Disclaimer: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi and all such familiar Star Wars characters are wholly not my property but that of George Lucas. Any other characters (Jameh, Zeklar, and Jan'zed) belong to me. I am merely exorcising an obssession that must be 'written out of' my head. That said, carry on.

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Prologue

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, talented young men and women were brought to the Jedi Temple on the city-planet of Coruscant to train under Jedi Masters to become Knights of this prestigious order.

Political times have become tumultuous and several member nations of the Republic have begun to assert their desire to separate. But, in the refuge of the Jedi Temple, a young female Padawan is sheltered from all but her life's aim of becoming a Jedi Knight and, someday, Master. But, even here, there are hard lessons to be learned.

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Chapter 1

The morning dawned quiet and clear, the sun warm as it rose over the skies of Coruscant. On the tallest balcony of the northern spire, a young woman stood. With her legs splayed firmly shoulder-length apart, her hands clasped behind her back, and her eyes closed, she seemed to be a million parsecs away. But, in reality, she sensed everything going on around her, from the warmth of the sun's rays to a leaf fluttering to the ground miles below the spire. Indeed, she was no ordinary young woman; she was a Jedi. Well, not quite. Still a Padawan, an apprentice to a Jedi Master, she wasn't far from becoming a true Jedi Knight.

Jameh Terrikan had been among the Jedi all her life. When she was but a babe, Jameh had been orphaned by a Civil War on her home planet of Neritano, on the Outer Rim. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn had been alive then and sensed her strength and oneness in the Force. Gaining permission from the Jedi Council, Qui-Gon traveled to Neritano, bringing Jameh back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training; she had now been there for sixteen years. Just then, a silent step fell on the balcony and Jameh welcomed her visitor without so much has moving. "Good morning, Master." She then slowly opened her eyes, turned, and bowed respectfully.

Jedi Master Newan Zeklar smiled. "Good morning, my young Padawan. Are you well?"

"Yes, Master. Quite well, thank you. Is all still within the Force?" Jameh asked, glancing out over the city again.

Master Zeklar replied, "You tell me. What did you sense during your meditations?"

Jameh closed her eyes again, concentrating. "I sense quiet, peace. But something grows on the edges of my mind, something I cannot perceive. Something dark," she answered truthfully, as she had always done with Master Zeklar. He knew her too well after so many years.

Newan Zeklar had indeed known Jameh all her life. The accomplished human Jedi from Coruscant had once served on the High Council but voluntarily stepped down when Jameh came of age so that he could train her as a Padawan. He nodded at her answer to his question and then turned for the door as Jameh followed, her lightsaber gliding through the air to her hand.

"Your ability to use the Force is increasing, Jameh. I am pleased." Zeklar said as they walked.

"I am glad, Master," she replied. "You teach me well."

"You learn well and that is half the battle, my young Padawan. Ahh, Obi-Wan. Anakin." Zeklar smiled and greeted their fellow Jedi.

"Good morning, Master Zeklar. Jameh." Obi-Wan smiled as Jameh bowed to him. Though he was not a true Jedi Master, only a Knight, Padawans such as Anakin and Jameh called him by the honorary title of 'Master'.

"Good morning, Master Kenobi." Jameh then straightened. "Hello, Anakin."

Anakin Skywalker nodded in return rather aloofly. "Hello, Jameh."

"Master Zeklar, our presence is requested in the Council room immediately." Obi-Wan informed his colleague.

"Of course. Anakin, you and Jameh will surely spar together later?" Zeklar asked.

"As you wish it, Master Zeklar," Anakin replied with a bow.

"That'll be all, Anakin and Jameh. Dismissed." Obi-Wan said.

Both Padawans bowed again, "Yes, Master." With that, they took their leave of Obi-Wan and Zeklar.

As the two Jedi moved through the halls, they discussed their Padawans.

"Jameh seems to be progressing well, Newan. I sense her strength and peace have grown steadily." Obi-Wan commented, wrapping his brown robe about himself.

Zeklar nodded. "Yes, she knows her faults and weaknesses and works hard to overcome them. She will make an excellent Jedi Knight one day. One of the best, if I flatter myself." Zeklar chuckled at this. "I think the same of young Anakin, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin is skilled beyond belief but I sense that he is quickly growing arrogant. If he is to be a Jedi, that must not happen! Arrogance breeds impatience." He spoke rapidly, as though greatly agitated.

