“She’s ready to see you, Mr. Kenobi.”

  “How is her health?”

  “Stable and recovering fast,” the nurse said, “It’ll take another few hours and some more expensive bacta injections, but she should be fully recovered by the end of the day. The remaining few days will just be for monitoring and making sure that any more issues don’t crop up from her treatment.”

  “Excellent. I’m glad to hear that. Any word on the explosions at the Senate building?”

  The nurse gave him an odd look.

  “Wouldn’t you know better than me, Master Jedi? I’m just a nurse here, I only hear rumors…”

  Obi-wan reached into his pocket and pulled out the communicator that he’d subtly smashed a few hours ago.

  “I seem to be out of contact,” he said calmly as she looked at the clearly destroyed communicator.

  “Oh. I’m sorry, we would have provided you with one if we’d known. I know you asked to keep the identities of you and your padawan a secret until she was fully treated, but…”

  “It’s quite alright. You can give me one after I see Ahsoka,” Obi-wan interrupted her, “About the explosion at the Senate Chambers?”

  “Well, I– Uhm. No one really knows. Rumors are that it was some big plot by one of the gangs. None of the senators were hurt, but several guards working in the building were heavily injured. I’ve heard that the police and security forces are turning the underground of Coruscant nearly upside down looking for who’s really behind it.”

  “So no one has claimed responsibility yet?”

  “Well… I did hear somebody saying that it was the Hutts behind it all. But who knows with them? I’m sure that people would blame them for anything considering how nasty they usually are to people.”

  “Your friend, was it a guess or did they know if there was any evidence for it?”

  “Oh, it was just in some news article that she read. Some unnamed Senator said it was true, but without knowing who it was, it’s only a guess if it’s actually true or not. And it was one of the smaller sites so they may just have been looking for attention. I’m sure the Republic and the Jedi will find out whoever is behind it soon.”

  “I hope so as well.”

  “By the way, Mr. Kenobi. I just want to say that I don’t believe any of those nasty rumors floating around about the Jedi. I’m sure they wouldn’t order the execution of an innocent boy like that. It just doesn’t make sense.”

  “Thank you. I suppose… It wouldn’t make any sense, would it? The Jedi Council would never do such things of course.”

  She gave him a look of confusion at his strange tone before seemingly shrugging it off and stopping in front of a door and opening it and revealing the hospital room inside.

  “Well, here we are. This is her room. As her legal guardian appointed by the Jedi temple, you’re allowed to be in there alone with her. Just press the call button if you need me or any of the other nurses for anything at all.”

  “Thank you for your help. Have a good day.”

  “You too, Mr. Kenobi. Bye now.”

  She turned and left, and Obi-wan entered the room where Ahsoka lay in a white hospital gown on the bed. She had an IV and hanging bag behind her as well as a medical droid next to her hovering in place and visibly scanning Ahsoka every few seconds with a soft click and whirr.

  Ahsoka sat up and put her hand to the place where Obi-wan could just barely see the bump of the bulky bandages that sat beneath her thin hospital gown. Her body was bruised all over from when she had been thrown violently around the hover car while unconscious. Obi-wan was sure that those would disappear soon. The hospital had probably left them to last to fix since they were the least serious of her injuries.

  “Master. What happened? Why did we get attacked?” She asked as their gazes met, “How did we get here? I remember getting shot. The Force screamed at me that it was coming, but I couldn’t move my lightsaber fast enough to block… Then I was falling and then… I woke up here with nurses and droids that didn’t know what was going on. Did they catch the people who went after us?”

  “I informed two police officers about everything that happened. Here’s what happened after you fell unconscious…”

  Obi-wan told the whole story of his escape from the mercenaries and frantic journey to the hospital with Ahsoka in tow.

  “I left it to the two officers to report everything to the Republic and make sure the information goes through the proper channels. I’ve been rather out of the loop for the last few hours. I don’t know how many, if any of our attackers have been caught. I’ve been focused on bringing you to safety and waiting for you to be brought into a stable condition. I smashed my communicator as well.”

  He took the destroyed device out of his pocket and showed it to her. She sat up and looked confused.

  “Smashed? But Master, why would you do that? Shouldn’t you be calling for help?”

  “I can’t be ordered to abandon you here at this hospital on your own if I don’t receive the orders,” he said even if he was uncertain if he should be so open with Ahsoka regarding his borderline insubordinate actions, “With those attackers still out there I wouldn’t want to leave you undefended.”

