"Master Obi-Wan, Padawan Calraen, a mission I have for you."
The two Jedi looked up from their food in dismay. They had just sat down to lunch.
"You mean – the two of us?" Calraen asked hesitantly.
Yoda ignored the question and continued. "Bail informs me that we run low on power. Afford to lose our security systems we cannot, therefore you must find a renewable power source for us to use more permanently."
Obi-Wan nodded. He had known he wouldn't be here for long. But the idea of Calraen tagging along…
"Master, I believe I-"
"Organised, Bail has for Captain Antilles to meet with you on Kavara. Quite close, it is, and not under Imperial control yet. Pass on, he will, some requested supplies as well as some credits, because the power source you must purchase by yourselves."
There was silence before both muttered "Yes, Master" with reluctance. Calraen repressed a sigh as she stole a glance at Obi-Wan, noting that he was no more thrilled than she was.
During the morning Breha had constructed a playpen beside the table and Calraen chewed her food slowly while watching the twins roll around in it. They were still too small to walk or even crawl. She wondered what kind of children they would be when they were older, having grown up so detached from the real world – then she realised they would be the same as any other Jedi. They would have no less exposure than she did growing up in the Temple.
Tarie, the other woman from Alderaan, arrived at the table late. She was in charge of tools and clothing for the group and so was possibly the most busy. Luckily, she'd managed to bring a large amount of supplies with her from Alderaan initially. It was thanks to her that the twins were clothed.
She had a beige bundle under her arm and as she arrived she handed it across to Obi-Wan.
"New tunics and pants – you'd better get changed and give me your old ones, they're probably stinking." Tarie was brisk and extremely organised. Calraen hadn't seen much of her at all because she spent almost all her time with her sewing equipment inside.
"Thank you very much," Obi-Wan said, bowing slightly as he took them.
"You'll have to wait on socks and undergarments I'm afraid, I have more important things on my list." Calraen didn't miss Obi-Wan's blush at having his underwear discussed in public. He started to sit down again but the woman clapped at him. "I said you need to get changed, now! I have the water hot!"
Apologetic, Obi-Wan muttered an 'excuse me' and trotted over to the buildings as Tarie sat down to eat. Calraen caught Yoda's eye and saw him hide a grin as well. She looked back as she realised she was being spoken to.
"I'll need to get your measurements after this as well," Tarie said. Calraen wasn't too sure about that. She'd rather stay in her old smelly clothes.
"Going on a mission, Calraen is," Yoda spoke up. "Wait until she returns, it must."
Tarie sighed. "Very well. Will she be able to pick up any materials for me?"
"Possibly," Yoda replied, glancing at Calraen with dancing eyes. "Give her a list, you might."
oo00OOOIOOO00oo
Calraen carried a bundle of papers past Obi-Wan onto the ship, grumbling loudly. One of the pages flew away from her and Obi-Wan caught it.
"You might need this."
She rolled her eyes. "I really don't think I will." Even so, she snatched the paper from him and continued up the ramp. He turned back to Yoda.
"Be careful you must, Obi-Wan. It is safe nowhere."
"I will, Master. We'll be back soon."
"May the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan bowed. "And you."
It wasn't long before the ship was in hyperspace. The trip would take a few hours but they should arrive with plenty of time to meet their contact, the Captain Antilles. Obi-Wan stood to move to the back of the ship.
"I'm going to meditate for a while. Alert me if anything is wrong."
Calraen was hunched in the co-pilot's seat, cleaning her lightsaber with the sleeve of her tunic.
"Yes, Master Kenobi," she said quietly. She hadn't even looked at him since leaving the planet. He paused, his hand on the back of her seat.
"Please, call me Obi-Wan," he said gently.
Finally, she looked up at him. Her cheeks darkened. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was wrong."
After a pause, Obi-Wan stepped over to the back wall and sat down with his legs crossed. He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes and Calraen turned back to the viewport. Then, hardly audible, she heard his voice: "No. You weren't."
oo00OOOIOOO00oo
"Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan, wake up, we have a problem."
