This thing is finally done! I've been chipping away at it since I started the last Impossibly Real Chapter!
First of all: MY BOOK IS PUBLISHED, YES! IT'S AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! "Eternity's Guardian" by Shaundra Nash :D Check it out :D
Secondly, this chapter...wow...it took me so long, I'm sorry lol. Tell me if something seems disjointed or whatever, I've looked it over a few times trying to get it right.
Third, there's a tribute video to this series on youtube :D Jedi Jesi Jinn made a tribute video titled Luke Skywalker - Darth Eius The Reason, go check that out too haha. It inspired me and I'll probably be making a tribute video of my own now.
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Still freaking out that Mark Hamill Favorited my tweet on twitter :D :D that was awesome :D
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Enjoy!
Judro steepled his fingers together as he peered at the flickering holorecording in front of him. He had received it earlier that day, but had just now found the time to lock himself away to relish this moment in private. A cruel smile twisted the corners of his mouth as Mara Jade appeared from the shadows of the alley in the flickering blue image, and he eagerly drank in the scene as she cautiously crept forward. Suddenly she froze, obviously sensing something.
But she sensed it too late.
The shot rang out, and Mara Jade fell to the ground, clutching her shoulder which now sported a nasty blaster wound. Almost immediately after she connected with the dirt of the Tatooine back alley a lithe figure dropped down from above, stepping right in the way of the view of the camera as he crouched down in front of her. He was still slinging the blaster rifle over his back as he unholstered the blaster at his hip. Before Jade could even react, she'd been shot, jumped on, and now...
There was a second bang.
She stopped moving.
Diemos' bodyguard pressed two fingers to her jugular, the other two gently tipping her head to the side as he inspected her to make sure she was dead. After a few long moments, he pulled back, and the camera finally had a view of Mara Jade. Judro laughed gleefully at the sight.
There was a burning blaster bolt hole in her chest, and her eyes were closed eternally.
Oh, when Luke Skywalker found out...
If he hadn't already slipped into the dark side, he would once he heard news of his beloved's demise.
Judro watched as Diemos' bodyguard dragged her body out of sight, hiding it behind a dumpster. He was out of sight for a little while before he finally appeared back in view, his face completely stoic. Judro frowned at the man before him. There was something familiar about this man...he didn't know what, but something made him...wary. He took note of the features; long wavy hair, a grizzled beard, unhealthily thin...but those eyes did look familiar...
Judro would have to meet this Cal Berilen...there were many things he wanted to discuss with the bounty hunter and assassin, including the man's future. First, however...Judro wanted to examine the assassin for himself.
"Did you know who was tailing us?"
Diemos was standing in the bridge of the Dancing Maiden, his back to Cal. Considering the other man's growing temper, he probably shouldn't keep his back to him much longer. Diemos turned to face Cal, trying to figure out why the man was reacting like this. He hadn't said a word since the assassination, waiting until after the footage had been sent to Judro as proof the Jedi had been taken care of to voice what had been on his mind.
"Does it matter who the woman was? We were given a job to get rid of a tail, and we succeeded, so we get to keep our heads attached to our necks for another day. I don't care who she was, all I care is that you killed her and I get to live another day."
Cal slammed his hand down on the desk, and it took all of Diemos' self-control not to jump. "That was Mara Jade you had me kill; the same Mara Jade Luke Skywalker is in love with. Do you know what that means Diemos?" When Diemos didn't answer, Cal continued. "It means that not only is the rogue Jedi with hundreds of being's blood on his hands going to be after us, but his father, the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, and all the other powerful friends and family he has that knows how much that woman meant to him."
Diemos felt fear starting to grow inside of him. If he would have known about that...well...he might have contemplated giving the order a little longer. Diemos shook his head. "Well, there's nothing to do about it now. If you didn't kill her, than Judro would have killed us. Besides, there's nothing we can do about it now; she's already dead."
"What about her companions?" Cal asked. "They weren't in the alley."
"Well, I don't think we'll have to worry about them; they still need to find her body and return it to Coruscant. I have yet to hear word of Jade's death, so I do not believe they've found her yet."
Cal was still steaming, but he didn't say anything else on the subject. He took a few moments to calm down before he spoke again. "When will we be arriving at the rendezvous point?"
"Shortly," Diemos replied. "When we get there, I'll be reporting to Judro...I want you with me just in case he's unhappy for some reason."
