Title: Birth of Tyranny
Author: ewan's girl

Chapter 7


Twilight had struck Alderaan, the stars shown brilliantly in the nights sky. A lone figure stepped out onto one of the many balconies of the palace to get some fresh air. She-ar-ah walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down at the planet she had been hired to protect, at that moment everything looked so peaceful, just like it always looked. She sighed a deep sigh, and let her hair out of it's braid; long black tendrils fell down her back, strands flew across her face due to the wind. She closed her eyes, her lids felt so heavy from the lack of sleep, and the secret tears she had shed for her fallen guard. Suddenly she began to get the feeling that she was being watched, silently she took a blaster from her belt, and aimed it towards the shadows on her right. Her heart pounded as she saw something move in the darkness. "Whoever you are, I have you surrounded." She called to the intruder. "Now, come out quietly, and I won't shoot you."
The intruder obeyed, and came into the light. She-ar-ah dropped her defensive stance when she saw Obi Wan Kenobi standing before her. "Don't sneak around like that, do you want to get killed?" She said while putting away her blaster.
"I apologies, but to be fair, I was here first." Obi Wan stated with a smile, She-ar-ah then in turn smiled back.
"What are you doing here?" She-ar-ah asked him.
"Meditating." He simply answered. He looked at her, and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "She-ar-ah, you look exhausted." He told her, and she looked offended.
She turned her attention to the view she had been previously enjoying. "Well, that's because I haven't slept very well since the threat was made, and I haven't slept at all since the assassination attempt." She ran her hands through her hair.
Obi Wan inched towards her. "You need your rest. You will not do his majesty any good if you are too exhausted to protect him."
She continued to stare at the view. "I swore I wouldn't rest until we have him in custody." She stated with a sigh. "I'm a woman of my word." She looked at Obi Wan. "Besides, you haven't slept since you got here."
"I am a Jedi, I'm trained to go for long periods of time without sleep." He turned his attention to the view. "You on the other hand..."
"Don't even presume to know what I have and haven't been trained to do." She snapped at him.
He held up his hands in defeat. "Don't worry, I don't presume that I know anything about you anymore."
She looked at him, and felt a sting in her heart for what he just said. "I'm sorry I snapped, it's just been a long few days." She stated in a soft tone.
Obi Wan looked at her. "I'm sorry about your sergeant." He said in an equally soft tone.
She closed her eyes. "He was one of my best." She looked at the ground. "It's all my fault. If I had just stopped this assassin three days ago when I had him in my net, this would all be over."
Obi Wan put a hand on her shoulder. "You did your best, you were shot." She looked at him, her eyes glassy from tears begging to be shed. "Besides, what you did to try and catch him was very impressive, impulsive, but impressive."
"Really?" She asked him.
"Yes, a very Jedi like thing to do." He answered in a very compassionate tone.
She smiled at him. "Thank you Obi Wan. Not just for what you said, also for all you've done to help."
He smiled back at her, and put both hands on her shoulders, and began to give her a massage. She tensed at first under his touch, but eventually she melted in the hypnotic, and soothing motion. "Oh you still give the best anti stress massages in the galaxy." She closed her eyes, enjoying the massage. "I haven't had one of these in 13 years."
"I haven't preformed one in 13 years." He answered her.
She turned to him. "Really?" They stared at each other for a moment, then Obi Wan forced her to look away while he continued the massage. As he continued, he felt her begin to drift into sleep. He decided to help her.
"Relax." He said, as he put two fingers on a pressure point. She-ar-ah moaned, and he did it again. "Relax." Suddenly she fell limp into his arms. He held her for a moment, and looked at her. "You need your rest captain." He moved a piece of hair out of her face, and kissed her forehead.

**

"What is it Lord Tyrannus?" The hologram image of Darth Sidious asked his bowing apprentice.
"My lord we are almost in place, we are awaiting your command to attack." Dooku answered with a proud tone.
"Excellent, but do not move until I give the order." Sidious commanded.
"Of course my lord." Dooku said with a sigh.
The dark lord heard the frustrated sigh from his apprentice. "Patience Lord Tyrannus, soon we will be ready."
"What of the chosen one my lord?" Dooku changed the subject.
"He will join us soon." The dark lord said with a sinister grin on his face.
"He will come to us?" Dooku asked perplexed. "He has strong ties to the force master, especially with his master."
"All is in play Lord Tyrannus, I have foreseen his turning. Soon he will bring balance to the force...the dark side of the force." Sidious' wicked grin grew wider.
"If only those foolish Jedi knew the true power of the force." Dooku had his own smile now.
"They will Lord Tyrannus, trust me they will." Darth Sidious began to laugh. "And by then it'll be too late." Then his image faded.

