Chapter 3

The Fallen Jedi

Fess Ilee knelt amid the orchids and ever blooming fauna in the Royal Gardens. His breathing came out in steady bursts, in sharp contrast to the strain and consternation that showed on his features. A passerby might puzzle himself to death trying to get a read on him at the moment given the conflicting body signals.

Especially since one didn't typically expect to see the sycophantic, greasy, botanist to the royal family meditating so strenuously, or at all really.

But Fess paid no heed to what anybody might have thought of him at the moment. The Dark Side of the Force covered his entire perception like a shroud. Try as he might he could not muster a single ray of light to penetrate the veil. The Force had felt thick with its imbalance for almost as long as he could remember but he'd never felt it like this before.

Where are you Obi-wan? He thought into the Force, hoping against hope to get an answer. Can you not feel it? The shift in the Force? It is at a tipping point. Either it will teeter back toward the Light or it will plummet into untold Darkness. Can you not feel it?

As usual… no answer.

Again he cursed himself for not finding a reason for a leave of absence and tracking down the old Jedi Master himself. He should have done it years ago but something always kept him rooted on Alderaan… usually a certain rebellious princess.

He was just about to give up his mediation when a shiver ran up his spine and a tremor in the Force appeared… that tipping point was nearly here… and something had happened that… someone was near… danger…

A voice called his name, his true name Ferus Olin, not Fess Ilee his alias. For a moment he felt a glimmer of hope. Obi-wan perhaps? Then the voice came again and he realized he heard it with his ears, not with the Force, and he recognized the owner. Hardly an unwelcome visitor but not the one he hoped for at the moment.

"Ferus! Can you hear me?"

"I can hear you your Highness," Ferus opened his eyes and pulled himself to his feet to greet the First Chairman and Viceroy of Alderaan.

"No time for deference my old friend," Bail said. "We just received word that the Tantive IV was caught in an asteroid storm and destroyed!"

"An asteroid storm!" Ferus said. "Impossible! Captain Antilles is one of the finest officers in the Alliance!"

"Of course we don't believe it," Bail said. "But Leia has not reported in yet, nor has Winter. I fear that the Empire has captured or killed her. I cannot help but wonder if our worst fears have come to pass."

"Sith spit," Ferus muttered. "This is all my fault. I should never have let her go on that mission alone."

"I don't think there would have been any way to convince her not to go," Bail said. "Much less convince her that the royal botanist needed to accompany her."

"Have you not heard anything from our… agent that we sent to help her?" Ferus said and the pair began walking at a brisk pace, no doubt to a briefing room where they could be certain they were not near listening ears.

"Nothing from him either, I was a fool to send him! Chances are he's taken Leia prisoner for himself and is selling her to the Hutts or even the Empire as we speak."

"What choice did we have?" Ferus said. "He knew of the mission and there was no telling what would happen if we didn't hire him at that point. We just have to trust in the Force that Leia will be alright and trust in your pocket book that he will not betray us."

The two entered the briefing room and Bail let out a sigh as he rubbed his forehead. Ferus had seen him like this much lately. He had the exact same expression on his face when Ferus informed him that he believed Obi-wan Kenobi was possibly dead or missing. The conversation that started this entire chain of events.

"I believe now more than ever that the time of your hiding is nearing its end Ferus," Bail finally said. "Especially if your suspicions about Obi-wan are correct. The Galaxy needs a Jedi to help defeat the Empire. Leia needs the Jedi."

"There's no doubting that," Ferus said. "But I don't think I'm that Jedi… I've made far too many mistakes in my life. Protecting Leia was the only thing I ever did right… up til this point."

"You're too hard-" Bail started but was interrupted when his comlink fired off, at the same time that tremor in the Force reappeared in Ferus' spine. Danger.

"Sir! You need to evacuate! Repeat! Evacuate! The Empire-"

The transmission ended abruptly as both Ferus and Bail stormed out of the room. As they went, Ferus reached under his shirt and released a clasp, allowing the body suit he wore on his chest to give the appearance of a pot-belly fall away and allowing him unrestricted movement.