Cal cocked an eyebrow. "What, you think I'm going to be a match for him?"
"You did just kill Mara Jade," Diemos pointed out.
Cal scowled. "That doesn't mean I'll be any help against Judro."
"Still, I'd feel a little more comfortable having you by my side for protection. Judro's known for killing his men simply because he was bored; I'd prefer not to become one of those statistics."
"I think you're worried about the wrong thing Diemos; you still have some explaining to do for the events on Nar Shadda. That should be what you're worried about," Cal said sternly before he turned sharply on his heel and left the room. Diemos stared after him, frowning. Cal had been...different since Tatooine, like he knew something no one else did, and it wasn't good.
Nervously, Diemos started to wonder if he really should take Cal's words to heart and start to think over the events on Nar Shadda once again. With that unsettling thought in mind, Diemos turned back to what he'd been doing, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up like his senses were telling him he was suddenly in danger...
"Skywalker."
Anakin looked up as his name was called, only mildly surprised to see Master Shaak Ti approaching him. A frown curved the corners of his mouth downwards as she gestured for him to step inside one of the nearby empty rooms with her, but he did as she'd asked, waiting until the door slid shut behind him to speak.
"Master Ti; I assume this is important?"
Shaak Ti's expression turned grim. "Yes, it is Master Skywalker, and I believe you might just want to take a seat for what I'm about to show you." Wary, Anakin sat down on one of the round cushions in the room, keeping his gaze fixated on Shaak Ti. The Togruta master leaned forward, interlacing her fingers. "As you know, I'm in charge of the non-Force Sensitive operatives that work to infiltrate Judro's operations. Well...one of them brought something rather disturbing to me the other day; it's about your son."
"Shaak Ti," Anakin started to say, ready to defend Luke to the best of his abilities; the older Master, however, cut him off. What she said made Anakin equally grateful she'd stopped him before he revealed something he shouldn't have and also fearful of the news he was about to receive.
"I do not know where your son is, but I hope this news takes a long, long time to reach him; at least enough time for us to deal with Judro," she said gravely. "My man intercepted a transmission sent to Judro from one of his diplomats, Diemos Fenn, and sent it to me immediately. Diemos seems to have gained a new bodyguard that also works as a personal assassin and bounty hunter. They were under the impression that we had sent someone to tail them and learn Judro's location."
"We haven't sent anyone after him; we already have people working their way into his ranks," Anakin said slowly. Shaak Ti nodded.
"Yes, well, Diemos sent his assassin after the Jedi tailing them. This is the feed we intercepted," Shaak Ti explained, pulling out a holoplayer. The image of a back alley on a desert world appeared, and Anakin frowned.
"I don't see what this has to do with Luke," Anakin murmured.
"Just wait," Shaak Ti told him quietly.
Anakin's eyes were drawn from the movement in the shadows, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Mara Jade emerge, creeping silently along the alleyway. He watched in silent horror as she was shot down and her attacker dropped down from above, finishing her off with a shot to the chest before dragging her away. As if watching the love of Luke's life get murdered wasn't enough, he felt jolts go through him when the assassin turned to face and shut off the camera.
An assassin that was clearly Luke.
"Give me that," Anakin said gruffly snatching it out of her hand and rewinding the video to where Mara had been shot. There had to be something, some sign that this was faked; Luke would never shoot Mara, never...
"We've checked it over several times Anakin; the feed isn't faked," Shaak Ti said grimly. "No one's tampered with it. What you see...it's real."
Anakin shook his head vehemently. "No, there's got to be something we're missing, this can't be real..."
Shaak Ti sighed. "The assassin's name is Cal Berilen; at least that's what he goes by. There's no records on him in any system; not even a record of birth. He's a ghost, and he obviously knows what he's doing...I came to tell you first because I know when you're son finds out...well...I thought you should get a heads up. You might want to find him now."
Anakin was silent for several long moments, simply watching the video over and over and studying it from every angle, noting every small detail down to the way Luke touched Mara. Shaak Ti realized she wasn't going to get anything else from him and wordlessly took her leave.
He touched her so tenderly, so lovingly...nothing like someone who'd gone dark and coldly killed those he'd loved. Yet at the same time, that burning hole in her chest was still there. The loving way Luke tilted her head up discreetly with his fingers seemed to mock Anakin. He had to be missing something; Luke wouldn't go so far as to kill Mara to get revenge on Judro for what happened to Jeza...would he?
