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The cathedral loomed in the horizon like the silhouette of a skyline. Its twin black towers stretched up to the morning sky, blocking the sun's rays. Beautiful and foreboding, the enormous cathedral was a very welcome sight for the two weary Jedi and their charge.
As the speeder pulled up to its massive doors, Anakin lept out and looked around warily. He reached down and offered Saloma his hand to assist her up, keeping his senses tuned to the slightest tremor in the Force.
Obi-Wan joined his padawan at Saloma's side as soon as she climbed out of the speeder. He and Anakin flanked her, their hands resting uneasily on the hilts of their lightsabers. They quickly ushered her to the doors. Obi-Wan automatically tapped the entry code into the lock's security mechanism without looking at it. He was too preoccupied surveying the treeline.
"Anakin, this entry code needs to be changed. The sooner the better," the Jedi Master relayed.
Sparing a glance at the lock, Anakin nodded. "Shouldn't be a problem. It's a standard trigger entry."
"Are you two always this jumpy?" Saloma teased, struck by how naturally they assumed their roles as guardians and escorts.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No. Only when I'm cold, exhausted, and hungry enough to eat a mynock," he said drolly.
"We're just being alert," Anakin explained easily. "We're too vulnerable outside like this and I personally wouldn't write off those droids yet. They most likely tracked us, even if they couldn't follow us." The lock clicked and the huge door slowly slid open. Anakin took one last look around, then slipped inside.
"Then there are Vrone's forces," Obi-Wan added, urging Saloma inside. "I wouldn't put it past them to pay us an untimely visit." He sealed the door behind them and relocked it from the inside.
"Oh, yes, and then there's that, how could I forget," she said with a sigh. "You left some lasting impressions back there. But I have to admit, after everything we've been through in the last twenty-four hours, I'm beginning to feel invincible."
Anakin grinned. "I want the whole sordid story," he began, glancing at Saloma. "But first, I have to get something to eat."
"First, you and I will talk," Obi-Wan countered, facing his padawan with an icy look. He crossed his arms over his chest and took a deep breath.
Anakin bowed his head and frowned deeply. "Do we have to do this now?" He dragged a large hand through his hair, his brow furrowing anxiously.
"Can you at least have the grace to show a little remorse?" Obi-Wan shifted his hands to his hips. "Are you even the slightest bit aware of how wrong all this could have gone because of your irresponsible, impetuous--" The Jedi Master paused, feeling Saloma's hand rest firmly on his arm.
"Let him go," she whispered. "You're too tired, Obi-Wan. You'll just make him resentful if you reprimand him here like this. Let him go eat. You go get some sleep."
The Jedi peered over at her. She was right. He was both mentally and physically tired and apt to be overly emotional. He took a deep cleansing breath and nodded slowly.
"Sleep," he repeated as if the word was foreign to him. He nodded again, warming to the idea. He faced Anakin. "Go, Padawan. Get something to eat, then I want you to change the lock."
Genuinely surprised, Anakin slowly backed away, then turned and hurried off before Obi-Wan changed his mind.
Saloma smiled warmly. "Please don't punish him, you'll only demoralize him if you do," she said, wrapping her arms around the Jedi and laying her head against his chest. "I've been listening to him since you found him. He's pretty angry at himself for what happened. He knows what he did wrong. He also knows you are disappointed in him and that's been very hard for him to deal with."
"I still want to talk to him," Obi-Wan said, and felt Saloma tense up. "Just to find out what really happened out there. We may be in more danger than we realize." Saloma sighed and relaxed again. Obi-Wan hugged her tightly. "Mercy is a virtue. Every Jedi, even Masters of impulsive padawans, must pursue it. So don't worry about Anakin. He'll be just fine." He leaned back slightly and looked her over. "You must be quite tired and hungry as well."
"Mmm, both."
"Can I get you anything?"
Saloma thought for a moment. "I would desparately love a cup of tea, but I'll get it myself. You need to sleep. Anakin's in the kitchen now and I'm sure he'll help me. I'll be all right. Besides, I want to see if Nare has left yet. He was planning on leaving this morning to join up with the resistance, but I am hoping he changed his mind and decided to stay."
Obi-Wan paused, concentrating. "I don't sense anyone," he informed her. "He must have left as he had planned. Try not to worry about him. He made it all the way out here last night. I'm sure he can take care of himself." He tenderly kissed her forehead and released her.
"I'm sure you're right about him." Saloma sighed, watching Obi-Wan pull himself up the stairs to the north tower. Then she turned and made her way to the kitchen.
When she got to the kitchen, Saloma was surprised to see Anakin sitting at the end of a long table, dismally staring down at the surface with his head propped up in his hands. He seemed somewhat embarrassed that Saloma had caught him like that and quickly sat up.
Saloma walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Anakin, why haven't you eaten? What's the matter?" she began softly.
Anakin swallowed down a lump in his throat and shook his head. "Nothing... everything."
Saloma eased herself into the chair beside him. "I thought I'd have some tea and maybe sample some of that soup you told me about earlier. Or anything, as long as its hot." She paused and licked her lips. "Would you care to join me?"
Sparing a glance at the doorway, Anakin frowned, then faced Saloma. "What happened out there?" He wasn't interested in discussing food. Going to the kitchen had merely been a means of escape.
Saloma grinned. "I'm not sure. Maybe he was just feeling merciful."
"Mercy is a virtue," Anakin replied mechanically.
Her smile broadening, Saloma realized that proverb must be recited frequently among Jedi. She leaned towards Anakin and lowered her voice. "Look on the bright side, you must have learned some valuable lessons. The experience you gained has merit."
"True. Everything experienced has some merit. Sometimes the unpleasant experiences prove to be the most significant." The young Jedi dropped his eyes and rose from his chair. He cleared his throat gently. "I'll heat the soup and some water for tea," he offered, tossing his long padawan braid behind his shoulder, out of the way.
"Thank you." Saloma gazed up at him sympathetically. She could clearly decipher his thoughts and knew then just how frightened he had been being trapped and helpless like that. "Anakin, would you like to talk about it?"
Anakin shrugged. "There's not really much to say," he started. "Obi-Wan was wrong. I was right. And I wasn't about to sit around and wait for something to happen. I needed to take a stand for what I believed in. I needed to play an active part. I wouldn't trust the wisdom of the one man who loves and cares for me. Instead, I trusted people who betrayed and used me." His breathing was becoming forceful and deep. He closed his eyes tightly and laughed mockingly. "A padawan needs to trust his master beyond all doubt. I can't seem to bring myself to that level with anyone."
Saloma caught him switching his thoughts from Obi-Wan to the girl queen he had thought of back at the warehouse. Her name was Padme', Saloma discovered.
Anakin was distractedly puttering around the kitchen. He found bread and placed it on the table, and some millet and herbs and carefully added them to the soup like a gourmet chef. "This will only take a minute or so," he announced, stalking over to the cupboards. Saloma was pleased to see him pull out two bowls and two cups.
She decided to get Anakin's mind off of its self-deprecating course and onto something more pleasant. She sniffed softly at the mouth-watering aroma of steaming soup filling the air. "Tell me about... Padme'. Am I pronouncing that right?"
Anakin looked startled. "Padme'? How did you know about her?"
"Um, Obi-Wan had mentioned her to me."
Anakin's eyes lit with surprise. "Really. Well, what would you like to know about her?"
