” Shef said with a gentle smile. “I promise not to tell another soul.” You knew well enough by now that if Shef promised something, he stuck to his word. Any secrets you may tell him would go with him to his grave.

“I guess I was just hoping this whole process would go faster,” you admitted. “I want to get better, but it feels like I’ll be stuck like this forever.”

“I know it may seem like you have accomplished little, but trust me, you are making progress,” Shef said. “Each day your connection to the force grows stronger and that in of itself is something to celebrate.”

Speaking of the force, you were reminded of your time on Naboo and of your mental conversation with Obi-Wan. You had been meaning to ask Shef about it, but it just always seemed to slip your mind — well, that was partially true. In reality, you were hesitant to admit the extent of your abilities to Shef because he seemed to view your force bond in a negative light — no, negative wasn’t the right word. It was more like he was suspicious — no, that still wasn’t right. He was simply… apprehensive about the implications of your force bond. You and Obi-Wan were deeply connected to one another and you weren’t a Jedi. He obviously viewed this connection as an abnormality, but even so you trusted Shef. If anyone could help you understand the force better, it would be him.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” you said. “The last time I saw Obi-Wan in person we were able to communicate inside our minds.”

Shef’s eyes widened in surprise, “Really?”

“Yes, I heard him speaking to me as clearly as we are now, but from inside my mind. It was the strangest thing,” you explained. “When I asked him about it, he said that others could do the same thing. Is that true?”

“It is,” Shef said in a measured voice. “Some Jedi can communicate in a similar fashion but…” he trailed off, giving you an appraising look. Just like when you first met him, he appeared to be searching for something.

“But what?” you echoed.

“I am just surprised that your bond with Master Kenobi has matured as fast as it has,” said Shef. “You say this was a few months ago?”

“Yes, four months ago.”

“And this was the first instance of the two of you being able to communicate in such a way?” asked Shef.

“Yes.”

“How interesting,” Shef murmured as he stroked his tentacles, deep in thought.

You stared at the squid man for a moment, and an idea popped into your head. Maybe he had heard some news about Obi-Wan? “Master?”

“Yes, my child?” His bright turquoise eyes focused back on you.

“Have you heard any news about Obi-Wan? I haven’t heard from him in several months and I’m getting worried.” You did your best to keep your tone even and your emotions in check. The last thing you wanted was Shef noticing the complicated feelings swirling around your chest and thinking that something inappropriate was occurring between you and Kenobi. You were simply worried about your friend; that’s all this was. At least that’s what you kept telling yourself.

“No, I have not heard anything about Master Kenobi,” said Shef. So he was in the dark just the same as you were. Hopefully no news was good news in this case, surely if something had happened to him the Jedi would be aware of it by now.

“The two of you have grown quite close since the last time we were all together here in the temple,” observed Shef.

“I guess we have.” You struggled to stay calm, you couldn’t tip Shef off about your almost kiss back on Naboo. It could spell ruin for Obi-Wan should his lapse of judgement be discovered by another Jedi. “We’re good friends.” You said firmly, he had to believe you. You had to protect Obi-Wan’s reputation.

“Indeed,” said Shef. The ghost of a smile was on the Jedi’s face. If you didn’t know any better, you would say he was laughing at a joke that only he knew the punchline to. Kriff, was he onto you?! “I would not worry, my child. Master Kenobi is more than capable of protecting himself. I am sure we will hear from him sooner rather than later.”

“Right,” you said with a nod. It was nice that Shef had complete and utter faith in Obi-Wan’s abilities, but you were a realist. He was on the frontlines of a ferocious war, and he faced countless dangers every day. Anything could happen to him out there. You would continue to worry about his safety until he was back on Coruscant.

“Well, if that’s all the questions you have, I think we’re done for the day,” said Shef, climbing to his feet. You copied his motions and stood.

“Thank you for your help today, Master,” you said with a deep bow. “I truly appreciate it.”

“Of course, but please try and take care of yourself. I fear you may be putting too much pressure on yourself,” Shef frowned.

“I’ll be fine,” you waved your hand dismissively. “Once this round of bills is voted on at the end of the week, things will slow down.”

“That is good to hear,” said Shef. “From what you have told me; you and Senator Amidala have worked very hard these last few months.”

“We have,” you agreed.

“You should be proud of yourself,” Shef said with a smile. He put a hand on your shoulder and led you towards the door. “Just make sure that once this is all over with you take it easy. Everyone deserves a break now and then.”

“I didn’t think Jedi took breaks,” you joked.

Shef chuckled. “You should tell that to Master Kenobi. I am sure he would find it most humorous.” Shef smiled down at you and opened the door to the rest of the temple. “I will see you again next week. Farewell, my friend.”

“Goodbye, Master.” You bowed deeply in farewell, strode out of the room, and hurried over to where your friends were waiting for you.

Both Lefty and Remi had accompanied you to the Jedi temple today. Usually it was just one of the clones, but you were heading to the senate building straight from here so Remi was with you as well.

“Hey, how did it go?” Lefty asked as he got up from a bench.

“It went well. I’m ready to get back to work whenever you are,” you answered with a smile.

“You sure you aren’t too tired? You’re usually wiped out after one of these sessions,” Lefty asked, giving you a quick once over. “I don’t want you hurting yourself.”

Remi chirped in agreement, rolling to your side. She beeped a few times, as if she were trying to convince you to take a break.

“I’m fine guys, really. I took it easy today,” you lied. In truth you were exhausted, but Padmè needed your help. There were so many things that still needed attending to, papers to process, senators to sway… there was no way Padmè could complete it all on her own. She needed all the help she could get.

“I’m more than ready to get back to work!” you said brightly.

“Well, if you insist…” Lefty frowned. “But if you get too tired you tell me, okay? We’ll go right back home. Deal?”

“Deal,” you agreed. You knew full well you weren’t going home until Padmè did, you were going to see these bills all the way through if it killed you. You could rest once everything was over and done with.

The three of you started walking back towards the hangar where your speeder was parked. This route through the temple had become familiar to you over the year of visits and you were certain you could find your way to Shef’s mediation room in your sleep. You had to stifle a laugh though. Here you were, proud that you had memorized some hallways, when Obi-Wan could probably navigate the entire temple blindfolded.  

The three of you walked abreast down the oversized hallway. You glanced down at Remi, the little droid was beeping and humming to herself quietly in a tone you couldn’t quite discern. It almost sounded like she was talking to herself, something she did on occasion. What was she saying? 

The sound of children’s laughter caught your attention. It was the only warning you got before a herd of small children darted across the hall right in front of your little group, forcing you to stop in your tracks or collide with them. The group consisted of ten or so kids, all of different races and ages, playing some sort of elaborate game. The children breezed past your group without a second thought, all except for one.

He was a human child with a mop of thick black hair atop his head. He slid to a stop, noticing the clonetrooper — an unusual sight within the temple — and stared at Lefty with wide eyes. He was around the same height as Remi and, speaking of Remi, you noticed something odd. A light on her head had started flashing red and to your surprise she beeped a low note, growling at the boy in warning.

“Remi, hush!” you corrected your droid quickly. The three of you were guests in the Jedi temple, Remi had no right to behave rudely those who called this place home. You turned back to the child and smiled, “Sorry about my droid. She must have a loose wire or something.”

Remi beeped in protest at this line and then beeped another low note. She was definitely upset about something, but what? This was just a child, he hardly posed a threat to you, especially with Lefty right here to protect you. Just what was Remi’s deal?

The child opened and closed his mouth a few times, struggling to speak. His eyes kept darting between you, Remi, and Lefty, unsure of who to address first.

“Vox, come on! It’s your turn to be it!” another child’s voice called out from down another hallway. The child, Vox presumably, blinked hard and then scampered away without saying a word.  

“Remi, what was that for?” you asked sharply once the kid was out of earshot. “He was just a kid.”

The droid beeped a flat note in response, continuing down the hall towards the hangar. You and Lefty trailed behind, observing the droid from afar.

“What’s gotten into her?” Lefty asked under his breath.

“I have no idea,” you replied. “Maybe she really does have a wire loose?”

“Could be,” Lefty said. “Has she ever been around kids before? I mean maybe she just didn’t know what to do when faced with a human her size?”

“It’s possible, I’ve never been around kids with her.”

“What about before you?” asked Lefty.

“No clue. All I know is that my father bought her on Coruscant,” you said.

“Any idea where he bought her from?”

“Nope,” you shook your head. “I would have to ask. I thought he got her brand new, but now I’m not so sure.” The way Remi behaved around children was baffling to say the least. Up until now she had been the sweetest, most loving droid a person could ask for. Her reacting so negatively was definitely out of character for her. If it happened again you would have to take her into diagnostics for a checkup. You just wanted to make sure that everything was okay with your little friend.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” you said, changing subjects. “After the voting’s finished at the end of the week we’re going out for drinks.”

“Who’s we?” asked Lefty.

“You, me, Drift, Gwin, and Bartlett,” you said casually. Maybe if you acted like it wasn’t a big deal, then Lefty would just roll with it. 

“Your ex is coming?!” Lefty exclaimed. So much for him rolling with it…

“Yeah, it was his idea to go out for drinks,” you replied keeping your eyes forward and focused on Remi’s retreating form. “Don’t get all excited, he specifically said this wasn’t a date.”

“Oh, I’m sure he did,” said Lefty. “That doesn’t mean that this isn’t a big deal though. This’ll be the first time the two of you hang out outside of work since well— you know. Isn’t it?”

“Minus our reunion dinner with my brother, yeah it is.”

“Oh, Gwin is going to lose her mind over this.”

“Shut up.”

***

At long last the week finally came to an end and the bills that had been plaguing you for months were finally voted on. Surprisingly most of the votes were in Padmè’s favor, guess the countless late nights were worth it after all. As a result, everyone on her staff was in a very good mood, yourself included.

You were sitting in a speeder, driven by Drift, and enroute to the bar where you would spend the evening. Gwin had simply provided the clone with coordinates, insistent that the bar’s identity should remain a surprise until you arrived. You weren’t worried, Gwin was an expert on all things nightlife. If she said this was the bar was the perfect place for a drink, then it was.

The only thing you knew about this bar was that it was offering a special discount to celebrate the Senate votes going through. That meant that this had to be a bar frequented by senators or their employees, why else would such a special exist? That was fine with you, it just meant you would recognize more faces in the crowd… but you weren’t expecting to recognize every face in the crowd.

When Drift landed the speeder, you were greeted by a sea of clones, all of them bearing the same face as your pilot. You stared at the crowd and blinked hard. You had obviously been around other clones before, but every time up until now they had their helmets on. This was a different story. Everywhere you looked there were dozens if not hundreds of the same face. You knew that Drift and Lefty were clones, but up until now your mind had rationalized that they looked alike because they were twins. Now that you were faced with a sea of their faces you had no choice but to acknowledge the fact that they were just two out of several million.

“Everything alright, ma’am?” asked Drift as he powered down the speeder.

“What? Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” you said shaking your head.

“Are you sure?” Drift asked, looking over at you in concern.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Just surprised to see so many of you in one place is all.” It was a white lie, but he didn’t need to know that. “So where are we?” you asked as you hopped down from the speeder.

“79’s it’s a clone bar,” explained Drift. He crossed his arms and made his way to stand next to you, glaring at any clones that dared to look in your direction. “I don’t know why Gwin picked this place to go out drinking.”

“Why not?” you asked, looking over at Drift. His jaw clenched and he inhaled sharply, not meeting your eye.

“It’s just not the sort of place I would ever imagine you drinking at.” He paused and looked over at you. “You have too many good manners, unlike most of these louts.”

“Get a few drinks in me and I’ll forget my manners,” you joked. The corner of Drift’s mouth quirked upwards, but other than that his face remained as stoic as ever. “Have you ever been here before?”

“Once or twice. This place is more Lefty’s speed than my own,” he explained, scanning the crowd for the rest of your group. You turned your eyes towards the sea of white — most of the clones were still in their armor — and looked around for your friends. Then you saw a flash of red and a dark face that stood out from the crowd. It was Gwin!

“Speak of the devil— Lefty!” Drift called out over the din of the crowd. He waved his arm above his head, trying to get Lefty and Gwin’s attention. It worked. Lefty looked over at the motion and smiled, pointing you out to Gwin.

Your best friend raced to your side and wrapped you in a tight hug. “(Y/N), it’s so good to see you! I feel like it’s been ages since we hung out!”

“Because it has!” you enthused. “I’ve practically lived in the Senate building for the past three months.”

“But those long nights are over and done with at last,” said a familiar voice. You looked over Gwin’s shoulder and saw Bartlett emerge from the crowd wearing a very handsome green shirt. “Good evening, everyone.”

“Long time no see, Bartlett,” said Gwin with a bright smile. “How have you been?”

“Never been better,” he answered with a smile. Back before your breakup, Gwin and Bartlett always got along well. Seeing them back together like this was surreal to say the least. It was just like the good old days.

“Thanks for inviting me,” said Bartlett.

“Of course, this was your idea after all,” you said with a smile. It was hard not to mirror your friend’s good moods. “So Lefty, what’s good here?”

“Heh, well that depends on how drunk you plan on getting,” he laughed wrapping an arm around Gwin. “They have this Jawa Juice that’ll put some serious hair on your chest but I’m not sure you’d like it.”

“And why not?” you asked, putting your hands on your hips. “I’m not a lightweight.”

“No, that honor falls to Bartlett,” teased Gwin.

“Those sound like fighting words,” replied Bartlett. “Are you sure you want to repeat what happened last time?”

“The way I remember it, I drank you under the table,” said Gwin with a smirk. “Think you can keep up this time?”

“Ha, the real question is can you?” answered Bartlett.

“You’re on!” said Gwin.

With that the five of you made your way into the bar, determined to enjoy the evening. As soon as you all sat down in a booth the drinks started flowing. With each round of drinks, the volume of your table increased as everyone (except Drift as he was on duty) rapidly spiraled into drunkenness.

“And then I said what blaster!” joked Bartlett. You and your group howled with laughter at his joke. You had forgotten just how funny Bartlett was. There was a lot you had forgotten about him during the years the two of you were apart. His humor first of all, but also just how handsome he was. His light brown hair was slicked back this evening in such a way that you were glad he was busy telling jokes, it gave you an excuse to stare at him.

You reached down for your glass without taking your eyes off Bartlett but when you tipped your glass back, you were disappointed to find it empty. Oh boo.   

“I’m gonna go get another drink,” you said as you climbed out of the booth. Good thing you were sitting at the end of the table, you didn’t have to make anyone else get up.

“Hurry back!” said Gwin.    

“Will do!” You hurried back towards the bar, doing your best to avoid running into the multitude of drunk clones that filled the bar. The room felt like it was spinning around you and if you didn’t focus on putting one foot in front of the other you were sure you would fall over. You were definitely drunk.

When you finally made it to the bar, you were disappointed to see that a large group of clones had just beaten you there. It was going to be a few minutes before the bartender could help you. Oh well, you could wait. It’s not like you had a schedule to worry about tonight.

You allowed your mind to wander for a moment, reflecting on the evening. You were having so much fun it was almost surprising. You had forgotten just how much fun it was to hang out with Bartlett and Gwin like this, why did you ever stop?  

“What can I getcha?” asked the bartender. That was fast, what happened to the group of clones that beat you to the bar? You glanced over at the group and the bartender followed your gaze. “Guys said to let you order first.”

“That was nice,” you commented. You waved a thank you to the group and focused back on the bartender. “Can I have another special please?”

“Sure.” The bartender turned around and started making your drink. You had tried the Jawa Juice that Lefty had mentioned earlier in the evening but found it not to your taste, the house special on the other hand was right up your alley. This one would be your fourth of the night. You should probably stop while you could still sort of walk straight, but this evening was about celebrating, not moderation. You would deal with the consequences of this evening in the morning, not now.

“Hey,” a familiar voice said. You looked to your left and saw a clone stagger over to you dressed in armor, minus his helmet. You didn’t recognize him as any clone you had interacted with before. But you were willing to bet he came from the group at the other end of the bar, judging by the curious looks they were giving the two of you.

“Hi,” you answered with a polite smile. You turned your head back towards the bar, hoping he would take the hint and leave you alone.

“You’re really pretty.” The clone slurred his words, he was even drunker than you were.

“Thanks,” you said in a flat voice, keeping your eyes straight ahead. You had come to this bar to relax and forget about work, not flirt with clones. That was Gwin’s thing, not yours.

“Whatcha doing in a clone bar? You got a boyfriend?” asked the clone, sidling up next to you. You took a step to the right, away from him, and said nothing. Why couldn’t he just take the hint and leave you alone?

“Fetch, leave her alone,” someone called out from behind the two of you. You glanced over your shoulder and watched as another clone marched towards you. He seemed to come from the same group that the drunk one did.

“I’m sorry ma’am, is my friend bothering you?” asked the clone. He glared at Fetch with a stern expression.  

“Oh, um, it’s alright. No harm done,” you stammered.

“Still, I apologize on his behalf. Sometimes this fool drinks so much that he—” The unnamed clone paused, staring at you with wide eyes. “Wait. I know you.”  

“You do?” you asked, humoring him. This was likely nothing more than an elaborate attempt to get into your pants.

“Well, I know your face I mean,” he corrected himself quickly.

“How?” You studied the clone’s face; he looked like any other. Nothing about him stood out to you as familiar. Did you really know this man? You highly doubted it.

“Well, uh…” the unnamed clone trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

Fetch looked between the two of you and then his eyes widened in understanding. “You’re the girl from the ship!” he exclaimed. Then he turned towards his friend, bouncing up and down. “Ripper, it’s her!”

“Excuse me?” Girl from the ship? What was he talking about?

“You know, the painting? It’s of you!” exclaimed Fetch. He wasn’t making any sense. You furrowed your brow and looked to his more sober companion for an explanation.

“Do you have any clue what he’s talking about?” you asked. Just how much did this guy have to drink?

“Uh,” Ripper hesitated, avoiding your eye.

“You’re painted on one of the ships!” Fetch enthused.

“I’m painted on a ship? What do you mean?”

“Most of the ships in the fleet have paintings on them to help differentiate them,” explained Ripper. “There’s one ship that has this painting—”

“And it looks just like you!” Fetch added excitedly.

“Oh really?” you asked incredulously. You highly doubted that you were actually painted on the side of a ship, you were still convinced this was nothing more than an elaborate ruse to get you to sleep with one or both of these men. Time to poke some holes in their story. “If that’s true, what regiment is it in?”

“I don’t remember,” Ripper admitted. “I think it might have been one of General Fisto’s ships?”

“No, not him,” said Fetch, shaking his head. “His troops use green for all their nose art. Her dress is orange, not green.”

“Orange? Hm…” Ripper stroked his chin deep in thought. “Doesn’t General Kenobi use orange for his troops?”

“Oh yeah, you’re right,” said Fetch. “Your ship is in Kenobi’s fleet!”

“General Kenobi you drunken fool,” Ripper smacked the back of Fetch’s head. “You know better than that, drunk or not.”

Your stomach dropped at this revelation. Up until now you had been certain these clones were pulling your leg, but now you believed them completely. You had thought that Obi-Wan calling you in the middle of a battle was the stupidest thing he could do, but this really took the cake. At least his call was a private thing between the two of you, this painting was something public that anyone and everyone could see! Things were complicated enough between the two of you already, the last thing either of you needed was more scrutiny!

“Why is my face on a ship?” you asked, struggling to keep your tone even.

“Uh…” Ripper refused to meet your eye again.

“Because you’re hot, duh!” Fetch enthused.

Ripper’s face fell at his friend’s comment. “I think we’ll just leave you to your drink, ma’am.” He grabbed Fetch’s arm and dragged him away from you and back towards the rest of their group.  

“Aw, but I didn’t even get her holopad frequency!” whined Fetch.

You turned back to the bar and inhaled sharply. Of all the stupid things Obi-Wan could do… Just what was he thinking?!

“Here’s your drink, ma’am.” The bartender said placing your bright green drink on the counter.

“Thanks,” you grumbled handing him a few credits in payment.

You took your drink and started walking back to your booth, a sour expression on your face. Maker, how were you going to explain this? What could you say to even try and begin to defend yourself? What did this image of you even look like anyways? Maybe it wasn’t bad, maybe it was tasteful and made you look like a hero? Oh, who were you kidding? Every image you had ever seen painted on the side of a military ship was vulgar at best and downright pornographic at worst. Maker help you…

“Everything alright?” Bartlett’s voice pulled you back from your thoughts, somehow you had managed to find your way back to your booth.

“Oh, yeah. All good,” you lied sitting back down next to Drift.

“Saw you talking to some clones. Get any holopad frequencies?” Gwin teased.

“Nope,” you replied taking a long swig of your drink. “What did I miss?”

As your friends excitedly started babbling about stories and jokes from while you were away, you glanced over at Drift. He was the sole sober person in your group. He was technically on duty tonight and took his job seriously, only allowing himself one drink for the entire evening. Since he was on duty, odds were he would have his datapad on him and, since he was a clone, his datapad should have the clearance to look up identifying information about the Republic’s fleet. 

“Hey, Drift?” you whispered.

“Yes, ma’am?” He glanced over at you and matched your quiet tone.

“Can I borrow your datapad for a moment? I need to look something up.”

“Uh, sure?” he pulled out his datapad and you snatched it out of his hand.

“Thanks.”

You typed frantically, searching for information about ships in the fleet. Once you had navigated to the proper tab you narrowed your search to focus on Obi-Wan’s regiments and started scrolling through dozens of images of different ships. Some were single person aircraft, while others were large transport vessels. So far none of them had your face on them, but that did little to assuage your fears — nearly every ship had a painting on it, and they were just as bad as you remembered. They ranged from suggestive to downright pornographic, and it seemed like no one was safe: senators, their aides, and Jedi generals were all plastered on the side of these ships.

You scrolled past several more pictures and then you froze. Staring back at you was your face. Your breath caught in your throat as you took in the image. It was clearly you, of that you had no doubt. You were perched on top of a clone helmet, one you recognized from Obi-Wan’s regiment, holding a blaster in your lap, and dressed in a skimpy orange dress. The dress left little to the imagination, it was extremely tight and was held up by only spaghetti straps. Your breasts were on full display — mercifully they were covered, unlike some of the other paintings you had seen — but were still very much in the viewer’s face. Your eyes were hooded and your lips curved into a sultry smile. Maker help you.

“What’re you looking at?” Gwin asked. You looked up and across the table at her with wide eyes.

“Nothing,” you squeaked, turning off the datapad. “Just was checking something.”

“Uh huh, sure,” Gwin rolled her eyes. She gave Lefty a look and before you could react, he snatched the datapad out of your hands.

“Hey! Give that back!” you exclaimed, frantically trying to grab the device back from across the table. Rather than give it back, Lefty passed it to Gwin with a playful smirk on his face.

“Sorry Boss, outside of work hours Gwin’s in charge,” he apologized.

“Oh my stars, (Y/N)!” Gwin squealed. “When did you pose for this?!”

Lefty looked over at the datapad and his eyes bugged out of his head. “Wow.”

“I didn’t pose for anything!” you insisted, frantically trying to steal the datapad back.

“Are you sure? This looks just like you,” said Gwin, holding the device just out of your reach. “I mean you look absolutely amazing. Don’t you think so Bartlett?” To your horror, Gwin passed the device to your ex who promptly did a spit take when he saw your painting. His cheeks, already flushed from the alcohol, turned an even brighter shade of pink.

“Who— when— what is this?” he stammered, staring hard at the image.

“Flip it around so Drift can see too!” Gwin insisted. With a gulp Bartlett turned the datapad around, flashing the image across the table so that both you and Drift could see. Drift examined the painting for a moment and merely raised his eyebrows, saying nothing. At least one of the clones was staying loyal to you this evening.

“Put that away before someone else sees it!” you hissed. Bartlett didn’t listen; he simply turned the pad around to face himself once more.

“So what is it?” Gwin asked propping her chin in her hand. “I’ve never seen a painting like that before, especially not one of you.”

“It’s nose art,” Lefty explained. “Pretty much all the ships in the fleet have some. Didn’t know there was one of (Y/N) though.”

“Whose ship is it?” Gwin asked, glancing over at the datapad in Bartlett hands.

“Says it belongs to General Kenobi’s fleet,” Bartlett read from the screen. Gwin looked sharply over at you, a silent question in her eye. You glared back at her. No, you hadn’t posed for any painting and no you weren’t involved with General Kenobi. She narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing you. You just knew as soon as the two of you were alone she was going to grill you for more information. Ugh, great.

“Guess you’re pretty popular with that bunch of clones,” observed Bartlett, finally tearing his eyes away from the picture.

“Good thing none of them are here then,” you said flatly. “I swear I didn’t pose for that picture.”

“Then why did they pick you?” asked Gwin.

“The more important question is how you learned you were on nose art in the first place,” asked Drift.

“I just found out about it tonight, while I was over at the bar!” you insisted. “I thought those clones were pulling my leg!” You looked down at the tabletop and inhaled sharply, trying to contain your anger. You were mad at your friends for not dropping the subject, Kenobi’s troops for painting the picture in the first place, and Obi-Wan for allowing them to do so. In conclusion you were absolutely fuming.  

“Hey, at least it’s a nice picture of you,” Lefty offered. “I mean you look really good.”

“Oh yeah, you look hot as hell!” Gwin agreed with a smile. “Whoever painted that did a really good job. Don’t you think so Bartlett?” You looked over at your ex with a sharp look, daring him to say something.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I mean—” he stammered, meeting your eye. “Uh, it’s a nice painting.” He powered off the datapad and handed it back to Drift who took it without another word, tucking it back into his pocket.

The five of you sat in silence for a few moments. You grabbed your drink and chugged it’s contents, draining your glass almost instantly.

“I’m getting another drink,” you stated. You climbed out of the booth and marched back towards the bar, a dark look on your face. You needed to forget you ever saw that picture and the only way to do that was with more alcohol.

“Another special?” the bartender asked. He didn’t seem surprised that you were back again already.  

“Yes, please.”

“Sure thing.”

You leaned against the bar, head in your hands and tried to suppress the anger that was blooming in your chest. You could kill Obi-Wan right now, you really could. Of all the stupid, idiotic, foolish—

“Hey.” You knew that voice, it was Bartlett. You didn’t look up but knew he was now standing next to you. “You doing okay?”

“No, I’m pissed,” you snapped.

“Rightfully so,” he said leaning on the bar next to you. “You really didn’t know about that painting?”

“I had no clue,” you growled. Maker, you could kill someone right now.

“I could look into it for you if you wanted,” offered Bartlett. “Figure out who did that, try to get them to change it.” You looked up at that line. He was watching you with a worried expression on his face, his cheeks were still a bright shade of pink. It was nice that he cared enough to try and help, but the last thing you wanted was him poking around Kenobi’s regiment and learning about your complicated relationship with the Jedi.

“No, it’s fine. You have more important things to do with your time,” you said. “Besides they have senator’s faces on those ships in way worse poses than I am. It’s fine.”

“If it’s making you this upset, I don’t think it’s fine,” Bartlett said in a firm voice.

“I just need to calm down and forget I ever saw it,” you grumbled turning back to the bar.

“Here ya go,” the bartender said, placing another bright green cocktail in front of you.

“Thanks.” You tossed a few more credits his way and took a long swig of your drink. It was so smooth going down, it was like you were drinking juice instead of alcohol.

“How many of those have you had?” Bartlett asked, eying your drink warily.

“A couple,” you hummed taking another large sip.

“I think you’ve had more than that,” he said. “You’d do well to pace yourself.”

“Don’t tell me what to do Mr. lightweight,” you quipped. “Last time I checked, I could handle my alcohol better than you.”

“Oh really?” Bartlett said with a smirk. “Care to prove it?”

“What? You want to go shot for shot?” you asked incredulously. “Bartlett, I don’t think you’d make it past the second drink.”

“No, I don’t think I would either,” he agreed. “But I think a round on the dancefloor will show us who’s handling their drinks better.” He held his hand out to you and smiled, “Care for a dance?”

You stared down at his hand for a moment, what harm could a simple dance do? It sounded like a fun distraction from your anger.

“Sure.” You chugged the remaining half of your drink and took his hand. Bartlett led you to the packed dance floor, and the two of you started dancing. The music was loud and the two of you swayed to the beat, struggling to stay on your feet. It was obvious that both of you had had way too much to drink tonight. Sometime during the second song, Gwin and Lefty found you on the dance floor and joined in. The four of you bobbed and swayed to the beat, having an absolute blast.

You scanned the crowd, looking for Drift. There he was, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He was watching your group with an intense look, acting like he was on duty. That wouldn’t do, this evening was supposed to be a break for everyone. Drift included. He should be having fun too!

You danced your way across the dance floor, making a beeline for Drift. When you finally reached his side, you grabbed his arm and gave it a tug. “Come on, join us!”

“I’m not one for dancing, ma’am,” Drift said. “I leave that sort of stuff to Lefty.”

“Aw, come on! It’ll be fun!” you insisted, tugging on his arm some more. “For me?” You did your best puppy dog expression, eyes wide and innocent, your lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Please?”

Drift stared down at you, and for the first time ever, you saw his tough demeanor falter for just a moment. “Ugh, fine. Just one dance.”

***

Several hours later Drift was driving you back home. At this point in the night, you felt the effects of all your drinking. If you tilted your head the wrong way the world began to spin. Your only defense was to stare at the dashboard of the speeder and try to focus on nothing else. You could feel Drift’s gaze on you, it was hardly the first time too — all throughout the flight he kept glancing over at you.

“Whatever you want to say, just say it,” you snapped.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he apologized. “You can correct me if I’m wrong and I’m probably just reading into things but—”

“Drift.” This wasn’t like him, he never beat around the bush.

“That nose art. It was on one of General Kenobi’s ships.”

“Yes, and?”

“And you and the General seem to be good friends,” said Drift. He paused for a moment, glancing over at you yet again. This time you met his look. “Look, (Y/N), I need to know. Is anything going on between you and General Kenobi? I ask only because if something is happening, I should be aware of it. I can’t keep you safe if I don’t have all the facts.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. You never thought Drift would be asking you such a question, if anything you would have thought Lefty would be the one to do so. He was the one who liked to gossip, not Drift… but this wasn’t gossip. This was serious.  

“There is nothing going on between the general and I. We’re just friends,” you said in a firm voice. It was true. Obi-Wan had apologized for his actions during the night of the opera, including that almost kiss, effectively ending any and all hope you had of something developing between the two of you. You were just friends, nothing more.

“If you say so,” Drift said, turning his eyes back to the sky in front of him. It was clear by his tone that he doubted what you said.

“There’s nothing going on between us! Really!” you insisted. “I know that painting makes things look bad, but I swear I had no clue it existed until tonight! Trust me, as soon as I hear from Obi-Wan I’m going to be asking him about it!"

Drift said nothing but gave you some serious side-eye. He still didn’t believe you! You huffed and crossed your arms. Maker this painting was making everything so much worse, just like you feared it would! The smart thing would be to keep your mouth shut and leave the argument there, but you were drunk and not thinking clearly.

"He’s a Jedi, nothing is ever going to happen between us. We’re just friends.”