The palace walls suddenly shook with the sound of distant explosions and blaster fire echoed down the halls. Ferus reached into an 'herb' pouch he kept on his person at all times and drew out his lightsaber.

"Ferus no," Bail said pulling out his blaster. "If the Empire truly is descending on us then they won't rest until they have me. You need to get out of the palace and try to rescue Leia."

The ground beneath them rumbled as heavy gunships swarmed by a nearby window and tie fighters screeched overhead. The Empire was hardly playing games this time. Odds were the entire palace was surrounded by now.

"I can't just leave you sir," Ferus said. "The Alliance needs you."

"The Alliance will survive without me, but everything is lost if Leia's mission is a failure! Now go and may the Force be wi-"

Another explosion rocked the floor, and threw the two men off their feet. Smoke and fire filled the room followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Ferus pulled himself up to see stormtroopers bursting in from a hole where the nearest door used to be.

Instantly his lightsaber ignited and he launched himself into the center of them. Blaster fire volleyed all around him but he weaved past it and batted away any stray bolts that may have gotten too close for comfort. This was a standard regiment of stormtroopers, in no way were they expecting a Jedi to be there.

After knocking back the last of the stormtroopers, Ferus raced to Bail's position. A streak of blood ran down the senator's temple but apart from that he appeared unhurt. He held his smoking blaster at the ready, scanning the hallway for any more stormtroopers, but when none appeared a smile actually crawled up his face.

"Bail?" Ferus said.

"Leia is alive. That's the only explanation for the Empire descending like this right now. Leia is alive and free and the Empire is taking us as a last ditch effort to learn the location of the Alliance's base."

A small smile crossed Ferus' features as well but he didn't let it linger. That was very possible and very encouraging. Of course he left it unsaid that the Empire could also just as easily have Leia now and merely sought to eliminate an entire family of insurrectionists. Best to live in hope, especially now.

Another explosion echoed through the halls and Bail stiffened, the elation drained from his face and immediately Ferus knew the reason. He didn't wait to see if Bail followed, for he knew that he would. He just broke into a run. That explosion came from the residential suites. Bail's family was there!

Though he rushed as fast as his feet could carry him, a gnawing dread swept over him. This wasn't right. This wasn't supposed to happen. Deep down in his heart, when he meditated, he knew that events were supposed to have transpired differently, even if he didn't know exactly how.

A moment before he reached the suites, another tremor in the Force hit him. This one was nothing but terror, hate, and darkness. He only knew of one thing in all the Galaxy that produced that sort of feeling, he became accustomed to it during his time as a mole with the Imperial Inquisitors.

The Dark Side of the Force.

Ferus burst into the room and immediately reeled back just a bit, his lightsaber igniting as he found the horrible source of the tremor.

Clothed in black, standing a head taller than anyone else in the room, and unmistakable artificial respiration that was at once deep but also empty; no one ever wondered whether or not they were looking at Darth Vader.

Bail came in a second later, freezing in step as he saw the Sith Lord standing amid his troops, many of them threatening his sisters with the end of blaster rifles. Darth Vader turned on them, his black cape billowing behind him as he approached, flanked by his men.

"Darth Vader," Bail said, putting affected bravado in his voice. "Only you would be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not stand for this attack on Alderaan's sovereignty."

"Don't act so surprised your highness," Vader said. "You've only escaped the judgment of the Empire by sheer luck the last time we spoke. Now there will be nothing and no one to save you."

"I might have something to say about that Vader," Ferus said and brandished his lightsaber.

Before Bail could stop him, he lunged at the Sith Lord intent on engaging him once and for all in single combat. But like so many things in his life, he was met with disappointment. Invisible hands latched around his neck and closed in on his windpipe. He focused his mind on breaking Vader's hold but it was too late. He couldn't even cry out in pain as the lightsaber ignited through his abdomen.

All he could do was stare at his own horrified expression reflected in the lens's of Vader's mask. All he could do was realize this was the end for him.

