Naboo (4 months)
Ben stared at the flames and rubble that marked where the former capital of Naboo had once stood.
"Tragic," King Marlasa said. Ben and Ylenic nodded. The two Jedi looked at each other, then Ylenic turned to face the king.
"What happened?"
"Master It'kla, we don't know. It started two days ago. The investigators suspect one of the campfires, but..."
"No," Ben said, "an ordinary fire could not have resulted in such total destruction."
"Or been so devastating," Marlasa added sadly. "We've discovered the remains of over three-hundred bodies. Most were farmers whose lands had been sterilized by the clones. This time their losses are even greater."
Ben knelt down and picked up a piece of charcoal and turned it in his hand. "How are the Naboo coping?"
"We'll survive, despite the lack of help from the Empire," Marlasa said bitterly. "Emperor Palpatine promises to try to find the funds...But we are not the only world struggling."
"No," Ben said quietly. Ylenic just stared out at the ruins. The Caamas and others had lost their worlds entirely. The Naboo, at least, still had a planet of their own.
"Senator Organa has been most generous with offers of equipment to help rebuild. Please convey to him our sincere thanks," Marlasa continued. Ben nodded. They were ostensibly here as a representatives from Alderaan. "Though all things considered, I'm surprised he sent a Jedi."
"Not everyone believes the stories that are so widespread these days," Ylenic said softly. "My own world was destroyed; perhaps I can help save others."
Marlasa smiled sadly. "A noble cause in an increasingly ignoble time. The Naboo remember when two Jedi once saved us from an earlier threat. Now they are too busy saving themselves to be able to help anyone else." Ben's face remained impassive. So far, no one had recognized him as Jedi.
"Emperor Palpatine was here when the fire started?" Ylenic asked.
"Not in Theed," Marlasa said quickly. "But he was on the planet. The senate is unwilling to commit more money to planet restoration. It's like they just want to forget the Clone Wars ever happened. He did offer a company of Imperial troops to assist. They're fighting the fire at the waterworks."
Ylenic and Ben exchanged a quick look. Ben took the piece of charcoal he was holding and tossed it into the smoldering embers. "What about the Palace?"
"Completely gone," Marlasa said. "Just a few stones remain. Those who continued to live here say a fire demon screamed from the throne room just as the fire began."
"Fire demon?" Ylenic asked.
"Superstition," Marlasa said quietly. "A fire demon screams as a fire begins. When evil is around, the scream can be quite loud."
Evil had certainly been here that night, Ben thought, then returned his attention to the king.
"We are alone in the galaxy. We are all alone. Naboo has been devastated twice before. We can take no more." He pointed toward a smoldering building. "If the galaxy wishes to ignore us, we'll ignore them. We will manage on our own. Princess Kalla and her husband have been most generous, but I can't expect their help to continue indefinitely."
"Your Majesty, the Naboo have the continued support of Alderaan," Ben said. "Senator Organa was most insistent on that point."
"And we'll continue to accept their help for as long as it is available." Marlasa stared at his city. "We'd hoped someday to rebuild-as a symbolic gesture mostly. There are times I think it best that Naboo remains hidden from the galaxy. There is an evil out there that does not like us."
Ben silently agreed, but did not tell the king that evil was originally from Naboo. The three men stared at burning city for several minutes before Marlasa spoke.
"I have a memorial service to prepare for." The two Jedi bowed.
"Was she here?" Ylenic asked after Marlasa had disappeared into the growing night.
"If she was, Palpatine has murdered her," Ben said angrily. He was convinced the fire was the work of the Emperor-or his tools.
"And Vader?"
Ben closed his eyes. He'd seen what Palpatine was capable of. Mass destruction and murder on a scale that a few years ago he would have thought impossible. But Amidala had been Anakin's wife. Was it even possible the man could have participated in her death? His stomach twisted at the thought.
"Master Kenobi," Ylenic said softly. "The good man you once knew as Anakin Skywalker died on Spaarti. Something else occupies his body and soul now."
"I had hoped there was still some good in him."
"Perhaps there is." Ylenic glanced around. "It will be dark soon. We should return to the ship."
"We don't know if she was here," Ben said, as if to reassure himself.
"No, we do not. But there are other things we do know. Like you, she wanted to save Anakin. I should have recognized her intentions," Ylenic said softly.
