Author's note: I do not know if I mentioned but I have no idea what year this would be, only during the old republic and probably after the games events. So if you can give me an estimate on that it would be nice.

Of Riddles and Pirates

"What is taller than trees, stands unmoving to the wind,

What climbs up and up to the stars yet never reaches,"

The thirteen year old read the riddle and thought about it, "Whats taller than trees? Buildings?" she said aloud whilst in the archives. She had been reading a book of riddles and was trying to solve them. Satine was avoiding her master and the head archivist; last week she disappeared and there were questions. What do you want me to say, "Oh I was on hoth in pursuit of an artifact I was reading about only to run into a sixteen year old pureblood sith apprentice, we ran into a disembodied Rakata voice that put us through a series of tests in order to get said artifact…." That would go over nicely. She smiled ruefully at the thought, she could never see their facial expressions but she would imagine sensing their moods.

Satine Tasiele had become a padawan to Knight Caesari, he was enigmatic and not around as much but when he was the training was extensive and the missions...sometimes left the miraluka with more questions. She also had become an archivist within the *Lorekeepers and quite enjoyed it, the person she answered to was the Head Archivist. She sat and thought of the past three years and how despite tragedy and trials she still loved learning to be a Jedi. She was lost in thought when she heard a familiar female voice call for her, "Satine? I want to talk to you; are you in there?"

Satine leapt over the chair and used concealed herself in the force so her aura could not be sensed or seen with force sight. The older woman looked around the archives and shook her head as she left. Satine breathed a sigh of relief she did not want to deal with what was technically her boss. "I need a good distraction and escape" she whispered and wished desperately that the ancient stone worked archives had a hidden door she could slip through. She decided to use noises that sounded like they would come from another side of the room or….she looked upstairs, the one place in the archives she wasn't allowed in. "Hmm…" she thought and quickly ran up the old gray steps and spotted the head archivist rush back in and looked upwards, she didnt see the petite miraluka anywhere. Satine held back a giggle knowing her she already knows I am here; she wont catch me though. She thought before finding one of the windows and climbed out. On top of the archives now she feels the wind on her face like a greeting of ice to her face, she wastes no time in jumping downwards and uses the force to slow her fall and cushion her landing. Thank goodness for force jump or that would hurt. Satine makes a break for it and runs into the wilds to her hiding spot. It was where she kept her private journal, artifacts she wanted to study herself without anyone looking over her shoulder. "Its also peaceful and quiet, no other padawans or initiates." She said aloud to her young Vrake Veruna.

"I should probably go-"

*BEEP* Her comms went off and she answered it, "Padawan, where are you? I need you to identify something for me that I have found"

"Sure Master, I will be there right away" Satine said cheerfully, internally she wondered if he found what she had essentially won back on hoth. The comm clicked off and she ventured back to the temple quietly and telekinetically threw a small pebble at an initiate before running off before they could see, the miraluka was good at causing trouble. She had never truly grown out of it, once she saw the head archivist again she hid on the other side of her vrake and walked beside it hunched over so it would look like just the Vrake was walking. She managed to get past the older Lorekeeper and then run to find her master, assuming she isnt stopped by somebody. Please no one else see and stop me, she thought.

Satine found her Master near the hangar where shuttles came and went on a regular daily basis, she had grown used to taking them by now and had in fact commandeered one last week. Did he find out perhaps? She wondered as she approached the dark robed Knight, "Master" She said respectfully and bowed as he turned to face her. The usually quiet master looked slightly worried and concerned, she could only imagine why.

"Firstly Padawan where were you last week, I noticed you were gone. Dont try to hide that from me" He said in a more serious tone than she was used to.

Not looking away and standing tall she was honest, "I was offworld master, I went looking for an artifact."

"You could have said something, even if I am not present a message would suffice." He admonished again in the serious tone she wasnt used to.

"Yes master, I shall remember to do so from now on" She answered obediently

"Also, at your age you are not to travel alone. Now what planet did you go to?" he asked after telling her in his own way that she was not to go off by herself like that again.

Satine decided not to tell the whole story, "Well I was reading about an arifact lost on Hoth, so I went looking for it the knights within Lorekeepers were busy with their own padawans and I wasnt sure where to find you...so I got impatient and….as you always mention….stubborn so I didnt ask for anyone else's help. I commandeered a shuttle to hoth and among several traps I retrieved the artifact, then came back."

"That definitely sounds like you stubborn, mischievous, and impatient." he remarked with a smirk. "What am I to do with you?" he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Are you bored Padawan?" he asked.

"No, I just like seeking the artifacts I read about and no this wasnt a dark side artifact I know to stay away from those Master." She said before he could ask what type it was.

"Im curious, what type of traps?" he asked with genuine curiosity in his brown eyes.

