Vacation is over again :(

Still I hope this came out all right...

Chapter 21:

After he'd brought Han the food – and had to suffer to him actually eating it – Obi-Wan had sunk into a meditative trance, still surprised at his new found deeper connection to the Force, trying to sense at least a bit of what lay ahead.

The only thing he'd come up with so far was an elusive hint of danger – and, as they drew nearer to their destination, that Anakin was on Alderaan. Obi-Wan had no idea what in the blazes he was doing there, trying to hide practically in sight Coruscant. But there was nothing he could do about it anyway, besides he would be glad to finally meet his brother in all but blood again. Though he just hoped that Padme had been able to talk some sense into him, she'd always been the more sensible of the two.

He dared not access the bond, out of fear the Emperor could pick up on it. Over short distances (like when you were on the same planet) no one could sense such a conversation through a bond, but over greater distances it left a sort of trail in the Force and there weren't many who even had bonds deep enough to be able to do that.

Just then the purring of the ship's engines indicated that they were about to come out of hyperspace so he stretched out his awareness and...His eyes snapped open and he jumped up reflexively without his mind even telling his body to do so, having gotten used to springing into action instantly during the war.

What the heck did seven, seven!, Venator-class star destroyers do here?! It could only mean one thing: Anakin had been found out and the star destroyers blocked all escape-routes – still it was ridiculous to send seven Venators for that. Maybe bail had gone and challenged the Empire?...No he wouldn't do that. It really could be Anakin, he did have a knack for having whole armies running after him... Anyway he had no time to contact him now, they had to get out of here.

Only then did he notice that Han worriedly tugged at his sleeve.

"Ben what's..."

"There's no time now Han." Obi-Wan interrupted him. "We've come out of hyperspace, but the Empire is already here. We'll have to sneak off the ship before they control the passengers."

Already he could feel the ship starting the landing approach. Han looked at him, fear in his eyes, but he nodded bravely.

"Okay then follow me."

Obi-Wan quickly led them out of the cabin and down the hallway.

Han, nearly running to keep up with him, whilst Artoo rolled on the blank floor behind him effortlessly, panted, "But how can we leave the ship? They will control everyone!"

A brief smile lightened Obi-Wan's features as he answered, "No cruiser this size has only one exit. There's always some entrance where they load in provisions, spare parts and so on. Sneaking out there as one of Qui-Gon's oldest tricks."

Han nodded, but saved his breath for running. If Ben said there was such an entrance, there was one. As simple as that.

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Clones were patrolling the streets of Aldera, from the space-port to the Royal Palace of Alderaan, Bail's and Breha's residence, there was no place unwatched for long.

Till now Obi-Wan, Han and Artoo had only managed to avoid notice because Obi-Wan was able to sense any patrol nearing them and hide.

At last they'd found a relatively safe hiding spot in the backyard of a school where they now sat crouched next to a wall.

"What do we do now Ben?" Han asked in a whisper, still bravely hiding his fear.

"I'm trying to think of something," Obi-Wan murmured back. "But without knowing for sure what they're really doing here..."

He had to find out, and there was only one way to do so.

"Han, stay here and don't move unless you're discovered. Okay?" he said firmly.

"But Ben.." Han started, not wanting to be left alone, but Obi-Wan repeated, in a tone of voice that brooked no argument, "Stay here. Nothing will happen to me."

Ans without so much as straightening first he nimbly jumped over the wall, landing catfooted on the street behind it. Now he just needed an opportunity...

Two streets farther Obi-Wan found what he was looking for; two young men in Imperial uniforms, lieutenants by the looks of them, one blond, one dark-haired. He crept nearer, sharpening his hearing with the Force until he was bale to overhear their conversation.

"Remind me again why we're here..." the blond one grumbled.

The other one sighed. "To capture this Jedi."

"Why do we need half the fleet to capture one Jedi?" the blond asked unhappily, obviously viewing the whole thing as a waste of time.

"Because the Emperor wants him, and even a single Jedi is a formidable foe, or so I've heard," the dark-haired one responded, sounding annoyed with his whiny partner.

The blonde looked doubtful. "If everything I heard about Jedi is true, we'll never find him anyway."