"No," Ben said angrily. "Anakin was my student, my responsibility." Ylenic placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You are not alone in the blame. She underestimated the Emperor. We all did." Ylenic motioned toward the brown fields where they'd landed their ship.
"In the chaos, darkness reigns.
In the shadows, terror lies.
To seek, to find, to lose,
All is futile, all that dies.
Future ends in hidden sight.
Surrounded by death's cries,
The blackness encloses,
All sunlit skies."
Ylenic spoke softly, yet his voice cut through the dusky sky. Ben closed his eyes in response to the poem as he remembered its roots.
"I've been studying Alderaan literature. It's an ancient prophecy," Ylenic said. "The words haunt me."
"They speak truly." He opened his eyes. "Too truly. I must find Vader and end this misery."
Ylenic didn't answer until they'd arrived at the ship. "Beware the darkside, my friend."
Ben took a deep breath. Ylenic was correct; to search for Vader would only lead to further darkness.
"You have much to look forward to as well," Ylenic said. "A child."
"A girl," Ben said with a quiet smile. Thoughts of Baryl and the still unborn girl managed to push aside his darker impulses. "It won't be easy raising a child on Tatooine."
"It's not easy anywhere, if my sister is correct." Ylenic leaned against the ship. Ben remembered that Ylenic had decided to settle on Alderaan, apart from the rest of his family. Ben turned to look at Theed one last time.
"That scream?" he asked. He turned his head away. Visions of fire and death still followed him. He'd seen too much of both.
Ylenic nodded as he glanced around warily. "I too think so. We should leave; the Emperor must know you would follow her." Ben stood there a moment longer, but a hand on his shoulder reminded him that Ylenic probably had an excellent point. They should leave now.
"May you find what you sought," he whispered, hoping that perhaps Amidala was finally at peace.
Tatooine: 5 months 3 weeks
Ben closed his eyes as he reflected on his life, especially the past couple of years. He and Ylenic had left Naboo almost two months ago. Kalla had quietly accepted Amidala's death. In a galaxy filled with so much death and evil, it seemed almost selfish to grieve for the former Queen and senator.
Together, they'd stood up to Palpatine.
And failed. Now, the galaxy would suffer because of their lack of success. The Organas, Senator Bel Iblis, and Senator Mon Mothma were marked. Eventually Palpatine would move against them. Once again the galaxy would be ripped apart by violence.
He gripped the edge of his chair as he opened his eyes. Baryl and his child deserved better than this. He jumped at the sound of a timid knock, then swore quietly (a habit picked up from Baryl, he realized) at his lack of concentration on the here and now.
"Hello?" Beru Lars' voice said. "Ben, are you here?"
He stood quickly, very surprised at her visit. "Yes, come in." She opened the door cautiously.
"Not bad," she said with a quick glance around his cave home. "Owen said he saw you in Anchorhead last week."
Ben nodded. Owen hadn't been happy to see him and somehow managed to be even unhappier that Baryl would be coming to Tatooine. He wondered what Owen had told Beru.
"I know you two don't get along. I wish you could work it out-for Luke's sake. By the way, congratulations."
He hesitated. "Baryl will be coming soon. After the baby is born."
Beru glanced away and smiled to cover her embarrassment. "I know Owen would rather you were elsewhere, but I'm glad you're here. I know no one's supposed to know you are a Jedi or anything...I have something for you." She motioned him outside. "Luke's outgrown it, and well...we'll never use it." She shrugged as she lifted the blanket off the lump in the speeder. He smiled at the sight of the crib.
"Japar wood?" He remembered the necklace Amidala had given him-and this brought another rush of memories of a happier time.
"Yes." She looked surprised that he'd recognized it. "I want you to have it. It needs to be used."
"Thank you, but won't Owen mind?"
"That's his problem. The desert is too unfriendly a place for us to be unfriendly to each other. When is the baby due?"
"Soon," Ben said. He ran his hand over the cradle and smiled. Very soon.
He froze. Maybe even sooner. He again thanked her as he took the cradle into the still unfinished cave. The cave would at least provide a rudimentary shelter until he could dig out more rooms. His original plans had not included a family.
"Would you care for a drink?" Ben said as he started to pour a glass. He'd finally gotten the moisture condensers working the other day.
