Chapter 3: Holding Me
The Jade Sabre slowly came at its marked port at the main temple of the Jedi Academy. The group slowly walked down the gangplank of the customized freighter with Ron leading the way stretching his arms above his head. "I'll take the kids," Mara said, patting Anakin and Tahiri's shoulders, and then turned to Ron and Yori. "You two go meet Farmboy."
"Right, see you in a bit, Anakin," Ron said as Yori too said farewell to her Padawan, then started toward Luke's office.
Mara and the teenagers walked into the main training ground and the elder redhead smirked when she saw her student's eyes light up.
"There is no emotion." Jim Possible said sitting cross-legged with his twin brother Tim before Kyle Katarn. Jim and Tim Possible were identical twins, only way to tell them apart was Jim was dressed in blue robes while Tim was in green.
"There is peace." Tim echoed his brother.
"There is no ignorance."
"There is knowledge."
"There is no passion."
"There is serenity."
"There is no chaos."
"There is harmony."
"There is no death. There is the Force." They finished in unison, returning the grin Kyle was giving them.
"Excellent job; Jim, Tim, excellent job indeed!" Kyle cheered, all three glancing when applause sounded from the doorway.
"Jaina!" The twins said in unison as they stood up to welcome the approaching sole Solo daughter.
"Tim!" Jaina said as she pulled the green clad student into a hug, then turned to Jim and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Jim. You guys are getting better, I can sense you getting stronger."
"Thanks," Jim and Tim said shyly, as Jaina moved in to kiss Tim's cheek, causing Tim to blush and Jim to look away sadly.
"Hey, Jim, want to spar?" Anakin asked, taking the saddened boy's attention.
"Sure," Jim smiled at his best friend.
"Loser has to eat Tahiri's cooking!" Anakin quipped as the two teenaged boys ran toward the gym.
"HEY!" Tahiri yelled as she ran behind the two.
"Mind your feelings and those around you, Jaina," Mara advised before she walked on to talk with Kyle.
"Huh?" the Solo twin asked in confusion before she shrugged and went back to her conversation with Tim.
"You wanted to see us, Honorable Master Jedi," Yori bowed as she and Ron entered Luke's office and found the founder of the new Jedi Order at his desk.
"Hey, Yori, Ron, come in," Luke waved them in, and the two approached his desk and sat down.
"What's up, Master Skywalker?" Ron asked, as Rue Fus entered from the side door. "Hey, Master! Long time no see!" Ron beamed at his former master.
"Too long it has, Ron," the foot and a half tall Jedi Master said hopping up onto Luke's desk.
"Reason I've called you two here is we've got a problem," Luke stated the obvious, "I'm sure you've both felt a disturbance in the Force, plus your run in with Sith Troopers on Naboo …"
"You are correct, Master Jedi, there is something amiss," Yori nodded, narrowing her dark hazel eyes.
"I sense it is centered on you two and Kim," Luke stated, causing Ron to perk up.
"Kim?" Ron asked worriedly, looking as if he was ready to run out the door at that moment.
"Calm down, Ron, don't get excited," Luke said, holding his hand before the Jedi Knight.
"But the whole reason I pushed her away was to keep her from being in danger …" Ron clenched his prosthetic fist angrily.
"Calm down you must!" Rue Fus barked, "Trained you better then this, I have! Charge in unprepared with anger you must not; anger at your enemy or at yourself. Lead you down the Dark Path nurturing that emotion shall."
"I know …" Ron took a deep breath, before looking up at his two former teachers. "Just that's still a tender subject…"
"Must learn to strengthen it you must then," Rue Fus advised hopping down onto Ron's knee. "Wide open that weak spot is. Learn to protect it you must, or your care for your old friend shall lead to your destruction."
"I know … I guess I still have a lot to learn, huh Master?" Ron gave a sheepish smile.
"Confident of you learning it, I am," Rue Fus nodded with a proud smile, "Proud of your accomplishments, I am, my former apprentice, proud I am."
