Chapter 1: The Reason We Are JEDI-Agents*
JEDI: Justice Emergency Detective Intelligence
Agents Ezra Bridger and Garazeb 'Zeb' Orrelios sat behind their desks.
"Who do you think this newbie is?" Zeb asked, looking at the empty desk at the other side of their group of desks.
"The Director said she was the best from the new trained agents." Ezra said and typed something on his computer. "I'll look it up."
"She you said." Zeb commented. "So a woman will be working with us."
After a few typing later, Ezra pressed a button as he went standing in front of the screen between his and Zeb's desk. A picture of a woman appeared on the screen. "This must be her." he said.
Zeb looked at the screen as he went standing in front of it too, seeing a black haired woman with a small nose and dark brown eyes. Her black uniform didn't cover the scar in her neck, which was a red line that was made with a knife or a whip.
"I wonder where she got that scar." Zeb said and turned to Ezra. "How good was she?"
Ezra typed again. "Clearly the best, she enrolled after 6 months the training program had started and worked herself to the level of professional. The trainers said she was determined to become a JEDI-Agent." Ezra replied as certificates appeared on the screen.
"She's good indeed." Zeb said as he saw the certificates.
"And you'll be experiencing it from today on." a voice above them said.
Both Ezra and Zeb looked up, seeing their Director standing there in his usual black leather uniform, his blonde hair brushed handsomely and his hawk-like blue eyes focused on them.
"When will she be here?" Ezra asked.
"I believe she is already standing behind you." their Director said and smiled at them.
Both turned around slowly, seeing a petite woman in a black JEDI-AGENT uniform with a lightsaber on her right. Her long black hair was wavy and reached 3 inches over her shoulders, her brown eyes were full of discipline and warrior straight like there sometimes was by their Director.
"You're the newbie?" Zeb asked, he seemed to be quite uncomfortable.
"My name's Alaika Antilles." the woman said. "I won't be referenced as 'newbie', okay?"
"Yes miss." Ezra & Zeb immediately said.
"Good." Alaika said and went to her desk, placing some pictures next to her computer and a datapad in front of it. Then she went away to the girls' bathroom next to the elevators.
Zeb saw the Director was gone and walked to Alaika's desk.
"What are you doing?" Ezra asked as he quickly walked over to Zeb.
Zeb picked a picture from the desk, seeing Alaika on it in purple clothing, holding two young girls in her arms while she smiled. Both girls wore white clothing, the oldest looking girl had blonde hair and the younger one black hair.
"Could they be her daughters?" Zeb asked.
"Ask her." Ezra said and went back to his desk. "We all have our reasons for becoming a JEDI-Agent."
Zeb sighed. "Yes, we do." he silently said as he looked at the picture again. He wished he could place himself in such a photo-frame with a woman by his side and a small Lasat baby in his arms.
"Zeb?" Ezra asked, but Zeb didn't react. "Zeb!"
Zeb said nothing, he just put the photo back, in exactly the same spot.
Ezra just went back to his computer, he knew about Zeb's past and he didn't dare to ask. He knew all about the genocide on the Lasat species.
When Alaika returned, she saw immediately that there was something wrong with Zeb. "If there's anything you want to talk about, I'm open for it." was all she said before returning to her desk.
"Don't sit down, just take your bags." a familiar voice said. It was their boss Kanan Jarrus. He walked through the hallway of their group desks towards the elevator. "Death politician at Aqua Square."
The three did what was ordered and followed their boss to the elevator.
The team arrived quickly at Aqua Square, finding the apartment complex completely closed by local cops. They showed their identity cards and were let into the building.
Ezra & Zeb took out their cameras and took pictures of the crime scene while Kanan talked to the police officer by the door and Alaika kneeled down by the body.
Alaika took out a wallet of the death Ithorian's pocket and looked on it. "Senator Tendau Bendon from Ithor." she identified him with a sigh. "He was a big supporter of retried JEDI-Agents as politicians and representatives within the Parliament and the Senate."
"Was he under our guidance?" Ezra asked.
"He didn't want to." Kanan replied and turned to Alaika. "Agent Antilles, would you please accompany me to the White House? I have to talk to President Organa."
"Of course sir." Alaika replied.
"Wait for Obi-wan until he arrives and return to your desks." Kanan ordered and took Alaika with him to the car to drive to the White House.
Alaika and Kanan were now standing by the gates of the White House.
Alaika didn't flinch when big FBI bodyguards asked for their ID's, she showed it to them.
"Special JEDI-Agent Kanan Jarrus from National Force-Sensitive Bureau of Intelligence and my fellow Agent Alaika Antilles. I have an appointment with President Organa." Kanan told.
