Well, I figured it's been a while since I posted anything on and I know that I swore I wouldn't and yet here I am::sigh: Oh, well. This is actually a new genre for me: Star Wars! Saw Revenge of the Sith and I was like, 'Dude, MUST write fanfiction!' Anyway, this is the beginning of a series that I plan to write. So, here's to good luck with that!

Enjoy!

Lend a Helping Hand

By: Lady Alatariel

Rating: PG-13 for violence and a suggestive reference. But nothing is handled badly or anything like that. It's more just suggested—nothing ever happens. Some might not even consider it that bad. :shrug: Let me just say that now and get it out. I dunno… I just don't want to get any flames for it.

Feedback: Yes, please! All reviews are most welcome, except for flames. All flames will be used to toast marshmallows, roast orcs and burn evil Sith Lords because both orcs and Sith Lords are stupid. :D

Disclaimer: Well, this is a new one for me; I usually do Zelda or Lord of the Rings fics… Anyway, all recognizable characters (Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon) belong to George Lucas and all those happy (not to mention wealthy) people at LucasFilms.

Additional Disclaimer: I do have two OC's: Xanthe Hilnarus and Cassandra Redburn. If you feel the need to use them (don't see why you would, though…), I would greatly appreciate if you asked first. Thank you. Oh, and here's a small pronunciation guide to one of my character's names:

Xanthe Hilnarus: ZAHN-thee hil-NAR-us; it's Greek (her first name) and means :looks at paper with meaning: … :raises eyebrows in question: "blonde, yellow"… Okay, whatever. There you go. Cassandra means "prophetess." That's cool.

Series: No, not yet…

Summary: Pre-Phantom Menace, non-slash. Obi-Wan saves a fellow Padawan from a terrible fate and thus begins a whole new world of friendship between the Learners and their Masters.

Additional Notes & Comments: Well, I suppose I should start off by saying that this is my first-ever Star Wars fic. I've been a fan of the series (and Ewan McGregor!) for quite a while and so I thought, 'Hey, I'll try my hand at fanfiction!' So, if there are any errors please just ignore them and take it with a grain of salt. This was written for fun.

And, just so everyone knows, this story serves two purposes: to introduce my two OC's and to get them to meet Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Therefore, it is rather short, sweet and to the point. Simple as that, right?

Okay, well I suppose that's it. May the Force be with us…

-Lend a Helping Hand-

By: Lady Alatariel

PART ONE

The city of Coruscant was a very busy place this time of day, it seemed. Although, having hardly any reason or time to come to the actual city part, the two companions had nothing really with which to compare it.

It was late afternoon and Jedi Master Xanthe Hilnarus and her Padawan, Cassandra Redburn, had just returned yesterday from a most dangerous mission on the far away planet of Mustafar. It had been stiflingly hot the entire time they had been on the volcanic planet and they had been very eager to get their job over with. Fortunately, they did indeed get the job done early and were granted a reprieve from the Council before they were to be assigned anything else.

"This sure beats that sweltering heat, doesn't it, Master?" Cassandra asked her mentor. A girl of sixteen, she had been Xanthe's apprentice for four years. She was very gifted in the ways of the Force, but still, much to her chagrin and as her Master often reminded her, had much to learn. Her short light red hair—almost a strawberry blonde—complimented her very pale blue eyes and her apprentice braid hung over her right shoulder. At her hip, affixed to her belt, was a lightsaber, a most elegant weapon. Hers was a color rarely chosen by Jedi Knights, for it took great skill and time to achieve it: yellow.

Xanthe smiled at her apprentice. "Anything beats that heat!" she laughed. A woman of twenty-nine standard years, she was a Jedi Knight who had only four years ago achieved that status. Her eyes were blue and her hair was black with subtle purple highlights; it was pulled back into a braided half ponytail and reached just below her shoulder blades. Her lightsaber was, like her Padawan's, a rare color, for only one other Master had it: purple. The reason hers was purple was due to the fact that Mace Windu had been her Teacher and had taught her the special trick in order to make the blade be that amethyst hue.

"How long do you think the Council will give us a break?" Cassandra asked.

"I honestly could not say, Padawan," she replied as they continued walking down the street. "I can tell you right now, though, that it ought to be decent because we returned to Coruscant so early."

"That's good," the student smiled, "because I really have no desire to go anywhere for some time!"

Xanthe looked down at the girl. "You know we must do as the Council orders us."

"I know, Master, but it feels good to be on leave."

Xanthe smiled and nodded. "Yes, indeed, Padawan. Yes, indeed."

It was approaching nighttime now and Xanthe decided that she and her apprentice might want to start heading back to the Temple so they could check in with the goings-on.

"Master, may I just walk down here for a moment?" asked Cassandra.

Xanthe turned around to see her Padawan pointing towards a nearby shop. Even though Jedi were forbidden such possessions as jewelry and other flashy things, they were perfectly within their rights to admire them from afar. Such was the case with Cassandra.

"Well," her Master looked at the digital clock on a tall skyscraper and then back at her Padawan, "I would like you back at the Temple no later than, say, eight 'o clock, all right?"

Cassandra glanced up at the clock as well. Right now, it was seven. An hour. That wasn't so bad, she thought. "Yes, Master." And with that they parted ways, Xanthe heading towards the Temple and Cassandra off down the road.

As she walked away, Master Xanthe cracked a tiny smile. Her Padawan was growing up fast. She was already sixteen, almost an adult, and therefore wanted some freedom to be on her own. She was extremely gifted in the Jedi arts; she could take care of herself. So… why did the Master feel a small twinge of distress in the Force? Perhaps it was nothing… and maybe it was something.

Well, it was only an hour. What could possibly happen in the span of an hour to a Jedi?

Cassandra looked up at the clock as she stepped out of the store, empty-handed. Oh, no. It was ten past eight. She cringed and ran a hand through her hair; Master Xanthe would definitely give her a stern talking-to when she got back to the Jedi Temple.

Nice, she thought as she broke into a run, the first time she lets you off on your own, you blow it. Smooth, real smooth.

She passed alleyway after alleyway, but hardly any of them were filled with people and they all looked very dark and ominous. Dread filled her heart and she tried quickly to dispel it. She was a Jedi! Jedi are not afraid… She was a little disappointed at herself for letting the time get out of her hands, but she could deal with that later. Or, at least her Master would…

Suddenly, she stopped. The Force was stirring all around her, telling her something… What was it telling her…? What—then she heard it, clear as day: RUN!

She made haste to obey, but was stopped by a man who appeared with such suddenness that Cassandra actually recoiled and stepped back… right into the arms of another. This one laid his hands on her shoulders, trying to hold her still, and she went ballistic, flailing her arms and trying her hardest to get away. She was about to reach for her lightsaber—her hand brushed the hilt—when the man holding her clamped a hand over her mouth and jabbed a needle in the side of her neck.

"Hurry up, Dryx! She's a freakin' Jedi!" the man who startled her first whispered as he, too, advanced.

The syringe was filled with extremely potent narcotics, and just before she was about to activate her lightsaber, it fell from her limp hand as Cassandra slumped into unconsciousness.