Chapter 9 – The Jedi Council
"There, all done. That's much better, huh?"
The little girl stared at her reflection in the small grubby mirror.
On her person, she now was wearing a tiny dark red tunic dress over dark navy leggings and small black boots, which she shifted in with a slight grimace. It was not that she didn't like the clothes. On the contrary, these were much better than the rags she used to wear as a slave, and she did not drown in them like she had with the rest of the crew's hand me downs.
Behind her in the reflection, she could see the mustard skinned Twi-Lek, smiling sympathetically at her as she began to brush the little girl's dark, thick wavy hair.
"Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But trust me it suits you. And you'll look even better when we get all this hair out of your eyes."
The little girl paused…then nodded silently almost in resignation.
The Twi-Lek's eyes softened a fraction as she asked gently:
"Do you want me to leave it as it is? We can if you want to."
If the Twi-Lek was hoping this would ease the girl's mind she was sorely mistaken. Instead, the little girl looked even more terrified as she opened her mouth to speak, only to shut it hastily as if the action burned her.
The Twi-Lek felt her chest ache with pity for the child, whom she turned around to face.
"Hey…hey. It's okay I get it. You feel scared to say how you feel. Believe me, I understand what it's like-" She paused to smirk slightly as the child gave her a sharp swift searching look as if to say: "Yeah right"
"It's true" the Twi-lek stroked a thumb over the girl's cheek tenderly, wiping off one last smudge. "I may not have been a slave like you, but I've been where you are. I know what it's like to feel powerless, to feel like neither your voice nor your actions count because other people say so. Well let me tell you, something kid, they do mean something. And maybe it might take a while, but one day you will speak up with that strong voice I know you have inside you and people will listen because they know you are saying what is right."
"Wh-What if it isn't? What if…what if what I say is wrong?"
The voice was so small, so soft, so raspy from disuse that the Twi-Lek did not even know if she had heard it or not.
Yet when she looked down at the little girl in front of her, her mouth widened into a wide smile.
"Then you'll at least have said it out loud. After all, the good thing about mistakes is that you can learn from them once you know you've made them. Though if you're going to become a bounty hunter you're going to have to learn from your mistakes quick-smart before they get you turned to icky orange goop, which trust me, is not as purdy as it sounds."
Despite herself, the little girl smiled, amber eyes sparkling in the light as she reached out to hug the older woman tight, neither of them noticing the small warm smile of The Deveronian man as he crept away from the crack in the open door.
It was dark.
She could not see where she was. All Una knew was that she was standing on something solid, something like stone.
The air was getting chillier by the second even as she tried rubbing her arms to relieve them of the bone-numbing cold.
Just where in the god's name was she?
"Hello?!" she called out to the dark.
Nothing happened. Nothing save her even breathed.
She bit her lip as she tried to remember what had happened. She had been on the Nabooian cruiser. One of the Queen's handmaidens, Delia, had handed her a fresh set of night clothes to change into. She had quickly gotten dressed and then made her way to the galley to find something to eat and drink.
That was when she had heard them talking. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Slyde. All talking about her…and her force sensitivity.
A force-sensitive? Me? Yikes, what is this world coming to?
Yet even as she thought about it, everything seemed clearer somehow.
As far back as she could remember, she had always had a sharp intuition, especially when it came to fighting. She could almost see the move someone would make just before it happened. Then there were people themselves. She could always sense when people's moods were different without even having to look at their body language closely. She could almost always see when people were being honest or lying through their teeth, even if she could not physically prove it.
For so many years she had thought it was just a fluke of nature. That the heightening of these skills was caused by trauma and a tough upbringing in a demanding profession. Somewhere deep down she knew that was not the truth, but her fear of sounding crazy had kept her quiet about her abilities.
If she was being honest with herself, it was a relief to know she was not the only one with such strange powers.
However, that only proved to make the rage swell once more in her gut as she thought back to Slyde's words:
"Because she would've become dangerous."
Dangerous…the man who had raised her since childhood thought she would be a danger to others if she knew what she was…if she knew she had powers.
"Yes…that's it young one…give in to your rage."
The voice was cold, sadistic, poisonous like a serpent.
It made the hair stand up on the back of Una's neck as she wheeled about, searching for the source of it.
"Who's there?" she barked at the darkness around her. Now that she thought about it, there was no light where she stood and yet she could see herself plain as day in the dark space.
A strange raspy breath rattled through the air and Una felt herself shudder as a wave of cold washed over her.
The horrible voice hissed. "Such raw untapped power…such a shame it has been hidden for so long."
Una stayed silent, though more from her dread than anything else. Just who was this thing?
"Someone who has been waiting for you for a long time"
"Look I don't know who you are but get the frack out of my head!" she snapped angrily only to cringe away and shiver with cold as the darkness closed in about her with its icy chill. She tried to reach for her blasters, but the only thing her hands could touch were her silk-covered sides.
"Stupid little pest" The voice sneered malevolently "You think your pathetic little firearms could ever hurt me?"
Una clutched at her arms as the cold intensified around her. It was like she was drowning in an invisible dark blizzard that swirled all around her, with no warmth to protect her-no wait, there was something.
She gasped as she felt the cold air around her suddenly cut off as if invisible walls had been slammed down between her and the darkness.
"Stay back!" she heard someone cry out. Whoever they were they sounded remarkably familiar; their strong voice was wholesome and soothing in contrast to the harsh cold sneer that assaulted her earlier.
Una reached forward, her heart racing as her fingertips grazed the invisible barrier. It felt both like glass and water rolled into one, and yet she was sure they were not of her own creation. No, whenever she had blocked off things in her mind, she had always visualised durasteel walls keeping them secured.
"I said stay back." The new voice cried out, groaning as its owner seemed to strain against the looming darkness beyond. "The barrier won't hold if you don't accept it and I won't be able to protect you if that dark force gets through"
Una wanted to tell the new voice to piss off, but then she remembered the icy chill and withdrew from the barrier. As she did so, something bright and glowing white-hot flickered in the corner of her eye.
She turned to face the anomaly and was almost blinded by its brilliance. She shielded her eyes, blinking furiously as they adjusted to the new light source in which she could distinctly make out a small, hunched figure curled on the ground shivering almost violently where it lay.
"Ani," she whispered softly running towards the small boy and throwing herself over the top of him just as the oppressive darkness suddenly slipped through a crack in the protective barrier's defences.
"NO!" the new voice yelled while the malicious one snarled with victory as it pressed down over Una who had draped as much of herself over the top of the glowing boy.
"It matters not what you or your friend do little hunter. Both your powers will be mine"
"No, no." she growled clutching Anakin to her with a vice-like grip "No. You won't hurt him. I won't let you. I won't let you hurt him-"
"You won't let me?" the evil voice sniggered wickedly "Such a foolish child"
"Oh screw you, you Bantha-photu!" Una snarled to the darkness, her amber eyes blazing with a fierce heat as she craned her neck upwards.
Was it just her or could she see the darkness begin to take a shape?
"That's it, Una. Keep fighting. We've almost got it. We can push it back if we hold together." The voice of her protector echoed encouragingly in her head as the strange shape in the darkness began to cringe away from both Una and the light she protected.
As it did so, it sneered and snarled viciously:
"You truly think you have what it takes to stand up to me little hunter? After all your failings you still think you are strong enough to save everyone you care for?"
Una gasped as something flashed over her eyes. A mustard skinned twilek woman with orange markings, lying alone amidst large piles of stone rubble. With each passing second, her breaths rattled slower and slower…her green eyes wide and empty as they stilled-
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Una roared and suddenly the evil force was knocked away from herself and Anakin with a cry of pain.
Her protector wasted no time in fortifying the invisible barrier that shielded them from the onslaught of darkness just as another voice suddenly called out in her ears.
"Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan what is going on?"
But Una did not get to hear the rest of the exchange as she fell once again into the darkness of unconsciousness.
When the clock in the Queen's quarters chimed the standard morning hour, Padme was already awake. Not that she had slept much, to begin with.
