When the Sun Sets

Chapter 2 - Urgent Missions

Obi-Wan Kenobi

The word Aniya says when we sense Anakin lose consciousness is enough that I'd have given her a very long lecture about it if it didn't perfectly mirror my only thought in mind. This was why I warned him about going ahead!

Aniya's comm beeps only minutes later. "General, we spotted a ship leaving underground," Appo reports, "We were unable to stop it."

"Follow them!" she snaps, "They have Anakin. We have to stop them!"

We head back, but the shuttle is already too far gone, and our forces are occupied with the remaining Separatist fleet. That doesn't stop the fear from smothering me when Admiral Yularen reports that the shuttle successfully made the jump to hyperspace. The trajectory is confusing, because he seems to be heading farther into Republic space.

I don't know where he's taking Anakin, but we need to find him. "Track all locations it could be going to," I order, past my fear. Anakin has been captured before, and it's never ended very well for him. The worst time was shortly after the Festival of Light, when Maul had 'rescued' him. Oddly enough, this is happening again after we're hearing about Maul.

Aniya's expression is tense, as she watches the sky where her twin disappeared. "He's not conscious right now," she says, stiffly, "I can try reaching him once he wakes up."

I nod. "Do that," I reply, "See if you can't get some clue to a location."

I shouldn't be so surprised when Yularen calls us back to the cruiser yet again, this time with an urgent transmission from Coruscant. I thought it was important when Ahsoka and Alema called us, but this is far more urgent. We knew already that the Separatists were infiltrating deep into the Republic. We were... concerned about it but did everything possible to prevent it.

But now, the Separatist fleet is attacking the planet. Coruscant, the capital, where the Senate and the Jedi are operating from.

They already lost contact with the Chancellor, and I can see Aniya's obvious fear for him, too. "We need to leave for Coruscant immediately," I command the fleet, reluctantly. I'd rather be looking for Anakin, but right now, the heart of the Republic is under attack. First, we have to stop the Separatists there, or no one will be free again. If we lose Coruscant, there will be no way to continue the war anymore.

Alema Syndulla

I was hoping I would at least have the chance to talk to Appo before leaving, but we saw the twins. I didn't realize how much I missed them until now.

It was a constant, gaping void in my chest, and it feels somehow more filled than it has since I left the Order. I want to just be back there with them, and this... is what I was afraid of from the start.

Now that we're back, I don't know how we'll be able to walk away again. I don't know that I want to. I don't know what that will mean, though, because even if I rejoined the Order, would I even be Aniya's padawan again? Last time, the Council had been planning to hand me off to Aayla Secura and... It doesn't matter right now – for now, I can keep my focus on Mandalore. I'll just take it as it comes.

It's good being back with the boys, though, even if they aren't mine. "It's good to see you again, Rex," I say, after we make the jump to hyperspace.

"You too, Commander," he replies, "The generals have... been different without you."

I knew they would take it hard, but what else could we do? "Are they okay?"

Rex seems to consider that for a long moment, and I can't help but wonder how much he'll actually say. "I have not seen them both this happy in a long time."