Obi-Wan meditated. He cleared his mind, and released his feelings of worry, fear and anger to the Force.
After he felt rejuvenated with a clear mind and emotions, he tried to reach out to Master Yoda. It took some time, but finally finally Yoda responded.
"What is it young Kenobi?" Yodas voice echoed calmly in the back of his mind. It was always a funny feeling when speaking through the Force. It's like an itch at the back of your head, with a voice that isn't really a voice. It's more like sound waves flowing through the Force, and your mind translating it to words for you.
"Master Yoda, I have been trying to reach you." Obi-Wan mentally replied urgently. It is always easiest to speak through the Force. A Force User only needs to think the words, and direct them towards the person they're trying to reach.
"Heard you, I have. Dangerous it is to keep contact through the Force." He said, and he is right. All it takes is the right timing, the right train of thought, and someone could listen in. Particularly, a Sith from the Empire. All Vader has to do is meditate with heavy thoughts of either himself or Yoda, and he could hear them.
"I understand, but something has happened and I could use some guidance." Obi-Wan replied desperately.
"Disturbance in the Force, you feel." Yoda deadpanned.
Obi-Wan considered this. "Yes. However, I have discovered what I believe to be the source of it."
"Oh?"
"Her name is Azelynn, and she is strong in the Force. I haven't felt anything like it since-"
Obi-Wan cut himself off. He hasn't been able to say, let alone think, his name in a long long time.
"Your late Padawan." Yoda filled in, ignoring Obi-Wans hesitation. "Midichlorian count, I would like to know." He continued.
"Me too. I have yet to find out. She does not know she is Force Sensitive."
Master Yoda was silent for a long moment. Obi-Wan almost thought the connection broke when he spoke up. "Careful you must be, Master Kenobi. Unrecognized, Force strength does not go by the beholder and their surroundings."
"You think she is lying? Or hiding it from me?"
"No, lying I do not think. Unawareness of her strength a possibility is, but more dangerous ignorance is within the Force. More plausible it is that she is holding it a secret. The Dark Side you must fear in her."
Obi-Wan was absently nodding along with with Yodas words. His last sentence caught him off guard, though. They can't just be so quick to assume that every strong Force Sensitive will turn Dark can they? Perhaps his last Padawan was a special case. "What should I do?"
"Guide her you must. Let her fall to the Dark side, you mustn't. Catastrophic problems it will cause in the Galaxy. Balance we must have."
"You call this balance?" Obi-Wan couldn't help but burst out. His thoughts reflected all of the pain he felt and all the death he's seen seven years ago.
"Faith in the Force you must have." Yoda said without answering his question. "Your instincts you must follow."
Obi-Wan paused to think about this. He isn't sure what to make of it, and isn't sure if he could train her or even if he wanted to. Yoda says she is more dangerous without knowing her strength, and even more so if she knows and is hiding it. But what if she learns the ways of the Force and turns Dark like his last Padawan? Azel is strong with the Force but she is also a loose cannon of emotions.
But then again, as he thought before, he can't be so quick to assume she will be like his last.
It reminded him that he has another issue he wants to address with Master Yoda.
"I haven't been able to contact Qui-Gon, Master."
"Continue to try you must. Work it will." He stated simply.
"I have these nightmares-"
"The Force, the cause is." He said simply.
"The Force is giving me awful dreams?" Obi-Wan questioned with a frown.
"Of what are these dreams?" He asked curiously.
Obi-Wan sighed, "I never remember."
"Hmm." Yoda pondered. "Continue on your path. Come to you it will."
"The dreams?"
"Yes."
"And Qui-Gon?"
"Yes. Tricky the Force is. Knows when you are ready it does."
"But I am ready." Obi-Wan protested.
"No. Patience you must have."
Obi-Wan started to feel a headache. He hasn't had a long Force conversation to someone afar in a very long time.
As if Obi-Wan projected those thoughts, Yoda spoke. "Go you must, and rest. Speak soon we will."
Obi-Wan sighed audibly. "May the Force be with you, Master."
"And to you, Master Kenobi."