“Just because he’s a Jedi doesn’t mean he can’t be tempted,” commented Drift. “He’s still a man.” Well kriff, you didn’t have a good response to that. So rather than continue arguing, you just shut your mouth and stayed quiet for the rest of the ride home.

As soon as you got home you peeled off your dress and hopped in the shower. Your head was still spinning, and you were hoping that the warm water might help ease some of your discomfort. You were scrubbing soap into your hair, humming quietly to yourself when Remi rolled into the steam filled refresher, beeping in alarm. You stuck your head out of the shower and looked down at the droid.

“What’s wrong, Remi?”

The droid beeped loudly, holding out your comlink in her claw. It was flashing brightly, alerting you to the fact that you had several missed calls. That was odd, there weren’t any when you got in the shower. You reached out and grabbed the device from your friend.

“Thanks, Remi.” You glanced down at the frequency and saw it was Gwin who was trying to call you. She had called several times already within the last two minutes. Something was wrong! You answered the call and held the device up to your mouth, your back still being pummeled by the warm water.

“Gwin, are you okay? What’s going on?!” 

Only it wasn’t Gwin’s voice that answered you. “Hello, my dear.”

“Obi-Wan? But I thought—” you looked down at the device. Maybe you had read the frequency wrong in your drunken state? No, it was Gwin’s frequency but why was Obi-Wan using Gwin’s comlink? “I think my comlink’s broken.”

“It’s not,” said Obi-Wan. You could hear the mirth in his voice, “I had to get creative.”

Remi beeped in disapproval at the sound of his voice.

“Shh, Remi,” you shushed the droid. “What do you mean creative?”

“I’ve tried calling you several times. You never answered,” he explained. “So I had one of my men look into it. Apparently, the issue was on your end. Something’s been disrupting my calls.”

You glanced down at Remi and narrowed your eyes in an accusatory manner. You had a pretty good idea who might be jamming Obi-Wan’s calls. The droid beeped innocently.

“I had no choice but to mask my call as the most recent caller on your device— wait. What’s that noise?” asked Obi-Wan. “Is it raining?”

“Oh, no. That’s the shower. Hold on, I can turn it off—”

“No, that’s alright. I’ll let you finish up. I just wanted to see if I could get a call to go through,” said Obi-Wan.

“No, wait! Don’t hang up!” you said quickly. “I haven’t heard from you in months. Are you okay? Where are you? Are you coming home soon?”

“I’m fine, darling. You finish your shower, and I’ll call you back in a few minutes. I promise.” Then the line went dead.

You looked sharply down at Remi with a glare that could kill. The droid screamed and spun around, speeding out of the refresher.

“R3-M1!” you screeched. “As soon as I rinse this soap out of my hair, you’re so going to get it!”

You stepped back under the water and scrubbed your hair aggressively. That damn droid had been jamming Obi-Wan’s calls! Just what was her deal?! She knew you had been worried about him for months and here she was blocking his attempts to contact you!

Less than a minute later you were out of the shower, a towel wrapped snuggly around you, searching your room for your troublesome droid. Unsurprisingly, she wasn’t anywhere to be found.

“Remi, when I get my hands on you!” you screeched, tearing through your room. She wasn’t in your bedroom, so you ran into the living area and once again there was no sign of the droid. She had fled from your room, trying to avoid the riot act she knew was coming.

You stomped over to your door and stuck your head out, your hair still dripping wet.

“Ma’am?” Drift looked at you in alarm. “Is everything okay?”

“Have you seen Remi?” you asked in a deadly calm voice.

“Yeah, she just went that way,” he said pointing in the direction of the hangar.

“Great. Could you do me a favor and bring her back here? Like right now?”

“Uh, sure. Is everything okay?” he asked, looking at you with concern.

“It will be once I have a word with my droid,” you answered darkly. You shut the door and stomped back into your room. “I swear when I get ahold of her—” The sound of your holopad buzzing cut you off.

You hurried over to your coffee table and answered the device. Obi-Wan’s figure appearing in your palm. “Hello— oh.” He averted his gaze, looking skyward. Even in the blue glow of the holopad, you could see a blush dusting his cheeks. “I would have thought you would have dressed by now.”

“I had to start a manhunt for my droid,” you growled, stomping back into your refresher. You still needed to dry off. You were absolutely soaking wet, so much so, that you had left a trail of water behind you on your bedroom carpet.

“I must admit, I figured Remi had something to do with the dropped calls,” he said slowly lowering his gaze back towards you. You put your holopad on the edge of your sink and grabbed another towel so that you could start drying your hair.

“When did you try calling me anyways?” you asked, glancing down at his figure. He was staring up at you with the same intense look he had when he had watched you do your hair so long ago. It was a look of pure admiration, as if the mundane act of you drying your hair was the most interesting thing in the world.

That’s when your drunk mind finally realized that you should have put a robe, nightgown, or literally anything else on before answering his call. Maker, how much did you have to drink? You knew better than to answer holopad calls in just your towel! 

“About two weeks ago. That was the first time,” he said, his eyes never leaving your figure. “I’ve tried calling several times since then, on both holopad and comlink. I was beginning to think something had happened, or worse, that you were avoiding my calls.”

“It’s been quite the opposite,” you said as you squeezed water from your hair. “I’ve been waiting for you to call for months. I was worried that something might have happened to you.”

“That’s why I called you to let you know my comms were going to be knocked out. I was trying to avoid making you worried,” he chided. “I was perfectly safe, I assure you.”

“Oh, sure. Everyone knows that the battlefield is the safest place in the world,” you rolled your eyes. Did he really think you wouldn’t worry about him while he was off fighting in a war? Maker, he was a bigger idiot than you thought.

You tucked your hair up into a towel atop your head, but as you did this you felt the corner of the towel wrapped around your torso start to slip. You frantically grabbed at the fabric, clutching it tightly in your hands. You managed to stop it from falling, but just barely. Maybe Obi-Wan didn’t notice that?

You glanced down at his figure and froze. His jaw was clenched tightly, and he gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. Oh, he so noticed. Kriff! You were supposed to just be friends but the dark look in his eye told you that this conversation was having the opposite effect. Drift’s words from earlier echoed in your mind, “Just because he’s a Jedi doesn’t mean he can’t be tempted… he’s still a man.” Wait.

“Why am I painted on one of your ships?” you asked sharply.

“Huh?” Obi-Wan blinked hard, struggling to process what you just said.  

“I’m painted on one of your ships in a very lewd pose. Why is that?” you demanded, putting on your mom voice. If you had both hands free you would have put them on your hips for emphasis.

“I don’t— How do you know about that?” asked Obi-Wan. For being one of the best negotiators in the Republic’s army, he sure was doing a bad job at hiding his obvious surprise.

“I went to a clone bar with some friends this evening and the funniest thing happened; a clone recognized me. Want to know how he recognized me?” Obi-Wan opened his mouth to reply but you kept going. “He said I was the hot lady from the ship. The one from General Kenobi’s division.”

“(Y/N), you must believe me I had nothing to do with that portrait,” he said quickly. “After everything that happened on Naboo the men wanted to honor your bravery by painting you on one of our new transport vessels.”

“So you’re saying they honored me by making me look like a prostitute?!” you hissed. “It’s beyond inappropriate! What if someone from the Senate sees that? I have a reputation to maintain!”

“The senate is more than aware of the nose art in the fleet, my dear,” said Obi-Wan in an attempt to calm you down. “Why I can think of several ships that bear a senator’s likeness. I even know of one that has Padmè’s face on it.”

“This is different, and you know it,” you snapped.

He paused, considering your words for a moment. “Yes, I am aware of that… but what could I say? I’ve never spoken out against any of their artwork before. It would look odd if I had suddenly had opinions on the matter.”

As much as you hated to admit it, he had a point. If he said anything about the artwork it would only draw more attention to the two of you and both of you were under enough scrutiny as it was. Drift already thought something was going on and you were sure he wasn’t the only one. Gwin definitely thought something was brewing, which meant Lefty did as well. Even Master Shef seemed think your friendship, relationship, whatever this was, was deeper than a usual one. This portrait only complicated things further.  

“You know I’m right,” he said. He was looking at you with such an intense gaze, it felt like he could see right through your towel. Wait, that wasn’t a power the Jedi had right?!

“Ugh, shut up,” you grumbled grabbing the holopad off the sink.

“You’re very beautiful when you’re angry,” said Obi-Wan with a cheeky smile. It was an obvious attempt to smooth things over, and you knew it.

“Oh, stop it. I’m trying to be mad at you.” As much as you tried not to, you couldn’t help but smile at his compliment.

“So why were you at a clone bar?” asked Obi-Wan.

“Went out to celebrate some bills being voted on. We’ve been dealing with them since the last time I saw you,” you explained stepping out of your refresher and into your bedroom.

“A long time then,” he observed.

“A very long time,” you agreed. The two of you lapsed into silence, just staring at one another. Did he miss you just as much as you missed him? “When are you coming back to Coruscant?”

“Not soon enough,” sighed Obi-Wan. “Believe me, if it were up to me, I would be on the first transport ship home instead of here.”

“Where are you anyway?” you asked sitting on the edge of your bed.

“You know I can’t tell you,” he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a grin. “That information is classified.”

“Aw, come on. Can I at least get a hint?” you pouted. “How else am I supposed to come read you the riot act in person?”

“Now why would I tell you where I was if all you’re going to do is yell at me?” smiled Obi-Wan.

“Because you miss me,” you teased. You knew you were treading into dangerous territory, but you couldn’t help yourself. There was just something about him that drew you in.

“That is true,” he admitted, stroking his beard, feigning to be deep in thought. “Well, I suppose a hint couldn’t hurt. We’re out far, far away from Coruscant.” Ah, so he was in the outer rim. He was truly across the galaxy then…

“Oh,” you said your face falling. That meant he likely wouldn’t return any time soon. It had already been over four months since you had last seen him, who knew when you would see him in person again?

“What’s wrong, my dear?” he asked lowering his hand, eyes soft.

“It’s just…” you trailed off staring at him longingly.

“Yes?” he tilted his head slightly.

“It’s just that it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other,” you sighed. “Sometimes I feel like this war will never end and you’ll never come home.”

“There are days when I feel much the same way,” he admitted. “But I believe that someday soon we will see each other again.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I trust in the force.”

“And the force told you we’ll see one another soon?” you asked doubtfully.

“Not exactly but it has brought us together in quite a unique way,” he explained. “It wouldn’t do that unless it had something more in store for us. I have faith that we will be reunited soon.”

“I sure hope so.” There was a knocking on your bedroom door, that must be Drift and hopefully Remi. “I’m sorry, I have to go. I need to go read my droid the riot act.”

“Do try and take it easy on her. I don’t want her to hate me after this,” said Obi-Wan with a small smile.

“Obi, she’s already been blocking your calls. I can hardly see how it could get much worse,” you rolled your eyes. He perked up at this line. “What?”

“You called me Obi. Not Obi-Wan.”

“You have a million nicknames for me. I think I’m allowed to use one—”

“Oh, I wasn’t complaining. Quite the opposite in fact,” he said quickly.

There was another knock on your bedroom door. You stared down at his figure in your hand, heart clenching tightly. You didn’t want to say goodbye so soon, you wanted to keep talking with him… but you also needed to have a word with your droid. Like right now.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” you said sadly. “Call me again soon, okay?”

“I will.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

“Good. Goodnight, Obi.”

“Goodnight, darling.”

With one last longing look you hung up. You stood and marched to your door, still clad in nothing but a towel. When you opened the door, Drift was indeed standing there with Remi at his feet.

“Found your droid hiding in the hangar,” he said. “Had to threaten to put a restraining bolt on her to get her to come back here.”

“Thanks for finding her, Drift. That will be all. Remi, get in here. Now,” you said in a deadly calm voice. Remi said nothing as she slowly rolled into your room. Drift met your eye and raised an eyebrow in question. You ignored his questioning look and shut the door, ending the conversation for now. You couldn’t even begin to describe the situation; if you opened your mouth, you would only incriminate yourself further. Besides, you needed to reprimand your droid first.

You turned around slowly to face Remi, who was trembling in the middle of your room, chirping nervously to herself.

“What the kriff were you thinking?!” you exclaimed. “I know you don’t like him, but blocking calls? Really?!”

Remi beeped quickly, as if she were explaining her reasoning to you. For half a second you contemplated having Drift fetch C-3PO to translate your errant droid’s words but the prospect of the protocol droid learning about your not quite friendship with Obi-Wan was enough to deter you from continuing with this train of thought. You doubted that the golden droid would be able to keep your connection to the Jedi a secret, so you were stuck guessing as to what Remi was saying for now.

“Look I get it; you don’t like him. You don’t have to like him. I’m not forcing you to, but you have to respect that Obi-Wan is my friend,” you said, trying your best to rein in your anger. Talking to Obi-Wan had helped soothe it some, but not enough to completely cool off.  

“I care about him,” you admitted. “I was worried that something awful had happened to him. Don’t you see?”

Remi beeped softly in a remorseful tone. It sounded an awful lot like she was apologizing for making you worry so much.

“You have to learn to deal with Obi-Wan. He’s not going anywhere and neither are you.”

Remi chirped in surprise. She must have thought that you were going to sell her after this transgression. Other people in your situation might have done that, but you couldn’t fathom getting rid of Remi. She had stuck by your side during the darkest time in your life and you wouldn’t sell her for all the credits in the world.

“You’re a part of my family now, Remi. You aren’t going anywhere,” you said with a smile. “But don’t you dare try pulling something like this again. Understand?”

Remi beeped an affirmative and rolled over to your side, nudging your leg affectionately. It was her version of a hug.

“You’re forgiven,” you sighed patting the droid’s head. “Let’s just hope Obi-Wan is quick to forgive you as well.”

Notes:

Hey everyone, sorry that this chapter is a little bit late I had friends visiting from out of town so I couldn’t really write for a few days. I hope you guys liked the chapter, I know there wasn’t much Obi-Wan in it but to be fair he is off fighting a war. I promise he’ll be much more prominent in the next chapter! Also, I want to thank my good friend Cal for helping me figure out proper bar etiquette, this chapter wouldn’t have been possible without them <3

Chapter 13: The Senatorial Banquet

Two months passed and the days grew shorter and colder on Coruscant. During this time you had only heard from Obi-Wan twice. Both calls were extremely short, lasting for less than five minutes total, and were only let you know that he was still alive. You were extremely disappointed by this, when was he going to get to come back home? Surely he deserved a break from fighting on the frontlines?

Speaking of breaks, you could certainly use one. Despite the fact that there were only two bills in the Senate, one was being proposed by Padmè. She was trying to push for the creation of a service to provide financial support to families on war-torn worlds. It was certainly a worthy cause. Unfortunately, not every senator saw it that way. Many thought that the Senate should be allocating its financial resources into more important things like more armor, weapons, and clones — in short, things that they thought would help end the war.

As usual the Senate was divided on the issue, so in an effort to sway more senators to her side, Padmè was hosting a banquet. It was to be held in a beautiful skyscraper that boasted an impressive ballroom. The room in question was so grand and luxurious that no senator would be able to refuse an invitation.

You and Dormè had been helping prepare this party for weeks now. You had drafted invitations, coordinated caterers, and now the two of you were helping set up the ballroom.

“Does this look centered to you?” Dormè asked. You looked back at your friend and saw her staring hard at a bouquet in the center of the table.

“Yeah, it looks good to me,” you replied, turning back to your own bouquet. The bright red and yellow flowers stood out against the crisp white tablecloth, and you hoped that Padmè would be pleased with the final look. You fiddled with the flowers for a moment, adjusting them ever so slightly. You wanted this evening to be perfect for Padmè’s sake.

“How many more tables do you have?” Dormè asked from her spot behind you.

“Uh,” you glanced down at the cart you had been pushing around for the last two hours. There were just two bouquets left. “Two. What about you?”

“Just one,” she replied. “Looks like we’ll finish on time after all!”

“Hopefully,” you said, grabbing another vase and carrying it over to one of the last empty tables. “What are you planning on wearing tonight?”

“No clue. What about you?” Dormè answered.

“I haven’t really thought about it, that’s why I was asking you. I was hoping to get some ideas.” You placed the vase down on the center of the table and fiddled with a few flowers that had shifted out of place. You truly hadn’t thought about what you’d wear tonight. You had been much too preoccupied with preparing for the party to even consider what you might wear. You could always wear the same dress you had worn to the opera; it was definitely fancy enough for the occasion.

“Sorry I’m not being much help,” Dormè sighed. “I just hope I can find something that’s nice enough to wear tonight.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Padmè. You looked towards the sound of your friend’s voice and sure enough there she was.

“Milady, you’re early,” you said with a frown. “We were hoping to be done before you arrived.” You weren’t expecting to see her for another half hour at least. Had she shown up early or were you running behind schedule? You glanced down at your watch and to your horror realized it was the latter option. Kriff!

“It’s fine, (Y/N). The two of you have done an excellent job preparing the tables. They look lovely,” said Padmè. She circled around the table Dormè had just finished decorating, a smile on her face. “Everything looks perfect.”

“Thank you, Milady,” said Dormè.

As Padmè inspected the other nearby tables, you grabbed the last bouquet off the cart and placed it on the final empty table. You quickly tweaked the flowers and once you were satisfied with the petal placement, turned towards your friends.

“Excellent. Now that that’s done it’s a weight off my mind,” sighed Padmè. She looked around the large room, servants were darting all over the place, hurrying to finish the preparations in time. There was only one place that was void of activity, the chairs where the orchestra were to sit this evening. They still hadn’t shown up yet.

“Where is the orchestra?” frowned Padmè.

“They said they would be here within the next ten minutes,” you answered. “I wouldn’t worry.” Padmè pursed her lips and continued assessing the party planning.

“And the food?”

“It’s being prepared now. The buffet line is already ready, and extra plates were provided as you instructed,” said Dormè. The two of you trailed behind Padmè, watching her assess the situation.

“What about security?” asked Padmè.

“Captain Typho was handling that. He said that a perimeter would be set up around the building and that no less than fifty clones would be inside the ballroom at all times,” you said. You were thankful that you were not in charge of security for such an event, the sheer number of senators attending the party was more than enough to draw the attention of separatist sympathizers. You just prayed that everything would go off without a hitch.

“Good.” Padmè stopped and turned to face the two of you. “I really must thank both of you for all your help. This would have never been possible without the two of you.”

You and Dormè bowed your heads at this praise and said in unison, “You are most welcome, Milady.”

“I have a gift for both of you as thanks. They are waiting back in the apartment,” said Padmè with a smile.

“You really didn’t have to get us anything,” you insisted. “We’re more than happy to help.”

“I know, but I felt special thanks was in order tonight,” said Padmè with a bright smile. “If both of you are done setting up, we can return home to start getting ready?”

***

The gifts from Padmè turned out to be a dress for each of you. Dormè’s was an elegant form fitting dark green dress made of velvet that made her look absolutely regal. Yours was something else entirely. It was a floor length gown, as Dormè’s was, but it was dark blue and accented with silver beads that glittered under the lights of the ballroom. It was almost as if whomever designed this dress managed to capture the night sky in your dress.

Padmè had kept her promise of spicing up your wardrobe because this dress had a plunging neckline that somehow managed to remain tasteful enough for an occasion such as this. That was probably in part to the off the shoulder sleeves it had, where an excess of sheer fabric draped behind you beautifully. The whole dress was beautiful really. It billowed and flowed around you at the slightest touch in a way that no other dress of yours managed to do. You had never been and would never be a Queen of Naboo, but tonight in this dress you sure felt like one.

You flitted around the party, making sure to greet whomever you recognized from the Senate and thank them for coming. Even though Padmè had told both you and Dormè to relax and enjoy the evening, it was understood that the two of you should work the crowd and try to drum up support for the bill whenever you could.

It was over an hour into the party before you allowed yourself to take a break. You wandered over to the punch bowl and poured yourself a glass. As you sipped on your drink, your eyes scanned over the crowd. The turnout was impressive. Everywhere you looked there were senators and their aides milling about, enjoying their evening.

You took your glass and strolled to the edge of the dance floor. The orchestra was playing a lively tune, but no one had started dancing yet. It wouldn’t be long before that started though, you could see several people eying the dance floor, but no one appeared brave enough to be the first to dance.

“Taking a break?” You turned your head towards the familiar voice.

“Hello, Bartlett,” you replied with a smile. “Yes, I am.”

“Good, you deserve one,” he said stopping just in front of you. He was wearing a beautiful burgundy outfit that looked perfect on him. Whoever his stylist was did an excellent job this evening, he looked positively dashing.

“You’re telling me,” you snorted, taking a sip of your punch. “I like your outfit.”

“Heh, thanks. I like yours too,” he replied his eyes trailing slowly down your body.

“I can tell,” you smirked. He never was subtle. “How was your day?”

“Busy as usual,” Bartlett answered easily. “It’s better now that you’re here.”

“Aren’t you sweet?”

You had noticed a change in Bartlett’s behavior after that evening at the clone bar. Ever since then he had started acting different around you. Although he insisted at the two of you were still friends, he had started flirting with you as he was doing now. It was reminiscent of how things were just before the two of you got together all those years ago.

Bartlett looked out at the empty dance floor, “Once the dancing starts promise to save me one?”

“Sure, sounds fun,” you smiled. You looked out across the dance floor and saw Padmè rubbing shoulders with several important senators, perfect. Hopefully she could persuade them to vote for her bill. There were so many people that needed help…

“So when are you going to become a senator?” asked Bartlett. “You have more than enough experience working in the Senate to stand a real chance being elected."

“I don’t think being a senator is for me,” you chuckled, turning to face him. “I wouldn’t want all that pressure on me. I have enough already. What about you? Think you could handle being a senator?”

“Not really, no,” Bartlett shook his head.

“You’re telling me you plan on being a lobbyist forever?” you teased. You knew that he had high aspirations for himself, but how much had they changed in the years you were apart?

“No, not forever. Just long enough to learn the ropes,” he admitted. “Truth be told, I’d love to run my own company someday. Whether it’s a mining operation or something else, I really don’t mind. I just want to be my own boss, have control over my life. You know?”

“I can understand that.”

“I just want to be able to provide for my family. I want them to live a comfortable life,” he said, giving you a soft look.

“How are they by the way? You said your mom was sick the other day.” Earlier in the week, when you had run into him at work, he had explained that his mother had fallen horribly ill. It was so bad that he was seriously considering flying back to his home planet to be by her side in case the worst happened.

“She’s made a complete recovery, thank the Maker,” Bartlett said with a bright smile. “Though she did give us all quite the scare.”

“I’m glad she’s alright,” you said.

“Me too. How are your parents by the way? I haven’t heard you mention them in awhile and Marco never talks about family stuff with me,” he said.

“They’re good. I talked to them a few days ago. Mom says Dad’s newest pastime is trying to build a boat,” you chuckled.

“What makes that so funny?” asked Bartlett.

“The man’s never held a hammer in his life. He’s a tailor not a carpenter,” you laughed. “If he does manage to build a boat, I bet fifty credits that it’ll start leaking as soon as it touches the water.”

“Now that sounds like something I’d want to see,” he chuckled. “Think I can get an invite to the boat launching ceremony?”

“I think that could be arranged,” you replied with a smile. Bartlett returned your grin, but then he glanced over your shoulder and paused.

“What is it?” You turned around to see what had caught his attention. You didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“Look over there.” He nodded his head towards a gaggle of senators that seemed to be crowding around a single person. “I think someone important just showed up… we should go get a closer look.”

“Okay, lead the way,” you said emptying your punch glass.

“Follow me.”

Bartlett started off towards the gaggle of senators, frequently glancing back at you to make sure you were still following him. If the two of you were separated in this crowd it would take a while to find each other again. Both of you weaved through the crowd, dodging senators and waiters carrying plates of hors d’oeuvres and champagne. You handed your empty glass to one of these waiters on your way by and hurried to keep up with Bartlett.

You were focusing hard on the crowd around you and failed to notice that Bartlett had come to a stop in front of you. You bumped into his back with a soft, “Oof!”

He turned around quickly, looking you over quickly for any injuries. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. Sorry,” you muttered. “So who’s the mystery guest?”

“I can’t tell from here,” said Bartlett, turning his attention back to the crowd. “But I don’t think we can get any closer without disturbing some senators.” He sidestepped so you could step forward and see what he did. Sure enough, several high-level senators were busy clamoring to speak to whoever this was.

“I really shouldn’t bug them. Padmè wanted me to gain their favor, not irritate them by shoving my way to the front of the line,” you explained with a frown.

“I get it. We can stay here then. It looks like they’re working their way over here anyways,” said Bartlett.

“I wonder who it is?” You stared at the crowd, all of them seemed so excited. There was Senator Dua of Bahnal, and Sampras from Jibab, both of them held considerable influence over other Senate members. Last you had heard, both senators were against Padmè’s bill but maybe this evening would change their minds?

“Maybe it’s the Chancellor?” suggested Bartlett. “Isn’t he supposed to be in attendance this evening?”

“He is,” you replied. “But I don’t think it’s him though.”

“Why not?” Bartlett asked, glancing down at you.

“I don’t see any of his guards over there. Do you?”

Bartlett stood on his tiptoes for a moment, trying to get a better look. “No, I don’t see any guards.” He said lowering himself back down. “But Senator Kelf is blocking my view from here.”

“Yeah, he does that,” you huffed. The senator was an Ithorian and took up a large amount of space. When he finally did move you saw a familiar flash of tan and you swear your heart stopped. No, it wasn’t possible. He was supposed to be in the Outer Rim…

“Is that a Jedi?” Bartlett asked in a hushed voice. The crowd of senators parted just enough to give you a quick look at your mystery guest. Sure enough it was a Jedi, one you knew well. It was Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“I believe it is,” you said in a breathy voice.

You stared at him in awe. What was he doing here? Why was he back on Coruscant? Why hadn’t he said something to let you know he was coming? A million questions swirled around your mind as you watched him work his way towards you.

Obi-Wan was shaking hands and smiling with every senator that approached him. He was working the crowd remarkably well because every senator that left his side wore a bright smile. He hadn’t seen you yet — his focus was entirely on the senators surrounding him but it would only be a matter of time before he noticed you in the crowd. It took everything in your power to stay where you were and not race to his side. You were so happy to see him you were practically bouncing with excitement.

“(Y/N)?” Bartlett glanced at you; a questioning look on his face.

“Hm?” you tilted your head towards him, not taking your eyes off Obi-Wan. You were afraid that if you looked away, he would disappear.

“I thought this event was just for senators. What’s a Jedi doing here?” asked Bartlett.

“The Jedi have an open invitation to all of Padmè’s parties,” you explained. “Any Jedi that wanted to come tonight could.”

You hadn’t expected any Jedi to come in all honesty. You had hand delivered an invitation to Master Shef the other day, but he politely declined. He insisted that Senate parties were just thinly disguised Senate meetings and that he didn’t feel comfortable encroaching on such an event. You understood his sentiment and told him to pass the invitation on to any other Jedi that might be interested in coming but you didn’t expect any to actually show up… especially not Obi-Wan.

“I see,” said Bartlett.

Your heart swelled as Obi-Wan turned his head in your direction. His eyes scanned over the crowd and then they fell on you. His eyes lit up and he immediately changed course so that he was now headed straight for you.

“Oh, look he’s coming this way,” commented Bartlett.

You watched as Obi-Wan continued to speak to the countless senators that crowded him. But unlike before, where his sole focus had been on them, he kept glancing over at you. You never took your eyes off him; your heart pounding in your ears.  

Slowly the herd of senators dissipated, having gotten to speak with the Jedi. By the time Obi-Wan got to you and Bartlett, there were no senators left. At least none that were trying to speak to him.

Obi-Wan approached the two of you, a cheery grin on his face. “Good evening—”

The words were hardly out of his mouth before you launched yourself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Obi-Wan!” you exclaimed happily. He didn’t hesitate to hug you back, holding you close to him. You could feel his force signature engulf you, just as materially as his arms did. He was really here!

“I, uh, take it the two of you know each other?” Bartlett said. Oh right, you were in the middle of a party! You quickly let go of Obi-Wan, a blush dusting your cheeks.

“Oh, yeah, we do,” you said quickly, trying to regain some semblance of manners. “Allow me to introduce Mr. Bartlett Gustavus, lobbyist for Rim Commercial Mining. Bartlett, this is Jedi Master and General Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Bartlett’s eyes widened at your words.

“I thought you looked familiar! It’s an honor to meet you, General Kenobi.” Bartlett offered his hand out to the Jedi. Obi-Wan took it and shook it firmly. “Allow me to personally congratulate you on your victory on Geonosis. It truly changed the course of the war!”

“I appreciate your kind words though I believe it’s my men who deserve them, not I,” said Obi-Wan.

“Isn’t he modest?” you said with a bright smile. Obi-Wan sighed at your praise but said nothing to combat your statement.

“Indeed… how is it that the two of you know each other?” Bartlett asked looking between you and Obi-Wan.

“Oh, Obi-Wan was the one who rescued me when I was kidnapped,” you explained, dropping the formalities for now. You were among friends. “I owe him my life.” Your eyes met Obi-Wan’s and your heart skipped a beat. You had forgotten just how beautiful they were.  

“Well then, I must thank you most profusely,” said Bartlett. Obi-Wan turned his attention to your friend. “I don’t know what we would have done without your intervention.”

“Happy to help,” said Obi-Wan.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were in the Outer Rim?” you asked, your eyes wandering over his figure. He looked just as handsome as ever and to make things better there was no sign of any injuries! At least he was keeping his promise of trying to stay safe. His eyes did the same, roaming over your figure quickly.

“I’ve been recalled to deal with some temple business. I only just arrived back on Coruscant,” explained Obi-Wan.

While your eyes didn’t stray from the Jedi, Bartlett scanned his eyes over the crowd. “Say, (Y/N), there’s Senator Mothma. We should go say hello.”

You glanced in the direction he was looking. Sure enough Senator Mothma was standing not far off. You had been hoping to have a word with her sometime this evening to discuss the bill, but you really didn’t want to leave Obi-Wan’s side. You hadn’t seen him in over six months!

“You’re right, we should,” you said trying to hide the disappointment in your voice. Obi-Wan seemed to sense your reluctance to leave his side because with the deftness of a senator he said,

“Actually, I was hoping that I might ask the lady for a dance?”

Bartlett raised an eyebrow at this, looking over at the still empty dance floor. “But no one’s dancing right now?”

“So we’ll convince the others to join in,” said Obi-Wan. “Someone has to be the first, it might as well be us.” He extended his hand out towards you, “May I have this dance?”

“You may,” you took his hand with a bright smile.

With a grin he led you towards the deserted dance floor, easily weaving through the crowd. The orchestra was playing a jaunty tune as the two of you stepped onto the dance floor. You could feel the crowd’s eyes turn towards the two of you, waiting to see what you would do.

Obi-Wan guided you to the center of the open space and once the two of you were centered, he stopped. He turned to face you and bowed deeply. You curtsied in return and then the two of you assumed your positions. Your left hand was on his shoulder, your right incased in his own hand. His other hand rested snugly on your waist, high enough to remain suitably appropriate for the occasion. Still, you could feel the heat from his palm radiating into your side and you found yourself wanting to feel more of his touch.