"Anything. Anything at all."
Sighing wistfully, Anakin spooned the soup in the two bowls and handed one to Saloma. "She's my friend." He sat down and slowly stirred the soup in his bowl with a piece of bread. "We met awhile ago. She's the ruler of Naboo, have you heard of it?"
Saloma shook her head and smiled. Her plot had worked. Anakin was visibly relaxing, readily regaling her with tales of adventures he and the lovely Padme' shared as children. Saloma found herself relaxing as well, captivated by Anakin's descriptions.
They finished eating and talked over several cups of tea until the approaching midday sun blazed through the windows. Anakin went off to change the door lock after helping Saloma clean the dishes. After the night they had, their amiable conversation made for a most enjoyable morning, and Saloma found herself growing increasingly fond of her two Jedi companions.
Saloma was suddenly struck with realization. Anakin had spoken of being used by the people he trusted. Was she doing anything less by claiming this sanctuary with them? Taking advantage of their code and chivalry to ensure her own well-being? She now knew both Jedi would willingly die before letting her come to harm. They thought nothing of risking their lives to protect her. Saloma knew what she had to do. The only real way to end this standoff was becoming glaringly obvious.
Nare was gone. According to the message he left her in his room, he departed just before dawn to seek out and join the resistance. Saloma just missed him. She had hoped they could leave together. The idea of venturing out on her own was more intimidating.
She still wanted to leave: as quickly and quietly as possible. She knew if either Jedi discovered her plans, they would try to stop her. Leaving like that meant she wouldn't be able to say good-bye and she wouldn't be able to thank them for all they had done.
Her heart thudded uncomfortably inside her at the thought of not ever seeing Obi-Wan again. She stalked quietly through the halls, peering into each room. If she could just see him one more time. If she could leave with the image of him safely sleeping, it would comfort her and reassure her that she was doing the right thing. That would be enough for her.
The last door on the left was slightly ajar. Carefully, so not to wake him, Saloma pushed it aside and looked in.
Obi-Wan was shirtless, face down on the bed. Tendrils of his long fair hair were draped over his bare shoulders, and his arms were wrapped loosely around the pillow beneath his head. He had been too tired to actually get under the blankets and had chosen instead to stretch out on top of them. The dark room was very warm and the Jedi had peeled off most of his cold, damp clothes and spread them over furniture to dry.
Saloma sighed at the sight of him. He looked blissfully peaceful and she realized she had never seen him remain so still for so long. She cautiously stepped closer but paused when he stirred and shifted his position, rolling to the opposite side of the bed. The warm, recently-vacated space next to him called out to her. Fatigue washed over her, making her whole body ache and left her mind struggling to rationalize her waning desire to leave. She longed to climb in and curl up beside him. Tucked safely within the circle of his arms, she could sleep the rest of time away.
Summoning every molecule of willpower, Saloma turned slowly to retreat. If she didn't leave now, she never would.
"I made room for you. Aren't you going to join me?" the Jedi Master's voice whispered sleepily.
Saloma's eyes filled with unshed tears. She stopped and bowed her head. "No. I wasn't going to."
Obi-Wan slowly raised himself up on one elbow. "Then why are you here?"
Saloma reluctantly faced him. "I just wanted to see you, but I didn't mean to disturb you. I knew you'd be asleep, but...I just wanted to see you." Her tears spilled from her eyes and slid slowly down her cheeks. She reached up and quickly wiped them away.
Sitting up, Obi-Wan moved to the edge of the bed. He reached out his hand to her. "Come here."
Shaking her head, but powerless to turn away, Saloma shuffled towards him and took his outstretched hand. "I didn't think it would be this hard," she breathed shakily.
Sitting her beside him, Obi-Wan held her and tenderly stroked her hair. "You're heart is troubled, but I cannot read your mind. You need to tell me what is wrong."
Saloma rested her head on his shoulder, burying her face in the warmth of his neck. "I have to leave, Obi-Wan. I can't stay here any longer." She paused, trying to summon the right words to make him understand how she felt. "I feel I'm taking advantage of the valor I spoke of earlier, which I so admire in Jedi, and which you and Anakin possess in abundance. I don't want you two to be responsible for me anymore. And I don't want to be responsible if anything should happen to either of you."
The Jedi leaned back slightly so he could look at her. His eyes searched her face, anxiety furrowing his brow. "It's not some ingrained sense of blind valor that makes me want to keep you safe, Saloma. You've heard my thoughts. You know what I feel for you is more complex than that. Don't use my valor as your excuse."
"It's the only excuse I'm prepared to deal with at the moment," Saloma explained quietly. She placed her palm on his chest, feeling the steady thud of his pulse and the slow rise and fall of his breathing. Her fingers traced over the muscles of his abdomen and up his sides to his neck. His soft white skin was scarred in places, recording injuries he'd suffered throughout his life as a public servant--as a Jedi. No, she wouldn't be party to another injury, another scar. Leaving was the right thing to do.
Obi-Wan took a slow, deep breath. "If you truly want to go, I won't stop you," he said sadly. Sighing, he gazed in her eyes, and cradled her face in his hands. "I'm pleased you came to me--to see me one more time." He continued staring into the depths of her eyes, searching hopefully, then tentatively lowered his mouth to hers and softly kissed her.
Feeling as if she were dissolving, Saloma molded herself against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, letting the seering heat of his lips melt away the last of her resolve. She should have never turned around.
The Jedi's kiss became more passionate, more desparate, and demanding. His hands caressed her with urgent need, gradually pushing aside her clothing to expose more of her smooth dark skin. Carefully, he eased her back until she was lying on the bed, and covered her with his body. He began seductively rubbing against her, reveling at the sensation of her body pressed so tightly to him.
Her blood racing, her heart pounding, Saloma twisted her leg around his encouragingly, as her hands slid over his back to his narrow waist, urging him closer. She dragged her mouth down his neck and gnawed his skin. He gasped and squeezed her shoulders in a vice-like grip.
"Saloma...you are so beautiful," Obi-Wan breathed into her ear. "I...." He was going to tell her that he wanted her with every fiber of his being and that she was driving him mad with desire, but suddenly stopped himself. He didn't want her believing this was all an attempt to coerce her to get her to stay. His feelings for her were real. He wanted her to know that.
Tell me you want this to happen because you feel as 'real' as I do, he thought, recalling her earlier description of him.
Trailing her fingers through his silky hair with sensual abandon, Saloma acknowledged his thoughts with a smoldering gaze and pulled him back down for a devouring kiss. She folded her legs around his hips, settling him between them suggestively and reached for the waistband of his trousers.
It was all the reassurance Obi-Wan needed.
Having eaten, Anakin then spent the good part of an hour changing the code for the lock on the door. Now he was ready to sleep. He sat on the edge of his bed and turned on the small newsband transistor on the nightstand to hear any local news reports.
He was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open until he heard the report of the warehouse fire down on pier six. The fire had nearly consumed the entire building, since its smoke sensors had been disconnected, and now the fire was under investigation as arson. What really caught Anakin's attention was the fact the reporter interviewed a witness (who sounded suspiciously like Mortane Rure) who saw two Jedi leaving the warehouse in a stolen squad speeder. The arson investigator declared the fire had been started by a pierced generator powercell and spread with the use of an accelerant. The internal military police were now searching for the two Jedi for questioning.
