Chapter 7 - Under Cover
While Emperor Vader waited on the Senatorial inquest of Nix Card, Obi-Wan Kenobi was stuck in a slow transport taking him to the planet Sullust. More precisely, he wouldn't be touching down on the planet itself, but heading directly towards Sulon, an agricultural moon. Although the Jedi was reluctant to leave Luke and Leia alone back on Naboo, Sabe convinced him it would be worthwhile to take the excursion. There were signs of Imperial presence in the Sullust system. Whether an action of Palpatine before his death, or one Vader initiated, it was unlikely to be good news for the people of Sulon or Sullist. It certainly wouldn't be good for the nascent group of Old Republic loyalists who had spent the last few months gathering in the Outer Rim system.
Traveling with Obi-Wan was another Purge survivor. A Jedi he'd never met, but one whose name he'd recognized from the rolls of casualties back during the Clone Wars.
"Good to meet you, Marek," Kenobi said with a nod when the hooded figure sat down next to him in the cramped passenger seats of the cheap transport. Funds were stretched thin and Sabe could hardly afford to send them first-class.
"Kenobi," Kento Marek replied and took his seat.
"You were listed among the dead," Obi-Wan said with a bit of reproach in his voice.
"Mallie and I left the Order. We decided we wanted a fresh start. If both sides thought we were dead, all the better. Of course, when we felt the Purge, it seemed like a far wiser decision than we predicted."
"Mallie?"
"My wife. We met in the opening days of the Clone Wars," Kento explained. "The original plan was for the two of us to handle this, but Galen just hit the terrible twos," he said and quickly added, "Galen is our son."
"That explains why you renounced the Code. How have you two, or three I suppose, managed?"
"Well enough. Hiding on Eriadu has worked well. Busy trade port, so its hard to keep track of a single family living in the shadows. We planned to head towards Kashyyyk, but after Sabe found us, we decided it was the Will of the Force. So here I am, sitting on a grimy ship with you while Mallie takes care of our boy. Speaking of Sabe, how did she find you?"
"She didn't. I found her. I was looking for someone to smuggle me onto Naboo and she was one of the few I knew could be trusted. Helped set me up on a small farmstead well outside of any city."
"Why Naboo?"
"Senator Padme Amadala's orphaned children were entrusted to my care. I'm… watching over them, per Master Yoda's instructions."
Marek went silent for a moment, taking it in. "I didn't even know the former Queen was pregnant."
"It was kept very hush-hush." Obi-wan said. He didn't explain further, not ready to deal with the emotional turmoil of those final hours on Mustafar. Happily for him, Marek left the matter alone and they drifted to talking about their younger days within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. A pleasant enough diversion as they traveled through the hyperspace lanes towards their destination.
###
When Kenobi and Marek arrived on Sulon, they were greeted in person by their primary contact, Morgan Katarn, a Republic Loyalist, farmer, and engineer. Although the Katarn family tried to avoid trouble, the arrival of the Galactic Empire spurred him to action. Not a Jedi, Morgan did still possess some Force-sensitivity. Enough to get premonitions of what awaited the system if Imperials arrived in numbers. Sullust, being a major exporter of starships, droids, and hyperdrive tech, was an attractive target for the Empire, even if it was in the Outer Rim. Beyond that, many Sullustians were devout supporters of the Old Republic and would become the target of reprisals. As such, he felt compelled to offer what assistance he could to Sabe and her allies in stymieing any efforts the Empire attempted on his home.
"Pleasure to meet you both, Morgan said, driving his land speeder away from the city of Barons Hed and its space port. Kenobi and Marek rode in the back, what little they brought with them stowed securely in cargo capsules. They'd kept conversation to a bare minimum while within the port, not knowing who might be listening. Thankfully, it would be some time before they arrived at the Katarn farmstead, giving Morgan a chance to update them on current events.
"What, exactly is happening?" Kenobi asked.
