The Bounty Huntress
A Choice of Friendship or Love
(Author's Note: Darsha and Master Anoon Bondara are from a Darth Maul book called Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves. I recommend this book to any SW fans that love adventure and action, sorry, there's no romance though.)
Orion was shoving his few belongings into a travel pack. Obi-Wan stood at the door watching him.
"How can you do this?!" He finally shouted.
"I love her."
"Please." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "You're going to throw away all your training for, for...Look, you don't even know where Simi is."
"Yes I do. I know exactly where she is." Obi-Wan let this sink in though he felt like dying. He had lost too many friends allready recently. Darsha had been killed mysteriously along with Master Anoon Bondara. Simi had left soon after. Peace, where was the peace he was supposed to find in the Force?
"How? I mean, what does it matter? She left, she was never meant to be a Jedi. She said so herself. But, you Orion. We've always been friends, even now, if we don't see each other often...Simi...Simi was always different. Always causing trouble, making waves. Honestly, I think the Council was glad to see her go." Obi-Wan felt his heart pounding at this speech, half of which he didn't really mean. He had put his hand on Orion's shoulder, but Orion had moved away and now his face flushed red.
"You would say all of that, wouldn't you?! You're a fool Obi-Wan."
"I'm not throwing away years of training and hard work for nothing." he snapped back.
"Fine, I'm a fool, but at least I'm honest." stated Orion.
Obi-Wan swallowed hard. He forced himself to calm down. Sim had announced her intention to leave on the grounds that she wasn't fit to meet the standards of a Jedi Knight, but to Obi-Wan and Orion she had simply said. "One day I want to marry and be a mother. I want that more than to ever be a Jedi." Then she left without even saying goodbye. Obi-Wan had been crushed, though he refused to admit it. Now, he only had moments to try to convince Orion to not leave as he had to go with Master Qui-Gon to another mission to some planet called Naboo. He had wondered at what her discussion before the Council had been like. But it didn't matter, whatever details had passed, they had agreed. She wasn't the first to leave and Master Devos had simply taken a new Padawan as if Sim had never existed. Ever since her name hadn't even been mentioned except quietly between Orion and Obi-Wan.
"Please Orion. Think. If she had wanted us to see her or something...."He trailed off.
"She's on the planet Malorea. I'm sure of it. After the mission where she and Master Devos were forced to land there for repairs she never stopped talking about it."
"You don't know that for certain."
"I do."
"If you leave too, then I'll have no one." He said softly. Orion looked at him now-eye to eye. Nearly 20 years old, they were both well -trained and confident. Soon, no doubt, Obi-Wan would become a Jedi Knight. Orion was sure of it.
"A Jedi has no attachments." he said flatly.
"True. That is one of the most important tenants. But you're my friend, like a brother. I can't bare for you to go."
Orion nodded slowly.
"Simi is strong and brave and.." he started.
"Ugh. Orion, listen, think. How will you even reach this Malori or whatever it's called place?"
"Malorea. And I'll find away. I'm sure Simi has."
"If she's not there?"
"I'll look for her. I'll look for her till the day I die."
Obi-Wan put his hand to his forehead. "Perhaps you're not the person I thought you were." He said.
"Really?" sniffed Orion. "What kind of person is that?" Orion shook his head. "Sometimes you have to accept people just as they are and not by some ideal you have of them." His voice grew louder as he said this. Obi- Wan just glared at him.
"Oh, is that so, says who?" he answered smugly.
"Sim. Sim said it to me once when we were talking about you."
"Me?"
Orion's head was bowed, his black hair smooth, the Padawan braid gone. "She loved you Obi-Wan. Don't tell me you didn't know it."
"Then you're all the more the fool for leaving." he responded angrily.
"You'll never admit you love her too. She knew that. She knew she couldn't stay. Because..of..you! Obi-Wan! You, you're at fault for her leaving." Orion was pointing his finger at him.
"You're insane."
"No, I'm not. To see you, to not see you. It broke her heart. She couldn't stand it anymore." He bowed his head again. "If she never loves me the same..I don't care. I won't stand for her to be alone. I won't let her go alone. My mind is made up. The council has released me. Even if they had said no I would still leave." He took a deep breath now. "It's just the way it has to be. You will be the Jedi for all of us Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan shook his head no. Then watched as Orion left the room. He steeled himself silently. There was nothing left to say. The only people he had ever deeply cared about other than his Master, the only 2, were gone. Whispering softly, staring at the wall---"A Jedi will have no attachments, no attachments, none." Then he dropped to the floor and refused to shed a single tear.