"No, I really need to be going, but thanks anyway." She waved as she drove away. Ben watched her beyond the point where she vanished into the heat eddies. He turned slowly and stared at the cradle.
It was time.
Corellia: 6 months
Baryl smiled as stood slowly at the sound of the Aryana's whimpering. Her pregnancy had been a mixture of emotional highs and lows, but the moment of delivery just a week ago had been almost magical. "Hello, Aryana." The baby gurgled happily. "I can sense you, but can you sense me?" she asked as she picked up her child. There was something comforting about the bond she had with her daughter. She wondered if parents of non-Force-sensitive children had a similar connection.
She froze. A shimmering in the Force. She felt her smile grow. "Well, my love, your father is here." Princess Kalla had sent a quick message. The princess had also invited her to Alderaan. She would leave with Ben soon. Then they would go to Tatooine.
"Hello," she said as she turned to face Ben. "Meet your daughter." She was amazed at the look of enchantment on his face. She moved toward him and after a quick kiss, handed him Aryana. Ben took her gingerly. Aryana cooed as he pulled her close. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"I...She's incredible." He continued to stare at the baby in his arms. "She's strong in the Force. Your family," he whispered to his daughter, "has an incredible history. Full of great joy and great sadness." He glanced at Baryl. "She has your eyes."
Baryl laughed. "That's what everyone says. How are you doing?" She motioned for him to sit down.
He shrugged. "I don't know. Everything is in a state of change..." He stopped speaking, reluctant to ruin the moment with bad news.
Baryl looked at him sharply. "What, what is it?"
"I don't know. All I see is darkness. The Force is in such turmoil." She didn't push for more. "Are you sure you want to go to Tatooine-it's no place to raise-"
"Kiffle, Ben, we've been through this before." She crossed her arms, and lowered her voice. "We're probably in greater danger anywhere else in the galaxy."
"I...Baryl, I don't know."
She frowned. "Is the Force telling you we shouldn't go?"
He shook his head. "No, it's not telling me anything." He leaned over and kissed Aryana's forehead. "My beautiful little girl. Life in the desert won't be easy..."
"You are not going to spoil her," Baryl said as she sat down beside him.
"I think I'm looking forward to spoiling both of you." He sighed. "I just wish I could." Aryana whimpered slightly, so Ben handed her back to her mother. "Baryl..."
"Ben Kenobi, we'll do fine." She stood and put Aryana in her crib. "I sold my ship. Rostek got a pretty good price for it." She then opened a dresser drawer and tossed Ben a small sack. She smiled as he reflexively reached out and caught it. "We'll do just fine."
"Jedi training didn't include how to raise a daughter..." His voice grew distant. "My success rate with children isn't very good."
She closed her eyes. Anakin. Everything always came back to the young man who had destroyed himself and those around him. "It'll be different this time."
"If I could only believe that."
"You must believe. Do or do not..." She smiled as she spoke, "Isn't that what Master Yoda says?"
Ben nodded. "I failed as a teacher, can I succeed as a father?"
"Ben Kenobi, what happened to you?" She gripped his arm. His feeling of hopelessness disturbed her.
"Do you know what he has become? He was there when Palpatine killed Amidala. He may even have helped."
She sat there silently. Her mind was desperately trying to come up with
something to say, but all she could think of was Anakin...A man she'd met once, so long ago, on Ymala, but who was still an incredible force in her life.
"I'm sorry," Ben said. "This should be a happy time."
"I understand." Everything they'd both valued: truth, justice, freedom was vanishing in front of their eyes.
A knock stopped any further melancholy thoughts. She jumped up quickly to open it. "Hal!"
The young man entered. "Hello Master...Ben."
"Hal, how are-" He caught sight of the expression on the other man's face. "What is it?"
"Bounty hunter. Horn's delaying him, but he's got all the paperwork." Hal tried, and failed, to produce a reassuring smile. "He's after Ben."
"What about Baryl?" Ben asked quickly. Baryl moved protectively nearer to their daughter.
"There's no mention of her. I'm not very good at the mind reading stuff,
but..." Hal pulled out a chip. "He knows there's a woman involved. Ben, you need to leave. Immediately. Don't worry-we'll get Baryl out of here."
