Chap. 23 - The Last Jedi Knight

The strange man looked up, trying to see whose face was interrupting his meal, but the hood covered most of the droid's face, and only the metal shards sticking out above the chin seemed more like a mask to hide his identity than the face of Icarus. Still, the question took him by surprise.

Icarus didn't know why, but this hooded stranger made his core of midichlorians react like never before. Was it a warning? A sign of danger? The droid tried to decipher the enigma that rebelled before his optical sensors, but he did not understand anything of what was happening to him. Even so, he could assure that that strange man in front of his nose could be someone very important.

Man: - I don't know what you're talking about, my friend. I'm just a local trying to enjoy a decent meal around these parts. - He answered something haughty.

Icarus: - No. I think you are more than just that. - The man took a deep breath.

Man: - Look... I don't want problems. I'm just trying to lead a quiet life. That's all. - Apparently, the man had not yet identified that he was a droid.

Ícaro: - I don't want problems either. I just want to know why I feel like "something"... is drawing me to you. -

Icarus's last words were like a dagger. The haughty smile on the man's face disappeared immediately, and his gaze turned dark and defiant. He lowered his head, letting the hood cover most of his face again, and picked up the spoon with a helping of soup.

Man: - You shouldn't be here. -

Icarus: - What do you mean? -

Man: - You don't know how much is at stake. Your presence on Tatooine is dangerous. You must leave immediately. -

Icarus: - At stake? -

As soon as the droid could try to process what the hooded stranger was saying, a group of seven bounty hunters entered the premises carrying a blaster. They looked clearly angry, and they seem like they were looking for someone.

Bounty Hunter: - There it is! kill him! - He shouted while pointing to Icarus.

Before the strange hooded man could say a word, Icarus seized the metal table with both hands and hurled it towards the entrance of the compound, striking several of his opponents. The civilians present panicked, and tried to leave the place as quickly as possible, which gave the droid enough time to lift two metal tables and set them up as barricades. Then the bandits started shooting.

Icarus could feel the impact of the blasters, and he knew that the protection would not last long, but before he knew it, he realized that this mysterious man was standing by his side. Apparently, he did not have enough time to escape.

Man: - What was missing. This day could not be worse. -

Ícaro: - The probabilities that the situation worsens after saying that are 87%. -

Man: - I see that sarcasm is not your thing. -

Then Icarus decided to act. He knew he couldn't get out of this situation without a fight, but his chances were limited. It seemed he was now stuck with that mysterious man, and he didn't have much choice but to trust him, but he still had his doubts.

Icarus: - It seems that we will have to fight together to get out of this. -

Man: - It seems so. -

Icarus: - Do you know how to use one of these? -

The droid removed its right hand from its hood and offered the E-5 rifle to the mysterious man. Seeing the blaster and Icarus's robotic hand, the man froze in shock. His eyes looked fearful, as if a wound from the past was reopening.

Icarus: - Hey! - He yelled at him to make him come back to reality. - Do you know how to use it? -

The man shook his head, as if getting rid of the evils that tormented his mind. He grabbed the rifle and stood by as his opponents' shots struck close behind.

Icarus's plan wasn't complicated, but it would be very effective even if his "partner" failed. He would kick the two tables hard towards where the bounty hunters were. In the confusion, aided or not by his makeshift ally's blasters, he would get close enough to swing his lightsaber and strike down his opponents before they had time to react. It was a plan that, on his computer, had a 97% chance of success. Nothing could go wrong. But when he pulled out the lightsaber, still off, something happened.

Icarus noticed something that was restricting his arm movements. He looked quickly, and noticed the strange man, who was holding his arm tightly, preventing them from raising the lightsaber.

Man: - Don't wear that. - He said with a grim voice.

Icarus: - But... -

Man: - Never. He sentenced with a strange sinister look.

The droid didn't know why, but he had a feeling he should listen to him, although that didn't make any sense given the situation they were in.

Icarus: - Do you have a better plan? - He said as he returned to hide the saber under his hood.

Man: - Yes. -

The bounty hunters kept shooting. They knew that this makeshift barricade would not last long, and that their victim would have no choice but to surrender. They were not going to have mercy, because because of him they lost one of their comrades, and they only had eyes for their revenge. But none of them could have foreseen how one of the heavy metal tables would fly towards their position and hit two of them hard. The rest could barely watch in shock as theirs fell. By the time they turned around, the hooded pair was gone.

Bounty hunter: - They went down the alley. Fast. Go for them. - Said one of the pursuers.

The pair hastened to leave the place through one of the back alleys of the cantina. They were somewhat narrow passageways, with some sharp turns and small ledges caused by the peculiar stone structures of the local constructions. The hooded man was in the lead, at a good pace, but Icarus was not so fast. It wasn't long before the bounty hunters caught up with them, engaging in a dangerous exchange of fire in the narrow corridors. The man was able to hide behind a wall, but Icarus could only reach a small ledge, enough to hide in a crouch, as long as he didn't stick his head out.

