Chapter 5:
He turned the handle of the faucet to the right, a steady stream of water dropped down the wall of the freshener, and swirled down the drain. Obi Wan adjusted the temperature to his liking which happened to be scolding hot and climbed inside. Feeling the refreshing liquid trickle down his body he leaned against the wall and placed his head under the powerful stream, licking his lips and tasting the water as drops drenched his head, tracing down his face and catching in his beard. He ran his hands through his new, short hair cut he had given himself, not remembering the last time his hair didn't go all the way down past his neck.
Suddenly it hit him, hard. His eyes squeezed shut as his head throbbed in pain. The vision was back, and worst than before. He felt his knees buckle beneath him and he slumped to the floor of the freshener, holding his head in agony. He leaned against the wall, and pulled his knees up to his chest, as if trying to hide from the nightmare that now engulfed his thoughts.
**
Siri returned to her quarters after the meeting, she had tried to convince the leaders of the Rebels to let her escort Valorum back to Courascant, but leave it to Senator Amidala to deny her involvement, stating that she had other things to attend to. Siri feared for the knights that were sent, but she believed that the force would guide them. Besides Padme was right, there was another matter she had to attend to, and she didn't know exactly how to proceed.
Taking a deep breath Siri opened the door only to find Obi Wan's discarded clothes on the floor. She picked up one of his boots and noticed all the mud on them. She shook her head and called out towards the bathroom.
"I think you brought back the entire Degobah swamp with you." She teased as she tossed his clothes to a nearby cleaning droid. She knocked on the bathroom door when she heard no response. "You've been in there for quite a while now." She removed her cloak and outer tunic, revealing a tight black tank top underneath. "Or is it that you need some help?" She flirted and opened the bathroom door. As she walked into the steam filled room she kicked off her boots and removed her belt and sauntered up to the glass door of the freshener. A gasp left her lips as she saw the sight before her in the freshener. She quickly knelt down next to the Jedi master who was curled up in the fetal position, holding his head in his hands.
Siri took him in her arms, she gave no notice to the shower water that had turned ice cold. She moved pieces of soaked ginger hair out of his eyes and held his gaze. "Ben?" She asked, very concerned.
He looked at her and shook his head. "No." He stated under his breath.
"Tell me, what is it?" Siri begged, not sure what to do.
"No, I cannot. I will not burden you." Obi Wan insisted.
Siri became frustrated. "You listen to me Kenobi. I've put up with a lot of ridiculous requests from you in the past three years, calling you Ben for instance, but I will not tolerate secrets." She held his face, forcing him to look at her.
He looked at her, he watched as the water soaked her long, blonde hair, making it cling to her face and neck. It pained him to realize how much this woman meant to him. Siri turned off the chilly water and grabbed a large towel, wrapped both of them in it, and led him to their bed. She held him and encouraged him to continue. He closed his eyes and tried to block the horrible images out of his mind.
"I know it's a vision, you cannot hide that from me." Siri ran a hand on his cheek, and forced his gaze towards her. "Tell me."
Obi Wan shook his head. "Siri I can't, I won't."
Siri held up her left hand and placed it in front of his face. "You see this? This ring means that we are bound together in all things. Whatever haunts you I need it to haunt me as well."
Obi Wan looked at the ring, and then in her eyes. She noticed the concern etched in his blue/grey orbs. He turned his attention to a spot on the floor and took a deep breath and began. "I see myself surrounded by black, the stench of darkness is suffocating and I don't know where to go. I feel so lost. I then see a light in the distance, and I am drawn to it." He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "As I get closer to the source of the light I see a beautiful figure standing before me, a woman dressed in white is beckoning me towards her. The light emulating off her is so brilliant that I cannot see her face, but I know that she is a part of me." He looked up and met her gaze.
Siri almost shrank from the seriousness in his stare. "Go on." She encouraged.
