My Dying Wish

Important Author’s Note: From here on the story will be thickly intertwined with that of the plots and characters for both Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic games. If you have not yet played these games and do not want to be spoiled, you may not want to read on. If you have no idea what I am talking about and you don’t care if you are spoiled, then I invite you to look the plot up on-line and make yourself a bit more familiar. However, I will write it in a way that you will still understand it even if you’ve never played either game. My reason for this is I enjoyed the stories and characters in KotOR and would love to include some of them in my own writing.

Incidentally, as another aside, I have used the planet of Pergitor as a new setting in my story. I wanted to use a relatively unknown place, not mentioned often by the annals of Star Wars literature. If any of my nit-picky readers find inconsistencies let me know. I welcome the non-casual Star Wars fan to pick apart what I write. ^^

Thanks and enjoy. Remember to review!

-----

Obi-Wan had spent long hours talking to Padmé. Some time was spent recounting his mysterious new training, but he didn’t delve into much detail. More than half of his “story-telling” revolved around Luke and answering her subsequent questions. Obi-Wan only watched the boy from afar. He got the feeling Owen didn’t like him and there was no sense in being seen near the Lars family. It might make the situation suspicious.

The last part of their conversation was devoted to Obi-Wan explaining his reasons for taking a short “trip”, if one could call it that. He had reason to believe, thanks to his commune with his former Master, that there may be more Jedi. Many were living outside of their Order. Rogues, as some might call them. He’d learned of a planet on the Outer Rim called Pergitor. Apparently it was rather devoid of life thanks to the toxic nature of the environment. However, that did not stop the stories of a colony of beings that were Force-sensitive having established their dwellings there. Being an Outer Rim planet of little consequence, no one had ever bothered to follow up on the rumors. They were simply dismissed. However, it was highly unlike Qui-Gon Jinn to dismiss anything.

“It is part of the Minos Cluster right along the Rimma Trade Route,” Obi-Wan recounted to an interested Padmé.

“What do you hope to do by going there?”

“If I find these Jedi I might be able to convince them to help us. Honestly, I don’t know if it will do much good at this point, but allies are allies,” he said, stroking his chin, looking off into a random spot on the floor.

Obi-Wan seemed to be trying to build up his own little army to overthrow the newly formed Empire and save the galaxy. But that was an amazing feat for just one man. Padmé looked at him with wonder mingled in disbelief. She felt almost ashamed of herself for having bowed her head to this terrible fate. If she was so adamant in believing that her Anakin could still be trapped within that metal visage, then she had to keep faith that there was still hope to save their idyllic Republic.

Somewhat sensing her inner turmoil, Obi-Wan looked up from his thoughts and spoke. “There are still those loyal to our cause. I intend to find them, if they are not already looking for people like us. It may take time, but I will never stop fighting. Promise me that you won’t either.”

Padmé smiled and some tears welled up in her eyes, making her vision slightly blurred. “I promise.”

------

Obi-Wan had started for his mission immediately after leaving Alderaan. He hoped that Padmé was doing well. He’d left her in a somewhat happier state than she’d been when he arrived. More often than not his thoughts seemed to wander to her, especially in times of solitude. This was one of those times.

He’d left for Pergitor on a rather common looking starship. There were no distinctive markings on this Corellian-made cruiser. He had to admit he was not used to a ship this size, since he’d spent much of the war piloting his small starfighter. As he made the jump to lightspeed, he examined the output readings on the screen once more before sitting back and closing his eyes for a small rest. In his mind he saw Padmé as he’d left her, holding Leia in her arms. It might be a long time before he returned and the twins might very well be walking by the time he got back. He smiled.

“Obi-Wan..”

The voice snapped him back to reality and he looked back to see a shadowy, bluish, translucent figure looming in the doorway. It was his old Master dressed in the robes he’d been wearing during his cremation, and every time since when he’d seen him as this Force-fed apparition. Qui-Gon Jinn had found a way back through the Force. And the recipient of his first visit was Master Yoda, when the Republic had begun to wane into its present state.

It had not taken long for Qui-Gon to train Obi-Wan to prepare himself for this transition when the time came for his own soul to leave its body. The training was rather remarkable and Obi-Wan felt more at peace knowing he really would be there to guide the twins when they came of age. But he was getting ahead of himself.

“You really must stop sneaking up on me, “ Obi-Wan replied with joy in his eyes. He did not relish another lonely trip to an unfamiliar locale.

“What fun would I have if I didn’t,” he said with amusement in his tone and a smile on his face. However, the amusement would soon give way to more serious conversation. “When you arrive on Pergitor do not ask about Revan right away. They are guarded, and they will not take kindly to one who asks too many questions.”

“How exactly did they manage to establish any kind of habitat there?”

“It is precisely because no one would think to look for life on Pergitor, that Revan chose it as her secret base. She was a cunning warrior and excellent at vanishing. As to the ‘how’ of it all, I’m not sure I know. She was very powerful… ”

“And that’s why everyone was so afraid of her,” Obi-Wan interrupted.

