Disclaimer: KAM does not or never will own Star Wars, its characters,
George Lucas, or anything with his name stamped on it. All characters that
aren't recognizable from movies or EU are of our creation. Please ask us to
use them. I hope that covers it. If not, we don't have much to our name,
so it's pointless to get picky and sue. This kind of makes you wonder if
creators ever read these little fanfickys and laugh. Anyways...on with the
show..
"Life is neither a good nor an evil; it is simply the place where good and evil exist."
-Seneca
Depa Billaba cradled the tiny bundle gently in her arms as she made her way through the halls of the ancient Jedi Temple. The Force seemed to be a cloud surrounding the baby and it lent a euphoric high. Depa peeked inside the blankets and stared in wonder at the babe's sapphire eyes that watched her with slight interest.
Now that was strange. Most babies at this age barely recognized the world around, but this one carried interest? The Force was truly at work here. Depa picked up her pace and hurried with a new sense of urgency. The Council needed to see this, especially after all the trouble she had gone through to save the baby.
That was a tale for warmer nights, Depa thought bitterly. It was amazing the baby had survived in the squalor that she had discovered her. The poor babe's 'parents' were smugglers who had barely noticed her entrance into their hovel of a ship, but they had definitely noticed her exit.
"That was a close call wasn't it T'Allah?" Depa said as she wiped a bit of dirt from the child's cheek.
Depa was not certain if the parents were actually neglectful, for she arrived shortly after the baby's birth, but no child should be forced to live the life of a smuggler, especially one with this connection to the Force. Depa had felt her birth, had known she was born, and it had almost surprised the Force out of her. She had never experienced that before and she investigated, which had proved to be very fortunate indeed.
Now that she thought of the strange experience, Depa wondered if she was somehow connected to this small baby. However, she felt no connection, nothing at all. It was something to ask Master Yoda.
Depa turned the last corner and waved her hand, opening the doors to the Council Room. The doors flowed open and she entered, her cloak flying behind her in her speed. The Council looked up at her entrance and several raised their brows. Depa was new to the Council and she still tended to revert to her wild Padawan days.
"What brings you to us in such a hurry, Master Depa?"
Depa bowed to Mace Windu and Yoda speaking softly, "Forgive me for my brash entrance, Masters, but I come to you with utmost importance."
Yoda cocked his head and said, "Sensed I have, your important bundle."
Depa nodded. "I carry with me.."
Adi Gallia held the baby away from her and viewed her with a critical eye. The baby giggled mischievously and waved her hands with wild abandon. Her forest green eyes twinkled with hidden humor and Adi had the strangest feeling the child was laughing at her.
"Yes, laugh at me if you will, young Kamiah, but I know your parents and they would not be amused, not at all."
Adi placed the child in the crook of her arm and exited her transport. She had rescued the baby from a life of boring servitude to the Republic as a potential Senator. This child owed her, and it wasn't really done to laugh at your benefactor.
The Temple loomed in the horizon and Kamiah settled down as they entered its mighty shadow. Perhaps the child was not such a hopeless cause after all.
Adi had witnessed the child's birth into this world. No, not just witnessed, she had felt it, even before her birth. She had been visiting the Lady Su'ar and her husband, To'lak, Senator Palpatine's aide. The two were old friends of the family and Adi had learned Su'ar was pregnant with her third child, and it was finally a girl.
In Su'ar's family, a girl was more important then a boy. Poor Su'ar however had been cursed with two boys. In her culture, girls were extremely rare, so whenever one was born, that family had tremendous power. The population was four fifths male.
Su'ar's family would not have the chance to use this girl. Adi had seen to that. When Adi had entered Su'ar's home, she had felt the presence of the baby, even though it had yet to be born, and as Kamiah graced the world with her presence, the Force seemed to almost sing.
Using her political influence, Adi had succeeded in procuring Kamiah for the Jedi to train. Her parents were not happy, especially since Kelan, the second boy, was also training to become a Jedi.
Behind her Siri watched the baby with slight fascination. She really didn't understand the uproar about the baby, it was just a baby. Adi had become slightly boggled when she had entered the home of her friends. She had been surprised that Siri had not sensed the baby's force, but Siri was still unsure of herself, her downfall.
Adi entered the Temple and turned to Siri. "Why don't you go meditate for a while so I can take of this child?"
Siri nodded, not really wanting to meditate, but not willing to argue with her master. She turned away and strode for her room, frowning slightly. All this fuss over a baby was just a little silly.
Adi watched her go, shaking her head. She didn't know what to do about Siri anymore. She would have to consult Master Windu on the matter. Shifting the weight in her arms brought Adi's attention back to the present.
Kamiah gurgled and cooed at Adi who shook her head. "It's time to see to your future little one."
