Sword and Magic

by bluminous8

After a devastating battle in the Department of Mysteries, Harry Potter finds himself transported in a strange world in the company of Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. Is this the will of the Force that their two fates intertwine?

2. Chapter 2: Escape

Harry Potter: Sword and Magic

By: Bluminous

Chapter 2: Escape

ooo

Latest HOLONET NEWS!

Chancellor Palpatine Survives assassination attempt by the Jedi!

Late last night at his office, Chancellor Palpatine survived an assassination plot by four Jedi Masters. Fortunately for our beloved chancellor, Hero with no fear Anakin Skywalker arrived in time and disposed of the cowardly assassins. Jedi Master Mace Windu was reported among those killed and was later implicated as the one who planned the cowardly attack, along with Jedi Master Yoda.

In other news, rumors spread of the Jedi of joining the Separatists in protest over the senate's refusal to hand them greater powers. Chancellor Palpatine has declared all Jedi as traitors and by executive order 66, he directed the Republic forces to capture the Jedi by any means and bring them to justice.

The Senate has passed a resolution, condemning the assassination attempt on the Chancellor.

Hero with no fear Anakin Skywalker condemns the attacks on our beloved Chancellor!

Anakin Skywalker, the most powerful Jedi alive has condemned the Jedi council for the cowardly attack. The Hero of the republic had saved his long time friend Chancellor Palpatine from the Jedi Assassins by valiantly holding off four Jedi masters, among them were Agen Kolar, Kit Fisto and Mace Windu, renowned blade masters of the order.

"What the council did was a cowardly act, I'm ashamed of them... the Jedi have gone into decline in recent years. They grew corrupt, arrogant and now obsolete in this new order." Skywalker said in a quick interview to a reporter.

Anakin Skywalker has been recently appointed as the special representative of the Chancellor in military affairs. Rumor has it that he will lead a special mission to end the war.

Galactic Senate proposes a resolution to declare the galactic republic into the Galactic Empire with Chancellor Palpatine as Emperor!

In a bold move, a coalition of a thousand Senators agreed as one and initiated reforms to create the very first Galactic Empire. This will herald a time for peace, prosperity and stability in our quadrant of the universe.

Beloved leader Chancellor Palpatine was unanimously elected as the very first Emperor of the Galactic Empire.

Jedi War Crimes, finally revealed!

From poisoning the entire water supply for the citizens of the planet Felucia, murdering non combatants in cold blood, to conspiring with the Hutts and the Separatists, Republic Intelligence has discovered numerous war crimes committed by the traitorous Jedi that were previously blamed on the Separatist forces.

It seems that the real villains are finally unmasked. More atrocities will be revealed at the Senate hearing.

ooo

ooo

Felucia

Harry had just finished washing himself outside the tent and headed back inside and found the two other Jedi finishing their breakfast. He saw his own portion was still hot, and decided to eat first before he put on his new outfit.

"That's healing well." Aayla sat beside him and looked at the small pink scar in his shoulder that was in stark contrast to his skin. "The bruises you have before have completely vanished."

He swallowed a bite of his food and fingered the healed wound. "I heal pretty fast, and you did take care of it when we first met, so no surprise there. And that healing technique you used was amazing Barriss, I think that's the reason why I don't feel any muscle aches, so thanks."

"You don't need to thank me." The Mirialan Jedi replied. "It was with the help of the living force that I healed you, and it was only right to help an injured ally and friend."

"I never asked, but were you in some sort of battle before you got here?" Aayla asked.

"Yeah." Harry remembered the fight with the demon before he blacked out. "I was fighting a demon, some nut job decided to break the laws of magic and summon a creature from another plane of existence."

"A demon? Aren't they supposed to myths to scare younglings?" Barriss asked.

"Oh it's very real, twenty feet tall with a deadly spiked tail. Everything we threw at it just bounced of its thick skin. My partner and I lured it deeper into the building to give the rest of our forces some time to contain it."

"So what happened then? Where is your partner?" Aayla asked. She was curious about the events that lead her new friend here.

"Well, we were tiring out fast and Nymphadora, I mean Tonks, she got injured and I pushed her away from the cavern we had lured it into, and I made the ceiling collapse to bury the Demon with me." Harry's expression darkened when he remembered the tough battle.

"You were prepared to sacrifice yourself? To save your allies?" Aayla asked.

"It's part of the job description as an Auror, and Tonks, she's my godson's mother. I didn't want little Teddy to grow up an orphan like me. I will miss him though." Harry said sadly.

It was strange... he realized that it was only now that he was beginning to think of those that he left behind. The series of strange events did not give him much time for thinking, and when they finally found some time to rest, he was too tired and often fell asleep quickly.

"You say you're not a Jedi, but you possess the qualities that we value." Aayla smiled in amusement. "I guess there are people like the Jedi in the other places in the Universe out of our reach."

"What do you mean?"

"Self sacrifice, commitment, bravery." Aayla listed of the things she observed in her new friend. "The Jedi exists to bring balance and maintain order, wielding the living force to do so. Isn't this your duty in your own world?"

"It is." Harry grinned. "There's no Force there though, only magic."

Aayla playfully hit his shoulder at his joke and continued. "You wield the same energy we do, but in a different way."

"What is the Force anyway?" Harry asked. He was interested in their view of the powerful energy he sensed in the both of them, yet reluctant to believe that magic was real, despite the dozens of display he had shown them.

"The Force is what binds us together." Barriss answered. "It is everywhere, inside our bodies, the air we breathe, the trees and plants that surround us, even that blade of leaf in your finger. We commune with it, and it gives us wisdom and guides our actions. Without the Force, no life is possible."

"Sounds like magic to me."

Aayla sighed and Barriss had a slight frown on her face, though Harry could tell they were amused by the small smiles on their lips.

"Stubborn." Aayla added. "You have that trait that Jedi unfortunately have."

"You said the Jedi are the keepers of the peace." Harry looked at their faces. "What are you doing fighting this war then? Isn't that for soldiers?"

"You mentioned earlier that you have defeated the Dark Lord of Magic in your world?" Aayla asked. Harry nodded while Barriss looked surprised at her fellow Jedi's question.

"This war, I believe, is orchestrated by the Sith." Aayla said and Barriss nodded, having reached the same conclusion through her own meditation. "The Jedi were forced from their roles as arbiters and mediators of disputes, to leading the new army that the republic has mysteriously created from nowhere."

"And as the war dragged on for years many Jedi died, bleeding the Order of its best and brightest." Aayla continued, and Harry saw a hint of sadness in her beautiful face. "Young padawans not yet ready for combat were forced into the front, only to die as the enemy continued to evolve, learning to fight the Jedi through years of warfare."

"We came to depend on our clones armies, as we were sent to fight in more remote planets as the war began to spread farther and farther into the outer rim. And when the Jedi were stretched thin, unable to help each other, the Dark Lord of the Sith, whom I know believe is the chancellor of the Republic, ordered the clones who are unable to resist an order to kill us in one swift stroke."

"Sounds like a very dangerous opponent." Harry observed. "For him to have tricked all of you for years, planning a war whose sole purpose is the annihilation of your Jedi Order."

"He is." Barriss agreed. "We have hunted down leads regarding his true identity, and we have recently killed what we thought was the Dark Lord, but it turned out that he was merely the apprentice. Palpatine now wields the entire might of the Republic Forces, and I worry about the thousands of worlds who are now at his mercy."

"What do you plan to do now?" Harry asked.

"Find any other Jedi that survived this purge." Barriss replied immediately. "Then we need to find a way to eliminate the Sith."

"No." Aayla shook her head. "We first need to survive."

ooo

Harry watched the two Jedi continue to pile a small mound of power packs and fuel cells they had scavenged from the separatist supply camp. He really couldn't help, since he knew nil about what could be useful to repair a pair of admittedly awesome looking space ships. The wizard had happily accepted his task of watching the camp while Aayla and Barriss disappeared into the forest.

Having spent a few days with the two Jedi, he couldn't help but marvel at the level of physical fitness the two had. As an auror, he diligently maintained a level of fitness that was superior to most, but these two clearly surpassed his own. He could feel the aches in his muscles from the two days of hard work trying to keep up with Aayla, and twi'lek didn't even show the slightest hint of slowing down.

"I think that's all the parts we can find within a day's distance from the camp." Aayla wiped the sweat from her brow.

"We still lack essential tools." Barriss added.

"Then we'll just have to improvise." Aayla sighed and sat under the shade beside Harry. She was about to ask if he was willing to use his water trick to cool her down when they heard a distant rumble.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"Someone's coming." Aayla immediately stood up and stared at the distance, her hand over her eyes to see farther. Barriss was doing the same, and for a few minutes nobody spoke as the distant rumble grew louder. "It doesn't sound like any gunship or military republic craft."

"Pirates and smugglers rarely stop at Felucia." Barriss said. They could see a faint speck in the distance, and watched as it steadily grew larger and larger. Unlike the Republic gunships with their trademark high pitched screams caused by their engines, the noise signature in this craft was lower, usually used for hauling cargo or heavy equipment.

Harry noticed that the two Jedi visibly relaxed while their hands moved away from their lightsabers.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Jedi." Aayla replied with a smile. She waved her hand to the strange ship that flew by and they followed its progress as it slowly turned around and headed back at their direction in a slower velocity.

"How do you know?"

"We feel it through the force." Barriss said.

"No really, how'd you know?"

Aayla ignored Harry and moved closer as what looked like a small freighter slowly lowered itself in the clearing beside their camp, its landing gear extending from its hull. Dust and leaves flew around, kicked into the air from the exhaust of the freighter's engine. A ramp was already being lowered, and Aayla and Barriss were already a dozen feet from the ship, eager to greet their fellow Jedi while Harry stood beside the pair of Actis Interceptors.

