Chapter 12


Long ago on Naboo came flooding back to Obi-Wan, as he sat mediating on the dusty platform while the shuttle began its take off.

Chewbacca had rushed past only moments ago, and Kenobi had ordered him to take a shuttle and get Padmé and Luke off planet, and head to one of the hidden satellites Organa had given them directions to. Then they were to go into orbit behind the satellite and wait for a signal from Obi-Wan, (if he survived,) to return for both him, and then Zett.

If, after several hours, Chewbacca heard nothing from Master Kenobi, he was only to go for Zett, then speed Padmé to Polis Massa, and then shuttle Zett and Luke back to Kashyyyk.

It was simple, but the best plans were born out of simplicity, and not overcomplicating the tasks at hand.

Kenobi gave into his memories of Naboo rather than dwelling further on the escape plan.

Had it been so long ago that he had been a Padawan?

It seemed like only moments had passed since the red laser wall fell down to cut Obi-Wan off from Qui-Gon and Darth Maul. Every movement in slow motion played out before his eyes, the slash and parries of each lightsaber clash.

The terrifying moment when Maul hit his double-bladed hilt under his Master's chin, catching Qui-Gon off guard, then, even slower, the quick motion stab of the red blade through Jinn stomach. The dim echo of Obi-Wan scream echoed in his ears, as he'd Qui-Gon gasped and fell to the floor.

Regardless of defeating Maul later, it was already too late, as Obi-Wan cradled his Master's head. If only he had been faster, he would have been able to fight beside his Master.

But Qui-Gon had been all patience, in those moments leading up to the confrontation with the Sith Lord, like he knew this could possibly be the end, and he wouldn't give into restlessness or impatience.

Not like his impulsive young Padawan Kenobi, almost pacing as the Sith Lord was.

But now Obi-Wan was the wise Master facing a Sith Lord. He had to take example from those that had come before him, those who had taught him, both Yoda and Qui-Gon had fought this battle before.

However, in regards to the Sith Lord being someone he once trusted and taught, he must look to Yoda.

Dooku had been the venerable Jedi Master's Padawan, as Qui-Gon had been to him later, and as Obi-Wan had been Qui-Gon's, and Anakin Obi-Wan's apprentice. It was all almost like a dynasty...or rather a tangled web woven.

Despite their once connection, Yoda was still able to confront Dooku in a duel, knowing that the darkness that consumed his one-time Padawan had turned him into someone else, the real Dooku was trapped within greed, anger and hatred, in his mind and doings.

As the wind shifted direction, Obi-Wan opened his eyes and saw, only metres in front of him, a dark shadow approaching, barely outlined by the early night sky.

There was a rumbling of thunder and a sudden torrent of rain that pelted down in hard drops. Stinging Master Kenobi's eyes, as he stood and wiped away the water from his face, it trailed down into his beard and down his neck, as he clutched his lightsaber tightly in his right hand.

The shadowy figure also had his lightsaber gripped in his right hand, and it ignited with a sharp snap-hiss, casting an eerie red glow in the darkness, rain hitting the blade and making dull spitting sounds as it did.

Now Obi-Wan had to see Anakin—no Vader, as an enemy. The man that had taken away Anakin, slaughtered thousands of innocent people...and nearly killed Padmé and their unborn children.

Vader was the darkness and it was up to the light to destroy him…or save him.

"Obi-Wan, I should have known you couldn't leave well enough alone. You took Padmé away from me, now you want to take away my son," the synthetic voice boomed, as the Sith Lord strode forward.

"But things have changed. When we last met I was only but a learner, now I am a Master."

Kenobi shook his head sadly, "Only a Master of evil, Darth," he raised his shining blade and Vader made the first attack and the two lightsabers clashed in a flash of red and blue.

They remained intertwined as the two men stepped around, then they both pulled back in evenly matched symmetry, as Vader went on the attack, slashing and lunging out with attacks to make up for the lack of dexterity in his mechanical movements.

Obi-Wan knew he had to take advantage of this.

If this duel had happened only ten years from now, Kenobi could not be assured of the outcome. But, he was still young enough to best the mechanical monstrosity Vader had become.

It required tactics of quick thinking as well as dexterity.

Pushing Vader into a corner could prove dangerous, but Kenobi knew he had to take that chance. "You can't best me, Darth. If my blade should find it's mark you will cease to exist because of the dark path you have taken.

