Chapter Eight

Lana clutched Obi-Wan’s hand as they entered the Temple. Lana looked around with amazement at its huge pillars and decorative walls. It was filled with assorted Jedi milling around, and Lana could feel their eyes on her, and she moved closer to Obi-Wan’s side.

They took the lift to the Council Chambers, Obi-Wan keeping a protective arm around Lana as they walked through the circular door. The Council along with Jade were already waiting for them when they arrived.

“Good to see you are well, it is, Master Kenobi,” Yoda said, bowing his head slightly. “And a young one you have brought, as well! How wonderful.” He grunted, accentuating the sound comically, and turned in Lana’s direction.

Obi-Wan bowed slightly. "Thank you, Master Yoda."

Lana's eyes were wide as she took in the small creature. She tugged on Obi-Wan’s sleeve, and he leaned down towards her.

"That’s Master Yoda? He's green!" she whispered, a little loudly into his ear, never taking her eyes off the small master.

Yoda smiled gently. “Green, I am,” he confirmed. “Like green, do you?”

Lana's eyes went wider if possible. "I didn't know... I'm... well… I... um... yeah?" Lana said in a jumbled mess, then turned bright red and ducked behind Obi-Wan.

Yoda chuckled softly to himself. “Good, green is. But… tell you a secret, can I?” He hobbled closer and peeked around Obi-Wan’s hip. “Wish I was pink, I do.”

Jade put a hand over her mouth, barely stifling her laughter.

Lana's laughter filled the room, and she grinned at Yoda. "I think pink would look very nice on you."

“That is what I try to tell them,” Yoda said, nodding toward the other Council members. “Listen, they do not.”

Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder at Lana. “Will you go to him, Lana?”

Yoda watched her and backed up slightly, awaiting her decision.

Lana looked up at Obi-Wan and nodded, feeling very at ease with Yoda now. She stepped out and walked over to Yoda. She smiled at Yoda, and then her eyes went wide again as another Jedi stepped forward. Lana stood, frozen for a moment as she took him in. He looked like Tellon, one of the men that had raped her. A small shriek erupted from Lana, her eyes full of fear as she spun and ran back behind Obi-Wan, clinging to his robes for dear life.

Obi-Wan rocked forward slightly, then spun around and took hold of her. “Lana, what’s wrong?”

"He... he looks like... look at him…" Lana hissed, nearly shaking with fear now.

Obi-Wan squinted at her, then turned to look at a very perplexed Master Windu. He looked at him for a long moment, studying him and wondering what in the Force would make her act this way. Then it struck him. The tall build, steely eyes, dark skin… Even the facial features and the way he stood resembled Tellon. Obi-Wan turned back to Lana, looking for all the world like he didn’t know what to say.

“Tellon is dead,” he said gently. “That…” he pointed behind him, “is Master Windu. He is here to help, not harm. He is nothing like Tellon whatsoever. I trust him. Therefore…”

"I trust him..." Lana said quietly. She trusted Obi-Wan and knew he'd never put her in harms way. She bit her lip and took a few tentative steps back towards the two masters. She stopped near Yoda who was a little ways away from Mace Windu. She was still shaking a little and turned her head back towards Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan smiled encouragingly, and Lana turned back to the masters. He shot a warning look at Mace, and the master, rather than be offended, took it to heart. He slipped down to his knees and rested back on his heels, smiling at the young girl.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you,” he said. “Lana, we know that you’ve been through very much, but we’ve brought you here to bring peace back into your life. The hologram you saw in that room. It must feel like years ago, but it was only a few days. Do you remember?”

Lana swallowed and nodded. "Yes, Master Windu, I do," she answered softly.

Lana wondered if the other Jedi knew what she'd been through. Only Obi-Wan was there, and he probably told Jade, but he wouldn't have had time to tell the other masters. Or maybe Mace meant in general.

“That is why they want you,” he said. “They meant to keep what you saw a secret, and they don’t want you telling anyone. But the Council has a solution that will give them no reason to pursue you. We will help you forget.”

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow. “Pardon?”

Mace glanced up at him. “Using our Force powers, Master Yoda and I will wipe the memory from her mind.”

Without missing a beat, Obi-Wan sharply asked, “may I speak with you both a moment?”

Mace and Yoda exchanged looks. Then Mace said, “I don’t see why not.”

Lana looked towards Obi-Wan, her face asking if she should be worried as Mace stood and made his way to the door with Yoda.