Don't be ridiculous Anakin, you know Luke; he wouldn't.
Then why had this happened? What wasn't he seeing? He had to have missed something, anything...
He didn't know it, but Anakin would spend hours watching the same video without any results, all the way until the sun rose the next day.
Ruusan.
The heart of the Insurgence and the small collection of citizens on the planet didn't even know it.
Well...if you looked in the right place they did.
In one of the slum corner cantinas of a village at the base of the towering mountain the locals called Uadamons, Cal Berilen sat at the darkest dusty corner table, feet kicked up onto the table, reclined comfortably in the booth, a woman on his arm and a drink in his hand. He paid the drink more attention than the woman, as if the woman was more of a show piece than anything else. Oberon Cyn did his best not to blanch as he walked up to the intimidating man, doing his best to appear as if he had authority over the man.
Oberon was sure Cal could kill him before Oberon even opened his mouth, and Cal would do it simply because he was bored.
Oberon came to a stop in front of Cal's table, clasping his hands behind his back. Cal didn't even glance up at him or acknowledge his presence in any way.
"Judro wants you present during the meeting with Diemos," Cal told him, his deep voice seeming to rumble right over Cal. Cal didn't even react, and Oberon risked pushing the assassin. "Berilen, did you hear me? Lord Judro wants you up there; now."
"I heard," Cal said in a sharp, cold tone of voice that caused Oberon's mouth to snap shut with a soft click. However, Cal didn't say anything else, and Oberon had to risk speaking again. Cal cut him off before he could even utter the first syllable. "I'll get there when I get there."
Right, Oberon thought. "Judro doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Cal finally looked at him, and for a few seconds Oberon was convinced Cal was going to kill him on the spot because Oberon was annoying him. "I'll get there...when I get there," Cal hissed. The woman in his arm shifted nervously.
Had he just been dismissed? It seemed so.
Before he ended up another tally on Cal's victim list, Oberon left to tell Judro Berilen was coming.
There was no way Oberon was going to tell Judro what Cal had told him; he liked breathing too much.
Diemos sat in the armchair across from Judro, trying with all the willpower he possessed not to squirm under the watchful and impatient eye of Judro. Judro was steadily growing angrier, tired of being kept waiting by Cal. Diemos couldn't help but wonder if Cal was taking his sweet time in the hopes that Judro would murder Diemos; at this rate, Cal was going to get his wish.
"I grow tired of waiting," Judro finally growled, and Diemos tensed; he'd seen a man killed seconds after Judro had said that once.
Thankfully, at that moment, Cal walked through the door. Diemos visibly wilted in relief, springing to his feet. "Cal Berilen! We were beginning to think you weren't going to show," Diemos stated, his nervousness coloring his tone. Cal scowled, approaching the two men as he took in the bodyguards stationed around the room. "Where were you?" Diemos asked.
Cal spared him a brief glance. "Busy," he said, his tone cold. Cal had been distant and harsh ever since Tatooine, and Diemos was starting to get tired of it. Cal stopped a few paces away from Judro, folding his arms over his chest. "You wanted to see me?" Cal asked. Something in his tone was...different. Acidic, perhaps? Deadly?
Slowly, Judro rose to his feet. Like a nexu stalking its prey, Judro approached Cal, who stiffened as Judro drew closer. Slowly, Judro circled the hired gun, studying him intently. Not a word was spoken, and Diemos had the distinct feeling that he was missing something vital that was happening right before his eyes. The air seemed to thicken with the tension, like any moment the room around them would spontaneously erupt in flames.
Judro came to a stop right in front of Cal, staring him in the eyes attentively. Cal didn't flinch and stared right back, his clear blue eyes betraying nothing but a determination that scared even Diemos. For several heartbeats, there was no sound; Diemos didn't even breathe. Then, Judro smiled; it was a smile large enough to be seen from under the man's face mask.
Diemos felt chills go down his back as Judro began to laugh; it started deep in his chest before tumbling past the lips that were stretching into a wide grin that lit a feral light in his eyes.