But then you remembered where you were. You were in the center of an empty dance floor with the only Jedi in attendance. All the guests’ eyes were on you and the thought of messing up the steps sent a wave of anxiety through you. You hadn’t danced like this since before your imprisonment. Would your limp mess up your dancing? Maybe this was a mistake?

Obi-Wan obviously could sense your trepidation, because he gently squeezed your hand, forcing you to focus on him instead of the others. “Relax, darling. Just follow my lead,” he murmured. Then the two of you started to dance.

Thankfully your limp didn’t hinder your movement and most of the footwork was easy enough to remember. It also helped that Obi-Wan was subtly guiding you around the dance floor. If he squeezed your hand you were going one way, where a squeeze of your hip told you to go in the other direction. The two of you glided around as the music played.

“Ready?” asked Obi-Wan.

“For what?” you asked, looking at him in alarm.

“Just trust me,” he smiled. Before you could protest, he let go of your waist and extended his other arm upward, still holding your hand. You understood what he was trying to do immediately. You let go of his shoulder and spun in a circle, your dress twirling at your feet.

As you spun you chanced a look at the crowd. Sure enough all eyes were on the two of you, but you also saw other couples making their way towards the dance floor. Obi-Wan’s plan was working!

Once you were facing him again, Obi-Wan resumed his grip on your waist and the two of you continued to float around the dance floor. “Having fun, my dear?”

“I am,” you replied with a bright smile. “Looks like your plan is working.”

“I figured it would. All these people needed was a push,” he replied spinning you around again. The dance floor was much more crowded now. At least twenty other couples had decided to join you and Obi-Wan, so the two of you blended into the crowd. Now that everyone’s eyes were no longer on the two of you, you could relax and enjoy this moment with Obi-Wan.

“I didn’t know the Jedi prioritized dance lessons,” you joked.

“They don’t,” he answered with a grin. “But you’d be surprised how much overlap there is between training exercises and dancing… you look lovely this evening by the way.”

“Thank you,” you beamed at his compliment. “You look quite handsome yourself.”

“Ha, hardly,” Obi-Wan snorted. “I came straight from the frontlines. I barely had time to change into a clean tunic before coming here.”

“Wait, you really just got back then?”

“Yes, I scarcely had arrived at the temple when I learned of this party. When I heard it was being hosted by Padmè I knew I had to come on the off chance that I might get to see you,” he said earnestly. “Come to think of it I may owe Cody an apology…”

“Whatever for?”

“I might have been a bit harsh on him this evening,” he admitted, avoiding your gaze.

“Why?” It wasn’t like Obi-Wan to be harsh to his men. He was usually so well disciplined and cordial with them — even when they were interrupting your holopad calls.

“Well,” Obi-Wan glanced down at his tunic and then met your gaze. “He may have misplaced by only clean tunic, and I was… irate to say the least.”

You tried to stifle a giggle but failed. The mental image of him tearing through his trunk for a clean shirt was just too funny. Poor Cody.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Not at you,” you said with another laugh. “With you.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for clarifying,” he hummed. You felt his hand creep down your waist, now that everyone’s attention was elsewhere he could be bolder with his actions. Still, you needed to be careful. This was still a public event and if even one person noticed what he was doing it could land both of you in a heap of trouble.

“Obi-Wan,” you said, a warning tone to your voice. He simply raised an eyebrow in question, his hand still slowly sliding down your waist. You caught his eye and tilted your head slightly, motioning to the packed ballroom. The two of you weren’t alone and he obviously needed to be reminded of that fact.

“Oh, right,” he huffed. His hand stopped its descent, but he made no effort to raise it back into a more appropriate position. Knowing him, he wasn’t moving it until the dance was over.

“So how long are you on Coruscant?” you asked, changing subjects.

“I’m afraid I won’t be staying for very long, only a few days at most,” he explained with a frown. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to see you again while I’m here.”

“Oh,” you said trying to hide your disappointment. You had hoped you’d actually get to spend some time with him while he was in town, but no. Guess you were going to be stuck with more holopad calls…

“That’s why I came here tonight. I had to try and see you while I still could,” he said softly.

Your heart fluttered at his words. “You braved politics just to come and see me?”

“My dear there are few things I wouldn’t do in an effort to come see you,” he answered, a twinkle in his eye.

Before you could come up with an answer the song came to an end. The two of you let go of one another and bowed.

“Care for some fresh air?” asked Obi-Wan.

“I would, that sounds quite refreshing,” you replied with a smile.

The two of you left the dance floor, strolling towards the oversized balcony. This architectural detail was one of the main reasons why Padmè had chosen this location for her party. It was so grand in scale that several hundred guests could be out there at once and still there would be plenty of room to move about. It was a luxury that few buildings on Coruscant offered and the views it provided of the skyline were absolutely beautiful.

With it being as cold as it was, several heat lamps were scattered throughout the space doing their best to combat the chill in the air. Good thing too because right after the two of you stepped outside it began to snow gently. Large flakes floated through the air before landing softly on the ground, instantly melting.

The two of you walked alongside one another, his hands clasped firmly behind his back and yours neatly in front of you. To the outside observer the two of you were the perfect picture of professionalism, blending in with the others on the balcony. In reality, the two of you were hopelessly lost in your own little world. As soon as you had stepped outside Obi-Wan’s Force signature rubbed against your own and you had welcomed his touch wholeheartedly. As you meandered about you played with one another’s energies.

“I’m glad you made it back here with all your limbs still attached,” you playfully nudged his shoulder with your own. “I don’t know what I’d do if you went and got yourself hurt.”         

“You needn’t worry about me, my dear,” replied Obi-Wan. “I know how to take care of myself.”

“So I’ve heard. Master Shef told me the exact same thing,” you stated.

“You’ve been speaking to him about me?” asked Obi-Wan. You felt a ripple of worry radiate off his Force signature. You glanced over at him, sure enough his brows were furrowed in a way they hadn’t been only moments ago.

“I only asked him if he had heard any news about you,” you explained. “That was back when Remi was blocking your calls… I was worried about you.”

“Ah, I see,” he answered, shoulders relaxing.

“I also might have told him about our ability to speak with just our minds,” you added.

“(Y/N) —”

“What? You said other Jedi could do the same thing! I just wanted to have that fact confirmed,” you said.

Obi-Wan stared down at you, a hurt expression on his face. “You didn’t trust me?”

“Of course I trust you,” you said. “There’s no one I trust more… I just wasn’t sure if you were telling me everything you knew about this ability of ours.”

“And why would I withhold that sort of information from you?” he asked, coming to a stop.

“I don’t know,” you admitted. You looked away from him, out towards the skyline that was laid out beautifully in front of you. “I guess I just thought that there might be more to this bond we share is all.”

You stepped forward towards the edge of the balcony and leaned on the wall, looking out at the city. The rough stone was cool against your bare forearms, it felt rather refreshing after all that dancing. Far off in the distance speeders floated through the air, looking like nothing more than specks of light. The falling snow only added to the scene’s beauty.

Obi-Wan stepped next to you and copied your position, staring out at the night sky. “Well, what did Master Shef say?”

“He said that he was surprised at how fast our bond had matured,” you answered, looking over at him. You studied his face as he processed this information, taking in every detail. Who knew when you would see him again? You had to take advantage of this opportunity.

Obi-Wan noticed your blatant staring and lowered his gaze to look at you instead of the cityscape. “Was that all he said?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at your noncommittal answer. You hesitated for a moment before adding, “He also commented that we had grown quite close since I started my treatments.”

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “Did he say anything else?”

“No.”

He nodded, mostly to himself. “I suppose he’s right after all… you know it’s odd.”

“What is?” you asked, getting lost in his eyes.

“This bond we share. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” he said placing his hand atop yours on the balcony wall. You allowed his fingers to intertwine with your own so that the two of you could hold hands, your Force signatures nuzzling one another’s affectionately. “Every time I think I understand it, I’m surprised once again.”

“Is it a good or bad kind of surprise?”

“The good kind,” he replied with a soft smile. “I’ve been meditating on it and I’m certain that it was the Force that brought us together.”

“We’re literally connected through the Force, Obi,” you teased.

“I know that darling, but I’m talking about back in the beginning. Back on Naboo. It was the will of the Force that brought me and Master Qui-Gon to your planet. It’s what allowed us to cross paths in the first place,” he explained giving your hand a squeeze.

“Pretty sure that was the Trade Federation’s fault, not the Force’s,” you stated. “But it’s a nice sentiment.”

“It’s not just a sentiment. It’s the truth,” he insisted. You could feel his Force signature envelop you protectively as he continued to speak. “I know that the Force brought us together for a reason. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”

You were taken aback by the sheer ardor of his words. He believed what he was saying so completely that you couldn’t help but believe him. “But why? Why us? Why like this?” you asked, staring up at him with wide eyes.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. His thumb stroked the top of your palm, drawing shapes into your skin. Despite the chill in the air you were filled with a warm fuzzy feeling, part of it came from the warmth of his Force signature and some from his hand that was firmly intertwined with yours. You hardly noticed the snow falling around the two of you. At least until a sharp breeze cut across the balcony. You shivered at the sudden cold. With your bare shoulders exposed to the elements there was only so much that the heat lamps could do.

Obi-Wan noticed your trembling. “Do you want to go back inside where it’s warmer?” he asked glancing back at the packed ballroom and then back at you.

You shook your head no. It may be cold but at least out here the two of you could have some sort of private conversation as most of the other guests had retreated inside for now. No, you would stay out here all night if it meant you got to keep talking with Obi-Wan like this. “I’d rather stay out here with you. I don’t mind the cold, really!”

He smiled at your words, but his face faltered slightly as his eyes trailed down to your bare shoulders. “Are you sure? The last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable—”

“I’m fine, Obi. Really,” you replied with a smile.

“I’d let you borrow my cloak if I had it,” he mumbled, eyes roaming over your figure. You didn’t need to use the Force to know that he was holding himself back from touching you. You could feel the aching need radiating from his Force signature into yours as it swirled around you. As much as he wanted to hold you close to him, propriety kept the two of you apart. If even one person saw the two of you in a compromising position it could spell ruin for both of you. The fact that that you were holding hands in public was already a huge risk.

“Is this a new dress?” asked Obi-Wan. “I feel like I would remember seeing this one before.”

“It is. Padmè got it for me.” You were aware of the fact that his eyes had come to rest on your chest. If you were smart you’d change the subject and ignore the hungry look in his eye, but you wanted revenge for his actions back at the opera. So you continued talking, “She said I needed to spice up my wardrobe a bit and wear something a little less modest…”

Obi-Wan inhaled sharply and tore his eyes away from your chest, meeting your gaze once more. His eyes were dark with desire. “I agree with her. You should dress like this more often.” His voice was strained, if you didn’t know any better you would have guessed he was in pain. His eyes darted across your face, flicking down to look at your lips more than once.

“What are you looking for?” you murmured.

“Permission.”

“Permission for what?” What was he trying to do? He couldn’t seriously be contemplating kissing you here?

“Please,” he breathed out.

You wanted to reply with ‘I don’t even know what you’re asking permission for,’ but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He was staring at you with a such a desperate, pleading expression that you couldn’t help but say, “Alright.”

He sighed in relief, his eyes never leaving yours as you stared back at him expectantly. What was he — then you felt something brush a lock of hair away from your face. The wind had blown it out of place earlier and you hadn’t noticed, too engrossed with Obi-Wan to notice much of anything else.

You reached up a hand up to your face and felt nothing physical there. Yet, there was a familiar warmth hovering over your skin and then you understood. The sensation you felt had been a phantom hand brushing your hair from your face. It was Obi-Wan touching you the only way he could. That’s what he was begging permission for!        

“Is this okay?” he asked. You could feel his phantom hand hovering just over your skin, awaiting your judgement.

You lowered your hand, bringing it back down to your side. “Yes, it’s alright,” you whispered. He smiled softly and gently caressed your cheek with his Force signature. You leaned into his touch, reveling in the warmth that radiated from his phantom touch. It really felt like he was touching you, but then of course he was touching you, your hands were still intertwined with one another’s on the cold stone wall.

Then Obi-Wan’s ghost hand left your cheek. It reappeared on your waist, high enough to still be appropriate if the two of you were dancing, but then it began to move lower. You felt his phantom fingers trail over your skin as if your dress wasn’t even there. It felt like his hand were on your bare skin and the sensation sent a shiver down your spine.

You needily stared at Obi-Wan, glancing down at his perfectly pink lips. You wanted nothing more than to kiss him, right here, right now. If you were being completely honest there was a lot more you wanted him to do besides kiss you… You had lots of time since the opera to imagine the things you wanted this man to do to you and now that he was here… well you wanted him to know about it.

You nudged his Force signature with your own, inviting him to feel your emotions. He accepted the invitation and gently pushed his way into your mind. For just a second you felt a ripple dance across your mind and smiled as Obi-Wan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh… darling,” he muttered, nearly groaning. “You should have said something sooner.”

You felt his hand slink lower, now creeping down your hip and towards your core. Your pulse quickened as he drew closer to where you wanted to feel his touch the most. You stared deeply into his eyes, silently begging him to continue when—

“(Y/N)!”

The two of you jumped apart, desperately trying to act like everything was completely normal. You turned around towards the ballroom and saw Bartlett hurrying towards you.

“Yes?” You shifted on your feet, trying to ignore the sudden ache between your legs.    

“You promised me a dance. Want to have a go?” Bartlett asked with a grin. Then he noticed Obi-Wan standing next to you. “That is if the general doesn’t mind?”

“I don’t mind. Go right ahead,” said Obi-Wan. Despite the pleasant tone and smile on his face you could feel his true feelings on the matter. He did mind.

“Thank you, General,” Bartlett bowed his head politely. “Come on, (Y/N).” He held his hand out to you, and you took it with a forced smile. You glanced over at Obi-Wan,

“You aren’t allowed to leave without saying goodbye. Got it?” As much as you tried to control your tone you couldn’t help but notice the hint of desperation in your voice. You were quite literally begging him not to leave you again and both of you knew it.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he answered.

Satisfied that he wouldn’t leave without telling you first, you turned back to Bartlett. “Lead the way.”

Bartlett smiled brightly, leading you back to the dance floor. There were dozens of other couples dancing but the two of you had no trouble finding a spot to dance.

“So when were you going to tell me you were friends with the General Kenobi?” asked Bartlett as he spun you around the dance floor.   

“Eventually, I guess. It’s not like I was hiding it, it just never came up,” you lied. You had been hiding your friendship with Obi-Wan from most people in all actuality. The less people who knew about the bond between the two of you the better. “I’m sure you have plenty of friends I don’t know about.”

“True, but none of them are Jedi,” answered Bartlett. “I’d say I was surprised that you befriended one but that would be a lie.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you’re always rubbing shoulders with important people. I’m sure you’ve met lots of Jedi during your years at Padmè’s side,” he explained, twirling you around. As you spun, your eyes searched the crowd looking for Obi-Wan. You could visit with Bartlett any day of the week, but you hadn’t seen Obi-Wan in literal months. You were desperate to see more of him, no matter how brief it was.

“I’m glad you agreed to dance with me,” said Bartlett once you were facing him once again. “It’s kind of like the good old days, isn’t it?”

“It is,” you admitted. The two of you didn’t go out dancing all that often when you were together but the few times you did were quite memorable to say the least.

“I really am sorry about how things ended back then. Truly I am,” said Bartlett with a frown. “You didn’t deserve to have your heart broken like that.”

“It’s alright. You’re forgiven,” you replied.

“How can you be so quick to forgive me?” he asked, looking surprised.

“I’m really not being quick here, Bartlett. I was mad at you for years, but I’ve gotten over it. You were doing what you thought was best. Besides it doesn’t really matter now, it’s all in the past.”

“You’re right,” he replied with a smile. “We’ve entered a new chapter of our lives you and I. It’s time we start looking towards the future.”

You glanced over Bartlett’s shoulder at the sea of faces. Where was Obi-Wan? Your eyes scanned over the crowd, looking for the Jedi. All you saw were senators and their aides, no Obi-Wan. You shifted your gaze towards the balcony, had he stayed outside and away from the senators? That certainly would make sense, he absolutely despised politics.

“So what’s your plan for the rest of the night?” asked Bartlett.

You shifted your gaze back to him, “Oh, I’m in for a long night. Padmè won’t leave until the final guest has. I just hope I won’t have to help with the cleanup.”

As the two of you glided across the dance floor you glanced over at the balcony. There was no sign of Obi-Wan. Maybe he had retreated inside to escape the cold?

“Why would you have to do that? Isn’t that someone else’s job?” asked Bartlett.

“You would think. But Dormè and I helped set stuff up so…” you trailed off, still watching the crowd. That’s when you noticed a flash of tan to the far side of the room. It was Obi-Wan! He was talking to a clonetrooper, of course he was. Ever the soldier and ever determined to avoid politics, he had found the one person besides you to talk to.

Upon closer inspection the clonetrooper he was talking to looked an awful lot like Lefty, though you couldn’t be entirely sure from here. You wondered what the two men were talking about, maybe the war or maybe — both men looked over at you. Well, guess that answered that question. They were definitely talking about you.

“Well, the two of you did an amazing job. Everything looks amazing,” said Bartlett. “Especially that dress. You look fantastic.”

You turned your attention back to the man you were dancing with, fighting off a blush. “Thank you.”

“I mean it. You’re the most beautiful woman here tonight,” he continued.

“You’re much too kind.”

“I’m telling you the truth, (Y/N),” he insisted as he spun you around. As you spun you caught sight of Obi-Wan. He was watching you with his arms crossed, a neutral expression on his face, but the feeling radiating off his force signature was anything but. Despite the fact that he was across the room from you, a sharp prickly feeling bristled against your mind. You knew he wasn’t trying to project this feeling towards you, it was fainter than it would be if that were the case. Even so, you could feel his emotions as plain as day. He was jealous.

“You are without a doubt the most beautiful woman on Coruscant,” said Bartlett once you were face to face again.

“Now I know you’re just teasing me,” you rolled your eyes.

“I would never tease you about something like this,” insisted Bartlett. “I think too much of you to do such a thing.” You stared up at Bartlett in surprise. Just what was he trying to say? Was he trying to get back together with you?

Before you could question him, the song came to an end. The two of you let go of one another and bowed. You could tell by the look in his eye that Bartlett wanted to continue this conversation, but you weren’t sure that you wanted to hear everything he had to say. In all honesty, you wanted to go talk to Obi-Wan instead.

“I’m gonna go grab some punch. I’ll be right back,” you said quickly. Before Bartlett could respond, you darted off towards the punch bowl and away from what you knew would be an awkward conversation. You just needed a moment to collect yourself; this evening was getting to be a bit much, even for you.

You made your way over to the punch bowl and poured yourself another glass. As you sipped on your drink you struggled to calm your racing heart. You were still trying to process the fact that Obi-Wan was here on top of everything that happened out on the balcony. Add in Bartlett and his not-so-subtle hints about the two of you getting back to together — it was no wonder your head was spinning!

“Having fun?”

You glanced up and standing on the other side of the table was Obi-Wan, who was pouring himself a glass of punch.

“I am. What about you?” you asked, taking a sip of your drink.

“I was, until your ex decided to dance with you,” he answered calmly, taking a sip of his own drink.

You choked on your punch, coughing and sputtering. “How do you know that?!”

“Lefty told me. Though I suspected as much when I asked you to dance,” said Obi-Wan looking out at the dance floor. “I could sense his jealously almost immediately.”

“You’re one to talk,” you quipped. “I could feel yours from across the room.”

Obi-Wan looked back at you in surprise. “You could sense that?”

“I could but I thought you said jealously was a path to the dark side?” You were teasing him now and both of you knew it.

“It is,” he admitted with a smirk. “That’s why I acknowledged the feeling and then released it into the Force… I must admit that I’m surprised you felt it though.”

“Shef has said that my connection to the Force grows stronger with each passing day,” you grinned.

“So it has,” smiled Obi-Wan.

You glanced around the ballroom. Everywhere you looked guests milled about, there was no hope of having a private conversation here. Maybe one of the tables near the back of the room would be less busy? You drifted away from the punch bowl, conscious to the fact that Obi-Wan was following you like a shadow. Good.

Sure enough the tables near the back of the room were practically deserted. You sat down at an empty table and sighed, happy to be off your feet for a few moments. You had been running around in heels all night and your feet were really starting to hurt.

Obi-Wan sat down in a chair next to you, scanning the area quickly. You glanced around as well, taking note of the situation. There were a few other people at the tables surrounding yours, eating some food or just talking with one another. There was also a clonetrooper standing guard against the wall nearby. No one was close enough to overhear anything you or Obi-Wan said which was good, though the two of you were still in plain sight. You could talk freely here but you still needed to be on guard.

“So what have you been up to while I’ve been away?” asked Obi-Wan. He crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, intently focused on you.

“Helping Padmè push bills through the senate mostly. You would not believe the mountains of paperwork I’ve had to deal with,” you sighed. “And then she decided to throw this party, so I had to help plan all this and yeah. That’s pretty much it. What about you? What have you been up to?”

His lips quirked up into a grin, “You know that’s classified.”

“Not all of it,” you retorted. “Bartlett mentioned something about an important victory?”

“Ah, yes that would be our victory on Geonosis. Quite a difficult battle but we preserved.” There was a tiredness in his voice that you hadn’t heard before, whatever transpired on that planet must have been rough.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” you said softly. “You shouldn’t have to be out on the frontlines.”

“The men need someone to lead them,” shrugged Obi-Wan. “I’m able bodied and willing to do my part to protect the Republic. I could hardly say no.”

“You should’ve,” you grumbled crossing your arms. “I’m sick of worrying about you.”

“Something tells me you’d worry about me even if I wasn’t on the battlefield,” mused Obi-Wan.

“I doubt that. You’d be at the temple, that’s hardly dangerous,” you rolled your eyes. Did he really think you were such a worrywart?

“I’d still be sent out on missions, my dear,” he answered. “The life of a Jedi is a dangerous one, even when we aren’t fighting in a war.”

You hummed in agreement, sipping on your punch. He did have a point there.

“You know it might be a good thing that the Jedi didn’t discover you as a child,” continued Obi-Wan.

“And why is that?” you asked setting your glass on the table. “You don’t think I’d be able to handle the rigors of battle?”

“Not at all, I think you’d do quite well,” he answered with a grin.

“Then what do you mean?” you asked raising an eyebrow.

“What I was trying to say is that if you were around when I was a padawan—”

“We met when you were a padawan. Remember?”

“Of course I remember. You act like I could ever forget our first meeting,” he stated. “What I meant was that if you were there in the temple when I was still a padawan…” His eyes trailed down your figure and he gulped loudly, a strained look on his face.

“Yes?” you asked batting your lashes at him. You had a pretty good idea of what he was trying to imply but you wanted to hear him say it.

“I don’t think we would have remained in the order for long,” he said, eyes trailing back up to your face.

“Why not?” you asked innocently.

“I was… intemperate in my youth,” Obi-Wan said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “I was still easily swayed by my emotions back then. Had you been around… I’m not sure I’d be able to hold myself back as I am now.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” you teased. If he could rile you up all night at the opera it was only fair that you get some sort of payback.

“You know exactly what I mean,” he said aloud. He stared at you with a dark look and then his next words echoed inside your mind. “There aren’t enough words to describe the sorts of things I want to do you.”

Your jaw dropped. Did he really just say that?! Yes. Yes, he did. There was no doubt in your mind what he had meant by these words, you could feel his desire radiating off his force signature. It swirled around you, rubbing the edges of your own affectionately.

Your mind spun, dizzy with want, as you stared at the Jedi. He was just sitting there so relaxed, so calm, like he hadn’t just whispered utter depravity into your mind. How was he so calm right now?!

You snapped your mouth shut, trying to regain some sort of decorum, but it was a struggle. Your heart raced at his words and the ache between your legs was back, stronger than ever.

Obi-Wan stared at you expectantly, waiting for you to say something. He raised an eyebrow and smirked, watching you struggle to come up with a response.

“I, uh,” you stammered. It was like you had forgotten how to speak, you just couldn’t find the words. Maybe it would be easier to reply with your mind? Wait, if you were going to respond in your mind you could say what you really wanted to say. No one could overhear you inside your mind.

“What would you do first?”

Obi-Wan’s body stiffened at your question. The relaxed demeanor he had throughout this entire conversation instantly disappeared. He uncrossed his legs and shifted forward so that he was now sitting on the edge of his chair, closer to you. Your heart pounded in your chest as he took his time appraising your figure. His gaze was dark, hungry. You had seen this look once before, back when your towel had slipped and you nearly flashed him over holopad.

“Well… first I’d kiss you like I should’ve back on Naboo.” His words echoed inside your mind as his gaze trailed back up to meet your own needy one. Then you felt his hand on your knee, only it wasn’t his real hand. He was using the Force to touch you again and that excited you.

“Then I’d rip that pretty dress off you and kiss my way down your body…” His words trailed off as his phantom hand snaked up your thigh.

You inhaled sharply, utterly enraptured by his words. “And then?” you asked in a breathy voice.

His hand stopped. “Inside your mind, darling. Don’t want the others overhearing now do we?” he chided you.

“Right,” you nodded your head quickly, desperate to hear more. “Do go on.”

“As I was saying,” his hand resumed its ascent, “I’d kiss every square inch of your body until you were begging me to fuck you.”

Your breathing was ragged now as his hand inched closer to your womanhood, closer to where you wanted to feel him the most. You squirmed under his touch, silently pleading with your eyes for him to touch you.

“My, my so eager. Patience darling, I’ll get there soon,” he hummed. “I haven’t even finished telling you about what I plan to do to you.” His phantom hand shifted to the inside of your thigh, and you trembled under his touch. “Now where was I…” His thumb drew circles into your skin, and you took a shaky breath, trying to hold it together. “Oh, yes. Now I remember. After I turned you into a begging mess, I’d fuck you so hard you wouldn’t be able to walk straight the next morning.”

You could hardly believe what you were hearing. Never in a million years had you expected Obi-Wan Kenobi to say such depraved things. Your body was literally aching with need. You needed to feel his hands on you. Now. His real hands, not some Force signature ones.

“Come with me,” you gasped, standing abruptly. You grabbed his hand and tugged him up to his feet. He regarded you with a look of surprise but let you lead him away from the table, your glasses of punch long forgotten.

You dragged him towards the ballroom’s entrance. You remembered seeing several hallways during setup earlier in the day. Surely one of them would be dimly lit and offer some privacy so that the two of you could have a true moment alone? You sure hoped so, the ache between your legs was growing stronger with each passing minute and you weren’t sure how much longer you could withstand his teasing.

“(Y/N)!” you froze at the sound of someone calling your name. “(Y/N)!” You bit back a groan and looked back to see just who was trying to get your attention. It was Dormè. She rushed towards you, a worried expression on her face.

“Dormè? What’s wrong?” you asked, remembering to let go of Obi-Wan’s hand before she noticed you were holding it in the first place.

“We have a problem. The chef messed up the desert and needs more jogan fruit,” Dormè explained quickly.

“Okay and? What am I supposed to do about that?” You knew you were being unprofessional but there was nothing professional floating through your mind right now. All you could think about was dragging Obi-Wan into the nearest dark hallway and—

“I need you try calling your contacts and see if they know where we can find more of the fruit. I’ll go get it myself, but I have no idea even where to start looking,” Dormè said quickly. “And we only have an hour before the dessert needs to be served and—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” you sighed. There was no avoiding it, your friends needed your help. You glanced back at Obi-Wan and said, “I’m sorry I have to go deal with this. I’ll catch up with you later. Okay?”

“Okay. I’m sure if anyone can fix this it’ll be you. Good luck.” Although he said this with a smile, you could see the strained look in Obi-Wan’s eye. He wanted you just as badly as you wanted him. Hopefully you could solve this problem and return to his side soon.

“Thanks. Dormè you come with me.” You grabbed your friend’s arm and tugged her towards the kitchen, determined to make this quick.

***

Despite your good intentions it took nearly forty minutes on your comlink to track down more of the jogan fruit. Apparently everyone on Coruscant had the same idea as Padmè and wanted to have a jogan laden desert. At the last minute you located a grocer with some in stock and sent Dormè and a clonetrooper to go get them. She had less than twenty minutes to make it back here if the party was to continue on schedule.

You paced the hall in front of the kitchen, biting your thumb, as you waited for her to return. Until this situation was resolved you wouldn’t allow yourself to go back to the party, no matter how badly you to. You just prayed that Dormè made it back in time. Padmè was counting on the two of you to pull this off. Maker, why did the chef have to mess up the dessert?! If he hadn’t done that you could be having a private moment with Obi-Wan right now. This was so unfair!

“What’s wrong?”

You knew that voice. You stopped pacing and looked over to see Drift marching towards you. Guess he was in charge of patrolling this area for now.

“The chef messed up and we ran out of a crucial ingredient for dessert,” you huffed, crossing your arms. “So I spent the better part of the last hour trying to track some down. You’d think more than one grocer would carry the stupid fruit but no. Apparently the entire planet wanted jogan fruit today!”

“I’m sorry to hear that ma’am,” said Drift. He was wearing his helmet so you couldn’t see his face, but he sounded amused at your irritation. “Besides that, how’s your evening been?”

“It’s been fun,” you admitted.

“No doubt dancing with the general put you in a good mood,” commented Drift.

“It did. I wasn’t expecting to see him here tonight,” you said trying to keep your voice even. “How did you know I danced with him?”

“I checked in with Lefty not too long ago. He filled me in on everything,” said Drift. There was something in his tone that made you pause. He was alluding to something else, something besides the dance with Obi-Wan.

“What do you mean everything?”

“Lefty told me he talked with General Kenobi while you were dancing with Mr. Gustavus. Apparently the general wanted to know more about your dance partner and once Lefty explained your… complicated past, the general seemed to become upset,” explained Drift in a matter-of-fact voice.

“And?”

“And I’ll ask you once again,” he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Are you involved in some way with General Kenobi? I need to know so I can do my job properly because if you are involved with him that could put you at serious risk.”

“There’s nothing going on between us.” At least nothing yet… “We’re just friends. You have nothing to worry about.”

“With all due respect ma’am, it’s my job to worry about you.”

“And I appreciate that, really, I do. But I’m telling you we’re just good friends is all,” you insisted.

Drift shook his head and sighed, “If you say so.”   

Just then Dormè burst in through the door at the end of the hall, carrying an armful of purple fruit. “Please tell me I made it back in time!” she exclaimed, running towards the kitchen.

You glanced up at the clock on the wall. “We have seven minutes. Tell the chef he has to hurry!” You turned to follow Dormè into the kitchen but hesitated, looking back at Drift. “If something changes, I’ll let you know.”

“I hold you to that. Good luck, ma’am. Try to enjoy the rest of your evening.” Drift saluted you. You offered a quick smile and then darted into the kitchen after Dormè.

By some miracle the dessert was finished with less than a minute to spare. You and Dormè watched as the chef carried the elaborate treat out to the crowd, hopefully everyone liked it. It sure took a lot more effort on your part than you were originally planning on. Oh well, at least it came out on time. Padmè should be pleased.

A waiter walked by and you grabbed two flutes of champagne off his tray, handing one to Dormè. She took it with a bright smile, “To saving the day!”

You clinked your glass against hers. “To saving the day— oh!” You froze; something had just brushed against your side. Something you had felt several times already this evening. It was Obi-Wan’s Force signature.

