Hey everyone, I know this took a lot longer than normal to post up, but I think this will become a bit more the norm. I have two major stories going on right now. Revelations of Light, and Fallout: The Winds of Change. Fallout is the older of the two, and I do not want to ignore it and let it go stale. So I plan to spend a week focusing on one, then the next week on the other. Meaning possibly a chapter every week to two weeks depending on how fast I can properly write and create them. I hope you guys understand.
Andrew, Carnivore Battalion is indeed with the rest of the 501st. They are currently serving in an unmounted role, as vehicle operators often have to do at times. Their AT-TE's and AT-RT's wouldn't have even been offloaded from the units assigned cruiser/vehicle bay.
Now, on with the story!
Green light flashed into existence, followed by blue. The calm, steady hum of each blade as its weight felt comfortable in the user's hand. The blades lighting up the somewhat dark room. The two beings brought their saber's up, blade's pointed skyward in a salute, then bringing them quickly down with an x shaped flourish. The Makashi salute almost mirrored by each opponent. The two opponents, a Human and a Pantoran, slowly began to circle around the room. Studying the other as they had time and time again. Each determined to emerge victorious.
Blue struck first. A sudden leap forward along with a downward strike. Green flashed upwards, two hands gripping the saber hilt as the two blades collided and rebound. Green rebounded, using the movement to bring a slash across blue's chest. Again, the saber's hissed as they made contact. Blue shoved Green back from the momentary saber lock. Pushing forward, another hard blow was brought onto Green, who spun into a slash at Blues back. Rolling forward to dodge it, Blue stood and turned, watching closely.
The two moved in again, both moving in a quick series of blows that were blocked or dodged. Blue going in for powerful strikes. Green utilizing momentum for quick but effective strikes in return. Blue slashed again, forcing Green to block off balance. Blue pressed the attack forwards, driving Green back. Green tried to re-post, but the momentum was lost. Concentration broke for just a moment. A quick sweeping kick knocked Green's feet from under them, and they hit the floor hard. They could feel the heat of blues lightsaber at their throat, and it was over.
Clapping filled the room as Kittani Jaxx groaned some from her landing on the floor. Over her stood her friend and rival Gant Sarat, blue training saber pointed at her throat. He smiled to her, and the heat of the saber disappeared as he extinguished it. He smiled to her, and offered a hand to help her up.
Kittani extinguished her own and took the offered hand, pulling herself upright.
"You're getting slow Kittani. Gonna have to step it up." He said jokingly as they gripped hands for a moment as a show of respect that they'd developed.
"You got lucky." She said smiling as the two turned to face their audience.
Many of the other initiates had just finished clapping for them, watching as Master Drallig nodded to the two of them.
"Well done you two. I see room for improvement. But an impressive duel none the less. We can go over the improvements after today's sparing session is over." He said, to which both nodded and thanked the master.
Kittani returned to her seat with her human friend when she finally noticed the newest arrival. An older man standing at the rear of the room, looking over her class. It took her a moment, but she realized Master Kenobi from her teachings and study. Kittani's eyes widened when she realized his gaze had turned to her. She bowed her head some and quickly sat down, running a hand through her black hair as she prayed to the force that the Jedi Master didn't comment on her lack of attention to the class.
She froze as she heard footsteps behind her.
Obi-Wan took a breath as he walked up behind the Initiate he'd just watched spar. He'd seen that slight look of fear in her eyes when they'd looked to each other. It was one he knew as well. The anticipation and nervousness of knowing that a full Knight or Master Jedi was observing you or your clan could be a lot.
He'd felt a connection to the girl, something small from the force that had told for him to observe her closely. He could see many of the similarities in their fighting style. Somewhat more guarded, letting an opponent tire themselves on a defense before going on the offensive. Yet the girl needed refinement and specialized training.
Obi-Wan smiled some because he'd also seen a few of the confident traits that he'd seen with Anakin as well. The girl seemed confident on the field, but he would need to determine how much truth there was to her confidence. How much of it was put on, and how much of it was from sparing with someone whom she'd spared with before. He could also sense the small amount of hope that every initiate had of being selected.
Master Drallig had told him that this clan had many potential students, but had listed Initiate Jaxx as one of the few he felt to be ready to become a Padawan this early. She was only eleven years old after all. But the war had put strains on everything… they didn't have the luxury of time to let the Initiates grow older before becoming Padawans.
