A/N: Again, sorry for the delay. I've been so busy sorting out real life. I have now managed to secure not one job but two, woo! Okay, so one's a paper round, big deal, but I'm broke and I need money. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Although we are approaching the end, it may be quite a lengthy end. Sabé has a lot more left to do than I anticipated.

Chapter Fifty-Nine – Once a Jedi, Always a Jedi.

"No," Luke was saying, turning to look back at Obi-Wan as he reattached C-3P0's arm, "my father didn't fight in the wars, he was a navigator on a spice freighter."

Sabé glanced incredulously at Qui-Gon as they watched the scene. "Did Owen tell him that rubbish?" she snapped.

Obi-Wan answered for him. "That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. He thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."

Sabé raised an eyebrow. Clearly something had flared up between the step-brothers during Anakin and Padmé's visit all those years ago. She vaguely remembered Obi-Wan once telling her that Owen had half blamed Anakin for Shmi's sorrow. Owen had loved Shmi almost as much as if she had been his real mother and couldn't bear to see her upset over her 'missing' Jedi son. It had always been Owen's belief that if Anakin had remained on Tatooine, they could have been a happy family. When he finally met Anakin in person he considered him arrogant and blamed his Jedi status for swelling his head.

"You fought in the Clone Wars?" Luke asked in awe.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, choosing his next words carefully. "I was once a Jedi Knight, the same as your father."

Sabé felt her heart tug at his use of the word 'once'. Being a Jedi was all Obi-Wan had ever known. It was only circumstance that had reduced him to a poor hermit on a backwater planet.

"I wish I'd known him."

"He was the best star pilot in the galaxy and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself." Obi-Wan gave Luke a quick smile before turning serious once again. "And he was a good friend. Which reminds me, I have something here for you." He stood up and made his way over to a large storage chest in the corner. Finally locating the desired item, he turned towards Luke. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn-fool idealistic crusade like your father did."

Sabé wondered how much of that was strictly true. Anakin had joked, she knew, while Padmé was still pregnant about his children inheriting his lightsabre, but the subject had never been approached seriously.

"Sir, if you'll not be needing me I'll close down for a while," 3P0 cut in.

Luke nodded. "Sure, go ahead." Looking at Obi-Wan he asked, "What is it?"

"Your father's lightsabre. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight." He watched as Luke ignited the sapphire blade, testing its weight. "Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilised age."

"The Clone Wars were not civilised," Sabé muttered to herself.

Qui-Gon hid his smile.

"For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic," Obi-Wan went on. "Before the dark times. Before the Empire."

"How did my father die?" Luke asked inevitably.

Obi-Wan's eyes took on an expression of caution. "A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct."

Sabé turned to Qui-Gon. "Why is he keeping the truth back? What can possibly be gained from lying?"

"Luke is not yet ready to be told," the Jedi Master said simply.

"Vader was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force." Obi-Wan spoke with the ease of one who has long ago come to terms with traumatic events. The events of Mustafar and Order 66 were not as fresh in his memory now as they were in Sabé's.

"The Force?"

"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power," the former Jedi explained. "It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us and binds the galaxy together."

Luke took this information in with a contemplative look. R2-D2, who had until now sat listening in, suddenly let out a loud whistle, reminding them of his presence.

Obi-Wan approached him. "Now let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little friend and where you come from."

"I saw part of a message he was–"

"I seem to have found it."

Before their eyes a small hologram projected forward from the little droid. A young woman, dressed all in white, took on a diplomatic stance as she addressed the imager. Although they did not realise it, Obi-Wan and Sabé wore identical looks of recognition as they stared at the woman who was unmistakeably Padmé's daughter.

"General Kenobi," Leia began, "years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars and now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I am afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." Leia's image froze as she glanced round at approaching noise. She leaned forward towards R2 and the image fuzzed and disappeared.

Obi-Wan sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin as he often did whilst thoughtful. He wore a look of concern, wondering exactly how bad her situation was. She had loosely described it as an attack. 'Typical strong politician,' he thought. 'Always ready to put the cause first.'