Zeklar placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder kindly. "Have faith in young Anakin, Obi-Wan. All Jedi battle pride at one point or another, but the strong enough overcome it. You did, and so will Anakin."

Obi-Wan nodded at his friend's encouragement and, together, they entered the Council chamber.

Meanwhile, Jameh strolled through the Jedi Temple, deep in thought. She paused at the doorway of one of the training rooms, watching a clan of Younglings train. She smiled as she watched the children work on using their instincts with a lightsaber, the Nautolan Jedi Master Kit Fisto keeping his ever-watchful eye on each child.

After a moment, Jameh moved on through the Temple. This place had been her home her entire life and it was dear to her. Her only aim was to become a Jedi; it was the goal and purpose of her life and she worked towards it with every fiber of her being.

Soon, she was met by Master Yoda. Upon his greeting, Jameh bowed low, for she had a very deep respect for the Jedi Master.

"In deep thought you are, Jameh Terrikan. Nothing is wrong, I hope," the small Master said.

Slowly, Jameh straightened. "No, Master Yoda. All is well. I was just thinking," was her reply.

Master Yoda glanced up and beckoned her to walk with him. She moved slowly, out of respect, as he hobbled along next to her. "It is good, thinking is. Hmm! Much from it you learn." Yoda tapped along beside her with his walking stick.

Jameh marveled as she watched him. Who would have thought that such a small creature was incomparable with a lightsaber? She longed to learn battle skills from Master Yoda but knew that Jedi regulations bid her learn from Master Zeklar, and she was fiercely loyal as a Padawan. Yet she gladly took whatever lessons Master Yoda offered to teach.

"So, Jameh, desire to learn what do you?" Yoda questioned as they walked.

Jameh smiled, for it was a question that he often posed her. "I desire to learn to better use the Force, Master, and…" her voice trailed off quietly.

"And…?"

"And I desire to learn to control my emotions. I let my passions rule me sometimes and it is a fault," she confessed.

"Hmm! Good for the soul confession is." Master Yoda continued walking. "Understand your weaknesses you do. Half the battle, that is."

Jameh looked down at him again, her long black braid swinging over her shoulder as she remembered Master Zeklar's words during their walk earlier that morning. "Thank you, Master Yoda." Then she heard the faint bells in the tower. "I should go, Master; I am to spar with Anakin shortly."

"Yes, yes." Yoda nodded as the young Padawan bowed as low as before and then strode down the hall toward the training chambers.

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"That's good, keep your balance! Move your feet, Jameh! Not so forceful, Anakin!" Obi-Wan called out instructions as two skilled—excellently skilled—Padawans sparred, their lightsabers flashing and sparking.

Anakin fought as though a fury raged within him, his stance hugely aggressive. It was all Jameh could do to defend herself and sometimes gain the upper hand. At length, she had Anakin on the run when he suddenly lashed out like a cornered animal! He moved speedily and far more offensively, his saber beam a blur. As his adrenaline pumped, Anakin's vision became clouded. In his mind, he didn't see a fellow Jedi; he saw an enemy and enemies must be defeated!

With blinding quickness, Anakin flashed his saber across Jameh's momentarily unguarded left bicep. She saw the strike coming and moved to avoid it but wasn't quite quick enough. With a cry, her lightsaber clattered to the floor and disengaged as she fell to one knee.

"Stop!" Master Zeklar's voice boomed as he and Obi-Wan rushed forward.

Anakin backed away, his sight clearing. But the heat of battle still rushed in his veins and his grip on his own lightsaber was like a vise.

Summoning all her strength of composure, Jameh rose to her feet, the wound smoking a bit.

"Jameh, are you all right?" Master Zeklar questioned quickly.

"Yes, Master. It was my fault; I left my side unguarded. Forgive me, Master," she said. "It's not serious, just a glance. If you will allow me, I will retire to take care of it."

"Of course," Obi-Wan dismissed her and, bowing, Jameh summoned her lightsaber and exited the training room.

"Young Anakin, your hand is quick. But do not allow it to overtake your reason," was all Master Zeklar said before taking his leave as well.

When the room was empty, Obi-Wan turned to Anakin, obviously angry with his apprentice. "You are entirely too impetuous, Anakin!"

"You heard her, Master. It was her own fault." Anakin defended himself.

"Regardless, Jameh is a fellow Padawan and Jedi. You will be more careful!" There was no room for Obi-Wan to be argued with. "Jedi are keepers of the peace, not antagonizers! Arrogance has no place here, Anakin. Remember that!"

