Title: The Force of Many
Author: The Goddess of Mush and Stuff
Summary: The Channels aren't dead; they've only been in hiding. What
happens when the Jedi find out where they are?
Chapter One: The Force's Destiny
Emptiness. Hollow and shallow emptiness surrounded by a feeling of death. Nothing moved, nothing lived, it was just emptiness. In a dark and damp room made of decaying stone and earth, it was a wonder anything could survive in such a place. Something could, though.
Darkness.
Like a black dragon ready to strike it's prey, a dark cloud rose from the center of the room. Overbearing and encompassing it rose to the ceiling then stopped, taking form of a humanoid. Glowing, red eyes opened and a faint trace of a smile pulled at unseen lips.
Reaching for a weapon was useless; there were none to be found. The Force had all but abandoned this place and slipped through any attempt to reach for it. So all that was left was to stare blindly up at the monster's rising.
A roar resounded through the room, making everything vibrate and pulse with the anger that backed the roar. Rage, unrestricted rage! Revenge! It wanted revenge for what had been done to it. It would have it to, anyway it could. It would kill all the...
Obi-wan's eyes snapped open and he found himself gasping for breath. The vision had come during his afternoon meditation, which luckily for him, was one he had done by himself this afternoon. The images flitted across his memory again, taunting him; haunting him. It was the same vision he'd been having for several days now. One he wished would make it's point known, because he was getting rather unsettled by the continuous feel of darkness that centered around each showing.
He stood and stretched, ready to head for the gyms. He promised his Master to meet him there for a little sparring.
"That's all I need." He thought to himself. "Undo some of this tension and apprehension and the vision should go away."
It would, unless it was a true Force Vision and it was trying to warn him of an up coming event. He really hoped that wasn't the case. What he saw was something no one should ever have to see, or experience.
He walked down the halls of the Temple quietly, passing several others on his way to the lifts. He barely recognized any of them, too deep in thought. A feeling of familiarity was also screaming to him from the vision. As if he had seen this all before but he couldn't remember where or when it had occurred.
Obi-wan brushed it off and continued on his way. He wanted to get there a little earlier to stretch and make ready for his master. He could nearly beat him now, and he thought of the day he actually achieved beating Master Qui-gon Jinn in a saber duel. Qui-gon was one of the best in the order.
He was dismayed a little to see his Master already meditating in the center of one of the mats. Obi-wan shook his head a bit and stepped up on the mat waiting for his Master to finish.
"Are you ready Padawan?" His Master asked him a few moments later, his eyes finally opening and turning upward towards him.
"Yes Master." He nodded as his Master stood and both unclipped their lightsabers.
Nearly at the same time they activated their lightsabers and began to circle one another in a slow routine. Qui-gon started the attack, thrusting and jabbing, twisting and turning. Obi-wan blocked and parried, every so often getting in his swings or marks.
They picked up the pace a little more each minute that passed. Their sabers clashing and swirling around in a blaze of green and blue; both of them were centering themselves in the Force, hoping to anticipate and block the next move of the other, and even hoping for a slip or over looked weakness to end the match with.
Obi-wan was ready to make a go for the offensive when suddenly his vision went black and he stopped dead in his tracks, unable to move. He knew his Master would take advantage of this and end the match but at the moment it was the least of his concerns.
A roar resounded through the room, making everything vibrate and pulse with the anger that backed the roar. Rage, unrestricted rage! Revenge! It wanted revenge for what had been done to it. It would have it to, anyway it could. It would kill all the Jedi for what harm they had inflicted!
It was the vision again? Not now! It couldn't be now!
He felt his eyes close without his permission and he had the vague feeling he was falling backwards. Why would a vision affect him like this? After several minutes in complete nothingness he was back in the dark, musty room and the dark creature returned again.
The eyes fixed upon him and it raised a ghostly visage of a hand, palm turned upward as if holding a plate. "It will start with you." It hissed and a lightsaber appearing above its hand.
Obi-wan felt a ting of fear and backed up a little, finding he couldn't go anywhere. The lightsaber flew towards him and he couldn't stop it from hitting its mark. It connected with his mid-section, slicing through cloth and flesh as if it wasn't there at all. Fire flamed up his senses and he gritted his teeth against the agony.
The lightsaber faded but the pain remained. He sunk to his knees, hearing the cackles from the darkness ahead of him. You think a Vision Master, even a young one, could coax a vision into a full showing.
The words reverberated in his skull and his vision, then starting to blur, cleared suddenly as he snapped his attention behind the darkness. Something was pulling his attention there. A light? Here?
Then it all slid into place. Diriala. He was back on Diriala, and this was Than and Jahan on their assault against Xanatos and....
Her form wasn't clear but the curly red hair was a dead giveaway. She stood like a beacon of purity and light in the darkened room. Her face was contorted in pain and grief, for Xanatos had just been killed. It struck him that he had been experiencing what had to be Xanatos' pain when the saber had sliced him through.
But he had died from that wound hadn't he? They watched as his body went limp and Telly's spirit seemed to give up all hope. How could Xanatos survive such a wound?
The pain left him and he found he could stand again. The darkness kept centered on Telly and the fight played out just as it might have on Diriala. He hadn't been sure what happened because Telly begged them to leave to safety. In her hand was a glowing globe of light and in the darkness' hand a globe of dark.
Both of them flung their globes at the other at the same time and there was a blinding flash of light that forced him to block his eyes. He could hear screams and calls all around him and the Force! The Force had suddenly sprung back to life around him. It was like hearing voices; the cries were calling for someone to free them finally from their prison. They would protect whoever freed them.
He hazard to open his eyes and found the room now of glowing white stones, a sliver of light peering in from a hole in the ceiling down to the center of the platform the dark creature had once occupied. The voices died away and their tone changed. Now they were content and centered around what was the center of the room.
"I'm going home, Obi-wan. I'll be with my friends again."
He walked towards it, catching the glimpse of something green residing there. It was a small sprout, a thing growing in the place once dead. His hand snaked out to touch the small plant, hoping maybe to aid it's growth, but when his hand was a few inches away a loud screech startled him and he fell backwards.
From the ground rose a red bird-like creature, spreading its wings in an impressive display. It pulled its head back and screeched again as it's wings wrapped around the small plant. Beady black eyes fixed his own and he couldn't move. So transfixed by the sight before him, he barely heard the whispered words with no origin.
What once was gone is now restored. Up from the fires into the sun and then down to the waters where life begun.
The bird creature unfolded its wings and disappeared. Now standing on the platform in the light was a person. Head bent downward, curled hair hiding the face. Walking forward to confront them she began raising her head. Green eyes met blue and he stopped walking. Telly Liksani stood staring back at him, the light making her iridescent.
His eyes wandered away from her and he focused behind her to the right. A cloaked figure stood, with only one cheek visible to him. A scar of a broken circle was so apparent that he knew who stood behind her. Xanatos.
Obi-wan was about to move forward to meet him, to battle him if he had to, but Telly's voice stopped him. "Obi-wan."
The voice was accented slightly, but he had never noticed that before about her. He turned to face her, now much closer than he had been before. "Telly," he smiled up at her and her face broke into it's own grin.
"Obi-wan." She repeated and she held out a hand to him. It was if she wanted him to join her up on the platform. He reached his hand up to take it but something singed him. He pulled his hand back and stared up at Telly. Her hand was still stretched out to him.
