Obi-Wan claimed the extra seat in the cockpit. Bane sneered, but Obi-Wan merely raised an eyebrow. They'd made use of the mortuary to escape the prison and promptly stolen a prison transport. Privately, Obi-Wan admitted Bane's prison escape plan was flawless. Indeed, Obi-Wan's ongoing mental file for the prison administration continued to grow by the hour.
Bane destroyed the prison ship's homing beacon before they left Coruscant's atmosphere. Even so, a second ship awaited them just off-world, complete with new clothes. After extracting an additional fee from Eval, Bane gave Obi-Wan his spare set of clothes. Obi-Wan needed to contact the Council, but Bane's watchful eyes rendered that a near impossibility.
"Where to?" Obi-Wan asked.
"The lovely planet Serenno," Eval said. "There we shall meet our employer and join the rest of the crew." The planet sounded familiar. Certainly it was aligned with the Separatists.
The elusive employer… Obi-Wan wondered who it would be. Someone with deep pockets. Likely a Separatist, though not guaranteed. Instead, Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and asked, "The rest? How many others?"
Bane growled a warning that Eval ignored. "You make the sixth member of our little outfit."
"Six." A large number of bounty hunters, to be sure, but not unwarranted for their target. Obi-Wan side-eyed Bane. "The best of the best, right? I won't be sticking my neck on the line if they're imbeciles."
Bane snorted.
"Vetted them myself," Eval proclaimed, puffing out his chest.
"Any I know?"
Bane answered before Eval. "You ask an awful lot of questions, Hardeen."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Why, Bane, if I didn't know any better, I would think you didn't trust me."
"I don't."
"Then we understand each other."
"Boys, boys," Eval chuckled. "Two more days and then you'll be free to fight it out. Let's keep it civil until then or I'll slaughter you both myself."
0
Thick jungles, leaves glittering with morning dew, replaced Serenno's sweeping plains.
"Right on schedule," Bane murmured as he began the landing sequence. Straight ahead, a palace, perched between two mountains, loomed. Small shrubs lined the landing platform.
The ship landed and the ramp extended. Eval led Bane and Obi-Wan off the ship. Humidity blanketed the air. "Ah, our employer awaits," Eval said.
Obi-Wan turned and nearly stumbled down the ramp. Really, he should have known. Count Dooku, flanked by four magma guards, approached from the palace entrance. "Good payout indeed," Obi-Wan muttered. Taunts danced on the edge of his tongue. The great Count Dooku, reduced to hiring bounty hunters.
"I see Cad Bane is with you," Dooku remarked when they met in the middle. Narrowed eyes studied Obi-Wan. "But who is this?"
"This is Rako Hardeen, Kenobi's killer." Eval smirked. "I thought he might prove….useful in taking care of any unexpected interference."
"Enough talk," Bane interrupted. "I want my money."
Time to test his luck. "That makes two of us," Obi-Wan added.
"You shall have it, and perhaps much more, both of you," Dooku assured. He turned back to Obi-Wan. "I am very much interested in hearing how you managed to kill one of the Jedi Order's strongest warriors with a mere sniper rifle."
Obi-Wan shrugged. "Not everyone has the skill to kill a Jedi. I do. What? You looking for lessons? It'll cost you."
To Obi-Wan's surprise and Bane's annoyance, Dooku chuckled. "Perhaps you were, for once, correct, Eval. Now, I believe further introductions are in order." Dooku raised his arm and three aliens approached from the shadowed recesses of the palace. Dooku gestured to a male Kyuzo, a female Frenk, and a male Parwan, saying in turn, "Embo, Twazzi, and Derrown, meet Cad Bane and Rako Hardeen."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at each of the bounty hunters. They were an eclectic group, to be sure, but each renowned in their own right. No doubt each hunter possessed a skill or talent that uniquely qualified them for a particular role in what Obi-Wan now suspected was truly Dooku's plan.
The stakes just became that much higher.
0
Obi-Wan stared at the sniper rifle case. So uncivilized. He pulled his dingy comlink from his belt. Finally, he could make contact with the Council. There was too much to say and so little time.
"Obi-Wan, thank goodness you're alive," Windu's voice crackled over the link. "We were worried when we never heard from you."
"Yes," Obi-Wan muttered. "Though I've seen better days. I'm here in Theed." He opened the case. The rifle parts chilled his hands.
"Dooku's plan is still on?"
"Yes. The Festival of Light."
"How are they planning to attack the Chancellor?"
"Three of the bounty hunters are disguised as senate guards. Eval is the getaway driver and they have a Parawan who can pass through the ray shield. I have a sniper rifle." He clicked the final piece in place. "Don't worry. It's loaded with stun blasts. I am to immobilize the Chancellor, not kill him."
