A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Admiral Yularen entered the communication room where Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu were waiting for him. He had just left Christophsis after defeating the Separatist army stationed there to retrieve supplies and reinforcements. He had been trying to get in touch with General Kenobi and Skywalker for several hours and had been hopeful that this transmission had been them.
"We need to make contact with General Kenobi," said Mace as soon as Yularen joined them.
"We've been unable to reach him," said Yularen. "It could be a solar storm, or they're rebooting their communication system. I'm sure the blackout is temporary."
"A couple of messengers, we are sending, with important orders for General Kenobi," said Yoda.
"See to it that they get there as fast as possible," said Mace.
"Yes, sir," replied Yularen. "As soon as we load relief supplies."
"No time, there is," said Yoda, his aged face grim. "Immediately, the messengers must go."
"I understand, sir," said Yularen. "I will personally take an unloaded ship to drop them off, then return to pick up my reinforcements."
Christophsis, a turquoise planet situated on the major Corellian Run hyper lane and close to the planet of Rodia. The Outer Rim world of Christophsis was the only planet in the Savareen sector's Cristoph system with an atmosphere able to support life. With only one moon, it orbited the star of Christoph. Famous for the beauty of the nearby asteroid belts, it's location still made it hazardous for sentient beings to live there, being a target for stray rocks. The sentient beings who took the risk to live there built magnificent cities out of the crystalized terrain. Spikes of crystal rose from the ground in vast quantities. However some of those magnificent buildings were now shattered and destroyed.
A fierce battle was being waged between dwindling Republican forces and the Separatist droid armies. An entire legion was marching on General Kenobi's location from the south. Anakin, who had thought the battle had been long over, rushed to the front lines to observe what was transpiring. His astromech droid, R2-D2, rolled right on by him towards safety.
"They're back!" Anakin called back to his former master, Obi-Wan, who had followed him.
"I told you this victory was too easy," said Obi-Wan. "We never should have sent the ship back for supplies."
"It wasn't my idea to send the ship back," retorted Anakin. Obi-Wan ignored his former Padawan for a moment. It didn't matter whose idea it was. They needed reinforcements and quick.
"All right, men, second wave incoming," shouted Obi-Wan.
"Rex, you and your men follow me," Anakin ordered before taking off with his captain right behind him.
"Cody, battle positions!" Obi-Wan ordered his commander.
"Up to the front!" shouted Cody. A heavy rain of red lasers were fired upon Kenobi's forces while Anakin and his men disappeared into the shadows. Clones hid behind rocks and fallen buildings, returning fire, as droids marched in an orderly fashion towards their location. The real threats were not the battle droids or the super battle droids, rather, the four legged spider droids with fire power that could easily take out the heavy cannons.
Despite their threat, the clone troopers focused their aim on the battle droids. Cody turned to General Kenobi, nervousness laced in his voice, "Skywalker should have attacked by now!"
"Don't worry!" Kenobi replied. "He knows the plan!"
Sure enough, standing on a crumbling building just over the spider droids, Anakin was patiently waiting for his opportunity to strike when Captain Rex spoke.
"What's our plan of attack, sir?" he asked. Anakin let a smirk cross his lips before turning to Rex.
"Follow me," he said slyly before jumping off and onto the unsuspecting spider droid below. Rex and his men followed without question, immediately shooting at the spider droids, attempting to bring them down. One of the other spider droids spotted Anakin on top of one of its companions and began shooting at him. As soon as Obi-Wan spotted Anakin's light saber deflecting blaster shots, he and his men ran out to face the oncoming battle droids.
Obi-Wan took down the remaining super battle droids, most of which were destroyed by the fire of the heavy cannons, before watching Anakin take down all three of the spider droids. However, behind them were several dozen tanks. Luckily, they were in range of the cannons' fire, but there was no telling how long that would hold them back.
"We're gonna need reinforcements," said Anakin deflecting blaster fire.
"We haven't been able to get through to the Admiral," said Obi-Wan. The tanks continued forward until it became obvious that they could not get passed the Republic's heavy cannons. The droids stopped and pulled back.
