Several months passed by without incident. The weather was cooler and the harvest was decent. Padme and Obi-Wan made enough from their labors to not arouse suspicion so long as they didn't spend any money ostentatiously, which neither had any interest in doing so anyway. It wasn't like Dantooine had any high fashion houses or fine dining establishments. The only major expenditure they had made was the house-cleaning droid, which was not unheard of.
Obi-Wan had continued to play the modified version of hide-and-seek with Luke, and the child was shielding himself as a matter of habit, which was what he had intended. Obi-Wan cursed himself for it - if things had not fallen apart, Luke would have been able to roam the Temple with his peers and know the magnificence of feeling others' Force signatures all the time with no need to shield. He would have known what it was like to be surrounded by thousands of lights - not the smattering that existed on Dantooine which could only really be felt from orbit or if one was in town.
Darth Vader had been released from his punishment after the Senate had one of its most productive sessions on record. He was allowed nowhere near Hutt Space due to the ongoing debacle, which could best be characterized as a low-simmering war. There was an occasional skirmish, but it seemed that neither side wanted all-out war. However, Force-sensitives were still hunted with regularity all over the Galaxy, including in Hutt Space. Sometimes they were turned over to the Empire, but Obi-Wan had no illusions about just what a minute percentage that must have been of total Force-sensitives acquired by the Hutts. So long as they turned over someone to the Empire at random intervals, they could be said to be keeping up their end of the bargain. Obi-Wan wondered who to feel more sorry for - the ones that would be turned into Inquisitors or eliminated, or the poor souls who would become valuable slaves who at least would be untouched by the Sith.
Rahn had made a remarkable recovery, for the most part. He still limped quite a bit, and Obi-Wan suspected that his leg would never be completely right again. Dantooine was not renowned for its stellar medical facilities. He knew that Rahn had commenced drinking again, much to Padme's consternation. However, he could not fault the man for his habit - Obi-Wan was no stranger to alcohol himself. However, he had two people to protect, so self-punishment for past failures weren't going to help them. Rahn had no such incentive in his life, as he'd had to remind Padme on more than one occasion. He understood where she was coming from as well. Once The Negotiator, always The Negotiator, he thought to himself bitterly.
It was on a cooler night that Obi-Wan found himself alone in his room and failing to find peace in meditation. He felt that something was about to occur, but couldn't place what it was or if it was good or bad. It was frustrating - but at least it was nothing like the horror that had preceded the attack on the Lars farm. He resolved to stay alert, if nothing else.
Luke had fallen asleep some time ago, and Obi-Wan could feel that Padme was crying herself to sleep. She has gotten better about that. I wonder if she feels something too, he wondered. He knew that she waited until the house was quiet and she assumed that everyone was asleep before she would let it all go. The regularity of the crying jags had become less and less as time had gone on, but they hadn't ceased completely. He didn't fault her for her coping mechanism, and admired her for her considerate nature in assuming he had gone to sleep as well so as not to disturb him with her emotions. He remembered what he had been like after delivering Luke to the Lars.
Obi-Wan had practically become an alcoholic that first year on Tattooine after having discovered what had become of Anakin. He had never gotten hammered in public, always doing so in the privacy of his hut. He may have been depressed, but he was not suicidal. He had something to live for, but his failures still ate at him. He couldn't fault Owen for banishing him from Luke's life after that first year. He shuddered to think at Owen finding him unconscious or blabbering nonsense in a drunken fugue.
"Mommy?" A tired little voice rang out in the silent house. "Something feels bad."
Obi-Wan cursed himself again for having gotten lost in his thoughts. Luke had sensed something in his sleep before he had. Some Jedi Master I am, he thought. He could feel a dark presence approaching - not Vader, thank goodness, but something else. He got up and clipped his lightsaber to his belt underneath his tunic, just in case. Whoever it was was not coming for them, that he could sense. Better safe than sorry though, he thought as he grabbed his blaster and made for Padme's room.
