Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Star Wars
A Shift in the Force: Chapter Nineteen: The Jedi Order's Beginning
AN: Everybody's loving Talik and Anakin it seems, and that's just great, 'cause I'm practically in love with those dorks.
Sooner or later you'll see some hints of the Sobiwan trickle in, but this is a slow build romance, I mean, it's been four plus years since Sabé's been silently pining after Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan's not as well-adjusted to feeling romantic love as she is, so expect a lot of denial ;)
And I have recently discovered that Taria Damsin and Obi-Wan Kenobi were lovers at one point…that's adorable but also sad because Obi-Wan says to Anakin "I was never in love. For a short while Taria and I needed each other. And when we no longer needed each other, we parted –as friends." *sobs* This poor baby has been so starved of love, poor Obi-Wan. Well, he and Taria won't be a thing, but they'll still be friends.
Also: there is use of military time in this chapter, 1000 is 10:00 am.
Obi-Wan was lying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling as though it could yield him answers, but it could not. He'd read the official report on Sabé's mission to Anobis, and Korinth'Kel's body had been laid to rest soon before he, Anakin, and Siri had returned to the Temple, for which Obi-Wan was grateful; he wasn't sure he could look at the person who had done all that was detailed in the report.
It really was no wonder that Sabé had been so shaken that the Council had to practically force her to go on a meditative retreat.
Obi-Wan's eyes flickered towards the comm.-link he had left on his bedside table. He could comm her, he was sure she would pick up, but was it a good idea?
He cupped his chin in his hand, a thoughtful expression overtaking his features.
Meditative retreats typically meant there was to be no contact with the Jedi Temple during that time…but…
Too late, Obi-Wan had already thumbed in her comm.-link's code and a few seconds later a voice responded.
"Amidala. I thought the Temple wouldn't be contacting me for the next two weeks?"
"Oh, it won't," Obi-Wan said, clearing his throat, "it's just me."
There was a short pause, followed by a surprised "Obi-Wan?"
"I hope I didn't wake you."
Sabé's snort came out as static. "Don't worry about it," she said, "I wasn't sleeping, I'm just reading up on some Holoarticles on the upcoming election."
Padmé's upcoming election, Obi-Wan was sure, given Sabé's tendency to maintain her connections with her family.
"Will Padmé be winning by a landslide?" he asked lightly.
"It does seem that way," Sabé conceded with a bit of amusement. "What gave me away?"
"I do know you, Sabé," Obi-Wan mentioned, rolling his eyes, even if she couldn't see him.
"Yes," Sabé said, "and what a tragedy that is." He could practically hear the smirk he was sure was present on her lips.
There was another moment of silence before Obi-Wan said "So, how are you?"
He could hear her exhaling a sharp breath. "I'm dealing with it," she said simply, "it's just…not one of my best moments."
"You saved a whole planet."
"And killed a friend," Sabé snapped. "It's a hell of a trade off, don't you agree?"
Obi-Wan's words caught in his throat and he opted to swallow them again before speaking. "I apologize," he said gently, "that was insensitive." He too had grown up with Korinth'Kel Dorma, but he had not shared the same Initiate Clan with her, like Sabé had (the Katarn Clan, known for being stealthy).
"Just a touch," Sabé responded dryly. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one, right?"
Obi-Wan could hear the bitterness on her tongue and he wasn't quite sure what to say that could make it better.
"You aren't a bad person, Sabé," he told her with certainty, "I read the report…Korinth'Kel did a lot of bad things on Anobis."
"She did," Sabé agreed, her voice growing somber, "but no one should have to die like that…it's my fault, I–I lost my temper."
"Lost your temper?" Obi-Wan said blankly. He couldn't really recall a time when Sabé had been good to honest angry with anyone. He had seen her irritated and annoyed, of course, it was impossible for her not to be; irritation was practically a requirement for those with Padawans.
"Talik…she showed up and tried to fight her off, and Korinth'Kel used the Force to choke her and throw her into the tunnel's wall," Sabé replied, breathing out deeply. "I was enraged when I attacked her."
