Nyce: I thought you would :D I'm glad you liked it though, and I may bring her in later... idk yet. Haha, you know what, I may just have a moment like that... it would be quite funny. Thanks for the suggestion, it made me laugh with the whole 'He's your... whatever he is.' Well, they're gonna leave her alone... for now :/ but hey, this is Star Wars... nothing ever goes right, right? But hey, at least we're coming to a climax... can you guess what's going to happen in the next chapter? ;) Uh... okay, um... well. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I suppose the closest person I could compare her to is Emma Watson with long dark brown hair, with Idriya looking like Emma Watson with blue eyes and an American accent. What she wears? Well, Ergonians tend to wear clothing that is similar to Medieval times, ranging from Medieval to Renaissance, so modest and elegant. Normally she wears a lot of neutral colors, except on very special occasions where she wears deep royal colors like blood red or royal blue. Things like that. Its the Ergonian way :P But, when she does things like what she did on Geonosis, she dressed like Irina from Breaking Dawn part 2, you know with the long coat and the boots? Hair? well, she likes it up and out of her face. Braids and twists for the most part, though simple, it's always pretty. Uh... is there anything else you would like to know? I'm happy to tell you. Just ask :D Though, is it just to create a mental picture in your mind?
CamelotPrincess: Hey, forget about it. I have no qualms, though it is nice to know you're still on the earth :D I was beginning to worry. Hahahahaha XD Yeah, well, I couldn't help but bring up the slight irritation that Ozara has toward our favorite Senator :P I know... they were so cute, I had to bring them up, kind of to set up how they will work together. Yeah, well, she had to get it from somewhere... though it will be explained why it is that the person who wrote about Mara Jade decided to take her away from her parents... from my point of view of course. ;) But hey, leave a review as you can, my friend. Let me know what you think about this chapter. :D
Prydain: Yeah, well, my laptop is a little workhorse. Its had floorwax dropped on it, water a few times, and its fallen more than once... its marvelous. I lvoe it :D Yeah, well, I will write Hidden Planet when I can... I'm kinda focusing on this one right now... as its almost over :'( probably only about ten or fifteen more chapters.
So, here it is... I hope its good...
Obi-Wan, Zett, and Anakin walked toward the dockyard where thousands of clones boarded a starship designed for long flight, armored weapons, tanks, everything needed to fuel the war – only this time, it would be on Utapau.
"You're going to need me on this one, Obi-Wan." Anakin said.
"I know, and agree with you – heartily – but this may just wind up being a wild bantha chase. Besides, I have Zett with me, he'll be more than enough of a handful." Obi-Wan replied with a smirk.
"Thank you Master." Zett retorted, just as sarcastic. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go onboard and make sure that everything is alright. " and with that, he was gone.
"I should probably go too, just to make sure he knows what 'everything alright' means." Obi-Wan said, about to leave.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin called out, stopping the Master in his tracks, "I just.. I want to apologize."
"For what, Anakin?" his friend replied.
"I've been somewhat of a disappointment over the last few days, I know. I've not been very appreciative of your friendship, and have treated it rather poorly. I've been arrogant... and I apologize. I've just been so frustrated with the Council –"
"Let us not forget your worry about Ozara." Obi-Wan said, Anakin hung his head, "She is fine, Anakin!"
"For now." Anakin retorted, "I just – I'm concerned. I don't think this assassin will stop just because she's on Ergon. And she has no one to protect her."
"She has an entire security guard, Anakin."
"They aren't qualified." Obi-wan chuckled.
"No, I suppose in your mind, they aren't qualified." he said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you. I have watched Qui-Gon train you since you were a small boy, and I have tried to help in every way I can. You have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be, and you have saved my life more times than I can remember." he smiled, "Do not worry so much about her, she is safe."
"You would worry about Leiana, were our places exchanged." Anakin retorted.
"I am worried about her." Obi-Wan confessed, "Watch over her, Anakin. I feel something which I haven't felt in a while. Something which may harm her..."
"I know, I feel the same. Things are changing, Obi-Wan." Anakin said.
