This chapter as well as some of the following chapters will contain dialogue directly from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Due to this I'd like to reiterate that I DO NOT own Star Wars. Hope everyone enjoys! - Sarah

Chapter 21

A thin mist permiated through the air causing a chill to roll down her spine.
A Mon Calamari boy stood tall but out of arrogance rather than strength.

Disappointment and dread filled him . A robotic figure towered above the boy. A name echoed in her head , 'Grievous, Grievous, Grievous'
The figure exuded could only be described as suffering.
His body distorted unnaturally and seemed wrong- all wrong.

'You can't defeat us all!' cried the boy.

The robotic figure answered calmly, 'Of course I can."
They locked sabers.
The boy struggled to hold his own. The figure held something behind his back.
The boy slackened his voice dying. His eyes turning empty.

A small protest escaped her lips. Pain and unbelievable sorrow pierced her chest, an angry fire of grief.
The boy fell, his head hitting the floor with a thunk. His saber tinkling as it rolled.

The figure-Grevious-yelled, "I will kill you all! Do you hear me Jedi?"

Do you hear me Jedi?

Do you hear me Jedi?

A light stirred in front of her eyes.
Do you hear me Jedi?

The light became brighter.
Do you hear me Lina?

Lina? Who was Lina?

"Commander Young do you hear me?"

Her eyes shot open.
Two clones where shining their headlights directly at her.
Lina groaned, realizing were she was, sitting-curled against the pod wall.
"Lina?"

Lina raised her head to see Master Windu behind the two clones, his lightsaber drawn.
He had cut the pod open. Lina's breath came slow in her throat. She struggled to stay awake.
Master Windu crept forward, and knelt down. "Stay with me girl, deep breaths, you've air now."

Lina grabbed his robes and he hoisted her to her feet in a swift motion.
"Your master will be pleased to hear we found you."

Lina nodded slightly but all she could think about was the light fading from the boy's eyes and the great sorrow she had sensed.

~O~

The fire blazed and illuminated Lina's face despite her hood. She had been to few formal Jedi funerals. They had always been bittersweet but this one just seemed pained.

His name had been Nahdar. The boy she had seen killed. As a padawan of a council member, she was expected to be present but all she wanted to do was leave.
She had not spoken to her master about the slavers or her vision but she expected he would begin to poke soon. He had given her time, but soon he would want answers.

Lina looked up at him. He hid behind no hood and stood tall. She often forgot how tall he was. His face was hard and stone-like, so unlike the Ki-Adi she knew with his comforting smile and kind eyes. This was somber Ki-Adi, this was war Ki-Adi.

It wouldn't be long until he turned those hard eyes to her. She turned back to gaze at the fire.
A sharp tap on her elbow caused her to blink in surprise. She had been lost in her own mind for far too long. Few people remained around the pyre. Ki-Adi turned and motioned for her to follow him.

She followed him down a hall. Windows exposed the dark indigo of the night time sky and the fierce glow of the skyline. He stood but gestured, yet again, instructing her to it on a bench.
Anxiety racked her being. His eyebrows were furrowed and eyes steely. The few times she had seen her master displeased he was a thunderstorm, all wind and cacophony. But this upset her worse, the silence, the hardness in his eyes.

"Tell me Lina," he said clearing his throat.
"Why do you not trust me?"

She looked up at him eyebrows furrowed.

"Do you wish to have another master? To confide and train with another?"
Shock caused her eyes to widen. "N-no Master!"

He crouched down to look into her eyes.
"Then why do you hide your struggles, your emotion, your thoughts from me Padawan?"

He so rarely called her that.
Lina was astonished, but then again her master was not stupid. Although sometimes, she thought she just might be.
She looked at her lap mumbling an answer.
His hand tilted her face to look at his. His eyebrow raised.
Lina huffed. "I don't want to be weak, I don't want to seem like I can't handle things."

Her master laughed. Laughed!
A sour expression washed over her face.

"This is war Lina. You are fifteen years old. It is alright to be afraid. It is okay to be upset. Just because we are Jedi doesn't mean we do not feel but it means we know how to handle and interpret our emotions into goodness and peace. Part of it, especially at your age, sometimes requires you coming to a more experienced member of the order. Many a Jedi Master visit Master Yoda. That doesn't mean you are weak but that you are attempting to be a Jedi Knight. It shows maturity that I know for a fact that you possess.

Do not be afraid to come to me. Do not be afraid to confide in me. Do not be afraid to reach out to me as you did when you were taken. It is what I am here for, my Padawan. To serve you and the Galaxy."

She stared at him for a little while before deciding to speak.
"I saw him Master."

He cocked his head. "Who?"

"Nahdar. I saw him die. I felt so much pain." She tore her eyes away.

Ki-Adi's eyes turned serious again, he nodded, thinking. "Most likely a projection from another. I will speak with Master Fisto."
He patted her knee as he rose. "Get some rest my dear."

He walked away briskly. Lina rose herself and walked towards her room, feeling a weight evaporate from her shoulders.
She turned the corner and ran into someone. They both crashed to the floor.

"Lina!"
Lina rolled her eyes, of course Jahari had sprouted up in her path.
They scrambled to their feet. He wrapped her in a hug.

"Are you alright? We looked for you almost a half rotation but were ordered back."

Lina laughed boisterously. "I'm fine Jahari!"

"But-but-" She could hear the distress in his voice.
She shook him off laughing. "I'm fine! No injuries, no mental trauma."

"Well then," he said a smile stretching across his face, "I'll race you back to the dorms."
"You're on. Ten credits!"

They took off but Jahari grabbed the back of her robes flinging her behind him.

Jahari lost ten credits but gained a significant bruise.