Chapter Thirty-Seven: Dreams and Nightmares
Episode: Beginning on "Darkness on Umbarra"
The hallway was silent while he walked down it, save for the clicking of his boots. He kept glancing around, feeling prickles down his neck. Naboo...he couldn't stand the planet.
This was the place he met Maul.
This was the place he watched Qui-Gon die in his arms.
This was the place he had walked through so many times in his dreams, sometimes catching glimpses of those he loved just around the bend, their voices just muffled enough.
Then he would run - run to catch them, squinting in the sunlight streaming through the tall windows, trying to catch them -
Always waking when he turned the corner, put a hand on their shoulder, wanting to speak to them, tell them how much he loved them, ask why they left so suddenly.
But right now...he kept moving, kept avoiding glancing outside, kept running - it was dark outside, darker than night on Illium.
There were footsteps just ahead of him, light footsteps…
Then he was in the reactor chamber, nearly running into a red energy walls. The sounds of lightsabers and screaming rung in his ears, though all he saw was a blonde little girl, staring at him curiously from beyond the res energy.
Like the girl in Dex's Diner, all those weeks ago...
She gave a little smile and a wave.
The red plasma fell
"You're gonna fall."
"No I'm not."
Obi-Wan gave a snort, the sound echoing in the chamber. He pressed his lips together, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to keep from wincing at the vague, distant sounds of lightsabers in his ears.
"You're not going to fall?"
"Nope." The girl grinned devilishly, balancing on one foot. Her braid and leg swing over the reactor core, which ominously blew steam.
He swallowed hard while observing her. Blue tunic, white leggings, white-blonde hair, five strand padawan braid…
Oh god…no...no.
"Get down from there. Please."
The little girl glanced over, eyes sparkling. "What are you gonna do about it Papa?"
"Don't!" He shouted, trying to leap forward while she jumped down the reactor core.
He jolted awake, feeling his heart hammering and sweat pooling at the small of his back.
Gods…
Papa?
That's what the little girl called him...Papa.
A vision...a future vision, three, four, five years from now, when the war was over and he was with Satine and they could -
It had to be a vision.
Or a dream...a dream, of a desire he had only vaguely entertained...
A strangled sob left him, and Obi-Wan buried his head in his hands.
He knew he was lying to himself - hadn't Anakin and Quinlan always experienced visions before tragedy struck.
Tragedy…
Obi-Wan glanced beside him, were Satine was sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware of what was possibly happening. His head was throbbing, his throat was dry - he half-wondered if it was because of the vision, or because Satine and him had drunk an entire bottle of wine before falling into bed. The wedding was tomorrow, and female wedding guests on Alderaan couldn't ingest alcohol at the wedding -
"To ensure fertility," Satine had muttered, wrinkling her nose. They had completely abandoned their glasses, drinking straight from the bottle. "Bantha fodder."
No...no, this couldn't be happening - could it? They were always so careful, so scared...one mistake would destroy their careers, their lives.
A pacifist Mandalorian Duchess and a Jedi General...during a fucking galactic war, having a -
God, he wanted it so badly it ached. Wanted it all, despite the very fact he would be kicked out of the Order and Satine would - well, who knew? Forced to abdicate? Assassinated?
Something told him...told him that this - whatever the fuck it was - meant something. That he had to make a choice...make it soon…
Satine or the Order.
His life as a Jedi...or his child.
Letting out a shaking breath, Obi-Wan lay down again, curling as tight as he could around her, trying to calm his shaking body.
Satine hummed sleepily, pushing herself close to him, lacing their fingers together gently. "Ben darling?"
"'m fine," he murmured. "Go back to sleep."
"I'm gonna be hungover at the wedding," she muttered. "I don't wanna hungover."
Obi-Wan hoped his chuckle sounded normal, and pressed a kiss to her hair.
"Oh god, Holonet reporters," Satine muttered, taking a sip of her cider and grimacing.
Obi-Wan - holding the stem of his wine glass loosely - pried his gaze from where Anakin was animatedly talking to the Krennic's - well, Orson Krennic - to where the Holoreporters were, muttering and grinning and preening. He sighed, making it no secret that he was watching them hurry with their cameras and attempt rapid fire stills of the two of them.
