Chapter Five
Obi-Wan was on edge. After his discussion with Padmé, he went outside to meditate, but could not find peace as thoughts of destruction and massacre filled his head. Instead, he began to walk, making a winding path through the wilderness outside Padmé's home. A restlessness within him kept him from going back to there. Fifteen minutes into his walk, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. He whirled on his heel and ran full speed towards the house.
Stupid. You're acting like a Padawan, not recognizing the signs. You're rusty. Too rusty.
Stopping a couple yards away and hiding behind a tree, Obi-Wan's eyes studied the house carefully. He struggled to slow his breathing and focus his senses on his task. It was difficult and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he only narrowed his eyes and concentrated.
A fourth presence was in the house. Bail...but something was very wrong. Everyone of them, including Leia, was upset and disturbed. With one hand on his lightsaber, Obi-Wan went towards the house, his shoulders relaxed and his arms loose. If Bail had chosen to betray them, he would not give the Senator any sign that he knew. He would play it casual until the last possible minute when he will strike.
"Hello," he called out, looking around as he entered.
"You're finally back," Padmé said, with a façade of calm. Leia sat on her lap, curled up, and she barely looked at the Jedi. "I was wondering what had happened to you."
"I was meditating," Obi-Wan replied, coming to her side and putting a hand on her shoulder. He turned to the Senator. "Good afternoon, Bail."
"Good afternoon, Obi-Wan. Padmé's filled me in on the details."
"What do you think of the situation?"
"I agree that you must stay here, but not for the same reasons as you have. As I have just told these three ladies, Vader is coming to Alderaan and he going to pay me a visit. He'll be here within the next day or so."
Obi-Wan tensed. "Is that so? Why is he coming here?"
"I don't know, but I was just informed by an officer on board his ship. Naturally, I must prepare myself for a visit from Lord Vader. I will try to divert his attention, but when he has a purpose, Vader cannot be deterred."
"I know that only too well. Is it safe enough to stay here?"
"No," Sabé answered. "To hide in the forest, we must use its resources to blend in, not man-made ones."
"There is an underground maze of caverns with an entrance a mile from here," Bail said, exchanging a look with Padmé.
"We can't go there," she said firmly.
"Why not?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"The rebels are hiding there," came Leia's small voice.
The adults gaped at her. She straightened and look at them with eyes far too mature for her age.
"I listen," she said simply.
"Isn't is safest for us to hide with the rebels then?" Obi-Wan said after a beat of shocked silence.
"We can't do anything to jeopardize their cause. It's in its infancy, Obi- Wan. We have to protect it," Padmé replied.
The Jedi seriously thought of arguing with her, but the stubborn look on Padmé's face was one he'd seen many times before. She would not compromise in this case. The rebellion was too important for the fate of the galaxy.
"Is there anywhere else we can go since that hiding place is taken?" he said wryly, diffusing the situation. "Wait, wait," he added hurriedly. "Bail, I think you should go. If you knew where we would be, Vader would know. He can look into your mind."
Bail nodded once. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."
When the door closed behind the tall Senator, Obi-Wan took a seat across from Padmé and Leia. Sabé stayed at her post by the window, her countenance thoughtful.
"Where else is there?" he asked.
"The desert," Sabé said.
"Ana...I mean, Vader, would never go there," Padmé agreed somberly. "He would let his troops search, but he would never step foot there."
Obi-Wan nodded. "He would rather die first."
"Why?" Leia asked.
"He'd get sand in his mecha," Padmé answered.
Obi-Wan laughed without humor. "Yes, that would be unfortunate. Sabé, you wouldn't have any maps of Alderaanian deserts would you?"
"Let me check under my bed," Sabé said with a small smile.
"We're leaving?" Leia asked tearfully. "I don't want to go, Mommy. I like it here."
Padmé threw a pained look at Obi-Wan. He knelt at her knee and looked into Leia's watery eyes.
"How about I tell you a story before you go to bed every night we're away from home?" he cajoled gently. "You can pick what you want me to tell you about."
Padmé's eyes went round and she shook her head at him, but he couldn't take his words back. Immediately, he saw his mistake.
"I want to hear about my daddy," Leia said eagerly, sitting up and putting two pudgy hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Will you tell me stories about him, General Kenobi?"
"S-sure," Obi-Wan said weakly.
* * *
Darth Vader stepped off his shuttle, flanked by several officers and followed by a squadron of troops. The second his foot touched Alderaanian soil, he knew he had picked the right planet. He could feel them there.
Bail Organa watched the young Sith Lord come towards him. He remembered who Vader was before he became Vader. Anakin Skywalker had been such an innocent and angelic-looking young man, and he never would have expected him to turn. Then again, had it been expected, it could have been prevented. This man, barely thirty years old, had caused so much pain and suffering, but here he was, more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Sighing inwardly, Bail straightened his shoulders and fixed a smile on his face. Clearing his mind of any negative thoughts, he strode forward to meet Vader.