"I left a message at Kim's apartment," Luke stated breaking the tender moment between former master and student. "Han's going to come to pick you two up later tonight. Something's happening on Coruscant, and I want you to find out. Anakin and Tahiri will remain here. I fear Darth Shego has taken an apprentice by the name of Demonus. Found out what you can about him if possible."
"Demonus?" Ron cocked his head, "The Sith Trooper we interrogated gave the name Fist, Darth Fist." He said and Yori nodded in agreement.
"Troubling this is … there is only supposed to be but two Sith Lords at a time … a Master and an Apprentice …" Rue Fus furrowed his brow. "Rest now, and when you reach Coruscant learn what you can."
"Yes, get some rest, Han and Chewy will be here in a few hours." Luke nodded.
"Alright," Ron gave a lopsided smile, "Force forbid ever having a day off."
"Wanted a lazy job, you should have went into politics like my sister," Luke quipped with a matching smile.
"I'll tell Mrs. Organa-Solo you said this, Master," Yori said deadpan, causing Luke to pale.
"Y-You don't have to do that, Yori … I … didn't really mean that … and …" Luke stammered, looking at Master Rue Fus for help but only saw a chuckling rat-like Jedi.
"Master Skywalker," Yori cracked a smile, "I was merely joking …"
"Oh …" Luke blinked, blushing slightly, "I can never tell with you … now get some rest while you can."
Ron and Yori both stood and gave Luke a bow before walking out of the office. The approached their shared room in the dormitories in silence before Yori finally spoke. "You are harming yourself with this foolishness."
"What?" Ron asked, glancing toward his partner and girlfriend.
"You are running from your emotions, Ron-chan," Yori stated, crossing her arms across her chest, and turning her sad eyes toward her lover. "I want you to stop bottling up you feelings. Rue Fus-Sama is correct, if you keep pushing them down they will explode … and the New Republic cannot handle a second Darth Vader."
"That won't happen, Yori," Ron said pulling the Echani Jedi into a hug, which she whole-heartedly accepted, wrapping her arms around his waist, and clung to his robes desperately.
"I cannot shake this bad feeling, Ron-chan," Yori said softly into his shoulder, "Something horrible is going to happen …"
"Hey, we've made it through worse scrapes," Ron said, pushing her back gently.
"We … haven't, but … you and Kim-san have." Yori said backing up farther. "I think … no, I know, we should … I wish for you to give Kim-san another chance."
"What?" Ron blinked in confusion.
"I am not blind, Ron-san, nor am I a naïve girl." Yori said, tears threatening the corner of her eyes. "You are not the only one who has been running from their feelings. This is not right, Ron-san, it isn't … I love you, I do. Do not dispute that, but … you do not return it. Your heart is something I cannot have because I know it belongs to another. We both know this to be true. I can no longer travel this selfish road."
"What Kim and I had ended years ago, Yori, You were there when I came back to Yavin," Ron said growing defensive.
"Yes, I was," Yori stated, "And that night I made a mistake. I took advantage of you … and I have continued to do so for the last few years." She stated looking away as Ron's face grew pale with shock. "Ron I can't go on being a replacement Kim Possible!"
"You really think I'd think that little of you!" Ron yelled, outraged at the thought.
"You do not think it, but it is the truth that has been clouded by your denial!" Yori replied as heated. "Search your feelings; Ron-san, you know I speak the truth. I have stretched out to your mind when we made love, and it struck me harder then any Lightsaber the face I saw through your eyes."
The two stared at each other for several moments before Yori turned her tear-filled eyes from Ron. "I must go meditate before our mission. I apologize for springing this before a mission but … I feel this could be the last chance to speak to you on this … if something happens to me … do not give into anger or vengeance … please, Ron-chan, do not destroy yourself for my unworthy life." And with that the Echani left the stunned Jedi Knight in the hallway.