The wedding had begun early in the morning, as was usual of Alderaanian weddings. It was a lovely ceremony, he would admit, but he was still foggy from the wine and shaken from the vision he could not enjoy it. There was a small fact - a very small fact - that he had never met Anna Krennic - or whatever her married name was now - and had no emotions towards the bride.
Anakin and Padmé did - they were standing near the front, chattering away and generally making everyone swoon.
"Well they're a power couple," Satine had muttered to him at one point, and he had to do his best to keep from snorting in laughter - it would have been a terrible slight to laugh during the middle of a long ceremony while they were surrounded by the elite of the Republic and Neutral worlds.
Then finally - finally - the ceremony was finished and then there were prayers and blessings and then a luncheon with far too many courses that eventually bled into nighttime and then the actual reception, where everyone danced and tried to subtly (but not really) ignore the Holoreporters lurking around.
Naturally, he gave the assignment of wooing the public to Anakin, and tucked away into a corner with Satine, relatively away from everyone but not so much it would be suspicious.
Satine checked her hip against his gently. "You should duck your head and pretend to say something suave while touching my arm - the populace will go crazy for a still like that. Maybe grin a little while I blush."
He snorted, doing what she said and grinning at the whispers and stares as people were starting to notice them. "Like this?"
She shook her head a little and giggled, looking at him with her eyes sparkling. "You're really wonderful, you know that right?"
"I've been told," he murmured, thumb moving over her lace-covered wrist. Really, he couldn't fault the Alderaanians for their modest preferences - the plum colored gown she wore went to the floor, it's back and sleeves entirety covered by intricate lace of the same color. Her hair was swept into a side-braid, with white opals hanging from her ears. It was a stark contrast to all those months ago, with that scandalous red dress she had worn to the Coruscanti banquet.
Their dynamics were different too - comfortable and…
Obi-Wan tried to push the dream out of his mind, and went back to the scanning the room again, picking out Ahsoka - beside an exuberant Anakin - doing her best not look terribly uncomfortable around all the gowns and chatter and patronizing smiles.
"You should save her."
"Mmm - well I do need to do a security check."
"Obi-Wan."
"Alright, alright." Obi-Wan smiled, stepping away when a senator stepped up to talk to her. He nodded in greeting, pretending to look busy with his comlink while he wove through the crowd.
"Ah Master Kenobi," Bail Organa had noticed him approaching. "We need your expertise."
"Oh?" Obi-Wan gave a nod to the blushing woman among the group, realizing that she was Ana Krennic. "Lovely ceremony, my lady."
"Thank you," she murmured, dipping her head. "I'm honored that I had such wise guests witnessing."
Anakin took a sip of his wine, looking like he was trying not to laugh.
Obi-Wan forced a smile. "I do apologize Bail, but I'm afraid I need to steal a padawan." He caught Anakin's questioning eye, and inclined his head a bit towards Ahsoka. "We'll be back momentarily."
Anakin understood, thank goodness, and gave a sweeping gesture towards Ahsoka. He launched into a new story before they had barely stepped away, smiling wide and talking loudly.
Few took notice of them leaving - too busy being intrigued by Anakin and everyone else in the ballroom. The guards didn't question them when they strode out of the ballroom, letting them weave down they spiraling staircases and into the grounds. It was a bit eerie, with the fading music at their backs and a large windows reflecting their tired faces.
"Thank you," Ahsoka murmured when they were just before a courtyard. She knelt, undoing her heels and taking them off quickly. "I felt like I was going to scream if I heard one more story about jewelry."
"You're still too tall," Obi-Wan whispered when she straightened. "What happened to that youngling we trained?"
"She grew up, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan gave a small smile at her dry tone, holding out his elbow for her. She took it, and together they walked quietly into the courtyard. "Feet cold?"
"It's better than walking on death sticks."
He had to laugh at that, glancing down at his formal robes to her blue gown. "You didn't choose today's attire willing then?"
Ahsoka wrinkled her nose. "Senator Amidala picked it out - torture is easier than a dress fitting."
"Well she cares - and you probably made her happy agreeing to wear it."
