The Bane of the Empire

Jatayna walked down the halls of the Jedi Temple. She waved at the younger students who called out her name in passing, and nodded in acknowledgement to the Masters and Knights that walked by her.

Slowly but surely she was making her way to the Council Room, where she would be debriefed on her next mission. Her long hair flipped in time to her stride. The long dirty blonde hair was in a tight simple braid. Bangs were being constantly blown out of her eyes by a few upward breaths. Her skinny frame held a power that none could fathom. Jatayna was a true Jedi. No one recollected a time when she had ever lost her temper or in any way taken a step to the Darkside.

At the young age of 18 she had been made a Knight. Not only were the Jedi becoming scarce, but she was extremely talented. Her lightsaber skills were topped only by Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu and Yoda himself.

The Council Room doors loomed ahead of her. With a deep breath and a small tug on her braid for good luck she entered the room.

The swish of her new chestnut colored robes made the Masters stare all the harder. The semi circle of the best Jedi of the Jedi Order looked apprehensively on one of their newer members. Jatayna was garbed in the usual Jedi fashion with a couple of twists. The typical Jedi shirt now had a calf length tail to it, and the shirt that was made for modesty was now revealing cleavage. The pants were tucked into black knee-high boots. And the whole outfit was streaked with black cloth.

Yoda knew that Jatayna would do something like this. She was never one to completely go with the flow, but this outward display of sensuality was not something that Yoda had thought she would show.

"Come you have," Yoda said in his usual gravely voice. "Good, good. Your mission now we must discuss."

"Yes," Mace Windu put in. "As you know Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme have been captured on the planet of Geonosis. All the Jedi Knights in this building and the sourounding planets will be called for this particular rescue attempt."

"Much at stake there is," Yoda whispered. "Many will die. But we all feel," he gestured to the whole Council. "That this is much more than it seems." Jatayna nodded. Showing that she knew the risks and wasn't afraid to take them. "Let this become a personal fight you must not, Jatayna. For if it does, the Darkside you might encounter." Jatayna took the hint. She was not the only one worried for Anni and Obi-Wan's safety.

"Don't worry, Master Yoda, this will be strictly business."

"The freighters will be here sometime tomorrow afternoon," Mace put in. "Do not be late. This could be crucial in bringing back the Separatists. Each Jedi is needed to play his or her part. The fate of the galaxy could rest in your hands. Who knows what the Force will bring."

"I understand, Master," she murmured back dutifully.

"May the Force be with you Jatayna Lenory," a female voice whispered. Jatayna cocked her head and looked at her previous Master, Adi Gallia. The dark skinned Master had on an unusual orange and white headdress, but she managed to look regal and commanding in it.

"May the Force be with you, Adi. And the rest of the Council." She bowed to each one in turn and quietly exited the room.

Later that same day Mace and Yoda were alone in one of the training rooms. Both were meditating silently when Yoda broke the silence with his quirky backwards speech.

"Mentioned you did how Jatayna could hold the fate of the galaxy in her hands. Feel I do that phrase was more than a speech." Mace slowly opened his brown eyes and looked at the astute Master.

"You are right, Yoda. I felt something when I said that. She will have the opportunity to be a factor in balancing the Force. Whether it is for good or bad I could not see, but she will be crucial in the scheme of things."

Yoda nodded his small, green head in agreement. "Feel it too, I do. A part to play she has. May the Force guide her on the right path."

Sitting in the Fountain Room by her favorite lake, Jatayna closed her eyes and grabbed the last minutes that she would have alone for a long time. She didn't know when she would be back, or if she would ever be back. The transports to Geonosis would be at the Temple momentarily. Reaching for the core of herself she also found the flow of her power, the Force. Breathing in and out to the rhythm of her heart Jatayna drifted into a trance.

The blue-green lake rippled as a sphere of water slowly rose out of the pool. A 10-year-old Jatayna stood at the edge of the body of water concentrating. Her eyes closed in a calm way. One eye flickered open trying to peek at the creation she had made. The ball of water shattered and fell back into the water.

"Jatayna…Jatayna!"

She dove into the pool. Recognizing the voice her head broke the surface, and looked at the the Jedi Knight that was squatting at the side of the lake.

"What?" She peered into the piercing blue eyes of the other. His long hair was pulled back, but not so much that you couldn't see it. The gray mass spilled over his shoulders, and his broad shoulders were accented by the straight length. His eyes twinkled as he stared at the girl in the water. Her hair looking almost black, fanned out around her head.

"I thought you would be here." The Knight said. His voice resonated calm and concentration. "I came to tell you I have to go on a mission."

"Where to? How long will you be? I wish I could go with you. Wait, can I go with you?" She said this all really fast, and pulled her complexion into a puppy-face.

"First, Obi-Wan and I are going to Naboo. Second, I don't know how long we will be. Missions can take months, years, or even just a couple of days. This one is just a negotiation with the Trade Federation, so I doubt it will take long. Thirdly, of course you cannot go with me. You are not my Padawan nor are you a Knight." Jatayna was listening to Qui-Gon Jinn with rapt attention. She was treading water. "Now why don't you get out of there?"