The hatch slid to the side with a hiss and a figure in brown robes stepped down the ramp.

"Shaak Ti." Aayla Secura stepped forward and hugged the Jedi Master, while Barriss gave a respectful nod.

ooo

Shaak Ti, Togrutan Jedi Master of the High Council couldn't help but smile at seeing Aayla alive and well with the company of another Jedi, after the massacre she had witnessed in the Jedi temple. She hugged the twi'lek back and after releasing her, gave the young Jedi Knight Barriss Offee a slight bow in return.

"You survived." Shaak Ti whispered. "Thank the force."

"How did you find us, Master Ti?" Barriss asked.

"I sensed a strange disturbance in the force... no, not a disturbance but something entirely different." The Jedi Master corrected herself.

"I decided to investigate its source, and it led me here." Shaak Ti's gaze swept over the other two Jedi Knights before it returned back to the male. She thought at first that it was another Jedi, wearing customized clone armor similar to Obi Wan's, but her force senses told her another story. "And it looks l found the source."

"This Harry Potter, a friend and ally." Aayla placed a hand on the wizard's shoulder. "He's the reason I survived the clones' ambush, and provided invaluable help in saving Barriss' life. Harry, this is Jedi Master Shaak Ti of the Jedi Council."

"The force is strong in you Harry Potter." Shaak Ti stepped closer and extended a hand. "I thank you for saving my fellow Jedi sisters' lives."

Harry looked curiously at another strange red skinned alien and shook her hand. Shaak Ti had strange protrusions from her head like Aayla's, though hers looked more elaborate, with dark blue bands lining to the top of her head down to the tails. At first he thought it was an elaborate headpiece, but upon closer inspection he noticed that they were actually part of her head.

"I was just repaying the favor." Harry replied. "Aayla saved my life when I first got here."

"And how did you get here?"

Harry shrugged not yet sure about the events that led him to this strange world, but Aayla answered. "He appeared through the Force, Shaak Ti, from thin air. The force manifested itself in a strange pattern of energies, and then unveiled his presence before my very eyes."

"Very strange." Shaak Ti still hadn't let go of his hand, while her voice turned more serious as she regarded him.

She could feel his strength. His mere touch caused her skin to tingle. "I sense you have a deeper purpose here, Harry Potter."

ooo

Harry leaned on one of the tent's thick poles and continued to listen to Shaak Ti's story. What he heard disturbed him, it sounded very similar to Voldemort and his death eaters' tactics during the war.

"They are all slaughtered? Even the younglings?" Aayla asked in a horrified voice.

Shaak Ti nodded. "I barely escaped. The clones of the 501st showed no mercy, and they certainly deserved their reputation as the most effective fighting force among all the clone armies. They were well trained to fight us."

"But certainly some escaped." Barriss argued. Her composure was close to breaking. First, it was the betrayal of her allies, and then she felt a terrible tragedy had befallen on her fellow Jedi. To hear confirmation on what she felt in the currents of the Force made it worse. "You escaped, Master Ti. The other Jedi could have protected the temple long enough for an evacuation."

"They were brutal and well prepared for the assault." The Togrutan replied. "And they were led by Palpatine's new apprentice."

"Who?"

"Skywalker." Shaak Ti's expression became grim. "He was the one that led them inside the temple after killing the gatekeeper."

"No!" Aayla gasped. Of all the Jedi knights she knew, she had thought that the most powerful, the most skilled of them all had survived the purge.

Anakin Skywalker, the hero with no fear.

She remembered teasing him with the name given to him by the Holonet reporters, and the powerful young man laughed it off and told her that it was the Chancellor's idea to boost morale. It made sense why Palpatine would pick Skywalker as his new apprentice, but she couldn't fathom how Skywalker allowed himself to be seduced by the Dark Side of the Force.

"He calls himself Darth Vader now." Shaak Ti continued. "I fought him, and barely survived. He slaughtered the older padawans and the younglings right there, and he made me watch."

Tears formed in the Togrutan Jedi Master's eyes, and she bowed her head to prevent her companions to see them as they fell down her cheek. "He's not the same person we fought with against the separatists. He's a monster, worse than Grievous ever was."

"What happened then?" Barriss asked.

"While I stole a ship, I heard news that Master Yoda and Kenobi had somehow snuck inside the temple and reversed the Jedi beacon." Shaak Ti added. "Skywalker had changed it to send out a message ordering any unsuspecting Jedi that survived the purge to head back inside the temple immediately."

Aayla visibly relaxed when she heard that two of the council's more powerful masters had survived. Master Yoda especially, his wisdom and foresight was invaluable against the Sith.

"A trap obviously." The twi'lek said. "Have you managed to make contact with Master Yoda or Kenobi?"

"I was on my way here when I heard it from the Holonet, Aayla. Though there are reports that Master Yoda had attempted to assassinate Palpatine inside the Senate building, but he managed to escape." Shaak Ti replied. "They are probably hiding from Emperor Palpatine, like we are."

"Emperor?"

"He has declared himself as Emperor, supreme ruler of the galaxy. The majority of the senate passed a resolution, changing the republic into an absolute dictatorship. An Empire ruled by the Dark Lord of the Sith."

"We need to contact them." Barriss said. She glanced at the small freight ship parked beside their camp, and back to her fellow Jedi. "We now have transport out of this planet, when are we leaving?"

"Not for a few days at least." Shaak Ti replied. "I've intercepted some communications traffic from the smugglers about sightings of Imperial Warships heading back to Coruscant. A large fleet is passing by this system, and we cannot risk being detected."

"Then we will have to wait." Aayla said, standing up. "We could use the time to repair the Interceptors and rest."

"Agreed." Shaak Ti said. She stood up as well and stared once more at Harry Potter."And perhaps I can use the time to learn more about a fellow force user."

Harry gave Aayla an annoyed look he saw her trying to hide her smile. It became a game between them, trying to convince the other of what their powers should really be called. "It's magic, Master Shaak Ti."

"Magic?"

ooo

Aayla was delighted when Shaak Ti revealed that the small freighter she used had a standard array of tools that smugglers and scavengers often used to dismantle parts and scavenge rare materials. In a span of a few hours, the twi'lek had managed to replace the depleted fuel cells of her Actic-2 Light Interceptor, and cleaned the engine after she removed the panels. Her astromech droid also remained intact and appeared undamaged after it was recharged, and it with its help, damaged parts were quickly identified and fixed.

Barriss' own Interceptor was not as lucky as Aayla's, suffering from severe damages to its control surface unit. Her own Astromech droid never activated after they charged up its battery, and after an attempt to fix it, Barriss discovered a thick mat of fungus thriving inside its alloy shell. The Interceptor's engine was also leaking and had severe damage to its thrusters, and that meant that it was practically useless. Instead of attempting to repair it, all three Jedi agreed that its parts could be used to repair Aayla's Interceptor and even modify the ship.

Harry nearly jumped when he felt something hard bump into his leg, and he looked behind him to see the strange robot was trying to get his attention. It emitted a series of whistles that varied in pitch and volume and he stood dumbfounded, wondering what a robot might need of him.

"He won't harm you."

Harry heard a giggle and saw Aayla walking towards him, her face and arms covered in grime after spending hours dismantling Barriss' Interceptor.

"What does it want?"

The robot's dome head rotated and focused at Aayla before it turned once more and looked back at Harry. It emitted again a series of whistles and beeps.

"It looks like you're standing on a tool that R8 needs." Aayla pointed at the hydrospanner under Harry's foot.

"You can understand it?" Harry asked as he removed his foot from the tool. A panel opened on the robot's body and a thin metallic claw extended from it and grabbed the hydrospanner. It whistled a few notes and headed back to Aayla's Interceptor.

"Not all of what they say, but when you spend more time with astromech droids, you become more familiar with their language." Aayla replied. "That last one means thank you."

"That thing's freaky." Harry declared. It unnerved him that something with intelligence moved around the camp, and that he could not sense it with his magic.

"It's harmless." Aayla laughed. She took hold oh arm and tugged him into the direction of the tent. "Come on, I'm hungry and Shaak Ti wants to talk to you."

ooo

The chair suddenly morphed into a shaggy brown dog before the three Jedi's eyes. It circled around them, its tail wagging in delight as they stroked its fur before it sat obediently around Harry. The wizard tapped his wand on the dog's nose and it morphed back to a chair.

"That's transfiguration." Harry said. "It's one of the most commonly used branches of magic in my world, along with charms."

"Does it turn into an actual animal?" Aayla asked.

"It does, but unlike a real animal, it has no intelligence or any independent thoughts. It is up to the caster to determine how it behaves, and the personality it will have." Harry replied. "Anything else?"

"So without the wand, your people will be unable to use their magic?" Shaak Ti asked.

"Pretty much." Harry nodded. "Disarm them of their wands, and they'll be defenseless. That's why wands are treated with reverence and respect- it is the symbol of magic of a witch or wizard. To break a wizard's own wand in front of him is considered the ultimate insult."

"I must admit what you told me is a bit confusing." Shaak Ti shook her head. "The force, or magic as you say it, exists inside of us. For you not to be able to do any magic without your wand puzzles me."

"I didn't say I'm completely powerless without my wand." Harry slipped back his wand back on its holster attached to his wrist.

"But you just said..."

"There are a rare few wizards and witches that have grown powerful enough that have gained the ability to master magic without the need of a wand." Harry said. "However, manipulating raw magic without a wand makes it more difficult, less precise and wasteful of the magic used."

"How?"

"I use the wand for spells that require little power, but where precision is required." The wizard explained. "Some spells work best without a wand, since all it really needs is raw magic, like this."