"However I cannot reach the woman, I find myself standing before a huge chasm. I desperately try to find a way across when I see a warrior in black attack the woman. I watch the woman defend herself against the dark and evil man, but it is a losing battle. I then watch as the source of light is snuffed out by a Sith lord." Obi Wan found himself holding his head in his hands as he continued. "I watch this woman, this being who is obviously connected to me in some way killed before my very eyes and there is nothing that I can do to stop it." Siri ran a hand through his hair as he kept his gaze to the floor. "After the woman is killed I suddenly find myself alone, stranded in a desert until I grow old and eventually die." He slowly lifted his eyes to see Siri staring at him.
"At the risk of sounding like Master Yoda, the future is always in motion." She stood up to make her point. "You don't know if this vision will happen."
"I do know." He softly whispered.
Siri knelt down in front of him and lifted his chin. "No you don't, no one is that in tune with the force."
"I know, because this vision is the same intensity of the one I had concerning the temple!" Obi Wan said in almost a shout. "I know you don't understand." He quickly turned away from her. "No one understands, Master Qui Gon didn't understand. I can't even explain it. But I know what the force is telling me."
Siri closed her eyes, she knew that Obi Wan was famous in the Jedi order for having very prophetic dreams, some Padawans had even nicknamed him the fortune teller. She knelt behind him on the bed and wrapped her arms around him. "If this is my fate then so be it. Nothing happens by accident with the force." She whispered in his ear.
Obi Wan turned to face her, holding her head in his hands. "I will do everything I can to protect you." He said in a very serious tone. He then kissed her passionately. He stopped suddenly, staring at her. "There is something on your mind. Was there something you were going to tell me?"
She looked up at him and immediately put shields up around her thoughts. "No love, it can wait."
**
A few hours later and the couple emerged from their room. It seemed everything was back to normal.
"Are you sure I can't convince you to shave the beard?" Siri asked in a playful begging tone.
"Don't push your luck woman." Obi Wan joked back, giving her a squeeze. As they walked down the stairs they noticed a young padawan sitting on the steps, rocking back and forth.
"Janix?" Siri hurried towards the 5 year old, and knelt down next to her. "What is it?" The girl looked up at the Jedi master with tears in her large, black eyes. Siri took one of the child's three fingered hands in hers. "What is the force telling you?" She asked, softly.
Obi Wan closed his eyes, he suddenly felt a sick disturbance through the force. "Something's wrong." He quietly stated.
Siri suddenly felt it as well. "I feel it also." She exclaimed and picked up the young child in her arms and followed Obi Wan to the living room where they found Bail Organa and Padme Amidala watching the holovid with Leia.
"What's going on?" Obi Wan asked when he entered the room.
"General Kenobi, how great it is to see you again." Bail Organa stated with a warm smile.
"Has the team left yet?" Siri asked, still holding the alien child in her arms.
"Team?" Obi Wan asked in confusion.
"Valorum took a team of Jedi to Courascant to meet with Chan.Emperor Palpatine." Padme answered Obi Wan. "They should be there by now."
"What? Why?" He asked quickly.
"Palpatine wants to discuss peace with us, and Valorum volunteered to represent the Alliance." Bail informed.
"And Jedi were dispatched without consulting me first?" Obi Wan gave a stern look towards Siri.
"Excuse me, but I have been making the decisions concerning the Jedi for over two months now." She said in a defensive manor. "If I thought you actually cared, I would've come to you."
Obi Wan was a little hurt by her comment, but he knew he deserved it. "I'm sorry Siri it's just." He was cut off by the sound of Leia calling her mother extremely loud.
"Leia! Just a moment." Padme tried to get the child to calm down.
Obi Wan looked towards the young girl and noticed that the program she had been watching was interrupted by a special news report. He put a finger to his lips to try to get everyone to quiet down and he walked towards the holovid.
"This is a special Imperial report." An animated voice stated over and over until the picture came into view, showing a reporter standing in the Senate courtyard on Courascant in pouring rain.
"Today Emperor Palpatine is coming ever closer to ending the war between the Empire and the Separatists." The man started his report.
"He calls us Separatists." Bail huffed under his breath.
Suddenly the image of Grand Moff Tarkin, a tall, skinny, menacing man was seen on the screen.
"Let it be known that enemies of the Galactic Empire will be punished." The Governor began. "Order and peace will return. Anyone who stands between the Emperor and his goal will be executed."
