Harry Potter and the Boy From Tatooine - Chapter 35 - Fallout

The comm unit remained eerily silent as Obi-Wan tried yet again to raise Captain Falco.

"This is Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, do you copy?" His voice was calm, but Harry could hear the underlying edge of concern.

Static. Nothing.

Obi-Wan and Harry exchanged a glance. The explosion they had heard earlier loomed heavily in their minds. The lack of response from Captain Falco only heightened their unease.

"Something's wrong," Harry murmured.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I agree. We need to get there."

The speeder continued shooting forward, weaving through Correlia’s streets, against the flow of traffic that seemed eager to flee the direction they were heading. They followed the distant columns of black smoke curling up into the sky, an ominous sign of destruction. The closer they got, the more the air filled with the acrid scent of burning metal and scorched duracrete.

As they got closer their sense of unease deepened, a tangible weight in the Force.

When they finally arrived, the sight before them was one of utter devastation.

A large section of several of the cities block had been reduced to rubble. Buildings were scorched and broken, debris scattered across the duracrete. Fire and smoke lingered in the air, casting an eerie glow over the destruction. The chaos was overwhelming—yet civilians and a few CorSec officers scrambled to aid the injured, their outfits streaked with dust and blood. Some of the people on the ground groaned in pain as they were helped, but a disturbing amount of people were laying unnervingly still despite everything going on around them.

For every individual trying to help the wounded, four or five others lay unmoving. Harry felt a shiver creep down his spine as he looked over the area. The death toll would be staggering and that didn’t even include the individuals who would eventually succumb to their injuries.

Obi-Wan set the speeder down and leaped out, Harry following closely. They immediately began assisting the wounded. Obi-Wan moved with the confidence of a seasoned Jedi, his presence calming those around him as he used the Force to lift debris off of trapped individuals or help soothe those who were in a state of panic. Harry, despite his lack of medical training, did everything he could to stop bleeding or ease pain.

After almost ten minutes, Harry watched as Obi-Wan’s gaze locked onto a familiar face—one of Falco’s top men, a grizzled officer with short-cropped dark hair and a deep cut running down the side of his temple. He sat on a broken piece of duracrete, staring blankly ahead.

"Sergeant Kesh," Obi-Wan called, kneeling in front of him. "What happened? Where is Captain Falco?"

The man didn't react at first, lost in a fugue state, his breathing shallow.

Another member of CorSec approached, this one slightly younger, a bandage hastily wrapped around his head. His expression was grim.

"He got hit in the head with flying debris," the younger man explained. "He's … not really with it." He sighed, wiping soot from his brow. "We have no idea what happened. One second we were fanning out to try to narrow down the trail that we had picked up and then the explosion.” He paused looking out over the area and shaking his head before looking back to Obi-Wan and Harry. “Last I saw, Captain Falco was leading a team into one of the buildings to investigate something. However that was seconds before the explosion and … no one has seen her since." He gestured weakly toward a collapsed section of buildings.

Obi-Wan placed a reassuring hand on the injured officer’s shoulder. "Help is on the way. Stay with the others. Try to help those you can but do not push yourself past what you can do. The last thing we need is for more injuries."

The Jedi Knight stood, his expression unreadable, but Harry could feel his worry through the Force.

"Come on Harry," Obi-Wan said, his voice firm.

Harry followed as they maneuvered through the wreckage, stepping over shattered durasteel and avoiding fallen beams. Smoke curled around them, making it difficult to see more than a few meters ahead. The deeper they went, the quieter it became—eerily so.

Then they found them.

"She's alive," Obi-Wan said, exhaling slightly in relief.

Captain Falco and two of her men lay sprawled amidst the ruins, unmoving but apparently only unconscious as despite the grievous looking injuries they seemed to have been spared from much of the blast from the thick walls of the building they had been in. As Harry jumped down into the depression where they were, Harry shook his head at the sight of Falco's dark uniform which was in tatters and the blood seeping from multiple wounds. Her officers weren’t faring much better.