The next day on Coruscant Kim and Erik sat at an umbrella-covered table in an outdoor diner under the bright afternoon sun. "… It would have been better if my sister had've at least warned me in some sense, instead coming down to a surprise party with all my family, friends, and co-workers in my living room with me in nothing but a tee-shirt and boxers." Erik finished yet another Ron-like story that caused Kim to giggle.
"I know you and Ron would get along great," Kim blurted out, before blushing and covering her mouth.
"Ron?" Erik asked with a small smile. "Acquaintance, Friend, or Boyfriend?"
"A little of all three actually," Kim sighed, her smile slowly faded. "We grew up together. He was my best friend since we were little. He helped me through so much when my parents died and … we tried dating a few years ago."
"Didn't work out?" Erik pressed on carefully.
"Oh yes, it worked beautifully," Kim shook his head, "At least I thought it did but … I'm a bounty hunter and he's a Jedi Knight …"
"ok … and you two didn't work out because …" Erik waited for the punch line but only got Kim's confused blinking.
"He thought it would be better if we broke contact …" Kim sighed looking down at her plate.
"If that's the only reason you two didn't work out…" Erik shook his head, "If he'd leave an angel like you for the Order, then he's got the common sense of a Tonton."
Kim blushed when he took both her hands in his own. "All I can say is his loss," He smiled softly at her, causing her face to glow a brighter red.
"Erik …" Kim finally forced out before she heard a 'pop hiss' and a red light appear in the shadowy alley beside the diner. "LOOK OUT," she called as she jumped across the table knocking Erik down as a cloaked figure with a glowing red lightsaber split their table in half.
Kim pulled Erik up and pushed him behind her as she drew her blaster, "Ok, Pal, lets put that lightsaber away …" She said easing herself and Erik away from their attacker who was hidden completely in a black cloak.
"Why would I ever do that, Kim Possible?" He stated holding the saber before him, the red light from his saber illuminating his lower Terran-like face. "You can go about your business, Bounty Hunter, I only want your friend."
"Sorry, but you'll have to go through me first," Kim smirked and raised her blaster.
"You really think you can stop me with a simple little blaster?" the Sith Lord smirked taking a step closer.
"Nope," Kim smirked, as she looked behind him. "But I might have a better chance with an old has-been, a Wookie, and two Jedi."
The Sith barely got his saber up as Ron and Yori attacked, but he still easily deflected their strikes. "Has Been?" Han Solo shot as he and Chewbacca came to Kim and Erik's side. "Look who's talking Miss Delivery Girl for a bunch of giant frogs."
Kim huffed before they turned back to the trouble at hand, which was being dealt with by the two Jedi. Kim was getting a bit worried, she knew Ron and Yori were very skilled with their Lightsabers, but they were having a bit of trouble against this guy. "Ron, watch it!" She called she saw Darth Fist move into an opening in his defense. A moment later Fist's lightsaber was flying through the air, knocked from his hand by a blaster shot from Kim's ion blaster.
"Chewy, take him down!" Han ordered before the Sith could respond, and the Wookie roared as he barreled toward the cloaked monster.
Chewbacca roared angrily as he grabbed the Sith's shoulders, but yelped when Fist's hand-like bare feet gripped the Wookie's legs and rolled backwards flipping the mountain of fur through the air screaming shattering a table he landed on.
"CHEWY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Han scolded, but got an angry roar in replied as the Wookie climbed back to his feet dazed.
"I don't care what you thought be … WATCH OUT!" Han called out as Darth Fist was in the air over Chewbacca and hit the Wookie in the face with all four fists, sending him back down.
Chewbacca roared in shock as he was lifted into the air over the Sith's head, "I had heard Wookie's can't fly, lets test that." Fist smirked as he threw the Wookie toward the two Jedi.
"Sabers off!" Ron called out right as Chewbacca hit them, sending all three to the ground in a tangled mess.
