Chapter Four
WARNING: ATTACK OF THE CLONES SPOILERS IN THIS CHAPTER. IF YOU DON'T LIKE
THEM PLEASE DISCONTINUE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK OR SEEN THE MOVIE.
DISCLAIMER LOCATED ON CHAPTER ONE. COME WHAT MAY COMES FROM THE SOUNDTRACK
TO MOULIN ROUGE SO THEREFORE IS NOT OWNED BY MYSELF. CHRISTIAN IS ALSO
OWNED BY THE MAKERS OF MOULIN ROUGE.
a/n: Some people have told me that Obi-wan is too old for Kali, but I
wanted her to be the same age as Anakin, therefore she is 19 going on
twenty *to cover the difference between ages in the books.* Obi-wan is 35
so he is not that old. However, to satisfy my sister at least, I put it
down that Obi-wan thought that way. But love really doesn't have a age
problem does it?
a/n 2: The name Kida Jinn belongs to my sister. I'm tried of her picking
on the fact that she has a story with that name in it and therefore it is
hers. I forgot to mention last chapter that the two friends of Kali's
belong to Me and my friends (as they are based on them) as well as Velvet
Goldmine belongs to it's creators.
Padmé Naberrié-Amidala paced her quarters as she waited for the young female Jedi to arrive. Her satin blue skirts caused the only sound as they moved against her and the carpet. Her brown eyes showed none of the fear that the Nubian beauty held inside her. Her long Brown hair was kept in a hairpiece that she had promised herself she would never wear after she had stepped down as queen. However, her hair was too long to be put any other way. Her handmaiden Dormé Aileron stood watching her from the archway that connected the main door and lobby from the main room of her apartment. The handmaiden looked a lot like her mistress and was chosen because of that, and because of her good diplomatic and martial arts skills. She shook her head at the nervous senator. Cordé had been closer to the senator then Dormé and had always known what to say to calm the young women down. Dormé hoped this new girl could do the same. She really enjoyed her job as a handmaiden but there were times like these when the stress was getting to her and Dormé could be a little frustrated. "Milady?" came the accented voice of the newcomer. Padmé looked up, smiled, and rushed to hug her friend. "Kali, you know we don't have to be so formal. Just in the presence of the senate people. Dormé wouldn't mind, would you Dor?" "Of course not, Lady Amidala." Padmé rolled her eyes. She returned her attention to her long time friend. She smiled at the thought of what she could do with Kali if she ever got the chance to make Kali into the angel she really was.inside and out. This was her chance and she would take it. Besides, it would give her an excuse not to have Palpatine breathing down her neck all day. The man was really beginning to get on her nerves. "Come with me, Kali. I'm going to transform you from ordinary Jedi a handmaiden." Her and Dormé took her into the main bedroom chamber and sat her down at the vanity desk that was carved out of Nubian wood. First Dormé started by taking her hair down (excluding her padawan braid) and combed it till it shined a bright golden color. She braided it up in a several layer braid placed at the base of her neck. She fixed it to stay with a transparent pin that ran through the whole braid. Her padawan braid was long enough to be wound around the braid and look like it was meant to be that way. Padmé meanwhile started by finding a more suitable dress then the one that Palpatine had given Kali to wear. She finally settled on a blue dress that she had recently bought in Naboo. Its skirt was long with a beaded string ensemble that went the length of the gown. The mid-drift was not covered and the top morphed into a shawl in the back that continued the bead design. Luckily, Kali was the same size as Padmé, only taller. After her hair was done, and she had donned the blue dress, they went on to make-up. Padmé had already warned Dormé about Kali's abhorrence to make-up so the handmaiden was well prepared when she started to do. Fortunately, Kali was all right with her doing it and it was done quickly. When they had finished, Kali indeed looked like an angel. Padmé did guess, however, that she would have looked like an angel with out the make-up as well. Jar-Jar Binks chose at that time to make Padmé aware that the Jedi had arrived. She was surprised his call of "ANI!" wasn't heard in the chancellor's chambers. She laughed inwardly. Jar-Jar had been extremely happy to be seeing his friends again. Over the years, he still thought he owed them for saving his life, not once, but twice. He never repaid them in his mind. Padmé was beginning to think that neither of them would be able to repay Qui-gon Jinn and his padawans. They had to defend her no matter what her position. She was eternally grateful. "Senator Padmé! Lookie.wesa have Jedi! Padmé smiled before turning away from the window and resuming her formal state of emotion. She always wore the same facial expression, finding that showing her emotions in her face made her vulnerable in debates in the Senate. "Milady, it is nice to see you again." "Likewise, Master Jinn." Padmé looked beside him and was shocked to find a grown up Anakin Skywalker. For some reason she had thought he would still look like the little boy from tattoine. He stumbled over his words when he greeted her; making her wonder if, he felt the same shock. She was glad to see him; she just didn't think it right for him to know. They sat on the couch and discussed the plans of her protection. For a while, everyone watched as Anakin fought with his master on wither or not his or her mandate was to protect or to protect and find. Secretly, Padmé agreed with Anakin. If She had needed simply protection, her guards would have worked fine. However, part of her knew Qui-gon was right. The Jedi would be able to sense her attackers before they attacked and prevent anything from happening. "Milady, A man is here to see you." Came the calm assuring voice of Dormé. "His name?" "Christian Lars, Milady. He sends this note to explain things better." Dormé handed the note over to the senator. Senator Amidala, This is my new persona that I have taken on to protect you. Hope you don't mind. Kida will know who I am,
"Allow him in. Kida, please go with Dormé and see to our visitor." Kida nodded and followed the other handmaiden out to the door. ~*~ Obi-Wan Kenobi stood on the glassed in balcony, watching the many ships go by. His now black hair was cut short and he had shaved. All this to become Padmé's 'cousin' Chris. He was dressed in civilian clothes, although he would much prefer the soft fabric of his Jedi outfit then what he was wearing now. "Something on your mind, Obi?" came the voice of the man who Obi-wan considered a father. "In a way." "Want to talk about it?" "I have to figure it out first. Somehow I feel this is wrong and yet it feels right." "What is that?" "My relationship with Kali." "Oh?" "Sometimes we are just Friends. And then.. Then there are times that make me feel like it should be something more." "Why do you think that's wrong" Obi-wan turned to his mentor, who stood beside him on the balcony. "One, it is against the code to love, and second, I'm THIRTY FIVE years old and she is NINETEEN. Don't you see something wrong in that, Master?" Qui- gon smiled at the name that his former Padawan affectingly called him still. "No. First of all, Obi-wan, love is not exactly against the code. The code is to guide us, not rule our lives. Attachment is against the code, yes, but only when it comes between you and your duty as a Jedi. Being in love with someone and being attached to that person is fine, as long as you don't put that person in front of the force's planning. Love between Jedi almost eliminates that. Tahl and I had a loving relationship and neither of us went to the dark side." Qui-gon smiled as he paused. "And the age problem is not really a problem. She's