Epilogue

Tatooine Sunsets

The Death Star

Obi-Wan Kenobi's eyes flew open. He lay on his back, looking up at metal conduit, listening to the hum of machinery.

Disoriented, he took a moment to collect himself. The last thing he remembered was facing Darth Vader, a half-hearted duel that ended when he sensed the moment of his death in the Force, and, as Darth Silenus advised, he gave himself into it. But had it worked? Was he now a Force Spirit?

Bringing his right hand above him, he found his body had a shimmering blue quality about it, like Qui-Gon's when he visited years ago. And the Force…the Force now felt like it was him…or he was it…or…

But was he a spirit who could manipulate the environment, make physical change in reality? He moved his head to the side, seeing he lay on some sort of catwalk in the mechanisms of the Death Star. The narrow walkway was flanked by metal panels. Bringing his hand against the wall with force, his palm touched the metal and a banging sound reverberated through the space.

Yes! He'd done it!

But sitting up, Obi-Wan noticed he'd failed to bring his clothing with him. He sat in the mechanism of the Death Star, completely nude. He began to laugh, remembering Jac's comments, Darth Silenus' teasing. The odd ecstasy of the moment, of death, of becoming one with the Force, overcame him, and he sat in gleeful laughter for nearly a minute before he brought his hand over his mouth, stopping himself. Others with Force sensitivity would see him, hear him. And he knew of one such sentient aboard the Death Star.

He thought back to moments ago, when he'd faced Anakin for the first time in nineteen years. No…no longer Anakin. He could sense very little of his former friend, and what little he did sense of the former Jedi felt warped. No, Darth Vader killed Anakin Skywalker, as he told Luke.

Luke…Han…Chewbacca…yes, he saw them escaping, with Leia. And he had work to do before the Rebel fleet arrived to take out the Death Star. Rising, he looked around, assessing his location. Yes, the core, the new shields…to the left. He began to walk, but stopped, chuckling again. Clothing. What would Darth Vader or some other hapless Force sensitive think seeing a naked old man walking around the Death Star?

Concentrating hard, he manipulated the Force, envisioning himself in the garments he'd left on the floor in front of Vader. Looking down, he saw he'd been able to manifest a brown sand robe but only that. He sighed.

"Good enough for the moment," he said to himself, cinching the robe around his bare torso and walking barefoot to his destination.

Dagobah

Sitting across from Yoda on a log in the dank and dreary swamps of Dagobah, Obi-Wan realized he got the better end of the exile deal. Of course, he'd heard from Mayli and Zella about Yoda's home, but actually being here made him thankful for the often blistering suns of Tatooine.

"Interesting and helpful this Sith turned out to be," Yoda said, nodding, Obi-Wan having just finished his story of Jac, the holocron, his adventures with Luke.

But Obi-Wan had trouble concentrating. He longed to project himself to Chiss space, to Mayli, to Zella. But he had work to finish here.

"More training the boy needs," Yoda said. "Bring him here you must."

"Huh?" asked Obi-Wan, finally refocusing on Yoda. He sat pondering how he'd even arrived on Dagobah. He simply appeared. How much time had passed since the destruction of the Death Star? He'd seen it from afar, and then he was here. He remembered Qui-Gon often being disoriented. Would he simply fade away before seeing his beloved again?

Yoda reached out his small hand, placing it on Obi-Wan's knee. "Soon. Join your family you will, Obi-Wan. Ask just a few more things of you I do."

Obi-Wan smiled warmly, grateful for Yoda's understanding.

Endor

Happiness filled Obi-Wan as he watched the celebration on Endor, the second Death Star's remains still falling to the forest moon in shots of fire. Anakin's two children, finally together. The Ewoks, one he'd glimpsed years ago when on this world with Mayli, hosting the celebration. Han, Chewbacca, the pilots recommended by Mayli, now in the fold of friendship, no longer faring the hyperlanes alone. And the Rebellion, celebrating victory, the deaths of Palpatine and Vader. Obi-Wan grieved for those he knew who perished, like himself, in the fight, Bail, who he'd never laugh with again. Yoda, who…

"Success we have, hmmm Master Kenobi?" came a familiar voice beside him.

Obi-Wan looked down to see Yoda, in Force Spirit form, beside him. Leaning down, Obi-Wan embraced the Jedi Master, feeling his solidity. Yes, he'd achieved Darth Silenus' status as well.

Standing together watching the party, Obi-Wan noticed Luke look over in recognition, at the same moment he felt another presence.

Anakin.

His Force Spirit weaker, having not had the knowledge of Jac's holocron for himself, nevertheless, Anakin stood within feet from Obi-Wan, and he turned to smile at him.

Obi-Wan's mind spun. The Chosen One…yes, Anakin did bring balance to the Force. Obi-Wan spent years in exile doubting, but the prophecy came to be.

But Obi-Wan simply shrugged to himself. Who cared, really? He wanted to go away. To Mayli and Zella. He'd done his duty.