"Alright, follow me." the FBI-agents said and brought them to the entrance of the White House.
The two JEDI-Agents entered the White House, seeing First Lady Breha Organa and her daughter Jessica. The FBI-Agents went to get President Organa from his office.
Lady Organa smiled as she saw Kanan and Alaika. "Mr. Jarrus, it's always nice to see you again. Who may this young Agent be?" she asked, looking at Alaika.
"My Lady, meet our newest recruit, Alaika Antilles." Kanan replied.
Lady Organa looked at Alaika, who smiled politely at her. "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Organa. My family may not approve of what I'm saying right now, but I think both you and President Organa are some of the greatest people in the country." Alaika spoke.
"I'm flattered, young Agent Antilles, and I'm sure my husband will be too." Lady Organa said.
The door of President Organa's office opened and the FBI-agents came back, with the President.
"Ah, Kanan, it's good to see you." President Organa said, pulling Kanan into a hug before he noticed Alaika standing there. "And who may this young lady be?"
"President, meet our newest recruit, Agent Alaika Antilles." Kanan introduced her.
"Jagged Antilles's youngest daughter, I suppose." President Organa said.
Alaika got uncomfortable with that statement. Suddenly, tears came up in her eyes.
"Agent Antilles?" Kanan asked.
Alaika turned around and ran out of the room.
"What's wrong with her?" President Organa asked. "I've never seen anyone react like that before when I mentioned a parent."
"Difficult past maybe." Kanan replied. "Or not such a good relationship with her parents."
"That could be the answer." President Organa said. "You better go find her before she'll randomly gets lost in the building. We'll talk later."
"Of course, Mr. President." Kanan said and walked out of the room to find his new Agent. He found her sitting near the door.
"Alaika, come." Kanan said, saying her name in a kind voice.
Alaika stood up, not saying a word. But Kanan knew enough by just one look in her eyes, he knew now why she had ran off in tears.
"We will have to talk about this, you know." Kanan said as they walked off the stairs of the White House.
"I know." Alaika said in a soft voice. "But when?"
"When the time is right." Kanan replied before his phone started to ring. He picked it up. "Kanan Jarrus."
Alaika waited for Kanan to hang up.
"Yes Director." Kanan said before he hang up. "Another Senator is murdered, this time in a less pleasant neighborhood."
"Which neighborhood is it then?" Alaika asked in her usual alert voice.
Kanan smiled, "A neighborhood in Jefferson." he replied.
Alaika stiffed and stopped. "There's no way I'm going there." she angrily said.
"Why not?" Kanan asked. "I can't miss you there, you're a good agent. And rule #2 within the NFSBI is 'don't waste the good'."
"Family trouble." Alaika muttered. "And my whole family lives in Jefferson."
"C'mon, we'll help you out if something's up with your family." Kanan said.
"Okay then." Alaika said. "But after this, I will never go back to Jefferson again."
"That's alright to me." Kanan said as they got into his car. And they didn't talk the whole way to Jefferson.
When Alaika stepped out of the car in Jefferson, she ended up in the last part of the city she wanted to be, in the neighborhood her parents lived. She grew uncomfortable again, but she couldn't let herself go like in the White House, she had to stay strong.
"Where do we have to be?" Alaika asked.
"That house over there, Zeb's already there. I believe the Director is here too." Kanan replied, pointing at a house where police cars were standing.
People from the neighborhood, all blonde haired, were shouting ugly things at the black police officer at the door.
It made Alaika's blood boil and she couldn't hold herself from exploding. Alaika made her way to the crowd and started to yell furiously: "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE BUSY WITH!? DISCRIMINATING POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THEIR HAIR AND SKIN COLOR?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO TO THOSE YOU DISCRIMINATE?! Hmm? Am I getting an answer yet?!"
The whole crowd had turned around and was staring with wide eyes at Alaika, who was standing tall in front of them, and very, very angry.
Kanan had looked at Alaika's outburst, and he knew there was something going on in this neighborhood that wasn't good at all.
Then a man approached them.
The man had short white blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a very ugly body that held traces of inbreeding.
"See who has finally returned to the community." the man said with amusement in his voice. "My black-head daughter Alaika. Couldn't save your own out there?"
"I have not returned to this community, father." Alaika spitted with disgust. "I have found a new family, a REAL family."
When Alaika's father was about to say something, the car of Alaika and Kanan's boss stopped. Director Skywalker stepped out of the driver's side, Dr. Kenobi out of the passenger's side.
Alaika's father looked at Director Skywalker with interest, and Alaika knew why.