“You good?” Dormè asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Oh, yeah! I’m fine!” you said with a forced smile. You couldn’t let her know what was really going on. You just couldn’t.

“If you say so,” she said giving you a look. She took a sip of her drink, and you copied her actions. Obi-Wan’s hand remained static on your hip as you sipped on your drink and searched the crowd for the Jedi. He had to be close by if he was touching you like this. He’d want to see your reaction.

It didn’t take long to find him, his tan robes stood out against the brightly colored clothing of the senators and their aides. He was hanging back from the crowd that had gathered to ooh and aah over the dessert. While everyone’s attention was focused on the food his was trained solely on you.

It was only when your eyes met his that his hand started to move. It slid around your waist until it rested firmly on your ass, giving it a squeeze. You gasped at the touch and inhaled a mouthful of champagne. You coughed loudly, trying to clear your windpipe.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Dormè.

“Y- Yeah, I’m good,” you sputtered. “Just swallowed wrong.” You waved your hand dismissably, hoping she’d buy your lie.

“Alright…” Dormè gave you another doubtful look before turning her focus to the crowd. “Oh, look! Padmè’s talking to Senator Mothma.”

You focused your attention on Padmè but obviously Obi-Wan wasn’t a fan of you not paying attention to him because he pinched your ass, hard. You jumped at his touch, nearly spilling your drink all over yourself.

Dormè stared at you with wide eyes, clearly wondering what had gotten into you this evening. You weren’t behaving like your usual self and both of you knew it. “I, uh,” you stammered trying to come up with some sort of explanation for your actions. “This is good champagne huh?” You chugged the remaining liquid to avoid having to talk more.

“I think you’ve had enough to drink tonight,” she said with a frown. “It might be a good idea to stop for now.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” You were struggling to focus on her face because as the two of you talked Obi-Wan’s phantom hands were rubbing and squeezing your ass. That’s right, he wasn’t satisfied with teasing you with just one hand. No, for some reason he decided to up the ante and use both hands now.

You gritted your teeth as you struggled to maintain a neutral expression. You needed to slip away from Dormè but how? You let your eyes flit over the crowd, desperate for some sort of distraction. There! “Oh, look there’s Senator Twee’s aide. I think they said he wanted to dance with you earlier,” you lied.

“Oh, really?” Dormè looked in the direction you were and smiled. “That does sound like fun. Want to come with me to say hi?”

“Uh, I think I’ll pass for right now. Gotta use the refresher,” you lied.

“Just try and take it easy for the rest of the night, okay?” said Dormè.

“Okay. Go have fun. I’ll see you later,” you said shooing your friend towards the crowd. She smiled and nodded her head, disappearing into the crowd. Now that she was gone you could deal with the Jedi.

You shuffled backwards until your back was pressed up against the wall. You needed something solid behind you right now; it felt like your knees were going to buckle if you weren’t careful. Obi-Wan’s hands had started moving again, roaming over your body, leaving an electric trail in their wake. Where was he anyways? You’d much rather have his real hands on you. You scanned the crowd and thankfully saw him working his way towards you.

“Want me to take that empty glass, ma’am?” asked a waiter.

“Huh?” You blinked hard at the waiter that had just stepped in between you and Obi-Wan. “Oh, yes that’d be great. Thanks.” You handed him your empty champagne glass, and he disappeared without another word.

You turned your attention back to Obi-Wan. He was still making his way towards you and his phantom hands had come to rest on your hips. You squirmed under his touch, eager for him to finally touch you for real. You weren’t sure you could handle much more of this teasing.

But then a senator blocked his path, forcing him to stop. You bit a groan of frustration. Just say hello and move on! But of course, this senator wanted to have an actual conversation with Obi-Wan and refused to budge until the Jedi heard everything he had to say. How could Obi-Wan stand there and have a completely normal conversation while he teased you?!

Then his hands slipped to the inside of your thighs, resting only a mere inch away from your womanhood. You almost whimpered aloud as his thumbs started tracing patterns into the sensitive skin. He was so kriffing close to where you wanted to feel his touch the most. Why wouldn’t he just touch you there already?! You swore you were going to go mad with want!

At long last the senator bowed farewell to Obi-Wan and he resumed his approach. Your breathing was labored, pupils dilated, and it felt like you’d combust if he didn’t touch you soon.

“I take it you found the fruit you were looking for?” he asked, coming to a stop in front of you.

“Huh?” You could hardly focus on what he was saying. You were far more focused on his thumbs tracing patterns into the inside of your thighs.     

“I asked if you found the fruit you were looking for,” he said again, a shit eating grin on his face. He was enjoying teasing you like this, maybe a little too much…

“Yeah, we found it,” you said in a breathy voice.

“What’s wrong, darling? You look flushed,” he said with a voice as smooth as silk. He was teasing you in more ways than one now.

“You know what’s wrong,” you huffed. “Now what are you doing to do about it?”

“Hm, now that’s a good question.” Obi-Wan brought his real hand up to his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. You met his eye and then he said, “I think I have an idea.”

Without another word he grabbed your hand and dragged you away from the crowd. His Force hands left your body and you whined at the loss of contact.

“Patience, my dear. Patience,” he hummed inside your mind. “I promise you it’ll be worth it.”

You inhaled sharply at his words, eager for him to make good on them. All you wanted was to be alone with him and it seemed he was thinking the same thing. Obi-Wan pulled you closer towards the entrance to the ballroom, back in the direction you had tried leading him earlier in the evening. Both of you knew there were several dark alcoves the two of you could escape into for the private moment both of you were so desperate for.

You and Obi-Wan were about to duck into the entryway when someone called your name. It was Padmè.

“Ugh, no. Please not now,” you whined under your breath. Obi-Wan quickly let go of your hand and both of you turned towards Padmè’s voice. Sure enough she was hurrying towards you, a bright smile on her face.

“(Y/N), there you are! I wanted to thank you for finding the jogan fruit, you really saved the day!” gushed Padmè. If she really wanted to thank you she’d leave you alone right now… “Oh, Obi-Wan! I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight!”

“Good evening, Padmè,” Obi-Wan bowed his head politely. “Yes, it was a rather spur of the moment decision to come here tonight. I only just arrived back on Coruscant.” To the outside observer he was acting completely normal, there wasn’t a hint to what had been unraveling all evening between the two of you. Was this because of his Jedi discipline or was it because he had been the one doing all the teasing? Only one way to find out.

As Padmè and Obi-Wan talked, you focused your attention on the Force flowing around you. Thanks to your meditation sessions with Shef it was becoming easier to feel the Force outside the temple, so you had little trouble focusing on its energy. Once you made the connection you channeled it towards Obi-Wan. He didn’t react. Hm, maybe you weren’t doing this right? You refocused your energy into your hand and visualized trailing it down his arm.

Obi-Wan stiffened. He felt that! You could barely hide your grin, now you could take your revenge! You pulled your energy away from him and strategized how to best eke a reaction out of him. You had an idea.

You focused on the Force flowing through your hand and then stared down at his ass. Then you visualized smacking his ass playfully, pushing the Force towards him as you did so. Obi-Wan’s reaction was instant. He jumped a foot in the air and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Everything alright?” you asked sweetly. Obi-Wan glared at you.

“Yes, I just sensed a disturbance in the Force,” he replied through gritted teeth.

“Should we be worried?” asked Padmè. “There are countless senators here tonight. It’s the perfect target for a separatist attack.”

“No, I’m sure it’s nothing,” he replied turning his attention back to Padmè. “You were saying?”

The two resumed their conversation and you bit back a groan. You wanted to keep teasing Obi-Wan, but you were curious as to how he was so calm. You wanted to know how he was feeling. So instead of channeling the Force at him, you approached him with your Force signature. Circling around him, poking and nudging him. His Force signature bumped yours in acknowledgment, but his eyes remained focused on Padmè.

You prodded at the edge of his Force signature, eager to get a glimpse into his mind as you had done so long ago at the temple. You normally wouldn’t dare pry into his mind, everyone was entitled to having their own thoughts, but right now you had to know if he was just as riled up as you were. Obi-Wan didn’t resist your prodding and so you eagerly pushed your way into his mind.

You almost moaned as a wave of desire washed over your mind. It was so strong that it nearly brought you to your knees. You had no choice but to pull out of his mind almost immediately. You struggled to catch your breath as you stared at him with wide eyes. How was he standing there talking to Padmè when he felt like this?! You had only been in his mind for a few seconds and the desire you felt made yours feel like nothing in comparison!

“(Y/N)?”

You blinked hard, refocusing on their conversation. Both of them were staring at you expectantly.

“Yes?”  

“I asked how you managed to find the fruit so easily?” asked Padmè.

“Oh, uh.” You glanced over at Obi-Wan his eyes were dark and stared at you hungrily. Maker, it took everything you had to not just grab him and make out with him right here in front of everyone. You were almost past the point of caring about reputations… almost.

“I just called up some of the grocers we’ve used for past events,” you explained, shifting your gaze back to Padmè. “It took a bit of trial and error, but I finally found someone that had the fruit in stock.”

“I really must thank you again. You truly saved this party,” she said with a bright smile. “I do have one more favor to ask of you though.”

“Yes?” No, please no! All you wanted to do was slip around the corner and have a private moment with Obi-Wan! You could work any other day of the year, just not now, not tonight. Please!

“Senator Mothma and her team wanted to discuss a possible collaboration between Naboo and Chandrila regarding the upcoming agricultural bill in the next voting cycle. She wanted me to introduce you to them. They’re just over here—” Padmè grabbed your hand, pulling you back towards the party and away from Obi-Wan.

You glanced back at Obi-Wan with a desperate look. “You have to stop her! Say something!” you pleaded from inside your mind.

“I can’t say anything without arousing suspicion,” he replied. You could see the struggle in his eyes as much as he wanted you to stay, he couldn’t make it happen. “Trust me, the absolute last thing I want is for you to leave right now.”

“Don’t leave without saying goodbye at least,” you pleaded.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I plan on making it a goodbye you’ll never forget.” You bit back another whine as you tore your eyes away from him. You struggled to follow Padmè, it was taking everything in your power to not rip your hand away from hers and run back into Obi-Wan’s arms.            

***

What was supposed to be a short introduction turned into an in-depth conversation about the long-term political goals of both planets. By the time the conversation finally ended, the party was pretty much over. Everyone was beginning to filter out of the ballroom and Padmè insisted on saying goodbye to everyone she could.

You and Dormè stood behind her, back on duty. As much as you wanted to go find Obi-Wan you couldn’t come up with a good enough excuse to explain your absence. So you smiled, shook hands, and bowed over and over again as you said goodbye to guests. Your body was running on autopilot while your mind replayed this evening’s events on repeat. You were being dumb, all this was doing was making the ache between your legs even worse, and with the party coming to an end you highly doubted there would be anything you could do to relieve the tension.

“Hi, (Y/N).” You looked up and saw Bartlett standing in front of you. In all of the excitement of this evening you had forgotten he was even here to begin with.

“Oh hi!” you greeted him with a smile. “Are you headed out?”

“I am. I just wanted to say goodbye and congratulate you on throwing such a fun party. I had a lovely time,” he said.

“I’m glad to hear that,” you smiled. “I had a lot of fun too.”

“Hello again.” You perked up at the sound of Obi-Wan’s voice. Like a ghost he seemed to materialize out of thin air, a cheeky smile on his face. “I hope everyone had a good evening?”

“It was perfect,” you replied with a bright smile. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“As am I,” he grinned.

This was your chance. You could offer to walk him out to his speeder and the two of you could finally have a moment alone! You opened your mouth to suggest this, but Bartlett cut you off.

“General Kenobi, I was hoping to discuss a business matter with you on our way out, if that’s alright with you?”

“Of course,” said Obi-Wan. He looked over at you and smiled apologetically. “Goodnight, (Y/N). It was lovely seeing you again.”

“It was good seeing you too. Stay safe out there,” you replied trying to keep your tone light. That was it then. He was leaving again, and you didn’t even get to kiss him. This was beyond unfair!

“I’ll see you next week,” Bartlett said with a wave.

The two men turned their backs to you and began to leave. You heart sank. So much for a private moment with Obi-Wan… but then you felt his Force signature knock into yours aggressively. He pressed against your mind, practically begging for permission to enter your mind. You welcomed his touch and without hesitation he thrust himself into your head. What you saw next took your breath away.

It was like you were dreaming. You saw a scene laid out in front of you that was so depraved you could hardly believe what you were seeing. You and Obi-Wan were hidden in one of the dark hallways the two of you kept trying to retreat to all night. You were pinned up against the wall and Obi-Wan was kissing you roughly. Your hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer to you, your lips glued together. You were so engrossed with this that you almost missed the rhythmic rocking of his hips. No, he wasn’t… was he?

He was.

In this vision Obi-Wan was fucking you against the wall. One of his hands held your leg up, keeping it securely wrapped around his waist as his hips bucked into you. His other hand clung tightly to your shoulder, trying to find some sort of leverage. The two of you were still dressed in your party clothes. Your dress was bunched up in between your bodies, blocking your view. It didn’t matter, there was no doubt in your mind as to what was happening here.

In the blink of an eye the image was gone, disappearing just as fast as it had appeared. You stared wide eyed at Obi-Wan’s retreating form, breathing labored. Maker, was that how he planned on saying goodbye to you?!

“You good?” Dormè whispered, leaning over towards you.

“Y- yeah. I’m fine,” you lied. “Just had too much to drink I think.”

You watched Obi-Wan disappear down the dark hallway with an ache in more than just your heart…

Notes:

Okay wow this chapter really grew legs and ran away from me. It originally was going to just be a super sweet night but somehow it spiraled into this spicy thing??? I’ve never written smut before so I’m entering uncharted waters, but I hope you guys liked it! See ya next time!

Chapter 14: Nightmares

It had been four days since Padmè’s party and you hadn’t heard a word from Obi-Wan. It was exactly as he had predicted, his council business was keeping him quite busy, and he wasn’t the only one. Padmè’s bill was scheduled to be voted on at the end of the week and, thanks to her party, several senators were eager to learn more.

You were running down the hall of the senate building, racing towards Padmè’s office. Senator Dua had had agreed to a private meeting with Padmè to discuss a quid pro quo between planets in exchange for a vote in favor of Padmè’s bill. However, when you and Padmè arrived in the Senator’s office, she realized that she had left an important document behind. As luck would have it, Senator Dua’s office and Padmè’s were on complete opposite sides of the building, and it was your job to go and grab the missing file.

When you finally made it back to Padmè’s office you were out of breath from all your running. Remi chirped in concern at your feet; the little droid had dutifully accompanied you on your journey.

“I’m fine, girl. Just forgot what a workout that run is,” you huffed. Now where was that stupid document? You cast your eyes around her office and zeroed in on her desk. Sure enough, the missing file was sitting right on top of it in plain sight. Ugh, Padmè how could you have missed that?

“All this running for a single file…” you grumbled, snatching the folder from the desk. You glanced it over quickly, ensuring it was the correct document. You’d hate to have to repeat your workout because you didn’t bother to double check that the file was the right one.

Your comlink chirped, it was probably Padmè wondering where you were. You fished the device from your pocket and answered, tucking the file under your arm. “I have the paperwork and I’m on my way back now.”

“I’m sure Padmè will be pleased to hear that.” Wait. That wasn’t Padmè’s voice, it was—

“Obi-Wan?”

“Yes?”

“What are you— I mean— hi,” you stumbled over your words, shocked by his sudden call. Remi beeped a low note at your feet, obviously upset that you were talking to her least favorite Jedi. You ignored the droid and instead focused on the sound of Obi-Wan’s voice.

“Hello.”

“Sorry, I thought you were Padmè,” you apologized. “What’s up?”

“I was calling to let you know that I’m being sent back to the front. I leave today,” said Obi-Wan. “I’m sorry we were unable to visit like we wanted to.” That was one word for it…

“Me too,” you hummed. “I actually wanted to talk to you about that vision you showed me—”

“What about it?” he asked sharply.

“I, uh.” You were startled by his sudden change in attitude. “I just wanted to say I enjoyed it. How’d you do it?”

“Through the Force, my friend.” My friend? What happened to my dear or even darling?

“I kind of figured that. I’m not stupid,” you said incredulously. Was he intentionally being dense? “I meant how do you create a vision like that? Is it like touching one another with the Force?”

“Why do you want to know?” he asked curtly. You were taken aback by his sharp question. This wasn’t like him, was he upset with you?

“I just thought I should know so I could start practicing. I wanted to return the favor… but now I’m not so sure,” you said in a hurt voice.

“That might be for the best,” he agreed. “I’m sorry but I have to go. I’ll call you when I can.” Then, before you could say goodbye, he hung up.

You stared down at disbelief at your comlink. What was that all about? Something wasn’t right. Obi-Wan wasn’t acting like himself, he was holding you at a distance. Had he realized that this relationship between the two of you was teetering on the edge of something dangerous? Something that went against the Jedi Code? That hadn’t seemed to bother him four days ago, what changed since then? Was this strange attitude his way of telling you that he was no longer interested in you? If that were the case, why didn’t he have the decency to tell you that to your face?

Remi beeped angrily at your feet, rocking back and forth to emphasize her point. She was obviously airing out her issues with the Jedi and for once you wondered if she had a point. Maybe you shouldn’t have allowed yourself to become so attached to a Jedi, especially not to the one that told you romantic attachments were forbidden in the first place…     

You spent the rest of the morning trying to hide your hurt feelings, doing your best to go about your business as normal. No one had caught onto your sour mood until lunchtime. You were seated in the food court, picking at your meal, when Lefty sat down across from you.

“Hey, boss.”

“Hey,” you said without looking up.

“You doing alright?”

“Yeah, just tired is all,” you lied. You offered him a weak smile and cast your eyes back down, poking at your meal with your fork.

Remi chirped in disagreement from her spot next to the table. She beeped and hummed as she explained the situation to the clone. He stared at the droid for a moment and then looked back at you. “Remi seems to think otherwise.”

“Yeah, well that’s her opinion,” you grumbled, casting a sideways glance at her. She needed to stay out of this. “I’m fine, Lefty. Really.”

“You don’t seem fine,” he commented. After a moment he added in a hushed voice, “Does this have something to do with the general?”

You looked up sharply at his question. “No. Whatever gave you that idea?”

Remi chirped an affirmative, revealing your lie. You glared down at her. That little—

“Figured it did.” Lefty took a bite of his own lunch. “The only time you get all secretive like this is when he’s involved.” You turned your glare to the clone. Since when was he this observant?!

Lefty noticed your look of disapproval and swallowed quickly. “Don’t worry boss, you have nothing to worry about. Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Even from Gwin?” you asked, crossing your arms.

“Yes, even from her,” he replied. To your surprise he had taken on a rather serious countenance, right now he looked more like Drift than himself. You rarely saw him act like this. “My mission is to keep you safe and that includes your secrets. All of them…” He stared at you expectantly, waiting for you to reveal the true reason for your bad mood.

“I would hardly admit to anything in public like this,” you huffed, glancing around the busy food court. “But since I’m not hiding anything, we don’t have to worry about that.”

“If you say so,” Lefty frowned. “Just know that Drift and I are always here to help. You can trust us.”

“I know that, and I appreciate it.” You offered him a weak smile. It was good to know that no matter what happened you could always count on the clones.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help. I promise,” he insisted. “I can’t promise I’ll last long in a fight with the general but if you need someone to knock some sense into his head I’ll try my best.”   

You laughed at this. “I don’t think that’s necessary, but I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

“Just say the word and I’ll show him what a real soldier can do.” He puffed his chest out dramatically, trying to cheer you up. You laughed even harder, thankful to have such a good friend.  

***

It was the middle of the night when your holopad’s buzzing woke you up from a deep sleep. You groaned, rolling onto your side, and reached out towards your bedside table. You kept your eyes screwed shut as you fumbled for the device. Who the kriff was trying to call you at this hour? Was it Gwin? It was probably Gwin — she had mentioned working late this week to cover for a coworker.

You grabbed the device and hit answer, laying it on your pillow beside your head. “Whatever you have to say it better be important,” you grumbled into your pillow. 

“I take it you were expecting someone else?”

Wait. That wasn’t Gwin’s voice. You forced your eyes open and sure enough it wasn’t Gwin staring back at you.

“Obi-Wan?” you blinked hard, trying to clear the sleep from your eyes. Were you dreaming? Why was he calling you? Wasn’t he mad at you?      

“Yes, darling it’s me. I’m sorry for waking you up,” he apologized.

“It’s okay,” you mumbled, struggling to wake up. You stared hard at him; he didn’t look upset. There was no ire in his voice and a soft smile was on his face. He looked and sounded like his normal self — it was a stark contrast to his behavior during the day. “Why were you being weird earlier?” The question slipped from your mouth before you could stop yourself. Apparently your filter was nonexistent while half asleep like this.

“I was trying to avoid having our conversation overheard,” he explained. He was grinning slightly, clearly he was amused by your attitude while half asleep.  

“You could try whispering. That usually works for me,” you mumbled.

He chuckled at this. “There are other ways that someone could eavesdrop on our conversations, my dear. You forget that at the temple I’m always surrounded by other Jedi. If I’m not careful my emotions might give us away.”

“What emotions?” You shifted in bed slightly, so that now your entire face was visible rather than half obscured by your pillow.

“Several that are unbecoming of a Jedi…” he trailed off, his eyes roaming over what little he could see of your figure. After a moment he shook his head, as if he were trying to clear his thoughts. “I apologize for making you worry earlier. I was just trying to keep you safe.”

“I thought you were mad at me,” you muttered casting your eyes downward. “I thought…”

“Thought what?” he asked gently.

“I thought you didn’t care about me anymore,” you admitted in a small voice.

Obi-Wan said nothing. You lifted your eyes back towards his figure and saw him staring intently at you, a deep frown on his face.

“(Y/N), that is the furthest thing from the truth. I’m sorry I made you doubt that for even a second. Please, forgive me,” he implored.

He wasn’t mad at you! He still cared after all! It felt like a weight had been lifted from your shoulders and you sighed softly.

“I forgive you.” The frown disappeared from his face and was replaced with a bright smile. “Where are you going now?”

“Back to the Outer Rim. I’m afraid I can’t say any more than that.” He hesitated, watching you struggle to keep your eyes open. “Perhaps I should hang up and let you get some sleep—”

“No. No don’t hang up,” you whined. “We hardly ever get to talk, please don’t hang up. Please?” You jutted your bottom lip out into a pout and stared at him through half lidded eyes. Your pouting face probably looked better when you were completely awake but you still believed this move would work on Obi-Wan. It worked on Drift after all, and he was the most stoic man you knew.

The Jedi held your gaze for a moment and then he sighed, his face softening. “Alright, if you’re sure you want to keep talking—”

“I always want to talk to you,” you hummed, snuggling your face into your pillow. “Tell me about your day. What did you do?”

“Are you sure you want to hear that story? It’s rather boring.”

“If you’re talking it’s not boring. I like listening to you talk,” you mumbled.

Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head slightly. “Well, if you insist… I started my day in a council meeting about—”

As Obi-Wan told you all about his day you felt your eyelids grow heavier with each passing second. Try as you might, you just couldn’t seem to keep your eyes open. You were being lulled to sleep by his soothing voice. His words drifted in and out of your consciousness, until you were barely processing what he was saying. The last thing you remembered hearing was him muttering under his breath, “What am I supposed to do?” It didn’t sound like he was talking to you.

When you awoke the next morning you were certain that your late-night conversation had been little more than a dream. It was surely just your mind trying to come to terms with him pushing you away but that thought dissipated as soon as your eyes landed on your holopad. It was still sitting on your pillow next to your face, right where you had left it. It wasn’t a dream then; you really had talked to Obi-Wan last night! He wasn’t upset with you!

Your holopad was flashing, showing that you had an unopened message. Odd. You should’ve heard it ring, especially since it was right next to your face all night. You sat up in bed and grabbed the device, curious to see who left you a message.

Remi rolled over to the side of your bed, alerted by your movement. She chirped a good morning to you.

“Morning, girl. Sleep well?” you asked.

The droid beeped an affirmative and then chirped inquisitively. She wanted to know how you had slept.

“I slept well, thanks for asking,” you said patting the droid on the head. She hummed and rocked back and forth happily. You smiled at her antics and then turned your attention to your holopad. You opened the message and a recording of Obi-Wan appeared in your palm.

“Good morning, my dear. I’m afraid you fell asleep in the middle of our conversation last night, so I thought I would leave you a short message.”

Remi beeped in surprise at Obi-Wan’s sudden appearance. She swiveled her head between you and his hologram several times. Obviously trying to figure out when the two of you spoke without her noticing.

“I’ll be in the Outer Rim for the foreseeable future,” continued Obi-Wan’s recording. “As always, I’ll call you when I can though I don’t know when that might be. To keep you occupied while I’m away I have a mission for you.” You perked up at this line. “It’s related to your question from yesterday. I want you to go to Master Shef and ask him about Force visions. He should be able to teach you everything you wish to know. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. May the Force be with you.”

***

As luck would have it your weekly appointment with Shef was the very next day. You had already finished purifying your memory for the day and were now visiting with the older Jedi for a few minutes before returning to the senate building. There was no time for a day off this week, after Padmè’s bill was voted on then you would take a much-needed break.

“Master Shef?”

“Yes, my child?”

“I was wondering if you could help me with something?” You did your best to not get embarrassed about what you were about to ask. You needed Shef to think that this was an ordinary question like any other.

“I would be more than happy to help you however I can. What is it?” asked the Quarren.

“What can you tell me about Force visions?”

Shef’s eyes widened in surprise. “Where did you hear about those?”

“Obi-Wan mentioned them in passing the other day. I was just wondering what they were,” you lied.

“They are glimpses into the future,” said Shef. “Some Jedi have the ability to perceive these visions and use them to guide their actions.”

“Wait, Jedi can see the future? That’s real?” Gwin had mentioned something about Jedi seeing the future back when you first started treatments, but you had ignored her. You thought it was another lie from her brother.

“Very few can,” explained Shef. “In fact, I am one of the few outside the Council with the ability to do so.”

“You can see the future?!” you asked excitedly.

“I can see a version of it,” he stated. “The future is a fluid thing. It shifts and changes depending on what choices we make. There is no guarantee that what one sees will come true, it is simply a possible outcome.”

“Can you see my future?” This was too cool of an opportunity to pass up! Why hadn’t anyone said anything about this before?

“I could.”

“Please?”

Shef regarded you for a moment, stroking his tentacles thoughtfully. “What is it you hope to learn?”

That was a good question. What did you want to know about your future? The first thing that floated through your mind was Obi-Wan’s face. You wanted to know if there was any hope that the two of you could be together in the way you so obviously wanted to be… but you couldn’t ask Shef about that for obvious reasons. You needed to come up with another question. Your mind was blank as you struggled to think of something, anything to answer with. Wait. Your mind. Yes, that was it!

“I want to know if my mind will ever heal from Dooku’s torture,” you said in a firm voice. You had to make Shef believe that this was your one and only question about the future. You couldn’t let him know that there was another floating around in your mind.

Shef nodded his head slowly, “Yes, I must admit I have been wondering that question as well. Alright, we shall meditate on it together. Please give me your hands.”

He extended his hands out and you took them in your own. You had forgotten how damp his palms were and tried to ignore the uncomfortable sensation, choosing to focus on your excitement instead. You could hardly sit still, you were so eager to hear what he had to say.

“I need you to relax your mind. This requires a significant amount of concentration,” said Shef.

“Sorry.” You smiled sheepishly and took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts. Think blank thoughts.

Shef screwed his eyes shut and his brow furrowed in concentration. You watched him closely, so far nothing was happening. Whatever he was doing wasn’t what Obi-Wan had done at the party. Were there two different types of Force visions or had Obi-Wan gotten the name wrong?

After a minute or so of silence Shef reopened his eyes, staring at you with an unreadable expression on his face.

“See anything?” you asked, trying to rein in your excitement.

“No.” Shef let go of your hands.

“Oh, that’s disappointing,” you frowned. “I appreciate you trying at least.”

“Of course,” answered Shef, letting go of your hands. “If that is all—”

“I actually have one more question if that’s alright?” you said quickly.

“You have many this week,” observed Shef with a grin.

“Sorry.”

“Do not apologize,” he said. “I am glad to see that you are wanting to learn more about the Force. This is a good thing.” He probably wouldn’t think that if he learned the real reason why you were asking. “What is your question?”

“If Force visions are glimpses into the future, what is it called when a Jedi makes someone see something that’s not really there?” you asked. “Like a vision but not a vision of the future?”

“That sounds more like a mind trick to me,” said Shef with a grin. “Is Master Kenobi playing tricks on you?” That was certainly one way to put it…

“No, he just mentioned the ability in passing. Said he had to use it while sneaking around on a mission or something,” you lied.

“I see,” said Shef.

“Could I learn how to do that?” you asked. You did your best to sound like a curious student eager to learn more about the Force, rather than an outsider hellbent on seducing a Jedi.

“It is possible,” admitted Shef. “Your connection with the Force has grown stronger since I first met you… but why do you want to learn this skill?”

You stared at him for a moment, racing to come up with a believable excuse. “I just figured I should try and learn all I can about the Force. If I learn how to use it new ways maybe it could help me purify my mind better?”

Shef studied you closely, searching your face for something. After a moment he nodded his head. “Very well. I will teach you, but you must promise me something first.”

“Sure, anything.”

“You must promise me to never use this power for evil,” he said seriously.

“I promise.” You meant what you said with your whole heart. You only had one use in mind for this new skill, teasing Obi-Wan, and that hardly counted as something evil.

“Good. Let us begin.” Shef shifted on his cushion, taking on an air of a studious professor, rather than your friend. “The most important thing when sharing an image with another person is having a clear vision of what you want them to see. You must be incredibly specific in your visualization; else the vision will appear cloudy to them.”

That wouldn’t be an issue. It wasn’t hard to imagine all the things you wanted to do to Obi-Wan or the things you wanted him to do to you. Whenever your thoughts would drift you found them always returning to him. To his face, his hands, his lips… You were completely and utterly infatuated with that man. One way or another the next time you saw Obi-Wan Kenobi you were going to kiss him; propriety be damned.   

***

A month passed by quickly. Padmè’s bill had passed in the Senate so your friend was in a very good mood, but your work was hardly over. Only a few days later Bartlett introduced a bill to the Senate, one that would expand Commercial Rim Mining’s operations on Kenari. The proposed expansion was so expansive that his entire proposal was over a hundred pages long and went into the most trivial and minute details. It made his previous expansion request look like nothing in comparison.

Padmè insisted on thoroughly examining every aspect of this bill before she decided her thoughts on the matter. That meant that whenever she had a moment of free time she was poring over Bartlett’s document and usually she roped you into taking notes for her.  

The two of you were currently on your way back to Padmè’s office to continue combing through this document. Remi was with you and humming happily as the three of you made your way down the hall in your usual fashion. Everything was normal when suddenly a chill ran down your spine. You were so caught off guard by this sudden feeling that you stopped dead in your tracks. Something was wrong.

“(Y/N)?” Padmè stopped walking and looked back at you in confusion. “Is everything alright?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted looking around nervously. Remi beeped in alarm and spun her head around in a circle looking for trouble.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” asked Padmè with wide eyes. “Are we in danger?”

