L'istesso Chapter 1, a star wars fanfic

Here's Chapter 1.

=P I haven't re-edited this, so it's the same as it was on the JCF. Will update pending on number of revieeews… :)

And yes, the next parts are actually already written. xD

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She hears her Master's voice calling; telling her to wake up. She groans and looks at the clock; 7 a.m. She wishes her Master's voice were quieter.

She senses her Master's Force signature coming nearer, a glowing beacon of light and warmth filling her mind. Even though its presence is welcoming, she wishes it wasn't so bright. She burrows her head underneath her pillows and tries to ignore her Master's voice. She wishes her Master were less insistent.

She hears Master's footsteps coming nearer and nearer. She ignores the rustle of robes against the soft floor, and instead closes her eyes to try to slip back into sleep-of course, to no avail. Her Master's voice was persistent, merciless, a drone in her ear... She wishes her Master would just stop talking. She throws a few pillows at the source of the voice. It stops.

Suddenly, the sheets are ripped back from her head, and the pillows are Force-tossed onto the other side of the room. She shields her eyes from the light in a vain last attempt not to have to wake up. She wishes her Master would be more relenting.

She hears running water, but decides it must be her Master taking a shower. Suddenly she feels her mind nudged by the Force. She rolls over slightly to see the cause of the disturbance. Her Master stands in the doorway, hands planted firmly on her hips. Even through sleep-bleary eyes, Barriss can make out her petite, slim form in its 'young lady, you're in trouble' pose. Barriss feels herself being lifted into the air. She gasps and looks towards her Master, who hasn't moved, but has a slight, rare smile on her face. Barriss watches as she floats slowly towards the lone hallway of the quarters she and her Master share. Her face takes on a horrified look as she slowly realizes the reason for her flight. She thrashes, helplessly, in the air before landing, (with a satisfying splash, thinks Luminara), in a tub of cold water.

Barriss lets out a hysteric shriek, jumping out of the tub as soon as she feels the Force-float lifted. She stands in the middle of the small, cramped room, shivering and freezing. Luminara Unduli watches with a satisfied smirk. Without a word, she turns abruptly and strides out of the room. She walks quickly back into Barriss's room and grabs a set of warm, dry clothes. For a moment, she considers putting them in the tub too, but banishes the thought quickly. They were already late. She floats the clothes, somewhat mockingly, over to her chilly Padawan, who was still dressed in a dripping nightgown, dangling them just a bit out of her reach. Each time she lunges, the clothes dance farther away from her. Finally, she tosses the clothes to Barriss, who grabs them and turns without a word, slamming the door and locking it as she goes in.

A half hour later, she has still not come out. Luminara sighs, and knocks on the door. No reply. She knocks again ten minutes later, louder this time, but to no avail. After waiting half an hour, she sighs again and uses the Force to unlock the door. Barriss is standing there, admiring her hair in the mirror. Luminara reflects, in the fleeting moment that follows, that every day the past year or so has been like this; Barriss waking late, therefore being late for her lessons as well, taking more time than necessary to get dressed, and purposely ignoring or criticizing Luminara. Luminara had had no luck getting through to her; basically, that made her feel like she was a failure. She had tolerated it before, thinking that it was just teenage feelings, but this time, something in her snapped.

"Barriss Calissa Offee! What in the world do you think you are doing?! You're already late for breakfast, and you missed Master Yoda's announcement; do you want to be late for saber class as well? I will not put up with this any longer, young lady! Get going!" Barriss just shrugs, uncaring. Luminara repeats herself, using the coldest and firmest voice she could, putting no room for argument, though inside, her heart is breaking; how had it gotten to this point?

Barriss stares at her Master for a moment, as though she were not sure Luminara was completely sane, and then, seeing the hardness in her face, abruptly walks from the room, leaving Luminara to stare after her. How had it gotten so bad? Barriss stalks from the room, making sure to avoid her Master's eyes; she knew what she would see there, and she didn't want to see it.

Without another word, she stomps into her room and slams the door for the second time that day. Sliding down against the door, Barriss wonders what has happened to her life. She wishes her Master were more understanding, like her previous Master, K'ol Shum'a, who'd been kind to her until his death. His death changed everything. She wishes she had Master K'ol Shum'a back instead of Master Unduli.

Luminara Unduli watches her Padawan march angrily into her room and slam the door. She wonders where she went wrong; how it got so bad. Snide remarks about her appearance were put in during casual conversations; she didn't know how and why Barriss would care about her Master's appearance; it wasn't like she had been especially caring since her fourteenth birthday.

After waiting for her Padawan to come out on her own, she gives an exasperated sigh and pushes the door open. At once, Barriss springs to her feet, blue eyes just a shade lighter than her Master's gleaming coldly, and bows stiffly before walking out the door. Luminara closes the door softly and treads behind her Padawan, rehearsing the schedule for the day. By the time she reaches the front door, her apprentice is standing there and waiting, emotions hidden from her in the Force.

"Okay," Luminara says, drawing in a deep breath, "First we have saber class with Master Kenobi. Let's see if we can surprise him." She pushes the door open and heads out towards the gym, looking back to see if her Padawan is following. Barriss is trailing reluctantly behind, walking slowly. Luminara knows that she dislikes saber class just as much as she misses her old Master, K'ol Shum'a. "Come on, Barriss, we mustn't be late," she calls. We already are, thinks Barriss, as she dawdles behind her Master. "Come on, Padawan!" Luminara calls sharply, already reaching the door. She pushes the door open, silently, and walks across the wooden floor on soft shoes.

