Hey there! So, this fic is actually a sequel to A Different Trial, written around 6 months ago. I have to apologize because, I know where that story starts and ends, but I'm not so sure about what happened in between. But you don't have to read the other story at all to get this one. I will keep going back and write chapters to A Different Trials though, this way I can have a better idea of what happened in between and I'll be developing both that and this fic.
Here's a little background to this fic. The time of this set at the beginning of the Clone Wars. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had chosen to leave the Jedi Order, so that they can train Anakin Skywalker as the chosen one. This had caused many events to turn out different. Jedi Master Aron Kins would not have survived one of his missions with the Hutts if not for Obi-Wan's accidental help on Tattoine. Fortunately, this also means a sparking light, because this path the Force had guided the Jedis onto would perhaps yield a faster end of the Clone Wars. Yet it also meant the Clone Wars began a few years earlier than it was supposed to.
Now, no more blubbering from me! Here goes the story.
Note: Both Aron Kins and Letiya Noa are OCs.
Jedi Master Aron and his Padawan Letiya watched as their ship in the hanger exploded into a thousand pieces of flying metal.
"Well, that just happened, AGAIN!" Letiya stood up from behind a some stacked up crates. The alarm blared through the Separatists Star Destroyer. She could already hear the unified footsteps of droids marching in the distance.
"This mission is going as well as I imagined," Aron signed. "Just get ready Letty, sounds like a lot of droids are heading this way."
Letiya, however, did not ignite her lightsaber. She hesitated for a moment. "How about you go find us a ship, Master. I'll hold the droids here. We need to get off this pile of flying junk."
"Are you suicidal?" Aron asked, "You can't possibly hold off all those driods…" he fell silent as he saw the bag of explosives Letiya just pulled out from one of the crates. "Good observation. Keep your comm link on,"
Letiya watched as Aron disappeared into the ventilation shaft. Her now ignited sky blue lightsaber reflected in her startlingly green eyes. She rolled a few grenades onto the floor between her and the hanger doors. Just as she was preparing to throw a few more, the hanger door opened. A around 70 droids came marching in. Letiya readied her lightsaber.
"Blast the Jedi. Concentrate fire on the AGHHH…" the lead droid crumbled as a deflected blaster beam hit him right in the head. Letiya was careful to let the droids advance, before deflecting the blaster shots right onto the grenades on the floor. Which exploded right in the middle of the droids. Very soon, all the droids are gone but one.
"I surrender, I yield. Noooo…" the last droid screamed as Letiya's lightsaber cut it to pieces.
Letiya was feeling pretty good about herself. 70 droids all by herself in less than 5 minutes was kind of a record for her. She celebrated too soon. The door opened again and 3 destroyers rolled in.
"Great," Letty whispered as she was pressed back under the heavy blaster fires of the destroyers. Her lightsaber was but a blur in midair. She can almost hear her master saying "getting a little ahead of yourself, aren't you?" Really, under these circumstances, she really wanted to have a second lightsaber for her to fight double handed. But, Aron had always refused that idea.
Suddenly, several heavy blasts came from behind her, fired right into the destroyers. The destroyers burned to ashes and half melted metals.
"Had fun?" Aron asked, opening the door to the space craft for Letiya to jump in. She jumped onto the craft and in a few short seconds, they are flying away from the separatist star destroyer.
"HEY hey hey, slow down!" Letty yelled, rushing to Aron who was piloting the ship.
"Slow down? Never thought those two words are in your vocabulary. Don't see why it matters since the mission was a complete failure."
"No, it's not. Get ready to jump, master. This is gonna be good."
"Okay, what did you…"
Letty pressed two controls, one in each hand. The main reactor of the Separatists' ship blew into pieces. The Star Destroyer tilted and started to fall. Letiya's ship jumped to hyperspace and the scene was replaced by the flashing of blue and black light in hyperspace.
"Well done," Aron said, sitting back in his chair.
"I didn't think "well done" was in your vocabulary," Letty fell into the seat next to her master. "Anyways, I set charges to the main reactor and programed all the escape pods to blow all while you were busy getting captured. Then I came to rescue you."
"Have I ever taught you a Jedi should be humble?" This put an end to the discussion. Letty did not speak the whole time it took for them to get to Corusant. Aron knew Letty wasn't really mad at him. Aron knew that a lot of younglings and some Padawans were a little afraid of him. Tall, lean and fast in combat gave him quite a reputation. He almost wished he could put a little fear in Letty, who's only comment he remembered of her ever commenting on his appearance was that he should really cut his hair and that his chin length chair is quite inconvenient in combat. But hey, her own hair was the same length, plus, must he be bald like Mace Windu? He smiled as he guided their ship to the landing platform behind the Jedi Temple.
"Hey, let's go." Aron stood up and walked out of the ship. He really hated Corusant in summer, the heat and the people made everything more chaotic than usual. Letty followed.