"Well…." Lets see, killer droids, hungry wampas, nearly drowning…..I would rather not go into that master" She folded her hands in front of her and fidgeted to which her master tapped them, "Stop fidgeting; Fair enough, it shall remain a mystery then" he smiles gently then gestures for her to come with him. "We have a mission anyway so come along" he decided not to push for answers this time as visibly she was alright and had been honest for the most part. There is a big part of the story she has left out. He says resigned to the fact that he may never know what also transpired, he also had the sinking feeling she would do this again.

Master and Padawan entered the shuttle silently though it did not take long for satine to pull out the book she checked out, luckily this book had braille. "Lets read some riddles on the way" she suggested with a grin.

"Alright, that is always fun, ladies first" he gestured toward her.

"Age before beauty" she chuckled.

"Are you saying I am old?" he joked

"Well Master, you are OLDER than me" she teased back.

"Point taken" he laughed and took the book and read aloud.

"Two yellow eyes rise in a sea of blue,

Those same eyes set in a sea of orange and red.

Warmth they give when in a sea of blue,

Ice they give when closing again from the sea of orange and red."

Satine pondered this riddle as she had read it earlier but couldnt quite figure it out, "hmm...two yellow eyes in a blue sea" She had to think, yellow eyes in a sea of blue….wait the…."The suns rising and setting on tatooine, they give heat during the day and like all deserts once they set everything cools down." She says smiling.

"Yes, you are correct now its your turn as the aged Master went first" he teases again.

"I first dwell in a cloud of dust,

I start my life in brilliant colours of yellow, this stage of my life is long.

As I grow the colours change from yellow, orange, and red.

In my old age turn white then brown.

My brother also dwelled in a cloud of dust,

He was bigger, more vibrant in his youth.

He prefers to put on a show as he grows old.

However once the show of fireworks is ended he becomes hungry,

He pulls whats closest to him and does not stop."

Her master rubbed his chin in thought and went over the lines carefully, he puts a finger up sensing Satine's question before she could utter it. "Ahh clever, the birth and deaths of two stars. My turn"

"What rises above trees?

Leaks smoke and fire,

What rises above trees?

And sleeps only briefly

What rises above trees?

Never to wake again

To leak smoke and fire."

The padawan adjusts her headscarf and braids her hair to help her think of this riddle, she first thinks of a mountain; it rises above trees. She ponders it further and puts a hand up, "Just a moment, your supposed to be the example remember; patience" she says in a mock chiding tone. "Oh a volcano! The lifecycle of a volcano!" she said standing up in the shuttle. "Think we have time for one more?" she asked enjoying this game and time spent with her master.

He nods and remains silent awaiting her next riddle, he too enjoyed this time he got with his eve active padawan.

"I can bring tears to your eyes; resurrect the dead,

Make you smile, and reverse time. I form in an instant,

But I last a lifetime.

What am I?"

Knight Caesari was stumped at this, Its not time or age….he thought and furrowed his brows in concentration. He analysed the carefully and noted the smile on her face, Oh no you dont I will get this! A thought springs to mind a small laugh escapes his lips, "alright you nearly had me, Memory."

"Yes, want to try and stump me Master?" she asked

"Now padawan…" he was about to say something when she interrupted.

"Whats the matter master? Give up?" she challenged.

"Right, you want to be stumped here you go" he flipped through the pages of the ancient book and found one he knew could stump the clever clocks.

"What is at the beginning of the end, the start of eternity,

At the end of time and space, was in the middle of yesterday,

But is nowhere in tomorrow?"

"Take your time Satine" he says leaning back in his chair with a wide grin on his face.

Satine tilts her head as she listens then picks apart the words; it wasnt time she knew that. She repeated it in her mind a few times and realised she had been quiet for a few minutes.

"Think about it padawan, pay attention the lettering, that is the only hint I will give you" He says not wanting to give the answer yet.

Satine sits in confusion as she continued to think, "Lettering you say?" he nods and she goes over each line.

"Oh wait, the letter E is the answer." she says nearly stumped.

"Yes and I think we are nearing our destination let me go and check" he says standing up, he handed her the book back and gave her a small grin.

The shuttle exits hyperspace and the planet in view is Naboo, Satine remembered that there had been some small colonies here but had never actually visited. "What are we here for master?" she asked curiously.

"Being as you are a Lorekeeper I felt this mission was perfect for you, there is an artifact a colonist has found and has left it alone til we would arrive. I also thought we could help their small village if possible." He informed her looking at the green and blue planet below.

"Sounds good master" She says, relaxing mission then.

The Shuttle lands on a small landing pad outside the growing village, the two Jedi disembark and are approached by a stocky man in his mid 40s. He looks as if he had been running for when he arrives he is bent over and out of breath. "Master….Jedi….we have….we have…"

"Take it slowly Arancir, we are here. Satine this is mayor Arancir Thalassian; a friend of mine. Arancir this is my Padawan Satine Tasiele." Knight Caesari introduces the other two while also patting the man on the back.