"I was expecting more of a challenge, Ron Stoppable." Fist smirked, pulling his hood back up, as he turned to Kim and Erik. "I'll be back for you later." He said before he ran toward the edge of the platform and jumped into the city sky.
Ron looked up at Kim, Han, and Erik before looking over at Yori. "That went well."
"Stop acting like a child!" Yori scolded as she and Han tried to put ointment on the cuts on the Wookie's muzzle. Yori narrowed her eyes after the Wookie gave a series of grunts and roars. "Look, I wasn't the one who told you to come with us, or to attack a Sith Lord, now was I?" Yori asked, smirking as Han paled under Chewbacca's glare.
The group had returned to the Naboo Embassy at the capitol where security was heightened after the attack. "Hey, look, pal, you've got a life debt remember, so …" Han gulped after a roar, "You can do that with a bowcaster?" He whimpered, earning a nod from the Wookie.
"I'm just glad you're all alright," Erik said from the next room as he sat with Kim and Ron.
Ron had his hands folded neatly in his lap with his eyes narrowed on Erik's hand, which was being rubbed by Kim's fingers. "Any idea why the Sith would be after you?" Ron asked, pushing back the feelings of jealousy that were beginning to build.
"Naboo is a peaceful world, but rich in resources," Erik stated locking eyes with the young Jedi Knight, "the Sith probably want Naboo's resources. And use me as a hostage to gain them, as far as I know that's the only thing they COULD want. The early Seperatists did the same thing a few years before the Clone Wars."
"I … see …" Ron said, not liking at all how close Kim was setting to the Representative. All three jumped slightly when Chewbacca roared angrily in the next room shortly followed by Han's screams and Yori yelling for Chewbacca to calm down.
"I better go check it out, you boys talk," Kim said standing up, kissing Erik's cheek quickly before she ran toward the door.
Ron and Erik sat in silence after she left for a few moments before an apple floated through the air and landed in Erik's palm. He took a bite from it before smiling slightly at Ron's stare. "Oh want one too?"
"You're trained in the Jedi arts?" Ron asked surprised.
Erik just shook his head and walked toward the window, and signaled for Ron to follow. "I have trained myself in the ways of the Force, without the hindrance of rules that the 'Force Sects' have placed up."
"I didn't know you could do that …" Ron said as he stood by the young Representative's side.
"You Jedi have been taught that the Force is everywhere and in everything," Erik said with a small smile, "with the proper discipline, anyone can master the Force's full true power."
Ron looked at the young man questioningly, which earned a laugh, "The Jedi obsess over the Light, Sith the dark, what about the middle ground?"
"The Dark Side will always lead to destruction," Ron stated, furrowing his brow when Erik laughed.
"That's rubbish. A little bit of Darkness never hurt anyone. Live, and let live, Ron. The Force is nothing but life energy; Ron, we decide what it does. We are its masters." Erik said, "If you depend on only part of it, you don't use its full potential."
"I don't know if I agree with that …" Ron said unconvincingly.
"Kim's an amazing woman," Erik stated, changing the subject.
"Yeah, yeah she is …" Ron sighed, not sure which conversation he was more uncomfortable with. "So … how long have you two been …"
"Seeing each other?" Erik asked, with a lopsided smile, "This was our first date actually. We met last night at Leia Solo's party."
"Oh … that's convenient …" Ron grumbled under his breath. 'Mental note … teach Anakin to use the Force to stop Chronometers … make Leia miss half her meetings.' Ron added mentally.
"You shouldn't be surprised," Erik stated, sounding half sympathetic half condemning. "Well you should be surprised she didn't start dating before now. She's a treasure; Ron, I hope your Jedi Knighthood is worth what you have given up."
"I'm quite happy with Yori," Ron stated, taking a deep breath, "And I'm also happy Kim has found someone. But you must know that if you ever hurt her, the Sith will owe me a favor."
"You really have mastered lying to yourself, haven't you, my friend," Erik patted Ron's shoulder.
Ron started to reply when the window exploded throwing the two against the inner wall of the room.
