A/N: Several others and I wrote this…about a year or two ago?…and I've
cleaned it up and posted it. All of the authors are Star Wars Chicks, and
you can find the website at www.starwarschicks.com please come visit! :-)
Also most of the characters (practically all) are actual SWC thrust into
the story ;-) We had way too much fun doing this…
Disclaimer: Not mine!
The Feud
Night had fallen on Coruscant, and with it had come bitterly cold temperatures that no one had ever seen before. The winds howled round Coruscant's tall buildings, and a frost was developing on the ground. Almost everyone had gone home to seek refuge from the cruel weather. One person, however, remained outside.
On large stone steps leading up to an entrance to the Jedi Temple, a huddled figure lay. The winds whipped her Jedi cape round her head, and the frost seemed to bite at her skin. She was barely conscious, and her ears filled with the sounds of the howling gales. Her hands were too weak to pull her cloak up for warmth, and she couldn't even think about moving the rest of her body. She could feel something dripping down her legs. Blood, she realized. What had happened to her? She struggled to regain memories of the events leading up to her being there. Ah, of course. She remembered being sent on the mission to Tatooine, to gain information from bounty hunters, about a Jedi captured by a Force-sensitive slaver 3 months ago. She remembered heading back to her ship, and being attacked by someone she couldn't properly see. All she had felt was a sense of total darkness. She never took her saber to negotiations, believing she should rely on her Force powers and hand to hand combat skills. She now severely regretted this decision. A sudden gust of wind sent a shockwave down her bruised and battered body, and she lapsed into unconsciousness. She wouldn't wake for another three hours.
The Jedi Master heard concerned and fearful voices. She heard the words "Master! Master!" and various pleas for her to wake. She attempted to turn her head to look at her potential rescuers, but she found out the hard way that her hair was frozen to the steps, rendering her immobile. She heard one voice similar to her own way of speaking, and another heavily accented one. The one with the heavy accent leaned down. The Jedi's vision was slightly impaired by frost, but she felt a hand brushing it from her eyes, and she soon saw a pair of blue eyes close to her own.
"Master. do you know who I am?"
"Mac, Mac-Lyn. My old Padawan."
"Thank the Force. Do you know who this is?"
The other Jedi bent down.
"August. My Padawan."
"Okay. Force, you're so cold!"
Cherry felt her hands being lifted by Mac-Lyn, and soon she felt the Knight softly breathing on them. Cherry basked in the heat, however dulled by the biting winds. The Master felt herself being lifted into two pairs of strong, fight-trained arms.
"Stay awake, Master. Just stay awake."
"Where are we going?"
"To the healers, Master. They'll help you."
"Good. I'm very, very cold."
"I know. Here."
Again the Master felt the breath on her hands, and felt two warm hands close around her own, attempting to rub the feeling fully back into them.
"Thank you, Mac-Lyn."
August leaned down to her Master's face.
"We're just trying to help our old Master get better. Honestly, when will you learn? You need to go armed!"
August grinned broadly, but her smile disappeared when her Master gazed back at her with glazed, dull eyes.
"Are you okay, Master?"
"I'm fine. Just keep me warm, please."
"You don't have to ask."
Suddenly, Cherry felt a huge wave of tiredness wash over her, and her head flopped to one side as she lapsed back into unconsciousness. She thought she heard the same terrified voices as before, begging her to wake, but she ignored them, and gave in to the deep, inviting sleep. Before she did, she heard one last thing, Mac-Lyn's voice speaking urgently into a com-link. Cherry only had time to hear the words "Get the healers ready! It's really…"
August stroked her Master's hair as tenderly as she could, while she and Mac-Lyn charged through the corridors of the Jedi Temple to the healers.
"Mac-Lyn! She won't wake up!"
"She's still got a pulse, hasn't she?"
"Yes, thank the Force."
"She'll be okay then. You know what she's like."
The dark-haired Knight was sure her former Master would survive, but a million thoughts and worries still racked through her mind. Who had done this was top of the list. She refused to accept what she knew in her heart to be true. The word battered round her head. Sith, Sith, Sith, Sith, Sith…. She shook her head and raised a mind shield. As much as she wished to let out her sorrow, concern and deep fear for her Master, she knew she must be strong for August. Mac-Lyn was Cherry's first Padawan, and she knew August would do well with Cherry, as even with her first Padawan, she'd displayed skill, cunning, intelligence, and a deep love and trust in those she was close to. All Mac-Lyn had ever wanted to do was make her Master proud, and she knew if she couldn't help her now, she'd never forgive herself. Stop it! Don't think that way! The voice in her head seemed to be Cherry's, obviously not a message being sent down their bond, but she knew that's what her Master would say anyway. She had to help her Master, she just had to. Mac-Lyn looked down at her Master's face, the Master's hair jeweled with frost, and her lips turning blue. Mac-Lyn raised her head, fixed her eyes straight ahead, and put on a burst of speed borne of desperation.
Behind her, August stared at her predecessor. She knew she was trying not to cry, just like her. August knew however, that Mac-Lyn was trying not to show she was worried, to stop August getting worried, but the Jedi Padawan could see it was bad herself. Her Master had probably been exposed to the freezing conditions for hours, but the wounds on Cherry's legs troubled her more. They were deep slashes, but not inflicted with a saber, the heat would have sealed the blood vessels, but August was still sure the attacker was skilled with the weapon of the Jedi and, and of the....August couldn't let the name enter her mind, but it was obvious to her what kind of person had done this. A Sith, perhaps as some kind of warning to the order. August was temporarily distracted by something she saw on her Master's stomach. There was a hole burned through her Master's Jedi tunic. August ripped the hole further, and to her disgust saw a letter "s" burned onto her Master's skin.