Obi Wan is already standing there, his back to her, waiting – seemingly unaware of her presence. She breaks into a run, leaping at his back, and catching him there, bringing her arms around his neck. He moves reflexively, lifting his arms, and grabbing her body, swinging her onto the floor in front of him, his lightsaber already striking. But Luminara is faster, her lightsaber a blur as she frantically parries his strikes from the ground. She rolls and ducks underneath her shield of light, her cloak falling off her shoulders as she twists quickly out of the way of his slash to her side. She retaliates just as swiftly, cutting off part of his tunic in the process.

He leaps over her and at that moment, she rolls over and up onto her feet, jumping to his left, and sweeping low. Obi Wan's face is a mask, but she thinks she sees a hint of a smile – such a rare thing, but so beautiful all the same.

She can sense her Padawan watching from the side, with a sort of reluctant awe in her Force signature. Lightning quick, Obi Wan ducks under her lightsaber and drops onto the ground, rolling over to her other side, landing on his knees. She turns just as fast and grabs his hair firmly, deciding that it was time to end this and let the Padawans have a turn. She yanks up, gently, but tight enough so that he cannot escape. Obi Wan lets out a panic-stricken scream, trying hopelessly to escape her grasp. She holds her lightsaber to his neck and his struggling ceased. "You win," he sighs. She drops him and he collapses onto the mat, panting.

She smiles down at him sweetly. Obi Wan takes a double take, swearing he hasn't seen her smile in at least two years. He grins up at her, and she helps him up, both of them turning to the two Padawans watching from the sidelines. Obi Wan bows to her and she bows back, finishing with a slightly maverick, but official, salute. Anakin applauds, but Barriss just looks bored, trudging slowly behind the other Padawan as the two walk up to the Masters.

"Master, you got beat by a girl!" says Anakin, with a huge, childish grin on his face.

"Couldn't fight back.. Doesn't have loose hair I can grab…" Obi Wan mumbles, turning slightly pink.

Luminara pats her head covering. "All the more reason to wear this." Obi Wan makes a face, and says, "I should get one of those." Anakin and Luminara erupt into laughter, Barriss's face emotionless. She wishes her Master would stop having so much fun.

Obi Wan decides that the Padawans should spar with each other first, just to see how well they do and what needs improvement. As he and Luminara step back onto the sidelines, he shouts, "Go!" The two Padawans begin to duel, lightsabers flashing. At first, they begin slowly, almost theatrically, like child's play. Barriss strikes the first real move, lightsaber slashing downwards, towards Anakin's knees, almost taking his legs off. Anakin's eyes widen as he blocks the strike –barely. The force behind it sends him staggering. Barriss takes the offensive, sending rapid strikes horizontally at her opponent, forcing Anakin to dance back and forth, blocking vertically. Obi Wan notes the way her eyes flash whenever Anakin blocks her moves.

Again and again, Barriss attempts to make Anakin slip or lose his footing, but Anakin somehow manages to read her mind through the Force and blocks her intent. Barriss shifts back and forth, jumping from foot to foot as she parries harder and harder, forcing Anakin's blade back, putting the battle at a standstill, neither willing to move and be the loser. Sweat drips from her hair, as she pushes with the Force and all her strength against Anakin's. Although Anakin is, physically, stronger than she, she is, however, more powerful with her harnessed Force-ability than him… because he had begun his training at a later age, even though he had much more Force-potential than anyone in the Order.

The floor is slick with sweat, and neither is willing to budge. Barriss pushes harder, pressing with all her might. Anakin doesn't move an inch. She repositions her feet, trying to give herself better positioning… and steps in a wet spot. Her foot slips, just half a centimetre, but it is enough. In a flash, Anakin has bowled her over and is standing over her in the official checkmate stance. Obi Wan sees Anakin win, and calls the match over. Anakin lets her up and offers her his hand, which she ignores and stands by herself. Inward, she curses herself for losing in front of the Masters. Obi Wan notes the way her face blanks immediately when she looks at her Master.

Obi Wan watches Luminara's eyes cloud over. She catches him watching her. She turns away so he cannot see her face. Obi Wan calls the two Padawans over to him. "Anakin, well done," he says, beaming. Anakin smiles, satisfied.

"Barriss, you might want to work on your evaluation of opportunities, but it was good overall." Barriss nods, scowling slightly at Anakin when Obi Wan turns around.

"I see it's almost lunchtime… Would you Padawans like to go for lunch now?" Anakin bounces up and down eagerly, and Barriss shrugs. Obi Wan waved a hand at them. "Go on, go eat your lunch. We'll be down in a sec."

Barriss troops off behind Anakin, who skips ahead, his hunger quickly taking over his brains. Obi Wan watches, amused. He turns to Luminara, who is fidgeting slightly with her fingers. "Lumi?" he asks softly, making sure with the Force that they are alone.

She looks up. "Yes..?"

"Are you alright?" She nods. Obi Wan is not convinced. He takes her arm and pulls her out into the hallway, leading her upstairs and into her quarters. He motions for her to sit down on the couch. She obeys, without any argument. Obi Wan is surprised – he is not used to Luminara following his instructions without arguing or at least saying something.

He kneels down in front of her and grasps her hands in his, brushing his thumbs over her knuckles. He looks up, his eyes traveling down her face. She doesn't look at him. She can't.

Not exactly as proud of this as I was a while ago. And I don't know where I was/am going with this. xD