Fan Fiction - G.E.N

GEN Presents:

Aboard the *Millennium Falcon* en route to Alderaan, Obi-Wan Kenobi reflects on the events of the past and those yet to come.

Long Voyage to Alderaan

A Short Story By Sinead Reilly

GENERAL INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER:

The following story is a work of fanfiction. I make no claim to the characters, storylines or situations of George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd. or any of their affiliates who hold rights to any intellectual property herein alluded to, used, expanded upon or in any way affected by this story. My story is written solely for the personal, uncompensated enjoyment of myself and other SW fans in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. This story may be freely distributed provided each of the following conditions are met: (1) the above disclaimer accompanies all copies; (2) the story is distributed in its entirety and (3) no consideration is requested or received.

For John in California and Jane in Ireland.

Having intercepted a call to arms from a doomed princess, Tatooine farm boy Luke Skywalker accompanies the former Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi to the princess' home world of Alderaan. Fulfilling her wish, they transport the plans of the dreaded Death Star to the Viceroy of Alderaan, a covert rebel operative.

Little does young Skywalker know of the true nature of his journey. A treacherous galaxy awaits him, promising both glory and heartache. And for his newfound mentor, today is a day of reckoning many years in the making....

Padme, I promised you that I would take care of him. Now the fulfillment of that promise begins in earnest. I won't fail you again. I won't fail him. Obi-Wan Kenobi, late general of the Old Republic and Jedi Second Ambassador to the Senate now long since reduced to obscurity, watched as the golden protocol droid taught young Luke Skywalker the rules of holo-chess. Together the boy, his two droids and Solo's wookiee co-pilot crowded around the gaming table to pass the time. A longish mop of sun streaked hair fell forward over Luke's brow, hiding his eyes. But Obi-Wan knew that the boy's thoughts were not focused on the game. They were far away--replaying the horror of a smoldering homestead and two bodies charred beyond recognition. Sensitive to his loss, Kenobi made no effort to pry. He contented himself to study the boy on whose slumped shoulders so much rested.

Luke was the best of his father reborn again. Endearingly impulsive and trusting, restless and immature. Full of promise of the man to come. As if feeling the Jedi's gaze, Luke glanced up. Kenobi smiled kindly at the young man who today had been orphaned for a second time. Reassured, Luke turned back to the game. One tanned hand toyed absently with the lightsaber that rested on the table. Anakin's lightsaber. Will you hate me for the lies, Luke? Or will you understand someday? You must understand. Yoda would be displeased. But

Obi-Wan couldn't bring himself to tell the boy the truth. For twenty years he had mulled over this decision, certain that one day the moment would come. And today it came.

Fate intervened on an ordinary third quarter midmorning on Tatooine. He told himself that Luke was

not ready to hear the tale, but in truth the old Jedi knew that he was not ready to tell it. Separated for a lifetime, the lost twin appeared unannounced. Flickering in a hastily recorded hologram, she was a vision in white. Luke was so transfixed by the pleading princess that

he didn't see my face. Years of diplomacy could not hide the shock that surely registered on my face. Obi-wan closed his eyes, reliving the moment. She looks like her mother. Something in the way the princess gestured her hands wide conjured a wistful memory. Many years ago Padme Skywalker had also come to plead for his help. Proud and lonely Padme, she was the woman he could never have and so of

course she was the woman he wanted most of all. She had trusted him and little by little he had betrayed that trust. God help him, for he couldn't help himself. Neither of them had understood what was happening until it was much, much too late. His betrayal destroyed her, destroyed Anakin, destroyed the Jedi and brought disastrous consequences to the galaxy. It was a personal tragedy played out on epic scale. He...Obi-Wan Kenobi had been the villain.

Padme...after all these years, after all that has happened, I still burn for your kiss. Gone was the lust of youth, replaced by the dull ache of a

wounded heart that had never fully healed. I would give anything to feel your flesh, to know that you lived still. To ask your forgiveness. To

make things right. Suddenly uncomfortable, the old man shifted in his seat and swallowed the thick lump in his throat. He quickly diverted his thoughts to the captured princess and suppressed a surge of anger. Bail Organa knew better than to involve her in his underground

insurgence. The changeling princess should never tread so closely to the Imperial war machine. You never know whom she might encounter.

Twenty years ago the Viceroy of Alderaan had welcomed the infant Leia Skywalker into his household in a last ditch effort to save his marriage to the highstrung Vicereine. The gamble had paid off for a time, but eventually Alderaan's royal couple had gone their separate ways. Were you happy, little Leia? Despite your life of privilege, was Luke the lucky twin? Yoda had held firm on the separation, fixing his wayward student with a hard stare. Anxious to regain the Jedi master's trust, he had obeyed. Padme had been hysterical, scratching at

his face. Her words cut deep as only a lover's can. And as he gave away the children to unknown destinies, he did not know if he was giving away Anakin's children or his own.

He hid them in the open. Made her a princess and took him to Tatooine. Her prominence deflected suspicion. His remote location ensured anonymity. In the end Yoda had been correct; Anakin never did return to Tatooine. Were you happy, little Leia? Did I do the right thing?

The droid's hologram was one of only a handful of glimpses of Leia Skywalker, now Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. He'd seen the newsfeeds reporting her election as the youngest ever member of the Senate. Every so often she was portrayed as its liberal angel of mercy bringing public attention to the plight of those less fortunate. There were also the social vignettes showing Alderaan's very eligible princess gorgeously gowned and surrounded by Coruscant's glitteratti. Where are you now? Your royal lineage and Senate position could save you...or you could become Palpatine's latest example. Obi-Wan mentally tallied the lives lost so that Leia Skywalker might live. Let them not have been lost in vain! Yes...Bail Organa had a lot of explaining to do when they reached Alderaan.

Alderaan.... It was a cosmopolitan world of art and beauty, where conversation was the measure of a man and all forms of violence abhorred. Obi-Wan glanced down at his threadbare robes and across at Luke's patched work tunic. He smiled ruefully to himself. Times had changed since the junior Ambassador Kenobi had talked politics by day and romanced the local beauties by night. He had passed from one elegant salon to the next, from overstuffed ballrooms to exclusive dinners. Then the wars started and diplomacy lost its allure as it gained substance. Things became complicated, oh so complicated, and nothing and no one were as they seemed. So young Kenobi had renounced the role of bon vivant for that of warrior.

General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Today I resume that role. He flexed painful arthritic fingers and sighed. Age and solitude had dulled his senses and slowed his reflexes. Even now he tapped the Force sparingly for fear that he would be exposed in his exile to those whose attention mattered most. They still watched for him. They knew he was out there somewhere. I am too old for this sort of thing. I am not the man that I once was. I am not the Jedi that I ought to have been.

He gazed over at the pensive boy and his reluctance dissipated. There was no one else to guide him, to shepherd his progress past the dangers that lay ahead. Yoda always said that to those whom much is given, much is expected. Now I understand.

FINIS