"Mac-Lyn! Did you see this?"
The Knight turned to her angry friend, and her face fell when she realized what August was talking about.
"Yes. But I hoped I could heal it before you did."
In a warm room in the temple, Mac-Lyn sat on her former Master's bed, stroking her hands and trying to coax her back to consciousness. A memory sprang into her head. Mac-Lyn pulled back her Master's covers, pulled back the edge of her Master's tunic and examined her stomach. The Knight growled. The healers had missed the burn. The Jedi placed a hand on her Master's stomach. Cherry was still deathly cold. She would have to deal with that later. Mac-Lyn rubbed her hand over the burn, filling her Master with replenishing life Force. The burn faded slowly, and eventually disappeared. She would have to tell the Council about it later. Right now, her Master needed to be warmed up. Mac-Lyn struck a small pebble she always carried with her against the wall, while holding an oil soaked rag beneath it. Soon a spark jumped and the cloth burst into flame. The Jedi tossed it into a fireplace in the corner, and soon the room was uncomfortable for the Knight to remain in, but she wouldn't leave her Master. However, at that moment August stepped into the room.
"Phew! It's a bit hot in here, Mac!"
"It has to be."
August's voice again took on a plaintive, loving tone.
"Is she still cold?"
"Very. I've healed that burn, by the way."
"Good. I couldn't stand to look at it anymore."
"I'll tell Arbi and Yoda. They need to know."
"It looks like the other Sith are making their presence felt."
"No. It's too reckless. Only an apprentice would spontaneously attack a Jedi like that. They probably wanted to impress their Master, but I don't think they'll be pleased."
"Probably just enthusiastic."
"Just like two Jedi we know well, eh August?"
August chuckled as she recognized that quality in herself and Mac-Lyn. Mac- Lyn had been and still was an eager Jedi, always ready to defend someone, always clamoring for another mission. August too loved paying special attention to any task her Master set her, wishing to please Cherry and make her proud. August realized when Mac-Lyn spoke her next sentence that she had left her thoughts open to inspection.
"She is."
"She is what?"
"Proud of you."
"And you."
"Well, that's just her, isn't it?"
August smiled. "Get some air. I'll stay with her."
"No way. I'm going to go get changed, then I'll be on the balcony for a while, but I'll be back. I'm not leaving her all night."
"Okay."
Mac-Lyn walked out of the door. August picked up her Master's hand and stroked her cheek. A voice in her head told her to let go. She was alone now, no one to be strong for. She listened to it, and a single tear spilled down her cheek. This tear was followed by another, and another, until the Padawan cried out and collapsed onto her still Master.
"Please wake up Master, please! I don't want you to go! I don't want another Master!"
August raised her head and stared at her Master. She couldn't give her apprentice a comforting hug, couldn't offer any wise and tender words, but still her presence radiated security and caring to her Padawan. August flopped back down on the bed and sobbed into the covers, tightly clasping Cherry's hand.
Outside on a balcony outside her quarters, Mac-Lyn stood leaning against the rail. Mac-Lyn looked over. She froze. She could see the spot where they'd found her Master. The Jedi had changed into some dark, loose trousers and a black vest top. Mac-Lyn had never been someone who immediately reacted in any extreme to tragic events. It always took time to sink in, and she had the sometimes helpful, but very often personally destructive habit of bottling up emotions to give others support, even when it was only her who was affected. She felt she had to be strong. It's why she was a Jedi, to help, defend, protect and support others. Mac-Lyn pawed at the lightsaber which hung from her belt. She felt disgusted that the same kind of weapon had been used to brand her Master like some trivial possession. She unclipped the weapon and threw it into her room behind her. She had no idea what to do with herself. She still wasn't sure if she'd absorbed the situation properly. She felt confused and lost. As Cherry's Padawan, she had someone who was always there, ready to give advice. to be fair, the situation was still like that, but her Master wasn't around right now, she was on her own. Wait a second. She had all the other Jedi she'd come to know and trust since she'd joined the order. Yoda, Adi Gallia and her own grand Master Arbi would always help her out. She knew she had them to turn to, but right now, she needed to help August. It wouldn't help the Padawan to see that her friend needed help. Mac-Lyn's head spun. Her concern and caring for her Master were flying round her head and clashing with all her other thoughts and emotions, and the voice which told her to be strong for August. Her head pounded and her heart was pumping so fast she couldn't make out individual beats. Eventually, she collapsed on the ground and drew up into a tight ball. The Knight began screaming, and tears poured down her face. Her legs muffled her cries of sadness and pain, so no one heard her as she allowed her emotions to spill out in one huge fit of tears.
In the now-roasting room where Cherry was, August too lay crying, her worry for her Master too much to bottle up. For the first time in their lives, both Jedi felt real fear. Fear that their Master wouldn't survive, fear that they couldn't cope if she did die, and above all a fear that their Master was suffering.
Morning dawned bright and glorious on Coruscant. The fire in Cherry's room had gone out during the night. The shafts of sunlight that came through the window now provided the only heat, and the Jedi Padawan stretched over Cherry. August stirred. Her eyes flickered open, and she scrambled to check Cherry's pulse.
August smiled weakly. It was slightly stronger than last night, but still not great. August looked up as she heard the door slide open. Arbi walked in with a still-sleeping Mac-Lyn in her arms.
"I found her on the balcony. Feel that."
Arbi took August's hand and placed it on Mac-Lyn's cheek.
"It's soaking wet."
