Thank you to all of my reviewers, Ariel (sorry I forgot to mention your
nickname, Beag!), Jacob (I'm glad you liked it, considering your earlier
criticism), Jasmine (Juliet didn't manage to get P.E. outlawed, I'm sorry
to tell you), Sam (Juliet's biggest fan), and my mom. I love you all!!!!
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see, There will be an answer, let it be
Juliet's steady flight was disrupted by a jolt from some outside force. She steadied herself and held the controls tightly. A second shot rang out, narrowly clipping Juliet's wing. She once again re-aquired control and pulled the ship out of hyperspeed. As soon as she saw her pursuers drop out themselves, she re-entered hyperspace. Once she knew they couldn't see her, she made a quick jerk of ninety degrees to her left. "Good job," Obi-Wan said. Juliet nodded. At fourteen, she had become far more quiet, modest, and deep. Not that she was shallow to begin with, but now she could often be found lost deep in the recesses of her own mind, meditation more a habit than a chore. She was no longer laughing every- other minute, as she used to be. Her corny jokes were now kept to herself, if she remembered them. She lived a bit more conservatively, not taking crazy risks as she once would have. She even got along with Qui-Gon, who in truth missed the old Juliet who used to make him laugh. "What was it?" asked Qui-Gon. "Pirates." "You've lost them now. Get back on the pre-approved route," Qui-Gon commanded. "I can't," Juliet explained, "the ship's been damaged. There is a planet half a parsec away. I'll land there." "Don't," Obi-Wan said. "That's Raynar, it's extremely hostile. They hate Jedi and would most likely kill us if they knew what we were." "Master, I have to," Juliet said. "It's the only planet for another sixty-eight parsecs." "All right," Obi-Wan said, knowing she was correct. It didn't take long for Juliet to put down the ship. Finding a mechanic was simple enough. A skinny female human was willing to ignore who her customers were for enough credits. "It'll take three weeks, though," said the mechanic, who was called Laina. "You've put her through quite something with that landing." "It is not my landing but your inability that will take three weeks," Juliet said, loudly enough to turn some heads. "All right, all right, I can do it in one week!" the girl quickly said. "I can't afford to lose business," she confided. "We understand," Qui-Gon told the girl, who looked as though she might hyperventilate. True to her word, it would only take a week.
"I'm okay," Obi-Wan said, rubbing his head. He had developed a bad headache and a slight fever since they landed, though he denied any illness. "You're not, I can tell," Juliet said, shaking her head. "You're sweating and pale. I've heard of this, it's a sickness native to this planet. There is a cure, but it's very rare. Admit it, you're sick." "All right, I am. I won't die, though. We're leaving soon." That evening, Obi-Wan found that he was too weak to even stand. Qui-Gon had been expecting this. Without the medicine, he would surely die, and they hadn't the credits for the drugs. Each of them knew that well. Only Juliet was not at peace with it. "Where will you find it?" Qui-Gon asked. "I don't know," Juliet said. "Come on, we should have enough bacta to get rid of the pain, and then it will be over. It's not death, it--" "I know the fourth precept well enough!"[1] Juliet whispered snappily. "I'm just not sure it's time for his spirit to leave our world." "If you're worried about becoming a Jedi--" "What the--no! I don't even care about that!" "I know this is difficult for you, Juliet. Really, I do. But you can't do anything--" "I believe that I can," she replied fiercely. Qui-Gon backed down, sure that the girl would learn a lesson from this.
The nightlife on Raynar was certainly not scare. Juliet followed her heart, going where she felt was right. The first place was a café of sorts, that is to say a bar. Juliet slid into a booth next to a person who felt right for what she wanted. "Where would I find Xlyxa?" she asked the tipsy man. Xlyxa was the drug she needed. The man looked at her sidelong. "It would cost you quite a bit," he said, "and I don't carry any, but you can win some in a race." "A race?" she asked. It was all too easy. "Of sorts," he explained. "You've got to be the last man standing. The next one is in three or four weeks." "I haven't the time for that, I need it now," she told him. The man shrugged. Too bad. Juliet left, greatly needing this drug.
No pharmacy had the drug. "You must understand, miss," said the pharmacist, "there's such a demand, we just can't import it fast enough." "I understand," she said, ready to admit defeat. "Wait! Import it from where?"
"Juliet! What's wrong, what's happened?" Qui-Gon asked as the girl returned. It had been hours, and--though he'd never admit it--he had been worried about her. She looked terrible and scarred, as though something had happened to her.something terrible. Juliet ignored him and walked over to Obi-Wan. She didn't think he could hear her. He couldn't. Qui-Gon walked over to her, and explained gently, "He doesn't know what's going on. He's not aware of any of this. He's in no pain. In less than an hour, Obi-Wan Kenobi will no longer be in this world." Juliet didn't move. "If you're worried about your training, there's no need. I will train you, I owe that to Obi-Wan. And to you." "I got the medicine for you, Master," Juliet said quietly. Qui-Gon was surprised by this. How could she have gotten it? He knew the stores were out of it. Juliet drew a small bottle from the folds of her cloak. There was a small amount of the precious substance. Juliet quickly punctured the bottle's cap with a hypodermic needle, filling the needle. Slowly, carefully, she tied a string around Obi-Wan's arm as a heroin addict might. She was frightened, but her hand was steady. In a few seconds, it was over. "I don't know how you did it," Qui-Gon said, "but you've just saved his life." Still, Juliet did not respond to what he said. She walked over to the corner of the room, curled up into a tight ball, and rocked. In a while, she fell asleep.
