Chapter 14

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- Tatooine

Anakin landed the Twilight and his squadron of fighters just outside Mos Eisley. Once they had all landed, Anakin ran out of the Twilight, Ahsoka at his side.

Commander Cody jumped out of the cockpit of his fighter and ran towards Anakin. "General Skywalker, you know this planet better than anyone. You're our map while we're here. What's the plan?" he asked.

Anakin smirked in amusement. He's picked up Obi-Wan's sense of humor. "The plan is following the faint trail of Obi-Wan's Force presence until we're close enough to each other that I can pinpoint a location. Now's let's move!" Anakin shouted before running through crowds of people with Ahsoka and the group of clones following after.

~

- Tatooine

Obi-Wan, still cradling his right hand, continued to cry until he felt Numa curl up next to him. "I-it's all right, Nerra Kenobi... e-everything will be all right..." Numa then sat up and put her hands on the sides of his mouth, moved her hands to the side, and made it look as if Obi-Wan was smiling. "S-smile for Numa...?" the Twi'lek girl asked.

Obi-Wan sniffled and gave the girl a small, but genuine, smile. "Thank you, Numa..." he said as he laid his uncut left hand on the girl's cheek. Numa giggled and hugged him. "You're welcome, Nerra."

~

- Tatooine

"We're getting closer, I can feel it," Anakin said, as he continued walking down the streets of Tatooine. "Are you sure? I can't sense anything," Ahsoka said. "I'm sure of it, Snips. Obi-Wan and I have a close bond, closer than most Jedi," Anakin stated. He then stopped in his tracks and turned to face Ahsoka. "I know we're getting closer. Please, Snips... Ahsoka... trust me..." he said with a pleading look. Ahsoka sighed.

"I do trust you, Master... I'm just..." Ahsoka paused. "What is it, Snips?" Anakin questioned, looking her in the eyes. Ahsoka's eyes filled with tears. "Master, I've been trying not to think about it, but what if get there too late?" Ahsoka blurted out.

Anakin's eyes softened at what she had said, then knelt down to her. He didn't need to since she was almost his height anyway, but he wanted her to feel more comfortable, and usually, kneeling to her height was the way he gave it to her. "Snips, he'll be okay... Obi-Wan is strong. If anyone can make it through this experience, it's him," Anakin said.

Ahsoka smiled slightly at his words and wiped her eyes, then gave him a hug. "Thank you, Master," she said. Anakin smiled and patted her back as he gave her a hug in return. "No problem, Snips," he said, then broke the hug and stood. "All right, men. Keep moving!" he shouted, then began continuing their trek.

~

- Tatooine

Getting to his feet, Obi-Wan looked around for something to wrap his hand with. His eyes landed on a bandanna hanging off the fence of one of the Eopie stalls. Walking out to it, Kenobi grinned in small relief as he took the bandanna and wrapped it around his hand, tying it off. He then looked at Numa with a small and confident smile. "Shall we try again?" he said, then ran towards the door of the stable, slamming his shoulder against it.

He repeated the action over and over until he could finally hear the crack of wood. Curious, Kenobi slammed his shoulder against the door one more time, and, to his surprise, the doors burst open. From what he could see, the slamming he'd done had broken the board that was keeping the doors closed.

Smiling in victory, Obi-Wan glanced at Numa. She was grinning as well. Obi-Wan stood, grabbed the girl's hand, and began running towards the gate of the estate. However, he didn't get very far as something eventually hooked around his legs causing him to trip and cry out in pain.

Looking down, Kenobi noticed that his feet had been tied and pulled out from under him by an electro-whip. Following the length of the whip, he saw that it lead up to the hand of a man. Turning his gaze to the right slightly, Kenobi spotted the mug of the man. It was Aaron Sailor himself.

"Leaving so soon? Now that's not very polite, is it?" Aaron asked mockingly. "HEY! GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Obi-Wan heard the familiar voice cry out. Oh, thank the Force. Anakin is finally here... Obi-Wan thought as he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Aaron turned towards the Jedi Knight with a glare. "Who are you?" he asked with a growl. "The death of you. Now, let my Master go," Anakin snarled back. Aaron began to laugh. "Let him go? He's mine. I paid good money for this Jedi. I'm not just-" he didn't get to finish his sentence as Anakin ignited his lightsaber and beheaded the man.

He then knelt down to Obi-Wan's eye level. "Obi-Wan? Cody and Boil are going to help you, all right? They're going to take care of you and patch you up. Okay?" Anakin said, lifting Obi-Wan's bloody, broken, and bruised body over to the clones.

"Numa..." was all he mumbled before falling into unconsciousness. It was then that Anakin and Ahsoka noticed the young Twi'lek girl that was sitting near where Obi-Wan had been just a moment ago. Looking between Obi-Wan and the girl, Anakin's heart clenched in pain at the thought of such a young girl in slavery.

Ahsoka was the first to greet the girl by kneeling down and waving at her. "Hi there, Numa... I'm Ahsoka," Ahsoka said, pointing at herself. "That's my Master, Anakin," she pointed to Anakin. "And we're here to rescue you," she stated.

A ghost of a smile appeared on the girl's face as she rushed forward and hugged Ahsoka. Ahsoka could hear and feel her sobbing into her shoulder. Frowning, she stood up, still holding the girl in her arms, and began walking out of the estate.

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