  “What? Why would you be ordered away?” Ahsoka asked, “Are we still in danger?”

  “Well, the Council might think that my talents would be better used elsewhere and send someone less competent to guard you instead. Your injury is my responsibility, so it’s only right that I am here until you have recovered.”

  “Master…” Ahsoka said before trailing off, looking confused, “I… Isn’t that irresponsible? I’m… I mean I can’t be more important than whatever the Council wants you to do, right? And this isn’t your fault, it’s the fault of those mercenaries who attacked us out of nowhere.”

  “I’m your master. Everything that happens to you is my responsibility, no matter who else also is at fault. I have a greater duty to you than any other Jedi in the order. Not until my greater duty is secure in training and especially protecting you in this case, can I return to other matters. To the less important duties given to me by the Council from time to time.”

  “I- Master!” Ahsoka said and blushed although she smiled a little, “That- You can’t just say things like that. That the Council’s tasks aren’t important. What if someone heard you?”

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  “I don’t see anyone else here. Are you going to tell anyone?”

  “Uh, no? I won’t?”

  “Then I don’t think I have anything to worry about. Listen, Ahsoka. I made a mistake with Anakin. I allowed myself to be pushed to the side at the time when he needed me as his master the most. And we both know how that turned out. Everything that he has done, and had done to him is my responsibility due to my failings as his master back then. I won’t allow the same thing to happen with you. Your training and safety are my highest priority until such time as you are ready for more or no longer desire to be my padawan any longer. No matter the desires of the Council or other masters. A bit of a traditionalist idea, but I’ve found myself rather drawn to the philosophies in the older texts in my recent readings over these last few months.”

  “Master, I— Don’t know what to say. I’ve always thought that you were an excellent master. I don’t want you to get in trouble with Council or other Masters because of— I’m not sure why honestly. But thank you for waiting at the hospital so long for me. And for saying all of that about trying to be a good Master to me.”

  “Thank you, Ahsoka. I am just making sure that I’m doing my best. Let me worry about the Council and my own decisions for now. I suppose I will have to report in to the Council soon. I’ll make sure that you have good enough security here now that the situation at the Senate building has calmed down somewhat.”

  “Okay, Master.”

  Obi-wan left the room as the nurse returned and he was handed a communicator. He dialed the Jedi temple and punched in his security code before connecting to the line. He had to wait for about ten seconds for it to connect as he stood in the hospital hallway just outside of Ahsoka’s room.

  “Obi-wan. Where have you been?” Grandmaster Windu’s tense voice said over the communicator, “We could have used your help with the situation at the Senate building. I’ve been too busy to send someone over to collect you. Is young Padawan Tanu recovering well?”

  “Apologies. I wanted to remain until my padawan was in a more stable condition. The doctors think that she will recover quickly. My communicator was smashed in the chase after we were attacked. I didn’t want to leave just in case our attackers thought to make an attempt on her life while she was defenseless.”

  “That is… Acceptable,” Windu said a little reluctantly, “We must safeguard our padawans of course. Have you seen anything suspicious that could be a follow up attack? You’re not the only one that was attacked. Master Erten and his padawan were ambushed as well. Neither of them survived, between the mercenaries on the ground and their vehicle getting shot out of the air when they went to flee.”

  “Oh. Wait, that Master Erten? Do you think that this is connected to Anakin somehow? My attackers mentioned something about the Hutts. Perhaps something to do with Tatooine?”

  Master Windu didn’t say anything for a moment.

  “Are you somewhere secure?”

  Obi-wan looked around the hallway and saw an open door a little ways down. He carefully pushed open the door and saw that the room was empty. He gestured to the nurse down the way and pointed into the empty room. She looked confused for a moment before nodding in understanding and gesturing towards the room herself.

  He went inside and locked the door behind him.

  “I am now. Is there information on who’s really behind this?”

  “Yes. It really is the Hutts. They’ve all but declared war on the Republic right now. The bombing was only a distraction to pull away our security forces and cause chaos so they could attack you and Master Erten. It seems that the Hutts think that you and by extension the Republic assassinated Jabba the Hutt, and fear that they’re next. They’ve sent an ultimatum to the Senate to give you up or they’ll use their gangs and mercenaries to cripple our infrastructure and economy. And they’ve declared full independence even if the Republic does decide to give into their other demands.”

  “I see. Why Master Erten as well? He had nothing to do with that mission. Is there any luck in determining who Jabba’s assassin might have been? Who it was that was trying to get Anakin away from Jabba for their own purposes?”