Obi-Wan sent her a gentle thought. Everything is fine… Then he and the masters disappeared into the hall.

Jade stayed behind even though she was dying to follow and hear the ensuing conversation. She moved closer to Lana and placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.

The three Jedi finally halted a few paces from the Council doors.

“What’s this about, Master Kenobi?” Mace asked, folding his arms in his cloak sleeves.

Obi-Wan turned toward Mace and Yoda, taking a deep breath to prepare himself. “Lana has experienced something very terrible,” Obi-Wan said. “I’m… not entirely certain how to say it without simply saying it.” He paused, his beard bristling when he pursed his lips. “She was raped.”

Yoda bowed his head while Mace’s expression morphed from shock to complete outrage.

“It happened when she was kidnapped,” Obi-Wan said. “It’s why she was so terrified of you, Master Windu. I…”

“Blame yourself, you do,” Yoda pointed out.

Obi-Wan looked away, unable to meet the master’s green-eyed gaze.

“There are some things even the Jedi cannot foresee and prevent,” Mace said. He rubbed his eyes wearily, and Obi-Wan fancied he saw tears squeezing from his closed eyes.

“She should never have been taken in the first place,” Obi-Wan said. “It could have been avoided if only I’d been more attentive. That’s beside the point.” His voice had grown harsh with his own self-effacing comments. “Master Windu, you and Master Yoda are to wipe her mind of the plans she saw the Separatists examining, correct?”

Mace raised his eyes to Obi-Wan and nodded. “Yes.”

“Can you not erase what those men did to her as well?” Obi-Wan asked, his eyes bright with hope.

“Technically, yes,” Mace said carefully. “But should we?”

“Of course, you should,” Obi-Wan said, his eyes bouncing back and forth between the two. “Those memories will cause her nothing but pain. She doesn’t need them.”

“If she is made to forget what happened, but her confusion remains, what good will we have done?” Mace asked. “She will be filled with conflicting emotions and fear with no root to any of it.”

“You don’t know that,” Obi-Wan insisted. “She’s young now. She may go on to forget she ever felt this way at all. If she keeps these memories, she will never be stable.”

“Obi-Wan, this has left its mark on her,” Mace said. “Losing the memories will not heal her.”

“It’s worth taking that chance!” Obi-Wan shouted.

“Taking a great risk, we would be,” Yoda grunted. “Fragile, she is. Her mind young and hurting.”

“Master Yoda,” Obi-Wan said in a pleading tone, kneeling down on one knee. “If things are allowed to go along this path, she will never truly trust any male again. She’ll never grow to be a wife and mother. She’ll always be afraid of who may be in the shadows, she’ll see the faces of those men in her nightmares, and that fear will rule her. I cannot bear that thought. Please, Master.”

Mace and Yoda exchanged compassionate looks, and Yoda said, “this we will do. For the youngling.”

“Thank you, Masters,” Obi-Wan said, rising to his feet again. “I promise you that this is the best for her. I know it is.”

They strode stoically back into the Council Chambers, Jade stepping toward Obi-Wan’s side as he reentered.

“I heard shouting,” she whispered to him. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine,” Obi-Wan smiled. “Trust me.”

Lana looked back up at Obi-Wan and was about to ask him a question when Mace beckoned her forward. He was down on his knees again, next to Yoda.

"Lana, what Master Yoda and I are about to do will leave you very weak afterwards, but only for a little while," Mace said gently. "But you will be safe, and we are not going to do anything to harm you. Do you trust us?"

Lana nodded. "Uncle Obi trusts you, so I trust you." She gave a small smile. "It's one of our rules."

Mace gave her a gentle smile, then raised his eyebrows at Obi-Wan. “Is it really?”

“It is,” Obi-Wan said, grinning proudly.

“And a good rule, it is,” Yoda said. “Ready, are you, Lana?”

Lana swallowed and nodded. "Yes I am, master." She closed her eyes, then opened them again suddenly.

"What is it, Lana?" Mace asked.

"I'll still remember Uncle Obi, right?" she asked.

“Of course, you will, sweetheart,” Obi-Wan called behind her. “I’ll always be apart of you.”

Lana looked back at him and nodded, then turned back to the masters. "Ok, I'm ready now."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the masters reached out towards her. Their hands touched either side of her head, and she felt a sensation tug at her. She felt like her head was suddenly spinning; images flashed through her mind in fast forward. It started with the day she found the Separatists and raced on from there in images growing more intense. It was like she was reliving the emotion of each of them again, but only in a fraction of a second. When the memories reached the day she was raped, she screamed out and then she felt nothing else. As the masters pulled out of her mind, she gasped and collapsed to the floor.