He pointed his right hand to the metallic chair he had earlier turned into a dog and sent a bludgeoning curse. The chair flew past the tent flap and they heard a faint thud in the distance. Harry concentrated on the chair and summoned it, and a moment later it flew inside the tent but at a slower pace. He smoothly switched from his summoning charm to a levitation charm and settled the now dinged up chair upright on the ground.

He looked up and saw three pairs of eyes looking at him with an intensity that made him slightly uncomfortable. Then as Shaak Ti opened her mouth he knew what she would say, and he knew Aayla would find it amusing.

"Jedi!"

ooo

Harry took a bite out a piece of roasted meat that Aayla shared with him, all the while observing the spar between Shaak Ti and Barriss Offee. The Togrutan Jedi Master had suggested that they practice their skills in their free time, seeing that they would soon leave the relative safety of Felucia and back into Imperial Space.

It amazed the wizard as he watched the two Jedi, his eyes could barely follow the lightning quick moves both performed with their lightsabers. Their blue lightsabers hummed in the air, only to collide with each other in a regular pattern. Every time the two blades of bright blue light connected, Harry heard the distinct sound of lightning strikes.

It looked like a dance between them, with Shaak Ti leading, since she appeared to be more aggressive while Barriss reacted to her movements, her steps slow and steady.

As Harry observed the spar closer, he began to notice the difference in their movements. Barriss rarely moved, instead using her lightsaber to deflect the attacks from the Jedi Master from all directions, and showed great flexibility at avoiding the strikes that her lightsaber couldn't block.

Shaak Ti's movements were elegant and refined. She danced around Barriss, her lightsaber in a one handed grip while she attacked with piercing strikes and slashes that were unpredictable. The Togrutan also performed feats of gymnastics, doing back flips over her opponent while simultaneously attacking, or performing kicks that pushed Barriss back as she was hit on the shoulder or thigh.

"What do you think?"

Harry glanced at Aayla who sat down beside him on the fallen log and looked back at the spar.

"Wow." It was all he could say and he heard the twi'lek chuckle.

"I mean, I knew you were fast, when we briefly fought, but after watching them now..." Harry shook his head in disbelief "You could have easily chopped of my head back then."

"I wouldn't do that." Aayla replied. "You were clearly confused and your reaction was understandable, and you showed restraint too."

"I wouldn't want to hurt someone as pretty as you." Harry teased and nudged his friend with his elbow.

He focused back on the spar, unaware of Aayla's amused expression and voiced out another observation. "Aayla, why is it that they move differently from one another?"

"It's because they trained in different lightsaber forms."

"Forms?"

"Fighting styles." Aayla tore a strip of meat from Harry's lunch and ate it. She chewed for a moment and continued. "There are seven lightsaber forms that a Jedi learns, though it's common to learn another form aside from the one you master."

The two watched as Shaak Ti casually blocked Barriss' attack, before sidestepping her opponent and attacking in turn.

"Shaak Ti is a master of the second form, called Makashi, also called the contention form." Aayla lectured."This style is best used against other lightsaber fighting techniques."

"And Barriss?"

"Barriss Offee has trained like her old Jedi master in the third form, Soresu, the resilience form. It is the most defensive oriented style in all the lightsaber techniques, that it's almost passive."

"That explains why Shaak Ti initiates most of the attacks." Harry nodded. He looked at Aayla who was now licking her fingers after she finished his lunch and asked. "What about yours?"

"I have mastered the fifth form, Djem So, also called the perseverance form." Aayla threw away the now clean bone and crossed her arms. "It's an offensive oriented style, using speed and strength to overwhelm an opponent's defenses."

"And what's your other fighting style?" He just knew she had another style, like Shaak Ti.

"What makes you think I have one?"

"I just know." Harry replied. "Those toned arms of yours aren't just for looking pretty, and you punch pretty hard."

"It's called Jar Kai, a form that requires two lightsabers in combat." The twi'lek answered after laughing. "It's not a form commonly taught to the Jedi, but it's a style that allows for offense while still maintaining a defense. It's a fighting style that works best when facing multiple opponents"

"Sounds like an effective style." Harry commented.

"It is, but it has its own weakness just like the others." Aayla admitted. "To use two lightsabers in battle means that a practitioner of Jar Kai concentrates mostly in their weapons, leaving one vulnerable to force based attacks."

"Then there is the disadvantage in strength, since I'm only holding a lightsaber with one hand." Aayla continued. "That's why I'm training my strength and speed to overcome this weakness. I only use this form if a fellow Jedi is fighting beside me."

The two water canteens beside Harry suddenly floated past them and they saw Shaak Ti and Barriss had finished their spar. The Togrutan caught the two canteens and handed the other to Barriss. Shaak Ti looked like she was giving advice to Barriss, and the Mirialan closely listening to the Jedi Master's words.

"Let's go." Aayla said to Harry and she started walking towards the center of the field.

"Go where?"

"It's our turn for the spar." Aayla replied. She looked excited, which made Harry a bit wary. "It will be a good practice for you, and I'll finally be able to see your full capabilities."

"It's a good idea." Shaak Ti said and Barriss nodded in agreement. They too were curious about his prowess in battle, and Barriss wanted to see more of the marvelous display of power she had seen earlier.

"If you're sure." Harry followed Aayla in the middle of the field and stopped a few dozen feet away from her. "Don't chop my head though." He joked.

"I won't, it's just a friendly spar." Aayla reassured her friend with a smile, feeling his apprehension and doubt. "We'll just aim to force the other to surrender or knock out each other."

"Right, no deadly spells." Harry nodded. In smooth motion similar to the Jedi drawing their lightsabers from their belts, Harry's wand flew to his hand as he lowered his arm to the side. He watched Aayla closely, knowing how fast she could move, a spell ready in his mind. But the twi'lek just stood there, still as a statue, and he tightened his grip on his wand in anticipation.

Aayla extended her senses through the force, and her awareness of her surroundings increased. One with the force, she was the wind that gently blew through the small clearing, the blades of grass brushing on her ankles, and even her sparring partner.

The twi'lek Jedi focused on Harry, and through the force she saw his real form. Energy surrounded him, bright, dazzling... powerful. She saw what he actually was- a bright fountain of light that gave her hope in these dark times.

Fully immersed in the force, her vision returned to normal and she knew that her opponent would initiate the spar. He raised his wand and in a quick motion, and various colors of energy erupted from his wand towards her. The force guided her movements, deflecting the attacks easily and sending even a few of his attacks back at him.

He merely swatted them aside with quick flicks of his wand, all the while sending even more powerful looking spells, one she knew she wouldn't be able to deflect them all. She decided to attack, leaping forward at an incredible speed, the trademark of Djem So, and quickly cut down the distance between them.

Harry moved back at the same moment, he knew that he would be at a disadvantage if she got within sword range. She moved to his left, trying to get behind him while dodging spells he sent at her, and with quickness that surprised the wizard, she changed direction, running full sprint towards him.

Columns of rock suddenly erupted in front of her path towards the wizard, and Aayla had to cut through them, only for Harry to vanish once she cleared the obstacles. Vines erupted from the ground, trying to coil around her feet, but she easily cut them off and finally found him standing on top of a column of rock, his silhouette blocking the sun.

'Is this how it feels to fight a wizard?' Aayla paused for a moment, calmly observing Harry Potter. His attacks were unpredictable, and knew to keep his distance from her, using obstacles to disrupt her movement.

She pushed her arm forward, and the force she gathered at her arm blasted towards Harry in a powerful wave. Aayla expected him to fall, but she only gaped when a translucent round silver shield appeared in his left hand and blocked the energy she sent.

It caused a deep sound as the energy was dispersed, but it didn't let her distract her and raised her lightsaber above her head and angled away from her, ready for his counterattack. He had the high ground.

Aayla expected the powerful spells to come hurtling down at her position, but nothing came, and suddenly she felt force warn her of danger. The twi'lek heard the hissing sounds similar to that of lizards, and found the pieces of vine that she had earlier cut into pieces had suddenly transformed into snakes, and a particularly big one had managed to circle around her ankles, binding her feet together.

The Jedi knight easily cut the snake in two and forced the other snakes away from her with a push of the force. She performed a back flip a second later when Harry launched himself off from where he stood, spells of various colors hurled at her at incredible speeds.

It was Aayla's turn to remain on the defensive as Harry poured on his attack, spells shooting off his wand and left hand in a rapid pace that would put a turbo laser to shame. She gave way, moving backwards step by step, her blade humming around her in a blinding defensive velocity, deflecting his attacks as fast as he sent them.

He didn't even bother to dodge the spells she deflected back at him with her lightsaber, letting the silver shield on his left arm block them while he continued pushing forward. Dust quickly shot up from the dry earth as the columns of rock he had used slowly collapsed around them, blocking each other from sight.

"Expelliarmus!"

The dust parted when a strong spell blazed through it, and Aayla felt the air knocked out of her as her lightsaber was ripped out of her grip. Harry emerged from the dust cloud, quickly heading towards her, red beams flying from his wand. Instead of retreating, the twi'lek rushed forward and leaped through the air, and in an incredible display of athleticism, twisted her body to avoid the spells. She then extended her hand, calling her lightsaber back to her.

Harry clearly did not expect this, and they collided in mid air and they dropped to the ground hard. The dust finally cleared, revealing Aayla straddling Harry's chest, the blade of her lightsaber near his neck. She felt the tip of his wand, poking her at her side, and when she looked down, she saw a red glow from its tip.

They both breathed hard, staring at each other for a moment, and Aayla noticed for the first time that he was wearing a small smile on his face, and it mirrored her own. He clearly enjoyed their brief battle.

"Draw?" Harry asked, his cheeks flushed from the heat.

"Draw." Aayla nodded. She deactivated her lightsaber and Harry slipped back his wand to its holster.

The twi'lek slowly got up from her friend, and offered a hand to help him up.

