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The month went by faster than any month Padme could remember. And now the day she had been dreading had arrived. She was standing in the hangar at the bottom of the ramp to their ship. Obi-Wan was putting the last of his supplies for the trip on board.
"I think that's it." Obi-Wan headed down the ramp towards Padme. He hadn't been looking forward to this at all. It seemed he was always saying goodbye to her.
Padme was grateful that Yoda had already said his goodbyes in order to give them privacy. The elder Master had also taken it upon himself to watch Luke and Leia. Padme had given herself a pep-talk, telling herself that she would not cry. That had been a pointless exercise! As Obi-Wan enveloped her in his arms, the tears came freely.
"Oh, my sweet Padme. I will come back to you." Obi-Wan ran his hand in soothing circles over her back. He hated that he was adding to Padme's burdens by making this journey.
"You better." Padme held Obi-Wan tight, not wanting to ever let him go. How could she go without being held in these arms for a whole month? That's how long Obi-Wan had guessed it could take for him to do all he needed to do.
Obi-Wan held her a while longer before finally pulling back. He kissed away the tears from her lovely face. "I will." Obi-Wan turned as the door to the small hanger opened, admitting R2D2 and C3PO. R2D2 glided past Obi-Wan and Padme and up the ramp to the ship.
Obi-Wan moved over to the side of the ramp. "R2, what are you doing?"
R2D2 paused and let out a series of beeps and squeaks. C3PO went over to Obi-Wan's side. "He says that he's going with you, Sir."
"No, R2. I would prefer you stay here with Padme."
R2D2 let out sounds that came across as quite…rebellious, before continuing on into the ship. C3PO shook his head. "I'm sorry Master Kenobi, but he seems quite determined to accompany you. He is rather stubborn, you know."
Chuckling, Obi-Wan patted C3PO on the shoulder. "I know. I'll probably end up being glad he came along."
Padme was VERY glad R2 would be going with Obi-Wan. He was a very resourceful droid. Anakin had told her that he had gotten him out of more than a few jams. Padme went over and hugged and kissed Obi-Wan one last time before letting him board.
Obi-Wan paused before heading into the ship. "3PO, help Padme in any way you can with the children."
"I will, Master Kenobi."
After one more long glance at Padme, Obi-Wan entered the ship and readied it for departure.
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"Keep an eye on the sensors, R2. I want an identification on anyone who is nearby. We can't afford to run into any Imperial ships." It had been a few days since they had left their hideout. They were entering occupied space now and Obi-Wan didn't want to take any chances.
R2 beeped his acknowledgement. He had increased the sensor's range while en route. The little droid was determined to keep his new master safe.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and immersed himself in the Force. He reached out, searching for any sense of danger. Nothing immediate. He did notice that the heavy dark cloud that muddied the Force was worse here. It was thick and ominous.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and gazed out the viewport. Their first stop would be a rendezvous with Bail Organa. He didn't like having to involve the senator and thus endangering him, but they needed his help. They could not take the chance of trying to buy supplies on a core world. It would have to be an Outer Rim world. Tatooine, in fact. It was busy enough to have most the supplies they needed and was a good place to blend in. It was also unlikely that any Imperial forces would occupy it yet.
The problem was that Obi-Wan had no money. No money, no supplies. He didn't really like the idea of expecting a handout, but he didn't really have a choice in the matter. He couldn't take the time to work for the money to purchase what they needed. The more time it took to complete this mission, the better the chances were of him being recognized. Bail Organa was their lifeline now. Thank the Force that the man seemed only too happy to help in any way he could.
A beep brought Obi-Wan out of his thoughts. "Okay, R2. I'm taking us out of hyperspace." He maneuvered the controls and set a steady descent to their destination. They were meeting Organa at the same place where they left him a few months before. Obi-Wan kept his senses alert as he brought the ship down onto the landing pad.
Bail Organa was already waiting for them. Obi-Wan let down the ramp to allow the senator on board and then stood up to greet his guest. "Senator Organa, it is good to see you again."
Organa shook the outstretched hand. "You, as well, Master Kenobi. How are Master Yoda, Padme and the babies?"
"All are well, Senator, thank you. How are things in the senate?"
Organa sighed heavily. "Horrible. The Emperor is quickly ridding the senate of any suspected Republic loyalists. All the senators who signed their name to the Petition of the Two Thousand are dead – minus Padme, of course."
