Chapter 16

(2100H. Hour 06 of 36)

Obi-Wan stepped into their assigned quarters—taking his little one's hand, and guiding her through—before quickly closing the front door. "…'cool'?"

Jaina groaned, rolling her eyes. "How am I supposed to know what normal civili—"

The Jedi Master quickly raised a hand. "Full sweep first," he said quietly; just loud enough so that only they could hear each other.

Slowly and silently, he checked around every single inch of the living room—checking for bugs, cameras, wires, or any other devices that might be used to listen in on their words. He gestured towards the bedroom with two fingers.

Jaina nodded silently, taking out her datapad and scanner from her (civilian-looking) purse, and beginning to scan.

Obi-Wan felt immense relief when the entire suite came up clean.

"Seems like we're in the clear," he said, as he turned towards her. "You need to be more careful, little one. We are deep behind enemy lines. Could you try and act somewhat normal, for once in your life?"

Jaina slipped the datapad back into her purse, glaring up at him.

"And if you could do so without glaring at me, that would also be greatly appreciated." Obi-Wan said dryly. "If we're playing the parent-daughter role, I'd hope you'd at least try to act like a well-behaved teenager."

"I figured I already play the part of the well-behaved Padawan so well in real life, I'd take a few…artistic liberties with my undercover persona," Jaina drawled, her voice equally as wry.

"…artistic liberties, hm?" Obi-Wan smiled down at his little one with a mock expression of disapproval. "Well, I am truly sorry if I do not appreciate the artistic expression of teenage angst and adolescent rebellion that you have chosen as your 'undercover persona'."

He walked towards the couch and took a seat. "You still have much to learn about the art of extracting information from unsuspecting sources without your own intentions being known."

Jaina sighed softly. "…I know, I know."

The Jedi Master saw that she was frustrated. And he understood—it could be difficult to always maintain the charade that they both now had to live for the next crucial hours.

"I am not reprimanding you, my little Padawan," he said gently. "I am merely giving you advice that is vital, if our mission is to be a successful one." He patted the seat beside him, indicating for her to sit with him.

"You need to learn to adjust your language depending on the person you're talking to," The Jedi Master continued. "I could see by your interactions with Elissia, your language was far too blunt and far too technical for a normal, civilian girl. The greatest weapon that any undercover operative has—is patience. You must never rush into things. Intelligence gathering takes time, and if we don't act cautiously, we may be risking everything for nothing. Do you understand?"

Jaina sighed wearily. "Yes, Master."

"Good." He responded, rubbing his chin. "Remember, the more time and attention that is paid to you, the higher the chances are that someone will begin to ask questions. Unwanted questions." He sighed. "Which is why you must do your best to simply blend in. And what was that comment you made to Elissia, about Doctor Vindi being…intimidating?"

"I was attempting to find common ground," Jaina admitted quietly, grimacing. "I noticed her avoiding his eye contact, when she came into the office. I thought maybe if I found common ground with her, I might make her more comfortable speaking to us."

"…your thought process was correct," Obi-Wan said, thoughtfully stroking his beard. "But you need to remember that sometimes, less is more." He paused for a moment. "If we were truly just a typical father-daughter pair, you would not have been quite so…perceptive, and—more importantly—so blunt, with your approach to conversation."

"I know that your knowledge of technical psychology is impeccable, my Padawan," he continued. "But you need to suppress some of that knowledge, for the benefit of this mission." He paused, observing her body language again, seeing the defeat in her eyes. He felt as though he was being harsh with his little one. But he needed her to understand the stakes.

They could barely afford any slip-ups right now.

"Understanding how people work takes time, dear one," the Jedi Master assured her quietly, breaking the heavy silence once more. "And experience. You have a unique set of gifts…and sometimes it can be difficult to separate them when you're trying to act like someone you're not.

"The best undercover operatives are those who seem to be easily overlooked," Obi-Wan concluded quietly. "That is the position I need you take; an unassuming, little girl, here only to accompany her father. A little girl who is unconcerned about the going-ons around her. Just play your part, worry about the hard intel—hacking into the mainframes—and let me worry about all the talking. All right?"

Jaina nodded softly. "Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan smiled at his little one and gently reached for her hand, giving it another reassuring squeeze. He was glad that she didn't seem too upset. "Good." The Jedi Master's smile remained as he sat back on the couch. "Now…let's relax for a bit. Catch our breath, while waiting for the rest of the base to turn in for the night." He shot a small smirk her way. "So, 'Ms. Deshar', how are you liking your father, so far, hmm?"