Just a few more hours and her people would get the help they needed.
And yet…
"Sure they'll listen, sure they'll cry sympathy tears for you, but unless there is an immediate reason that your plight affects their quality of life, I doubt you're going to get any help from them because they actually care for life as you do."
What if she's right? Padme bit her lip as the voice of a young woman faded back into nothingness.
What if the Senate doesn't do anything?
The thought had been so terrifying that she had not even considered the possibility that no help may come. Yet the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
After all her planet was but one small little gear in the Republic machine…but no.
Her petite hand balled up into a fist on the sink. No. She was not going to give in to her insecurities. Even if there was a chance the Senate would not do a thing she had to keep trying. She had not successfully navigated the political sphere of her own planet and become queen just so she could give up when things got tough.
Sucking in a deep breath the young Naboo queen straightened up.
It was time for her to get ready.
When Una woke up it was to find that she was completely alone in the medical room, well not quite alone, she could hear someone showering in the small fresher the door of which was half-open.
She did not have to see who it was to know who was inside, not when she could hear him muttering moodily to himself under his breath.
"Damn Gungan. What was Master thinking bringing him along?"
Una smirked as she carefully sat up and peered sideways for a sneaky peek inside the door. She knew she probably shouldn't have, but one little look couldn't hurt, right?
Amidst the folds of the neatly folded robe and tunic and trousers on the closed toilet seat was the faintest of silver.
What the-oh wait that's his Lightsabre.
Una tilted her head, gazing transfixed at the weapon.
She was force-sensitive just like Obi-Wan. Had Slyde trained her or taken her to the Jedi she might have too wielded a lightsabre of her own. She would have been a knight and would have had people looking up to her in awe instead of sneering at her in disgust daily.
She tried to imagine herself as a Jedi, wearing the robes, wielding a sabre and using the force. Yet unlike when she had pictured Slyde the image just seemed…wrong.
Oh, who am I kidding?
She pouted and pulled her knees up to her chest.
Like hell, I'd make a decent Jedi. I barely make a decent human. But still…
She bit her lip as she remembered pushing Qui-Gon away from her in the fight the day before. She recalled her momentary confusion at how far she had pushed the older man…if pushed was the right word. She had certainly shoved something, but she could not remember having touched the cloth of his poncho or even his skin. So then how had she pushed him away?
Did I use the force? But no that's never happened to me before…not that I know of… Hmm…I wonder…
She looked back up at the lightsabre a few feet away biting her lip as she raised her hand.
Nothing happened.
She pushed her hand forward slightly, fingers wiggling as she narrowed her eyes on the lightsabre which twitched slightly from beneath the clothes.
That's it…come on.
She gritted her teeth. She could almost feel the metal in her hands as she focused all her might on it.
It twitched again yet still would not move.
Una snorted with frustration but was quick to squash the feeling down.
No. No, she could not get frustrated. Frustration led to mistakes, and Una Crest did not do mistakes.
Her heart clenched tightly as a face flashed over her mind's eye.
It was the face of a Twi-Lek woman with mustard yellow skin and orange markings.
Her smirk was soft with affection and her hands were gentle as they made to readjust Una's hold around the blaster in her hands.
"Right. Remember Wildcat, shooting range rules. Keep your eyes straight, take deep breaths, make sure all your focus is on the target, make sure your arm is stable and only pull when you feel you are ready…"
Una shook her head. Damn, of all the times that memory had to come up.
She bit her lip as she raised her hand again, this time straightening her arm out to look down the length of it, pointing her finger directly at the lightsabre as if it were the scope on her rifle.
She had the target in sight, now she just had to focus and stabilise her arm which wavered ever so slightly as she tried to lock on.
Deep breaths in and out…in and out…
She reminded herself as she focused her mind on the sabre, and steadily her arm began to still and relax where she held it.
"That's it…come on, just a little bit…there…got you," Una smirked, inhaling deeply one last time as she shut her eyes and pulled the invisible trigger inside her head.
She did not need to see the gleam of silver flying out towards her in mid-air to know it had worked. However, she had not anticipated the speed at which the weapon flew straight at her face. The hilt blurred like a silver bullet, and it was only thanks to her deft reflexes that she caught it before it could smash into her nose. Yet, even as she fumbled with it in her fingers, her face split into a wide grin.
She could not help it. The minute she had pulled the lightsabre towards her she had felt a fierce and wonderful rush of energy pass through her.
Una had experimented once or twice with recreational drugs in her downtime, but none of them held a candle to the high she was experiencing right now. It was exhilarating, her heart was racing, and her mind was reeling.
She could do it. It was not just a dream it was real…it was real… She could use the Force just like a Jedi-
Her smile fell from her face and the light feeling in her gut dropped like a stone as she looked down again at the lightsabre in her hands.
What the hell am I doing?
She glared down at the weapon, her hands trembling slightly.
Still daydreaming like an idiot. God Una, woman up and get real. You're no Jedi. You're no peacekeeper or Guardian of the Republic. You're just a stupid Bounty Hunter that's way in over her head-
"Excuse me." a mellow voice said, and Una jumped and looked up.
There standing at the Fresher room door was Obi-Wan, wearing his tunic and robes with a towel draped over his shoulders so that his damp hair did not drip onto the floor. He was watching her closely; his expression torn between irritation and wonder as he met her gaze.
"Sorry," Una held out the lightsabre for him.
"How did you do that?" He asked, his voice quiet as he accepted his weapon back from her grip and holstered it quickly on his belt. "You have no training in the force. How were you able to do that?"
"I…I don't know." Una shrugged, curling herself into her knees "I…I just did what I always do when shooting a target. Clear my mind, concentrate then pull the trigger. Simple."
"Indeed?" Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes and Una rolled hers.
"Oh what? You think you Jedi are the only people out there who know how to concentrate on something?"
"No-I-I didn't mean-" Obi-Wan spluttered angrily only to quickly shut his eyes and suck in a deep soothing breath.
No, it wouldn't be good if he let his temper flare out here. He was quick to release his tension into the force, offering Una an apologetic glance as he opened his eyes and met her wary gaze.
"Nothing, nothing…Forgive me, but you should know our Lightsabres are important to us Jedi. We are forbidden to own many earthly belongings so whatever little we do own is considered very precious. I forged this weapon myself right before I was first apprenticed, and I've never let it out of my sight for one moment since."
Una blinked at him in surprise. She was always protective about her blasters it was true, but that was because the good stuff she used was either expensive or hard to come by and customise. But the way Obi-Wan talked about his lightsabre with such reverence, as if it was a part of him like a limb.
"Oh… Sorry. If I had known it was that important, I would've tried that trick on something else." She said, and Obi-Wan was surprised by the sincere guilt etched into her features as she avoided his eye, her cheeks slightly pink.
"It's alright, you didn't know." Obi-Wan felt his own cheeks heat up ever so slightly but he stayed his ground.
He could hardly believe his eyes when he peeked through the shower stall door to his clothes and saw his lightsabre moving on its own. Seeing it flying into Una's hand and watching her hold it was another thing altogether.
His chest clenched with pity as he remembered seeing that spark of joy in her eyes as she turned the weapon over in her fingers.
For one shining moment she had dared to dream, only to wake up and snap back to harsh reality.
He mentally shook himself.
"My lightsabre aside, it was impressive what you just did, given that you have little experience with the force." He coughed into the awkward silence.
"Really?" Una snorted sardonically "From what I've seen you and your old man do, it seems pretty basic."
"It is." Obi-Wan nodded carefully "But the fact that you understood the underlying concept of the exercise and were able to put it into practice as fast as you did is quite extraordinary."
"Well the man who trained me was once a Jedi. God knows how much he's actually taught me without me knowing." Una growled bitterly, the angry fire blazing behind her amber eyes once more. "Speaking of which I wonder what that bastard has done with his lightsabre then? Probably hidden in his sleeve or his jacket knowing him. God knows how often he's used it behind my back-"
"I'm sure your father didn't mean to hurt you by keeping the truth hidden" Obi-Wan grunted as he sat down on the bed beside her feet. "He loves you very much-"
"Yeah, because lying to someone about their true powers for nearly thirteen years is such an act of love. Tch! Knowing him he probably was too chicken to face his own past." Una snorted.