Arbi cast a knowing glance at August, then, as if noticing her for the first time, Arbi's eyes filled with pain when she saw her former Padawan Cherry lying in the bed. She bundled Mac-Lyn into a chair in the corner.
Arbi rushed to Cherry's side, and placed a hand on her forehead.
"She's so cold. I, I..."
Arbi's voice hovered on the edge of becoming a sob, and she felt a hand come down on her shoulder. The Jedi Master turned round. It was Mac-Lyn.
"Mac-Lyn. Where did you......"
"On the steps outside. I'm so sorry."
"Will she be okay?"
Mac-Lyn was about to answer, when another voice did it for her.
"I think she will, but she's got very bad hypothermia, and she lost a lot of blood."
Lei Endril, a temple healer, stood at the door.
"Hello, Lei. how are you?"
"Never mind me, it's your Master I'm more worried about, and all of you! Are you okay?"
Noticing it was wet, Mac-Lyn wiped her cheek and smiled at Lei, to say yes.
"August?"
"I'll be fine."
"Arbi?"
"She'll be fine. I know her."
"I meant you."
"I'm fine!"
Lei walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. She set about replacing the bandages on Cherry's legs, and inspecting the wound. As Lei worked, Mac-Lyn took Arbi to one side.
"Think you should know, there was a saber burn on her stomach."
Arbi looked alarmed, and even more so when Mac-Lyn continued.
"It was an S. Someone burned an S onto her."
Arbi's expression changed from shock to disgust.
"Arbi, I'm perfectly happy to go to Mos Eisley to find her attacker. When she's better, that is."
"No. you need to go now."
"But, but I need to be here. I need to know if she's okay. If she, if she...and I'm not here...."
"She won't. Now get a ship ready. If you're going, you're going now."
A young girl named Allie was listening in through a crack through the door. Ever since the renowned Jedi Master Cherry had come in wounded she was interested in what was going on. Suddenly the door she was standing next to burst open. A Jedi with a set face walked out. Allie recognized it as Mac- Lyn, one of Cherry's former Padawan's. Why wasn't she staying with her Master? Curious, Allie followed.
In the room where Cherry was, August was arguing with Arbi.
"You let her go?!" August half yelled. "Why?"
Arbi reached out with the Force to try and calm her. "Because we need to uncover her attacker now, before someone else gets hurt."
"But why send Mac? Why not send someone else, someone not as close to Cherry?"
"What's wrong with Mac?"
August took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Mac may let her feelings get in the way of her mission. She may do...things she normally wouldn't do."
Arbi turned to August. "If what you say is true, then you shouldn't go."
August thought this over. She had a point, but August wasn't going to admit defeat yet. "But-"
In her bed, Cherry stirred, then turned over in her sleep.
Arbi cut her off. "No buts," she said softly. "Let us hope she returns." She turned to the window, where the moon hung low in the sky, and sighed.
Turtle was pacing around her room in the temple. Her new Master, Mac-Lyn, had mention that she was going on a mission, but she hadn't mentioned where or why. Muttering to herself, she checked her chrono. Mac hadn't been gone too long, she told herself. She'd be back-
Mac strode into the room. "We're leaving," she said crisply.
Turtle followed her out of the room silently. What was wrong with her Master? Everyone had said Mac was a fun-loving person. What was wrong?
Sensing her Padawan's confused thoughts, Mac said, "I'll explain when we get on the ship."
"Where are we going?" asked Turtle when they reached the landing platform.
Mac didn't say anything, but got on board the ship and beckoned for her to follow. Turtle sighed and obeyed. Neither of them saw Allie sneak into the cargo hold of the ship. Finally, Allie thought, I'm leaving! And Turtle's here, too. Ok, she admitted to herself, I am jealous that Turtle was chosen before me. But all in good time, she promised silently.
Allie started as a shadow fell across her. She looked up and Mac was standing over her.
"What, may I ask, are you doing here?"
Allie gulped.
Onlé watched the hologram intently. "What, may I ask, are you doing here?!"
She had bugged the Jedi temple. And in this particular room, she saw the Jedi Padawan Turtle and her Master, Mac-Lyn. She knew what Mac-Lyn was so edgy about. The Dark Jedi let out a small grin of triumph. Hurting the Master was the best case to get to the Padawan. Or in this case, former Master. But she knew the Jedi must be torn apart by this happening. Onlé remembered the squabbles, the Sith Ana Labris, and the argument they'd had. In the end, Sidious had decided that his Sith apprentice would go.
Onlé snorted, alone in the darkened room. She knew she would've been more capable for the job, but, like always, the Sith had gotten to go. Onlé forgot why they had even made the agreement in the first place.
Of course, it was both the Dark Jedi and the Sith's common goal to rid the galaxy of the light Jedi, but there was more conflict between the two dark sides than one would've guessed. She knew, among the ancient Sith culture, that t was unheard-of for those two opposing sides to team up. But they had seen the Light Jedi were too powerful at the moment. And there Darth Sidious had offered a deal with the Dark Jedi: Join him and they could overthrow the Jedi, and the galaxy for that matter. But Sidious seemed to be leaving out the Dark Jedi more and more. She wondered if the elder Sith was only using them on more than one occasion.
But watching the hologram made the evil hunger draw up on Onlé again. The Lightsiders were having a bit of a conflict themselves.