"Oh," Obi-Wan said in surprise, blinking owlishly. Attacking Talik would certainly earn Sabé's anger, though it rarely ended well for the person doing the attacking, since Talik was particularly fleet-footed. "But not when she died?" He stopped himself just short of saying 'But not when you killed her' because that would just have been in poor taste.
"No," Sabé said with a bit of annoyance, "I had regained my sense by then."
Obi-Wan's door slid open suddenly before he had a chance to reply and Anakin came in with a datapad in his hands. "Master, there's this—" Then he paused and stared from his Master to the activated comm.-link. "Maybe, I'll just come back later…"
"Is that Anakin?" Sabé asked and Anakin brightened at the sound of her voice.
"Hi, Master Sabé!"
Obi-Wan ruffled his Padawan's hair good-naturedly, even as the boy shoved his hand away. "Yes," he said with a tone of amusement, "that was Anakin."
"How's Naboo?" Anakin asked with a grin, even though Sabé couldn't hear it.
Sabé's chuckle was static, but not enough that Obi-Wan and Anakin couldn't ascertain what the static was. "Figured that out, did you?" she asked lightly, and Obi-Wan knew her well enough to know that there was a soft smile on her lips.
She had a very lovely smile, he mused thoughtfully, before clearing his thoughts quickly.
"Well, Talik and I figured it'd be the best place to go," Anakin said, his grin making his eyes lighten. "How's Padmé?"
Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head, but Sabé was unfazed, Padmé, after all, was her sister.
"Padmé's doing fine," Sabé assured him, "she actually gets this week off since the Naboo Royal Elections start tomorrow so the people of Naboo are going to decide whether or not they want her for a second term, but I'm fairly confident she'll win just fine, looking at the polls that have been done…"
She sounded fairly political, Obi-Wan thought, even though there were many in the Order that had a distaste for politics and politicians. It was, he supposed, an aftereffect of having a sibling in that line of work. Ironically, he also had a certain skill with negotiating peace.
"She's trying to take my mind off things and she thinks she's being subtle about it," Sabé sighed good-naturedly. "Am I going to tell her that? No, of course not, what kind of person do you take me for?"
Anakin and Obi-Wan laughed as one.
"Tell her I said hi!"
"Will do."
"I'll just go back and, you know, tinker…" Anakin added jerking his hand back towards the door, and he pressed the button to open it before disappearing, leaving Obi-Wan a bit bemused.
"You would think he was running away," he mentioned thoughtfully.
"I'm sure you just incite fear into young Padawans," Sabé chuckled.
Obi-Wan's words came out just a touch dry. "Yes, I'm sure that's it."
Silence fell between then and Obi-Wan wasn't quite sure how to break it. "Sabé, you're not a bad person, you're a very good person who was caught in an impossible situation. And—" Obi-Wan swallowed. "And I know I'll probably never be able to understand the way you feel about certain things or comprehend how you think…but what happened to Korinth'Kel was a tragedy that you are in no way responsible for."
She didn't say anything for a few moments, but then Obi-Wan heard a sad sigh. "Obi-Wan, you really are far too kind and the galaxy will break your heart."
Obi-Wan blinked in surprise, a slight heat rising in his cheeks at the compliment, but he was saved from answering when she broke the connection.
And out in the outer-rim on the planet of Naboo, for the first time since Korinth'Kel's death, Sabé wept for her friend.
Padmé had declared that they were going on a walk an hour before lunch with a bright smile as she pranced into the room that she had offered Sabé the previous night.
"Padmé," Sabé groaned, having been awakened by her sister entering the room and nothing else, sleeping far longer than was her usual, no doubt owing to no longer being so weighed down with guilt from what had resulted at Anobis. "It's too early!" And then she rolled over to bury her face into the pillow, which Padmé wrenched out of her grip to arch an eyebrow at her elder sister.
"It's 1000, Sabé, most people are already awake by now."
Sabé groaned but didn't discount that fact. It was rare for her to sleep in so late, usually she was the first awake, so when Talik came stumbling out of her room Sabé was either deep in meditation or working on breakfast. But it felt like it had been such a long time since Sabé had slept so well.
"Some people need their sleep," she grumbled into the pillow, ignoring her sister as much as she could.
"Well, you've had enough sleep, I think," Padmé responded, ripping her pillows away, much to Sabé's annoyance. "Come on, Sabé! We're going out!"