"Or too angry" Obi-Wan muttered folding his arms in his sleeves "When I was talking with him last night, he seemed rather bitter about returning to the temple. It was as if it caused him pain to even think about it."
There was a silence as Una mulled his words in her head. The Slyde she knew was not bitter, vengeful, or hateful at all.
Sure, he knew how to intimidate and scare others into line when the time called for it but he was not a malicious person by nature. He was not above giving his opponents a good thrashing to show them who was boss, but he did not go out of his way to start a fight or initiate violence of any kind. Indeed, he rarely, if ever, held grudges and like Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, was always quick to let go of most of his anger and frustration as soon as it came, a trait he had tried to instil in his protégé throughout her training…with little success.
Whatever went down with the Jedi must have been something terrible for Old Devil Horns to still feel pissed about after all this time.
Una thought, shifting uncomfortably where she sat as she opened her mouth to say:
"You were in my head last night, weren't you?"
"I beg your pardon?" Obi-Wan started in alarm and Una rolled her eyes again.
"Oh, cut the crap Junior, I know you were in there in that dream-vision or whatever that thing was! You and that-that nasty-sith-thing!" She tried to hide her shudder of fear behind a glower, but Obi-Wan could see her fingers fidgeting from where they rested on her knees.
"Yes. You were under a mental attack from another being deeply entrenched in the Dark Side of the Force." He muttered quietly turning his head to face the closed door of the room. "My Master suspected such a thing might happen after the fight on Tattooine, though I don't think he expected our enemy to have been that powerful."
He paused to glance up at her briefly, his expression even more serious.
"Speaking of which are you alright? Because a mental intrusion such as that can be traumatic for those who aren't used to them."
"No-I'm fine. Well, I'm pissed as hell because things are getting weirder and weirder the more I hang around you guys, but otherwise, I'm okay. The real question is are you alright? You're the one who took the brunt of the attack by protecting Ani and me." Una gulped awkwardly, pulling her blanket up to cover her chest. She could not help it. Without her suit, jacket and blasters she felt so exposed under the padawan's piercing blue stare even as he said:
"I'm fine. Tired but fine."
"And Anakin?"
"He doesn't even know about the attack. With both our minds shielding his, he probably did not feel a thing." Obi-Wan paused for a moment, almost as if torn for something to say. Finally, after a small nervous gulp he said:
"Listen, about last night …?"
"Yeah?"
"That vision I saw in your mind, the twi-lek woman…who was she?"
There was a silence as Una stared at Obi-Wan. For once her face was difficult for him to read, as were her emotions through the force.
Anger, suspicion…grief…confusion…
She was quick to steady herself with a small cough and opened her mouth-
PSSST!
"Una! You're up!" A young voice called out excitedly and both Una and Obi-Wan whipped their heads to see Anakin bound in like an excitable lion cub, followed closely by Padme, who was once more wearing her sunset-coloured handmaiden's clothes.
"Good morning friends, I hope you both have rested well." she smiled warmly at both Una and Obi-Wan. "Breakfast is almost ready in the galley if you're feeling up for it."
"That sounds good, thank you" Una answered quickly before shooting Obi-Wan a pointed look. He inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of her silent request. It would seem his questions would have to wait for another time.
A shame really, he tilted his head slightly as he watched Una smile warmly at Anakin and Padme as he followed them out the door. He was becoming quite intrigued by this whole mystery. He could only hope they solved it before it was too late.
The little green alien stared up at the Coruscant skyline. It was the crack of dawn and yet the old venerable little Jedi master was wide awake as he sat cross-legged on his little seat in his room breathing in deeply.
It had been nearly six days since the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and his padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, had been sent as ambassadors to Naboo to settle that Trade Dispute. Four days since the Jedi council had lost contact with the pair's shuttle crew. One night since the little green alien had felt that immense shift in the force. A shift in the darkness.
The old master had thought he was imagining things when the great evil presence had flared up suddenly in his mind during his meditation. Even though it was not directed at him, the old Jedi could not help but shudder slightly at its ferocity.
Returned, the dark side has, but for what, do not know, we do. Troubling…yes…very troubling…
He thought to himself quietly. Yet even more puzzling was the strange fluctuation in the Light Side of the Force that was fast approaching Coruscant.
Returned they have, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. But not by themselves I sense, hmm?
He shut his eyes and tilted his head down as he frowned in concentration. Yes, he could sense the two Jedi, two bright lights in the void of the force and yet they were not alone, for the little green alien could see three more bright sparks as well.
One was familiar, though it had certainly matured and dimmed slightly as it had grown older with age.
Ah…Slyde Crest. Come back to the temple, you have finally. But of your own free will, you have not. Bring someone with you, you do. But, filled with much anger and fear, they are.
The little green alien's brow crinkled as he turned his attention to the last force signature. It was the youngest of them all and glowing so brilliantly with energy that it nearly drowned out the essence of all other nearby force users when he concentrated on it.
A vergence…a vergence in the force…very interesting hmm…indeed, very interesting…
The old Jedi master opened his eye, his large green ears perking up with interest as he looked through his windows and up into the hyperspace lanes above. There, amidst all the ships, the future of the Jedi was speeding down to meet them.
Whether it was a good future or a bad one, the old master did not know. What he did know was that after today, nothing would ever be the same again.
"Coruscant. The entire planet is just one big city."
Una could not help but smile as she watched Anakin beam down in awe at the giant planet city through the cockpit viewport.
"Whoa! So many buildings…" the young boy's eyes were as wide as saucers as they passed into the atmosphere, the buildings below growing bigger and bigger with each passing moment.
"Oh, this is nothing Kid." Una chuckled as she put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "The lower down you go the more crowded it gets. It's not so much one city as thousands stacked on top of one another."
"Well, that certainly is one way of looking at it." Obi-Wan nodded though his eyes were narrowed slightly as they watched over Una and Anakin's backs from where he stood behind them.
He had never felt more uneasy. Since he had awoken, he had not yet felt the dark force from the night before approaching them, but he could still feel it hovering in the background, a looming presence simmering in the distance that seemed to grow larger as they approached the great planet city.
If Una had sensed it, she was certainly not showing any discomfort, but then again, Obi-Wan supposed she was keeping her anxiety under wraps because she was with Anakin.
The boy did not seem to be aware that anything was amiss. Indeed, he had not known of the danger he had been so close to invading his mind the night before.
When Qui-Gon had casually questioned the boy about his first night, Anakin had just shrugged off any of his concerns by saying that he was just cold and that any discomfort he had experienced had only occurred because he missed his mother and his old home.
Who'd have thought that what started out as a simple diplomatic mission would reveal such intrigue or danger?
Obi-Wan sighed to himself as Qui-Gon entered the cockpit to tell them to assemble at the exit to the ship.
Anakin was swift to bound after the Jedi master, rattling off the many questions about the city of Coruscant which Qui-Gon answered with calm amusement.
Una however was not so quick to follow, bristling in her dark jumpsuit and jacket. She paused by Obi-Wan's side and chanced a glance back at the viewport window of the cockpit where they could see a large landing platform waiting for them.
"Is something the matter?" Obi-Wan asked following her gaze.
"I don't know" Una murmured quietly so that only he could hear "But I've got a bad feeling about this."
"I do too," Obi-Wan admitted as they both left the cockpit and walked side by side. "The thing that attacked you and Anakin-"
"Is here on Coruscant." Una finished darkly shoving her hands in her pant pockets. "Which means it could not have been the guy that attacked us on Tattooine. He was far away from his ship when he fought your old man, and I had injured his thigh which means he would not have gotten to his ship until after we went into our second hyperjump. Unless distance is not a problem when it comes to mental attacks?"
She glanced sidelong at Obi-Wan who folded his arms into his robes.