"Yes, Master. I'm sorry, Master," Anakin lowered his eyes and disengaged his lightsaber as Obi-Wan strode from the room. He felt something stir in his heart, something hard. Anger maybe? Or was it resentment? He wasn't sure and so pushed it out of his mind as he left to walk the halls of the Temple for a while.

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Jameh sat in her small quarters, carefully cleaning and letting her fellow Padawan, Pilae Lin'ess, bandage the wound. It was actually worse than she had let on, but she sought to be brave and learn to bear pain.

"I still can't believe that he would wound a fellow Jedi. Is something wrong with him, Jameh?" Pilae asked as she finished the bandage. Her powder-blue skin was tinged with red around her cheeks, showing that she was angry at young Skywalker's actions. And it took something quite serious to make calm-minded Pilae angry. When she had tied the bandage, Pilae stood up, the ointment and rags in her hands.

"Arms up," she said with a smile. Jameh gingerly raised her arms as a fresh tunic floated down over her head.

"Thank you. Look, I'm sure he didn't mean it, Pilae. I let my guard down," Jameh replied.

Pilae smiled as she put away the rags and ointment liquid and threw away the scorched tunic. "You always look for the best in people, Jameh," she said.

"I have to. Otherwise, how can I expect others to look for the best in me?" Jameh replied quietly.

Pilae nodded, her Twi'lek lekuu swaying a bit. "Good night, Jameh."

"Good night, Pilae." Jameh sat down on her bed again and began to undo her braid.

Pilae, however, was met at the door by a sullen-faced Anakin Skywalker.

"Is Jameh awake?" he asked.

The Twi'lek stiffened a bit. "Yes, but she needs to rest."

"I need to speak with her. I won't be long." Anakin promised.

"Who is it, Pilae?" Jameh had heard the lowered voices.

"It's Anakin Skywalker." He stuck his head in the doorway.

"Come in," she told him quietly. "Thank you, Pilae." With that, the door panel slid shut behind her friend.

Anakin stood uncomfortably in the middle of the room, not sure how to put what he needed to say. Jameh watched him, her dark eyes unreadable.

"Jameh, I came here to…" The word stuck in his throat. Saying it to a Master was one thing but this…

Jameh supplied the word. "Apologize?"

Anakin sighed. "Yes."

She smiled. "It was my fault, Anakin. My guard was down. But thank you."

He turned his gaze from hers, which seemed to see into his very soul. "You could have fought back harder, Jameh. You could have attacked more aggressively. I sense that you could have."

"It was only a sparring exercise, Anakin. Besides, you are a fellow Jedi. Master Zeklar would have been displeased if I had purposely laid harm to you." She spoke so calmly that it grated on Anakin's nerves.

"But don't you ever feel like Master Zeklar is holding you back, keeping your real talent at bay?" He crossed his arms over his chest and stared out the window.

"No. But if he is, Anakin, it's because he knows that I am not ready nor have learned enough to handle such power and strength." Jameh answered truthfully. She sensed the disturbance in Anakin's soul and sought to soothe it if she could. "Do you feel so about Master Kenobi?"

Anakin was silent for a moment, leaning his forearm on the side of the window. Then he answered. "Yes."

Jameh watched as he closed his eyes before speaking again. "I'm as good as Obi-Wan, better in some areas! I think he's afraid I'll surpass him." He accented his next words with a slam of his fist. "He's jealous!"

"Anakin, don't. Arrogance breeds impatience and the Dark Side feeds on that."

Anakin turned to his fellow Padawan. "Why? Why shouldn't I be proud of what I am capable of?"

"Being a Jedi is not about being the best, it's about doing our best. We are protectors, not warriors. The life of a Jedi is service, not splendor—giving, not glory. That is what it means to be a Jedi." Jameh spoke warmly, for this was what she believed, what she lived for. When she saw Anakin's eyes narrow, she lowered her own for a moment.

"Forgive me, Anakin. I do not mean to instruct you. It's just that this is the only life I've ever known, the only thing I have ever lived for, and so it and its ideals are precious to me," she explained slowly. She knew that Anakin had known life outside the Jedi Order, a hard one where nothing had truly been his own.

Abruptly, Anakin turned towards the door as though those deep-seeking brown eyes greatly disturbed him. "I should go now. You need to rest. Good night, Jameh." With that, he took his leave of her quarters.

Jameh watched the young man with sadness in her heart for she could sense a darkness growing around him. "Anakin must not let this arrogance grow in him."