·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙  .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ˚ ｡⋆ ♡ ༘˚
- ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ 𝚁𝙴𝙳 ❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
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CHAPTER SIX ━━ a chase down memory lane

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"I let your parents know you're safe," Obi-Wan told Leia, as the three of them were still in hiding in the alley. "You'll be back in the palace, back to normal, by nightfall."

Somehow Artemis felt sad about that. Though she'd be glad to know Leia would be back home safe and well, there still was this urge inside of her that told her to go and explore the galaxy—fight the Empire while she was on it.

"Normal. Great," Leia said, not sounding too thrilled either.

"Now who's hiding something, Princess," Obi-Wan said, noticing it as well.

"You don't have to call me that," Leia retorted. "I'm just Leia."

A device started beeping and both Obi-Wan and Artemis looked up at the body of the dead bounty hunter.

"Stay here," Obi-Wan told Leia, as Artemis handed her Lola back, fixed and ready to go. She then followed her master and saw that there was a hologram of Obi-Wan's head hovering over the device.

"Turn it off," Artemis muttered. The device was making too much noise for her liking.

"What do you think I'm trying to do?" Obi-Wan said, pushing every button.

"Push that one," Artemis said, pointing at a button. "No, that one. The one I'm pointing at Master—"

"What is that?" Leia's voice came from behind her and the two Jedi turned around, giving Leia a clear view of the hologram. "Why is there a picture of you?"

"It's not what it seems—" Artemis began, but Leia was already backing away.

"You did lie," she said.

"Leia—" Obi-Wan began.

"That's what you were hiding," Leia said. "You're the reason I'm here. They took me to get to you." She was backing away even more as Artemis and Obi-Wan approached her carefully. "Did my father even send you?"

"Of course he did," Obi-Wan said. "Leia, listen to—"

"How do I know you're not the real kidnappers?"

"You have to trust us," Obi-Wan urged.

"You aren't Jedi."

"Your father is a very old friend."

"I don't believe you."

"Leia."

Before they knew it, she turned around and ran away.

"Leia!" both of them called, before dashing after her.

They emerged back into the main street, pushing people aside as they tried not to lose Leia in the crowd.

"Wait!" Obi-Wan called after her.

Artemis jumped over a cart and ducked under a table. Her green eyes were fixed on Leia's small figure and she would not lose her out of sight.

A bounty hunter noticed Leia and pointed at her. "It's her. It's the girl." He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Just tell us where he is."

Artemis snatched her blaster out and shot him square in the chest. Obi-Wan was right beside her as two bounty hunters leaped towards them. Almost automatically, they stood back to back, fighting in sinc.

"Leia!" Obi-Wan called, as the girl ran away again.

"No!" she exclaimed, ducking to avoid his hand.

"Leia, wait! Stop!"

"Leave me alone!"

"I'm starting to see why Jedi aren't allowed to have children," Artemis breathed, as the two of them dashed after the girl again.

"In here!" Obi-Wan said, running into a dark alley and seeing Leia climb the staircase to the roof. "Leia wait!"

But Leia ignored him as she reached the roof. The two Jedi climbed onto the roof, following her pursuit.

"Does she have a death wish?" Artemis muttered, as she saw Leia jumping from roof to roof. The two of them proceeded to run after her, leaping over roofs as they went.

Obi-Wan ignored her and kept his eyes on the girl instead. "We cannot lose her, Red."

"We won't," Artemis replied. "Leia!" she then called, hoping the girl would listen to her. "Leia!"

However the Princess of Alderaan had other plans. Still running away from them, she reached the end of the roof. Artemis could see a bounty hunter readying his blaster on the roof opposite from them.

"Stop!" Obi-Wan called, but Leia disappeared after a cord with laundry thrown over it.

A blaster shot was heard and Artemis and Obi-Wan dived to the side, avoiding it barely. The bounty hunter kept on shooting, preventing them from running after Leia.

"Go, I'll give you cover," Artemis said, snatching her blaster out of its holster. She started shooting at the bounty hunter, forcing him to duck and seek cover. Obi-Wan stood up and hurried after Leia, closely followed by Artemis, who still kept her eyes on the bounty hunter.

Shots kept coming as the two Jedi ran after Leia, ducking as they went.

"Leia!" Obi-Wan called. "Stop, Leia!"

They emerged from the laundry back into the open where they had to seek cover from the bounty hunter.

"He's being a pain in my ass," Artemis commented when she sat kneeled next to her master. She glanced over the edge of their hiding spot and shot at him, missing him by inches. She'd always been better with lightsabers.