He felt a small weight lift from his mind, indicating that the connection is lost. Obi-Wan opened his eyes to a dimly lit cabin, and his head pounded. He needs to sleep now.
--
Obi-Wan slept restlessly. He awoke to a cabin that has not changed since he fell asleep. Obi-Wan would have panicked that they've landed and his two passengers ran off if it weren't for Azels obvious Force signature. The two are still in the cockpit which means they are still flying.
Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed his eyes. The nightmares are growing in intensity, he feels the sweat on his forehead. He still can't remember them, but now he gets a distinct feeling that they are coming from someone and that they matter. Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel that it's Qui-Gon trying to warn him.
It's all very unsettling. When they started, all Obi-Wan felt was exhaustion. Now all he can feel is dread for what's to come. If only he knew what he was looking out for, then maybe he could avoid it or at least figure out how to face it.
Obi-Wan went into the restroom and ran cool water over his hands and then splashed some on his face. The cold shocked him into full awareness. He dried his skin and stared at his reflection. This lack of sleep is aging him, he looks more his age now than before these nightmares. His long hair helped him appear young, but now with dark circles under his eyes, that doesn't seem to matter.
Obi-Wan felt the familiar jolt of the ship that happens when they're entering the atmosphere. Obi-Wan gripped the counter as the ship drifted downs wards slightly. He expected a more vertical dip, but was pleasantly surprised when none came. The ship landed a bit harshly on the ground, but Obi-Wan was impressed that even though it's Azels first time really flying, she knows not to dip the ship for a landing. It's a nasty habit Obi-Wan picked up, and he still does it, no matter how many times he's been told otherwise. He figures as long as he's got a hold on the ship then it shouldn't matter. A late brother once told him that there is no reason to dip with the engines when gravity is already pulling you down. It's too dangerous to cut the engines, so it's better to just slowly circle downwards at a level angle.
Obi-Wan heard Azel and Han come out.
"That was so cool!" Han exclaimed giddily. "Will you show me how to take off as well?"
"Of course, little man." Azel responded with a smile and rubbing a hand across the top of his hair. Azel looked up and saw Obi-Wan at the door of them bathroom. She stopped walking.
"You coming?" She asked with a scowl on her face. She is clearly still upset about his suggestion to leave Han on this planet.
Obi-Wan nodded calmly, fighting back a sigh, and followed the two to the door. Azel opened it and they walked down as the ramp continued to open. It reached the ground when they reached the end.
Azel parked at the outskirts of town again. In the distance she could see the tall skyscrapers, and the sun reflect off of them brightly. They're surrounded by large mountains. Nothing like the dunes on Tatooine, but more rocky and large. Uneven patterns of white laid at the tips of them. Azel only ever read about snow, and even now it's strange to see it. She wonders what it would be like to be standing in it.
"It's pink!" Han exclaimed looking at their feet. All the sand surrounding them is pink.
"Planet Daemare. It's considered one of the higher class slave routes. It's popular for its updated glass structures, mountainous ranges, and of course, the pink sand." Obi-Wan informed them.
"Where do we start?" Azel asked him. Obi-Wan looked at her funny. "You said you wanted to do this together, so lead the way." She said to him. Obi-Wan nodded once and led them towards the city. He stopped abruptly and turned back to them.
"No one goes off on their own, alright?"
"Yes sir," Han responded for the two of them. Obi-Wan had to look at Azel who appeared bored.
"Got it," she said, her Force radiating irritation.
"It's not the sort of place where people pull you off the streets, but it's certainly not a place to travel around alone. Especially at night." Obi-Wan said, he nodded his head towards the setting sun. He noticed Azel cross her arms over her chest and rub absently at them. This planet is much colder than the others, and it's only going to get worse when the sun sets. "Let's make this quick." He said to them and led them into the city.
The city is impressive, even Azel had to stare in awe.
It grew larger the closer they got. The buildings are made entirely out of glass and metallic silver. They ranged in various shapes and sizes. A few ships flew over head, and speeders passed them coming and going in and out of the city. Azel parked their ship between the city and the dwellings far behind them. Azel assumed it would be alright considering other ships have landed nearby as well. However, she wonders why they don't use a spaceport, and if they even have one to use.