"It is true that the further away you are, you can make establishing a mental bond more difficult. However, if you share a powerful bond with the subject in question or are incredibly strong with the Force, distance is not so much a problem as it is a factor in an equation. Yet I think you might be right. The force signature of the Sith you faced on Tatooine and the one I felt last night were both different."
"Force signature? Oh. So you mean it's like a scent you can uh, smell, with your sixth sense so to speak?" Una did her best to keep her face neutral though she could feel her cheeks burn with embarrassment at the very childish example she had provided.
Obi-wan chuckled in soft amusement.
"I suppose that is one way of looking at it. And not only can you track who you are looking for, but you can also sense their frame of mind for it changes the way their force signature reacts, much like how hormones and pheromones can change how you smell. All creatures in the galaxy have some connection to the force so every one of them can be traced by their signature by those of us Force Sensitives who are trained to do so."
Those of us…us? Well, I guess I am Force Sensitive but still…
Una shrugged only to flinch in surprise as Anakin's loud exclamation blasted into her eardrums from the side.
"Whoa, you can really do that with the force?"
"Indeed, you can Anakin. Though it takes a lot of patience and practice to do so." Qui-Gon smirked as both his apprentice and the young bounty hunter finally came level with him, Anakin and Slyde. The lattermost tried smiling at the two young adults. But upon catching sight of his face, Una's expression dropped like a stone, and she quickly turned to face the ship's exit ramp as it began to descend.
Slyde sighed quietly to himself as he too turned to face the exit, doing his best to avoid the sympathetic glances from Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as they stood between the two hunters.
It would seem the adoptive father and daughter still needed to work things out. Qui-Gon had hoped that a night's sleep after the attack might have helped ease some tension. Slyde himself had come to peace with his actions and their consequences, but Una it seemed, needed a little more time to come to terms.
If only we had that luxury.
Qui-Gon thought grimly as they finally stepped off the ship and down to the landing platform where two middle-aged men, one in grey robes and the other in dark navy ones, stood chatting quietly amidst a group of armed guards.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were at the head of their band, followed closely by Anakin and Una, while Slyde kept an eye on Jar-Jar Binks as he stumbled clumsily onto the ramp. Behind them, Captain Panaka stood with a couple of guards and all the queen's handmaidens surrounding the queen, or rather, the queen's decoy, for Una saw Padme in the corner of her eye dressed in the sunset yellow and orange robes with her head bowed towards the floor while her decoy stepped forward past the Jedi and their companions, to greet their welcomers.
It was the man in the navy-blue robes who spoke first, his voice cordial and pleasant as he addressed the queen's party:
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. With the communications breakdown, we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum."
He gestured to the slightly older thinner man in grey beside him who began his own personal greeting, his eyes quickly chancing a glance at the two Jedi and Slyde, then at Una and Anakin.
So, if this boring old fart is the Supreme Chancellor, then this must be Senator Palpatine.
Una's lips pursed into a thin line as she narrowed her eyes at the man in blue, only to shiver slightly as they locked gazes.
It was only for a split second, but Una was sure she had seen it. A hungry gleam within the man's eyes. It made all her hair stand on end throughout her entire body.
Then the moment was gone, and the pleasant smile had returned to Senator Palpatine's face as he drew the fake queen away to talk with her about Senate procedures, Anakin following them as he stuck close to Padme who was listening intently. Jar-Jar followed them too, the fate of his people weighing heavily on even his scatterbrained mind.
It had been decided that morning that the young boy and the Gungan would stay with the Queen and her handmaidens until Anakin had to meet with the Jedi Council.
Una had originally thought it was a good idea. Anakin would get to see some of the city, plus spend more time with Padme, whom he had a not-so-subtle crush on, and Jar-Jar would be out of everyone's hair. It would also free Una, Slyde and the two Jedi more time to talk about more important matters while they made their way to the temple.
Now, however, as she watched the young boy be ushered gently away by the oh-so-benevolent senator she could not have been more terrified.
It did not help her anxiety when Palpatine once more caught her gaze and gave her a small victorious smirk.
Oh no, you don't snake. You won't be sinking your teeth into that boy, not if I have anything to say about it.
Una's teeth gritted and her fists clenched by her sides as Palpatine, Padme and Anakin all left on the specialised speeder with the rest of their entourage.
"Una."
Una turned and saw that Qui-Gon was beckoning her to meet with the Chancellor closer to the shadow of the ship, where Slyde and Obi-Wan were graciously introducing themselves.
He really was a Jedi huh? How could I not have seen it?
Una felt her gut burn slightly as she noticed the posh, refined way Slyde greeted the politician. It almost put Obi-Wan's polite demeanour to shame. It did not help when she heard Qui-Gon introduce him as "Slyde Crest, a fellow Jedi who was helping aid in their investigations."
"Forgive me, sirs," she flashed a sweet, polite smile (or what she referred to as her seal-the-deal smile) at Chancellor Valorum as she came close enough, though her heart stung terribly as she did "I was just making sure the Queen and her party made it off the platform safely."
"That is quite alright Miss-?"
"Una, Una Crest," Una added pointedly ignoring Slyde's glance at her.
"Miss Crest was previously employed by the Trade Federation just before the Blockade was put in place" Qui-Gon explained and Chancellor Valorum's grey eyebrows rose.
"Employed?"
"Yes," Una nodded quickly. "I was paid to track down and bring back an ex-employee who had stolen, looking back on it now, what might have had information about the blockade."
"I see, and how does a woman with your particular…skillset end up working alongside two, or should I say three, Jedi"
I ended up working with Old man because he was too nosy for his own good and he promised me payment and protection, secondly I couldn't leave because Junior was paranoid and won't let me out of his sight and now I'm stuck in this god-awful mess because I was raised by this horned ass who turned out to be a lying sunovabitch who never taught me to protect myself from Sith who've returned seemingly from beyond the grave! Did I leave anything out?!
This was what she desperately wanted to roar at the top of her lungs with the full force of her fury. Out loud she instead chose to say, in her same politely professional tones:
"Well I suppose I will have to give a full report to some other authority later won't I? But the long and short of the story is that, well, I really did not end up having a choice in the matter. After I finished my job, the Trade Federation wanted to tie up loose ends without paying me, which meant they needed to find a way to keep me quiet for good. Obviously, I was concerned about this, so I thought I would appeal to the Republic ambassadors for aid in resolving this matter. When it became clear that the Trade Federation had no intention of following through with any of the negotiations, Master Qui-Gon and his Padawan both agreed to see me to safety if I would agree to provide information and evidence about this incident for the Republic's report."
Una paused for a moment to observe the Supreme Chancellor, who was still eyeing her warily. Then again, she had been involved in creating the entire scandal that was troubling him. Still, it wasn't like she had orchestrated it herself.
Guess I'll have to tug on the heartstrings after all.
"Look, sir," She gave the chancellor a small, tired smile "I'm just a woman trying to pay my bills like everyone else. Us hunters don't like to get involved in politics and if I had known my actions would aid in making an entire planet suffer, I would never have taken that job. I just happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time."
She was relieved when the Chancellor nodded solemnly.
"I see. Wrong place at the wrong time." He repeated his whole body relaxing considerably "Well, I will not deny this is an unusual situation, but I can see you are an honest woman Miss Crest. Very well, I will have one of my personal accountants organise for you to receive compensation for your troubles. It may take a while, but we may call on you to testify during the enquiries into this blockade. Of course, given the nature of your involvement in this troubling matter, I will see to it you are granted anonymity during the proceedings."
"Thank you, sir. That would be much appreciated" Una bowed her head once more as Valorum turned back to Qui-Gon.
"Very well then. I will be off, or I will be late for my next appointment. Goodbye, Master Jinn, Master Crest, Padawan Kenobi and Miss Crest. I hope to speak with you all soon under better circumstances"
"May the Force be with you Supreme Chancellor" Qui-Gon bowed respectfully as the Chancellor and his guards finally made to leave.
Once they were out of earshot, Obi-Wan turned to smirk with amusement at Una.
"So, you can speak politely?"