"Stupid Jedi. Stupid, Stupid Jedi" Onlé spat. She'd had the idea of infiltrating the Jedi Temple and bringing it down from the inside. Sidious had objected at first, but then let the Dark Jedi disguise herself and be let into the temple. Onlé'd been a Jedi once, then, reportedly, disappeared without a trace. In reality, though, she had succumbed to the dark side before she was thirteen. There wouldn't be any explanation of a Master. She could simply say she was kidnapped but had finally escaped. The foolish Jedi had believed her and taken her in, though Yoda had his doubts about her. She stayed away from the little green creature as soon as possible. Now, though, Onlé realized, she needed to be at the temple. She let out a maniacal laugh. Soon, Soon the Jedi would be crushed.
***
Onlé had disguised herself as Jedi Trainee Lindsey (Thought she was older than twelve now and couldn't be taken as a Padawan Good riddance! the Dark Jedi had thought when the council told her). She headed inside the temple and up to a higher level. The one with the cafeteria/mess hall. Inside she sat on a bench next to Mac-Lyn, who seemed...un-Jedish. She was tormented. Lindsey faked sympathy on the outside, but inside the Jedi's feelings gave her a dark happiness. Satisfaction.
"I just don't know what I'll do." Mac said. August was sitting across, with as much appetite for food as Mac-Lyn had. Her plate was nearly full.
Lindsey surveyed the Jedi. She sighed, then said, "We'll find out who did this!"
The Jedi nodded, but inside the Darker one plotted her revenge.
Mac was uneasy around Lindsey. She'd been an acquaintance of hers when she was first at the temple, and Mac had never quite believed she'd been kidnapped. Still, she had more important things on her mind. She slumped her head onto the table, and pushed away her plate. Lindsey saw Mac's face tense, and the Knight began to speak.
"I hate to say it, but when I find who did this, I will kill them, without finding out who they were, why they did it, or even if they were working for the Sith. I'll kill them, as soon as I see them."
As much as Lindsey normally held the light Jedi in contempt, she'd always had to admit that they were powerful, and she saw in Mac-Lyn's face that she was telling the truth, and if she saw Ana, the Sith wouldn't even have time to see the Jedi's face herself before Mac-Lyn would be upon her, striking and slashing. Lindsey was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of Mac's com link beeping. The Knight snatched up the communicator at lightning speed. The words "it's Cherry..." only came out of the link, before Mac-Lyn and August's chairs were upturned, and the Jedi could be seen running down the corridor, shimmering as they used the Force to speed their run. Onlé sat back with a smile on her face. She was sure the Jedi had worsened.
In the warm room in the upper levels of the temple, Mac-Lyn and August burst through the door, and practically leaped onto Cherry's bed, expecting to have to resuscitate her, but instead finding their Master sitting upright, with a shocked expression on her face.
"Master...."
"Well, I wasn't expecting this kind of reception!"
August stood to one side, sobbing into her sleeve, hardly believing Cherry was awake, and overcome with emotion. She'd expected her own reaction to be very joyous, but she couldn't move, she was just so happy. Mac-Lyn however, was breaking her habit of no emotional extremes. Her eyes widened, she stroked a finger along her former Master's cheek, and then knocked her over as she flung her arms around her and threatened to squeeze her to death. August jumped onto her Master too, and underneath them, Cherry gave out a muffled giggle.
"It's okay, it's okay."
As the two Jedi stood up, Cherry froze.
"Master?"
The Master grabbed her back, and collapsed back into her bed; she was unconscious again.
"NO! NO, NO, NO!"
Lei, who was standing outside, heard Mac-Lyn's screams of frustration and sadness. She rushed in, saw Cherry, and rushed to help her fellow Jedi. August flung her head against Mac's shoulder, and began sobbing loudly. Mac- Lyn's own face was consumed with rage, and she was breathing quickly and shallowly. Mac-Lyn turned august round to face her.
"August, look after Turtle. I don't want what I have to do to be her first mission."
August didn't ask any questions. She watched Mac-Lyn walk out of the door, and prepared to contact Turtle.
***
Ana Labris sat mediating in her ship. The Jedi were confused and her Master was pleased with the results: one less. she had done this only to proof him that she is worthy and can destroy the Jedi even without the help of any Dark Jedi.
Onlé was a good spy and did her job well but she wasn't fully trained. Ana supposed that she would be under cover again and she'd probably come with the Jedi.
Ana got up and out of the black ship. They were searching for her but the Jedi were led by the lust of revenge. She would turn Mac-Lyn. The former Padawan of Master Cherry was close to the edge, but she had been there before and hadn't turned. Ana was trained better and knew the other's weak spots. Dark satisfaction filled her black soul.
She would get rid of the Jedi and her Master. Then she would rule the galaxy as it should. A sweet smile formed on her face as she stepped in one of cantinas. There were many girls inside, most were surrounded by mobs of men. All were listening to their hormones and primitive instincts. The men didn't come close to her because her beauty was different. It was dark and dangerous under the sweet facade. That is why she just watched and drank their aggression through the Force and projected her black presence for the Jedi to find.
Mac-Lyn had boarded a small ship, undetectable to any systems set up to find approaching ships, no matter how advanced. She knew she was close to the edge, and she knew she was walking a dangerous tightrope. She was a Jedi who was capable of handling dark side powers. At 17 she'd mastered Force lightning, but she'd never even thought of turning. She had absorbed herself in the light side from an early age, and loved helping to protect, but as soon as she'd found her Master, her own personal dark side had emerged. It was protective not in a Jedi kind of way, but in a vengeful and spiteful way. She knew any attack on her Master's assailant would be vicious, and, if she used her full dark side powers, short.
Onlé sat in her room in the Jedi temple. The door was locked, and she was sitting, sulking and brooding. She wished she could have stopped Mac-Lyn going. She wished even more that the Knight had taken her Padawan with her, as she would have two things to worry about then. How could she defeat the Jedi, and steal the glory from Labris? Just then, a smile spread across her face. Tonight, she would weaken Mac-Lyn with a sure fire method, and destroy her herself. "Or maybe even turn her," she thought happily.
