Chapter Two
Melody sat at a lunch table with her friends Élan Ryos, Siri Tachi, and Salene Ya'el. She pushed her food around her plate while idle listening as Salene related a story that another Padawan had told her earlier.
"...she said they were surrounded by dozens of soldiers. She said she didn't think they would get out of it alive. Then the leader clutched his chest and fell to his knees. He had a heart attack or something. Most of the soldiers were distracted or trying to help him. Cyn and her Master used the distraction to their advantage and were able to escape easier than she thought they would."
"No way Salene, you're making that up," Siri argued.
"That's what she told me, whether or not she was telling the truth I don't know," Salene said taking a spoonful of her Bantha steak stew.
"It probably is true. Every thing comes so easily to her. She was chosen as a Padawan without really having to fight for it. She gets good grades without studying. She probably does get the easy way out when it comes to missions too," Élan complained.
"You're just upset because Geoni asked her out instead of you," Siri pointed out.
"I'm not upset with her, I just don't like her. I don't understand what he saw in her in the first place; she's too perfect." Élan shook her head with a sigh as she glanced over at the table that Padawan Geoni sat at beside Padawan Cyn.
"At least when it comes to the lightsaber she still can't beat Melody," Salene smiled and looked at her friend who stared down at her fork as she moved it through her sunan noodles in a figure eight motion.
"Melody, are you all right?" Élan asked. Melody continued to stare at her food, unaware of the three pairs of eyes watching her worriedly.
"Melody Kazala," Salene spoke loudly to get her friends attention.
Melody blinked and looked up at Salene and Siri who both sat across the table from her. "What?" she asked.
"What's wrong," nineteen-year-old Salene inquired. Her long black hair fell off her shoulder obscuring her vision. She instinctually pushed it back out of her way.
"Nothing really, I'm just tired. I couldn't sleep last night," she assured her friends.
"Well Melody, I want you well rested to go out with us on Natunda we are going to celebrate Élan's birthday in style this year. Last year you missed all the fun by having to go on a mission."
"Salene you use any excuse to go out to those clubs," Siri snorted in between bites of Shalla pasta that she had chosen for mid meal.
"Yes I do; and you use any excuse to not come with us." Salene retorted and scrapped her teeth off her spoon as she put another spoonful of stew in her mouth.
"Yeah Siri, you always have a mission to prepare for, a date with Obi-Wan, or something else to keep you away. The last time you came out with us I think was before you started dating Obi-Wan, what was it three years ago?" Élan questioned with a raised eyebrow. Élan and Salene often taunted Siri who was a closer friend of Melody's than of theirs.
"Fine," Siri sighed, "I'll be there on Natunda.
"I'll believe it when I see it honey," Salene commented.
"Are you going to drag Obi-Wan with you?" Élan asked.
"Were not seeing each other anymore," the blonde haired seventeen-year-old told them.
"You broke up again already. I thought that you just got back together the other day?" Salene queried.
"No, we broke up two weeks ago. It was a couple of days before Obi-Wan left for his mission. We haven't talked since he came back to the temple two days ago," Siri explained.
"So is this the fifteenth or sixteenth time that you broke up?" Salene smiled.
"Well here he comes so you can start working on your seventeenth break up," Élan smirked.
Melody looked up at Élans observation. She knew that Obi-Wan would either want to sit with them and wordlessly make up with Siri, or guide her out of the cafeteria to talk. She did not want to take the chance of him sitting near her. She had had enough trouble all day trying not to think about her vision from the previous night. She knew that being near him would make it worse. She put her fork down on the green tray that held her plate of food.
"Hello Obi-Wan," Élan greeted him as Melody quickly wiped her mouth on her beige napkin and tossed it onto the tray. "Are you here to talk to Siri?"
"Hello Élan. Actually I need to talk to Melody," he looked down at Melody as she stood up.
Melody lifted her tray of uneaten food, preparing to make a hasty retreat. "I have to leave right now. I have somewhere I need to be," she lied. "Feel free to sit down and keep my friends company though."
Obi-Wan and the three teenaged girls watched her walk away from the table toward the food disposal.
"Yes, Obi-Wan why don't you sit with us and tell us about your last mission," Siri agreed with a grin.
Ignoring Siri, Obi-Wan turned and hurried after Melody. He suspected that she didn't really have anywhere to go.
"What's wrong with Melody," fourteen year-old Élan asked as she watched Obi- Wan hurry after her.
"I don't know," Salene admitted, "but I do know that she dueled Obi-Wan today."
