Chapter 1
The walls of the temple towered high above the young padawan as he walked toward the archives to meet his master. The early morning light shone through the windows, lighting the hallways in intervals as he walked briskly. The sunlight warmed him and brought him energy for the long day that lay ahead of him. A quick glance outside revealed only a small area of the city which was visible to the padawan. Already, in the very early morning, there were hundreds of speeders and sentients buzzing around in the city below. It was a normal sight, since coruscant was packed with different species and races, but it still marvelled Obi-wan Kenobi how well everything fit together in this universe. Occasionally, he would allow himself to reach out with the force to feel the abundance of life forces that surrounded him, but that would not be happening this morning, as he was already running late for training with his master, Qui-gon Jinn.
When Obi-wan first became Qui-gon's apprentice, the two were not exactly a perfect match, but after Qui-gon turned down the offer to join the Jedi Council, the two had grown loser. Qui-gon was now allowing him to begin training in different lightsaber techniques, although he did still keep him focused on the master also still insisted on Obi-wan learning the ancient prophecies also, which, although he had gotten used to doing, it still bored him.
The doors of the archives opened, revealing the thousands of glowing blue holocrons which the Library contained. Obi-wan stode into the enormous room, the bustling sounds of the hallways fading to a still quietness as the doors closed behind him.
"Good morning, Obi-wan," Jocasta Nu walked up to Obi-wan. The two had come to know each other fairly well, since he was always here studying the Holocrons for Qui-gon.
"Good morning, Master Jocasta, I'm here to meet Master Qui-gon," Obi-wan spoke quietly as he slowly walked across the room with the older Jedi.
"Ah, yes, I thought I saw him walk in earlier," Jacast Nu spoke, "There he is over there, and it appears he already has a few holocrons out for the two of you."
"Thank you, master," Obi-wan turned and bowed slightly to the Jedi Librarian before heading over to Qui-gon, who was already engrossed in one of the holocrons he had pulled from the shelf.
"Master Qui-gon, sorry I'm late," Obi-wan quickly bowed before he took a seat across from his master.
"It's alright, Padawan, we won't be doing much today, as is," Qui-gon said as he looked up from the shining holocron he held in front of him. "I am just doing some personal studying at the moment. I am still very interested in the vision and prophecy that unfolded on Pijal, so I am simply seeing what I can find on visions and such."
"How can I help, master?" Obi-wan asked. It had been almost a year since they had been to Pijal and Qui-gon had had his vision and the prophecy come true, yet he was still doing research and wondering why and how he had the visions and how to interpret the prophecies.
"You can put these holocrons back, and then practice your lightsaber techniques. After you finish, the rest of the day is yours," Qui-gon said as he picked up the holocron once more and put his full attention back into his studies.
"Yes, master," Obi-wan rose from his seat and picked up the holocrons that sat neatly in front of his master.
"Obi-wan, one more thing," Qui-gon once again looked up from his holocron and smiled, " we Jedi may not celebrate them, but happy birthday."
"Thank you, Qui-gon." A smile spread across Obi-wan's face at his master's words. The only birthdays Jedi ever truly celebrated were their thirteenth birthdays and even then it was only a small ceremony with a gift. Qui-gon had always remembered Obi-wan's birthday and always wished him a good one, even if it went against what normal jedi did. Obi-wan still had the gift Qui-gon had given him six years ago, a simple black river stone with red veins that ran through it. Although in the beginning he had been a bit disappointed by the fact that it was just a simple rock, he later discovered it was Force-sensitive, and at one point had saved his life. It had become the most precious thing he owned and he hoped to one day pass it down to a padawan of his own.
Obi-wan finished placing the holocrons in their respective places on the shelves and began walking briskly to the padawan training room. The sunlight shone brighter through the windows as he walked to the other side of the temple. As he rounded a corner he saw Master Yoda standing next to one of the windows with a group of younglings. Yoda trained almost all of the younglings who came to the temple, including Obi-wan himself. Memories of his early days in the temple flooded through Obi-wan's mind, causing him not to notice someone running up behind him. The person jumped onto his back and nearly knocked him over in the process.