"Oh screw you, Junior!" Una grunted yet when she met the Padawan's eye, the corners of her lips twitched up ever so slightly.
Senator Palpatine, scowled softly to himself as he stood washing his hands in his personal fresher in his large apartment.
That had been close. Far too close.
He had been confident in his ability to shield his force sensitivity from the Jedi, though that was made easy because of his enemy's blatant complacency and arrogance. They were so sure in their belief that the Sith were gone that they just could not fathom the idea that they might be able to return to power, the fools.
Yet it was because of such foolishness that Palpatine was able to keep hidden for so long. That was until he had locked eyes with that force sensitive Bounty Hunter woman.
Such raw untapped power. It was just as impressive up close. Impressive, yet extremely dangerous.
That little wretch is far too troublesome to be useful. Too free-thinking and independent for me to turn into a servant for the dark side. To MY side.
He thought savagely as he wiped his hands on a nearby towel, remembering only too clearly how the woman's amber-brown eyes had pierced through him as she had stood protectively beside the boy…that gift of divine providence from the force.
To think that such a vergence in the force is right now currently under my very roof within my grasp.
Oh if it weren't for those blasted Jedi or these deceptively perceptive queen's handmaidens, Palpatine would have whisked the boy away at once to his other more secretive residence on Coruscant and started training him at once in the ways of the Sith before the boy could even fathom what had happened.
But alas he was still playing the concerned Senator, and now was not the time to draw unnecessary attention to himself that would detract from the "tragedy" that had befallen his home planet. His apprentice Maul had already made a mess of things in the hunt for the queen, he could not afford any more slip-ups if he were to succeed in securing a better seat of power for himself.
After all, turning one person to the dark side of the force was relatively simple if one knew the right pressure point to push. But turning a whole galaxy to the dark side required far more finesse and finetuning than anyone could imagine. Palpatine had not worked so hard all his life so that he could fail right when he was on the cusp of such an achievement.
Soon…I will have the senate in my grasp soon. Once I have the senate, then I can worry about the boy and that hunter. I now know their faces and their force signatures; I can keep an eye on them for as long as I need. Yes…that is all I can do for the present.
Palpatine's lip curled for a moment, but he was quick to mask his sadistic glee as he exited the fresher and approached his housekeeping droid to give orders on keeping an eye on the boy and the Gungan while he was at the senate with the queen.
It would seem the plans of the Sith would have to wait…for now.
Una stared up; mouth open as she walked up towards the gigantic structure known as the Jedi Temple. She had seen it a couple of times on those rare occasions her work took her to Coruscant, but those sightings had always been from a distance. Even then the Temple was a massive blot against the city skyline.
Never had she been this close to it.
It was a beautiful building. Very symmetrical and balanced yet at the same time, strong and imposing…and incredibly tall.
To her left, Obi-Wan smirked in amusement at her awe. He knew he should not stare but it was just too funny to watch her reaction.
Her emotions were so raw and open like a youngling, yet unlike a child, she had already seen much in the world and had a strange brand of acquired wisdom that was completely her own.
"We shall take you to the healing halls first," Qui-Gon told Una as he put a communicator away into his belt. "I've convinced the Council to meet us after a couple of hours so someone can look over your wounds."
"Thanks." Una nodded gratefully. While she was sure she could walk off her injuries even she knew not to deny decent medical aid when it was offered. Also, a doctor's appointment would give her a chance to sit down and get her brain in order before she met the Jedi Council.
"I see nothing much has changed." Slyde looked around wistfully as they finally passed through the large main doors and into a tall, magnificent entrance hall where just before them, a tiny little green figure was leaning on his walking stick.
He was elderly and dressed in a small version of robes that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both wore. Though he was diminutive in stature, Una could not help but feel there was an immense power radiating from the little old alien. However, unlike the evil Sith from her dream, this small creature seemed to be bathed almost entirely in light.
"Master Yoda." Qui-Gon bowed deferentially to the small creature as did Obi-Wan and Slyde.
"Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi, welcome back. You as well, Slyde Crest, finally returned, you have, good to see you after so long, it is."
"It is good to see you too Master Yoda. You've not changed one bit" Slyde smiled warmly, though Una could see the Deveronian's yellow eyes dim slightly with a bittersweet sadness.
"Yet changed much you have, bring your own protégé I see hmm?" Master Yoda turned to face Una, his wizened eyes crinkling into a small smile as he examined her critically.
"Strong in the force, are you, yet untrained to use it, you are. Your name young one?"
"Una…Una Crest." Una muttered, dipping her head to the little alien, ignoring Slyde's slightly reproachful nudge to her side. Sure, he might be an old Jedi master, but he was not her master.
Though still nervous, Una had made up her mind last night that no matter how much Slyde told her to be on her best behaviour, she would only show the same amount of respect that the other Jedi would show her, no more, no less.
After all, they may be some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, but under all that, they were still beings of flesh and blood. As far as Una was concerned, anything made of such substance could always be killed, like any other living being.
As if sensing her rebellious thoughts, Yoda gave her a small smile.
"Hm-hm-hm, in this one, much spirit, I sense. Fierce, stubborn, see why you like her I do." he chuckled at Slyde, his eyes slyly gliding over the group as a whole as he gestured for them to follow him inside.
"Come, to the healer's wing, lead you I shall. Rest, for now, you will, then meet with the council hmm?"
"Thank you, Master Yoda. That is most kind of you." Qui-Gon smiled pleasantly.
If "most kind" means that he wants the chance to look us over for himself without interference, then yes I suppose he is "kind".
Una's eyes narrowed on the back of the small alien's head as he made his way over to a nearby small custom-built hover chair. She figured it would be hard keeping up with much taller humanoids with those tiny legs of his.
It did not take them long to reach the healer's wards, which were surprisingly quiet as one of the few healers on duty, a green female Nautolan quickly ushered Una towards a medical bed surrounded by a privacy curtain.
After asking Una a few questions about her name and medical history, the Nautolan female was quick to help the young hunter shed the top of her clothes and inspect her recent injuries over her waist and shoulder.
Upon catching sight of the two now rather worn bacta patches, the healer sighed and tutted with motherly exasperation:
"Picking fights even when you are wounded. You padawans. Honestly, I don't know why I bother," she muttered rolling her eyes "Which injury is the most recent?"
"The shoulder, but both happened within the span of twenty-four hours of one another," Una muttered softly and the woman sighed again.
"Well, I suppose it could have been worse. Then again you and your master could have stayed out of trouble. Come on let's see what you've got young one."
Una smirked at the older woman's annoyance. Given her current situation, the healer had assumed that Una was a Jedi, who had gotten injured on a mission and was returning to home base for a simple patch up.
However, Una was not going to correct her. She wanted to see how long it would take the healer woman to realise that she was not a Jedi at all.
And so, she let the healer examine each of her injuries in turn. Luckily, they were both healed sufficiently enough for her to get away with just changing over the bacta packs for fresh ones. Una almost laughed out loud when the woman made to waggle a finger at her as she told her not to skip out on her rest once she had gotten to her room at the temple and changed back into her robes.
Once the woman was gone and Una let herself chuckle quietly to herself as she pulled on her clothes again.
"Hey Red, are you decent?" a familiar voice muttered through the curtain.
Una's smile dropped like a stone, but she kept her lips sealed even as Slyde opened the curtain. However, he did not step through, instead, the little green form of Yoda floated in on his hoverchair.
"Thank you, Slyde. Young one, sit. Wish in private, to talk to you I do, before the meeting."
"Okay then" Una shrugged as she made to sit back down on the medical bed opposite the hovering alien who assessed her with aged but shrewd eyes. Behind his back, Slyde pulled away from the curtain, his face now a grim mask.
"So, child, where from, are you? Raised in Outer Rim Qui-Gon says." Yoda's gravelly voice broke Una out of her glower.
"Nal Hutta, or at least that's where I was found," Una added in a mutter under her breath.
"Ah, so foundling you are. Hmm, the reason you take Slyde's name is it not?" Yoda smirked at Una from where he was perched in his hover chair, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glint. "Slyde said too, that slave you were, in a Hutt Palace, when found hmm?"
