Ahsoka kicks her ship, furrowing her eyebrows. "Damn ship." She curses, pacing around it. "What good is a ship that can't fly?" She asks, crossing her arms over her chest. She should have known she was getting ripped off on Coruscant.

She rests her hands on her hips, slightly swaying her lightsabers. What was she going to do now? She needs parts for this thing, or better yet, a new ship. She's also low on supplies and needs to restock, which was her original intent on coming to this desert planet. But, like usual, nothing ever goes her way.

Once she calms down, she decides to head to the town in the distance. She figures she'll make it there before the suns set, giving her time to find someone to fix her ship and a place to rest her head.

As she gets to the edge of town, she feels a tremor in the Force. It's familiar, like something from long ago. She can't quite place it and she can't ignore it. Though she wants to leave this planet as soon as possible, she won't leave until she finds out who is here with her.

Who has survived the fall of the Jedi?

She makes her way to the cantina, keeping her guard up. She knows Tatooine is filled with the vilest scum of the galaxy. If any of them find out that she's had some form of Jedi training, she's toast. Well, more like they'll be toast. She'll be the one swinging around lightsabers.

She heads to the bar, keeping her hood up. She can't risk anyone possibly recognizing. Though it's been years since she was even associated with the Jedi Order, she doesn't want to take any risks.

"I need some parts for my ship. Anyone you can direct me to?" She asks. She glances around her, taking notice of everyone who's even so much as glanced in her direction. She must stay alert. Someone is here that she knows. She feels their presence.

"Over in the corner. He's your best bet." The bartender grumbles, nodding his head in the direction. Ahsoka looks over, seeing a figure surrounded in darkness. He must also be hiding his identity.

She gathers her thoughts and heads to the dark corner. She takes slow deep breaths, trying to keep her mind clear. She must stay calm and seem in control. She's not worried about what they might to do her. She knows she can take them easily. She just doesn't want to resort to using her trusty blades on this planet.

"I've been told that you can help me fix my ship," Ahsoka says, slipping into the seat across from the stranger.

"That depends on how much you plan on paying me." He grumbles back. He flicks something towards her, making her flinch and pull back.

She narrows her eyebrows. "5,000."

He chuckles, adding fuel to her annoyance. "I don't do anything less than 7,500, sweetheart."

"Fine. 7,500 it is." She snaps back, scrunching her nose. She leans forward, trying together some look at the man. Unfortunately, not only is it dark around them but he's also covering his face with a hood. The only possible clue about this guy is the star on his right star. She has no idea what it means, but she files it in her memory.

"Upfront."

"I have 5,000 upfront. I can get you the rest of the money after you successfully complete the task." She answers.

"Fine."

She reaches into her bag, pulling out the money. She drops it onto the table between them. Eagerly, the stranger reaches out and snatches the bag. He digs through it, the sound of the clinking metal almost sounding melodic. "Where's the ship?" He asks, closing the bag.

"Just outside of here. You can see it from the edge of town." Ahsoka says, beginning to rise from the table.

"I'll go get started. You better go find another 2,500." He says, following her lead. Before she can say another word, the figure sneaks out of the cantina and out into the world.

"I better not be getting ripped off again," Ahsoka mumbles to herself as she walks back into the light. She looks around, hoping to find someone that she can help out.

But something calls to her. The tremor in the Force grows stronger.

She knows she needs to find a way to earn the money for her ship, but she must follow the feeling. It gives her a sense of nostalgia and comfort. She must know who it belongs to you.

Going against her better judgment, she follows it out into the dune sea. As she gets farther and farther from the town, the tremor grows more powerful. The owner's name is on the tip of her tongue but she just can't place it.

She knows they're from the Temple. She can place that much for sure. Somehow, they were spared in the execution of the Jedi. Either they were missed or they were a part of the whole thing. She only hopes it's the first option.

A figure grows in the distance. Their face is hidden from her. Their hood is pulled over their head, protecting them from the hot suns. They ride on top of some type of lizard. She places her hand over her eyes, hoping to make out their shape. It still doesn't aid her in figuring out who they are. She grabs her lightsabers to be safe. She doesn't know who she's dealing with.

Eventually, they met. She looks up, her jaw dropping. Her voice catches in her throat as her eyes meet his. How could she forget him? How could she mistake his tremor after all that they've been through? "Obi-Wan?" She asks, her voice trembling.

He tenses, clearly just as shocked as her. "Ahsoka? Is that you?" He asks, slipping off from his ride.

She pulls off her hood and returns her lightsabers to her hips. Her open hands reach out to him. "Master."

He pulls off his hood, his face fully revealed. "You're okay." He breaths, taking her in. "I didn't know who all survived."