But a city that looks like this? She would think they could afford a spaceport.
"This is amazing!" Han exclaimed. Azel held his hand as they walked. By the time they reached the city, the sun was just beginning to set. The metallic buildings began to reflect the reddish tones the sun gave off over the horizon, painting the buildings a pink color that almost matched the sand.
"They use to say that the reason the sand is pink is because of the suns reflection. It was just a trick to get more tourists to show up. The sand is still pink even at night." Obi-Wan informed them as they stepped from the sand and onto a solid concrete sidewalk. The transition was quick, but some sand still littered the path.
"What is this?" Azel asked, staring at the ground. They all stopped and watched at Azel pounded her foot against the pavement.
"It's pavement," Obi-Wan told her, slightly amused.
"Pavement?" Azel questioned.
"It's just an easier method for others to travel around. It keeps the ground level and smooth. Come on," He ushered them further into town. They didn't have much time if they wanted to make some sort of progress before dark.
Azel felt a little strange walking on a smooth surface in a city. She smiled to herself, this is something new to her, something she hasn't seen before, something books couldn't teach her. It's not much, but at least she's seeing things other than sand and dust.
Han stopped walking. "Azel!" He exclaimed. Azel turned her head to look at him. Had she taken another step, she would've been dragging him down the street. She moved a little closer to him so their arms weren't outstretched between one another.
Obi-Wan turned around with concern but then he saw the smile on Hans face with his head gazing upwards. "Look up," Azel did as she was told, as did Obi-Wan, and they gazed at the towers directly above them. "It looks like they're going to fall." He said to them.
It's very true. Azel looked back forward, feeling slightly dizzy, but smiling nonetheless. "It definitely does," She said to him. Obi-Wan looked forward then as well, locking eyes with Azel. She smiled softly at him, and he did the same back. He turned around and began walking again. He felt that smile was a form of forgiveness, or rather the start of her no longer being angry with him. He thinks it's the latter, because even Obi-Wan can't look at Han without a smile on his face.
They walked the busy streets closely together. Obi-Wan led them to a local bar, Azel was hit with the scent of whiskey and cigars immediately. She noticed it looked more like a lounge than bar. Elegant booths sat in circular islands throughout the room, tables lined the walls, and a bar with all the liquor on display took up the left wall.
"Hey! His kind is not welcome," the bartender said to the three of them. Some people looked their way, others didn't notice, but Han certainly did. His lips went into a pout and his hand pulled from Azels to cross his arms. Obi-Wan turned in confusion until he realized.
"No children aloud." He spoke, suddenly noticing the sign hanging on the window. He turned to Azel.
"Go with him," she said immediately, beating Obi-Wan to it.
"Azelynn-" he began to protest.
"No," she interrupted. "This is my mother, I'll be the one doing the work." She said sharply.
Obi-Wan sighed and moved closer to her. She was confused until he started whispering, "That man at the bar, names Dri, he is a top-selling slave auction host. If he doesn't have her, then I'm confident he would know who does."
Azel looked over to the bar, a few sat there but one in particular sat alone.
"The one alone?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?" She questioned skeptically.
"It was apart of my old job description to know." He answered without thinking. He didn't realize what he said until Han raised his eyebrows at him.
"What was your job?" Azel asked with a frown.
"It's late, go speak with him. Tread carefully, we'll be right outside." Obi-Wan said and took Hans hand to lead them outside.
"And you were worried I would tell her," Han mumbled to him when they were outside.
"I don't want to hear it," Obi-Wan sighed.
Azel approached the man at the bar and sat next to him. "Hi there," she said with a sweet smile. She rested her head on her hand to look at him and bit her lip suggestively.
He looked at her then looked away. "What do you want?" He grumbled out, uninterested. Azels face fell in annoyance. She knew instantly that her sweet flirtatious persona won't work on him. Obviously, he is going make this difficult. Plan B it is.
She sat up straight with a glare. "Look, I know who you are Dri and I know you have someone of mine." She spoke evenly, but heavily, making it clear she is not one to fool around with.
"I don't have anything." The man said. "All I have is an auction house."
