Chapter Text
You had seen Master Kenobi before during important Senate meetings. It was inevitable; you were the Senator of the planet Myrana - a watery world rich with resources. Obi-Wan Kenobi was a highly esteemed general in the war, always traveling and working where he was needed. With the seemingly infinite conferences and meetings concerning resources, you found that your paths crossed frequently.
Yes, you had certainly seen him before, but never had you truly noticed him. He was of the Jedi Order, and you respectfully kept your distance. Perhaps if you were more brazen you would have dared speak to him, but you were rather reserved, and preferred to speak only when necessary at the meetings.
Such as now. You sat attentively at the round table, beside several other Senators of planets plentiful with oil.
“Myrana stands firmly with the Republic,” you began, addressing Master Windu. “I understand the Jedi Order’s position with the dilemma, and I am also aware of the consequences should Myrana refuse to give the Republic the oil it needs.”
“But?” Master Windu prompted, his dark eyes understanding that you were not finished.
“But I’m afraid the mining has been devastating our natural environment. If we continue at our current rate, we’ll obliterate our precious forests within two years,” you said. “Without our forests, my people will perish. Is that not any fate worse than what we face should the Separatists win?”
At this, the Chancellor stood, his eyebrows creasing. “You’re suggesting that Myrana switch to the side of the Separatists?” he asked. His tone was as diplomatic as ever, but a glint in his eyes made your spine tingle.
“I make no such claim,” you said. “I am merely explaining my conflict of interests. I regret that I cannot provide the oil you need, but I am willing to stand firmly with the Republic, so long as our output of oil is decreased. Myrana simply cannot maintain its current production.”
Senator Ikvane - an older Arcona - raised his hand. “Might I speak, Senator Y/L/N?” He didn’t wait for you to respond before continuing onward. “A young female such as yourself might not understand the severity of the war, and-”
“I am fully aware of the circumstances, Senator Ikvane, and your insult to my comprehension is only a testament to your own close-mindedness in the matter. I have been briefed daily and I have spoken with my people,” you said, your cheeks burning in the assertion.
“We will resume the discussion after lunch,” Chancellor Palpatine said, his eyes going back and forth between you and the Arcona. “We all need time to think about this.”
You pushed yourself up from your seat quickly, smoothing your dress downward. The three other Jedi in the room - Master Windu, Master Luminara, and Master Kenobi - took to their feet as well, and whilst murmuring to one another, exited into the hall.
The cool bathrooms were a welcome relief from the stuffy air of the conference room. You had always detested these talks. It had never been your choice to become a Senator. You had dreamed of becoming a librarian, and creating your own archive of books, but that had changed the day your older sister was murdered and you were left with the burden of leading your planet.
“Stupid Senator Ikvane,” you said quietly to yourself in the mirror, deriving pleasure from the words. You ran your hands over your scalp gingerly, hoping that soon the talks would be over; the tight braids keeping your hair in place were not particularly pleasant. A splashing of water over your face soothed your nerves, and you finally left the bathroom, resigning yourself to another hour at the least of heated conversation, only to nearly bump into a Jedi rounding the corner. He came to a halt before you could collide, and politely gestured for you to continue in front of him.
“I’m so sorry, Master Kenobi,” you said, recognizing him. “Excuse me.”
“Not to worry.” He paused. “You spoke well in there, Senator Y/L/N. I sympathize with you and your planet.”
“Thank you,” you said graciously, curtseying as was the custom on your planet. “Myrana is certainly facing a difficult situation.”
“I hope we can come to a consensual resolution by the end of the day,” he said conventionally, walking alongside you back to the conference room.
“Oh, I hope we can arrive at one long before that,” you said, speaking without thinking. “If I have to spend another hour with Senator Ikvane, I might jump out of the window.”
As soon as the words had left your mouth you felt heat rush to your face. You idiot, Y/N, you chastised yourself, hoping Master Kenobi hadn’t noticed your acute embarrassment. He’s a Jedi, for stars’ sake! Not your best friend that you vent to!
But he only laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing,” he said.
You weren’t quite sure what happened next. One moment, you were feeling excessively relieved that he had laughed along and not scolded you for insulting Senator Ikvane, and the next his face narrowed, as though an unpleasant smell had drifted through.
“What’s the matter?” you asked instinctively.
“Something isn’t…” he began, before his eyes widened, and he pushed towards you, his arm extended. An invisible force sent you careening backwards into the wall, just as the sound of blasters fired through the air.
Dazed, you looked up just as a violent hiss simmered in the air. A vibrant blue - Master Kenobi’s lightsaber! A real Jedi lightsaber! - was swinging towards the laser bullets that were still flying down the hall, deflecting them safely in the opposite direction.
“Get out of here!” he shouted at you, and the mere fact that the venerable Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi was yelling an order at you was enough to make you jump to your feet. You stumbled over your dress, cursing its length, and sprinted towards the bathrooms, which were the nearest escape from the hallway.
Before you could reach them, however, someone rounded the corner - a tall Weequay with a massive braid dangling from his head. You gasped, backpedaling, but he was too fast, and grabbed ahold of both of your shoulders.
“You’ll make a pretty ransom,” he whispered in your ear. You struggled and kicked at him, but he only laughed, roughly spinning you around to push you forward.
“If I were you, I would let go of the Senator,” a clear voice said behind you. The Weequay whirled back around and swiftly put his knife to your throat. You yelped, pressing backwards away from the blade.
You supposed this was the first time you really noticed Obi-Wan Kenobi. You had witnessed him many times, and now for the first time conversed with him, just outside the bathrooms… but you had never truly looked at him. And right now, he was a sight to behold. His expression was composed yet terrifying, his tattered brown cloak had been cast aside, and his burning ‘saber illuminated his face in an eerie glow. Despite the fear pulsing in your heart, you couldn’t help but be fascinated.
This was a Jedi, a real Jedi, like the descriptions your father had told you when you were a child.
“If you want her, you’re gonna have to cough up some credits,” the Weequay said. “Or else you’ll get to see what her blood looks like.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes met your own. Your heart hammered. Would he push you with the Force again? Plunge his lightsaber through the Weequay’s heart? Or simply pay the ransom?
He did none of what you expected. “You will release the Senator,” Master Kenobi said, waving his hand idly through the air.
The Weequay’s iron grip on you lessened slightly, and you felt some of the blood flow return to your arms. “I… I will…”, he said slowly.
“Right now, you will gently let go of the Senator, and allow me to bring her to safety,” Master Kenobi elaborated, waving his hand again.
“I will gently let go of the Senator…” the Weequay said stupidly, removing his hands from your shoulders, “and I will allow you to bring her to safety.”
You lurched forward, and to your surprise the Jedi reached for you with a steadying hand.
“Are you alright?” he asked quietly. You nodded mutely.
“Return to the conference room. It will be safest there. I’ll deal with this one.” He returned his gaze to the Weequay.
Stunned, you obeyed instantly, making your way back to the conference room. In the moment, you could not believe what had happened - you had seen a Jedi in action, and even been the focus of Master Kenobi’s attention. That was a once-in-a-lifetime event, something you would never see again.
How very wrong you would be.