Disclaimer: Not mine!
The Feud
Night had fallen on Coruscant, and with it had come bitterly cold temperatures that no one had ever seen before. The winds howled round Coruscant's tall buildings, and a frost was developing on the ground. Almost everyone had gone home to seek refuge from the cruel weather. One person, however, remained outside.
On large stone steps leading up to an entrance to the Jedi Temple, a huddled figure lay. The winds whipped her Jedi cape round her head, and the frost seemed to bite at her skin. She was barely conscious, and her ears filled with the sounds of the howling gales. Her hands were too weak to pull her cloak up for warmth, and she couldn't even think about moving the rest of her body. She could feel something dripping down her legs. Blood, she realized. What had happened to her? She struggled to regain memories of the events leading up to her being there. Ah, of course. She remembered being sent on the mission to Tatooine, to gain information from bounty hunters, about a Jedi captured by a Force-sensitive slaver 3 months ago. She remembered heading back to her ship, and being attacked by someone she couldn't properly see. All she had felt was a sense of total darkness. She never took her saber to negotiations, believing she should rely on her Force powers and hand to hand combat skills. She now severely regretted this decision. A sudden gust of wind sent a shockwave down her bruised and battered body, and she lapsed into unconsciousness. She wouldn't wake for another three hours.
The Jedi Master heard concerned and fearful voices. She heard the words "Master! Master!" and various pleas for her to wake. She attempted to turn her head to look at her potential rescuers, but she found out the hard way that her hair was frozen to the steps, rendering her immobile. She heard one voice similar to her own way of speaking, and another heavily accented one. The one with the heavy accent leaned down. The Jedi's vision was slightly impaired by frost, but she felt a hand brushing it from her eyes, and she soon saw a pair of blue eyes close to her own.
"Master. do you know who I am?"
"Mac, Mac-Lyn. My old Padawan."
"Thank the Force. Do you know who this is?"
The other Jedi bent down.
"August. My Padawan."
"Okay. Force, you're so cold!"
Cherry felt her hands being lifted by Mac-Lyn, and soon she felt the Knight softly breathing on them. Cherry basked in the heat, however dulled by the biting winds. The Master felt herself being lifted into two pairs of strong, fight-trained arms.
"Stay awake, Master. Just stay awake."
"Where are we going?"
"To the healers, Master. They'll help you."
"Good. I'm very, very cold."
"I know. Here."
Again the Master felt the breath on her hands, and felt two warm hands close around her own, attempting to rub the feeling fully back into them.
"Thank you, Mac-Lyn."
August leaned down to her Master's face.
"We're just trying to help our old Master get better. Honestly, when will you learn? You need to go armed!"
August grinned broadly, but her smile disappeared when her Master gazed back at her with glazed, dull eyes.
"Are you okay, Master?"
"I'm fine. Just keep me warm, please."
"You don't have to ask."
Suddenly, Cherry felt a huge wave of tiredness wash over her, and her head flopped to one side as she lapsed back into unconsciousness. She thought she heard the same terrified voices as before, begging her to wake, but she ignored them, and gave in to the deep, inviting sleep. Before she did, she heard one last thing, Mac-Lyn's voice speaking urgently into a com-link. Cherry only had time to hear the words "Get the healers ready! It's really…"
August stroked her Master's hair as tenderly as she could, while she and Mac-Lyn charged through the corridors of the Jedi Temple to the healers.
"Mac-Lyn! She won't wake up!"
"She's still got a pulse, hasn't she?"
"Yes, thank the Force."
"She'll be okay then. You know what she's like."
The dark-haired Knight was sure her former Master would survive, but a million thoughts and worries still racked through her mind. Who had done this was top of the list. She refused to accept what she knew in her heart to be true. The word battered round her head. Sith, Sith, Sith, Sith, Sith…. She shook her head and raised a mind shield. As much as she wished to let out her sorrow, concern and deep fear for her Master, she knew she must be strong for August. Mac-Lyn was Cherry's first Padawan, and she knew August would do well with Cherry, as even with her first Padawan, she'd displayed skill, cunning, intelligence, and a deep love and trust in those she was close to. All Mac-Lyn had ever wanted to do was make her Master proud, and she knew if she couldn't help her now, she'd never forgive herself. Stop it! Don't think that way! The voice in her head seemed to be Cherry's, obviously not a message being sent down their bond, but she knew that's what her Master would say anyway. She had to help her Master, she just had to. Mac-Lyn looked down at her Master's face, the Master's hair jeweled with frost, and her lips turning blue. Mac-Lyn raised her head, fixed her eyes straight ahead, and put on a burst of speed borne of desperation.
Behind her, August stared at her predecessor. She knew she was trying not to cry, just like her. August knew however, that Mac-Lyn was trying not to show she was worried, to stop August getting worried, but the Jedi Padawan could see it was bad herself. Her Master had probably been exposed to the freezing conditions for hours, but the wounds on Cherry's legs troubled her more. They were deep slashes, but not inflicted with a saber, the heat would have sealed the blood vessels, but August was still sure the attacker was skilled with the weapon of the Jedi and, and of the....August couldn't let the name enter her mind, but it was obvious to her what kind of person had done this. A Sith, perhaps as some kind of warning to the order. August was temporarily distracted by something she saw on her Master's stomach. There was a hole burned through her Master's Jedi tunic. August ripped the hole further, and to her disgust saw a letter "s" burned onto her Master's skin.
"Mac-Lyn! Did you see this?"