"Leia, wait!" Obi-Wan shouted again, looking over his shoulder to see that the girl had arrived between a large gap between two building. A gap too large.

Another bounty hunter joined them, cornering the two of them. Artemis gritted her teeth and shot. It hit one of them square in the chest and he fell down. One down, another one to go.

"Leia, don't!" Obi-Wan shouted, seeing that Leia was actually considering to jump over it.

Leia looked back. Fear was written all over her face as she watched them. Then she turned back and Artemis knew she had made her decision.

"Get to her," she told her master. "I'll have your back."

Without doubt, without any hesitation, Obi-Wan sprinted from his hiding spot. Artemis followed him pursuit. Her eyes were fixed on the bounty hunter as was her blaster. She kept on firing, wanting to give Obi-Wan as much time as possible to grab Leia.

"Leia, no!"

Everything happened at once. Artemis managed to hit the last bounty hunter and twirled around to see that Leia had taken the jump. She fell down and managed to grab a cable.

"Hold on!" Obi-Wan called. "Hold on tight!"

"Ben!" Leia whimpered, her voice was full of terror.

"Don't let go, Leia! Hold on tight!"

"Ben!"

Artemis sprinted towards them, but she knew she wasn't going to get there on time. Leia lost her grip and fell down.

Obi-Wan lunged forwards, his hand outstretched. "No!"

"Ben!"

Artemis leaned over the balustrade and was relieved to see Leia floating just above the ground. She glanced at her master who seemed to be having a lot of trouble of maintaining the Force. He grunted and let Leia fall down gently onto the ground.

Artemis kneeled down next to him. "Are you all right?"

He simply nodded, panting as he did. "Let's go," he said, standing up again. "We need to leave."

The two Jedi made their way down and jogged towards Leia who was still recovering from her miraculous save.

"Are you all right?" Artemis questioned her, kneeling down. Obi-Wan was slightly panting beside her.

"You . . . you really are Jedi," Leia stated, her eyes wide in wonder.

"That's what we've been trying to tell you, kid," Artemis said, though not unfriendly.

"We need to move," Obi-Wan added, helping Leia up.

"Come on," Artemis added, more gently as she took her hand. "We're not out of danger just yet."

"All incoming and outgoing travel is canceled," Artemis heard the starport announcer say through the speakers as they neared the port. "Have identification ready for scanning."

Obi-Wan and Artemis hid behind a generator, pulling Leia as they went, as a batch of Stormtroopers passed by them.

"Who are they?" Leia whispered, staring at the inquisitors, whom the troopers passed.

"Inquisitors," Obi-Wan said. "Many were Jedi who turned to the dark side. Now, they hunt their own kind."

"And this is all for you two?" Leia said, sounding slightly impressed.

"I think it's more for Ben," Artemis said. "He's more important than I am."

"Not to me," Obi-Wan muttered, almost automatically.

Leia turned to Obi-Wan. "Who are you?"

A sound behind them made them look up and Artemis reached for her blaster once she saw the bounty droid. However, she didn't need to since someone else shot the droid. It fell down, revealing Haja. Artemis took her blaster anyway, not knowing what his intentions were.

Obi-Wan stepped forward. "The bounty is on me," he said. "Let them go."

"Listen carefully," Haja began, ignoring what Obi-Wan had said completely. "The entire city's locked down. It's done. You need another exit." He turned sideways and pointed at a port that was situated on the higher levels of the city. "It's a cargo port. It's fully automated. They won't be looking for you there." He turned back to face them. "Go to transport eight." He then handed Obi-Wan a small advice.

"What are you talking about?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"It goes to Mapuzo," Haja continued as if Obi-Wan hadn't said anything. "They'll be waiting."

"Who'll be waiting?" Obi-Wan asked.

"There are people out there who can help you," Haja said quietly.

"You expect us to trust you?" Obi-Wan said. "You're a criminal."

"We've trusted worse people," Artemis muttered.

"Look, have I made a few bad decisions? Sure. Do I feel bad about it? Sometimes. Do I like credits? Yeah. So much stuff you can buy with credits—"

"Haja," Obi-Wan said, cutting the man off.

Haja looked somewhat touched. "You remembered my name." He chuckled. "I'm trying to make amends. I got that family safe, and I'm gonna do the same for you." He inhaled deeply. "If I'd known what you were—"

"It doesn't matter what I am," Obi-Wan stated. "We just need to get the girl home."

"Go to these coordinates," Haja said, pointing at the small device he had given Obi-Wan moments ago. "They'll help you from there."

"And how do we know this isn't just a trap?"