"Imperial representatives arrived from Coruscant. We don't know what they want, but the fact they've kept quiet about it is more than a little suspicious. As soon as their shuttle landed we put out word to the wider Resistance. Once Lady Sabe found out, she offered us a pair of Jedi."
Hardly uplifting news. It was surprising that the Empire would try a move this far from their centers of power so quickly. After all, Vader only recently took charge and after the fall of the Republic, maintaining control was a task all its own. However, access to Sullist's orbital shipyards meant a good chance to dominate the entire sector. New starships, along with dry docks for repair and re-arming, would give Vader all he needed to police the hyperspace lanes and strangle any chance Sabe and her people had to fight back. Republic Loyalists were already pushed out of the Core. Any Imperial establishment here would mean even the Outer Rim wasn't safe.
"What have these Imperials done so far?" Kenobi asked.
"Nothing beyond a few social calls," Morgan answered. "They seem to be playing nice, but it feels like confrontation is more a matter of if, not when."
Both Marek and Obi-Wan perked up when Morgan mentioned what he felt. Those with slight Force sensitivity often spoke in terms of feeling or instinct. Neither Jedi was fool enough to ignore that. Indeed, upon arrival they both felt a subtle wrongness. A slight distortion and darkness which no doubt spoke to the machinations of whoever arrived on that Imperial Shuttle.
"If we're lucky, they sent some thugs to rough up the locals," Marek said with a smile. Being something of an adrenaline junkie, the former Jedi all but looked forward to the chance to let loose against the Empire and its lackeys.
"Don't be too eager," Obi-Wan advised. "We don't know what they have up their sleeves.
"Try saying that after you've been in hiding for a few years," Marek answered. "I haven't even activated my saber since my boy was born."
Less prone to bravado, Obi-Wan didn't consider it such a big deal, but he simply nodded, keeping his own council. "What would you have us do, Katarn?" he asked.
"I think you should see for yourselves first. We'll be home soon. A good meal and a night of sleep might be best. Then you can decide on a course of action."
In all honesty, it was excellent advice. Kenobi and Marek were exhausted from their time aboard the cramped transport. Food and sleep were the bare minimum of their needs at this point. If the people of Sulon, nervous due to Imperial overreach, wanted help, the Jedi would need to be at the top of his game.
###
Whatever name he once owned, the Grand Inquisitor long since turned his back on it. Now, he was an instrument of the Dark Side. Originally a servant of Darth Sideous, the Pau-un male felt the ripples across space through the Force when Darth Vader killed Sheev Palpatine.
His connection to the Force was more than enough to inform him of the folly involved in challenging the Dark Lord of the Sith. As such, he dutifully bent the knee and now found himself in the Sullust system. Once on the surface, he sensed a hot bed of rebellion. His work as an Inquisitor was more than enough to tell him that. Trust was at a premium here. Everywhere one looked, there were side-eyes and cautious glances. Everyone acting like the walls had ears.
Nonsense, of course. The Empire lacked the time and resources to set up operations this far out. It would be years before that could happen. No, despite rumors of the Imperial presence within the system, the local upstart rebels didn't even make the top one hundred on a list of problems. They barely qualified as a rabble as far as Lord Vader was concerned.
No, what they sought was far more important. Those Jedi Holocron were an absolute treasure trove.
And, in the meantime, if rumors meant stirring up trouble makers, the Grand Inquisitor would make use of the happy coincidence and eliminate a future headache.
###
"You know your cover stories?" Katarn asked the Jedi as he shut off the Speeder in front of his expansive farmstead. Morgan was the owner of one of the bigger farms in this region of Sulon, and he had a bit of sway with other locals, meaning it wouldn't be suspicious for him to host guests.
"We're here representing a small engineering conglomerate looking to expand into the agricultural sector," Kento Marek answered. It was a role cooked up by Sabe's team and a reasonable one. In the aftermath of the Purge, and collapse of the Old Republic, plenty of companies were in a panic trying to maintain themselves in uncertain times. Particularly the smaller ones with less room for loss and minimal profit margins.
