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The flight to Polis Massa was quiet. Too quiet. R4 really wished someone would say something, anything, to break the unbearable silence. Looking around the ship's cabin, R4 knew they all felt it: failure. Padme had failed her mission, Obi-Wan had failed his student, and she and the other two droids had failed their respective masters. Everything had gone so terribly wrong in such a short time. The clones were now stormtroopers, the republic an empire, the Jedi outlaws. Palpatine had played everyone on all sides like a harp from Hell.
Obi-Wan still hadn't said anything and R4 couldn't blame the poor man. She could only imagine what was going through his head right now. He'd had to fight his own student, his brother, to the death, on top of having his entire life ripped away from him in one fell swoop with the knowledge that he was one of a hopelessly small handful of survivors.
The minute their ship landed, Padme was rushed to the ER.
"Medically, she is completely healthy." Said the med droid. "For reasons we can't explain, we are losing her."
"She's dying," Obi-Wan asked.
"We don't know why. She has lost the will to live."
What about the twins, R4 asked worriedly.
"Twins," Bail Organa asked, surprised.
"Ah yes, I was just getting to that. We will need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies."
"Save them, we must. They are our last hope."
Padme had given birth to a boy and a girl, and passed away shortly after. R4 had witnessed the entire process alongside R2 and 3PO. Shortly after, the group loaded Padme's body onto senator Organa's starcruiser and set a course for the city of Theed on Naboo. R4 had barely left her master's side the entire time. Right now, Obi-Wan and the others were deciding what to do with the children. R4 silently observed the conversation from off to the side.
"My wife and I will take the girl," Bail said, "We've always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us."
"And what of the boy," Obi-Wan asked.
"To Tatooine." Yoda answered. "To his family, send him."
'Yeah sure, with the slavers, and raiders, and maker knows what else' R4 thought.
"I will take the child and watch over him. Master Yoda, do you think Anakin's twins will be able to defeat Darth Sidious?"
"Strong the Force runs, in the Skywalker line. Hope, we can . . . Done, it is. Until the time is right, disappear we will."
As the three began to leave, Yoda stopped Obi-Wan.
"Master Kenobi, wait a moment. In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you."
"Training?"
"An old friend has learned the path to immortality."
"Who?"
"One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me . . . your old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn."
"Qui-Gon? But, how could he accomplish this?"
R4 wasn't sure what exactly they were talking about. Qui-Gon Jinn had died long before she'd met Obi-Wan. And now they were saying he'd come back from the dead? Well, at least she had his lightsaber ready for him.
"The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whills, he studied. How to commune with him. I will teach you."
"I will be able to talk with him?"
"How to join the Force, he will train you. Your consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force. Even your physical self, perhaps."
R4 still didn't understand but decided it wasn't worth frying her processor over, especially when they all had more important things to worry about at the moment.
After selling Grievous's starfighter on Nar Shaddaa and saying his last farewells to Yoda and Bail, Obi-Wan booked passage to Tatooine. As he carried the son of his apprentice through customs, the exiled Jedi Master was stopped. Though he maintained a calm facade, he began to grow nervous. Had he somehow been found out? Ratted out? Was he being patted down for concealed weapons? And what if they found his lightsaber components? All these thoughts raced through his head as he acknowledged the Abednedo officer.
"Is something the matter?"
"Not if that droid is with you," the man replied.
'Droid?'
It was only now that Kenobi turned to look down at R4-P17, the little astromech giving him her usual electronic warbles. How long had she been following him? In all the recent excitement, he had forgotten she was there. He'd gotten so used to her company that he simply hadn't questioned it, let alone thought about it. Oh well, it was too late now he supposed.
"Oh, yes she is." It wasn't untrue at this point.
The Abednedo studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Alright then, move along," he waved them off.
As the duo and their charge boarded the transport, Obi-Wan figured it was probably for the best that R4 had come along. It would be nice to have some extra company during his exile. Not to mention if he had left her behind, he'd have left Qui-Gon's lightsaber as well. On that note, he still wasn't sure why his master's weapon had called to him back at the temple. All he really knew for sure was that the force was telling him it would be needed some day, by someone other than him or Luke. His thoughts were interrupted by a low electronic quaver. Out of what seemed to be second nature at this point, Obi-Wan pulled out his comlink.
"What was that R4?"
Where will we go after dropping off Skywalker's son?
"We shall remain on Tatooine and watch over him until such time that I may train him to be a Jedi. Our hope is that he will defeat the emperor."
At that moment, Luke stirred and began to fuss.
"Shh, it's alright," Obi-Wan tried rocking the infant. He continued giving him reassurances, but they seemed to fall on deaf ears. As Luke began to cry, Obi-Wan started to worry. They didn't want to draw too much attention to themselves. Before Luke could get too loud, however, he stopped when he heard a soft electronic chirp.
Luke.
The baby had gone completely silent aside from a few grunts as he tried angling his head towards R4. Obi-Wan took the hint and repositioned Luke in his lap so that he was facing the droid. He seemed enamored with all of her moving parts and blinking lights.
See, everything's fine, she bleeped cherrily.
Luke giggled at the computerized sounds she made.
Here, maybe this will help, she said as she lit up her holoprojector.
Luke was suddenly taken aback by a small projection of moving stars which Obi-Wan immediately recognized as the altered Kamino record from those three long years ago. This served to further soothe Luke, his eyes growing heavy.
As sleep claimed the child, Obi-Wan was definitely glad R4 had followed him on his journey.
By the time R4 and Obi-Wan arrived at the Lars homestead, the planet's twin suns were already setting. Whilst the Jedi master and his droid took their leave, Beru Lars smiled lovingly down at her nephew.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait, guys. We're finally done with Revenge of the Sith, so hopefully I can get these next chapters out a little sooner (Why do I keep saying that?). Speaking of these next chapters, they'll be a real treat for anyone here who's read the novel, Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
