Archive: By Master & Apprentice, my site, WWOMB and
SithChicks
Pairing: O/Other, Q/Other, O/Q
Category: Alternate Universe
Rating: NC-17 for the series; this episode PG
Disclaimer: George, you want me, come get me. I'm probably a
better writer than you anyway (not that that's saying much luv,
sorry...).
Warning: None for this episode.
Summary: Follows canon. Qui is dead, and in building a new
lightsaber Obi accidentally finds a way to move to different
realities, where he discovers many strange and wondrous things
in his quest to be with his beloved Master again.
Notes: I'm paying homage to the great SF author, L. Sprague
DeCamp with this story. Back in the 30's-40's he wrote the
definitive AU novel called "The Wheels of If", which conceit
I'm borrowing here. Thanks (as always) to Beta Readers Par
Excellence Fox, HiperBunny and Emrin Alexander. Thank you,
ladies, my cup runneth over with your support.
Being ready and expecting the 'reality' transfer did not make
it any easier. Obi-Wan managed to only fall to one knee this
time, gasping in reaction to the intense feelings. He
remembered to turn off his 'saber before looking around and
getting his bearings.
Still woozy, he thought for a moment he hadn't gone anywhere.
He still stood in front of the fountain in the garden. But then
the changes dawned on him. The fountain was not running, and in
fact the statuary was broken - blasted off. There were scorch
marks in the ground and the acrid smell of burning pervaded,
and the sky... oh, the sky...
The normally bustling sky of Coruscant was nearly empty.
Instead of pleasure skimmers, skyhoppers, buses and private
couriers, there were battle droids and heavily armed,
ominous-looking weapon platforms. A sudden noise - screaming
followed by the unmistakable sound of lightsabers deflecting
blaster bolts - made him whirl.
To avoid the chance of igniting his 'saber, Obi-Wan clipped it
to his belt and stealthily moved towards the sounds of
conflict. Just inside the large double doors a pitched battle
was taking place... and Obi-Wan was on the wrong side. From his
vantage point, he could see the backs of droid destroyers and
black-robed, lightsaber-wielding humanoids fighting Jedi
Padawans and Knights. Several of the Jedi were on the floor,
unconscious or dead.
Ducking behind a pillar, Obi-Wan pulled his Master's 'saber out
of his pack. Before he could ignite it, the Force nudged him.
He looked up to surprise and be surprised by a young man in
black robes just entering the building, carrying a red
lightsaber.
Who wore his face.
Obi-Wan managed to recover first, and without thought slammed
the butt of Qui-Gon's 'saber across his doppelganger's face to
knock him out. Picking up the dropped red 'saber, he quickly
dragged the body out of the doorway and around the corner.
Off to the side of the garden, there was a little door, a
gardener's shed, very small. Obi-Wan remembered it well; he had
hidden there when he was a child and fallen asleep. It had
taken half the creche masters to find him. It was here that he
dragged the person with his face, closing the door behind them
and locking it with a touch of the Force.
The room was very, very small, and crowded with gardening
implements. Obi-Wan propped his unconscious prisoner up against
the wall and squatted at his knees, examining him. Aside from a
few cosmetic differences, the young man was him, same
face, body, everything. The hair was longer and worn in a
strange, partially shaved pattern, and his aura felt... well,
it felt oily. Very much the same way the Sith had felt on
Naboo. And the red 'saber positively radiated hatred and evil.
// How is this possible? // Obi-Wan wondered to himself. // I
simply can't see myself turning like this. // Sitting
all the way down and calming himself, Obi-Wan slipped into a
light trance to seek his path in the Force. If this boy was
part of an invasion of Sith into the Temple, there was no way
he was going to just leave this reality and not help, somehow.
He owed it to Qui-Gon.
After a moment, he slipped the black cape off the slender
shoulders and slung it over his own clothing. Using some
gardening twine to bind his captive's hands and legs, he also
tore a strip of cloth from his clothing to gag him as well.
With a gardening trowel, he cracked the casing of the red
'saber and destroyed the gems powering it.