Jaina met his smirk with her own, leaning her own head back next to him. "He's pretty, ah, cool. A lot more relaxed, more affectionate, and more amusing than my stuffy Jedi Master." She teased fondly.

Obi-Wan laughed softly, placing an arm around his little 'daughter' and gently pulling her toward him, as if she were truly his little princess. "Hey, now, that's not a very nice thing to say to your 'stuffy Jedi Master'." He teased back, his voice light and playful.

"He's been taking care of you, keeping you safe, and making sure that you grow up into a powerful Jedi and leader, just like he is," he continued, playfully ruffling her hair. "He just shows his affection by…you know, yelling at you in the sparring chambers every now and then."

Jaina giggled.

He knew he should have stopped with the jokes. The mission was far too important for them to lose focus.

But it was too much fun to play the role of a father, for the time being. "Are you really enjoying Engineer Deshar's company more than stuffy old Master Kenobi's?" he continued, his tone still playful as he continued to ruffle her hair.

Another mischievous chuckle escaped her lips.

"Well…?" He continued, his face lit in a playful smirk. "Are you truly liking the company of this engineer-father you have better, at the moment, than your poor, stuffy old Master?"

"Nah. I enjoy both equally." Jaina grinned softly. "Besides…I'm always immensely grateful for my Master's care. For his protection, his guidance, his endless wisdom, and even—" she smirked, "—his yelling."

Obi-Wan laughed softly. "His yelling does have its purpose, my little one. It is the only way he truly knows how to express his affection, after all—helping you be the best little Jedi you can be."

"I know," Jaina teased wryly. "It's a sixth love language on its own, really—sparring chamber yelling. It should be thoroughly studied by the psychologists out there."

Obi-Wan laughed softly, nodding. He couldn't deny that her statement was definitely true.

The Jedi Master knew that his harshness and strict discipline had always been done out of love; it was the only way he could ensure that his little one grew to be as prepared and as strong as possible.

It wasn't that he wanted to oppress her, but rather empower her.

"Indeed it is," Obi-Wan continued, leaning his cheek atop her head. "It is a very special language, reserved for one of his favorite people in the entire galaxy."

He squeezed her gently. "Now, come on. Let's get you to those firewalls…so you can break them."


(2300H. Hour 08 of 36)

"So far, so good," Obi-Wan murmured, glancing at his wrist chrono as they walked through the dim hallways of the Separatist facility. "In order for us to remain on schedule, you're going to have to break through the firewalls tonight, and begin the data extraction process. There are likely terabytes and terabytes worth of files in those databanks. We can't even begin to estimate how much data is stored there."

"Your sole responsibility is the digital aspect of this operation, my little Padawan. Penetrate their mainframe, obtain information, and access the servers." He paused and glanced down at her. "I know you're capable. But try to be extra cautious, please. We cannot afford a repeat of Christophsis."

"I know, I know," Jaina sighed softly, her face growing slightly pale at the mere memory. "Don't worry. I learned the hard way. It won't ever happen again."

Obi-Wan could see how deeply the incident still haunted her, when brought up.

However, seeing how it clearly still troubled her, he continued to bring it up, on occasion. To encourage her to confront it on her own terms. "Indeed you did learn, my little one," he said quietly. "I know you have learned your lesson. So I have no doubts that you will succeed tonight."

Jaina nodded softly. "I've studied additional circumventing techniques since then. Extensively. I'll be careful."

"I know you will." Obi-Wan smiled gently. "Now, I will get you to the server room," he continued. "From there, you need to access their mainframe without setting off any alarms. We cannot alert the guards to our presence. I'll keep watch outside, and divert anyone else who tries to gain access. We must find out what Durd and Vindi are up to."

Jaina nodded softly, following into a lift. "Understood, Master."

They continued to walk past the different labs, the various doors that led into sterile, quiet—and frankly, terrifying—rooms filled with distinct types of equipment and machines. Every now and then, they glimpsed various white-garbed scientists and researchers, walking from one lab to the next. None of whom ever made eye contact with each other, and continued about their business.

As the Master and Padawan turned the corner into the next corridor, Jaina's footsteps slowed, her eyes slowly widening.

One entire wall was fully glass, and offered a full view of a large chamber with some sort of incinerator machine.

She froze, her heart pounding in her chest…as she gazed at several load-lifter droids brutally tossing corpses into the incinerator. "What—"

Obi-Wan immediately stepped in front of her, his stature large enough for his presence to block her view, and act as a shield that stood in between her, and the gruesome horrors of the chamber.

