Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. I only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize.
54. "Bounty Hunters" (pt. 2)
"You know each other?" Sugi border-line hissed. The bounty hunter, already wary of the Jedi, cut an accusing look between the group of pirates and the assembled peacekeepers. The distrust burned heavily in her eyes, and it demanded an answer––a quick one.
There was a rumbling chuckle from none other than Hondo Ohnaka, whose lips pulled into a sly smirk. Even in the low, eerie green firelight, and through the goggles pulled down over his eyes, Elara could see him eyeing them each individually. They slid over Obi-Wan, jumped over Ahsoka… skimmed over Anakin… and then smoothly landed on her. His smirk pulled wider and he shifted his weight so his hip jutted out coquettishly. He chuckled again and pulled on the front of his vibrant red overcoat, then dashed his hands against it to rid it of non-existent dust. It was hard to resist the urge to hurl her eyes into a roll, so Elara didn't. Of course it was him. It somehow made perfect sense that if they were going to run into pirates, it would be Hondo and his crew. One run-in with him, and they thought they were done; apparently they were very, very wrong.
"Of course we do!" Hondo proclaimed. His eyes had not left Elara, and he chuckled suavely, eyebrows jumping. "Very well." In response, Elara arched a silent eyebrow and crossed her arms over his chest; this resulted in Hondo chuckling again, and waggling a finger in her direction in an 'oh, you' sort of way. "I am happy to see you, Pretty Jedi."
"What is your definition of 'very well,' Hondo? Because as I recall… you imprisoned me twice and ransomed me for spice… tortured my friends in front of me… and threatened to––" her eyes darted towards Sugi, then back to Hondo as she cleared her throat, "––sell me. We don't know one another well at all, I was just a business transaction for you."
Hondo started to swagger forward, his coat swaying around his legs, crossing and closing the gap between the pirates and the ragtag group of Jedi, bounty hunters, and Felucians. He made a bee-line for Elara, who held fast and allowed him to approach. Beside her, however, Anakin went rigid. A sharp inhale cut in through his nose, and he took a not-so-subtle step towards her. This did nothing to deter the pirate, however, as he sauntered right up to Elara, stopping when their boots were nearly toe-to-toe. He stood so close that she could smell the musk that clung to him––something spicy yet acrid, like incense intermixed with the burning stench of spice. She arched her other eyebrow, fixing the Weequay with a silent question. His eyes, through those green tinted goggles, took a moment to dance over her, and a tense quiet befell everyone around them.
"Come, now… you must recognize that that was all business! But this, us… it's a pleasure," he drawled in a warm, low tone. "After all…" he reached out, pinched a strand of hair that had fallen into her face between his fingers, and tucked it back behind her ear, "we have that strange yet profound bond, remember?"
The tips of his fingers brushed the bare skin just behind her ear. They lingered a little as they fell away, the whole gesture reeking of obvious flirtation. This was a game. It had been back on Florrum, and most certainly was now. Before, Elara had not deigned to give him a reaction or a response––but now? Now seemed like a good time to meet him head-on. If he was going to be difficult––as he surely would be––then perhaps he would be more amicable towards her. That was something that they could use to their advantage. So, with a smile that quirked slightly to one side, Elara let her head fall into a mild tilt.
"'Profound' being the key word there; I often have to think very deeply as to why we have such a bond," she replied, her voice light and a little lofty.
In her periphery, Elara watched Anakin do a startled double-take at what was happening beside him. Since he was standing so close, she reached out and pinched his hip; he jumped a little, and she hoped that he realized that this was a means to an end. She wouldn't flirt with Hondo unless she had to… even if the bantering was a bit fun.
Hondo chuckled and the lizard-monkey on his shoulder made an odd hiccuping sound that might've been some kind of laugh. The pirate beamed at her, slapped a hand over his heart, and fluttered it over that spot a little. "Such lovely lips should not utter such barbed words––you wound me, Pretty Jedi. How could you say such things when we go so far back!" Quite suddenly, he spun and strutted away, his sudden absence genuinely startling––though likely not for his intended reason. The pirate started trotting back down the line of Jedi, and he gestured to Obi-Wan with an expressive hand. "Tell them how far back we go, Kenobi."
Elara, curious to see what Obi-Wan's unadulterated reaction to Hondo being so familiar would be, turned to watch the pirate walk away. But her gaze was intercepted by her brother's intense––almost grossed-out––stare. With a slight widening of his eyes, he asked a question––what are you doing? She responded with a thinning of her lips––trust me. Anakin's eyebrows pulled together but then, with a little huff, he crossed his arms in begrudging acceptance. The both of them proceeded to turn their attention to Obi-Wan. It had been no secret that he hadn't been the pirate captain's biggest fan. And it appeared that nothing had changed; there was a deep frown marring his lips, and a furrow crinkling his handsome brow.
"Too far, I'm afraid," Obi-Wan drawled flatly.
"Ha-ha! And here I thought we were friends!" Hondo clapped a hand down on Obi-Wan's shoulder and leaned in close. The Kowakian monkey-lizard on his shoulder clung to the front of his coat and leered forward with a squawk.
With the single most imperious look she had ever seen on his face, Obi-Wan coolly swept a hand upwards, knocked his hand into the inside of Hondo's wrist, and knocked it off his shoulder.
"If you're truly interested in friendship, Hondo, might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers."
"Threatening them?" the pirate captain asked in a dramatic hush. He then hurled himself backwards a step dramatically, a hand flying to smack into the middle of his chest as though wounded. He allowed that momentum to carry him in half a spin, which he then walked away from, pacing down the line of Jedi. "Oh! Please tell me you have not been listening to this…" hands flapped and waved like they were gathering up the correct words, "bounty hunting scum!" His attention swiveled over to Elara as he passed her. "We both know you don't want a run in with them…"
Elara glowered at him and darted a worried glance at Sugi, who either opted to ignore that last jab, or hadn't noticed as she seethed at the insult. He came to a stop a few feet away, his head tilted back as he stared down two Felucians curiously huddled up against the window of their hut. They skittered away shortly after the pirate stopped to look at them.
"Scum?" hissed Sugi. "We're just here to help them protect what's theirs!"
"Oh, come, come, my dear…" he hummed. He turned back around, all flamboyance gone, and in its place was the gruff, rumbling presence of a dread pirate captain. This was the dangerous side of Hondo, the one who had earned the title of fircesome. His head quirked to the side, his hands swept behind his back, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "How much are they paying you?" But before he could get an answer, a hand shot out and a finger waved through the air. He smoothly started to saunter back towards Sugi, a predatory pacing in his steps. "Bup-bup-bup! Doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I will double it. And all you have to do to earn it is…" he leaned forward with a sly grin, face mere inches from Sugi's, "step aside."
