SouL PurPosE

Chapter Eight

"Careful, don't startle him. And whatever you do, be nice."

The response on Dorme's face told me she was losing her patience with me, but I couldn't help it! I didn't want to mess this up! I also didn't want Obi-Wan to dismiss us completely.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," she announced softly while drawing closer to him.

The Jedi Master's movements stopped as if he wasn't certain he'd actually heard his name. And then he carefully lay aside his tools, wiped his hands upon his heavy apron, and slowly swiveled in his seat.

I watched him carefully. Sorrow and heartache had added lines to his face and there was a bit more gray at his temples than I remembered. Regardless of that, it was still a great comfort to see him!

"I recognize you," he said, the sound of his voice giving me an unexpected thrill. He reminded me of so many things in my life: Naboo, my apartment in Coruscant, the Jedi Temple, Anakin. Not necessarily all good, but important things I had known. Just gazing at him made me feel like I was home.

"Dorme, isn't it? What brings you all this way? And more importantly, how did you find me?"

"Careful," I advised, hoping she would listen this time.

"Is there someplace we can speak privately?" she wisely asked.

"Of course."

Obi-Wan was being far more cooperative than I imagined he would be, at least until his brother barged in.

"You!" he angrily shouted, pointing at Dorme. "Obi, I saw her in town. She was asking a lot of questions about you. Said something about that Amidala woman and demanded to see you. I didn't tell her a thing. In fact, I recall specifically asking her to leave!"

Obi-Wan grinned at his overprotective sibling. "It's all right, Owen," he told him calmly. "Dorme and I go way back. Come this way," he told her.

I thought we were in the clear until Owen grabbed hold of his sleeve. "Are you sure? She may be connected with the monsters who are looking for you."

Apparently, to satisfy his brother, Obi-Wan turned around to face Dorme with his hands clasped together – a negotiation posture I was familiar with. "Do you have any recording devices on you?"

"No," Dorme answered quickly.

"Do you currently have any weapons of any type that you intend on using to cause me harm or take me into custody?"

"Are you kidding? Do you think I would really hurt you?"

"Just answer the question please," Obi-Wan insisted with a twinkle in his eye.

"Go ahead, Dorme," I told her. "He's teasing Owen. That's all."

"No, I do not. Well, I used to, but.."

"A simple yes or no will do," her interrogator explained. "Are you in any way associated with the Sith or the Emperor and his army?"

"Absolutely not!" Dorme replied adamantly.

He then turned to his brother, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder. "See? She's harmless."

I wouldn't exactly say that…

"Follow me to my quarters where we can speak more privately," he offered to Dorme, who took the opportunity to stick her tongue out at Owen when she passed by.

Obi-Wan's residence was right behind the sellium factory. It was a stacked two-story structure with a staircase attached to an outer wall. The first floor apparently belonged to someone else, while the apartment above was his. The inside was comfortable and warm though lacked things that made a house a home. There were no mementos or knick-knacks of any kind. Just a couple of chairs, a small table, a single bed, a humble kitchen, and a small door I assumed led to a water closet.

Once inside, he motioned for Dorme to sit at the table with him. "I can offer you tea, but that's about it," he told her.

"Tea is fine, as long as it's hot," she responded. "I'm freezing!"

"You get used to it," Obi-Wan replied, turning around to boil a pot of water. The stove was so close that he didn't even have to get up from his seat. Little did he know, but I was standing very close as well, taking the opportunity to study him. He looked tired, although I wasn't sure if it was from mental or physical exhaustion.

"The weather is about the only thing that's consistent in my life these days. You're certainly proof of that. What brings you to Xeridun?"

Dorme glanced about the small space, apparently even less impressed than I was. "Did you really grow up here?" she said with a curled lip of disdain.

Obi-Wan chuckled lightly, which was music to my ears. It was a pleasing sound under the circumstances. "I don't recall. I was taken to the Temple at the age of three."

"What about your parents?"

"Is this a personal interview? I need you to ask him about Anakin," I reminded her.

"Owen tells me they succumbed to Denovian fever a few years ago."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," she told him.

The water had begun to boil and Obi-Wan reached for two clay pottery mugs, adding a bag of loose tea he retrieved from a metal container, before covering them with the steaming liquid. He then handed one to Dorme and kept one for himself.

"You're stalling," he said before taking a cautious sip. "I don't believe for a second you came here to ask me about my family. What are you up to?"

Was it possible Dorme had met her match? I couldn't help but laugh at the thought, which immediately caused Obi-Wan to turn his head in my general direction. His gray-green eyes scanned my face, although they didn't settle on anything in particular.

Had he heard me? Could he sense my presence?

"Obi-Wan? Can you hear me? It's me, Padme. I'm right here with you."

He continued to gaze at me, but then took another sip and returned his attention to Dorme.