He slipped from the shed and moved back to the main door, still
hearing sounds of combat, but more distant now. The Knights and
Padawans must be falling back, regrouping. He hurried down the
hall, keeping his Force senses at their most alert, and so came
upon the battle once more from behind. There were two droid
destroyers still standing, and the Jedi were becoming exhausted
and desperate.
Wrapping the black cloak tightly around him, and holding the
green 'saber ready but not lit, he stalked up behind the
destroyers as if he belonged there. The other fighters and the
droids ignored him as one of theirs... until he reached one of
the destroyers, on its unshielded side. Quickly powering up the
'saber, he used it to smash the thing in two, then whirled
before anyone could react and did the same with the other
droid. By then, the live fighters realized he was not one of
their own and moved to attack. But without the shielded
destroyers in the picture, the Jedi moved rapidly up and
attacked as well. It was over quickly, the Sith lying in
various bloody pieces on the fine marble of the Temple hall.
"OBI!" One of the Knights gasped, panting for breath. It was
Bant, who was suddenly embracing him tightly, kissing him
passionately. "Oh, Force, you got out! Thank the gods."
He hugged her back briefly, but pulled away. "Bant... it's a
long story, but I'm not the Obi-Wan you think I am. Where...
you said, I 'got out'... from where? And where's Master Jinn?"
She drew back, surprise and consternation on her face, and
unconsciously reached for her 'saber. "You... you're not one of
those clones are you? No. You don't feel like them... what are
you talking about Obi? You know Master Jinn died with the other
Councilors over a month ago. What's wrong with you? Did they
hurt you? By the Force..." The young woman was trembling in
reaction and exhaustion.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and swallowed back his disappointed
amusement. // On the Council, my Master? // "Look. It's a long
story. Clones, you said? I found a guy with my face... it's
where I got this cloak. He's tied up in the gardener's shed
outside. Thank the Force, for a minute there I thought I had
turned in this reality. What's happening here? Just - just fill
me in as if I were a new Knight coming into the Temple for the
first time in over a month, all right?"
Bant looked totally confused, but finally exhaustion won out.
"Fine. Whatever. Take me to this Sithspawn you captured, we'll
get it inside. I need to secure the compound again."
While they did that, Bant kept flashing her friend curious
glances. He looked like Obi-Wan, sounded, moved, behaved
like Obi-Wan, but he didn't quite feel like her oldest
friend. The Sith, when they found him, was awake and nearly
frothing at the mouth in rage. Obi-Wan disliked being near him,
but managed to overcome his revulsion and helped Bant carry the
thing inside, securing the doors after them.
They went through multiple security checkpoints on their way to
their destination, which turned out to be the Grand Arena, deep
in the heart of the Temple. Part of the room had been set up as
a makeshift infirmary, part as offices, part as a dormitory for
the initiates. There were about a hundred Jedi there, at least
half of them children and Padawans. "Where is everyone?"
Obi-Wan asked Bant as they entered the huge room.
She looked at him and frowned. "This is IT, Obi. Remem... oh,
forget about it. Let's go see Councilor Gallia. She'll know
what to do."
And so it was a highly confused Bant who finally deposited her
side of the burden on the floor before a small desk. Adi Gallia
looked up as they approached, then smiled when she saw Obi-Wan.
"Knight Kenobi! Last I had heard you were captured. I am very
glad to see you alive and whole."
"He claims not to be Obi-Wan, Adi," Bant said, straightening
slowly and painfully. "At least, that's what he says. I don't
understand any of it."
Looking down at his prisoner, Obi-Wan said, "Can we talk?
Somewhere private? I have much to say."
Puzzled and alarmed, the Councilor motioned for two Padawans to
come and carry away the Sith clone, then had Bant and Obi-Wan
sit before her, in a space that was partitioned off by wooden
stands. The two women sat silently while Obi-Wan told them his
story, their faces proceeding from wary puzzlement through
skepticism and shock, despair and finally acceptance. Bant
especially was upset, once the reality of the situation sank
in.
