Settings: hum, during the purge. The first chapter is many years before TPM. The second is three years before TPM.
Rating: R for later chapters. Maybe it will be NC-17, I'm not sure yet.
Archives: just ask me first, my email is marlee_noryalikenobi@hotmail.com
Spoilers: Many. I try to make the story fit with the sw universe from the books, the movies, and maybe the comics if I can. So it may change again after ep 2 and after ep3. Read anyway please!!!!
Author: S.G. ~ Mar-Lee Noryali Kenobi ~ Hellenmywvar (the three are all the same person.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars in anyway, it all belongs to George Lucas, there is many uses of the books too so if you see anything, it all belongs to the authors of the SW books. All I own is what I created: Mar-Lee, Trawlz, the ten Jedi escaping and others......
I
Childhood of the different child
Myllee Noryali was born in -52. She was a little Alderaanian discovered by the Jedi at fourteen months. It was the Jedi padawan Z'hika Wquer who had discovered her with her master Eeth Koth. The story of her family was cloudy and impossible to reconstitute, because when the Jedi found her, she was alone with her father. Her mother died after giving birth to Mar-Lee, and at the moment when the two Jedi stopped in her village, Klagafir Noryali was dying of an incurable illness. He held his daughter close to his heart until his last breathe. Then, Z'hika and Eeth burned his body after a little ceremony near a Crying-tree. Myllee being Force sensitive, and Klagafir last wish being that Myllee become a Jedi Knight, the master and the padawan took her to Coruscant, where she was rebaptised with the Jedi name of Mar-Lee Noryali.
Times went by and Mar-Lee grew up at the Temple, and was prepared to be trained in the ways of the Force by the Jedi caretakers. When she turned five, Mar-Lee was welcomed in the group of initiates, where her training began. The initiates group had mostly academic classes, mixed with meditation and a few others classes about the Force and the Jedi. She made a new friend, Trawlz Durron. Trawlz was three years older than her, so they stayed in the same group only two years because Trawlz had to leave after then, but they remained best friends. That day when she entered the group, another initiate caught her attention. A young boy taller than her, who was ten and had chestnut blond hair. She saw him leave the group to have more particular training with master Yoda. A young boy whom she learned his name later: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Mar-Lee was different from the other initiates. She talked to everyone, but would stay alone most of the time, except when Trawlz was around. One of her hobby was the arts. More than anything, she cherished any form of arts, and she payed a special attention to that in her life. The Alderaanian was best of her class in academic subjects, and her understanding of the Force was incredible. She was respected by all because of her great capacity to stay calm and to learn well and quick, with philosophy and wisdom. She was one strong with the Force. Fortunatly, that calm and that wisdom never stopped her from smiling all day long and have fun during playtime.
Three years later, Mar-Lee's eightieth year arrived. Her imagination was constantly working, and she often disappeared in a special room or garden of the Temple between her classes. As the little girl was sitting near a water bassin in the room of a Thousand Fountains, two people came to sit near the same bassin. They were older initiates, near to become padawans, and their talk caught Mar-Lee's attention. It was a rumour running around the Temple, from student to student, about Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had let down the Jedi to join a revolution on the planet Melida/Daan. When Mar-Lee heard that he had come back to ask to be taken back in training, she turned herself and saw who the two padawans were. Bruck Chun and another boy named Bosco Ahgo thought that Obi-Wan had betray them and should not be admit in the Jedi Order again. Plus, Bruck Chun added that he always knew that Kenobi was going to become nothing and that he was the one who should have been chosen by Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn. Mar-Lee got out quickly of the garden. She was troubled and didn't want to stay near the boy with the white hair. Even as a Jedi, he was hidding evil in him that the initiate girl could not stand. As she walked in the halls, she heard other conversations about the padawan of master Jinn, but doubt ran through her. It was impossible to think one second of Obi-Wan Kenobi having to leave the Temple. She knew that the former padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn had to complete his training. She knew he had to, something in the heart was making her feel that her future depended on it. But she could not tell why. She found him in the room of the Constellations. That room had no lights, except for the little stars or when someone was switching the holo-card of stars to see a sun or a moon. The boy was lost in his thoughts. Little Mar-Lee looked at him with her emerald green eyes and told him:
"I heard many things about your return here, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The boy frowned and passed besides her.
