Disclaimer: I do not own the HP Universe. J.K does. Nor do I own the SW universe. George Lucas does. Nor do I own the universe in which this story takes place. It is a side story to padawan lynne's amazing series Walking A New Path. She graciously allowed me use of it, in which to feed my Obi Wan Kenobi obession. If you have not read her story, (please do it is a wicked crossover that works well with the HO and SW storylines) than this may not make much sense. The only thing I can lay claim to is my OC. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter One
The sleek looking titanium ship, dodged thru the asteroid field with a grace that could only be attributed to it's pilot. Not even an android could have dropped and volleyed as well. But the pilot was not merely avoiding the deadly rocks, but also the Imperial fighter that had chased the ship into the field.
Damn, this fighter is good. Perhaps he has been Force trained. Although, after what I found on Coruscant, I doubt the are many Force users. Let alone true Jedi.
Seeing the end of the natural obstacle course, the pilot made preparations for a jump to light speed. The problem was, where? Coruscant had been abandoned save for Imperial forces. Aldeeran had been decimated by a global virus. And no one seemed to know where the remaining Jedi had fled. Although rumors abounded.
Hmm, where to try next. Dagaba system? Bit remote but if they are in hiding then that could be a possibility. Master said that Master Yoda would go there if left no other choice. Maybe as a last resort I'll check it out. Tantooine? Run by the Hutts but on the other hand, smuggler's tend to gather there and it would be a good place for gossip.
Just then an explosion rocked the ship and the pilot's choice was made. After the co-ordinates had been entered for the desert planet, the ship entered a slip stream and so began a 3 week journey.
The cloaked figure sitting at the back table kept careful watch on the man sitting 2 tables away. After being on the sand covered planet for 2 months, he was the first significant lead to appear. He had referred to the little green one. Hopefully, he had been referring to Master Yoda. After searching for so many years, to have a tangible lead to the Jedi, it was almost painful.
Getting up to follow the would be smuggler, the figure stepped back a few paces as a giant hairy being joined him. That must be a Wookie. Sith be damned they are huge!
The man and the Wookie, or Solo and Chewie as they had been called, walked out the back door and headed towards a landing dock. There sat a ship. It was a little bent out of shape in some places, and a little dented in others, but all in all it looked to be a fast ship. It would have to be if Solo was a smuggler. But that begged the question, why was a smuggler affiliated with the Head of the Jedi Order? Hopefully, these questions would be answered soon.
Using the Force to appear invisible, the short figure waited until the other two had boarded before stealing unto the ramp. As Solo and the Wookie headed to the cockpit, the new stowaway silently opened the hidden compartments and dropped down. I knew that selling my ship for parts would pay off. Hopefully, I have enough rations to get me where they're going.
A short 4 weeks later, the feeling of the ship coming out of hyper drive woke the stowaway. The shuddering and shaking before the inevitable sudden stop, signified a destination at last. It had only taken all of the rations, two Force induced deep sleeps to the crew to access data pads and a self induced 5 day coma to get to this point. Hopefully, this has been worth it. Hopefully, I will find the other's and fulfill my Master's last wishes. Once that's done I can leave and find some peace.
As soon as the loading ramp had lowered, the unmistakable feeling of the Force being used and the loud voices of welcoming, confirmed the hidden figure's hope that this was the new home of the Jedi.
Without waiting to wait for an explanation or proper introduction , just waiting to end a five year search, the figure slipped out of the smuggling compartments and force jumped towards the being with the highest Force emissions. The only problem was that it was not a little green being. It was 2 tall men. One blond, blue eyed and fierce looking though surprised. The other was brunette, green eyed and holding a light staff. Realizing that explanations were a moot point, the stranger activated a lightsaber and fell into a fighting stance.
Smooth, real smooth. Now instead of calmly relaying your Master's message, you are in a battle with two fully trained Jedis. Masters by the look of them. Master Onowa would be so pleased with you. Stepping back to deflect a downward strike, the shorter participant activated the special feature on it's lightsaber. What was once a solid beam of light, was now a flexible whip.
The other two Jedi stepped back and prepared to counter the figure in front of them. But with one crack of the whip over their heads had them rethinking their plans. Suddenly the stranger dropped to their knees. The unusual weapon was deactivated and held up in submission as a shout came from behind them.
"Stop this you will. Knight Skywalker, Master Potter. Attack this Padawan you will not." Master Yoda's voice rang out.
As he hobbled towards the person kneeling before the others, he spoke with his mind. Found us you have. Long journey it has been. Sent you did Master Onowa?
