Plans and Preparations
Ahsoka could feel Anakin all around her, lending her his strength as she felt as if she was being trapped in the void. A small smile quirked her lips as she felt the darkness fade away, and with it the presence of her master. She reached out blindly with the Force shattering the bacta tank, as she felt the absence of her master acutely.
She reached out with her senses and Padme rushed forward crying uncontrollably. Slowly, Ahsoka could see with her eyes, and as she took in the room, the horror set in. Anakin, her master, was fading away….had faded away. He had given her his strength to see that she survived, and she didn't deserve it. He was the Chosen One, she was just his padawan. She felt her former confidence dissipate with her master, perhaps she had picked up his cocky arrogant attitude over the years, but without him, she felt an inadequate as a padawan. "Padme," Ahsoka said at a loss for words, if Ahsoka was suffering what must Padme be feeling.
"Ahsoka," Padme sobbed as she tightened her embrace around her. "Anakin loved you so." Ahsoka didn't know what to say, even as she looked into Anakin's face, he looked like he could wake up any moment and cock an eyebrow at her questioningly. Kix looked over at Ahsoka.
"Sir, Milady," he nodded at them both.
"What is it, Kix?" Ahsoka said as she pulled away from Padme and looked at the medic.
"Sir, your hand. I've got a replacement, if you will just let me and the droids help you?"
"Of course, Kix," Ahsoka said as she looked at the pale hand, it was a human hand that she would be fitted with, much different from the rest of her orange body, but it would have to do for now.
"I'm sorry General," Kix said. "But our supplies are limited, if you will just allow me…"
"Go ahead, Ahsoka," Padme said, "I'll just leave you alone."
"Aunt Padme," she heard and turned around. It was her nephew Jix. "Hey, Jix," she said trying to smile.
"I just heard about Uncle S," he told her, "Is it true? It can't be can it?"
And Padme cried again, as Jix tightened his grip around his aunt. He had never seen his aunt without her husband, every year when they came to visit it was always Uncle S, Aunt Padme, the twins and Jinn. Jix had always wanted to be just like Uncle S, he was so brave and daring. He was just like every other youngling, fascinated with the team of Kenobi, Skywalker, and Tano.
They had been such a dynamic duo and then when Tano joined in his sister's used to fight over who was Tano. Jix chuckled at the memory, even as Padme cried. Uncle S was the reason he had joined the Alliance in the first place, that and the adventures, every time Uncle S came he always had the most amazing stories of his adventures, and Jix knew he was meant for more than just a quiet life pretending to be loyal to the Empire. He knew that he had to do what he could for the Alliance. While he joined the Alliance and went on missions putting his life in danger his older sister Pooja became Senator of Naboo for the Empire and did what she could to feed her brother and the Alliance information. "Aunt Padme?" Jix asked her.
"Oh, Jix," she said, as the tears flowed more freely.
"But Uncle S saved Naboo from the Trade Federation when he just a kid, do you really think the Force is done with him?" Jix said, trying to cheer up his aunt.
"I saw him, Jix, with my own eyes. I need to find Luke and Leia," she said.
"I'll come with you Aunt Padme."
Luke and Leia were busy coming up with a plan to save Obi-Wan. "Leia, how are we going to save Uncle Obi-Wan."
"We don't need the Alliance. The Jedi may be part of the Alliance, but we aren't controlled by them."
"Well, we are going to have to do it without Dad," Luke told her. "So our resources will be limited, and I doubt Aunt Ahsoka will be up for it either."
"So what, just you, me, and Galen against what the Empire?"
"You make it sound so impossible," Luke said.
"I'm not turning back; I meant what I said to Mon. And besides Dad always said one Jedi is worth a hundred Imperials."
"Yeah, but there's Darth Wrath and Barriss."
"We have to see if we can get a small group together. Perhaps, Master Plo will join us," Leia wondered. "What do you think?"
"We are still going to need a plan."
"I know," Leia said with a frown.
"And it will probably be heavily guarded," Luke added.
"We'll figure something out," Leia said.
"Well we are going to need a plan, we can't just fly by the seat of our pants," Luke commented.
"I'm going to check on Dad," Leia said as she left her brother to chart a plan.
Mon sat in silence. She knew the twins would go after Obi-Wan Kenobi and Shaak Ti, it was no secret that the held the same spirit as their parents. Mon Mothma respected them greatly; she had always respected the Skywalkers and the Jedi. She knew that they would go after him, they were like the parents unwilling to let anyone down, and she admired that greatly.
She turned on the HoloNews and listened to the plans of the Empire who had captured General Kenobi. She listened to his crimes against the Empire, and the fact that he would be executed in three standard days. That didn't leave the Skywalkers much time. She had hated to tell them no but they really couldn't afford any supplies or men to lend her.
The only reason they had been able to sanction the last mission was because of the Death Star plans. Once they had those they could destroy the Empire pet project once and for all. Kix gave her the medical report on Skywalker and Tano, and Mon frowned. These things happened; everyone knew when they joined the Alliance that they might meet their end within it. Poor Padme, she thought. At least General Tano would be an asset. She was the only one left of the team of Kenobi, Skywalker, and Tano, and Mon had better prepare her for a speech. Force knew that a speech for Tano would be better than a speech from anyone else. It was strange working with Clones when the Stormtroopers were their enemies but she smiled as Tup came in.
"Sir?" he asked.
"Here, take this report to Luke and Leia, they will need it if they plan on rescuing General Kenobi."