She holds back her tears, her eyes racing up and down his face. She wasn't sure who she was expecting, but it wasn't Obi-Wan. To see him in person, his actual self instead of that damn hologram almost makes her want to bawl. "I heard about you and Grievous. I was told that you were killed by Commander Cody after you sent out that warning."

"Commander Cody attempted to kill me. Thankfully, everything was in chaos after my battle with Grevious. They couldn't spare a minute to make sure that I was dead." He explains. He walks closer to her, the pain in his eyes making her heart shatter.

There's something that he's not telling her. She knows Obi-Wan, at least the old Obi-Wan. Though this one has graying hair and a few wrinkles on his forehead, she knows that his heart is the same as before. His belief in doing what is right and protecting others is still strong. "I've spent the past few years trying to save others from the dangers of the Empire. This is the first time that I've met someone from the Temple."

"You've met other Jedi though?" He asks, slightly tilting his head in thought.

She shrugs her shoulders, a soft laugh escaping her. "Well, kind of. Most of them have been padawans that were saved by their masters or had little training before the massacre."

He nods his head in thought. "Well, I'm glad that there are others out there. I never heard of anyone else surviving."

Her head slightly drops. "Very few, but they've gone into hiding like you."

"Hiding? I'm not hiding." He replies, slightly laughing. 

Her head snaps up, narrowing her eyebrows at him. "Then what do you call going off the grid on Tatooine? Everyone out there thinks that you were killed years ago. You should be leading the rebellion. You were a respected general in the Clone Wars. They could use your knowledge and put an end to this war."

"You forget where you were during the Clone Wars." He says. Just like she remembers, his voice is even and calm. It doesn't feel as if he chastising her, more like that he's teaching her. She has missed his cool demeanor in this new, chaotic galaxy. "They could use your knowledge. You were just as much involved as I was."

"They have used my knowledge." She counters. She pauses, stopping herself from losing her temper. "But you are much more valuable there than here, Master. They need you."

There is a silence between the two of them. She wishes that she could change his mind and get him to leave this planet, but she can tell that it is pointless. Obi-Wan has always been slightly stubborn, especially if he believes that what he is doing is right. There must be some reason he is here.

"The suns are beginning to set." He says, clearing the air. They turn their attention to the horizon. "Come with me, Ahsoka. You will stay with me for the night. The dune seas can be a dangerous place. The sand people aren't exactly the most friendly people."

Instead of arguing, she rides with him through the dune sea. As she stares at the setting suns, she tries to process that she is with Obi-Wan again. There had been a few rumors that he was still alive, but she refused to believe it. It was easier to get over her past if everyone was gone.

xxx

"I almost didn't recognize you. You've grown so much since we last saw each other," Obi-Wan says, handing Ahsoka a bowl of soup. He has already told her how terrible snake soup is, but she's starving and is willing to eat anything at this point.

"I didn't recognize you with your gray hair." She teases, making him chuckle. 

"You scared me when you greeted me. It's been a long time since I've heard anyone call me Obi-Wan." He says, leaning back against the wall of his hut.

"Because you've become a hermit?" She asks, bringing her spoon to her lips. She scrunches her nose in disgust, shaking her head. He was right. It is terrible. The smell is enough to make you gag, but the sliminess is much worse. It sticks to the back of your throat as it slides down.

"Because I no longer go by Obi-Wan. Since I landed here, I've gone by Ben." He explains before flinching at the soup himself. 

Ahsoka lowers her head. "I also took on another name as well for a while. I couldn't risk getting the attention of anyone. Many enemies knew my name from being Anakin's padawan."

Silence fills between the two of them at his name. Sadness fills both of their hearts as they think of their lost friend. Anakin had such an impact on them that just the sound of his name causes immense pain.

"I saw him." She confesses. His eyes meet hers, mirroring her sadness. "I fought him. Well, I fought Darth Vader. He--" She trails, her emotions catching in her throat. "He recognized me. He knew me."

"He's still in there," Obi-Wan says, his eyes never leaving Ahsoka's. 

"That was not Anakin. I saw his eyes. He wanted to hurt me. He wanted to kill me." She says, clutching her spoon in her hand. "Anakin would never do that. Darth Vader killed him."

"But he's still in there. Padmé believed that until her dying breath."

"Qui-Gon also believed until his dying breath that Anakin would bring balance to the Force. You can't believe someone just because they say it before they leave you." She snaps, anger lacing her words. Anakin is gone and she is going to avenge him. Obi-Wan needs to face the facts that Anakin is gone. 

Obi-Wan narrows his eyes at her. "Who do you think made him more machine than man?"