The image of Governor Tarkin faded and then went to a live shot of the four Jedi knights who were sent to Courascant standing in a line, with their hands bound behind them. The group of rebels watching this exchanged worried glances.
"A public execution." Obi Wan stated quietly, and lowered his gaze to the ground.
"Dorme!" Padme called and her faithful handmaiden came into the room.
"M'lady?" She asked with a warm smile.
"Take Leia please." Padme stated with a worried look. Dorme took Leia by the hand and led her out of the room.
"Dorme?" Siri stopped the servant before her exit. "Take Janix with you please."
"Of course." Dorme complied and took the two children out of the room.
They returned their attention back to the hollovid and watched the brave Jedi knights as they stood in the rain, awaiting their deaths. Siri took note how each of them showed no fear, how they seemed ready to be one with the force. She had never been so proud.
A team of clone soldiers stood before them and with their blaster rifles and took aim. With a one word command from their commander they shot in unison and the four Jedi knights slumped to the ground.
Padme felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked over at the two Jedi masters to give them an apologetic look, but both showed no outwardly emotions, to anyone who didn't know them personally would've thought they had no feelings on the matter at all. Padme however noticed both were clutching each other's hands very tightly.
"Where was Valorum?" Bail questioned after what seemed like an appropriate amount of time for silence.
"I don't know." Padme whipped the tears from her eyes.
"He betrayed us." Bail exclaimed, anger showing in his voice.
"You don't know that." Padme argued.
The two continued to argue when Obi Wan noticed the reporter was continuing.
"Quiet." He raised his voice in a very commanding tone, and the two politicians obeyed.
"Besides the execution of these Jedi the Emperor has also scheduled that former Supreme Chancellor Valorum be hung tomorrow in the courtyard for his crimes against the Empire. He has been linked to leading the new Separatist rebels. Emperor Palpatine hopes this will set an example to anyone else who the Empire deems as a threat."
Obi Wan turned off the hollovid before the reporter could continue. He glanced around the room. "The time for talks of peace is over. The Emperor made the first move, now we end it."
He turned the handle of the faucet to the right, a steady stream of water dropped down the wall of the freshener, and swirled down the drain. Obi Wan adjusted the temperature to his liking which happened to be scolding hot and climbed inside. Feeling the refreshing liquid trickle down his body he leaned against the wall and placed his head under the powerful stream, licking his lips and tasting the water as drops drenched his head, tracing down his face and catching in his beard. He ran his hands through his new, short hair cut he had given himself, not remembering the last time his hair didn't go all the way down past his neck.
Suddenly it hit him, hard. His eyes squeezed shut as his head throbbed in pain. The vision was back, and worst than before. He felt his knees buckle beneath him and he slumped to the floor of the freshener, holding his head in agony. He leaned against the wall, and pulled his knees up to his chest, as if trying to hide from the nightmare that now engulfed his thoughts.
**
Siri returned to her quarters after the meeting, she had tried to convince the leaders of the Rebels to let her escort Valorum back to Courascant, but leave it to Senator Amidala to deny her involvement, stating that she had other things to attend to. Siri feared for the knights that were sent, but she believed that the force would guide them. Besides Padme was right, there was another matter she had to attend to, and she didn't know exactly how to proceed.
Taking a deep breath Siri opened the door only to find Obi Wan's discarded clothes on the floor. She picked up one of his boots and noticed all the mud on them. She shook her head and called out towards the bathroom.
"I think you brought back the entire Degobah swamp with you." She teased as she tossed his clothes to a nearby cleaning droid. She knocked on the bathroom door when she heard no response. "You've been in there for quite a while now." She removed her cloak and outer tunic, revealing a tight black tank top underneath. "Or is it that you need some help?" She flirted and opened the bathroom door. As she walked into the steam filled room she kicked off her boots and removed her belt and sauntered up to the glass door of the freshener. A gasp left her lips as she saw the sight before her in the freshener. She quickly knelt down next to the Jedi master who was curled up in the fetal position, holding his head in his hands.
