Written Across the Stars

Summary: AU. Obi-wanOC."They seem to have disappeared into that black hole and if we pursue them it will be very dangerous. Who knows where we might end up." Jade's brown eyes seemed to narrow in acceptance of the challenge, her hands clenching onto the controls that much tighter as the ship raced towards the unknown…

Authors Note: This is an AU story, and I apologize beforehand if my knowledge of the Star Wars universe is minimal. The world I created, Eonia, is very similar to earth but they have far more advanced technology. Just an FYI the Guardian/handmaidens are like Jedi, only not as intensely trained or restricted. Plus they are all women, there are men but they are trained as soldiers instead of Guardians.

Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

-M.C

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, or anything affiliated with it. Everything you don't recognize is mine. :)

Prologue:

Spring had come to the lovely city of Eastbourne. The trees had turned to an enchanting shade of green and all of the wild flowers had begun to grow in the fields of the countryside. The palace of Eastebourne, where Her Majesty Queen Callista lived throughout the spring and summer months, was slowly beginning to awaken. Warm sun rays had filtered through the windows of the large palace as the sun began to rise over the mountains. Most of the inhabitants of the palace were barely waking, while the servant quarters were bustling with activity to prepare for the morning meal. For the better part of the past week the Queen's palace has been catering to the most prestigious senators and government officials in the country. They had all come together for the biannual session of congress, which always ended with a grand ball that many important people attended.

With so many guests coming and going, security at the palace had increased tenfold. One would find soldiers at every door, and pacing every hallway diligently. The Queen had many enemies from out of the country, due to her diligent campaign to end the wars that had erupted all around the world. Eonia would remain a neutral country, and she would allow no bloodshed to commence on Eonia soil. To that end the northern border were avidly protected. At all other's sides Eonia was surrounded by allies.

Queen Callista herself had several bodyguards. All raised in the countryside palace, and trained there accordingly as well. All of her handmaidens were very talented and trained in the ways of the Gods, which is a skill they call Valor. Only a few people were blessed with the ability to control these gifts, and so if their parents allow, they are chosen to protect their queen.

Emmara Niada was one of the select few blessed with these strengths. She had been sent to the Eastbourne Palace when she was almost nine years of age, which is slightly older than most of the others. Now, almost eleven years later, she is one of the most trusted of the Queen's bodyguard-slash-handmaidens. Queen Callista holds her in high regard, and values Emmara's opinion. Emmara has served closely to the Queen for four years now, and they have become close friends. Well as close as a Queen and a bodyguard could be.

Emmara had awoken before the sun to train briefly in the courtyard and go for her usual run through the Eastbourne Forest before going to the dance studio to dance for an hour. Before she had come to the palace to train as a Guardian, she had been training to become a dancer. It was her favorite thing to do, no matter what kind of dancing. Even after leaving home to live at the palace she kept up with her hobby, and still danced whenever possible.

At the moment Queen Callista was preparing herself for the morning meal and Emmara was outside of her door standing guard. Her closest friend and fellow handmaiden, Jade Aviosa, stood beside her. They had trained together for most of their time at the palace. When Jade had been selected as one of the Queen's personal bodyguards Emmara was the one who showed her the ropes.

"Mara?" Emmara's head turned to see one of the younger pupils calling her name, at least the pupil's version of her name.

Halley Jax had broken the hold that the older student had on her hand and came dashing down the hall to Emmara.

"Well hello there Halley." She greeted, bending down so she was almost eye level with the nine year old. She was very small for her age, short and very thin. Her big personality made up for her lack of height though, she was so sweet. The strawberry blonde girl smiled widely at Emmara before giving her a tight hug.

"Guess what?" Halley asked, and Emmara grinned.

"What?"

"Ava is going to teach me how to fly today!" The little girl squealed in excitement, "and one day I will be a royal handmaiden just like you." She promised and her coffee brown eyes lit up. Emmara smiled and nodded her head.

"I guarantee you will best me in a race before you know it." She ruffled the girl's hair before shuffling her back over to her mentor for the day. "You be careful and make sure to listen to Ava." Emmara gave a brief nod to Ava in greeting before they walked away. Emmara had never been close to many of the small children in the palace, but when she had guest taught the young ones about three years ago Halley had singled her out and had become attached to the handmaiden. Ever since that day Halley had always come to Emmara with her questions, or if she just wanted to play.

"She is a bright little girl." Jade commented as her eyes followed after Halley. She smiled and looked to Emmara. Emmara agreed full heartedly.

"She will be one of the greatest. I can feel it." Emmara turned so that her back was facing the wall once more, crossing her arms over her chest.

An uneasy feeling suddenly began to fester in her stomach and she opened her mind, reaching out to feel everything around her. She felt Jade's slightly edgy presence as Jade bounced on her heels, and she felt Her Majesty's behind the door as well as the elder handmaiden that was with her. Those were not the presence that was bothering her. It was a dark presence, someone up to no good. It wasn't in the chambers with the Queen, not yet, but it was too close for comfort. Emmara's brow furrowed in concern and she turned to Jade.

"Do you feel that?" Jade focused her thoughts, closing her eyes briefly as she searched. Her eyes popped open.

"Someone is coming, and they aren't here for friendly conversation." Jade turned and knocked sternly on the Queen's door once, paused, and then three times more. That was their warning to the Queen that they were going to enter her chambers.