Only then did the hold on his throat lessen and Ferus dropped to the ground, feeling his life slip away as Vader advanced on Bail. To his credit the Senator ignored the Sith Lord and slipped his hand behind Ferus' neck. Even now Bail Organa was proving himself one of the few true friends Ferus had ever had.

"You're coming with me," Vader said to the Senator and Ferus' eyes drooped.

"It doesn't matter what you do to us," Bail said but looked to Ferus. "Princess Leia is safe and you don't have the stolen transmissions."

Ferus nodded even as his chest shuddered with each breath. Even with the pain he found himself smiling up at Vader, and then he felt that tiny sliver of light he'd been looking for, breaking through somewhere out there in the stars. The Empire had already lost and they didn't even know it.

And perhaps it was just the dreams of a dying man, but just before everything went black, he thought he heard Obi-wan's voice welcoming him to the Force.

In all his life, Biggs had never seen so many gathered Sand People. Of course, never once in his life had he actually been taken to a tusken raider camp. So seeing so many of them shouldn't have come as a surprise.

But the novelty of such a thing was somewhat lost on him considering they were leading him into the camp with leather bonds strapped around his wrists, and if he even looked back to see if Winter was okay the nearest guard would jab him in the back with his gaffi stick.

From the moment they'd been captured to the setting of the suns, they'd marched like this; single file, heads forward, complete silence. Never once did their captors offer them food or water and at times Biggs worried he might pass out. But finally the suns set and they entered the tusken camp.

The women and children, at least Biggs assumed they were given their outfits and size, rushed to greet the warriors and for half a second Biggs could forget that they were prisoners and just marvel at how… human their interactions seemed.

He didn't get much time to ponder on that though, mere moments after entering the village they were corralled into a small tent. For a moment Biggs hoped that they would be leaving them alone so he could finally check in on Winter but the guards stood there among them. Biggs had to settle on meeting Winter's eyes and watching for her small quick nod as an acknowledgment of her well being.

Any relief soon drained when a couple of the tusken guards broke away from the others, muttering something in their guttural language. For some reason they seemed fixated on Winter, occasionally pointing at her before grunting or howling at each other. Finally one approached her and reached out to her hair.

Winter flinched away but the raider roared something and grabbed her shoulder. Biggs tried rushing to her but the other guard shoved a gaffi stick up against his gut. He could only watch as the tusken raider lifted a few strands of Winter's platinum hair in between his fingers and held it up in front of his goggles.

"Yes," Winter said. "I have amazing hair, now let me go."

The raider ignored her protestations and warbled something at his companion before collecting a bunch of her hair in his hand and pulling out a knife. Winter didn't wait another second, instantly her fist shot out, connecting with the side of the raider's face and knocking him to the ground.

For a moment Biggs worried that the raider would retaliate violently and it even looked like he might, but the rest of the warriors around them let out howls that sounded oddly like laughter and held him back. Biggs couldn't help but smile, apparently Winter had figured out how to make friends with the natives.

But before anybody could invite them for drinks or howling contests or whatever sand people did, their chieftain entered the tent. Biggs and Winter both straightened up as their eyes went to the lightsaber clipped on his belt. The man they were searching for, who hadn't said a word to them since he helped the sand people capture them was right there.

He said something in the sand people tongue and the collected warriors slipped out of the tent, leaving the three of them alone. Biggs managed a smile and tried to think of the best way to start with this. He had so many questions, on the forefront though was what was a famous Jedi Master doing living amongst the sand people.

"You are not the typical riff raff from Tatooine," the Jedi said to them, his face completely unreadable since it remained covered by the typical sand people head coverings and goggles.

"No, we're not," Winter said.

"And that is the only reason you are alive," the Jedi said. "For I seek news of the Empire and I want to know what it is you were doing out here."

"We came to find you," Biggs said.

"Me?" the Jedi's head tilted slightly. "How did you even know I existed?"

"Your former confederate, Bail Organa sent us on a mission to recruit you to the Rebel Alliance against the Empire. He knew you were here."

"Bail Organa?" the Jedi said. "You're lying."

"Lying? No!" Biggs said. "Bail Organa is the leader of the Rebellion! We need your help."