Siri took him in her arms, she gave no notice to the shower water that had turned ice cold. She moved pieces of soaked ginger hair out of his eyes and held his gaze. "Ben?" She asked, very concerned.
He looked at her and shook his head. "No." He stated under his breath.
"Tell me, what is it?" Siri begged, not sure what to do.
"No, I cannot. I will not burden you." Obi Wan insisted.
Siri became frustrated. "You listen to me Kenobi. I've put up with a lot of ridiculous requests from you in the past three years, calling you Ben for instance, but I will not tolerate secrets." She held his face, forcing him to look at her.
He looked at her, he watched as the water soaked her long, blonde hair, making it cling to her face and neck. It pained him to realize how much this woman meant to him. Siri turned off the chilly water and grabbed a large towel, wrapped both of them in it, and led him to their bed. She held him and encouraged him to continue. He closed his eyes and tried to block the horrible images out of his mind.
"I know it's a vision, you cannot hide that from me." Siri ran a hand on his cheek, and forced his gaze towards her. "Tell me."
Obi Wan shook his head. "Siri I can't, I won't."
Siri held up her left hand and placed it in front of his face. "You see this? This ring means that we are bound together in all things. Whatever haunts you I need it to haunt me as well."
Obi Wan looked at the ring, and then in her eyes. She noticed the concern etched in his blue/grey orbs. He turned his attention to a spot on the floor and took a deep breath and began. "I see myself surrounded by black, the stench of darkness is suffocating and I don't know where to go. I feel so lost. I then see a light in the distance, and I am drawn to it." He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "As I get closer to the source of the light I see a beautiful figure standing before me, a woman dressed in white is beckoning me towards her. The light emulating off her is so brilliant that I cannot see her face, but I know that she is a part of me." He looked up and met her gaze.
Siri almost shrank from the seriousness in his stare. "Go on." She encouraged.
"However I cannot reach the woman, I find myself standing before a huge chasm. I desperately try to find a way across when I see a warrior in black attack the woman. I watch the woman defend herself against the dark and evil man, but it is a losing battle. I then watch as the source of light is snuffed out by a Sith lord." Obi Wan found himself holding his head in his hands as he continued. "I watch this woman, this being who is obviously connected to me in some way killed before my very eyes and there is nothing that I can do to stop it." Siri ran a hand through his hair as he kept his gaze to the floor. "After the woman is killed I suddenly find myself alone, stranded in a desert until I grow old and eventually die." He slowly lifted his eyes to see Siri staring at him.
"At the risk of sounding like Master Yoda, the future is always in motion." She stood up to make her point. "You don't know if this vision will happen."
"I do know." He softly whispered.
Siri knelt down in front of him and lifted his chin. "No you don't, no one is that in tune with the force."
"I know, because this vision is the same intensity of the one I had concerning the temple!" Obi Wan said in almost a shout. "I know you don't understand." He quickly turned away from her. "No one understands, Master Qui Gon didn't understand. I can't even explain it. But I know what the force is telling me."
Siri closed her eyes, she knew that Obi Wan was famous in the Jedi order for having very prophetic dreams, some Padawans had even nicknamed him the fortune teller. She knelt behind him on the bed and wrapped her arms around him. "If this is my fate then so be it. Nothing happens by accident with the force." She whispered in his ear.
Obi Wan turned to face her, holding her head in his hands. "I will do everything I can to protect you." He said in a very serious tone. He then kissed her passionately. He stopped suddenly, staring at her. "There is something on your mind. Was there something you were going to tell me?"
She looked up at him and immediately put shields up around her thoughts. "No love, it can wait."
**
A few hours later and the couple emerged from their room. It seemed everything was back to normal.
"Are you sure I can't convince you to shave the beard?" Siri asked in a playful begging tone.
"Don't push your luck woman." Obi Wan joked back, giving her a squeeze. As they walked down the stairs they noticed a young padawan sitting on the steps, rocking back and forth.
"Janix?" Siri hurried towards the 5 year old, and knelt down next to her. "What is it?" The girl looked up at the Jedi master with tears in her large, black eyes. Siri took one of the child's three fingered hands in hers. "What is the force telling you?" She asked, softly.