"How many women from Tatooine came through?" She interrogated, her tone not breaking from its threatening tone.
"Tatooine? Kriff, it's rare that any women come from there. Citizens of Tatooine don't like to share, let alone could afford to travel with slaves from there." Dri took a sip from the drink sitting before him. Azel noticed then that the man was swaying in his place. The man is drunk. Absolutely pathetic. He sells slaves during the day and gets drunk at night. No man could fall any lower than that.
"Try to remember the ones that did," she snapped at him in an attempt to be intimidating.
It worked.
"The last one I had was years ago, blonde but-"
"Who was the one before that?" She interrupted, impatiently.
"Uh," Dri pondered and took a sip from his whiskey. Great, drink some more so you forget this conversation. "Dark hair, tan skin, older, I believe she had very dark eyes,"
Azel nodded along but had to cover her basis. "Any others with that appearance?"
"One other, she was one of my firsts."
"Who bought them?"
Dri laughed. "I don't remember that, kid."
Azel stood up, grabbed the mans arm, forced it behind him and bent it up at the elbow. She pushed his head down so it was on the bar top, it wasn't hard, but enough to scare him. He cried out and struggled but couldn't break free. "You best start remembering, Dri." She spoke in his ear. She left the or else hanging in the air between them. She gathered the attention of others but nobody interfered.
"O-one was-" he struggled and stuttered. "One was Triton, Nephard Triton of Ryturn."
"And the other?" She asked and pushed a little harder.
"Miksle Jed." Dri blurted out. "From Jakku."
"Thank you kindly, Dri." She said and let him go. Azel walked out without a care that everyone is watching her.
Outside she found Ben and Han sitting beside the door. They both stood up when she came out. "Well?" Ben questioned.
"Nephard Triton and Miksle Jed, do those names sound familiar to you?" She asked with hands on her hips.
Ben shook his head. "Should they? Who are they?"
Azel ignored him and began walking down the path. Both of them followed. "What about the planets Ryturn and Jakku?"
"Jakku is a high slave trade planet, similar to Tatooine. Ryturn is further in the Galaxy, about middle-rim, but slaves there are against the law." Ben said with a frown.
Azel processed this information, nodding along. "Then we will go to both." She decided.
"Azel we can't." Ben said, she turned around to see the two of them haven't moved. Han just stared at the two of them.
"Why not?"
"They're on either side of the Galaxy, it will take days. Ryturn is also midrim which means it could be an active war zone right now."
Azel pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. "And if it's not?" She asked suddenly. Ben stared at her. "What if Ryturn isn't part of the war?" She asked moving closer. "And what if that's where my mother is?"
Obi-Wan sighed. Just when he was about to say something, three large men walked out of the lounge. Azel was suddenly alert. While she was graceful in her movements against Dri, she wasn't exactly subtle.
"We have to go." She stated.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked and turned around to see three men approaching them. He internally cursed. What did she do now?
"Come on," he said to them. He picked up Han and slung him onto his back. He took Azels hand and pulled them down an alley way. They could hear the footsteps of the men coming after them.
They ran fast and hard. Weaving through the streets with the men still chasing them. Obi-Wan led them out of the city and back towards their ship. They heard the others footsteps slowing on the pavement.
"Don't come back here!"
"Stay out of this city, you're not welcome here!"
They both hollered at them. Han glanced back and found them stopped at the edge of the city where the sidewalk turned to sand.
"They're not chasing us anymore." Han informed them. The two kept running but Azel looked back to see the men turned around and heading back into the mass of buildings. She slowed her run, Obi-Wan did the same and soon they stopped altogether. Obi-Wan let Han down and Azel rested her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath. They were all silent for a moment, until Azel started laughing.
Han started to giggle with her, well more like at her. Obi-Wan glared at her, not pleased with whatever she had done.
"I certainly hope getting yourself into trouble won't become a habit," he scolded her, also trying to catch his breath.
Azel shook her head. "Live a little, old man." She smiled and winked at him. He shook his head but had a hard time keeping the smile off his face.
