Disclaimer: Read notes in first chapter.
Chapter Three
"Well, what were you thinking Obi Wan? That Mace, Yoda and Koon, not too mention my wife and our padawans were going to just stand there and let us be attacked by an unknown person?" Harry demanded.
Obi Wan flinched. "Harry. Look at it from my point of view. I arrive after six weeks of meeting with several senators that were rumored to be Rebellion sympathetic, only to find my brothers fighting a woman, clad in an outfit that can only be described as Wow, armed with weapons that I have never even dreamt of."
Anakin chuckled at Obi Wan's description of Indira's outfit. "You called it, Harry."
Harry smirked as Obi Wan looked confused. "Told ya. I can't wait to tell Indira I was right. I doubt their fight would have lasted very long in that case." He turned again to his Jedi brother. "Okay I can see it your way. But still was it necessary to throw her into the wall?"
Obi Wan looked abashed. "I have been having difficulty lately with my control. I have tried everything. Meditations don't help. The mind Healers even looked to see if something had happened that I couldn't remember. Lily checked me over and found nothing. Even Master Yoda is stumped. The best we can figure is a second maturation of my power."
Harry looked concerned. "Are you alright to be going on missions? Or training Luke for that matter?"
Obi Wan looked affronted at first, then resigned. "Yes for now. However, if the source can't be found or if it doesn't settle, then who knows?"
Anakin walked over to Obi Wan. "Don't worry my friend. We'll find out. Hey Harry, maybe Snape and Hermione could start researching. If anybody could figure it out it would be them."
Harry nodded with a smile forming on his previously frowning face. "Yeah, I bet they could."
Obi Wan bowed his head, thanking the Force once again that Harry had been brought to the Jedi. "Okay now would someone please explain this new padawan to me?"
Harry and Anakin smiled. The blush over Obi Wan's face as he was obviously recalling Indira, was teasing material for a month at least. As they walked toward the hospital, they divulged everything that they knew about the young woman. By the time they reached her room, Obi Wan was wondering when he would get the chance to fight the unusual Jedi.
Indira looked up and gasped. She had not seen her attacker before she passed out. But as he came in the room with Harry and Anakin she recognized him. It was the Jedi from her vision. Whoever this man was, his destiny was closely tied to hers.
Harry heard Indira's gasp and assumed she was startled over seeing the man that had sent her to the hospital. "It's okay Indira. This is Obi Wan 'I usually have more self control' Kenobi."
Obi Wan looked abashed at the tease. "I am so sorry Padawan Kaliste. While I do not use it as an excuse, I have just come from a long tense mission and only saw my brothers being attacked by an unknown warrior. Please accept my apologies.'
Indira smiled at him. "No need for apologizes Master Kenobi. It shows your desire to protect those you love. That is not something that needs to be forgiven. I'm sorry we were not introduced properly. I am Indira Parmida Kaliste." She held out her hand.
Obi Wan gazed at her with curiosity. " Obi Wan Kenobi. Pleased to meet you Indira." He took her hand and felt a pulse in the Force. It settled on him heavily before disappearing. He stared hard at Indira seeing that she had felt the same thing. Confusion and suspicion warred in her eyes. Both let go of the other slowly as if wondering what would happen next.
Harry and Anakin had both felt the pulse, though not as strongly as Obi Wan and Indira. They looked at the others before looking back to each other. Harry, what was that?
I don't know Anakin. But whatever it was, it revolves around these two. Can nothing be normal around here?
Anakin's mental chuckle brought him back to awareness and he touched Obi Wan's shoulder. "Obi Wan, we should go before Mum gets back. She was looking forward to yelling at you for injuring Indira and then doing her post mission check up on you."
At Obi Wan's horrified look, Harry took his arm and dragged him out the door. "See you later Indira. When you feel up to it, we have a sparring match to finish. The last one was a draw."
Indira smiled. "Of course Master Potter. I am sure you would have countered my next move until Master Kenobi interfered."
Harry smiled at her. Obi Wan stopped at the door. "It was a pleasure Indira. I hope to see you soon."
Indira smiled softly as she nodded. "As do I Obi Wan. As do I."
She lay back against the pillow and thought about the pulse that had occurred when she touch Obi Wan. It was very strange. She had never felt anything like it before but that was not so unusual given her mission the last five years. But Harry and Anakin had looked confounded as well. Perhaps it was another addition to her list of things to mention to Master Yoda. Tomorrow might not be a good time though. She was being tested on her knowledge of everything from chemistry to politics. It would be a trying day seeming how after all that her mind shields would be evaluated and tested. She briefly wondered when she would be tested on her piloting skills.
Drifting off to sleep she wondered if she was to be accepted to the Jedi Order.