"We. Don't. Break. Deals," Sugi stressed. A hand shot forward and pressed into Hondo's chest, and with a little push, she urged him out of her face.
The moment her fingers had made contact with the pirate's chest, blasters were drawn. Every pirate in attendance suddenly had their sights set on the woman who had just dared to touch their captain; and in response, every bounty hunter that wasn't Sugi drew their weapons. The risk of a shoot-out skyrocketed, and that was reflected heavily in the Force. It started to tremble erratically, squeaking against itself painfully. This was a make-or-break moment. It rushed along Elara's skin and had one of her hands falling from where it was tucked under her arm. It came to rest on her hip, braced just over the hilt of her lightsaber. Just in case. But the movement was casual enough that no one seemed to clock it.
Obi-Wan stepped forward, arms thrown out placatingly.
"Steady everyone…" he warned.
"What is your stake anyway, Kenobi?" Hondo inquired, attention once more wheeling around to Obi-Wan.
Said Jedi was tense. Obviously so. His shoulders appeared painfully squared, his chin perfectly level with the ground, and the muscles in her jaw were obviously clenched, even when hidden beneath all his facial hair. And there was something in his eyes… reserved but biting… that only ever intensified when Hondo's eyes were on him. But regardless of this tension, he took a diplomatic step forward and deigned to answer the criminal's question.
"All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost. And I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it––" This had Elara's head whipping around so fast a muscle in her neck pinched. She managed not to gape at him, but did stare disbelievingly at his unfairly elegant and impassive profile. "––twice what you could make selling this crop."
There was a pause, a fleeting moment of consideration. Hondo folded his arms over his chest, let his lips pull down in a thoughtful frown––and then leaned towards Obi-Wan a little, swirling a hand through the air. "Well, um… how do you plan to pay me?"
After their time spent with Hondo on Florrum, it became clear that he was a stickler when it came to payment. Credits wouldn't do because they didn't hold any value in the Outer Rim; they dealt in other things. Hondo seemed to prefer spice, or something like it, as he'd fought so valiantly to obtain it when he'd taken them hostage. Elara's mouth twinged with the urge to suggest they pay him what he'd want to get paid in––but this was not her negotiation. She didn't know what Obi-Wan had planned. And, besides… she didn't know where they stood in a professional sense, just as she didn't know quite where they stood personally. She didn't want to step on his toes.
"A funds transfer when we arrive."
"Republic credit?" Hondo shook his head, clucked his tongue repeatedly, and spun away on his heels. "We've been over this before, Kenobi… My associates don't accept that currency."
There it was––the denial. Credits wouldn't cut it, and Hondo knew that they simply did not have access to the amount of spice that he'd likely want. The deal was off before it was even considered.
But Obi-Wan did not let this deter him. He took pains to follow in the footsteps that the pirate had plod away from him. He was obviously very insistent on trying to barter their way off the planet with this man. "I'm offering a deal that benefits us all, Hondo. Don't let your greed blind you to that fact," he warned.
"You know… I like you, Kenobi…" he turned and cast his gaze over Obi-Wan's shoulder––and at Elara instead, "and I like your pretty companion all the better––" she watched as Obi-Wan's shoulders grew even more tense, something she would have thought impossible, "but, uh… no one leaves this planet until I get my sillim."
Sugi shouldered her way forward, and the blaster rifle on her back rattled at the suddenness of the movement.
"Then I hope you enjoy it here––because you'll be staying for a long time, parasite!" she snarled.
The mild smirk that had overcome Hondo's face upon his looking at Elara melted away. It was slowly replaced by a look of dangerous impassivity, which he fixed first on Sugi, and then on Obi-Wan. Slowly, he clasped both hands behind his back and turned it on them. They all watched as he started to make his way over to Casiss, who had been silently standing on the sidelines. Hondo bent forward at the waist, promptly lowering himself a little closer to the Felucian's level.
"You know… this crop has not been harvested. You better hurry, old man, before things start to, uh… die on you?" This was said with a casual, threatening tone, complete with a shrug, a flapped hand, and a wide-eyed expression.
A cold stinging jabbed into Elara's chest at the casual threat. It didn't take a genius to realize that 'things' did not necessarily refer to the precious sillim crop. It meant the villagers. The bounty hunters Casiss had hired to protect them. And the Jedi that Hondo had so easily claimed to be his friends. Her expression went cool and steely as a whole new weight was dropped on the situation. It was no longer as simple as 'pay the pirates and avoid Grievous'; it was 'pay the pirates or they will kill you for not complying.' And that was not something they could simply ignore and not do anything about. They were wholly involved in this now; there'd be no turning their backs on these people or their situation.
Silence had overcome the small village at Hondo's lingering threat. They all watched as, without another word, he sauntered back towards his bike as though he'd just had a pleasant conversation with some old buddies. The pirates had yet to lower their blasters; they seemed keen to make sure no one would shoot their captain when his back was turned. Once Hondo was sitting astride his bike once more, he gave a theatrical wave of his hand.
"I shall return! And when I do… that sillim better be ready for the taking. If not… we will see how the defenses of such a humble village can withstand a little… push back." Again, the word was spoken so carefully, but there was an underlying grumble to his voice that was distinctly dangerous. Hondo lifted up onto his feet, slammed back down as his foot pushed against an ignition pedal, and waggled his hand through the air again. "Farewell, my friends!"
He and the rest of the pirates proceeded to take their leave, zipping back into the night. As the rumbling of their engines disappeared, an unsteady quiet was left behind. It was tenuous and worried. For as flamboyant and outlandish as Hondo was, those threats were real––and they were dangerous. A sharp frown twinged across Elara's mouth as she watched the pirates go. Dealing with them would be difficult, if their previous experience with this particular crew was any indication. They were tricky. Criminals didn't play by the rules, but they seemed to take particular delight in twisting them every which way. Caught up in her own thoughts, Elara hadn't noticed that Casiss had made his way towards her. But he drew her attention by reaching up and placing a hand over hers, just beside where her lightsaber hung. A pleading gleam had overtaken his eyes, shining brightly in the flicker of firelight.
"You must help us––please," he beseeched.
The answer tripped forth to the tip of her tongue. A swift affirmative that she had to clamp her lips around, which likely thinned out her lips in a wary pinch. But it wasn't because she'd had a contesting, second thought; it wasn't because she didn't want to help. It was because this wasn't her decision to make, not on her own at least. So Elara turned her eyes to Anakin, who stood with arms crossed and a determined scowl on his face. With a short jerk of his chin, he agreed to her silent question. Beside him, Ahsoka squared her shoulders bravely, smiled, and nodded her affirmation. And then, her eyes jumped to Obi-Wan, who had contested this course of action not but five minutes prior. She elected to ignore the tingling thrill that ran down her spine when their eyes met. She dismissed it as a shiver as a result of the cooler evening air, arched her eyebrows at her companion, and silently bade him to give an answer. Where he'd once seemed impartial to the idea of staying, circumstance seemed to have swayed him otherwise. For with a demure incline of his head, he, too, agreed to this course of action. But then––
"We can assist you in planning how to defend yourselves," he said. "But we still cannot stay long."
