The farther away the armored figure got from the investigation the more the façade faltered. The slight limp became more exaggerated. While the blaster wound to the thigh was not crippling it was quite painful. Slowing his gate slightly, Obi-Wan evened out his steps masking the limp again, knowing a limping bounty hunter was a sign of weakness that could easily be exploited.

Although each step grew more difficult, he easily found the black and silver runner nestled between two freighters on the opposite side of the station from the Reliant.

Breathing a sigh of relief into the choking, suffocating helmet that he desperately wanted to rip off, Obi-Wan stopped in front of the ship. He knew he had to be careful to appear familiar with the ship's workings and not fumble with the small remote embedded into the heavy left wrist guard in the armor. There was a soft hum as the landing platform slowly lowered before him. Studying the remote through the dark helmet lense, he decided that if needed, he could control the engines and maybe more. Although, the disguised Jedi didn't think he would remain long enough with the ship and armor to discover many of its secrets.

Once safely ensconced in the small ship, he glanced about the sparse common area while waiting for the hatch to seal closed. There was a small bench that folded out into a sleep cot and a chair fixed to the floor next to a fold down table. A few steps to the back revealed a crowded refresher and opposite that was another small room. Blasters in hand he kicked the door open to reveal two binders attached to the wall and–

Retreating a few steps, he realized the room was Force dampened. It was designed for the live incarceration of a Jedi.

Stumbling back into the open area, Obi-Wan quickly unhinged the helmet and in a rough motion pulled it free revealing sweat dampened ginger locks. Taking in the cool recycled air in slow, deep breaths he sought control and focus.

Pale blue eyes leapt from one corner to the next quickly making a silent inventory of anything that could aid him. Apparently Ruan Uri lived in much the manner of the Jedi, possessing very little.

But that was where the comparison abruptly ended.

Clipped to the wall next to the folded up desk was a collection of braided hair of every length and color. Tears made his vision swim but it could not cloud the reds and blues of achievement markers braided into the hair. Desperately looking away his gaze settled on a box nestled against the wall, inside lightsabers of ever size were just dumped into it as if little more than trash. He did not even have to come close to the box to feel the disturbed Force around it. The Jedi that had once held those weapons died fighting for their lives and the lives of others.

Overcome by the maddening exhaustion that had slowly been crippling him, Obi-Wan collapsed. The impact of the body armor to the duranium floor made a terrible clatter that nearly drowned out his own pained cry. Possessed he fought against the Jedi killer's armor as if it were a wild beast intent on mauling him as a cold sweat beaded against his flesh.

As quickly as it began, it ended as he did not have the strength to continue and finally fell still. His flushed cheek sank to the cold floor. Knowing he has to pull himself together the Jedi struggled back to his feet and marched toward the cockpit. He had to get off this world.

__________________________

Coruscant Time: -260 days

The gentle hum of the Apostasy's well-tended engines provided a soothing sound to the silence of space. But even that were not enough for Obi-Wan who knelt in meditative calm on the cold floor of the ship's common area for it was the only peace he could find as sleep evaded him. Every breath came soft and shallow as his mind wandered the realms of time and space. Even after nearly two hours of struggle, he could not bring his pain-dulled thoughts back to center.

His calm center had been gone so long, he feared he would not recognize it should it return. So instead, he sought the comfort of the litany found in the calming repetition of the Jedi code.

Breaking from the mantra hat he had faithfully served until he failed it, Obi-Wan's heavy, bloodshot gaze fell to the box at his side. Biting back the grief he had struggled so desperately to overcome, the Jedi allowed himself to look upon the contents that he had carefully arranged. Every lightsaber had been taken out and reverently replaced according to size. The ones built for the smallest hands, the training sabers, lay atop of the collection. There were five of them. The last item placed in the box was the tangle of padawan braids that had been bound together. He would not even venture to count those, whatever the number it was too many.

The box and all of its contents only added to the sickness he felt inside. The illness seemed determined to cling and fester around his aching heart never offering reprieve from the pain.

It was as intense and fatal as any blaster bolt and yet he did not die. It was as if the Force were playing a cruel game with him never allowing escape to the peaceful slumber of its soft waves. Always kept forever beyond the pale.

Left alive to witness what his failures have wrought.