It was five days later that their ship was fixed. The mechanic, Laina, seemed more than happy to see them off. Juliet did not take the controls, although she was an expert pilot. Something had been wrong with her for the past few days. She had hardly spoken a word to anyone. Even for her, this was strange. "Juliet, I think we should talk," Obi-Wan said. Juliet nodded grimly, confusing Obi-Wan, but he was relentless. Finally, Obi-Wan asked, "What happened the night you went to get the medicine?" Juliet broke into sobs, and told him everything.
"Master Gallia, may I speak to you for a moment?" Obi-Wan asked. He thought it would be much easier to explain to her what had happened. He knew Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and most of the other Council members would not understand, but he remembered Adi Gallia from when he was a child. In his mind, she was far more.well, understanding. "Certainly, Obi-Wan," responded Adi. She remembered him, too, and she could see how much he had changed over the years. He had been so worried since he came back from that last mission, though. "It's about Juliet," he began. "On our last mission, I was sick. Well, I was going to die. She went out and found a rare drug which healed me." "Yes, I heard about that. Perhaps she is troubled by the fourth precept.?" "Oh, no, it isn't anything like that. The thing I wanted to discuss with you was.due to circumstances out of her control, Juliet is.she's going to have a child." Obi-Wan waited for a moment before adding, "It was not her fault, though. She had been instructed not to use the Force or her lightsaber for any reason." "Circumstances outside her control?" "Rape. She was in a bad neighborhood, an area where they imported the medicine from." "Why did you not give this information to the entire Council?" Adi asked. "I thought you would understand, and that maybe.you could keep her from being expelled from the Order." Adi recognized the concern in his voice. "Do not worry," she told him. "I will make sure she is not expelled."
Juliet was sent to an undisclosed location. Eight and a half months later, she gave birth to a girl. She was sent to live with foster parents on the planet of Naboo. Juliet could not think of a more lovely home for her baby. The last thing Juliet got to do was give her child a name. "Esperanza," she said, "for and although she's a born Ophelia." ----------------------- [1] The fourth precept: There is no death, there is the Force
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see, There will be an answer, let it be
Juliet's steady flight was disrupted by a jolt from some outside force. She steadied herself and held the controls tightly. A second shot rang out, narrowly clipping Juliet's wing. She once again re-aquired control and pulled the ship out of hyperspeed. As soon as she saw her pursuers drop out themselves, she re-entered hyperspace. Once she knew they couldn't see her, she made a quick jerk of ninety degrees to her left. "Good job," Obi-Wan said. Juliet nodded. At fourteen, she had become far more quiet, modest, and deep. Not that she was shallow to begin with, but now she could often be found lost deep in the recesses of her own mind, meditation more a habit than a chore. She was no longer laughing every- other minute, as she used to be. Her corny jokes were now kept to herself, if she remembered them. She lived a bit more conservatively, not taking crazy risks as she once would have. She even got along with Qui-Gon, who in truth missed the old Juliet who used to make him laugh. "What was it?" asked Qui-Gon. "Pirates." "You've lost them now. Get back on the pre-approved route," Qui-Gon commanded. "I can't," Juliet explained, "the ship's been damaged. There is a planet half a parsec away. I'll land there." "Don't," Obi-Wan said. "That's Raynar, it's extremely hostile. They hate Jedi and would most likely kill us if they knew what we were." "Master, I have to," Juliet said. "It's the only planet for another sixty-eight parsecs." "All right," Obi-Wan said, knowing she was correct. It didn't take long for Juliet to put down the ship. Finding a mechanic was simple enough. A skinny female human was willing to ignore who her customers were for enough credits. "It'll take three weeks, though," said the mechanic, who was called Laina. "You've put her through quite something with that landing." "It is not my landing but your inability that will take three weeks," Juliet said, loudly enough to turn some heads. "All right, all right, I can do it in one week!" the girl quickly said. "I can't afford to lose business," she confided. "We understand," Qui-Gon told the girl, who looked as though she might hyperventilate. True to her word, it would only take a week.
