Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

36

A/N: May jump in between storylines in different parts of the galaxy in these final chapters

"Don't... DON'T!" Tala's voice was heard in the distance as Toni approached the medbay. Over by the bacta tank, the officer held out her hands as she tried to stop Obi Wan from resurfacing. "You're still not healed-! Your burns, your body- they just need time."

"Where-?"

"We're on Jabiim... you're safe now."

"Toni-?"

"Hello, master." Toni waved, walking over to them. Obi Wan had aged significantly since the Purge; deep wrinkles were etched on his agitated face, and his originally copper hair was fading more and more to grey. For someone in his late 40s, he looked 2 decades older.

"Where's..." Obi Wan took a moment to catch his breath. "Where's Leia-?"

"Leia-?" Toni raised a brow at the mention of one of Senator Amidala's babies, who'd been adopted by Senator Organa after her death. "What happened to her?"

"It's... a long story," Obi Wan said with a sigh. "First, get me out of this thing."

--

"Roken-?"

"He shouldn't be here."

"I know you're upset, but-"

"I mean it," Roken snapped, getting up from his tinkering. "Get him on the first transport outta here; too many people are looking for you! You put us all in danger."

"I need your help," The Jedi in particular- Obi Wan Kenobi said.

"So does every kid making a rock float from here to Coruscant," Roken retorted.

"Someone very important has been taken from me," Kenobi reasoned. "I need your help to get her back."

"General... I'm sorry, but that's not my problem."

"Well, I wish that were true."

Shaking his head, Roken turned away. He knew all too well what happened the last time he'd approved a rescue mission...

"She knows everything," Tala piped in, following him to the communication chamber with Kenobi and Valorum. "Where we are, what we're doing- Roken, if she finds us, we're gonna have to prepare an evacuation."

"I can't shut it down; everything runs outta here!" Roken protested.

"Then help us to get her back," Kenobi pleaded. "I can't lose her. You have no idea what the Empire is capable of."

"Please, Roken," Valorum added earnestly.

Roken sighed, slowly getting up to look them in the eye, his voice laden with severity. "I had a wife once. I knew exactly what she was before she got married. We tried to hide it... and the Inquisitors found her anyway! So I know exactly what the Empire can do."

Ironic, he was sure. He wasn't going to help someone when he knew what could possibly happen... but was it worth ignoring...?

Coming to a decision, he glanced back at the others. "... Look, if you want my help, you got it."

"Thank you, Roken," Kenobi breathed out.

"Yeah, no problem." Calling over 2 pilots, Roken activated the holotable, revealing a map of a planet before zooming in on its moon. "Nur- it's a water moon. We got this off the grid while it was being built; it's all we have." The image switched to a fortress as he continued, "It's in the Mustafar system."