Emmara had her dagger in hand as she followed Jade into the Queen's chambers. Victoria, another handmaiden a decade older than Emmara, was standing with the Queen with her hand on her sword. She must have heard the knock and had rushed to inform the queen who now stood waiting in the receiving area of her large apartment. She stood with her auburn hair hanging loose and her nightgown still adorned. Emmara apologized and reiterated the situation to her, explaining that there was someone approaching who was not friendly.

"You should wait in your bedchambers with the door locked, do not come out unless one of us calls." The Queen looked hesitant, but nodded before rushing back through the hallway and locking herself in her room. They then turned to Victoria,

"Go with her, just in case they manage to get past us." Jade commanded before drawing her weapon. Emmara turned to the door, standing ready. She had replaced her dagger with her bow, armed with an arrow, and aimed at the door. The mysterious darkness was very close now, almost upon them. Jade had her gun drawn, also pointed at the door.

The handle began to rattle and Emmara readied herself. She listened as it clicked softly before it swung open. The man standing in the doorway was dressed in a very fine tailored charcoal suit and a blood red tie with a green band with a yellow symbol on his left arm. Before either of them could react he threw a small round object between them, and moments later it went off emitting a wave a pure energy that knocked them both off of their feet. Jade had been closer to the concussion grenade and had been thrown farther back and smacked her head against the wall, and was now on the floor with blood trickling from her head. She was still alive, only knocked out cold. As quickly as she possibly could Emmara stumbled to her feet and chased the assassin down the hall towards the Queen's bedchamber.

She was not far behind him. Her bow had fallen from her hand during the explosion and so she raised her dagger preparing to throw it just as he shot Victoria square in the chest. Victoria slumped to the floor, her life leaving her abruptly. Emmara paused in her steps, her heart twisting at the sight of one of her close friends deceased before her. She regained her footing and let her dagger fly, and she cursed when the blade grazed his arm and embedded itself in the door instead of the middle of his back where she had been aiming. The assassin turned back and spotted Emmara raising his gun he shot at her, and she dodged them. The assassin turned and kicked in the door and disappeared from Emmara's sight for only a moment.

When she reached the bedchamber, the man held his gun to the Queen's auburn head with a crazed scowl on his face. The Queen showed no fear, but instead kept her chin held high. She had dealt with scum like this before, and had yet to be injured. Emmara took it far more seriously, lowering her weapon in a sign of appeasement.

"You pesky guardians have proved to be more difficult than I had predicted." He hissed, "Don't move another muscle, missy. Or her brains will make a nice new wall painting." Emmara stood still raising her hands up above her head.

"This is suicide, assassin." Emmara threatened through clenched teeth. He only laughed, far too boisterously.

"The Queen's the one who's gonna die today." Emmara shook her head in disappointment; she had hoped maybe this one had at least a lick of sense.

"Did you neglect to do your homework? If you kill her, and I, as well as anyone in this palace will not stop until you are dead." Emmara lowered her hands behind her back to feel for the gun she had tucked there, as a last resort. She has always hated guns. The assassin noticed her hands and jerked the gun against the Queen's scalp, his eyes raging.

"Hands were I can see them, girly." He growled, tightening his grip on his prisoner. Emmara put her hands up in the air, unsure of how to proceed. She could certainly use Valor to push him away, but she feared if she did so he would pull the trigger and that would put the queen in danger.

Neither the assassin nor Emmara noticed when Jade had come sprinting down the hallway, and taken a shot at the assassin. The shot missed, grazing the assassin's ear but doing no fatal damage. Taken by surprise the assassin released his hold on the queen to grab at his injured ear. The queen hurried out of his arms reach and ducked to take cover behind her bodyguards. It only took a blink of an eye for the assassin to bolt away and crash through the window of the palace. Emmara and Jade both dashed to the window, and watched as the assassin scampered away. They were both astonished that he had survived the two story drop.

"He was wearing the symbol of GoSal on his arm." Jade noticed, her eyes narrowing as they turned to assist the queen. Emmara nodded, "Criax is becoming a very dangerous man, Your Majesty we need to be mindful of his little group."

"I agree with Jade. We can pursue him if you wish your majesty?" The queen shook her head,

"Not tonight, Emmara." She replied, "Your presence is needed at the royal gala. We know who he works for, and you can hunt my brother tomorrow." Her voice betrayed the sadness she was trying to hide on her stoic face. Although she pretended not to feel hurt by her brother's actions, Emmara knew better. GoSal , which stands for Government Salvation. Criax was their leader, and they used to be very close. Criax was her twin brother born only a few minutes after she was, and he had been bitter about it ever since. She assumed the throne simply because she was a few minutes his senior, and it ate him up. So recently he had decided to dedicate his life to overthrowing his sister and trying to take the throne from her.

The Queen was not happy that he was trying to cause a rebellion amongst the people. She had worked so hard to establish peace against a war riddled world, and now her own flesh and blood was trying to cause an up rise. He only had a few followers, twenty at the most, but now he had sent assassins to her? He was becoming dangerous, and needed to be taken care of.

Tomorrow they would start a search for GoSal and its men, but tonight they had a gala to attend. The Queen had insisted that her handmaidens come as ladies, not as bodyguards. She insisted that the soldiers could take care for the night. Emmara was not very keen to the idea. She hated dresses.

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