Yes, Master Yoda. His last wish and order for me was to seek you out and tell you of his fate. To bring you news of his death and to return his lightsaber to you. Now that this task is complete, I will leave and bother you no more. Please accept my apologizes and extend them to the rest of the Order. As well as to Captain Solo for hiding on his ship. I will tell no one of your location and will remain ignorant to this system if you wish me to leave and not return.
Leave you will not. Trained you well, he did. Stay and finish you must. Part of us now you will be.
"Tell me your name you will." Yoda said.
"Indira. Indira Parmida Kaliste." She spoke.
Once she was deemed friendly and a genuine padawan, the others came forward and Indira apologized to Anakin and Harry, as she had been told to call them. They were all asking questions as to who she was, who had trained her and about her unusual lightsaber. But Masters Yoda and Mace had held them off and said all questions would be asked and answered in a formal Council meeting.
Indira was nervous but determined to prove herself to the Council. She had heard all about the Jedi and the Jedi way from her master. But as she had been trained without any other padawans or knights around, she was anxious to steep herself in this life. Never before had she felt at home, but just hours with this group had given her a feeling of belonging. Still, being before the entire council which included Harry was unnerving. Anakin was there was well, sending an encouraging smile her way. Shyly smiling back, she sat in the chair provided and stared at each member in turn. Master Onowa had briefed her on the members that had existed as of when he left. There was a few missing and a few new names, as well as an empty chair that was for a Master away on a mission but due back in hours.
After everyone had taken their seats the questioning began. It fell to Harry to begin it.
"What is your name and planet of origin?"
"Indira Parmida Kaliste. I am from Niveatin, the fifth planet in the Raznis system."
"Who was your Master and taught you of the Force and Jedi?"
"Master Kinen Las Onowa."
There were gasps and muttering at this. Some were looking with confusion, some with denial.
"Explain perhaps you will Padawan Kaliste." Master Yoda said.
Indira took a deep breath and started. " Time flows differently for my system, so I'm not sure how many years ago it was. But for me I have aged 15 of my planets years. For you, well all I can say is that Master Potter was not yet part of the order. Master Onowa was sent on a mission to a system that was close to mine. But was ambushed by one of the warring factions of the main planet. His ship was badly damaged but he managed to make it to Niveatin. He crashed not far from my village and my mother took care of him until he recovered. Many men came looking for him, but we hid him well. Master realized that his ship was beyond repair and as my planet is very poor and not very technologically advanced, he accepted that he was stuck on our planet. What we did not know, was that Master was dying. A disease unknown to us. I was away at my grandmother's when he first came. But the minute I arrived in the house, he sat up with a shocked look on his face. He beckoned me over. He asked me strange questions. Had I ever made things happen? Had I ever wanted something from someone only to have them give me what I wanted? Such strange questions to me at that time."
"Weeks later when he was strong enough, he went back to his ship and retrieved instruments. He took a sample of my blood and was surprised at the reading it gave. He told me about the midichlorians, the Force and Jedi. He also told me that my count was very high. After that he began to train me as best he could. I was like a sponge soaking up knowledge. The only things he could not train me were flying and some of the practical chemistry. We obviously didn't have a ship nor some of the needed elements. But in everything else I became most proficient. For the next 5 years we trained everyday. Then a smuggler came to our village. He had detected the signature of Master's ship. We bargained with him and after saying goodbye to my mother we left. She was against it as I was only 10 at the time."
"The smuggler was very decent. He taught me about flying and about smuggling much to Master Onowa dismay. But Tolmay said that I would need every trick I could master because of the state of the galaxy. After that it was an unending journey. System after system. Master had decided that he would not return to the Temple. He never gave any reason but I think it was because of his illness. He wanted to die in piece. But he made me promise to return his lightsaber to Master Yoda and to tell you all that he had lived and that I was his reason for not returning. I feel as though I had some part in his death. So if you feel the need to punish me for this I will not object."
Indira stood with her head hung. The sadness and guilt radiating from her was over powering. Mace stood quickly and went to her. She raised her head as he walked towards her. She looked as though she was expecting a punishment. Instead Mace took her hand.
"Indira. I knew Onowa better than most. I can say with absolute certainty that you are not to blame. He stayed away because he knew we would try to prolong his life. It was not his way. Finding you, training you and giving you this last order was the way he wanted to live his last years. You are his legacy to the Order. You will not be punished because you are not at fault. Nor will you carry around this guilt any longer. You did what he asked. And as Master Yoda already said. Stay with us you will." Mace said with convection and a trace of humor at the end.
