Thank you all for reviewing? I'm happy to see that so many people liked the Mace and Anakin conversation. There will be plenty more dialouge between those two as the story progresses.
I really should have gotten this post up yesterday. Hopefully it's worth the wait.
Chapter 10
Twelve standard hours, the Commander had informed him. It was early morning now; in twelve hours the cruiser would depart for Utapau and the operation to bring General Grievous to justice would commence. Twelve hours to resolve any unfinished business here on Coruscant. A generous timetable, by most accounts. For Obi-Wan, twelve hours was not going to be nearly enough.
There were so many things to say to so many different people, and he wanted to do justice to all of them. He had never been one for long goodbyes, but on this mission there was a very real chance that he was not going to be coming back. He owed his friends at least one more chance to see him. And he had half a day to do it.
However, before he made rounds at the Temple, he had something more important to take care of. He had not heard from Anakin since the Council meeting. His friend was shielding from him. Again.
Obi-Wan sighed. He was deeply worried about Anakin, and his friend's recent behavior was not helping matters. Obviously Anakin's disgust with the Council had not been helped by Pablo-Jill's charming little speech, but it couldn't be the sole cause of Anakin's distress. He was always able to deal with his feelings against the Council. This was something far more serious.
Obi-Wan wished that he could find Anakin, sit him down, and beg him to divulge what it was that was bothering him so much. It pained him to see Anakin so burdened. He needed to help him for much his own sake as Anakin's. But his brother was far too proud to give in to a direct approach on something like this. He would have to be subtler.
And he knew just the Senator for the job.
Once again he headed out for Five Hundred Replica, gambling that Padmé would be home by now. This would kill two dune lizards with one throw, as Anakin would say. He needed to say goodbye to Padmé anyway.
And don't forget about Sabé …
He banished the thought. He was not going to say goodbye to Sabé. He was going to ask Padmé to give her his regards instead. While there was nothing he wanted more in the galaxy than to see her again, his duty would not allow it. If he looked into her deep brown eyes one more time, he was not going to be able to leave.
Maybe he would get lucky, and Sabé would still be asleep, or better yet, out on an errand. Then he could talk to Padmé, and get out, back to the safety of the Jedi Temple. Where she would only haunt his thoughts rather than his physical presence …
Coward, his darker side accused him. Denying her is not going to make her go away. Just confront her and deal with your feelings!
Shut up! He pushed the voice away. It's not as easy as you think.
He arrived at the landing platform and exited his speeder. He pulled his hood up as he walked the short distance to the turbolift. It was still very early, but by the ominous cloudy sky and the chill in the air, he judged it was not going to be too nice of a day. Maybe it was a good thing that he was going to get off-planet.
Obi-Wan took the turbolift to the top, then traveled the now familiar path to Padmé's apartment. He hesitated briefly, and then knocked on Padmé's door.
The door swung open, and there stood Padmé, dressed in an elaborate senatorial gown. She seemed to be surprisingly well dressed for such an early hour, and she looked nervous, as though she had been expecting someone who by rights, shouldn't have been there.
The nervousness vanished when she saw who was standing in her doorway. "Obi-Wan! What a surprise! Please come in."
Obi-Wan obliged, entering the spacious living room. He quickly looked around for any sign of Sabé. He saw none.
Not knowing whether he should be relieved or disappointed, he cast a fresh eye around the room. The first thing he noticed was that the small table in the middle of the room was already set with drinks. Obi-Wan counted seven goblets. He was right then, Padmé had been expecting someone. Several people, by the looks of it.
He indicated the glasses. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Oh, no," Padmé said, "A few of my colleagues are coming over later today. Nothing important, just routine Senate matters. I'll put these away, they won't be here for a while."
She scooped up the glasses and carried them into the kitchen. Obi-Wan looked around the room for anything else odd. Padmé was one of the most trustworthy and honorable people he knew, but she was not letting on as much as there was to tell.