“Maybe? I’m not sure,” you frowned. You grabbed your comlink out from your pocket and dialed Lefty: he was back in Padmè’s office, awaiting your return.

“What’s up, boss?”

“I need you to come get us now. I’m sending you our exact coordinates.”

“I’ll be right there. Should I call for back up?” asked Lefty. You glanced around the hall. A few senators and their aides were milling about, and several guards were on duty. Everything looked normal and that chill was gone but for how long? 

“No, I don’t think so,” you replied. “Just hurry please.”

“Sure thing.”

You tucked your comlink back in your pocket and met Padmè’s eye. “We’ll be fine, milady. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“What’s going on, (Y/N)?”

“I really don’t know. Something just feels wrong, and I know well enough by now to trust my gut,” you said. Your head was on a swivel, constantly surveying the area around you all.

“It is usually right,” Padmè agreed. She shifted on her feet, eyes darting around nervously. You hated to make her worry like this, but her safety was of the upmost importance. You’d rather be overly cautious than not.

Someone was running towards you. You turned your head towards the sound and relaxed when you saw it was only Lefty.

“I got here as fast as I could,” he panted, sliding to a stop in front of your group. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Something just feels off, like something bad is going to happen,” you explained.

“I didn’t see anything weird on my way over here and none of the other guards mentioned seeing anything suspicious, so that’s good at least,” said Lefty. “But you’re the one that hangs out with Jedi once a week. If you think something’s off it probably is.”

“I hope I’m wrong,” you sighed. “Still, I think it would be best if milady had an escort for the rest of the day.”

“I agree,” said Lefty.

“Do I get a say in this?” asked Padmè.

“Not today,” you replied. “Come on, let’s get going.”

Nothing odd happened for the rest of the day. There were no further chills or strange feelings that you couldn’t explain. Everything was completely normal and that confused you. Your gut had never been wrong before.

Padmè’s cruiser had just landed back at the apartment when another chill shot down your spine. You flew into action, jumping out of the cruiser and pointing your blaster at the shadows of the hangar.

“Who’s there!” you yelled. “Reveal yourself now!”

A single woman stepped forward, hands raised in surrender. “Ma’am it’s just me. I’m on guard duty right now.”       

“(Y/N), what’s gotten into you?” Padmè asked as she climbed out of the ship. There wasn’t any malice in her voice, only concern.

“Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” You swung your head around wildly, trying to find the intruder. There had to be one. Why else would your body react like this? Someone was after Padmè again, it was the only thing that made sense.

“It’s alright. Everything’s fine,” said Lefty in a soothing voice. He approached you slowly, arms reaching out towards you. “No one’s going to hurt the senator. Just put the blaster down.” He slowly extended his hand to rest on your forearm and pushed down gently, forcing you to lower your weapon. He was treating you like you were a frightened animal.

You looked over at him sharply. “I’m not crazy. Something’s wrong I can feel it,” you insisted.

“I never said you were crazy, and I don’t doubt you feel something,” said Lefty. He took your blaster from your hand. “But everything’s fine here. Isn’t that right, buddy?” He directed that question towards the stunned looking guard.

The guard nodded her head quickly. “Yes. Everything’s been normal. Nothing to report.”

“See?” said Lefty.

You shook your head. “Something’s wrong. I felt it.” What was going on? Two false alarms in one day? This wasn’t like you. Your gut was never wrong.

“I’m sure you did,” said Padmè. She walked over to your side and put a hand on your shoulder. “Perhaps what you feel is a disturbance in the Force? I seem to recall Obi-Wan reacting to one at my party. Maybe that’s what you felt?”

“Yeah, maybe,” you grumbled. You couldn’t tell her that the only disturbance he felt that night was you, so you were stuck agreeing with her.

“I think it would be for the best if you go get some rest. Maybe that will help clear your mind?” suggested Padmè.

Remi beeped in agreement, rolling over to stand by your side.

“Ugh, fine. But you have to promise me if something seems off you’ll call for help instead of being brave,” you said to Padmè.

“I promise.”

***

You were in hell, at least that’s what it felt like.

An infernal heat licked at your skin, sweat poured down your face, and a deep aching pain coursed through your entire body. Everywhere you looked was illuminated by fire, casting the room in an eerie red glow.

Your dumped a shovelful of heavy rocks into a minecart. Based on how much your shoulders ached you had clearly been doing this for quite some time. You were vaguely aware of others toiling alongside you in this hellish place, but you couldn’t get a good look at them. Then the man to your right collapsed.

You reached towards him, intending to help him back onto his feet when a horrible shock tore through your body. It reminded you of the pain you felt back in that laboratory on Naboo so long ago. Unlike then, where you were frozen in place and unable to scream, here you could — and scream you did.

Then the scene shifted.

You were no longer the one mining, now you were watching the scene in third person. The man that had collapsed next to you laid on the ground unmoving as a strange catlike alien whipped another man next to him.

The air crackled as the alien brought the whip down upon this man’s back and a horrible pain tore through your body. You could feel this man’s pain as if it were your own! A terrible sense of dread washed over you as you drew closer to the scene, desperate to see this man’s face.

The catlike alien cracked the whip again and the man cried out in pain, lifting his head towards the sky. It was Obi-Wan.

“No!” you screeched. You rushed towards the alien and desperately tried to pry the whip from its hands, but it was like you were a ghost. Your hands phased through the creature, doing nothing to stop it from hurting Obi-Wan.

“Stop! Stop it!” you screamed. You stepped between the two, trying to block Obi-Wan with your body. The whip cut through you as if you weren’t there, but you felt the impact of it’s sting. You felt Obi-Wan’s pain.

You turned towards him, trying to pull him to his feet. Trying to encourage him to fight back against his captors but your hands simply went through him. As they did you were overcome with what you assumed were his emotions: anger, sadness, despair, and most frighteningly of all, hopelessness.

Never in all your years of knowing Obi-Wan Kenobi had you ever felt that before. He was always so sure of himself and of the Force. Even when the two of you were facing your execution, he had been brave and held out hope. This was something different, you had never seen him like this before.

Then the whip came down again. Once again Obi-Wan cried out in pain. You screamed as you watched this creature whip the Jedi over and over again. It didn’t stop until Obi-Wan collapsed to the ground.

“No! Get up! You have to get up!” you screeched. You tried pulling him to his feet, but your hands just slipped through him. “Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan you have to get up! You have to fight them! You can’t give up!”

But he didn’t get up. He didn’t move at all. He laid there on the ground as the alien said something. You tried to understand what it was saying but it’s words were distorted and impossible to make out. Then it pulled out an electrified spear.

“No! Maker no! Don’t hurt him! Don’t!” you screamed. “Please don’t hurt him!” You tried shielding his body with your own, desperate to protect him.

You watched as the alien jabbed the spear into a metal collar that was clasped tightly around Obi-Wan’s neck. Your eyes widened in horror as Obi-Wan’s body started to convulse against the electric current.

“No! Stop it!”

You jolted awake, drenched in a cold sweat. You sat up, panting hard, trying to catch your breath. Deep in your chest you could feel your heart racing.

Your bedroom door slammed open and Drift raced into your room, blaster at the ready. Remi rolled in behind him, her claw out and electrified.

“What’s going on?!” he demanded, swinging his weapon around the room, looking for threats.

You stared at the clone with wide eyes, trying to understand what was going on. You were in your room. You were in bed. You had been asleep. Was that a nightmare?

You were no stranger to nightmares, after all you had been having them every night for over a year and a half now, but this was different. The pain you felt in your dream had been real — the ache in your muscles proved it. But you weren’t feeling your own pain, it was Obi-Wan’s.

Your breath caught in your throat. Obi-Wan was in danger. Was that what your body had been trying to warn you about all day?!

“Ma’am, are you okay?” asked Drift, lowering his blaster. When you didn’t respond he took a step closer. “Ma’am?”

You threw your blankets off and scrambled out of bed. “I have to get to the Jedi temple now!” you exclaimed.

“What?”

Even Remi beeped in confusion at your declaration. Your friends watched as you shrugged on a pair of slippers and a cloak over your thick winter nightgown.

“I have to get to the temple now. Come on, there’s no time to waste!” you exclaimed, hurrying towards the door. Drift grabbed your arm, pulling you to a stop.

“What’s wrong? Why do you need to visit the temple at this hour?” Even if you couldn’t see his face, you could hear the concern in his voice.

“Obi-Wan needs help!” you cried. “I have to tell the other Jedi before it’s too late!”

“Ma’am, you were just having a bad dream—”

“This wasn’t a normal dream, Drift! We have to go now, he needs help!” You cried, tugging against his grip. “Please! They’re going to kill him!” You could feel the tears welling in your eyes as you looked up at the clone, begging him to help you. “Please! We have to save Obi-Wan!”

Even through his helmet you could feel Drift’s eyes searching your own, trying to understand what you were saying. With a deep, weary sigh he let go of your arm. “Alright, fine.”

As Drift flew towards the temple another chill shot down your spine. Unlike earlier, a faint stinging sensation accompanied the feeling. You whimpered in pain and fear. Obi-Wan was being tortured by those creatures again, you just knew it!

“What’s wrong?” Drift asked, looking over at you sharply.

“It’s Obi-Wan,” you sniffled, pulling your knees close to your chest. “They’re hurting him again.

“How can you tell?” asked Drift.

“I can feel it,” you whimpered.

Drift looked back at Remi, “Get me a scan of her now.”

Remi beeped in agreement and a little satellite dish popped out the top of her head. She angled the device at you and started her scan. After a minute a red light flashed on her head. She retracted the device and opened her chest cavity, extending a datapad towards Drift.

He grabbed the device without taking his eyes off the sky in front of you. As he flew, he looked between the datapad and the sky, reading over your results. “You’re really in pain right now?” he asked, glancing over at you.

“Kind of,” you sniffed. “It’s not me who’s in pain, it’s Obi-Wan. I can feel his pain.”

“Have you always been able to feel the general’s pain?” asked Drift. He handed the datapad back to Remi and she tucked it away again.

“No, this isn’t normal. That’s why we have to get to the temple as fast as possible! I just know something’s wrong!” you exclaimed, getting swept up in your fear again.

“Just hang on a little while longer, we’re nearly there.”

As soon as Drift landed the speeder you scrambled out of the speeder so fast you nearly lost a slipper in the process. You ran across the deserted landing platform towards the entrance to the temple. Adrenaline coursed through your veins as you sprinted across the platform, your cloak billowing behind you. Your companions raced after you as you ran headfirst through the entryway.

Except you didn’t make it through the door.

Instead, you bounced off something firm and landed on your ass with a soft, “Oof!” What the?

“Who goes there?” bellowed a deep voice. You looked up in alarm as a figure clad in a brown robe and a mask, materialized out of the darkness. They appeared before you, blocking your path, and pulled out a yellow lightsaber, aiming it directly at your face.

For a moment you were back in your prison cell, Dooku’s blade at your throat. Fear flooded your system as you were unable to take your eyes off the stranger’s weapon. The steady humming of the blade shocking you into silence.

“Ma’am! Are you alright?” Drift rushed to your side, kneeling down to check you over for injuries.

You were paralyzed. You couldn’t stop staring at the stranger’s lightsaber. For the second time tonight, you were drenched in a cold sweat.

Drift noticed your paled expression and stood, stepping between you and the stranger. Without a lightsaber in your face, you could think again. You took a shaky breath, struggling to collect yourself.       

“I ask again: who goes there?” bellowed the masked stranger.

“Lower your weapon and I’ll tell you,” answered Drift. His hand was hovering over his blaster; he was prepared to fight his way inside if necessary.

Remi rolled in front of you, beeping loudly and extending her electrified claw towards the stranger. She too was prepared to fight. No, this wasn’t right. You weren’t here to fight the Jedi, you were here to ask for their help.

“Drift, Remi, stand down,” you said, climbing to your feet. “I am (Y/N) Felvora and I need to speak to Master Ennek Shef immediately. It’s an emergency.” You tried to ignore the stranger’s lightsaber as you spoke. You knew if you looked at it again, you’d freeze once more. There wasn’t time to freeze, every second counted right now. You had to help Obi-Wan, he was depending on you!

The stranger simply stared at you, unmoving. They clearly didn’t believe you.

“Please, time is of the essence! I have to speak to Shef now!” you pleaded.

“How is it you know Master Shef?” They emphasized your friend’s title, clearly irritated at you forgetting to use it.         

“He’s my friend. He’s been helping me purify my memories for the past year or so. Surely you’ve heard of me before? Please, you have to let me see him now. It’s urgent!” you begged.          

The stranger regarded you for a moment. Then they lowered their lightsaber, extinguishing the blade. “Follow me.”

The stranger led your group into the temple. The halls were dark, but you were sure you weren’t alone. Several times while turning around corners you could have sworn you saw more masked figures watching you. Clearly whoever these people were, they didn’t trust you. You could hardly blame them. You were an outsider who turned up in the middle of the night claiming to know a Jedi master. You wouldn’t believe you either.

Your group trekked deeper into the temple, and it wasn’t long before you were completely turned around. This place was like a maze and hard enough to navigate during the day, but at night you could hardly differentiate one hallway from another.

After a few minutes of walking in silence the masked figure stopped in front of a plain looking door. You watched as they knocked on the door and waited for a response. You shifted back and forth on your feet. Every second counted right now, Obi-Wan was depending on you. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up.

You felt something shift on the other side of the door, it was Shef’s Force signature! Sure enough when the door opened the Quarren was there, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “What is going on?” Then his eyes landed on you. “My child, why are you here at this hour? Is something wrong?”

“Yes, something’s terribly wrong! I need your help!” you exclaimed stepping towards him. The masked stranger stepped between you and Shef, their hand hovering over the hilt of their lightsaber.

Shef narrowed his eyes at this threat of violence. “I know this woman, she is a friend of mine. You are dismissed,” he said in a stern voice.

The mask figure simply nodded their head and stepped back into the shadows of the hall. You couldn’t see them, but you could feel their eyes on you. They were still watching you from a distance, waiting to see what you would do.

Shef focused his attention on you. “I am sorry about the guards; they take their job of protecting this place very seriously. Now tell me, what is wrong?”

“It’s Obi-Wan!” you cried, grabbing the Jedi’s arm tightly. “He’s in horrible danger and needs our help!”

“How do you know this?”

“She had a nightmare,” said Drift. Shef raised an eyebrow at this.

“No, you don’t understand!” you cried looking between the two men. “It wasn’t a normal nightmare! It was too real to be that! I saw Obi-Wan being beaten by some terrible looking creature, they were trying to kill him! Please you have to believe me!”

Shef placed his damp hand over yours that clung tightly to his arm. “I sense your fear, my child. I need to search your mind to truly understand what it is you saw though. Do I have your permission to do so?”

“Yes,” you nodded your head quickly. “Do whatever you have to do. Just help me save Obi! Please!”

You were so distraught that you didn’t even notice your slip up and use of Obi-Wan’s nickname… but your companions did. They exchanged a brief look.

“I need you to focus on your dream,” said Shef. “Picture everything you saw.”

You shut your eyes and thought back to your nightmare. You pictured Obi-Wan’s face contorted in pain and the sounds of his screams. Your heart raced with fear as your mind rippled under Shef’s touch. Within seconds he pulled away from you, eyes wide.

“What you saw was no simple dream. It was real,” said Shef. “I believe you are right; Master Kenobi is in danger.”

“What can we do?!” you asked.

“I must inform the Council. They will know what to do. Follow me.” Shef let go of you and hurried down the hall in the opposite direction you came in from. Your group followed him deeper into the temple.  

A minute or so later you were standing in front of an oversized metal door. It seemed rather out of place when compared to the rest of the temple but now wasn’t the time to be pondering over architectural details. Obi-Wan was in trouble!

“Please wait here. I will be right back,” said Shef. You watched as he opened the large door and stepped inside, shutting it behind him.

There was nothing you could do but wait. You chewed the inside of your cheek and bounced on your feet, unable to stand still.

“I’m sure everything will be alright,” said Drift. “The general’s a strong man. He’ll be able to hold out until help arrives. I’m sure of it.”

You nodded your head, unable to reply. A crippling fear had lodged itself in your chest and you were unable to push it away. All you could do was worry about Obi-Wan.

After a few minutes of agonizingly slow waiting, Shef reappeared. You flew to his side, clinging tightly to his arm. “Well, what did they say? Are they going to help him?”

“I spoke to Master Yoda. He has agreed to call an emergency Council meeting,” explained Shef. “I am to stand as a witness for you.”

“Why can’t I just go to the meeting? Wouldn’t that be easier? I’m the one who had the dream after all,” you said in confusion.

“But you are not a Jedi,” said Shef with a frown. “There are some on the Council who would take your attendance as an insult.”    

“But I’m the one who saw everything—”

“And you showed me. Do not worry, I will convey what I saw to the others. You have my word. You can relax,” said Shef. He gave you a reassuring smile and a wave of calm washed over you. You knew it was a mind trick, one that intended to help you think more clearly, so you didn’t push back against it.

“If there is anything else you feel is important to tell the Council I beg you to tell me now,” continued Shef.

You pondered his words for a moment. Did you have anything more to add? Then you remembered your strange feelings from earlier in the day. “It’s not about my dream exactly but I think it’s connected.”

“Go on.”

“Several times throughout the day I got this terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen. I thought someone was trying to hurt Padmè, but nothing ever happened,” you explained quickly. “What if what I felt wasn’t a warning about myself, but Obi-Wan?”

“It is possible that is what you felt,” admitted Shef. “The two of you are connected in a unique way… Very well, I will report this to the Council. Is there anything else you would like to add?”

“When I last spoke to him, Obi-Wan said he was somewhere in the Outer Rim. I know that doesn’t help narrow down his location very much but—”

“Every bit of information helps. I will pass this along as well. Anything else?” asked Shef.

You shook your head no. You had nothing more to add.

“Sir?” Drift piped up from his spot next to you.

“Yes?” asked Shef, turning his focus to the clone.

“On our way over here, Miss Felvora said that she could feel the general’s pain as if it were her own. I had her droid run a scan and it confirmed this fact.”

Remi beeped in agreement and pulled a datapad out from her chest cavity, extending it towards Drift.

“Thanks. See here’s the read out confirming it,” he said pointing to a line on the screen. Shef regarded this information for a moment, nodding his head slowly.

“I see. Thank you for telling me this.”

“What does it mean?” you asked nervously. “Should I be worried?”

“About your connection with Master Kenobi? No, I do not think you should be worried about that at this time,” said Shef. “After all this is over, I will have to meditate more on this connection you share. It is most peculiar.” He paused for a moment and cast his eyes around your group. “I believe that until I can understand the nature of this bond better, it would be best if we keep this information amongst ourselves. The last thing I want is this meeting to devolve into a philosophical debate about Force bonds, time is of the essence.”

“I won’t say a word,” you agreed quickly.

“My lips are sealed,” added Drift.

Shef nodded his head and looked down at Remi. “As for you my little friend, I recommend that you keep that datapad of yours out of sight.”

She grumbled but tucked the device away.

“Right. Now that all of that is sorted, please wait here.” Shef motioned to one of the wooden benches that lined the hallway. “As soon as the meeting is over, I will let you know what has been decided.” With a short bow of his head, he turned around and disappeared into the room.

With nothing else to do, you shuffled over to the wooden bench and took a seat. Drift sat down next to you and removed his helmet, placing it on the bench next to him. Remi rolled to wait alongside the two of you but said nothing. The lights on her head flickering between green and red — she was deep in thought.

As you waited several Jedi started to trickle into the room where Shef was. They must be Council members. Some cast curious glances your way, while others ignored you entirely. One Jedi with a large head grumbled as he walked by, “Awoken in the middle of the night because of a dream from an outsider. Shef has truly lost it…”

You glared at the Jedi’s retreating form. He obviously didn’t think highly of your friend and how dare he grumble about being woken up in the middle of the night like that?! Obi-Wan was out there every day risking his life on the frontlines with hardly any sleep. This guy could deal with one late night meeting.

“Ma’am,” Drift said in a low voice.

“I know, I know. I need to mind my feelings,” you grumbled, crossing your arms.

“Um, that’s not what I was going to say but yeah probably.” Oh yeah, you forgot that Drift wasn’t Force sensitive. He couldn’t feel the irritation radiating off you like the others in the temple could. “What I was going to say is that you need to prepare yourself in case the Council decides not to investigate your claim.”

You shook your head, staring hard at the floor. “No. They’ll help him, I know they will. They wouldn’t just abandon one of their own.”

“You don’t know that for a fact,” Drift said gently.

“You’re right I don’t.” You raised your head and looked over at the clone, a determined look on your face. “If they refuse to help him, I’ll go look for him myself.”

“You can’t possibly be serious.”

“Oh, I am. Obi-Wan would do the same thing if it were me stranded out there. I’m not just going to abandon him because the Council doesn’t want to waste resources on rescuing him,” you stated. “If that means I have to steal a ship and fly to the Outer Rim myself, I’ll do it.”

“You don’t even know how to fly,” frowned Drift.

“But you do. And I think Remi does too?” you glanced over at the droid. She beeped an affirmative. “See? We’ll get a ship and start searching in—”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry but I refuse to fly you into an active warzone. It’s not safe,” Drift said in a stern voice. “Even on the off chance that we were to find the general, there’s hardly anything we’d be able to do to help with just the two of us.”

“We’d bring Lefty too,” you stated.

“Three people is hardly an army,” huffed Drift.

“So we’d find Obi-Wan’s men, surely some of them are still free? We’d find them and storm into wherever he’s being held prisoner and—”

“I won’t let you do that,” Drift shook his head. “It’s not safe or realistic.”

“I can’t just sit here and do nothing!” you exclaimed, jumping up from your seat. “I refuse to just give up on him! He would never give up on me! If the Council says no, I’m going out there after him with or without you.”  

“(Y/N) even if I went with you, we have no clue where the general is. The Outer Rim isn’t a small system. He could be anywhere,” frowned Drift. “How would we even go about finding him?”

“I’ll use the Force,” you stated firmly. “I just have to focus.”

You shut your eyes tightly and focused on the ever-present humming energy of the Force. You reached out towards it and its power swirled around your hand, flowing through your body. You turned your thoughts towards your nightmare, towards Obi-Wan. You had to find out where he was, he was counting on you!

You pushed your consciousness out into the Force, still focusing on Obi-Wan’s face. An image of him screaming in pain flashed across your mind’s eye. You winced at the memory, the sting of the whip sharp against your skin. You couldn’t pull away though, you had to help him.

You felt a deep wave of sadness that was not your own, had you connected to Obi-Wan? You certainly connected to something. So, with all the power you could muster you pushed a warm feeling of support towards the entity you hoped was Obi-Wan. He needed to know that he wasn’t alone. That he hadn’t been abandoned. That someone still cared and was trying to rescue him.

You felt something shift in the Force. Amongst the sadness you felt a flicker of hope. Then you lost the connection.

Remi screeched as you hit the ground with a loud thud.

“(Y/N)!” Drift exclaimed as he rushed to your side. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“I… I used the Force,” you panted. “I think… I think I connected to Obi-Wan.”             

“And hurt yourself in the process,” chided Drift. “Come on, let’s get you up.” He tucked an arm underneath you and pulled you to your feet. You wobbled, suddenly exhausted.

Remi spun in circles and beeped loudly, clearly upset by your reckless actions.

“I’m— I’m fine,” you huffed, leaning heavily on Drift. You were so tired all of a sudden…

“No, you’re not,” he stated. “Sit.” He helped you back to the bench and gently lowered you onto the seat. You swayed slightly, despite the fact that you were sitting. It was as if all the energy inside you was gone.

“Remi, please scan her again,” said Drift.

Remi rolled to stand in front of you and whipped out her little satellite dish once more. After a moment the light on her head flashed green. There was nothing physically wrong with you.

“Are you sure? Scan her again.” Drift crossed his arms and stared down at you with a worried expression. You had never seen him like this before.

Remi scanned you again, and once more her light flashed green.

“You must have a wire loose or something, she can barely sit up,” commented Drift. Remi beeped in protest, flashing her datapad at him. “Just because your scans are normal doesn’t mean that’s really the case.”

He sat down next to you, examining you closely. “How do you feel?”

“Tired,” you muttered. You felt like you were about to collapse so in an effort to stay upright, you leaned heavily on Drift’s shoulder. He stiffened at this contact but didn’t pull away.

“Just try to rest then. I’m sure Master Shef will be back soon,” muttered Drift. “It’ll be alright… you’ll be alright.”

You slumped against your friend’s shoulder and struggled to keep your eyes open. You had to be awake to hear what the Council decided to do about Obi-Wan. You had to remain strong for him. He needed you.

The three of you waited for what felt like hours, but in all actuality it was probably only one. It was hard to tell much of anything right now; your body and mind felt heavy, sluggish. This sudden exhaustion you felt had to be connected in some way to the Force, you had felt fine before you tried to make contact with Obi-Wan. You were thankfully that Drift was here for you to lean on — without him you would have collapsed on the bench ages ago. You could barely hold your head up.

Finally you heard the metal door open. A decision had been reached. You saw someone approach your group and you lifted your eyes towards the movement. It was Shef.

“Sir, we need your help. Something’s wrong with (Y/N),” Drift said quickly. “She keeps insisting she’s fine and her droid’s scans say the same thing, but she can barely move.”

Shef’s bulking frame stepped in front of you, filling your field of vision. He kneeled before you, his face full of concern. “I need to search your mind. Do I have your permission?”

“Yeah,” you mumbled. You could hardly focus on his face; it kept blurring in and out of focus.

With a deep frown, Shef reached out and touched your forehead. His hands were cold as you felt your mind ripple under his touch. After a moment he pulled away, staring at you with wide eyes.    

“My child, you’ve pushed yourself too far, too fast,” he scolded you. “What were you thinking?!”

“I had to try and find Obi-Wan,” you mumbled. “What did the Council say? Are they going to help him?”   

Shef stared at you for a moment, almost as if he were debating just how much he should tell you. “They agreed to send a rescue team to extract Master Kenobi… but only after receiving a distress call from Master Skywalker.”

“They didn’t believe me?” You didn’t try to hide the hurt in your voice. You had thought that the Jedi Council wouldn’t hesitate to help one of their own. Obi-Wan certainly would have never thought twice about helping one of his fellow Jedi. Just what was their problem?! Was it because you were an outsider? Did they really think so little about you that they’d risk Obi-Wan’s life?!

“Not at first, no,” admitted Shef. “But once we received word from Master Skywalker I believe several members became convinced that you are in fact attuned to the Force.”

“Did you tell the Council about their Force bond?” asked Drift.

“No, it was not relevant at this time,” said Shef as he climbed back onto his feet.

“Not relevant? But Sir that’s the whole reason why we’re here in the first place—”

“If you care about her safety, you will hold your tongue,” snapped Shef. This was the first time you had ever heard him even remotely upset. It alarmed you. “I only told the Council what they needed to know at this time.” The Quarren gave Drift a sharp look, warning him to keep his mouth shut.

Drift huffed and changed the subject. “What about her condition? What do we do about that?”     

“All we can do is let her rest. She’s pushed herself too far. It’ll take time for her to recover,” said Shef with a frown.

“Will she be okay?” asked Drift.

“Yes, she just needs sleep and lots of it.”

“Is Obi-Wan alright?” you muttered. They could keep talking about you all they wanted but right now you were only worried about Obi-Wan. You had gone through all this for him. You needed to know that he was safe.

“We do not know yet,” said Shef. “The rescue team is enroute to his location now. It will be some time before we hear word if their mission was a success or not.” He turned his focus back to Drift. “I recommend you take her home. I will send word when I hear of Master Kenobi’s status.”

“Alright,” nodded Drift.

“Make sure she rests. I don’t want her coming in this week for treatment, she’s not strong enough for that right now. Am I understood?” asked Shef.

“Yes, Sir,” nodded Drift.

“Good. I will speak to you soon.” Shef turned his gaze back to you, “Please rest, my child. May the Force be with you.”

“And also with you,” you mumbled.

With a nod Shef turned on his heel, disappearing down the hall.

“Alright, let’s get you home,” said Drift. He started to try and help you off the bench, but you shrugged his arm away from you.

“I can do it myself,” you grumbled. Before he could protest, you were trying to stand and immediately started to fall back towards the ground.

“Oh no you don’t!” Drift exclaimed, catching you just before the back of your head could slam into the bench.

“I’m fine,” you protested weakly.

“No, you’re not,” stated Drift. He adjusted his grip on you and then lifted you up into the air, now carrying you bridal style.

“Put me down,” you whined, wiggling in his arms.

“No. Not until we make it back to the speeder,” Drift replied. “Speaking of which — Remi?”

The droid hummed in acknowledgement.

“Think you can get us back to the ship?”

Remi chirped a yes and started rolling down the hall, Drift following close behind. You squirmed in his arms.

“Put me down,” you protested once again.

“No. You heard Master Shef, he said you need your rest. Just shut your eyes and let me help you,” said Drift.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” you grumbled weakly. Your eyes felt terribly heavy all of a sudden. As your eyes fluttered shut you felt Drift’s chest rumble with a rare chuckle.

***

When your eyes opened again you were back in your bed, tucked snugly under your covers. Had that all been a dream? You struggled to sit up in bed, but your limbs felt as if they were made of lead. Guess it wasn’t a dream then. All of that really happened… Wait. What about Obi-Wan? Was he safe?

You forced yourself to sit up and looked around your room, trying to determine what time it was. It was hard to think clearly, your mind still felt sluggish. A soft beep came from your bedside. You looked to your left and sure enough there was Remi, keeping vigil over you.

“Hey, Remi,” you said softly.

Your droid hummed and chirped at you, clearly chewing you out for being so reckless earlier. However, her tone wasn’t as aggressive as you thought it would be. Despite being mad with you, she was glad to see that you were awake.

Suddenly Remi stopped beeping.

“What is it girl?” you asked, staring at her.

The droid spun her head towards your bedside, and you followed her gaze. Your holopad was buzzing, someone was trying to call you. Remi reached out with her claw and grabbed the device. For half a second you thought she was trying to take it from you, but instead she offered it out to you with a soft beep.

“Thanks, girl.” You grabbed the device and accepted the call.

You swore your heart stopped. Standing there, looking quite worse for wear, was Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan! Are you okay? What happened to you?!” you exclaimed. You pulled the device closer to your face, eager to get a better look at him.

“I’m fine, it’s alright,” he sighed. You watched as he collapsed into a chair, his shoulders slumping forward. He looked just as he had in your nightmare; his normally immaculate robes were singed black and he was covered in a thick layer of grime.

“What happened to you?” you repeated.

He sighed deeply and put his head in his hands. “I was on a mission with Anakin and Ahsoka when things went sideways… I was taken as a slave.”

Your eyes widened in horror. “Are you okay?! Did they hurt you?” you asked quickly, trying to find any injuries on him.

“I’m fine now,” he sighed. “Things were looking pretty bad back there but thankfully we were rescued by Master Plo.” Obi-Wan lifted his head, staring straight at the camera. “Imagine my surprise when he told me that it was you who alerted the Council about my capture… how did you know I needed help?”