She pauses, studying him. "Rumor had it that he lost his limbs while he was battling the Separatist leaders. They were able to defend themselves because they knew he was coming. But you are suggesting something else." She says. "What really happened on Mustafar?"

Obi-Wan takes a deep breath. A day hasn't gone by that he doesn't think about what he did to Anakin. But to finally say it out loud to someone seems nearly impossible. He looks deep into her eyes. Ahsoka deserves to know. "I was sent to kill him. But as I looked into his eyes, all I could see was the boy from Tatooine. All I could think about was the memories we shared as we traveled across the galaxy. I couldn't kill my best friend. I cut off his remaining limbs and left him to burn on the planet."

Ahsoka holds her breath, the truth finally out in the open. She knew that there was no way those Separatist leaders could have injured Anakin so badly. Only someone trained in the ways of the Jedi could have possibly been a suitable foe for him. Unfortunately, it was Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry, Master." She says. "I knew the rumors were all lies, but I'm not sure that I like the truth. It just seems too real now."

"You deserve to know what happened on Mustafar," Obi-Wan says. "You are the one person who loved him as much as I did."

xxx

The suns have risen above the horizon. Ahsoka holds onto Obi-Wan as they ride back out into the dune sea. "So, I have yet to know why you chose this planet to live. I'm sure it's not because of the view."

Obi-Wan chuckles, looking over his shoulder at her. "We're almost there. I trust you to know of my journey."

"Well, I'm glad that we still trust each other. It makes me feel a bit better. I feel so alone sometimes." She says, resting against his back. She slightly chuckles. "It's funny. Sometimes I catch myself longing for the days of the Clone Wars. I never thought that time in my life would be peaceful compared to now."

"Nor did I." Obi-Wan replies. The rest of the ride is in quiet peace. Ahsoka keeps her eyes on the horizon, watching the waves of sand drift up and down. It was no wonder this was called the dune sea. Anyone could get lost out here in the endless swirlings of dust.

A settlement appears in the distance. She raises her head from his back, straining to get a better look. As they get closer, the buildings start to have a shape. From what she can tell, it's a small moisture farm. They're popular on desert planets, but Ahsoka has never seen one with her own eyes.

Obi-Wan stops the lizard on a dune hill just above the settlement. He turns and smiles, his eyes locked on the small hut. Ahsoka follows his gaze, a shiver running up her spine. She feels it, a strong tremor in the Force. "Did you feel it?" He asks.

"Yes, Master." She says. "Who is it?"

"My mission." He answers. 

"Did you find them while you were here?" 

"Not quite." He says. "I brought them here to keep them safe. I am to watch over them until their time is right."

"Who are they?" She asks again.

"Luke! Luke!" A voice calls out. Ahsoka watches as a small child runs across the settlement into the small hut. She freezes, the Force overwhelming her as her eyes land on the child. She doesn't why, but she knows his story. She can also tell that he is strong with the Force, much stronger than most of the younglings in her time at the Temple.

"Why do I know him?" She asks, touching her heart.

"He is Anakin and Padmé's son." Obi-Wan answers. 

A soft cry escapes her. She covers her mouth, trying to hold it in, but Luke's presence is just too strong. Padmé and Anakin had a child before everything that happened. She knew that something was going on between the two of them, but nothing this far. But now, she's thankful. There is another Skywalker for her to watch over.

"You see why I can't leave this planet. I can't leave his side, no matter what. I will keep him safe." Obi-Wan says, his voice catching her attention. "I must protect him, unlike I did with Anakin."

She grabs his hand. "I had no idea." She says. She wraps her arms around him. "Thank you for telling me. For letting me see him with my eyes. He is our new hope." 

"Luke is not alone. He has a twin sister, hidden safe across the galaxy. They are our new hope." He replies, patting her back. They stay in this position for a while, Luke's presence overwhelming both of them.

 Ahsoka pulls her head up. "I will keep them safe, Master," She says, her eyes locking with Obi-Wan's. "I will do everything I can to keep Anakin's children out of the Empire's eyes."

"This is what he would have wanted. I know he would have done everything to protect his children from himself if he knew what would happen to him." Obi-Wan says, clearly trying to tell himself it as well. "For Anakin."

Ahsoka nods her head, determination strong in her eyes. "For Anakin." She agrees.

~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys! I'm back from vacation! I had a blast at Galaxy's Edge and exploring what Orlando has to offer. Kind of a scary thought that all of it is closed and I was there just a week ago. I hope everyone stays safe. There's nothing to be worried about, but just make sure to wash your hands often to prevent spreading the disease and getting people with underlying conditions sick! I have an extended spring break, and I'm sure many of you do as well. So enjoy your time at home and watch a movie to relieve some stress! :)