"Darth Vader, it is an honor to have you visit Alderaan," Bail said with a small bow. "I'm afraid we did not have much time to prepare for you, but I hope you will find your stay here satisfactory."
"I am not here on a vacation, Senator Organa," Vader said with measured tones, his voice deeper than Bail remembered. "I'm here to find my wife."
"If you need anything to aid you in your search, please do not hestitate to ask."
"I won't," was the slightly amused response.
They began to walk into the main government building and several officials halted to greet Vader. Bail could feel the young man's pride at being treated the way he was. It was quite different from the attention he got when he was a Jedi Knight. Back then, it was respect. Now, it was still respect but not without a good dose of fear.
"I am sure that I am safe to assume that my troops are free to search wherever they wish," Vader said.
Bail took a deep breath. "Your troops are free to search any part of Alderaan, Lord Vader, but I'm afraid that they must adhere to Alderaanian laws in that they have to respect the rights of its inhabitants."
Vader stopped in his tracks and faced Bail, towering over the Senator easily. Vaguely, Bail recalled Anakin being shorter and realized that in rebuilding his body, Vader had added a few extra inches to his original height. Vader stared down at Bail, his breathing coming out with a hissing sound that Bail found distracting--and menacing.
"Alderaan is part of the Empire, is it not?" Vader countered archly.
"Yes it is."
"Am I not a leader in the Empire?"
"You are, and a powerful and important one at that."
"Then, my actions, as an important figure in the Empire, supercede the smaller laws of planets in the Empire. Correct?"
Bail's lips thinned as he saw the logic trap that Vader had easily set for him. To refuse now would mean death for him and punishment for the planet. He bowed again.
"I see the wisdom of your words, Lord Vader. You are free to do as you wish."
"Thank you." Vader turned to the man at his right. "Lieutenant Pash, please inform the troops that they are to begin their search now. I want every inch of this planet covered and I want you to focus your attention on the urban areas. It would just be like Obi-Wan to hide in the most obvious of places."
"Will there be anything else you will be needing?" Bail asked.
"No. You are free to take your leave. Thank you for your...help."
Bail nodded and walked away, fighting every impulse to run away. Vader watched him go, eyes narrowed.
"Pash," he said. "Send in two squads of troops into the mountain area. We might find something there."
* * *
Obi-Wan was on edge. After his discussion with Padmé, he went outside to meditate, but could not find peace as thoughts of destruction and massacre filled his head. Instead, he began to walk, making a winding path through the wilderness outside Padmé's home. A restlessness within him kept him from going back to there. Fifteen minutes into his walk, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. He whirled on his heel and ran full speed towards the house.
Stupid. You're acting like a Padawan, not recognizing the signs. You're rusty. Too rusty.
Stopping a couple yards away and hiding behind a tree, Obi-Wan's eyes studied the house carefully. He struggled to slow his breathing and focus his senses on his task. It was difficult and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he only narrowed his eyes and concentrated.
A fourth presence was in the house. Bail...but something was very wrong. Everyone of them, including Leia, was upset and disturbed. With one hand on his lightsaber, Obi-Wan went towards the house, his shoulders relaxed and his arms loose. If Bail had chosen to betray them, he would not give the Senator any sign that he knew. He would play it casual until the last possible minute when he will strike.
"Hello," he called out, looking around as he entered.
"You're finally back," Padmé said, with a façade of calm. Leia sat on her lap, curled up, and she barely looked at the Jedi. "I was wondering what had happened to you."
"I was meditating," Obi-Wan replied, coming to her side and putting a hand on her shoulder. He turned to the Senator. "Good afternoon, Bail."
"Good afternoon, Obi-Wan. Padmé's filled me in on the details."
"What do you think of the situation?"
"I agree that you must stay here, but not for the same reasons as you have. As I have just told these three ladies, Vader is coming to Alderaan and he going to pay me a visit. He'll be here within the next day or so."
Obi-Wan tensed. "Is that so? Why is he coming here?"
"I don't know, but I was just informed by an officer on board his ship. Naturally, I must prepare myself for a visit from Lord Vader. I will try to divert his attention, but when he has a purpose, Vader cannot be deterred."
"I know that only too well. Is it safe enough to stay here?"
"No," Sabé answered. "To hide in the forest, we must use its resources to blend in, not man-made ones."
"There is an underground maze of caverns with an entrance a mile from here," Bail said, exchanging a look with Padmé.
"We can't go there," she said firmly.
"Why not?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"The rebels are hiding there," came Leia's small voice.
The adults gaped at her. She straightened and look at them with eyes far too mature for her age.
"I listen," she said simply.
"Isn't is safest for us to hide with the rebels then?" Obi-Wan said after a beat of shocked silence.