Three days later, everyone who had been in attendance before, this time including Obi Wan, were again assembled for the testing. Indira and Harry had been sparring for a while now and both were beginning to tire. Indira had fallen into the Force as soon as they had started. But soon after had brought herself out. She wanted to watch those around her as well as Harry. Well, she wanted to watch one person in particular.
Obi Wan Kenobi. The man was a mystery. He seemed to be interested in her that day in the hospital. But now he seemed to want to avoid her. It wouldn't have bothered her so much had it not been for her vision and the strange Force event that had taken place in her hospital room. She needed to know what was going on if she as going to stop the events of her vision. She still hadn't spoken of either to anyone. But knew that she should soon. The vision could come true at any time, since she now knew Obi Wan.
Master Windu startled her a little when he called out to Anakin and Obi Wan. "Anakin, you and Harry against Obi Wan and Indira. I want to see your partnering skills, Indira."
Receiving swift nods from all four participants, the fight began. Anakin and Harry had been partnering for years and Obi Wan had partnered as well as fought the other two. Indira was new to the mix, but after a few minutes it seemed as though she and Obi Wan had done this before. Many times before. They moved forward and back as one and switched effortlessly from offense to defense when the fight demanded.
No one was more amazed at how quickly they fell together than Indira and Obi Wan themselves. It almost seemed as if they could read each other's minds and followed a preplanned pattern. But trusting in the Force they simply followed along. The match ended when Anakin force jumped behind Obi Wan, lightsaber swinging, coming to rest inches from Obi Wan neck. But as he turned, he saw Indira holding Harry's lightstaff in one hand, having used her whip to wrap around it and force it from his hands. The four of them shut off their weapons and bowed to each other. The Council looked pleased. Very pleased in fact.
Master Yoda spoke then. " Meet the Council will. Padawan Kaliste. Join us in one hour you will."
Indira bowed to him and the others. Harry and Anakin smiled encouragingly to her and left, taking the others with them. All except for Obi Wan. He still stood staring at her. Indira hadn't turned around yet but she felt the heat of his gaze upon her.
"Padawan Kaliste, " he started.
"Indira, please Master Kenobi." She said softly as she faced him.
Obi Wan's gaze softened and he smiled at her. "Then it will be Obi Wan when we are not in front of the Council, Indira."
Her genuine smile caused him to catch his breath. She really was a beautiful woman. Shaking his head, he tried to banish such thoughts. He had not, like Harry and Anakin, sworn the Old Code. Passion was not an emotion he was able to embrace.
"Indira. I am sorry if it seemed like I was avoiding you these last few days. I wasn't entirely trying to. But I had many things I had to report to the Council and Alliance leaders. As well, Lily caught me after the first day and I spent yesterday in her clutches being scanned for every imaginable thing known to the galaxy. I swear she does it on purpose just to see if I'll go nuts one of these days. I was also meditating on what happened when we shook hands. I haven't researched it but I think it may have to do with some of the problems I have been having with my control." Obi Wan said.
A look of concern crossed Indira's face at that admission. "Is your control slipping Obi Wan? Or just fluctuating?"
"Fluctuating. I have moments of uncontrolled bursts of power. That's what happened when I Force pushed you away from Harry. I am so sorry about that. If I had, had any idea, I would have never." He tried to explain with some distress.
Indira, not thinking, laid a hand on his arm as she shook her head in denial. "Please Obi Wan. It was an accident and I am fine. Had worse run ins with. ." She trailed off as another pulse emanated from their contact. This time it flared a bright white light and settled on them both.
"What was that?" They exclaimed together.
"I think we had better head to the Council now. I should have left when the others did but I had wanted to explain my actions." Obi Wan said as he began heading to the main Temple building.
Indira stepped quickly to catch up. "Yes, we should tell them about this. But Obi Wan may I ask you something?"
"Of course, Indira."
"How does your control feel now?"
Obi Wan stopped. He reached out to the core of his being where his connection to the Force resided. It seemed as if his core had settled some. It seemed stronger as well. Concern now marred his features. "I. . It seems more stable. How is that possible? How did you know?"
Indira tilted her head to the side before answering. "I'm not sure. I just sensed something different and wondered if the pulses meant anything. I wonder what is happening?"
Obi Wan looked to her. "As do I. Let's go and report. I want to get to the bottom of this."
An hour later, Indira was being summoned into the Council room. Obi Wan had escorted her to a waiting area before disappearing. She sat for the next while, meditating and trying to come up with some explanation for her and Obi Wan's connection. When Harry came out to retrieve her, it took a few minutes for her to realize that he was standing there.
He smiled at her slyly. "What had you so deep in thought Padawan? You wouldn't be thinking about a certain Master now would you?"
