Obi-Wan looked up when two familiar figures walked into the hut.

"Well?" he prompted.

"There's no sign of him," said Ahsoka, dispirited.

Rex kicked out a chair and sat down as Ahsoka unloaded the backpack onto the table. She offered a glance.

"You're sure he hasn't come back here?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Not that I know of," he said. "And you haven't found anything at all?"

"Nothing good." Rex wiped his forehead. "The speeder out front is missing."

Ahsoka sighed, rummaging through the items scattered across the table. "He could be anywhere by now."

Obi-Wan hummed. "Well, I'm sure he'll come back to his senses soon enough."

Though his words were meant for comfort, it seemed they were not taken that way. Everything stilled for a moment; Ahsoka looked over at him, something akin to disbelief written into her expression.

"You just don't get it, do you?"

Obi-Wan watched her. "I'm not sure what you mean," he said. "Ahsoka, surely you can understand how difficult it was to keep this from him."

"Of course I do, but that doesn't change any of the damage done." Her fiery blue eyes bared into his. "Anakin is out—Force only knows where—all because you've decided, yet again, to keep something important from him."

His lips turned downward. "I never meant to do any harm."

"Whatever your intentions were, he's still gone," she said. "You of all people should know what he's been through. This all could have been avoided if you just told him the truth."

He folded his arms, defensive. "Anakin has two children that I was asked to protect. It seemed the best way to do that was to keep them a secret."

"You can't keep things like that from us." Ahsoka turned back to the table, shifting through the items.

"And what would you have done differently?" Obi-Wan asked. "Believe it or not, Ahsoka, things are not as they once were. There was no other way to guarantee their safety."

Ahsoka looked up and watched him, a burning glint in her eyes. The grip Obi-Wan had on his mug tightened.

"That's enough," Rex interrupted. "This isn't helping anything, all right? We have to focus on finding Skywalker."

Ahsoka's harsh gaze lingered for another beat. Then she sighed, her hands lowering to the table again to fill the backpack.

"We still have a lot of ground to cover," Rex continued, "and that's assuming he's still planetside. For all we know, he could be halfway out of the system by now."

Ahsoka turned her attention to Obi-Wan. "If you're willing to offer it, your help would be very useful."

"What could I possibly do to help?" he asked.

"Rex and I have done what we can, but we're not very familiar with this planet," she replied. "We could go much further if we had someone who knows the land with us."

Obi-Wan slowly stood from his chair, weighing it over in his mind. Tatooine was rather vast. If he refused, they'd likely get lost in the dunes—or worse, get caught in Hutt territory. His gaze flickered between the two of them before settling on Ahsoka once more.

"You know that I never meant for this to happen," he said, voice a little softer than it was a moment earlier. The hostility had dimmed, replaced only by a hint of shame.

"Then help us look for him." She extended a hand and placed it over his. "Put in the work and make things right."

Obi-Wan watched her for a beat. Then, he cleared his throat and turned.

"Well then," he said finally, "I'll get my cloak."

»»««

Skywalker woke abruptly, a silent gasp for breath leaving his throat as his restless eyes scanned over his surroundings.

Dust, sand, and two suns. Just as it looked earlier. Just as it always looked.

He huffed and pulled his cloak up again. A thin layer of sweat coated his skin as he twisted and turned in the speeder to get comfortable, unwelcome memories from the previous day flooding into his mind.

Padmé could still be alive. There were two children running around somewhere without a father. And Obi-Wan—

Obi-Wan lived peaceably with knowledge that Skywalker wasn't allowed to have.

He gritted his teeth and shifted again.

Though he had tried to make amends, though Ahsoka tried to believe that he could change—he knew that the past was already written, and his deeds were already set in stone. No matter what he did, whether good or evil, it would never change the choices that he made.

Enticed by the power, enticed by the guise of justice, he chose the darkness over all of them. He plundered and he killed for a cause that tore families apart. He tortured innocents, forced compliance, brought entire planets to their knees at the strike of his blade.

Darth Vader was a name once feared above all others; although Skywalker now knew that a reign built on fear was worth nothing at all, the darkness had a way of convincing otherwise.

The loss of one person did not matter, it whispered, but how easily one life turned into one-thousand. Each life taken added a new array of numbness; a new ease.

As surely as a swimmer only believes he's in control until a riptide drags him to the seafloor, the Dark Side only seemed yielding to those unaware of the current at their feet. It was malleable, yes, but until you were in its grasp.

Despite it all, Skywalker still knew that he was the one at fault.

He was the one that succumbed to the darkness; he was the one that sacrificed his morality for a corrupted form of peace.

Though the anger he felt toward Obi-Wan was genuine, some time had passed, and Skywalker realized that he couldn't condemn him for his actions.

