~Chapter Five~

"Master, I insist.  Take her.  She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy," Jyana insisted.

"Fine, what's her name?" Mace Windu asked her, looking at the ship.

"I'm not sure."

"Your mother's family viewed her as fast like a Falcon on Corellia."

"In honor of our incoming millennium, she'll be called the Millennium Falcon."

"All right.  Does it matter if I ever give it to relative?  I really have no use for her."

"She's yours.  Do whatever.  If I have to stay with Obi-Wan, I go with him, not vice versa."

"So you will not defy us this time?"

"We'll see.  So far, I won't.  No promises."

Another ship touched down.  Two young men descended down the ramp onto the platform.  One was wearing a black trenchcoat without a hood, but his double-ended lightsaber was clearly seen hanging on his belt.  Jyana only saw him and paid no attention to the second man who, much shorter than the first, stood as a shadow of his predecessor, with a dark brown Jedi cloak covering him head to toe.  The taller one had the brightest blue eyes anyone had ever seen, and he had black short hair that was spiked save a single dark blue section of hair hanging down by his face, accenting his eyes, which looked almost white.  Jyana recognized him as her "kid" brother and ran up to him.  "Ah, so little Keldin boy has decided to come join his big sister on her much unwanted escapade."

The tall young man made a face in reply.  "You didn't have to come you know."

"Well it was about time I stopped running."

"Is that your piece of junk?" Keldin remarked, looking at the Falcon.

"Yes, and she's still the fastest ship in the galaxy."

"At present."
"Who could challenge my ship and win?"
"Mine, when it's completed.  I've got the integral plans for it if you wish to behold them."
"Maybe some other time.  Master Mace has my ship now.  If I have to stay with a friend, I need no temptations."

"A friend?"  Keldin raised his eyebrow curiously.  Oh dear… they didn't…

"Don't ask.  Long story and not enough time to tell it in.  You'll know soon enough."

"I'm assured I will."  Keldin paused and looked back at the ship he had flown.  "I'm looking for an Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Amidala said this is his ship and I was to restitute it to him here on Coruscant."

"He's at the Temple.  That's where I better be headed before he starts worrying again."

Keldin cocked his eyebrow again, finally recognizing the name Amidala had given him, and scowled inwardly.  They did.  When will the Council ever understand what J. really wants?  Now I have another guy to preserve my sister from, he thought.  "He's the friend?"

 "Yes he is."

"Ah…" This will be more arduous.  She's spoke of him repeatedly.

"Shush you.  I don't need none of that face.  I get enough from Wokki."

"No problem, J.  Obi-Wan will get more harassment from me than you will regardless."
Oh dear…  All of a sudden, Jyana noticed the shorter man.  "Who are you?" she asked changing

attitudes.

"My co-pilot, Tre Montl," Keldin said.

"I can introduce myself, Keldin," the man screamed with an aggravated tone.  "Who are you?" he said to Jyana in the same manner she said it to him.

"Jyana Falson.  Keldin calls me J.  You may also."

"Relation?"

"Half-sister.  Our mom was a slut."
Keldin gave her an evil look.  I really despise it when she pronounces that.

Sorry.  Truth must be told.

Not always.

"Stop thinking now," Tre said, "Time for drink before going to temple."

Remembering her tall dark Master still standing and contemplating the theory of the Millennium Falcon, Jyana said, "Master, please alert Master Yoda of Keldin's presence, if he hasn't beat you to that yet.  We will join you shortly."

"As you wish, young Jyana," Mace replied, took a bow, and took the transport that was waiting

for him back to the Temple.

"I've heard of a great place to get a drink," Jyana started.

"I brought my own," Tre replied, whipping out a large container.

"What is it?"

"Moonshine.  I made it myself."
"Sounds tasty."

"Mine.  None you can have."

"But…"
"I'll kill you."
"That's sufficient Tre.  J. will take us to that place she told us about," Keldin said, butting in the verbal battle.

"You'll like it, Keldin.  It actually serves your specialty," Jyana remarked.
"Ando-Primean half and half?"

"Sure does."

"How'd they acquire my recipe?"

"I'm guessing the black market."

Which makes it all the more better, Tre thought.  Obviously he was not a typical Jedi, but a naughty boy Jedi.

Keldin sported a wide smirk and asked, "Where is this place?"

Jaina pointed downwards.  "Nuts to waiting for a transport.  Follow me."  She jumped up, did a summersault and whipped out a gun and shot a string with a sticky attachment on the end, which attached itself to a ledge, and she swung to a lower place, just outside of a cantina.  Keldin and Tre were right on her heels, quick to follow along in like manner.  Tre had attached his moonshine to his belt and it was fairly out of the way.  Then they proceeded to walk into the cantina.