"They're retreating!" said Anakin. "They can't get passed the fire of the cannons." Cheers rang out from among the ranks.
"I guess we've held them off for a little while," said Rex just as a single Republican craft sailed over head.
"Looks like help has arrived," said Obi-Wan. "Our cruiser must be back."
"Which means we'll be able to get our reinforcements," said Anakin as they walked over to the landing area just as the ship was arriving.
"Then it looks like our problems are solved," said Obi-Wan. "Fresh troops, new supplies, and perhaps they brought my new Padawan with them."
"You really think it's a good idea to bring a Padawan learner into all this?" asked Anakin.
"I already had her picked out before this war even started," said Obi-Wan. "Since Geonosis, things just sort of got out of hand, and she was working with Master Plo Koon up until recently. You should put in a request for a Padawan. You'd make a good teacher."
Anakin chuckled at the thought. "No, thanks," he said.
"Anakin, teaching is a privilege," said Obi-Wan, "and it's part of a Jedi's responsibility to help train the next generation."
"A Padawan would just slow me down," said Anakin. The ship opened to reveal two young Jedi, a Togruta barely fifteen, and a human, closer to the age of twenty.
"A youngling?" said Obi-Wan. Both he and Anakin were assuming that the Togruta was the Padawan, and that the older one was already a Jedi.
"Who are you two supposed to be?" asked Anakin.
"I'm Oriana Meinhart," said the elder Jedi.
"And I'm Ahsoka Tano," said the younger. "Master Yoda sent us."
"We were told to tell both of you that you must get back to the Jedi Temple immediately," said Oriana. "There's an emergency."
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed," said Anakin, "but we're in a bit of an emergency right here."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "Our communications have been a bit unreliable, but we've been calling for help."
"Master Yoda hadn't heard from you," said Oriana. "So he sent both of us to deliver the message."
Anakin let out an exasperated sigh. "Great! They don't even know we're in trouble!"
"Maybe you can relay a signal through the cruiser that just dropped us off," said Ahsoka. Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other. It was worth a shot.
The four Jedi stood before their holocom, a lone clone stood before them. They could hear laser fire in the back ground.
"We're under attack by Separatist warships, but I'll try to make contact with the Jedi temple for you. Stand by." The four looked anxiously at one another when a figure, short in stature, but hardly in mind or power, appeared before them.
"Master Kenobi," said Yoda. "Glad Ahsoka and Oriana found you, I am."
"Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan. "We are trapped here, and vastly outnumbered. We are in no position to go anywhere or do anything. Our support ships have all been destroyed."
"Send reinforcements to you, we will," said Yoda just as the line was suddenly cut.
"Master Yoda?" called Oriana. The clone came back on.
"We've lost the transmission, sir," he said. "We'll get back to you as soon as we can." With that, the transmission ended.
"Well, I guess we'll have to hold out a little longer," said Anakin. Ahsoka and Oriana looked at each other momentarily.
"My apologies, ladies," said Obi-Wan. "It's time for a proper introduction."
"We are the new Padawan learners," said Oriana.
"Wait! You both are?" said Anakin. He looked skeptically at Oriana.
"Yes," said Ahsoka. "I have been assigned to Master Skywalker."
"And I have been assigned to Master Kenobi," said Oriana with a deep bow. Obi-Wan approached her, his hands folded neatly behind his back.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said. "Your new master." He smiled. "Well, as new as a Master can be since you were assigned to be my Padawan quite some time ago."
"A pleasure it is to finally meet you, Master," she replied.
"Hold on a second here!" said Anakin. "I didn't ask for a Padawan! And shouldn't you be Jedi knight by now?"
"My master had been killed in battle several years ago," Oriana replied. "I had been at the Temple studying while he had gone on that mission."
"Oh," said Anakin, unsure of how to react. "Still, I didn't ask for a Padawan!"
"Well, Master Yoda was very specific," said Ahsoka. "I'm assigned to Anakin Skywalker, and he is to supervise my Jedi training."
"We'll sort everything out later," said Obi-Wan. "It won't be long before those droids figure out a way around our cannons."
