Lost Jedi:
The Aftermath of Tenstarri
Disclamer: I do not own Star Wars. If I did, I would not be writing this fanfiction. Alas. I did, however, create Tason and Viea. Master Billaba shares her name is a real Star Wars character, but they are not the same person. Also, I owe a lot to my editor/friend, Brittany, and to my friend, Dan, for giving me a lot of ideas. Thank you, enjoy.
Prologue
The sky above Coruscant was unusually dark and disheartening. Very few speeders were flying in between the silvery glass buildings, and those that were seemed to be moving sluggishly, almost sadly.
Past the mile-high buildings, and even past the majestic Jedi Temple, a great abundance of light radiated. It was the soft glow of two large fires, but they were not warm and welcoming. The fires emitted a light of sorrow and mourning. They were a pair of funeral pyres.
The larger of the two pyres seemed to glow brighter. There were an assortment of items gathered at its base, an old lightsaber and Jedi robes among them. The smaller pyre was unnaturally dark and obviously weaker. Items were gathered at the base of it too, although noticeably fewer than the larger had. Near the top of the pile was a necklace, a large blue gem shaped like a raindrop, strung on a cord of diamonds. The fires reflected in these crystals, making them sparkle brilliantly.
As with the two pyres, there were also two populations honoring them. Mostly surrounding the larger pyre was a small group. This group was made up entirely of Jedi. Their robes were pure black, rather than brown, and all of them had their heads bowed respectfully. They seemed at peace.
The same could not be said for the second, much larger group. Gathered around the smaller pyre was a mass of slightly raggedly-dressed individuals, who bore a resemblance to refugees. They were tearful, grieving, and all of them were terribly upset. All of them, that is, except for one.
A young girl, closest to the small pyre, was silent and still. She could not have been older than eleven years. The girl was not dressed as the rest of her group. In fact, her clothing was a complete difference from the others. She wore a black mourning gown which glittered with dark red rubies. She looked, in a sense, regal.
Silent tears trickled down Viea Ninde's face, her soft hazels eyes closed lightly. She did not notice when a hand touched her shoulder. The hand's grip tightened slightly and Viea turned her head to gaze at its owner out of the corner of her eye.
"Milady," Jedi Master Billaba spoke quietly. She seemed wore and tired. "We've just returned from Corellia." She paused, the ornamental gold on the bridge of her nose gleaming in the firelight. Finally, she took her hand off Viea's shoulder and placed it at her side respectfully.
"Her body wasn't found," Master Billaba said. "The search was called off." Viea's jaw dropped. Mixed emotions made her head swim.
"If her body wasn't found, she must still be alive," she insisted, her voice slightly exasperated. "She could have been kidnapped!"
"No one kidnaps a Jedi, Viea. If her master was killed, she would have been killed as well," Master Billaba explained. "We believe her body was destroyed."
"No! She's still alive, I know she is," Viea said, beginning to sob slightly. "Has the Council even tried to feel for her?"
"Indeed they have, milady," Master Billaba replied, her voice still soft. She kneeled down next to the young princess. "Your sister is gone. I'm terribly sorry." She gripped Viea's shoulder again before standing. As she turned to leave, she spoke again.
"There was nothing we could do."
From miles away on a landing dock, Tason Ninde gazed down at her own funeral. She was dressed plainly, in a grey tunic and pants, and her fiery brown and auburn hair was pulled back. In fact, the only thing odd about her appearance was the cylinder-shaped holster attached to a strap around her right thigh.
Even so, no one aboard the transport ship would ever guess that the tall, lanky girl was anything extraordinary. No one would ever realize that she was a princess, a survivor from a dead planet, and a Jedi Padawan learner.
"We're boarding now, miss," one of the ship's attendants called out over the winds. Tason gave on last look at the fires, and then closed her clear blue eyes. She turned away and walked up the platform. She took a seat, and watched Coruscant fade away as the ship disappeared into the night.