"Look! The sand!" Han exclaimed. The sun is fully set now and the moon has risen. The sand actually glowed its fluorescent pink color. Azel was just as amazed as Han. She bent down to play with it in her fingers, Han did the same.
"That's phenomenal," she announced with a smile. The sand is glowing in her grip. Han fell backwards and started making sand angels. Azel thought it was a great idea and joined him.
"Come on Ben you need to make one," Han insisted. Obi-Wan began to protest until the two of them ended up begging him. "Oh alright," he said and laid down on the other side of Han. They made the angels and all stood up looking back down at them. The angels look unreal in its colorful fluorescents. Azel smiled at her work. She examined Hans angel and was impressed, then at Bens whose looked like a blob.
"What happened?" She scoffed at him with a smile.
Ben looked down at his cloak and raised his arms to show them. "My cloak." He mumbled sadly.
Azel couldn't help the fond smile that grew on her lips. "Shall we continue to the ship?" She asked her two boys.
"I'll race you!" Han exclaimed and suddenly jolted off into the desert.
"Oh no you don't," Azel said and bolted after him.
"These two will be the death of me," Obi-Wan said to himself and chased after the two of them.
When they reached the ship, Azel had won, which isn't very surprising. Han came in second, and Obi-Wan last. He blamed it on the two of them getting a head start.
The three of them got on board and closed the ramp hatch.
"We should probably have a meal and then rest for the night." Obi-Wan announced.
"I saw a market by the dwellings," Han informed them. "It looked like a farmers market, but with music."
Azel raised her eyebrows. She hadn't noticed it earlier but it seems innocent enough. "That sounds promising," She said to him, and then looked to Ben for his opinion.
He simply shrugged. "Let's go," He said and the three of them left the ship to follow Han in the direction he spoke of.
It wasn't long before they came upon a grouping of shops. They appear to be market-like places. There is a small center where there is a band and people are dancing together. There is drinking, laughing, and a whole lot of energy.
Han gasped excitedly as he saw kids his age playing on what looked to be a jungle-gym of sorts. He ran for it immediately.
"Han!" Azel scolded but he ignored her. She watched him as he quickly joined in with the other children.
"He'll be fine," Ben said beside her, watching the same scene she is. Azel sighed, and looked at him. She couldn't help but feel that he wants Han to bond with people here, that way he won't put up a fuss when Ben decides to pawn him off.
But Azel won't let that happen, however he knows that. So maybe if Han wanted to go by choice...
"You're over-thinking it," Ben laughed beside her. Azel looked at him in shock. How could he know what she is thinking? "He is still a kid, just let him be one for now."
Oh, that's what he meant. Azel sighed and tried to relax. She took a deep breath and felt her shoulders loosen.
"There you go," Ben said to her. "Shall we take a look around?" He asked her. She nodded to him and the two of them walked side-by-side through the shops and fresh food carts. Azels eye is caught by a small table that has rows upon rows of necklaces. Azel was never one for jewelry but one in particular caught her eye. She stopped before it and brushed her fingers over the symbol.
It is held by a thin, black, and soft rubber substance. The symbol is a silver emblem that Azel has never seen before. It couldn't be larger than a coin, it looked like two wings expanding upwards with a star at the center.
"You like that one," The shop keep said to her. Azel looked up to see an older woman with significantly dark skin and hair in large spirals.
Azel examined the necklace more and more. She picked it up and looked at it. She couldn't figure out why, but she does admire it. She could feel Ben beside her, watching her.
"What is it?" Azel finally asked.
"It is the symbol of the Jedi," She responded to Azel. Azel looked up at her then. "I hand-craft all of these myself."
"Why craft a Jedi symbol?" She asked her curious.
The older woman smiled. "I have been around a long time. I have seen the Jedi and their work, I know what they represent and I respect it. I cherish it. That symbol gives people hope, and brings peace to the galaxy."
Azel looked back down at the necklace with appreciation. She has never given much thought to what the Jedi mean to people these days. She just assumed their meaning and work was just as lost as their lives.
Ben spoke then. "It's a little dangerous speaking about such things nowadays." He said to her, and Azel realized he is right.
