A/N: Okay, so I've had this story bouncing around in my head forever, and I finally had the time to write it out. However, I haven't seen the movies/read the books in a while, so it's entirely possible that I've made some mistakes. Feel free to point them out, if you feel so inclined. Just in case you didn't know, I'm not George Lucas, and therefore do not own any portion of the Star Wars industry. I am merely a poor college student. Suing me would be more trouble than it's worth. The song lyrics aren't mine, either. They belong to the oh-so-talented Sarah McLachlan. The song is called "I Will Remeber You". Anywho, let me know if you like it, hate it, want to see more, never want to see it again, whatever.
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I'm so afraid to love you, more afraid to lose; Clinging to a pass that doesn't let me choose.
Once there was a darkness, a deep and endless night; It gave me everything it had, oh, it gave me light.
And I will remember you; will you remember me? Don't let your life pass you by. Weep not for the memories.
Obi-Wan Kenobi tried to hold onto the image of the face before him, the copper hair and the bright green eyes, but just as the song faded as the stereo system finished the track, so the memory of her face also disappeared.
"Cerasi," he whispered, eyes still closed. The memory that suddenly replaced that of her smiling eyes was the last memory he had of the girl he'd thought himself in love with—her death in his arms. The guilt and the shame of not being able to save her, the only person he would ever have had the chance to love, was just as strong now, five years later, as it had been then.
"Padawan," Qui-Gon called from the doorway, bringing the younger man back to the present, where he was once again a Jedi. "The Council wishes to see us."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said obediently, leaving his meditative position and following the Master Jedi into the hallway.
From another hallway to Obi-Wan's left, bright green and copper flashed. He turned his head quickly, but just as every other time, it was just another apprentice, whose hair and eyes were both more dull than Cerasi's had been.
"You seem distracted, Padawan. Is everything alright?" Qui-Gon queried.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
Obi-Wan was saved from having to answer that question by their arrival at and the subsequent opening of the doors to the Council Chamber. Master and Padawan entered the room and bowed respectfully to the twelve masters seated around the room.
Master Adi-Gallia leaned forward and steepled her fingers under her chin. "Something interesting has popped up," she stated. "We would like you to view this holo-clip we received." She nodded towards the center of the room just as an image began to form there.
The holo-clip was of poor quality, grainy and snowy from decay. The clip started off showing a room full of children, filthy, clothed in rags, many crying. Some were settled in the laps of older youths, being comforted, bandaged, and fed meager rations. The holo-recorder panned across the room, showing many saddening images of the dejected children and their young caretakers. The wardens were obviously not adults, yet they were just as obviously attempting to hide their own fears and worries in order to properly soothe and care for their charges. The last image finally froze in place: it was a picture of a brunette teenager, beautiful despite the dirt smeared into her skin and hair. She was draped with many children of all ages. One particular young girl was settled comfortably in her lap, sucking on a grubby thumb. The child had one leg that was bandaged and twice the size of the other. She suddenly raised her lowered eyes, just at the end, staring straight into the recorder. Obi-Wan was rooted in place, unable to move under the force of that stare…and the unexpected, overwhelming wave of emotion that accompanied it.
"Padawan? Obi-Wan, what is it?" he vaguely heard Qui-Gon ask. He couldn't answer. He could do nothing but stare into those big blue eyes…
The recording snapped off, and Obi-Wan blinked fiercely at the harsh loss of that gaze.
"Obi-Wan?" That was Master Yoda. One did not ignore him, no matter the circumstances.
"Begging your pardon, masters," he glanced to Qui-Gon, hoping to convey that he had meant no disrespect. "The little girl at the end, the one with the bandaged leg…"
"Yes, Obi-Wan?"
"I got something from her. Something powerful. I was feeling her emotions. Her sorrow, her pain, her hunger, her fear." He looked up, straight into Mace Windu's eyes. "Is that possible?" He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of every master in turn, his own included, finally settling on Master Yoda. Each face showed disbelief and confusion. "Masters?"
There was only silence.
"You're sure, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked softly from behind.
Obi-Wan turned. Did his master not trust him? But no, Qui-Gon just wanted him to be sure it had come from the little girl, to affirm as much for the Council.
"Yes, Master, I am sure."
"Very strange, all this is," Master Yoda said in his typical disjointed speech.
"There was a text file on the device that included this clip," Ki-Adi Mundi added. "We were only able to translate it roughly, but this appears to be a call-to-arms, a public service announcement to mobilize the people. It mentions that the entire future generation is at risk of being destroyed."
Master Windu leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "We are sending you to this planet, Terrae The Council has previously heard from this planet, but this evidence is something we have not yet seen. Terrae has seemed peaceful and prosperous. We had no reason to suspect such disarray. Your mission will be to investigate and report back. Past that…well, we're looking to you to use your discretions as to the best course of action. With our approval, of course."
"Of course, Masters."
"May the Force be with you."
"And you as well, Masters."
Obi-Wan bowed along with his master, and then the two were off, once again on a rescue mission.