I am sorry for the waiting ! I'll be in vacation this next 2 weeks so I might writting slower. I'll try to find the time tho !
Hope you'll enjoy this chapter !
To Ghostymood : Thanks ! This one is for you :p
11 Years Later
« Push me. » Anakin whispered.
« What ? »
« She's looking, push me ! »
From the corner of the eyes, the zabrak saw that she was in fact looking at him. Serra Keto and her brown wavy hair loosely attach in two quilt, her eyes, mixed of grey and blue like a sea storm contrasting with her light color robe.
« Koplan ! » Anakin yelled but not to much to not attract attention.
Dammit ! He probably passes more time than convenient looking at her. Distraction was always his biggest default. And in a middle of training ? Idiot ! Without more hesitation, Koplan call on the Force to push Anakin's blade away from his own. Anakin stumble backward, letting an opportunity for Koplan to disarm his opponent. With a force push, Anakin let the zabrak renverse him, his lightsaber flying some meters away.
« Alright ! Alright ! You win. » he said louder, hands up, a smirk on his lips.
Koplan extend his hand to help him on his feets, a small blush rising to his cheeks. « Why did you do that ? » he whispered, trying his best not to look again toward her.
« Wasn't it the best way to impress her ? » he smack him in the shoulder. « I mean c'mon, I know you two flirt behind my back. »
His face couldn't be redder than this moment, and he knew it. Anakin may be his friend - the only one in fact - but sometime he wishes he could erase the tease of him. And first, they didn't flirt ! She, like him, was a Jedi and Jedi doesn't have attachment. He couldn't love her, not that he would in the first place. She was beautiful, yes and they spoke a few times but that doesn't mean anything ! Plus, Koplan knew Anakin was seeing someone himself. Or at least... he was thinking of someone most of the time.
« You're insane. » he answered still as a whisper.
« Well maybe... But look who can't unfocus her attention on you mh ? » he wiggles his eyebrow with a playful smile.
Could he risk looking at her ? Part of him didn't care about what she was thinking of him. The logical part he guessed... But why did he let Anakin biased their fight just to show off then ? Anakin always won a fight against him and he was too proud to let Koplan take the advantage even just for one time. Unless... He found something more valuable than his pride, like embarrassing him. Yeah, that seems a sufficient reason. The zabrak roll his eyes and then walk toward Anakin's lightsaber still on the floor.
« You'll thank me one day ! »
He opened his mouth to respond but the words kept low in his throat. He froze in place, Anakin's lightsaber in his hand.
« Hey, you're alright ? » Anakin approached him, worried.
But the zabrak didn't respond. His limps began shaking, his eyes looking into the void. He blinked uncontrollably, falling to his knees. Everything was mooving around him, the floor, the people and his body didn't respond to his command.
« Koplan ?! Can you here me ?! Koplan ! »
And then all went black. His eyes were burning like acid threw to his globe. He started screaming, crying for help while his body was still frozen. Pictures began to flash in his mind. Before him stood a young man in Jedi robe, kneeling at a woman side. Blood spill everywhere around them, the woman in the man's arms covered with multiples deep cuts and bruises. Still in his own pain, he could sense that the man's pain was far more powerful than his. It wasn't physical but mental, a pain that no one should endure. He felt so much pity, sadness and compassion toward the young man... the burning sensation through his eyes making him sick, impossible to support both of their pain, he threw up on the black floor. He extends his hand, trying to catch the man's arm to let him know his presence, but he felt nothing than sparkles in his arms still at his side. « I'm sorry ! Please ! I'm so sorry ! » He started to apologize between sobs, the man's head getting up toward him like he was hearing him but before he could see his face, he was pushed back by an invisible force, his head hitting the floor with a loud thud.
He woke up slowly, lost in what just occurred. He was lying on something soft, his head resting on what seems to be a large pillow. He wanted to open his eyes but fear stroke him like a lightning through his veins. The pain wasn't there anymore but what if he opened his eyes... and saw nothing but blackness ? What if he could never be able to look at the stars, colors or light again ? Then he felt something in his hand, a cold weight... Passing his fingers above it, he recognized the form of a lightsaber. He leaned on his forearm, rising to a sitting position on the bed. Even with his eyes closed, he sensed the world spinning around him, followed by a hard headache. He ran his finger at the back of his head, sensing a large bump there. He lifted his hand at the top of his head and gasp as he touches the sharp, little piece replacing his once long horn.