But Anakin approached, looking not much older than the day he turned to the Dark Side. Obi-Wan felt a slight bitterness pass over him. How could Anakin be younger and he stuck as an old man?

"Obi-Wan, I…"Anakin began.

"No need for words now," said Obi-Wan, raising his hand to stop Anakin. He didn't want to get into a long conversation. He'd said his good-bye to Anakin years ago. The sudden urgency to see his daughter and his mate again surged in him.

"But Master, I have so much to say, so many things to make amends…"

But he was gone, Obi-Wan now drifting pleasantly through the realm in-between time and space, life and death.

Zella. Mayli.

Chiss Space

Moments passed. Or was it years? But now Obi-Wan opened his eyes to find himself sitting at a café on a sunny day, young people of multiple species bustling around him, the chatter of a dozen different languages reaching his ears.

He focused across from him, and his whole being felt numb with awe. A beautiful woman sat reading, her reddish blonde hair long and shimmering in the sunlight. She looked up slowly, her deep blue eyes locking with his. She gasped.

"Daddy," she whispered.

"Zella. Little one," Obi-Wan barely said, emotion taking over.

"You're…you're back," she said, leaning across the table and grabbing his hand. "The holocron…it worked!"

Obi-Wan nodded.

Zella smiled broadly, speaking louder. "I heard. I heard about the fall of the Empire. I knew you were there, helping. And now…" but she stopped, looking around at the few people staring. To them, it looked as if she was talking to no one.

Obi-Wan laughed. "I will go to your mother…is she nearby?"

Zella nodded, leaning in to whisper again, trying not to get curious looks. "She owns a parts and repair shop in the neighboring village, just east of the university. Lives above the garage. Sammy and I were going there for dinner tonight after Professor Thrawn's art lecture and…"

"Zella, baby. C'mon, we're gonna be late," came a man's voice from behind Obi-Wan. Zella's eyes rose to look behind her father and Obi-Wan turned around.

Sam, Jac's son, froze as he approached the table. A grown man, handsome, his dark hair still a floppy mess atop his head, he moved to the table swiftly after the moment's pause.

"Master Kenobi…" he stammered. "You…you did it!"

Obi-Wan rose as his daughter did.

"Good to see you, Sam," he said.

"Um…my father…have you…have you seen him?" the young man asked.

Obi-Wan just shook his head.

Sam looked devastated, but Obi-Wan watched him brighten slightly as Zella took his hand and kissed his cheek.

The daughter of a Jedi and the son of a Sith. Well, as Jac said, this will certainly be interesting. But Obi-Wan didn't feel threatened by this at all. He felt a deep love radiating off the two of them toward each other, the same he'd felt for Mayli.

Mayli.

"I will be there this evening. When you come, we can catch up. I go now," he said, and before he could say any farewells, he stood facing a large hanger flanked by several small garages. A sign reading "Kenobi Parts and Repair" hung over the door leading to the office.

Mayli was within. He felt her presence. Swallowing hard, anticipation filling him, he moved through the door without opening it.

Several mechanics bustled around, getting assignments from someone seated at a table, someone he could not see. But it was her, he knew it, felt it.

The mechanics disappeared to the different hangers and garages, leaving the woman alone at the table. Mayli, looking only a little older, her long silver hair hanging around her as she read from her data pad, muttering to herself as she entered some figures. If Obi-Wan's heart still beat, it may have stopped in that moment.

He moved toward the table, but a mechanic burst in, looking frantic.

"Ms. Kenobi…the Fels just brought in two transports, saying they need them immediately, but I already have two ships…"

Mayli looked up at the stammering young man. "Bump them 'til later. The Fels are our largest contract."

The man nodded and disappeared, Mayli going back to her work.

"You finally took my name," Obi-Wan said aloud.

Mayli kept reading.

"Please hear me, my love. Please," he said, almost shouting, standing right next to her.

She stopped, looking up and around as if she heard something. Reaching toward her, he ran his finger through her hair, causing her to yelp and leap to her feet.

"Ben?" she whispered.

"Yes!" he yelled, but she showed no signs of hearing him. He looked around, frantic, then smiled, seeing an old music player in the corner. Rushing over, he fiddled with the device until he found the selection he wanted: a Max Rebo love song, one they'd danced to at the artist's concert years ago.

The song began, and he turned back to Mayli, who stared in his direction, her hand over her heart, tears streaming down her face. He moved over to her, wrapping her in an embrace and moving around the office with her in a slow dance, knowing that although she couldn't see him, couldn't hear him, she could feel him, and that mattered.

He haunted her the rest of her days, until she joined him in the Force.

The End

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

From The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading my Tatooine Trilogy. I've been working on these stories for over a year, and I'm sad to be leaving Obi-Wan behind. Still, I have another Star Wars story in the works, posted soon, so please check back with me. And please let me know what you thought of this final Tatooine tale. Thank you so much for reading. May the Force be with you…always.