"That was an impressive display." They both heard Shaak Ti walking towards them. "To hold your own against Aayla Secura in a spar is a feat not many Jedi can accomplish."

"It was just a spar, and she wasn't going all out." Harry replied. "She also has the disadvantage of facing a wizard, while I have seen how a Jedi fights, along with your spar with Barriss."

"That maybe true Harry, but you haven't faced a Jedi before." Aayla said, patting his shoulder. "You did well, and I enjoyed our spar. Perhaps we may continue to practice later?"

"Sure." Harry agreed. "It was a nice work out, and I never had to fight like that since facing Death Eaters."

"How did you climb on top of that rock column?"

"I apparated."

"Really? But I didn't hear any noise."

"It's easier for a wizard to apparate alone. When you're I'm taking someone along in side along apparition, it makes it slightly difficult, and creates more noise in the displaced air. How did you that blade twirling while in mid air?"

Aayla laughed. "Through practice Harry, lots and lots of practice."

"I thought you were going to say that it was this mysterious force helping you."

"That too."

Both twi'lek and wizard continued towards the tent, discussing their brief spar, leaving Shaak Ti and Barriss staring at their backs.

"What did you think of their spar, Barriss?" The Jedi Master looked at the Mirialan that was still staring at the tent where Harry and Aayla disappeared into.

"I never expected the level of their spar to be that high." Barriss confessed. "Master Secura treated it like her opponent was a Jedi Knight."

"She sensed that he could handle the spar at a higher level, and he did so, admirably well." Shaak Ti replied. "He truly is powerful."

"And the way they fought..." Barriss looked thoughtful, replaying the spar in her head. "It was if they had been sparring for years."

"Aayla did say the he appeared to her through the force. He could have appeared in any other planet and in front any other Jedi, but the force has led him to her." Shaak Ti murmured. She had seen how close Harry was to Aayla, and Barriss told her earlier that the two had formed a quick friendship, a connection that she could already feel even before her arrival.

"I feel that the answer to that mystery, only the Force knows." The Togrutan added.

"Master Secura has formed a close relationship with Harry." Barriss observed. "What do you think of it, Master Ti?"

Shaak Ti did not reply for a moment, and her keen hearing picked up Aayla and Harry's laughs inside the tent. The famous rutian twi'lek was notorious for being among one of the more liberal Jedi, often skirting the Jedi code.

Rumors of a romantic interest with Jedi Master Kit Fisto were widely gossiped among the younger Jedi, and many had observed her friendly relationship with her clone commander. This drew criticism among other Jedi, among them was Barriss' own Jedi Master, Luminara Unduli a real by the book Jedi. Controversy seems to surround Aayla Secura, and her refusal to wear the brown Jedi robes only drew more attention to her.

Some masters had even made comments about her revealing outfit, claiming that it had distracted their padawans from training whenever she was inside the Jedi temple.

"It's in her personality to be friendly." Shaak finally spoke.

"Too friendly, I think." Barriss replied. "The level of affection they show towards each other suggests they are attracted to each other."

The Togrutan laughed. "I expected that of you, considering who trained you. She likes him, and from what I've seen he likes her. It is up to the Force where it leads us. If her heart leads her to a path to him, then I will not speak against it."

Shaak Ti glanced at the Mirialan who had a thoughtful look on her face and started walking back to the tent. "I sometimes feel that the only thing we lack in the Council was love."

ooo

Night had fallen in Felucia, and Aayla's modified Actis-2 Light Interceptor was safely stored in the cargo hold of the small transport ship. It had passed several test flights with the astromech droid controlling it, and Aayla had taken the agile spacecraft into low orbit and visually confirmed that the hyperdrive docking rings were left by the clones. She connected her Interceptor into one and brought it back to camp, and now properly stored alongside its starfighter.

It was their last night on the planet, and tomorrow they would leave with the freighter Shaak Ti stole called Rapid Runner. After a long discussion, they had decided to head to Alderaan, knowing that Senator Bail Organa was among the stoutest supporters of the Jedi Order, and he was one of the few politicians that the Jedi Council (even Mace Windu and Master Yoda) had come to trust.

"You seem anxious."

Harry chuckled and poked the burning logs deeper into the fire with his stick. "It's just that I never thought I'd be able to go into outer space in my lifetime. How long will it take to get to this planet Alderaan?"

"Three days at most." Aayla replied. "Despite its name, the Rapid Runner has a small hyperdrive. At least you could use the time to familiarize yourself in space."

"Yeah." Harry said. "I always wanted to float like those astronauts I've seen on the news. I can't wait to try it out!"

"Float?" Aayla tilted her head to the side, a confused expression on her face.

"There's no gravity in space, right?"

"I see what you mean. Travelling for days without gravity is very inconvenient, that's why almost every ship you might see has an artificial gravity generator."

"No floating then?"

"Well, we could turn it off for a time, If Shaak Ti agrees." Aayla found Harry's childlike excitement endearing. "I suppose floating in space is a novel experience for a first time space traveler."

The rutian twi'lek stood up and stretched, well aware of Harry's eyes on her. She met his gaze, and for a moment neither spoke a word.

Aayla decided to break the silence, and tugged his arm to force him to stand up, a habit Harry noted that she liked to do. "We need to get some sleep, we'll take the second shift after Shaak Ti and Barriss, and it will be a long day."

"I don't even know the first thing about piloting that." Harry said and gave the freighter a glance. "What am I supposed to do?"

"You'll be sitting in the co pilot's seat beside mine, monitoring the sensors." Aayla replied. "It's a simple task, and I'll teach you how to operate the console."

"You could have just said that you'd be bored and want my company." Harry grinned.

"The Jedi do not get bored." Aayla said dryly. "If there's nothing pressing to do, Jedi meditate and commune with the force."

"It's also called sleeping." Harry laughed when Aayla smacked him in the arm. He grew more comfortable in their friendship the longer he spent time around the twi'lek, and was pleasantly surprised when he noticed that Aayla's sense of humor matched his own. "I'm kidding, I know meditation, I also practice it."

"Get to sleep space rookie." Aayla ordered.

ooo

On board the Royal Alderaan Corvette Tantive IV, Alderaan Space

The Tantive IV loomed over the traffic of smaller transport and freighter ships, casting its shadow over them as it made its way to Alderaan from the asteroid colony of Polis Massa where a medical station was located.

Inside the corvette, a small green figure sat cross-legged on top of the chair in one of the conference rooms, with his gimmer stick lay across his lap. His eyes suddenly snapped open as he sensed something in the Force. He looked out of the large viewport of the conference room, showing him what he already sensed through the force.

Yoda willed the communications station by the door to activate with a gesture of his hand and the face of Bail Organa, senator and ruler of Alderaan appeared on the screen.

"Master Yoda? Is something wrong?" Bail Organa asked.

"Hail that small ship you must. Important matters I have to discuss with its occupants." Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi Council replied.

"Which ship? There are dozens in the general vicinity and it will be a security risk to hail them all."

"On the portside of the Tantive IV, the ship is, parallel to our course, it is." Yoda stared through the large viewport at a small freighter matching their velocity.

Bail Organa nodded and began to relay orders to the captain of Tantive IV, while the ancient master used the opportunity to commune with the Force. Yoda smiled when he felt the familiar presence of Jedi. He was relieved that the few surviving Jedi had managed to find him. He would not be alone in the rebuilding of the Jedi Order.

Yoda's long ears perked up when he felt another presence, something that in all his 800 years he never experienced before, and it was puzzling. But it was also a refreshing change to the oppressive clouds of the Dark Side that had plagued his sight for more than two decades. The force itself had somehow found a way. Yoda found realized he was eager to find the source of this strange, yet familiar feeling.

"Master Yoda! You wouldn't believe it!" Bail Organa said from the screen, his face showed excitement, his cheeks flushed with red, in stark contrast to his beard. "There are Jedi on board that small freighter! It had hailed us using a tight beam frequency, and Master Shaak Ti just spoke to me, requesting permission to dock!"

"Good news this is." Yoda nodded. Shaak Ti was a powerful and cunning Jedi Master, and it was not impossible for her to survive the clones' assault. The Togrutan Jedi Master was known for her preference of operating alone, and unlike other Jedi, she did come to rely heavily on the clones for their support. He thought he had sensed her presence a few days before when Bail Organa helped him and young Kenobi escape Coruscant.

"Have them dock, speak with them quickly, I need to."

"Of course Master Yoda, their ship is docking as we speak. I'll send them to the conference room at once." Bail Organa bowed.

"Have the Jedi's gratitude, you have. And mine as well." Yoda bowed in thanks for the aid the Alderaan Senator provided. He knew the consequences would be severe for Alderaan, if the newly established Empire got wind of what Bail Organa was up to.

All Jedi were declared traitors, and a hefty bounty was promised to anyone with information that would lead to their capture. Already bounty hunters across the galaxy were reported to be scouring the outer rim planets, looking for any Jedi that might have survived the purge. Bail Organa had literally saved the existence of the Jedi order with his generosity and selflessness, by giving them sanctuary and the support of his planet that a lone Jedi could not hope to gain.

Friends were hard to come by in these dark times.

Again, the ancient Jedi Master was proven wrong, and it was another reason why the Jedi needed to change, aside from the insight he learned while battling with the Dark Lord of the Sith. Mace Windu and the other masters had always shown distrust to any politician, even those that supported their cause. Bail Organa and his few allies had proven themselves to be worthy of a Jedi's trust.

Padme to Yoda's eyes was not a politician, though many claim that she was one of their greatest queens, and later senators that lead and represented Naboo. She was a warrior first, providing valuable help and unwavering support to the council. Jedi do not cling to the past, but he would fondly remember her memory.

The Freighter docked with the larger Tantive IV and the Alderaan crew, all loyal supporters of their Senator and Monarch, stood to each side of the main corridor and welcomed the four figures that came on board.