Skywalker had killed more than he could count. He had set fire to villages, laid siege to innocent groups of people—all in a quest to gain more power. One planet was too little; a single star system was not enough.

He deserved any punishment that he received.

And the darkness still called to him. Sometimes it felt as though he was walking through quicksand; eternally stuck in one spot, sinking, crawling, grasping for a way out, and it should be easy to go back, he mused, but he couldn't.

During his time away from the Empire, something had stirred.

The thought of killing no longer brought numbness—instead, it brought an unfamiliar abhorrence. A sense of conflict within him. It stuck with him even in the smaller decisions, convinced him to act in favor of others instead of himself.

Empathy was not completely foreign to him, but he hadn't felt it to this magnitude in a very, very long time.

Though the darkness called to him, he refused to acknowledge it. There was no outrunning the monstrosities he committed—he could only accept the consequences and move forward, paying his dues and doing what he can to right the wrongs.

Maybe one day he'll be able to.

"Market guy?"

Skywalker jolted at the sudden voice.

He yanked his hood off and sat up, meeting the gaze of… that one kid from the market. The boy suddenly flinched away, holding a hand up to shield his eyes.

Skywalker blinked in confusion. "Where did you come from?"

"I was on my way to my friend Tank's place," said Luke, sounding equally confused. He finally gathered the strength to spare him a glance. "Oh man, dude, you look terrible."

Skywalker glared. "Thanks."

"No, seriously—you look really, really bad. What, did you get stomped on by a bantha or something? I don't think I've ever seen anyone—"

"All right, I get it," he cut in. "What do you want?"

The kid looked at him with concern. His gaze flickered to the speeder. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

His eyes narrowed but he shrugged, leaning back. "I had a rough night."

"I'll say." Luke looked around again, a pensive expression on his face. Whatever active brain cells that dwelled within his mind seemed to be in use.

Then, a lightbulb went off.

"Hey. I think I know a place that might cheer you up."

Skywalker shifted, tugging the hood over his face again. "No thanks."

"Oh, come on," he heard Luke groan. "You're not doing anything."

"I'm not in the mood to go anywhere."

"That's what my uncle always says at first, but then he gets there and has a great time."

Skywalker peeked his head out. "Why don't you go bother him instead?"

The kid sighed long-suffering and leaned against the speeder door. "Because I don't know where he is, genius. Why else?"

Skywalker watched him for a moment before retreating into his cloak once more.

"Leave me alone."

"Listen, I guarantee you'll have a good time," Luke insisted. "It's like the best place on this whole planet. It'll be so much better than sitting in this lousy speeder all day and getting sun poisoning."

"Go away," he said from under his cloak, voice muffled. There was a pause. Skywalker nearly considered the possibility that the kid had left, but before he could, Luke had already started talking again.

"All right, then. I guess I'll just leave you out here on your own," he drew his words; they sounded like bait. "But don't come crawling back to me when you need a remedy for those nasty burns."

Skywalker stayed silent.

"Ah, who am I kidding? I'm sure you'll be able to handle it." Luke pretended to walk away. "Here I go. Away from a lost cause. A charity case wearing all black."

Skywalker foolishly decided to take the bait. He shifted to sit upright.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm doing just fine."

At his words, Luke gasped.

Skywalker blinked, exasperated. "Is there something wrong?"

"Just as I feared." Luke brought a hand to his forehead, and Skywalker swatted it away. "Defensiveness. It's the first sign of sun poisoning."

"I've never heard of that."

Luke nodded thoughtfully. "Memory loss," he said. "That's that second. Violent outbursts are the next—"

"Would you stop talking if I said yes?"

A shrug. "Maybe."

Skywalker sat back on his heels with a huff, scrubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Fine," he said finally. "What did you have in mind?"

»»««

"Are you paying for this?"

"No?" Luke said, his mouth full of food. "I thought you were."

Skywalker bit the inside of his cheek. "I guess I am."

The two of them sat inside one of the only restaurants on Tatooine, the table full of different dishes and entrées that Luke had ordered—and suddenly, Skywalker was glad he had half the mind to keep some credits on him yesterday.

"So." Luke leaned back, placing the tips of his fingers together thoughtfully. "Tell me all of your troubles."

"Oh, no. That's not how this is going to work." Skywalker started to stand. "I'm not going to tell you my life story after you tricked me into buying your lunch."

"But I'm a good listener," the kid insisted. "My friend Biggs says I'm like a professional."

Skywalker paused to watch him tiredly. "Aren't you like fourteen?"

"Try fifteen and a half," Luke smirked. "My aunt promised me that I'd get my own speeder for my next birthday. There's this really cool one at the shop next door—"

Skywalker sat back down again. Luke pursed his lips.