Obi-Wan nodded his head glumly. He wasn't really surprised. "Senator, I can't thank you enough for helping us. The last thing I want is to endanger you further."
"It is my honor to help the last of the Jedi. It's the least I can do. Do not worry about my safety, Master Kenobi. I am thought to be an Imperial supporter, for now."
Obi-Wan gestured for him to take a seat. "Senator, have you heard any rumors – any at all – about Jedi survivors?"
Organa's brows raised, knowing immediately what Obi-Wan meant. "Please tell me that you're not thinking…"
"I need to know," Obi-Wan said firmly. "Have you heard ANYTHING about possible survivors?"
"There are always rumors to that effect when something like this happens. You can't know if any of them are substantive!"
"Just let me know the locations where they were alleged to have been seen." Both men turned as R2D2 started making loud and obviously unhappy noises. "R2, I'm sorry I didn't let you in on this, but I'm not changing my mind."
Organa watched as the droid stomped its legs up and down and made sounds of protest. "I concur with your droid wholeheartedly! Master Kenobi, to search for possible survivors could very well be suicide!"
Obi-Wan gazed steadily at the senator. "If there are any Jedi who have survived, I owe it to them to find them and get them to safety."
Organa knew better than to argue further with the stubborn Jedi Master. "Does Padme know about this?" It had been obvious to him at their last meeting that Obi-Wan and Padme were in love.
Obi-Wan looked down guiltily. "No." He threw R2 an irritated look at the droid's reproving sound. "I don't like hiding anything from her, but I knew she would never have voluntarily let me go if I told her. And I would have hated having to bind and gag her so I COULD leave."
At first, the senator couldn't tell if Obi-Wan was joking. But then he caught the mischievous glint in his eyes. Organa chuckled. "Yes, well, I can't say I would blame her."
"Padme has already been through so much. I didn't want her endure the added worry and stress that knowing about this mission would bring."
"And Master Yoda?"
"Master Yoda was not thrilled with the idea of me conducting this search, although he understood my reasons for doing it. He says that he has felt no evidence of surviving Jedi within the Force. However, he could not say that for certain, considering the distance of our refuge from known space."
"I don't think the chances of finding survivors are good." Organa studied the younger man before him. "The Emperor would be only too glad to get his talons into you. Your face will be recognized almost anywhere. If anyone spots you, they may find it worth their while monetarily to let the Imperials know."
"That is the chance I will have to take." Obi-Wan flashed what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I will keep my cloak on at all times. And I will be cautious and keep my senses alert."
"Good. But I won't let you do this alone. I will help you."
"No, Senator! I won't let you risk…"
Organa raised his hand. "I won't brook refusal. I have resources that will aid in your search. I might even be able to get concrete information for you, rather than just hearsay."
Obi-Wan ran his fingers through his hair. "Alright, Senator." Despite his reluctance to put this man in further danger, his help could very well mean the difference between success and failure. IF there were any other Jedi still alive…
"I will go and start my research. You go on ahead to Tatooine and get your supplies. I will contact you as soon as I know anything." The senator pulled a small pouch from his cloak. "This should be enough funds to get you everything you need."
Obi-Wan took the bag with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Senator, for everything."
"You're welcome." Bail Organa reached out and shook Obi-Wan's hand. "I will speak with you soon."
Obi-Wan watched as the senator walked down the ramp. He then headed back to the cockpit and readied the ship for departure. He couldn't help his smile as R2D2 came into the cockpit, making noises that sounded very much like grumbling. Obi-Wan waited for the droid to get connected so he could read what he was saying.
'You are risking too much!'
"R2, I have to do this."
'I saw everything that happened on Mustafar. You are not to blame.'
Obi-Wan stared at R2D2 a moment. It was almost eerie how human the droid could seem at times, not to mention perceptive. He sighed and turned to gaze out the viewport. "It wasn't just Mustafar. It was everything that led up to it." He had dealt with the worst of his grief and his guilt, but there was still a part of him that felt responsible for Anakin's fall. He had buried it deep down, away from Yoda and Padme.
'Master Anakin's choices led to Mustafar.'
Obi-Wan nodded his head and flashed R2 a wan smile. The irony of the situation was not lost on him. Many a time he had teased Anakin about treating R2D2 like a human. And here he was having a heart-to-heart (so to speak) talk with R2 about Anakin! This was NOT the time to get distracted by the past, though. "Let's go over the supply list again, R2..."