Since the beginning of his adolescence, he has started to cut and file his horns to make them disappeared. He would do everything to become more human because unlike him, human were a common species with no prejudice, they blend perfectly in the society and within the Jedi. But for a son of Dathomir, a former Nightbrother who (fortunaly) didn't got his tattoos but marks on his face, a Padawan who the only representative of his species other remember was a Sith Lord, it wasn't a simple thing. No one would spoke those word out loud, but he knew that most of Padawan and knight didn't trust him. Why would they ? They didn't know him, at least, most of us. But the young zabrak though that maybe, if he looked more human, his origin will shush the doubts. Only his Master, Hoebe and Anakin trusted him without doubts.
And now at nearly 19, he has learn to ignore what other thought of him. His self-confidence has grown and make him the proud Padawan that he was now. He walked with his hood down, his rather tall horns and marks for all to see, proud to who he is.
A voice suddenly brought him back to the present. « Three of them broke when your head hit the ground, I'm sorry. »
« No, that's okay. » he answered with a shy smile. More relaxed, he took a big breath and opened his eyes. All is was seeing what a blur of light and shape but what relief did it bring him ! His view began to adjust to the bright light above him, revealing a Twi'lek in a white blouse beside his bed.
« Hi, I'm Master Vokara Che. You're at the Temple healing facility. How are you feeling Padawan ? »
« I don't know... Confused I guess. » What had happens again ? He remembers the... dream ? As it seems but what before that ? He rubbed his temple, frowning as he tries to remember.
« You hit your head pretty hard so it may take some time before memories resurface. Apart from this and the bumps, you're perfectly healthy. Though I juggest you to talk with a Master about the event, mental health is quiet more... subtle. » she said, nodding while looking at the lightsaber in Koplan's hand. « You were unconscious for an hour but you didn't want to let go of the light saber. We try everything, using even the Force but your knuckles turned white with the power of your grip on it. So... we decided to let it in your grasp. »
Opening his hand, he saw Anakin's lightsaber. He quickly deposed it on a table beside the bed like it was a poisonous thing. The healer did notice the foreign movement but didn't bring it up.
« Your Master and a friend would like to see you. I kept them waiting. I want to be sure that you're okay with them visiting and probably telling you what happened. »
His gaze was still on the lightsaber, lost in his thoughts. He haven't even realize Master Che was talking to him before she snaped her finger before his face.
« Padawan are you listening ? » she said with a harsh ton.
He blinks. « Y-yes ! Yes. I'm sorry. » he paused, searching what was the last thing she asked. « Oh. Yes, they can come. »
Master Che didn't seem please with his answer, but she didn't argue and opened the door of the rest room.
Anakin was the first on sight, praticly running to the bed. « Holy Force Koplan ! Are you okay ?! » The zabrak greet his teeth to the loud voice of Skywalker, shouting at him like he was going to die.
« I'm fine, beside the feeling of a bantha bouncing on my head.»
« I didn't know bantha could bounce. » Master Hoebe appeared behind Anakin, her hand linked in front of her.
« Neither do I.» he replied with a chuckle.
« I see you had finally let go of my lightsaber. I didn't know you were loving me so much ! » Skywalker joked while picking his weapon and clip it to his belt.
« Yeah well, perhaps you should give me a chance. Who know what we could become ? »
« Sorry man, the feeling is not shared. » he said with a false sad voice.
Koplan pout like a child, playing his game. He has to admit, Anakin was the one that always lighten the mood and while they look probably like children, they didn't care a bit. Even Master Hoebe and Master Kenobi seem accustomed to it now ! They both laugh, Master Hoebe sighing at their side. He almost forgot about the situation - almost.
