The Bane of the Empire
A/N: I hope y'all have liked it so far! And i don't own any of the characters EXCEPT Jatayan Lenory! She is MY OWN so don't steal her all right! okay now you can read!
"Late you are. Why?" Yoda asked Jatayna from a doorway at the end of a hallway.
"I had…I was swimming and I met up with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan…" Jatayna stopped knowing Yoda had all ready guessed what had happened. Jatayna was notoriously known for being late.
"Be on time, later, you must. Volunteering I am to help you."
"I am deeply sorry, Master Yoda. It won't happen again." Of course Yoda knew that Jatayna would be late again and so did Jatayna, but the emotion was heartfelt. The last thing that Jatayna wanted to do was disappoint Master Yoda.
"Come in, come in. Start your exercises you must." Jatayna entered the training room except it was more than a room. It was one of the many "battle stadiums" in the Jedi Temple. It was mostly used for Apprentice-to-be's against Apprentice-to-be's to show the Knights in search of a Padawan their skill with a lightsaber. Jatayna surveyed the layout, and was surprised to see a tall figure cloaked in black standing in the back of the room. Jatayna immediately panicked, but tried not to show it. Oh Force, it is Darth Maul, Jatayna thought. How can it be? Obi-Wan killed him. How is this happening?
Yoda gave Jatayna a puzzled look. Why was she so upset? When the denizen turned around Jatayna realized it was Luminara Unduli. She gave a mental sigh of relief.
"Ummm…Master Yoda there is already someone in here," said Jatayna stating the obvious.
"Know that I do. This is Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli." The tall humanoid figure bowed. Jatayna bowed in return, awe alight in her eyes.
"But she is the best fighter in the Temple. Well, except for you, of course." Jatayna stammered out.
"That she is," Yoda replied. "But fight her you will. See how you fare against one of my best, I want to know." Jatayna still looked skeptical.
"I am not doing this to claim you as my apprentice, young one. Master Yoda said he had a very talented student with a unique style of fighting. That piqued my interest, so I agreed to what he had in mind which was a match between the two of us." Luminara replied with a steady calm tone. The young Jedi-apprentice-to-be was blushing from the praise she had received. Jatayna was also relieved that Luminara did not want her as an Apprentice. She had all ready decided which master she wanted, and she was determined to be taught by him and only him.
"Wasted much time we have. Switch on your lightsabers and begin." Yoda stated from a seat in the top box. While Jatayna had been lost in thought he had moved. Jatayna reached for a training saber.
"No, Jatayna. Start to feel the connection to your own blade you must. Moved past the training saber stage you have. Begin." Jatayna ignited her lightsaber.
"We will be reaching the planet of Geonosis in approximately 12 hours," the intercom blared. Jatayna blinked awake and found she had fallen asleep on Siri. From the steady breath from the tough blonde, Jatayna figured Siri was sleeping.
"What did it just say?" Jatayna wondered aloud, rubbing her eyes with drowsiness. Why did I have that dream? She wondered to herself. I can't believe I even remember it all!
"It said that we are 12 hours away from our destination," said a business like voice of another Jedi. Jatayna looked at the somber face of a Padawan learner. He knows, she thought. He knows that he may not live through this, and yet he still goes on. Jatayna sat there, and wondered if she would make it through this. Missions I have been on, but a war? I have never fought more than twenty people at once. I am not prepared to take on full combat of more than 1000 droids! I have to stop panicking, she desperately thought. So without a word to anyone, she got up from her seat and went to the bathroom. Where she sat on the toilet and sank into a deep meditation.
Luminara also ignited her lightsaber. The Knight's green blade moved into the "on guard" position. Jatayna set her blue green blade along side the other. The colored lasers hissed and sizzled as they touched. Then the match began.
The typical Jedi strategy was to wear down the opponent and search for weaknesses. But Jatayna had always figured that somebody had to attack, so it might as well be her. She swung and jabbed with her saber, and parried when she needed to. Luminara blocked and took the defensive stance.
The fight became a dance. Both opponents twirled and leaped. Deflecting and striking. The blades spat sparks when they met. Luminara would leap and flip off the walls whenever the student forced her into a corner. When the Jedi Knight forced Jatayna into a corner she would create a barrier made of the Force and attack with all her skills.
The fight wore on neither getting the upper hand. The floor was slick with a thin layer of sweat, but still each fought on trying to find the opening. Trying to find the spot where they could cause a "death blow" that would end the match. But all openings were closed, sealed to every attempt to strike.
Then Luminara saw her chance. She did a back flip off a wall, reached into the Force, and rushed Jatayna with the blade pointed directly at the girl's stomach. Jatayna pushed the glowing green beam aside, and as she did so Luminara snaked her blade up to the neck of the blue-green eyed Jedi-Padawan-to-be.
Jatayna nodded her head in defeat and brought the blade too close to her skin. She leaped away with a small squeak of pain.
"Are you all right?" asked the green skinned woman.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm sorry I should have warned you that I am a space case sometimes." Jatayna grinned. They completed the traditional bows and salutes, directing one at Yoda. A look in the stands showed the crowd that had gathered.
