Chapter Five
Warning: domestic abuse again—it's very quick, but again, it's there.
It was early in the morning, though Obi-Wan couldn't tell by looking out the viewport, as the darkness of space plunged them into a perpetual night. He barely slept, unable to shake the feeling that Vespera somehow lingered around him. Something happened in the cave, though he was unsure as to exactly what it was. That electric shock that surged through his body and allowed him to feel Vespera's emotions on top of his own, and the way he felt her open up to the Force, as if she were finally waking up…
"Are you even listening to me?" Anakin stopped mid-pace to scowl down at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan sighed. "I agree that it was odd, but there isn't much we can do about the situation."
"Someone threatened Padme—Senator Amidala's—life, and you think that they were involved with the Separatists, so that should give the Republic jurisdiction—"
"Neutral systems are complicated," Obi-Wan shrugged. A flicker in the corner of his eye turned his head toward the corner of the room. His blood froze and his breath hitched.
It was just a wink and then she vanished, but Obi-Wan swore that Vespera stood there for a moment. Maybe he needed more sleep.
The high windows of the Jedi Temple had yet to filter in warm sunlight as Obi-Wan wandered through the early hours of the morning. Yet, he found himself outside in the courtyard before many were even awake. Lately, his dreams were filled with powerful premonitions—no real visions like Qui-Gon experienced, but powerful feelings—of something horrendous on the horizon. He awoke with cold decay on his tongue, the echo of lightsaber sizzling in his ears. If only the Force would show him what the premonitions meant rather than tease him with these feelings…
Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks. He had not expected to find anyone out here, especially so early in the morning. But here was Vespera, legs crossed and her back to him, meditating before the sun kissed the sky.
He stood still for several seconds. Should he stay, or go? He didn't want to disturb her, but he had come here for the same reason.
"Are you going to sit down, or are you going to stand there like a weirdo?" Vespera's voice flowered with amusement.
Obi-Wan cringed at himself, but sat beside her. "I didn't expect to find anyone out here."
"I like to meditate before the world wakes up," said Vespera, her eyes still closed. "Coruscant can be really loud, even at the Temple."
"I understand," Obi-Wan bowed his head. His Padawan braid hung down to his waist when he did so. He hoped he got to cut it soon. "How was your first mission?"
Vespera had been a Knight for a few weeks now, and had already been on her first solo mission. "It went well. Not much action, but Master Plo would say that's a good problem to have. But I don't think you're here to talk about that. What brings you here so early?"
Obi-Wan wanted to deflect the question and continue discussing Vespera's solo mission, but she had a way of seeing right through him sometimes in a way that was uncanny. He cleared his throat and shifted beside her. "I couldn't sleep."
"Bad dream?"
"Something like that."
"You don't have to talk about it, but if you want, I'm here." Vespera nudged Obi-Wan with her shoulder. She kept her eyes closed, but the smile quirking at the corners of her mouth brought a small smile to Obi-Wan's lips, too. Suddenly, he itched to tell her everything: his premonitions of death, his relationship with Satine, his feelings for Siri, his fears that maybe he would never become a Knight because he almost didn't become a Padawan—
Instead he said: "Thank you, Vez."
Obi-Wan's return to the Jedi Temple brought him less peace than he hoped. Instead, he felt Vespera's presence linger around him like a shadow or a ghost—flickering like a candle—but ever-present.
None of it made sense.
He could feel Anakin's presence with ease—as Masters and apprentices usually developed a bond that transcended distance—and he could even sense Ahsoka—though with some more difficulty and not as intimately as Anakin could sense her—so why could Obi-Wan sense and feel Vespera so closely?
Climbing the steps to the Jedi Archives, Obi-Wan entered the massive room and found Madame Jocasta assisting a young Padawan with their studies. Obi-Wan waited patiently, though his stomach twisted into a knot. Jocasta finally noticed him and smiled as she approached.
"Ah, Master Kenobi, this is a pleasant surprise. What can I help you with?"
"Hello," Obi-Wan returned Jocasta's amiable greeting. "I'd like to do some research on…" On what? Where did he even start with this whole situation? "Force connections."
Jocasta's brow furrowed. "Do you mean Force bonds?"
"Er, yes," Obi-Wan's throat swelled. He swallowed. "As you can tell, my knowledge on them is lacking, and I'd like to expand my studies."
"The marks of a wise Jedi Master," praised Jocasta. "This way."
Leading Obi-Wan past the rotunda and down an aisle of books and holocrons of information, Jocasta paused before a section and gestured to which ones Obi-Wan should focus on. "Here is what we have on Force bonds. Happy reading, Master Kenobi."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan called after her. He stared up at the wealth of information. He picked a few holobooks on Force bonds and found a desk secluded in a corner of the Archives to flip through them.