Obi-Wan entered the room to find Padme shushing her tired and frightened son. She made eye contact worriedly and waved him in.
"Luke, can you make sure that you hide yourself really really well?" Obi-Wan asked gently. He didn't want to frighten the boy any further than he already was, but he didn't want him to be discovered either. Whoever it was didn't need to catch wind of Luke while here on other business.
Luke nodded his head rapidly, scared wide eyes locked on his own. "What is it?" he asked barely above a whisper.
"Someone bad. But, they aren't coming here - they're here for someone or something else. I am going to keep watch. Stay here with your mother and listen to what she tells you to do, ok?" he said softly as he stroked Luke's arm. Luke nodded again and snuggled closer to his mother.
Obi-Wan discreetly slid the speeder key to Padme in an unspoken agreement to take Luke and run if it became necessary. Her red-rimmed eyes met his and she nodded almost imperceptibly. For not being a Force-sensitive, she had an amazing amount of control of her emotions, but her fear could not be completely concealed. Obi-Wan still found himself in awe of her sometimes and wondered just what kind of Jedi she would have made had she been Force-sensitive.
He shook himself from his thoughts and went outside. He dared not take the speeder or go to the ship. He made sure that no lights were near him or on his person so as not to draw unwanted attention. After a few moments, he spied a small ship flying low over their property, past Rahn's, past the Enclave, and farther out towards the more clustered settlements on the other side of the Jedi Enclave. Obi-Wan shuddered. The Inquisitor must not have been trained to shield him or herself, he thought sadly and tried to squash thoughts of who they might have been before the Empire got a hold of them. Of course there was no need for shielding, since the assumption was that no one on Dantooine would know any better.
Obi-Wan nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a noise nearby and turned to find Rahn coming stealthily towards him. "Inquisitor," he hissed with disgust.
"I figured as much. They flew past the Enclave, so I'm afraid of just what they're after if it's not anything in the ruins," Obi-Wan asked quietly.
"Harvesting Force-sensitives," Rahn said with a deadly intensity. "No doubt they were waiting until things settled down again. The Empire has all the Temple records - they knew which families and settlements produced Force-sensitives from the Core and Mid Rim worlds. Those have all probably been neutralized. Now they can focus on disturbances in the Force, since there are less Force-sensitives to pinpoint across the Galaxy. They are no doubt coming for the poor untrained kids that found the Enclave."
Obi-Wan's stomach dropped. His sense of duty to the Galaxy fought with his need to protect his charges. He was stuck in the most horrible of places, but he knew that he could not interfere and draw attention to themselves. He would have to stand by like a coward and let the Inquisitor do their business, lest he ruin everything again.
"Surely you're not just going to stay here?" Rahn asked suddenly. "We need to do something!"
"No, we can't," Obi-Wan said, hating himself for it. "I cannot sanction any action against the Empire. If we get rid of the Inquisitor, Palpatine will want to know what happened, and then what? Does he send ten more of them to investigate or Vader himself?"
"It doesn't matter - can't you see?" Rahn asked with disgust. "The Empire is already here. Do you think that they'll just come this one time and not return again? They will come back again and again and again - until they either fill their quotas or eliminate everyone they can. It'll be another massacre!"
"Which going after the Inquisitor will only speed up," Obi-Wan tried to reason. "That is a very small ship - they can only be taking a few people, if they even do so. The best thing to do at the moment is to wait it out and see what happens. We can make a better decision once we have some idea of what they are doing here. If something happens to Palpatine's toy, then the wrath of the Sith will be upon this entire planet."
"Your attachment is clouding your judgement," Rahn said angrily. "Do you think I don't know who you're protecting? The former Senator and her illegitimate child? Your former padawan's illegitimate child?"
Obi-Wan's breath caught in his throat - he had been so blind and stupid. Rahn may have been a mostly functioning alcoholic, but he had forgotten about the functioning part of the equation. He should have shielded Luke better and taught him earlier. He should have gotten them better disguises. He said nothing as he tried to tamp down on the feeling of failure creeping up again.
