Chapter 23
The Clone Wars
Year Two—Nivek
"This is ridiculous, Master," Anakin griped. "Whoever heard of a planet that stays dark all the time?"
Obi-Wan laughed softly as he stood next to his apprentice. "Well, perhaps it's unusual, but it's serving us well at the moment. The clones should be getting close to the droid factory."
Anakin nodded. "What was the communiqué you received before we launched the mission?"
Obi-Wan was quiet. Anakin was about to apologize for asking when his mentor finally spoke.
"It was from Siri,'" he said softly, missing his wife acutely. "She and Ferus are on Terra Sool. They're leading the retaking of the planet."
"Dangerous," Anakin muttered to himself.
"Exactly," Obi-Wan said back. "But, Siri and Ferus both know what they're doing. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Before Anakin could speak again, he and Obi-Wan heard explosions in the distance. He pulled out a pair of macrobinoculars and focused them.
"The clones have blown the first two sites, General," Anakin said softly as he continued to watch the action. "Only three more to go."
"General Kenobi?" crackled over Obi-Wan's comlink.
"Yes, Commander Cody?"
"Sir, we've blown the first two sites and the explosives have been set at the last three."
"Excellent, Commander," Obi-Wan said. "Move your men back towards our position. Keep the militia with you. Chancellor Palpatine would like their help in other battles if they agree."
"Aye, General."
/
Explosions could be heard all around them as Anakin and Obi-Wan battled their way through the rainforests of Nivek, and fought against the native Shadowmen.
"I didn't expect this, Master!" Anakin yelled as he swung his lightsaber against his enemy.
The clones, including Commander Cody, were fighting alongside them as they pressed their way towards the transport ship that would take them back to their Victory-I Class ship Crusader.
As they made it, Obi-Wan and Anakin took up positions on either side of the boarding ramp as the clones and the militia members boarded. They easily deflected the enemy fire and were the last to board the ship, running up the ramp as it closed and the ship took off.
The droid factories they'd gone there to destroy continued to burn to the ground as they lifted off. Their mission had once again been successful and they had survived.
/
Aboard the Victory-I Class Ship Crusader
Obi-Wan was wandering the halls of the ship when he was summoned to the bridge by Admiral Jazon Kator, commander of the Crusader.
"What's the problem, Admiral?" he asked as he stepped onto the bridge.
Kator didn't answer immediately. Instead, he was taking in the reactions of the bridge crew. Unlike many other ships, the Crusader wasn't one that normally carried Jedi. Most of the young men and women aboard had never seen a Jedi in person, so quite a few of them were staring.
"Eyes on your duties people," he snapped before turning towards Obi-Wan.
"We've received a distress call from a small transport ship," he began to explain. "There are two life signs aboard, both stable and seemingly uninjured. The message that accompanied the mayday says that the occupants are Jedi."
That got Obi-Wan's attention; brought him out of his late night tiredness.
"Did it include names?" he questioned.
Kator looked to his second-in-command and nodded.
"Yes, Sir," the other man spoke. "Jedi Knight Siri Tachi and Padawan Ferus Olin."
Obi-Wan heart began thundering in his chest. His breathing hitched for a moment. He closed his eyes briefly and reached out to his wife. When he felt nothing, he opened them again.
"How long until we rendezvous with the ship?"
"Approximately nine minutes, General."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Alert me when you have them in the bay."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked off the bridge and headed for the docking bay.
/
By the time he reached the bay, Obi-Wan's hands were shaking. Anakin, whom he'd run into during his walk to the bay was standing beside him.
"I'm sure she's fine, Master," Anakin said for the third time.
Finally, Obi-Wan chuckled. "I know she is, Anakin. I can feel her now."
The younger man smiled. "Good."
The two men watched the small transport ship enter the bay via tractor beam and set down softly on a docking pad. The ship shut down and several moments later the ramp lowered and two figures emerged.
Siri had a large cut on the side of her head and Ferus was bleeding from his nose and lip. Both were limping slightly.
Obi-Wan gasped when he saw her injury. She hadn't projected any pain at all. He hadn't known.
Quickly, he moved from the observation deck down to the floor of the bay. He walked towards Siri and Ferus. He wanted with everything in him to pull her into his arms and hold her until he satisfied himself that she was going to be alright.