Some Force-sensitives have a gift for creating strong Force bonds.
Common to occur between Jedi Masters and their apprentices, a Force bond, also known as Force chain or Jedi kinship, is a link through which two Force-sensitives can influence each other. It allows the communication of feelings, thoughts and images across distances and grants greater coordination in battle. Through such connections the Force easily flows, sometimes allowing one's will to bolster the strengths of the other, or possibly to draw upon their strengths.
Force bonding refers to the innate Force ability to form connections in the Force. The degree to which that is possible varies depending on the Force-sensitivity of the people involved, meaning that the stronger they are in the Force, the stronger the connection will be. While most life has a marginal ability to form connections, some might possess a special predisposition to it.
Obi-Wan set the book aside—he already knew much of what that one said, and had already guessed that perhaps Vespera had a special predisposition to form Force bonds—and picked up another, one that focused on techniques.
Force bonds sometimes arise or are a result of Jedi battle meditation.
No, that was no use. Obi-Wan flipped to a different section of the book.
Force bonds can allow connections to communicate knowledge. There are legends of Force-sensitives forming bonds to rip language from the minds of others in order to communicate.
Well, that just sounded downright violent.
Force bonds can allow for telepathy, allowing a master to teach an apprentice across great distances…
Force bonds, when shared between two strong Force-sensitives, can allow both parties to feel the pain of each other…
The bond between a Master and a Padawan typically occurs slowly over time, requiring that they grow together and understand one another through training. Relatives can possess more powerful bonds. Moments of death, or near-death, can cause powerful bonds, too…
Obi-Wan rubbed his face. So, there seemed to exist a few possible explanations. If what was happening was in fact a Force bond. But if it wasn't that, what could it be?
"Master Plo," Obi-Wan caught up to Plo Koon, who slowed his pace to allow Obi-Wan to fall in step with him.
"Master Kenobi," Plo Koon greeted.
"Did you hear about my excursion to Azyrion?"
Plo Koon's face was hard to read, but it seemed to shadow with a frown. "I did."
Obi-Wan's chest tightened. Plo Koon's voice carried a heaviness, one that echoed a decade-old pain. "Then you know I ran into your former Padawan."
Plo Koon's steps slowed to a stop. "The queen of Azyrion would not like to be discussed about in such a manner. I'm sure you're aware of the dangers posed upon her."
"I am," Obi-Wan replied. "I had a question about Vespera."
Plo Koon bowed his head. "I see."
"Was she… talented in forming Force bonds as a Padawan?"
"That is a very specific question."
Obi-Wan's stomach churned. "Something happened while I was on Azyrion."
"Oh?"
Obi-Wan's skin felt hot. For some reason, he felt as if he had done something wrong, but this was out of his control. He hadn't meant to get connected to Vespera. "Ever since I left, I've… I've felt Vespera's presence. I could easily sense her, and there was a moment on the ship where I thought I had a vision of her, but it was so fast that I thought I imagined it."
Plo Koon folded his arms. "Vespera and I did experience a particularly strong Force bond, but we were a Master and Padawan. That is not unusual."
"Of course," Obi-Wan's shoulders slumped.
"What happened that might have triggered this?"
Obi-Wan's mind raced. That moment in the cave. "I caught her when she fell and saved her life. I know Force bonds sometimes are created in moments of peril, but that didn't seem too drastic…"
Plo Koon's shoulders raised as he drew in a breath. "When Vespera was a Padawan, she did exhibit a strong ability to connect with others. She was a natural leader. If the Force has connected the two of you, then the Force is the best way to find your answers."
"Yes, of course," said Obi-Wan, though his heart dropped. The Force seldom gave solid answers.
Plo Koon's brow lowered. "How was she?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. The first response that popped in his mind was lonely. "She hadn't forgotten her training."
Plo Koon hummed. "That was never my worry."
Obi-Wan bowed his head. "I believe she misses you and the Jedi."
"If one is truly a Jedi, then I believe that even if they leave the Order, being a Jedi never leaves them," Plo said gravely. "The choice to leave was hers, though in many ways, it was not. I hope you find the answers you seek, Kenobi." Plo patted Obi-Wan's shoulder and continued down the corridor.