nineteen, Obi, not six. As that she is an adult and that means she can make her own decision about what she does. Moreover, I have seen people have long relationships with each other with greater differences. Look at Yoda and Yaddle." "Yoda and Yaddle are dating?" "Yes. Actually they have been secretly since they were Yoda was 200 years old and Yaddle a hundred. That's 682 years they have been together" "That's a long time, but it is different for humans. Humans don't live that long. " "Not much different, Obi. Search your heart and you'll find the answer. That's the only advice I could give you." "Thanks." Qui-gon walked off and Obi-wan turned his attention back to the stars before checking to see if his padawan was asleep. He walked into her room, which was beside Padmé's room. It used to be Cordé's room. He knew Kali felt bad about taking the room of the honorable decoy, but Padmé and Dormé had insisted that she had to. He found his padawan lying in the bed already asleep. Her long reddish- blonde hair was left down and was wavy because of the braids earlier worn. She was wearing a body suit similar to the Jedi uniform, except the t-shirt was a tank top and not the normal loose long-sleeve shirts that the Jedi usually wore. Obviously, she had felt that something was going to happen. Beside the bed lay a blaster and her light saber, both in easy reach of her hand. Obi-wan started to walk away when he heard her call his name. When he turned, he found her asleep. He ventured into her dreams though their bond to see what would make her call him. Before he could he felt something strange coming from the room next door. At that instant, Kali awoke and both rushed into Padmé's bedroom. They arrived in time to see Anakin slicing two poisonous assassin worms with this light saber. Obi-wan spotted an assassin driod outside the window and dashed for it. He crashed through the Transparasteel and grasped onto the droid as it flew away. Kali, with Anakin close behind, rushed to the Speeder lot and found a three seated speeder and flew off behind him. Anakin drove while Kali gave directions as she watched her master zigzag across coruscant as the droid tried to release him. Kali saw a Person on top of the building near an advertisement take a strange looking blaster and fire at Obi-wan. It hit the droid and Obi-wan began to fall down towards the bottom of the city. Anakin swerved around a freighter, almost causing Kali to fall out of the speeder. "Watch it Skywalker, I want to live to see my twentieth birthday, thank you very much." "That's two months from now." "Yeah, and if you keep driving like this I'm not goi." Kali ducked as Anakin barley missed a speeder going over their head. "Hey...I thought I told you no showing off. Now you're just being cocky." Anakin just smiled as he maneuvered underneath Obi-wan, allowing him to climb aboard the speeder and sit in the back seat. "What took you so long."? "Sorry Master." Kali said. "I just had to find the right speeder ya know. Open, with the right carpet, seating, colors, speed, something that was working." "If you worked as hard on your light saber training as you do your wit you would surpass Master Yoda in swordsmanship." "I thought I already did." Kali hit him on the hit. "Like a said, cocky." Anakin just smiled at her and took a hard left turn as Obi-wan reveled the location of the bounty hunter. Kali opened her senses to the force and closed her eyes, trying to sense the person as well as trying not to get sick from all the wild turning Anakin was doing. Note to self: Never let Anakin drive again, I quite agree with that. Kali could tell Obi-wan was having a harder time trying not to get sick then she was. Anakin made the speeder do a nosedive and then had to maneuver around some power couplings, which even made Anakin a little green. Suddenly the other driver turned and went into a set of air tunnels. Anakin drove by, much to confusion of Kali. Anakin explained that he was taking a short cut. I bet it is a short cut, a let-the-person-get-away shortcut. Kali, you know better then to think that. Anakin wants to know who he is more then we do. I never said Anakin was letting the person get away on purpose, Obi. Just that I really don't think this is a very wise decision on his part. Anakin stopped the speeder and looked around. "Oh great, you've lost him." "I'm terribly sorry. Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment." Anakin jumped out of the speeder. Obi-wan and Kali immediately looked down at where he was. "I hate it when he does that." "Join the club, I do too. Show off." Obi-wan jumped into the drivers seat. "Sorry, hon, but your not that great of a driver." "I'll never live that down will I?" "Nope." Kali had driven a speeder into one of the tall buildings. The fact that it was the Alerna Speeder Rental and Repair Company made it funny. Obi-wan liked to tease her about it. Obi-wan followed the other speeder and watched as Anakin was thrown about it. Anakin took out his light saber, cut through the transparisteel windows, and started to reflect the blaster bolts. The bounty hunter managed to shoot the saber out of his hand. Obi-wan directed the speeder towards where the saber was falling and Kali managed to grab on to it in time to continue their chasing of the hunter's closed speeder. Anakin continued his struggle with the hunter, managing to get the blaster out of her hands and firing into the console. The speeder lost control and started to roll towards the ground. The front engine of the machine was on fire, causing the speeder to spin. Anakin was thrown off onto the ground and into a series of black canisters. He immediately stood up and looked around, finding the speeder crashing into something about twenty feet away. Anakin started to run towards the hunter, barely noticing Obi-wan and Kali as they landed the speeder. They ran to catch up with him and meet him right before he was about the run into the bar. "Anakin!" Obi-wan called out to him as he caught up with Anakin. Anakin stopped and turned to the older Jedi. Obi-wan held up Anakin's blue bladed light saber. "Missing something Ani?" Anakin rolled his eyes and went to grab his weapon but Obi-wan pulled it away. "Anakin, you need to keep your weapon with you at all times. This could mean your life. You loose it too often." "I have heard this lesson before." "You haven't learned anything Ani, if you still haven't corrected previous mistakes. "We are going to lose him." "Use the force, Anakin. He went in there to hide not to run." "Will you two stop yelling at each other and please go into the club. I really don't think it is wise to spend all of our time at the entrance." Kali flipped her hair behind her ear. During the chase the ponytail she had put her hair up in had come lose and now her lengthy locks flowed freely, much to her annoyance. "Yes, oh great and majestic Kali." "Shut up Skywalker." Anakin laughed and the three walked into the club. It was decided that Anakin would search the club and Kali and Obi-wan would wait at the bar. It would be two noticeable for three or even two Jedi to be searching. "Anakin, you look around for him." "I think He is a Her, master." Kali said. It was naturally easier for a women to sense another womens presence. "And I think she is a changling, a Clawdite." Obi-wan nodded. "Anakin, be careful. Go on and search. Kali, come with me." "What will you and the misses want to drink?" The bar tender said as the two approached the bar. "A Verna and a Madstell." Kali glared at him for a moment for making her get a Madstell, which was a non-alcoholic drunk from Corella. When it arrived, she drinks it quickly, hoping it would calm her stomach, which still rolling from the speeder chase. "I'm surprised you didn't correct him." "Correct who for what?" "The bartender for basically calling me your wife." Obi-wan shrugged. "Did you have a problem with that? "No." "Then let's just play