Chapter 6: Kreia and Mara

Anakin led Kreia down the halls of the half finished temple. It still smelled to same as before, the scent of the clean Jedi robes, a scent Kreia hadn't smelled in a long time. She didn't miss it though, the Jedi were fools and they would die like her and like Sion, and the Force. They came upon a turbo lift who's doors slipped open quietly when they approached. Anakin entered first followed by Kreia. He went to reach for the top floor button but Kreia's hand found it first with surprising speed.

The doors closed and the lift shot up into the huge Jedi council tower. Anakin marveled at the woman's sense in the Force, she had to be blind. How did she do that?

"What happened to your eyes?" He asked.

"Something that could easily be repaired." She answered. "With a touch of the Force I could gain my sight again, but there is no need."

"Why?"

"Your eyes deceive you don't trust them. They are but a distraction and the Force has many more useful qualities than sight. Perhaps some day you will learn to live without it and perceive through the Force."

"I thought I already did."

"Sensing beings and other things does not mean you perceive through the Force. I perceive through the Force, I see things through it. I can see the pad of buttons on the wall of the turbo lift, I can see the gray aurora of Force energy around you. You are neither light nor dark, but trying to find your way. Remember this."

"Okay…." Was all Anakin could say. The lift doors slid open and Kreia and Anakin stepped out into the lobby before the Jedi council room. The door to it was open and Anakin could clearly see Qui-gon, Yoda, Xen and Padmé in hologram of course, all in the seats. Xen sat on the complete opposite side of the room as usual preferring to avoid the two Jedi unless she absolutely could not, like when Yoda trained her. She has a passionate hate for them though she buried it well in the Force. It was almost as strong as Anakin's love for Padmé, almost. But the hate she felt was not dangerous. It was more bitterness for the loss of her arm and legs. The Jedi looked up and Anakin entered with Kreia.

"Welcome Lady Kreia." Qui-gon said. "Anakin tells us you were a former Jedi Master, is that correct?"

Anakin sat down and Traya turned her gaze toward Qui-gon looking at the radiant blue light that was in him.

"It is." She replied.

"Prove it can you? With a demonstration of Force power, mmm?" Yoda asked.

"Yeah, lets she how powerful this old woman is." Xen said smiling. Kreia looked at her.

"You will leave this room and wait in the turbo lift lobby, we do not require the opinion of imbeciles or fools." Kreia said waving her hand.

"I will leave this room and wait in the turbo lift lobby, you do not require my foolish opinion." Xen repeated. She stood up and walked halfway to the door before Kreia waved her hand again and she snapped out of it. She scowled and Qui-gon, Yoda, and Anakin clapped lightly. Kreia smiled as much as her heart would allow. Then she looked at Xen and frowned.

"A Jedi must not feel anger. The must feel only the Force." She said in her cryptic way. "You have a lot to learn."

She looked to Yoda and Qui-gon.

"Do you want me to join you? I could just as easily leave."

Qui-gon and Yoda looked at each other exchanging silent words.

"Yes," Yoda said. "Join our ranks as a Jedi master you may."

Kreia bowed slightly. "Thank you master Yoda. I am glad to be reinstated, perhaps I can help with the teachings of the young." She flashed a look at Xen who scowled. "And the foolish."

"Already being trained thank you." Xen snapped. "I like my teacher just fine."

Kreia scowled this time. "Your teacher I trust, has a specialty with handling the ignorant I presume."

"Much experience I have had." Yoda said. Kreia pointed to him.

"He is your teacher?"

"Yes. And he's a good one, I pity the Padawan that gets you as a master."

"Xen!" Yoda said sternly. "Your place it is not, to insult a master."

"It's quite alright." Kreia said. "But if you do not mind I will be going to find a quiet room to meditate in where I can mercifully be free of the opinions of imbeciles and fools. And their… ignorance."

Padmé's hologram spoke up for the first time.

"Do I know you, from somewhere?" She asked. Kreia looked the hologram straight in the eye.

"Perhaps we have met before, though I do not recall. I will be leaving now."

"Before you leave," Qui-gon said. "We will introduce you to your apprentice, Mara!"

Kreia turned to see a woman with dark red hair enter the room. She wore tight fitting Jedi robes and a brown cloak over it all. She came in a bowed to Kreia immediately.

"I am glad to finally have a teacher… and honored."

"Stand and do not waste my time with flattery, honor me by listening to my teachings and learning from them." Kreia said. Mara nodded.

"I will try."

Kreia and Yoda both shook their heads and said in unison. "Do, or do not, there is no try."

Kreia turned back to Yoda.

"I am taking my leave. I will find appropriate quarters. Come and seek me out if need be."

"I have two room quarters master." Mara said. "You can stay in them."

"The better to train you I suppose." Kreia said. "Lead the way."

The two walked into the turbo lift. It closed and Xen spoke up.

"I sense something odd about that woman." She said.

"I know I recognize her." Padmé's hologram answered.

"Keep a close eye on her we will." Yoda agreed. "And watch Mara's development.

XxX

Mara's quarters in the Jedi temple were about as simple as you could get. There were four rooms. A main room with a door to the hall, it had barely any furnishings, and it was half living room half kitchen. There was a sofa facing a small HoloNet screen, and a comfortable rug for meditating. There were three other doors in the room. One led to Mara's sleeping area which had only a bed, a weapons rack, and a wardrobe where she kept all her garments, most tight fitting and having something to do with when she was the Emperor's Hand.

The second door led to a fresher with a shower sink, and toilet. The other door led to Kreia's room. It had only a bed but she planned to fill a few spaces with comfortable meditation chairs. Now however Kreia sat in the living room on the rug, meditating with Mara walking behind her, eager to ask questions.

"So when did you become a Jedi?" Mara asked finally. It broke Kreia's concentration on everything she was doing and it made her eye illusion disappear momentarily so they flashed glassy black. She did not turn to look at Mara but answered still.

"I will tell you in due time, as a master shares information with their apprentice, it is unimportant however."

"I want answers not cryptic words!" Mara hissed, getting angry though she didn't know why.

"If my words seem cryptic to you do not listen to them. However if you do not you will find it very hard to learn from me."

"Sorry master." She said. "I would just like to know a few things about you."

"Did I ask to know anything about you? No, because it is unimportant. But if you crave knowledge so much then sit down and meditate."

"But I don't know how."

"He never taught you? How foolish, he was a power hungry monster. Forget anything he has told you."

"Alright."

"Now sit."

Mara nodded, took off her brown cloak tossed it aside and sat down by her mentor. She sat in the posture Kreia was sitting in and closed her eyes.

"Now clear your mind of everything." Kreia said. "Now feel this temple around you, strip away the metal, the machinery reach deeper until you find the Force."

"Hey, the power generator has a few burnt out fuses!"

"Focus! Listen to my voice. Now find the Force and let it flow around you. Concentrate on something, look for the answer you seek. Find it, find it now."

"Xen hates you?"

"Very good, you have found out something linked to me. Is that what you wanted?"

"Yes."

"Excellent, you have taken your first steps."

Next Chapter: Admiral Daala's Dismay