"Alderaan," she said. "Senator Organa has connections. Go," she turned to Ben as she spoke. "We'll meet you on Alderaan in a month." She kissed him quickly, then pushed him toward the door. "Don't worry about 'll be fine."
Alderaan (7 months)
"I still think you should wait," Kalla said, her arms crossed. "You shouldn't travel alone." Baryl frowned at the raspy quality of the princess's voice. The princess was most insistent that she was fine. It was a losing argument to tell her to take it easy.
Baryl hugged Aryana closer to her and shook her head. "I said a month. He's been delayed. The sooner we go to Tatooine, the sooner I can start setting up our home." She laughed. "That's probably something else Ben wasn't trained to do." She glanced at the other refugees waiting nearby. The availability of land on Tatooine, despite its harsh climate, had been too tempting for a number of families who had lost everything during the last Clone Wars.
"He'll do fine. And you'll do better if you wait."
"For how long?" She glanced around the busy port as Aryana started to cry louder. Aryana had been crying a lot more than usual these past few days. Baryl knew she and her daughter could easily have fit into the extended royal family. Kalla had constantly hinted at that. Even Princess Leia had taken an interest in the baby.
"For as long as you want...I know." the princess said with an exasperated sigh. "Ben promised Ami and you promised Ben. So, do me a favor?"
"Sure. What?" Baryl started to sing to quiet her baby.
"Take a security guard with you. As it happens, Major Drel is packed and ready to go." The blonde princess glanced toward the far wall, and the burly man leaning against it a little too casually. "Bail arranged it, and I agreed."
"Very well," she said distractedly. Aryana's crying was beginning to attract attention from the other travelers.
Kalla reached over and stroked the baby's cheek. "She's probably picking up on your emotions. Leia does that too, sometimes." Kalla looked away. "She misses Ami."
"Did she know?"
"I don't know," Kalla responded sadly. "but I think she somehow realized Amidala was her real mother. She still calls out for her."
Baryl nodded, and tried to concentrate on soothing her own emotions. She was excited about starting a new life with Ben, yet cautious. Starting life on the desert was one thing-having a baby along would add some interesting problems. She also worried that perhaps there were too many problems. She knew that her options were extremely limited if she was going to live with Ben.
"Promise me," Kalla said, "that you will let us know if you need anything. Even if it's a vacation." Baryl smiled at that thought.
"It'll be better if we remain on Tatooine. It's far from Imperial eyes." Baryl's thoughts shifted, as she remembered who was driving them into the desert.
"For the moment," Kalla said. Baryl silently agreed. Palpatine's ambitions would not end at the Republic's boundaries. "And good luck. May the Force be with you."
"And you." Baryl whispered, surprised at the change in Aryana. The baby was still fussing, but now they weren't attracting attention. Drel walked over carrying a small bag.
"Your Highness," he said to Kalla.
"This is Larasta, You are to accompany her to Tatooine." Baryl frowned at the mention of the name she was traveling under.
"Yes, Your Highness. Senator Organa has given me complete instructions."
"Farewell." She noticed the other families were heading toward the shuttle. "And please, don't worry about us." Baryl was surprised when Kalla kissed her cheek.
"Take care." Kalla smiled sadly. Baryl began moving forward. At the gate, she turned and waved.
"Well, Aryana. I hope you like sand, because there's certainly going to be plenty of it where we're headed." Her escort smiled as he glanced around.
"Everything has been taken care of," Drel said.
"I hope so." She wondered about the home Ben had created in the middle of the desert. She didn't worry about finding it, just what she would find waiting for her.
Coruscant
The image flickered, then stabilized. Palpatine waited quietly for Isard to speak. "Your Majesty, we tracked the woman to Alderaan." He noticed that the intelligence officer was holding a small spherical search droid. "She and the infant boarded a refugee ship to Tatooine."
Palpatine nodded. "And the Jedi?"
"No sign. My agent lost him on Corellia."
"I see," Palpatine clasped his hands in thought. "Lord Vader will join you. He will be in command of the operation. I expect to hear that this was understood."
"Completely, Your Majesty." Palpatine ignored the annoyed tone. "What are we..."
"Lord Vader will inform you, when he arrives. Do nothing until then."
Isard's frown deepened as he bowed, but Palpatine was convinced the man would do as he was told. The screen went blank.