along with it." "Sure, Obi." Kali moved over slightly till she was almost against him. Unfortunately, that allowed another person to stand beside her. The humanoid alien was a dealer. "Want to buy some Death sticks. No one sells better death sticks then??????." "You do not want to sell us death sticks." Obi-wan said as his waved his one hand as he used the other to pick his glass up and take a drink. ????? repeated him. "You want to go home and rethink your life." This time it was Kali, but once again ??? repeated He walked away and Kali turned back to her master." Well, he should." Kali said as she saw the amused look on his face. "Kali, you're the best you know that." "Of course I know that. I wouldn't be named after an ancient goddess of mischief if I weren't." Obi-wan laughed, but not for long. Kali turned around, feeling it right before he did. Obi-wan turned and ignited his saber and cut thought the bounty hunter's wrist, causing her to drop the gun that she was planning to use on them. The bounty hunter cried out in pain as Anakin came into the view. "Personal Business. Go back to your drinks." He said. It only took a light mind trick to get them to ignore the scene in front of them "Thanks Anakin." Kali said as she helped the women off the floor. She pulled the women's good arm around her shoulder and Obi-wan helped balance the other side. They walked out of the back door of the club and laid the women on the cold sidewalk. "Do you know who it is you are trying to kill?" Obi-wan asked. "The Senator from Naboo" she said, her voice mildly relaying the pain she was in. Kali placed her hand on the women's shoulder and sent a few pain relieving probes into the arm. "Who hired you?" Obi asked. The women didn't answer. "Please tell us." Kali said. The women looked up at the girl. Zam realized the girl was kindest person she ever met and that made want to tell them. To make sure at least one person stayed on the path of good. "It was a bounty hunter na." However, she never got to finish her sentence. A dart pierced her skin, instantly killing her and making her retreat into her Clawdite features. Obi-wan and Anakin turned and saw a person in a strange set of armor blast off into the night sky. They turned back to the women to see Kali holding up a dart. "This is what hit her, Master. A dart of some kind." Obi-wan took it and looked at it. He certainly did not recognize it. He put it in his pocket, making sure before he did that the poison was no longer in the small weapon. Kali brought her hand up to her face and squeezed the edges of a wrist unit she wore. "Coruscant Morgue.. This is Jedi Jinn." She waited for a reply and then continued. "I report that there is a body located near the Ra'sa'di night club in the western section. It is female and clawdite. It is laying on the side of the clubs outside wall." The other end said they were coming and she stood up. Obi-wan could tell that her eyes had a few tears in it by the way the light reflected off them. She had never been able to handle deaths very well. She always at least got wet eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and the three walked away from the dead Clawdite. ~*~ Qui-gon sat in the booth thinking. The group of four had been given the rest of the night off while Padmé was guarded by Yoda himself. Yoda had insisted that the four go to another club and relax. They would address the rest of the council in the morning. So now, he sat in at the Rakisha club, a mere two blocks from the temple. Anakin was playing a holo-game with some other padawans with their night off. Kali sat across from him, looking out the window, while Obi-wan watched her from the seat next to her. Sometimes Qui-gon wondered if Kali had been meant to be a healer and not a knight. However, what was done was done. Kali was almost ready to take the trails, although Obi-wan seemed to wish the day further away. Qui-gon had noticed how close the two had gotten. He could even see their life bond now. No one had told them about the bond. The Jedi healers had wanted to see if the bond would continue if the two involved did not know. It had continued most assuredly. It had gotten to the point that if you focused on their force signatures, you could always get only half of the one person and half of the other. They were soul mates and bond mates yet neither knew about it. He knew full well that Kali had been in love with her master for many years already. Bant had noticed it when Kali had first been in her advanced Astrophysics and Space flight class. Kali had always mentioned Obi-wan in her conversations. Although most padawans did that, as most were proud of their masters, Bant had sensed a deeper bond between Kali and Obi-wan. That had been five years ago, when Kali had been almost 15. Now it was much deeper and it came from both sides. From the conversation Qui-gon had had with his former Padawan, Obi-wan was, although slowly, falling in love with his niece. The two were perfect for each other, Qui- gon thought. Obi-wan always serious and a by-the-code person, while Kali was a free going, extremely caring, let the force guide you person. "Hey Master!" Anakin said, trying to whisper. "Yes, Anakin." "Do you realize there is a Karaoke machine here?" "No, but I do see it there." "Why don't we get Kali and Obi to sing? They are wonderful singers. It might even get Kali out of her melancholy mood." "You know, padawan. Sometimes you do use that brain of yours." Anakin smiled and then sat down beside Qui-gon in the booth. "Hey guys." Obi-wan and Kali turned to him. "How about some Karaoke!" Obi-wan and Kali at once started to say no, but Anakin, being the charmer that he was, as well as Qui-gon had convinced them to do a duet together. The four walked up to the stage. Qui-gon paid for the song, as he was the one with the money and Anakin chose the song. He smiled to himself. Match making was fun. Anakin and Qui-gon walked back to their both and waited smiling. Especially was the announcer came to announce the two up there. The four had agreed to use different names while in the club. Anakin was Hayden Lars and Qui-gon was Liam Lars. That would make Obi-wan and Kali Christian and Kida Lars. "Ladies, Gentlemen, its. The next two to try our Karaoke machine are Chris and Kida Lars. They will be singing "Come What May." Off the Moulin Cantina Soundtrack!" The announce stopped off and turned the music on. Obi-wan took a deep breath and turned to Kali. He knew this song by heart already. It was Kali's favorite song. He was going to sing it directly to her.
The lyrics to Come What may:
Never knew I could Feel like this Like I never saw the Ski before Want to Vanish inside your kiss Everyday I love you more and more
Listen to my heart Can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything Seasons may change Winter to Spring But I love you Until the end of time.
Come What May Come What May I will love you Untill my dying day.
Kali stared into his eyes the whole time, totally surprised at what she saw. He was literally singing to her and he meant every word that he said. However, she knew that she meant it more.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste It all revolved around you.
Obi-wan joined her in singing then as they were supposed to. For the first time he was admitting his feelings to himself and to her. He hoped she would understand. He hoped even more that she felt the same way. Looking into her eyes he saw the reflection of his own. Pure selfless surrender to the emotion that tied them together since before they were even born.
And there's no mountain too high No river too wide Sing out this song and I'll be by your side Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide But I love you until the end of time
Come What May Come What May I will Love you Until my dying day.
Oh, come what may Come what may I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a prefect place.
