A New Beginning

Chapter 7

As if Siri didn't have enough problems, she was still sick. Ryssa being the friendly and motherly person that she was grew very concerned. Siri was really starting to doubt now that it was just some random bug that she received when coming to Valinor, but rather it was something that wasn't about to go away any time soon.

Siri was very hesitant, however, about going to see a healer. They would do a retinal scan on her and they would have her records on hand, those that mark her as a fugitive Jedi. Luckily Ryssa had another option. The med center sold specialized kits that would take a sample of blood and would generally be able to determine what was wrong with you.

Bringing it home, Ryssa set up the kit and Siri felt a sharp pain as her finger was pricked. A few drops of her blood was spread on a slide and Ryssa watched the scanner as it tabulated the results.

"So, what's wrong with me?" Siri asked a minute later when she say Ryssa reading the sheet that told the scanner's results.

Ryssa's eyes met hers and she smiled. "Sera—you're pregnant!"

Siri's mouth dropped and she instantly paled. For perhaps one of the only times in her life, she was absolutely speechless. This couldn't be happening to her; she couldn't be pregnant. She was struggling daily to keep her identity a secret and to deal with her ever present grief. She now had to face the prospect of being a mother; something that terrified her.

"Congratulations," Ryssa said happily, but then she frowned slightly when she saw the horrified look of Siri's face. "What's wrong Sera?"

Siri still couldn't speak.

"I'm sure your husband would've been happy," Ryssa said softly.

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Three Months Earlier

It was not something either of them had ever meant to happen, but they didn't regret it for one minute. The Clone Wars were such a perilous time that every time they had a mission together it was special to them. They never knew if it was their final moment together.

One particular mission turned out unlike anything they ever would've anticipated. For one thing it was supposed to be a very brief surveillance mission and the Council decided that Obi-Wan and Siri would be the ones to go. Unlike most of the Jedi tasks during the Clone Wars this was supposed to be one of the milder ones, but it turned out to be anything but.

When they arrived on the planet Rato both Jedi were dressed as a merchant couple seeking to stop briefly for fuel and supplies. As they disembarked both Obi-Wan and Siri were on the lookout for anything suspicious as they were trying to determine whether there was a Separatist hold on the system or not. Almost immediately they both sensed a disturbance in the Force.

"Obi-Wan," Siri breathed quietly to her companion without even looking at him. "Twenty meters back are two men following."

The other Jedi made no reaction whatsoever, but he indicated with his eyes a alleyway to his right. Siri darted inside, and Obi-Wan quickly moved through the crowd and disappeared. She realized immediately that the alley was a complete dead end. So she stopped and waited, her hand rest on her lightsaber hilt

A minute later she saw the two who had been following them walk into the alley and Siri could see now that both of them were armed with blasters. Both of them were shrouded in black cloaks that left her no hint as to whether they were human, alien or something else. They opened fire immediately.

Within seconds she had already deflected their fire back towards them. She watched as the blaster bolts struck them and then to her utter surprise they burned through the cloaks revealed a hard metal surface and the bolts were deflected back at her.

It was all she could do to defend herself as they kept firing. She vaguely wondered where Obi-Wan went for he was supposed to double back and catch these droid assassins off guard. Their question was answered at least, the Separatists were on Rato, but Siri had little time to ponder the implications. She needed to escape and so she walked forward deflecting fire as she went. Just about any droid could be reduced to rubble with a lightsaber.

Before she got very far Siri suddenly heard something coming down the alley, and her blood nearly went cold. Any Jedi knew the sound of a rolling droideka and it was for good reason they escaped as soon as they encountered one of these fearsome droids. It was pretty much folly to try and engage one in battle. Not only were their twin blasters deadly but their shields could deflect a lightsaber blade.

"Freeze Jedi," came the automated voice from one of the assassin droids. "Put your weapon on the ground."

Siri sighed, and disengaged her lightsaber. Obi-Wan would be getting an earful about this but then again he could be in trouble himself. She didn't like parting from her lightsaber, but she had no opportunity of escape now.

The droids came forward and put her in stuncuffs before marching her out of the alley and into the street. She looked around with out appearing to and grew increasingly nervous when she saw billowing black smoke coming from the direction of the docking bay.

Besides the explosion, Siri was unnerved to realize that the once busy streets of a few few minutes earlier were now totally deserted. The droids stopped suddenly and their blasters were in a firing position instantly. Siri stretched out with the Force and it was only then that she realized that Obi-Wan was lying in wait not far ahead.

"Come out where we can see you, Jedi!" one of the droids commanded.

"A droid with enhanced senses, now that is unheard of," came a sarcastic tone that Siri knew instantly was Obi-Wan's. He slowly moved from behind the bush he'd been hiding behind and Siri gasped when she saw him.

He looked as if he'd been roasted on a spit. For he had a number of burns on his body; was shirtless, and covered in soot. Siri couldn't recall ever seeing her friend in such a state before; he was always well groomed and modest.

Obi-Wan didn't meet her eyes, but looked at the droids walking forward.