"Yes, I know, you will say that I should get out of the Temple, that I do not belong here anymore.
- No, I won't tell you that, because it is the absolute opposite of what I feel. I sense that you must find your way. That way is to become a Jedi Knight. It is like it has to be. Believe me. I may be only eight, but remember that no other destiny is meant for you except of this one."
Obi-Wan's face changed from a frustrated look to a little grin. One, only one person told him he was to be a Jedi Knight, and it was that little girl, five years younger than him. Something in the Force between them was stronger and more deep than it was normally, and the thirteen years old boy was all disturbed by that sensation. From that day, they saluted each other every time they saw.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The different child soon reached ten years old. Every day, she woke up at five o'clock, in the standard time on Coruscant, and she went to meditate with the initiate group under the supervision of master Chi Do. Then, at eight, she ate her breakfast at the cafeteria and went for her academic classes that last until lunch time. From fourteen to sixteen o'clock, she was training to become strong, fast and be in good shape. She had to control well a great number of martial arts, and she had to practice her saber skills with a training lightsaber for initiates. She always used her free time to see Trawlz if he was not on a mission, or to paint, write or play music. Normally, at five o'clock, it was diner, then, every initiate could come with the others in the entertainement room, where they could see a holo-video or play together. Mar-Lee normally just went to these hours when there was something related to art, like the holo-vid, a theater play or a music show. If it was for something else, she would use that time to draw, to dance or to read. Her devotion to the Force was never reduce nevertheless, but the council received more and more calls from Chi Do about it. One night where Mar-Lee sat in the middle of the entertainement room reading a book about the life of a young dancer on Hapes, while the rest of the group of children played hide-and-seek, Chi Do came in and talked to Haria Trembl, a Jedi Knight who volunteered to supervise the initiates' play time. Haria pointed in Mar-Lee's direction, and Chi crossed the room while children ran around screaming and laughing while finding their hidden friends. He kneeled by the young Alderaanian and asked her friendly what she was reading. She smiled and showed him, then she asked why he came to see her.
"The Jedi Council summonded you tonight. You have to come with me.
-The Jedi Council, repeated Mar-Lee with questionning eyes, why?"
It was a very great and rare occasion when the Jedi Council summond a future Jedi who was not a padawan yet. It was normally because the initiate was not on the good way or because it was a special event. Mar-Lee sincerely hoped that in her case, it was the second possibility.
Chi and Mar-Lee walked out and went to the middle of the Temple, where they took a turbolift to reach the top of the Council tower. They were immediately admitted inside the round room. Mar-Lee glanced quickly around. It was six thirty and the light already faded on that face of Coruscant, being replaced by the thousands and thousands of lights from the skyscrappers and the transports flying from a point to another. In the room, twelve masters set near the windows and watched her with serious faces. Mar-Lee was not afraid of any sanctions against her, or troubled for anything. The seriousness of the Jedi around her actually made her feel good, because of the deep presence of the Force around her. She had no ambitions of becoming as great as them, but she saw them as models for her to follow and to listen to carefully. Each word they could tell her was important to understand and to apply if needed, so she would become a Jedi Knight and serve the Force the best she could. Adi Gallia, Yaddle and Depa Billaba were the strong proof that men were not the only ones that could be excellent Jedi Knights. Mace Windu and Yoda were the most respected masters of all the Jedi Order, and figures that could not be better exemples. Ki-Adi-Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Oppo Rancisis, Evan Piell and Yarael Poof had different talents from which Mar-Lee could learn. As for Eeth Koth, he was the one who had found Mar-Lee, and she was very grateful to him for that. Finally, Mar-Lee had to admit that Plo Koon was the one that intrigued her the most. His mask and eyes protector made him look mysterious. That changed Mar-Lee's impression of him, and the masters sensed that change in her. She was not afraid more than a few seconds ago, or troubled... But it was well printed in her mind. She had no time to analyse her feeling that master Windu spoke to her.