Obi-Wan raced to her, bending down and gathering her up in his arms. “Lana? Can you hear me?”

Jade watched from a distance, worry etched in her features. She begged the Force that her entire mind had not been erased…

Lana opened tired eyes and stared groggily up at Obi-Wan. She felt weak and tired, like she had been without sleep for far too many days. She blinked and nodded to him.

"Yes, may I go to sleep now, Uncle Obi? I'm so tired..." she whispered, snuggling into his chest and closing her eyes before he answered.

Obi-Wan smiled gently, running his hand over her hair. “Yes, Lana. You may.”

Lana's reply was a soft sigh as she wiggled once again in his arms, getting as comfortable as she could before falling asleep.

Mace and Yoda returned to their seats, and Mace looked up at Obi-Wan.

"The plans she saw and what we spoke of should be erased from her memory," he said. "She will stay with you until her parents are located."

Jade stepped closer to Mace. “Master, her parents were killed. She has no family left.”

There was a mental rumbling amongst the Council as they digested this news. Mace sat back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Is there anyone at all who could take her?” he asked.

Jade glanced at Obi-Wan who still held the sleeping girl in his arms. “You think?” she asked.

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow at her, then seemed to brighten. “Bail?”

“He might,” Jade said, grinning. She looked back to Mace. “Senator Bail Organa may be able to help us. We can ask at the very least. I doubt he would say no.”

“We will contact him at once,” Mace said. “In the meantime, you may want to move her somewhere comfortable. She will be out for a while.”

Jade bowed, and Obi-Wan managed a slight nod as he got to his feet with Lana in his arms. The two strode out, and Jade draped her arm over his shoulders.

“You wanna take her to my quarters, General?” she asked.

“Do you think… she would be uncomfortable in mine?” he asked timidly.

Jade smirked at him. “I think she would be glad to stay with her Uncle Obi. You go on ahead, and I’ll catch up.”

Obi-Wan nodded, and Jade watched affectionately as he made his way toward his apartment. He took the lift to his level, and his door swished open for him automatically when he stepped in front of it. He moved to the bedroom, tuning up the lights and arranging the covers with the Force. When Lana was draped across the mattress, she snuggled down in her sleep. Obi-Wan pulled the blankets over her, tugging an unruly strand of hair from her face and pushing it behind her ear.

Lana's dreams were scattered, and there seemed to be large blank holes in some of them, but for once in a very long time they were all peaceful. In all her dreams there was a steady figure of peace and safety. Obi-Wan shone brightly, like a knight in shining armor, in every dream.

It was four hours later when Lana awoke. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, looking around the new place she was in. She heard Obi-Wan’s voice coming from another room and slid off the bed, her bare feet hitting the ground with a soft patter. She shuffled out of the bedroom, dragging the blanket off the bed behind her.

Obi-Wan and Jade were seated on the couch in the room, and Lana climbed into Obi-Wan’s lap, pulling the blanket up over the both of them and leaning back on him.

“Someone came to join us,” Jade laughed.

Obi-Wan merely smiled and tucked the blanket around Lana as he held her. “How are you feeling, darling?”

"Still tired, and my head hurts," she said, closing her eyes. "Are we still in the Temple?"

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, stroking her hair. He was hesitating, and Jade leaned toward him, giving his arm a gentle nudge.

“We have someone who wants to see you,” she said. “He’s waiting with the Council. Are you up for it?”

“Who is it?” Lana asked blearily.

“It’s a surprise,” Jade said. “But if you’re too tired…”

Lana shook her head. "No, I can go." She stood up and looked down at her feet. "Do I have to put my shoes on?"

“I can carry you,” Obi-Wan offered.

Jade smiled, but the look was tinged with sadness. She wondered who this was going to be harder on, Lana or Obi-Wan.

Lana kept ahold of the blanket as Obi-Wan lifted her up into his arms and pulled it over her.

"Are you going to tell me who wants to see me?" Lana asked, grinning at Obi-Wan as they walked out of his room.

“No,” he chuckled. “I’m keeping the secret. It’s someone you’ll be glad to see, I’m sure.”

They entered the Council chambers, and Bail stopped in mid-sentence with Master Windu to turn and regard Lana. He grinned broadly and held up the stuffed Wookiee he’d brought with him to replace the one she’d lost.