*****
The pause had been a long one, Sim had said nothing during the time. Obi-Wan cleared his throat.
"He said he wouldn't leave you alone."
Sim looked at him now. She started laughing. Her tears had already dried. Her laughter sounded hollow.
"He left me alone so many times." The tears were starting again. Obi- Wan felt incredibly uneasy. "We have to start again. Give me your arm."
After a pause, "He became a bounty hunter."
"What?" Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks. His mind raced. 'Orion, a dirty bounty hunter?! Unbelievable!'
"It's not as bad as you think. There's always a governor or viceroy who needs a criminal or some wrong doer brought in--all for legitimate reasons. It gave us enough credits to have our own fighter jet to go in. It gave Orion purpose, I think. He was always careful, you know. To not really use the Force. Only if things got very unpredictable..out of hand."
Obi-Wan knew that had been one of the conditions for their release as Padawans-to never again use the Force. "Of course, I never felt as obliged to hold myself to that mandate." Obi-Wan frowned, she was still the same. "When he arrived here we had the most outrageous scream fest. In the middle of the village even. I wanted him to return to the Temple, plead temporary insanity. Afterwards I didn't speak to him for several days." Sim's steps slowed slightly recalling this memory. "Everyday he would come help me with the cabin. I finally gave in.When we married, people from 3 villages came to our celebration. News travels. Before that, when I would go to the market and he would be following, doing anything to try to make me laugh or speak to him people were always watching us. The Maloreans are suckers for a good love story, I guess. We were happy." She shrugged her shoulders now. Obi-Wan could just make out buildings in a clearing up ahead. Sim stopped and turned to face him. She put her hands on Obi-Wan shoulders. " I heard of Master Qui-Gon, of your Padawan." Obi-Wan winced. Sim lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "I even heard of how you killed Darth Maul." Obi- Wan felt her fingers dig slightly into his shoulders. "It was too late then."
"What?" he asked, "I don't understand."
"Orion started leaving for longer periods of time. He wouldn't let me go with him like I did occasionally at first." Her hands suddenly dropped into his. "I don't know what happened, Obi-Wan. He became different, regretting his decision to leave the temple I think." She was crying again, shaking her head. She wiped her eyes dry and spoke louder. "I believe he was turning to the Dark Side, but didn't." Her hand touched Obi-Wan's face now. "Darth Maul killed him when he refused. It was so confusing, always we were told that the Sith were gone, that even when they were about there was only one Master, one apprentice among them. I don't know exactly what they might have wanted with Orion. I only had short visions that told me almost nothing. Only Orion's death came to me clearly. The last time he left, I begged him not to leave, there was so much anger and he went by freighter leaving me the fighter..." She trailed off finally as if all the memories were too much to bear. "I'm glad you killed him Obi-Wan. I'm glad it was you who did it." She started walking again. But Obi-Wan stopped now.
"That's been over 12 or 13 years ago, more even! Why did you never come back to the Temple? You could have!" He felt like shaking her.
"For what, Obi-Wan. I didn't want to be a Jedi, I still don't. It's not my destiny. It's yours.
"No...you could've..."
"To see you, to have my heart broken even more?!" She suddenly shouted. "No, better to be a bounty hunter." She rolled her eyes and laughed grimly. " Well, I guess I've not the parts for hunter, huntress, perhaps?." She cocked her head to one side waiting for Obi-Wan's reaction. "To answer your other question Obi. I'm Lesrhett Galway. I've done well I suppose. I lay low, stay out of trouble, do some good. I keep a finger on what's happening in all the star systems."
"Impossible." Obi-Wan shouted. "No, now I remember why that name sounds so familiar. Dexter, a friend, he told me once if I needed to find this criminal, Ga-MiKor...to talk to a Lesrhett..."
"Yes, I really laid low then. For awhile anyway."
"I never found you."
"If it helps your Jedi pride any...you got close. I didn't go back to Coruscant for 2 years."
Obi-Wan felt sick inside, not physically but...she had been on Courscant? He had almost found her once. His mind was in a terrible confusion. All these years he had refused to let himself even check the Jedi library to see where Malorea was even located and...and...
"Come, don't think of it any more. The galaxy needs you. And I want to see you well for tomorrow's celebration. The village people are celebrating a marriage. You'll get to see how it's done." And Sim pulled him along.