"Let me guess," he said rolling his eyes. "I'm your prisoner now too."

"Precisely," said the droid, stepping forward with a pair of stun cuffs.

In the blink of an eye, however, the droid in question was decapitated. And before the other droid could react, it too was turned a smoking pile of metal. Then Obi-Wan turned his attention on the droidekas. Both of were rolling swiftly coming to meet him, but right when their shield generators were activated, he knocked them over with a push with the Force.

The shields shorted out in the next moment and then Obi-Wan quickly took them both out. Then he turned off his lightsaber and returned to Siri.

"I know you have questions," he said softly. "But let's find shelter first."

Siri nodded and they quickly moved to find a place to stay for the night. After a long careful search they found a spot to stay for the night where the innkeeper asked no questions. Once they arrived to their modest quarters Siri turned to Obi-Wan.

"What happened, Kenobi?" she asked.

"I was going to double back on those assassin droids but there were more than we spotted and I was ambushed in the street. They captured me and were taking me to the docking bay where I would be sent to a prison world for questioning. But I fought them and escaped. I figured that the same thing was happening to you, so I thought it might be a good thing to get to the transport and try to find you from the sky," Obi-Wan explained.

"And?" Siri asked impatiently.

"It was rigged to explode," Obi-Wan replied sourly. "I barely escaped the blast. After that I went to find you, and you know the rest."

Siri smiled gently. "You were lucky to survive, Master Kenobi," she said teasingly.

Obi-Wan frowned. "You know I hate it when you call me that. It makes me feel old and I really don't feel worthy of the title."

Siri rolled her eyes. "Always so humble, Obi-Wan."

"I do my best," he answered, but then hissed in pain as she touched a red burn on his chest.

"You really should be put in a bacta tank," Siri said studying the wound closer. Then she applied a bacta patch to the infected area. "But I suppose this will have to do."

"It already feels much better," he said with a grin.

Siri went back to work in covering the various burns and cuts with bandages, but her breath hitched looking at his chest. He certainly had been hiding quite the physique underneath those Jedi robes. Physically fit was an understatement in Obi-Wan's case.

Emotions started to rise in Siri that she couldn't comprehend right away. There was a time when they were in love, but the Jedi lifestyle wouldn't permit them to be together. The feelings had evaporated over times and she felt as if it was a dream she once had. But she realized with startling clarity that they never had disappeared after all; instead they grew. Siri Tachi was still madly in love with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Her hands where still on his chest, and when she noticed, Siri pulled away blushing. But Obi-Wan grabbed them gently, rubbing his callused thumb over her knuckles. The look he suddenly gave her, made Siri's pulse begin to race and she was getting close to losing all sense of control.

Obi-Wan smiled gently, and drew closer to her. Siri felt his warm breath on her cheek and in the next second his lips were on hers. It was what she always imagined kissing Obi-Wan would be like; gentle yet passionate. Here they were two people forced to stay apart and yet their love had never tarnished.

Siri felt goosebumps rising up her arm and for a split second she considered ending their kiss, and pretending nothing ever happened. That would be the right thing to do after all; what they promised to do once. But how could something that felt so right, be wrong? Siri threw caution to the wind and Obi-Wan took her to the stars and back.

Later Siri watched Obi-Wan resting next to her, feeling sad that their time together was almost over. There was a war going on and every Jedi was needed, especially Obi-Wan. While Siri had become a Jedi Knight and was confident doing undercover missions; he was a member of the Jedi Council and served as General over vast armies of clones. If they were to meet again; it would not be for a very long time.

Siri bent down and kissed his cheek and smiled. At least, she thought sadly. We had this moment together.

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"I'm so sorry if I sounded unsympathetic," Ryssa said looking at Siri worried. "I have no control over my tongue I'm afraid. I shouldn't have mentioned your husband; I know how bad that hurts."

Siri sighed. "No, it's alright." She replied, forcing a wry smile. Thinking about the strict Jedi who she had long ago fallen in love with, she spoke again. "He would definitely be surprised to say the least."

"Well a child is such a blessing, you are so lucky," Ryssa said kindly.

Siri's fears surfaced again and she looked down, not meeting her friend's gaze. "I realize that this is quite the inconvenience for you, and I will find my own place."

Ryssa looked insulted. "What?! Sera, don't even think about it. I'm more than happy to have you and your child stay here, I love babies and you WILL need a babysitter sometime."

Once more the older woman totally surprised Siri and she hugged her friend gratefully. "I can't ever repay you for all your kindness, but you have my endless gratitude."

"Don't mention it," Ryssa replied then glanced at her chrono. "Oh look at the time. I work in ten minutes. We'll talk later Sera and once more congratulations."

She watched the older woman exiting quickly, leaving Siri with her thoughts. She was still scared about this whole situation, but she knew it could work. The child would never know its true heritage nor its father, but she knew one thing without a doubt. Siri would do everything in her power to shield her baby from the Empire; even if it cost her life. And hopefully, she thought sadly. It will never come to that.