"There are a few things bothering me," she explained. "How the Senator died, and what happened to Anakin Skywalker afterward. I've heard the story of how he used the Force to strangle her, but did the two of you fight afterward? If so, why didn't you kill the bastard? I'm hearing rumors that he's not only alive, but he's the Emperor's head henchman."

Obi-Wan's head hung down and I was worried Dorme had gone too far. This was obviously a painful subject. Anakin himself told me that he considered Obi-Wan a father. The two shared a close bond, so of course, his betrayal was difficult.

"I doubt sharing this story will ease your conscience or help you sleep at night. It certainly hasn't helped me," he told her sadly. "Not only did I fail my apprentice, but every citizen in the Republic who was counting on me to protect them, and Padme, of course."

Me? How in any way did he think he failed me? I asked Dorme to find out that information if she could and Obi-Wan seemed even more hesitant than he was before.

"Seeing that you're not aware of our history, I'm not sure I want to share it with you."

"Oh, please, Master Kenobi!" Dorme urged. "Perhaps I can help. I stood by her side from the day she accepted the position in Coruscant. I knew her very well. Perhaps better than anyone."

That was true.

"All that tells me is what I actually don't want to hear," he replied, which confused me.

Dorme, on the other hand, seemed to be concentrating on what appeared to be a growing epiphany and she blurted her thoughts out rather abruptly.

"You were in love with her!

At that point, my mouth fell open in shock. Was that true? If so, I had no idea! When had it happened? Before I married Anakin? During my marriage? When? Way back during our time on Naboo? We were so young back then!

"It took me a long while to admit it, but yes," he explained. "By the time I did come to terms with my feelings, it was too late. She'd already captured my Padawan's attention."

"Why didn't you ever say anything to her?"

I never understood how Dorme had developed the knack of getting people to open up to her, but Obi-Wan relaxed and shared things as I'd never heard before. Perhaps disappointment had changed him.

"What people outside of the Order don't understand is that a Jedi Master is responsible for every aspect of their Padawan Learner. Not only his Jedi training but his mental and physical health as well.

Since Anakin was taken from his mother so late in his childhood, he was having a difficult time letting her go. As a result, he focused all of those pent-up emotions on the Senator – who was the first beautiful young woman ever to pay him any attention. He yearned for it. Her kindness is what filled the empty hole in his heart that leaving his mother behind had created.

After we were assigned to protect Padme a few years ago, she was all he could talk about. I warned him of the dangers of romantic obsession, but by that time, it was too late. I had waited too long and missed my own opportunity. And now, I had to stand by and watch the two of them not only flirt with each other, but I later learned they had exchanged vows. Needless to say, I was crushed. Even though I hid it well, I carried that burden with me daily. And then, the worst happened and Anakin began to slip through my fingers. I no longer had any control over him or his decisions. The Chancellor's influence was more than I could overcome and I lost him. As a result, I lost Padme as well."

I had no idea he had felt this way and his words had a profound impact on me. I placed a hand on his coppery locks to comfort him, greatly disappointed neither he nor I could feel it.

Dorme, on the other hand, was expressing the emotions I was incapable of showing, and she wiped away tears that were streaming down her face.

"I have to tell him!" she shouted at me between sobs.

"Don't you dare!" I strongly advised.

"Look at him! He's miserable! Don't you think he needs to know?"

"Know what?" Obi-Wan asked anxiously. He was obviously deeply concerned with what was going on, although had the consideration to offer Dorme a hand towel first.

The girl blew her nose before she made her announcement. "I'm going to tell you something and you have to believe me. She's here! If I'm lying, you can feed me to a sarlacc! I promise you, Padme is right here with us!"

His brows lowered skeptically although he remained silent.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I can hear her speaking to me. And trust me, she has a lot to say!" Dorme continued, trying her best to convince him.

"Wait…wait. Just, wait," Obi-Wan said while grimacing and shaking his head in denial. "Let me get this straight. You're saying she's right here, in this very room? And she just heard everything I said?"

I was on pins and needles. Dorme had told him too much. Would he believe her or just patronize her and simply pretend to?

"Well, kind of," the girl sheepishly replied. She had put Obi-Wan in a rather awkward position and she had to realize that! "Yes, "I'm afraid so."

"I see," he replied, his smile turning embarrassed, his face a little redder than it was previously. "Well then, it's good to finally have that off my chest. If you're finished with your tea, then perhaps you could be on your way. There's a dangerous storm headed here from the north and it could arrive at any moment. You'll need to get back to Sendo to be safe and from there can catch a flight out."

So, gracious patronization it was then. I was afraid of that. "Tell him I'm not going anywhere. Not yet."

Dorme repeated what I'd said, which seemed to lessen a little of Obi-Wan's calm resolve.

"Is that so?" he asked while rising from his seat. "I guess she can follow me then because I've got to get back to work."

I decided I'd had enough of this. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I jumped into Dorme's skin.