Nighttime. It was the first part of Nik's new routine that he thought he'd be able to get some peace from all this, but the I2 droid sedated him into a coma every night. They helped him undress (as if he needed the help) and helped him into silk pajamas whether he liked it or not. At least they were treating him like royalty—except for the drugs and the shock-treatment anyway. Nik felt like he hadn't slept in the three weeks since he arrived here because sedation doesn't grant a person the REM sleep one needs to fully refresh. Maybe that's why they were doing it.

And maybe they were sedating him just to ensure he didn't try to escape in the middle of the night.

When N4 stepped back, the I2 droid rolled up and Nik couldn't take it anymore. "Don't stick me with that thing. Please? Can I have one natural night's sleep?"

All sentients were gone from the suite, so he wasn't sure why it would do any good to argue with programmed droids, but he argued with the thing anyway.

"Look. I'm not going anywhere. Where would I go? There's guards everywhere!"

I2 continued to roll over.

Nik challenged it with attitude, "Am I the Emperor or not?"

I2 paused.

N4 shuffled nervously and bowed, "Yes, my lord."

Brows lifted into Nik's forehead. His shoulders rolled back. "Well then. Glad we got that straight." He waved I2 off. "Your Emperor decrees you get the fuck away from me with that thing."

N4 tried to argue on its behalf. "But, my lord—

"May name is Darth Tovecus!" Nik shouted, then added. "You try to poke me I'm gonna break you in half." He raised his hand in a threat to give the I2 a Force choke. The droids didn't know he couldn't.

I2 shifted and tittered indecisively.

Nik nodded once and climbed into the giant bed. "I just want a real night's sleep." He waved at the door. "Clear it with Jakobi in the morning." He shut off the bedside light and laid down; secretly hoping that settled it.

Nik kept his eyes closed and listened hard. He settled sideways into that super comfortable pillow and sighed like he was settling in, but he listened for droid movement. Soon, the overhead lights went out and both droids move quietly to the door. And it closed.

He peeked one eye. They were gone. He lifted his head and checked around the room. No one was in here. He smiled big in the darkness but hid his little fist pump under the covers in case they had cameras in here. He guessed there would be. He pretended he was asleep to ensure he'd get this chance again.

He rolled to his back and settled himself flat, wrapping his arms over his stomach under the blankets, and took a big deep breath. His thoughts were active.

My name is Nikolai Lendra. And let's start doing this for real. Let's see. Kess talked about meditating. How the hell do you do that? I've seen snaps of Bundha monks sitting funny and staring at candles. I don't really have that option. So let's try to do it prone, looking like we're asleep. So what does the mind do? Focus on a candle? I guess I can imagine a candle. Let's try it.

He tried. He really did. But his thoughts kept wandering off. To Gina and Ben. To Jakobi. To the Eye-Two droid. To Kess and Grandpa. To what he ate for dinner. He kept trying to come back to the candle image in his mind, but his thoughts kept drifting away every few seconds.

Wow, I'm not very good at this. He thought.

"You're doing fine," Obi Wan assured.

Nik flashed his eyes open to find the glowing man sitting on his bedside. He began to sit up but the ghost patted him back down. "Pretend you're asleep. The cameras can see you, but they can't see me."

Nik rested back obediently and tried not to move his lips as he talked. "Why can't they see you? Why can I see you?"

Obi Wan answered, "Because you're seeing me with your mind, not your eyes. And you don't have to speak; I can hear your thoughts."

Okay. So tell me what the hell is going on.

"Well, clearly, they've blurred history enough to make everyone believe I'm the one that turned into Darth Vader so they can use you as a figurehead for the Empire."

I got that part. I don't get how Kess is coming to get me. Was she just here? Or was that my imagination too?

"No, it wasn't your imagination. She was here. They put key elements into play. But they couldn't get to you. It would've done her no good if she stayed."

How are they coming to get me?

"For the safety of that operation, Nikolai, I'm not going to tell you that."

Dammit.

"I know it's frustrating, lad. You just have to hang in there."

How long?

"I'm not going to tell you that either. Surely you must understand the risks."

Fine. Then what about you? Aren't you afraid I'm going to tell them about you?

Obi Wan's voice smiled. "Go ahead. Tell them you're seeing ghosts. Let's see where that gets you."

Good point.

"It doesn't have to be a candle. It can be anything you like. I taught you this already, if you remember."

I chose to ignore it.

"I'm well aware."

I was twelve.

"Which was why you needed it so dearly at the time. If children are taught to meditate before puberty it makes suffering puberty tremendously easier to endure." He added with a groan, "For all parties involved, I should note."

Lecturing me even in death?

"Only when you need it, child."

I'm twenty-nine.

"My point exactly."

Nik fought not to chuckled and groan. I missed you.

"I missed you, too."

Why didn't you show up before now?

"I had hoped you would have started your training before now. But the larger truth? I don't think you could sense me even now without the drugs."

They're spiking my water glass.

"I know." Obi Wan sounded concerned. "But you've kept it together. Even without me. That mantra you think before and after each treatment; that's what's keeping you tethered to reality."

I don't know if it counts as a mantra.

"It's working so far."

Can you tell me about Gina and Ben? How are they?

"They're safe. And they'll be safe until this is over."

How do you know?

"Because I know where they are. The Empire can't get to them where they are."

Where are they?

"No details, lad. Stop asking me."

You're right.

"Now, pick something you've stared at before. Like the sunset over the dunes or the flash of a shooting star."

The sunset. I like that idea. Brightness.

"Precisely. Imagine it with all of your mind. And when your mind starts drifting away, don't fret. Just bring it back to that image."

Nik took a deep, hard sigh. . . .

Why am I suddenly horny?

"Because your sister is about to um," Obi Wan's voice shifted with humor, "break the Jedi code."

So I can sense her!

"You always have. This is a surprise?"

I just didn't know it could reach this far. Is she close?

"The Force has no distance, Nikolai."

Who is she with? I didn't even know she had a boyfriend.

"You'll find out soon enough. Now give her some privacy, will you? Focus on the sunsets."

Nik sighed again and tried. This is really fucking hard.

"Now, now. You know better than to use that language around me."

Yeah, but you're not really sitting here either.

"Oh yes I am. In more ways than you know."

Nik squeezed his eyes shut. I'm scared, Grandpa. Dammit. I'm a grown man and I'm scared out of my wits.

"I know, Nikolai. You'd be daft if you weren't. Don't be too hard on yourself."

Nik tried to breathe and get control of himself. It was a struggle.

"Focus on the sunsets over the Dune Sea. Let them shine through your mind."

Nik focused. And it helped.

Grandpa didn't say anything after that, but Nik somehow felt he was still sitting there. That helped too. He wasn't sure how long it lasted. His mind drifted away and he brought it back for what seemed countless times, but remembering back on it the next day, he realized he was probably asleep within minutes.

And, the next day, he felt so much stronger.