"Wait, what was I saying?"

"That you wanted to be my therapist."

"Oh, right. I don't judge," Luke continued. "Also, I don't even know you. If you think about it, I'm the best person to confine in."

Skywalker rubbed his temples with a sigh. "It's confide."

Luke rolled his eyes as he shoveled some more food into his mouth, and Skywalker could only wonder how it was possible for a kid so small to eat so much.

"So are you going to tell me or what?"

Skywalker watched him warily for a moment.

It could be the perfect opportunity to sort things out, he allowed himself to think. Luke wouldn't be able to interfere with any of it. He could just unload some of his baggage, the kid could offer a few comments, and then they'd both be on their way.

Decisively, he leaned back.

"All right."

Luke's eyes shot up mid-bite. "Wait, really?"

Skywalker cringed at his mouth full of food. "You're the one that wanted to be a therapist."

The kid swallowed. "Yeah, that's—yeah!" He shifted in his chair to sit upright. "Okay, Bail. I'm all ears."

Skywalker wondered if a good starting point even existed. Maybe somewhere in his training as a Jedi, or maybe when he became a dark lord of the Sith. Or—

"I just found out that I'm a father."

That seemed good enough. Luke nodded, intrigued. "Go on."

"My—" Skywalker paused. "My brother and I have just started to make amends. I thought everything was going well after we got locked in a ship together, but everything started to spiral after I visited my wife's grave and it was empty."

Luke narrowed his eyes. "Wild. Continue."

"One thing led to another and we had this big argument, and he told me that he was trying to protect her and I got angry." Skywalker ran a hand over his face. "After a while of fighting, he told me that I have two kids."

Luke nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, very interesting," he stated. "And you said this was a brother? Older or younger?"

"Does it matter?" asked Skywalker.

"Does it matter," Luke chuckled to himself. "It's the difference between needing family therapy and just running him over with a speeder bike."

Skywalker narrowed his eyes slightly. "Am I to assume this knowledge comes from your first-hand experience?"

"What, me? A sibling?" Luke shook his head. "Ah, no way—I'm a one-man show, Bail."

Before Skywalker could respond to that, a waiter balancing a plate of dessert in his hands walked to their table.

"Here you go, son."

"Oh wow," the kid said when it was placed in front of him. "Thanks, Porro!"

The waiter nodded once and walked back into the kitchen. Skywalker watched as he left, turning back to Luke after the door slid shut.

"You know him?"

Luke shoveled the eopie cream pie into his mouth. "Yeah, he's in my uncle's lightball league," he said. "But this isn't about them. This is about you and your issues, remember?"

"All right." Skywalker took a bite of one of the rolls in front of him as Luke leaned back.

"Have you ever tried to talk to your brother about this?" he asked. "Maybe try to find some common ground?"

Skywalker shrugged. "There's no point. He's more interested in being right than he is in fixing the problem."

Luke hummed, taking another bite of his pie.

"Then it sounds like you've done all you can."

Skywalker looked up. "What?"

The kid shrugged. "If he doesn't want to do his part, why should you have to do yours? You can't do all the work."

Skywalker thought it over for a moment.

"I'm trying to be a better person," he said.

"Being a good person doesn't mean you have to put up with stuff like that," said Luke. "Listen, Bail, there are some people that just want to use you—in fact, I just found out that my ex from two years ago was only with me so that she could eat my aunt's scones."

"Scones," Skywalker repeated, deadpan.

Luke nodded his head gravely. "Who does that? Her scones aren't even that good. They're all hard and crunchy."

"Do you have a point with this?" asked Skywalker.

"My point is," Luke said, "don't let people walk all over you, Bail. Know your worth and try to put your foot down every once in a while."

Skywalker leaned back, crossing his arms with a sigh. "Put my foot down, huh?"

Luke hummed, affirmative. "You know, have some confidence."

Skywalker scoffed softly. "I'm confident."

"You are not confident." Luke let out a small wheeze. "My aunt is more confident in her scones than you are in yourself—"

"I get it." Skywalker shifted in his chair. "All right, so maybe I'm not. What does it matter?"

"What does it matter?"

"Yeah, what does it matter?"

"You know what, I was just like you once," said Luke. "When I was thirteen, my aunt gave me a bowl cut, and I couldn't even walk out of the house without crying. Do you know how I made it through?"

Skywalker narrowed his eyes. "How?"

"Confidence," Luke said, simple and plain. "You just gotta own it, Bail—even if you look or feel stupid. Once you let people know that they can't touch you, they'll have no choice but to extend their respect."

Skywalker shook his head. "I've already tried that."

"Well, you probably just didn't do it right." Luke looked around the restaurant with narrowed eyes before leaning in close. "Do you want to know my secret?"