"Bail Organa has no idea I am alive! What trickery is this? How did you know I was here!?"

"We're telling the truth!" Winter said. "You must help us! The Empire is growing too powerful!"

"I must do nothing," the Jedi said and his hand hovered near his lightsaber. "I thought that maybe you were emissaries from the Jedi but now I wonder if you're not Imperial Spies."

"General Kenobi, we swear that we're not-"

"Wait… what did you call me?"

"General Kenobi?" Biggs said. "You are Obi-wan Kenobi the Jedi Knight that served in the clone wars."

"Obi-wan Kenobi," the Jedi's hand trailed away from his lightsaber and his voice drifted away slightly. "Now that's a name I have not heard in a long time… a long time."

"I doubt anybody on this planet would have even heard of you before," Winter said. "But we've been sent to recruit you Master Kenobi."

The Jedi let out a chuckle. "I'm afraid child, you are mistaken. I am not Obi-wan Kenobi."

"What?" Biggs said, though after a moment of shock he realized that he had jumped to that conclusion based purely on seeing the laser sword. "Well then who are you?"

"My name is A'Sharad Hett I was once a Jedi Knight like my father, like General Kenobi, but no longer."

Winter shook her head in disbelief. "Then… where is he? Where is Obi-wan?"

"He's dead," A'Sharad Hett said. "He died some years ago."

Biggs didn't even need to look at Winter to feel her disappointment at the news, he had much the same sinking feeling in his heart as well. Actually more of a plummet in the pit of his stomach than a slow sinking. Either way, the word 'failure' flashed through his mind as he tried to process the news.

"You know this for certain?" Winter finally said. "You can confirm that Obi-wan Kenobi is dead?"

"Have you not heard of the great Jedi Purge child? Do you really think that the Empire would have let such a prominent Jedi Master, a member of the Council no less, live? He died in the Purge… unless you know something different."

Biggs looked to Winter, she didn't smile or make any noise of excitement but the glint in her eyes said everything. Hett didn't know! Which meant their search hadn't ended after all!

"He survived the Purge Master Hett," Winter said. "Bail Organa can confirm as much. He came to Tatooine in exile when he failed to stop the Sith."

"Did he now…" Hett said and began pacing. "He came here… you're certain?" "100%" Winter said.

"Strange that I did not see or sense him then… unless… yes… yes… that would explain things…"

"Explain what?" Biggs said.

Hett turned his head to him then stalked closer. In spite of the face coverings, Biggs could feel the strange Jedi's eyes on him. What was he doing?

"I can see the sands on you boy… she is an offworlder but you… you are a son of the suns are you not?"

"I… am," Biggs finally said. "I'm from the Darklighter famil-"

"Darklighter!" Hett hissed. "Your kind has murdered countless of my kin!"

"Out of self defense!" Biggs said. "We've always tried to steer clear of the Sand People!"

"Ah, the usual excuse," Hett waved a dismissing hand. "Were it not for the more important task at hand I would make an example out of you and send the remains back to your father."

"What task?" Winter said.

"Darklighter," Hett ignored her. "As a resident of these parts, surely you know the legends of the Desert Ghost."

"The Ben Kenobi stories," Biggs nodded.

"That hovel we caught you near… if what you say is true, then Obi-wan may have lived there."

"Really?" Biggs said. "We were almost there?"

"You used the past tense," Winter said. "Why?"

"Because what I said about Kenobi is true. He is dead and his spirit haunts that place."

"What?"

"There is but one place in all the deserts that my people fear to tread," Hett said. "And it is that place. They tell stories of a strange figure that drives all that venture to that place away. Some have even been known to go there and never return."

"What do you mean?" Biggs said. "Isn't it possible that Kenobi lives there and uses his Jedi abilities t o spook anybody that comes near?"

"No, because I have been there," Hett said. "It is an abandoned hovel nothing more. Yet the Force is strong in that place. It is a place of great darkness and even greater sadness. It is a place of the Dark Side of the Force"

"Then it couldn't be Kenobi," Winter said. "He was a devoted Jedi."