Luke was looking understandably stunned by this revelation. He had never dreamed that two droids bartered from Jawas could have been so important.

Obi-Wan smiled at his expression. "You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan."

"Alderaan?" Luke repeated. "I'm not going to Alderaan, I've got to get home, it's late, I'm in for it as it is."

"I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."

"I can't get involved, I've got work to do. It's not that I like the Empire, I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it right now." He sighed, murmuring, "It's all such a long way from here."

"That's your uncle talking," Obi-Wan said sternly.

"My uncle. How am I ever gonna explain this?"

"Learn about the Force, Luke."

"Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead," he offered. "You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going."

Obi-Wan nodded briefly. "You must do what you feel is right, of course." Sabé could tell he was displeased with the turn of events. Luke could probably sense it too. The former Jedi did not put much effort into concealing his feelings there. But even if he had hidden it completely, the two spirits that watched him, the two people that knew him best, would have noticed it.

Sabé tore her gaze away from her husband to look at Qui-Gon. "Luke must go with him," she said. "How could he not?"

"He has many reasons to stay. Family ties." Qui-Gon quickly switched the subject to another matter. "I must pay a visit to Master Yoda. Would you like to accompany me or remain here?"

Although Sabé would have liked to see Yoda again, she wasn't quite ready to leave Obi-Wan yet. Qui-Gon nodded, as if he'd known what her answer would be, and told her he would return shortly. Then he disappeared. Sabé shook her head, thinking that she would never get used to seeing that.

"Before I leave for Alderaan there are a few things I must do," Obi-Wan said to a quiet Luke. "Can you wait ten minutes before leaving?"

The farm boy nodded. "I need to finish fixing 3P0 up anyway."

Obi-Wan stood up and retrieved a pouch from the storage chest before heading into the bedroom. Sabé followed. He placed a few things in the pouch, food capsules, a small amount of credits and other such provisions. Then he paused and moved over to the cabinet beside the bed. Sabé knew what he was after. There was a safe hidden in the wall behind it.

The former Jedi moved the cabinet away and typed a code in the keypad there. The small door opened with a soft hiss. Inside lay the greater part of Obi-Wan's savings, Tatooine currency accumulated over his years of exile, plus several mementoes of the Old Republic. Qui-Gon's lightsabre was also visible there. Obi-Wan reached past all these to a black box placed right at the very back. Inside lay three very precious items. First there was a lock of Sabé's hair, tied up neatly with a ribbon. Its deep mahogany colour still shone brightly against the ebony of the box. Obi-Wan touched the strands briefly before turning his attentions to the other items.

Peering over his shoulder, Sabé spotted her wedding ring there. This Obi-Wan had removed from the chain she had had round her neck when she died. The third article was a holocube. Sabé recognised this too and smiled as Obi-Wan activated it. A holo portrait emerged from the cube, showing the couple looking happy and contented. Sabé remembered when they had taken it, shortly after they arrived on Tatooine to live together.

Obi-Wan was past tears now, but he could not help feeling the familiar sorrowful tug at his chest. He looked once more at the portrait before closing the black box and slipping it in his pocket.

Sabé caught the expression on his face and felt her heart go out to him. She reached out a hand to hover by his cheek, but did not bring it closer for fear of it passing right through him. The idea of that happening was not a prospect she liked very much.

He froze and so did she. For a moment his eyes stared right through hers and she half thought that he could see her. But he was reaching into the Force, trying to work out just what it was he'd sensed.

Obi-Wan could have sworn that he'd felt Sabé's presence. As he stood, enveloped in the comforting tendrils of the Force, he tried to reason out the experience. Sabé had passed over, she must have. It had been so long since he had sensed her, it was a distant memory. But just then it had been there, faint, like light perfume on a breeze. He shook himself. He'd been looking at the mementoes of her, it was only natural that he should think she was there.

He busied himself with replacing the cabinet and headed back out to where Luke was instructing R2-D2 where to help him with 3P0. He slipped outside without either noticing and walked a little way away from the house. In the shadow of the outcrop of rock there stood a stone, the same size as a clenched fist. It bore natural swirls of a pale blue colour and was of a decidedly darker tone than the rest, which was no surprise since it had come from Naboo.