Obi Wan closed his eyes, he suddenly felt a sick disturbance through the force. "Something's wrong." He quietly stated.
Siri suddenly felt it as well. "I feel it also." She exclaimed and picked up the young child in her arms and followed Obi Wan to the living room where they found Bail Organa and Padme Amidala watching the holovid with Leia.
"What's going on?" Obi Wan asked when he entered the room.
"General Kenobi, how great it is to see you again." Bail Organa stated with a warm smile.
"Has the team left yet?" Siri asked, still holding the alien child in her arms.
"Team?" Obi Wan asked in confusion.
"Valorum took a team of Jedi to Courascant to meet with Chan.Emperor Palpatine." Padme answered Obi Wan. "They should be there by now."
"What? Why?" He asked quickly.
"Palpatine wants to discuss peace with us, and Valorum volunteered to represent the Alliance." Bail informed.
"And Jedi were dispatched without consulting me first?" Obi Wan gave a stern look towards Siri.
"Excuse me, but I have been making the decisions concerning the Jedi for over two months now." She said in a defensive manor. "If I thought you actually cared, I would've come to you."
Obi Wan was a little hurt by her comment, but he knew he deserved it. "I'm sorry Siri it's just." He was cut off by the sound of Leia calling her mother extremely loud.
"Leia! Just a moment." Padme tried to get the child to calm down.
Obi Wan looked towards the young girl and noticed that the program she had been watching was interrupted by a special news report. He put a finger to his lips to try to get everyone to quiet down and he walked towards the holovid.
"This is a special Imperial report." An animated voice stated over and over until the picture came into view, showing a reporter standing in the Senate courtyard on Courascant in pouring rain.
"Today Emperor Palpatine is coming ever closer to ending the war between the Empire and the Separatists." The man started his report.
"He calls us Separatists." Bail huffed under his breath.
Suddenly the image of Grand Moff Tarkin, a tall, skinny, menacing man was seen on the screen.
"Let it be known that enemies of the Galactic Empire will be punished." The Governor began. "Order and peace will return. Anyone who stands between the Emperor and his goal will be executed."
The image of Governor Tarkin faded and then went to a live shot of the four Jedi knights who were sent to Courascant standing in a line, with their hands bound behind them. The group of rebels watching this exchanged worried glances.
"A public execution." Obi Wan stated quietly, and lowered his gaze to the ground.
"Dorme!" Padme called and her faithful handmaiden came into the room.
"M'lady?" She asked with a warm smile.
"Take Leia please." Padme stated with a worried look. Dorme took Leia by the hand and led her out of the room.
"Dorme?" Siri stopped the servant before her exit. "Take Janix with you please."
"Of course." Dorme complied and took the two children out of the room.
They returned their attention back to the hollovid and watched the brave Jedi knights as they stood in the rain, awaiting their deaths. Siri took note how each of them showed no fear, how they seemed ready to be one with the force. She had never been so proud.
A team of clone soldiers stood before them and with their blaster rifles and took aim. With a one word command from their commander they shot in unison and the four Jedi knights slumped to the ground.
Padme felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked over at the two Jedi masters to give them an apologetic look, but both showed no outwardly emotions, to anyone who didn't know them personally would've thought they had no feelings on the matter at all. Padme however noticed both were clutching each other's hands very tightly.
"Where was Valorum?" Bail questioned after what seemed like an appropriate amount of time for silence.
"I don't know." Padme whipped the tears from her eyes.
"He betrayed us." Bail exclaimed, anger showing in his voice.
"You don't know that." Padme argued.
The two continued to argue when Obi Wan noticed the reporter was continuing.
"Quiet." He raised his voice in a very commanding tone, and the two politicians obeyed.
"Besides the execution of these Jedi the Emperor has also scheduled that former Supreme Chancellor Valorum be hung tomorrow in the courtyard for his crimes against the Empire. He has been linked to leading the new Separatist rebels. Emperor Palpatine hopes this will set an example to anyone else who the Empire deems as a threat."
Obi Wan turned off the hollovid before the reporter could continue. He glanced around the room. "The time for talks of peace is over. The Emperor made the first move, now we end it."
