Shattered Mirror

Part 1 - Betrayal

The Jedi Temple was quiet and peaceful, always a place of learning and tranquility. Everyone went around their business as ususal and most were just sitting down to eat their dinner. The Knights and Masters seemed to be a little more on the edge then normal but no one thought ill of it, until Azah burst in.

Azah Keel was a striking figure among the Jedi. She had a presence of total surety and power that surrounded her, sometimes frightening the Younglings. Azahs very presence commanded attention wherever she went, much to her dismay. She would much rather blend in with the crowd, not cause the crowd to lull whenever she was near. Her dirty blonde hair and gray-blue eyes only complimented her already beautiful appearance.

Today was different, however, because Azah praised the stars that she commanded attention as she rushed into the dinning hall. She stood at the front of the room, raising her arms high above her head in a gesture that called for the ceasing of all talk.

"My fellow Jedi, Masters, Knights, Padawans, and Younglings. I have dire news to report to you." Here she sighed, taking a deep, calming breath. "I have just received word that there are clone troopers marching on the Jedi Temple. Their intentions are not known, but they are being lead by a Jedi." She paused again.

"If they're being lead by a Jedi then what are we worrying about?" A defiant young padawan blurt out before receiving a reproachful look from his Master.

"No one on the Council has been informed of this action, thus, causing a great deal of worry to arise. I am not saying this to frighten you, only to warn you. Be on your guard, this march could be peaceful, but it also has every chance of not being so." At that she stepped down, and the whispers began.

Azah sighed, beginning on her way out of the room. Once outside she leaned up against the wall, calling upon the Force to calm her. She didn't know why she was so on edge, after all, this whole ordeal could be nothing at all. Nothing at all, but it didn't feel like nothing. Azah had been struggling with a strange feeling of fear all day, fear and an ever growing presence of the dark side all around her. Something definitely wasn't right but she couldn't place a finger on it and that aggravated her most of all.

Where was Obi-Wan when she needed him? He was always such a calming spirit and he always knew the right thing to say, something he'd picked up from his many years with Qui-Gon she supposed. Azah sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time today, and thought. Obi-Wan was on a mission, Utapau she believed was what she'd heard last. She didn't like the thought of him there alone, but Anakin was a Knight now himself and Obi-Wan had been adamant about not wanting to take another Padawan, at least not for a while. Anakin had been a handful.

Azah had to chuckle a little at the thought of Obi-Wan chasing Anakin all over the Temple, not to mention Coruscant when the boy was young. Anakin had never been one to sit still, and from her experiences with the boy, he was intelligent but stubborn. Someone more stubborn than Obi-Wan, that is probably why they clashed at times, she laughed again.

Suddenly there was a surge in the Force, a disturbance and it had come from the dark side. Azah shuddered, she just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, even though all her Jedi training told her that she had nothing to worry about while she was in the Temple. The door beside her sprang open and out popped her padawan, a human girl named Fen Zess.

"Master? Are you all right? What's going on?" The girl asked, her green eyes betraying her apparent Jedi calm.

"The march on the Temple has me..." Azah paused, seeking the right words, "on edge." She finished with a half-hearted smile.

Fen was worried as well, Azah could see. "Master, I felt a disturbance."

Azah sighed, "As did I." She replied, beginning to walk, motioning for Fen to follow.

They walked towards the main entrance to the Temple, Azah wanted to get a good look for herself at what was happening outside.

"You said yourself that they were being lead by a Jedi, I don't understand Master."

"It is all very confusing, but my guess would be that..." She paused, she didn't really have the slightest clue as to what was happening, it had her just as baffled as her padawan. "We should trust our instincts, until we know for sure what is really happening. Be on your guard Fen." Azah stated, sounding like her Master. It amazed her how much she was becoming like her Master everyday.

"Yes, Master." Fen nodded, her hand moving to her lightsabre hilt. What Fen didn't know was that Azah's hand had been on her lightsabre continuously all day today.

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the front entrance. Once they arrived Azah motioned for Fen to stay off to the side, hidden by one of the halls pillars. She walked up to the entrance and peered outside, startled by what she saw.

"Anakin?" She called out in disbelief, taking a step back.

"Azah Keel, what a pleasure." He smiled, but it wasn't the same smile as she was accustomed to. This smile was evil, and if she wasn't mistaken the disturbance in the Force seemed to be radiating from him. "Has Obi-Wan returned yet?"

"No...?" She replied, once again taking a step back, distancing herself from him.

"What a shame, I suppose I'll have to start with you then." With that said Anakin ignited his lightsabre.