Blood of the Forgotten/Ch4

The Tantive III  slowed as it entered the atmosphere of Raada, headed towards Farajgad Plains, with the gas giant Rydhan disappearing into the distance. Smoke rose from the city and its outskirts, and Obi-Wan noticed the Imperial base not too far away. As they landed in the outskirts, a group of the stormtroopers walked up to the ramp.

“I’ve got this, Master Kenobi,” Chardri Tage said, walking out and shooting the stormtrooper in the head with his blaster. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, but decided not to ask. They walked out of the ship, Obi-Wan on the lookout for any enemies that may threaten them. The plains gave no cover for them, but in the same way it gave no cover for any possible threats. A small hut stood ahead of them, and it looked to have been around for a long time. A quaint front porch featured a table covered with tools and mechanisms. Oh how would Anakin have liked this place . The Anakin he knew was dead. Now, it was the Emperor.

“Obi-Wan?” asked a voice, cautiously. He turned, and to his left was a very  familiar Togruta. Tage immediately pointed his blaster at her. “I’m a friend, you don’t need to shoot…”

“I… I thought you were dead,” Obi-Wan said, and couldn't help the feeling of tears welling up in his eyes. Ahsoka rushed forward to him, and he quickly covered her in his arms. “Oh... my, Ahsoka, it feels like it’s been so long…” When in reality, it’d only been a little over a standard week since they last saw each other.

“Why are you here?” she asked, getting straight to the point.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Senator Organa sent me here. He’s… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">already <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> planning a rebellion. And since there’s been an uprising here, he told me to go pick up anyone willing to join us.” Two women who seemed to be slightly younger than Ahsoka walked towards them.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“That’s Kaeden Larte,” she said, pointing to the older one, “and that’s Miara, her sister. They’ve really been controlling thi-” She suddenly stopped in her tracks. Obi-Wan sensed it too. He carefully gripped his lightsaber in his hand. Oh.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“It’s him.” Tage suddenly said. “He… he is the Sixth Brother. I saw him, once, when I was spying on the Imperials. He’s some sort of assassin for the Empire.” Kaeden and Miara, the girls Ahsoka had just introduced to them, rushed forward as Ahsoka leaped towards the humanoid, kicking them square in the chest.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“A Jedi…” the creature hissed, and Obi-Wan walked forward.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You’ll die if you attack it.” Tage told him, a bit condescendingly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I’ve fought Sith before. This isn’t even a <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">real <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> one, Tage. Don’t be ridiculous.” Obi-Wan leaped forward, slashing forward only to find nothing there. Ahsoka jumped across his vision, and ended up with the Sixth Brother in his periphery. She grabbed the lightsaber, and a bright flash of white energy began to pulsate out from the kyber crystal’s chamber. The energy was short-lived as the lightsaber cracked in two, producing two similarly-sized hilts. She ignited both of them, and they gleamed white.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“What?” the being asked incredulously. Obi-Wan had seen this before. It was a phenomenon called Force cleansing, in which the dark thoughts that procured a Sith’s blade were brought out. It made the color white. It was often used by those who described themselves as…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Grey Jedi <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Outcasts <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">. There still remained a massive group of them, known as the Order of the Outcasts. They searched for those Jedi teetering. He’d even seen them try to hire his master. He deactivated his lightsaber as the creature suddenly moved to take something he’d only just now noticed off Ahsoka’s belt. He ignited it, and it gleamed black.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“How… how did you get the Darksaber?” Obi-Wan gasped. Ahsoka didn’t turn back, instead she just sighed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Maul left it behind on Mandalore. I didn’t want to use it… because I know how much pain it caused.” The Sixth Brother cut it through the air, breaking the cold silence as Ahsoka blocked it with her newly-crafted white blades. Obi-Wan felt through the Force, a dark presence. The Sixth Brother was only one of many…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Inquisitor.” a voice said. “Leave them to me.” Obi-Wan turned, to see a towering Pau’an man. “If you have not been acquainted with me… I am the Grand Inquisitor.” he said. Obi-Wan searched his mind, and found that same face. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He was once a Jedi, a Temple Guard <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">. So Sidious had also been doing… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">this <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to the Jedi. Corrupting them. The Darksaber flew out of the Sixth Brother’s hands and right into Obi-Wan’s, and he looked down at it. This was the weapon that had killed Satine… but many before it had fallen before its blade. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Pre Vizsla <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tor Vizsla. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> It was interesting that the darksaber had been passed generations down the Vizsla clan, yet those last two who held the name were killed at its hand.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Sixth Brother stood there, with no weapon, as the Grand Inquisitor ignited his own spinning double blade. Ahsoka readied her stance, as did Obi-Wan, preparing for a hard fight. Sixth Brother scurried off unnoticed, but he was not the problem.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The blade spun in a deadly circle, as the Pau’an slowly moved forward. He chuckled. “Weakness. The way of the Jedi. I have rose above that weakness. And now, I will show you what power I hold.” And then he pushed forward.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">~

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Satine sat in her small apartment, hand on her forehead. The Republic was gone, and in its place stood a regime she immediately recognized as a dictatorship. She refused to legitimize this in her mind, just as something that would pass when the galaxy realized what they were being ruled by.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">But the most startling revelation was that Anakin Skywalker, stylized now as Darth Vader, was in control of this monster. The Anakin Skywalker that was so dear to her Obi-Wan. What had happened to the boy? From the stories Obi-Wan would tell her when he could share his life with her, he never would’ve followed <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">this <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> path. A path that lead him to lead the galaxy - right after Palpatine, of course, who had caused this whole mess.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Palpatine’s “freak” death was suspicious. Despite his age, he was still in good health. Her mind defaulted to some sort of assassination-

