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Obi-Wan woke up some hours later feeling better, but he was still weak. I am really tired of being tired! At once, he decided that he wanted to try to heal himself. After verifying that Padme was still asleep beside him, Obi-Wan called out to the Force and asked for it to help him heal. The Force agreed and led him into a healing trance.
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When Obi-Wan came out of the trance some time later, he felt infinitely better. He carefully tried to extract himself from the still-sleeping form beside him. He covered Padme with the blanket and looked down at her. She looked so at peace. He wished he could secure for her that kind of peace in waking.
When Obi-Wan turned away from the cot, he found himself almost running into Laicee. She had her hands on her hips and a chastising look on her face.
"Just what do you think you're doing up?" Laicee kept her voice low.
Obi-Wan smile and guided her further away from the cot. "Don't worry. I've self-healed. I'm quite tired of being down for the count."
Laicee didn't look convinced. She went and got her scanner and ran it over Obi-Wan. "That really is amazing! You're completely healed! I'd heard so many things about the powers of the Jedi. This ability is one I wish we all possessed."
Pain entered Obi-Wan's eyes at the mention of the Jedi. "It has certainly come in handy more times than I can count. But there are some wounds even a Jedi can't heal."
Laicee put her hand on Obi-Wan's arm. "I'm sorry I brought up a painful subject, but I am very glad there are a few Jedi still left. I had heard they were all dead."
Obi-Wan sighed heavily. "There are three of us left." His mind still found it hard to truly grasp that thought.
Laicee squeezed his arm. "Why don't you take a hot shower, Obi-Wan. Then I'd like for you to try and eat something."
"Thank you, Laicee." Obi-Wan headed to the fresher, sincerely looking forward to the hot shower.
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Padme woke up to find the place beside her empty. She bolted upright in a panic.
"Hey, hey! I'm okay! I'm right here." Obi-Wan was sitting on the floor beside Laicee. The food tray was set in front of them.
Concern was etched on Padme's face. "What in the galaxy are you doing up?"
Obi-Wan smiled at her. "I self-healed, Padme. I'm okay now. Why don't you come and eat something."
Padme was so relieved to see Obi-Wan looking like his old self. She went over and sat down by Obi-Wan, her leg touching his. She needed to have that contact with him. She smiled contentedly as Obi-Wan lightly rested his left hand on her right knee. She was starving and dug eagerly into the food.
Obi-Wan eyed the two ladies next to him. "Alright. What is it you two aren't telling me?"
Laicee looked up in surprise. How does he know?
Padme shook her head. She knew it was pointless to try and hide something from Obi-Wan. "If the Emperor gets a hold of this information…"
Obi-Wan cocked his eyebrow in curiosity. "When the Emperor does another mind probe, the Force will shelter any information that would put us at risk."
Padme took a deep breath. "Okay…Laicee was able to get back to her med lab, under the guise of getting more supplies to take care of you, and send a message to Bail Organa."
"What?" Obi-Wan could hardly believe his ears.
"I had her send it via several substations that are friendly to the building Rebellion. The Empire would be hard-pressed to trace who sent the message and to where. I really don't know what, if anything, Bail can do, but I had to at least try."
Obi-Wan looked at Padme, a smile growing on his face. "That is the best news I've heard in a long time, Padme!" He turned to Laicee. "Thank you for being willing to put your life at risk to do that for us."
"You're welcome. I sincerely hope that you two will be rescued."
Obi-Wan gave Laicee a look that brooked no refusal. "If we do get rescued, you're coming with us. If you stayed, you'd be killed."
Laicee hadn't really thought ahead that far. Of course I couldn't stay! "You're right, of course."
Obi-Wan looked back at Padme with joy in his eyes. Padme drank it in. It did her heart good to see that light in his eyes again. She happily ate and chatted with Obi-Wan and Laicee. They continued to sit there and talk, long after the food tray was emptied.
Obi-Wan gasped as he felt a sudden rip in the Force. His eyes flew shut. His arm swung out to catch himself as he swayed. He also felt Padme grip him and hold him upright.
"What is it?" Both Padme and Laicee spoke at the same time. Padme grasped Obi-Wan's hand. She watched as he tried to center himself. He steadied his breathing and finally opened his eyes. They were haunted.
"I am now only one of two Jedi left." Obi-Wan's voice was pained.
Laicee's hand went to her mouth in horror. Padme stroked Obi-Wan's hair, trying to comfort him.
Obi-Wan's jaw clentched. "It was Vader."
Padme's hand fell to Obi-Wan's shoulder. "So that's where he went. To do what he does best!" She was absolutely repulsed. A wonderful, heroic group of people were almost completely wiped out!
Obi-Wan took Padme's hand off his shoulder and kissed it. "If you ladies don't mind, I really need to meditate." He went over to the far corner and sat down, his grief threatening to consume him. He needed to feel the oneness with the Force he had felt while unconscious.
Even though Obi-Wan was having a hard time focusing his mind, he still felt the Force flood through him. He wondered again at the active role the Force was taking in his life the last few days. He shrugged off the question and released his grief into the Force. But more thoughts and questions kept running through his mind. All but one of my friends and comrades are gone. The Jedi Order is gone. All that I ever knew and loved is lost. No, I still have Padme and Yoda. Will there ever be good in this galaxy again? How can anything good come from this horrible nightmare? Anakin…I wish I'd never met you! I wish Qui-Gon had never brought you back from Tatooine! How could you do all of this, Anakin?
Obi-Wan found he had to release his grief over and over again. He then felt the Force filling him with strength and encouragement. It reminded him again that he had more to do. It gave him optimism that this imprisonment would end. He had to focus. He had to be strong. He couldn't give up.