Distraction: Chapter Seven

To say I was disturbed by today's events would be the understatement of the century. In fact, I was so distracted by my thoughts, I didn't even get bristled by Anakin's snarky remark of how he was about to leave me behind.

"What took you so long to get to the ship?" he asked me, already starting the flight sequence. "Did the queen ask you to dinner? Maybe you wished to join her for dancing afterward."

I merely smiled at his ill attempt at humor and sat behind him, allowing our pilot to lead us out. "I was interrogating one of the staff, if you must know," I responded, not entirely lying.

"Well? Did you find out anything?" he asked.

More than you'd believe, I keep to myself. "Not really. Theed is a pretty dull place."

Following my statement, the boy chuckled and grasped the controls. "I'll take it from here," he informed the pilot, while I steeled myself in preparation for one of his death-defying take-offs. "Nothing much good ever came from Naboo."

I steadied my breath and focused on the stars as the ship exited the orbit of the blue and green planet. I held it completely when we were hurtled into space at the speed of light. Once I had managed to regain my equilibrium, I unfastened my safety harness and stood up before excusing myself to my personal quarters.

Once the door slid shut, I reached into my utility belt and withdrew the datachip I had hidden there.

"Let's try this again, shall we?"

I deposited the information into my own personal datareader and entered the security code Anakin had used. Soon, the recordings popped up onto the screen and I selected the one I had watched previously - the one with Master Yoda and another Jedi strolling amongst the dead. This time, however, I allowed the recording to play further, pausing it only when the taller, more youthful Jedi turned his face up toward the holorecorder.

At that point, I selected to zoom in on the image. Closer…closer. Wait. Too close. He was pixelated and fuzzy. Back a little. There. I studied the face and noticed a few characteristics in particular. A mole just to the left of the ridgeline of his forehead. Just like mine. Another under the right eye, along the upper cheekbone. Again, just like mine. We even had the same color of eyes!

"Computer," I hesitated, wondering if I really wanted to see the results of this test. I'd come too far not to know the truth. What if my suspicions were correct? What would that mean? What could I possibly do with such information?

Finally convincing myself I would never find answers to these questions unless I proceeded, I finished my request. "Crop the recorded image to the individual called Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Very quickly, the program did just as I had asked.

"Now." I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Computer, remove the beard and moustache and change the tones of his hair to a darker color. Black. Make it black," I specify and watch in growing confusion as the image on the screen before me is like looking into a mirror.

Indeed, the resulting photo answered a few of my questions, but it also posed a thousand more. How was this possible? How could I be the spitting image of a dead Jedi? And why?

Was I reincarnated? Or perhaps I actually was him and had been captured and brainwashed into thinking like a Sith! Or I had died and my brain been transplanted. Maybe we were twins and this Obi-Wan had been my brother!

I had no answers and what was worse, didn't know anyone I could get answers from. Not Anakin. He was far too loyal to the Emperor. I supposed Master Sidious would tell me, but I would only use him as a last resort. I didn't think he would be too happy with the knowledge of my discovery.

I flicked a button on the computer and exited from the test image. The screen returned to the same recording as before and my eyes focused upon the other Jedi.

Master Yoda was said to be all powerful and all-knowing in the Force. If anybody could help me and solve this riddle, it was him.

But not even the Emperor had been able to locate him, and believe me, he had tried. Every bounty hunter to the Outer Regions and back had been hired to find him, and with such a substantial bounty on the little Jedi, I just knew somebody would have by now. Even Anakin and myself had been tasked to finding him, but had had no success. It was as if Master Yoda had simply vanished.

I glanced back at the image of Kenobi – my own personal doppelganger and was struck with an idea. Whenever I visited a system, I could feel the population's fear of me ripple along the waves of the Dark Side. If the galaxy was afraid of a Sith, then it would make sense they would feel the opposite when confronted with a Jedi. Stood to reason.

A decision was made. I would disguise myself as this Obi-Wan and venture out to find the answers I needed. Perhaps my search would lead me to the missing Jedi Master himself.