Obi-Wan blinked and turned his attention to attending his wounds. Fingers gently probed the scattered gashes and punctures that ran across his left arm and chest. Most were small and would heal in a day or two, quicker if he could reach a healing meditation. There were two larger wounds in his shoulder that would take more time. In a series of slow motions, he folded the clean cloth he had found and pressed it to some of the still oozing abrasions. He had already tended to the blaster wound on his leg. While it was not serious it had damaged muscle and would require more time to heal even with aid of the bacta salve.

"Hey, Boss," a female voice crackled over the ship wide intercom. "Why didn't you tell me you killed another Jedi?"

"What?" he answered half in a daze, momentarily uncertain if the voice was from inside or outside his head.

"Man, you okay, Boss?" Dahla asked then fell silent waiting for a response. When none came she spoke up again, "Boss?"

Obi-Wan frowned, concerned that he would give himself away by speaking, or worse, by not. "Yes?"

"Are you sure you're okay?" Deep concern filled the question.

"Of course, why?" Every word was spoken with care to blunt his core accent.

"I never heard your real voice before. You're always talking through that awful mask." There was a pause. "What happened?" she asked innocently.

"Had to remove the armor," Obi-Wan replied, trying to speak in the same economic sentences Ruan had. "It was a difficult fight and took a few hits along the way."

"No kidding! Imperial HoloVision is all abuzz. First they reported you had killed Kenobi but then it was revealed to be some other Jedi."

Obi-Wan's blood ran cold with that report.

"The Onyx Guard showed up, they only show up if it was an important Jedi. Who was it?"

"Just some knight. He aided Kenobi's escape."

"What bad luck!" Dahla growled. "You would have had him if that other Jedi didn't interfere. So who injured you? The no name Jedi or Kenobi?"

Frowning, the Jedi remained silent for a beat. "Kenobi."

"You sure you okay, Boss?"

"Yes."

Again there was a long silence. "Come on, Boss, this is Dahla you're talking to. I know when something isn't right."

At last he had a name. That would help the ruse, right? "Dahla?"

"Yes, Boss?"

"Everything else taken care of?"

"I took care of that mess in Nasaux just like you asked. The family is free and on their way to Corellia. Seems the widow has family there."

"Good."

"It was an accident, you know that, Boss. Like you always say, sometimes bad things happen. Deal with it and go on."

"Good advice."

"Looking another job, Boss? Or do you still have that fascination in being the one to kill Kenobi?"

"Please tell me what other jobs are out there."

"Please? What did that Jedi do? Knock you in the head one too many times?"

"Something like that."

An uncomfortable silence filled the ship before Dahla finally spoke up, "How about Emeute Farrago? She's not too far off from your coordinates. A Jedi kid. Easy kill for a man like you."

Obi-Wan straightened at the padawan's name. Her master, Geya Moorbok had been killed days earlier attacking a group of peacekeepers, so the Imperial HoloVision claimed. He vaguely remembered the Master from days back in the Temple. She had been a tall woman with golden skin and deep maroon tattoos above her sculptured eyebrows. He even thought he remembered Emeute racing to keep up with her master's long strides. That had not been so many years ago.

She would still be little more than a child. One who did not deserve the grisly fate that awaited her.

"I will take it."

Dahla was silent for a moment. "You sure you okay, Boss?"

"Positive."

"I always offer another hunt but you never take, especially since she's only worth about 5,000 credits."

"She is worth that."

"It's a pay cut to someone of your caliber, Boss."

Obi-wan sighed and gently massaged his temples. If she did not stop calling him that he would quickly regurgitate the small ration bar he had consumed earlier. "I need a little rest and this will be easy."

"It also keeps everyone on their toes. Especially if they think you are chasing after Kenobi."

"Let the peacekeepers tend to him for now. I have wasted too much time and resources on one Jedi. There are still plenty of Jedi on the loose."

"Not that many, not anymore."

He had known her answer before she spoke. "Then I will have to find something else to hunt."

"Sure thing, Boss. I'm transmitting the information now."

The strange affection in her voice when she called him–Ruan Uri–Boss bothered him.

"The Jedi kid was last seen on Vego. She's without her light sword. Lost it when her master was killed. Must not have been a very good master if she didn't teach the girl to hold onto her weapon. No wonder the Jedi are being taken out so easy. Lousy teaching."

The remark left Obi-Wan cold.

"Hey, Boss, you still there?"

"Forgive me, Dahla." He had to struggle not to sound bitter.

Obi-Wan could almost hear her smile over the intercom and was surprised.

"I think I like speaking to you without that helmet, Boss. You actually sound human."

"Thank you."

"Sure thing, Boss." And the communication ended.