Anakin turned the transistor off with a heavy sigh. No rest for the wicked, he thought with a wry grin. The reporter didn't mention them by name, but he certainly didn't have to. They were the only two Jedi on the entire planet, and they were currently at the old cathedral, harboring a government fugitive. That could only mean one thing. Soldiers were on their way.
Anakin went to the room Obi-Wan usually slept in and found the door closed, but not sealed. He knew Obi-Wan was still sleeping; the room was quiet and dark. He knocked once and hurried in.
"Master! Master, we've got company coming." It took Anakin's eyes a second or two to adjust to the lack of light. Obi-Wan stirred and began untangling his limbs from a second figure lying asleep beside him. Anakin hadn't noticed Saloma initially. She was on he far side of the bed and her black skin made her blend into the shadows. "Oops...um, excuse me," Anakin quickly offered, and did a fast about face.
"Ssshhh," Obi-Wan scolded softly. He climbed out of the bed and pulled his clothes on. "Let her sleep." He motioned his padawan out the door and followed him.
"What do you mean, company?" Obi-Wan questioned, rubbing his eyes to clear them.
"Soldiers. We're being accused of starting the warehouse fire. I heard it on the news. They said we are being sought for questioning," Anakin explained. "It stands to reason they would begin their search here."
Obi-Wan was wide awake now. He stared up at his padawan and frowned deeply. "When was this?"
"It was reported just a few minutes before I came to find you."
The Jedi Master turned and strode purposefully up the hall towards the stairs. Anakin followed. "I don't need to ask you if you changed the front entry's code, do I?"
"No, you don't," Anakin retorted, arrogantly. "14-26-58-33-16."
Obi-Wan smiled easily. "I want you on the north balcony," he continued. "Stay alert and let me know the instant you sense anything amiss. It sounds to me as if they are trying to turn the tide of the public's perception against us. Without their respect, the custom of sanctuary loses its credence, and Vrone's forces will feel permitted to attack us. Our main objective is to keep them from penetrating the cathedral. Be sure all access to the northside is sealed, blocked, or otherwise made unobtainable. I'll do the same on the southside and use that balcony for lookout. My guess is they'll come from the south, but there's always a possibility that they'll use stealth and attack from the north." Anakin nodded once and turned away from his master's side once they reached the main sanctum.
Knowing the soldiers were coming, and having to wait for their arrival was the worse part, Obi-Wan decided. Over an hour had passed and there still was no sign of Vrone's forces. Anakin was equally confused and impatient. Obi-Wan clearly sensed his restless prowling on the opposite side of the cathedral.
Obi-Wan was pleasantly surprised when Saloma arrived on the balcony. He noticed she had donned his cloak again and but even more obvious was the fact she had entirely changed her appearance. She had unbraided her hair and removed all the jeweled beads, and now thick piles of wild curls cascaded down to her hips. She had washed the makeup off her face and her eyes now glittered with their own natural beauty. She greeted him with a smile and Obi-Wan sighed in spite of himself.
"I was wondering where you had gone," she began, her hair dancing around her shoulders in the wind. "Then I started hearing your thoughts." She paused and gazed out towards the city, joining Obi-Wan at the balcony railing. "They're coming, aren't they?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "I don't understand what's taking them so long to get here, however."
Saloma shrugged. "Maybe they're gathering troops and equipment. Plotting strategies."
"I think you're right," the Jedi sighed. "Our own course of action depends on what they decide to use against us. If they send an army to this cathedral, we can keep them out for awhile, but they have the means to gain access, and when they do get in, we need to get out." He turned and faced her fully. "Anakin and I cannot fend off an entire army."
"I could still turn myself in," Saloma told him trying to sound blase' about it. "But I understand it's not just me they're after anymore." Feeling a sudden chill, she pulled the cloak tighter around her. "So, what are we going to do?"
Smiling warmly, Obi-Wan reached up and touched her face, tracing the outline of her lips with his thumb. His eyes were like clear pools of calm blue water.
"Don't worry Councilwoman," he replied. "I didn't mean to make things sound so hopeless. I just wanted you to be aware of the facts." He paused and turned his gaze towards Ergo. "My master often told me to live in the moment--be aware of what is happening now, and not worry so much about what may happen in the future." He laughed lightly and shook his head. "I know, but it makes sense when you think about it."
"If you say so," Saloma said and smiled. She turned to go back inside. "I'm going down to the resources room. Maybe I can pick up some information on what the government is planning. If I hear anything, I'll let you know."
"Saloma, wait...." Obi-Wan bowed his head and gnawed his lower lip, trying to form the right words in his mind. "I......just wanted to tell you--"
Saloma leaned into him, slipping her hands around his waist. "I know. You don't have to say a word," she whispered. "It was very sweet...wasn't it?"
The Jedi Master slowly raised his eyes to her and flashed a smile. "Yes." He cradled her face in his hands, tilted her head back and kissed her lingeringly.
"Mmm, I should go now," Saloma said and sighed, her lips pleasantly tingling. Gazing deeply into his eyes, she reached up and touched his brow, pushing back his bangs. She turned quickly, taking a deep steadying breath, and hurried off the terrace.
The Jedi nodded in acquiescence and watched her duck back inside the cathedral. Slowly, he focused his attention back on the vacant-looking city to the south. It was then his comlink began beeping, startling him slightly. He knew it couldn't be Anakin, as he had lost his back at the warehouse. He quickly fished it out of a pouch on his utility belt and answered it.
It was a recorded voice, telling him there was a face-to-face transmission being sent to him from the Jedi Council.
Obi-Wan tuned the comlink to a secured frequency and locked it, then produced his handheld holoprojector to receive the image. It was Yoda.
"Called to tell you, I did, the Council is sending a transport. To collect you, it will. Evacuate, you will. Reports we have received. Crimes committed, you have. Sabotage, yes, and acts of terrorism."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Master, I'll admit, things did get slightly out of hand, but these accusations...who has brought such things before the Council?"
"The chancellor, among others," the little image of the Jedi Master continued, bowing and shaking his head in dismay. "Disappointed, he is, in your actions out there. Misrepresented him, he believes. From Spiget himself, he's been told. Met with him you have not. Hmmm?"
The low drone of distant engines momentarily pulled Obi-Wan's attention to the skies above the cathedral, away from Yoda's transmission. Star fighters, he concluded. An aerial assault. Vrone was getting serious. The sound from the approaching fighters' lasers were deafening out on the balcony. Obi-Wan retreated just inside the doors.
"Master Yoda, I'm going to have to sign off now, but I can assure you, nothing of that sort has been done by either Anakin or myself. I did not get to confer with the governor, but I will give the Council and the chancellor a full report of everything that's transpired here." He was about to turn off the holoprojector when the little Master spoke again, pounding his gimer stick on an unseen surface to convey his displeasure.
"Accused, you are! Concerned with details, at the moment, I am not," Yoda sputtered. "Believe you, I do, not the point, that is!"
The fighters were directly overhead now. They released another barrage of blaster fire using twin canon engines onto the roof of the cathedral. Obi-Wan could feel the Force suddenly surging around him, moving over and through the stone walls, creating a dense atmosphere of connection between himself and the varying planes. It was an odd sensation for the Jedi to experience. It was as if the structure itself had called upon the Force to protect it.
Obi-Wan clutched the holoprojector in his hand and sprinted further inside for cover, almost colliding with Anakin in the narrow hall.