"Then Obi-Wan... my Obi... is still gone," she said, near
tears. Reading her aura, Obi-Wan could tell she was near the
end of her rope, in terms of exhaustion and nerves. He reached
out to hug her, but she gently pulled away.
"I'm sorry, Bant," he whispered. Looking over his friend's
shoulder to the Councilor, he said, "Let me help. Perhaps I can
figure out how to get him out of... wherever he is. You still
haven't explained to me, what's happened here? When did all
this start... and where's the Council?"
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Gallia spoke softly.
"About two months ago, a bomb was planted in the Council
Chamber. It took out the entire level, and most of the tower
below it. It wasn't until later that we discovered how it came
to be there... the Sith were back."
She stood and began walking randomly about the small space. "We
had been losing power for years, the Senate had been cutting
our funding, refusing us transport privileges, all sorts of
little digs. But the bomb... that well-nigh annihilated us. I
was in the infirmary at the time, my Padawan was ill.. that was
the only reason I was not in the chamber. I am the only
remaining Councilor... Yoda, Qui-Gon, Mace... all of them,
gone."
Obi-Wan winced at the mention of his Master, and the lovely
woman rested her hand on his shoulder in comfort. // I should
be comforting her, // he thought to himself guiltily. "None of
this had happened in my reality," he said, voice low. "We
didn't even know the Sith had risen again until that thing
attacked us on Naboo. We still don't know who was behind the
attack."
Gallia blinked at him. "Oh, it's Senator... well, former
Senator, he calls himself Emperor now... Palpatine. At least,
that's who rules the Sith here. He's been cloning Jedi and
stealing babies for years, in secret. Now he has an army of
Force sensitive Sith, many of whom look like our own."
Sitting back in shock, Obi-Wan digested this information.
Palpatine?! Palpatine from Naboo, Palpatine who wouldn't fight
the Trade Federation...It all made so much sense..."If only I
could get back to my reality..." he muttered.
"You can't?" Bant asked, yawning despite herself.
"No. I have no idea how it works. Master Windu thought perhaps
it has something to do with the crystals, but Master Yoda
thought it might have been my mind-set when I built it. All I
know is, I turn it on, and I'm gone. But I still have Qui-Gon's
'saber with me." He swallowed. "It's all I have left of him,
now. But I'm going to find him... I have to find him... I
will find him..." Trailing off, he looked at the two
women. "When was - was your Obi-Wan captured? Do you know where
he would have been held?"
"Yesterday," Bant said, still staring at him in puzzlement.
"There's a battalion station about a klick from the Temple,
that's where we've observed a lot of comings and goings. We
think he might be there, but we're not sure. He could... he
could be dead." Her voice was devoid of emotion as she said it.
"Let me see if I can infiltrate it. I can use the robe and
clothes of the clone to sneak in. I might be able to find out
what happened to him, at least."
"Out of the question. You can't go alone," Adi Gallia said
sternly.
"One would have a better chance of getting in than many. And
besides," here he quirked a smile at her, "I have a secret
weapon. If I get close to being captured, I'll just escape this
reality."
Frowning, the woman stared at him for a few moments, silent.
Bant said, "Adi! You can't possibly intend to let him go
alone..."
"Bant. You are exhausted, dear. I suggest you go lie down and
get some sleep... AFTER you eat." Smiling at the younger woman,
she caressed her cheek. "Don't worry about it. We'll think of
something."
Scrubbing her face with one hand, Bant nodded. "All right."
Turning, she suddenly hugged Obi-Wan tightly, who returned the
embrace willingly. "I know you're not the one I love," she
whispered in his ear, "but right now I don't care. Please don't
get killed here, Obi."
Stunned by her words, he merely nodded mutely and released her.
She got to her feet and staggered out of the make-shift office.
Her words swirled around in Obi-Wan's head.
"They... they're lovers?" He asked Gallia, who nodded. "Oh."
The thought of becoming lovers with Bant, the woman he thought
of as a sister, was beyond imagining to the young Knight.