Obi-Wan lifted the rifle to his shoulder and slipped onto the balcony.
"Where are you located?" Windu asked.
Obi-Wan propped the rifle on the balcony and crouched down behind. The warm Naboo breeze tugged on his clothes. "In a tower overlooking the plaza."
"So the attack is to take place outside," Windu mused. "During the ceremony."
"Yes."
"From this vantage point, I will be able to tell you everything that's going on." Obi-Wan adjusted the scope. He smirked when he caught Windu within his crosshairs. "They will try to infiltrate the security area. Make sure you have someone double-check the guards' identities."
"That'll take time I'm afraid we won't have."
"You'll have to do your best, my friend."
Windu ended the transmission and Obi-Wan settled in for a long wait.
The shifting shadows marked the passing hours. From his perch, Obi-Wan closely observed the staff preparing for the festival until, finally, the sun slipped off to sleep and the stars emerged.
Anakin led the small party of officials on to the plaza. Ahsoka flanked Padmé while Windu remained with the Chancellor.
The ray shield rose in a shimmering dome surrounding the plaza. Anakin nodded to the Chancellor, who accepted the signal and rose with dignity. Palpatine stepped to the podium in the center of the plaza and lifted his eyes to the crowd. "It is an honor to be here for this momentous occasion."
Obi-Wan ignored the rest of Palpatine's pretty speech. He watched the Senate guards patrolling around the plaza closely, studying for the slightest sign of duplicity. If he was a betting man, he'd bet that Dooku planned to utilize the light show as a distraction.
The first set of lights exploded in a brilliant display of color against the dark night sky. "So far so good," Obi-Wan murmured to Windu in the comlink. He swiveled the scope to the ray shield - where he would strike first if this was his mission. A security guard halted his patrol behind the shield generator. The briefest flicker revealed the truth: it was Derrown, the Parawan. "East side! Guard on the stairs is the Parawan."
"Skywalker! Generator!" Windu barked.
But it was too late. The generator exploded, knocking Anakin and Palpatine to the ground. Windu rushed to Palpatine's side. Anakin launched into the air and over the railing. Obi-Wan kept his sight on Anakin, only to curse under his breath; the wrapping staircase hid Anakin and Derrown. Obi-Wan trained his scope on the last place he spotted Anakin. Within moments, Derrown shot into the sky. One quick shot, and Derrown's disabled jet pack sent him spiraling into the palace wall. But no sign of Anakin.
"Mace, Anakin is down and I don't see Bane anywhere."
"I'll get Anakin. We'll find him," Windu grunted.
Obi-Wan kept his aim on the Chancellor. Two guards flanked the fallen politician, but Obi-Wan didn't know how well the guards' had been vetted.
The guards knelt by the Palpatine. Their backs faced Obi-Wan, blocking his view of the Chancellor, but the tell-tale shimmer that swept over one guard could not be mistaken.
"The Chancellor!" Obi-Wan shouted into the comlink. "The guards are bounty hunters. One of them took his appearance!" Obi-Wan lined up the shot, but cursed when the rifle jammed.
"We could use your help down here, Obi-Wan," Windu said.
"Copy that."
Obi-Wan abandoned the rifle. He bolted from the nook. Two quick turns and fresh air slammed into him. Obi-Wan jumped into the waiting speeder.
His smile held a feral edge as he sped towards the fray. Finally, it was time to reveal the truth of 'Rako Hardeen'.
0
Quick thinking foiled Eval's plot to abduct the Chancellor and all the bounty hunters simmered behind bars, but something niggled at Obi-Wan. He had a terrible feeling that there was something they had missed, some important piece of the puzzle. He had a feeling that something was still afoot. He'd suspected it when his rifle jammed after one shot. The feeling worsened when the bounty hunters were neatly captured.
Obi-Wan returned to the balcony. His gear remained untouched. Obi-Wan studied the rifle case. He ran careful fingers along each surface and between each crack. There. A listening device. Just as he feared. Dooku knew of his duplicity all along. Yet he'd not called off the plan. He'd allowed his minions to be captured.
Unless that was the plan all along. The entire thing was a ploy - a diversion to fool the Jedi into believing the danger had passed.
Obi-Wan raced through the palace. Unless Dooku had already gotten the Chancellor, Palpatine would be heading to lunch with Anakin. His feet pounded on the beautiful tile. Anakin's scream propelled Obi-Wan faster. He skidded around the corner to find Anakin collapsed on the floor, heaving for breath and struggling to rise.
Obi-Wan helped Anakin to his feet. "Are you alright?"
