Slavery Is A Crime

Chapter 9

- Kadavo

As Anakin and his squadron flew out of hyperspace, he couldn't help but get the sense that, no matter how hard they looked on the planet, they wouldn't find Obi-Wan... Nevertheless, he proceeded to com his squadron. "All right men, let's fly down and look for Obi-Wan," he said, piloting the Twilight towards the surface of Kadavo, squadron following soon after.

~

- Kadavo,

Anakin flew the Twilight to where he had seen Obi-Wan last and landed it near the exact spot Obi-Wan had been blasted to when the explosion happened. The squadron of Y-Wing fighters landed not too far away, with five clones that Anakin recognized as Commander Cody, Fives, Boil, Trapper, and Kix emerging from the fighters.

Ahsoka walked over to the clone Commander with a playful smile on her face. "How'd you and your men do getting through hyperspace, Commander? Any of them get flight sickness?" she asked teasing. Cody rolled his eyes but smirked. "No, but the real question is did you or General Skywalker?" he replied. Ahsoka laughed and placed her hand on the Commander's shoulder to keep her balance as she did so.

Anakin raised an eyebrow at his Padawan and strolled over to find out what was going on. "What did you say to her that's got her laughing so hard?" he asked. Cody saluted Anakin as he walked over, then proceeded to explain the situation.

Anakin smirked. "Oh, so that's what's funny... Yeah, well, let me tell you something, Commander... I never get flight sickness, ever," he stated matter of factly. "Ever, Sir?" the Commander questioned in amusement. "Never ever," Anakin replied, making sure to emphasize the word "ever" this time.

Ahsoka smirked and rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Yeah, right," she said, watching her Master's reaction. "What? I haven't!" Anakin protested. "That's not what I heard from Master Obi-Wan," Ahsoka retorted. Anakin's eyes widened slightly. "What did Obi-Wan tell you?" he inquired.

"Oh, nothing... Just that when you went on a ship for the first time, which happened to be when heading to Coruscant with Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, you got flight sickness," Ahsoka replied smugly, crossing her arms as a triumphant smirk came to her face.

Anakin sighed as he crossed his arms. "I'll get you back for this one day, Obi-Wan..." he growled under his breath, then cleared his throat. "All right men, let's begin the search," Anakin said, leading his men and Ahsoka towards the spot where he'd last seen Obi-Wan.

~

- Unknown System

Aaron was back, and Kenobi was fearful. What if he hurts Numa? he thought. I can't let that happen... I won't let that happen... With newfound determination, Kenobi rose to his feet and put on the sternest looking face he could make at the moment. He watched as Aaron walked closer to the wagon, looking as though he was heading for the back of the wagon, but was really heading towards the front.

As he walked, Kenobi noticed where he was going, and what was pulling the wagon. Two Eopies—Eopies? But Eopies were only found on Tatooine... It was then Kenobi realized where he was. He was on Tatooine. The planet that poor Anakin Skywalker had suffered the wrath of slavery on. And now Kenobi himself was feeling that weight upon himself.

"Oi, Baku!" Aaron hollered with a mid-tone voice—not too high, not too low. "Yes, Sir?" Baku asked with a lower, raspy voice. "I've got one more slave I want to sell, but I want to send the other two back to my place. Now help unhitch one of these Eopies!" Aaron yelled.

"I'm on it," Baku replied, sliding off the wagon seat, and dropping off to the ground. He then proceeded to help Aaron unhitch one of the Eopies. Kenobi sighed as he watched them, then looked toward Numa's mother.

He opened his mouth to speak only to close it again. How can I tell her that she's going to be ripped away from her child or tell Numa that she's going to be ripped away from her mother...? Kenobi thought with a small sigh.

I have to tell them... as much as I don't want to, it wouldn't be fair not to let them know what's going on. With that thought in mind, Obi-Wan let out a sigh. He then proceeded to tell Numa and her mother in Twi'leki, that they were going to be separated and sold. The reaction the two gave broke his heart.

Numa clung to her mother with tears in her eyes. Numa's mother then proceeded in yelling at Kenobi, Kenobi himself only catching bits and pieces as the sentences were a mish-mash of Twi'leki and Basic. "Chini on, wachamino! Fight me, Kenobi! Fight! Chini on!" she shouted.

Kenobi panicked and flashbacks from his slave owners yelling at him as they beat him came forward to his mind. Almost immediately, Kenobi was on his knees, tears streaming from his eyes as he continued to repeat the words, "Nobra edgra! Nobra edgra!"

That was when Aaron finally came towards the back of the cart with his Eopie and an unhappy frown on his face. "What's going on back here?" he asked with a growl. Obi-Wan gulped and stood up immediately. "N-nothing... Master..." Obi-Wan said, trying to cover up for the two Twi'leks.

Aaron looked among the three slaves with disbelief. "I can tell you're lying, slave scum. Now tell the truth," Baku said, growling out the words "slave scum" as he came to stand beside Aaron. Obi-Wan gulped. He had to think fast.

What can I do...? Do I take the blame for what happened since, in a way, it was technically my fault...? But I have suffered a lot already through this journey... should I place blame on Numa's mother...? It wouldn't too bad, would it? She's being sold anyway.

Obi-Wan thought then about everything for a moment. I am a Jedi... I'm supposed to protect the innocent... it's my job to take the blame for this situation, no matter what the fate of Numa's mother is currently. Obi-Wan thought.

"I-I... I started something, Sir... If there is to be a punishment, please don't inflict anything upon her," Obi-Wan begged, falling to his knees and giving a glance towards Numa's mother at the mention of her.

Aaron's eyes narrowed before he gave a little nod. "Very well, thank you for your honesty, slave," he said. "But there is a punishment to await you at my home," he continued. Kenobi winced slightly. I was afraid of that... he thought.

[Twi'leki Translations: Chini - Come, wachamino - let's go, nobra edgra - I'm sorry]