Vale's P.O.V.

"Master Palpatine, it has come to my attention you're travelling in the outer Rim Territories." Master Windu asks through the hologram on my holo-projector. "It that correct or outdated intel?"

My unit is flying us to a system known as Datooine in the Outer Rims. I have a lead of where Count Dooku's next space travel will be on the trade routes. I'm sure we've already entered the out rims, but before I tell Windu, I go check.

Walking up into the cockpit of my ship, I look at our coordinates. Merc and Cruli conversation dies when I enter the cockpit on a hologram call with the Council. Out of the corner of my eye, I see them send each other a silent look.

They know I do my best to stay out of the Jedi Council's business, even though I'm on it. Sometimes I even let them answer it just in case you-know-who is on the call. Glancing out the window as Merc and Cruli fly us through space, making sure we are in the outer rims, I look back at Master Windu.

"We've just entered the outer rims, Master." I answer him before slowly walking out of the cockpit. He nods before frowning and speaking up as if he knows I won't like what he's about to say. "I need to ask a favor of you and halt your mission to Datooine."

"What? Why?" I scrunch my eyebrows and stop my feet from walking through the ship. "Did something happen? What's wrong?"

"We sent Master Kenobi alone on a mission to Mandalore. He's been there for a two days now and hasn't reported back to the council since he arrived." Master Windu explains and already my heart race goes up. "You're the closest one to the System of Mandalore. I need you to pause your mission and go see if something has happened to him."

"You think he's in trouble?" I blurt out, bewildered as I think about how Mandalore is a neutral system now. "... On Mandalore of all systems?"

"You did read the description about the Council's last meeting, didn't you?"

Windu questions suspiciously, and I stiffen my expression. I barely ever read those memos about what they discussed in the council meetings. They're always long and rarely have any importance to me, though I won't admit that to Master Windu.

"Of course, I did." I snort and push my hair behind my ear. "We'll change our course and be there as soon as we can."

"Thank you. May the force be with you."

Master Windu says, and when he ends the call, I realized what I agree to do. Putting my holo-projector in my pocket, I feel the air in my lungs leave and I jump in place frustratedly. I'm a complete idiot for agreeing to go to Mandalore without thinking about what it would mean.

And all because I got distracted with my little white lie. However, I sense Windu set me up to agree to do it by how he started the conversation. Pushing back my hair, trying to get a grip on my breathing, I feel the pressure of seeing Obi-Wan again.

Maybe I can let him die.

I groan at the idea, knowing I can't do that just because I don't want to see him. Hands goes to my pearl necklace unconsciously as I think of what will happen when I see him again after a year of ignoring his existence. When I hear a cough, I glance around and see Gitt.

He sitting casually in a chair while staring at me as if he knows he wasn't supposed to see what I did in the last few seconds. I let out a breath and smile at him awkwardly with a blush creeping onto my cheeks. A silent pause goes by before Gitt speaks up slowly.

"Should I tell Merc to change our coordinates?"

"Y-Yeah... G-Go do that..." I mumble, realizing we're still heading to Datooine. Realizing I still haven't read the documents for the last council meeting, I ask. "Would you also read my last message from the council and give me a summary of what it's about?"

"Okay." Gitt hides a chuckle while cracking a smirk. "Will do, boss."

"Thank you."

I sigh before rubbing my face and groaning again to myself. When I take my hands off my face, I instantly turn my head to the cabinet in the ship reserved for me. Not thinking twice, I go to it, open it, and grab one of my liquor bottles.

Snapping the lid off the top, I toss a large shot into my mouth and gulp it down. I keep thinking about how this can't be happening to me. I've spent the last year trying to avoid Obi-Wan and, in a matter of seconds, all my hard work has gone out the window.

It's ridiculous of me to put so much effort into not seeing Obi-Wan. It is childish of me, Kenobi and I both are adults who are capable of getting over the past. Though, we left things a hot mess and ever since I've been pretending our romantic relationship never happened.

Part of me still is in love with him, but the other part of me wants to pretend I never met him. Not seeing him for a year and constantly being on missions helped me move on from him. However, now knowing I have to see him only makes me nervous.

Odds are, Obi-Wan went back to being the same perfect Jedi as he was before we first slept together. He'll probably see me and act like our whole affair never happened. Yet, just the thought of Obi-Wan treating me like any other Jedi makes me freak out even more.

