Sparks of Hope (A Star-Wars Advent Calendar)
By Meysun
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4. Twin Moons (Luminara Unduli)
21 BBY.
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Geonosis reeked of dust and loss.
The Force was echoing with the phantom pain of Clones blown up and torn to pieces. And of other wounds, still fresh after eighteen months of war – fallen Jedi in an arena where death had only ever been sport.
Luminara had been there. And so had Obi-Wan, whose presence she could feel approaching as she stared at the canyon at her feet that had nearly swallowed two Padawans alive.
"A hard-won victory."
Her friend's voice was soft, and she could sense endless compassion in the Force, gently brushing against her. Azure and golden, her twin moon rising in the skies, ever since childhood.
"Indeed. And a costly one", she sighed, quietly, and he joined her on the canyon's rim – taller than her now, vambraces and shoulder-plates hiding his litheness away. "We suffer great many losses in these battles. Too many."
She turned towards him, dark-blue eyes meeting deep grey, and took his hand. She did not entwine their fingers – they were friends, not lovers. But she still closed her hand around his gloved one, because Point Rain had almost grinded him to dust – smashing ribs, collarbone, leg and skull. Painting his signature grey and crimson.
"The Padawans are safe and resting", Obi-Wan told her, meeting her sadness in the Force and gently taking it away from her. "I left them both fast asleep. They did so well, Luminara. You and Anakin can be proud.
- I am…", Luminara answered. "Not having to let them go… it was a gift, Obi. And I am so grateful."
Yet you are sad.
Her friend's voice was soft in the Force and she turned towards him, smiling at him, raising her hand and removing a rebellious strand from his forehead.
"Your hair is still damp from Bacta", she simply replied.
There was no use telling him how terrible it had felt, to have seen him return to base clinging to Master Mundi, knowing what this meant. No point in acknowledging how cruel it was to have him standing there beside her, seemingly pristine and whole, wounds gone when scars had barely begun to heal. They were both Generals, after all, and they both knew.
They both yearned for this to end – for their Padawans. For his Grand-padawan.
For all the Jedi.
"There seems no way to get properly rid of the stuff", Obi-Wan voiced, smiling at her. "And I'm not ready for Quin's concoction yet."
That made Luminara laugh, the sound ringing silvery like a bell, chasing sadness away.
"No. Undoubtedly, Obi. It almost washed his tattoo away… poor dear. The face of Master Tholme when he saw him…
- Yes… I do not think I have seen that combination of absolute horror and exasperation ever since – though I'm sure Anakin would have much to say on the subject.
- He is very fond of you, Obi. And of Ahsoka as well."
Laughter faltered, like a butterfly closing its wings – but both stood lighter now, like reeds above the abyss.
"The battles do appear to be coming with growing frequency", Obi-Wan said, quietly, the Force wrapping them both in its gentle embrace before they let go of the other's hand. "I hope we have reached the storm's eye at last.
- I hope so as well – we must trust the Force", she answered quietly and then, in an act of defiance against this planet that only sought to tear them apart, she added : "Kit called. Said we are both to come back in one piece, for Quin's sanity and his own. He is, and I quote, tired of playing nursemaid for a psychic, crooked-minded terror."
Obi-Wan's laughter was quiet, almost silent, but warm.
"Is he quite recovered, though? He must be, if he has begun to read Kit's belongings again… That's good to hear, Nara. His last mission was quite the trial… I do not know how he manages it, frankly."
He says the same about you, Obi.
Her friend frowned, slightly, and once more Luminara marvelled at the way Obi-Wan and Quinlan seemed to be opposed poles of the same current. One standing on the front lines, the other fighting in the shadows. Both so caring. Both so reckless.
"No sign of Poggle, then?", Luminara asked him, eventually, and Obi-Wan shook his head.
"Nothing. We have Clone-squadrons spread out all over the area, but no hits yet."
She nodded, turning from the canyon, heading towards her speeder.
"Very well. I'll go out and find some clue as to where he went."
And though her caring, reckless friend was trying once more to protect her, arguing that the Clones could handle it, Luminara shook her head.
"Poggle has too much information about the Separatists to let him get away."
She raised her eyes towards him and saw his face soften in acceptation.
"Very well, Master Unduli", he told her, bowing to her, and Luminara climbed on her speeder, determination anchoring her in the Force once more.
"Just make sure to leave a bit of strategic planning for me when I come back, Master Kenobi", she teased back. "I'd hate to feel left out."
And you, my dear friend, need to recover.
She did not turn towards him, throwing herself into the Geonosian heat and dust, racing through the sand. But she felt his warmth, brushing her mind, his quiet, shrouded light, fighting back the dry red landscape – a small beacon, reminding her to come back.
Still green, Nara.
She smiled at those childish words, from a past where all seemed safe – yet even then, there had been doubts and chasms to bridge.
"Still green, my friend."
Nara raced on, knowing that somewhere, among red dust and losses, there was also gold, and azure. A promise of calm, and kin - a safety net of hope, and home.
A/N: This one is a bit sadder - some bits of the dialogue are taken directly from S2E07 'Legacy Of Terror' in the Clone Wars. Here, however, it is set in a sort of "alternative-universe" my readers and I dubbed "Still Green", where Luminara, Kit, Quinlan and Obi-Wan are close childhood friends. I plan to write a longer fic set at the end of "Attack of the Clones", dealing with the First Battle of Geonosis and its aftermath after this calendar so if you have questions/requests, feel free to shoot.
The song going with this bit is "Circonflexe" from Grandbrothers. Have a lovely December 4th, take care, Meysun.