Come What May Come What May I will love you Until my dying day
The two stared at each other for a moment longer before the applause cut into the little world they were in. The two smiled at the audience and nodded their head in a bow. They walked off stage and back to their booth. Anakin and Qui-gon were smiling. "You two are hopeless you know that." Kali said as she slid into the seat. "Yes, We know." Anakin said smiling. *~*
Qui-gon was dreaming. At least he hoped this was a dream and not a vision. He was sitting on a cold stone.or at least it felt like stone... floor. He looked around him and saw five containers, filled with a transparent blue liquid. It reminded him of a bacta tank. Each contained a person, suspended in life. According to the dates stamped into the metal rings around them, holding them to the wall, these were placed two years before the time he was now. In one container there was a young women who had long blonde hair. Her eyes were closed so He had no idea what color they were. According to the ID tag, also on the metal rings her name was Eirtaé Remé, a Handmaiden to Padmé During her rule as the rebellious Queen of Naboo. It also said that she was found guilty of slandering the Emperor's name and was sentenced to death by Crystallization chamber. The next held another thin women with dark brown hair flowing around her now pale body. He recognized her immediately. It was Padmé Amidala, the Senator he was protecting. Her body, once filled with power and immense compassion, now floated almost lifelessly in the blue crystal liquid. Her crime was similar to her handmaiden's, Treason to the self-crowned Emperor. She had failed to inform him of the location of the Jedi, who were enemies of his rule and wanted nothing good for the Empire. Qui-gon thought whoever the emperor was needed to correct his information. The Jedi were peace Seekers. The next one held another recognizable face, the face of his padawan, Anakin. Anakin floated looking slightly healthier then the Senator, but not by much. He had chains around his wrists, which meant he did not go into this willingly, but then who would. His crime was being a con artist, claiming to be Anakin Skywalker, the Second in command of the Empire, There forward to be known as Darth Vader. The next held his other padawan, Obi-wan Kenobi. His head was hung in defeat, and Qui-gon could still see traces of worry and sadness, proving that the crystal did not kill its occupants, only stopped their aging. Obi- wan had been accused of refusing an offer from the crown Princess Kaleli Jade. He also was a Jedi, rebellion leader, and helped the con artist bring false claims against Sidious, the emperor. The next container was the most shocking. His daughter was held in there, looking even worse then her four prison mates. Her body looked worn, and she had sadness written on her face. Trails of frozen blood hang on her wrists from the chains that looked her arms together as well as from a scar on her forehead, where she had obviously been hit in the head with the blunt end of a large blaster. She had been obviously abused and maltreated before her sentence was taken out. Her crime was being the wife of a Jedi, as well as one herself, betraying her father and her family and being a rebellion leader. Her name was stated as Kali Palpatine Kenobi. It was then that Qui-gon noticed he wasn't alone. Looking up at Obi-wan and Kali's prisons was a young girl, possibly around 16 years old. Her hair was long, and would even make Padmé's hair look short. It was tied up in a fancy design, obviously showing her wealth. Her red hair contrasted greatly with her pale skin and dark clothing. She wore the outfit of a Senator although Qui-gon knew she was not one. Her eyes were a bright green that reminded him of Kali's own eyes. They were filled with determination and sadness. He found a trace of anger, but could tell the girl was trying hard to remove that thread of emotion out of her system. By the evidence of her mental shields, she was being taught the Jedi arts, but he knew she was not happy with it and it was not a Jedi they wanted her to be. "Who are you." She asked in a prime tone that showed little emotion. "Qui-gon Jinn. I am a Jedi Knight Milady." The girl's eyes widened in surprise and she looked around her. "First of all, never admit to being a Jedi anything in this building. Second of All, Qui-gon Jinn died many years ago." "No, I did not. Although I don't think I am in the time period, I should be. It is 1034 after the republic time." "It would have been 1054 ATR if we still used that time measurement. Now we use the Before the Empire time measurement, which would make yours 4 BTE. Oddly enough I believe you. The force at least tells me to believe you." "Are you a J.." "What have I told you, no mention of Jedi unless you want to die. To answer your question, no. I am not fully trained nor am I training to be a j.a knight. I wish I were, like my father was, but that will never happen. I am training to be a sith, like my grandfather and the Pathetic life form he calls his second in command." "Vader?" "Yes. I am Mara Jade, if you wish to know." "Thank you. Could you tell me why these people have been.well been done this to?" "Certainly. These are the people most likely to have proof of my grandfather's schemes against the galaxy. They are all Jedi or at least force sensitive. Mae and Tae are not Jedi but are sensitive enough to be one." "Who are your Parents?" Mara laughed. "Do want to know who are my parents according to my family tree or who are my parents according to those who gave birth to me." "Both, I figure will be fine." Mara smiled. "My 'mother' is Kaleli Palpatine Jade. She is married to a fighter pilot who never existed by my grandfather thinks died in a freak accident. I have been hiding under that for all the sixteen years of my life, but it is not true. I didn't find out until two years ago that my parents were some one else entirely. My true parents are here." Mara paused and pointed to two of the containers. She walked over to a bench and sat down. Qui-gon followed her." I come here every day to set and watch them. My mother was a beautiful woman before they beat her and imprisoned her. Her hair was almost strawberry blonde-haired. Kaleli, who every one thinks is my mother, told me her hair got lighter as she got older and that it was blood red when she was born. She has my eyes only brighter green with a hint of blue. My Father was a Knight. He trained her to be one as well, and from what I read so far in my grandmother's book of a letter, she made it but barely. He was not very tall, but not short. He had brown hair, with red tint in it. My grandmother says that is why I have such red hair. He was a hero many times." She sighed. "I wished I knew them. I wish I could know what it is to be loved and be held by your mother." "I know your parents." Mara looked up. "You do. Oh, yes, I forgot. You were Daddy's Master." "Daddy?" "Well, that's what I call him. He isn't dead. He can think. I talk to him and Mom sometimes. Sometimes I think I hear him answer but I know that is impossible." "I am sure your parents loved you. Kali always wanted children. I know for certain she would have loved you and taught to be a wonderful young women." Mara looked at him. "Kea did not name her children right. Kali should be my aunt's name. Kali was the god of mischief in the old religions of Crenate." Qui-gon nodded. "I noticed the ironic names too. Kaleli in ancient Nubian speech means Angel of the light. Perhaps my sister wanted to ward off the darkness. Your father used to call your mother Kida, which is Arcadian for Angel." "More appropriate." "Yes, that's what I thought, although I never called your mother that. That was a name for your father to use. He would have loved you as well." "What about my sister. I am a twin." "What is her name." "I am not sure. My grandmother says she is hidden from my grandfather. I believe it may be Lana." "He would have loved her too. As well as any other children they would have had. Your parents had a bond that I believe would have bonded them even when death overcame both of them." "I'm sending them away." "What?" "I'm sending them away. I am sending Daddy and Uncle Ani- don't ask why I call him that- to Tatooine. My mother and Auntie Mae are going to Alderran where my friend Leia works. Her father may know how to free them. Auntie Tae is going to stay. I was not allowed to send her away. My grandfather wants one still as his trophy." Qui-gon shuddered at the thought of any person holding someone as a trophy or making children have to face that. At that moment, he felt himself pulled away from the girl. She watched him go, obviously not shocked that he would fade. "Bye Mara." "Bye Qui-gon." His granddaughter said.