**

She-ar-ah turned in her bed, and pulled the covers up to her chin. She felt so comfortable in bed, and didn't want to get up, it was almost as if everything that had occurred had been a horrible dream. But something in the back of her mind was telling her that she needed to wake up. Suddenly she woke up with a start, she looked around her room perplexed. She then looked at her wall chrono, she then realized what had happened. "Damn it, Obi Wan." She said with a growl, and got out of bed.
She stormed through the hall, wearing what she had been wearing the previous day, her hair all a mess from sleeping. She came to the king's office and stormed in, not surprised to see Obi Wan talking with the king.
"How dare you." She said in an angry tone, pointing to Obi Wan who stayed silent.
"She-ar-ah?" The king said with a start. "My dear what is wrong?"
She looked at the king, and bowed. "I'm sorry your highness, it'll never happen again." She gave a stern look at Obi Wan. "I didn't mean to leave my post."
"She-ar-ah, I understand." The king answered in a compassionate tone. "But you need your rest, you're no good to us if you are exhausted."
She-ar-ah bowed again. "You're right your highness, but I promise it won't happen again." She turned to Obi Wan, then back to the king. "I am going to go prepare for the day, I will return shortly." She turned to leave.
"Excuse me your highness." Obi Wan followed after her. "She-ar-ah?" Obi Wan called her when he got into the hall.
"Don't." She continued to walk.
"I'm sorry, but I felt I had to get you to sleep somehow." Obi Wan tried to defend himself. He stopped short when he saw her turn and give him a very evil look.
"Force suggestion? You used force suggestion?" She asked, and he hesitated and nodded. "In the 13 years I have served his majesty, I have never fallen asleep at my post, and now because of you I look bad."
"You don't look bad She-ar-ah, he understands." Obi Wan tried to explain.
"You have no idea what I've gone through to prove myself here." She said with a sigh, being the daughter of a Jedi master, people expect me to be more than I am.
"No one expects you to be nothing but yourself." Obi Wan moved towards her.
"You don't understand." She looked at the ground.
"She-ar-ah, I may understand better than you think." He said softly, and took her hand.
"Master?" The voice of Anakin Skywalker came from behind them.
Obi Wan quickly let go of She-ar-ah's hand. "Anakin?"
"The council is trying to contact us." He said as he looked between his master and the captain.
"Yes Anakin, I'll be right there." Obi Wan said, and Anakin got the message and left.
"I've got to go, I have much to do to prepare for tonight." She-ar-ah stated, watching Anakin leave. "I'm sure the assassin is preparing for the ball as much as we are."
Obi Wan nodded. "I will see you later." He said with a bow, and followed his padawan.

**

Obi Wan walked into his and Anakin's quarters, and found a guest sitting on the couch. "Master Windu?" He asked, curious. "What are you doing here?"
"The chancellor has invited myself and master Yoda to the celebration ball." He answered, making himself comfortable on the couch. "Master Yoda has conveniently gone to the Deggoba system." Mace continued, and Anakin came in with drinks.
"Why is he there?" Obi Wan asked, while putting his cloak on the couch, and finding a seat himself.
"He...thank you Anakin." Mace took a cup from Anakin, who handed one to his master. "He goes there from time to time to meditate, he loves it there."
Obi Wan nodded, and took a drink from his cup. "Well it will be nice having another Jedi here."
"No luck with the bounty hunter yet?" Mace asked, taking a sip of his own drink.
"Not yet." Anakin piped in.
"Any leads?" Mace looked at the padawan, then back at the master.
"Yes master, we are sure it is Bobba Fett." Anakin told the Jedi master excitedly.
"You are sure? Don't assume anything young padawan until you know for sure." Mace reprimanded Anakin, who sank into the couch.
"We aren't sure it's Bobba, but it is the most likely scenario." Obi Wan tried to save his padawan.
Mace nodded. "Wow, Bobba Fett. Has anything happened since the guard was killed?"
"Not yet master." Obi Wan answered. "Captain Win..." Obi Wan stopped and looked at the Jedi master. "Um...captain Windu has men combing the beaches."
Mace looked from master to apprentice, who both in turn was looking at him. "Very good." He simply stated. "Well, I am going to go to my quarters and prepare for this evening." He rose from the couch, as did Obi Wan and Anakin. "It looks as though Alderaan is in good hands." He turned to leave, Obi Wan and Anakin bowed. "Oh, and master Kenobi."
"Yes master?" Obi Wan turned towards Mace.
"You and Anakin now know something very personal about my life." He looked at both of them, and they looked away. "I'd very much appreciate it if you would respect my wishes and not discuss this with anyone other than yourselves."
Obi Wan bowed. "Yes master."
With that Mace Windu left them.

**

She-ar-ah looked at her image in the mirror, she began to place her hair on her head in a complicated style. Suddenly she was interrupted by a knock at her door. She rolled her eyes because she was certain it was Obi Wan. As she opened it, and smile crossed her lips when she saw who it was.
"Hello sunshine." Mace Windu said with a smile.
"Father!" She said, and hugged him tightly. "Oh I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Mace said, returning the hug.
"Come in." She said leading him inside. "Excuse the mess, I've been really busy." She said embarrassed, throwing papers off the chair, and offering him a seat.
"I can't stay long, I have to get ready for tonight." He said, taking her hands in his. "The chancellor invited me to the celebration ball."
"Good. The Jedi should be represented there, I mean if it wasn't for you none of this would be possible. The republic wouldn't have their army." She said with a lot of passion.
"True, but then perhaps so many Jedi lives would not have been lost had we not gotten involved." He bowed his head.
"Father, that doesn't sound like you. I thought the Jedi were keepers of the peace, and are prepared to die for the republic." She forced him to look at her.
"We are my dear, I guess I'm just tired of seeing friends die." He looked her in the eyes.
She pulled him in for a tight embrace. "I understand father." She held him for a moment. "Either way, I'm glad you are here. I haven't seen you in 3 years."
He looked at her. "I know, and I'm sorry sweetie. Things have been so insane right now, but I promise to come visit more often." He stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"How long are you staying?" She asked.
"Just through the ball, I have to get back to the Temple." She looked disappointed. "But tell you what. Once master Yoda gets back, I'll come here for a much needed vacation."
She smiled. "Well I've heard that Alderaan is a good place for a vacation."
They hugged again, and Mace kissed the top of her head. "I love you." He said gently, then turned to leave. "I'll see you tonight."
She-ar-ah nodded. "Bye father."
Mace turned to leave, then stopped at the door, and looked back at his daughter. "May the force be with you She-ar-ah."