Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Twenty-nine - Futurity

Life is what happens when you're busy plotting a coup.
Year 12

—————

Kat
3 weeks later

"Kat!" Beru's voice comes from the house. "You have an urgent communication coming through."

I look to Obi-Wan, seeing a slight hesitation that mirrors my own. Anakin wouldn't send an urgent message unless it is...well, urgent. Letty knows to contact Anakin if there's an emergency, so it's not her.

I trail into the house and pull it up. Anakin pops up in full Vader uniform, the blue holo message flickering before becoming clear.

"Kat, I have someone coming to get you. Well, Thrawn has someone coming.

"Normally I'd stay out of it, but I want you to go in my name and figure out what's going on. You have all my authority, get to the bottom of it. Quietly or loud, I don't care. There's a bid for a new naval facility on two Outer Rim planets." Yes, this has been in the works for a year now. I didn't know Thrawn was involved, however.

"Thrawn wants to understand more about the current operations on the one called Lothal." Ah, the one the Emperor wants. I don't think he's said it, exactly, but Anakin believes it's only a matter of time before Lothal is fully occupied. "He will send you more details, but there is unrest there. He wants to know if it stems from the leadership." Azadi? The guy I met on Coruscant? "I trust you'll find the source and know what to do with it."

I watch the message three times, Obi-Wan trailing in during the third.

"What exactly is he sending you to do?"

"Sounds like I'm investigating the issue," I say mildly. "I don't know if that means our training is finished or not," I add with a touch of sadness.

"So it seems."

I shift to face him. "I think I'll miss you, Obi-Wan."

He gives me a small smile. "I know we will all miss you."

Obi-Wan leaves to find Luke and I start packing. Somehow, I've accumulated a lot of crap and end up leaving some behind so I can use a single bag. The cloak Beru made me and the one Anakin got me, I pack. The tools I've gathered stay.

I send Letty a request for all information on the naval bids, preparing to spend my time doing research. An incoming call distracts me from the task, and I'm surprised to see it isn't Anakin. It seems to be from Coruscant.

"Kat," I say into the holo, my mind still on packing but curious as to who could want to speak to me.

Jewel's face pops up, causing me to smile. For one, because it's someone I actually want to speak to, and for two because her shining—but worried—face is simply good to see.

"My gods," she says, her face visibly relaxing. "I thought you were dead!"

"I'm not the one who died," I say with a sly smirk.

"Kat, you must come back to Coruscant soon. I might die if I don't get the details. Eriadu is reeling." How very dramatic; I like it.

"Hm. I almost burned the world off the map," I admit.

"I knew it!" She lets out a booming laugh. "That asshole underestimated you. Did Lord Vader arrive?"

"He did. Not a moment too soon." Honestly—any sooner and I likely would have been running through the forest, hidden by the tree canopy.

Her expression becomes dreamy. "Amazing," she says. "I am so glad I met you."

"Believe me, I feel the same about you. I'm sorry I didn't reach out, I sort of went into hiding while I made sure nobody wanted to arrest me."