"Your secret?"

Luke nodded and fished out a small metal pendant from his pocket. "It's my good luck charm," he whispered, extending it toward him. "Here, take it."

Skywalker gently took the pendant into his hands. He squinted to read the word engraved into it.

"My friend Tank told me it meant strongest of all," Luke smiled. "He's fluent in Jawaese."

Skywalker stared at the metal piece. "It means freedom," he said quietly. "My mother gave me one just like it when I was a boy."

"My uncle gave it to me," said Luke. "It's the only thing I have left of my father."

Skywalker pursed his lips. "Strange."

There was an awkward silence before Luke smirked at him. "You know what, keep it."

"What?"

"It's my gift to you," Luke insisted. "Not many people would sit in this restaurant with me for so long. I guess we're kind of like buddies now."

Skywalker offered him a smile. "Yeah," he said, "I guess we are."

They talked for a little while longer after that. Even if Skywalker couldn't tell him everything, it was... nice. Voicing his thoughts and having them validated, returned. It was an unfamiliar feeling.

After he begrudgingly footed the bill, they stepped outside. Luke rambled something of local legends while Skywalker walked beside him, nodding his head absently.

Honestly, he had no clue what the kid was talking about half of the time—but it was a welcomed distraction all the same.

In some ways, Luke reminded him of Ahsoka when she was his Padawan. His eyes were bright and full of life, thirsting for adventure, buzzing with hope. It both exhausted him and reminded him of better times.

For once, Skywalker felt normal.

Then, abruptly, his feet froze in their tracks.

Anxiety ran up his spine at the sight ahead of them: a group of familiar figures, clad in white armor, blasters drawn, all gathered in the middle of the town square.

Stormtroopers.

Luke whirled around when he realized Skywalker was no longer with him. He followed his gaze to the soldiers and sighed. "Oh, yeah. I hate those guys."

Skywalker quickened his steps. Luke looked at him weirdly.

"They just need our IDs. No big deal."

When they finally arrived at Obi-Wan's speeder, Skywalker swung his leg over the side and got into the front seat, patting around his cloak to find the ignition keys. Nothing. He swore under his breath and looked over to the restaurant—but the entrance was filled with Stormtroopers.

"Um," said Luke, "are you all right, Bail?"

"That speeder next door," Skywalker said distractedly. "Why don't we take it for a spin?"

Luke blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah, it'll be fun." Skywalker hopped out and began walking toward the shop. Luke followed.

"Can I drive?" he asked excitedly.

His eyes darted around the area once they caught sight of the red speeder. "Sure, kid," he said. "Knock yourself out."

"Yes!" Luke exclaimed. They rounded the vehicle and jumped into the seats. "My uncle never lets me—"

"Quiet," Skywalker said as the Stormtroopers scanned the next ID. They were far too close for his liking. He ducked his head down and scrambled through the wires in the panel below them. Some sellers rigged their vehicles to keep smugglers away, but luckily, this one seemed clean.

Luke's fingers wiggled in the air for a little bit before landing on the wheel. "Okay," he said, "how do I start this bad boy up."

Skywalker's eyes narrowed. "Are you telling me you don't—"

He winced when his head thumped against the bottom of the dash. With a huff, he sat up, peering through the windshield to watch the actively advancing troops.

"You know what, never mind," he said. "Turn the ignition key."

"Oh. Like this?" Luke twisted the key and held it, causing the engine to sputter loudly. Skywalker panicked.

"No, no, no." He gently guided Luke's hand away. "Here, just let me do it."

"I got it—"

"You there," called a sudden voice, controlled and sharp, and Skywalker's blood ran cold. He sucked in a hollow breath as two troopers started to walk toward their speeder, slowly, subtly leaning forward to turn the ignition key.

"Luke. Get ready to drive."

"Are you crazy?" the kid whispered. "That's a Stormtrooper, Bail. We'll get in so much—"

"Go now," he instructed. "Now."

Luke grimaced and slammed his foot on the gas, throwing Skywalker against his seat as the speeder suddenly lurched forward. Random items inside the market kicked up from the ground and hit the shield in front of them before they broke into open land.

Skywalker's knuckles turned white as he gripped onto the side. "Hey, hey, slow down—"

A bright green blast suddenly split between them. Luke yelped, jerking the wheel to the side. He threw a glance over his shoulder.

"They're shooting at us?" he shrieked. "Why are they—"

"Go left," Skywalker called over the loud engine.

"What?" Luke yelled back.

"Left," he repeated, voice straining, "go left!"

"My left or your left?"

"We have the same left!"

The landspeeder zipped to the right and the floor thudded for a moment before the small trail ended. They dipped with the speeder once it landed on the ground again.