Elara's eyes slammed shut as a wash of disappointment poured over her. She could feel it spill past her own defenses, bleed through the cracks in the walls she'd so carefully built over the years. And when her eyes opened, she saw a frown twinge its way across Obi-Wan's face. But she was unwilling to let the Felucians see her displeasure at her comrade's statement. So Elara turned back to Casiss and placed her other hand over his softly. A smile pulled across her face, reassuring in its gentleness. "General Kenobi is correct. We'll need to discuss ways we can prepare to defend this village; perhaps we could move inside and––"
"No," Sugi interrupted. Everyone's attention snapped towards her as she turned to glower at Elara and Casiss. Sugi raised a finger and jabbed it at her, then waved it back at the other Jedi present. "Before we do anything I want to know how you know that piece of filth Hondo. You seemed awfully comfortable with him… I won't work with anyone who's friendly with pirates."
"The further away Hondo is, the more comfortable I am with him," Elara replied. She let go of Casiss' hand and lifted her own placatingly. "We encountered Hondo and his crew on a mission a while back; he's very liberal with his usage of the word 'friend.' I'd be shocked if he remembered any of our first names. We were a means to an end for him, he incarcerated us so he might ransom us off back to the GAR and the Order."
Anakin stepped forward, and Sugi's attention snapped quickly towards him. He shuffled a step backwards, hands also lifting. "We have no qualms in fighting against him; if anything, it might help us release some left-over frustrations from the last time we saw him…" The frown on his face was very reminiscent of the one he'd worn when both Elara and Obi-Wan had convinced him to let Hondo go. He'd wanted nothing more than to haul him off to a Republic prison ship. And it was likely that same urge was rising within him.
A gentle scoff wheezed out of Sugi's mouth, but something in her demeanor changed. The heat in her eyes had died down a little and her shoulders had relaxed some; by the time she turned back to Elara, her arms had sagged out of their crossed position slightly. But there was still a wary intrigue lingering in the wake of her heated suspicion. It had her eyes darting across the Jedi's face in short, sharp movements, like she was attempting to scan it or commit it to memory. Her head then fell to the side in a slight tilt. There was a dread curiosity in that movement.
"You said he tried to sell you…" Sugi trailed off.
With a harsh thump of her heart, Elara fought the urge to dart her eyes towards her brother, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan. Of course that comment hadn't gone unnoticed. It was in a bounty hunter's job description to notice little details; for if they didn't, it could potentially mean the death of them. But this was a detail that she wished hadn't been picked up on. For this was something that, quite possibly, could be the death of her. No matter how specific the bounty was, no matter if Wyle wanted her alive… jobs went wrong––or 'wrong'––all the time. And Elara had a sneaking suspicion that, given their first impressions, if Sugi were to discover the bounty, she would have no issue if things went 'wrong.' Elara's mouth popped open, a lie struggling to come forth. but it was quickly apparent she wouldn't need one––someone else spoke for her.
"As previously mentioned, Hondo tried to ransom us all off," Obi-Wan smoothly cut in. With a––hopefully––covert exhale of relief, Elara cut her eyes towards him. His expression was cool and easy going, as though he truly were telling the truth. He didn't even flinch when Sugi turned around, her calculating gaze now heavily resting on him. He wore the mask of a diplomat, as he so often did, unflinching in the face of potential danger.
"Selling someone is different than ransoming someone. I know you're all very 'well-to-do' types, but I imagine you must know the difference. And you seem very… wordy; so why use the incorrect one? Surely it must upset you to do so."
It was then that Anakin inserted himself into the situation again, this time with an impatient huff. A grimace had tangled across his face, rippling his mouth into a frown, and causing a glare to pinch at the corners of his eyes. A gloved finger jabbed through the greenish light and in the direction Hondo had disappeared in moments before.
"Is it really worth debating the correctness of word usage right now?" Anakin half sighed. "We don't know when Hondo's coming back––he's unpredictable at best, so we need to be ready for whenever he and his thugs come back. I think our time would be better spent figuring out how to defend the village."
"He is right," sagely agreed Casiss.
With a sigh that teetered on the edge of exasperation and disbelief, Sugi shot the village elder a look. "Casiss––"
The Felucian stepped forward boldly and swept his arms through the air. "No! Whatever dealings these Jedi had with that pirate are in the past. They are here to help us now, and their experience with such a man may prove to be just the help that we need. There will be no quarreling amongst us. We must set aside our differences and work as one, united under a common goal. Come. Let us discuss." Casiss' tone of voice left little room for argument. Though he stood significantly shorter than all present humanoids, he walked with a purpose that made him feel taller. Like he loomed over them all as he moved past them all, intent on returning to his home, assured that they would all follow after him.
And follow they did. The bounty hunters and the Jedi all fell in step behind him, but silently refused to let their ranks mix. The bounty hunters pulled ahead while the Jedi fell behind, each group of four slightly glowering at the other in the process. It was Sugi's grimace that Elara's gaze managed to snag against. And once snagged, it was caught, and she found herself locked in a staring match. There was something in the Zabrak's gaze that was heavy and pointed. It was weighted with a confused recognition, just like earlier. Like there was something about her that resonated with Sugi, but for the life of her she couldn't recall why. The problem was, Elara knew why. It was because her face was in the bounty database. And if that little factoid came to light, things would become irrevocably more complicated. That simply couldn't happen. They couldn't afford it to. So while Sugi's narrowed gaze promised to get to the bottom of this all, Elara's promised that she'd do her damndest to ensure that would not happen.
OOOO
A hologram of the layout of the Felucian village glowed over top of a small, round table. It was around this table most everyone was gathered––the bounty hunters, the Jedi, Casiss and another Felucian named Dilanni. Elara, to antsy to sit, had instead leaned a shoulder up against the wall as they spoke. An arm rested over her ribs, wrapped there tightly so it wouldn't dangle uselessly at her side. The other was lifted to poise a hand over her lips, fingers gently tapping against them while she listened. She could not help the furrowed aspect of her eyebrows or the frowning of her lips, because it was so obvious how much pain all of this had brought these people. Their homes and their livelihoods were being threatened, and there was nothing they'd been able to do about it. Because they had no defenses. They had no means to protect themselves; and it silently wounded Elara to stand aside and listen to the disheartening tale that was being woven for them.