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ms. Makot,” came a voice from outside. Just hearing someone utter the name Makot reminded her of Alsi Makot, her mother. “I have… someone here to talk to you.” She cautiously stood up and walked to the door, and looked through the peep hole. One of the apartment’s workers stood there, with a man to his right that looked vaguely familiar, but she could not recognize immediately. She opened the door and put a fake smile on her face.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Come in,” she said sweetly, albeit a bit worried. Had Death Watch found her? Was this the Empire? The man, with a yellow stripe over his nose (odd) walked in, and motioned for the other man to leave.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You are not Alsi Makot,” he said, before bowing politely. “Duchess.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“What? Who are you?” she asked, overcome with worry.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Don’t worry. My name is Quinlan Vos, or as you will refer to me as, Rytan Asulle.” he said. “I’m a Jedi. If any others are still alive. I had believed you were still alive, Obi-Wan told me you had died.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“He sent you?” she asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“No. He’s still alive, though.” Satine breathed out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “I know that you don’t agree with what’s happened to the galaxy.” Satine shook her head quickly, and Quinlan smirked. “Good. An ally. I vote to get off this planet. The clones I worked with are still looking for me. I got a premonition the night before their attack that something was going to go wrong. So I fled the camp.” He looked out the window.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I see them. They’re here.” Quinlan said, before turning frantically to Satine. “I’ve got a secret Senate connection, the representative from Kiffu. She trusts me. I’ll see if I can get her to help us.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">~

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Inquisitor’s lightsaber spun rapidly in a protective shield, preventing Ahsoka or Obi-Wan from making any attacks directed at him. They both waited for the time to strike, when the Inquisitor pushed himself towards them and sliced upwards towards Obi-Wan’s face, but was instantly blocked. Ahsoka attempted to stab him, but the Inquisitor leaped over her. Obi-Wan swung his lightsaber out to block his attack, and for a few minutes all three of them parried and blocked every blow directed at them. It was a display of equal talent between them.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">But there came a time when the Sixth Brother saw an opening. He vaulted towards the fighting three, slamming his helmeted head into Ahsoka’s side. Her lightsabers flew out of her grip. The Grand Inquisitor, momentarily distracted, swung his lightsaber down, hitting dirt from where she once was. She rolled to the side and kicked herself up, and called her lightsabers to her grip…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Or not. The Sixth Brother had retrieved them again, forcing her into the same situation she was in. It was evident that he was not proficient in dual wielding, and she saw the opportunity to grab his hands and wrestle the lightsabers out. She crossed her sabers in an X around his neck. He laughed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You are to weak to kill one of your own colleagues, Jedi.” he taunted, staring at Ahsoka, only infuriating her more.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I’m not a Jedi anymore.” she said, and anticipating an attack from the Grand Inquisitor, swung one of her lightsabers across the Inquisitor’s neck and around her back to block the Pau’an’s swing. His eyes widened in surprise.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Interesting.” he said, eyes reverting back to original width, with a smirk forming on his gray-colored face. The smirk became a grin, as he turned around, using the Force to send Ahsoka and Obi-Wan careening away. His hand went up, and the two Larte sisters and Tage were pulled into the air, clawing at their throats. His hand tightened. “Say goodbye to your friends.” Obi-Wan, not wanting yet more casualties of friends, propelled himself towards the Inquisitor, who avoided the killing blow but found his arm chopped clean off at the shoulder. He yelled in pain, as his other hand crushed into a fist, his feeling dwindling.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Kaeden screamed as her younger sister’s neck was broken by the sheer power of the Grand Inquisitor. He laughed, as Kaeden retrieved her blaster and fired three shots at the Inquisitor. Blinded by rage, two missed but the other grazed the stump that was once his arm. Obi-Wan held a lightsaber to the side of his neck.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Kill me. You’ll become no better than me, Kenobi. Have you not heard Yoda tell how revenge is not the Jedi way?” the Pau’an said. He slowly rose, as Obi-Wan’s lightsaber deactivated. Kaeden was now on the floor, holding her sister’s corpse, blood dripping out of her mouth. “Look at her. She’s grieving. A rematch will have to wait for another day.” he said, limping off. Obi-Wan watched as he disappeared towards a waiting shuttle. Ahsoka walked up behind him.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You’re… you’re just going to let him <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">go <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">?” Kaeden yelled, her eyes watery and tear marks down her cheeks. “He… he <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">killed <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Miara!” She stood up and held her blaster towards Obi-Wan.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Kaeden!” Ahsoka yelled, just before Chardri Tage, who had recovered from his skirt with death, tackled her to the ground. She fired a stray bolt into the sky. Obi-Wan was still looking away. The Inquisitor turned around, some blood beginning to drip from what remained of his arm.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You see now, Kenobi? Darkness always wins.” he yelled from several dozen meters away. “Death always wins.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Obi-Wan stared. The shuttle lifted into the sky. He watched as it flew away, until it disappeared into the setting sun. He’d chosen the Jedi way over killing an enemy. One who had just killed a young girl. Ahsoka put her hand on his shoulder, as Kaeden ripped Tage off of her, and he stood there, like a predator over its prey. Kaeden only watched her sister’s unmoving body.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“She’s… she’s really dead.” Tage nodded sadly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tantive III <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:#000000;font-weight:500;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> set down near them. The ramp lowered, inviting them in. Kaeden took her sister into her arms and went first, Tage behind. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan stood alone there for a minute.

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:500;white-space:pre-wrap;">“The dead follow me wherever I go. Qui-Gon, Satine… now I have to live with <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:500;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">this <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Karma;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:500;white-space:pre-wrap;">. I barely knew the girl, but it’s… it’s like I myself had my neck snapped.” He sighed, as Ahsoka walked ahead of him, not saying a word. “What have I done…”