~*~
Padmé Naberrié-Amidala paced her quarters as she waited for the young female Jedi to arrive. Her satin blue skirts caused the only sound as they moved against her and the carpet. Her brown eyes showed none of the fear that the Nubian beauty held inside her. Her long Brown hair was kept in a hairpiece that she had promised herself she would never wear after she had stepped down as queen. However, her hair was too long to be put any other way. Her handmaiden Dormé Aileron stood watching her from the archway that connected the main door and lobby from the main room of her apartment. The handmaiden looked a lot like her mistress and was chosen because of that, and because of her good diplomatic and martial arts skills. She shook her head at the nervous senator. Cordé had been closer to the senator then Dormé and had always known what to say to calm the young women down. Dormé hoped this new girl could do the same. She really enjoyed her job as a handmaiden but there were times like these when the stress was getting to her and Dormé could be a little frustrated. "Milady?" came the accented voice of the newcomer. Padmé looked up, smiled, and rushed to hug her friend. "Kali, you know we don't have to be so formal. Just in the presence of the senate people. Dormé wouldn't mind, would you Dor?" "Of course not, Lady Amidala." Padmé rolled her eyes. She returned her attention to her long time friend. She smiled at the thought of what she could do with Kali if she ever got the chance to make Kali into the angel she really was.inside and out. This was her chance and she would take it. Besides, it would give her an excuse not to have Palpatine breathing down her neck all day. The man was really beginning to get on her nerves. "Come with me, Kali. I'm going to transform you from ordinary Jedi a handmaiden." Her and Dormé took her into the main bedroom chamber and sat her down at the vanity desk that was carved out of Nubian wood. First Dormé started by taking her hair down (excluding her padawan braid) and combed it till it shined a bright golden color. She braided it up in a several layer braid placed at the base of her neck. She fixed it to stay with a transparent pin that ran through the whole braid. Her padawan braid was long enough to be wound around the braid and look like it was meant to be that way. Padmé meanwhile started by finding a more suitable dress then the one that Palpatine had given Kali to wear. She finally settled on a blue dress that she had recently bought in Naboo. Its skirt was long with a beaded string ensemble that went the length of the gown. The mid-drift was not covered and the top morphed into a shawl in the back that continued the bead design. Luckily, Kali was the same size as Padmé, only taller. After her hair was done, and she had donned the blue dress, they went on to make-up. Padmé had already warned Dormé about Kali's abhorrence to make-up so the handmaiden was well prepared when she started to do. Fortunately, Kali was all right with her doing it and it was done quickly. When they had finished, Kali indeed looked like an angel. Padmé did guess, however, that she would have looked like an angel with out the make-up as well. Jar-Jar Binks chose at that time to make Padmé aware that the Jedi had arrived. She was surprised his call of "ANI!" wasn't heard in the chancellor's chambers. She laughed inwardly. Jar-Jar had been extremely happy to be seeing his friends again. Over the years, he still thought he owed them for saving his life, not once, but twice. He never repaid them in his mind. Padmé was beginning to think that neither of them would be able to repay Qui-gon Jinn and his padawans. They had to defend her no matter what her position. She was eternally grateful. "Senator Padmé! Lookie.wesa have Jedi! Padmé smiled before turning away from the window and resuming her formal state of emotion. She always wore the same facial expression, finding that showing her emotions in her face made her vulnerable in debates in the Senate. "Milady, it is nice to see you again." "Likewise, Master Jinn." Padmé looked beside him and was shocked to find a grown up Anakin Skywalker. For some reason she had thought he would still look like the little boy from tattoine. He stumbled over his words when he greeted her; making her wonder if, he felt the same shock. She was glad to see him; she just didn't think it right for him to know. They sat on the couch and discussed the plans of her protection. For a while, everyone watched as Anakin fought with his master on wither or not his or her mandate was to protect or to protect and find. Secretly, Padmé agreed with Anakin. If She had needed simply protection, her guards would have worked fine. However, part of her knew Qui-gon was right. The Jedi would be able to sense her attackers before they attacked and prevent anything from happening. "Milady, A man is here to see you." Came the calm assuring voice of Dormé. "His name?" "Christian Lars, Milady. He sends this note to explain things better." Dormé handed the note over to the senator. Senator Amidala, This is my new persona that I have taken on to protect you. Hope you don't mind. Kida will know who I am,
"Allow him in. Kida, please go with Dormé and see to our visitor." Kida nodded and followed the other handmaiden out to the door. ~*~ Obi-Wan Kenobi stood on the glassed in balcony, watching the many ships go by. His now black hair was cut short and he had shaved. All this to become Padmé's 'cousin' Chris. He was dressed in civilian clothes, although he would much prefer the soft fabric of his Jedi outfit then what he was wearing now. "Something on your mind, Obi?" came the voice of the man who Obi-wan considered a father. "In a way." "Want to talk about it?" "I have to figure it out first. Somehow I feel this is wrong and yet it feels right." "What is that?" "My relationship with Kali." "Oh?" "Sometimes we are just Friends. And then.. Then there are times that make me feel like it should be something more." "Why do you think that's wrong" Obi-wan turned to his mentor, who stood beside him on the balcony. "One, it is against the code to love, and second, I'm THIRTY FIVE years old and she is NINETEEN. Don't you see something wrong in that, Master?" Qui- gon smiled at the name that his former Padawan affectingly called him still. "No. First of all, Obi-wan, love is not exactly against the code. The code is to guide us, not rule our lives. Attachment is against the code, yes, but only when it comes between you and your duty as a Jedi. Being in love with someone and being attached to that person is fine, as long as you don't put that person in front of the force's planning. Love between Jedi almost eliminates that. Tahl and I had a loving relationship and neither of us went to the dark side." Qui-gon smiled as he paused. "And the age problem is not really a problem. She's nineteen, Obi, not six. As that she is an adult and that means she can make her own decision about what she does. Moreover, I have seen people have long relationships with each other with greater differences. Look at Yoda and Yaddle." "Yoda and Yaddle are dating?" "Yes. Actually they have been secretly since they were Yoda was 200 years old and Yaddle a hundred. That's 682 years they have been together" "That's a long time, but it is different for humans. Humans don't live that long. " "Not much different, Obi. Search your heart and you'll find the answer. That's the only advice I could give you." "Thanks." Qui-gon walked off and Obi-wan turned his attention back to the stars before checking to see if his