“I had a nightmare,” you admitted. “I saw you being beaten by this horrible creature and it was so real I knew it wasn’t a normal dream. I didn’t really understand it, I still don’t, but I trusted in the Force like you told me to and went to the temple for help.”

Obi-Wan smiled weakly at this. “I am very proud of you my dear and I believe I am now in your debt.”

“I think after all you’ve done for me we’re even,” you replied with a smile. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was so worried about you.”

“You can relax now, I’m safe,” said Obi-Wan. You watched as his eyes roamed over you, taking in your disheveled appearance. “You look exhausted.”

“I am,” you sighed.

“No doubt being up all night took its toll—”

“No, it wasn’t that,” you said cutting him off. “Before you were rescued did you feel anything weird?”

“Weird how?” asked Obi-Wan.

“Did you feel anything out of place? Anything that felt kind of like me or my Force signature?”

His eyes widened, “(Y/N) don’t tell me that was you.”

“It was,” you said sheepishly.

“What were you thinking? You aren’t ready to take on something like that,” he scolded. “You could have hurt yourself!” Despite the fact that his voice was harsh and his face hard, his eyes were soft. He wouldn’t stay mad at you for long.

“I’m fine, Obi, really,” you insisted. “But you really felt me in the Force?”

“I did,” he admitted. His face softened as he stared at you. “But I must admit I thought the feeling came from mere memories of you. Thinking of you was the only thing that made living in that hellhole bearable…” He shook his head and cast his eyes downward. “But it was really you.”

“I was so worried. I had to make sure that you were still alive,” you explained.

“I understand why you did it, but I need you to promise me you won’t try to do something like that again,” said Obi-Wan. He cast his eyes upward, staring straight at you. “Promise me.”

“I promise to only use it in emergencies,” you replied.

“(Y/N)—”

“I’m not just going to sit idly by if you’re in trouble Obi-Wan. I’ll do whatever I can do to keep you safe,” you said in a firm voice.

“No. I’m not going to let you risk hurting yourself because of me,” insisted Obi-Wan. “I mean no offense, but you look terrible. Like you can barely move.”

“I kind of couldn’t last night,” you admitted.

“What?!”

“It’s fine though. I wasn’t alone, Drift and Remi were with me. I was perfectly safe,” you said quickly.  

Remi beeped in disagreement.

Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief. “For once I’m inclined to agree with Remi instead of you. You could have been seriously hurt, (Y/N)…” He turned his gaze towards your droid. “Thank you for keeping her safe, Remi. I truly appreciate it.”

Your droid hummed in response, the light on her head flashing red. At least she wasn’t growling at him…

“(Y/N), I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you—”

“I thought you were dying Obi-Wan! I had to do everything I possibly could to help you. I tried convincing Drift to steal a ship last night for Maker’s sake!”

“Now why would you ever need to do that?”  

“Because for a minute there it looked like the Council wasn’t going to help you,” you said, barely hiding the venom in your voice. “They were going to leave your there to die.”

“The Jedi Code teaches us to put the needs of the collective over any one life,” said Obi-Wan. “The Council was simply following that Code.”

Remi growled loudly at this line. Clearly she took umbrage with this, just as you did.       

“But you’d never turn your back on someone who needed your help! Besides, considering all you do for the Order, I thought they’d be a bit more inclined to come and help you,” you frowned.

“I understand why you’re upset but you mustn’t hold it against the Council.”

“They were going to ignore me just because I’m not a Jedi!” you exclaimed. “They were going to let you die just because I’m an outsider!”   

“I know, darling. I know,” he sighed. “I wish I could make you understand their logic but—”

“Kriff their logic,” you spat. “I’d never turn my back on you. I care about you.”

Obi-Wan stared at you with wide eyes, clearly he was surprised at the sheer ardor of your words. After a moment he collected himself, his face shifting back into an easy smile. “I care about you too. Perhaps more than a Jedi should…” He stared at you softly, his eyes full of longing. You stared back at him, wishing with all your heart that he was here by your side instead of halfway across the galaxy.

“Even so,” he shook his head slightly. “I want you to promise me that you won’t hold this against the Council. They aren’t bad people; they were just doing what they thought was right.”

“Fine,” you huffed, “but only because you asked me to.”

His lips quirked up into a grin, “Thank you. Why don’t you try getting some rest? You look like you need it.”

“Funny, I—” you stifled a yawn. “I was going to say the same thing about you.” Obi-Wan mirrored your yawn with one of his own.

“Trust me, as soon as we hang up I’m going straight to bed,” he sighed.

“Well then, do I wish you good night or good morning?” you joked. Judging by the light filtering through your curtains you guessed it was early morning.

“Heh, I’m not quite sure,” he chuckled. “I wish nothing but sweet dreams for you, my darling.”

“Goodnight, Obi.” The two of you stared at one another for a moment and then his figure faded away. Just like that he was gone again.

You sighed deeply and tossed off your covers. Might as well get on with your day then…

As soon as your feet touched the ground Remi whistled loudly. She obviously didn’t want you to leave your bed, and she wasn’t the only one. Within seconds Drift was standing in the doorway of your bedroom. There was no way he would have been able to get there that quickly if he was at his usual post outside in the hall. That could only mean one thing: he had been waiting outside your bedroom door, which meant that he had heard your entire call with Obi-Wan. Kriff.

“Drift!” you squeaked in surprise. “I, uh.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked crossing his arms.

“I was gonna get ready for work?”

“No, you’re not. I already spoke to Senator Amidala and she insisted that you take a few days off to recover.” You opened your mouth to argue this point, but he held up a hand, stopping you. “I’m not arguing with you about this. Master Shef said you needed to rest, so you’re going to rest. End of story.”  

You narrowed your eyes at him, trying to determine just how serious he was. Judging by the hard look in his eye and the scowl on his face, he was pretty damn serious.

“Ugh, fine,” you huffed, swinging your legs back into bed. As you pulled your covers back up, Remi hummed happily. You wanted to protest this decision but stopped yourself. You were only able to help Obi-Wan because of your friends.

“I owe both of you a thank you,” you said, looking between the pair. “I would have never made it through everything last night without either one of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

Remi chirped happily at your praise, while Drift was much more reserved.

“Just doing my duty, ma’am.” Drift shifted his weight back and forth, avoiding your eye. Something was bothering him.

“What is it, Drift?” you asked gently.

The clone stared down at his boots before lifting his gaze to focus on you. He said the next few words slowly and deliberately, “Ma’am, please forgive me but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with the general… I know you’ve denied it several times but after everything I saw last night, I have to ask you once more. I promise this will be the last time. Is there something going on between you and General Kenobi?”  

You gulped and stared down at your blankets. You weren’t sure how to answer his question; you didn’t even have a real name for your connection with Obi-Wan. The two of you weren’t really together, you never could be, but it was obvious that the two of you were more than just friends.

“I don’t know. I mean… kind of?” you muttered. “I know we care about each other.”

Drift was quiet for a moment, contemplating your words. “I see. Thank you for telling me the truth. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

You looked up at your friend, “You have to promise me you won’t tell another soul. Not even Lefty. If he learns about this, he’ll tell Gwin and—”

“I promise,” said Drift with a rare smile.

“Thanks, Drift,” you smiled back at the clone. Then you looked over at Remi. “The same thing goes for you. You can’t tell anyone, droid or living being. Got it?”

Remi beeped a yes but the light on her head flashed red. She would keep your secret, but she was hardly supportive of your relationship with Obi-Wan. She still didn’t like him for whatever reason.

“Thanks for understanding,” you said patting the droid’s head. She hummed, the red light on her head dimming. You glanced back at Drift, his brows were knit together, obviously deep in thought. "What is it?”

“This information complicates things somewhat.”

“How so?”

“Well, being involved with the general in the way you are makes you a prime target for a Separatist attack. Someone might try using you to get to General Kenobi,” explained Drift. “We’ll have to up your security without making it obvious. Then there’s the case of making sure you have less security when the general is around so that the two of you — ahem. Can have some alone time?”

“Drift!”

“What? I’m just being realistic,” he shrugged.

You stared at him with wide eyes, hardly able to believe what you were hearing. Was he seriously trying to come up with a contingency plan that accounted for you and Obi-Wan fucking?!

“You’re right, we should talk about this later when you’re feeling more up to it,” said Drift. You opened your mouth to argue that you weren’t sure you’d ever be ready to discuss such a topic with him, but he cut you off. “Don’t worry about it. Just try and get some sleep, okay?”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll be outside your door for another hour or so and then Lefty will relieve me. Just shout if you need anything.”

“I will… thanks, Drift. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.” He offered you another rare smile and then slipped out of your room, shutting your door behind him.

You laid your head back down upon your pillow, staring at Remi. She hummed and whistled softly, her version of a lullaby. You allowed your eyes to close and let sleep wash over you.

Notes:

Hi everyone, I hope you liked the chapter! It’s based off the slavery arc in season four of the Clone Wars show because I thought it’d be fun to make Obi-Wan be the one in trouble for once haha. Anyways, I wanted to thank everyone who has commented on this fic, you guys really are the ones motivating me to keep updating this story as frequently as I am! See you all next chapter!!!

Chapter 15: Kenari (Part I)

It took two full days of bedrest to recover physically from your late-night excursion at the Jedi temple. As for your connection to the Force, you weren’t sure what the damage was, because you didn’t return to the temple until the following week.

As always, Shef greeted you warmly at the door. “Ah, welcome, my child. Come in, come in!” The large Quarren placed a hand on your shoulder and ushered you into his room.

“Hello Shef—” you paused as you noticed that the two of you weren’t alone. Sitting (or maybe sleeping) on one of Shef’s cream colored cushions was a small green alien.

Shef noticed your confused look and smiled. “Allow me to introduce Master Yoda. Master Yoda, this is (Y/N) Felvora.” It was strange hearing Shef refer to you by your real name, he never used it.

Master Yoda opened his eyes and stared up at you. Just like with every other Jedi you had encountered, his gaze was intense and piercing. Why did it feel like all of them could see right through you? It was really unnerving…

“Master Yoda has come to observe our session today. I hope that is alright?” asked Shef.

“Of course it is,” you said, forcing a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Master.” You bowed deeply towards the small alien.

“All mine, the pleasure is. Lot about you, heard I have,” said Master Yoda. You paused for a moment, processing his odd speech pattern. You had never heard anyone speak like this before. Best not to draw attention to it, you didn’t want to appear rude.  

“You have?” You asked, glancing over at the Quarren. Who told Master Yoda about you? Was it Shef?

“Master Yoda is a member of the Council,” Shef explained. “He wanted to learn more about you after your adventure last week.”

Anger bloomed in your chest as soon as you heard this. He was one of the people that was going to abandon Obi-Wan just because you were an outsider!

“Your anger, I feel. The Council, you do not like? Hm?” Kriff, you forgot that the Jedi could pick up on your emotions like that. You needed to do a better job of hiding your feelings, the last thing you wanted was either of them learning about your true feelings for Obi-Wan!

“From what I heard, the Council was going to ignore my warning about Master Kenobi,” you replied curtly. “That is, until they got confirmation from a Jedi, not an outsider.” 

“True, that is. Understand how you could have such a dream when you are not part of the Order, they do not,” said Master Yoda. “Most unusual it is. Please sit.”

You hesitantly sat in your usual spot, shifting uncomfortably. Why was a Council member here? Were you being investigated? Were they suspicious about your connection with Obi-Wan?

“Bonded to Master Kenobi, you are,” he continued. “Correct, I am?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Your friend, he is?”

“Yes.” You kept your answers short and to the point, that way it would be harder for you to accidentally reveal anything to the Jedi. You had to protect Obi-Wan at all costs.

“Hm.” The little green alien lapsed into silence and shut his eyes again.

You stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something else, but the seconds dragged on and still he said nothing. After a minute you finally looked toward Shef for some sort of clarification as to what was going on.

Shef had taken a seat across from you and didn’t seem startled by Master Yoda’s behavior in the slightest. If anything, he looked relaxed. “Ready to start your mediation?”

“Uh, sure,” you glanced back at the little green alien. Was he going to stay here the whole time? Probably, Shef had said he wanted to observe your healing today but if that were the case why were his eyes still shut?

“Then assume your position,” said Shef. You nodded your head and closed your eyes. You could do this. You just needed to focus. “Clear your mind. Focus on the Force.”

You took a deep breath and tried to empty your mind. In the past this had become easy whilst in the temple, the Force was strong here. But today was different. Try as you might, you just couldn’t get a strong grip on the Force. It felt weak and fragile, like if you moved wrong the connection might break. Was this because you were nervous about having an audience or was this because of something else?

You furrowed your brow and tried again. Still, you couldn’t connect to the Force. You opened your eyes and said, “Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?” asked Shef. He looked worried by your comment. Well, that was never a good sign.

“I can’t connect with the Force, at least not like I normally do,” you explained with a frown. “My connection feels weak.”

“I see,” Shef crossed his arms and stared at you, his face unreadable.

“What’s happening? Should I be worried?” you asked nervously. Despite originally being apprehensive about the Force and its role in your life, the sudden realization that it might be gone forever scared you. How would you connect with Obi-Wan now? The thought of never feeling the warmth of his Force signature again made your heart drop into the pit of your stomach.

“You already know the answer to that,” Shef sighed. “You pushed yourself too far the other night and now you are suffering the consequences of your actions.”

“I was just trying to help Obi-Wan,” you insisted. “I didn’t think that I might lose my connection to the Force!”

“Their connection to the Force, one cannot lose,” said Master Yoda. You turned your head to stare at the Jedi. “Only damaged, it is.”

“What do I have to do to fix it?” you asked.

“Hmm,” murmured Master Yoda. “Examine you, I would like. May I?”

“Of course,” you replied. You weren’t thrilled at the idea of this guy poking around in your head, but you were not just going to sit by and let your connection to Obi-Wan be severed. You had to do whatever you could to fix this before it became a permanent problem.

Master Yoda opened his eyes and stood. Even though you were seated you were still taller than the alien. He hobbled towards you, leaning heavily on a cane. Was this guy really a Jedi? He could hardly move.

He stopped in front of you and that’s when you smelled it, a horrible odor radiated off the alien. It was like a combination of mothballs and rotten fish. That’s when you remembered Gwin mentioning someone telling her about ‘a little smelly green’ Jedi; Master Yoda had to be the one that they were referring to. You did your best to not crinkle your nose at his stench, but it was proving difficult.

He stared at you for a moment. “Interesting, you are.”

You waited for him to continue but he said nothing more. He just stared at you with his big eyes. Was he waiting for you to say something?

“Uh, thanks?” you said, trying to maintain your composure. There was something about this Jedi that set you on edge.

“May I?” Master Yoda extended an old decrepit looking hand towards you. As much as you really didn’t want to take his hand, you really had no choice in the matter. It’s not like you had any better options. 

“Sure.” You offered your hand out to the alien, and he took it in his own. He shut his eyes and inhaled slowly. You waited to feel the familiar ripple across your mind but felt nothing. That only made you more anxious.

You glanced over Yoda’s shoulder at Shef. You raised an eyebrow and tilted your head towards the green alien. Shef simply shrugged his shoulders in response. You frowned and turned your attention back towards Yoda.

As soon as your attention was back on him, Master Yoda began to speak. “Correct, Master Shef is. Pushed yourself too fast, you did. Time to heal, it will take. Another week at least. Rest, you must.” He let go of your hand and stared straight at you. There was something in his gaze that made you uneasy and you had no idea why. Had he performed a mind trick on you or something?

“Thank you. My leave, I will take.” He bowed his head in farewell and slowly hobbled out of the room, leaving you alone with Shef.

You held your tongue until you heard the door slide shut behind Master Yoda. “Why was he here? What did he want? Am I in trouble? Was he trying to do a mind trick on me?” The words just tumbled right out of you, all your anxieties suddenly rising to the surface.

“Slow down, my child,” said Shef, holding up a hand. “One question at a time.”

“What was that all about? Why was he here?” you asked again but slower this time. “Am I in trouble?”

“That is three questions,” grinned Shef. “Nevertheless, I shall answer them. No, you are not in trouble.”

“Oh thank the Maker,” you sighed. “I thought the Council was mad at me because of what I did the other night.”

“They are not angry, just intrigued,” said Shef. “That is why Master Yoda was here. He simply wanted to meet you.”

“Oh.” You looked down at your lap and fiddled with the hem of your sleeve. “Was what he said true? Will my connection to the Force heal with time?”

“Yes, he speaks the truth in such matters,” said Shef. “You will not find a wiser Jedi in the entire galaxy.”

“What was he doing when he took my hand? It didn’t feel like he was searching my mind,” you asked.

“He was likely examining your connection to the Force,” said Shef. “Though I could not say for sure. Rest assured, he was not performing a mind trick on you.”

“Oh, good,” you sighed.

Shef’s lips curled up into a grin, “It is interesting. You ask me to teach you about mind tricks and yet you are so nervous about having them performed on yourself.”    

“Gwin told me lots of stories about them when we were little. I guess it’s still hard to separate fact from fiction,” you explained. “And I only wanted to learn about mind tricks to strengthen my connection to the Force… it’s really going to come back, right?”

“Yes, it will. I promise you,” said Shef. That set your mind at ease, if Shef promised something he meant it. “You just need to rest. Hopefully next week you will be ready to continue. In the meantime, I apologize that you travelled all the way here for nothing.”    

“It’s alright. Now I have a good reason to head over to the senate building and check on Padmè,” you said as you climbed to your feet.

Shef shook his head and sighed. “You really should take a break. You worry me sometimes.”

“I’ll be fine, Shef. Really! It’s just paperwork.”

***

It was more like a mountain of paperwork. You saw it as soon as you stepped into Padmè’s office, her entire desk was filled with stacks of papers. Right in the middle of the mess was a thick blue binder that you knew well. It was Bartlett’s expansion proposal.

Padmè had continued to spend every waking moment poring over the document since it landed on her desk. She was looking over it as you stepped into the room, only glancing up at the sound of her office door opening. Once she saw it was you, she cast her eyes back down to the binder.

“I thought we agreed you’d take the day off after your treatment,” she said in a terse voice.

“We did but I didn’t have one today.” You walked towards her desk, a sandwich in hand. You had a sneaking suspicion that your friend hadn’t had lunch yet and decided to grab her some food on your way over here. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet,” mumbled Padmè. Her brow was furrowed as her eyes darted across the page. Surely nothing in that binder could be that interesting.

“Here, eat,” you said holding the sandwich out towards her.

Padmè glanced up and smiled, “Thanks, I’ll get to it in a moment.” She took the food from you and placed it on the edge of her desk. You bit the inside of your cheek; you knew her well enough by now to know that she wasn’t going to eat that anytime soon.

“Why didn’t you meditate today? I thought you went to the temple?”  

“I did,” you sat down in a chair across from her, “but once I got there and started to meditate, I knew something was wrong. Apparently I’m still healing from what happened last week.”

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?” asked Padmè, her voice thick with concern.

“I’m fine. I just need to rest some more before I can start purifying memories again.” You glanced down at the binder. “How can you still be reading that thing? I swear you should have it memorized by now.”

“Quite the opposite in fact,” she grumbled flipping between two pages at opposite ends of the binder. “Every time I think I understand it, I just get more confused.”

“You’re telling me that Bartlett managed to go into the most minute details and somehow still left room for readers to get confused?” you joked.

“I’m not confused. I’m torn. I don’t know what to make of this bill,” frowned Padmè. “If only…” she trailed off, her eyes darting across the page. Then she suddenly looked up at you. There was a twinkle in her eye, one she got when she had an idea.

“What?” you asked.

“Does your brother still work on Kenari?”

“Yes.”
“How would you feel about going to visit him?” asked Padmè.

“I mean, I’d love to see him but now is hardly the time to go travelling across the galaxy.” It really wasn’t safe to travel with the war on, especially outside of the core planets. “Besides my place is here by your side.”

“I know,” she sighed. She leaned back in her chair, watching you closely. “But I need you to go see him.”

“Why?”

“Because I want you to go observe his company’s operations. This proposal of Bartlett’s expands on what is already built there,” she motioned to the blue binder. “Without knowing what the current operation looks like I can hardly vote on this issue.”

“I’d be more than happy to accompany you to Kenari,” you said with a smile.

“No, I wouldn’t be going. Just you,” said Padmè.

“What? Why?”

“I’m much too busy to leave Coruscant right now. I’m in the middle of coordinating an interplanetary deal with Senator Mothma regarding that agricultural bill. I can’t afford to miss even one meeting, there’s just too much at stake,” she explained. “Besides it’s your brother who’s on Kenari, not mine. It makes sense that you should be the one to go and see him, not me.”

“But you’re the senator—”

“And you’re my most loyal companion. There’s no one else I trust more,” Padmè said earnestly. “Please will you do this for me?”

It would be good to see Marco again, you hadn’t seen him in person since he dropped Bartlett off on Coruscant almost a year ago now… “Oh alright. I’ll go.”

“Thank you!” Padmè said with a bright smile. “You don’t have to worry about a thing; I’ll handle everything!”

***

Two days later you were standing on one of Coruscant’s main landing pads, your packed bag held tightly in your hand. True to her word, Padmè had taken care of all the travel arrangements. A passenger liner would be taking you and Bartlett (as well as an entire platoon of guards) to Kenari. It was understood by all that you were acting as Padmè’s eyes and ears on this mission; you made no attempts to hide this fact. Despite this, when you had called Marco last night to talk to him about your imminent arrival, he was thrilled. Even if you were only coming because of work, you were still visiting and that was reason enough to celebrate.

So here you were, waiting on the landing platform as Bartlett went over final details with some crew members. You weren’t alone though; Drift and Remi were with you.

“Are you sure about this? I can still come with you,” said Drift. His arms were crossed, and he stared hard at the large ship. He was acting like if he stared hard enough, he might be able to see any hidden dangers.        

“I’m sure, Drift. There’s an entire platoon of soldiers onboard. Besides I won’t be alone, I’ll have Remi with me the whole time. Isn’t that right girl?”

Your droid chirped happily in agreement. She seemed excited at the prospect of travelling somewhere new. Every time you glanced down at her she was rocking back and forth on her wheels, humming happily to herself.

“What about once you’re on planet? Who will look after you then?” asked Drift. He tore his gaze away from the ship to stare at you instead. You could see the worry in his eyes, something you hadn’t seen since that night in the Jedi temple.

“Marco told me that his company employs a private police force on Kenari. I’ll be perfectly safe. I promise,” you said with a reassuring grin.

“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” huffed Drift. “I’d feel a whole lot better about this if you’d let Lefty or I come along with you.”

“I know, but you guys deserve a break. Try and enjoy the time off!”

“Hmph,” he grumbled looking back at the ship. His eyes landed on Bartlett who was animatedly talking to a crew member. “Are you sure you’re okay travelling alone with Mr. Gustavus?”

“Of course I’m sure. I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I wasn’t,” you replied. “We’re friends after all.”

“Just a friend?” asked Drift, giving you a sideways look. There was a second question hidden in his words. He was asking if Bartlett was just a friend in the same way that Obi-Wan was. Mercifully Drift hadn’t brought up your relationship with the Jedi since the night he learned of its existence. He kept his mouth shut just like he promised — this was the first time he had even alluded to it.

“Yes, he’s just a friend, same as you,” you stated firmly. There was nothing going on between you and Bartlett, nothing on your side anyway. Bartlett continued to flirt with you while you kept him at arm’s length — you hadn’t had the heart to tell him that you weren’t interested in resuming your relationship yet. Now wasn’t the time to tell him that though. You were going to be stuck in close quarters with him for nearly a week and you’d hate to ruin the trip by making things awkward before you even left.

“If you say so,” Drift shrugged his shoulders. “I just worry about you is all.”

“I know you do, and I appreciate it.” You really were lucky to have such a good friend that truly cared about your wellbeing as he did. That said, this time apart would do him some good. He really deserved a break.

“Alright, everything’s all set!” Bartlett said as he ran over to your little group. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah, we’re ready. Right Remi?” You smiled down at your droid.

Remi beeped an affirmative and rolled quickly towards the ship’s ramp.

“Oh, actually—” Bartlett said, raising his hand towards your droid’s retreating form.

“What is it?” you asked.

“Droid’s have to ride in the cargo hold,” he explained, turning his attention back towards you. When he saw the unamused look on your face he elaborated, "It’s not my ship, nor my rule for that matter. The captain, he’s just eccentric, and thinks every droid is a secret sympathizer to the Separatist cause. All droids, no matter their function, must stay in the cargo hold.”

“Oh, I see,” you frowned. You couldn’t say that you were a fan of this rule, but it wasn’t your place to make a fuss. You were a guest of Rim Commercial Mining, and it wouldn’t be a good look to start causing them problems before you even left Coruscant. “I’ll tell her.”

“Great,” said Bartlett, his eyes flicked back and forth between you and Drift. The clone’s arms were still crossed and he stared at your friend with a stern expression. “Um, well we better get onboard then. Don’t want to keep the captain waiting, now do we? Here, I’ll take your bag for you.”

“Thanks.” You handed your bag over to Bartlett and watched as he marched towards the ramp. Remi was waiting at the bottom of it, rocking back and forth on her wheels. She really was excited.

You turned towards Drift, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back before you know it.”  

“Just try and be safe, ma’am.”

“I will. See you soon.”

“Goodbye, ma’am.” Drift saluted you, that stern expression still on his face.

You offered the clone one last smile and hurried towards the ship. You didn’t want to keep the captain and his crew waiting. The last thing you wanted was to inconvenience them.

As soon as you made it to the base of the ramp, Remi chirped happily and began to roll up it. Bartlett looked at you with wide eyes and an expression that said, ‘stop her before the captain sees!’

“Remi, wait!” you called out after your droid.

She stopped midway up the ramp and spun her head 180 degrees to look back at you. She beeped in confusion.

“You can’t go in that way. You have to ride in the cargo hold,” you said. Remi stared at you for a moment and then turned her head to look at Bartlett.

“It’s true. The entrance is over there.” He pointed further down the landing pad where a pair of guards were waiting with blasters.

Remi turned her gaze back to you and hummed sadly, begging to stay with you.

“I’m sorry, girl. Captain’s orders, there’s nothing I can do,” you apologized to your droid.

Remi beeped sadly and turned around, rolling slowly back down the ramp. You watched as she continued to roll past you and towards the other entrance.

“I feel bad… she was so excited,” you said with a frown. You watched as the little droid came to a stop in front of the pair of guards. After a brief security scan, she was allowed onto the ship.

“I do apologize. If it were up to me I’d let her ride with us in the cabin,” said Bartlett. “Not to worry though, the flight isn’t that long. You’ll be reunited with her before you know it.” He was right of course. The flight to Kenari from Coruscant was less than a full day at hyper speed. You’d see Remi again before the day was over.

“That is true,” you agreed.

“Best we don’t keep the captain waiting. Follow me,” said Bartlett. He stepped inside the ship. You hesitated for a moment, looking back at Drift who was still standing where you had left him. You waved a farewell and he returned it, looking quite unhappy. Oh, he so did not approve of this plan. At least you weren’t the one who came up with it, that was all Marco’s doing.

You boarded the ship, sitting next to Bartlett as the ship left the atmosphere of Coruscant. Within minutes you felt the familiar lurch of entering hyperspace and a deep voice crackled over the speakers. “You are free to move about the ship.”

Bartlett immediately unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up.

“Where are you going? Trying to get away from me already?” you joked.

He laughed. “No, of course not. Quite the opposite in fact, I was wondering if you’d come with me? I have some things I want to show you before we get to Kenari.”

“Sure.” You unbuckled your seatbelt and followed Bartlett through the ship. He led you to a small room filled with a table and several chairs, it looked like any other standard office space you’d find in the senate building. 

“Please, sit,” Bartlett motioned to one of the chairs. You did as he said and glanced out the window at the blue and white light of thousands of stars flying past. Flying through hyperspace was always beautiful.

“These are maps of where we are going.” Bartlett placed several large sheets of paper on the table in front of you. “I wanted to get you acquainted with the area before we land so you have a better understanding of how we plan to expand.”

“Sure,” you said.

Bartlett unrolled a large map and sat down next to you. “This is a complete study of the land surrounding the company’s headquarters. As you can see, a large chunk of the map is still forested.” You peered down at the map sure enough most of it was green, indicating as such. “We hope to convert most of this into operational mines soon.”

“I see,” you said. “That’s a large area.”

“It is,” he agreed. “Which is why my proposal was so long. It’s no easy task clearing all that land for mining. Trees have to be cut and the stumps removed before we can even begin digging into the ground.”

“How long will that take?” you asked.

“Several weeks at least. We’re hoping to streamline the process so that we can begin mining sooner rather than later. We really want to begin extracting resources before the war comes to a close — it’s the whole reason we’re expanding after all,” explained Bartlett.

He rolled up that map and pulled another towards the two of you. “This is a closer view as to where we will be during our stay.”

He unfurled the map and you examined it closely. Sure enough this map only covered five square miles of land, it was certainly much smaller than the other one was. Whereas most of the previous map was green indicating forest, this one was mostly greyed out with small black lines crisscrossing the surface.

“What are these spaces?” you asked, pointing to a large grey swath that covered most of the northeastern part of the map.  

“Those are the mines, at least some of them. They expand further east than this map shows for another four miles or so. This,” he pointed to a large grey square directly south of the mines, “is the landing platform. All ships fly in and out of there, it’s where we will be landing.”

The mines and landing platform were only separated by a thin green line of forest. The tree line continued westward, growing in size until it reached two thirds of the way across the map where it seemingly took over everything once more. Though, there was one more grey square sitting in the middle of all this forest.

“What’s this?” you asked pointing to the out of place square.

“Oh, that’s the company’s headquarters. It’s where we will be staying,” said Bartlett with a smile. “I know it may not look all that grand on this map, but I assure you it’s really quite nice.”

“Good to know,” you hummed. You weren’t worried about your accommodations, not really, but it was nice to know that you wouldn’t be roughing it during this trip.

You stared down at the map and noticed a large black blob at the bottom right corner, adjacent to the eastern side of the landing platform. “What’s that?”

“Oh, that is one of our tar pits,” said Bartlett.

“Tar pits?” you echoed.

“Yes, there are several scattered throughout the area but that one is the largest. A side effect of all our mining I’m afraid. It’s rather pungent too. It’s all worth it though! The minerals we extract are helping us create armor and weapons to protect our troops.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, deep in thought. Obi-Wan’s men depended on these resources to keep them safe, to keep Obi-Wan safe. Obi-Wan… just where in the galaxy was he? Probably still in the Outer Rim, that seemed to be the Republic’s favorite place to keep him after all.

“(Y/N)?”

“Yes?” you asked, looking up from the map.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” Despite your calm exterior your heart began to race. Was he about to propose that the two of you get back together again or something like that?!

“Does your bodyguard not like me?”

“Huh?” You blinked hard at this question. You weren’t expecting that.

“It’s just that I get this feeling that he doesn’t like me very much. He never really talks to me and he’s always scowling. Have I done something to upset him?” asked Bartlett.

You couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Bartlett was utterly confused by your reaction.

“You are,” you laughed.

“Care to enlighten me?”

“You shouldn’t take Drift’s silence personally. He’s just a quiet guy,” you explained.

“I always see him talking to you though,” said Bartlett.