"Mar-Lee, Chi Do told us great things about you. You are the best learner of your age, and you even surpass in ability and knowledge students from higher grade than you."
Mar-Lee suddenly wore a surprised face when she heard about Chi Do's opinion on her. She never thought of herself as the best, only because she was a humble person. She knew there was something that was contrasting with all her good qualities. That's when Ki-Adi-Mundi continued:
"But there is something that bother us. You seem to pay more attention to your artistic hobbies than your training, and you have only a few friends, if it is not only one.
-I do have friends! Trawlz Durron is my best friend, and there is also another boy I talk to sometimes... Obi-Wan Kenobi. I speak to all the children and teenagers I know in the Temple, answered calmly Mar-Lee, who didn't understand what the problem was. As for my training, I do pay attention to it. I go to all my classes and work very hard.
-We know that you work very hard, initiate Mar-Lee. But it is not just an affair of classes hours. You have to reflect on the Force, know where you are going, and practice on your own. We also know that there is a choice for you at this point. You could be one of the best Jedi Knight of all time on one hand, and on the other hand you could become a great celebrity in the arts world. We are well aware of your magnificient creations that you keep in your quarters. Chi Do told us about it," Mace Windu added.
Mar-Lee frowned and her brain worked very fast to understand and find what to say. She finally let out a word while looking at master Yoda.
"It is true that arts are the best part of my life according to me, but I don't want to become a celebrity. I am here to become a Jedi, not to be told at one point that I can't be one because of my other occupation. I want to be a Jedi, and if I have to neglect in some way my artistical free time, I will, if it is to the profit of my training.
-Good it is, Yoda said gently to the girl. Loose a learner like you we do not wish. Mean it doesn't that abandon arts you have. All we ask is switch your priority from the arts to the Force you do.
-Some initiates took on their will the driving class, where they can learn to drive a spaceship or a planetary transport. Others are in the mecanic class to built different things, explained Adi Gallia. Not you, Mar-Lee. If you would agree to take another class to develop a certain Force skill, we would be very happy about it."
Mar-Lee seemed to think for an instant, and then she agreed with a big smile on her face. Yoda nodded in approbation and concluded:
"Initiate Mar-Lee, proud of you we are. Now ten you are, and today, pass your evaluation in front of us you did remarkably. Get out of the first initiate group you will, train with me and master Windu until reach the padawan title you hopefully will. Go now with master Do for arrangements, and with you may the Force be."
Very rarely in her life, Mar-Lee had seen Yoda smile. That was one of those times.
She kept that sight in her heart all her life after then.
That night, Mar-Lee followed Chi Do to begin her preparation. Her schedule changed a little. From thirteen o'clock to sixteen o'clock, it was a training with master Yoda or master Windu, where they would teach her the ways of the Force while she would train her battle skills and her powers. From sixteen to eighteen, she would have the additionnal class, and then, all her evening was diner time and free time. Chi Do explained her the special classes she could take, and Mar-Lee chose the healer class to develop her ability to heal. The next day, Mar-Lee began a new life style in the Jedi Temple. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * One year and a half passed. Yoda and Mace Windu were both agreeing with the fact that Mar-Lee's training had improved a lot since she was learning with a more individual teaching. She was ready to become a padawan. Mace was so amazed that he talked about it with his friend Plo Koon one afternoon in the Jungle Room. That special place was a created environement, adaptated for dozens of different species of birds.
Plo Koon listened carefully to his friend, and then, he surprised him.
"I want to meet that different child."
Mace turned to Plo, who continued:
"Something in the Force is linking us together. That changed the girl's attitude with me. I think I know what she don't understand. She could not see my eyes.
- Your eyes, questionned Mace, what would it change?