The Alderaan royal guards and the Tantive IV crew recognized a few prominent Jedi, Shaak Ti and the beautiful rutian twi'lek Aayla Secura and exchanged awe struck looks among each other once the Jedi passed. They had heard and seen a few of their exploits against the Separatists, and now they were walking right past them. The images of the rutian twi'lek through the Holonet did not do justice to the rumors about her beauty- she was even more gorgeous in person.

ooo

"Master Ti, Master Secura I am happy to see that you have survived." Bail Organa greeted the two Jedi warmly and bowed his head in their direction. "Also you Master Offee, Master Yoda spoke highly of your healing skills."

"It is good to meet you Senator." The Mirialan bowed in turn showing respect for the famous senator.

"I am also grateful to still see our allies in the Senate, Senator Organa." Shaak Ti said. "The Jedi are in your debt"

"There is no debt Master Jedi, how could we refuse aid to those who are the keepers of peace and justice?" Bail Organa shook his head. "Now, Master Yoda told me to show you where he is staying. He is most anxious to meet you."

"Is Master Yoda the only one that survived in Kashhyk, Senator?" Aayla asked.

"As far as I can tell. He escaped his pursuers with help from the Wookies, by hiding him in a small escape pod." Senator Organa replied while he guided them through the corridors.

He looked curiously at the only male member of the newly arrived group that remained silent so far and studied his appearance. It was a young man, in his late teens or early twenties perhaps, and he had strange green eyes. The young man walked closely beside Aayla, and the senator assumed that he must be her padawan.

"Pardon, but you did not introduce me to your Padawan, Master Secura. I'm glad he survived, I feared only the masters and exceptional Jedi knights had enough skill to survive this purge." Bail Organa turned to Harry and addressed him directly "You must be an exceptional Padawan to have survived where your peers did not."

Aayla laughed and Shaak Ti smiled. "He is no Padawan of mine, Senator. He is my friend."

"Ah, another Jedi Knight then." Bail Organa said and gave Harry an apologetic bow. "Good to have you with us, Master Jedi."

"He is no Jedi." Aayla said as she glanced at Harry. The wizard smiled in turn and continued to follow Aayla while he looked around the largest ship he had come on board. The clean lines and the spacious interior of the ship made the Rapid Runner looked like a junkyard.

"Then what is he?" The senator asked. The human male was wearing a variant of the clone armor he had seen on some of the Jedi like Master Kenobi, and he certainly had the presence that did not look out of place beside Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura, famous war heroes during the recently concluded Separatist War.

"Something that is entirely different that even we are seeking answers to." Aayla replied. "All will be explained senator, but for now we need Master Yoda's wisdom and guidance."

"Yes of course." The senator replied. "Here we are. I will leave you to your Jedi business then, and call me if you need something."

"You have our gratitude Senator." Shaak Ti, Barriss and Aayla bowed in gratitude and entered the room, followed closely by Harry.

Harry found himself in a modest size room that had a beautiful view of the Asteroid cluster, where a strange structure was attached on one of the larger asteroids. The stars were beautiful and he couldn't even recognize a single constellation, but he was still fascinated with the sight. The Rapid Runner only had small viewports and the view during the journey wasn't much.

He noticed a small green...thing sitting on top of a chair. It was tiny, about three feet tall with large eyes and pointed ears, like a house elf.

"Overjoyed I am to find all of you well." Yoda greeted them, and Aayla was surprised to see that the ancient Jedi was actually smiling.

"We are glad that you are here too Master Yoda." The three Jedi bowed in respect. "We seek your counsel. The Sith..."

"Yes. Given great thought about the recent events, I have. Sit, and introduce me to your friend, you must." Yoda focused on Harry, his large eyes staring at the wizard's eyes.

Harry blinked back, the green little thing that was called Yoda even talked like Dobby, but the house elf even knew how to speak sentences in the correct order.

"This is my friend and valuable ally, Harry Potter. He has very strange yet powerful force abilities that I have never seen before, and he used them to save my life and Barriss'. He suddenly appeared moments before the order was sent out to kill me." Aayla glanced at Harry who was looking with great interest at Yoda that he had not even correct her when she mentioned his force ability.

"Grateful I am, for the lives you saved." Yoda bowed deeply in front of the wizard. "Welcome, Harry Potter."

"It was right thing to do, and I couldn't just let her die." Harry replied. He noticed that Yoda's large pointed ears twitched the same way as Dobby's and he wondered if there elves in this universe.

"Curious you are, and a puzzle in your mind you have." Yoda observed.

"You just remind me of a friend I have back in my world." Harry said and sat down beside Aayla.

"Perhaps discover about the true nature of my race, you have, hmm?" Yoda extended his senses towards their visitor. "Strong in the force you are, very strong. Sense it, I do."

"Yeah, Aayla, Barriss and Shaak Ti told me that a lot."

"But see through your mind, I cannot. Feel you emotions I do." Yoda frowned when encountered a force based barrier. He felt uncertainty, curiosity and fondness for a certain Twilek. He was certainly interesting, and he could feel the young man's strong convictions. He was a being for the light as much as Yoda was and this was comforting.

"I block my mind from mental probes through Occlumency, the art of forming mental shields to prevent external forces from trying to influence my mind." Harry glanced at Aayla. "Though I recently learned that when I'm not on guard, an empath like Aayla here can sense emotions I am feeling."

"Intriguing, taught to you it has been? Learn this I can?" Yoda asked with genuine Interest.

"If you want I can teach you... all of you" Harry said and he looked back at Aayla who looked like she wanted to learn too, as well as Barriss and Shaak Ti. The Twilek smiled faintly and patted his arm on the table in gratitude.

"Yes, willing to learn we are. Appreciate this I do. Now for other matters..." Yoda looked at the three Jedi in front of him and took a deep breath. It was disconcerting to the three Jedi to see Yoda looking so defeated. "A grave mistake I have made, and only realize this in my battle with Darth Sidious. A most valuable insight if you will."

"A mistake Master Yoda?" Shaak Ti asked.

Master Yoda rarely made mistakes, she didn't even know if the ancient master was capable of making one, he was the wisest among them all and could see farther than anyone into the force.

"A mistake we have made in training our Jedi. Evolved and change the Sith has, exploited our weakness they have. So do we need to change- evolve we must, to survive." Yoda said. He closed his eyes for a moment, a thoughtful look in his face. "This valuable insight, I have learned, while facing Sidious."

He had managed to pierce the cloud of the dark side of the force that blocked his sight for decades in his battle with the Sith Lord, and now with fellow Jedi around him, the next task was for them to figure out what they will change in to.

"Tired you all are, and rest you need to. Aayla, a few minutes with you I require." Yoda said.

Harry looked back at his friend but Aayla nodded for him to go ahead, and the other occupants of the room stood up and left. The wizard looked at a corner before he left the room where he saw something, but did not say anything and hurried after Shaak Ti. After all, ghosts were normal in his world, and it was logical that these Jedi could see them too.

"Grown attached to him you are." Yoda observed.

"He's a really good friend." Aayla stared at the Jedi Master's eyes, prepared for a scolding. "I value his friendship very much, Master Yoda. He's the reason why I haven't succumbed to despair."

"His feelings for you I sense, fondness, and perhaps more. But attraction in both your eyes I clearly see." Yoda replied.

"Master I am..." Aayla began but she stopped talking when the ancient Jedi master held up his walking stick to stop her from speaking.

"Explain this you do not have to. Understand I do." Yoda said as he looked at the young Jedi knight.

"Forbidden are commitments and relationships in the old Jedi Order. A weakness the old Order has, to repress the love and affection for others we felt. Darth Sidious, this weakness he used to lure young Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force."

"Senator Amidala" Aayla said. The notoriously 'hidden' affair was a well favorite topic among the senators and some of the Jedi. They were just afraid to confront Palpatine and Obi Wan to bring it up to the Senate and the Jedi council respectively. Of course, Skywalker thought he was doing well in hiding his affair but everyone was just scared of him and his friends to bring the matter up in front of his face.

"Yes. If allowed their love to flourish... perhaps young Skywalker would not have chosen the dark side. But the past the Jedi does not cling to, and to love is part of the living Force. Realize this I do." Yoda said and he stared out of the viewport. "Always been criticized, you have, in your actions and decisions by some your peers. But perhaps closer to the truth you are, after all."

"Condemn you I do not, of what path you choose to take." Yoda smiled gently at the young Jedi. "Meditate, I will."

Aayla took it as permission to leave and used her senses to follow Harry, while her mind whirled with questions and possibilities. How did Master Yoda and Master Shaak Ti see through her? She understood and felt Harry's developing feelings for her, she was an empath but she was used to receiving such emotions from her clones. She had a lot to think about.

Aayla spotted the mop of unruly black hair ahead of the corridor and realized that Harry must have been waiting for her. She smiled at the guarded look Harry gave a passing gold plated protocol droid that paused for a moment and took the time to greet the wizard. Even though Harry showed admirable calmness at handling what had happened to him in the past few days, simple droids like her astromech R-8 and others like it made him wary and suspicious.

When she asked about it earlier while they were still on Felucia, Harry confessed that he wanted to be on guard if the robots suddenly decided to rebel against their organic masters and take over the world. Aayla's laughing fit continued for several minutes, causing Harry to declare that he would never confide in her again. It took Aayla a few hours to coax Harry out of his brooding, with a promise of letting him ride on her now modified two-seat Actis Interceptor.

ooo

"Strange person, he is." Yoda said aloud. He was alone inside the room, yet a voice answered him, but only he could hear its faint whispers. And it wasn't due to his large ears that he could hear the voice, but his new connection and sensitivity to the force that he was now studying.

"Yes old friend. And he even saw me."