"Ron-chan!" Yori cried out as she and Kim ran into the room.
"Erik! Ron!" Kim echoed as the girls ran to the two unconscious men's sides. "Perfect timing for Han-san and Chew-san to leave …" Yori said as the cloaked figure appeared in the hole where the window used to be. "Stay with them, Kim-dono, I will stop him."
"Be careful," Kim yelled as the girl approached the Sith Lord.
"I am Yori Onasi, Jedi Knight," Yori said as she drew her twin small hilt Lightsabers, and lit the two yellow short sabers.
"Darth Fist, Sith Lord," the Sith replied throwing his cloak to the side to reveal his half human half monkey-like features, black robes and twin lightsabers.
Red and Yellow struck sending sparks flying as the two Force-trained warriors displayed what could be considered a elegant dance. "You cannot win," Fist growled, as he slashed at the girl, but Yori easily blocked the slash with both sabers.
"The Force fights with me," Yori replied through gritted teeth, "And should I fall it will be of the will of the Force, not you."
"Your faith is misplaced," Fist replied as he kicked her in the stomach and brought a saber across her face, burning her cheek.
Yori smirked as she gingerly touched her sore cheek, "First strike, nicely done." She said before she dove at the Sith Lord, and slashed his chest, giving him a similar mark.
The war continued on for several more minutes, the Jedi and the Sith warring for all their worth. "Why are you doing this," Yori asked, using the force to push her sweat-soaked hair from her face as her chest heaved, "Why are you after the Representative?" She asked as she locked both sabers with his again, holding them apart in a hissing sparking grapple.
"You Jedi are always so foolish," Fist smirked pressing the grapple harder as Ron and Erik slowly regained consciousness. "The Dark Side so easily blinds you, it's not even funny!" He said as the lightsaber on Ron's belt began to shake slightly.
"You will be stopped," Yori said locking the grapple as hard as she could and prepared to give a strong Force-kick, "Just as Master Skywalker and his father stopped the Emperor."
She reared her leg back, but instead of kicking she let her foot fall and her eyes and mouth widen as a pop hiss filled the room and the sound and smell of burning flesh filled the room. A gurgle escaped Yori's throat as she looked down and saw Ron's lightsaber in Darth Fist's hand-like foot, and it's blade in her belly. "Oh, did I miss anything vital?" he asked.
Yori gave a watery scream as he began to swirl and twist his ankle, moving the blade all inside her. "My first Jedi Kill, for that I'll let the plan wait." Fist smiled at Yori's tear stained and pained face. "Have a pleasant trip to the afterlife," Fist said as he jerked the blade roughly from her body dragging the blade as hit came out, then let it drop to the floor.
"YORI!" Ron bellowed as he pulled himself to his feet and literally threw himself to catch her as she fell, completely ignoring the escaping Sith Lord.
R-Ron … chan …" Yori breathed as Ron cradled her in his arms.
"Hang on, Hang on Yori, just hang on …" Ron panicked, "I'll … I'll put you in a healing trance … Bacta … we'll get you fixed up … just don't give up … don't you dare leave me, Yori …" he said stroking her cheek.
"I'll … never …l-leave you … always … be with … you …" Yori gave a small smile as Ron brushed a tear away from her cheek with her thumb. "I … can see … you're … really … holding me …" Yori dark chocolate eyes slowly closed, "Not … Kim … you're … holding … me …" she let out a deep sigh as her robes fell empty in his arms.
"Yori … no …" Ron shook his head as he clutched the dark robes to his chest, "NOOOOOOOO!" He yelled before doubling over in tears.
"Ron …" Kim said, rubbing his shoulders offering as much comfort as she could as Erik stood at their side.
"Where was your Light Side of the Force in this battle, Ron?" Erik asked so softly Ron barely heard.
Ron's eyes slowly opened, a slight hint of red flashed for a moment as pain and anger flooded his being, and a small shadow began to grow inside his heart.
To Be Continued