Obi-wan's vision began blurring again as his hand reached out once more. He could barely hear Telly's voice when she said his name again for the third time.
"Obi-wan!"
His eyes snapped open and found himself staring at his Master's concerned face. Obi-wan blinked a few times, trying to make sure he was really back in the gym or just suddenly in another place. He could feel his master's hands gripping him by the shoulders and they were defiantly still in the training gym.
"Obi-wan?"
"Master?" He finally replied, pulling away only slightly.
Qui-gon released him and rocked back on his heels to watch him sit up a little straighter. "What happened?" He asked quietly. "A vision?"
Obi-wan nodded his head, keeping his eyes cast down. It was a vision and he knew they were becoming a little to frequently for him and his Master's liking. He stood and Qui-gon followed him up. "It's all right. It's gone I think."
"What was this one about?"
Obi-wan looked up at him for a moment, debating whether or not he should tell Qui-gon about what he had seen. It did involve Xanatos so he had a right to know, but then again his Master would say what he saw could or couldn't be truth. What might have been probably? "It was about that place on Diriala." He said picking up his lightsaber and tucking it on his belt and making a move towards the door. Qui-gon picked up his things and followed behind him.
"What about that place?" Qui-gon asked quietly hoping Obi-wan would answer him.
"I'm not sure Master." Obi-wan looked over his shoulder at Qui-gon. "It was really vague."
Qui-gon nodded knowing Obi-wan wasn't telling him everything. The twenty- one year-old was making it more of a habit to deal with his visions on his own instead of talking them out. They were occurring with more frequency though and Qui-gon was becoming a little concerned. He was thinking maybe he should speak to one of the masters about it. They could help Obi-wan with whatever it was he was seeing.
***********************************
The shadows across the land were slowly being chased away by the orange morning light. Creeping across hills and flatlands, it came towards Nikir, ready to light the white-stone tower as it did nearly every morning. With the same observer watching quietly from his perch atop the tower.
It was strange, watching the sunrise as it did across the Nikir Plains every morning. It would start lighting the tall tower, rise up its tall stance then start lighting him. Finally when he opened his eyes the land was bright and clear and almost perfect.
It was calm. Every planet he had ever been to, in all his life, had always had this feeling of distortion to it. They were in chaos or unbalance, but this place had calm.
"Leave it to us to create such a place. No one would believe it if they heard it." He chuckled to himself. No one would believe he, Xanatos DeCruet, was capable of creating a place that promoted non-violence.
He turned to walk down the spiral stairs, having seen his fill of the sunrise. A quiet still hung around the building, not many in residence raised themselves this early. He only did out of pure routine that had been drilled into him. He moved about to the kitchens to fix himself something to eat and sat at one of the large wooden tables to enjoy his solitude.
It never remained that way for long. Some of the younger people staying with them also liked early mornings and whenever they smelled what he was cooking they came running.
"Morning, Master."
Xanatos turned to eye the speaker. Jassy Emri, a young woman who had just shown up on Diriala. An orphan from the planet Tatooine that some how found her way across the galaxy and ending up on Chandrila. That's where one of the people who came from Diriala found her and brought her up.
"Good morning Emri." He mumbled lightly, slightly amused anyone would call him master. Not after all he had done.
The young woman moved into the kitchens, searching for food. No cooks were here this early and anyone wanting food when they weren't there, had to fend for themselves. She was really self sufficient, he had to admit.
She had a rare talent to go with her will. An illusionist. That's how they recognized her gift; she scared some merchant near to death with something she pulled from his mind so she could steal his goods. She was a tricky little thief.
"What's on the schedule for today Master?" She asked as she sat down with bread and fruit and began eating at a break neck speed.
"Not much of anything. The same routines as usual." He told her trying not to smirk at her eating habits.
"When do we start something new?"
Emri's one quality that endeared her to him was this impatience. He'd dealt with it before and so had Telly. They also knew how annoying it could be when you felt like you were ahead and stuck behind. "Soon."
"Great."
There was a long draw of silence and Xanatos was nearly ready to get up go to the morning meetings. "I will talk to you later about your classes and whether or not you are ready to advance."
"Thank you, Master." Emri's face lit up in a broad smile. "I appreciate it."
"I've been there once." Xanatos winked as he stood. "Now time to go do morning duties." He sighed.
Sometimes being the leader of a planet had its disadvantages. As he made his way to the Council room he could think of several. One was these early morning sessions, which were usually very boring.
He strode towards the center of the tower. It was where the council room was positioned so that everyone could access it easy. Several others were starting to stir and the halls were becoming more crowded. He nodded to a few as they passed and they said their greetings. Another disadvantage, everyone knew who you were.
Finally though he got to the large oak doors and he pushed one open to enter. The ray of sunlight coming down from the center sunlight only illuminated the cool darkness inside. This room was the only room that had been left standing after the fight here five years ago. They had remolded it, seeing it was circular in design and it had once held a stone platform.
They replaced the original one, feeling the darkness still emanating from the one Jahan had occupied while he was on Diriala. They put seats and rows of cushions along the walls. Finally, each section of the room was decorated with large banners hanging from the ceiling.
The colors were those of the sect, which occupied the space below them. It was an array of colors and many had similar colors in their banners. He sat below the dark blue banner on several cushions and sighed. He didn't have to be here yet but sometimes this room helped him think clearer.
As he drew up his legs and closed his eyes and he felt a sudden change. One he knew a little too well these days.
It was like being thrown into a vortex. The Force literally felt like it was dropping him and then he was being blown around in the strands and paths. He opened his eyes, knowing he wouldn't be in the council room, but in the Force.
It was black and there was nothing around. He steadied himself a bit and then felt that familiar radiance in the back of his mind. He closed his eyes and centered on it and knew why he had been drug into this vision. Telly had been drug in first.
He followed her Force signature till finally he felt her close by. He opened his eyes and found her standing on the plains in front of the Tower. In front of him stood Telly, her hair blowing in the wind and her eyes glued ahead of her.
He came up behind her and touched her shoulder lightly. She looked up at him sadly, and then returned to the horizon. "It begins again." She whispered and pointed.
Looking up to where she was pointing he could see the horizon was glowing red, as if the sun was getting ready to come up. The feeling of dread he felt creeping up his spine told him it wasn't a sunrise he was about to see.
There in the distance a line of lightsabers began lighting up. It seemed to go on forever, to the east and the west, and he could see the faces of several Jedi glaring at them as if they were Sith. Xanatos unconsciously began stepping backwards. There were so many of them! Why?
Telly stood stone-faced and still where he had first found her. She didn't move, she didn't seem to blink, but he could clearly make out a tear on her cheek. He looked back to the line of lightsabers and saw them marching forward. With each slow step the Jedi were drawing closer.
They had be there for him, they knew he was there and they weren't about to let him escape as easily as everyone on Diriala had. They wanted justice and they were there to get it.
"It's not about you." Telly's soft voice whispered and he stared at the side of her head. "It's about us. We are they only more lenient. We are not they yet we are stronger.
"We are with you Master." A voice behind him said and he turned to see Emri coming up beside Telly and the rest of the Dirialian Jedi behind her. They had their own lightsabers and blasters, axes and vibro-shivs, swords and most of all their gifts with them. They all were dressed in formal outfits, colors shining proudly as they lifted their weapons to show their force to the Jedi.
Xanatos was touched by the sentiment but there were still too many Jedi coming towards them.