"She's been acting strange all morning," Siri shrugged her shoulders. "Master Titani was upset with her lack of focus. He threatened to tell her Master."
"Her Master is with my Master on their way to Ursa Prime. We will join them in about a week, after they contact the temple and say that it is ok for us to go there," Élan explained. "When I asked her what was wrong," Siri continued ignoring the younger girls comment, "she wouldn't tell me. She kept using the excuse that she was tired."
"Well whatever it is it must have something to do with Padawan Kenobi," Salene assumed. "I think she beat him in the duel against him this morning."
"She did," Élan nodded. "Master Garaar told my Master that she beat him. He apparently thought he could beat her easily because she is smaller than he is."
"I can't believe that Obi-Wan would do that," Siri disagreed shaking her head emphatically.
"Well he did Siri. Maybe he was distracted, but he was surprised that she beat him. Master Garaar said that even Master Windu could sense it."
"He probably just got distracted," Siri shrugged her shoulders again not wanting to believe that Obi-Wan would do something like that.
"But no matter what the reason for Obi-Wan's underestimation; Melody has never been so upset over someone doing that to the point where she ignores the person. And she's gotten more used to it by now," Salene noted.
"Yes, but none of her friends had done it to her before either. They were always older arrogant Padawans that were so sure of themselves. I think that Melody has felt closer to Obi-Wan after Master Qui-Gon's death. His Master watched out for Melody when her Master couldn't. I remember she used to call him her Uncle Master when we were in the crèche," Élan told them.
"I guess you're right. If she's not feeling better by Friday we'll make sure that she has a good time when we go out and forgets all about arrogant older Padawans," Salene said.
"Don't worry Padawan Kenobi will not let her out of his site before apologizing to her. She'll be back to normal before we go out," Élan assured the two older Padawans.
*****************************
"Melody," Obi-Wan called after the burgundy haired girl as she exited the large cafeteria after disposing of her meal and tray. She had either not heard him or was trying to ignore him. He guessed it was the latter. "Melody wait," he hurried out of the eatery after her. Her skirt flowing behind her as she quickly walked toward the lift tubes. Obi-Wan quickened his pace to catch up to her before she got inside the lift and could leave without giving him a chance to talk to her and explain what had happened. He decided that Master Sifo-Dyas was right. He decided that he would not only apologize to Melody but explain why he did what he had, and try asking her to the Senate ball which would be held in two weeks.
He reached the lift just as the doors slid open and quickly hurried inside behind her, blocking her escape route until the doors closed behind him.
She inwardly groaned as Obi-Wan rushed into the lift blocking the doors so she could not leave before the doors closed. After giving him an angry glare, she clenched her teeth and typed the location that she wanted the lift to take her with more force than was necessary. She then looked down at the floor as the lift began to move.
"Melody, I understand that you are angry with me and I don't blame you. I was-"
"Obi-Wan stop. Its ok you made a mistake. You thought that you knew that you could beat me in a duel, you were wrong. "She continued to stare at her red boots that matched her red skirt and tank top. "Actually, I'm sure you've learned a valuable lesson today, and I'm glad that you learned it from me in a mock duel instead of underestimating a real threat. There is nothing for you to apologize to me for. Just make sure you don't do it again."
Obi-Wan stared at her in stunned silence as the lift tube doors slid open and she rushed past him, grazing his arm with hers as she made her retreat. After a moments hesitation he hurried after her. He noticed that they were on the floor that the crèche was located on.
He followed her into a room full of three and four year old initiates. He stood in the door way and watched as two younglings rushed to greet her. One a young girl with long dark reddish brown hair and the other was a taller boy with brown hair. Obi-Wan smiled as the girl leaped into Melody's outstretched arms.
"Meddy," she giggled as Melody spun the girl around in a circle. The girl's feet flew out just over the head of the little boy who also giggled as he tried to catch her feet.
"You early," the girl said after Melody finally put her down.
"Obi-Wan, you should leave before the Masters make you help out in here," Melody told him taking a quick glance at him.
"Melly," the boy said. "We made you palays." He pulled Melody's hand toward a section of floor where the children had been playing with blocks.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," I have not seen you in a while. "How are you," a kind and familiar voice said from beside him.
"I'm good," Obi-Wan smiled at the crèche Master Ali-Alann.
"That's good to hear. You certainly have grown in the time since you were last here," Ali-Alann turned to look at Melody and the two toddlers that Obi-Wan was watching.
"Padawan Kazala is a very beautiful girl. She comes here everyday that she is at the temple to help out with the children."
