I.
Mari screamed as her body flew through the never-ending tunnel of light. One moment she had been at the dinner table with her parents, and the next second Mari was sucked into a terrifying wormhole. The only thought bouncing about in her panicked mind was that she hadn't thanked her mom for the meal.
Something was approaching fast. Mari stretched her hands forward to protect herself. Then the light disappeared.
She fell on her arms and yelped in pain. The floor beneath her was hard and cold. Mari groaned and blinked several times. She gave the ground a blank stare.
There was something very wrong, besides the obvious traveling through a wormhole thing. Mari could feel it, but couldn't quite put a name to what she was experiencing. She felt overwhelmed, as if there was suddenly too much stimulation in her mind.
Heart pounding, she sat up. Looking around she could see there was something very familiar about her surroundings. But the ache in her arms and blood roaring in her ears was distracting. She glanced down at her shaking hands.
Shoes entered her field of vision and she flinched as someone crouched before her. Mari glanced up. Her mouth fell agape.
I've finally lost my damn mind.
Before her was none other than Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. She stared in absolute confusion.
"Are you alright?" He held out a hand for her.
He even sounds like Liam Neeson.
Mari shook her head. "No! I- this is crazy!" Her head was throbbing. She squeezed her eyes shut. There was something weird around her. It wasn't quite suffocating, but overwhelming. What was it?
There was a Jedi at her side. A Jedi that soon would be dead.
This isn't real!
"What is?"
She opened her eyes and glanced at him in confusion.
"What?" she said.
"What is crazy?"
Mari huffed. "You! This! Everything!" She waved her hand about in a reckless manner. "And my arms hurt."
Something prodded at her, and she flinched, but no one had touched her. What the hell?
"We can help with that." He was exuding calm and his hand was still outstretched. "You're safe here. There's no need to be frightened."
She regarded his hand. Her heart was still pumping furiously. Mari hesitated. Could it be possible that this was real? That a real live Jedi stood before her? If she was truly in the Star Wars universe… then she wasn't safe. Not at all.
After a long moment she took his hand. It was almost comical seeing how small her fingers were compared to his. He helped her up and Mari immediately swayed on her feet.
A foreign hand touched her shoulder and without thinking Mari swatted at it. She didn't expect an 'oof!' and the sound of a body hitting the floor. Mari spun around and her eyes widened in shock.
"I'm sorry!" she said, immediately hurrying to their side. "Are you-" She froze in place when she saw his face.
Really, she should have expected it. If Qui-Gon Jinn was alive, then of course his Padawan would be by his side. Despite this, Mari was shocked to see Obi-Wan Kenobi. He looked up at her in surprise.
"How do you know my name?"
Had she spoken his name out loud? Oh for-
But then something clicked. Mari stared down at her hands. They were trembling. How had he fallen over? She didn't even touch him. "Was that the Force? But that doesn't make any sense!"
Obi-Wan helped himself to his feet, and Mari felt a bit of guilt for not helping him up. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to knock you over! I just - I startle easy."
"Apology accepted." He wore a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Obi-Wan glanced to her left.
She turned to see Qui-Gon beside her, his hand stroking his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"It seems we have many things to discuss with the Council." He grimaced a bit. The look disappeared within seconds as he faced her. His eyes were kind and Mari couldn't help but feel he was sincere as he spoke. "What is your name, young one?"
If they could sense her reluctance to speak, they didn't say anything. She hated being the center of attention, and feeling both of their eyes on her was stressful. Heat flooded her cheeks. A strong desire to run or disappear welled up within her but she suppressed the instinct.
"I'm Maria Hernandez. But I- uh, prefer to be called Mari." And not young one.
Qui-Gon smiled and her embarrassment ebbed slightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mari. I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is my Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. But it appears you already know this."
Her slight smile dropped and she fell silent.
"Master, shall we report to the Council?"
"Yes. I'm sure they wish to know the cause of the disturbance."
"I caused a disturbance in the Force?" Mari said. She immediately regretted it when both pairs of eyes turned to her.
Qui-Gon nodded. "I'm certain that every Force-sensitive in Coruscant is curious as to what has happened. Come, we must make haste."
Mari followed after the two long legged Jedi, feeling very much like a lost and confused puppy. It seemed more and more like this was not a delusion or dream after all. What Mari was experiencing was real. It was insane. How could she be in the Jedi Temple?
Her eyes were drawn to the tall pillars holding up ancient walls and ceilings. As they passed through a corridor she glanced out a large window and gaped at the speeders flying through the air and the impossibly tall buildings. Mari longed to observe further, but she had to keep up the pace with the two swift Jedi.
Before she knew it, they were standing before very large doors. A small part of her was clinging to the hope that this was all some hallucination. If it was true, it brought too many questions to mind. Too many questions Mari wasn't sure she could handle. And a truth she didn't think the Council wanted to know.