"Until the start of the war, we did not need to fear thugs or invaders," Casiss explained. He stared at the hologram of his home with sad eyes, and shook his head sadly. Perhaps he thought of happier times, where this hologram was used for the planning of new fields; not for the building of defenses. "We have always been peaceful. Our ancestors have farmed this land for centuries, kept the soil fertile and learned to live with the land. We have never experienced a conflict that couldn't be resolved with discussion. But now that there is unrest rippling through the galaxy… now that people are falling ill, becoming wounded, and dying… our crop is in higher demand. And we are more than happy to assist where we can… but we were not prepared to be forced to give up our sillim. We did not, and do not, have the means to resist."
Elara sighed quietly and continued to tap her fingers against her lips. This was truly a bad situation for them to be in; and a difficult one to try and help them climb out of. If they'd arrived with detachments of the 442nd, 501st, and 212th, it would be another story. They'd have people and equipment enough to nip this problem in the bud; they could've stormed the pirate's camp in the night and stopped them before they had a chance to strike. Unfortunately, all they had was themselves. Three Jedi, three lightsabers, the Force, and no means of communication. They didn't have the means to fully outfit these people with the equipment to defend themselves and their homes. They just had themselves, the bounty hunters, and the village.
"So, you have… nothing," Anakin stated more than asked. Surely he hadn't meant to come off indelicately, but it had come out rather flat and dull. Which resulted in a cluck of Elara's tongue, and a sharp look being cut his way from her place against the wall.
"Anakin," she muttered in warning.
Anakin, who had been pacing quietly, stopped, widened his eyes at her, and flapped a hand through the air. "What? It's true."
Elara's expression crumpled and the hand that had been poised at her mouth rose to cover the whole of her face. He still needed to learn how to be delicate about these sorts of things. One day, being indelicate was going to get him in a whole lot of trouble.
"He is right," Casiss agreed grimly. Elara more felt than saw the 'see?' look that her brother must've fixed her with. "If we'd had something… we would not be where we are today."
The hand that had flopped over Elara's face fell away, and revealed a troubled twist of her mouth. She pushed off the wall with a shrug over shoulder, righted herself, and padded towards the table. "Alright, so you have nothing. We can fix that."
"How?" asked Dilanni. His voice was squeaky and seemed to be on the constant verge of breaking. "We have just told you that we do not have the means to defend ourselves!" In the short time that they'd been in Dilanni's presence, Elara had come to suspect he was something of a panicked pessimist.
"My brother and I grew up amongst farmers. If there's one thing that I know about farmers, it's that they're innovative. You've got plenty of stuff in this village––and the land just beyond––that you can use to make mock-defense systems. Barricades, trip-wires, pitfalls… there's still hope," Elara assured. She dropped into an elegant crouch beside Obi-Wan, and once again ignored the crackle of energy between them. It snapped and popped like static electricity dancing across her skin, covered or otherwise. With a deep breath, she eyed the hologram of the village intently. "We just need to figure out where Hondo would make his attack from…"
In her periphery, she noticed Obi-Wan shift in his seat. It was a short, subtle motion, easily dismissible as trying to get comfortable on the low-standing stool. But she had to wonder if it was because she was standing too close to him. Regardless of the reason for his shifting, he leaned an elbow on the edge of the table and gestured to the high, rocky cliff faces to the north of the village.
"From what I can see, it appears that it could come from two fronts: the forest to the south and the ridge to the north. Whatever you do," Obi-Wan looked up and made eye-contact with Dilanni and Casiss, "you must defend both sides."
"But there are only four of them!" Dilanni exclaimed, gesturing to the bounty hunters. "How can four bounty hunters defend against so many?"
Elara braced an elbow on the edge of the table and dropped her head into the cradle of her palm. He was right. For as panicked and on-edge as the Felucian was, he was right. If three Jedi and a Sith Lord couldn't pull the wool over the eyes of Hondo and his crew, four bounty hunters sure wouldn't be able to either. This village was in danger of being razed to the ground. These people were in danger of losing their lives. Sitting around and just planning still didn't sit well with Elara. Doing felt like a much better course of action; but that wasn't an argument she wasn't going to get into with Obi-Wan with all these people around.
Embo, who lurked at the edge of the group, wove his spindly arms into a cross over his chest and grumbled something in his native tongue. From what Elara could glean of what he said, it had something to do with 'four being sufficient.'
But it would seem that Anakin was of a different mindset. He came to stand behind Obi-Wan and listed sideways so he could mutter in his ear.
"The farmers are right. These bounty hunters don't stand a chance," he said hushedly.
A twinge worked its way across Obi-Wan's face. There was something painfully determined but also rather guilty in the flash of a look. With a sigh, he turned his head towards his former student. "We've been over this, Anakin…"
"You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, young Jedi," Sugi drawled. She sat hunched over the table, fingers splayed across the side of her face, expression droll. One of her eyebrows arched provokingly.
"I'm sure you're good at what you do, but you're in way too deep," Anakin snipped back.
"These aren't your run-of-the-mill thuggish pirates," Elara agreed. "They took three Jedi and a Sith Lord hostage, and took very few pains in doing so."
Sugi rolled a wry smirk over at her, head cocking to the side. "So you keep saying. And who are any of you to say such things? You are peacekeepers who fail to keep the peace."
"The rift in the galaxy is not our fault," Obi-Wan defended clippedly. "If more worlds would stand up for themselves against the Separatists, this war would have been over long ago."
The underlying rumbles of a political debate started to become apparent. This was a conversation that could last for hours, particularly with Obi-Wan at the helm. It was not only something they didn't have time for, but something that would surely pit the Jedi and the bounty hunters against one another even stronger than before. Thankfully, however, someone jumped into the conversation and diverted it back to the point––and that person was Anakin.
"That's it! We'll just train the villagers to defend themselves," he announced.
"But we are just simple farmers! Why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we are just going to end up doing it ourselves!?" Dilanni sputtered.
"Hush, Dilanni," Casiss cut in, his voice sage and low.
"Your being farmers doesn't mean you can't learn to defend yourselves," Elara assured. "My brother and I grew up as slaves on Tatooine; now we're Jedi. Who you are, what you do, or where you come from does not prevent you from learning new things."
"Trust me––trust us," Anakin said with a cocky smirk. "We'll have you ready."
Sugi pushed off the table and slung her arms into a crossed position over her chest. Her eyes, still gleaming with distrust, rolled across Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Elara in a slow sweep. "That's great and all… but you cannot create an army in a day, Jedi or not. These people know nothing of weaponry or fighting, and the pirates are, as you say, unpredictable. Surely there's a possibility that Hondo will appear in the midst of your training exercises. Where will that leave us, then?"