"I know." the older man replied, once more descending the ramp, "But don't worry. I have enough clones with me to take three systems the size of Utapau. I think I'll be able to handle the situation... even without your help"
Anakin smirked, "Well, there's always a first time."
Obi-Wan laughed, "Yes, I suppose you're right. Well, I must be off."
"Obi-Wan, may the Force be with you." Anakin said.
"Goodbye, old friend, may the Force be with you." Obi-Wan replied, heading toward the ship and going aboard.
Anakin stood on the platform's edge, watching as the ship lifted off – and with it, a sense of foreboding settled in him.
Leiana watched the skyline of Coruscant, seeing Obi-Wan's small spacecraft move from the Jedi Temple and into the sky. 'Be safe' she mentally spoke to Obi-Wan through their mental link.
'I will, I promise.' Obi-Wan replied, 'Anakin will look after you, my love. As will Qui-Gon.'
'I don't think I'm in any danger.' she replied as he hovered for just a moment.'
'I know you aren't. I love you.' and with that, his ship left the airspace for good, exiting the Coruscanti atmosphere. She couldn't help it... something was wrong.
'I love you too' she said to the air, walking inside Senator Amidala's apartment.
The apartment of Senator Amidala was filled, Bana Breemu, Fang Zar, Chi Eekway, Giddean Danu, Bail Organa, and Tristan Peregrine were all present. Leiana also sat by, as well as Idriya – for Senator Farrel, who once again could not come.
"I thank you all for coming." Padmé began, "I have called you here together due to a meeting which I was not allowed to attend a few weeks ago. Leiana informed me of the contents of the meeting – and I have decided that I needed to call a meeting of my own."
"We are all ears, Senator Amidala." Tristan said.
"Thank you, Senator." she replied, taking a drink that C-3PO served. "Very well. I shall begin with saying that I too have doubts in the Chancellor. And have been beginning to wonder, if perhaps the democracy we thought we were protecting, no longer exists. Perhaps we have become the very thing we have fought so long to destroy."
"A similar thought in all of our minds, milady." Bana replied, "But what do you propose?"
"I don't know." Padmé admitted, "But I know this: we cannot let this turn into another war."
"Absolutely, that is the last thing we want." Bail interjected.
"Though I think it may already be happening." Tristan said, "The pieces have already begun moving."
"True, but perhaps they can be stopped." Padmé replied.
"We are hoping to form an alliance in the Senate to stop the Chancellor from further subverting the constitution, that's all." Mon Mothma said, "We don't want a revolution, that would only complicate things."
"As it is, we are already facing revolution. Is that not what the Separatists are doing?" Idriya asked.
"They are, but we are not talking open war." Leiana answered.
"I think I know a Jedi that we should consult on this." Padmé said, interrupting their conversation.
"That would be dangerous." Bana declared.
"We don't know where the Jedi stand in all this." Mon Mothma added.
"I only wish to discuss this with one... one I trust." Padmé insisted.
Giddean thought a moment, "Going against the Chancellor without the help of the Jedi could be risky, Senator Amidala has a point."
"The Jedi aren't any happier with the situation than we are." Padmé said.
"Patience, Senator." Chi Eekway said, placing a hand on Padmé's arm.
"We have so many senators on our side, surely the Chancellor will be persuaded." Fang Zar offered.
"Perhaps." Tristan said.
"When we present the 'petition of the two thousand', things may change. And perhaps for the better." Bana argued.
Bail sighed, "Let us see what we can accomplish with the Senate, before we include the Jedi, Senator. We might be surprised." he said.
"Perhaps you are right." Padmé said, defeated.
It was hot. Hotter than Tatooine ever had been. The air was filled with a sulphuric smell as the lava river flowed below. A cloaked figure stood on the parapet, watching the explosions from the various volcanoes, his face completely blurred out – with no feature showing. Anakin watched the figure, squinting his eyes, trying to see just who it was. The cloak was a Jedi's, as was the uniform, but the face was obscured – all but the eyes... they glowed a deep amber, much like Siths he had encountered. Feeling the Force signature, Anakin concluded that the person used the Dark Side, as all he could feel was anger and guilt.