His eyes felt glued together. Coming to his senses, he realised he'd fallen asleep and was slumped against the wall. Picking himself up and rubbing his neck, he stumbled forwards to the pilot's seat.
"What is it?"
"We're losing fuel."
Obi-Wan scanned the instruments as he sat down heavily. "But I checked before we left," he said quietly. "We should have enough to make it."
"Apparently not."
He got up again, his alertness returning, and stepped over to a hatch on the back wall. He pulled it open and examined the terminal there.
After a minute, Calraen heard a groan and glanced back.
"What?"
"There's a leak. Something must have chewed it on-planet. How could I have missed that?"
She turned back to her instruments. "Well, we still might make it. If we come out of hyperspace just outside the atmosphere we should be able to use the last bit to push us through."
"And then hope to land somewhere soft."
They glanced at each other.
"Well, we have parachutes…" she suggested, but Obi-Wan was already shaking his head.
"We can't afford to lose this ship. We'll have to give it our best shot."
A few minutes later they pulled out of hyperspace dangerously close to the planet, and Obi-Wan carefully piloted the ship forwards.
"Come on…" Calraen muttered nervously, watching the gauge. "Okay, we're through. Let the gravity take over…"
Obi-Wan released the accelerator and the ship gained momentum as they neared the surface.
"Any settlements nearby?" He asked.
"Nothing's showing up. Just try to land wherever you can, we'll sort it out later."
"Yes, Master," he replied, cocking an eyebrow at her. It took her a second to realise it was a joke.
They cleared the cloud cover and below them was trees. Obi-Wan aimed for a clearing, spotting a few buildings nearby. Then, without warning, blaster fire ripped into their hull and the ship spun sideways. Calraen didn't even have time to yell out in surprise. Another volley came at them and she felt part of the ship, probably a wing, rip away.
The trees rushed up to meet them. So much for a soft landing.
"Hold on!" Obi-Wan yelled.
oo00OOOIOOO00oo
Calraen didn't black out for long. She guessed it had only been a few seconds, from the shock of the impact. Checking herself quickly, she found a gash on her side where a loose piece of metal must have flown past, and other than that she wasn't seriously injured – though she knew she'd be sore tomorrow.
The ship was hanging a few metres off the ground, tilted slightly forwards so that she was held in only by her safety harness. Unclipping herself and standing, she glanced over the ship. She thought it was unlikely they'd be able to repair it, but then again, she didn't know much about the subject.
Then she saw Obi-Wan.
He was slumped forwards in his seat and there was a lot of blood. The viewport had smashed on his side and the pieces had ripped through him. For a second her breath caught in her throat and her heart froze and she thought he was dead, but then she reached out to the Force and felt his life energy – it was weak, but it was there.
"Obi-Wan, come on, we need to get out of here…" She stepped closer to him. "Obi-Wan?" She didn't want to have to touch him. She didn't want to touch anyone, ever again, after what happened… But she knew he wasn't going to be waking up any time soon. She took a deep breath. Yoda had told her to conquer her fears, so that's what she would do.
Carefully putting a hand to his shoulder and pushing him back against the seat, she undid his harness and pulled him upright by his underarms to stop him falling forward. She lay him over the control panel and climbed back up to the rear of the ship to grab the emergency supply pack. She pulled the straps over her shoulders and returned to Obi-Wan, setting her foot on the control panel and hauling him up over her shoulder.
Ugh, could he be any heavier? She kicked out what remained of the viewport and dropped through to the ground, using the Force to steady her landing under his weight.
Then, as she looked around the area at the thick trees and underbrush, she felt an unexpected confidence fill her.
This is what you're good at. And it was true. If she had a talent for anything, it was surviving in the wilderness by herself. She turned in the direction of the buildings she'd seen on their descent, and started through the forest.
Obi-Wan bleeding: my favourite :)