More bolts blew past them. Skywalker puffed out a breath and turned, wedging his right knee in between their seats to anchor himself down. He stayed low.

"Keep it steady, kid," he yelled. "Whatever you do, don't stop."

Luke looked at him once; then did a double-take, accidentally swerving slightly.

"Bail, what are you doing—"

"Hey, hey, hey, ten and two!" Skywalker pointed at the wheel, and Luke quickly fixed his hand placement.

Stormtroopers lined the edge of the market, their blasters blazing and aimed toward them. More green slashed through the air. Skywalker slightly extended his hand, hovering just above the top of his seat, using the Force to redirect the bolts away from them.

Sand blistered and scattered when the bursts hit the ground.

"Bail," Luke called out.

Skywalker grimaced and ducked, bright green zipping past his head. "Just a second, kid."

"Bail..."

"I said one—"

"Look," the kid yelled, and Skywalker huffed, finally glancing over to the windshield.

They were heading right toward a cliff.

»»««

"The Organas left earlier this morning."

"They left?" asked Ahsoka. "Where are they going?"

"Don't know for sure," Kix replied. "I assume it has to do with the trade negotiations he's been sorting out with Kalo Minor. The princess has been tagging along and shadowing him as an extra-curricular."

Rex gave a faintly amused expression. "Is that allowed?"

Ahsoka shrugged before turning back to the commlink on his wrist. "Do you know when they will be back, Kix?"

"Not for a little while," he replied. "A couple of rotations at least."

Obi-Wan heard her sigh.

"I can take a message if you'd like? Tell 'em once they get back."

"No, that's all right," she said, shaking her head slightly. "Thank you, Kix. We'll talk to you soon."

"No problem. Good luck finding Skywalker."

The line went dead. Ahsoka turned to face Rex and Obi-Wan, the white lines around her eyes creased.

"Maybe we should split up," she said. "If we can cover more ground, we might have a better chance of finding him—"

"I don't think that's such a good idea," said Rex. "You said it yourself: we don't know the land well enough. We'll only get ourselves lost."

Ahsoka seemed hesitant.

"Maybe it's a good time to go back to the hut and regroup," he suggested. "We've searched for hours now and haven't found anything. We need to conserve our energy the best that we can."

Ahsoka pursed her lips into a frown. "We can't just leave him on his own."

"Ahsoka, I must concur with Captain Rex," said Obi-Wan. "We've done all we can. Perhaps going back is our best option."

She folded her arms. "What if something happens to him?"

"I'm sure Anakin is fully capable of defending himself," Obi-Wan replied, shaking his head. "It may be the case that he just needs some time to think. This is precisely how he used to be if you'll recall."

"He's never been gone for this long before." Then, she paused. "I'm worried he won't come back."

Obi-Wan put a hand on her shoulder. "Ahsoka, out of all of us, you've had the most faith in him," he said. "Perhaps it's time to see if your presence has made an impact."

She held his gaze for a moment.

"All right."

They turned around, trekking through the sand toward the hut. The suns blazed; his cloak nearly felt hot enough to catch fire. Obi-Wan wiped the sweat from his brow.

He should scold himself. He was told that a Jedi could not linger in such a place of indecision—he was not to allow himself to be compromised like this.

He was taught a great many things.

And for a time, Obi-Wan believed all of them. Perhaps it was because he had already lost everything; perhaps it was because he had nothing left to lose. First Qui-Gon, then Satine, and finally, Anakin. His loyalty to the Jedi only grew through tragedy.

But he was no longer Obi-Wan Kenobi the Jedi or Obi-Wan Kenobi the war hero—that Obi-Wan Kenobi died alongside Anakin Skywalker, standing above a lake of lava on the black sands of Mustafar.

He was only Ben Kenobi now. He had no obligation to fill; no code to follow; no title to his name that mattered.

All he had left was Padmé's wish.

Keeping the children safe was the highest priority. That's what it was, and what it would always be. Anakin, redeemed or not, would never be without the red staining his ledger.

But of course, a soft, nearly nonexistent voice reminded Obi-Wan, neither would he.

The war had put him in the position of making several difficult decisions; judgments that sometimes cost far more lives than they ever saved. There were more names on his list than he could count.

So, perhaps it was not the red in the ledger but the intent. The fact that Anakin would dare to take lives so carelessly; that he would kill for power, with no concern for peace or justice. There was no nobility, no honor, in that way of life—only fear.

It was all right, then, for him to keep the secret from Anakin. Not out of spite, not out of bitterness, but out of his regard for both Padmé and the children. Padmé had entrusted him with Luke, just as she entrusted Bail with Leia, and no matter the cost, he was sure to keep him safe. Whether or not that meant losing Anakin, or Ahsoka, or even Rex.