"Mmm hmm - woah, is that a fountain up ahead?" Ahsoka took off, running dozen paces ahead of him. "It has some cat spitting out water - Master Kenobi, look at this!"
Obi-Wan didn't bother to tell her that he had seen it before, not willing to ruin her excitement. Strolling up beside her, he stopped, observing the asymmetric details. "It's a lioness, Ahsoka - there are said to be only a few hundred left in the galaxy."
"Wow... it's really pretty."
"It is, huh?"
"Master Kenobi," Ahsoka murmured quietly while they stood, watching the water gush out of the open jaws.
"Hmm?"
"Why exactly does the Council forbid attachment? It's... nearly impossible to not develop them, right?" Ahsoka rubbed at her arms. "Even you have them."
"Yes well…" Obi-Wan sighed, watching the water splash into the pool. "Suppose I've been a hypocritical, huh? Giving advice and not following it myself?"
"I do like Duchess Kryze," she said wryly, glancing at him in amusement.
He forced a chuckle. "I like her too. Ahsoka... attachment - caring for others - it can be healthy. We're sentient beings, we bond with just about everything. Even droids."
"But it can be unhealthy - jealousy, fear of loss, people taking advantage of that love...and that's what the Order is wary of."
"But to fear it? To ban it altogether? That doesn't very healthy either."
"No... it's not, it is? The Coruscant sect of Jedi…" Obi-Wan glanced over when she shivered, and shrugged out of his cloak. She gave a small smile when he draped it over her shoulders and then sat on the fountain's edge. Swallowed by the fabric, she looked incredibly young.
"What about the Coruscanti Jedi?"
"Oh, yes." Obi-Wan sat beside her, trying to think of how to phrase his statement. "They've been at the core of galactic affairs for thousands of years - they've seen so many horrible events happen, and have learned to fear certain emotions."
"But the other sects?"
"A bit more lax - and the Corps are a different society in itself."
Ahsoka pressed her lips together, looking towards the palace, where lights could be seen and music could still be felt underneath their feet. She eventually sighed, and leaned her head against Obi-Wan's shoulder. "You think the war will be over soon?"
"I... don't know. I certainly hope so, Ahsoka."
Neither of them moved to head inside, staying by the fountain's edge. It was peaceful, being away from everyone. He thought briefly of asking her opinion on attachment, then decided against it.
He could figure it out.
Glancing upwards, he smiled, watching songbirds flit from tree to tree, chirping and whistling to each other.
"Did you know people say that our lineage thinks with their hearts and not their heads?"
Ahsoka gave a rough laugh, pulling the cloak tighter around her.
He smiled, opening his mouth to say more when his comlink chirped. Frowning, he dug it out.
"Hey master - oh good, Snips is with you."
"Something wrong, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, feeling unease prickle at his neck.
"Mace and Cody are contacting Palace Command - they say it's urgent."
"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked when he and Ahsoka walked into the command center. It was strange, to be in such formal attire with a wedding reception happening above and be conducting business of war.
The holograms of Cody and Mace glanced at each other, neither willing to speak.
Anakin raised his eyebrows, looking lost. "What -"
Mace sighed heavily, suddenly looking old and terribly exhausted. "Have any of you received Captain Rex's report?"
"I thought they were on Coruscant?" Ahsoka asked, furrowing her brow.
"They got rerouted to Umbarra." Anakin knit his brow together in confusion. "What's there to report?"
"We want you and Obi-Wan to head towards Umbarra, meeting Saesse Tiin and Pong Krell in airspace."
"Now?" Obi-Wan echoed, eyebrows raising in alarm. "We're supposed to be on Alderaan for another twenty-five hours."
"Then you can leave in twenty-five, given that you three have not heard of a security threat?"
"No, we haven't." Anakin rocked back on his heels, looking annoyed.
"Do you want me to go, Master Windu?" Ahsoka asked, glancing at everyone. "Because if we're still worried about a security threat, I can stay on Alderaan until the guests have left and then escort Senator Amidala home - presuming she plans on staying a the full forty-five hours she was supposed to after the wedding ends."
"Not a bad idea," Obi-Wan murmured. "From what I've gathered that airspace is not friendly in any way - good idea, Ahsoka."