"He did? Advanced than I am this Harry Potter is, to be able to see you in your astral form." Yoda mused. "What do you think of him?"

"He is the chosen one of his own world, and unlike ours he succeeded in defeating the dark lord and his hundreds of his supporters."

"Very lucky, his world is to have someone like him." Yoda commented, the widening of his eyes the only reaction he had to the revelation he had heard. "Through the Force that he got here, yes?"

"Yes. He was transported here by an act of self sacrifice to save his friend. He would serve a greater purpose here. Fear not Yoda, he will resist the temptation, he has already proven himself."

"Truth in your words I hear old, friend. Feel the light in him, and warms my heart to see it." Yoda said. He felt Qui Gon Jin vanish from his force sight, and he resumed his meditation to hide his light side presence from Darth Sidious' senses.

He would need to find a place soon to hide and train with his fellow Jedi, and fortunately, Yoda knew a planet that even Palpatine and his extensive intelligence network would never find. He alone knew its exact coordinates.

ooo

"What's that?"

"That's rikuan ribs."

"And that?"

"Green Shofols for Alderaan. They're really good Harry."

"Alright I'll get one... and Aayla, is that a tail?" Harry gasped as he saw the thing twitch. "It's still alive!"

"That's a delicacy, a tail from a Gwindian Lizard." Aayla stabbed it with her fork and placed it on her tray.

Harry peered closer and looked at the delicacy. He had no problems eating the food they hunted in Felucia, since meat was meat after all, but this... dish, he gave it another look and finally decided to move on.

Aayla saw him look at the tail with uncertainty and to tease him she bit a chunk of the tail and chewed on it, all the time enjoying the horrified look on Harry's face.

"Bloody hell!" He saw yellow liquid ooze out from the bite mark Aayla made at the tail. "That's so wrong."

Aayla laughed and stabbed another Gwindian tail and placed it into Harry's own tray to the young man's shock.

ooo

Despayre, Horuz system

"I sense a great disturbance in the Force." Emperor Palpatine said to his apprentice as they both stood in front of the large viewport, on the bridge of the newly outfitted Dreadnaught class Battleship Mas Ramdar. Around them several Venator class Star Destoyers provided escort to the Imperial Flagship.

Emperor Palpatine's new apprentice remained silent as he stood beside his master. His deep harsh breaths, controlled by machines implanted within his body were audible to those around him, while they pump oxygen to his blood. Lord Vader's lungs were burned in the hot ash of Mustafar a week ago in the fight with his old master, Obi Wan Kenobi.

"Yoda has completely vanished from my senses." Emperor Palpatine said as he walked closer towards the enormous viewports, his apprentice right beside him. "That little green freak has managed to elude us."

"I shall hunt him down master." Lord Vader's deep bass voice offered. It was completely unfamiliar compared to his old voice, but he was getting used to it.

His optical sensors focused on the frown on the skin of his master, and he knew that he was still angry at allowing Yoda to escape his trap. It was rare for Palpatine to use such words, especially within hearing of the Bridge officers.

"No, my friend." Emperor Palpatine laid a hand to his apprentice shoulder. "I need you here near Despayre, already sabotage slows down the station's construction. I need you to enforce discipline and take care of the security. This is your priority."

"As you wish, Master." Darth Vader replied. "What about Yoda and Shaak Ti?"

"I have ordered the entire 501st and the Star corps to hunt them down from their last known location. Imperial Intelligence reported that Shaak Ti was last seen in Coruscant, stealing a ship to escape."

The Emperor of the newly established Galactic Empire gazed at his latest weapon, admiring its skeletal frame. It would soon bring fear to those who still oppose his authority. It was a glorious beginning to the new age of the Sith.

"That old relic is beaten, and he knows it. He would not be much of a threat now that the full might of the Empire is behind us. These last remaining obsolete Jedi will die and turn into dust at the winds of change." He continued.

Emperor Palpatine gave a last look at the shipyard where his new ships were being built, and slowly walked back to the hangar. It was time to deal with his political opponents and detractors on Coruscant.

"Prepare my shuttle Lord Vader."

Officers froze in fear as the Emperor of the Republic walked past them, escorted by the menacing figure of Darth Vader and the procession of the Imperial guards, clad in blood red robes.

ooo

Dagobah, Sluis Sector

A prismatic burst of real space reversion appeared in low orbit above the Dagobah. The newly refitted Rapid Runner (with help from the Royal Alderaan Engineers)and its crew of five observed planet that had patches of green amidst the white color before it started to descended into the atmosphere.

"How can you see where we are going Aayla?" Harry asked as he looked at the fog filled atmosphere of Dagobah. The fog was so thick that visibility was only good for a few meters.

"It's the force that guides my hand, Harry." The twi'lek felt the force nudge her hands on the controls to correct her direction and the Rapid Runner once more swerved to the side, revealing tall trees that they would have hit if the ship didn't turn..

"That's not very reassuring." Harry replied while he looked out the window. Shaak Ti gave him an amused look from the co pilot's seat and looked back at her instruments.

"Where shall we land Master Yoda?" Aayla asked. They had been travelling for two days nonstop to avoid Imperial Cruisers, and it was tiring for the two alternating pilots. "I feel that the force is telling me to head here." She added.

"Show you a suitable landing spot, I will." Yoda closed his eyes and waved his hand. Harry gaped when the thick fog suddenly dispersed in front of them, as if a large hand swatted it aside. The wizard stared back at the ancient Jedi Master with undisguised awe on his face.

At the very bottom, they noticed a clearing big enough for their ship to land, and Aayla and Shaak Ti worked in concert to land the freighter through the thick branches of the trees. After half a minute, they felt a small bump as the Raid Runner finally landed, and Aayla leaned back on her pilot's chair with a smile.

The ramp lowered and the Jedi and one wizard took in their new surroundings.

"Perfect." Yoda walked forward, his gimmer stick supporting his every step.

"Perfect, this is." He repeated.

"Master... that cave under the tree." Shaak Ti stared at the tree at the far end of the clearing. "It reeks of the dark side of the force!"

It was an ominous sight, a tree that looked dying and sick, compared to the other trees in the area. It had no leaves, and its branches twisted around itself, casting a dark shadow around its base. Large, thick roots had sprouted off the ground, and to Harry, it looked like the dying tree tried to uproot itself and walk. There appeared to be an underground space underneath the tree, the roots forming an entrance, and from there they could feel an ominous energy emanating from within.

"Yes, discovered this planet I did, after we learned of Kamino. Existence of this planet, only I know." Yoda reached a boulder and sat upon it, almost looking like a native of the planet. "Hide our presence, the planet will."

"But the cave?" Barriss asked.

"Died in that cave an ancient Dark Jedi had. Now corrupted the land is, and absorbed by that tree, his dark energies are." Yoda pointed his gimmer stick at the cave. "Use to negate my light side signature from Darth Sidious, It will. Safe from the Sith Lord's sight, we are."

"Wise as always master Yoda." Shaak Ti said as she observed their new sanctuary. The ground they stood on was one of the few that were solid. Most looked like swamp and entangled roots of trees and plants, floating above the water's surface. Vines hung down from every conceivable direction and green moss covered every bark of every tree.

Half the day was spent setting up a permanent camp, but unlike Felucia, they were better equipped, thanks to Bail Organa. Water filters, durable tents and food supplies were set up and arranged, as well as special communications equipment to allow secure and untraceable communication with Alderaan.

Again, Harry was amazed at the efficiency and work ethic that the Jedi had. They seemed to understand each other without even speaking, helping each other with tasks and then moving on to the next. Even Yoda was helping, easily lifting several crates with a casual wave of his hand in an awesome display of wandless magic that would put his own mentor, Albus Dumbledore to shame.

Night had quickly set, and unlike Felucia's clear night skies, Dagobah remained covered in thick clouds, though there were was the occasional patch of clear sky, revealing its blue moon.

Yoda had retired early, setting his own tent under a tree nearest the cave, while Barriss and Shaak Ti shared to share a tent, and used Barriss' own tent to house the communications equipment. The word tent was actually misleading, each was the size of a modest sized room that could easily hold two bunks and still have space for storage. The tents were made of plasteel, a durasteel reinforced plastic substance that was flexible, yet rigid enough to provide adequate protection from wind and rain.

No one was really feeling talkative, each keeping to their own around the campfire, the only sound coming from the cracks of the burning wood. The reason for the silence wasn't because they were low in spirits, and Harry guessed it was because of the journey, having spent nearly a week travelling from the core world of Alderaan to the very edge of the outer rim.

Finally Shaak Ti stood up and decided to turn in early, and Barriss followed her lead, leaving Aayla and Harry alone around the camp. They had pitched their tents on the opposite side of the field, near the Rapid Runner.

"I'll go on ahead." Harry stood up and yawned, stretching his arms and massaging his neck. "Want me to take care of the fire?"

"Go ahead." Aayla nodded. "I'll take care of it."

Drops of water started to fall down on her shoulders, and slowly rain started to pour. The fire they had died, blanketing the field in darkness. Lightning flashed, illuminating the entire area before a thunderous boom followed seconds after.

The rain grew stronger, and Aayla and Harry ran across the field and inside the tent.

"I said I'll take care of it!" Aayla scowled at Harry once they were inside.

"It wasn't me." Harry combed his wet hair with his fingers and removed his wet cloak.

"Uh huh."

"Honest!" Harry insisted. "I was surprised myself, and I'd never conjure rain just to snuff out one small campfire."

"Are you sure it wasn't any of your magic tricks?"

"I'm sure." Harry stared at Aayla's soaked form, where beads of water trailed down her blue skin. A drop of water caught his attention as it slid down her neck, past bumps of her collar bone and soon disappeared down her cleavage. He swallowed and forced his eyes up to her face, and noticed her expression. "You're having me on again Aayla."