"So...you're the one who killed Mara Jade..." Judro stated, still studying Cal intently. Cal—surprisingly—didn't flinch. Since Judro hadn't been asking a question, he didn't answer either. The smile disappeared from Judro's face, and he leaned in closer to speak into Cal's ear; the assassin was so rigid he looked like he'd shatter into a million pieces at any moment. "What if I told you I had plans for her? I wasn't ready for her to die quite yet; I wanted to make it slow and painful...for personal reasons," he hissed into Cal's ear. Cal's jaw tightened and several of the lean man's muscles flexed under his clothes.
"Then perhaps you should have been a little more specific about what you wanted when I took care of her," Cal replied frigidly, his voice perfectly even. Judro pulled away, never breaking eye contact with Cal; the smile was back.
"Diemos told me you were worried about retaliation over your hit on Jade; would you be willing to accept my protection at a small price?" Judro asked, running his hand along the back of his chair. Diemos felt as if he'd suddenly disappeared from the room.
"I'm not under the illusion that you can protect from them," Cal responded instantly. Judro turned smug.
"Don't doubt me," Judro boasted. "I have more contacts, more resources than you would think. I have the capabilities to take out the best of the Jedi Order if I feel like the entertainment."
"A wise man wouldn't be foolish enough to boast about that; he'd keep it well under wraps if it were true," Cal told him rather harshly. Judro laughed.
"For someone who wants so desperately to join my ranks, you show quite a bit of hostility; no respect," Judro snapped, his mood changing faster than a flash flood. Diemos was starting to get restless; he felt like he was going to get shot by one of the two simply for some entertainment.
"I've been a little riled recently, and did just have a few drinks," Cal responded smoothly, unfazed.
Judro's expression morphed into a harsh sneer. "Then I'll give you a hint; you're supposed to bow when you see me."
A muscle in Cal's jaw jumped, and he stared intently at Judro with a flicker of hatred Diemos had the feeling went much deeper than his expression was letting on. Slowly, his gaze never wavering away from Judro, Cal lowered himself down onto one knee. He propped his arm up on the knee that was not touching the floor, bringing himself into a deep bow. Finally, Cal tore his eyes away from Judro and cast them to the ground, frozen in his kneeling form at Judro's feet.
"That's better," Judro purred. However, he didn't give the sign for Cal to rise; he let the assassin remain kneeling on the floor, like he was relishing the sight. Instead, he started to question the man. "I know Cal Berilen is not your true name; mind telling me why you gave us a name that doesn't exist?"
"It's easier to disappear if you don't exist; I'm not the only one in my trade that doesn't go by his real name," Cal responded evenly, still unmoving and his eyes still fixed on the floor.
"Would you mind revealing your real name?"
"No," Cal said forcefully.
"No?" Judro challenged, his tone dangerous. Cal didn't flinch.
"I have not and I will not tell anyone my real name; I won't give anyone that power over me," Cal growled in response. Judro raised a hand in the air and Diemos went so still he could have passed as part of the chair he was sitting in.
"You'd be wise to change your tone," Judro snapped, and lightning burst forth from his fingertips. Cal's hands clenched into fists as the assassin curled into himself in sudden agony, jaw clenched in a determined attempt to keep from crying out. Judro, surprisingly, didn't continue Cal's torture long; he ended it rather abruptly. "I already have power over you," Judro snarled, eyes flashing dangerously as he watched Cal slowly control his still-trembling frame.
Cal wisely said nothing in response. Judro reclined into his seat, looking like he'd had enough of his underlings for a day—ever since Luke Skywalker had come back into the galaxy he'd become easily bored, restless, and irate. "Get out of my sight," he growled, waving a hand to dismiss the two of them.
Cal bowed his head lower before he rose to his feet again, his expression blank; Diemos couldn't even gauge an emotion from his eyes. It was extremely disconcerting, considering everything that had just happened. Still, they had been dismissed, and it was best not to push their luck of leaving alive. Diemos stood stiffly up from his seat, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end as he turned his back on the two men to lead the way out of the room. Cal followed silently behind, and the only reason Diemos knew Cal was there was because he glanced behind him to make sure the other man was following.
They traveled in silence, nothing spoken between them as they made their ways towards the housing part of the Insurgence base. In the back of his mind, Diemos made a mental note to see if T7 found anything on Cal while he was in the meeting with Judro. Judro had suggested Diemos try to dig something up on the man who was a ghost to the system, Cal had suggested he think about Nar Shadda again, and now Diemos' consciousness just wouldn't rest unless he looked further into the assassin. Something hadn't set right about the man since day one, and Diemos intended to find out what.