“That’s because he’s had time to open up to me. It took months for us to become friends,” you said. “Trust me, he really doesn’t talk much. Though…”

“What?”

“Insisting that he didn’t need to come on this trip certainly didn’t help endear yourself to him,” you said with a grin.

“That wasn’t my idea, it was Marco’s!” he insisted. “Oh, great. Now he’s going to hate me for sure!”

“He doesn’t hate you, Bartlett. He just hates not being able to do his job. Don’t worry about it, he’ll get over it eventually.”

***

The flight passed quickly, you spent most of it talking to Bartlett. It was easy being around him, even if he did drop an occasional pickup line every now and then. You just laughed and continued on with the conversation.

Finally the ship landed on Kenari. As soon as you stepped off the ship you were met with a wall of heat. Unlike during your captivity, where the air was hot and dry, this air was thick and muggy. It felt like you could cut it with a knife.

“Told you it was hot here,” said Bartlett. He loosened the collar of his shirt and grinned.

“I didn’t doubt you,” you replied. It was true, you had heeded his warning and made sure to only pack light airy clothing for this trip. After all, his warning wasn’t the only one you had received — Marco had told you the same thing yesterday. As such, you were wearing a sleeveless tunic and light flowy pants; your suitcase carried more of the same clothing. You had only packed one dress for the entire trip and you highly doubted you would get to wear it. This was a rougher planet than Coruscant, the same level of decorum just wasn’t expected here.

You stared out at the scene in front of you. You were in the middle of a large landing platform that was surrounded on all sides by several large warehouses. Ships of various sizes were parked around yours and everywhere you looked people flitted about carrying crates and shouting orders. A faint acrid odor lingered in the air. Must be the tar pit that Bartlett mentioned.

“(Y/N)! Bartlett!” Your brother’s voice rang out over the noise of the landing platform. You cast your eyes downward to the bottom of the ramp and standing there was Marco! “I’m so glad you guys could make it!”

You hurried down the platform, Bartlett following closely behind you. “Thank you for letting me come on such short notice,” you said with a smile.

“How could I say no to my little sister?” laughed Marco. “Come here!” He outstretched his arms and you gave him a hug. It was nice getting to see him again. “You look well.”

“Aw, thanks,” you said, pulling away from him.

“And you—” Marco enveloped Bartlett in a tight hug. “How have you been?”

“I’m good but I’ll be better once the senate votes on my proposal.” Bartlett patted your brother on the back as he pulled away from him.

“Ha, you and me both,” chuckled Marco. “How was your flight?”

“Very pleasant, Bartlett showed me several maps of Kenari on our way over here. I look forward to learning more about your operation,” you said with a smile.

“And I’m very excited to show you around. First thing tomorrow we’ll go out to the mines,” said Marco. “But you two must be famished after your travels! Not to worry, dinner is waiting for us back at the Lodge.”

“The Lodge?” you echoed.

“That’s what we call our headquarters here,” said Bartlett.

“Oh, I see.” You noticed your companions were now focused on something behind you. You glanced over your shoulder and to your delight saw Remi quickly rolling towards you. “Hey, girl!”

Remi chirped a hello, coming to a stop by your side.

“Ah, hello Remi! I didn’t know you were coming along too,” said Marco. “Thank you for always watching out for my sister. We all appreciate it.”

Remi beeped happily at his praise. At least she seemed to be in a good mood, despite having to spend the entire day in the cargo hold.

“Well, if that’s everyone then?” Marco said glancing back at the ship. “Who’s ready for dinner?”

“I am!” smiled Bartlett. “Lead the way.”

You all followed your brother towards a large land speeder that was parked nearby. As you walked you kept your head on a swivel, trying to take everything in at once. There was just so much activity happening here it was hard to focus on any one thing for longer than a second. Though it was dusk, you could make out the silhouettes of tall trees on the horizon. You were excited to see what this planet looked like during the day.

“Lady’s first,” Bartlett offered a hand to help you into the speeder.

“Thanks,” you said, accepting his offer. You climbed into the front seat, alongside your brother while Bartlett climbed into the back with your luggage. As for Remi, she popped into a port in the back of the ship specifically designed for droids.

Marco steered the ship through the controlled chaos that was the landing platform with ease. Everywhere you looked there were more people, be it a laborer or guard. In fact, there were lots of guards here. Neither Marco nor Bartlett had mentioned the private police force being so expansive. No wonder they insisted on the clones not coming, they would have been complete overkill.

Your ship came to a halt at the edge of the landing platform; it was a security checkpoint. Marco flashed a badge at the guards and you were ushered through without another word.

“What’s with all the guards?” you asked over the rush of wind.

“Safety precaution,” said Marco. He steered your ship down a gravel road lined by tall trees that blocked the last few rays of sunlight from reaching the ground. Your path was illuminated by nothing but the headlights of your land speeder. It was a stark contrast to Coruscant; there wasn’t a place on that planet where you could find true darkness like this.

“There are many people in the galaxy that would be more than happy to take over our mining operation here,” continued Marco.

“Not to mention that the forest is filled with wild beasts,” added Bartlett. “It’s not safe to stray far from the roads, at least not without protection.”

You glanced out at the dark jungle, you didn’t doubt the validity of his statement. Marco noticed this.

“Don’t worry, you’re completely safe. Most of the beasts stay away from here, they don’t like all the noise,” said Marco. “Still, it’s not wise to go running off into the jungle.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” you replied. You were about to start asking about their proposed expansion when Marco pulled around a corner and you were met with a truly magnificent sight.

Standing there amongst the forest was a beautiful building made of nothing but the trunks of some of the largest trees you had ever seen. It was illuminated by bright lights and stood out from the dark jungle that surrounded it. You were speechless.

“Welcome to the Lodge,” said Marco. He parked the speeder in front of the grand structure and within seconds a handful of servants appeared from seemingly nowhere. They helped your group of the ship and took your luggage without a word, ushering you inside.

Once again you were left speechless. The inside of this building was certainly not what you were expecting. Everywhere you looked beautiful dark wood paneling stretching from floor to ceiling and lovely plush carpet cushioned your feet. When you were told you would be staying in the Lodge this was certainly not what you were expecting. You thought you’d be a log cabin of sorts, not a grand mansion.

“This building acts as our meeting space and lodging. Many of the higher ups come here to discuss business so that’s why everything is as nice as it is,” explained Marco.

“He’s conveniently leaving out the part where he tells you that he lives here year round,” quipped Bartlett.

“You do?” you asked with wide eyes. He was certainly living in luxury; this place was comparable to Padmè’s penthouse!

“I do. Bartlett used to live here too when he still lived on planet,” said Marco. “It’s certainly one of the best benefits to working here.”

“I would say,” you agreed.

“Another benefit it the food. Come, let’s eat!” said Marco.

Dinner was a marvelous affair. The food was delicious and it was great catching up with the two of them. When the meal was over you retired to your room. It was just as nice as the rest of the house was!

You strolled over to your suitcase as Remi rolled towards one of the several large windows. You wanted to change out of these clothes and into something more comfortable. But when you opened your suitcase, you were surprised to find it was empty. Huh?!

You glanced around the room and then spied a wardrobe against the wall. Hesitantly you walked over and opened it. Sure enough, all your clothing was neatly hung up and waiting for you. One of the servants must have put your clothes away for you, how nice.

You changed into a light nightgown and joined Remi by the window. “Whatcha looking at?” you asked.

Remi beeped a few times. You looked in the direction she was and spied a red haze just barely visible over the tops of the trees that surrounded the building. Huh, wonder what that was?

“Maybe it’s from the mines?” you suggested to your droid.

Remi hummed in agreement but continued to stare at the strange light.

You lowered your gaze to the grounds surrounding the building and watched as several guards patrolled the area. At least you knew you’d be safe here. Still, the sheer number of guards was surprising to say the least. Were that many people really interested in controlling these mines?

You left Remi by the window and strolled over to your bag. You should let Padmè know you had arrived safely on world. You grabbed your holopad and dialed your friend. Within seconds Padmè’s face appeared in your hand.

“(Y/N)! I take it you’ve landed on Kenari?”

“I have though I haven’t been able to see much. We landed at dusk,” you said as you sat on the edge of your four-poster bed.

“Not to worry, you’ll have plenty of time to look around,” she said.

“True, I’ll check back in with you tomorrow. Marco promised to give me a tour of one of the mines in the morning,” you said.

“Oh excellent. I look forward to hearing all about it… I should let you get some rest. You’ve had a long day. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. Good night.”

“Good night, milady.”

Padmè’s face faded from view and you put your holopad on your bedside table. She was right, you really should get some sleep.

“I’m going to bed Remi,” you said as your crawled under your satin sheets. “Could you shut that curtain when you’re done looking out the window?”

Remi beeped an affirmative.

“Thanks girl. Good night.”

Your droid hummed in response as you turned off the light. You stared up at the canopy that was draped over your bed and sighed. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day indeed.

Notes:

Hi guys! Just a heads up, I decided to break this arc up into several smaller chapters so you guys could get updates at a more regular pace. I didn’t want to leave you guys hanging for like a month with no warning. As always I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for reading!

Chapter 16: Kenari (Part II)

You were back on Coruscant, dancing around the same ballroom Padmè’s party had been held in. Your partner was faceless but moved gracefully across the dance floor, spinning and twirling you this way and that. You laughed as they dipped you, holding you in place, their face hovering just over yours.

You blinked and suddenly they were no longer faceless, it was Obi-Wan! You couldn’t help but grin as you stared into his eyes. Without saying a word, he brought his face down to yours and kissed you softly. The whiskers of his beard scratched your face, but you didn’t mind in the slightest, there was no place you’d rather be. But then a bright light flooded your field of vision, it was so intense it was like someone was shining a spotlight into your eyes. You blinked hard, trying to dispel the light but it only got brighter.

You awoke to the sun shining directly into your eyes.

“Ugh,” you groaned, trying to shield your eyes from the bright light. “Remi, I thought I told you to close that curtain last night?”

Your droid beeped from across the room and suddenly everything got even brighter.

“Oh, come on.” You rolled over in bed, trying to hide your face. “Five more minutes.”

Remi beeped a loud no.

You didn’t move, keeping your eyes firmly shut. You were so comfortable in this bed… all you wanted to do was fall back asleep and dream about Obi-Wan—

Remi beeped again, this time right in your ear.

“Maker, Remi!” you exclaimed, nearly jumping out of bed. “You scared me!”

Your droid chirped in a way that sounded oddly like a laugh and rolled away from you. To your dismay she rolled to each window, pulling back every curtain she came across. Light spilled into your room and there was no blocking it out, even shutting your eyes did little to help mitigate the brightness. Guess Remi was acting as your alarm clock on this trip…

“Alright, alright. I’m up,” you grumbled, sitting up in bed. “What time is it anyways?” You glanced over at the clock on your bedside table, it read 9:27. “Shit!”

No wonder Remi was insisting you get out of bed, you were supposed to be downstairs in three minutes! You scrambled out of bed and flew to your closet. You changed quickly into an outfit nearly identical to the one you wore yesterday (this time your tunic was green instead of blue) and threw your hair into a braid. There was no time for an elaborate updo today.

Once you were satisfied that you looked somewhat presentable, you raced out of your room and down the stairs. Remi followed close behind, humming and chirping the entire way. You hurriedly looked into various rooms on the main floor, not entirely sure where you might find your companions. It was just your luck that both of them were in the very last room you checked, a study of sorts that was filled to the brim with books.   

“Ah, there you are!” smiled Marco. He was sitting behind a large wooden desk; piles of paper scattered across its surface. Bartlett was sitting in a chair across from him, reading a report of some sort. “I was beginning to wonder if I needed to send someone up to go check on you.”

“Sorry for making you wait, I overslept,” you apologized.

“It’s alright. You had quite a busy day yesterday,” said Marco.

“Are you ready to go exploring,” Bartlett looked up from his report, “or would you like some breakfast first?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Not really hungry right now,” you said with a dismissive wave of your hand. “I’m ready to go whenever you guys are.”

“I think I’m good to go,” said Marco. He glanced over at Bartlett and raised an eyebrow. “What about you?”

“I’m ready,” said Bartlett. He placed the papers he was reading on Marco’s desk, and they instantly disappeared into the sea of paperwork. If Padmè saw how the guys managed their files she’d have a fit, at least her paperwork was somewhat organized. Your companions’ appeared to be one giant mess. How did they manage to ever find anything?

“Great, let’s get going then! There’s so much I want to show you,” said Marco. He stood up and marched towards you, a large smile on his face. It dropped when he noticed Remi standing behind you. “Oh, I forgot to tell you — I think it would be best if you left Remi behind this morning.”

“Why?” you asked.

“We’re headed to the mines and the terrain there really isn’t suitable for a droid like her,” explained Marco. “I’d hate to see her get damaged.”

“Oh, yeah the hills around the mines are really rough on droid wheels,” said Bartlett. “I’ve seen more than one droid get stuck up there before.”

“As have I,” said Marco. “If you value your droid, you’ll leave her behind for now.”

You glanced back at Remi, weighing the decision in your mind. You really didn’t want to leave her behind, she was how you planned on recording what you saw out in the field, but you also didn’t want to risk hurting her. You loved Remi and would do whatever you could to keep her safe.

“Oh, alright,” you sighed. “Remi you have to stay here for now.”

Your droid beeped quickly in protest. She clearly took issue with the fact that this was the second time she had been left behind in less than twenty-four hours.

“You heard what they said. It isn’t safe for you to come with us. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. I promise,” you said.

“Don’t worry Remi. We’ll be back by lunchtime,” Marco said with a smile.

Remi beeped a few more times in protest but fell silent after a moment. The light on her head turned red but she made no further arguments. She would stay put but she wasn’t happy about it.

“Come on, let’s go.” Marco and Bartlett left the study, walking down the hall towards the front door. You lingered behind for a moment, wanting a quick word with your droid. You bent down to speak to Remi on her level.

“Just because you’re stuck here doesn’t mean you have to stay put. Why don’t you poke around and see if you can find anything interesting?” It was your attempt at a peace offering.

The light on Remi’s head turned green and she hummed happily.

“(Y/N), you coming?” asked Bartlett.

“I’ll be right there!” you called back over your shoulder. You turned back to your droid, “Just don’t get into any trouble.”

Remi hummed in agreement. Good. Hopefully that would keep her occupied until you came back and who knows? Maybe she would discover something interesting about this place while you were away?

***

As the three of you flew down the gravel road you stared up at the trees that lined either side of the pathway. These trees were huge! They soared hundreds of feet up into the air, easily rivaling the height of some of the skyscrapers on Coruscant. Never in all your life had you seen such a sight. No wonder Bartlett said it took months to clear the land — with trees like this you were surprised it didn’t take years!

“When you clear the land what do you do with all the lumber?” you asked.

“We use what we can for construction,” said Bartlett from the backseat. “But most of it is sold to the highest bidder. The profits help offset some of our development costs.”

Marco turned the speeder around a turn and suddenly you were at another checkpoint. It was nearly identical to the one you saw last night, except for the fact that there were two large guard towers on either side of the security gate. Each tower had a large cannon that looked like it’s primary objective was to shoot down any aircraft that got too close to the mines.

Like before, Marco simply flashed a badge and was waved through without another word from the guards. As soon as the speeder passed through the gates the terrain around you changed drastically. Whereas the road here had been lush and green, the landscape in front of you was grey and completely devoid of all vegetation. Gravel hills extended as far as the eye could see, only getting taller the further east you looked. Despite the lack of vegetation, the hills were teeming with life, everywhere you looked machinery and workers darted about.

What hit you next was the smell. It was the same acrid odor you smelled when you first stepped of the ship yesterday, only this time it was stronger. You crinkled your nose as Marco steered the craft up one of the large gravel hills. He noticed your look of disgust and laughed, “I know it doesn’t smell good but trust me, the results are worth it!”

“If you say so,” you said, doing your best to ignore the foul odor.

After a minute Marco stopped the speeder next to a large wooden shack with a tall wooden tower atop it. You stared up at the structure, several like it dotted the rocky hills around you but what were they?

Bartlett noticed your confused look. “This is a headframe. Wherever a mineshaft is you’ll find one of these,” he said as he hopped out of the speeder. “It’s what the elevators and other machinery is hooked up to. Need a hand down?”

“Sure,” you took his hand and hopped out of the speeder. Immediately your feet shifted on the uneven gravel. You clung to Bartlett’s hand as you steadied yourself.

“Told you it was a good idea to leave Remi back at the Lodge,” said Marco. “It’s hard enough to walk on this stuff, just imagine how it must feel for a droid with their wheels!”

He had a point there. If you had brought Remi along you would have had to spend the entire evening digging rocks out of her every nook and cranny. No, he was right to tell you to leave her behind. She would have hated this.

“As you can see this is just one of our mines here on Kenari,” continued Marco. “This one is a carvanium mine, it’s the primary ore used to make durasteel.” He walked towards the shack and motioned for the two of you to follow. “Come on, I chose this mine to show you because it’s one of our safest.”

You hesitantly followed your brother into the wooden shack. Inside were all sorts of mechanisms and pulleys that connected to one rickety looking elevator. You stared at the elevator with wide eyes; it made the one in Gwin’s apartment building look like a luxury experience.

“Here put this on,” Bartlett handed a yellow hard hat to you. You took it from his hands without taking your eyes off the elevator. Did they really think it was safe for all three of you to ride that thing at once? It looked like it could barely hold one person let alone three!

“Kind of reminds me of Gwin’s elevator, huh?” joked Bartlett.

“Huh?” you blinked hard and did your best to look at him instead of the death trap disguised as an elevator.

“I said it reminds me of the elevator in Gwin’s apartment,” he repeated. “There’s nothing to worry about though. Unlike hers, this one is actually inspected for safety.”

“That’s reassuring,” you grumbled, putting the hard hat on your head. It was heavy and clunky, but you felt somewhat safer just by wearing it.   

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Marco echoed. “Like I said, this is one of our safest mines. We’ll be fine.”

He stepped onto the elevator and you watched as the entire thing shifted with his weight, creaking slightly. You gulped nervously and stepped onto the elevator; it made a terrible groaning noise. You grabbed Marco’s arm tightly, holding your breath, terrified out of your mind. You couldn’t remember the last time you looked to your brother for safety like this — it had to have been back when you were children.

“It’s alright, this thing can hold two tons safely,” he said in a reassuring voice. “We’re completely safe. I promise.”

You nodded your head but squeezed your eyes shut as Bartlett stepped onto the elevator. You waited to feel the floor give out from under you, but it didn’t.

Instead, Marco hit a button and with a load groan the metal machinery began to move. Ever so slowly you began to descend into the earth. You said nothing, hardly daring to breathe, as the machine rattled and clunked downwards. The further down you went, the hotter and more pungent the air became. By the time the elevator came to a stop, the back of your throat felt as if it was burning. You cleared your throat, trying to alleviate some of the stinging sensation.

“Sorry about the smell, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Marco. He stepped off the elevator and you didn’t hesitate to follow him, eager to get off the blasted thing. “Watch your head, some of these tunnels are rather low.”

He wasn’t kidding. The tunnel that the elevator connected to was cramped, forcing the three of you to walk single file. All around you was rough grey stone and you had to make a conscious effort to not bump into the walls. The air was hot and stale — it reminded you of the air in your prison cell. For the briefest of moments you were back there again, laid out on the floor waiting for Chud to beat you.

“We’re here!” Your brother’s voice drew you back to the present. You stepped out of the tunnel and froze staring wide eyed at your surroundings. You were in a giant cavern, standing on a ledge of sorts, that looked down into what you presumed was the main part of the mineshaft. Below you hundreds of miners flitted about: some hauled wheelbarrows of slag, others loaded carts full of ore, but most chipped away at the rock walls with pickaxes. The echo of their instruments filled the air, making it difficult to hear much of anything else.

The smell that had only grown worse the deeper into the cave you went, seeming to permeate from the very rock that surrounded you. You gagged, covering your nose with your hand.

“Are you sure this air is safe to breathe?” you asked.

“Of course we are, we wouldn’t be down here if it wasn’t,” said Bartlett. “It just smells awful.” The burning sensation in the back of your throat begged to differ.

You weren’t the only one struggling to breathe this rank, stale air. Many of the miners wore rags or pulled their shirts over their nose and mouth to try and combat the smell. Even though you were twenty feet above them, you could see the sweat shining on their foreheads, reflecting off the orange light of the lamps.

“How long do shifts last?” you asked, trying to focus on breathing through your mouth instead of your nose.  

“Four hours, but most miners choose to take double shifts,” explained Bartlett.

“Why would they want to do that?” you asked.

“Because we offer time and a half to those who decide to stick around,” replied Marco.

Surely these people weren’t that desperate for credits? The prospect of mining for eight hours a day in this hellscape sounded absolutely appalling. Though you had to admit you weren’t a miner and you didn’t know what the conditions in other mines on other planets were like. Maybe this place was good in comparison? It was certainly better than the mine that Obi-Wan had been forced to toil in, at least no one was whipping the miners and barking orders here.

As you watched hundreds of miners work, a question nagged in your mind. “Where did all these people come from?”

“Most of them are this planet’s original inhabitants,” said Marco. “When our company first arrived here over a hundred years ago most of them were living in the jungle, barely scraping by. Our predecessors offered them food, shelter, and a job and they haven’t looked back since.”

“Over the years most of the people who originally remained in the jungle decided to come work for us. We offer stability that the jungle doesn’t,” added Bartlett.

“Are you saying that there are still people living out in the jungle?" you asked.

"There are some, but they’re concentrated on the other side of the planet,” said Marco. “They keep to themselves for the most part.”

“But isn’t that dangerous?” Weren’t there ferocious beasts living in the jungle? How was it safe for people to live out there?

“Oh, it is. That’s why most of them came to work for us,” said Marco.

You spent the rest of the morning being shown around the mineshaft by Marco and Bartlett. The guys explained that while this wasn’t the main mine, it was one of their most profitable ones. Carvanium was exceedingly valuable, and the miners here knew that. They hardly stopped moving the entire duration of your tour, simply choosing to dart around your group rather than stop for even a moment.

When you finally made it back to the surface you were beyond thrilled. You could safely say that you hated the mines and, if it were up to you, you’d never step foot in another one ever again.

The air topside was much fresher than the air underground, but it still reeked of that terrible odor. It was still hot too, and out here on the rocky hillside there wasn’t even a modicum of shade to offer some sort of respite from the heat.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t tour the main mine today,” frowned Marco. “It’s our model system, the one we will be emulating in all mines if our expansion plan is approved.”

“It’s alright,” you replied. He had explained earlier that just yesterday there was a terrible cave-in in the main mine. The entire operation was stalled while crews worked to clear the rubble. Marco was optimistic that before you left at the end of the week, you’d be able to see it for yourself.

“Still, I wish—” Marco was cut off by the sound of a comlink ringing. On instinct you pulled yours out of your pocket, but it wasn’t your comlink that was ringing, it was your brother’s.

“I’m sorry, if you’ll excuse me for just a moment,” said Marco.

“Of course.” You watched as your brother stepped away, holding his comlink close to his mouth, leaving you alone with Bartlett for a moment.

“So, what did you think of the mine?” he asked.

“It was a lot larger than I thought it would be,” you replied. “And busier too.”

“Oh, yes. It’s always busy on Kenari, lots of moving parts,” grinned Bartlett. “That’s why Marco gets paid the big bucks to keep everything moving just as it should.”

“Is it alright if I take the speeder back to the Lodge?” Marco asked, holding his comlink to his chest, muffling his words from whoever was on the other line. “Something’s come up that requires my immediate attention.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. (Y/N) and I can walk back after I finish showing her around some more,” said Bartlett. “Go take care of things.”

“Great thanks! See you both back at the Lodge,” smiled Marco. With one last bow of his head he hurried towards the speeder, talking quickly into his comlink. Within seconds he was flying down the hillside, a cloud of dust trailing behind him.

For the next half hour Bartlett showed you various machines and explained their uses to you. It was incredibly boring, but you were doing your best to appear interested. It was apparent that Bartlett was very knowledgeable about the topic and you didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Thankfully he didn’t seem to notice your disinterest and continued to prattle on about drills and bulldozers.

“Are you getting hungry?” he abruptly stopped midsentence.

“Kind of, why?”

“Because I think I’ve talked so long that it’s now lunchtime,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, I got kind of carried away there.”

“It’s okay, I feel like I really learned a lot,” you lied.

“Still, I feel bad for going on as long as I did. Come on, let’s head back to the Lodge.” He began to walk down the hillside, large chunks of gravel sliding down the hill under his feet. You followed after him, eager to have some lunch. Now that he had pointed out the time, your hunger was all you could think about — you had skipped breakfast after all.

You hurried down the hillside, when suddenly you felt the gravel under your feet shift. You began to fall forward but Bartlett grabbed ahold of your arm, keeping you upright.

“You okay?” he asked quickly, looking you over for injuries.

“I’m fine, just slipped,” you said as you regained your footing.

“You really need to watch where you’re going out here. You could have fallen into a tar pit or something.” He let go of your arm. “Trust me you do not want to fall into one of those.”

“You make it sound like you’ve fallen into one yourself,” you joked.

“I haven’t but I’ve heard stories about people who have.” His tone was anything but humorous. When Bartlett saw your confused look, he elaborated. “You must understand this was before Marco and I began working here… Before your brother took over, things were rougher here, less organized. See all these rocks?” He motioned to the gravel under your feet.

“Obviously.”

“It’s slag. The management before your brother just dumped it wherever they could, including into the tar pits,” explained Bartlett. “Only it takes time for things to sink into the tar. The slag would just sit there on the surface for days if not weeks and, to the untrained eye, it looked like part of the hillside. People would walk right into the tar pits without even realizing what they had done until it was too late to do anything about it.”

“How horrible,” you muttered.

“Indeed,” agreed Bartlett. “I’m sorry to bring down the mood but I thought you should know.”

When you finally reached the bottom of the hill you breathed a sigh of relief. At least now you weren’t in any danger of falling into a hidden tar pit. Bartlett turned to the right, heading back towards the security checkpoint you came in through. You noticed it wasn’t the only one, to the left there was an identical one only a little ways off.

“Where does that road lead to?” you asked, pointing to the other checkpoint.

“Oh, that road goes back to the landing platform,” said Bartlett. “All the roads here make a loop between the Lodge, mines, and the landing platform. It makes it hard for people to get lost,” he joked.

The two of you walked alongside each other down the gravel road back towards the Lodge. Now that you had been to the mines, you recognized the rocks under your feet as more slag — at least here the rocks served a purpose, paving the road for speeders. You also noticed that the further away from the mines you were, the easier it became to breathe. Though you had been out of the mines for quite some time, your throat still burned. If it was this bad for you, what was it like for the miners stuck down there all day?

Something wet hit your shoulder. Was that rain? You glanced up at the cloudy sky and two seconds later the heavens opened into a torrential downpour!

“Quick, over here!” Bartlett exclaimed, pulling you towards the tree line. By the time the two of you found refuge under the tree canopy both of you were soaked to the bone.

“Where the hell did that come from?!” you exclaimed, shaking off some of the excess water.

“One of the downsides of this planet I’m afraid,” Bartlett huffed, wringing his shirt out. “Storms just appear out of nowhere. I’m sorry we got caught in one.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, it’s not like you can control the weather.” You glanced out at the rain; you could barely see the trees on the other side of the road despite the fact that they were only fifty feet away. “So how long do these storms last anyways?”

“Anywhere from a minute to an hour,” he replied. “I’m afraid there’s no real way of telling.”

“At least we’re kind of dry here,” you said glancing up at the tree that was currently offering you shelter. It’s lowest branches soared easily over a hundred feet above your head, yet it still shielded you from the downpour.

“(Y/N)?”

“Yeah?” you lowered your gaze to focus on your friend.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

You were expecting another question about what you thought about the mines or maybe for him to ask for a hint as to which way Padmè was leaning on his proposal. You were not expecting him to take your hands in his own.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you this for weeks now, ever since Padmè’s party really… I still love you. I never stopped loving you—”

“Bartlett—”

“Hold on, just— just let me get this out, okay? Please?” He stared at you with such an earnest look, all you could do was nod your head.

“I was a fool to end things with you all those years ago. I should have never let you go. I should have forgotten this stupid job and stayed on Coruscant with you… Not a day goes by where I don’t regret my decision.” Bartlett squeezed your hands gently, “But ever since we’ve been reunited, I can’t help but notice that when I’m around you everything just feels right. It’s like we’re meant to be together. I’m asking — begging — you to take me back. Let’s start over again, please.”

You stared at him in stunned silence. You knew that he wanted to get back together for awhile now, but you weren’t expecting such an ardent confession.

“Bartlett, I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes. Say yes and you’ll make me the happiest man in the galaxy,” he replied earnestly.

You opened and closed your mouth several times, each reply dying in your throat. As you stared into Bartlett’s beautiful hazel eyes you felt your heart torn two ways. There was still a part of you that held feelings for him, but you had to acknowledge that those feelings paled in comparison to what you felt for Obi-Wan.

But you could never be with Obi-Wan, at least not publicly. Even then, both of you would be forced to lie to everyone you cared about. Your whole life would be centered around a lie — one that, if discovered, could spell ruin for Obi-Wan. But if you were to say yes to Bartlett and resume your relationship with him, you wouldn’t have to hide from anyone.   

You cast your eyes downward, not wanting to meet Bartlett’s eye. “I’m sorry, I need some time to think about this.” It wasn’t a good answer but at least it bought you some time to consider your options.

“Of course, take all the time you need.” He squeezed your hands once more before letting go.

You tucked your hands behind your back and looked back out at the storm. Your mind raced, filled with questions you didn’t have the answers to. Then just as fast as it had begun, the rain stopped.

“Come on, we should try to get back before another storm whips up,” said Bartlett. “I don’t know about you, but I would love to change into some dry clothes.”

***

When you made it back to the Lodge you changed into dry clothes, had some lunch, and then were stuck listening to your companions explain an entire mountain’s worth of paperwork to you. Thankfully you were reunited with Remi, so you could relax a bit. She was recording the entire meeting, so it wasn’t a huge issue if you zoned out for a minute or two and missed something.

The afternoon passed this way until it was time for dinner. Like the night before it was absolutely delicious, though you had a hard time focusing on your companions’ conversation. Your mind was still reeling from Bartlett’s confession earlier.

Dinner went by quickly and once it was over, everyone went their separate ways. You wandered around the main floor of the Lodge, not really looking for anything in particular. Remi followed close behind; ever since you had gotten back from the mines, she had been unusually clingy. Guess she didn’t like being left alone on a strange planet. You couldn’t blame her; you’d be clingy too if the roles were reversed.

You wandered into a room that looked like a parlor of some kind and, like the night before, you gravitated towards the window. Your eyes were drawn in by the mysterious red haze that glowed on the horizon but that wasn’t what occupied your thoughts.

Ever since Bartlett had asked to get back together your mind hadn’t stopped racing, constantly running over every scenario and what if you could think of. What was the right choice? If only you could see the future like Shef could, even a hint in the right direction would be helpful right now!

