Shocked Arrival

"Knight Myn is dead?" Master Obi-Wan Kenobi asked incredulously. The handsome Jedi Master glanced around at the rest of the council, looking for finality.

"It appears so." Master Windu sighed heavily.

"That treaty signing held no apparent danger, this is most upsetting." Obi-Wan dropped his shoulders and stared at the ground. Myn had been a friend of his and her loss was crushing.

"Danger on all missions there is. Face it everyday we must." Yoda said firmly to Obi-Wan. "Yet truly upsetting this news is. Dealing well with it, her Padawan appears to be. In shock, she must be. Greet her when she arrives, we must."

"Master Yoda is right. This must have come as a huge shock to the girl." Master Ki-Adi Mundi added his thoughts. Murmurs and nods echoed around the chamber, noting their accordance.

"How could this have happened?" Kenobi muttered partly to himself, lost in his own world.

"Looks like we'll just have to wait and find out what happened from the girl." Windu said as he glanced down at the floor.

"Surely you cannot think to question the poor thing so soon after Myns passing!" The beautiful dark skinned Master Adi Gallia raised her voice in distaste.

"You are right. We must give the girl time to rest. She clearly cannot return to the quarters she shared with Myn, arrangements must be made for her to stay somewhere else." Windu leaned back in his seat comfortably. The others however had been clearly affected by this overwhelming news.

The majority of the Council had retreated into the deeper recesses of their minds, while others stayed attentive with looks of anguish on their faces. Myn Spince had been greatly liked among the Jedi, and there had even been rumors of her appointment to the High Council as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

"Master Skywalker?" Windu continued on. "You are the youngest of the Council members, surely the girl would be able to associate more easily with someone her age…"

Anakin Skywalker snapped out of his deep musings and looked up quickly. As deep as he had been in his own mind, he still had a vague idea of what Master Windu was asking him.

"Yes, you are correct. The girl and I sparred together just this morning. She may rest in my quarters for however long she requires." The young Master declared solidly before slipping back into himself.

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Karva was an orphan now. It was something Anakin had not anticipated. He glanced quickly to Obi-Wan, he didn't seem to be doing so well.

Myn and him had been friends for years and he was clearly deeply shaken. Who would have thought one person could have such an impact on the mightiest of Jedi. The entire Council seemed to be reeling.

These were the hardest, strongest, wisest Jedi in the galaxy, were they not allowed to form attachments? It seemed only Windu and Yoda were functioning normally, as always. Anakin had always held a slight resentment towards Windu. He found his lack of trust unnerving, and his perfectionist personality a tad annoying. Anakin had long since come to terms with the fact that no one was perfect, not even the Jedi, and to strive for perfection was a never ending quest, which often led to the Dark Side, not to mention madness.

Through his misty haze, Anakin just barely caught the words 'arrangements concerning her apprenticeship'. Yes, Windu was right. The girl would need a new Master, just one more thing to worry about.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. She would have to fall under the apprenticeship of a new master and it would be especially difficult what with her trials fast approaching. Anakin just hoped she ended up with a master she liked and could relate to.

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"Then it is settled. We will regroup at the main hangar in less than 2 hours to meet Padawan Vassic. This meeting is adjourned." Windu disbanded the Council with authority and slowly the chamber began to empty. Anakin jumped up impatiently and headed over to Obi-Wan. However the older Jedi remained sitting and did not appear to notice his presence. He was clearly deep in thought. His legs were outstretched in a relaxed position while his arms were folded across his chest. His right arm scratched his beard thoughtfully.

"Obi." Anakin nudged him with his foot, the Master didn't move. "Obi!" Anakin spoke louder this time.

"Hmm?" Came Obi-Wans highly intelligent response. He glanced up at his old friend.

"Meetings over. Come on, let's go." Anakin motioned towards the doors.

"Oh yes, of course." Obi-Wan furrowed his brows as he followed his wayward Padawan out of the chamber and into the vacant lift.

"I am sorry for your loss Master." Anakin said in his slick monotone Jedi tongue. "I know Knight Spince was a good friend of yours."

"Yes, she was." Obi-Wan sighed. "She will be greatly missed. Yet the part that concerns me the most is that the mission she was on seemed fairly safe. There was no imminent danger." Obi-Wan admitted, frustrated.