Her boss send out authority from a high position, interest in making the world better, and above all, he has blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Agent Jarrus, Agent Antilles." Director Skywalker greeted them. "Thank you for arriving at the crime scene, please follow me inside."
The four got away from the still stunned crowd and Alaika's father, into the building after showing their agency badges.
The body was lying in the living room, covered in blood.
"Kanan, will you assist Obi-wan where needed?" Director Skywalker asked. "I need Agent Antilles upstairs."
While Kanan went to help Dr. Kenobi, Alaika followed her Director upstairs.
"Director, you can call me Alaika." Alaika told.
"Just not out in public." Director Skywalker said as he turned around. "Then people will suspect something."
"I don't understand what you mean." Alaika said, very confused.
"I want to see you in my office when we've returned, and tomorrow, you tell me what's going on in this neighborhood." Director Skywalker whispered into her ear. His right shoulder was against her right shoulder, his gloved right hand on her right thigh.
Alaika didn't really suspect something when he did that, just a cozy talk.
They didn't find anything upstairs and just got downstairs again, where Kanan and Obi-wan had packed the death body.
"The body is bigger than we thought." Obi-wan said. "It won't fit in your car, Kanan's is just big enough."
"That's not a problem." Director Skywalker said. "I'll take Agent Antilles with me."
Kanan nodded and helped Obi-wan carrying the death Senator's body.
"Why are so many Senators dying?" Alaika asked out of nothing.
"I don't have a clue." Luke said. "Come, we need to go."
Alaika walked out of the house beside her Director. The police agents had apparently send the angry crowd home, but people were looking at her from the gardens.
Alaika was slightly surprised that her Director opened the car door for her. And he was even smiling at her!
Apparently, the people watching them were shocked. Alaika saw their faces as Luke drove them away, in the direction of the highway.
"Would you mind telling me right now what's going on there in Jefferson?" Luke asked.
Alaika sighed. "I rather don't talk about my childhood." she said.
"But if you never talk about it, it shall forever haunt you. And remember, we are not like them, we don't misuse the past of another to manipulate or whatever your father does." Luke told. "We're a family, a real family."
Alaika took a deep breath, then she started to tell. "As you may have seen, all people in the neighborhood are blond, ugly and stupid. My dad sees anyone with blonde hair as a superior human being, a noble one, brunettes and aliens standing just a small level below in the ranks as middle class. Redheads and blackheads are the lowest sort, they bring nothing good to a family, and if they're born, they should be beaten until they just break and kill themselves before they ever had a chance to love and get a child." Alaika said. "And I was one of those abused children. I managed to run away by finding out I was Force-Sensitive. The only thing I want is protecting my nieces against my father."
Her Director was silent.
"You don't understand it, do you?" Alaika asked angrily.
"I will never know where you went through." her Director replied. "But I know that child abuse is forbidden by law."
"My dad doesn't care a thing about laws. He thinks politics are stupid and unnecessary." Alaika commented. "He also hates Force-Sensitives."
"And you became a JEDI-Agent to flee the abuse?" her Director asked.
"No." Alaika replied. "I did this for my nieces, for Myri and Syal, and for my brother Wedge."
"They must be very important to you." her Director commented.
"They are." Alaika said. "Wedge was always there for me during our childhood years. And Syal is so perfectly rebellious, and Myri, she's like me."
"She's like you? How much then?" her Director asked.
"She has black hair too, she must go through the same things I had to go through. My brother would never hurt her, but my father….. he doesn't know the definition of family. Hair color is enough for him to judge you, except when there's something else going on, like Force-Sensitivity or things with politicians." Alaika said.
"I will help you to protect your nieces." her Director said. "All of us will."
"Thank you Director." Alaika said.
"There is no need to thank me." her Director said. "And please, call me Luke."
"Of course…. Luke." Alaika said, smiling as she tested his name. It sounded very unprofessional, but if he stood on it.
Luke smiled when he heard his name coming out of her mouth. Alaika clearly didn't know she was pretty. 'But you're going to change that.' a voice said in his head. 'Why not doing it now? She's right next to you.'
Luke shaked his head at the thought. He couldn't do anything now, she was way to vulnerable and would look even more weaker if he did it now. He had to wait, until she was stronger, trusting him more. And when she was stronger, she was even prettier.
Luke and Alaika arrived at the hidden headquarters.
Since the NFSBI was nothing but a secret organization what was in public only known as a police task force, they didn't have headquarters like other agencies. The headquarters were built in an abandoned industrial area, under the ground.
Several specific buildings were the entrance to the underground quarters.