Indira nodded. At Master Windu's word, a weight had been lifted from her heart. Somewhere, her Master was safe and smiling at her. She felt a welcoming warmth surround her when her thoughts strayed to staying with the rest of the Jedi. It was the right decision and now that it was made she felt the Force almost demanding her to remain. Something was going to happen, soon. And she was suppose to be here.
Shaking her head, she looked at Mace and smiled. "Thank you Master Windu. I feel the Force urging me to stay here. It is my destiny I believe."
At her words, the others in the room smiled and nodded. Mace sat back down as Yoda started to speak. "Tested you will be. Your level we must find. A padawan you have been a long time. But knighthood we must not rush."
Indira nodded. "Of course Master Yoda. It has been a long journey. May I have the evening to rest?"
Yoda tilted his head. "Rest tonight you will. Wait for Master Kenobi we will. Test you against Jedi Potter, Skywalker and Kenobi."
Indira again only nodded. "Yes Master."
Mace rose then. "Harry, perhaps you and Anakin will show Indira to the guest rooms. Tomorrow we will find her permanent rooms in the Jedi quarters."
Harry and Anakin agreed quickly and with a low respectful bow to the council, Indira started to follow the two men, but she stopped when Master Yoda asked her a final question.
"Padawan Kaliste. High midichlorian count, you said?"
Indira turned with a nod at the small Master. "Yes, Master Yoda. Master Onowa said my count was 21,500." She left then as shocked looks and gasps echoed thru the council chamber.
Anakin and Harry turned to her. "What did you say to them to make them go so quiet?"
Indira turned to her two guides and replied softly, "I told them the result of Master's Onowa's test of my midichlorian count."
Harry raised an eyebrow at that. But it was Anakin who asked the question. "And what was your count Indira?"
Indira shrugged as she answered. "21,500."
Again silence reigned at her answer. She was becoming a little unnerved at the response and said as much to the two men. Both quickly apologized and proceeded to explain to her why. They told her of their own levels, that of Master Yoda's as Head of the Jedi Order, as well as the prophecy that was Anakin's. Indira listened wide eyed as her Master's own reactions now made more sense to her.
"No offense Knight Skywalker, but I am very glad that both you and Master Potter have higher readings than I. It must be a terrible burden to carry."
Anakin locked eyes with her at that. They simply stared at each other for a moment before a genuine smile broke out on his face. "It may well become one but for now it is not so bad. Harry was also a Chosen one you know."
This started a story telling of epic proportions as the two men filled Indira in a few things that had happened over the years. They did not delve to deeply into what had happened on Coruscant nor of the events that had occured months before involving Harry's late former padawan , but Indira felt there was deep sorrow attached to those events and did not ask. Instead she asked of the missing Master ,who she assumed was Kenobi, that she was going to be tested against on the morrow. Harry explain that it had been Obi Wan and his master at the time who had rescued him from Earth. He had become Harry's friend and brother, as well as now being Master to Anakin's son Luke. Indira had yet to meet the infamous trio but was looking forward to it.
Arriving at the guest quarters, the two men saw her settled and then said goodbye. Although she was appreciative of their company it was nice to just let her hair down literally and relax. A long hot bath, after so many sonic showers was top of her priorities. She then changed into night clothes that had been found for her by some unknown R2 unit and slid into bed. But before sleep could claim her, she had a vision. It was of a man, in the hold of a ship of unknown design. He was being attacked by Imperial clones and although he was putting up a valiant fight he was losing. She looked beyond the combatants and saw herself, hanging from chains attached to the ceiling. She was crying out to the man to go but he refused to leave her. A cloaked figure moved behind her and whispered in her ear. He will die. Submit to me. Submit to your anger. Submit to the Dark Side and I will allow him to live and return to the others. But you must give yourself to me, fully.
Before she could reply or make a move, she was thrown from the vision. Indira sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs. She laid her head on her knees and cried. It was the first time she had allowed herself to show that much emotion since Master Onowa had died. The vision had not been what had upset her the most. It was the fact that she had a vision. On her world only those with the Gift had visions. And most times, the visions drove them to insanity. There was a hospital on her world that was specifically for those that could not cope. Indira wondered how this new ability would affect her training. She also wondered whether or not to tell anyone about it. Master Onowa had always said that anything kept inside would fester until it took over. That was why he had encouraged her to use her emotions when embracing the force. Rather than burying them.
Her mind made up to tell Master Potter tomorrow, she finally drifted off to sleep. But not before an image of the man from her vision popped into her head. Whoever he was, he was certainly handsome. She only hoped that her vision would not come to pass very soon.