The bounty hunters were shooting at full speed, making the situation very precarious. Icarus tried to shoot back without sticking his head out, but he couldn't make the criminals back off. He had to find a way out, and fast. But nothing he computed would work. Then he saw it:

Music teacher. [Play and continue reading]

https://youtu.be/LtFeTNduo18

Icarus could not understand what his optical sensors were seeing. However, the core of his chest was quivering like never before. Although slight, he could feel "something." Something strange that flooded the area just a few meters around him.

He looked in amazement at the strange hooded man, ignoring the dozens of blasters that impacted just inches from him. His eyes closed, as if he were experiencing a kind of trance, his slow and calm breathing managed to find peace in that chaotic place, and his right hand, as if it were grabbing something, trembled slightly as he rotated it clockwise. It was very strange for the droid, who couldn't see the actions of the strange man other than if he had lost his mind. But a strange sound behind him stood out from among the blaster shots.

Icarus watched in amazement as the stone wall above the smugglers began to slowly crack, and before the criminals knew it, debris rained down on their heads as a great curtain of dust and sand blanketed the place.

The rumble of falling debris shook the ground, and after the noise, an eerie silence filled the place, interrupted only by the wails of the bounty hunters who were still alive, and simply suffering more from shock than from the light scratches they left. They had. But then a few steps were felt approaching the place of the collapse. A shadow moved through the smoke screen, a hooded silhouette with a bright red light shining from under its hood. One of the bounty hunters looked up, only to find the muzzle of the E-5 blaster pointed at his forehead.

Man no! - The hooded man exclaimed, but that didn't stop Icarus' metallic finger.

https://youtu.be/FX0AGeOK1QA

The bounty hunters fell one by one before the droid's relentless fire. Icarus would show no mercy to his adversaries, and would not feel remorse in his metallic body when ending the lives of those who could not defend themselves due to their condition.

Man: - But what happens with you!? -

Ícaro: - I only did the most logical thing. -

Man: - The most logical? That is not the way you should have been taught in the Temple. -

The strange hooded man's comment left the droid somewhat confused, but after a few seconds, he was able to figure out what it was all about.

Icarus: - I think you're confusing me, Jedi. - Icarus removed the hood from his head, revealing his identity to the strange man for the first time.

Man: - You're... You're a... droid. - He said something dismayed, as he stepped back with one foot in a clear combat position.

Icarus: - You can relax Jedi. I am not your enemy. -

Man: - Don't mention that word. You will cause more problems than you think. -

Icarus: - Very well. What should I call you then? -

Man: - Ben. - He said after thinking about it for a few seconds. - That saber. It belonged to a friend of mine. Where did you get it? -

Icarus: - I took it from the Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi in the battle of Mygeeto. I never thought to see how the clones would attack their own general. It's been a long time since then. -

The man seemed lost in thought, still not leaving his combat stance. He seemed to have a discussion inside of what to do or not. Perhaps he wanted to retrieve his friend's saber, but he seemed to have other priorities at the moment.

Ben: - And what do you want? Why did you follow me? -

Ícaro: - I just wanted to find out something, but I could already do that. -

Ben: - So, we don't have anything to talk about anymore. - He said as he turned around.

Icarus: - Wait. - The Jedi stopped. - We will form a resistance to face the Empire with all those who oppose his regime and the Separatist remnants. Surely the ability of someone like you would be very useful to us. After all, I suppose you want revenge for what the Empire did to your kind. -

Ben looked up for a moment as he took a deep breath. He was cool and calm, very different from what Icarus expected from someone who lost everything to betrayal.

Ben: - That's not the path I chose. Besides, I have a purpose here that no one else can fulfill. - He said calmly.

Icarus wanted to ask him what he meant, but before he could say a word, a loud noise could be heard approaching. It sounded like the characteristic noise of a personal thruster, and instinctively the droid pulled its hood back over its face, before a loud clank was heard behind it.

????: - What the hell happened here? Said a deep voice behind him.

Icarus turned around, and saw a human coming down with a jetpack wearing a very particular armor. A green Mandalorian armor.

Mandalorian: - I am responsible for the "security" of these parts. Under the supervision of Jabba the Hott himself. I expect a good explanation for this. -

Ícaro: - I hope you'll excuse us. We didn't expect to disturb anyone. -

Mandalorian: - Why do you speak in the plural? You are alone. -

Icarus turned around quickly, only to see that the mysterious Jedi had disappeared without a trace.

Very well. For those who find Obi-Wan's attitude strange and have not seen his series, I will give you some clarifications. SPOILER ALERT. This occurs five or six years before Senator Organa entrusted him with the task of rescuing Leila. Here we can see an Obi-Wan who has sealed his connection to the force, and does everything possible to avoid discovering that he is a Jedi to protect little Luke, then five years old. An Obi-Wan injured by the events of "Revenge of the Sith," who feels a great deal of guilt over everything that happened. Hence the difference in attitude with the rest of the saga. And if you haven't seen his series... What are you waiting for?

And not. Dath Vader did not feel it since the use of force was not very significant.