"However if you strike me down, I shall become more powerful then you can possibly imagine." Obi-Wan almost smirked as Vader snarled in response.

"I grow weary of your excessive lectures, old man," the Sith moved to lunge, but Obi-Wan was faster and his blade came down on Vader's right arm, severing it from the shoulder blade in one quick motion.

Vader howled in anguish, and Obi-Wan swiftly kicked out with his left leg, slamming into the Sith Lord's chest making him double over. Kenobi then delivered a clout to the back of Vader's neck, knocking the other man into unconsciousness from the blow, and the pain from his severed limb.

Kenobi breathed out exhaustedly as Vader fell to the ground, reaching for his com-link, "Chewbacca, is the cargo safely deposited?"

There was an affirmative growl in response and Obi-Wan nodded firmly, taking in another laboured breath as he glanced back at the still unconscious Vader.

"Right then, I'm still on the landing platform. Come and pick me up quickly."

It was over.

For now.

If only there had been a chance to save Han as well, but with the odds stacked against them, Obi-Wan knew he now had to live with the resolution, that he must leave the teenage boy's fate up to providence.

Master Kenobi looked over the unconscious Vader, and sighed out a prayer to the Force, hoping it would take care of Han, as it had done long before.

That they would all meet again when the galaxy was at peace, and the Skywalker family could be reunited.

Obi-Wan had faith that Han wouldn't lose his convictions as he grew older. He knew the teenager had a special destiny.

Yoda had spoken to Obi-Wan in private a few years ago, about something he had seen through the Force, when he had first encountered Han on Bail Organa's ship, not long after the Jedi Massacre.

Upon disembarking the shuttle, even before being introduced to the young Han Solo, the venerable Jedi Master was gifted with a vision of far into the future where he saw very special children, strong with the Force.

"Special children," Yoda had revealed, "with the surname of: Solo."

-:-:-:-

If the 501st legion hadn't been suspicious enough already of the shuttle blasting off and returning, the fact that it then blasted off again so quickly was enough to even move their limited intelligence into suspicion.

"Senator, what exact cargo is that shuttle carrying off in such a rush?" The Captain asked curtly.

Bail folded his arms over his cloak as Han watched the shuttle fly out of sight from the caldera. Trying to keep relief from his features, the teenager sufficed by leaning his head against Kalani's, mostly to hide his smile from the stormtroopers.

"Delicate Nerf hatchlings. They're starting a breeding colony on Bespin's Cloud City," Prince Organa informed him, (not untruthfully because that had been indeed been going on the past few days. Nerflings were fragile creatures and had to be shuffled from one place to another as quickly, and as safely, as possible.)

The Stormtrooper nodded in response, "I see Senat—" a loud beeping came from the com-link on his belt, he motioned to the rest of his legion and they ran off ahead, the Captain of the 501st turned to Han.

"Your highness, you must come with us. That was Lord Vader's distress signal."

-:-:-:-

Zett looked up at Obi-Wan confusedly as they walked to the shuttle. "What do you mean you didn't try to rescue Han? You know that's just going to distress his foster mother further...and leaving him with Vader?" He questioned, aghast at the thought, as he helped his limping Master along.

Obi-Wan shook his head wearily, "Vader won't harm him. Padmé Amidala's foster son is now the only link he has to his wife, he regards him as his own son." He reassured his Padawan, while trying to also reassure himself.

Jukassa stopped half-way and turned to him, "Master, I don't mean to question your motives for such a decision. But what in the galaxy could possibly be a beneficial outcome of all of this?"

Obi-Wan unfolded his arms, looking down at the ground, "It's better this way. It won't raise as many suspicions. I think Han knows that more than any of us, it will just make a secure plan more secure, in a way."

Kenobi suddenly felt very old as he looked back at Zett, about to repeat almost word for word Qui-Gon had said to him, as they'd left Coruscant for Naboo before the Trade Federation debacle.

"That should be all the questioning you should do, Zett. Now get on board."

Zett bit his lower lip, "As you wish, Master." He turned and walked stonily ahead of Obi-Wan, who glanced behind him thoughtfully, rubbing his bearded chin as he followed the boy up the boarding ramp.

I put my personal convictions aside and trust in the Force. Keep safe, Han Solo, we will all meet again.

"Chewbacca!" Obi-Wan called out in the direction of the cockpit. "Take off now! We're about to have undesirable company!"

-:-:-:-

..."Stop that ship!" The 501st Captain cried out to his squad.