"We can't do anything to jeopardize their cause. It's in its infancy, Obi- Wan. We have to protect it," Padmé replied.
The Jedi seriously thought of arguing with her, but the stubborn look on Padmé's face was one he'd seen many times before. She would not compromise in this case. The rebellion was too important for the fate of the galaxy.
"Is there anywhere else we can go since that hiding place is taken?" he said wryly, diffusing the situation. "Wait, wait," he added hurriedly. "Bail, I think you should go. If you knew where we would be, Vader would know. He can look into your mind."
Bail nodded once. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."
When the door closed behind the tall Senator, Obi-Wan took a seat across from Padmé and Leia. Sabé stayed at her post by the window, her countenance thoughtful.
"Where else is there?" he asked.
"The desert," Sabé said.
"Ana...I mean, Vader, would never go there," Padmé agreed somberly. "He would let his troops search, but he would never step foot there."
Obi-Wan nodded. "He would rather die first."
"Why?" Leia asked.
"He'd get sand in his mecha," Padmé answered.
Obi-Wan laughed without humor. "Yes, that would be unfortunate. Sabé, you wouldn't have any maps of Alderaanian deserts would you?"
"Let me check under my bed," Sabé said with a small smile.
"We're leaving?" Leia asked tearfully. "I don't want to go, Mommy. I like it here."
Padmé threw a pained look at Obi-Wan. He knelt at her knee and looked into Leia's watery eyes.
"How about I tell you a story before you go to bed every night we're away from home?" he cajoled gently. "You can pick what you want me to tell you about."
Padmé's eyes went round and she shook her head at him, but he couldn't take his words back. Immediately, he saw his mistake.
"I want to hear about my daddy," Leia said eagerly, sitting up and putting two pudgy hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Will you tell me stories about him, General Kenobi?"
"S-sure," Obi-Wan said weakly.
* * *
Darth Vader stepped off his shuttle, flanked by several officers and followed by a squadron of troops. The second his foot touched Alderaanian soil, he knew he had picked the right planet. He could feel them there.
Bail Organa watched the young Sith Lord come towards him. He remembered who Vader was before he became Vader. Anakin Skywalker had been such an innocent and angelic-looking young man, and he never would have expected him to turn. Then again, had it been expected, it could have been prevented. This man, barely thirty years old, had caused so much pain and suffering, but here he was, more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Sighing inwardly, Bail straightened his shoulders and fixed a smile on his face. Clearing his mind of any negative thoughts, he strode forward to meet Vader.
"Darth Vader, it is an honor to have you visit Alderaan," Bail said with a small bow. "I'm afraid we did not have much time to prepare for you, but I hope you will find your stay here satisfactory."
"I am not here on a vacation, Senator Organa," Vader said with measured tones, his voice deeper than Bail remembered. "I'm here to find my wife."
"If you need anything to aid you in your search, please do not hestitate to ask."
"I won't," was the slightly amused response.
They began to walk into the main government building and several officials halted to greet Vader. Bail could feel the young man's pride at being treated the way he was. It was quite different from the attention he got when he was a Jedi Knight. Back then, it was respect. Now, it was still respect but not without a good dose of fear.
"I am sure that I am safe to assume that my troops are free to search wherever they wish," Vader said.
Bail took a deep breath. "Your troops are free to search any part of Alderaan, Lord Vader, but I'm afraid that they must adhere to Alderaanian laws in that they have to respect the rights of its inhabitants."
Vader stopped in his tracks and faced Bail, towering over the Senator easily. Vaguely, Bail recalled Anakin being shorter and realized that in rebuilding his body, Vader had added a few extra inches to his original height. Vader stared down at Bail, his breathing coming out with a hissing sound that Bail found distracting--and menacing.
"Alderaan is part of the Empire, is it not?" Vader countered archly.
"Yes it is."
"Am I not a leader in the Empire?"
"You are, and a powerful and important one at that."
"Then, my actions, as an important figure in the Empire, supercede the smaller laws of planets in the Empire. Correct?"
Bail's lips thinned as he saw the logic trap that Vader had easily set for him. To refuse now would mean death for him and punishment for the planet. He bowed again.
"I see the wisdom of your words, Lord Vader. You are free to do as you wish."
"Thank you." Vader turned to the man at his right. "Lieutenant Pash, please inform the troops that they are to begin their search now. I want every inch of this planet covered and I want you to focus your attention on the urban areas. It would just be like Obi-Wan to hide in the most obvious of places."
"Will there be anything else you will be needing?" Bail asked.
"No. You are free to take your leave. Thank you for your...help."
Bail nodded and walked away, fighting every impulse to run away. Vader watched him go, eyes narrowed.
"Pash," he said. "Send in two squads of troops into the mountain area. We might find something there."
* * *