Obi-Wan immediately joined him and knelt beside her, checking for vitals.

Obi-Wan stood after doing what he could for her and the others. His face was troubled. "There’s nothing more I can do for her," he admitted. "I was never trained extensively in Force healing. Although, perhaps in hindsight that may have been a mistake. The best I can say is that she will live, at least for now." He turned to Harry. "Stay with her. If Jaxar’s men are in the area, she may still be a target. I’ll continue assisting the others while we wait for medical support, but don’t hesitate to call out if you need anything."

Harry hesitated but nodded.

Obi-Wan strode away, his robes billowing as he moved toward the sound of distant cries for help.

Left alone with Falco, Harry felt an overwhelming urge to help. He tightened his grip on his wand as he removed it from his robe. He knew healing spells—not many, and not well, but he couldn’t just stand by. Harry pointed his wand and began casting every healing charm he could recall. A soft glow emanated from his wand as the spells took effect. Falco’s worst injuries closed slightly, while the smaller ones disappeared completely, and even her breathing becoming steadier … but she didn’t wake.

"That should’ve worked," Harry muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

Minutes passed in tense silence. The destruction around him made his stomach twist. He had seen death before, but this was different. The bodies lying in the streets, the wounded groaning in pain, the fear lingering in the air—this was much more intense than even the battle of Hogwarts had been and despite the lack of trolls the smell was somehow worse.

At last, the sound of approaching speeders reached him. Several emergency response team had arrived, arriving at almost exactly the same time. Medics in green uniforms rushed out of their speeders, beginning triage immediately.

One of them, a Rodian with dark green skin, jogged up to Harry. "One of the CorSec agents directed me over here. Is this the captain?"

Harry nodded.

The medic knelt and ran a scanner over her body. His expression darkened. "Serious internal injuries. Possible brain trauma." He glanced at Harry. "Judging by the condition of the area around her, it’s a miracle she doesn’t appear to be in worse condition. She’s lucky she didn’t die immediately or while waiting for us to respond."

Harry said nothing, but he felt a flicker of relief.

The medic wasted no time securing Falco onto a hover-stretcher. Within moments, she was loaded onto a transport that immediately sped off toward CorSec headquarters.

Harry exhaled. He had done what he could. Now, it was up to them.

The Rodian medic gave him a nod before hurrying off to assist the next casualty.

Harry stood, glancing in the direction Obi-Wan had gone taking in all the damage and shaking his head. He wasn’t sure how long it would take to piece together what had happened here, but one thing was certain—this had been a trap. Jaxar had lured Falco in, and if not for sheer luck, she would have been dead.

Harry clenched his fists.

This wasn’t over.

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With Captain Falco safely on her way to CorSec Headquarters, Harry tried to ignore the acrid scent of smoke and burned durasteel that filled the air and mixed with the coppery tang of blood. Instead he turned and ran over to where he saw Obi-Wan who was moving through the wreckage, helping the wounded and scanning the ruins with an investigative eye.

The scene was overwhelming—so much destruction, so much suffering.

To their credit and despite their injuries, CorSec officers were still scrambling to assist whoever they could, some digging through rubble, others tending to the wounded while they waited for the medics to appropriately triage them. The soft moans of pain and the occasional distant shout of an officer calling for help created a grim atmosphere.

After joining with Obi-Wan, they worked in silence for a while, helping those they could. Obi-Wan used the Force to lift heavy debris off trapped officers, while Harry did what he could stabilizing injuries, subtly using magic once ever while when he came across a serious injury that seemed in need of immediate attention.

Eventually, once the worst of the immediate crisis was handled, they turned to the investigation.

“The medics can take over, we need to find the source of the explosion,” Obi-Wan said, surveying the wreckage. His brow was furrowed in thought. “If we can determine that location, perhaps it might give us a clue as to where Jaxar is now.”

Harry nodded. “Right. Let’s start where the damage is the worst.”