The Knight turned to her angry friend, and her face fell when she realized what August was talking about.
"Yes. But I hoped I could heal it before you did."
In a warm room in the temple, Mac-Lyn sat on her former Master's bed, stroking her hands and trying to coax her back to consciousness. A memory sprang into her head. Mac-Lyn pulled back her Master's covers, pulled back the edge of her Master's tunic and examined her stomach. The Knight growled. The healers had missed the burn. The Jedi placed a hand on her Master's stomach. Cherry was still deathly cold. She would have to deal with that later. Mac-Lyn rubbed her hand over the burn, filling her Master with replenishing life Force. The burn faded slowly, and eventually disappeared. She would have to tell the Council about it later. Right now, her Master needed to be warmed up. Mac-Lyn struck a small pebble she always carried with her against the wall, while holding an oil soaked rag beneath it. Soon a spark jumped and the cloth burst into flame. The Jedi tossed it into a fireplace in the corner, and soon the room was uncomfortable for the Knight to remain in, but she wouldn't leave her Master. However, at that moment August stepped into the room.
"Phew! It's a bit hot in here, Mac!"
"It has to be."
August's voice again took on a plaintive, loving tone.
"Is she still cold?"
"Very. I've healed that burn, by the way."
"Good. I couldn't stand to look at it anymore."
"I'll tell Arbi and Yoda. They need to know."
"It looks like the other Sith are making their presence felt."
"No. It's too reckless. Only an apprentice would spontaneously attack a Jedi like that. They probably wanted to impress their Master, but I don't think they'll be pleased."
"Probably just enthusiastic."
"Just like two Jedi we know well, eh August?"
August chuckled as she recognized that quality in herself and Mac-Lyn. Mac- Lyn had been and still was an eager Jedi, always ready to defend someone, always clamoring for another mission. August too loved paying special attention to any task her Master set her, wishing to please Cherry and make her proud. August realized when Mac-Lyn spoke her next sentence that she had left her thoughts open to inspection.
"She is."
"She is what?"
"Proud of you."
"And you."
"Well, that's just her, isn't it?"
August smiled. "Get some air. I'll stay with her."
"No way. I'm going to go get changed, then I'll be on the balcony for a while, but I'll be back. I'm not leaving her all night."
"Okay."
Mac-Lyn walked out of the door. August picked up her Master's hand and stroked her cheek. A voice in her head told her to let go. She was alone now, no one to be strong for. She listened to it, and a single tear spilled down her cheek. This tear was followed by another, and another, until the Padawan cried out and collapsed onto her still Master.
"Please wake up Master, please! I don't want you to go! I don't want another Master!"
August raised her head and stared at her Master. She couldn't give her apprentice a comforting hug, couldn't offer any wise and tender words, but still her presence radiated security and caring to her Padawan. August flopped back down on the bed and sobbed into the covers, tightly clasping Cherry's hand.
Outside on a balcony outside her quarters, Mac-Lyn stood leaning against the rail. Mac-Lyn looked over. She froze. She could see the spot where they'd found her Master. The Jedi had changed into some dark, loose trousers and a black vest top. Mac-Lyn had never been someone who immediately reacted in any extreme to tragic events. It always took time to sink in, and she had the sometimes helpful, but very often personally destructive habit of bottling up emotions to give others support, even when it was only her who was affected. She felt she had to be strong. It's why she was a Jedi, to help, defend, protect and support others. Mac-Lyn pawed at the lightsaber which hung from her belt. She felt disgusted that the same kind of weapon had been used to brand her Master like some trivial possession. She unclipped the weapon and threw it into her room behind her. She had no idea what to do with herself. She still wasn't sure if she'd absorbed the situation properly. She felt confused and lost. As Cherry's Padawan, she had someone who was always there, ready to give advice. to be fair, the situation was still like that, but her Master wasn't around right now, she was on her own. Wait a second. She had all the other Jedi she'd come to know and trust since she'd joined the order. Yoda, Adi Gallia and her own grand Master Arbi would always help her out. She knew she had them to turn to, but right now, she needed to help August. It wouldn't help the Padawan to see that her friend needed help. Mac-Lyn's head spun. Her concern and caring for her Master were flying round her head and clashing with all her other thoughts and emotions, and the voice which told her to be strong for August. Her head pounded and her heart was pumping so fast she couldn't make out individual beats. Eventually, she collapsed on the ground and drew up into a tight ball. The Knight began screaming, and tears poured down her face. Her legs muffled her cries of sadness and pain, so no one heard her as she allowed her emotions to spill out in one huge fit of tears.
In the now-roasting room where Cherry was, August too lay crying, her worry for her Master too much to bottle up. For the first time in their lives, both Jedi felt real fear. Fear that their Master wouldn't survive, fear that they couldn't cope if she did die, and above all a fear that their Master was suffering.
Morning dawned bright and glorious on Coruscant. The fire in Cherry's room had gone out during the night. The shafts of sunlight that came through the window now provided the only heat, and the Jedi Padawan stretched over Cherry. August stirred. Her eyes flickered open, and she scrambled to check Cherry's pulse.
August smiled weakly. It was slightly stronger than last night, but still not great. August looked up as she heard the door slide open. Arbi walked in with a still-sleeping Mac-Lyn in her arms.
"I found her on the balcony. Feel that."
Arbi took August's hand and placed it on Mac-Lyn's cheek.
"It's soaking wet."
Arbi cast a knowing glance at August, then, as if noticing her for the first time, Arbi's eyes filled with pain when she saw her former Padawan Cherry lying in the bed. She bundled Mac-Lyn into a chair in the corner.
