From this point on in the story there will be some Clone Wars, Legends and Rebels references & characters appearing. Hope this is okay, and the story will still make sense if you haven't seen or read anything besides the movies anyway! Enjoy the chapter and much love to all of you :)
ooooo
The morning air was still and damp, bringing with it a chill that settled upon the exposed skin beneath the Jedi's loose shirt. Walking stiffly so that he didn't loosen his bandages, he slowly made his way through Dantooine's thick forest, wanting the exercise and the cool air in his lungs. The previous evening had seen his arrival on the Outer Rim planet alongside Bail Organa. The Viceroy had been generous as always, providing him with some accommodation in the base and the promise of his constant support.
As the Jedi had settled down for a lonely night's sleep in his small room, Padmé had filled his thoughts and he dreamt of her. Tricked by his own mind, he woke up several times believing she had arrived at the base and had come to his room to lie beside him. In a state of semi-sleep he had reached out, filled with joy that she was with him, only to be met with a cold and empty bed side. There was no smooth creamy skin to glide his hands over, no warm body pressed against his and no toes tickling his ankles as she snuggled closer. There was no soft breathing against his chest, no disarray of brown curls to tangle his hands in, and most heart wrenching of all, no warm baby bump there between them, nestled safely between two parents with nothing but love to give.
The air smelt of rain and the grass was heavy with dew that beaded against his bantha hide boots as he continued gradually upward through the vegetation. Birds sung their morning chorus in the trees as he passed. He walked alone, seeking the light of dawn that he knew would be visible once he reached the crest of the hill. Obi-Wan had been feeling better about his situation thanks to Qui-Gon, but his dreams had cast a cloud over his resolute mood and it was hard to forget how very real the dream had seemed. He missed his wife so much.
Holding onto a branch for support, he paused to catch his breath. Bail had warned him not to over exert himself but surely the walking would do him good. There were more sessions of bacta to get through before he was back to full health and able to wield his saber as before. His ribs were still fragile and his shoulder had limited movement after the deep tissue wound Vader had given him.
Obi-Wan was not used to feeling impatience. In fact, ever since he had taken Anakin on as his Padawan, he had the patience of a saint. That boy had frayed his nerves to the limit, so much so that dealing with Luke and Leia's toddler tantrums hadn't really phased him. His heart twisted painfully at the thought of the very different three children he had raised. Despite his patient nature, being forced to recuperate whilst his family was in danger had him restless despite his hopefulness.
Walking slowly but gradually upward, he finally reached the crest of the hill and was greeted with a beautiful view of the dawn sky and a bracing breeze that ruffled his short hair as it swept up the hillside.
A vast steppe stretched out before him, devoid of the trees that the camp was concealed in behind him in the valley. Out there, there was no cover, just endless sloping grassland and a huge sky that seemed to fill up his whole vision. The horizon was a wash of burnt orange, glowing with tangible anticipation for the coming sun. Above it the orange faded to light and then dark blue, the colour being broken up by streaks of pinkish cloud. Settling himself on a damp log, Obi-Wan didn't have to wait long before a sliver of dazzling gold gradually slid into view.
Feeling the sun's first rays of light on his face calmed him and rekindled his earlier resolve. His dreams had thrown him off balance, but up here he was in tune with the Force and he was learning to trust and hope in it as he used to before the fall of the Jedi. He had forgotten what it was like in some aspects, being so caught up in family life. But reconnecting with Qui-Gon had brought him back to his earlier self in some ways, when things were simple and being knighted was his only concern in life.
Padmé would love this view, he thought. The sun would shine in her brown eyes, turning them to amber. Because of the chill in the air, she would probably be standing close to him, possibly wrapped up inside a cloak with him. He smiled sadly, taking in the view for a little while longer. He settled down to meditate, sinking fully into the embrace of the Force.
By the time he came back to the present, the orange sky had faded in its intensity and the morning had begun.
Soon, soon he would have them back.
Slowly heading back down the wooded hillside, he heard the sound of a ship landing through the trees. Obi-Wan reached the eastern edge of the base where the living quarters of the alliance were situated. Basic huts, tents and small dormitory style buildings with multiple beds made up this section of the camp, all camouflaged beneath tall pine-like trees and dappled sunlight.
The hut that he'd been assigned was amongst them. It was a small room that was even more basic than the cottage had been on Bakura, but he doubted it would stay so simplistic for long. The base was expanding at a rapid rate. New buildings and an expansive subterranean tunnel network were well underway. Construction materials, small cranes and scaffolding seemed to be everywhere, and he could have sworn several more tents and huts had been erected since he'd left earlier in the morning. It was busy and noisy, with humans and aliens from all corners of the galaxy working side by side to strengthen the base and therefore strengthen the alliance's stronghold against the empire.