"I suppose it is like Master Yoda said, there is danger on every mission." Anakin shrugged.

"It is her Padawan I feel sorry for." Obi said, a look of deep concern etched across his features.

"I sparred with her this morning." Anakin said casually while glancing at the ceiling.

"Oh really?" Obi asked, his interest sparked.

"Yes, she's good too." Anakin admitted as he unconsciously touched his nose. Luckily a trip to the medical ward had sorted that out quickly. "Strange saber though, the blade is gold."

Obi-Wan smiled to himself. "That's not really that surprising. Myns was pink!"

Anakin glanced over at Obi, grinning.

"It seems fitting her Padawan would be just as…unique shall we say." Obi-Wan chuckled to himself, his mood lifted considerably.

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"So Kenobi, I suppose you'll come to meet the girl at the hangar then?" Anakin asked as he slumped down onto the couch in Obi-Wans apartment.

"Yes. Are you?" Obi-Wan asked as he sat down in the seat opposite his young companion.

"Well, seeing as how you weren't listening at all today during the meeting, I guess I'll fill you in." Anakin gave him a scolding look. "Master Windu asked me if the girl could rest in my quarters until they decide what to do with her, and seeing as how I have a nice big apartment all to myself now I agreed. Besides, Windu's right, she certainly can't go back to her old apartment." Anakin sighed. "I can't even imagine what I would have done if you had died. I certainly wouldn't have been calm enough to send a message to the Council, let alone fly a ship. I don't think most Padawans would be able to." Anakin muttered grimly.

"No, they certainly would not. This girl is showing maturity well beyond her years. It seems as though Myn has trained her well, I would like to meet her." Obi-Wan smiled.

"Yes, she is very talented." Anakin nodded his agreement.

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The ship shook and rattled as it passed through the Coruscanti atmosphere. A minute later the vessel broke through into the Coruscant sky roughly a mile away from the Jedi Temple. Karva powered down the engines slightly and started towards the temple. The sun was just beginning to set and the sky was alive in flaming orange and burnt reds, not to mention the thousands of speeders and shuttles that ripped through the sunset.

Karva joined the nearest lane of traffic headed towards the temple and leaned back. It was hard to imagine that just this morning she had sparred with Master Skywalker, that just this morning she had departed with her Master and that just this morning her Master had been alive, it all seemed lifetimes ago.

Karva broke away from the traffic lane and circled the temple once. When she reached the side of the temple that held the hangar she flew lower and eased her way into the massive hangar. To her surprise what appeared to be the entire Jedi Council was assembled at the entrance. Karva had only expected Masters Windu and Yoda to be here, but there they were, every single one.

She knew they were watching her, judging her every turn of the ship, yet she didn't care. Didn't even feel her cheeks grow hot. She found a space big enough for the sip quite close to the entrance and gently touched down. She powered down the ship and lowered the ramp.

Hesitating slightly she got up and thought about whether she should take her Master down to them or let them…take her. She decided on the first choice, it would be too painful to even simply touch her Master.

Karva inhaled deeply and reminded herself of what it meant to be a Jedi.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no death, there is the Force.

"I am a Jedi, I feel nothing." Karva muttered, trying desperately to reassure herself.

Nothing, nothing, nothing.

She repeated it over and over again, the words becoming mixed and jumbled in her mouth.

"Nothing." The word came out as a painful gasp.

Karva lifted her leg and forced herself to place it on the ramp. Then the other one, again and again until both her feet were planted firmly on the cold marble floor of the hangar. She had been concentrating so hard on simply moving her feet that she hadn't even noticed the gathering of Jedi looming over her. When she finally lifted her gaze from her dark brown booted feet she saw them. Karva was at a loss for words. She simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"I am deeply sorry for your loss Masters." The words slipped from her tongue as she realized what they truly meant.

Her Master was dead, never coming back. Gone, gone, gone!

'Nothing, Karva, nothing.'

Karvas mouth remained slightly open and her eyes glazed over, as though her mind was anywhere but there.

'Nothing.'

Her words and expression brought gasps of shock to the Masters. Immediately Master Gallia rushed forwards and clasped her hand.

'Nothing.'