Arbi rushed to Cherry's side, and placed a hand on her forehead.
"She's so cold. I, I..."
Arbi's voice hovered on the edge of becoming a sob, and she felt a hand come down on her shoulder. The Jedi Master turned round. It was Mac-Lyn.
"Mac-Lyn. Where did you......"
"On the steps outside. I'm so sorry."
"Will she be okay?"
Mac-Lyn was about to answer, when another voice did it for her.
"I think she will, but she's got very bad hypothermia, and she lost a lot of blood."
Lei Endril, a temple healer, stood at the door.
"Hello, Lei. how are you?"
"Never mind me, it's your Master I'm more worried about, and all of you! Are you okay?"
Noticing it was wet, Mac-Lyn wiped her cheek and smiled at Lei, to say yes.
"August?"
"I'll be fine."
"Arbi?"
"She'll be fine. I know her."
"I meant you."
"I'm fine!"
Lei walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. She set about replacing the bandages on Cherry's legs, and inspecting the wound. As Lei worked, Mac-Lyn took Arbi to one side.
"Think you should know, there was a saber burn on her stomach."
Arbi looked alarmed, and even more so when Mac-Lyn continued.
"It was an S. Someone burned an S onto her."
Arbi's expression changed from shock to disgust.
"Arbi, I'm perfectly happy to go to Mos Eisley to find her attacker. When she's better, that is."
"No. you need to go now."
"But, but I need to be here. I need to know if she's okay. If she, if she...and I'm not here...."
"She won't. Now get a ship ready. If you're going, you're going now."
A young girl named Allie was listening in through a crack through the door. Ever since the renowned Jedi Master Cherry had come in wounded she was interested in what was going on. Suddenly the door she was standing next to burst open. A Jedi with a set face walked out. Allie recognized it as Mac- Lyn, one of Cherry's former Padawan's. Why wasn't she staying with her Master? Curious, Allie followed.
In the room where Cherry was, August was arguing with Arbi.
"You let her go?!" August half yelled. "Why?"
Arbi reached out with the Force to try and calm her. "Because we need to uncover her attacker now, before someone else gets hurt."
"But why send Mac? Why not send someone else, someone not as close to Cherry?"
"What's wrong with Mac?"
August took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Mac may let her feelings get in the way of her mission. She may do...things she normally wouldn't do."
Arbi turned to August. "If what you say is true, then you shouldn't go."
August thought this over. She had a point, but August wasn't going to admit defeat yet. "But-"
In her bed, Cherry stirred, then turned over in her sleep.
Arbi cut her off. "No buts," she said softly. "Let us hope she returns." She turned to the window, where the moon hung low in the sky, and sighed.
Turtle was pacing around her room in the temple. Her new Master, Mac-Lyn, had mention that she was going on a mission, but she hadn't mentioned where or why. Muttering to herself, she checked her chrono. Mac hadn't been gone too long, she told herself. She'd be back-
Mac strode into the room. "We're leaving," she said crisply.
Turtle followed her out of the room silently. What was wrong with her Master? Everyone had said Mac was a fun-loving person. What was wrong?
Sensing her Padawan's confused thoughts, Mac said, "I'll explain when we get on the ship."
"Where are we going?" asked Turtle when they reached the landing platform.
Mac didn't say anything, but got on board the ship and beckoned for her to follow. Turtle sighed and obeyed. Neither of them saw Allie sneak into the cargo hold of the ship. Finally, Allie thought, I'm leaving! And Turtle's here, too. Ok, she admitted to herself, I am jealous that Turtle was chosen before me. But all in good time, she promised silently.
Allie started as a shadow fell across her. She looked up and Mac was standing over her.
"What, may I ask, are you doing here?"
Allie gulped.
Onlé watched the hologram intently. "What, may I ask, are you doing here?!"
She had bugged the Jedi temple. And in this particular room, she saw the Jedi Padawan Turtle and her Master, Mac-Lyn. She knew what Mac-Lyn was so edgy about. The Dark Jedi let out a small grin of triumph. Hurting the Master was the best case to get to the Padawan. Or in this case, former Master. But she knew the Jedi must be torn apart by this happening. Onlé remembered the squabbles, the Sith Ana Labris, and the argument they'd had. In the end, Sidious had decided that his Sith apprentice would go.
Onlé snorted, alone in the darkened room. She knew she would've been more capable for the job, but, like always, the Sith had gotten to go. Onlé forgot why they had even made the agreement in the first place.
Of course, it was both the Dark Jedi and the Sith's common goal to rid the galaxy of the light Jedi, but there was more conflict between the two dark sides than one would've guessed. She knew, among the ancient Sith culture, that t was unheard-of for those two opposing sides to team up. But they had seen the Light Jedi were too powerful at the moment. And there Darth Sidious had offered a deal with the Dark Jedi: Join him and they could overthrow the Jedi, and the galaxy for that matter. But Sidious seemed to be leaving out the Dark Jedi more and more. She wondered if the elder Sith was only using them on more than one occasion.
But watching the hologram made the evil hunger draw up on Onlé again. The Lightsiders were having a bit of a conflict themselves.
"Stupid Jedi. Stupid, Stupid Jedi" Onlé spat. She'd had the idea of infiltrating the Jedi Temple and bringing it down from the inside. Sidious had objected at first, but then let the Dark Jedi disguise herself and be let into the temple. Onlé'd been a Jedi once, then, reportedly, disappeared without a trace. In reality, though, she had succumbed to the dark side before she was thirteen. There wouldn't be any explanation of a Master. She could simply say she was kidnapped but had finally escaped. The foolish Jedi had believed her and taken her in, though Yoda had his doubts about her. She stayed away from the little green creature as soon as possible. Now, though, Onlé realized, she needed to be at the temple. She let out a maniacal laugh. Soon, Soon the Jedi would be crushed.