"I'm okay," Obi-Wan said, rubbing his head. He had developed a bad headache and a slight fever since they landed, though he denied any illness. "You're not, I can tell," Juliet said, shaking her head. "You're sweating and pale. I've heard of this, it's a sickness native to this planet. There is a cure, but it's very rare. Admit it, you're sick." "All right, I am. I won't die, though. We're leaving soon." That evening, Obi-Wan found that he was too weak to even stand. Qui-Gon had been expecting this. Without the medicine, he would surely die, and they hadn't the credits for the drugs. Each of them knew that well. Only Juliet was not at peace with it. "Where will you find it?" Qui-Gon asked. "I don't know," Juliet said. "Come on, we should have enough bacta to get rid of the pain, and then it will be over. It's not death, it--" "I know the fourth precept well enough!"[1] Juliet whispered snappily. "I'm just not sure it's time for his spirit to leave our world." "If you're worried about becoming a Jedi--" "What the--no! I don't even care about that!" "I know this is difficult for you, Juliet. Really, I do. But you can't do anything--" "I believe that I can," she replied fiercely. Qui-Gon backed down, sure that the girl would learn a lesson from this.
The nightlife on Raynar was certainly not scare. Juliet followed her heart, going where she felt was right. The first place was a café of sorts, that is to say a bar. Juliet slid into a booth next to a person who felt right for what she wanted. "Where would I find Xlyxa?" she asked the tipsy man. Xlyxa was the drug she needed. The man looked at her sidelong. "It would cost you quite a bit," he said, "and I don't carry any, but you can win some in a race." "A race?" she asked. It was all too easy. "Of sorts," he explained. "You've got to be the last man standing. The next one is in three or four weeks." "I haven't the time for that, I need it now," she told him. The man shrugged. Too bad. Juliet left, greatly needing this drug.
No pharmacy had the drug. "You must understand, miss," said the pharmacist, "there's such a demand, we just can't import it fast enough." "I understand," she said, ready to admit defeat. "Wait! Import it from where?"
"Juliet! What's wrong, what's happened?" Qui-Gon asked as the girl returned. It had been hours, and--though he'd never admit it--he had been worried about her. She looked terrible and scarred, as though something had happened to her.something terrible. Juliet ignored him and walked over to Obi-Wan. She didn't think he could hear her. He couldn't. Qui-Gon walked over to her, and explained gently, "He doesn't know what's going on. He's not aware of any of this. He's in no pain. In less than an hour, Obi-Wan Kenobi will no longer be in this world." Juliet didn't move. "If you're worried about your training, there's no need. I will train you, I owe that to Obi-Wan. And to you." "I got the medicine for you, Master," Juliet said quietly. Qui-Gon was surprised by this. How could she have gotten it? He knew the stores were out of it. Juliet drew a small bottle from the folds of her cloak. There was a small amount of the precious substance. Juliet quickly punctured the bottle's cap with a hypodermic needle, filling the needle. Slowly, carefully, she tied a string around Obi-Wan's arm as a heroin addict might. She was frightened, but her hand was steady. In a few seconds, it was over. "I don't know how you did it," Qui-Gon said, "but you've just saved his life." Still, Juliet did not respond to what he said. She walked over to the corner of the room, curled up into a tight ball, and rocked. In a while, she fell asleep.
It was five days later that their ship was fixed. The mechanic, Laina, seemed more than happy to see them off. Juliet did not take the controls, although she was an expert pilot. Something had been wrong with her for the past few days. She had hardly spoken a word to anyone. Even for her, this was strange. "Juliet, I think we should talk," Obi-Wan said. Juliet nodded grimly, confusing Obi-Wan, but he was relentless. Finally, Obi-Wan asked, "What happened the night you went to get the medicine?" Juliet broke into sobs, and told him everything.
"Master Gallia, may I speak to you for a moment?" Obi-Wan asked. He thought it would be much easier to explain to her what had happened. He knew Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and most of the other Council members would not understand, but he remembered Adi Gallia from when he was a child. In his mind, she was far more.well, understanding. "Certainly, Obi-Wan," responded Adi. She remembered him, too, and she could see how much he had changed over the years. He had been so worried since he came back from that last mission, though. "It's about Juliet," he began. "On our last mission, I was sick. Well, I was going to die. She went out and found a rare drug which healed me." "Yes, I heard about that. Perhaps she is troubled by the fourth precept.?" "Oh, no, it isn't anything like that. The thing I wanted to discuss with you was.due to circumstances out of her control, Juliet is.she's going to have a child." Obi-Wan waited for a moment before adding, "It was not her fault, though. She had been instructed not to use the Force or her lightsaber for any reason." "Circumstances outside her control?" "Rape. She was in a bad neighborhood, an area where they imported the medicine from." "Why did you not give this information to the entire Council?" Adi asked. "I thought you would understand, and that maybe.you could keep her from being expelled from the Order." Adi recognized the concern in his voice. "Do not worry," she told him. "I will make sure she is not expelled."
Juliet was sent to an undisclosed location. Eight and a half months later, she gave birth to a girl. She was sent to live with foster parents on the planet of Naboo. Juliet could not think of a more lovely home for her baby. The last thing Juliet got to do was give her child a name. "Esperanza," she said, "for and although she's a born Ophelia." ----------------------- [1] The fourth precept: There is no death, there is the Force