"Don't center on your anxiety, Anakin.  Focus on what's now, not what happened or what will," Obi-Wan guided his apprentice, mimicking what his own Master had taught him over a decade ago.

"Our ship's here."

"I felt it as well.  Amidala  was kind enough to send it here."

Anakin sighed longingly.  "She's always been kind to us."

Obi-Wan smiled.  He knew why.  Amidala had developed some kind of feelings for Anakin over the 5 years they've known each other, at least that's what he thought.  He certainly hoped she was being honest in that she cared for no one else.  Women were so fickle.  Jyana's mom was a pure example of that, and she hurt Qui-Gon and eventually fell for another man and went off with him.  He thought that Vaya had a child by that man, but he was surprised at how Qui-Gon hadn't cared.  He didn't remember that too much.  All Obi-Wan could remember about that was that Qui-Gon had took care of a baby for three months while Jyana was with them.  That little boy was probably Vaya's son, only she couldn't raise him, so she gave him to Qui-Gon for a while and then he was given to the Council.  He was glad Qui-Gon never let him get too close to girls his age, and kept him concentrated on his lessons.  If Obi-Wan had swayed, he probably would've been dead 5 years ago.  He knew what happened to men when they fell in love or thought they did.  They didn't focus too well on what was happening.  Kind of like the way he acted now when Jyana was around.  He vowed to himself that he would keep his cool around her.  Besides, they were only friends.  They were only supposed to be friends, weren't they?  He wasn't going to consider marrying her until she grew more comfortable with him, until they got their friendship back to the way it was, the way it was supposed to be.  But he really wasn't sure that he was really supposed to marry her.  He didn't truly love her; at least he didn't think so.  These feelings he would have to fight until he got the signals from Jyana, that they were okay.

They were in the bathing room at the time.  Since Obi-Wan was taking a bath, Anakin was sitting nearby with his back turned to him.  It was indecent for Jedi's to see each other in their undergarments.  Obi-Wan always wore his shorts to bathe in, incase anyone walked in accidentally.  Although Anakin was a man too, it still wasn't proper.  Qui-Gon had trained Obi-Wan in that habit, although Qui-Gon had told him that in certain cases, you have no control over those certain areas.  Qui-Gon had also told him never to worry about those kind of cases until a later time, preferably marriage, because it'll bring you very close to someone, and that closeness should only be within a commitment.

"Master, why did the Council make Jyana be under your charge when she's a Jedi Knight?"

Obi-Wan sighed.  "Well, she was under my charge years ago, with Qui-Gon.  They said the Sith were looking for her and they wanted me to make sure they won't get her."

"Have you talked with Jyana about the Sith?"

"Not yet.  I haven't really had the chance.  I will soon."

"Why do you think they want her?"

"She may know too much about them due to her spying techniques, but other than that, I don't know."

"Are they really that dangerous?  The Sith I mean."

"Yes because since they came into existence they were always at war with the Jedi.  They only seek their personal gain, and the extermination of the Jedi.  In order for the Sith to have that kind of power, the Jedi has to be done away with."

"And we can't let that happen."

"Exactly."

Wokki walked into the room carefully.  He did not have his cloak on but instead had a light tan headdress on, contrasting with his dark brown fur.  "Just an ewok," he said telling Obi-Wan and Anakin in little words that the decency rule does not apply to him.

"Is that how you dress on Endor?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, although we have animal bones and various other shells or objects to decorate it with.  You've never been to Endor?"
"Neither one of us has," Obi-Wan responded.

"A shame.  It's a great place for spiritual rejuvenation."

"That's good.  We may need it sometime."

"I know," Wokki mumbled to himself, hiding a menacing smirk.

"Why is Jyana at odds with the Sith, Wokki?" Anakin asked curiously.

"She didn't tell you?"  When Obi-Wan and Anakin shook their heads, Wokki was surprised a little.  "Well, I guess not.  She's kind of embarrassed about it."

Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow.  "Why is this?"

"She didn't say much why but all I know is that they don't want her for her power or midi-chlorian count."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened and he scowled.  "Don't tell me they…"

All Wokki had to do was nod his head.

They can't.  They can't defile her.  She's too…  Her mom promised her to me, and so did her dad, in a way… If they even come near her they're going to…

"Obi-Wan, anger will get you nowhere."
He lifted himself out of the tub and grabbed his pants to put them on.  He's right.  Calm down Obi-Wan.  "Where is Jyana?"