The Jedi Temple was so much emptier than what it had been just a few years ago, before the Clone War had started. Now, the Jedi are being sent to the frontlines of battle. Letiya, who was 14 years of age, was just old enough to be a Padawan and Aron had already trained her for a year. That's mainly because they needed more Jedi to join the war. In many ways, Letty still had much to learn.
"Go tell Master Yoda we are back. Change your clothes, you still smell like highly dangerous explosives," Aron said, reaching to ruffle Letiya's hair but she pushed his hand away and ran off.
"She's not being very friendly today, I take it?" Master Fisto said, nodding at Aron as they passed each other.
"teenagers are just strange at her age." They both walked on.
Back in his chamber, Aron just had time to shower and change before there was a light knock on his door. He got up unwillingly from his bed, where he had relaxed for no longer than 10 seconds.
"Come in," he said, sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Master Yoda and the council want our report." Letiya leaned on the door frame, her arms crossed. Aron signed.
"Come on, let's go then," Aron got up and walked out, followed closely by Letiya. He turned his head ever so slightly to catch Letiya's expression.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked gently. Letiya's arms were still crossed, and her eyes started ahead. She avoided Aron's eyes as she considered her response.
"Do you remember Oris, Master?"
"Sure, the Gungan friend of yours." A thought occurred to Aron that filled him with dread. "Did something happen…"
"Yes. He died on his mission to Naboo. He sacrificed himself so that the queen and the senator of Naboo lived," Letiya said, biting her lip. They've around outside the Council Meeting Room. Aron did not enter immediately, however. He turned and set both hands on Letiya's shoulders.
"I know this is hard for you. Do mourn your friend, but also celebrate his achievements through his memories. He made his choice, it is for us to respect and honor his actions. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgements." Letiya nodded. Still slightly worried, Aron turned and entered the room. He and Letiya walked to the center of the room.
"Greetings, Master Kins and Padawan Noa," Mace Windu said, nodding.
"Glad to see you two safely returned we are," Master Yoda smiled. "What news you bring, hmm?"
"Masters," Aron nodded at the members at large, "Letiya and I were successful in locating and boarding the cruiser to find General Grievous. Unfortunately, things got complicated. General Grievous seemed to be expecting our arrival so we walked straight into an ambush. We later destroyed the Star Destroyer, but chances are high that Grievous survived."
"Grievous is known for his ability in running away. The question is where could he have gone?" Mace Windu asked.
"I strongly suspect the planet Felucia, which is nearest location. He will need to gather the rest of his army and refuel there," Aron said.
"Then to Felucia you must go. Find more there you will," Master Yoda concluded. Letiya and Aron both bowed and retreated out of the room.
"Well, looks like we get a trip to Felucia," commented Letiya once they are in the bright corridors of the Jedi Temple.
Aron winced. "Not we, Letty. You're not coming on this one," he said apologetically, taking two steps back from Letiya.
"What?! Why?" Letiya asked, shocked at this turn of events. Her master had never stopped her from coming on assignments, except for the times when she was injured or had been assigned to other duties.
"Look, I'm sorry. But I fear you are a little too distracted at the moment. I can sense it. Oris was a good friend of yours, take some time. Don't rush it." Aron spread his hands.
"I'm FINE! Plus, who else is going to have your back if I'm not there? This is ridiculous."
"As your master, I can decide whether you come or not. Now, I'm telling you not to!" Aron said a little too forcefully than he had meant to, Letiya stepped back in surprise, "I'm sorry, Letty. I… but that's my decision."
Letiya nodded. "I understand. Take care, master." She seemed like she wanted to say more, but she turned and ran down the corridor.
"Stay out of trouble!" Aron shouted after her. He was feeling a little guilty about the way he had pushed Letiya away. In truth, there were more to why he did not want Letiya to come, but of course he wouldn't share them with her yet.
Letiya stopped running as soon as she was out of Aron's sight. She looked out of the window. Why didn't Aron want her to come? What did had told her must not have been all there was. What's on Felucia that worries him so much? Or was it a "who"? She shook her head.
"Just stop thinking about it and move on," she said aloud to herself.
"A way to move on that is not," a voice said behind her, she turned to see Master Yoda walking up to her. "Troubled you are. Sad about your friend's loss, worried about your master you are. To solve this problem, stop thinking will not."
"Then what should I do, Master Yoda?" Letiya asked, watching the little green being pace to and fro.
"Decide that for you, I cannot. Listen to your heart, the Force, you will." Master Yoda said, chuckling. "Yes yes, you will know what to do."
Letiya did not think that was very helpful. Nevertheless, she thanked master Yoda. Master Yoda chuckled still as he walked away. A few seconds later, he stopped.
"Lost, your friend is not. Live through the Force, live through you will he. Listen, feel and know he is there will you." Yoda said, then the sound of his walking stick faded away in the distance. Letiya stared out of the window for a few more minutes.
Then, she turned and returned to her chamber. She had a feeling that she will be needing a cloak and some credits.
Please R&R. I would really love to hear what you think about this story. Anything is welcome!