"Ground forces and tanks are coming in from the north," Anakin reported excitedly. "They're destroying the lake."
"Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan! Listen to me, you will!" Yoda's muffled voice drifted up from the holoprojector.
"Get down to the main sanctum and find Saloma," Obi-Wan instructed his padawan, then dodged around a corner and stopped to answer Yoda. "Master Yoda, the cathedral is presently under attack, I really need to end this transmission!"
"Sent you a transport, we did," Yoda relayed calmly. "Enter the eastern hemisphere, it will, in under two hours time. Be ready for it, you will. Take you home, it shall." An explosion above sent a shower of stone fragments raining down on Obi-Wan. He cursed softly and moved towards the stairs. Galloping down them, he raced to the opposite side of the cathedral and to the north tower.
"Thank the Council for me. Their foresight was right on the mark this time. I don't think we could have stayed here much longer. We have no means of defense against this kind of assault. The only thing we could have hoped for was to discover a way to escape," Obi-Wan replied. He dashed up the stone steps three at a time and down the narrow hall which led to the north balcony.
"A Jedi fortress the cathedral is," Yoda continued. "Protect you it will. The Force. Flows from within and the waters beyond. Use it, Obi-Wan. Feel its power. Yes. Protect you it will."
Obi-Wan paused and studied the little Jedi with awe. It was as if Yoda was aware of the way the Force had moved within the cathedral earlier. "Of course, Master. The Force will be with me."
Yoda bowed to his pupil and the hologram shimmered out. Obi-Wan pocketed the holoprojector and quickly made his way out to the balcony.
Just like Anakin had said, tanks, speeders, and columns of armed soldiers wearing filtration masks, lined the right bank of Lake Seasey. There were six patrol droids lined up just behind them on swoops, hanging in the air to the northeast, blackening the snow with the exhaust from their engines.
Flame-throwers mounted on symtex tanks were in the process of torching the forests on the west side of the lake. The lake itself was undergoing its own assault as toxic putrificants were being poured into it by enormous utility vehicles. Suffocated from the gaseous fumes, waterfowl were falling from the sky, aquatic plants were twisting and turning black, and various fish species helplessly floated to the top, gasping for air, writhing on the surface of the water in slow death.
The destruction of such a beautiful habitat was heartwrenching for the Jedi to witness. Obi-Wan turned away as Yoda's words concerning the cathedral echoed in his mind. The soldiers were having the lake and the surrounding woods destroyed because it was long believed to be the source of the cathedral's connection to the Force. It was what gave the area its unique sensitivity.
Sickened, Obi-Wan left the balcony and headed down the hall to the stairs. The soldiers weren't taking any chances and were attacking the Jedi's power at the source. By doing so, the governor was making sure no Jedi would ever want to step foot on his world again.
Saloma looked up from the report she had been reading at the sound of a muffled crash above her. She turned off the data machine and headed for the antechamber. There was another crashing sound, then an explosion. Saloma picked up her pace and entered the cathedral foyer just as Anakin came very nearly flying down the tower stairs towards her.
"Saloma! Come with me!" he barked, seizing her hand and hauling her back through the inner sanctum.
He didn't need to tell her that the cathedral was being attacked. The sound of explosions from above and the look of determination in the young Jedi's eyes was all the confirmation she required.
"There's reports of a holo-conference between the chancellor and the governor. They're saying he's all but washed his hands of you and Obi-Wan and has given the governor permission to use whatever force deemed necessary to see justice served," Saloma told Anakin. "You two are being blamed for all kinds of sordid deeds against the current regime and its citizens. They are reporting you'll stop at nothing to keep Aremont a part of the Republic. This goes way, way beyond a simple warehouse fire."
"Lovely," Anakin spat. He led Saloma to the center of the sanctum and gestured at a chair. She seated herself and curled her legs beneath her as Anakin began pacing back and forth a short distance in front of her. "Your governor lies as comfortably as he breathes," he grumbled. "The chancellor would never turn over his Jedi to anyone, let alone a dictator of a renegade administration on such baseless accusations."
"Not my governor," Saloma countered. "Not my chancellor."
Anakin stopped pacing and looked up as Obi-Wan strode in.
"I just spoke with Master Yoda. We are to evacuate. The decision has been taken out of our hands."
Anakin put his hands on his hips. "Evacuate? How?"
Obi-Wan moved to Saloma's side. "The Council sent a transport to retrieve us. It will be here in two hours. We need only bide our time now."
Shaking his head, the padawan resumed pacing. "They brought tanks and starfighters with them this time. They'll have the north side down in minutes with that kind of firepower. We can't wait. We need to get out of here now."
"Such a move would not be wise," the Jedi Master gently contradicted. "Fleeing the cathedral now would only place us in the hands of our enemies. When the time is right, the Force will guide us. For now, as long as we remain inside the cathedral, we will be safe."
Saloma reached for Obi-Wan's hand and squeezed it. "You're leaving in two hours? And what of me?"
The Jedi looked down at her perplexed. "You'll come with us, of course."
Her eyes watering, Saloma looked up and shook her head. "I can't leave Nare behind. I have to find him. He's the only family I have."
Obi-Wan knelt beside her. "Can you contact him?" Saloma sadly shook her head.
The inner sanctum suddenly grew disturbingly quiet. The aerial assault had stopped.
"They've stopped firing at us," Anakin pointed out. He faced Obi-Wan. "Why? The only logical offensive strategy would be to maintain the barrage of firepower until the building collapsed and the sanctuary could be breached."
Obi-Wan's gaze was piercing. "Quiet your mind, Padawan. Listen to what the Force is telling you. Feel its power. This cathedral becomes part of us when we are within these walls. The Force connects us to it and it to us. It will protect us."
Anakin paused, closing his eyes and turning slowly around. His brow knitted in concentration as he raised his arms. "Of course," he breathed, his face transforming into calm euphoria. "That's why the citizens would come here for sanctuary in the presence of Jedi. The Jedi make the cathedral impenetrable." He broke into a huge smile and opened his eyes.
"I don't understand what you are saying, but I can tell it's good news. Something you just discovered?" Saloma guessed, looking from one Jedi to another.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes. It is good news."
Saloma tried to smile. "But what about Nare? How are we going to find him if we can't leave?"
The Jedi Master straightened and faced his padawan. "Anakin, I need you to go to the resources room and try to raise the Council's transport. Tell them we'll meet them on Beneken Island just off pier twelve. Tell them to wait. We'll be no more than thirty minutes. And if we're not there in thirty minutes, we're not coming and they are to leave."
Anakin licked his lips, but that was the only outward sign of apprehension the young Jedi gave at his Master's decision.
"Yes Obi-Wan," Anakin replied dutifully and crossed the room towards the south door.
Obi-Wan faced Saloma. "We'll find him. I promise." He rose slowly and sighed. "Anakin can take us back to the place where he ran into the resistance. Perhaps they have set up a base camp close by."
Moments later, Anakin came rushing back into the room. "Obi-Wan!"
Obi-Wan looked up. "Did you make contact? Did you send that transmission?"
Anakin dismissed his inquiries with a wave of his hand. "Yes, yes. But there's something else. An outside transmission. The decoder states its source as coming from the south gardens."
Obi-Wan and Saloma followed Anakin back to the resources room. A blinking light on the communications panel grabbed their attention. Anakin tapped in a code and adjusted a few dials.