The twi'lek just smiled and placed her lekku in front of her and gently massaged them, pushing the drops of water down the tips of the brain tails. "I really thought you were responsible for the rain as payback for the incident earlier."

"You mean turning on the gravity generator while I was floating high near the ceiling?"

"Yes, that."

"That was no incident! You did it on purpose! I even saw that smile on your lips before I crashed to the floor!" Harry said. "And here I thought Jedi were supposed to be humble and generous, Master Yoda said so."

"Even Jedi have limits to their patience." Aayla said dryly. Harry had kept asking her if they already reached Alderaan space, the novelty of space flight and zero gravity quickly wearing off for the excited wizard. Travelling in hyperspace for days did not much provide much of a view, aside from the streaks of starlight caused by travelling at speeds faster than light.

"You didn't have to drop me to shut me up." Harry ran his wand from his hair down to his chest, the drops of water flying towards the tip of his wand like a vacuum. He turned to Aayla who had stepped closer to him, and without another word, the wizard ran the tip of his wand on her, drying her soaked friend in seconds.

He quickly removed his customized outfit, leaving him with in his trousers and aware that Aayla's eyes were on him. Harry sat on his own simple cot and saw that Aayla had made herself comfortable on the empty one across the tent.

"Not feeling sleepy?" He asked.

"We had just finished our rest when we arrived here, and I don't feel like sitting alone inside my tent."

"You can stay here if you want." Harry offered. He took of his boots and lay down, and after a moment, rolled to the side to face her.

"So..." He began. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't take an empath to know something's bothering you, so spill it." Harry propped his head on his left hand and stared at Aayla.

"I was thinking of the recent events since we've met." Aayla took off her boots and sat on the cot, and pulled her knees close to her chest. Her gold brown eyes stared at his, while she rested her head on the rigid tent wall.

"And all of them would not have been possible, without your help."

"I told you, that's what friends do." Harry replied.

"Yes, very good friends, I think." The rutian twi'lek graced him a fond smile. "Don't you agree?"

"We did seem to hit off from the start." Harry mused. "Well, aside from that fight we had."

"You even called me a blue angel." Aayla said slyly.

"I don't remember that."

"You just arrived, and you were bleeding and it looked like you had a nasty hit to the head." Aayla replied. "When you opened your eyes, you told me I was a blue angel."

"Of course I'd say that." Harry said, now remembering the events. "I thought I died, and the next thing I saw was this pretty face. You had to be an angel and I'm in heaven."

Aayla laughed. "I'm glad you did not die, for we would have never met, and all this..." the twi'lek directed her arm around them "...would not have come to pass."

"We may never know. I might have really died back in my world." Harry looked sad for a moment, as if remembering something important. "My mentor once told me that death is not to be feared, that it was the next great adventure... and it looks like he was right again."

"You do not fear death?"

"I do not fear it anymore." Harry smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you someday." Harry turned on his back and stared at the ceiling.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you miss your world? Your friends and family I mean?"

"Of course I miss them." Harry replied. "There's little Teddy, and his mum Tonks. I think you'd like her, she reminds me of you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Tonks has a wicked sense of humor, and she's one of the most capable witched I know, powerful and agile, and deadly with a wand. Then there's Ron and Hermione, they're my best friends since I was little."

Aayla studied her hands for a moment and slowly sat up. "If... If you were given a chance right now to go back to your world, would you take it?"

Surprised by Aayla's question, Harry turned his head and looked at her and slowly sat on the bed. He studied her intently, a thoughtful look on his face. Several minutes passed until he finally answered.

"Strangely enough, I wouldn't."

Harry's serious expression softened when he saw the look of surprise on her face. He stood up and in a few strides, reached her cot and sat beside her.

"Why?"

"I already told you, I don't abandon my friends." Harry said softly and placed an arm around her shoulder. "And you need my help more, from what I've seen and heard. I'm supposed to be dead, but here I am, a second chance, and I'm grateful for it."

"You're suddenly transported from your own world, leaving your family and friends." Aayla mused. "And yet here you are, taking everything so well, performing admirably in situations I'm sure must be so strange and difficult for you."

"It would have been harder, if it were not for you."

"Me?" Aayla looked surprised.

"You're the reason why I'm not freaking out over every little thing. You patiently explained and answered every question I asked." Harry replied. "If somehow there was a way that I could have gotten back to my own world without having met you, I'd have taken it."

"Oh."

"Yeah, you're that important." Harry smiled and squeezed his arm tighter around her shoulder to emphasize what he said. "Besides, I'm sort of used to it, being plucked from my home and into a strange new world."

"Before I knew I was a wizard, I was just a kid that experienced strange things around me, furniture suddenly floating in air, things suddenly disappearing, or injuries healing faster than normal. It really freaked my relatives out of their wits." Harry grinned when he remembered his first day at the London Zoo.

"If you were born in the republic, a representative from the Jedi Temple would have recognized those accidents as a certain affinity and sensitivity with force. I am sure you would have become a Jedi." Aayla replied.

"Sounds, similar to the way things and witches handle magically gifted children." Harry observed. "In my world, a professor or representative from the nearest magical school would inform the parents of the magical child of their powers, and offer them a place in the school to train their powers."

Harry noticed one of Aayla's lekku was over his right shoulder, and absently massaged it with his left hand. "Anyway, I didn't really have a hard time adjusting in the magical world, because of two people who would later become my best friends, Ron and Hermione. And it's the same in this... universe and I met you."

"It wasn't a good first meeting." Aayla smirked when she remembered their brief battle.

"Yeah, but it worked out in the end right?" Harry squeezed her shoulder again. "We better get some sleep Aayla. Master Yoda told me that he had some exercises that he would like me to do, and a demonstration of some of my tricks."

"Knowing Master Yoda, you will probably collapse from exhaustion within the first hour." Aayla grinned.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Harry noticed that Aayla looked quite comfortable on the other cot and after a minute of trying to work up the courage, finally decided to ask. "Do... you want to stay here? Share this tent I mean. It's awfully big, and we could use your tent as storage for more equipment."

Aayla's smile didn't vanish, and she regarded Harry for a moment, her head tilted to the side. Harry was holding his breath the entire time as Aayla considered his offer.

"Yes, I'd like that."

The next morning, Aayla moved her own luggage inside Harry's tent, and they decided to use her tent as a storage facility for their other supplies.

ooo

"Strong stamina, you have, but need to practice more, you do."

Harry emptied the water from his canteen and wiped the sweat from his brow. Yoda suggested a quick run, and it turned out to be an obstacle course through the jungle. It was difficult, and Harry was sure he wouldn't have lasted that long if they were on Felucia with its unbearably hot climate. Dagobah was considerably cooler, but it was still humid, especially during the day.

"Rest you do." Yoda suggested. "...and practice the form I showed you. A powerful tool your wand is, but useful the knowledge to wield a lightsaber also is."

"I understand, Master Yoda." The wizard nodded. "I'll practice them later with Aayla. Do you need something else from me?"

"Curious to learn more of this magic, I am." Yoda replied. After seeing the powerful spells that Harry cast, the ancient Jedi Master was nearly left speechless for a moment, something never seen before by the other Jedi.

Barriss did whisper to him after Harry's demonstration that the 'spells' he used were nothing compared to the power he wielded earlier on Felucia, when he singlehandedly took on an entire Clone company and an AT-TE.

The force was truly wonderful, and even now after centuries of trying to unlock its mysteries, he knew he barely scratched its surface.

"Discuss it tomorrow, we shall." Yoda added. "Practice, you must."

"I will..." Harry slowly stood up, towering over the Jedi Master. "...and thanks again for this." He tapped the small lightsaber that was clipped on his belt. "Are you sure you won't need it? Aayla told me the importance of a Jedi's lightsaber."

"More use for it, you have." Yoda smiled and walked away.

"Finished already?"

Harry saw Shaak Ti approaching and nodded. "Yeah, he had me running through the forest with him on my back!"

"Physical exercise is important to a Jedi, as important as maintaining the mind and spirit." Shaak Ti replied. "Jedi must always be in peak physical condition to maintain the Jedi way of life and our duties."

"I know, you're all in terrific shape." Harry eyed the tent farthest from the camp. "Even Master Yoda, you wouldn't believe how quickly he moves if he wants to."

"I may have an idea." Shaak Ti smiled. She noticed the lightsaber attached on the belt of his trousers and looked back at Harry. "That is Master Yoda's lightsaber. He lent it to you?"

"He gave it to me." Harry unclipped it and held it in his left hand. "He said that I would need it more than he does."

Shaak Ti studied him for a moment, causing him to look away, unaccustomed to her scrutiny. Finally she spoke. "If you need additional lessons, just ask me."

"Thanks, though I'm sure I'll never be a master in it." Harry replied. "I just noticed, but how come this lightsaber's shorter than the others? Does whoever manufacture these lightsabers have different models?"

"There is no manufacturer." Shaak Ti replied. "It is a rite of passage for every Jedi to construct their lightsabers."

"That explains the different designs." Harry nodded, impressed at their dedication.

"Correct." Shaak Ti raised her hand, and Harry felt his newly owned lightsaber tug from his grip by an unseen force, and let his grip loosen. The shorter lightsaber slowly floated to Shaak Ti's hand. She activated it, and its shorter, bright green blade sprang from the hilt.

"This type of lightsaber is called a shoto. This type of lightsaber produces a significantly shorter blade than the others." Shaak Ti lectured. "This blade is suitable for one with short stature such as Master Yoda, but is commonly used for those that fought with dual lightsabers like Jar Kai, since it is easier to control a shorter lightsaber."

"Aayla said she knows Jar Kai." Harry replied. "But her lightsabers are as the size as yours and Barriss."

