Authoress' Note: I will attempt to use very few characters from the actual MMO, and the war will (naturally) progress differently than any of the character storylines in SWTOR. The T rating is strictly for violence during the fight sequences; there will be no mature content beyond kissing and holding hands, and no immodest descriptions.
3,651 BBY - Cold War
The GALACTIC REPUBLIC and the SITH EMPIRE have reached a tenuous stalemate which cannot truly be called peace. Two years have passed since the TREATY of CORUSCANT was signed, and the Republic is still nursing its wounds and tending to its own interests. Many of the Sith Lords are placing spies, securing trade routes and stocking supplies against the day when war will come again. Into this web of distrust and secrecy comes a young Jedi, LUTHA SUNSPELL, who is destined to invoke some great change in the galaxy, for good or ill...
Lutha sat on the end of the bench, trying to look calmer than she felt. She felt she could bear anything better than waiting while her fate was decided for her. I must be calm, she told herself, I must prove to them I am worthy of being a padawan. The young human folded her hands and closed her eyes, focusing on breathing slowly. I am in control. I will keep it together. At fourteen, she was not beyond the age when many Jedi still became padawans, but having trained as a Jedi learner for the past ten years and shown very little progress, it was possible she was about to be expelled.
"Why so worried, young one?"
Lutha looked up to find a Jedi Knight called Eronno Rey gazing back at her. "I'm waiting for the Council to reconvene, Master." She had only seen this particular Jedi a few times, but it was still considered respectful to give him the title.
The Twi'lek crossed his arms, smiling. "I remember you, I think. You were part of the class I taught about different Force techniques a few months ago."
"Yes, Master, and thank you. I learned much from your teachings." Lutha smiled politely, but her thoughts were really on that one room in the galaxy, wherever it might be, where Grand Master Satele Shan was deciding whether she would become a padawan or a failed youngling.
"Evidently, patience was not part of my teachings," he laughed, sensing her distraction. "Tell me, what troubles you, child?"
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'm sure it would bore you, Master Jedi."
Rey shrugged, flicking one of his grey head-tails, or lekku, over his shoulder. "As it happens, we are both waiting for the Council. I have been absent from Tython for some time, working with a friend on Coruscant. All the politics and intrigue of the planet have pressed hard on me, so the innocent problems of a padawan are a welcome relief." Another smile showed he was teasing.
"Coruscant?" Lutha repeated. "But the Jedi aren't exactly welcome there, ever since the Republic was forced to sign the Treaty."
"No, we are not," the Twi'lek agreed. "But my friend is a Senator of the Republic, and I pose as one of his aides. An unwelcome deception, perhaps, but necessary, if the Council wishes to be kept informed."
"So, you're a consular, then?" the child asked, referencing the branch of Jedi who served as diplomats and ambassadors.
Rey nodded. "Yes. Although many of my fellows would remark on the irony of my clumsy tongue."
Lutha smiled wryly. "Maybe a strong connection to the Force is better than a silver tongue, if you're an ambassador to the capital."
The Jedi Knight laughed. "Sometimes it feels that way. But why are you waiting for the Council? You're too young for the Trials, I assume?"
"And not talented enough to be a padawan." she sighed. "I'm still a learner. They have to decide if I get assigned a Master, or if I just go back to Selonia."
"Ah, the either-or moment," he remarked. "More children than you might think go through it, if that helps."
"Not really." The words slipped out before she thought to stop them. "Uh, that's not... what I meant."
Rey chuckled. "It's alright, little one. Focus on something to calm yourself."
"That's just it! I do worse when I'm calm. Master Far says I rely too much on my emotions, and that I could fall to the Dark Side. But I just..." Lutha shook her head. "I'm sorry, Master. Forgive my outburst."
The Twi'lek Knight rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Show me."
"I beg your pardon, Master?"
He stood up. "Show me how your emotions help."
Reluctantly, she stood also. "Okay, but Master Far said I should distance myself from emotion as much as possible."
"Master Far aside for a moment, just show me what you can do," he shrugged.
Lutha closed her eyes, thinking of her best friend, Arany. They had studied at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant together, but the Togrutan learner had been slaughtered in the sacking of the planet during the Great War. All the pain and sorrow at her loss welled up in her chest, and she could feel the Force around her respond. Without opening her eyes, she levitated the marble bench she had been sitting on and held it high in mid-air. After a long moment, she set the bench back down and opened her eyes.
"Interesting," Rey murmured. "And what about when you are calm?"
She took a few deep breaths, trying to think of soothing things and banish the pain. When she felt no trace of emotion, Lutha focused on the bench again. It wobbled, lifted a few inches off the ground, and fell back with a bang. She shook her head in frustration. "That's all."
"A strange riddle for the Council to solve," he remarked. "You are certainly in a unique situation, young one. You have given me much to think over." A beeping sound came from the holocommunicator in his pocket. "Excuse me, but I believe I've been summoned to give my report. Perhaps we will meet again."
"May the Force be with you, Master Rey," she replied, giving a slight bow.
"And with you." Rey nodded and walked away, leaving Lutha to her musing.