The children came first. Indisputably.

Yet, for such a simple concept, Obi-Wan had never felt so conflicted. Once more, he was reminded of the betrayal in Anakin's eyes. It found itself seared into his mind, the memories spinning on an endless wheel of repetition.

The children needed to be protected from Darth Vader, yes… but did they need protection from Anakin?

"Hold on." Rex shielded his eyes from the sun. "What have we here?"

Obi-Wan followed his gaze to a lone speeder that sat in front of a quiet restaurant inside town.

The three broke away from the trail they had begun to retrace and walked toward it. The vehicle appeared to be in good condition, still. Obi-Wan leaned over the door and peered inside to see if anything was out of place.

It looked just as it normally did—only, on the floorboard, Anakin's dark cloak.

Obi-Wan straightened. "This is my speeder," he confirmed, eyes lifting to the establishment ahead of them. "Anakin must be in there."

They walked inside the nearly vacant diner. His eyes scanned over the room and he wrapped his robe around himself, looking along the rows for any sign of Anakin he could find. Rex and Ahsoka fanned out to search beside him.

There was only one active table in the restaurant—a human and a Wookiee sitting at the very back of the room. Obi-Wan ended at a booth that stood near a window, crowded with empty trays and tableware. Atop sat the ignition keys to his speeder. He felt a swell of panic in his chest.

With a breath, "He's not here," he called to Ahsoka and Rex.

"How do you know?" she asked.

He lifted the keys to show them. Rex grimaced. "That's not a good sign."

Obi-Wan nodded grimly, turning to the Er'Kit manning the bar. "Pardon me," he said, "but you don't happen to remember a man that came through here earlier, do you?"

"You'll have to be more specific," the bartender returned curtly.

"He was wearing all black. Tall, lanky fellow."

The Er'Kit clicked his tongue, dismissive. "No, I don't think so."

Rex glowered at his tone. His hand moved to hover above his left pistol.

"Well, think harder."

The Er'Kit eyed him for a moment, curious, before he hummed. "Now that you mention it, I do remember someone. He came in with Owen's boy earlier."

At his words, Obi-Wan felt the color drain from his face. "Owen?"

"Owen Lars." The bartender spat into the glass he was cleaning, and Ahsoka narrowed her eyes. "He owns a moisture farm out by the Jundland. I just found out that he's apart of my boss' lightball league—"

"Do you know where he went?"

"No idea," he replied, "but they apparently caused quite the ruckus in town."

Rex stood beside Obi-Wan and folded his arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The bartender shrugged, placing the glass onto the shelf behind him. "Go outside and see for yourself. I heard they stole a speeder."

"Stole a speeder?" Ahsoka repeated.

He got to work on another glass. "I was working in the kitchen when it happened," he said, impassive. "Word is that one of them got shot down by Stormtroopers. There are flyers all over town asking for them."

Obi-Wan nodded shakily. "Thank you, my friend. You have been very helpful."

They walked outside again, and Obi-Wan squinted as the suns hit him in the eyes. They looked around the market for damage, and surely enough, there was plenty to be found. Rex leaned down to the skidded tracks embedded into the sand.

"They couldn't have gone far," he said. "These tracks stretch for half a klick, at least. Wherever they were going, it looks like they were trying to get out of here fast."

Obi-Wan nodded as he got into his speeder, turning the ignition on. Ahsoka jumped in beside him, and Rex followed her. They wordlessly sped off into the desert, following the trail.

Obi-Wan could only hope that they weren't too late.

»»««

The bright red speeder ran off the cliff, plunging downward until it reached the bottom of the abyss. Parts scattered, burst into flames, broke apart—and Skywalker and Luke stood on a small ledge near the top of the canyon.

Skywalker braved a single glance over to Luke before looking forward again.

Brilliant. Traumatize the child. Gravel crackled beneath Skywalker's shoes as he scaled the cliff; Luke followed his movements, still buzzing with adrenaline.

"How did you—" Luke sputtered his words. "You—we were—how did you jump so far?"

Skywalker hid a wince. "Gravity is different in the air?"

"You," he said, breathlessly, "are the man of the hour, Bail. That was insane."

"Don't mention it," Skywalker muttered. He offered a hand when they reached the top, and Luke took it, rolling over onto his back.

"Oh, man." A laugh bubbled in his chest. "My uncle is going to kill me."

Skywalker let himself fall too, ignoring the sand that seeped through his clothes and instead deciding to relish in the solid ground beneath them. "You know, I was serious when I told you not to mention it."

The kid looked over to him. "Yeah, yeah, just," he said, "if you ever run into a man named Owen Lars, make sure to tell him I was at Tank's house all day and that we have never met before, ever."