"With whom are we speaking?" Anakin began.
"Lieutenant Tilar, of the internal military police force under the command of Captain Vrone," a crackly voice responded. "Would this be Kenobi?"
"No, I'm Anakin Skywalker, his apprentice. Why have you contacted us?"
"We wish to draw your attention to the south gardens."
Anakin quickly made an impromptu connection by severing two wires and regrouping them with a different section of the control panel. "There," he said quietly, speaking to Obi-Wan. "You'll be able to pick up the transmission on your comlink now."
Obi-Wan nodded and motioned for Anakin to stay and monitor the transmission. He turned and hurried back to the antechamber and up the stairs to the south balcony. He didn't realize Saloma had followed him until she gasped at the sight which greeted them.
Another ground force, this one twice the size of the one to the north, and outfitted with mobile port canons, had amassed just beyond the garden. There was a prisoner trailer attached to a large utility speeder, which Obi-Wan presumed was for their transportation to the jail. The three aerial fighters had settled down in the vacant lot southwest of the cathedral. And to the Jedi's surprise, Captain Vrone, equipped with new mechanical arms, sat in an open speeder beside his lieutenant.
Obi-Wan turned on his comlink. "Lieutenant Tilar? What did you wish to show me?"
The soldiers' attention turned upwards to the balcony. Vrone smiled wickedly, then turned in his seat and motioned to the guards standing beside the trailer.
"Bring out the first prisoner," Lieutenant Tilar called to them.
Obi-Wan and Saloma watched as the guards reached inside the trailer and hauled out a woman. It was the cathedral's tour guide, recognizable only from the tattered employee uniform she wore. Her face was bruised and swollen in grotesque distortions, but she raised her eyes to the Jedi and Saloma and shook her head.
"I'm sorry," she called up to them. "I'm so sorry."
"Our guide today will now provide us with the entrance code to the front double doors," Vrone said duly. "Just like she provided us with the digital blueprints and floorplan of your beloved cathedral."
At the guards' urging, the hapless tour guide hurried over to the double doors and began entering the only entry code she knew.
Obi-Wan was outraged. Saloma covered her mouth with her hand in astonishment and horror.
"What purpose could you possibly hope to achieve by involving this woman in such a manner?" the Jedi snarled into the comlink. "She will not be able to provide you with the information you seek because the entry code has been changed. Let her go, she has nothing to do with any of this!"
Vrone motioned jerkily to the tour guide and leaned over to speak with Tilar. Shaking her head to confirm what Obi-Wan had stated, the tour guide staggered back a few steps, and looked up at Saloma and the Jedi Master.
"This cathedral is the last of its kind," she began in a loud, clear voice, raising her arms to the balcony in reverance. "The Jedi have practiced their religion here for over a hundred years. Despite the desecration it has suffered at the hands of the greedy, this site remains sacred to those who seek repose here." She smiled up at Obi-Wan and Saloma and nodded slowly.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, know that this woman's death will be on your hands. Not mine," Vrone said. The lieutenant raised a pistol and aimed, and fired it at the tour guide. She crumbled to the snow and was dragged off by the guards.
Saloma grabbed the balcony railing for support as she felt her knees give way. "Why are you doing this?!" she screamed. "What do you want?"
Obi-Wan grasped Saloma's shoulders and tried to pull her back, but she managed to fight him off. "No! If they want me so badly, they can have me!"
"It's not just you!" Obi-Wan told her. "It's everyone who represents the Republic. That's why the Council sent the transport. To evacuate us. They knew we were in trouble before we did. They had received reports. They found out we were set up to fail! We were brought here under false pretense, as scapegoats for anything and everything that went wrong following the governor's tranfer to power."
"Congratulations, Kenobi!" Vrone's voice hissed over the comlink. "You've reached a very plausible conclusion. Rest assured the governor's propaganda minister will make sure from this moment on, the mighty Galactic Republic and her cold-blooded Jedi Knights are always viewed by Aremont's citizens with distaste and mistrust."
Saloma slumped against Obi-Wan's arms. She began crying softly. Anakin came jogging up the hall to the balcony and crept over to where they were.
"Obi-Wan, I just got word from the transport," Anakin whispered. "It just docked on the far side of Beneken Island and is awaiting our arrival. We need to leave now." He placed his hand on Saloma's shoulder and squeezed it gently. Obi-Wan handed her over to his padawan.
"Take her inside. Don't let her out of your sight," he warned. "I'll join up with you in a few minutes." He turned and stalked back to the balcony railing and leaned over it to peer down at the soldiers.
The lieutenant directed Vrone's gaze upwards once more. Vrone's mechanical hand awkwardly clutched the comlink transmitter as he spoke.
"Are you ready to surrender?" he asked with barely contained fury. "I can assume then, the sacrifice of one dissident appeased your bloodlust?"
"Why are you so anxious to apprehend us? We've done nothing but borrow a squad speeder," Obi-Wan replied into the comlink, choosing to ignore Vrone's actual questions. He pointed over the railing. "You can have it back, it's right there."
"Nothing?! You call this nothing?" Vrone yelled, standing up and flailing his new arms. "How dare you mock me." He pointed up at the Jedi. "Know that you will be brought to justice. You, your apprentice, and that infernal councilwoman you protect." His composure regained, he resumed his seat beside the lieutenant. "It is my duty to the citizens of Aremont to see that you are all tried and punished for your crimes."
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "We are prepared to remain here indefinitely. A great deal longer than you are, I bet."
"We shall see," Vrone growled. He signaled Tilar, who in turn signaled the soldiers.
"Open fire!" Tilar ordered and the air was promptly filled with laser blasts and canon fire.
Obi-Wan dodged back inside the cathedral and hurried over to Anakin and Saloma.
"Quickly," he urged. "We haven't much time."
He led them down the hall, passed the open window casements which overlooked the front gardens and over to a narrow door half-hidden in a heavily shadowed depression in the wall. The door opened with a touch of the lock and revealed a tiny elevator.
Saloma licked her lips and glanced back at the Jedi Master as he urged her inside. "Where are we going? Shouldn't we be going down instead of up?"
"It's too obvious," Anakin informed her. He knew what Obi-Wan had in mind but he wasn't sure if he should tell Saloma or not.
"We are going down, just not directly," Obi-Wan added.
Saloma looked warily back and forth between the two of them as they squeezed into the elevator and closed the door. She flattened herself against the far wall and made a face. "Luckily I'm not claustrophobic. Or androphobic for that matter."
"How about acrophobic?" Obi-Wan asked.
Saloma started to laugh, then stopped when she realized he was being sincere. "Ah, a little. Why?"
"Because we are taking you over the side of the cathedral," Anakin supplied. "From the roof."
The elevator door opened. Cold, damp air and muted sunlight filled the elevator's chamber. The flat and turreted landscape of the cathedral's roof lay just before them.
"From the roof?!" Saloma exclaimed. "That must be a thirty meter drop."
"Think of it as a descent, not a drop," the padawan encouraged. He and Obi-Wan ushered Saloma outside and over to the east edge, just as a high aimed laser blast struck one of the turrets. The trio ducked, but the bolt of energy bounced harmlessly off the stone. Obi-Wan frowned but Anakin smiled, scuttling over to the southern edge of the roof. Curiously, he peered down at the army below.
"They won't keep firing upon us much longer," the older Jedi noted solemnly. "They should be able to see how futile it is. We've no time to waste."