Palpatine leaned back in his chair. Tatooine. An interesting choice, all things considered, but there was a certain logic to it as well. From that distant desert wasteland, it would be easy to vanish to one of the rimworlds: to places where the Empire and the Sith had no hold. Yet.
Alderaan: 7 months 2 weeks
Ben smiled mechanically at the senator and princess as they ushered him into the office. He glanced around as he clenched his fists.
"We have something important to discuss with you," Bail said, then glanced at his wife and let her continue.
"There aren't many privileges left to the Royal family," Kalla said. "But I can reward those who have helped Alderaan-and the cause of freedom. My husband had wanted to offer you a position in the Alderaan military during the war."
Ben shook his head and began to pace about the room. He could feel the Organas watching him, but the last few days had brought a new level of excitement and anticipation. A sudden thought made him stop. Like it or not, the Jedi had become more involved in galactic events in the past few years than traditionally allowed. Kalla continued to speak.
"So, as Princess of Alderaan, I am promoting you to general-complete with back pay." She smiled as Bail handed him two small bags. He opened his mouth to decline, but Kalla wasn't finished. "And I expect *all* of my officers to comply with my wishes."
"Imperial credits aren't worth much on Tatooine-so it's in platinum," Bail said.
"I can't..."
"Yes, you can," Kalla said as she studied him carefully. "You have a family to think of. They will need things a lone hermit wouldn't. You will find the credits to be useful."
"Baryl has some funds of her own..."
"Ben Kenobi," Kalla said with a grin. "You are too stubborn. Well, I hate to tell you this, but I am going to be even more stubborn. You have no choice-this time."
Ben hesitated, then took one of the heavy bags. "You really shouldn't."
"Like you should never have gotten involved? It's too late."
He nodded toward the other bag. "Give that to the Caamas settlement." She glanced at her husband, then nodded.
"Very well."
Ben attached the single bag to his belt, then the feeling of restlessness settled in again. The Organas shouldn't have, but they were correct. He might just be able to spoil his family-even if just a little bit. "Thank you."
"How are you getting there?"
"I still have my ship." Ben had debated selling it, but a spaceworthy vessel could be very useful.
Kalla placed her hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"
He stood still. "I don't know. The last day or two, I've been feeling anxious for some reason..."
"Because you're starting a new life?" Kalla asked. Ben frowned. He could see that his mood had transferred to the Organas. Both now looked worried.
"I..." He hoped so. That's how he had explained it to himself, but it was becoming harder to suppress. If anything, the feeling of foreboding was growing stronger.
"Can we contact Drel?" Kalla asked her husband.
"Not directly. They should have arrived on Tatooine by now." Bail hugged his wife and left the room hurriedly.
"We'll find out," Kalla said with a reassuring manner, but her voice lacked conviction.
Ben closed his eyes and stretched out with the Force. All he sensed was a chaotic nothingness. He fought to find a calm center as the door opened.
Bail spoke quietly. "I've contacted CorSec. They have more people on Tatooine than Alderaan Security. Apparently there's been an increase in pirate activity this past week." Ben sensed the senator spoke with more confidence than he felt.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," Kalla said. Ben nodded, even as the unfocused anxiety he'd felt coalesced into a dark ball. "Won't it?" She stared at him.
"I don't know." A light started blinking on Bail's desk. Ben moved to see the transmission.
"Senator Organa," Rostek Horn said as his image appeared. "You're interested in knowing about a ship?"
"Yes," Bail said. "A refugee transport. It should have arrived two days ago on Tatooine."
"From Alderaan?" Bail nodded in response. "There's been a lot of pirate activity in that sector. The Imperial Fleet became involved days..." Ben stopped paying attention at that point. Kalla sat down quickly. "Oh no. Ben?" Rostek looked worried.
Ben shook his head in an effort to focus his attention. "The Imperial Fleet?"
"Our agents there say Admiral Tarkin is the flag officer, but Lord Vader is in overall command. I didn't know she was on her way." Horn's face was twisted in grief and anger. "I'll send out a request for more information." The image vanished. No one spoke for several minutes.
"Lord Vader?" Kalla said softly as she stood.
"Once you start down..." Ben said. He instinctively reached for his saber.
"Don't, Ben," Kalla said. "We don't know for sure."
"We know," He closed his eyes, but the tears didn't come.