« You scare the hell out of me man... You were frozen in time, shaking everywhere ! We try to wake you up and then your head flew back in the ground like... like something punched you or something ! » Anakin continues with his hand up to illustrate his feelings.
« Well I... didn't remember any of that but I saw something. » he said while looking at his feet.
« Padawan, what did you see ? » Master Hoebe frowned, leaning forward.
Koplan raised his head, turning to Anakin then his Master. He never told Anakin why he decided to come to him years ago, he never knew of his dream or whatever this is. And he didn't want him to worry, it's not like it was a joyful dream of him. Plus, it's the first time something happens outside of his sleep so maybe it was just tiredness or sickness... Yeah, nothing like the many dream he had about Anakin. And this time he wasn't even sure it was about Skywalker ! He didn't see the man's face, nor the woman's in his arms.
« Koplan. » Hoebe said again, her face more serious. « What. Did. You. See ? »
He explained them everything. From the burning eyes to the blood and the scene. He went silent after that and turns toward Anakin's lightsaber.
« It might have something to do with you. » he whispered.
—
He stood in the center, shifting his legs, he has never been so nervous than before the High Council. Even if Master Hoebe was beside him, he felt alone in front it, exposed to them. And the subject didn't really help calm his nerves. Anakin stood silent behind them.
« Skywalker's lightsaber, you held when it begins ? » asked Master Yoda, both of his hands resting on top of his cane.
« Yes Master. »
« Mh, strange, it is. »
Yoda exchange some unspoken though with other Council Member, every one of them visibly concerned.
« Master ? » The zabrak called.
« Psychometrie, you have. But not the past, you saw. Strange it is. »
« Like Master Quinlan Vos ? » asked suddenly Anakin. Yoda answered by a simple nod.
« I'm sorry erhm.. Psycho-..? »
« Psychometrie. It's a gift some people are born with. This people can sense echo from the Force through object. They can see the past involving this object. » Master Windu answered.
« But what I saw hasn't happened yet, I th-think... Anakin told me that he had never lost his lightsaber and that he didn't remember living what I described to him. »
« A mystery, it is. The first time it happens, it is ? »
« Well I-... In the middle of the day yes. I already had some dreams - well, nightmares - but nothing like that. »
« Jedi don't have nightmares Padawan. » spoke Master Shaak Ti. « What you saw were visions from a possible future. You should meditate on this more deeply. »
« Yes Master. » he said with a small bow. Hoebe put a warm hand on the zabrak's shoulder.
« More to say, you have mh ? »
« Y-yes. I was wondering... It is always like this ? I mean, I still have a headache and it wasn't a joyful thing to experience. »
« That's a big understament ! » exclaimed Anakin. « You were practically convulsing on the ground ! »
« Skywalker ! » whispered Master Hoebe to reprimand him. Eh, some thing never changes. Skywalker was always the bold one, unlike Koplan who struggle to even spoke with people with a higher rank.
« Your vision is extremely brutal, but it doesn't mean the next one will be the same. » responded Master Mundi with a reassuring smirk. « I'm sure Master Hoebe will help you with that. »
« Now, now, we have a new assignment for you. » Windu gestured to the door and it opened, letting Master Kenobi come beside the three of them in the center. He bows slowly in greetings.
« Master Kenobi, I hope you are recovering well. » he continued.
« Yes, thank you Master. »
After a short silence, Windu resumed.
« We have been alerted that the Senator Amidala was the target of an assassination attempt. Chancelor Palpatine think it's better to have Jedi for protector while the authorities search for the Bounty hunter. »
« But two Jedi and Padawan aren't to much for this kind of mission ? » asked Kenobi. He steps forward at the same level as Anakin who's Adam apple blob nervously. An action Koplan didn't miss.
« Yes, it is. That is why you and Skywalker will stay with the Senator while Master Hoebe and her padawan will search the bounty hunter. »
« But didn't you say that the authorities were in charge ? » asked Hoebe.
« Effectively. I want you to work in the shadow and kept contact with Kenobi and Skywalker. No one should know you're acting on this, but you could need help from one another. Do you have question ? »
All of them shook their head.
« You'll meet Senator Amidala at her quarter. You know what to do. »