Anakin growled, "Come on."
"Together, this time," Obi-Wan reminded Anakin as they ran after Dooku.
"Don't need to remind me," Anakin snapped.
Two magma guards pushed Palpatine up the ramp onto Dooku's ship. Dooku followed behind, hands clasped loosely behind his back. Obi-Wan and Anakin, lightsabers swinging, launched themselves behind Dooku. Anakin clashed blades with Dooku while Obi-Wan grabbed Palpatine and jumped from the ship with him. Dooku sent Anakin flying behind them with a single shove from the Force. He landed with an undignified grunt.
Obi-Wan watched Dooku straighten. "Well done, Master Kenobi," Dooku taunted. "You are a worthy adversary. I cannot say the same about your former apprentice." The ship doors closed behind Dooku and the ship rocketed away. Dooku would get away - this time - but Anakin was unharmed and the Chancellor was safe.
"Are you alright, Chancellor?" Anakin asked.
"Thanks to your heroics I am."
Anakin bowed with a small flourish. "Heroics are our speciality."
Four members of the Queen's security rushed onto the veranda. "The threat is truly passed now," Palpatine told them, gesturing for them to stand down. "Perhaps now I may eat dinner in peace."
Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed to the Chancellor.
"You'll have to excuse me after all," Anakin said. "I appear to have other duties to attend to."
Palpatine's eyes cut to Obi-Wan. "Pity," Palpatine said, but he smiled. "Another time, then."
Anakin bowed his head. "Of course."
The Queen's guards escorted Palpatine back inside the palace. Anakin turned to Obi-Wan and swept a critical eye over him. "You look terrible." He sniffed and recoiled. "And you smell worse."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"Seriously. You need to get rid of that ugly face and then take a long, long, long bath."
Obi-Wan grinned. "I'll have you know that this face just saved the Republic."
"Whatever." Anakin chuckled. His smile vanished. "You didn't hear."
Unease replaced Obi-Wan's mirth. "Hear what?"
"Someone tried to kill Adrina. Some psycho out for vengeance for his dead wife. He blamed the Jedi and Adrina. Thought he could be the next Rako Hardeen."
Obi-Wan grimaced. "I heard about the attempt when the shooter was transferred to the prison. He actually helped solidify my place in Eval's plot," Obi-Wan admitted.
"At least his pathetic life had some purpose," Anakin muttered. "Unfortunately, he was killed in the riot when you escaped prison. We never did learn who tipped him off on Adrina's location. Still don't know if they were party to the attempt or if they just made the wrong comment to the wrong person. Temple security couldn't find anything in the hospital communication records and there was no security breach."
Obi-Wan clenched his fist. Not only did they not know who endangered Adrina, they didn't know how. "But Adrina…. She's really alright? She wasn't harmed?"
A sympathetic smile flashed across Anakin's face. "She's fine," Anakin assured him. "The police captain I'm friends with - the one who told me about it - said he had never seen someone take attempted murder so well."
"She puts on a good front," Obi-Wan murmured. She'd never let a stranger see her struggle. Then she would shove the fear and pain down as deep as it could go, bury it with the rest of the messy emotions she had in abundance. She would face them enough to function, to convince herself she processed the trauma, but not enough to heal. He stroked his chin only to drop it in disgust. It was high time he had his own face back.
Anakin sighed. "That's my concern. She was in denial the last time I saw her, before we knew for sure it was personal. The Chancellor asked me to stay as his bodyguard until we're back on Coruscant, so you'll be back before me. Check on her, will you?"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. As if he hadn't already planned on it.
"I know things are weird between you," Anakin said with a shrug.
Obi-Wan rubbed the back of his neck. True enough, but he would accept all of Adrina's burning anger if it meant she was alive and safe.
0
"Chancellor Palpatine is safe; Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka are on their way to Coruscant. All are well." Adrina reread Padmé's message for at least the twentieth time since she received it a day and a half prior.
Adrina slipped her feet from her boots, placing them at her side, and hiked up her skirt to her knees. She sat down on the embankment and dipped her feet in the cool water. The quiet rush of the small waterfall to her left in the Room of a Thousand Fountains did its part to drown out the ever-present cacophony in Adrina's mind. Each lap of water on her shins softened the jagged spikes she felt surrounding her heart.
Adrina bowed her head. Obi-Wan. She sensed him, rooted, mere feet away.
The world quieted.
Adrina felt his eyes heavy on her back. She should turn. She should look at him. She should do something, but every muscle locked her firmly in place. She sensed Obi-Wan was similarly rooted. Distance, Adrina reminded herself, was for the best, even if every instinct longed to hurl her body against his.