"Aayla Secura doesn't just know Jar Kai, she's a master of the art." Shaak Ti easily twirled the short green lightsaber in her hands before deftly turning it off in a quick move before she handed it back to its new owner. "She's easily capable of using Jar Kai wielding regular sized lightsabers. She has the physical strength and agility for it."

"I wonder if I could spar with her using both blades." Harry mused. "Where is she anyway?"

"She's with Barriss, hunting for food in the river." Shaak Ti replied. "Why don't we check up on them?"

"Sure." Harry felt better after his early morning run. "Lead on."

ooo

The Togrutan Jedi Master never really had a chance to speak with their new ally. Back on Felucia, most of the days were spent repairing Aayla's Actis-2 Interceptor, and salvaging useful parts of Barriss' heavily damaged star fighter.

On board the Rapid Runner on route to Alderaan Space, Harry spent most of his time with Aayla, though she did exchange a few words with the wizard during meals. It was the same with the voyage here to Dagobah, and she was preoccupied discussing plans with Master Yoda.

There was one thing she did notice, Harry and Aayla were unusually close, and she could clearly see that they were attracted to each other. She was not against it- Shaak Ti was among a few Jedi who believed that relationships should be allowed within the order.

Yoda didn't appear to mind Aayla and Harry's close friendship, in fact, she had seen the ancient Jedi Master smile whenever he saw the two laughing, eating together and sharing a joke... she even saw Harry fall asleep on the twi'lek's lap during their voyage to Dagobah.

If this was any indication of the direction the new Jedi Order was headed, she heartily approved of it.

They finally reached the river that fed into the swamp, and heard the distinct sound of a lightsaber humming in the air. Harry brushed a branch that blocked his view in time to see a gigantic fish leap out of the water, its mouth lined with sharp teeth headed to the blue figure hanging on a vine above the river.

"Bloody hell!"

Aayla Secura raised her feet at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the deadly jaws. She quickly gave the large fish a powerful kick, sending it to the river bank where Barriss waited with her lightsaber ignited. A few elegant slashes with the blue blade and the large fish's head fell to the floor, along with the rest of its body that was now cut into four manageable pieces.

The vine Aayla was hanging from suddenly moved towards them, as if pushed by an unseen force and the twi'lek gracefully dismounted and landed lightly on the bank, a few steps from Harry. Her balance was perfect.

"What the hell was that?" Harry asked. The head of the enormous water creature landed a few feet in front of him, its jaws that could easily swallow even him opening and closing.

"Hey Harry." The twi'lek smiled softly at the wizard. "This is our food for the next few days."

"And we have the necessary food storage equipment to make sure it will not be wasted." Barriss added. "It's good that you're here, moving this amount of meat will be easier."

"It does look appetizing." Shaak Ti observed, unconsciously licking her lips. Food from the sea was a Togrutan favorite.

ooo

"Retire for the night, I must." Yoda said to the group and started walking back to his tent. His four companions observed his retreating figure for a moment until it vanished in the gloom.

"He's always sleeping early." Barriss said.

They had just finished eating their portions of dinner, and the three Jedi were all feeling lively, unlike their first night on Dagobah.

"He mentioned on board the ship that he was studying under a new teacher." Shaak Ti replied. The Togrutan saw the confused faces of the two other Jedi and shrugged. "I know, of all of us, Master Yoda is the one who I think needs the least to study."

"And who is this teacher he mentioned?" Aayla asked. She noticed Harry was still looking at the direction of Yoda's tent and touched his forearm. "Harry?"

"It's probably that ghost, Qui Gon Jim." Harry replied.

"What?"

"Ghost?"

Seeing the confused faces around him, the wizard elaborated. "I've been seeing this ghost since we arrived in Senator Organa's ship. He was there when we first met Yoda, and I saw him a few times here on Dagobah."

"You saw... Master Qui Gon Jin?" Shaak Ti slowly asked.

"Yeah, though he's the strangest ghost I've seen." The wizard replied. "When I asked Master Yoda this morning, he said that it was on old friend teaching him a deeper understanding of the Force."

Silence greeted him, and Harry noticed that the stunned faces around him had not changed. "Aren't ghosts normal in this world?"

Three heads simultaneously shook their heads in reply.

"Well, it's pretty common from where I come from." Harry said. "I had a ghost as a history professor for seven years at Hogwarts, and the last time I visited the school, he's still there, teaching the new generation of wizards and witches."

"When you said Master Qui Gon is different, what did you mean?" Aayla asked.

"He feels different from the ghosts I've seen." Harry rubbed his chin. "Somehow, he could travel across the galaxy. Usually ghosts are unable to move freely, since they're attached to a particular place, preventing them from moving on to another plane."

"What is this Hogwarts you speak of?" Barriss asked.

"It's a magical school for untrained witches and wizards. For seven years, starting from the age of eleven, we were taught how to wield and use magic, much like your Jedi Temple and its padawans." Harry glanced at his favorite twi'lek. "From what I understand from Aayla, your padawans are recruited at a much younger age, and that the training frequently reaches into adulthood?"

"Yes, usually padawans are taken in as early as infants to four years, though there are some exceptions." Shaak Ti replied. "It is not uncommon for padawans to reach knighthoods in their mid twenties."

"Wow. That long?"

"Some padawans considered their Jedi Masters to be their father or mother figures." Aayla replied, remembering her own Jedi Master and father figure, Quinlan Vos. She wondered if he survived... there was a possibility, even if Senator Organa reported that he didn't manage to contact any other Jedi on Kashhyk aside from Master Yoda. But she had to focus on the here and now, and thinking of the fate of her old master was for another time.

"How was your life when you were a student of this Hogwarts?" Aayla asked, curious about Harry's life and at the same time, she didn't want to think more about the fate of her old master. Jedi do not cling to the past.

"It was really interesting." Harry replied. "Hermione and Ron, I told Aayla about them earlier, they became my best friends in Hogwarts in my first year there. Aside from them and a few other friends, the school environment was difficult for someone like me."

"What do you mean?"

"I did tell you all about the Dark Lord I defeated in battle right?"

"Yes, I'm very curious to hear more of it." Shaak Ti admitted.

"When I began my first year at Hogwarts, I learned that I was famous for something I did when I was a baby." Harry began. "The Dark Lord Voldemort had found where my parents were hiding when I was a year old and killed them. Because of my mother's love for me, the killing curse that he cast on me rebounded and hit him instead."

"No one had ever survived the killing curse before. No one, except me." Harry looked at the serious faces of his audience of three and felt Aayla's grip on his arm tighten. He lifted a few locks of hair from his forehead and showed the thin lightning shaped scar. "The Killing Curse hit me here, and since then people called me the boy who lived."

"You told me you were not aware of the magical world until a Hogwarts professor had come to your home." Aayla said. "That must have been difficult, handling attention in your first year."

"It was." Harry nodded. "I was always gawked at, even along school corridors that first month. But having friends really helped." The wizard smiled at Aayla who returned it.

"Your world has some strange titles for you, calling you the boy who lived." Barriss observed.

"That's nothing." Harry laughed. "Later, when Voldemort came back in full power, people started calling me the chosen one."

Barriss coughed and suddenly spat out the water she had been drinking, and Harry found the usually prim and quiet Mirialan with water spilling out of her mouth amusing. He disguised a chuckle with a cough.

"They called you... the chosen one?" Aayla asked slowly, exchanging surprised looks glances with her fellow Jedi.

"They did." Harry replied, unaware of the strange looks he received from Aayla since she was sitting beside him, and at Shaak Ti, whose face was partially obscured by shadows. "I learned that there was a prophecy that had been made before I was born, foretelling the birth of someone who had the power to vanquish him."

"And you did." Shaak Ti stated. She couldn't help but compare Harry to another 'Chosen One', one who was also strong in the Force, and showed potential to be the greatest Jedi she had ever seen.

Anakin Skywalker.

"I never really believed prophecies at first." Harry replied. "But Voldemort believed it and was determined to get rid of me ever since I started learning magic, so it was self fulfilling. I had no choice but to fight back and survive."

"You have fought this Voldemort while in school? Before you were fully trained in your magical arts?"

"Several times, almost every year while I was at school." Harry pushed a log deeper into the fire, feeling a slight chill despite the warmth Aayla provided by sitting closely next to him. "I first met him at the end of my first year. He offered me power and immortality... that he would bring back to life my parents, and to join his side."

"What happened?" Aayla whispered. Harry's story mirrored many of the Sith Lords trying to seduce Jedi to the dark side.

"I rejected him of course." Harry replied. "I didn't want power or immortality, and though I wanted to see my parents badly, even for a moment, I knew even then, that nothing, even magic can bring the dead back to life."

Harry Potter faced the three Jedi listening attentively to his every word and smiled. "Besides, a very brave wizard once told me that our loved ones never truly left us."

The wizard looked up and for once saw the thick clouds had cleared, revealing the unfamiliar night sky. He couldn't find any familiar constellation at all. "They're always here, inside us, and everywhere, watching us."

"Very wise words." Shaak Ti whispered. "Very wise words indeed."

"It is." Aayla agreed. She looked at Harry who was still staring at the sky and squeezed his arm, feeling the emotions inside him at that moment. He truly was special, and she was very lucky to have met him.

"Anyway, there is one question I wanted to ask after we arrived in Alderaan." Harry said after gazing at the stars. The clouds had rolled in and covered the night sky, plunging the camp in darkness again, save for the light of the camp fire.

"What is it?" Shaak Ti asked.

Harry looked around for a moment and leaned forward and whispered. "Why does Master Yoda speak backwards?"

"That..." Shaak Ti controlled her face to hide her smile. She saw out of the corner of her eye Barriss covering the lower part of her face with her sleeve. Aayla had buried her face on Harry's arm, and she could hear muffled giggles from the twi'lek. "...is one of the great mysteries of the Force."

ooo

ooo