Padmé reappeared at the doorway. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," Obi-Wan smiled. "I won't be long. I just need to discuss something with you."
Padmé nodded in consent and indicated one of the couches. "Please sit down."
Obi-Wan sat down on the indicated couch. Padmé sat down next to him. "What do you want to discuss, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan considered for a moment how best to begin. Something he should have decided in the speeder, but it was too late now.
"Has Anakin been to see you?" he asked casually.
A faint smile made its way onto Padmé's lips. "Several times. I was so happy to hear that he was accepted on the Jedi Council."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "I know … he really deserves it. He is impatient, strong willed, very opinionated, but truly gifted."
Padmé laughed. Obi-Wan joined in. It felt good to be here, away from the weighty deliberative atmosphere of the Council room, where he could let himself feel relaxed and alive. He hadn't laughed since the last time he had seen Sabé.
After a minute, Padmé regained control. She had a knowing look on her face now. "You're not just here to say hello. Something is wrong, isn't it?"
Force, this woman was perceptive! She had cracked his carefully practiced casual façade with very little effort. It was a pity Padmé couldn't touch the Force, she would be on the Council in a week.
"You should be a Jedi, Padmé," he said, grinning.
She returned the grin. "You're not very good a hiding your feelings."
Ouch. Anakin had been a worse influence on him than he had thought.
He decided to say it straight out. "It's Anakin . . . He's becoming moody and detached. He's been put in a difficult position as the Chancellor's representative . . . but I think it's more than that. I was hoping he may have talked to you."
Padmé's friendly expression immediately became guarded. "Why would he talk to me about his work?"
Now it was Obi-Wan's turn to be in the know. He carefully gazed at Padmé's face. Practiced politician look or not, she was hiding something.
"Neither of you is very good at hiding your feelings for each other."
Padmé's brown eyes flashed. "Don't give me that look."
Obi-Wan pressed on. "I know how he feels about you."
There was a crack in Padmé's guard now. She was nervous, he could tell. "What has he told you?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Nothing. He didn't have to."
Padmé looked taken aback. She tore her gaze away from Obi-Wan and got up quickly, heading out onto the balcony overlooking Coruscant. Obi-Wan followed her. She did not look at him, but stared out at the waking city. He voice was flustered, and it shook.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Obi-Wan's tone became stern. "Don't give me that, Padmé. I know you both too well. I can see that you two are in love."
Padmé looked down. Her delicate shoulders slumped in defeat. She did not answer him.
"Padmé," Obi-Wan entreated. "Am I right? Do you love him?"
Padmé did not speak for a moment. Then she nodded.
"Yes," she said softly. "More than life."
Even though he had expected this, the words were still surprising to Obi-Wan. There was no reservation here. Anakin and Padmé were not infatuated; they were truly, deeply, in love with each other. He tried to restrain any emotion, but he had to work hard to blink back a tear.
How must it be for them, to live their lives in constant fear that their love would be discovered, and that they would be separated? No wonder Padmé had been reluctant to speak, she probably expected him to sweep out right now and inform the Council, so that they could take Anakin away from her. He had thought the idea wrong, but now it was criminal.
There was still the Code to consider, though. Anakin would be in very deep trouble if discovered, but he could be saved. As long as Anakin and Padmé had the sense to keep their relationship unconditional …
One thing was certain. After what he had just heard, he was never, ever, going to tell the Council about this.
He finally spoke. "Padmé, that makes what I'm about to say all the more important. I'm worried about Anakin. I came to ask for your help."
Padmé said nothing, but Obi-Wan detected a slight tensing of her muscles as she gripped the edge of the balcony.
He pressed on. "I fear your relationship has confused him. He's changed considerably since we returned . . . and he is confused, distracted. Something very serious is bothering him, something that has nothing to do with his recent appointment to the Council. But I don't know what it is. He's been blocking me out."
