Cold Revenge (A Star Wars Avengers Crossover)

Chapter Four "Earth's New Hero"

It had been two months. Two months of hiding, of research, of getting nowhere. Patience was such a key component of the Jedi way, but Obi-Wan was finding that difficult now. He had been so set on getting home, but now he was more concerned with this mysterious Loki and what he was doing on this planet.

Riley's hideout was an old abandoned library. She had told Obi-Wan that the building belonged to her father, a safe house. Obi-Wan wondered why Riley's father would need a safe house, but she didn't seem to want to talk about it. The place was full of old books, of course, but there was a room in the middle of the building, hidden by shelves that slid out of the way to reveal a heavily locked door. Riley wore the keys around her neck, tucked under her shirt.

In the space of these two months, Obi-Wan had learned less about his new friend than he would have wanted. Riley was secretive above all else. He still didn't know her surname or why she ran away or what happened to her father. It must have been something terrible, Obi-Wan was certain. Riley had this look in her eyes sometimes, a darkness that was all too familiar. There was anger there, but an even deeper sadness that Obi-Wan couldn't seem to break through.

He had told her more about himself, though: his real name, what a Jedi was. He told her about the Force. Riley had demanded a demonstration, unwilling to take such a claim on faith. Obi-Wan would have used his mental abilities if he hadn't thought Riley would find them intrusive. So, he stuck to a visual example, calling books off the shelves of the library and sending them flying overhead. He didn't like showing off, but he had a feeling that Riley needed to be impressed. And she was. She wanted to know more, to understand how it worked. It helped that she was Force sensitive, but Obi-Wan was still cautious. He didn't tell her everything. Her anger made him wary.

However, once Riley understood the purpose of the Jedi, she suggested that Obi-Wan could easily fulfill his purpose of keeping the peace on Earth. There was plenty of crime to be found on the streets of New York City. Obi-Wan suspected it was a universal problem. And it was quite easy actually. With his powers and lightsaber, the petty criminals of this city didn't stand a chance. He didn't kill anyone, though. He broke up fights, stopped people from getting robbed. It was only incidental at first. He didn't go looking for trouble.

Then Riley had another idea. She suggested that Obi-Wan could become like Earth's heroes, a shadowy figure who saved lives and disappeared without a trace. They already had a "lair" and Riley would be his "technical support." She seemed excited about this idea, and it was the first time Obi-Wan had seen her remotely happy, so he went along with the plan. Riley told him to wear his old clothes. The robe and hood would obscure his appearance and give him a mysterious air. That way when he wore Earth clothes, he wouldn't be recognized.

After about six weeks of this, Obi-Wan had gained a reputation in the more dangerous areas of the city. He was called "The Monk" because of his robe. Riley always came along, not that Obi-Wan could have stopped her. She said she was "back up." To her credit, she did stay in the background, only helping if she were needed. She had a weapon she had built herself. It was about the size of a blaster pistol, but shaped like a crossbow. It emitted an electric pulse that could be adjusted based on the size and strength of the target. It wasn't lethal when used properly, but it could knock out a 200 pound man with one shot. Obi-Wan realized that was what she had meant when she said she was armed the first day they met.

Riley made a lot of things. The hidden room at the library hideout was full of computers and spare parts. It reminded Obi-Wan of Anakin, and he felt sick to his stomach every time he walked in.

It was early one morning, still dark and cold outside, and Obi-Wan and Riley had only returned to the library an hour ago. They slept on cots, which was normally fine, but Obi-Wan could not get to sleep this time. He lay there in the dark room with the light from the computer screens casting a blueish glow that didn't reach the corners. Riley's steady breathing was the only sound. Obi-Wan sat up with his back to the wall and watched her. When she was asleep that darkness in her eyes was invisible. She looked like a typical teenager without a care in the universe. Watching her like this, Obi-Wan found it difficult to remember that she was a runaway, a warrior in her own way. He could forget that she frightened him by her very existence. But all this imagining was familiar. He had done the same thing with Anakin.