“That is why she thought it best to vanish. She’d been involved with a reputable Republic General named Carth Onassi. After saving the galaxy from her former apprentice, Darth Malak, she’d decided it best to leave Carth and all her former attachments for a higher calling. Even if the Jedi Order at the time embraced her for having come back from the Dark Side, they were still wary. And many in the Order felt the only reason she’d returned to the Light was because her memories had been tampered with.”

“So she was an exile from both sides? But she has to be dead by now Master, how are we sure her followers are still there?”

“Are we ever sure of anything, Obi-Wan? I sense that this mission will not lead us to a dead end.”

“I hope not, for all our sakes. It would be promising to find more Jedi roaming the galaxy,” Obi-Wan said with a small sigh as he studied the computer panel absently.

“You do not necessarily need Jedi to win this fight. I always taught you not to live by the Code so strictly, Obi-Wan. Life cannot be mandated by rules. It is wild and free and situations must be handled as they present themselves. It is easy to make up rules, but slightly more difficult when the time comes to put them into practice. An alliance with Force users may give you an advantage, but they are not the end-all be-all of strong partners.”

“I understand, Master. And I try to find guidance in all your teachings,” he turned back to Qui-Gon with whimsy in his eyes and a playful smile. “Even the ones the Council would likely have banished you for.”

The ghostly figure laughed and shook his head. “They had bigger fish to fry than me, my apprentice. And I don’t think I did so badly. You’ve grown to be a good man and a better Jedi than I.”

“I did my best,” and with that his demeanor turned somber. “But I still failed him.”

“The Master should never take the blame for the path of his apprentice. Anakin made his own choices,” replied Qui-Gon, half believing his own words. After all, he was the one who insisted Anakin be trained. If anyone should take the blame, it would be him.

“Do you still believe he was the Chosen One?”

“If he is not, then he is the path to the Chosen One,” he responded with a far-off look. After a moment he said, “you seem worried.”

“I am … about Padmé,” Obi-Wan admitted. “She is so sad and I feel helpless to ease her pain.”

“The wounds of her heart will mend, in time.”

“I do wish there was more I could do.”

Qui-Gon smiled sadly and his image began to fade. “I’m sure you will find your answer,” he said as his voice trailed off. There was a hint of something more, something suggestive in his comment. Obi-Wan was perplexed by it, but gave his former Master a small nod to see him off.

------

Back on Alderaan, Padmé was sitting out in the garden watching the stars and thinking about all the things she’d talked about with Obi-Wan. Leia was tucked away in bed for the evening. Even her housekeeper was likely fast asleep. It was on nights like this that the full brunt of her loneliness engulfed her. In fact, the last years of her senatorial career, she’d done nothing but sit in her office and worry about her husband while Palpatine saw more and more power passing through his office, making the senators effectively useless.

After the war, she was sure her lonely days would end, and she dreamed of starting her family back on Naboo. But those dreams were gone in a matter of days. Now she was stuck waiting for another man, worried whether or not he’d return. She often thought of that moment on the landing pad of that hot, molten planet, when she realized Obi-Wan had snuck onto her ship and it had made Anakin furious. The fear in her was unmatched. She’d never felt that way. She was small, helpless and vulnerable as her neck began to tighten and her airways were blocked, her body moving into the air. She cursed Obi-Wan for having tricked her, but as Anakin was speaking, still wanted him there. She wanted him to come in and make Anakin see what he was doing was wrong. Obi-Wan had always been a guiding light and she’d come to rely on him heavily.

They were great friends, confiding in each other and taking comfort in the advice of the other. She was grateful that he was there and that he was fighting so hard to keep her children safe. It was also a comfort that he still had hope for the galaxy, that he was trying to find ways to rescue it from this darkness.

“Come back safe,” she whispered into the air and stood, turning to go back into the house. It would not take long for her to fall asleep and the dreams would come shortly after.

In her sleep, Padmé remembered the comforting warmth that radiated from Obi-Wan’s body. She remembered her longing to feel someone’s embrace, to find shelter in someone’s arms. She tossed and moaned lightly in her sleep. She felt restless and wanting. Her dreams manifested her desires.

She felt someone touching her skin, warm fingertips tingling against the bare skin of her stomach. She was nude now as some kissed her breasts. She could feel a light rasping sensation from, what she assumed was, hair on this person’s chin. She felt lips suckling at her nipples, nibbling on them lightly as electricity shot through her limbs and down to the nether regions between her legs, where there was a pulsing sensation. She bit her lower lip and took in a sharp breath. She felt those lips kissing the tops of her breasts, and moving up towards her neck. They lingered there, kissing and licking playfully. Finally, they moved up to kiss her cheek tenderly. She felt her hips move upwards, of their own will. She longed for this faceless body to take her completely. But before she could gather her wits, the man’s face came into view.

“Obi-Wan,” she gasped.

To be continued...