The cloaked starship floated quietly in the darkness of space as the stolen TIE fighter returned to the hangar bay. The cargo ramp sealed behind it, and the small craft settled into its magnetic clamps with a soft metallic thud.
Inside the cockpit of the main ship, Sebul was already waiting.
The moment Obi-Wan Kenobi and Quinlan Vos climbed out of the fighter, Sebul spun his chair around sharply.
"What do you mean we have to go to Mustafar?" he demanded.
His voice carried both frustration and disbelief.
"That planet is half the galaxy away from here."
He pointed accusingly toward Obi-Wan.
"And now we're rescuing three prisoners instead of one because of your brilliant plan."
Quinlan leaned casually against the wall, clearly amused by the pilot's irritation.
Obi-Wan removed the stormtrooper helmet and placed it carefully on the console.
"Yes," he said calmly. "Three prisoners."
Sebul threw up his hands.
"You left two rebels inside an Imperial cruiser!"
"They volunteered," Quinlan said lightly.
"That doesn't make it less insane."
Sebul stood up and began pacing around the cockpit.
"We went in to rescue a governor. That was the mission. Now we've added two more people to the list, and the Empire is shipping all of them to the most dangerous planet in the system."
Obi-Wan remained composed.
"Not the most dangerous planet."
Sebul stopped walking and stared at him.
"You've clearly never been to Mustafar."
Quinlan chuckled quietly.
Sebul rubbed his forehead.
"You Jedi have strange ideas about what counts as a good plan."
Obi-Wan stepped forward and placed a hand gently on the navigation console.
"We have an advantage."
Sebul frowned.
"What advantage?"
"We know where they're going."
Quinlan nodded.
"The Imperial cruiser isn't traveling to Mustafar."
Sebul paused.
"They'll send a smaller transport," Obi-Wan explained. "Probably with a limited escort."
The pilot slowly understood.
"You want to intercept that ship."
"Yes."
Quinlan added, "And if we arrive first, we control the battlefield."
Sebul sighed deeply.
"You two are lucky I like you."
He dropped back into the pilot's seat and began entering coordinates.
"Mustafar it is."
The engines hummed to life.
Behind them, Rollo rolled across the hangar floor and secured the damaged equipment from their earlier encounter.
Sebul glanced toward the cargo bay where the second TIE fighter rested safely.
He smiled slightly.
"Well," he said, "at least the trip isn't a complete loss."
Quinlan looked back.
"The spare fighter?"
Sebul nodded proudly.
"Two Imperial TIE fighters in one day."
He leaned back in the chair with a nostalgic grin.
"You know, back when podracing was legal, I used to win ships like that every few months."
Quinlan raised an eyebrow.
"You were a podracer?"
Sebul laughed.
"Not just a racer. A champion."
He tapped the controls and the ship began accelerating toward hyperspace.
"Three seasons in a row on Malastare."
Quinlan crossed his arms skeptically.
"Sure."
"I'm serious," Sebul insisted. "I beat racers twice my size."
Obi-Wan glanced at him.
"I imagine that required considerable skill."
Sebul brightened immediately.
"Finally, someone appreciates talent."
He sighed wistfully.
"Now podracing is illegal in half the Outer Rim."
Quinlan shrugged.
"Probably safer."
Sebul scoffed.
"Safe is boring."
The navigation computer finished calculating the jump.
Coordinates for Mustafar flashed across the console.
The planet was infamous throughout the galaxy.
A world of fire.
Rivers of lava.
Violent volcanic storms.
Sebul looked at the readout and shook his head.
"Rescue mission on a lava planet," he muttered. "This keeps getting better."
Obi-Wan folded his arms.
"Prepare for hyperspace."
Sebul pushed the throttle forward.
Stars stretched into lines of light.
The ship leapt into hyperspace, racing across the galaxy toward Mustafar.
Inside the quiet cockpit, Quinlan leaned back in his seat.
"Tell me something," he said.
"What?"
"You really won three podracing seasons?"
Sebul grinned widely.
"Oh, I've got stories."
The starship dropped out of hyperspace in silence.
Stars snapped back into place around them, and immediately the fiery glow of Mustafar filled the forward viewport.
The planet looked less like a world and more like a wound in space. Rivers of lava carved glowing paths across its surface, and massive volcanic plumes rose into the dark sky like pillars of smoke and fire.
Sebul whistled softly.
"Every time I see this place," he muttered, "I wonder why anyone would choose to live here."
The ship remained cloaked, drifting quietly beyond the planet's detection range.
Obi-Wan stood near the viewport, his eyes fixed on the burning world below.
He had not seen Mustafar since the day his life—and Anakin Skywalker's—had changed forever.
The Force around the planet felt wrong.
Painful.
Even after all these years, the memory lingered in the air like an echo that refused to fade.
Quinlan watched him carefully.
"You alright?"
Obi-Wan exhaled slowly.
"This planet carries many… memories."
