Chapter Sixty Six

Grits of sand were once more pounding against his skin, making it difficult to see, although the shadow which lay across the sunken vessel was unmistakable. A rankor had discovered them, and even though it was one of small size, it had the strength to do great damage to the ship. Obi-Wan couldn't allow that to happen, but he didn't want to hurt the creature. Maybe he could scare it away.

"Hey!" Obi-Wan yelled loudly through his facial wrap, swinging his arms to draw the beast's attention. When that didn't work, he picked up a small stone and threw it, striking the rankor on its side. As a result, the mighty creature twirled away from the ship, switching his focus on a new target. He opened his mouth and displayed rows of sharp teeth, raised his tri-clawed fists into the air and bellowed out a ferocious cry.

Adrenaline surged through Obi-Wan's veins as he bent his knees, preparing himself for an attack. Surprisingly though, one didn't come, and fear soon replaced his courage.

Ana-Kin had come out of the ship even though Obi-Wan had told him to stay put and was standing close – much too close to the beast. Not only that, the boy was reaching out a hand to touch the monster!

Obi-Wan couldn't yell out, should he anger the creature, but he had to do something! A successful downward Raykes maneuver would take the rankor's legs out from under him, and might give the boy a fighting chance, Obi-Wan decided, ready to take the leap when Ana-kin's hand met the marbled, roughened hide of the creature, and everything shifted.

The beast lowered its head, closed its mighty jaws and fists, and let out a sound, which was similar to the purr of a tusk-cat. Obi-Wan watched the activity with astonishment. It was a moment, though, before he was confident enough to step forward; an action which caused a short, but fierce growl to emit from the rankor.

"Don't worry, Master Obi-Wan," the young boy told him as the small hand continued to smooth and pet the creature. "He won't hurt you. He's just scared, that's all. You can come closer if you want."

Obi-Wan smiled in amazement. "I'll keep my distance, if you don't mind," he replied, slowly re-attaching his lightsaber back onto his utility belt. "How are you doing that?"

"He's just a kid," Ana-Kin explained, "like me. I told him why we were here and he's okay now."

Obi-Wan was thankful for the boy's talents, but he still wasn't entirely comfortable. However, the situation did give him an idea. Possibly, not the best one he'd ever had, but it was worth a shot.

"Hey, Ana-Kin," he asked as he began to sketch out the details in his mind. "Do you think your new friend might help us?"

Around Padmé's bed were all types of gifts for the baby: clothing and blankets sewn by a few of Naboo's citizens, a wooden rocker made by Panaka and Aayla, an aura machine, which Bant insisted would help the baby sleep and many more things she hadn't even had a chance to look at yet! There were more gifts than a baby could possibly use, but it was obvious - if only to her - there was something valuable missing; and it was the one thing Padmé could not get off her mind.

"You know," the Captain of the Guard spoke up, as all her friends gathered around to watch the dozing infant who was snuggled tightly in her arms. "You haven't named her yet. "

"That's right," Bant reminded. "Mon Calamarians believe that without a name, a podling has no identity – it is without an existence, so-to-speak."

It wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation. So far, Padmé had been able to avoid it, oftentimes changing the subject completely, but her friends were beginning to persist, so she decided it was time to put an end to their curiosity once and for all.

"Obi-Wan will decide," she announced as firmly as she could without being rude, not missing the sideways dubious glances exchanged between her comrades.

"But Mi'Lady."

It was Rabé who had spoken up first, which did not surprise her. However, Padmé was not going to be convinced otherwise. So again, she spoke with her most commanding voice: "When Obi-Wan returns, he will decide."

The journey back to Taresh was a little more difficult than the one out of it. Ana-Kin had somehow convinced the young rankor to drag the ship across the plains, but it could only take it as far as the Kallo Mountains, which made Obi-Wan stop and think. The Avi-Ami had managed to bring two rankor all the way to Upea to fight him in the arena, which could only mean there was a path through the mountains.

It took two days to find it, but they did. And with the help of Ana-Kin who coaxed the beast to venture past where none of his species were allowed to go, they managed to drag the ship through the mountains and into the village of Taresh, after waiting for the cover of nightfall.