An uncomfortable quiet washed over the room. Because for as sound as the plan of teaching these people to defend themselves was… Sugi was also right. There was no saying when Hondo would arrive. He could show up as the golden beams of sunrise cut through the air, or as the brilliant colors of sunset spilled across the sky. There was no guarantee of timing. There wasn't even any predicting anything, not safely. The uncomfortable silence split as Anakin launched into reassurances that any amount of training was better than nothing. And as a back-and-forth between him and Sugi started up, Elara started to think. Her gaze became unfocused, blurring with the blue light of the hologram as she dropped into the recesses of her own thoughts. The smallest spark of an idea burst to life, glimmering with a faint, unignorable hopefulness. It was a plan that she knew both Anakin and Obi-Wan would contest… but it could potentially ensure the safety of the people of this village. Besides, she'd fought both the men before on matters far worse than this; and she'd won them over.
"I can go speak with Hondo," Elara said with an easy confidence.
Those words stopped the conversation dead. Every head had cricked towards her, and all sorts of gazes were leveled in her direction. There was restrained curiosity from the bounty hunters and open interest from Casiss. Dilanni had simply dropped his head into his hands. Ahsoka appeared intrigued. And both Anakin and Obi-Wan looped only horrified at the suggestion. And both of them spoke at the same time:
"Absolutely not," Obi-Wan stressed.
"Are you crazy?" Anakin questioned with a disbelieving half-laugh.
Before either of them could launch into a crazy lecture––their lips were already moving to do so––her hands flew up to stop them both, expression gently stern.
"Of everyone present, there's only one person that he's remotely amicable towards. And that's me. Why not use it to our advantage?" she posed.
Anakin snorted, eyes wild with concern, and he shook his head adamantly. "No, no, no––no, he'll just kidnap you again! He'll use you against us!"
"Anakin's right," Obi-Wan agreed, voice tight. The hand that had been resting elegantly on the tabletop had tightened into a fist, and his expression was just as tense as that hand. The look in his eyes suggested that he would leave no room for argument. "You can't go, I won't allow it."
Much to Elara's surprise, before she could say anything, Sugi spoke up. She hissed a shushing sound at both male Jedi and cut a sharp hand through the air, like she was severing their arguments through the air. Anakin and Obi-Wan both blinked at her, a little started. Sugi leaned forward, her elbow cutting into the hologram, and fixed them with a look.
"Let her speak," she all but ordered. Her head swiveled around and she met Elara's gaze evenly. There was a curiosity there––and perhaps an odd kind of solidarity––though it was still guarded by distrust. "I'm intrigued."
Elara cleared her throat and rose out of her crouch. She inclined her head to Sugi in quiet thanks, who gave a slight twitch of her own to acknowledge it. "Hondo isn't going to come before sunrise," she surmised, turning her attention to Casiss. "You need time to harvest the sillim, and he's going to give you that time. My best guess would be that he'll aim for noon at the earliest. Here's my thinking…" It was here she turned her attention to Anakin, though at the edge of her vision Obi-Wan also lurked, a stiff blur of blonde hair and pale robes. "If I go to Hondo in the morning, I might be able to convince him to wait till late afternoon."
"By doing what?" Anakin huffed. "Having a drink with him?"
"Yes," Elara answered easily. Her brother gaped at her as though she'd taken a major hit to the head. She clasped both hands behind her back and shrugged. "If I arrive unarmed––" there was a quiet, wheezed sound of displeasure from Obi-Wan at this, "––and with the intention of just talking, I have a feeling Hondo will go for it. And if I can't convince him to wait… I'll have at least stalled him for some period of time."
The fact that Anakin did not immediately respond and instead mashed his lips together was telling. His mouth twitched with words he swallowed back, nose crumpling into a displeased sneer. The Force grumbled around him in a low, put-out rumble that Elara seemed to be able to feel vibrating in her sternum, right next to her heart. Because he knew that the plan held merit. That there was a possibility it could work, and if it did––it would buy them valuable time. The farmers could be taught to fight; they just needed the time to learn. It didn't matter if she could get them an extra quarter hour, it would be enough. Elara arched her eyebrows gently and Anakin sighed heavily. A hand rose to pinch at the bridge of his nose, and his head moved in a barely noticeable shake.
"You're right…" he begrudgingly admitted. His hand fell away as he petulantly crossed his arms. "And if there's anyone he's not going to do anything terrible to… it's probably you…"
"If you're willing to go flirt with that scumbag for our benefit, be my guest," Sugi said with a hint of a smirk at the corner of her mouth. She gestured to the door as though telling her to go do it now, instead of later. "Better you than me."
The uttering of the word 'flirt' had evoked a physical reaction out of both Obi-Wan and Anakin. The latter shuddered and hung his head, a slow breath leaving his mouth as though one did when trying not to vomit. The former, however, who had yet to speak an approval of this plan, was spurred out of his seat as though stung by the word. A frown had tangled across his mouth, which he quickly hid by placing a hand over his mouth. He drew a hand over his beard in a faux-thoughtful motion and paced towards the windows on the opposite side of the small room. Elara's eyes tracked him as he moved across the room, an odd squirming sensation worming its way through her chest. It was all she could do to watch him as he stood steadfast and silent at the window, bathed in the cool blue light of the moon. It became clear after a moment that he would not be returning to the planning session. Likely not so long as they lingered on the subject of Elara going to speak with Hondo. But even when the conversation had carried on and shifted, discussing potential methods of training, he did not return. He stayed at that window, motionless as a statue.
Elara took a slow side-step away from the table and out of current conversation. She made her way over towards the windows, each step tentative and slow. Both hands remained tightly clasped behind her back, fingers squeezing at her armor covered wrist. The squirming in her chest had migrated to her stomach, to that too-familiar pull. Just as she acknowledged it, Obi-Wan's head turned ever-so-slightly towards her. She swallowed down the unnecessary nervousness that had risen up in her throat. Because, despite all that had happened, this was just Obi-Wan. Some part of her scoffed wryly. Yes, it was just Obi-Wan. And that was the issue. That was why she was nervous, why her fingers fluttered restlessly, why her heart ached, why she had come over to speak with him. Elara stopped beside him, less than half a foot away, and itched to stand closer. But she didn't. Instead, she squeezed her wrist harder and rooted her feet to the ground.
It was quiet between them for a moment, the only sound humming between them that of the conversation at the table on the opposite side of the room. Together, they stood silently and stared out at the village and the expanse of jungle beyond it. It was all bathed in the blueness of moonlight that, while peaceful, also felt impossibly haunting. Because that peace would inevitably be shattered the next day, scattered across the landscape like pieces of a delicate mirror. It was hard to come to terms with that; that, no matter what they did to help, this place would know what it was to see some kind of war.
"I don't feel comfortable with you doing this," Obi-Wan finally murmured. It was an admission both soft and hard. Spoken quietly with a hardiness to the words themselves. It almost came out choked, like it tripped over the breath in his throat.