"I'll check on Rex in the lookout post," said Anakin.
"You'd better take her with you," said Obi-Wan. Anakin walked on with Ahsoka following behind. Oriana watched them worriedly.
"Come," said Obi-Wan, "We better get ready for the next assault."
"Master Kenobi," said Oriana, "I heard that Master Skywalker was your last Padawan."
"Indeed he was," said Obi-Wan. She shifted nervously, unsure of whether or not to bring in the rest of the subject.
"I also heard that he is believed to be the prophesied Chosen One," she said solemnly. It was a little overwhelming to believe that the Jedi who had taught and trained the Chosen One would choose to train her. How could she possibly live up to those expectations? Would he have those same expectations? Or would he think less of her and her abilities? Obi-Wan turned to her, sensing her anxiety.
"Be mindful of your thoughts, my young Padawan," he said with a smile. "While I do not expect you to be as... troublesome... as Anakin, the standards I had for Anakin will be no less for you."
Oriana smiled, glad that he thought no less of her than of Anakin. He knew as well as she that she was no where near Anakin's level of power, but he expected her to show just as much (if not more) control, patience, and discipline. Master and Padawan were helping the troopers gear up when they heard a loud mechanical hum coming from the droid armies.
Anakin and his men retreated from their posts for the time being to work on a strategy for this oncoming assault. With a shield in place, things were about to get impossible on the field. The two Knights and their Padawans stood around a hologram projection of their strategy.
"The shield generator is somewhere in this area," said ObiWan. "They're slowly increasing the diameter, and keeping it just ahead of their troops."
"Heavy cannons are gonna be useless against that," said Oriana.
"As they get closer, I suppose we could try to draw them into the buildings. That might level the playing field a bit."
"If that shield's gonna be such a problem, why don't we just take it out?" asked Ahsoka.
"Easier said than done," said Rex who had joined them.
"Well, I, for one," said Anakin, "agree with her. Someone has to get to that shield generator and destroy it. That's the key."
"Right then," said Obi-Wan. "Maybe you two can tiptoe through the enemy lines and solve this particular problem together."
"Can do, Master Kenobi," said Ahsoka.
"I'll decide what we do," said Anakin.
"Oriana and I will engage them here," said Obi-Wan, "that should give the two of you a chance to get through their lines undetected."
"You won't have much time," Oriana said to both of them. "The droids far outnumber us, so our ability to street fight is limited without the use of heavy cannons." She looked down at the hologram. "They will march forward under the protection of their shield until they are right on top of our cannons, then blow them away."
"We'll figure out a way," said Ahsoka. Oriana shook her head slightly, barely noticed by anyone other then Obi-Wan. "Come on, Master, let's go."
The two of them walked away with Anakin muttering about how they were going to have a talk if they survived this.
"They make quite the pair, don't they, Master?" said Oriana.
"You think they have a chance?" asked Rex.
"They better," said Obi-Wan. "If they can't turn off that shield generator before it reaches the heavy cannons, there'll be no escape for any of us."
The heavy cannons fired an endless blue rain upon the shield with absolutely no results. Oriana turned to Obi-Wan, her face calm, and making her look older than she really was.
"That shield is certainly putting a crimp in my day," said Obi-Wan.
"It's no use, Master," said Oriana. "The cannons have no effect, even at full power."
"Well, it was worth a try," Obi-Wan replied. "Rex! Tell the men to fall back!"
They all hid behind rocks and fallen buildings, waiting for the shield to passover them before engaging the enemy. Oriana let out a calming breath, releasing her anxiety into the Force and then letting it flow through her, becoming a part of it. She had always felt that she was the worst of all the Padawans, and to be assigned to a member of the High Council was an honor she didn't feel she deserved. Especially the one who had supervised the training of the Chosen One, but now was not the time for her to doubt herself or her abilities.
"Very good," said Obi-Wan. "Focus on the here and now, do not let your concentration wander to the past or the future. Be mindful of the Living Force."
"Yes, Master," she said pulling out her light saber and activating it just as the shield passed.