"Not sure."

Oh darn.  I've lost her already.  He grabbed his undershirt, over-shirt and tunic and pulled them on.  "Well, I'm going to find her.  She can't be far."

"She didn't tell me she was going anywhere in specific, only she said she had to give Mace something."

"Maybe he'll know where she is."  He turned to his Padawan.  "Anakin, you may take your bath now.  I must find Jyana."

"All right.  Be careful."

"I'll try."  Next time she better let me know where she's going.  I can't lose her again.

He loves her, Wokki thought.  I can feel it.  Finally…  a pure love.  So different than other men.

Obi-Wan gave Wokki a startled yet annoyed look.  "You're jumping to conclusions, Wokki."

"Maybe I am.  Maybe it's just wishful thinking."
Obi-Wan cocked his eyebrow at the response.  Wishful thinking?  I don't even know how I feel about her yet and he's wishing already.  This is weird.  He shook his head and left the room.

"There's something different about him…" Wokki mumbled to no one in specific.

"He finally got the braid and ponytail cut off.  You can notice his little grey hair better now," Anakin replied.

"He's only 30 though."  I didn't realize how much older he is than she is.

"For some reason, human Jedi age quicker than other humans."

"I guess so."

"So Keldin and Jyana.  They be reunited.  Trouble I sense," Yoda said.

"Obi-Wan may not like this," Mace thoughtfully replied, "Neither will Keldin."

"Matters that does not.  Marry Obi-Wan, Jyana still must."

"She knows it deep within her heart, and yet she still fights it.  And now she has Keldin to help her win her fight."

"Numbers matters not.  Win she will not, ever."

Obi-Wan walked up to them, unaware of their subject and didn't join that one but started a new one.  "Master Yoda, Mace," he greeted, "Do you know where Jyana is?"

"Lost her already, have you?" Yoda asked.

"Not purposefully," he said sheepishly.

"He hasn't.  She gave her ship to me today so that she wouldn't be tempted to run off," Mace said.

"Really?"  Both Obi-Wan and Yoda were surprised to hear that.

Mace nodded.  "She went to the cantina nearby with the two young men who flew your ship back."

Obi-Wan arched his eyebrow.  Young men?

"They are two very unique Jedi.  You have nothing to worry about," Mace assured him, noting the worry etched on his face into his memory.

"I'll see."  She can't be like her mother, can she?

"No longer Padawan, are you," Yoda observed.

"I no longer need to keep the haircut in order to mourn Qui-Gon."

"Jyana's here.  No need you have to mourn."

A troubled frown crossed Obi-Wan's face, and he pondered over the situation.  Where are they getting this stuff?  But what if he's right?  Maybe he's right; maybe Wokki's right… "I must go find her."
"Find her you must.  Find her you will."

Tre was getting a little tipsy.  Well in Jyana's eyes, tipsy was an understatement.  Every now and then he slapped Keldin on the back, motioned to his moonshine and muttered something Jyana felt was indecent.  She'd heard plenty of that talk before because she had hung around her father's people, smugglers and "good" space pirates.  Keldin scowled at Tre every now and then thinking, Someday he'll pull one last nerve and I'm destined to kill him.

"You know J.," Keldin started after ordering himself some Ando Primean half-and-half.  "I was the one contemplating of not taking a transport."

"Well how long has it been since you've been here?" Jyana asked in retaliation.

"Not as attenuated as it was for you."

"Huh?"

"Attenuated means long, J."

"Oh nuts to that.  Can I help it if we think alike most of the time?"
He shrugged.  He then started fiddling with the medallion around his neck.  It was the only memory he had of his parents.

"The only thing I ever got was a stuffed ewok from Mom who looks exactly like my real Wokki," she mused.  And he gets a medallion.

"Where is it?"

"Well, home on Corellia.  I forgot him this time.  I also forgot Ekoko."
"The one Obi-Wan purchased for you?"
She blushed understanding what he was suggesting.  "Well, can I help it if she's cute?"
"Do you still bequeath the necklace Qui-Gon gave you?"

She reached underneath her shirt and pulled out the cross, which was made of nails and looked at it awhile.  "To think, it took a cross and nails to take on all the evil in this universe.  To make us free.  One man suffered to save mankind."

Keldin arched his eyebrow in skepticism.  "Evil still is prevalent, J."