Elara was quiet a moment, a frown gently dancing at the corners of her mouth. She turned a cautious, curious glance up at Obi-Wan. A troubled look had stretched itself across his face, and he was still attempting to hide it by obscuring the bottom half of his face with his hand.
"Why not?" she asked. She did not look away from him, eyes intently glued to his profile, which was illuminated by the moonlight. It softened the harsher edges of his expression; but it didn't soften the potential blow that he could be about to deal her. "Do you doubt my abilities do carry out such a plan?"
"No. No, it's not that. It's only… the last time we encountered Hondo, he took a… particular pleasure in toying with you," he said. This time, a clippedness had entered his voice, and a grimace had pulled across his troubled face. "And if our encounter with him earlier is at all telling, he will be more than happy to do so again."
The statement had Elara's eyelids fluttering. She silently mulled over what had been said, searching the annals of her memories to recall their time on Florrum. She didn't necessarily remember being toyed with. There had been bantering, yes, and flirtatious remarks, but not––her thoughts came to a screeching halt, then. The flirtatious remarks. That was what Obi-Wan was referring to, what was twisting his mouth into a grimaced frown. Why an acridness had started to leak into his tone, bubbling beneath carefully chosen words. The gentle down-turn of Elara's mouth started to lift, and then pulled to one side into the littlest of smirks.
"Do you not want me to go because he… flirted with me?" she asked quietly.
Even there, bathed in moonlight, Elara could tell that a tinge of pink had risen to the tops of his cheeks. The comment seemed to break some part of his resolve, and he turned a wide-eyed, startled look at her. His mouth opened as though to respond, and then promptly snapped back shut. Just as her eyebrow started to lift promptingly, he ripped his gaze away and forced it back out the window. A rough clearing of his throat and a sharp inhale on his part was answer enough––it had Elara's smile threatening to grow again, so she curled her lips over her teeth in a bid to hide it. Because something deep within her excitedly whispered the word 'jealousy.' That the reason he detested Hondo with such vehemence was because the flirtations inspired jealousy. It was an emotion she shouldn't be rejoicing that he might be feeling; for it was a terrible thing to feel, something that could lead a Jedi astray and along the wrong path. But given the recent contention between them, this possible development was disarmingly exciting.
But Obi-Wan was quick to contest it all, perhaps in an attempt to erase what his actions had said for him.
"No, I don't wish for you to go because he is a pirate and there is still a––" he cast a look over his shoulder and then turned back and lowered his voice pointedly, "––bounty on your head. One which, I recall, he attempted to capitalize on."
"Only because he believed he wasn't going to receive his payday. My situation just happened to play into his hands. It's different this time. To him, we're not part of the problem. Therefore, we are either an inconvenience or an amusement; I plan on making us an amusement, a useful amusement. Pirates are frivolous… that's what I intend to capitalize on." And then, after a pause where no response was given, she continued "Think of it like this––if Hondo wasn't responsible for this, and instead it was, say… Asajj Ventress… it would make more sense to send you to speak with her and not myself or Anakin and Ahsoka. Right?"
The hypothetical had Obi-Wan's mouth tensing again. Again, a wordless answer. She was right.
Elara then made the decision to reach out a hand and place it on his arm. Her gloved fingers skimmed delicately against the plastoid covering his bicep; and though he could not feel it, his head snapped around quickly at the smooth touch. Their eyes met like magnets drawn to one another, like they were always meant to find one another, no matter the distance between them. Breath caught in the back of Elara's throat, and her fingers tightened around his armor clad arm. At his side, at the very edge of her vision, she saw Obi-Wan's fingers twitch.
"Trust me," she all but whispered. Her expression had melted into something gentle and pleading, the most naked look she'd offered him since their tiff in the hangar. Her eyebrows rose in a delicate arch, rising towards her hairline. "Please, Obi-Wan. I'm going to go, even if you say no again. But it would put me more at ease to know that you trust me to do this."
The muscles in his neck tensed and bobbed as he swallowed. Something in his eyes glimmered… but she thought that, perhaps, it was a trick of the blueish moonlight. The way it danced across his eyes as they roved over her face, from the wisps of hair that framed it, to her mouth, which rested with a gentle part between her lips. And when his gaze leapt back to hers with a disciplined quickness, his head moved in the slightest of nods.
"I do trust you," Obi-Wan said, voice just as soft as hers had been. "I always have."
"Then let me do this."
A tension swiftly built in the quiet that followed her insistence. Obi-Wan's lips thinned out and his nostrils flared, clearly still displeased with the thought. But there was a relenting in the stiffness around his mouth that, perhaps, suggested a relenting in his thinking. A faint sigh pulled through his nose, a preface to the words that he was about to say.
"At least take your lightsaber with you."
"You know I can't; they have that 'no weapon' policy, remember? Even if I did bring it, they'd take it away," Elara pointed out. She'd yet to remove her hand from his arm, and he'd yet to shrug it off. To be connected with him physically, even through the barrier of plastoid and fabric, was something of a relief. A comfort.
"You'd at least have it in the vicinity should you need it. Take it with you," he firmly insisted.
This was his condition. He'd agree to let her go if she agreed to take her lightsaber with her. Again, Elara would go regardless of whether or not he truly approved; but it would be a much easier feat to pull off if she didn't have to fight him every step of the way. So with a quiet sigh of her own, she nodded. Slowly, her hand slipped away from Obi-Wan's arm, and as it fell, she let her gaze drop too. She stared at their boots for a moment, suddenly disheartened by the space between them. At the distance they'd both opted to put there, a distance that made the touch of gloved fingers to armor covered skin so breathtaking. A flicker of a sad smile danced over her lips. When she looked back up, her eyes just barely glanced against Obi-Wan's before she redirected them to the hut's door.
"I'm… going to take a walk. See where we can set up some barricades," she said.
With that, Elara excused herself, skirting around Obi-Wan and taking care not to brush against him at all. She cast a fleeting smile at Anakin and Ahsoka as she passed, murmuring the same excuse of finding a spot for a barricade. Which, in truth, she was going to do. But the quietude would help settle her thoughts and her heart, which currently felt like it was working overdrive. It was both trying to keep emotions at bay, and force her to feel them at the same time. She hoped that the calm chirping of insects and the gentleness of the breeze would do something to calm her. At the very least, it would get her ready to catch some shut-eye. Because if she was going to be dealing with Hondo, she was going to need all the energy she could get.
OOOO
Around Anakin, everyone had started to disband for the evening. They'd all been offered huts to stay in for the evening, and it was universally agreed upon they'd all need some rest for the coming day. Training was not to be taken lightly, nor was fighting pirates. But even with the promise of sleep beckoning, Anakin found himself focused on something else. His eyes, after having followed his sister upon her exit, had fallen back to find Obi-Wan. The Jedi Master had also watched her go, with the most peculiarly forlorn expression on his face. So Anakin, with a huffed sigh, meandered his way back towards the windows. He came to a stop beside him, taking the place the other Skywalker had just vacated, and folded his arms over his chest. Both men stared at the door, through which Elara had disappeared through not but a minute before.
