Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars Universe or Characters.
Title: Star Wars: REDACTION
Era: A mix of Pre-Saga and Saga, but mostly Saga
Rating: Nothing above the Star Wars Universe as it stands
Genre: Action, Angst, Time-Travel
Summary: The Force steps in to right a wrong, Obi-Wan is taught the most important lesson, Anakin finds a chance for redemption and the story you thought you knew takes a right turn at Geonosis and travels off to the unknown.
Author's Note: It's very strange to be back in this fandom after so long. It's great to be back though!
The people of Trella IV were well known for their hospitality, which was as warm as the sunny clime. Artisans and musicians, mostly, the Trellans had an open culture where few topics were taboo and nearly any being could find a niche. Therefore, it was somewhat of a surprise when the Jedi Council had accepted their request for help and sent Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice to the beautiful planet.
"Master, not to complain or anything," Obi-Wan began, quick to preface his comments with the statement lest his Master think he wanted to return to Hoth, "but why exactly are we here?"
Hoisting his travel pack over his shoulder, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn led his apprentice down the ramp of the small interstellar transporter. "The Council did not see fit to share that detail with me, my Apprentice," Qui-Gon stated as he took a deep breath of the warm, slightly moist air. "However, they did provide the name of our contact, so I am sure we shall soon find out. Dr. Sar Je'hall is known throughout the galaxy as one of the most powerful Force researchers."
Nodding his head, Obi-Wan couldn't help but look around at the unusual buildings as he followed his Master into the small space-port city. The original settlers of Trellan IV had been a diverse group of beings with one common goal. All had come from planets ravaged by the encroachment of technology and construction, and had chosen to settle a previously uninhabited planet in such a manner that their presence would not detract from the natural beauty. To achieve this goal, all construction on the planet was strictly controlled and managed so as to make certain that no damage was done to the overall beauty of the planet.
Even the storage buildings surrounding the landing strip were designed to be aesthetically pleasing- the fuel dispensers were landscaped and arranged in such a way as to appear as a part of the natural background, rather than standing out as something foreign to the land. Obi-Wan, although not as deeply entrenched in the Living Force as his Master, could feel the strong currents of it running throughout the city.
"It's a beautiful planet, Master," Obi-Wan couldn't help but comment as they passed a small rounded building that was covered in Jarnina flowers.
"The Trellans have worked hard to keep it that way," Qui-Gon commented, as he continued to scan the buildings for the small plaques that identified them. Finally reading one which stated "Administration," he led his apprentice up the graveled walkway. "Many other planets have had similar goals to the Trellans, but have found that technology and nature do not always coexist peacefully. The demands that manufacturing and even extensive trade have on the environment prevents many societies from reaching this goal."
"How do the Trellans manage?" Obi-Wan questioned as he and his Master walked up to what appeared to be an information desk and awaited the attendant.
"Through 'perseverance, persistence and perspiration' my grandmother always used to say." Smiling brightly a young woman approached the two Jedi from where she had been standing near a filing system on the wall. "Welcome to Trellan," she greeted the two Jedi.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon answered for both as he and his apprentice offered bows to the woman. "Perhaps you can direct us to where we might find Doctor Sar Je'hall," Qui-Gon questioned as the young woman took the seat behind the information desk.
Taking a moment to input information into the computer system in front of her, the woman answered "Dr. Je'hall can be found in Sector B. If you continue further down this hall," the woman stated, gesturing to an open doorway to the right of both Jedi, "you'll find her office on the third floor."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon stated again offering a small bow before he and Obi-Wan passed through the doorway into the hallway. After walking a short distance they found the stairwell and continued up to the third floor. Dr. Je'hall's office was easy to find, as it took up the entire floor.
Upon exiting the stairway, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan found themselves in an airy, open area with glass walls partitioning off two separate areas. The first area was arranged in a typical office layout, with a large desk surrounded by book cases, filing cabinets and a table covered in parchment. The other area appeared to be a meditation room, with only a few mats on the floor and a low table with two candles on it. Sitting comfortably on one of the mats was an elderly woman. She wore a light blue robe that appeared to almost float around her and her white hair was pulled up in a loose bun on top of her head. The blue of the robe seemed as if it would clash with her green skin tone, but overall the image she presented was one of comfort and harmony.
