Chapter 6: The apprentice lives
Ever since her time since the events of Order 66, Ahsoka has not known the peace that she sought after as her time as a Jedi. She knew she could never plant her roots for long as the inquisitors are always on the move. Even though in the official records say she is dead, the fact remains that it is better to always be on the move. The more that people know about you the better. The last thing she needs to do is get involved with another Imperial death trooper brigade coming after her. Always using the lessons that Anakin taught her, she knew when she was his apprentice what the others in the temple thought of her. The Chosen One being the one who covered her training caused many to be jealous and have to work twice as hard to gain their respect. Always wondering how she convinced Anakin to train her when he was adamant that he would never train a Jedi.
Being pulled from her thoughts as the beeping of the ship brought her up to the planet she was approaching. Tatooine. This was not a planet she had visited very often. Whenever they were here, it was always a source of pain for Anakin. Although she did not know why she was going here, she had a feeling that the Force was calling her to this place. Something she could not place was calling her here, the closer she got the stronger the feeling was. There was also a hint of familiarity to the planet, although it was not from her memories as this was distinctly different.
Being pulled from her thoughts as she prepared to land she went into the outskirts of Mos Eisley. Landing she took a minute to collect her thoughts, and took time to meditate as the Sandstorm made its way through so she would not have time to go through and try to find a place to hide from the invasion of any troopers or inquisitors. Although the fact that this sandstorm was close by, Ahsoka was able to get surprisingly close to the Mos Eisley spaceport. Much to her dismay and knowledge of troop departures on any given planet, the fact that only the inner city was filled with imperial support on hand meant only one thing… an assault. But the question of who seems to be such a threat was evading her. The pulling of calling her in the Force, as if nothing else mattered. The pull on her heart knowing that this is her mission not just trying to survive. Going against everything that she has deemed to be necessary since the time of Order 66. The conviction carried Ahsoka to pack the things she will need, to go out into the desert, closer to danger, closer to the Empire.
Elsewhere, Kenobi and Nari were preparing for the coming onslaught of the brigade of troopers in tight formation, the fact that the group of incoming troopers brought him back to the days of past in such dire circumstances.
"General Kenobi, we are being surrounded sir. We have to fall back to the inner city or we will risk losing the remaining troops we have. With so few supplies and not being able to relay to the ship we could risk losing Christophsis." Replied Commander Cody and having the final troops escorted back to the main base. Obi-Wan grimaced at these dire moves.
"Understood Commander. Meet with Captain Rex and Cody to see what our next moves will be as we continue to slow down the forces of droids from coming through." Obi-Wan continued to hold on and keep them as far away as possible by deflecting the shots of the droids on the front lines for as long as possible before he himself went back to the base as well.
Once safe at the base he had a huge sigh of relief to see his former Padawan and now Jedi Knight standing to the Commander and Captain of this military team prepare for the coming onslaught of the droid attack.
"Anakin! It is so good to see you are okay! How are our numbers? This attack is going to be ruthless if we don't put a stop to these droids quickly!"
"Master, unfortunately I don't know how much longer we will be able to resist the oncoming attack of the droids with our forces down 40%. They now out number us 3 to 1. Unless we receive some help, I don't see u having the necessary firepower to withstand the technological advantage of the droid army along with the lack of reinforcements on my end."
The grim look on Anakin's face says it all. The reality was that it was going to be difficult to overcome the forces when they had so few of their own. Anakin who would never admit defeat, now seeing the reality of situation becoming quite dire, when all of a sudden, a small transport ship lands and behold a young Togruta walked down the ramp with twenty clone troopers in tow.
As the walkers started to blast the base. The fact that the memory that was being pulled to him was the memory of first meeting Ahsoka was something that he had not expected. As while he had somewhat of a close relationship with her as Anakin's apprentice, the fact that after the events of her getting framed, that the relationship was strained. Hearing Anakin blame him along with the counsel hurt. As he knew that he should have done more, but to say he didn't try to stop the council from going along with the Senate was almost impossible. Especially as a young voice that had to listen to the authority of Windu and Yoda who seemed unsure of the whole situation.
This made Obi-Wan question why the Force gave him this vision. Then hearing the call of his fellow Rebel bandits to try and fight back. Igniting his saber he went to go to work wanting to defend the soldiers and stop this tyrannical regime from the last burning embers from this hidden base, away to be safe themselves. Each deflected laser bolt and imperial soldier going down has been one that disheartened the Jedi master. The fact that some of them could have been one where the lives of these same soldiers defended him in the clone wars and yet killed his friends and his way of life. The dual bittersweet feeling of having to take them down to protect these new allies was no easy task mentally. Although still in shape to fight due to the dangerous terrains of the desert conditions of Tatooine. Deepening his connection to the living Force, but igniting his saber as the pain. Seeped back into his mind, the pain, the suffering which made his movements and technique sloppy. While these mere stormtroopers were not much of a threat against him, instead taking them down and to everyone else seemed to look like the Jedi Master's legend of old. Taking these troopers similar to taking down the droids of the clone wars.
Then appearing before him was the Grand Inquisitor the smile of getting to battle Obi-Wan himself.
"Well Master Kenobi what a surprise to find you on such a desolate world. Certainly a long way from the Jedi temple. Why don't you just turn yourself and your young friend in and we can leave these men at peace." The clear lie in his voice filled with disgust.
"You offer peace, but only see destruction of the very thing you have offered." Obi-Wan reforming his original stance that he had used since the Clone Wars he tried to keep in the same mindset. Fully prepared to engage and defend against this rogue lightsaber wielder. He himself ignited his own blade and taking his stance began to prepare eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be known as the man who took down Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Then running the two clashed their sabers at one another with a fury of speed and strength. The red and blue blades dancing with so much speed and ferocity that even the other Rebel fighters and Stormtroopers who happened to glance and see these two dueling experts before them.
Unfortunately for Kenobi his lack of focus with the Force leaves him vulnerable to the varied attacks of the Grand Inquisitor. As he was able to nick his shoulder and leg falling to his knees and grimacing in pain, Obi-Wan accepted that he failed. He didn't want to fail, but the pain of losing Anakin he accepted.
"You disappoint me, Master Kenobi. I fully expected you to put me to a real test, but nevertheless, you are now just an old man." He raises his lightsaber ready to strike only for Kenobi to see the Grand Inquisitor thrown into the wall.
As Kenobi looks up he sees Ahsoka jump in front of him with her two white blades drawn. Her skill and ferocity much improved from the time that the he saw her as a padawan during the Clone Wars. Now as an older and more mature warrior she jumped into action driving the Grand Inquisitor back so much so that he pulled back his troops to regroup and defend him against Ahsoka.
"You may have one this day Jedi but it will come at a cost." Then throwing his saber and stabbing Nari in the chest and then calling the saber back to him as the troops retreated.
Obi-Wan ran over to the fallen Jedi and holding him in his arms felt the same heartbreak as he had all those years ago on Naboo.
"Nari!"
"It's okay Obi-Wan, its okay. My fight is over with, and I am going to be one with the Force. You are called to something greater. Know that I will be in peace, not despair. Live the good fight Obi-Wan." As Nari finished his condolences to the older Jedi, he breathed his last.
Ahsoka who was clearly uncomfortable with the moment between the two Jedi, before she interjected.
"Master Kenobi, I know that this is tough for you, but we must get moving if we are to escape before the reinforcements come back." The two quickly entered the hangar and got onto the command ship just as it was beginning to take off leaving the planet behind.