padawan was asleep. He walked into her room, which was beside Padmé's room. It used to be Cordé's room. He knew Kali felt bad about taking the room of the honorable decoy, but Padmé and Dormé had insisted that she had to. He found his padawan lying in the bed already asleep. Her long reddish- blonde hair was left down and was wavy because of the braids earlier worn. She was wearing a body suit similar to the Jedi uniform, except the t-shirt was a tank top and not the normal loose long-sleeve shirts that the Jedi usually wore. Obviously, she had felt that something was going to happen. Beside the bed lay a blaster and her light saber, both in easy reach of her hand. Obi-wan started to walk away when he heard her call his name. When he turned, he found her asleep. He ventured into her dreams though their bond to see what would make her call him. Before he could he felt something strange coming from the room next door. At that instant, Kali awoke and both rushed into Padmé's bedroom. They arrived in time to see Anakin slicing two poisonous assassin worms with this light saber. Obi-wan spotted an assassin driod outside the window and dashed for it. He crashed through the Transparasteel and grasped onto the droid as it flew away. Kali, with Anakin close behind, rushed to the Speeder lot and found a three seated speeder and flew off behind him. Anakin drove while Kali gave directions as she watched her master zigzag across coruscant as the droid tried to release him. Kali saw a Person on top of the building near an advertisement take a strange looking blaster and fire at Obi-wan. It hit the droid and Obi-wan began to fall down towards the bottom of the city. Anakin swerved around a freighter, almost causing Kali to fall out of the speeder. "Watch it Skywalker, I want to live to see my twentieth birthday, thank you very much." "That's two months from now." "Yeah, and if you keep driving like this I'm not goi." Kali ducked as Anakin barley missed a speeder going over their head. "Hey...I thought I told you no showing off. Now you're just being cocky." Anakin just smiled as he maneuvered underneath Obi-wan, allowing him to climb aboard the speeder and sit in the back seat. "What took you so long."? "Sorry Master." Kali said. "I just had to find the right speeder ya know. Open, with the right carpet, seating, colors, speed, something that was working." "If you worked as hard on your light saber training as you do your wit you would surpass Master Yoda in swordsmanship." "I thought I already did." Kali hit him on the hit. "Like a said, cocky." Anakin just smiled at her and took a hard left turn as Obi-wan reveled the location of the bounty hunter. Kali opened her senses to the force and closed her eyes, trying to sense the person as well as trying not to get sick from all the wild turning Anakin was doing. Note to self: Never let Anakin drive again, I quite agree with that. Kali could tell Obi-wan was having a harder time trying not to get sick then she was. Anakin made the speeder do a nosedive and then had to maneuver around some power couplings, which even made Anakin a little green. Suddenly the other driver turned and went into a set of air tunnels. Anakin drove by, much to confusion of Kali. Anakin explained that he was taking a short cut. I bet it is a short cut, a let-the-person-get-away shortcut. Kali, you know better then to think that. Anakin wants to know who he is more then we do. I never said Anakin was letting the person get away on purpose, Obi. Just that I really don't think this is a very wise decision on his part. Anakin stopped the speeder and looked around. "Oh great, you've lost him." "I'm terribly sorry. Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment." Anakin jumped out of the speeder. Obi-wan and Kali immediately looked down at where he was. "I hate it when he does that." "Join the club, I do too. Show off." Obi-wan jumped into the drivers seat. "Sorry, hon, but your not that great of a driver." "I'll never live that down will I?" "Nope." Kali had driven a speeder into one of the tall buildings. The fact that it was the Alerna Speeder Rental and Repair Company made it funny. Obi-wan liked to tease her about it. Obi-wan followed the other speeder and watched as Anakin was thrown about it. Anakin took out his light saber, cut through the transparisteel windows, and started to reflect the blaster bolts. The bounty hunter managed to shoot the saber out of his hand. Obi-wan directed the speeder towards where the saber was falling and Kali managed to grab on to it in time to continue their chasing of the hunter's closed speeder. Anakin continued his struggle with the hunter, managing to get the blaster out of her hands and firing into the console. The speeder lost control and started to roll towards the ground. The front engine of the machine was on fire, causing the speeder to spin. Anakin was thrown off onto the ground and into a series of black canisters. He immediately stood up and looked around, finding the speeder crashing into something about twenty feet away. Anakin started to run towards the hunter, barely noticing Obi-wan and Kali as they landed the speeder. They ran to catch up with him and meet him right before he was about the run into the bar. "Anakin!" Obi-wan called out to him as he caught up with Anakin. Anakin stopped and turned to the older Jedi. Obi-wan held up Anakin's blue bladed light saber. "Missing something Ani?" Anakin rolled his eyes and went to grab his weapon but Obi-wan pulled it away. "Anakin, you need to keep your weapon with you at all times. This could mean your life. You loose it too often." "I have heard this lesson before." "You haven't learned anything Ani, if you still haven't corrected previous mistakes. "We are going to lose him." "Use the force, Anakin. He went in there to hide not to run." "Will you two stop yelling at each other and please go into the club. I really don't think it is wise to spend all of our time at the entrance." Kali flipped her hair behind her ear. During the chase the ponytail she had put her hair up in had come lose and now her lengthy locks flowed freely, much to her annoyance. "Yes, oh great and majestic Kali." "Shut up Skywalker." Anakin laughed and the three walked into the club. It was decided that Anakin would search the club and Kali and Obi-wan would wait at the bar. It would be two noticeable for three or even two Jedi to be searching. "Anakin, you look around for him." "I think He is a Her, master." Kali said. It was naturally easier for a women to sense another womens presence. "And I think she is a changling, a Clawdite." Obi-wan nodded. "Anakin, be careful. Go on and search. Kali, come with me." "What will you and the misses want to drink?" The bar tender said as the two approached the bar. "A Verna and a Madstell." Kali glared at him for a moment for making her get a Madstell, which was a non-alcoholic drunk from Corella. When it arrived, she drinks it quickly, hoping it would calm her stomach, which still rolling from the speeder chase. "I'm surprised you didn't correct him." "Correct who for what?" "The bartender for basically calling me your wife." Obi-wan shrugged. "Did you have a problem with that? "No." "Then let's just play along with it." "Sure, Obi." Kali moved over slightly till she was almost against him. Unfortunately, that allowed another person to stand beside her. The humanoid alien was a dealer. "Want to buy some Death sticks. No one sells better death sticks then??????." "You do not want to sell us death sticks." Obi-wan said as his waved his one hand as he used