Anakin had to get his comm, so he made a quick stop at the officers' lounge on his way back up to the bridge. He found everything just as they had left it, and seeing the scattered diagram made of snack foods lodged a lump in his throat. Everything seemed so much less serious when Obi-Wan was here. He could still feel echoes of his master's presence, where he had sat on the couch.

As a kid, too young and inexperienced to leave the Temple, he had never liked it when the Council sent Obi-Wan on solo missions. He needed someone to watch his back. Someone to cheer him up when he got too wrapped up in his thoughts. They were meant to face danger together, not separately. That had always been obvious.

Well, what had Master Windu said? You're not alone. No one said he had to be either.

Master Windu had been talking about Ahsoka, but he was right in more ways than one. Maybe Anakin couldn't go with Obi-Wan this time, but he could call upon the second-best option.

A few decks lower than the bridge in the starboard command tower was the Resolute's central communication hub. Much of what happened here, inter-fleet communications and hundreds of intelligence communiques per day, was dealt with routinely and never actually made it up to the bridge itself. When Anakin walked in, nobody shouted 'officer on deck,' but the atmosphere instantly tightened.

"Evening, General," said one of the techs, saluting.

"Zero." Anakin nodded at him, recognizing the man from the asteroid assault. "How are things up here?"

"Good, sir. Anything I can help you with?"

"No. Just looking to send some messages now that we're out of hyperspace."

Anakin commandeered one of the terminals, logging into his own account. His comm to Kamino had been sent, so that was good, and he had received twelve new holos himself since they had left Centares. Most of them were either routine or personal, nothing urgent that needed an answer immediately.

As he scrolled through the display, he saw that one of the new holos was from the chancellor, and felt a little guilty. He had been increasingly distant with the older man since Obi-Wan had died; as kind and well-meaning as he had always been toward Anakin, he often didn't really understand what it was to be a Jedi. But still, the chancellor had always gone out of his way to connect with him, and Anakin was probably being a little unfair. He would have to make time to answer him one of these days.

His comm chimed with a message from Rex, and reminded him that he was on the clock. Anakin had planned to send holos, but time was short. Instead, he pulled up two separate text comms, drafting a different message in each of them. He flagged both threads to go directly to his wrist comm if answered, and then pressed send.

There. Now he could rest a little easier.

SEN: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

REC: quinlan_vos (808X552678) aayla_secura (149X211731) bant_eerin (808X831544) garen_muln (149X083473) taria_damsin (808S972040) depa_billaba (975X912788) padme_amidala (299469.27) feemor_deranad (808S478966) kiadi_mundi (975X525918) vic_thowesk (222X400261) satine_kryze (B4M.K2.0006) reeft_ko (149X728804)

CC: ahsoka_tano (222X472983) mace_windu (975X583224)

[ 15:3:24 17:11 ]

As you may or may not have seen on the feed, Obi-Wan is alive.

He was captured on Jabiim, instead of killed as we all thought. He is in stable health, but will be proceeding back to Coruscant ASAP for full rehab. I have not been granted a leave, and so will be continuing on to my next assigned mission.

I know you share my joy, and I don't need to ask you to support Obi-Wan. But I am asking anyway. By not returning with him to Coruscant, I feel like I am abandoning him a second time. It would be a huge relief to me specifically if any of you, especially those of you who are more often at the Temple and may have opportunity, would reach out to Obi-Wan. Please make sure he knows he's not alone.

If necessary, please also provoke and annoy him, so that he knows I am there with him in spirit.

May the Force be with you all.

SEN: quinlan_vos (808X552678)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101) aayla_secura (149X211731) bant_eerin (808X831544) garen_muln (149X083473) taria_damsin (808S972040) depa_billaba (975X912788) padme_amidala (299469.27) feemor_deranad (808S478966) kiadi_mundi (975X525918) vic_thowesk (222X400261) satine_kryze (B4M.K2.0006) reeft_ko (149X728804)

[ 15:3:24 18:35 ]

ARE YOU SERIOUS

SEN: bant_eerin (808X831544)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

[ 15:3:24 18:51 ]

Anakin I can't tell you how happy this makes me! We just wrapped up a mission and will be heading to the Core, so I'll see if I can squeeze a few days at the Temple in there somewhere. Finally, some good news, and WHAT good news!

MTFBWY

Bant

SEN: garen_muln (149X083473)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

[ 15:3:24 22:27 ]

My time has come. I will be up in his face so fast his head will spin.

Garen

SEN: taria_damsin (808S972040)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

[ 15:3:24 22:58 ]

As someone who spends way too much time at the Temple, this is a duty I accept wholeheartedly. Don't worry, Obi-Wan will be well looked-after until you can get a leave, though I don't think anyone can provoke him quite as well as you can!

Are any more details available regarding his condition? Your vagueness has me a little concerned.

SEN: mace_windu (975X583224)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101) quinlan_vos (808X552678) aayla_secura (149X211731) bant_eerin (808X831544) garen_muln (149X083473) taria_damsin (808S972040) depa_billaba (975X912788) padme_amidala (299469.27) feemor_deranad (808S478966) kiadi_mundi (975X525918) vic_thowesk (222X400261) satine_kryze (B4M.K2.0006) reeft_ko (149X728804)

[ 15:3:25 03:21 ]

Please remove me from this thread.

SEN: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

REC: mace_windu (975X583224)

[ 15:3:25 03:25 ]

No.

SEN: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

REC: padme_amidala (299469.27)

[ 15:3:24 17:14 ]

PADME, OBI-WAN IS ALIVE.

I know you got my other message as well, I just had to tell you specifically. I found him during a mission, alive and well, and I can only believe it must have been the will of the Force. He was tortured by Ventress and there were some other complications, but HE'S ALIVE and heading back to the Temple. Please keep this info confidential, as nobody else outside the Order knows yet.

I want to come home more than anything. I miss you every day, and I feel terrible sending Obi-Wan back by himself. Ahsoka and R2 are with him, but still. It's been way too long and I miss you I miss you I miss you. I kind of had a fight with Master Windu about it, but he's right even though I hate it.

Hopefully I'll get a leave soon(ish).

Love you and miss you.

Anakin

SEN: padme_amidala (299469.27)

REC: anakin_skywalker (149X212101)

[ 15:3:25 12:15 ]

I'm so deeply overjoyed for you, Anakin! When I got your first message, I thought there must have been some mistake. It seems like something out of a fairy story, but eventually I'll learn that nothing is impossible when you're involved! You must be jumping out of your skin with happiness. I only wish I could be there with you.

You and I will both have to be patient a little longer. Try to remember that both Obi-Wan and I will still be there when you come home. For now, the galaxy needs you. I am so proud of the work you are doing, and I know Obi-Wan will be too.

While R2 is here, I have something to send back with him.

Be safe, and take care of yourself. I love you always.

Padme