"Are you sure no one will find our lack of knowledge suspicious?" Kenobi asked Morgan Katarn. "I don't know much about engineering or farming."
Marek's head snapped over to stare at Obi-Wan. "Aren't you hiding out as a farmer!?"
"Droids handle most of it." Kenobi did know the basics, having some small experience, but his new life on Naboo was largely a crash course in agriculture. "I'm just pointing out, if any of the locals question us, our cover is in danger of falling apart."
Katarn unlocked the cargo capsules, allowing the Jedi to gather their sparse belongings, and said, "No trouble there. You two are representatives. Everyone around here expects number crunchers and pencil pushers. Not real farmers. If anything, knowing too much would be more suspicious," he said with a grin. "You're stuffed shirts getting your boots dirty for the first time. Speaking of, you can change into the clothes Sabe sent ahead."
He started to lead them into his home, but just as they reached the walk up to the front entrance he stopped mid-stride. "One more thing, my wife knows about what I'm doing, but my son, Kyle…"
"You'd prefer not to expose him to all this?" Kenobi asked.
"He's only five, so keep up the act around him, please."
"Its for the best," Marek said as he slung his bag over one shoulder. "Easier to keep the disguise on if we never take it off, so…" He adjusted his posture into one he felt was more suitable for a city boy come down to the sticks for the first time. "Thank you for hosting us and considering our company, Mister Katarn. Your home is lovely. Very, uh, rustic."
Obi-Wan and Morgan's eyes widened as they watched Kento Marek change his whole demeanor.
"That was impressive," Kenobi complimented.
"I've been engaged in this business for some time now, Mister Kenobi," he answered with a servile smile. "I'm sure you'll pick up the basics before long."
"We'll, lets get you two inside. The pair of you could do with a hot shower and some food before we get down to brass tacks." As he turned to head inside, the front door slid open halfway, stuck for a second, then continued the rest of the way. "Mmm, need to take a look at those servos."
"Daddy!" a voice shouted and a young boy charged down a flight of stairs and right into Morgan's arms.
"Kyle! What have you been up to? Not causing trouble for your mother I hope?"
"He started fixing that old gear box you left out on your workbench, darling." A woman answered from around the corner.
Morgan picked up Kyle and asked, "By fix you mean…?"
"I took it apart!" Kyle answered.
"That's my boy!"
While the exchange went on, Kenobi and Marek shared a look. They knew Katarn was ever so slightly Force sensitive, but no one told them about the boy. Not that anyone likely knew. However, Kyle hadn't merely inherited his father's small gift, he received a quadruple portion. If not for the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order may very well have sought the child out. With the right teacher, the youngest member of the Katarn family could become a formidable warrior.
Sadly, there was nothing they could do about it. Luckily, he was young enough to go unnoticed by most. His presence in the Force was small enough to remain hidden unless a trained Jedi was right in front of him. Maybe someday, if this and a hundred other operations succeeded, Kyle's child or grandchild might join a rebuilt Order. Until then it was moot. Morgan didn't want his son involved in this subterfuge and neither Obi-Wan or Kento had the luxury to take on an apprentice.
###
While the two Jedi retreated to the guest quarters to refresh themselves, Morgan and his wife, Patricia, sat at the dinning table discussing what to do over the coming days. They would need to present Marek and Kenobi to the locals as representatives of a business venture to keep up the lie, while also introducing them to the Sullust system's rebels and give the Jedi time to investigate the Imperial presence on the planet.
While all this went on, Kyle was on his own, putting together a simple gear driven timepiece. His father showed him how to do it more than once, but the boy wanted nothing more than to earn praise by showing off how well he could accomplish the task himself. Holding a gear and spring in place, Kyle blindly reached out for the tiny screwdriver that he'd need to secure the bits before moving on. If either Jedi or his parents were observing, they would have noticed the tool roll a few inches across the workbench into Kyle's outstretched hand, as the boy unknowingly called out to it through the Force.