The Old Republic shuttle was already half-way off the platform when the stormtroopers, accompanied by Han, (who had been allowed only a brief farewell to Bail and Kalani,) amongst them.

The shuttle fired out a few blasts in response to the heavy fire from the stormtroopers, and almost effortlessly turned around into the air and blasted off.

"They got away," Han whispered to himself, a delighted grin over his face. "They got away..."

"Prince Han, sir?"

Han looked up at the Captain, lost in his relief the teenager hadn't even noticed the stormtroopers had ceased their fire, and most had gathered protectively around a huddled, dark form easily recognisable as Darth Vader.

The stormtrooper stood to attention saluted, "Sir, I'm the Captain of —"

"Yes I remember you," Haninterrupted, forcing himself not to roll his eyes, "what is it, Captain?"

The 501st Captain relaxed his stance, and pointed over in the direction of Han's fallen foster father, who was struggling to his feet, ignoring the offered help from his stormtroopers.

"Your highness, I feel your father will accept no help from us—"

"And you think he'll accept any from me, Captain?" Han interrupted gruffly, glancing aside, when no reply came from the stormtrooper captain, Solo shook his head and looked back up at the 501st leader.

"I didn't think so. Come on then, let's see if we can help anyway."

Han played the memory of the recent events over in his mind, as he looked out around the bridge tower of Vader's Star Destroyer, The Exactor.

He'd found himself here at the suggestion of Admiral Ozzel. Han had been taken on a tour of the ship, while Vader was repaired by the medic staff.

Walking along beside the pompous old craven, Han listened intently to Ozzel regardless, fascinated by the new ship he'd read so much about.

"...we are equipped with six dual heavy turbolaser turrets, two Quad heavy turbolasers, three triple medium turbolasers, two—"

"What's her hyperdrive rating?" Han interrupted, leaning against a loading transport.

Ozzel bristled slightly at being interrupted in his speech, but swallowed back his annoyance, Han smirked to himself.

"We have a hyperdrive rating, your highness, of class two with a backup of class eight, now back to the weaponry—"

Han lent forward, "What's her maximum acceleration?" He chimed in with yet another interruption, smiling again to himself as the overweight admiral bristled again. Ozzel dutifully opened his mouth to reply, but was intercepted by the dark shadow, that towered over his youthful tormentor.

"Two thousand, three hundred g, that's at her fastest," the low rumble of the voice synthesiser made Ozzel swallow hard, but the teenage boy beside him merely turned and stared solemnly up at Lord Vader, nodding in respect.

"That pretty awesome...hey look, they reattached your arm," Han pointed to his foster father's right arm, where the stub had been fitted with a gloved, mechanical arm.

Vader glanced down and flexed the aforementioned hand slowly. "Unfortunately, no. A lightsaber performs a clean swipe that cauterizes the wound instantly, this is a temporary replacement till we arrive on Coruscant. Leave us Admiral," he said, almost in the same stanza.

Ozzel inclined his head. "As you wish my lord, your highness," he spun on his heel and the rest of the crew were privy to a look of complete relief playing out over their Admiral's plump, moustached features, as he rushed away down the bridge.

Vader looked down at Han, who stared back up at him expressionlessly, after a moment or so had passed, the Sith Lord spoke up, "I expect you are tired, son. Would you like to be escorted to your new quarters? All your things have been brought there."

Han nodded, "That would be great. No offence, you run a good ship, I'm just—"

"I understand," Vader hurriedly interrupted. "They are adjacent to my own, and connect into a joint lounge. Perhaps we could talk further tomorrow morning, about what has happened the last few years we've been apart?"

Han pushed back his hair, his eyes half-lidded, "Yeah, why not? Well I'll get going then," he put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, motioning to the stormtroopers by the door.

"Well? C'mon guys, escorting a prince. Big deal. Could be a new suit of armour for you both."

The stormtroopers glanced at each other, before trotting up to the teenager, who patted their white armour covered arms.

"Okay then, let's get the prisoner to his bed...but tell me something guys," Han looked between his escorts as they started walking way. "You ever gambled?"

The stormtroopers both shook their helmeted heads, and Han let out a short laugh as they exited out the door.

Vader watched his foster son depart with his frown of annoyance hidden behind his helmeted visage, but also a tinge of amusement at the trouble-making youth.

"Well then do I have a game for you two. Ever heard of Sabacc? No? Great! I'll teach you everything you need to know..."


Thank you for reading.