"Hey, Kenobi!" A female voice spoke loudly into his ear.
"Siri, you're back!" Obi-wan said excitedly as he wrapped his arms around her knees to hold her on his back. Siri Tachi and Obi-wan had trained together for years and had become very close friends. A few months ago, Siri and her master, Adi Gallia, had been sent on a mission to the outer rim to help negotiate a trade deal between two worlds. Neither of them knew when she would be back, so to see her again so soon was a surprise.
"I'm not the only one who came to see you today, either." Siri spoke happily as she let go of Obi-wan and dropped to the floor. Obi-wan turned around to see the Mon Calamari, Bant Eerin, standing there with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Obi!" The orange calamari's eyes sparkled. She had also been gone for quite a while, her master Tahl taking her on a tour of the many Jedi temples that were spread all over the galaxy.
"Hey, Master Qui-gon wants me to practice my lightsaber techniques for a bit. You guys want to spar?" Obi-wan asked his friends.
"Uh, yeah, absolutely. Maybe this time you'll actually be able to beat me!" Siri said smugly as she gently punched Obi-wan on the arm.
Obi-wan led the way to the training room. The three padawans told stories about the missions they had been on in the past year as they walked. It had been a long time since the three of them had been able to spend time together. It was nice to be able to have the others to train and joke around with again.
The door to an empty training room opened and Obi-wan walked to the center of the room and. Summoned a training saber to his hand. He ignited it and its yellow light illuminated the room he stood in.
"So, who wants to go first?" He turned around to face his two fellow padawans and assumed a fighting stance.
"I guess I will." Siri said and took a step forward. A training saber flew the air and landed in her hand. The yellow light of the room glowed brighter as she ignited the blade. She was the first to make a move, bringing her lightsaber up to strike high, but not before Obi-wan brought his lightsaber up to block.
Siri moved quickly, rhythmically swinging her lightsaber around with Obi-wan blocking every move. The two blond padawans had always been like this. Their competitiveness had made them equal matches and their sparring rounds always ended in draws. The yellow blades clashed as they continued their dance around each other until Siri backed away for a moment.
"I see you've decided to stick with Soresu." Siri said as she slowly circled Obi-wan.
"Only because I knew it could be used to beat you." Obi-wan taunted. The truth was, he hadn't actually decided what form to use, he just knew that this one would give him better defense against her attacks. Siri was well versed in the Djem So lightsaber combat. Her aggressive technique, although very powerful, seemed to suck the energy out of those who used it quickly. While, on the other hand, Obi-wan's form allowed him to tire out his opponent.
Siri once again jumped toward Obi-wan, a smile on her face. Their lightsabers collided as she landed in front of him, but this time, he moved his hand and , using the force, sent Siri flying backwards. She fell to the ground, her bright blond hair falling over her face, blocking her view.
"Good one, Kenobi, good one," she said as she swept her hair back into place and stood up. "But I'm not gonna let that happen again. How about some two on one?"
Bant Eerin ignited her training saber and immediately jumped toward Obi-wan, who blocked and immediately spun around to block Siri. Their sparring sessions always lasted a few hours, before the three of them were so tired they could barely stand. The three padawans now sat on the floor of the training room laughing about old times and once again telling stories of the adventures they had been on.
The sun's light had begun to fade when they finally left the training room. The three went their separate ways, each headed back to their masters or in Obi-wan's case, his room. The door to his room opened to reveal his small room, which was fairly empty, save for the little treasure's he had saved from his adventures. It was a trait he picked up from Qui-gon who had a huge collection himself. Each little souvenir had its own little memory and story behind it.
On the shelf next to his bed sat one of his favorite possessions, the river stone. He stuck out his hand and called it to him. The moonlight shining in his room illuminated the red veins of the stone making it appear as though blood ran through it. Obi-wan focused his senses on the stone, feeling the Force as it flowed through him, through the stone, and across the entire world. The red veins reminded him of how the Force flowed through every living thing in the universe. He looked up at the silver Coruscanti moon. He felt something coming, and though he didn't know what it was, he trusted the force and the force told him that a great change would happen in his life.