"Sorry Master Jedi the artifact you were told to retrieve has been stolen, we suspect pirates. We know they landed here to hide, we are ill equipped to deal with this." He informed them in urgency and barely registered the teen.

"Do not worry we can handle this and with few defensive measures around your village you wont be ill equipped I will help you with this" he reassures the nervous mayor.

He then turned to his padawan, "And you, since I know you will wander off and get into trouble; pirates are your job." he reached over and tugged the padawan braid which made her groan.

"Yes master, and try not to cause trouble yourself, I dont want to have to bail you out of jail like the last time" she remarked playfully.

"That was not my fault" he replied

"Ofcourse it wasnt master" she said as she sauntered away.

Or say "Please remove my uncle from that straightjacket" Satine remembered the undercover trip they took to Alsakan, she didnt think those restraining jackets still existed. She brushed aside her hair and checked for supplies, her saber; check, her utility belt; check, and her comms; check. She looked the part of a civilian at the moment and made sure her saber was out of view when looking for these pirates.

She looked for signs of the pirates as she walked through the pastures and wooded glades, "this planet is beautiful" she commented taking in the sights force sight had afforded her naturally. She picked a few flowers and stared at them, she wondered what colour they were. She placed one in her hair and the other she held, must look like a normal teenage girl, non jedi like...she told herself. She walked up some hills and started to notice something suspicious a small ship was parked with men who looked gruff and not gentlemanly in nature. She ducked behind a log and watched, their auras were a dark grey and she could sense their malcontent. "Yep, pirates" she said silently.

The miraluka took a breath and walked out cautiously pretending to be a day dreaming teen picking flowers unsuspecting of the pirates which satine had estimated were around 10 in number. She also noted the outlines of species, being able to see with the force did have a few draw backs other than not being able to see colour or holoimages; this one was telling what races is what. With humanoids such as mirialans, chiss, maybe a rattaki, it was not distinguishable as she only saw their auras. With sentients like Togrutas, twi leks, wee quay, purebloods she could tell by outline. She counted maybe five weequay, two humanoids, and three rodians.

One of the pirates approached her when she skipped a little too close with her growing bouquet, "Hello good sir" she said dreamily, she tilted her head and sighed.

"Who are you kid?"he asked none too pleased at the small intruder.

She giggles absentmindedly, "I am Morwen Le fleur, whats your name? Is it a lovely name like Aeomer?" she says wistfully.

"No kid, my name aint your business now clear off before you lose more than those flowers." he threatened.

"Awww no name? Did your parents not love you?" she asked sweetly

The pirate grabs her roughly by the shoulders and shakes her, "get your head out of the clouds kid and get out of here!" he shoves her to the ground.

Satine drops the act, "I wouldnt have done that"

Her sudden change in octave surprised him for a moment, he pointed his blaster at her, "Whomever Aeomer is hes not going to be seeing you anytime soon"

Satine reaches for her saber and laughs, "I used that name from a holonovel you cretin"

He sees the lightsaber, "A jedi pup? Really? This will be easy"

The miraluka nods at the arrogant comment, that would be his downfall as she gets into the defensvie Soresu* stance.

The weequay fires at her hoping to get a shot in as to him a padawan would be an easy kill, he didnt take into account of the speed in which her figure eight wrist rotation of her blade would easily deflect the bolt. He fires again and again, both times she deflects, keeping the blade close to her body as she does so. Her movements are minimal as she drives him back, he fires again and she rotates her blade again; the blue blur meeting the bolts at a speed the man was not expecting.

Satine advances further as he continued to fire at her, she quickens her pace and then strikes at his blaster knocking it from his hand. She holds her blade at his throat, "not bad for a pup" she says, though reminds herself there is more.

"What do you want?" he asks raising his hands

"You have something that isnt yours….wait you probably have a lot of items that arent yours; thats not the point you have an artifact that was stolen I have come to retrieve it"

"And you think I will just take you to it?" he snorted

"Oh I know you wont, come closer will you I see something on your head.." she said pretending to be distracted.

The weequay leans in as he is still being held at lightsaber point, the lightsaber switches off and the last thing he recalls is the hilt heading for his temple.

Satine ties him up with robe she found near by, "This is probably foolhardy…" she looks at the other pirates, "definitely foolhardy"

She walked over to the ship where two pirates saw her and without hesitation they fire upon her, "what no introduction?" She said flippantly and deflected the oncoming bolts using soresu again. Satine was advancing again and focused harder on blaster deflecting and didn't see the pirate from behind who shot her in the leg. "Ahhhh!" She screamed as the bolt tore into her calf and seemed to burn through to the bone.

