Chapter Text
Obi-Wan felt like he hadn’t slept in days. Christophsis was turning into a nightmare, with Ventress hovering around like a particularly unpleasant smell. The men were on edge after Sergeant Slick’s uncovering and it hadn’t helped that they’d only managed to save the heavy cannons from sabotage. Sometimes it felt like they were just reeling from one disaster to another since Geonosis.
There was a rap at his door and Obi-Wan raised his head. “Enter,” he called and wasn’t surprised to see Commander Cody there, his helmet tucked under his arm. “I trust there’s nothing wrong?” he asked his Commander and Cody notably hesitated. Ah, Obi-Wan thought and recognised that he wouldn’t be getting his planned sleep. He stood up, tucking his hands into his robes.
“Nothing bad, sir,” Cody assured him and that was at least a relief. “Some survivors rejoining from another legion.”
Obi-Wan blinked. “That’s wonderful news,” he said. His Commander wouldn’t have disturbed him this late at night just for that however.
“There’s a Padawan with him,” Cody said and Obi-Wan felt his shoulders sag.
“Ah,” he said. “I assume that the Padawan’s Master is dead then.” He gestured for Cody to lead the way and they fell into an easy pace between them.
“The ‘trooper thinks so,” Cody said neutrally and Obi-Wan frowned.
“Is the Padawan not able to say so themself?” he asked cautiously and Cody stared straight ahead.
“He – doesn’t speak Basic, sir,” Cody said and Obi-Wan tried to process this. He couldn’t think of any Padawans that had been assigned out here without the language capabilities. Ryvvokka maybe? But the wookie was not quite of age yet and the general tendency was to give Initiates an extra couple of years right now – no one wanted to be taking a youngling out into battle.
“I see,” he said slowly. “Surely we have some translation software around-”
“Non-compatible, sir,” Cody said, then after a deliberate pause. “He doesn’t have a lightsabre either, sir.”
No lightsabre? “Are you certain he’s a Padawan?” Obi-Wan enquired cautiously. He couldn’t think of any Initiates that had gone missing recently – perhaps, however unlikely, the so-called Padawan was a natural Force user. (Or a plant by Ventress, a nasty voice hissed in his mind).
“The ‘trooper seems to think so, sir,” Cody said. “Said the kid,” a pause and then an abrupt correction, “The Commander healed a gut shot that should have killed him, as well as getting droids to overlook them.”
That certainly sounded more than anyone untrained should be able to do. Obi-Wan pursed his lips together in thought as they rounded into the med-bay. Hatchet was in full force hovering over a small figure and the only thing that came to mind was-
“He is most certainly not old enough to be here,” Obi-Wan said, aghast.
Cody hummed in agreement.