Anakin nodded and retrieved his suspension line and grappling hook from his belt. He measure out a section of the line and swung the hook forcefully above his head. Taking careful aim at one of the turrets, he threw the hook, releasing the full length of the line. The hook whipped towards the turret, circled it three times and caught the line tightly on the opposite side. Anakin leaned back on it and tested its strength, then turned and faced Saloma expectantly.
Taking an involuntary step backwards, Saloma bumped into Obi-Wan who mercilessly pushed her forward and into Anakin's arms.
"Don't worry, Anakin is very good at rappelling and it will be over before you know it," he assured, kissing her cheek. "I'll be right behind you."
Saloma wrapped her arms around Anakin with all her strength and buried her face in his chest. She felt the rumble of his laugh and his hand ruffling her hair.
"This is the fun part," he told her cheerfully. Saloma nodded, but refused to look up. "I've got you, I promise. I won't let you fall," he sweetly added. His muscular arm encircled her waist as he positioned himself on the top of the turret.
Saloma's insides sunk as she felt the Jedi rise over the roof's edge and hop off. His feet landing on the side of the building sent a jarring shockwave through her system, then they were airborne again, descending, landing, airborne--all the way down to the snow-covered ground.
When Saloma finally felt safe enough to let go of Anakin and open her eyes, Obi-Wan was already down the rope and heading towards them, staying under the cover of the tallow trees which decoratively flanked the cathedral at both ends.
"Just around the corner are six patrol droids on swoops," Obi-Wan told Anakin. "Try to get their attention and draw them away from the soldiers. We can use the swoops to take us into the city. We need to find Nare before we can rendezvous with the transport. He said he was going to join the resistance."
Anakin swallowed hard and nodded. "I have a good idea where to look for him. Let me go after him. You take Saloma to the transport. I'll meet you there. With Nare."
The set determination in Anakin's eyes gave the Jedi Master pause. He knew Anakin wanted to do this to make up for his past mistake. "Are you sure you want to face them again alone?"
Anakin nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Positive."
Obi-Wan placed his hand on his padawan's shoulder and nodded. "Very well."
Flashing a grateful smile, Anakin turned and stalked off to the north side of the cathedral, then disappeared around the corner.
"Master Jedi," Vrone's voice from the comlink interrupted unexpectedly. "Perhaps you are not aware of the damage your cathedral is sustaining."
Obi-Wan reached for the comlink to reply, but Vrone continued. "It will only be a matter of time before its power wanes enough for us to blast through."
"Blast through then," Obi-Wan taunted. "It is the only way you're coming in."
"Not the only way," Vrone continued. "I 'd still prefer the front door. I have one more weapon in my arsenal that is sure to produce results."
Before Obi-Wan could ask, Saloma suddenly gasped. Her eyes narrowed, then filled with tears.
"NO!" she screamed and made a blind dash to the south.
Just before she reached the corner, Obi-Wan tackled her, throwing her heavily to the ground, and covered her mouth with his hand. She went limp in his arms, sobbing hysterically. The Jedi tentatively withdrew his hand.
"What is it? What did you hear?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He's got Nare!" Saloma repeated over and over again.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, may I once again invite you to the front of the cathedral to be witness to the power of this new weapon I wield," Vrone teased.
Obi-Wan climbed to his knees, his mind racing. He leaned over Saloma and reassuringly stroked her back. "SSsshhh," he soothed. "I won't let anything happen to him. This may just work to our advantage."
Saloma sat up, stirred by the calm confidence in the Jedi's voice.
Obi-Wan peered down at her. "You stay here out of sight and wait for Anakin. When he arrives, tell him about Nare and tell him I've gone back inside." He turned away from her and walked purposefully back to the suspension line which still hung from the turret. Grasping it with both hands, Obi-Wan started climbing up.
Anakin had just rounded the corner when the patrol droids came into his view. He stopped and flattened himself along the stone wall. All six of the droids were facing forward, but not really focusing on anything. They were merely lined up, waiting for a command.
The platoon of soldiers were on the southeast side of the lake, next to the droids, but they were facing towards the lake, watching the fires burning through the woods. Occasionally, the smoke would drift their way, enveloping them in a thick black cloud. It gave Anakin an idea.
Saloma's concern was her brother. She paced frantically behind the trees, trying to pick up more of Vrone's thoughts. The captain saw himself as a dedicated officer and loyal patriot, willing to do what was necessary to quash any lingering sentiment towards the old government and the Republic. Presently, Vrone was waiting to see how Obi-Wan would react to the weapon he spoke of.
Saloma decided she needed to do something besides wait. She couldn't tell what Obi-Wan was planning, but she was sure he could use help. She focused her attention on Anakin, listening carefully for him, and discovered he was just around the corner, only a few feet from her, devising his own plan. Saloma hurried towards him.
"Anakin," she whispered loudly. "Anakin?" She peeked cautiously around the corner but only saw smoke. "Anakin?"
"Saloma?" The young Jedi materialized out of the black cloud. He spied her and motioned her back. Using the Force, Anakin had pulled the smoke towards him to use as cover.
Obeying, Saloma retreated back behind the trees. Anakin slunk around the corner and hurried over to join her. He immediately noted his master's absence and Saloma's tear-streaked face.
"What's happened?" he demanded, pulling her deeper into the shadows.
Saloma quickly explained about discovering Nare. She found it oddly comforting that Anakin didn't seem particularly concerned by this bit of news. Instead his mind promptly began adapting his former scheme to suit their revised needs for fast transportation to the Council's ship.
"The star fighters," he said finally. "Of course."
Saloma struggled to keep up with the speed at which Anakin's mind worked. "But...How are the four of us going to fit into one of those? You just said they are one-man fighters."
Anakin looked down at her curiously. "I never said that. I was thinking there was only one man in them. This particular model the military police are using is a TM-26. It has rear guns, and seats two. TM's are used alot in aerial dogfights. Speedy, with lots of maneuverability." He paused and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Two will seat four. I'll get one, but you'll have to get the other."
Saloma's eyes widened and she began shaking her head. "Absolutely no way! I can't fly a star fighter!"
"Come on!" The young Jedi smiled encouragingly at Saloma. "The way you handled that squad speeder was so nova! You're a natural! This will be a lot like driving, only you'll be up higher." He quickly sobered and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Ultimately, we need two fighters. I can only fly one at a time. You'll have to fly the other. There is no other way."
Saloma closed her eyes and nodded reluctantly. There was no other way.
"Good," Anakin announced. "Try not to worry. I'll contact you as soon as we get situated and talk you through the cockpit controls." He grasped her hand and pulled her after him. "No time to lose. I'm going to use the smoke to conceal us. We have to run and it will be uncomfortable, but keep holding my hand no matter what. Start taking slow, deep breaths and when I say hold it, stop breathing. Understand?"
"Uh-huh," Saloma replied in a very small voice.
From a full tilted run, Obi-Wan skidded to a stop. The cathedral's entrance loomed before him. He took a quick, mind-clearing breath to give himself a moment to recall the new code numbers for the door's lock. He hadn't really been paying close attention when Anakin recited them. It took two full heartbeats before he could remember. Quickly, he punched in the correct digits in the correct sequence and the door opened.
Nare was standing alone in the middle of the garden. He too had been beaten while in Vrone's custody. He looked up in astonishment as the door opened and the Jedi Master strode out.