"Jaina," he said, gently squeezing her forearm, not taking his eyes off of hers. "Do not look. Keep your eyes on me."

His little girl's eyes were so wide, so big. Her body was shaking.

Jaina took a sharp deep breath as the droids continued tossing the corpses into the incinerator.

The sounds…the sounds continued, the sounds of the lifeless bodies, thumping onto one another…the heavy clinking of the droids…"What—" She continued to stand frozen, her stomach in knots, her heart pounding in her chest. She had only glimpsed it for a moment, but the sight would be etched in her memory forever. "What are they—Why are they—"

Obi-Wan could see the look on her face: an expression of sheer and utter terror on her features. Her brows were deeply furrowed, her lips parted with horror, her chest was heaving in the air—her entire body was trembling.

"Jaina. Focus on me." His voice was low and steady as he gently squeezed her arm again. "Look at me, and listen to my voice."

"Wh—what—" Jaina stammered shakily. "What—is that—"

Obi-Wan placed his hands on either side of his Padawan's face, gently yet firmly, and forced her to look him in the eyes. "Jaina, look at me." He repeated, his voice more stern this time, so he could break her out of this state.

He had done this multiple times throughout the months of war, when she had experienced one too many horrors, when she was overwhelmed by the death all around her. He knew his little one. He knew her needs, just as she knew his.

He continued to cup her cheeks as he forced her gaze to meet his. "We do not have much time, dear one. Do not look there. Do you understand me?"

Jaina closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath, then opened them once more as she exhaled, shakily nodding her head. "Yes, Master…" she whispered.

Of all the horrors she had witnessed from months on the front lines, this…this had to be the worst.

He continued to gaze into her eyes as she exhaled deeply, as she tried to collect herself.

She was truly…too kind for this world, at times. She felt pain so deeply and so intensely.

But even still, his little Padawan pushed forward.

"Sorry," Jaina murmured, after a few moments. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm okay. I'm ready, Master. Let's push on."

"There is no need to apologize, my little Padawan," Obi-Wan said softly. It was not her fault that the world was a cruel and painful place. He gave her cheeks an additional, tender squeeze, then let go. "Just keep your eyes on me."

He placed a hand on her lower back, gently ushering her along.

And with that, Master and his Padawan began to walk down the hallway, the incinerator and the corpses behind them…

And the horrors ahead of them yet to come.

"These past few months…there was never a doubt in my mind that the Separatists were evil…" Jaina muttered, keeping her eyes straight ahead as they resumed walking. "But this is…this is…horrific."

Obi-Wan kept his hand gently on her back, keeping her close as they walked side by side down the hallway. His own expression was darkened, as he thought of the horrors all around them. "I know, my little one." he whispered quietly. "There are no words to describe what we just saw."

All the while, they could still hear the roar of the incinerator machine in the background.

"Every single one of those bodies…was a person…" Jaina muttered shakily, more to herself than anything. "With dreams, with loved ones, with a life…how could they do this?!" She sighed angrily. "We need to put these war criminals behind bars."

Obi-Wan nodded firmly. "And we will. But we need to make sure we survive this mission first." He glanced down at her again, seeing her eyes filled with rage and fire at the injustice. But also…sorrow, and pain. "One step at a time, my little one. We must push forward."

As they paused outside a small door at the end of the hallway, the Jedi Master folded his arms across his chest. "This is the data repository," he said quietly. "Now remember: be very careful with the firewalls and security systems, you cannot risk tripping any alarms."

He glanced at this wrist chrono once more. "You don't need to rush this. Take all the time you need to decrypt the firewalls and begin transmitting the files. Slow and steady. There are billions at stake, Jaina."

"I know, I know," Jaina nodded softly, sighing. "I just wish Republic Intelligence had more time to create some sort of encryption key instead but…never mind. I'll figure it out."

"Just take as much time as you need," Obi-Wan continued in his steady, reassuring voice. "I'll be right outside, standing guard. All right?"

Jaina nodded once more, taking in a deep breath. "Yes, Master."

He was worried…worried about the firewall, worried about the security systems, worried about the danger that surrounded them…but more than anything else, he was worried about her.

He hated seeing her so shaken

He hated that she had to see this.

"It'll be fine, it'll be fine, everything will be fine," Jaina muttered quietly, stepping into the data repository. "See you in a bit."

Obi-Wan could feel his stomach drop the moment she stepped inside the room. He knew that this was one of the most crucial steps. The encryption would undoubtedly be sophisticated—more complex than anything she'd ever seen. It would take her a long time, he knew.

And the longer she was in there…the greater the danger grew.