The halls twisted and turned and Adi picked up her pace, a sudden need to be at the council taking hold of her. The doors appeared and Adi flung them open and rushed in, the baby hid amongst the flowing robes. The Council and Depa both looked up as Adi entered.
Adi saw Depa but did not even pause for acknowledgement. "Revered Council, I carry with me....
"A child."
The two women looked at each other.
"What child?" Depa asked.
"I should ask you the same thing."
"I carry with me a child so strong in the ways of the Force, the world trembled at her entrance."
Adi cocked an eyebrow slightly. Depa had always been one for flair, but really.
"I carry with me a child so strong in the ways of the Force, the universe trembled at her entrance."
"I found mine first....so she's better."
Adi resisted the urge to laugh. "Let me see your child."
Depa frowned. "Let me see yours first."
"What? I asked you first."
"I was here first......"
"ENOUGH!"
The two Jedi women looked at Master Windu's irritated expression. The look on his face clearly showed his disapproval over their behavior.
"To me, bring the children," Yoda commanded softly from where he sat.
Depa and Adi, calm once more, both approached Yoda with as much dignity as possible. They both set the children in the crooks of Yoda's arms, which held them both with ease despite his tiny size.
"Alike they look, twins they seem to be."
Master Windu looked over and wonderment came over his features. "Master Yoda is correct. It is...amazing."
"Different places, both you found them?"
The two women nodded.
Yoda sighed. "Strong, they are, in the Force. Surrounds them, it does, like darkness."
"Darkness?" Depa echoed.
"Not always, bad, darkness is."
Depa did not say anything, merely nodded. Sometimes it was better to that with Master Yoda then try and understand his logic.
"Master Gallia, hold this child you will." Yoda floated the bundle to Adi who reached out and gently took her into her arms. She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging that Adi almost dropped the bundle at her feet. The child stared up at her with calm, blue eyes, seemingly satisfied with the turn of events. Adi looked up at Yoda who nodded his approval.
Yoda then turned to Depa and floated the other child to her. Adi could sense from Depa the same emotions and slight confusion.
Master Windu seemed to be conferring with Master Yoda, and then turned to the women.
"The children are special. They will be raised in the Temple to be Jedi, but they will not associate. They are not to know of their connection. They are not to know of the day of birth they share."
Depa and Adi exchanged glances, but did not question Master Windu. He knew what he was doing.
"Take the children to the nursery where they can be cared for. Your business with them is finished."
The two Jedi women both left in opposite directions heading for separate nurseries. The future, which they had each hoped would be clearer, was no more confusing then ever.
"Life is neither a good nor an evil; it is simply the place where good and evil exist."
-Seneca
Depa Billaba cradled the tiny bundle gently in her arms as she made her way through the halls of the ancient Jedi Temple. The Force seemed to be a cloud surrounding the baby and it lent a euphoric high. Depa peeked inside the blankets and stared in wonder at the babe's sapphire eyes that watched her with slight interest.
Now that was strange. Most babies at this age barely recognized the world around, but this one carried interest? The Force was truly at work here. Depa picked up her pace and hurried with a new sense of urgency. The Council needed to see this, especially after all the trouble she had gone through to save the baby.
That was a tale for warmer nights, Depa thought bitterly. It was amazing the baby had survived in the squalor that she had discovered her. The poor babe's 'parents' were smugglers who had barely noticed her entrance into their hovel of a ship, but they had definitely noticed her exit.
"That was a close call wasn't it T'Allah?" Depa said as she wiped a bit of dirt from the child's cheek.
Depa was not certain if the parents were actually neglectful, for she arrived shortly after the baby's birth, but no child should be forced to live the life of a smuggler, especially one with this connection to the Force. Depa had felt her birth, had known she was born, and it had almost surprised the Force out of her. She had never experienced that before and she investigated, which had proved to be very fortunate indeed.
Now that she thought of the strange experience, Depa wondered if she was somehow connected to this small baby. However, she felt no connection, nothing at all. It was something to ask Master Yoda.
Depa turned the last corner and waved her hand, opening the doors to the Council Room. The doors flowed open and she entered, her cloak flying behind her in her speed. The Council looked up at her entrance and several raised their brows. Depa was new to the Council and she still tended to revert to her wild Padawan days.
"What brings you to us in such a hurry, Master Depa?"
Depa bowed to Mace Windu and Yoda speaking softly, "Forgive me for my brash entrance, Masters, but I come to you with utmost importance."
Yoda cocked his head and said, "Sensed I have, your important bundle."
Depa nodded. "I carry with me.."
Adi Gallia held the baby away from her and viewed her with a critical eye. The baby giggled mischievously and waved her hands with wild abandon. Her forest green eyes twinkled with hidden humor and Adi had the strangest feeling the child was laughing at her.