"We're inside the shield," said Obi-Wan. "Just stay away from those tanks." After a few minutes, both Master and Padawan leapt from their positions down into droid battalions. Everything happened all at once to Oriana, blocking several blasts, she sliced through several droids all at once. She could feel the Force guiding her muscles into the right positions, blocking enemy fire, cutting through their thick metal armor like butter. It was as natural as breathing for her, and at the same time calming, despite the chaos surrounding her.
When it became obvious that there were too many droids, they had to pull back into the buildings and eventually back out as the shield continued on towards the heavy cannons. Obi-Wan, Oriana, and Rex ducked for cover as more droids marched closer to their positions.
"The shield has almost reached the heavy cannons," cried Oriana.
"We're not gonna be able to stop them, sir," said Rex.
"Move your troops back to the heavy cannons," Obi-Wan ordered. "Do everything you can to protect them. Oriana and I will delay the droids."
"But-"
"That is an order, Captain!" shouted Obi-Wan. Just as Rex ran off with the rest of the troops, a super battle droid jumped over Oriana's head just as Obi-Wan's light saber cut through it. Through the will of the Force, Oriana jumped up and followed her Master's lead.
"I hope you have a plan, Master," she said.
"Just follow my lead and you'll be fine," he said, silently hoping that she was not like Anakin who would, in fact, disobey orders and come up with a plan of his own. After cutting down several battle droids, both Jedi found themselves surrounded by super battle droids, spider droids, and a tank. Obi-Wan turned his light saber off, and Oriana did the same, trusting both her Master and the Force. The top hatch of the tank opened to reveal General Whorm Loathsom.
"You must be the infamous General Kenobi," said Loathsom.
"Indeed," said Obi-Wan as he and Oriana had their light sabers taken away. "We surrender."
"Now, Master Kenobi, order your troops to stand down."
"General, have a seat," said Obi-Wan after telekinetically picking out some stones and setting them down.
"Have you gone mad?" asked Loathsom, gently scratching the side of his head in confusion.
"We've conceded the battle," said Oriana, immediately realizing her Master's plan. "Now we simply have to negotiate the terms of surrender."
"Don't try any tricks, Jedi," he said spitefully.
"Surely there's no reason we can't be civilized about this," said Obi-Wan. General Loathsom stepped out of his tank, followed by one of his droids, in order to meet with the two Jedi. "'Tis a rare honor to be able to meed one's opponent face-to-face. You're a legend throughout the Inner Core."
"Thank you," he said. "The honor is all mine. I'm so glad you decided to surrender."
"Well, at some point, one must accept the reality of the situation," said Obi-Wan before clearing his throat. "Might we have some refreshments?"
Oriana resisted the urge to roll her eyes or slam her head against the makeshift table. Her Master obviously had a plan, but still...
"You," Loathsom said to his rabbit-like droid companion. "Bring us something liquid."
"Thank you," said Obi-Wan. "This shouldn't take long."
Hopefully...
If it was obvious that Obi-Wan was stalling before, it was pretty clear now. Refreshments had been served, and Oriana was carefully sipping on the drink she had been given. It wasn't the best drink she'd ever tasted, but it was better to stall politely, if you were going to stall at all. She could tell, without the Force, that Loathsom was starting to get a little (to put it lightly) irritated.
Oriana listened as Obi-Wan tried to negotiate terms of surrender. With every word, Loathsom was starting to get more and more furious with this blatantly obvious distraction, and quite honestly, it just felt ridiculous to Oriana. Surely there was a more subtle way of stalling.
"Enough of this!" shouted Loathsom. "You are stalling!"
"Nonsense," replied Obi-Wan. "There are numerous details to be discussed." Angrily, the Admiral threw the table over (which Oriana had to avoid)
"Seize them!" He ordered his droids. Two super battle droids grabbed each of them and hoisted them into the air."Unless you call off your troops right now, I will have no choice but to destroy you."
"Truthfully I was hoping your shield would be knocked out by now," Obi-Wan muttered. Oriana could hear the the fight in the background. Time was almost up. She peered up to see the shield still up.
