Set shortly after the events of the Season 5 episode 'The Lawless'. Obi-Wan's desperate mission to try to save his beloved Duchess Satine, well we all know how that turned out... I seem unable to resist a bit of Obi-Wan angst.

I own nothing; Star Wars characters and universe created by a certain Mr G. Lucas c/o Skywalker Ranch, USA. I'm sure George and our new overlords at Disney wouldn't mind me playing with their toys.

VonB

Missed opportunities

Sometimes heroes fall, despite their strength.

Master Obi-Wan Kenobi hadn't planned on having breakfast in a less than salubrious part of Coruscant. But when the Jedi Knight had taken a seat in the corner booth he'd felt the closest to calm he'd been in far too long.

Dex's Diner was an unusual haunt for a Jedi, but Obi-Wan had visited often enough for his unexpected drop-ins to cause little interest from the regulars. No one stared and no one would dare disturb him. Being close friends with the management had some perks.

He'd caught sight of his old friend through the hatch into the kitchen as he'd entered. The Besalisk had smiled broadly at the sight of him and shouted a welcome. "Take a seat Obi-Wan, be with ya as soon as I've finished feeding this hoard'a hungry space monkeys." He'd gestured to the growing crowd of patrons with one hand whilst another was busy flipping nerf patties on a griddle, his other two were occupied with a bowl and whisk, mixing something vigorously. Obi-Wan had paused for a moment to just to watch; ever impressed with the maelstrom of action that was Dexter Jettster.

At his booth a whirl of motion beside him signalled the arrival of WA-7. Without even coming to a stop the service droid deposited him a drink. "Your usual honey." She was already past the next table before he'd been able say thank you. He hadn't realised he even had a usual. Obi-wan clasped his hands around the steaming hot mug of dark liquid and gave it a cautious sniff chava chava?He might be brave enough to try it when it cooled a little.

The diner's prime location on the surface guaranteed a steady flow of customers regardless of the hour. Breakfast though was always particularly busy, attracting those just finishing a night shift or preparing themselves for the day ahead. Music blared out from the juke box, competing with the rising clamour of conversations. Obi-Wan closed his eyes. The cacophony was oddly soothing, the noises and smells all so vital and vibrant. For a moment he felt so very far away from the war, so far away from all the death.

Only a few hours before he'd met with Master Yoda. Though his mission to Mandalore had not been sanctioned by the Jedi Council, its leader had not prevented him from responding to Duchess Satine's desperate plea for aid. Obi-Wan would be forever grateful for that, despite the tragedy that had followed. Despite his failure.

He'd sat crossed legged before Master Yoda and delivered his discoveries and the revelation of the fate of Mandalore and its leader. His Jedi training making it so easy to detach himself from his experiences and report events factually and stoically. Underneath the surface though his grief was still raw and he knew Master Yoda could sense it.

"Wrong the Chancellor was to dismiss the threat posed by Maul. Suffered greatly as a consequence Mandalore has." Master Yoda had said gravely. "Blame yourself you must not."

Master Yoda had gone on to repeat those words he'd heard him speak too many times when dealing with the loss of someone whom a Jedi had allowed to become close. "Rejoice for those who transform into the Force. Mourn them not. Miss them not."

As always there was the underlying warning that a Jedi should not form attachments. That the fear of losing someone and the inevitable grief and sense of loss that followed would lead them down an inevitable path to the dark side. Obi-Wan had listened, but for the first time he knew that in this, for once Master Yoda was mistaken. His attachment to Satine had been his saving. Seeing her love for him, unconditional to the end, had kept him to the light in those terrible last moments.

Obi-Wan had left Master Yoda's chamber still troubled, and knowing that he would find no peace in the Jedi Temple that night he had just carried on walking. He'd dismissed Anakin's well-meaning and far too understanding concern, he wasn't ready to discuss what had happened with his former Padawan. He needed time alone with just his thoughts, but at same time didn't want to be isolated in meditation in his chamber.

Taking a speeder from the Temple he'd joined the constant throng of vehicles threading their way through the Coruscant skyline. The dawn was just beginning to break but the Jedi was oblivious to the play of light that made the buildings seem to glow with the first rays of the sun. He'd flown aimlessly through the swarming traffic. Shifting his speeder upwards into a faster lane he'd chanced to look up and was met by a sight that made his heart clench in shock.

The image of Duchess Satine, fifteen meters high glowed in front of him.

Every holonet news screen that hung over the traffic lanes showed Satine in her full ceremonial attire looking as regal and full of life as he remembered her. The screens flickered and she was replaced by the solemn face of Chancellor Palpatine. But Obi-Wan had been deaf to the grave voice announcing the news of the fall of Mandalore and its ruler, cruel memories suddenly overwhelming him. Satine suspended in the air…the darksaber blade… Maul's twisted taunting face… Obi-Wan had felt an almost physical pain in his chest, a wave of grief so tangible that he felt as if he had left a part of him behind on Mandalore.

The screech of horns and the blinding white beams of headlights directly ahead had startled him back to the moment. With effort he'd cleared his thoughts and reached out to the Force for stability. He'd felt its reassuring presence and allowed it to guide himto where he needed to be. Obi-Wan had even found himself smiling when the familiar landmarks of CoCo Town came into view and he brought the speeder down neatly in the parking lot of Dex's Diner. That the Force had led him to Dex's door was something he wasn't going to tell his friend, he'd never hear the last of it.

The diner was filling up beings from every corner of the Republic. Obi-Wan was oblivious the covetous glances of a few of the newcomers towards the empty seats at his booth. He didn't notice their surprise when they recognised the solo occupant as Jedi and whilst making the near simultaneous decision to leave him alone. Undisturbed, Obi-Wan allowed himself to think those most troubling of thoughts that Master Yoda would have him push from his mind…

To be continued...