Obi-Wan positioned himself between Vrone and Nare and struck a challenging pose.
"What's the meaning of this, Captain?" Obi-Wan questioned. He gestured back at Nare. "What are you intending to do with this man?"
Vrone stared back at the Jedi in surprise. He clearly hadn't expected Obi-Wan to open the door and just saunter out the way he did. His soldiers immediately snapped up their weapons, but Vrone stilled them with a wave of his mechanical hand. Slowly, he rose and climbed out of the speeder.
"My intention was to use him to persuade you to do exactly what you just did," he replied, taking a few steps forward. "Are you....surrendering, then?"
Before answering, Obi-Wan weighed the pros and cons of such an action in his mind. He turned and faced Nare briefly, then shook his head.
"No and I still have no intention of letting you in the cathedral."
Now Vrone looked miffed. "Then why the theatrics? Just to save him? Is he worth so much to you?"
"Yes," Obi-Wan breathed with heartfelt sincerity, and noticed Vrone's scoffing expression. "And not just because I am a Jedi!" he added hotly. "I feel this way because I am human!" Because I'm real, he thought.
With that thought, the image of Saloma's lovely face surfaced in his mind. Her heart full of trust and tenderness, she was gazing up at him, her large smoky eyes shining through the darkness, her skin pulsing with heat and perspiration. They had just made love. She had never looked more beautiful to him than she did in that instant. He closed his eyes briefly to savor it. "Don't distract me," he whispered and smiled slightly.
"Suit yourself, Kenobi," Vrone snapped. He turned on his heel and stalked back to his speeder.
Obi-Wan gathered the Force to him and felt it prickling his nerves with warning. He took a deep breath and activated his lightsaber. "Go inside," he told Nare.
Vrone laughed vacantly. "Do you seriously believe you can withstand an all-out assault from my troops? I can't decide if you are valiant, arrogant, or ignorant."
"Perhaps a little of all three," Obi-Wan sneered. He glanced back at Nare, then fixed his attention on the soldiers. "Go on. It'll be all right. I'll keep them busy until you're safely inside."
"I'm sorry, Master Jedi," Nare began shakily. "I'm afraid I cannot do that..."
Behind Obi-Wan, the raspy hiss of a lightsaber being activated lacerated the crisp evening air. The Jedi spun around and instantly sealed the cathedral door with a sharp gesture of his hand.
The three starfighters had landed in the speeder parking lot on the southwest corner of the cathedral. Like the patrol droids Anakin had seen, the fighter pilots were biding their time, waiting for further instructions. All three pilots remained inside their fighters on the alert. It made it easy for Anakin and Saloma to sneak up behind the nearest ship and take cover beneath its tail end. The other two fighters were side by side, in front of the third forming a triangle.
"We're going to use this one as a distraction to pull the pilots out of the other two fighters," Anakin told Saloma, pointing up at the ship's tail. "They may be armed, but don't worry. You just get in a ship and seal the cockpit. I want to do this as quietly as possible. I don't want Vrone's soldiers to notice what's going on over here. We're far enough away from them. We should be all right."
Saloma was nervously gnawing her lower lip and wringing her hands. "How are we going to get to Obi-Wan and Nare? What if they are inside the cathedral? And how will they know it's us flying?"
Anakin held up his hand to quiet her. "I'm still working on all that. Right now, my main concern is pinching these fighters."
"Oh right. I forgot. Live in the moment, the here and now," Saloma mumbled.
"Exactly," Anakin grinned. He removed his lightsaber from his belt and activated it and plunged the blade deep into the ship's rudder.
The pilot looked around wildly, spied the Jedi sabotaging his ship and scrambled to get out of the cockpit. He picked up a blaster and began firing as soon as his feet hit the ground.
Anakin was ready for him. He deflected off the blasts with practiced ease, advancing his position until he had the pilot pinned to the side of his craft. The pilot panicked then and tried to flee, but the Jedi caught him and hauled him around, smashing him forcefully into the ship's wing. The pilot crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Anakin bent over and retrieved the blaster and tossed it to Saloma, who barely caught it.
"One down," the young Jedi told the wide-eyed councilwoman, spinning his lightsaber around in his hand. He began attacking the ship with new zeal, hacking off the rear gun turrets and slicing through the cockpit's instrument panels, pointing out various features to his reluctant pupil. "That one is for stability, this over here is for lift, oh, here's the autopilot, there's manual." He paused and glanced up at the two fighters in front of them. "Get ready, they see us. Here they come," he added without missing a beat. "You take the one on the right."
Saloma's hands were shaking. "What? Just shoot him?"
"Here," Anakin said, snatching the blaster from her hands. He quickly adjusted the setting to stun. "Now you won't kill him. Okay?" He thrust the weapon back at her.
"Okay," Saloma replied quietly. She raised the blaster and trained it on the pilot on the right as he unsealed the cockpit.
"You're doing fine," Anakin said, his voice softening. "Just relax. Loosen up a little."
Saloma nodded, determined to do whatever was necessary. "Sure." She fired before the pilot could even turn around to climb out. He tumbled from the cockpit to the ground in a heap.
The other pilot cleared his cockpit and dodged behind the ship's nose for cover. He fired blindly towards Anakin, peeking out occasionally to see if he had hit him yet.
Anakin swatted at the deadly blasts as if they were mere annoyances and gestured for Saloma to get in the second ship. "Go! Seal yourself in and fire her up!"
Saloma scurried to obey, firing randomly at the remaining pilot. Outnumbered and out of his element, he too decided to flee just as Saloma climbed into the cockpit and faced forward. At this new height, she could see the gardens, Vrone's troops and the line of canons to the south. What drew her attention was the activity in front of the cathedral. Her jaw dropped and her pulse nearly stopped as she realized what was happening.
Anakin let the pilot go. He deactivated his saber and pulled himself into the ship, then settled comfortably behind the controls. Saloma's panic-stricken voice was already blaring over the cockpit's communicator.
"Calm yourself," he chided her. "It really isn't that complicated...." He paused, as a distinct disturbance rippled through the Force. He glanced over at Saloma who was pointing towards the gardens with a horrified expression on her face.
Anakin quickly snapped his head around. Lightsabers? Obi-Wan and...Nare? "What in blue blazes is going on over there?" he demanded to no one in particular. He sat forward slightly, unable to believe his eyes.
"My brother! He knows how to use a lightsaber. He studied Jedi fighting techniques once," Saloma supplied. "I can't understand it! Why is he attacking Obi-Wan?"
Anakin sat back. "He's been tortured. Or bribed, or both." His large hands glided over the cockpit controls as he spoke. "Try to keep your focus on the ship, Saloma. The only way we can help them is to get them out of there. We need to get moving."
Saloma pried her eyes off the lightsaber battle and looked down at the controls as Anakin began carefully explaining the step by step process of flying the TM-26. The young Jedi's detailed instruction made it easy for her and in moments, she was ready to lift off.
"I want you to bring your ship down between the troops and garden. I'll be above giving you cover. Unseal the cockpit and get Obi-Wan first. He'll be able to help you fly the fighter. I'll come down after Nare. You two give me cover. Got it?" Anakin spared a glance in her direction. He noticed her nodding readily and was filled with admiration for her undaunted courage. "Very good. Are you ready?"
Saloma gritted her teeth and placed both hands on the controls. "Ready," she announced. The fighter slowly began to rise.