(Author's Note: Darsha and Master Anoon Bondara are from a Darth Maul book called Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves. I recommend this book to any SW fans that love adventure and action, sorry, there's no romance though.)
Orion was shoving his few belongings into a travel pack. Obi-Wan stood at the door watching him.
"How can you do this?!" He finally shouted.
"I love her."
"Please." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "You're going to throw away all your training for, for...Look, you don't even know where Simi is."
"Yes I do. I know exactly where she is." Obi-Wan let this sink in though he felt like dying. He had lost too many friends allready recently. Darsha had been killed mysteriously along with Master Anoon Bondara. Simi had left soon after. Peace, where was the peace he was supposed to find in the Force?
"How? I mean, what does it matter? She left, she was never meant to be a Jedi. She said so herself. But, you Orion. We've always been friends, even now, if we don't see each other often...Simi...Simi was always different. Always causing trouble, making waves. Honestly, I think the Council was glad to see her go." Obi-Wan felt his heart pounding at this speech, half of which he didn't really mean. He had put his hand on Orion's shoulder, but Orion had moved away and now his face flushed red.
"You would say all of that, wouldn't you?! You're a fool Obi-Wan."
"I'm not throwing away years of training and hard work for nothing." he snapped back.
"Fine, I'm a fool, but at least I'm honest." stated Orion.
Obi-Wan swallowed hard. He forced himself to calm down. Sim had announced her intention to leave on the grounds that she wasn't fit to meet the standards of a Jedi Knight, but to Obi-Wan and Orion she had simply said. "One day I want to marry and be a mother. I want that more than to ever be a Jedi." Then she left without even saying goodbye. Obi-Wan had been crushed, though he refused to admit it. Now, he only had moments to try to convince Orion to not leave as he had to go with Master Qui-Gon to another mission to some planet called Naboo. He had wondered at what her discussion before the Council had been like. But it didn't matter, whatever details had passed, they had agreed. She wasn't the first to leave and Master Devos had simply taken a new Padawan as if Sim had never existed. Ever since her name hadn't even been mentioned except quietly between Orion and Obi-Wan.
"Please Orion. Think. If she had wanted us to see her or something...."He trailed off.
"She's on the planet Malorea. I'm sure of it. After the mission where she and Master Devos were forced to land there for repairs she never stopped talking about it."
"You don't know that for certain."
"I do."
"If you leave too, then I'll have no one." He said softly. Orion looked at him now-eye to eye. Nearly 20 years old, they were both well -trained and confident. Soon, no doubt, Obi-Wan would become a Jedi Knight. Orion was sure of it.
"A Jedi has no attachments." he said flatly.
"True. That is one of the most important tenants. But you're my friend, like a brother. I can't bare for you to go."
Orion nodded slowly.
"Simi is strong and brave and.." he started.
"Ugh. Orion, listen, think. How will you even reach this Malori or whatever it's called place?"
"Malorea. And I'll find away. I'm sure Simi has."
"If she's not there?"
"I'll look for her. I'll look for her till the day I die."
Obi-Wan put his hand to his forehead. "Perhaps you're not the person I thought you were." He said.
"Really?" sniffed Orion. "What kind of person is that?" Orion shook his head. "Sometimes you have to accept people just as they are and not by some ideal you have of them." His voice grew louder as he said this. Obi- Wan just glared at him.
"Oh, is that so, says who?" he answered smugly.
"Sim. Sim said it to me once when we were talking about you."
"Me?"
Orion's head was bowed, his black hair smooth, the Padawan braid gone. "She loved you Obi-Wan. Don't tell me you didn't know it."
"Then you're all the more the fool for leaving." he responded angrily.
"You'll never admit you love her too. She knew that. She knew she couldn't stay. Because..of..you! Obi-Wan! You, you're at fault for her leaving." Orion was pointing his finger at him.
"You're insane."
"No, I'm not. To see you, to not see you. It broke her heart. She couldn't stand it anymore." He bowed his head again. "If she never loves me the same..I don't care. I won't stand for her to be alone. I won't let her go alone. My mind is made up. The council has released me. Even if they had said no I would still leave." He took a deep breath now. "It's just the way it has to be. You will be the Jedi for all of us Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan shook his head no. Then watched as Orion left the room. He steeled himself silently. There was nothing left to say. The only people he had ever deeply cared about other than his Master, the only 2, were gone. Whispering softly, staring at the wall---"A Jedi will have no attachments, no attachments, none." Then he dropped to the floor and refused to shed a single tear.