Obi-Wan stopped next to her and placed a hand on the Pantoran girls shoulder, he felt her jump some and let out a light chuckle. "Hello Young one." He said in a greeting as he watched the next duel begin.
"G..greetings M..master Kenobi." She replied, looking up to him with wide gold eyes. Kenobi smiled, a bit of her confidence was an act, as confidence often was.
"That was quite a duel you just had young one. I see you've worked hard in learning how to wield your saber." He said, making simple talk. After all, his last Padawan-Master relationship had very much formed 'on the fly' as Anakin liked to say. He knew no other way to form a connection with a potential Padawan than this.
"Thank you Master." She said before pausing, "But I have a lot to work on to improve." She said, looking down some. She had lost the duel after all, and in the real world, that meant far worse than landing on one's rear.
"Don't we all." He said with a smile. "Tell me, what is your name?" he asked.
"Kittani Jaxx." She replied, looking to him, more curious than worried now.
"Well Kittani, how would you like to go for a walk? There are a few things I would like to discuss with you. Don't worry, Master Drallig knows." He said, standing again. The girl nodded quickly, standing up and turning to follow him, shooting a look to her friends that he was sure was full of worry and questions. He couldn't help the smile that was on his face.
He couldn't deny, it'd be nice to have another Padawan to teach and work with again. Even with the strain that had existed between him and Anakin, he considered the man a brother. They'd learned many things from each other, and he hoped to experience that again. If Kittani accepted the proposal, that is.
Obi-Wan watched as the youngling returned her training saber to its storage bin, then turned to look back to some of her friends who'd noticed her disappearance. He quietly opened the door, and waited for her to pass through with him.
"Master, was there something you needed me for? Have I done something wrong?" He heard her after a few moments of silence as they walked down the halls.
"Oh no, nothing like that." Obi-Wan smiled knowingly. He wanted to see if she had any problem-solving skills. If she could connect the dots.
She seemed deep in thought for a moment as they made their way along, likely trying to figure out what it was he wanted to speak with her about. "Then what is it Master?" the child asked.
"Well, having passed your trial. I am sure you know what comes next for initiates." He said as they headed out onto one of the open areas of the temple. The relatively fresh air of Coruscant reached them, carrying with it the distant hum of infinitely many speeders and ships flying around them.
He could see her head bob some as she looked around them. "Yes. I do master. Initiates will wait to see if they are chosen to become a Padawan by a Knight or Master. If not, then they will be… sent… to…the…." Obi-Wan sore he could see her putting the pieces together.
Kittani turned to him, eyes wide with that questioning look that children always had. That sudden burst of hope and excitement that spread through the force bringing a smile to him.
"Before you jump in, I would like you to meditate on this." He chuckled. "See what the force says about this for you."
Nodding enough to make her dark purple hair bob up and down, she looked to him. "Of course Master. But, would you mind staying and maybe meditating with me?"
Obi Wan could see the hopeful look in Kittani's eyes. "Of course I will." He turned back to the platform and gathered two cushions from a small storage area, setting out one for each of them. He then sat down in his usual stance, and once Kittani had as well, settled in along with her into his meditation routine.
He was going to learn from any mistakes he had made while training Anakin. While he did want her to seriously consider this, he had a feeling what her answer would be.
"I take it your men have settled in Anakin?" He heard Mace Windu say as he stood in the middle of the council chamber.
"Yes Master, they've all been located to their assigned area. The first units should be undergoing the operation shortly." He let out a tired laugh. "I have to say; the men are certainly not happy about it."
"Oh, we know. Their resolve sent quite a shock wave through the force. We felt it, albeit barely, from here." Master Fisto nodded.
Anakin nodded as thoughts raced through his mind as to why he was here aside from his troops. "Masters, may I ask why it was you called me here?"
"Hmm, still much to discuss there is. Still affected by your actions involving the dark side you are. Wish to help you, we do." Yoda said as he stood, walking before Anakin. "Fears you have, regrets from the past too, there are. Help you find answer's… help you find peace. We will."
Anakin felt a small spike of fear run up him. Those were thoughts he didn't want to bring up with even Padme… much less the entire High Council. How could he? Would they understand? Would they even be able to help him?
"I don't know if I can, Master." Anakin looked to Yoda, who in turn looked to Anakin.