He walked to the edge of the balcony next to Padmé. She glanced briefly up at him and then returned her gaze to the horizon. She looked very sad.
"Padmé," he reassured her, "I'm not telling the Council about any of this. I ... I hope I didn't upset you. We're all friends; I care about both of you . . ."
A smile appeared on Padmé's face. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."
He turned to leave. "Please do what you can to help him."
She turned her back on the city and walked with him into the living room. "I will."
At the doorway Obi-Wan took a deep breath and turned around. "I don't know if Anakin told you, but I'm leaving on a mission today. I've been sent by the Council to apprehend General Grievous in the Utapau system. I have no idea how long I'll be gone, so I wanted to say goodbye to you before I left."
Padmé smiled. "That means a lot, Obi-Wan. For the sake of the Republic and your own, I hope that you succeed and make it back safely. My prayers go with you."
Obi-Wan extended his hand, but Padmé ignored it and pulled him into a friendly embrace. Obi-Wan returned it awkwardly.
When she released him, he turned and headed down the corridor, but stopped and faced Padmé again. He spoke so softly that Padmé was not sure if he had meant her to hear it.
"Don't tell Sabé."
It was such a strange request that Padmé was about to call him back and question him, but before she could open her mouth, Obi-Wan had turned again and hurried away down the corridor.
Obi-Wan moved briskly through the corridors of the top level at a pace that was almost a run. He had done what he had meant to do; there was no reason to linger. He had not seen Sabé, but that was a good thing. Wasn't it?
He rounded a corner saw the turbolift, fifty meters away. He increased his pace. All he had to do was reach it, and he would be on his way. Safe.
Forty five … forty … thirty …twenty five… twenty …
"Obi-Wan?"
He stopped.
There was Sabé, standing right behind him, having just emerged from a door on his left. To his dismay, the first thing Obi-Wan noticed that her hood was down and her long, brown hair was unbraided falling almost to her waist. Her handmaiden dress was made of a thin material that allowed him to see every curve …
He broke into a cold sweat. Why hadn't he moved faster? He could have avoided this.
Sabé took a step closer and Obi-Wan took an involuntary step back. She stopped her advance, looking confused and slightly hurt.
"Where are you going?"
Obi-Wan mumbled something about saying goodbye to Padmé. He immediately regretted the words and cast his eyes about for an escape route.
Sabé's brown eyes narrowed. "Goodbye? Are you going somewhere?"
Obi-Wan's muttered response included something about a 'Council mission', 'very important', and 'leaving today'.
"Today?" Sabé asked, looking shocked. "You're leaving today? Were you planning on saying goodbye before you left?"
Obi-Wan was quite appalled at his sudden lack of ability to form a coherent sentence. In an attempt to give the impression that he was not as uncomfortable as he was, he blurted out the first thing that entered his head.
"You?" he asked causally. "Why would I need to say goodbye to you?"
He regretted his words the nanosecond they were out of his mouth. It was the worst thing he could have said. Sabé's beautiful eyes filled with tears and her face conveyed undeniable shock and hurt. She turned away from him and ran through the open door.
"Sabé!" Obi-Wan called after her.
The door began to slide shut.
He hesitated. He could go now, his rational side told him. He could leave Five Hundred Replica, head for the ship. He could put Sabé out of his mind, before he got in too deep…
The rest of him had a rather different opinion.
NO! YOU'RE NOT LETTING HER GET AWAY THAT EASILY!
Obi-Wan sprinted to the closing door and grabbed it. It continued to slide. Using the Force, he threw it open and entered her apartment.
Sabé was sitting on the couch, her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs. She did not look up when he entered, or when he knelt right in front of her. It shattered Obi-Wan's heart to see her so broken.
"Sabé," he pleaded. "Look at me."
She ignored him. Or maybe she didn't even hear him. He took her hands in his. "Sabé, please."