"As much as I don't want her going either…" Anakin started gruffly. "She is right. And she'll be fine."
Truthfully, Anakin didn't know if he was trying to reassure Obi-Wan or himself with that statement. Perhaps it was a bit of both. For as much as he still was victim to a lingering displeasure with Obi-Wan, he wasn't going to let him wallow away by himself. He was still his friend. His closest friend. If Elara was striving to make things better, then the least Anakin could do was try. Because he didn't want to be upset with Obi-Wan; in fact, that was one of the last things that he ever wanted to be, especially to the degree he had been. Besides, they were both stricken with worry over the same thing. Over the same person. Over her. The least that they could do was commiserate.
"I know," Obi-Wan eventually said. His voice was stiff, so much so that it shook from the tension. "After all she is a…" his mouth hung open, prepared words on his lips, and yet he didn't say anything. A flash of something worked its way through his eyes, and his expression fell a little. He looked sad, almost, as he said: "She's an exemplary Jedi…"
With that––and without any other parting remark––Obi-Wan walked away.
As Anakin watched him go, a memory started to tickle insistently at the back of Anakin's mind. His eyebrows furrowed as he recalled it, beckoning it forth to play at the forefront of his mind. It felt far-flung, though it had only happened a year ago, right at the advent of the war. Right before he and Obi-Wan deployed to Christophsis, his former Master had seemed worried. But he did not display it as others did; he didn't make obvious expressions of distress and sigh and make passing comments. No, his fingers became restless, his eyes distant––and the rest of him seemed perfectly fine. Unbothered. But Anakin knew him well enough to know when something didn't sit right with him. And Obi-Wan wasn't concerned about battle tactics or troop formations for once. He'd been worried about Elara, whom they'd lost contact with in the middle of a war zone. It had been an unspoken concern, voiced silently in his frowns and pinched brows. And it wasn't that it was odd for him to worry; he worried more than a harried pallie farmer with a bad crop. It was how he worried that got to Anakin.
It was the lingering looks. The meaningful frowns. The words of confidence spoken with an undertone of concern. It all felt so… poignant in some way. Weighted. Like it all meant so much more. It was that kind of worry that Anakin had seen earlier, only this time it was interlaced with what had seemed like both protectiveness and jealousy. Anakin himself had not been pleased when Hondo had reached out and touched Elara's hair; but Obi-Wan had appeared to be crawling out of his skin. He'd flinched at the suggestion that she should flirt with the pirate to better their chances at saving the village. It all felt like it was more than worry. It felt like how he would react if such a thing was suggested about Padmé. A deep-seated protectiveness that came from a place of love.
Anakin's face wrinkled up at the thought. He almost scoffed at it, too. This was Obi-Wan he was talking about. He didn't deal with emotions like that. He didn't feel like that. Those sorts of things were dutifully nudged aside and locked away, because that is the Jedi way to him. The way that he'd been taught and raised, the way that he had tried to raise and teach him, too. Anakin looked up to him, loved him even––but he simply didn't function like that. The thought that Obi-Wan might return Elara's feelings seemed outlandish to him. And part of him was truly sad about that. For not only did that mean further heartbreak for his sister, it meant that his mentor––a man who exemplified 'good' on almost every possible level––would not know the joys that came with loving someone. That same part of Anakin that was sad, however, was also left hopelessly confused. Because it was so convinced that Obi-Wan's worry must mean so much more. But logic contested that theory, battled it back vehemently. Because Obi-Wan Kenobi was the epitome of what the Jedi Order was supposed to be. And Jedi didn't love.
But, again, Anakin would find himself frowning in the morning, wondering if that were true. Because he'd awake to find Obi-Wan sitting beside Elara's neatly made, empty bedroll, looking like the weight of the galaxy had just crashed down on his shoulders. And in his hand sat the hilt of Elara's lightsaber, left behind by the very woman who had promised him she'd take it with her.
In that moment, the man that Anakin saw was not Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who held a seat on the Jedi Council.
He was just Obi-Wan.
Messy haired, tired-eyed…
And very, very worried.
Afterword: Didn't intend for this episode to take up 3 chapters, and yet… it feels like it should be that way. It truly does. 'Cause there's gonna be a BUNCH of Hondo stuff in the next one, which is what we've all truly been waiting for––some good Hondo and Elara one-on-one time! I've been having a blast with this episode. I've felt kinda iffy on the quality of my chapters as of late (though I'm sure that's just me being self-conscious), but I'm feeling pretty good about this one! Maybe it's just the fact that Obi-Wan and Elara are making progress and getting closer again, who knows! XD
Review Replies!
DCDGojira: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter; and I hope that you enjoyed this one, too! Thanks again! I hope that the second dose went well! Congrats on being fully vaccinated! :)
MsRosePetal: Yeeesss, things between Obi-Wan and Elara are starting to slowly heat up again! Gotta build back up to that breaking point (much quicker this time)! And I feel like that quote from the last chapter says it all––it's all terribly, beautifully, frustratingly complicated at the moment. But it will all work out in the end! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
zikashigaku: Anakin certainly has a special talent for crashing many of the ships that he ends up piloting; the 501st definitely keep count. And probably have bets going on how many he'll crash before the end of the war. And the curtains are officially open for our lovely space pirate! He's free to strut about the stage… and will absolutely be doing so next time. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
princesselsaamidala: I believe I shot you a message, but in case you didn't get it: Elara's got dark blonde hair, like Ani's, but perhaps a shade or so lighter. Her eyes are also the potent Skywalker blue!
