Kenobi Chronicles

Episode 3 (part 1)

Reva drew in a haggard breath.

The Fortress Inquisitorius stood before her in the churning oceans of Nur. Already the heaviness of the place weighed on her soul, forcing her to make great effort to even stand from her pilot's seat.

She stumbled through the hallways of her ship as it guided itself into the docking bay of the Fortress. Her eyes were dull, and her cheeks sagged. When she reached the exit door of her ship, she leaned heavily against the wall, too weak to stand on her own.

The thump of the ship's landing gear could be heard extending from its frame. The ship came to a slow stop and gently glided to a resting place on the floor. Reva paused before pushing the door panel's flashing green button that had just switched from blinking red.

She stared at it for a moment. It wasn't too late—even now. Sure she had failed the Inquisitor—what of it? He would hunt her till he could strike her down like he had done to so many Jedi before. But such a fate would happen in the end, wouldn't it?

She glanced at herself in a piece of glass that reflected her image back to her. But she did not see herself. No. She saw the face of someone else—and the questioning stare it gave her caused her heart to tear itself into two. Yes, the Grand Inquisitor would be disappointed—might even kill her the moment she walked into his presence. But Reva now almost smiled at the thought. Death would be a respite from the figure staring back at her.

With such a dark feeling of relief, Reva forced her shoulders back and breathed in deeply. She would find peace soon.

She reached up and pressed the flashing green button, causing the door to slide open. A group of white stormtroopers waited for her at the edge of the ship's ramp, blasters held tightly in both hands—ready should the Inquisitor try to run for it. Reva rolled her eyes. The stormtroopers were not bright enough to realize that if she hadn't wanted to die, she simply would not have returned.

"The Grand Inquisitor is waiting for you," a pale red-haired man spoke from behind the helmets. He wore the black uniform of the High Security Officer. "This way, m'lady."

Reva followed the officer blindly—emotionless—as if in a trance. The familiar walls of the Fortress blurred past her like the walls of a stone tomb. Yes, she was going to her death. But she felt only peace as she stared at the back of the officer's head. She felt only gratitude. She was numb to all else.

The officer soon stepped aside and the doors before them opened with the light sigh the hydro-levers gave off. Reva paused before entering. She saw the Grand Inquisitor standing to the right of the room, staring out at the green underwater oceanscape before him.

Reva stepped inside, the doors sighing closed behind her, again. And rather than standing—like a coward—near the doorway, still hoping for an escape—she strode into the middle of the room, where a table many feet long sat. There would be no escaping a blade here.

Then to show her complete resignation to her death, she took out the double-saber that always hung at her lower back and placed it on the table. Then she turned to the Grand Inquisitor and clasped her hands behind her back. She would not fight what was ahead—she was much too tired for that.

And the Grand Inquisitor sensed it.

"You are very prepared, Third Sister." He said, his back still facing her.

"I know when there is no more use fighting." She answered. Despite her body feeling as if it would collapse to the floor under a mysterious weight, her voice was still strong. Her dark brown eyes glazed over.

"Odd words—" the Grand Inquisitor said, finally turning around to face her. His pale face took on a sick hue from the green water surrounding him. "Odd words, for such a relentless hunter."