The figure looked up, the eyes zeroing in on a silver ship, Senator Amidala's ship so it seemed. It landed on the dock, the figure ran toward it, an eagerness in his step. Anakin followed, wondering why Padmé had come to see this man. He stood on the parapet as the ramp was lowered, revealing – not Padmé – but Ozara. Her wide brown eyes looked at the figure in astonishment, as she ran toward him.
"Ozara" the man breathed her name, holding her close to him. Anakin couldn't help but feel absolute rage building within him, he couldn't help the jealousy that he felt. "I thought you were Padmé"
"She let me borrow her ship. My father's was available, and he would track it nonetheless." she answered demurely, kissing him, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." he replied, still holding her as if she would break in his arms."What are you doing here?" the figure asked.
"I was worried about you." Ozara replied, holding his face in her hands, "Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon came to me yesterday. They said you'd turned to the Dark Side – that you'd, killed Killian. They said that Palpatine had turned you."
He shook his head, "They're just trying to turn you against me." he replied. Anakin felt sick, here Ozara was holding a man who could very well kill her, and she acted as if she was in love with him. "They have always tried to keep us apart."
"That's not true." she replied, "That was never true."
"Yes it was, My Love." he said, stroking her cheek lovingly – tenderly. "The Council never agreed with me loving you, with me being with you. They always objected."
"I can't believe that. Qui-Gon cares about us." she said, Anakin's jaw clenched: Qui-Gon agreed with this?
"Us?"
"He knows about us," her voice became blurry as she said his name, "He wants to help. He's only wanted us to be happy."
"Is Qui-Gon going to help you? Is he going to protect you? He can't... He can't help you, my love. He's not strong enough." he replied.
"All I want is your love." Ozara replied vehemently, causing a stabbing pain to go through Anakin's heart. "I married you, because I loved you. I love who you are... I don't want you to change."
"I won't change, Zar. I will never change." her lover replied heartily.
Her brown eyes filled with tears, "Come back to Ergon with me, my love. We can live our lives to the fullest, we can have children... we can start all over again. Maybe not on Ergon, maybe where no one knows us."
The figure shook his head, "Don't you see?" he said, a glee in his voice, "We don't have to run away, I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be."
Ozara shook her head, gently pulling herself from his embrace. "I can't believe my ears. Obi-Wan was right... you've changed. And not for the better."
"I don't want to hear any more about Obi-Wan. The Jedi turned against me. Don't you turn against me." he replied, his voice filled with anger.
"Who are you? Where is my love? I want him back!" Ozara cried out, causing Anakin to go closer, he was worried for her safety.
"I'm right here."
"No!" she replied, "You are not him. I don't know you anymore. Oh, my dearest love... you're breaking my heart. I'll never stop loving you, but you are going down a path I can't follow. I can't go this way with you, it is everything opposite to myself."
"Because of Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon... Killian... because of them you have betrayed me?" the figure accused coldly. "Master Sidious warned me about you."
"What do you mean?"
"Your rather close relationship with Senator Farrel. The fact that you were so close to Obi-Wan when Leiana went missing. He told me to be careful of you."
Ozara shook her head in disbelief, "I don't know what you're talking about... what are you accusing me of?"
"I think you know! I saw you! I saw you embrace him like a lover. Master Sidious warned me, I should have listened!" he replied, extending his hand to choke her.
"No! Please... no... An-" her voice wavered as she lost oxygen.
"No!" Anakin screamed, the figure let Ozara go. Anakin ran to her side, cradling her lifeless body in his arms. "No! Ozara no! Come back to me!" he wailed, holding her form, willing her to wake... but she did not. His cerulean gaze turned upwards as he reached for his lightsaber, he stood pulling his gaze up to a matching pair of eyes – he froze.
The face finally came into focus, the look of hatred and betrayal upon his face. Anakin looked open mouthed. It was him. The figure she had embraced so passionately had been he – and he had killed her.