the other to pick his glass up and take a drink. ????? repeated him. "You want to go home and rethink your life." This time it was Kali, but once again ??? repeated He walked away and Kali turned back to her master." Well, he should." Kali said as she saw the amused look on his face. "Kali, you're the best you know that." "Of course I know that. I wouldn't be named after an ancient goddess of mischief if I weren't." Obi-wan laughed, but not for long. Kali turned around, feeling it right before he did. Obi-wan turned and ignited his saber and cut thought the bounty hunter's wrist, causing her to drop the gun that she was planning to use on them. The bounty hunter cried out in pain as Anakin came into the view. "Personal Business. Go back to your drinks." He said. It only took a light mind trick to get them to ignore the scene in front of them "Thanks Anakin." Kali said as she helped the women off the floor. She pulled the women's good arm around her shoulder and Obi-wan helped balance the other side. They walked out of the back door of the club and laid the women on the cold sidewalk. "Do you know who it is you are trying to kill?" Obi-wan asked. "The Senator from Naboo" she said, her voice mildly relaying the pain she was in. Kali placed her hand on the women's shoulder and sent a few pain relieving probes into the arm. "Who hired you?" Obi asked. The women didn't answer. "Please tell us." Kali said. The women looked up at the girl. Zam realized the girl was kindest person she ever met and that made want to tell them. To make sure at least one person stayed on the path of good. "It was a bounty hunter na." However, she never got to finish her sentence. A dart pierced her skin, instantly killing her and making her retreat into her Clawdite features. Obi-wan and Anakin turned and saw a person in a strange set of armor blast off into the night sky. They turned back to the women to see Kali holding up a dart. "This is what hit her, Master. A dart of some kind." Obi-wan took it and looked at it. He certainly did not recognize it. He put it in his pocket, making sure before he did that the poison was no longer in the small weapon. Kali brought her hand up to her face and squeezed the edges of a wrist unit she wore. "Coruscant Morgue.. This is Jedi Jinn." She waited for a reply and then continued. "I report that there is a body located near the Ra'sa'di night club in the western section. It is female and clawdite. It is laying on the side of the clubs outside wall." The other end said they were coming and she stood up. Obi-wan could tell that her eyes had a few tears in it by the way the light reflected off them. She had never been able to handle deaths very well. She always at least got wet eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and the three walked away from the dead Clawdite. ~*~ Qui-gon sat in the booth thinking. The group of four had been given the rest of the night off while Padmé was guarded by Yoda himself. Yoda had insisted that the four go to another club and relax. They would address the rest of the council in the morning. So now, he sat in at the Rakisha club, a mere two blocks from the temple. Anakin was playing a holo-game with some other padawans with their night off. Kali sat across from him, looking out the window, while Obi-wan watched her from the seat next to her. Sometimes Qui-gon wondered if Kali had been meant to be a healer and not a knight. However, what was done was done. Kali was almost ready to take the trails, although Obi-wan seemed to wish the day further away. Qui-gon had noticed how close the two had gotten. He could even see their life bond now. No one had told them about the bond. The Jedi healers had wanted to see if the bond would continue if the two involved did not know. It had continued most assuredly. It had gotten to the point that if you focused on their force signatures, you could always get only half of the one person and half of the other. They were soul mates and bond mates yet neither knew about it. He knew full well that Kali had been in love with her master for many years already. Bant had noticed it when Kali had first been in her advanced Astrophysics and Space flight class. Kali had always mentioned Obi-wan in her conversations. Although most padawans did that, as most were proud of their masters, Bant had sensed a deeper bond between Kali and Obi-wan. That had been five years ago, when Kali had been almost 15. Now it was much deeper and it came from both sides. From the conversation Qui-gon had had with his former Padawan, Obi-wan was, although slowly, falling in love with his niece. The two were perfect for each other, Qui- gon thought. Obi-wan always serious and a by-the-code person, while Kali was a free going, extremely caring, let the force guide you person. "Hey Master!" Anakin said, trying to whisper. "Yes, Anakin." "Do you realize there is a Karaoke machine here?" "No, but I do see it there." "Why don't we get Kali and Obi to sing? They are wonderful singers. It might even get Kali out of her melancholy mood." "You know, padawan. Sometimes you do use that brain of yours." Anakin smiled and then sat down beside Qui-gon in the booth. "Hey guys." Obi-wan and Kali turned to him. "How about some Karaoke!" Obi-wan and Kali at once started to say no, but Anakin, being the charmer that he was, as well as Qui-gon had convinced them to do a duet together. The four walked up to the stage. Qui-gon paid for the song, as he was the one with the money and Anakin chose the song. He smiled to himself. Match making was fun. Anakin and Qui-gon walked back to their both and waited smiling. Especially was the announcer came to announce the two up there. The four had agreed to use different names while in the club. Anakin was Hayden Lars and Qui-gon was Liam Lars. That would make Obi-wan and Kali Christian and Kida Lars. "Ladies, Gentlemen, its. The next two to try our Karaoke machine are Chris and Kida Lars. They will be singing "Come What May." Off the Moulin Cantina Soundtrack!" The announce stopped off and turned the music on. Obi-wan took a deep breath and turned to Kali. He knew this song by heart already. It was Kali's favorite song. He was going to sing it directly to her.
The lyrics to Come What may:
Never knew I could Feel like this Like I never saw the Ski before Want to Vanish inside your kiss Everyday I love you more and more
Listen to my heart Can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything Seasons may change Winter to Spring But I love you Until the end of time.
Come What May Come What May I will love you Untill my dying day.
Kali stared into his eyes the whole time, totally surprised at what she saw. He was literally singing to her and he meant every word that he said. However, she knew that she meant it more.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste It all revolved around you.
Obi-wan joined her in singing then as they were supposed to. For the first time he was admitting his feelings to himself and to her. He hoped she would understand. He hoped even more that she felt the same way. Looking into her eyes he saw the reflection of his own. Pure selfless surrender to the emotion that tied them together since before they were even born.
And there's no mountain too high No river too wide Sing out this song and I'll be by your side Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide But I love you until the end of time
Come What May Come What May I will Love you Until my dying day.
Oh, come what may Come what may I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a prefect place.
