Amidalas ship exists hyperspace, flies past two suns in the background and then heads for Tatooine. They land in Mos Espa and Ahsoka and Amidala leave the others with the ship, unloading a speeder from its cargohold. The crew gather next to the speeder before it leaves.

"Refuel and resupply" Amidala tells them. "I'll be back in a day or two."

Then Amidala and Ahsoka flies off, leaving the hangarbay and make it through the busy streets of Mos Espa. They leave the town and head out into the wilderness. The suns are close to settling when they come to a stop and Amidala uses magnoculars to scan a moisture-farm in the distance.

"Thats the Lars farmstead" Amidala says. "If Organa is right, Kenobi is only an hours travel to the north from here."

Ahsoka nods. "Good. Then lets get going."

Amidala puts the magnoculars away and is about to fly off, but then something makes her hesitate. She pick up the magnoculars again and takes another look at the distant farm. She sees a small child, a boy about five or six years old, running away playfully from the farm, a woman in ht pursuit. The boy gets picked up, boy and woman laughing and both head back to the farm. Amidala swallows, puts the magnoculars down and flies off with the speeder eventually. Ahsoka tosses a glance at the distant farmstead and then looks at Amidala as they continue their travels.

Their speeder flies up to a lonely Tatooine house on the edge of a cliff and they both climb out, taking a look at the house and their surroundings, the suns extremely low on the horizon.

"We better knock I suppose" Amidala says and walks up to the building, followed by a cautious Ahsoka.

Amidala knocks on the door, but nothing happens. She knocks again, but still nothing.

"Maybe he's not home" Amidala says. "He could be dead for all we know."

"No" Ahsoka says, looking around. "I sense something. It feels like…"

"Hello there."

Amidala draws her gun and Ahsoka grabs her lightsaber (without igniting it) as they turn around. Walking up to them is Obi-Wan Kenobi in his robes, still in his late fifties.

"Like we're being watched" Ahsoka finishes her sentence.

"Your insights serves you well" Obi-Wan tells Ahsoka. "As do mine. What is so urgent that you have come here? I realize it is a matter of great importance. Come, let us talk inside."

He walks past the two women and heads for his home. Amidala and Ahsoka shares a glance and then follows the old Jedi. Inside, he puts down cups of tea infront of his guests as they all sit down and lights illuminate them as night falls outside.

"So" Obi-Wan says. "What news from the Alliance? What is worth this considerable risk?"

Amidala is first to speak. "Ahsoka has a plan to rescue a very important politician from enprisonment. It would go a long way in helping us gaining more support in the Senate. More outspoken support. More support in fuel, food, ships and blasters. A real turning point in the war."

"I see" Obi-Wan sips his tea and nods. "This is promising news indeed. But hardly the time for the Jedi to strike back at the Sith." Obi-Wan turns serious. "Coming here could potentially have grave implications. You must have gone to Organa first, I take it?" Obi-Wan looks at Amidala. "Imperial spies are trying their best to locate you and assassinate you, Padmé. Going to Alderaan and then here… You have put everything at risk."

"I know" Amidala admits. "Believe me, I did not want this."

"I asked it of her" Ahsoka cuts in. "Master Kenobi, the fault is mine. I persuaded Captain Amidala to help me get in touch with you. And my reasons are as clear as the captain presented it. We hope to gain enough political favour that the Alliance may finally be more than just pirates. That we may become a proper rebellion."

Amidala looks at Obi-Wan. "Defeating the Empire. Defeating the Sith. Isnt that what all of this is about? Isnt that why you are hiding out here? Isnt that why… we did… what we did?"

Obi-Wan considers the situation. "This politician… Why would he, or she, cause such a turning point?"

Ahsoka is next to speak. "He is a former senator from Moncala. One of the most outspoken opponents of the Emperor. He is only kept alive because they fear he might become a martyr if they kill him. I am confident that if we free him, he will sway the Moncalans to side with us, supply us with ships and equipment. It would allow the Alliance to fight back and challenge the Empire."

Obi-Wan focuses briefly. "This senator, I sense he could be of great use for the rebellion. But the outcome is harder to predict. He is important for the Alliance, I agree. But I sense he could just as likely be the undoing of the Alliance, as he could be the savior."

"For goodness sake, Obi-Wan!" Amidala growls. "Are we then to do nothing? Just continue like we've done for the past six years? Raiding shipping and small outposts? What will that achieve? The Alliance is nothing more than a company of pirates in the eyes of ordinary people, no better than Hutt privateers. We are seen as the last remnants of the Sepparatists. Brigands and thieves. We must do something, Obi-Wan. Even if the risks are high, we must do something."

"You know she's right, Master Kenobi" Ahsoka says. "Remaining cautious will only work in the Empires favor. It is only a matter of time before their agents infiltrate our fleet, our hideouts, and then it will be all over. We must act and act now."

"You must do what you feel is right, of course" Obi-Wan agrees in the end. "But what do you want from me, I wonder?"

Ahsoka lowers her head momentarily before she explains the plan to Obi-Wan. "The senator is held in a prison located in the Karagash system. If we could access the old Jedi listening-outpost in the system…"

Obi-Wan realizes where this is going. "… You could learn all you need to know about the prison in order to free the senator. The outpost is powerful enough to scan the prisons entire layout, decode its entire network and keep track of all of its communications. But you have no way of accessing that information since the network was brought down during the Purge."

Ahsoka nods. "It was brought down, yes. But each outpost has its own powersupply that should last centuries. The network is gone, but the individual outposts can still be activated."

Obi-Wan is unable to hold back a smile. "I am sorry, young padawan, but I fear your plan will fail before it has even begun. I dont know the location of the Karagash outpost."

"No" Ahsoka says. "But I am confident the location is preserved in the secret datavaults kept in the old Jedi Temple… On Coruscant."

Obi-Wan turns serious, eyes betraying his emotions.

Amidala is next to speak. "You know the Emperor would never destroy the old vaults. If he could activate the old outpost-network, it would make him unstoppable."

Ahsoka nods. "Beyond any doubt. We need to infiltrate the old temple and determine the location of the Karagash outpost. And others. The more outposts we can activate and make use of, the better."

Obi-Wan sighs. "You need me to go to Coruscant and retrieve this data for you."

"Yes, master Kenobi" Ahsoka admits. "We need you to come with us to Coruscant and break into the old Jedi Temple… break into the Emperors Palace."

Obi-Wan gets up on his feet and walks over to a chest, clearly deep in thought. He opens it and looks at what is inside. Amidala joins him and puts a hand on his shoulder. They both look at Anakins lightsaber.

Obi-Wan turns to Amidala. "I swore to stay with him. I swore to you I would never abandon him."

Amidala nods. "I know. But if we dont do this, none of them will have any allies when the time is right. Neither Luke or Leia will be able to change anything on their own. They need allies, strong allies. This is the first step in bringing down the Empire. Please… help us."

Obi-Wan sighs, takes another look at Anakins lightsaber before he closes the chest, and then he turns to look at Ahsoka.

"Very well, young padawan. I will go with you."

Ahsoka smiles. "Thank you, master Kenobi. You have given hope to the galaxy."

Obi-Wan looks at both the women. "But I make one demand in return. Once you have the data you need, I get to destroy the old vaults. We can not risk that the Emperor manages to decode the old databanks."

Amidala nods. "Agreed."

Ahsoka keeps her smile. "Then lets get going."

To be continued…