As the two Jedi entered the outer office, Dr. Je'hall's eyes opened and she turned so that she faced the two of them. "Please, join me," she said in a voice that seemed almost too deep for such a small woman.
Following his Master's lead, Obi-Wan sat lotus-style on one of the meditation mats facing Dr. Je'hall. Taking several deep breaths, Obi-Wan dropped into a light meditation, one which allowed him to still monitor everything that happened around him. He was uncertain as to what exactly he was supposed to be doing, even if he had been meditating as a Jedi for nearly sixteen years, and so he kept a close "eye" on his Master to determine what was expected of him. After a few moments had passed, Master Jinn released a deep breath and opened his eyes. Obi-Wan copied his actions.
"Dr. Je'hall, I am Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is my apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. We have been sent to assist you," the Jedi Master stated as he turned slightly to face the woman.
"Thank you, Master Jinn," Dr. Je'hall answered, "but it is actually your apprentice that we need assistance from."
A rapid eye blink the only evidence of his shock, Qui-Gon nodded. "I am uncertain what exactly you require from us, but my apprentice and I are more than willing to assist in any way necessary."
"Excellent," Dr. Je'hall stated as she climbed easily to her feet. Motioning for the two Jedi to remain in place, she went around the glass partition into her office. After opening a drawer or two of the desk, she returned holding a small metal disk in her right hand. "Our planet has long been known for its convergence of nature's energy," she said as she resumed her seat on the floor, "I believe you know it as the Living Force."
"Yes, we could feel it as we exited our ship," Qui-Gon acknowledged.
"What isn't known," Dr. Je'hall continued, "is that our planet has also lately become a focal point for another type of energy."
Closing his eyes, Qui-Gon reached out with the Force. Although he could feel a slight tingle of "other" energy, the Living Force nearly overwhelmed his senses. Copying his Master, Obi-Wan also attempted to reach out. After a brief moment, he was nearly flooded with the power of the Unifying Force.
"I can feel it Master" Obi-Wan answered, after he opened his eyes to find his Master looking at him questioningly. "The Unifying Force is also very strong here… almost as if it is trying to… say something." Hesitating on his explanation, the apprentice tried as best he could to put his impressions into words.
"That's what we have felt too," Dr. Je'hall interrupted. "At first it was merely a trickle, but lately some of our Force adepts have stated it seems to be more of a 'shout' than anything else."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed still caught up in the flood tide of the Force, "it's definitely as if it's trying to pass on a message."
"We have been working for weeks to try to ascertain what it is trying to tell us, but it wasn't until a few days ago that one of our adepts was given a vision. While we are still not certain of the entire message, it was clear that we were to pass this," Dr. Je'hall said, holding up the silver disk, "onto the Jedi apprentice who was sent to our planet."
"What is it?" Qui-Gon asked as both he and Obi-Wan leaned forward to get a better look at the small, flat disk in her hand.
"It's a Marla disk. It came to our planet with one of the original settlers from that region," she declared. "It has remained in the artifacts section of our library for nearly two hundred years."
"A Marla disk," Qui-Gon murmured as if trying to recall where he had heard the word before. After a brief pause, he continued. "A disk used to store a specific memory engram, or perhaps to serve as some sort of communication device, the exact usage of such was never entirely discovered. The Marlan society was hunted to extinction following one of the last great wars with the Sith."
"We were never able to discover what exactly the purpose of the disk was," she agreed. "Our best researchers guessed that it might hold some sort of data, but were unable to access it. Honestly, it was basically gathering dust in the library until the visions began."
"Visions?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes," Dr. Je'hall nodded, as she again stood up. "The Force adept who received the first vision continued to receive them, with more and more… insistence… until we finally reached out to the Jedi council."
"Well, then," Qui-Gon stated as he rose to his feet, "it appears that my Apprentice and I have our work cut out for us. Obi-Wan and I will take the disk and attempt to ascertain what knowledge is available on it." As he reached out for the disk, Dr. Je'hall shook her head.
"It was clear from the visions that only the Jedi Apprentice should touch the disk."