*****
The pause had been a long one, Sim had said nothing during the time. Obi-Wan cleared his throat.
"He said he wouldn't leave you alone."
Sim looked at him now. She started laughing. Her tears had already dried. Her laughter sounded hollow.
"He left me alone so many times." The tears were starting again. Obi- Wan felt incredibly uneasy. "We have to start again. Give me your arm."
After a pause, "He became a bounty hunter."
"What?" Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks. His mind raced. 'Orion, a dirty bounty hunter?! Unbelievable!'
"It's not as bad as you think. There's always a governor or viceroy who needs a criminal or some wrong doer brought in--all for legitimate reasons. It gave us enough credits to have our own fighter jet to go in. It gave Orion purpose, I think. He was always careful, you know. To not really use the Force. Only if things got very unpredictable..out of hand."
Obi-Wan knew that had been one of the conditions for their release as Padawans-to never again use the Force. "Of course, I never felt as obliged to hold myself to that mandate." Obi-Wan frowned, she was still the same. "When he arrived here we had the most outrageous scream fest. In the middle of the village even. I wanted him to return to the Temple, plead temporary insanity. Afterwards I didn't speak to him for several days." Sim's steps slowed slightly recalling this memory. "Everyday he would come help me with the cabin. I finally gave in.When we married, people from 3 villages came to our celebration. News travels. Before that, when I would go to the market and he would be following, doing anything to try to make me laugh or speak to him people were always watching us. The Maloreans are suckers for a good love story, I guess. We were happy." She shrugged her shoulders now. Obi-Wan could just make out buildings in a clearing up ahead. Sim stopped and turned to face him. She put her hands on Obi-Wan shoulders. " I heard of Master Qui-Gon, of your Padawan." Obi-Wan winced. Sim lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "I even heard of how you killed Darth Maul." Obi- Wan felt her fingers dig slightly into his shoulders. "It was too late then."
"What?" he asked, "I don't understand."
"Orion started leaving for longer periods of time. He wouldn't let me go with him like I did occasionally at first." Her hands suddenly dropped into his. "I don't know what happened, Obi-Wan. He became different, regretting his decision to leave the temple I think." She was crying again, shaking her head. She wiped her eyes dry and spoke louder. "I believe he was turning to the Dark Side, but didn't." Her hand touched Obi-Wan's face now. "Darth Maul killed him when he refused. It was so confusing, always we were told that the Sith were gone, that even when they were about there was only one Master, one apprentice among them. I don't know exactly what they might have wanted with Orion. I only had short visions that told me almost nothing. Only Orion's death came to me clearly. The last time he left, I begged him not to leave, there was so much anger and he went by freighter leaving me the fighter..." She trailed off finally as if all the memories were too much to bear. "I'm glad you killed him Obi-Wan. I'm glad it was you who did it." She started walking again. But Obi-Wan stopped now.
"That's been over 12 or 13 years ago, more even! Why did you never come back to the Temple? You could have!" He felt like shaking her.
"For what, Obi-Wan. I didn't want to be a Jedi, I still don't. It's not my destiny. It's yours.
"No...you could've..."
"To see you, to have my heart broken even more?!" She suddenly shouted. "No, better to be a bounty hunter." She rolled her eyes and laughed grimly. " Well, I guess I've not the parts for hunter, huntress, perhaps?." She cocked her head to one side waiting for Obi-Wan's reaction. "To answer your other question Obi. I'm Lesrhett Galway. I've done well I suppose. I lay low, stay out of trouble, do some good. I keep a finger on what's happening in all the star systems."
"Impossible." Obi-Wan shouted. "No, now I remember why that name sounds so familiar. Dexter, a friend, he told me once if I needed to find this criminal, Ga-MiKor...to talk to a Lesrhett..."
"Yes, I really laid low then. For awhile anyway."
"I never found you."
"If it helps your Jedi pride any...you got close. I didn't go back to Coruscant for 2 years."
Obi-Wan felt sick inside, not physically but...she had been on Courscant? He had almost found her once. His mind was in a terrible confusion. All these years he had refused to let himself even check the Jedi library to see where Malorea was even located and...and...
"Come, don't think of it any more. The galaxy needs you. And I want to see you well for tomorrow's celebration. The village people are celebrating a marriage. You'll get to see how it's done." And Sim pulled him along.