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Rating: K
THE UNFINISHED TALES- Whispers of the Dead
... Master Dooku was meeting his former Padawan, Master Qui-Gon and his apprentice Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon greatly enjoyed the new relationship he had with his former master. When Qui-Gon had been Dooku's Padawan, the relationship had very much been teacher-student and nothing more. Since Dooku's fall and redemption from the dark side, things had changed dramatically. That had been 15 years ago. And even though Dooku had redeemed himself in the eyes of the Council, in his own eyes he felt he had more to atone too, and for years had refused to take on another Padawan. Qui-Gon was glad that his old master had taken a new apprentice, although Master Yoda had not given Dooku any choice in the matter. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were sitting in Didi's Cafe, waiting for Master Dooku and his Padawan Arilana to arrive. Master Dooku entered the diner and sat at the table.
"No Padawan?" asked Qui-Gon.
"She is working on a very important project." Dooku replied.
---
Arilana was standing on the ledge of the roof of the apartment building, a drop of 1 km mere millimeters away. The old man ahead of her leaning dangerously over the edge. Arilana had made her way to the man and had convinced him to step back from the ledge. Holonet cameras buzzing around them, judicial officers hovering in theie speeders nearby. Arilana took the man's hand and was about to help him back onto the roof, when her senses flared warnings of danger. Arilana saw too late the rocket headed for them. The rocket missed them but the shockwave of the explosion threw the old man into the air, Arilana jumped after him. A speeder was heading their way, Arilana closed the few remaining inches between her and the man using the Force to draw him closer. At that same moment, she grabbed the speeder and held on, slamming into the side. The old man immediately grabbed her abdomen in fear.
"Need a lift?" Dooku asked.
"If it's not too much trouble." She replied.
Qui-Gon and Dooku helped Arilana and the old man into the speeder. The old man was rambling about not wanting to die, wanting to live.
"Hold on to that feeling" She told him.
"I dropped it..." The old man went on, as he started to sob.
"It's ok... it's ok." She replied.
Obi-Wan landed the speeder. The old man got out and was immediately greeted by a young girls crying.
"Grampa, please don't leave me!" She cried.
"Please forgive and old fool." He told her, trying to comfort her.
Arilana walked a little to the side and bent down. The Jedi noticed the slight of hand.
"Don't forget this." She said as she came back to the old man.
"How?" He asked as you place the locket in his hand.
"I have my ways. Now go and take care of your grand-daughter, and live long."
The old man turned to the little girl and gave her his dead wife's pendant, and together they walked away. Arilana watched them walk away, her gaze fell on an elderly woman standing nearby. They smiled.
After talking to the judicials the Jedi got into the speeder and took off for the Temple.
"Why did you lie?" Obi-Wan asked her.
"Excuse me?" Arilana replied.
"The pendant, I saw him drop it, yet you had it in your pocket."
"Would you rather I'd told him his dead wife put it in my pocket?"
Obi-Wan was not satisfied with that answer, mostly because he couldn't think of a reply. Qui-Gon eyed Dooku. Qui-Gon knew first hand what it was like to have an apprentice see Force-ghosts. But Obi-Wan only saw Master Odan-Urr, a Jedi of old. Arilana it seemed saw other Force-ghosts.
"Obi-Wan can you drop me off a the Tingon building." Arilana asked.
"Tingon building?" Dooku asked.
"Jonas."
"Is that wise?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"True point." Dooku conceded.
"I just don't know what else to tell him."
"You will find the words, you always do." Dooku told his Padawan.
Obi-Wan landed the speeder in front of the dilapidated building, and Arilana jumped out.
"We will wait for you."
"Thank you Master."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan looked at eachother, not too sure what they had just been volunteered for. Arilana disappeared into the building.
"Master?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I do not envy her gift. A Jedi's life is hard enough as it is, trying to solve the problems of the living. Without having to solve the problems of the dead. ...
