His Guiding Star (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

Chapter One

A/N: Hello there!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. All I own is Talia and her crew, Verräter and The Council of Darkness, and the crew's backstory.

"Desafio, what's your status?"

"Same as before, Zo," Talia sighed, instinctively adjusting her earpiece as she made her way through the corridors of the dark, elegant hotel. "I can't find him."

"Seriously? It's been five minutes!"

"It's not my fault Verräter's bases are so complicated," Talia huffed. "You checking in every five seconds won't help me find Malimo." She nodded at a group of younger girls passing by, who looked at her as if she'd suddenly grown three heads.

"The longer you're in there, the more danger you're in," Theo interjected. "Hurry up."

"Ah, I see, it's "Let's Bully Talia Day", isn't it?" she retorted, opening a random door to a room of all black, with a circle of people meditating together. "Oh, they're not very interesting." 

She turned away, continuing her down the corridor.

"If you'd stay still for a moment, you'd find meditating can be really good for the mind."

"Do you want me to stay still, or find Malimo?"

"Try the bar," Zoe suggested. "He likes his alcohol."

"Then he's a man after my own heart." 

Talia turned down another corridor, and then around the corner to an extravagant, luxurious lounge, where the wealthier members of Verräter's Council were sitting and talking quietly. Talia ignored them and headed straight up to the bar, sitting down on one of the stools.

"Of course you know where the bar is. Why am I not surprised?"

"You make it sound like I'm an alcoholic," Talia complained, making eye contact with the bartender. "One Coruscant Cooler please."

"Make that two."

She turned her head to see an older man with brown hair streaked with grey sitting beside her, grey eyes fixed on her. He was dressed all in brown and black, a blaster hanging from his belt. A smile twitched at his lips.

"What? You have good taste."

"That's him! That's Malimo."

Wulfric Malimo. He owned a vineyard on Naboo, and was one of The Council's greatest benefactors. She'd done a lot of research on him, but she'd still have figured it out anyway. The fine clothes, the soft hands, his renowned passion for wine, his shrewd mind, his confidence, the way he quietly assumed that people would respect him. She'd have to tread carefully with him. Just like dancing.

"You like fruity tastes then?" Talia raised an eyebrow at him, accepting her shot from the bartender.

"It's not for everyone," Malimo agreed, mirroring her movements. "But perhaps that's just its charm." They grinned at each other, and downed their glasses at the same time.

Talia glanced at the bartender, gaining his attention with a slight inclination of her head.

"Two more, please." She could feel Malimo's gaze on her, analysing her movements.

"You're a dancer."

She feigned surprise, widening her eyes as she focused on him again.

"How'd you know?"

"The way you move," he replied matter-of-factly, taking his second shot from the bartender's hands, grey eyes still fixed on her. "Even your most casual gestures are smooth. Graceful."