"Are you alright?"
Oh, but that voice… Obi-Wan is alive. Relief slammed into her. He was alive. She was alive. Despite it all, they survived. Adrina swallowed her unexpected and unwanted tears. "I should be asking you that," she whispered. "That's my job."
Obi-Wan took a single step forward and said, "Anakin told me someone tried to kill you."
How did Anakin know? It didn't matter. "Good thing I'm notoriously difficult to kill." Emotion clogged her throat, ruining the levity she attempted. She grimaced.
"Addy…"
The pain in Obi-Wan's voice pierced her heart. "I'm alright." Adrina waved away his concern even as a tear slid down her cheek.
Obi-Wan closed the distance between them in three long strides. He dropped to the ground next to her and hauled her into his lap. A warm hand on her neck pressed her face into his firm, broad chest. That single action broke the dam and released the floodwaters. A sob wracked her. He held her firmly, one hand rubbing circles on her back, uncaring that her tears soaked his tunic.
Though her tears were short lived, his hold did not loosen when they subsided.
"I'm sorry," Adrina whispered into his tunic. "I don't know what brought that on. I'm being ridiculous."
Obi-Wan's chuckle vibrated through her. His grip tightened. "I can think of a few dozen perfectly good reasons. Shall I name them for you?"
"No," Adrina snorted. She knew the reasons well enough when she reflected.
Obi-Wan rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I was afraid you would still be angry with me."
Adrina sighed. She reluctantly pulled away, gently extricating herself from his arms and leaving the warmth and comfort of his lap. A faint moist trail snaked down Obi-Wan's cheek. The sight of Obi-Wan's grief nearly broke her.
Distance is good. "I was." She scrubbed her face. "I tried to be, at least. But Anakin talked sense into me. And when Master Drallig told me someone tried to kill me, all I could think about was how….how much I would...regret our last parting."
Pain slashed across Obi-Wan's face.
Adrina searched Obi-Wan's eyes. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
Obi-Wan sighed. He raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I hoped, rather than believed, you would understand my message. I…. couldn't believe you wouldn't. I tried to walk the line between following the will of the Council and doing what I knew was right, but failed. I am truly sorry, Addy. I betrayed your trust - and Anakin and Ahsoka's. Please forgive me."
Adrina closed her eyes. She feared this was only the beginning of Obi-Wan's difficult decisions. "I owe you an apology of my own. For lashing out without fully considering your position. I spoke in anger and hurt and for that I am sorry."
"How about this?" The corners of Obi-Wan's lips threatened to lift. "Next time I'm assigned to a top-secret mission, I simply tell you? Even if I cannot divulge the details, I will tell you what I can. And if ever I must pretend to be dead, we plan it together."
Adrina nodded mutely. Tears burned the back of her eyes again. She ducked her head. Adrina cleared her throat. "And I will strive to keep an open mind and rein in my unruly tongue."
Obi-Wan's eyes dropped to her mouth and all breath left her body. The air around them grew heavy. Love and wistfulness lit Obi-Wan's eyes, drawing her in like a tractorbeam. Yet even though Obi-Wan stood just within her reach, an uncrossable gulf stretched wide between them.
Do the right thing. Adrina looked away and stepped back, breaking the spell.
"I'm glad we are both safe," Obi-Wan murmured.
Adrina's smile wobbled. Perhaps with very good fortune they could remain that way.
0
Adrina lives. Obi-Wan left the Room of a Thousand Fountains with lighter steps. She was alive and he was forgiven. He glanced at his comlink and frowned. A special meeting with Windu and Yoda never indicated happy news. Naturally, a disaster must follow a celebration.
Obi-Wan diverted his course to the council chambers, away from the refectory. He could eat after.
Obi-Wan bowed to Windu and Yoda. The rest of the Council was noticeably absent.
"Glad you are here, I am." Yoda waved his hands and the darkness blanketed the small room. "A message you have received. From the planet Raydonia."
Windu pressed a bottom and a hologram materialized on the viewer. Obi-Wan folded his arms with a frown. Surely his eyes deceived him. Five bound humanoids huddled before a Zabrak that bore disturbing resemblance to Darth Maul. He appeared exactly as he did in Obi-Wan's nightmares.
"Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Zabrak purred. A lethal smile that sent a chill skittering down Obi-Wan's spine stretched across the Zabrak's face. He twirled a lightsaber. "I have but one message for you. There will be more innocent blood on your hands, Kenobi, unless you come here. Face me. Come alone, and if you do not,..." His blade swung once and five bodies fell with a sickening, wet thud. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and looked away from the hologram. But the Zabrak's threat echoed in his ears. "This world will burn."