"Perhaps when he came to Tatooine, but he must have succumbed to grief over the loss of the Jedi. His presence hauntsthat place, it is the only explanation."

Biggs again turned to Winter and tried not to show it but he feared the Jedi was correct. Every story he knew about Kenobi made him seem like some sort of phantom. Now they were hearing about this place that even the tusken raider's feared to go. It all seemed to gel together.

"Master Hett," Winter said. "We are on a mission vital to the survival of the Rebellion against the Empire. We must go to that dwelling and see for ourselves if Master Kenobi lived there."

"That is impossible," Hett said.

"Why?" Biggs said. "We're not afraid!"

"Your fear toward the dead is of no consequence. You should have feared the Sand People more."

"You're kidding me," Winter said.

"You have violated our lands, attacked our people and disrespected the sacred desert. For that there is but one punishment. You will be executed at dawn."

"You can't do this!" Biggs said. "You don't understand! We have to find Obi-wan!"

"And you will," Hett said as he went to the tent door. "In the Netherworld of the Force."

Nightfall.

Perhaps there had never been such a more blessed thing than nightfall.

The twin suns had sunk below the ridges more than a couple of hours before and the intense heat of the desert slowly drifted away, even leaving enough of a chill that one would consider pulling a blanket over one's shoulders.

Which Leia Organa would be happy to do if she had a blanket, or even a shawl. But as it was, all she had was damaged and broken stormtrooper armor. In the hours of walking in the sun, she'd learned to ignore the pain in her shoulder when the cracked armor would rub against the blast wound she'd received. But she knew she would feel it in the morning.

Her companion would fair much worse she supposed.

He said nothing as he walked ahead of her, but she could see the slight limp in his leg. And the scorch marks all over his armor surely didn't bode well for his over all state of being. In fact he hadn't said a word to her since their escape. No words except for a small, satisfied 'good' when they finally reached the rocks and ridges they'd been walking toward all day.

Now they wound their way slowly amidst jutting stones and loose rocks. Every now and again either she or he would kick an errant stone and send it clacking against the others, causing echoes that made both of them pause and back toward the canyon walls.

Leia's feet ached but she was quite determined to not stop or even ask for a break. The clone had once again saved her life and she owed it to him to let him take the lead in getting them to safety… at least for now.

"We need to find a place to make camp," the clone said abruptly. "Find a cave or something."

"He talks!" Leia said.

"Only when there's something to say," he replied.

Leia shook her head as she looked at him. She'd disregarded her helmet as soon as the sun went down, but he stubbornly refused to take his off, even with half of it burnt to a crisp in the explosion. This guy didn't like to be seen, that much was for sure.

"Well I don't see any caverns nearby," Leia said. "But I'll keep it in mind for later."

"You're going to need to cut your hair," he said as he looked around.

"What?"

"Before we get back to civilization you'll need to cut your hair. The Empire probably thinks you're dead now but we're not going to take the risk of someone recognizing those."

Leia rolled her eyes at the reference to her hair buns but inwardly had to agree with the clone. If they got back to civilization it wouldn't do to be recognized on the spot. Not when they'd been put in the clear with their antics during the escape.

"Where did you get the jet pack anyway?" Leia said, thinking to the way they'd streaked across the desert, half on fire the instant the speeder exploded. No doubt they looked like flying debris to anyone watching.

"Grabbed it just before we got on the shuttle to head planetside. Figured it would come in handy. It did."

"No argument there," Leia said. "You could have told me you had… did you hear that?"

The clone looked around before turning back to her. "Hear what?"

Leia turned her head up to the edge of the ridge surrounding them. "I thought I heard something…"

"Something what?" he took a step closer to her. "A rock falling? A person?"

"It's nothing," Leia said and started walking. "Just the wind."

The clone grabbed her arm, gripping tight enough that Leia almost felt it through her armor.

"What did you hear?"

"My name," she finally said. "I thought I heard someone calling my name."

"Your name."

"I told you it was nothing."

"You didn't hit your head in the escape did you?"

"No! I…"

"What?"

"I…"

"What!?"

"You seriously didn't hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Someone called out to me… I'm supposed to hug the canyon wall."