Quinlan didn't need further explanation.
Everyone who had fought in the Clone Wars knew the story of Mustafar.
The birthplace of Darth Vader.
Before the silence could grow uncomfortable, Sebul tapped the communications console.
"Transmission coming through."
The small communication device given to them by the Bridgers flickered to life. A holographic image formed above the console.
Mira Bridger appeared in the projection.
Behind her, the dimly lit communications room on Lothal hummed with activity.
"Did you get out safely?" she asked immediately.
Quinlan nodded.
"We're fine but your men are under the empire's custody."
Obi-Wan stepped forward.
"We confirmed that Governor Azadi is being transported to Mustafar."
Mira didn't look surprised.
"We assumed that might happen."
Sebul leaned closer to the projection.
"You're not upset about your people being used as bait?"
Mira shook her head firmly.
"They volunteered."
Her expression hardened.
"Everyone in this rebellion knows the risks."
Ephraim's voice could be heard faintly in the background as he worked at one of the consoles.
"They'd sacrifice themselves if it meant hurting the Empire."
Sebul sighed.
"You rebels are terrifying."
Obi-Wan shifted the conversation back to the present problem.
"We are now orbiting Mustafar," he said. "But we must decide how to proceed."
Quinlan leaned against the navigation console.
"We've got two choices."
He raised two fingers.
"Intercept the transport in space."
He lowered one finger.
"Or wait until they land and rescue them on the surface."
Sebul grimaced.
"Surface rescue sounds like a terrible idea."
Obi-Wan looked back toward the planet again.
Mustafar's burning surface reflected in his eyes.
"I would prefer not to fight on that world if possible."
The silence stretched for a moment.
Then Mira spoke again.
"I might have something that helps."
Everyone turned toward the hologram.
"There are three mining corporation supervisors working on Mustafar who secretly support the rebellion," she explained.
Sebul raised an eyebrow.
"Mining… here?"
"Yes," Mira said. "Rare minerals form in the lava crust. Thousands of workers are stationed on the planet."
Quinlan nodded slowly.
"That explains the industrial traffic."
Mira continued.
"Our contacts have been quietly spreading rebellion among the workers."
She leaned closer to the camera.
"And the native inhabitants of Mustafar hate the Empire even more."
Sebul blinked.
"There are natives?"
"Yes," Mira replied. "And they're very willing to fight."
The plan was beginning to form.
Quinlan's eyes lit up.
"You're suggesting we create chaos."
Mira smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
She gestured toward the fiery planet below.
"If you show up pretending to rescue the governor, the Empire will tighten security immediately."
"But if Mustafar suddenly erupts in rebellion…"
Obi-Wan finished the thought.
"…they will focus on suppressing the uprising."
Sebul grinned slowly.
"And in the confusion, we steal the prisoners."
Quinlan chuckled.
"I like this plan."
Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes. It gives us time and distraction."
Mira continued.
"Our contacts will help you. I'll transmit their identities and coordinates."
The navigation console displayed three names and several location markers across Mustafar's surface.
"These supervisors can move around the mining facilities without raising suspicion," Mira explained.
"They can arrange meetings with rebel workers and local fighters."
Sebul leaned back in his chair.
"So instead of a rescue mission…"
Quinlan smiled.
"…it becomes a rebellion."
Mira nodded.
"Exactly."
Obi-Wan folded his arms.
"Then the first step is clear."
He looked at Quinlan.
"We meet the contacts."
Quinlan nodded.
"I stay with the ship."
Sebul suggested.
"Correct," Obi-Wan said calmly.
Rollo beeped sympathetically from the engineering console.
Quinlan grabbed a flight jacket from the locker.
"Get us close to the mining zones."
Sebul began adjusting the ship's course.
"Cloaking field stays active," he said. "We'll land outside the facility."
Obi-Wan glanced once more toward Mustafar's burning surface.
The dark presence of the planet still weighed heavily in the Force.
But this time he was not returning alone.
And this time…
He was not here to fight Anakin.
The meeting ended as Mira's hologram flickered out.
The cloaked starship slowly began descending toward the volcanic world.
The moment Obi-Wan Kenobi and Quinlan Vos stepped into the mining settlement, it became immediately obvious that they did not belong there.
Mustafar's mining colonies were harsh places. The air smelled of ash and molten rock, and the sky above the industrial platforms glowed red from the endless rivers of lava that flowed across the planet.
Massive refinery towers rose like dark needles against the burning horizon, and the ground trembled occasionally as distant volcanoes erupted.
Most of the workers moved with tired, mechanical motions.
Their clothes were stained with ash. Their faces were hidden behind breathing masks and protective visors.
But when the two newcomers walked down the metal walkway toward the central processing station, heads began turning.
People stared.
It was rare for strangers to appear here. Ships only arrived when deliveries were required or when Imperial officers came to inspect the mines.
Visitors meant trouble.
One of the mining supervisors noticed them almost immediately.