Indira blushed. "Master Potter. When could we spar again?"
Harry laughed. "Anytime you like, Indira. Please follow me."
Within a few moments, she was facing the entire Council, Obi Wan being present this time. Their faces gave nothing away. She did not know if this was good or bad.
Master Windu began. "Padawan Kaliste. By your reckoning you have been a padawan for nearly your whole life. Master Onowa began training you at a much younger age than is normal. But given the circumstances it is acceptable. When he charged you with returning to us, he gave you a great responsibility for one so young. Not only did you achieve this but you did it without alerting anyone of your mission. This in of itself is a great show of courage and bravery. It is also a testament to your character and strength of character. Normally you would have to face the Knighthood trails, but in some cases an exception can be made. One is being made in your case. We have decided that you will join the Order officially. You will be introduced to the other initiates, Knights and Masters as well as the Rebellion Alliance. You will be knighted here today, but you will continue to train with a Master. This is not a slight on you or Master Onowa. But you have been without a Master for some time and we feel it best if you have a bond with someone here until you are truly comfortable. Is this acceptable to you?"
Indira felt her heart swell. She was being accepted. Her Master's last wish was coming true. He had wanted her to stay with the Order but had said it was her choice in the end. He knew that not being raised a padawan within the Temple on Coruscant would not give her the same feeling of family. But they had both been wrong. As soon as she had landed it had felt like home to her.
"Yes Master Windu. That is acceptable to me. It is more than I could have dreamed when I started on this mission. I thank you for your trust and belief in me. I am honored that you feel me ready to be Knighted." Indira said quietly with tears in her eyes. "May I ask who the Master is that will be training me?"
"Train you, I will Padawan." Yoda answered her. There were many shocked glances at this. Yoda had not train anyone outside of regular classes in many years.
Harry stood then. "Indira, you will have to swear the Code now and explain it's meaning for you to us."
Indira nodded. "I wish to swear the Old Code Master Potter."
There were several gasps at that but Harry smiled a knowing smile. He felt a little sad that his brother Obi Wan had sworn the New Code, but he had been adamant at the time that he would not know love in his life. Not that sort of passionate love anyway. He had been more comfortable locking away that part of himself. However, from the look that Indira was trying to hide, Harry wondered if that would stop the beautiful young woman. Harry laughed mentally. Obi Wan you have no idea what your in for. I hope she breaks down those defenses of yours. I would almost bet the Marauder that she does.
"Very well Padawan Kaliste. Begin." Harry said.
"There is emotion, yet there is peace. There is ignorance, yet there is knowledge. There is passion, yet there is serenity. There is death, yet there is the Force."
"Explain now, you must Padawan." Yoda said.
Indira drew a breath and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, as she began. "There is emotion, yet the is peace. Emotions are all around us. They are a part of us from our birth. To embrace them is to know a part of ourselves. We need to know our passion, our love, even to recognize our anger. To lock these emotions away we can lose a part of ourselves. We need all of ourselves to find our peace and in turn keep peace."
Yoda nodded, seeming to find this answer acceptable. "The next maxim?"
Again, she drew a breath. "There is ignorance, yet there is knowledge. While we are taught much, we can not know it all. It would be complete arrogance to claim this. No matter the age or experience, we all can and should learn new things. We should strive to learn new things and be open to them. Learning from our past to help our future is vital.
Master Gallia spoke next. "The third maxim, Padawan Kaliste?"
Indira thought this over for a moment. "There is passion, yet serenity. Many view passion as a weakness. But I have seen passion be a great strength. It is a wild and powerful emotion that harnessed can be an great asset. Controlled and channeled it can be used for such good. It reminds us what we fight for, what we live for."
Obi Wan had been particularly interested in her answer for this maxim ever since Indira had proclaimed her intention to swear the Old Code. Never before had he doubt his decision to swear the present code. But now, hearing the emotion evident in her voice, he wondered had she been here then, would he have chosen differently?
Mace shifted in his chair as he spoke. "And the last, Padawan Kaliste?"
This time she closed her eyes and kept them closed. Drawing a deep breath, remembering her Master she spoke with a slight tremble to her voice. "There is death, yet there is the Force. Life and Death are like the Light and Dark of the Force. Never can exist without the other. Death is inevitable. But it should not be feared. It is but the next journey. What awaits us, none can say but in knowing that we return to the Force, we should rejoice."
The council sat silent as Indira opened her eyes. The council seemed to confer with one another thru their thoughts. Moments later Yoda stepped forward.
"Confer on you, the title and level of Jedi Knight, the council does." He said. "Swear the Oath you will now."
Indira knelt with tears shining in her eyes. " I, Indira Parmida Kaliste, swear on my life to serve the Jedi Order and the Force with honor and dignity. I swear to never use the skills I have learned for my own benefit or to cause harm to another being."