"They will not wipe us out. We've earned the right to learn our gifts." Emri's voice echoed in his ears and he knew Emri's voice was getting louder and more determined. "Just because they deem us not worthy doesn't mean we are scum and don't have the right to live and learn what we've been given!"
The cheers went up behind him and Xanatos cringed. They were going to fight the Jedi and then the Republic would come. He stood quietly as the Jedi came closer and once they got within view he could see the two that led the pack. It was Qui-gon Jinn and Obi-wan Kenobi. Of all the people it was those two who led the army of Jedi. Of course it was Qui-gon and Obi- wan, both would love to see him dead.
The Jedi began running towards them, lightsabers humming; they were ready to fight it seemed. Behind him their clan began screaming and yelling, bringing the Jedi closer and closer till finally they clashed together.
Lightsabers began flashing and searing through flesh and clothing, blaster bolts buzzed by his head on their way towards their targets, cries of frustration and exertion could be heard behind him, and yet Xanatos couldn't make himself move. He just stood, like Telly, staring ahead looking for that silver lining in the darkness.
Telly's slender hand went up again, her palm turned up and reaching out. Ahead of her was just what they both were looking for. Their last hope was standing in front of Telly, staring at them as they were staring at him.
Obi-wan Kenobi stood with his lightsaber hanging limply in his hands, looking at Telly as if she were a ghost. Telly's outstretched hand grabbed his attention and he reached forward and just as suddenly as Xanatos had been dropped into this vision he was being thrown back out.
Xanatos gasped as he felt himself 'thrown' back into his body. Opening his eyes carefully he found he was back in the cool, stone Council Room, sitting in plush cushions and his knees drawn up in Indian style beneath him. His face was clammy and he could hear himself breathing in the large circular room; he was panting from the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
He let his cobalt blue eyes take in his surroundings a few times to make sure no figures would jump out at him and no vision would blind-side him again. He wanted to be sure it was over before he attempted to stand.
"It was just a vision," he explained to himself. "A very disturbing vision but a vision nonetheless. You are a vision master they are to be expected. Anyways, it's just a possible future, not a set-in-stone future. Just something you should keep in mind."
He nearly had himself convinced when suddenly it hit him. It hadn't been his vision it was Telly's.
He got to his feet and began walking to the halls. Telly rarely had visions and when she did have them she was normally channeling the Force while doing so. It drained her energy but she followed them anyway. She always told him that if it was important enough for the Force to show her, an empath, it had to be something of importance and not just some possibility.
Walking as quickly as he could through the halls and towards the part of the tower designated for the Empathy Sect, his brain couldn't help but keep running through what he had seen. If Telly's theory held true, that battle was in the making and they didn't know when the Jedi would arrive.
He reached her room and swung open the door. He leaned heavily on the doorframe and knob and stared in. Telly was in her chair by the window, holding her head and leaning to one side. Her eyes were closed and he could see tear marks on her cheeks. Jareed knelt in front of her, watching closely and quietly rubbing her hand that was in his own.
Xanatos nearly smiled at the two noting how his former assistant and his learner were getting along a lot better these days.
He pushed himself straight and entered quietly and stood a few feet away. Telly would start speaking when she was ready and when she felt she was able. Jareed shrugged up at him and stood up to speak to him. "I don't know what happened Xanatos. We were just talking and she just passed out. A few minutes later she snapped out of it and was really upset."
"A vision, Jareed."
"About what?"
"That's for us to discuss." Telly finally said and raised her head to look at both of them. "Let's find someplace quiet. It's time I let you in on the little secrets."
"Oh, there are more than just this one, is there?" he said as he crossed his arms in front of him and raised an eyebrow.
"Just a few tiny ones." Telly said as she smiled. It made him relax a bit. If she was smiling not all of those secrets were bad. Just things she chose not to share with him. He understood, there were certainly things he had chosen not to share with her.
***********************************
Bant Eerin sat placidly in one of the many gardens in the Jedi Temple staring ahead at the pond before her. Every so often her eyes would focus on something in the pond or below the surface of the water and then they would return to an unfocused stare of deep thought.
Bant was coming to the gardens a lot these days. Especially to the spot by the huge pond where she and Obi-wan used to come swimming in their initiate days. It had been their spot to meet or hang out when they both weren't busy but it was more of her spot to come think. Obi-wan and his Master were usually away on missions and he hardly had time to sneak away with her when he was home.
The crystalline waters splashed and sloshed gently in a mockery of small waves and the clear blue waters sparkled in the artificial sunlight. It usually cleared her mind and helped her to relax enough so she could meditate. Today it was only helping her focus on something else instead of her thoughts.
Bant's mind dwelt on past more than she liked. No matter how hard she worked to release her feelings about the several ordeals she'd been through they just seemed to stick with her.
Today her thoughts were dwelling on a year ago when a rather gruff and rough bounty hunter named Jeb collected the bounty that had been placed on her head. He kidnapped her and transported her back to her home world of Mon Calamari. There several priests began preparing her for some big event that only happened every thirteen years and informed her she was a Daughter of the Moon.
Bant never really knew what it meant but it involved a huge ceremony during the full moons that would join her and twelve other girls together in some fashion. It was supposed to give them powers or make them into some higher forms. She didn't understand the reasoning behind it and neither did the twelve other girls.
The ceremony nearly went all the way through, but before it all could end her Master had shown up to rescue her. It was strange because Bant had been sure her Master wouldn't be coming for her.
It had been years since Master Tahl had taken her as an apprentice and they still hadn't formed a tight bond. Tahl still left her behind during missions that she deemed too dangerous. And even though Tahl said it was because of her handicaps; her being blind and all, Bant always took it as her Master didn't trust her abilities or her.
Bant sighed and rested her head on her knees. After that whole experience she hadn't really been herself. She wasn't the same outgoing, cheerful girl that insisted on being everywhere and into everything that her friends were doing. She didn't go seek them out as she once did and mostly communicated with them through comms instead of face to face. She studied a lot more and kept to herself and tried her hardest not to disappoint the Masters.
Of course she was disappointing her friends and her Master when she withdrew and became more reclusive.
Being so deep in thought usually left her unaware of her surroundings so it surprised her when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
"Hello Bant."
She whipped around instantly and stared up at the tall figure standing a few feet away from her. His robes were wrapped around him in the usual fashion of his Master and he had his usual half-grin plastered on his face. "Obi-wan!" she gasped as she stood up to hug him briefly. "What are you doing here?"
Obi-wan's smile got wider and shook his head a bit. "I've been back for a while, it's just really hard to track you down."
Bant dropped her gaze and turned away. "I just wanted some time alone, to think, that's all. How have you been?"
Obi-wan regarded her knowing full well she was trying to change the subject. "I've been well, and don't worry about it. I understand you want some time alone."
Bant looked back up and studied Obi-wan. This was the first time in a good two years they both had been at the Temple at the same time. They both were older now; Obi-wan twenty-one and she was nineteen. Obi-wan had grown tall and muscular, his training with Qui-gon defiantly sculpting a shy, cute boy into a confident, handsome young man. His ginger hair was still cut in the traditional Padawan style but she assumed that one of these years he was going to show up without the braid and a full knight. Obi-wan still had the most amazing blue eyes.
The same blue eyes she could still ready with incredible accuracy. He was worried about her, she could tell by the way he was watching her.
"So why so eager to seek me out?" She said, finally breaking the silence between them.