"Where?"
"For a walk and then lunch," Padmé piped up, "so get in the refresher and put on some clothes."
Sabé glowered at Padmé's back as she left the room, glancing down at her sleep trousers and shirt. "I am wearing clothes," she murmured to herself before rubbing at her eyes and sitting up in the bed, staring blankly at the wall. Then she pulled herself into a standing position, grasping her bag of necessary items and dragging it towards the refresher.
The shower's warm jets were soothing when she stepped into the stall and turned the water on, and the kinks Sabé's body had gained in the night disappeared. It would have been nice if she could just remain in the shower for an hour –Sabé would have enjoyed that immensely– but as Padmé had said, she wanted they to go on a walk and eat lunch…so…
Sabé turned the water off, toweling dry and pulling a fresh outfit from her bag. This one wasn't nearly as drab as the one she'd been wearing the previous day, though it was still a bit dull, being a brown tunic with identical trousers. She wrung out the water from her braids and brushed her teeth before stepping out of the refresher, telling Arthree to stay in the room –and the astromech beeped in agreement– and making her way down the stairs to where Padmé was waiting for her.
Padmé, in contrast to Sabé's style, was wearing a flowing blue dress that suited her far too well, and her smile was just as bright as she swung the basket in her hand. "Ready to go?" she asked.
"I suppose," Sabé mused, before yelping as Padmé grasped her arm, tugging her out of the house (if it could honestly be considered a house, in reality, it was more like a mansion) and over the green expanse that was Varykino.
"I want you to tell me about the Jedi," Padmé said, looping her arm through Sabé's, "or your childhood, or both, I'm not too fussy."
Sabé arched an eyebrow. "Is that all?" she asked in amusement. "I was sure there would be a bit more added to the list."
She received an elbow in the side for her comment.
"All right, well… I suppose I should start with the basics," Sabé decided before correcting herself, "perhaps I should start with the beginning."
Padmé waited for her to continue.
"The Jedi Order is very old," Sabé told her, "and it was called many things before they settled on that name. And these were Force-sensitive individuals determined to keep the balance between the Light –known then as Ashla– and the Dark –known as Bogan– Side of the Force. The earliest form of the Order like what we have today was called the Je'daii Order. Sometime before the Republic was formed a conflict arose between those who used the Light and the Dark, this conflict became known as the Force Wars."
Sabé was in what Anakin commonly referred to as 'lecture-mode' (which, according to him, Obi-Wan was hardly ever out of), but the way Sabé explained things, and the subject itself kept Padmé from being bored.
"The Force Wars lasted for a decade and destroyed nearly all planet-life on Typhon, where the wars had been fought, but the Je'daii came out victorious, proclaiming their superiority over the Dark." The words twisted in Sabé's mouth.
"You don't agree?" Padmé queried.
"I think that the Jedi have always outnumbered the Sith and strength in numbers might have played a part in the matter, and the Sith often made up for numbers with skill," Sabé countered. "There have always been things about the Jedi and the Sith that I don't agree with, and things that I do."
She cleared her throat and continued the tale.
"It was after the wars' conclusion that the Je'daii's teachings of balance were abandoned and the Jedi Order was formed, embracing the Light completely. The first Jedi sought to bring peace and help those in need, but they also wanted to destroy the Dark and those they perceived as evil."
"Which is where you think they went wrong?" Padmé asked, giggling slightly when Sabé levitated them over a stream, allowing Padmé to enjoy a brief moment of weightlessness.
"I think if someone's treated like a monster long enough, that's what they become," Sabé sighed. "For claiming to have no fear, the Jedi have an awful lot of it concerning the Sith…unsurprisingly, one of the Jedi Order's founding members chose to follow the Dark Side, Jedi Master Rajivari—"
"How is it that you know all this from memory?" Padmé asked, in a bit of awe at Sabé's ability to recall information.
"The history of the Jedi Order and the Dark Side were always subjects I was fascinated with when I was younger," Sabé said with a shrug, "it's probably the reason why I chose to be a Jedi Shadow despite my training as a Jedi Guardian, now, hush, big sister is telling a story."
Padmé laughed and Sabé's eyes glittered.