Obi-Wan returned to his quarters and sat cross-legged on the floor. Perhaps Master Plo was right: The best way to find answers was to seek them through the Force. He closed his eyes and focused his breathing, entering into a meditative state. He reached out, reaching past the Temple and Coruscant, and entered into the void of meditation. He floated until the darkness deepened, and ahead gleamed a pinprick of light. Obi-Wan drifted toward it, following the tug in his chest that urged him toward it. He followed it as if on a tether—
The acidic bite of fear rose in Obi-Wan's stomach and clenched his heart. He squinted, standing in a room full of people, but his eyes couldn't adjust. The figures remained in a blur, and their voices sounded muffled, as if they were underwater. Where was he? Who were these people?
He edged the room, trying to see better, but everything remained blurred and muffled. Blast it, why couldn't he just see and hear the vision? What good was a vision if he couldn't even acknowledge it?
Obi-Wan froze, sensing a darkly familiar presence. One of the blurred figures grew taller, as if standing from a seat. Obi-Wan's heart slammed in his chest as he narrowed his eyes at the figure. The blurred edges sharpened and Obi-Wan widened his eyes. Count Dooku.
Gasping, Obi-Wan withdrew from his meditative state. Why was Count Dooku shown instead of Vespera? Was the connection to Vespera the Force's will, a product of Vespera's power, or something darker?
The Force haunted Obi-Wan's dreams with flashes of hazel-green eyes, a desert, twin suns, and parched lips. The feelings were dark, heavy, a deep blue that it was almost black, with glimpses of warmth. And then the dreams shifted to beaches, hazel-green eyes, a graceful smile that warmed his heart, and the tinkling laughter of a child…
When Obi-Wan awoke, it was before dawn. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. The last time he had dreams like that—premonitions—was within weeks of Qui-Gon's death. But what could be happening to give him these new premonitions, and what did they mean?
Obi-Wan kicked off the covers and left his quarters to wander into the courtyard. Ever since he meditated with Vespera here over ten years ago, he found it to be his favorite spot. She'd been right, too: Meditating before the world woke up allowed for a quieter mind. But what if Obi-Wan's mind was too noisy to connect with the Force?
Sitting cross-legged, Obi-Wan drew in a deep breath. He needed to clear his mind of his questions and focus on the Force. With each breath, the world around him faded into the void. Something tied him to another point in the galaxy, so he followed the tether. His gut told him it was still Vespera. For some reason, the Force tethered him to her. He followed it through the warm void, toward the pinprick of light in the darkness.
This time, when Obi-Wan exited void, he entered a blurred space, but Vespera was clear. She sat in a chair, wearing an elegant nightgown. A pendant gleamed in her palm. She ran her thumb over it, and then stiffened. Turning, she looked directly at Obi-Wan. Her lips parted, but a blurred figure stomped toward her.
Vespera jumped and hid the pendant behind her as she stood. "Callan!"
"How long are you going to avoid this, Vespera?" Callan demanded.
Obi-Wan circled the space—all he could really see was Vespera, even Callan was a blur—until he no longer stood behind Vespera, but before her. Her eyes flicked over Callan's shoulder at Obi-Wan, but then she returned her attention to her husband. "The people deserve a choice. You want to drag them into this war, breaking treaties that have been in place for a hundred years. Do I need to remind you that we are still loyal to the Republic?"
"A Republic that completely disregards our traditions, a Republic that ignores our needs—" Callan spat.
"What needs? Azyrion is not in need of any help from the Republic's resources—"
"We are when Separatists and Jedi land here without any real grounds. We're being dragged in this war because we are not truly neutral or protected. You're a fool if you can't recognize that."
"Azyrion is still part of the Republic, but neutral in this conflict. The Jedi had a reason for being here, but it was some of your friends who threaten Azyrion's neutrality by inviting Dooku here!" Vespera yelled.
Callan smacked Vespera across the face. Obi-Wan's blood froze and his eyes widened. Callan towered over Vespera. "Do not talk back to me, woman."
Vespera backed away, cradling her face. Obi-Wan crinkled his nose as Callan neared Vespera, who flashed a glance at Obi-Wan, who rushed back to his body and away from Vespera.
Trembling, Obi-Wan struggled to control his breathing. Could he trust what he saw? Was that something about to happen, or had it already occurred? Was it a vision? Was it the present? Had Dooku really been invited to Azyrion, and was Callan really hurting Vespera? Just what in the universe was she dealing with?
Hey, guys! Short chapter, but I like to switch POVs every chapter, so we needed to see how Obi-Wan was dealing with all this… Anyway, I've been working on my rough outline for this story and I'm really excited for y'all to see everything! (Also, I've been reading a lot of Star Wars lore on the Force and also books about it to make sure I'm doing a decent portrayal, lol.)
Thank you all so much for your continued support! There's more to come soon.
Preview of next chapter: Vespera goes to Coruscant with a plan…
Please leave some feedback! Thank you all so much, and stay safe!