- That girl has the power to look deep in a person's soul through the eyes. She know immediately who to trust and who not to trust. She don't use it in a bad way like a Force sensitive could read people's mind. It is natural in her. The problem with me is that I have to wear my antiox goggles. She could not see through my eyes. Something in her missed because of that, and she didn't know what to think of me. I am a complete mystery for her. There was still something more that was unclear for her, and it is the link. Bring me to her."
That is how Mar-Lee meet Plo Koon again, at the end of a session with master Yoda. The eleven years old girl bowed to the two masters that had arrived, but she felt the same way as the time she met him in the Council room. Mace Windu and Yoda left them alone. Plo Koon sat on a chair in the corner of the room, and Mar-Lee stood in front of him as he began to speak.
" Young Mar-Lee, how is going your training?
- Very well, master Plo Koon. I am learning more everyday.
- Good. What about your academic classes? Do you like it? What have you learned?
- I love them, master Koon, but I have to admit that I am not particulary happy to follow the mathematics and the sciences classes. I prefer the computers class, the languages class, the healer session and history."
Plo took his chin in his left hand.
" You like history?
- Oh, yes! I learned almost all the galaxy general history, but my favorite part of all my classes was the last century history. I learned the complete history of the Jedi Order, and the next class I will take will be the individual planets history!
- That's a very good knowledge that you are developping there, Mar-Lee. It is important to be aware of what happened in the past, so you don't do the same mistakes again, or that during a mission, you don't fail because of your lack of knowledge. There are so many cultures and people in the galaxy that it is easy to mix different things together.
- Yes, I know, and to be more aware of the rest of the galaxy, I want to learn a multitude of languages!
- Really? That interest me. What languages can you speak?
- Not a ton, master Koon. Not enough to reach the quarter of all the dialects spoken in the universe. I know, evidently, the basic like no one else. I can speak clearly huttese, and I am learning how to speak thjy, which I can write with no problems. These are my past classes. This year, I am learning to speak cassiélah and I am not too bad at it. I also have a wookie class, but I can just understand and read it. I want to take more classes next year.
-You learned all these languages since you are here?
-Yes, since I entered the first grade of initiates."
Plo Koon was impressed. The honesty, the calm, the knowledge of that girl who was only eleven surpassed everything he had known in the other students before. He knew she was not perfect. Her love for the arts increased her imagination and made her think that her future would bring down an idealistic world. Even with all her classes, she could not believe that the galaxy could not be as beautiful as she wished. She was also fragile, through her strongness and good health. She was a good fighter, but sensible to the bone. In spite of all, Plo Koon thought he had found someone special.
"I heard you have great healing skills too. Do you know how to drive?"
Mar-Lee hesitated. She didn't want to disappoint the Jedi master, but she had to tell the truth.
"No, I don't.
-That could be arranged. You are ready. You could become my padawan and learn from me."
Mar-Lee's eyes stared at the Jedi in front of her.
Padawan, now? To him?
Mar-Lee struggled to not insult the master. She didn't know what to say. Plo Koon knew what bothered her.
She know immediately who to trust and who not to trust... If she can see the eyes...
"You know what? That thing you feel in your heart, I know how to arrange that. I know what miss you to discern the answer. Listen what I will do. I will take off my goggles. It will hurt me a little, but I don't fear it. If it is what it takes to help you, I will do it."
Plo managed to take his antiox goggles, and Mar-Lee's strange feeling finally disappeared. Plo had deep violet eyes that sparkled with kindness, and his soul was all made of courage, wisdom and good will. Mar-Lee sighed in relief. Suddenly, Plo's eyes became all red and burned. The master quickly put the glasses back and took his head in his hands, concentrating to eliminate the pain. After then, he looked back at Mar-Lee who was filled with worries for his eyes, and he assured her that he was all right. Mar-Lee bowed to him respectfully.
"Master, I wish to become your padawan and be trained by you in the ways of the Force."
Plo Koon grinned. Mar-Lee could not see his mouth because of the antiox mask, but she knew he was smiling because his upper cheeks raised a little over his mask.
"It will be an honor, padawan Mar-Lee, to be your master from now on."