And now, I present to you chapter 7 of Eyes Open! Hope y'all enjoy!
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Kira learned more and more from Obi-Wan about how to use the Force. Several times, she dropped the remote and the other items they used. But more and more, she lifted test subjects without letting go, although the action drained her energy very quickly. She normally emerged from her sessions with a red face, tired muscles, and a headache. Still she loved her lessons, and Obi-Wan had assured her she would adapt to the activity very soon.
Kira was growing to like Obi-Wan more and more. When they had first met on Zygerria, he had earned Kira's respect, as had Anakin, but Obi-Wan was more than just her savior. He was kind and gentle with her, and he didn't try to stop her from asking questions. He patiently answered her questions in ways she could understand, and he seemed to want to share the wealth of knowledge he held in his possession. Kira firmly believed she couldn't have had a better teacher.
One late night, Kira had been thinking about a particularly tough session. She just hadn't been able to keep her focus on the chair they were using and had kept on dropping it. The chair had clattered to the floor each time. In the dark of night, that dull sound in the back of her mind sounded almost like the electrowhips the Zygerrian slavers had used. Finally, after much tossing and turning that she was surprised didn't wake Allara, Kira fell into a fitful sleep.
"Slave scum," scoffed a Zygerrian soldier. He ignited the electrowhip, frightening a young six-year-old Kira. She struggled to break free of her chains.
The Zygerrian laughed meanly as he struck the little girl. Kira bit her lip and struggled not to cry, as she knew that would only urge him on.
The Zygerrian continued to hurl his whip at Kira, laughing at the streaks of blood pouring across her back. Tears fell from her bloodshot eyes. Be like Mama, she told herself. Be strong.
It was nearly impossible to be strong when the slaver continued to beat Kira mercilessly. She only groaned a few times before screeching in pain. Encouraged, the slaver continued to tear her back to shreds.
Kira screamed, and screamed, and couldn't stop. She tasted a metallic, bitter substance in her mouth and knew it was blood. Her back stung, and her arms were numb. Finally, she sank into blessed, welcome darkness.
Kira shot up in her bed, gasping for breath and resisting the urge to scream. She wildly looked around the room before remembering where she was. She looked at the chrono, which read 0247.
Knowing she wouldn't get back to sleep until she calmed down, Kira climbed out of bed and slipped into a robe and a pair of slippers. Then she quietly eased open the door and crept into the hall. She was heading to the Room of the Thousand Fountains, hoping a visit there might clear her head.
The halls were eerily quiet as the small figure softly ran down the hall. Moonlight filtered through the large windows and cast shadows over everything. The little girl didn't slow down until she heard the soft trickle of water and smelled the aroma of honeysuckle. She smiled a little and went inside the peaceful room, sitting by the central pool and dipping her hand inside.
Kira had seen the fountains many times since she had arrived, but never at night. The moonlight falling on the water made pretty shapes on the clear blue surface. The exotic aromas wafting through the air combined with the sound of trickling water to create a soothing effect on Kira's senses. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the tickle of the water on her skin.
"Kira? What are you doing up?"
The voice startled Kira, and she turned to see the source. She was relieved to see Obi-Wan standing there. "I couldn't sleep," she answered.
Obi-Wan walked over to the little girl and sat beside her. "Were you having nightmares?"
"Something like that."
The two were silent for a moment, then Obi-Wan spoke. "Sometimes it helps to talk about it."
"Just memories," stated Kira in a tone that suggested that she did not, in fact, want to talk about anything involved her past eight years as Atai's slave girl.
Obi-Wan took the hint. "All right," he said calmly. He let her be for another minute or two, then he stood. "Are you feeling any better now?"
Kira nodded.
Obi-Wan took Kira's small hand and helped her stand up. "Then I think it's time for you, young one, to go to bed."
Kira allowed herself to be led back to the Bergruutfa sector. Obi-Wan walked inside and stayed with Kira until they reached her door. "Everything will be all right," he promised her. "The slavers cannot find you here."
Kira looked up at Obi-Wan with wide, trusting eyes. "They can't?"
"No. You have nothing to worry about, Kira. So I would suggest you run along to bed. You'll need your strength in the morning," said Obi-Wan with a twinkle in his eye as he ushered Kira into her room.
Kira turned and bowed to Obi-Wan. "Good night, Master Kenobi," she said. "Thank you."
Obi-Wan smiled. "You're very welcome, Kira. Sleep well," he said before he closed the door behind her.
Kira wiggled out of her robe and slippers, then she climbed back into her bed, eager for its warm blankets. As she slid in between the sheets, she couldn't help feeling peaceful. She fell asleep with a smile on her face, anticipating the lesson she'd receive the next day.
Kira's lessons progressed quickly over the next two years. She had begun her lightsaber combat training in addition to her lessons with Obi-Wan, and she'd quickly risen through her class ranks. Both Obi-Wan and Quarmall were pleased with her progress. "I think you're almost ready to take the Initiate Trials," Quarmall told Kira one day after her saber lesson.