She finally looked up. Her cheeks her wet with tears, and her eyes were slightly puffy. The pain in her eyes was almost a physical wound to Obi-Wan.
"Sabé, I didn't mean that."
Pulling her hands away from him, she got up and stood over him, anger blazing in her pain-filled eyes.
"Didn't mean it?" She cried. "I suppose you didn't mean to talk to me when you first arrived! I suppose you didn't mean to kiss me! I suppose you didn't mean to try and avoid me, to try and sneak off on a dangerous mission to some God-forsaken corner of the galaxy without even saying goodbye!"
She stormed away from him to the window. Obi-Wan got up and followed her. Her words had cut him deeply, but he did not blame her. He had deserved it. Every word.
"Sabé," he said tentatively.
She didn't look at him. "I guess it was too much to hope for. I should never have wasted all those years, hoping. Hoping for even the slightest sign that you might feel the same way about me that I do about you. That you might love me."
Obi-Wan had endured a great many shocks in his life. But none could compare to this. How could he not have known? How could he not have seen it? He had noticed her shyness around him during their tour of duty on Naboo, but he had dismissed it as a crush, an infatuation that would pass. As a Jedi, he was obligated to keep himself detached, so he had been friendly with her, but never given her the slightest opportunity to declare her affections. Love?
He realized now how agonizing it must have been for Sabé to be around him, when he was so dismissive of her. He had caused so much pain to this incredible, beautiful woman in front of him, and now he was hurting her again.
She looked at him now with pleading eyes and it occurred to him that to endure all of that, Sabé had to be one of the strongest women he had ever met. But she shouldn't have to be. She deserved to be held, to be comforted, and to be loved. And as he watched her now, he knew he couldn't deny it anymore.
He loved her too.
He moved up beside her, and pulled her into his arms. For a moment she tensed, as though she was going to resist. Then she melted into his embrace, crying into his shoulder. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and rested his head on hers. If the entire Jedi Council had walked in right now, he would not have noticed, nor would he have cared.
"Shhhh," he whispered. "It's alright. I'm here now. And I'm not letting you go."
Sabé looked up, smiling through her tears. It occurred in a flash to Obi-Wan that even though her face was streaked with tears, and her hair was disheveled and out of place, she was still by far the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Maybe angels did exist.
She spoke tentatively. "Are you sure? You won't leave me alone? Ever?"
Obi-Wan smiled at her. "Yes, I'm sure. Never, Sabé."
The smile she gave him was more radiant, more alive, than he had ever seen. Obi-Wan immediately felt his knees go weak and was sure he was going to fall over. But he didn't have to worry about that for much longer because Sabé held him even tighter and kissed him so passionately that Obi-Wan forgot to worry about anything.
He had thought that the kiss in the training room had been intense. But that had been fast paced, as well as tentative. The way Sabé was kissing him now was much slower and more deliberate. He returned it, and she moaned slightly and pressed up even closer.
Slower was definitely better.
He was barely aware that they were both moving into the bedroom, so absorbed was he in Sabé. His legs and hers seemed to move of their own accord. Sabé's hands were running all over his body, and his were just as active. He fell on top of her onto the mattress.
A very slight whisper in his head warned him that this was his last chance to turn back, before it was too late. Before he could not go back. Before he lost himself completely.
He shut the whisper out.
Forgetting any reservations he may have had, he gave all his attention over to Sabé. The Jedi Master and the Senator's handmaiden fell into a world of love and ecstasy in which no bonds, real or imagined, could hold them.
Padmé Amidala's apartment was far more crowded than usual. For the vast majority of the time, it was just her, along with Ellé and Moteé. Sabé had her own apartment down the hall. Sometimes Anakin would find enough time between missions to come and stay there, and occasionally Padmé would host a close friend or respected associate. This was markedly different.