She felt her arms being brought behind her and her saber being taken away. Definitely foolhardy... but it's one way of seeing what's in their ship.

The rodian roughly brought her to her feet and pushed her into the ship, "Heya boss I found this Jedi kid sniffing around our cargo." He said before pushing her to the ground.

The tall and muscular human stared at the small miraluka with amusement, "I do apologise for the rough treatment my dear, if you wanted to visit you could have knocked."

"Well you don't write or answer my calls" she answered back looking up at the athletically built man.

"A Jedi with humour, how quaint" he remarked.

"A man who doesn't shower often, how gross" she answers again.

The back and forth continued til one of his cronies handed him the lightsaber, "thanks, this one is just a kitten and a blind one at that. Keep a lookout for the master." He said, "she stays with me, a sassy Jedi is a rare commodity." He looked at the lightsaber and placed it next to the glowing cube, the artifact, my plan worked. She thought.

"First I'm a pup now a blind kitten make up your minds" she tells him flippantly.

The remark earned her a hard backhanded slap, her face stung. She turned back to the man who slapped her, "oh what a gentleman"

"Let me handle the girl, you'll only agitate her further" the pirate boss says.

The weequay grumbles and stalked out of the room.

The human untied her after locking his captain's quarters, "now why don't we play a game to pass the time, it will help me decide what to do with you"

"Can I get your name first? I do so hate having to call you pirate buffoon." The teen said coldly.

"Bold one aren't you? My name is Rhaegaren, pirate buffoon leader" he smiled and stuck out his hand for her to shake.

She shook it and let him guide her to the games table, "So holochess? You seem like the well educated type"

Satine shrugged, "if you say so" she sat down on one side while he sat on the other. She noticed she was closest to the artifact and her saber. How nice of him to put me so close to my objective.

They started playing and having what Satine would call a "verbal spar" to pass the time. He eventually relaxed and told her that his ship had crashed and they had been taking from the villages; he pointed to the artifact. "That will get me what I need to repair my ship."

Satine nods, "I assume you have a buyer somewhere it's not like you can fly offworld"

Rhaegaren smirked, "clever kid, and not yet. Once my communications are up I'll call my buyer"

"I see," Satine said and listened to audio in her ears for the pieces movements.

"Sorry I didn't think I was going to be entertaining a miraluka I would have used physical chess pieces not holo pieces; luckily I had the headphones for you" he said with a false generosity.

"Why thank you" she used the same tone back.

"You're probably wondering why I'm telling you everything?" He inquired

"I assume it's because I'm not coming out alive and you have this room rigged to do something or you'll just resort to shooting me" she guessed, wouldn't be the first time.

"You're too clever for your own good," he said with a slight menace to his voice.

"Not really, I'm young and stupid. I entered a pirate cave so to speak and was outnumbered, then I get captured with no backup plan how clever is that." She admits

"You expect me to believe that? I know you intelligent always thinking logical types you have plans within plans" he said not believing her act.

Satine chuckled when she sensed his paranoia which could work to her advantage, ofcourse this could also blow back in her face. She admittedly was a little nervous about her situation but refused to give him that power over her.

"Don't laugh or play dumb with me girl" he unholsterd his weapon and pointed it at her head. I think he's forgetting my lightsaber is next to me but can I move quick enough? I'll just have to trust the force and that my master noticed I was gone too long. The teen thought pushing away fear and doubt and trusting the force, she used it to lift the hilt of her saber behind his head.

He readied his pistol as she stood facing him stoically. He didn't see the hilt hit him from behind knocking him unconscious. She kicked the pistol away and took a few breaths of relief, guess I was more scared than I thought she grabbed her saber and the artifact.

As she took a few steps she heard the sound of a lightsaber, master! The door was cut into and in stepped Knight Caesari. "Padawan, you took too long I was here to …." He looked over at the unconscious pirate. "I see you handled it well."

"It wasn't easy master" she admitted.

"I'm proud, you kept your cool. Now what do you say we transport the stolen goods, and these pirates to the proper authorities." He suggested patting her shoulder.

"Thank you and yes master" she grinned brightly.

For the rest of the time they spent on Naboo they returned the stolen items, helped give more of a defence and placed the pirates in jail til the proper authorities could retrieve them.

Back on the shuttle the knight checked his padawans wound, "yes that was foolish you are lucky your wits got you out of it, one cannot solely rely on them though."

"Yes, master" she winced as he applied the bandage from the basic medkit.

They returned to the temple the next day in which Satine returned the artifact to the Archives and told her fellow lorekeepers what happened.

The teenager was still trying to avoid the head archivist to an extent and ran off again into the wilds. Time for some me time. She thought once she reached her spot and relaxed.

*Lorekeeper- Jedi Archeologist

*Soresu- form three lightsaber form