If I could make the Force listen to me when I was calm, the masters would let me stay, she thought glumly. It's like the wind; I can feel it, see what it does, but I have no control over it. Not unless I let my emotions go. And what sort of padawan does that make? I'm a born Sith, no doubt about it. Maybe it would be better to just go home, and not let the Dark Side take me. Home. After a decade away, Selonia hardly felt like home. She had been so young when she left, barely more than a toddler. Could she really go back, and pretend that life as a Jedi had never happened? I'm going to have to, she reminded herself. So I might as well start trying to like it.
She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the Mirialian Jedi Master Kee Far standing in front of her until he gave a polite cough. She instantly leaped to her feet. "Uh, Master! My apologies."
"The Council has summoned you, Sunspell," he said gravely. "I am to bring you to them."
"Yes, Master." She followed his lead down the hallways of the Jedi Temple of Tython. His leather boots made little noise on the ancient stone floors, while she was uncomfortably conscious of the clicking of her own heeled, Corellian-style shoes. With a wave of Master Far's hand, the massive double doors to the Council Chamber swung open. Three of the seven masters were present, with rest transmitting as holographs. Lutha bowed to the assembly and took her place at the foot of the table.
"Masters, you may remember Lutha Sunspell," Far said to the others as he took his seat. "She has been a student under my care and others' for ten years, come next month, but unfortunately has had little success in learning the ways of the Force. As an such unusual case rarely takes place, Master Kaedan has requested a formal inquiry."
The nice way of saying she was a horrible failure and would almost certainly end up a Dark Jedi or a bloody stain on a battlefield. At least Master Far isn't giving them any specific instances of my failings, she groaned inside. Like the time... No, don't think about that; they can read your thoughts. Stay calm. I am in control.
"Before we decide, there is a customary inspection. Let the learner demonstrate what she can do," Grand Master Satele Shan commanded, turning her gaze to Lutha. Even the holographic image of the leader of the Jedi Order was imposing.
Oh, no. Not that. Anything but that. Lutha turned to Master Far, silently pleading with him to excuse this formality and not embarrass her. He shook his head ever so slightly. Restraining a wince, she faced the Council again and threw every ounce of her strength into the Force, pleading with it to obey her this once. The massive table stirred, shifted a few inches, and stopped. That was all. The silence that followed made the girl wish to sink beneath the floor.
"Yes, well, then..." Master Bela Kiwiiks cleared her throat. "I believe we have seen enough. My personal belief is that we should ignore the request put to us and find Sunspell a place with the Republic's soldiers."
Request? What request? Lutha wondered.
"I disagree, Bela," Master Syo Bakarn shook his head. "If we set her to life outside the Order, the Sith may find her and force her to turn away from the light. We cannot risk one more Force-sensitive child in their hands!"
One by one, the Masters voiced their judgment, until Master Far alone was left to speak. "I have trained Sunspell for years, and have witnessed her inabilities first hand," he said softly. "But as many times as she failed, she would try again. Her attitude is one of humility and willingness, though she has seen many other students pass her by. Perhaps we should grant the request and see if the last blossom on the irpana tree truly is the sweetest."
"Leave it to you to quote some strange proverb from Mirial, Kee," Master Jaric Kaedan shook his head disapprovingly.
"Then the majority vote is to grant the request," Master Shan said, casting Jaric a stern glance. "Sunspell, you are to be the apprentice of Jedi Knight Eronno Rey. We grant you the rank of padawan."
Lutha's jaw dropped in shock. "Are you... serious, Master?"
The Council gave a collective chuckle. "Quite serious, Sunspell," Master Far said. "Rey himself specifically asked for it, as a favor. He has yet to train an apprentice, but he is a gifted member of the Order, and has our trust. You will find him waiting outside."
"Thank you!" Lutha clapped her hands in delight. "Thank you all! I promise, I won't let you down!"
"Calm, Sunspell, calm," Master Far reminded her. "'There is no emotion, there is peace.'"
"Yes, of course, Master." She bowed politely, and walked out of the room, trying hard to curb her joy. Rey was standing outside the door of the Council Chamber, his eyes closed in meditation. Lutha approached cautiously. "Master Rey?"
"I felt your outburst, little one," he smiled, opening his eyes. "I figure that means they agreed to my plan."
"Thank you, thank you!" Lutha grinned. "I can't say it enough!"
"You intrigued me during our talk, padawan," Rey said, walking down one of the hallways and gesturing for her to follow. "It's not that the Force isn't strong in you; it's something else keeping you from accessing it. As a consular, I was curious. Besides, you seemed like you needed a friend."
"I'd like that, Master," she smiled.
Rey led her to a wall lined with lockers. He entered a passcode, opened one and took a sturdy practice saber out. "This is yours, until you build your lightsaber. Use it well, Lutha, and only in defense. The Force gives us many paths to avoid bloodshed."
Lutha took the blade from her master's hand, feeling the weight and wondering if she would be able to wield it at all. It was so different from the lighter weapons she had sometimes practiced with. Carefully, as she had seen other padawans do, she unwound the holster from around the blade and strapped it to her back. The training saber easily slipped into the magnetic clip and stayed there. It felt strong and comforting. "Thank you, Master. I will."