ZabuzasGirl: I wanted to get ya that double update, but life said 'no,' unfortunately xD Nevertheless, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! I had a lot of fun getting back into the swing of writing Hondo, and figuring out how Elara, upon her second encounter with him, decides to interact with him. Also, we love disgusted Ani and jealous Obi… ;) Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
RemiSparklez: I figured that if there was anyone who deserved a cliffhanger, it was our boy Hondo––just as dramatic as he is! I cannot tell you how relieved and happy I was when you said you enjoyed the descriptions in the last chapter. It's the first Episode Chapter I've written in a bit, so I was falling back into the swing of things and was worried it was kinda 'ehh.' And the moment with Obi-Wan was absolutely my favorite moment to write last time. I was like 'yeeees… yeees, this is the perfect moment…' They're slowly but surely crawling back up to that breaking point! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
bambam411: FLIRTY HONDOOOOOO! Got a wee glimpse of it this chapter, but it will be ABOUND in the next one! I'm so, so excited! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
Nerdette92: Flirty Hondo is a phenomena that absolutely no one can truly prepare for, on that you are absolutely correct! Also, I am absolutely adoring writing the slow slide back into Obi-Lara goodness; and I'm very happy you're enjoying it too! It's fun to find the little moments that start to prompt them back into doing the little things. Like smiling, or a touch of the arm… or disastrously falling into one another and being forced to hold each other… ;) They're being cautious, but there's going to come a point where caution just has to get hurled into the wind! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
MalirBly: Hondo is always a blast to write, so this chapter was an absolute joy. He's got so much more to do and say next time, and I am so, so, so excited for you to get to read it! And we're gonna have more Obi-Wan stuff next time… that poor, poor, confused lad. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
PhAnToM 1212: I'm so glad that the last chapter made your day! And I hope that this one had a similar effect; 'cause we got just what you wanted! Flirty Hondo, quietly fuming Obi-Wan, with a dash of disgusted younger brother, and Protective!Obi at the end! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
thenerdnextdoor: We all know my love of writing pirates, so anytime Hondo's on the scene––I get so excited. I had so much fun with the beginning of this chapter, and that's when I realized this episode was going to be a 3 Parter! Because it's just so much fun describing him and the way he operates… especially with Elara. And yeeeees, things are definitely ramping up between Obi-Wan and Elara again! I mean… Elara willingly chose to go speak with him… and touch his arm… we're gettin' somewhere! The biggest challenge with these chapters, I'm finding, is trying to work that awkward tension between our favorite trio. Because it's… so subtle. It's living in brief exchanges and silent looks. It's that feeling in the air when you know two people have an issue with one another, and you're just waiting for it to blow up. And, yeeees, all the warm fuzzies that come from the Lari-Ani relationship are just… so nice and cushy, when we full well know that Ep. III is just gonna hurt like mf. I sadistically look forward to it, but also cry because of it. Also, I have this faint memory of something you said on Tumblr mentioning a Red Dead 2 fic; so I feel like you might appreciate that this morning I was struck with RD/Cowboy/Wild West!AU stuff for Obi-Lara… I love RDR/RDR2 (ugh, Arthur, my heart), so this hit like a freight train! XD And if you ever want to message me about Dimension20 stuff, feel free! I love it so, so much, and always love to have a good convo about it! It truly allows more of my inner nerd to come forward and just… geek out over D&D. As always, it's been a joy to speak with you, and I hope that things are all good and well with you! Thanks again!
monkeybaby: Get ready for those Hondo interactions, 'cause there's more coming! I've had such a fun idea planned for the ending part of this episode… I've been sitting on it for weeks and I am very, very excited about it. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
MotherAiya: Re-opening a line between Obi-Wan and Elara has been truly lovely to write. I could feel myself burning out on angst, so inching them slowly back into the fluffy areas has been a great relief! Also, I am so, so sorry to hear about your dog. It's heartbreaking to lose a pet, because they're a part of the family just as much as any person is. Don't worry about not posting reviews for whatever reason; it's always nice to hear from folks, but I get that life happens. Whether you're just around reading, or leaving a review every so often, it's still so awesome you've stuck with this story for so long 3 I really cannot thank you enough, and I hope that you're doing well!
PrettyRecklessLaura: Thank you! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter!
MyCookiemonster95: So, the Mandalore Arc hasn't happened yet! That'll be the succession of episodes coming right up after this one. Star Wars/Disney released a list of the canon order of episodes, since the first 3-ish seasons were done out of order and "Bounty Hunters" actually happens just before Mandalore. So we haven't skipped over it! I've got so, so many plans, and they'll be coming into play within a chapter or two! Hope that cleared up the confusion :)
Elizabeth: You're in good company, I am a… hopeless romantic (can you tell? xD). So it's been a major relief writing Obi-Wan and Elara back into the quietly pining stage again. Because every small touch and look just speeds them faster and faster towards that shattering point. I loved the angst, too, because as you say, it was necessary for them, as it's often a part of life. But I was starting to burn out on it a bit; so them getting back into being familiar with one another has been the biggest relief! And, yeees, poor Obi-Wan got stuck with both the Skywalkers, who just have a special point of view on what it means to fly. Elara's a little more stable with it… but let it not be said that she doesn't have a bit of recklessness in her. And Elara and Ahsoka are definitely always the ones watching Obi-Wan and Anakin bicker and are like 'okay, get on with it, please.' Elara is also definitely so into letting Ahsoka take the lead on certain things, and congratulating her when she does so correctly or on a job well done. And, UGH, YES, the stumble-and-catch moment from the last chapter! It's definitely a BIG DEAL for them. Because it was a glimpse at realizing that they both don't abhor the other as much as the other might think they do. It definitely alludes to a long road ahead for them… especially with the Mandalore Arc juuuuust around the corner… And we got a wee bit of Anakin POV in this chapter, 'cause it felt like a nice close-out, but we'll get a more in depth one later. I also have a lot of fun playing Obi-Wan and Elara against each other opinion wise. Because they're both good Jedi, they're both good people––but they often have different priorities, even though those priorities are both valid. Like we see in this chapter, too: he's worried for her safety, which is a legit concern; but she has a fair point that she's the only one that could reason with Hondo and receive a good outcome. Ugh, it's just so much fun. I hope you enjoyed the bit of Hondo we got in this chapter! We'll get more of him next time, so get hyped! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
camelotprincess01: I always feel like this episode is a multi-ep arc, but it's not; there's… so much that happens in it. And it's already so good and so fleshed out that it could have been a two or three episode arc. Maybe that's why it's ended up being 3 chapters for this story! It is a genuinely lovely change to see the Jedi act as they are meant to, as peacekeepers, instead of as soldiers. And oh, I so agree––you would have to pay me so much money to get into a spacecraft with Anakin; I already hate flying, so I'd probably be pulling an Obi-Wan and going 'ANAKIN' the entire time xD I'm glad you enjoyed the little bit about Obi-Wan being fearful of flying. Because there's a flash of a moment in the episode where you see him close his eyes and throw his head back against the seat… but I wanted to expand on that. It's such an oddly integral part of his character, so I wanted to draw attention to that for a hot second. I'm really happy and excited to be writing more sweet moments between Obi-Wan and Elara. I love writing how I perceive their connection to be/feel like. Especially because, for them, it just seems like something that's so forbidden… but the real joy is going to be writing about it as they embrace and accept it. It's going to be… so beautiful. I can't wait for these two fools to finally be wholly in love! And buckle up, we've got flirty Hondo coming in full force next time! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!
And thank you to those that added this to their follows/favorites; it means a lot!
Alrighty, that's it for now! Next up we'll get Elara and Hondo's brilliant conversation, the pirates will attack, and Elara gets to be a certified badass again :) Thanks again, everyone! Y'all seriously rock, and I'm forever thankful for your support and patience!
~Mary