At his words, it felt as though a cold hand had wrapped itself around Skywalker's throat. His pulse skipped and his eyes creaked open as he slowly turned to the side, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Say that name again."

Luke looked over to him, confused. "Tank?"

"No. Lars." Skywalker sat upright. "As in, Cliegg Lars?"

Luke frowned at his words. "He was my grandfather," he said. "Why? Did you know him?"

All at once, the sky began to swirl above him, and his heart fell to the pit of his stomach. Skywalker shakily rose to his feet, bringing an unsteady hand to his temple.

"Owen doesn't have another brother," he muttered, more to himself than to Luke. Slowly, a weight began to form within his chest.

"Another? He has a first?" Luke stood up. "You're not making any sense, Bail."

"I'm not—"

The loud humming of an engine suddenly filled the air. Skywalker turned to see a red speeder approaching from the distance, panic rushing through his mind like a tide.

He turned to Luke. "What was your father's name?"

The kid watched him in confusion. "I never knew my father."

Skywalker's mind flashed back to the pendant in his pocket.

The speeder skidded to a halt. Sand splashed to the side from the sudden stop, and Obi-Wan got out of the vehicle, Rex and Ahsoka following suit.

"Anakin, step away from him," Obi-Wan called out.

Skywalker stood still, heaving in sharp, ragged breaths while Luke seemed blissfully unaware of everything going on around him. He sighed, turning to Skywalker.

"Hang on, Bail, I've seen this punk outside of my house a few times." The kid tried to crack his knuckles but they only made a faint creak noise in response. "I'll handle this."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened as Luke marched up to him.

"Listen, old man, I don't know who you think this Anakin guy is, but he isn't here. You better back off before I call the authorities." Luke smugly crossed his arms. "Yeah, that's right. I have connections."

Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. "Yes, well, you also have tens of wanted posters in the town square accusing both of you of auto theft."

Luke faltered slightly at his tone. "You'll never find the evidence."

"I don't need to, and apparently, neither do they in order to trace this back to you two." Obi-Wan turned his attention to Skywalker. "What were you thinking? Being so reckless, putting the boy's life at risk?"

Luke frowned. "It wasn't his fault. He wasn't even the one driving."

"Oh, brilliant," Obi-Wan said. "Let's add underage driving onto the list, shall we, Anakin? I mean, honestly. What did you expect to happen?"

The atmosphere shifted when Skywalker finally pushed back. He took an abrasive step forward, a whirl of emotion echoing through the Force between them.

"Who is he?" he asked, burdened.

Silence hung in the air, heavy and thick. Obi-Wan pursed his lips.

"I'm sorry?"

"The kid," Skywalker pressed. "Who is he?"

Uncertainty cut through the front Obi-Wan had put on as he averted his gaze. Skywalker looked at his former master with incredulity.

"It's him?"

Again, only silence met his question.

Skywalker jabbed a finger into Obi-Wan's chest. "That's why you're here, isn't it? That's why you would come back to this filthy planet. It was for him."

Obi-Wan looked between him and Luke. "Anakin, please," he tried. "Not in front of the boy. We can discuss this elsewhere."

Skywalker looked to where Luke stood beside Ahsoka, confused, before his narrowed eyes landed on Obi-Wan again.

"Come on, Luke," he called. "Let's go."

But the man moved to the side before Skywalker could slip past. "Where do you plan to take him?" he questioned.

"Back to Owen's. I'm sorting this out myself."

"And what do you plan to tell them?" asked Obi-Wan. "That you've returned and now you'd like a part in his life?"

"Get out of my way," Skywalker sneered.

Obi-Wan shook his head firmly. "I can't do that, Anakin."

Skywalker stared at him, thinking over all of the options he had. There weren't many. After a moment, he set his jaw.

"Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay with Leia," he said, turning back to Obi-Wan. "We'll be right back."

Luke seemed to take no issue with the sudden arrangement. "Oh man," he said, glancing over at Ahsoka. "You've got it, Bail."

With that, Obi-Wan and Skywalker walked until they were out of hearing range, neither of them wanting to break the delicate silence that stood between them like cracked glass. There was a spiral of heavy emotions around each of them.

Finally, Obi-Wan spoke. "Anakin, I—"

"Don't," Skywalker cut in. "Don't do that. I don't want an apology."

Obi-Wan took a single step back. Skywalker scowled. "You take my kid from me—you force him to stay here with the man that did nothing to help my mother when she was captured—and you can't even say it to my face?"

Obi-Wan met his eyes. "They're good people, Anakin."

"So you admit it."

"It was not my decision," Obi-Wan paused, hesitant. "It was hers."

The anger boiling beneath Skywalker's skin didn't waver; his teeth bared, wetness pooling in the corners of his eyes. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, it's the truth," Obi-Wan insisted.

