RotF Chapter 2

Enthea prefers the quiet of space to the noise of Coruscant. The shuttle hums softly as she gazes at the stars outside.

“Well?” Obi-Wan says, taking his place in the pilot’s seat. Enthea quickly vacates the copilot chair; the shuttle only has the two spots in the cockpit.

Laki gives her a little smile and touches her arm, taking her place.

“Yes, Master Kenobi?” she asks as Enthea fades into the background to listen.

“I recovered a piece of debris from that droid delivery ship. We can take it back to Coruscant and have it analyzed. It may tell us where to find our Sith,” Obi-Wan tells her.

“Finding out where the weapons were purchased or manufactured may give a lead on the location of the Sith, or it may not. A safer course would be to stay focused on your bounty hunter, this Blu Bahls,” Laki replies mildly, putting her feet on the console.

“They just tried to kill us,” Obi-Wan protests. “The Sith is the priority, not the bounty hunter.”

“Don’t be so sure. That ship was not sent to kill us,” Laki said firmly, wagging a finger at him. “Its purpose must have been something else.”

“What?”

“Your enemy guessed that you might come looking for me. They sent that ship and probably others to places that they expected you to turn up. I think they just wanted to be sure,” Laki guesses. “We should go to Modre.”

“Is that where Blu is?” Enthea asks.

“Probably not. But the Priestess on Modre is wise in the ways of the connections that form between us and using the **** to make the most of them. You don’t find one individual in the galaxy by looking at random. We need to know exactly where to find her.” Laki sounds sure of herself.

“Expertise on these bonds is what we came to you for,” Obi-Wan reminds her.

“My powers don’t have that reach. My talent is for a more intimate setting,” Laki replies with a smile.

“Modre,” Obi-Wan says, pulling up the navigation controls. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“Oh, you’re not allowed there,” Laki chirps. “Enthea and I will have to drop you off somewhere first.”

Obi-Wan looks indignant. He swivels his chair, putting on a skeptical face. “Oh?”

Laki lazily points at his abdomen. “Unless there’s something you haven’t told me. Only those with a womb can set foot on Modre, Obi-Wan.”

“Perfect,” he grumbles, leaning back and resting his chin in his hand.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your Padawan.”

“You’ll do no such thing. You can go to Modre and get the information we need without us.”

“Oh no,” Laki replies with another laugh. “Your Padawan is the one who has the connection itself. The Priestess will need to see her.”

“Is she a Jedi?”

“Don’t be so vain as to think that only the Jedi and Sith use the ****. And the Jedi way is to honor the beliefs of others,” Laki reminds him. “So don’t think of calling her a witch.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Obi-Wan protests.

Laki looks back at Enthea. “Enthea will be in good hands.”

“Out of the question. I don’t trust you, Laki.”

“How long have we known each other, Obi-Wan?”

“That’s part of the problem. Nobody knows you. You’ve been away too long. You really believe we need this Priestess?”

“Unless you know where to look,” Laki says.

“What do you feel?” Obi-Wan asks Enthea.

“I sense her presence,” Enthea confirms. “But I can’t pinpoint it. I was able to find her on Coruscant because we weren’t far away. But…”

“Yes?”

“The Sith, Master. She was already there. Was she already on Coruscant? Or did she come from farther away? What if she already has this power?” Enthea asks worriedly.

Obi-Wan frowns at Laki. “Is it possible?”

“Of course. The Sith have far more power than the Jedi. The only reason they aren’t in charge is that in the past they haven’t been very wise about how they use it,” Laki says.

“Strange words to hear from a Jedi,” Obi-Wan says.

“Who are you to talk about strange, Obi-Wan? With your Dathomirian apprentice and your fear of flying?”

“I don’t fear flying. I just don’t like it,” Obi-Wan tells her breezily, turning back to the controls. “We’ll go to Modre. I will accompany you.”

“There’s only one way for you to do that,” Laki chirps.

“I know.” Obi-Wan sighs as he operates the controls, setting the course. The shuttle’s engines start to rev up. “I never thought there’d be something that I hated even more than flying.”

“You can’t hate it when you’ve never tried it,” Laki says in a singsong voice, grinning at Enthea. “You’re in for a treat, Padawan.”