Six other Senators were gathered in her sitting room. Bail Organa and Mon Mothma were unquestionably in charge of the meeting, along with Padmé herself. The other four Senators were Bana Breemu, Fang Zar, Chi Eekway, and Giddean Danu. They were animatedly debating recent events in the Senate, as well as discussing the plans that Padmé and Bail had exchanged. Ordinarily, a Senator's apartment would not be the ideal place for this sort of talk, as it was likely to be watched. But they could not agree on a safer place, and Artoo had done such an excellent job in securing the room that Padmé was quite confident there was no way they would be overheard.
As Threepio made rounds with drinks, Padmé spoke up.
"No matter what else happens, we cannot let this turn into another war."
Bail nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Absolutely. That is the last thing we want."
"We are hoping to form an alliance in the Senate to stop the Chancellor from further subverting the constitution," Mon Mothma said. "That's all."
Padmé took a deep breath. She had been a little shaky since Obi-Wan's visit, but now her composure was returning, and she had been giving this manner of secrecy a great deal of thought. Their coalition was too fragile, and they needed more support. While she had already told Sabé, she felt they needed another opinion on the matter, one that was not influenced by the political atmosphere, and could give them a more accurate read on the Chancellor.
"I know a Jedi I feel it would be wise to consult," she stated.
Banu Breemu looked doubtful. "That would be dangerous."
"We don't know where the Jedi stand in all this," said Mon Mothma.
Padmé tried to reassure them. "I only wish to discuss this with one . . . one I trust."
Giddean Danu looked thoughtful. "Going against the Chancellor without the support of the Jedi is risky."
Padmé pressed her opportunity. "The Jedi aren't any happier with the situation than we are . . ."
Chi Eekway shook her head. "Patience, Senator."
Padmé gritted her teeth. She was sick of being patient. This secrecy rule was becoming far more trouble than it was worth. She knew that Anakin would never compromise her, unintentionally or not, and she was desperate for some other kind of council, testimony that was not tempered by wariness.
Fang Zar continued, oblivious to Padmé's discontent. "We have so many Senators on our side, surely that will persuade the Chancellor."
Banu Breemu agreed. "We have worked hard, polling the other Senators. When you present the "petition of the two thousand" to the Chancellor, things may change."
The petition of two thousand. Two thousand signatures of Senators asking Chancellor Palpatine to relinquish his emergency powers. It certainly sounded formidable. Even as powerful as Palpatine was, he could not idly lose the support of two thousand senators. But Palpatine had never caved into the kind of pressure before.
Bail Organa nodded with finality. "Let us see what we can accomplish in the Senate, before we include the Jedi."
All the other senators agreed. Padmé let out a deep sigh of frustration and disappointment. She was being too harsh. She knew the other senators had the best interests of the coalition at heart, and that they were well within their rights to be hesitant of bringing an unknown factor into the equation. But Padmé wanted to talk to Anakin for more reasons than just increasing the welfare of the coalition. All this secrecy was taking its toll on her.
For the first three years of her marriage to Anakin, they had kept nothing from each other. Anytime one of them had something on their mind that was particularly troubling, they would talk about it, and work it out together. Now, they were both hiding something from one another.
If this continued, they would hide more things from each other until there was a rift between them. That was the last thing Padmé wanted. She didn't think she could bear that kind of separation from Anakin. Not with the most important moment of their lives drawing near.
Padmé instinctively placed her hands over her womb. Their child was still growing, oblivious to the worries of its mother and father. Now that she thought about it, Anakin's present state of mind had been in effect ever since he had had that vision … that she would die in childbirth and lose the baby.
Obi-Wan was right. She needed to talk to him, so that they could try and work out a solution. In this dark hour, she could not let Anakin walk the path alone.
Obi-Wan lay on the mat, considering what had just happened. He had done it. He had broken the code, shattered the rule of celibacy, and made a complete mockery of the decrees of the Council. He had done all for the sake of the beautiful woman who now lay sleeping in his arms.