"That little girl seems to be particularly fond of her," Obi-Wan observed. The girl sat on Melody's lap as the three of them piled the blocks high on top of one another.
"Yes Ember is very close to Melody."
"Ember, Is that the little baby that Master Qui-Gon used to come to visit before he died?"
"Yes," Ali-Alann sighed. "Ember was very upset when he sopped coming to see her. But since our new youngling arrived she is doing much better. They are inseparable." He indicated the little boy playing with Melody and Ember. "He was named after your old Master. He took an immediate liking to Ember and Melody too. He rarely leaves Ember's side."
"They named him Qui-Gon?"
"He was dropped off at our door without any Identification the day after your Masters death. Because he had no name, the Council named him Qui-Gon Jinn in honor of your Master."
Obi-Wan looked to the crèche Master then back to the little boy. He was not sure how he felt about the boy reclaiming his fallen Masters name.
When Obi-Wan did not say anything Ali-Alann asked, "Would you like to say and volunteer? I could introduce you little Qui-Gon."
"No," he shook his head looking back at Melody again. Now Ember and little Qui-Gon both sat on her lap, as she read them a child's story from a datapad. Other children had gathered around her on the floor to listen to her read the story.
Obi-Wan noted that unlike him, she appeared very comfortable with all the children surrounding her.
"Ember will be asleep in Melody's arms, before the story is finished. Qui- Gon will then monopolize her time with tales of his and Ember's discoveries since she last saw them," the crèche Master commented. "If your friend didn't already have a Master, she would make a great apprentice for one of us here at the crèche."
Obi-Wan nodded. In the back of his mind he almost wished she was a crèche Padawan. Her life would not be in danger so much and she would always be at the temple when he returned from missions. He knew though no matter how good she was with the children that she would not be happy if she could not go on missions. It was one of the few things that he knew that they had in common.
"No," Obi-Wan repeated, "I can't stay. I just needed to talk to Melody, but we can talk later," Obi-Wan assured him.
The Master nodded, "it was good to see you again. Feel free to come back and visit with us anytime."
He nodded again before glancing back at Melody one more time. Ember was resting her head against her shoulder nearly asleep already. Obi-Wan slowly turned around to leave the room.
As he slowly made his way away from the crèche he could not stop thinking about Melody and the children. He was certain that she would have made a great mother one day if she had not been a Jedi.
Melody sat at a lunch table with her friends Élan Ryos, Siri Tachi, and Salene Ya'el. She pushed her food around her plate while idle listening as Salene related a story that another Padawan had told her earlier.
"...she said they were surrounded by dozens of soldiers. She said she didn't think they would get out of it alive. Then the leader clutched his chest and fell to his knees. He had a heart attack or something. Most of the soldiers were distracted or trying to help him. Cyn and her Master used the distraction to their advantage and were able to escape easier than she thought they would."
"No way Salene, you're making that up," Siri argued.
"That's what she told me, whether or not she was telling the truth I don't know," Salene said taking a spoonful of her Bantha steak stew.
"It probably is true. Every thing comes so easily to her. She was chosen as a Padawan without really having to fight for it. She gets good grades without studying. She probably does get the easy way out when it comes to missions too," Élan complained.
"You're just upset because Geoni asked her out instead of you," Siri pointed out.
"I'm not upset with her, I just don't like her. I don't understand what he saw in her in the first place; she's too perfect." Élan shook her head with a sigh as she glanced over at the table that Padawan Geoni sat at beside Padawan Cyn.
"At least when it comes to the lightsaber she still can't beat Melody," Salene smiled and looked at her friend who stared down at her fork as she moved it through her sunan noodles in a figure eight motion.
"Melody, are you all right?" Élan asked. Melody continued to stare at her food, unaware of the three pairs of eyes watching her worriedly.
"Melody Kazala," Salene spoke loudly to get her friends attention.
Melody blinked and looked up at Salene and Siri who both sat across the table from her. "What?" she asked.
"What's wrong," nineteen-year-old Salene inquired. Her long black hair fell off her shoulder obscuring her vision. She instinctually pushed it back out of her way.
"Nothing really, I'm just tired. I couldn't sleep last night," she assured her friends.
"Well Melody, I want you well rested to go out with us on Natunda we are going to celebrate Élan's birthday in style this year. Last year you missed all the fun by having to go on a mission."
"Salene you use any excuse to go out to those clubs," Siri snorted in between bites of Shalla pasta that she had chosen for mid meal.
"Yes I do; and you use any excuse to not come with us." Salene retorted and scrapped her teeth off her spoon as she put another spoonful of stew in her mouth.