She nodded.  "I know this, but I foresee a day where all Sith and the Dark Side as a whole is demolished.  That's the promise given to me along with the interpretation of the necklace."
"From who?"

"A Jedi named Lars, I think, but that's all I know."

"Lars?  Isn't Obi-Wan a Lars?"

Jyana nodded.  "But they changed his name to start his training.  I heard when he was little, they called him Oafy-Wan…" she started laughing.

"He probably is one," Tre laughed drunkenly.

"No, not anymore.  He's a lot stronger now.  He's a true bonafide Jedi Knight now," she sighed.

"Like us?" Keldin asked trying to get her out of her unconscious dreamlike state.

"No, he conforms to the code, and follows it precisely."

"Ah, a goodie-goodie."

"Basically.  We have our own styles, but we are Jedi."  Jyana took a sip of her Corellian whiskey.  She started fiddling with a bracelet on her left wrist that had blue and green lightsaber crystals as beads on a black leather rope.

Keldin noticed her fiddling.  He knew deep down Jyana liked Obi-Wan but she didn't want to marry anyone.  He was going to help her with keeping Obi-Wan away from that possibility.  Keldin didn't want any guy to make a pass at his sister and he was going to do everything within his power to protect her from her feelings and Obi-Wan's.  Besides, he doubted that he would like Obi-Wan Kenobi anyway.

Tre was a completely different Jedi altogether.  He had his own view of things as well as acting on them.  He talked of his strings of lovely ladies that attend to him every now and then.  Jyana couldn't understand how he could get any ladies.  She didn't see what they saw in him.  He wasn't as good-looking as Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan was celibate and Tre definitely was not.  He claimed that he had two of Amidala's handmaidens back on the ship that are keeping surveillance on him.  He said that Rabé was the one keeping him company mostly.  He said Syerré was no fun.  Jyana looked at Keldin when Tre brought her up.  Tre had no clue who she was, one of amazing telepathic power as well as Jedi skills, but of course Keldin did.  He knew too much since he could read everyone's thoughts.  Everyone's.

Obi-Wan walked into the cantina.  He came up behind Jyana.  Keldin turned around to face him and gave him a look of warning.   Don't you even cogitate of it…

"Cogitate, or think of what?" Jaina asked then turned to face Obi-Wan.  "Oh, it's you."

"Make me feel special."

She smiled sarcastically and turned around.

"You must be Obi-Wan," Keldin said.  He took in a good look at him.  I already don't like him.

"Yes, that's correct."
"Oafy," Tre muttered laughing.

"What?"

"What?"

"What did you call me?"

"I didn't say anything."  He looked completely innocent, although he truly never was.

Obi-Wan just looked at him with an annoyed look.

"Pay him no heed Obi-Wan," Jyana said, "He's had a little too much moonshine."     

"A little?" Keldin asked.

She shrugged.

"Who are these two men, Jyana?" Obi-Wan asked in a slightly irritated tone.

"Oh the drunk one is Tre Montl. Don't pay any attention to him."

"And he is?" he prodded motioning to Keldin.

"Oh, that's my boy, Keldin."

"Your boy?"

"Can't you tell?  He's my little 21-year-old brother.  You know my mom…"
"Jyana, you can leave the description of your mother to the men she hurt."

"Like Qui-Gon and Dad?  When both are gone, I will resume my original statement."

"Enough Jyana.  You're upsetting your brother.  I would recommend you not doing that."

"And I would recommend you not telling me what to do."

"Jyana…"

"Nuts to what the Council says.  I will stay with you, but I will remain being my own person."

"Jyana…"
"She said no, already," Keldin said smacking him on his head.

Obi-Wan made a face at Keldin and rubbed the back of his head.  "What are you drinking

Jyana?"

"Something liquid."

"I can see that."

"Mind your own business, Obi-Wan," Keldin warned, "I will smack you again."

"I was talking to the girl wearing my necklace, Keldin."

"She's my sister…"

"So.  I was talking to her."

"You want it back, Obi-Wan?" Jyana asked with a little malice.

"No.  I'm just surprised you're still wearing it."  Very surprised.

"I like it," she said softly, changing her tone to one with warmth.

Startled a little by her change of tone, he shivered.  "Then you keep it."  He reached and grabbed Jyana's drink and took a sip.  She gave him a evil look while Keldin thought, Should I smack him again? 

No brother, the drink will do that for you, she replied within the mind.  She was right.  His surprised expression made Tre fall out of his seat with laughter.  "What was that?" Obi-Wan asked breathlessly.

"Good old Corellian whiskey," she replied.

"You drink this mess?"
"Not much."