Closing her eyes, she let herself relax, waiting patiently for the cue from Anakin.
"Kill them," ordered Loathsom.
The shield dropped, finally. Oriana relaxed only momentarily before calling her light saber to her hand.
"Better late then never," she said as Obi-Wan did the same. Obi-Wan flipped himself out of the grip of the two super droids holding him and landed behind the General. The droids tried to shoot at them, only to have the blasts deflected by Oriana.
"Don't shoot!" shouted Loathsom.
"Something appears to have happened to your shield, General," said Obi-Wan as they heard the heavy cannons fire on the tanks and droid battalions. The battle had been won. Oriana let out a sigh as she stayed in a defensive position in case any of the droids tried to shoot at them, despite the General's orders. Obi-Wan turned on his holocom just as he was receiving a message from Admiral Yularen.
"General Kenobi, if you can hear me, we're through the blockade," said the Admiral. "The Separatist armada is in retreat. Your reinforcements should be landing in a moment." Indeed, as Obi-Wan and Oriana looked up, several dozens of gunships were coming down for a landing.
"Well," said Obi-Wan. "Shall we get going?" It wasn't long before the clone troopers found them and arrested General Loathsom. They arrived back at the encampment just as Master Yoda's gunship landed.
"Your timing is perfect, Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan.
"Good, it is, to see you both," said Yoda. Oriana bowed before Yoda, and he returned the gesture with a slight nod. "Your new Padawan, Master Kenobi, what do you think?"
"She does need some work," said Obi-Wan, "but that's why she's with me. It's Anakin and his new Padawan that seems to be the problem. Anakin does not think he is ready for a Padawan."
"Discuss this with Skywalker, we will," said Yoda.
Anakin and Ahsoka returned unharmed. Their mission to reclaim the planet Christophsis was a success. There was a lot of cheering amongst the ranks of the troopers.
"Master Obi-Wan, Master Yoda," said Anakin. "Oriana."
"Trouble, you have, with your new Padawan, I hear," said Yoda to Anakin.
"I was explaining the situation to Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan, noticing the exchange of looks between Anakin and Ahsoka.
"Really?"
"If not ready for a Padawan, you are, then perhaps, Obi-Wan, we can-"
"No, wait a minute. I admit Ahsoka is a little rough around the edges," interrupted Anakin. "But with a great deal of training, and patience, she might amount to something."
Oriana pursed her lips together, trying not to look too happy for both herself and Ahsoka being accepted by their Masters. She looked over at Ahsoka, who winked at her. Oriana flashed a smile her way, no longer able to keep it in.
"Skywalker, to the Teth system, you and your Padawan must go," said Yoda.
"Teth? That's Wild Space," said Anakin. "The droid army isn't even in that sector."
"Kidnapped, Jabba the Hutt's son has been."
"You want me to rescue Jabba's son?"
"Anakin, we'll need the Hutts' allegiance to give us an advantage over Dooku," said Obi-Wan.
"Negotiate the treaty with Jabba, Obi-Wan and Oriana will," said Yoda. "Find the renegades that hold Jabba's son, your mission will be, Skywalker."
"Come on, Master, it doesn't sound that hard," said Ahsoka. "I'll find Rex and get the troops organized."
"Don't worry, Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "Just teach her everything I taught you, and she'll turn out fine."
"You know, something makes me think this was your idea from the start," Anakin replied before he walked off to join Ahsoka.
"Let's just hope Anakin is ready for this responsibility," said Obi-Wan.
"Ready, he is, to teach an apprentice," replied Yoda. "To let go of his pupil, a greater challenge it will be. Master this, Skywalker must."
"If we've got to make a deal with Jabba the Hutt," said Obi-Wan, glancing briefly at Oriana. "We'd best be on our way."
"Master," said Oriana as she and Obi-Wan stepped away towards his ship.
"Yes?"
"I just want to thank you," she said. "For taking me in as your Padawan."
"The pleasure is all mine," said Obi-Wan as he smiled at her. "Come. We need to get to Tatooine quickly if we are to negotiate with Jabba."