"Those who are silent are understood to consent," Rahn sneered. "It's no wonder the Chosen One failed. He had broken the code - he had divided loyalties. And here you are, trying to salvage what's left of your attachment to your former padawan. You will end up failing yourself as well if you continue on in this manner. As Jedi, it is our duty to help those in need. And right now, those innocent kids are going to be destroyed for the sake of your attachment."
Obi-Wan gritted his teeth and tried not to picture himself driving a fist through Rahn's at the moment. "Think for just a minute. While it is well and noble to want to help - would we really be doing so? Think about the consequences for the entire planet should we Jedi be discovered to be hiding here. Think about the reprisals that the entire population would suffer due to our actions."
Rahn backed up a bit at that argument. Obi-Wan hoped that the man wouldn't be so stubborn as to continue to press the argument - but he was to be disappointed yet again. "That may be so - but you can't honestly tell me that that woman and child are more important than any innocents that we could be helping otherwise. We could be teaching then to shield, like you did that illegitimate child."
"He is not illegitimate. He is also not responsible for our failures. I will not see him punished for his parents' mistakes. I am not sacrificing an innocent life for the sake of others. I have my duty - my mission, and failing it is not an option. That boy is our only hope for the future," he argued forcefully. He was offended on Luke's behalf now.
Rahn scoffed, "Listen to yourself, would you? You are punishing the child by expecting him to succeed where his failure of a father didn't. You want to put the pressure of saving the Galaxy on a three year old?"
"Four, actually,"
Rahn's hand slapped his sides in exasperation. "Does it matter? Were you really just planning on sitting back and allowing the Empire to continue on its course while you waited for that child to be old enough to take on the Sith? You're Obi-Wan Kenobi! You killed a Sith before! You could have taken any of those other children out there that were strong in the Force and taught them to at least protect themselves! This was your and Yoda's grand plan? To allow the Sith to destroy at will until the time was right?" he asked incredulously.
"I don't know if you realize just how popular Palpatine is still, even after this little spat with the Hutts. He was able to successfully avoid all-out war, and it's not like the Jedi have many defenders left. Were we to succeed in removing Palpatine and Vader, what next? There are not enough of us left to organize and mount any kind of reconstruction of the Order safely, as there will be the rest of the Imperial machine against us, and most likely out for vengeance. There is also the matter of no public support. Should we do anything of the sort, we will only be endangering those innocent people caught alongside us," he begged.
Rahn deflated somewhat, but his righteous anger still remained. "Does the Senator agree with your plan?" he asked acidly.
"No, she does not," Obi-Wan replied truthfully. "She wants her child to make the choice for himself. She does want him to be able to protect himself, but she does not want the Jedi lifestyle imposed on him, and I can't say that I disagree with her anymore on that account."
"And if he chooses not to?" Rahn asked shrewdly.
"Then we do what we must, and hope that the time is right to act. Now is not the right time. We have no support and would have even less support should we do anything rash," he said dejectedly.
"Then there's no point!" Rahn pointed out in exasperation.
"It's a waiting game either way, you do realize," Obi-Wan retorted. Even his patience was finite. "We lose no matter what we do at this moment. It is not the right time to move against the Empire and reveal ourselves. We do what we must. The Galaxy has not rejected the Empire yet. Until such a time, all we will do is get ourselves and anyone associated with us killed, which will do nothing to further our cause or weaken the Empire."
Rahn's eyes flashed with anger and old hurts. "I understand, but that doesn't mean that I like it," he said tightly.
"Neither do I. But we must do what we must, and trust in the Force," Obi-Wan said. "I am more sorry than you could ever know, my friend." And he was. Morning would reveal the extent of the damage wrought by the Empire and more rational decision-making could take place then. One thing Obi-Wan was certain of, however, was that Dantooine was no longer a safe haven for them. The Empire would surely be back, and the risk was too great to stay any longer. And Rahn himself had just become a liability - Obi-Wan wondered why he hadn't listened to Padme about him in the first place.