"Both fought well you did. Surprised I am how long you lasted, Jatayna. Under estimate you, I did." The green master boomed out. Jatayna blushed with pride. "Now go wash up you both must." Jatayna and Luminara headed for the showers behind an adjoining door.
"Well fought, Jatayna," said Luminara. "Well fought."
"Thanks," Jatayna panted. "You too." Then they split and headed to different rooms. Both in need of a very long shower.
"Approaching destination!" The loudspeaker declared. "Estimated landing time, fifteen minutes." Jatayna jumped a foot in the air. Almost hitting her head on the light attached to the ceiling. She rushed muttering how they shouldn't have a loudspeaker in the bathroom area. It is a serious invasion of privacy.
"So this is the famed Geonosis," Jatayna muttered, when she reached her seat and Siri again. A glance out the window told her that this particular planet looked more than a little dead. "This is the best the Seperatists could find to hide out on? Damn, territory must be getting scarce." Siri gave her a bright smile.
"No kidding… Never know where they're gonna be next. My guess is the bastards will be stupid enough to live on Tatooine!" Jatayna giggled. Adi gave her a "this is not a funny situation" look, and Jatayna strived to look calm and collected. The depression set in again. I I guess I am not the only one worried that I am about to die/I Jatayna wondered. But there was no time for thought. A familiar gravely, backwards voice began talking over the sound system.
"Fighting there will be, but shirk from your duty you must not. A war will be fought. Yes, a war, and though scared you are you must never let it show. May the Force be with you all." Then the speaker went silent. Every Jedi and Padawan was regarding the message and silently praying for the strength to make it through. Jatayna was regarding the message and wondering how Yoda (who was absent) had managed to broadcast it.
Jatayna looked out of the small portal by her seat. Through the dust she could make out a slight theater/ stadium. She reached out through the Force and felt Obi-Wan's and Anakin's presence. Both had a feel of adrenaline and the cool concentration of a battle.
"Pilot steer 12 degrees to the port side!" Jatayna yelled above the howling wind. He must have heard her because the ship changed direction and headed towards the arena.
The ships dropped the Jedi about a mile from the stadium type thing. Each Jedi was issued a swoop. Jatayna had no problem piloting one, so she was one of the first ones to leave the landing point.
"If I am too late," Jatayna muttered into the wind. Her eyes were set on the prize, rescuing Obi-Wan and Anakin. "If the Trade Federation has hurt them in any way…" She let the thought drop and applied more pressure to the throttle. Enjoying the wind rushing past her face and the adventure ahead.
Outside the red stone building, the new Jedi Knight waited for the other Knights and Masters to catch up. The key to this was to infiltrate the crowd and be noticed at the opportune moment. Jatayna was not very tall, so she could blend in without really trying. Others like Mace were going to have trouble keeping a low profile.
After about fifty Jedi had gathered outside of the hewn rock structure, Mace began to give out specific orders and positions that they were to maintain. He reached Jatayna last.
Her defiant blue eyes with their amazing orange streaks were gazing back at him raptly. "Jatayna, I want you to access the Force as little as possible. Obi-Wan and Anakin have a bond with you and are more likely to notice you if you do. You are going to stick with Ayla and she will shield you with basic Jedi mind tricks." Mace gestured with the hilt of his lightsaber to the blue Twi'lek beside him. "Don't do anything…stupid. I know it may be hard to not react to what will happen in there, but please stay in one place and don't do anything."
Though it took all of Jatayna's will to conform the most stupid rules she had ever heard of, she nodded her head in agreement. "Jedi Move Out!" Mace yelled above the crowd, and one by one, pair by pair the assembled Jedi infiltrated the arena.
Ayla and Jatayna moved quietly up the stairs. Not wanting to attract to much attention they moved behind as many columns and barriers as possible. Only a couple of times did the strange grasshopper looking aliens even care that there was a Twi'lek and a human moving among their midst. Obviously they have the brains of a stupid insect too, Jatayna thought. They found the perfect look out on the third level of the complex. They could see the whole floor and the box where the Nemodian Trade Federation Viceroy, a Mandalorian armored man, some bejeweled grasshopper King, and the traitor Count Dooku were. Jatayna had a feeling that that spot would be where Mace was going to unexpectedly "pop up".
Jatayna surveyed the sanded floor of the arena, and there she found Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Senator Padme Amidala chained to large stone posts. Her heart leapt into her throat, and her brain gave a small, Obi-Wan sigh.
The crowd was excited and noisy, and Jatayna had a feeling that was something bad.
The "King" let out a series of clicks and whistles. Though Jatayna didn't know the language the Force was whispering that something large was moving into the arena. The whisper was confirmed when a loud roar was let out from a Reek.
A higher vibrating sound was let out from another creature; it was an Acklay. Then without delay entered a much smaller being, but it was no less dangerous. A four-eyed Nexu came prowling onto the scene.
Oh Force! This is their sick twisted idea of an execution! Jatayna thought with panic. Her eyes became wide as saucers when the three beasts approached the three humans chained to the stone poles.