"Yes, Master."
Tatooine, a real dust ball in the Outer Rim and home to Jabba the Hutt. Oriana, who did not have a ship of her own sat behind the pilot seat in Obi-Wan's craft. She heard Obi-Wan's astromech droid chirp nervously.
"Don't worry," said Obi-Wan. "I'm sure Jabba's in a good mood."
"Somehow," said Oriana as Obi-Wan's ship detached from the Hyperdrive engines, "that doesn't comfort me at all."
"Ah, I was wondering if you had a sense of humor," Obi-Wan replied. Oriana glared at the back of Obi-Wan's head.
"That wasn't supposed to be funny," she said. They landed gently just outside Jabba's Palace. The astromech droid continued to chirp worriedly. Both Obi-Wan and Oriana were greeted by Jabba's protocol droid and some of his lackeys.
"We should not keep the wise and powerful Jabba waiting," said the protocol droid.
"I wouldn't dream of it," said Obi-Wan. He and his young Padawan followed them into Jabba's palace. Inside was dark and dreary. It made Oriana very uncomfortable.
They were brought before Jabba, and it took everything in her not to wretch in front of everyone. Something powerful and sinister was watching them, but even as she looked around, she could not spot anything unusual in the room.
"Mighty Jabba, one of our most powerful Jedi is on his way to rescue your son," said Obi-Wan. "We will not let you down." Jabba replied, but it was in a language that only the Hutts knew.
"The most gracious Jabba has one more condition," said the protocol droid. "He demands you bring back the slime who kidnapped his little punky muffin."
"Punky?" laughed Oriana, earning herself a stern look from Obi-Wan.
"Dead or alive," the droid continued to translate. "If you do not succeed, Count Dooku and his droid army will."
Obi-Wan and Oriana left to tell Anakin what Jabba has demanded of them.
"Something's not right around here," said Oriana. "There's more to this."
"Don't let your mind wander," said Obi-Wan. "Keep your focus here and now where it belongs."
"But Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future," she argued. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile. Her words reminding him of a more joyful time.
"But not at the expense of the present," he replied. "All right, Anakin," Obi-Wan began as soon as they had communications set up. "Here's the story, Jabba has given us only one planetary rotation to get his son back home to Tatooine safe and sound."
"Won't take us that long, Master," said Anakin.
"Well, take extreme care. We have no idea who's holding Jabba's son. When Oriana and I have finished here, we will join you."
They had returned to their cruiser and were preparing to go to Anakin's aide when Oriana decided to speak to her master concerning what she had felt while they had been on Tatooine.
"Master," she said. "On Tatooine, I felt very uncomfortable. It was like something dark and heavy was weighing on my chest."
"That is the Dark side," said Obi-Wan, "and I felt it too. We were not alone there. I suspect that either Count Dooku or his assassin, Ventress, was there. We must hurry. No doubt Anakin will need our help."
"Yes Master," she said in agreement. Obi-Wan finally took a moment to study his new Padawan. She was calm and focused, unlike Anakin, who was always on the move. She listened to orders and obeyed without question, also unlike Anakin. Her hair was dark as well as her eyes. The only similarity between the two of them was their power. Anakin was certainly more powerful, but Master Yoda had confided in him that Oriana's midichlorian count rivaled Yoda's.
"But, that can't be right," said Obi-Wan. "How could her midichlorian count be higher than yours? The only Jedi who's count exceeds yours is Anakin's, and he's the Chosen One."
"Lucky, we were, to find her as young as she was," replied Yoda. "Her mother was a pirate and had left her on the planet of Kadareen to fend for herself when Master Windu found her."
"If she really is as powerful as you say, then shouldn't you be her teacher?" asked Obi-Wan.
"To be her teacher, you must," said Master Yoda.
They arrived in the Teth system just as Anakin's squadron had been overcome by the Separatists. Several fighters were launched from the cruiser. One of them carried Obi-Wan's Padawan. Oriana was an excellent pilot, but so were most Jedi.