"Well, I wanted to see how you were, and I guess I wanted to talk to you a bit. I've been having a lot of visions lately."
"About what?" Bant smirked when she answered. Obi-wan was baiting her into talking when he stopped his sentences short. If she weren't so interested she'd just let him go on staring out over the pond forever.
"They're about Diriala."
The conversation came to a dead stand still as Bant's eyes instantly fixed on Obi-wan. Diriala was a place she hadn't thought about for years. She had tucked away the hurt and kept it safely hidden until now. Now everything that had happened was rushing back with a great deal of clarity. Diriala was where she had lost her best friend, Telly Liksani.
"What about Diriala?" she managed to ask.
Obi-wan sat down and motioned that she do the same. He closed his eyes briefly and then watched her take a seat near him. "It's mostly about Telly and what happened after.after we left the tower. It shows her and those things fighting and then everything goes black. The first time I saw it, I thought that was the end of it but then a light comes down from the center of the room and it's surrounding a sprout on the center platform. I go to look closer at it and this huge red bird that appears to be on fire shoots up behind it and covers it with it's wings."
"A phoenix." Bant said unconsciously. "It was a phoenix you saw."
"I wondered what it was." Obi-wan smiled at her a bit knowing she might know the creature. " Well this phoenix says something and then unfolds its wings and disappears again. In the place of the sprout is Telly. She calls to me and I try to reach her but when I get close to touching her I get thrown back to reality."
Bant sat quietly picturing what Obi-wan explained to her. A phoenix rose from the ashes to be born again, it could be a symbol of rebirth. And if Telly was the center of the vision it could represent her rebirth. Before she could voice this theory though Obi-wan continued.
"I'm not really sure what to think of it all but," Obi-wan clasped his hands in front of him and hung his head. "I think the Force is trying to tell me Telly's not dead."
"I think you're right." Bant sat up straighter. "If you have had this vision over and over again it means that it isn't just some possibility, Obi-wan. It must mean she's alive somewhere."
Obi-wan avoided her gaze and sighed heavily. "I want to believe that Bant, I really do, but."
"But what?"
"I've been having lots of visions lately. Many have been proven untrue or just what could have been." Obi-wan looked at her sideways and she knew he couldn't look at her straight. "I can't say just this one vision has to be true with no proof. Anyway, it's near impossible that she survived what happened. The building collapsed, Xanatos was dead, and what she was doing didn't exactly look easy for her."
"But if it is true, we're leaving her on a planet all alone." She tried to reason with him.
"I only told you about this because I thought maybe it was a sign to find you." Obi-wan confessed. "You haven't exactly moved past what happened there. We should just wait it out and see what happens. If it is true some proof will come of it and the Council will send someone."
"How is proof going to get her? She's alone there on that planet." Bant's tone had turned deadly and she was standing up to leave.
Obi-wan stood to and gripped her shoulders firmly. "I want it to be true Bant, but even if it was true and she is alive, why hasn't she come back on her own? Why hasn't she tried to find her way back? Master Yaddle would have felt something was wrong when we told her she was dead."
Bant and he stared at each other for a long time and her silver-gray eyes smoldered with frustration. She freed herself and backed away scowling all the way. "Fine, we will wait. Let's hope she's still there when we finally get there."
She stormed off knowing Obi-wan was confused about her actions but she couldn't help but feel betrayed. First he told her about his visions and suspicions, which were very clearly trying to tell them Telly Liksani was alive, then he said it wasn't true and couldn't be true. No matter what Obi-wan said this was proof to her, Telly had to be alive otherwise it wouldn't have showed her to him.
Bant swore she was going to find some way to get back to Diriala and find Telly.
***********************************
After several long hours debating with his doubts on what he should do Qui- gon Jinn entered the meditation gardens with an agenda that didn't include meditating. He had spent a few afternoons pondering the strange and various visions Obi-wan had told him about, wondered about the ones he wouldn't speak about, and then came to the conclusion that he didn't know enough about them to help Obi-wan.
Qui-gon being strong in the Living Force and not the Unifying, couldn't understand why suddenly his apprentice was being assaulted with pictures and words of what could be. Obi-wan had been aligned with the Unifying Force when he took him as a Padawan, but never had the visions been so constant or vivid for him.
So here he was, quietly walking through the greenery, taking a less traveled path through thick brush and foliage that would lead to Master Yoda's favorite spot to meditate. Qui-gon was seeking out his former Master for advice; he would give some words that would make things seem a little clearer.
After several moments of walking and thinking to himself he came upon the diminutive master, sitting quietly under a yaga tree. His ears were cast downward, eyes closed and it looked very much like the Masters was sleeping, but Qui-gon knew that he was not.
He sat quietly a few feet away and folded his legs beneath him. Through all his years of learning from one of the oldest and wisest Jedi, it had amazed him just how powerful his Master was. It became evident when he was meditating and he was truly one with the Force. It gave him strength, even now that he was becoming older and having trouble with arthritis and walking became a little more difficult. It also amazed how long his Master usually stayed in such a state. He could possibly be here for hours, but he would wait.
"Qui-gon, a surprise this is." Yoda finally said after several quiet moments. His eyes opened slowly and his normal sleepy gaze fixed on Qui- gon.
He smiled a little and bowed his head. "I am sorry to disturb you, Master."
"Little disturbance you were," Yoda smiled slightly. "Now, what help to you can I be?"
"I've come to ask for advice about Obi-wan. He's been having many visions lately. They are starting to distract him and I must admit they unsettle me."
Yoda nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, yes. Stronger Obi-wan is becoming, stronger in the Force is he. Coming more frequently, these visions, for reasons, hmmm?"
"I do not understand those reasons, Master. What he sees are, most times, very disturbing."
"Seen, what has he?"
"A battle, he says, a great battle. It is the Jedi against some unseen, darkened force. When the battle begins it is the Jedi that start dying; in great numbers." Qui-gon paused to think about the other few visions Obi- wan had told him of. "There are others but it the same theme of darkness and death revolving around the Jedi."
"A possible future he could be seeing," Yoda rubbed his chin and sighed. "Rising again is the darkness. A possible enemy of the Jedi this force could be."
"The Sith?" Qui-gon straightened.
"Possible it is." Yoda said more to himself than as an answer to Qui-gon. "Possible also that his fears they are too."
"His fears?" Qui-gon had thought Obi-wan had long since put his fears behind him.
"Sometimes fears the future he does. Why it is he is always looking ahead, never in the moment. Something is coming he fears."
"What could be coming that he would fear?"
"His future. His destiny." Yoda hooked Qui-gon with his intent stare and he felt the weight behind his next words. "Great things we expect of Obi- wan."
Qui-gon studied the earth beneath him and wondered. Why would Obi-wan fear his future so much? "Master, he has always been up to that challenge. I think it is a wrong assumption to make of his visions of being manifestations of his fears."
"True, very brave and noble is Obi-wan. Fears vanquished they can be and he has done well doing so." Yoda smiled and nodded. "But a possibility it may remain."
Qui-gon sighed. He'd have to talk to Obi-wan and pay more attention to what his apprentice thought the visions represented. Most of them could be read as fear of death and destructions but one kept bugging him. "There is one vision that he seems to have with more frequency than the others. It isn't about the death of the Jedi or some other representation of us; it seems to center around the planet Diriala."