"Yes," Una grunted stiffly, resentment brewing in her gut. So, her old man was blurting out her life story to everyone, was he?
"Anger you feel towards your father. Broken your trust he has." Yoda nodded sombrely. "Sadness too, I feel. A hard life you have led. Pain, struggle, loss, guilt-"
"Excuse me but I do believe that is none of your business, Master Yoda." Una snapped, avoiding the green Alien's knowing eye as he looked her over.
"More difficult questions the council will have for you. Be ready you must, to face your feelings. Fierce you are, yet little experience with the Force you have. Careful, if you are to survive this ordeal, you must be." The little Alien was about to turn his hoverchair when he paused to look over Una once again.
"Sorry, he does feel, your father. In time, forgive him, you must. Behind his motivation, love it was, and grief, terrible grief. Understand these, and truth you will find."
"I…" Una opened her mouth, shut it, swallowed and then nodded "Fine. I'll keep that in mind, sir."
Yoda nodded sagely and his small twinkling smile returned.
"Met, you did, Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi on this mission hmm?"
"Yes."
"Friends, become, have you not?" the little green alien hummed oh-so-conversationally but Una kept her face impassive.
"Not sure about friends, but we are so far on good terms. They've done alright by me, so I'll try to do right by them."
"Indeed. Though closer with Kenobi than Qui-Gon you are."
"We are closer in age if that's what you mean." Una shrugged, but her gaze was steady as she looked Yoda full in the face. What did he mean, closer with Kenobi?
True, they were getting along far better since that night she had been attacked by the Tuskans, but they were not complete chums. Oh, alright maybe he wasn't that bad once one got past the haughty prim and proper poshness. However, two days was not enough to guarantee a solid friendship.
As for Qui-Gon. Well, he may have been Slyde's friend, and she may not have agreed with all his plans but all-in-all she respected his wisdom and quiet strength. After all, he did fight that Sith on Tattoine and live, and that guy was not someone to be messed with.
Unbidden, the vision from the desert wafted over her mind's eye. The shouts, the blood, the dancing of green, blue and red lightsabres.
She shook her head slightly as she righted herself once more. Yoda was watching her carefully, his expression quizzical.
"Strong with the force you are. Seen things you have, before they happen, yes? Able to react quickly to danger, That is why."
"Sometimes. I mean, it usually happens when I'm in really bad scrapes." Una folded her arms. "But on Tatooine…"
She fell silent and bit her lip. How was she going to say this? Even Qui-Gon and Slyde seemed perturbed by the intensity of her visions when they had heard about them. And that shadow last night…
Yoda leaned in.
"Saw more than small flashes, you did, hmm?"
"Yes."
"Visions of the enemy, you had, hmm?"
"I-I don't know I guess." Una sighed. "Look mister I barely know what the hell is going on alright. Up till a few days ago I barely knew anything about you Jedi except that you were pompous celibate, religious monks who fought to keep the peace with fancy laser swords and superpowers. Now I find out that the guy who raised me is one of them and that I could have been one of them too but wasn't because he was too scared of me."
"Hmm…much fear I do sense in him, but not fear of you, I think." Yoda's gaze was piercing as he looked the young woman over.
Afraid? What the hell was the little green goblin talking about.
She opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted when a hand pulled the privacy curtain aside.
"Forgive me Master Yoda but the Jedi Council is assembling for the meeting." Obi-Wan's voice murmured from beyond the curtain.
"Then join them, we must." Yoda hummed, pressing a few buttons on the arm of his hoverchair so he could reverse it through the curtains.
Una was quick to follow, barely wincing as she rubbed her patched-up shoulders and side.
Boy was she tired, but her brain just could not stop moving.
What the hell did he mean afraid? Why is Slyde afraid? Afraid of what?
Master Mace Windu scowled as he and his fellow Jedi masters took their seats in the Grand Council Chamber.
I should have known Qui-Gon would bite off more than he could chew with this mission.
He mused as he made to settle himself into his seat in the Grand Council chamber, his dark eyes fixed on the doorway which opened and shut to admit other council members.
It did not take them long to take their places in the circle, each one bobbing their heads serenely in greeting as they made to exchange pleasantries with their neighbours. The last to arrive and take his place was the venerable Master Yoda, who hummed amusedly to himself as he hopped from his hover chair into his seat beside Windu, with his walking stick clutched tight in his little green hands.
"Master Yoda, I take it you got a good look at the newcomers that arrived with Qui-Gon?" Windu asked the little green alien quietly so that the other masters could not hear them.
"Hmm…a good look I did get yes. But new, only one is. The other, Slyde Crest, returned, he has, after many, many years. His protégé, bring with him he did."
"Slyde Crest…" Windu frowned deeply scratching his chin. "I remember him. A Deveronian, I think. Reckless and stubborn, he was quite a talented sabre duellist. He was apprenticed to Jedi Master Reyna Crail was he not?"
"Yes, he was." Yoda nodded solemnly "After his master's death in Wildspace, abandoned the order, he did."
"And now he has returned with a protégé of his own?" Windu pursed his lips. "I take it they are Force Sensitive as well, and trained to some degree?"
"Yes and no." Yoda nodded grimly. "Foundling and slave-child, she was. A bounty hunter like he is now, she has been brought up to be. Strong with the Force, yet little experience to wield it, she has. Told her about her powers till now, Slyde Crest had not."
"He kept his pupil's powers secret from her? Why?" Windu wondered aloud but Yoda shook his head.
"Reasons, know, I do not. Be careful in questioning, we must be. Sensitive and emotional, with a strong temper, she is."
"I see…" Windu leaned back in his seat curiously eyeing the now shut doors. He could feel the presence of four people approaching the doors from the other side. Two were bathed in light, calm yet slightly nervous. These he recognised at once as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
The third presence likewise seemed to emit its own light from within, yet it seemed dimmer and sadder than the other two Jedi. This must have been Slyde, Mace reasoned, for the being's essence felt older and worn by age. The fourth was the most surprising.
It was not dark nor was it evil, but Mace could feel the burning angry heat rolling off its owner in faint ripples through the force that seemed to amplify as the doors to the council chamber slid open.
Mace Windu watched as the two familiar forms of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi strode in first, leading a tall Deveronian male with coppery-red skin and wearing a long tan leather jacket on top of his slightly worn clothes, and a young human woman with dark hair already flecked prematurely with grey, wearing a red leather jacket over a fitted navy jumpsuit.
The other masters of the order all straightened up in their seats, their curiosity palpable as their eyes roved curiously over the Deveronian male and the human woman.
Finally, after a long pause and a deep calming breath, Windu spoke:
"Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi welcome back from your mission. Slyde Crest, welcome back to the temple. I think I speak for most of this council when I say we are rather surprised that you have chosen to return after so long an absence."
"Believe me Mace, I am just as surprised as any of you to have returned in this fashion. Especially good to see you as well Master Shaak-Ti." Slyde smirked at a tall, beautiful, female Torgruta with crimson skin, white markings and tall montrals. Shaak-Ti smiled kindly at Slyde and the young woman beside him, her eyes barely concealing her eager curiosity.
"Yet here you now stand. Strong and healthy, with your own protégé no less." She leaned forward slightly to address the younger human woman "What is your name young one?"
"Aluna Reyna Crest. But everyone calls me Una." The young human woman, Una, grunted, her sharp amber eyes wary as she glanced at each of the masters around her in turn.
"And where are you from Una?" Shaak Ti asked, not at all phased by the girl's wariness.
"Nal Hutta. I was a slave there since I was a baby. Slyde freed me when I was around six years old and adopted me as a part of his bounty hunting crew shortly after." Una grunted, shifting uncomfortably on her feet as she did her best to avoid Obi-Wan's curious gaze.
That was right, she had forgotten to tell him about her life prior to bounty hunting. Oh well, now everyone knew right?
Beside her, the padawan pursed his lips as understanding flourished. He had wondered why the rough and sarcastic woman could be so quick to bond with Anakin when she was so slow to trust the Nabooians and the Jedi.