"So, Master Rajivari and his followers, the True Dark Sons, were attacked by the Jedi and destroyed, and it was at that time that the Jedi decided to abandon Typhon and took up residence on the Ossus, opting to distance themselves from the Republic, which was a wise choice, I thought."
"Not because you don't like politicians?"
"I'm more tolerant of politicians than most," Sabé snorted, "no, it's not that. The Senate has a habit of running to us with their problems and expecting us to fix them, which is fine, because the Jedi are peacekeepers, but we should help all those in need, even those part of systems and planets not formally in the Republic."
"Like Tatooine," Padmé voiced her thought.
"Yes, like Tatooine," Sabé said sadly, "Anakin's with me there, he's still angry about how the Order can't help free people from enslavement."
Padmé winced. Of course he was. He wouldn't be Anakin if he wasn't.
"And Ossus…oh, I wish I could go there to visit sometime," Sabé sighed with longing. "Maybe I should lie and say I've sensed Darkness around the planet and claim there might be a Sith artifact there…but the Council of First Knowledge would know."
"They can tell when you're lying?" Padmé knew that there were four Jedi Councils –as Talik had informed her once she'd snatched the datapad from Anakin–: the High Council, the Council of Reassignment, the Council of Reconciliation, and the Council of First Knowledge. But she was too enraptured in what Sabé told her to ask for clarification, though it was very likely that Sabé would at some point circle back to what that Council did.
"They'd be able to sense it, I'm sure," Sabé said dryly, rolling her eyes for good measure. "I may be strong in the Force, but I lack the control that they've attained through years of experience."
"Anyways," she added, "back to the Jedi Order on Ossus…it was at that time that they chose to limit individuality and become more exclusive, which is perhaps when the age limit for training came into being, the ancient texts were never quite specific about that. And then the Great Schism happened, with a Jedi by the name of Xendor leaving the Jedi peacefully to form his own academy, it was only when he gained a number of followers –who were called the Legions of Lettow– that the Order deemed him to be enough of a threat."
Padmé frowned thoughtfully. "Were they following the Dark Side?"
"Well, yes," Sabé conceded, cupping her chin, "but I think the Jedi's ways drove him to that, and then punished him for it…I'm not entirely sure if I would call him Dark… some time after that the Jedi joined the Republic, only to break away during the time of Chancellor Contispex I."
"Anyone in their right mind would have," Padmé agreed with a shiver. She remembered learning about that Chancellor in class, the devastation he had caused in the form of war, purges, and genocide wasn't something anyone would be likely to forget, even if it had occurred some eons ago.
"A lot of questionable decisions were made by the Jedi Order during that time," Sabé added with a frown. "They were convinced to abandon isolationism and join the fight and assisting in placing a virus on some of Contispex' cathedral ship before arresting him and placing the Grandmaster at the time in charge of the Senate, which is a terrible idea, frankly, a Jedi should never be in a position of power."
Padmé drew her up short by tightening her grip on her sister's arm.
Sabé blinked. "What is it?" she asked.
"This is a good spot to lay the blanket, don't you think?" Padmé asked, laughing at the surprise on her sister's face. "You forgot the whole reason for what we were walking around for was, didn't you?"
Embarrassment made an appearance on Sabé's face as she tugged on one of her braids. "Sorry, I'm really passionate about our ancient history."
Padmé gave her a smile. "I don't mind, I'm learning a lot." And truly, she didn't.
"It'd probably be better if I just sent you some information from the Jedi Archives," Sabé decided as she pulled on the opposite ends of the blanket that Padmé had pulled out of the basket.
"Can you do that?" Padmé asked in surprise. "Doesn't the Jedi Order limit it to only Jedi?"
"Well, generally," Sabé couldn't deny that. "But who's going to know that I'm not checking some datapads out for myself but for my younger sister?"
"You are incorrigible," Padmé said in awe before dropping herself onto the blanket, which Sabé followed suit, flicking a few stray braids over one shoulder. "I do try."
They both laughed as clear and bright as the sun shining above.
Even Piell was one of the few in the Jedi Temple who served on two Councils, the High Council and the Council of First Knowledge, but the Council of First Knowledge didn't meet formally more than once a week, usually, but this was not a usual meeting.