***
Onlé had disguised herself as Jedi Trainee Lindsey (Thought she was older than twelve now and couldn't be taken as a Padawan Good riddance! the Dark Jedi had thought when the council told her). She headed inside the temple and up to a higher level. The one with the cafeteria/mess hall. Inside she sat on a bench next to Mac-Lyn, who seemed...un-Jedish. She was tormented. Lindsey faked sympathy on the outside, but inside the Jedi's feelings gave her a dark happiness. Satisfaction.
"I just don't know what I'll do." Mac said. August was sitting across, with as much appetite for food as Mac-Lyn had. Her plate was nearly full.
Lindsey surveyed the Jedi. She sighed, then said, "We'll find out who did this!"
The Jedi nodded, but inside the Darker one plotted her revenge.
Mac was uneasy around Lindsey. She'd been an acquaintance of hers when she was first at the temple, and Mac had never quite believed she'd been kidnapped. Still, she had more important things on her mind. She slumped her head onto the table, and pushed away her plate. Lindsey saw Mac's face tense, and the Knight began to speak.
"I hate to say it, but when I find who did this, I will kill them, without finding out who they were, why they did it, or even if they were working for the Sith. I'll kill them, as soon as I see them."
As much as Lindsey normally held the light Jedi in contempt, she'd always had to admit that they were powerful, and she saw in Mac-Lyn's face that she was telling the truth, and if she saw Ana, the Sith wouldn't even have time to see the Jedi's face herself before Mac-Lyn would be upon her, striking and slashing. Lindsey was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of Mac's com link beeping. The Knight snatched up the communicator at lightning speed. The words "it's Cherry..." only came out of the link, before Mac-Lyn and August's chairs were upturned, and the Jedi could be seen running down the corridor, shimmering as they used the Force to speed their run. Onlé sat back with a smile on her face. She was sure the Jedi had worsened.
In the warm room in the upper levels of the temple, Mac-Lyn and August burst through the door, and practically leaped onto Cherry's bed, expecting to have to resuscitate her, but instead finding their Master sitting upright, with a shocked expression on her face.
"Master...."
"Well, I wasn't expecting this kind of reception!"
August stood to one side, sobbing into her sleeve, hardly believing Cherry was awake, and overcome with emotion. She'd expected her own reaction to be very joyous, but she couldn't move, she was just so happy. Mac-Lyn however, was breaking her habit of no emotional extremes. Her eyes widened, she stroked a finger along her former Master's cheek, and then knocked her over as she flung her arms around her and threatened to squeeze her to death. August jumped onto her Master too, and underneath them, Cherry gave out a muffled giggle.
"It's okay, it's okay."
As the two Jedi stood up, Cherry froze.
"Master?"
The Master grabbed her back, and collapsed back into her bed; she was unconscious again.
"NO! NO, NO, NO!"
Lei, who was standing outside, heard Mac-Lyn's screams of frustration and sadness. She rushed in, saw Cherry, and rushed to help her fellow Jedi. August flung her head against Mac's shoulder, and began sobbing loudly. Mac- Lyn's own face was consumed with rage, and she was breathing quickly and shallowly. Mac-Lyn turned august round to face her.
"August, look after Turtle. I don't want what I have to do to be her first mission."
August didn't ask any questions. She watched Mac-Lyn walk out of the door, and prepared to contact Turtle.
***
Ana Labris sat mediating in her ship. The Jedi were confused and her Master was pleased with the results: one less. she had done this only to proof him that she is worthy and can destroy the Jedi even without the help of any Dark Jedi.
Onlé was a good spy and did her job well but she wasn't fully trained. Ana supposed that she would be under cover again and she'd probably come with the Jedi.
Ana got up and out of the black ship. They were searching for her but the Jedi were led by the lust of revenge. She would turn Mac-Lyn. The former Padawan of Master Cherry was close to the edge, but she had been there before and hadn't turned. Ana was trained better and knew the other's weak spots. Dark satisfaction filled her black soul.
She would get rid of the Jedi and her Master. Then she would rule the galaxy as it should. A sweet smile formed on her face as she stepped in one of cantinas. There were many girls inside, most were surrounded by mobs of men. All were listening to their hormones and primitive instincts. The men didn't come close to her because her beauty was different. It was dark and dangerous under the sweet facade. That is why she just watched and drank their aggression through the Force and projected her black presence for the Jedi to find.
Mac-Lyn had boarded a small ship, undetectable to any systems set up to find approaching ships, no matter how advanced. She knew she was close to the edge, and she knew she was walking a dangerous tightrope. She was a Jedi who was capable of handling dark side powers. At 17 she'd mastered Force lightning, but she'd never even thought of turning. She had absorbed herself in the light side from an early age, and loved helping to protect, but as soon as she'd found her Master, her own personal dark side had emerged. It was protective not in a Jedi kind of way, but in a vengeful and spiteful way. She knew any attack on her Master's assailant would be vicious, and, if she used her full dark side powers, short.
Onlé sat in her room in the Jedi temple. The door was locked, and she was sitting, sulking and brooding. She wished she could have stopped Mac-Lyn going. She wished even more that the Knight had taken her Padawan with her, as she would have two things to worry about then. How could she defeat the Jedi, and steal the glory from Labris? Just then, a smile spread across her face. Tonight, she would weaken Mac-Lyn with a sure fire method, and destroy her herself. "Or maybe even turn her," she thought happily.