You had loved Bartlett. The two of you had been so blissfully happy during the year you were together that you had often imagined starting a life with him… now you couldn’t imagine a life with anyone other than Obi-Wan. But if you were being honest with yourself, you couldn’t imagine a life with Obi-Wan — at least not a life where the two of you could be with one another openly. He was a Jedi and attachments were forbidden… ugh! All this was doing was making your head hurt!

“You were awfully quiet at dinner. Something on your mind?” It was Marco. You said nothing, unsure if it was a good idea to tell him about everything that had happened today.

He seemed to notice your apprehension and changed the subject. “That red haze you see is the fumes from the mines reacting with the planet’s atmosphere. You can only see it at night, pretty cool huh?”

You hummed in agreement, eyes still focused on the red haze, mind still racing.

“Want a drink?” asked Marco.

“A drink sounds lovely.” You turned to face your brother and watched him pour two glasses of a dark brown liquid. He offered a glass out to you, a peace offering of sorts. You smiled and walked over to join him, accepting the drink.

“Thanks.” You took a sip and coughed, the alcohol burning your throat on the way down. Damn, this stuff was strong!

“A beverage from my private collection,” Marco explained with a grin. “I hope it’s to your taste? If not, I can get you something else—”

“It’s good, Marco. Thanks for sharing.” The truth was this really wasn’t your type of drink but right now you didn’t care. You just wanted your mind to quiet down for a moment and you’d take whatever you could get.

“What’s wrong?” he asked gently. “You haven’t been yourself all evening.”

Remi hummed in agreement. You glanced down at your droid. Remi wouldn’t be much help with this problem but maybe you could confide in Marco? It’s not like he knew about your connection to Obi-Wan. He wouldn’t be able to connect the dots like your other friends could.

“I’m just struggling with a decision,” you admitted after a moment.

“Oh, is that all?” asked Marco. You glanced up sharply at his cavalier tone. “If you’re having trouble making a decision why not let someone you trust make it for you? Me, Bartlett, Padmè, your friend Gwin perhaps? Someone who has your best interests at heart.”

You were quiet for a moment, processing his words. Something about giving up all agency in such an important decision like this hardly seemed like a good idea. “I’d rather make the gravest of mistakes then surrender my own judgement… but I wouldn’t mind getting a second opinion. If you don’t mind that is?”

“How can I help?” Marco asked, looking at you over the rim of his glass. You took a long swig of your drink, steadying your nerves. As long as you kept things vague it would be alright to confide in him.

“Bartlett told me that he wants to get back together.”

“Really? That’s great news!” Marco smiled brightly but his face fell when you didn’t return his grin. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him I needed to think about it.”

“But I thought you liked him?”

“I do but…” you trailed off, not quite sure what to say next.

“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” he asked gently.

“Sort of,” you muttered. You chose your next few words carefully, making sure not to reveal anything that might give away Obi-Wan’s true identity. “We want to be together, but our jobs forbid it.”

“What is he an aide to a rival senator or something?” joked Marco.

“Something like that,” you said, pursing your lips together.

“So what? The two of you get together and piss a couple of people off, big deal. If the two of you want to be together, then be together. Who cares what other people think?” said Marco.

“But he’d be fired if anyone ever found out we were together,” you explained quickly. “I can’t ask him to risk losing everything because of me.”

“If he loves you, he won’t care about that,” Marco said in a firm voice. “If he cares more about his job than you, then he’s not the right guy. You deserve to be with someone who puts you first, someone who would do anything for you.”

Marco took a sip of his drink before continuing. “Look (Y/N), Bartlett is completely head over heels for you. Ever since that dinner back on Coruscant he hasn’t stopped telling me about you. I know the two of you would be happy together… you deserve to be happy. You shouldn’t spend your life waiting around for a guy who values work more than you. You deserve better than that.”

Remi chirped in agreement.  

Your brother glanced down at the droid and smiled, “See? Even your droid agrees with me!”

“In this instance that doesn’t mean much. She can’t stand the other guy and I have no idea why.” You addressed your next few words at the droid. “He’s nothing but nice to you. I can’t understand why you hate him so much.”

Remi simply beeped twice in a low tone.

“Look, all you should be concerned with is making sure you’re happy,” said Marco. “It’s your life and you’re the one who has to live with this decision. Not me, not Remi, you.”

“You’re right,” you sighed. “Thanks for listening.”

“Of course, what are brother’s for?” he smiled, draining the rest of his glass. “Well, I think I’m going to turn in for the night. Just shout if you need anything, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Marco.”

“Of course. Night, (Y/N).”

“Night.”

Notes:

Hi guys! Sorry about there being no Obi-Wan again, I decided to add the dream sequence in last minute to throw him into the mix at least for a minute lol. Don’t worry he’s coming back soon! I hope you liked the chapter; I spent WAY too much time researching mines and mining operations to make it feel as believable as possible. As always, thanks for reading!

Chapter 17: Kenari (Part III)

You had learned from your mistake yesterday and awoke early the next morning, making sure to give yourself plenty of time to ready for the day. That said, sleeping in would have been the better choice, you hadn’t slept well. You awoke several times throughout the night from nightmares and stress dreams — even while sleeping your mind just couldn’t stop racing.

As such, you were very groggy as you readied for the day. You threw on another one of your outfits (a white tunic and light brown pants this time) and braided your hair again. It was kind of nice not having to wear your elaborate updos while out here, it made this trip feel a bit more like a vacation rather than work. Padmè likely wouldn’t approve of your casual appearance while on business, but she wasn’t here so you could do as you liked.

You had spoken to her briefly before falling asleep last night, explaining your trip into the carvanium mine and afternoon meeting with the guys. Remi had sent over a recording of the meeting and several pictures she had taken of what she had seen of the planet thus far. It wasn’t much information, but Padmè was grateful to receive anything that might help her decide her position on the expansion proposal.

You could smell something delicious as you made your way downstairs and followed your nose into the dining room. Sure enough Marco and Bartlett were sitting at one end of the oversized wooden table, speaking in hushed whispers. An elaborate spread of food was laid out on the table in front of them, seemingly forgotten for now.

You lingered in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Remi on the other hand had no qualms about doing so. She rolled into the room, whistling a loud hello.

The guys looked up at the noise and smiled when they saw it was you.

“Ah, good morning!” said Marco with a bright smile. “Hungry?”

“A bit.” You sat down across from Bartlett, while Marco sat at the head of the table. The two men had been looking over some papers but pushed them to the side once you sat down.

“You should really try some of this Ithorian starfruit. It just arrived this morning, can’t get much fresher than that out here!” Bartlett said as he pushed a bowl of bright pink fruit towards you.

“Thanks.” You took one of these fruits, peeled back its skin, and took a bite. It was incredibly sweet and juicy, so much so that a bead of juice dribbled down your chin. You quickly wiped it away with the back of your hand. “It’s good! So what’s on the agenda for today?”

“We’ll be headed back up to the mines today. This time we’ll be going over the packaging process, it takes a lot of work to get our ore to the rest of the galaxy,” said Bartlett with a smile.

“Sounds interesting,” you lied, taking another bite of your fruit. You were beginning to see why Padmè had delegated this trip to you. Sure she was busy with other matters, and it was your brother who worked here, but learning all the ins and outs of the mining industry was incredibly boring. It would almost be a treat to get back to the daily grind of Senate paperwork… almost.

“You’ll have to tell me what you think of our operations when you get back,” said Marco. “I’m eager to hear your opinion.”

“What do you mean?” You looked over at your brother in confusion. “Aren’t you coming with us?”

“Unfortunately not,” he frowned. “I have several meetings with executives this morning that I can’t get out of. Don’t worry, I’ll meet up with you guys after lunch. I hope that’s alright?” Although his tone was pleasant you could see the worried look in Marco’s eye. He was indirectly asking you if you were okay with being alone with Bartlett after everything that happened yesterday.

“It’s fine, I’m sure Bartlett will be an excellent guide,” you said easily. It might be a little awkward to be around him right now, but you were both adults. You could handle this.  

“There’s no one on the planet who knows more about the mines than him,” agreed Marco with a smile.

“Please, you give me too much credit,” said Bartlett. “Besides, I learned everything I know from you. Don’t sell yourself short.”

“Ha, indeed…” Marco hummed, taking a sip of his caf.

Remi chirped inquisitively. She wanted to know if she could tag along today.

“Sorry Remi, you’ll have to stay behind again. It’s just not safe out there,” said Bartlett.

Your droid turned her head towards you and beeped sadly. She was begging to come with as she had yesterday.

“Sorry girl but he’s right. I almost fell over out there yesterday, and I’m not the one with wheels for rocks to get stuck in,” you said. “I’d bring you with me if I could.”

Remi hummed sadly before going quiet. Maybe you should have left her back on Coruscant? This trip hadn’t been much of one for her. All she had done so far was ride in a cargo hold and be stuck in the Lodge waiting for your return. It sounded awfully boring to you. No wonder she was desperate to come along.

Once breakfast was over, you, Bartlett, and Remi strolled towards the exit. You had only made it halfway down the hallway when Marco’s voice rang out.

“Hey, wait a second (Y/N)!” You stopped in your tracks and looked back. Marco was hurrying down the hall towards you. “I wanted to talk to you about something real quick before you go.”

“Sure, what’s up?” you asked.

“I’ll wait for you outside,” Bartlett said. “See you later, Marco.”

“Until then,” your brother said with a smile.

Bartlett bowed his head and stepped outside, leaving you and your brother alone with Remi.

“I’m sorry for delaying you but I wanted to make sure that you were really okay with this,” Marco explained. “If you don’t want to be alone with Bartlett right now, I can rearrange my schedule and give you the tour myself this afternoon.”

“No, it’s alright,” you said. “You’re busy enough as is. Besides Bartlett and I are adults. We can handle spending a morning alone.”

“I’m sure you can but… are you sure? I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position,” frowned Marco.

“I’ve dealt with much worse things before. I’ll be fine Marco. Really. You shouldn’t worry so much.”

“You’re my little sister; it’s my job to worry about you. Come here.” He opened his arms for a hug, and you happily accepted it. “Just try not to almost fall down the hillside again. Alright?” he said as he pulled away from you.

“I’ll try my best,” you grinned. “Good luck with your meetings.”

“Thanks. Speaking of which…” he glanced down at his watch. “I gotta get going. Good luck out there.” With one last smile he hurried down the hall towards his office, leaving you alone with Remi.

Your droid hummed quietly, speaking more to herself than you. Still, you glanced down at your trusty little friend. You felt bad leaving her alone again like this, but then you had an idea.

“Hey Remi?”

The droid chirped and spun her head towards you.

“You already explored the entire Lodge yesterday. Right?”

She beeped an irritated sounding yes. You were right, she was mad about being locked up for pretty much the entire trip. 

“Thought so. How would you feel about exploring the landing platform for me? It’s all tarmac out there and flat too, your wheels shouldn’t have any trouble with the terrain there,” you suggested. Just because she couldn’t come with you to the mines didn’t mean she had to stay cooped up here all day.

Remi beeped excitedly at your suggestion, the light on her head flashing green. She obviously liked your suggestion.

“That’s what I thought,” you chuckled. “You can go whenever you want, just try to stay out of everyone’s way. Okay? And don’t get into any trouble. Remember we’re guests here.”

Remi beeped an affirmative.

“That’s my girl,” you smiled, patting her domed head. “I’ll be back this afternoon. Have fun.”

Remi beeped and whistled a response that you couldn’t quite understand. She was probably saying something along the lines of ‘you too.’ Either way, it sounded like your plan would give your friend something to do while you were away. It also helped that Remi would be able to record everything she saw down at the landing platform for Padmè. This little plan of yours took care of two birds with one stone.

***

The speeder ride to the mines was quiet though not uncomfortable, as it was only a four minute ride to the mines. You remained quiet but attentive as the morning dragged on, filled with Bartlett walking you around the hillside, prattling on about the packaging process of the ore. Like yesterday it was terribly boring, but you did your best to feign interest in what he said.  

As Bartlett went on and on about ore and minerals and their value to the war effort, you found your thoughts idly drifting back to Obi-Wan. Where was he? You hadn’t heard from him since the night everything transpired at the Jedi temple and that was nearly two weeks ago now. Even though that was an objectively short amount of time (especially considering the usual time it took to hear from him) you still found yourself missing Obi-Wan terribly.

Bartlett was explaining something about how the ore was sent to different refineries on different planets when he trailed off midsentence. You tore your gaze away from the rocky hillside to look over at him. Why had he stopped talking?

“I can tell I’m boring you today,” he said with a half-hearted laugh.

“Sorry I—”

“Don’t be. I know most of this stuff isn’t very interesting to most people. I’m an anomaly in that regard,” he said. “Besides, you have more important things on your mind… have you given my question from yesterday any more thought?”  

“I have.” The better question would have been: have you thought of anything else besides that? His question had consumed your every waking thought, and even your unconscious ones. You needed to give him an answer here and now; you weren’t going to keep toiling over this problem. Not when the answer had suddenly become obvious to you.

It wasn’t Bartlett you found yourself worrying about in the quiet moments of your life. It wasn’t Bartlett who you dreamed of. It was Obi-Wan. It had always been Obi-Wan. Even if you had no clue how a relationship with a Jedi could ever work out, it wasn’t fair to string Bartlett along any longer.

“And?” he asked hopefully.

“And I’m afraid my answer is no… I’m sorry Bartlett.”

He stared at you for a moment, his face shifting into several different emotions so fast you could hardly catch them all. It finally settled into a mask of pure confusion. “What?”

“I’m sorry but my feelings don’t… don’t go beyond friendship,” you explained gently.

Bartlett shook his head in disbelief. He brought his hand to his mouth and turned away from you, processing your words. He stood there looking back out at the jungle that separated the mines from the rest of the compound. After a moment he spoke again, his voice sharp.

“It’s because of that Jedi, isn’t it?”  

“Huh?” you were completely caught off guard by his words.

Bartlett turned towards you, face calm but eyes alight with anger. “You know exactly who I’m talking about. The Jedi from Padmè’s party, General Kenobi.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Yes, you do! You know exactly what I’m talking about!” exclaimed Bartlett. He paused, taking a moment to collect himself. “I’m not an idiot, (Y/N). I saw the way he looked at you that night.”

“You’re reading into things,” you said in a firm voice. “He looked at me the same way he did anyone else at that party. We’re just friends—”

“Stop lying, (Y/N). It doesn’t suit you,” snapped Bartlett.

“I’m not lying!” you insisted. “He’s a Jedi, they’re forbidden from having attachments, let alone relationships! The general and I are merely friends. He doesn’t love me, and I don’t love him… and I don’t love you. Not anymore. I’m sorry.”  

Bartlett froze at your words, his eyes growing wide with hurt. He turned away from you without another word and marched down the hillside towards the speeder. You watched as he climbed into the craft and sped off, leaving you alone on the hillside.

You stared at his retreating figure with wide eyes. Had he truly been suspicious of your friendship with Obi-Wan since Padmè’s party or had he started to connect the dots when he saw that painting of you on Kenobi’s transport ship? How much did he know as a fact and how much was merely a guess? Would he stay quiet about his suspicions, or would he choose to be vindictive? If he really wanted to, he could approach the Jedi Council with his accusations. A short investigation would be more than enough to prove Bartlett’s allegations as true and result in Obi-Wan being expelled from the Jedi Order. You refused to believe that Bartlett could be so cruel…

Your mind raced with different scenarios. What if Bartlett promised to stay quiet? What if he told others about his suspicions? What if he decided to go after Obi-Wan in a fit of rage? There were too many ways that all of this could turn out terribly.

“Excuse me?”

You jumped at the unfamiliar voice. Standing just a few feet away from you was a woman around the same age as your mother if you had to guess. Judging by her dusty outfit, she was one of the miners.

“Are you okay?” the woman asked. You could tell by her heavy accent that Galactic Basic wasn’t her first language.

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?” you replied quickly.

“You have been standing here a long time… and you are crying.” She frowned and motioned to your face. You raised your hand to your cheek and sure enough it was wet with tears.

“Oh, sorry. Am I in your way?” you asked, quickly wiping away your tears. It wasn’t right for you to be crying like this, especially in front of strangers. If Padmè could see you now, she’d be horribly disappointed. You had to push through your own personal troubles, at least for right now, and focus on doing your job.

“No, no, no. I am just worried,” said the woman.

“Oh, I see.” You were about to dismiss the woman, allowing her to get back to work, but you remembered Padmè’s request from last night. She had specifically asked that if the opportunity arose to interview some of the workers here, you should. She was eager to hear their opinions on the operations here.

“Thank you for your concern, I appreciate it,” you said with a weak smile. “If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask you a few questions?”

“I shouldn’t,” she muttered, looking back at the closest mine. “I should get back to work…”

“Please, I’ll only take a moment of your time,” you said quickly. “I promise to be quick!”

“Well alright… what do you want to know?” she asked, turning back to you.

“Do you like working in the mines?” you asked one of Padmè’s preplanned questions.

“I like working in the mines very much,” answered the woman. There was an almost robotic sort of cadence to her words, like she had rehearsed this answer many times before.

“If that isn’t true you can tell me. I don’t work for the company,” you explained. “I promise that anything you tell me will remain a secret.”

“I like working in the mines very much,” she repeated in a firm voice.

“Right…” Well you weren’t going to get a different answer out of her, better ask a different one then. “How long have you worked here?”

“Since I was a little girl,” she replied. “We lived in the jungle until our home was destroyed. We have been stuck here ever since.”

“Why stay? You’ve surely saved up enough credits to leave by now?”

“What are credits?” asked the woman.

“You don’t know what credits are?” you asked dumbly.

“No?”

“They’re money. You know, the thing you’re paid with for all your work?” you said. “They look like this.” You fished a few credits out of your pocket and showed them to the woman. She tilted her head slightly, staring at the money.

“That is not how we are paid. This is,” she pulled out a small brass circle from her pocket. “This is our money.”

“What is it?” you asked, staring in confusion at the odd currency.

“Rim Coin,” she said. “We use it to buy food.”

“But I thought food was provided to you?” Hadn’t Marco told you that his predecessors provided the miners with food, shelters, and jobs?

“No, we buy it,” the woman put the coin back into her pocket, “all our money goes to food. Very expensive.”

This didn’t make any sense. Why weren’t these people paid in credits? Kenari was part of the Republic, therefore they should use credits. Not whatever these strange coins were.

“I should get back to work.” The woman looked around nervously, leaned in close to you, and whispered, “They are watching.”

“Who is?”

“The guards,” she whispered with wide eyes.

That was the moment you understood. The guards weren’t there simply to protect the mines from those who wanted to take them for themselves, they were also there to prevent the miners from escaping back into the jungle. That was why there were so many of them.

“I understand,” you said nodding your head. You were doing your best to remain calm. “I’ll let you get back to work. No doubt you’re all very busy clearing out the main mine after that cave-in.”

“What cave-in?”

“You know, the one in the main mine? It happened just two days ago—”

“There has been no cave-in there for months,” said the woman in a matter-of-fact voice.  

“What?”

“There has been no cave-in there for months,” she repeated.

There hadn’t been a cave-in? But Marco had told you — Marco. He had been lying to you all along. It was the only thing that made sense. He had lied about the miners, the guards, the cave-in… What was real and what was a lie? There was no way of knowing for sure, all you knew is that you couldn’t trust another word out of his mouth.

And what about Bartlett? What was his role in all this? Had he known of your brother’s lies? Almost certainly. He had lived on Kenari for four years and was one of your brother’s closest friends. The was no way he couldn’t know what was really going on here. Both of them were lying to you but how deep did these lies go?

The roar of engines from overhead brought you out of your spiraling thoughts. A large ship flew low overhead, obviously preparing to land, but the low altitude wasn’t what caught your attention. It was the shape of the ship. It was one you had seen countless times on the holonet and in the news, it was a Separatist ship. What were the Separatists doing here? Were you under attack?! Why weren’t the antiaircraft guns firing upon them?!

“Right on time,” said the woman.

You looked over at her sharply, her gaze was transfixed on the ship above you. “What do you mean right on time?”

“That ship comes every week.” She lowered her gaze to rest on you, “They are very good customer.” She looked over your shoulder and her face twisted into a frown. “May I go back to work now?”

“What? Oh yes, yes of course. Thank you for speaking to me,” you said, forcing a smile. The woman bowed her head and retreated, leaving you alone on the hillside once more.

You cast your gaze upward towards the large ship. Why was a Separatist ship coming here every week? No, calm down. There had to be an explanation for all of this. This just had to be one big misunderstanding. It just had to be. Maybe the ship had been commandeered by the Republic? Yes, that made sense. That had to be it… Still, you needed to be sure of that fact. You couldn’t just assume, you needed to know the answer definitively.

You raced down the hillside towards the path that would take you to the landing platform, needing to discover the truth for yourself. When you made it to the security checkpoint at the bottom of the hill the guards waved you through without a word, they obviously recognized you as Marco’s sister. You must have been given the same clearance as him, at least at these checkpoints. Thank the Maker for that.

You jogged down the gravel road towards the landing platform, thankful that you weren’t wearing one of you usual dresses. The thick, humid air clung to you, trapping your sweat against your skin. Talk about terrible running conditions! How the hell did the miners manage to work in this environment, the heat here was absolutely brutal!

The road between the mines and the landing platform was much shorter than the road between the Lodge and the mines. You made it to the edge of the landing platform in only a few minutes, coming to a stop at the next security checkpoint. The guards once again waved you through and you waved a thank you, trying to act natural.

It wasn’t hard to spot the Separatist ship; it was the largest one on the platform. In fact, many of the ships that had been here when you arrived on planet were now missing. They must have departed for other systems, or they simply left to make room for this vessel. All around the platform workers skittered about, carrying crates full of ore towards the ship. It was because of this commotion that you were unable to get a good look at the ship. You would have to get closer.

You carefully navigated your way through the chaos, doing your best to not get in the way, nor draw any unnecessary attention to yourself. You came upon a large stack of metal crates and ducked behind them. You peeked over the top of these crates and what you saw made your heart sink.

Standing there in neat rows was a battalion of battle droids. They were standing at attention at the bottom of the ship’s ramp, blasters at the ready. There was no doubt about it, this was a Separatist ship. But why was it here? Why weren’t the guards shooting at them?

A lone figure descended the ramp, one that you had only seen on the holonet up until now… General Grievous. Your heart sank further into your stomach and a chill shot down your spine. What the kriff was General Grievous doing here and why was everyone so calm about it?!       

You got your answer almost immediately. Standing there at the edge of the sea of battle droids was Marco. He bowed deeply to General Grievous and motioned to a nearby speeder. You couldn’t hear what they were saying from here but there was no mistaking it, the two of them were acquainted. Oh, this was bad. This was very, very bad.

You watched as General Grievous and Marco climbed into the speeder and flew off towards the Lodge. Was this the meeting Marco mentioned this morning?! You ducked your head back down behind the crates and leaned back against them, sinking to the floor. Your heart pounded in your chest as you realized with startling fast clarity the situation you now found yourself in.

Your brother was a traitor to the Republic and he was directly working with General Grievous, one of the most twisted and evil beings in the entire galaxy! You were stuck on an unfamiliar planet with no way to protect yourself, you didn’t even have your droid with you! Wait — was that why the guys had been adamant on Remi not coming with you to the mines? Did they not want her recording their operation?!

You needed to call Padmè for help. Now.

You reached into your pocket for your comlink but found it missing. Odd, you could have sworn you had put it in that pocket. Maybe it was in your other one? You stuck your hand in your other pocket and to your horror found it empty as well. Where the kriff was your comlink? You always carried it on you! Had you forgotten it back in your room this morning? No, you vividly remembered putting it into your pocket before heading downstairs for breakfast. Had it fallen out of your pocket on your way over here?

Then you remembered Marco hugging your farewell this morning. Had he stolen your comlink from your pocket so you wouldn’t be able to call for help? It was possible. He knew what pocket you kept your comlink in after all, he had seen you reach for it yesterday while out at the mines… He must have taken it before you left this morning. After everything that you had just seen, you didn’t doubt this suspicion of yours in the slightest.

Without a comlink you couldn’t call for help. You didn’t even have your holopad on you, you always left that in your bedroom — it just wasn’t a workday device for you. Right now you were regretting that fact. You were stuck on an unfamiliar planet with no means of communication with an evil cyborg on the loose. This was so not good.

Before you could start workshopping ideas on how to escape, the boxes you were leaning against suddenly moved. You scrambled to your feet and saw several battle droids lifting the boxes you were just hiding behind. All of them stared at you in surprise. Oh kriff.

“Who are you?” asked the closet droid.

You had to make a decision and fast. Either you could turn and run, instantly blowing your cover and turning yourself into a fugitive, or you could play along and pretend to be a part of your brother’s corrupt plan. The choice was obvious.

“I’m an employee of Commercial Rim Mining. I was just checking that everything was right with your order,” you lied, putting on your best customer service voice and smile that you could muster. It was hard to keep your voice from shaking, but your life depended on your acting skills right now.    

“Oh, I see,” said the droid. “Well then—”

“What’s the hold up over here? Do you want the general to get mad again?” another droid chirped, walking over to your stalled group. This one was a command droid.

“No, sir. We were just dealing with this woman,” said the first droid. “She was making sure our order was correct.”

The command droid stared at you with its mechanical eyes. “Our order is always correct. Is this another attempt by Mr. Felvora to try and weasel a better deal out of us?”

“No— no, of course not!” you stammered. “I’m just, uh— I’m just part of the quality control department.”

“We’ve never met someone from the quality control department before,” said the command droid. “But don’t worry you’ll get your money. The general is speaking to your boss as we speak.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ll just take my leave then—”

“Not so fast. Soldier 5524, you will escort this woman back to the Lodge. Make sure to tell Mr. Felvora that we don’t appreciate his meddling,” said the commander droid.

“Roger, roger!” the first droid you spoke to, number 5524, dropped its side of the crate to salute its commanding officer. The other droids, unable to support the weight of the ore by themselves, dropped the crate. It fell to the ground, the lid popping off, and ore tumbled out across the tarmac.

“Hey watch it! That stuff’s expensive!” chirped the commander droid. “Clean this up immediately!”

“Roger, roger,” chirped all the other droids, number 5524 included. It bent over to start picking up the ore along with the others but the commander droid groaned.

“Not you, 5524. Take this lady to the Lodge now.”    

“Roger, roger.” The battle droid turned towards you, “Come with me.”

You had no choice but to follow it towards another nearby speeder. You were outnumbered and outgunned, if you tried escaping now you wouldn’t stand a chance. So you sat quietly in the speeder and tried to formulate a plan. No one knew that you knew everything was a lie. No one had seen you talk to the miner woman except for some guards and they wouldn’t be able to tell what the two of you had talked about. They had been too far away to overhear anything. As long as you kept your mouth shut and played dumb, you stood a chance of making it through this.

In no time at all you were back at the Lodge and were committed to your plan of playing the innocent victim. It shouldn’t be hard, all you had to do was act confused. Hopefully your brother would buy your act for now. You just had to stall long enough to call for help.

The commander droid led your through the main level of the Lodge, towards Marco’s study. When the battle droid opened the heavy wooden doors to your brother’s study, your heart stopped. It was a scene straight out of one of your nightmares.

The air hummed with the sound of a lightsaber and there stood Marco behind his desk. He was staring down at his chest; a bright green blade pierced through it. At the other end of the blade was General Grievous. The cyborg ripped the blade from your brother’s chest with a sickening hum. Marco collapsed to the ground with a loud crash, but he didn’t feel any pain from his fall.

He was dead before he hit the ground.

You knew that because you could feel it in the Force. The steady hum of energy that you had come to recognize as Marco’s Force signature simply disappeared.  

“I told you I didn’t come to negotiate,” spat Grievous. The monster turned, not towards you as you had expected, but towards Bartlett. In all the chaos you hadn’t even noticed your friend standing off to the side, a horrified expression on his face. You could feel the fear radiating off him from here.

“If you’re smart, you’ll agree to my terms, unlike your companion here,” growled Grievous. He pointed his lightsaber towards Bartlett to emphasize his point.     

“Uh, Sir?” piped up the battle droid.

Grievous then turned his attention towards you. Your blood ran cold as soon as his hideous yellow eyes fell upon your figure. You were in terrible danger.

“What is the meaning of this interruption?” snapped Grievous.

“We found this woman poking around our crates, Sir. The commander thought she might be a part of a plan by Mr. Felvora to get a better deal out of us,” said the droid.      

Grievous studied your figure. He wasn’t an idiot; it was obvious that you weren’t one of Commercial Rim Mining’s usual employees — you weren’t wearing anything close to their uniforms. “Who is this?” he demanded.

No one said anything. Your eyes darted to Bartlett, silently begging him for help. Begging him to save you.

“I said who is this?” demanded Grievous. “Don’t make me ask again.” His lightsaber hummed ominously, still pointed at Bartlett’s throat.

“She’s— She’s (Y/N) Felvora,” stammered Bartlett. “Marco’s little sister. She’s here on a social call. Please, she has nothing to do with any of this. Don’t hurt her!”

“A social call, huh?” Grievous lowered his weapon, turning off the blade. The room fell into an eerie silence as the cyborg stared at you. “If that is the case, why was she poking around my order?”

“I got lost while exploring the compound,” you lied quickly. You had no idea if Grievous was Force sensitive but just in case he was you took extra care to guard your mind. “I was trying to find a speeder.”

The cyborg narrowed his eyes at you. “Run her fact through your detection scanners. See if she is who they say she is.”

“Roger, roger.” The droid turned its head towards you and scanned your face. The datapad it held in its hands beeped with the results. “(Y/N) Felvora. Sister to Marco Felvora, executive manager of Commercial Rim Mining’s operation on Kenari. Works as a handmaiden to Senator Amidala of Naboo.”

“A senator… how interesting,” said Grievous. He took a step closer to you, and it took everything in your power to not visibly tremble. “Why would a senator’s aide be here the same time as me?”

“Like I said she was here on a social call—” said Bartlett.

“A lie. Tell me now why she is really here, or she dies right here in front of you,” growled Grievous.

“Alright, alright, I lied!” cried Bartlett, raising his hands in surrender. “We told you we were trying to have our expansion paid for by the Senate. She was just observing—”

“She’s observed too much,” growled Grievous.

“Please don’t hurt her!” Bartlett cried stepping between the two of you. “I’ll do whatever you want! Just please don’t hurt her!”

Your heart pounded in your chest as your eyes darted around the room, trying to find some means of protecting yourself. Then you noticed the blaster in the battle droid hands. It wasn’t paying any attention to you; its sole focus was on General Grievous. You didn’t hesitate to snatch the weapon out of its hand, blasting it straight in the head.

“Run (Y/N)! Run!” yelled Bartlett.

You didn’t have to be told twice. You knew better than to try and fight General Grievous with just a blaster. According to the news, this monster had killed several Jedi during the war. You wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

You sprinted down the hall of the Lodge, running for your life.

Notes:

Hiya! Remember way back when, when I said I figured out a use for your brother? Yeah, this was that use lol. Just a quick heads up: there’s going to be a bit of a delay when it comes to the next chapter. I just finished outlining it and discovered it’s going to be LONG. Like the outline is almost 7k words long. I can’t break it up into smaller chapters without ruining the flow, so you guys are just going to have to be patient and let me cook. I hope you guys are enjoying the story because I’m having an absolute blast writing it! Until next time!!!