Chapter 65
Cal helped them find their way out of the tunnels, and Obi-Wan insisted on creating a grave for Maul. None of them knew why, but they all helped to create it, even Luke.
When they were done building the grave, Obi-Wan buried Maul's body and he and the other three Force-wielders traveled to the Negotiator II.
Once they arrived, Luke was put in cuffs in one of the chairs, as they had no brig, but they still allowed him to sit with them.
The last few hours had been mostly quiet, so Leia decided to break the silence as Obi-Wan flew them back to the Home One.
"So, Cal, what happened to big ugly?"
Cal somewhat scowled and said, "Be nice. She's actually quite pretty as far as Dowutins go."
Leia seemed surprised. "That big monster is a girl?"
"Size matters not," Obi-Wan, Cal, and Luke all chorused at once. Luke shared a look with the other Jedi before he turned his head away to stare into hyperspace.
Cal cleared his throat and continued, "Anyway, yeah. Don't assume that big means male in any case. Plenty often, it'll even be the other way around. In any case, her name is Ninth Sister, and she got away, I'm afraid. She is… an old friend."
Luke scoffed, drawing their attention, and said, "An old friend? Is everything a joke to you? Cal Kestis is the Jedi that nearly killed the Ninth Sister after he cut off her hand and pushed her out of a tall tree on Kashyyyk. You Jedi are all the same, just vicious animals that know how to use laser swords to rip apart their victims."
"Is that what your Master told you?" Obi-Wan asked, and Luke glared at him before turning away again to avoid meeting his eyes.
Cal held up a finger and added, "Also, she was trying to behead me and tear me in half at the time, so a hand and a long fall seem like a small punishment. For one, she's alive. I wouldn't have been if she'd gotten her way."
Luke continued to ignore them, and they rode the rest of the way in silence.
Finally, they came out of hyperspace and Obi-Wan guided the ship into the hangar.
When the ramp opened, Luke was the first one to exit the ship. Obi-Wan had signaled ahead to warn the Rebels of the incoming prisoner, so as Luke stepped off, he was unsurprised to see half a dozen Alliance troopers aiming their blasters at him.
"Is this the welcoming committee?" Luke asked them sarcastically. Two troopers stepped forward and took Luke away to place him in a cell, and two more Jedi staying with the Rebels went with the troops to help escort Luke.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had Leia take Cal to get settled in his new room while he himself headed up to the bridge.
he arrived, Rebel Alliance leader Admiral Ackbar was having a holographic discussion with General Hera Syndulla. Obi-Wan immediately ordered, "Hera, if you can, please send us Captain Javes. We just brought in a high-priority prisoner and the Empire will be trying to get him back. I'll need some of our best pilots to combat them when they come."
Hera looked insulted and said, "And when you thought to look for our best pilot, your thoughts immediately went to Javes?"
Obi-Wan paled and quickly corrected, "Well, of course I thought of you first, but I was under the impression that you were busy. Besides, Javes knows the Empire's tactics quite well."
Hera still looked hesitant to accept his explanation, but she nodded and responded, "Touche. Alright, you'll have Javes as soon as he can get there."
Obi-Wan sighed in relief and Admiral Ackbar asked, "Who is this prisoner, General Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan met his gaze and answered, "Lord Scion, the Emperor's right hand and personal enforcer."
Silence met Obi-Wan's statement, until Ackbar finally just sighed and said, "Why can Jedi never bring me something simple to deal with? Alright, fine, but I'll have to bring in extra forces to guard your new prisoner, General."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Do what you must, but we should be safe. We searched him for tracers and communicators. On a happier note, we managed to rescue that other Jedi. Hera, perhaps Kanan should greet him. They were both Padawans during the Purge."
Hera looked at him in confusion. "I thought over half of our Jedi were Padawans?"
"They are," Obi-Wan admitted, "but maybe he could also bring Zeb. The new Jedi, Cal, his Master was a Lasat."
Hera nodded in understanding and said, "Alright, sounds good. They'll be over soon with the Phantom, but I'll need them back as soon as possible. We're still busy out here and Ezra will become irresponsible if he goes too long without a training session."
Feeling the need to meditate, Obi-Wan nodded to both Hera and the Admiral and then walked out of the room, heading towards his personal quarters.
When Leia found her Master, she was surprised to see that he was silently crying as he attempted to meditate on the floor of his quarters, the tears simply dripping down his face as he seemed to ignore them. She quietly approached him and pulled him into a hug.
Obi-Wan leaned into her embrace and said, "My apologies, Leia. I know it seems odd, but… These tears are for Maul."
Leia looked at his face in shock and Obi-Wan chuckled slightly at her expression before explaining, "Maul was a victim of the Dark Side. I never wanted to destroy him, no matter what he took from me. He always thought that he was drawing me into the darkness, making me more like him every time he made me suffer, but instead he only made me more intent to save him.
"I didn't want to destroy him, I wanted to destroy the evil inside him, to free him from the poisonous hold of the darkness in his heart. I once visited his village, and it was revealed to me that he had been taken from his people and turned into a weapon for the Dark Side against his will. He didn't deserve what he got."
Leia just nodded in understanding and continued to hold onto her Master as he cried, gently trying to use the Force to ease his emotional pain. Eventually, it seemed to work, and Obi-Wan's tears disappeared as Master and apprentice simply sat together and enjoyed one another's familiar, comforting presence.