His blood ran cold. He had killed Ozara.
Anakin bolted upright in his bed, sweat rolling off his back as he looked around the room. It hadn't happened, but the dream was still fresh in his mind. He didn't understand, it didn't make sense. He would never hurt Ozara... he would kill anyone who did. Yet, it was clearly him. He had turned to the dark side, he had killed Killian – and ultimately had killed Ozara. 'No!' he swore in his mind, getting out of bed.
He walked out into the great room of the Jedi dorms, he needed to think.
Ozara woke from the same dream, not understand why it was that Anakin had been chocking her – why had he killed her? What had she done? His jealousy had been the main reason, she deduced, just from the words which had been spoken... but would he harm her? She didn't know – but it left a seed of doubt in her mind. She had hurt him enough, he would be capable of not being able to see past the pain. But would his pain trump his care for her?
She got up, there was no way she'd be able to sleep after this.
"Premonitions... premonitions... Hmmmm... these visions you have..." Master Yoda prompted the young Jedi master in front of him – by Hologram of course.
"They are of pain, suffering... death." Anakin answered, the dream keenly in his mind as he had seen himself kill his beloved.
"Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?" Yoda asked.
Anakin fiddled with his sleeves, "Someone..."
"Close to you?" the Grand Master asked, knowing just from the young man's behavior who it had been.
"Yes. Very."
"Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side." Yoda explained, "She is safe."
"I won't let these visions come true, Master Yoda." Anakin replied hotly – he promised he would never harm her, no matter the cost.
Yoda tutted, "Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is."
"Not this kind of death." replied Anakin.
"What kind of death?" inquired the master.
The young man sighed, "Murder." he said, "Someone killed her."
"Your fears of her death, on your mind they are. With Padawan Pavan gone, your anxiety increases." Yoda replied.
"What must I do, Master Yoda?" Anakin asked, very fearful of himself at this moment.
"Care for her, you do. Learn that she is not invulnerable, you must. But guilty, you must not feel."
"If she dies -"
"You will continue on." Yoda interjected, "Her life, on a thin thread, hangs. Yet, bound to you by loyalty she is. Your bond... stronger than I have ever seen."
"Yes, it is." Anakin said, wondering just how it was that Master Yoda could so blatantly support their relationship.
"Yet, an attachment – no stronger than friendship, must go. Or else, harm her – and you – it will." Yoda said.
"But I fear for her safety... what do I do about that?" Anakin insisted.
Yoda sighed, "Learn that anxiety, true, not always. Reality and perception, close friends they are not." he tapped his stick on the ground a moment, "Relieve your tensions, you must."
"How?"
A smile spread on the Grand Master's face, "Know that, better you do, than I." and with that, his blue figure disappeared from the seat opposite.
Anakin sighed, hanging his head lowly. It had been two weeks since Jax had left Ozara unprotected... perhaps he needed to visit Ergon. Now he just needed to leave Killian somewhere safe – Qui-Gon would probably be the best.
Yesenia moved deftly through the hallways of 500 Republica, entering the floor of Senator Amidala through another means than the regular elevator. She needed to get the Senator, then return to her master with her prize – of course, she was not to hurt her.
There she was, the young woman in the dark, resting on the chaise in the great room. Taking out a syringe, she placed the needle in the woman's neck, covering her mouth as she went to scream. "Shh... this will only hurt a moment." she said, watching as the light-brown eyes closed in dreaming. When the woman's breathing had slowed, she motioned to a figure in the shadows – a burly man, who was hired just for this task.
Opening the balcony, she pressed a button on her belt, signaling to her ship to find her location. It did so, docking on the station on the patio, and within minutes, the young woman was safely secured in the two-seated ship. "Thank you, my friend." Yesenia said, "For your troubles." she handed him some credits, and with a smile, he disappeared into the darkness again. Her ship lifted, flying off into the air.
What she didn't know, however, was that another pair of brown eyes had been watching – and it had not been Senator Amidala she had taken.
Well? I know i jumped around a lot - but what did you think? Let me know, below :)