The man walked toward them slowly, pretending to inspect a cargo crate while quietly studying their faces.
He spoke without looking directly at them.
"You two stand out like stars in a black sky," he muttered quietly.
Quinlan smiled faintly.
"Not the welcome I hoped for."
The man glanced around to ensure no stormtroopers were watching.
Then he said in a low voice,
"Follow me."
Obi-Wan and Quinlan walked behind him without hesitation.
They passed through several narrow tunnels carved into the rock beneath the refinery platform. Steam vents hissed from the walls, and the air grew hotter the deeper they descended.
Eventually they reached a hidden cave carved naturally into the volcanic stone.
Inside the cavern, a surprising sight awaited them.
Dozens of figures were gathered there.
Some were human miners.
Others were the native Mustafarians.
Tall, dark-skinned beings with glowing eyes and protective armor designed for the planet's extreme heat.
Weapons were stacked along the cave walls.
Blasters.
Mining lasers.
Improvised explosives.
The atmosphere inside the cavern vibrated with tension.
One of the supervisors closed the entrance behind them.
"Mira told me you can help," he said.
Quinlan looked around.
"So Mira's message reached you."
A tall Mustafarian warrior stepped forward.
His voice sounded like grinding stone.
"We have waited."
Obi-Wan bowed his head slightly in greeting.
"You are ready to fight."
The warrior gestured toward the weapons.
"For too long we have suffered."
Another supervisor stepped forward and extended a hand.
"My name is Torren Valis," he said. "Mining supervisor for Sector Three."
He gestured toward the others.
"These are the other contacts Mira told you about"
"Good to finally meet you."
Obi-Wan folded his arms.
"We need to understand what is happening here."
The cave grew quiet.
"What's happening here… is slavery."
Torren walked toward a large holographic map projected onto the cave wall.
The image showed the surface of Mustafar.
At the center of the map stood a massive structure still under construction.
A towering fortress rising above the lava plains.
Obi-Wan felt a chill run through him.
Torren pointed at the structure.
"That… is Fort Vader."
Quinlan raised an eyebrow.
"The Emperor gifted Mustafar to Darth Vader."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes briefly.
The Force around the planet suddenly made sense.
Torren continued.
"They began building this fortress two years ago."
His voice hardened.
"The natives were forced to construct it."
A Mustafarian woman stepped forward angrily.
"They worked our people until their hearts stopped."
Another warrior spoke.
"Thousands dead."
Torren nodded.
"The Empire calls it labor."
He looked directly at Obi-Wan.
"We call it extermination."
The cave filled with murmurs of anger.
Quinlan crossed his arms.
"So you're planning to attack."
Torren looked toward the gathered rebels.
"The fortress is almost complete."
The Mustafarian warrior spoke again.
"If we do nothing now… we will never be free."
Obi-Wan studied the holographic map carefully.
"How heavily defended is the fortress?"
Torren answered immediately.
"Not too many people."
"Some Defense cannons."
"Couple of TIE fighter squadrons."
"And…"
He hesitated slightly.
Quinlan noticed.
"And what?"
Torren's expression darkened.
"The one who designed the fortress."
Obi-Wan felt a shift in the Force.
"Who?"
Torren spoke the name slowly.
"A Sith Lord."
The entire cave seemed to grow colder despite the volcanic heat outside.
"Darth Momin."
Quinlan's expression sharpened immediately.
"I've heard of a Darth Momin."
Obi-Wan turned toward him.
"You have?"
Quinlan nodded.
"Ancient Sith architect."
He looked at the fortress hologram again.
"Specializes in dark-side fortresses."
Torren continued.
"He supervises the final construction personally."
Another rebel spoke.
"The fortress is nearly complete."
The Mustafarian warrior clenched his fist.
"Once finished… Vader will rule this world forever."
Torren turned back to Obi-Wan and Quinlan.
"So yes."
His voice hardened with determination.
"We are ready to fight."
The cave erupted with voices.
"We fight tonight!"
"Enough slavery!"
"Blast the fortress!"
Obi-Wan raised his hand gently.
The room slowly quieted.
He spoke calmly.
"You will fight."
Everyone listened.
"But if you attack blindly…"
He gestured toward the holographic fortress.
"…you will die."
The rebels exchanged uneasy glances.
Quinlan smirked slightly.
"That's Kenobi's polite way of saying your plan is terrible."
Torren frowned.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Obi-Wan looked again at the fortress of Darth Vader rising from the lava plains.
Then he said quietly,
"You may have just given us the distraction we need."
Quinlan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Obi-Wan turned toward the rebels.
"You attack the fortress."
Torren stared at him.
"That will bring the entire eyes on you."
Quinlan suddenly understood.
His grin widened.
"While they deal with the rebellion…"
"…we steal the prisoners and help you destroy the fortress."
Obi-Wan nodded slowly.
The rebellion on Mustafar was no longer just a coincidence.
It was an opportunity.
Author's Note:
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