Anakin folded his arms over his chest. "How many troops will we have?"
"Well - we'll have to figure that out when you guys get here, won't we?" Cody smirked dryly at the eyeroll he received. "I can't estimate it very well - not until General Krell and Tiin answer me."
"And knowing Krell he won't answer a clone." Obi-Wan sighed, rubbing at his jaw. "I can contact him in the morning, assuming he answers. Anakin - want to inform the Queen and Viceroy about our departure when they become available? Details withstanding, of course."
"Naturally."
Outside, on landing docks and private garages, people are leaving the planet Alderaan. They're buzzed and sated, chattering about the wedding that will soon be only a whisper in their mind. They won't care about the war or the people fighting in it until their world is threatened.
Well...fine. Because he would rather stand where he is now, dressed in his armor, holding Satine closely and waiting until the last possible moment before he can leave.
"Do be safe," Satine murmured finally, tilting her head upwards.
"Aren't I always?"
"Obi."
Obi-Wan pulled a wry grin, brushing a bit of hair out of her eyes. "I'll do my best to be only mildly injured."
"Ass."
He bent to kiss her, trying to fight down the fear that was trying to take hold of his mind.
"What was that?" she whispered when they eventually parted, keeping her eyes closed and their brows leaning together.
"A reminder I love you...no matter what happens." Obi-Wan squeezed her hips, pressing one more kiss to her brow. "I... should probably leave your chambers - tell Anakin to meet me in the hangar."
"...believe we're even in the expansion region - what's even here? Nebula clouds and abandoned ships?"
Obi-Wan gave his commander a sidelong glance while they strode to the hangar. "Well yes - and the Separatists."
Cody gave a heavy sigh, palming the hangar door open. Engine fumes and the sound of a thousands of voices greeted their ears. "I walked into that one."
"We need to protect these supply routes - it should be a relatively easy siege."
"Only you would say it's easy." Cody nodded to the clones running about preparing troops and transports. "I never did ask, sir - how was Alderaan?"
He grimaced, ignoring the comment and proceeding chuckle while he spotted Anakin standing by their designated transports. "Everything okay?"
"Fine - just waiting for leadership to show up." Anakin rubbed at his neck. "We've only been gone from Alderaan two days and I already miss having a proper bed."
"Cody," Obi-Wan muttered while command was beginning to approach them.
"I have the bucket on so you can't tell I'm grinning."
"Mmm." He glanced around, making sure that all the command was surrounding them before pressing a button on R2, whom had just rolled up to them. A map of Umbarra's capital appeared. "Masters Krell and Tiin will be supporting my troops in the south, while Anakin's battalion comes in from the north and takes out enemy reinforcements. It is imperative that we conquer the capital city as quickly as possible, and hold it."
"Our biggest problem is gonna be the local militia," Anakin said while stepping forward. "The Umbarans have aligned themselves with the Separatists and are heavily armed. ARC Trooper Fives will be assisting my units on special assignment.
"Ready to do my part, General Skywalker."
Rex nodded. "Nice to have you on board."
"Just like old times, Rex."
"Remember, Anakin - Cody and I will be twelve clicks from your south. We're counting on you to take out those local fighters, or, I'm afraid, the capital will never surrender."
"Does my battalion have to do everything?"
Obi-Wan shook his head fondly while before turning to board his transport. "You seem to always volunteer."
Author's note: A) the people who did read "Cyar'ika Jetti" - your pm's lately have been hilarious. I apologize for the cackling I have been doing - but I will be avoiding the strong urge to hide in a hole after I post this chapter B) if you haven't read that, go check it out if you want. It follows the Hardeen arc and umm - it's consequences to our beloved characters - and all female cast!
I do ask though - don't be rude or cruel if you don't like how this story is going. I came up with this plotline while I was going through some things that were - and still are - very hard to deal with on a daily basis. Just stop reading the story if you feel the need to be mean on a review. That's all I ask.
I know I'm going to get hate for this. I apologize in advance.
To those who will continue to read - thank you. You have no idea how much you mean to me. To those who will abandon this story - I wish you well and am thankful you guys were my audience.
With love,
ii Digestive Reader ii