"You're crazy."

Leia ignored him and walked to the canyon wall, she pushed her hands against the rough stone and then began following close to it, cautious to step over any large rocks that she might see. Not that that was an easy task, no moon or starlight reached this point. All she could do was fumble around a bit hoping to not break her feet against the stone.

"You realize how ridiculous you look."

"Shhh!" Leia said.

"You're seriously going to do what a voice only you can hear tells you to do?"

"Shhh!" Leia whispered as loud as she dared, grabbing the clone and pulling him up to the stones. "Don't say anything, don't do anything! Look up to the ridge, three o'clock."

The clone tilted his head for a moment but then did as he was told. Immediately he straightened his body against the stone. He saw it too. A lone figure up top, and in the glint of the moon, the sight of a blaster barrel could be seen aiming downward at them.

Leia nodded when he looked to her. He then did something that surprised her. He quietly removed his helmet and then began working on the chest piece of his armor. Leia took a breath and then did the same. The white, plastoid armor would give them away easily if it hadn't already. Their only chance was to hope that the potential sniper didn't have night vision and that the black jumpsuits underneath the armor would give them enough cover to hide with.

Once the armor was properly doffed Leia proceeded to follow along the rockface, just liked the voice had instructed her. At this point she didn't question where it came from, not when it led them away from the sniper.

But as they continued she would glance up at the ridge and cringe. The sniper kept following them, aiming the blaster downward every now and again as if to find them. How long would they be followed? Until daylight when they wouldn't be able to hide?

The clone kept a grip on her arm, occasionally pointing to a fallen rock they needed to avoid. At least he did until they came up to the boulder. The massive rock sat right in front of their trail. Too smooth to climb but large enough that if they went around it, they would expose themselves.

Leia searched for any other avenue of escape, any route that might allow them to stay in the shadows but none appeared. She tried to 'listen' for further instructions but nothing came. The clone had put himself on one knee so he could aim his blaster. But Leia knew that the chances of him making the shot would be slim. And give away their position.

She grabbed his shoulder and shook her head but he ignored her and continued to train his blaster on the figure up on the ridge. Leia bit her lip and turned to face the boulder, feeling for any divots or hand holds she might find. She glanced back at the clone who looked ready to pull the trigger.

Below

The voice came to her so suddenly that Leia stiffened up. She didn't wait for further advice, she instantly fell to her knees and groped the ground for… whatever it was that was below.

"Be ready to run," the clone whispered.

"No!" Leia said "Stop… follow me."

She didn't wait to see if he would do as she said. Instead she flattened herself against the ground and pushed forward. Just below a jutting rock formation was a small cavern of some kind. No… not a cavern… a tunnel. It kept going the more Leia pushed forward, noticing the gradual incline even as she also noted how tight it was. With every couple feet forward she could feel it pressing on her back, even making her have to exhale all the breath in her lungs at one point to move.

For a few moments she considered going back but she realized she didn't even know if she could at this point. She might hit the clone and even if she did get back out there… a sniper waited for them. Forward was the only way.

Eventually the incline increased and with it, an opening appeared ahead. Leia did her best to keep her breath calm as she inched upward, feeling as though she might slip at any moment. She tried to listen for blaster fire or for the sound of her companion making his way up the tunnel but she heard nothing.

Finally her fingers clasped the edge of the tunnel and she dragged herself out of the hole. Flopping onto the sand and staring up at the stars. She heaved welcome breaths of fresh desert air before looking first to the horizon, noticing an outcropping of rocks nearby that would shield them from any sniper's view. Then she looked the other way and saw the hovel.

Leia sat up even as she heard the clone nearing. A strange adobe home in the middle of the desert. How did it even get out here?

A strange wind kicked up and Leia thought she heard a humming noise. The clone managed to pull himself out of the hole but Leia was on her feet, staring at the hovel, looking for any sign of life inside. It was as dark as everything else around them.

"What is this place?" the clone said.