He smiled as he gazed at Sabé's face. And I don't care.
He felt as alive right now as he had at any of the other high points in his life; Qui-Gon's accepting him as his padawan, his elevation to Jedi Knight, watching as Anakin was knighted and shaking hands with him for the first time as social equals. And now this. Yes, he thought as he absent-mindedly stroked Sabé's hair. This was right up there.
He couldn't believe that he had been considering slipping off-planet without saying goodbye to Sabé. If he had succeeded, then he would never have realized just how much Sabé had become a part of him, just how much he loved her.
The Force had been his all today, without a doubt.
Sabé stirred, and he stopped his caressing. She looked up at him, contentedly.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey yourself," she muttered, snuggling up against him. "What time is it?"
Obi-Wan checked the chronometer and realized, with a shock, that it was already 1315. He had less than three hours before the ship took off. And since he was supposed to report at 1500, which left him very little time indeed.
"It's late. I have to go soon."
Gently, he disengaged himself from Sabé's embrace and made his way to the shower. He came back five minutes later and began putting on his clothes.
Sabé propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "How soon?"
"Too soon," Obi-Wan said, reaching fro his boots. "Cody will never let me live it down if I show up late."
Sabé nodded in disappointed understanding and got up as well, reaching for her dress. "How long will you be gone?"
"I have no idea," Obi-Wan said truthfully. "Grievous will be difficult to apprehend."
Sabé stopped midway through tightening the clasp on her dress. "Grievous? They're sending you after that metal butcher? Is Anakin going with you?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"That's mynock spit!" Sabé said furiously. "They can't expect you to deal with however many thousands of guards he has on your own!"
Obi-Wan smiled reassuringly. "I will have five thousand clone troopers under my command. I'll be alright."
Sabé looked only slightly reassured. But she said nothing else as they finished dressing and made their way into the living room.
At the doorway Sabé grabbed hold of his hands. Her brown eyes bored onto his blue ones. "Promise me something."
He returned her gaze. "Anything."
"You come back to me, alright? Alive and in one piece."
Obi-Wan smiled. "How could I refuse such an offer?"
Sabé slapped his arm. "I'm serious."
Obi-Wan dropped his playful smile and stared hard at Sabé. "Don't worry. I'm never going to hurt you again."
And he meant every word of it. Now that he had found her, he wasn't going to let her go.
Sabé's voice shook slightly. "Promise?"
"I promise," Obi-Wan said.
He drew Sabé into his arms. She grabbed onto him as though she would never let go. He kissed her fiercely.
When they finally broke apart, Obi-Wan opened the door and walked into the hallway. A few feet away he turned and looked back at Sabé.
She was standing in the doorway, her long brown hair falling down to her waist. Her red handmaiden dress shimmered slightly in the light from the sun. Her face was pale, with just a hint of pink in her cheeks. Her lovely eyes were shimmering with unshed tears of worry and happiness.
No words were spoken. He merely gazed at her, burning the picture into memory.
Then he turned and made his way to the turbolift, descending quickly, not looking back.
Anakin moved toward Dock 94 of the Military Plaza and the distant figures he could see congregated outside the massive Republic Cruiser there. He wished he could have been there much sooner. Chancellor Palpatine, after having taken up most of Anakin's morning with a long (and Anakin thought, pointless) discussion about recent matters in the Senate and how they related to the Jedi and the war. After this he had asked Anakin to take lunch with him. As eager as he was to get to see Obi-Wan, it was hardly an offer he could refuse. So he had stayed, and now he had only forty-five minutes before the ship took off.
As he drew closer, he could see that Obi-Wan was standing with three clone troopers. Anakin recognized one of them, by his distinctive shoulder patch, as Commander Cody, loyal friend of both Anakin and Obi-Wan who had served with them on the Cato Nemoidia campaign.
Obi-Wan nodded his head in agreement about something. Cody saluted, and signaled to his two companions. They boarded the ship.