  “It seems that Master Erten is being blamed for Skywalker’s rampage in Mos Espa. The Hutts’ message said that Skywalker was simply buying a slave peacefully when Master Erten came in and caused chaos in an attempt to give the Republic an excuse to assassinate Jabba later. Something to establish Skywalker’s threat level so that we could retrieve Skywalker from his clutches and justify killing Jabba in the process. Republic Intelligence has had no luck in finding who that assassin was, so it’s impossible for us to refute the claims that he worked for the Republic. Or point the Hutts at the true culprit behind the assassination.”

  “That is ridiculous. Do they expect anyone to believe a story like that?”

  “Likely not. But according to Republic intelligence, the Hutts themselves at least believe it. They’ve been in an uproar ever since Jabba’s death, fearful that they might be next if they don’t break free of the Republic now. The Hutts are hiring mercenaries and militarizing quickly even as we speak to defend Hutt space from the Coreward military fleets. While nominally a Republic territory, Hutt space has always been left to their own devices for a long time. It seems that they intend to take full independence in truth if we don’t satisfy their demands.”

  “Demands? There is more beyond me being handed over to them?”

  “Yes. Various economic things, favorable trade deals, access to the major hyperspace lanes to the core without high tariffs, those kinds of matters. Recognition of their independence and agreements on which worlds they claim are theirs, and other similar things.”

  “And the Senate? What has their reception been to these demands?”

  “They’re absolutely furious,” Windu said with a small note of satisfaction, “Only a small group even suggested handing you over to them, and they were quickly shouted down before they could even finish their full proposal. The Senators have not taken well to being threatened so openly in the heart of the Republic. Or being put in personal danger by the bombings. If things go the way they have been so far, I expect a formal declaration of war on the Hutts within the day despite Chancellor Palpatine’s attempts to sway the Senate to a more diplomatic solution.”

  “War?!” Obi-wan said, shocked, “There is truly no peaceful solution to this? The Senate has never cared about the Hutts’ ruthlessness or depravity before. Why attack them now?”

  “The declaration of independence especially incensed them,” Windu said, “The Republic has ruled the galaxy for thousands of years as one unified whole. And it's the one demand that the Hutts have stated is non-negotiable. It’s a matter of pride now for the Republic to bring their worlds back under their influence. They can’t ignore Hutt space now that their independence has been so loudly proclaimed in front of the ears of the whole galaxy.”

  “Is that a proper reason for war? Pride? What is your opinion on this?”

  “It is our policy as Jedi to not interfere unless absolutely necessary. The Hutts are depraved as you said, and this galaxy will be better off if their worlds are folded back into the Republic properly and their overall influence diminished. Even if the Senators only vote for war out of personal pride, I still believe that a war with the Hutts would be just.”

  Obi-wan considered that for a while.

  “I agree, Grandmaster Windu,” he eventually said, “War with the Hutts would be just. So, are my talents needed at this time or should I remain guard over my padawan for the time being?”

  “Remain at the hospital. When Padawan Tanu is recovered enough from her injuries, you will escort her back to the Jedi temple to finish her treatment where there’s better security. Until then I’ll organize a team from Republic Intelligence to come and guard her alongside you for the time being.”

  “Thank you Grandmaster Windu. As you say. Good luck with the Senators.”

  “I think I will need it,” Windu said with a slightly lighter tone before ending the call. Obi-wan slipped the communicator into his pocket and left the empty hospital room and back into the hallway.

  He went over to the nurse from before.

  “Is there any chance I could wait in the hospital room with my padawan?”

  “Certainly,” she said, “Go right ahead. So long as you don’t interfere with her treatment you may do so.”

  “Do you mind if I keep this communicator for the moment?”

  “Of course. It’s the hospital’s, not mine. Keep it for as long as you like.”

  “Thank you.”

  She nodded and walked off as Obi-wan slipped back into Ahsoka’s room. She was confused at his return for a few moments before he explained himself before she settled down again and laid back in her bed once more.

  Obi-wan sat on a nearby chair and crossed his legs to reach a meditation pose, and then started meditating on the Force. The time flew by as he ignored the outside world almost entirely, only letting the barest amount of his focus register the doctors and nurses coming in and out and the soft conversation they had with Ahsoka while she was awake.

  When Obi-wan had to sleep he simply leaned backwards against the wall behind him and closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep before his eyes even fully closed after the long stressful and exhausting day.