The massive doors swung open and the two Jedi stepped inside. Mari stood in the threshold, her legs abruptly feeling frozen. From where she stood she could see the large seats of the Council members and the massive windows that overlooked Coruscant. She felt several pairs of curious eyes on her and felt the intense desire to become one with the walls.
"Mari?" Qui-Gon said.
She mentally shook herself and entered the room. Her eyes were drawn to Yoda, and it took all of her self-restraint not to let her jaw drop in disbelief. The old, green being was studying her. His ears twitched. Her eyes dropped to the floor before her.
"Master Qui-Gon, Padawan Kenobi, found the source of the disturbance you have?"
"Masters," Qui-Gon said. "My Padawan and I were on our way to our quarters when we sensed the disturbance. A rip in space appeared before us. I have never seen anything like it before. But before either of us could investigate further, a figure fell out from within it."
Everyone turned their eyes to her. Mari flushed.
"What's your name, young one?" said Master Mundi.
"Maria Hernandez." She said. And I'm not a young one I'm twenty-five! She couldn't help but bristle.
"She is Force-sensitive." Master Mundi stated.
"Yes." Qui-Gon said. "From what we have gathered, this has not always been the case."
"Explain." Master Windu said.
"I believe Mari can explain it better than I."
Thanks, Qui-Gon.
"Uh, well, there isn't much to explain. Yesterday I couldn't use the Force, today I can."
"Master Jinn, you said you saw a rip in space? What did it look like?" said the soft-spoken Master Depa Billiba.
"Although it was only there for a moment, it appeared to be a tunnel of white light."
"What could have caused it?" She wondered.
"And why?" said another Council member.
"Do you remember what it looked like?" Master Windu said to Mari.
Mari nodded. "It appeared the way Master Qui-Gon described. A cold, never ending tunnel of light." She shivered as the memory came to mind.
"It was cold, you say?" said Master Yoda.
"Yes, Master Yoda." Mari instantly winced. Yoda's ears perked and several eyes bored into her.
"Know my name, you do?"
She tried to ignore the very obvious suspicious looks she was getting from a few Masters. Mari nodded. He hummed in a way that took her back to the films and she had to squash down a small hysterical giggle that threatened to escape. This was insane. She was being interrogated by fictional characters that, as it turned out, weren't fictional at all.
"Mari was able to identify my Padawan by name as well." Although his face was devoid of emotion, Mari knew he had to be at least a little bit curious. Who wouldn't want an explanation for that?
"Explain this, you will."
A quick glance around the room told her that everyone wanted to know her response. Her breath hitched. How much were they going to want to hear?
"Masters, this is a bit more difficult to explain… and it is likely many of you may not believe what I have to say." Mari chose a spot right above Master Yoda's eyebrow to stare at as she spoke. There was no way she was going to look Windu in the eye - he was even more intimidating in real life.
"Where I'm from, the Jedi are fictional. Neither Jedi nor the Force exist on Earth. There are very popular stories about the Jedi told to and beloved by children and adults. Six films - or, er holovids? - were made following… specific people. And this moment in time must be right before the story begins." Mari's heart was racing.
"You say that the Force does not exist where you're from?" Master Windu said. The doubt was obvious in his voice.
"Correct, Master Windu."
"That's impossible. The Force is present everywhere." Master Mundi said.
"In what part of the galaxy does your planet reside?" Master Gallia spoke up.
Mari held her breath. "Well, that's another thing. Earth isn't in your galaxy. It's part of the Milky Way galaxy. And as far as we know, humans are alone in the Milky Way."
"You claim to have travelled from another galaxy?"
"Yes, Master Gallia."
"Can you please describe the events leading up to your arrival here?"
She repressed a sigh. "I was visiting my parents. We were in the middle of having dinner when the wormhole - I guess it was - appeared above us. It pulled me in before any of us could say anything. Wormholes are not a normal occurrence on Earth. At least not to my knowledge."
Master Yoda hummed.
"The beginning the of the story, you said we are in?"
"Uh, yes, Master Yoda. Possibly right before it starts." Mari was startled by the sudden change in topic.
"Do these stories involve the future of the Jedi Order?" said Master Mundi.
"Yes." A sudden thought burst into her mind. Her mouth went dry. How could she have forgotten?
Palpatine.
What would happen if he found out about her and her knowledge? Qui-Gon had said the disturbance was large enough that anyone on Coruscant would have felt it. Was it possible Palpatine was already aware something was up?
"Something more to say, you have?"
"Master Yoda," her voice cracked. "The Sith Lord! He's -"
But no one was listening. At the mere mention of the word, the Council had burst into exclamations and even a few denials.
"The Sith have been extinct for more than a millennium!" Master Mundi said. "It is impossible for them to be back!"
It took a while for the Council to simmer down. Mari could understand why Qui-Gon got so frustrated by them. Surely, they could sense the truth in her words in the Force. How could some of them so vehemently deny it?
"Are you telling us that there exists a Sith in our galaxy?" Master Windu said.
She nodded. "Two. The Master and the Apprentice. And Masters, I know who the Sith is, you must take action or else the galaxy-"
"Know the identity of the Sith, you do?"