Later that night, Diemos sat in the darkness of his quarters staring at the gray wall across from his seat in one of the armchairs. The only sound was his breathing and the gentle whir of T7's mechanisms, as well as the gentle drum of his fingers against the armchair's left arm. Not a word was spoken, and Diemos preferred it that way at the moment.
"Scanners indicate a lifeform approaching," the protocol droid announced suddenly. Diemos nodded. Good; he was finally here.
His other hand clenched on the blaster in his pocket, ready for the worst to come out of the upcoming conversation.
A few seconds later, Cal stepped through the door, still not out of the clothes he'd been in when he went to see Judro earlier that day despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. Effortlessly, Cal took a seat across from Diemos, the definition of relaxed as he reclined in the other armchair.
"You wanted to see me?" Cal asked, eyebrows raised expectantly.
Diemos nodded, not saying anything for a moment as he thought about how he wanted to carefully word what he was about to say. "Yes...Cal. I took your advice, and I thought over the events on Nar Shadda."
Cal's eyebrows rose a little further and he rose a hand to rest it against his temple, leaning his head to the side. "Did you now? I'm guessing you thought of something important considering you called me over here."
Diemos studied him intently for a few moments, the tapping of his fingers against the arm of the chair suddenly ceasing. "I realized that what happened that night behind the cantina was a little...too coincidental," Diemos said, his voice icing over. Cal's expression didn't change, and he didn't tense, so Diemos continued. "The thugs said that they'd been tipped off, and my bodyguards were good at what they did; no amateur would have taken them out regardless of number or some element of surprise."
"So what do you think happened?" Cal asked, his tone perfectly level.
Diemos leaned forward, his gaze never wavering from Cal. "I think you had something to do with it. I think you told them about my bodyguards, you took out my bodyguards, and then you crossed the thugs so you could take the opening on my guard that you created."
"Interesting theory," Cal mused, smiling in a way Diemos knew was meant to make him feel uncomfortable. "But you're wrong about a few things. I didn't take out your bodyguards...I just drugged them. I tipped off the thugs, yes, and I was waiting for the right time to make my convenient rescue. Sometimes if you want an opportunity, you have to make it yourself."
Diemos felt fury twist his features, but he forced himself to remain sitting in his seat. "You're not even going to try to hide it?"
Cal shrugged. "I told you I was an honest man, and I didn't lie; you just never asked." Cal smiled, eyes glinting mischievously. "Besides, it's not like you're going to fire me; I'm your only protection right now, and I'm good at what I do."
Diemos growled low in his throat. "You didn't let me finish; I know who you really are."
The smile faded from Cal's face, and he cocked an eyebrow challengingly at Diemos. "Oh, I doubt that."
Something in his tone of voice screamed at Diemos to stand down and not say anything, but Diemos knew he had the upper hand; he had a blaster pointed at Cal's head, and T7 was ready to act if he had to. Besides, Cal needed Diemos.
"It's not that hard to get a DNA sample if you know where to look...Skywalker."
Cal didn't react; he stared intently at Diemos, studying the man from head to toe. "I think you need to check your readings again, Fenn; something's malfunctioned," Cal said icily.
Diemos stood, brushing himself off as he ignored Cal's response; he knew he was right because he'd tested several different hairs Cal left behind in his cabin onboard the Dancing Maiden in different places, and still came up with the same result. "Oh, I'm pretty sure it's right."
Cal still didn't stand up; he just continued to stare calculatingly at Diemos, studying the man's every move. "And just what are you planning on doing with that information, if you're so sure that it's true?" Cal asked evenly, his sharp blue eyes allowing Diemos to hide nothing; it was rather frightening.
"Isn't it obvious?" Diemos asked, his grip on the blaster in his pocket tightening. "Judro will pay a pretty credit for you and give me the highest of honors. He will definitely be interested to know that Luke Skywalker killed the woman he loved in his attempt to get revenge."
Everything happened so fast, Diemos didn't even really understand what had just happened. One moment Skywalker was just sitting there, watching him intently, and then the next moment he was right in front of Diemos and T7 was lying on the ground. Somewhere in the process of things, Diemos had fired, and his bolt scored the flesh on Skywalker's left side.
At the same time, Diemos was aware of a peculiar feeling he had between his ribs...
Slowly, Diemos looked down. He was shocked to see Skywalker had plunged a vibroblade into Diemos' chest the same instant Diemos had fired at him.
