The Countess ━ OBI-WAN KENOBI

Chapter Fourteen

Throughout her time at the temple, Leilani had never found herself in serious trouble. Master Yaddle had made sure of that, especially after dealing with Dooku's mischievous antics. Dooku had been the temple's biggest troublemaker as a child, and perhaps even more so as a teenager. Both Master Yaddle and Yoda often recounted stories of his escapades with fondness in their voices. Now, with the police hot on her trail, Leilani understood why such strict measures had been put in place. Every step she took seemed to be monitored by clones or droids, with probes deployed for the sole purpose of locating her—the Countess of Serenno.

She tightened her cloak over her head, using one hand to keep it in place while she pushed the captured bounty hunter through the crowded streets; as he seemed to accept that there was no escaping her grasp. She steered him into a narrow alleyway on the lower levels of the capital planet, seeking a place to hide from anyone who might be searching for her. The hall she found was shadowy and off the main paths, a perfect spot to catch her breath and consider her next move.

"Come," she said, giving the bounty hunter a nudge as she noticed a comm booth at the end of the alley.

"That one?" Hardeen asked, eyeing it sceptically.

She sighed. "Do you see any other comm booths around?" she replied. "I need to get in touch with someone."

"Sure, if your idea of communication is a shout into the void," Hardeen quipped dryly.

Leilani shrugged. "At least if they find us, I can use you as bait and make a run for it."

He seemingly chose to remain silent as she dragged him inside the booth and keyed in a privacy code. The transparisteel went opaque as a stone as she waited for the person to respond, but after no projection appeared even after a minute, she tapped her fingers aggressively into the pod.

"Dammit, Ani," she shook her head.

"Maybe he's avoiding you," Hardeen remarked with a smirk. "Can't say I blame him."

Leilani shot him a quick glance. "Don't worry, Hardeen, I'll make sure you remain connected—probably with my boot."

As Hardeen silenced himself once again, she worked on the tiny keypad, pushing in another clearance code and hoping that it would work. Force forbid, she hadn't used it for years, nor asked to see if it was unchanged, yet with little to no option, and even less trust in anyone but them; she had to reach out. Perhaps, he would chide her, but would never turn on her.

The booth darkened again, as a hand-sized image shimmered into existence above the small holodisk; a man with strawberry blonde hair and and with a clear, steadily intelligent gaze from his aquamarine eyes. "Leilani," he said, concern in his voice. "Where are you? Mas Amedda has demanded you turn yourself in."

"I know," she sighed, taking another glance at the bounty hunter beside her. "I don't have time to explain right now, but I need your help. Meet me near Dex's if you can, please."

Obi-Wan crossed his arms and sighed softly. "I'm on my way."

She hardly got a chance to say goodbye, as he broke the transmission and the booth's transparisteel became clear; then, she stepped out of it; scanning through the alleyway once again—however, there was no probe or droid in sight. She let out a weary breath, grabbing onto the coat of the man; pushing him forward to be on their way. They walked out onto the busting streets navigating through the flow of people, trying not to be underfoot; or be far too suspicious; even when they met up with a group of clones, Leilani pulled her hood tightly over her head, as they passed them. It was far from ideal, running or jumping over the crates just to avoid and run faster than the droids could; so she pulled up, throwing Hardeen up to another rooftop—and while he let out a surprised scream, she jumped up, landing lightly next to him.