The woman had no qualms. "Not when everyone believes them to be dead," She said.
"But you don't," Azel caught on. The woman shook her head. "Doesn't that make it even more dangerous?" She scoffed a bit.
The woman smiled. "I have faith in the Force, sweet child. I am ready for whatever it may bring me. Even if it means certain death. I will never stop believing in that, or the Jedi."
Azel smiled at her, taking in her words. She realized the woman is right, and assumed she must have had a personal experience with the Jedi to feel so passionate. Azel can't say she has had the same experience, although she's heard stories.
"We'll take it," Ben said to the woman. Azels eyes widened and she turned to Ben who was already handing her credits.
"Are you sure?" She asked him.
"Yes," he said to her. Azel smiled and put the necklace over her head. It fell down between her breasts. She looked down at it happily, then looked at Ben.
"Thank you," she said to him. Ben nodded once.
"May the Force be with you two," The lady said to the two of them. Azel smiled at her and gave her a polite thank you, unsure how else to respond to that. Ben didn't say anything at all.
The two of them walked together. Azel kept playing with the necklace. "I wouldn't wear that so openly," Ben warned, and he has a point.
Azel tucked it into her tunic. "Do you think she is right?" She asked him. Ben frowned.
"Right about what exactly?"
"The Jedi. She thinks they're still out there."
Ben was quiet for a long moment. Azel wasn't sure he was going to answer, and chalked it up to a sore subject when he finally said, "I don't know," Very quietly.
They had circled the market by then, and stared at where Han played with the other kids still. She looked over to the dance floor and found herself grinning.
"You wanna dance?" She asked Ben with glowing eyes.
Ben stared at her in horror, and she laughed.
"Come on, old man." She teased him. "We get to have some fun too." She said to him and took his hand. Obi-Wan felt a bit giddy with her hand in his, but he pushed the feeling away. He cannot have attachments of that sort. It is forbidden.
But yet, there he is getting dragged onto the dance floor with the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes on.
The music suddenly cut to a slower song when they reached the floor. Ben looked hilarious with how nervous he is, Azel could only laugh it off and pulled his arm around her waist and placed her other hand in his. "Relax," She said to him.
And just like that, Obi-Wan realized he is severely tense and he needed to channel the Force to fully relax. It only took a moment before Obi-Wan moved them to the music.
"You're pretty good at this," She said to him in surprise.
"This old man still knows a thing or two," Ben said to her with a smile.
"Ah," she said. "So you weren't nervous about dancing, just dancing with me," She called him out. Ben gaped at her, unsure how to respond, because she is right. Azel laughed at his unease. "It's okay, I don't bite." She said, and when he looked at her, she winked.
They continued to dance together. Obi-Wan still felt nervous being so close to her, but also very calm. She puts him at ease, which surprises him for several reasons. She's a stranger with a loud Force Signature, but yet she is also a friend. A very pretty, and smart, friend.
He could smell her hair from his position, it brushed against his cheek and he could smell her natural scent, along with a trace of honey. Her body is warm against his, and it pieced together with his perfectly. His hand tingled where it held hers, and his other hand spread wide against the small of her back, he could feel the curve of it with its placing.
The song ended then, and Obi-Wan was equally relieved as he was saddened by it. He is a bundle of confusion with his mixed emotions. He isn't sure why he is feeling indecisive about her. The answer should be obvious. He is a Jedi, and Jedi do not form attachments.
Azel pulled back and he looked into her eyes, and saw the little freckles dotting her nose and cheeks. Her eyes are bright with giddiness and content. Obi-Wan noticed that her Force has quieted since they started dancing together. Interesting.
Han came over just then. "I'm hungry." He stated to them, Azel looked down at him and laughed.
"Me too," She said.
"Let's find some food then," Ben suggested, and the three of them walked together to the nearest food establishment.
Han told them about the good time he had with the other kids while they ate, and Azel told him about the necklace Ben got for her. Han was interested with bright eyes and had to see it for himself. He swore not to go around speaking of it either, he knows the dangers about the Jedi. Azel found it quite odd that he knows so much, but shrugged it off.