"Never know you shall, if try to run from it you do." Yoda reminded him. "Tell us Knight Skywalker, that which troubles you most."
Anakin let out a slow and shaky breath… he knew he wouldn't be getting away from this one. Not this time. "As I told you Master… Padme and I recently discovered that she is with child. She only recently told me a month or so ago, while on a short leave from the Outer Rim Siege's" He began, that wasn't the bad part. That part only filled him with joy and nothing more.
"Not long after… I began to have these dreams. Nightmares really. They showed Padme in constant pain, screaming for me. But I wasn't there… I could hear a baby crying as well." He said. "I… I fear that this will be like the visions I had of my mother. I tried to ignore them, but… when they continued and I investigated… it was too late, and my mother was dead." He said softly.
He watched the old Grand Master closely as he seemed deep in thought. He could see a pang of sadness on the faces of a few of the others present. To know that he'd gone through such things.
"Help you, we shall. Meditate on this, I will. As should you, young Skywalker. Try to discover the source of these visions you must. See what causes her pain, you need to. Meditate upon this with me, I welcome you to." The Grand Master told him. It was oldy relieving to Anakin to hear this, and he nodded gratefully. Meditation wasn't his strongest point, but with the help of Yoda, and of course Qui-Gon possibly too. Maybe they could give him the answers he could not find himself.
"More there is, no?"
"Well… yes Master. I must admit… I feel like I let Ahsoka down. I couldn't protect her from the court. We abandoned her, and she nearly died because of that. Even when justice was brought forth, it'd still devastated her, and led to her leaving the order." Anakin said. "If I'd just tried harder… or something… maybe she would still be a Jedi today."
"Mmm, blame yourself… you should not. Partially at fault the council is. Our decision to expel Padawan Tano without proof it was." Yoda admitted. Anakin saw that some of the other council members were prepared to object, when Yoda silenced them. "Her decision to leave, indeed it was. But give her a reason to stay, we did not." He explained.
Anakin nodded… he'd been partially at fault as well. He still felt he could've tried harder to convince her. He suddenly looked to them.
"Masters, if I may. I would like the chance to go and locate Ahsoka Tano and speak with her. To offer her to return to the Jedi Temple, or to at least offer our sincerest apologies for what we have done." Anakin said. It was certainly a long shot… but maybe he could convince them or at least get them thinking about it.
"We shall see, Skywalker. For now our main focus must be on Chancellor Palpatine and finding the needed evidence against him. It is something the council needs to discuss more thoroughly, as it's a rare occurance." Mace Windu told him with a nod.
Anakin wanted to ask for more, but, it was the best he could get for now. Master Windu was right as well. He could not find Ahsoka if the entire Republic was suddenly against him.
"We will try to have an answer for you by the time your Legion finishes its assignment here at the temple. For now, focus on what Master Yoda has told you my friend. You have a lot to think about Anakin, but you also have some time. Do not let it overwhelm you." Master Fisto said, standing to clap a hand on his shoulder.
Anakin offered a slight smile and a nod, "I will Master's. Master Yoda, if you do not mind. I would like to try and meditate on my dreams alone at first. If I cannot discover anything, then I would like your assistance, along with Master Kenobi's in aiding me." He said before bowing deeply. "Thank you all." He said.
Yoda laughed at this, "And have our assistance you shall Skywalker. Remember, alone in this, you will not be." The green Jedi Master told him. "Now go, consider what we have discussed. May the Force be with you, Young Skywalker."
Anakin nodded, he was still scared, but at least this offered him some peace of mind. He bowed again, and then turned to leave. He had a lot to think about, and he needed to calm himself before he tried to.
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this Chapter. I wanted to throw in a bit of action to show that I don't plan to skip over all the fighting bits. I just have to get the story to a point where that sort of thing is happening. This will probably also be the only duel where the fighters are described by the color of their blades as well. It was personally just something I wished to try. Especially for writing my first light saber duel.
As always, I am looking for feedback on everything haha. But I'm really looking for feedback on my writing style for the sparing match and with Kittani in general. I am not quite sure what her role will be in this story beyond Obi-Wan's Padawan, but we shall see.
Once again, I thank all of you for taking the time to read this story and for giving me honest feedback. I must say that thanks to all of you guys my introduction into the Star Wars section of FFN has been a very warm one indeed. Thank you.