"I take it you are somewhat surprised by this," Gallia said,
smiling wryly. "Something you said earlier... You and your
Master, there was more there, I think, than there was here.
Were you perhaps lovers? Yes?"
Swallowing, Obi-Wan looked down at his hands. "No. We... I was
waiting until knighthood. To tell him. But then..."
"But then it was too late," she finished for him, her voice
sympathetic. "If there is one thing we have learned through
this disaster, it is to live each day as it comes. Let me tell
you something." She took the chair Bant had vacated, and leaned
in closely to him. "You... I mean, Obi-Wan was one of the
senior Knights, believe it or not. We've lost so many... so
very many. He got captured trying to find us a transport off
this Force-forsaken planet... we intend on going to Dantooine
or Yavin. But we need transport... here, well, we're pinned
down. You saw the battle, we go through that twice or three
times a day sometimes. Palpatine is merely playing with us,
like a feline with a rodent."
She drew a breath and continued her sotto voce commentary.
"Obi-Wan and I devised a plan to steal a transport ship and
move us all off planet. But he was captured before he could
return and report his success or failure to me.
"I won't lie to you, Obi-Wan... Force, it seems odd to call you
that, odder still to speak about you AND you. Anyway. I won't
lie to you. I need Obi-Wan back, I need to get a transport off
planet. Fast. We're running out of food, potable water, medical
supplies... everything. If Obi-Wan found a way, a ship, I need
that information. We won't last another month without it. I
don't like it, but if you're willing to try..."
It was obvious the situation was grim and desperate, and
Obi-Wan felt a strong desire to help. "Yes. Get me all the
information you can. It'll be dark soon, and I should have a
better chance."
"The guards are mostly droids, you know, and you can't
influence droids," she warned. "I'll call Bundamen in here, she
can brief you on the layout of the complex." Pausing, Gallia
looked deep into Obi-Wan's eyes. "You obviously don't belong
here," she said quietly. "Why are you doing this?"
Looking down for a minute, Obi-Wan thought. "I'm a Jedi," he
finally whispered. "I would do it out of duty... but..."
"Don't do this out of guilt, Obi-Wan," she said quietly.
"You've told me the story, but I sense there's more to it than
what you're letting on. It was the will of the Force that your
Master die. Here, as well as in your reality."
Struggling against the roiling emotions in his gut and vehement
denials on his tongue, Obi-Wan finally managed to meet the
beautiful woman's eyes. // She looks so much older than I
remember, // he thought, swallowing. "All right then. Duty, not
guilt. Let me help you. And let me help Bant. We may not have
been lovers, but she was like my sister. Let me help."
Smiling sadly, Gallia squeezed his shoulder once, then rose to
find his guide.
Knight Bundamen was quickly briefed, and it was decided that
the fewer Jedi that knew about the duplicate Obi-Wans, the
better. "To be frank," the little Bothan woman said, with a
jaunty but tired grin, "I don't think it'd matter much if you
told 'em. I don't rightly understand or believe it myself!"
The battalion station was run by droids, which would make it
both harder and easier to get in. Harder, in that droids could
not be mind-whammied, but easier for the same reason; droids
had no Force sense. But it was unknown if any Sith were also
stationed there. "Obi-Wan had planned on breaking into the
computer core and stealing the whereabouts and security codes
for a transport for us," Gallia confided in him. "He's not come
back out, so we assumed the worst. But this clone of him coming
here..."
The clone was another matter entirely. Obi-Wan and the
Councilor stood over the thrashing, foaming creature and
grimaced in disgust. The waves of dark energy coming from him -
for all he was wearing a Force dampening collar - were nearly
overwhelming. Obi-Wan reluctantly squatted near it, then
fingered the dark clothing.
"I'll just take the pants and the cloak. My boots can pass, and
if I keep the cloak fastened and the hood up, I should be all
right."
"I don't like this," Gallia muttered, but she helped subdue the
clone while Obi-Wan quickly stripped him and retrussed him.
"But at least you'll not have any problems with fit."