Lana tilted her head, a large grin appearing on her face as Obi-Wan set her down. She jogged up to Bail as he knelt down and handed her the Wookiee. She took it and hugged it.

"Thank you!" she said, hugging him then going back to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan didn’t pick her up again but knelt before her instead. “Lana, Bail has something he’d like to ask you,” Obi-Wan said gently. “Go to him.”

Lana eyed him for a moment, getting an uneasy feeling in her stomach as she turned back to Bail, her Wookiee clutched to her chest.

The senator smiled charmingly and asked, “would you like to come and live with me on Alderaan, Lana? You would have your own room, and my wife and I would love and take care of you.”

Lana stared at the senator, and she could feel the eyes of all the Council members on her. She didn't know what to say. Part of her had actually felt like she would be able to stay with Obi-Wan, that the Jedi would make an exception for her. But here Bail was, offering to take her with him.

"I... well... I wan…" she trailed off, stopping herself from saying what she really wanted, to stay with Obi-Wan. That would only hurt Bail and Obi-Wan. "I guess that would be alright... yeah, I'd like that." She gave Bail a brave smile.

Jade smiled softly and walked toward them, laying a hand on Lana’s back. “Come on, hun. Let’s go get your shoes, and you’ll be ready to go, okay?”

As Jade led her out, Obi-Wan kept his eyes angled toward his boots. He looked back up at Bail with slightly swimmy eyes when he was sure they were both out of earshot.

“That girl means a lot to you,” Bail noted, furrowing his brow sympathetically.

“I never thought that a child could have such an impact on me,” Obi-Wan replied. He shook his head and took a few steps closer to the senator. “She started out as a mission and became… so much more than that.”

“Isn’t that the way love always starts?” Bail asked. “First it is necessity, then it is natural?”

Obi-Wan smiled wanly. “I suppose you are right. In many ways, you are wiser than I, Senator Organa. I’m sure Lana will be very happy with you.”

“She would be happier with you,” Bail said. “We both see that. She likes me, that much is evident, but you will always be her caretaker. Having said that…” He walked toward Obi-Wan and put his hands on the other man’s shoulders. “Believe my sincerity when I ask that you not be a stranger. Come to our home and see her. It will do her heart and yours so much good.”

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly. “I appreciate that, Bail. And I will.”

* * * * *

Lana was silent as Jade took her to Obi-Wan’s room. She didn't want to leave and part of her felt like, if she did leave, Obi-Wan would forget about her. She walked into Obi-Wan’s bedroom and found her shoes next to his bed. As she picked them up an idea came to her.

"Master Jade?" she called, and Jade peeked her head into the room. "Is there something I can write on?"

Jade nodded and disappeared for a moment, then came back with a small pad of paper and a pencil.

"Here you go, hun." She smiled and handed it to her, then walked back out into the living area to wait for her.

Lana stared at the paper thoughtfully for a moment, then scrawled out a note to Obi-Wan. She folded it and set it on his pillow. Then she took the Wookiee Bail had just given her and set it on the pillow, rearranging the note so the Wookiee was holding it. She grabbed her shoes and walked out of the room, following Jade back to the Council chambers and feeling a little better.

“We’re ready,” Jade announced with a smile when they’d reached Obi-Wan and Bail again.

“Then, we’ll be off,” Bail said, taking Lana’s hand.

“We’ll walk you to your ship,” Jade said, nodding to Obi-Wan.

The four walked silently toward the Temple’s docking bay and paused when they reached Bail’s ship. At first, no one said anything, none of them really knowing what to say.

Lana let go of Bail's hand, and hugged Jade.

"Thank you, Master Jade. I'm sorry I was such a pain on Hoth." She gave her a small smile.

“I was a pain, too,” Jade laughed. “I think we both learned a little something with that crash landing. And Obi’s gonna give a friend of ours R9’s disk, and he’ll be rolling around again in no time.”

"I'm glad he's not gone for good," Lana said, then turned towards Obi-Wan. He knelt down, and she practically threw herself into his arms and squeezed him as tight as she could as tears started falling down her cheeks.

"Please don't forget about me when I'm gone," she said, her voice muffled from being buried in Obi-Wan’s robes and her tears.

“I never will,” he said. He crouched down so that he could truly hold her and murmur in her ear. “I don’t think it’s possible to forget someone like you, Lana.”

Lana sniffled, her tears still flowing. "I don't want to go..." she whispered so only he could hear.