This meeting was to discuss the replacement for the last member of the Council that had rotated out. The Council of First Knowledge was made up of five Jedi, not limiting to Masters, like the High Council, with a single permanent member who was known as the Caretaker of First Knowledge, and that was a Jedi Master by the name of T'un, he was a human male into his fifties, though he still had the strength of his youth.
"She is a bit young," Even Piell said as the centered holographic projector displayed the information alongside Sabé Amidala's image. "Only twenty-eight years of age."
"Master Piell, you will remember when I was volunteered, I was twenty-six," commented Jedi Knight Maw, a Boltrunian with a voice like rocks crushing against one another. "It is not youth that matters, but experience."
Even Piell gave a nod, conceding the point as Jocasta Nu spoke.
"She certainly has a love for the knowledge contained in the Jedi Archives, as well as a skill for seeking out Dark Side artifacts," the Chief Librarian said, "there can be no denying that. She is an exceptional Jedi Shadow…but will she be suited on this Council, I believe would be a better question."
T'un glanced between the three members –one Jedi Master, one revered librarian, and one Jedi Shadow with a deadly streak– before opening his mouth. "Is there no one else any of you would believe more suitable for this position?"
And silence followed that pronouncement. Maybe when a few years had passed and new members would be chosen would there be a few more contenders for the spot.
Taria Damsin was a good choice, but Sabé had more successes than the Ghainian, though it was possible when it came time to choose her replacement that she would be a good choice to succeed her.
"Then we are agreed," T'un spoke solemnly. "Knight Maw, will you inform your fellow of our decision once she returns from her meditative retreat."
Maw bowed as best as he could in his seat. "It would be my pleasure, Master T'un."
And then the meeting was adjourned and he left swiftly in search of Sabé Amidala's young Padawan learner. She wasn't very difficult to find; Master Che was positively raving about the girl's promise in the use of Force-healing.
"Do you suppose Master Sabé will be too annoyed with me if I try to reprogram Arthree?" came a young voice from one of the Force-healing training rooms and Maw followed it to see Anakin Skywalker with his legs propped onto the cot, his pant-leg rolled up to show a burn that could have only been made during 'saber practice.
He didn't seem to notice the wound, focusing on a datapad in his hands, while Talik Shala placed her violet-skinned hands on her friend's leg, a bead of sweat appearing on her brow as she attempted to heal the injury, but it was slow work.
"I think she might hand you over to Master Obi-Wan for punishment."
"Nah," Anakin disagreed, "Master Sabé's too nice for that."
Maw cleared his throat and Anakin jolted, knocking the datapad to the floor and Talik was so startled that she yelped and ended up on her rear, staring up at the one who had interrupted her, and then she was on her feet giving a short bow. "Master Maw," she said, embarrassment turning her skin a dark purple, "we weren't expecting you."
"Evidently," the Jedi Shadow said in what sounded like a grumble, "Padawan Shala, please inform your master once she returns that I need to speak with her."
"Um," Talik swallowed, "all right."
When he was gone, Anakin looked at Talik owlishly. "Who was that?"
"That's Master Maw, he's a Jedi Shadow and Master's superior," Talik hissed back, "and he's on the Council of First Knowledge!"
Anakin gave a low whistle. "What did your master do?"
"I have no idea," Talik said faintly. "But Master Maw didn't look angry, so that's got to count for something, right?"
Anakin gave her a dubious look and she poked his burn with her finger, making him recoil. "Ow! Hey! What're you doing?"
"Do you want to be healed or not, nerfherder?"
"Sleemo," Anakin muttered.
"I heard that!"
AN: So, there's a lot of history in this chapter, sorry about that, but Padmé's going to come out knowing a bit more about the Jedi than most, which I am all over. Next chapter will deal more with Jedi traditions and Sabé's childhood as well as the Naberries possibly making an appearance.
The Jedi Maw actually ends up as a Dark Jedi after the Great Jedi Purge, but before that he was a Jedi Shadow, like Sabé, and you all know just how much I love Jedi Shadows.
And I'm all about the Council of First Knowledge, I'm practically in love with it.
I don't know if I'll update soon, mostly because my obsession with Star Wars is fading, but we'll see, until next time!
As always: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