Then the pain of having a blade shoved into his heart caught up with him, and Diemos' legs collapsed out from under him. Skywalker supported him, holding him up by the arm while also keeping his blade firmly imbedded in Diemos' chest as he led him back to the chair.
"Easy, easy," Skywalker murmured as Diemos started to resist him. "Don't struggle and it won't hurt as much; you've only got moments left. Trust me, I know how this goes."
"Any redemption you hoped to gain...you've lost," Diemos gasped out. To his surprise, Skywalker didn't even flinch...either that, or his vision was starting to fail him already. Skywalker pulled away, Diemos' blood all over his hand.
"I've come too far to let anyone keep me from stopping Judro; I'm doing what I have to," Skywalker said firmly, approaching T7 before the droid could recover.
"Is that what you told yourself the first time? What you told yourself when you killed Jade?" Diemos rasped. His vision flickered out, and Diemos felt himself begin to drift away.
"I can't let you reveal my identity to Judro, not with so many other lives at stake," Skywalker muttered, his voice reaching Diemos as if from the end of a long tunnel. The last thing he heard before oblivion came was Skywalker addressing his droid. "No, I'm not going to dismember or incinerate you; I'm just going to do a little memory wipe, that's it..."
Cal Berilen looked up the next morning when there was a knock on the door to his quarters, surprise flickering across his features as Oberon walked through the doorway moments later. Cal stood from his seat on his bed, not bothering to hide his surprised expression. "What's going on?" Cal asked, his tone holding notes of confusion.
Oberon folded his arms over his chest. "Judro wants to see you."
"So early?" Cal asked, surprised.
"Apparently," Oberon responded flatly.
"Will Diemos be there as well?" Cal asked a frown tilting the corners of his mouth down.
"No," Oberon said so sharply and suddenly Cal's expression was of surprise once again.
"Okay then...why does Judro want to see me?" Cal asked, starting to warily follow Oberon. Oberon scowled.
"I don't have the answers, so stop asking questions," Oberon snapped. Geez, what was with this guy? One day he was cold and intimidating, the next he was all twenty questions.
As if he knew what Oberon was thinking, Cal scowled. "Fine; I just wanted to know what was going on. I prefer to go into things prepared," Cal replied, his tone biting.
Oberon's mood soured even further, but he didn't reply. Instead, he waited until they were right outside of Judro's personal quarters to speak. "He'll be seeing you alone."
Cal glanced warily at Oberon, but didn't reply. Instead, he wordlessly stepped through into Judro's quarters.
I doubt he'll come back out alive, Oberon thought to himself.
Thousands of lightyears away, Obi-Wan was rushing through the halls of the Jedi Temple in search of Anakin. No one had seen him from quite some time, and Padme was worried sick about her husband. Still, considering what Obi-Wan had just learned, he needed to find his best friend as soon as possible; even if Anakin was hiding his presence through the Force, Obi-Wan would personally search every room in the Jedi Temple to find him.
That was just what he was doing, and it was five hours into said search before he was finally successful.
It wasn't a pretty picture he came across.
"Anakin—!" he said breathlessly, coming to a halt at the scene that he stumbled across. Anakin sat in the middle of the room, a datapad in front of him with some video on loop as well as holocrons and other datapads and discs surrounding him. He was obviously searching for something, but Obi-Wan didn't feel like he had the time to ask for what. He almost did, but he didn't.
"Obi-Wan, not right now," Anakin said, his voice strained. His eyes didn't waver from the holocron he had open in front of him.
"Yes right now," Obi-Wan replied, sounding a little more irate than he meant to. "Anakin, I—"
"Not now Obi-Wan," Anakin snapped. "I have to figure this out, I have to find what I'm missing; this can't have happened!"
Realizing Anakin was obsessed with what was in front of him, Obi-Wan decided to be a little more direct. "Leia commed me because you wouldn't answer."
Anakin's head snapped up; he knew just as well as Obi-Wan that Leia had been traveling with Mara. Immediately, he was on her feet. "What did she say?"
"She's waiting for me to comm her back so she can talk to you," Obi-Wan responded, already leading Anakin out the door. Obi-Wan could sense his anxiety, and it wasn't hard to figure out why.
Leia would know what had happened.
Leia would be able to either confirm or deny validity of the video.
Leia would have the answer Anakin was desperate to receive.