"Yes, it's Senator P-" Mari's vision swam and her mouth went dry. A trembling hand touched her suddenly excruciating head. She swayed on her feet and stretched her arms out to try and regain balance. "Se-senator P-"
There was a roaring in her ears and she cried out as the pain in her head intensified and travelled through her body. Mari's legs gave out. She was barely aware of the Council as the world around her darkened.
When Mari regained consciousness the first thing she noticed was the pounding in her head. She was normally a healthy person. The worst thing that had happened to her was an intense bout of gastroenteritis a few years back, and even then she had a quick recovery. Mari's legs felt like spaghetti and her mouth was parched.
She opened her eyes and was startled to find herself on the floor of the Council room. At her side was Qui-Gon, whose eyes betrayed his concern. Slowly she tried to sit up only to groan as her muscles protested.
"Are you alright?" Qui-Gon said. Mari took his outstretched hand and he lifted her to her feet. Nausea rolled in her stomach and her legs were having trouble keeping her up. Mari's hand seemed permanently attached to her forehead.
"I've felt better." Mari said. "I apologize, Masters, I don't know what happened. That has - that's never happened before."
The Council, who had been talking amongst themselves, stopped to peer at her in interest.
"What exactly happened?" Master Windu asked. His face appeared blank.
"I - when I was trying to tell you the name of the Sith Lord, I felt an intense pain in my head." Mari felt a strong wave of anxiety course through her. What did that mean? Was she unable to warn them of the future and their imminent destruction? How was that fair or just? "During the second attempt the pain increased and went through my whole body."
"Would you be willing to allow us to access your mind for the information?" Another Master said.
Mari hesitated. She didn't particularly want to feel that pain again. But at the same time, she couldn't live with herself to simply sit back and let the galaxy fall to ruin. Her conscience couldn't take it.
"Yeah. I mean, yes."
It was Master Yoda who hopped off his seat and approached her. Mari was sure her fear and anxiety was palpable in the Force. That thought made her even more stressed. She took a few steadying breaths.
"Much fear in you, I sense. This will not hurt. Kneel, you will. Think of the Sith Lord, you must."
She tried to ignore the probing stares of the Council as she slowly knelt before the Grandmaster. He placed a clawed hand on her forehead. Mari squeezed her eyes shut and tried to envision Sidious. Her heart began to pick up speed. The room around her became dead silent. Mari pictured him in the scene where Master Windu faced Palpatine. She swallowed back the nausea that erupted in her stomach.
The stabbing pain in her head was her only warning.
Mari screamed in agony for a couple of seconds before the world phased out around her.
When she came to, there was a hand on her forehead. Mari blinked her weary eyes. Her vision was blurred. Intense nausea made her groan. She shut her eyes. Maybe if she couldn't see she wouldn't puke.
"Did it work, Master? Did you see?" Mari croaked.
"See the Sith Lord's face, I did not."
Although she couldn't see Master Yoda's face, she could imagine that his ears were probably drooping a bit.
The hand lifted from her head, which no longer felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed. Her nausea had eased to the point where she wasn't afraid she was going to lose her dinner. Mari opened her eyes to see Qui-Gon crouched next to her once more. He must have healed her a bit with the Force. The Jedi helped her up once more, but this time Mari didn't let go. Her legs felt like Jell-O and she was seriously concerned that she would fall if she let go of him.
"Masters," Mari said, her voice rasping. "I don't know why this keeps happening, but I swear I'm not lying. The Sith Lord must be stopped. If he isn't-"
An image of Darth Vader popped into her mind, sending a chill down her spine. She rubbed her goose bump covered arm.
Master Yoda hummed and closed his eyes. "Clouded the future is. Much to discuss, the Council has."
"If I may speak, Masters?" Qui-Gon said. He had been quiet for a long time. "What is to become of Mari?"
The Council was silent. It was Master Windu who replied. "What do you mean?"
"She is not from this galaxy, and as such does not know the customs of this planet, or have a way of providing for herself. And, she is Force-sensitive. I can sense great potential in her."
Master Windu shook his head and wore a weary expression. "She is much too old to be trained, Qui-Gon. You know this. There is no way she can be trained."
"Much fear, she has." Master Yoda added. "To the dark side, she could fall."
"So, she is to be cast away?" Qui-Gon frowned. "Are the Jedi not meant to be compassionate? She has been harmed in her willingness to provide the Council with valuable information and still we refuse to even provide her a place to stay?"
Mari looked up at Qui-Gon in gratitude. Thank God for Qui-Gon and his habit of picking up pathetic lifeforms like her.
"Meditate on this, we must. For now, stay with you and your Padawan she may. Rest, she must."
Intense relief coursed through her. She wasn't going to get tossed onto the streets of Coruscant after all. Mari made a mental note to make it up to Qui-Gon somehow. She attempted a bow, and her cheeks flamed again.
"Thank you Masters. Your generosity is much appreciated."
"May the Force be with you."
