Title: Another Path
Author: ewan's girl
A/N: I have a random question for everyone. Jedikma sent me a link that had a look at the cover for the new Jedi Legacy book and it has our first look at Siri as an adult! I got to thinking if her character was in Episode III who would be cast as Siri? I think if I had my choice of any actress I might cast Cameron Diaz because she not only physically matches Siri's description she and Ewan McGregor have great chemistry together. I don't know, what do you all think?
-Chapter 8: (Ridiculous request)
Jango Fett had been through many scrapes, had men plead for their lives while in his hands, had seen so many injustices but he had never felt so angry then he did at that moment. He felt as if his whole world was crashing down around him, he had lost the man who had raised him as a son by someone he deemed as a friend menacingly killing him, then the woman he loved left him alone and now his best friend had betrayed him by sleeping with his moral enemy. Jango felt as if he was holding onto his sanity by a thread.
Ben ran after him into the morning chill wearing only a thin pair of sleep pants. "Jango," He called out to his friend who kept his back to him. "Listen man, it's not what you think."
"I told you to get rid of her when you had the chance," Jango turned around to face Ben, and pushed him forcefully. "And now it's too late, she's poisoned your mind."
"She hasn't poisoned anything Jango; I'm still the same man I always was." Ben defended himself. "But there is just something about her."
Jango nodded. "You're right you are the same man you always were; you see some hot piece of tail and it doesn't matter who you hurt you have to go after her."
Ben avoided Jango's eyes. "I didn't know you were a couple," he admitted. "You know I backed off as soon as I found out."
"So you can understand how I don't see how this one is any different." Jango exclaimed.
"She is different Jango. . . I. . .I think I love her." He couldn't believe what he was saying.
Jango stood with his jaw dropped to the floor. "You barely know her."
Ben nodded. "I know, and yet I feel as though I've known her forever."
"I leave you with two women for one week and they turn you into one." Jango insulted.
"I can't explain it Jango, ask Sheeka she's the one who told me it doesn't matter when it comes to love." Ben tried to explain.
"Well Sheeka left me, so that shows you how much she knows and cares about love." Jango practically yelled, he then calmed down and looked at Ben. "Forget this brother; let's just start over you and me." He put a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Come with me and let's finish this job for Tyranus, we will be set for life."
Ben looked Jango in the eyes and could sense his anguish behind his mask of determination; he then glanced back towards his hut. "I. . .I can't Jango."
Jango stared his friend directly in the eyes. "She is a Jedi; you do realize that you will never get what you want from her."
"Yes I do."
"So why put yourself through it?" Jango asked.
Ben looked back towards his hut again and noticed Siri staring at him through the window. "I have to know Jango," He looked back at his friend. "And I am sorry brother."
"You made your choice, which means you can never call me that again." Jango exclaimed and pushed past Ben. "You know there are different types of families; I hope you chose the right one." He then headed towards his ship.
Ben watched him leave. "So do I."
Once Jango had taken off Ben returned to his hut to find Siri still gazing out the window, she was dressed in her Jedi leggings and one of his shirts that was very baggy on her. Ben stood in the doorway watching her for a moment; he noticed the far away look on her face.
Siri was intently focused on a single blade of grass, watching it blow in the wind, but she still sensed his presence when he entered. "You barely know me." She muttered under her breath.
"That seems to be a popular observation today." Ben stated and moved into the room.
"I am a Jedi," She reminded him, although her voice was quivering. "This is forbidden."
Ben sat down on his bed. "What is?"
Siri kept her focus on the same blade of grass. "Us," she softly stated. "I cannot do this."
Ben cleared his throat. "I see," He rose to his feet and walked up behind Siri, running his hands over her arms and placing them on her shoulders. "You didn't seem to have any issues last night."
Siri moved away from his grasp. "I was caught up in the moment."
Ben felt annoyance peak its way into his subconscious. "It was more than that, and you know it."
She finally looked at him. "It can't be more than that for me; I don't expect you to understand, as a Jedi I am bound to a code that forbids attachments."
"Then stay here with me," He said and grabbed her by the waist. "You said it yourself that you don't get along with anyone at your Temple, stay here."
"Ben. . ."
"Or maybe not here, anywhere, where have you always dreamed of living?" He asked, gently running his hands through her hair.
Siri sighed, closing her eyes under his touch. "I have always dreamed of growing old at the Jedi Temple, training a few apprentices before I retire." She looked out at the grass again. "I have never wanted anything else since I learned to hold a light saber."