Though the sounds of cannons and blaster fire had ceased in the night, the young blonde haired Mandalorian could still hear the ghost of explosions ringing in her ears. A civil war was ripping across her planet, causing endless heartache and suffering for her people. The battle was as close to the palace on Mandalore as it had ever been and it had been raging for days. It had been so long since the war began, it seemed her people had forgotten why they were fighting. After she had become duchess, she had voiced her desire to end the war once and for all. It hadn't helped. All she wanted was for the war to end. She just wanted to see the suffering of her people end. Her own sister, Bo-Katan, had turned against her and joined the insurgency. Satine had no one she was close to left on her side and in this moment she felt terribly alone.
"Your highness, please, it is not safe to be out here," her bodyguard spoke from the shadows. In the beginning, she had protested having someone be around her at all times, but her council had begged her to allow a guard to watch over her. He was right, though. She knew that there could be a possibility that someone would send an assassin after her, but she had been unable to sleep and the view of the city around her had almost always calmed her. At least until the war came here. Now, it just made her sleeplessness worse.
"Of course, I'm going to head back to my chambers." Satine looked gratefully at her guard, Raymsan Eldar. He had always been there looking out for her, and although in the beginning he had been annoying, he had grown on Satine. As she walked through the dark halls, her silver dress shone in the patches Manalorian moonlight.
She almost reached her chambers when a bright light flashed in front of her and she was thrown backward. She hit the stone floor of the place with enough force that the breath was knocked out of her and her vision went black. All she heard was the sound of guards gathering in the area. She felt the strong arms of someone wrap around her as they lifted her off the ground. Then everything went quiet.
The sounds of explosions in the distance woke Satine. The bright lights of the sun shone in her room warming and illuminating her surroundings Satine's ears rand and her head was pounding as she tried to sit up. The last thing she remembered was walking through the moonlit hallway of her palace. She sat up in her bed, trying to gather her memories of what had happened.
The door to her room opening drew her out of her confused state. A light haired man stuck his head in the door. It was one of her guards. He took a few steps into the room, before speaking to Satine.
"Your highness, you're awake! Is there anything I can get you?" The guard stood at attention as he spoke.
"What happened?" Satine looked at her guard as she tried her best to stand up, her body sore from whatever had happened to her.
"An explosion, your highness. We belive it was an assassination attempt by the insurgents." The words didn't come as much of a shock to Satine. She had somewhat expected something like this to happen at some point. Her memories slowly began to return to her, but one thing still bothered her.
"Where is Raymsan?" Satine felt a sudden fear for her guard. He had been right beside her when the explosion occurred.
"Unfortunately," this voice was not the guards, but came from outside of her chamber doors. "Your guard Raymsan Eldar, did not survive the blast." In stepped Markev, a former Mandalorian warrior and now, her most trusted advisor. He had been there for her since she was a child, as he was her mother's advisor also.
Satine gave up trying to stand and simply sat on the edge of her bed, the shock of her loss coursing through her. Raymsan was still so very young and since he had become her guard they had become friends. Tears threatened to escape her as she thought about him and how hard he had worked to protect her and everyone in the palace.
"Your highness, " Markev spoke, " The court has contacted the Senate. In light of recent events they have asked that a Jedi knight be sent to protect you until the danger is over."
"That will hardly be necessary, Markev," Satine spoke, trying to keep her tears from falling. "I'm sure the guards will be able to protect me just fine."
"Please, your highness, do it for your people. They are going to need you safe and in one piece when this war is over." Markev pleaded.
He was right. Her people did need her to be safe. She still did not believe the Jedi would be the best choice to defend her. They called themselves peacekeepers, even though they ran around the galaxy swinging their laser swords at anything they thought dangerous. But she would have to learn to deal with it. She would do it for her people.
"Fine."