Come What May Come What May I will love you Until my dying day
The two stared at each other for a moment longer before the applause cut into the little world they were in. The two smiled at the audience and nodded their head in a bow. They walked off stage and back to their booth. Anakin and Qui-gon were smiling. "You two are hopeless you know that." Kali said as she slid into the seat. "Yes, We know." Anakin said smiling. *~*
Qui-gon was dreaming. At least he hoped this was a dream and not a vision. He was sitting on a cold stone.or at least it felt like stone... floor. He looked around him and saw five containers, filled with a transparent blue liquid. It reminded him of a bacta tank. Each contained a person, suspended in life. According to the dates stamped into the metal rings around them, holding them to the wall, these were placed two years before the time he was now. In one container there was a young women who had long blonde hair. Her eyes were closed so He had no idea what color they were. According to the ID tag, also on the metal rings her name was Eirtaé Remé, a Handmaiden to Padmé During her rule as the rebellious Queen of Naboo. It also said that she was found guilty of slandering the Emperor's name and was sentenced to death by Crystallization chamber. The next held another thin women with dark brown hair flowing around her now pale body. He recognized her immediately. It was Padmé Amidala, the Senator he was protecting. Her body, once filled with power and immense compassion, now floated almost lifelessly in the blue crystal liquid. Her crime was similar to her handmaiden's, Treason to the self-crowned Emperor. She had failed to inform him of the location of the Jedi, who were enemies of his rule and wanted nothing good for the Empire. Qui-gon thought whoever the emperor was needed to correct his information. The Jedi were peace Seekers. The next one held another recognizable face, the face of his padawan, Anakin. Anakin floated looking slightly healthier then the Senator, but not by much. He had chains around his wrists, which meant he did not go into this willingly, but then who would. His crime was being a con artist, claiming to be Anakin Skywalker, the Second in command of the Empire, There forward to be known as Darth Vader. The next held his other padawan, Obi-wan Kenobi. His head was hung in defeat, and Qui-gon could still see traces of worry and sadness, proving that the crystal did not kill its occupants, only stopped their aging. Obi- wan had been accused of refusing an offer from the crown Princess Kaleli Jade. He also was a Jedi, rebellion leader, and helped the con artist bring false claims against Sidious, the emperor. The next container was the most shocking. His daughter was held in there, looking even worse then her four prison mates. Her body looked worn, and she had sadness written on her face. Trails of frozen blood hang on her wrists from the chains that looked her arms together as well as from a scar on her forehead, where she had obviously been hit in the head with the blunt end of a large blaster. She had been obviously abused and maltreated before her sentence was taken out. Her crime was being the wife of a Jedi, as well as one herself, betraying her father and her family and being a rebellion leader. Her name was stated as Kali Palpatine Kenobi. It was then that Qui-gon noticed he wasn't alone. Looking up at Obi-wan and Kali's prisons was a young girl, possibly around 16 years old. Her hair was long, and would even make Padmé's hair look short. It was tied up in a fancy design, obviously showing her wealth. Her red hair contrasted greatly with her pale skin and dark clothing. She wore the outfit of a Senator although Qui-gon knew she was not one. Her eyes were a bright green that reminded him of Kali's own eyes. They were filled with determination and sadness. He found a trace of anger, but could tell the girl was trying hard to remove that thread of emotion out of her system. By the evidence of her mental shields, she was being taught the Jedi arts, but he knew she was not happy with it and it was not a Jedi they wanted her to be. "Who are you." She asked in a prime tone that showed little emotion. "Qui-gon Jinn. I am a Jedi Knight Milady." The girl's eyes widened in surprise and she looked around her. "First of all, never admit to being a Jedi anything in this building. Second of All, Qui-gon Jinn died many years ago." "No, I did not. Although I don't think I am in the time period, I should be. It is 1034 after the republic time." "It would have been 1054 ATR if we still used that time measurement. Now we use the Before the Empire time measurement, which would make yours 4 BTE. Oddly enough I believe you. The force at least tells me to believe you." "Are you a J.." "What have I told you, no mention of Jedi unless you want to die. To answer your question, no. I am not fully trained nor am I training to be a j.a knight. I wish I were, like my father was, but that will never happen. I am training to be a sith, like my grandfather and the Pathetic life form he calls his second in command." "Vader?" "Yes. I am Mara Jade, if you wish to know." "Thank you. Could you tell me why these people have been.well been done this to?" "Certainly. These are the people most likely to have proof of my grandfather's schemes against the galaxy. They are all Jedi or at least force sensitive. Mae and Tae are not Jedi but are sensitive enough to be one." "Who are your Parents?" Mara laughed. "Do want to know who are my parents according to my family tree or who are my parents according to those who gave birth to me." "Both, I figure will be fine." Mara smiled. "My 'mother' is Kaleli Palpatine Jade. She is married to a fighter pilot who never existed by my grandfather thinks died in a freak accident. I have been hiding under that for all the sixteen years of my life, but it is not true. I didn't find out until two years ago that my parents were some one else entirely. My true parents are here." Mara paused and pointed to two of the containers. She walked over to a bench and sat down. Qui-gon followed her." I come here every day to set and watch them. My mother was a beautiful woman before they beat her and imprisoned her. Her hair was almost strawberry blonde-haired. Kaleli, who every one thinks is my mother, told me her hair got lighter as she got older and that it was blood red when she was born. She has my eyes only brighter green with a hint of blue. My Father was a Knight. He trained her to be one as well, and from what I read so far in my grandmother's book of a letter, she made it but barely. He was not very tall, but not short. He had brown hair, with red tint in it. My grandmother says that is why I have such red hair. He was a hero many times." She sighed. "I wished I knew them. I wish I could know what it is to be loved and be held by your mother." "I know your parents." Mara looked up. "You do. Oh, yes, I forgot. You were Daddy's Master." "Daddy?" "Well, that's what I call him. He isn't dead. He can think. I talk to him and Mom sometimes. Sometimes I think I hear him answer but I know that is impossible." "I am sure your parents loved you. Kali always wanted children. I know for certain she would have loved you and taught to be a wonderful young women." Mara looked at him. "Kea did not name her children right. Kali should be my aunt's name. Kali was the god of mischief in the old religions of Crenate." Qui-gon nodded. "I noticed the ironic names too. Kaleli in ancient Nubian speech means Angel of the light. Perhaps my sister wanted to ward off the darkness. Your father used to call your mother Kida, which is Arcadian for Angel." "More appropriate." "Yes, that's what I thought, although I never called your mother that. That was a name for your father to use. He would have loved you as well." "What about my sister. I am a twin." "What is her name." "I am not sure. My grandmother says she is hidden from my grandfather. I believe it may be Lana." "He would have loved her too. As well as any other children they would have had. Your parents had a bond that I believe would have bonded them even when death overcame both of them." "I'm sending them away." "What?" "I'm sending them away. I am sending Daddy and Uncle Ani- don't ask why I call him that- to Tatooine. My mother and Auntie Mae are going to Alderran where my friend Leia works. Her father may know how to free them. Auntie Tae is going to stay. I was not allowed to send her away. My grandfather wants one still as his trophy." Qui-gon shuddered at the thought of any person holding someone as a trophy or making children have to face that. At that moment, he felt himself pulled away from the girl. She watched him go, obviously not shocked that he would fade. "Bye Mara." "Bye Qui-gon." His granddaughter said.
~*~