"Come along dear." The Master said tenderly. Karva heard nothing. Something other than her will forced her feet to move. She gaped at the people around her like a fish out of water, her eyes were pleading, but no one knew what for. Karva stared at her hand, as though she saw Adi Gallias touch but could not feel it.

The delegation of Jedi parted as they passed and Karva made eye contact with each one. Her eyes frightened them, it was as though they could see in to their very souls.

Unable to breathe now Karva looked down at the ground, she didn't know where Master Gallia was leading her and she didn't care. She just wanted to get away from all the eyes, staring at her, judging her, pitying her. She didn't want their pity.

"Nothing." Karva was mumbling now, repeating it over and over again.

"Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing…" Karva stopped suddenly as Gallia pulled back slightly on her elbow. Her gaze landed on dark leather boots. She followed the boot up to legs, then a torso and a belt, then a chest, shoulders and face.

Master Skywalker smiled faintly at her. "It is good to see you again Karva. If only our meeting were under better circumstances."

She heard not a word, only saw the moving of his lips. There was now a pounding in her ears which grew steadily louder until it drowned out everything, even the sound of her own breath.There was no more sound entering her ears. Karva nodded vaguely, glanced down at the ground then back up at Master Skywalker once more. She hated for him to see her like this, looking so…so vulnerable.

Karva felt something wrap around her upper arm and she glanced down cautiously. It was Skywalkers hand. She did not want any more people to touch her. Her shoulders tensed as she drew them up towards her head.

Why did this have to happen now? She had been fine on the ship, perfectly fine, but it only took a few Masters to make her crumble. Why couldn't she be stronger? Why couldn't she have lasted an hour longer, just long enough to make it back to her apartment?

Skywalker began tugging on her arm and she gasped and quickly looked around. He stopped and tried again, this time she understood she was to go with him. Karva hesitated a moment before giving in. Force knew she couldn't find her way back to her apartment in this state.

The warm pressure on her arm relaxed, as did she. She suddenly found herself wishing he wouldn't let go, the warmth of his hand was so soothing. She had not even noticed how cold she was until he touched her.

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Who was this girl wandering aimlessly beside him? Surely this couldn't be the girl he had sparred with just this morning! The Padawan he knew was energetic and full of life, this was just a shell of Karva Vassic. Her eyes were glazed and her mouth was open. Her lips were red and puffy and her face was blotched pink, however it didn't appear as though she had been crying. Anakin wondered if she ever would.

She appeared to be in a trance as he dragged her through the many corridors of the temple towards his quarters. Perhaps some rest would bring back at least some of the girl he had encountered earlier. Maybe she would be well enough to spar again. Who was he kidding? This girl had just lost her Master, even the greatest of Jedi distanced themselves after the deaths of their Masters.

Anakin noticed that the girls feet had started dragging slightly now, it was a good thing they were only a few feet from his door.

It took the girl a few minutes to realize she wasn't at her quarters. She mumbled something and Anakin began to explain as he waved aside his door.

"The Council asked if you might rest in my quarters for the time being. Hopefully this explains why you are here and not at your apartment."

She nodded mindlessly and sat down heavily on his couch. Anakin took that as a sign of her acceptance of this situation. Without a moments more hesitation she slipped off her boots and lied down across the couch. She immediately curled up into the fetal position, with her left arm wrapped around her waist and her knees brought up close to her body. The fingers of her right hand rested in her mouth for the moment.

"If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask." Anakin said awkwardly as he turned to enter into his bedroom. He was about to fully retreat into his room when a soft noise brought him back out again.

He glanced at the girl curled up on his couch. The unnatural light from the window spilled across her form, which made her appear as though she was glowing. All was dark in the apartment, save for her.

"Master Skywalker?" She called softly.

"Yes?" Anakin turned his back to her and rested his hands on the doorframe then turned his neck to answer her.

"Thank you." The words were simple and barely audible, but Anakin knew they meant the world.

Having no proper response, Anakin merely smiled weakly before turning into his room once more. He shut the door softly and Karva heard no more of him.

Sleep claimed them both quickly that night.

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Fin.

Next time: Karvas fate is decided and training with her new Master begins!

A/N: As you can tell from reading this chapter, I don't really hold Mace Windu in the highest esteem. 'Windu' is not an appreciative term.