Sabé had, of course, followed Obi-Wan outside and was not surprised that she recognised this stone as one she herself had picked up on Naboo before they had moved to Tatooine. She also had a feeling she knew what its current usage was.

Obi-Wan could easily recall the moment that Sabé had paused to pick up the stone. She had broken into a run to catch up with him and shown him her find, saying that it would make a nice ornament and a reminder of home. Decorating the small hovel with ornaments hadn't occurred to him and, of course, she had been right. For their time spent there, the stone sat on a shelf in the living room, adding a touch of beauty to the sparse home. It was nothing to the beauty of Sabé herself, but it was fitting that they should both now lie in the same place.

As soon as Obi-Wan had returned with Sabé's body, he had buried her outside. Not wanting to draw attention to the area, but not willing to let it remain as it was, he found that the stone served as a perfect memorial. Anyone who should find it would think it natural and only Obi-Wan knew its significance. He rather liked this idea, it kept the place peaceful.

"My dear Sabé," he murmured, brushing a hand over the stone.

Sabé started at his words, but realised that he was not directly talking to her. She also realised that she was indeed looking at her own grave. The thought was strange and made her feel uncomfortable. She tried not to dwell on it.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but I fear this is the last time I may be here."

Sabé wondered how long Qui-Gon would be. She desperately wanted to ask him what was going on. She felt quite sure that he knew more than he was telling her.

"I'm going to Alderaan to see Bail. It sounds straightforward, I know, but the Force is telling me to think otherwise. Leia has been in contact and I have Luke with me. It's all starting, Sabé. The rebellion is growing stronger and I feel the Empire's days are numbered. Leia is a fine politician, just like her mother. She's serving the rebellion well. Padmé would be very proud. Luke's destiny is becoming clearer to him. Soon he will follow it, I have no doubts. But I fear that in order to make it clear to him something might happen to Owen and Beru. The Force works in mysterious ways."

Sabé knelt down beside him and watched him sigh. She wished she could comfort him somehow, but knew that such a request was impossible.

"My destiny is centring itself on one thing only. A final confrontation with Vader. I can't help thinking of him as another man, not Anakin. The Anakin I trained would never have…well, it's too late to think of that. Vader is stronger than Anakin at present and I know there is only one, possibly two, who can turn the tables. But he's not ready. Not yet." Obi-Wan drew the box out from his robes and dug in the sand a little way. He had no fear of uncovering Sabé's remains, even if he dug deeper. Time and many storms had raised the sand level higher. Every day he would visit the grave and ensure that the stone was not buried in the grains. He put the box in the small hole he had made and covered it up, placing the stone directly on top. "I'm leaving these here, Sabé, because I may not return and I would prefer them not to be disturbed by scavengers. I believe I may be with you and Mara very soon."

Sabé's eyes widened as she remembered that he thought Mara dead. Another matter to speak to Qui-Gon about.

"I love you, Sabé." He paused, adding, "I can still sense your presence. I don't understand it. Perhaps it's because I'm near my time."

Sabé took in his calm expression and realised that he had resigned himself to the fact. She smiled. Once a Jedi, always a Jedi. "I love you," she whispered.

He sat bolt upright and she became conscious of the fact that somehow he had heard her. "Sabé?" he breathed.

At that moment Luke stuck his head out the door and called, "Ben? I should get going."

Obi-Wan composed himself in an instant and rose to his feet. Taking one last look at the grave, he followed Luke back inside. Sabé did not move, too stunned by the possibility that her husband had heard her words. Qui-Gon hadn't mentioned anything about that. Presently, Obi-Wan, Luke and the droids exited the hovel and piled into Luke's landspeeder. The battered red vehicle sped off and Sabé was left alone. She didn't know how to follow.

As if sensing her frustration at being left behind, Qui-Gon reappeared beside her. "If you are ready," he said, "I can take you to Mara."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: Next chapter, Sabé gets to see what Mara's been up to.