Nare did not have the skill to defeat Obi-Wan and the Jedi Master did not have the will to bring down Nare. They circled each other warily, testing each other's reflexes and abilities. Nare attacked and Obi-Wan retreated, striking at him only when necessary to back him up. The Jedi was hoping to maneuver Nare away from the gardens and the soldiers to the cathedral's east side where Anakin would be waiting with the swoops.
Timing was essential. Obi-Wan knew Vrone would soon tire of this outclassed spectacle and order them both killed. Vrone's plan to gain access to the cathedral by using Nare to keep the Jedi occupied had ultimately been thwarted when Obi-Wan had closed the door. Obi-Wan realized Vrone may be counting on Anakin to come to his master's aid and allow Nare to fight with him until then.
Anakin was coming to his master's aid, but not as Vrone or Obi-Wan had invisioned. Everyone's attention turned upwards as two starfighters suddenly rocketed overhead, flying fast and low in a tightly paired formation. They turned as one unit and spun around to circle the cathedral. One of them broke off and soared just over the soldiers' heads making them scatter in fear for their lives. The fighter looped and came zooming back at a death-defying speed, chasing the fleeing soldiers farther apart.
Anakin, Obi-Wan realized. In his moment of distraction, Nare resumed his attack. Obi-Wan parried and skipped backwards, chastising himself for not staying focused. Nare lunged forward, slashing from the side, then down. Obi-Wan's blade tangled with Nare's and crackled menacingly. The Jedi leaned into his weapon and pushed Nare away.
Vrone hollered orders to open fire as Lieutenant Tilar tried to maneuver the speeder they were in out of harm's way. The canons behind them jerked to life. Slowly, the ponderous machines raised their noses to the sky.
Undaunted, Anakin raced towards the canons, spraying them with blasterfire as he sailed over them. Two of them exploded, causing the ground to shake.
The second fighter slowed as it made another pass over the cathedral and hovered above the gardens as its engines shifted and its landing gear locked into place.
Saloma felt a jolt as her ship settled on the ground. She scooped up the blaster Anakin had given her, just in case, and quickly unsealed the cockpit canopy.
"Obi-Wan! Nare!" she hollered, trying to be heard above all the blasting and the explosions. She fired her blaster haphazardly into the chaos of running troops to keep them away. "OBI-WAN!!!"
The Jedi was moving, circling and dodging away from her brother's wild-eyed assault, trying to merely defend himself. He heard Saloma's call and tried to head back towards her but Nare kept intercepting him, forcing him farther away.
"You don't have to do this..." Obi-Wan confronted Nare. "We can save you if you let us. You don't need to side with them."
Nare brought the lightsaber down in a sweeping arc over the Jedi's head. "I have already saved us. I made Vrone a deal and he agreed."
Obi-Wan blocked Nare's blow and pulled his blade back down. Nare stepped aside and swung across the Jedi's legs. Obi-Wan jumped to avoid having his feet severed from his ankles.
"He's lying to you! He and Spiget are using you! Can't you see that?" Obi-Wan relayed. "Vrone has already failed. He doesn't need you anymore. He's not going to keep any bargain he made with you."
Nare was tiring, becoming more desparate, and angry. "All I need to do is kill you," he said. "Then they will give me everything I asked for. The governor promised."
Obi-Wan was growing impatient. "Don't be inept. You cannot kill me! They know this. You're not skilled enough to kill me. They set you up to fail, my friend. Just as Anakin and I were set up to fail."
Nare's temper flared. "I will kill you! I will!"
As Anakin continued to wreak havoc from above, Saloma anxiously studied the lightsaber duel taking place underneath the south terrace. She called out to them again, but Nare and Obi-Wan kept moving farther away from her. She didn't understand any of this. Why they were even fighting each other in the first place? She opened her mind and began sifting through the thoughts she heard to pick out the pieces of information she needed.
Obi-Wan's mind was quiet. He was feeling the Force's guidance, moving just as the Force told him, not really thinking at all. Nare was different. His mind was racing. Thoughts swirled in his head in a dizzying cyclone. One thought in particular suddenly caught Saloma's attention. His intent was plain. He wanted to kill Obi-Wan.
Momentarily stricken with shock and disbelief, Saloma slumped down in the cockpit seat and tried to decide what to do. Why? she asked herself. He must have gone insane under Vrone's torture like Anakin had said. What was she going to do? Stop him. She had to stop him.
Unsteadily, Saloma climbed out of the ship and jumped to the ground. She tightened her fist around the blaster she held and sprinted towards the two combatants.
Obi-Wan's back was to Saloma. She saw Nare attack him relentlessly. Her brother was a strong and athletic young man, but he seemed cumbersome and clumsy next to the Jedi. Nare had abandoned any kind of finesse in his technique and seemed bent on just wearing the Jedi out or somehow catching him off guard.
"Stop it!" Saloma suddenly screamed, raising her blaster. "Stop it or I swear I'll shoot!"
Obi-Wan's heart sunk at the sound of Saloma's voice. He could feel her fear and heard the desperation in her voice. She was going to shoot him, thinking he was attacking her brother. Nare wasn't backing down and Obi-Wan knew he couldn't risk lowering his lightsaber to comply with her wishes.
"Stop it now! I won't let you kill him! I love him! I won't let you kill him!" Saloma screamed again. "Please stop! I'm begging you!"
Obi-Wan backed up, out of Nare's reach and whirled around to face Saloma. "I swear to you, I won't hurt him!" he declared.
Saloma stared back at the Jedi with a confused look on her face, her eyes wide, her lower lip trembling with fear. She adjusted her grip on the blaster as her palms began to perspire.
Noticing the distraction he'd been waiting for and seizing the opportunity Obi-Wan gave him, Nare charged, ready to run the Jedi through.
Feeling the Force's dark shifting, Obi-Wan turned and raised his lightsaber, but Nare was already too close for him to parry his attack. Knowing if he ducked or moved out of Nare's way, Saloma would be left exposed, the Jedi Master stood his ground. He caught Nare's blow with the tip of his blade, but wasn't able to put any weight behind it to push his attacker off of him. Nare's lightsaber skidded down the length of Obi-Wan's blade, pushing back against it with all his strength. Obi-Wan immediately recognized his mistake. Nare had all the advantage of weight, plus momentum, and easily forced the Jedi to the icy ground. Suddenly Saloma fired.
Time seemed to blink in that instant. Nare was struck in the chest and began falling slowly, a look of surprise on his handsome young face. Obi-Wan could hardly believe his eyes. He staggered to his feet and spun around to face Saloma.
The blaster she was holding was smoking and shaking slightly. Slowly she began to lower it, her eyes fixed on her brother, now lying motionless on the ground. Hot, heavy tears streamed down her face.
She had killed her brother, the only family she had to save him, Obi-Wan thought. He took a step towards her.
"Saloma... I..." He turned and glanced back at Nare, then tightly closed his eyes. She had been threatening Nare, not him. He had misunderstood. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Saloma's head lolled back as her eyes fluttered closed. She dropped the blaster at her feet and fainted.
Obi-Wan ran to her and caught her up in his arms before she hit the ground. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. The Jedi felt his eyes watering and his throat tightened uncomfortably.
"Saloma? Saloma?" He shook her gently, but she didn't respond. He spared one last look at Nare before he turned and carried Saloma to the waiting starfighter.
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