"Yeah Siri, you always have a mission to prepare for, a date with Obi-Wan, or something else to keep you away. The last time you came out with us I think was before you started dating Obi-Wan, what was it three years ago?" Élan questioned with a raised eyebrow. Élan and Salene often taunted Siri who was a closer friend of Melody's than of theirs.
"Fine," Siri sighed, "I'll be there on Natunda.
"I'll believe it when I see it honey," Salene commented.
"Are you going to drag Obi-Wan with you?" Élan asked.
"Were not seeing each other anymore," the blonde haired seventeen-year-old told them.
"You broke up again already. I thought that you just got back together the other day?" Salene queried.
"No, we broke up two weeks ago. It was a couple of days before Obi-Wan left for his mission. We haven't talked since he came back to the temple two days ago," Siri explained.
"So is this the fifteenth or sixteenth time that you broke up?" Salene smiled.
"Well here he comes so you can start working on your seventeenth break up," Élan smirked.
Melody looked up at Élans observation. She knew that Obi-Wan would either want to sit with them and wordlessly make up with Siri, or guide her out of the cafeteria to talk. She did not want to take the chance of him sitting near her. She had had enough trouble all day trying not to think about her vision from the previous night. She knew that being near him would make it worse. She put her fork down on the green tray that held her plate of food.
"Hello Obi-Wan," Élan greeted him as Melody quickly wiped her mouth on her beige napkin and tossed it onto the tray. "Are you here to talk to Siri?"
"Hello Élan. Actually I need to talk to Melody," he looked down at Melody as she stood up.
Melody lifted her tray of uneaten food, preparing to make a hasty retreat. "I have to leave right now. I have somewhere I need to be," she lied. "Feel free to sit down and keep my friends company though."
Obi-Wan and the three teenaged girls watched her walk away from the table toward the food disposal.
"Yes, Obi-Wan why don't you sit with us and tell us about your last mission," Siri agreed with a grin.
Ignoring Siri, Obi-Wan turned and hurried after Melody. He suspected that she didn't really have anywhere to go.
"What's wrong with Melody," fourteen year-old Élan asked as she watched Obi- Wan hurry after her.
"I don't know," Salene admitted, "but I do know that she dueled Obi-Wan today."
"She's been acting strange all morning," Siri shrugged her shoulders. "Master Titani was upset with her lack of focus. He threatened to tell her Master."
"Her Master is with my Master on their way to Ursa Prime. We will join them in about a week, after they contact the temple and say that it is ok for us to go there," Élan explained. "When I asked her what was wrong," Siri continued ignoring the younger girls comment, "she wouldn't tell me. She kept using the excuse that she was tired."
"Well whatever it is it must have something to do with Padawan Kenobi," Salene assumed. "I think she beat him in the duel against him this morning."
"She did," Élan nodded. "Master Garaar told my Master that she beat him. He apparently thought he could beat her easily because she is smaller than he is."
"I can't believe that Obi-Wan would do that," Siri disagreed shaking her head emphatically.
"Well he did Siri. Maybe he was distracted, but he was surprised that she beat him. Master Garaar said that even Master Windu could sense it."
"He probably just got distracted," Siri shrugged her shoulders again not wanting to believe that Obi-Wan would do something like that.
"But no matter what the reason for Obi-Wan's underestimation; Melody has never been so upset over someone doing that to the point where she ignores the person. And she's gotten more used to it by now," Salene noted.
"Yes, but none of her friends had done it to her before either. They were always older arrogant Padawans that were so sure of themselves. I think that Melody has felt closer to Obi-Wan after Master Qui-Gon's death. His Master watched out for Melody when her Master couldn't. I remember she used to call him her Uncle Master when we were in the crèche," Élan told them.
"I guess you're right. If she's not feeling better by Friday we'll make sure that she has a good time when we go out and forgets all about arrogant older Padawans," Salene said.
"Don't worry Padawan Kenobi will not let her out of his site before apologizing to her. She'll be back to normal before we go out," Élan assured the two older Padawans.
*****************************
"Melody," Obi-Wan called after the burgundy haired girl as she exited the large cafeteria after disposing of her meal and tray. She had either not heard him or was trying to ignore him. He guessed it was the latter. "Melody wait," he hurried out of the eatery after her. Her skirt flowing behind her as she quickly walked toward the lift tubes. Obi-Wan quickened his pace to catch up to her before she got inside the lift and could leave without giving him a chance to talk to her and explain what had happened. He decided that Master Sifo-Dyas was right. He decided that he would not only apologize to Melody but explain why he did what he had, and try asking her to the Senate ball which would be held in two weeks.