Then again Obi-Wan couldn't blame her for being so guarded. On his missions with his master, he had seen much cruelty done to slaves and those of the lower castes by their superiors. Those who were innocents had to either keep their heads down to avoid trouble or toughen up and get some grit in order to survive.
And Una Crest certainly had the grit, he would give her that.
He forced himself to listen again as Windu opened his mouth to speak, keeping his gaze fixed intently on Una as he asked:
"You are a fully trained bounty hunter then?"
"Yes," Una answered stiffly.
"And do you still hunt with your crew, or do you work alone?"
"Depends on the job in question." Una shrugged. "But most of my recent work has been solo."
"By recent work, I assume you mean your job for the Trade Federation?"
"Look if you've got something to say Big Cheese spit it out and get on with it alright? Geeze, I feel like I'm talking to a police droid." Una snorted as she locked gazes with Windu who narrowed his eyes suspiciously upon her.
That was when she felt it.
A gentle prodding sensation on the corner of her mind. It felt like the ones Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had used on her back on Tatooine except she could feel something different about it.
With Qui-Gon, his mental probes had been so natural she barely felt his presence until he was poking around inside her head. He never tried forcing his way into her mind, instead choosing to smoothly slide in piggyback on her already existing emotions. Obi-Wan's approach was different and felt almost as if he were carefully tapping on a door and politely asking permission to enter.
Whoever was trying to probe her now was not being so polite. Indeed, it felt like she was being crowded by several people all at once in a tight bundled group, each of them not shouting but silently trying to prod her for information.
She pushed back at the presence hard and was pleased as Windu's already stern gaze hardened even more as he locked eyes with her.
"Nice try Baldy." she gave a crooked smirk to the Jedi Master.
Windu opened his mouth to speak only to be spoken over by a tall, white-bearded Cerean male with an elongated skull.
"Master Yoda has informed us that you are a Force Sensitive but have very little experience with using your powers."
"Yes. Thanks to a certain someone not bothering to teach me anything because he was, oh yeah, what was it you said, Old Man? Oh yeah, that's right. You were afraid of what I might become." Una spat, glowering sidelong at Slyde who sighed heavily.
"Red, you and I both know your temper gets away with you even at the best of times."
"Yeah, well, it's not my fault that over half this galaxy is filled with annoying double-crossing kriff-knobs, is it? Oh Gods, whoever is trying to poke around my head this time stop it would you!" Una rolled much to her mentor's and Windu's growing consternation.
It was Shaak-Ti that spoke up once more, and to Una's surprise, there was no anger in her voice. In fact, she looked rather intrigued as she drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair.
"Forgive us young one. But your situation is most curious indeed. For someone who claims to have not trained in the ways of the Force, you have just demonstrated remarkable telepathic sensitivity in response to our powers. Tell us, have you had visions before?"
"Before what? You mean, before I met Old Man and Junior over there?" Una looked over her shoulder at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before shrugging "No. I just had the occasional odd dream or a spark of, uh, precognition, if that's what you'd like to call it. But nothing major or concrete."
"And after you met them?" Shaak Ti prompted gently.
Una paused, biting her lip as the fierce memories of the battle over golden sand washed over her mind's eye. She was quick to squash it down when she remembered where she was.
Unfortunately for her, all the stronger telepaths in the room were quick to pick up on the thought even as it vanished from sight.
Qui-Gon's gaze was especially sharp as he looked her up and down.
"You saw my fight with our attacker on Tatooine. When you were carrying the hyperdrive with Obi-Wan-"
"Yeah…I saw it…well part of it." Una bit her lip as she quickly closed off her mind before another probing one could poke around in it.
"Second vision, that was. Projected yourself to your enemy, you did in your first vision, as well, Padawan Kenobi said." Yoda spoke poking his stick in Una's direction.
"I-!" Una shot a sharp look at Obi-Wan who met her gaze head-on.
"Master Yoda asked about the mission when you were getting seen to by the medic. I thought it best if we and the council were all on the same page."
"And understand we do. Accident, it was, this projection. A reflex, like your other powers, it was hmm?"
"Yes." Una clipped, turning back to the council as she added:
"Look, the night before the first vision happened, I was walking back to the ship and I saw a stealth craft fly overhead. Not another hunter's ship but a real slick, top of the line model. Anyway, seeing that spacecraft had me thinking that the Trade Federation might have sent someone after the Queen and us. Then at the races when I caught up with Slyde, he mentioned something about an assassin running amok in the underworld. Not one of the typical stabs in an alleyway assassin but the nasty sort, y'know the coldblooded, psychopathic pros. When he said the psycho was popping off enemies to the Trade Feds I-"
"-Grew worried that the craft that you saw belonged to that very same assassin." The Cerean male from before finished. "So, when you saw your first vision, you were tapping into your fear?"
Una flushed indignantly at the question but was quick to stop herself from snapping at the older man. After all, he was right on the money.
"Listen, I won't deny it, since meeting Old Man and Junior here, I have been on edge. I mean, can you blame me, they're practically super-magnets for trouble." Una added and was pleased when she saw Obi-Wan roll his eyes a little and Qui-Gon smirk under his breath. "But you guys have to understand. In the Outer Rim, it's pretty much everyone for themselves. Unless you're lucky enough to have friends or a crew that is willing to watch your back, you've gotta constantly keep an eye out for the competition, or your enemies. And boy did that madman want us dead. You should have seen him when he attacked us. I don't think I've ever felt anything so vile in my entire life and as an ex-slave of the Hutts, I think I know evil when I see it."
And at this she shuddered, remembering all too clearly the dark billowing robes, the snarling, sneering face, and the rage…all that rage, it almost seemed to burn like ice as the figure paced up and down like a frustrated predator.
She heard the rustle of material and looked up and around. The members of the council were all sharing very worried looks with one another. Even Slyde and Obi-Wan looked uncomfortable.
But it was Qui-Gon's expression that had her attention.
He was almost looking smug.
She met his eye and for a split second, she saw an image flash across her mind. It was Qui-Gon himself, talking quietly with Windu. She could not hear what was being said, but Qui-Gon seemed to be trying to convince his fellow Jedi about something that was worrying him, only to be shut down with a wave of serene dismissiveness.
Then the image disappeared.
So, you tried telling them something was wrong from the start. But nobody listened to you. And now here I am, giving you all the proof that you need to rub it in their faces and say: "I told you so."
Qui-Gon nodded his head slightly at her in confirmation of her thoughts, but made no other indication he had acknowledged her as he stepped forward and said clearly:
"He was trained in the Jedi Arts. My only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord."
This pulled all members of the council up short from their musings.
"Impossible. The Sith have been extinct for a millennium." The Cerean male from before looked around at his fellow councilmen worriedly.
"I do not believe the Sith couldn't have returned without us knowing." Windu frowned, but his worry was clear to see.
"Why not?" Una wondered aloud with a frown. "If they're your long-time enemies the last thing they'd want to do would be to let you know they were back."
"It certainly would be more advantageous for them to hide and keep the element of surprise." Slyde agreed, folding his arms as he stepped forward. "And if the Sith are still following the Rule of Two, then it would be easy to hide their presence than if there were a large number."
Behind him, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both glanced at one another curiously as another round of low murmurs spread around the council, this time in agreement. Loathed though they were to admit their enemy of old could be returning, they would not deny the logic set before them.
Una however was confused.
"The Rule of Two?" she frowned.
"It is a key philosophy in Sith Teachings." Slyde explained calmly and everyone turned to look at him swiftly "Following their defeat in the Sith-Jedi Wars, the Sith had almost wiped themselves out due to infighting and the lust for power. There were rumours that after the war, the last of the Sith, Darth Bane, I believe, created a doctrine stating that there can only be two Sith at one time. A master and an apprentice."
"And I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and assume that the way the apprentice became the top dog was by stabbing their masters wildly in the dark." Una snorted, and despite the graveness of the situation a couple of council members allowed themselves a small smirk.