Both Jedi noted with distaste the crisscrossing web of tiny
scars that covered the clone's legs. At Obi-Wan's look, Gallia
said, "We've found them on all the clones we've taken. It
probably covers his whole body, it has on the others. That, and
the strangeness in the aura, is a clear indicator to us that
we're dealing with clones. We don't really want to know what
the scars represent, to be honest."
Within a few hours, all was ready. Obi-Wan kept his satchel,
hidden under the cloak, and clipped Qui-Gon's 'saber to his
belt where he could reach it easily. His own 'saber he clipped
to his back, where he could reach it but not accidentally
ignite it. And he carried a third; Bant's 'saber, which she had
pressed on him at the last moment, merely saying, "For Obi." It
was full dark by then, and with a few whispered words of luck
and last minute instructions, he was gone.
Being honest with himself, Obi-Wan had to admit he felt more
alive and Force aware than he had since Qui-Gon died. This
mission gave him a sense of purpose that he relished, and the
added spice of danger just made it all the more exhilarating.
// A Jedi craves not these things, // he laughed to himself,
ducking behind a smashed statue and waiting for a patrol to
pass. It was easier than it had been in weeks for him to
immerse himself within the Force, and the joy he felt at such a
touch sang along his nerves. He easily made it to the battalion
station, and studied the entrance.
The first thing he noted was that there were Sith about, as
well as droids. Well, that would only make it more challenging,
he reflected wryly, letting tendrils of the Force seep from him
like ground-hugging fog to examine the area. Quiet observation
paid off, as it allowed him to discover the password to enter
the complex, and also gave him a feel for the number of living
beings within the rather large station. There weren't many. And
most had only a rudimentary Force sense. But there was one
shining Force beacon, dampened like a spotlight under a basket,
deep in the center of the complex. It had a disturbingly
familiar signature.
Without further thought, Obi-Wan left his concealed spot and
strode across the open square to the main entrance of the
station. The droids on guard duty unerringly turned to him, but
let him pass without hindrance as he murmured the password.
Once inside, he concentrated on making himself unnoticeable,
moving quickly towards his goal on a round-about path, avoiding
places where he might be met. Two levels down, in a damp
corner, he reached his goal, a tiny, locked cell. The ease with
which he traveled was beginning to disturb him, so he cast his
Force sense out and discovered a monitoring device.
Qui-Gon had taught him what to do in situations like this.
Gently, carefully, he allowed himself to use the Force to
unfocus the camera, slowly and carefully so that it would look
like a gradual failure of the device. When he was sure that
only distorted 'snow' would be picked up, he quickly forced
open the door to the cell and hurried within.
Huddled into a corner of the room was a bruised and bloody
figure, his clothes not much more than tatters. A Force collar
glittered about his neck. From the way he held his left arm, it
was obviously broken. Obi-Wan immediately moved to the figure
and knelt next to him. Weary, swollen, very familiar eyes came
up to meet his, then widened in shock.
"Wha--!"
"Shh," Obi-Wan said, his voice a low murmur. He pulled
Qui-Gon's 'saber out, ignited it, then dialed it down to the
lowest setting. "It's confusing. I'm not a clone. I'm Obi-Wan
Kenobi and I'm here to rescue you. Don't move."
The 'saber made quick work of the Force collar, and Obi-Wan
threw it away from himself in disgust. "The surveillance camera
is disabled, and knowing droids it won't take them long to come
to see why. We need to go NOW... they'll be on us before we can
breathe. I'm sorry there's no time to explain. Can you stand?"
Nodding mutely, eyes still wide in shock, the other Obi-Wan
allowed his rescuer to help him up, never once taking his eyes
from the other man. Tentatively, he pushed the black hood back
and Obi-Wan could feel a Force probe slide through him. He
allowed it, consciously dropping his shields, knowing
instinctively this would be the best way to convince the other
man of his sincerity. // It would convince me anyway, //
he thought wryly, then pulled Bant's 'saber out. "Bant wanted
you to have this. You may have to use it yet. Right now, let's
move."