Amidala somehow got herself free and scrambled to the top of her stone, but Jatayna was only watching out of the corner of her eye. Her orange streaked eyes were focused on one person on the arena floor: Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Acklay approached slowly almost judging the kill that it was about to make. The green eight legged creature was constantly stabbing the claws at the end of it's legs into the ground.
Obi-Wan stared it down, and when it lashed out, the Knight was ready. He spun on the end of his chain, making the attacking claw stab through his restraints. Jatayna was trying hard not to access the Force. She wanted to help desperately, but she couldn't blow her cover. As Obi-Wan ducked and rolled away from the viscious creature, the Acklay made a killing move. While Obi-Wan was "hiding" behind his stone pole the beast rammed it making it topple over.
Jatayna panicked; before she even knew what she was doing she had the Force flowing through her veins. Biting her lower lip, she grabbed the stone. Oh no! I just blew it, she thought. So with out further ado she dropped the object. Giving Obi-Wan just enough time to roll out of the way.
The approaching Acklay made Obi-Wan momentarily forget what had just happened. Ducking and dodging he tried to get the upper hand in a fight that he was not meant to live through. At the edge of the stadium he spotted a guard with an electropole. Ha, he thought. My way out of this mess! Fleeing from the green scorpion like thing he ran towards the grasshopper with a weapon.
Noticing his next move, Jatayna closed her eyes and clenched the stone around her neck. She couldn't watch any longer, the whole fight was messing with her nerves, so she closed her eyes. The noises around her sharpened and she felt the star shaped rock dig into her hand while she griped it. Without warning she was plunged into memory.
Jatayna had wandered the halls of the Jedi Temple for too many days to count. Every Knight in the premises had been told to watch her because no one knew what she would do. She had not spoken, eaten, or slept in days. Some how the astute Learner had felt the death of Qui-Gon Jinn in the Force. Since that day she had not been able to function through her grief.
Making her way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains Jatayna sat on the bench by her favorite pool. Her blue-green eyes stared vacantly into the cerulean depths. She was so far gone she did not notice when another entered the room.
"Jatayna?" whispered the voice. The brown braid whipped across the space, as her head turned. Ten meters behind her stood Obi-Wan Kenobi. Tears were glistening in his eyes. "Are you okay, Jatayna?" he asked her. He knew what the answer was. She wasn't ok. She had just lost the closest thing she would ever have to a father.
Obi-Wan watched emotions flicker across her face. Then there were none. Her face went blank. Anguish filled his senses; he hadn't known that he could feel what she felt. She was doing everything she could to numb the pain.
"You're going to have to eat, Jatayna. He would want you to you know." Still she did not reply. "He loved you, you know. You're not using the gift of life very wisely." Obi-Wan watched as tears started to run down her face. Ever so slowly, he inched towards her, like he was approaching a wild paladin. When he reached the bench and she still had not made a move to run away, he sat next to her and placed his right arm around her shoulders. With his left hand he wiped the tears off her face.
"He's never coming back," she whispered. Then she buried her head in his chest, and began to sob. Obi-Wan clenched her tightly to him. She was the only one who was currently sharing his pain, and he could not help the tears that leaked out of his eyes.
"You're right, he's not," he whispered into her hair. Time passed, but the figures on the bench were unaware of it. The grief was spilling out of every pore of their body. Jedi across the Temple could feel the slight disturbance of emotional pain that wafted through the Force.
After most of Jatayna's sobs had subsided, Obi-Wan pulled a star shaped stone out of his tunic. The small black stone had ripples of red through it, and though you could not see it at first it sparkled like a corusca gem. It dangled from a delicate silver chain. As she raised her head to see what exactly Obi-Wan was doing her eyes fell on the rock/jewel hanging in front of her.
"What is it?" she asked awed. Obi-Wan let out a watery chuckle.
"It was a gift from Qui-Gon to me on my thirteenth birthday. I thought you might want it, to remind you of him. I had it made into a necklace for you, so that you will be sure NOT to lose it." Jatayna let out one of the same watery chuckles. "I know the Jedi are not allowed such adornments, but Master Yoda said that we would be able to make an exception…just this once." Jatayna threw her arms around the Jedi Knight.
"Thank you," came the muffled reply. Though he could not see her face. He knew that she was crying yet again.
"Come, Jatayna. Let us go get some fruit. Or even a glass of that drink that you like so much. What was it? Hot chocolate?" Obi-Wan asked. He personally did not care for the drink, it was to bitter for his taste. But it had caught Jatayna's fancy in one of the many visits to Dex's Diner. He waited for her as she put the rock around her neck, and carefully concealed it under her own tunic. Hand in hand they walked out of the Fountain Room and back into reality.
"Jatayna!" Ayla yelled. The young Knight's head snapped up, her eyes immediately focusing on the Twi'lek. "Mace just gave the signal! Ignite your lightsaber, and get ready for a fight!"
Without question, Jatayna pulled out her hilt and pressed the button to ignite it. After a small "hissss" a blue-green blade extended from the shiny silver handle. Jedi all over the arena were turning on their sabers. Genosians were fleeing the scene. The sound of their wings filled the whole stadium with a buzzing sound.