Some of the buildings were built into the hillside itself where he was told a network of caves and tunnels held backup equipment and weapons. Some of the larger caves to the north of the base where the valley curved around held starfighter hubs and other deep space vessels that could be deployed with short notice up into the atmosphere. It was an impressive place and well hidden in the Outer Rim away from any main trade routes. He felt safe here, or perhaps it was a feeling of safety in numbers as there were so many who served together. After years of being out of action, it was strange to see new technology and young faces everywhere, but he knew he was a middle-aged father among other things, so he supposed that feeling was relatively normal.
By the time he made it to the main operations and logistics buildings in the centre of the base, he realised the ship he'd heard earlier was a huge goods transport vessel and it had dropped off masses of supplies. Walking amongst the newly arrived crates he saw an influx of new faces all going about their duties unpacking and organising the distribution of the goods to various locations within the base. The mood was boisterous but affable, with a crossfire of different orders and directions being shouted by the delivery crew to the base workers.
Obi-Wan walked amongst the bustling crowd, unsure of how to help. Looking up at the goods ship, he was struck by a particular droid that was rolling down the durasteel gangplank with a nestle of crates in a hovercart behind him. The droid drifted off into the crowd and was gone before he could fully realise who he'd seen. It couldn't be, could it? Perhaps it just a similar looking blue and white droid?
"R2?" he said, barely audible in the clamour of the delivery operation. Going as fast as he could with his injuries he moved through the masses and there he was, beeping away to another astromech whom he was transferring the delivery to. "R2!"
The astromech droid's domed head spun in his direction and his round photoreceptor eye only settled on him for a moment before he beeped excitedly, abandoning the other droid and whizzing over to him across the stony floor. Before Obi-Wan had a chance to speak he heard another familiar voice and looked up to see R2's counterpart who was standing nearby, waving his arms in annoyance at the smaller droid.
"Where do you think you're going R2! You haven't finished transferring this shipment!"
"I don't believe it, Threepio! How are you old friend?" he greeted him as he came closer.
"Oh, hello. I am C3PO, human cyborg relations. It is a pleasure to meet you sir."
"You don't remember me?" Obi-Wan was disheartened when the golden robot who had seen so much of his younger years denied all knowledge of knowing him.
"I apologise sir, but perhaps you have me mistaken for another."
"I had his memory wiped," Bail interjected, appearing from the crowd and walking towards them, his short cape blowing in the morning breeze. He gave the droid a pat on the shoulder and Obi-Wan recalled that as he and Padmé had escaped to Bakura, the droids had fallen into the care of Bail's staff. "In case he fell into enemy hands."
"Oh dear," C3PO muttered. "I am sorry that I cannot remember you sir. However, it appears R2 does. I haven't seen him this cheerful in quite some time."
The little droid was beeping happily, moving from side to side and looking at Obi-Wan as if it really were chuffed to see him again. He put his hand on his domed head, giving it an affectionate pat as Anakin used to do. For a second he wondered who the last person to pet this droid was. Had it been his old Padawan? Shaking the thought away, he looked up as another man joined them, seemingly the captain of the goods ship. Bail stood back and introduced him as people and droids busied themselves around them in the crowd.
It was revealed that the captain had escorted C3PO and R2-D2 on the supply run on Bail's orders. They were to leave their service duties in deep space and work instead at the base. Obi-Wan was touched by the kind gesture of his friend. Bail was continually risking so much to help him and his family and he wasn't sure how he could ever return the favour.
The familiar beeps of R2 and the babble of C3PO was something he didn't realise he'd missed until now. They would've definitely been helpful keeping Luke and Leia in check when they were smaller and he smiled at the thought of them running ragged around 3PO as he tried to maintain order.
Escorted around the centre of the base, Obi-Wan was introduced to so many people and aliens that his training as a diplomat was tested to the limit remembering all the names. The rest of the day was spent organising the supplies that had been dropped off and helping around the small settlement wherever he could. Though he was unable to lift or exert himself too much he helped with some basic admin work, determined to pull his weight. But after some time, Bail sought him out and looked exasperated that he had been working for so many hours.
"You have helped enough today Obi-Wan. You need to rest," he placed an affectionate hand on his back and guided him away from his stack of data pads. "I have to return to Alderaan tomorrow night so that my time spent off planet doesn't draw attention. I know you are in good hands here and there are enough supplies now to last a week or so before the next cell can deliver more on a hit and run. I also received a signal that someone is arriving to meet you later this evening, though the message was encrypted and I'm not entirely sure who they mean."