Yoda's ears had perked considerably and Qui-gon knew he had said something to spark the Master's interest. "Diriala? Diriala did you say?"
Chapter One: The Force's Destiny
Emptiness. Hollow and shallow emptiness surrounded by a feeling of death. Nothing moved, nothing lived, it was just emptiness. In a dark and damp room made of decaying stone and earth, it was a wonder anything could survive in such a place. Something could, though.
Darkness.
Like a black dragon ready to strike it's prey, a dark cloud rose from the center of the room. Overbearing and encompassing it rose to the ceiling then stopped, taking form of a humanoid. Glowing, red eyes opened and a faint trace of a smile pulled at unseen lips.
Reaching for a weapon was useless; there were none to be found. The Force had all but abandoned this place and slipped through any attempt to reach for it. So all that was left was to stare blindly up at the monster's rising.
A roar resounded through the room, making everything vibrate and pulse with the anger that backed the roar. Rage, unrestricted rage! Revenge! It wanted revenge for what had been done to it. It would have it to, anyway it could. It would kill all the...
Obi-wan's eyes snapped open and he found himself gasping for breath. The vision had come during his afternoon meditation, which luckily for him, was one he had done by himself this afternoon. The images flitted across his memory again, taunting him; haunting him. It was the same vision he'd been having for several days now. One he wished would make it's point known, because he was getting rather unsettled by the continuous feel of darkness that centered around each showing.
He stood and stretched, ready to head for the gyms. He promised his Master to meet him there for a little sparring.
"That's all I need." He thought to himself. "Undo some of this tension and apprehension and the vision should go away."
It would, unless it was a true Force Vision and it was trying to warn him of an up coming event. He really hoped that wasn't the case. What he saw was something no one should ever have to see, or experience.
He walked down the halls of the Temple quietly, passing several others on his way to the lifts. He barely recognized any of them, too deep in thought. A feeling of familiarity was also screaming to him from the vision. As if he had seen this all before but he couldn't remember where or when it had occurred.
Obi-wan brushed it off and continued on his way. He wanted to get there a little earlier to stretch and make ready for his master. He could nearly beat him now, and he thought of the day he actually achieved beating Master Qui-gon Jinn in a saber duel. Qui-gon was one of the best in the order.
He was dismayed a little to see his Master already meditating in the center of one of the mats. Obi-wan shook his head a bit and stepped up on the mat waiting for his Master to finish.
"Are you ready Padawan?" His Master asked him a few moments later, his eyes finally opening and turning upward towards him.
"Yes Master." He nodded as his Master stood and both unclipped their lightsabers.
Nearly at the same time they activated their lightsabers and began to circle one another in a slow routine. Qui-gon started the attack, thrusting and jabbing, twisting and turning. Obi-wan blocked and parried, every so often getting in his swings or marks.
They picked up the pace a little more each minute that passed. Their sabers clashing and swirling around in a blaze of green and blue; both of them were centering themselves in the Force, hoping to anticipate and block the next move of the other, and even hoping for a slip or over looked weakness to end the match with.
Obi-wan was ready to make a go for the offensive when suddenly his vision went black and he stopped dead in his tracks, unable to move. He knew his Master would take advantage of this and end the match but at the moment it was the least of his concerns.
A roar resounded through the room, making everything vibrate and pulse with the anger that backed the roar. Rage, unrestricted rage! Revenge! It wanted revenge for what had been done to it. It would have it to, anyway it could. It would kill all the Jedi for what harm they had inflicted!
It was the vision again? Not now! It couldn't be now!
He felt his eyes close without his permission and he had the vague feeling he was falling backwards. Why would a vision affect him like this? After several minutes in complete nothingness he was back in the dark, musty room and the dark creature returned again.
The eyes fixed upon him and it raised a ghostly visage of a hand, palm turned upward as if holding a plate. "It will start with you." It hissed and a lightsaber appearing above its hand.
Obi-wan felt a ting of fear and backed up a little, finding he couldn't go anywhere. The lightsaber flew towards him and he couldn't stop it from hitting its mark. It connected with his mid-section, slicing through cloth and flesh as if it wasn't there at all. Fire flamed up his senses and he gritted his teeth against the agony.
The lightsaber faded but the pain remained. He sunk to his knees, hearing the cackles from the darkness ahead of him. You think a Vision Master, even a young one, could coax a vision into a full showing.
The words reverberated in his skull and his vision, then starting to blur, cleared suddenly as he snapped his attention behind the darkness. Something was pulling his attention there. A light? Here?
Then it all slid into place. Diriala. He was back on Diriala, and this was Than and Jahan on their assault against Xanatos and....
Her form wasn't clear but the curly red hair was a dead giveaway. She stood like a beacon of purity and light in the darkened room. Her face was contorted in pain and grief, for Xanatos had just been killed. It struck him that he had been experiencing what had to be Xanatos' pain when the saber had sliced him through.
But he had died from that wound hadn't he? They watched as his body went limp and Telly's spirit seemed to give up all hope. How could Xanatos survive such a wound?
The pain left him and he found he could stand again. The darkness kept centered on Telly and the fight played out just as it might have on Diriala. He hadn't been sure what happened because Telly begged them to leave to safety. In her hand was a glowing globe of light and in the darkness' hand a globe of dark.
Both of them flung their globes at the other at the same time and there was a blinding flash of light that forced him to block his eyes. He could hear screams and calls all around him and the Force! The Force had suddenly sprung back to life around him. It was like hearing voices; the cries were calling for someone to free them finally from their prison. They would protect whoever freed them.
He hazard to open his eyes and found the room now of glowing white stones, a sliver of light peering in from a hole in the ceiling down to the center of the platform the dark creature had once occupied. The voices died away and their tone changed. Now they were content and centered around what was the center of the room.
"I'm going home, Obi-wan. I'll be with my friends again."
He walked towards it, catching the glimpse of something green residing there. It was a small sprout, a thing growing in the place once dead. His hand snaked out to touch the small plant, hoping maybe to aid it's growth, but when his hand was a few inches away a loud screech startled him and he fell backwards.
From the ground rose a red bird-like creature, spreading its wings in an impressive display. It pulled its head back and screeched again as it's wings wrapped around the small plant. Beady black eyes fixed his own and he couldn't move. So transfixed by the sight before him, he barely heard the whispered words with no origin.
What once was gone is now restored. Up from the fires into the sun and then down to the waters where life begun.
The bird creature unfolded its wings and disappeared. Now standing on the platform in the light was a person. Head bent downward, curled hair hiding the face. Walking forward to confront them she began raising her head. Green eyes met blue and he stopped walking. Telly Liksani stood staring back at him, the light making her iridescent.
His eyes wandered away from her and he focused behind her to the right. A cloaked figure stood, with only one cheek visible to him. A scar of a broken circle was so apparent that he knew who stood behind her. Xanatos.
Obi-wan was about to move forward to meet him, to battle him if he had to, but Telly's voice stopped him. "Obi-wan."
The voice was accented slightly, but he had never noticed that before about her. He turned to face her, now much closer than he had been before. "Telly," he smiled up at her and her face broke into it's own grin.
"Obi-wan." She repeated and she held out a hand to him. It was if she wanted him to join her up on the platform. He reached his hand up to take it but something singed him. He pulled his hand back and stared up at Telly. Her hand was still stretched out to him.
Obi-wan's vision began blurring again as his hand reached out once more. He could barely hear Telly's voice when she said his name again for the third time.
