(no subject)

[beardstrokes]

Who: Obi-Wan Kenobi and You
Broadcast: Video
Action: Hospitality Deck - Marsiva
When: January 2nd

[ Obi-Wan is no stranger to waking up to unknown locations, but this seemed odd . . . even for him. He gropes for his lightsaber . . . which is gone, obviously. He huffs, before straightening himself and brushing his hair back. Communications . . . communications . . . ah, there it is.

A video feed. Somewhat archaic, but it'll do. He doubts anyone from the Republic will be nearby, but perhaps the locals will offer some aid. Obi-Wan clears his throat before speaking. It's time for his other skill set to come in use. ]

Greetings. My name is General Kenobi. To whom do I have the pleasure of addressing? And I don't suppose there is someone willing to answer my questions? Because I have a great deal many of them.

Comments

[imahologram]

I'm sorry to hear it. I understand it was a difficult conflict.

[She mostly knows her parents' stories, in this case.]

We can talk more of the future soon. But I don't think it would be a good idea just yet.

[Not until she knows exactly what they're going to say--and not say--to Anakin.]

[beardstrokes]

You're all troubled by this future with us. Ahsoka, Captain Solo, even yourself . . . what could have happened that was so bad?

[ Other than dying, he can't picture much else. ]

[imahologram]

[Her expression clouds. There are worse things than death, she's learned.]

A lot has happened. Much of it bad.

[And, to be honest, she's not sure he'd believe her if she told him. An entire planet, gone? It sounds impossible.]

It's going to come out eventually. I don't think there's any way to keep it a secret forever. But it's not my secret alone.

[beardstrokes]

[ From the way everyone has spoken about it, and there's still one more person he has yet to meet. ]

It's Luke, isn't it? The Jedi boy from Tatooine.

[ Again, the sense of a bigger picture that he's missing, that he seems to know, but won't speak of. ]

[imahologram]

Yes. And no.

[It's her, too, and Darth Vader, and a dozen other things, but above all, it's certainly Luke.]

It's complicated, General.

What have they told you of Luke?

[beardstrokes]

What I've said. That he's a Jedi from Tatooine. That's all I know.

[ He's in no hurry to learn more, though he would prefer it now than later. ]

[imahologram]

[That's about as much as anyone should know, at this point. Anything else would cause more questions than answers.

Well, nearly anything else. Maybe she can offer a crumb or two more.]

You know him, in the future. [Her mouth curves a little.] Luke thinks the world of the wisdom you shared with him.

[beardstrokes]

Well. . . it's nice to know someone does.

[ Trying to teach Anakin wisdom is akin to pulling teeth out of a gundark. ]

[imahologram]

You've had a lot of influence on him.

[It just seems necessary to reassure General Kenobi that, whatever Luke is, he isn't someone to be concerned about.]

Everything will make a little more sense soon. I promise.

[beardstrokes]

[ How many padawans does he have now? He's a little surprised he'll take another one after Anakin. He always felt Anakin would be his last . . . his defining milestone. ]

Of course. I shall be patient.

[imahologram]

Thank you, General.

If you do need anything else, please don't hesitate to call on me.

private

[beardstrokes]

[ Well, his patience was rewarded with Luke spilling some of the beans. It takes him some time before he responds back to Leia. He seems slightly unsure. ]

I have just spoken to your brother.

private

[imahologram]

[Which can only mean one thing.]

Then you know.

Re: private

[beardstrokes]

I know you and Luke are twins. Children to . . . Anakin's children. I imagine Bail took you in because of the situation presented by their . . . marriage.

[ This is hard to talk about. ]

private

[imahologram]

...Essentially.

[Every correction she could make is something she's agreed not to say.]

I can't promise to answer your questions, but I'm willing to try.

Re: private

[beardstrokes]

. . . No.

[ His voice is gentle. ] But I'm sure you have questions for me.

[imahologram]

[Are you sure? she wants to ask, but he's showing her kindness by not asking her to reveal things he shouldn't know. She'll take it.

And then--are you sure?--she asks the same thing she did Ahsoka. Several different reasons why, not least because she'd like to compare reports.]

You knew my mother as well, didn't you? Could you tell me about her?

[beardstrokes]

I certainly did. I was there when she was Queen of Naboo, along with my master. And we were both present when we found Anakin.

[ He pauses. The Clone Wars had meant that Padme and Obi-Wan didn't talk as much.]

She was . . . strong. As a senator, she was subject to plots, deceit, corruption but she always stood for what she believed in. Her words could sway thousands.

[imahologram]

You knew her quite a while.

[He speaks broadly, but the general outline matches Ahsoka's description.]

And what of--[there's a slight hitch as she makes herself say the name General Kenobi will recognize]--Anakin Skywalker?

[She did herself no favours in making clear to Ahsoka just how little love she had for Darth Vader. This time, she wants to obtain her information with a neutral face if she can.]

[beardstrokes]

Your father knew her best.

[ And Bail, of course. Padme had many friends. Obi-Wan was one, but their duties rarely gave time to deepen it. He trusted her, believed in her . . . but he could not give Leia any rare glimpses of her mother.

Her father, though . . . ]

Your father . . . was impulsive. Brave. Had a lot of trouble listening to orders and plans, but he cared for people. His troops, the people he saved.

[ Ahsoka. Myself. Padme. There's no denying that, but voicing it is needless. ]

A powerful jedi, a good friend. I am -- have been fortunate to be his Master.

[ A poor master, at that. A substitute for someone greater. ]

[imahologram]

[Even now, her first thought is of Bail, not Anakin. After a breath, she realizes her mistake, and her expression goes a little cooler.]

So I've heard.

[She listens to him, trying to picture a man bearing any of those traits. Her mind is too occupied by black gloves and mechanical wheezes to succeed. There's no strange, momentary glimpse of the man that was, the way there was when Ahsoka spoke of Vader's past.]

...Thank you for telling me about them.

[Bringing herself to speak of Vader specifically, without arousing more suspicion on General Kenobi's part, is beyond her at that moment.]

[beardstrokes]

I imagine hearing does not do much justice.

[ He's aware of the impression Anakin gives, after all. ]

I imagine a lot could be same about Bail. I had worked with him. He's always put others first, no matter the cost.

[ Probably best to leave out all the bickering they did, too. ]

[imahologram]

I appreciate learning more about them, General.

[MOSTLY PADME, let's be real here, but any information is valuable.

At the mention of Bail, she smiles, though it doesn't quite lighten her eyes.]

My father was committed to his ideals. It's one of the things I admired most about him.

[beardstrokes]

Oh, he was committed. We learned a lot from each other, at the time. I was a little more reckless and he was a little more stern.

[ Then Wild Space. ]

Padme and Bail always had each other's support. In their line of work, friendships could always become clouded, but theirs remained clear.

[imahologram]

I'm not surprised. [There's a warmth in her voice that wasn't nearly so present before, the polite princess-diplomat equivalent of a laugh.] His stories about your adventures left quite an impression on me.

[For the best, she's sure--if nothing else, she was left with the belief that General Kenobi was an incredibly capable Jedi.] Politics can be a lonely business. Their friendship must have been strong to survive it.