"A Jedi shouldn't drink alcohol."

"I know Obi-Wan," she said while exchanging meaningful looks with Keldin and Tre, "But when you're practically raised on the stuff, it's hard not to.  I haven't had it much, and I'm not drinking anymore tonight.  They always pour too much."

"They never pour enough," Tre said getting back into his seat.

"That's your opinion."

"And I'm right."

"Sure."

"I'll kill you."

"Not now you won't."  He reached for his lightsaber but all of a sudden it flew out of his reach and into Jyana's hand while she said, "What did your Master ever tell you about fighting when your drunk?"

Tre evaded the question and exclaimed, "You suck!"

"Ew, no."

Obi-Wan looked at her, not understanding where that statement came from.

"Besides Tre, you will learn not to challenge me thus.  Each time it gets progressively worse; but I will never kill you.  Challenge your ability to be a father maybe, but never kill you."  All three men flinched and crossed their legs.  Jyana just smirked.  "That's what I thought.  How you like me now?"

"Not very much," Tre replied.

"Good.  Let's keep it that way."

"What are you drinking, Keldin?" Obi-Wan asked, trying to steer the conversation in a lighter tone.

"Ando-Primean half and half."

"What?"
"My own recipe.  You take half Ando-Prime gin and half Corellian whiskey and mix them together.  The cantina here favored my idea so much that they now make a dividend off of it, but I get half of the proceeds, because that's only equitable."

Oh my.  "You're nuts you know."

Keldin grinned and took another sip of his drink and finished it.  Then he picked up Jyana's drink and finished that off as well, thus showing off how well he could hold his liquor.

Obi-Wan sighed and turned to Jyana.  "We must go back to the temple you know."

"I know.  We'll get there soon," she replied.

"Would you guess what one of my bad habits is?"

"You worry easily."

He nodded.  "I would recommend you let me know where you are going to be.  You never know where the Sith could be."

"I can feel when they're near, Obi-Wan.  I'll know.  I will try to remember to let you know though where I'm going next time.  I don't want you to worry too much about me.  You shouldn't need to."

He leaned to whisper in her ear.  "The Sith cannot have you."

Keldin gave Obi-Wan a look of warning.  You're getting too close.

Jyana surprised at the hidden message, looked at him.  "Wokki told you?"

"Anakin and I asked," he admitted.

She looked down embarrassed.

"I won't let them, Jyana."

She looked at him through the corner of her eye.  "And while not letting them, Obi-Wan, do not become one of them."

Looking at Keldin's scowl, he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "I won't, I promise."

"And if you do, you'll get smacked."

Keldin, taking the statement as a cue, smacked Obi-Wan in the back of the head again.  Obi-Wan removed his hand from Jyana's shoulder and whirled around, fist raised and screamed, "What was that for?"

He just gave Obi-Wan a look.  That said enough.  Too close?  What is he, her bodyguard? 

Keldin responded aloud, "No, I'm her brother."

Obi-Wan, finally reading Keldin's silent message backed away from Jyana.  She stood up and walked up to him and stated, "Let's go now.  It's getting boring here."  He nodded in response.  Obi-Wan noticed Keldin walking closely behind him as they left, watching his every move and making sure it wasn't threatening to his sister.  Tre stumbled drunkenly behind.  Then Obi-Wan noticed Jyana's eyes glancing at him.  "Your braid and ponytail are gone," she observed, "Why?"  He looks too different.

"I'm not a Padawan anymore, Jyana.  It was about time I stopped looking like one."

"I still have my braid."  She pulled one of her pigtails around and pointed to the tiny braid braided inside it.

"That's different.  I really still have mine."  He reached into one of the pouches on his utility belt and pulled it out.  "You wanted it when you were little, when I got it cut off.  You still want it?"

Keldin flashed him a look for some reason or another.

Jyana pondered at the offer.  "I really have no use for it, but sure.  Why not?  You did promise me I could have it later.  I might as well keep the promises we made to each other back then."  She took it and put it into one of her pouches on her belt.

Keldin pulled her back.  "You know what that is propositioning?"

"It don't mean nothing, Keldin.  Nothing."

It could.  "What did you promise him?"

"Nothing that you're concerned with Keldin."

But it still could mean something  The young man thought to himself.

It will someday, Obi-Wan thought to himself.  I hope…

Keldin rose his hand, and Obi-Wan quickly backed away.  Obi-Wan didn't quite like Keldin or Tre and his drunken self.  Someday he hoped he wouldn't have to worry about them both at all.