Indira paused here. Normally, a padawan's Master would finish their part of the ceremony. But as her Master had died, there was no need. Instead the council asked for a moment of silence to remember the late Jedi Master. Indira smiled at them, silently thanking them for the small tribute.
"Rise, Knight Kaliste." Mace said clearly.
Indira rose and took a deep breath. Harry and Anakin came over to congratulate her as well as Mace and Master Koon. Obi Wan held back for a moment before joining them. When he reached for her hand the pulse that accompanied it was stronger than before. As was the white flash.
The only ones who didn't seem surprised were Harry, Anakin, Obi Wan and Indira. The latter two just looked resigned.
"Forget to mention something, did you Knight Kaliste, Master Kenobi?" Yoda asked with an arched eyebrow.
Dropping their eyes in embarrassment, they nodded sheepishly. "Yes Master Yoda. But please it isn't Ind. . I mean Knight Kaliste's fault. She would have assumed that I told you whilst we were meeting beforehand." Obi Wan said quickly.
"Explain now, you will." Yoda said in a no nonsense voice.
Between the two they described what had happened from their first meeting. Obi Wan also described the calming of his core. Saying that even now after that last pulse, he seemed more in control. The others looked thoughtful and curious. Knowing that her vision might be connected, Indira interrupted the discussion in front of her.
"Masters, please forgive me for interrupting, but I have something else to tell you. My first night here I had a vision. Now visions are common on my planet to those born with the Gift. It is not a gift at all actually. In fact, more commonly it is referred to as the Curse. The affected are more often than not driven insane with visions of the future that they can not alter or stop. More often than not it is a vision of danger or despair. Many times they are of strangers, and the cursed has no way of knowing who or how to stop it from happening. There are several asylums on my planet built specifically for those who can not handle such visions. Normally, the curse manifests itself early in life. For me to have had one at this stage of my life is unheard of. But it has happened to me. I would have dismissed it as a dream or some hallucination had I not recognize two people in the vision."
Harry looked concerned as he asked, "Who did you see Indira?"
Indira looked sorrowful as she spoke. "I saw myself with a strange cloaked figure urging me to embrace the Dark Side. The other man was unknown to me until I awoke in the infirmary four days ago. The man was Master Kenobi."
Silence rang out for a few seconds before everyone started speaking at once. Obi Wan looked at the newest Knight of the Order with a hurt look on his face. "Why didn't you tell me, Indira?"
Indira smiled sadly at him. "I am sorry Master Kenobi. I had no reason to believe this a true vision until we meet. Then after, the Force pulse sort of pushed it out of my mind. After that I didn't see you until the testing today."
Obi Wan softened his look at her explanation. "I am sorry Indira. I had forgotten how busy both of us were these past few days. Well, what happened in the vision?"
Once every one stopped speaking and were again looking to Indira she continued and told them the entire vision from start to finish. When asked what she thought it meant, Indira shrugged her shoulders.
"The impression and feeling I got from the vision was complicated. But it seems to me that I have been taken during a mission or captured some other way. Either Obi Wan was with me or is sent after me. I can not tell. But we are alone and that is the way the cloaked figure wants it. I can feel strong emotion emanating from myself and I can not say what happens then. I do not know if I accept his offer or not. Does anyone have any idea who the cloaked figure might be?"
The sudden quietness at this was disconcerting. Although she had been told of the Emperor, it was obvious that Indira had never considered that the cloaked figure might be him. The Council guessed that if it was indeed Darth Sidious, he was after Indira for her power, like he had been after Anakin for his Chosen One status.
"We believe it might be Darth Sidious, Knight Kaliste." Anakin said quietly.
Indira was taken back. "But what would he want with me?"
"Power you have. Great power. Use it against us and the rest of the Rebellion. Find you, he must not. Too late it may already be." Yoda said with distress.
"He does not know of me yet. I do not think he knows even in my vision. If you're correct in thinking he wants my power, I believe he is just looking for information or a new Sith apprentice and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In my vision, he is confused about my connection to Obi Wan. Perhaps he is only trying to exploit that, whatever it is." Indira said fervently.
"Worry about it now, we will not. Come to pass, do all things." Yoda said with an air of age old wisdom.
"That was awfully prophetic, Master Yoda. Did that drain you?" Harry joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Yoda's eyes snapped open. He shook his head. "Appear wise, he will not let me. Joke and ruin the moment, he must."
Everyone gave a laugh at that. Even with the somber moment, it was to be a happy day. A powerful and well trained padawan had been Knighted. It was cause for celebration. Mace took it upon himself to give the traditional shout of "Party at my place."