Nodding and taking a step back, Qui-Gon motioned to his Apprentice. Rising to his feet as well, Obi-Wan bowed respectfully before reaching out for the small disk.
"Thank you," Dr. Je'hall said with a smile. "The Force was becoming very adamant." Placing the disk in the Jedi Apprentice's hand, she hesitated for a moment, closing her own hand over Obi-Wan's. "Good luck, Jedi Kenobi," she whispered softly as she quickly released his hand and the disk.
Taking a step back from the Doctor, Obi-Wan turned to his Master. Before he could complete his turn, a wave of vertigo washed over him, causing him to stumble. A second wave hit just after the first and Obi-Wan found himself completely disoriented as he was buffeted by waves of the Force. Bright lights began to swirl in front of him until Obi-Wan could no longer see his Master, Dr. Je'hall or even the room they had been standing in. Finally, he had to close his eyes as the vertigo worsened. Just before he felt consciousness leave him, the Jedi Apprentice heard his Master call out his name in an anguished voice.
Even before he opened his eyes, Obi-Wan knew that he was no longer in the same place. Instead of the light smell of sandalwood from the candle on the meditation table in Dr. Je'hall's office, he could smell the acrid stench of blaster fire. His ears were also assaulted with the sounds of battle, and he almost thought he could hear the sounds of several lightsabers. Opening eyes that felt as if they were encrusted with sleep, Obi-Wan found himself laying in the center of a sandy lot surrounded by stadium seating. Directly in front of him, he could see the backs of what looked like several Jedi dressed in standard battle gear. The group appeared to be a mix of Masters and Padawans, but all had their sabers drawn and raised against the blaster fire coming from an approaching swarm of droids. Even as he watched, one of the Masters took a hit and fell, leaving an opening in the circle.
Stumbling to his feet, Obi-Wan quickly drew his own saber and hurried to fill the open slot. Although he didn't understand where he was, or why he was there, he could see his help was needed. As he ignited his azure blade, he quickly tucked the metal disk he still held into one of the pouches on his belt. Taking the place of the fallen Master, he began to reflect as many of the blaster bolts back toward the droids as he could. Behind him, he heard another Jedi cry out and felt the slight shudder as a body hit the sand. Although he couldn't take the time to look, he felt as the Jedi entered into the Force.
/What is going on here?!/ He wondered, as he fought to continue returning the bolts. He couldn't even dodge, lest one of the bolts hit one of the Jedi standing behind him in the circle. /The Jedi are not soldiers, why does it feel like we're fighting a battle?/
Suddenly the droids in front of him went into a stand-down position and stopped firing. The silence was nearly startling. Before Obi-Wan could even risk glancing around to see if he could find his Master, a voice rang out. "Master Windu, you have fought gallantly."
Looking up, Obi-Wan could see an elderly man in a black cloak standing on a balcony. Although he looked somewhat familiar, Obi-Wan couldn't place where he might have seen him before. Instead, the apprentice took advantage of the pause in hostile fire to see if he could find Master Jinn. Although there appeared to be several familiar Jedi, Master Windu among them, Obi-Wan did not see his Master anywhere. /Perhaps he's elsewhere?/
The sound of the droid army snapping back into a ready position brought Obi-Wan back from his thoughts and he again raised his saber to prepare for battle. Although he hadn't quite understood the entire conversation between Master Windu and the other man, it appeared that this might be his last stand. /If I'm going to die here, I wish I could at least remember where 'here' is or how I got here!/
Before the battle could recommence, however, a young woman in the circle cried out and he looked up to see what appeared to be several of some kind of a battle ship preparing to land. Almost as if this was a sign, the battle began again and he was quickly caught up in defending against blaster bolts once more. This time, however, he had to defend on all sides, as the circle he'd joined had broken up as the Jedi scattered, trying to reach the landing ships.
Running toward one of the ships himself, Obi-Wan nearly tripped over the headless body of some kind of armored being. His stumble saved his life, however, as the blaster bolt that would have taken off his head, instead merely winged him. The shock was enough, though, that his vision began to waver. As he felt darkness overcoming him yet again, he saw one of the Jedi turn back for him. Just as the darkness swelled to fill his vision, he thought he heard Master Windu's voice.