"Yes, succession in the Sith Order was usually determined by violent displays of power." Windu nodded sternly, not at all amused by her flippancy. "Though the exact details of their teachings have all but been lost to time. Very few holocrons or texts exist that may provide us with valuable information."
"Shrouded, they have become. The Lords of the Sith." Yoda bowed his little head solemnly. "Hard to see, the dark side is. Always, shrouded. When prey cannot see, for the hunter, easy to attack it becomes."
"So then you agree Masters, that the Sith could be on the move again?" Obi-Wan interjected worriedly and Una knew he was thinking about the dark shadow over Coruscant they had both felt that morning.
"The application of the Dark side by one Force user still does not mean that your attacker was necessarily a Sith Lord." Windu frowned gravely at the young hunter and padawan before him. "The Jedi Order has had no shortage of enemies in the past. And, as is proven by individuals like Miss Crest, the Sith and the Jedi are not the only ones gifted with Force Sensitivity. We cannot assume answers so quickly without more proof."
"Which fortunately enough we have Master Windu." Qui-Gon straightened stiffly where he stood "Barely a few hours after we faced our attacker on Tatooine, another agent of the dark side of the Force tried to force its way into Una's mind while she was fast asleep."
"And from what Qui and I can tell, this new adversary was not on our ship, nor did its force signature match our earlier attacker's. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it was much stronger than his. Had it not been for Padawan Kenobi and Una holding strong together our enemy might have done serious damage." Slyde piped in folding his arms.
Una and Obi-Wan both exchanged nervous glances with one another as the Masters around them tittered in shock and bewilderment at the declaration. Just when they thought they could both exit the spotlight for a few seconds, their crazy mentors dragged them back in.
Windu turned to face Una and Obi-Wan with narrowed eyes.
"Is this true? The two of you both held back the Dark Side?"
"Well…Junior did most of the holding back," Una scratched her neck anxiously as she once again looked at Obi-Wan "I just…uh…protected Anakin."
"Anakin?" one of the Council Members quirked a brow.
"You are referring to the slave child you freed on Tatooine?" Shaak-Ti said calmly and Obi-Wan nodded.
"Yes. Master"
"The boy was in Una's care for the night and as a result was also targeted," Qui-Gon explained calmly. "As far as we can tell, Una and Obi-Wan's defence kept him completely out of harm's way. He has no idea of what has transpired or even that he was in any danger."
"Hmm…I see." Windu and the other council members all looked hard at Qui-Gon. "Thank you for your report Qui-Gon. It has been most illuminating. As for you Slyde Crest. You may not be a member of the Order anymore, however, the Council has talked it over and we would like to offer you and your protégé temporary sanctuary here at the temple. There is much we do not yet understand about recent events. Master Shaak-Ti has volunteered to escort you to your lodgings."
"Thank you, Masters. Your kind gesture is greatly appreciated." Slyde bowed and smiled respectfully at Shaak-Ti who had stood up to her feet gracefully with a small smile.
"Yes. But quick question. Is this all for our safety or because you don't trust us?" Una said bluntly, fixing Windu with her catlike stare.
"Una," Slyde growled as several members of the council shifted uncomfortably where they sat.
"Sorry Slyde," Una grunted folding her arms. "But if I'm going to take shelter from a storm, I'd rather know what creatures den I'm walking into."
"Trust not, your father's words do you?" Yoda tilted his head sympathetically at the pair.
"No." Una said bluntly "Because he taught me to always trust my own senses before I trust anyone else's."
"Then, trust not, this council, you do?" Yoda said, but he seemed more fascinated than insulted.
"I would have thought that was glaringly obvious. Hence my earlier question. What do you hope to see by keeping me and Slyde here under your thumbs?" Una raised her eyebrows coolly at the small alien.
There was a small silence as the members of the council quietly exchanged glances with one another. Several of them, including master Windu, looked offended and annoyed by her distrust and backchat, while others like Yoda, Shaak-Ti and the Cerean Male from earlier seemed almost entertained by her pluck.
It once again was Windu who spoke on their behalf, his voice strained as he did his best to keep his tone calm and serene.
"I cannot speak for each individual sitting here Miss Crest, but believe me when I say that, as a council, the safety of everyone involved in the attack on Tatooine is of utmost importance to us. Though we do not know how or why this came to be, you and your master have a part to play in what is to come. Whether it is positive or negative we do not know, but we hope that by keeping an eye on you here, the answers we seek may reveal themselves in time."
"…I see," Una murmured as she scanned the master's face. She did not need the Force to see how frustrated the man before her was. She could almost see the vein ticking in his bald temple.
Just this morning he had probably woken up and thought it would be just another boring day. Now here they all were, talking about the return of the Sith to the galaxy.
Guess I better end it here before Baldy's fuse goes off.
Una smirked as she straightened up and nodded at Windu.
"Thank you. And before you ask, my answer is no, I don't have any further questions."
"If that is all, then that concludes our discussion." Windu straightened up with a small sigh of relief as he made to address the rest of the room "We will use our resources to unravel this mystery. We will discover the identity of your attacker. May the Force be with you."
Windu bobbed his head as Obi-Wan and Slyde both bowed respectfully to the council, Una nodding stiffly after a moment's hesitation. Qui-Gon however, did not move from his spot even as his companions started backing out of the room.
"Master Qui-Gon. More to say have you?" Yoda tilted his head curiously as the other masters watched their colleague warily.
Una could not blame them. Qui-Gon had that annoyingly knowing twinkle in his eye again.
"With your permission, masters, I have encountered a vergence in the Force."
"A vergence, you say?" Yoda hummed thoughtfully.
"Located around a person?" Windu leaned forward with intrigue; all earlier annoyance was forgotten.
"The boy," Qui-Gon confirmed solemnly. "His cells have the highest concentration of midichlorians I have seen in a life-form. It is possible he was conceived by the midichlorians."
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably where he and Una both stood by the council chamber doors.
No…his master could not be talking about Anakin, could he? Yes, his midichlorian count was off the charts, but what his master was speaking of was near impossible.
Mace Windu seemed to think so too, and his voice betrayed his scepticism even as he said:
"You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force. You believe it is this boy?"
Una felt her gut sink to the floor. No. Not Anakin. They surely could not be talking about little Anakin?! The poor kid had barely been taken from his home planet away from his mother and now he had a big-ass prophecy hanging over his head?
"I don't presume to-" Qui-Gon began but was cut off by Yoda pointing his stick at him.
"But you do. Revealed your opinion is."
"I merely request that the boy be tested, Master." Qui-Gon bowed his head respectfully.
"Trained as a Jedi you request for him, hmmm?" Yoda smiled knowingly.
"Finding him was the will of the Force. I have no doubt of that."
"Bring him before us, then." Windu nodded as he steepled his fingers as he once more glanced at Una in the doorway. "We shall test his aptitude before the council along with Miss Crest."
"Thank you, Master Windu. May the Force be with you." Qui-Gon bowed low to the council as he made to follow the rest of his group out the exit and after Shaak-Ti's retreating back.
And there we are with chapter 9! Gotta say thanks to the Obi-Wan series for prompting me to rewatch everything Star Wars on Disney plus. And I mean everything. So far I've rewatched the Originals, Prequels, Sequels and all the live-action tv series. After I finish with the Obi-Wan series I'll rewatch Clone Wars, Rebels and the Bad Batch :)
So yeah, Una is coming into her own and sneaky slithery Sidious has finally entered the scene. As for Una's growing power in the force, I'd like to think that thanks to her upbringing she somewhat understands the basic principles of what's going on. I mean her adoptive dad is an ex-Jedi and you don't need to be trained in the force to know how to concentrate or be disciplined at things.
Speaking of discipline, I figured it would be fun to pit Una against Mace Windu a little in the council scene. I mean, if she and Obi-Wan were already butting heads in chapter one can you imagine how annoyed Windu would be with her sass? XD
Anyways hope you all enjoyed this chapter and if you enjoyed please review and fave :)
till next time.
Fuzzybeta :)