"Master!" Anakin called out.
Obi-Wan turned, a smile breaking across his face. "I figured you would be here. I was rather distressed when I realized that I had run out of time to look for you before I left. You see now, how if you just sit back, some problems resolve themselves."
They walked together to a large landing platform overlooking the cruiser, near the boarding ramp. The cruiser was huge, easily large enough to hold five thousand clones plus ship crew and technical officers. A large group of clones were three stories below, supervising the loading of tanks, weapons, and supplies onto the ship.
"You're going to need me on this one, Master," Anakin said.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Oh, I agree. However it may turn out just to be a wild bantha chase."
A klaxon sounded, signaling all personnel to board the cruiser. Obi-Wan turned to leave.
"Master!"
Obi-Wan stopped and moved back to Anakin.
Anakin was not sure why he felt it so urgent to say this, but he did not want Obi-Wan to board the ship without hearing it.
"Master, I've disappointed you. I have not been very appreciative of your training . . . I have been arrogant and I apologize . . . I've just been so frustrated with the Council. Your friendship means everything to me."
He paused, not knowing how to continue.
A broad grin appeared on Obi-Wan's face. "You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you. I have trained you since you were a small boy. I have taught you everything I know. And you have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be, and you have saved my life more times than I can remember. But be patient, Anakin. It won't be long before the Council makes you a Jedi Master."
Those words from Obi-Wan meant more to Anakin than any praise the Jedi Council or the Chancellor could give. He remained silent, not knowing how to express his appreciation.
Finally, he said simply. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I have enough clones with me to take three systems the size of Utapau. I think I'll be able to handle the situation . . . even without your help."
"Well, there's always a first time," Anakin said.
The two friends laughed, relieving the tension and the worries.
Finally, Obi-Wan extended his hand. "Goodbye, Anakin."
Anakin shook his hand, then pulled Obi-Wan into a brotherly embrace. Grinning, Obi-Wan returned it.
The Jedi Master began to make his way down the boarding ramp. Anakin watched him go.
"Obi-Wan!" he called, "May the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan inclined his head. "Goodbye, old friend. May the Force be with you."
He made his way down the rest of the boarding ramp. As he entered the cruiser, Anakin smiled.
Clone troopers stood at attention in several rows surrounding Obi-Wan's starfighter in the Republic Battle Cruiser's massive hanger. Most of them had their helmets off, and Jango Fett's stoic features stared at Obi-Wan from fifty different faces. Even throughout the three years of war, he still had trouble comprehending clones. When this particular group was in action, they had such different personalities and approaches to combat that it was hard to believe that they all shared the same genetic parent. Despite having their genetic structure modified, some of them were as individual as he was.
At the moment his astromech, R4-G9, was projecting a hologram of the planet Utapau into the middle of the hanger. Commander Cody indicated an area of the globe.
"Fortunately, most of the cities are concentrated on this small continent here . . . on the far side."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll keep them distracted until you get there. Just don't take too long."
Cody grinned broadly. "Come on, boss, when have I ever let you down?"
Obi-Wan laughed, and several of the commandos joined in. "Well, Cato Nemodia, for starters."
Cody raised a mischievous eyebrow. "That was Anakin who was late, I believe."
Obi-Wan climbed into the cockpit of his starfighter, and R4-G9 shut down the hologram. "Very well, the burden is on me not to destroy all the droids before you get there."
Cody saluted. "I'm counting on you."
Obi-Wan returned the salute. "When have I ever let you down?"
Firing up his starfighter's engines, he rose up from the floor of the hanger. The hanger doors above opened, and Obi-Wan Kenobi soared out into space toward the row of hyperspace rings.
He guided his fighter into one of them, and G9 chirped excitedly, confirming the fighter was locked in. The coordinates for Utapau were already programmed.
"Well," Obi-Wan said, "Let's get this party started."