Once again, Obi-Wan observed with amazement as Ana-Kin bid farewell to the beast, as if he were saying goodbye to a good friend. It was a heartwarming scene, and confirmed a decision Obi-Wan had made during their adventure.

But first, he had to get this piece of junk in working condition.

He and Ana-Kin worked for days and deep into the nights before Obi-Wan had any type of measurable success. Perhaps, it wasn't the most important thing on his to-do list, but he had to know.

"This is the navicomputer," he explained to the young boy, who sat in rapt attention. "With it, I'll be able to chart a course through the stars, and figure out where I want to go." If it's working, he continued silently.

After a flip of the generator switch, and making sure all lines were connected properly, Obi-Wan waited with trepidation. Suddenly, a monitor flickered and turned blue. As a result, Ana-Kin let out a loud 'whoop!', but Obi-Wan knew they weren't in the clear yet. All he'd managed to do was to get the thing to come on!

"Show me, Avi-Kao," he said aloud, unsure if the computer was receiving audible commands. The ship appeared to be an older model. If it hadn't been upgraded, he didn't know what he was going to do. Without the specifications of his location, he couldn't enter them manually.

Thankfully, the unit responded, twirling a mass of lights and colors into the space above the console, until it focused upon a single sphere, tan in color. The markings on the display were foreign, and it took some more time for Obi-Wan to figure out and engage the galactic translator. Eventually, the display adjusted and the term Avi-Kao appeared on the display.

"Is that us?" Ana-Kin asked, directly pointing to the pixelated image.

"That's us, and look," Obi-Wan expanded the display with his hand, causing the planet to retreat and millions of other stars and planets to come to the forefront. "That's everyone else."

"Whoa," the boy replied. "That's a lot of places! Where's the one you wanna go to?"

"I'm not sure." Obi-Wan answered, before selecting a navigation course. "Show me a direct course from Avi-Kao to Naboo," he directed, and in an instant, a bright green line appeared on the star map, searching its way through the multitude of lights revealed in a variety of colors, until it landed upon a single brilliant blue and green planet in the Bothan System.

"Naboo." Obi-Wan uttered. The single word was a soothing salve to his parched soul.

"Naboo," Ana-Kin tested the strange word on his tongue. "How long will it take you to get there?"

Obi-Wan noted the calculations on the monitor and clicked his tongue in slight disappointment. "Five days," he read aloud. "And that's with hyperspeed. We'll have to stock enough supplies for the trip. Enough for two," Obi-Wan added, turning his head to behold a rather bewildered, though happy companion.

"Two?" the young boy beamed. "You mean, you and me?"

"Of course," Obi-Wan answered. "Did you honestly think I'd leave my best buddy behind?"

Obi-Wan barely got the words out before his arms were full of blonde-headed boy.

Epilogue

Avi-Kao: A barren wasteland, home to nearly one million souls. Its desert plains gently roll for as far as the eye can see. But for Obi-Wan, it was much more pleasurable to observe from the rear viewscreen of his completely restored HH-87 Starhopper.

What he was leaving behind was sand, heat, and death, but also everyone and everything that formed his past and made him the man he was. He would keep the memory of his life and the few people he had grown to love there locked deep within his memory.

But his heart…his heart belonged to the future, to a planet known as Naboo, and to the beautiful woman waiting for him there. Tears of joy and relief clouded his vision as he turned to look at his co-pilot - to the young boy waiting in nervous anticipation for what was to come.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready, Master," Ana-Kin courageously replied.

Looking ahead, Obi-Wan gripped the fully functional hyperdrive ignition switch. "Let's go home."

~ End

A/N: Oh my. I hadn't intended to drag this fic out for 2-1/2 years, but I did! Once again, my apologies if I lost any readers during my absence. It wasn't my intention. However, I'm pleased to say I finished it! I followed my original outlines to the end, and I'm quite satisfied with the result. Thanks to everyone who got back on board for the ride, and to those of you just now joining me, I hope you enjoyed it! Not sure what's going to happen next. I know there is a story demanding to be finished, but there are two more bouncing around in my head waiting to be written! So, stay tuned! There's plenty more to come! Please don't forget to submit a REVIEW if you liked what you read, and be sure to check out my Pinterest Obidala boards (dedicated to all my artwork). You'll find them by entering Tickles Ivory in the Pinterest search. Be seeing you all!