"Obi-wan!"
His eyes snapped open and found himself staring at his Master's concerned face. Obi-wan blinked a few times, trying to make sure he was really back in the gym or just suddenly in another place. He could feel his master's hands gripping him by the shoulders and they were defiantly still in the training gym.
"Obi-wan?"
"Master?" He finally replied, pulling away only slightly.
Qui-gon released him and rocked back on his heels to watch him sit up a little straighter. "What happened?" He asked quietly. "A vision?"
Obi-wan nodded his head, keeping his eyes cast down. It was a vision and he knew they were becoming a little to frequently for him and his Master's liking. He stood and Qui-gon followed him up. "It's all right. It's gone I think."
"What was this one about?"
Obi-wan looked up at him for a moment, debating whether or not he should tell Qui-gon about what he had seen. It did involve Xanatos so he had a right to know, but then again his Master would say what he saw could or couldn't be truth. What might have been probably? "It was about that place on Diriala." He said picking up his lightsaber and tucking it on his belt and making a move towards the door. Qui-gon picked up his things and followed behind him.
"What about that place?" Qui-gon asked quietly hoping Obi-wan would answer him.
"I'm not sure Master." Obi-wan looked over his shoulder at Qui-gon. "It was really vague."
Qui-gon nodded knowing Obi-wan wasn't telling him everything. The twenty- one year-old was making it more of a habit to deal with his visions on his own instead of talking them out. They were occurring with more frequency though and Qui-gon was becoming a little concerned. He was thinking maybe he should speak to one of the masters about it. They could help Obi-wan with whatever it was he was seeing.
***********************************
The shadows across the land were slowly being chased away by the orange morning light. Creeping across hills and flatlands, it came towards Nikir, ready to light the white-stone tower as it did nearly every morning. With the same observer watching quietly from his perch atop the tower.
It was strange, watching the sunrise as it did across the Nikir Plains every morning. It would start lighting the tall tower, rise up its tall stance then start lighting him. Finally when he opened his eyes the land was bright and clear and almost perfect.
It was calm. Every planet he had ever been to, in all his life, had always had this feeling of distortion to it. They were in chaos or unbalance, but this place had calm.
"Leave it to us to create such a place. No one would believe it if they heard it." He chuckled to himself. No one would believe he, Xanatos DeCruet, was capable of creating a place that promoted non-violence.
He turned to walk down the spiral stairs, having seen his fill of the sunrise. A quiet still hung around the building, not many in residence raised themselves this early. He only did out of pure routine that had been drilled into him. He moved about to the kitchens to fix himself something to eat and sat at one of the large wooden tables to enjoy his solitude.
It never remained that way for long. Some of the younger people staying with them also liked early mornings and whenever they smelled what he was cooking they came running.
"Morning, Master."
Xanatos turned to eye the speaker. Jassy Emri, a young woman who had just shown up on Diriala. An orphan from the planet Tatooine that some how found her way across the galaxy and ending up on Chandrila. That's where one of the people who came from Diriala found her and brought her up.
"Good morning Emri." He mumbled lightly, slightly amused anyone would call him master. Not after all he had done.
The young woman moved into the kitchens, searching for food. No cooks were here this early and anyone wanting food when they weren't there, had to fend for themselves. She was really self sufficient, he had to admit.
She had a rare talent to go with her will. An illusionist. That's how they recognized her gift; she scared some merchant near to death with something she pulled from his mind so she could steal his goods. She was a tricky little thief.
"What's on the schedule for today Master?" She asked as she sat down with bread and fruit and began eating at a break neck speed.
"Not much of anything. The same routines as usual." He told her trying not to smirk at her eating habits.
"When do we start something new?"
Emri's one quality that endeared her to him was this impatience. He'd dealt with it before and so had Telly. They also knew how annoying it could be when you felt like you were ahead and stuck behind. "Soon."
"Great."
There was a long draw of silence and Xanatos was nearly ready to get up go to the morning meetings. "I will talk to you later about your classes and whether or not you are ready to advance."
"Thank you, Master." Emri's face lit up in a broad smile. "I appreciate it."
"I've been there once." Xanatos winked as he stood. "Now time to go do morning duties." He sighed.
Sometimes being the leader of a planet had its disadvantages. As he made his way to the Council room he could think of several. One was these early morning sessions, which were usually very boring.
He strode towards the center of the tower. It was where the council room was positioned so that everyone could access it easy. Several others were starting to stir and the halls were becoming more crowded. He nodded to a few as they passed and they said their greetings. Another disadvantage, everyone knew who you were.
Finally though he got to the large oak doors and he pushed one open to enter. The ray of sunlight coming down from the center sunlight only illuminated the cool darkness inside. This room was the only room that had been left standing after the fight here five years ago. They had remolded it, seeing it was circular in design and it had once held a stone platform.
They replaced the original one, feeling the darkness still emanating from the one Jahan had occupied while he was on Diriala. They put seats and rows of cushions along the walls. Finally, each section of the room was decorated with large banners hanging from the ceiling.
The colors were those of the sect, which occupied the space below them. It was an array of colors and many had similar colors in their banners. He sat below the dark blue banner on several cushions and sighed. He didn't have to be here yet but sometimes this room helped him think clearer.
As he drew up his legs and closed his eyes and he felt a sudden change. One he knew a little too well these days.
It was like being thrown into a vortex. The Force literally felt like it was dropping him and then he was being blown around in the strands and paths. He opened his eyes, knowing he wouldn't be in the council room, but in the Force.
It was black and there was nothing around. He steadied himself a bit and then felt that familiar radiance in the back of his mind. He closed his eyes and centered on it and knew why he had been drug into this vision. Telly had been drug in first.
He followed her Force signature till finally he felt her close by. He opened his eyes and found her standing on the plains in front of the Tower. In front of him stood Telly, her hair blowing in the wind and her eyes glued ahead of her.
He came up behind her and touched her shoulder lightly. She looked up at him sadly, and then returned to the horizon. "It begins again." She whispered and pointed.
Looking up to where she was pointing he could see the horizon was glowing red, as if the sun was getting ready to come up. The feeling of dread he felt creeping up his spine told him it wasn't a sunrise he was about to see.
There in the distance a line of lightsabers began lighting up. It seemed to go on forever, to the east and the west, and he could see the faces of several Jedi glaring at them as if they were Sith. Xanatos unconsciously began stepping backwards. There were so many of them! Why?
Telly stood stone-faced and still where he had first found her. She didn't move, she didn't seem to blink, but he could clearly make out a tear on her cheek. He looked back to the line of lightsabers and saw them marching forward. With each slow step the Jedi were drawing closer.
They had be there for him, they knew he was there and they weren't about to let him escape as easily as everyone on Diriala had. They wanted justice and they were there to get it.
"It's not about you." Telly's soft voice whispered and he stared at the side of her head. "It's about us. We are they only more lenient. We are not they yet we are stronger.
"We are with you Master." A voice behind him said and he turned to see Emri coming up beside Telly and the rest of the Dirialian Jedi behind her. They had their own lightsabers and blasters, axes and vibro-shivs, swords and most of all their gifts with them. They all were dressed in formal outfits, colors shining proudly as they lifted their weapons to show their force to the Jedi.
Xanatos was touched by the sentiment but there were still too many Jedi coming towards them.