They moved carefully, examining scorch marks on walls and fallen support beams. Harry could feel something lingering in the air, a wrongness that made his skin prickle. He wasn’t sure if it was just the horror of the scene or something more.

Eventually, they found what they were looking for.

The blast epicenter was a crater in the middle of the rubble. Surrounding it, the duracrete was scorched black, and the buildings nearest to it had been completely torn apart by the force of the explosion. Whatever had caused this had been powerful—far more than a standard detonite charge.

Obi-Wan knelt down, running a hand over the charred ground. He closed his eyes, reaching out with the Force.

Harry crouched beside him, his eyes scanning the area. “Anything?”

Obi-Wan exhaled slowly and opened his eyes. “Nothing specific. No trace of the perpetrator, no lingering presence in the Force. Although this was without a doubt a corthalon fueled explosive device.”

Harry frowned. “So we have nothing?”

Obi-Wan stood. “No. We have a starting point. Jaxar wanted this attack to send a message, and that means he’s concerned about either us or CorSec. We just need to keep working this and we will get a break.”

Harry looked at the devastation around them. “Hopefully before more people die.”

Obi-Wan’s expression was grim as he simply nodded instead of replying

After finding nothing specifically at the site of the blast origin they passed the information along to the agent in charge and made their way back to their speeder. After taking one last look around the site Harry climbed into their speeder beside Obi-Wan as his master set course for CorSec Headquarters.

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The headquarters was buzzing with activity when they arrived. Officers moved hurriedly through the halls, some whispering about the attack, others grim-faced as they worked to piece together what had happened.

Harry and Obi-Wan made their way through the hallways before finally entering the medbay, where a large cylindrical bacta tank dominated the room. Falco had already been placed inside for treatment.

Harry clenched his fists at his sides. The image of her lying broken in the rubble flashed in his mind, followed by the devastation he had just seen outside.

He shook his head and forced himself to unclench his hands as he walked over to the tank before placing his hand on the side of it. “Jaxar did this. And he’s going to do it again if we don’t stop him.” He took a step back as his hands tightened into fists again. “We will get him for this.”

Obi-Wan stepped up beside him and turned his head slightly, observing him. “Be mindful of your emotions, Harry.”

Harry took a breath and unclenched his hands before turning to face Obi-Wan. His green eyes were sharp, but there was no blind rage in them—only conviction. “This isn’t me acting out of anger or revenge,” he said. “This is me promising that we’ll get justice for Falco, for the innocents who were injured, and for the thousands more who will be if Jaxar is able to carry out his plan for the Day of Joining.”

For a long moment, Obi-Wan simply studied him. Then, finally, he nodded.

“We will get him,” he agreed.

And with that, they began planning their next move.

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The hum of the bacta tank filled the medbay with a low, rhythmic sound. Harry sat in silence, his eyes fixed on Captain Falco’s unconscious form. She floated within the healing liquid, her body suspended in a slow, weightless drift. Despite the bacta’s restorative properties, the sight of her like this made his stomach twist with frustration.

They needed to stop Jaxar before he was able to carry out his plan.

The door to the medbay slid open abruptly. A young CorSec aide hurried in, looking slightly out of breath. He straightened quickly upon seeing Obi-Wan and Harry.

"Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker," the aide addressed them, nodding respectfully. "You're being summoned. The senator has returned to Correlia and requests your presence at one of his private residences—immediately."

Obi-Wan’s brow furrowed. "He returned?" His tone held a mix of surprise and frustration. "That was unwise. The senator was supposed to remain off-world until the threat had been dealt with or at the very least until the Day of Joining, giving us as much time as we could get."

The aide shook his head. "Apparently, he snuck back. He viewed this as a direct attack on him and refuses to back down from Jaxar’s threats."

Obi-Wan exhaled sharply and cast a glance at Falco’s tank. He stood, his expression unreadable, then turned to Harry.

"There’s nothing more we can do here," he said. "We might as well go."