"Oh, I know think I who it is," he smiled with a mysterious air and Bail raised a quizzical eyebrow but enquired no further.
Retiring to his hut for some forced rest, Obi-Wan looked at the bed and remembered his wife. It looked so empty without her. Looking around the room he wondered what she and the children would make of it. It was built of permacrete and had a small window that let in patches of moving light from the forest canopy above. A basic wardrobe held the bags he and Padmé had packed when they'd fled home. Unable to help himself, he searched through their packs until he found their collection of photo projections.
Sitting on the floor by the door, he played them all over and over again, committing them to memory. He held Padmé's favourite one in his hands, watching her and the twins smile against the glittering river backdrop. Then he played one of his favourites, a portrait of her with Luke and Leia as babies. It was the first photo projection they had captured on Bakura.
Sitting amongst the wildflowers in the late afternoon sun, Padmé held the twins on her lap and pointed at the camera capture, drawing their eyes up to it. Leia was waving her chubby arms up and down excitedly and Luke was chewing on his fist, sending dribble down onto Padmé's hand that held him close. It was one of his favourites because he knew at this point in time she had still been crying over Anakin and they had both been struggling daily with grief and exhaustion from raising the twins. But in the projection her smile was bright and beautiful. In that moment she had been full of love and pride for her babies and it shone through the clouds of her heartbreak.
He watched others and smiled, though his heart ached painfully, as he saw Luke's first shaky steps into Padmé's outstretched arms, birthday cake being eaten, the twin's first day at school, life day celebrations, little Leia holding up the first tooth that she'd lost, Luke holding up an impressive art project from school….
The memories had been captured right up until last winter. The first snow had fallen thickly overnight and, in their excitement, early in the morning the twins had rushed out to play. Padmé had set the recorder up just at the moment when the snowball fight they'd been waging against each other turned violent and Obi-Wan's yelling was having no affect. He laughed as he saw his own image leave the house and stride out across the snow to break up the fight, dressed in his sleeping gown and slippers and holding a cup of caf.
Fatherhood was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him, but when he stopped laughing the sadness came over him and Obi-Wan knew he should pack the projections away. He was only torturing himself.
Settling down on the lumpy mattress he tried to get some rest, but his shoulder was throbbing painfully and he struggled to get comfortable. Sleep evaded him for some time and his mind strayed to his wife and children constantly, but at some point, exhaustion claimed him and he slept deeply.
When Obi-Wan woke it was dark outside and the twin moons were barely visible crescents. He could hear the sounds of another ship descending and he could feel the presence of someone very familiar through the Force. Rushing out the door, he made his way as fast as he could to the well-lit centre of the base, his heart thudding. It had been nine years; he couldn't believe it. The cargo ship from earlier had left and in its place was a new ship, grey in colour with a frontal gunning chamber. Several others were standing in the docking platform, including Bail, to greet the arrivals. Obi-Wan joined them, standing back as the landing sequence finished and the door hatch fell open, slowly lowering to to the ground.
Master Yoda descended towards them, leaning on his walking stick with each step. Obi-Wan couldn't keep the smile off his face when he saw Bail's mouth go slack.
"Master Yoda, old friend!" he exclaimed after a moment of shocked recognition, striding forward to shake his little hand.
"Senator Organa, good to see you it is," he smiled, his eyes warm. "And Master Kenobi, expecting me you were?"
"Yes Master Yoda," he replied with a grin, his hands folded respectfully behind his back.
He found it strange being called a Master when he had abandoned his Jedi robes and lived a totally different life for so long, but Yoda was strict with tradition and he bowed in respect to greet him as he would've done if he were still in the High Council. One thing all Jedis knew, whether they were an initiate or a seasoned council member, was the unsurpassed superiority of the small green Master.
"Thank the crew you must, a great help they have been," he gestured behind him as two figures and a barrel-shaped droid appeared coming down the gangplank behind him. One was a green-skinned twi'lek young woman, the other a tall young man, perhaps in his early twenties with dark brown hair and tawny skin. Something about him made Obi-Wan immediately curious.
"Syndulla, Jarrus, thank you for your help in bringing Master Yoda here," Bail thanked them.
"Smuggled across the galaxy like spice, I have been," Yoda chuckled.
"We are very glad you are here and that you are safe," Obi-Wan said with real depth in his words. Just seeing the Jedi alive and well made his shoulders sag with relief.
"Come, have some refreshment inside. You must be very tired," Bail offered, gesturing to the operations building. "I will have some rooms made up for your stay."
Yoda nodded and began to walk. They all followed at his pace, full of nothing for respect for the Master.