Ben took his hands off of her. "So that's it then? You're just going to ignore what you are feeling; what the Force is telling you?"
She looked into his blue/grey eyes. "I have to, that is part of the sacrifice we choose to make if we want to be a Jedi."
"What about your needs, what about having a family?" He asked.
She walked up behind him. "I have a family, and my needs don't matter in the grand scheme of things." She tried to explain, but sensed his confusion, she gently massaged his shoulders. "We have to forgo our personal feelings to be a servant of the Force."
Ben involuntarily grabbed the braid behind his right ear. "Was this my dream too?" He asked.
Siri nodded, and then realized his back was turned to her. "Probably more than anyone I knew."
Ben closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "What happened to me?" He asked.
Siri wrapped her arms around her because she wasn't comfortable with this topic. "I honestly do not know." She then moved closer to him. "But I do know that there are so many people who to this day miss you and love you." She reached out and touched his shoulder. "Perhaps it's time for a reunion."
Ben looked down at her and saw the sincerity in her eyes, he quickly moved away. "I can't meet the Jedi."
"Why?"
"I don't think I could handle it." He admitted.
"Is it because of Galla?" She asked, and he reluctantly nodded. "I know it was a horrible situation but believe me it was two groups of people at the same place at the wrong time." She looked out the window again. "I know many Jedi who came back from Galla and they have not been the same since."
"And if I were to go back with you do you think they would welcome me with open arms?" He looked at her. "I did kidnap a Jedi after all."
"I know of one man who will," She turned around and looked at him. "He loved you like a son, and I know would love to see you again."
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this." He sat down on his bed.
Siri walked up to him and held his face in her hands. "For me?"
He grabbed her and threw her down on the bed then climbed on top of her. "I will do this for you."
He leaned down and kissed her deeply, his mind still swirling with worry of meeting his destiny.
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"No Mace it's a ridiculous request." Adi was pacing the cock pit as she argued. "I won't agree to it."
The holograph image of Mace Windu shrugged. "Well Adi that is the only option for finding your apprentice we've been presented with so I would suggest we take it."
"So we are to send Qui Gon by himself to meet with a bounty hunter who still has my apprentice hostage?" Adi put her hands on her hips. "Sounds like a great plan to me."
"I will not let any harm come to Siri, I promise." Qui Gon interrupted. "Let me go and talk to him and see what outcome will present itself."
"And what outcome are you hoping for Qui Gon?" Mace asked, knowing full well what the answer was.
Qui Gon sighed. "Mace don't do this to me right now."
Mace held up his hands in defeat. "I won't say any more on the topic. . ." Qui Gon rolled his eyes because he knew that wasn't true. "Except that you must remember this is not the boy we lost all those years ago."
"I know this Mace, I am not a simpleton." Qui Gon felt as if he was being attacked. "I just feel as if we gave up on him too quickly and I want to see if I can make it up to him in any way."
"Agree with Qui Gon I do," A holographic image of Yoda stated. "One of our own he was, try to guide him back to the light we must."
"And then what?" Adi asked. "No offense Master Yoda but he is twenty five years old, he has no memory of his earlier training, he's far too old to start over."
"But we can't leave him running around the galaxy untrained as a bounty hunter for hire." Mace added.
"So what you two are suggesting is turn him in and have him rot away in prison?" Qui Gon asked his arms crossed over his chest.
"He has done some terrible things Qui," Adi stated softly.
"We don't know that for sure." Qui Gon defended.
"He was hired to assassinate the Queen of Naboo, plus he kidnapped a Jedi." Adi argued.
"Because we gave up on him, he had no idea who or what he was." Qui Gon was growing more and more frustrated.
Once the three tired Jedi quit arguing they all turned their attention to the master who had stayed quiet the entire time. "What do you think Master Yoda?" Mace asked.
Yoda sighed. "Wait and see what the Force has planned for Kenobi we must." He looked up at Qui Gon. "Go to him you should, bring back Padawan Tachi our first priority is."
"You have your instructions; contact us when you have a solution." Mace commanded and he disappeared.
"May the Force be with you." Yoda exclaimed and then his image disappeared.
Adi Gallia waited for a moment and then looked over at her companion. "You promise no harm will come to her?"
Qui Gon nodded. "I promise you Adi, I will bring her back to you."
Adi sat down in the pilot's seat and entered the coordinates for their meeting place. "I still don't like this." She grumbled.
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TBC: Sorry it took so long for a new chapter, I am about two weeks away from opening night with my play so pretty much all my free time has been drained with that. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and please review.