Obi-Wan shut his eyes tightly, feeling her tears run into his beard. “I know, sweetheart. But Bail is a good man. He’ll be a wonderful father to you.”

"He will never be you," Lana choked. Thinking of leaving Obi-Wan was nearly killing her. Her heart ached, and she could hardly breath from crying so hard.

Jade and Bail waited patiently, Jade offering the senator an apologetic smile he didn’t seem to need. He understood that their bond was deep, and this was not easy for either of them.

“Yet…” Obi-Wan pulled back to look in Lana’s eyes. “He will love you, and you will grow to love him. I will never be far. Before you go, why don’t we make one last rule?”

Lana wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "Another rule?"

Obi-Wan offered her his cloak sleeve and said, “no matter where you are, regardless of the distance between us, we will always be together. In here.” He tapped his chest where his heart lay beneath. “And in the Force.”

"But I don't have the Force, Uncle Obi..." Lana said softly, taking his sleeve and dabbing at her eyes.

“The Force is in everything living thing,” he said brightly. “I can feel it in you. Therefore, I’m never far away.”

"You'll come to visit, right? I'll still see you?" Lana sniffled, managing to slow her tears.

“Every chance I get.”

"Promise?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“I sincerely do.”

"Lana? It's time to go," Bail called gently from behind her, and Lana nodded.

She hugged Obi-Wan again and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, Uncle Obi. Come visit soon."

“I… I love you, too,” he said, feeling the uninvited emotions sweeping over him. “And I will.”

"Goodbye." Her voice was soft, and she was fighting her tears back again as she walked away from him and to Bail's side. He took her hand and lead her up the ramp of the ship.

She looked over her shoulder one last time at Obi-Wan and Jade before the ramp shut between them. Jade held onto Obi-Wan’s arm as the ship rose into the sky and disappeared. She watched the empty space until she felt they’d stood there long enough, then tugged him gently back toward the Temple halls. They walked at a leisurely pace, Jade allowing him his time to ruminate on what had happened and absorb it. She finally spoke up when they’d reached his quarters.

“It’s been a funny twist we’ve taken this time,” she mentioned, hugging herself against his arm.

“Why do you say that?” he asked.

“You were the one getting all emotionally involved and teetering on the brink…” she trailed off with a chuckle. “And I, Jade Blood, was the one holding you and telling you everything was going to be all right. Reassuring you and bringing you out of a Dark Side-ish funk. How weird is that?”

Obi-Wan laughed. “Very, my love. And I thank you.”

Jade smirked and tugged at his beard. “I owed you one. I’m gonna go get cleaned up and take a nap. Wanna come?”

“Tempting,” Obi-Wan said. “But I need to go over some things concerning the sieges.”

“I understand,” Jade said, pecking at his lips. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

As Jade moved off to her own room, Obi-Wan entered his living area and let the door shut behind him. Truly, he only wanted to lie down and go unconscious, but he didn’t want to make Jade feel like he was pushing her away. She probably sensed it, but she knew what he had been through. It was the first time in days that he would be alone to gather his thoughts. Or to simply not think at all if he preferred.

His feet barely left the ground as he shuffled into his bedroom. The Wookiee propped up against his pillows immediately caught his eye.

“Oh no, she’s forgotten it,” he muttered. When he drew closer, he noticed a piece of paper wedged between its hands. He pulled it free and read the message there.

Dear Uncle Oby,

I'm going to miss you very, very, very much. You are all ways going to be my hero, and I love you very, very, very much. I do not want you to forget me when I'm gone, so I'm leaving my wookiee. When you look at it you will think of me. Pleese come visit me.

Love,
Lana

PS: Tell Master Jade that I love her too, and thank you for all she did.

Obi-Wan felt that wave again, surging from his heart up into his throat and getting stuck there. His eyes were welling up, and there was no reason to remain dignified. He was alone this time with no need to hold back. He pressed the palm of his hand against the right side of his face and shuddered a low sob. Exhaustedly and without really thinking, he pulled the Wookiee to his chest and laid down. He coughed another sob into his pillow and fell into a deep slumber.

Jade strode into his room, opening her mouth to begin with, “Obi, I forgot to—”

She halted abruptly and covered her mouth when she saw him. She’d had no idea he would crash and fall asleep so quickly. She crept closer and saw the Wookiee and the tears on his cheek.

“Oh, lion…” she whispered. She crouched by the bed and pushed his hair back from his forehead, planting a light kiss against his temple. “My heartbroken lion…”

Epilogue

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