"I don't know…" Leia said. "But… it seems somehow familiar…"

"Familiar…what… what does… that…"

Leia turned to him just as he flopped over on his side. She bent down, worried that he might have injured himself somehow but he looked to be simply sleeping. Not just sleeping, but sleeping like the dead. He even snored when she started shaking him.

When nothing she did roused her companion, Leia looked back up to the hovel and felt her breath catch when she spotted a faint blue light through a window.

Forgetting her companion, Leia crept forward, stepping lightly as she approached the hut. For a few moments she considered going back and grabbing the blaster she knew the clone had brought up with him but instead she just kept walking until she reached the doorway.

The first thing she noted was the faded scorch marks. Something had blown this door wide open years ago. She entered into the main room to find a somewhat spartan dwelling place. A couple of chairs, a small table, a kitchen area and another couple of rooms attached to the main one. All of it caked in a layer of dust.

No one had been in this place in years.

She looked around, there were no signs of tracks in the dust save for hers. Not even animal tracks. Nothing dared come in here… except for her. Her eyes went up and she noticed the blaster marks on the ceiling and along the walls. A chair nearby was completely demolished, cut through clean and as if it got in the way of the struggle that had taken place here.

A fight had taken place but she saw no sign that anything had been disturbed otherwise and no sign as to who might have lived here. There certainly wasn't any light in here, she doubted that there was any electricity to be had. She could see no reason why she had been led to this place.

Then her eyes fell to the nearby chest.

Instinctively she knelt beside it and ran her finger over it, cutting a clean line through the dust. She moved her fingers to the edge of the lid and pulled only to find it locked. Leia looked around for a key or something to pry it open but when none appeared she turned her attention back to the lid.

Her eyes spied a series of letters. She ran her hand over it to clear the dust but then jumped back when they lit up in an electronic sequence. It was a security system. One designed to keep the chest locked and only open given the right identification.

And apparently the identification process had begun because the numbers and flashed and processed. Leia leaned up on her feet so she could look out a window. The clone still slept and the night remained completely still.

When she turned her eyes back to the identification system she gasped when she saw it had formed a name. 'Leia Organa'. She heard a click and the lid popped open just a bit. Leia covered her mouth when she realized that a strange box in an abandoned hut, in the middle of a desert world on the outer rim was keyed to identify her!

How was this possible?

Leia hooked her fingers under the rim of the lid and pulled it up. She found no treasures or jewels or anything one might keep in a box with such an intricate locking mechanism. Instead she found old journals, various knick knacks, some clothes, and some strange cubes.

The wind stirred and Leia looked over her shoulder. She was alone. Leia turned back to the box and felt around inside for anything she might have missed. She reached under some robes and her hand found something metallic. Carefully she clasped it then drew it from the box. Instantly recognizing it when she saw it.

A lightsaber.

The weapon of the Jedi.

She looked around again. Was this… was this the home of Obi-wan Kenobi?

The lightsaber felt… warm to the touch for some reason and Leia felt her thumb over the activator switch. She didn't bother to see if anyone was watching, she merely depressed the switch and watched as the cyan blade leaped from the hilt, filling the room with its light… a light not dissimilar to the one she'd seen before she entered the hovel.

Leia gave the lighsaber a couple of experimental swishes before switching it off. Then she nearly dropped it again when she realized the light in the room hadn't faded with it.

The light had not faded because right in front of her stood a translucent figure casting off a bluish glow on the walls around him. Leia almost flicked on the lightsaber again but something about the figure radiated calm. She peered at it and her eyes widened when it took the form of a man. A man dressed in Jedi robes and sporting a beard.

The spirit… or figure or whatever it was approached with a look of infinite calm and even relief on his face. As if he'd been waiting a lifetime for this moment. He held his hands tucked in his robes sleeves as he neared her. Leia had never believed in ghosts but she couldn't deny what was in front of her.

"Hello Leia," the Jedi said, his voice echoing slightly. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see you here."

"Obi-wan?" she breathed. "Obi-wan Kenobi?"

"No," he shook his head. "In life, my name was Qui-gon Jinn. I was Obi-wan's Jedi Master. I have come to you tonight because you, Leia Organa are Obi-wan's only hope."