Artemis glanced at the entrance of the port, seeing the two inquisitors eying their surroundings. She knew they were looking for her master.

"What choice do we have?" she quietly questioned Obi-Wan.

"She's right," Haja said. He then leaned a bit closer to them. "You're not alone, Obi-Wan." He then backed away and threw his hood over his head. "I'll buy you as much time as I can." And he pulled out his blaster again to shoot de bounty droid again before running off.

⋆⋆⋆

"We must be careful," was the first thing Obi-Wan said once they arrived at the port. "This is a cargo port. It's not meant for people."

"Then they won't look for us here," Leia said.

"Well, not unless it's a setup," Obi-Wan said, sounding not as optimistic as she did.

"It is hard to believe you might have friends?" Leia questioned him. "Look, since I met you, I've been chased, shot at, I almost fell to my death, and now there are Inquisiting people after us. If somebody is offering us help, I think we should take it. Now, come on."

She turned around and walked away, leaving an amused Artemis and a dumbfounded Obi-Wan.

When Leia noticed that they weren't following her, she turned around again. "What now?"

"Nothing," Obi-Wan said, "you just reminded me of someone." He smiled slightly. "She was fearless, too. And stubborn."

"Very," Artemis added, remembering Padmé.

"I'm not stubborn," Leia protested.

"Yes you are."

"I'm not!"

They continued to walk to the back of the port in silence. Artemis could tell Leia had more questions.

"Was your friend a Jedi, too?" she questioned Obi-Wan.

After a couple of silent moments, Obi-Wan said, "No, she was a leader. She died a long time ago."

Artemis' face fell and turned her head away as she saw Leia looking at her.

"Uh, I'm sorry," Leia began, stammering.

Obi-Wan nodded absently and Artemis could tell he was thinking of Padmé as well. "Me too."

"Let's get into the ship, shall we?" Artemis said, nudging Leia along as she had recovered herself. "I'm not finding Daiyu a very nice place to stay at, do you?"

Leia laughed and shook her head. The three of them started to move towards the shop, when a door clanked behind them. Artemis grabbed Leia by the waist and pulled the girl with her behind a stack of containers. Obi-Wan dove in beside them.

Glancing around the corner, Artemis saw Reva entering the port, igniting her lightsaber in the process. A buzzing sound was heard as the hangar was filled with red light.

"Obi-Wan . . ." Reva sang tauntingly.

Obi-Wan turned to look at Artemis and nodded. Artemis nodded back and grabbed Leia by the shoulders before guiding the girl towards the docking deck.

"Rogue, if I don't go back in time, go," he told the red haired Jedi, handing her the small device. "I'll be right behind you," he added, seeing the hesitation on her face. "I promise. Go!"

Artemis knew there was no time to waste. She took the coordinates and grabbed Leia's hand before the two of them ran towards the docking deck.

"Get in," Artemis told Leia, handing her the device. "Put this into the ship. I'll go and see if Obi-Wan needs help. I won't be long."

Artemis never had doubted Obi-Wan's fighting skills, but it had been ten years and she would be damned to lose him now.

"Good luck," Leia told her, looking slightly terrified, but she managed to hide most of it.

Artemis nodded and hurried back in as she took her two lightsabers off her belt. She didn't ignite them yet as she didn't want to give her position away.

"I can feel you," she heard Reva say, as the Inquisitor was heading closer to Obi-Wan. "Your fear betrays you." She paused as Artemis hurried closer to Obi-Wan. "You and your Padawan."

Obi-Wan twirled around to face Artemis. He looked somewhat angry to find her here, but she didn't care.

"You need my help," she mouthed to him. "I'm not leaving you here alone with her."

"You don't have to worry," Reva went on. "You're not going to die . . . today. Well, your Padawan will but not you. I'm going to take you to him."

Artemis could tell she was nearing.

"Lord Vader will be pleased."

Artemis glanced at her master, wondering what in the Force Darth Vader would want with Obi-Wan.

A silence filled the room.

"You didn't know," Reva said, sounding surprised. "The both of you don't."

Artemis frowned as she watched her master. "What's she talking about?" she mouthed, but Obi-Wan ignored her. He stared right ahead of him, his eyes wide as realization hit him.

"He's alive, Obi-Wan," Reva said. "Anakin Skywalker is alive."

21.08.2022

Hello there! & welcome to chapter six! :) do tell me what you think of it! :)

Sorry about the long wait but here it is! I hope you like it!
Anakin is alive .... what will Artemis think of that? Stay tuned!

Until next time! May the Force be with you!
—Laura