"Incoming Vulture droids," said someone over the com link. Oriana let out a breath as she felt the Force flow through her. She melted out of her skin and into the ship, becoming one with it. She could feel ever gear and engine. She fired at the oncoming fighters, taking out three of them at once.
"Nice shot!" She heard Obi-Wan's voice praise her.
"Thank you, Master," she replied before suddenly doing a barrel roll to avoid fire from some of the other vulture droids. She could see a battle going on down below on the eastern side of the monastery.
"Master, there's a battle-"
"I see it," came the interrupting reply. "Where there's a battle, Anakin is probably in the middle of it. See if you can get down there and help them out."
"Yes Master!" she made a dive for the monastery. There were a few clones, but she did not see Anakin. She fired onto the droids, forcing them to retreat slightly so she could land and help out. "Master, I don't see Anakin!" she shouted over the com link.
"I'm coming! See if you can find him."
She found Rex taking cover as she and some other clones began the assault.
"Where is Skywalker?"
"My guess is he's still in the castle," he replied.
"Keep the droids occupied," she said. "I'll go find him."
She ran into the monastery where she found Count Dooku's assassin, Ventress, with light sabers ablaze and ready for battle.
"Ah, you must be Kenobi's new Padawan," she said. "Chasing after Skywalker, I presume."
Oriana had no response. She activated her light saber and lowered herself into a defensive position. The Force once again guided her movements. The two super droids were the first to be cut down as Ventress fled. Oriana hot on her heels.
Oriana stopped when Ventress disappeared from her sight. She could feel Ventress' frustration and anger. She looked around, trying to locate the assassin's position.
"Well, aren't you quiet," she heard Ventress chuckle, her voice echoing off the walls. "Not even Anakin is as serious as you are."
Despite the taunting, Oriana remained calm and composed. She was not easily frustrated or angered. She turned and blocked just in time, both of Ventress' red blades crashing into her purple one. They traded blows for several minutes, each gaining then losing ground before both of them felt a familiar presence enter the monastery.
"Looks like the Master is here to save his Padawan," said Ventress. She only became more frustrated when the taunting did not seem to work on Oriana. This was not Skywalker. It wasn't long before Obi-Wan caught up with them.
"Master Kenobi," said Ventress. "How good of you to join us. Now you can die together."
"I'm afraid we have you a bit outnumbered, my dear," said Obi-Wan. "I suggest you surrender."
"No chance," Ventress replied attacking Obi-Wan, only to by parried by Oriana. Obi-Wan joined in, blue and purple blades clashing violently against red ones. Their fight managed to worm its way out into the open when suddenly, Oriana stopped.
"Anakin is gone," said Oriana. That's when both Obi-Wan and Ventress sensed it. "You've failed Ventress." Ventress retreated on one of her vulture droids. Obi-Wan turned to his young apprentice.
"You should not have engaged her," he said.
"You told me to find Master Skywalker," she replied with an apologetic bow. "That's when I ran into her."
"All's well that ends well, I suppose," said Obi-Wan. "Let's just hope that Anakin makes it to Tatooine in one piece."
Anakin and Ahsoka's success on Tatooine spread like wild fire. The Republic could now use the Hutt trade routes to get their supplies to the Outer Rim. Anakin met up with his former Master and his Padawan with Ahsoka.
"Congratulations on a job well done," said Obi-Wan.
"Ah! It was nothing," said Anakin with a smug grin. Obi-Wan shook his head, praying that his new Padawan did not turn out the same way.
"You weren't the one fighting MagnaGuards!" said Ahsoka.
"No, I was the one fighting Count Dooku," replied Anakin.
"Good to know you both had a good time," said Oriana with a laugh. "We're all glad you succeeded. Now we have an advantage over Dooku."
"Indeed," agreed Obi-Wan. "It seems this war has finally turned in our favor."
I realized like halfway through writing and rewriting this what I did... Anakin and Ahsoka... Obi-Wan and Oriana... I busted up laughing when I realized this. Oriana is celtic for blond, which is amusing because she has dark hair... For those of you who will get the joke later (or you might get it now), I give you a cookie.