"The truth," Skywalker scoffed to himself, already beginning to walk back to the group.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, "I only wanted to honor her wishes. We agreed that if anything were to happen, he would be sent here."

Skywalker whirled around. "Stop bringing her into this. This isn't her fault."

"And how would you know that?"

"She wanted our child to be raised on Naboo," he said. "She would have never sent him here. Someone else had to have been involved."

"We were in desperate times, Anakin," Obi-Wan reasoned. "This was the only way to keep them safe."

Once again, Skywalker debated whether or not he should walk away. He could faintly hear Luke's laughter from where he stood.

Obi-Wan sighed. "As it is, you and I now have a shared interest."

"I don't share anything with you."

"We both want what's best for the children," Obi-Wan paused, apologetic. "Keeping their identities protected is the only way to do that."

Skywalker scowled, blinking harshly. "What are you trying to say?"

"I think we can both agree that now is certainly not the time for you to get involved with him," Obi-Wan said. "I doubt that the Emperor has forgotten about you. If someone were to recognize you and they see you with Luke, his life would be put in danger." Obi-Wan's prying, analyzing eyes set on Skywalker. "I gather that is not a risk you're willing to take."

"You think I couldn't protect him?"

"Anakin, search your feelings," said Obi-Wan. "Think about the boy. Do you truly want to turn his life upside down in such uncertain circumstances?"

Skywalker ran a hand over his face and took a long breath.

"No," he said finally. "I don't."

"Then for once we can agree," Obi-Wan said. There was a moment of silence between them before he sighed again. "Anakin, under any other situation, you know I would not keep him from you."

Skywalker watched him. There was a genuineness to Obi-Wan's voice, almost pleading—even still, it didn't change anything. Skywalker, after finally getting the chance to meet his son, would have to be separated from him. The thought twisted through his mind like a strike of lightning, remained like the reverbing sound of thunder; each echo only brought more sorrow.

Skywalker cleared his throat. "They're waiting for us," he said, avoiding Obi-Wan's gaze. "The kid needs a ride back to Owen's. The least we can do is give him that."

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. "Very well," he said, "but after that—"

"No contact."

Obi-Wan frowned. The two walked toward Ahsoka, Rex, and Luke, standing amidst the sand and smoke, where Luke seemed to be passionately relaying a story. He was the first to notice Skywalker and Obi-Wan.

"Bail." His smile was bright. "It's about time you got back here. I was just telling them about the time I tried to live only off of jawa juice."

Rex kept a straight face, "He made it three days."

Skywalker glanced over to Obi-Wan for a moment before walking over to the kid. He scrambled to find the words. "Listen, Luke," he said. "I think it would be best if we take you back to your uncle's now."

"Oh, I agree," the kid said with a smile. "I can't wait for my family to meet you guys. I will admit, my uncle won't like you, but I'm sure my aunt will—"

"That's not what I meant."

Luke's expression fell. "Then what do you mean?"

Skywalker took in a breath, shaky as it was, and cleared his throat. "Luke, after we drop you off," he hesitated, "you and I won't see each other again."

There was a moment of silence.

Then, Luke laughed, lightly punching Skywalker in the shoulder. "Good one, Bail. You almost had me there."

Luke only stopped laughing when he realized Skywalker's expression didn't change. His shoulders drooped, deflated.

"You're serious?"

Skywalker swallowed roughly, looking to the ground with tear-filled eyes. "I don't want it to be this way."

"Why does it have to?" Luke asked. "We're buddies, right?"

No response.

"Right?" he asked again.

"Come on, Luke," Ahsoka stepped in; Skywalker glanced up at her gratefully. "Let's take you back home."

Luke seemed as though he wanted to struggle—but, with a broken expression, he nodded and allowed himself to be led away. Skywalker took in a shaky breath and wiped away the tears that finally fell, trying his best to hide his face from Luke.

"You did well, Anakin," Obi-Wan offered gently, but Skywalker did not acknowledge him.

They all piled into the speeder and drove off to the Lars Homestead.

»»««

"Now, I have matters to attend to. I will see you again before nightfall."

Javon headed toward the east landing platform, his spine straightened and his hands clasped behind his back. His footsteps clicked and echoed through the empty corridor. Daylight flooded into the room when two guards parted and opened the doors for him.

He stood on the platform among four other armed guards.

A ship appeared in the distance; a smaller model, pearly white, flying in from the horizon. Once the pilot alighted, a ramp slowly extended to the ground, the ship's doors sliding open to reveal two figures standing inside.

They walked to the middle of the landing platform. He met them halfway, extending his hand with a polite smile.

"Senator Organa," he greeted. "It is wonderful to finally meet you."