Han began to yawn after his meal, and Azel realized the boy hasn't slept since before she met him. That is far too long for a young child to go without rest.
"We should head back," She said as Han started to lean into Bens arm, his eyes half-lidded. Ben nodded in agreement, but Han was fast asleep by then.
Ben had to carry Han back to the ship. The boy tucked his head into Bens neck, nuzzling into him. Azel smiled to herself. It is a very cute, and touching, sight to see. Obi-Wan noticed her watching and smiled gently.
"He does have a tendency to grow on you," He said quietly. Azel smiled to him.
"Does that mean you've changed your mind?" She asked, hopeful.
Obi-Wan sighed. It wasn't like he had much say in the matter anyway. He couldn't continue this journey with Azel angry with him. They would've just had to figure out something that would keep Han safe when they went to do something dangerous. However, all Ben spoke is "Perhaps,"
It was enough for Azel to smile proudly. The two continued walking in silence. Azel glanced up at the stars every so often, and Ben would catch her with her head looking upwards.
"What are you thinking?" He finally questioned around the fourth time he peered over to catch her head in the sky. Obi-Wan is appalled the moment he asked. He couldn't believe he had just asked that question. It's so personal, so intimate. And he then realized he can't hear any of her thoughts. Maybe it's because she seems so calm.
She looked over to him, sadness in her eyes. "All those stars, all their systems. Every single one of them have planets."
Obi-Wan considered this, her response driving away his paranoid thoughts. "Well, not all of them." He mumbled and looked up to the sky. The night is aglow with the stars littering the sky. They could see the cosmic dust of their galaxy crossing through the center to and from points beyond his sight. It's absolutely beautiful. Often times he forgets that he lives in an extraordinary galaxy.
"How am I suppose to find my mother in all that?" She asked sadly. Obi-Wan stopped walking. He never heard her sound so defeated. She stopped walking too and looked at him with glassy eyes.
Obi-Wan stepped close to her, adjusted Han in his hold, and placed his now free hand on her arm. "Azelynn," he spoke gently. "We will find her, I promise you." He said, trying to make eye contact with her.
"How do you know?" She asked brokenly.
Obi-Wan contemplated his answer until he knew exactly what to say.
"Because I feel it." He said to her. Azel stared at him, remembering their very first conversation. He placed a hand on her cheek. "Okay?" He asked her softly.
"Okay," She confirmed with a small nod. Obi-Wan dropped his hand, and the two continued walking, but this time Azel took his hand in hers.
When they reached the ship, Azel helped Ben put Han to sleep by removing his shoes, belt and vest. Ben laid him down in a bunk and tucked him in. Azel placed a kiss on his forehead just for the sake of it. She didn't realize she's done this until Ben spoke.
"You're good with him,"
"He has no one else," she said with a shrug.
"It says a lot about a person," Ben continued.
"Like what?" She questioned with a frown.
"That they're good people." Ben stated simply, and they were quiet for a moment staring at one another. Then as if remembering something, "What did you do to the people in that bar?" He questioned her.
Azel struggled for an answer. Her mouth opened and closed several times, she tried telling him, she really did, but she didn't want Ben to know that her feelings get the best of her. Ben is always so controlled with himself. Azel is always led by her emotions.
Azel was saved from her answering by a knock on the ships ramp door. Ben and Azel both jumped and stared at the door as if they could see through it.
"What-" The knock came again, cutting off Azels question. She walked to the ramps control pad, ignoring Bens protests, and then opened the door.
Ben had his hand on his hidden lightsaber, but knew better than to use it, so he shifted his grip over to his blaster instead.
Azel has her blaster in her hands as the ramp descended. The stranger outside hopped onto the ramp and walked up. Ben and Azel aimed their blasters at this person until Azel caught a glimpse of their face.
Azels eyes widened in shock. "Oh my Stars," She gasped. "Arrin."
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A/N: The song they're dancing to is Almost by The Ludlow Thieves.
Also, you know how pretty much every main Star Wars character has a "theme" song? Well, Azels is Pretending by Evolution of Stars.
They're both really great! I suggest checking them out. Thanks for reading, I'll have the next chapter up soon. xo