"Okay," she muttered. She did a couple of kicks so she could stand in the water then she walked out. Her hair was spilling little droplets of water all over the floor, and just for fun she flipped her hair sending water all over Qui-Gon.

"Jatayna," he said in a warning tone, but Jatayna caught the twinkle of his eyes and she beamed back at him. A young man of about 19 walked into the room. He still had the braid of a Padawan learner and his hair was cropped short. His brisk walk and steady gaze made him look like he meant business.

"I guess you don't get to go on your own mission Obi-Wan. The Council must not think you're ready yet," Jatayna teased.

"I guess not," he said with a sigh, playing along. Without the smart alec Learner notice he shot a wink to Qui-Gon. Then, Obi-Wan sprung into action and shoved Jatayna into the water.

"Hey," she shouted when she resurfaced. "I was just getting dry!"

"Right…" laughed Obi-Wan. For the second time Jatayna scrambled out of the water. Quick as lightning she pushed the cocky Padawan in for a nice bath.

Qui-Gon laughed at the pair's antics. Though Jatayna was eight years younger than Obi-Wan they acted like they were the same age. Some how the young dirty blonde managed to bring the child out of the serious Obi-Wan, they were like a brother-sister pair. Qui-Gon acted the father for the two completely different "children".

"Don't you have a class or something?" Obi-Wan said after he stopped sputtering.

"Oh no," Jatayna moaned. "Master Yoda is going to chop me up with my own lightsaber!" Scrubbing herself with a towel she bolted out of the room. The two men heard the footsteps become distant, and then heard them rush back. Wet hair flying behind her she reached for her lightsaber and ran out again.

For the third time Jatayna came back to the room. She ran over to Qui-Gon and hugged him, and muttered a good-bye in his ear. Obi-Wan got the same.

"Come back soon!" she called and then she was gone.

"And I never saw him again," Jatayna spoke aloud. A single tear ran down her check.

"Never saw who again?" asked a voice from the doorway. In walked Adi Gallia, Jatayna quickyly blinked away the tears while her face was shielded from Adi's penetrating stare.

"Qui-Gon," Jatayna whispered, and the reserve of tears welled up in her eyes again. Adi gave Jatayna a pat on the back.

"Don't worry, Jatayna, he is one with the force now. He will always be with you. You have your own personal Gaurdian Jedi." Jatayna let out a small chuckle. "Now let us go. The transports are here, Padawan."

"I am sooo not your Padawan, Adi Gallia."

"Then prove it." And the Jedi Master sprinted out of the room with Jatayna hot on her heels.

They got many disapproving looks as they rushed down the spotless hallways of the Temple. Jocasta Nu was even brave enough to order them to stop. Much to the delight of the youngsters the pair of women darted off as soon as the prissy librarian was back in her lair. Gasping for breath they collapsed on the Correlian made assault ships. Adi and Jatayna were laughing so hard they did not notice the oddity of the scene. When they caught their breath and met the reproving stare of Mace Windu. The Jedi Master had gathered a huge force what looked like 200 Jedi: Knights, Masters and Padawans all stood at the ready to defend the Republic.

The transport that Mace had gotten a hold of was an Escort Frigate made by the superior Kuat Drive. Jatayna felt stupid knowing this, but after years of hanging around with Anakin eventually he drilled ship stuff into you head. Like, Jatayna knew that this model, a F-52-1000 could seat roughly 250 denziens and crew (approximately 100 denziens). That's rather sad, Jatayna thought. I am going to have to punch Anakin later for making me learn this stuff. At the time it sounded cool, but now I feel like a complete idiot.

Jatayna sidled up to Mace, "Are you seriously letting Padawans go on this mission?" he nodded. Jatayna wanted to shout, "This is going to be a full out war you cannot be asking them to fight this for you!" But she wisely kept her mouth shut, and instead asked. "Where is Master Yoda?"

"He is getting us reinforcement." Mace replied being evasive.

"Oh, well good luck with that," Jatayna sarcasticly retorted and she melted into the crowd. Mace gave a long, elaborate speech about how this could bring back the Seperatists and how the galactic state of affairs might improve. Jatayna tried not to tune him out but eventually she stopped listening.

"Everyone board!" Mace Windu yelled above the crowd. "It will take us 48 hours to get to Kamino so get comfortable!" Jatayna got on a ship with Adi and Luminara. Jatayna moved through the aisles looking for a place to sit. Some of the Jedi were stiff and cold while others were more than eager to give her a seat, but Jatayna chose a seat next to Siri. The rebellious blonde and the now rebellious dirty-blonde had always gotten along. In fact the two were mostly sisters, Siri had been Adi's apprentice before Jatayna so they had plenty of "Adi Stories" to share when converstion ran low.

After about an hour of chatting and catching up, Siri was one of the most prized Knights of her generation and was sent on all the best missions, Jatayna started to get drowsy and nod off to sleep. When Siri noticed her companion had begun slumbering she quietly asked for a blanket from one of the crew hands, and reclined the seat that Jatayna was sitting in.

"Night, my little Jedi sister," she said soothingly, but Jatayna was fast asleep and reliving her past.