Luke and Alaika went into one of the buildings that held an entrance to the quarters.
Luke typed the special code in the elevator, bringing them down to the level where Alaika worked.
"You go back to your team." Luke told her as Alaika had turned around after stepping out of the elevator. "I need to go to my office. Tell them what you told me, I assure you they will try to help you."
"Thank you, Luke." Alaika said and went to her own desk.
Luke went to the level where his office was, which was the lowest level of the quarters. He locked the door behind him, to be sure no one would disturb him, and sat down on the chair behind his desk.
Luke looked at the pictures on the wall on his right.
There was a picture of him with his parents and his sister when he was younger, one of him with his ex-wife Mara and their son Ben, a recent one of his niece and nephews, one of him with his sister and cousins, one of his aunt and uncle, one of his grandparents and several other family pictures.
Luke smiled at seeing them. He was lucky with such a family, feeling sorry for Alaika, who never had such a happy childhood. His parents were so happy when he told them he was Force-Sensitive and that he would create an agency to bring them all together. His mother, Senator Padmé Amidala, had even helped him with the administration and his father, U.S. Marshall Anakin Skywalker, had secretly built the Academy for him.
Oh, he was such a lucky boy.
Luke knew not everyone was that lucky, and Alaika was one of those, just as Ezra, who lost his parents very young, and Garazeb, who had to witness the destruction of his entire specie. And Kanan, he had witnessed the Huttesian Revolution 14 years ago.
At times, Luke wished everyone could have a happy childhood, but he knew that would be an impossible dream.
Luke sighed and took Alaika's file out of a pile, starting to add notes to her story.
All his agents' files were handwritten by himself. It was necessary, because of the stories each of them had, the reason they had for joining the agency.
Luke kept writing, all what was in his mind.
Alaika had reunited with her team, and decided it was time to tell the others why she had joined the agency.
All of them were now sitting in the middle of their space.
"So, what's your reason to be here?" Kanan said.
Alaika looked at the ground. "I never had such a happy childhood. My father thinks in a different way than the society does, he believes in supremacy. This whole supremacy system he believes in is much like the 3 layers of society back in the 15th and 16th century from Europe." she told as the others were silent. "And the system judges on what you do for living and your hair color. I start with the highest class, the ones who also believe in the supremacy system, have blonde or brown hair, hate to actually work and if they work they do low-paid jobs, and they must hate politicians and JEDI-Agent the most. The second layer would be the middle class, existing out of those who believe less in the supremacy system or those who are humanoids. And the last class, which is not really a class but more a layer of slaves, this one exists out of redheads, blackheads, politicians and JEDI-Agents."
The team was silent and in shock.
"And it is this system what made me want to flee the neighborhood I come from, but it wasn't my real reason to join the NFSBI." Alaika said. "The real reason, is and were, my nieces Syal and Myri." she picked the picture of her and her nieces from her desk. "I've loved them since they were born, and I would die to protect Myri from everything I've been through at her age. The constant abuse by your father, the yelling of your mother, and neighbors who hated you for your hair color. It almost drove me mental, almost want to kill myself to get away, but no. I had to stay strong and protect Myri when I was strong enough, I wouldn't let them win, 'cause if they think they've won, they won't stop." Alaika was now crying, looking at the happy photo of her and her nieces.
"You're not alone in this." Kanan said, drying her tears with a tissue. "We all have our story."
"What's yours then?" Alaika asked, taking the tissue from Kanan to dry her tears alone.
"I did this for my daughter." Kanan said. "I have witnessed the Huttesian Revolution when I was in the army of my planet, I was only 18. Many of us died, and when my daughter became a National SEAL, I wanted to be able to protect her against those who would only mean harm to her. I wouldn't want my life any different now."
"How about you Zeb?" Alaika asked.
"I witnessed the destruction of the Lasat species." Zeb told. "All I ever wanted was a family, but I couldn't protect them against the Imperials. Now, if I'm ever getting a family, I will be able to protect them now I'm stronger."
"Ezra?" Alaika asked, looking at Ezra.
"My parents were murdered when I was 8." Ezra told. "I lived on the streets of Seattle way to long, and all I could was steal from people who didn't know me. It's why I developed my fondness of technology."
Alaika smiled. "I'm glad that I'm not alone." she said.
"And you'll never be alone." Kanan said. "We will help you."
"Cost what cost." Ezra added.
"Till the end of time." Zeb said.
"You guys are the best." Alaika said and hugged them in a group hug.
They didn't know that their Director was looking at them from the floor above them.
This story is more of an experiment, please place helpful comments, not to flamy please.
-Gryffindorgirl746