He reached the lift just as the doors slid open and quickly hurried inside behind her, blocking her escape route until the doors closed behind him.
She inwardly groaned as Obi-Wan rushed into the lift blocking the doors so she could not leave before the doors closed. After giving him an angry glare, she clenched her teeth and typed the location that she wanted the lift to take her with more force than was necessary. She then looked down at the floor as the lift began to move.
"Melody, I understand that you are angry with me and I don't blame you. I was-"
"Obi-Wan stop. Its ok you made a mistake. You thought that you knew that you could beat me in a duel, you were wrong. "She continued to stare at her red boots that matched her red skirt and tank top. "Actually, I'm sure you've learned a valuable lesson today, and I'm glad that you learned it from me in a mock duel instead of underestimating a real threat. There is nothing for you to apologize to me for. Just make sure you don't do it again."
Obi-Wan stared at her in stunned silence as the lift tube doors slid open and she rushed past him, grazing his arm with hers as she made her retreat. After a moments hesitation he hurried after her. He noticed that they were on the floor that the crèche was located on.
He followed her into a room full of three and four year old initiates. He stood in the door way and watched as two younglings rushed to greet her. One a young girl with long dark reddish brown hair and the other was a taller boy with brown hair. Obi-Wan smiled as the girl leaped into Melody's outstretched arms.
"Meddy," she giggled as Melody spun the girl around in a circle. The girl's feet flew out just over the head of the little boy who also giggled as he tried to catch her feet.
"You early," the girl said after Melody finally put her down.
"Obi-Wan, you should leave before the Masters make you help out in here," Melody told him taking a quick glance at him.
"Melly," the boy said. "We made you palays." He pulled Melody's hand toward a section of floor where the children had been playing with blocks.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," I have not seen you in a while. "How are you," a kind and familiar voice said from beside him.
"I'm good," Obi-Wan smiled at the crèche Master Ali-Alann.
"That's good to hear. You certainly have grown in the time since you were last here," Ali-Alann turned to look at Melody and the two toddlers that Obi-Wan was watching.
"Padawan Kazala is a very beautiful girl. She comes here everyday that she is at the temple to help out with the children."
"That little girl seems to be particularly fond of her," Obi-Wan observed. The girl sat on Melody's lap as the three of them piled the blocks high on top of one another.
"Yes Ember is very close to Melody."
"Ember, Is that the little baby that Master Qui-Gon used to come to visit before he died?"
"Yes," Ali-Alann sighed. "Ember was very upset when he sopped coming to see her. But since our new youngling arrived she is doing much better. They are inseparable." He indicated the little boy playing with Melody and Ember. "He was named after your old Master. He took an immediate liking to Ember and Melody too. He rarely leaves Ember's side."
"They named him Qui-Gon?"
"He was dropped off at our door without any Identification the day after your Masters death. Because he had no name, the Council named him Qui-Gon Jinn in honor of your Master."
Obi-Wan looked to the crèche Master then back to the little boy. He was not sure how he felt about the boy reclaiming his fallen Masters name.
When Obi-Wan did not say anything Ali-Alann asked, "Would you like to say and volunteer? I could introduce you little Qui-Gon."
"No," he shook his head looking back at Melody again. Now Ember and little Qui-Gon both sat on her lap, as she read them a child's story from a datapad. Other children had gathered around her on the floor to listen to her read the story.
Obi-Wan noted that unlike him, she appeared very comfortable with all the children surrounding her.
"Ember will be asleep in Melody's arms, before the story is finished. Qui- Gon will then monopolize her time with tales of his and Ember's discoveries since she last saw them," the crèche Master commented. "If your friend didn't already have a Master, she would make a great apprentice for one of us here at the crèche."
Obi-Wan nodded. In the back of his mind he almost wished she was a crèche Padawan. Her life would not be in danger so much and she would always be at the temple when he returned from missions. He knew though no matter how good she was with the children that she would not be happy if she could not go on missions. It was one of the few things that he knew that they had in common.
"No," Obi-Wan repeated, "I can't stay. I just needed to talk to Melody, but we can talk later," Obi-Wan assured him.
The Master nodded, "it was good to see you again. Feel free to come back and visit with us anytime."
He nodded again before glancing back at Melody one more time. Ember was resting her head against her shoulder nearly asleep already. Obi-Wan slowly turned around to leave the room.
As he slowly made his way away from the crèche he could not stop thinking about Melody and the children. He was certain that she would have made a great mother one day if she had not been a Jedi.