I take another gulp of my liquor and try to get a grip on my mind. Pacing on the ship, I trying calming my nerves. Though, all I can do is take another shot and assure myself out loud.

"It's fine... I'm fine. I'm helping another Jedi. This is something I've done a dozen times. This is not any different... I'm just helping a Jedi who use to regularly stick his tongue down my throat-"

"General, you okay?"

I hear from behind me and I spin around. Lell is at the threshold of the room I'm in. He's looking at me with concern. Smiling and nodding, I explain while silently hoping the liquor hits me soon.

"Yeah, everything is great... It's fine, we're fine... We're just making a quick stop at Mandalore."

Lell nods at me slowly before glancing at the bottle in my hand. I blink a few times before lifting the bottle to my lips. Gulping down a few more shots, I wipe my mouth and put the lid back on, saying.

"Okay, now everything is fine."

~Mandalore~

"His ship is here alright but there's no sign of him."

"I don't see him inside the building either, General."

Merc and Gitt speak up through the chip in my ear as I stand on the edge of a building. We're in the heart of Mandalore. I have my unit throughout the city dressed like space travellers. Merc's scanning the Duchess's home and Gitt is at the hangar Obi-Wan ship's on.

I glance around the city on the top of a building, trying to sense his presences in a certain area. Before we landed, I told my unit what our aim is to find Obi-Wan. Though, we have little to go off of besides why he came here in the first place.

After Gitt summarize the last Council meeting, I suggested my team to spread out and search all the places he could be. There's no sign of him in the entire city making me believe Master Windu was right. Something happened to him.

I can't sense his presence in the force, but it's not gone, so he's still alive. I try relaxing my mind to pinpoint how far away he is. Glancing around, I hear Lell speak up from the royal hangar in my communication ear piece.

"The Duchess's ship isn't here either, General."

"He should be with the Duchess. They probably left Mandalore together, but I don't believe they'll leave the Mandalore system without notifying the Council..." I mumble before while looking at the outskirts of the city. A second later, Bugs points out to the squad. "They could be on Concordia. It's a moon. It's the closest thing to Mandalore in this system."

"Alright. Everyone stays here and keeps searching. Notify me immediately if you find him or you see the Duchess's ship arrive." I announce into the chip before turning to the exit of the rooftop. "I'll fly to Concordia and see if there's a potential lead there."

~Concordia~

"Hey, someone do me a favor..." I speak up to the chip in my ear while kneeling behind a rock. "Look into the status of the mining facilities on Concordia."

It's dead silent on the communication chip each of my team members is wearing. Though I know they're pulling up the information. I'm looking through my macro-binoculars over the boulder I'm hiding behind. There's an entrance to a mining facility miles away.

I've landed on the moon of Concordia half an hour ago and been scouting for any sign of the Duchess and Obi-Wan. I can definitely sense Obi-Wan's presence on this moon. Though it seems to be underground, not on top of the surface level.

I've noticed while searching for them that dozens of mining facilities are scattered around the moon. They all seem to be inactive until I saw this one in the distance in front of me. When looking through my macro-binoculars, I see the door opening and closing.

I see figures, but I can't make who or what they are. None of the other mining entrances have opened or closed, just this one. I watch the entrance, waiting for someone else to come out, when I hear Merc's voice on my communication chip.

"In the description for Concordia, it says it used to be a mining base... But, they've not been operational for years now because of-"

"Thank you." I speak up and lower my macro-binoculars. "That's all I needed to know."

Standing up straight, I head to the entrance that should be un-operational. I'd bet my life if I could that Obi-Wan is in the mining facility at this very moment. I feel my heart race go up at the thought I'll be seeing him soon.

I not mentally prepared to see Obi-Wan again, I've just gotten use to my life without him. Everything has been going just fine without him around. Now it's all about to be torn apart the moment I go to Obi-Wan's aid.

Walking closer to the entrance, I feel agitated he came he alone. Why the hell would he come here alone? He knows always to go with a buddy and where the blazes is Anakin right now? It's his job to stick out his neck for Obi-Wan, not mine.

With any luck, I see from a distance that he doesn't need my help and I can just leave without him knowing I ever came here. I rather see him from a distance than have to greet him after a whole of not talking to him. Then again, how embarrassing would it be to see me for the first time in a year because he needs saving?