That last gesture galvanized his alter ego. Looking back up, he
whispered, "I want a full explanation when we get out of here.
But for now, we're gone."
Nodding, Obi-Wan helped the other man secure his broken arm
quickly, then said, "Let me go first."
Aware that their time was severely limited, the two men hurried
as fast as they were able to through the complex, but had only
made it just over half way when the alarm was raised. "Fuck,"
Obi-wan muttered, ducking back around a corner away from the
clanking heels of a droid patrol. Darting his companion a look,
Obi-Wan tried something desperate. // Can you hear me? // he
projected tightly.
Startled, the other man replied in awe. // Yes. You really
are me aren't you? //
Snorting, half in wry humor and half in desperation, Obi-Wan
replied, // No. I'm me. But apparently you are too. Can you
fight? //
One eye was partially swollen shut and his face was a mass of
bruises; his left arm was broken along with several fingers and
he felt as though he might have a concussion and some broken
ribs. But gray-green eyes danced in mirth at the answer and the
question as he replied // Not only can I fight, I can run.
Let's get the hell out of here, shall we? //
// Sounds good to me. Take the right? //
// Go, brother. //
Not even when fighting with Qui-Gon had Obi-Wan felt such
connection to a partner. It was quite literally like having an
extension of himself, a longer reach, another self. The
two Jedi went through the droid patrol like a hot knife through
butter, then were dashing to the exit, dodging and deflecting
blaster bolts. Skidding around the last corner, they were
separated at opposite ends of a wide hall, pinned down by a
mass of droids at the entrance. Distantly, Obi-Wan was aware of
Sith boiling up from behind them; they would soon be pinned
from behind as well as from the front.
// I'll cover you, // the injured man panted, cradling his
broken arm in the tatters of his tunic. // You go. Tell
Adi...//
// Piss off, // Obi-Wan bit back. // I'm not going ANYwhere
without you. // He grinned at his doppelganger from across the
room. // Besides, Bant would never forgive me. Are you up to
one last dash? //
// Am I REALLY this obnoxious? // The other Obi-Wan wondered,
grinning back fiercely. // No wonder Bant thumps me so much. On
three then...//
But before he could get to one, a disturbance outside the
complex drew the droids' attention away from them. A familiar
Force signature drew both of their attention. // Adi! // the
other man panted, shocked. // And she's got others with her! We
HAVE to make it past these droids, now! //
Rapidly approaching Force signatures convinced Obi-Wan to
follow that order. Together, the two leapt desperately across
the open space, their 'sabers whirling. Obi-Wan could sense his
companion's flagging stamina and kept inching closer to him,
protecting him as best he could while clearing the hallway.
Suddenly, they were outside. Councilor Gallia had four Knights
with her; Obi-Wan spotted her deep purple-pink 'saber, held
blade low in her characteristic fighting style, cutting down
droids and so deep in the Force that she shone like a star.
They fought their way to the others, then Obi-Wan gasped,
"Sith! Coming up! Let's go!"
Seven Jedi moved back to the remains of the Temple as quickly
as possible, the Knights fighting rear-guard and the two
Obi-Wans in the lead with Gallia. More Knights swarmed past
them to help their rear-guard as Sith and droids gathered, by
the time they reached the Temple it had become a full-scale
assault. But the Jedi defenses in place - including a huge
mortar cannon on the western wall that Obi-Wan was certain
hadn't been there in his world - stymied the droids and the
Sith. Eventually the night became quiet again, patrols on
either side of a no-man's-land snarling at each other from a
distance once more.
Obi-Wan ended up carrying his other self as adrenaline wore out
and his injuries reasserted themselves. Once in the Grand
Arena, a bed was found and Bant appeared out of nowhere to
cradle her lover's head as the healers worked. "No... no time
for this..." the injured man ground out, as the healers tried
to put him under.
"Obi..." Bant murmured, smoothing his hair back.
"No, love, listen. Adi... listen. I succeeded. I got the
code... there's a transport... but he changes the codes every
three or four days. It has to be now..."