Kira hadn't been sure if Quarmall truly meant that or if the Order just needed more Jedi. The Clone Wars had recently broken out across the galaxy, and more and more Padawans were rising to the rank of Knight in record time. Anakin Skywalker had passed his trials mere months before and become both a Jedi Knight and a General in the Grand Army of the Republic. Kira didn't get to see Obi-Wan as much anymore, as he too had been made a General, and he was often fighting the droid armies of the Separatists with his former apprentice.
Kira missed him.
One morning, Allara woke Kira up well before daybreak with a hiss. "Wake up."
Kira groaned and turned over onto her stomach, sticking her head under the pillow. "Five more minutes," she whined.
"No, seriously. Something's going on," Allara said, shaking Kira. "Master Quarmall is in the Council chambers. The Force tells me things aren't right."
Kira tossed away the pillow and looked at Allara. Now that her peer had mentioned it, something did feel off. "Where are the others?"
"In the training room, but they really aren't training. Right now I think it's best if we stick together."
Kira got up, dressed, and tugged her hair into a somewhat neat braid before following Allara out the door. The two girls quickly made their way to the training room. Normally, they'd be able to hear voices from the end of the hall, but Kira and Allara heard only quiet murmurs when they were right outside the doorway.
The whole group looked up when Allara and Kira entered. Cadena stopped flipping a training saber in her hand. "Any news?" she asked Allara.
Allara shook her head. "Not as of yet."
Caleb Dume, who'd entered the Bergruutfa clan a few months after Kira had, looked up at the ceiling. "What exactly is going on up there?"
"She told us before, no one knows," Kandra snapped. Then she sheepishly looked at the others. "I'm sorry, guys. I'm pretty stressed out about this right now."
"No worries, " Sara offered. "We all are."
Kira plunked herself down on a nearby bench. "What could it all mean?"
Allara shook her head. "I don't know. But whatever it is, I get the feeling that it won't be a good thing." Heads nodded solemnly and knowing glances were exchanged. Obviously Allara wasn't the only one feeling that way.
Kira watched Allara as the other girl sat down. Her brown eyes darted around the room, as if she was looking for someone. In fact, she was. "Where's Jake?" she asked after a minute.
"I'm right here." Jake Comrand waved from his seat on the floor.
Allara giggled. "Not you," she said. "Jake Shaun. He was here when I left."
Suki shrugged. "He said he was going to use the refresher."
Kira raised an eye marking at the look on Allara's face. "He's up to no good, isn't he?"
Allara sighed and nodded. "Pretty much sums it up. He gets into trouble all the time, but especially in dire situations."
"Then I guess we'll have to sit back and wait," said Kira, leaning her head back against the wall.
"But I don't like waiting," Cadena grumbled, flipping the training saber in her hand. "It's boring."
"Not to mention the stress of not knowing what's going on. The Council could sit up there jabbering for hours if not days!" Kandra added sullenly.
"Kira's right," said Allara, sighing and clearly also not liking the younglings' situation. "All we can do now is wait."
Time passed. Most of the younglings stared at each other or talked in quiet whispers. Suddenly, the peaceful tension was shattered when Jake burst in. "Quarmall wants to make us all Padawans!" he exclaimed excitedly.
The younglings broke into chatter. "What are you talking about?" Allara asked. "Were you eavesdropping?"
Jake had a sheepish look on his face. "Well, yeah. But still! He wants to take us all as Padawans!"
Sara heard this. "All of us? Is that what he said?"
Jake nodded. "That's what he said. The Council was complaining about it and said he couldn't do that."
"It's true!" Allara blurted out. "No Master is allowed to take more than one Padawan at a time. Master Quarmall knows that!"
"What about us? We haven't even passed the Initiate Trials yet!" Alex said.
Caleb shrugged. "That doesn't sound so bad to me. I think I'd make a pretty good Padawan." He sent a look Kira's way and winked. She smiled, knowing he was just trying to lighten the mood.
"This stinks. Our fate is being decided upstairs and we don't even get a say!" Cadena grumbled, tossing away the training saber hilt she'd been playing with for the past hour. It hit the wall with a dull thunk.
Kira had been quiet, listening to everyone's opinion in the discussion. But Cadena looked dangerously close to marching upstairs and giving the Council a piece of her mind, so Kira took action. "Once again, we'll need to wait," she said.
Allara, who looked ready to punch someone herself, closed her eyes and took some deep breaths to restrain herself. "You're right," she admitted reluctantly. "We need to wait."
And wait they did. This time around, though, was not peaceful at all. Cadena paced. Kandra kicked the wall until Sara asked her to stop. Alex drew, but her stylus made wild shapes instead of the Temple, which was supposed to be the subject. Allara kept breathing deeply - and noisily. And Kira worried. Where's Obi-Wan when you need him? she thought.
The door opened after a while, and Quarmall walked in. All the younglings were relieved to see him, and they quickly got up out of their seats and gathered around, all talking and asking questions at once. The Abyssin held up a hand as he looked down at them all. "Get your things," he told them once they quieted down. "We're going on a trip."
Allara and Kira exchanged a look. Both pairs of eyes said the same thing: Uh-oh.
So this is the point in the saga where the Clone Wars actually start. It was a crucial timeline alteration if I was to make this thing fit into canon, so I apologize if it was confusing.
Please review if you liked it, hated it, or wanted to light it up and watch it burn. Thanks for reading!