"They will not wipe us out. We've earned the right to learn our gifts." Emri's voice echoed in his ears and he knew Emri's voice was getting louder and more determined. "Just because they deem us not worthy doesn't mean we are scum and don't have the right to live and learn what we've been given!"
The cheers went up behind him and Xanatos cringed. They were going to fight the Jedi and then the Republic would come. He stood quietly as the Jedi came closer and once they got within view he could see the two that led the pack. It was Qui-gon Jinn and Obi-wan Kenobi. Of all the people it was those two who led the army of Jedi. Of course it was Qui-gon and Obi- wan, both would love to see him dead.
The Jedi began running towards them, lightsabers humming; they were ready to fight it seemed. Behind him their clan began screaming and yelling, bringing the Jedi closer and closer till finally they clashed together.
Lightsabers began flashing and searing through flesh and clothing, blaster bolts buzzed by his head on their way towards their targets, cries of frustration and exertion could be heard behind him, and yet Xanatos couldn't make himself move. He just stood, like Telly, staring ahead looking for that silver lining in the darkness.
Telly's slender hand went up again, her palm turned up and reaching out. Ahead of her was just what they both were looking for. Their last hope was standing in front of Telly, staring at them as they were staring at him.
Obi-wan Kenobi stood with his lightsaber hanging limply in his hands, looking at Telly as if she were a ghost. Telly's outstretched hand grabbed his attention and he reached forward and just as suddenly as Xanatos had been dropped into this vision he was being thrown back out.
Xanatos gasped as he felt himself 'thrown' back into his body. Opening his eyes carefully he found he was back in the cool, stone Council Room, sitting in plush cushions and his knees drawn up in Indian style beneath him. His face was clammy and he could hear himself breathing in the large circular room; he was panting from the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
He let his cobalt blue eyes take in his surroundings a few times to make sure no figures would jump out at him and no vision would blind-side him again. He wanted to be sure it was over before he attempted to stand.
"It was just a vision," he explained to himself. "A very disturbing vision but a vision nonetheless. You are a vision master they are to be expected. Anyways, it's just a possible future, not a set-in-stone future. Just something you should keep in mind."
He nearly had himself convinced when suddenly it hit him. It hadn't been his vision it was Telly's.
He got to his feet and began walking to the halls. Telly rarely had visions and when she did have them she was normally channeling the Force while doing so. It drained her energy but she followed them anyway. She always told him that if it was important enough for the Force to show her, an empath, it had to be something of importance and not just some possibility.
Walking as quickly as he could through the halls and towards the part of the tower designated for the Empathy Sect, his brain couldn't help but keep running through what he had seen. If Telly's theory held true, that battle was in the making and they didn't know when the Jedi would arrive.
He reached her room and swung open the door. He leaned heavily on the doorframe and knob and stared in. Telly was in her chair by the window, holding her head and leaning to one side. Her eyes were closed and he could see tear marks on her cheeks. Jareed knelt in front of her, watching closely and quietly rubbing her hand that was in his own.
Xanatos nearly smiled at the two noting how his former assistant and his learner were getting along a lot better these days.
He pushed himself straight and entered quietly and stood a few feet away. Telly would start speaking when she was ready and when she felt she was able. Jareed shrugged up at him and stood up to speak to him. "I don't know what happened Xanatos. We were just talking and she just passed out. A few minutes later she snapped out of it and was really upset."
"A vision, Jareed."
"About what?"
"That's for us to discuss." Telly finally said and raised her head to look at both of them. "Let's find someplace quiet. It's time I let you in on the little secrets."
"Oh, there are more than just this one, is there?" he said as he crossed his arms in front of him and raised an eyebrow.
"Just a few tiny ones." Telly said as she smiled. It made him relax a bit. If she was smiling not all of those secrets were bad. Just things she chose not to share with him. He understood, there were certainly things he had chosen not to share with her.
***********************************
Bant Eerin sat placidly in one of the many gardens in the Jedi Temple staring ahead at the pond before her. Every so often her eyes would focus on something in the pond or below the surface of the water and then they would return to an unfocused stare of deep thought.
Bant was coming to the gardens a lot these days. Especially to the spot by the huge pond where she and Obi-wan used to come swimming in their initiate days. It had been their spot to meet or hang out when they both weren't busy but it was more of her spot to come think. Obi-wan and his Master were usually away on missions and he hardly had time to sneak away with her when he was home.
The crystalline waters splashed and sloshed gently in a mockery of small waves and the clear blue waters sparkled in the artificial sunlight. It usually cleared her mind and helped her to relax enough so she could meditate. Today it was only helping her focus on something else instead of her thoughts.
Bant's mind dwelt on past more than she liked. No matter how hard she worked to release her feelings about the several ordeals she'd been through they just seemed to stick with her.
Today her thoughts were dwelling on a year ago when a rather gruff and rough bounty hunter named Jeb collected the bounty that had been placed on her head. He kidnapped her and transported her back to her home world of Mon Calamari. There several priests began preparing her for some big event that only happened every thirteen years and informed her she was a Daughter of the Moon.
Bant never really knew what it meant but it involved a huge ceremony during the full moons that would join her and twelve other girls together in some fashion. It was supposed to give them powers or make them into some higher forms. She didn't understand the reasoning behind it and neither did the twelve other girls.
The ceremony nearly went all the way through, but before it all could end her Master had shown up to rescue her. It was strange because Bant had been sure her Master wouldn't be coming for her.
It had been years since Master Tahl had taken her as an apprentice and they still hadn't formed a tight bond. Tahl still left her behind during missions that she deemed too dangerous. And even though Tahl said it was because of her handicaps; her being blind and all, Bant always took it as her Master didn't trust her abilities or her.
Bant sighed and rested her head on her knees. After that whole experience she hadn't really been herself. She wasn't the same outgoing, cheerful girl that insisted on being everywhere and into everything that her friends were doing. She didn't go seek them out as she once did and mostly communicated with them through comms instead of face to face. She studied a lot more and kept to herself and tried her hardest not to disappoint the Masters.
Of course she was disappointing her friends and her Master when she withdrew and became more reclusive.
Being so deep in thought usually left her unaware of her surroundings so it surprised her when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
"Hello Bant."
She whipped around instantly and stared up at the tall figure standing a few feet away from her. His robes were wrapped around him in the usual fashion of his Master and he had his usual half-grin plastered on his face. "Obi-wan!" she gasped as she stood up to hug him briefly. "What are you doing here?"
Obi-wan's smile got wider and shook his head a bit. "I've been back for a while, it's just really hard to track you down."
Bant dropped her gaze and turned away. "I just wanted some time alone, to think, that's all. How have you been?"
Obi-wan regarded her knowing full well she was trying to change the subject. "I've been well, and don't worry about it. I understand you want some time alone."
Bant looked back up and studied Obi-wan. This was the first time in a good two years they both had been at the Temple at the same time. They both were older now; Obi-wan twenty-one and she was nineteen. Obi-wan had grown tall and muscular, his training with Qui-gon defiantly sculpting a shy, cute boy into a confident, handsome young man. His ginger hair was still cut in the traditional Padawan style but she assumed that one of these years he was going to show up without the braid and a full knight. Obi-wan still had the most amazing blue eyes.
The same blue eyes she could still ready with incredible accuracy. He was worried about her, she could tell by the way he was watching her.
"So why so eager to seek me out?" She said, finally breaking the silence between them.