The healers were looking more and more concerned. "We need to
put you under, Knight Kenobi," one of them said. "You're
bleeding internally."
Obi-Wan shouldered his way past the crowd around the cot and
knelt at his other self's side. "Tell me, brother," he
murmured, and then reinforced it. // Tell me. I'll see it gets
done. //
Gratefully, the injured man's eyes sagged shut and he opened
his mind. Codes and information flooded into Obi-Wan; he closed
his eyes, sorting it out, then nodded. "I've got it. Now sleep.
Heal."
Quirking a smile, the prone man said, "Full explanation.
Remember."
Grinning back, Obi-Wan said, "I remember." He backed away then,
to allow the healers to work. Gallia rounded on him.
"You can read each other?" She demanded.
"I tried it in the complex, as a last ditch effort, and it
worked," he replied, shrugging. "It helped us survive. He
showed me the codes... there's a transport down for routine
maintenance in a bay a couple of klicks away. I've got the
access codes, let's go get it and get you all out of here."
Shaking her head, Gallia looked back at the now-unconscious
man, her shoulders drooping. "I don't know why the Force sent
you here, Obi-Wan, but I'm glad it did. You just might have
saved the Jedi order."
It was a desperate move by a desperate people; perhaps
Palpatine didn't expect such boldness from a quarter he had all
but dismissed. But this new, audacious Obi-Wan who suddenly
appeared in their midst gave the Jedi new hope and gave them
the impetus for one last risky chance at freedom. They wasted
no more time, they had none TO waste... Adi Gallia and Obi-Wan
led a commando raid that liberated the freighter that very
night and landed it on the last operating Temple pad. Before
daybreak, it was loaded with everything that could be carried,
moved or thrown in, and every square centimeter was taken by
Initiates, Padawans and Knights.
Obi-Wan watched the last of it being loaded, shaking his head
in awe at the efficiency displayed. Gallia winked at him, her
face an interesting mix of exhaustion and elation. "We've
learned to do things quickly," she murmured to him. Then she
turned, suddenly serious. "Are you sure..."
"You need cover. I don't want to go with you; I can escape
another way." He shrugged. "Just promise to tell... Obi-Wan...
all about me. That's my only regret. I promised him."
"I will. I promise." She fell silent, looking at the eastern
horizon which was beginning to pink with dawn. "There are
eighteen shells left in the big cannon on the western wall,"
she said, after a moment. Use them all up. We won't be needing
them any more."
Suddenly, he was pulled into a tight embrace, which he
returned. "May the Force be with you, Master Gallia," he
murmured. She pulled back, wiping her eyes.
"And with you, Knight Kenobi. I hope you find your peace." As
she turned to go, she said, "Fifteen minutes. Then begin."
Saluting her, he turned and ran to the wall to mount the
diversion that would allow the last of the Jedi to escape. It
was normally a long trip, but holes in the walls shortened it
and long before the fifteen minutes were up he was in place. He
set the big mortar cannon shells up to load automatically, and
waited, watching carefully.
Suddenly, he was goosed by the Force; something was happening.
Allowing instinct to control him, he swiveled the big gun until
it was pointing along the wall, closer to the garden in which
he had first arrived. Something told him to fire, and he
did...lighting up the pre-dawn dusk with intense light and
concussive sound. A second explosion told the tale; a droid
armored division had been approaching, seeking signs of
resistance, but the mortar round had stopped them.
All hell broke loose at that point. He was attacked from
several different points simultaneously, and he was hard
pressed to set the load and aim before firing. In the back of
his mind, he could sense the transport lifting, and silently
wished them godspeed, not pausing in his firing.
Finally, down to three shells, he was prodded once again by the
Force; he set the cannon to auto-destruct mode, turned and ran
with Force-enhanced speed out of the turret. He had barely
reached the inner wall to crouch behind a marble block before
the gun, the three last shells, and the forces that had finally
breached the outer defense blew in a tremendous blast that
literally tore the entire western wall to pieces.
But by then, he was gone; he had ignited his 'saber and had
vanished.
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