"Yes, sir," Tup said as he took it to Luke.
"Three days. Thanks, Tup."
"Yes sir, and Luke, may I say your father was a fine man, I've never been prouder to have served under anyone. Of course, he's also the only one I've served under except for that business with Krell. I will never forget standing in front of that firing squadron."
Luke shot him a huge smile. "Thanks, Tup, you've just given me an idea on how we're going to save Uncle Obi-Wan."
"Just like his father," Tup commented, sad about the news of General Skywalker.
"Tup," Luke asked, taken aback from his great plan, "What do you mean 'was a great man'?"
Tup looked around nervously, "I shouldn't be the one to tell you this. I wish Rex was here, he's much better at these things than I am."
"Tup," Luke said slowly, "what happened to Dad?"
"Perhaps, Jesse should tell you, or Cody, I'm no good at these kinds of things, sir."
"Tup, please," Luke implored.
"Well…it seems as if Ahsoka is awake, and your father….is no longer part of this world," Tup finally finished. Luke closed his eyes and Tup wondered what it was with the Jedi. He took that moment to leave Luke alone, and sought out Lux and Ahsoka's young ones. Young ones were always a good distraction.
Luke searched out with the Force but all he felt was emptiness where his father used to be. He could feel the life forces of the Clone Troopers in the Rebellion, he could feel his cousin Jix, his mother Padme, he could feel Mon, and the recent arrival of Bail Organa, he could feel his brother Jinn, he could feel Ahsoka, and her children, he could feel Lux, and all the other Rebels, and his twin bond with his sister was back. She was trying to stay strong; he could feel the strength within her battle with seeing her father so weak, so defenseless, so helpless, and so unmoving. Luke could feel his sister's determination at saving Uncle Obi-Wan; he could nearly feel the warm arms of Galen wrap around her before he pulled back. Leia was right, if Dad were in charge he would do anything to save Obi-Wan and so that is what Luke and Leia would have to do, for the first time in their lives they would step foot on Imperial City, or Corescent as their parents called it. It was where there parents had spent the beginning of their married life, and even though the twins had never been there, they would do anything to save Uncle Obi-Wan, their father's mentor.
Emperor Palpatine was quite pleased with himself. He had Obi-Wan locked in the Temple's cells to await his execution. It was quite ironic really, the very place where they had held Barriss and his former apprentice now held Jedi General Kenobi. Three days should give enough time to organize this celebration of the end of the Jedi, of the capture of the traitor known as Obi-Wan Kenobi. It would give his apprentice and the dark Jedi enough time to wrap things up so that they could be at his side. Then there were several of his Grand Moffs and Senators that would need to be in attendance. He was leaving temporary control over his space station to Sate Pastage, the only non-Force sensitive in command. Though with Jedi still out there it was a gamble.
With Skywalker dead, he was expecting that padawan brat of his to make a rescue attempt; or Skywalker's son. It had been reported to him that Skywalker's eldest brats were fifteen years of age; they would pose no problem against the likes of him. The boy was the only one who was Force sensitive. It figured, he thought, look at the difference in Barriss and Wrath, there was so much difference between the way they handled the Force and the Dark Side. The girl had obviously taken after her naïve mother. Otherwise, she would have been trained, like her mother she just couldn't stay out of the thick of it.
It would be wonderful if he could just catch Skywalker, then he would have another worthy apprentice. The son of Skywalker, the Emperor's eyes glowed at the thought to have such a pawn under his grasps. The Emperor allowed his thought to wonder at the pure majestic power the boy much possess and under his guidance, the boy could become the Sith his father should have been. No matter, he thought as he went to the cage that housed Kenobi.
"General Kenobi," he said pleasantly, "I hope you like your accommodations; you won't be enjoying them much longer."
"They are quite comfortable," the Jedi Master replied, "Although the jewelry is a tad much," he said as the metal clanked around his hands. "Forgive me for not bowing, your highness," Obi-Wan intoned in a sarcastic tone very like Anakin.
"Soon enough, Jedi, you will bow before me. Death will come to you, but before it does you will beg me to end your life."
"Never."
"If fact, you may start begging whenever I tell you the latest news."
"I doubt you have anything to say that would interest me," Obi-Wan said, meeting him in the eyes.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that. Would you not like to know the fate of young Anakin?" Sidious smiled when there was no answer. "And the fate of his son. You see young Anakin is now one with the Living Force, and so your precious Chosen One has failed. His death will bring his son to my side. Your very public execution will bring him out of hiding, and once he is mine, we will crush the pitiful Rebellion, without Skywalker and Kenobi leading the Rebellion, it will be crushed."
"Never. You will never get your hands on Anakin's son."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that, after all I have foreseen it," The Emperor said with a casual shrug. "He will become the most powerful Sith Lord to every walk the Galaxy. This boy, this Luke, will follow me down the path of the Dark Side, the Dark Side grants powers that you can never imagine, and without his father to guide him, he will be lost within my grasp. Who would he turn to? You will be dead, dear Jedi, and that leaves him with shaky relationships with the rest of the Jedi at best."
"Luke would never betray Anakin's ideals."
"He will, I only wish you could be around to see it. Oh well," the Emperor shrugged as he watched tears fill the Jedi Master's eyes as he whispered one word.
"Anakin." Obi-Wan would not speak for days after that, searching through the Force for his friend, but it was no use, even if he hadn't been stabbed with Force inhibitors, his friend, and his brother was gone. It was Obi-Wan's job to protect Anakin and Luke and it seemed he had failed at even that.