"Well, I wanted to see how you were, and I guess I wanted to talk to you a bit. I've been having a lot of visions lately."
"About what?" Bant smirked when she answered. Obi-wan was baiting her into talking when he stopped his sentences short. If she weren't so interested she'd just let him go on staring out over the pond forever.
"They're about Diriala."
The conversation came to a dead stand still as Bant's eyes instantly fixed on Obi-wan. Diriala was a place she hadn't thought about for years. She had tucked away the hurt and kept it safely hidden until now. Now everything that had happened was rushing back with a great deal of clarity. Diriala was where she had lost her best friend, Telly Liksani.
"What about Diriala?" she managed to ask.
Obi-wan sat down and motioned that she do the same. He closed his eyes briefly and then watched her take a seat near him. "It's mostly about Telly and what happened after.after we left the tower. It shows her and those things fighting and then everything goes black. The first time I saw it, I thought that was the end of it but then a light comes down from the center of the room and it's surrounding a sprout on the center platform. I go to look closer at it and this huge red bird that appears to be on fire shoots up behind it and covers it with it's wings."
"A phoenix." Bant said unconsciously. "It was a phoenix you saw."
"I wondered what it was." Obi-wan smiled at her a bit knowing she might know the creature. " Well this phoenix says something and then unfolds its wings and disappears again. In the place of the sprout is Telly. She calls to me and I try to reach her but when I get close to touching her I get thrown back to reality."
Bant sat quietly picturing what Obi-wan explained to her. A phoenix rose from the ashes to be born again, it could be a symbol of rebirth. And if Telly was the center of the vision it could represent her rebirth. Before she could voice this theory though Obi-wan continued.
"I'm not really sure what to think of it all but," Obi-wan clasped his hands in front of him and hung his head. "I think the Force is trying to tell me Telly's not dead."
"I think you're right." Bant sat up straighter. "If you have had this vision over and over again it means that it isn't just some possibility, Obi-wan. It must mean she's alive somewhere."
Obi-wan avoided her gaze and sighed heavily. "I want to believe that Bant, I really do, but."
"But what?"
"I've been having lots of visions lately. Many have been proven untrue or just what could have been." Obi-wan looked at her sideways and she knew he couldn't look at her straight. "I can't say just this one vision has to be true with no proof. Anyway, it's near impossible that she survived what happened. The building collapsed, Xanatos was dead, and what she was doing didn't exactly look easy for her."
"But if it is true, we're leaving her on a planet all alone." She tried to reason with him.
"I only told you about this because I thought maybe it was a sign to find you." Obi-wan confessed. "You haven't exactly moved past what happened there. We should just wait it out and see what happens. If it is true some proof will come of it and the Council will send someone."
"How is proof going to get her? She's alone there on that planet." Bant's tone had turned deadly and she was standing up to leave.
Obi-wan stood to and gripped her shoulders firmly. "I want it to be true Bant, but even if it was true and she is alive, why hasn't she come back on her own? Why hasn't she tried to find her way back? Master Yaddle would have felt something was wrong when we told her she was dead."
Bant and he stared at each other for a long time and her silver-gray eyes smoldered with frustration. She freed herself and backed away scowling all the way. "Fine, we will wait. Let's hope she's still there when we finally get there."
She stormed off knowing Obi-wan was confused about her actions but she couldn't help but feel betrayed. First he told her about his visions and suspicions, which were very clearly trying to tell them Telly Liksani was alive, then he said it wasn't true and couldn't be true. No matter what Obi-wan said this was proof to her, Telly had to be alive otherwise it wouldn't have showed her to him.
Bant swore she was going to find some way to get back to Diriala and find Telly.
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After several long hours debating with his doubts on what he should do Qui- gon Jinn entered the meditation gardens with an agenda that didn't include meditating. He had spent a few afternoons pondering the strange and various visions Obi-wan had told him about, wondered about the ones he wouldn't speak about, and then came to the conclusion that he didn't know enough about them to help Obi-wan.
Qui-gon being strong in the Living Force and not the Unifying, couldn't understand why suddenly his apprentice was being assaulted with pictures and words of what could be. Obi-wan had been aligned with the Unifying Force when he took him as a Padawan, but never had the visions been so constant or vivid for him.
So here he was, quietly walking through the greenery, taking a less traveled path through thick brush and foliage that would lead to Master Yoda's favorite spot to meditate. Qui-gon was seeking out his former Master for advice; he would give some words that would make things seem a little clearer.
After several moments of walking and thinking to himself he came upon the diminutive master, sitting quietly under a yaga tree. His ears were cast downward, eyes closed and it looked very much like the Masters was sleeping, but Qui-gon knew that he was not.
He sat quietly a few feet away and folded his legs beneath him. Through all his years of learning from one of the oldest and wisest Jedi, it had amazed him just how powerful his Master was. It became evident when he was meditating and he was truly one with the Force. It gave him strength, even now that he was becoming older and having trouble with arthritis and walking became a little more difficult. It also amazed how long his Master usually stayed in such a state. He could possibly be here for hours, but he would wait.
"Qui-gon, a surprise this is." Yoda finally said after several quiet moments. His eyes opened slowly and his normal sleepy gaze fixed on Qui- gon.
He smiled a little and bowed his head. "I am sorry to disturb you, Master."
"Little disturbance you were," Yoda smiled slightly. "Now, what help to you can I be?"
"I've come to ask for advice about Obi-wan. He's been having many visions lately. They are starting to distract him and I must admit they unsettle me."
Yoda nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, yes. Stronger Obi-wan is becoming, stronger in the Force is he. Coming more frequently, these visions, for reasons, hmmm?"
"I do not understand those reasons, Master. What he sees are, most times, very disturbing."
"Seen, what has he?"
"A battle, he says, a great battle. It is the Jedi against some unseen, darkened force. When the battle begins it is the Jedi that start dying; in great numbers." Qui-gon paused to think about the other few visions Obi- wan had told him of. "There are others but it the same theme of darkness and death revolving around the Jedi."
"A possible future he could be seeing," Yoda rubbed his chin and sighed. "Rising again is the darkness. A possible enemy of the Jedi this force could be."
"The Sith?" Qui-gon straightened.
"Possible it is." Yoda said more to himself than as an answer to Qui-gon. "Possible also that his fears they are too."
"His fears?" Qui-gon had thought Obi-wan had long since put his fears behind him.
"Sometimes fears the future he does. Why it is he is always looking ahead, never in the moment. Something is coming he fears."
"What could be coming that he would fear?"
"His future. His destiny." Yoda hooked Qui-gon with his intent stare and he felt the weight behind his next words. "Great things we expect of Obi- wan."
Qui-gon studied the earth beneath him and wondered. Why would Obi-wan fear his future so much? "Master, he has always been up to that challenge. I think it is a wrong assumption to make of his visions of being manifestations of his fears."
"True, very brave and noble is Obi-wan. Fears vanquished they can be and he has done well doing so." Yoda smiled and nodded. "But a possibility it may remain."
Qui-gon sighed. He'd have to talk to Obi-wan and pay more attention to what his apprentice thought the visions represented. Most of them could be read as fear of death and destructions but one kept bugging him. "There is one vision that he seems to have with more frequency than the others. It isn't about the death of the Jedi or some other representation of us; it seems to center around the planet Diriala."
Yoda's ears had perked considerably and Qui-gon knew he had said something to spark the Master's interest. "Diriala? Diriala did you say?"