He sat alone in a quiet part of the ship. Bail Organa had supplied him with the necessary travel documents identifying him as an Alderaanian business man. As he leaned back in his seat he closed his eyes and calmed a nagging wave of anxiety. It had been over a year since he fled Coruscant and going back was not something he had ever considered.
He did not question what he had to do the moment he heard Bail confirm that Amira was being held by the Empire. How he would find her he did not know, but he knew with every fiber of his being it was imperative that he try.
The ship banked high over the city and made its final approach into Coruscant. He looked out the window and inhaled sharply when he caught sight of the ruins of the Jedi Temple. The pain threatened to spring forth.
He dismissed the remembrance of that dark day and prepared to disembark. As soon as the ship landed Obi-Wan set out to find one of the few friends he might still have in the capitol.
Dex's diner was still there. When Obi-Wan entered he immediately saw his friend behind the counter. If the four armed Besalisk was surprised to see the Jedi he didn't show it. He nodded at Obi-Wan and turned his attention back to the grill.
He took a seat towards the back and ordered a cup of Jawa Juice from the droid waitress. After she brought the drink Dex showed up.Obi-Wan wasnot greeted byhis friend as he had always been in the pastwith a gigantic hug but instead received a nod and discreet hand shake.
Dex squeezed into the seat across from him and said quietly, "I was not sure you had survived." Obi-Wan looked around warily and then back at his friend, "I've been away." Dexter nodded sadly, "It isn't such a good thing to be Jedi these days. I'm glad to see you are alive and well." Obi-Wan smiled, "I am glad to see you too old friend." Dex asked, "You are risking much coming back here. Something big must be up?"
Obi-Wan let out a long breath, "A friend of mine is in a great deal of trouble. I believe she is here, but I don't know where to look." Dex grunted and nodded his understanding, "How can I help?" Obi-Wan leaned forward across the table, "She is being held here on Coruscant; suspected of treason." Dex shook his head sadly, "We hear about people being arrested. There are no trials, no pleadings in the senate."
Obi-Wan's shoulders slumped ever so slightly, "What happens to them?" Dex looked his friend in the eyes and said, "Traitors are executed, I am sorry." He shook his head, "She's not dead. I would know." Dex smiled teasingly, "You would know? This must be some girl?"
Obi-Wan took another sip of the Jawa Juice and grinned, "She's a friend Dex; Senator Organa's sister." Dex's eyes widened in surprise and he shook his head, "Princess Organa. The Empire grows bolder by the day, if word got out..." Obi-Wan interrupted, "The Empire denies they are holdingher. Even the Senator cannot get a straight answer from them."
Dex thought for a moment and said, "A friend of mine runs a construction company. He was telling me about repairs he did on the senate building, there was quite a bit of damage to it after that night…"
Obi-Wan nodded and Dex continued, "He said they had constructed new underground chambers below the floors of the senate. They built prison cells; designed specifically to hold political prisoners; prisoners they did not want the general public to know about."
Leaning back in the booth Obi-Wan exhaled slowly, "Then that is where I will start." Dex cautioned, "Be careful my friend, they figure out who you are, you will be killed on sight." He grinned, "I don't plan to wear a sign." They both laughed and Obi-Wan finished his drink, "Any chance your friend could loan me a copy of those construction plans?"
With a little help from some of Dex's other sources he was able to determine that Vadar and the Emperor had left Coruscant the day before. This was fortunate as it would be less likely that anyone would sense his presence or discover his true identity.