"Yes, laugh at me if you will, young Kamiah, but I know your parents and they would not be amused, not at all."
Adi placed the child in the crook of her arm and exited her transport. She had rescued the baby from a life of boring servitude to the Republic as a potential Senator. This child owed her, and it wasn't really done to laugh at your benefactor.
The Temple loomed in the horizon and Kamiah settled down as they entered its mighty shadow. Perhaps the child was not such a hopeless cause after all.
Adi had witnessed the child's birth into this world. No, not just witnessed, she had felt it, even before her birth. She had been visiting the Lady Su'ar and her husband, To'lak, Senator Palpatine's aide. The two were old friends of the family and Adi had learned Su'ar was pregnant with her third child, and it was finally a girl.
In Su'ar's family, a girl was more important then a boy. Poor Su'ar however had been cursed with two boys. In her culture, girls were extremely rare, so whenever one was born, that family had tremendous power. The population was four fifths male.
Su'ar's family would not have the chance to use this girl. Adi had seen to that. When Adi had entered Su'ar's home, she had felt the presence of the baby, even though it had yet to be born, and as Kamiah graced the world with her presence, the Force seemed to almost sing.
Using her political influence, Adi had succeeded in procuring Kamiah for the Jedi to train. Her parents were not happy, especially since Kelan, the second boy, was also training to become a Jedi.
Behind her Siri watched the baby with slight fascination. She really didn't understand the uproar about the baby, it was just a baby. Adi had become slightly boggled when she had entered the home of her friends. She had been surprised that Siri had not sensed the baby's force, but Siri was still unsure of herself, her downfall.
Adi entered the Temple and turned to Siri. "Why don't you go meditate for a while so I can take of this child?"
Siri nodded, not really wanting to meditate, but not willing to argue with her master. She turned away and strode for her room, frowning slightly. All this fuss over a baby was just a little silly.
Adi watched her go, shaking her head. She didn't know what to do about Siri anymore. She would have to consult Master Windu on the matter. Shifting the weight in her arms brought Adi's attention back to the present.
Kamiah gurgled and cooed at Adi who shook her head. "It's time to see to your future little one."
The halls twisted and turned and Adi picked up her pace, a sudden need to be at the council taking hold of her. The doors appeared and Adi flung them open and rushed in, the baby hid amongst the flowing robes. The Council and Depa both looked up as Adi entered.
Adi saw Depa but did not even pause for acknowledgement. "Revered Council, I carry with me....
"A child."
The two women looked at each other.
"What child?" Depa asked.
"I should ask you the same thing."
"I carry with me a child so strong in the ways of the Force, the world trembled at her entrance."
Adi cocked an eyebrow slightly. Depa had always been one for flair, but really.
"I carry with me a child so strong in the ways of the Force, the universe trembled at her entrance."
"I found mine first....so she's better."
Adi resisted the urge to laugh. "Let me see your child."
Depa frowned. "Let me see yours first."
"What? I asked you first."
"I was here first......"
"ENOUGH!"
The two Jedi women looked at Master Windu's irritated expression. The look on his face clearly showed his disapproval over their behavior.
"To me, bring the children," Yoda commanded softly from where he sat.
Depa and Adi, calm once more, both approached Yoda with as much dignity as possible. They both set the children in the crooks of Yoda's arms, which held them both with ease despite his tiny size.
"Alike they look, twins they seem to be."
Master Windu looked over and wonderment came over his features. "Master Yoda is correct. It is...amazing."
"Different places, both you found them?"
The two women nodded.
Yoda sighed. "Strong, they are, in the Force. Surrounds them, it does, like darkness."
"Darkness?" Depa echoed.
"Not always, bad, darkness is."
Depa did not say anything, merely nodded. Sometimes it was better to that with Master Yoda then try and understand his logic.
"Master Gallia, hold this child you will." Yoda floated the bundle to Adi who reached out and gently took her into her arms. She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging that Adi almost dropped the bundle at her feet. The child stared up at her with calm, blue eyes, seemingly satisfied with the turn of events. Adi looked up at Yoda who nodded his approval.
Yoda then turned to Depa and floated the other child to her. Adi could sense from Depa the same emotions and slight confusion.
Master Windu seemed to be conferring with Master Yoda, and then turned to the women.
"The children are special. They will be raised in the Temple to be Jedi, but they will not associate. They are not to know of their connection. They are not to know of the day of birth they share."
Depa and Adi exchanged glances, but did not question Master Windu. He knew what he was doing.
"Take the children to the nursery where they can be cared for. Your business with them is finished."
The two Jedi women both left in opposite directions heading for separate nurseries. The future, which they had each hoped would be clearer, was no more confusing then ever.