The other one glared at him. "That's why we're about to take his Royal Highness and his wife hostage. No Jedi would stay hidden when others suffer because of him."

Obi-Wan exhaled forcibly, anger welling up inside him. They would harm Bail and Breha to get at the Jedi?! He took a few deep breathes to calm himself and let his anger go, as he slowly crept backwards.

He'd heard enough. For one thing he knew now that they were really here because of a jedi, but they knew of only one and not his name. And they would stop at nothing to get him.

There was only one solution; they had to get their Jedi. But since sending Anakin to the Emperor in chains was completely out of question and he would not let Bail and Breha come to harm, he was the only one able to stop this catastrophe.

He had to surrender.

How was he ever going to explain this to Han? Or to Anakin for that matter?

And he had to get a message to his friend, but contacting him through the bond wasn't an option since his hot-headed former apprentice would only come running to safe him then, and that would be decidedly contra-productive for his plan. Of you could call it a plan anyway.

He'd reached the wall, jumping over it after quickly checking that nobody was watching him. And found himself face to face with a blaster barrel.

"Han it's me!" he hissed, just keeping himself from yanking out his lightsaber.

"Oh, sorry Ben," Han said apologetically and slightly sheepish, holstering his blaster again. "Now what's going on?"

"Wait a moment, first I have to make a call. I didn't dare to before, but now I see no alternative..."

Out of one of his belt pouches Obi-Wan produced a com-link and was just about to type in the code, when suddenly a great voice boomed through the whole city.

"Prince Bail Organa of the House of Alderaan and his wife are now being taken into custody. They'll only be released when the Jedi is turned in to us."

The voice fell silent again, but Obi-Wan felt the already turbulent emotions of many Alderaanians pique.

"Blast!"he muttered, hastily typing and waited for the connection to stand. He didn't have to wait long.

"Organa here."

"Bail, I need your help," Obi-Wan said quickly.

Bail was silent for a few seconds.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Yes Bail, but we don't have much time. You heard the announcement?"

"Yes, of course," Bail answered, his voice tight.

"I need you to send me a map how to get to Anakin's," Obi-Wan explained hurriedly.

"Wait a moment."

Five seconds later a red light blinked on his com-link, showing that it had received the data.

"Thanks Bail, we're indebted to you, my friend. Oh and if someone asks, you had no idea that I was here, okay?"

Bail didn't answer for a moment, then said in a tone like he was trying to remain calm, "They're coming fro me and Breha. Get out of here, Obi-wan!"

And he cut the connection.

Obi-Wan wearily leaned back against the wall. That had been close.

"How did he know that it was really you?" Han asked curious, but he looked troubled.

"Obi-Wan glanced at him. "This was an encrypted channel. Bail knew that it had to be me, at least if I hadn't been captured and forced to give the code away, and then he would be in trouble anyway."

Changing the topic, he asked, "Do you know how to use this com-link, Han?"

"Well, yes," Han replied, surprised at the question.

"Good. I want you to take Artoo, get a speeder somewhere and follow the map to Anakin's house."

Han looked at him, shock clearly visible on his face. "But Ben! You're coming with us! You have to!"

Artoo beeped supportive.

Obi-Wan sighed looking away for a moment, then he gently put his hands on Han's shoulders and said, his blue-gray eyes serious, "Listen to me Han. It is the only way. If I don't surrender, Bail and Breha will be hurt and sooner or later they will find Anakin. I can't allow that to happen. And I trust you to deliver a message to Anakin for me."

Han's lips trembled as he desperately fought to hold back tears. "But you promised! You promised that you wouldn't leave me!"

Those words and the hurt in the boy's eyes cut Obi-Wan deeply, but he knew he couldn't give in. he closed his eyes for a moment in a rare gesture of emotional distress, then pulled Han in a tight embrace and whispered, "Please Han, do this for me."

Han looked at him pleadingly and now there were tears, leaving glistening tracks on his cheeks. "They'll kill you."

"No, not yet anyway. The Emperor wants me. What he plans, though, I don't know," Obi-Wan answered, unable to really comfort Han because everything else would be a lie. And Han deserved better than that, though it hurt Obi-Wan deeply.