He settled for telling her with his eyes how happy he was to see her after so long apart; how relieved he was that she was with him again.
"Siri, Ferus, welcome aboard the Crusader," he said evenly, his voice betraying none of his concern or love for her. "We'd best get the two of you to sickbay."
Siri met her husband's eyes as they stood face to face in more than a year. She could feel his concern even if his face gave nothing away.
"We could use that," Siri agreed. "Ferus is pretty banged up."
"I'm no worse than you, Master."
Obi-Wan and Anakin both laughed. Just like the two of them, Siri and Ferus always argued over whom was injured worse.
Obi-Wan motioned for them to follow him and while Siri walked beside him, Ferus hung back with Anakin; the two young men chatting amiably.
"So it was bad then, huh?" Anakin asked quietly.
The older man nodded. "Yes, it was bad. We were pinned down more than once. Only slightly less than half of our clones were killed in our retreat. It was…it was the worst I've seen, Anakin."
Anakin nodded. He understood Ferus' feelings. He and Obi-Wan had both seen more destruction and death than either could truly process while the war was still taking place.
"If you…need to talk, I know what it's like," Anakin offered. "I mean, I've seen the same things."
Ferus nodded in thanks as they reached sickbay.
/
Several hours later, both Siri and Ferus had been treated for their injuries and were being discharged from sickbay.
Obi-Wan stepped into the large room as Ferus headed out to his quarters. Siri stood and winced a bit as she did so.
"I hear that we have two more Jedi aboard now," she commented as the two headed out into the hall.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes. A mission gone wrong on…I don't know. Our two Jedi and three clones were the only survivors."
Siri could hear the defeat in his voice. She could see the lines of worry on his face the fatigue in his eyes. Carefully, she stepped a bit closer to him and wrapped her slender fingers around his as they walked.
"I've missed you," she whispered so only he could hear.
He glanced over at her, his blue-gray eyes sweeping her body. "I missed you, too. You have no idea how much."
They continued to walk towards Obi-Wan's quarters. Their fingers were no longer entwined; too many people passing by them for it to be safe.
"Is it always like that?" Siri suddenly asked.
"Like what?"
"So…terrifying when things go wrong?" she muttered, angry at herself for voicing her terror.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yeah, it is. Anakin and I have seen things go that wrong more times than either of us can count. We've both lost people in battle. We've both given orders that have gotten people killed. We've seen the bloodshed and the agony it brings to everyone involved. I don't suppose I have to tell you that releasing your emotions to the Force doesn't really help in those situations. All that happens is you feel guilty for issuing the order that got someone else's husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister or friend killed."
A few tears escaped her eyes then. "Exactly. I issued the order that got nearly my entire team killed, including my apprentice. I can't…"
Obi-Wan suddenly stopped and pulled her into his arms, uncaring of who saw them. He stroked her hair with one hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. He rubbed his free hand over her back, trying to soothe her emotions with touch.
"It's okay," he said, sending her calming thoughts. "I know you feel like you failed, but you didn't. I learned quickly that this war, any war really, isn't measured by how many people die in the battle, but whether or not your objective was achieved. I also learned quickly that saving lives isn't the primary objective."
"How do deal with that?" she asked quietly.
Still holding her close, he answered. "I watch Anakin. I watch him smile and laugh and try to let his laugh and his smile remind me that not everything out here is bad. I think about you, my beautiful wife, and remember that there is one person in this galaxy that is worth everything to me. Mostly, I push through the pain and hope that I reach the other side soon."
Her tears lessened and when they had finally stopped altogether, she pulled away a bit. Their arms stayed wrapped around one another and after looking to be sure they weren't seen, Obi-Wan took a risk. He leaned down and kissed his wife.
When they pulled apart, he whispered to her. "I love you."
/
Three Days Later
Coruscant—Jedi Temple
"Master Yoda, we have a matter that requires your attention," Master Windu informed the small green Jedi Master.
Windu then handed Yoda a holopic.
"Got this from where, did you?" Yoda questioned.
"From Master Durian," Windu intoned. "He took them while aboard the Crusader several days ago. We must do something about this."
Sadly, Yoda nodded. "Take care of it, I will."
Windu nodded and left. Yoda walked slowly towards his quarters. He didn't want to do what he was about to do, but there was no choice.
The holopic of Obi-Wan and Siri sharing a kiss had made the decision for him.