Harry gave one last look at Falco, then nodded. "Let’s go, then."

The speeder ride was swift but silent. Obi-Wan navigated through Correlia’s busy streets, his expression set in quiet frustration. Harry could sense his disapproval, though the his master didn’t voice it outright.

They arrived at the senator’s private residence—an unassuming yet well-secured building tucked away in the heart of Correlia’s diplomatic sector. Security was tighter than expected and the tension in the air was thick. Six private securite guards stood at the entrance, stiffening at the sight of the Jedi before granting them entry.

A servant led them to the senator’s study where they waited for less than a minute before, Senator Iblis strode into the room, his face etched with a cross between concern and anger.

"What happened?" he demanded, not even offering a greeting.

Obi-Wan inclined his head slightly. "Captain Falco was investigating a lead while Harry and I pursued another." His voice was calm but firm. "It appears that she was led into a trap. By the time we arrived, much of the area had been destroyed, and Falco, along with many of her men, had suffered serious injuries. We did what we could, but others will be able to provide a more detailed account of what happened to her. We arrived after the fact and spent most of our time helping the wounded."

Senator Iblis clenched his fists, pacing briefly before turning back to them. "And Jaxar?"

"We have no definitive leads yet," Obi-Wan admitted, his frustration showing for a brief moment before he composed himself. "But we will stop him."

The senator exhaled sharply. "I should have never left the planet."

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. "You should not have returned at all."

The words hung heavily in the air. Iblis stiffened, glaring at the Jedi Knight.

"This might have been Jaxar’s plan all along," Obi-Wan continued. "To draw you back to Correlia. You’ve played directly into his hands."

Iblis jaw tightened. "Are you suggesting I hide?"

"I’m suggesting you use caution," Obi-Wan countered. "You’re being reckless."

"Reckless?" Iblis voice rose slightly. "I have known Captain Falco for years. Do you think there is anything I want more than to be by her side right now? Every instinct is telling me to rush to CorSec HQ and see her for myself. But I won’t—because I understand the stakes. You Jedi might not be able to feel any emotions but I will not be lectured by you about what I should be doing."

Harry remained silent, watching the exchange closely.

Iblis took a slow breath, composing himself before speaking again. "I will not let this attack deter me. I will not let Jaxar dictate my actions. I still plan to appear at the Day of Joining events."

Obi-Wan’s frown deepened. "Is that wise?"

"If I go into hiding, his cartel, and the others for that matter, will claim it as a victory," Iblis snapped. "They will know their plan worked. As risky as it is, my presence at the events will force Jaxar to stick to whatever scheme he’s already set in motion—giving you the chance to stop him."

Harry nodded slightly, seeing the logic in it, even if it was dangerous.

Iblis stepped closer, eyes locking onto Obi-Wan’s. "I am not asking for your permission, Jedi. I will be there. Now get out and do your job."

Obi-Wan stared at him for a long moment before inclining his head. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the exit.

Harry followed, sparing one last glance at the senator before stepping out into the cool night air.

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The ride back to their accomadations was filled with silence.

Obi-Wan’s grip on the speeder’s controls was tighter than usual, his knuckles faintly whitening. Harry could sense the Jedi’s frustration but didn’t speak. He was thinking through everything himself.

After several long moments, Obi-Wan finally spoke.

"This complicates things."

Harry frowned. "Because he won’t back down?"

"He’s being foolish and putting thousands at risk," Obi-Wan said. "The senator being at the Day of Joining events guarantees that Jaxar will try something—and as bad as today was, whatever Jaxar has planned will be bigger than what happened today."

Harry exhaled. "So we use it against him."

Obi-Wan glanced at him. "What do you suggest?"

"Jaxar’s banking on this event," Harry said. "He’s expecting the senator to show up, which means he’s expecting a specific opportunity. We just need to figure out what that is, and we stop him before he takes the shot."

Obi-Wan was silent for a moment before nodding. "Agreed."

They had a plan. Now they just needed to make sure it worked—before Jaxar could strike again.

