??????, Obi-Wan Kenobi

(Nora Viella)

I lower my eyes from where I'm lying down on the hard metal floor, looking at the thin layer of dust. My cheeks are still wet with tears and a puddle beside me. He's gone. That's all I can think of. The shot still rings in my ears, his eyes—

My parents, my home, gone gone gone...

Pushing myself into a sitting position I look around. The ship is small, I can see the pilot from here navigating the ship. Were still in hyperspace, with a blur of white and blue colors casting themselves into the cockpit.

My father's words flood in my mind;

"Don't worry it will all be over soon."

My gaze fell to my hands where Patch's dried blood lay unwashed.

A beeping noise floods the small space. The pilot flips a switch and the ship does another lurch.

"What's going on?" I ask, standing up and making my way over to him.

"I am getting ready to jump out of hyperspace m'lady," he responded, not facing me and continuing to prepare.

"Oh. That's great," I reply quietly, nodding my head. It's getting a bit awkward. This was honestly much better when I was lying on the floor.

A violent alarm blared then the ship launched out of hyperspace, throwing me to the ground. Once everything stabilized, the pilot turned around to help me back to my feet. "Sorry, that was rough. We aren't exactly in good shape."

"It's fine," I nod, brushing off lints of dust from my clothes. Not that it did any good.

The pilot looked me over for a moment before turning back in his chair. He cleared his throat, "Welcome to Courasant, m'lady."

He navigated the ship into the large planet's atmosphere. And wow, it was huge, shining off its purple and bright city lights. It looked like the whole place was one map of beautiful constellations.

The pilot prepared the landing sequence and took us down into the busy city. Everywhere was just all ships and buildings, there was no green. We landed on a landing platform right beside this big gray dome, he pressed some buttons then the ship gave a final last lurch and we landed. We made it.

Not all of us.

I pushed that thought into the back of my mind. I need to focus on what will make a difference. Weeping and crying won't help save my planet from war. It won't help my people. But speaking with the Chancellor to get help will.

I stopped looking out the glass window and made my way to the exit. Before opening the hatch I padded myself down, just for good measure. It still didn't help how I looked but it was worth a shot.

Pressing the opening hatch, the metal seal made a rattling noise and then slowly opened. Before I could step out the pilot grabbed my arm.

"M'lady, I will stay in the ship, please take this com so I can keep in contact with you. Press this", he pointed at a yellow button, "if you need me."

"Of course," I replied taking the com.

I turned to go but was stopped again, "M'lady, I was told that you had to take another transport to get to the Senate building. It should be right outside."

I nodded, "Thank you."

I walked briskly out of the ship, taking the pilot's directions, and headed for the small transport. There was another pilot there and two... Jedi by the looks of it, waiting for me.