He lightly kissed Han on the brow and rose, ignoring Han's muttered, Nothing good, that's for sure.

"Wait till the Clones are gone, then make your way out of here."

He hesitated for a moment, then unclipped his lightsaber from his belt and offered it to Han.

"And take this, give it to Anakin for me, he'll understand. If need be, you can conceal it in Artoo."

Han looked disbelievingly at the lightsaber. "But that' your lightsaber!"

"I won't need it," Obi-Wan said, smiling sadly. When Han still made no move to take it, he took his hand and gently closed his fingers around the hilt.

Letting go of Han's hand, he turned to Artoo.

"Artoo, would you please record a message for me?"

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Bail Organa offered no resistance as he was led out of the Royal Palace, Breha beside him, by a troop of Clones and a few human officers. For one thing he knew that it wouldn't do him any good, and he was still pondering his brief conversation with Obi-Wan. It had sounded as if he was here, on Alderaan, and though he was happy to finally hear something of his friend, he really could've picked a better time. The Jedi Master had an uncanny ability to be always where trouble was, and most probably in the middle of it.

And Bail just knew that Obi-Wan wouldn't sit by and do nothing whilst he was arrested. He just hoped he would do nothing foolish.

Their escort now marched them on a landing platform not far from the Palace, obviously they were to be brought on one of the star destroyers so that they had no chance of being rescued, but suddenly the troop stopped in confusion.

Apart from the shuttle waiting for them, there was another figure standing on the platform. A figure clad in a Jedi robe, with its hood up.

Bail cursed mentally fighting the strong urge to bang his head against the next convenient hard thing. He had know it, he had know it! Damned stubborn noble Jedi!

But he kept this face impassive, remembering Obi-Wan's warning not to do anything that might hint at a connection with him.

"You can let the Prince and his wife go now. I am here," Obi-Wan said, lowering his hood. Despite his irritation with the man, Bail couldn't help but admire him for the calm in his voice. He sounded as if he invited old friends to dinner, not as if he was about to get arrested by his enemies.

Roused out of his stupor, the officer of highest rank. A captain, braked a few orders and the Clones quickly surrounded Obi-Wan.

He didn't move.

"Are you Kenobi?" the captain asked, looking him up and down carefully.

"Yes." Obi-Wan's answer was neutrality personified.

"Search him for weapons!" the captain ordered.

That too, Obi-Wan allowed without resistance. Two of the Clones searched him thoroughly and scanned him.

"He's clean sir," one of them reported finally.

Bail was surprised. Obi-Wan never went anywhere without his lightsaber.

Apparently the captain shared his opinion.

"Where's your lightsaber, Jedi?"

"I had to get rid of it at the spaceport. The scanners would've picked it up and the it would've been pretty clear I'm a Jedi, wouldn't it?" Obi-Wan lied easily, his face utterly blank, not even twitching a muscle.

Bail frowned. Obi-Wan could have used a mind-trick to get past any scanners, he wouldn't have discarded his lightsaber for that. But why was he lying then? And why had he wanted the map if he had already planned to surrender?

The captain didn't look convinced either, but he let it drop. After all who cared where the bloody lightsaber was? In fact anywhere but with the Jedi seemed good for their health. All that mattered was that they had him.

"Restrain him and get him on the shuttle," he ordered.

Bail had to look on helplessly as a Clone yanked Obi-Wans arms behind him and clamped electro-cuffs around his wrists.

As he was pushed towards the transport, Obi-Wan's eyes met Bail's, and for a short moment he smiled.

Then he was gone.

Despair threatened to overwhelm him. He could imagine only all too well what awaited his friend.

Suddenly a smaller hand met his and squeezed reassuringly.

Breha.

Somehow she always knew when he needed her, silently offering her support.

He gave her a small grateful smile, but before he could say anything, the captain stepped in front of them.

"You're free to go," he said, and with a curt bow he retreated to the shuttle. Once he was inside, it took off, growing rapidly smaller until it was blotted out completely by the shadow of the star destroyer it was headed for.

Bail and Breha watched it go, hand in hand, fearing for their friend, now in the hands of the enemy.