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At first light, Harry and Obi-Wan were already on the move.

The morning air on Correlia was already thick with the hum of traffic, the distant chatter of the city never quite fading. Neither of them had slept much, but neither was willing to slow down. Every moment counted. The Day of Joining was approaching fast, and they still had no solid leads on Jaxar’s next move.

CorSec had provided them with a list of individuals suspected of having ties to the crime lord. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. They pushed themselves to track down any lead, chasing whispers in the grimiest parts of Correlia.

They started with the low-level enforcers—those who were suspected of having acted on behalf of Jaxar’s at some point in the past. However, without fail no one they seemed to find happened to know anything. And unfortunately the people they were pointed to who might know something were either missing without a trace or had been silenced before they even arrived.

Harry and Obi-Wan stepped into a dingy apartment in the lower levels, where the stench of blaster burns and death clung to the walls. The man they had come to question lay slumped over a table, a hole burned clean through his chest. The body was still warm.

Obi-Wan exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “We’re running out of time.”

Harry swallowed hard, his frustration mounting. “Jaxar’s covering his tracks.”

Obi-Wan crouched beside the body, examining the wound. “He’s efficient. He’s erasing anyone who could lead us to him.”

They moved to the next name on the list. The result was the same. The next one, too. Either the targets had been killed within the last couple of days, or they genuinely had no useful information.

It felt like chasing shadows.

They spoke with informants, contacts within CorSec, even street-level criminals who might have heard something. But it was as if Jaxar had vanished into thin air.

Hours turned to days.

Neither of them got more than a couple of hours of sleep at a time, taking turns grabbing quick rests in the speeder between leads. The weight of exhaustion settled over them, but neither was willing to stop.

By the end of the third day, after another fruitless search, they found themselves sitting in the common room of CorSec HQ. The headquarters was quieter at this hour, most officers either patrolling the city or trying to catch a little sleep before the Day of Joining security detail began first thing the next morning in full force.

Harry sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands over his face. Obi-Wan leaned back in the chair opposite him, his usual composure hiding his exhaustion—but Harry could see the way his shoulders sagged slightly, the way he rolled the stiffness from his neck.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with frustration.

Obi-Wan broke it first. “You need to get some sleep.”

Harry let out a humorless chuckle. “It’s not like you are in much better shape. But how can we? We haven’t found anything. And tomorrow’s the Day of Joining.”

Obi-Wan nodded. “It is.” He leveled a look at Harry, his voice calm but firm. “Which is why it’s all the more important that you’re rested.”

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Obi-Wan shook his head.

“We have done everything we could these past couple of days. Jaxar has done a good job keeping his head down. But tomorrow, if they decide to stick with their plans, they’ll have to come out of hiding. And that is when we will have our chance to catch them.”

Harry clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening into fists. “And what if that’s not enough?” He finally voiced the thought that had been clawing at his mind. He looked up at Obi-Wan, his frustration cracking through. “What if we fail?”

Obi-Wan leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. His gaze was steady, unwavering.

“We won’t.”

The certainty in his voice settled something in Harry’s chest, even as doubt still lingered at the edges of his thoughts.

After a moment, Harry let out a slow breath and leaned back against the couch. He didn’t say anything else, and Obi-Wan didn’t push further.

Tomorrow, everything would come to a head.

Tomorrow, they would have their chance.

And they wouldn’t fail.

And with that thought, Harry was asleep as soon as he shut his eyes.

Kind Regards,

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Story Note 1 – Happy that Captain Falco survived the attack! Although I imagine she will miss quite the exciting next chapter! Just a ‘FYI’. Hope you enjoy the next chapter as it should end up being slightly longer and certainly more action packed than usual!

Story Note 2 – Any guesses on how the Day of Joining is going to shake out? Love hearing guesses about what is coming up.

A large thanks to those of you out there who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you all are enjoying them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or have reached out to me directly.

Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars or their respective universes. Who knew.